Silicon Prairie News Launches in Kansas City!

Think Big. 

It's a statement that we use each and every day to inspire entrepreneurs, increase small business growth, and solve the many problems that we face each day.  But this simple term is more than just a marketing strategy, a great slogan, or a clever phrase.  The "Think Big" mentality that we love is being implemented by many different companies throughout the nation; and one of them is moving to our own backyard.

Silicon Prairie News knows how to Think Big.  What started in 2008 as an online community for highlighting the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Midwest has become an Internet sensation for any entrepreneur located in Silicon Prairie.  Also known as SPN, Silicon Priaire News has hosted successful events, has created a high-traffic blog, and has received recognition from CNN.com, The Next Web and Seth Godin.

And now, SPN has launched in Kansas City.

To celebrate the launch, the Silicon Prairie Kansas City team is inviting you to join them on Tuesday, March 1st from 5:30 - 8:30 PM at McFadden's Sports Salon (1330 Grand Boulevard), located in the KC Power and Light District.  With almost 70 guests already RSVP'd on Facebook, the SPN team is looking forward to a great turn-out to celebrate their KC launch.

If you are interested in attending the Silicon Prairie News Kansas City Launch Party, be sure to RSVP on Facebook.  And then, great ready for a wild ride with SPN; a company that has a busy few months ahead of them in Kansas City!

Thanks for your "Think Big" attitude, Silicon Prairie News!  We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday!

Written by Allison Way.  Allison is a writer for Think Big Partners, Kansas City's mentorship-based startup accelerator and business incubator.  To read more of Allison's work, check out the Kansas City Entrepreneurship Examiner as well as her articles on BrooWaha, Helium and eZine.  Follow Allison!  @AllisonThinkBig

Think Globally, Act Locally: Entrepreneurs & Investors Celebrate the Launch of the Think Big Partners & Angel Capital Group Partnership

In January, Think Big Partners and the Angel Capital Group partnered to create a nationwide entrepreneur network.  But what does this mean for entrepreneurs, investors, and the startup community, exactly?

It means big things.

The Angel Capital Group, an angel network of investors with five locations nationwide, links together its many networks so that entrepreneurial resources such as startup and seed capital can be effectively utilized to best aid entrepreneurs.  The company’s collaboration with Think Big Partners means that entrepreneurs now have better access to pertinent resources like startup and seed capital, while investors have the ability to see more opportunities and ideas. 

In other words, it’s every startup’s dream come true.  

The partnership between Think Big Partners and the Angel Capital Group was launched on Tuesday as the two companies, as well 42 leaders and professionals within the Kansas City community came together for an informative luncheon about what the partnership can do for entrepreneurs, investors and the community. 

With the launch of the TBP-ACG partnership, entrepreneurs now have the opportunity to be funded by investors across the nation.  Investors can now fund any idea from anywhere in the country.  The nation now has a stronger entrepreneurial and startup base, generating a more small businesses and improving the U.S. economy, one idea at a time.  It’s all part of the “think globally, act locally” approach.

According to Rachael Qualls, founder of the Angel Capital Group, the partnership between ACG and TBP is off to an incredible start.  Between answering investors’ questions and socializing with attendees at the luncheon on Tuesday, Qualls took time to sit with me to talk about what the partnership.

“The partnership is going very well,” she said.  “This is every entrepreneur’s opportunity to get startup help from Think Big Partners and prepare for Angel Capital Group.”  And with handfuls of people already interested in getting involved in investing or starting a business under the guidance of ACG and TBP, it’s not hard to see that the partnership will provide much-needed opportunities. 

During her presentation, Qualls noted that “just because a company has money, does not mean that it will absolutely be successful.”  She later commented that this is the main reason why the Angel Capital Group needs groups like Think Big Partners—to ensure that the entrepreneurs that are being invested in become a success.  Now, because of the partnership, entrepreneurs can obtain startup advice, networking opportunities, and vital connections all while being funded on a nationwide basis from anywhere in the country. 

One thing is for sure: the partnership between TBP and ACG has people talking.  Upon the luncheon’s conclusion, many attendees of the event were curious to learn more about how to get involved in investing or starting a business under the guidance of Think Big Partners and the Angel Capital Group.  With the buzz spreading from Kansas City to Nashville, from Memphis to Jackson, Mississippi (and soon to New Orleans!), the TBP-ACG partnership is growing—all in the name of thinking globally and acting locally.  

The Angel Capital Group, with five locations nationwide and growing, is an angel network of investors that links together its networks so that entrepreneurial resources, such as startup and seed capital, can be efficiently utilized to best aid entrepreneurs.  In addition, ACG provides education and support to various communities in order to aid in establishing more angel investor networks. 

Written by Allison Way.  Allison is a writer for Think Big Partners, Kansas City's mentorship-based startup accelerator and business incubator.  To read more of Allison's work, check out the Kansas City Entrepreneurship Examier as well as her articles on Helium, eZine and BrooWaha.  Follow Allison! @AllisonThinkBig

Surviving the Dreaded Talent Show

Squeaky violins and lame magic shows just won’t cut it in the business world.

You’re at a talent show.

And after about a half hour, you want to leave.  After three squeaky versions of Mary Had a Little Lamb on the violin, an awkward ribbon-dancing performance, and a pathetic attempt (with multiple failures) of a magic show, you’ve seemed to have had your fill.  But just as you get up out of your seat, a charismatic 12-year old takes the stage, adjusts the microphone and sings the most beautiful version of Ave Maria that you’ve ever heard.  You quickly sit back down and enjoy the entire performance.  The young girl finishes the song, takes a bow, and the audience (including you) bursts into applause. 

In your head, you think to yourself: “Now that’s talent.”

Let’s face it: at all talent shows, you have to sit through the not-so-talented kids before you get to the real stand-out stars of the evening. 

And the truth of the matter is, you have to go through the exact same process when hiring employees and partners for your new company.  Sometimes, you have to sift through the squeaky violins, lackluster ribbon dancers and awkward magic shows in order to get to the real talent. 

But how do you know who's talented and who's not?  Unlike a talent show, it can be hard to tell from the get-go.  Good news: there are extremely effective processes for interviewing candidates, navigating talent, and hiring and retaining high performers in the work place. 

Inc.com has laid out an amazing resource that centers itself around hiring the best employees for your small business.  Be sure to check out Inc.com's HR Guide seems to cover everything you'll need when searching for employees including:

• Creating job descriptions
• Hiring the first employee
• Determining when you need full-time or part-time
• Hiring quickly
• Screening
• Interviewing
• The Laws of Hiring
• And much, much more!

So if you are sick of the squeaky violins and have seen enough lame card tricks to make your head spin, maybe it’s time to learn how to find the right people for your business.  Now is the time to find people that will bring job-relevant technical skills, initiative, adaptability, and vision to your team. 

Small business owners, listen up.  It’s time to buy your ticket, take your seat, and relax – it’s time to enjoy finding talent in today’s market. 

Written by Allison Way.  Allison is a writer for Think Big Partners, Kansas City’s mentorship-based business incubator and startup accelerator.  To read more of Allison’s work, check out the Kansas City Entrepreneurship Examiner as well as her articles on Helium, BrooWaha and eZine.  Follow Allison! @AllisonThinkBig.

Silicon Prairie Highlights Think Big Partners

Nonstop development.  Innovative technology.  High-power business.  What words can better describe Silicon Valley, the nation's largest hub for high-tech innovation and development? 

Although Silicon Valley may be the central hub for business, other regions in the US are promoting widespread development, updated technology, and new business.  One of these regions is the Midwest, where you can find the latest news from yet another "Silicon" in the country; Silicon Prairie News.

Silicon Prairie News is a resource that interviews the region's leading entrepreneurs and creatives, reports on startups and companies in the area, and announces important Midwest business events.

Last week, Think Big Partners' very own co-founder, Herb Sih, was highlighted in the Featured Interview section on Silicon Prairie News.  Take a look at how both Think Big Partners and Silicon Prairie News are making the Midwest its very own booming region in terms of new business, entrepreneurship, and startup companies: 

Read the Article. 

Written by Allison Way.  Allison is a writer for Think Big Partners, Kansas City's mentorship-based business incubator and startup accelerator.  To read more of Allison's work, check out the Kansas City Entrepreneurship Examiner as well as her articles on Helium, BrooWaha and eZine.

The Top 5 Places for the Late-Night Entrepreneur

Where to Work in Kansas City after the Sun Goes Down

It’s 7:00PM and you’re still in the office.  After all, entrepreneurs are known to spend up to 80 hours a week on their businesses.  So obviously, you arrive early to the office and leave late.  But right now, you would do anything to get out of the office.  You need a change of scene, a new environment, a fresh beginning to your late-night work.

We have narrowed down the top 5 places to work in Kansas City when you need to work late into the night.  When you simply cannot do the work at home, or if you just need to get out of the office, check out these hotspots, perfect for any late-night entrepreneur!

1.  Westport Coffee House

Mon-Thurs 8AM-11PM

Friday 8AM-Midnight

Saturday 10AM-Midnight

Sunday 10AM-10PM

The Westport Coffee House, located on Pennsylvania Avenue in the Westport area of Kansas City, is a great place to go to relax after a long day of office work.  Bring your laptop and sit down in the warm and inviting atmosphere of this small coffee shop.  With relaxing live music and occasional live poetry, as well as late-night servings of coffee, tea, smoothies and sandwiches, the Westport Coffee House is the perfect location for any night owl looking to finish up some work.

2.  YJ’s Snack Shop

Mon-Wed 7:30AM-10PM

Thurs-Sat 7:30AM-7:30AM

Sun 7:30AM-11PM

Located in the Crossroads Arts District of Downtown Kansas City, YJ’s Snack Shop may seem like a drinking hotspot at first.  But as a matter of fact, YJ’s doesn’t even serve alcohol—only coffee and home cooked food!  As a regular hangout for artists, musicians and downtown business types, YJ’s provides a great atmosphere for entrepreneurs who need to get a little more work done before they head home for the night.  YJ’s often incorporates live acoustic acts in the evenings—the perfect type of music for a working entrepreneur. 

3. bizperc

24 Hours

bizperc, Kansas City’s newest business incubator and startup accelerator, is powered by Think Big Partners not only for the 9-5 entrepreneur, but also for the entrepreneur who is interested in working at 11:00PM, 3:00AM, 5:00AM and all hours in between.  If you rent a desk or cubicle at bizperc, you have access to the space at whatever hour you prefer, making this space one of the most flexible hotspot for entrepreneurs.  For non-tenants, bizperc is open from 8:00AM-6:00PM.  But in all honesty, where else are you going to be able to find an office space at 3:30 in the morning?

4.  Chubby’s

24 Hours

It may not be an entrepreneur’s #1 choice for work, but the fact of the matter is, Chubby’s is open 24 hours (except they close at 2PM on Monday and reopen at 6AM on Tuesday).  Not to mention, Chubby’s is the home of delicious breakfasts, including all-you-can-eat pancakes, 3-egg omelets and cinnamon rolls.  So if you’re an entrepreneur who likes to work late and may need a pick-me-up snack at 4:00AM, Chubby’s may, surprisingly, be the place for you.

*Need a place like Chubby’s that’s closer to home?  Check out your local IHOP locations, as most are open 24 hours. 

5. Homer’s Coffee House

Mon-Sat 6:30AM-10PM

Homer’s Coffee house, located in Overland Park, is the perfect spot to work from 5:00PM until 10:00PM.  For entrepreneurs that live in Johnson County, Homer’s is a convenient place to crank out some late-night work and remain close to home.  Clean, comfortable environment available to all!

Where do you like to work late at night in Kansas City? 

Please comment below with any comments or suggestions to help other entrepreneurial night-owls get in their work done in the wee hours of the night!

Think Big—even past midnight!

Written by Allison Way.  Allison is a writer for Think Big Partners, Kansas City’s mentorship-based startup accelerator and business incubator.  To read more of Allison’s work, check out the Kansas City Entrepreneurship Examiner as well as her articles on eZine, Helium and BrooWaha. 

Of the 182 Million Websites, How Will Yours Be Found?

Is your website being ignored?

In May of 2011, the Internet will run out of IP addresses.

Why, you ask?  There are simply too many Internet users.  And of the millions of Internet users in this world, a large majority of them are not using it correctly.

But, seriously, is there a wrong way to use the Internet?  For entrepreneurs and small business owners, of course there is.

Many entrepreneurs and small business owners find themselves developing great websites for their businesses, expecting traffic to their site to explode as soon as it is up and running.  But the truth of the matter is, of the 182 million webpages on the world wide web, it will be nearly impossible for potential customers to find your site…unless you implement a few key ingredients.  In all honesty, they are not just key ingredients—they are ingredients that can make or break your business.  They are the chocolate chips to the cookie, the dressing to the salad.  These small nuggets are what can make your business’s website searchable, impactful, and beneficial.

Join Think Big Partners for a Launch and Learn presentation made for any entrepreneur at any stage of business.  Herb Sih, co-founder of Think Big Partners and marketing, lead-generation expert, will present The Art and Science of Integrated Marketing (AKA Getting Thousands of Visitors to Your Site) on Thursday, February 17, from 11:30AM until 1:00PM.  This Launch And Learn will take place at bizperc, 1800 Baltimore, Kansas City, Missouri, on the 6^th floor.

Sih's 10 years of experience in the lead generation space has led him to co-found and develop an Inc. 500 company and launch many other successful companies throughout the Kansas City area.  With his vast experience in internet marketing, Sih has made the Think Big Kansas City Twitter account (@ThinkBigKC) one of the most-followed accounts in Kansas City today!

So if you’ve ever wondered why your website isn’t being visited by anybody but you and your close friends, why no one is reading your blog, or why no one seems to be searching for your company on Google, now is your chance to learn why.  But more importantly, this is your chance to improve your site, and therefore, build a stronger business.

So if you have an interest in…

• Learning how to drive more traffic to your website
• Creating online and offline revenue opportunities while serving your customer base
• Developing an integrated marketing strategy to connect to the right audience
• AND learning the five things you must NOT do online

…then this is the class for you!  Learn all about email, search engine marketing, content, pay-per-click advertising, the importance of social media, database marketing and strategic PR at this event!  Sih will walk you through how to engage your audience, get your site ranked higher on search engines and create an online business development process.

Sound good to you?  Register today and help your page become one of the 182 million websites that people are talking about!

Written by Allison Way.  Allison is a writer for Think Big Partners, Kansas City’s mentorship-based business incubator and startup accelerator.  To read more of Allison’s work, check out the Kansas City Entrepreneurship Examiner as well as her articles on Helium, eZine and BrooWaha. 

Startup Businesses: A Love-Hate Relationship

Dear Secret Admirer,
Ahhh...Valentine's Day: a day of cheesy Hallmark cards, over-priced flowers, and of course, Necco candy hearts.  It's a day when love truly is in the air, and a time when we let those that we love know how much we appreciate them. 

And as lovely as the concept is, Valentine's Day seems to be just a little bit over-rated, right?  Honestly, it was Kansas City's own original business mega-star, Hallmark, that made Valentine's Day the huge deal that it is today, not Saint Valentine or Cupid or the gods and goddesses of love.  It's a Hallmark holiday, and we're all loving it.

Love is an important factor in any relationship: relationships with your spouses, relationships with your children, relationships with your friends.  But what about one important relationship that is a little less personalized?  What about the relationship that you have with your business?

One of the main bases for a successful business is the passion, love and care that an entrepreneur puts in to creating it, building it and maintaining it.  Entrepreneurship starts with an idea, but it has to be an idea that an entrepreneur is head-over-heels for.

Take the time to appreciate your business this Valentine's Day.  No, you don't have to display a dozen roses in the office or take your business out to dinner (you might look like a freak if you do).  Instead, it may be time to reevaluate your business and why you love it so much.

To learn more about how to love your business, check out this article that teaches you how to do what you love, love what you do.

Happy Valentine's Day, entrepreneurs! 

XOXO, 
Allison Way
Think Big Partners Writer.  To read more of Allison's work, check out the Kansas City Entrepreneurship Examiner.

Ditching the Beer and Chugging the Tequila

Why the Impatient Startup is the First to Pass Out

What better way to bring in the weekend than with a guest blog from a young entrepreneur?  And what better topic to provide you with than partying?  Afterall, it's almost the weekend and almost time for you to relax and have a little fun.  Check out this blog by Adam Griffin, founder of BumblePost, written especially for our TBKC blog. 

You’re at a party. You’re enjoying yourself, sipping on a 6 pack, and having great conversation. Life is good. The night is progressing as it should. You go with the flow, just engaging in the friends and moments given to you. 

Then something happens. The front door swings open and slams into the door stopper. The music halts to a stop. Everybody at the party turns to look. Who barges in?  None other than that guy. You know the guy I’m talking about. The dude with a half empty bottle of tequila in hand, a profuse amount of sweat covering his t-shirt, and what seems like a megaphone announcing anything he says. He’s the guy that was destined to be belligerent from the first drink. Nothing was going to stand in the way of him getting from sober to sauced faster than anyone else at the party. Taking the slow and steady approach just wasn’t working for him on this particular night, so the beer was ditched and the big guns were pulled out.

Thirty minutes later he is passed out in the corner, bottle nearly empty, and a walking hangover in the making. He is officially that guy. Well today there seems to be a lot of that guy in the business world. The companies that are shot out of a cannon, make a lot noise in a short amount of time, and before you know it they are passed out. A flash in the pan. Another victim of the current climate for internet startups.

As the old story goes, 50% of businesses fail in the first year and 95% fail in the first five years.  I don’t know how accurate these numbers truly are, but I would imagine the number of failures for today’s internet startups is much higher. The internet has allowed anyone and everyone the opportunity to become an entrepreneur and own their own business. We are no longer in the era of creating a product, having physical space and inventory, and owning a business for decades or more. Today you don’t even need a product to sell. A good amount of online retailers don’t even have inventory of whatever they are selling! They are simply order takers, and the manufacturer drop ships whatever is sold. Ahh, the modern convenience of the internet. So in short, significantly fewer barriers of entry = significantly higher amount of businesses created, and thus many many failures along the way.

My generation’s mentality of “I want it now, and I don’t want to do a whole lot to get it” has created this massive flood of internet businesses that are around for a short period of time and are gone as quickly as they came. Bad news for them, but good news for you—if you take advantage of this reality that is. Choosing to sip your six pack of beer instead of chugging the bottle of tequila might be the difference in your business being around in 5 years. While others are in a rush to get to the pot of gold as fast as possible, you can methodically run the race and be one of the few to actually finish. And yes, I did use two completely different analogies in one sentence.

Taking advantage of today’s here and gone in an instant economy starts with the way you establish your business from the beginning. Ask yourself the following questions. Your answers could be the difference in “out of business and broke” and “in business and cash flowing”.

• Do I have to quit my job to start this? Another way of asking this question is “When things don’t go as planned (because they won’t) and I’m out of money in 6 months, am I going to have to give up my business and go back to a normal job?”
• Can I bootstrap this? Can you use your own cash and/or borrow from friends and family to get this started? Or is this company impossible to start without significant outside investment?
• Am I passionate about this or am I simply infatuated? Not a whole lot different than dating. There will be times when you ask yourself “Why the hell did I do this?” That’s a promise. The difference maker is how you respond to that question.
• Are my visions realistic? Are you banking on becoming the next big thing, or will you be content with slowly and methodically growing your business?
• Do I have supportive people around me? Whether that’s business partners, a supportive group of friends and family, or mentors within your field, do you have a group of people that can be a part of your journey with you?

These are basic yet vital questions. The reason these are vital is because if you can say “No, I don’t have to quit my job. Yes, I can use my own cash to start. Yes, I’m passionate about this. Yes, my visions are realistic. Yes, I have supportive people around me”, then the only missing ingredient is the attitude to keep plugging away and get it done. Go out there, kick ass, and do it in a way that is uncommon in today’s business world.

Cheers. J    

~Adam Griffin

Adam Griffin is a Kansas City native and lives in Denver, CO. His current startup is an online greeting card company, BumblePost, that launches in March 2011. His ultimate goal in life is to motivate those around him to pursue dreams and goals they wouldn’t have pursued otherwise. His thoughts on this and all things business can be found on his blog, Ideas Don’t Work.

How Rush Hour Can Increase Traffic...to Your Site

Admobile’s Technique of Catching You by Surprise at Green, Yellow and Red Lights

We’ve all been there: stuck at that same annoying traffic light that always seems to flash red just before you approach it.  So you wait, look down at your watch, change the radio station, and sigh.  Why do you always hit this red light?  And why does it always take so long to turn green?

But have you ever noticed what you look at when you’re stopped at these red lights?  Do you look at the joggers passing by?  The trees swaying in the distance?  The person idling next to you who (always) ends up looking at you the exact same time that you look at them?

Today, there’s something a bit more exciting to look at when you’re stopped at these red lights:  Admobile trucks.

AdmobileKC, Kansas City’s premier mobile advertising company, operates a growing fleet of dedicated mobile advertising trucks city-wide, delivering powerful exposure for any company’s message.  With clients such as Worlds of Fun, Fox 4 News, Midwest Airlines and Dunkin’ Donuts, Admobile has become the advertising avenue of the new age.



Admobile trucks are seen by over 50,000 people each day!

“What else are you going to do when you’re sitting at a stoplight?” asks Branden Connolly, Vice President of Sales and Operations for AdmobileKC.  “You can’t help but take a look at these moving billboards!”

Apart from running his own Kansas City-based event and sponsorship company, Evenergy, Connolly has been making sales for Admobile for two years, and believes it to be one of the best ways that a company can market themselves.

“The trucks are clean, we drive in high-traffic areas, and the look of the truck stands out next to any other vehicle out on the road,” he says.

Connolly points out that most commuters drive to and from the suburbs, where there is a lack of outdoor advertising (i.e. billboards).  “We’re not trying to replace billboards, we are trying to support advertising,” Connolly says.  “We only use 10-20% of a client’s outdoor budget, so it supports a comprehensive advertising plan.”

The Admobile truck’s twelve revolving ads can be seen in many different Kansas City locations where high-traffic is to be expected.  Keep your eye out for the AdmobileKC truck, especially at hotspots like Corporate Woods, First Fridays locations, Arrowhead and Kauffman Stadiums, and the KC suburbs.

But it’s not just your local Kansas City businesses that are advertising with Admobile.  Recently, Admobile has been catering to internet-based companies that may be interested in “driving” more traffic to their sites.  This concept has made Admobile the perfect avenue for internet startup advertising.

One thing is for sure, Admobile is no ordinary advertising strategy.  And the fact that Admobile is unique is what drives companies to its services.

“It’s important for new companies and entrepreneurs to Think Big like Admobile,” says Connolly.  “As long as you can deliver and Think Big, you can really push the envelope.”

So the next time you’re on your way home from work, cruising downtown Kansas City, or tailgating with friends at a Chiefs game, pay close attention to your mobile surroundings: you never know when the AdmobileKC truck will grab your attention!

Allison Way is a writer for Think Big Partners, Kansas City’s mentorship-based business incubator and startup accelerator.  To read more of Allison’s work, check out the Kansas City Entrepreneurship Examiner as well as her articles on Helium, Newsvine, BrooWaha and eZine.

The 6 Secrets to High Performance Meetings (PART 2)

Part 2: How to Create a Kick-Butt Presentation

Yesterday, I clued you in on the 6 secrets to running a high performance meeting.  But a lot of the time, these meetings may consist of a presentation or two. 

I know what you're thinking: The dreaded Powerpoint slide.  The wicked pointing stick.  The feeling of complete boredom.

It's time to rethink the meaning of "business presentation."

Plan Ahead.
Seems like a no-brainer, right?  But you’d be surprised to learn just how many presenters do not plan for important business meetings and presentations.  For some, planning may mean developing important content and creating a Powerpoint, but there is much more to the planning process than just that.

·    Define your audience:  You cannot engage your audience unless you know exactly who they are beforehand.  The way you present something to a client will be much different that how you will pitch to a potential investor.  Research your audience’s culture, politics, education, interests, etc. 

·    Define why you’re presenting:  An entrepreneur’s presentation will fail if they do not know the reason why they are presenting in the first place.  While planning a presentation, be sure to define its overall goals; is it to inform the audience?  Solve a problem?  Get hired?  Bear in mind the important concept of WIIFM (what’s in it for me?).  That’s exactly what your audience will be thinking, so be sure to answer this question. 

·    Prepare for questions:  Your audience will ask questions.  And you will not freak out because you will be prepared for each and every one of them.  Come up with ten questions that your audience may have, and ask some colleagues to come up with some as well.  This will prepare you to answer those questions smoothly, on the spot, sans the panic attack.

Develop Carefully.  Very Carefully.

Developing a presentation doesn’t seem that hard, does it?  You jot down some points on a few note cards, you create a quick Powerpoint, and you warm up your voice beforehand, right?  Wrong.  Developing a kick-butt presentation takes time.  Don’t rush when developing the content for your presentation.

• KISS:  Ever heard the phrase “keep it simple, stupid”?  That’s one of the most important things that you can do when developing your business presentation.  Keep it simple, less is better, don’t go overboard.  The best presentations usually have three topics with a few bullet points under each one.
• Powerpoints: Powerpoints are a great tool to use when presenting, but they can also cause you to crash and burn.  During the development of a Powerpoint, remember to answer the audience’s question: what’s in it for me?  Use pictures, graphics, maps, charts, and visuals whenever possible.  Get creative, or your audience will fall asleep.  Additionally, make sure that your technology works!  There is nothing worse than sitting through a presentation with a broken projector, a popping microphone, or flickering lights
• Don’t memorize: Do not try to memorize what you want to say when you develop your content.  Memorization will make you sound like a robot.  What’s worse; if you lose track of where you are during the presentation, you will focus more on the words rather than the message.

Give a Kick-Butt Delivery.
When the delivery stage comes, breathe.  Presentations should not be a scary thing.  As long as you remain relaxed during a presentation, your audience will feel at ease with you, and therefore, will be more engaged in what you are saying.

·    Eye contact: This will help your audience feel more comfortable with you.  It also will allow them to see that you are doing this for them.  Try to make eye contact with almost everyone in the room at least once (depending on how long your presentation is).  Everyone needs to feel included if you want them to keep listening.

·    Clear voice: Keep your voice clear, but enthusiastic, at a medium tone.  No need to shout at the audience, but also make sure that the people in the back can adequately hear you. 

·    Pace: Don’t talk too fast.  One of the ways that people can tell you’re nervous is a quick-paced speech.  Relax and keep the pace at 120-150 words per minute (you may want to practice this). 

·    Body language: Don’t force hand gestures or pacing—just let it happen.  The more natural you look up there, the more people will be receptive to you and your ideas.

So the next time you start developing a lackluster, snore-inducing presentation, keep these tips in mind.  It’s not that difficult to turn your boring business presentation into an ultra-stimulating, audience-engaging, kick-butt experience!

Written by Allison Way.  Allison is a writer and videographer for Think Big Partners, Kansas City's mentorship-based business incubator and startup accelerator.  To read more of Allison's work, check out the Kansas City Entrepreneurship Examiner as well as her articles on Helium, Newvine, eZine and BrooWaha.