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I’ve been speaking to a lot of different groups these past few weeks, and have a variety of presentations yet to give in September. Each group is a little different, and I always try and focus some of my material on things that directly impact the audience.

As I was planning for my presentation later this week, I got to thinking about the differences between a speaking presentation and sales presentation. What are the differences?

Both provide information. Both motivate the listener to take action. Both hope for some type of outcome.

So are there really that many differences?

In both cases, your ultimate goal is for someone to take action. If you are presenting to a client, you want them to buy your product or service. If you are presenting to a group, you may wish to make connections with members in the group for future business.

Here are 3 things you can do to help you become better at presenting:

1. Plan carefully The last thing you want to do is show up to speak in front of a group of people, and not have a polished presentation. It will show immediately, and your expertise will dwindle away. Outline what you are going to say. Provide bullet points for each topic you will cover. Research and find relevant statistics. Have stories and testimonials ready. The more prepared you are, the more your expertise will shine through, the more success you’ll have.

2. Communicate visually In order for people to have the desire to take action, they have to “see” what you are talking about. Don’t assume they have knowledge on a subject matter unless you know them personally. Start at the beginning. Set the stage. Provide the background and lead them into a current situation. Let them see themselves in your pictures. If you can get them to feel like you understand them and their problems, you have new clients.

3. Present with perfection I remember starting out in my first business. We had one package we tried to sell to our clients that we really didn’t like, and we felt didn’t provide the best service for our customers. Guess how we sold it?

“Well, its here if you really want it.” “It’s not the best and doesn’t offer everything you really should have.” “Its affordable but really doesn’t allow you to have everything you need.”

Yes, we didn’t sell it very well. And the couple of people who did buy it were lousy customers. They were problems all the way through, and quickly taught us a lesson.

If you don’t like something, and can’t sell it with perfection, don’t sell it at all.

Find a friend or relative and talk through your presentation. Can you talk with passion? Do you love what you are doing? Can you sell your information effortlessly? Sales presentations really aren’t about the sales if you love it and are passionate about it.

Your passion will shine through. And people will be attracted to you because of it. And the sales will simply come.

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When people talk about social media today, you may instantly think of Facebook or Twitter. But in truth, there are hundreds of ways you can take your business social.

Have you ever been to MyCokeRewards.com?  If you drink Coke products, you can take the codes listed on the bottles and boxes, enter them into the website, and build up your points to trade in for prizes. You can trade them for things like magazine subscriptions, coupons to use at your favorite stores, or to enter sweepstakes for bigger prizes.

So Coke has a highly concentrated site where a lot of their “fans” congregate and spend time.

Now instead of simply going there for prizes, they are also trying to get you to take the next step with their branding by offering a contest where you become the designer.

For 2010, they are looking for a new design to place on their cans of Coke. Instead of letting their in-house graphics team handle the job, they’ve turned it over to millions of fans. Design a can. Submit it to Coke. And you have a chance to win one of fifteen $500 Visa gift cards.

By making this kind of offer, they are accomplishing three things:

1. Gaining more dedication to their product – if you enter, you’ll probably be more dedicated to coming back to check results.

2. Growing their worldwide exposure. What if you enter, and win? Imagine how quickly you can spread the word about your design. Share it on Facebook. Tweet about it on Twitter. Let your blog audience in on the news.

3. Making their site even more fun. If you already visit for one reason, why not come back for additional reasons? You always have to have a reason for people to keep coming back.

I just finished a great book that had been recommended to me. It’s called A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink.

According to Pink:

We’ve moved from an economy built on people’s backs to an economy built on people’s left brains to what is emerging today: an economy and society built more and more on people’s right brains.

To survive in this age, individuals and organizations must examine what they’re doing to earn a living and ask themselves three questions:

1. Can someone overseas do it cheaper? 2. Can a computer do it faster? 3. Is what I’m offering in demand in an age of abundance?

If you answer yes to 1 and/or 2, or no to 3, it’s time to rethink what you are doing.

I would highly recommend adding this to your reading list, as the book is filled with ideas that can really make you think about where you stand today.

So of course, I took an hour out this morning and looked at my business, and reworked some of the things we’re doing, adding new tasks and goals.

Ultimately everything we do comes down to how well we can share our ideas and information with others, and how well it is perceived by others.

If you are trying to sell what everyone else is, you’re going to have trouble.

But if you find a creative way to sell what you have, you’ll be a success.

People don’t want things the same old way. They want something new and different. They want to be able to put their own flare to it, be creative with it, and share their ideas in their own way.

Which is one of the reasons social networking is booming. People aren’t being marketed to; instead, they find new things by relying on “friends”.

It’s time to look at your business in a different light. What can you do to become more creative with what you do? What can you do to create something no one else is offering?

Sometimes you just have to think outside the box to get a little traffic to your site.

A little over a year ago, a Canadian musician Dave Carroll took a flight fro Halifax to Nebraska, changing plans in Chicago. During the entire process, his guitar – which I’m sure he had to pay extra for – was damaged. Over a year later, and major hours of time spent with United trying to recover for damages, Carroll is finally getting his payback.

After all the frustration, Carroll decided to handle his complaint with United in a different way. He was a musician, right? Why not create a song?

So he did. And he recorded a simple video to go along with it. And he put it on YouTube.

And well, the rest as they say is history.

He put the YouTube video up on his profile July 6th. That’s just 4 days ago. And at the time of this writing he has had 1,384,878 views. And CNN picked it up as a major story.

And he’ll be on several of the morning shows as well.

Bad for United. Great for Dave Carroll.

As an artist, this could definitely be a way for him build a following, and to create more music sales. On his home page you have three focuses: watch the video, visit him on iTunes, or follow him on Twitter. Smart move.

We all talk about doing something creative with YouTube. Carroll actually did it. And I’m sure he’ll be running all the way to the bank with his creativity. Oh, and also be able to replace that broken guitar.

Today as I was working, I noticed an interesting post on Twitter from @treypennington

It seems Best Buy is looking for a Sr Manager – Emerging Media Marketing Job. The notice lists the usually stuff – exactly what you would expect on an employee opportunity notice. Except for the Preferred Qualifications:

In addition to experience and a graduate degree, they would also like you to have at least 250 followers on Twitter.

Wow.

What is this saying about the impact of our future? That we as a society and as potential job holders really need to get with the current times, follow trends, and use current technology to remain players in the job market.

I love it.

This year I worked with my local school district, and presented at many of the PTCO groups. My main goal was to educate parents on the need to learn social networking skills, and not ban their children from using sites like Facebook. I discussed the fact that children need to be experts in this technology to even hope to compete in the future, and part of that is letting them understand the technology now while they are young.

I had a lot of mixed reactions. Some remained terrified of it all. But most went away with a new understanding, and the desire to hop onto it themselves, and monitor their children as they started in with the new technology.

The best course of action for all business owners and employees alike is to embrace new technology, and understand that it isn’t a fad. It won’t be going away. You can’t ignore it or it will impact your future. Possibly greater than you think.

What’s your opinion?

Newsletters, or Ezines, have always been a great tool for business. I have used several for my businesses over the past few years, and have had a lot of success with them. But in today’s economy, are they still effective? And now when it seems everyone is sending email in greater proportions, can you really gain business with ezines?

Yes. The key to building a great business is to create regular marketing strategies, and use them again and again. Give your prospects and customers what they want, and you’ll be successful.

Whether you’ve been sending ezines for years, or are new to the whole process and are wondering where to begin, let’s look at 7 basic concepts to get you going in the right direction.

1. Setting up your system. Yes, you can create a simple email, and send it to a list you build through your Outlook or other email program. That’s okay with a few subscribers. But it’s not feasible once you have several hundred or even several thousand subscribers. You’ll not only risk shutting down your Outlook, but the server your email account is handled through may also shut you down for spam violations. 

The best way to get started is to set up a newsletter program that makes it easy for you to create your ezine, and keeps you in compliance with spam laws and verifications. I’ve used Aweber for years, and love their service.

2. Speak to your customers. Never write an ezine from your perspective – give your customers what they desire. You may know the technical terms and buzzwords. Yet these may completely frustrate your readers. Give them the information in language they understand and will motivate them to move forward with you.

3. Personalize your message. People like to do business with people they know. While you don’t want to make half your newsletter personal, it is nice to add a paragraph or two at the beginning talking about what you’re up to.

4. Send out regularly. What can your readers handle? An ezine every week? Maybe every month? Part of having a successful ezine is knowing when to send, and what to promote. If you’re sending personal information to working moms, and they typically sign up from their home accounts, twice per month may be adequate. If you’re sending business tips to professionals, they may like a daily tip. Learn what they like, and always deliver at that interval.

5. Time your ezine. How long does it take to read? Is it a 5 minute tip, or a 15 minute novel? Most people are busy, and can’t spend long periods of time reading. Condense your information, and make it readable.

6. Be light on the selling. Your ezine is all about information and developing a relationship. But that doesn’t mean you can’t promote too. Find one thing to focus on in every ezine, and sell it lightly within your content.

7. Proofread and check. I’ve hit the send button many times, only to receive my own copy and notice a spelling error or find a broken link. Check your content before you hit the send button. Better yet, have a second pair of eyes proofread.

Your a business restaurant owner. You arrive at work before dawn to get ready for the day. You manage people, bring in the food, make sure customers are happy, market the business … and on and on.

So when someone mentions a new thing like Twitter, its easy to discount it and push it aside.

But, if you take a look at it and jump on before the majority of your competitors in your local area, you just may have a new inexpensive marketing technique that will really help you bring in the business when you need it most.

Let’s say your Tuesday’s are your slowest day for lunch. Why not start up a Tuesday Twitter campaign? You send out a Tweet offering a free appetizer or something else of value to your followers – all they have to do is mention you heard it on Twitter.

I just saw a Tweet come through from someone I’m following about a free cup of award winning clam chowder simply for mentioning Twitter. (Too bad I’m not in California, sounds good to me.) I might not be there, but how many are? And how many are planning on taking advantage of this great offer? The re-tweets are still being circulated as I write this.

Building your list is easy. Start with your clients. Give everyone that visits your location a card telling them you’re now on Twitter, and you’ll be offering surprises along the way if they follow you.

Add to the conversation every day. Even if you only have a few minutes of time, use those minutes to tweet and make contacts.

Then create your special promotions. Tuesday Twitter specials. Free appetizers. Free meals with purchase. Free desserts. Make up new specials based on your menu, the time of year, and … well really anything will work.

You’ll quickly see your followers grow. And have a new, FREE way of marketing your business and growing your client list.

Chances are you are looking for ways to expand your market.

What if you could reach out to a completely untapped market, offering them something in a totally new way? 

Have you ever read a website in its entirely, and by the time you reach the end you know you have to connect with the company? You have to buy their product or try out their service just because they spoke directly to your heart?

That’s the power of great copy.

So let me ask you a question. Which would make better copy for your website?

Where does the photographer’s job end? The day of your wedding? After the images have been presented to you a few weeks later? Or, does it continue from the minute you choose your photographer, and continue for years?

We believe in 100 percent service. After the wedding, our service doesn’t end. We are now a part of the digital revolution, and will provide you with images to share with family and friends all across the world, thanks to the wonders of the Internet. We will provide you with a custom designed storyboard that shows an artistic rendition of your final wedding album. We will provide you with all of the tools necessary to create an elegant story album depicting each moment of your special day. We will provide you with top quality photographs and products that you will be proud to display in your home. And to give as gifts! We will be there for you as other members of you family announce their engagement. We will be there for you to remember how one day changed you life forever!

Or this?

Cuando termina el trabajo de un fotógrafo?  El día de tu boda?Semanas después en que te fueron presentadas tus imágenes?  O, continua desde el minuto en que seleccionaste a ese fotógrafo y logras mantenerlo  através de los años?

Nosotros creemos en dar un servicio al 100%  excelente.  Después de la boda, nuestro servicio o atención continua.  Gracias a las maravillas de Internet, somos ahora parte de un sistema revolucionario digital en donde le proveeremos sus imágenes  para que pueda compartir con familiares y amistades en el mundo entero.  Su álbum final será la compilación de sus fotografías de una manera totalmente artística. En ese día tan especial todo detalle, minuto por minuto, será capturado y presentado de una manera totalmente distinguida y elegante en un álbum lleno de historia. La creación de estas fotografías y productos de calidad,  usted se sentirá orgulloso de ex ponerlo en casa, y , quizás, hasta de hacer regalos! Estaremos a tu lado como aquel día en que tu familia anuncio tu compromiso.   Cada cambio de tu vida lo llevaras siempre presente con nosotros! Da nos la oportunidad de crearte cada momento especial con imágenes que siempre querrás conservar de una manera histórica, y con una elegante presentación!

Many small businesses have a great sales letter written for their website, but they may be missing out on something even more important – speaking in their customers’ native language.

What if you converted your copy to Spanish? What if you spoke to them in copy they related to AND in a language they prefer?

That’s a dynamic sales presentation.

The Hispanic/Latino market is changing at a rapid pace. According to Mediamark Research’s, Hispanic/Latino Market Profile, the population is expected to grow 126.4% from 1990 to 2011, and the spending power is expected to reach $1.2 trillion by 2011.

The key is knowing your client, and giving them what they want in a manner that most suits their needs.

And what’s great about it is you don’t have to be fluent in Spanish yourself in order to recognize and fulfill this need. Reach out and sell to people in your community in a way they prefer. You’ll show them how much you appreciate them as customers. And introduce them to a company that is ready and willing to provide them with services they need and want.

Want more information on converting your website to Spanish? It’s easier than you might think. We’ve power partnered with an amazing company that translates your copy into Spanish, and does so in proper Spanish (not like the rough translation you get with some of those converter programs). Email me for more information on how easy it is to turn your website into a second income stream.

One of the reasons I feel I’ve always been successful is I watch what others are doing around me, and emulate their success.

If you watch any television lately, or open up any newspaper, you must have noticed the influx of ads by Wal-Mart. They’re everywhere. Last night as I watched Dancing With The Stars, I noticed several commercials each break were from this discount giant.

And they aren’t focusing on having the lowest prices. Just giving you value for your dollar.

You can learn a lot from a company like this. 

1. Don’t stop marketing or slow it down in difficult economic times. Increase it. While others are shutting down, you can actually reach out to more people and have your message heard loud and clear because you don’t have a lot of competition. And you may get great deals on some advertising because they’re having trouble as well and welcome the

2. Repeating is okay. Wal-Mart has just a handful of ads that they play over and over again. It’s not the amount of content they put in front of you. It’s the message they’re trying to convey. They simply want you to know where you can get the most value, especially in tough times.

3. Have a clear message. Instead of moving forward with a ton of ideas and a ton of approaches, keep it simple. Because we’re all bombarded with information, and have a ton of things happening in our personal lives, the last thing we want is to have to think about more. Combined with repeating a message again and again, your message will come through loud and clear.

4. Use a few channels well. Have you ever bounced around from advertising method to advertising method? It’s easy to do as there is so many different things available. Instead, choose a few that have potential of reaching a huge portion of your market, and saturate it. The more people see you, the more they’ll recognize you, and the more they’ll convert.

5. Promote in a simple manner. You don’t need bells and whistles. You don’t need the top of the line presentation. Sometimes simple is better. Create your message and get it heard. As long as its professional, your audience will be content with the message, and have no concerns over its delivery method.

6. Use your time wisely. Wal-Mart doesn’t put one commercial on every hour. They place two or three in every break. That’s traction. They know their audience and they make sure their audience sees them. Over and over again.

7. Think big. Instead of jumping into the latest fad, and moving on the next week, think about the basics. What is going to make your business grow over the next year? How can you do something today that will impact you on December 31, 2009? Always plan for the future before you take action today.

Zero to one million signups in 30 days.

Build a million dollar company this year.

I’ll admit it; I’m an information junkie. If someone has an ezine signup, or an RSS feed to his or her blog, and I see it has value, I’m in.

I scroll through a ton of information every day. And while very little of it offers brand new ideas, I’m a firm believer in the right information appears when you’re ready for it.

But after years of working on my business, I must admit the get rich schemes are circling like never before.

Everyone has the next best thing, and you’re “guaranteed” to make a million doing it. Overnight of course.

After reading yet another promise today, I got to thinking about why 99% of all people who jump on board with this type of material never succeed. Why can they get so excited up front, yet never achieve success with it? And in most cases its little or no success.

1. The dream. How many people out there are floating along without a dream? They’ve worked for years, only to lose their job in hard economic times. They can’t find another one, so they jump into a “proven way to get rich quick”. And they keep dreaming.

Every opportunity does have its success stories. But what makes them a success is they took action. They treated it like a full time career, worked at it HARD every day, and slowly saw it grow.

2. The one-day wonder. No matter how many times you hear or read it, nobody can achieve success in one day.

When you read the stories about newbies who jump on board with a new business opportunity, and make thousands or even millions in a few days, they leave the most important parts. They don’t tell you the person has been studying similar business models for years. They don’t tell you about the years of experience with other ventures. They don’t tell you about the other failures. They don’t tell you about the knowledge they’ve built up over time, and have ready in their arsenal to apply to this new venture.

3. The high expectation. If others do it, you can too. You set your expectations high, without realizing the follow through it’s going to take to get you to the same level.

While there is nothing wrong with having high expectations, without a course of action, it’s doomed for failure. Chunk it down. You have to crawl before you walk. And walk before you run. To achieve a goal in one month, what are the action steps you’ll need to get there?

Success isn’t for the lucky. It’s for those that plan out every day, and know exactly how they’re going to achieve what they’ve always dreamt of.