How to incorporate social media into any speech

It can be a real challenge: Success or failure depends on how well a keynote resonates with its audience. At political or trade association conventions, annual meetings of like-minded professionals, people united by a cause, or gatherings of shareholders, listeners want to hear powerful words from the podium that set the event’s tone, articulate its key messages, and inspire people to action.

That’s why good writers spend as much time as possible learning all they can about the audience that will hear the keynote. Today, speechwriters need to pay close attention to the fact that social media is changing every audience in two major ways. The new interactive media guarantee the speaker’s words will have a broader reach than ever before.

Moreover, growing numbers of people who hear the keynote (or parts of it) will do so via their computers, tablets or smart phones. Here are some steps you can take to ensure the keynote you write has the kind of impact you and your speaker want on a 21^st -century audience.

Make your key points tweetable