8 Ways to Fill a Workshop in a Bum Economy

Yes, you can fill a workshop when spending is down and buyers are wary. If your topic is clear, your marketing materials well-done, your product solid and your title catchy, success shouldn't be tough. The fact is that people are as hungry as ever for the inspiration and stimulus a workshop provides, even when they're nervous about money. And even though most bum economies recover over time, you may find the following tricks helpful enough to keep using even in good times!

1. Tailor the workshop to the economy. In other words, acknowledge the problem. So if your workshop is about helping women over 50 live their dreams, change it to Living Your Dreams Over 50 ? Even When the Economy is Down. Or make it about finding your dreams after being laid off, or managing fear while pursuing your dreams in a poor economy. Your fundamental message doesn't have to change ? you just dress it up in slightly different clothing.

2. Use unconventional marketing methods. Advertising and flyers may not be the most effective way to enroll a workshop in lean times. For one thing, affordable ads are not usually big enough to effectively describe a workshop, unless it's very targeted and easy to 'get', i.e. quitting smoking, or stress-reduction. If you're teaching motivational or inspirational work, consider using an affiliate program, viral email marketing, distributing articles through targeted ezines, working your personal network, or making yourself available as a guest on local TV or radio talk shows. Best of all is a combination of all of the above.

3. Make your niche one with a pipeline. Be careful not to pick a tiny niche market that is hard to access. Instead, a good rule of thumb is to look for a niche market with marketing channels already in place. For instance, one successful workshop leader I know targets retirees on the RV-Camping circuit. Many US campgrounds offer classes and other stimulating perks to visitors, and since RV'ers often stay for several nights or even weeks, this makes a workshop a likely hit. She simply has to talk to management, and they put her workshop in place for her. Participants magically show! Hospitals with neighborhood 'wellness' programs, bookstores with evening events, and community center Teen programs are also good venues.

4. Pitch a co-operative venture with another business. One fun way to reach your niche is to approach another business's clientele. For instance, if you're offering stress-reduction workshops, arrange a tie in with the local health club or weight loss group. Look for businesses that attract people who would logically be drawn to your product as well. Then approach that business and offer something great. You can sell them your workshop at a reduced rate (a special offer just for their members, which they can use as a perk.) Or you could hold a workshop on their premises at your usual fee, and pay them a percentage of the gate. Or you could simply offer to exchange advertising plugs for each other's business's. (This works well if you communicate with your clients via an email newsletter or direct mail.)

5. Offer a FREE mini-workshop. In tough times, people need more convincing to buy. So offer a free sample of your workshop (a forty minute talk, say) at a local venue such as a public library or church coffee hour. Give participants time to ask questions, and have lots of handouts available about your bigger, more elaborate (paid) workshop to be held a few weeks later. And be sure to make the occasional reference to it in your free talk. Finally, make your free talk compelling and packed with good stuff. It can be a very general overview or 'taste' of your more fleshed out paid workshop. (You don't have to give away all your goodies, of course, but don't be afraid to share a few key pieces.) Wary buyers cannot resist excellence.

6. Lower the price. Not always the most fun option, but one that works ? especially if you have a themed sale, such as Wipe Out the Winter Blahs Special or a Kick Off the New Year With a Bang. If possible, try to position your price reduction as a limited time gift for your clients ? one that ties in with a particular need or time of year. This lets them know you are, in fact, thinking of them and their best interests.

7. Offer bonuses. We all love something free, so come up with some highly desirable bonuses that are just irresistible. These can be free reports that get downloaded automatically, or sent with registration info. Or it could be a tangible product, such as a book, a mug,

8. Enroll a friend for a discount. Or if you don't want to offer a discount, encourage clients to bring a friend who can act as an on-going supporter with the work of the workshop. (And, of course, they can provide the same to their friend.) Such support is actually one of the best ways to get your material to 'stick', so your client's get more on-going value from the workshop, so this plan is a real win-win. Consider tailoring the workshop to pairs such as mothers and daughters, work buddies (great for stress reduction!), married couples, fathers and sons, or best friends. If you pitch it to couples, you could market it to resorts as part of a Second Honeymoon or Mom-Daughter Getaway package weekend.

About The Author

If you're interested in leading your own workshops, but don't know quite where to start, check out my How Much Joy Can You Stand? Facilitator's Home Study Course. You'll learn how to create, book, fill and lead your own workshop. Details and a FREE sample are at http://www.howmuchjoy.com/tangfacil.html

Suzanne's free ezine, The Joy Letter, brings you a crisp, fresh burst of inspiration for your dream every week or two. Sign up at http://www.howmuchjoy.com/joyletter.html

info@howmuchjoy.com

---

4 Dynamic Marketing Tactics

Some of the simplest marketing tactics often produce the most... Read More

10 Elements Every Direct Mail Piece Should Have

Don't want your direct mail to end up in the... Read More

Natural Marketing for Full Business Success

Is your mind muddy on marketing? Do you wake up... Read More

When You Need More Than Magic To Keep Your Marketing Going

It is easy to focus on what remains outstanding and... Read More

CRM System: Give Meaning to Your Data

A customer relationship system (CRM) system uses technologically-driven strategies to... Read More

7 Cheap & Easy Ways To Get Prospects

Here are some quick techniques you can put into place... Read More

Target Marketing - What Are You Aiming For?

Is Advertising Viable?At the turn of the 20th century, department... Read More

Create Free Internet Buzz with Your Workforce

There are many different ways to increase your traffic on... Read More

Fern Reisss PublishingGame.com: Achieve Media Attention for Your Business

Do you want to be quoted by the national press... Read More

Turbocharge New Sales with a Marketing Database

What is the most valuable asset your company owns? Inventory?... Read More

Getting Personal ? Innovative Marketing for Small Business Owners

The small business marketing strategy you can't afford to miss... Read More

10 Reasons Why Businesses Fail at Marketing.

1) They don't fully understand it.Perception: Marketing is advertising. Reality:... Read More

Whats Your Marketing Weak Link?

Your marketing weak link could be undermining the rest of... Read More

Profitable Marketing Programs (Part 1)

Deciding whether a particular marketing program is profitable to your... Read More

Increase Sales With Travel Incentives

Today's business environment has changed dramatically over the past 10... Read More

Terrific Titles, Happenin Headlines

You've probably heard the slogan, "You never get a second... Read More

Shopping Comes Back To The Community

THE GREAT BRITISH TRADITION OF STREET MARKETS IS UPHELD AT... Read More

Small Business Pricing Strategies

Think the best way to get more customers is to... Read More

Are You Playing Checkers or Chess?

When you think about how to attract more clients for... Read More

The Use of Bar Code SMS in Mobile Marketing, Advertising, CRM

Anybody that frequents shopping malls are familiar with the bar... Read More

Dont Advertise Your Business - Market It!

Too many business owners believe that marketing their business means... Read More

Build A Successful Business By Staying Connected

Over the course of your business life you'll come in... Read More

Newsletters are Marketing Machines!

Is your business publishing a print or e-newsletter? An informative... Read More

Integrity and Marketing - Finding the Right Balance

When marketing themselves to leads and prospects there are five... Read More

7 Ways a Copywriter Can Help Your Business Succeed

Think you can't afford to hire a copywriter? Think again.... Read More