160 Top Tips for Public Speakers

Record your talk on a phone to spot improvements, use props to bring stories to life, survey the audience, and use cards or a cheat sheet to stay on track.

Learn to enhance talks with carefully chosen humor and stories, practice delivery and timing, and use prompt cards to stay on message while tailoring content to diverse audiences.

Use the virtual journey memory technique to map key stories along a familiar route. Audit for logic, emotion, and three es for evidence, experience, endorsement—and craft quotable soundbites with feedback.

Store the organizer's contact in multiple places, prepare a concise introduction, and arrive early to test the room and tech. Back up slides in three locations and have water ready.

Boost your stage presence with confident body language, eye contact, and a tested microphone, then prep the night before, dress for success, gear, and seating for a professional presentation.

Ditch PowerPoint and use visuals sparingly; speak from the heart with stories, vary pace and pitch, keep messages simple, observe the audience, and add brief interactive moments.

Rehearse key sentences and stress nouns for clarity. Tailor talks for non-native audiences with slower pacing, local references, and topical content, then close the loop with organizers after the talk.

Improve remote speaking by ensuring a fast internet connection, testing Zoom or Teams setup, and optimizing lighting, eye-level camera, background, screen share, and audience muting for smooth delivery.

Tailor your after-dinner talk to the audience, prioritizing entertainment and humor with concise, sharp content. Stay sober, calm, and prepared for hecklers to keep the talk short and engaging.

Build a professional speaker website with videos, photos, and testimonials, and craft a show reel to attract bookings. Position yourself as an expert with insights and strategic pricing.

Market yourself as a thought leader by blogging, commenting, and repurposing content, seek referrals after talks, and build credibility with a book, self-publishing, and social media keywords.

Collect leads, send regular newsletters, and seek feedback from peers and associations to market yourself as a speaker; nurture past clients, offer free talks, and pursue conference opportunities with headshots.

Create a one-pager with your headshot, expertise, topics, and testimonials, delivered as a PDF for inquiries. Leverage bureaus, networking, and timely follow-ups to secure gigs and improve your talk.

Learn how to become a cruise ship speaker by crafting entertaining, informational talks, auditioning through bureaus, booking with cruise lines, engaging a discerning audience, and handling logistics and book sales.

Identify common keynote mistakes from weak starts to overcrowded slides, and learn to energize openings, craft a clear message with structure, include human interest, rehearse, respect time, and finish strongly.