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Write! Speak! Sell!
By Cynthia Brian
©2007 Starstyle®
"I dream my painting and then I paint my dream."
Vincent Van Gogh
Are you interested in selling more books and gaining more clients for your
writing services? Become a speaker and lecturer. You don’t have to be a
professionally paid or trained speaker to be in demand as a popular and skilled
public speaker. By doing public speaking in your community, you will attract
more business.
What are the benefits of public speaking?
--Establish your writing expertise by lecturing.
--Design seminars based on your writing skills for potential clients.
--Generate referrals for future work.
--Sell your books and products at the back of the room.
Getting started:
Speaking in front of a group is considered the number one fear in the world by
the majority of people. Writers have a reputation for possessing the intrinsic
ability to paint a picture with words. Their art is perfected on the printed
page. Orators are not born; they are created through preparation, practice, and
a passion to share wisdom via spoken expression. Writers who harness their
anxiety despite shyness and lack of experience are the savvy professionals who
sell the most products and services. It’s easy to join this elite corps of
moneymakers.
Design a suitable speech by brainstorming ideas with a trusted friend or
colleague. Choose topics on which you are an expert providing timely pertinent
information that will inspire, educate, and entertain your audience Your
presentations should also subtly showcase the services you sell. Most
presentations are 40 minutes in length with a 15-20 minute question and answer
session. A one-hour speech requires approximately 30 hours to create yet can be
used multiple times for a variety of venues with minimal tweaking. PowerPoint
presentations are excellent tools for boardrooms, classrooms, and conference
rooms; however, they can be distracting and inappropriate for small groups.
Refer to notes on cards when necessary, but never read anything word for word
unless it’s a passage from your book.
Tips and techniques to improve your speaking skills:
--Be energetic. If you act like you are having fun, the attendees will share
your enthusiasm.
--Mingle with the crowd before you speak so you can include members of your
audience in your presentation
--Create a goal to educate and inform your audience. They’ll respond with
admiration.
--Prepare, prepare, prepare.
--Write an outline, memorize the beginning and the ending, supply the middle
with stories .
--Use a conversational tone.
--Put a smile on your face and focus on the audience with your eyes.
--Do your homework so that all statistics are well researched.
--Always have more material than necessary. It’s easier to edit than speak on
the fly.
--Practice, practice, practice
--Make fun of yourself while speaking. Be a graphic storyteller.
--Help the audience to participate through exercises, questions, or
demonstrations.
--Give a great speech no matter how many people-one to one thousand is all the
same.
--Visualize expected questions and be ready with answers and prices for your
services.
--At the end of your talk, thank your guests for listening and let them know
that you are available for other venues.
--Express a call to action. Get the audience motivated to buy from you by
offering a special discount for products or services when they purchase from you
today.
--This is show business. Provide a great show!
--Have a blast !
Local Venues to Explore:
--Service Groups such as Lions Club, Knights of Columbus, Rotary Clubs
--Parent-Teacher Associations
--Church Groups
--Garden Clubs
--Book Clubs
--Business Organizations
--Non Profits
--School Meetings
--Homeowner Associations
--Women or Men’s Clubs
--Youth Group meetings such as Boy and Girl Scouts and 4-H
--City Council Meetings
--Shop Owner Associations
Once you get your speaking stride at the local level, you may want to venture
into the professional area of speaking at conferences, conventions, spas,
universities, on cruises, and national meetings. Ironically, you’ll find that
the more you speak, the more you’ll be paid to write. You will become the
talented and sought-after professional you’ve always dreamed of being.
You are the star of your own performance. Turn your passions into profits. Paint
your dreams with words and be the star you are!
---
Cynthia Brian, a New York Times best selling author of four books, is an
internationally acclaimed key note speaker, personal growth consultant, host of
radio and TV shows, syndicated columnist and coach. For your personal coaching
session contact Cynthia at 925-377-STAR or email
cynthia@star-style.com . Visit
www.cynthiabrian.com
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