What you title your presentation reflects on you a who lot more than what you say when you get to the platform.
The title must do several things.
Tease the audience into attending
Not be boring
Hint at the subject matter
Not be boring
Be no more than 11 words
Not be boring
Some country music songs can be a great role model for titles to speeches. \"If I told you you had a beautiful body, would you hold it against me?\" \"If the phone don\'t ring, you\'ll know it\'s me.\"
A nifty play on words. Consider if those were titles of talks to be given in a breakout session at a meeting or convention. They sure sound like a lot more fun than \"Please hold me\" or \"I can\'t stand you\".
The title of your speech should build a desire for others to want to hear what you have to say and at the same time build your brand awareness. It is not unusual to develop your many (yes, you should have more than one) talks with similar titles.
Best Selling author Sue Grafton has made a fortune using the alphabet for titles of her Kinsey Millhone Mysteries:
A Is for Alibi
B Is for Burglar
C Is for Corpse
...
Q Is for Quarry
R is for Ricochet
All your titles can tie together and still be separate, each helping to push awareness of you and your abilities.
There is also a series of books by Lillian Jackson Braun
The Cat Who Smelled a Rat
The Cat Who Lived High
The Cat Who Could Read Backwards
One look at the title and we know the author
Think of the many ways you can title your talks to get you booked and get them hooked.
You could use your name as a tie-in. BIG Mike\'s 10 ways to avoid prosecution
BIG Mike\'s 9 things to know about your lawyer
BIG Mike\'s 8 things your doctor won\'t tell you
So here\'s your homework. Write down the tired old title you put on that speech you want to give and find 15 different ways of saying it, all with some tongue in cheek and all pointed at making you and your talk more memorable.
To learn more about the speaking business, read my article \"Getting Booked to Speak for Free\" You can get it by sending a blank eMail MailTo:Speak4Free@BigIdeasGroup.com
(c) 2004 BIG Mike McDaniel - All Rights Reserved -
BIG Mike has been a professional speaker for over 30 years and Chapter President of the National Speakers Association.
Big Mike works with people who want to become professional speakers. His GetPaid2 Speak series is a 12 week university-level distance learning course. Check it out at
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