I just got off the phone (well, Skype) with Peter Shankman, the founder of HelpaReporter.com. I recorded an interview with him to ask him about how he used Facebook to launch a service to connect experts with journalists. He provided some interesting statistics and I’m going to post the interview in the Fall.

The interview lasted 20 minutes and one thing became clear - Peter is so dang cool because he sprinkles all his answers with personal anecdotes. For every question I asked, Peter answered it with a story from his experience. I laughed, I didn’t cry, but I also became reflective based on the things Peter was telling me. And we were talking about social media.

Peter took me on an emotional roller coaster, but not in a bad-relationship-with-a-crazy-guy type of way. He was able to get me emotionally involved and I can see why he’s a sought after keynote speaker.

As I got off of Skype with him, I had to ask myself if I’m sprinkling stories about my experiences throughout my presentations. Sadly, I do so little of it. There is one where I talk about my 14 hour road trip to Boston when the drive should’ve taken only 9  hours. I recall that every time I tell that story, people either laugh in hysterics or crease their brow in shame wondering how I could make such a mistake.

This is what makes your marketing materials and keynotes speeches so interesting - when you can recount situations that are unique to you and use them as part of your brand. Peter is himself in so many ways. He’s quirky, he’s transparent and he reminds me of Philip Kaplan, but not as dirty.

And I had a great example very early in my life. My dad is the best storyteller in the world. He makes a drive to the supermarket seem like a 10-day journey around the world. My sisters and I love spending time with him because we laugh until our bellies hurt based on his stories. All we have to do is mention taxes, politics or David Miller (the mayor of Toronto) and that gets him started.

If I enjoyed my interview with Peter and enjoy spending time with my dad, then this is the experience I must create in my own business. Everyone who comes into contact with me must enjoy the experience whether they are my target market or not.

So, if you’re looking for a slight edge over the competition, don’t lower your prices or try to be faster or better. Instead, dig down deep, look into your past and figure out which experiences help shape your unique wisdom today. Then, sprinkle that throughout your presentations and speeches to create a memorable experience for your target market.

Shamus Brown (pictured left) over at The Shameless Sales Blog posted a strategy on how you can get customers to call you back.

I loved it and decided I would try it out on an event organizer. This event organizer has punked me off twice. He has a radio show and an organization where he holds monthly seminars.

Back in November, this event organizer double booked me on his Internet radio program. I’ll never forget it because it was a lousy day to drive as it was the first snowfall of the season in Toronto. People seem to lose their minds and all sense the Creator has given them when snow falls in Toronto for the first time in the winter season.

But, I digress…

So, I had to leave my home west of Toronto and drive 30 minutes into downtown Toronto just to find out that he “forgot” that he booked me as he climbed comfortably into his host chair with his guest, another author.

Fine, things happen.

More on Sales Tip - How to Respond to Someone Who Punks You Off

If there’s one thing that prevents people from starting a podcast, it’s their accent. I hear this so much, especially from those with a southern drawl. “I don’t like my accent,” said a baby boomer to me recently on a teleclass. “It’s too southern.”

There’s little anyone can do if they have an accent. You could hire a dialect coach to help you lessen the sound of your accent, however, you won’t need to go this far. Why? Because there’s an audience of people who will love your accent and listen or view your podcast because of this.

More on 7 Things that Influences How We Say Things