Tag Archives: public speaking

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.

10 Ways to Share Your Story and Wow Crowds

“When you have a memorable story about who you are and what your mission is, your success no longer depends on how experienced you are or how many degrees you have or who you know. A good story transcends boundaries, breaks barriers and opens doors.” – Blake Mycoskie, founder, TOMS Shoes

Recently I heard Blake Mycoskie give a Keynote speech at a conference for corporate executives. I had read his book, Start Something That Matters, so I was familiar with how he created TOMS Shoes and the One for One campaign. Despite this, I was moved by his passion, honesty and sense of humor. Hearing him share his story in person was engaging and an inspiration.

Even if you have no aspirations of being a Keynote speaker, there are a few sure-fire ways to leave an impression on your audience. In the spirit of the New Year, I’ve created a list of “top 10” ways to share your story and engage the crowd.

1. Walk in the shoes of your audience
Whether you are speaking at a conference or your weekly team meeting, it’s important to know the needs of your audience. Some quick research can reveal their challenges, what they hope to get out of the meeting or event; and what solutions they need most. Addressing these points in your presentation is sure to leave a great impression.

2. Prepare for game day
Professional athletes have curfew the night before a game and so should you. Instead of staying up all night tweaking your slides and rehearsing your content, get a good night’s sleep. If you feel great, you will be at the top of your game.

3. Channel your inner rock star
I’ve talked about strutting like Beyonce before, but there’s one thing that can be learned from rock stars: confidence. Have some swagger. (or moves like Jagger). When fear creeps up take a few deep breaths, remember that you are the expert and then command the stage like your favorite artist.

4. Share examples
When writing your talk, try to include examples that apply to every day life. If you are giving a talk on time management, share an example of kids being late to school or missing a deadline at work. Using examples that are applicable to everyone will wow the crowd.

5. Keep it interactive
Keep the audience engaged by getting them involved in your presentation. Take a poll or ask the audience questions to break up the content and keep them from getting restless.

6. Stand up
Standing raises your energy level, which is automatically reflected in your voice. If you are presenting over the phone, get a headset so you can stand while delivering your presentation. Hearing your energy keeps an audience engaged and awake.

7. Surprise and delight the audience by creating a memorable experience. Give away a gift card to someone who asks a question; incorporate music into your presentation or move through the audience. Find ways to be unique and keep the presentation fresh.

8. Keep it simple
When writing your presentation stick to 3-5 key points you want to address. Begin by thinking about what you want the audience to walk away with and reverse engineer the content from there.

9. Be transparent

You are the expert on your subject. But you didn’t become an expert without failing along the way. Sharing an example of a customer service issue gone wrong, a failed product launch or other missed opportunity builds trust and credibility.

10. Let go of perfection

Delivering your speech may not go as smooth as you planned it. You may not hit every talking point the way you rehearsed and tech issues happen more often than we’d like them to.

Now it’s your turn. What’s your best tip for delivering a presentation with impact? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

4 Speaking Secrets Every Introvert Should Know

When it comes to public speaking, you can never have enough guidance on overcoming fear, storytelling or commanding the stage.

Today, I’m offering tips specifically for introverts – those people who avoid parties, networking groups and enjoy plenty of downtime.

Fear not, introverts. Just because you are an introvert, doesn’t mean you can’t command the stage. In fact, many introverts have been very successful and made careers out of being on the stage.

So here are 4 tips just for you:

Practice, practice and then practice some more

Speaking is like any muscle. You have to keep using it in order to stay in shape. The more you practice your speech, the more you will be comfortable with you material, which lessens the fear of forgetting what you’re going to say. Speaking to groups on a regular basis will boost your confidence making the experience less intimidating.

Connect to your story

There is nothing more inspiring to a live audience than a passionate speaker. You can’t have passion if your material is dry, so it’s important to share a compelling story. For example, a photographer talking about his subjects or what happened during the photo shoot is much more interesting than if he were to talking about the camera or shutter speed used.

Be of service

When speaking to a group you are sharing information with those who need it most. The audience wants and needs the wisdom, advice and solutions you have to offer. Thinking about the information that is most important to the audience will take the focus off of you.

Channel your inner Sasha Fierce

There are numerous actors, musicians and artists who are introverts including Harrison Ford, Christina Aguilera and Lady Gaga. Even a powerful, fearless performer like Beyonce admits to channeling her alter ego, Sasha Fierce, when she takes the stage:

“Sasha Fierce is the fun, more sensual, more aggressive, more outspoken side and more glamorous side that comes out when I’m working and when I’m on the stage.”

Take a cue from Beyonce (and let’s face it, who doesn’t want to be as fierce as Beyonce every now and then?) and create your own persona the next time you take the stage.

Now it’s your turn. Are you an introvert? Do you have an Sasha Fierce alter ego? Share your best speaking tip in the comments below.

What if You Chose Faith Over Fear?

“I want to see you be brave.” ~ Sara Barreillis

It’s not always easy.

To meet a deadline.

To be your best self.

To take a risk.

To be brave.

To face your fears.

Say the words “public speaking” and “fear” is sure to follow. When I speak with entrepreneurs fear and doubt always pop up – even with speakers who give presentations regularly. Everyone has their shaky moments.

“I’m scared of audiences, one show in Amsterdam I was so nervous I escaped out the fire exit. I’ve thrown up a couple of times…” ~ Adele

Even performers like Adele.

So, what if you made a mind shift? What if you shifted your thoughts from fear to…

Owning your expertise. You are the expert. You have years of experience and plenty of success stories to back it up.

Speaking your truth. Speak about our passion – that thing that lights you up. Enthusiasm is infectious. And when you speak about something you love, fear fades away.

Realizing the audience wants you to succeed. They’re actually rooting for you! They want to learn from you because you have a skill and knowledge that they may not.

What if you shifted from fear to faith?

What would be possible?

 

How are you choosing faith over fear today? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.