Presentation Folders Can Help Your Business

If you’re looking to get more organized for a presentation, consider purchasing a presentation folder. While it might seem like a small part of any presentation, being well-organized can do wonders for the overall appeal of your project. Clients know that organization is the key to success, and nothing pleases them more than an individual who understands this.

They Make You Look Professional

Professionalism is the key to success in many different lines of work. In short, organization leads to professionalism, which shows that you’re absolutely serious about the task at hand. If you’re interested in impressing potential employers and clients, then you need to make sure that your appearance is nothing short of immaculate. Remember, when you make a presentation, you’re asking a client to entrust their money to you so that you’ll use it wisely – so don’t let them down!

Appeal To Your Clients

They come in many different shapes and sizes, and it’s up to you to choose the right one for your presentation. It can be especially useful to choose folders based on whoever is receiving the presentation. For instance, getting presentation folders that match the colors of the company, or perhaps adding the company logo to your presentation folders might at first seem silly, but many potential clients see it as enthusiasm towards their business. You want your client to realize that you really want this job, and this is one way to show them just that.

In many situations, you may find yourself issuing multiple documents to your potential clients. Purchasing and using multiple presentation folders helps foster the idea that you’re very put together and reliable. When the client sees how easily they can go through your data and ideas, they’ll almost certainly be impressed. After all, organization breeds clarity!

A high level of organization can even put you on the level of some of the bigger companies. A common complaint of smaller firms is that they’re less trusted and thus get less work. Part of the problem is that potential clients see smaller firms as less organized and overall inferior. You can easily neutralize this stereotype by using presentation folders to promote an aura of confidence and organization that’s sure to impress your client. Don’t lose out to the big shot companies – show your client that you’re worth their time and their business!

Are They Cheap

Folders with specific presentation uses are quite simply one of the most efficient investments you can make. Typical presentation folders cost only a few dollars, but the impact they make on your business and presentation can be worth so much more. Presentation folders convey the can-do attitude that so many potential clients are eager to see, so spend a few dollars on some high quality folders – you’ll be very thankful that you did.

The massive impact presentation folders can have on any interaction with potential clients is simply staggering. Remember that a powerful presentation requires confidence, the air of professionalism, and a high degree of organization – all of which are easily obtainable with a very cheap investment like presentation folders. Customized presentation folders can be found online, so shop around and see what you can find!

Ten Speech Tips for Writing Powerful and Persuasive Presentation

Have you ever had to give a speech?

Do you remember that feeling? A knot in the stomach, sweaty palms and a panic attack!

Not a very pleasant experience. And yet, I’m sure your speech was a success because 90 per cent of a typical audience want the speaker to succeed.

Yet according to The Book of Lists, speaking in public is one of our greatest fears.

Much of this anxiety is due to a lack of confidence in writing and preparing a speech rather than in the delivery.

Giving a presentation can be a great way to build your business, influence public opinion or kick-start your career.

It is an excellent way to stand out from the crowd and make a real difference in people’s lives.

What are the secrets of writing a powerful and persuasive speech for any occasion?

Here are 10 tips for turning a good speech into a great one!

1. Have a plan and set some objectives & outcomes.

There is nothing worse than not knowing what you want to achieve. Do you want to educate the audience, inform, inspire, motivate or touch their emotions? Always work out what you want to achieve before beginning the speech process.

2. Have a formal structure – beginning, middle and end.

Audiences love structure and the best speeches stick to this tried and true rule. As they say: “tell them what you’re going to say, tell them and then tell them again”.

3. Avoid having too much content.

Hands up those that are guilty of this sin. I know I am. I have lost count the number of technical presentations given by CEO’s, managers, scientists, engineers, geologists and other professionals who have just put too much content into their presentations. Far too much for an audience to absorb – remember even the best audiences face information overload after 20 minutes.
How do you overcome the content crisis? See Tip # 8.

4. Define who your audience is and use the most appropriate communication
channels to reach them.

Analyse how your audience likes to take in information – do they like to be visually stimulated or do they enjoy just sitting back and listening. Or do they like to get involved, to touch and feel in a kinaesthetic way. Work out the best mix of visual, audio and kinaesthetic and use this in your speechwriting.

5. Research your speech using a range of sources.

Be a keen observer of the trends your audience is likely to be interested in and keep a file of interesting articles and information. If you are time poor- a few quick questions when meeting an audience just prior to a speech, such as “what are the issues facing your business/industry/association at the moment?” can really help target your presentation and build rapport.

6. Use personal stories, examples and metaphors to make intangible concepts
tangible.

In many cases you are trying to sell ideas and concepts in a speech. These are intangible and often difficult for the audience to grasp. Personal stories, examples and metaphors make the invisible visible.

7. Have a strong opening and closing.

People remember the opening – first impressions count! The closing is important as it should reinforce the key message you want the audience to go away with in their head after they have heard the presentation. Ending with a ‘call to action’ can be a powerful way to get your audience to act on your message.

8. Add value and extra detail through a handout.

Here’s a tip: if you want to provide detail – put it in a handout! You can get far more content across in the written form than in a speech. Always refer to this in your presentation but hand it out after your speech so the audience is not distracted reading through it while you talk. There is nothing more soul destroying for a presenter to see the audience leafing through written notes rather than looking at you!

9. Use short words and plain English.

The short words are always the best words. Avoid jargon. Use active words instead of passive. This has far more impact in the minds of your listeners.

10. Evaluate and review on a regular basis.

There’s nothing more powerful than to hear back a speech you’ve written. If you are writing a speech for someone else always try and hear the speech or at least get some feedback. Recording and listening back to a presentation is the fastest way to improve your skills.

5 Reasons Why Presenters Won’t Use a Microphone

Often, I have seen people refuse to use a microphone when they’re presenting, whether at an office meeting, community event or industry conference. Yet, using a microphone correctly can make it easier for the audience to hear you and understand your message – which is the whole point of your presentation.

Here are the 5 reasons I hear for not using a microphone – and how you can overcome them.

1. You Don’t Think It’s Necessary
You may think, “my voice is powerful enough and I don’t need it,” but often, that is not the case. Realize that it may be difficult for the audience to hear you, given the size of the room and the amount of surrounding noise. Also, according to a 2009 study by the Better Hearing Institute, the number of Americans with hearing loss has grown to roughly 11 percent of the U.S. population – and six out of ten of them are below retirement age. So it is likely that there are people in your audience with some level of hearing difficulty.

2. You Aren’t Used to Hearing Your Own Voice
The more you listen to your own voice, the more comfortable you will get listening to it. Almost every computer and smartphone has an audio recorder, so use it to record yourself and play it back, so you can get used to how you sound.

3. You Don’t Realize It Can Protect Your Voice
Most people don’t project well without a microphone (unless you have been trained in singing or acting). So you end up shouting when you try to project, which can leave you with a sore throat, laryngitis or vocal cord damage.

4. You Don’t Know How to Use a Microphone
This concern is legitimate and can easily be addressed by practicing with the microphone. Ask the AV staff or a techie friend to help. You want to find out things such as: where to clip the microphone or how to hold it; who will control the volume; how to avoid ear-splitting feedback (don’t point the microphone at the speakers) and where to get an extra battery. Then get in the room ahead of time and practice using it.

5. You Think It’s Too Formal
You may think that using a microphone is only for professional speakers on a stage in front of thousands of people and that it would be arrogant to use it in a smaller setting. Not at all. Used well, a microphone can demonstrate that you’re a smart and respectful presenter who cares enough about your audience to use every tool at your disposal to ensure they can hear and understand your presentation.