Speaking Your Brand: Public Speaking Tips and Strategies

As a speaker, you’re only one-half of the equation. The other half is your audience. Particularly when you’re doing workshops and breakout sessions with smaller groups, you want to make sure that the audience is engaged, interested, and learning. My guest Amy Lang is an experienced speaker and workshop facilitator and she shares with us strategies she uses, from stories and humor to flipcharts and breathing breaks, to engage adult learners. We also talk about how to manage introverted and extroverted workshop participants, how Amy got her first speaking gigs when she was starting her business, and our mutual love for alliteration and acronyms. This is a very lively conversation that I know you’ll enjoy! About My Guest: A nationally-known sexuality educator, speaker and author, Amy Lang helps both parents and professionals who work with kids discover talking about sexuality, bodies and safety doesn’t have to be scary or overwhelming. Her engaging, humorous and inspiring style shows adults how to turn conversations and situations they dread into something they can handle like a pro. Her clients include the US Air Force Youth and Family Services programs, Boys & Girls Clubs and thousands of parents around the world. Amy holds an MA in Applied Behavioral Science and her focus was in adult education and group facilitation. She decided to combine her love of sex talking and her love of working with adults and started Birds & Bees & Kids in 2006.   Highlights: Getting referrals from current and previous clients, and how important they are to grow your business How to get your first speaking gigs Keeping your presentation content fresh Specific strategies for connecting with and engaging introverts AND extroverts in your audience How to connect to your audience with real stories, humor, and wacky teaching styles Holding space for your audience and being their guide The importance of tweaking your content to different audiences so they are engaged and actively learning   Links: Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/47 Check out Amy’s website at http://birdsandbeesandkids.com/ Amy’s Facebook Group Birds and Bees and Kids Find Amy’s book Dating Smarts on Amazon Interested in working together to create your signature talk? Email me at carol@speakingyourbrand.com. Join the free Speaking Your Brand community at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/join/ or text the word SPEAKING to 444-999. Say hi to me on Twitter @CarolMorganCox Subscribe to the podcast and leave a review!

As women, we walk a tightrope between needing to advocate for ourselves, yet not wanting to come across as braggarts or overly promotional (yes, it’s that pesky double bind). How can we make sure we’re getting the visibility and opportunities we deserve for the amazing work I know we’re all doing? We need a wingwoman (or two or three)! In this episode, my guest Mia Scharphie shares what she has named “the wingwoman effect” and how as women entrepreneurs and professionals we can use it to advocate for others, foster collaboration, and gain more visibility. We talk about the difference between having a mentor and a sponsor, creating a recommendation circle, and a better approach to networking events. We also need your input! During our conversation, we talk about how we all need to have a coach, a cheerleader, and a challenger in our lives. Mia came up with an idea for a fourth archetype and we need a good “C” name for it! (I love alliteration.) After you listen, pop into the Speaking Your Brand Facebook group and share with us your ideas. About My Guest: Mia Scharphie is a creative agent of change, a do-er and big-picture thinker. She founded Build Yourself to help women in creative fields move past the obstacles that hold them back in the workplace, and to make those workplaces better places for their women’s often underutilized talent. Mia is a trained facilitator and has worked on women’s advocacy for over fifteen years. She’s run a research effort on women in social impact design for the Harvard Business School, is a founding member of the Equity Roundtable at the Boston Society of Architects, and was named as one of Impact Design Hub’s Social Impact Design 40 under 40. She has spoken extensively across the country including at the Association of Community Designers, and A Better World by Design, as well as the University of Pennsylvania and UT Austin. Mia received degrees from the Harvard Graduate School of Design and Brown University. Her writings on issues of equity in design have been published in the Christian Science Monitor and GOOD.   Highlights: How succeeding in school and the workplace are different, and what actions to take to make yourself memorable Why hearing ‘no’ is sometimes a really good thing to hear How people pleasing and needing approval hinder us from reaching our goals The difference between having a mentor and a sponsor How to start building your visibility today and why you shouldn’t wait to do it The importance of collaboration over competition What it means to have and to be a wingwoman How to take advantage of the opportunities you have to be creative and stand out   Links: Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/46 Get Mia’s free brainstorming guide to help you create more unique content: http://www.buildyourselfworkshop.com/speakingyourbrand Visit Mia’s website at http://buildyourselfworkshop.com/ and http://buildyourselfworkshop.com/double-vision-coming-soon/ Join the free Speaking Your Brand community at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/join/ or text the word SPEAKING to 444-999. Say hi to me on Twitter @CarolMorganCox Subscribe to the podcast and leave a review!

This episode is a mini-training to help you create your visibility roadmap and identify the areas you should focus on to build your business, brand, and influence. They’re not the same for everyone. I’m going to share with you 4 different roadmaps depending on where you’re at in your business and what your goals are. Whether you want to do more public speaking, give a keynote, do a TEDx talk, create your own workshops or events, launch a podcast or video show or virtual summit, appear on TV, write a book, serve in a leadership position in a community or industry organization, or run for office, you need to identify the stepping stones to get you from where you are to where you want to be. Get the free PDF download of the visibility roadmaps and additional resources at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/45. You’ll also hear about a recent tough decision I had to make about a visibility opportunity. I had to keep in mind what was going to grow my business vs. potentially derail it.   Highlights: Visualizing where you want to be and what you want to do, whether it’s a keynote, TEDx talk, launching a podcast, hosting a live event, writing a book, going on TV, even running for office What visibility gets you and your business Identifying the stepping stones to get you from where you are to where you want to be. Questions to consider when deciding what areas to focus on for visibility The 4 Visibility Roadmaps - depending on what stage you’re at in your business and what your goals are   Links: Get the show notes and free PDF download of the visibility roadmaps at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/45 Sign up for a Visibility Strategy Session at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/getvisible Interested in a VIP Day to create your signature talk? Email me at carol@speakingyourbrand.com. Join the free Speaking Your Brand community at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/join/. Say hi to me on Twitter @CarolMorganCox Subscribe to the podcast and leave a review!

Virtual summits can raise your visibility: whether you’re being interviewed on one or hosting your own. Being a part of a virtual summit can introduce you to a new audience. Hosting your own virtual summit can help you grow your email list, network, and revenue. My guest Jaime Slutzky is an expert on creating virtual summits - from the tech integration to strategizing on content and marketing for the summit. She may have even convinced me to do my own in 2018! In this episode, we talk about the reasons to participate on a virtual summit, what you should know as a participant and the questions to ask the host, and whether you should host your own. About My Guest: Jaime Slutzky was born a techie. She knew by the age of 7 that she wanted to spend her life working on computers. She obtained her Bachelor's in Computer Science, spent over a decade in corporate IT and then she started a WordPress freelancing business. Jaime is now the Principal at Virtual Summit TECH, a virtual summit production company. She and her team perform all the behind-the-scenes tech wizardry to deliver their clients content to their audience.   Highlights: What exactly a virtual summit is, and how it can grow your business and connect you with other industry leaders How participating in or hosting your own virtual summit can help you become an influencer in your field. How long it takes to create a virtual summit and the three main components of one Questions to ask yourself if you’re thinking of hosting your own virtual summit How to make sure you’re getting the most out of the summit as an interviewee   Links: Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/44 Register for Jaime’s Biz BFF Summit: https://thebizbffsummit.com/ Learn about Jamie’s services at https://virtualsummittech.com/ Strong Jewish Women’s Summit hosted by Edie Berg: http://thestrongjewishwomenssummit.com/ . Edie was on the Speaking Your Brand podcast in episode 5. Elevate Pharmacy Summit hosted by Blair Thielemier: https://elevatepharmacysummit.com/ Join the free Speaking Your Brand community at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/join/. Sign up for a strategy session at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/strategy Say hi to me on Twitter @CarolMorganCox Subscribe to the podcast and leave a review!

Get ready for a fun and lively conversation! We get into the nitty-gritty of speaking in this episode: how to make sure that the speaking opportunities you say yes to are helping you reach  your goals and grow your business vs. derailing you. My guest Amber De La Garza is a productivity specialist, so we also talk about productivity tips for us as speakers and entrepreneurs. I even ask her to help me with a productivity struggle - and you’ll be surprised by her recommendation (I was!). Amber shares with us what the National Speakers Association does and how it has helped her in her speaking journey. We also talk about what it takes to get paid big money for keynotes - and why you may not want to go down that path. About My Guest: Amber De La Garza is The Productivity Specialist! Amber is a sought-after coach, trainer, speaker, writer, and the host of the Productivity Straight Talk podcast. She helps entrepreneurs take consistent, massive, focused action in business and equips them with the specific techniques needed to reduce stress, increase profits, make more time for what matters most, and achieve their vision of success. Highlights: How you can reach your business goals without being a keynote speaker (and why it may even be better) How being involved with her local chapter of the National Speakers Association has helped Amber on her speaking journey Why content isn’t received the same way in all audiences and how important it is to know your audience The difference between organization and productivity How to create a calendar that supports natural energy flows for ultimate productivity The right way to network at networking events to create opportunities (like being a podcast guest) Productivity tips, and why it’s ok to say no   Links: Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/43 Amber’s website: http://www.theproductivityspecialist.com Amber’s podcast: Productivity Straight Talk Amber’s Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ProductivityStraightTalk/ Join the free Speaking Your Brand community at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/join/. Say hi to me on Twitter @CarolMorganCox Subscribe to the podcast and leave a review!

What kind of content should you create when you want to start a movement (or launch a product)? In this on-air coaching call, I help my guest Marnie Clark with ideas and strategies to generate awareness and interest in a movement she’s starting around premium, hand-crafted non-alcoholic cocktails. Marnie’s been frustrated that when she goes to restaurants or out with friends, she’s stuck ordering water or frozen slushy drinks. She wants a beautiful, delicious cocktail, minus the alcohol. We talk about what kinds of videos to create, who to target, and how she can incorporate her story into her content. About My Guest: Marnie Clark is a business owner who has played an integral role for the past 27-years in the multi-million-dollar construction company that she has helped build alongside her husband. Marnie is also the founder of Marnie Rae, a lifestyle brand that spotlights handcrafted, soft cocktails. Nestled near Hood Canal in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, Marnie loves to enjoy the outdoors - hiking, running, paddle-boarding and boating. Traveling and family are high on her list but you can’t leave off the Seahawks or coffee! Being sober has led Marnie to explore a new passion and she is excited to share this with others. Marnie is recognized as a founder of the Dine and Dream Dinner and a past producer of The Inspired You Event. Highlights: How Marnie found her niche and is filling a void for her audience How sharing your story is important because that’s what your audience will relate to How large the market is for handcrafted non-alcoholic beverages The importance of visual imagery when creating our content and user generated content How working with local restaurants and TV channels can help spark a movement Links: Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/42 Marnie’s website Connect with Marnie on Instagram @MarnieRaeC My interview on the Food Blogger Pro podcast #106 Join the free Speaking Your Brand community at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/join/. Sign up for a strategy session at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/strategy. Say hi to me on Twitter @CarolMorganCox Subscribe to the podcast and leave a review!

In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of a presentation I recently gave at BizChix Live, a 3-day conference for women entrepreneurs. The title was “Your Visibility Roadmap: Growing Your Business, Brand, and Influence.” I talk about how I created the presentation itself, an overview of the content, how I prepared, and the feedback and results I got. You’ll hear about the nightmare I had 2 nights before I was to speak (and what I learned from it!). You’ll also hear the feedback I received from one of the attendees that stopped me in my tracks - something you need to hear too. In a future episode, I’ll go over the visibility roadmaps from this presentation, so be sure to subscribe to the podcast and share with a friend!   Highlights: How I got this speaking opportunity How I decided on the content for my talk and what to include in it The process I went through to create my talk (that you can use too) Slide designs How I prepared Getting to know the audience beforehand The importance of feeling comfortable in the venue Customizing the presentation for the audience The feedback and results I received   Links: Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/41 Interested in a VIP Day to create your signature talk? Email me at carol@speakingyourbrand.com. BizChix podcast My webinar on How to Become a Sought-After, Stand-Out Speaker at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/training Join the free Speaking Your Brand community at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/join/. Say hi to me on Twitter @CarolMorganCox Subscribe to the podcast and leave a review!

Have you ever felt scared to say or publish something, but you knew you had to do it? That’s what my guest Sophia Eng did a few months ago when she wrote and published “Hear Us Roar: A Manifesto for Women and Minorities in Startup, Tech, and Business Communities.” She knew that if she wanted other women to speak up, she had to do it herself. Sophia is a Growth Advisor and Founder of Women in Growth, a community dedicated to empowering women to grow businesses. She has been the driving force behind the revenue and user growth at Autodesk, Workday, and now InVision, as well as her own consulting agency using buyer psychology as the backbone of her strategies and insights. Sophia champions female and minority inclusion in Silicon Valley, as one of the leaders of Women Supporting Women. Sophia has a special focus on empowering female entrepreneurs, as well as pushing the agenda for more in-depth studies on the unique psychology of female consumers. In this episode, we talk about how men and women buy differently; what growth hacking is and how we can use it to grow our businesses; the need for more women to speak up in companies and on stages; finding allies; and much more. Highlights: How you should be targeting men and women customers differently The importance of split testing your landing pages and Facebook ads for men and women Tips for using growth hacking strategies, no matter what kind of business you have How community is a key element of growth hacking and word of mouth is the best marketing Finding allies to support you The importance of speaking up, even if it’s frightening, in order to start a conversation that will elicit change   Links: Sophia’s website Join Sophia’s Facebook group “Women in Growth” Connect with Sophia on Twitter Sophia’s article “Hear Us Roar: A Manifesto for Women and Minorities in Startup, Tech, and Business Communities” InVisionApp.com Join the free Speaking Your Brand community at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/join/. Say hi to me on Twitter @CarolMorganCox Subscribe to the podcast and leave a review!

What kinds of personal stories should you share in a business context? How personal is too personal when sharing stories publicly? How do you get past the fear that creeps up when you’re about to share something? My guest Lisa Woodruff, founder of Organize 365, and I talk about how and why she shares personal stories on her podcast and blog and how that has impacted her business growth. We also get into how Lisa got visibility for her business early on and what she’s doing now with podcasting, blogging, speaking, and social media. About My Guest: Lisa Woodruff is a home organization expert, productivity specialist and author of The Mindset of Organization, Take Back Your House One Phase at a Time, & How ADHD Affects Home Organization. Lisa believes organization is not a skill you are born with. It is a skill that is developed over time and changes with each season of life.  Lisa has helped thousands of women reclaim their homes and finally get organized with her practical tips, encouragement and humor through her blog and podcast at Organize365.com.   Highlights: Why Lisa started her business Organize 365 in 2012 How Lisa uses personal stories in her business, blog, and podcast to connect with her audience How Lisa handles the fear of sharing personal stories How Lisa got visibility for her business early on and what she’s doing now with podcasting, blogging, speaking, and social media   Links: Lisa’s website Organize365.com Lisa’s podcast Organize 365 Connect with Lisa on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter Join the free Speaking Your Brand community at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/join/. Say hi to me on Twitter @CarolMorganCox Subscribe to the podcast and leave a review!

Creating and hosting your own local workshops can be a great way to add a revenue stream to your business and reach prospective clients who get to know you as an expert and then want to work with your further. My guest is social media strategist Valentina Escobar-Gonzalez, who has built a good part of her business through local workshops, partnering with the chamber of commerce and SBA in her town. We talk about how Valentina markets her workshops, how far in advance to advertise them, tips for effectively targeting Facebook ads, and using Twitter to connect with influencers and podcasters. One of the workshops that Valentina offers is on social media for introverts. As an introvert and someone who doesn’t like to post a lot on social media, that really piqued my interest, so I have Valentina share some of her strategies with us. About My Guest: Valentina Escobar-Gonzalez, MBA, founded Beyond Engagement: Social Media Solutions in January 2012 and hasn’t slowed down since. She has a passion for assisting small businesses grow their engagement levels with customers online with social media marketing. Valentina regularly speaks to business groups, associations, and organizations on using social media effectively.   Highlights: How to use Twitter and Instagram to connect with influencers and thought leaders in your field How long your workshop should be Importance of identifying your target market audience for workshops and Facebook ads How much to spend on Facebook ads and when to start promoting your event How local workshops can lead to higher paying on-site consultations Importance of doing old school things like sending thank you cards, birthday cards, and presents to clients - keeps you in the front of their mind Always be engaging with your current clients because most of your new clients will come from them   Links: Valentina’s website = http://beyond-engagement.com/ Connect with Valentina on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn Join the free Speaking Your Brand community at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/join/. Say hi to me on Twitter @CarolMorganCox Subscribe to the podcast and leave a review!