Make yourself visible and unique!

1. Brand Yourself!
by George Drivas, www.allthingspresentations.eu
The idea of branding comes from the world of marketing. Or so most of us think! We
are partially correct. In the competitive world of business, any product with a strong
name and identity has a clear advantage over the competition.
The same principle applies to public speaking. A speaker with a familiar face, an
easily identifiable style and a strong reputation for meeting expectations develops a
following. This is true regardless of the venue or the occasion: It can be a vast
conference center or a company conference room; it can be an international
conference or it can be an in-house project proposal.
It is almost certain that depending on your years of work and experience you have
developed a name and an identity among your peers; or you are getting there. Why
shouldn’t your presentations do the same? There are 5 reasons why:
1. Your presentation is as important as you are. It deserves the same attention
in terms of colours and design you afford your posture and your delivery.
2. Your presentation may well be the one solid piece of evidence that your
audience have in their hands. It needs to be as distinctive and characteristic
of you as possible.

2. 3. Your presentation is your signature. It should reflect your own character,
your own values and your own beliefs, not those of the software developer.
4. Your presentation is a reflection of your professionalism. You spent
considerable time and effort agonizing over the content, practicing and
rehearsing. Why then should your presentation look sloppy?
5. Your presentation allows you to speak to your audience emotions. As a
speaker you need to address your audience. You need to talk to their minds
and to their hearts. Paying attention to design and colours can achieve
exactly that.
Branding your presentations will help you achieve the following:
1. People will remember you longer. Images cling to our memories longer than
words.
2. It will stress your individuality. You have something unique to say. Help
yourself achieve that.
3. It will help you develop a following. People who like your presentation for its
aesthetic qualities (and your content) will tell their friends about you.
4. It shows people that you care about their needs and expectations. It will help
you connect with your audience at a different level.
Remember that the longest march starts with a small step. Start with a template that
you favour and try to make small changes that reflect and represent you. Be
persistent and consistent. Small changes bring big rewards.