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More Deca Tips

The document provides tips for students competing in DECA competitions. It recommends preparing for tests by studying old exams and answer sheets. Students should learn marketing fundamentals and know performance indicators cold. They should dress professionally, practice role-plays extensively, get sufficient rest, and act professionally during competitions by speaking like an adult without filler words. The document also provides guidance on interacting with judges, including listening without feedback during presentations and responding professionally to questions.

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348 views4 pages

More Deca Tips

The document provides tips for students competing in DECA competitions. It recommends preparing for tests by studying old exams and answer sheets. Students should learn marketing fundamentals and know performance indicators cold. They should dress professionally, practice role-plays extensively, get sufficient rest, and act professionally during competitions by speaking like an adult without filler words. The document also provides guidance on interacting with judges, including listening without feedback during presentations and responding professionally to questions.

Uploaded by

api-340227627
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Top Tips for Making the Stage

Test Well your score on the written test is an important factor. Prepare by looking at old tests and
answer sheets. Test yourself. For questions you get wrong, make note cards. Study. Bring a calculator
to the test. Challenge yourself and enjoy it!
Fundamentals No matter what youre in, know your Marketing fundamentals. The next page
provides a list of things you want to be familiar with and ideally know. Using these will be highly
effective. Learn and know the Marketing jargon.
Performance Indicators you need to know them cold. They are released prior to each conference.
You should have several real examples that apply in your event area. Treat studying these as if they
are homework for an extra class.
Dress for Success you have one shot at a first impression. You should consider that you are going
into the interview of your life. Follow the DECA dress code for a business presentation or risk not
winning. Eight to 10 points of your score is overall impression. Do the Math.
Practice as many different role-plays as possible. For those in team events you need to learn each
others strengths and weaknesses. Individuals need to find out what they know and dont know.
Practice will allow you to adapt well to most any role-play.
Get plenty of rest eat right, wash your hands and stay healthy. If youre ill and miss a conference,
there is no second chance.
Nail the small stuff practice simple things like shaking hands, introducing yourself or team to one or
two judges with confidence and remember your best promotion is your smile. So use it! Confidence is
50% of any sale. If you are, it will show.
Act as an adult the judges will all be 25 and older. Speak like an adult. Tell them what they want to
hear, not teen talk. Use dead air properly. No umm or like or uh yah. A very short pause of
silence is OK. Feel yourself take one breath and go on.
Judges response Know that during your presentation the judge is required to simply listen and not
interact with you. It will seem a bit odd, but it is the norm. Even if your presentation was awesome, the
judge will not give your feedback or a reaction.
Judges questions they are given set questions to ask you no matter how good you perform. So
respond professionally: listen, acknowledge, rephrase and respond.
Game Face competing in DECA is just like most anything. When it is time to perform a job or in a
sport you put on your game face. Visualize success ahead of time to ensure your confidence.

Marketing Jargon the lingo that wins

Use the Marketing Essentials textbook in the classroom or research www.glencoe.com and look up the text
(2009 version) for these terms and concepts. The first section below includes the fundamentals. Know
these. Itll be well worth it!

Fundamental Marketing Terms & concepts


As you prepare to compete, always refer to these as the foundation of what youre doing especially the
first four listed here. You can always build from here to more complex strategies. But these are the key for
all
1. The Marketing Concept always focus on customer satisfaction as the path to profit
2. SWOT Analysis. Say youve conducted this to arrive at your plan.
3. Target Market and Market Segmentation Demographics, Geographics, Psychographics
4. Marketing Mix (the 4 Ps) Product, Price, Place, Promotion
5. Identify Utilities. Mention the major benefits the product or service provides.
6. Seven functions of Marketing know what they are and how companies employ these
It is important to not use all of these. Think of them as seasoning to a recipe a little spice will enhance
what youre doing and make you a credible professional.

Deepen your knowledge (so you really know your stuff)


The Marketing Essentials web site mentioned above also provides specific DECA help. These are excellent.
Select a unit, then select DECA Prep. Highly recommended!

Secondary business terms & concepts that can make you look good
Market Plan, Promotional mix, Advertising mix, Steps to a sale, Types of businesses sole proprietorship,
partnership, corporations, LLC, etc., ROI, break-even point, ad layout, balance sheet, trademark, GDP,
NAFTA, credit and the various types, licensing, royalties, and so much more. Focus on learning the extras
that pertain to your competition category. Again, still emphasize your knowledge of the fundamentals
above.

Industry Jargon the lingo that demonstrates current knowledge


Having a mentor within the industry you are competing in is extremely valuable. They can not only help
you with strategies and knowledge, but can teach you key industry jargon and trends that will demonstrate
you have expertise. Also, read industry specific blogs. These are fantastic! Watch television shows within
your industry, but do so through the lens of a Marketer. This is key!

Props simple extras that win


When you compete you are given ample scratch paper. This can be used to create makeshift extras
business cards, CDs, charts/graphs, brochures, etc. A brochure can simply be made into a tri-fold, titled and
add some scribbling. Present it just like it were a professional brochure.

Leave behind winning clues


You are not allowed to leave the judging area with anything. Therefore, what you leave behind becomes
important. It always takes judges a few minutes to score your performance. They use their memory but also
look at some of what you leave behind. Excellent props and well-organized notes will be very
complementary to you and help your score. Put your name on these props! Brochures, business card, jump
drive or CD with presentation material. Leave at least one thing behind. Be sure your name is on it very
clearly.

What to Do During a Role Play

Arrive 15 minutes early. Youll thank yourself for doing this.


1. Upon receiving your role play instruction packet, first check that they handed you the correct event
category. Mistakes have been made!
2. Participant Instructions are the same for all role plays. There is no need to read it. Skip.
3. Write down the Performance Indicators (PIs) on the blank paper provided. Spread them out evenly
from top to bottom on the page so you have ample room to fill in the blanks. This will serve as the
outline for your presentation to the judge.
Integrate the PIs (in order) into your solution. Refer to them throughout. If you are a beginner, feel
free to mention them directly and respond directly.
4. The back will give you your Event Situation. Read this very carefully. Determine exactly the problems
presented.
5. Write down how you will solve the problems.
Do so in the order of the PIs. Judges are looking for it in that order. In many cases, share your
solution with the judge as a Marketing Plan
Create and then bring in visuals (business cards, etc). But only use them at the appropriate time in
the presentation. You dont pull out a business card at the start of a meeting for instance. Save it as
an additional professional element at the natural time.
6. You are escorted to the judge. Upon arrival, take control by assertively reaching for a web-to-web
handshake saying, Hi, my name is NAME. Allow them to introduce themselves. Listen to their name.
Hi THEIR NAME, we are to discuss TOPIC. I bring EXPERIENCE to this process and my objective
is GOALS FOR MEETING. May I (we) go ahead and get started? Have a focused, central purpose! It
might look like this . . . . Hi my name is Kate (pause for them to introduce). Thank you for seeing me
today Mr. Smith, my purpose today is to demonstrate a sales plan that will increase your bottom line
10% within the next 12 months. I bring over 10 years experience as a successful sales manager to our
meeting and believe strongly I can help you. May we get started?
7. Present your solutions
Use performance indicator language with each solution
In general your presentation should address the problem given, set goals (I/we believe this will
increase your sales 10% in the next year), and then demonstrate how your plan will achieve them.
Explain your plan using the verbiage of a marketing plan. I/we have put together a marketing plan
for you.
i. Give a brief overview (executive summary)
ii. Conduct a SWOT analysis judges like this. Show that this has shown what their companys
competitive advantage is. Now make the key element youre marketing is that competitive
advantage.
iii. Be sure to identify the target market, attempt to locate their specific market segment, then attack
it by building a promotion plan that wraps the product/service in emotion tie the product to an
idea with strong appeal to that target market.
iv. Build interactive technology into your plan (social media, sales tracking, rewards program, etc).
This shows you are current in your thinking. Marketing Information Management

v. The kicker to your promo plan is a Unique Selling Proposition. Develop a customer guarantee,
special price, strategic placement of the product or something that will be exclusive to the
company compared to their competition.
vi. Finish by re-stating your original goal. I/we believe this will increase sales for you by 10% over
the next year.
Conclude with recommended next steps for example a follow-up final implementation details.
Simply think what would naturally come next. We should meet next week to finalize. Does
Monday or Tuesday work best for you? (Notice that this is not a yes or no question, youre just
giving options for yes.)
8. Conclusion and questions. Next say, That concludes my presentation. Do you have any questions for
me? The judges now ask you pre-determined questions they ask everybody. You may have already
covered what theyre asking. If so, answer in a re-phrased way. Dont say Like I said before ...
9.

Leaving. Take Control. Before I leave, I want to emphasize (restate 1 or 2 of your key points),
then say Thank you for your time today. Shake hands once again, with confidence web-to-web, push
in your chair and then leave.

Great Web Site: www.decaprep.net

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