Cathy Stucker - The Idea Lady

Attract Customers and Make Yourself Famous

Will Speak for Food

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Nothing says “expert” like standing at the front of the room, giving a speech. And it is easier than you may think. Here is how to start building your business with public speaking—even if you think you could never give a speech.

Many people, perhaps including you, are afraid to speak in public. Studies have reported that public speaking is the #1 fear of most people, even ahead of death. (Or, as Jerry Seinfeld put it, at the average funeral more people would rather be in the coffin than delivering the eulogy.) The best way to overcome your fear is to start speaking. It gets easier with experience.

To get practice in a supportive environment, join Toastmasters. Members give prepared and impromptu speeches and receive feedback on their strengths and how to improve their skills. To find a chapter near you, go to www.Toastmasters.org.

Every day, there are meetings of networking groups, professional associations and community organizations all over town. Many of those meetings need speakers. Most won’t pay you, but they will give you exposure, and usually lunch, too. While the Chicken ala King may not be anything special, the opportunity to reach an audience will build your reputation and cause customers to seek you out. [Read more…]

Conquer the Fear of Public Speaking

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What do you think of the video? Would you like to see Professor Hans Von Puppet in more videos here at IdeaLady.com? Let me know by posting your thoughts in the comments.

Do you have a fear of public speaking? Lots of people, even accomplished speakers, do. But don’t let it stop you from giving a great speech. Here are some tips to help you get past the fear. [Read more…]

Speaker Tips: Where Do You Stand?

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speaker-standingNote From Cathy:
Dan makes some great points in this article. As someone who is vertically-challenged, I have long been aware that in addition to stepping off the stage or into the audience, standing behind a podium can also make me disappear.

To create intimacy with the audience, I like to move around the stage and make eye contact with audience members. When making eye contact, choose a few anchors—people who are responsive and involved audience members who will give you good reinforcement. (Tip: If you are afraid of speaking and intimidated when facing a crowd, instead of making direct eye contact you can look at a point a little over their heads. It will appear to the audience that you are looking at them, but you don’t actually have to look anyone in the face.)

Here are Dan Janal’s tips about putting yourself in the shoes (seats?) of audience members to be a more effective speaker:
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Improve Your Public Speaking Skills

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Speaking in public is scary to most people, but it is a very effective way to grow your business and build your expert reputation. Good speaking skills are an asset, and everyone can be a better speaker than they are currently.

The single best way to improve your speaking skills is to practice speaking at every opportunity. Look for opportunities to speak in front of groups whenever you can. You might want to start with small groups and work up to larger ones, but practice, practice, practice!

Here are some ideas about how you can get more practice speaking and become a better public speaker.
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