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!!