Dan Janal | Publicity and PR Leads Blog

How can a media savvy mogul like Steve Jobs make such a big blunder?

Upset over the pending publication of an unauthorized biography is about to hit the shelves, he ordered his Appple stores to not only not stock that book, but toss out all the books from the publisher, John Wiley & Sons. (Disclaimer: John Wiley has published many of my books.)

The banning is now a media event, exactly the kind of think Jobs would have wanted to occur. Censorship, it appears, is still a reviled process in this country.

The news lead the front page of the business section of the New York Times, which means that the article will be available for reprinting in hundreds of newspapers that subscribe to its syndicated articles.

To add insult to injury, the article quotes bookstore manager saying he had increased his order from 5 measly copies to 25 copies because of the increased interest.

Hah!

There you go, Steve. Instead of letting a bio that appears to be little more than a rehash of old stories die a boring death, you just might have turned it into a blockbuster.

Or was that your plan all along?

I spoke at a conference today and had an interesting discussion with a woman who does not have a website.

She wondered if having a blog would replace her need for a site.

She might be on to something!

A blog is easier to create than a website. After all she doesn’t have a site now. Something was stopping her. Money. Technofear. Whatever.

Posting to a blog is as easy as writing an email.

As to relative benefits, if you want to have a spot where people can find you, learn about you and read your latest thoughts, then the blog does the same thing as a website.

You could add e-commerce via links as well. Same as a website.

You don’t even have to pay hosting fees since many blogs have free hosting (as this one does.)

Also, no domain registration fees. No renewals.

Furthermore, search engines optimize blogs faster and better than websites.

You know. She might be on to something here.

Renee Grant-Williams, voice coach to the country stars, offered these tips at the Master Class for Singers. I think they are equally applicable to speakers:

1. Breathe from below your belt. Yes, we’ve all heard about speaking from the diaphragm, but forgive me as I don’t have a medical degree. I don’t know where the diaphragm is. I know where my belt it. Thank you Renee! My voice is deeper and has a fuller timbre when I remember to use this simple technique.

2. The public expects you to be bigger than life. This might fly in the face of people who suggest speakers relate as peers to their audiences. I think both ideas are valid. I’d just like to think that when Tom Peters speaks, I want to walk away saying WOW instead of “he’s just like me.”

3. Smile. “I never have to teach people to frown,” she says. I LOVE that line!!!

4. Before you sing, think about WHO is singing the song, WHO she is singing to and WHAT is she feeling. Since most country music involves telling a story, this is phenomenal advice. As speakers, I think the parallel is apt, as we frequently tell stories to illustrate points. Renee’s format helps put us in place and time so we relive the story, not just re-tell the story.

You can learn more about Renee at http://www.myvoicecoach.com