Six Sensational Secrets for Branding Yourself As A Speaker

By Kristie T of Branding on the Net

Wish you could be one of those speakers that people talk about long after the program is over? While people won't remember everything that you say in a program, they will remember who you were being while you presented. Here are six innovative ideas for how you can inject your personality and brand to create an unforgettable experience for your audience.

Secret #1: Tell your Signature Story

Nothing is better than a good story. Weaving your signature stories into the core of your message turns an ordinary talk into a real crowd pleaser. That's just the kind of experience that leaves speaker Rich Fettke's audiences hanging in suspense waiting for more.
Rich is a highly sought after keynote speaker on overcoming fear and achieving breakthrough success. In his spare time, Rich likes to engage in adventure sports like skydiving, bungee jumping, and rock climbing. In his signature talk, "Take The Leap," Rich tells an adrenaline-fueled, heart-pounding story about his first experience sky diving and shows how anyone can step out of their comfort zone to achieve greater success.

Do you have a turning point in your life that shaped you into the person you are? Do you have a "rags to riches story"? Make a list of your trademark stories that you could share in presentations.

Secret #2: Don't be Afraid to Show Your Flaws

One of the things we sometimes forget as "experts" is that it's okay to show your vulnerability. In fact sharing your weaknesses, can actually build credibility and trust. A few weeks ago I had the great privilege of seeing Jeff Blackman speak at a NSA of Illinois chapter meeting. Jeff is a "business-growth specialist" with a full speaking, training and consulting calendar.

Toward the end of his program, he shared a story about a six year old boy who had a speech impediment that caused all the kids to make fun of how he talked. And he told us the story in the voice of the little boy who mispronounced his R's like L's. Every day that little boy worked hard to improve his speech. Over the next few years, that boy continued speech correction lessons, until he was able to enunciate, articulate and communicate. Eventually, he grew-up to become a professional speaker, an attorney, a radio and TV talk-show host and...the author of a book called Peak Your Profits. And can you guess who that boy was? You guessed it, that boy was Jeff Blackman.

Do you have a story about a challenge you faced or a hard learned mistake? People really admire when you are not afraid to show their "warts" like that. You know, no one is perfect. Everyone starts from somewhere. And when you see that someone has overcome great obstacles like that it gives us hope.

Secret #3: Create a Signature Presentation Style and Look that's All Your Own

Imagine this: you are sitting in a room when all of a sudden, the lights are dimmed, the roaring sound of an helicopter landing fills the room, and on a screen in front of you a helicopter lands and a man climbs out. Then out of the corner of the room charges a man dressed in full army garb. That's the exhilarating ride that audiences experience when speaker Don Peters, a.k.a. "Big Ticket Ace", enters the room. Don has developed a reputation as a dynamic presenter and is known for his trademark speaking attire.
While a uniform or costume may be too extreme for some of us, there are other ways to create your own signature style. For example, sales expert Jeffrey Gitomer is known for his blue bowling shirt that has his name stitched on it.
Or even if you just want to position yourself as a world class speaker, having a polished looking suit or even wearing a tie in your brand colors can set you apart.

Secret #4: Pull your Hobbies, and Interests into Your Program
Watch Monday night football and you know that people get pretty passionate about their sports. That's why weaving your interests, hobbies, and pets into your speaking programs turns regular audience members into raving fans.

The last words of Jeff Blackman's introduction are this:

"However, Jeff's greatest business goal, is to some day, own and operate, a World Series Trophy Shop... (Big Pause) for the Chicago Cubs!"

And during his program, Jeff made a couple other subtle references to being a true Cubs fan that makes his program really memorable.
Think about what fun or unique things you would share about yourself during your programs. Do you love karaoke? Are you a dog lover? Do you love to fish? By tying these personal facts into your program you add instant interest.

Secret #5: Add Your Unique Brand of Humor

Humor has the power to transform an ordinary program into a fun experience for the whole audience. For some speakers, their humor bits become their trademark.

Here are a quick excerpt from Jeff Blackman's trademark story.
"The year is 1974. I am a freshman in the University of Illinois. I am wearing a polyester shirt that was highly fashionable and highly flammable. It is set off by a puka shell necklace.

You see, in 1974, men only needed one eyebrow... But, thankfully through therapy and counseling, I now have 2 eyebrows instead of one."
Apparently Jeff still has that shirt. He calls it his "vintage collection." And today his teenage son and daughter beg to borrow shirts from his "vintage collection" to wear to school because it's so cool.

Jeff's "vintage collection" photo (and the story) is such a hit, that his clients often request that he tell the story and show his groovy "unibrow" picture during his programs.

Secret #6: Share Use your Own Quotes

Often speakers get caught up in sharing the famous words of other speakers. Why not leave the audience with your words as the final thought? Before you know it people will be quoting YOU in articles and speeches.

You can create your own quotes to share during presentations, as instant quotes for the media, and to add to your handouts. Brian Tracy has a set of cards (from Mem-Cards.com) that feature his quotes in the form of advanced selling tips.

And here's another way to get your quotes in the public realm. Hayley Foster is an editor who works for a CyberNation, a free daily quote subscription service . You can submit your unique quotes to his free daily quote subscription service by sending them to admin@hayleyfoster.com.

I actually did this by having my virtual assistant go thru my book, "I Love My Life: A Mom's Guide to Working from Home" and pulling out the notable quotables.

Here's one from my book that shares my belief about sharing your brand with the world.

"We all have unique gifts and talents. ... There are treasures stored inside each one of us. It's our duty to uncover and use the gifts we were bestowed with. We are all created for a purpose. Pursue your personal purpose and live from that plan."
-- Kristie Tamsevicius

Summary:
So take a moment to look at your presentation. What unique insights and stories do you have? What mistakes have you made in your life that others can learn from? By sharing your unique brand in your programs, you create an entertaining, one-of-a-kind experience they'll never forget!

Article by Kristie Tamsevicius - Dubbed as the "Marketing Maven & Brander Extraordinaire" Kristie Tamsevicius turns entrepreneurs into the lavishly paid in-demand experts in their field. Learn how branding helps you to attract customers, build income, & gain visibility while successfully promoting your business online with our FREE report "Web Branding Secrets" by visiting www.brandingonthenet.com.