######################################################## Simply Speaking...Selling Yourself & Your Ideas E-Zine Volume 5, No 1, January, 2002 Published by Lenny Laskowski Copyright LJL Seminars(tm), 2002 All RIghts Reserved ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LJL Seminars (tm) 106 School House Road Newington, CT. 06111-4002 United States Of America (860) 666-4855 or Toll Free 1-800-606-4855 Fax: (305) 489-6481 Web page: ######################################################## Simply Speaking E-Zine Subscription links Sending mail to these addresses will automatically add or remove the sender's e-mail address from your list(s): Subscribe Address: Unsubscribe Address: You may also send subscription requests to: and we will help you. ######################################################## In this issue: 1. Relating to Your Audience - Part I 2. Our NEW Simply Speaking Discussion Board 3. How to subscribe / unsubscribe ######################################################## 1. Audience Analysis - It's Your Key to Success - Part I from, "10 Days to More Confident Public Speaking" (Chapter 3 - pages 48 - 49) Copyright, 2001 Philip Lief Group Inc & Lenny Laskowski -------------------------------------------------------- You know the importance of properly preparing your material far enough in advance so you have sufficient time to rehearse and fine-tune your speech. Preparation alone; however, does not guarantee that your speech or presentation will be well received. You must also analyze and relate to your audience. Many speakers overlook the need to include any kind of audience analysis as part of their speech preparation. Proper audience analysis makes it possible for you to give the most effective, meaningful, and memorable speech to your audience. Most professional speakers send their clients, the person or company/organization representative who hired the speaker, a multipage questionnaire in order to gather information about the client and the speaking engagement. Having this information allows you to customize your presentation or speech for maximum impact. Using the word AUDIENCE as an acronym, I have provided two sets of audience analysis questions, as well as ideas and tips on how you can use the results to customize your speeches. Let's assume that you have been asked by the IDEA (the International Dance and Exercise Alliance) to speak to an upcoming sports and fitness conference in New York. What do you need to do to get started? There are two phases of audience analysis: the preprogram survey and the customized program survey. Both address the following areas that spell out the acronym AUDIENCE. * Audience. Who is your audience? How many will be attending your presentation? * Understanding. What is their knowledge about the subject on which you plan to speak? * Demographics. Where are they from? What is their age, sex, and educational background? * Interest. What will they be attending the conference, convention, or event? Who asked them to attend, or will they be participating of their own accord? * Environment. Where will you stand? Will everyone be able to see and hear you? * Needs. What are their needs with respect to the speech topic? What are your needs? * Customized. What do you need to address in your speech (examples, issues, and so on) to meet the audience's needs? * Expectations. What do you think they expect to learn or hear from you? Preliminary Analysis: What You Need to Know To help you develop a better idea of the type of information you need for audience analysis, here's a detailed list of detailed information you need to gather about your audience. Both surveys can be done by mail, fax, or over the telephone. Preprogram Survey The preprogram survey provides general information about you audience. The survey gives you a start on your audience analysis and may even help you pick your topic or angle for your speech. The survey is designed to help you prepare the best presentation possible for your audience. Before doing my survey, I usually call the client or client's representative to get to know him or her better and get a feel for what the client's needs are. Begin working on your preprogram when you are asked to give a presentation; don't wait until the last minute. Here is the preprogram survey: 1. What is the audience's knowledge and level of vocabulary on the topic? Does the audience have expert knowledge, some knowledge, or very little knowledge? 2. How large is the audience? What does the room look like where I will be speaking? What are the options for using visual aids? 3. Is this event focused around a special project or event? 4. Will there be other speakers before or after me on the program? 5. Will there be drinking or eating before my presentation? 6. Have other speakers addressed this audience on a similar topic? 7. If so, what has the audience responded to most positively? 8. What has the audience responded to least positively? 9. What kind of data, information, and support will persuade your audience? 10. What is your group's major needs, problems, and concerns? 11. How much time will I have to speak? 12. What is their relationship to me as a speaker? 13. What is their level of education? 14. What is the ratio of men to women? 15. What are their ages or range of ages? 16. What is their ethnic background? 17. What is their religion? 18. What is their occupation or profession? The responses from your survey give you a better idea what to expect from your audience and what challenges you have planning your presentation. I rely on the results of the preprogram survey to give me the opportunity to add or modify materials to my program. ------------------------------------------------------------------ In my book, "10 Days to More Confident Public Speaking" I provide an example of a preprogram survey and a customized survey. Why not order your copy today in time for the holidays by clicking on the link below: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ In next month's issue I will continue on this topic of audience analysis but will look at the types of information you might need for a customized program survey. Until next month... ######################################################## 2. Our NEW Simply Speaking Discussion Board !!! ######################################################## Do you have some public speaking questions you need answers for? Ask me directly and I will provide you with some sound advice and some immediate solutions. My website has added an on-line discussion board where you can participate and ask me or any of the other participants questions related to presentation skills, speaking, communication skills & related topics. You do this by "posting" your questions on discussion board and I or someone else will provide a response. You can, of course, e-mail me directly for any private questions. Below is the direct link to our new discussion board. ######################################################## 3. How to subscribe / unsubscribe ######################################################## To subscribe to Simply Speaking visit http://www.ljlseminars.com or use the following links below: Subscribe Address: Unsubscribe Address: You may also send subscription requests to: and we will help you. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LJL Seminars (tm) 106 School House Road Newington, CT. 06111-4002 1-860-606-4855 In Continental US call Toll Free: 1-800-606-4855 Until next issue! - Lenny Laskowski :-)