Before pitching yourself as a speaker to any group, you need to develop a unique, non-sales oriented, generally educational message. By positioning yourself as an expert on a topic your target needs or wants to know about, you'll not only guarantee yourself a spot in front of that audience, but will gain the kind of credibility that grows business. When you walk off the podium, people will be waiting to shake your hand and ask questions...an opportunity waiting to happen.
Developing your topic will take a little research. I generally go to the web sites of the groups I'm targeting and see what events might be open for speakers. If the title or description of the event doesn't reveal their hot buttons, articles or current newsletters posted on the web site might. My next stop is online editions of industry publications which will give a good indication of trends and issues.
When I finally make my phone call to pitch a speaker, I usually arm myself with three topics that should be of interest to the group. I make it clear that these are just ideas and that the speaker would be happy to develop a program that specifically addresses their needs. I always have an email deliverable on hand that gives a brief outline of the topics that I can shoot out to the prospect on the fly.
Don't be discouraged by having to customize your talk every time you're asked to speak. Most presentations can be recycled in some way for different groups or industries. It may be as simple as changing the word "you" to "your client" or giving a conservative topic a little flash.
One important comment: NEVER try to sell when you present. The goal of public speaking is to educate the audience and gain credibility for the speaker which will ultimately lead to sales. If you try to push your product or service, you'll come off like a shyster and kill any opportunity you may have had to sell to members of the audience.
Most event organizers are somewhat hesitant to try a speaker that has prospected them directly, but you've got to start somewhere so be persistent and by impressing the organizer and their audience with a well targeted, credible presentation, you'll be asked back and referred on others. Of course, make sure you have plenty of business cards and brochures...you'll need to hand them out to all of the future customers that stop by to shake your hand after your talk.
When I had finished my education and started out in the world of work I was a quiet and somewhat shy individual. But eventually I realized that if I wanted to progress in the company in the sales and business development roles I desired, I would need to change. So I volunteered to attend a training course on presentation skills and the transformation started there and then!
You too can develop as a person by learning the techniques for becoming an accomplished speech maker. But beware because in all endeavors there is the right way and, of course, the wrong way! And here are seven ways to ensure you fail as a public speaker:
#1 Don't Prepare
It is vital that you spend time planning a speech, gathering information for it, preparing it, and rehearsing thoroughly. If you fail to plan your talk then it is simply going to bomb!
#2 Don't Know Your Topic
There are many people who, when making a speech, will simply read from a script, sometimes using other people's material. To them the subject is irrelevant, but that will soon come across to their audience too! It is essential that you speak about a topic you know about, are genuinely interested in, and can enthuse about, if you actually want anyone to listen.
#3 Don't Have Structure
A good speech should flow like a good book. It should have an effective opening, a main body with a number of points which move logically forwards, and an ending that will be remembered. You need to be able to carry your audience effortlessly along with you.
#4 Don't Grab the Attention of Your Audience
At the beginning of your speech you must make your audience sit up and listen. Use a startling fact, a pertinent question, or a challenging quotation - whatever it takes to get them on board.
#5 Don't Look Good
It won't matter how good your talk is if you don't pay attention to your appearance. Make sure you look clean and tidy and dress appropriately for the occasion. And don't stand with your hands in your pockets, or keep hopping from foot to foot. Your audience will soon be put off.
#6 Don't Sound Good
It is vital that when you rehearse you pay attention to how you sound. There's nothing worse than a dull monotone voice, so put expression into your speech. Remember that nerves can make you talk more quickly and affect your breathing. So control your breathing, try some exercises, and don't be afraid to build pauses into your talk.
#7 Don't Leave Your Audience with Something Memorable
No matter how good your subject matter, if you don't ensure your audience remembers it you will have failed. So end with a challenge or a call to action so that they have to act on what they've just heard.
Learning to speak in public is just one way of challenging yourself and developing a new and worthwhile skill. But I recommend it as it helped transform me from a quiet and unsure young man into a confident and successful business manager. So why not take action today and start your own journey to success.
Both Leslie Guria & Tony Hall are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Leslie Guria has sinced written about articles on various topics from Public Speaking, Marketing. Leslie Guria, , is a freelance PR/marketing consultant based outside Atlanta, GA. With over 18 years of sales and marketi. Leslie Guria's top article generates over 6600 views. to your Favourites.
Tony Hall has sinced written about articles on various topics from self improvement and motivation, Public Speaking and self improvement and motivation. This article was written by Tony Hall who runs his own business providing individuals with personal and business skills development. You can learn more about developing your public speaking skills by visiting the website at:. Tony Hall's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.