Since about March of 2020, for some reason TED talks have gone virtual.
The structure of a TED talk on video is not unique to TED, though it is a very good structure.
It’s also an amazing opportunity for you to getting a compelling message out to those who enjoy a slightly counter-intuitive approach to life.
It will give you what TED coach Nan Crawford calls a Thought Leadership Platform. This is a powerful way to gain visible authority for your business.
But you don’t need to become an actual TED speaker to do this. Just get that message onto video. You only have to do it once.
Here’s a way to go that will never make you feel foolish while you’re going for it.
If you’d like a little help with the techy parts, the free Video Production Masterclass for Visible Authorities awaits!
9 replies to "Using the TED Model for Video"
Great content as usual Steve. Would be great to have you apply these qualities to a TED talk that you think exemplifies them.
Most of my videos have “Almost-TED-Talk” aspirations. As I said, I really like the format. 🙂
But again, you should only need one to start.
Hi Steve,
First of all I absolutely & completely LOVE your stuff……on the other hand I have a Love/Hate Relationship with the TED Talks… sure , the are exciting, pique the mind with new & inspiring ideas and raise that innate sense of rising to greatness in all of us BUT how do you ‘know’ about something in less than 20 minutes? Most people I talk to when they mention a new idea, whether from TED or the internet etc., talk as though they have a profound connection and knowledge …..in effect they know enough to be dangerous….your body of work is a great example of how to do things properly…..your videos inspire and engage but they do not give the pretense of omniscience in a single video but a continual journey of learning and discovery which is part and parcel of this journey called Life…..today’s video medium is too full of sound bite authority which only distracts from the work as well as facing one’s own ego to realize we have to surrender to our ignorance in order to grow….for some reason you strike just the right balance ……thanks again.
Much of what I do is based on the idea of being out there each week.
So one can relax a little, knowing there will always be another “at bat”.
Thank you for your contrarian insights on TED, by the way. Thought-provoking!
Have a happy Thanksgiving, Peter.
This is great Steve. The TED formula is rigid, but is appealing because it flows so well. The ‘Zoom’ format that has emerged since the pandemic definitely detracts from the content though; it makes it too informal in my opinion. The principles are sound though.
If it’s rigid (a description I’ve not heard before) it’s probably because it’s a way for a great number of people with varying degrees of public speaking skill to get a clear compelling message across.
Fortunately we are not as constrained!
“If you cannot give me enough of an idea on what you are about in the first 30 seconds (the elevator speech) that will interest me enough to want to know more—you are wasting my time.”
..from a famous consultant’s TED Talk.
Right you and he are. Hence the “cold open” in every video you see here.
It’s probably the part I sweat more bullets over than any other.
Being clear is a good deal more challenging than it looks from the outside.
Being relaxed on camera is a very hard thing for me so I pause, studder, and even after 8 takes I still never like it. Topic is hard one because I can’t seem to think of any good ones, but you are fantastic in all your videos keep up the great work.