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Creating a Show Stand for Your Small Business
Taking space at an exhibition or show could not be simpler. Decide how much floor area you want (or can afford), create a stand and staff it. Then sit back and watch the leads and sales flood in. It sounds easy, doesn’t it?
Of course, there is...
Display Your Contact Details
Lets say you put up a booth at an exhibition where a large number of people have come to see a product or service that you offer. This booth has all the brochures, pictures, demos etc. of your products/service. The customer is now interested and...
Five Great News Stories You’re Sitting On Right Now
Smaller companies don’t always have the budget - or inclination - to retain a PR hotshot to tell the world about their business success, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t a ready source of news. The problem is it’s often dull news which is ignored...
Five Marketing Nightmares and How to Prevent Them
Five Marketing Nightmares and How to Prevent Them by Susan Friedmann The success or failure of your trade show rests heavily on how well you market your event. Marketing, when done right, can project a positive image of your event, entice...
Six Marketing Tips for Trade Show Success
A trade show is an ideal way of showcasing your products and services to a large number of prospects all at the one location and at the same time. Thoroughly planned marketing is the key to success at your next industry related exhibition.
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Conquering the International Speaking Circuit
Conquering the International Speaking Circuit Essential things
you should know By Frank Furness
England We moved from South Africa to England nine years ago and
for four years I worked in the City of London. It is now one of
my favourite cities in the world. Flattened and rebuilt several
times in the course of its long life, London is a fascinating
combination of the new mingled with the very old. It has been
said that when you tire of London, you tire of life. There is
plenty to see and do and is heralded as the theatrical centre of
the world. Some of the great attractions include, The Tower of
London, Buckingham Palace, The Eye of London, St Paul's
Cathedral, Westminster Abbey to name just a few.
Oxford Street is famous for it's shopping and if your credit
card stretches far enough, visit Harrods, one of the most
exclusive department stores in the world.
The transport system is great to get around with when you don't
have a car with the 'underground tube' taking you wherever you
want to go. A one-day travel card costs around $8 and gives you
unlimited travel on the tube and London's double decker buses. A
cab drive with the London Black Taxis is a great experience and
if your driver is a cockney, you'll love the rhyming slang
language and their sense of humour.
Dining out is a wonderful gastronomic experience with different
ethnic foods to tempt your palate and there are many good and
also many not so good hotels to stay in and the small size of
some hotel rooms are a disappointment to many visitors. Don't be
surprised when you see the prices, as London is well renowned to
be one of the most expensive cities in the world.
Moving out of London, a short drive or rail trip will take you
to the beautiful town of Windsor renowned for Windsor Castle,
one of the Queen's residences and Eton College where many of the
Royals complete their education. The vast countryside in Britain
is a wonderful sight to behold and the little villages along the
way offer exquisite antique shops to visit, country tea houses
serving fresh scones, jam and cream and interesting places to
visit.
British audiences are wonderful, but you need to do some
research. They are very conservative and do not enjoy talks that
encourage audience participation. Some time ago, an American
speaker who was on the same programme as me started his talk by
asking the audience to stand and repeat, "I feel good, I feel
fine, I'm fantastic all the time". The audience was very
embarrassed and his talk went downhill from there. The English
sense of humour is very different from that of the Americans as
is their taste in sport. The British are passionate about
"football", rugby and cricket and have very little knowledge of
American football, basketball, baseball or ice hockey.
Watch the television, travel in the city, read the newspapers
and then adapt your talk accordingly. Many of my friends from
the USA have adapted their talks and consequently have been
invited back numerous times.
There are many excellent venues to speak at, my favourite being
the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, which is two hours
north of London. Manchester, the home of the football team
Manchester United also offers many speaking opportunities and is
the second largest city in England.
Scotland Moving north, you will experience the warmth and
friendliness of the Scots. When you think of Scotland you can
picture a burly Scot in his kilt playing the bagpipes and I'm
sure you must have tasted the world's best single malt whiskey,
which is produced here. Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful
and elegant cities in Europe. Visit Edinburgh Castle and once
again tempt your palate at one of the many restaurants on the
Royal Mile. Plan your visit to coincide with the Edinburgh
Festival and enjoy endless entertainment and parties.
Glasgow is the home of the famous comedian, Billy Connelly and
also has numerous conferences and speaking assignments.
On the west coast near Ben Nevis, which is one of the highest
mountains in Britain, you will find the picturesque town of Fort
William. Take the steam train ride to Malaig and see some of the
most beautiful and rugged countryside. Not far from there, stay
over at Drumnadrochit and take a boat ride on the Loch Ness in
search of Nessie, the famous Loch Ness Monster.
Aberdeen, the Granite City is on the east coast of Scotland with
its oil companies and a base for North Sea exploration, also has
many speaking opportunities. Remember to bring your raincoats
and warm clothing, as it's cold and wet.
Wales If you have a speaking engagement in Wales, it will most
probably be in Cardiff, the capital. Visit the wonderful little
villages in Wales and experience the wonderful Welsh
hospitality. It takes a while to become accustomed to their
"singing" accent and it's one of the most difficult languages
I've come across, but don't despair, all signs are in Welsh but
in English too.
Ireland In Northern Ireland your speaking assignment will most
probably be in Belfast, which is a divided city. On one of my
visits there, I asked the taxi driver to take me on a tour to
the two infamous streets, Shankhill Road and Fall Road and when
I wanted him to stop to enable me to take a photograph, he
thought I was crazy. Stay in the most bombed hotel in the world
and visit the docks where the Titanic was built but most of all,
enjoy the warmth and friendliness of the people.
Republic of Ireland Southern Ireland has the biggest party
town
in Europe, which is of course Dublin. With no unemployment in
Dublin, speaking opportunities are in abundance. The audiences
are wonderful and appreciative with a keen sense of humour. They
love stories and are some of the best storytellers I've ever
heard. Enjoy the "craick" which is slang for partying and
enjoying yourself. Travel south to Limerick and Cork for the
beauty that Ireland is renowned for. One of my favourite
experiences is travelling through the small villages and
stopping off at the pubs. You will soon forget the cold and wet
outside as you enter the warmth of the pub, created by a large
fire in the corner fireplace, and listen to a musician quietly
playing Irish music while you sip at your whiskey, wonderful!
Also ensure you visit the famous pub "Dirty Nellies".
Hong Kong
Welcome to Hong Kong. How many of us can remember the old
airport with the runway in the sea and the greatest challenge
for every airline pilot. All that has changed now and Hong Kong
airport is amongst the most modern in the world. A short train
ride on a clean modern express takes you into either Kowloon or
the Island of Hong Kong.
It is a country of fascination, history, and wonderful foods and
of course the best shopping in the world. The main business
district is on the Island of Hong Kong in the "central"
district. It is easy to get around as the MTR underground is
fabulous, clean, efficient and always on time. I normally buy an
"octopus" ticket for HK$150 (approx US$20) and this can be used
for a week. The hotels are first class as are the restaurants
but be prepared, Hong Kong is an expensive city. Taxis are
efficient but get your hotel to write out the address, as many
taxi drivers don't understand English. Most speaking venues are
in the hotels or at the World Trade Centre and are super
efficient. Do your homework before you go. I made some
unforgivable blunders in the beginning. The first time I went to
Hong Kong, I spoke to a group of approximately 100 Chinese
business people. After the talk, many came to meet me and handed
their cards to me, which I put into my pocket. I was politely
told that I had insulted everyone and was then shown the correct
behaviour. The card is handed over and accepted with both hands.
You should read it, show appreciation by feeling it and making
some gesture and then put it away in your pocket. Always carry a
supply of business cards as the culture dictates the swapping of
cards immediately.
As I travel to Hong Kong about 4 to 6 times a year, I bought
some books on Chinese etiquette, which has assisted me
tremendously. The Chinese can appear almost shy to start with,
but they enjoy entertainment as much as anyone else. Your talk
must contain many educational points, as this is a priority. The
people are serious, professional and the hardest working nation
I have come across. Never be late for an appointment.
If you enjoy shopping (like me), there is no place like Hong
Kong. There are shops literally everywhere. I have found the
best places to shop in Mongkok, which contains a ladies market
and night market. Gadget junkies will lose themselves at Star
City Computer Centre. Nightlife abounds with wonderful
restaurants and bars around the Soho area in Central. Taking a
trip up the cable car will give you a spectacular view of the
city. Take a bus ride to Stanley Bay where you can pick up all
kinds of bargains at Stanley market like a beautiful silk tie
for about US$1.50. Visit Happy Valley Racetrack or take a boat
ride to Aberdeen to see a city of boat people. Enjoy the "Star
Ferry" from Hong Kong to Kowloon with the locals or take the
hovercraft to Discovery Bay for a game of golf. One of my
favourite places is the Island of Chin Chau and a half hour
ferry ride will take you to the favourite holiday resort of the
locals. Beautiful beaches, no cars (only bicycles) and the best
seafood will have you returning more than once. Another
hovercraft trip will take you to the Island of Macau, which was
previously under Portuguese rule and still has all the
influences. The Island of Lantau has the giant Buddha and visit
Sea Park with its cable cars that will give you a spectacular
view of Hong Kong and will take you to the world's longest
escalator. Speaking opportunities abound, so get it to the top
of your "opportunity" list.
Frank Furness CSP CFP is a professional speaker and trainer
specialising in sales and sales management. He has educated,
entertained and inspired audiences in 42 countries. His
publications and sales CDs have been sold globally. For more
information or to sign up for the free 'Sales Tips & Ideas'
newsletter, email frank@frankfurness.com or telephone+ 44 (0)
870 240 6505. www.frankfurness.com
NOTE: You're welcome to "reprint" this article online as long as
it remains complete and unaltered (including the "about the
author" info at the end), and you send a copy of your reprint to
frank@frankfurness.com Take a look at other articles, free
software and e-Books at http://www.frankfurness.com/ Download 39
Power Sales Closing Scripts at
http://www.frankfurness.com/closingscripts.cfm
About the author:
NoneFrank Furness CSP CFP is a professional speaker and trainer
specialising in sales and sales management. He has educated,
entertained and inspired audiences in 42 countries. His
publications and sales CDs have been sold globally. For more
information or to sign up for the free 'Sales Tips & Ideas'
newsletter, email frank@frankfurness.com or telephone+ 44 (0)
870 240 6505. www.frankfurness.com
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