Persuasive/Sales Speech Ideas

[Leftfield]

I have to give a persuasive speech (on the 18th, 5 days away) to a class of 20 people in their mid-20s and am in a rut on ideas almost two weeks running... any thoughts from the INTP brethren???

I was considering Goose Island Beer and advocating the main points of it, but it could get tricky at points such as what is a microbrew beer and what defines it, such as it would become a little more informative vs. persuasion due to unfamiliarity.

It must be over a product or service... any ideas or comments would kick ass!

- leftfield

[CoHo]

How long?

[Leftfield]

How long?

4-6 minutes, two main points, somewhat detailed...

[CoHo]

Hahahaha... 4-6 minutes.... oh man...

Point #1: Alcohol beneficial effects (http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&q=Alcohol+beneficial+effects&btnG=Search+News)

Point #2: alcoholics don't drink microwbrews

Point #3: Goose Island is made in Chicago

[kuranes]

Pick any product that you believe in, and use your own reasons for buying it as the persuasive part. Assume a need, is part one. Not sure what you've got to work with there. If no one drinks beer in the audience, for example, can you still pitch beer as though they do? Anyway, assuming the first part is over - "Why buy MY product vs. the competition?" is Part 2. Various reasons besides cheaper price exist having to do with better service, quality/technical benefits and so forth. Consider safety and environmental impact etc. too. Part 3 is "Why buy it NOW vs. some unspecified time in the future?" Various reasons but often it comes down to some time bound discount that will not be present in a week. In Part 2 remember to pitch benefits vs. features - your customer may not WANT to know why or how the benefit is able to exist, just that it DOES, and that it is targeting a need of his/hers. Often judges at these things want you to say what you're about to tell the people, as an outline. Then actually TELL them, in some detail. Then summarize what you just told them. Voila!

[Birdsnest]

Bring samples of Ben and Jerrys icecream and small scoop and cones. Its not cheap, if you bring about 5 flavors, its going to cost 20 or more. Tell about the history of their business while serving samples. Everyone likes this speech.

Another thing to do is get their attention by having a big dramatic opener.
Something like throwing a hefty bag full of loud cans in the middle of the floor and yelling "TRASH!". It gets everyones attention, and they stop and listen.
Of course, with icecream, maybe you have to slam the scoop against something metallic to make a loud noise and yell "ICECREAM" or something.

The idea is to be obnoxiously loud and attention getting in your opening statement, and make it a thrill and or weird, so they HAVE to listen to you. Make it quick so they aren't bored. Have a few scoops already served and walk around and hold two or three flavors as you ask which one they want and hand it to them.

I don't think you can bring alchohol in the class, and it may cause the teacher to get in trouble, so mixed margaritas doesn't work.

[kuranes]

Erhard Seminar Training leaders used to open things up by holding out a thick city telephone directory for a bit, and then, with everyone's attention on it, as it hung there in front of the lectern, he would let it drop to the floor with a big thump.

"Gravity doesn't care whether you believe in it." was the next thing out of his mouth. As if to say "Have I got your attention? These things I'm about to tell you are FACTS, not opinions, people." Not recommended for a simple sales pitch, though. Nor would I recommend the hefty bag full of cans, for this occasion. But those kinds of things are useful if you're running a boiler room or a cult etc. and doing some heavy BSing.

[Leftfield]

Pick any product that you believe in, and use your own reasons for buying it as the persuasive part. Assume a need, is part one. Not sure what you've got to work with there. If no one drinks beer in the audience, for example, can you still pitch beer as though they do? Anyway, assuming the first part is over - "Why buy MY product vs. the competition?" is Part 2. Various reasons besides cheaper price exist having to do with better service, quality/technical benefits and so forth. Consider safety and environmental impact etc. too. Part 3 is "Why buy it NOW vs. some unspecified time in the future?" Various reasons but often it comes down to some time bound discount that will not be present in a week. In Part 2 remember to pitch benefits vs. features - your customer may not WANT to know why or how the benefit is able to exist, just that it DOES, and that it is targeting a need of his/hers. Often judges at these things want you to say what you're about to tell the people, as an outline. Then actually TELL them, in some detail. Then summarize what you just told them. Voila!

Man kuranes, you were there for me form the beginning here and still are now, that is a nice framework to work with. I was thinking since Goose uses the same ingredients (introduce Bavarian purity Law of 1516) as most international brews to favor domestic over international due to cost... then you have the fresh-factor it being local as well as it being an American product, thus a good economical decision for your country (patriotism). The first part might just focus on the brewery itself and use things like its wide variety and tie in its seasonal brews and its Pub Pack and explain these... probably handout a list of all their brews and maybe what fod they are good with and explain when/why they are available when they are.

Conclusion sentence may go along the lines of: Whenever you go to the next bar or restaurant and you see the Goose, try one for me and your taste buds, if your disatisfied you still tried something new... then end sort of philosophical about life being too short to not try new things, etc...

Thanks for the help... all of you

[kuranes]

I used to live in Ohio. I love the way everybody from Cinci goes "Please?" if they don't hear you/understand you right. Only in Cinci. ( Watch someone correct me. )

[Leftfield]

I used to live in Ohio. I love the way everybody from Cinci goes "Please?" if they don't hear you/understand you right. Only in Cinci. ( Watch someone correct me. )

Oh man, you are in Chicago... do you have any attachment or opinion on Goose Island's beers? This is what my speech is on now. Already have the Purpose and Intro written...

the please thing may be a west-side thing, I haven't really noticed it since I returned back to the States but I'll be on the lookout and laugh at the first person that does it... after a few seconds subside they may say it again... furthering my laughter in their face... haha

[kuranes]

Yeah, I drink the Goose. Honker's Ale or the IPA usually.

[jjt]

Erhard Seminar Training leaders used to open things up by holding out a thick city telephone directory for a bit, and then, with everyone's attention on it, as it hung there in front of the lectern, he would let it drop to the floor with a big thump.

"Gravity doesn't care whether you believe in it." was the next thing out of his mouth. As if to say "Have I got your attention? These things I'm about to tell you are FACTS, not opinions, people." Not recommended for a simple sales pitch, though. Nor would I recommend the hefty bag full of cans, for this occasion. But those kinds of things are useful if you're running a boiler room or a cult etc. and doing some heavy BSing.

Did you do EST?

[Dumpy]

start with an anecdote, and then later tie it in to what you are discussing. Try to reach your audiece by using the pronoun "you" in your sentences, as in, "this is what you need . . . "

To tell you the truth, I think it would be the most fun to make up your own product, and then convince people they need it. There was a Rock Hudson-Doris Day flick along those lines.

[kuranes]

Did you do EST?
No. But I almost did. I was curious about it, and read first hand accounts of people who were there.

[kuranes]

start with an anecdote, and then later tie it in to what you are discussing. Try to reach your audiece by using the pronoun "you" in your sentences, as in, "this is what you need . . . "

To tell you the truth, I think it would be the most fun to make up your own product, and then convince people they need it. There was a Rock Hudson-Doris Day flick along those lines.

Yes, beer wouldn't be my first choice of a product to use for something like this, as its main "benefit" is tied to the fickle taste buds. I'd probably look on the Extreme Tech site for some piece of audio visual equipment or a digital camera or something, and explain why the technical features translated into benefits for "YOU", the person aiming it, or listening to it etc.

[Leftfield]

The reasons why I choose this is because a typical college audience, I would guess 80% have no clue about it and can easily be persuaded based of on my information and my knowledge/experience of Bavaria.

In the end I am offering a drawing for the first twelve students in the class to choose the Goose Island beer that they want (from the 4-6 beer, vaierty Pub Pack), since my focuses on the speech are on variety and quality, I am giving one bottle to over half of the class to make it a bit more effective. Also, I will have a handout explaining what types of beer go with what meals and what they taste like based on their specific ingredients.

This is more informative, but like I said due to a lack of knowledge, I will use it to my benefit...

[kuranes]

Wow. You really go all out for a presentation. You'll have to invite me to one sometime. I may need plenty of convincing to come around to your POV though. ;-)

[Dumpy]

when making a sales pitch, you generally do NOT want to use a presentation or style that promotes the entire industry UNLESS you are the industry leader. So, for example, explaining what type of beer goes with what meals would not help your product--listeners would just use that info to purchase competitors' products.

[Leftfield]

when making a sales pitch, you generally do NOT want to use a presentation or style that promotes the entire industry UNLESS you are the industry leader. So, for example, explaining what type of beer goes with what meals would not help your product--listeners would just use that info to purchase competitors' products.

<edit> Which Goose Island beers go with which meals (I thought this was obvious), they have maybe 8-12 styles in bottles year round, and it is only a handout after I give the speech... The pitch is over quality and variety, the intro will focus on a clever opener related to the contest/drawing after class (in process), then about Sam Adams and Goose Island becoming the upcomers of giving beer a new face and about the Bavarian Purity Law of 1516 become the world standard for quality.

0% of actual speech is on the actual industry and food pairings... I am disregarding glassware, don't need to overdue it now...