Nonprofit Performance 360 Magazine Vol 5 No 1

Design Corner

JACKIE LAPIN

12 Things a Speaker Requires

Your logo should be crisp and simple. The site must speak to today’s values, client needs, and user accessibility with very easy navigation and little clutter. You should be able to direct the booker to a page on your organization’s website that features you as a speaker. 3. Current Photos. Integrity in presenting yourself is key. If you are using an old photo to make yourself look younger, there is a disconnect in honesty between you and the person who books you, or between you and the audience. You’ve already shot yourself in the foot if you show up looking very different. Let go of your fear of rejection at how you look today, put on your best face, and get new photos taken! 4. Video. The most effective way to convince people you are worth booking is to show them how great you are in front of an audience. Have someone videotape your next presentation, edit it down to the best 10 minutes, and post this on your website or any speaker presentation site on which your profile may be posted (eSpeakers, Women Speakers Association, etc.). 5. Testimonials. Want to convince a booker you are worth presenting to the audience? Show what other people have said about your presentations or how

To be booked consistently on a speaking campaign, there are twelve things you cannot afford to be without. Make sure you’ve got these nailed down. 1. A Great Benefit-Driven Speaker One-Sheet. This single-page document (printed on glossy paper if used as a handout), should impress the booker by containing information about your skills as a presenter, the value of your content, why you should be booked, your expertise, and what other people have said about you or your presentation. Most importantly, it should show how you will benefit the audience. Your expertise and presentation skills aren’t enough. You need to show how the audience will grow, change, learn, get motivated, or take action. What’s the benefit and expected outcome? Contemporary Website. The first thing a booker will do is review your website. If your website has old links and blogs, you are doing yourself more harm than good. Make sure you have a contemporary website, one that is horizontal in nature with big photographs, video if possible, and minimal words on the homepage. The colors must also reflect today’s trends (orange and yellow together, for instance, is straight from the late 1960s). 2. A Compelling

One of the most effective ways for nonprofit leaders to expand the ir impact, attract more donors, add to their volunteer base, and increase the number of people they serve, is to get out and speak. This doesn’t need to be a high-level professional keynote in front of thousands of people. It can be a consistent outreach at local venues that welcome your words and message. But you should be well prepared. You must present yourself as accomplished, an expert in your field, and a respected presenter. To convince bookers to take a chance on you, you need to make them confident that you can be a benefit to their audience, not an embarrassment. The first task is creating one or more compelling signature talks. These should be delivered with enthusiasm, authenticity, vulnerability, and emotional highpoints and, if you are imparting information, great value. You should be able to deliver various versions at 30, 60, or 90 minutes. These can be inspirational, motivational, or for donor enrollment. If you are driving enrollment or sales of programs that serve or support your organization, you will need to test and enhance your skills that drive people to action.

26 I Nonprofit Performance Magazine