I'll bet you thought this article was about how to name your business. Nah . . . There are many other people that know more about that than I do. This article is about making sure people hear your name.
Not a week goes by without several people contacting me and telling me that "they see my name everywhere." This is by design. I'm taking specific steps to make sure that happens. Where and how many times does your name show up?
When your name comes up constantly in front of your target market, you start to gain celebrity status, your fees rise and you get work much easier.
If you haven't started a media campaign, I suggest you start immediately. This has been an extremely effective marketing technique for me over the past twelve years and I'm not even that organized or consistent with my attack. If you are more structured about your approach, you should do better than me. Here is a list of places my name is seen or heard regularly:
Print Magazines (see above)
Internet Magazines
Email magazines
My websites
Other websites (well over 1000)
Radio
Newspapers
This Ezine
On my products
In other people's products (books, ebooks, etc.)
Television (not that much because this is much more time consuming)
Mentions and referrals by other people
If you're just starting out with media, pick one or two of the above categories and do whatever you can to get your name mentioned five to ten times in each one. This will introduce you to the differences in the types of media and you'll start to learn which ones are most appropriate for you and how to work them. Then go back and really try to hit a few hard to get your name out there.
If you are an old hand at this and have just slacked off, get back to it.
Here are some great resources to get you started:
Joan Stewart's site http://www.publicityhound.com and the radio database and course by Joe Sabah http://www.joesabah.com/
Book -- "High Visibility: The Making and Marketing of Professionals Into Celebrities" by Irving Rein
NOTE: The site below is where I began learning about E Marketing
http://www.marketingtips.com/t.cgi/12273/
Want to really take advantage of your E-mail marketing . . .WITHOUT BEING A SPAMMER? GO TO http://www.marketingtips.com/mailloop/t.x/12273
Get your own associate program and have other websites selling tons of your products and services. http://www.marketingtips.com/assoctrac/t.x/12273
Tom's Top Ten Marketing Resources page http://www.antion.com/marketingtools.htm
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
Public Speaking : HANDOUT TIPS
=> USE A LARGE FONT. It makes more impact and is easier to read. It also makes your handout larger which makes it appear more substantial.
=> LEAVE LOTS OF WHITE SPACE. I had a complaint recently that said there was not enough space to write notes. I usually deliver very high content so this was clearly a mistake on my part in not leaving enough space for notes.
=> PUT CONTACT INFORMATION ON EVERY PAGE. You never know when people will tear out a page or photocopy a single page of your handout. Putting your info on every page makes sure who ever sees any page of your handout can contact you.
=> PUT IMPORTANT RESOURCES ON EVERY PAGE. If you want people to keep your handout make sure each page has some important resource that an audience member cannot do without. When you put all there sources on one page it makes it easy for someone to tear it out and throw the rest of your handout away.
=> USE A TEAR OFF ACTION ITEM PAGE. Make it the last page so it's easy to tear off at the beginning of the seminar or speech. Havethe attendees use it for those special aha's they get. You can then have them say some of their items aloud which reinforces the value you are giving.
=> LEAVE LOTS OF WHITE SPACE. I had a complaint recently that said there was not enough space to write notes. I usually deliver very high content so this was clearly a mistake on my part in not leaving enough space for notes.
=> PUT CONTACT INFORMATION ON EVERY PAGE. You never know when people will tear out a page or photocopy a single page of your handout. Putting your info on every page makes sure who ever sees any page of your handout can contact you.
=> PUT IMPORTANT RESOURCES ON EVERY PAGE. If you want people to keep your handout make sure each page has some important resource that an audience member cannot do without. When you put all there sources on one page it makes it easy for someone to tear it out and throw the rest of your handout away.
=> USE A TEAR OFF ACTION ITEM PAGE. Make it the last page so it's easy to tear off at the beginning of the seminar or speech. Havethe attendees use it for those special aha's they get. You can then have them say some of their items aloud which reinforces the value you are giving.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Public Speaking : VIDEO
Video has been ingrained in our society for some time now and it looks like it will be around for quite a while. VCRs and monitors are readily and inexpensively available just about anywhere, so considering the use of video in your presentation is not really a wild idea.
Video can be used in several ways. You can purchase or rent training videos on just about any business subject. John Cleese, of Monty Python, fame is doing corporate videos that are interesting and informative and, of course, have a humor twist. John's videos are available from many sources. For fast and reliable service, I recommend The Humor Project http://www.humorproject.com/
If you're the CEO of a company, (or you could suggest this to the CEO) you could produce a funny day-in-the-life tape which could be very self-effacing. Maybe you would wake up at 11:30 a.m. Then you would shower and go to lunch. After that it is time to stop in to say "hi" to your secretary. Then you might go to the golf course, on to dinner, and then to the theater. The ending scene would show how exhausted you are at the end of the day.
I use FREEZE FRAME video when I do my presentation skills training seminars and individual coaching. This technique consistently gets super high ratings because people can learn techniques better when they see them in action.
I heard of one presenter who played a video of himself telling the crowd that he wouldn't be able to be there in person. He then ran on stage and argued with himself on the video.
You could use video to show your product in action. Video can capture and convey situations that you could never reproduce on-stage.
I sometimes use a video introduction that is very funny. The scene shows a lady at a desk who is supposed to be one of the top meeting planners in the country. She is saying that she uses me for every meeting and social function her company ever has. She says, "In fact, I wouldn't use another speaker if you held a gun to my head." As she is saying this, the camera pulls back and you see me holding a gun to her head. It always gets a big laugh.
I saw Frank McGuire, one of the founders of FedEx, use a video introduction that had Ted Koppel saying how great Frank was. If you know any celebrities, video is a good way to use their testimonials over and over again.
You could briefly show home video of you doing something funny. Or you could show how proud you are of your kids (just don't overdo it).
For maximum effectiveness when using video, interact with it. Interrupt the video and discuss what you have just seen. Keep video shots fast-paced with short segments. According to BusinessWeek, the average U.S. executive has an attention span of six minutes while at work (now it's more like six seconds). We are starting to talk to the MTV generation. TV is shaping the minds of our audiences.
An interesting phenomenon occurs when you are speaking in a large venue and also being projected on massive video screens. Audience members will actually look past you to watch you on video.
When you are in a large room, you must use several monitors or use video projection. Projection on a large screen has more impact, but it is also more expensive. Projection in many cases also requires that the room lights be dimmed.
You can even use a video camera to take shots of the crowd and put them in a video production immediately using multimedia and a video capture board. Excerpt from the "Wake 'em Up Video Professional Speaking System"http://www.antion.com/speakervideo.htm
Video can be used in several ways. You can purchase or rent training videos on just about any business subject. John Cleese, of Monty Python, fame is doing corporate videos that are interesting and informative and, of course, have a humor twist. John's videos are available from many sources. For fast and reliable service, I recommend The Humor Project http://www.humorproject.com/
If you're the CEO of a company, (or you could suggest this to the CEO) you could produce a funny day-in-the-life tape which could be very self-effacing. Maybe you would wake up at 11:30 a.m. Then you would shower and go to lunch. After that it is time to stop in to say "hi" to your secretary. Then you might go to the golf course, on to dinner, and then to the theater. The ending scene would show how exhausted you are at the end of the day.
I use FREEZE FRAME video when I do my presentation skills training seminars and individual coaching. This technique consistently gets super high ratings because people can learn techniques better when they see them in action.
I heard of one presenter who played a video of himself telling the crowd that he wouldn't be able to be there in person. He then ran on stage and argued with himself on the video.
You could use video to show your product in action. Video can capture and convey situations that you could never reproduce on-stage.
I sometimes use a video introduction that is very funny. The scene shows a lady at a desk who is supposed to be one of the top meeting planners in the country. She is saying that she uses me for every meeting and social function her company ever has. She says, "In fact, I wouldn't use another speaker if you held a gun to my head." As she is saying this, the camera pulls back and you see me holding a gun to her head. It always gets a big laugh.
I saw Frank McGuire, one of the founders of FedEx, use a video introduction that had Ted Koppel saying how great Frank was. If you know any celebrities, video is a good way to use their testimonials over and over again.
You could briefly show home video of you doing something funny. Or you could show how proud you are of your kids (just don't overdo it).
For maximum effectiveness when using video, interact with it. Interrupt the video and discuss what you have just seen. Keep video shots fast-paced with short segments. According to BusinessWeek, the average U.S. executive has an attention span of six minutes while at work (now it's more like six seconds). We are starting to talk to the MTV generation. TV is shaping the minds of our audiences.
An interesting phenomenon occurs when you are speaking in a large venue and also being projected on massive video screens. Audience members will actually look past you to watch you on video.
When you are in a large room, you must use several monitors or use video projection. Projection on a large screen has more impact, but it is also more expensive. Projection in many cases also requires that the room lights be dimmed.
You can even use a video camera to take shots of the crowd and put them in a video production immediately using multimedia and a video capture board. Excerpt from the "Wake 'em Up Video Professional Speaking System"http://www.antion.com/speakervideo.htm
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Public Speaking : THIS SITE WILL REALLY HELP YOUR PRESENTATIONS
Hi Gang. I found a really great presentation resource that you'll want to check out. Visit http://www.PresentersUniversity.com for lots of useful information on presentation skills, content development and visual aids. They have an extensive collection of expert tips and advice offered by leading presentation consultants. Be sure to try their many free samples of presentation tools and programs, including over 60 free PowerPoint templates. They also have an online bulletin board called "Ask the Professor," where you can ask technical PowerPoint and presentation questions. Their free monthly newsletter, "Presentation Pointers," highlights what’s new and free on Presenters University. It's worth checking out.
Monday, July 07, 2008
Public Speaking : SPEAKER HUMOR
Since I'm supposed to be a man, I have no trouble putting out some good man bashing humor. Ladies have fun with it.
=> What's the difference between government bonds and men? Bonds mature.
=> What's the difference between a man and E.T.? E.T. phoned home.
=> How are men like noodles? They're always in hot water, they lack taste, and they need dough.
=> Men are like... place mats. They only show up when there's food on the table.
=> Men are like... mascara. They usually run at the first sign of emotion.
=> Men are like... bike helmets. Handy in an emergency, but otherwise they just look silly.
=> Men are like... lava lamps. Fun to look at, but not all that bright.
=> Men are like... bank accounts. Without a lot of money, they don't generate much interest.
=> Men are like... high heels. They're easy to walk on once you get the hang of it.
=> "I spent $150.00 on a date last night." "That's not that much" "Well it's all she had."
=> "I've always wanted to have someone to hold, someone to love. After having met you, I've changed my mind."
=> Child calling to mother while daddy snores, "Hurry Mommy! Daddy is boiling over!"
=> "My husband broke my favorite lamp.""How?" "When I hit him over the head with it."
=> Did ya hear about the man who wouldn't fly. He said he was going to stay home and watch TV as the lord intended.
=> I refuse to enter a battle of the wits with you--it's against my morals to attack an unarmed person.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Public Speaking: If I had it to do all over again . . .
I'd start websites like the ones described below
Imagine that the first day of every month, your web site
AUTOMATICALLY made a BIG pile of money. A whole bunch of orders
came rushing through to fatten your bank account.
That's what we call "recurring revenue"... which is sort of a
fancy term for what a membership site will give you.
If you aren't doing some type of subscription site, then you are
LOSING money on every sale. Instead of selling to those people
over and over, you are just getting one "drive-by" sale. That's
a HUGE mistake.
To learn EXACTLY what I would do, you need to do to get one of
these sites running, go here now or a complimentary video:
Best Regards, Tom
P. S. It's the ONLY business I know that would give me steady
monthly income with all the benefits of an Internet lifestyle:
Public Speaking : SEATING TIPS
=> People prefer to sit by aisles. Avoid chairs next to walls. Audience members will feel trapped.
=> Aisles should get bigger as they get nearer the exits because they must accommodate more people.
=> Seat for least distraction and best focus on presentation. Turn off wall sconces behind the presentation. Set away from open windows, clocks, and entry doors.
=> Even after you have pre-set the seats perfectly, suggest to audience members, that they adjust their seating slightly for comfort.
=> Encourage seating in the front of the room by cordoning off back rows with masking tape, rope, or string, or placing reserved signs on back tables.
=> Avoid reserving seats through tipping chairs up against tables. The jutting legs tend to bruise shin bones and trip audience members.
Trick: Only put out 50-75 percent of the chairs for the expected number of participants and you will almost always have a packed house. Stack the rest of the chairs in the back corner of the room for easy access if needed.
Trick: When you have a choice, opt for a smaller room. This again gives you a better chance for a packed house.
=> Aisles should get bigger as they get nearer the exits because they must accommodate more people.
=> Seat for least distraction and best focus on presentation. Turn off wall sconces behind the presentation. Set away from open windows, clocks, and entry doors.
=> Even after you have pre-set the seats perfectly, suggest to audience members, that they adjust their seating slightly for comfort.
=> Encourage seating in the front of the room by cordoning off back rows with masking tape, rope, or string, or placing reserved signs on back tables.
=> Avoid reserving seats through tipping chairs up against tables. The jutting legs tend to bruise shin bones and trip audience members.
Trick: Only put out 50-75 percent of the chairs for the expected number of participants and you will almost always have a packed house. Stack the rest of the chairs in the back corner of the room for easy access if needed.
Trick: When you have a choice, opt for a smaller room. This again gives you a better chance for a packed house.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Public Speaking : ENTRANCE VISUALS
Some type of visual in the room as the participants enter is a good way to signal them that your presentation will be different. It could be an interesting picture or funny quotation on the overhead or PowerPoint screen or a nicely done color flip chart page. You could have helium balloons or colorful airbags lining the walkway into the seating area of your presentation.
Use anything that makes the participants take notice. It will build their anticipation of your presentation.
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