Set aside your fear of public speaking – embrace it

Remember: It’s all in your mind.

Sure, there’s the old idea that public speaking is everyone’s number-one fear. But who’s in control of your own mind? You are, of course. Once you know that, you’ll find that there are many ways to put yourself in a position to nail that presentation.

Here are some valuable tips to help prepare yourself:

1. Preparation. It tops our list for good reason. Preparation is the key. Ask yourself:

What are the main points that I want to get across? Create an outline. Write and rewrite your speech. Don’t expect to memorize every word. But when you know the material inside and out – and know your audience – then your thoughts will easily flow.

2. Learn from the experts. Watch some of the best speakers perform their magic. Notice the different styles, their expressions, an occasional smile when appropriate, the serious look (also when appropriate). Notice how they seem to be enjoying their presentation. It really should be enjoyable. Remember, don’t fight it, embrace it.

3. Practice. And practice. And practice again. The more you practice your presentation, the more confident you will be, and the more comfortable you’ll feel.

4. Videotape your practice sessions. It’s one of the most valuable tools you can use to learn from your presentations. You’ll quickly pick up pointers from watching yourself on tape. It’s really an amazing tool to improve your public speaking.

5. Try to relax. If you miss a line, no one will know. Nobody will have your notes, and quite frankly, nobody will really care that you missed a line or a thought. So be kind to yourself. Mistakes happen. Just move on with your presentation as if nothing went wrong.

6. Slow down. It’s rather typical of presenters to speak at the speed of lightning. That’s because they’re often thinking: The faster I speak, the faster I will sit down. But slowing down has lots of advantages. It gives your audience every chance to understand your every word. Pacing is important.

7. The eye factor. It’s important to keep your eyes steadily moving across the room. Take them from the left side of the room to the middle of the room, then to the right side, then back the other way. Also, move them from the front of the audience to the back. Be aware of your notes, but don’t fix your eyes on them. If you do that, the audience will feel that you’re not prepared. Again, preparation is the key.

8. Go ahead, tickle my funny bone. Yes, it’s great to work a funny line into your presentation. Just remember you’re not a comedian on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Be lighthearted and your audience will love it. Remember: They’re really on your side. They want to enjoy what you have to say.

9. Be yourself. It’s who you are. We’re all human. We’ve all had a little hesitation about getting up in front of a crowd and speaking at a podium with a microphone. Being yourself will go a long way toward building your enthusiasm to deliver your presentation.

10. Uh, say what? Yes, it’s perfectly fine to utter an occasional “uh.” It’s conversational. Television reporters, news anchors, weathercasters and all performers say “uh” from time to time. It’s perfectly normal. Anything else might seem stilted.

Public speaking really comes down to preparation. The more you prepare, the more comfortable you will feel. It’s a great feeling when you know your material well. Remember what it felt like when you aced a test in school? You can feel just as good when it’s time to speak in public – if you know your material backward and forward.

It’s often said that the best writing is writing that’s edited again and again. Well, that goes for public speaking, too. The best presentation is one that is practiced again, and again and again … and again.

PR Lessons Learned: Rush Limbaugh Opens Mouth and Inserts Foot

Rush Limbaugh - Caricature (Photo credit: DonkeyHotey)

(Published in the May 2012 issue of Attorney at Law Magazine)

By Dave Bloom, publicist and former television news anchor/reporter

Open mouth, insert foot. We’ve all experienced that moment: The words you wish you had never uttered. Capturing those mistaken words is — well, like trying to put a spent firecracker back together again. An apology is in order the moment you realize your blunder. Your reputation could depend on it. Recent utterances by radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh show how serious these lessons are.

Lesson One: Be very careful how you craft your messages about controversial topics.

Limbaugh made a series of derogatory remarks about Georgetown University law student Sandra Fluke, speculating that statements in her speech at an unofficial congressional event in support of free mandated contraceptives at Georgetown made her a “slut” or “prostitute.” His remarks spread like wildfire through traditional and social media outlets, were widely described as vicious and misogynistic, and provoked large-scale criticism.

Lesson Two: Apologize. And apologize quickly.

Apologize the moment you realize that your foot is in your mouth. And if you don’t catch your mistake the moment it happens – it’s imperative that your PR team be notified the moment you begin receiving criticism for your comment.

Lesson Three: When you apologize, be sincere. At the very least, SEEM to be sincere.

Limbaugh failed to immediately apologize for what was quite obvious to the majority – that an apology was in order the moment he uttered his now-infamous words. It took several days for Limbaugh to broadcast an apology, and to many his apology was anything but sincere.

Lesson Four: Manage your messages appropriately or it could come back to wallop you, and others, in the wallet.

During the 15 days that would follow Limbaugh’s statements, the talk show’s long list of sponsors had shrunk by a whopping 142. Limbaugh’s poor choice of words and the delay in his apology sent those sponsors fleeing, along with the monetary benefits they had expected from the show they sponsored.

Lesson Five: Have a reputation management and a crisis management team in place BEFORE a crisis unfolds.

It quickly became obvious that either Limbaugh totally ignored his reputation management team, or he didn’t have a reputation management team in the first place. Either way, it cost him, his show, and his reputation.

Lesson Six: You need pre-crisis planning.

Crisis prevention helps reduce the known risks that could lead to a crisis. Be prepared for those land mines. Select a crisis management team that is strong-willed, and a team you respect when the going gets tough.

Lesson Seven: You need pre-drafted messages, and you need to practice them.

Controversial topics need to be discussed – and discussed some more — before they‘re discussed in public. Messages need to be rehearsed and rehearsed, and perhaps even rehearsed again.

There’s no question that Limbaugh’s statements caused a stir that will be long remembered. But some good actually came out of his remarks. It gave us an opportunity to reinforce some of the golden rules of communication, and to learn from Limbaugh’s mistakes.

Crisis PR and Your Company’s Reputation

by Dave Bloom

Many businesses have a recovery plan in place for disasters caused by floods, fire, and the like. Yet even the best-managed business may not be fully prepared for a business crisis of some sort. When that happens, crisis communication is a critical organizational function. Ignoring this important business component could put the health of the company in peril.

There’s no shortage of definitions for the word “crisis.” In the context of business reputation, a crisis is defined as a significant threat to the day-to-day operations that can cause serious consequences if not dealt with properly. A crisis can mean loss of finances and reputation. Ultimately, crisis management is meant to protect the company from threats and/or limit its negative impact. Preparation is the key.

Pre-crisis planning

Crisis prevention helps reduce the known risks that could lead to a company crisis. In order to be prepared, you’ll need to create a crisis management plan, select a crisis management team and concoct several possible scenarios to test the plan and the team.

Crisis management plan

The crisis management plan provides a list of key contacts and their related information. The company may want certain individuals pre-assigned to certain tasks. The team members should know what tasks and responsibilities they have during a crisis. Time during a crisis is saved because the crisis plan has been carefully designed and executed.

The spokesperson

A key component of a crisis communication plan is  the spokesperson. This company representative must be prepared to speak with the news media. Anything is better than a “no comment,” because people generally believe that phrase to mean the company is guilty and is trying to hide something. The spokesperson should be briefed about the latest crisis information and the main message points the company is trying to convey.No matter what the crisis is, the best way to handle it is to respond to journalists, and to do so in a timely manner. Ignoring the media is a huge mistake.

Off the record

In today’s world of 24/7 news, blogs, Twitter and YouTube, nothing is “off the record.” If you don’t want information released to the public during a crisis or any other situation, then it’s best to withhold it. Well-meaning reporters may unintentionally include sensitive information in their news reports. This could actually intensify the crisis and send it to an entirely new and damaging level.

Pre-drafted messages

Crisis managers can pre-draft messages that can be used during virtually any crisis. The prepared messages can be inserted into news releases and websites. The templates have blank areas where the key information can be inserted when the information is revealed. Valuable time is saved during a crisis when prior thought and planning has gone into the pre-crisis plan, a plan you hope may never have to be implemented.

The bottom line

Once these pieces are in place, conduct a “tornado drill” consisting of one or more crisis scenarios, ideally when things are slow around the office. Also, supplement your in-house team by bringing outside advisors, especially those who will communicate with the media. Ultimately, each media inquiry should be viewed as an opportunity to be embraced – if you are properly prepared for a crisis.

Keep the clock ticking on your ‘15 minutes of fame’

So you appeared on a TV news show. Reporters wrapped their stories around your carefully crafted sound bites. You were an instant hit. A hit at home. A hit at the neighborhood shopping mall. A hit at your email in-box. In this new age of social media, your 15 minutes of fame could well last a long time. This is PR like never before. Your TV news clip is a third-party endorsement that will help elevate your credibility. The power of social media can take that video clip to incredible heights.

• First, you must secure the TV news segment in which you appeared. News video-monitoring services provide clean-quality video clips at a cost of about $100. The clip can include the “show open,” which includes the name of the news show and perhaps the names and faces of the news anchors or show hosts. A news anchor may have introduced the reporter’s story that included your sound bites. The average report lasts about a minute and a half. There may also be an on-camera anchor tag that sums up the reporter’s story in about 10 seconds. The final product is about 2 minutes long.

• The video-monitoring service will email you the completed video clip in a friendly, downloadable format. Sharing your video is easy. It’s a good idea to immediately share your clip while the story topic is hot.

• Your website is a must for parking your video clip. The homepage is a great place to embed the clip. You might add it to your profile page. Be sure to include a few sentences explaining the topic of the clip and your involvement.

• YouTube is still king. It’s free, popular and simple to set up. Descriptive text and tags are very important, so make sure you describe the video in a way that entices potential viewers. Take a few minutes to learn the various features YouTube offers. They make it easy. Real easy. Take advantage of one of the greatest innovations of our lifetime.

• Search for video-sharing sites. See what’s popular out there. New video-sharing sites are being developed all the time. A little navigating may take you and your video a long way.

LinkedIn. It’s difficult to think of Facebook as an also-ran, but here we go: A recent study by Performics reveals that 59 percent of those who use social-networking sites such as Facebook say their most important social-networking account is the one they have on LinkedIn. Last year, only 41 percent chose LinkedIn as their most important account. It’s a nice vindication for LinkedIn, which until its public offering was often perceived as the dull, corporate-minded sibling of more entertaining sites such as Facebook.

• While on the topic of Facebook, your video news clip should find a home on your Facebook page. We’re told that video shared on Facebook performs better than video watched elsewhere – that Facebook users are more engaged and tend to watch more (if not all) of the video clip. One of the more exciting Facebook features introduced recently was the ability for third parties to publish and play back video content directly within their Newsfeed, allowing individuals to watch videos from all over the Internet without ever leaving Facebook.

• Blogs also are a great place to place your news video clip. You can certainly use your blog to further discuss the topic of your news clip. Your blog can be linked directly to your website profile. In fact, your YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook accounts all can be linked to your website.

It’s really no surprise at all that there is a direct relationship between social media referrals and viewer engagement. Social networks give us access to content that we may not find elsewhere. Users prefer content that was suggested by those they know well. This is the definition of viral video marketing. Create good solid content and it will spread, by word of virtual mouth.

Lights … Camera … Great Sound Bites!

You spend your professional life working in front of some pretty tough audiences: Challenging business prospects, speaking engagements, and the like. It can be even more intimidating to sit down for a television news interview.

But with a dose of preparation, as well as observing a few do’s and don’ts, you can put your misgivings aside and seize a great opportunity to jump into the spotlight.

While many of the same interviewing skills are needed for print and TV news interviews, sources for broadcast media need to be more aware of their appearance and have the ability to quickly connect with viewers visually and verbally.

Before the interview, brainstorm likely questions, as well as the tricky ones you hope the reporter doesn’t ask. You should be able to anticipate 90 percent of the questions before the camera starts rolling. If possible, speak with the reporter by phone before the interview for the questions in advance, but remember there’s still a chance the reporter will ask other ones.

Keep in mind that some reporters ask questions over and over to get different and more interesting responses. Stick to your message. Answer each question as if it’s the only answer that will be used in the report.

Dress for your audience and the camera:

• Dress conservatively, just like you would in a courtroom or when meeting with a client.

• Dark clothes look best on television. Avoid checks, stripes, plaids, or other designs, as they can look awkward on television.

• Don’t wear accessories or jewelry that are too large, move too much, or might cause a glare.

• Don’t wear exaggerated makeup. Keep your hairstyle simple. In short, don’t wear anything that will take viewers’ attention away from your message.

• Use positive body language. Show open arms and hands and avoid crossed arms. If you’re asked to “chat” while the camera shoots “B-roll” (non-interview footage including cutaway shots) be sure your body language and comments are appropriate.

The camera sees all:

• Take the time to look in the mirror. Straighten your hair, tie or scarf. You don’t want viewers to be distracted.

• Television observes everything, especially posture and facial expressions.

• Use natural gestures. Speak with energy. Make and hold eye contact.

• Talk to the reporter, not the camera. Losing eye contact can indicate evasion, dishonesty or anxiety. The more your eyes move around, the more uncomfortable your audience will become.

• If you’re standing, look comfortable and alert, with your hands by your sides. If you’re seated, sit forward and erect. If you’re sitting at a desk, keep your hands above the desk. Sit on the back of your suit to make it straight and wrinkle-free during the interview. If you’re sitting on a couch or in a casual chair, don’t clasp your hands in your lap.

The quality sound bite:

• The interview with you and the reporter should sound like a conversation, not scripted.

• Avoid memorizing responses word for word. You have just a few seconds to tell the story. Speak clearly and in short phrases. Try to keep your answers brief. A typical sound bite is 8 to 15 seconds.

• Acknowledge all questions you’re asked, but always bridge back to your key messages during the interview.

The interview is over. The lights dim. You thank the reporter for the opportunity. The news report is broadcast. The response from your colleagues is outstanding. You’ll obtain a copy of the news report to critique your performance.

A News Reporter Comes Knocking – Now What?

Your office phone rings. It’s a newspaper reporter who wants to interview you tomorrow morning about one of your clients. Your thoughts shift from your client’s project to the reporter, who commands, and in this case deserves, your attention.

Many people assume that being interviewed is as simple as waiting for a reporter to ask questions. However, if you are not fully prepared, both in terms of the content of your presentation and the process – what to expect during the interview – being interviewed can be a frightening experience. Conversely, if you know your material and feel confident about your ability, an interview can be rewarding for both of you.

Preparing for the interview

• First, it is important to understand that reporters are usually on deadline. Call back right away. Your window of opportunity may close fast. Ask the reporter what kind of deadline he or she is facing. You should immediately ask the reporter the subject of the interview and some sample questions. You must assume you are always on the record. It is also best to refrain from going off the record.

• Don’t get caught off-guard by the news media. If a reporter shows up at your office or contacts you at a time when you are unprepared, reschedule the interview for a time when you feel comfortable.

• Be prepared for all questions. Short answers are much better than long-winded ones. Decide ahead of time two or three main points to discuss with the reporter. Assemble the facts to support your points.

During the interview

• Stop speaking when you have made your point, no matter how long a reporter pauses between questions. If possible, do a dry run with a friend.

• Avoid saying “no comment.” Instead, briefly explain that it is your policy not to discuss a client’s case that are in litigation. Or say something like this: “I can’t answer your question because I haven’t seen the document you’re referring to.”

After the interview

• Ask the reporter when he or she expects the story to be published. In most instances, reporters do not allow you to review their stories before they go to print. You can, though, ask the reporter questions at the end of the interview to test for comprehension. For example, “What do you think is the main point of the story?”

• Ensure that the reporter has your cell phone number or other ways to contact you during the day and after hours.

• If it is deserving, give the reporter positive feedback after the story is published. Encourage the reporter to contact you with follow-up stories.

A good relationship with the media can go a long way. Your name in print can garner a lot of attention and respect, no matter how negative the case might be. It might also help you set yourself apart from the competition.

Watch Your Business Take-Off With Social Media

Increasing engagement in your brand is easier and more affordable (by more affordable, I mean free) than ever thanks to the many social media platforms available. And increasing engagement is a great way to help your company grow. So how can you utilize the tools on hand to your advantage? Check out our bright ideas:

• Get your business on Facebook. It’s free to join and the site has grown tremendously in recent years. It takes just minutes to build a page for your business.

• Already on Facebook? Offer a gift card or even a trial service to a “fan” each month. This will help your fan base bud and keep people interested and coming back for more. After all, everyone loves free stuff. Consumers will be happy, and your business will flourish.

• Ask questions. Make comments. Post a poll on a site like Twitter or Facebook. Your ideas do not have to be relevant to your business/product, and you will find that the extra attention serves you well. The entire purpose of social media is to promote dialogue and connect with people. You could say something along the lines of, “Feel like grabbing my kids out of school and taking a trip to the beach today! Who’s with me?” or “The things you see in traffic…” These are notions that people everywhere can instantly relate to.

• Host a photo competition. Request that your fans submit photos using your products/services. Pick one photo every week and post it on your Web site. This person will help you bring traffic to your site by telling their friends about the photo.

Consumers want to know that you care about them. A business that treats their consumers as human beings will blossom, as people will pick your company/product because they have a better relationship with you.

Improve your relationships and increase engagement in your brand by means of social media. You can bring more traffic to your site than Glades Road sees at 5:00pm on weekdays.

Life’s a Beach

It’s that time of year again. The cold weather has decided to stay where it belongs (up North) and the sun is shining down in beautiful Florida. The beaches are being taken over by Spring Breakers, and people are diving in to catch the last lobsters of the season. Whether you’re into fishing, boating, swimming or just strolling down A1A, now is the time of year to do it.

At BloomPR, we know you value your downtime. We know that sometimes you just need a beach day. Let us handle your collateral material while you soak up your daily intake of vitamin D.

Your collateral material is an important component of your overall PR campaign. Creative writing is essential and our journalists take pride in assisting our clients with exceptional writing. From brochures to business cover letters, we take the time to understand your unique message and help you efficiently deliver it. We are sensitive to your deadlines. We know you’d like to watch a sunset this evening, or maybe even catch some lobsters for dinner. What if the only collateral material you needed to worry about could simply be a fishing pole and a boat?

Contact BloomPR to see how we can help make your day just breezy.

Jump On The Social Media Bandwagon

Businesses strategies are rapidly changing. We can thank the Internet for that. They are utilizing social marketing as a strategically creative method to prospect and promote.

Social networking began years ago. It became a way for many people to meet new friends and stay in touch with others by way of the Internet. After a while businesses discovered it was a great way to spread the news about their products and services.

Social marketing is a fast and effective way to do business. It is important to craft short timely messages that in one way or another offer value to the potential customer. It’s all about helping others and social media is a great vehicle to help drive more business your way.

It’s important not to enter an online community with the sole purpose of selling something. One of your goals should be developing a brand all your own. Educate your online visitors. Give them tips they can use, tips that indicate you’re an expert in your field.

There are a variety of online communities that will suit you well. Many of these social media sites won’t cost you a dime to join. Others may have a nominal monthly fee. It should be noted that many businesses are investing time and resources to develop specific Internet social strategies.

Those who are achieving social marketing results are those who are providing information that’s required to secure the sale.

It’s only after you have a crowd of followers following you for the knowledge you possess that you can feel good about passively promoting and marketing your business.

And the results from your social marketing efforts may well improve your bottom line.

Pot of Gold Found in Fort Lauderdale, FL

If you’re in search of luck this St. Patrick’s Day, you don’t have to go digging through the dirt for a four-leaf clover.  You don’t have to travel the globe to find that pot of gold.  No.  You can sit back, relax and enjoy that tasty Irish soda bread with a well-deserved glass of green beer.

The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow has been found right here in sunny Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  And it has BloomPR written all over it.

When it comes to business, surely you have skills that you do naturally well.  You know your strengths.  But experience says that you don’t need to be able to do everything (that’s for futuristic robots, if we survive 2012) …you just need to surround yourself with those who do the things you don’t.

At BloomPR, we create our own luck.  Our unique newsroom approach sets us apart from the competition, with our staff being comprised of former television, radio and print reporters.  We have consistently generated major print media placements for our clients in chief publications.  If you’ve utilized our services, certainly you have reason to dance that Irish Jig.

We can help you to generate traffic, boost revenue (is that gold I see?) and improve your bottom line.  We can help you make your own luck.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, everyone!