Make Marketing Suck Less

Is Your Message a Mess? How to Persuade When You Don't Know What to Say

Just picture you're granted 30-minutes in front of a room full of would-be clients.

They're perfect for you. They've got the challenge that you can uniquely solve. They're primed and ready to listen.

It's a huge opportunity for your business. It's thrilling. You envision fascinating the crowd with your every word.

Now imagine being introduced, seeing the audience's smiling faces eager in anticipation of your message.

What do you say? 

What's the first sentence that rolls off your tongue?

If this scenario just sent your pulse racing and your heart thumping in your chest, take a deep breathe and read on.

Let's fix your mess of a message so you know what to say and can persuade your audience with ease.

Step 1: What's the problem?

Whether you're presenting at an event or giving a webinar or teleseminar – there's one reason you're there. To create change and to solve a problem for your people.

You need to get crystal clear on what problem you solve.

If you've been invited to speak, ask the meeting planner why you and how can you help the members of their association. Nine times out of ten – the meeting planner has a very clear idea of why they need you to speak.

I was invited to speak at a networking group – when I asked her why me. She said “the vast majority of our members are terrified to stand-up in front of this group and speak up for their business. They don't know what to say, so they stay seated.”

If you're hosting your own webinar or event, be clear on the value you're providing for the people who show up. How can your expertise best serve them? What challenge do you solve? Most importantly – how are your people talking about their stress? Interview past clients. Do your market research.

When you understand the pain and how you uniquely solve for it, persuasion happens.

Step 2: What's your opportunity?

Not all opportunities to get in front of you people are created equally. This means you cannot use some templated speech or webinar formula.

Your business opportunity is going to be dependent on the context of the event (some gigs don't let you sell from ye olde back of the room), how well the audience knows you, and what's the right solution to the specific problem you solve.

The opportunity might be to keep in contact with you, schedule a free consult, sell your book or pitch your services.

Be strategic and pick the ONE best opportunity that fits your audience and your event.

Step 3: Brain dump time!

You're the expert and undoubtedly you suffer from the curse of knowledge.

You could take this presentation or webinar in 30 different directions.

It's time to get all of those ideas out of your head and on to paper.

With clients, I do this on a self-stick easel pad. Just a brain dump of knowledge, you might want to talk about in your presentation.

When your brain is dried up of ideas, go back through and pick the ideas that best fit the needs of your audience and your opportunity.

Step 4: Now get to work crafting that persuasive message

When you know you've picked your very best ideas that create a crazy amount of value for your listeners, it's time to craft the message.

What if you're still feeling stuck on what to say? You've whittled down the brain dump of ideas but it's still to much to fit into your allotted time. Wouldn't it be amazing if you had someone to listen to your ideas and help you pick the best ones for the audience?

If you're still stuck on what to say and how to persuade, I've opened 10-spots for my free 15-minute Message Strategy Session in March.

Applications are open until March, 17th and on that day we'll contact you to book a free 15-minute message strategy session with me. You'll have to act fast these sessions get snapped up fast.

Applications are now closed! I'll be doing another round real soon.

Here's to getting your ideas out of your head and communicated to the world!