Virtual Event Success

I’ve blogged a few times about my feelings against hosting a free telesummit. That’s the one where you get all the sessions after you input your email address and first name in a sign up box.

Telesummits and virtual events cost money to run. You have to pay money to:

• rent a bridge line service
• get your assistant to help you with the administrative tasks
• buy materials to send to attendees
• get a graphic designer to design the creatives
• get the recordings transcribed (the most expensive virtual event task)
• and more…

I conducted a survey asking those who have organized telesummits how much they spent to produce it. Close to 76% of respondents spent between $500 to $2,500 to produce their telesummit or virtual event.

Some telesummit hosts and organizers “cheap out” by not paying for some of the tasks above and instead, do it themselves. If you put sweat equity into producing your telesummit or virtual event, the stains of mediocrity will show through your sales page like sweat marks on a blue, button up cotton shirt.

This is NOT the solution.

My friend, Shannon Cherry, has convinced me that you can host a free telesummit only if you do one simple thing.

Want to find out what that is? I’m hosting a 60-minute call at 8pm Eastern on October 13, 2010 called:

Using Shannon’s tips, I was able to generate close to $60,000 using the free telesummit model and I’m happy that Shannon has agreed to share this info with you.

Register for this no-cost call by clicking here. I’ll be using the refresh model for tonight’s preview call, so if you want an example of how to do your preview calls differently, sign up as well.

Of course, if you can’t make the call live, register anyways because only those on the list will receive the access to the limited time recording.

Looking forward to sharing Shannon’s tips and advice with you.

Update: You can get the recording by clicking here.

When I was 30-years old, I had an awakening. I had gone through my 20s very angry about many things. When I finally reached the big 3-0, I was:

• Single after ending a 5-year relationship
• Back in church after not stepping foot in one for over 8-years
• Hopelessly bouncing between periods of wild wealth and abject poverty and wondering how I would break the cycle

It was the summer of my 30th birthday when I attended T. Harv Eker's 3-day intensive Millionaire Mind seminar. From 8:30am til about 6:30pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday on a hot, humid and muggy weekend, I crammed into the Metro Convention Centre in downtown Toronto with a couple thousand other people to develop our millionaire mindset.

And what a powerful experience.

I still have the notebook filled with all the notes I copied down from that 3-day event. We did tons of exercises on how to have a better relationship with our money. As I look at my notes, a couple things stood out that changed my destiny for good...

That if I don't respect my money, it won't stay where it's not wanted.

Why Social Media Is No Longer About Marketing

If you haven't figured it out, people don't need you in order to talk about your brand. They'll go to Twitter, Facebook and blogs, meet up with your fans (or foes) and carry on a conversation.

[...]

Many small business owners and entrepreneurs think marketing and publicity is out of their reach, especially when they feel they can’t compete budget-wise with big corporations.

But one publicity professional disagrees. Shannon Cherry feels with the right amount of exposure in the right places, any small business can flourish and succeed.

Listen to this 12-minute interview that I had with Shannon where she explains what Be Heard Day is all about and how you can claim over $5,500 worth of gifts at no charge so you can Be Heard. Be sure to listen before March 20, 2009 as the free gifts disappears on that date.

Show Notes

00:00 - Leesa introduces Shannon
01:25 - Shannon explains the history behind Be Heard Day
03:00 - Shannon shares how social media helped her connect with movers and shakers in her industry
04:34 - Shannon shares how effective social media is at generating leads
07:35 - Shannon explains what makes social media so seductive
09:00 - Both Leesa & Shannon discuss the one thing that people miss when using social media
10:48 - Shannon shares how you can find out more about Be Heard Day
11:57 - Leesa closes the interview

Click the Arrow Below to Play this Audio

[audio:http://virtualeventsuccess.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/lbarnes-beheardday-2009mar.mp3]

I'm so jazzed that Angela Wills has asked me to speak at her upcoming virtual event called the Marketer's Mojo Virtual Conference.

I share the stage with some of my favorite people, including WendyY Bailey, Shannon Cherry, Kelly McCausey, Erin Blaskie and many other fine ladies.

I speak on February 17th on a totally brand new topic called:

Social Media With Curves: How Women Can Use the Fine Art of Giving, Helping and Sharing to Attract Leads in a Painfree Way Using Social Media

The cost of registration is so inexpensive and you get to hear my session, as well as 19 other women present on the dozens of ways you can build a business you'll love. Click here to register your spot.

I'm at the half way point of the 2009 Social Media Telesummit, I've been blown away by the level of content presented by the faculty. And I'm equally pleased at how quickly attendees are embracing and implementing these ideas.

Here are some highlights from the 12 speakers:

• Paul Colligan gave his tips on how he updates his status on dozens and dozens of social media websites in just 15 minutes per day.
• David Meerman Scott gave his tips on how to create triggers online and get millions of people to share your ideas. David's advice caused one attendee to completely change his launch plan regarding one of his products. David's advice was so profound, it caused me to question everything I've been told about internet marketing.
• Coach Deb shared her C.H.A.R.M. formula on how to create tribal seduction with people online.
• The session that helped the 2009 Social Media Telesummit become one of the Top 10 most popular topics being discussed on Twitter was Scott Stratten. Scott shared how to make good investments in your social currency.
• Adam Urbanski followed up with his advice on how to turn contacts into contracts. Adam's advice went counter to what the previous speakers said because he gave a specific roadmap on how to present offers to your friends and followers online without pissing them off.
• The biggest eye opener was from Chip Lambert who taught us how to use LinkedIn in a more strategic way. Chip shared the differences between Facebook and LinkedIn and why the way you use Facebook is NOT the way you'd use LinkedIn.
• Lou Bortone started off Day 3 giving us a tutorial on how to use online videos to build your personal brand.
• The Blog Squad shared their tips on how to get maximum visibility through your blog.
• Fred Castaneda ended Day 3 teaching attendees how to create premium podcasts from information products.
• Kim Dushinski, Shannon Cherry and Des Walsh spoke today (I'll have summaries for these 3 sessions in a bit).

There's still time to register your spot as we have 4 days and 12 sessions still left to go through live. If you can't call-in to the live sessions, you'll have unlimited access to the online recordings. Depending on the plan you purchase, you can download the recordings or have them mailed to your door on a portable media player.

Now, if you think that the 2009 Social Media Telesummit is only about listening to sessions over the phone, it's much more. Attendees and speakers interact with each other in the private Facebook group and use a hashtag to share their discoveries and reactions on Twitter. It's a 360-degree experience.

After January 30, 2009, you will not be able to register for the 2009 Social Media Telesummit. I'm serious, if you visit the sales page on January 31, 2009, the registration links will be gone. So head on over to the 2009 Social Media Telesummit information page and register your spot.

And if you'd like to see what's up and coming on the 2009 Social Media Telesummit schedule, click here.