atlechma.info

As the downturn continues through the penumbral landscapes of a perceived, slow-going economic recovery across weeks and month, and yes, even years, many Americans find themselves (as they did after 911), reevaluating their professional lifestyles. To be sure, many are simply concerned about keeping or finding a job to provide for themselves and their families, but there is a distinct contingency of the population that is hoping to seize upon the opportunity that the downturn affords to go back and get the education necessary to transition into new industries that suit professional lifestyle choices more fittingly.

Obviously if you have savings and are not earning a great deal in the downturn or are unemployed, a slow economic period such as the present period offers the perfect opportunity to wait out the storm by going back and getting that degree or certification. Educational financing is often available and can cover room and board for you (and sometimes family) for many years while you earn your degree. Additionally, available scholarships can help to minimize or eliminate the accrual of education-related debt. Small work-study jobs offer you the ability to provide for basic needs while you increase your earning power in a environment that can be far more stress-free and enjoyable than many current working situations. A return to academia can, on a long term basis, help lead to a better working environment in a dream position once the economic unrest has cleared up and, in the short term, provide you with the freedom to study topics that interest you and spend greater time with your family.

While a return to education for a degree or certification is not for everyone (particularly for individuals with job security and satisfaction or with large families and scant savings) for the right individual, the current downturn can offer a real opportunity in an economically secure environment. The choice is a highly personal one and is, like everything else, a matter of timing. If you find yourself sitting there at your desk or at home thinking about a change in your career path and living experience, you may want to ask yourself “Is the timing right for me?”

Ever hear the one about picturing your audience naked to overcome your fear of presenting to them? How about the one about practicing in front of a mirror? Anyone who has ever tried either of those well-meaning tropes knows how futile they are. Deluding ourselves that we can calm fears by laughing at our audience, or that we can convince them of anything by faking authenticity, is worse than a waste of time. It prevents us from using our greatest power as presenters: our true selves. Try ignoring the “worst advice” and substituting powerful communication instead.

Worst Advice:

Memorize Your Presentation

Now this one sounds reasonable enough on the surface. After all, much of our fear about presenting is wrapped up in our fear of looking foolish in front of others. Some of that comes from our fear of drawing a blank when all eyes are on us. If we memorize our presentation, that won’t happen, right? Perhaps, but what will certainly happen is that we’ll be taken out of “the moment” as we put all of our energy and attention on recalling the least significant portion of our presentation: the literal words. Suddenly, we’re not focused on the immediate reaction we’re getting from the audience or on making sure we’re connecting with them. We’re focusing instead on making sure the words keep coming. That sets the bar too low: surviving the presentation until the end isn’t your goal. CONNECTING to your audience is.

Instead: Know Your Presentation

Focus on the essence of what you’re presenting: namely your key messages. This is what’s most important for your audience to understand. If the worst happens and all of your materials and notes disappeared, how would you summarize what you came to say? Put those bigger ideas up front and build your presentation around them. Your audience won’t likely remember all of the supporting details, but they should remember your key points. Worry less about repeating the exact words you intended and more about making sure you’re connecting. If you see heads nodding, react. If you see puzzled looks, don’t just plow through. Stop and make sure you’re not rushing ahead of your audience just to fill space. Slow yourself down and make sure you really see your audience and gauge their reactions. Remember, no one knows what you were supposed to say, so don’t let a pause or different phrasing than you’d planned throw you.

Use a Lot of Bullets

For some reason, lots of presenters think they can take a long, dry presentation and suddenly make it come alive if they can just add enough bullets to the screen. Ever sit through one of those presentations where the bullets don’t in any way indicate an abbreviated point? Heck, they may not even indicate a point! Here’s the thing: TEXT ON A SLIDE IS NOT A VISUAL AID. There is nothing about text that makes it more understandable, or illustrative, than the spoken word, by itself.

Instead: Put the Visual Back in Visual Aid

Are there actual visuals that would help illustrate your points? Can you bring in relevant charts, graphs, photos, illustrations to help your audience “see” your points? If you must use bullets, greatly reduce them and the words you use. Your audience didn’t come to read and they didn’t come to listen to YOU read to them. (Hint: if you use punctuation in your bulleted information, you’re using too many words.)

More is Better

Ever sit through a presentation that’s a product of many hands? More detail, more slides, with the presenter intoning something like… “..and here you can see again… “ or “this is just yet another example of… “ Yes, you want to prove your key points. Data does help you do that. However, information overload may quickly confuse your audience and actually mask your key points.

Instead: Pointed is Powerful

Limit your backup points and secondary data to your “best stuff.” Ask yourself whether any given slide is necessary, why, and what might instead be moved to handout material. Remember, this is ORAL presentation. That means it’s necessary for presenters to pay attention to higher messages, with just enough information to lend strong support. Remember, you are the presentation, so stay center stage.

Video is an unbelievably powerful tool that can improve your business dramatically. It allows people to see and hear information rather than just read it. Watching something is also more fun and easier then reading a report about it. The possibilities for video are endless, you can create a short video about what your organization does. Video allow you to be creative.

Just like a sales letter, you need to have the following on how to make a good video presentation.
#1 how to make a good video presentation: In the opening frame you will need a big promise. This is almost like the headline. But you state things like, there will only be 200 available and we will close this offer in less than 24 hours. I also say things like, the price of this may shock some people, but I will get to that soon, do not close this video until you see the price, as I said, it will shock some people for the value we are giving.

#2 how to make a good video presentation: You want to make it clear at the beginning and the end that the offer may change or be gone at a certain amount of time. If you can refer to how you have done it in the past that will help. Urgency means that after an amount of time the price or bonuses may change or the product may not even be available so you want to advise them to act now.

#3 how to make a good video presentation: Let people see how doing what you do allows you to live the way you want to live. They will only assume that when they have the success with your product, they can achieve what they want out of life.

#4 how to make a good video presentation: Give a full list of what your product is and what the benefits are of each feature. Also, you want to explain what is different about your product compared to any other product on the market and why yours is better.

#5 how to make a good video presentation: This is a must. You must let the buyer know that they have no risk. If they are not happy they can get all of their money back and still keep all or some of the bonuses. Let them know it is a no questions asked money back guarantee. So if they get their money back and still get to keep the bonuses, the risk was really on you. They have no risk. Either it works, or their get their money back.

#6 how to make a good video presentation: Here is where you recap, tell them to act now because if they do not there is a chance if they decide to come back that they would have lost out on this offer forever. Since there is no risk to take advantage. Tell them what to do next and how to order.

By following the steps on how to make a good video presentation above you should have a smashing success with your next launch.