Making noises on stage just for fun or to represent your concept is a way to get some laughs from the audience.
To get people's attention I use a thing called a "rubber razzer" that makes a funny sound when you blow in one end. Sometimes I use an electronic horn from Radio Shack that plays short segments from 60 different recognizable tunes. In the old days I used a train whistle which always got a chuckle.
Most recently I use a .wav file that I keep on the desktop of my laptop. I tell the audience how I use Internet marketing techniques to bring email orders into my inbox. I've set my Outlook email program to recognize an order and go ka ching, kaching, ka ching, ka ching which, of course, is representative of the cash register ringing. It always gets a laugh.
You can buy sound effect CDs at just about any major computer store, or you can search in any major search engine for sound effects files which you can download and use according to the permission granted by the site.
Think about any of your concepts that could be represented by a sound and you'll have a very easy way to add some humor to your presentation.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
Public Speaking : DELIVER WITH HOPE
Although I have no problem tooting my own horn, what I'm going to tell you about in this article is strictly from feedback I get from audience members. They tell me that I really make them feel like they can do things that they never could before.
For instance, I just rode back on the airplane last night with a lady that was telling me that she only saw me for 45 minutes at a conference and that she can barely sleep thinking about all the possibilities I showed her.
I regularly out sell all the other speakers at conferences because I make my presentation one small step above the expertise level of the audience. I call this one small step - hope.
If I delivered my information 10 steps above the level of the audience, then I would be so far out of touch that they would get frustrated and either walk out or politely sit there confused --
To deliver at the precise level of the audience, you must research the audience by either observing or asking questions.
When I'm on a multi-day program with lots of other speakers, I simply watch them and watch the audience to see what questions come up. This gives me an exact gage of where they are. If I don't have that luxury, I might interview them by phone or in person before the event. I might have to ask for a show of hands to see how many people know this or that.
The whole idea is that I deliver just above where they are. Just below makes them bored - Way above makes them be wildered. It's almost like the porridge and the Three Bears - Not too hot and not too cold, but jusssssst right.
DEMONSTRATIONS
Another reason I create hope is that I demonstrate how easy something is right on stage. I show the audience members how easy things are that they may have perceived as difficult. This really gives them hope. I can actually hear them saying WOW or many times I hear a rumble of amazement from the audience members when they see that they can make a webpage or send out a broadcast email or whatever it happens to be.
Give them hope and you will convert people from audience members to followers.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Public Speaking : GO EARLY
I recently spoke to about 450 people at Mark Joyner's Survival Tactics Marketing Seminar. I spoke on the last day after many fine speakers had gone before me.
My tip here is to listen to all the speakers before you when ever you can. That way you can either refer back to what they said or avoid duplicating things they said which would reflect poorly on you.
In this case I was also able to pick out things from the other speakers and play off them.
EXAMPLE:
Superstar speaker Ted Nicholas said that advances in health care and longevity would soon allow people to live to be 120 years old. He said he was going to throw a $10,000.00 seminar on his 120th birthday.
I came on and said that not only was I going to throw a $10,000.00 seminar on my 120th birthday, but that I was going to give the audience members a big discount if they gave me a deposit today. -- Everyone cracked up.
So go early when you can and pay attention to the other speakers.
My tip here is to listen to all the speakers before you when ever you can. That way you can either refer back to what they said or avoid duplicating things they said which would reflect poorly on you.
In this case I was also able to pick out things from the other speakers and play off them.
EXAMPLE:
Superstar speaker Ted Nicholas said that advances in health care and longevity would soon allow people to live to be 120 years old. He said he was going to throw a $10,000.00 seminar on his 120th birthday.
I came on and said that not only was I going to throw a $10,000.00 seminar on my 120th birthday, but that I was going to give the audience members a big discount if they gave me a deposit today. -- Everyone cracked up.
So go early when you can and pay attention to the other speakers.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Public Speaking : SPEAKER HUMOR
=> When someone asks you, "A penny for your thoughts," and you put your two cents in, what happens to the other penny?
=> My kid came back from Sunday school with an illustrated card in her hand. I said, "What have you got there?" She said, "Oh, Just an ad for heaven."
=> Man is the only animal that blushes--or needs to.--Mark Twain.
=> Some folks seem to have descended from the chimpanzee much later than others.--Kin Hubbard 1868-1930 American Newspaper Humorist.
=> Always live within your income, even if you have to borrow money to do so.--Josh Billings
=> Money can't buy friends, but you can get a better class of enemy.--Spike Milligan
=> I spend money with reckless abandon. Last month I blew five thousand dollars at a reincarnation seminar. I got to thinking,what the heck, you only live once.--Ronnie Shakes
=> What this country needs is a bank where you deposit a toaster and they give you $250.00
=> The bank sent out an overdraft statement and got back a note of apology and a check.
=> Last week I got a $5000 home improvement loan from my bank. I'm sending the kids to college
=> The gene pool could use a little chlorine.
=> Your kid may be an honor student, but you're still an IDIOT!
=> Sorry, I don't date outside my species.
=> Hard work has a future payoff. Laziness pays off NOW!
=> Forget about World Peace......Visualize Using Your Turn Signal!
=> My kid came back from Sunday school with an illustrated card in her hand. I said, "What have you got there?" She said, "Oh, Just an ad for heaven."
=> Man is the only animal that blushes--or needs to.--Mark Twain.
=> Some folks seem to have descended from the chimpanzee much later than others.--Kin Hubbard 1868-1930 American Newspaper Humorist.
=> Always live within your income, even if you have to borrow money to do so.--Josh Billings
=> Money can't buy friends, but you can get a better class of enemy.--Spike Milligan
=> I spend money with reckless abandon. Last month I blew five thousand dollars at a reincarnation seminar. I got to thinking,what the heck, you only live once.--Ronnie Shakes
=> What this country needs is a bank where you deposit a toaster and they give you $250.00
=> The bank sent out an overdraft statement and got back a note of apology and a check.
=> Last week I got a $5000 home improvement loan from my bank. I'm sending the kids to college
=> The gene pool could use a little chlorine.
=> Your kid may be an honor student, but you're still an IDIOT!
=> Sorry, I don't date outside my species.
=> Hard work has a future payoff. Laziness pays off NOW!
=> Forget about World Peace......Visualize Using Your Turn Signal!
Friday, September 19, 2008
Seminars coming up this fall -- East coast & West coast
Events coming up this fall
East Coast
Author 101 University
October 1 & 2
Atlanta, GA
http://www.webmarketingmagic.com/app/?af=835649
Advantage Media Author Marketing Summit
October 3 & 4
Charleston, SC
http://snipurl.com/3rvna
Coaching Super Summit
October 24-26
Baltimore, MD
http://www.profcs.com/app/?Clk=2572286
West Coast
Tom Antion's Fusion
Oct 17-19
Los Angeles
http://www.GreatInternetMarketing.com/fusion
Public Speaking : STRANGE OCCURRENCES
OK, OK, I know I've been preaching for years the fact that you should always use humor to make a point in a presentation. Well sometimes I don't do that at all.
Sometimes I might just do something to create a buzz. -- Just to give people something to talk about after they leave my presentation. These things I do easily could be used to make a point if I wanted to, but I don't always want to.
HERE'S AN EXAMPLE:
Do you think you might tell someone about it if you saw me speak and you witnessed with your very own eyes a handkerchief flying 100 feet across the meeting room right into my hand?
You can make that happen for about $80.00
Not that there is any point here, but I do need a reason that the handkerchief decided to fly over to me. I set that up by saying, "It seems to be getting a little hot in here." Now it makes sense for me to summon a handkerchief to wipe my brow. I then put it in my lapel pocket and continue as if nothing happened.
I don't really continue . . . I pretend to continue until people start yelling, "How'd you do that?" I respond as if I don't know what they are talking about and play that out for a while. I never do tell them.
HERE'S ANOTHER ONE:
How about pouring water on someone's head and they don't get wet? You can do that too for about ten bucks.
Am I going to tell you how the above things are done? Absolutely not! Someone from the magician's union would kill me. You can however, take this article to a magic shop and tell them you want to be able to do these things and they will sell you the appropriate equipment / supplies. Once you've purchased, then you have the right to know how it works. That's the way it works with magic. Don't go into the store and ask them how to do this, because they won't tell you. YOU MUST PURCHASE FIRST and there are no refunds, so be prepared to either go through with these tricks or throw them in a drawer.
I will tell you, that these two tricks take minimum practice, but they DO TAKE SOME PRACTICE. Don't go off and try to use them in a presentation the moment you get them or you're guaranteed to mess up. -- and messing up the water trick will get YOU in hot water with the person you just soaked. :)
Sometimes I might just do something to create a buzz. -- Just to give people something to talk about after they leave my presentation. These things I do easily could be used to make a point if I wanted to, but I don't always want to.
HERE'S AN EXAMPLE:
Do you think you might tell someone about it if you saw me speak and you witnessed with your very own eyes a handkerchief flying 100 feet across the meeting room right into my hand?
You can make that happen for about $80.00
Not that there is any point here, but I do need a reason that the handkerchief decided to fly over to me. I set that up by saying, "It seems to be getting a little hot in here." Now it makes sense for me to summon a handkerchief to wipe my brow. I then put it in my lapel pocket and continue as if nothing happened.
I don't really continue . . . I pretend to continue until people start yelling, "How'd you do that?" I respond as if I don't know what they are talking about and play that out for a while. I never do tell them.
HERE'S ANOTHER ONE:
How about pouring water on someone's head and they don't get wet? You can do that too for about ten bucks.
Am I going to tell you how the above things are done? Absolutely not! Someone from the magician's union would kill me. You can however, take this article to a magic shop and tell them you want to be able to do these things and they will sell you the appropriate equipment / supplies. Once you've purchased, then you have the right to know how it works. That's the way it works with magic. Don't go into the store and ask them how to do this, because they won't tell you. YOU MUST PURCHASE FIRST and there are no refunds, so be prepared to either go through with these tricks or throw them in a drawer.
I will tell you, that these two tricks take minimum practice, but they DO TAKE SOME PRACTICE. Don't go off and try to use them in a presentation the moment you get them or you're guaranteed to mess up. -- and messing up the water trick will get YOU in hot water with the person you just soaked. :)
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Public Speaking: Last chance to register for tonight's complimentary teleclass with famous marketer Alex Mandossian
Tonight complimentary preview call for my brand new
concept event "FUSION".
Can't make it at 9:00 PM Eastern time? Don't worry.
Register anyway and I'll send you a link where you can listen
online anytime you want.
In this call I'll be interviewing Alex Mandossian. Alex has taken
teleseminars to an entirely new level. If you think you know how
to do teleclasses, . . . you don't . . . and you'll know that
when you get done hearing Alex.
He even has a scheduled telephone Interview with a famous past
president.
What is "Fusion"?
Fusion is a mixture of Internet marketing, professional level
speaking and success principles that I've used to take a small
town boy (me) and make him a multi-millionaire. Hundreds of my
students have used the same techniques.
Series of Calls
This is the fifth in a series of calls leading up to my biggest
event ever and it is already looking like it will be a sell out.
Not a sales pitch
Don't think this call is just going to be a sales pitch. Of
course, I want you to attend my big event in Los Angeles, but I'm
known for ALWAYS giving high content and this Thursday night will
be no exception.
Visit http://www.GreatInternetMarketing.com/fusion to get your
complimentary registration.
I'll talk to you tonight.
Tom Antion
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Public Speaking and Internet Marketing Complimentary Teleclass this Thursday night
Thursday night complimentary preview call for my brand new
concept event "FUSION".
Can't make it Thursday at 9:00 PM Eastern time? Don't worry.
Register anyway and I'll send you a link where you can listen
online anytime you want.
In this call I'll be interviewing Alex Mandossian. Alex has taken
teleseminars to an entirely new level. If you think you know how
to do teleclasses, . . . you don't . . . and you'll know that
when you get done hearing Alex.
He even has a scheduled telephone Interview with a famous past
president.
What is "Fusion"?
Fusion is a mixture of Internet marketing, professional level
speaking and success principles that I've used to take a small
town boy (me) and make him a multi-millionaire. Hundreds of my
students have used the same techniques.
Series of Calls
This is the fifth in a series of calls leading up to my biggest
event ever and it is already looking like it will be a sell out.
Not a sales pitch
Don't think this call is just going to be a sales pitch. Of
course, I want you to attend my big event in Los Angeles, but I'm
known for ALWAYS giving high content and this Thursday night will
be no exception.
Visit http://www.GreatInternetMarketing.com/fusion to get your
complimentary registration.
I'll talk to your Thursday night.
Tom Antion
Public Speaking : MORE ON CD ROM BACKUPS OF YOUR PROGRAM
I got a note back after the last issue that talked about double checking your backups to make sure they work http://www.antion.com/ezinebackissues2003.htm
Here it is:
Hi Tom:
One last thought on backing up your presentation on to CDROM. I did a speaking gig this week in Vegas and had to use my backup presentation on CDROM. Low and behold, when I opened the presentation it was barely readable!
It turns out that I had used a non-standard font (balloon), which was not installed on the conference's emergency laptop. So...word to the wise, put any unique font files on your backup CD as well.
David Frey http://www.MarketingBestPractices.com
Tom says you might also limit yourself to standard fonts.
Here it is:
Hi Tom:
One last thought on backing up your presentation on to CDROM. I did a speaking gig this week in Vegas and had to use my backup presentation on CDROM. Low and behold, when I opened the presentation it was barely readable!
It turns out that I had used a non-standard font (balloon), which was not installed on the conference's emergency laptop. So...word to the wise, put any unique font files on your backup CD as well.
David Frey http://www.MarketingBestPractices.com
Tom says you might also limit yourself to standard fonts.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Public Speaking : VIRAL MARKETING
Everyone knows that a computer virus is bad. What many people don't know is that viral marketing is REALLY GOOD!
Viral marketing means that one or more of your marketing efforts "spreads" like a virus. You can stimulate the viral spreading of your marketing efforts.
Here's a very effective way.
Write a tip sheet, a top ten list, E-book or something like that with extremely useful information that you are sure people in your target market will want to share. You can encourage them to do this with simple "pass this along to a colleague" blurbs in the document.
I do this very effectively with my e-book, "How to Pick a Shopping Cart System that Makes You Money" This book teaches people how to pick the right shopping system for their website. The obvious choice when they get done reading it is the one I promote http://www.KickStartCart.com You can use the exact same technique for your speaking engagements or any products you promote.
Here are ways I distribute the book:
=> I give this book away to interested parties (Get your copy at http://www.Public-Speaking.org/ebook.htm )
=> I am currently submitting it to free ebook sites.
=> I post it on websites.
=> I sell the resale rights to others for only $9.95 (they can then resell the book and keep all the money) http://www.GreatInternetMarketing.com/shoppingcarts.htm
=> I sell a customized version of the book for $97.00 which allows the reseller to get a piece of the action if someone purchases my shopping cart.http://www.GreatInternetMarketing.com/shoppingcarts.htm
All these ways are incentives for people to distribute the book.
Use viral marketing and watch your marketing message spread fast.
Viral marketing means that one or more of your marketing efforts "spreads" like a virus. You can stimulate the viral spreading of your marketing efforts.
Here's a very effective way.
Write a tip sheet, a top ten list, E-book or something like that with extremely useful information that you are sure people in your target market will want to share. You can encourage them to do this with simple "pass this along to a colleague" blurbs in the document.
I do this very effectively with my e-book, "How to Pick a Shopping Cart System that Makes You Money" This book teaches people how to pick the right shopping system for their website. The obvious choice when they get done reading it is the one I promote http://www.KickStartCart.com You can use the exact same technique for your speaking engagements or any products you promote.
Here are ways I distribute the book:
=> I give this book away to interested parties (Get your copy at http://www.Public-Speaking.org/ebook.htm )
=> I am currently submitting it to free ebook sites.
=> I post it on websites.
=> I sell the resale rights to others for only $9.95 (they can then resell the book and keep all the money) http://www.GreatInternetMarketing.com/shoppingcarts.htm
=> I sell a customized version of the book for $97.00 which allows the reseller to get a piece of the action if someone purchases my shopping cart.http://www.GreatInternetMarketing.com/shoppingcarts.htm
All these ways are incentives for people to distribute the book.
Use viral marketing and watch your marketing message spread fast.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Public Speaking : DUMMIES AND MANNEQUINS
This is lots of fun and whenever I do this it always creates pandemonium in the crowd.
I have two full size dummies left over from my old entertainment company. They are hideously old looking male and female characters that I used in an Over-the-Hill birthday party routine.
I started using them in customer service presentations where I demonstrated various acts of violence on the dummies to illustrate what some nasty customers deserve. People in the crowd who gave correct responses to the "proper" way to respond to nasty customers got to come up on stage and kick, gouge, body slam, bash the dummy with a sledge hammer or do any socially unacceptable thing they wanted to do to the pseudo customer.
In the right situations with the right crowd, this will bring down the house. Soon the dummies were being thrown around the room like a teenage rave party and the place was a mad house.
TO MAKE A DUMMY
You may be tempted to use one of your colleagues or spouse for this, but please refrain and do it this way.
Buy a pair of long underwear and sew the top and bottom together(you may have to get someone handy with a sewing machine to help you with this). Stuff the body and arms with newspaper or for a heavier dummy use foam padding like you would find at an Army surplus or camping store.
Visit or get a catalog from a costume store like Morris Costume in Charlotte, NC. Get a hideous looking rubber full head mask,and a set of hideous monster gloves/hands. Stuff these and sew them on the dummy.
For feet, you can use monster feet or to save a few bucks just sew on some stuffed socks and old shoes.
BONUS USE:
Just for fun I would put the dummies in seat belts in my car and hook a yardstick to the chin of the dummy in the passenger seat. This yardstick could not be seen by the driver in the car next to me. At stop lights I would pretend to talk to the dummy and move it's head with the yardstick. I had to quit because I was sure I was going to cause an accident.
DOUBLE BONUS:
If you want to freak out your neighbors, put one of the dummies in your trunk, throw it over your shoulder and carry it into the house at dusk. You get extra points of this if you happen to be digging a hole in your back yard at the time.
I have two full size dummies left over from my old entertainment company. They are hideously old looking male and female characters that I used in an Over-the-Hill birthday party routine.
I started using them in customer service presentations where I demonstrated various acts of violence on the dummies to illustrate what some nasty customers deserve. People in the crowd who gave correct responses to the "proper" way to respond to nasty customers got to come up on stage and kick, gouge, body slam, bash the dummy with a sledge hammer or do any socially unacceptable thing they wanted to do to the pseudo customer.
In the right situations with the right crowd, this will bring down the house. Soon the dummies were being thrown around the room like a teenage rave party and the place was a mad house.
TO MAKE A DUMMY
You may be tempted to use one of your colleagues or spouse for this, but please refrain and do it this way.
Buy a pair of long underwear and sew the top and bottom together(you may have to get someone handy with a sewing machine to help you with this). Stuff the body and arms with newspaper or for a heavier dummy use foam padding like you would find at an Army surplus or camping store.
Visit or get a catalog from a costume store like Morris Costume in Charlotte, NC. Get a hideous looking rubber full head mask,and a set of hideous monster gloves/hands. Stuff these and sew them on the dummy.
For feet, you can use monster feet or to save a few bucks just sew on some stuffed socks and old shoes.
BONUS USE:
Just for fun I would put the dummies in seat belts in my car and hook a yardstick to the chin of the dummy in the passenger seat. This yardstick could not be seen by the driver in the car next to me. At stop lights I would pretend to talk to the dummy and move it's head with the yardstick. I had to quit because I was sure I was going to cause an accident.
DOUBLE BONUS:
If you want to freak out your neighbors, put one of the dummies in your trunk, throw it over your shoulder and carry it into the house at dusk. You get extra points of this if you happen to be digging a hole in your back yard at the time.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Public Speaking : DOUBLE CHECK YOUR BACKUPS
I was assisting a friend of mine in making CD backups of his owerpoint presentation this past week. I was to Fed Ex them to is hotel as a double protection in case his program got stolen or damaged.
A very interesting thing happened. He was emailing me the files to burn on CD for him and many of his photos were not showing up. I kept getting the message on the bad slides, "QuickTime and a Jpeg decompressor needed to view this slide" I already had Quicktime on my computer and never have any trouble looking at jpegs.
He had produced the presentation part on a Mac and Part on a PC and had thoroughly tested the entire presentation on both the Macs and PCs he had in his office. It's still a mystery what actually happened, but to fix it he had to open the photos I was having trouble with in Photoshop and then resave them.
Bottom line. It's a good idea to have a separate backup CD with your presentation on it, and it's a GREAT idea to double check those backups so you never get caught with your pants/skirt down.
A very interesting thing happened. He was emailing me the files to burn on CD for him and many of his photos were not showing up. I kept getting the message on the bad slides, "QuickTime and a Jpeg decompressor needed to view this slide" I already had Quicktime on my computer and never have any trouble looking at jpegs.
He had produced the presentation part on a Mac and Part on a PC and had thoroughly tested the entire presentation on both the Macs and PCs he had in his office. It's still a mystery what actually happened, but to fix it he had to open the photos I was having trouble with in Photoshop and then resave them.
Bottom line. It's a good idea to have a separate backup CD with your presentation on it, and it's a GREAT idea to double check those backups so you never get caught with your pants/skirt down.
Monday, September 08, 2008
Public Speaking : Speaker Humor
=> A pessimist's blood type is always B-negative.
=> A Freudian slip is when you say one thing but mean your mother.
=> To save money for the company he cut all the electricity. They were soon in the black.
=> Why is it that when the plane you are on is late, the plane you want to transfer to is on time?
=> If you can't learn to do it well, you should learn to enjoy doing it badly.
=> Spend sufficient time confirming the need and the need will disappear.
=> When you need to knock on wood is when you realize that the world is composed of plastic, naugahyde and aluminum.
=> The probability of someone watching you is proportional to the stupidity of your action.
=> The shortest distance between two points is under construction.
=> HAM AND EGGS - A day's work for a chicken; A lifetime commitment for a pig.
=> Every day I get up and look through the Forbes list of the richest people in America. If I'm not there, I go to work.
=> We're not happy till you're not happy.
=> It sure makes for a long day when you get to work on-time.
=> Work fascinates me. I can look at it for hours!
=> Divorce has become so common that my wife and I are staying married just to be different.
=> I've started an exercise program. I do 20 sit-ups each morning. That may not sound like a lot, but you can only hit that snooze button so many times.
=> My doctor recently told me that jogging could add years to my life. I think he was right. I've only been jogging once and feel ten years older already.
=> If you receive something that says "Send this to all your friends", please consider me not your friend.
=> A Freudian slip is when you say one thing but mean your mother.
=> To save money for the company he cut all the electricity. They were soon in the black.
=> Why is it that when the plane you are on is late, the plane you want to transfer to is on time?
=> If you can't learn to do it well, you should learn to enjoy doing it badly.
=> Spend sufficient time confirming the need and the need will disappear.
=> When you need to knock on wood is when you realize that the world is composed of plastic, naugahyde and aluminum.
=> The probability of someone watching you is proportional to the stupidity of your action.
=> The shortest distance between two points is under construction.
=> HAM AND EGGS - A day's work for a chicken; A lifetime commitment for a pig.
=> Every day I get up and look through the Forbes list of the richest people in America. If I'm not there, I go to work.
=> We're not happy till you're not happy.
=> It sure makes for a long day when you get to work on-time.
=> Work fascinates me. I can look at it for hours!
=> Divorce has become so common that my wife and I are staying married just to be different.
=> I've started an exercise program. I do 20 sit-ups each morning. That may not sound like a lot, but you can only hit that snooze button so many times.
=> My doctor recently told me that jogging could add years to my life. I think he was right. I've only been jogging once and feel ten years older already.
=> If you receive something that says "Send this to all your friends", please consider me not your friend.
Friday, September 05, 2008
Public Speaking : Using Google Adwords
One of the smartest search engines you could ever use is the payper click portion of Google. This program has made me and saved me a fortune, but there are some tricks of the trade you need to know about.
Saving time and money
So how could a search engine save me time and money? Using Google Adwords, I can test concepts in less than a couple hours to see if there is interest in the marketplace for my product idea. Once you learn how to use their system you can be driving traffic to your website in less than an hour (sometimes when they are busy it could be a couple hours.) If I find no interest, then I don't develop the product.
Get cheaper clicks than your ignorant competition
Google has brilliantly set up their pay per click system so that if you write a better ad and more people click on it, you get cheaper clicks.
Let's say I write an ad and one person out of one hundred clicks on it. That's a one percent click through ratio (CTR).
Let's say you write an ad and two people out of one hundred click on it. That's a two percent CTR.
You only pay half the price that I pay for the click, or looking at it a different way, for the same amount of money you get twice the number of visitors.
Google is rewarding you for writing a better ad that gets people to click.
Google Adwords is one of my main Internet tools to test ideas and to get extremely targeted people, fast. And it will work for both product sales and speaking engagements. There are lots of details to using the program. For a good starter manual on how to use this powerful program, I recommend Perry Marshall's ebook. Check it out at: http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/aftrack.asp?afid=133415
Saving time and money
So how could a search engine save me time and money? Using Google Adwords, I can test concepts in less than a couple hours to see if there is interest in the marketplace for my product idea. Once you learn how to use their system you can be driving traffic to your website in less than an hour (sometimes when they are busy it could be a couple hours.) If I find no interest, then I don't develop the product.
Get cheaper clicks than your ignorant competition
Google has brilliantly set up their pay per click system so that if you write a better ad and more people click on it, you get cheaper clicks.
Let's say I write an ad and one person out of one hundred clicks on it. That's a one percent click through ratio (CTR).
Let's say you write an ad and two people out of one hundred click on it. That's a two percent CTR.
You only pay half the price that I pay for the click, or looking at it a different way, for the same amount of money you get twice the number of visitors.
Google is rewarding you for writing a better ad that gets people to click.
Google Adwords is one of my main Internet tools to test ideas and to get extremely targeted people, fast. And it will work for both product sales and speaking engagements. There are lots of details to using the program. For a good starter manual on how to use this powerful program, I recommend Perry Marshall's ebook. Check it out at: http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/aftrack.asp?afid=133415
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Public Speaking : Visit a Party Supply Store
I was getting ready for a speech recently and visited my trusty party supply store. This is the kind of store that has wedding favors, birthday stuff for all ages of birthday parties, candy, pinatas, etc.
My mind really races when I visit this store. I get more ideas for funny skits and gags than I could ever use in any one speech.
On this trip I picked up graduation signs that were cut outs of a male and female head with graduation caps on. I got two people on stage with me and told them they were going to "graduate" from their old way of thinking. I had them hold the cutouts in front of their faces and we had pictures taken.
I also got some little clappers that looked like hands. They had a rope on them so you could hang them around your neck. When you waved them in the air they made a loud and obnoxious clapping sound. (I'm sure many moms wish they had never bought these for the kids at a party)
I saw Hulk boxing gloves, all kinds of oddball "sugar rush"candies, hula skirts and tons of other props and idea stimulants that would make for a great and funny routine on stage.
My mind really races when I visit this store. I get more ideas for funny skits and gags than I could ever use in any one speech.
On this trip I picked up graduation signs that were cut outs of a male and female head with graduation caps on. I got two people on stage with me and told them they were going to "graduate" from their old way of thinking. I had them hold the cutouts in front of their faces and we had pictures taken.
I also got some little clappers that looked like hands. They had a rope on them so you could hang them around your neck. When you waved them in the air they made a loud and obnoxious clapping sound. (I'm sure many moms wish they had never bought these for the kids at a party)
I saw Hulk boxing gloves, all kinds of oddball "sugar rush"candies, hula skirts and tons of other props and idea stimulants that would make for a great and funny routine on stage.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Public Speaking : C'mon Down
Want to move part of your audience to a higher level of commitment? . . . maybe to locate the real buyers in the group .. . or maybe to locate the leaders of the group.
Put reserved signs on several rows of chairs right up front so nobody sits in them. As you go through your presentation you can put out a challenge to the group, or simply ask a question like, "Who would like to take this to the next level?"
When people raise their hands you can say something like, "If you are really serious, pick up your materials and come down and sit in these front rows.
"You would do this maybe 1/4 to 1/2 of the way into your presentation, or at least after you have shown them some value in your material. Then you would have 3/4 or 1/2 of your presentation left to really connect with them. (People sitting closer will have a much greater connection with you.)
Another thing I better warn you of . . . you better be pretty darn good on stage and confident of yourself because you will look pretty bad if no one jumps up to move to the front. Also, you should be very cognizant of the type of group you try this on because it probably won't work well on really conservative groups.
Once the chairs fill up you could give out some kind of bonus which rewards them for being bold and decisive. Later on in the speech they will be more likely to be bold and decisive in doing whatever you ask them, because you have shown them rewards for doing so.
This technique is very good for identifying people that are likely to buy your back of the room products or your coaching /consulting programs.
Put reserved signs on several rows of chairs right up front so nobody sits in them. As you go through your presentation you can put out a challenge to the group, or simply ask a question like, "Who would like to take this to the next level?"
When people raise their hands you can say something like, "If you are really serious, pick up your materials and come down and sit in these front rows.
"You would do this maybe 1/4 to 1/2 of the way into your presentation, or at least after you have shown them some value in your material. Then you would have 3/4 or 1/2 of your presentation left to really connect with them. (People sitting closer will have a much greater connection with you.)
Another thing I better warn you of . . . you better be pretty darn good on stage and confident of yourself because you will look pretty bad if no one jumps up to move to the front. Also, you should be very cognizant of the type of group you try this on because it probably won't work well on really conservative groups.
Once the chairs fill up you could give out some kind of bonus which rewards them for being bold and decisive. Later on in the speech they will be more likely to be bold and decisive in doing whatever you ask them, because you have shown them rewards for doing so.
This technique is very good for identifying people that are likely to buy your back of the room products or your coaching /consulting programs.
Monday, September 01, 2008
Public Speaking: Get Famous
I've been preaching for years that getting better known is the way to higher speaking and consulting fees.
I just saw an article about Sarah Ferguson AKA Fergie who is going to pull in a half million pounds speaking about . . . well, speaking about pretty much nothing.
http://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2008/09/01/fergie-public-speak/
This lady was almost bankrupt 10 years ago so she's the perfect candidate to talk about "Business Success" (said tongue firmly planted in cheek)
She also is a great example of how being famous can allow you to be a jack of all trades when speaking.
Being a jack of all trades is the kiss of death for a non celebrity speaker because you are perceived as desperate and willing to talk on anything just to pay your rent. "Jacks" also get the lowest amount of money because just about anyone can become one by delivering topics that others have created and using stories out of speaker's reference books.
Celebrity status let's you get away with this. Old Fergie is going to suck over a million bucks out of the money you could have had in your bank account if you could increase your celebrity status.
The good news is . . . . you can.
You don't have to be royalty to be a celeb "in your industry" and make way more than Fergie and on a more consistent basis.
Bottom line....pick an industry and dominate it. Make your name show up everywhere in that industry. Get articles in the trade journals, speak and have a booth at all the major conferences, create informational products specifically for that industry and you'll be on your way to "royalty" and "riches" in that industy.
For a home study course that includes private consultations with me visit http://www.antion.com/speakervideo.htm
For an online membership course with over 300 public speaking training videos visit http://www.AmazingPublicSpeaking.com
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