Advice for young entrepreneurs: Master public speaking and attract more clients
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Posted: Tue 28th Feb 2023
Are you looking to attract more clients and grow your business? One of the most essential ways to do this is by mastering public speaking. Public speaking is a powerful tool that can help you reach out to potential clients, build relationships and earn their trust.
By learning how to craft engaging speeches and deliver them with confidence, you can become a master public speaker – and an expert at connecting with your audience.
In this blog, we'll discuss how to hone your public speaking skills so you can expand your customer base and make more sales.
Why public speaking is important for attracting clients
Mastering public speaking is essential for any business trying to attract new clients. Not only can it help you build relationships and gain trust, but it also gives you the opportunity to pitch your ideas in a more engaging and persuasive way.
When you learn how to effectively communicate your message and make an impact on your audience, you give yourself a stronger presence that will draw in potential customers and make them feel like they have something to gain from your services.
Plus, if you're able to give an impressive speech at a busy networking event or another business gathering, people are more likely to walk away with a positive impression of you and your brand – which could lead to more business down the line. So if you want to grow your client base, mastering public speaking is key!
Ways to develop public speaking skills
This isn't just important for attracting new clients – it's crucial for building your confidence and self-esteem too. Learning how to communicate your ideas in an engaging way is an invaluable skill that can help you in many aspects of life.
And it doesn't take much time or effort to start improving your public speaking abilities. Begin by reading books, watching videos, and attending workshops and seminars on the topic to get a better understanding of the basics.
Then, practise regularly in front of friends and family so you can develop your communication skills and get comfortable with being on stage. With dedication and practice, you'll soon be giving presentations like a professional speaker.
Decide what to speak about
How do you decide what kind of speech to give? Different types of speeches have different effects on the listener.
For example, if you're trying to build relationships with potential clients, an informative or persuasive speech might be most effective. If you're pitching to investors, you might have more luck with a motivational or inspirational speech.
Watch this Lunch and Learn webinar on how to pitch to investors:
Knowing which type of speech will work best in each situation can make your presentations more effective and engaging. Make sure you choose the right type of speech for each occasion and tailor it to the needs of your audience – it will make all the difference when it comes to attracting new clients.
Understand what potential clients want to hear
Before you start preparing your speech, take the time to research the target audience and think about why they’ve invited you to speak. Are they looking for motivation? Inspiration? Information?
Knowing what your audience needs will help you craft a speech that resonates with the people listening and meets their expectations.
It also pays to know what kind of event you're speaking at. Is it a corporate conference, an industry event or a small gathering? The size of the event will influence how much time you have for your presentation, as well as the tone of voice you should use.
Understanding these details can help make sure that your public speech is impactful for those in attendance and leaves them wanting more.
Read more in this series:
How to start or grow a business / Do your market research / Set up for financial success / Master your business plan / Build a business mindset
Write your speech
Crafting a speech – and a compelling message that resonates with your audience – requires creativity, research and practice.
Before you start, think about what your key points should be and why they matter. Make sure each point leads logically from one to the next so your argument builds up over time.
Once you have an outline in place, you can begin laying out the details of your speech. Pay attention to grammar and punctuation as well as tone of voice – keeping your words concise and impactful is crucial.
Additionally, make sure your speech has a clear beginning, middle and end so it flows naturally all the way through.
Use unique and interesting narratives
Giving your speech a unique and interesting narrative means you have a much better chance of capturing your audience's attention and making your message memorable.
To start, consider any stories or anecdotes that may be relevant to your topic. These can be personal experiences, historical events, or anything else that illustrates a point you're making.
When crafting these narratives, keep them short – no-one wants to sit through a long-winded story. Also think about how you can use this narrative to convey an emotion or feeling – humour always goes down well but don't be afraid to tug on heartstrings either.
Try to incorporate visuals into your storytelling if possible. This could include photos, graphs, or even physical objects that help bring the narrative to life for your audience. With the right combination of words and visuals, you can craft a truly engaging story that will stay with people long after you've finished speaking.
Read more:
Articulate your message clearly
Presenting ideas to an audience means making sure each point is clear and easy to follow. To do this, start by writing down the main points of your speech and then organise them in a logical order.
This will help give your speech structure and ensure that you're conveying all aspects of your message in the proper way.
Read more:
Sound like an authority
Another key component of mastering public speaking is being able to provide expert opinion on the topics you're speaking about. This can include anything from industry trends to personal anecdotes that your audience can relate to.
Researching relevant topics beforehand can help make sure your entire speech is informative and engaging, and maybe show off your leadership skills as well.
Watch this Lunch and Learn webinar on how to get comfortable with public speaking:
Practise your speech
Having the confidence and poise to command an audience's attention and keep them engaged is something that only comes with experience. To get there, you must first learn how to properly project your voice, use hand gestures to add emphasis, and maintain eye contact with the crowd.
It's important to practise delivering your speech in front of an audience before you present it at a larger event. This will help you get comfortable in front of a crowd and provide valuable feedback on what works or doesn't work when presenting your material.
Deliver your speech
Giving an engaging speech doesn't have to be daunting. With practice and preparation, you can become a confident speaker who knows how to deliver a captivating presentation that leaves the audience wanting more.
Begin with an informative and entertaining introduction that hooks your listeners in and sets the tone for the rest of the speech. Use humour where appropriate, but don't go overboard – keep it light and friendly.
Be sure to speak clearly and at a moderate pace so everyone can understand what you're saying. Vary your pitch and volume to add interest and emphasis to important points, but avoid speaking too loudly or quickly as this may overwhelm your listeners.
Pause after each major point to give listeners time to digest the information. Avoid using overly complicated language or jargon – stick with simple but powerful words instead.
Lastly, be sure to interact with the audience throughout your speech by asking questions or sharing stories that relate to each point. Audience participation helps keep everyone engaged and interested in what you have to say.
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