I was only invited because the other speaker had pulled out.
The presentation is the start of building relationships, it is not the time to sell but to create future opportunities to sell. This is how I prepare to increase the number of those opportunities.
It's a familiar feeling of being delighted to have the opportunity to present, whilst also realising that I'm not first choice.
But once I've committed to being a speaker I always commit to delivering the best that I can.
When Dr. Emine Gokce Phillips asked me at short notice to present at the AI for Business event in Oxford on 29th January, I thought it a good opportunity to showcase the NewsToPost app.
Here is the full presentation.
Below I will share my approach to preparing and delivering a talk to maximise engagement and to gather contacts.
The Second Act
The main event is the fireside chat with co-founder of AIZEE AI , Jeldon Fernandes and Dr. Emine Gokce Phillips . It's a brilliant and insightful conversation. Jeldon has real world experience and is building a world class technology for voice agents.
As the second act I know that I need to prepare in advance.
Due Diligence
Before I attend I always look to see who the other guest is, and this case it is the charismatic entrepreneur Jeldon Fernandes , co-founder and CEO of AIZEE AI - developer of AI voice Prepagents. I can really see applications for my clients of this new technology.
Preparation, Preparation, Preparation
Formatting
Everyone likes to watch video, and so I always make point to embed video into my presentations. I use Descript to make short videos like this. Descript has text editing for video - so it's like a word document! There is an AI tool to help now too.
Just a short 30 - 60 second video to demonstrate is much more engaging than slides. It also gives me a chance to look at the audience and to guage their attention.
I load the video to Vimeo . Youtube also works but then the problem is that the viewer can see all the other videos that Youtube wants to show your audience.
Simplicity & pattern disruption
Choose 3 colours for your palette, and then use those in the presentation deck. I use red (d72126) grey (57575) and white for mine. [If you don't have a colour set then you can choose them at Coolors .
I always prepare my presentation in plain white and no graphics first. Only once the text and flow are resolved do I add in graphics and colours. I switch colours of backgrounds between my colour set. Plan for the person at the back of the room who has the worst eyesight.
A picture is worth a 1,000 words, and video is 24 pictures per second!
So that's really an efficient way to get more information shared without speaking any faster!
Slides as Funnel
I use a photo on the first slide as a counter point to my story and a QRC to my WhatsApp on the closing slide. I've used the QRC to a website and lead magnet but find I get much higher response rate when giving my own WhatsApp. I then share the presentation from my phone and ask people for their one take away.
The icebreaker
My presentation was about how to use AI for social media content generation. I asked the audience to stand if they thought it was important to post consistently. This got the room standing, at least most of it. I then got them to take a selfie for social media. I tied the question and the activity to the content of the talk. Getting the audience up and active together is a simple and effective way to remove the tension. I then asked them to sit in accordance to how often they post to social media.
We end up with a few people standing, and I then ask these people questions which will lead into my topic. This simple "bridging" exercise connects me to the audience and gives more useful insight into their understanding of the topic I'm going to speak about.
"Peace starts with a smile" said Mother Theresa. Good presentations do also.
In the presentation you can see how large images give me an opportunity to help the audience to understand the concept quickly, without much talking. I used Manus.im to create this graphic for me.
The Follow Up
WhatsApp is my way of connecting because it is immediate and everyone has it on their phone, probably using it whilst I am talking.
The pdf file of my presentation is on my phone. Along with links to my personal site and magazine.
Before the evening is over, I will have connected and engaged with everyone that has shown an interest.
The Morning After
Check in on LinkedIn, connect, comment, post, and repost. I added the write up to my Newsletter as it fell on a Friday. Otherwise I would have posted a simple story like this one. But I did comment on all of these posts by attendees, and also connected with them all.
It's the start not the end
The presentation is the start of building relationships, it is not the time to sell but to create future opportunities to sell.
Preparation increases the number of those opportunities.
As you prepare for your next presentation, I hope that these ideas will help you to engage the audience and also to ensure that you collect enquiries.
As always - if you need any help just call me using the link below.
