NRG Networks in Bath: seminar on 'Surviving the Broadcast Interview'

Morgan PR heads west today to co-present the 'Surviving the Broadcast Interview' seminar at the NRG Networks meeting in Bath. We take to the stage with former BBC Producer and founder of BizView.TV, Dave Harries.

Our background in broadcast media management for Thames Valley Police gives us a terrific insight not only into what the broadcast media want, but also how best to present that and how to avoid the all too common pitfalls when stepping in front of the video camera or radio microphone.

We are expecting 20 for the lunchtime event being held at the University of Bath and knowing the script it is destined to be a lively event.

Morgan PR will be offering '15 Seconds of Fame - 15 Top Tips for Surviving the Broadcast Interview' as a free download on this month's 'Creating Reputations' Newsletter - subscribe now on this page if you are not already among our loyal readership!

What is your Myers Briggs Type? Personality matters at NRG Reading

There was a most excellent seminar at the popular NRG Networks meeting at Wokefield Park in Reading earlier today; the pre lunch seminars are generally delivered by members of the networking group and today we were learning about building rapport

Naturally as I became a Certified Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming earlier this year I was keen to see how Eleanor Yearwood, an executive coach from Key Talent Partners, would approach this essential part of successful business. After all, people buy people and rapport is all about... well, building rapport.

Well we were naturally in for a fun and exciting seminar - lots of moving around as Eleanor spent an hour explaining the four different types of main profiles and how the effect not only our own behaviour, but should also determine how we should act with others when we recognise their own Myers Briggs Type profile.

Actually, it makes much more sense to let Eleanor explain herself - Morgan PR was armed with a video camera, admittedly of moderate quality, and correctly thought that only she would tell you about it!

The seminar was followed by lunch and I was the moderator on our table. Although honestly, my table was motivated and well behaved with some terrific networking going on around the table.

Flushed form the modest success with the camera with Eleanor Yearwood I also asked NRG Networks top dog, the charming Dave Clarke if he would explain a bit more about how this successful networking group works.

What do you think of the video content? We are hoping to bring you more soon - not least some professional content!

'Waterproofs' seminar goes down a storm at NRG Networks in Reading

Earlier today Sally Rainbow-Ockwell from ActionCOACH and me, Nigel Morgan from Morgan PR gave our first presentation of the ever more topically named: ‘Waterproofs for the Economic Storm’ at the monthly NRG Networks meeting in Reading.

More specifically it was at the sprawling Wokefield Park near Mortimer. Parking problems at Wokefield Park – which bizarrely either has insufficient parking or poorly signed space locations – meant quite a few people arrived late to the seminar, but we had over 20 professionals eager to learn ‘How to double your sales and halve your marketing spend”

Essentially we were talking about how your existing customers hold the key to revenue and growth. When it costs six times more to get business from a new customer than an existing one, it should be a no-brainer, yet it was clear few people had even surveyed their existing clients to find out whether they are indifferent, satisfied or even delighted.

The seminar went well. There were some good questions and people were definitely engaged in what we had to say – hopefully they will have taken at least a few ideas away that will keep them dry!

The seminar was followed by the opportunity for informal networking, and then a lunch and as ever at NRG event there was a delightful buzz around the table as members and guests got to know one another through a positively generous two minute presentation – which uniquely to NRG concludes with ‘something no-one knows about you’.

Diane Morgan was a mediator on a neighbouring table, a role akin to that of a facilitator – and the person who has to hold everyone accountable on their secrets!

I must confess that while those around these tables rarely admit anything especially mortifying or even actionable it does seem improper to reveal them here! Mine I am happy to share: an exchange on the business social networking site LinkedIn has led to Morgan PR being likely to be included in the next Guerrilla Marketing book to be published early next year by Guerrilla Guru Jay Conrad Levinson and Scott Sorrel, founder of Sales Adrenaline. Not bad eh?

Like all networking, NRG is firmly about building the relationships with fellow members that in turn lead to the referrals as you grow to understand one another’s proposition and today we certainly met people that we relish the opportunities to get to know one another better at future NRG meetings.

Waterproofs for the Economic Storm*

*How to Double Your Sales and Halve Your Marketing Spend
What are you doing in the current economic climate? Will you batten down the hatches and hide until the storm passes? Would you rather survive... or thrive?

Savvy professionals and business owners who network already know that they need to be out there whatever the weather, but do they know how simple the solution is to staying warm and dry - winning business while everyone else catches a cold?

What can the not-so-secret ingredient be and why does it wash over so many business owners without them realising the potential at their fingertips?

At this crucial time, whether a real downturn is impacting on your business or the media hype is sending ripples through your sales figures, this seminar will offer you vital ‘Waterproofs for the Economic Storm’.

Morgan PR has teamed up with the award winning Sally Rainbow-Ockwell from ActionCoach to deliver a groundbreaking seminar to help small businesses weather the economic slowdown. We will unveil the seminar at NRG Networks next Friday (19th September, 2008) at Wokefield Park, near Mortimer and you can find out more details and book directly for the seminar and subsequent networking lunch here.

Our combined expertise promises that no business wishing to make hay while making their own sun shine should miss this 60 minute seminar.

Grant Leboff's Sales Therapy at NRG Swindon

Morgan PR was at NRG in Swindon early today, not least to hear Grant Leboff talk during the seminar before lunch; a successful businessman and author of Sales Therapy he has a good reputation and featured on this blog once before.

Without doubt an accomplished speaker and acutely aware of the way sales has evolved in the face of Google and the choice the internet brings he spoke about how this should change our approach to selling, focusing more on the relationship rather than the transaction.

This was very similar to what Seth Godin has been talking about on his popular blog for some time now and indeed published in the book Permission Marketing - in other words getting people to put their hands up to say they are interested rather than trying to interrupt them and hope they will buy. There was also elements of points made by another author I would recommend, namely David Meerman Scott in his book The New Rules of Marketing and PR.

I think it was the late American journalist and author Barbra Grizzuti Harrison who said 'There are no original ideas, only original people.' and on that count Grant was certainly an original and thought provoking speaker that has prompted us to check we are doing the right things.

After the lunch we heard from Grant Leboff again when prompted he revealed how he had gotten ahead when he started a telephone marketing company with no clients to speak of. He then called various trade magazines - he quoted Accountancy Age - and said he had quotes from people 'like' and then reeled off names of CEOs and such like. Would they like an article?

Of course they said yes and then he phoned the people and eventually got interviews as he was writing a piece for Accountancy Age...

He followed up by laminating cuttings of the obviously favourable articles and sent these to the CEOs as a precursor to meeting and subsequently signed up some as clients.

Clever? Undoubtedly. However, I was left feeling a little uncomfortable with the tale of bravado which was ultimately based on an untruth. That is probably the professionally qualified journalist in me objecting to a tactic which anyone using it should know will taint your brand if you get caught using it!

Of course, if you had access to a leading PR agency in the Thames Valley headed by a journalist who can legitimately secure that kind of commission and subsequent publicity... well that would be different!

So, yet another good networking session with NRG and we are planning on heading along to the one in Reading later in the month. Perhaps we will see you there.

Finally, Grant Leboff's book is available on Amazon for £8.44 if you would like to know more.

Do you need therapy?

Morgan PR was at NRG in Bristol today and attended a seminar by Grant Leboff on sales strategy for small businesses. Grant has a book out entitled "Sales Therapy" and, for more information, a link to his site is here.

He raised many interesting points in his seminar (which incidentally and remarkably, he conducted without a single note card or powerpoint presentation!). He covered the change in the way that we now buy, away from limited local choice to unlimited choices and globalisation. Web and word of mouth are now the most influential factors in a sales decision (good news for any PR companies out there!).

Selling benefits no longer works with many consumers and we need to concentrate on buyer motivation; what is the problem or issue that they need solving?

We were encouraged to think about our emotional selling proposition and how we meet the customers personal, professional and practical requirements with our products. Interesting and thought provoking stuff, that changed the "one minute" introductions of most of the attendees, seconds before we entered the main meeting!

Let's do lunch

Morgan PR has recently joined NRG and attended the Swindon meeting yesterday. The seminar before lunch was hosted by Graham Hill of Verbatim and covered how to increase profits from incoming telephone calls.

This was an interesting and engaging seminar that provided a host of hints and tips on how to enhance your company's telephone skills. Their fabulous new website has a whizzy forecasting tool on it which will calculate the impact Verbatim can have on your business; why not try it out today and see what they can do to help you?

NRG giving!

Morgan PR went along today to the NRG Business Networks meeting at Wokefield Park as guests of ActionCoach Sally Rainbow-Ockwell. This proved to be a very well organised meeting, starting with delicious coffee and pastries and moving on to a useful Lead Generation seminar. A tasty lunch followed, and conversation with other NRG members.

Sally had described NRG as 'grown-up' networking and we could see what she meant; the more laid back nature of a lunch session allowed for a better opportunity to chat to people and discover more about them and their services than a breakfast normally allows. Then again, which of these meals eats less into the working day?

The members were very welcoming and it was an extremely pleasant way to do business. We will visit the Swindon meeting before making our minds up, as the geography suits us slightly better, but joining up to this innovative and forward thinking group at one or other location will definately be one of Morgan PR's New Year Resolutions.