Using Seminars to Promote Your Business

Promote your business by giving a seminar or presentation. You have expertise that other people are interested in! (You couldn't be in business if you didn't, and if you are an employee the employer is in need of your skills as only you can do it.) Why not share that expertise and promote your business at the same time?

For example, a local carpet company advertises a free seminar on installation techniques for a type of laminate flooring. Participants not only learn how to install this type of flooring themselves, but are offered special discount prices if they wish to purchase laminate flooring. Another local retailer who sells goods made of stained glass offers courses on working with stained glass on-site.

If there's no direct tie-in to your product or service, you can still give a presentation on a related topic. Nursery people or horticulturalists, for instance, often give demonstrations on topics such as tree-pruning, or slide shows of famous gardens they've visited. In my case, most of my business involves providing specific writing or training services to businesses and SEO advice so I give presentations on general topics such as "Promoting Your Business on a Shoestring" or "Using SEO to Increase Your Target Audience".

If it's not feasible to present the seminar at your site, because you're a home-based business or just don't have the facilities you need, arrange to give the seminar elsewhere. Many government-sponsored organizations, such as Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, Libraries and non-profit programs are always looking for experienced business people who are willing to give presentations. You may also be able to arrange to present your topic through the Continuing Education branch of your local college or university.

Scared? Start small and start building a name by making a presentation to one of your local groups such as your Home-Based Business Association or Business Women's network. If public speaking terrifies you, I can't recommend Toastmasters highly enough; this organization has helped a great many people get over this fear and be able to address groups of people.

So try using your voice to promote your business. It's actually one of the better low cost ways to do it.