| Public Speaking holds the key to many opportunities | | | | person with insight and quality information, if not of the |
| professionally and personally. Public speaking skills may | | | | speaker's views or product offerings themselves. |
| seem to come naturally for some people, but for most, | | | | While this is not universally true, in the subconscious |
| these skills can be learned. The fear of public speaking | | | | minds of many, a speaker being granted a podium by |
| may keep some from making the effort to develop | | | | an organization means that the organization values the |
| speeches and opportunities to present views and | | | | input of that individual. The truth of this lies in the fact |
| information effectively. Why is it beneficial to | | | | that time is a valuable commodity at any conference |
| overcome public speaking phobias, to be able to deliver | | | | or gathering, as well as in business or our personal |
| quality presentations, seminars and speeches? First, | | | | lives. A speaker's information should be of great |
| every speech is an opportunity to present information, | | | | enough value to warrant the time given. Be sure to |
| product offerings, and viewpoints to an audience. | | | | include information in the presentation which will justify |
| Second, Audience members are customers or | | | | your value in the mind of the audience. It is better to |
| potential customers. Thirdly, Public speaking is a great | | | | over saturate with information than to leave the |
| method for building a reputation and expanding reach. | | | | audience feeling like their time was wasted. Do not |
| Lastly, Speaking engagements can be used as | | | | take the reputation boost of a conference or |
| continuing promotional material with little additional effort | | | | organizational "endorsement" lightly; it can have great |
| or costs. | | | | value in relationship building, brand building and business |
| Every presentation should be focused on a key | | | | metrics. On the flip side, failing to deliver can cause |
| purpose. As a speaker, are you looking to present | | | | harm in those areas which will be difficult to repair. Be |
| information, offer product information and samples or | | | | well prepared and well rehearsed well ahead of the |
| to shape viewpoints and persuade listeners to take a | | | | presentation to be sure that things go smoothly. |
| particular action or point of view? When taking an | | | | Speaking engagements can easily be converted in to |
| opportunity for speaking, it is important to consider your | | | | promotional material with the use of simple recording |
| purpose, but also the purposes of those in attendance. | | | | and presentation software. This is one area which has |
| If there is little or no match, it may not be worth the | | | | become increasingly true in the age of new media. |
| time, but there is an old adage, no exposure is bad | | | | PowerPoint presentations are easily converted to use |
| exposure. This boils down to what is your time worth | | | | on websites and email marketing. They can also be |
| to you, and what is the long-term value of a public | | | | readily converted to YouTube videos. With the |
| speaking engagement? If the speaker's purpose is | | | | growing impact of social networking sites on business, |
| informational, make sure that there is accompanying | | | | the use of i-commerce media such as these is even |
| written copy for the audience members. Brochures, | | | | more useful. Pushing links to videos and presentations |
| presentation slides, speaker notes, and business cards | | | | through MySpace, Facebook and Twitter, or promoting |
| can all assist the speaker to ensure that the speech | | | | them on StumbleUpon can offer great low labor |
| transfers sustained information to the audience. These | | | | sources of business. These sites are also free |
| items, when properly designed also increase exposure | | | | sources, meaning there is not the high cost of |
| for the speaker and their business, by providing | | | | advertising often associate with traditional media. |
| additional sources of contact information and business | | | | Couple the presentations with videos of a speaker |
| offerings. Do not think only on the large scale for public | | | | and audience participation, an infomercial can be a |
| speaking/presentation opportunities, the same tools | | | | short edit away. Brochures, which can serve as |
| work well in board room presentations, one on one or | | | | informational aids in a presentation can also be used |
| small group sales presentations and on large, diverse | | | | as sales copy for direct sales forces or mailings. A |
| venues and audiences. A well laid out presentation | | | | speaking engagement can also provide the opportunity |
| should be persuasive to the audience without being | | | | to get information from potential customers and |
| pushy or demanding of them. | | | | existing customers to build a better Customer |
| The vast majority of participants at an event are | | | | Relations Database for marketing campaigns. Never |
| looking for something. Some are just looking for | | | | fail to take advantage of opportunities to further your |
| information, but others are looking for guidance or for | | | | marketing efforts. |
| information which will allow them to meet their needs | | | | The opportunity to speak is one that must be actively |
| effectively, be that purchasing a product or service or | | | | sought out, not passively awaited. While well known |
| learning how to move forward with a task on their | | | | speakers may be sought out and able to rely on |
| own. Knowing what the audience is looking for can | | | | unsolicited requests, most speakers cannot. Speak |
| help a speaker to tailor his/her speech and supporting | | | | with trade show promoters, industry leaders, |
| documents. The most productive speaking | | | | community organizations and Chambers of |
| engagements are likely to be ones where the | | | | Commerce; let them know of your interest in speaking, |
| speaker's goals and those of the audience have | | | | your credentials and the areas which you are |
| synergy. In example, a sales seminar is best suited to | | | | considered an expert speaker. Submit papers for |
| an audience that is looking to invest in the broad type | | | | conferences and proposals for presentations. A |
| of product or service discussed in the seminar. | | | | speaker will likely need to submit many times to many |
| Speaking to a PETA convention about investing in | | | | sources to get one prime speaking opportunity. Work |
| genetically altered animal food products would not be | | | | on the presentations with smaller groups and hone |
| lucrative or likely good for your physical or mental well | | | | speaking skills before looking for large venues. Good |
| being either. On the other hand, the same presentation | | | | sources for these public speaking engagements are |
| may be extremely lucrative if given to an Agribusiness | | | | Kiwanis Clubs, Rotary Clubs, Lodges and other civic |
| Conference. This is not to say that appearing at | | | | groups, as well as church and school groups. They are |
| opposition functions cannot serve a purpose too. | | | | often less critical and open to many different types of |
| Relationship building and information sharing, especially | | | | presentations, although they are also likely to look for |
| on new research promoting your side of an issue can | | | | more social interactions than strictly business speech. |
| be helpful in limiting dissent or opposition or even in | | | | Every opportunity to speak is also an opportunity to |
| turning the tide to create a friendlier environment for | | | | learn, grow and refine presentations. Seek honest |
| your business. Personal contacts and relationships | | | | feedback from those who attend and use that |
| carry much greater weight in peoples minds and | | | | feedback to improve. If a formal survey is possible, |
| hearts than a faceless, often nameless "other" as | | | | use one, if not, garner information through social |
| opposition groups are often labeled. This is why it is | | | | interactions after the presentation. The suggestions |
| important to know your audience's goals, but also to | | | | offered in this article on effective public speaking skills |
| focus on yours in developing a presentation. | | | | will allow a speaker to increase business reach and |
| Being asked to speak in front of an organization or | | | | reputation, as well as personal reputation and value |
| event tacitly implies endorsement of the speaker as a | | | | when coupled with refining speaking skills overall. |