WILL THIS WORK?
Frequently Asked Questions about The Speaker Marketing Workshop
Hi... It's David You'll find answers to your most frequently asked questions here.
Not BS ones like “How can I pay you more money NOW???” but real questions that I get asked all the time to help you decide whether The Speaker Marketing Workshop is right for you.
As always, I'll be 100% straight with you, and I’ll tell you whether this course is right for you or not.
Click a question below to jump to the answer:
WILL THIS WORK…?
- "What if I don't even have an idea for what to speak about?"
- "How is the Speaker Marketing Workshop different from other courses on the market?"
- "How do I know if I'm ready?"
- “Is this just for total newbies?"
- "How much help am I going to get?"
- "How do I convince my husband/wife to let me buy this course?"
- "When can I expect to make money?"
- "I need to make money FAST. Will this help?"
MENTAL BARRIERS AND DOUBTS
- "Ugh, I don't want this to become yet another thing on my to-do list."
- "What if I fall behind?"
- "What if I live in Europe (or somewhere else)
- “What if I’m left-handed? What if I live near the equator? What if my hair used to be blonde, but is now brunette, and I just saw two gray hairs last night?”
- "What if I'm just lazy and unmotivated?"
"IS THE SPEAKER MARKETING WORKSHOP RIGHT FOR ME?"
- "Is this course right if I want to sell public seminars and infoproducts? Will it cover creating apps, and affiliate marketing?"
- "I already have an idea for speaking about the mating habits of yaks / New Jersey's hidden vacation spots. Will SMW work?"
- "I already sell my books/ training/ coaching and do all right. Will this do anything for me?"
- "Is this just for speaking or can it be in conjunction with selling my book also?"
HOW THE SPEAKER MARKETING WORKSHOP WORKS
- "How does the course work?"
- "Is this course live? What if I can’t fly to Philadelphia?"
- "Do I get access to the entire course at once?"
- "How much time does it take to do this course per week?"
- "Does the Speaker Marketing Workshop cover business licensing, tax structure, etc?"
WHAT IF…?
- "Can I get a discount for being a student? In the military? Paying in cash? Non-profit? Hungarian?"
- "Can I just buy a portion of the program?"
- "Do you have a payment plan?"
- "What if I try the Speaker Marketing Workshop, and I decide it isn’t right for me?”
- "When will this be available again?"
- "How is the Speaker Marketing Workshop different from the Book Marketing Workshop? If I'm a speaker with a book, which is right for me?"
- "Can I start with the Speaker Marketing Workshop or do I need to take other courses from you first?"
WILL THIS WORK…?
"WHAT IF I DON'T EVEN HAVE AN IDEA FOR WHAT TO SPEAK ABOUT?" You do not need an idea for your speaking topic or programs to join the Speaker Marketing Workshop. We’ll show you exactly how to dig into your own skillset and come up with multiple ideas to create a profitable speaking business. Then, we’ll take you through the process to test your ideas, speaking topics, program titles, brands and sub-brands. You’ll quickly know precisely which ideas, topics, and niches will work for YOU as a paid professional speaker before you invest tons of time into pursuing it.
"HOW IS THE SPEAKER MARKETING WORKSHOP DIFFERENT FROM OTHER COURSES ON THE MARKET?" This is the only course that has been tested with 500+ paying customers, in 33 speaking topic areas (including business, leadership, marketing, sales, healthcare, wellness, real estate, communication skills, personal development, career success, technology, humor, motivation, e-commerce, creativity, innovation, and dozens more) over 10+ years. It is the only online business course for speakers that covers the entire process of creating, promoting, and profiting from a speaking-driven business. Nothing is assumed. And nothing is left out. You get the Speaker Marketing Workshop business development systems, marketing and sales templates, tools, scripts, detailed step-by-step training, plus ongoing support — all included in the course and yours FOR LIFE.
The Speaker Marketing Workshop contains extraordinarily detailed material on creating your business model, speaking model, and revenue model, building your online and offline speaker marketing tools, and creating your "perpetual marketing machine" that you'll use week after week, month after month, to systematically grow your reach and revenue as an expert who speaks professionally. Plus a 100% money-back guarantee. No other course comes close. Here's an email from an SMW graduate:
"HOW DO I KNOW IF I'M READY?" You’ve seen the details of the program on this page. And you may have read my material for years, tuned in to my teleseminars and webinars, read my #1 bestselling book, or seen me in the national media. You have enough information to decide. Now it’s up to you. I encourage you to look inside and decide if this is right for you. It’s natural to have doubts. We all do — the mental noise (fear, uncertainty, doubt) around starting something big are so deep, they often hold us stagnant for years. If the Speaker Marketing Workshop truly isn’t for you, don’t join. We’ll part as friends with no hard feelings, and I’ll continue sending you my free emails. But if you’re ready to break the shackles of your job, fill your calendar, and increase your speaking income, the Speaker Marketing Workshop can help.
"IS THIS JUST FOR TOTAL NEWBIES?" We tested SMW with speakers, authors, consultants and experts of different ages, locations, niches, and skill levels. This program has profited brand new speakers in their first few months in the business all the way up to Certified Speaking Professionals and members of the National Speakers Association's "CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame" veterans. Age and experience make no difference in growing a successful speaking-driven business using the SMW principles. And we'll show you how to boost your speaking business even if you have big commitments like a family or a full-time job.
"HOW MUCH HELP AM I GOING TO GET? IS THERE A WAY I CAN TALK TO DAVID FOR A MINUTE IF I GET STUCK?" Sorry, as much as I want to, I can’t do 1-on-1 calls. But the truth is, you don't need a call with me. Because of our extensive program materials and years of testing, we built community and support right into the course. Get answers in minutes.
"HOW DO I CONVINCE MY HUSBAND/WIFE TO LET ME BUY THIS COURSE?" This is an important question, since growing your speaking business is challenging, exhilarating, and new all at the same time! So you’ll want your partner in your corner when you start. One of my students, Corrine, shared the story of her husband, who was furious when he found out she’d joined SMW. After seeing the early results, he finally admits it was a good decision, but she said it was “one of the most difficult conversations [she’s] ever had.” I recommend showing your partner the emails and videos I’ve sent you. Show them some of the material online about me, including my LinkedIn profile, 200+ 5-star amazon book reviews, and the "Clients Rave!" page on this website to allay their natural nervousness. And finally, explain exactly why you want SMW — what will a profit-rich speaking business do for you, why SMW, and why now? — and show them how serious you’re taking this. If you make the case candidly and honestly, you’ll be able to talk through any barriers they have about you joining the course.
"WHEN CAN I EXPECT TO MAKE MONEY?" I can’t promise you specific results from your speaking business in a specific timeframe. Nobody can. And you shouldn’t trust anyone who does. Here’s why: We all begin at different levels of sophistication, experience, and skill. We all have different markets. It would make no sense to promise “one size fits all” results just to get you to like me. In fact, I’d rather be honest about the challenging nature of this material, which is why I added lifetime access and ongoing support. If you’re deliberate, methodical, and follow the action steps, you will see results. And looking back, 1-2 years from now, the amount of time you invested will pale in comparison to the rewards you’re accruing.
Some SMW members have made money in the very first week of the course because they attacked the material, got into massive action, and implemented like crazy. Others - I hate to say this but it's true - have joined the program and gotten zero results. Why? Because it is amazing the results you do not GET from the marketing activities you do not DO. Following the program step-by-step and being relentless with implementation will dramatically accelerate your progress toward your revenue-generating goals. Check out the results from this SMW graduate:
"I NEED TO MAKE MONEY FAST. WILL THIS HELP?" No, and please don’t join SMW. I’m not looking for people who need quick money, because when you’re in dire financial straits, you necessarily make short-term decisions that are not in your best interests. The Speaker Marketing Workshop is about focusing on the long term. If you’re in deep financial trouble, I recommend you get my book from the library, focus on getting a solid job, and come back here when you’re more financially comfortable.
MENTAL BARRIERS AND DOUBTS
"UGH, I DON'T WANT THIS TO BECOME YET ANOTHER THING ON MY TO-DO LIST." The last thing we need is another thing to make us feel guilty. One of the ways the Speaker Marketing Workshop is completely unique is that I've baked the psychology of success and taking action right into the course. The Speaker Marketing Workshop isn't a brain dump about random business tactics; it's a complete, step-by-step system for going from nothing to a working, successful speaking-driven business. And with lifetime access, you can progress at your own speed, even take a break if you need to.
"WHAT IF I FALL BEHIND?" Don't worry — all of my courses come with lifetime access so you can take a break from the material if you’re out of town, on vacation, or just swamped for a few days. Interruptions happen, and your Speaker Marketing Workshop course will ALWAYS be here for you when you're ready.
"WHAT IF I LIVE IN EUROPE (OR SOMEWHERE ELSE)?" Yes, the Speaker Marketing Workshop will help you. We tested it with speakers and experts in the US, Canada, Australia, India, and the UK and they all found success. We also recorded every video and audio, including full transcriptions, so you can watch, listen, or read it at your convenience.
"WHAT IF I’M LEFT-HANDED? WHAT IF I LIVE NEAR THE EQUATOR? WHAT IF MY HAIR USED TO BE BLONDE, BUT IS NOW BRUNETTE, AND I JUST SAW TWO GRAY HAIRS LAST NIGHT?" We call this “Special Snowflake Syndrome,” where we believe something in our lives is so unique, nothing will ever help. At some point, you’re looking for an excuse not to join. My goal is to show you that is not true, that it's just a crippling excuse. We've proven this material with men, women, emerging speakers, experienced speakers, American speakers, international speakers, and yes, even speakers who live near the equator. If you truly believe you are so unique that 10+ years of the most comprehensive material on starting and growing a speaking business ever assembled will not help you, please don’t join!
"WHAT IF I'M JUST LAZY AND UNMOTIVATED?" A huge myth in behavior change is that the solution is to "buckle down" or "work harder." This is false. That's why a list like "3,000 ways to improve your speaking business!" is a waste of your time. You don't need an encyclopedia about the speaking industry or a list of random business ideas. You need to know how to turn your skills and passions into a profitable platform, then use a proven, step-by-step system to turn it into a speaking-driven business that WORKS and LASTS. SMW shows you every step of this process.
"IS THE SPEAKER MARKETING WORKSHOP RIGHT FOR ME?"
"IS THIS COURSE RIGHT IF I WANT TO SELL PUBLIC SEMINARS AND INFOPRODUCTS? WILL IT COVER CREATING APPS, AND AFFILIATE MARKETING?" SMW is designed to help you succeed in sharing your passion and expertise with the world as a paid professional speaker. I’ve tested all of those other approaches — public seminars, hardcopy products, affiliate marketing, creating apps, etc. — and they are rarely successful. I intentionally avoid business models that are especially challenging, have a low return on high effort, and are difficult for most people to implement.
The Speaker Marketing Workshop will show you how to take your expertise and package it up to sell it in a variety of formats, without unnecessary frustrations, expenses, and hassles. I have proven this process in 33 different topic area/niches and at multiple price points (from $2,500 speakers to $15,000 speakers) in a variety of formats (keynotes, seminars, workshops, training, sponsorships.) You will create profit-rich programs that your audiences will be hungry for and your clients will be eager to invest in.
"I ALREADY HAVE AN IDEA FOR SPEAKING ABOUT THE MATING HABITS OF YAKS / NEW JERSEY'S HIDDEN VACATION SPOTS. WILL SMW WORK?" SMW can give you the marketing insights to transform your speaking business — if you’re willing to apply the principles and take action. The key here is to be open to changing your mind and listening to the market. We teach you exactly how to do this, but you must be open to trying a different way of looking at your prospects, your audiences, and your marketing. If you’re not ready to change your speaking business to follow SMW principles and practices, please do not join.
"I ALREADY SELL MY BOOKS/ TRAINING/ COACHING AND DO ALL RIGHT. WILL THIS DO ANYTHING FOR ME?" Yes, but you will probably have to change the way you think about your client research, marketing, speaker packaging, and pricing. There’s a reason I charge $9,500 per speech and my coaching costs $1,000 per hour. It’s not just a fancier logo or clever names. It’s baked in from the first day we do client-centric research. I’ll teach you how, but it will be challenging and quite different compared to what you’re used to.
"IS THIS JUST FOR SPEAKING OR CAN IT BE IN CONJUNCTION WITH SELLING MY BOOK ALSO?" The Speaker Marketing Workshop is focused on growing your speaking business. Obviously, the more you speak, the more books you'll sell. However, if you're specifically looking for advanced strategies to sell more books and grow your author reach and revenue, check out my Book Marketing Workshop course.
HOW THE SPEAKER MARKETING WORKSHOP WORKS
“HOW DOES THE COURSE WORK?" The Speaker Marketing Workshop is an online, 7-module video course. Each module has an audio seminar bonus and these are also transcribed and downloadable (video, audio, and complete written transcript.) You'll also get bonus material in our private members-only SMW Facebook mastermind forum. I also include supplementary materials, including detailed templates, tools, scripts, worksheets, forms, samples, model documents, and a thriving support community. One important thing: Don't worry about falling behind. You have lifetime access to this material, so if you need to take a break, that's no problem — you can "resume" the material any time you want. Here are more results from a past program participant:
"IS THIS COURSE LIVE? WHAT IF I CAN’T FLY TO PHILADELPHIA?" This is NOT a live, in-person presentation, so you can get started immediately. That also means you don’t have to spend money to attend an event, take time away from your family, and come back home with a notepad full of “to-do's.” The Speaker Marketing Workshop lets you complete this material from the comfort of your own home, at your own pace. And since all lessons are transcribed and downloadable in multiple formats, you can even learn during your commute. The course comes with lifetime access, so the strategies, tactics, and scripts in this course will always be available whenever you need them.
"DO I GET ACCESS TO THE ENTIRE COURSE AT ONCE?" Yes, and that is intentional. While the Speaker Marketing Workshop is not about me dumping tons of information on you, wiping my hands, and saying, “See ya!” I intentionally structured the material so different people can progress at their own pace so that YOU get the best possible results for your own learning style. All the modules are available to you as soon as you enroll and you can absorb the material "Netflix-style" - you can binge watch over 2 days, or you can take 2 weeks or 2 months - whatever you prefer. And because everything is online, archived, and mobile-friendly, you can download or access the material from your laptop, tablet or smartphone - at home, at work, or on the road!
"HOW MUCH TIME DOES IT TAKE TO DO THIS COURSE PER WEEK?" 3-4 hours per module. The more time you put in, the faster you’ll see results. You can also download the material to listen to on your phone, or read the transcripts — whatever's easiest for you. Blocking 4 hours per module is my recommendation to complete all the assignments and speaker marketing implementation tasks, but because SMW comes with lifetime access, you can go faster or slower if you want.
"DOES THE SPEAKER MARKETING WORKSHOP COVER BUSINESS LICENSING, TAX STRUCTURE, ETC?" No. These are questions for your accountant. Your primary concern should be to find an idea, speaking topic, angle — and a niche of profitable clients who will pay for it — sell enough to know your topic/angle is valid, then implement systems to "scale" your speaking into a highly profitable business. Too many speakers waste precious months deciding on tax structures, building websites, and creating marketing materials only to find that their speaking topic was never in demand in the first place — something I consider a tragedy.
WHAT IF...?
"CAN I GET A DISCOUNT FOR BEING A STUDENT? IN THE MILITARY? PAYING IN CASH? NON-PROFIT? HUNGARIAN?" Sorry, no discounts. I give away 98% of my material free, and my premium courses are too valuable to discount. If The Speaker Marketing Workshop is a financial strain for you, please don't join. (In the Speaker Marketing Workshop, I’ll teach you how to create material so valuable, you’ll never have to discount, either.)
"CAN I JUST BUY A PORTION OF THE PROGRAM?" No. This is a system, not a series of unconnected tactics.
"DO YOU HAVE A PAYMENT PLAN?" Yes, we do. With our "Easy-Pay" 12-installment payment plan, the Speaker Marketing Workshop costs less than the price of lunch every day.
"WHAT IF I TRY THE SPEAKER MARKETING WORKSHOP, AND I DECIDE IT ISN’T RIGHT FOR ME?" I stand by this course with a 30-day 100% money-back guarantee. Because we extensively tested it, I know the course works, so I can take on the risk myself. Try the entire course and decide if it’s right for you. However — and this is important — only join if you intend to follow the action steps. This course is not simply to consume information. It’s designed for you to take action.
"WHEN WILL THIS BE AVAILABLE AGAIN?" I don’t know, but when I reopen it, I will likely raise the price, just as I have with previous courses.
"HOW IS THE SPEAKER MARKETING WORKSHOP DIFFERENT FROM THE BOOK MARKETING WORKSHOP? IF I'M A SPEAKER WITH A BOOK, WHICH IS RIGHT FOR ME?" The Book Marketing Workshop is about how to market, promote and profit from a non-fiction business book built around your expertise. The Speaker Marketing Workshop is about starting and growing a speaking business. Both are very different, but both are complementary. We’ve had SMW members who first took BMW and were very successful. We've had SMW graduates finish this course and later enroll in BMW to help them promote their first (or next) book. We’ve also had SMW students find success without BMW. If your main goal is to sell more books and build your author platform, I recommend you join the Book Marketing Workshop. The Speaker Marketing Workshop is all about maximizing your influence, impact and income as an expert who speaks professionally.
"CAN I START WITH THE SPEAKER MARKETING WORKSHOP OR DO I NEED TO TAKE OTHER COURSES FROM YOU FIRST?" You can start with SMW. It starts at a beginner level and quickly ramps into more advanced material. It's a comprehensive A-to-Z program. Nothing is asssumed. And nothing is left out. You also get lifetime access, plus a round-the-clock online community of generous, smart speakers to brainstorm with, ask and answer questions, share resources, and get real-time advice, insights and recommendations from like-minded peers.
30-day 100% Money Back Guarantee (Sweet!)
If you take action and follow this program, you WILL boost your speaking income.
There is 1,000% certainty that if you take NO action, you get NO result. If you complete the exercises and action steps assigned within the first 30 days of the course, and they fail to generate results you're happy with, you can request, in writing, a full refund of your tuition.
When you take action and do the WORK, you WILL get results. If that's not true for you, you get 100% of your money back. Boom!
David Newman
Founder, Do It! Marketing