Here are some of your comments on our recent TNNW articles:
Jeff Schomay, Optimizing Your Impact,
Eliminate Clutter; Increase Response
"I think everyone can agree that we are in information overload. That is not really even a question anymore. The real question is the one Adam asks...how much info is enough? Its like asking many TV channels is enough? I don't want to go "Forest Gump" on this but it really depends on how interested in the subject the target audience is. If they are really into it, then its hard to provide too much. Take sports enthusiasts (which I am not). How many sports channels do you really need on cable? 100? 200?. I think at some point it becomes almost like an addiction. I wonder if any science has been done on information content addiction?
"I heard recently that Steve Jobs is considered the world's best presentor. Its because he never deviates from 3 points in his pitches. And he simplifies the message in a way that people immediately identify with. Apple iPod is 'thousands of songs in your pocket' per Jobs. Shear beauty in its simplicity.
"I think I am at my "3-point" limit..."
- Bill Loeber
"Thoreau said: 'Our life is frittered away by detail...Simplify, Simplify, Simplify.' To which Emerson replied: 'one 'Simplify' would have been sufficient.'
"With the endless stream of information and multitude of options available to us, this comment is even more relevant today.
"Which reminds me of this graph below. Case in point.
"http://www.linkedin.com/e/plh/http%3A%2F%2Fthisisindexed.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fneedles-and-haystacks-and-such%2F/oSBp/ "
- Hayah Elazzah
"I think this is a very important point...but very difficult to implement.
"Indexing of information is the key....when is a band's history needed ?....what is important to know about a song ?.....who is the reader ?....
"I recently signed up for a Song Placement service and they were going to write a one page bio for us.....except in the final product it was all about history and the band....and nothing about the songs!!
"Know the audience...is the key to uncluttering the message."
- James McBride
"The age of information has overwhelmed all aspects of our lives. It has been a major issue in the business component, but the personal side is in full gear with the access of information, and the access of the world to process that to us. We must eliminate certain information flow to insure that we are available, yet, insure that we do not maintain personal and professional time management. Immediate access to information and individuals, is the probably the most critical component of success, as well as managing stress. I try to assess my processes routinely, Quarterly, to insure that I am as organized as possible."
- Daniel Skalko
"It is a bombardment of opinions verbal arguments and a total assault on the Senses. Its as if society as a whole has violated the entire meaning and purpose of communication. In all its forms.
Avoiding clutter isn't the solution. Eliminating it is. Ceasing the creation of clutter is a start."
- Shannon Marie Thompson
Yossi Feigenson, Real Estate...and Other Things of Value,
What Have We Learned?
"In the interests of 'rugged individualism,' our culture resists real change unless disaster truly strikes. While many have experienced real pain and "disaster" on an individual level, as a nation, we haven't really experienced this yet. Some say that this problem is passed on through debt to our children, yet others suggest that the economy is merely an artifice that can be manipulated. Where the truth is I cannot say, but until large masses of people are out on the street with no means for food or shelter, it's business as usual. Such is the nature of our capitalistic society."
- Philip Burke
"The main reason we resist change is that it sometimes isn't all good. Just because technology can do something doesn't mean we should. For example (automating all trade systems so that they can melt down more rapidly than ever)
"Is that an achievement?"
- Mike Griffin
"Perhaps we are reading and promoting the wrong group of so called experts. I recently discovered a wonderful little book that requires serious consideration from the financial community as we seek to become better educators. The book is by Harry Browne and is titled 'Fail-Safe Investing.' Check it out."
- John Liddil
Chamber of Commerce Study (TNNW Survey #3)
BLUE THING #1: TNNW Surveys, Analyses and Findings
"This was so interesting in so many ways that I don't know where to start. I'll definitely be sharing this with members of my industry.
"I do agree with [name withheld] that the small quantity of responses doesn't make it statistically very helpful, but the comments are interesting.
"I find it ironic that two of the respondents who complained that their chambers lacked a membership focus were actually on the Board. Did they not try to bring this up? Did they not realize that as Board members, their role is to guide the staff and provide an overall vision for the organization? Or did they finish their terms and move on? That's too bad if that happened.
"Again, many very interesting comments that will help Chambers of Commerce understand more about the mindset of people in their communities."
- Beth Bridges
"I have had significant help from Chambers of Commerce and was on the Board of one for a couple of years. They are an essential part of business as they provide education, support and resources."
- Merydith Willoughby
"Thank you for the update, I feel the same way as most of the respondants"
- David Otto
"There are few individuals who do not realize the value of networking. I find that any membership takes a great deal of time and energy to see a return of investment. For myself, the Chamber does not offer enough in return at this time for the effort it requires to standout or be a part. I find greater reward socially and professionally in belonging to a select group of national industry related associations. For example, the Health Finance Managers Association (HFMA). These organizations allow you to socialize and network in the local community and expand nationally if/when necessary."
- Cassy Kincaid, MHA
"Thanks for sharing [name withheld]. Would be interesting to see how different age groups respond. Age group 18-22: what's a Chamber of Commerce? ;-)"
- Anita Cassard, Ph.D.
Douglas
Gentle Readers: Expect a veritable blizzard of comments to be posted here on the next Issue of BLUE TUESDAY. Be interactive. Be proactive. Participate. JOIN OUR COMMUNITY! http://twitlik.com/IN
Do you know what an ICBC is? Better find out. It could be where you're going...
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The National Networker Companies
, Castle
TNNW PRESENTS: BLUE TUESDAY [27th October 2009]
"Thanks for sharing all this and I hope to hear more updates from you soon, have a great day.
SEE YOU AT THE TOP!
Yours Sincerely,
STEVEN Nature Man
http://www.MySocialURL.com/r/eyesonnature/"
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Tuesday, November 03, 2009
BLUE THING #10: Backtalk: Comments from our Readers
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BLUE THING #9: This Week's Top Buzzed Items and Terms
Click on: http://
Better grab this gadget before November 15th for mounting on your blog, website, newsletter, homepage, social media profile, twitterfeed, refrigerator, cinderblock and your bathroom mirror (use duct tape, as it withstands the humidity). Why? You need news. We have it all. And...after November 1st, you will no longer be able to grab this gadget; you'll have to go directly to the page. It's not funny. Do it. Don't just blow us off as idiosyncratic, uncultivated clowns - this PICKER is POWERFUL.
20 minutes each day to be the smartest person in any meeting (or at least seem like it).
Click and pick:
THE NATIONAL NEWSPICKER PAGE - The wearin' o' the green. 'taint just blarney, old son. Sing along if you know the song..."everybody's doin' it, doin' it, doin' it..."
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BLUE THING #8: Great Websites and Blogs to Explore
'AVE A LOOK AT THESE INTERESTING WEBSITES 'N BLOGS, BLOKES!
http://lifehacker.com/
http://theweblist.net/
http://www.retailmenot.com/coupons/internet
http://www.comicvine.com/
http://confessions.grouphug.us/
http://www.dejavu.org/
http://theband.hiof.no/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8333194.stm
http://www.scrutinizethis.com/
http://www.xfruits.com/
http://TheInternationalistPage.
http://braintenance.blogspot.com/
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BLUE THING #7: Most Memorable Quote of the Week
Brought to you by The National Networker and QuoteActions.
"Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain."
- An Unknown Author
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BLUE THING #6: Featured Deal of the Week
Coming Soon!
You can submit your company’s or organization's greatest corporate coupe or conquest for TNNW’s consideration by writing to info@TheNationalNetworker.com. Put "FEATURED DEAL OF THE WEEK" in the subject line, with a brief story and your communications coordinates.
Again, sadly we are not permitted to accept graft or gifts, so the deal which you present to us should be genuinely worthy of a NEWS RELEASE. This is fabulous business news promotion, if your transaction is truly worthy, and truly interesting anatomically (reason, interesting structure, interesting process, interesting result, or anticipated result). Our readers are fascinated with Mergers, Acquisitions, Co-Ventures, Co-Branding, Capitalization and Investment and Strategic Partnerships. Size is (contrary to what you've heard) NOT important...in terms of dollar amount, that is...
We'll speak with you (an interview), create a news release, publish it, and circulate it to a prospective audience in the millions. No kidding. But that deal had better be real, and it had better be good.
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The National Networker Companies
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BLUE THING #5: Featured Company of the Week
Coming Soon!
If your company is genuinely special, and you have an exciting yarn to spin (or tale to tell), just write to us at info@TheNationalNetworker.com , being sure to include "FEATURED COMPANY OF THE WEEK" in the Subject line. Give us a very quick synopsis, and your communications coordinates.
If you pique our interest (we permit piquing), we will speak with you, interview you, prepare a news realease about your organization, puvlish it and distribute it to a prospective readership of millions. Literally. If your company is something truly special, this is the equivalent of winning a $1,000 - $10,000 (equivalent value) free publicity ticket.
If your company is different, special, innovative or interesting -- send your quick synopsis to us, and we'll let the world know about you. That's our business!
Well...don't just sit there....DO IT!
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BLUE THING #4: This Week's Top News Stories
This is just too easy...click on THE NATIONAL NEWSPICKER PAGE. You should have this gadget on your blog, your website, your homepage, your newsletters, your social media, and on your refrigerator door by now. You can grab this gadget for free from the site below until November 1st. after that, you'll have to keep going to the page! You're at a stoplight in the crossroads of your life...now's the time to pick! Carpe Nostrilus!
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BLUE THING #3: Amazing New Facts and Statistics
BLUE THING #3: Amazing New Facts and Statistics
HEY YOU! Yes you. If you are a Subscriber to THE NATIONAL NETWORKER NEWSLETTER, you are invited to submit your own favorite amazing fact or statistic. If you’d like, we’ll even publish your name (or your organization’s name) and give you credit for your contribution. Note: Unless you are particularly dense, you will recognize that we are actually offering you FREE PUBLICITY in exchange for a mere tidbit of information.
Simply click on the hyperlink below to submit your gem:
If the hyperlink isn’t working, first you must first blame your browser, then your ISP Provider, then Bill Gates (or Steve Jobs), and utter a rapid string of profanities under your breath. [feel better?] Then, just click on this one, and get direct access.
AND NOW...
A compilation of utterly useless information brought to you by The Internationalist Page, Braintenance, PopCultureMadness.com, PurpleSlinky.com and THE NATIONAL NEWSPICKER™.
Here goes:
November Facts
November happens to be► Tobacco Awarness Month
► NaNoWriMo or National Novel Writing Month
► National Beard Month
► Diabetes Awarness Month
► National Native American and Native Alaskan Month
► On the first Tuesday in November, Australians can look forward to the Melbourne Cup horse race.
► November is the eleventh month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four Gregorian months with the length of 30 days.
► The Latin translation of "novem" is nine, for it was originally the ninth month on the Roman calander.
► The birthstone for November is Topaz
► The flower that represents November is the Chrysanthemum.
► November begins on the same day of the week as March every year and also February except in leap years
► Winston Churchill, Prime Minster of England was born November 30, 1874
► November 5th, 1959 the National Football league was formed with 8 teams: the Houston Oilers, New York Titans, Buffalo Bills, Boston Patriots, Los Angeles Chargers, Dallas Texans, Oakland Raiders, and Denver Broncos
► In Finnish, November is called marraskuu, meaning "month of the dead"
► President Polk and President Harding were both born on November 2nd, but 70 years apart!
► In Xhosa, November is called ngeyeNkanga, meaning "month of the small yellow daisies"
► November in the Northern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent to May in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa
► November 17th is National Take A Hike Day
► On November 22nd, 1957 Simon & Garfunkel performed on the “American Bandstand” Show as “Tom & Jerry”.
► The Saxons called November – “Blood Month”, because they sacrificed many animals to their gods in that month so legends say
► Around November 17, the Leonids meteor shower reaches its peak
► World War I ended on the 11th day of the 11th month (November) at 11PM, in 1918
► The dictator Francisco Franco died November 20, 1975
► The infamous Berlin Wall began to come down on November 9, 1989
► The first women police officers began working in Britain on November 27th, 1914
► November 18th, 1963 Bell Telephone Company introduced to the public the push button phone
► On November 5th 1935, Parker Brothers introduced the game Monopoly to the world
Click on: http://
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BLUE THING #2: TNNW Product/Service of the Week
Other newsletters would give you only ONE Product/Service of the Week. Some might extend themselves a bit to give you TWO. However, here at The National Networker, we offer you THREE.
For those of you who are arithmophiles (a lingovation), this is 300% of what the competition offers.
Here they are:
We do not simply offer you what PR Web and PR Newswire offer you...they are merely broadcast media, unless you request that they do a great deal more; then, watch your wallet! -- We are a full-service, full-focus operation.
We do it all...headline it, get it written, get it edited, stuff it with keywords and hyperlinks, submit it to the right geographical and vertical markets, track it, re-publish it, and more! We use those other newswire services as broadcasters, too (they have a tremendous market domination) - but we get to your target market with a surgical strike, and maximum MEANINGFUL exposure. We will not send out a useless raft of press releases which will either be ignored or unpublished. We get you published in the right places so that you get the optimal results. We do not "scattergun." We help you structure a meaningful thematic news release campaign, and we strike with precision.
2. THE NATIONAL NEWSPICKER: Get this gadget now. Get the jump on everything you need to know every day – in 20 minutes. You can pick your friends. You can pick your news. At TNNW, we have done the unthinkable. Click on http://thenationalnewspickerpage.blogspot.com/. The actual button is so unsightly that we have chosen not to show it here in it's full-sized version.
NOTE: THIS GADGET WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO GRAB UNTIL NOVEMBER 15th – AFTER THAT, YOU’LL HAVE TO COME TO THE SITE TO GET IT. Please…don’t blow your chance to acquire this gadget.
3. BRUTE FORCE REQUEST: This service is the ultimate BUZZWORKS machine. It becomes available on October 20th. Learn more – Read the Update! This service can energize your brand, your image, your credibility, your internet presence, your website traffic, your conversion rate and your sales.
NOTE: THIS PAGE WILL GO LIVE ON NOVEMBER 15th. It will be under the TNNW BUZZWORKS BANNER.
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BLUE THING #1: TNNW Surveys, Analyses and Findings
For the results of TNNW Survey #3 (our last survey, about "Chambers of Commerce"), please click here .
NEW! - TNNW SURVEY #4
Times are changing. Our survey question is a very direct one, and highly applicable to the way in which most networking activity is initiated:
Please take a moment and fill out the survey form below. If it does not appear (because of incompatibility with your browser, a hypervigilant popup filter, or because of a deeply ingrained fear of rejection), just click on:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Ej_2bGibSLyD6pawhColbqLA_3d_3d and the form will pop up and fill your computer screen instantly, like a movie closeup of Steven Segal, but in a more annoying fashion (assuming that this is possible). If the preceding url is just too long for you, you can use this one instead and save an immeasurably insignificant amount of time: http://twitlik.com/TNNWSurveyNumber4 .
We value your feedback, and would appreciate if you took a few moments to respond to some questions. This survey will close on 11/20/2009. Once again... that nasty form popup link should be right under here...
Again, our apologies...if the form didn't miraculously appear above, simply click your heels together three times, say "there's no place like home" and hit: http://twitlik.com/TNNWSurveyNumber4 .
REMEMBER.....TNNW SURVEY # 5 will be coming out very soon. And no, we're not giving out any hints. Well, perhaps one ... if you are reading this and you do not already have your free subscription to THE NATIONAL NETWORKER Newsletter, click on http://twitlik.com/IN to receive your subscription.
Subscribe now...don't make me stop this car...
Faithfully,
Douglas Castle (http://aboutdouglascastle.blogspot.com/)
THE NATIONAL NETWORKER COMPANIES
Published by THE NATIONAL NETWORKER Newsletter. All rights reserved. Subscribe Free For Your TNNW Newsletter and THE BLUE MONDAY REPORT! - Click HERE.
The National Networker Companies
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Ej_2bGibSLyD6pawhColbqLA_3d_3d and the form will pop up and fill your computer screen instantly, like a movie closeup of Steven Segal, but in a more annoying fashion (assuming that this is possible). If the preceding url is just too long for you, you can use this one instead and save an immeasurably insignificant amount of time: http://twitlik.com/TNNWSurveyNumber4 .
We value your feedback, and would appreciate if you took a few moments to respond to some questions. This survey will close on 11/20/2009. Once again... that nasty form popup link should be right under here...
Again, our apologies...if the form didn't miraculously appear above, simply click your heels together three times, say "there's no place like home" and hit: http://twitlik.com/TNNWSurveyNumber4 .
REMEMBER.....TNNW SURVEY # 5 will be coming out very soon. And no, we're not giving out any hints. Well, perhaps one ... if you are reading this and you do not already have your free subscription to THE NATIONAL NETWORKER Newsletter, click on http://twitlik.com/IN to receive your subscription.
Subscribe now...don't make me stop this car...
Faithfully,
Douglas Castle (http://aboutdouglascastle.blogspot.com/)
THE NATIONAL NETWORKER COMPANIES
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Monday, November 02, 2009
NET-TECH REPORT: SEO for CEOs – Search Engine Optimization Revealed!
Net-Tech Report with Chris Kauza
If you’re like most other business owners, the term “search engine optimization” will mean very little to you. Either that or it means “an expense item”! But it doesn’t have to be that way. If you feel like you’re standing in a dark room handing money to strangers to get you in the search engines, then you need to read this.
I was inspired to publish this article after a recent client meeting. By the time a business meets with me, they likely have been frustrated by their own attempts at SEO, or they have been sold "a bill of goods" that promised them very aggressive and near-instant results.
I'm hear to tell you that there is no magic bullet, no "quick fix" to make this happen in any kind of a sustaining fashion. I'm a business owner writing this for other business owners and CEOs. I can't use this article to make you an “SEO Expert”, but I will give you some insight into what you are spending your money on, what you should be spending your money on and what you shouldn’t be spending your money on.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is really a process of helping people get to know you and your business. If it's done well, you will gain visibility and new, productive relationships. Done poorly, and you could have your site "de-indexed" (i.e. - no longer searched) by the search engines.
About 75%-80% of website traffic comes through search engines, and research indicates that most people don’t look beyond the first 2 pages of search results. This means if your website doesn’t rank in the first 2 pages of the major search engines, it’s only receiving 20% of its rightful traffic… and revenue.
(And remember, being ranked number 1 when you search for your company name or web address doesn’t count. You need to rank highly for the words your customers use type into search engines to find your products or services.)
The biggest concern for search engine companies like Google, Yahoo, etc., is finding content that will bring them more traffic (and thus more advertising revenue). They do this by using complex algorithms to determine whether a site is useful and should be included in their search results.
This is where SEO comes in.
SEO is the art of achieving a desired rank position in the search engines. Nothing more, nothing less.
SEO means creating your site such that the search engines consider it useful. The two main weapons in your arsenal are:
* Keywords
* Links to your site
KEYWORDS
Figure out what words your customers are looking for at search engines, and use those words in your web pages that are relevant for these words. By appropriately using keywords that are important to your customers, you tell the search engines what that web page is about. The easier it is for a search engine to understand what your web page is about, the more likely it will get highly ranked for a relevant search on those keywords. Use these keywords in your website copy and in the .html code for the page.
It's easy to understand how to use keywords in your copy, but it’s not always easy to do. You can’t just inundate your site with a meaningless array of words. You have to balance keyword usage in your copy for both the search engine algorithms and the human reader. The trick is using the most important keywords in the right amount without compromising the readability of your copy. It’s a balance between writing for the search engines and writing for your reader.
TIP: If you find this too time consuming, a website copywriter can take care of it for you. And if you know your keywords already, it should cost you no more than normal web copy.
The next part of using keywords in your .html code is a little harder to understand, but it’s easier to do. There are four main places these keywords are used:
- Keywords
- Description
- Alt
- Title
TIP (NOTE: this is a useful exercise to use on your competitors, when performing competitive research): When you hear people talking about meta tags, this is what they’re talking about. To see how meta tags are used in practice, go to Google and pretend you’re a customer. Search for something your customers would search for. If you’re in car audio, search for “car audio”. Click on the first couple of results to bring up their website. Right-click on the home page, and select “View Source”. You’ll see a whole lot of code. You can ignore most of it. What you’re looking for are the following…
meta name="KEYWORDS" CONTENT="keyword 1,keyword 2,keyword 3"
meta name="DESCRIPTION" CONTENT="Meaningful description of page using the main keywords"
img src="filename.gif" alt="Meaningful description of picture using the main keywords"
[title]The title of the page using the main keywords[/title] *see Editor's note
* This should really read "<" and ">" instead of "[" and "]" - but Blogger refuses to allow it.
Take a look at the way the creators of the site have used keywords in these areas, and follow their lead. You already know they’re ranked highly, so chances are they’ve done a good job. Alternatively, you can take a look at one of my sites (http://www.FettMarketing.com) to see how we’ve done ours.
LINKS – The Art of Link Building and Getting Others To Link To Your Site
Now that you know how to tell the search engines what you do, let’s talk about how to convince them you’re important.
Links to your site (or “inbound links”) are the most important factor in ranking. Think of them as a “vote” of how good or relevant your site is – the more votes (links) a website has, the more important it is, and the higher its ranking. The more links you have to your site from other sites, the better your ranking (related sites with high Page Rank will tend to generate better rankings for your web page(s)).
There are many possible ways to generate links. Some are dubious (like auto-generation software or vendors who promise “hundreds” (or more) links to your site in a very short period of time). Others are legitimate, but offer limited results (like asking customers and suppliers to list you on their sites, and adding your site to various business directories). You can experiment with these methods, but I’ve always found the best way to generate inbound links is to share information.
If you want to rank well in the search engines, share good, high quality information. The search engines like it because it will help them understand your relevance more easily / quickly, thus placing you higher in search engine results pages (A.K.A. - SERPs). Your customers will like it because it will help them understand how you can best solve their problems, much more easily / quickly as well. A great way to do this is to write helpful articles and let publishers of newsletters and e-zines use them for free – and ask them to link back to your site.
People who publish e-Zines and newsletters are always hungry for quality content. And there are websites out there dedicated to giving them just that. One of the best places to start looking for these sources are online publications in your industry. If you submit a well written, relevant, helpful article to one of those sites, you can have many newsletter publishers ready to publish you content on your behalf.
Not only will this help you build links to your website, but it will serve to build and enhance your credibility in your field. Readers of your article will see that you know what you’re talking about, and because you’re published, they’ll see you as an authority.
Link Building (done the right way) is a very time consuming task; it’s impossible to say how much time you’ll need to spend generating links. You just have to keep at it until you have achieved a high ranking. Even then, you’ll still need to dedicate some ongoing time to the task, otherwise your ranking will drop.
Bottom Line: if you have a lot of the right keyword phrases, used in real sentences, distributed realistically throughout your site, and a lot of links from other relevant sites, you stand a good chance of being ranked highly.
That’s what you’re paying a good SEO provider for, and that’s what SEO is all about.
What do you think? Have you tried these tactics and strategies before? What have your results been? What do you recommend people try? Please share your thoughts below – thank you!
For more information, please visit Chris' TNNW Bio.
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Sunday, November 01, 2009
THIS MIGHT HURT: Show 'em Your Briefs - The API™ Approach
“Words are Tools; Words are Weapons.” – Douglas Castle
This Article written and © by Douglas Castle and originally published in THE NATIONAL NETWORKER™ Newsletter. All rights reserved. This article may be reproduced only in its complete form, inclusive of all hyperlinks, with full attribution to both the author and to the publication. For information about the author, go to Linked In/ Douglas Castle or to Douglas Castle’s Blog ; for information about the publication, go to THE NATIONAL NETWORKER™ Newsletter.
Show 'em Your Briefs - The API™ Approach
Dear Readers:
I like writing elaborate philosophical diatribes or treatises on intellectually stimulating and throught-provoking topics. I hated writing this article.
In business, your objective in all communications is to be effective. Forget Shakespeare and Longfellow. Forget your eighth-grade English teacher. Forget about the fine art of wordsmithing. Narrative and preambles are luxuries in a time-crunched society.
In business, your communication is science and not art. You use it in order to get something to happen -- whether that means a signed contract, a payment or an appointment.
The reality is that you have very little time to get your message across, and that you must be a missle instead of a mystic. Your audience is typically fatigued, overworked, impatient, inundated with information, preoccupied and has a form of media-induced ADHD. Your audience's attention span is measurable in seconds. Your opportunity is limited. There will not be any courtship.
Here are the rules for effective business communication. Reading Them + Learning Them + Applying Them = Success:
1. Fewer words = more impact per word. Being brief is critical.
2. Your first words must get their undivided attention. If you must, use drama and intensity. All is fair in the battle for you audience's focus to be on you, and you alone. Even is you have to use a visual prop, like a flag or a flashlight, or if you've got to embarrass yourself a bit. With your audience, wake 'em and take 'em.
3. Your next words must clearly and concisely state your proposition. Don't aim to impress someone with your wit and charm -- impress them with a clear expression of what you've got and why they need it. Use surgical speech! Use easily memorable sound bytes (or sound bites).
4. Your last words must be an urgent, direct and very specific call to action... they must be an instruction. You must either 1) request that they do something quite definite within a definite timeframe, or 2) tell them that you will be doing something definite within a definite timeframe. This part of your message is a firm commitment, a promise --- avoid invitations, and use instructions, instead.
5. After your last words, leave. Have another appointment, excuse yourself, rush off, leave your audience in the dust. If you linger, you become less significant. Your audience's time is important -- your time is important.
Remember API - It's a handy acronym for
- Attention
- Proposition, and
- Instruction
Faithfully,
Douglas Castle
Labels and Terms: API, brevitiy, communicating efficiently, getting attention, Taking command, TNNW_BUZZWORKS, effective presentations, optimizing time, getting your message across, business communication, The National Networker Newsletter, Blue Tuesday, working the room, getting things done, The API method, articles by Douglas Castle.
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JETNETTING: The First Impression Factor XVIII: The Quality of Vocal Variety, Part 1
Jetnetting with Heshie Segal
Never underestimate the power of the voice. In every communication, the voice, with its vocal elements, pauses and breathing, has the ability to make a powerful first and lasting impression.
Statistics prove that delivery (including voice and body language) carries a far greater wallop than content.
Well-known communication researcher Albert Mehrabian has shown in his studies that 38% of a
speaker’s credibility comes from the voice - that is, sounds, tones and pitch - while only 7% of the impact
comes from what the person actually says. Because your voice is a major factor in how people respond to
you, be aware of how you use it.
Your voice can communicate your sense of confidence, competence, attitude and professionalism. It conveys meaning and gives the listener information about you.
- A tentative voice might betray a lack of confidence.
- A loud, high-pitched, rapid pace signals stress.
- A loud, sharp sound results from an unwillingness to hear someone else's view.
- Prolonged silence (lack of voice) can indicate disagreement, creating tension; or indecision, potentially leading to distrust.
- Lack of confidence, self-esteem, uncertainty, passiveness and dishonesty is generally accompanied by a soft voice.
- Someone who is boastful, aggressive, or angry may speak in a voice that is simultaneously loud and rapid, or chillingly measured and controlled.
- A speaker may be unaware that his or her voice is whiney, nasal, high pitched or strident. These qualities will have a considerable impact on the “receiver’s” perception of the speaker and may detract from the message or presentation.
- If the accent or emphasis on certain words, and the tone of voice are inconsistent, it may influence what the listener understands. Consistent inconsistency also leads to mistrust.
Fortunately, there ARE things you can do to assure your voice is conveying the perception you want people to have of you. Practice speaking to develop relaxed breathing and varied vocal elements. You can do this by reading aloud from a magazine, book, or newspaper on a regular basis; say 10 to 15 minutes a day. Because the major resonance in your speaking voice comes from your head, mouth and chest, experiment speaking alternately from each area, to project a full vocal range.
Women generally speak with less chest resonance than men and therefore may come across with ‘thinner’ voices. For most people, creating the desired modulation and effect does take work, and it is well worth the effort. Resonant voices appear to be more powerful, believable and pleasing to the ear.
Are you ready for a deeper, more resonant voice? Then, be aware of the physical aspects of speaking, breathing in particular. 1). Relax your body and your breathing to get air flowing smoothly from your lungs. 2). Practice speaking by breathing from your stomach, not your throat. It gives your voice a fuller sound. Note: Good breathing gives you a more resonant voice while throat breathing produces thin voice quality. 3). Get used to breathing in and out of your mouth to keep your throat open.
For maximum effectiveness, and to make your voice more expressive, learn to vary the vocal elements (known as vocal variety) of your voice: pitch, tone, volume, inflection, rhythm, pace, pronunciation and articulation. If you put meaning and expression into your words, it will further help you vary the vocal elements. For example, if you say: “joy” then sound happy; for “sadness”, let them hear the low pitched voice with slow delivery, “power” will be accompanied by strong tonality, “energy” will have a faster, generally higher pitch.
It is critically important to vary your tone, speed, volume and pitch for emphasis. If you are addressing a large audience, change your pitch, volume and speed at least once during a “paragraph”. If you are speaking one-on-one or within a small group, you will still need variation, just toned down a bit.
Some concluding remarks: There are three scenarios to heed:
1). Low pitch, low volume and speaking too slowly generally produce boredom.
2). High pitch and a fast pace can either indicate high energy and excitement, or it can also be perceived as
a state of nervousness.
3). A monotone is boring and a turn off. Too much of one thing does not provide what might be called
arousal power, because it all sounds the same.
For more information, please visit Heshie's TNNW Bio.
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The Emergence of The Relationship Economy
The Emergence of the Relationship Economy features TNNWC Founder, Adam J. Kovitz as a contributing author and contains some of his early work on The Laws of Relationship Capital. The book is available in hardcopy and e-book formats. With a forward written by Doc Searls (of Cluetrain Manifesto fame), it is considered a "must read" for anyone responsible for the strategic direction of their business. If you would like to purchase your own copy, please click the image above.
