How to Grow Your Social Media Following Using Public Speaking
Public speaking is one of the most powerful ways to expand your influence online. Social media offers an unparalleled opportunity to reach thousands, even millions, with your message. By combining strong public speaking skills with social media platforms, you can grow your following, build trust with your audience, and convert attention into engagement and action.
Whether you are posting videos on YouTube, Instagram or TikTok or on other social media platforms like LinkedIn, X or Facebook your ability to speak effectively can become a growth engine for your personal brand or business. Here is how to leverage public speaking to grow your social media following.
Get Comfortable Speaking on Camera
The first step to growing your social media audience through public speaking is to become comfortable being on camera. The more you practice speaking to a camera, the more natural and confident you will appear to your viewers. Start by turning your video on for every call or meeting. This small habit builds familiarity with speaking while being observed, which translates directly into comfort on social media videos.
Over time, scale up from short clips to longer videos. Each step you take increases your confidence and reduces the fear of making mistakes. When your audience sees your comfort and authenticity, they are more likely to engage with your content and follow you for future updates.
Show Your Depth and Expertise
Posting short written content can only take your audience so far. Video allows you to demonstrate your understanding and provide actionable insights. Public speaking enables you to explain processes, share case studies, and illustrate cause-effect relationships. This shows your depth of knowledge and builds trust with your followers.
For example, instead of just stating a tip in a tweet, you can use a video to explain how steps one, two, and three lead to measurable results. This additional context helps your audience see that you truly understand the subject and increases the likelihood they will follow you and implement your advice.
Structure Your Videos for Maximum Impact
Effective communication is crucial for converting viewers into followers. Use a simple structure for every video: open, body, close. Start with an engaging hook to capture attention. In the body, deliver your message clearly and concisely. End with a call to action, whether it is following you, commenting, or applying your advice.
A clear structure prevents you from rambling and ensures your audience can follow and retain your message. By practicing structured public speaking in every video, you increase the value you provide and improve audience retention.
The nano speech framework will help you create maximum impact in your videos.
Tell Stories That Connect
Storytelling is a superpower for growing your social media following. People remember stories far more than facts or lists. When you integrate your own experiences or examples into your videos, your content becomes relatable and memorable.
Even short stories can make a huge impact. Share moments of learning, challenges, or small wins. These stories demonstrate authenticity and help your audience connect with you on a personal level. As viewers feel more connected, they are more likely to follow you, engage with your content, and share it with their networks.
Let Your Audience Get to Know You
One of the biggest advantages of public speaking on social media is that your audience gets to hear your voice and see your personality. People read content in their imagination of your voice, but video brings your energy, passion, and authenticity to life.
Even if video feels uncomfortable, starting with audio content, such as X Spaces or Clubhouse, is a great step. It allows you to practice speaking in public while building a following. Once you transition to video, you will already have an audience that trusts your voice and perspective.
Engage With Your Audience
Growth happens when your audience feels heard and valued. Public speaking is not just about broadcasting your message. Respond to comments, answer questions, and ask for feedback in your videos.
By engaging authentically, you encourage interaction, increase visibility through social media algorithms, and build a community of followers who are invested in your message. Active engagement shows that your public speaking skills are not just performative but also relational, making your audience more likely to return for future content.
Actionable takeaways to Grow Your Social Media Following Using Public Speaking
Use the nano speech structure for your videos. This will give your videos a clear and engaging structure. Remember to open with a bang, deliver your message clearly, and end with a call to action.
If the thought of speaking on video is overwhelming, start with audio content, or jump into Twitter Spaces to gain comfortability speaking.
Showcase your depth. Don’t just share what someone should be doing, show why it is important and how it worked for you. This will help grow your audience and convert your followers into customers.
More From Liam Sandford
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