Greta Andreas: In the professional area, I concentrate on the few networks that I can still actively manage in parallel: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram. I should take care of Tumblr and Reddit; Pinterest and Snapchat are more of a private thing for me and Stayfriends ekes out an existence as a poetry album of the past...
Facebook is part of my everyday life. It is a place where quick, direct exchange and networking take place, and I can identify and act on currents and communication tendencies early on. In some threads, a topic is already emerging that urgently needs speakers. Or the other way around: via Facebook, I get to know people with exciting approaches linkedin data and ideas who might not describe themselves as 'speakers', but who can provide great information on certain issues. Then we might develop a presentation format and - voilà! Or highly interesting discussions arise that show me the world from different perspectives - which, by the way, applies to both private and professional contexts. I don't make too clear a distinction between the two, even though there are of course lists and not every post is visible to everyone.
Another aspect is currently gaining in importance: the political in everyday life. Anyone who is prepared to leave their filter bubble and not only exchange ideas with similarly oriented friends will sometimes experience unpleasant surprises. Counterspeech groups such as #ichbinhier advocate constructive dialogue - and my customers, for example, can also experience this from me.
Question: Let's talk about your clients and the transition from giving away to selling. Almost every speaker probably started out as an unpaid speaker; even well-known speakers still occasionally give pro bono speeches. But if giving away and selling are the same, how do you make the leap and where is the dividing line?
Greta Andreas: There can be very good reasons for performing pro bono. Speakers should always ask themselves: What exactly is it good for to perform here for free? What would be an appropriate compensation for me if not monetary? Am I reaching an audience that is relevant to me and that is difficult to reach in any other way? Can I experiment? How much effort will I have to put in? Is it ensured that I can present in good quality? Is it helpful for media presence? Is it an opportunity to reach the next level? Does it correspond to my values, my core competence?