40 Guest in 4 Minutes

STEP 1 . Get a Pen & Paper

STEP 2. Write an answer for each category as you read them

4 Relatives

4 Friends

4 Co-Workers

4 Neighbors

4 Social contacts ex. church, committees

4 Contacts through kids

4 Places you do business

4 People who owe you a favor

4 Co-Workers of a significant other

4 People you haven't seen in a while

STEP 3. Now take the time to invite everyone on that list to your next public lecture, open house, or send a letter introducing them to BodyTalk.

Tips on how to choose a business name

When starting your BodyTalk practice, there are many things that can feel overwhelming and intimidating to move through. Choosing a business name is one thing that's very important and needs to be done as one of the first steps of creating your business. I have listed many tips that you may find helpful to explore and define your business, and a name to suit it.

Establishing a business name is a way to define yourself and the meaning within your business. When picking a business name, allow some of your personal character and values to be expressed within your name. Let this be a fun exercise, and invite your family, friends, and clients to be part of the process. This allows them to feel included and part of the business. When we allow them to be included, it also gives them a sense of pride and they feel as though they are a part of the business. When they feel this sense of pride, it will reflect in how they support and promote you.

Tips on Choosing a Business Name:

1. Define the meaning behind your business (having a mission or vision statement may help). What do you do, with whom, and why do you do it?
2. Make a list of the words that describe your personal and professional values.
3. Explore other Practitioners' Business names; Make a list of the words you like,
4. Invite Friends, Family, and Clients to provide you feedback with words they would use to describe you and what you do.
5. From there, pick the 5 words that resonate the most with you.
6. Use the words that have meaning and can express both you, and what you do, within your business.
7. You will then need to do a name search within your Province, State, etc., to be able to register your name.
8. Once chosen, distribute your business name to as many people as you can and with as many different forms of media as possible. For example: Facebook, Instagram, email, business cards, phone numbers, just to list a few.
9. Take PRIDE in your name;  Own it!

If you already have your business name, support us by posting your business name on the General Forum on the IBA website under the thread titled:  BUSINESS NAMES. This will help and support step 3 for everyone who is starting off.

Expo's Excitement

I was recently invited to join this group of women to attend a Health Expo in Regina, Saskatchewan.  When I reviewed my schedule, I was booked so unfortunately I had to decline, but offered support in other forms. As the day went on, there was a part of me really wanting to attend. I trusted this feeling and re-arranged my schedule. It had been a few years since I had attended a show, but I was quickly reminded of how participating in such events are so beneficial and inspiring on many levels. As soon as I called to change my original reply, my mind was on fire with ideas, I felt like a part of me got my Mojo back (kind of like Austin Powers).

I thought I would share some of the ideas and things we did and how the IBA has many resources available that makes attending these events easy and professional.

1. Display: We used the rack cards which offers several topics to attract the variety of clients to take the information that was molded to their symptoms. We included a few of the anatomy cubes for people to play and read. We hung banners behind us which were great for us to refer to as we were explaining BodyTalk. We also had a draw box that people could enter their names for Free Sessions, using the BodyTalk and BodyTalk Access pens for them to fill out the ballets. We added a plant to the display to add some warmth. It was a very inviting display!
2. Speech Time:  By the time we booked our booth, all the spaces to present were full. On the first day of the event, I went to the organizer and mentioned to them if anyone cancels or is a no show that we would love the opportunity to speak. To our surprise on the first evening, there was a no show, the space needed to be filled, and we were informed we needed to speak in 10 minutes.  In that moment I thought WOW, ask and you shall receive really does work!  I had 30 minutes to speak so, with no preparation, I let BodyTalk speak through me and concluded with explaining the Access seminar and teaching cortices. I was then able to hand out a sheet from the I AM Note Pad so they all had the follow-up of cortices to refer to.
3. Demos: We had two massage tables set up to offer demo sessions. There was always three of us at the booth, two doing sessions, and one attending the crowd. We offered the demos for a suggested donation price. We were booked solid doing sessions through the whole expo. We did over 70 demo sessions which covered all of the expenses of the expo, and each person took home a profit! 
4. Follow up from Demos:  After each demo, we gave clients bottles of water. On the bottles of water, we made a label with 5 benefits of hydration as an education tool as well as to support the drinking of water.  Then, we taught each person cortices, and as a follow-up tool, we handed them a reminder of how to tap the cortices from the I AM Note Pads.
5.  Door Prizes:  As we made the draws, we donated sessions and included things with the sessions such as the anatomy cube, BodyTalk radio show DVD, Access book, and the Science and Philosophy of BodyTalk book, which provided the winner with additional information of the system.
6. Follow up from Show: With our door prize slips, we asked the question, "Would you like further information?" which gave us permission to use their information to follow-up. We sent an email to everyone thanking them for attending the show along with a link to register for upcoming events that we had scheduled.  We added a reminder of how to do cortices with a link to the website to watch the video explaining cortices which would also lead them to explore the website.
7. Reward: Within 24 hours after the show, we had people registering online for all of the events, and the local practitioners were doing sessions on new clients.

As we worked together over the weekend, we were asked if we all worked in the same location, and our reply was no. People were shocked and confused.  We were there working as a team promoting a system without competition. As we reflected, our team there was an interesting observation that wasn't strategized. Our team consisted of myself, an Instructor who taught in the area, Tyla Johnston, a local Access Trainer and practitioner, Ashley Knutson, a local coordinator and practitioner, and Kathy Law, the most recent CBP in the city. This was a great example of building a team, supporting each other and forming a foundation of community within the area.

I want to say a big Thank You to the IBA team for having such great tools, information, and resources for us to use. Having these resources available helped to make our booth look professional, and provided us with confidence and tools for people to follow-up with.  Also, Thank You to my fellow colleagues for the invitation to attend.  I left that weekend filled with gratitude and pride to be associated with such a supportive, enthusiastic team and system. 

Does Your Bio Picture Match You?

Our bio pictures are a KEY part of our Businesses, and our Bio pages.
Do you have a bio picture? If not this is a Must Do for YOU!
Did you know that most people who are looking for a practitioner will choose one who has a
Bio picture over one who doesn't? It is a fact that when people are reading your bio pages,
they will want to see a picture to match your story. 

1. Is your picture outdated?
I will never forget when my students started providing me with feedback saying, "You don't look anything like your picture." This experience has me continually checking in to ensure my picture is up to date with my current style. Is your picture an accurate expression of yourself? Have you had a lot of personal growth, and change since your last picture?

I remember being told once that you want to ensure your pictures are professional
looking, so I would also ensure I had them done professionally. I would always just
have a head shot as that is what professional meant to me. This last time I went to get
my pictures done, the photographer suggested we use an old building as a background
and try some new poses. When I reflected on them, I loved it! They had personality,
there was a full body expression of me. I invite you to think outside the box when
getting your Bio pictures to ensure the pictures will capture your personality and
essence of you.

2. Will people recognize you in a crowd based on your picture?
I love when I hear people able to introduce themselves to me because they recognize
my from my photo. I didn't realize this until I was at conference one year, and
someone had come up and introduced themselves to me. They said they recognized
me from my picture from an article I had written. If someone recognizes you, it makes
them feel more apt to approach you and talk to you! They feel as though they already
know you on some level.

3. Eyes to the soul
They say your eyes are a window to your Soul. It can sometimes be a scary thing for
someone to come to their first BodyTalk appointment. Being able to see you as a
Practitioner ahead of time, will help a client to literally "feel" if you are the right
Practitioner for them! Your picture is like your introduction of yourself to the world,
what is your first impression saying? Does it capture your personality?!

1. Introduce yourself to the world: This is a sign you are open for business, and
open to receiving clients, students, life!
2. Capture your Personality: have fun during your photo shoot try different poses,
angles, back drops. The fun energy will shine through your picture. Allow your
personality to shine through your body expression.
3. Use your Photo: Ensure you have your photo on your IBA bio page, also add it to
your signature on your e-mail, business cards, Facebook, etc.
4. Keep them Updated: Even if you have a current bio picture I invite you to
revisit it, ask your self, is this an accurate representation of you? Have you
grown a lot since that picture?
5. Eyes are the seat of the soul: Allow yourself to be open and vulnerable

SAY CHEESE! :)