How to Get Started in Public Speaking
Frank Traditi
If you like to do public speaking, or want to learn how it can help grow your business or get more visibility and credibility, then read on.
One of the best ways to get exposure in your business, career, or otherwise, is to offer your services as a public speaker.
Where do you get the chance to talk with 10, 20, 30 or 100 people all at once and share what you know and possibly get exposure for your talents or services you provide? Not many places.
For some of you, the public speaking adventure is a no-brainer. For many others, it's next to death and taxes. But guess what?
It doesn't have to be and you CAN start small and work your way up. That's the best way to do it if you are a bit squeamish about this public speaking thing.
Here’s how you can started right away with public speaking:
• Select a topic that is near and dear to you and you speak with
passion about. This may be the way customer service should work, the best
way to sell, 5 easy ways to build a website, and many, many more.
• Just start writing about it. Write things down in bullet form. Lists
work great. That way you can keep the topic short, to the point and powerful.
• Think of a story around your topic. If it's customer service, you can tell a story where you received terrible service from a company and how it all unraveled. By the way, my favorite line from a customer service rep is, "we don't take complaints here..." That really happened.
• Go with a simple 3-step method for your speech:
1. Start with a story
2. Blend in your main message
3. End with a tie-back to your original story
• Start small. Hand pick a group of no more than five friends or colleagues
that you know well. Invite them over for pizza to your house. Tell them
that all they have to do for free pizza is to listen to your speaking topic.
Let them know you are practicing for larger groups. Then each person has
to give at least two positive comments and one "I think I would change
this" comment.
It really is a lot of fun talking to groups no matter what kind of venue you do it in.
The biggest benefit to you is sharing your expertise in a setting where
people will listen, gain knowledge and possibly do business with you.
Copyright © 2006, Frank Traditi
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