How to Create the RIGHT Workshop or Webinar Topic

Each of us has a message to share, something we really want the world to hear.  In addition, there may be many different audiences we enjoy serving. The first step in identifying potential workshop or webinar topics is to identify your gifts, talents and expertise, the target audiences you enjoy serving and the message you most want to share.

You have identified the ideal workshop/webinar topic when your message meets the needs of your target audience while utilizing your gifts and expertise.  When this happens, your workshop/webinar attendees will benefit and you will feel happy, energized and fulfilled.

Answer the following exercise to identify potential workshop or webinar topics.

1.   What expertise, experience and natural gifts and talents do you bring to the world?  Think of what your clients or previous workshop/webinar participants would say?

2.   What audience(s) or niche(s) do you most enjoy serving? List them even if you are not serving them today. Be as specific as possible. The more targeted and specific you are, the faster it will be to find them.

3.   If you had the opportunity to get your message out to the audience you want to serve, what would that message be? This is often the driver that motivated you to start your business – the message at the core of why you do what you do (E.g. “Your self-worth is not your net-worth”, “The world needs to hear what you have to say”, “The most important brand is YOU”, “Balance is a process, not a place to get to”, “Every person has unique brilliance”)

4.   If you could translate that message into potential workshop topics, what topics might you come up with that utilizes your expertise and talents and lights you up?

Ensure your topic meets an immediate need

Now that you have several topics, the questions below will determine which topics meet an immediate need of your target market. Your target market will not purchase when there is no immediate need (and they won’t attend a public workshop for the same reason). Note: When I refer to target market, I am referring to existing and potential clients.

  1. Think about what your target market is struggling with right now.  What areas of pain are they challenged with?  What do they want more of or less of?
  2. Here are other ways you can find out what your target market most needs:
    1. Look back at the clients you’ve worked with in the last 6 months.  What are they challenged with?  What areas of pain/perceived pain would they like resolved? (Remember if they perceive it, it’s real to them).  What themes do you notice?
    2. What are the trends happening in your target market?
    3. What is the media/news saying about your target market?
  3. Based on what your target market’s greatest need/area of pain is RIGHT NOW, which of the topics you defined from the previous page most meet that need or solve that area of pain?  (If necessary, you may need to tweak the topic so that it meets an immediate need more fully.)  Only choose topics that your target market needs RIGHT NOW and stick with 1-3 topics total)  Do not worry about titles yet – that will be determined later.
  4. Now, pick the one that most energizes you and start Setting the Direction!