May 21, 2020

by  DR. MARK T. WADE

#147: Selecting Your Summit Topic, Name, & Title.

Description  

 

One of the most challenging aspects for a Summit Host is narrowing down their summit idea into a powerful summit name & title. Most don’t even know the difference. Yet this one single aspect could be the cause of success or the demise of your summit. So let’s get super clear on it right now.

Summit Name

     👉     Needs to be clear, and catchy

     👉     You want it to sound cool, interesting, and/or give you a little authority

     👉     Don’t go crazy with it and call it something completely off the wall or confusing

     👉     Go clear, fun and powerful

     👉     Something that resonates with you

 

Summit Topic Formulas You Can Use

     1. Problem + Avatar 

     2. Solution + Avatar

     3. Avatar + Problem = Solution

 

Summit Topic

     ➡️     It needs to create curiosity, interest, and be specific for who it is for and either have the problem or the solution (or both) in it

     ➡️     The title can’t be too long or it gets confusing

     ➡️     Make sure you keep to around 25 – 30 words or less

 

Summit Subtitle

     ✔️     It is where you expand on the topic

     ✔️     You can expand more on the actual problem and whom it is for

     ✔️     Keep it simple

     ✔️     Just expand more on either why the problem matters, or the ways you’ll be solving the problem

 

Summit Topic Is Based On The Following Items

     1. Post Summit Goal 

     2. Problem Your Solution Solves

     3. Who is the Avatar

     4. Use their Words

     👉     We ALWAYS need to start with the END IN MIND! 

 

1. Post Summit Goal

     ➡️     Why are you doing the summit to begin with?

     ➡️     You probably have a course, membership, mastermind, certification or coaching program, something that you are hoping to sell to the audience after the summit

     ➡️     Start with the end goal

     ➡️     What are we selling afterwards

     ➡️     You probably have a LOT of things you could sell, pick ONE

     ➡️     Focus on one for now

 

2. Problem Your Solution Solves

     ✔️     The “thing” that you are selling, that is a “solution”

     ✔️     It solves a problem (or series of problems)

     ✔️     If the thing you sell is the solution the next step is to identify the “PROBLEM”

     ✔️     The most important part of the whole thing is the problem

     ✔️     This is what is going to attract the right audience to your summit and then ensure they are the ones who will buy your “solution”

     ✔️     Pick a few of the problems your “thing” solves

     ✔️     Try to narrow it down to the most important one

 

3. Who Is The Avatar

     👉     If you already have your avatar figured out, you just need to go through and pick the best problem for that avatar

     👉     Even if you are starting from scratch or think you already know this is still a very good time to re-evaluate it

     👉     The problem you selected may have a specific avatar who may be different (or a subset) of your main avatar

     👉     Look at that problem you selected and decide who would most likely have this problem

     👉     Ask yourself, “Are you sure?” about 3 or 4 times

     👉     Once you start to feel confident move along

     👉     Next you can ask either of these two questions:

              -     Who do you like most?

              -     Who do you think is best?

     👉     Whoever pops into your mind GO WITH IT!! That is the right answer

 

Key Takeaway

     ➡️     Just by focusing on one specific person, doesn’t mean you won’t attract the others. You will. If you target 45 y/o women who want to jump higher (I was watching sports, just go with it) then you’ll also end up attracting dudes who want to jump higher too. You’ll also get some younger and probably even older women in the summit as well. 

     ➡️     When they see how specific you are they will know that you know what you are talking about and they’ll want to know too.  

 

4. Use Their Words

     ✔️      In deciding what to call it, or the title, you need to use their lingo

     ✔️     Easiest way to figure this out is send out an email to your tribe, or post in a Facebook group

     ✔️     Keep it simple, just ask them about the problem, and look at how they respond

     ✔️     That is the lingo they are using to describe the problem so use it

     ✔️     If you don’t have an email audience and don’t have Facebook, then you can try comment fishing

     ✔️     Find things that are on the topic you are looking at and read the comments

     ✔️     You can also find a book that talks about this problem or topic and go to Amazon and read the comments under the book

     ✔️     Search YouTube for the problem or topic and then read the comments on the video

You could use this same tactic on blogs too

     ✔️     Just do a little research on the lingo and terminology your avatar is using

 

Where It Gets Sticky

      👉     When it comes to creating your summit idea & choosing your summit topic many summit hosts have a challenge with this. It typically comes down to one of two challenges. 

1. Not Knowing Your Avatar 

2. Over Thinking The Topic

     👉     Both of these problems can be solved in one phrase!

          “CHOOSE ONE AND STICK WITH IT”

 

     1. Not knowing your avatar

     👉     This is a tough one to solve in any way other than spending more time trying to learn who your avatar is and what they want

     👉     Some simple ways to do this are:

          -      To poll your audience

          -      Look at your top selling products

          -      Hop on a call with a few customers

          -      Look at the most common questions you get

 

     2. Overthinking the topic

     👉     Very common to all summit hosts

     👉     When you are so close to a topic it becomes difficult to see a clear answer

     👉     One of the best and easiest ways to get past this is by getting feedback from someone

     👉     They don’t need to be a summit expert, they don’t need to know your topic, avatar or anything really

     👉     They just need to hear you talk about the topic, the problem and the avatar and they will have an idea

     👉     My suggestion is to go with that idea

     👉     Sometimes the best (and easiest) solution is ANY solution

     👉     So listen to them and go with it

 

Summit Topic Mind Map

     ➡️     If you feel you have a good idea on one topic but you keep second-guessing yourself then you’ll want to use this strategy

     ➡️     Take that main topic, that is going to be our focus

     ➡️     Now every time a separate idea comes up, or a topic you second-guess yourself with, then write out in one of the bubbles

     ➡️     Most items that pop up are correct

     ➡️     They could be your main topic.

     ➡️     The topic you already choose is most like the best one

 

How To Use The Summit Topic Mind Map

     ✔️     Keep your main topic & idea in the center

     ✔️     Remember where the end goal is that we are trying to go with this summit

     ✔️     Now every time you get another idea you write in the side bubbles

• These are not the main topic they are typically situations or scenarios that can also impact your avatar

• They don’t take over, they are a part of

• What these become are stories, and talking points for your summit. 

• These relate to the main topic

• Write them down then think about a specific moment or scenario or situation where this other issue happens

• Write down that moment or situation

• Use that to relate to your avatar when you are talking throughout your summit

• Tell that story in your email copy, or in your social media posts

• Those now add structure, substance and validity to your main topic

• Write them down, and see how they relate to the main topic, and then identify a story or situation that captures that

     ✔️     Then you take your summit topic and determine your summit name, title and subtitle to represent this topic to your avatar

     ✔️     Keep in mind that main problem that you selected

     ✔️     Use the Summit Topic Mind Map when you start to get confused or distracted

 

MY REQUEST

 

I’m going to give away all the best insights and knowledge but just need YOUR help!

• First  - subscribe & leave a 5 star review on this podcast
• Second - share this podcast with anyone you know who has done, or wants to do a summit

​That’s all I ask...

 

HOW TO GET IN TOUCH

   👉   I am always looking for feedback

   👉   If you have questions send them to me.  (I’ll start doing a special Q&A monthly episode)

   👉   If you want to be a guest reach out and let me know

   👉   If you know someone I should interview please put me in touch with them.

 

Email me at:  Podcast@VirtualSummits.com

Join the Summitology Masterclass: https://www.virtualsummits.software/summitology-masterclass-signup

Resources you can get in the show notes at http://virtualsummits.software/resource

    ✔️   One Day Summit Guide

    ✔️   Virtual Summits Framework

    ✔️   Plug & Play

    ✔️   Free Trial Virtual Summit Software

 

I want to end this episode by saying,

 

"I believe in YOU & YOU can do this."

 

Summits are by far one of the most powerful ways to quickly grow your list, launch your platform & make more money! (Even if you are just getting started).

Don’t get caught up in Analysis paralysis, because the world needs to hear your message & there are people who are waiting for you to help them. 

 

So just get started.  Imperfect action is always better than doing nothing!

Thank you and see you on the next episode!

 

 

 

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

   🔗   One-Day Summit Training

   🔗   Virtual Summits Software Free Trial

   🔗   One-Day Summit Starter Guide 

   🔗   Interview Like A Pro

   🔗   Access Summit Fest Live On Demand Portal 

   🔗   Summit Fest Live 2021

   🔗   Viral Summits

   🔗   Summit Topic Mind Map