How do you assert public speech 2.0?

This recently was first published as a guest post to Sisarina’s Start a Biz series.

A client and business owner recently made a comment (and I admired her honesty).

She said:

“I don’t like live audiences. I want to use social media to find prospects.”
Our discussion at hand concerned her engagement strategy i.e. the relevant, public conversations and stories that could help carve out trusted, profitable relationships. We were approaching this conversation from two angles for her company: public speaking and social media.

Realizing the online-offline connection
Even though her customer base (current and prospective) heavily engaged offline as well as online, she wanted to prioritize an online approach – and exclude public speech planning since live audiences “dismantled her confidence.”

At this point, the WomenWhoTech Telesummit came to mind – a great event on 9/15th (for disclosure, I’m on the advisory board). I mentioned the summit to her for potential motivation – since many of the speakers work online, relate to my client’s industry, yet also benefit from relating a lot to public speech audiences.

Out of concern, I then said:

“In today’s environment, an audience always exists. And potential customers could be ready for your offering whether they’re online or offline or both. So does any potential customer deserve your confidence, or just those you find online through social media?”

We just looked at eachother for a few seconds.
Her vulnerable feelings about public speech warranted respect. I anxiously wondered silently if my reply was too harsh or insensitive. Certainly fear and that I’m-going-to-vomit anxiety are hard to manage when speaking in public! But it was her complete evasion of potential audiences in this forum – and thus potential customers – that inspired my concern.

It seems reasonable to say we’ve arrived at a ‘public speech 2.0′ reality
-where the engagement arena for our services and brands go beyond any single online or offline dynamic. The client eventually broke the silence and we began brainstorming how a public speech plan could fit into her overall engagement strategy.

These questions have shaped public speech strategy for my own business; and my client used them in her own development and commitment to ‘public speech 2.0′:

• What passion propelled you to start your business?
• What 3 stories, based on your experience, best express your business value (and passion for it)? What conversations are most valuable to your customers? (both those in online and offline communities)?
• How can these core stories be developed through conversational speechcraft?
• When engaging in a relaxed, one-on-one discussion – what are your conversational strengths? How do you cultivate trust in this type of informal setting? Are you a strong listener? Do you give and receive attention well? Do you maintain steady eye contact or ask targeted questions?
• In what ways can you develop and transfer your conversational strengths to stage-delivery dynamics?

What do you think about ‘public speech 2.0′?

What has helped you prepare to authentically, intentionally engage in public, whether that be through social media or a public speech onstage?

Photo by Geoff Livingston, Creative Commons

Gulf Coast Benefit on July 1st: plus more awesome from Sloane Berrent

It was fantastic meeting New Orleans resident Sloane Berrent last night about a huge fundraising effort she helped organize that’s benefitting the Gulf Coast.

Her energy and determination are contagious. We met during my blogging experience this week with the CitizenEffect Gulf Mission.

On Thursday, July 1st
The “Gulf Coast Benefit” is set to take place with music venues across the country hosting performances with the sole purpose to help the Gulf. People can attend these music events and donate onsite or can contribute in many other ways using social media.

In this video (2.5 minutes), we talk about many things — her inspiration, the community building used with social tech, and her respect for New Orleans and preserving the Gulf in light of the oil spill disaster.

And to learn more about tomorrow’s big music event helping the Gulf Coast
…feel free visiting Gulf Coast Benefit.

At SxSW: Video Conversation and Social Media Strategy

SXSW was incredible.

…with chances for public conversation online and off at every turn (…more blogging on that front soon!).

In the meantime, thanks again to Allyson Kapin, editor at Care2’s Frogloop blog, for the chance to guest post. I learned alot from the brainstorming session and video interview with Safe Place’s Narissa Johnson per below.

The Aunt Harriet ‘rule’ and the Flip cam dynamic:
There was ample background noise and conversation at the restaurant where this video chat took place.

To ensure her audio came through, I asked if she’d talk louder than normal – as if she was talking to her ‘older Aunt Harriet.’

She admitted at first that made her uneasy – understandable! But audio is king. And especially with the small Flip mics, I’m grateful Narissa was up for speaking in a more robust tone.

With that, here’s Frogloop’s guest post and 2 minute clip:

It was a sunny SxSW Saturday last week where people came together for Zoetica Media’s brunch and brainstorm session — with one nonprofit in mind: Safe Place.

Community and a Strategic Starting Point
The goal was to look at Safe Place’s community, internally and externally, and offer a strategic starting point for this nonprofit’s social media plan.

They are doing vital work in the Austin area. Their team provides shelter, a 24 hour hotline, and educational services to those impacted by sexual violence and domestic abuse.

I haven’t discussed this topic very much, especially in a brainstorm setting like this. Despite that discomfort, I was motivated by just how compelling a discussion group can be in the face of greater community impact.

Key Questions: A Social Media Plan Takes Shape

• Who really is a community partner?
• How do they engage with eachother?

These questions were at the heart of discussion. And Narissa Johnson, Safe Place’s communications director, observed some interesting results from the conversations.

In this onsite video interview, we talk about what most stood out strategically for taking her social media plan to the next level.

What do you think about these ideas? What would you add for moving her social media plan forward?

Image, SXSW, by Kyle P. Johnson, Creative Commons