Public Speaking Training Article on Closing Like a Pro

If you want to know how to close like a pro when doing any kind of public speaking you have to know what you're trying to accomplish.

There are many, many people - even many speakers who are not new to public speaking - who make the mistake of not getting clear in their mind ahead of time exactly what results and outcomes they want to achieve.

But what's that got to do with closing like a pro?

Because when you have clarity about exactly what you're trying to accomplish by doing public speaking, your close can be tight, polished, and professional.

If you're not clear, then your close is going to be weak and rambling, and people are going to have no idea what they should do next, even though it may be obvious to you.

Get 100% clear ahead of time exactly what you're trying to accomplish, then tailor your close to that goal.

Typically, if you're relatively new to public speaking, you will likely have a hard time with telling people what you want them to do. This is a very common problem with new speakers because they don't want to "offend anyone".

But the reality is that people want you to tell them what they should do after you're talk is over. You may have to get a number of public speaking gigs behind you to really get this, but take my advice and don't wait, take my word for this right now.

Many of my students are professionals and business people who want to use public speaking and seminars in order to promote themselves, their business, their products, their services.

In those instances, they either have a physical product to sell, a service to sell, or they want people to make appointments (such as insurance professionals, real estate agents, and CPA's or tax preparers).

Tailor your close to the action you want your audience to take:

• If you want them to buy your product, tell them how they may do so at the end of your talk - should they fill out an order form? Should they just walk to the back of the room and make a purchase? Will they need to go to your business location? Tell them what to do, say thank you, and you're done.
  
  
• If you want them to use your service, tell them exactly what the next step or steps are. Will they need to receive an estimate from you? Will they need to sign up for a service call? Will they need pre-service consultation? Tell them what to do, say thank you, and you're done.
  
  
• If you want them to make an appointment, will you block time on your appointment book right then and there? If so, then tell them to sit tight and you'll be coming around with your appointment book, or to meet you in the back of the room to book their appointment, say thank you, and you're done.