by Guest Blogger, Shannon Cherry
Speaking in public can be one of the most cost effective publicity tools to reach many people all at once. And it can also increase your credibility and visibility while position you as the go-to expert.
Each speaking opportunity is a chance to promote yourself and your topic. But are you taking advantage of the additional publicity you can get when you are booked as a speaker?
Here are several ideas to help you use your presentation to get even more exposure and visibility.
* Use editorial calendars to augment speaking opportunities. Most publications and many TV and radio talk shows offer insights on what topics they will be covering in the future. These are called editorial calendars. If you speech matches one of the future topics, you can notify producers or journalists well ahead of schedule and set yourself in a good position to be noticed.
* Initiate pre-event publicity. You can generate pre-event publicity in a number of ways, ranging from sending out a media alert, including it in a community calendar, publicizing it on your website, or posting an announcement with newsletters and ezines relevant to the topic you’re speaking on. This will help you increase attendance at your presentation and your chance of finding good prospects who may be interested in doing business with you.
* Write your own introduction. By doing so, you can include things you would like to say, or brag, about yourself without seeming like a walking advertisement.
* Do the obvious: Practice, practice, practice. This may seem like redundant advice, but you never really know who is in the audience. There can be a journalist, a producer, or a potential client. Be clear, concise, and prepared for anything to happen!
* Make sure you tell people who you are, what your expertise is and what your business is every time you speak. Whether it’s a classroom aspiring public relations pros or a group of success-minded individuals who wish to start their own business, always let your audience know what you do and how it can benefit them. Being clear about your expertise and letting people know of its worth can generate positive references, potential clients, and unexpected media coverage!
* Offer to submit a review to a newsletter. Every time you give a talk for an organization, offer to submit a summary of what you covered to their newsletter. Be sure to include a photograph and contact information. Many organizations send their newsletters to the media, so you can piggyback of the coverage.
* Don’t forget about publicity after your presentation is through. After each event, send out a notice or news release to your local area media professionals. Make the information newsworthy by tying it in with a topical headline or become aware of ways to make your field more appealing and exciting. Also, mention the background information of the event, how it relates to your area, and what you presented and benefit the audience.
About the Author:
Shannon Cherry is known as The Power Publicist. She helps small business owners, coaches, consultants and entrepreneurs create a powerful presence using low-cost, high impact publicity methods. To get Shannon’s Be Heard! free publicity power pack visit http://www.beheardsolutions.com
