Beyond the obvious ways to make the event a success (invite the right people – people who have supported you in the past or could be an ally in the future- and have food) there are some creative clues to an excellent event.

• Hold the event in an odd location.
• Come up with a strong theme.
• Make it memorable.
• Have them come to you.
•  Combine and conquer
•  Team up with the media. By making the media a cosponsor, you can trade for ad space)
• If you aren’t a celebrity, get one.
• Turn a sales pitch into a performance.  If you are a performer, one of the cheapest forms of promotion is….performing
• Tie in with a charity. Now that your event involves a charity angle, you can take advantage of free listings and gain access to their mailing list.

To Speak or Not to Speak? Good Question

Speaking is a cheap (and effective) form of advertising and may be the best way to reach affluent busy people. You earn their trust and it builds up your credibility. It is a fantastic networking tool, too. You don’t have to grovel or approach people, they will seek you out after your talk.

No PowerPoint!!!  Nearly 90 percent of all electronic slides are created in PowerPoint. That is 90 percent too many, in my opinion.  They make presenters lazy. With the advent of technology we have lost sight that at the heart of very great presentation is the presenter. A person with a powerful message who can, with a few good words, win people over and galvanize them into action.