Getting up in front of an audience is difficult. Making a lasting impression is even harder. There is no single formula for a great presentation. There is no magic pill to turn you into a great speaker overnight.
Don’t stress. This week’s #CMWorld Twitter chat was filled with tips that will help you in the boardroom or on a stage.
Our special guest Andrea Larick has seen it all. She oversees both Content Marketing World and ContentTECH Summit presentations. Based on her experiences, she shared key principles on how to become a better speaker.
The following is a look at her conversation with our community. Want more? Our Twitter Moment includes more from the Q&A.
A2b: Go deep for the meat of the topic – no fluff. Conference attendees are usually seasoned professionals and they want something very specific and in depth with practical takeaways they can implement when they return to their office. #CMWorld
— Andrea Larick (@A_Larick) March 19, 2019
A2: Great presentations are formatted within the structure of a story. We are placed somewhere, then some kind of conflict is introduced and there’s a resolution. Humans are built to respond to a story, it’s how we learn. So do that. #CMWorld
— Mike Myers 🤠 (@mikemyers614) March 19, 2019
A2: Break it down. Deconstruct that big idea into elements of a story (we have LOTS of practice with that, right?). Simplify wherever possible and watch for signs the audience is with you. Plan ahead how you might adjust if you see they’re getting lost. #CMWorld
— Amanda Changuris (@AmandaChanguris) March 19, 2019
A2: Don’t tell them everything. Leave some things out. The audience will be distracted…they will all be listening through their own filters….be lean….remember – you know all of it – they don’t! be respectful and do not fill them up! #CMWorld https://t.co/E3nLWZSaEL
— michael weiss (@mikepweiss) March 19, 2019
See more answers to this and other questions in our Twitter Moment.
A4 I do both. I review my core points and have an idea of what to share. But I also tend to go impromptu depending on how the audience is responding. #cmworld pic.twitter.com/49n67u2E91
— Ben H. Rome (@bhrome) March 19, 2019
A4.
I tend to prefer to winging it!
I often find that if I rehearse too much, I become fixated on having the presentation be perfect rather than authentic/of value! #CMWorld
— Bentley University (@bentleyu) March 19, 2019
A4. I never really found “impromptu” presentations to be all that great – they aren’t well thought out and leave out important information. I always practice and I believe that others should as well. Doing so gives you great structure and keeps you on point. #CMworld
— Patrick Delehanty (@MDigitalPatrick) March 19, 2019
a4 Daily #video creation is definitely my pratice time! #CMworld pic.twitter.com/FtgWVOh8yZ
— Dan Willis (@MLLNNLmotivator) March 19, 2019
A4. I think the secret is in balancing proper rehearsing with impro. Sometimes you need to give back to the audience’s reaction, so leave room for answering occasional question or a distant laugh in the back of the room. Also, try taking impro classes to deal with fear. #cmworld
— Pitchbox App (@PitchboxApp) March 19, 2019
A4: Speakers who ask someone else to create their slides (and the speaking points) should absolutely rehearse & continue to co-create–so the content creator can learn from the evolution of the presentation. #CMWorld
— Shelly Lucas (@pisarose) March 19, 2019
See more answers to this and other questions in our Twitter Moment.
How has public speaking strengthened your role as a content marketer? Let us know in the comments below.
Meet Andrea and see the group of speakers she has lined up when you attend Content Marketing World 2019. Register now with code SM100 to save $100 off Early Bird prices.
