Check Out the Agenda for “I’m a Mediator … Now What?”

Wondering what’s in store for you when you register for this exciting workshop? Check out the agenda for “I’m a Mediator! … Now What?”

Agenda          

Saturday – June 12th

Morning: Introduction and the Basics of Branding and Marketing Your Mediation Practice – Brian Beck, Cynthia Gleason and Jennifer Kostka

Topics: Introductions, overview & ice breaker, Personal branding and messaging brainstorm

In this session we will get to know the group and begin to think about our business focus. Brian will lead an ice breaker session to help participants open discussions with each other and the consultants. Cynthia and Jennifer will help participants begin to think about establishing their personal and business brands. Through this session we will begin to think of our mediation practices as organizations and start to form the foundation of our businesses.

Afternoon: Establishing and Selling Your Mediation Business in Colorado – Brian Beck

Topics: Mediation in Colorado/Running the business, Selling mediation/Ethics

In this session Brian will give an overview of mediation and mediators in Colorado. We will discuss where people go for mediation, who is looking for your services, and how the lessons from this training will give you an edge over other practitioners. Next we will talk about resources for business planning, where to find office space, fee structures, and other basic business strategies. Finally, we will discuss sales strategies including successful programs, examples of practices, and how to bring parties to your mediation table.

Wednesday – June 16th

Expanding Your Message and Brand and Exploring Marketing Tools – Cynthia Gleason , Jennifer Kostka and Angie Lee

Topics: Expanding the message, Marketing tools

This session will focus on how to develop and maintain a professional look across all of your marketing efforts. Cynthia and Jennifer will expand on the previous discussions about personal branding and messaging. Then they will discuss various marketing tools, how to choose the right tools, and how to develop a marketing plan. Angie will discuss the dos and don’ts of graphic design, when to hire a graphic designer and how to work with designers effectively to create products that will help draw clients to your business.

Saturday – June 19th

Morning: Applying Your New Knowledge of Branding to Your Mediation Practice and Discovering Social Media – Cynthia Gleason and Jennifer Kostka

Topics: Branding Review, Social Media/establishing yourself as an expert

This session will help you dig even deeper into developing and refining your brand and messaging. Jennifer will help you to harness the power of the internet and explain how to use it to draw clients to your business through your brand identity. You will leave the session knowing how to showcase your mediation expertise through the use of social media. You will learn how to integrate your website, blog, twitter, facebook and linkedin accounts into one cohesive strategy that will help bring clients to you through the internet.

Afternoon: Choosing a Legal Form for the Business and Identifying Potential Tax Issues – Georgine Kryda; Conclusion —  Brian Beck

Topics: Entity & Taxes, Final Questions & Closing     

In the final session, Georgine will identify potential legal and tax issues for solo practitioners and possible partnerships, as well as guide you toward appropriate resources.  Among the topics that we discuss will be:  How do you form the business? Does incorporation always protect your personal assets? What should you know about a potential partner? Are you going to have employees or independent contractors? Does your home office really qualify for the home office deduction? How should you be tracking mileage and use of your car for business? What types of taxes might you owe? We will conclude the session by discussing what you should know about finding and working with an attorney or an accountant.    

We have put together a comprehensive workshop that will offer you the tools to establish, brand and market your practice. For less than $70/hr you can expand your mediation practice by the end of the year. We hope you will join us! Click here to register now.

Don’t Let Your Questions about Setting Up Your Mediation Practice Continue to Go Unanswered

As mediators, we have heard and asked each other the same questions over and over — “How do I make a living doing this?” and “How do I market this?”

Over the last seven years, I have met many amazing mediators who struggle to build their practices because they can’t find the answers to these questions. What I have found is that most of these mediators are lacking some specific business tools and skills. Among these are the abilities to manage finances, market their practices, and be comfortable with sales. I believe that if mediators learn a few basic business skills, they can significantly increase their profits.

Just like with our mediation practices, we can’t guarantee a successful outcome but we can provide people with tools and processes to find a successful outcome. “I’m a Mediator, Now What?” will offer you proven tools that, if you use properly, will help you establish yourself as an expert, define your personal and business brand, market your services, and make the sale.

Yes, this is a significant investment but if being your own boss in a mediation business is what you truly want to do, this training has been developed to give you the tools that you need to move forward. Regardless of the focus, it’s not easy to run your own business. Mediators face especially difficult times because our services and their benefits are not understood. People don’t understand mediation and they don’t immediately think of mediation when they’re in conflict. We have to learn how to establish ourselves and our services as necessary and valuable resources.

“I’m a Mediator, Now What?”

You have taken mediation courses, you believe strongly in your potential to help people work through their conflicts to find resolutions, and now you want to break into the mediation industry with your own practice. But how do you do it?

Right now people are in need of your skills but they don’t know how to find you. This class will help you find them. Learn how to:

• Attract clients to your practice through strategic branding and marketing.
• Navigate the details of setting up a practice.
• Explain your valuable work to clients quickly, succinctly and convincingly.
• Organize your finances responsibly.
• Build upon the networks you have already established.
• Use tools such as social media and the internet to market your practice.
• Work productively and achieve results with consultants in finance, law, marketing and public relations.

This workshop will bring the marketing and public relations experts and financial and legal professionals to you. These consultants have spent time learning the frustrations mediators face and have developed solid strategies for overcoming these challenges. To learn more about the workshop’s featured consultants, read their bios.

This is not a mediator training. This is a business training focused on helping you build your mediation practice. Through three classes, you will gain the tools you need to market your practice and learn what you need to do to attract paying clients. You also will learn what you need to know before hiring consultants in marketing, finance, public relations, web site design and graphic arts.

Saturday, June 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, June 16 from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

All classes will be at the Wellshire Inn, 3333 South Colorado Boulevard in Denver.

Early Bird Rate through Friday, May 28 — $1,299 ($1,349 with credit card)

Regular Rate after May 28– $1,449 ($1,499 with credit card)

Make checks payable to Brian Beck. Mail your check and registration form to:

The Solutions Group
P.O. Box 19041
Golden, CO 80402

If you would like to pay by credit card, please indicate that on the registration form and we will send you an invoice with directions for paying securely online.

Questions? Contact Brian Beck at (720) 220-8683 or beck.brian.s@gmail.com.