Lilly Walters Speakers Bureau Email Blast!
In 2000, only 10% of speakers bureaus wanted your first contact to be via e-mail.
Now in 2002 that has increased 5 times. (see my Speaking Industry Report 2002 for these statistics)
If you are READY for speakers bureaus to book you, here is your next step ...
FAQ On sending a Message Through Lilly Walters Bureau Blast to 800 speakers bureau reps
Q. What is this Speakers Bureau e-news service?
This is a service from Lilly Walters. I send out your press releases of interest to SPEAKERS BUREAUS. I send these messages from speakers to bureaus, and from bureaus to each other about their exclusives. I am very careful about what I will send. I have many bureaus and agents on my list: over 350 bureaus or agencies, and 800 e-mail addresses, who thrust that I will not abuse the privilege of sending them information.
Q. If we pay you, will you send our news release to these bureaus?
I hope so, but I only send out about half of what is sent to me. If I can create something that I feel bureaus and agents will read, you will invest $199 with me to send it out to my list.
If not, I suggest you purchase the mailing label option. You do not need to qualify for that.
Q. What qualifies me to do this bureau blast emailing?
You must have:
- A video demo tape on which you have a clips from at least one live speech, to a REAL audience for which you were paid to speak.
- At least 24 PAID dates in the past 6 months, with fees of at least $1500 each.
You will need to have several of these items below, but not all:
- To have been booked recently by speakers bureaus.
- Been on any nationally known TV or radio shows.
- Have a book/s whch hit the best seller list.
- Have a management background in a Fortune 100 (or other big name companies)
- Spoken for a Fortune 100 (or other big name companies or associations)
- Have national fame in some manner
Q. What kind of responses have speakers received from sending out a press releases sent through this type of service?
It depends on the speaker and the message. If the speaker really hits home, they receive about 40 replies within 24 hours, mainly requests for packages. One speaker reported she received seven paid dates from one e-mailing. A few more will come in slowly during the following weeks. However, if the speaker is not really "ready," i.e.,
- they don't have a GOOD demo tape,
- they have not yet presented enough paid engagements,
- their topics are the same as all the other speakers,
Then they get very little response.
I usually do not send message for those speakers. The worst so far has been 4 responses. Sometimes I can send out a release of a less experienced speaker if they have some kind of hook: a recently retired Fortune 100 Executive, someone who has recent fame, perhaps a book that has jumped to the best seller list, or a topic that is "hot."
Q. Why is this list better than what I can get through NSA, or IASB?
Two Reasons. Quality and volume.
Quality: I update the list daily. Those on the list want to be there.
Volume: NSA – The National Speakers Association - has 23 speakers bureaus members. IASB – The International Association of Speakers Bureaus - has about 70. Both sources list only one e-mail address per company. Currently I have has over 350 bureaus or agencies, and over 800 e-mail addresses.
Q. Are your contacts and e-mail address any good?
I update them daily, deleting those e-mail addresses that have gone bad, or those who asked to be removed.
Q. Why would a bureau or agent be more likely to read a message from Lilly Walters, than one directly from me?
Some might be more receptive to receiving message directly from you. But, these people know me. If they didn't want to be on my list, they would have been removed immediately. They know when they get a message from Lilly Walters that
- There will never be more than two messages a day.
- The message will be short.
- They have been edited to be short, and to bring the points of interest out to them.
Q. How many speakers will be talked about in one Bureau Blast e-mailing?
Only YOU. 100 words about you.
Q. Well, I am not READY. What do I do next.
The least expensive option is to read
If money is not a difficulty, let me coach you into the next level.
Q. How do I know that I will like what you are going to send out?
Because you approve it before I send it. I keep working with you, until it appears just as you want it.
Q. I can't say much in 100 words! Why so short?
Bureaus receive so much material by mail and e-mail daily, they just glance at most of it. Catch their attention fast, then invite them to move forward. You need to show them WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR, quickly. We will help you dig through your materials to find those things in which bureaus are more likely to take an interest.
Q. What will go into the message?
- The ENTIRE release needs to be 100 words, or less,
- It needs an invitation to move forward for more information,
perhaps to your bureau friendly website,
your office phone number, and/or your e-mail address. - It needs to be OF INTEREST to speakers bureaus,
i.e., you have a new topic, new book, a bureau friendly web site,
a new promotional video.
- MANY e-mail accounts will not accept attached files,
so it must be contained with the e-mail text --
this means no graphics, or photos, no attachments.
Q. Does Lilly Walters takes 25% of the bookings I will get from using the Bureau Blast press release service?
No. Those bureaus interested in you will contact you about their customers. We will never know who those customers are, nor be involved with the bookings they obtain for you. We usually do not know which bureaus make contact with you at all. We are entirely out of the loop.
Of course, many speakers have shared their good thoughts about the quality of Lilly Walters' service, and their pleasure in receiving bookings and holds from bureaus. But no details about the end customer would, or should ever be shared with us.
Q. How much consulting time does the $199 package include?
30 minutes. If you need more, you can purchase a consulting package from us. However, we have been able to create 95% of these releases within that 30 min., with no additional time purchased.
Q. If you send the message from Lilly Walters, how will the bureaus know to contact me, instead of Lilly Walters?
A. Two ways. One, all your contact information is in the message: phone, fax, email, website ... whatever you want us to include. All of these bureaus that receive messages from me, know to look in the message for YOUR contact information. However, a few forget and just hit the REPLY button, thinking they are going to reach you. When I receive these, I immediately forward them to you.
Q. What happens if you look at my website, or materials, and you don't think I am ready to send out a press release?
A. Then we won't send it out, and do we not charge you. If you just don't have the right subjects, then there is not much we can do at that point. If we see an opportunity for you change direction a bit, to help bring you to a more marketable position, we will suggest you purchase a consulting package. These start at $300 for 90 minutes.
Q. What do I need to do if I want to this now?
First, get my OK! Then, use the ORDER FORM link at the end of this page. Finally, e-mail me the 100 word news item you want us to send out. I will fix it up, and e-mail it back to you. You review it, and e-mail it back to me. I check it over again, fix it again if needed, send it back to you, etc., until you are all happy with the results. I send it out to our list of bureaus and agents when you have approved it, and as close to your ideal date as possible.
To get the best results, you should make the corrections I will go over your website, or other marketing materials before we send your message out.
