Top Ten Features of an
Effective Email Signature
by Tara Alexandra Kachaturoff, Professional Coach
Your
email signature is more important than you might think. At first
consideration, you might see your email signature in its traditional role –
just your name – identifying you as the sender of an email. At its best, an
email signature can play a strategic role in your marketing effort as yet
another way to reach out and make connections with current and potential
clients.
An
email signature should be considered as a part of your branding initiative.
Each component part, from your name to your address, from your website to
the color and type of font you use, should be thought about and arranged
appropriately to communicate who you are to the world. Everything should
have a consistent look and feel. And, most importantly, it should contain a
variety of ways to contact you. Make it easy on your email recipients.
People are busy; when they need or want to contact you, make sure they can
find the information quickly and effortlessly. Otherwise, you risk the
possibility that they will close out your email thinking they will get back
to it at a future time which ends up never materializing. Or even worse,
they will contact someone else who has provided their information in a more
useful presentation. Consider some of these features which make for an
effective email signature and make sure yours passes the test.
1.
What’s
your name?
Put your name first. Use your first and last name as people usually address
you, using any nickname between the two, if appropriate. For example, one
might write, Nicholas “Nick” Parker. Include any titles that you might use
either before or after your name. You might want to include the initials of
any professional designations that you have like CPA or CTM, which stand for
Certified Public Accountant and Competent Toastmaster. Avoid putting
initials that represent your masters or bachelor’s degrees as these are
names of degrees not professional designations and it makes you appear
unprofessional. The only exception to this is if you have a PhD. Even with
that designation, you can precede your name with Dr. and eliminate the PhD
after your name. If you have a number of professional designations, only
include the most relevant ones. Too many initials can detract from your
name and make the presentation appear tacky. You might also want to
include your email address directly below your name. While most people will
merely respond to your email by hitting reply, others will want to click on
an email link. And, sometimes, your email might be sent out under another
name (alias), but any replies should be made specifically to you. In that
case, it’s important to make sure that recipients can contact you easily and
directly.
2.
Who do
you work for?
Make sure you include your company name. It’s amazing how many emails I
receive that have a name and contact information, but they fail to list
their company name. While I could search around for the company’s name or
figure it out from the email address, its not always that straight forward
or obvious. Don’t make readers guess at who you represent or work for.
People are busy and they can easily receive hundreds of emails per day. If
you want them to know you, then make it easy by providing the information in
your email signature.
3.
Where
are you from?
By all means, include an address, complete with a zip code. Even though we
operate in this wonderful world of technology, sometimes there is an
occasion to send something to someone via snail mail. There is no bigger
waste of time than having to search around the internet for an address for a
company. And, even if you do find an address, many online white pages don’t
include the zip code, so you have to do even more research. The easier you
make it for someone to contact you, the higher the odds that they will.
4.
Where on the web? If you have a website address, make sure to include it. While it’s
nice to list it cleanly as
www.mycompanyname.com, not all web browsers will be able to click on
that link and be directed to your website. To mitigate that problem, try
listing your company as
http://www.mycompanyname.com.
5.
Just the fax, ma’am.
Include your fax number.
Sometimes computer technology can fail us and we need another way of
communicating. If you don’t have a fax number, you can get an
internet-based fax through
www.callwave.com,
www.efax.com, or
www.faxaway.com. Windows XP actually includes a fax in its operating
system.
6.
Call me
any time.
Make sure that you include all the telephone numbers at which you can be
contacted. Write them out completely as they should be dialed. You might
include your office, home, cellular and pager numbers. I like to see
numbers separated by periods rather than dashes as it looks more
professional, but use whatever style you find pleasing.
7.
Tag, you’re it!
You can include a tagline
to help people remember who you are. In fact, you might already be using
one as part of your company name. For example, you might be a professional
IT services company and your tagline might be…We get IT done. Place your
tagline after your company name if that is how you represent yourself to the
business community. Make sure it is used consistently – presented in the
same way on your company letter head and business card.
8.
Color me
memorable.
There are a couple of things to consider when it comes to color selection.
First, don’t use email stationery or colored backgrounds, either with or
without designs. They are difficult for anyone to read and even more
difficult if they contain watermarks (background designs). It is best to
use black or dark blue text on a white background. It’s easy to read and
doesn’t strain the eyes. If you want to add other colors, be careful. They
can make your email signature look unprofessional. If you want to emphasize
something, you can use italics or underlines or another color of your
choosing. Use non-traditional colors sparingly.
9.
Fonts
for all occasions.
Use a type font that is easy to read, like Arial, Times
Roman, or Verdana. Avoid wild looking fonts, like scripts or others that
look like handwriting. These fancy fonts don’t go over well with readers.
Avoid the comic sans font which appears immature or childish. Readers will
ignore what isn’t attractive or what they can’t read with ease. Make sure
you don’t set yourself up to be ignored because you want to appear unique by
using fonts that make you fumble. Also, make sure the font is large enough
to read. Use size 10 or better. Anything smaller can strain the eyes.
10.
The special of the day is… Your email signature is a great way to showcase something
special that is going on in your business. Add a line at the bottom where
you can highlight a special event like an upcoming lecture, seminar or
workshop. Include the name of a new book, e-book, or e-course that you’ve
published. Make a reference to a free report or article that you’re
offering. Make sure you provide a link which can take the reader directly
to the product or service. For free products, simply embed a link to an
auto responder so that the information will automatically be forwarded to
them when requested.
©
2004 by Tara Alexandra Kachaturoff. All rights reserved in all media.
No duplication of this material is permitted in any format whatsoever
without express written permission from the author.
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Top
Ten Tips for Preparing a Workshop or Seminar Proposal
By Tara Alexandra
Kachaturoff, Professional Coach
One
way to build your business is to create interest and interaction with
potential customers or clients. Offering a workshop or a seminar is a great
way to get started. You can offer a workshop anywhere, but the best place
to get started is by contacting your local adult education or community
center. These organizations often offer classes, workshops, and seminars
and advertise them to the local community both through printed catalogs and
on their websites. You always have the option to rent your own meeting room
and do your own advertising, but if you want an easy, no cost entry point
and want the added benefit of having someone else promote you and your
workshop, try going through an established community program first. Here
are some helpful hints to get you started.
-
Research thoroughly.
If you don’t want to supply your own meeting venue and you want someone to
help with advertising, then you need to find a place to present your
workshop or seminar. Contact various community organizations, adult
education and other programs in your local area. Ask for a copy of their
most recent brochure or check their website. Familiarize yourself with
the classes that are offered, the pricing conventions, class lengths,
times and other pertinent information. Also inquire as to when proposals
are due. Often you must submit a proposal 4 to 6 months in advance of the
course catalog issue date. Adult education programs usually have strict
guidelines around submitting proposals, signing contracts, and
prohibitions on advertising your business or giving out business cards.
Also, find out about their fee splitting policies. Programs hold back
some of your fee to pay for printing and advertising costs as well as for
the costs of providing a room and equipment. Usually, you will receive
only a portion of the class fee (perhaps a 50%-50%, 60%-40% or some other
split arrangement) in payment, but will be allowed to retain 100% of the
materials fee.
-
Getting Started. Most likely you will be competing with many
other prospective presenters. There usually isn’t enough space, either in
terms of the published catalog that many organizations distribute, or with
regard to room accommodations, such that everyone’s proposals will be
accepted. To increase your chances, make sure you thoroughly understand
the proposal requirements and guidelines. Find out if you need to submit
a resume, professional references or even a copy of the course materials,
in addition to your proposal. If this is your first application, most
likely you will be required to attend an in-person interview. Remember,
you only get one opportunity to make a good first impression.
-
One sheet wonder. Take the time to design a one page proposal
template which will include all the pertinent information relating to your
proposed seminar or workshop. Your class has a better chance of being
accepted when reviewers can easily read, find, and understand the
information. Sometimes less can be more.
-
Describe your workshop.
Create a captivating title for your class which refers to your target
audience and features some benefit they can expect from your class. One
example of a class title is, “Parents: 10 Techniques to Raise Your
Child’s Grades in 30 Days!” This tells the reader who the class is for –
parents, that it has content – 10 techniques, and what they can do with
that information – raise their child’s grades. Write a short description
of the class, using plenty of action words and adjectives that can be
printed in the organization’s course catalog. For example:
Discover the underlying factors that draw people to one
another in business and personal relationships. From having strong
boundaries and standards, to creating the space to allow someone special
into your life, learn the 7 techniques to becoming irresistibly attractive.
(actual workshop taught by Tara Kachaturoff)
-
Pricing. You need to price your workshop for the market.
Some adult education or community programs have guidelines for setting
class prices. Classes are usually priced within a narrow range, usually
on the less expensive side. Include the price of your class in your
proposal. Indicate whether or not there will be a separate materials fee
to cover books, workbooks, handouts or other materials. It’s important to
understand an organization’s fee structure or expectations before you
price your workshop. For example, some programs might pay you 50% of your
class fee, yet allow you to keep 100% of the materials fee. If you need
to reduce your price from what you usually charge, you always have the
option of reducing the amount of information that you offer.
-
Logistics and other details.
Make sure that you include details about when the class will meet, both
the day of the week and the proposed date(s). Also, include minimum and
maximum class counts. As a rule of thumb, a class minimum should not be
less than 7 people. If less seven sign up, sometimes there isn’t enough
“group energy” to make the class feel comfortable. You can always obtain
class counts in advance and change your class minimum if you really want
to go ahead with the class. The only caveat is that the people who do
come might not enjoy you or the class if there just isn’t enough energy or
interaction.
-
Workshop environment.
Find out about the room accommodations in advance. What types of
furniture and equipment will be supplied and what, if anything, do you
need to supply? Will they have tables and chairs, overhead projectors,
white boards, chalkboards or flip charts available for use? Will there be
facility coordinators on site who can set up your room the way that you
need? If not, you’ll need to make plans to find resources to create the
environment the way you will need it.
-
Prepare your material.
Make sure that you are well-prepared before your workshop is scheduled to
begin. Your materials should be completed and organized for easy
presentation, and should accurately reflect the course title and
objectives. Make sure you have extra books, workbooks, handouts or other
materials to distribute to people who enroll at the last minute.
-
Check the details. As soon as your proposal is accepted, you
will probably receive some sort of confirmation that includes the final
class details. If not, ask for a proof sheet. Read it over carefully,
making sure that the class title, description, class fee, materials fee,
and course dates and times are all correct. Also, make sure your
biographical information is correct. Confirm this information, again,
once the catalogs are published and distributed. If you find an error at
this point, it can be corrected, at the least, on their website.
-
Last minute details.
Contact the adult
education or other venue one week in advance, as well as the day before
your class or workshop is scheduled to take place. You’ll be able to
obtain preliminary class counts to determine the quantities of materials
to bring. Always bring extras to accommodate last minute enrollees.
Also, if the class counts are below the desired minimum, you can think
about whether you want go ahead with your plans to present.
©
2004 by Tara Alexandra Kachaturoff. All rights reserved in all media.
No duplication of this material is permitted in any format whatsoever
without express written permission from the author.
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Top Ten Skills of a
Masterful Speaker
by Tara Alexandra
Kachaturoff, Professional Coach
Aspiring and professional speakers, alike, are always interested in honing
their speaking expertise. There is always room for improvement and
innovation in everything we do. There are so many things that we do as
speakers which become second nature over time. But for the newer speaker,
sometimes a gentle reminder of what we are supposed to be doing is in
order. These ten points will serve as a way to bring back to mind what we
should be mindfully aware of as we prepare for and deliver our speeches.
1.
Select
your topic.
Make sure that your topic is defined well. The more narrow the topic, the
easier it will be for the audience to grasp it’s essence. When a topic is
too broadly defined, it can be more difficult to create succinct talking
points that will summarize your speech content. Your speech should be
interesting and meaningful to the audience, as well as focused on meeting
their needs or expectations.
2.
Building
blocks for success.
As speakers, we all learned there are three main building blocks which
comprise a speech. The first component is the speech introduction where the
objective is to capture audience attention. Ask a compelling question,
offer a quotation, cite a statistic, or begin with a challenging statement.
Follow this up with the main points you intend to convey within the body or
content part of the speech. The second building block is the content. This
is where you will fill in the details of the key points that you alluded to
in your introduction. Each point should be supported with factual data, if
appropriate, stories, quotations, or statistics. These details will further
reinforce your speaking points, making it easier for the audience to retain
information, while at the same time, deepening their learning experience.
Finally, the conclusion or closing of your speech is where you will
summarize the points that you made during your speech. Draw conclusions
from your prior points, relate them back to your introductory remarks, and
then close with a strong sentence or two.
3.
Analyze
your environment.
In order to effectively communicate with your audience, you need to know
some things about them. First, you need to know who they are.
Understanding who they are will allow you to tailor appropriately your
vocabulary, approach, and delivery. Are you speaking to a company or to a
professional organization or to a public group? Are you speaking to adults,
teenagers, or children? Second, you need to determine the audience
expectations. Why are they coming to listen to you? What are they hoping
to learn? What do they plan to do with what they learn? This will help you
in selecting a speech topic that is focused on solving a problem or
fulfilling a need. Third, you need to understand your role. Are you a
keynote speaker, a workshop presenter, a speaker invited to provide
entertainment? Your role will influence your approach and the visual aids
that you use. And, fourth, you need to know where you are presenting, the
actual physical environment. Will you be speaking in a small conference
room, a large auditorium, in a place of worship, or possibly in an open area
at a convention? There are many aspects that influence your speaking
environment. The more you know prior to speaking , the easier it will be to
deliver a powerful speech.
4.
Say it
well. As a
speaker, your craft is based on words. There are so many things to remember
about speaking well. First, be careful of the words you select. Opt for
simple words, rather than complex ones. Instead of using the word
“demonstrate”, use the word “show”; instead of the word “numerous”, try the
word “many”. Make it easy for your audience to understand you by using
words with less syllables. Of course, you must tailor the terminology to
your specific audience. The words you use in a speech to the chamber of
commerce will be different than the words you will use when speaking to a
more specialized group like attorneys or doctors. Second, use short
sentences. They have more impact and the audience will retain the content
more easily. However, make sure you vary the length of your sentences so
your speaking doesn’t sound choppy. Third, employ various techniques of
vocal variety. Change your voice volume to emphasize certain points.
Depending on the subject matter, you might use a regular speaking voice, but
in another part of the speech change over to a commanding voice or one with
a humorous tone to it. And, by all means, avoid speaking in a monotone
voice as it will certainly bore your audience. Obvious as it may seem,
practice your speech several times to check your articulation. Make sure
you are pronouncing each word fully, beginning to end.
5.
Timing
is everything.
Suffice it to say, beginning your speech on time is important, but ending it
on time is even more important and a hallmark trait of a professional
speaker. An audience will stop listening when your speech is scheduled to
end. If you don’t finish on time, you might be out of luck as your audience
has probably stopped listening. Respect your audience, otherwise you might
not be invited back to speak again. And, respect the speakers who are
scheduled to speak after you. If you have difficulty with timing, you need
to practice more and reduce your speech content. Summarize points more
succinctly, take out filler words, or even eliminate speaking points which
are not vital to the content. When you are presenting your speech, have
someone in the audience give you time signals when you want to be alerted to
the amount of time left. Or, you can turn your watch so that the face of
the watch is on your inside wrist. When you are gesturing, you can casually
glance at your watch to gauge your time. Either method will allow you the
chance to eliminate material to complete your speech on time.
6.
I can
see clearly now.
Visual aids are great to use when speaking, except when the
audience can’t see them, or they detract from the presentation. Visual aids
can help the audience to understand complex points with more ease. Visuals
are easier to recall than words, they provide variety to your presentation,
and are a wonderful tool to prompt you through the key points of your
speech. When preparing visual aids, use black or dark blue lettering on a
white background to provide the highest contrast. Avoid using bright
colors, even against a white background as the eye has trouble
distinguishing them. You can utilize a variety of visual aids from
PowerPoint slides, to flip charts, to overhead transparencies, to written
handouts which allow for participant note taking. Refer back to analyzing
your environment, to determine which type of visual aids, if any, would be
most appropriate for a particular audience.
7.
Dress
for success.
Make sure that you dress appropriately for the venue. If
you’re speaking to business people, dress in business attire. If you’re
speaking at a more casual event, it lends to your credibility and
professionalism that you dress one cut above your audience. To help
attendees distinguish you from other guests during the networking part of
the program, wear a special name tag or a red ribbon on your lapel so that
they can tell that you are the speaker or presenter.
8.
Express
yourself -- literally.
Using gestures is a great way to to add variety to your speech. You can use
several techniques with your hands including clenching your fist to
illustrate power or force, putting your hands together in prayer to
illustrate contemplation or meditation, holding out both of your hands to
indicate offering or contributing something, pointing in different
directions to indicate past or future or to refer to yourself, or placing a
hand on your chest to indicate heartfelt emotions. Keep in mind that your
hand gestures, for the most part, should be below the neck area. Hands near
the face can subconsciously indicate lying or hiding something. Also,
involve other parts of your body when you speak. Your eyes, for example,
should focus, periodically, on different audience members to maintain their
attention. Both your eyes and your mouth can communicate any number of
emotions from happiness to anger so use them to support your speech
content. Also, showing your teeth as you smile will warm the audience to
your message. Finally, you can move to different areas of the stage, if
appropriate, but don’t pace. Using movements like these will help engage
your listeners and, at the same time, help you dissipate some of your
nervous energy. Use them judiciously as their overuse can be distracting.
9.
Me? I’m
not nervous.
Every speaker, no matter how experienced will feel some sort of nervousness
around speaking. Knowing that nervousness is something you will need to
confront time and again, create a conscious strategy to confront it. By
focusing on three main areas, you’ll put yourself in the best position for
converting your nervous energy into speaking energy to invigorate your
audience. First, you need to know your topic inside and out. The more
familiarity with it, the easier it will be for you to speak naturally and
comfortably about it. It’s amazing how a couple of hours of study can have
you sounding like a veritable expert. Second, know your audience. You need
to know who they are and why they are there. Walk around meeting and
greeting attendees before you give your speech. That way you can develop
some familiarity with the audience, significantly increasing your comfort
level when you recognize their faces when you’re speaking. Third, you need
to know your environment. If possible, try to visit the speaking venue
ahead of time. Walk around the room, stand up at the front to view how the
audience will appear, practice with the equipment (yours and any that is
provided) to ensure that everything is in working condition. Note how you
will approach the front of the room and how you will gracefully take your
seat once you’re finished speaking. This dress rehearsal will greatly
decrease any nervousness that you might have around speaking. Knowing your
topic well, understanding your audience, and developing a familiarity with
your speaking environment will probably reduce your speaking anxiety by 90%
or more. Funnel the rest of your energy into delivering a dynamic speech.
10.
Practice, practice, and more practice.
The path to being a masterful speaker is paved with practice and lots of
it. Each speech you do presents an opportunity to refine your speaking
techniques and skills. The more you do, the better you will get,
guaranteed!
©
2004 by Tara Alexandra Kachaturoff. All rights reserved in all media.
No duplication of this material is permitted in any format whatsoever
without express written permission from the author.
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Top Ten Tips for
Writing a Professional Overview
By Tara Alexandra Kachaturoff, Professional Coach
A
professional biography or overview, showcasing your background, experience
and expertise, is a necessity for every business owner. This often
overlooked marketing tool is an excellent way to introduce you and your
business to potential clients and possible strategic business partners.
Potentially, it might open up opportunities for speaking engagements, radio
or television interviews, or a feature print article. While any information
about you and your business is helpful, information that is presented in a
professional, well-polished manner can make all the difference in how others
perceive you. Consider these important points as you craft your own
professional biography.
-
One page wonder. Your professional biography should be a few
paragraphs and kept to one page or less. One page is perfect for copying
on the reverse side of a handout or flyer. Several paragraphs, left
justified make it easier to read and skim.
-
First, second, or third person?
Always write your biography in the third person. That is, refer to
yourself by your name or she/he as appropriate. It sounds more
professional as it appears that a third party wrote the text. For
example, “Alexandra has been featured in the New York Times, Forbes,
Newsweek, and Time magazines.”
-
Business in brief. Not only do readers want to know what you do,
but also they want to know who you work with – because they might want to
work with you! A professional biography should include a sentence or two
about your business niche (or niches) as well as the types of clients you
serve. A modified version of your 30-second elevator pitch might be
perfect.
-
And the winner is…. Make sure that you include a list of awards
that you have received. Readers are interested in knowing about your
talents and the organizations that recognize you for them.
-
Organizations. Include names of the organizations, clubs, or
associations to which you belong. A reader’s interest might be
highlighted at seeing that you belong to the same alumni association or
professional business group. Again, these connections might possibly lead
to some interesting and exciting business opportunities.
-
Certifications and designations.
Include any professional certifications or designations you hold. Make
sure you write out their names in full, rather than use abbreviations.
Not everyone might know that CMA stands for Certified Management
Accountant. And, perhaps, in a different discipline, it might represent
something else – like a Certified Materials Analyst. If you no longer
hold a particular designation, but it has played a major role in who you
are and what you do, don’t hesitate to make a reference to it. For
example, “Ann is a former Certified Data Processor and spent the last
decade as an adjunct faculty member teaching higher mathematics at the
University of Colorado, Boulder.” Don’t include abbreviations of college
degrees, like MBAs as it looks unprofessional. The only exception to this
would be for a Ph.D. designation.
-
Published? Have you written any articles, books, e-courses or
e-books? Self-published or not, your works add to your level of
professionalism and credibility. Showcase them in your biography and you
might earn additional royalties in terms of new clients or other
opportunities.
-
Did I mention the media?
Have you been a guest on talk radio or television?
Were you or your business featured or even mentioned in a newspaper
article? If so, readers want to know. Again, these types of “mentions”
add to your credibility and presence.
-
Call me any time. People who want to know about you will read
your biography for just that reason. And, if its compelling, rich, and
includes the information they’re interested, in, they’ll want to contact
you. Include complete contact information like your title (if any), name,
address, telephone, fax, email, and website address. Make it easy to find
this information by including it in the last paragraph of your
professional overview.
-
Write, rewrite, and do it again.
After you have written your biography, edit, edit, and
edit again. You may need to do a dozen or so revisions before you get it
just right. Eliminate extra words, use descriptive words, keep the
sentences short but varied in length, and write in the third person. Ask
some friends to provide input as well. Make sure to revise your biography
regularly to keep it up-to-date and refreshed.
©
2004 by Tara Alexandra Kachaturoff. All rights reserved in all media.
No duplication of this material is permitted in any format whatsoever
without express written permission from the author.
Return to Top
Top Ten Preparations
for a Television Appearance
By Tara
Alexandra Kachaturoff, Professional Coach
It’s
a dream come true. You’ve been invited to appear on a local or national
television program to talk about your business, your new book, or perhaps an
invention. Now what should you do? While a television appearance can seem
overwhelming at first, following this advice will make it an interesting,
fun, and enjoyable experience.
-
Details, details, and more details.
The more you know before the television program taping, the easier it will
be to prepare for the experience. First, you need to know who will be
hosting the show. Research the host by looking up their name on the
internet or searching newspaper archives for more information. The
station or studio probably maintains their own website with biographies of
its key employees as well. Make sure you have the host’s complete contact
information and that of their assistant in case something comes up.
Second, you need to know what topic will be discussed. Does the host want
you to talk about a topic they intend to choose? Do they want you to
respond to a current event, trend or idea that applies to your area of
expertise? Or, do they want you to provide a list of potential topics
from which they can select one that would be of interest to their
audience? Once you know this information, it will be easier for you to
orient your responses to meet expectations. Third, you need to gain some
familiarity with the program and its format. Watch a couple of the shows
if you can or borrow a tape of a prior show to see how guest are greeted
and interviewed. Try to imagine yourself in the same circumstances.
Notice how everyone is seated, how greetings are exchanged, how long the
show is between commercial breaks, and what people are wearing.
-
Familiarity breeds comfort.
Provide the host with your press or marketing kit once you are invited to
be on the show. The host or producer wants to get to know you just as
much as you want to get to know them. Provide a one page professional
overview which describes your business, your background and experience,
professional awards, certifications and designations, any titles of
publications, as well as complete contact information.
-
Fieldtrips are fun. Visit the studio where the program taping
will take place a week or so before your scheduled appearance. Make sure
that you have clear driving directions, including contact names, telephone
numbers, and fax numbers. This field trip will serve to reduce any
nervousness or anxiety about the taping. If you have permission, walk
around the studio to familiarize yourself with the location, the
employees, and the types of equipment that will be around you as the show
is taped (cameras, lights, etc.). Better yet, attend a live taping if you
can and watch what goes on. You’ll find out that it’s not as big a deal
as you originally thought.
-
Meet the host. Meet the individual or individuals who will be
hosting the show. While in person is best, if you can’t manage that, have
a telephone conversation so that you hear their voice and gain some
experience with their speaking and communication style. This interaction
will help increase your comfort level before the actual taping takes
place.
-
I’ve got a question.
Once you are clear about the objective of the television program, write
out some possible interview questions, along with responses. This
exercise will help you to organize your thoughts and to make notes about
the information you want to provide during the limited time that you
have. This is a good time to gather interesting quotations, statistics,
supporting case studies or stories, and potential resources, all which
will serve to enrich your content. This upfront preparation will add to
your professionalism and credibility in that your ideas will be well
organized, supported, and delivered with much more ease than if you spoke
“off the cuff”. Your host may even ask for questions to be submitted in
advance, not that he or she will necessarily use these, but more for
helping them gain familiarity with you, your background, and your topic.
-
This is life, but this is a rehearsal.
Practice and practice some more. Ask a friend or associate to make up
interview questions (or use ones you’ve written in advance) so that you
can practice responding. Wear clothes that you think you might wear to
the actual taping and practice using hand and facial gestures as well. If
you can, videotape yourself so that you can have an idea as to how you
might appear to others. It will also allow you to check on any nervous
habits or distracting gestures.
-
Logistics. Once you know the date and time of the taping, plan
on arriving forty-five minutes to one hour in advance. This will allow
you to calm any nervousness and to review any last minute notes – even if
you are just sitting in your car. If possible, don’t plan any activities
before the taping. Keep your mind calm and quiet. Don’t answer the cell
phone or call the office checking for messages. Concentrate on the task
at hand. Also, it you need to eat before the taping, either eat at home
wearing something other than the clothes you will wear on television, be
very careful, or have an extra change of clothes on hand just in case you
need to do a quick wardrobe change. Also, make sure you teeth are brushed
and free of food particles.
-
Present your best you.
When it’s “go time” make sure that you are wearing
clothing appropriate for the audience and congruent with the nature of the
program. Don’t wear bright white, red or other bright colors, or any
clothing with a “heavy” design which will detract from your face. Navy
suits or pants and cream-colored blouses or shirts are appropriate. Don’t
wear jewelry that clangs or makes distracting noises. Have your nails
manicured, even though no one will see them. It will make you feel more
confident. Cut your hair at least a week in advance so that you can
practice styling it the way that you want. This is not the time to
experiment with new hair styles or hair colors. For women, if you’re not
comfortable doing your own makeup, you can have it professionally done at
any upscale department store cosmetic counter. If you are at a large
studio, there may be someone available to help you with both your hair and
makeup. Also, a week or so before, purchase a teeth whitening kit
(whitening strips are very effective), and start using them. There’s
nothing better than a great smile showing nice, white teeth.
-
I’ve been duped! If allowed, make sure you ask the studio to
make you a copy of the program, either on digital or tape media. You can
always have the tape duplicated and use it to give away as part of your
press or media package. You must obtain a written release from the studio
or station to have a copy of the program and to have it duplicated. Also,
because you don’t have rights to the taped product, you will not be able
to sell it or make a profit from it. Companies that specialize in
legitimate tape duplication will require a written release, from the
studio, before making any copies for you.
-
There’s a pressing matter at hand.
When you appear on television, you immediately become
viewed as an expert. Take advantage of this opportunity by going to
www.prweb.com to send out a free press release announcing your
upcoming television appearance. This information might be picked up by
local and national media, leading to potential radio, television, and
print opportunities.
©
2004 by Tara Alexandra Kachaturoff. All rights reserved in all media.
No duplication of this material is permitted in any format whatsoever
without express written permission from the author. Return to
Top
Top
10 Steps to Donating Your Coaching Services
By Tara Alexandra
Kachaturoff, Professional Coach
Donating coaching services is a great way for new and
established coaches, alike, to gain new clients. It’s also a wonderful way
to contribute support to charitable and other organizations which support
communities, locally and globally. It is important that we all contribute
something back to our community and donating a coaching package is the
perfect way. Your donation may be entered in a silent auction, raffled off,
or even awarded as a door prize. It’s a win-win situation for everyone;
you’ll be able to do what you love – coach – and at the same time, help
raise money for a cause that you believe in.
-
Determine what services you are willing to donate.
Consider donating a one-month coaching package. Be certain that you are
very clear on exactly what that package will comprise, including any
client intake material you might need to send. Also determine how many
sessions you can offer and how long each will be. You will need to
provide all of this information in the package that you submit to the
sponsoring organization. Finally, make sure that you have the time in
your schedule and the business stability to provide these services, as
they will not be contributing revenue towards your business.
-
Determine which charities or organizations you might
like to support.
Make a list of fifteen or twenty organizations to which you would consider
donating your services. These might include hospitals, private schools,
organizations which support a particular health issue, as well as groups
that support animal rights or the environment.
-
Gather detailed information about each organization.
Research and read about each organization you might wish to support. Make
a detailed list or database where you can record the organization’s name,
address, telephone number, website, and the name of the main contact
person. Call each organization and ask when they schedule their
fundraisers and if they will accept a donation from you. It is good idea
to have this information because you will need to plan in advance to make
sure you don’t miss any potential opportunities. Fundraisers are
scheduled throughout the year. Also, many organizations have required
paperwork to be completed and returned along with the item you are
donating, so it is a good idea to find this out in advance.
-
Select the organizations you wish to support.
Once you have a list, determine how many donations you can afford both
from both a financial and time standpoint. Don’t over schedule or over
burden yourself by making too many donations. For most coaches, making
one to two donations per year would be doable and affordable.
-
Create a gift certificate.
Use a package like Microsoft Publisher or even a word processing program
to develop a certificate that is either 8 ½ X 11 inches or 4 ½ X 11
inches. Print the gift certificate on heavy bond paper and laminate it.
-
Include important information on your gift
certificate.
Make sure that you include your company name, logo, and contact
information at a minimum, on the front of the certificate. Include a
statement that the certificate is “Not Redeemable for Cash.” Finally,
make sure to add an expiration date. Most organizations expect that you
will have an expiration date at least one year from the date of the
fundraising event. You may also choose to include other identifying
information like your name, website, and telephone number.
-
Create an information package to accompany the gift
certificate.
Create two information packages. One package is for the organization to
keep for their records. They need this information, along with your
signed contract, for tax and recordkeeping purposes. The other package is
for them to give to the gift certificate recipient. You may want to
enclose this in a sealed envelope. Each package should include your
business card, some information about coaching, as well as how to redeem
the gift certificate.
-
Maintain a log and detailed records of your donations.
Keep good records. For each donation that you make, record the name of
the organization, the contact person, the event date, how the service will
be used (silent auction, raffle, door prize), and the expiration date
recorded on the gift certificate. You might want to create a separate
file folder for each organization so you can maintain copies of any email
correspondence, thank you letters, a copy of the contract, as well as a
copy of what you sent to the organization. Later on when the gift
certificate recipient contacts you, you can use this file as a “client
file”.
-
Wait patiently for the recipient to contact you.
Not everyone who bids on or receives your package will follow up on it.
Sometimes people bid on things with the best of intentions, but they get
busy or forget about it. Don’t be discouraged; instead, be happy that you
contributed to something that your believe in and that the organization
benefited in some way.
-
A client is a client is a client.
Once the gift certificate recipient contacts you, make sure that you treat
them exactly as you would any paying client. Not only are you
representing yourself and your business, but you are also, indirectly,
representing the organization to which you made the donation. Enjoy the
experience, have fun, and most of all know that you, the recipient, and
the organization are benefiting from this donation.
©
2004 by Tara Alexandra Kachaturoff. All rights reserved in all media.
No duplication of this material is permitted in any format whatsoever
without express written permission from the author.
Return to Top
10
Steps to Donating Your Coaching Services
By Tara Alexandra
Kachaturoff, Professional Coach
Donating coaching services is a great way for new and
established coaches, alike, to gain new clients. It’s also a wonderful way
to contribute support to charitable and other organizations which support
communities, locally and globally. It is important that we all contribute
something back to our community and donating a coaching package is the
perfect way. Your donation may be entered in a silent auction, raffled off,
or even awarded as a door prize. It’s a win-win situation for everyone;
you’ll be able to do what you love – coach – and at the same time, help
raise money for a cause that you believe in.
-
Determine what services you are willing to donate.
Consider donating a one-month coaching package. Be certain that you are
very clear on exactly what that package will comprise, including any
client intake material you might need to send. Also determine how many
sessions you can offer and how long each will be. You will need to
provide all of this information in the package that you submit to the
sponsoring organization. Finally, make sure that you have the time in
your schedule and the business stability to provide these services, as
they will not be contributing revenue towards your business.
-
Determine which charities or organizations you might
like to support.
Make a list of fifteen or twenty organizations to which you would consider
donating your services. These might include hospitals, private schools,
organizations which support a particular health issue, as well as groups
that support animal rights or the environment.
-
Gather detailed information about each organization.
Research and read about each organization you might wish to support. Make
a detailed list or database where you can record the organization’s name,
address, telephone number, website, and the name of the main contact
person. Call each organization and ask when they schedule their
fundraisers and if they will accept a donation from you. It is good idea
to have this information because you will need to plan in advance to make
sure you don’t miss any potential opportunities. Fundraisers are
scheduled throughout the year. Also, many organizations have required
paperwork to be completed and returned along with the item you are
donating, so it is a good idea to find this out in advance.
-
Select the organizations you wish to support.
Once you have a list, determine how many donations you can afford both
from both a financial and time standpoint. Don’t over schedule or over
burden yourself by making too many donations. For most coaches, making
one to two donations per year would be doable and affordable.
-
Create a gift certificate.
Use a package like Microsoft Publisher or even a word processing program
to develop a certificate that is either 8 ½ X 11 inches or 4 ½ X 11
inches. Print the gift certificate on heavy bond paper and laminate it.
-
Include important information on your gift
certificate.
Make sure that you include your company name, logo, and contact
information at a minimum, on the front of the certificate. Include a
statement that the certificate is “Not Redeemable for Cash.” Finally,
make sure to add an expiration date. Most organizations expect that you
will have an expiration date at least one year from the date of the
fundraising event. You may also choose to include other identifying
information like your name, website, and telephone number.
-
Create an information package to accompany the gift
certificate.
Create two information packages. One package is for the organization to
keep for their records. They need this information, along with your
signed contract, for tax and recordkeeping purposes. The other package is
for them to give to the gift certificate recipient. You may want to
enclose this in a sealed envelope. Each package should include your
business card, some information about coaching, as well as how to redeem
the gift certificate.
-
Maintain a log and detailed records of your donations.
Keep good records. For each donation that you make, record the name of
the organization, the contact person, the event date, how the service will
be used (silent auction, raffle, door prize), and the expiration date
recorded on the gift certificate. You might want to create a separate
file folder for each organization so you can maintain copies of any email
correspondence, thank you letters, a copy of the contract, as well as a
copy of what you sent to the organization. Later on when the gift
certificate recipient contacts you, you can use this file as a “client
file”.
-
Wait patiently for the recipient to contact you.
Not everyone who bids on or receives your package will follow up on it.
Sometimes people bid on things with the best of intentions, but they get
busy or forget about it. Don’t be discouraged; instead, be happy that you
contributed to something that your believe in and that the organization
benefited in some way.
-
A client is a client is a client.
Once the gift certificate recipient contacts you, make sure that you treat
them exactly as you would any paying client. Not only are you
representing yourself and your business, but you are also, indirectly,
representing the organization to which you made the donation. Enjoy the
experience, have fun, and most of all know that you, the recipient, and
the organization are benefiting from this donation.
©
2004 by Tara Alexandra Kachaturoff. All rights reserved in all media.
No duplication of this material is permitted in any format whatsoever
without express written permission from the author.
Return to Top
Top 10 Ways for
Start-up Entrepreneurs to get
Free Publicity
By Tara Alexandra
Kachaturoff,
Professional Coach
-
Submit a free press release.
Go to the site www.prweb.com and sign up today. Write a press release
about newsworthy items going on in your business. Use it to announce new
additions to your staff, a new book you have written, or an upcoming
workshop you plan to teach.
-
Write articles. Write articles and submit them to websites,
like
www.ideamarketers.com,
www.goarticles.com, or
www.articlecity.com that offer them for free or fee to online
newsletters and ezines. You can include a captivating byline, complete
with your contact information. Next time someone reads one of your
articles; you may be contacted and might even get a new client.
-
Design a captivating email signature.
Make sure your email signature includes your name, company name,
telephone, fax and email address. But also add other information to
capture the attention of readers. You might include a catchy slogan or an
offer for a complimentary session. Better yet, if you have a new class to
offer or have a book or article published, include a line about that as
well. You might want to use a different typestyle and have contact
information for that specific item as well.
-
Write a newspaper column for a local paper.
If you are a personal coach, you might create an “Ask the Coach” column.
Be prepared to write a lot of articles or responses to readers’
inquiries. The most successful writers will be experienced ones and those
who have a unique coaching specialty. There are thousands of coaches.
Why are you different and what type of useful information can you offer to
the readers? While there is a chance you might be paid for doing this
column, don’t count on it. Most likely, you will be able to include full
contact information in the byline which will make it easy for interested
readers to contact you.
-
Contact your local talk radio station.
Local talk radio stations are always looking for
interesting people to invite as guests. In order to get an invitation,
you must have something captivating to talk about. There are thousands of
coaches who coach business and personal issues. Do you have a specialty
which makes you unique, i.e. a wedding coach, a relationship coach, a real
estate coach? Have you developed a special and unique program which
people can follow to dramatically change their life? Have you written and
published a book? As they say in
Hollywood, “don’t be
dull and don’t be desperate.” Dull definitely won’t do, if you want to be
on talk radio!
-
Donate your coaching services.
Each year, many private and charitable organizations host events to
attract contributions to their cause. To raise money, they usually
auction off goods and services donated to them by local businesses.
Donating a one- or two-month coaching package is a wonderful way to
contribute to a cause you support. It’s also a wonderful way to showcase
your business and the services that you offer.
-
Volunteer to speak.
Contact your local
chamber of commerce as well as other community clubs, like the Rotary or
Optimist Clubs, and volunteer to speak on an interesting topic. Create a
short one- or two-page proposal that includes four or five titles and
summaries of speeches you’re eager to present. Include a short,
professional biography as well as detailed contact information.
-
Offer a complimentary coaching day.
One day per month, offer complimentary coaching to everyone! Send out
flyers or postcards to local chamber directors, to local businesses, and
to residents of the community. Conduct 15, 20- or 30-minute coaching
sessions. Be sure to coach something simple and tangible so that the
recipient can walk away with an experience to remember. Ask the customer
to take some action by the end of the next week. If you’re coaching in
person, hand them your business card and ask them to call or email you in
one week to report their progress. If you’re coaching on the phone, ask
them to call you to report their progress.
-
Contact your local television news station.
Send or email your professional biography as well as a few news story
ideas about your coaching practice to the lifestyle editor. If you have a
local client who is willing to tout the rewards of having you as a coach,
work them into the story. The key to gaining the editor’s attention is
presenting a compelling, human interest story about how coaching has
changed your clients’ lives.
-
Teach a class. Offer a free or fee class through your local
community education program. If your class is accepted, it will be
published in the course catalog, usually with a short biography, which is
then distributed throughout the community. In some cases, this can
translate to being publicized to tens of thousands of households – a great
way to become well-known.
©
2004 by Tara Alexandra Kachaturoff. All rights reserved in all media.
No duplication of this material is permitted in any format whatsoever
without express written permission from the author.
Return to Top
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