Melva Gifford

These are notes from a webinar hosted by WriteForKids. Any misinformation is the fault of the note taker. This was an interview and Q&A with by Kerrie Flanagan.

– The magazine markets look fine in the Covid19 situation.
– There are approximately seven thousand magazines in print most are trade or association.
– Writing for magazines can fit in time-wise on people’s schedules than a book.
– Magazines in July looking for content for Sept and Oct.
– Magazines are not looking for content for CV 19. Readers are already tired of the subject.
– A very fun article for crafts could be good. You could send it to multiple magazines that are not competing for markets.
– You can come up with one idea and alter it for a different emphasis to sell to different magazines. Those different articles can all come from one area of research.
– To create ideas: Write for kids, it’s a good idea to have an idea map. This is where you come up with brainstorming different ideas. One topic might be about apples. Crafts from apples, apple picket for kids, How to prune an apple tree.
– Select some of the key ideas and then start to list interesting things about that subject.
– To write about an idea you don’t know about, you can interview experts to get ideas.
– You can also start a list of things you are already good about.
– Get an idea for things you are passionate about.
– Google ‘magazines for children’ you can look at the magazine website and read some sample articles. It can inspire other ideas.
– Many magazines are accessible at the library website.
– Q: What are good sources to do research from home.
– Wikipedia can be a good source to get an idea but to get knowledge elsewhere. It gives a broad understanding of a topic.
– Access your local library database online.
– You need to have your query with enough info to illustrate your strong knowledge of the topic.
– You want a very interesting slant on an idea rather than a general concept. Have a focus that has not been done before.
– Q: way to find experts?
– You do a lot of googling. Find their websites and contact them.
– See if they would be willing to be interviewed for an article if get interested. You can then put will interview experts in the query. You may put in your query ‘I will be contacting child phycologists’ if your article covers that topic.
– Topics for article
– To write for a specific magazine, it is encouraged to read the last six months of the magazine to get an idea of what they publish.

This is a presentation given a Timp Toastmasters. Any misinformation is the fault of the note taker.

– As speakers learn how to become professional speakers they will frequently share with each other what has worked for them.
– Toastmasters are initially for hobbyists but then members begin to wonder how they can make money speaking? How can I get paid for this?
– The speakers go on the rubber chicken circuit, where they will speak for free, for lunch. i.e.: you’re Kiwanis club, you need a speaker. It’ll be great if got chicken for lunch.
– As you get better at speaking, someone will eventually ask how much do you charge? Your first response will be gas to get to their meeting. You may say initially $40, $100, or $200.
– You move up the food chain as you evolve as a speaker from toastmasters to the level I want to become a speaker.
– Older professional speakers are getting at the level that they want to retire and are open to a new batch of speakers to replace them. There is a huge need for the age group of 25-45.
– The more grey hair you have the more your value goes up.
– COVID 19 has killed the speaking business. Those who are very good, have learned how to maintain their business by doing a lot of virtual presentations.
– Here are some things to learn. We are going to practice C.A.S.E. It means Copy And Steal Everything.
– You can join the National Speakers Association which is 3-4,000 people. In Utah, they get together once a month. They share ideas on how they get paid. He recommends going to a local NSA event. They meet in various locations.
– Recommend the book, The Wealthy Speaker 2.0 by Jane Ackinson. https://www.amazon.com/Wealthy-Speaker-2-0-Completely-Updated/dp/B01LY0T5FO/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+wealthy+speaker+2.0+by+jane+atkinson&qid=1596112401&sr=8-1
– The presenter asked Jane how long does it take for a speaker to find their ‘subject’? She said seven years/ when you pick a lane and find one subject you’re good at it takes about seven years.
– You need to have a message that people are willing to pay for.
– You want to find businesses that are willing to pay. There are several businesses and organizations that have the money to pay for professional speakers. Leadership training, processes, and sales training, these organizations always have money in their budget to find a speaker.
– The two main sources of income are Associations and Corporations. People, that attend those meetings may come and say ‘I heard you speak, will you speak at my organization?’ The presenter said at a low level meeting, someone asked him as a guest at a higher level and then another attendee at that speech hired him a third location.
– One you get speaking you will get to the point where they will want to pay you. You can ask them what’s the pay? May start at $100 – 200 and then move up to $400-600. Move up to $1200 to then $25,000. Up to 39,000 to 50K.
– There is a well-known speaker in Utah who speaker about 100 times a yr. His fees range from $10k to 25K Per presentation. This is not where he makes his most money. Every Monday morning he shoots a six min video which he has his staff puta front and back on and they send it out to his corporate customers. Then the corp. heads will send it out to all their employees. One message may be about optimism or other topics. He had $3.4 million a year for videos.
– How to up your credibility, you write a book. Once one writes one book they often start writing others.
– For the big speaker referenced he told his staff, for every book you sell, I’ll give your $1. When they sold a million books he thought oh my word what have I done?
– Speaking is a Launchpad for other things.
– As you learn to speak, you begin to learn the craft of telling stories. How to find my own stories? Where do I get them? How do I make them funny? There’s an old maximum do you have to use humor to be a good speaker, No, only if you want to get paid. You will want to learn how to find it, use it, and how to build humor.
– Jeanne Robertson is one of the funniest humorists. Wrote a book, “How to capture the funny stuff”. The rule is whatever pissed you off yesterday, will be funny a few days later. You need to know how to tell it some it becomes funnier.
– If you want to become a professional speaker, the best way is the meet with other speakers.
– 80% of our work to become a speaker is marketing.
– One way to market is to sell books. His book is about 70 pgs. and can be considered as a true bathroom read as it can be consumed in about two visits to the bathroom. The advantage of doing a book is no one ever throws away a book. You can do an expensive brochure or an expensive business card or you can give out a book and its production is about the same cost. People buy the book for $10 and it costs $1 to produce. Give it away.
– Do a website. Is a way to put a market in the world for people to see you?
– You will want to start making videos. Program directors want to see you speaking in front of a video. They want to see if you can relate and if you are relatable.
– In Utah everyone does it and everyone does it. There are a lot of speakers. If you want to make money you’ll have eventually get on an airplane. Get to go to fancy resorts.
– Go to a national speaker’s association. They will fly in experts into a meeting. They will tell you their secrets. Why would they share their ideas? When you implement their ideas it will look totally different.
– Create a business plan.
– Learn from others and professionally are very happy to share their experience. Presenters want to be others.
– Mark Twain said it’s a horrible death to be talked to death, anyone have any questions.
– Put your speeches on a YouTube channel. The first ones will be crappy. Feel free to go to KordellNorton.com and steal what is on his website. https://kordellnorton.com/
– Get a colored piece of paper that is your Ah-Ha sheet. Maybe put a lightbulb at the top. You ask them two questions: one: How did do today? What did you get today that you will use in your life? Leave space for them to answer
– Two: what do you wish you could have gotten more of? (Maybe have nice card stock with a frame on it –mg)
– The first questions are testimonials you can use on your business. The second question you have something to talk about when you come back. You present that to the meeting planner and show them what their audience is looking for when they invite you back. Maybe call it a great idea sheet.
– If you tell others you are a great speaker it has about a 14% credibility factor. But is someone else says you are great. That has a 92% creditability factor.
– Go to Five Guys hamburgers and see how they promote themselves.
– At the end of the presentation, you or a friend takes your phone and video people. What did you get out of your presentations today? They respond. Give live examples of 3-second testimonials. Put them on YouTube with your name. When put up a photo on YouTube but attach your name to an event. Put in “first last” in quotes it will single you out. “Melva Gifford” at Event Name. Do a google search on your name, “first last” if your photo comes up, you’re doing good.
– The suggestion of when you have a photo taken. To look like a business shot, turn our shoulders at a 45% angle so that the shot gets you at an angle. If you want to display personality decline 1 to 3^tild of your head to your chest. When you take kind of pictures there are two types of pictures. If you say cheese you smile with the mouth. Your smile will look authentic (called the Deschene smile) if you smile with your eyes. Think ‘sex’ and the smile comes from your heart.
– Tell your audience to take notes. It’s proven they are 14% smarter.
– Website: https://kordellnorton.com/