There are a couple of keys to speaking success we use at M Communications and M Com Publishing. You can apply these if you are an author or a non-author. Here you go:
1. Be Authentic. No one likes an infomercial. Well, maybe some people do but that is a completely different blog entirely. Be yourself and throw in a couple of personal (not too personal stories). People like to be entertained … especially when their lunch consists of dried chicken.
2. Capture your audience information. One way to do this is do a giveaway and collect business cards – pass a bowl around the room. Another, would be to collect people’s information with a survey on the last sheet of your handout. For example, have a simple form where people can fill out their information and check boxes on areas of interest. This is simple and targeted way to gather information. Whatever you do, and this is VERY annoying, do not get the contact list of all event attendees and proceed to contact them multiple times. It is a great way to get a bad reputation.
3. Follow up. Now, this seems simple enough but it never fails to amaze me when people do not follow up. In particular, I find it highly amusing when I tell people point blank I want to spend money on their business and they disappear. Poof! Gone! When someone requests your product or services … contact them. Phone and email.
