Organizing Your Presentation
Keep in mind good business presentations are either informative or persuasive. The best business presentations are both. What persuades— stories, statistics, client examples, visual aids, and personal recollections?
Step 1: Know Your Desired Outcome
You have three objectives every time you present: to build your list, to share value, establish yourself as the expert, and to come home with clients.
Step 2: Formulate Your Opening
In the beginning of your speech you are making a case for your topic: why it is important and why the audience should be giving you their undivided attention.
When you address an audience you want to answer the questions that are foremost in their minds: Who are you and why should I listen to you? Therefore, open with a personal story or vignette from your business or life experience. Many stories or vignettes can be slightly adjusted to support any speech you are making.
Things to Avoid in Your Opening
Do not open your talk by saying “Thanks Bob, great to be here” or “Thank you for this opportunity…” or ” Basically…” or ” I want to start by saying…” Also, watch the speech fillers (ah, umm, so) in your opening.
Step 3: Preplan Your Primary Points
Plan ahead of time the points you want to make to support your success. What are the primary “must-make points” you need to convey in order to inform and persuade your audience? Do not have too many “must make” points. A good rule of thumb is to allow ten minutes of presentation time for each primary “must-make” point.
Step 4: Gather Your Points of information and Persuasion
Have 3 to 5 reasons or benefit points that support your primary points. Use statistics, stories, metaphors, visual images, other industry examples, other client examples, and personal-experience examples to support each primary “must-make” point.
Step 5: Craft Your Close
Every presentation close must include a Call to Action at the end. A call to action is telling your audience what action you want them to take as a result of your presentation. For example, “You can see why our firm is the best choice— we look forward to you selecting our firm to do this project.” or “Based on our discussion today you can see the value of business coaching to accelerate the growth of your business. Join our coaching program today to ensure your short term and long term success.”
Follow these steps the next time you present and you will be far better received. The audience will be leaning forward in their seats. If you want to do more speaking to grow your business join me for the Sought After Speaker Summit, these two days will catapult your speaking, your speaking confidence, and most importantly your ability to give a speech and come home with insta-clients. See what it is all about http://soughtafterspeaker.com