Presenting Yourself

When Body Language Lies – HBS Working Knowledge -- With apologies to Dooley Wilson, sometimes a smile is not just a smile. Being able to read "nonverbal communication"—body language—is essential in business dealings. Problem is, it's easy to misinterpret the clues we’re observing. We look at the truth behind the smile—and other myths.

The Power of Posture – HBS Working Knowledge – How you stand can be as important as what you say.  Here are the ten categories of behavior you should monitor to improve your “presence” and effectiveness.

Creating a Positive Professional Image – HBS Working Knowledge -- In today’s diverse workplace, your actions and motives are constantly under scrutiny. Time to manage your own professional image before others do it for you.

Ways we Stand and What it Tells our Customers – SalesVantage.com -- When dealing with a customer, we are working to convey a message. We do so, but so little of the message is conveyed with words.

How to Be a Star Presenter – SalesVantage.com -- Every salesperson has to be a skilled presenter -- and not only for the obvious reason.

Articles on Presentation Skills - SalesVantage.com – A variety of topics relating to improving you skill for making presentations.

Vista Print - A place to get business cards.

Public Speaking Skills

A Short Guide to Effective Public Speaking – SalesVantage.com -- There are certain items every speech should include.  Begin with an attention-getting device. Be animated in delivery and look at your audience as you speak.  Organize your speech and have only 3 or 4 points.  Use your own story and leave the audience with something to think about.

Public Speaking and Conferences – Small Business Notes -- Business owners are often invited to make presentations, participate in panel discussions or speak at conferences and meetings.

Speech Writing Under the Gun – HBS Working Knowledge -- It doesn’t matter to your audience if you have ten days or ten minutes to write a speech. You still must deliver. Here are tips for speeding your speech prep.

Audience Grabbers: Start With a Bang – HBS Working Knowledge – The key to an effective presentation? You have to capture your audience in the first few seconds.  Here are six way to get off to a strong start.

The End is the Beginning – SalesVantage.com -- Have a strong ending to your presentation because people remember best what is said last.

The Presentation After the Presentation – SalesVantage.com -- The presentation after the presentation is the question and answer period. This article stresses how to use the question and answer period for best results. Areas covered include keeping your answers short, encourage people to ask questions by your positive approach, repeat the question, and do not answer loaded question.

Three Ways to Make a Technical Presentation More Interesting – SalesVantage.com -- The biggest mistake you can make as a technical presenters is thinking the goal of your presentation is to share information.

Important Presentation Pointers: During and After – SalesVantage.com -- How does an audience judge a speaker and what can you do about it.

How to Close so People Take Action – SalesVantage.com -- For many people just getting to the end of the presentation is a relief! Yet the closing is where you move your audience to action.

Final Preparations – SalesVantage.com -- You've worked hard to develop your presentation. Now it's time to deliver it and you're nervous. Most people who have to speak in public experience "stage fright." The following tips will help you conquer these fears.

Presentation Development – SalesVantage.com -- Presentations should always be tailored to your audience. Your knowledge of the audience to which you will speak is an important factor in the success of your presentations.

Fine-tuning Your Presentation – SalesVantage.com -- Often the hardest part of making a presentation is getting started. Once you begin, adrenaline kicks in, you become excited talking about your topic, and you find that the experience is actually enjoyable.

Types of Presentations – SalesVantage.com -- The first step in preparing a presentation is to define the purpose of your presentation.

High-Tech Presenting: Benefits and Challenges – SalesVantage.com -- Programs like PowerPoint can make a presentation more effective and powerful if they are used correctly. If they are used incorrectly, however, they can detract from an otherwise good presentation.

Overcome Your Fears and Become a Great Speaker – SalesVantage.com -- You are already a great speaker. You give great presentations every day.

Speak Up – Entrepreneur.com -- Fear of public speaking got you in its grip? Try these tips, and become the talk of the town.

Speak out to Boost Your Business – Entrepreneur.com -- Demonstrate your expertise through seminars--just make sure you get over that little fear of public speaking first.

Shout It From the Rooftops – Entrepreneur.com -- Ensure maximum exposure for your new product or service by becoming a public speaker.

How to Get Started in Public Speaking – Entrepreneur.com -- Want to promote your business through public speaking? Start with these steps.

Using Public Speaking as Another Form of PR – Entrepreneur.com -- By stepping up to the podium, you can increase awareness of your business and yourself.

Be a Guest Speaker – Entrepreneur.com -- Promote your business by speaking at conferences.

Introduction to Public Speaking – Entrepreneur.com -- What's the best way to promote your business? Do it yourself. Our Public Relations Expert shows you how to get personal with potential customers.

How to Create and Deliver A Winning Group Sales Presentation – SalesVantage.com -- You have the perfect solution for your prospect. Only challenge now is to make them see and believe that what you're offering is significantly better than the other four organizations they are also speaking with.

Public Speaking - Entrepreneur.com – Articles to help you make presentations.

Media Skills

Preparing for a News Interview – University of Florida Extension -- This fact sheet discusses strategies to help you succeed in presenting yourself in an interview for television, radio or print.

Preparing for TV and Radio Interviews – Small Business Notes -- Your media relations campaign has paid off and you've been asked to appear as a guest on a TV or radio program.

On the Record: Managing Your Sound Bites – HBS Working Knowledge – Many leaders will be called upon to speak with the media.  Are you ready when the lights go on and the microphone is in your face?  Here are two secrets to making a compelling case.

Mastering the Media – Mplans.com -- What to do when the media comes calling.

Articles on Etiquette - SalesVantage.com – A variety of topics relating to business etiquette.

Telephone Skills

Handling Telephone Complaint Calls with Poise – University of Florida Extension -- You may have received a rude or obnoxious phone call or two. Primarily this happens when the caller wishes to express a complaint. The tips from this fact sheet will help you handle telephone complaint calls with poise.

Visual Presentation Skills

Effective Computer-Generated Visuals for Presentations – University of Florida Extension -- Does the following scenario sound familiar to you? You enter a room where the lights are dimmed slightly to listen to an expert in your field. The speaker begins to address the audience. She uses a projector to cast images from her computer. But try as you may, you cant decipher much of the text on the projection screen.

Producing an Educational Video – University of Florida Extension -- With the decrease in price of video equipment, more educators are integrating video into courses and instructional programs. They are able to shoot video "in the field" and bring the "field" back to their presentations.

Producing Your Own Video Program – University of Florida Extension -- If you're producing a video program on your own - shooting a video with your own video camera - without the help of a video production company, the first thing you need to do is to have a plan.

Creating a Videotape for Instruction – University of Missouri Extension -- Videotape provides some distinct advantages over other electronic media.

Seminars

The Dog And Pony Show: Why Seminars Work – HBS Working Knowledge -- Informational seminars can be more than effective marketing tools—they can help you build customer relations. But organizing a seminar is a lot more than renting a hall and demonstrating your product.