Killer Offline Strategy No One is talking about (sneaky)

Good Ideas! Thanks!
a

Wow... That's actually a really good idea!

I personally think there is BANK in public speaking/conferences/etc.

Care to share a few tips on finding and contacting the right kind of associations?

Wow! I wish I liked speaking in public more :rolleyes: This would really rake in the dough!

That is the best way to go for off-liners. You gotta get out from behind the computer to make real money in the off-line world.

Time to dust off those old Toastmasters' skills. I had planned to incorporate public speaking into my marketing mix, but I didn't realize it could be so lucrative.

Pink

Hey guys,

Which associations in particular are good ones to target for these speaking sessions?

Chris,

And, the best reason of all - real live in-the-flesh people who TALK with and about you not just type...

Sherrie Rose
The Love Linguist

BRILLIANT. Create authority and leverage it!

One question, what is the generic name for these associations if we want to hunt them down. Are they just called business associations?

You stole one of my methods I speak at real estate investor clubs for free on using craigslist effectively and using online resources for streamlining and screening clients. Everytime I speak I always get more people asking me how they can market their properties and that's when the deals get closed

Sorry I don't get it. Why would the offline people want to know about
adsense and adwords?

I'd have to agree with Andrew, granted even you guys who are just starting out now know more about marketing online than most business owners but that a speaker does not make.

Wow!

As a natural speaker, theatre kid, etc.

I would love to do this. But, my friend, how do I go about finding these associations?

I would love to be able to do this.

Huuum, that's a good ideas right there. Every public speakers has to take advantage of that right away...

I've had many people PM me about how to overcome the fear of public speaking to make this business model work so let me share my personal experience in how I have gain this confidence.

To be honest (and I can only go from my experience) but in college I used to be very timid (and insecure) with my presentations but going through undergrad and graduate school my confidence skyrocketed (as by that time) I've givin many speeches and have presented at national conferences of the marketing research projects I did.

So on one hand I had great knowledge and knew what I was talking about (confidence factor part 1) and alot of practice giving speeches (confidence factor part 2). So I would say if some of you warriors are timid in public speaking......you either lack GREAT KNOWLEDGE (which I doubt as this is the best online markeitng information in the world on this forum in my opinion) or you lacking in confidence speaking in front of people.

If you find yourself insecure on speaking experience I would vouch to say....you need to sign up with your local toastmaster group and get more experience (and work out the butterflies).

Hope this helps !

Chris Negro

It's a great idea, though as the other poster says, you'd need experience and public speaking ability to carry it off.

Great post Chris, and right on the money!

This is great real-world stuff. I currently speak at community and business events about 1-2 times a month in my locale here in Chicagoland. So I can vouch for the fact that it works.

The problem many of the people I coach have is with the public speaking skills. Because I am have a teaching/corporate training and speaking background, what I do is help them present their workshops and we split the proceeds based on an established agreement and it works fine.

Some people just don't want to do the stand up speaking!

Haha only problem is most people are more afraid of public speaking than death :p

But this is pure gold man, if anyone on here loves to speak and wants a quick way to get some income, do this immediately.

Imagine if you did this type of stuff totally online...

Coaching calls where people get telephone and webinar access.

No conference rooms...content is obviously recorded and packaged into lower priced products...

AND... it can be more convenient than having to dress up in a suit.

Just a thought...

Cheers,

Brad Spencer

I think only like 2% of the population is comfortable with public speaking so great idea if you can manage it

If you want to do this and have no speaking skills or are scared of it - Toastmasters is your friend.

One very important point (from experience) is to make sure you target your speech to the knowledge level of your audience. No good talking to them about email lists or Adsense if they don't yet understand why an online presence is important at all. And it's amazing how many small businesspeople don't.

I was also one of those terribly shy people in high school. I don't know what happened, when it happened, or even how it happened, but I ended up doing some public speaking. I played the piano throughout high school and even several years into adulthood, but that was easy - I didn't have to open my mouth.

Then, I was speaking in front of groups of 30, 40, 50, and up to 100 people. I was scared to death the first time I did it. But someone that I trust to be brutally honest with me was at the seminar. He said, "I've heard all my life about 'natural born speakers' and I didn't think they existed. Tonight, I've actually witnessed one." Boy, talk about giving me confidence - that did it. Plus, the exhilaration that I felt during the seminar was better than I could imagine any type of high from a drug. It was fantastic.

From that time on, I began to speak more and more, up to 25 or 30 times in the next year. I was still a little frightened each time - even more so when I started to present a new seminar that I hadn't give before - but I enjoyed the high so much that I kept at it. After doing this for a couple of years I had a BFO (Blinding Flash of the Obvious). Whenever I stood up before that group:

1) I was perceived as the expert by most in attendance
2) I knew more about the subject than almost everyone in the room. There was the occasional "know it all", but I handled them by saying that their question was beyond the scope of what I had put together and I would welcome the opportunity to talk with them privately afterward when we could discuss the painful details of their question. Rarely did that conversation ever occur. Some were just testing me, some were offended by my put off. Those that were offended were clients that I didn't want anyway because they would always question my advice.
3) (BFO) Hey, I am the expert. I know what I'm doing. If they knew as much as I do about this (insert subject, whatever it is), they'd be doing it themselves rather than sitting here listening to me talk about it. Thing is, business owners are usually so busy working IN their business that they don't have time to work ON their business. There is a difference. The things that we bring to the table as online marketers for their offline business are the things that work ON their business to grow it.

You have to have that BFO - either through something that you read, something someone tells you, or through actual experience as I did - before it really sinks in. Hey, I'm well worth every penny I'm asking for and if someone is not willing to pay me for it, then fine. Someone else that can see the value will. As it applies to speaking, it's not a monetary thing, but it's a time thing - which is equally as valuable as the money they pay me. As business owners, time is a precious commodity that they can afford to waste very little of. I have to be sure that when I speak I respect that point and get them TONS of information very quickly - but not too much that they suffer from "brain lock".

Also, on that point, if you're given 20 minutes, wrap up in 18 minutes. If you're given 30 minutes, wrap up in 25 to 30 minutes. NEVER, NEVER, EVER go over your time. That is wrong on several fronts. But number one, it says to the people in the room that what you have to say is more important to you than their time. Practice your presentation to get it timed out very accurately - allowing for eventual tangents. Also, as you become more familar with your presentation and public speaking in general, you will get to where you can cut your presentation at several points.

Finally, be sure to practice EVERY time you speak. I don't care if you've given the presentation 10 times, 100 times, or even 1,000 times. Practice before giving it live. I heard Zig Ziglar speaking last week. He told Dr. James Dobson that the practices for several hours before giving a presentation EACH time he has to speak. He said it is the height of arrogance to get up to speak before a group without practicing ahead of time. I'd never thought about it, but he's correct. I should never become so comfortable with a presentation that I don't give tonight's group the same respect that I gave the group last week.

Sorry for the long rant, but once I started to write, it all just flowed. Hopefully, someone can get something of value from this.

James Dunn

Nice one Chris...

Your thread just confirms Baal's experience.

Thanks for the head's up, mate

Chris this is a very good plan.

I've used variations on this for years (almost 20 years).

Only I've not promoted Internet marketing tools as you suggest. This is a strong source of leads if done right, for almost any marketing practice.

Just some suggestions, you want to target smaller associations that are local and don't have long lead times for their conferences. The bigger they are, the more association meetings are scheduled FAR in advance. (a year or more)

The largest assoc's will expect you have speaking experience and usually want to see a video that shows them what you do and how it's received. Andrew Cavanagh is right that it may not be too easy to pull off for a newby.

If you want to accelerate this technique put together a small PR kit about your consulting work or seminar and use it to follow up with meeting planners.

Finally, I would add that some associations are 'dying' for free speakers, but many get lots of free speakers and for the best meetings you will have to compete at least to some extent.

I actually got good enough at this over the years to GET PAID for the assoc talk and scoop up clients as well.
_____
Bruce

Some outstanding info in this thread, thanks for starting it chris!

I agree with many others though, some of us are not public speakers.. lol

I did a speaking engagement in Sept 08, and I took a $500 check for doing it. But I did not have the backend stuff set up right at the time, so although I picked up a few hundred in extra business, I did not make the bank you are suggesting.

I can see the potential, but I should be better prepared next time.

I cannot agree with Jimbo more.

You MUST talk in public if you ever want to hold a truly captive audience. That includes webinars, teleseminars, etc. You have to know how to talk to a group of people all at once.

But to be a public speaker, what I found, is that those butterflies right before you go on stage, you need to harness that for energy!

I was a theater kid in high school, and believe me, no matter how many times you've been on stage in front of people before, you will always, ALWAYS get those butterflies in your stomach before a show.

Its anticipation. People see it as stage fright, but I see it as anxiousness.

Its that simple. At least for me. I'm always anxious to get in front of an audience and let them know what they came to see.

If any of you have trouble with public speaking, please do not hesitate to contact me!

Heres another little secret I love to play on.

In most instances, you can't see past the first few rows of people from the stage due to the lighting on you. In other instances, you can't see anyone at all!

Its like you're talking to a blank void, but one that will respond back to you and what you say.

Here's another tip for my friends wanting to learn a little more about captivating an audience. Bodily movement.

Late at night turn on the christian channel and watch the evangelists. They move a lot, with thier hands, heads, bodys, and legs. They use bodily actions as exclamation points.

I know most of you are against this, but watch a few Hitler speeches. As much as I hate to say it, he knew how to captivate his audience, and he had them more riled up and excited when they left than when they came to the speech.

Orating is a mixture of many, many things. And everyone has their own 'slight of hand' we'll call it. Everyone has their own techniques to get by.

that is a great idea...but us internet marketers have developed a problem of having to talk to a client face to face over the years. You really need to have guts to approach people in the streets. A fantastic idea though

I don't know about any one else, but I'm seeing a ton of great public speaking advice here. Great thread!

Some excellent advice from others in this post.

When I started - it was with a paid talk that brought in a little over $90,000 including back-of-the-room sales and I had zero experience other than in Jaycees. I was *so* nervous! I hired a coach and rehearsed a long and scripted talk for three weeks. Memory was helped by slides for the many times I left the script.

As I left the coach's home for the last time I said: "I'm going to be scared out of my wits and I'll not be able to speak." Her answer has helped me through 1,000+ talks. She said: "No you won't be; the human body is not capable of being scared for more than two minutes."

Until I was about 35 I had been embarrassed to open my mouth in front of two acquaintances at the same time in a coffee shop, so I did not entirely believe her comment - but it turned out to be completely true in my case, and it is one I have never forgotten.

Now, I look forward to speaking. Yes, I know my subject as an expert and there is never a question or an experience that stumps me. The advice others have given to practice is very true.

Over the years, I kept pushing the envelope and testing myself. One of the problems with talks, even those for which you have notes on a single 3x5 card, is that after a while you run the danger of getting stale and your talks start to lack enthusiasm, an essential quality if you want your audience to stay awake.

With a busy career, I didn't have time to repeatedly work out new content so eventually I started speaking with no notes and not even any idea of what I would speak about. I would pick a dozen or so people in the audience and ask: "If there were just one thing you would like to hear about tonight, what would it be?"

Of course, the first person usually stutters and stumbles and then mumbles: "I don't know." So I get the room laughing when I say in a teasing voice: "I'll be back to you!"

It is so easy I can give three talks a day, and have.

Can you do this straight out of the box? Of course not; it takes years - but my point is you can get there if you just keep doing it.

As a terrified beginner, just take one thing from this post: Terror lasts no more than two minutes. My trick for getting through that initial two minutes was simply to find a way to introduce myself or my topic in a way that would make the audience laugh. By the time you have done that, you may actually be having fun!

Sydney

Great idea. I will pass this on to my students and I will also start implementing it! Thanks for the value bro!

Do you have a sample outline you talk about and can you explain what the Google ad words and other Google analytics's has to do with talking about list building for the clients. If you have a sample power point presentation or outline what you talk about in your hour speech that would be great, and where do you go to talk to these people, what places hold these events.

Thanks Chris... sometimes you just need to be hit over the head MULTIPLE times with an idea or concept before you realize "hey - that's a good idea! I should do that!" Just fits really well with an idea I'm working on with a colleague of mine for a company that builds and optimizes traffic.

Very cool! Thanks!

I just responded to a few PM's and after I replied to the last one, I had a funny thought. All this talk about public speaking and I keep saying how I have no problem with it - let me reveal my most fearsome topic. Don't laugh.

I've spoken for groups as small as seven people. The largest group I ever spoke for was 1,500 in the room - and they were school teachers. The only thing worse would be a group of engineers. None of these presented that paralyzing fear that so many people have.

Guess what my biggest fear is?????

Ding, Ding, Ding. Time's up.

Sitting across the table from one or two people and having to present something to them. I can carry on a conversation with them for hours, but the minute I have to switch into presentation/sales mode, I have every bit of fear that most people have of speaking in public. I got better at it through the years (when I had the BFO as it applied to speaking to individuals), but it never got to be an easy thing.

I know that sounds weird, but I figured no one in the group was going to challenge me. If they did, I could deflect it as I outlined earlier (to specific for a group conversation, beyond the scope of general group interest, etc.). But in a one-on-one or two-on-one situation, you can't deflect it. You have to meet that situation head on. "But what if I don't know the answer?" "But what if they know more than me?" "But?" "But?".......

I had to learn that none of these buts mattered. I was ahead of most of the people that I was speaking to one-on-one so I was the expert whether they realized it or not. Besides, if they were so doggone smart, why were they talking to me anyway - they probably didn't need me, so we should just button up the conversation pretty quickly and send them on their way so I can get back to surfing the net. It didn't make my fear go away, but it definitely gave me a different outlook on things.

Thanks for your strategy...

Ok...this thread is taking on a trajectory of the secrets of public speaking... good info guys...keep them coming !

Nice job Jimbo -- I like the insight of memorizing the first 2 minutes of your speech -- never heard of that !

Chris Negro

Chris great info and I apologize if I am repeating what someone already said but in regards to finding associations you can find as many as you can handle on your local meetup.com site. There are meetup groups that target just about every niche you can imagine and it is free to join. For example in Nashville there is a online marketing group for small business owners and they have a different speaker covering a different topic each month. You can also expect around 20-30 people to show up

Thanks
Gary

What a clear explanation of something that so many of us could do easily. I've been thinking about something like this for a while, but you have crystallized the whole idea for me.

More people could do it if they weren't so bothered about speaking in public. Because so many of us have a real issue with speaking in public, I have put together a site with a collection of helpful, inspirational and practical information that can help you to overcome your fears. Some public speaking courses are to be avoided but what you have here is first class material. Take a look around and pick out the bits that mean something to you and your situation.

On my site you will discover lots of useful articles written by experts in their field as well as masses of information and practical advice you can put into practice to get your public speaking sorted out right now.

Thanks for sharing Chris. I tried this for a direct marketing business before the net was born and it worked wonders. With the convenience provided by the web, people may have forgotten about the magic of personally reaching out to your audience to lead them to your business message. Thanks for reminding us of this magnificent method.

Thanks Chris,
The other day I was evaluating my personal assets and listing things I have enjoyed and been good at over the years.

One was talking to groups about my interest of the moment. I joined Toastmasters to become a more effective speaker.

Now 15 years and more have passed and your post has me thinking that this would be a good way to make money and get back to doing something I enjoyed in the past.

I like this approach. Speech has always been a strong suit og mine

This really isn't a new strategy at all... it has been talked about a lot in the other Cash Cow threads.

It's also a primary strategy that David Preston teaches and one of the advanced strategies that Andrew Cavanagh teaches. (Both give a ton of great tips for effectively using this technique). You can get detailed outlines and transcripts for seminars like this if you know where to look (hint- try the WSO section of this forum).

Though it's not new, it is one of the most POWERFUL ways to position yourself as an expert and gain INSTANT credibility. The only thing that is more powerful is writing a compelling book on the subject.

Public speaking is a skill that can be learned and also one that should be honed. Toast Masters is a great resource for speakers of every skill level. Having taught seminars on dozens of topics and facilitated several "Train the Trainer" seminars, I still get tremendous value from Toast Masters.

"Selling from the stage" is a different skill entirely. If you provide valuable information, you'll get plenty of clients, but if you really want to maximize the response, invest a little time to learn some techniques for selling from the stage. It's not a "hard sell" at all, but more like establishing value and helping them to visualize themselves benefiting from the techniques you are teaching.

Before you present a seminar, you really should have talked to and worked with a few businesses.

The best tip I can think of is to use plenty of examples (case studies) from a variety of businesses in your presentation. At least some of these examples should be clients that you have helped but some can be case studies of clients that other consultants have helped. You can find plenty of examples of how these marketing principles have helped businesses from Jay Abraham, Richard Johnson, Dan Kennedy, Jay Conrad Levinson and others. Just don't pass the examples off as your own.

oneEmpowered

Quick tip to definitely add and blend into any offline strategy, especially public speaking! Spend a little time with hello my name is Scott and you'll understand How you can duplicate his success story in your own stomping grounds, all by simply wearing a nametag...
HELLO, my name is Scott!
http://www.hellomynameisscott.com/default.aspx?SiteArea=mediaroom
http://hellomynameisscott.blogspot.com/

Dave

Sounds good, anyone have any samples of what their saying to these associations

PG

This is a great idea, that I have never thing about it. Thanks for sharing man.

I am going to try it out somedays...

Looks great, thx!

I have no fear for public speaking myself either, so might be benefitial

awesome strategy, keep it up

Chris,

You can still make a WSO for this, just go into a lot of detail, examples and VIDEO!!!


I can relate to your comments on association's reviewing their speakers more. About 15 years ago, an association that I was in had 3 fly-by-nighters making presentations in a row. It almost killed the association.

Can anybody share any nuggest of wisdom or insights from what they learned from Toast Masters. Some of you guys like John McCabe, Tremayne and Jimbo have shared statistics, insights that I haven't heard (but make sense). I've just gone up there and made my speech without some of the little insights you have shared.

Chris Negro

This is awesome, and timely, thank you for sharing!

Where to find someone to talk to? Try your local Chamber of Commerce!

Local small businesses absolutely need what we have to offer and are hungry for the information we have. I've been working on a few projects for my local Chamber the past few weeks and was invited to do a seminar about marketing online.

Our Chamber has a great facility, 52 inch LCD in a room that will seat 48. They also will place an ad in their weekly e-mail for a very small fee and blast it off to their membership, in my case... that represents 470 local businesses.

George

Hi Chris:

***In reply to your request for speaking experiences***

I am virtually certain that not a single Warrior is shyer than I was. It has taken a lifetime of accepting personal challenges to overcome that.

If I were with two acquaintances, I would keep my mouth shut; I could speak just in front of one other person. Blame that on my strange childhood, perhaps, or because when I went to school in England three lifetimes ago when kids sat and listened to teachers; there were no opportunities to do the speaking.

American and Canadian kids today have fantastic opportunities in that regard.

I hope what I have to say helps those too shy to stand in front of a group to speak.

In business, I was forced into a couple of embarrassing situations in a J.O.B in which I had to speak to small groups. My mind froze, my face turned bright red, I mumbled a few words that were totally inadequate simply because I could not think.

I was in my 30s when I was asked to join a Jaycee chapter. I refused. I am not a joiner. Then I learned they had a public speaking course so after the third request to join I agreed. I took the course twice and then taught it.

Teaching is the best initial experience possible, I believe, so if you can get into a group, take their course and then teach it I think you will be a step or two ahead.

I am still horribly shy but I have now learned to mask it. I have overcome it completely on stage. In my mind, I am not giving a talk, I am giving a *show*. I have two jobs: to inform and to entertain. It is the entertainer on stage, not me. I believe people retain more if they are entertained. My current book is an example of that [shameless plug!].

When I go on stage it is consciously as if I don another skin; I am a performer, not a speaker. Every movement, every inflection is the actor, not the speaker. This is an important point so does that make sense? I don't have to be shy or afraid; it's not me on stage.

I spoke earlier in this thread about my first two public appearances and why I then abandoned a podium. I move around a lot, in part because my back stiffens up and hurts badly if I don't - but the audience doesn't know that!

Movement, on stage and in the audience, allows me to interact in a more personal way with the audience.

Someone earlier mentioned that spotlights blind you so you don't see the audience. Presumably, that makes the speaker feel more comfortable. I could not disagree more, at least in my case. I want to see faces. Watching the reaction of enthusiastic faces (or smiling faces if I crack a joke) gives me feedback and allows me to perform - note that word - better.

In my early days, when I was driving to the hotel or wherever the 'performance' was to be, I would shout in the car to the full extent of my lungs (with the windows closed and when no one was outside on the street, of course; I wanted to get to my destination, not to a psychiatric hospital). I needed to manufacture inner excitement to cover the jitters; I wanted to *bound* onto the stage with energy.

That first impression, when a speaker is at his or her most nervous, is so important. It is said that people make up their minds about others - their wealth, education, intelligence, likeability - within the first seven seconds.

I have a new talk (you need to change delivery every so often or you get stale and lose audience interest) I am itching to give in the U.S. or Canada but it is difficult to arrange from Panama, the Spanish-speaking nation in which I now live.

The new entrance takes advantage of that snapshot opinion plus it gets me through those first uncomfortable couple of minutes. I enter the room or from stage right or stage left wearing an old light brown raincoat made 'dirty' with paint and badly patched with duct tape buttoned tight to my neck, old blue jeans, scruffy running shoes, a shapeless brown hat covering straggly gray shoulder-length hair, knitted scarf, a pair of kitted cotton gardening gloves with a finger poking through a hole, and carrying a bottle in a brown paper bag.

I avoid seeing the audience, more difficult if I walk between the rows. Preferably I can enter from the side of the stage with my back to the audience. I stagger just a little, not overdoing it, and take a swig from the bottle.

A 'security guard' has tried to prevent me from getting on stage but is told by the person doing the introduction to be careful; you can't know what drunks will do. (All this is scripted for the helpers.)

After a minute, I turn with bleary eyes and notice the audience for the first time. At the front of the stage now, I pick a spot right in the midst of the audience and stare - for a full 10 seconds without moving. Those in the middle of the audience start to get restless, uncomfortable. Then: "'Ere, wot you lot lookin' at then?"

I notice the introducer and ask: "Wot's all this then?"

He tells me it's an investment presentation and before he can say more I break out into a fit of laughter. "Investmints? I could tell yer all abaut investments! He he he!" and I wobble to steps set up center stage leading to the audience.

I sit heavily on the top step, gently, ever so gently, set the bottle in its bag down beside me, pull off the gloves and the long woolen scarf, then carefully move the bottle farther away from me as if it were made of eggshells. All the time, I am chuckling to myself. "Investmints? I could tell yer all abaut investments!"

Then I stand, turn my back to the audience, and walk toward the back of the stage, stripping off clothes as I go. The wig is attached inside the shapeless brown hat. It is thrown to one side first, then the coat is ripped off and tossed to the ground. It and the blue jeans are held together with Velcro so there are no delays. Then the shoes, size 13 to fit over normal shoes, are kicked off, all before I reach the back of the stage.

Introducer and 'security guard' pick up the clothes and move the podium away as I turn to the audience, whip the paper bag off the bottle and take a swig of water.

"First impressions!" I tell the audience, and my presentation starts. It is about accepted wrong beliefs people have about investing and their ability to do it successfully.

I am past any nervousness I might have had and one by one for the next 45 minutes I *prove* that the beliefs most people have are incorrect.

I had come onto the stage as a person least likely to be taken seriously with respect to investment advice but seven seconds after the clothes come off (don't worry, my real clothes are underneath!) the audience realizes that first impressions are often incorrect.

(I start with the belief many have about not being able to save. Anyone who comes to an investment presentation likely has the ability to save - and without pain - they just don't necessarily know it yet. I show them how to save without changing their lifestyle at all. You'll get a clue how that's done from my signature block.)

So what's happened here and why have I gone to such lengths to tell you this story in detail?

A number of things have happened.

1. I have long since overcome any nervousness I might have had;
2. I have come on as a different character, a person who is neither shy nor nervous;
3. I have had fun doing it;
4. I have the audience's undivided attention;
5. I have set up my opening point from which the entire talk will grow;
6. Within the first few seconds of changing to 'me', I have the audience in the palm of my hand.

So remember this from the trainer for my first paid performance: "It is physically impossible for stage fright to last more than two minutes."

I also found that I needed to toss out everything I ever learned from Jaycee or Toastmaster training. That's how their competitions are won but it is definitely *not* how to captivate an audience. You have to get an audience to:
1. Like you;
2. Respect what you have to say; and
3. Want to learn more
if you hope to make back of the room sales.

The invaluable thing about Toastmasters and Jaycees training is that it gets you off your bum to speak before groups of people. That is the first step. After that, it's a question of practice, as many have said before in this thread.

But I would add to that: adjusting your method of presentation until you find what is right for your personality and audience.

None of this is done overnight (like reading this encyclopedic post!). It comes one step at a time, each new step being a personal challenge, pushing the envelope one crinkle at a time. You cannot do it all at once.

When you finish (if that time ever comes for any of us!), you will be able to step out on that stage confidently, radiating energy, speak for whatever length is required without notes or slides of any kind and answer questions of even the most obscure kind about your topic.

But if you are not sure of an answer, never fudge one. Get caught out doing that and your credibility is shot. Just be honest, say you don't know, and that you will find the answer and get back to the person quickly. Then do it.

And that last sentence is probably the best advice I can give you: Just do it! If I can do it anybody can do it.

I hope this has helped and not bored.

Sydney

PS: If anyone wants to earn money by arranging talks for me, I will be delighted to get your PM.

Nice post will start working on it.

Start small and grow from there.

Do you have a sample power point presentation you use or do you just talk what ever you are thinking at that time.

Chris,
That is a brilliant idea!! As a former Pastor and Public Speaker , you've started the creative juices flowing.
To answer the question RE: Associations; one only needs to contact the main public venues which hold major conferences and special events; these places will usually email you a copy of their itinerary for the coming months.
Also, keep an eye out for MLMers having their meetings. Contact the advertiser (he or she will usually be a key leader) and approach them on the concept. Ooooh Baby Mlmers will crawl through a mile of broken glass to get one lead; imagine the feeding frenzy you'd have on your hands if a whole raft of MLMers found out about your concepts!!!!!

I guess the jist of this answer is: think outside the box and get those juices flowing.

hey thanks for the info really appreciate now i can implement some of these great ideas to help me with my marketing efforts as well and maybe get me more leads

This is wonderful idea..and I love public speaking.

Thanks for starting this thread ..very helpful indeed

WOW! I will definitely join our local toastmaster group.

i'd do it if i knew much about list building lol

Chris,

This is an awesome thread, thank you for starting it!

I have been publicly speaking to crowds of 100+ for 16 years and I completely agree with what was said. Telling stories is a "WONDERFUL WAY" to make a powerful presentation. And there is no doubt in my mind that the illustration (story telling) is the most effective weapon in the public speakers arsenal, especially if it's used right.

Proper use of illustrations can enrich your talk or presentation, touch the lives of people, and make your subject memorable. Good, effective illustrations have the ability to stir up emotions and reach the conscience and the heart of your audience.

But if illustrations are improperly used, your talk or speech may fall flat or you may fail to drive home the point the way you intend. If that happens, the focus of you audience will quickly shift to something more interesting.

Here are some things I do personally to create illustrations that always leaves my audience like drooling zombies waiting for my next command...

Start With Similes and Metaphors
Similes are very simple to use and they usually start with the word "like" or "as." Similes give you the ability to compare two things that are very different and highlight what those different things have in common.

Example: "As clean as a whistle" or "they fought like cats and dogs"

Metaphors highlight how two different things are similar as well, but metaphors use more force.

Example: "It's raining cats and dogs" or "Rolling in dough"

Use Examples
Examples can tend to get out of hand, so use them carefully! Examples should be used to support points or ideas that are important and good enough to be remembered and not just a story.

Not all examples have to be something that actually happened nor do they have to be something that happened to you. But whenever possible, they should reflect an actual situation or your attitude on the subject.

Whatever you do, make sure it's understood
No matter what you decide to use for your illustration or example you should always have a clear goal or objective in mind. Ask yourself, what is the point of my illustration? What point do I want my audience to get from my illustration? Does my illustration stand on its own or do I have to explain how it applies to the subject we're discussing?

If coming up with your own illustration isn't really your thing then....

Steal one from somebody else!
Regularly reading good fiction books, watching television or listening to someone else speak or relay an example/illustration are all good ways to build your illustration arsenal. The best illustrations/examples have been used countless times by countless numbers of people for centuries. Why? Because they're memorable and effective! So steal away...

Use everyday life as your inspiration
Whether at work or just out and about running errands, pay a little more than the usually attention to things and situations around you and you'll be absolutely amazed at the amount of illustrations, examples, stories and anecdotes you will have filed away to use later.

If used effectively, an illustration can completely unravel the most complicated subject and allow you to command the attention of any audience like a five-star general...

Great ideas, tips and experiences everybody, keep em' coming!

-C.T.

Chris,

Thanks for kicking this thread off!

It's like a mini, unannounced WSO. I was able to glean a lot of information regarding the Cash Cow method.

What type results are you getting from workshop presentations?

Best regards,

Calvin

Golf Clubs usually have a high number of business clientele.

It might be an idea to JV with a Golf Club - they promote the seminar to their members and keep the ticket price - u get to present and sell ure services on the backend.

What does everyone think of jv'ing with golf Clubs?

Baal

as a golfer , I can tell you that the idea may be worth exploring as a dinner meeting or something since we have had several speakers in the past. but the audience is a bunch of golfers , so keep that in mind....liquor flows pretty freely at these evening meetings


btw...skydivedad has a wonderful set of ppt slides to use if you need some for your speeches...and , no , I am not an affilaite . I have used them tho adn they are nice.

later guys ..thanks fo ranother great thread !

This is amazing I am doing one in two weeks time. And I have not seen your post before i plan my seminar. Though mine is basically for my friends who had been asking questions on what I do.

Hey Guys...just got back from a trip from the Philippines...awesome little vacation and an amazing culture. Will catch up on some of the responses as times permits.

Warmest regards,

Chris Negro

Wow, I definitely love how this marketing funnel makes you profiting on the backend on a offline type deal.

I'll be keeping this one in mind, thanks a lot for sharing it!

Alex Kaplo