You know you've arrived when someone asks you to give a presentation to a live audience.
Whether you talk about your business, products, services, new market trends or hobbies, the rules are the same. As a newbie, it is very tempting to want to tell your audience everything you know about your specific topic.
But, a word of advice: Less is more. It's better to leave your audience clamoring for more than overdoing it with minutiae clich?s, pet words and jargon.
The mind and the seat can only absorb so much. It's better to save some material for a follow-up speech than to overdo it.
While the topic may be of utmost interest to you, if you've not engaged your audience, given them something to think about or take action on, then you run the risk of losing them. Here are some tips from a 28-year veteran of public speaking to help you streamline your talk:
• Organize your material. Make sure it has a strong opening, body and conclusion.
• Rehearse your speech. Make sure you own the words before getting in front of an audience. This will help you stay focused, handle nerves and stay within a specified time frame.
• Start your presentation with a quote, statistic or controversial idea. It's a good way to grab your audience's attention.
• Use audio and visual aides, such as a handout or miniature CD, to give more details or examples.
• Use slides, an overhead projector, flipchart or music to create a mood.
• Wrap it up by asking your audience a question, like: “Before I conclude, are there any questions?”
• Tell your audience you would be happy to send them more information if they'd like to leave their name and e-mail address at the end of your presentation.
The latter point is an excellent way to follow-up with them and to assess if they have a genuine need of your products or services. It is a non-threatening way to market to a possible future client.
These are just a few tools to help you streamline your presentation so that it flows, is interesting and lets the audience know you are an expert on your subject. Remember, less is more.
For more information, call Shirley Carolan with Tick Talk Toastmasters at (760) 732-0663 or visit www.ticktalk.org.
Whether you talk about your business, products, services, new market trends or hobbies, the rules are the same. As a newbie, it is very tempting to want to tell your audience everything you know about your specific topic.
But, a word of advice: Less is more. It's better to leave your audience clamoring for more than overdoing it with minutiae clich?s, pet words and jargon.
The mind and the seat can only absorb so much. It's better to save some material for a follow-up speech than to overdo it.
While the topic may be of utmost interest to you, if you've not engaged your audience, given them something to think about or take action on, then you run the risk of losing them. Here are some tips from a 28-year veteran of public speaking to help you streamline your talk:
• Organize your material. Make sure it has a strong opening, body and conclusion.
• Rehearse your speech. Make sure you own the words before getting in front of an audience. This will help you stay focused, handle nerves and stay within a specified time frame.
• Start your presentation with a quote, statistic or controversial idea. It's a good way to grab your audience's attention.
• Use audio and visual aides, such as a handout or miniature CD, to give more details or examples.
• Use slides, an overhead projector, flipchart or music to create a mood.
• Wrap it up by asking your audience a question, like: “Before I conclude, are there any questions?”
• Tell your audience you would be happy to send them more information if they'd like to leave their name and e-mail address at the end of your presentation.
The latter point is an excellent way to follow-up with them and to assess if they have a genuine need of your products or services. It is a non-threatening way to market to a possible future client.
These are just a few tools to help you streamline your presentation so that it flows, is interesting and lets the audience know you are an expert on your subject. Remember, less is more.
For more information, call Shirley Carolan with Tick Talk Toastmasters at (760) 732-0663 or visit www.ticktalk.org.