10 Ways to Succeed as a Copwriter, Part 4 -- Develop Strong Presentation Skills

It's one thing to be able to write well. It's quite another to be able to present your work with the utmost confidence and conviction. But some of the most successful copywriters I've met over the years have had as much command of the spoken as the written word.

Those with strong presentation skills are more effective in selling their work to both their colleagues and clients. They're also given more opportunities to attend important meetings, speak at conferences and assume positions of leadership.

If you're uncomfortable speaking in front of an audience, consider joining Toastmasters International, a nonprofit educational organization that helps people improve their public speaking, communication and leadership skills.

As I wrote on my blog more than seven years ago...

"Back in the day, one of my dreams was to hone my public speaking skills to the point where I could lead seminars and speak at conferences and industry events about direct marketing and creativity. At the time (in the late '80s), the extent of my public speaking opportunities was only a couple of wedding toasts — admittedly, fair to middling "best man" mumbo jumbo — so if I was ever going to make it to the big leagues, I knew I needed to take more swings of the bat. I knew I needed Toastmasters. That was then. Now, looking back, I can unequivocally say that more than five years of experience as a Toastmaster — including two stints as club president and more than several rounds of speech contests — went a long way toward changing my life, instilling in me the confidence and skills necessary for all the speaking I do nowadays part and parcel of my career."

There's no question that I enjoy my role as a professional copywriter. But I also take pride in my abilities as a presenter. Developing my own skills as a public speaker was one of the best things I've done for my career so far. Being able to present has not only helped me sell my own work, it's helped me enhance my personal brand and led to countless opportunities I wouldn't have had otherwise.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• copywriter
• copywriting
• marketing
• Bob Cargill
• Presentation Skills
• Public Speaking
• business