Rainmaking Presentations: How to Grow Your Business by Leveraging Your Expertise (0) [Hardcover]

Joseph Sommerville (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 17, 2009

Most professionals don't enjoy marketing. Even when they have a service they know will benefit the customer, they are reluctant to market it. In Rainmaking Presentations, author Joe Sommerville shows professionals that there is a marketing tool that positions professionals not as a salesperson, but as an advisor. It’s the tool that puts you in front of the economic buyer most often. Whatever you call it, speech, talk, address, lunch and learn, presentation, the scenario is the same. You have somewhere between fifteen minutes to an hour to be in front of a live audience and deliver your message--and to market yourself. 

This book shows professionals how to:

- Organize presentations effectively

- Create persuasive marketing messages

- Communicate technical information

- Determine which professional presentations will deliver future business

- Increase the ROI on every presentation you deliver

Editorial Reviews

Review

From the author, Joseph Sommerville:

 

"Effective communication skills are essential to successful business development. Yet they're often under-emphasized and sometimes completely ignored. Why? Because we communicate so much and so often (approximately 20,000 words per day) we often take it for granted. But regardless of how good your product or service is and how much expertise you have in your area, it all goes to waste unless you can communicate it to others."

 

From his clients:

“Your experience and knowledge, particularly about subtle changes in content or style that make such a big difference, makes you the expert when it comes to presentations. This is the most direct and effective method I’ve seen for moving a presentation from concept to podium.” --Michael Sorkin Vice President, Boston Scientific

 

“Your presentation really created a buzz! In addition to the value we received from the principles you explained, it was fun!” --Carol Lavendar Partner, Insight Advantage

 

“Excellent use of our time. A great session to drive home essential, yet overlooked principles. Your are an inspiring and perceptive facilitator with insights that will benefit all executives.” --Steve Morris, author of Glorious Leadership

 

“The book is the most up-to-date source available on the increasingly wide array of opportunities for professionals to present their knowledge and services.  It covers new electronic channels, such as the webinar and podcast, as clearly and thoroughly as it does more traditional forums.  It’s thoughtfully organized to be used both as a guide and a reference book.  It’s a tremendous resource.” --Ford Harding, author of Rain Making, 2e

"Communication is a crafted skill honed over time and through great practice. The advice and strategies provided in this book are designed to build masterful communication habits for excellent performance." --Dr. Nido Qubein, President, High Point University, Chairman, Great Harvest Bread Co.

"Whether you're a novice speaker or a seasoned pro, you'll find Dr. Sommerville's new book a treasure of tested tools and tips that will clearly enhance your next presentation. In a highly readable and pragmatic way, he shows us how to bring life to any talk and how to impact our audiences in an engaging way." --Edward E. Scannell, CMP, CSP, Past President, National Speakers Assn., Co-Author-McGraw-Hill's "Games Trainers Play"series

About the Author

Joseph Sommerville founded Peak Communication Performance in Singapore in 1997 and moved the company to Houston in 2001. 1,500 audiences from 25 countries have benefited from Joe's programs on topics such as designing  powerful presentations, the language of influence and using speaking as a rainmaking tool. He serves on USA Today’s Entrepreneurs Advisory Panel. In addition to his regular column for New Business Today, he has been featured as an expert on communication in numerous trade and professional journals and appeared on CNBC’s Smart Money Program. He lives in Houston, Texas.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan; 1 edition (March 17, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0230609481
• ISBN-13: 978-0230609488
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,857,973 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

As the leading authority on the language of influence, Joseph Sommerville, Ph.D. shows professionals how to design, develop and deliver presentations that get results. He combined over 20 years on the job experience with advanced academic credentials and research into presentations that win business to create the RainMaking Presentations Seminar, the most comprehensive presentation skills training available for professionals.

His book, RainMaking Presentations: How To Grow Your Business by Leveraging Your Expertise, contains the strategies, techniques, tactics, tips and skills that he learned, practiced and tested over the past two decades.

His programs are delivered throughout the U.S., Canada and Asia. Joe earned his AB from Wabash College and his MA and Ph.D. from the University of Iowa.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing One-of-a-Kind Resource on Rainmaking Presentations, May 6, 2009

By 

Robert G. Barnwell "Robert G. Barnwell" (New York City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rainmaking Presentations: How to Grow Your Business by Leveraging Your Expertise (0) (Hardcover)

I recently read a fantastic white paper by Jill Konrath, author of Selling to BIG Companies, about creating and delivering client presentations. Ever since, I've been frustrated by the lack of quality articles, reports and books about this important topic. I'd almost given up when I stumbled upon Joe Sommerville's Rainmaking Presentations at a national book store chain. Absolutely amazing. I can't recommend it highly enough. The book provides immediately implementable suggestions on a range of subjects -- from the strategic considerations and identifying the presentation's key objective, creation of the presentation, to delivery and next steps. In addition to presentations, Sommmerville also discusses other marketing issues like public relations, authored white papers, special reports, published articles, blogs and much much more. Amazing!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lauron Sonnier, Author, Think Like a Marketer, April 23, 2009

By 

Lauron Sonnier (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rainmaking Presentations: How to Grow Your Business by Leveraging Your Expertise (0) (Hardcover)

Joe Sommerville gives a highly insightful, instructive, and persuasive delivery in his book and his system to create a powerful and impactful presentation. Anyone who ever needs to convince anyone of anything should devour this book.