Proven Tips in Writing a Memorable Speech Presentation [2022]

Ralph Waldo Emerson, an American essayist, lecturer, philosopher, and poet, once said, “all great speakers are bad speakers at first.” Indeed, any notable or famous speakers that we know of were not born with excellent public speaking skills but were only able to hone their abilities through practice.

However, even though we recognize the importance of practice, we know that a good speech always starts with preparation (aka speech preparation). As Wayne Burgraff, a senior pastor and a highly experienced public speaker, once said, “it takes an hour of preparation for each minute of presentation time.“

Thus, in this article, we would like to help you develop your speech presentation skills by honing your ability to prepare, practice, and, more particularly, utilize speech presentation techniques that are proven and tested by experts.

Stay tuned until the end, as we will provide some speech presentation examples that you can use to practice on your own before engaging the public.

Let’s start by knowing the importance of speech preparation.

I. Importance of Speech Preparation

Many people get nervous when asked to give a speech in front of a large group. We’ve all been there, and it’s understandable, given how nerve-racking it is to deliver a speech. There is apprehension about making mistakes, stuttering, or even failing the entire speech.

However, did you know that a well-written speech is your first step in delivering your speech presentation successfully? And did you know that writing a speech does not have to be a stressful experience?

Here’s an example of one of my favorite TedTalk entitled Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator by Tim Urban.

Notice how relaxed and enjoyable the experience is for the audience? There wasn’t even a need for too much flair or embellishments.

Somers White once said, “90% of how well the talk will go is determined before the speaker steps on the platform.” This was clearly showcased based on how Tim Urban utilized timing, composure, humor, and even silence, to name a few.

This means that the speaker’s speech preparation determines its success. Therefore, you should spend time and effort composing your speech presentation.

Let’s now look at some speech presentation techniques that we can use to captivate your audience.

 II. Expert Tips in Making an Awesome Speech Presentation

A. Research the Audience and Occasion.

Always research your audience. You have to come up with speech presentation techniques that will appeal to your audience, so it is better if you research them.

These are just some considerations you should remember when making an audience analysis.

For example, as recommended by the University of Pittsburgh – Department of Communication, a well-done audience analysis should include an understanding of…

If you want to learn more about these factors, you can visit the University of Pittsburgh blog about Audience Analysis here.

B. Identify the Purpose and Idea of the Speech Presentation.

Creating a speech presentation outline is like driving.

Yes, sometimes we drive “anywhere” just for fun, but most of the time, we drive from Point A to Point B. In other words, a specific destination. This goes the same with making your speech presentation outline. As aptly said by Bill Brown,

It is best to pick a direction and find a landmark you can keep constantly before you. That way, you know you are moving toward your goal. That is analogous to defining the purpose of your speech. Your purpose is your landmark.

To understand more about what a landmark is, let’s look at Chris Anderson’s TED’s Secret to Great Public Speaking.

In the video, Anderson said that all great TED Talks have “one key common ingredient,” that is…

Your number one task as a speaker is to transfer into your listeners’ minds an extraordinary gift – a strange and beautiful object that we call an idea.

From this, you would know that before you begin writing your speech, you must first determine its purpose and the idea you are trying to impart.

By knowing what you are trying to accomplish, you would know that while a speech may inform, persuade, or entertain the audience, the primary purpose would still be your ability to share the message you have in mind.

C. Choose and Research the Speech Presentation Topic.

In line with the speech presentation techniques already stated above, every good speaker should also choose a speech presentation topic that interests you and your audience.

It is vital that you are also interested and passionate about the speech presentation topic. Remember, you cannot give what you do not have. So, choosing a speech presentation topic that you like is best. You can choose from several topics and narrow them until you find the best one.

After choosing the speech presentation topic, research it thoroughly. Although studies show that your content only accounts for 7% of the effectiveness of your speech presentation, most experienced public speakers would know the importance of giving the audience factual information.

In other words, research is needed to build your credibility as a speaker. In addition, research may also help you to acquire new ideas and concepts that you can also share with your audience.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you were a source of reliable information?

D. Write the speech.

After collecting the necessary information about your topic and identifying several factors, it is time to write your speech.

1. Start with a speech presentation outline.

A speech presentation outline will help you organize your thoughts according to the audience, occasion, and purpose.

It is better to outline the body of your speech first, limit it to three points, and add supporting details. Afterward, you may outline your introduction and conclusion. The introduction must grab the audience’s attention, and the conclusion must summarize the main points.

2. Write the introduction.

You must write a compelling and appealing introduction. Since this is the first thing your audience will hear, you must ensure that it captures their attention and makes them want to listen to you. In other words, it may make or break your own presentation.

Here are some compelling and remarkable speech opening lines from YPO.Org’s 7 Memorable Ways to Open a Speech or Presentation.

Speech Opening Lines

YPO.Org Speech Opening Lines | Speech Presentation Techniques

Based on the examples from YPO above, it becomes clear that in writing an effective introduction, start with an attention-grabbing sentence, such as providing facts and statistics, citing a quote, posing a question, or telling a story.

State your thesis statement in this part; make sure it is specific.

3. Write the body.

Write the body using the outline. It is best to write the body paragraphs one at a time. Assist the audience in following the flow of the speech by arranging the points logically.

To avoid confusion, you can also use cohesive devices or transitional words. It is also important not to overwhelm the audience with the amount of information you are attempting to provide them with. As a result, you must only include the essential points.

4. Write the concluding paragraph.

Restate your purpose and thesis statement. You also have to summarize your main points in this part.

One of the essential things that you should consider as early as your speech presentation outline is that you have to reiterate the fundamental concepts of your speech presentation for the audience to remember.

And lastly, you may want to use the same approach you used in your introductory paragraph for closure. Just be sure to add some twists and turns.

One of my favorite lines from the movie Interstellar is “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night.” (*well, it refers to Death per se, but the fact is you should always End Strong!)

E. Revise the Speech.

Revision allows us to determine if we have met the requirements and purpose of the speech presentation. Thus, after writing the speech, it is better to read, internalize, and repeat. Try reading it out loud or asking your friend to listen to you. From there, you can already spot things that you can improve. Always be open to positive criticisms, which will help you improve.

Additionally, you can still spot grammatical and technical errors through this step, and there may also be ideas you need to add or omit.

F. Prepare Visual Aids.

Visual aids will help your audience understand and appreciate your speech presentation more. Visual aids also help engage the audience through interactive activities or various media forms. Therefore, it is essential to choose a powerful tool to be used.

Google Slides and PowerPoint are the two most commonly used tools; however, it is your time to squeeze all the creative juices to develop the best speech presentation ideas. You can find different websites such as SlidesCarnival, SlidesGo, and Canva. These websites are popular because they have a large number of ready-to-use templates, a variety of features, and are simple to use.

Check out our latest blog if you want to know how to create an effective PowerPoint presentation.

After choosing the best tool, it is time to select the best template. A speech presentation template can determine your speech’s mood. For instance, if the template is bland, the audience will be bored, and the talk will quickly be forgotten. Hence, it is essential to choose a template that will be pleasing to the audience’s eyes. Remember that good visual aids can help your audience remember your speech presentation.

G. Practice.

Aside from having a well-written speech, practicing it can also help you succeed in your speech presentation. Thus, I cannot underline the importance of practice, practice, and practice.

It will help if you practice your speech presentation in front of a mirror. You can see yourself, including your body language, and determine whether it is appropriate in this manner. 

After you’ve gotten comfortable in front of the mirror, it’s time to practice in front of a small group, which could include family members, friends, colleagues, or classmates. Feedback will be provided in this manner, and you must work on any improvements you can make. Remember, nothing is perfect, but practice guarantees lesser mistakes, so practice!

III. Speech Presentation Examples

Now that you have learned the fundamentals of speech presentations, the next step is looking at some speech presentation examples that you can use to practice your speech presentation skills. As for now, I attached one example that you can use here. In case you need more, don’t hesitate to contact us through our live chat or through our email at [email protected].