Susan Young's
Amplify Blog
Why You Shouldn't Be Exhibiting at Conferences
Remember wallpaper?
It was a "thing" back in the day.
And people would say: "Don't blend in with the wallpaper."
Translation: Stand out, get noticed, and be visible.
Don't be a wallflower.
Blending in makes us feel invisible, ordinary, and maybe even dull.
It repels people and opportunities. It happens every day online.
And at conferences. Most people don't seem to mind blending in at industry events.
This week, I saw a few people I know posting pictures of themselves exhibiting at a trade expo.
Some of the posts were from past coaching clients.
They are REALLY good at what they do.
They know their sh*t.
They work hard and often exceed their goals.
Why spend time in a booth when you could speak at a workshop down the hall?
To a captive audience who wants to learn from you. And maybe hire you.
Do you see yourself in an endless row of vendors trying to muster up conversations while handing out candy and...
Stories Are Your Marketing Strategy
The highest-paid people in the room are exceptional storytellers.
That’s because stories connect us emotionally as human beings.
And people who know how to capture the essence of a good story become marketing machines.
No weirdo sales pitches or presentations.
No chasing.
No worrying about the economy.
Or having that hard talk with your partner or kids that the holidays will be lame cause money is tight.
When you skillfully use stories in business, there are no weirdo sales pitches. Instead, you have easy, friendly, and heartfelt conversations that convert.
You’re gold.
You have sustainable business growth with new clients who are exciting to work with.
Look, storytelling isn’t a fad that’s going out of style anytime soon.
There IS a place for it in business.
I remember being told for years that emotions don’t belong in the workplace.
That ship has sailed.
And that’s where stories come in.
So how...
The 1 Soft Skill That's Key to Marketing — that Most Leaders Forget About
The charisma vibe.
Not many people are talking about it. That's why I'm going there.
'Cause I don't want you to skip this soft skill that I know is essential in business.
Charisma is a magical quality that most people want. It makes business lighter and more enjoyable.
Aren't you drawn to people who have that special magnetism, allure, charm, and appeal? That's charisma.
The good thing about charisma is that it's a soft skill that's super valuable in communication.
It helps us build rapport, attract opportunities, and live more fulfilling lives.
If you're not feeling the "charisma vibe," there's good news. You can develop it.
Maybe you're like me.
You weren't born with a peppy, outgoing personality. No worries!
I began working on this 25 years ago, simply by watching alluring people.
I've been able to re-invent myself. And you can, too.
When you watch charismatic people who you admire, you'll notice they are...
- Kind
- Interested in other...
How to Stop Wasting Time on Sales Calls — and Still Make 6 Figures
No one-off sales or discovery calls. No weird scripts or pitches. No “pick your brain” peeps who won't hire you anyway.
I’ve had these calls before too. You know, first, you meditate, rock out to a favorite song to get energized (Bruce Springsteen’s Thunder Road for me), recite mantras…blah blah blah.
What if instead of talking with one prospect at a time, you could speak to 20 prospects…or 200?
And they're all warm leads coming to YOU at one time. #Stopthechase
Sweet, right?
This is the business and marketing strategy of successful (paid) speakers.
- It’s what I learned in 2000 when I started my PR company and joined the National Speakers Association.
- It’s what I’ve been teaching to entrepreneurs, coaches, and business leaders for years.
- It's the business of speaking.
- It's a sales funnel before I knew what a sales funnel was.
Here’s how it works.
When...
This is THE BIGGEST Differentiator Between Speakers Who Get Hired, and Those Who Don't
Speaker Rant Here:
You wanna become a paid speaker so you can share your stories and change lives.
That's wonderful.
There's a huge mistake that beginners make that I want you to avoid at all costs.
This is the 3rd time in a few weeks I've heard something like this.
A connection on LinkedIn posted this today and I cringed. You should never experience this!
Look, a keynote is VERY different than a breakout session.
In how you craft your...
Stories and the flow of your talk
Slides
Activities
Handouts
And your mindset!
A true professional speaker who gets paid to present time and time again asks the right questions from the moment they are hired so that they are absolutely in their power and can blow the doors off their presentation!!
My coaching clients know that walking into a surprise is not professional.
If you're wanting to get serious about becoming a paid speaker, let's hop on a free Story Power Session strategy call. Click this link to apply.
My Client Was Full of It, and You Probably Are, Too
Humans are born with only 2 fears: the fear of falling and the fear of loud noises.
Science proves it.
Everything else you’re afraid of was learned, most likely in your childhood (0-7 years old)
And we carry these fears—and the stories behind them—with us…for years.
• You talk about being afraid of heights.
• You talk about being afraid of dogs, spiders, or snakes.
• You talk about your fear of public speaking. Then, you give momentum to your (learned) story by talking about the presentation you messed up…in 2012.
Our words create our worlds.
And they usually keep us from growing ourselves and our businesses.
So, what are you afraid of, aside from maybe falling and loud noises?
My client, Don, was reflecting with me about how transformative this fear lesson has been for him.
Don’s a super smart techie.
He was studying computer languages long before the rest of us found the Internet.
His programs have been used by the Pentagon and...
You Guys! I Just Got Promoted!
I am busting at the seams with excitement and pride.
I am now the CEO of my 21-year-old communications company.
On Monday, I woke up as the founder of Get in Front Communications.
By 11 AM, I stopped everything and decided to give myself a long-overdue promotion to CEO.
It took years of me doing the same freakin’ thing…over and over…and expecting different results. (I know…it’s called madness.)
And as the hamster wheel began spinning on Monday, I made a decision. I DECIDED that this is not how a successful CEO operates day-to-day.
I’m getting real here so hold onto your hats.
And please, no judgment. “We teach what we need to learn,” said Jane Fonda.
You see, I’ve spent the past few months searching for the “right” Virtual Assistant.
That's fine, but not at the same time as a...
Your Most Valuable Piece of Content Isn't What You Think
If this wacky Pandemic has revealed one thing about entrepreneurs, it’s this:
Most people don’t feel comfortable talking about themselves online.
Even those with exceptional talents and experience.
They shrink back from sharing their stories.
They say too much…or the wrong things..so prospects click somewhere else.
They “kind of” think they have a story that’s worthy of sharing.
Still, deep down inside they’ve convinced themselves otherwise.
These are the common themes I’ve been seeing and hearing online and with clients since last March when the health crisis hit.
It’s especially rampant on Clubhouse.
People are messaging me about their deep fears around what to say when introducing themselves and how to say it.
Then I get the follow-up DM:
- I need...
How to Supercharge Engagement on Instagram
User-Generated Content, or UGC, is a fun and interactive way to gain visibility and engagement online.
Savvy marketers include UGC as part of their online strategy.
It's super-effective on Instagram when you...
- Need fresh content
- Want more engagement and comments on posts
- Target younger audiences
User-generated content is also fun.
UGC invites subscribers and followers to send in pictures (or enter a contest) based on a theme or "news of the day."
It's a strategy that's long been used in television news. These days, foodies, clothing brands, sports and other visual brands are tapping UGC, too.
Here's an easy example: There's a snowstorm and a TV news anchor encourages viewers to send in their cutest snow picture of their pets.
The station selects "winners" and showcases them with the owner's name or social media handle. The "winners" — the public — create an organic buzz by raving on social media (word-of-mouth marketing) how Fluffy...
The Difference Between Captivating and Crappy Marketing
The other day I got an email from author and entrepreneur Mike Michalowicz with the shortest marketing lesson ever: Be different.
Easy, right?
Not quite.
Michalowicz shared a video explaining an offer he got in the mail from a company specializing in replacement windows and doors. It wasn’t typical junk mail. It was a handwritten letter on heavy stock paper.
It was different.
According to Michalowicz, once you stand out by doing something different, you need to take it two steps further. Your content or marketing must be attractive with a strong call-to-action.
The mailer looked enticing...at first.
But as Michalowicz took a deeper dive, things didn’t add up.
First, the sender identified himself as Larry, yet the letter was written in bubbly cursive handwriting. Michalowicz says the writing was more feminine than what he's...
