Collaborate with Other Complimentary Service Providers Team up with someone who is in a different business who is also interested in doing a workshop to boost their business. Successful collaborations I have seen include a financial planner and a psychologist who discuss practical and psychological issues to consider, a nutritionist and a personal trainer who discuss diet and exercise, a workplace safety consultant with an ergonomic consultant who discuss safety and ease of movement on job. Collaboration on a program is less costly and allows each of you to draw on potential client base of other. Additionally it will be more fun and probably less work. If event is successful, repeat it on a regular basis.

Maximize The Effects of Your Event

Get some publicity for your event. This can create buzz about you and your business. Even if people do not attend, getting word out is beneficial. Invite more people than you can accommodate since there will always be no shows, ten to one is not out of line.

Use your events to make contact with people. Follow up invitations you send with a phone call to reconnect, build rapport, and find out if they are ready to do some business.

Ask your clients to bring others. Whenever possible provide clients and their guests with complimentary attendance. This will cultivate both relationships for everyone's benefit.

At event, ask attendees questions about you and your business and listen to their feedback. You will learn about their perception of you and how you can better serve them.

Include events in your marketing efforts. Assess results of each event and incorporate what you learn to improve event next time.

o After you meet someone you want in your sphere of influence, always send them a handwritten note. The note need not say more than "nice to meet you." Print note cards with your photo on them to insure that people will remember who you are, and your note will make more impact. Don't send someone a solicitation letter.

o Refer people in your sphere of influence to each other. When you put two people together and it goes well, you become a hero.

o Create a contact schedule. How often are you going to contact everyone in your sphere of influence - monthly, quarterly, semiannually ? How are you going to contact them ? - by phone, with a note, by sending a newsletter?

o Consider holding an annual event for your sphere of influence. You could partner with a friend in a complimentary business and double your sphere of influence in one night.

o When people refer business to you, thank them at least 3 times - with a phone call, with a note, and by thanking them in person, in public, in front of other people. Everybody appreciates recognition!

o Do not focus on getting business immediately. Focus on creating a solid relationship with people so they know you, like you and trust you. Eventually, they will refer business to you or become a regular customer.

o Create a system for keeping track of people either record information that is important to them - their spouse's name, their professional affiliations, any awards they have won, etc.

o When you want to know someone better invite them to events that you know would be of interest to them. This is a simple, easy way to build a relationship with someone.

People buy from you when they know you, like you and trust you. Business is not about what you do or how you do it. Business is about relationships, about helping others overcome their challenges and meet their objectives, about finding out what needs to be done and doing it. Provide people with support and you will build a large sphere of influence that supports your business.