a blog, a website, a place for my stuff
I didn't think "incredible" was the right adjective to use in this headline until I looked it up. But if I can take the liberty of abusing the English language (like that's not done every day!) I think the word "un-credible" should be added to the dictionary. Dictionary.com gives two meanings for the word INCREDIBLE: 1. so extraordinary as to seem impossible. 2. not credible; hard to believe; … [Read more...]
Speaker demo videos were once done on VHS, moved to DVD, and are now primarily via the Internet for maximum visibility and success. Make yours available online wherever you can. Adopt the concept that you'll never burn a DVD. Internet and email only - Welcome to the future. Great speaker demo videos bring out the strong points in your topics, personality, delivery and IMPACT TO THE … [Read more...]
You can put together an affordable speaker demo video on a shoestring. Start with this basic framework to organize the seven elements that go into making a great video. First, you must realize that it's more than just video. Creative use of these seven elements will help tell your story, bring depth to your message, solidify your brand - and most importantly, establish credibility - even if … [Read more...]
That response brought a smile to my face when talking to a colleague (and hopefully a good friend in the not so distant future) about taking up the game of golf again. "Aaahhh! We don't need no stinkin' lessons!" She was light-heartedly giving the wise-ass response us wise asses give when we mean "Dude, this just for fun!" or "Honey, I am NOT tryin' to be that serious!" Unfortunately, I … [Read more...]
I've been working with up-and-coming speakers since 2004 and there's one thing that I don't think has changed in that time. Every speaker needs video. Today, video is so easy to produce and share, I don't really get why speakers wouldn't have any - or why they shouldn't have a hard-drive full of it for that matter. Although I teach speakers that there are seven elements to a great speaker demo … [Read more...]
How do you expect to be a carpenter without a hammer? How do you expect to be a plumber without a wrench? How do you expect to be an evangelist without a message? That's what I want to ask a lot of the speakers, trainers and information marketers I run into. They're either boasting about being a speaker/guru or swearing that they are ready to be one. Yet they don't have a hammer, a wrench or … [Read more...]
Viral Marketing…. I hear it all the time, basically know what it is, but the former journalist in me made me want to look it up anyway. Below are a few of the official definitions I found. In a nutshell, what it means to me is that you don't have to have Coca Cola's Super Bowl commercial budget anymore to successfully get the word out. 1. Marketing techniques that use pre-existing social … [Read more...]
Every day, I work to match college campus speakers to the needs of student activities/affairs professionals. In doing the work I’ve learned a lot from my SA friends and try to share that with my speaker friends. The more they know, the easier we can create a win-win for the speaker and the school. I’ve run into a lot of speakers who think college students should want to hear whatever they … [Read more...]
I always start these entries with the disclaimer: "I am NOT a social media guru." (or a freakin' guru of any kind for that matter!) There are plenty of people out there making that claim and I do not want my name added to the list. I am however, attempting to make social media "pay off" for me just like everyone else is - however they might define payoff. I'm just hanging on for the wild ride I … [Read more...]