Welcome to our many new subscribers who signed up through, Opinion Surveys, Profit Info, BizNewsletters, Antion.com, Zmedia, RankYou and our many other signup partners. (see bottom if you no longer wish to receive "Great Speaking" ================================================ See Tom at the Canadian Assn. of Professional Speakers November 30 Attend his session and get bonuses worth $375.00 US. Details http://www.antion.com/caps.htm Also see Tom at the Wisconsin Speakers Assn December 6 & 7 He'll give a sneak peak at the Chapter meeting on the 6th and then his infamous full day electronic marketing camp on the 7th. http://www.antion.com/buttcamp.htm ########################################## GREAT SPEAKING Circulation 113,145 Vol. 3 Number 22 - November 25, 2001 Publisher: Tom Antion tom@Antion.com http://www.Antion.com (C) Anchor Publishing 2001 ########################################## No one ever lost credibility by being interesting. ========================================== *** SPEAKER BUSINESS LEADS *** Your subscription gets you free speaking leads when available. WE PAY YOU TO SEND US SUBSCRIBERS http://www.listpartners.com/cgi-local/cashpartner?406 Please recommend this E-Zine to anyone you know that is interested in being a better presenter, or who may want to make money speaking and training. (It's a good way to stay in touch with client's too.) You don't even have to mail them an article. http://www.antion.com/recommend.html If you are receiving this issue as a forward, and would like to get your own free subscription, visit http://www.antion.com/ezinesubscribe.htm To remove yourself from this list see bottom of this email. PRIVACY STATEMENT: We will not distribute your address to anyone. Period. ============================================= IN THIS ISSUE ============================================= 1. Quick Presentation Skills Tip 2. Advanced Presentation Skills Article (Beginners should read this too) 3. Humor Technique Series 4. Speaker Marketing Tip 5. Speaker Humor 6. Websites for Speakers ***** OUR LOSS IS YOUR GAIN ***** Folks this is really your chance for a windfall. I had 100 Electronic Marketing ButtCamp six-hour audio albums delayed at the border which messed up our inventory. Now that they've come in WE ARE SERIOUSLY OVERSTOCKED. We moved 40 of them out last week so the first 60 retail buyers will get a whopping 50 percent discount. http://www.antion.com/buttcamptapes.htm Dealer inquiries invited mailto:tom@antion.com for details ********************************* ===================================================== 1. Quick Presentation Skills Tip ===================================================== AVOID THE INTERNET by Tom Antion I can just here most of you out there that know me. "What do you mean avoid the Internet? Tom, you're just about married to the Internet. Who are you trying to kid?" No, I'm dead serious. Make every possible effort to avoid presentations where you rely on an Internet connection to make your points. Here's what I do so that I never look like a fool because my connection is no good: (I can find plenty of other ways to look like a fool on stage WITHOUT the help of the Internet.) hahahahaha There aren't that many presentations I can think of that absolutely require a real time live Internet connection. I use a video screen capture program like Camtasia or Lotus Screen Cam and record all the Internet webpages I want to visit IN ADVANCE. I also record narration or commentary about the webpages I'm recording. I burn the screen recordings on a CD and take it with me. No phone lines, no outrageous hotel expenses and virtually no chance of failure unless the laptop quits. Even if it did, I could borrow one from someone quickly and be right back on track. PLUS ... put a bunch of these videos together and you've got a product like my Electronic marketing CD http://www.antion.com/buttcamp.htm (We want your quick tips and genius techniques for this section. mailto:tom@antion.com put SPEAKING TIP in the subject line.) ********* TOM'S SECRET *********** If I had to pick the one secret of how my business makes tons of money this is it: http://www.twipress.com/antionclassics.htm ********************************** ****** FREE MARKETING REPORT ****** Free New Report from Action Plan Marketing: "Why Your Marketing Does Not Work and What You Can Do About It." Get it here now: http://www.actionplan.com/antwork.html ****** ****************** ****** *** DISCUSSION BOARD VOLUNTEERS NEEDED *** GREAT INTERNET MARKETING DISCUSSION BOARD needs people to visit our under construction new system. We're looking for suggestions on features, policies, layout etc. you like and use at other discussion boards. Feel free to sign up and post your questions and comments. http://www.greatinternetmarketing.com/forums/ ****************************************** ===================================================== 2. Advanced Presentation Skills Article ===================================================== ROOM BLACKOUTS by Tom Antion If you want to make a spectacular impression on a low budget, room blackouts are a great technique. I use them in two ways. 1. If I want the audience to concentrate on a recorded audio tape and 2. when I want an awesome closing. Let's say I wanted the audience to listen to a recording of the speech where John Fitzgerald Kennedy said "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." Or maybe the "I have a dream" speech by Martin Luther King would be appropriate. I would gradually bring the lights down as I was introducing the audio clips. I would either project a picture of JFK, or MLK if I had the capability, or I would totally darken the room (except for the red exit signs, or whatever lights are mandatory for emergencies). When you take away the visual clues (or distractions) the audience has, you help them totally focus on the audio. THIS CLOSING REALLY ROCKS When I'm doing a rip roaring presentation that demands a spectacular close, this is what I do. (Note: I DON'T do this if I'm planning a table rush to buy my products.) I hand out (usually you need helpers to do this quickly) some sort of chemical glow product. I give the audience instructions on what we're going to do. I tell the audience to stand up and I get them all swaying back and forth in unison while they're holding they glow sticks over their heads. Then I bring the lights down and play some singalong song or Karoke song where I have made up custom words for their group. This is one heck of a closing! When the song is finished I say "thank you for having me." The lights start to come up while they are applauding and I accidentally on purpose get a standing ovation. hahahhaha See "Useful Website" section below for suppliers of glow products: CORRECTION FROM LAST ISSUE. Tripp Frohlichstein's website is http://www.mediamasterstraining.com *********** SPONSOR *********** FREE 7 Day Electronic Marketing Mini Course mailto:minicourse.GS033@aweber.com ******************************** HOW TO BE A KICK-BUTT PUBLICITY HOUND, a 300-page e-book by Joan Stewart and Tom Antion. You'll find dozens of checklists, sage advice on how to pitch journalists, and tons of handy websites you can use to track down contacts at newspapers, magazines, radio and TV stations. Only $97. Click here for a chapter-by-chapter review, the table of contents and a free chapter http://www.antion.com/publicityhoundTOC.htm ******************************** ===================================================== 3. HUMOR TECHNIQUE ===================================================== HAVE THE AUDIENCE WRITE THE HUMOR by Tom Antion Writing custom humor for groups is really tough. I remember the days when I was doing 85 percent humor in my speeches. The customized humor always took the most effort and carried the most risk. One way to beat the system is to have the audience write their own customized humor. Who knows what's funny to them, better than them? Break the audience into groups and give them some direction to start. You might ask them to come up with funny book titles based on people in their company (remind them to be kind because we don't want any hurt feelings). You can give them some to start which will get the mood set and get you some laughs using stock humor before the exercise starts. Book Titles: "Secrets to a Happy Marriage" by Bill Clinton "How to Raise Sober Kids" by George W. Bush "Why I Hate Florida" by Al Gore You could have them do Movie Titles, Work Project Titles, Newspaper Headlines, etc. After they've been working on them for a while have them pick a spokesperson for the group who will recite to the entire audience their five best lines. You can give out prizes and generally have a lot of fun with this technique. ********* GREAT SPEAKER REFERENCE ******* BE THE HIT OF YOUR NEXT PRESENTATION! "Wake em Up! How to Use Humor and Other Professional Techniques to Create Alarmingly Good Business Presentations" "Toms program and materials will cut five years off a speakers learning curve." -- Cavett Robert, Founder National Speakers Assn. Now available for immediate download in pdf format http://www.antion.com/speakershop.htm click on "E Books" For a FREE Chapter visit http://www.antion.com/products/produc~3.htm ********************************************** ===================================================== 4. $$$$$$$ SPEAKER MARKETING TIP $$$$$$$$ ===================================================== WHAT IS YOUR ELEVATOR SPEECH? by Jeffrey J. Mayer You're in an elevator and in walks the meeting planner you've been trying to reach for a year. You've got 15 seconds to make an impression. What do you say... "Hi, my name is Stan Smith, I'm a professional speaker." or "Hi, I'm Shirley Jones, I'm a Sales Trainer." or "Hi, my name is Elizabeth Gonzalez, and I'm a success coach." How far do you think any of these statements will take you? Do they continue the conversation? Do they get you an appointment? Do they get you any business? NO! NO!! NO!!! The reason these statements don't get you a response - or any business - is because they're focused on you. What you do. Not what's of interest - or benefit - to the customer. So What! When you can say "SO WHAT!" after a statement, it's not a benefit. And that's why you're not getting anywhere. Question: What's the most popular radio station in the US? Answer: WII-FM - WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME!!! As an alternative, Stan could say: "Hi, my name is Stan Smith, I work with companies helping them improve their customer service. Do you have a quick moment to chat, or may I give you a call at your office." Shirley could say: "Hi, I'm Shirley Jones, and I work with companies that want to improve their people's performance so they can close more sales and make more money. Do you have a moment?" Elizabeth could say: "Hi, my name is Elizabeth Gonzalez, I work with companies helping their employees set their priorities and stay focused, so they can grow their business and become more profitable and successful. Do you have a moment?" BENEFIT STATEMENTS I call these statements BENEFIT STATEMENTS for they focus on the benefits that you offer to your client/customer, as opposed to focusing on what it is you do. Let me give you another example. This is the bio from one of my books. Jeffrey J. Mayer is one of the country's foremost authorities on time and business management, [SO WHAT!] and is the author of many best-selling books. [SO WHAT!] He has been featured in The New York Times, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Esquire, People magazine, and many other publications. [SO WHAT!] For years I've used that bio and I wondered why I never got any phone calls. Today it reads a bit differently: Jeffrey Mayer helps business owners, corporate executives and sales professionals manage their time, set their priorities, and stay focused so they can achieve their goals, grow their business, and be more successful. And here's another example. A client of mine who does programs on how to find referrals says: "I help sales people learn how to find qualified prospects so they can grow their business and make more money." A client in the health care industry now says: "My programs help doctors manage their practices better so they can provide better patient care." If you want to grow your business and get ahead, you've got to have a great Elevator Speech. ==> A NOTE FROM TOM: Jeff's got a GREAT new E-book: "Opening Doors with a Brilliant Elevator Speech," that I highly recommend. This is a very quick read - you can get thru it in 15 minutes. It's short, quick & concise and is filled with how-to information that you can put to use instantly so you can get more bookings and make more money. Within minutes you'll be able to describe who you are and what you do in ten-seconds or less. Click Here to order and download "Opening Doors with a Brilliant Elevator Speech." http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/adtrack.asp?AdID=8022 Also, if you're an ACT! user, you'll find Jeff's ACT! and business e-Books to be very helpful. You read Jeff's bio above, but you may not know about his best- selling books: "Success is a Journey," "Time Management for Dummies" and "ACT! 2000 for Windows for Dummies." If you would like to receive Jeff's free Success newsletter, visit http://www.SucceedingInBusiness.com NOTE: The site below is where I began learning about E Marketing http://www.marketingtips.com/t.cgi/12273/ Good and easy to use shopping cart system http://www.kickstartcart.com The email list management company I use http://www.postmastergeneral.com/?affiliate=antion Get your own associate program and have other websites selling tons of your products and services. http://www.marketingtips.com/assoctrac/t.x/12273 Tom's Top Ten Marketing Resources page http://www.antion.com/marketingtools.htm ** HOW TO WRITE A BOOK ON ANYTHING IN TWO WEEKS ** Guaranteed Plus 120 days of Membership ($197.00 Value) in The PIP Tips Writers' Club. Just send a blank email to: mailto:thepip@getresponse.com?subject=GWSpecialOffer ************************************************** ===================================================== 5. SPEAKER HUMOR ===================================================== => Why do people read "Soap Opera Digest?" They're reading gossip about people who don't really exist. -- Margot Black => It doesn't matter what temperature a room is. It's always room temperature, right? -- Steven Wright => Therapy is like an easy game show where the answer to every question is "My Mom." -- Robin Greenspan => You know you really messed up when the therapist says, "Really?" . . . You freaky, ain't you? -- Sinbad => I asked the psychiatrist if he could help my depression because I'm so hideously ugly I know I'll never find a mate. . . .He said, "Sure I can help you. Go lay face down on the couch." => I told my mother I was thinking of seeing a therapist. She thought that was a good idea because she heard they make a lot of money. -- Darlene Hunt => I went to a therapist and he said treat every day like it's your last. So I did. . . . I stiffed him. -- Bob Zany => On my wedding night I should have known better than to wear a nightgown with feet. -- Joan Rivers => I can't understand why I should give cut crystal serving trays as wedding gifts to guys who I knew only yesterday as Snot Boy. -- Paul Provenza => You know you're getting fat when you can pinch and inch on your forehead. -- John Mendoza => Most people work just hard enough to not get fired and get paid just enough money not to quit. -- George Carlin => I called a temp agency looking for work and they asked if I had any phone skills. I said, "I called you didn't I?" -- Zach Galifianakis => The trouble with being in the rat race is even if you win, you're still a rat. -- Lily Tomlin => It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it. -- Steven Wright => I work for myself, which is fun, Except for when I call in sick, I know I'm lying. -- Rita Rudner => Word Derivation: COLLABORATIVE from the Greek Col: with other people; laborative: the other people are morons -- Richard Jeni Much more FREE speaker humor at http://www.antion.com/humor/speakerhumor/speakerhumor.htm ===================================================== 6. USEFUL WEBSITES ===================================================== http://www.successmtgs.com Successful Meeting Magazine http://www.amazingpopups.com/power Excellent pop up box training system that shows you how all the top marketers use pop ups without making people mad. Glow products from "Room Blackout" article above http://www.ganalabglow.com http://www.nightclubitems.com http://www.lightgod.com/ http://www.liquidlight4glow.com http://flashtrays.com/ ****** EARN BIG REFERRAL COMMISSIONS ****** You can earn a 10 - 25 percent commission for referring Tom for speaking engagements and bulk product sales. Commissions normally start between $850.00 and $1700 depending on your level of involvement. For complete details visit http://www.antion.com/referrals.htm *********************************************** ===================================================== FREE ARTICLES FOR YOUR PUBLICATIONS ===================================================== I have many articles available for reprint in your publication, company newsletter, etc. You may use articles written by me that you see in great speaking. Back issues can be viewed at http://www.antion.com/ezinebackissues.htm OR mailto:freearticles@antion.com for an automated list of additional articles. All you have to do is print the article in its entirety along with the by line at top and the credits, and complete contact information at the end of each article. I would appreciate a tear sheet or electronic copy too. Thanks ******* Do YOU WANT TO BE A SPONSOR? ******* REACH OVER 113,000 SPEAKERS / TRAINERS / EXECS For automated sponsorship details send mailto:sponsor@antion.com or visit http://www.antion.com/sponsor.htm *********************************************** ===================================================== To subscribe to GREAT SPEAKING visit http://www.antion.com/ezinesubscribe.htm For Back Issues visit: http://www.antion.com/ezinebackissues.htm ===================================================== Antion & Associates / Anchor Publishing Box 2630 Landover Hills, Maryland USA 20784 (301) 459-0738, Fax (301) 552-0225 In Continental US (800) 448-6280 orders or paid consulting only mailto:Tom@antion.com http://www.antion.com Trade permanent links with us mailto:linktrade@antion.com To Join our associate program and make money from your website visit: http://www.antion.com/associates/assoc_program.htm