Last week I attended the Business Tuesday event, Success Stories. Before the main event started, there was an opportunity for a person to present their company in 99 seconds. I had never seen this before and I think there are some lessons to be learned from this type of mini presentation. I won't name the person who gave this particular talk because it's not the point of this post. But, if you're given this type of opportunity, here are some things you should think about.
What is your goal for this type of presentation? To sell your product or service? To introduce your company structure or history? To give detailed information about your processes?
Absolutely NOT! Your only goal should be to get people excited enough about your organization to want to know more and to motivate them to talk to you after the event or contact you later.
What should you say to fulfill this goal? Here are some ideas:
Tell us why you exist. What problem are you solving? Who are you solving it for?
What are you doing right now that's exciting? Why should we be excited about it? Be specific! What are you especially proud of that your organization is currently doing and who are you doing it for?
Why should we care about your organization? Why should we want to know more? Are you leading a tribe that we'd like to become a part of? Why should we not miss out on the opportunity to become a member of your circle?
The world is all about connections and sharing experiences now. Forget the sales pitch! Give us a reason to listen, care and become involved in the exciting things that you're doing!
And, unlike the person who presented on Tuesday, stick around for the whole event and the networking opportunity afterwards. If you leave after your presentation, the message you convey is 'Well, I said what I needed to say and if they're interested, they'll contact me'. That's not the point.
I look forward to seeing the next 99 second presentation opportunity. Take advantage of it and I'll give you a winning review!
