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Grab audience attention for your speech right from the start

And the first part of any speech or presentation is to gain that attention – arouse it, focus it and keep it.  Don’t waste your breath on the expected or the blah.  If you must begin with something like “Good evening”, then make it different, or unusual.

Here in Australia, we might say “G’day!”  That would be unexpected from a speaker, but well understood.  Otherwise use your voice and body language to make the greeting unusual, challenging, noticeable.

Use pause here.

Then use an opening that grabs the attention.  You can use a question, a joke, a comment about the people or surroundings or event.

You can make a statement, use a quotation, or simply use body language or gesture.  But choose that opening to grab attention, to align with the audience and their needs, hopes and aspirations, and to lead into your message.

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How to Produce Profitable Public Seminars

Can you still make money by selling seats at public seminars? Or is it one of the easiest ways to lose your shirt? Yes, and yes.

Public seminars are a fantastic way not only to make good money, but also to have potential clients preview you, and build your list of fans. Yet there are pitfalls you must avoid or you will be lamenting paying the hotel’s non-refundable deposit. Monica will share her secrets on making sure that all the are bases covered before you begin. If producing profitable public seminars is a goal for you, this session will provide invaluable learning, tips, and tricks of the trade. Plus, you may even learn a few things to avoid at all costs!

What you will learn:
• What decisions have to be made BEFORE you market
• From what sources to get your revenue
• How to cut your expenses
• Other benefits public seminars can provide you
• Common fears and how to overcome them

Click here for all the details ...

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What not to do with your PowerPoint

the team at m62 make some good points ...

Presenters are beginning to realise that their presentations don’t have to be boring, and it is inspiring to see that people are moving away from bullet points to more engaging visuals. Audiences are now demanding more, and presenters are rising to meet this.

Unfortunately however, a large number of presenters feel that the small improvements they have made to their slides are sufficient, failing to realise that there is so much more that can be done with them. And so we see the same mistakes made time and time again – without the presenters realising that they’re doing wrong.

and the article goes on to list 7 major mistakes made in powerpoint presentations and how to avoid them.

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Who needs a book on public speaking?

Tim Ferriss replies to the question: What books should I read to learn how to get good at public speaking? ... in five minutes. This is practical advice, worth reading.

Not sure about the diet coke!!

http://bit.ly/9TSu3e

What should you do when the fire alarm rings during your presentation?

Jason writes:

About eight minutes into my breakfast presentation to the local chamber of commerce at a fancy restaurant the fire alarm rang. The alarm was annoyingly loud so naturally I stopped speaking and forced a smile.

You can imagine my first thoughts. They were angry selfish thoughts. Why now? Why me? However I did not convey those thoughts on my face.

But the whole blog post is full of ideas, so that if it happens to you, you will be prepared. Read it here

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Speech Content #1 – The Title

Think of your Speech Title as if it were the Title of a Book Display on a shelf at Barnes & Noble.

When someone is eyeing the selections on the shelf where they have an interest, yours should jump out at them!

The Title should jump out so much that the person actually takes the book from the shelf, reads the back cover, and opens it to read the front and back flaps.

After "investigating" the book (i.e., your speech) because the title grabbed their attention, they "buy" it; that is, they come to see you speak because they want to learn more!

Unless you've given this lots and lots of thought, pencil the title to your speech in. Remember, this must be something that will make people want to come and see you speak.

The Title of your Speech is your: newspaper headline, title on the spine of your book, and the verbiage in the 'Subject Line' of your most important email, all rolled up in one.

Just like the title of a new movie might get you to go online and look at the trailers, your speech title needs more consideration than many people think.

Editors know if the Headline of a newspaper article doesn't get your attention, you probably won't read the article. Likewise, the Subject Line of an email that doesn't immediately grab the recipient's attention, might be deleted without opening it.

Until someone quotes you on national television or radio program, a great title that draws people to your presentation wanting to know more, is your best chance at filling the auditorium.

Realistically, you may have been assigned, or asked to do this talk by your boss or other official. Still, give it the thought it deserves. It may be after completing the development of your speech that the 'Ah Hah!' title will come to you.

You want the title to whet the appetite of the person who sees it. Whet it enough for them to want to know more, to see if it's something they could benefit from.

You may even find it's easiest to write your speech first, and then come up with a title. Have several titles in mind and bounce them off friends and family before deciding on one

The same holds true for a subtitle. It explains more about the contents and goals of the speech, and is an integral and important part of the title.

The Title is an integral part of your Speech.  Give it the same thorough thought and attention all the other parts and elements of your speech are getting.   Then the Title will fill the seats in the audience!

Fred E. Miller is a speaker, coach and author.     His book, to be released later this year, is: "NO Sweat Public Speaking!" How to Develop, Practice, and Deliver a 'Knock Your Socks Of!' Speech with NO Sweat!
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Busting the Mehrabian myth

Can words really account for only 7 percent of the meaning of a spoken message? This short video animation puts 'Mehrabian's rule' under the magnifying glass and shows why it can't be true

The Power of Your Speech

Language expert Wilfred Funk was one of the first to study highly successful men and women to determine what they have in common. What he discovered was that they all have the ability to communicate clearly and effectively. Since then, many studies have shown the same thing. In fact, members of the "speaking" professions - lawyers, politicians, professional speakers, salespeople, and entertainers - are among the highest paid. There appears to be a high correlation between word power and earning power. The ability to speak, to persuade, and to keep an audience's attention is well rewarded.

What about you? Have you been sabotaging your own success because you feel that speaking in front of a group is something you would rather die than do? If so, it is time to do yourself a favour and learn the skills that can change your life.

Read more in Pivotal Magazine

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What now … Death by Flickr Musak?

This great post from Olivia Mitchell

Are your slides ‘Visual Musak’?

I saw very few bullet-point presentations at the SXSW conference. Yay! But I did see a disturbing trend – the overuse of flickr photos and other interesting images. These photos sometimes feature stunning photography, they’re quirky and interesting. The problem is ...

.... http://bit.ly/beAIHa

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Public speaking tip – grabbing audience attention

And the first part of any speech or presentation is to gain that attention – arouse it, focus it and keep it. Don’t waste your breath on the expected or the blah. If you must begin with something like “Good evening”, then make it different, or unusual. Here in Australia, we might say “G’day!” That would be unexpected. Otherwise use your voice and body language to make the greeting unusual, challenging, noticeable. Use pause here. Then use an opening that grabs the attention. You can use a question, a joke, a comment about the people or surroundings or event.

You can make a statement, use a quotation, or simply use body language or gesture. But choose that opening to grab attention, to align with the audience and their needs, hopes and aspirations, and to lead into your message.