Here are some speaking tips.

  1. My role is to educate, entertain, engage, and keep the energy going until the end of the day. There’s a running sheet, but there’s also flexibility.
  2. I always repost photos of myself on stage, and then my brilliant assistant embeds the LinkedIn post on my website https://heathersmithsmallbusiness.com/speaker/ it means the profile page is always current. It also keeps me front of mind for conference organisers.
  3. I will be across the other talks of the day, and listen to the talks before mine, and weave them into my presentation for emphasis. Perhaps something like you will learn more about this topic in Jim’s talk later in the day.
  4. I include QR codes in my slide deck to lead to relevant podcasts or articles.This adds extra depth to my talk, and gives the audience a reason to subscribe to the Accounting Apps podcast, and puts a 40 minute audio explanation of the solution in the palm of their hands.
  5. I’ve started wearing a chunky watch for stage days, so I can keep track of the time, without looking at my phone. It is weird wearing a watch after 2 decades of not wearing a watch.
  6. I’ll wear something special like my ‘What would Dolly Do?” earrings given to me by a friend. Sneak your cheerleaders on stage with you.
  7. I received lots of lovely feedback, and I should have actively asked a few people for a LinkedIn recommendation, specifically focused on speaking. It always helps to have a few more current recommendations.
  8. I actively help the organisers promote the event, before, during and after the event, and help them at the event.
  9. I take the time to speak to audience members before going on stage to speak. I cherry-pick some of the conversations that are appropriate to the talk. It resonates with the audience that other audience members are going on the journey.
  10. I include a 30-second (or longer) audience interaction. Ask them to share something with the person next to them. If time allows, pass around the mic for a few to share with the room. It’s a simple way to boost energy and connection.

Hopefully some useful ideas to think about as you are exploring your speaker’s journey.