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Business Plan Examples

Speaker Business Plan Sample

Published Oct.02, 2015

Updated Apr.24, 2024

By: Jakub Babkins

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Table of Content

Making a Good Impression: Speaker business plan

There is always a market for good speakers, but the targeted market depends on the type of speeches or presentations delivered. There are four types of public speaking, and the speaker business plan will first identify the speech types in the Executive Summary that the entrepreneur plans on delivering.

• Informative – sharing knowledge and expertise in a particular area • Entertaining – designed to amuse, divert, or please listeners • Persuasive – convince listeners to adopt a particular belief, act in a certain manner, or agree with a particular opinion • Inspirational – motivational speech that inspires the audience

Due to technology, speakers are not limited to live presentations. There are speaker businesses that record and sell presentations that are downloadable or sold on CDs. Another approach to the speaker business is to write and sell speeches that others deliver.

More Than One Way

The design of the business will determine how much funding is needed. A business comprised of one speaker – the business owner – who only delivers material in person at workshops, conventions, or other venues, needs a strong marketing plan that builds a network of referrals. Businesses that offer speaking engagements and sell recorded speeches will need high quality recording equipments and a solid marketing plan. Successful speaking businesses can also eventually branch out into franchising.

The speaking industry is highly competitive because it has low barriers to entry. Typically, entrepreneurs that apply for funding need financing to purchase high-quality recording equipment and money for marketing. The speaker business plan will:

• Describe the type of speech material • Describe the entrepreneur’s expertise that is marketable through speeches and presentations • Identify the target market, which includes businesses, public conventions and trade shows, government agencies, nonprofits including religious organizations, schools, libraries, and other venues • Include a marketing plan that packages, prices, promotes, and sells the speaker’s expertise through a website, networking, personal selling, advertising, and joining a speaker’s bureau • Identify the cities, regions, and/or countries the speaker will target for sales • If applicable, address plans for growth by adding new speakers • Identify competitors and what differentiates the speaker from others • Develop a five-year projected financial plan that includes projected fees, and travel expenses and other expenses

Every Business Needs a Speaker Business Plan

Whatever business structure is chosen, investors will assess the new enterprise based on its ability to achieve profitability within a reasonable period of times. If no investors are needed at startup, it is still important to develop a solid business plan. The speaker business plan is a guide for decision-making to keep the business on-mission.

OGS Capital professional business plan writers help entrepreneurs get their businesses up and running by sharing industry expertise and knowledge during business plan development. If it is time to pursue business goals, complete and submit the short online contact form.

Download Speaker Business Plan Sample in pdf

OGS capital professional writers specialized also in themes such as define a strategic plan , wedding planning business startup , business plan for music festival , business plan for a funeral home , business plan for an event planner , etc.

OGSCapital’s team has assisted thousands of entrepreneurs with top-rate business plan development, consultancy and analysis. They’ve helped thousands of SME owners secure more than $1.5 billion in funding, and they can do the same for you.

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How to Create a 12-month Paid Public Speaking Business Plan

Last updated on January 22nd, 2019 at 01:50 pm

FOCUS ON THE STORY NOT THE SENTENCE. JAMES PATTERSON. LEARN MORE.

Creating Clarity and Purpose for Your Public Speaking Business Plan in 12 Months

Clarity and Purpose are two important words for paid motivational speakers–get used to these two words if your dream is to be one. Public speaking is a hard enough business, but not knowing where you are going (or why) makes it all the more difficult.

Every 12 months I create a new plan that helps me focus on what needs to be done to improve my speaking business in the year ahead.

These are the 8 steps I take to run my speaking business instead of letting my speaking business run me:

1. what didn’t work over the last 12 months..

I look at the past 12 months to see what activities bring me closer to my goals, and what activities distract me from them. I have specific goals and projects, both personal and professional, and I evaluate the time and energy I spend doing them. When I do this I determine the things that are sucking on my time instead of feeding my goals .

I create a plan to handle these types of distractions for the next 12 months or to eliminate them entirely.

2. What Did Work Over The Last 12 Months.

I look at what forces drive business to me over the last 12 months in all the areas where I generate income–to make sure I keep doing the good ones and maybe even improve on them.

Build upon success.

3. The Joy Piece.

I’ve always focused on what I need to do to drive my business. But in looking back at the past 12 months, I see that I need to focus more on what really, really brings me joy in my business. Writing a novel doesn’t make business sense when you look at my public speaking brand. But the very idea of it lights me up from the inside out.

I’ve chosen to write joy into this dream plan for the next 12 months–for no other reason than joy for joy’s sake. And, who knows, maybe it will turn out to be a smart business decision. Don’t know; don’t care.

4. New Ideas for Growth.

I look at any new ideas that may help me reach my goals and whether I have room to add them to the list. I’ve learned that if you try to do too much, you don’t really get anything done well.

Prioritize the new.

5. Overhead.

I look at the money I’ve made and the money I’ve spent to determine whether any changes need to be made in my business finances. It’s not really about how much you make, it’s about how much you keep.

Budgets help keep you focused and motivated.

6. Five Buckets.

I determine everything I need to do and continue to do and sort them into five major categories or buckets (e.g. Close More Sales, Leverage Current Customers, Sell More Product, etc.). Then under each bucket, I create a strategy to accomplish them over the course of 12 months.

“All you need is the plan, the roadmap, and the courage to press on to your destination.” –Earl Nightingale.

7. Weekly Processes.

I determine how many hours I want to allocate to each bucket per week. This will become my weekly homework. All tasks MUST be on this list, or they get moved to another 12 months down the road. These buckets are locked in. Everything else must wait until homework is done.

This is new for me. I’m used to having big business plans, and I’m used to working hard. But I kept being overwhelmed each day. There is too much to do and every project seems big, so I never get to the big ones and I focus on tiny projects that are never in my original 12-month business plan.

Over the next 12 months, I’ll be more focused on the tasks I have chosen, and I have a way to divert all other things until I’m ready to look at them.

8. Systems.

I tweak my inner office systems to fit this new laser-focus goal. I don’t like to see emails stack up, so I know they’ll sit there taunting me all day, reminding me that people are asking for things. I create a system to get them out of the email and off to somewhere else. Details aren’t important.

The point is that I’ve allowed emails to rule my days, leaving me no time or energy for the stuff that matters most.

My 12-month plan is already working! By pinpointing where my distractions are coming from, and crafting a workable weekly checklist where I simply work my way through the list, I accomplish my priorities. Now, if I can just keep it up. As with any plan, creating the plan is the easy part; following it is key!

Create a 12-month plan for your public speaking career and may it help you find clarity, purpose, and more income too.

Kelly Swanson is an award-winning storyteller, comedian, motivational speaker, Huffington Post Contributor, and cast member of The Fashion Hero television show airing on Amazon Prime. She is also the author of Who Hijacked My Fairy Tale, The Land of If Only, The Story Formula, and The Affirmation Journal for Positive Thinking. She was a featured entertainer for Holland America Cruise Lines, keynote speaker for the International Toastmasters Convention, and has keynoted major conferences and corporate events from coast to coast. She just launched her one-woman show Who Hijacked My Fairy Tale in theaters, and it is being booked all over the country. In July of 2022, she was inducted into the National Speakers Association Speaker Hall of Fame.

Note: Articles by Kelly may contain affiliate links and may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on an affiliate link.

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Motivational Speaking Business Plan [Sample Template]

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Home » Business Plans » Education Sector

Are you about starting a motivational speaking company? If YES, here is a complete sample motivational speaking business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE .

Okay, so we have considered all the requirements for starting a motivational speaking business. We also took it further by analyzing and drafting a sample motivational speaking business marketing plan template backed up by actionable guerrilla marketing ideas for motivational speaking businesses. So let’s proceed to the business planning section.

One of the easiest routes to becoming an entrepreneur would be to leverage your in-built skills and talents to launch a business. One of the businesses that you can successfully start from your in-built skills and talents is a motivational speaking company.

A motivational speaking company is a company that provides training and coaching to corporate organizations, educational institutions, youth organizations and individuals. A motivational speaking company is a resource company that can either be a one man show or an assemblage of motivational speakers and trainers in different fields.

The motivational speaking company is classified under the business coaching industry, and the industry is indeed a big and thriving industry in the united states of America and most countries of the world. Just like most businesses, the motivational speaking business is open for as many people that are interested in the industry as long as you have what it takes to provide the resources that your clients want.

Even if you don’t have the finance and other requirements for starting a standard motivational speaking company with loads of certified motivational speakers and training specialists under your payroll, you can come into the industry as a one-man motivational company especially if you are a born motivator.

If you have decided to start a motivational speaking company, then you must make sure that you carry out thorough feasibility studies and market survey. This will enable you to locate the business in a community or city that can readily accept your services and adequately reward you for it.

Below is a sample motivational speaking company business plan template that will guide you towards writing your own and ultimately launching your own business.

A Sample Motivational Speaking Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

Motivational speaking company is part of the business coaching industry and the industry includes companies that offer motivational speeches, pep – talk, public speaking, short duration courses and seminars for management and professional development and of course schools and individuals.

Training is provided through public courses or through employers’ training programs, and the courses can be customized or modified. Instruction may be provided at the company’s training facilities, client or educational institutions, the workplace or the home and via television or the internet et al.

If you are an observer of the Business Coaching industry, you will agree that the industry relies on demand from its largest market, the middle and senior management of US corporations, which left it vulnerable to declining corporate profit. During the period where businesses cut back on nonessential expenses, including employee business coaching programs, the industry diminished.

Small operators, which represent the majority of industry players, were particularly hurt by falling demand, with some being forced to leave the industry in response to poor operating conditions. But, improving corporate profit and employment rates are expected to increase the number of organizations in the industry.

The Business Coaching industry that motivational speaking is a part of is indeed a large industry and pretty much active in most countries of the world.

Statistics has it that in the United States of America alone, there are about 51,094 registered and licensed business coaching companies (motivational speaking companies) scattered all across the United States responsible for employing about 91,971 and the industry rakes in a whooping sum of $11 billion annually.

The industry is projected to grow at 2.6 percent annual growth within 2011 and 2016. It is important to state that there are no establishments in this industry that has a lion market share. A recent report published by IBISWorld shows that in 2016, the two largest companies account for less than 5.0 percent of industry revenue.

As a result, the Business Coaching industry is highly fragmented, with a large number of small enterprises operating throughout the United States. The vast majority of operators are non – employers that service only their local area. Non – employing businesses represent more than 85.0 percent of all companies operating in this industry.

The report further stated that there is also a large number of operators that have a relatively small number of employees. 72.8 percent of employing companies have fewer than five employees, while companies with fewer than 10 employees represent 85.2 percent of employing enterprises.

The business coaching industry and motivational speaking business will continue to blossom because more and more organizations, businesses and individuals are beginning to realize that somehow, they would need the services of employment motivational speakers to help them stay motivated, achieve their goals and live a fulfilled life.

From all available statistics, it is safer to say the business coaching industry is growing steadily despite the competitive nature of the industry. One thing is certain, if you are well positioned, you have the required business skills, networks and you have a robust assemblage of motivational speakers under your payroll or as partners, you are likely not going to struggle to compete favorable in the business coaching industry.

Another reason why people prefer to start a motivational speaking business is that a motivational speaker, public speaker or trainer has the monopoly to charge fees as it suits them especially if they are have been able to pay their dues in the industry.

Other factors that encourage entrepreneurs to start their own motivational speaking company is that the business is easy to set up and the startup capital is indeed affordable; you can actually start your own motivational speaking company from the comfort of your house. All you need to do is to create an office somewhere in your house. People usually pay you for the services you render.

2. Executive Summary

Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP is a licensed motivational speaking company that is specialized in helping her clients achieve their life and business goals, improving their competence, capacity and overall productivity.

The our business offerings cover areas such as motivational speeches, pep – talk, public speaking, business coaching, management development training, professional development training, and quality assurance training. Our business will be located in a business district in Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena – California, United States of America.

Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP is a client-focused and result driven motivational speaking company that provides broad – based motivational speeches and learning approaches at an affordable fee that won’t in any way put a hole in the pocket of our clients.

At Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP, our clients’ overall best interest would always come first, and everything we do will be guided by our values and professional ethics. We will ensure that we hire professional and certified business coaches and trainers with various skill sets who are passionate about helping our clients achieve their life, personal, career and business goals.

Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP will at all times demonstrate her commitment to sustainability, both individually and as a motivational speaking organization, by actively participating in our communities and integrating sustainable business practices wherever possible. We will ensure that we hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards by meeting our clients’ needs precisely and completely.

Our overall business goal is to position our motivational speaking company to become the leading motivational speaking brand in the business coaching industry in the whole of Pasadena – California, United States of America, and also to be amongst the top 10 motivational speaking companies in the United States of America within the first 5 years of operation.

might look too tall a dream but we are optimistic that this will surely come to pass because we have done our research and feasibility studies and we are enthusiastic and confident that Pasadena is the right place to launch our motivational speaking business.

Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP is founded by Bob Russel and he will run the business with other business partners. Bob has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Arkansas and an MBA in Finance from the University of Tulsa. Bob hails from Brooklyn, New York and he began his career at National Speakers Academy as an intern.

He was also an assistant manager and then a training manger. Bob Russel is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP™ Certification) | National Speakers Association (NSA), Certified Public Speaker, Business Coach Certification – World Coach Institute, he attended Life and Business Coach Training Certification Program approved by International Coach Federation and he is a member of the International Coach Federation –ICF.

3. Our Products and Services

Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP is going to offer varieties of motivational speaking services within the scope of the business coaching industry in the United States of America. Our intention of starting our motivational speaking company is to help our clients achieve their overall life, family, career and business goals and improving their competence, capacity and productivity and of course to also make profits from the industry.

Aside from delivering motivational speeches/talks, public speaking and pep talks, we will also specialize in all of the under listed;

Providing management development training
Providing marketing and sales training
Providing professional development training
Providing quality assurance training
Providing business coaching

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

Our vision is to build a highly competitive and effective motivational speaking business that will become the number one choice for individuals, start -ups and corporate organizations in Pasadena – California and the whole of the United States of America.
Our mission is to provide affordable and highly effective motivational speaking services to a wide range of clients that cut across different divides. Our overall business goal is to position Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP to become one of the leading motivational speaking brands in the industry in the whole of Pasadena – California.

Our Business Structure

Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP, intends starting small in Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena – California, but hopes to grow big in order to compete favorably with leading motivational speaking companies in the industry both in the United States and on a global stage.

We are aware of the importance of building a solid business structure that can support the kind of world class business we want to own. This is why we are committed to only hire the best hands within our area of operation.

At Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP, we will ensure that we hire people that are qualified, hardworking, creative, passionate, result driven, and customer centric and are ready to work to help us build a prosperous business.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our senior management staff / partners and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or more as agreed by the board of trustees of the company. In view of the above, we have decided to hire qualified and competent hands to occupy the following positions;

Principal Partner / Chief Executive Officer
Motivational Speakers and Trainers
Accountant/Bursar

Marketing Executive

Client Service Executive

Front Desk Officer

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Principle Partner / Chief Executive Officer:

Grows management’s effectiveness by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, coaching, counseling, and disciplining managers; communicating values, strategies, and objectives; assigning accountabilities; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results
Answerable for fixing prices and signing business deals
Accountable for providing direction for the business
Creates, communicates, and implements the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
Evaluates the success of the organization

Office Administrator

Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP
Regularly hold meetings with key stakeholders to review the effectiveness of the organizations’ Policies, Procedures and Processes
Maintains office supplies by checking stocks; placing and expediting orders; evaluating new products.
Defines job positions for recruitment and managing interviewing process
Carries out induction for new team members
Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of employees
Responsible for arranging travel, meetings and appointments
Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.
Oversees the smooth running of the daily activities of Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP

Motivational Speakers/Trainers

Accountable for delivering motivational speeches/talks, public speaking and pep talks
In charge of providing management development training
Responsible for providing marketing and sales training
Responsible for providing professional development training
Responsible for providing quality assurance training
Answerable for providing business coaching services
Identifies, prioritizes, and reaches out to new clients, and business opportunities et al
Identifies development opportunities; follows up on development leads and contacts
Writing winning proposal documents, negotiate fees and rates in line with organizations’ policy
Documents all customer contact and information
Represents Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP in strategic meetings
Helps to increase sales and growth for the organization.
Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
Provides managements with financial analyses, development budgets, and accounting reports
Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis.
Performs cash management, general ledger accounting, and financial reporting for one or more properties.
Responsible for developing and managing financial systems and policies
In authority of administering payrolls
Ensures compliance with taxation legislation
Handles all financial transactions for Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP
Serves as internal auditor for Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP
Welcomes clients and visitors by greeting them in person or on the telephone; answering or directing inquiries.
Ensures that all contacts with clients (e-mail, walk-In center, SMS or phone) provides the client with a personalized customer service experience of the highest level
Through interaction with clients on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s interest in the company’s products and services
Manages administrative duties assigned by the principal partners in an effective and timely manner
Consistently stays abreast of any new information on the organizations’ products, promotional campaigns etc. to ensure accurate and helpful information is supplied to clients when they make enquiries
Receives parcels/documents for Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP

6. SWOT Analysis

Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP engaged the services of a professional in the area of business consulting and structuring to assist our organization in building a well – structured motivational speaking business that can favorably compete in the coaching industry in the United States.

Part of what the consultant did was to work with the management of our organization in conducting a SWOT analysis for Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP Here is a summary from the result of the SWOT analysis that was conducted on behalf of Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP;

Our strength as an organization is tied to our team; our workforce. We have a team that are considered experts in the industry, a team with excellent qualifications and experience in motivational speaking. Aside from the synergy that exists in our carefully selected team and our strong online presence, Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP is well positioned in a community with the right demography and we know we will attract loads of clients from the first day we open our doors for business.

As a new motivational speaking company in Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena – California, it might take some time for our organization to break into the market and gain acceptance especially from top profile clients in the already saturated business coaching industry; that is perhaps our major weakness.

Opportunities:

No doubt, the opportunities in the business coaching industry is massive considering the number of individuals, startups and corporate organizations that would want to achieve their life and business goals and to perform excellently in their various industries. As a standard motivational speaking company, we are ready to take advantage of any opportunity that comes our way.

Some of the threats that we are likely going to face as a motivational speaking company operating in the United States of America are unfavorable government policies that might affect businesses such as ours, the arrival of a competitor within our location of operation and global economic downturn which usually affects spending/purchasing power especially as relates to the kind of services we offer. There is hardly anything we can do as regards these threats other than to be optimistic that things will continue to work for our good.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

Market Trends

One thing is certain, the trend in the business coaching industry is such that if you want to be ahead of your competitors, you should be able to acquire as much certifications as possible and you should be able to have loads of testimonies from your clients

The truth is that if your clients experience huge differences in their lives, career and business as a result of hiring the services of your organization, then they will be compelled to help promote your organization. External factors such as Corporate profit and Per capita disposable income in the Business Coaching industry will definitely impact the overall performance in this industry.

Another notable trend in this industry is the influence of technology; the advent of technology is responsible for the increase in income generated by motivational speakers all over the world. With technology, it is now easier for motivational speakers to motivate and train clients that are thousands of kilometers away from them. Tools like video calling/Skype, YouTube, DVDs and Webcast et al are being used by motivational speakers to motivate cum train clients in different parts of the world.

8. Our Target Market

The target market for a motivational speaking company is all encompassing. Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP is a licensed motivational speaking company that is specialized in helping her clients achieve their goals and improve their competence, capacity and productivity.

As a standard motivational speaking company, Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP offers a wide range of motivational speaking services, hence we are trained and equipped to service a wide range of clients. Below is a list of the clients that we have specifically designed our motivational speaking services for;

Corporate Organizations
Religious Organizations
Political Parties/Politicians
Hotels and Restaurants
The Government (Public Sector)
Schools (High Schools, Colleges and Universities)
Sport Organizations
Entrepreneurs and Startups

Our competitive advantage

The business coaching industry is indeed a very prolific and highly competitive industry. Clients will only hire your services if they know that you can help them achieve their career and business goals. It is the practice for motivational speakers to acquire as much certifications as it relates to their area of specialization; it is part of what will make them stay competitive in the industry

We are quite aware that to be highly competitive in the business coaching industry means that you should be able to deliver consistent quality service, your clients should be able to experience remarkable difference and improvement and you should be able to meet the expectations of your clients at all times.

Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP might be new in Pasadena – California, but our management team is licensed and highly qualified motivational speakers and trainers that can successfully build soft skills in people with zero proficiency. These are part of what will count as a competitive advantage for us.

So also, we have a very strong online presence that will enable us motivate and train clients in different parts of the world from our online portals.

Lastly, our motivational speakers and trainers will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be among the best within our category in the industry. It will enable them to be more than willing to build the business with us and help achieve all our business aims and objectives.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

Sources of Income

Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP is established with the aim of maximizing profits in the business coaching industry and we are going to go all the way to ensure that we do all it takes to attract clients on a regular basis.

Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP will generate income by offering the following training/coaching services;

Delivering motivational speeches / talks, public speaking and pep talks

10. Sales Forecast

One thing is certain, there would always be individuals and organizations that would need our training in other for them to achieve their life, career and business goals. This is the major reason why the services of motivational speakers will always be needed.

We are well positioned to take on the available market in Pasadena – California and we are quite optimistic that we will meet our set target of generating enough income/profits from the first six months of operation and grow our motivational speaking company.

We have been able to examine the motivational speaking market, we have analyzed our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales forecast. Below is the sales projection for Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP, it is based on the location of our motivational speaking company and of course the wide range of training and motivation speaking services that we will be offering;

First Fiscal Year: $200,000
Second Fiscal Year: $350,000
Third Fiscal Year: $750,000

N.B : This projection was done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major economic meltdown and there won’t be any major competitor offering same services as we do within same location. Please note that the above projection might be lower and at the same time it might be higher.

Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

Our sales and marketing team will be recruited based on their vast experience in the industry and they will be trained on a regular basis so as to be well equipped to meet their targets and the overall goal of Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP. We want to build a standard and first – class motivational speaking business that will leverage on word of mouth advertisement from satisfied clients.

Our goal is to grow Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP to become one of the top 10 motivational speaking companies in the United States of America which is why we have mapped out strategies that will help us take advantage of the available market and grow to become a major force to reckon with not only in Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena – California but also in other cities in the United States of America.

Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP is set to make use of the following marketing and sales strategies to attract clients;

Introduce our motivational speaking company by sending introductory letters alongside our brochure to corporate organizations, starups and key stake holders in and around Pasadena – California.
Print out fliers and business cards and strategically drop them in offices, libraries, public facilities and train stations et al.
Use friends and family to spread word about our motivational speaking company
Post information about our motivational speaking company on bulletin boards in places like schools, libraries, and local coffee shops.
Placing a small or classified advertisement in the newspaper, or local publication about our motivational speaking company
Advertise our motivational speaking company in relevant educational magazines, newspapers, TV and radio stations.
Attend relevant educational expos, seminars, and business fairs et al
Engage in direct marketing approach
Encourage word of mouth marketing from loyal and satisfied clients.

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

We have been able to work with our brand and publicity consultants to help us map out publicity and advertising strategies that will help us walk our way into the heart of our target market. We are set to become the number one choice for both corporate and private clients in the whole of Pasadena – California which is why we have made provisions for effective publicity and advertisement of our business.

Below are the platforms we intend to leverage on to promote and advertise Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP;

Place adverts on both print (community based newspapers and magazines) and electronic media platforms
Sponsor relevant community based events/programs
Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; Instagram, Facebook, twitter, YouTube, Google + et al to promote our brand
Install our billboards in strategic locations all around Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena – California.
Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas
List our motivational speaking company on local directories / yellow pages
Advertise our motivational speaking company in our official website and employ strategies that will help us pull traffic to the site.
Ensure that all our personal trainers, motivational speakers and staff wear our branded shirts and all our vehicles are branded with our organizations’ logo

12. Our Pricing Strategy

Generally, training and motivational speaking businesses bill both per hour and flat fees on a weekly or monthly basis. As a result of this, Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP will charge our clients flat fees except for few occasion where there will be need for us to charge special clients on hourly basis.

At Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP we will keep our fees below the average market rate by keeping our overhead low and by collecting payment in advance. In addition, we will also offer special discounted rates to all our clients at regular intervals.

Payment Options

The payment policy adopted by Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP is all inclusive because we are quite aware that different customers prefer different payment options as it suits them but at the same time, we will ensure that we abide by the financial rules and regulation of the United States of America.

Here are the payment options that Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP will make available to her clients;

Payment via bank transfer
Payment with cash
Payment via online bank transfer
Payment via mobile money
Payment via Point of Sales Machines (POS Machines)
Payment via check

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will enable our clients make payment for services rendered without any stress on their part.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

On the average, starting a motivational speaking company can be cost effective because on the average, you are not expected to acquire expensive machines and equipment. What you should be concerned about is the amount needed to secure a standard office facility in a good and busy business district, the amount needed to equip the office, pay bills, promote the business and obtain the appropriate business license and certifications.

However, this is what it would cost us to start our own standard motivational speaking company in the United of America;

Business incorporating fees in the United States of America will cost – $750.
The budget for Liability insurance, permits and license will cost – $3,500
Acquiring an office space that will accommodate the number of employees we intend employing for at least 6 months (Re – Construction of the facility inclusive) will cost – $35,000.
Equipping the office (computers, printers, projectors, markers, pens and pencils, furniture, telephones, filing cabinets, and electronics) will cost – $10,000
Launching an official website will cost – $500
Amount need to pay bills and staff members for at least 2 to 3 months – $70,000
Additional Expenditure such as Business cards, Signage, Adverts and Promotions will cost – $5,000
Miscellaneous – $5,000

While a motivational speaking company might not have to incur all these expenses but going by the above report, we will need an average of $200,000 to start a medium scale but standard motivational speaking business in the United States of America.

Generating Startup Capital for Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP

Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company is owned by Bob Russel and other business partners. They decided to restrict the sourcing of the startup capital for the business to just three major sources.

Generate part of the startup capital from personal savings and sale of stocks
Generate part of the startup capital from friends and other extended family members
Generate a larger chunk of the startup capital from the bank (loan facility).

N.B : We have been able to generate about $50,000 (Personal savings $35,000 and soft loan from family members $15,000) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $150,000 from our bank. All the papers and documents have been duly signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

The future of a business lies in the number of loyal customers that they have, the capacity and competence of their employees, their investment strategy and the business structure. If all of these factors are missing from a business, then it won’t be too long before the business closes shop.

One of our major goals of starting Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP is to build a business that will survive off its own cash flow without injecting finance from external sources once the business is officially running.

We know that one of the ways of gaining approval and winning customers over is to offer our motivational speaking services a little bit cheaper than what is obtainable in the market and we are prepared to survive on lower profit margin for a while.

Bob Russel & Co® Motivational Speaking Company, LLP will make sure that the right foundation, structures and processes are put in place to ensure that our staff welfare are well taken of. Our company’s corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and retraining of our workforce is at the top burner of our business strategy.

We know that if that is put in place, we will be able to successfully hire and retain the best hands we can get in the industry; they will be more committed to help us build the business of our dreams.

Check List/Milestone

Business Name Availability Check : Completed
Business Incorporation: Completed
Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts: Completed
Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
Application for business license and permit: Completed
Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
Leasing a standard office facility in a good location plus reconstruction: In progress
Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
Generating part of the startup capital from the founders: Completed
Writing of Business Plan: Completed
Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
Drafting of Contract Documents: In Progress
Design of Logo for the school: Completed
Printing of Promotional Materials: Completed
Recruitment of employees: In Progress
Purchase of the needed furniture, office equipment, electronic appliances and facility facelift: In progress
Creating Official Website for the business: In Progress
Creating Awareness for the tutorial school in Pasadena – California: In Progress
Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement: In Progress
Establishing business relationship with vendors and key players in various industries: In Progress

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The 13 Step Plan to Getting Started with Public Speaking

In The In-Demand Marketing Agency: How to Use Public Speaking to Become an Agency of Choice by Karl Sakas , you’ll find straightforward, actionable advice on developing your speaking career.

Sakas holds nothing back and I was impressed at how useful the material in this book is even outside of an agency setting.

Not only agency leaders, but any entrepreneur or business leader could use the information from this book to launch a successful speaking career.

Sakas covers the entire process from planning to execution.

How to Create a Speaking Plan

According to Sakas, creating a speaking plan is one of the best ways to quickly grow your career as a public speaker.

Not only will you be more prepared, but this speaking plan, filled with Sakas' advice, will help you build momentum by giving talks at smaller, intimate venues before building up to larger keynotes.

Below are the guideline Sakas provides for creating a speaking plan. He recommends doing the following tasks over the next 3-12 months:

1. Write an “advance retrospective”

Your advance retrospective is a brief summary about where you intend to be in the future as a speaker and as a business leader.

2. Block-out “heads down” time in your calendar for doing your speaking work

The process of launching your speaking career requires dedicated attention, especially as the skill of public speaking requires refinement on its own. Just like all business endeavors, you need to prioritize more of your time in the beginning if you are to lay a strong foundation. Blocking out this dedicated time will help you do that.

3. Develop titles and blurbs for your highest-potential topics

Whenever you pitch a speaking engagement, you’ll use these titles and blurbs to provide a summary of what could be included in your talk.

Sakas repeatedly emphasizes the value of case studies, so include one if you can.

Here’s an example of how David Meerman Scott does this on his website:

Screen_Shot_2016-04-15_at_4.06.39_PM.png

4. Flesh out your highest-potential talk as an outline

Sakas recommends holding off on creating your full slide deck until you’ve actually got a speaking gig booked. Having a confirmed venue is an instant motivation booster that makes it easier to finish the slides and also allows you to adapt them for that venue and audience.

5. Give your first talk in lower-profile venues

The same way that comics test out new material in small comedy clubs before introducing them to a wide audience, all public speakers should practice their presentation at smaller venues.

Once you’ve gotten your feet wet, you can then use that feedback to make changes and improve your routine.

After you’ve practiced, you’ll feel more confident presenting in front of your larger audience.

6. Build social proof

Compile a list of testimonials, venues from previous speaking engagements, and an estimate of your “talks per year” count.

Outside of your actual presentations, this social proof along with your speaker resume will make the biggest impact on the quality and quantity of speaking gigs you book.

For example, motivational speaker and author, Tony Robbins highlights testimonials from high-profile celebrities like Usher, Maria Menounos, and Derek Hough, while Seth Godin mentions his appearances at “Disney, Cadillac, eBay, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Adobe, American Eagle, Eddie Bauer and hundreds of others.”

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7.2: Effective Public Speaking

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What you’ll learn to do: Identify key principles of effective public speaking

Like speaking itself, public speaking is a learned behavior. Just as no one comes out of the womb speaking eloquently, no one becomes a powerful orator without practice. In this section, we’ll discuss the “why” of public speaking—the audience’s expectations and the benefits that accrue to the speaker—and introduce a simple five-step process for developing an effective speech.

learning outcomes

Discuss key characteristics of public speaking
Discuss the importance of public speaking in a business setting
Identify various audience needs and expectations that can be addressed by a speech
Identify the five steps of developing an effective speech

What is Public Speaking?

Public speaking is, simply, an oral presentation or speech delivered to a live audience. It is generally a formal or staged event— although impromptu speeches are a common occurrence—and can be a defining career moment. For example, you may think you’re attending a client meeting only to find yourself called on to explain a procedural or technical point being discussed. Or you may be sitting in a management meeting thinking you are just there to observe when you are asked to elaborate on an aspect of the supporting research and analysis or defend your recommendations.

impromptu speaking

Although impromptu speaking isn’t the focus of this module, it is worth noting that this type of speaking is something Toastmaster members train for on an ongoing basis using a technique called “Table Topics.” For more on this technique, read A Table Topics Workout: The Power Packed Exercise for Stretching Your Brain .

Executive presentation coach Peter Khoury has reverse-engineered the characteristics of great speakers for over fifteen years. Combining his findings with scientific research on leadership, he’s distilled this research into the following 9 characteristics of effective public speakers: [1]

Confidence Passion Practice, don’t memorize Speak in a natural voice Authenticity Keep it Short and Sweet Connect with your Audience Paint a Picture through Storytelling Repetition

Like computer failure and natural disasters, finding yourself in a situation requiring public speaking skills is not a matter of whether it will happen but when it will happen. Given the potential career impact, you need to prepare accordingly.

practice question

One of the assignments for your speech class is to develop and present a five minute speech on a topic of your choice! You’ve chosen to speak on gun control, an issue that you’re passionate about. You want to use your speech to recruit a group of students to lobby for changes in gun legislation. What’s the key to achieving that objective?

Tell a story that includes student gun violence victims and activist efforts.

Compare gun violence statistics and gun control laws in the U.S. and other industrialized countries
Citing gun violence trends and statistics

Benefits of Public Speaking

What is public speaking but a dressed up—or not, depending on your audience—version of the basic skills we’ve been using since we first began forming desires and shaping the words and gestures to communicate those desires? Ah, life was simple then; a baby pointing and reaching towards a bowl of grapes or a toddler repeating “more milk” until they get what they want. Then again, one fundamental dynamic hasn’t changed. As Stevie Wonder put it, “If you don’t ask, you don’t get.” This is true not only personally but especially professionally. If you want the sale, contract, funding, job, project, or promotion, you have to be willing and able to ask for it in a clear and compelling manner. Often, in front of a group of deciders—those who will determine the response to your request. Welcome to public speaking!

What has changed is your potential—your potential to connect, to create or co-create and, given technology and social media/sharing, your potential reach and impact. In a statement echoed in virtually every career and leadership book and blog, the Toastmasters International Guide to Successful Speaking notes, “There is perhaps no greater skill [to] help you build your career or business than effective public speaking.” As a testament to the tradition and enduring power of oral speech, the primary motivations for speaking are the same as they were in ancient Greece. Aristotle, who wrote a treatise on the art of persuasion titled Rhetoric , identified three primary motivations: to inform, to persuade, and to inspire. Practically speaking, public speeches often include more than one element. For example, communicating a risk or potential opportunity may be done in conjunction with building support for a change in business practices or a proposed initiative.

Public speaking is also an exceptional, and cost-effective, way to build your brand and network within your organization, profession, or industry and/or to build good will for your company in the community. Whether you’re pitching a product, service, idea, company or person (including yourself), public speaking differentiates you and your message from the promotional noise and general chatter. As professional speakers and authors Jeff Slutsky & Michael Aun note, public speaking “literally puts you on a pedestal.” Indeed, the average audience member assumes that since you’re speaking on the topic, you must be an expert. Of course, the impression they leave with depends on the quality of your speech, but the bottom line is that being a speaker gives you a level of credibility that would take a significant amount of time to cultivate otherwise. Speaking allows you to develop a reputation as a thought leader or community leader, raising your visibility and perceived market value. That’s not something a cover letter and resume or pitch is likely to do—if it even makes it through the filters.

You’ve been monitoring business employment and career trends and have decided to develop a personal brand that allows you some measure of creative and financial independence. What action represents your best next step?

Submit a pitch to speak at a industry or professional conference.
Pitch for an opportunity to talk at a local TEDx conference.

Join a local speakers bureau and volunteer to speak at low-stakes events.

Audience Expectations

One of the finest, and rarest, gifts a person can give is their attention. When it comes to audience attention, that gift comes with an expectation. Audience expectations are simply an extension of the three speaker motivations. Specifically, audience members expect to learn from an informational speech, to be moved by a persuasive speech, or to be inspired by an inspirational speech.

An auditorium of seated people look attentive, quiet, and ready to take notes on what they are observing.

Perhaps your first and most important test as a prospective speaker is to make sure you clearly communicate the purpose and benefits of attending your speech. A disconnect between what audience members thought they signed on for and what they’re hearing can trigger a range of undesirable audience behaviors from zoning out to walking out. As a speaker, you also have an obligation to factor your audience into the design and development of your speech, from relevant examples to appropriate language and subject matter depth. Whatever your stated intent (benefit), the minimum audience expectation is that you fulfill it in a clear and coherent manner.

One additional point to consider is the medium. Public speeches are live events. Why would you purchase a ticket and go to see a concert or comedian or other event live rather than buying a DVD or tuning in to podcast or TV broadcast for a fraction of the price? There’s a difference in the level of energy and engagement in a live “performance”—whether it’s a speech, dance recital, political rally, or musical event. Keep in mind that those attending a public speech expect an experience that transcends a one-dimensional transfer of information.

A speech is a form of trade. In this trade, audience members give their attention in exchange for a perceived benefit. Your obligation as a speaker is to ________.

entertain your audience

factor your audience into your content

read your speech exactly as written

Developing an Effective Speech

Let’s assume you see the value in developing public speaking as a skill. Where do you start? A good warm-up exercise is to watch a few TED Talks , organized by topic and popularity , among other categories. If you prefer to proceed straight to the cream of the crop, Steve Jobs’ classic “ How to Live Before You Die ” speech delivered at Stanford University’s 2005 commencement is excellent inspiration and perspective—for life as well as for speaking. If you watch a few talks, you’ll notice that each presenter has a unique message and style that makes him or her compelling. This is a key point. While we all learn process and technique by copying the masters, as legions of artists have done before us, the artistry (and magic, from the audience’s standpoint) is in finding your own voice and developing your personal style. In practical terms, this means that you also have to develop and curate your own material using your life experience, insights, and observations to illustrate your points.

United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor speaking to attendees at the John P. Frank Memorial Lecture at Gammage Auditorium at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona while gesturing with her hands.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor giving a speech.

Whether you’re facing a blank sheet of paper or a blank screen, the start is always the hardest part of a speaking project. We’re going to work through that obstacle by following this five-step jump start.

Choose your topic
Develop your benefit statement
Develop your positioning statement
Derive your title
Create your content

Choose Your Topic

For perspective on topics, you can scan the 194 topics (click on “Browse the complete topic list”) used by the National Speakers Association. If there’s a conference or Chamber of Commerce or professional association event you want to speak at, scan the associated website(s), social media posts, and publications to get a sense of what topics might be a good fit. In choosing your topic, consider your experience and expertise. That’s not to say that you need to be an acknowledged expert on a particular topic—that’s where research comes in—but you do need to have an interest in the topic and a base level of credibility. Although there are hundreds of potential topics, it’s very likely that a particular topic has already been covered a number of times by a number of people. Given that, the essential question is what can you bring to the topic that others haven’t? That is, how can you approach an exhausted topic with fresh eyes to make it feel new and engaging?

Develop Your Benefit Statement

Once you’ve decided on a topic, the next step is to develop a one to two sentence benefit statement that supports your credibility as a speaker on that topic. The benefit statement should answer the question: why you? This is similar to the process you would go through in pitching an article to a publisher. What is the unique value—experience, expertise, point of view—that you bring to the topic? For different frames of reference on benefit statements, scan the speaker bios and bylines of writers that cover topics of interest to you.

Develop Your Positioning Statement

The positioning statement is an expansion of the last step that tailors your benefit statement to a specific audience. Working through this step helps you clarify who your audience is and what you will be presenting to them. Although the positioning statement is for internal purposes, the focus is external—what’s the ROA (return on attention) for the audience? Don’t skip this step; it will help you focus your thoughts, minimize interesting but off-point digressions, and help maintain a coherent structure and flow through the research, writing, editing, and ultimately, speaking phases.

Develop Your Title

In moving from your positioning statement to the speech title, think of your speech as a product or service—what would prompt someone to “buy” what you’re offering? Your title is a pitch—or your bid for the audience’s attention. To get to that pitch, select a few key words from your positioning statement and brainstorm a compelling headline. For additional insight and exercises, read Larry Kim’s Inc article, “ 30 Ideas for Super Clickable Blog Headlines ,” explore the BBC News resources on writing headlines , or watch the “ How to Write a Hook ” YouTube video. You may also want to browse the titles of articles and blogs posted to your target audience’s (i.e., industry or professional association) websites and publications. Remember that as you develop your content, your title might need some adjusting. If you don’t need to submit your title far in advance (to be printed in a brochure or program), revisit it once your content is complete to make sure it still fits. If you do need to submit it before your content is fully developed, try to leave a little wiggle room and not make it too specific regarding the conclusions you might come to.

Develop Your Content

Once you have your title and framework from your positioning statement, you’re ready to start developing your content. Of course, you’ve been building useful content all along through your life experiences. Reflect on the relevant lessons you’ve learned, and make note of some of the experiences—a key quote or visual, an emotion or insight, people or places. Use these events as possible connections to consider and, if applicable, work them in to your speech to illustrate your points. Research is a skill, and art, unto itself (refer to the Washington University librarians’ Conducting Research pages for additional tips and resources), but a good jumping-off point is doing an internet search of your keywords. If you have lead time, you can set up a Google Alert to monitor relevant news and developments. It can also be helpful to find and follow subject-matter experts for your topic and tune in to current trends. To do this, conduct “ best of ” searches to find thought leaders. You may achieve both objectives in one search, as in this Forbes article: “ Top Shopping Trends of 2018: Retail Experts Share What to Watch for Next Year ,” one of the results in a search for “ best retail marketers .”

Reminder : Remember to document your sources! Include citations in your written speech in order to give credit where credit is due and to be able to follow-up on any related audience questions.

You’re vying for an opportunity to represent your company at the local community college’s career conference. (Did I mention the speaker chosen is awarded a $1,000 bonus plus two additional vacation days?) The topic is defined. What’s your next step?

Start writing-anything!-to avoid writer's block
Research your audience

Answer the question: why you?

There you have it! A simple process for sidestepping writer’s or speaker’s block. Next, we’ll discuss another common sticking point: how to open your speech.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/9-cha...-peter-khoury/ ↵

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The Step-By-Step Self-Promotion Plan for Speakers Marketing is the single most important task any speaker performs.

By Wendy Keller Feb 16, 2016

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

The glamour of being paid to share what you know from the stage cannot be overstated. Imagine an audience jumping to their feet and bursting into applause as you say your last few words. You walk off the stage and a line of people is forming to tell you how wonderful you were and how much you changed their lives. The meeting planner – the person who arranged for you to be hired for this event – is beaming at you from the bottom of the steps. She slips you an envelope, gushing over your incredible performance. Inside, there is a check for thousands of dollars. It's all yours, in appreciation for the knowledge you just shared in such a compelling, engaging and clear manner. When you get back to your hotel room, you check your calendar to see where you'll be speaking next week. Los Angeles! Perfect! You've got friends to hang out with there. You flop backwards onto the comfy mattress. Life is good.

If that's not your reality yet, read on.

Marketing is the single most important task any speaker performs. In the beginning, you will be your own marketing department. Hiring someone else usually takes longer, with high costs and low return on investment. Eventually, speakers bureaus may represent you, but at the start (unless you're famous) getting them will be nearly impossible. A speakers bureau gets 25-30 percent of your gross, so until you're worth the investment they must make in promoting you chances are they won't take you on. That happens when your speaking fees total about $100,000 per year. I teach people how to get to that first $100,000 level in my speaker training webinars and courses. Below is an abridged version of the step-by-step speaker self-promotion plan I teach.

1. Choose no more than 3 topics.

All of which should be a direct benefit to businesses, all loosely related. Businesses are where the money is in the speaking industry. If your topics are wildly divergent, e.g. "Customer Service, Sales and Executive Leadership", you sound like a Jack (or Jill) of all Trades, master of none.

2. Research the top 10-15 speakers already doing your topic.

How are you different, deeper, more interesting, more valuable to an audience?

3. Test and re-test your proposed content via social media.

If the general public likes what you say and how you say it, it will succeed as a speech topic. If they don't, you won't. Proctor & Gamble doesn't release a new product without research and development and market testing--neither should you!

4. Build a compelling, high end website.

You need to invest in looking like a superstar if you want to get booked for money. The competition is fierce! People who have their wife's brother build their website after work are going to find they wasted time. This is an appearance based business.

5. Leap onto the scene.

Don't crawl! Write lots of blogs and articles; build a YouTube channel with branded, rich content; relentlessly introduce innovative, fresh solutions; comment publicly on new developments in your topic/industry.

6. Identify and promote your availability directly to meeting planners.

Find out which companies have hired speakers on your topic in the last two to three years. Which companies are being publicly denouced for the problem you solve? Which industries are most in need of your services? For more on the best ways to promote yourself to meeting planners, sign up for my free webinar .

Related: Richard Branson Hates Public Speaking -- Here's How He Gets Over It

7. Be professional, courteous and diligent.

When you get a meeting planner on the phone, have a clean, tight, benefits-laden pitch prepared.

8. Commit to pitching yourself to five to 20 meeting planners every weekday.

Targeting the right meeting planners and reaching out to them is crucial.

9. Collect video of yourself speaking.

Every time you get the chance, even if it is someone in the back of the room with an iPhone, get video of yourself. Use it to improve. When you have at least 3 good clips, hire a professional to edit it into a dynamic speaker demo reel. (It's hard to get booked before you have one!)

10. Do a great job at every gig, even if it is the local nursing home.

Be brilliant on the platform and professional, courteous and charming off of it. Turn every meeting planner into a business friend so she will recommend you to peers. Marketing gets easier for speakers dedicated to self-improvement, who grow their content knowledge, improve their delivery style and enhance their marketing strategies.

Preparing marketing materials and pitching yourself can seem daunting, but it is imperative to the success of a speaker. I've trained about 8,500 speakers in my career and speaking can be an interesting way to make a living and leave your mark on the world. Sign up for my free webinar and find out how to start getting paid to give speeches, workshops or seminars on the topic of your expertise.

Related: Develop These 7 Skills to Become a More Influential Person

CEO and Founder of Keller Media, Inc.

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A great tip for anyone contemplating a vehicle purchase is to ask friends and family members if they are privy to any manufacturer's discount programs that may result in a lower overall price. Many car makers and parts suppliers operate "friends and family" discount programs in which employees can provide others with discount codes that can be used to generate substantial savings on new cars and trucks. Taking advantage of such opportunities is a great way to make your dollar stretch even further at the dealership.

Don't you feel much better about your chances when it comes to purchasing a vehicle now? You should now think about how to apply the information you've learned. Get ready, and go to the dealership like you can tell them how business is done. It's time for you to get the deals you deserve!

Always ask the seller if they are willing to let you do a test drive. While some private sellers may not offer you the chance to do a test drive, there are many that will. You should try to do your deal with someone who will allow you to see how the car runs.

Go into the dealership with a bottom line price in mind. The salesman might try to focus on the monthly payments or financing terms, but your goal should be to get the price you want on the car you want. You can always negotiate the financing terms later, or even finance with your own bank outside of the dealership.

If you are in the market for a used car, you should always get a CarFax report. The CarFax report will let you know if the car has been in an accident. If the car has been in an accident, you probably want to keep searching and not buy that car.

When buying a used car, a great way to tell if the car has been in an accident is to look into the door frames. Usually when a car is repainted, you will notice over spray in this area. This is not proof that a car was in an accident, but it will let you know it was repainted.

You may be at the car lot for a good amount of time when trying to buy a car. You don't want to feel like you're rushed when trying to get comfortable about a deal. You should allocate at least a full afternoon. When you run out of time, leave and come again later.

Have a firm budget set before you go shopping for a new car. You should never purchase a vehicle if you cannot really afford it. The dealer is not the one who will be paying for the car for 6 years, you are.

When you are car shopping, you need to make sure it has plenty of the most important safety features. Never purchase a vehicle that does not have an anti-lock brake system, or ABS. Airbags are also crucial, and your vehicle can never have too many. After all, you'll be in your vehicle alot. Therefore, safety is important.

Search for your new car online before you ever visit a dealership. Searching online allows you to look at inventory from multiple dealerships, and it makes you privy to information about online only pricing. This is a great way to comparison shop and really make sure you are getting the best deal.

A great tip for those looking to buy a used car would be to research what the resale value of the car is. Look at the Kelly Blue Book value and compare it to the condition that the vehicle is currently in to see whether or not the price is fair.

Consider shopping for your new car towards the last week of the month. Most car dealerships have monthly quotas they must reach. Some salespeople want to make a deal because they are desperate to meet their monthly goal.

If you plan to trade in your old car, find out how much it's worth and factor that into your budget. If you think, your car is worth a lot, and it's not, you may be in for a shock when you reach the lot. Knowing as much as possible before you leave your house is the key.

Understand the financing office. Most dealerships make the bulk of their money in the financing office. Your interest rate, extended warranties and other add ons are all sold at a premium once you are in there. Understand this, and select any of those options carefully. Most are not necessary for the average car owner.

When purchasing a car, do not fall for the salesman's ploy that you must make a deal now to get the special pricing. Instead, tell the salesman you are going to get something to eat and will return in an hour. This will allow time for your emotional attachment to lessen making you able to negotiate the best terms and price.

Whenever buying a certified pre-owned vehicle, try and find out what the return policy is, or even if one exists. If one does, make sure you understand how long it is and whether or not you will get registration and licence fees refunded along with sales tax for the vehicle.

If you are considering trading your car in when purchasing a car, you should take your car into a neutral place to get it appraised. You want to be sure that you are getting a fair value for your car when trading it in. Be sure to include an adjustment for what you will be saving regarding taxes.

A Supervisor can lose A great deal of money before suspecting that embezzlement might be happening. That is because by definition that this crime is committed by someone in a position of trust. The loss may involve a tiny amount taken by an employee by the cash register. Or a substantial sum stolen through an elaborate plot of juggling the books. Simple controls Built into the accounting system may often forestall any such practices on your operation. Whatever the case, the proper internal controls may help document incriminating evidence, and it is hard to gauge your loss for insurance purposes or even to establish that it resulted from a crime. This preventing Embezzlement Guide offers suggestions about how it is possible to thwart unethical practices. Additionally, it discusses what you need to do if it appears that one of your employees has embezzled from your business. You may not Have has any expertise with embezzlers. But a lot of owner-managers have. Everyday you will find newspaper stories on how a unethical worker has managed to divert business funds to their own pocket. It happens Frequently enough to make it worth your while to provide the topic some thought and also to examine your record-keeping and auditing procedures to make sure there are no enticing loopholes. Embezzlement is"the Fraudulent appropriation of property by a person to whom it has been entrusted." That is what Makes this offense different from ordinary theft or larceny. The embezzler is somebody in your company whom you are interested. You Want to Have a system of internal control to safeguard money and other property subject to embezzlement. Obviously, no one would like to run a company like an armed camp. But in case you have an integrated control system, manage it closely, and audit it regularly, you may prevent attempts of embezzlement. At any rate, you'll have the means to collect evidence that may expose a crime. Embezzlers Usually believe they are smart - brighter than the owner-manager and adorable enough to beat the machine. Before you set about to outwit them, it Is a Great idea to be familiar with a Number of their approaches The embezzler Is usually a trusted employee who is taking advantage of their company's confidence. Oftentimes the embezzler has been given more power than the position calls for. Approaches of embezzling are limited only by creativity. In the simplest Situation, cash is received along with the employee only pockets it without making a record of the transaction. A theft of this type is hard to prevent or detect if the trade is a cash sale without a following entry is essential in receipt or accounts receivable records. To reduce temptation, prenumbered sales invoices or cash receipts should be used for all sales regardless of the amount. Spot checks and other tracking processes may also help guarantee you that money sales are now being listed. A somewhat more Complicated type of embezzlement is called lapping. This entails the temporary withholding of receipts such as payments on accounts receivable. Lapping is a continuing scheme which usually begins with a little amount but can encounter thousands of dollars until it's detected. For instance, take an employee who opens email or receives checks and cash as payment on open accounts. The worker holds out a 100 dollar cash payment made by customer"A" on March 1. To avoid arousing suspicion on"A's" part, $100 is then taken from a $200 payment made by customer"B" on March 4. This is sent on, along with the necessary documentation, for processing and crediting to the account of"A." The embezzler pockets that the remaining $100, which raises the shortage to $200. As this "borrowing" process continues, the employee makes away with increasingly larger amounts of money involving more and more accounts. A fraud of this nature can run on for years. Of course, it demands detailed record-keeping by the embezzler in order to keep tabs on the deficit and move it from one account to another to prevent suspicion. Any sign that a worker is maintaining personal records of business transactions outside your regular books of accounts ought to be considered. Occasionally an Embezzler who's taking on a lapping scheme also has access to accounts receivable records and statements. In this case, he or she is in a position to change the statements mailed out to clients. Hence the fraud can continue undetected over a long period of time, until something unusual occurs. A customer criticism may indicate the circumstance. Or the matter may be surfaced through audit processes such as confirmation of accounts receivable. 1 embezzler who handled the client complaints managed to avoid detection for many years. The amount of deficit reached such proportions and covered so many accounts that he dared not take a holiday. He even ate lunch in his desk lest some other employee receive a question from a customer concerning a discrepancy in a statement. The owner-manager for whom he labored admired his pursuit and loyalty. Fellow workers marveled that his apparent frugality enable him to enjoy a fairly high standard of living. Nevertheless, the inevitable finally happened. This worker was hospitalized with a severe ailment, and in his absence his fraudulent scheme came to light. 1 reason many companies require regular vacations is to keep some"indispensable man" from dispensing with business funds illegally. Occasionally Company bank accounts are used for check-kiting. In fact, losses from a large check-kiting schemes have been great enough to cause a company to go bankrupt. From the usual Scheme, the check-kiter has to be in the place to write checks on and make Deposits in two or more bank accounts. 1 account could be the embezzler's Private account and another a business checking account. If the embezzler Has an accomplice in another company, two business accounts might be used. If Your company has more than one checking account at different banks, these Accounts might be utilized to carry out the fraud.

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Article • 13 min read

Better Public Speaking

Becoming a confident, compelling speaker.

By the Mind Tools Content Team

Whether we're talking in a team meeting or presenting in front of an audience, we all have to speak in public from time to time.

We can do this well or we can do this badly, and the outcome strongly affects the way that people think about us. This is why public speaking causes so much anxiety and concern.

The good news is that, with thorough preparation and practice, you can overcome your nervousness and perform exceptionally well. This article and video explain how.

Click here to view a transcript of this video.

The Importance of Public Speaking

Even if you don't need to make regular presentations in front of a group, there are plenty of situations where good public speaking skills can help you advance your career and create opportunities.

For example, you might have to talk about your organization at a conference, make a speech after accepting an award, or teach a class to new recruits. Speaking to an audience also includes online presentations or talks; for instance, when training a virtual team, or when speaking to a group of customers in an online meeting.

Good public speaking skills are important in other areas of your life, as well. You might be asked to make a speech at a friend's wedding, give a eulogy for a loved one, or inspire a group of volunteers at a charity event.

In short, being a good public speaker can enhance your reputation, boost your self-confidence , and open up countless opportunities.

However, while good skills can open doors, poor ones can close them. For example, your boss might decide against promoting you after sitting through a badly-delivered presentation. You might lose a valuable new contract by failing to connect with a prospect during a sales pitch. Or you could make a poor impression with your new team, because you trip over your words and don't look people in the eye.

Make sure that you learn how to speak well!

Strategies for Becoming a Better Speaker

The good news is that speaking in public is a learnable skill. As such, you can use the following strategies to become a better speaker and presenter.

Plan Appropriately

First, make sure that you plan your communication appropriately. Use tools like the Rhetorical Triangle , Monroe's Motivated Sequence , and the 7Cs of Communication to think about how you'll structure what you're going to say.

When you do this, think about how important a book's first paragraph is; if it doesn't grab you, you're likely going to put it down. The same principle goes for your speech: from the beginning, you need to intrigue your audience.

For example, you could start with an interesting statistic, headline, or fact that pertains to what you're talking about and resonates with your audience. You can also use story telling as a powerful opener; our Expert Interviews with Annette Simmons and Paul Smith offer some useful tips on doing this.

Planning also helps you to think on your feet . This is especially important for unpredictable question and answer sessions or last-minute communications.

Remember that not all occasions when you need to speak in public will be scheduled. You can make good impromptu speeches by having ideas and mini-speeches pre-prepared. It also helps to have a good, thorough understanding of what's going on in your organization and industry.

There's a good reason that we say, "Practice makes perfect!" You simply cannot be a confident, compelling speaker without practice.

To get practice, seek opportunities to speak in front of others. For example, Toastmasters is a club geared specifically towards aspiring speakers, and you can get plenty of practice at Toastmasters sessions. You could also put yourself in situations that require public speaking, such as by cross-training a group from another department, or by volunteering to speak at team meetings.

If you're going to be delivering a presentation or prepared speech, create it as early as possible. The earlier you put it together, the more time you'll have to practice.

Practice it plenty of times alone, using the resources you'll rely on at the event, and, as you practice, tweak your words until they flow smoothly and easily.

Then, if appropriate, do a dummy run in front of a small audience: this will help you calm your jitters and make you feel more comfortable with the material. Your audience can also give you useful feedback , both on your material and on your performance.

Engage With Your Audience

When you speak, try to engage your audience. This makes you feel less isolated as a speaker and keeps everyone involved with your message. If appropriate, ask leading questions targeted to individuals or groups, and encourage people to participate and ask questions.

Keep in mind that some words reduce your power as a speaker. For instance, think about how these sentences sound: "I just want to add that I think we can meet these goals" or "I just think this plan is a good one." The words "just" and "I think" limit your authority and conviction. Don't use them.

A similar word is "actually," as in, "Actually, I'd like to add that we were under budget last quarter." When you use "actually," it conveys a sense of submissiveness or even surprise. Instead, say what things are. "We were under budget last quarter" is clear and direct.

Also, pay attention to how you're speaking. If you're nervous, you might talk quickly. This increases the chances that you'll trip over your words, or say something you don't mean. Force yourself to slow down by breathing deeply. Don't be afraid to gather your thoughts; pauses are an important part of conversation, and they make you sound confident, natural, and authentic.

Finally, avoid reading word-for-word from your notes. Instead, make a list of important points on cue cards, or, as you get better at public speaking, try to memorize what you're going to say – you can still refer back to your cue cards when you need them.

Pay Attention to Body Language

If you're unaware of it, your body language will give your audience constant, subtle clues about your inner state. If you're nervous, or if you don't believe in what you're saying, the audience can soon know.

Pay attention to your body language: stand up straight, take deep breaths, look people in the eye, and smile. Don't lean on one leg or use gestures that feel unnatural.

Many people prefer to speak behind a podium when giving presentations. While podiums can be useful for holding notes, they put a barrier between you and the audience. They can also become a "crutch," giving you a hiding place from the dozens or hundreds of eyes that are on you.

Instead of standing behind a podium, walk around and use gestures to engage the audience. This movement and energy will also come through in your voice, making it more active and passionate.

Think Positively

Positive thinking can make a huge difference to the success of your communication, because it helps you feel more confident.

Fear makes it all too easy to slip into a cycle of negative self-talk, especially right before you speak, while self-sabotaging thoughts such as "I'll never be good at this!" or "I'm going to fall flat on my face!" lower your confidence and increase the chances that you won't achieve what you're truly capable of.

Use affirmations and visualization to raise your confidence. This is especially important right before your speech or presentation. Visualize giving a successful presentation, and imagine how you'll feel once it's over and when you've made a positive difference for others. Use positive affirmations such as "I'm grateful I have the opportunity to help my audience" or "I'm going to do well!"

Cope With Nerves

How often have you listened to or watched a speaker who really messed up? Chances are, the answer is "not very often."

When we have to speak in front of others, we can envision terrible things happening. We imagine forgetting every point we want to make, passing out from our nervousness, or doing so horribly that we'll lose our job. But those things almost never come to pass! We build them up in our minds and end up more nervous than we need to be.

Many people cite speaking to an audience as their biggest fear, and a fear of failure is often at the root of this. Public speaking can lead your "fight or flight" response to kick in: adrenaline courses through your bloodstream, your heart rate increases, you sweat, and your breath becomes fast and shallow.

Although these symptoms can be annoying or even debilitating, the Inverted-U Model shows that a certain amount of pressure enhances performance. By changing your mindset, you can use nervous energy to your advantage.

First, make an effort to stop thinking about yourself, your nervousness, and your fear. Instead, focus on your audience: what you're saying is "about them." Remember that you're trying to help or educate them in some way, and your message is more important than your fear. Concentrate on the audience's wants and needs, instead of your own.

If time allows, use deep breathing exercises to slow your heart rate and give your body the oxygen it needs to perform. This is especially important right before you speak. Take deep breaths from your belly, hold each one for several seconds, and let it out slowly.

Crowds are more intimidating than individuals, so think of your speech as a conversation that you're having with one person. Although your audience may be 100 people, focus on one friendly face at a time, and talk to that person as if he or she is the only one in the room.

Watch Recordings of Your Speeches

Whenever possible, record your presentations and speeches. You can improve your speaking skills dramatically by watching yourself later, and then working on improving in areas that didn't go well.

As you watch, notice any verbal stalls, such as "um" or "like." Look at your body language: are you swaying, leaning on the podium, or leaning heavily on one leg? Are you looking at the audience? Did you smile? Did you speak clearly at all times?

Pay attention to your gestures. Do they appear natural or forced? Make sure that people can see them, especially if you're standing behind a podium.

Last, look at how you handled interruptions, such as a sneeze or a question that you weren't prepared for. Does your face show surprise, hesitation, or annoyance? If so, practice managing interruptions like these smoothly, so that you're even better next time.

Chances are that you'll sometimes have to speak in public as part of your role. While this can seem intimidating, the benefits of being able to speak well outweigh any perceived fears. To become a better speaker, use the following strategies:

Plan appropriately.
Engage with your audience.
Pay attention to body language.
Think positively.
Cope with your nerves.
Watch recordings of your speeches.

If you speak well in public, it can help you get a job or promotion, raise awareness for your team or organization, and educate others. The more you push yourself to speak in front of others, the better you'll become, and the more confidence you'll have.

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10 Tips for Improving Your Public Speaking Skills

Few are immune to the fear of public speaking. Marjorie North offers 10 tips for speakers to calm the nerves and deliverable memorable orations.

Marjorie North

Snakes? Fine. Flying? No problem. Public speaking? Yikes! Just thinking about public speaking — routinely described as one of the greatest (and most common) fears — can make your palms sweat. But there are many ways to tackle this anxiety and learn to deliver a memorable speech.

In part one of this series, Mastering the Basics of Communication , I shared strategies to improve how you communicate. In part two, How to Communicate More Effectively in the Workplace , I examined how to apply these techniques as you interact with colleagues and supervisors in the workplace. For the third and final part of this series, I’m providing you with public speaking tips that will help reduce your anxiety, dispel myths, and improve your performance.

Here Are My 10 Tips for Public Speaking:

1. nervousness is normal. practice and prepare.

All people feel some physiological reactions like pounding hearts and trembling hands. Do not associate these feelings with the sense that you will perform poorly or make a fool of yourself. Some nerves are good. The adrenaline rush that makes you sweat also makes you more alert and ready to give your best performance.

The best way to overcome anxiety is to prepare, prepare, and prepare some more. Take the time to go over your notes several times. Once you have become comfortable with the material, practice — a lot. Videotape yourself, or get a friend to critique your performance.

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2. Know Your Audience. Your Speech Is About Them, Not You.

Before you begin to craft your message, consider who the message is intended for. Learn as much about your listeners as you can. This will help you determine your choice of words, level of information, organization pattern, and motivational statement.

3. Organize Your Material in the Most Effective Manner to Attain Your Purpose.

Create the framework for your speech. Write down the topic, general purpose, specific purpose, central idea, and main points. Make sure to grab the audience’s attention in the first 30 seconds.

4. Watch for Feedback and Adapt to It.

Keep the focus on the audience. Gauge their reactions, adjust your message, and stay flexible. Delivering a canned speech will guarantee that you lose the attention of or confuse even the most devoted listeners.

5. Let Your Personality Come Through.

Be yourself, don’t become a talking head — in any type of communication. You will establish better credibility if your personality shines through, and your audience will trust what you have to say if they can see you as a real person.

6. Use Humor, Tell Stories, and Use Effective Language.

Inject a funny anecdote in your presentation, and you will certainly grab your audience’s attention. Audiences generally like a personal touch in a speech. A story can provide that.

7. Don’t Read Unless You Have to. Work from an Outline.

Reading from a script or slide fractures the interpersonal connection. By maintaining eye contact with the audience, you keep the focus on yourself and your message. A brief outline can serve to jog your memory and keep you on task.

8. Use Your Voice and Hands Effectively. Omit Nervous Gestures.

Nonverbal communication carries most of the message. Good delivery does not call attention to itself, but instead conveys the speaker’s ideas clearly and without distraction.

9. Grab Attention at the Beginning, and Close with a Dynamic End.

Do you enjoy hearing a speech start with “Today I’m going to talk to you about X”? Most people don’t. Instead, use a startling statistic, an interesting anecdote, or concise quotation. Conclude your speech with a summary and a strong statement that your audience is sure to remember.

10. Use Audiovisual Aids Wisely.

Too many can break the direct connection to the audience, so use them sparingly. They should enhance or clarify your content, or capture and maintain your audience’s attention.

Practice Does Not Make Perfect

Good communication is never perfect, and nobody expects you to be perfect. However, putting in the requisite time to prepare will help you deliver a better speech. You may not be able to shake your nerves entirely, but you can learn to minimize them.

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About the Author

North is a consultant for political candidates, physicians, and lawyers, and runs a private practice specializing in public speaking, and executive communication skills. Previously, she was the clinical director in the department of speech and language pathology and audiology at Northeastern University.

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Below is an abridged version of the step-by-step speaker self-promotion plan I teach. 1. Choose no more than 3 topics. ... 7 Public Speaking Habits of Successful Entrepreneurs. 2. Research the top ...
PDF The Public Speaking Checklist
Welcome to your Public Speaking Checklist, a complete start-to finish checklist to help walk you through every single item you need to think about, create, and implement to deliver a successful speech. At first glance, it may look like a lot of stuff, and it is. There are a lot of components related to delivering a speech that people will remember.
Free Public Speaking Business Plan PDF Template
A Step by Step Guide to Starting a Small Business. This is a practical manual in a PDF format, that will walk you step by step through all the essential phases of starting your Public Speaking business. The book is packed with guides, worksheets and checklists. These strategies are absolutely crucial to your business' success yet are simple and ...
Courses
Advanced Business Strategy. 15 Modules of premium online Training from Patrick Bet-David. A 213 page online PDF of The Vault Manual. Over 10 hours of training with Patrick Bet-David. Accompanying documents and PDF's that increase user experience and learning. Custom questionnaires to increase participation and value gained from the training.
PDF Successful Public Speaking
1.1 Public Speaking in the Business World 8 1.2 Personal and Social Benefits of Public Speaking 9 2 Evolution of Public Speaking 10 2.1 What is public speaking? 10 2.2 Three Parts of Persuasion by Aristotle. 10 2.3 Cicero's Five Canons of Rhetoric 12 2.4 Modern Elements of Public Speaking 12 2.5 Three Styles of Speech 13
PDF Public Speaking 101
Public Speaking 101 Effective public speaking is a skill. To build these skills takes self-awareness and practice. 1) Leave baggage and qualifiers out of your presentation. 2) Watch your body language, eye contact, facial expressions and movement. 3) First impressions are lasting impressions. 4) Use vocal inflections.
PDF Introduction to Teaching Public Speaking
Please take out a sheet of notebook paper. Read over this entire sheet carefully and then work as instructed. Number your sheet of paper 1 to 10. For #1, write your first name. For #2, write your last name. Write the name of a movie or tv show you've seen in the last week. If you haven't seen any, say that.
PDF Public Speaking Training Guide
Public Speaking Training Guide Training speakers is a continual process. There is never enough time to adequately prepare students for everything they need to know in Extemp, Oratory, or Informative Speaking. Therefore, this guide identifies the features most critical for students to understand when starting in these events.
Better Public Speaking
You might be asked to make a speech at a friend's wedding, give a eulogy for a loved one, or inspire a group of volunteers at a charity event. In short, being a good public speaker can enhance your reputation, boost your self-confidence, and open up countless opportunities. However, while good skills can open doors, poor ones can close them.
10 Tips to Improve Your Public Speaking Skills
Adjust accordingly so you can connect with them throughout your presentation. 2. Practice, practice, practice. Even the most seasoned public speaker needs practice to be effective. Give a mock presentation of your speech in advance, so you can determine if you've organized the information cohesively and clearly.
PDF Guidelines for Public Speaking
Figurative A black hole is a celestial object with a gravitational field so strong that light cannot escape from it. In Europe, temperature is measured in degrees Celsius (centigrade). Our college has 3,000 full-time and 5,000 part-time students. The average family income in this town is $55,000 per year.
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LESSON PLAN AND TEACHING GUIDE A resource created by the National Speech & Debate Association Have you ever wished you had a road map to help you teach a new ... This course is designed for students new to public speaking and oral communications. Thus, the first half of the course is a scaffolded approach, giving students a foundation in ...
10 Tips for Improving Your Public Speaking Skills
For the third and final part of this series, I'm providing you with public speaking tips that will help reduce your anxiety, dispel myths, and improve your performance. Here Are My 10 Tips for Public Speaking: 1. Nervousness Is Normal. Practice and Prepare! All people feel some physiological reactions like pounding hearts and trembling hands.