Presentation "Blunders" - Keys for Success

Wait! That title must be a mistake. Blunders, mistakes, errors-whatever, ruin your speech, sully your reputation, create terror for future presentations and are the bane of your existence. Wrong!

How could that be? Here are some examples:

* When giving a report, you announce that three million people in the company supported the proposal. You meant three thousand. Your face reddens. You can apologize. You can shake your head as though you can't believe your sudden onset of dementia...or you can joke by saying "I wish it were three million. It would be a landslide." The audience will laugh and even bond more with you than if you hadn't made a mistake.
* You've lost your place on your notes. You can fluster, beg forgiveness and generally fall apart while perusing the pages...or you can say something like "Check your text messages. I'll be there in a moment."

A basic rule for any presenter who has a problem is: If you don't get upset, your audience won't. Do get upset and the audience feels so sorry for you that it becomes difficult for them to concentrate on anything but your behavior for the rest of the speech.

Look at how your favorite entertainers handle bad jokes and flubs. You may not consider yourself an entertainer, but it comes down to poise and stage presence when you are the center of attention.

We've all seen the comedian, whether in person or on television, who starts to blame the audience if his jokes bomb. That comic loses his audience at that moment.

Now, look at the classic comedy of Johnny Carson for those who remember him on the "The Tonight Show." (If you don't, check out a couple of YourTube videos such as www.youtube.com/watch and www.youtube.com/watch.

Carson was the epitome of polish when a joke "died." His method was to take a blank-faced pause, as if to take in the silence, and then either grab the boom microphone above him to check if it was working-or else his bandleader would play "Tea for Two" while Carson did a tap dance. The result: louder laughs than if the original joke worked.

Today, commentators like Jon Stewart and Ellen Degeneres make the blunder pay off. Watch Jon Stewart when he unleashes a joke that "tanks." He stares at the camera and grins sheepishly. The result? He is more endearing. As for Ellen Degeneres, failure is not an option. Instead, a flat joke is a reason to start dancing! Whatever your method, it is all about cutting your stress - and the audience's.

Next time you make an error or misspeak, just stay calm. Keep your poise and polish, and don't look upset (even if you are). By demonstrating verbally you're comfortable not being perfect, you'll win many fans.

Steve Clements translates 40 plus years as executive trainer, Hollywood TV producer/writer and academia (Professor Emeritus from Augusta State University in TV/Cinema) into customized oral communications and media training programs for Executive Speak/Write, Inc. ( http://www.executivespeakwrite.com ). This producer of over 3,000 national TV broadcasts now trains business professionals on how to be a better "you" when speaking to audiences.

By Steve Clements

Public Speakers Need To Learn The Language Of Leadership

Why do you give speeches? I suspect that like most of us, the reasons vary; however, there is probably a common thread running through most of them - you want to lead your audience to take some form of action. In order to convince our audiences to follow us, we need to use words that will show them that we are leaders. Do you know how to do this?

Back To High School English Class

I'm very sorry to have to be the one to tell you this, but your high-school English teacher was right - all the stuff that you learned in that class was important. One of the most important things that leaders do is that they don't make up new words. We hear made-up words all the time: dialoging, downsizing, right-sizing, etc. String too many of these made-up words together and your audience will stop seeing you as a leader and will start to see you as just being another talking head.

Audiences judge a speaker very quickly and in doing so they make a decision about spending their time listening to them. Speakers who are leaders realize this and take the time to choose their words very carefully.

This means that such silly things as grammar are taken very carefully by speakers who want to be seen as leaders. Every time you say a sentence that contains a grammatical mistake, your audience will detect it and will quickly stop focusing on what you are saying and will instead focus on how you are saying it. Leaders understand this and make sure that their words are grammatically correct so that their full impact can be felt by the audience.

Speak Like Real Leaders Do

Leaders get called on to give speeches about difficult topics. This is a challenge that they are good at. One of the reasons that they are so good at it is because they know how to deliver bad news.

You can't change the news - bad is bad. However, leaders understand that how you go about delivering bad news can be changed. You'll always have to share the bad news with your audience, but leaders take the time to find a positive way to present the bad news. This goes under a number of different terms such as "the silver lining in a cloud", etc. What leaders realize is that after the bad news has been presented, the audience needs to go on and they need to have the motivation to do so.

Finally, speakers who want to be leaders know that in the end a leader is judged by being seen as telling the truth. We've all encountered too many speakers who twisted the truth in different ways and left us feeling used and confused when they were done. If somebody wants to be accepted as a leader, then they need to convince us that they will always be telling us the truth. Only then can a speaker move into the ranks of leadership.

What All Of This Means For You

If you want to be seen as a leader by your audience, then you need to learn how to talk like one. In today's easy going society where slang and casual conversation can take over all of our conversations, leaders know that they need to carefully craft the words that they use in their speeches.

What you learned in high-school English class really counts. Things that you may not think of such as not using slang and ensuring that your grammar is correct are actually quite important. Learning how other leaders speak can also help: negatives can be presented in a positive light and speaking honestly will go a long way in showing that you are a leader.

We all want to be leaders, it's just that we don't know how to make this happen. It turns out that it is much simpler than we might believe: it is our words that show our audience that we're a leader. Take the time to make sure that your words are correct and you'll be well on your way to achieving leadership status.

Dr. Jim Anderson http://www.blueelephantconsulting.com/

Your Source For Real World Public Speaking Skills?

Do you give speeches today, but want to learn how be more effective? Dr. Jim Anderson believes that great business skills are no substitute for poor presentation skills. Dr. Anderson will share with you the knowledge that he has gained while working to improve the speaking ability of both individuals and teams of speakers for over 20 years. Learn the secrets of effective speakers and really connect with your audience during your next speech.

If you want to follow Dr. Anderson on Twitter, he can be found at: http://twitter.com/drjimanderson

By Dr. Jim Anderson

Vocabulary Building: How to Express Yourself

"Tip of the tongue", it's that moment when you just can't seem to recall that right word to complete your thought. You know it's in there somewhere in your mind but for some reason it won't come to you. Those tip-of-the tongue moments are understandably frustrating. The only thing that is more frustrating than not remembering is actually not knowing, especially when you are trying to expressing yourself properly to get an important point across. The obvious solution is learning those words, how? By building your vocabulary.

Here are ways to help you achieve a rich knowledge of words. First, rely on the basics, meaning the print media. This includes but is not limited to using the following resources: the dictionary, it is a collection of words that alphabetically arranged, with definitions, pronunciation and other linguistic information. In contrast, the thesaurus, groups words that are synonymous (similar) with each other and sometimes it even includes its antonyms (opposite).

Second, play word games such as crossword puzzles, tongue twisters, hangman, scrabble, and boggle among others. These games are forms of exercises for your brain. It tests the extent of your knowledge of words, meanings and spellings.

Third, listening. Be aware of how words are being spoken and used in everyday conversation. Try watching the television and movies, especially word game shows. Of course listening is no use when you can't understand what is being said so try picking out the words you are unfamiliar with and consult a dictionary and/or thesaurus.

Fourth, apply what you know. That is, using those words in a day-to-day conversation. Having a "word-of-the-day" also helps. Being able to use the words in a sentence is a good sign that of your progress. Remember though that there are other means of communication besides verbal, i.e. writing.

Fifth, read. And I'm not pertaining to Facebook and Twitter posts. I meant reading actual books, start small if you like. You can also read newspapers and magazines. Please read something besides the latest Hollywood gossip though; instead expand your topic of interests (e.g. current events). Reading adds to your vocabulary and develops your reading comprehension.

Of course, advancements in information technology now allow us to have free access to online dictionaries, thesauruses, movies, documentaries, games, books, etc. Better yet, the internet offers a wider variety of these resources; like audio and video versions.

Taking the internet as a point of departure, the last tip is making use of software products. There are websites designed to help you build your vocabulary in a systematic way. Some uses your strengths and weaknesses and tailor specific teaching techniques that is compatible to your needs. Also, they track your progress so that you can see how far you are improving.

Use these tips to build your vocabulary. It would just be a matter of time when you see yourself gaining more confidence in properly express yourself, verbally and non-verbally. Remember though, it does not only take the right words to get your message across it also takes attitude.
http://useinasentence.com/ http://useinasentence.com/use-agranulocyte-in-a-sentence/

By Nellie Sy

Speaking: How To Communicate Your Unique Truth When Speaking

Be authentic. Be transparent. Be real. Wherever you're speaking, you know this is what your listener is craving. Everybody's fed up with deceit and phoniness. They want to hear the truth, and they want to believe what you're saying.

On the surface, this seems simple enough. Like you just leave out any lies - right? Actually, there's more to it that. When you want to thoroughly communicate your truth to an audience, there's one main thing you need to remember: be yourself.

Be The Real You
People crave connection. When they listen to you, they want to feel like you're talking directly to them. They want to feel like you know them. And the only way they're going to feel like that is if you come across as the real you. Like what you see is what you get.

We've all heard people proclaiming their own authenticity, but we feel like we really have no idea who they are. So it's not about telling people how authentic you are. It's about showing them.

And it's not about disclosing all your personal, private information. In fact, that can backfire on your purpose to engage people. Because unless you're performing a one-woman show, nobody's that interested in you. Hope that doesn't burst your bubble, but it's true.

They came to hear the information you have to offer. But they want to hear it from somebody they feel like they know. Someone they can trust. Somebody real.

The Secret: Relax
The best way to let them see the authentic you is to relax when you're speaking. Whether you're talking from the stage, speaking on a teleseminar, or presenting to your MasterMind group, people will connect with your message when you're relaxed in your delivery. Being relaxed is what allows you to use your own language, to be who you really are everyday. And that's what your audience wants.

So do what you need to do to help yourself relax when you're speaking. Use a rapid-change tool like EFT tapping to eliminate whatever has you tense. And then go be your authentic self for your audience. You'll be amazed at how they'll connect with you and your message.

Now you know the secret to truly being authentic when you're speaking in public. When you want to thoroughly communicate your truth to an audience, any audience, the one thing you must do is to completely be yourself.

And to help you relax when you're speaking, claim your free Stress-Free Speaking Starter Kit when you go to http://SpeakingMadeFearless.com.

Just fill in your name and best email to get your free Stress-Free Speaking Guide, Checklist, and Fearless Speaking Audio recording.

From Janet Hilts, stress-free speaking coach, specializing in helping motivated people like you get comfortable speaking in any setting.

Find out more at http://www.SpeakingMadeFearless.com.

By Janet Hilts

Have You Ever Said Something That Came Back to Haunt You?

Make it count...

I had a call from a former client recently inviting me to speak at her Businesswomen's Networking Group. She had seen me deliver a twenty minute presentation four years before. The audience was a group of aspiring business women about to complete their business studies degrees at Cambridge Anglia Ruskin University. My client commented that my recommendations about "Buying Cycles" had had a profound effect on her - positively influencing the way she did her marketing. I was, of course, flattered that my presentation had such an impact; the problem was I couldn't remember the presentation or the key message which she had taken away from it.

The presentation was on Monday morning after a fashion show on Saturday night, with all the clearing up on the Sunday. I had been working around the clock to produce a huge fashion show in Cambridge for Teenage Cancer Trust, which was the culmination of two years work and had been a huge success, raising £25,000 for a new cancer unit for teenagers at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge.

Networking and business is something I'm pretty comfortable with, the presentation would have been written and learned in advance, so I guess I was on autopilot, promptly forgetting all about it. Still I can't find the speech or the notes for it.

So, in true Co-Active Coaching style... what's the learning?

1. When given the opportunity to share expertise, make it count. It is generally understood that people sometimes take away only two key points from a training course. This is why, incidentally, to maximise results from training, follow-up coaching is such a great idea and a really positive investment, but I digress...

2. My Dad once said that we are influenced by everyone we meet. That chat you have at the coffee machine tomorrow morning could change someone's life... Be willing to share; however disposable your thoughts may be to you, to another it could something they carry with them always.

3. I could have refused the booking... "I'll be too tired"... but then my message would not have reached my client (and she perhaps would never have become a client!) So, no matter what your self-limiting beliefs say... if you have something that will make a positive difference to people, don't hold back. Don't let "too tired", "too scared to do public speaking", "no-one will listen to me"... stop you. Just do it!

What action will I take from this?

No matter how short the presentation, keep the notes and file them carefully - in four years time you might want to look back and find out the exact words that counted. http://www.coachyou.co.uk

By Jill C McCulloch

Dr Martin Luther King, Jr, Role Model For Speaking

Whatever our interests and aspirations, role models help us. They give us standards for judging our performance and progress, and challenge us to develop our skills beyond current limits.

Are you eager to become a superlative speaker? Then your ideal role model could easily be Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Alabama minister thrust into the international spotlight through his leadership of the civil rights movement, starting with the 1955 boycott of the Montgomery, Alabama bus system by black men, women, and children who refused to wear the shackles of segregation any longer.

Dr. King merits our adoption as a speaking role model for these reasons:

Of prime importance, King's life was consistent with his rhetoric. He did what he encouraged others to do. Following Gandhi's example of nonviolent resistance, he led protest marches surrounded by hecklers and racist policemen, endured arrest, remained calm when Ku Klux Klan members labeled him a Communist, shrugged off death threats, and remained so conspicuously visible that ultimately his assassination in Memphis, Tennessee seemed inevitable.

Relate this to the CEO who addresses her staff and employees. "During these tough economic times," she asserts, "we've all got to do some belt-tightening. Until further notice, no one will be attending off-site conferences and training sessions." How hollow does this announcement become when two months later the CEO's cabinet travels across two states to spend three days of planning with her at a luxury resort? The more credible decision: Seclude the cabinet to one of her organization's on-site conference rooms, and hold lunch breaks in the company cafeteria.

Next, King used vivid illustrations that business and professional leaders could relate to quite easily. In his celebrated "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963, to describe the injustice and even illegality that Negroes experienced he told his audience, "We have come to our nation's Capitol to cash a check." The authors of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, he noted, were "signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir." Unfortunately, when Negroes tried to cash the check, it came back marked "insufficient funds." But hope remained, King said: "We refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt." Could any listener with financial expertise miss the power of King's analogy? Only if prejudice overshadowed his or her reasoning power.

Third, although King used simple, clear language-as every superlative speaker does-he formed catchy, attention-riveting word contrasts and combinations. We get the picture when he refers to "a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity." Drawing on his clergy background, repeatedly he said satisfaction would only come when "justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream."

King recognized that the most effective speeches are not just heard, they are seen. You can generate the same sensation by doing what novelist James Michener advised-taking ordinary words and doing extraordinary things with them.

Fourth, King merits his role model status because he spoke with stirring emotion, which emerged naturally from his genuinely intense belief in his message. Note the word genuine. There's an old quip among Hollywood actors, "We'll do great as long as we can fake this sincerity." They're mistaken, of course. Audiences detect false emotion, just as we spot a charlatan in individual conversations.

During the peak moments of his speech, King would depart boldly from his text, as speech critics confirm he did in the "Dream" speech. The major lesson for us: Feel your message, feel it with absolute conviction, move away from your standard, safe routine delivery, and demonstrate unashamedly that for you-and for your audience-your message is of paramount importance.

Fifth, King's message sustained magnetism because his theme was consistent, unwavering. There was no room for delayed or partial solutions to segregation. Racial integration must occur now in every segment of society. Compromise was not in his vocabulary. Had he ever veered from this quest in even one speech-such as, "Well, I suppose it would be acceptable to integrate only our elementary schools"-he would have lost his cause and his constituents.

Even an unpopular theme has to be consistent to remain persuasive. On this point, consider Jack Welch, recognized as one of the most demanding corporate leaders of any era. As General Electric's outspoken CEO, he earned the nickname "Neutron Jack" for his renowned practice of firing nonproductive workers. In his words, "In those days I was throwing hand grenades, trying to blow up traditions and rituals that I felt held us back." Welch dismissed employees for two reasons-either they didn't meet their assigned numbers, or they failed to comply with GE's values. Throughout his career, Welch never mellowed. Though feared, he kept respect as a communicator because he said the same thing year after year.

To sum up, you can look to Dr. King as your speaking role model because he lived the message he spoke, used vivid illustrations that appealed to business and professional people, coined creative words and phrases, spoke with obviously genuine emotion, and stuck to a consistent, unwavering theme.

Bill Lampton, Ph.D., "Speech Coach for Champions," helps clients speak with "poise, passion, and power," so they will generate "attention, agreement, and action." His top-tier client list includes Gillette, Duracell, Procter & Gamble, Willis Investment Counsel, Celebrity Cruises, Ritz-Carlton Cancun, British Columbia Legal Management Association, and National Pest Management Association. Visit his Web site and sign up for his newsletter, "Winning Words and Ways": http://tinyurl.com/otlcgz Call him: 678-316-4300 Subscribe to his weekly podcast, "Speech Coaching Radio": http://tinyurl.com/4jype49

By Bill Lampton, Ph.D.

The Reason Why Some Individuals Get Anxiety When Talking in Front of Many People

The majority of people who've never conducted formal presentations are extremely afraid of it. If someone close to them passed away, they might prefer switching places with the corpse inside the coffin versus to make a speech in front of the guests at a funeral service. The fearfulness is really so intense that if they're speaking into a mic, with just a single person hearing, the imagination that thousands of people may pick up the playback subsequently will send chills down their spine and makes them uneasy. The phobia of public speaking is in itself a sort of horror, which happens to be meticulously related to emotions of stress and panic attacks. The reason behind this is rather simple, large amounts of anxiousness is the thing that causes panic and anxiety attacks to take place.

For a lot of a meeting in the workplace is simply too much to endure. And having to handle many people at the once a year appraisal happens to be a murderer for their jobs. They will don't have a problem with meetings if they aren't expected to speak or be the middle of focus. When named on to talk they go through intense sense of panic which is the start of a panic disorder which will make them fall over their words and in exceptional occasions actually become not able to speak one word. This may not be much like the anxiety of presenting before groups. In fact it's really a worry of messing up or doing something inappropriate before your employers.

Anxiety attacks as well as a phobia for speaking in public can produce unbalance inside you, and the level very much depends upon their amount of severity. The 1st step towards resolving this condition is always to recognize that this can not get better instantly. You have got to be ready to put forward attention and patience to find sustained benefits. Make sure you likewise take a pro-active vision. This means that you never start looking for a solution to presenting anxiety a few days prior to a big presentation. Such an approach will not work. The main factor here is having confidence. The one factor you are afraid of presenting and public speaking is simply because your attention is on what you don't wish, to mess it up. Putting together your confidence level is a better method to eliminating this anxiety.

The reality is that you'll find it particularly effortless to take away the fear of presenting and public speaking. Most of us human beings like to render issues much more complicated compared to what they must be, by means of continually evading the things we are frightened of and not confronting it. Pay attention to anybody who is scared of giving a presentation before people or even in open public and you will definitely notice it occurring. They are going to execute all kinds of things in their power to talk. They will certainly do anything within their resources they can to get away from it or stay away from it. Self-confidence in fact | basically | in reality stems from engaging in what you are petrified of, though it frightens you. That encourages self-confidence and strength like nothing can match.

The sentiments you currently term as anxiety and fear can easily turn into a source of successful and encouraging joy. Utilize the elevated activity amount inside your body to supply your talk contrary to allowing it to get you down. Communicate, rather than curb. In most primitive form fearfulness is utterly nothing but energy. Make use of it, as being a "call to action" that it is an opportunity to step forward and achieve whatever it is you are petrified of. Provide it a brand new meaning that "Today, it is my moment for me to act and do it, to present, with the optimum of my very own capability. Which can be all anyone is capable of. It may not be flawless, it's really down to advancement. So let's proceed!"

The trick to get over public speaking panic attacks, seriously, is the way you concentrate the mind. Concentrate on what you're looking for and keep it off of what you do not need. This really is the quintessence of just what you have to do to solve this. And then get it done today, regardless of fear.

There are lots of methods to remove the sensation of panic attack when speaking in front of a group of individuals.

By Fray Alonso

Famous Speeches Create Famous Speakers

Those of us who watch those confident speakers give their eloquent speeches up on the dais are thoroughly impressed by how truly at ease they must be. For having the ability to stand up in front of a large crowd of people and give an oration, be it a motivational message, a story, or a sales spiel must be a "gift" that only a few are blessed with. The average person is simply not comfortable relating to a large group of their peers at one time. Well as a matter of fact, of those who are famous for their speeches and motivating of others, many have been shy even to the point of feeling "tongue tied" when they first started to stand up and speak. It takes some training and building of self confidence to become at ease up there before a crowd and once that is accomplished that speakers comfort level goes up substantially.

Good orators lead their audience along by communicating ideas

Standing before a group of people while telling a story, conducting a debate, or giving a speech, is similar to taking them along for a ride. But this is not a physical ride down a mythical road but rather more along the line of relating, by use of words, how one gets on ones way down that road, all the while describing the many sites along the way. There is a cause and an effect that are related to the listening audience. A politician will tell the listeners what they represent and how they plan on going about accomplishing what they promise to do. A good orator will capture the emotions of listeners as they tell a tale that audience can appreciate and relate to. Use of gestures as well as inflection or control of their voice help effective speakers relate effectively with their audience, keeping them interested and retaining what they've heard. A certain amount of humour thrown into the story or rhetoric will also keep them listening and appreciating what it is they are hearing longer than simply trying to follow along with a dry boring speech. This develops a pleasant relationship with the speaker's audience and holds their attention.

Famous orators found power in the telling of the tale

Those who have built a reputation around their speeches have gone down in history as being among the great orators and the list is long. A few well known speakers of modern time include:

Franklin D. Roosevelt Ronald Reagan Richard Nixon Harry S. Truman Martin Luther King, Jr. John F. Kennedy Robert Kennedy Nelson Mandela Winston Churchill
Many speakers have actually feared getting up before an audience of any size but did feel it was their duty to do so. Once that initial fear is overcome they realize it is not as difficult if they just look at one person, focus on one person, instead of observing the sea of faces gazing up at them. There are many effective methods of learning to overcome that "stage fright", relax, and feel comfortable while speaking. A bit of training will help attain that level of comfort that makes good speakers become excellent communicators.

If you've ever experienced nervousness at the prospect of speaking in public, you are not alone! Positive public speaking courses are based on the Speaking Circles technique, and offer public speaking classes in Bristol and Lonson.

By Rob W. Colbourn

Delivering Memorable Presentations With Visual Aids

Just like in public speaking, many people find giving a presentation, especially to a large group, to be a tremendous challenge. It is very likely that at some time in your career as a business person, you will be asked to make a presentation to workshops, partners, or colleagues. Being a little nervous is a sign that you want to do well, but just as in public speaking being overly nervous or scared might pose a problem. With a little practice you can learn to overcome your anxieties or fears and make informative and memorable presentations.

The use of visual aids, coupled with good public speaking skills, work hand-in-hand to create effective presentations. Your speaking style and stage presence are personal talents that you can refine with much practice and experience. However, much emphasis is given to visual aids which are essential to all successful presentations. Here are a couple of essentials that will help to give an effective presentation with the use of visual aids.

KNOW THE AUDIENCE

It is essential that you know who will make up your audience in order to produce an effective presentation. For example, if you are presenting a presentation to a group of entrepreneur or small business owners, what you will present will differ from delivering a presentation to a roomful of corporate executives. Your business owners are going to be interested in basic ideas or explanations of helpful tips that will aid their businesses. Whereas executives are usually entertained by reports, statistics, graphs, and charts. Now if your audience is a mixture of both, then you will need to know that.

Once you have prepared your presentation accordingly, allow some time at the very start for a brief introductory engagement if possible. You can start by telling your audience a little about yourself. Then, depending on the size of your group, what you can do is to invite them to introduce themselves individually. Going back to your small business owners for an example, get each to briefly stand, give their names and the type of business they are in. You are not going to remember all of their names, but try your best to remember a few, to start off with. This will serve four purposes.

(1) You and your group are getting acquainted on a personal level.
(2) You will become more relax since you may be already gaining information as to what they may need specifically to assist them.
(3) Your audience will see that you are genuinely interested in them as individuals, and for this they will warm up to you rather quickly.
(4) This will encourage good audience interaction which is something you may like to include as part of your presentation.

If you know ahead of time that you are presenting a presentation to somewhat a larger group, then if you have time, greet people as they arrive to engage in light conversation. This will help you to be more relaxed knowing that you are not talking to a group of strangers.

CHOOSING THE APPROPRIATE TOOLS

Visual aid help your presentation make things happen. They help you reach your objectives by providing emphasis to whatever is being said. Clear pictures multiply the audience's level of understanding of the material presented, and they should be used to reinforce your message, clarify points, and create excitement.

Visual aids and audio-visuals include a wide variety of communication products, including flip charts, overhead transparencies, slides, audio-slide shows, Power Point presentations, and video tapes. Demonstrating a process or simply passing around a sample of some equipment or model are also effective way to clarify messages visually. If visual aids are poorly selected or inadequately done, they will distract from what you are saying.

You can learn more on how to deliver memorable presentations with visual aids in just 40 pages-with the help of the eBook entitled "Public Speaking and Public Presentations."

In this eBook you'll learn such things as how to train the memory, how to take control of your audience. Are you a student? You will learn how to speak confidently in front of your class. If you need to present a presentation using visuals, this book will help by giving some tips on how to effectively get the most of visual aids tools such as Power Point, videotape, or a 35 millimeter slides and more.

With the help of this publication, "Public Speaking and Public Presentation," you'll be provided with the basics to excel in one, or the other, or perhaps both without having to read hundreds of pages of material. Whether you have an agenda to speak on, or if it's a matter of choosing a topic and doing research, you can no doubt be successful in delivering memorable presentations with visual aids.

For more information on this comprehensive 40 page eBook, go to http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EM6THC. RTJ Online blog at http://regjackonline.com/?page_id=765, provides self-help informations and tips on social media topics, to help you get the most of using social media tactics and ideals.

By Reginald Jackson

Public Speaking On Video - 5 Tips to Effectively Communicate Your Message With Your Viewers

Public speaking usually strikes fear in the hearts of many who want to try it. And now that using video to market your business online gets hotter every day, that fear has now extended to speaking on video.

Sadly, many business owners, entrepreneurs, and experts never delve into video marketing simply because they're afraid they won't look good on camera, or that they won't appear professional. That's understandable, but being camera shy is no reason to miss out on the benefits you can get with online video.

If you decide you'd like to give public speaking on video a try here are a few tips for making sure you are effectively communicating your message on video:

1. Make Eye Contact: Wait... what? Aren't we talking about video with no live audience? Yep. Here's how you make direct eye contact when you're speaking on video: look directly at the lens. You've seen people looking slightly off camera or looking down reading their notes, right? It's unnerving for most viewers because when you appear on video, people feel like you are talking directly to them - because you ARE! We're taught it's rude not to make eye contact with someone you're talking to, so make that video eye contact and your viewers will be happy.

2. Be Concise: In most promotional message you don't have a lot of time. The media have trained us to look for information and get it quickly. Looking for an in-depth news story? That's likely 2-3 minutes on your nightly local news broadcast. Ads on TV are 30-60 seconds long, typically. Some online video ads produced by major national brands are even shorter at 15-20 seconds. You have to compete with all that, so make sure your message is tight. To get more information across, consider doing a series of shorter videos, rather than one long one.

3. Look the Part: Just because you work at home in your sweats does not mean you should appear on video that way. If you run any type of professional business, you'll need to look like a professional in your industry. That's not to say you need to appear in a suit in all your videos, but your appearance should match your professional message.

4. Have One Main Point: When you record a video, you should strive to communicate one main idea. Too many ideas, tips, actions or suggestions will leave your viewer confused. Have one MAIN idea and offer no more than 3-5 subpoints around your main idea.

5. Don't Use a Script: When you are shooting an informal video where you are giving a tip and talking directly to the viewer, you don't need to bother writing your video script word-for-word. Because you won't be repeating this information over and over again -- you don't have to you now have a video! -AND because having a script can actually make you more nervous - "I forgot how I wanted to say that line..." - it's easier to use a short outline. If you're following the above tips and keeping your information concise and presenting only one main point, as an expert it should be easy for you to stay focused. If you still feel nervous, write your subpoints on a sticky note and stick it to the camera just above the lens. Or use a note card. Glance at your notes both briefly and occasionally, while striving to maintain that eye contact with your viewer during most of the time you are speaking on your recording.

Public speaking is one of the most effective ways to market a small business. I invite you to discover how to create your own talk and the 5 easy steps you can take today to get started with this powerful marketing tool. Pick up a FREE recording where you'll get all the secrets of marketing your business with a speech. Go now to http://www.SignatureSpeechSecrets.com. Felicia J. Slattery, M.A., M.Ad.Ed. is a communication consultant, speaker & coach specializing in training small and home-based business owners effective communication and public speaking skills so they can see more cash flow now.

By Felicia Slattery

Speaking Opportunities Are Business Opportunities and More!

We perceive really good speakers as experts. Perception is reality, and we like to work with experts - correct?

Public Speaking / Delivering Presentations is an excellent way to get yourself in front of prospects, connectors, people of influence, and others to let them know you are an Expert.

That's a problem.

Here's why: 75% of the population suffers from glossophia, the Fear of Public Speaking. People who have this malady don't take, and certainly don't make those opportunities. Consequently, they often lose potential business and career and leadership possibilities.

The research shows:
Speaking Opportunities are Business Opportunities!

See why above.
Speaking Opportunities are Career Opportunities!

You're likely in a career before going on your own.
Speaking Opportunities are Leadership Opportunities!

There are always leadership opportunities whether working for someone else, or in a trade association, civic group or a variety of other organizations.

The folks who embrace, take and make those occasions to speak, and do it well, increase the perception they are Experts. The result is they grow their businesses, career, and leadership possibilities.

Additionally, people who speak well and are seen as Experts can literally have the "platform" to promote their "platform", i.e. cause or passion. With this Expert Status, their efforts are more productive!

As stated, we also perceive excellent speakers as Leaders. In fact, we expect Leaders to be very good presenters. Some are; many are not.

If you speak well, you are seen as a Leader; be it in a company or organization; formal or informal. Leaders command authority, internally and externally, and are rewarded for their presentation skills.

The "Fear of Public Speaking' holds many back. I've encountered many individuals with great work histories, advanced educational degrees, and "old school" work ethics that are not where they want to be career wise because of poor communication skills. If a person can't speak to a group in a manner that educates, entertains, and explains their message, they are often passed over for people less qualified, but better communicators. This doesn't have to be.

Delivering presentations and speaking to groups is a skill, like all the others we have, that can be learned. No one was born knowing how to ride a bike, drive a car or operate a computer. We all learned these skills, and the same can be done with Public Speaking.

When you deliver that presentation, you want it to be a great one.
Here are some rules to follow that will let the audience know you are an Expert!

The Purpose
The goal of all communication; verbal, written or visual is the same. We want the recipients, as quickly as possible, to GET IT!

They don't have to agree with everything presented, but they do have to understand the message. If not, there cannot be a discussion going forward.

So the Purpose Goal is achieved, the Presentation must do Three Things

1. Educate
The audience should leave your talk knowing more about the subject than when they arrive.

2. Entertain
We like to be entertained. When we're being entertained we pay closer attention. Paying closer attention increases the odds the audience will GET IT!

3. Explain
It's imperative to explain your message in a manner that people understand easily without wondering, "What does that mean?"

Keep in Mind, People have Three Learning Styles

1. Visual
Learn by Seeing.

2. Auditory
They learn by Hearing.

3. Kinesthetic
They learn by Doing.

Were are usually a combination of these, with one being dominant. To help your audience GET IT! address as many of these as possible.

Example: Slides, with graphics that reinforce the message you are Speaking, increase the odds they'll GET IT!

Your talk should contain all the components, parts and elements of a complete presentation.

Introduction
Write you own! The Introduction is not your bio.

The Introduction should answer three questions.
* Why this subject?
* Why this speaker?
* Why now?

Opening
Grab the attention of the audience with a Strong Opening
Tell them what you're going to tell them.
Tell them if, and how, questions will be handled.

The Q&A should not be after your Closing. (That's why they call it the Closing!)

Body
Tell them.

Make three - five points and give a story, preferably a personal one, to support each point

Closing
1. Tell the audience what you told them
2. Have a Strong Closing.
3. The last thing you'll say, will be the first thing they will remember.

When delivering your material, be certain all the nonverbal and verbal messages sent to the audience are in sync with your the content of your talk.

There is plenty of help available.
* Toastmasters - An International Organization dedicated towards helping people with their presentation and leadership skills.
* Adult Evening School Classes - This is where I started.
* Books - There are many great ones available.
* CDs, DVDs - Watching and listening is different then reading. All should be part of the study.
* Blogs - There are a slew of great blogs on this subject. One place I go to regularly is alltop.com
* Personal Coaching - Professionals have coaches; Amateurs don't.

All the above will help, but the Learning is in the Doing!

You can do all the intellectualizing you want about speaking and improving your presentation skills: read books, watch professionals, listen to DVDs and watch videos.

The best advice I can offer is this: Speak! Speak! Speak!

Here's the analogy:
If you want to be a Great Baker - Bake!
If you want to be a Great Swimmer - Swim!
If you want to be a Great Speaker - Speak!

What's the worse that could happen?
The baker's cake falls. The swimmer finishes last. The speaker makes a fool of himself.

BIG Deal! Who Cares?
In the ocean of your life this is a Drop!

I Guarantee:
The worst speech you'll ever give will be far better than the one you never give!

Fred E. Miller is an author, speaker and coach specializing in Public Speaking and Presentations.

He teaches people how to Develop, Practice and Deliver a 'Knock Your Socks Off' Speech with - No Sweat!
Contact Information: Fred E. Miller 314-517-8872 Fred@NoSweatPublicSpeaking.com http://www.nosweatpublicspeaking.com

By Fred E. Miller

Magic Tricks in Public Speaking

Using magic tricks in public speaking, business presentations and school assemblies is a great way to make yourself stand out, surprise, hold attention and above all, get your message across in a powerful, entertaining and memorable way.

However, if you are going to use magic in public speaking of any kind then you have to think carefully about how you present it.

You need to be sure that the magic trick or tricks that you perform during your speech or presentation are made integral to the substance of what you are saying, not merely tagged on because you read somewhere that magic can help your presentation stand out!

It's true of course that magic can help your presentation - it's the first statement of this article and the basis of its argument; but it would be more accurate to say that magic can add a powerful new dimension to your presentation when it is made meaningful in the context. The meaningfulness of the magic in the context is what makes it memorable, otherwise it is merely a distraction.

The easiest way to make the magic meaningful (and therefore powerful and memorable) is to choose a magic trick or routine that directly illustrates your principal point. This can be done at the start to capture attention and then you go on to extrapolate your argument from that point, or at the end to encapsulate visually what you have been saying.

Using a magic trick in the middle of a presentation tends not to work; simply because no-one is expecting it, it becomes a distraction and what you say afterwards may not be properly heard. No-one is expecting it at the end either, but there it serves as a surprise which emphasizes what you've said and as you won't be saying anything else it simply 'wraps up' in an impactful and memorable way.

You can see that using a magic trick in this way serves as a kind of 'group mnemonic'. The visual and emotional impact of the trick will impress itself on the minds of your listeners for weeks, months or even years afterwards; and the points you have made will be associated with that memory.

And here's the real power in it: your speech will be associated with a positive emotional experience. And that is the greatest power of persuasion that you will ever be able to harness.

Magic has other bonuses for business speakers in the international arena as it is an entertainment that crosses cultural boundaries.

Particularly if you are involved in trade with Japan or India, where magic tricks are adored and magicians highly revered. Introducing magic into your presentation in those contexts can do no harm at all.

There are also certain ways that you can use magic at conferences, for example, even when you are not in the spotlight or on the podium. A favourite of mine is to magically produce a business card, or seemingly 'print' the card by magic on a blank paper. Both of these, performed with confidence and panache can give a very cool impression.

Finally, don't go over the top, as they say: you should use magic tricks sparingly; one or two at the most in any single presentation. Don't try turning it into a magic show! It's the surprise factor that gives it the impact and it's the precision of its meaning within the context that makes it work to carry your message forward.

Some of the best tricks for using in business presentations, public speaking and school assemblies can be learned quickly and cheaply by anyone prepared to put in a little bit of time. They don't need any fancy props or gadgets. Most can be done with things that come readily to hand at any conference, business meeting or public or school event such as coins, bank notes, handkerchiefs, drinking glasses, pens etc. Inflation and devaluation, for example, can be illustrated by transforming coins or bank notes into higher or lower values magically. Business cards can be magically produced or printed in front of your colleagues' eyes.

To select and present magic tricks appropriately and effectively in your presentations will require intelligence, creativity and confidence. Do you have those qualities? I hope so, or you shouldn't really be in business!

There's an added bonus, too. learning magic tricks has been scientifically demonstrated to increase concentration, perceptual, problem-solving and rapport-building skills; all essential to contemporary business practice.

Put yourself to the test and boost the impact of your presentations. Have a look at the example tricks below - you can see free demonstrations and download tutorials by following the link - and ask yourself if you are creative enough to find a way to use them to empower your work. Then buy the tutorial (they cost little more than loose change) and get to it. If you aren't able to do anything with the examples here, then follow the link at the bottom for hundreds more possibilities. Get creative and get ahead of the game.

By Austin Hackney

The Value of Winging It Vs How to PowerPoint - An Independent Consultant's View

Winging it is my preferred way of making a presentation which I believe offer significant value to both the audience and the presenter. Nevertheless as I recounted in a previous article, A PowerPoint Presentation or Winging It?, in that so many of my audiences have become accustomed to anticipating a PowerPoint presentation, I have decided to integrate it within my preferred style, Winging It. In this article, I will discuss the value of Winging It as well as How to PowerPoint effectively to keep the audience engaged.

The Value of Winging It
Winging it essentially mean to speak in public without notes. Taking notes on stage only telegraphs the idea that you had to make a big effort to bone up on your theme, then were so unsure of yourself that you had to sweat through a close read so as not to blow your lines. Appearing to improvise flashes you onto listeners' minds as an authority, an expert. Playing the puppet by reading a text, or clinging to notes takes you down, peg by peg, until you look even with, or even below, your audience.

Winging your talk enhances everything you say. It magnifies your magic, focuses your clarity, and buttresses your logic. Your stand-alone ability to think on your feet just makes everything you say sound more controlled and resourceful. This excitement you fire by risking your reputation keeps your listeners awake, thus more open-minded to your speech. It also builds into admiration which initiates and underpins any healthy respect. Moreover, when your words are written out and read, the joy and certainty of discovering the real you suffer.

Whatever you have got will look and sound better if you can train yourself to persuade without paper. It's what you do with what you have that matters. Once you are skilled at winging it, your audience will only cherish more whatever you have to say. This has been my experience and I'm sure it will be yours also.

How to PowerPoint Effectively
Although I have revealed my preference, if you insist on using PowerPoint, resist the temptation to read the slides to your audience. This disconnects you from them. However, when you move to a new slide, pause briefly to give the audience time to read the content. Then summarize or make the point in a different way. If the slide is easy to understand, you may proceed as though the words on the slide have already been said. You then can go on to explain and elaborate on what the slide is about.

Use the slides to complement and enhance your presentation. Do not allow them to be your presentation and do not use them as your script. Also, make certain your slide is not too dense. Apply the 50 percent rule twice: Remove half of the slide's content, then look at it again and remove another half. Better yet, plan for no more than three words or a single image per slide. With the exception of your three words, include your Web site address on each slide.

Make sure you have checked and double-checked the slides and the equipment. Misspellings and out-of-order or upside-down slides can quickly detract from your presentation and your credibility.

Forget about animation -- it detracts from the point you are making and, if the audience can't read every word on a slide, discontinue the PowerPoint presentation.

Finally, PowerPoint can be used to produce a professional-looking program that you can revise easily to fit each audience you present to. Unfortunately, presentations that rely on PowerPoint for their content are seldom as engaging as presentations that use PowerPoint to supplement what the speaker is saying. An effective PowerPoint presentation, especially the transitions, takes practice and rehearsal. Even though it worked like a charm the last time doesn't mean it will again. Before subjecting audiences to needless distractions, rehearse with your slides.

Will Barnes, Therapist and Business-Financial Consultant, for over thirty-eight years has worked with individuals, families, and organizations in the areas of personal growth, capacity building, and relationship strengthening. Go to http://www.youcontrol.blogspot.com for more useful information and subscribe to his free, turbocharged monthly newsletter.

By Will Barnes

If Your Listeners Pull Back When You Are Talking, Then You Are Too Loud

During a recent 2-day workshop I was holding, one of the participants was a lovely woman by the name of Angie who had a big, nasal voice. When she got excited, not only did the pitch of her speaking voice rise, but her volume increased as well. Does that sound familiar?

While speaking too loudly is not nearly as common as speaking too softly, it does happen. And, for your listeners, it can be painful to their ears. If you find others recoiling when you talk, you should consider voice training in order to learn how to lessen your volume to a comfortable level.

One of the most interesting aspects of voice training is that the exact same techniques used to help the soft-spoken speak at a normal level are the same techniques that will lessen the volume of the loud voice. It is truly fascinating to see how this works.

With the right voice training approach, you are taught how to find your 'real' voice by using your chest cavity to power your sound. Of course, you still use your throat, voice box, mouth and nasal cavities. The difference is that most people are unaware of and not using their chest cavity which is the largest of their 5 resonators responsible for voiced sound.

* When you make this change, you will find a richer, warmer, deeper voice that decreases your volume naturally.

Why this happens is because the loud voice is characterized by stridency, shrillness, and sometimes excessive nasality as well. The voice that is powered by the chest cavity, however, loses the stridency and the shrillness because of the change in placement of your sound. Your voice will no longer be harsh. Instead you will discover a sound that is more akin to the likes of Sean Connery, Kathleen Turner, Kate Beckinsale and James Earl Jones.

The other good news about your 'real' voice is that it will no longer hurt your throat and vocal folds (cords) to speak. If you have a loud voice, then it is quite possible you suffer from vocal abuse as well in which you have chronic hoarseness or a persistent sore throat. Use your chest cavity as your primary sounding board and your vocal abuse will be gone.

There are so many marvelous benefits of voice training, one of which is that you will actually enjoy hearing yourself on recording equipment. Isn't it time to stop the loud talk and learn to speak at a comfortable level for your listeners? Trust me, they will thank you.

By Nancy Daniels

Remember What Happens When A Speaker Stops Growing

As speakers, you'd hope that we'd always be looking for ways to boost our speaking skills. However, it turns out that all too often this is not the case. The can be many reasons, but the end result is the same: we reach a given level in our speaking and then we just "hold" there. Not getting any worse, but at the same time not getting any better. Let's take a look at what causes this and see how we can keep moving forward.

Why Do We Stall In Our Speaking Careers?

When we are first starting out as speakers, we understand that we're not very good. We realize this because we are very attuned to the feedback that we're getting from our audience - they are bored and restless when we are speaking.

Because we know that we're not very good, we are open to change. We don't want to have our audiences dread it when we approach the front of the room to give a talk. This means that we're open to listening to what other people say about our speaking style. We also keep our eyes open and watch other speakers so that we can learn from them.

All of these different inputs cause something magical to happen: we become better speakers. It doesn't happen overnight, but rather it happens little by little. All of a sudden we find that we're actually pretty good speakers: we don't fear standing in front of an audience and talking and the audience almost seems to be looking forward to listening to us talk.

However, this is when something bad can also start to happen: we plateau. Once we've reached this level of speaking, we can decide that we're "good enough" and we stop. We stop listening to what our audience is trying to tell us and we stop listening to how others evaluate our speaking.

That's why the world is filled with speakers who are just adequate. They've reached a level where they are "good enough" and then they stalled. If you can't detect that you are in a rut and if you are not motivated to get yourself out of it, then that's where you'll spend the rest of your speaking days.

How To Leave Your Comfort Zone And Become A Better Speaker

So no matter if you are in a rut currently or if you fear that you may be starting to enter a rut, spending the rest of your days there does not have to be your fate. It turns out that there are a number of different things that you can do in order to pull yourself out of this situation:

* Change!: the biggest reason that we get stuck in ruts is because our speaking opportunities become too predictable. Change things up - offer to talk about a topic that you've not talked about before or change how you present the material that you've given over and over again. Different is good!

* Ask For Opinions: what helped you to become a better speaker back in the early days was that you were open to the comments offered by others. Invite someone whose opinion you respect to attend your next speech and provide you with feedback. When they do, take action based on what they tell you.

* Picture The Future: better than anyone else, you know what a better you as a speaker would look like. The first step in getting to there is to mentally picture yourself as that better speaker. Once you've done that, you can start to map out the steps that you need to take to get there.

* Baby Steps: Becoming a better speaker is what we all want to do. In order to make this happen, we need to ease ourselves into the future taking things one step at a time. We didn't get to be the speakers that we are today overnight and it's going to take mastering a sequence of steps to get to where we want to be.

What All Of This Means For You

Getting stuck in a rut is an easy thing to do. As speakers, those ruts can hold us back from becoming better speakers. The first thing that we need to do is to realize when we've gotten stuck in a rut and why. The next is to find a way to get out of it.

Getting out of a speaker's rut is a tricky thing to do. The key is to shake things up: get used to change, get outside advice, and picture the future that you want.

Getting stuck in a rut can happen to any speaker. Getting out of that rut is the key to becoming a successful speaker. If you want to keep developing your speaking skills, then you need to do a "rut check" and then take action to get out if you are in one.
Dr. Jim Anderson http://www.blueelephantconsulting.com/

Your Source For Real World Public Speaking Skills?

Do you give speeches today, but want to learn how be more effective? Dr. Jim Anderson believes that great business skills are no substitute for poor presentation skills. Dr. Anderson will share with you the knowledge that he has gained while working to improve the speaking ability of both individuals and teams of speakers for over 20 years. Learn the secrets of effective speakers and really connect with your audience during your next speech.

If you want to follow Dr. Anderson on Twitter, he can be found at: http://twitter.com/drjimanderson

By Dr. Jim Anderson

Embrace Your Fears - One of 50 Ways How Not to Suck at Public Speaking

Nothing strikes fear in most of uslike being called on to present!

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld once said "If given only two choices, the average person at a funeral would prefer to be the one laid out in the casket than the poor stiff who has to deliver the eulogy!"

While that may sound a bit over the top, a surprising number of studies on the subject actually do rank fear of public speaking as the #1 fear in North America. In these same studies, death is typically ranked 5th or 6th. Go Figure?

It's hard to explain why so many of us share this fear, or where it comes from. But we do know that it can be managed and that the benefits of doing so can be enormous.

A recent survey conducted by University of Pittsburgh's Katz Business School suggests the ability to communicate is the single greatest factor contributing to one's success in business and a critical skill for anyone in a position of leadership!

Better grades at school and performance reviews at work; stronger sales and operating results; greater respect and admiration; exciting new opportunities; even fame and fortune are but a few of the many rewards that often accrue to those who can confidently, convincingly, compellingly present their ideas to others... and especially to those who can leverage their efforts and do so to groups.

What follows is the first of the 50 ways to leave your fears behind and become a great presenter featured in my new book 'How Not to Suck at Public Speaking'. Depending on how this one is received, I may publish a few more:

Way #1 - Embrace Your Fears

The first thing you should realize about fear is that it's actually a good thing. If not for our fears, most of us wouldn't be around today. Our fears are a key component of our natural defense system. They keep us from being totally reckless and doing stupid things that could injure or even kill us, like stepping out in front of a bus. They also trigger mental and physical responses that help us assess and deal with difficult and potentially threatening situations.

When confronted with a situation that involves a significant element of risk, our fears cause us to be highly focused and in the moment. Our endorphins start pumping and our minds are wiped clean of all of the petty thoughts, problems and concerns that typically reside there. The past and the future are of no concern. All that matters is the present. Things instantly become crystal clear, especially our fight or flight options and their potential consequences. We are 100% alert and ready to respond at a moment's notice. For this moment in time, we couldn't be more fully alive!

Our fears challenge, excite and energize us. Who hasn't taken pleasure from facing a personal fear head on? If not for the human desire to 'feel the rush' how would one explain the existence of roller coasters, scary movies and extreme sports? If you think people who engage in activities such as sky diving, white water rafting, big mountain skiing and the like are fearless, think again. It was their fears that drew them to the sport in the first place and the thrill that comes from facing those fears that brings them back.

Fears are not the problem. We all have them and thank goodness we do. The problem is that occasionally we let our fears get out of hand and respond to them in ways that are counterproductive. Often we attribute them to situations where they have no true basis and/or serve no useful purpose thereby placing unnecessary limitations on ourselves (e.g. the fear of flying). And sometimes we exaggerate them, even to the point where they literally paralyze us.

The trick to keeping our fears in check is not to ignore them, or to try to will them away. The trick is to understand and manage them. We need to leverage their benefits and control or mitigate their negative effects. In other words, we need to embrace our fears and put them to good use.

When it comes to public speaking, a little bit of fear is definitely a good thing, especially at the onset of a presentation. It sharpens our focus, gives clarity to our thoughts and pumps up our inner reserves giving us the energy to go up there and deliver our message with a level of enthusiasm impossible to achieve in a totally calm state. Manage it well and what you may feel as fear or nervousness, the audience sees and hears as excitement, enthusiasm and conviction.

The day you present without fear is the day you should be truly afraid
Jim Francis is the Founder and CEO of Wavemaker Consulting ( http://wavemakerconsulting.com/ ) and author of How Not to Suck at Public Speaking ( http://hownottosuckatpublicspeaking.blogspot.com/ ). Wavemaker Consulting is a leading-edge management and educational consulting firm specializing in enhancing individual, team and organizational performance. Wavemaker programs and consultancies focus on the customer experience (sales & service quality), the learning experience (training and educational techniques) and personal & professional effectiveness (presentation, public speaking, leadership & life skills).

By Jim S Francis

Article Marketing Tips Successful Affiliates Use

When you start looking for advice on improving your article marketing techniques, who better to turn to than someone who has been down the same road you've traveled and come out on the other end a success? The thing to remember about advice is that it only helps when you make use of it! So, here are a few of the top tips from some superstar affiliates who have made a success out of article marketing.

1. Do your research. No matter how fantastic your articles are or which directories you submit them to, if the affiliate program you choose to work with isn't a good one, then all of your efforts will be worthless. Always do a little research into the many affiliate programs out there. Read reviews, find out what fellow affiliates are saying in forums and writing about in their blogs.

2. Write original content. It's important for you to create unique articles. Resubmitting the same article over and over again will lower your search engine rankings. If that happens, your articles won't be getting the attention and page views you hope for. Take the time to write new content at least once each week.

3. Send articles out to newsletter subscribers. When you submit your articles to directories and post them on your social media sites, it's also a good idea to put your article into a newsletter and send it out to your subscribers. If your article is a little lengthy, trim it up a bit so that readers won't delete it before getting to the good parts.

4. Think quality along with quantity. Make sure your content is valuable. While it's important to put out a good number of articles, they won't be as effective if they are poorly written. Take the time to write content your readers will enjoy and benefit from.

There is a lot to be learned from affiliates who have made a successful business in article marketing. They learned how to make the most of article marketing without shelling out a lot of money. Take advantage of any free tools that are out there, like article directories. There are some directories that will charge you for submitting articles, and their rates aren't cheap. There are plenty of reputable directories out there that are absolutely free, so don't feel pressured to sign up for a service you need to pay for.

It's important to build a solid reputation in the marketing community. You can have hundreds of articles out there on the Web, a fantastic website and popular blogs, but those things won't matter much if you link yourself with a scamming affiliate program. Always investigate the companies you are considering linking up with and make sure there are no claims that they are scams.

If you're going to write about a product and endorse it in your articles, you want to choose something that is familiar to you. If you have no experience in software programs, you might find it difficult to write persuasive articles about it. Use products that you are comfortable with writing about. It's important to your readers that you present yourself as an expert in your niche. This will boost your reputation as an article marketer, which is the key to becoming a success in this industry.

By Deb Lamb

Article Marketing Drawbacks

Article marketing has become one of the most effective strategies that businesses use when starting a marketing campaign. With every marketing tool there will be pros and cons, and article marketing is no exception. While not every system is perfect, there are things you can do to help boost the impact of your article marketing campaign.

One of the main drawbacks of article marketing is that it's not as fast as other marketing tools, like Pay Per Click. It takes time for you to really see an impact when using articles and for a while you may think that it's having absolutely no impact whatsoever.

Article marketing takes a lot of patience in order to make sure your content says exactly what you want. Your articles need to offer valuable, relevant information that will benefit readers and it may take some time to master this. If you aren't confident in your own writing abilities, or if you just don't have the time needed to focus on producing content, you can look into hiring a ghostwriter to do the work for you.

Once you have articles written, you need to submit them to article directories so that they will reach thousands of readers. Most article directories will put your article through a review process to make sure it meets all of their guidelines. Don't just submit one article and think you're done. For article marketing to work effectively, you need to add new content on a regular basis, at least once a week.

Not only should you submit content to article directories, but to other sites as well, like Squidoo, Google Knol, and Hub Pages. This can take a lot of time and effort which can try your patience at times, but the rewards are well-worth it.

Be consistent with your writing. Readers want to gather as much information as possible while at the same time being a little entertained. Give your writing a unique tone that reflects your winning personality. Use your writing voice as though you were talking to your reader face to face. Make sure that your readers are left satisfied and still wanting more.

Readers know a high-pressure sales pitch when they see one, so tread lightly when you're talking about a product or service you offer. Give them some information, but don't try to pressure them into a "buy now" situation. Offer them a free newsletter, e-book, or advice and tips when they visit your website and include a link so that they can take the next step. When your article is written well enough, your readers will be eager to know more, to learn what answers you can give them.

Article marketing is an effective tool that works well in every industry. The key is knowing how to use it and learning everything you can about making it work for you. It's time-consuming. It can cost you money. It will wear your patience thin. But in the end, it's worth it because it is one of the best ways to market your business and build your notoriety as an expert in your field.

By Deb Lamb

Get Your Articles Read With 6 Hot Tips

When people cringe at the thought of writing articles putting out high quality material can seem to be almost impossible. Even reading articles can seem to be a chore for many. Following these 6 very hot tips will make the job much easier. When getting your articles read is the goal so effort on both sides of the process writing and reading so no time is wasted on either side.

So how does a person write an article so it gets read? First you want to write great content. Writing great content really does not need to be hard or difficult and there is no need to strain to do it. Using a simple basic guide to remind you of the steps to follow is all you really need. Following the simple guide writing a few articles will get you in the grove and make the job fun instead of a chore. Not to mention make the content much more profitable for your website.

You need not always be an expert about a subject to write quality articles. But what is important is that you get the facts correct. Sure knowing something about the subject does give you a leg up on the facts and understanding. When you are already know the subject following the 6 simple guidelines making fascinating and creative is easier that starting from scratch.

The 6 Hot Tips to Get Your Articles Read

Make a guide with these 6 hot tips to get your articles read. The goal of getting them read is making them interesting and quick to read. The 6 hot tips do just that:

The title or header must be attention-getting. You need to entice a reader's curiosity; by doing this one half the job is already done. By using keywords that people already search for in your statements and questions also help to create curiosity. The titles should be short and to the main point of your articles. Here are some simple sample article titles to help you understand what you want to do in a title.

"Tips on solving a common problem", "Make your lady swoon and blush in 4 simple steps", "Discover a happier thinner you" these sorts of titles and headers can be researched on top websites like CNN or MSN and Yahoo. Short catchy titles reach out and touch an emotion is sure to create the kind of interest you want to get your article read.

Interest is important from start to finish. In opening paragraphs little things like real life occurrences that are easy to adopt by the reader as their own. Exciting descriptions and colorful metaphors that make smiles will always make your reader feel it. When this happens the encounter becomes a pleasure and makes the articles enjoyable for the reader to read.

Be sure to keep paragraphs short. Long paragraphs make readers lose interest because it becomes easy to lose track of the point. When the content is a challenge to read the reader will just quickly move on to something easier and less complicated. The ideal is the paragraph that may be one sentence and other times maybe just one single word.

Bullet points and numbers burn the facts in and make the content much easier to digest. Also bullets and numbers alert the reader to import points to digest. They also keep your articles from looking like a big single block of text. The extra flair adds shape to your articles and makes them more interesting and holds the reader all the way to the end and your call to action.

Sub divide the paragraphs with sub headings break up the page to call attention to the important points. Important points that are broken up with sub headings that flow smoothly and transition from point to point are more appealing. This all serves to hold the reader's attention and easily guides them to where the article is pointing.

When possible it is important to add facts and figures that are accurate will add some authority to your articles. You also want to shy away from being too formal. Formality has an air of complicated that Boggs down the flow. When the content is less formal the flow is uncomplicated and you seem more like the friendly teacher that everyone wants to chat with.

David Nettles lives in South Florida and runs his home-based business part-time. He is also the publisher of http://www.businessathomeincome.com

By David Nettles

Hiring Professional Writers for ESL Web Content

You might think that if you have an ESL website, then you are the expert and you have to write the content. For the business aspect of it and the services that you sell, you do need to be the expert and while you might want to write your own web content, there are professional writers that can do this task for you.

Running an ESL business, no matter what type it is, takes a lot of time. You need to manage the business, market your brand, find clients and so on. Even once you have the business more established, you need to follow up with clients and with the marketing strategy that you have. In terms of online marketing, most campaigns need some form of web content. It takes a lot of time to write adequate amounts of content, therefore making it a logical choice to hire a professional web content writer instead.

When you do hire a writer for this job, there are specific things that they will ask or you can simply tell them before they ask. Since there are a variety of types of web content that you might need, you have to specify what it is that you want. You may need activities written up, SEO web content for your website, articles to submit to directories, blog posts, or any other type of content. While you don't have to specify where these items are being posted, they need to know the format, work count, topic and other details. This will ensure that you get what you need the first time around.

Having this web content written professionally can create a bill that you may not have wanted but high quality web content will get you more results than lower quality content. Also, web content writers with education and experience in the ESL field are really the only ones that should be writing this type of specific content. In this case, you will have to pay more for their skills.

Paying at least $4 or $5 for 100 words is common for simple content. Other times, you may be required to pay more but when you purchase larger orders of web content, often you will receive a discount. Considering it this way, it might look expensive but look at how much profit you will be making from your business.

The only way that people will take your ESL business serious is with well-written content. You need to make space in your budget for this if you are hiring a writing service. It will pay off in the end plus the content is yours to keep along with the copyright. This means that you can use it as much as you like and even sell it to others.

J. Paiin is a professional freelance writer offering writing services for articles, blog posts, e-books and other types of written material. For more information about writing services or current promotions, please visit her website http://www.thecontentphantom.ca. Feel free to email her at any time with questions regarding these services.

By J Paiin