Creating a sense of exclusivity can be a very effective marketing tactic. Check out this copy from luxury goods providers Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Singapore Airlines, and Mikimoto: "Bespoke is Rolls-Royce" "Our Singapore Airlines Suites…provide the distinguished few with their very own haven of … [Read more...] about Exclusive offer, but not for you
How to fix a boring presentation
Do boring presenters set out to be that way? Do they wake up in the morning and say to themselves, "Gee, I hope I can get someone in the room to fall asleep during my presentation today!" or "I want to over-complicate my presentation so the investors don't know whether or not to fund me." Of course … [Read more...] about How to fix a boring presentation
What happens when you assume?
"As I'm sure you're all aware…" "We all know that…" "Is there anybody in the world who doesn't like…" If you attend live presentations such as meetings, conferences, and lectures, maybe you've heard one of these lead-in phrases. If you haven't, congratulations! You've been spared the shame … [Read more...] about What happens when you assume?
How do camp counselors communicate so well?
Just about the last place you might turn for inspiration on public speaking might be summer camp. In fact, summer camp is full of experienced speakers who engage with difficult audiences all day long. The job of a camp counselor is to guide kids through the activities at camp; to ensure that their … [Read more...] about How do camp counselors communicate so well?
Smart public speakers show up early
Today I am teaching a group of people how to create dynamic PowerPoint presentations. So I arrived at my client's office at 8:15 and went to the conference room to set up. With the help of the IT guy, I made sure that my Macbook would play nicely with the projector. I set handouts and business cards … [Read more...] about Smart public speakers show up early
Create an awesome Ignite in 6 steps
What if you only had 5 minutes and 20 slides to wow a roomful of people? That's the premise of an Ignite talk. Your slides auto-advance every 15 seconds. That means that you have to choose your words carefully, create slides with a lot of visual impact and be very entertaining. Think of it as an … [Read more...] about Create an awesome Ignite in 6 steps
How to improve your newsletters
Do you publish a newsletter? I hope the answer from all of you is a resounding "YES!" If not, you're missing a great opportunity to speak to your community. If you have a newsletter, here's another question. Does it read like it was composed by the NewsOMatic 3000? Or would somebody reading it … [Read more...] about How to improve your newsletters
5 ways to amp up your presentations
A forgettable presentation is delivered by a low-energy guy. He may fidget or fumble. He reads from his slides in a monotone and expects you to just sit there and listen. He's boring. But some presenters are exciting! What they say sticks with you for years to come. An exciting presenter moves … [Read more...] about 5 ways to amp up your presentations