Speak at Meetups

Issue #812 April 26, 2014
Publisher: Joan Stewart

“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

In This Issue

Speak at Meetups
More Fun Chalk Signs
Memorial Day Story Ideas
Hound Photos of the Week

This Weekend in the Hound House:

We had a ball at the fashion shown where I modeled six outfits on Wednesday night. At those fashion shows in Paris, the models look so incredibly sad while prancing down the runways, maybe because they haven’t eaten in a week. I could barely keep from cracking up. I wish you could have been there to see me in my Little Red Riding Hood rain poncho!

1. Speak at Meetups

If you serve a niche market and want to get onto the speaking circuit, check out the Meetups in your town, or in towns you visit.

Meetups are neighbors getting together to learn something, do something and share something. More than 142,000 Meetups have been organized in 146 countries, and you’ll find one for almost any business or leisure topic.

Two weeks ago, when I spoke to the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association, I contacted the moderator of the Bay Area Bloggers Society and asked if I could do a two-hour presentation for her Meetup group the day before. She jumped at my offer and promoted it on their Events page.

It gave me additional exposure and publicity because they were talking about me long before I arrived.

Meetups are fabulous for beginning speakers because the smaller groups are less stressful than speaking at business luncheons for groups like the Rotary or Chamber of Commerce.

The Meetup I attended turned into an interesting conversation about Internet marketing and social media, with so many ideas flying around the room, people couldn’t write fast enough.

Go to MeetUp.com and use the search box to look for Meetups near you. If you’re going out of town on business, search for Meetups in the town you’re visiting, like I did. Contact the organizer and ask if you can do a program either for free or for a small fee. I’ve done it both ways.

If people can’t attend, they can at least learn about you from the MeetUp page, and you can get more exposure afterward when those who attended comment on your presentation like they commented on mine. If you have more tips for speaking at Meetups, let me know and I’ll include them in a blog post, or in this newsletter.

2. More Fun Chalk Signs

Remember last Saturday’s tip about those artsy sidewalk signs written in chalk, located outside bars, restaurants and stores? If you missed it you can read it at my blog.

I just found 17 photos of sidewalks signs with clever sayings. They might spark an idea or two for you.

3. Memorial Day Stories

In the U.S., Memorial Day is right around the corner, on Monday, May 26. Consider pitching:

–Stories about interesting veterans.

–Stories about nonprofits or other groups that help veterans.

–Unusual parades or parade floats (ask a local TV anchor to be the grand marshal).

–Stories about picnic food, with recipes.

It’s too late to get into magazines, but you can pitch local newspapers and TV stations.

4. Hound Photos of the Week

Thanks to BL Ochman of New York City, for these photos of the Golden Retriever Festival in Scotland.

That’s the same BL Ochman who was my guest expert on the recent Google Hangout last week on How to Use Google+ Communities to Connect with Influential People. If you missed it, grab the replay and the big bonus package that includes more how-to videos.