A bad presentation or speech is like a donut — the central part (your audience) is missing.

To write a good presentation or speech, ALWAYS focus on your audience. (Actually, it’s a good idea to focus on your audience or readers for all your writing efforts!) I shared these tips with my students at Rider University earlier today and now I’m sharing them with you.

How to write a good presentation or speech:

Before you start outlining your presentation, ask yourself these questions:

1. Who is my audience? (Try to describe them in as much detail as possible — and “get inside their heads” if possible.)

2. What does my audience want, or what are their expectations and needs?

3. What does my audience like, dislike or fear?

4. Why did my audience invite me to speak?

5. How is my message important to my audience?

When you have the answers to the questions above, writing your presentation can be as simple as following these four steps:

1. Start with a “hook” to get your audience interested in what you’re saying. Effective “hooks” include:

– Telling a compelling story that’s interesting to your audience.

– Asking a question you want the audience to try to answer.

– Sharing an interesting or startling statistic your audience may not know.

2. After your hook/introduction, answer the “WTF” question for your audience. The “WTF” question can be translated from “What the f*@#?” to “What’s in it for me?” Your audience is asking themselves why they should care about your presentation. So, TELL THEM and give them reasons and lots of details.

3. Conclude your presentation or speech by hammering home your message(s)! Use any of these proven techniques:

– Show examples of success.

– Share “testimonials” — positive messages people have said about your subject.

– Not persuading? Use repetition. Simply repeat the key message(s) from your speech.

4. Finally, at the end of your presentation, always give some “takeaways,” like action-steps or a call-to-action telling your audience what they could or should do next. And, don’t forget to THANK your audience for their time… it’s just good manners to do so.

Do you have your own tips to share? Let us know by posting your comments here. And, THANKS for reading this post! 😉

Until next time, take care!

Kathy Magrino

This is a repeat of a popular blog post I wrote late last year — and it’s worth repeating now because I’ve recently rediscovered the value of brainstorming for creative solutions and ideas in my own life and business. I hope you can discover the value of brainstorming, too! 😉

“Brainstorming” encourages us to think creatively or “outside the box” — and in life, in general, it can help us tackle daily challenges. Whether you’re brainstorming alone or in a group, the same basic steps (outlined below) apply. And, remember: There are no restrictions! Brainstorming can be — and should be — FUN!

1. Review the facts, then consider the facts in new and varied combinations.
2. Make a list of random words, ideas, phrases — anything that comes to mind – as you’re reviewing the facts and considering the ideas. (Don’t rule anything out! List everything you think of, no matter how “crazy” it may seem.)
3. Think about your “audience” or the people involved in whatever you’re brainstorming about (for my students, the audience would be the people who are going to read the ad, or hear the radio advertisement or see the tv commercial, etc.). Think about how these people’s lifestyles can/do relate to your ideas — and don’t forget to write down everything that enters your mind… Keep telling yourself that anything is possible!
4. Find analogies and relationships – you can consider what you’re brainstorming about and think about how it might be used differently, or what it would be like if it were alive, or relate it to a completely different type of item/person/movie/song… whatever.
5. Continue to develop your ideas by asking key questions: Who?… What?… When?… How?… Where?… Why?…
6. Don’t be afraid to link together and connect ideas by following your intuition, gut feelings and hunches… and simply continue to be “free” as you brainstorm all the possibilities.

Brainstorming can be a good exercise to develop your problem-solving skills… and you might be surprised by the successful outcome of your brainstorming efforts! Have fun… and good luck!

Until next time,

Kathy Magrino