Investing your time to build a professional network could give you one of the biggest returns, both in business and life. That’s because as our life and career changes and develops we never know when we might need someone in that network. My guest on this show is author, speaker and coach Stefan Thomas and he believes that putting effort into building and sustaining relationships at scale, over time, has benefits for every person, whether they own their own business, work for a company, or do a mixture of both.  As Stefan says the trouble is: “What most people think networking is, and what it actually is, are two very different things.” So that’s why in this show, we’re getting to the heart of what networking ‘really’ is, how you can grow your network and how to nurture those relationships, so that they bring long term benefits to everyone.  If you want to develop your networking skills to grow your business or speaking career in the next 12 months, then you’ll love this show.  Enjoy! What you’ll learn: What made Stefan switch from real estate agent to teaching networking How Stefan approaches meeting new people. The difference between networking online versus in person. Whether you should always agree to 121 follow ups.  Tips for handling 121 follow ups The key things you need to do to position yourself so that people want to buy from you. Why you should take advantage of longer speaking slots in networking meetings. Why storytelling is important for successful networking. How Stefan uses speaking to grow his business. All things Stefan: stefanthomas.biz https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefanthomasnetworking/ https://www.instagram.com/thenetworkingretreat/   Books:  Instant Networking by Stefan Thomas Business Networking for Dummies by Stefan Thomas Win the Room by Stefan Thomas   Resources: The Very Best Office Jokes https://www.facebook.com/groups/thespeakingclub/ https://www.saraharcher.co.uk/challenge  https://www.facebook.com/SarahArcherSpeak/ https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.standoutpitch.com Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts:                                                       leave a comment below.     Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.  To help the show out:     Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and review really help get the word out and I read each one.     Subscribe on iTunes.

In this show I’m celebrating 200 episodes by sharing a case study interview.  Speaking to an audience offers so many benefits, including building your brand and authority and helping you stand out from the crowd, whether that’s in a corporate environment or as a business owner. So, when Kaye King was offered the chance to do a 45 minute keynote talk to an audience of 80 of her dream customers, she recognised the big opportunity it offered to share her mission, make a difference and grow her business.  Kaye King works in the niche of marketing, a really competitive space, and she wanted to make sure that her talk not only engaged her audience, but showed how different her approach and message was from other marketing coaches. She also wanted to use the talk to make an offer to the audience but in a way that was true to her values and didn’t feel sleazy or uncomfortable for her or the audience. In this case study interview Kaye shares what she did to make sure she made the most of this speaking opportunity and what happened as a result.  Enjoy!   What you’ll discover: Kaye’s biggest challenges in putting the talk together including her fear of introducing an offer to her audience.  How Kaye was measuring success in advance of the speaking event.  How Kaye previously put her talks together. What Kaye did differently to make sure she maximized the opportunity the talk offered.  The importance of having a structure for your talk. The big message Kaye wanted to get across and how spending time to identify that helped her build her content. Why Kaye got external help for her messaging for the audience even though she is a marketing expert. The preparation timeline Kaye set out for the talk.  The ROI Kaye got on her investment including the specific results she got in terms of sales and feedback. Why most corporate presentations break the biggest rule of a great talk. And lots more!!   Leave a rating or review for The Speaking Club (Take a photo of your review and get a free e-copy of my book Cracking Speech Mate - How to Use Humor to Make You an Amazing Speaker!)   Resources: Nail Your Signature Talk Programme Take the Snackable Story Challenge The Speaking Club Facebook Group The Speaking Club ‘Live’ Membership Grab your copy of Straight to the Top - How to Create and Deliver a Killer Elevator Pitch Grab your copy of Cracking Speech Mate - How to Add Humour to Make You An Amazing Speaker https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.storyledmarketing.com https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc https://www.hotflushrebels.com   Thanks for listening!   To share your thoughts:                                                       leave a comment below.     Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out:     Leave an honest review at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc. Your ratings and reviews really help get the word out and I read each one.     Subscribe on iTunes. 

Not all conversations are of equal importance. There are some that become pivotal to our life’s purpose and success. But how do we know which ones they are and how should we prepare for them? That’s where this show and Sarah Rozenthuler come in.  Sarah is a chartered psychologist, dialogue coach and leadership consultant with over 15 years’ experience consulting to many of the biggest profit and not for profit organisations around the world, including BP, Discovery Inc, Standard Chartered Bank, the World Bank, Choice Support and Booktrust.  With deep expertise in coaching teams, making dialogue authentic and connecting people with a compelling purpose, she inspires leaders, empowers teams and strengthens organizations to generate competitive advantage and become a force for good.  Sarah is also the author of How to Have Meaningful Conversations (Watkins, 2012) and Powered by Purpose: Energise Your People To Do Great Work (FT Pearson, 2020.) Her work has been widely featured in the media including in the Financial Times, the Sunday Times, the Guardian and BBC Business online.  Enjoy!   What you’ll learn: Why Sarah became a business psychologist. What a dialogue coach is. The difference between authentic dialogue and normal conversation. How authentic dialogue can transform a team's performance and an individuals' well being. What a life changing conversation is. How to prepare for ‘Big’ conversations. How speakers take these ways of communicating to connect more powerfully with an audience. The core skills that leaders need to develop to navigate their way through these uncertain times. Three tips for having more meaningful conversations How Sarah uses stories and speaking to grow her business.   All things Sarah: https://www.bridgeworkconsulting.com https://sarahrozenthuler.com  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-rozenthuler-a952824/  Twitter @srozenthuler    Books:  Conversations With God by Neale Donald Walsch   Resources: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thespeakingclub/ https://www.saraharcher.co.uk/challenge  https://www.facebook.com/SarahArcherSpeak/ https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.standoutpitch.com Thanks for listening!   To share your thoughts:                                                       leave a comment below.     Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.  To help the show out:     Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and review really help get the word out and I read each one.     Subscribe on iTunes.

In this show, I’m talking about one of the biggest reasons speaking is ranked higher than death in people’s fears. I became consciously aware of this thing in my early forties, and it’s something I’ve struggled with all through my life, and still do today. The trouble is that I’m not alone. This is a struggle I see affecting so many people, and in a lot of ways it’s worse now than ever before. The trouble is that no matter how ‘polished’ and accomplished you are, your impact will always be diminished if this barrier gets between you and your audience. What is it, and how can you get rid of it? That’s what this episode is all about.  Enjoy! What you’ll discover: The big problem.  The six ways this problem can negatively impact your speaking. Why perspective doesn’t just help painters. How to turn your biggest enemy into an ally. The Serenity prayer and how it can help your speaking.  And lots more!! Leave a rating or review for The Speaking Club (Take a photo of your review and get a free e-copy of my book Cracking Speech Mate - How to Use Humour to Make You an Amazing Speaker!)   Resources*: Nail Your Signature Talk Programme Take the Snackable Story Challenge The Speaking Club Facebook Group The Speaking Club ‘Live’ Membership Grab your copy of Straight to the Top - How to Create and Deliver a Killer Elevator Pitch Grab your copy of Cracking Speech Mate - How to Add Humour to Make You An Amazing Speaker https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.storyledmarketing.com https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc https://www.hotflushrebels.com To share your thoughts:   leave a comment below.   Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out:   Leave an honest review at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc. Your ratings and reviews really help get the word out and I read each one.    Subscribe on iTunes. *(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)

Getting traffic to your website or speaker page is important for getting sales and bookings. The trouble is that for most of us, how to get Google to notice us via search engine optimization (SEO), can seem like a mystical dark art that is beyond our understanding.  That’s why I’ve brought Graham Baylis onto the show.  If you imagine the internet as the wild west, then Graham would be considered one of the original frontiersmen. He’s been working with the internet since 1993 and set his own internet company up in 1999. For more than 20 years he’s been on a mission to demystify SEO, so that business owners don’t get ripped off or put off harnessing the power of the internet to corral new customers into their world. If you want to increase your impact and get more eyeballs on your stuff, then you’ll want to listen to this show. Enjoy!   What you’ll learn: How Graham discovered SEO Whether SEO is more or less important than it was 10 years ago. The biggest mistake people make with SEO. The real secret of SEO.  Whether it’s possible for small businesses to compete with the big brands. The difference between SEO and Adwords. Why SEO doesn’t always work.  What backlinks are and why they are so important. Landing Pages and the part they play in your marketing.  The three things you can do right away to increase your website traffic. How stories support good SEO. How Graham uses speaking and stories to grow his business   All things Graham: https://serendipity-online-marketing.co.uk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/gbaylis/ Books:  The Good Shepherd by C.S.Forester The Lord of The Rings Resources: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thespeakingclub/ https://www.saraharcher.co.uk/challenge  https://www.facebook.com/SarahArcherSpeak/ https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.standoutpitch.com https://www.semrush.com    Thanks for listening!   To share your thoughts:                                                       leave a comment below.     Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out:     Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and review really help get the word out and I read each one.      Subscribe on iTunes.

You’ve probably heard many people share the importance of building networks and relationships in business.  You may also have heard myself and some of my guests talk about treating your speaking and marketing like a conversation.  The trouble is that ‘just having a conversation’ is easier said than done, and there are a number of things that can get in the way of us being good at this.  First of all there’s the lessons we had drummed into us as children - things like ‘don’t talk to strangers’ and ‘it’s rude to ask too many questions’.  Then there’s our own insecurities around whether we’ve got anything interesting to say or ask people.  Finally, there’s the feeling that it all seems so manufactured.  All of this can make having great conversations challenging, and that’s why I put this show together. I’m going to take you through the art and science of good conversation so that you can get better at this critical aspect of speaking and marketing.  Enjoy!   What you’ll discover: The Victorian conversation aid that’s still relevant today.  How your subconscious can scupper great conversations What Ted Lasso can teach you about connecting with people. When it’s the right time to share about your stuff. The conversational mistakes that many people make Tips for starting conversations with strangers.  And lots more!!   Leave a rating or review for The Speaking Club (Take a photo of your review and get a free e-copy of my book Cracking Speech Mate - How to Use Humour to Make You an Amazing Speaker!) https://www.saraharcher.co.uk/nailyourtalk    Resources: Join the Next Snackable Story Challenge The Speaking Club Facebook Group The Speaking Club ‘Live’ Membership Grab your copy of Straight to the Top - How to Create and Deliver a Killer Elevator Pitch Grab your copy of Cracking Speech Mate - How to Add Humour to Make You An Amazing Speaker https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.storyledmarketing.com https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc https://www.hotflushrebels.com   Thanks for listening!   To share your thoughts:                                                       leave a comment below.     Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out:     Leave an honest review at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc. Your ratings and reviews really help get the word out and I read each one.     Subscribe on iTunes.

Kaye King has had a long career in marketing, working for big brands like Kenco, Hilton and the Nationwide Building society. But when she left her corporate job to start up her own marketing consultancy, she found so many myths around marketing for small business owners. These myths were causing fear, confusion and overwhelm and ultimately stopping them from having successful businesses.  Today, Kaye is on a mission to debunk these myths that paralyse people from doing any marketing, or cause them to waste time, energy and money on marketing that isn’t right for them.  Using her experience, she’s able to strip everything right back to basics through practical, manageable, and stress-free mentoring.  Kaye is here to share her thoughts on how to promote your business in a way that feels right for you, and how she uses speaking to grow her business too. So if you feel afraid, frustrated or overwhelmed by this huge machine called marketing, or want some fresh ideas, then you’ll want to listen to this show.  Enjoy!   What you’ll learn: What Kaye learned after 30 years working for marketing agencies. The difference between marketing for global brands and small businesses. The distinction between marketing and sales. The myths that scupper people’s marketing and why they aren’t true.  The secret to successful marketing. The most important things you need to focus on first in your marketing.  The importance of stories in marketing. How Kaye uses speaking as a marketing tool.    All things Kaye: https://www.marketingmentorkaye.com www.linkedin.com/in/kaye-king-marketingmentor https://www.instagram.com/mentorkaye https://www.marketingmentorkaye.com/join-the-marketing-sanctuary-5 Books:  The Salt Path - Raynor Winn The One Thing -  Gary Keller Resources: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thespeakingclub/ https://www.saraharcher.co.uk/challenge  https://www.facebook.com/SarahArcherSpeak/ https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.standoutpitch.com   Thanks for listening!   To share your thoughts:                                                       leave a comment below.     Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out: Leave an honest review at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc Subscribe on iTunes.

There is no doubt that stories are the most powerful vehicle for getting your audience to buy in emotionally to your message. BUT you have a limited amount of time to get your story across before their attention starts to wander.  Even TV, movies or books that you have chosen to engage with, have a finite time to grab your attention, before you switch off, and in the world of speaking and marketing, that window of time is even smaller.   In this show, I’m going to be sharing the what and the why of tiny stories that pack a big punch, so that you can make sure you're not missing your opportunity to make your message land. Enjoy!   What you’ll discover: The urban myth that started a tiny story trend.  Why you need to blend micro stories into your speaking and marketing toolbox. How you can pull all triggers for attention in just a few words. Examples of tiny stories.  The steps to creating a tiny story. The difference between micro stories and snackable stories And lots more!!   Leave a rating or review for The Speaking Club (Take a photo of your review and get a free e-copy of my book Cracking Speech Mate - How to Use Humour to Make You an Amazing Speaker!) https://www.saraharcher.co.uk/nailyourtalk    Resources: It All Changed in An Instant by Larry Smith and Rachel Fershleiser Join the Next Snackable Story Challenge The Speaking Club Facebook Group The Speaking Club ‘Live’ Membership Grab your copy of Straight to the Top - How to Create and Deliver a Killer Elevator Pitch Grab your copy of Cracking Speech Mate - How to Add Humour to Make You An Amazing Speake https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.storyledmarketing.com https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc https://www.hotflushrebels.com   Thanks for listening!   To share your thoughts:                                                       leave a comment below.     Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out:     Leave an honest review at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc. Your ratings and reviews really help get the word out and I read each one.     Subscribe on iTunes.

One of the main things I teach people is how to get and keep peoples’  attention. That’s because in today’s world attention is more precious and valuable than gold.  Social media companies employ genius minds to work out better ways to keep us ‘in the matrix’, and all of us are bombarded with notifications, information, entertainment and choice. So... not only is it harder to get peoples’ attention, it’s harder for us all to pay attention.  Yet without time that’s free from distraction, we will never get our best work done. That’s why I’ve brought this show back into focus for you. It’s one of the first 50 shows I released and I believe it is one of my best.  Graham Allcott is a productivity expert, but it wasn’t always that way. In this show you’ll find out how he got productive and has helped thousands of people to get life and work back under control.  After founding his company Think Productive, Graham went on to write Productivity Ninja, which is a worldwide best seller. Today his team works with companies all over the world, he is a speaker, and is currently working on other productivity related projects that will broaden the Ninja brand and help us all work smarter. Enjoy! What you’ll learn Why it’s good to teach what you struggle to learn yourself Why you should detach your ego from delegation How clarity can overcome procrastination Why it’s more interesting to not be the Guru. How to develop positive productivity habits How starting a business in a time of adversity can bring more opportunity Why good design is important for all sorts of businesses Why taking risks and having strong opinions can pay dividends  The main struggles around productivity Why technological questions are always people problems  The silver bullet of productivity The four steps to improve your productivity How constraint can 10x your productivity What attention management is and why it’s crucial for productivity Why your will power won’t beat silicon-valley Why you should get your inbox to zero Why you should eat the rainbow How getting mistaken for an employee as a speaker is a good thing How comedy can help your speaking   All things Graham: Graham’s Website – http://www.grahamallcott.com Think Productive - https://thinkproductive.co.uk Beyond Busy Podcast - http://getbeyondbusy.com   Graham’s Books: How to be a Productivity Ninja by Graham Allcott How to be a Study Ninja by Graham Allcott Get your In-Box to Zero Books mentioned in the Show: Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela Anyone Can Do It – My Story by Duncan Bannatyne Resources: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thespeakingclub/ https://www.saraharcher.co.uk/challenge  https://www.facebook.com/SarahArcherSpeak/ https://www.storyledmarketing.com  https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.standoutpitch.com   Thanks for listening!   To share your thoughts:                                                   leave a comment below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out: Leave an honest review at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/TSC  Subscribe on iTunes. *(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)

I wanted to do something a little different with this episode and that’s to add in some video content, so that you can see my teaching points in action.  Every month, as part of my regular newsletter, I do a talk spotlight. I share a link to a short talk and my analysis on what is good, or could be done differently to increase audience impact and engagement.  In this show I’m sharing some of these talks, my take on their structure, content and delivery, and some of the coaching points I’d have given to the speakers if they had been working with me. I’m hoping that it helps cement some of the tips and coaching I’ve given you in past episodes by bringing them to life for you.  Also, these talks have some great ideas and messages, and I’m sure you’re going to learn some extra stuff from them too.  Enjoy!   What you’ll discover: How to open your talk so that you’re audience lean in The best way to use slides Tips for making your talk come alive using voice and body language How to increase your connection with your audience How you can use silence to command attention Tips for audience interaction Examples of using humour effectively  And lots more!!   Links to the Talk Spotlight Videos: Looks aren’t everything. Believe me. I’m a model. - Cameron Russell (Excerpt from) How to Achieve Your Biggest Dreams - Alex Banayan How to know your life purpose in 5 minutes - Adam Leipzig How to Stop Feeling Anxious About Anxiety - Tim Box  Breath - Five Minutes Can Change Your Life - Stacey Schuerman How to Breathe - Belisa Vranich  Link to the FREE GIFT https://www.saraharcher.co.uk/spotlight Leave a rating or review for The Speaking Club (Take a photo of your review and get a free e-copy of my book Cracking Speech Mate - How to Use Humour to Make You an Amazing Speaker!)   Resources: https://www.saraharcher.co.uk/nailyourtalk Join the Next Snackable Story Challenge The Speaking Club Facebook Group The Speaking Club ‘Live’ Membership Grab your copy of Straight to the Top - How to Create and Deliver a Killer Elevator Pitch Grab your copy of Cracking Speech Mate - How to Add Humour to Make You An Amazing Speaker https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.storyledmarketing.com https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc https://www.hotflushrebels.com   Thanks for listening!   To share your thoughts:                                                   Leave a comment below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.  To help the show out: Leave an honest review at www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc. Your ratings and reviews really help get the word out and I read each one. Subscribe on iTunes.