February 15, 2021

by  DR. MARK T. WADE

#205: Shining A New Approach To A Niche Industry With A Virtual Summit.

Description  

 

Sophia Clark takes us through her journey from unknown to authority in a niche where most would think a summit not possible. Her approach to bringing a wide range of experts from different perspectives helped create a binge worthy style summit. And her incentive strategy including a brilliant offer to get her speakers to contribute. All that and more on today’s episode of the Virtual Summit Podcast.

 

About Sophia Clark

 

Sophia Clark is an international interior designer, travel writer, and founder and creative director of Galiatea, who aims at safeguarding cultural heritage while promoting social consciousness about artisan communities worldwide by designing luxury custom furniture and accessories handmade by under-represented artisans globally using sustainable materials. 

 

As an award winning furniture designer, she showcased her collections in some of the world prominent trade shows in London, Dubai, Italy, and Beijing. She is also the host of the “Abundance By Design” Summit.
 

Reach Out To Sophia Clark

Important Takeaways

     ➡️     The summit is the relationship building strategy, it is not the monetization strategy. Monetization comes after that. That's why it's important to have a post summit profit strategy.

     ➡️     Speaking on another summit or a podcast is an authority building strategy as well

 

What She Learned In Hosting Summits

     👉     There’s always a learning curve in everything

     👉     When reaching out to influencers/authority

  • Approach them as a peer

  • Be authentic

  • Go with the right intentions

  • Be straight up

     👉     Figuring out tech

     👉     It may not be perfect the first time, but it’s ok

     👉     Just get it done

     👉     If you’re nervous at tech breakdowns, scheduling and making sure everyone's on board,  do a pre-recorded first

     👉     it doesn't have to look the same every time

     👉     Figure out what works best for you, what works best for your audience, and for your speakers as well

 

How Sophia Split Her Sessions

     ✔️     2 sessions, morning and afternoon

     ✔️     Started the sessions with either a guided meditation, movement, or breathing class

     ✔️     Pre-recorded sessions

     ✔️     Live Q and A

 

Challenges She Encountered

     ➡️     Rushing her first summit

     ➡️     She put in a wrong link

     ➡️     No one showed up in her Q and A

 

Q & A Tips

     👉     If you are going to do a live Q and A and you're expecting a lot of people and no one shows up, have questions ready, be prepared, and think in advance

     👉     If you're going to do a pre recorded and then a Q and A, have someone else watch your pre recorded and come up with questions

     👉     Prepare yourself in advance

     👉     Attention to detail

     👉     Always be prepared

     👉     It's always better to have more questions than less questions

     👉     People enjoy the conversational style

 

How To Keep Speakers Engaged And Promoting

     ✔️     Clear communication

  • Present it to the speakers as a partnership/collaborative partnership

  • If you want people to engage with your content, start with a conversation that resonates with your audience

  • Look at everything else your audience is going to learn through you

  • The speakers would feel like they’re a superhero to the audience

     ✔️     Give them incentives

  • Ran giveaways for her summit and her speakers as well

  • Gave the speakers affiliate links

  • Gave the people who can sign the most VIPs a trip/travel incentives

Important Tip From Sophia

     ➡️     Always have a pre-interview

  • To see if they are a good fit

  • It’s the key to the relationship she built with her guests

  • Establishes familiarity/the relationship

  • It's easier to have that conversation, that kind of interview once you've had a real conversation with someone and not just go into straight

  • She was able to craft the interview based off of what they discussed pre-interview

Final Piece Of Wisdom From Sophia

          “I say, even if you don't think a summit applies to your industry, I will challenge you on that. I think you can do it for absolutely anything. And I would even go as far to say, don't make it even directly, potentially about your business. Make it expansive, make it a topic that can include a diverse set of expertise. And just do it. Just go in, get it done. It's way more fun than you realize. Yes, it is a lot of work, but you create so many connections. You establish such an authority by doing it. Even if you don't think your industry qualifies. I challenge you. It's possible. There are always there authorities in every industry and they always have something to say. So you will always have people who want to talk.”

 

Dr. Mark T Wade went from brick & mortar to multi-million dollar online business using a strategy called the "One-Day Summit".
Having created 6, 7 & Multi 7-figure businesses in the Brick & Mortar, Online (Education) Business, & Software As A Service space (Virtual Summits Software), Dr. Mark now helps entrepreneurs scale their online businesses with proven strategies such as the One-Day Summit Formula. 

 

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

   🔗   One-Day Summit Training

   🔗   Virtual Summits Software Free Trial

   🔗   One-Day Summit Starter Guide 

   🔗   Interview Like A Pro

 

   

     

   

       

 

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