Speak UP! LEVERAGE Your Cause as a Public Speaker
As the old saying goes, IF IT HAS TO BE, ITS UP TO ME!!
Whether you are speaking to one person or a thousand people, your
message should resonate volumes when it relates to promoting your cause. People
listening to you should be able to feel your passion and conviction each time
you open your mouth. When one looks back on influencers of the world, such as
Mahma Gandi, Nelson Mandela, Mother Theresa, Dr. Martin Luther King, even Steve
Jobs, the pivotal point in each of their lives were when they made a conscious
decision to speak globally about a cause they were very passionate about, even
willing to die for. We, as entrepreneurs must exemplify that same passion for
our cause. You may say, "but I don't have a cause, I run a business!"
Well, let's explore how your business represents your cause, how you can
LEVERAGE your business through cause marketing, and how speaking can catapult
your business to the NEXT LEVEL!
As the Emcee and Panel Moderator for a national tour this Fall, I
got the opportunity to listen to women entrepreneurs express their passion that
they turned into a business. These "experts" on the panels spoke
enthusiastically about how they branded their business, how they conveyed their
message, and the tools they used to brand it. Each women displayed passion for
helping women succeed in life and business While each panelist was clear,
thorough, and articulate in their purpose of support for women in all different
roles in life, several women stood out by branding their style in a memorable
way. In Houston, Texas, Kristi Jackson, Women CEO project, spelled out 5
points that showed how focused and passionate she was about women leaving the
tour with a strong take-away message. Toni Harris, National Speaker and
Trainer, strategically collaborated with her circle beyond the tour and
established a group, Bigger Than Bloggers, to put information into practice. In
addition, she demonstrated how to use tools available to simplify blogging and
using email marketing and video to elevate their business. She left a lasting
impression on the women in her circle, and me...who invaded the group to
participate.
Also, when it came to showing how they conveyed their message,
Dana Sidberry, Motivational Marketing and hostess for the tour in Charlotte,
North Carolina epitomized this point. Everyone knew who and where she was
located based on her signage and strategic placement of volunteers. The
location had plush seats, decorative cloths, delicious food, desserts, and
drinks. Then, to top it off, she had FABULOUS swag bags promoting her clients,
speakers, and the founder of the tour! Dr. Yashima Azilove, Magnate
Advertising, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania exuded powerful communication skills
as she shared how she has captured corporate clients and powerful women
executives as a coach. Her words were so powerful, the 16-year old student recruited
to volunteer, heard me describe my mentoring program for girls and approached
me to connect her with Dr. Azilove. We made the connections and the mentoring
process has begun. These women's message is their LIFESTYLE and everyone who
met them understood their passion for their business immediately!
On the other hand, common tools mentioned for branding was social
media, email marketing, and networking. Several women had established a strong
following also through radio talk shows, blogs, as authors, and creators of special
events. However, several women had very unique branding tools that stood out.
Christine Gallagher, She's Got Clients, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, uses a
dynamic CD to draw women in to join her mailing list and develop clients based
on her step-by-step approach. She also uses unique tools for marketing I had
never heard of (and can't remember at this time either) and that drew me in to
want to connect with her after the tour. Vanessa Maddox, TheGirlFriendGroup, in
Virginia and Washington, DC, described how she was breaking barriers by joining
usually closed and inaccessible women organizations to open opportunities for
her 1300 women international group. ShaKenya Calhoun, The Calhoun Group,
Montgomery, Alabama demonstrated the tool she uses (good ole' fashion person to
person networking) when she approached the owners of the venue to ask,
"How can I help you market this venue because more people should know
about it." Finally, Lynn White, NonTechiePros/LynnWhite Designs,
Washington, DC recognized a need for women to learn how to operate their own
website when she had to teach herself. Afterwards, she implemented seminars and
coaching sessions to teach other women how to do the same. Now, she's known as
the "TechLady"(or something similiar).You Go Ladies!!
Therefore, LEVERAGING your business through cause marketing occurs
when you focus on a cause you are very passionate about and you want to convey
it to a particular audience. From helping women build websites, providing
guidance as a marketing specialist, developing women networks, establishing
online communities, to coaching aspiring, experienced, or advanced women
entrepreneurs, all the panelists, mentioned and not mentioned, have positioned
themselves as "experts in their perspective fields" and
discovered how to garnish every opportunity to promote their product, service,
or nonprofit organization as speakers. The common thread for most women in all
five cities of the tour was "your message is in your mess" as Fusion
Tour Founder, Vernetta Freeney stated on almost every stop. The only place she
did not make that statement, another panelist stated it and all we could do was
look at each other afterwards, in agreement.
As a pioneering life and business mentor, it was refreshing
to see so many women truly believing in what they were doing to support women.
So speak up and leverage your cause as a public speaker!!
