There has been a ton of advice given on how to give a presentation, how to design your slides when giving a presentation, and what captures an audience’s attention. For Personal Branding, giving a presentation is like steroids for your career. When giving a presentation, you are the center of everyone’s attention. You have the ability to gain visibility and to educate people on your topic of expertise. Surprisingly, not many have addressed the power of follow-ups. How many times have you seen someone speak but have never seen or heard from them again? I not only want you to give people the “A-HA” moment, but to be able to guide them after the presentation when they are looking to take action.
The value from presenting doesn’t lie in the presentation itself, but what you do after in order to keep your brand visible and seen as a thought leader. The major theme around this relates to Salamon Rule of Personal Branding # 4, Being Accessible.
Accessibility and your speech
At the end of your speech, you should have an easy way for people to contact you. I suggest including your cell phone & email address on your last slide that way people can write it down during your Q&A. Also, having an online presence and a blog is very important. If you don’t have a blog today, you should. There is no easier way to start building a community around your brand and topic of expertise. It gives people a way to subscribe to YOU. Mention that you write and maintain a community around your subject, and if anybody is interested, you’d love to talk to them personally about it.
Now that you have given others the ability to reach you, you should encourage enthusiasts to let you contact them. These are people who are eager to hear and learn from you. Get their contact information and let them know about projects you have going on or new articles that your are writing. The follow-up is an art and just as important as the presentation itself. Master the follow-up and watch your ROI multiply!
Adam Salamon 
Great topic. Some call this an “open door policy.” I’m really against contact forms and all for direct methods such as email. Relationships that start as comments through blogs can be furthered “off-blog.”
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Great topic, Adam — especially since I’m giving one of those presentations in March!
I’m actually using this presentation as a model for how I want to present to groups, including the PowerPoint slides to match up more with the Presentation Zen approach to the work — not bullet points.
This is a great reminder for all presentors that the next presentation can start with how well you do in this presentation.
Nice job.
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Hi Adam,
I have been following your blog for a while now and as an MBA student I find your posts very valuable.
Keep the blog rolling.
Thanks,
Manoj Hampiholi
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@Dan: I agree with you about contact forms. Aren’t those extinct already? Creating a brand is definitely about being open and direct
@Scot: I am a big fan of Presentation Zen and am glad it has the traction it deserves. Here’s a link to the book:
@Manoj: Thanks for the comments Manoj, I appreciate it. Email me when you get the chance. adam at adamsalamon.com
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Adam,
Great advice – love it!
In my experience, not many individuals take up the open invitation.
One thing I have added when I present is to add a story when someone has actually contacted me after a presentation and how we worked together and how we both benefited.
That helps get across that you are not just saying ‘ yeah, contact me – here’s my number’. It makes it come alive!
Andrew
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Adam,
I have chosen this post for my weekly GreatManagement Inspirational Articles – The Best Advice From Around The Web.
Andrew
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Andrew,
Thanks for taking the time to comment and to include this article on GreatManagement.
Your advice is spot on, too. Including a story makes the follow up “real” so to speak. People will be much more inclined to take action when they know you are being sincere, and nothing illustrates that better than a story.
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Excellent thoughts, Adam. The end-of-presentation information is essential, and something that many people forget.
I also agree about blogging. Unfortunately, too many people start one and then are not consistent about writing to it. There’s a discipline there that many miss.
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Hi Steven,
Great to see you again and thanks for the comments!
*note to readers: Steven List was my first presentation coach out of college. Why presentations aren’t taught in every grade school and college curriculum, I’ll never know, but Steven was an experienced and fun teacher to work with.
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