Recently, TEDxMelbourne Licensee holder Jon Yeo has been sharing all manner of tips with Smarter Selling, so I thought we would share some here! I asked him how to get into TEDxMelbourne and Jon gave this key list of things to consider when applying for TEDx events…
- You must have an idea worth spreading: Not a lesson, not a public service announcement. Think about what would cause your idea to spread.
- It must be audience-centric: What is the outcome for the audience? Could they say it in a sentence when you leave the stage?
- It must appeal to a broad audience: Ideally, it must be remarkable outside of your industry or area of expertise. If it catalyses or polarises thinking, it’s heading in the right direction.
- It must be clear! How would you summarise your topic in a single compelling sentence? If it is not clear in your head, it will never be clear for your audience.
- No ego, selling or coaching on stage: This is important, as a popular or trending talk does not guarantee acceptance.
- Practice and prepare: Expect to put MANY hours into practice and preparation to adapt for our audience (this is especially relevant for experienced speakers). We would expect at least 15-25 hours of preparation plus practice. The talks that have done well have typically had an additional 30-100 hours of practice (yes, this is what our successful speakers say.) They put in above the hours we want them to commit.
- Adapt your speech: For professional speakers- a corporate talk often doesn’t work on a TEDx stage (as there are different needs, outcomes and expectations from the audience). You will need to adapt!
If you would like to get into the head of Jon Yeo and learn more valuable tips, he will be running a workshop called Design for Impact | 9 November @ 8.45am AEDT | Live >>>
Read: As a speaker, what do I do with my hands? >>>
To find out more about Jon Yeo’s thoughts, check out our masterclasses where we interview Jon >>>
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