6 surprising lessons social media teaches speakers

On Twitter, your audience consists of followers. On Facebook they’re called friends, fans or likes. And on LinkedIn, they’re your connections. Whichever social media platform you use, you have an audience. How you interact with them is critical if you want to grow relationships and build your business.

First up was keynoter Peter Shankman, PR and social media expert, author, entrepreneur and founder of HARO (Help a Reporter Out). Here are some of his social media tips that sound a lot like public speaking advice.

1. Having an audience is a privilege, not a right.

You need your audience as much as they need you. In your social media role, don’t abuse the privilege of having a group of ready listeners and readers by bombarding them with spam, commercials, or other one-way communication that doesn’t encourage interaction.

In your public speaking role, this equates to lots of selling, self-promotion, or talking too much about your own credentials and brilliance and not enough about what your audience needs, wants and cares about.

2. Own it when you screw up.