Whether you are a professional paid speaker, or a volunteer at your local community group; what do your audiences expect, need, and want to see from you?
There are 3 basic needs that have not changed, however how you choose to communicate and meet them is where we are headed!
Whether face to face, interacting on social media, or through your distinct writings; audiences still need to feel valued, learn something new, and be engaged and challenged.
With an ever changing world what will it take to reach them? Suggest you take a trip outside your space and focus on what people look like, what they are interested in doing, and listen to how they interact with others. This will give you some creative edge on how to get into their world!
Valued: People have different modes of dress and styles, don’t they? This is key to recognize so you do not appear superior but supportive and value them. In person, be there early to meet and mingle so they will be able to relate to you when it is your turn to shine. On social media and in your writing, you need to develop a style that is easy to follow- realizing less is best!
Learn Something New: People are busy and they are always wanting to be connected! Find where they are, and go there! You will need to be visual, a social media student, and embrace the fact they will be tweeting, texting, and telling others about you! Give them a reason to do so! Furnish a Twitter hash tag and let them be your best way of advertising! Our Twitter hash tag for this blog is #audiencesoftoday. This will show them you are willing to learn something new, and you have something new to give them in return.
Engaged and Challenged: Today’s audiences have to be engaged and challenged or they are not coming, following, or changing. No more canned presentations to sit through, no more lecture and everything perfect and all in place to listen to; they want the real deal! Don’t hold back on sharing personal stories that will bring them into your life, give them hope and solutions you know will work! They don’t want some unknown person’s experiences, they want yours!
You will reach the audiences of today when are willing to be transparent, give them more than they ever expected in less time, and speak directly to the issues you are passionate about with positive solutions for change and knowledge.
Remember your audiences are always thinking- WIIFM?: Can’t wait to see and hear you on stage, follow you on social media, read your blogs and books, knowing you are meeting the audiences of today where they need you to be! This is what “Simply” Sue Speaks! is all about!
Have a great week!
“Simply” Sue