Telephone Scripts for Professional Speakers:

(You have found the association via the Internet or directory but could not find the name of the editor)

Association receptionist answers the telephone: Hello.

Speaker: Hello, my name is Ed Rigsbee and I’m calling today to speak with your publications editor. I have several articles adapted from my books on strategic business relationships that I would like to make available to your organization at no charge; what is the editor’s name please?

Association receptionist: The person you want to speak to is Jane Doe, she is our director of communications.

Speaker: Would you mind connecting me to Jane?

Editor (Jane Doe): Hello, this is Jane.

Speaker: Hello, my name is Ed Rigsbee and the reason for my call is to become a possible content resource for you, especially for those times when your content contributors fail to meet your publication deadlines. I have quite a number of articles adapted from my books on business relationships and partnering uploaded to my Web Site that are available to you 24/7. And, they are available to you at no charge. If you can access the Internet, I’ll walk you through the list and “permission to reprint.” You will notice the article word count next to each title and that I give permission to edit, which should make it quite easy for you to use my material and make it fit, when you are up against a deadline. 

Editor: That’s great, perhaps some time I’ll use your work.

Speaker: Beyond the obvious poor economy issues, I was wondering about what specific challenges your readers are currently facing?

Editor: They are dealing with… (This is where you, the speaker must translate the challenges the editor mentioned to the articles you have uploaded and make a recommendation)…a real challenge of keeping their costs down.

Speaker: That is a challenge. You might want to take a look at my article titled, Partnering for Cost Savings which lists ten steps…

Editor: Thank you, I’ll take a look at that one. (At this point, based on the editor’s interest level in speaking with you, either recommend additional articles, ask more questions about the challenges of their industry, or other relationship building questions. If the editor seems pushed for time, move to the bridge phase.)

Speaker: Before I go, could you please tell me who in your organization is the decision maker as to speakers that are selected for your meetings?

Editor: Sally Jones is our director of meetings and she, along with our conference committee selects all the speakers for our annual meeting.

Speaker: Thanks so much. Would you mind connecting me with Sally so I can give her some information about my work in the area of (Try to relate your content to the challenges the editor just told you about.) partnering to save costs?

Editor: Sure thing, hold on while I connect you.

Speaker: Thanks so much.

Meeting Planner (Sally Jones): Hello.

Speaker: Sally, Jane suggested that I speak with you. I was just chatting with her about my articles on Partnering to reduce costsand giving her permission to reprint my work in your publications. She mentioned that your industry is dealing with the need for cost reduction and I wanted to ask you about your process for selecting speakers for upcoming meetings…

(At this point you should know how to sell yourself. You have successfully used the editor [because of your relationship deposit of making your articles available] to bridge the relationship from cold call to warm call with the meeting planner.) 

 

Actual Marketing Emails Used by Ed Rigsbee:

Below is my saved email signature. I use Google’s Gmail as they let my mask the email address; mostly I send from Ed@Rigsbee.com, or sometimes from Ed@CigarPEG.com, rather than from my actual Gmail address, EdRigsbee@gmail.com. I periodically make changes and it only takes a minute or two.
Ed Rigsbee, Certified Speaking Professional*

Specializing; Return on Investment (ROI) in Corporate Strategic Alliances & Non-Profit Membership Organizations
~~ Together, we can do more, receive more and be more. ~~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8dWTxWtpA8

Articles:
http://www.rigsbee.com/morearticles.htm
http://www.rigsbee.com/associationarticles.htm

Social Media:
http://twitter.com/EdRigsbee
http://www.facebook.com/ed.rigsbee
http://www.linkedin.com/in/edrigsbee

1746 Calle Yucca, Suite 200
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360, USA
805-498-5720 – ed@rigsbee.com – www.rigsbee.com

Skype: Ed_Rigsbee

*The Certified Speaking Professional designation is awarded by the National Speakers Association (www.nsaspeaker.org) and is held by approximately 10% of the association’s total membership.

 

 

Dear Association Editor: I’m writing to you as a potential long-term content resource. I have a large number of articles uploaded to my web site and am continually producing new and fresh perspectives. My articles are available to your organization at no charge: http://www.rigsbee.com/morearticles.htm

 

I produce content that I believe will be of interest to your members in three key areas:

  1. Strategic alliances for business growth; development, implementation, and return on investment. (link above) 2. Relationships, personal and business; enhancement, conflict resolution, and return on investment. http://www.rigsbee.com/relationshiparticles.htm 3. Association/society member recruitment and retention; organizational growth, delivering member value, and member return on investment. http://www.rigsbee.com/associationarticles.htm

 

My permission to reprint is simple: for printed publications my short bio is required and for electronic publications, my short bio and live hyperlink to www.rigsbee.com. High and low resolution photos of me are available at my web site.

 

As the author of three books on alliance relationships, the founder and executive director of a 501(c)(3) non-profit, and creator of the largest “member ROI group” at Linkedin, I believe my background and perspective will serve your members well.

To receive notice of new articles, join my elist at http://www.rigsbee.com/editor.htm.
If you would like to join the (1,700 strong) Linkedin Member ROI Group (for professional association/society executives & staff), check it out at: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=2672904&trk=anet_ug_grppro

 

You might also be interested in joining my “Relationship Glue” group at Facebook? Simply search “Relationship Glue” at Facebook.

 

Thank you for your consideration, Ed

 

Dear Association Executive: I believe very strongly in association members telling their association the value they receive, as opposed to the association telling. The members believe their own numbers and will use their own numbers for recruiting new members.

It’s easier to recruit & retain members if you know the (member determined) annual real-dollar ROI that they will receive. One of the key reasons that so many of America’s trade associations and professional societies are having challenges with retaining members and recruiting new members is because they cannot show, demonstrate, or prove their ROI.

Perhaps I could someday become a resource for you? I help organizations to prove their (member determined) ROI to non-members and current members. My goal is to help you to prove to all in your industry that membership in your organization it is a good business decision.

Please consider viewing the very short clips about my member ROI/recruitment work:
Marc Hardy, University of Notre Dame Comments on Ed’s Full-Day Member Recruitment Workshop: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwRqAeJtWoI

 

Joan Tezak, Executive Director at the Colorado Society of Association Executives. Her comments about my full-day member recruitment workshop: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxnqth0A3e4

How associations and societies can prove to members and prospective members that membership is a good business decision, please view this recent interview: http://vimeo.com/20836205

For details on my member ROI, recruitment, & retention work:

American Society for Quality members get $50 in usable value for every dollar they invest in membership. What do your members get?
http://www.rigsbee.com/association09.htm

Member Value Process for determining ROI article: http://www.rigsbee.com/association-member-retention-1.htm

Association articles: http://www.rigsbee.com/associationarticles.htm

Grassroots member recruitment campaign: http://www.rigsbee.com/memberrecruitment.htm

Association section: http://www.rigsbee.com/association.htm

Member Recruitment Workshop for Societies of Association Executives (revenue share with all SAE organizations)
http://www.rigsbee.com/associationmembershipworkshop.htm

Access to all of Ed’s articles: http: www.rigsbee.com/morearticles.htm

Also, here is a link to the (1,700+ strong) Linkedin Member ROI group:
http://www.linkedin.com/groupRegistration?gid=2672904 which is only for association/society staff and executives, no volunteer leaders and no vendors are invited. This is a very safe place for paid association & society executives and staff to discuss their challenges away from the eyes of vendors and volunteers.

Call me anytime at 805-498-5720. Thanks, Ed

I use this email for association executive and staff members of the state societies of association executives; when I’ll be conducting my full-day member recruitment workshop for their SAE. I call to invite them to my workshop (this is the one time I can say I’m calling about their SAE). Much of the time I get their voice mail box. When that happens, I leave enough info to hook their interest and tell them that I will follow up with an email…also mentioning they should read the entire email as there is information about additional resources available at no charge. To get a list to call, sometimes I’m able to get their membership directory. If not, I use “State and Regional Associations,” a directory of associations by state. It is published by Columbia Books. I buy my directories through Amazon; a two or three year old directory is generally a fraction of the cost of a new one.

 

 

Subject: Follow up on today’s phone message (or “conversation”)

 

 

Dear Mary:

  1. I’m writing to you about proving that membership in your organization is a good business decision.
    If you attend the upcoming MSAE workshop on February 2, 2012 in Lansing–you will be able to prove this to potential members. Member recruitment through proving ROI workshop for the Michigan Society of Association Executives. The workshop focus is on proving member ROI. At the end of the day, you will know how to prove the real-dollar ROI your organization delivers to members. Perhaps some of your association’s staff would like to attend? You can view the workshop promo video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=PcD_Hro3mro
  1. Additionally, I’d like to become a long-term content resource for your organization. Keep my web page bookmarked for the times when your publication contributors do not meet their deadline, I have a large number of articles (many from my books) on alliance development and association member recruitment uploaded to my web site. My articles are available to your organization at no charge. You will find my permission to reprint and access to over 100 of my articles at http://www.rigsbee.com/ morearticles.htm
  1. For you and any of your association’s staff, especially those that focus on member recruitment and retention, perhaps they would also like to join the the discussions at the (1,700 strong) Linkedin Member ROI Group for professional association/society executives & staff (no suppliers, vendors, or volunteer leaders), check it out at:

http://www.linkedin.com/ groups?about=&gid=2672904&trk= anet_ug_grppro

  1. Please consider viewing the very short clips about my member ROI/recruitment work.

~Joan Tezak, Executive Director at the Colorado Society of Association Executives. Her comments about my full-day member recruitment workshop: http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=fxnqth0A3e4

~Marc Hardy, University of Notre Dame Comments on Ed’s Full-Day Member Recruitment Workshop:

http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=dwRqAeJtWoI
~How associations and societies can prove to members and prospective members that membership is a good business decision, please view this recent interview: http://vimeo.com/20836205

  1. Important additional links:
    ~Member Value Process for determining real-dollar ROI (article): http://www.rigsbee.com/ association-member-retention- 1.htm
    ~American Society for Quality members get $50 in usable value for every dollar they invest in membership. What do your members get?
    http://www.rigsbee.com/ association09.htm
    ~Association section: http://www.rigsbee.com/ association.htm

~To receive notice of new articles, join my elist at http://www.rigsbee.com/editor. htm.

 

  1. My Philosophy: I believe very strongly in association members telling their association the value they receive, as opposed to the association telling the members. The members believe their own numbers and will use their own numbers for recruiting new members. Why not make it easy for your members to become member recruitment evangelists?

It’s easier to recruit & retain members if you know the (member determined) annual real-dollar ROI that they will receive. One of the key reasons that so many of America’s trade associations and professional societies are having challenges with retaining members and recruiting new members is because they cannot show, demonstrate, or prove their ROI.

Perhaps I could someday become a resource for you? I help organizations to prove their (member determined) ROI to non-members and current members. My goal is to help you to prove to all in your industry that membership in your organization it is a good business decision.

Would love to connect, Ed

 

Dear Association Volunteer Leader: My reason for contacting you today is twofold; to offer you for your business, and for any trade organization or professional society to which you might belong, access to my articles on member retention, member recruitment, andmember return on investment (ROI). You’ll quickly notice that I have a different perspective than most.
www.rigsbee.com/ associationarticles.htm

You’ll find at my Web Site, over 100 articles available to you for your electronic or printed publishing–many adapted from my three books on collaborative relationships for business growth. I truly understand membership organizations, as I have been working with trade associations and professional societies for over two decades. My articles have been print-published and ePublished around the globe. You may access my articles and permission to reprint (please bookmark) at www.rigsbee.com/morearticles. htm.

Believe it or not, there are no strings attached. Thanks so much, Ed

 

Subject: I can help you to prove that membership in Georgia Academy of Family Physicians is a good business decision

 

Text: Cathi: I can help you to prove that membership in Georgia Academy of Family Physicians is a good business decision. This is achieved through association members telling their association the value they receive. The members believe their own numbers and will use their own numbers for recruiting additional new members.

It’s easier to recruit & retain members if you know the (member determined) annual real-dollar ROI that they will receive. One of the key reasons that so many of America’s trade associations and professional societies are having challenges with retaining members and recruiting new members is because they cannot show, demonstrate, or prove their ROI.

Perhaps I could someday become a resource for you? I help organizations to prove their (member determined) ROI to non-members and current members. My goal is to help you to prove to all in your industry that membership in your organization it is a good business decision.

How associations and societies can prove to members and prospective members that membership is a good business decision, please view this recent interview: http://vimeo.com/20836205

For details on my member ROI, recruitment, & retention work:

American Society for Quality members get $50 in usable value for every dollar they invest in membership. What do your members get?
http://www.rigsbee.com/ association09.htm

Member Value Process for determining ROI article: http://www.rigsbee.com/ association-member-retention- 1.htm

Association articles: http://www.rigsbee.com/ associationarticles.htm

Grassroots member recruitment campaign: http://www.rigsbee.com/ memberrecruitment.htm

Association section: http://www.rigsbee.com/ association.htm

Access to all of Ed’s articles: http: www.rigsbee.com/morearticles. htm

Also, here is a link to the (1,700+ strong) Linkedin Member ROI group:
http://www.linkedin.com/ groupRegistration?gid=2672904 which is only for association/society staff and executives, no volunteer leaders and no vendors are invited. This is a very safe place for paid association & society executives and staff to discuss their challenges away from the eyes of vendors and volunteers.

Perhaps you might suggest to your state society of association executives that they engage me to conduct my full-day workshop…where I teach my ROI Member Recruitment System? http://www.rigsbee.com/ associationmembershipworkshop. htm

Please consider viewing the very short clips about my member ROI/recruitment work.

Marc Hardy, University of Notre Dame Comments on Ed’s Full-Day Member Recruitment Workshop:
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=dwRqAeJtWoI

Joan Tezak, Executive Director at the Colorado Society of Association Executives. Her comments about my full-day member recruitment workshop:
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=fxnqth0A3e4

Call me anytime at 805-498-5720. Thank you, Ed

Below is an email I sometimes use when I find a chapter list on a national association web site and I am not interested in calling the individual chapters because of time or perceived potential, which might be erroneous on my part:

 

(Subject) Resources for Texas NEBB

(Text) Bob: If you are interested, I would like to become a resource for your organization. You may access over 75 business collaboration articles, adapted from my books, for your members at www.rigsbee.com/morearticles. htm

This is my main article bank where you will find permission to reprint and access to additional article categories:

Selling Success & the Sales Process: 12 articles

Association Success & Member ROI Development: 30+ articles

Personal Responsibility: 12 articles

Personal Relationship Success: 15 articles

Retail Success: 11 articles

I hope you, and your members, find the above resources to be of value.

Call me anytime at 805-498-5720. Thank you, Ed