Speaking 101: 5 Speaker Fails You Need to Avoid

As the role of thought leadership continues to gain importance in generating new business opportunities, speaking opportunities are becoming more essential to building a brand. The problem? The demand for speakers is greater than ever - even with the number of events, webinars, podcasts, etc. on the rise.

In other words, every opportunity is equally as important in establishing your speaking cred. If your audience isn’t engaged, you’re failing them and also limiting your scope for future opportunities.

Here is a list of the top five most common fails that you, as a speaker, need to avoid:

1. Misreading or not recognizing interest - Don’t fret if you only see the tops of people’s heads. “Old school” speakers might tell you to measure interest by the number of people who are making eye contact with you. However, in this digital age, keep in mind that your most engaged audience members are rapidly tweeting out your content as you speak. (So don’t ask people to turn off their phones, and try to create “tweetable” quotes!)

2. Not being involved in conversation on social media - Set yourself apart by taking part in the conversations occurring online and networking with other attendees ahead of time. This can help cultivate interest and drive attendance at your panel or session - especially important for those public speaking opportunities that have concurrent sessions.

3. Reading PowerPoint slides or notes verbatim - Don’t do it. As digital storyteller Christina Green states, “If you don’t know the topic well enough to discuss it without reading, you’re probably not the best person to lead the discussion.” #Truth

4. Not knowing your audience - Sure, you can up-cycle parts of your old presentations. Since every audience has different needs and concerns, you should still be personalizing the content for each audience. Make sure what you have to share is actually applicable; otherwise, you’re wasting their (and your) time.

5. Using too much ‘marketing speak’ - As mentioned above, know your audience - but also know how they speak. Most people want to be spoken to in easily digestible terms, save the small percentage of “C-Suite who are are still quoting management books from the ‘80s.”

There you have it! Take these insights into consideration as you plan your next presentation, and become a better, more conscious and more engaging speaker that people will rave about.

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FOR THE FULL LIST OF 11 SPEAKING FAILS TO AVOID, CLICK HERE.

Speaking 101: 5 Tips for Writing A Great Bio

“[A bio] is a vehicle for quickly communicating who you are and what you do.”

- Jörgen Sundberg, Founder & CEO at Link Humans

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Whether it’s for the About Me on a company website, public speaking opportunities, or a personal social media account, an interesting bio makes all the difference. Why? Because many of us suffer from information overload and are already quick to ignore repetitive, uninteresting, or too-lengthy content.

To get you started, we’ve compiled a list of five tips for writing a great bio:

1. Avoid writing in first-person (exception: social media accounts, which are conventionally less formal). For professional bios, refer to yourself in third-person.

2. Use plain English. It can be easy to forget that the rest of the world doesn’t speak your industry’s language. Numbers are great to use, as it’s important to quantify your accomplishments, but don’t try to get too fancy with your word choice. Keep it simple.

3. Watch the length. Again, we live in a content-saturated world. Save the entire list of accomplishments for your resume (well, even there, be careful) and only include necessary, relevant information that makes people want to know more, write an article about you - or ask you to speak at their event! (See: "How long should my bio be?")

4. Know your audience. Important to consider when planning a presentation or speech at an event, knowing your audience is also key to writing a successful bio. For instance, when submitting a proposal to speak at conferences, you should cater your bio to who’s going to be in attendance. Feature the facts that are most relevant.

5. Keep it professional. Talking about college and graduate school degrees, charitable activities, and passions is okay. Some people even recommend sharing personal aspects of your life in your bio. We say that’s fine—as long as you keep it minimal. And if it’s really personal, make sure to relate it to how your character has been shaped or demonstrate why it is so impressive. For instance, one of our clients grew up below the poverty line and moved more than 22 times before turning 18. In spite of this, she still went on to found not one, but two successful companies. Now THAT’S something worth mentioning.

What do you think is the most important thing to consider when writing a bio? 

Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Find the full article here!

Speaking 101: Lessons Learned in Public Speaking

"Your mission in any presentation is to inform, educate, and inspire. You can only inspire when you give people a new way of looking at the world in which they live.”

- Robert Ballard, discoverer of Titanic (1985)

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Hosted by some of the brightest innovators and professionals around the world, today’s TED talks have become the gold standard in public speaking. It’s no surprise then that TED (which stands for technology, entertainment, and design) and TED-style events are exploding everywhere.

Rather than being envious of these individuals’ awesome presentation skills (it’s hard not to be—we know), what can we learn from them to make ourselves better, more engaging public speakers?

We’ve pulled the top three lessons by former news anchor and keynote speaker Carmine Gallo in his article 9 Public Speaking Lessons From The World's Greatest TED Talks. Keep these in mind as you plan your next presentation!

• First, tell a story. The human brain loves the storytelling style. We’ve been telling stories for generations, long before the invention of writing. Many anthropologists say that stories are central to human existence, serving as recognizable patterns in which we find meaning. So instead of bombarding your audience with statistics and figures, make your presentation more personal.

• Second, teach your audience something they didn’t already know. According to research, there is a region of our midbrain, called the substantia nigra/ventral segmental area (SN/VTA), that can only be activated with absolutely novel stimuli. In layman’s terms, we are hardwired to love novelty.

• Third, know your purpose, and tap into the right emotions. One way to grab your audience’s attention is by delivering jaw-dropping moments that trigger certain emotions. As Gallo mentions, speakers should try to elicit joy, fear, shock, or surprise in order to have a stronger effect on the listener - it’ll help them remember your presentation long after it’s over.

When asked what they thought was the most important lesson regarding public speaking, a few team members at cred PR shared their insights:

1. “You never know who is going to be in the audience!” - Caitlin

2. “Even if you’re not confident, pretend that you are. Fake it till you make it!” - Stephanie B.

3. “Push each other. Execs and moderators get nervous when discussing controversial issues and lean on “safe topics.” It’s important to push each other out of their comfort zone.” - Laura

4. “Everyone has a good story to tell. The key is to find the right audience!” - Leah

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What do you think is the most important thing to know about public speaking? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

Need help finding your audience? That’s our specialty! 

Get in touch with us at hello@credpr.com.

Speaking 101: Presentation DOs and DON'Ts

“REHEARSE, REHEARSE, REHEARSE. DO NOT JUST THINK YOU CAN WING A PRESENTATION."

- BILL BURNETT, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO OF POINTDRIVE

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When it comes to public speaking, there a few factors that can make a presentation go from good to great.

First, DO be organized. Maybe you don’t want to practice your entire speech all the way through (though we recommend doing this at least once). However, assuming you know your material backwards, forwards, and upside down, it is still important to have a mental outline of where you plan on taking your presentation. That way, you don't fumble for words, or zone out and forget to emphasize a certain point.

On the topic of zoning out, DO have a personality for the sake of your audience. As Kevin Daum of Inc. notes, “Not every presenter has to be an actor or comedian, but no one wants to listen to someone drone on in dull monotone.” Another way to showcase your personality is by sharing personal stories or examples. This helps your audience relate to you and better grasp your message.

Still, DON’T try to be funny if you’re not. That sounds harsh. What we mean is humor doesn’t always translate well on-stage and if executed poorly, can even leave someone with a negative impression of you and your brand. If you do happen to tell a poorly timed or convoluted joke that no one understands, don’t fret. Simply move forward with the rest of your awesome presentation.

To ensure your success, DO take advantage of vocal inflections, and DON’T just read from your slides. If you're reading from a screen, no one will want to listen to you. Prevent that by limiting how many words you place on your slides. Changing the pitch or tone of your speech will also spice things up and help you emerge as a more energetic, passionate speaker.

Hungry for more tips? Read more on The Do's and Don'ts of Giving a Killer Presentation here.

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If you are interested in speaking at events, but don’t know where to start, get in touch with us at hello@credpr.com.

Finding speaking opportunities is our specialty, and we love to share!

Speaking 101: Using Social Media to Leverage Your Brand

“Your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.”

- Jeff Bezos, Founder of Amazon

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Building awareness—for your company as well as for your personal brand—is key to any successful marketing strategy.

According to recent research published by the Harvard Business Review (HBR), 64% of people cite shared values as the main reason they choose to have a relationship with a brand. In other words, when it comes to establishing brand loyalty, it isn’t solely about increasing consumer interactions. Part of it stems from a belief in the purpose of a company's product or service.

So how can you make sure your brand’s values are known? 

Sabrina Horn of Entrepreneur.com recommends developing a social media strategy plan, while considering the following:

• Audience - Who do you need to reach? Each social media platform garners a different segment of the population, and a little research beforehand ensures you are sharing your message with the right people at the right time.

• Visual Elements - 95% of marketers say visual content is more effective than text-only content. What can you incorporate to make your content “come to life” and engage your audience?

• Preparation - Are you ready to begin your foray into the world of social media? Do you fully understand how each social channel works? Don’t sweat it if you’re not there yet. “Sometimes a simple profile on LinkedIn will suffice until the timing is right to launch a broader communications program.”

Interested in learning more about The Importance of Entrepreneurs Building Their Personal Brand? Check out Horn’s article here.

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Do you believe in OUR brand? We’d love to hear how cred PR can help position you and your brand as thought leaders within your space.

Get in touch at hello@credpr.com,

or send us a tweet: @credpr!