Top 10 Tips for Successful Public Speaking

Top 10 Tips for Successful Public Speaking

By Julie Kelly


Did you know that many people fear public speaking more than death? This is a very common fear and one that needs to be addressed if you are to be a successful career woman. It takes time, exposure and practice to become well versed in something new, and public speaking is no different.

Most managers and executives have to give public presentations at some stage in their career and it is a very good skill to have in your bag of tricks!

Being nervous is normal, even Madonna still gets butterflies before getting on stage, but it is a matter of focusing once you are in front of an audience.

Here are my tips for giving a great presentation.

1. Know your topic. Knowing your topic inside out and back to front is absolutely critical to giving a confident, successful presentation. As they say, knowledge is power, and the more you know, the more empowered you will feel. Research the topic/subject and ensure you are familiar with and understand the content. Once you have researched the topic, create your presentation in a logical order to capture the audience's attention and maintain it throughout. Giving presentations is about information exchange, not a rehearsed verbatim. Use conversational language, a little humor if relevant and personal opinions or experiences.

2. Know your audience. Knowing who will be listening to your presentation is very important, as you need to tailor it to the needs of the audience. Understanding the culture of those listening will help you choose appropriate language, monitor the inflections in your voice, control your body language and tailor your overall delivery.

3. Have an expert mindset. You have been asked to present on a topic and that makes you an expert. The fact that you know more about a particular topic and are informing others about it means you need to own it. Be confident in the fact that you have been asked to talk in front of an audience on a topic that you are familiar with. It is a great way to learn and develop a new skill.

4. Familiarize yourself with the room. I personally love the "dry run". I need to know where I am going to talk, what the room looks like, what the sound system sounds like and to run through my presentation to ensure there are no technical glitches. Another quote I love is, "People don't plan to fail, they fail to plan!" Know the room and what would work best in regard to working the space.

5. Practice. Once your presentation is complete, you need to start practicing it aloud in a private place. Practice it over and over until it sounds right and you are confident with the delivery. You can go the extra step and record yourself and review the presentation as an audience member. Refine and edit the presentation, as sometimes what seems good on paper does not translate well verbally. Refine and keep practicing until you feel like you have nailed it. This will boost your confidence tremendously.

6. Visualization. If you can see it, you can achieve it! I'm a huge believer in this concept. Visualization is a powerful tool that allows your subconscious mind to believe your thoughts and imaginations. So if you can see and hear yourself giving the presentation of a lifetime, you are on the road to success. Believe in yourself.

7. Work the room. Knowing your audience and topic go hand-in-hand with working the room. Giving presentations is not only about the words spoken but the presence you have whilst presenting. It is always better to stand rather than sit. Make good eye contact with the audience and move around the room so that each section feels like you are intimately talking to them.

8. Breathe. Remember to breathe when you are giving a presentation. Pause when you speak and keep composed.

9. Do not read from notes. Reading from notes can insinuate a lack of confidence and/or knowledge on the topic of presentation. It is acceptable to glance at notes throughout your presentation but be mindful not to read from them continuously.

10. Speak with conviction and confidence. Speaking with passion and conviction captures an audience. Believing in what you are saying is key to nailing a presentation. Confidence is gained through experience but conviction comes from believing in yourself and your words. Be true to yourself and speak to your audience in a manner that makes them want to listen.

At the conclusion of your presentation, thank your audience and answer any questions they may have. Learn from each experience, as some will go better than others. Soon you will find a method that works for you. Fine-tune it with each presentation and soon enough, public speaking will become second nature to you.
Remember practice makes perfect!

I personally get the most satisfaction when I give career-coaching presentations to a room full of people, because I believe in what I am teaching and I believe in myself. Sharing your knowledge is extremely gratifying.

http://www.hercareeradvice.com Julie Kelly, the Founder and voice behind Her Career Advice, is a very successful, professional woman, who helps other women gain confidence, skills and strategies to master the workforce through her books, blog and career coaching. Her Career Advice is an online resource aimed at empowering and educating women on how to have successful careers and ultimately fulfilling lives.

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Book Signings of the Rich and Famous

Every new author has an expectation of their book signing events.  It usually goes something like this:  they will be held in a major bookstore, with huge banners on display and a line of people out the door.  The bookstore will have ordered hundreds of copies of the book and have them on display in the front of the store where they can be seen as soon as customers walk in the front door.

In reality, a new author's first few book signings may be held in a small, local independent bookstore, or maybe even a coffee shop.  They'll bring their own books to resell.  They have to hang their own posters to promote the event, and if they don't promote the event ahead of time they may sell only a handful of books, or none at all. 

Every author has to start somewhere, and that is not always in a major chain bookstore. With the current state of the economy, many bookstores are only doing events for well-known authors with a track record of sales, reducing the number of book signing events they host, or not hosting book signings at all.  The number of bookstores is also declining, most notably with Borders going out of business last year.

 Successful, celebrity authors have also taken note, and you are just as likely to see them doing a book signing at a  library as you are to see them in a large bookstore.  Here is a sampling of events featuring some well-known authors: 

Mary Higgins Clark makes it a point of directly reaching her readers by doing book signing events at Wegmans grocery stores. 

Basketball superstar Kareem Abdul Jabbar is conducting a book signing during an event at All Saints Church in Pasadena, CA (pictured above).

Olympic skating star Kristi Yamaguchi is reaching her book's niche audience by doing a book signing event at an ice skating center.

Olympic bicyclist Lance Armstrong signed 750 books in one hour during an event at a bicycle shop.  

Former TV talk show host Regis Philbin did a book signing event at the Coral Gables Congregational Church.

Frank Calabrese Jr, author of the New York Times Bestseller "Operation: Family Secrets How a Mobster’s Son & The FBI Brought Down the Murderous Chicago Family" did a book signing event at Bella Luna Cafe, an Italian restaurant in Chicago.

Kristiana Gregory, bestselling author of the popular "Cabin Creek Mysteries" did a book signing event at Rembrandt's Coffee House in Eagle, ID.  In that neck of the woods she's also a local author. 

Of course, celebrity authors also do plenty of book signing events at bookstores, but the point is they aren't limiting themselves only to bookstores.  They are identifying the niche market for their books and doing book signing events at places where they are likely to find that audience. 

I have worked with authors who have sold hundreds of books at a single event, and the events were not held in bookstores.  Bookstores should be a part of every author's promotional plan, but they shouldn't be the only part of their promotional plan.  Think outside the bookstore now and then, and you may be surprised with the results! 

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Guest Post: Get Out There!

This article is primarily aimed at women starting their own businesses, but I think there are a lot of great points here that would be very useful to authors.  Networking is crucial to the success of any business venture.  As I always say, "your book is your business." - Terry




Get Out There!

By Pat Mussieux


Are you hiding behind your computer and thinking you can grow your business that way? Is that part of your comfort zone because you don't really know where to go and what to do when you get there - when it comes to marketing your products and services?

I am always telling my clients that they need to get 'out there'. Easily said, I know. What I have learned, though, is that they just don't know where and how. Here are some key tips for you - so you can develop the KLT fact (know, like and trust). People do business with people they know, like and trust.

Get a business card and carry them with you at all times. It is unbelievable to me how many women entrepreneurs I meet, out and about, who don't have a business card with them. Come on! Get a professional business card - and be sure to use the 'real estate' on the back of it, too - and have them with you at all times - in the car, in your purse - in all places. It is 'client attractive' to make it easy for people to connect with you.

Create, and send, a weekly ezine (newsletter) and be consistent about it - You know, by now, that my ezine comes out every Thursday at 2:00 p.m. EST - and when it doesn't, I get e-mails from people asking if they have been dropped from my list because they didn't get it on any one occasion. People come to expect it - especially because there is always good, solid content which is helpful to them in growing their business and become a wealthy woman leader. They come to know me and what I have to offer. What about you?

Create a 'free gift' and have it available on your website. One way to 'get out there' and get known, is to be driving traffic to your website on a regular basis - through your business card, your ezine, a public speaking event, a radio interview, etc. Get people to your website so you can grow your list - and be sure to offer a free gift (a report, a CD, etc.) that has great content for your prospects.

Get booked for interviews on radio and TV. Many, many people listen to blog talk radio these days - there is a lot to learn from the various experts who are being interviewed. You need to be one of them. Just google 'blog talk radio' - find the category that fits with the work you do - listen to a few of the shows to ensure you have synergy with the host and determine that you can bring value to that person's show - and make contact. Get talking!

Public Speaking. We've talked about this before - as an entrepreneur who wants to grow their business and make more money, you've got to get out on various stages - to create awareness about who you are and what you have to offer. Create a signature speech, create a list of the stages you want to be on - and get going.
Volunteer. I totally believe in the universal principle of giving back - volunteer your time or services to an organization that aligns with your values. As a new entrepreneur, don't 'sign up for life' - but, rather, manage your time and energy so that you can have a 'presence', give something of value, and still have plenty of time to be working 'on' your business.

Pick up the phone! Yup - that's what I said: pick up the phone! I often surprise clients, on a Friday afternoon, when I randomly choose a name and call them just to chat and see how they are doing. Or I call someone with whom I have developed an e-mail or social media relationship, and make arrangements for a coffee date - taking it to the next level. Get out there.

CONCLUSION

There are many ways to grow your business, whether you are a 'start up' or a seasoned entrepreneur, but it does mean stepping out and away from your computer. I totally believe in the personal touch and 'getting to know' people. You've got to get out there - and in a big way.

Pat Mussieux is fast becoming regarded as a highly valued Canadian mentor for women entrepreneurs taking her own business from zero to a multiple 6-figure home-based business in less than 4 years. Much of her success can be attributed to her expertise in marketing, mindset and money! Pat Mussieux is a business coach, author, speaker and radio host. You can reach her at http://www.wealthywomenleaders.com

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What Publishing Can Learn from Netflix

Nearly every day, I receive an emails from publishing industry newsletters touting the surging sales of ebooks, and all but writing the obituary for the printed book.  The newsletters contain news of the latest independent bookstore to close, along with a quote about how bookstores are having a hard time competing with the likes of Kindle. 

This is true, to a point.  The Apple ITunes store made it easier than ever to purchase music, enabling people to download their favorite songs, rather than making the drive to their local music store.  As a result, the local music stores are gone, but does that mean you can no longer buy CDs?  No. 

Devices like Kindle and Nook make it easier to purchase books, and the number of ebooks being sold has definitely exploded.  I think the means of selling paper books will definitely change, but I don't think it will go away altogether, just like CDs haven't gone away altogether despite the fact that nearly everyone seems to own an IPod or listens to music on their smartphone.  For a good example of the reason why, look no further than Netflix.

I subscribe to Netflix.  Instead of running to the corner video store, which we still have here in Mustang, I can just log-in to my computer and within a couple of minutes I'm watching the movie of my choice at home.  My family also opted to receive DVDs in the mail from Netflix because some movies are only available on DVD through the service. 

Netflix announced last year that it would be dramatically boosting the price of its DVD rentals.  The reason for the increase is because Netflix wanted to move more subscribers to downloads and eventually phase out the DVDs. 

The reaction?  Subscribers went berserk.  More than one million people cancelled their Netflix subscriptions. 

It turns out people didn't want to give up their "dated" DVD service.  Despite industry predictions that DVDs will eventually go away, many people prefer to keep using their DVD players and Blu-Ray players rather than watch a move on a desktop computer, laptop or phone.   Netflix quickly backpedaled and reinstated the old policy on DVDs. 

Despite the major increase in sales of devices like Kindle and Nook, and the surging sales of ebooks, printed books aren't ever going to go away completely, unless for some reason all the trees die and we can no longer make paper.  Many people still prefer to read a printed book.  I have had people tell me they will NEVER buy an ereader or purchase an ebook.  They like to handle printed pages and be able to collect the hard copy volumes and keep them on a bookshelf in their home. 

And who uses ebooks the most?  You would think that it would be a technology used most by young people, but studies have shown most ebooks are purchased by middle-age people in their 40's and 50's.   Another survey indicates that most college students prefer their printed textbooks over ebook versions. 

I don't think ebooks are evil.  They give authors and publishers another product to sell.  Debating whether an ebook or printed book is better is like debating whether CDs or vinyl albums are better.  The end product is the same; the delivery method is different.  As always, the businesses that can adapt to change and (listening Netflix?) provide the customers with the products they want will be the ones that survive.  Those who can't, won't. 

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The Book Marketing Snowball

I was recently speaking on the phone with a new author whose first book was just getting ready to go to print, explaining how book signings work, why authors do them, the importance of niche marketing, how distribution works, etc., when I got this question:

"Well, that's all well and good, but how do we get my book into Walmart?  They would sell a million copies of my book!"

I then explained that marketing a book is like rolling a snowball down a hill.  When it first starts rolling, it is a small snowball.   As it continues to roll down the hill, it gradually gets larger and larger.  By the time it reaches the bottom of the hill, it is significantly bigger than it was when it started. 

When a new, unknown author first becomes published, their book is the small snowball.  It may go unnoticed at first, but with persistent promotion it will continue to grow.  It may not grow as fast as the author wants it to, but in order to keep the sales and exposure going, the author and publisher must continue to keep pushing it down the hill.  If the author stops promoting their work, what happens?  The snowball isn't going to get any larger, and neither will the book sales. 

Many authors want to begin at the top of the hill with the big snowball, but they only have a big snowball if they have a large platform from which to launch their book.  Is the author famous?  Are they well-known in their state, region or even across the country?  Do they have a large following in their life or profession?  If not, then they are starting with a small snowball. 

You may have heard of the book "The Girls With the Dragon Tattoo" by Stieg Larsson.  It's a book that has been made into a movie, which is now playing in theaters.  The book wasn't published until after the author had died, and it was released in Sweden, Larsson's home country.  Nobody outside of Sweden had heard of Larsson prior to his book being published, but it won an award and was well-received in his home country.  A publisher in Great Britain took a chance on the book and translated it into English, renaming it from the original title, "Men Who Hate Women" to "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo."  The book didn't sell. 

The British publisher resorted to giving away copies; leaving them in public places like bus stops where people would find and read them.  Like a snowball, word of mouth grew until book sales picked up and "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" became a success.  Eight years after it was published, the book is now a Hollywood movie. 

That is an extreme example of a small snowball rolling down the hill and becoming something very big.  Not every author will have this kind of success, but the journey will almost always begin with a small snowball.  If you keep pushing it, it will become something bigger.  You just have to keep pushing. 

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