Success Advice

5 Tricks To Take Your Next Talk From Boring To Fascinating

Published

7 years ago

Dec 25, 2016

Whether you’re giving a big talk for the first time or the fiftieth, it can still be nerve-wracking to try and decide exactly what to say and how to say it. Public speaking isn’t something that comes easily to everyone, and even established pros sometimes find themselves choking up.

The topic can be unfamiliar, leading you to do a lot of research and making you sound too scripted, or it can be so familiar that you find yourself skipping sections which may be more necessary than you think.

Need to spice up your upcoming talk? These tips will help it be one that is discussed for years – and for good reasons:

1. Practice But Not Too Much

It seems obvious; when you’re nervous about something, you should practice, so that you can succeed. And this is true, but only to a certain point. Any athlete can tell you that there’s a point where you’ve over practiced, and you run the risk of ruining your game. The same thing is true with a talk or presentation.

If you practice to the point that it sounds like you’re reading off a card, or reciting a speech, then your audience isn’t going to be as interested. Practice your speech until you’re comfortable with what you’re saying, and then let it go.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle

2. Offer Several Methods of Information Delivery

There’s an old saying that people remember 10% of what they read, 20% of what they hear, and 30% of what they see. The wisdom therefore goes that if you combine the senses, people will retain more information. For example, having someone describe the percentages of the population which performs a certain task along with showing a graph of the same information will help people retain that information.

In general, the information needs to be presented differently in each method. Reading someone a slide which they can also read themselves doesn’t help him to retain information. Elaborating on the information in the slide may.

The best way to get people to retain information is to give them something to do, but be careful with this, activities in big groups can quickly get tedious and annoying, and can eat up your time faster than you think.

3. Tone Down The Humorous Anecdotes

If you want to make your talk memorable, making people laugh seems like a good way to do it. The trouble is that making people laugh is harder than you think, and a misplaced joke can alienate a big portion of your audience. If you’re aiming to be funny, make sure that the only person you’re poking fun at is yourself.

Better yet, aim for friendly and personable; these traits crossover cultural borders better than humor, which can be incredibly specific.

4. Make Your Talk Actionable

Any professional level talk should include discussion of how the information you’re presenting is actionable to the people who are listening. You should come out early and tell them what they’re going to learn – within the first two minutes of your presentation, perhaps – and then make sure that they have the ability to implement this knowledge in their organizations or departments before your presentation is done.

For example, if you want to teach people better management techniques, you might choose a particular technique to focus on, such as offering positive feedback. Your talk breaks down motivational theory, why particular techniques work, and how to make positive feedback a business priority. You now have a basic structure for the learning that will be accomplished during your talk.

“It’s totally fine if you feel nervous and stammer a bit. If you give actionable, clear advice, people will forgive it all.” – Tim Ferriss

5. Make Sure You’re Accessible

Some people process information very quickly, and find that they have questions during the immediate Q&A period that follows your talk. Others may find themselves taking some time to churn the information you’ve presented, or may try to implement it and run up against a roadblock they didn’t anticipate.

Leaving them with a way to contact you and ask for additional advice can be a great way to make your talk feel more important and memorable, while also ensuring that they get the full benefit from your presentation.

Depending on your popularity, however, you may want to be clear how you’ll respond. If you say you will respond to each email promptly, and then never do, people will be frustrated. If you say that you’ll look at queries and respond to some in your weekly or monthly newsletter, however, you are setting a more reasonable expectation. Whatever you’re prepared to commit to, say that, but don’t overcommit.

Giving a talk shouldn’t be a scary or an upsetting proposition. Instead, it should be a chance for you to network within your industry, communicate on a topic about which you are passionate, and make connections within your community. Remember to enjoy yourself!

What tips would you give to someone that wants to become a speaker? Please leave your thoughts below!

Up Next

4 Powerful Methods to Reach Financial Success In Life

Don't Miss

5 Enemies of Success You Must Avoid At All Costs

Margarita Hakobyan

Margarita Hakobyan is an entrepreneur, wife and mother of two, armed with an MBA from the University of Utah in International Studies and International Business. As an owner of several businesses she brings a wide range of education and experience including business strategy, business ethics and leadership. She is the founder and publisher of www.Solopreneurs.co and www.MoversCorp.com.

1 Comment

Success Advice

Wealth Lessons Everyone Should Hear for Every Stage of Your Life

Do you have the courage to rewrite your story?

Published

15 hours ago

Apr 19, 2024

Bart Zandbergen

Do you see what I see? Likely not, as we each see ourselves through the lens of our own story. (more…)

Success Advice

How to Choose the Best Affiliate Programs for Your Blog

If you follow these steps, you can create an affiliate marketing plan that makes money, fits well with your content, and connects with your readers

Published

1 week ago

Apr 10, 2024

Addicted2Success Editor

how to choose the best affiliate programs for your blog

Picking the right affiliate programs for your blog is really important. It can make a big difference in how much money you can make and how much your readers get out of your blog. With so many choices out there, deciding which ones to go with can be tricky.

This guide is here to make it easier for you. It will give you clear steps and helpful tips to choose affiliate programs that fit well with what your blog is about, what your readers like, and what you stand for.

For more articles on this theme, please head over to this blog https://blog.partners1xbet.com/.

Understanding Affiliate Marketing

Before you start picking affiliate programs, it’s important to really understand what affiliate marketing is and how it works.

Basically, affiliate marketing is when you promote a product or service on your blog, and then you get paid a little bit every time someone buys something or does something because you recommended it.

It’s great for both the person selling the product and the blogger, because the seller gets more sales with low risk, and the blogger can make money from their blog.

How to Choose the Right Affiliate Programs for Your Blog

1. Assess Your Niche and Audience

The key to doing well in affiliate marketing starts with really knowing what your blog is about and who reads it. Consider the following:

Your blog’s content: What topics do you cover? Ensure the products or services you promote are relevant.
Your audience’s interests and needs: What solutions are they seeking? Choose affiliate programs that offer products or services that solve their problems or enhance their lives.

2. Research Potential Affiliate Programs

Once you know what your blog is about and what your readers want, start looking for affiliate programs. Choose ones that are well-known for good products, great customer service, and helpful support for affiliates. Resources to find these programs include:

Affiliate networks like ShareASale, Commission Junction, and ClickBank.
Direct searches for “[Your Niche] affiliate programs” in search engines.
Recommendations from other bloggers in your niche.

3. Evaluate the Commission Structure

The commission structure is a critical factor to consider. Look for programs that offer competitive rates that make your efforts worthwhile. Consider:

The percentage of commission per sale.
Whether the program offers a flat rate per action (e.g., per sign-up).
The cookie duration, which affects how long after a click you can earn commissions on sales.

4. Consider the Program’s Reputation and Sureness

Join affiliate programs with a solid reputation for quality and sureness. This not only ensures that you’re promoting good products but also that you’ll be paid on time. You can:

Read reviews from other affiliates.
Check the program’s history and background.
Look for any complaints or issues reported online.

5. Analyze the Support and Resources Offered

A good affiliate program gives you things like ads to use, training on their products, and helpful managers. Having access to these resources can really help you do a better job at promoting their products.

6. Understand the Terms and Conditions

Before signing up, thoroughly review the program’s terms and conditions. Pay close attention to:

Payment thresholds and methods.
Any restrictions on how you can promote their products.
The program’s policy on affiliate marketing on social media platforms.

7. Test the Product or Service

If possible, test the product or service before promoting it. This firsthand experience allows you to offer genuine charge and build trust with your audience.

8. Look for Recurring Commission Opportunities

Some affiliate programs pay you again and again for subscriptions or services that charge fees regularly. These can provide a more stable income compared to one-time sales commissions.

Implementing Your Choice

After choosing the best affiliate programs, the next step is to smoothly include your affiliate marketing in your content plan. This includes:

Creating valuable content that naturally incorporates affiliate links.
Disclosing your affiliate affairs transparently to maintain trust with your audience.
Tracking your results to understand what works best for your audience and adjusting your strategy accordingly.

Picking the best affiliate programs for your blog involves careful planning, research, and making sure they match what your audience likes and needs.

If you follow these steps, you can create an affiliate marketing plan that makes money, fits well with your content, and connects with your readers.

The real key to doing well with affiliate marketing isn’t just about the products you talk about, but also how much your audience trusts and values your advice.

With enough time, patience, and hard work, your blog can grow into a successful space that earns a good amount of affiliate money and helps your readers choose the right products.

Success Advice

The Power of Ethical Leadership: How Integrity Drives Success

By leading with integrity and ethics, leaders create an environment where employees feel excited to come to work

Published

2 weeks ago

Apr 3, 2024

Giovanni Gallo

What differentiates a positive organizational culture that enjoys a clean reputation and long-term success from a toxic culture drowning in scandals, mistrust, and legal fines? (more…)

Success Advice

10 Landing Page Hacks Experts Are Using to Generate Leads

Crafting a landing page that converts is both an art and a science

Published

3 weeks ago

Mar 28, 2024

Lisian Ajroni

If you are in the online marketing world, you know the importance of a high-quality landing page. It’s like a secret sauce that can turn a casual user into a solid lead. I will walk you through ten great tips that have worked wonders for me and could do the same for you in creating landing pages that generate leads. (more…)