Fine Tuning Story Selling |
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By: Kurt Mortensen Posted: 2006-08-25 19:32:54 |
| The use of repetition can also be very effective when telling a story. Repetition creates familiarity with your ideas, which in turn builds positive association. Repetition also makes a message more memorable. You need to repeat your message several times so your audience understands precisely what you are talking about and what you want them to do. This doesn't mean that you should sound like a broken record. You can repeat the message several times without saying the same thing over and over again. My motto is, when you repeat something, repackage how you say it. Each time you stress your point, use new evidence and new words. Obviously, this technique must be used skillfully. When repetition is overused, it is likely to result in diminishing returns. You know how you feel when someone tells you that same old story for the tenth time, or when you've seen that commercial one too many times. If you've heard a story a million times before, you tune out and quit listening. Keep your point reinforcements to approximately three references-and definitely no more than five. A common mistake among storytellers is they become too long-winded. It's as though they're telling the story just because they love to hear themselves talk. Don't let your stories get too long, or you're going to lull your audience to sleep. Even if you think you're really entertaining, too much of a good story is still draining. I have heard it said that a two-minute story gives greater impact than a ten-minute one. If you think about it, if you were actually in an audience where the speaker talked for ten whole minutes about the same thing, then those ten minutes would probably feel like an eternity. Don't belabor the point if it can be said more concisely. This doesn't mean you should abandon the idea of giving your audience important details, as we discussed earlier. Of course, you must engage your audience, but be sure you're aware of this fine line. To be an effective storyteller, it's so important to always be tuned in to audience feedback, even if it's not overt. As you gain experience, you will get better and better at gauging your audience. You will then be more readily able to discern how you're coming across to your audience. You'll also develop a good sense of pace and timing. Hand in hand with not being too long-winded is this piece of story-selling advice: Don't bore your listeners! You may think these two concepts are the same thing, and they can be, but even a short story can be boring if it's not presented well. Respect your audience's time and commitment to being there to hear you and be sure you've done your homework ahead of time. Deliver a presentation you know your prospects are really going to love. Your audience is paying with either their time or their money. Give them your best effort in exchange for that payment. How else can you bore an audience? By not giving them enough detail, by indulging in self-glorification, by going off on too many tangents or by delivering an indignant soapbox lecture. It is very important that you take the time to go through some of the brainstorming questions so your stories and presentations, on the whole, have structure. If you have a clear story-selling outline, your presentations will remain uncluttered and you will avoid these dangerous detours. When you follow my suggestions, it will not take you long before you are a very skilled story seller. With these story-selling tools under your belt, you'll have that much more of an advantage when presenting your ideas, whether to a large audience or to a single person. And there is no better feeling than to get your point across in a manner in which it is understood, appreciated and persuasive. Everyone persuades for a living. There's no way around it. Whether you're a sales professional, an entrepreneur, or even a stay at home parent, if you are unable to convince others to your way of thinking, you will be constantly left behind. Get your free reports at Magnetic Persuasion to make sure that you are not left watching others pass you on the road to success. Donald Trump said it best, "Study the art of persuasion. Practice it. Develop an understanding of its profound value across all aspects of life." Conclusion Persuasion is the missing puzzle piece that will crack the code to dramatically increase your income, improve your relationships, and help you get what you want, when you want, and win friends for life. Ask yourself how much money and income you have lost because of your inability to persuade and influence. Think about it. Sure you've seen some success, but think of the times you couldn't get it done. Has there ever been a time when you did not get your point across? Were you unable to convince someone to do something? Have you reached your full potential? Are you able to motivate yourself and others to achieve more and accomplish their goals? What about your relationships? Imagine being able to overcome objections before they happen, know what your prospect is thinking and feeling, feel more confident in your ability to persuade. Professional success, personal happiness, leadership potential, and income depend on the ability to persuade, influence, and motivate others.Kurt Mortensen’s trademark is Magnetic Persuasion; rather than convincing others, he teaches that you should attract them, just like a magnet attracts metal filings. He teaches that sales have changed and the consumer has become exponentially more skeptical and cynical within the last five years. Most persuaders are using only 2 or 3 persuasion techniques when there are actually 120 available! His message and program has helped thousands and will help you achieve unprecedented success in both your business and personal life. |
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