Stop Writing Blog Posts Nobody Reads: A Modern Guide to Getting Your Content Noticed

Think about how much work goes into writing a blog post.

First, you search for the right topic. You make notes on your phone, collect ideas throughout the week, and mentally test different titles while you’re supposed to be doing something else.

Then you finally sit down to write.

You rearrange your schedule, open a blank document, and begin turning your experience, knowledge, and creativity into something you genuinely believe can help people. You revise it, proofread it, select an eye-catching image, add a compelling title, and click “Publish.”

Then you sit back with a satisfying sense of accomplishment.

But your work is not finished.

Cue the sound of a record scratching.

Publishing Is Only the Beginning

Why did you spend all that time writing the article?

Presumably, you wanted someone to read it.

Yet many bloggers invest nearly all their energy in creating content and almost none in helping people discover it. They publish an article, share it once, if at all, and then move on to the next one.

A few weeks later, they look at the statistics and discover that only eight people read it. Or perhaps it was four, eleven, or fourteen.

The problem may not be the quality of the article. The problem may simply be that not enough people knew it existed.

Blog posts rarely promote themselves. If you want your ideas to reach people, you need a plan for distributing them.

DailyGreatness Planners that will change your life.

Start With a Strong Reason to Click

Before promoting your article, make sure the title gives people a reason to stop and pay attention.

A good title should clearly communicate what the reader will gain. It might:

• Ask a question the reader already has
• Promise a useful outcome
• Identify a common problem
• Create curiosity without being misleading
• Include a number or specific detail
• Speak directly to a particular audience
• Challenge a familiar assumption

“Thoughts About Business Communication” is vague.

“7 Communication Habits That May Be Costing You Customers” is specific, relevant, and much more likely to earn attention.

Your title should create interest, but it must also accurately represent the article. A sensational title may attract a click, but readers will quickly leave if the content fails to deliver.

Share the Article More Than Once

When your post goes live, share it on the platforms where your intended readers are most likely to spend time. Depending on your audience, that might include:

• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Pinterest
• Threads
• An industry-specific group or online community
• Your email newsletter

Don’t simply paste the link and write, “Here is my latest blog post.”

Give people a reason to click.

Pull out an interesting observation, ask a related question, share a short personal story, or identify the problem the article helps solve.

For example:

Have you ever spent hours writing an article only to discover that almost no one read it? Writing may be the creative part, but distribution is what gives your ideas a chance to travel. Here are several practical ways to help your next post reach more people.

One article can support several different promotional messages. Share the same article again later with a new quotation, question, graphic, example, or angle.

Many of your followers will not see the first announcement. Reintroducing useful content is not excessive self-promotion. It is giving more people an opportunity to find it.

Don’t Try to Be Everywhere

You do not need to promote every article on every available platform.

Choose the channels that fit your subject and your readers.

A leadership or business article may perform well on LinkedIn. A parenting article might gain more discussion on Facebook or through an email list. A visual tutorial, craft project, or book-related article may be well suited to Pinterest or Instagram.

Two carefully selected channels, used consistently, can be more valuable than six neglected ones.

Use Your Email List

Social media audiences are valuable, but platforms decide how many of your followers see each post. Your email list gives you a more direct connection with people who have chosen to hear from you.

Send subscribers a short introduction to the article, explain why it matters, and invite them to continue reading on your website.

If your blog has an RSS feed, email services can even automate blog-post announcements on a daily, weekly, or monthly schedule. Mailchimp, for example, supports automated RSS blog updates.

You should also include a simple email signup opportunity on your blog. A reader who enjoys one article may be interested in your future work—but only if you provide an easy way to stay connected.

Turn One Article Into Multiple Pieces of Content

A good blog post should not live in only one format.

You can turn one article into:

• A series of short social posts
• A quotation graphic
• A one-minute video
• A podcast discussion
• A checklist
• A carousel or slideshow
• A downloadable worksheet
• A newsletter feature
• A discussion question
• A short presentation

This is not laziness or unnecessary repetition. People consume information differently. One person may read a 1,000-word article, while another may discover the same idea through a graphic or a 60-second video.

Each smaller piece can direct interested readers back to the complete article.

Write for People, and Make It Easy for Search Engines to Understand

Search visibility still matters, but stuffing an article with repetitive keywords is not an effective modern strategy.

Google recommends creating helpful, reliable content primarily for people. It also recommends using the language readers would naturally use when searching for the subject, particularly in prominent places such as the title and main heading. Google calls this “people-first content.”

Before publishing, ask:

• What question does this article answer?
• Who is it written for?
• What phrase might that person type into a search engine?
• Does the title clearly describe the benefit?
• Have I included examples from my own experience?
• Is the article easy to scan on a phone?
• Have I linked to other useful articles on my site?

Search engines, and AI-powered search tools, have access to an enormous amount of generic information. What they cannot reproduce as easily is your personal experience, original examples, specialized knowledge, case studies, opinions, and lessons learned.

That is what makes your article worth finding.

Encourage Conversation

End your article with a simple invitation.

Ask readers to share an experience, answer a question, subscribe, download a resource, or read a related post.

For example:

What has been your most effective way of attracting readers to your blog? Share your experience in the comments.

A clear invitation gives readers something to do after they finish reading. It can also turn a one-way article into a continuing conversation.

Pay Attention to the Right Results

Page views matter, but they do not tell the whole story.

Also look at:

• How long readers remain on the page
• Which promotional channels send visitors
• Whether readers join your email list
• Which articles receive comments or shares
• Which links readers click
• Whether the article produces inquiries, sales, invitations, or new relationships

An article read by 100 well-matched people may be more valuable than one viewed by 5,000 people who have little interest in your work.

It Is Time to Toot Your Own Horn

Many of us were raised to believe that drawing attention to ourselves was selfish. We were told not to brag, show off, or toot our own horns.

But sharing useful work is not the same as boasting.

If you have written something that can inform, encourage, entertain, or help another person, promoting it is part of the responsibility you accepted when you decided to publish it.

Don’t spend hours creating valuable content only to leave it sitting quietly in an unnoticed corner of the Internet.

Write it.

Publish it.

Promote it.

Repurpose it.

And give your ideas the opportunity to reach the people who need them.

Have You Ever Thought About Becoming a Conference Speaker?

Every year, thousands of conferences, conventions, association meetings, trade shows, and corporate events hire speakers to educate, inspire, motivate, and entertain their audiences. Many of those speakers earn more from a single presentation than some professionals earn in a week. Others use speaking as a way to build their business, promote their books, attract clients, increase their visibility, and establish themselves as recognized experts in their field.

Get the book TODAY!

What surprises many people is that most conference speakers did not start their careers on a stage. They started exactly where you may be right now. Sitting in the audience. Watching someone else speak. Wondering what it would be like to stand at the front of the room.

I know because that's how my journey began.

Over time, I moved from attendee to presenter, from presenter to breakout speaker, and eventually to keynote speaker. Along the way, I learned that conference speaking is not nearly as mysterious as most people think.

The funny thing is that after many events where I was a conference speaker... people walked up to the

stage when I was done and asked me the same question, city after city... "I want to do what you're doing, speaking on what I'm passionate about from the stage." That's how this book was born.

Conference planners are constantly searching for knowledgeable, reliable, audience-focused speakers who can deliver exceptional presentations and make their events successful. The good news is that those opportunities are available in virtually every industry and area of expertise.

Whether you're a consultant, coach, entrepreneur, trainer, author, business owner, educator, healthcare professional, or subject-matter expert, there are conferences looking for speakers who can provide value to their audiences.

My NEW book will show you how to find those opportunities, position yourself as a speaker, submit winning proposals, build relationships with conference planners, and deliver presentations that lead to repeat invitations.

You'll learn the differences between breakout sessions, showcase presentations, workshops, and keynote speeches. More importantly, you'll discover the professional habits and speaker behaviors that separate average presenters from the speakers conference planners invite back year after year.

This is not a book about theory. It is a practical roadmap based on real-world experience in the conference industry. This is not a book about theory. It is a practical roadmap based on real-world experience in the conference industry. 

If you've ever imagined yourself speaking at conferences, this book will show you exactly how to get there. Pick up your paperback or Kindle copy today—and if you prefer listening while you drive or exercise, the Audible edition is expected by July 5, 2026. 

How to Piss Off Producers and Never Get on TV and Radio

Marketing yourself as an expert in your field means getting in front of prospects using traditional media outlets such as television and radio news. But only those who know how to work effectively with the gatekeepers of this industry, known as producers, will actually get invited to appear in front of the camera or the microphone. This article lays out many successful techniques for working with producers, but in a humorous style that demonstrates what some adults actually do that kills their opportunities for getting media attention.

One way of growing your brand and expanding your influence as an industry expert is to become a much sought after contributor to television news programs. That means creating relationships with the producers of those news programs and giving them what they need to do their job... content. All it takes is a little humility, professionalism, patience, and persistence to make it happen. But all too often I've met people who don't get it and instantly ruin their chances of ever getting on those programs. They're also the ones who tend to complain as to why they aren't getting the business they expect. To give something for the rest of us to learn from, here are 12 ways of never getting on TV, courtesy of those who've burned their bridges before us. 

Don't Watch Local TV Programming: Major network affiliates offer local news programming to feature both local and national stories to inform and educate their viewers. Ignore your local stations and don't take the time to find out if they offer a morning, midday, or early evening local news magazine show that features local experts. 

Don't Contact Your Local Stations: Most major affiliate network stations have local offices and studios that are staffed by receptionists. Don't waste your time, trying to find their contact phone numbers to ask for the names and email addresses of the news magazine show producers. 

Don't Bother Introducing Yourself: Because you're far too busy and have so much to get done, don't reach out to the local producers with an introductory email explaining briefly who you are and what information you can provide them with, to help them beef up their segments. 

Don't Send them Leads: As an industry expert, you're probably constantly watching for the latest trends and producing content such as books, eBooks, articles, blog posts, and more. Don't bother to help a producer out by sending an email containing a 3 - 5 bulleted story lead each week that you can comment on. You have way more important things to do. 

Take Your Sweet Time Replying: If by chance a TV news program producer does respond to one of your leads, wait a few days or even weeks to reply. Better yet, have your assistant reply instead or ignore the email all together. You can't possibly be expected to fit in one more thing into your day. 

Make Your Existing Appointments More Important: When a producer needs an on-air contributor, they may ask an expert to come in at a moment's notice or very early in the morning or even very late at night. Decline the producer's request by being too busy or unwilling to move existing appointments. This way they are sure not to contact you in the future. 

Let Them Know How You Were Inconvenienced: If by chance you get invited into the studio for an on-camera interview and it is cancelled or postponed, place a call or send an email to the producer letting them know how inconvenient that unexpected change was. I'm sure they will apologize and make it up to you. 

Demand to Speak with Their Boss: If you had gotten all the way into the studio and your segment is suddenly preempted for breaking news and you're dismissed, let the producer know how angry you are and demand to speak to her boss about being inconvenienced. 

Call and Voice Your Disappointment: If the segment in which you were interviewed did not air on the date and at the time you were told, call or write the producer to let him know how unfair it was for you to have invested your time and effort for no reason. I'm sure they'll make sure it never happens again. 

Do Not Send a Thank You Note: Save your money and don't buy a box of thank you cards. Forget about sending off a short note of thanks to the news program producer, you can use that valuable five minutes for other more important matters. 

Let Them Find Their Own Expert: Once you establish a relationship with a TV show producer, they may contact you out of the blue, when they are seeking commentary on a topic that is close to, but not exactly within your area of expertise. Let them know that you can't help them or just ignore their request all together. Do not recommend to them, any other experts in your network that may be more skilled at providing what they're seeking. Why bother helping them if you're not going to benefit from the opportunity. 

Send a "Nasty Gram" Letter to the Studio: Without notice, your emails to the producer are coming back undeliverable, stating that the producer is no longer working there. TV producers experience lots of stress and are under great pressure, which means the person in that position may change frequently. But that's not your problem. Send an email or letter to the studio describing your inconvenience of having to start the process of finding the contact information for the new producer, all over again. As ridiculous as some or all of these points might sound to you, I've seen or heard of unconscious professionals making these exact mistakes. I coach experts in growing their speaking business. I help my clients understand how busy producers are and what it takes to grow yourself as an industry expert that producers call first. I welcome comments on how you've seen others make these mistakes or new ones that I did not include in this piece.

Bill Corbett is the author of the Amazon top-seller, From the Soapbox to the Stage: How to Use Your Passion to Start a Speaking Business. Connect with Bill at http://BillCorbett.com.

Be a Mover & Shaker with Your Kids - 7 Things Every Child of Divorce Needs

PARENTS WHO LISTEN MORE AND SPEAK LESS. A child's emotions, thoughts, and behavior may be unstable during this difficult time. They need to be able to express how they feel without their emotions begin stuffed. Some of the things they say may be difficult for the parent to hear, so don't dismiss or minimize what is said or how they feel.

REGULAR ACCESS TO GRANDPARENTS. Relationships with your extended family may be difficult for you, but the kids still need them. Determine what access grandparents and other extended family members will have to your children and remain open to the fact that these adults can be very helpful during this difficult time. It can often times be easier for children to express their feelings to grandparents and others.

PARENTS WILLING TO TAKE A PARENTING CLASS. I'm not talking about the inexpensive divorce class that most states require all divorcing parents to go through, I'm talking about a multi-session parenting class in which parents learn about the development stages of childhood and what constitutes normal and abnormal behavior. Getting this additional help from a class or even a parent coach can prepare you for major behavior challenges caused by the divorce.

FIRM BOUNDARIES AND LIMITATIONS. Even though many children and teens will push the limits even further during a divorce, they require firm rules to know that the parents are still in charge and care. Firm boundaries creates feelings of safety and love, especially during difficult times such as divorce. Avoid the urge to give in and bend rules, just to avoid hearing the dreadful statement, "I want to go live with my Dad (or Mom)."

RESPECTFUL TALK ABOUT THE OTHER PARENT. Your issues with your ex are your issues, not your child's. No matter how terrible of a person you feel your ex was to you or to the kids, your children will most likely still see them as the wonderful, flawless parent they once were. You don't have to speak affectionately about them in front of the kids, just respectfully.

CONSISTENCY ON RULES OF ACCESS TO INAPPROPRIATE MATERIAL. Your son comes home from a visitation with the other parent, with a new smart phone, tablet, violent video game, or any other object you normally don't allow him to have. Avoid thinking that he can keep it just because the other parent gave it to him. Calmly and kindly hold on to that item until the next visitation occurs. You can't do anything about what your child is exposed to in the other parent's home, but you can in your own.

PARENTS WITH EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. Going through a divorce can be devastating and something no one should go through alone. Seek out support groups in your community to get the help you need. Many churches offer a continuing workshop and support group called Divorce Care that is open to anyone, even if you are not a member of the church. Your children need you emotionally strong and able to provide the support they will need to get through this difficult time.

Bill Corbett is the founder of the HARTFORD SPRINGFIELD SPEAKER'S NETWORK, an award winning professional speaker who has been speaking since 1995, and a father and grandfather. As a behavior specialist, he has been on stages across the U.S. for everything from brief lectures to keynote speeches to multi-day training events, and was the featured speaker at a conference in The Netherlands in the Fall of 2015. He is a regular contributor to network television affiliates and provides one-on-one speaker coaching for business professionals. Learn more about him and his top-selling Amazon books.

Presentation Hack

Want a quick way to develop a presentation? Need a tool to be prepared if you're ever asked to speak on a topic of your expertise? Here's a great presentation hack to keep in your "back pocket" for any occasion. 

I call it the PREP formula for speaking. The P stands for POINT, the R stands for REASON, the E stands for EXAMPLE, and the final P stands for POINT. This formula can be used for a one-minute talk, a 90-minute keynote, or for an all day training.

You begin by stating the point you want to make to your audience or your listener(s). You then back that point up with one or more reasons as to WHY you're making that point. Your next step is to provide one or more examples to support each of your reasons. And your final close to your presentation is to restate the point you started out with, in a way that will motivate, inspire or entertain your audience.

So, the next time you're asked to give the toast at a wedding, provide a blessing for a meal, give a project update at work, or give your elevator speech at a networking group, you have a speaking hack that works every time. I even use it to build my training presentations for the work that I do.


Bill Corbett is the founder of the HARTFORD SPRINGFIELD SPEAKER'S NETWORK and an award winning professional speaker who has been speaking since 1995. He has been on stages across the U.S. for everything from brief lectures to keynote speeches to multi-day training events, and was the featured speaker at a conference in The Netherlands in the Fall of 2015. He is a regular contributor to network television affiliates and provides one-on-one speaker coaching for business professionals. Learn more about him and his top-selling Amazon books.

When Defamation Becomes Stalking

I got hired to deliver the keynote address at a national European conference on increasing parent involvement in Dutch Schools. The day was a success and so was my keynote. I had nonstop visitors at my book-signing table telling me how moved they were by my keynote. And better yet, my client was incredibly pleased with my performance.

The day after the conference I was having lunch with my client. During our time together, he asked me if a certain person's name meant anything to me. I nearly dropped my fork in my salad. The name he mentioned was the same name of a man who had been stalking me for the past few years. I told my client about this man and the defamation and libel he had been using to bring damage to my career with.

It all started many years earlier when this individual had his contract terminated with a national

company that had been sending him around the country to speak and train professionals. The company ended their relationship with him because of unprofessional behavior on his part, and replaced him and his program with me and mine. From that day forward, this man has been trying to destroy my business.

His tactic is to send a letter to a client or business partner of mine in hopes of convincing them to end their relationship with me. He even began sending them to prospective clients that I had not yet even contacted for business. His multi-page letter was filled with libel and wrapped up with an offer to hire him instead of me. My newest client sitting across from me at lunch that day in Holland, revealed his company had received just such a letter from this man.

I thanked my new client for the copy of the letter and for not allowing the content of that letter to change their minds on bringing me to their country. My client told me there were two reasons why this damaging letter did not change his mind: because all of my content across the Web was testimony to my talent and abilities, and because he too has a stalker lurking in the darkness, waiting to defame and cause him professional damage or harm.

We are reminded that the business world is no different than society, and may contain unbalanced individuals. The killing of two young news crew members gunned down in Roanoke, VA by a former coworker; an unbalanced man who wallowed in his termination over 2 years earlier, is a reminder of this fact. It can happen to anyone in any line of business.

As far as my stalker goes, I will collect evidence from as many of my past clients as I can who are willing to provide his letter or at least a statement that he contacted them. I will provide this documentation to my attorney and wait to see what actions, if any, I can take. My hope is he will find another obsession to focus on and disappear from my life.

Bill Corbett is the founder and organizer of the HARTFORD SPRINGFIELD SPEAKER'S NETWORK and an award winning professional speaker who has been speaking since 1995. He has been on stages across the U.S. for everything from brief lectures to keynote speeches to multi-day training events, and will be the featured speaker at a conference in The Netherlands this Fall. He is a regular contributor to network television affiliates and provides one-on-one speaker coaching for business professionals. Learn more about him and his top-selling Amazon books.

From Conference Attendee to Buying Customer

I wanted to reach more prospects so in addition to purchasing a vendor table at a conference, I submitted a proposal to do a workshop. When the conference committee accepted my proposal and I asked the young lady what the compensation for speaking was, she said it was nothing. But I did it anyway and it resulted in what I really wanted... sales!

At the conclusion of my workshop, I raffled off a few of my products to collect their business cards. In the days before I had products, I use to raffle off a gift basket of fun items. Then I returned to my office and did two things: I invited each person to connect on LinkedIn (if they had a profile) and asked them for a recommendation, and I sent them all an email, simply to thank them for attending my workshop. I also included a link to a PDF version of my presentation on my website that they could download and review.

Then after about a week or two, I called each one of them to

thank them again and to set up a phone meeting to discuss their business challenges related to my services. It allowed me to strengthen my relationship with them. Some even referred me to the person in their organization who may be more interested in my services.

Over the next few months I continued to contact all of my attendees until they either asked for a proposal, referred me, or told me they were not interested in my services. From the nearly 50 participants that attended my session that day, a solid 8 were still prospects with either proposals now in their hands or still considering hiring me when the conditions are right.

I've learned that it may take 5 or 6 contacts with a prospect before they turn into a paying customer. And in addition, people change, prospects get new positions, prospects move to other companies, and even a prospects conditions or needs change over time. I'm learning to keep myself in front of them until they are ready to buy.

Bill Corbett is the founder and organizer of the HARTFORD SPRINGFIELD SPEAKER'S NETWORK and an award winning professional speaker who has been speaking since 1995. He has been on stages across the U.S. for everything from brief lectures to keynote speeches to multi-day training events, and will be the featured speaker at a conference in The Netherlands this Fall. He is a regular contributor to network television affiliates and provides one-on-one speaker coaching for business professionals. Learn more about him and his top-selling Amazon books.

10 Things to do with Every Business Email You Receive

CHECK OUT THEIR PROFILE ON LINKEDIN to learn more about them. Do this to determine if there is something you can do to help them first, then determine if they can help you.

SEND THEM A CONNECTION REQUEST if you're not already connected. At the very least they could possibly see your WHAT'S HAPPENING updates.

ASK THEM FOR A RECOMMENDATION on Linkedin. Use their experience with you and what you do to give something to your prospects to see.

WRITE THEM A RECOMMEND ON LINKEDIN if you're familiar with their work and you feel comfortable endorsing them.

INVITE THEM to your Facebook, Youtube and/or Pinterest business page if you have one. It plugs them even further into your network.

ADD THEM TO A GOOGLE+ CIRCLE and/or find and follow them on Twitter. If you don't have a Twitter account, open one today.

INVITE THEM TO JOIN A LINKEDIN DISCUSSION GROUP you moderate or are active in. If you don't moderate a discussion group, consider starting one now based on your subject matter expertise.

CONNECT THEM WITH SOMEONE IN YOUR NETWORK who may be able to help them in some aspect of growing their business, and do it via email.

ASK FOR THEIR PERMISSION TO ADD THEIR NAME TO YOUR MAILING LIST. Doing it without asking them is bad business.

SEND THE ORIGINAL EMAIL TO YOURSELF MARKED AS AN ACTION ITEM if something further is needed before you delete it.

Bill Corbett is the founder and organizer of the HARTFORD SPRINGFIELD SPEAKER'S NETWORK and an award winning professional speaker who has been speaking since 1995. He has been on stages across the U.S. for everything from brief lectures to keynote speeches to multi-day training events, and will be the featured speaker at a conference in The Netherlands this Fall. He is a regular contributor to network television affiliates and provides one-on-one speaker coaching for business professionals. Learn more about him and his top-selling Amazon books.

To Tweet or Not to Tweet... Wait... What's a Tweet?

Have you noticed how much technology is being used by members of your audience at lectures and workshops lately? At my last workshop it appeared that nearly 60% of my participants were using a smartphone, tablet, or laptop.

I’m not sure if they were all taking notes. Some participants were surely catching up on work, or checking Facebook updates and email. Either way, it’s becoming ‘old school’ for participants to take handwritten notes during seminars, workshops, and presentations. People do love their devices. Maybe it’s time to embrace the trend.

The next time you’re planning a presentation, try handling the

technology conundrum the same way classrooms are starting to handle it. Instead of discouraging or barring the use of electronic devices, start incorporating them into your presentation.

The Internet Advantage:  Today, people bring laptops so they can type their notes instead of writing them. If there is internet access, Provide IP addresses in your PowerPoint presentations that will direct participant's online activity to websites where they can get supplemental information related to your topic.

Touch Screens and Teaching:  It’s hard to remember a time

before texting; nearly impossible to imagine a life without a cell phone. So why not use the technology to your advantage. Mike Fazio, executive director of the organization Workforce180, has found a way. Prior to the start of his events he obtains a temporary cell/SMS number. At the start of his lectures he gives the number to the audience so they can text him questions, answers to questions, respond to quizzes, and enter drawings for prizes. For him, the result is more interaction with this audience.

Savvy Professionals Tweet:  Social media professionals know the value of Twitter and have embraced it to leverage getting noticed and finding prospects. Posted at the bottom of each of my PowerPoint slides is my Twitter handle along with a hashtag related to what I’m speaking about. I encourage participants to follow me on Twitter and tweet comments during the lecture. The result is an increase in getting noticed in the ‘twittersphere’, as well as growth in my social media network.

Anyway you look at it, technology is here to stay. Embracing what new technologies have to offer is one more indication to your audiences that you are invested in making sure they have access to your valuable information. 

Bill Corbett is a professional speaker in the field of behavior and has a degree in clinical psychology from the University of Phoenix. He has been selected to deliver the keynote at a national Dutch conference for teachers and families in September of 2015. Learn more about him at http://StartaSpeakingBusiness.com.

Bill organizes and facilitates the Hartford Springfield Speakers Network in Southern New England so that he can hang out with like-minded professionals. He's the author of 8 books, including the Amazon top selling Kindle book, HOW TO BECOME A CONFERENCE SPEAKER.

6 Things that are Never Bad Ideas When it Comes to Speaking Events

A Cell  Phone Number
You can never tell what could go wrong at the last minute. In your speaker's agreement, its never a bad idea to ask for a cell phone number on the day of the event in case you're running late or you become lost. Providing your cell phone number for them will also allow the client to contact you if anything changes late in the game.

Parking / Building Entry Directions
I once got hired to speak at an employee meeting that was held inside of a convention center on a Sunday. The convention center was as big as a city and every door was locked and all parking lots were empty. I finally found the group in an out building that wasn't easy to find. It's never a bad idea to ask for any special instructions to eliminate just such a situation.

A Back Up LCD Projector
If your talk relies on your power point presentation and you own an LCD projector, it's never a bad idea to bring yours along if you are driving to the event. A hotel can usually produce a replacement but a smaller private client may not. At the very least, always be prepared to conduct your presentation without the power point. Print off copies of your slides to have as a backup plan.

Show Up Early to Scope it Out
Good speakers get to the location of the event in advance and stand at the front of the room before hand, to get a feel for the room. I once showed up early to an event and discovered the room wasn't going to work well for me. With my client's permission, I rearranged the room to enhance the audience's experience for the better. Doing that is never a bad idea.

Letter of Recommendation
One of the best ways of securing more speaking gigs is to have written recommendations from past clients, to share with prospective clients. Include a request for this letter in your speaker's agreement and then follow up with an email, after you've completed your presentation. If your client is an active Linkedin user, it's never a bad idea to send them a recommendation request.

Learn from Others' Experiences
It is never a bad idea to hear about the experiences other speakers have had. You'll learn what or what not to do to minimize their nightmares from becoming yours. I recently compiled 40 of the most harrowing stories from professional speakers on what can go wrong. Download the eBook by CLICKING HERE. It's just 99 cents.

Bill Corbett is a professional speaker who has been influencing audiences for over 20 years. He is the author of several books, including HOW TO BECOME A CONFERENCE SPEAKER. Bill has been selected to deliver the keynote at a large conference in the Netherlands in September of 2015. You can learn more about him at http://www.BillCorbett.com.

The Best Kept Secret for Becoming a Sought-After Speaker

I’m going to give you that secret in a minute. Some of you will skim down this post to find it and some of you will take the time to avoid doing that. But I want to bring attention to two of the words in the title of this post; SOUGHT-AFTER. I didn’t title this THE BEST KEPT SECRET FOR BECOMING A SPEAKER or even a GOOD SPEAKER.

What does SOUGHT-AFTER mean? It refers to speakers who get invited to speak at events numerous times, and are usually paid the fee they ask for. Conference and meeting planners love when they have the name of a speaker who performed really well and one who wowed the audience. These are the kinds of speakers who get invited back, over and over again.

I meet people everyday who desire to be one of these speakers, but they’re not. They get hired to speak to groups but then wonder months and years later, why they never got hired to do it again. And unfortunately, many of these folks never take measures to find out why.

So what does it take to become one of these speakers? You must have awesome stage presence and a high level of professional skills. And what can you do to develop these things? Are you ready… here’s the best kept secret… find and join your local Toastmasters chapter.

Toastmasters is an international nonprofit organization that fosters the development of

communication and leadership skills, using a “learn and then practice” model. You learn by attending business meetings, reading materials, selecting mentors, watching others, being open to evaluation, and then getting up in front of your peers to do it.

I joined over 20 years ago and have been a member since. Participating in the meetings is what really helped me to develop the skills I needed to get noticed, get hired and get invited back again and again.

So why do I refer to this as a best kept secret? Because Toastmasters chapters don’t usually have a marketing and advertising budget so very few people know they exist. And the professionals who do know about the chapters, don’t take measures to join the organization and participate.

So if you want to be one of those busy, highly paid, and much sought after speakers, go find your local Toastmasters chapter, join and participate. The kind of speaking skills that get people hired quickly and invited back again require regular learning and regular practice.

Just because you speak for a living doesn’t make you a good speaker. Stop whining about not getting opportunities and stop blaming your lack of success on someone else. After you join a chapter, LEARN, PRACTICE, PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR EVALUATIONS, MAKE CORRECTIONS, and REPEAT. Eventually the invitations to speak will increase.

Have questions about Toastmasters International? I don't benefit financially in any way, so I invite you to ask me.

Bill Corbett is the founder and director of the Hartford Springfield Speakers Network and the author of the book, From the Soapbox to the Stage: How to Use Your Passion to Start a Speaking Business. He has started or mentored numerous Toastmasters chapters in Nashville, TN and New England. Bill has been speaking professional for nearly 20 years and will deliver the keynote at a national conference in Holland in September 2015. You can learn more about Bill at http://www.BillCorbett.com.

Catapult Your Sales Funnel With This One Business Growth Idea

If you’re a coach like me, you may be interested in something I found that is the perfect way to create a steady stream of customers. It’s a secret I stumbled on that opened the door to lots of business that I had never expected. And once I implemented it, I discovered that others were doing it as well. Are you ready for this secret? Read on.

As a youth development consultant and parent coach, I wanted to figure out how to create a line of customers that might be likely to bring me revenue from one of my four revenue streams: purchasing my products, enrolling in my training programs, hiring me for private coaching, or hiring me to speak in front of somebody else’s audience.

I realized in this day and age of FREE stuff where ever you turn, I had to create an entry
level of FREE to attract attention and draw potential customers in to my sales funnel. I needed a draw in which I could offer some sort of FREE information, a FREE product, FREE training, or FREE coaching. Then, it struck me exactly how to do that.

I needed to find a location available to me in the evenings or on weekends that was FREE or low-cost. It had to be some sort of intimate room where I could host a one-hour reoccurring coaching session, FREE of charge to potential clients. I found that location and then began to advertise my FREE drop-in parent coaching sessions where ever I could.

One of my greatest successes was sharing the information on these sessions with people I call “gatekeepers”; folks who have access to my potential clients; parents. These gatekeepers were therapists, parent network organizers, teachers, principals, pediatricians, dentists, and others. Before I knew it, so many people had heard about my drop-in coaching sessions and the stream of potential customers began to flow.

Some came just to get the FREE advice. Others came and bought my materials I had set up on a sales table. Many came and walked out with a flier advertising my latest parenting class and a decent percentage signed up. And another smaller group hired me to conduct private coaching, paying my full fee.

The last group of folks were the best; they were the gatekeepers themselves, who came to see my coaching sessions for themselves, many eventually hiring me to speak at conferences and training events to their clients. This sales funnel had started and actually took on a life of its own. Now, don’t get me wrong; there were some nights that no one showed up, especially in the beginning. But I showed up for each session no matter what and always brought along my laptop to get some work done, just in case no one showed up.

This idea may not work for everyone, but if you’re a coach; business, writing, speaking, life, parent, or any sort of other coach, could this work for you? Could you offer some sort of regular weekly, monthly, or quarterly drop-in coaching that could start YOUR sales funnel? You’ll be surprised how far some folks will travel to get FREE advice and help they urgently need.

Need some help with this idea? Contact me for some coaching to get this one off the ground quickly.

Bill Corbett is a professional speaker who delivers keynote speeches and training seminars across the United States. When he's not helping youth workers and other caregivers with challenging behavior issues, he works with business clients to show them how to leverage 2.0 strategies in order to grow top line revenues. Bill has built several successful businesses from the ground up using top-notch entrepreneurial techniques to implement inbound marketing campaigns. He has thousands of followers and subscribers tuning into his various social media channels, and he knows how to work them all to maintain platform growth and connect with both new and established customers, clients, and collaborators. He is a much sought after business consultant, trainer and mentor, is a regular contributor to major network television affiliates, and produces two television shows as part of his own unique marketing plan. Link up with him on LINKEDIN by CLICKING HERE.

How to Stop Wasting Your Time and Get People to Read Your Blog

Think about it for a moment. You spend valuable time thinking up your topic for your next post. You’re using Evernote on your smart phone to make notes on ideas for titles. You spend time day dreaming, perhaps putting your marriage or your job at risk, crafting your next creative post.

The day arrives that you’re ready to put all of your creative spirit and your passionate energy into your blog post. You move meetings or other appointments to make the time to write, impacting other people’s lives. You pull up your word processor and the creative juices begin flowing as you construct amazing content that could potentially alter the life paths of your readers.

Content Rules: How to Create Killer Blogs That Engage Customers and Ignite Your Business

You read it over a few times and then sit back with great satisfaction with what you created. You select an eye-catching image to go along with the post and pick out a handful of striking search key words and then set up your post to go live on your designated day. You sit back and feel fulfilled that you completed your commitment to provide a thought provoking article, and then go on with your life. But your job as a blog contributor doesn’t end there (queue the sound bite of a record album getting scratched).

So why did you just go through all of the effort I described above?; to write valuable content

that will get read by many, of course. But have you looked at your past blog posts lately? How many have actually read your posts? Eight people? How about 2 or 14 or even 11? So why haven’t your posts been noticed by more readers? It’s because you’re not doing the most important part of being a blog writer… promoting your posts.

Writing the post is only a part of the process. Very few will actually find your post to read it if you’re not taking the time to share it. So, start increasing the readership of your blog posts by promoting them online today. As soon as your post goes live, copy the address of your blog post in the URL window of your browser. Post that URL along with a brief comment on your following social media channels:

• Your personal Facebook page: post it in the block at the top of the page, right over the words “What’s on your mind.”
• Your business Facebook page (if you have one): post your comments and paste the URL link in the box that contain the words “What have you been up to?”
• Your Linkedin profile: immediately upon logging in to your Linkedin profile, you’ll see a little narrow box at the top of the page with the words “Share an update.” This is where you’ll say a few words and then paste the link to your blog post.
• Your Twitter page: you will see a narrow box at the top of the screen that contain the words “What’s happening?” Writing in a few words and then past your post URL there.
• Linkedin groups that you subscribe to: go to the discussion page of those groups and along with a few words to entice group members, paste your post URL into as many groups as you can. Don’t forget the enticing words. Group administrators don’t like it when you only paste your post URL. And don’t forget to post it in our own HSSN Linkedin discussion group.
• Facebook groups: if you belong to any Facebook groups, do the same as I described above.
• Our HSSN Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/hartfordspringfieldspeakers): Lucinda Smith does a great job of putting up our posts on our group Face, but yet very few make comments. At the very least, when she puts YOUR post up, LIKE it or make a brief comment.
• Other blog posts: if you subscribe to other blogs, make a comment on another author’s blog post and include the URL to your post.
• Spend $5 on Fiverr: no, I didn’t misspell it. If you haven’t heard of Fiverr.com, you’re missing out. Spend $5 (plus .50) on this website and get your blog post blasted to thousands of potential readers across the globe. Do this as many times as you’d like, with many different sellers.

Your blog posts are not going to get found on their own. Social media works best when content writers promote their work. I know this flies in the face of what our mothers, fathers, and teachers taught us. We were told to stop bringing attention to ourselves because they believed that was a selfish thing to do. It’s time to shed the barriers our caregivers put on us as children and begin standing up and tooting our own horns!

One last tip for you bloggers… please craft blog titles that entice people to click on it to read it. Some of the most successful ones are: create a sense of urgency, make it personal, ask a question, make it clever, make it curious, and use numbers (5 Things That Will Make You More Money).

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Bill Corbett is a professional speaker who delivers keynote speeches and training seminars across the United States, and helps his clients leverage 2.0 strategies in order to grow top line revenues. Bill has built several successful businesses from the ground up using top-notch entrepreneurial techniques to implement inbound marketing campaigns. He has thousands of followers and subscribers tuning into his various social media channels, and he knows how to work them all to maintain platform growth and connect with both new and established customers, clients, and collaborators. He is a much sought after business consultant, trainer and mentor, is a regular contributor to major network television affiliates, and currently produces two television shows as part of his own unique marketing plan. Visit Bill's website at http://The20Entrepreneur.com.

What to do When No One Signs up for Your Workshop

Conducting public seminars, either free or for a fee, use to be a lucrative means for experts to bring in some extra income, increase their customer base, build their brand, sell their products, and up sell clients to more advanced training and coaching. But lately it seems that getting folks to register for anything is becoming more and more difficult. 

I’ve been asking professionals who I meet, why they think this problem exists. Some of the reasons I’ve hear are: there are too many out there vying for everyone’s attention, they have limited time or money to spend on attending these types of events, and they've attended too many that focused too much on the up sell toward the end and not enough on delivering what was promised. This last one has left a bad taste in their mouths for registering for future events.

The Best Bluetooth Speaker for Your Next Workshop

Instead of renting a hotel room, creating social media buzz, and hoping enough people register, an alternative route may be to go through an organization that manages an existing community. It is highly likely that your prospects all belong to an organization that connects people by employment, skill, education, interests, beliefs, or fellowship.

One alternative way of reaching your potential customer is through an organization they belong to and finding a creative way to engage that organization to allow you to conduct seminars for their members. Imagine your classic prospect in your mind and write down everything you know about them. What are the common interests that they share with others like them and investigate to see if an organization exists that pulls like individuals together.




As a behavior specialist, a classic prospect for me is a school principal who hires trainers and speakers for staff professional development days, and most principals belong to a principal association. Taking action, I sent my press kit to this association and included a proposal for a short presentation I could do for them free of charge, at their next association meeting. The annual meeting organizer eventually contacted me and invited me to speak at their meeting. From that free presentation came numerous RFPs for future training opportunities at individual schools.

So… what groups do YOUR prospects belong to?

Bill Corbett is a professional speaker who delivers keynote speeches and training seminars across the United States, and helps his clients leverage 2.0 strategies in order to grow top line revenues. Bill has built several successful businesses from the ground up using top-notch entrepreneurial techniques to implement inbound marketing campaigns. He is a much sought after business consultant, trainer and mentor, is a regular contributor to major network television affiliates, and currently produces two television shows as part of his own unique marketing plan. You can visit his website http://The20Entrepreneur.com or email him at bill@billcorbett.com.