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Promote Yourself When You Speak
by Sally Strackbein
When you speak, train or are on a panel, do you use that opportunity to promote yourself? You will stand above your competition when you give an information packed handout.
I attend a lot of meetings that feature speakers. It amazes me how few give handouts to support their presentations. The speaker at one meeting did have a handout. It had her PowerPoint® slides printed in grainy resolution, on cheap quality paper and it had no contact information. Most speakers don't have a handout at all. Some pass out their brochures. These brochures are often beautiful and expensive to produce. I look at them and throw them away as soon as I get home. Actually, I put them in my recycle bin. I don't save them.
On the other hand, give me a good handout and it goes in my reference file. A good handout gives me the major points the speaker made with some supporting detail. It gives me an action step to take and it gives me a way to follow up with the speaker.
Do you provide a good handout that your audience will save? People have called me years after a presentation because they were looking through their reference file and found my handout. Yes, these calls lead to business.
Here are some handout tips:
- Use your professional photo
- Use color, at least on the title or cover page
- Make your layout attractive
- Have your phone number, your website and your email on every page
- Print on 28 lb paper instead of the more common 20 lb paper. People can feel the difference
- Most important - give valuable information
Use every engagement as an opportunity to promote yourself with your handout.
Handouts trump brochures every time!
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copyright © Sally Strackbein.
Permission is granted to reprint this article in your newsletter or magazine with the following byline and clickable link:
Sally Strackbein is a consultant, speaker and author.
To find out more about her programs and services,
visit www.DefiningStory.com
or call 703-262-0361.
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