On TikTok, you’ve got seconds to win over your audience and if you’re not engaging enough then something else is just a swipe away!
It might seem like we have more leeway as speakers, but we don’t.
People tune out. They minimise Zoom. They check their phones. We need to do exactly the same – win them over and keep them engaged!
So what can we learn about public speaking from the most popular TikTok videos?
1) Grab the attention of your audience in your first sentence
Want my attention? Shock me!
The best TikToks often start with something like: ‘Here’s why you’ve been brushing your teeth wrong!’
We’re immediately shocked by a problem we didn’t know we had and want to know how to solve it.
Start your next presentation with something shocking like: ‘84% of our customers have 3 months of cash in the bank’.
(Rather than jumping into the details of the new payment plans you’ve devised.)
2) Be authentic
Corporate/PR speak gets zero engagement on TikTok and let’s be honest, very little in the workplace.
Be yourself, tell us about your day, then be honest about the Q3 results.
People will respect you more for it and actually listen.
3) Tease a valuable ending
‘By the end of this video you’ll be getting whiter teeth’ is irresistible.
So why should I keep listening to your presentation? What will I know by the end? What challenges will I be able to overcome?
Tell me and I’ll stay with you!
Want to get public speaking tips on TikTok? Follow our founder James – he’s TheSpeakingDoc!
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