If you make the audience the stars, they will make you the star by giving you higher evaluations and buying more of your ideas, products and services. Here are a few ways to do it:
=> Get them on stage with you. I find an excuse in virtually every presentation to have one or many people up there with me.
=> Mention their individual names, or subgroups during the program. Praise their accomplishments and mention the good ideas you got from them in your pre program research.
=> Put quotations of the audience members in the handouts. . . . again you could have easily gleaned quotes during your pre program research.
=> Put quotations and ideas of the audience members in custom visuals (overheads, slides and computer generated images). I do custom quote overheads with my company name on them at the bottom. After using it in the presentation, I give it to the person who gave me the information. I've seen these pinned up on the recipients bulletin board long after my presentation.
=> Give out awards. Find out who the unsung heros are and make up an award to present during your presentation.
=> Give out prizes for people who participate in a positive way.
Want to be more professional in the way you approach each speaking engagement? Do at least two of the above items every time you speak. . . . Raise the bar and make them the stars. (Ref: Wake em Up Business Presentations)
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Sunday, December 7, 2008
Public Speaking: Make 'Em The Stars
Amazing Public Speaking: Props Part 2
Types of props There are many different kinds of props that can be used to your advantage in a presentation. Extra large or extra small props are funny. Noisemakers are funny. Even though you are attacking the sense of hearing, you are attacking it in a unique way that makes it memorable. Costumes and magic tricks make good props.
I have a friend who speaks on telephone skills. He uses a giant telephone receiver to make a point about the importance of phone skills. I used a clown prop to make the serious point that if we went through with this merger it would be like being in a thunderstorm with a clown umbrella (for those of you that do not know, a clown umbrella is only about 8 inches in diameter).
Noisemakers are fun. I recommended that a sales manager get one of those expressway revenge devices that makes machine gun, ray gun, and bomb noises when you press a button. If XYA company (remember no Zs) gets in our way, this is what will do to them (he pressed the machine gun button while holding the device near the microphone). He got his point across.
I have worn gorilla costumes, brought full-size mannequins on stage and kicked them around. I have done simple magic tricks and many other things to get my point across in a more memorable and interesting fashion.
You dont necessarily have to do wild things to use props. A very creative friend of mine, Carolyn Long, was going to talk about the keys to creativity. She opened by holding up keys, then discarded them in favor of a combination lock. Her point was made.
Tips for using props
=> Normally you should keep your special props hidden until you are ready to use them.
=> Make sure the prop can be seen from all parts of the room.
=> ALWAYS talk to the audience, not the prop (unless the prop is a puppet).
=> Make sure the audience is focused on surprise props before you unleash the surprise. (If using a fake peanut can with pop out snakes, hold the can in full view for an extra second before you open it so the audience does not miss it).
For Other Public Speaking Tips Click Here
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- Amazing Public Speaking Testimonial Tips
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Amazing Public Speaking Testimonial Tips
There are two types and four formats of testimonials.
Types:
· Pat on the back · Results Based
Formats:
· Written · Audio · Video · Oral
I have found that "results based" testimonials are by far the most effective. "Pat on the back" testimonials are nice and I would certainly use them if that's all I had, but I want you to keep your eyes out for "results based" testimonials.
Example of "Results Based" Testimonial:
"Since we started working with Tom our monthly revenues have quadrupled." Patsi and Denise AKA the Blog Squad
Example of "Pat on the Back" Testimonial:
"We recently had a consultation with Tom and he really took a lot of time working with us. We really liked him." Sally and Joe Nicepeople
Even though the "Pat on the Back" testimonial may appeal to people who really want personal attention, it generally won't help you as much as the "Results Based" testimonial.
Extra testimonial tips:
Make sure your testimonial is believable. I got one once where the person claimed that my information doubled his business in one week and this guy already had a really big business. I did not use the testimonial because it was not believeable to most people and I think he just wanted a link from my website back to his.
Also, make sure your testimonial is not too long. You can excerpt from it. If you feel the need to put in the entire thing (which is most cases is a bad idea), at least highlight the best things said so you don't bore people to death.
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