Every speech has an audience and every audience is different. Tailoring your next speech to its audience is as important as the content in the speech. So how do you connect with an audience so your message matches their expectations, wants and needs and you get your message across effectively.Here are the Seven Strategies to Target Your Business Presentation Message With Laser-Like Precision1. Research your audience prior to the presentation.The more you know about your audience the more likely you are able to connect with them. I'm often blown away by the number of business people who just don't bother to find out anything about their audience. The more specific you can be the better. For example one of the best briefs I received from a client was the following description of the audience:"The majority of the group are on a two days, two nights, four off roster. These are largely process technicians. The remainder are on a five-days-on two-days-off roster. Day shift people include tradespeople (we call them maintenance technicians) and lab, administration and professional employees. Average tenure across the group is eight years ranging up to over 30 years. Average age across the group is 38 years. Gender Split: Females 6 per cent, Males 94 per cent"What a great start and fantastic research statistics on the audience. From this I could work out nearly half the audience hadn't been with the company very long, they were predominantly a younger audience and mostly male! This provided a strong foundation to tailor my message to connect with this group. Please note this was an exceptionally good briefing from the client and most of the time you will have to do the legwork to find out who your audience is!2. Find Out What Your Audience Want.Again ask key questions of the event organiser such as 'What are the key issues impacting on your industry, business or members?' I always try and meet as many of the audience as
possible prior to a presentation as ask "what's on your mind at the moment and what do you want to get out of this presentation?" Be specific.Here's an example I used for a recent presentation for entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. I discovered most potential investors will want to know 3 things when trying to raise finds. What are the sales projections? Who are your target customers? What is the exit strategy? Provide this and you've won them over.3. Use Examples.Nothing builds empathy and rapport with your audience as powerfully as examples. Remember you are selling intangible ideas and practical examples make these ideas more memorable, believable and tangible.4. Use Vignettes.No, this is not a type of dressing you put on your salad! It is a short story, example or incident. The key point is they are easy to remember and tell. But they must be short and relevant.5. Use Metaphors.These are powerful words that conjure up vivid images in the minds of your audience. They are a proven speechwriting technique. I recently heard former US President Bill Clinton speak. Clinton used the metaphor of the gap between the invention of the club and the shield to describe the present situation in the war against terrorism. He said,
"this gap needs to closed". This makes intangible concepts have more impact with an audience.6. Be Specific.The more specific you can be with actual examples, case studies, and results the more laser-like your precision will be in targeting your message. Know your content and don't be afraid to reveal personal stories as examples in your speech, this will strengthen your relationship with your audience.7. Use the Incident/Point/Benefit Technique.This one is really powerful. Tell the story, make the point and then importantly, reinforce how this will benefit the audience. It took me years to work this one out but it will make
a big difference to the impact of your presentations.Thomas Murrell MBA CSP is an international business speaker, consultant and award-winning broadcaster. Media Motivators is his regular electronic magazine read by 7,000 professionals in 15 different countries.
You can subscribe by visiting http://www.8mmedia.com. Thomas can be contacted directly at +6189388 6888 and is available to speak to your conference, seminar or event. Visit Tom's blog at http://www.8mmedia.blogspot.com

Examples and stories can bring your presentations alive. They can transform a dull, dry subject into something which is interesting and alive. When presenters give examples, it helps explain what they are saying in a way that the audience can understand. Examples make the material you deliver less 'information' or and more 'entertainment'.If you can give your examples in the form of stories, you will be using a format that everyone can understand. We were all brought up on stories and some of the greatest influencers in history gave their messages as stories ? remember Aesop and his fables!So, to make the most of the examples you could use you need to have a strategy to include them in all of your talks. There are several ways you can do this. For instance, for each of your main points try to think of at least one example that backs up what you are saying. You may not use each example, but you should have them in mind so you can introduce them if necessary. Keep a list of these examples handy, so that when you put your final presentation together you can choose the most interesting and relevant ones.Make your examples include human beings, preferably real people. Examples that include people are much more powerful than abstract examples. If your examples include you in them, they will be much more attractive to the audience. Research shows us that audiences expect speakers to talk about their own experiences and find it immensely valuable.Try to paint vivid pictures in the mind of your audience with your examples. If your audience can mentally see what you are describing they are much more likely to remember it. Psychologists have demonstrated that much of our thinking is visually-based. Hence, if you talk in word pictures you will make it easy for your audience to understand what you are saying.Make your examples relevant to the audience. Find out in advance the kind of examples that are likely to interest them; do some audience research to help boost your examples.Choose examples that are current. Do not use examples from the distant past as they have less impact than examples set in the present.Always announce your examples with words like 'here's a story that shows what I mean'. Announcements like this will alert your audience to pay close attention.Wherever possible make your examples light or humorous. Avoid being serious or stuffy with your examples. Tell your stories in the same way as you would in a social situation, such as a dinner party or in a bar. The more natural they sound, the greater their impact.Always be on the lookout for new examples and stories that can back up your points. The more examples you have 'in stock' the more you will be able to choose one relevant to a particular audience.Graham Jones runs The Presentation Business, http://www.presentationbiz.com

"More learning occurs through emotion than through intellect" C.S. LewisEven Hillary Clinton needs presentation skills.
In an article in the NY Post the headline read Rookie Orator is Learning to Talk the Talk.Hillary hs benefitted from public speaking tips from her fellow Senators.Accused of being monotone, they told her to "spice up" her style or risk putting her listeners to sleep.The article went on to say that she had moved from lecturing and is emulating the style of Senator Ted Kennedy who uses emotion.The result was that Hillary started using more movement, pacing the floor, using wider gestures, and making use of the dramatic pause.If a seasoned speaker like Hillary needed to fine tune her speaking skills what are you doing to get to the next level? Today, good platform skills are not enough. With so many graduates of Toastmasters, the bar has been raised. The mechanics of speaking are not enough.In the past people depended so much on the message, that they believed if they mastered the mechanics, the message would carry them. But in an age where we are bombarded by 70,000 messages a day, a compelling message is no longer enough.We must go beyond the being the messenger to being a conduit. We must move beyond the mechanics and into chemistry.When a speaker achieves chemistry with the audience only then can he or she achieve high trust connections. To achieve high trust connections, we must move from our heads to our hearts-to the emotion of the message.So stop being a talking head and connect from the heart. Only then will people trust, believe, and move to action!Diane DiResta, President of DiResta Communications, Inc. is an International speaker, coach, and author of Knockout Presentations: How to Deliver Your Message with Power, Punch, and Pizzazz. To subscribe to Impact Player, a free online newsletter visit http://www.diresta.com

Business communications researchers have studied the phenomenon of stage fright experienced by would-be public speakers. Let me summarize most of the findings in very down-to-earth terms: Most people would rather die than stand up before an audience and deliver a speech.To suggest that these individuals are as "nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs" may be something of an understatement in describing these public speaking "scaredy cats." The symptoms are similar to food poisoning: a queasy feeling in the pit of one's stomach, shakes and jitters, and a sincere desire to roll up into a fetal position.As a public speaker and one who has provided instruction to others to help them develop their own skills, I have found that certain approaches work. Other approaches "look good in theory," but are not as helpful. One of the oft-repeated suggestions for overcoming stage fright includes the classic advice, "imagine everyone else is naked." However, it is rare that everyone else is naked, upon the speaker's arrival to the podium and as he or she surveys the audience. In fact, I have spoken extensively, and I have yet to spot even one naked audience member-I do think I would have noticed.Another typical suggestion is to arrive early, meet attendees, and establish personal contacts with audience members. In keeping with this, speakers are to "find a friendly face" in the audience, and imagine "you are merely having a conversation" with that one person. That's not a bad idea, except that it would not alleviate the problem that arises with a large audience sprinkled with several unfriendly faces, or one that includes even one hostile heckler.Now we're getting into the root of the problem-the one thing that most public speaking scaredy cats are deathly afraid of-the fear of ridicule, rejection, and public embarrassment. We were kids before we arrived in this predicament of being asked or told to deliver a presentation (usually by a boss or a teacher, the first time around). We know that some people can be real "meanies," and maybe a few readers even have something to feel guilty about. Perhaps this article will serve a dual purpose, and encourage audience members to become kinder, more attentive, more supportive, too. Maybe more people will quit whispering (sometimes not so quietly) and turn off their cell phones. Smiling would be nice, for both fellow audience members and from the point-of-view of speakers. (If not, don't worry would-be speakers, I will give you tips to roar like a lion and put those meanies in their rightful place-professionally, and politely.)Let's review a few more of the standard suggestions. There is some value in knowing that you should relax. You should try to relax. However, individuals who have those occasional sleepless nights have been told that they should go to sleep. Swimmers should avoid sharks and avoid sinking. This advice, while true, is about as helpful to would-be speakers as an anchor is to one of those swimmers (of course he or she could possibly fend off a shark by striking it with the anchor, while on the way down to the bottom of the ocean). Practice breathing, stretch, exercise, think positive thoughts, learn from other speakers, rehearse-don't get me wrong-these are not bad ideas at all, but they are not enough.What really works? Training. You can attend a workshop and receive formal training, or you can train yourself. Why haven't most people been trained before? A detailed explanation would require a treatise on the education system and a discussion of how to improve upon typical results (critics complain that graduates at any level lack strong oral and written communication skills).Let's summarize by reviewing three problems that often exist: 1) New speakers are often forced to address topics that are unfamiliar to them. 2) Speakers are put under undue pressure, prior to developing basic skills. In academic settings there are egg timers and grade point reductions. In professional settings there are hopes for promotion and fears of demotion, pegged to the performance. 3) Athletes practice five hours a day; students may not accumulate that same amount of podium or stage experience during the course of earning an entire degree, unless speech becomes a personal pursuit.Let's turn this around, for the sake of your academic progress, career potential, and (or) self esteem. First, you need coaching, training, and practice. You need role models. You need to make "speaking," as an activity, a pursuit that you engage in with at least the same amount of vigor as a hobby that you enjoy.Here are some of the elements of a good training regimen: Practice speaking several times per week. Have you seen those exercise equipment infomercials that say, "in just twenty minutes a day, three times a week, you can have the kind of body you've always wanted"? Well, that sounds about right, except that what you need is a podium and an audience. You can join a speaking group such as Toastmasters (as a member of a chapter near you). You can offer to read announcements in a business, religious, or school setting. You can introduce yourself, often, in organized networking meetings. You can introduce yourself to other groups. You can introduce other speakers to groups (that might be a great way to get coaching-assisting an established speaker as an intern).The nice thing about following the above training regimen advice, is that you can start small, and take care of the challenge of developing basic skills in bite-sized increments. There is one catch, which has to do with the fact that you'll have homework. You must read other people's speeches, and practice writing your own. One source for studying the heavy hitters is to visit your local library and look for access to a "Vital Speeches of the Day" database. You may also want to do what I just did on a popular search engine. I ran the term "speech writing" and came up with over three million hits. Now, as we all know, some of those hits will lead to services that require commercial payment. Later, that may be appropriate for some resources.If you develop basic skills and progress to a level of mastery, you can actually get paid for speeches. How much do speakers make? According to the National Speakers Association, an average professional speaker's fee is around $3,500, plus expenses such as travel, accommodations, and program materials. Newly established speakers charge less, often an honorarium is given in the range of a few hundred dollars. On the other hand, nationally recognized "celebrity speakers" often charge fees ranging from $5,000 to $100,000. Now that's what I would call a built-in incentive program for you, if being promoted or passing an academic course with flying colors is not enough.If you've been following my article writing progress, you have probably deduced that the other critical component of public speaking success is to know your subject. This is not just knowledge at an intellectual level, however. It's also the kind of knowledge that you embrace with all your heart.A passion for your subject gives you a sense of commitment and self-assuredness. Deep down, people feel your spirit, and that is what resonates with any speech and with any audience. In marketing it is said that one should "sell the sizzle, not the steak." In performing as a public speaker, it's the inspiring delivery of desirable information that sways an audience.Finally, let's talk about rejection, the "thing" that you fear-the imaginary monster that is keeping you awake at night. The monster that makes hands tremble, voices crack, and podiums shake as though they were in the shadow of a giant carnivore; a ferocious "speaker eater," that will devour you and anything you have to say like a tasty snack. This one critical insight will help you slay that monster: People want you to make them feel good. They want you to help them with insights that they do not have. Audiences want an "experience, not words." They want you to succeed. For self-serving reasons, audience members do not want you to fail, because then they would feel disappointed, and would be no better off than they were prior to giving you their time. It's only logical. Audiences want to accept you, and they want you to accept them as they are, and make their lives better by the time you leave.No critic or heckler is a match for an expert-it's not even a fair fight (but it does create an outcome that's in your favor, if you develop your own area of expertise). The heckler, kind of a critic on steroids, is someone who yearns for attention. Knowing this, we can give that individual all of the attention that he or she deserves, in a calm and completely confident manner.Our weapons are factual, credible sources, which carry far more weight than any heckler's opinion; you are merely a humble messenger whose basis for speaking is facts in evidence. Ironically, the combination of credible information delivered with conviction, a bit of humility, and a sense of humor will transform your audience. Audience members will see you differently. They will respect you, and in time, adore you. You, too, will change and metamorphose from a scaredy cat to a majestic lion. You will be known as a speaker whose message, and whose passion and delivery, roars.Dr. Robert Lahm is the founder of several businesses and Web sites, an entrepreneurship professor, a public speaker, and a writer. His typical topics include creativity and innovation, careers, start-ups, and small business marketing. Webmasters and other article publishers are hereby granted article reproduction permission as long as this article in its entirety, author's information, and any links remain intact.Copyright 2005 by Dr. Robert J. Lahm, WebPreneurship.com.

The more you know about your audience, the better your presentation will go.For example, if I've got a large diverse group, I'll ask the organisers to give me the names of five people who will be in the audience who represent a cross section across the organisation. I learnt this from listing to a Voices of Experiences CD with Rosita Perez put out by NSA of USA.I'll ring each individually prior to the presentation and the conversation will go like this after a brief introduction:Q: "What keeps you awake at night?"A: "What work of personal?"Q: "Both"I then get a great insight into the challenges they face, personally and professionally.I then summarise and work this into my presentation."Gathering intelligence about your target readers when writing a book or about your audience members prior to a presentation is an effective way to keep your readers or listeners awake, alert, amused, and involved. You can learn more about your audience members by asking the host specific questions about the group," according to US speaker Jeff Davidson.He suggests asking these questions:Who is the most popular person in the audience?Who is the least popular?Who wins the contests or gets all the honors?Who never gets any of them?Who has been with the organization the longest?Who recently came on board?Who is the biggest kidder?Who leaves the biggest tips?Who is known for falling asleep in presentations?"If you can gather the answers to any of these questions in advance, you have excellent tools at your command! The fact that you go the extra mile by finding out such information gets people buzzing about you and your presentation and makes you more memorable," Mr Davidson said in a recent article in SpeakerNet News published on the 20th May 2005.Thomas Murrell MBA CSP is an international business speaker, consultant and award-winning broadcaster. Media Motivators is his regular electronic magazine read by 7,000 professionals in 15 different countries.You can subscribe by visiting http://www.8mmedia.com. Thomas can be contacted directly at +6189388 6888 and is available to speak to your conference, seminar or event. Visit Tom's blog at http://www.8mmedia.blogspot.com.

Imagine yourself at mission control; 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 - Speak!When the space shuttle blasts off - those first few seconds of lift are critical. It comprises a small portion of the total journey, yet if someone errors - they crash and burn. The beginning of your speech is much the same. If you error in the opening your speech will crash and burn.The mission of your opening is to 1. Grab their interest; 2. Establish rapport; 3. Introduce your topic. Here are 10 techniques you can use to launch your successful speech.10. Startling statement. Use a strong attention grabbing statement - with facts, statistics or unusual information. "The greatest fear is to speak in public. The second greatest fear is to die."9. Suspense/ Surprise. Start with a suspense-building sentence or take them in one direction - then hit them with surprise. "It was a dark and stormy night - it was my wedding night."8. Story/Anecdote. Tell a short story. Begin your story with the word imagine. It is an engaging word. "Imagine that we could travel back in time to witness the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk."7. Quotation. When you use a quotation you tap into the credibility and power of the person who stated those words. "I have a dream, cried out Martin Luther King Jr." Quote from people well known and well liked by your audience.6. Challenging Question. Questions are always powerful and engaging. This could be a rhetorical question. "Are you ready for the millennium? When the clock ticks over to January 1, 2000, will planes be falling and computers crashing?"5. Compliment the audience. Be sincere - don't say, "You are the most beautiful audience I have ever seen." Instead say something that impressed you about the group, 'I am very impressed with the hospitality shown to me by you today. This lives up to the reputation I have heard about your community work.'4. Occasion. Comment on the occasion - especially if it is an anniversary or awards night. "To speak to you on your 10th annual awards dinner is an honour." Or uncover some information about the group that outsiders would not normally know. "Happy Birthday to your founding president." This takes a little research - and is worth it.3. Prop or visual. Catch their attention and set the mood with a funny hat, uniform, or stuffed bear. Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain), would blow a cloud of smoke on stage before he made his entrance. It always got a laugh. You might roll a ball across the stage or play with a yo-yo. What you do before you speak can be powerful.2. Previous speaker. Pick up on something a previous speaker said or did - especially if that was the president or chairman of the board. Build on what they said. It shows that you listened and gives you more credibility if you agree with the boss. Before you speak ask a participant, "What was the funniest thing that happened so far?" Try to build on this to get a laugh. Comedians call this technique a call back.1. Engage the audience. Ask a question that requires the audience to answer, or one that is sure to make them laugh. "How many of the women in the audience have had an affair with Bill Clinton? - - How many of the men?"Bonus tips:? Don't start with "My topic is..." or "Today I am going to talk about..." Both of these are boring.? Never start with an apology. "I'm sorry we are running late." "I'm sorry the president couldn't be here." "I'm sorry about the meal."? Once you take your position on stage, enjoy a long pause before you speak. Silently count "1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi".? Smile as you first look around the audience. Look like you are happy to be there even if you don't feel that way.? Get them to laugh early. You'll feel better and they will decide to like you sooner.We return to Mission Control.10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 - Close - and that's another story.

The fear of public speaking is one of the most common forms of phobia. That would be fine if this fear did not hold you back in your social and career advancement.The opposite of fear is confidence. Here are a few ways to approach the whole terrifying concept of public speaking that will help bring the fear down and bring the confidence up.PrepareOne of the reason we are nervous or even down right afraid of speaking in public is because we don't want to look foolish. A major key to avoiding this is to be prepared. Research your topic. Even if you are an expert on your subject, do a little research. This will keep your approach fresh and interesting. I like to have more information than I can cover in the time allotted.Begin to become an expert on your subject. I didn't say to become THE expert, just an expert. Over the next few years, you will all become an expert on something. Most people become an expert on a television rerun, a reality show or a sporting event. If you choose, you can become an expert on a subject of much more value.Prepare and you will not be as nervous.PerspectivePutting your public speaking project into perspective will help your nerves immensly. Choose not to be intimidated by your audience. I admit that this is easy to say and hard to do, but it is a good place to start. Your audience will gain benefit from your presenation. Many of the people you speak to will even be impressed!I know many of you have heard the old saying about how to overcome nervousness when speaking to an audience. Remember to picture your audience in their__________________.In their UNDERWEAR!!! NO, NO NO! What kind of groups have you been speaking to??I would prefer that you picture them in their seats, enjoying your very entertaining and informative speech. Underwear? you really have a lot of work to do.Positive self talkPositive self talk is an amazing habit to get into. For most people our self talk is very negative. We call ourselves names that we would never allow another person to call us. When I make a mistake, one of the first words to my mind is usually IDIOT! Ouch. That is a great way to make yourself fell inadequate and become more nervous in a speaking situation.Practice positive self talk. I tried this one time. I was on my way to a speech contest and I was very nervous. I took some time to begin my positive self talk.I said;"Steve Brummet is a great speaker"That felt good, so I tried it again. I said;"Steve Brummet is an entertaining and informative speaker"Ooh getting better! Then I said;"People love to hear Steve Brummet talk"All of a sudden my regular self talk reared up and said "YEA, but not as much as Steve Brummet likes to hear himself talk!"Be careful with that self talk.Deal with the fear and your public speaking skills will take off taking your business and career advancement along for the ride.Steve Brummet is a communication expert, writer and speaker.Steve's company specializes in working with organizations of all types to help their people increase productivity and profit and decrease stress by improving communication skills. As a writer, Steve has been published in Parenting Success, People of Faith and Family-content.com. Steve says his clients include a Lions Club in Sherman Texas, his mother in law's ladies group and SOMETIMES his wife and four children will listen to him for JUST a little while.http://www.communicationspeaker.com
steve@stevebrummet.com
214-578-4172

Wouldn't it be great if you didn't have to be one long, giant commercial for yourself all the time? If maybe your products and your name did the promoting for you? When someone hires you to speak at a high profile event, they are taking a large gamble on your ability to engage an audience's interest, and the extent of your knowledge. That said, it is important to have some credibility to your name, or you'll be speaking at every pitiful engagement that comes along.I use a number of different techniques to sell my products that way when an engagement comes along the person hiring me already knows what to expect. You can't just buy a website and expect people to start calling with offers to hear you speak. Besides, selling a book or downloadable tape, is much easier to do because less money is at risk to the buyer.Let your product do the work for you. A happy customer is always a returning customer. Since the profit is very high in information products, you will enjoy a hefty cash flow while your good name grows.When your product sells well, you then have the ability to accept only the most prestigious speaking offers. Being selective about the engagements that you speak at will allow you to build your celebrity status, and in turn, raise your speaking fee.Your products are a reflection of yourself and the knowledge that you have to offer. Treat every sale, no matter how small with the same integrity you would treat a larger one. You never know what connections or responsibilities your customer may have for hiring speakers.Tom Antion provides entertaining speeches and educational seminars. He is the ultimate entrepreneur, having owned many businesses BEFORE graduating college. Tom is the author of the best selling presentation skills book "Wake 'em Up Business Presentations" and "Click: The Ultimate Guide to Electronic Marketing." It is important to Tom that his knowledge be not only absorbed, but enjoyed. This is why he delivers his speeches laced with great humor and hysterical jokes. Tom has addressed more than 87 different industries and is thoroughly committed to his client's needs. http://www.antion.com

Whether going for the gold or giving a presentation, the beast of performance anxiety rears its ugly head. Your hands are clammy, your knees wobbly and your heart is pounding. You've developed a shortness of breath and your breakfast is staging an uprising. The pressure is on, and you want to succeed and perform at the top of your game.Olympic Athletes do three things to build their confidence and tame the beast. They are mentally tough; they concentrate so deeply that they go "into the zone"; and they visualize success.BE MENTALLY TOUGHIt's all in your attitude. Olympic Athletes don't feel helpless. They are proactive and are determined to succeed. Your drive to be mentally tough should include the following:

There is huge potential to create additional profits from your speeches by partnering with a professional transcriptionist to convert your audio recordings into text transcripts.1) Speakers and consultants often deliver their presentations via teleconference calls and record them for sale later. Once transcribed, the transcript can be provided free to paying attendees as a value-added item or formatted into a special report for an additional product to sell.2) Another valuable service you can provide to your clients is to send them a transcript of your speech ahead of time. Provide a single copy and allow them to make a specific number of copies to distribute. If you give the speech often, the cost of the transcription will pay for itself over time.3) With your speech transcribed into text on paper, you can easily customize it for new clients, add new material, and delete outdated sections.4) A certain percentage in an audience will have hearing problems and not be able to understand you clearly. Promise them a transcript of your speech, or one that was transcribed earlier from another time you gave basically the same speech.5) If a prospective client asks if you've ever talked about a specific topic, you can send an excerpt from a transcribed speech that you gave for another client that addressed that topic.6) If you originally wrote up a speech you give often, but over time you've ad-libbed, added new material, changed things here and there, and your current, evolved speech is quite different from your original write-up, have a recording transcribed for an up-to-date transcript of your speech as you currently deliver it.7) Rather than mailing a tape or a video to a prospective client, it's faster to email or fax a transcript, saving time AND money. Even if you still mail a tape or video, this will get your information in text form to your client sooner for review, and they'll be even more certain it's worth taking the time to also review your audio or video.8) Provide reporters and editors with transcripts of your speeches to make it as easy as possible for them to give you press coverage, making it more likely to create good publicity for yourself and your client.9) Have recordings of your radio and TV interviews transcribed and convert the transcripts into articles, book chapters, or to add to your press kit.10) When planning to make a video, provide a transcript of your material to your video team to make the planning process easier for them. Also convert the transcript into a workbook to go along with your video.11) You can build a database of questions that get asked frequently along with your answers in Q&A sessions during your presentations for a valuable collection of information. Once transcribed, the material can be converted into material for your website FAQ's section, or into handouts. NOTE: Make sure the person asking the question has a microphone, OR fully repeat the question before giving your answer.12) Rather than asking your client to write and mail a referral letter after your speech and the event is all over, catch them while your presentation is fresh in their mind and suggest they tape their recommendation on your recorder, and let them know you'll have it transcribed and submit it to them for approval before using it. You can get other recorded referrals for transcription from attendees at the same time.13) As you're driving away from giving a speech, record your thoughts that are tumbling through your mind such as things to change next time, things to remember, and stream-of-consciousness ideas that flow freely. Once transcribed, you can form a plan of action based on your own heightened inspiration spurred by the adrenaline of a successful event, and increase your overall success and productivity.14) Convert recordings of your speeches into material for a book or ebook to help establish your reputation as a credible expert in your field and create additional profits for your business. Edit the transcripts into chapters, add a table of contents, a cover, etc. You can have it bound simply or submit it for professional publication, or convert it into an ebook.15) Once you have a book, have it professionally recorded by reading it out loud for an audio product to sell.Partnering with a professional transcriptionist is a solid business strategy that can save you time, increase your creativity, and -- most importantly -- add profits to your bottom line.Copyright Laurie Kristensen. All rights reserved.Laurie Kristensen owns and operates a successful audio transcription and typing business from home, visit http://www.LKTranscription.com (remember to subscribe to "Your Partner in Success Newsletter" and receive THREE valuable free gifts) -- also be sure to browse through Laurie's Success Resources at http://www.LKSuccess.comYou have permission to publish this article in its entirety, unchanged, electronically or in print as long as the byline, URLs, and copyright are included.