10 Tips for Giving a Speech at Conference or Trade Show

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Speaking at a Conference instils terror into some people. Here are 10 tips to help you give a better speech.

1. Know your audience -Prepare the right information for the right crowd. You might be quickly dismissed if you don't.
2. Make eye contact -There will always be a few eyes watching you intently. Find on to the left, on in the middle and one to the right and focus on them.
   
3. Keep it simple -Tell them what your going to speak about. Speak. Tell them what you spoke about.
4. Be entertaining -Make them laugh if you have a sense of humor (see #1)
   
5. See the room before you present -This will help reduce your uncertainty and anxiety.
   
6. Projectors are evil -Make sure to troubleshoot and practice with your AV equipment. They always seem to break right in the middle of your speech.
   
7. Prepare –You were asked to speak because you are an expert. Don't ramble; make sure presentation flows naturally instead of sounding memorized.
8.  Movement counts –Gesture and move around when speaking. Movement makes you interesting and helps people pay better attention.
   
9. Watch out for vocal segregates – Eliminate “umm”, “ahh”, or any other useless words. The same goes for words like "OK", "You Know", and "All right".
   
10. Differentiate yourself –Be memorable and they might ask you back next year!   
    

PHOTO CREDIT: Karin Dalziel, CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSE - SOME RIGHTS RESERVED