Business Quick Tips April 2009 Vol 5 No# 42
1. Are you a leader or follower?
Â
2. What people really want
3.
4. Can you name the new book?
5. Travel Schedule
Debbiespeaks Website | Business
Books | http://www.successis.co.nz/newsletter/sign-up.htm QuickTips Sign-up
Â
 1. Are you a leader or follower?

You know the Internet has made marketing more visual. Consider this. The Britians Got Talent singer Susan Boyle got over 100 million views of her Idol song, 20 million viewed Obama’s inaugural speech, most TV commercials are put on YouTube and much more – does a paper brochure still stand the test of time?
I made the move this week, putting a video brochure on the website, on my blog, on Linked In as well as on YouTube which hosts the video (and foots the bill for the bandwidth required from viewing it). However, doing a straight video is not enough. If you look at any other speakers video, it’s the same old boring little person on the stage, a male voice over, thunderous applause – all about them. I did something very different. If you’re curious, have a look because it leads into the next article on using humour to be more successful.
Â
Get to the video via the image at right (no graphic showing?) or see the unique way it displays on the www.debbiespeaks.co.nz website.
By the way, if you like it (or don’t) let me know please Video feedback
Â
2. What people really want
I guarantee that if you add a bit of humour into a presentation. a report, memo or conversation, it will make you more memorable and persuasive. In this modern age of information overload, instant gratification and Twitter, humour works wonders.
Humor to fit your persona.
If you are not naturally funny, you’ll crumble at the thought of adding it. I’ve read umpteen books on the how-to but as my daughter Samantha said in an exasperated breath (as I stopped to look through yet one more book) “What’s the point mom�
You can know the various ways that books tell you how you can be more funny or write funny lines, but if it’s not naturally in your personality, the how-to won’t put ideas in your head. Here are a few tips on how even the most serious can get that smile. Easy Humor Adds
Funny graphics. Laughing at yourself works, poking fun at your oddities or shortcomings. Highlight the things your kids tease you about. Another area to exploit is problems in common with your listening or audience. Throw in something (unexpected) about the partner, pets, teens….
I used to show a picture of our six children, then launch in straight to the business point of not treating customers the same. Now I ask first “why did I show you this picture†After a pregnant pause I answer my question with “To make you feel real sorry for me.†Instant laughter. Then I launch into the business point. This builds empathy, but does not detract from the business message about to come.
When giving examples, work in threes. Have the third one unexpected and funny. For example “Have you ever heard something life changing? Will you marry me, the job is yours. Shoes, 50% offâ€. This last line is good when there are a lot of females in the audience.
Unexpected funny graphics are an easy way to add a laugh. Go directly to Google images www.google.com/images. You can hone your search by content and image size. When you find the image you want, don’t select it from the thumbnails you see. Click to go to the original source where you’ll get the proper image itself (vs. the Google small thumbnail).
Adding the word cartoon to your search in images will give you exactly that – only the cartoons.
Tip: Larger sized images are better for print and presentations.
Â
 3. Two great computer tips
One of the great pains of a dbase in Excel is getting rid of doubles. It can take hours and hours – or if you watch this video it’s one click (Excel 2007; or just a few more in Excel 2003 and prior) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ET9Y8sJRH0I
Did you know that simply by holding down the control key you can click and select from different parts of a document, file, worksheet and make changes to them all at once? Have a look.
Â
By the way, This link will take you to 26 Hewlett Packard Videos (as well as Chinese and Korean versions).
http://h30458.www3.hp.com/au/en/smb/786357.html
Â
Â
 4. Can you help name a new book?I’m 7/10ths thought completing the manuscript for a new d atabase m arketing book. The first half is strategy. The second is screen shot computer tips on how to automate the cleaning, fixing, adding and merging of your customer information for use.
Superb Tips and Tricks For Managing Your Customer Information.
The person that comes up with a great title will get five copies of the book upon printing by Penguin.
 5.Debbie’s travels Would you like to meet? Do you require staff training or have a networking event? Look below for when I’m in your area.
Simply contact me now by email or fill in the speaking quote form The topic and presentation page has been updated for 2009 if you ‘re interested. Topic page on the website
Date | City |
6-7 August | Perth Australia |
30-31 July | Sydney Australia |
23-24 July | Melbourne Australia |
16-17 July | Brisbane Australia |
9-10 July | Adelaide Australia |
29-30 May | Alice Springs Australia |
20-21 May | Auckland New Zealand |
19 May | Queenstown New Zealand |
11 May | Rotorua New Zealand |
Read
the last Issue of Business Quick Tips
No more? Here’s the politically correct yada yada yada “Debbie, no more communications please, unsubscribe here
Published by href=”http://www.successis.co.nz” target=”_blank”>SuccessIS. Debbie
Mayo-Smith International Motivational Business Speaker and Author,
35 Chelmsford Ave, Glendowie, Auckland NZ. Phone 64 9 575 5359.
Copyright 2009 SuccesslS. All rights reserved. SuccessIS
is committed to protecting your privacy.
you provide to us.
Â
Â