Tag Archives: presentation

4 Ways to Communicate Your Brand

Speak Your Brand Panel

Speak Your Brand Panel; Photo Courtesy of Justin Gillen

Recently, I hosted a panel discussion Speak Your Brand: How to Communicate Your Message with Ease. The panel consisted for four branding experts: video gal Holly Gillen, style expert Tania Sterl, mojo coach Dibi Silber and photographer Alyssa Peek.

Thirty women entrepreneurs came together with a common goal: to clarify their brand messages so they can easily communicate and create connection with potential clients.

That’s the power of a clear brand:

When you have a powerful message you become magnetic to prospective clients.

Here are four ways you can speak your brand message:

Find your voice

Think about your favorite book, movie or TV show. What keeps you reading, watching and tuning in? Great storytelling and a clear point of view.

What is the message you are here to share? What separates you from others in your industry? By clearly defining your unique perspective you will stand out from others in your field and create connections with clients and customers.

Dress for Success

You have just 7 seconds to make an impression.

7 seconds.

What impression are you making when you walk in a room? Do you clothes represent your brand?

Selecting clothes that accent who you are and what you want to say is more important that being on trend. A statement necklace, a fabulous pair of shoes or a beautiful scarf will make you stand out in a crowded room. Wearing these items can also start a conversation and open opportunities.

Consistency is Key

Potential clients and business partners will Google your name before working with you, so it’s important to put your best photo forward. As an entrepreneur you’ve probably taken professional headshots for your website. So why does your LinkedIn profile have a picture of you at the beach? Professional photos used on your website should also be used on your social media profiles to create consistency and reinforce your brand.

Silence the Inner Critic & Embody Your Brand

You can have the right clothes and image, but if you don’t feel confident on the inside, you won’t make a positive impression. When networking, giving a presentation or meeting with clients, the inner critic may creep up and whisper ‘Who are you to do this?’ Don’t let this sabotage your success. When you hear that voice whisper, remember to let go of perfection, let your personality shine and be your unique self.

As Oscar Wilde once said, “Be You. Everyone Else is Already Taken”

Want to create a strong brand message? Sign up for a complimentary 30-minute session to get started.

Top 5 Ways to Make Your Speaking Goals a Reality

What goals did you set for 2015?

Taking a fabulous vacation? Double your sales? Give a TED talk?

If you’re like most people, those goals aren’t going as planned.

You’re heading into the second half of the year wondering where the time went.

You didn’t give as many talks as you hoped.

Your still not clear on your story or message.

And the book you’ve been working on is collecting dust.

You’re feeling a big discouraged and frustrated….again.

Because you really wanted 2015 to be THE year for you.

I get it. I’ve got big plans for this year too: running a half-marathon, launching a new program, hosting a workshop and much more.

So, to get you back on track, I’ve created a list of resources to help you get clear on your message, land speaking engagements and get the visibility you desire before 2015 ends.

Let’s dive in!

1. How to Craft a Talk that Sells

2. 3 Strategies to Find Your Ideal Speaking Engagements

3. How to Land Speaking Opportunities in Just One Hour

4. How to Pitch Speaking Engagements

5. 5 Questions to Ask Before Saying ‘Yes’ to a Speaking Gig

Carve out a few hours to really dive into these resources and create a plan for the next few months.

Remember, taken action on one item will bring you that much closer to your goal!

And if you’re ready to dig in and take massive action, book a 30-minute complimentary consultation.

How to Silence the Inner Critic

Here’s what you’ll learn in this video:

  • 3 tips to quiet the inner critic
  • A powerful tool to eliminate the inner critic
  • Insight on the inner critic from Elizabeth Gilbert, author, Eat Pray Love

3 Tips to Quiet the Inner Critic

The inner critic – that negative voice that creeps up and tells you you’re not good enough. It creates fear and doubt in your mind causing you to hold back from pursuing a dream or simply hitting publish on your blog post.

Here are three easy ways to help silence the inner critic when that voice creeps in:

1) Your audience needs you – When the inner critic shows up it’s easy to doubt yourself, your purpose and the value of your work. When that happens remind yourself that your audience need the information you have. That’s why they subscribed to your newsletter, read your blog or register to attend your talks. It’s natural to downplay your talent or compare yourself to others in your field. But remember, your audience is coming to you for help. You have knowledge, experience and information that they need. Don’t hold back. The information you have can help them resolve an issue and they will be grateful to receive it.

2) Create a Rock Star Review – It’s easy to get caught up in checking things off the “To-Do” list so you can tackle the next task on the list. However, it’s a good idea to pause and remind yourself of all that you have accomplished.

Spend just 5 minutes today and write down all the things you have accomplished this week or in the last month. The list can include big items such as launching a product as well as smaller things like washed the dishes. Once you create that list you will be amazed at everything you have done in that time frame. Keep the list near your desk to remind you how much you can accomplish – and to keep the inner critic at bay.

3) Even famous authors deal with the critics – Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat Pray Love, was asked how she handles the inner critic. She posted her response on Facebook saying that she deals with the inner critic the same way she deals with critics in real life. She simply tells them to ‘Go write your own book!’

Now it’s your turn. How do you handle the inner critic? Post your thoughts in the comments below

5 Questions to Ask Before You Say Yes to a Speaking Gig

public speaking, speaking, booking speaking engagements, how to land speaking opportunities, presenationSpeaking is one of the fastest ways to reach your audience in large numbers and grow your business. If you are new to public speaking or just looking to ramp up how often you speak, it can be tempting to say yes to every offer that comes your way.

As eager as you may be to say yes, saying no could be the better decision. Consider the time it takes to prepare a presentation, travel to and from the event and time out of office it may require. Here are 5 questions to ask to help determine if a speaking opportunity is right for you.

Who will be in the audience? – This is a great place to start because if the audience isn’t your target market, then you can make a decision right away. Asking questions such as how many people will attend? Which industries will be represented? Are the attendees experienced execs or newbies? and What is their skill level on the topic? will help determine if the opportunity is a match for you.

What is the theme of the presentation? – Ask the meeting organizers what topic they’d like you to discuss and, in particular, if there is a specific angle they would like you to present to the group. Getting more information about the topic will help you gauge if it’s in line with your vision.

What is the format? – Find out how much time you will have to present and also if you will be presenting alone or as part of a panel. This will help you determine how much time you need to prepare a presentation in advance of the event.

What is the audience reach? – Whether the event is an in-person meeting or a virtual program, it’s important to know how many people you will reach with your presentation. If it’s a live event, how many people will be attending? If it’s a virtual event like a webinar or podcast interview, how many people will be listening live or to a replay? Also, determine how many people the organization will market to through their subscribers, membership and/or social media channels.

Is it a paid speaking engagement?  If it is a paid speaking engagement does it include travel expenses? If there isn’t a speaker fee involved, there are other benefits to consider. Can you have access to the registration list? Can you sell books, products or make another offer at the event?

Now it’s your turn. How do you determine if you should say yes to a speaking engagement? Post your thoughts in the comments below.

Ready to ramp up your speaking engagements? Sign up for a complimentary 30-minute consultation to get started.

How to Craft a Talk That Sells

Do you remember that classic scene from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off in which Ben Stein gives a dry lecture to a group of high school students? With a monotone voice and information that doesn’t interest his students, it’s easy to see why the students check out.

But what happens when you have an engaging delivery, interesting content and your message still misses the mark?

You get great feedback, but you don’t walk away with any leads or sales.

Or you get lots of smiles and nods, but little engagement from the audience.

Or worse…You hear crickets.

If you’ve experienced any of the above, it’s time to revisit your content. Here are three ways you can craft a talk that will make an impact:

Begin with the end in mind

If you’re having trouble deciding what information to include in your talk, ask yourself these questions: What would you like the audience to walk away with? What are the key points or lessons you’d like them to remember?

What information does the audience need most to solve their biggest challenge? If you’re not sure, ask a few of your current clients to get their perspective.

Once you’ve boiled the information down to a few bullet points, use those to build your talk.

Get clear on your target audience

If the audience isn’t connecting with your materials, perhaps you are speaking to the wrong group. For example, if you are trying to engage women in their 50s about their retirement needs, but the women attending your talk are young professionals, your message is going to miss the mark. It’s important to get clear on who it is you are trying to reach and make sure you speak at events that are geared towards that target audience.

Share a personal story

If you’re like most business owners, you started your business because of a passion or a need. Think back to why you began your business and share a story about what inspired you to get started or a challenge you faced and the solution you created as a result. Stories create authenticity and connection, and will make you memorable.

Ready to hone-in on your message and craft a powerful talk? Sign up for a complimentary 30-minute strategy session.