Speak and Sell...Starting in Your Hometown

by Jodi Jill

Published on this site: April 30th, 2005 - See more articles from this month...

Every day I speak to local groups. Sometimes 2 or 3 times a day. Even on weekends. At every talk I sell a product...my book...to over HALF the audience. Plus I get referral sales on my website. You can too.

Over two years ago I had 10,000 books to peddle immediately. I would be at bookstore signings, smile and beg people to buy the book. Well, suffice to say bookstores are tough venues, but reality was I would sell one or two books and come home crushed that I didn’t sell enough. So I did some research and discovered I had it all wrong.

I found out that 42% of the population doesn’t visit a bookstore. Upon more research I found that 60% of the population prefers to purchase something that has a friend or family recommendation. Frustrated and annoyed, I started speaking for free at groups in my community. Originally it was just to get some feedback. Stunned, I found that the majority of the local groups didn’t have many good speakers. They were welcoming with open arms and delighted I took the time. Even so I was completely shocked as I started to sell books to the group members.

Two years later, my book has been reprinted twice, my publisher loves me because he made more money than selling the books through the stores and the books became a popular series. Far from a beginning of a no name author, I now have people calling me to talk at their group instead of the other way around. And I have a pulse on the market as I see my audience every day.

Want to speak and sell? You can and here are some pointers to get started:

1. Offer yourself as just a member of the community with some good information. Be humble and be informed. Once they know you are local they will listen.
   
   
2. Don’t pitch your product. Come to share information verbally about the subject. You would be amazed how many people can’t
   remember things and that means you have a pending sale.
   
   
3. Ask every group in town. Make your talk basic with a twist on the audience you are addressing. How many concerts have you gone to where the artist says the name of the town and the fans go crazy? Well, do the same, but name the group.
   
   
4. Don’t talk too long. An average talk is 20 to 30 minutes. Instead of taking the entire time, take 3/4. Leave the audience wanting more (so they will be interested in your product.)
   
   
5. Introduce yourself to everyone before the presentation begins.
   Say hi, smile and be delighted to be there. The more people who
   know your name the better the chance of a sale.
   
   
6. Bring your products, but do it quietly. I have a small black doctors bag. Never show the products before the talk and always
   end by commenting on how proud you are about the product. Of
   course, pass around one and make sure everyone touches it.
   
   It doesn’t matter if you are selling a book or a banana, local groups are a great way to sell your product at most of the time
   it is at full retail price. Realistically, I sell 200-400 books a week and you can too. Just warm up that voice and go!

Jodi Jill is the author of the ebook, Speak and Sell Locally, a step-by-step guide for those looking to achieve high sales locally. You can find out more about her ebook at http://www.jodijill.com/ebook_001.htm. Her book series ‘Tours For Free’ are popular guides sharing where families can go on tours
at no charge. More info about her books visit http://www.toursforfree.com