Every potential member who attends your club meeting is valued and worth fighting for. In today’s world the marketing, you must give to get them to attend and this requires a lot of work. By giving them a guest packet you are saying, “We care about you.” Show your guests personal attention by sharing the material in your guest packet. You also want to give the impression that, “We are professional.” Which means your packet should look professional. Toastmasters offers a guest packet on line.
However, if you use the packet from Toastmasters or create your own you will want to add a few personal touches:
- Welcome letter from your club president
- Toastmasters Features/Benefits Chart
- Toastmasters Fact Sheet
- Add a copy of the Toastmaster magazine. Here you can engage guest by pointing out an article or two.
- The “Ice Breaker” speech project .Explain the purpose of and how to prepare the speech. Let your guest know you are interested in their development. Tell them you would like to assign them a mentor to help them get started in the club. Inform them that they must be a paid member before they present a speech. However, don’t be overly pushy to scare them away.
Always remember to include a membership application.
You will need to judge how to approach each guest with joining your club. Don’t be too pushy but you do want to close the deal. It is important that each club officer know how to fill out the application. You want to look professional and knowledgeable about the cost of membership and how to pro-rate dues.
Finally, make sure you have guest’s contact information before they leave to follow up with them via email and/or phone. Let them know that they do not have to join right away but that the sooner they start the sooner they will reap the benefits. Make sure you have given your testimony on how you have benefited from Toastmasters and how excited you are about them attending the meeting.
Invite them to attend the next meeting.
A well prepared and executed Informational Packet will position your club to bring in new members.
Below is a list of what is included in the Toastmaster guest packet. Use this packet for club guests, at conferences or at any promotional event. The packet comes in a presentation folder and includes:
- Find Your Voice. (Item 99)
- Confidence. The Voice of Leadership. (Item 101)
- All About Toastmasters (Item 124)
- The Benefits of Toastmasters Membership Flier
- Promotional Bookmark (Item 6818)
- Promotional Magnet (Item 6770)
Customize your guest packet to fit your needs.
- Promoting at a job fair targeting corporations? Include Clear Communication. Your organization needs it (Item 103).
- Handing out to club guests? Add a promotional welcome ribbon. (Item 393W)
- Include meeting agendas, one-sheets about your club with meeting information, and other informative fliers. See all the customizable marketing materials here.