Tony Compton:0:00
For one competitive marketing edge, get down to business at the local coffee shop, but take it seriously.
I'm Tony Compton. Welcome to my marketing podcast.
Once upon a pre-pandemic time, long ago, at one of the local coffee shops, I grabbed a cup of coffee. Then I grabbed one of the last empty seats. My seat's in a corner, facing into the coffee shop. At the next table, I see somebody preparing to deliver a presentation. The presenter is using a laptop which is open and facing three other well dressed business executives. The laptop is also facing me. Squarely, facing me. In fact, it's impossible for me not to notice. We're in a coffee shop and it's common for business people to use coffee shops as convenient places to meet. It's a public place and I can't help but notice. So, the adjacent business presentation begins.
The scene at the coffee shop? Customers abound, talking, noise amplified by the music piped in. The trio of an audience waits. Moments later, some sort of error message on the presentation laptop screen captures my attention. There's a problem. And even though I really can't hear what's being discussed, I've been around the block dozens of times to fill in those blanks. “This computer, I don't know. It's crazy, you know, sometimes the files and this machine. I don't know why this is happening." I just guessed that's what was being said. I could read the body language as the presenter typed and poked at the machine.
Funny how most business people still don't listen or learn about presentation and public speaking skills, technical or otherwise.
Funny how your marketing can be crushed at the coffee shop.
Now, I can't help but notice that a fast moving video has appeared on that presenters laptop. The presenter begins to talk. Talking, as that video is playing in a noisy coffee shop with customers and music. So I wonder what's the point of that presentation? I'm confused and I have nothing to do with that presentation over there. I look down and mind my own business. But now comes my favorite part and my attention is caught yet again. Slides on the screen.
So we have “The Reading of the Slides” or the “Why don't you shut off your computer and just tell me what's on the slides without showing me and reading me the slides that most any business person can read?”
Fast forward, there I was. For the first time in two years, I sat in a local coffee shop not far from that previous presentation. And I couldn't help but hear somebody else say “Can you hear the background noise?”
I can hear the music and the noise. But what I won't hear is your message and so much more from marketing getting crushed at the coffee shop.
Where should you be able to get some help with that? That's on my next podcast, which will be experienced, down to business and right to the point.
Now That's a Marketing Podcast!
I'm Tony Compton.