You’re looking for a speaker for your next event, but you’re not sure which one to choose.
You could go with an industry veteran that has decades of experience.
Or, you could go with the speaker that has a riveting story known to pull tears from even the most callous of people.
Or, you could go with the industry data scientist, who can tell you down to the hundredth of a percent the behavior analytics on user engagement across a given platform or app.
With these three great options, you really can’t go wrong…
…unless your audience wants something different.
You probably know that certain speakers resonate on a deeper level with certain audiences, but what you probably didn’t know is that there is a way to match speakers to your audience based on the content of their presentation, not on the experience they wield.
Imagine finding a speaker, whether an industry expert or a master storyteller, that fits perfectly with your audience.
Imagine getting the biggest post-event response than ever before.
Imagine getting phone calls from attendees asking if you could host the speaker again.
While it may seem like voodoo, you can match speakers and attendees based on content, not experience, and get massive engagement.
Here’s how:
The 3 Persuasions
You may have heard of him, Aristotle, an ancient Greek philosopher, who with Plato and Socrates laid the foundation for much of what we know as Western philosophy. How does a philosopher from circa 300 B.C. help you find a great speaker for your event? The three persuasions
- Ethos — Credibility and Ethics
- Pathos — Emotions and Feelings
- Logos — Logic and Reason
Now, you may see how these three types of persuasions may play into audience engagement and buy in….
…but have you ever considered looking for any of these in speakers you consider booking?
Think about it.
You can, at the very least, determine what your attendees would respond to during a presentation, ethos, pathos, or logos, and then find a speaker that wields a presentation with that strength.
Here are some examples:
#1. Ethos
A long time industry veteran speaks on her experience in the industry. She shares credible information that has helped her find success. And she warns of the pitfalls and potholes she’s found along the way.
For an audience that cares more about credentials and experience, a speaker that has strength in ethos may be the best choice.
#2. Pathos
A master storyteller with tales that will pull tears from even the most callous of listeners may be your best choice, too. You see, if an audience is more susceptible to great stories (entertainment), then consider the storyteller or the speaker with a wild story that makes the point of your event — whatever that point may be.
For an audience that wants to be entertained first, a great story can be your golden ticket to event success.
#3. Logos
Data, logic, and “thinking” could be the target goal for your attendees. They want to be wowed intellectually, so you deliver with a data scientist that has information so finite that it could potentially break the industry. Intriguing, right?
Attendees that want more to do with logic, data, systems, and processes, may find a speaker with logos as their strength engaging.
The Secret of Great Speakers
While you’re on a valiant quest to fill your event with a great speaker, consider this: what if a speaker uses all three of these persuasions to engage their audience? What would that look like? Could it be done effectively?
The answer: yes.
When you’re researching speakers, see how many of these persuasions they use in their presentations. The great speakers wield all three effectively. They pay each on of the other, and they build a presentation that appeals to all three types of attendees.
For example, a great speaker may open up with a story about her as a child, growing up stringing tennis rackets at the local country club. Then, she uses math to share how she made $50 per hour as a 12 year old, another part of the story. Finally, she finished with how her rise through the industry has given her the leadership skills and wisdom to be telling the story on stage in the first place.
Do you see it?
- Pathos in the story.
- Logos in the math.
- And Ethos in the credibility.
Examine great orators throughout history. You will discover that they use all three of these persuasions to engage, inspire, and motivate their audiences.
Takeaway
The next time you’re looking for a speaker, you can scour the internet, call a bureau, or simply give Platinum Speakers Agency a call. Our roster of speakers wield all three of these persuasions to engage, inspire, and motivate audiences all around the globe. Let’s match your attendees or workforce up with the speaker that will resonate on a deep level.
Here are your three persuasions one more time:
- Ethos — Credibility and Ethics
- Pathos — Emotions and Feelings
- Logos — Logic and Reason