Have you ever been to a business forum, listened to a compelling speaker who is in your line of work, and watched enviously as potential clients flock round them after their talk?
Ever wanted to shriek, “Hey, my business is great too – look at me!!”?
Well, that shriek puts you on the right track. You do have something to offer, and you probably have as much reason to demand attention as the speaker.
If you have an effective small businesses, you will have a position, or stance, that you can leverage to get you onto that public platform. It’s a question of working up a presentation, finding the right forums and persuading them to book you.
And if you start to shake in your boots at the very thought of if, think instead of the huge potential benefits for your business.
Business consultant and public speaker, Denise O’Berry, has blogged a couple of times on this subject recently. See Speak Your Way to Better Cash Flow and Speak Right and Reap the Benefits.
These articles – and the comments posted below them – are a useful starting point.
And once you’ve decided to take a deep breath and give it a go, here are a few pointers from my own and others’ experience:
- Focus on what you know best and talk from the heart.
- Aim to solve a pressing problem for the audience.
- Prepare thoroughly but keep the messages simple.
- Keep it short – an hour tops, including plenty of time for questions.
- Don’t overload the audience – leave them wanting more information and tell them where to find it.
- Don’t be seduced by the bells and whistles of PowerPoint – keep your slides simple and easy to digest.
- Tell stories to illustrate your points.
For more guidance, take a look at Presentation Zen.
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