“If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it. Or, if proper usage gets in the way, it may have to go. I can’t allow what we learned in English composition to disrupt the sound and rhythm of the narrative.” ?— Elmore Leonard

Remember those English composition assignments in high school. When I was in high school, I cringed every time I was assigned one.

However, I have done a “one-eighty” on how I feel about writing over my lifetime. Engineers are not known for their writing, but “behind the curtain” we write all the time.

My speaking field is communicating technical content to colleagues, customers, and others. What is yours?

If you are not writing to help your speaking significantly, you are missing a golden opportunity to increase your speaking scope, breadth, and value.

This article explores three areas where your writing can do this: writing and publishing a weekly, writing for social media and on your website, and writing for your association’s journal.

Write and Publish a Weekly Newsletter

You probably have an e-mail list of the people who have permitted you to stay in contact. This is a “gold mine” in which you need to prospect.

It is always a good idea to keep your name in front of the people on your list in business. One of the best ways to do this is to send a weekly newsletter to the people on your list.

There is a reason why it should be a weekly newsletter. Sending it weekly is very important. Sending it on the same day and time is very important. If you do, people on your list will know exactly when your message will be arriving. They will be waiting for it. And someone waiting for something from you and knowing it will show up every week at the exact day and time is always good for business.

The people on my list know my newsletter will be arriving in their inbox every Sunday at 8:00 p.m.

When I started sending my weekly presentation skills newsletter to the people on my list two and a half years ago, my friends were skeptical that I would have enough topics for which to write. Yet, I am still going strong with one hundred thirty plus newsletters and a presentation skills book later.

If you want to receive my weekly presentation skills newsletter, simply send an e-mail to frank@speakleadandsucceed.com and say you want to be on my weekly newsletter list. You will receive your first weekly newsletter the following Sunday at 8:00 p.m.

But what do you do for the people not on your e-mail list? Have you ever written for social media?

Write for Social Media and Your Web Site

When I was growing up, the only way to get published was to write a book, write for a newspaper, or send a letter to the editor.

Social media has changed all this. In an instant, I can send a message to my followers on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankdibartolomeo/) or Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/frank.dibartolomeo.7) for a small fraction of what it used to require.

I repurpose all my newsletters as posts and articles to LinkedIn and Facebook. It is a fast way to get your words in front of those, not on your e-mail list.

I also repurpose my newsletters by posting them as blogs to my website (www.speakleadandsucceed.com/public-speaking-blog-centreville/)

There are two keys here. First, repurpose your written material and, second, get your writing out to the most people possible through different platforms like websites, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

So, sending a weekly newsletter to your e-mail list and posting it to social media and your website can significantly help your speaking.

Have you ever thought of writing for the association journal in your speaking field?

Write for Your Association’s Journal

One of the associations I belong to is the Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers (IEEE). The IEEE has over 400,000 members in 160 countries and has thirty-nine societies, all with magazines, conferences, and conference proceedings. Chances are, there is an association for what you speak on. All of them need writers knowledgeable in the association’s field. You are one of them.

My guess is no matter what you are speaking on; there is an association in your field. All associations know the best way to ensure their existence continues is to communicate often with their members. One way is to publish a monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly journal.

This is a golden opportunity for you to obtain recognition in your field by your colleagues, other association members, and beyond.

These association journal articles often start as a talk you present at the association conference. Then, your presentation spawns an article in the proceedings of the conference.

You may be saying to yourself, “I could never write an article others would want to read.” At which I say, “You never will know until you try.”

Your first step is to send a proposal for your talk program to the conference committee. There are usually separate guidelines for your proposal submission, the talk, and the resulting article.

So writing for associations in your speaking area can provide a significant boost to your speaking.

Writing a weekly newsletter, writing for social media, and writing articles for associations can significantly boost your speaking because it gets you recognized and shows others what you have to say in writing can positively affect their lives.

Can writing significantly help your speaking?

You bet it can!

Call to Action

• Write and publish a weekly newsletter to your e-mail list

• Repurpose your weekly newsletter for social media and on your website

• Write for associations’ journals in your area of speaking

Frank DiBartolomeo is a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and award-winning speaker, presentation and interview skills coach, and Professional Member of the National Speakers Association. He was awarded Toastmasters International’s highest individual award, Distinguished Toastmaster because of his outstanding work in public speaking and leadership.

Frank formed DiBartolomeo Consulting International (DCI), LLC (www.speakleadandsucceed.com) in 2007. The mission of DCI is to help technical professionals to inspire, motivate, and influence their colleagues and other technical professionals through improving their presentation skills, communication, and personal presence. Frank can be reached at frank@speakleadandsucceed.com and (703) 509-4424.

Don’t miss Frank DiBartolomeo’s latest book!

“Speak Well and Prosper: Tips, Tools, and Techniques for Better Presentations”

Available now at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com