One-Minute Communications Tips Archive
April 2010

How to Establish Your Credibility

"Why should I believe you?" is your audience's unspoken question when you make a presentation or sales call. Here are some ways to put your listeners' minds at ease.

State your credentials. Describe your qualifications, experience and record.

Know your subject inside out, backward and forward. At the least, you should know more about the topic than your audience does.

Present the evidence. Cite figures, research, examples and opinions from other experts or customers. Make sure they're relevant and easy to grasp.

Use objective language and shun hyperbole. Be specific in your terminology. Let the data tell the story.

Use effective testimonials that show how you helped others in similar situations.

Don't sweep the bad news under the rug. Bring up any negative information before your audience does, and deal with it in a forthright manner.

Finally, repeat yourself. When someone hears a statement made repeatedly with conviction, they tend to believe it.
 

© Arun Sinha, Access Communications. Access Communications is a marketing communications and technical writing firm based in Stamford, Connecticut, USA. Sign up for Access Communications's One-Minute Communication Tip at http://www.AccessConsultingInc.com. Once a month, you'll receive an actionable idea or technique on an aspect of business communications, distilled into about 150 words.

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