Improve your Web site
The Internet team at the Louisville offices are constantly
sharing new and different ways to make PC(USA) Web sites the best they can be.
The team hosts monthly Web editors metings in order to share the latest information
with other Louisville colleagues.
We’ve assembled some of the best of the information
from those meetings for you. Here’s the list of topics that include brief,
yet pointed, Web site and Internet tips.
Speaking in small spurts
Jim Hooper, public speaking coach, presented "Short Spurts." Photo
by Pat Plant. In this age of never-ending sound bites, it might
be a bright idea for you, or those who speak for your organization, to practice
the Sixteen Second Spurt. This concept was presented at the San Jose regional
event by Jim Hooper, a public speaking coach and business trainer.
The 16 second spurt that the meeting attendees developed answered the questions:
- What do you do?
- For whom do you do it?
- What is the benefit for them?
- What is your advantage?
Attendees at Jim Hooper's presentation listen intently. Photo by Pat Plant.
If you think about it, by answering these simple questions
you can introduce yourself to an individual or group, complete a short telephone
introduction when calling a member of the media, or even re-frame the questions
slightly when a "situation" arises and you have to field calls from
the media.
When you answer the questions make sure to include the following:
Features — attributes, dimensions, colors, content. Make
your description inviting and lively.
Advantages — ways that the attributes are different from
and better than others, and are unique to the user.
Benefit — how what you do (or have done) benefits
others. Benefits are personal, such as gaining security, love, money, good feelings.
Benefits can also be framed to avoid loss, pain, embarrassment or frustration.
Points to remember when delivering your small spurt:
- Know who your audience
is
- Practice how you will wrap up your spurt
- Know how to begin your spurt
- Speak (as though) to one person
- Speak sincerely, from the heart
Take five minutes now to write your own small spurt so you'll have it handy
and will be able to help others practice this exercise. |
