The Secret to Memorable Speaking

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As a society we're getting worse at listening. Attention spans continue to shrink, information overload is real, and it feels like so many of us have ADD.

It makes it very difficult for communicators to cut through the noise. One effective way to get people to pay attention is to interject short, catchy phrases that encapsulate the essence of your ideas. It's the part of your content that's quotable, tweetable, and most importantly, memorable. In the news business we call these sound bites.

As a reporter, I listened for sound bites whenever I interviewed someone. I would use those 10-second nuggets to help make my story succinct and meaningful.

Why it Matters

Sound bites aren’t just for media interviews. Crafting concise, clever, memorable statements that communicate your messages and resonate with your audience is vital if you’re doing a media interview or giving a speech.

In today’s world of increasing information overload and decreasing attention spans, well-placed sound bites can help people remember what you say. They can also inspire people to act, buy a product, or join a movement..

Experienced spokespeople understand the importance of delivering sound bites and plan them in advance. In fact, clients often come to me for help creating great quotes. When you have something important to communicate, that you want people to remember, it's worth taking a few minutes to plan a great one-liner... or several!

Every speaker should have a few of these in their back pocket, so I'll share our process for crafting effective sound bites.

First...

4 Elements of an Effective Sound bite

? Concise. Stated in 10 seconds or less

? Uses vivid language

? Easy to repeat

? Memorable

4 Steps to a Memorable Sound bite

Take a few minutes to go through this process. Trust me it's worth it!

Brainstorm.

Consider what you want to communicate and the most important point you want people to remember. Then, brainstorm lists for each of the following:

?? Keywords - verbs, nouns and adjectives that relate to the message you want to convey. Use words that pack a punch and create a sense of urgency or importance.

?? Benefits & Results – consider how will people benefit or what results will they get.

?? Superlatives – strong words to describe what you’re talking about (biggest, best, fastest, etc.)

?? Emotions – consider the emotions you want people to feel.

Create.

Using words from the above lists, look for ways to write a clever sentence using the following tools:

? Triplicates. Create a statement using threes. "Our fundraiser helps prevent, treat, and cure cancer."

? Alliteration. Combine words that start with the same letter or sound. "I help people be clear, concise and confident when they speak."

? Contrast. Two opposite concepts: "The most heavenly chocolate on earth."

? Rhyme. Combine rhyming keywords: "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit."

? Supreme. Use superlatives to imply mastery, excellence and superiority. "Our electric car, equipped with an innovative new battery, will take you further than any other in history."

? Emotion. Appeal to your audience's emotion or what they want to avoid. "Innovate or stagnate."

? Cliches. Alter a cliche to fit your purpose: "Our cloud has a silver lining."

Review.

Look at what you've written to ensure it's a single sentence that conveys a main point and aligns with your brand's tone and personality.

Now say it out loud. It should sound natural, authentic and easily roll off your tongue. If it doesn't, go back and rework it until you have a fantastic soundbite.

Deliver.

Now it's time to make an impact. To hook people immediately, consider leading your media interview answer, speech, or blog post with your new sound bite. Then, reinforce your message by reiterating it at the end. Bam!

Bottom Line

Sound bites are not just for politicians and news clips; they're a strategic element that can elevate your speech or written content.

By following this guide, you can create powerful statements that not only summarize your main points but also leave a lasting impression.

Happy creating!

Learn More

I work with companies and organizations committed to helping spokespeople excel at media interviews and public speaking.

Visit reelmediapr.com and book a meeting with me to find out if we’re a good fit.

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Kerri Kazarba Schneider is the trusted media trainer and speaker coach for Fortune 100 executives, nonprofit leaders and other spokespeople who want to excel at media interviews and public speaking.

She’s the CEO and founder of reel media pr, a consulting firm in Seattle providing expert media and speaker training to clients worldwide, through corporate workshops, one-on-one coaching, and virtual training, so they can tell their stories on-air, online and in person.?

Kerri launched reel media pr in 2012, after a 20-year career as a broadcast journalist, interviewing more than 10,000 people. She’s passionate about coaching clients with proven strategies, so they can feel confident and excel at high-stakes, on-camera interviews and speaking engagements.