It doesn’t matter if you are trying to have a conversation with a two-year-old, preparing for a large employee meeting, or developing an intense marketing plan to double your client base. It could be over if you don’t use all four learning styles to capture their attention.
There are four learning styles: visual, audio, verbal (reading/writing), and kinesthetic/tactile. I keep these four approaches at the forefront, whether coaching, speaking, writing, or marketing—even in my relationships. There is nothing worse than blabbing to your partner on a three-hour trip to Denver only to find out he would rather hike and talk. In this case, you might be audio and him kinesthetic.
Learning style deets:
- Visuals (65% of the population) are captured by colors, photos, demonstrations, charts, etc. They want the nitty gritty and fast and are unlikely to read long content without random visuals popping up.
- Audios (about 25% of the population) rarely read content. They are attracted to audiobooks, podcasts, music, conversation, in-person meetings, and brainstorming/think tanks.
- Verbal (reading/writing) learners (less than 5% of the population) want to read the text/content or take notes. These peeps take notes and grab the handouts after a presentation so they can review what they might have missed. They would rather read the blog or script from a podcast than listen or watch.
- Kinesthetic/tactile peeps are the hands-on, active types (less than 5% of the population). They get bored fast if not entertained or allowed to participate or move while communicating and learning. These guys would rather figure it out themselves and get back to you. And if you do a stand-up sit-down exercise during a long meeting, you will keep the attention of these guys.
If you want to reach 100% of any audience, remember this: people retain 80 percent of what they see, 20 percent of what they read, and 10 percent of what they hear. Therefore, if you are losing your audience or your marketing plan isn’t working, it doesn’t mean you are not a whiz, or you are humdrum. Likely, you haven’t nailed your audiences’ learning styles.
It is pretty easy to figure out where you and your tribe fall. Just think about how it is going for ya right now! Has a chunk of your audience nodded off during your finger-pointing PowerPoint? If so, you have some audio peeps in the room. Have you tried helping your teenager with an English assignment, and they can’t get it? You might have a kinesthetic on your hands. Your son might understand Shakespeare by acting it out or watching a video.
If your relationship(s) or business is not flourishing, go back to the drawing board. Figure out how your niche can appeal to all four learning types. Capture their attention the way THEY need to receive it.
How do learning styles use the various social media platforms? The online world was forced to grow and diversify rapidly—those who didn’t have been left behind. From entertainment to marketing, shapeshifting and pivoting are a must. Praying to the Lord and hoping something sticks isn’t enough.
For example, the digital revolution started over two decades ago, and very quickly, it became apparent which types of learners were initially attracted to which social media platforms, though nearly all of them now serve all learning types because they had to!
LinkedIn hit the scene around 2003. They were the leader in business networking. It took decades for them to realize they needed to soften the collars of their starched Polo shirts and realize they could still conduct “business” and succeed as an employee-recruitment playground without being so stiff and crisp. Comedy can expand your business, gang.
YouTube soon hopped on board. And the visual peeps could barely control their excitement, whether they wanted to learn how to make a killer lemon loaf, launch a how-to series, or dance the night away to the Top 40. This audience captures all learning styles beautifully.
In 2006, the Twitter bird (X as it is called today) flew in. This platform initially focused on short text messages to multiple followers. Yay for the read/write learners. But for the first five years, it was ugh for the rest of us. They soon allowed picture and video uploads, which greatly attracted a larger audience.
The same year, Facebook hopped on the wagon. They focused on all learning types right out of the gate —images, memes, and videos. Before long, live videos, stories, reels, and, of course, ads followed! I know…ads, but they sure piqued the interest of the visuals and kinesthetics.
Instagram grabbed the attention of visual peeps around 2010 with creative layouts using in-your-face images and videos. Since then, they have joined the gang with reels, shorts, and entered a more complex video world.
Here we go…TikTok came in 2017. To me, it is, frankly, the best platform to capture all types of learners and all niches. I know…political arguments haunt this platform. But you can listen to a hurricane tracker, make a killer carrot cake, learn a dance craze, solicit every type of business client, sell products, and turn your cat into the Grinch with its newest filter.
Also, several platforms pay consistent content creators to use their platforms. That approach might also be for you.
I believe business isn’t about business. Business is about people. And everyone is different, so…you must find them and keep them interested. Rarely these days do clients or customers just show up.
You already know this, but today, most people want to see things in the moment. You have about 30 seconds to grab someone’s attention. Live content has become spicy even for business. And honestly, all platforms are now addressing most of the learning styles.
I recommend you rotate your methods and content library. Don’t hesitate to repurpose or cut and paste to all your platforms. Set a schedule. Maybe on Mondays, you can post text with no photo. Tuesday, you go live cooking from the kitchen. Wednesday, you ask open-ended questions. Thursday, you share a moment with your dog. Friday, you recruit clients in a live video from your desk. And so on. Be creative. Be consistent. Be prepared to pivot. And win the game with learning styles.
In summary, if your partner “doesn’t listen” or comprehend what you say, he or she is likely visual. If your grandma reads the paper versus watching the news, she is likely a verbal/text learner. So meet them where they are.
To understand yourself, your clients, or your family better, complete the VARK questionnaire https://vark-learn.com/the-vark-questionnaire/
Figure out your audience and communicate with them by using their learning styles. It is like using a magic wand.
