How to Get Started with Public Speaking
How to Get Started with Public Speaking
How to Get Started with Public Speaking
Have you ever wondered how to get started with public speaking? It is not written in stone that you must get up in front of a large audience and put on a full, two-hour presentation. There are many ways to get started with public speaking. The trick is to find ways that are within your comfort zone. Then you move yourself slightly out of your comfort zone with each step that you conquer.
Here are a few strategies that you might find helpful to help you get stated with public speaking.
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Get Comfortable Online
Create a Skype or teleconference workshop for people you know well – and who you know would be supportive.
Think about members of any active forum you belong to, your Facebook industry intimates, fellow Facebook Group members, your subscribers or online friends that share the same hobby or career as you.
Make it small and on one topic you have already mastered.
Better yet, make your group teleconference a regular feature, so that you grow comfortable presenting to others.
We have a weekly teleseminar training series that we repurpose into a podcast. It is a wonderful way to get comfortable with public speaking. To find out more about starting your own podcast, check out Podcasting Power.
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Host a Local Workshop
Do you belong to any local business organizations? Then offer to host a local workshop on a topic you know well.
Prepare handouts. For example, you could prepare a tip sheet, or summary of the points you made, or outline of the methods you used. A list of resources is also a popular handout.
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Volunteer to Give a Storytelling Session at a Local School
You may be amazed at how responsive even the most rambunctious audience will be. Children naturally love stories, and if you can successfully tell a story to your own children – or you have just taken a storytelling course – you can do this at a school.
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Give Free Short Mini-Talks at Local Business Meetings
Local business organizations are always looking for guest speakers. Hone your skills by volunteering to give mini-talks on a single topic. Keep them to fifteen minutes or less. That way, you are not responsible for an entire event – just a small segment of it – and you can get your feet wet in comfort.
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Be the Lifesaver
Local business organizations often find that their scheduled speaker is a no-show. The point is, be the one who is heroically ready to fill the gap. Therefore, before every local business meeting, have a short speech totally prepared and practiced on a relevant topic.
The practice will help decrease your nervousness and improve your public speaking skills. You will be ready to save the day and be the lifesaver.
How to Get Started with Public Speaking
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Create a Paid Product
Pre-record your speech and use it to promote a product. The trick is making sure that the speech itself is as value-rich as your paid product – and that both are unique, original and exactly what your audience needs.
Those are eight ways to dip your foot into the stream of public speaking. Now let us see how we can accelerate your public speaking career by helping your great reputation spread like wildfire.
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Live Public Speaking
Even if you only have a gig or two under your belt, live your dream with passion. If you do – if all your focus for now is on developing your career in public speaking – you will find yourself naturally “talking it up” with genuine enthusiasm.
Let people know why you love giving presentations, what you specialize in, where you have spoken, what you have to offer – and most of all, let them know you are available.
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Carry Business Cards
Make sure you always carry business cards positioning yourself as a public speaker.
Then when you do talk up your public speaking abilities, hand out more than one per person. Ask people to pass your cards on if they know someone who might find hiring you the solution to a problem.
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Specialize
While many entrepreneurs are quite capable of speaking well on a variety of topics to a variety of audiences, your best strategy lies in specializing – becoming known as the expert in one specific area of one niche field.
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Focus on Your Promise
A good speech includes a promise of what people are going to take away if they stay and listen. A great speech delivers on that promise by the end of the speech – and reminds the audience they have done so.
Always spend time on your promise. What is it going to be for this audience? Can you kick it up a notch or two?
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Create Website Presences
You need to be findable online as a public speaker – so make sure you place that information in several different website spots. You can create:
- A speaker profile, cv or bio in your Media Section
- A “Hire [Your Name] to Speak” section
- A contact form for public speaking inquiries
- Another website only for your public speaking, including transcripts or samples of past speeches
12. Attend Conferences and Networking Events
These are fantastic places to make connections in your own niche or industry. Even if you do not find anyone there to hire you, networking strong personal contacts can lead to recommendations from those contacts.
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Volunteer
Offer to speak at your local Chamber of Commerce, civic groups, and other business and service-oriented organizations. Many offer monthly meetings and are always on the hunt for speakers, so it is a wonderful way to build up your speaking chops while helping a worthy cause.
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Join Groups
Join both online and offline groups that include or focus on public speaking. Look beyond your local Toastmasters chapter, to include local business organizations that need and use speakers at every meeting. Also, join focused LinkedIn and Facebook Groups.
These groups can give you plenty of practice – and exposure.
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Just Ask!
Approach organizations you want to speak to. Find out the name of the correct person to contact – and send a query letter and/or your Speaker Profile Sheet.
Outline either one huge benefit to the organization or list three to five strong benefits. Give them the same promise you would include in your speech.
Conclusion/Call to Action
Learning how to get started with public speaking is essential to building your visibility, credibility, and authority status. Remember that you are your business. You must learn to accelerate the spread of your message to help you build and grow your business. By following a few proven- strategies you can be on your way to creating the life of your dreams.
For more information on public speaking check out the following podcasts and blog posts:
How to Quickly Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking
How to Use Public Speaking to Grow Your Business
3 Public Speaking Tips for New Entrepreneurs
At My Biz Dream Team, we show you how to develop an internet lifestyle business that can help you reach your money goals. Check out The Podcasting Power Playbook, to help you increase your visibility, credibility, and authority status. Let us show you how to reach your goal of creating a lifestyle and a business that you love! Act today.
Pamela Montgomery
I am Pamela Montgomery, attorney, author, entrepreneur, and speaker, providing results-oriented strategies that help you achieve uncommon results in your business and in your life!
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How to Quickly Increase Your Visibility with Public Speaking
Increase Your Visibility with Public Speaking
How to Increase Your Visibility with Public Speaking
As an author, entrepreneur, or coach one of the best ways to boost your business success is to increase your visibility with public speaking. I have given hundreds of presentations during a lifetime of being a paid speaker, attorney, and seminar presenter.
Therefore, if you want to increase your visibility then get started with public speaking today.
Do not put this off because you find it to be uncomfortable.
Sometimes you must do what is uncomfortable, if you want to achieve uncommon results!
Perhaps you are like me. I put off doing things that are unfamiliar.
To address my unpleasant habit, I am starting a 40-Day Procrastination Fast.
This is not your typical fast where I give up food. During this fast I am giving up an unpleasant habit that I have developed.
I call my unpleasant habit my “Scarlett O'Hara Syndrome.” I put off today, what I can do tomorrow. Sometimes, tomorrow never comes.
So, starting today, all those projects that have been piling up and never accomplished, get ticked off one at a time.
The first project on my list, is this blog post.
Dexter and Pamela Montgomery
Increase Your Visibility with Public Speaking Today, Not Tomorrow
Today, my focus is public speaking. Nothing helps you gain greater visibility and authority than speaking in public. You must start to increase your visibility with public speaking today. Do not wait until tomorrow.
Is putting off public speaking your unpleasant habit? If so, then join me in this 40-Day Procrastination Fast. Grab the opportunity today, to increase your visibility with public speaking.
Seek out opportunities to share what you know.
If you are an author, small business owner, entrepreneur, or life coach you must leave the comfort of the computer, or wherever you hide out. If you want greater visibility, then stand up and be seen.
Look for Public Speaking Opportunities at Your Church
You can volunteer to speak at your church to increase your visibility.
Speaking in front of people who already know, trust, and like you, will increase your visibility and build your confidence. With increased confidence you can begin to add other public speaking opportunities.
For the past 3 weeks I have had the opportunity to present a three-minute segment, called “The Black History Moment.” I have shared stories and historical facts about African-Americans in Times of War. My focus has been on World War I because this year is the 100th anniversary of “The War to End All Wars.”
The opportunity to speak in front of a church audience should not be taken lightly. It is a great privilege that should be undertaken for the right reasons and provide value to those present.
Look for Public Speaking Opportunities at Local Service Clubs
Check out your local service organizations, (Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis) who are looking for speakers every week. Volunteer to speak at their meeting.
Local libraries, business associations (like the Chamber of Commerce), and civic associations are always looking for speakers. Therefore, contact those types of organizations in your local community.
Be bold in your commitment to increase your visibility with public speaking. Do not the fear of doing something unfamiliar hold you back from your destiny.
Prepare a 15-20- minute signature speak that you give on your topic. As you continue to give your speech, you will get better. Remember that preparation is the key.
At my local rotary Club, for the past several weeks, I have given a 3-minute introduction of our guests that highlights them and the best aspects of Rotary International. The perception of me as a leader, increased exponentially as I stepped up and showcased my public speaking ability.
Tackle Your Fear of Public Speaking
If you are afraid of public speaking, I say, “Just get over it.” You must learn to tackle your fear of public peaking.
If you want to elevate your business, then you must showcase your expertise. Let the world, or at least your community, know of the experience and expertise that you offer.
As an entrepreneur, you are a leader. As a leader you can not sit on the sideline. Instead you must learn to transform your mindset from an employee to an entrepreneur as you “Step into Your Power.”
You can quickly overcome your fear of public speaking by scheduling yourself to regularly speak. The more frequently that you engage in public speaking, the more confidence you will develop.
Conclusion/Call to Action
Jumpstart your success by beginning to increase your visibility with public speaking. This is the best way to build your authority status as a recognized expert in your community. Standing in front of the room, gives you credibility and visibility.
Follow this advice:
1. Increase Your Visibility with Public Speaking Today, Not Tomorrow
2. Look for Public Speaking Opportunities at Your Church
3. Look for Public Speaking Opportunities at Your Local Service Organizations
4. Tackle Your Fear of Public Speaking
At My Biz Dream Team, we show you how to develop an internet lifestyle business that can help you reach your money goals. Check out The Strategic Pathway to Success Program™. Let us show you how to reach your goal of creating a lifestyle and a business that you love! Act today.
Pamela Montgomery
I am Pamela Montgomery, attorney, author, entrepreneur, and speaker, providing results-oriented solutions that help you achieve uncommon results in your business and in your life!
How to Create a Podcast that Attracts Your Ideal Audience
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How to Create a Podcast that Attracts Your Ideal Audience
How to Create a Podcast that Attracts Your Ideal Audience
Are you one of the few authors, speakers, coaches, or entrepreneurs who truly wants to create a podcast that attracts your ideal audience? Do you want your podcast to help you build your business and increase your visibility? However, you do not know where to begin. You are worrying about the right microphone and recorder. Rather, than think about the technical aspects of podcasting, you should be thinking about the theme and focus and of your podcast.
The previous episode of My Biz Dream Team: Opportunity Wednesday Training Series focused on three steps to start a podcast that grows your business. This episode continues the discussion with how to create a podcast that attracts your ideal audience. Believe me, it is not about your choice of a microphone.
Step 1: Build Your Podcast Around Great Conversations !
One of the best ways to create a podcast that attracts your ideal audience, is to build your program around great conversations. On My Biz Dream Team: Opportunity Wednesday Training Series, Dexter and I have great conversations with each other and our guests. Having a conversation makes the podcast more interesting and engaging for your ideal audience. A great conversation also gives you an opportunity to show more of your personality.
Step 2: Find Guests for Your Podcast that Fit Well with Your Theme and Focus
Finding the right guest for your audience involves planning. Your guests should fit with the focus and theme of your podcast. Your focus and theme should be summed up in a short phrase or word. Once you have decided on the theme and focus you can easily select guests who can add value to your audience on that focus or theme.
For example, on My Biz Dream Team: Opportunity Wednesday Training Series we tend to take a topic and conduct 5-6 episodes on that topic. We have done series, on such topics as Affiliate Marketing, Public Speaking, and Podcasting. We select guests who offer valuable insight on a specific topic that interests our ideal audience.
You could do something similar depending on your focus. For example, you could have approximately six episodes on a specific topic. You could present “Leadership Series: Part One”, “Leadership Series: Part Two” and so on, until you reach the end of your six episodes dealing with leadership issues.
Step 3: Create a Strong Identity for Your Podcast
After you have a focus and theme for your podcast, then think of ways to cement your program in the minds of your ideal audience. If you present your podcasts at regular, repeating intervals, you will find broadcasting at the same time, same day of the week essential for creating recognition and a habit of attending among your listener. Perhaps, if you decide to broadcast on the same day of week, like we do, you could add the day of the week to the title.
My podcast is “My Biz Dream Team: Opportunity Wednesday Training Series.” So, every Wednesday afternoon at 6:30 (Eastern) our fans can catch us live.
Ideally, you want the ideal audience thinking, “Oh, it’s Wednesday. That great podcast show is on at 6:30pm!”
Why do they remember it? Three reasons:
- My podcast happens every week at the same time on the same day.
- It was entertaining, helpful and valuable.
- I included the day of the week right into the name!
Whatever approach you take, make sure that you create a strong identity for your podcast. This insures that your potential audience and guests know exactly what your podcast is about.
Conclusion/Call to Action
You can create a podcast that attracts your ideal audience by following these three simple steps.
- Build Your Podcast Around Great Conversations
- Find Guests for Your Podcast that Fit Well with Your Theme and Focus
- Create a Strong Identity for Your Podcast
You can also find tips about starting a podcast in these other blog posts: How You Can Make Podcasting Absolutely Enjoyable; How to Easily Start Your Own Awesome Podcast; How to Avoid Making an Amateur Podcasting Mistake; Podcasting Can Increase Your Visibility; Podcasting Strategies: Tips on making a Positive Impression.
At My Biz Dream Team, we can show you how to develop an internet lifestyle business that can help you reach your money goals. Check out The Strategic Pathway to Success Program™. Let us show you how to reach your goal of creating a lifestyle and a business that you love! Act today.
Pamela Montgomery
I am Pamela Montgomery, attorney, author, entrepreneur, and speaker, helping you create the life of your dreams as you achieve uncommon results in your business and in your life
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