You need to have a good idea of time when you are speaking. Going on for too long will upset your audience, and may not allow sufficient time for questions. Finishing too early could be equally embarrassing, particularly if the next speaker is not ready (or worse yet, has not arrived). Always rehearse so that you know how much time you will take. Remember that when you are nervous, you may speak more quickly, so make a conscious effort to slow down and stay on schedule. Most important of all, make sure that you can see a clock or a watch while you are speaking – but don’t keep looking at your wrist! MEDIA MYTHS There are lots of misconceptions about the media. Here are a couple. I need to ring journalists to make sure they have received my press release, and see if they are going to use it<br>
Er…No. This is the first job given to a press office trainee to make them realise that it is not a good idea. Never pester a journalist about press releases. They’ll contact you if they want more information. I should ignore freelance journalists – they move around too much.No again. Freelance journalists should be cultivated, because they move around. They work for more journals and broadcasters, are more experienced, and likely to be career professionals. Aim at developing a long-term relationship with them. By Alan Stevens, Media Coach www.mediacoach.co.uk
Archive for July, 2007
Watch The Clock
Presentation and Media Tips of the Week
|
|
Presentation Tip of the Week | |||
PERFECT PITCHING (part 2) Here’s the second batch of tips to help your business presentations –
- Ask Qualifier Questions: To ensure that you’re targeting the right person with the right message, ask a couple of questions about their decision-making powers
- Tailor Your Pitch to Your Audience: To investors, the pitch focuses on your team and how you plan to make money. To customers, your focus should be on the problem you can solve for them. Potential partners want to know what you’re building, why it’s important, and why you’re going to be a success.
- Show Your Passion: A good pitch makes your heart race. Show the fire in the belly and your passion to succeed.
- Conclude With a Call to Action: Always end your pitch with a call to action, but recognize that different audiences prompt different requests.
- Tell a Consistent Story: Make sure that your managers and other key individuals, such as investors and board members, can also give your company’s elevator pitch fluently. Nothing sounds worse than fumbling, inaccurate or contradictory company descriptions.
Now – go and win that contract!
|
|
Media Tip of the Week | |||
HOW TO RUIN A PRESS RELEASE (part 2) Here are five more ways to get it wrong –
- Use jargon and unexplained abbreviations. Your audience probably won’t have the same level of understanding as your clients.
- Don’t bother with quotes. In order to give real interest to a story, quotes are vital.
- Avoid any controversy. Don’t be boring – would you read a boring article?
- Let someone else write and check the release. Who is the expert?
- Give only email contact details. Better make sure you take your computer to bed if you do this.
So – you won’t do any of those ever again, will you?
