Starting and Ending With a "BANG"

Hello again...
A lot of people don't realize the strong importance of beginning and ending a presentation or pitch. The introduction is what will interest your audience to want to listen to the entire presentation. Grabbing your audience's attention right away is crucial. If your audience is not interested right away, they will have no desire to truly hear everything you have to say. Starting and ending your presentation can be sometimes stronger than your actual pitch! Believe it or not.

Here are some helpful hints and tips for your introductions:
-Start with a game or activity that involves your audience
-Tell a relative joke
-Ask audience to volunteer for something in your pitch
-Start with a relative poem or play-on-words
-play music (if appropriate)
-play a video (if appropriate)

Here are some helpful hints and tips for closing your pitch:
-Engage the audience in feedback from your presentation
-Relate your closing back to your introduction (this will also remind them of your great intro!)
-Give the audience a "take-away" ...a little gift of some sort

For more hints and tips on opening and closing your presentation/sales pitch, check out this website:
http://ezinearticles.com/?100-Creative-Presentation-Ideas&id=128782

Cheers!

~Effective Communications~

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Hello again!
I had the opportunity and pleasure of interviewing one of the experts in the field of marketing, managing, and presentations/sales pitches. Micheal Demmons is the General Manager and Marketing Manager for Sentry Security in Kingston ON. I'd like to share some of this interview with you as I'm sure it can benefit you, as it did me.
Here are some presentation hints and tips from him:
Keeping these fresh in your head when you’re developing a pitch or presentation usually will lead to a better end result.
1) Qualifying fast to avoid wasting time
a. Don’t wait for “yes” or “no”
b. Develop a list of qualifying criteria that a prospect must meet to “earn” your time
2) Getting commitments instead of a closing (recurring buyers)
a. Ask for smaller commitments instead of orders from prospects
b. “on your next project, would you give me the opportunity to provide a quote”
c. “would you have 10 minutes tomorrow to go through one of our demos together”
3) “SO WHAT”
a. This is what prospects are thinking when they talk to you
b. They care about what you’re selling if it can solve a problem that they have or make their business better.
c. What is your product to them, ie: benefits not what your product does (features)

He even included more helpful presentation hints and tips:
-Talk about benefits, not features
-practice and be prepared
-This isn’t always the best advice however I’ve had luck with it over the years: a presentation that is designed based primarily on a structured list of questions (sometimes directly from the customer) will lead the customer to sell themselves.
-and of course….be prepared to sell and close the deal. One major problem in business these days is waiting for the customer to close the deal. Always remember to ask for the order!


Cheers!

~Effective Communications~

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Shhh....

Shhhh.....here's one of the biggest secret hints for successful presentations and sales pitches:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9zzsUULc6s

Cheers!

~Effective Communications~

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Fellow Bloggers

Hello!
Are you interested or curious about learning how others feel and think about presentations?
Are you interested or curious about finding out who the best presenters are in the world?
Are you interested or curious to enhance your blogging experience?

Check out these conversations via blogging that show how others feel about sales pitches and presenting:

http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/338-best-%2526amp%3B-worst-tv-presenters-any-more-any-more%3F


Cheers!

~Effective Communications~

Giving It Your Own Twist

Hello again....

Sales pitches and presentations can be nerve racking, challenging and time consuming when preparing. There are several little hints and tips to remember when creating and writing your pitch in order to make it as successful as possible. Your audience is smart. They will be able to tell if you know your pitch or not. Therefore... learn it! BUT... remember while writing it, to give it your own twist. A pitch can be dry if the presenter is reading or speaking very monotone. These reasons make it an obvious necessity to do something different to stand out. Adding in your own personality and making the pitch lively is crucial. These things will make it easier for the audience to really listen to what is being said. If their attention is kept, they will be much more likely to take in and remember your sales pitch or presentation.

*Ideas For Giving it "Your Own Twist":

-Bring visuals (photos, tangible items, your product, a gift for the audience, etc.)

-If appropriate, make a joke with your audience

-Involve the audience in an activity or game

Now it's your turn. Give it YOUR own twist ;)

Cheers!

~Effective Communications~

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Don't do this!

Hello again....

Let's take some time to review BAD presentations, shall we? Here's a simple list to stay AWAY from when making presentations and sales pitches:

DON'T:

-chew gum

-check your phone

-spend too much time setting up for your presentation

-speak too quietly

-overload your slides for your powerpoint

-move around too much....but don't stand still the whole time!

-rush through your presentation/pitch

-be scared...if you know your product and presentation, you shouldn't be!

Check out this hilarious YouTube video I found on bad presentations. What NOT to do! Can you find the several things the presenter does wrong??

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXILI9Q1jIw

Enjoy!

Cheers

~Effective Communications~

Goal of Sales Pitches

What is the main goal and objective of preparing and then presenting a sales pitch? .... To sell your product/service, of course! There are several important points to keep in mind in order to successfully sell your product by the end of your pitch.

REMEMBER:

1. clearly and honestly communicate all costs associated (individual, bulk, shipping, distribution, taxes, etc.). Your audience most likely cares A LOT about that aspect and can pick up any dishonesty or deceiving attitudes.

2. Have an organized and lengthy list of prospects, customers, targets, etc.

3. Be prepared and ensure you do answer any and all questions from the audience. These questions may be their answer to purchasing your product.

4. Build a relationship with as many prospects as possible.

5. Bring and give-away prizes, gifts, souvenirs, etc.

6. Always have a business card and distribute to as many prospects as possible.

7. Offer a call-to-action.... ensure it is clear, legible, understandable and simple for your audience.

More Selling Hints and Tips?? Check This Video Out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp_kRflgdGE

Cheers!

~Effective Communications~

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Eye Contact and Body Language

Welcome to February Sales Pitches and Presentations Blogging...

When you are planning to present or to sell a product through a sales pitch, eye contact and body language can be the seller. Looking directly at your audience is so very important. This shows that you are confident in what you are saying, and that you care about who you are talking to. Looking away, reading right off your notes, and/or even staring at the back of the room can all be considered rude, careless or simply disconnected with your product. People are smart. People understand the simplicity, yet effectiveness, of looking at others directly in the eye.

Body language? JUST as important. Possibly even more important than eye contact. Crossing your arms, Crossing your legs, looking down, frowning, fidgeting, playing with hair, tapping feet, etc. can all be clear signs of lack of confidence and care to your audience. Standing straight, looking at your audience, dressing appropriately and remaining calm and collected are all aspects and actions that can truly enhance and assist your presentation or sales pitch.

Check out the true importance and other helpful hints at this link: http://fliiby.com/file/399999/0fg9d9ns9x.html

Cheers!

Jenna Eady

~Effective Communications~

Know Your Product

In addition to confidence, another important aspect of sales pitches and presentations is to ensure you know your product. The product or service that you are selling is the focus of your pitch. Be confident to allow your audience to ask questions. This shows you are prepared for explanations they may request regarding your product.

The more you research and study your pitch, the better you can sell that product successfully, answer the audience's questions, and in turn, increase your company's revenues.

....Now isn't that the point?? ($$!)

Here's another link that you should check out regarding making effective sales pitches and presentations:

http://www.effectivemeetings.com/presenting/delivery/sales.asp

Cheers!

Jenna Eady

~Effective Communications~

**Includes beneficial presentation tips**

I was on good ol' YouTube and discovered a really interesting video. It highlights and discusses five crucial points of making presentations effectively. Check it out at: file:///Users/jennaeady/Desktop/YouTube%20-%20Tips%20for%20Public%20Speaking.webarchive

Cheers!

Jenna Eady

~Effective Communications~

Confidence is Key

Hello again...

I was thinking about sales pitches and presentations again and remembered how very important of a role that confidence plays. Being confident in yourself, and your presentation or sales pitch is so very crucial in reaching success. If you are confident, your speaking voice is more clear, your hands are more steady, your palms are more dry! But most importantly? You can clearly and effectively deliver the message to your audience that you are there to deliver. Having confidence and believing in what you are selling and presenting, can most definitely assist you. The more you believe in it, the more real and genuine your pitch will be.

Cheers!

~Effective Communications~

Blogging Journey Begins....Welcome

Hello!

I'm Jenna, and this is my first time blogging. I have to say, I'm very excited and anxious to get started on my "blogging journey." I love to write.

I am near graduating from the three year Advertising, Integrated Marketing and Communications Program in Kingston ON. (I also have a tw0-year diploma in Recreation and Leisure Services). Through the Advertising, IMC program, I have had the intriguing opportunity of learning the several important marketing and advertising techniques, topics and tactics. My favourite?? The one I find most useful?? My "expertise?" ....Sales pitches, presentations and communications.

I hope you'll continue to keep in touch for information, quotes, helpful tips, photos, references, and much more, all focused specifically on sales pitches, presentations and communications/relations. Welcome!

Cheers!

Jenna Eady

Sales Pitches, Presentations and Communications