The Backchannel: How to effectively use social media during workshops and presentations

Cliff Atkinson’s new book, The Backchannel: How Audiences are using Twitter and Social Media and Changing Presentations Forever, tackles the challenge of effective public speaking in our increasingly technological world. You may have used keypad polling during your Town Hall Meeting as a way to collect audience feedback, but with today’s social media and mobile communication channels, more interactivity is possible and expected by your audience.

Central to the concept of the book is the social media invasion.  Instead of fighting or ignoring web 2.0 technologies, Atkinson seeks to bring an awareness about the potential of social media outlets and provide ideas about how to employ this technology in a productive manner.  The Backchannel is careful to highlight both the positive results a good media strategy can have and the sometimes negative outcomes  occurring when social media backchannels aren’t controlled properly during a presentation.  Through anecdotes both good and bad, the thesis rings true: as speeches continue to become more interactive and conversational, speakers have the potential to greatly expand their audience base through social media.

While The Backchannel contains insight specific to speakers and presenters, the concepts can be applied to most public forums or government agencies hoping to elicit feedback from a wider audience.

Creating a ‘homepage’ utilizing wiki-software is greatly encouraged.  This home page should serve as a central clearing house for all social media efforts.  Youtube videos of recent presentations should be embedded here, alongside important upcoming dates and announcements, perhaps a blog, and most importantly links to all social networking sites you have presence on.

Atkinson recommends summarizing key points in “twitter-sized chunks”.  The core of this theory, that key points should be easily summarized, holds true to any forum for discussion and will inevitably foster a more focused discussion than a long-winded multi-faceted issue.

The book also suggests creating instant online polls to involve the audience during a discussion.  Programs like PollEverywhere, TextTheMob and Twitter can be used to take questions from the audience during a public meeting.  Atkinson advises against projecting backchannels onscreen during a discussion as it distracts from whomever is speaking.  This holds especially true in a public forum where this technique could easily degenerate into negativity or inappropriateness.  In the case of a Town Hall Meeting, the better solution is utilizing social media, but having someone moderating comments and suggestions before they become public record.

More about Cliff Atkinson and his latest book can be found here: http://www.backchannelbook.com/