Feature Presentations

Opportunity Knocks

Every so often we have the opportunity to complete our Feature Presentation at our BNI chapter meeting. This is a golden opportunity to tell the chapter much more about ourselves and our business than we can in our weekly presentations. Often the information presented allows the “penny to drop” about what we do and can help referrals flow.

Because the Feature Presentation comes around infrequently and can make such a difference to our visibility and credibility we are going to look at the steps a member can take before, during and after their Feature Presentation to make the most of it.

Prior to your Feature Presentation

4 weeks before – Use your weekly presentation to let members know that you are speaking in 4 weeks’ time. Ask for ideas for what members would like to hear about. Follow up the request with an email they can reply to with ideas.

2 weeks before – Use your weekly presentation to mention that your Feature Presentation is in 2 weeks’ time and advise what you will be talking about. Ask members to invite suitable visitors to hear your presentation. An example of this would be to invite landlords to the Feature Presentation by the Property Manager.

1 week before – Prepare and practise your presentation. Be ready to step in should the speaker due to present the week before you have to reschedule. Prepare your speaker’s bio – To give to the Education Co-Ordinator to introduce you. Include different information in your Bio that is not already going to be mentioned in your presentation. Organise your door prize – Choose something that gives the winner an experience of your business rather than a lunch or a bottle of wine (unless you sell wine).

The Presentation

The golden rule of presentations is telling them what you are going to tell them, use this to create curiosity, and then at the end tell them what you told them by summarising.

If it is your first presentation, about 1/3 of the presentation should be about you personally: your achievements, previous experience, or careers and a little about your family.

After that, open with your “why”. Why you do what you do, beyond just for the money. Telling your story, can help calm your nerves.

Next talk about your bread and butter products or services. The problems you help with and how you solve them, with one or two case studies, these lead to the specific referral requests at the end of your presentation.

Practising your presentation in front of someone will make sure you get the timing right and help develop your confidence.

In general, avoid death by PowerPoint, use 5-6 slides maximum. Graphics and images are better than words, try not to read from your slides, use bullet point reminders.

And remember “unplugged” presentations can be very powerful. Think outside the square and engage the audience with questions, quizzes, prizes.

On the Day

Remember your door prize.

Be especially early the morning of your presentation and check the technology works, especially if you are using video.

Bring a printed copy of your presentation if you are using PowerPoint in case the technology fails completely.

Use your weekly presentation to announce that you are the feature presenter today and briefly cover what you will be talking about rather than a standard weekly presentation.

If you want to answer questions, make sure you leave time for those. Your presentation time includes time for questions, there is not additional time for questions.

Post Presentation

Email the chapter thanking them for their time. Remind them of the referrals you are looking for and attach a copy of your presentation if appropriate.

Summary

Your feature presentation is a golden opportunity to increase the members’ understanding of you and your business. Prior preparation and practise will help you to make the most of the opportunity.