Ten Tips for Writing Powerful and Persuasive Presentations
Have you ever had to give a speech?
Do you remember that feeling? A knot in the stomach, sweaty palms and a panic attack!
It is not a very pleasant experience. And yet I’m sure his speech was a success because 90 percent of a typical audience wants the speaker to succeed.
However, according to The Book of Lists, public speaking is one of our biggest fears.
Much of this anxiety stems from a lack of confidence in writing and preparing a speech rather than delivery.
Giving a presentation can be a great way to build your business, influence public opinion, or boost your career.
It’s a great way to stand out from the crowd and make a real difference in people’s lives.
What are the secrets to writing a powerful and persuasive speech for any occasion?
Here are 10 tips to turn a good speech into a great one!
1. Have a plan and set some goals and results.
There is nothing worse than not knowing what you want to achieve. Do you want to educate the audience, inform, inspire, motivate or touch their emotions? Always figure out what you want to accomplish before beginning the speaking process.
2. Have a formal structure: beginning, middle and end.
Audiences love structure, and the best speeches stick to this tried-and-true rule. As they say: “tell them what you are going to tell them, tell them and then say it again”.
3. Avoid having too much content.
Let those guilty of this sin raise their hands. I know who I am. I have lost count of the number of technical presentations made by CEOs, managers, scientists, engineers, geologists, and other professionals who have just packed too much content into their presentations. Too much for one audience to absorb – Remember that even the best audiences face information overload after 20 minutes.
How do you overcome the content crisis? See Tip #8.
4. Define who your audience is and use the most appropriate communication
channels to reach them.
Analyze how your audience likes to receive information: do they like to be stimulated visually or do they like to just sit back and listen. Or they like to get involved, touch and feel kinesthetically. Calculate the best combination of visual, audio and kinesthetic and use it in your speech writing.
5. Research your speech using a variety of sources.
Be a keen observer of trends your audience is likely to be interested in, and keep an archive of interesting articles and information. If you’re short on time, a few quick questions when meeting an audience right before a speech, such as “what are the issues facing your business/industry/association right now?” it can really help guide your presentation and create a report.
6. Use personal stories, examples, and metaphors to make intangible concepts
tangible.
In many cases you are trying to sell ideas and concepts in a speech. These are intangible and often difficult for the audience to understand. Personal stories, examples and metaphors make the invisible visible.
7. Have a strong opening and closing.
People remember the opening: first impressions count! The closing is important as it should reinforce the key message that you want the audience to have in their minds after they have listened to the presentation. Ending with a ‘call to action’ can be a powerful way to get your audience to act on your message.
8. Add value and extra details through a brochure.
Here’s a tip: if you want to provide details, put them in a brochure! You can convey much more content in written form than in a speech. Always reference this in your presentation, but hand it out after your speech so the audience isn’t distracted by reading while you speak. There’s nothing more soul-destroying for a presenter to see the audience flipping through written notes instead of looking at you!
9. Use short words and simple English.
Short words are always the best words. Avoid jargon. Use active words instead of passive. This has much more impact on the mind of your listeners.
10. Evaluate and review periodically.
There is nothing more powerful than listening to a speech you have written. If you are writing a speech for someone else, always try to listen to the speech or at least get some feedback. Recording and listening to a presentation is the fastest way to improve your skills.
