World's Oldest Mouse

Funny photos really get me going, especially when they're accompanied by witty comments from the presenter.

When I first started speaking for a living almost 30 years ago, I took a public speaking class from Kirk Kilpatrick in Atlanta. I asked him if being funny was important, and he responded by saying, "Only if you want to get paid."

After giving well over 1,500 paid presentations, I could not agree more.

Today, it is so much easier to access funny material over the Internet. And now, with everyone using Power Point, you can easily throw up a funny photo and get a good laugh.

I recently attended a program given by a friend of mine from the Big Island of Hawaii. He talked about a longevity study they had done on mice. After making his point, he asked the audience if we would like to see a photo of the world's oldest mouse. Of course we did. We were all expecting to see this skinny, shriveled up little creature when he popped this photo up on the screen. It was a scream.

If you use a projector, look for funny photos that will add to the value of your program. If you need to get permission, get it. But please, don't show a photo for the sake of getting a laugh only... that's the sign of a hack. You're better than that. Make sure the photo has something to do with your presentation.

If you have a blog, add a photo. If you want people to read your blog, add a funny photo that has something to do with your blog post. You will quickly acquire the reputation as a blogger/speaker with a great sense of humor. And humor sells!

Take a moment to share your marketing and sales knowledge with the readers of the Recognized Expert Marketing Blog. This is a fantastic way to help the community while positioning yourself as the expert in your field. Better yet, it's the most effective way to find new clients who need access to your brain.

If you need help getting started, visit our RE Blog Video Tutorials. You'll have your first blog post up in minutes.