Jumping on other people's successes

In my business, we run workshops for small business owners on every aspect of marketing. Each time we promote a workshop though, I usually get a fluffy of activity from lots of small business owners who supply whatever the workshop is about asking whether they can come and speak on the workshop or whether I can tell the participants about their services. Another popular choice is the suggestion of teaming up with another business to run a workshop together.

When this happens, it always makes me think about the positive and negative aspects of jumping on other people's successes. And, I know I'm not the only person this happens to - some of my clients who run successful workshops have the same thing happen to them.

From another businesses point of view, teaming up with someone who is already successfully running workshops is a great thing to do. You get access to a whole room full of people who are already interested in what you sell; you get their contact details and can follow-up with them afterwards; you get to talk about your services in the room and selling ultimately can be so much easier.

Now the negative side - think about how it looks to the company who are already running successful workshops. They've done all the hard work getting people to turn up on the day and you just turn up to tell people about your services.

While this strategy may seem to have immense benefits for you, I have to say it's something that does annoy me and the answer back to people who ask this question, is I'm afraid usually no. I don't have a problem with people coming along to the workshop, paying for their place and then telling people about their services - it's the cheek of asking whether they can come along and overtly sell their services when I'm the one running round like a headless chicken organising everything, getting bookings and making sure everyone turns up.

So, before you make a request to jump on the back of other people's successes, just have a think about how it might come across and consider paying for your place on a workshop instead. You'll still get the same benefits AND your services will be much more likely to be recommended by the person running the workshop as a result.