Entries Tagged 'Class Presentation' ↓

I'm listening to [tag]Bill Cobb[/tag], President of [tag]eBay[/tag] North America conduct a "[tag]Town Hall[/tag]" meeting with the eBay community. Bill is a nice person. He has a lot of experience in the corporate world. But he has one of the most annoying mannerisms when speaking in this forum.

When responding to nearly any question he begins his sentences with the word "[tag]So[/tag]". In fact, the word "So" is sprinkled throughout his speech so much it is a distraction. How do high-level executives get where they are even though they are not good [tag]presenter[/tag]s or [tag]public speaker[/tag]s. Because Bill does it, the lower-level execs are doing it too! Good grief! "So" should be used to connect one thought to the next logical point. These guys and gals have begun using it to fill empty space while they decide what to say. "So" is the new "uhh".

The other super-annoying habit Silicon Valley speakers have is up-talking. Making a statement which raises in pitch at the end of the sentence so it sounds like a question. It sounds ridiculous. Just repeat this paragraph (talking out loud) and pretend each sentence is a question. Grrrr it's so irritating? They need to break this habit? Stupid. Speak normally folks.

I will volunteer to teach these guys to break that habit. Please, eBay give me a call.

Get a piece of paper and pencil and mark down every time Bill says "So" - mark twice for every time he starts his reply with the word. Listen to the recorded Town Hall meeting.

[tags]uptalking, uptalkers, word whiskers, mannerisms, speaking skills[/tags]

Popularity: 4% [?]

When discussing the age old question "what should I sell on [tag]eBay[/tag]?" I often refer to the "[tag]long tail[/tag]." Those products that make up the less exciting, lower volume, and higher profit margin end of the product spectrum. One example is flat screen televisions. Competition and demand has driven profit margins lower, while sales remain good on eBay. Many sellers ignore the more profitable "accessory" products such as wall mounts, and TV stands. Less glorious yes, and lower volume, but higher profits. Look in that long tail for niche markets.

The Dull Edge

Many blogs and articles out there are what I would call "cutting edge". Very up-to-date hip writers writing about the newest technology, or what has happened in the past five minutes in politics or business. Once you get on the front of that wave of info it's pretty fun and interesting. If you don't spend the day on the internet, it's pretty hard to stay there though. Most people aren't cutting edge, they fall somewhere behind and get a feeling of being left out of the party.

The questions my students ask have been asked for years, and answered by many smart people over and over. Those who ask the questions are just normal people, not cutting edge people. I refer to them (affectionately) as "dull edge" people. There are far more on the [tag]dull edge[/tag] than on the cutting edge. They ask questions that are old, and now considered ho-hum by the wii playing iphone [tag]Powerseller[/tag] crowd. Questions such as:

• When should I use a [tag]reserve price[/tag]?
• Should I tell people my reserve price?
• Can I have two eBay accounts?
• If I change my [tag]user ID[/tag] will my [tag]feedback[/tag] go with me?
• What is the best [tag]duration[/tag] for my auctions?
• What is the best time to list my item?

Ho-hum.

But people still want to know this stuff! It's not ho-hum to them.
I am a dull edge person. Dull edge people are welcome here. I have felt a little dumb giving eBay advice on topics that were covered long ago. But there is a large, quiet dull edge society out there still learning the basics. These are my people.

The dull edge is to [tag]eBayers[/tag], what the long tail is to [tag]eCommerce[/tag]. Consider the term "Dull Edge" coined.

Popularity: 4% [?]

When eBay sent me out on my first eBay University in Lincoln, Nebraska, I was a bit nervous and unsure about my role as an instructor. I listened to Marsha Collier and Christopher Spencer the first time out and I noticed how much the audience enjoyed their personal stories. They really tuned in when the instructors talked about their own real experiences and used them in their teaching. We all have unique experiences we can share with our classes. Some smart moves we've made, some not so smart, but still very valuable when teaching your students. Stories reach people's hearts, they help them remember points you make. Even the stories about how we've made mistakes, come on now you have a few of them too. I know I do. For example:

I once bought 1600 Lance Armstrong posters (two pallets) at a pretty good price. I did my research, and they were selling nicely. I sold a lot of those posters, but really 1600? Even if I sold two a day EVERY day it would take over four years to sell them all. I finally sold them as lots and broke even on the deal. Still, not the smartest thing I've done, but a good story when discussing which products to choose to sell and how much inventory to purchase. (Thank goodness my neighbor had a nice dry barn for me to store them in since they wouldn't all fit in my house.)

"But I'm Not a Storyteller"

Yes you are. An eBay seller has to be one of the best storytellers ever. We can entice a stranger to send us money by using only 55 characters in our listing title. We can also start a virtual firestorm of emotion in 88 characters with our feedback comments. We can tell stories. As an Education Specialist teaching a class, you can use your personal experience to really make a point. People remember stories better than facts & figures, it's just the way our minds work. So use stories and illustrations to make a main point stand out.

For example, when I'm discussing how important the 55 character title is, I use an example of the 200 NASCAR coat racks I bought for resale. I sold them for months using "NASCAR Coat Rack" in the title. Then sales slowed a lot. I got to thinking, "who would want a NASCAR coat rack?" Someone with a NASCAR coat! Obviously. So I did a search for NASCAR coat and guess what, none appeared. So, (I thought) "if I want a Dale Earnhardt coat what do I search for?" "NASCAR jacket". So I now began selling "NASCAR Jacket Racks" and sales took off once again. In fact better than before. Changing one word in the title made all the difference. The story is more interesting than just telling them what the book says to tell them.

One caution though. Do not make your presentation all about you. You will come across as a bit conceited and your class will get tired of hearing you. You should only "pepper" your presentation with appropriate experiences.

For example, if you have a class who obviously understands how to write an eBay item description, cover the material and move on. But if that class has a problem understanding aspects of photography, use an appropriate story or illustration to make your point. If you're teaching them about having a good background in their photograph, you can instantly make your point with the eBay Teapot Story, which is now an internet legend (albeit a true one).

You should think of your experiences and stories as songs in your repertoire and use them when appropriate. They are powerful tools. They are uniquely yours. And you'll be able to speak with feeling about them to effectively teach your students.

[tags]ebay, education specialist, ebay class, stories that teach, ebay classes[/tags]

Popularity: 4% [?]

eBay University, Miami, FL 2004 - The scene: With over 350 people in the room, I've lost control. People are yelling at each other. It took several mojitos that evening to recover.

Whether you have many or a few in your room, you must maintain control of the room for the sake of those who really want to learn. It's your responsibility as the speaker. How can you do this without being a jerk to your students?

First, before the students even arrive you'll want to make sure everything is in place for the presentation.

• Temperature should be comfortable
• Seating ready
• Computer on and connected to the internet
• Presentation loaded

Once people are in place, begin with some housekeeping. Even if it's a small group. Tell them what you expect.

• Cell phones on vibrate, and talking done outside the room
• Kindly ask that talking between students be done outside
• Hold questions till appropriate times.

During your class if you have interruptions by any of the above, the way you handle the first one or two will determine how your audience will behave going forward. If you let one person interrupt you, they will assume that they may all do that. If you let one person talk on their cellphone, they will assume they all may do that. And you'll lose control and need a mojito before you can go on.

The reason the Miami crowd got all surly with each other was people were interrupting over and over with their personal questions. It broke up the presentation and made it hard to follow. In many cases the questions would have been answered had the questioners waited. If I had tactfully handled this situation right at the outset it would have quieted the questioners and kept the other class members happier. (And would have lowered my alcohol bill for the evening.)

Most of your classes may be much smaller, but the principles still apply. Your first responsibility is to the group, to teach them the class. Secondly, the individual students have questions and you should try as hard as you can to answer them. I offer free support to my students via email after the class. I have never been sorry for this, and it's a great service to the students.

If you get a question and you don't know the answer, admit it. Don't fake it because you may actually lead someone the wrong way. Besides that, there could be a silent Powerseller sitting in the audience who'll blurt out "That's wrong!" which is highly embarrassing and will cause you to lose credibility.

If you have experienced any situations that you'd like to relate, please feel free using the comments link below.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Your voice is your main tool if you're a public speaker, take care of it. Most of us will be speaking for several hours at a time. If you don't learn to protect your voice you will really be miserable as you speak, and may well lose your audience.  You can prepare ahead by having one or two bottles of water handy before you begin.
Relaxing is very important to breathing properly. Breath control is vital to properly use your voice and make it last for hours. Especially if you are not using sound equipment your voice is at risk.
As you speak make sure you are standing with good posture, relax your throat muscles, breath deeply - especially at the beginning of the session. Then like a singer, speak from down in your belly - not your throat. You want to learn to use your diaphragm to push the air out. This will help you project very well, and it puts much less of a strain on your voice.

When you are addressing the class be careful not to turn away from them while talking. This causes your voice to drop and many will not hear what you say. This is irritating to the class and they'll likely let you know. Face them when you speak as much as possible. Find a few with friendly faces throughout the class and speak directly to them.

In my next post I'll deal with the subject of controlling your audience. Your suggestions and comments are always welcome.

Popularity: 4% [?]

After speaking in front of crowds for many years, I've learned a few techniques to help my fellow presenters which I thought I'd share.

I've taught classes numbering 7 to 700. These have taken place in a variety of rooms with and without sound equipment. When you're using your voice for four to six hours, standing in front of an audience, trying to keep their attention, the way you handle yourself will go a long way toward good evaluations and repeat engagements.

First of all, an average room will likely be a few dozen people. In a classroom setting you will usually not have a microphone, so I'll cover that specific topic later in this category. Lets talk about how you can relax when speaking in front of others.
In a survey some years ago people were asked what they feared most. Number two was death. Number one - speaking in front of others. People would rather die than speak in front of an audience!

Humor can help break the ice and get you and your audience to relax. Be careful though, if you have a canned joke and it bombs you may be more nervous than before.

Outside of a little initial humor, the best relaxation technique I've found is preparation. Knowing your presentation well is a key in being comfortable. You need to know the presentation forward and backward. When you do, you'll know what's coming next and your presentation will flow nicely. Having the logical points in mind will help you not wander around but keep your audience focused on a logical progression of points. For example, in teaching eBay it's logical to start with registering > setting up a Seller's Account > researching an item > choosing a category > etc. It will help you relax if you have these things in mind.

I have found that it is very helpful to meet a number of the attendees and talk with them before the class. This helps in two ways. First, you have a handful of people with whom you're comfortable and can directly address. Also, you can get the 'temperature' of the room by finding out their experience, interests, and perhaps some questions early on. I have been put in front of a large class without doing this, and it can be intimidating. If that happens, you should warm up by chatting a little and finding out why some of them are attending. Do they want to sell things they currently have in their homes? Are they looking to buy items to resell? All this will help them and you be more relaxed.

In my next post I'll deal with the subject of keeping your voice. Your suggestions and comments are always welcome.

Popularity: 3% [?]