Giving a Speech

In the PR business today, some people think speechwriting seems to be becoming a "lost art" and has turned into typing 140-character tweets for our clients. Ian Griffin explains otherwise in his article over "Speechwriting in the age of social media". Here are some quality tips on how to engage your audience with some digital flair:

• Research your audience by using LinkedIn Groups and Polls (Ex: Say your target audience are dentists. You would check out their LinkedIn page to see what's top of mind in their field, like their self-interests.
• Make your speech interactive by using audience polls or flipcam recording (check out polleverywhere.com for free live audience polls).
• To keep your audience from drifting away by use of phone texts or an iPads, encourage your audience to participate digitally!
• Finally, evaluate your speech through social media streams for feedback that will keep going days after it's been given.

Speeches are direct ways of presenting your product or plan and by using these simple steps, you can keep your audience engaged and excited for more!

Effective Voicemail to the Media

The most important way to reach the audience of your product or plan is the use of the media. In order for the media to pitch your idea, you must get in touch with them, most likely by a call or voice mail. Here are voice mail tips on how to emphasize great points about the benefits of your product or plan:

• Give a 30-second professional pitch. Practice your message until you sound natural and enthusiastic. Speak loudly and be sure to leave out vocal pauses, like "ummms".
• Remember that the voice mail is like an audition for the interview.
• Never leave more than one voice mail a day and if after three times, you don't hear back, you should assume that there is no interest in your idea.
• When following up with an email or fax to the media, never say "did you get my email (or fax)?" Always say that you are following up and then start your pitch.
• Be sure to leave your number at the beginning of the message and at the end. Speak quickly while pitching the idea, but slowly when leaving your number.

The most important thing to remember when leaving a voice mail to the media is that it should be professional and you should sound excited about pitching your idea, because that is how you sell to your audience.

Building Relationships With Reporters

By positioning yourself as a good source to the media, you've immediately opened up a door to an audience. Whatever product or ideas you want to be heard, you're many steps closer when you have a strong relationship with a reporter. Here are some tips on how to create and maintain a good source to the media:

• Know your audience and be able to solve any problems the publications aims at.
• Speak freely (Ex: If you are an accounting firm's PR rep, be able to explain what's working and not working in your firm and what your views are on trends facing the profession).
• Once you develop a relationship with a reporter and that reporter comes to you often, be reliable to that reporter (Ex: Keep in touch with the reporter on a regular basis to offer help of any sort).
• Press releases are an expedient way to announce certain news, but make sure they are fitting to the mission of their publications.

By building a trusting relationship with a reporter, you should have faith that they will produce an article that is accurate and fair.