How to Make Your Audience Resonate With You
You have probably been there. You are having a conversation, giving a presentation, or posting something online, and the reaction is nothing. No engagement, no spark, no sign that your message landed. It is not because what you said was not valuable, and it is not because your audience did not care. It is because your message did not resonate.
Resonance is what makes people feel like you understand them. It is what makes an audience lean forward instead of scroll past. In public speaking, it is what separates a forgettable talk from one that changes how someone thinks.
Whether you are delivering a keynote, creating content for social media, or pitching a new idea, your goal is always the same. You need to build a strong connection with your audience. When you do, they will not just remember your message. They will remember you.
Make Every Message About Your Audience
The first rule of effective communication is simple but often overlooked. It is not about you. Even when you are the one speaking, your message should always be about your audience.
People do not care about what you know. They care about what it means for them. They listen through the filter of their own experiences and priorities. If your words do not connect to those, you lose them.
When preparing a talk or piece of content, shift your focus to the audience’s perspective. Ask yourself
What do they actually want or need from this message?
What problem are they trying to solve?
How can I make it easier for them to act on what I am saying?
What can I share that will genuinely make their life better or simpler?
Every time you craft a message, imagine speaking to one person in your target audience. Talk to them, not the crowd. This small mindset shift can completely change how people respond to you.
Communicate in the Way Your Audience Prefers
The way your audience wants to receive information matters as much as the message itself. Before you speak or write, consider
Level of detail – Are they beginners who need clarity, or experts who want depth?
Mode of delivery – Do they prefer visuals, stories, or data?
Length and pacing – Will they stay engaged for 30 minutes, or do you need to get to the point fast?
Clarity and friction – Can they easily understand what you are saying, or are you making them work too hard?
If something does not help your audience, leave it out. Every slide, sentence, and story should serve them, either by educating or entertaining.
The more tailored your communication, the more likely it is to resonate.
Active Listening, the Secret to Audience Connection
If you want your audience to connect with you, you must first connect with them. And that starts with listening.
Most people listen to respond, not to understand. Great speakers, however, practice active listening. They give their full attention to what their audience is saying, doing, and feeling.
Active listening is what allows you to read the room, adapt your message, and make people feel truly heard. Whether it is a single conversation or a keynote address, the principle is the same. Connection comes from presence.
Listening for Pain Points and Frustrations
Every conversation holds gold: pain points, questions, frustrations, and barriers your audience faces daily.
When you actively listen to these, you gather insights that help you connect on a deeper level. These are the moments that show you what stories to share, what advice to give, and what products or ideas to create.
If you are using this skill in business, track what you hear in a pain points database. Create a simple spreadsheet and record recurring themes from conversations, emails, or social media replies. Over time, patterns will emerge. You will know what your audience needs before they do.
By listening deeply, you position yourself as someone who understands, not just someone who talks. And when people feel understood, they resonate with your message on a much deeper level.
Build Long-Term Connection Through Storytelling
Connection starts with empathy, but it lasts through storytelling.
Stories turn your ideas into something memorable. They transform abstract lessons into real experiences people can relate to. A well-told story does not just explain a point. It makes people feel it.
You do not need dramatic tales or world-changing moments to tell a good story. In fact, the most powerful stories are often the simplest: a small win, a personal lesson, a moment of realisation.
When you share a before-and-after story, showing the journey from problem to solution, you give your audience something they can see themselves in. It is no longer your story. It is their potential story.
Remove Attention Killers
The number one mistake people make with storytelling is overloading it with unnecessary context.
When you fill your talk with background details, your audience’s attention fades fast. Keep every part of your story purposeful, either as a defining moment or as a bridge to the next one.
Attention is limited. Once you lose it, it is hard to win back. Every second counts.
If you want to be memorable, focus on emotion, action, and transformation. That is what people remember and share long after you have finished speaking.
Actionable Takeaways to Make Your Message Resonate
Make every interaction you have, both in person and online, about the other person. The more time you take to tailor your message, the closer you will connect with your audience.
Practice active listening. Intently give people your undivided attention, listen to pain points, frustrations, and see if you can help them.
Start telling stories. People love a story and it is the way to make people resonate with you beyond your conversation or presentation.
When you prioritise your audience, listen deeply, and use stories to illustrate your message, you become more than a communicator. You become someone people connect with, trust, and remember.
For a deeper dive into mastering audience connection and crafting powerful talks, read the Ultimate Guide to Public Speaking.
More from Liam Sandford
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