Mind Body Manna

Squidoo to YOU!

Have you ever set up your own Squidoo page? I did. Check it out - The Illustrious Group Squidoo. It's a great way to generate traffic and buzz on your message. Think of it as if you are "getting out and boogeying" on the internet. Be a social butterfly of the search engines. Get your audience all GOOGLE-Y EYED at you. :)

Set up your Squidoo on your latest seminar. It's easy it took me two minutes to start. It's fun. Squidoo to YOU!      

Are you charging under what your worth?

Are you asking yourself questions like:

Who will actually pay THAT much for a speaker like ME? 
How could I ever ask for THIS much?

If you decide to ask for a couple of thousand dollars, make sure you have the following mastered:

• Create a content driven presentation. Fill it with facts, statistics, exercises, plans of action that can be implemented immediately and quick tips interspersed in a workbook. Most importantly, walk into the presentation with the attitude that you want to help them in every way you possibly can.

• Be accessible to your audience. If you think you're a Hollywood actor who's going to hide in the make up trailer until "you're on", the professional speaking industry is NOT for you. You must be EXTREMELY accessible to your participants to answer any questions they have about what they are about to learn or have learned. An excellent example of this: I went to a seminar with Seth Godin in Philadelphia, PA and he must have said "Hello" two times to everyone in the 200 person audience. This is how diligent he was about working the audience before his presentation. Make a trip around the room, say "Hello" and exchange handshakes, etc. It will add to your credibility as a leader.   

• Always, ALWAYS have your presentation memorized. There is nothing tackier than a professional speaker reading from his or her notes at this price point. Practice, practice, practice. Let your friends, family and close colleagues listen to you. If you feel funny asking people to listen to your presentation, get over it! (I admit, I am guilty of this. But if I want to be a successful speaker, I've got to enter into this with the seriousness it deserves!) Ask your Toastmaster buddies to help you, they'll listen to you!!!!

• Design and give out a workbook. A workbook creates a prosperity attitude in your clients. It's also a keepsake. I have tons of workbooks of seminars I have taken. It gives a place people can write notes about people they've networked with, write notes on what they've learned and a tool to organize all of their thoughts. Make sure your contact information is on the workbook so the audience can contact you after the seminar event. I mean all of your contact information! How many of your clients pass up a moment of calling you because they don't have time to log onto the computer and look up your website? Give all your contact information. I can't stress this enough! At the very least, give a company name, website, and phone number. 

If you enjoy what you do, none of this should be a problem. Be warm, be accessible and look into people's eyes when speaking to them. Then you can confidently charge what you want because you are "wining and dining them" with your heart. Good luck and Speakspeed!

Short crisp sentences.

        Have you ever listened to yourself talk? Do you realize if you speak in one continuous sentence connecting each complete thought with um, ah, or, and, so, etc?

        I am a member of Toastmasters International. They have given me an "ear" for these filler words. When you speak, clearly end and begin your statements without these crutch filler words. Many wonderful, intelligent, AFFLUENT speakers still use these filler words.

        Do yourself a favor. Be a cut above the rest and speak in clear sentences.