Biz Growth Express - March 26, 2007

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IN THIS WEEKS “BIZ GROWTH EXPRESS”

Hi

I hope you are having a great week and welcome to the new members of our “Biz Growth” community.

What an amazing week I had last week meeting a host of new people in the area of new media solutions – and what wonderful people I met. I started off the week in the UK at the Corporate Podcasting Summit, then attended an interesting seminar in Dublin about blogging, new media and the law and finished off the week in Cork where I was speaking to high tech start ups about how to develop their marketing plans.

Having sat through around 30 hours of presentations last week alone, this weeks feature article is about how to be more a effective presenter.

I’ve lots of insights to share about what I learned and new resources for you, but came down with a pretty bad virus which has taken me out of action for a few days so it will be this week before I can post them to the “Biz Growth News” blog for you.

I managed to catch up with some terrific thought leaders and have captured interviews with them as a podcast which I’ll be sure to share with you in the weeks ahead.

Today’s “Biz Growth Live” is our final one on writing, publishing and marketing your business book. Be sure to join me as we will have the opportunity to learn some insider secrets from our special guest who has written and published over 40 books with major publishers. Yet at the same time she has managed to negotiate around the tricky area of publishing agreements and grown a significant business working with leading global businesses.

Each week we look to provide you with valuable content to build your brand and expand the success of your professional practice.

As you know, our goal is your success, providing you with strategies, inspiration and tips that you can adapt, adopt and apply to grow your business. 

I hope you enjoy this week’s edition of “Biz Growth Express”.

And if you have friends and colleagues who you believe would benefit from the strategies and tips we cover in the “Biz Growth Live” calls and our “Biz Growth Express” newsletter, I would be honoured if you forwarded this email to them or alternatively you can invite them to register at “Biz Growth Live“.

Your recommendation is how we grow!

Here’s to bringing YOUR brand to life!

Thank you for being part of our thriving “Biz Growth Community” and please do share your suggestions for areas you would like us to cover in future editions and that would support your business growth in 2007 or subjects for our weekly “Biz Growth Live” calls.

Best wishes

Krishna

FEATURE ARTICLE:’Power Up Your Presentations’

Positioning yourself as a thought leader in your area of expertise through presenting and speaking is a tremendous way to build your brand and extend your reach.

Recent research by Wesley Hills and Deltek amongst professional services firms found that presenting and speaking was the second most successful method of generating new leads and building brand awareness. The most successful lead generation strategy was networking and referrals.

But how can you ensure that you are effective in presenting? Here are 7 tips to enhance your professional presentations.

  1. DO YOUR RESEARCH – If you have been approached to speak at an event, make sure that you check with the events organiser who has been the most recent speakers and what they talked about. You need to make sure that you provide value to the attendees and do not repeat what others have spoken about.
  2. PREPARE FOR SUCCESS – As the group you are speaking with will probably have had other events, ask the event organiser what success will look like for their attendees. Make sure that you have an understanding of the details of the location and room layout. And check where your presentation will come in the running order of the event.
  3. MAKE IT RELEVANT – Once you know who your attendees will be and the backgrounds they have, make sure that you customise your presentation with case studies that are relevant to their industry, geography and background. That way you will be more impactful and your audience will consider you more credible to listen to.
  4. BE TECH SAVVY – Try not to rely on PowerPoint slides to keep your audience engaged through your presentation. As they say, “less is more” – so the fewer slides and the fewer words on the slides the better. If you plan to include video and audio clips in your presentation, make sure that these are of a high quality and that launching the audio or video clips runs smoothly – only use technology you are proficient in using.
  5. SEEK SIGNALS – As you start your presentation, be aware of signals you are getting back from your audience. Different groups will react to your same materials in different ways. A truly successful speaker will be able to adapt their style on their feet – just because your style of engagement may work with one audience, you need to remain open and flexible if you find that your audience is not responding as you might expect.
  6. ADD VALUE – Prepare some hand out materials that your attendees can use to write their notes on as you speak. This is a great opportunity to put documentation into their hands that not only is branded with your corporate identity, but also to have resources listed that they will find relevant ideally which they have to access through your website.
  7. REVIEW AND REFINE – After the event, seek feedback from the event organisers on your presentation. Also take time out to review your own performance. You might consider recording the event with the event organisers permission so that you can review your own performance. Take the time to capture thoughts and amend your presentation to incorporate your learnings on what went well and what you would like to improve for your next speaking gig.

THIS WEEKS BIZ GROWTH ACTION STEPS:

Speaking and presenting is a great way to reach an extended audience and enhance your credibility as an expert in your field. Power up your presentations to build your brand and attract more of your ideal clients.

PERSONAL BRANDING TIP OF THE WEEK:‘ALWAYS ATTRIBUTE’

Writing articles, business blogging, presenting to a group or speaking to the media, in professional services our are all great ways to position yourself and your business as a centre of influence, a leading authority in your field.

While it is important to develop your own methodologies and practices, do not forget that it is also critical to attribute your sources of information.

In a blog post that might for example that would be through a link back to the person you are referencing in your blog post and through a track back.

In the case of speaking, it might be commenting on your research source.

Many people think that to be an expert they must be the fount of all knowledge with unique materials. But have you noticed that in most business books by established authors, or when listening to an expert being interviewed, they will always cite sources of data and information?

Attribution of others works does not detract from your brand or credibility as a thought leader.

Quite the contrary – it positions you as the expert who is well connected and up to date with relevant research material and data – a hub of information and resources.

PERSONAL BRAND ACTION STEP

As you write your business blog post or articles this week, or if you are speaking to the media on radio or TV, make sure that you can connect your story to relevant research or background material.

Providing attribution not only helps you get seen as a leading expert with a breadth of knowledge; if done well, it can also raise your profile with the people you are referencing and build your ability to grow your network with other leaders in your field.

BIZ GROWTH TELECONFERENCE – 26 MARCH 2007

SUBJECT:  ‘HOW TO TURN YOUR BUSINESS BOOK INTO A THRIVING BUSINESS’

GUEST EXPERT – DIANNA BOOHER, AUTHOR AND BUSINESS CONSULTANT

As we bring our series about writing your business book to a close, I am delighted that our last guest is Dianna Booher, a prolific author of more than 40 books, published with Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books, Warner, McGraw-Hill, Prentice Hall, HarperCollins and Thomas Nelson.

Dianna will be sharing her insider knowledge on how to:

Make sure you don’t miss this final call as I promise you will learn things about building a business around your book that no book agent, publisher or even book marketing coach will volunteer to tell you.

NEXT “BIZ GROWTH LIVE” TELECONFERENCE – 2 APRIL 2007

SUBJECT:  ‘HOW TO POSITION YOURSELF AS A THOUGHT LEADER THROUGH ESTABLISHING A PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION’

GUEST EXPERT – SHERI MCCONNELL

Becoming the centre of influence in your chosen field is an excellent way to build your brand as the expert of choice. An under utilised strategy by many leaders in professional services is the establishing of your own professional association.

In next weeks interview we will be joined by Sheri McConnell who is the founder of two professional associations and who now coaches other business leaders on how to establish profitable associations as a way to generate more profit and position yourself as the expert in your field.

*NEW* ADVANCE NOTICE – CORPORATE PODCASTING SECRETS PROGRAMME 

Have you wondered just what all the buzz Is about podcasting?

Perhaps you are not sure if it is relevant to your business or you are concerned you will not get a return on investment.

Podcasting started in 2004 and I was an early adopter of this technology platform and have been podcasting for almost two years.

I also teach others how to use podcasting to support their marketing and communications strategy.

Perhaps you have even listened to some of our podcasts and wondered just how you too could get started podcasting?

Corporate podcasting can support you in:

Having been asked to speak at a number of conferences this year on the subject of corporate podcasting, I have now decided to share my expertise in a forthcoming programme which we will be starting after Easter.

I will be delivering this as a virtual programme so you can attend from wherever you are in the world.

If you want to be on our mailing list to receive information about our new programme “Corporate Podcasting Secrets” that we are developing as we speak, just send me an email to corporatepodcast(at)oneoceangroup.com.

Wishing you continued success, so until next week.

Best wishes,

Krishna De
Bringing YOUR vision to life!
www.bizgrowthlive.com
www.bizgrowthnews.com
www.krishnade.com
www.oneoceangroup.com
www.todayswomeninbusiness.com

P.S. If you have friends and colleagues who would like to join the weekly teleconference call, they would be very welcome – please invite them to register at Biz Growth Live.

©Krishna De, Oneocean Ltd 2007.  All rights reserved.

“Biz Growth Express” is a Oneocean Publication.  Oneocean Ltd is a leading business development consultancy with a difference – we focus on the unique strengths of an organisation and its people to unlock extraordinary performance and growth. You can learn more about our work here.

TERMS OF REPRINT: You are welcome to publish extracts from “Biz Growth Express” in your own online ezine or news letter, providing the article is printed in its entirety and is left unedited and you include the copyright notice and the following statement:

©Krishna De, Oneocean Ltd 2007. All rights reserved. Reprinted from “Biz Growth Express”, a Oneocean Ltd publication for leaders in professional services practices, featuring inspiration, strategies and tips to build your brand, attract your ideal clients and enjoy greater success with less stress.  Subscribe today at http://www.bizgrowthlive.com and access free weekly teleconferences where we interview experts from across the globe on how to build your brand and expand your professional and personal success.