Tip 192: Get local information

The day before your presentation you must get some local information. This will help you relate to your audience better and can provide useful conversation starters. You can also incorporate some local news or information into your presentation. This will make it more personalised for that audience. It will give an impression that you have created the talk especially for them, for that meeting, for that very event.

Find something personal or unique to the time, the place and the audience. Add what you learn into your speech or your slides to underscore the idea that the presentation, the location, and the audience are coming together to create a once-in-a-lifetime moment.

• Read the local paper

• Take a walk or drive around to connect with local people

• Get quotes, stories, and facts

• Take digital pictures of the venue / delegates to insert into presentations

Do this because you want to learn about your audience and what is important to them. You want to connect with them. Do it because you respect the uniqueness of the audience, the time, the place.

"Wow! This guide and handbook made a huge difference to my delegates at my online workshop. They loved everything we did. Thanks to Dr Mandar Marathe's book I developed my presentation skills quickly whilst enjoying all the new concepts and ideas this book offers in a very easy to read and practical manner.
 
All professional speakers, trainers and sales people should get a copy of this book!"
- Ash Ali, Online Marketing Expert & Founder of Sandalstore.co.uk

Table of contents
(Click to view sample pages from the book)

Introduction
About the author
How to use this book
Who needs this book?
Chapter 1: Planning for your presentation
Chapter 2: Preparing the delivery
Chapter 3: Preparing effective PowerPoint® slides
Chapter 4: Preparing a handout
Chapter 5: Rehearsals
Chapter 6: Just before the presentation
Chapter 7: Last-minute tips for confidence
Chapter 8: Delivering the presentation
Chapter 9: 'Any questions?'
Chapter 10: After the presentation
Chapter 11: Final Thoughts

About the author

Dr Mandar Marathe graduated from Southampton University with an honours degree in Biomedical Sciences in 1998 and a Bachelor of Medicine degree in 1999. He holds advanced qualifications in Emergency Medicine and in Toxicology.

He juggles a career as a doctor working in Accident & Emergency, while raising three children with his wife, writing books, and endlessly surfing the internet looking for the next "big thing".

With almost two decades of public speaking experience in both academic and professional arenas, he is today an enthusiastic and popular educator who is well qualified to share his ideas about what makes a successful speaker and a powerful presentation.

Dr Mandar Marathe is the course director for the FCEM Course.