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In the Beginning…Know The Audience
By Beverly Cohen, Communications Specialist of The Presentation Team

When starting on a new presentation, it’s helpful to know your audience. But just who is your audience? Who are those nameless, faceless people who are coming to hear you? The more you know about your audience the greater the chance that you can create a presentation that is tailor-made to their intellectual, emotional and physical selves. The stories you choose and the examples you use depend on who they are, where they are, and what they already know. Consider these points when starting your presentation:

1. What is the gender? More male than female? More female than male? Or is it equally balanced?
   
2. What is the age range?
   
3. How many people will there be?
   
4. What do they know? What information is my audience starting with? What is their level of knowledge about the subject? You don't want to intimidate them or talk above or down to. Have they heard it before? Don't waste their time or yours. Give them something new or a different perspective.
   
5. Why are they here? Is the audience attending voluntarily? Is it for personal gain, or did the boss send them?

Knowing your audience can help you target your message. And having a targeted message will improve audience receptivity…helping to make your presentation more successful.