Pre-Speech Communication Strategies –

Homework Assignment

A letter with a brief Homework assignment is sent 3-5 days before a speech. I like to use real mail if possible, because the attendees are pleasantly surprised that a speaker would actually send mail.

The purpose of this letter is three-fold:

1) it’s one more contact with my audience member in my relationship-building plan

2) it includes a short homework assignment I ask the participant to complete and bring with them to the presentation. This engages the participant, creates additional “on-the-spot” speech content, AND gives me even more information I can use in my post-speech follow-up

3) it significantly reduces the “no-show” factor! It is not uncommon, when participants don’t spend their own money or spend little to attend a speech, for a certain percentage not to show up. This final letter increases the likelihood that they will.