By Chris Woodward, My PR Tools
Here’s great small business marketing tip, increase your visibility and showcase your expertise with small seminars, roundtables, or panels. At the same time, you are creating valuable face-to-face time with existing and prospective clients.

The most important step is to come up with a topic that will provide a draw for your audience.
• You might enlighten clients about the hot trends and issues of the day,
• offer valuable information on a particular area of expertise, or
• explain the ramifications of new rules and regulations in your industry.

If you are hosting a panel, you’ll want to feature interesting, well-qualified speakers whose expertise your clients would find valuable. Another option is to feature one speaker on a timely issue. A financial planner might host an event focusing on “Rebuilding Your Retirement Portfolio.”

In addition to featuring an interesting topic, it’s important to make your event easy to get to. Two-hour breakfast events work the best for business-to-business events since early morning events are easier to fit into the workday. If you are targeting consumers, then a mid-week early evening event is best.

If possible, hold the event at your place of business. This helps builds that critical personal connection between you and your clients that’s so important in a small business marketing strategy. If that’s not possible, then use a client’s office, a restaurant, hotel, or a conference facility. It’s best to select a central location, close to a freeway or major highway.

Client events may take planning, but they are well worth it to increase visibility and build relationships.

About the Author
Chris Woodward founded My PR Tools to bring the power of PR to small businesses. Her affordable personal coaching package and easy-to-follow step-by-step DIY guides to marketing and PR are the culmination of her years of experience as a corporate PR consultant. Find out more about My PR Tools at www.myprtools.com; info@myprtools.com.