Why do 95 - 98% of all home based Business fail within the first 3 months? What are the most common mistakes made by rookies? A home based business is just that, a BUSINESS. It is not a hobby or a get rich quick think or I'll try it and see how it works out thing. It must be treated with all due respect of any business. Here are seven deadly sins of the beginner.

1. No business plan.
   
   So many people, especially those who sign up motivated by hype, do not even think about how they will run their new business. Your plan will need to Include several key elements. How will you advertising and how much should you spend on advertising. How will you attract prospects? Will you uses out sourcing? How much time will you have to devote to your business. What are your resources? If you fail to plan you plan to fail.
   
   
2. Fail to implement the Plan.
   
   If you can not follow instructions from others who are having success you will waste a lot of time and money taking half measures. Take your business plan and the steps you are provide and “GETER DONE”. Most people don’t implement because of fear of the unknown. It is ok, push into that place wear you are uncomfortable until it feels ok. Then do it again and again and again. You must implement your websites, advertising, auto responders and all the tools you need to attract prospects. You must communicate with them and build relationships. Your business will not run itself. If someone tries to convince you that their system will work on it’s own they are in never never land.
   
   
3. Hesitating to advertise.
   
   Waiting until you think all your mediums are just the way you want them. Your website just right or your videos just the way you want them. Everything is a work in progress. As you work with your team you will be given tips and hints on how to start. Place your ads develop you websites and videos and go for it. This is the only way you will find out what works for you and what dose not. But if you wait, I can guarantee you what will happen (NOTHING). As you begin to learn what is not working you tweak and tweak some more until it begins to work.
   
   
4. Hesitating because of a lack of knowledge and success.
   
   Well if we all took this attitude no one would be successful. First no one that is starting a new business, job or any venture is completely up to speed on all aspects of their task. That is why the team support is so important. You will have access to multiple resources that will give you all the information you need. If you wait to implement anything until you can show some success you have already failed, you are putting the cart before the horse. If you do change your plan later when you are successful and decide to show off the; nice car, vacation home, jewelry, then what are your prospect going to think they have to do? You are placing them in an awkward spot of trying to duplicate something they don’t have yet. So go forward with what you have, use the team for support, and grow your business by helping others and you will succeed.
   
   
5. Not being dedicated to your Business.
   
   If you think “I’ll try it out and see if it works”, don’t even sign up. This way of thinking has already doomed you to failure. You must be dedicated to your business 110 %. “In for the long haul”, as they say. You must make up your mind that you are going to give it your all for as long as it takes to succeed. You must be dedicated to self development, further education, seminars, reading and study. As a Real Estate agent I was required to attend classes every year. You must continue to grow and change with the times or you will fall behind and your success will suffer. To obtain the correct mindset you need to read books like; The Go Giver, The world greatest network marketer, Secrets of the Millionaire Mind. You will need to stay tight with your team and attend; training calls, summits and conferences. A home business is a serious venture not something to try and see.
   
   
6. Quit because of frustration.
   
   This can occur as a result of all of the above. If you do not take this opportunity serious it won’t take long before you are frustrated and ready to give up. We call these the 98 percenters. They start off very excited. They get ready to start their business with a lot of busy work. They order leads and talk to friends and family, Who make fun of them, and no one is interested. After two or three weeks they have no sales and decide they have been scammed. They are looking for someone to blame for their failure. Lets be realistic, owning and running a business is going to take some effort. You will need to learn about internet marketing technology, communications, advertising and many more skill sets. To become effective and efficient you will have a learning curve. These are things you must do on your own, but with assistance. If you are not willing to work at obtaining the skills and mind set necessary you will fail.
   
   
7. Neglect personal development.
   
   I have saved the most important for last. Many business owners fail because of this mistake. Success has it’s foundation in your mind. You must transform your thinking to produce new habits and behaviors that in turn will achieve wealth and prosperity in your life. Taking time to read and meditate 30 – 60 minutes a day is essential to this process. I recommend starting with a gratitude list, write down everything you are grateful for and each day add something from that day to your list. To enhance a relationship make a gratitude list about the person you wish to get closer to and watch things change between you. Next create a goals list, not a to do list, but a list of things you wish to achieve and obtain. After this make a dream board. Take your goals list and create a collogue with pictures of your dreams, and place it were you can see it everyday. Last, be sure to RAED inspirational and developmental books. The best way to learn is from others who have had success.

If you are interested in learning how I am creating a six figure income using Home based Businesses please give me a call. I use three separate opportunities to generate a constant flow of income. A luxury Vacation membership, http://www.298aweek.com/info.html

Greeting card business that allows you to send cards and gifts from your computer, by US Post Office http://www.greetingcardz4u.com

After years of spending tremendous amounts of money on television, radio or print advertising, some marketers arrive at the idea of testing direct mail marketing. After all, it’s cheap and it gets you a gazillion responses for next to nothing, right? Wrong. It’s amazing how many CEOs and corporate executives have mistaken ideas about direct mail (DM.) DM can be a very affordable way to reach specific target audiences in the long run, but you have to plan carefully (the STRATEGY) before you ever mail unit #1, (the TACTICS).

1. Choose your CATEGORY correctly between two options:
   
   a. Business-to-Business (B2B)
   b. Business-to-Consumer (B2C)
   
   Many people will laugh at this determination, thinking it’s too basic. But it’s kind of like deciding which half of your body your pants go on. If you’re wearing your pants on your head, you’ll give your audience a good laugh – but you’ll never sell a single item. Some inexperienced marketers will say, “I don’t care who I sell to – I just want to sell to EVERYONE!” Cute, but no cigar.
   
   You have to know who your potential buyer is, before you implement a direct mail campaign – or any marketing campaign, truth be told. Let’s say you’re selling an informational guide on pet grooming. That is obviously going to appeal to consumers, not businesses. The only way it would appeal to professional pet groomers is if it contained very advanced information. In other words, professional pet groomers already know the basics – and a whole lot more. Your book had better contain some very high-level ground-breaking information to get their interest.
   
   But if your book was a ‘do-it-yourself’ guide to entry-level pet grooming, consumers are you one and only target.
   
   
2. Choose your LIST.
   
   List is the #1 cause of DM success or failure. You can invest $10 per unit into the format and design of the kit (strong tactics), but if you mail it to the wrong list (bad strategy), you’ll get a bad response. Conversely, if you find the ultimate list of people who want, need and can afford your product and service (good strategy), you can scribble your offer on a sheet of notebook paper (weak tactics) and get a good response.
   
   There are two categories of lists, business and consumer. And there are two basic types of mailing lists, COMPILED and RESPONSE. Compiled lists are gathered from multiple sources, i.e. phone directories, county property deed files, credit bureaus, surveys, etc. Response or ‘vertical’ lists are people who have registered a specific interest in a product, service or category. For example, magazine subscribers are a source of vertical information, because they have shown an interest in the magazine’s subject category. Organizational membership lists are vertical because these people have a bond in the type of industry or cause that the organization revolves around.
   
   
3. Choose your OFFER.
   
   Your offer is more that just what you are selling; it is the way you are presenting it or packaging it to get the buyer to take action today. In other words, your PRODUCT may be a commercial space heater for warehouses, but your OFFER is ‘try one for 30 days with no money down, and we’ll give you a free golf putter – yours to keep even if you return the heater at our expense later.” In other words, this offer removed the objection (cost / may not need it / may have a better offer elsewhere) and it added an upside (free golf putter whether you buy the heater or not.)
   
   The standard DM success formula is that 70% of the response comes from selecting the correct LIST, 20% from selecting the correct OFFER, and just 10% from selecting the right CREATIVE.
   
   
4. Choose your FORMAT or “CREATIVE”.
   
   Choosing the right format for your marketing effort can be critical to its success.
   
   Formats that appeal to consumers are:
   a. Postcards – the bigger and shinier, the better.
   b. Invitations – preferably an A6 or A7 envelope with a live stamp and script font in blue ink – would be opened by most of the recipients.
   c. Check letters - make it look like a live check, many people will open it. It’s a bit deceptive, so caution is the word of the day.
   
   Formats that appeal to businesses are:
   a. Legal Letters that contain personal information for the boss will get through the gatekeeper onto his / her desk.
   b. Tactile Mailings that rattle and shake and usually contain a gift item. Everybody likes getting a free gift in the mail – even corporate execs.
   c. Postcards - the larger the better.
   
   There are many other steps to consider – style, offer, kit elements such as letter size, personalized vs. generic letter, lift note, business reply envelope or ‘courtesy’ reply envelope (postage NOT pre-paid), First Class Postage or Standard Class, pre-printed indicia / live stamp / meter imprint, etc. These are best implemented by a direct marketing agency or DM professional.
   
   
5. Next, determine your CAMPAIGN STRATEGY.
   
   Are you looking for one-shot sales, or do you want to build a long-term relationship with the prospect? One-off sales mean that you want to sell them one item (i.e. a vacuum cleaner) one time, get their money and be done with it. Long-term sales are for multiple-product or multiple-service fulfillment, i.e. vitamins or lifelong carpet cleaning. You always have to demonstrate credibility and reliability, but long-term sales require better BRANDING or POSITIONING to prove that you’re the best long-term choice.
   
   
6. Next, choose your COPY POSITIONING.
   
   If you are writing to business executives, use clear and concise business language. Don’t try to be clever, funny or whimsical; your audience will think your product is a joke. But if you are writing to homemakers about a product that will save them cleaning time and help them get through the stresses of managing a home, whimsy may help them relate to your product.
   
   It’s always important to focus on the BENEFITS of your product rather than focusing on the FEATURES. Every product has features, but you have to present them in a way that your audience can relate to. What’s in it for them?
   
   
7. Finally, choose your FOLLOW-UP and ONGOING COMMUNICATION approach.
   
   In a long-term approach, you want to consider your choices for multi-media communication. In other words, you’ll want to capture the prospects email address and/or phone number so you can stay in touch with them over time. Then, you want to plan a series of email messages or mailings to present other offers and cross-sell opportunities. For expensive items, you want to schedule follow-up telemarketing and / or surveys to make sure the customer is satisfied.

Randall Putala is president of Strategic Direct Marketing, Inc. (http://www.sdmi3.com). He is a career advertising executive that has worked for some of America's largest agencies including BBDO, FKB Group plc and MailGuys.com. His clients have included many of the nation's largest manufacturers, retailers and financial institutions. Putala is also founding director of World Hunger Team, a non-profit foundation dedicated to solving the world hunger crisis.

Whether your business is local or national, chances are people in your backyard need your products and services. The only question is "can they find you?" With that in mind, here are 7 local business marketing strategies to consider.

1. Search Engine Local Business Profiles.
   
   These are free to set up at the 3 major search engines (Google, Yahoo, and BING) and a missed opportunity if you are not taking advantage of them.
   
   
2. Local City Guides.
   
   These are plenty of people who rely exclusively on the reviews of local city guides and it is usually free to list your business there. A great practice is to let your customers know that you are there and ask them to rate your business.
   
   
3. Get Mobile.
   
   Mobile search is growing at a very rapid pace. If you are not prepared to come up in mobile searches, that is a great place to target as the next phase of your online marketing plan.
   
   
4. Optimize Your Website for Local Terms.
   
   In order to rank well locally, it is ideal to use your location (i.e. city and state) in your websites title tags and other search engine coding.
   
   
5. Paid Local Search.
   
   Did you know that you can tell the pay per click search engines to only send you visitors from your local region? Well it's true! Many people don't employ paid search because they "don't want visitors from all over." Thankfully you can control where the visitors come from with paid search.
   
   
6. Social Media Marketing.
   
   Many small businesses are getting on board with marketing on sites like Facebook and YouTube because they are free platforms. I can tell you first hand, it is a great way to build a local business presence in addition to having a local website and a blog.
   
   
7. Text Message Marketing.
   
   This is a cutting edge strategy which can help keep your brand in front of local customers that have asked you to stay in touch with them and let them know of your special offers and events.

Anthony Kirlew is the founder of a.k.a. Internet Marketing (an online marketing consulting firm) and the author of The Internet Marketing Guide for Small Business. Although he works with businesses of all sizes, much of his work is devoted to local search engine marketing for small businesses.

How effective are your presentations? Do people seem captured by your words, data, and graphics? Do they look at you and your slides with intense interest? Do they come to you after the presentation commending you and asking for more on the subject? Perhaps that level of presentation success happens only once in a long while. People say that most presentations are boring and ineffective. How can you make yours more interesting and influential? Here are some suggested tips that might work:

1. Know your subject:
   
   The one element that can make your presentation much easier on you and more influential to your audience is your mastery of the subject. Practices giving a presentation on your topic until you are confident that you know your topic inside out without having to look at slides or notes.
   
   
2. Speak to your audience’s interest:
   
   It’s amazing how many presenters stand up and start talking about their project, their ideas, their product, as it what is of interest to them is also of interest to their audience. Follow the WIIFM concept (What’s In It For Me?) Tell your audience at the outset how what you will be talking about is going to benefit them.
   
   
3. Speak the language of your listeners:
   
   A key concept in effective communication is to speak in the language of your listener. This means that you must not speak in your own preferred language, style, and point of view. If you want to be effective, you must make sure that you reach the audience by adopting their language, their style, their way of seeing things, and their level of comprehension. If you don’t reach them, you don’t influence them.
   
   
4. Talk to group one person at a time:
   
   Don’t look in the outer space. Look at your audience one at a time. Spend a few seconds looking in the eyes of each person sitting in front of you, then move slowly to the next. This way each person will feel that you are talking to him or her personally.
   
   
5. Make it personal. Make it human:
   
   Even if your presentation is technical, make it as human as you can. You make your presentation human by making it personal. Talk about your personal experience. Describe how you felt when. Be vulnerable. Be authentic. By funny, without necessarily telling jokes. Be natural. Be human.
   
   
6. Engage your audience:
   
   Communication is a two way street. Avoid giving one-way speeches. Fill your presentations with questions that require your audiences’ answers. Use quizzes to intrigue them. Ask those who have similar experiences to raise their hands. Get them involved. If you have time, give them time to speak and present their view points.
   
   
7. Perform:
   
   Being natural and authentic does not mean you stand up there whispering in your normal voice. If you are presenting then you are on stage. You must perform. You need to raise your voice, move, and waive your hands. You are the center of attention and the focal point of your audience. Don’t let them sleep in their seats. Your movements, voice, and body language should all be dynamic enough to keep your audience awake and interested.

Dennis Kwan is a trainer, speaker, author, a volunteer at Changi prison and also a Neuro-Linguistics Programming (NLP) Master Practitioner, Hypno-Therapist, Time-line Practitioner. He graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Commerce in Information Technology. He is also certified in Project Management Professional (PMP), Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) and Certified ISO 9001 Auditor.

You’ve done everything to get ready, you’ve got a great message, and you’ve gotten the word out and are ready to roll. Now the waiting game starts, how many people will actually attend your conference call?

1. Send an email reminder to all registered participants one day before the planned teleconference call.
   
   
2. Make sure to do a press release announcing your event up to one week before your scheduled teleconference call. Or better yet, do a press release announcement 30 days out and then another 7 days out.
   
   
3. Promote your teleconference call heavily on your website, in your blog, and in your monthly e-newsletter. Use image icons in addition to search engine spiderable text to draw the reader’s eye to the information.
   
   
4. Add a line below your email signature for all correspondence with your upcoming conference call information and a brief sentence of what the call is about and how to sign up.
   
   
5. Send an email reminder out one hour before the conference call on the day of the call.
   
   
6. Create an alternative date for those who may have inadvertently missed the call or had a last minute scheduling conflict. Post this on your website after your call has happened.
   
   
7. After the conference call, send all participants a link to the recorded call so that they can get the information and exposure to your information even if they could not attend. This may help with future conference call registrations.

Amy Linley gives practical and usable advice regarding communication and meetings at AccuConference - http://www.accuconference.com

Find out more about our conference call, web conferencing and video conferencing services from AccuConference - http://www.accuconference.com/conferencecalls

Public speaking is a common source of stress in the modern workplace. Whether you work alone or with large numbers of people, the chances are great that you will need to speak in public at some point no matter how much you might wish to avoid the experience.

If your project or career goals include taking a leadership role in your organization, you will almost certainly need to speak regularly to groups, large and small, on your road to achieving them. Here are ten common causes of public speaking anxiety, stress and some tips for avoiding them.

1. Believing that public speaking is naturally stressful.
   
   Public speaking need not be stressful at all. If you correctly understand the causes of public speaking stress and take care to address them, with practice speaking in public will become an stimulating and satisfying experience for you.
   
   
2. Having the wrong objectives.
   
   Public speaking is about having an effect on your audience - to educate, motivate or persuade them. This is where your focus and purpose should be. Concentrate on what will benefit your audience, not yourself.
   
   
3. Trying to cover too much material.
   
   Don't try to accomplish too much in the time you are given. Instead, be realistic with your speech objectives given the time you are allocated.
   
   
4. Accept the fear, don’t fight it.
   
   The worst thing you can do when you’re nervous is to notice your own anxiety and start worrying about that too. Just accept any nervousness you feel just as you would accept that the carpet is blue or the walls are white. Trying to force yourself to calm down or hide signs of nervousness can backfire and make your problem worse.
   
   
5. Trying to emulate or imitate other speakers.
   
   You've likely attended more than a few events where you've listened to professional speakers or trainers give a presentation. Don't be stressed up and make the mistake of trying to duplicate or clone their speaking style. Instead, simply be yourself. This will allow you to concentrate your full attention on your material and your audience.
   
   
6. Failing to be personally revealing and humble.
   
   Telling personal stories to illustrate your points can have a profound impact on your audience and their receptiveness to your message. However, few things will isolate an audience more quickly than arrogance. Instead, be humble when speaking about yourself and your achievements and experiences.
   
   
7. Practice.
   
   For every successful oratorical activity, there are three things a speaker has to put in mind: first is practice, second, practice, and third practice again. No one can underestimate the power of a constant yet effective speaking drill. This helps you memorize your lines and master them paving the way to creating adlibs as you go along the way.

Dennis Kwan is a trainer, speaker, author, a volunteer at Changi prison. He is a Neuro-Linguistics Programming (NLP) Master Practitioner and a Time-line Practitioner. He graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Commerce in Information Technology. He is also certified in Project Management Professional (PMP) and Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), Certified ISO 9001:2000 Auditor.

Have you admired speakers who seem to captivate the audience instantly, hold attention throughout, change the tone from humorous to intensely serious with a seamless transition, overcome distractions, generate frequent applause, and by the end of the presentation have the listeners change their beliefs, even their actions? Have you wanted to become that speaker?

I have good news for you. You can progress to that stage. How? By recognizing the top seven characteristics of great speakers.

1. AUTHORITATIVE
   
   Top-caliber speakers strike you as authoritative. You consider them experts. Clearly, they have mastered their topic.Through long hours of preparation,possibly even years, they have earned the right to speak with credibility.
   
   Mastery may or may not include academic degrees in that area. Primarily, mastery results from wide reading, research, interviewing experts, and learning through professional associations, not because you have to but because you have an overwhelming urge to learn all you can on this theme.
   
   Keep this in mind: Great speakers don't settle for reading articles in popular magazines, watching TV specials, or coffee shop conversations. No amount of showmanship could compensate for lack of expertise.
   
   
2. ATTITUDE
   
   Outstanding speakers avoid saying they are going to deliver a speech. That sounds too bland and routine, like delivering a package. Instead, they visualize having a dinner conversation with friends, when you'd share your ideas naturally, with no pretense.
   
   In fact,the finest speech coaches suggest that a speech should become a lively conversation with your audience. Roger Ailes, who served as a speech coach for Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, said: "The best communicators I've ever known never changed their style of delivery from one situation to another." Ailes observed that they were the same whether they are "delivering a speech, having an intimate conversation, or being interviewed on a TV talk show."
   
   
3. AUDIENCE
   
   The audience becomes the centerpiece of attention. If the speaker focuses too much on herself and the impression she is making, she will become unnerved by a simple mispronunciation, and will lose confidence and poise. If the speaker focuses too much on the message, the event turns into a lifeless recitation.
   
   Note: Terrific speakers focus mostly on the audience.They find ways to involve audiences, creating interactive sessions, involving attendees in discussion, and directing meaningful small group activities.
   
   
4. ANIMATION
   
   Listeners don't want to wonder if the speaker has a pulse. So start by selecting a topic that mesmerizes you, demands your total commitment. Then you won't have to simulate enthusiasm.
   
   Seek what actors call "the illusion of the first time." Although you have thought these thoughts hundreds of times, your listeners want spontaneity, as though you had just discovered these ideas and words.
   
   Vary your voice in pitch, rate, and volume, just as you do in casual chit chat.
   
   Gesture freely, naturally, without rehearsed motions.
   
   
5. ANECDOTES
   
   Think back to your childhood days. When a parent or other relative sat by your bed at night and said, "Once upon a time," a magical world opened for you. As long as you can remember, stories grabbed you, and wouldn't let go until you had heard all of the fables.
   
   As adults, we still respond to intriguing stories. People learn from and remember the anecdotes, not your statistics.
   
   Paint word pictures. Create a "you are there" sensation.
   
   
6. APPEARANCE
   
   Yes, "casual dress" has permeated the work place. The trend started with Casual Fridays, with more days added eventually. Even so, speakers need to look like professionals when they face audiences.
   
   Your audience wants you to dress a level above their garb, just to indicate respect for them and the situation. Check with your club or convention host to determine the appropriate dress style. Fifteen years ago, a coat and tie were mandatory for male speakers. Now a mock turtle neck and classy blazer are likely to match expectations.
   
   As casual as society has become, good grooming still matters.
   
   
7. ATYPICAL
   
   You don't have to fit a mold that seems right for most other presenters.
   
   Other presenters may cling tightly to a podium, while you choose to wander among the audience, even getting comments from those in the back of the auditorium.
   
   Other speakers may never quote poetry, yet you can do that if you select a poem that illustrates your point compellingly.
   
   Other speakers may avoid magic, acrobatics, singing, props, or impersonation. But if any of those work well for you, be atypical.
   
   Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, "To be great is to be a nonconformist."

Bill Lampton, Ph.D., speaks and directs seminars for a top-level client list, including the Ritz-Carlton Cancun, British Columbia Legal Management Association, Gillette, Duracell, and the Missouri Bar. Also, he provides executive speech coaching. Visit his Web site to sign up for his complimentary online newsletter:

http://www.championshipcommunication.com Call him: 678-316-4300

MS Powerpoint is a mature product in a mature industry and yet it is still the most frequently misused application on the market.

Why is this?

Well, the mistake that most inexperienced users make is that they think that Powerpoint is the presentation itself - whereas the truth is that Powerpoint is simply a tool to visually assist the speaker’s key messages.

People spend hours creating scores of slides with large chunks of text in a small font size. They then waste the presentational opportunity by reading the contents of each slide verbatim in a monotonous drone. This is more a case of assisted reading rather than imparting key messages with impact.

1. The presenter must take centre stage and take control. Do not be a slave to the PC or the projector. Your audience has come to listen to you and Powerpoint is simply a tool to visually assist you deliver your key messages.
   
   
2. It’s vital to have a structure so that you can map out what is about to happen. This assists the audience enormously when you tell them what you’re going to tell them. Remember to consistently use fonts and font sizes. Use non-serif fonts. No more than 2 per page. If your company has a logo or brand, ensure it appears in each page (master slide - usually bottom right hand corner).
   
   
3. Ensure you have only one key point per slide. Ensure that each slide serves its purpose and pulls its weight. Can your audience read the slide?
   
   
4. Know your audience - who are they and what's in it for them? Are you there to inform, persuade, inspire, motivate? Stick to your theme. We are all guilty of trying too hard to please. Sticking to the theme will help the audience enormously – confusing messages or themes makes the audience feel uncomfortable and you will see them shifting in their seats if they are confused.
   
   
5. Know your PC.
   
   Find out which type of PC you’ll be using as the specification for each PC can differ from manufacturer to manufacturer. Email your presentation to the organisers and take a copy on a memory stick, just in case. Most modern laptops no longer use floppy disks. Find out in advance and always expect the unexpected.
   
   
6. Also, make sure that you address your audience and do not talk directly to the screen. As always your primary concern is your audience. Without an audience, there is no requirement for a speaker. When you deliver a key message or even a key line, make sure that you’re looking directly at the audience and not at your notes. That will give your point added weight and greater impact.
   
   
7. Use a remote mouse - it highly distracting for the audience if you are hunched over the PC during the presentation. Being free to move around the stage and address individual segments of the audience will make certain that you’ll look calm and professional. That, of course, is exactly what you want. Being invited to speak again is your reward for your hard work, preparation and delivery.

How to create a positive impact when speaking in public. What to do and what not to do when addressing an audience. Making your speeches memorable by focusing your words on the audience. It's not what you say, it's the way that you say it. Speaking with confidence, coherence and clarity.
http://www.collegeofpublicspeaking.co.uk

Whenever you are invited to stand up and deliver a presentation to your peers, clients or family - be proud! Be very proud. Whoever invited you, clearly thinks that you have something important to say.

Whenever we deliver in public, there must be some value added by speaking in person, otherwise, why not send them another boring email. So how are we going to grab the audience and take them on a journey?

1. The audience will listen because I'm a subject matter expert and what I have to say is interesting.
   
   This is probably one of the most frequent mistakes made by speakers. We all like to think that we know our stuff, and many people do. But that alone will not engage your audience. Albert Mehrebian the US Educational Psychologist's research demonstrated that only 7% of your presentation's impact will be your words. Only 7%... This is worrying for subject matter experts. You could prepare for weeks, select the best words and key messages, you could have the best introduction, middle section and ending than any speaker on the bill, but your impact could be negligible. A few year's ago I became a school governor and as such, I was offered training sessions by my local Education Authority. The general standard of the 2 hour presentations was good. One evening, the guest speaker, a man who had worked in education all his life with a career that spanned being a headmaster, Ofsted inspector and a senior role in the Ministry of Education and Science; what this fellow didn't know about the history of secondary education was not worth knowing. However, he ended every sentence with a pronounced hmmmmmmmmm. Imagine that 6 times per minute, for two hours.... I nearly lost the will to live.
   
   Tip - Listen and react to feedback from your colleagues. I'm certain that over the course of this fellow's long and distinguished career, many people must have mentioned his verbal mannerisms. If your company culture prohibits you from giving constructive feedback, seek professional help. Advice from consultants is more likely to be accepted because it is seen to be given objectively.
   
   
2. Speaking too fast.
   
   Nervous and inexperienced speakers always remind me of the 100 metres sprint. They hear the gun, they're out of the blocks fast and they can't wait to get it over with. This is not unusual - it is the normal reaction to any potentially stressful situation. Let's close our eyes, do it, and get it over with. It's a bit like going to the dentist. However, some speakers do not even devote themselves to such minimal preparation.
   
   Tip - for each minute of your speech, spend ten minutes of preparation on it. Watch yourself on video and ask yourself if you're delivering too fast.
   
   
3. Keep it short and simple and always leave them wanting more. The best way to maintain the attention of an audience is to start with a gripping opening, develop a maximum of three themes or key messages, and conclude with a message that pulls the introduction and key messages together with impact. An experienced speaker can make this look simple and seamless, but we're looking at perhaps 0.001% of the population. We all need help developing this skill. If you speak for over 10 minutes it's almost inevitable that the structure will suffer and you will lose your audience because you haven't signposted your structure well enough. Tell them what you'll tell them, tell them, and tell them what you've told them.
   
   Tip - keep it short and simple and use your best material at the beginning and the end of your speech. Start and end with impact.
   
   
4. Maintaining eye-contact with your audience.
   
   For the new or inexperienced speaker, eye-contact is one of the hardest aspects of speaking. Looking into the eyes of strangers does not come naturally to most of us. Indeed, in some cultures young people looking directly into the eyes of their elders is seen as a mark of disrespect. However, as a speaker, your audience is your primary concern. Remember that without audiences, we do not need speakers. Making eye-contact and engaging your audience is critical to success. It shows respect and demonstrates confidence. We listen and learn most from confident speakers. Life is a busy place, and when we invest time in a speaker, nobody likes to feel they have wasted their time.
   
   Tip - if you find eye-contact difficult, try it out with friends and family in regular conversations. You will have a major impact on those with whom you are conversing. It' very difficult (almost rude) to disengage eye-contact with somebody when you're having a pleasant chat. Bear that in mind when you're making a speech and you'll do very well.
   
   
5. Speaking in a dull and monotonous voice. Throughout our professional careers, how many times have we endured the monotonous speaker?
   
   In my case rather too often. Tonal variety is what adds massive impact to your speech or presentation. We need some highs and lows allied to seamless changes in pitch and pace. These effective techniques help to keep your audience engaged and participating in your presentation. Mehrebian's research demonstrated that 38% of what an audience remember is down to the effective use of tonal variety. A massive 55% relates to your body language. If you send a mixed message, don't be surprised if the message is dropped. A key factor in any speech or presentation is simply this:
   
   Tip - It's not what you say. It's the way that you say it.
   
   Scenario 1: You're trying to find the channel with the live football. Suddenly, your wife sitting in the opposite armchair says, ‘Do you love me?' You continue flicking through the channels, you don't look back at her and you eventually say the words, ‘Of course, I love you.'
   
   Scenario 2: You're trying to find the channel with the live football. Suddenly, your wife sitting in the opposite armchair says, ‘Do you love me?'
   
   You stop flicking through the channels with the remote and put it down. You walk across the room and take your wife by the hand, gently and sincerely you look her in the eyes, caress her cheek and say, ‘Of course, I love you.'
   
   Notice that the same words are used, but which do you think conveys the stronger message?
   
   
6. Be confident - when you walk up to the lectern, walk up there like you own the joint.
   
   The audience wants you to be excellent as they are investing their valuable time in listening to you. Your body language must exude confidence.
   
   It may sound silly, but it's easy to practice walking confidently.
   
   
7. If you are delivering your presentation in the evening or perhaps as an after dinner speaker, stay off the wine until you've delivered your presentation.
   
   If you want to destroy your professional reputation, slur your words in front of an audience. Don't worry to much about losing them - they will lose you and start talking among themselves. Be professional - reward yourself with a glass of wine after the event.

Improve your speaking skills. How to make friends and influence people. Overcoming the fear of public speaking. 7 Regular mistakes made by speakers.

http://www.collegeofpublicspeaking.co.uk

Even for those of us who enjoy it, public speaking can be intimidating. Getting over the fear is essential for business owners and entrepreneurs if they are to inform, let alone persuade others of the strength of their ideas. Leaving the communication to others means leaving the leadership to others, so follow these 7 Strategies to become comfortable with public speaking.

1. Preparation is Key
   The single most important thing you can do to boost your confidence as a public speaker is to be prepared. Learn to think of your audience as investors in your ideas. What is it you need to say to them and that they need to hear from you to become 'invested'?
   
   
2. Assume Good Intentions
   If your audience didn’t want to hear what you had to say, they wouldn’t be there. They are eager to hear you. Greeting members of your audience ahead of time will help humanize them for you, and help take away some of the fear of the unknown.
   
   
3. Channel those nerves
   Don’t seek to get rid of those fears--you just want to channel that energy to heighten your performance. Blow a bit of the ‘froth’ off that energy by expending some physical exercise—a brisk walk, or deep-knee bends. Several deep breaths with slow exhalation really will help you slow a racing heart and help you focus.
   
   
4. Don't lower expectations.
   Don't tell the audience you're nervous or that its the first time you've spoken before such a group. They very likely will have no idea if you don't tell them and telling them will only lower their expectations of your performance.
   
   
5. Try some distraction.
   Many speakers are most nervous at the beginning of a speech. Try some planned questions to the audience to get the focus off of yourself for the opening moments--that may be enough to calm the worst of your nerves. (Hint: Be sure to only ask the audience questions you know the answer to!)
   
   
6. Take a risk
   Many who fear speaking in public retreat behind their materials. We in the audience want to see the presenter present, so DON'T hide behind the podium or lose us in power point. Make sure you concentrate on eye contact with the audience, whatever method you use.
   
   
7. Tell a story
   The facts actually don't speak for themselves. Put them in some kind of context for us. We'll remember more of what you say in any kind of public speaking forum if you engage us with a story.

Aileen Pincus
The Pincus Group
http://www.thepincusgroup.com

Studies show that many people have more fear of public speaking than of dying. That's huge. Whether you're giving your first presentation or your 100th, these tips will help you give less fearful, more powerful presentations.

1. Plan, Prepare, and Practice.
   
   The first step is to plan your verbal presentation - what you're going to say. When giving a presentation, you should always talk about something you know - something in which you are an expert. Credibility is important to get people to listen to you.
   
   If you're stuck on planning a talk, use this formula: Tell them what you're going to tell them. Tell them. Tell them what you told them.
   
   Once your presentation is complete - practice, practice, practice. Know your talk so well you could give it in your sleep. But so you won't put your audience to sleep, follow these next tips.
   
   
2. Focus on your visual presentation.
   
   The visual aspect of your presentation is the most important in getting your message across. It includes your body language, gestures, facial expression, eye contact, appearance, and visuals such as PowerPoint - all of what the audience sees.
   
   The people in your audience will form their first impressions of you when you walk into the room. So dress for success and appear confident and friendly, even if your knees are knocking.
   
   Good posture and natural gestures are important. Your most important facial expression is your smile. Smile and they won't notice if you're nervous. The most important visual is eye contact. Look at each person during your talk.
   
   Use visuals whenever possible. Some basic rules for PowerPoint are that your slides should always be in color (no exceptions) and use graphics. If you're talking about going green, for example, show video, photographs, or clip art that represent what you're saying in each slide. Don't hesitate to be humorous if it feels right for you.
   
   
3. Use variety in your vocal presentation.
   
   The second most important aspect is your vocal presentation - how you use your voice. It includes volume, pace, tone, inflection, and enunciation. Speak loudly and clearly (even with a microphone), not too fast or slow. rn
   
   Vary you pace and don't forget the all-important PAUSE. Don't be afraid of silence and say "uh." Pause before and after you make a point; it makes your listeners' ears perk up. If you go along in a monotone, don't be surprised if they go to sleep. Pausing can make you sound conversational. Say, "There's one thing that (short pause) can make recycling more effective." That slight hesitation makes it seem as if you're just thinking of what you're going to say next, as you would in a conversation.
   
   Use a downward inflection at the end of a sentence. Don't say, "More and more people are composting than ever before?" You're telling them, not asking them. This is a bad habit a lot of people have, even experienced speakers. Don't be guilty of doing this or you'll sound wishy-washy and unsure of yourself. A fatal flaw for speakers.
   
   
4. Use notes, but don't read or memorize.
   
   When I prepare a talk, I think of what I want to say and say it aloud. Then I write a phrase or some key words that will remind me of what I want to say. I'll type a twenty-minute talk on one or two sheets of paper with just notes that guide me to the next point.
   
   There are a couple of exceptions to this rule. Since your introduction and closing are most important, it's okay to memorize them so you can begin and end with confidence and effective eye contact. Also, if you're quoting someone, it's all right to write the quote in full and read some (not all) of it.
   
   If you're going to allow for questions and answers, do them before closing your talk. You want to leave them with your strongest point and call to action. I like to end by saying, "I'll leave you with these words of..." and give a powerful quote that sums up my presentation. Don't end by saying, "thank you," as if they're doing you a favor. You're doing them a favor. If you must, say instead something like, "You've been a great audience and I've really enjoyed being here."
   
   
5. Tell stories.
   
   Tom Peters said, "The best leaders...almost without exception and at every level...are master users of stories and symbols." And, of course the best leaders are the best speakers.
   
   Tell them the story of how you got your children to turn off lights, save water, and recycle. Your stories should be personal and related to a point you're making. Have you ever gotten teary-eyed or a lump in your throat when a speaker told you how they escaped death in a car accident? Make 'em laugh; make 'em cry. They'll relate to and remember you for it. And stories just make your presentation a lot more personal and interesting.
   
   
6. Control your fear of public speaking.
   
   Notice I didn't say eliminate it, although you may reach that point with enough experience. A little nervousness is a good thing - it keeps you on your toes and gives you energy. Just don't let it show. Steve Bull advises, "Nerves and butterflies are fine - they're a physical sign that you're mentally ready and eager. You have to get the butterflies to fly in formation, that's the trick."
   
   There are only two reasons I can think of to be nervous or fearful of giving a presentation. One, you're putting too much importance on what people think of you (ego). Think of what you can do for them instead; that's what you're there for. And know that audiences are on your side. They want you to do a good job; they're not sitting there judging you unless you're awful. Your presentation is for them - not you.
   
   The other reason - a legitimate one - to be nervous is if you're unprepared. There's no excuse for this. People don't mind if you make mistakes or lose your place, but they do mind if you bore them or show a lack of concern for them by not being prepared.
   
   
7. Get speech coaching.
   
   Hopefully, these steps have given you some ideas on improving your presentation skills. The best way to make huge improvements is to hire a professional coach. Every experienced, dynamic speaker has had one. Your coach will support you and diplomatically point out ineffective things you're doing that you may be unaware of on your own.

Get a free copy of my "20 Presentation Tips" and discover the power of speech coaching at http://www.coachannette.com/prescoach.htm Annette Estes is a professional speech coach and Certified Professional Behavior and Values Analyst with The Estes Group. More info at http://www.coachannette.com/presentations.htm ©2010 Annette Estes.

Scriptwriting may look easy, but, like any craft, it’s a specialized skill that can take years to perfect. This 7-step scriptwriting process will shorten your learning curve and help you close that deal or promotion you so well deserve.

"Easy reading is damn hard writing." -- Nathaniel Hawthorne With travel budgets slashed and off-site meetings at record lows, the demand for online presentations is stronger than ever. Whether delivering live presentations using webinar technology such as WebEx or Citrix, or recording them with tools like Brainshark or Macromedia Breeze, a good script is not only critical to an effective presentation, it is the foundation.

Why, then, do we spend most our time dreaming up fancy visuals?

It’s easier. It’s more fun.

And a mistake.

The element more likely to make or break your success is the script itself—your choice of words, the sequence of arguments, how you make your message stick.

Visuals are important, indeed. But the script even more so. In fact, some of the most persuasive presenters—in person—use no visuals at all.

They know that PowerPoint can be PowerPoint-less. When delivering online, however, they follow this secret: The ratio of time invested on scriptwriting versus visuals should be at least 3:1.

Scriptwriting may look easy, but, like any craft, it’s a specialized skill that can take years to perfect. This 7-step scriptwriting process will shorten your learning curve and help you close that deal or promotion you so well deserve.

1. Set Clear Objectives.
   
   Is it to inform, educate, persuade, or motivate? Talk to 3-5 viewers directly and ask them what they need. The more explicitly your script addresses those needs, the better it will be received. Nothing kills a good presentation like extraneous information.
   
   
2. Analyze the Audience.
   
   Who are they? What is their experience with the subject? Do they know a little bit? A lot? Nothing? Find their sweet spot. Get too technical and you’ll lose them. Too basic and they’ll be bored. Remember, every audience member is always wondering, WIIFM – What’s in it for me?
   
   
3. Brainstorm Content.
   
   Old fashioned yellows pad and white boards work best. Electronic brainstorming tools may suit you as well. Using index cards and sticky notes this early allows your logical left brain to bleed into the process, which can slow the flow of ideas. Save those for step 4. Let your mind work freeform.
   
   
4. Create an Outline.
   
   Next, identify your best ideas. Add some, delete some. Consolidate into main points and sub-points. This is where index cards and sticky notes come in handy. Spread them out on your desk. Put them in a compelling sequence. A brilliant decorator friend once told me his secret to success: “Move the furniture around until it looks good.” Do the same with your ideas.
   
   
5. Write a Sloppy Copy.
   
   Turn off your editor. Open the spigot. Write fast. Don’t stop to edit and second-guess yourself or your best ideas may never come. I recommend writing in Word first and pasting into PowerPoint (notes section) later, after the script is finished.
   
   
6. Edit, Edit, Edit
   
   Richard North Patterson said, “Writing is rewriting." Review your sloppy copy. Keep the good parts. Delete the rest. Then expand, shape and clarify. Refine. Say things in the fewest words possible. William Zinser, author of the bestselling book, On Writing Well, said, “Writing improves in direct ratio to the number of things we can keep out of it.”
   
   
7. Polish
   
   The best way to polish is to first test it on your audience. Deliver it as if it were the final performance and get their candid feedback. Writers often find that entire sections can be deleted. Remember, with every word you cut, your impact increases exponentially. Hold off on writing your intro and summary until the very end, as it’s impossible—and frustrating—trying to write those when you haven’t yet figured out what you’re going to say.

Roger Grannis is the founder of Clearview Creative Communications, a full-service creative agency that help organizations improve business results by developing custom tools and training. Clearview also offers keynotes and workshops on scriptwriting, training the trainer, presentation development, and presentation skills. Roger can be reached at (203) 431-2999, by email at: roger@clearview24.com, or visiting http://www.clearview24.com