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Dabbling for
Dollars . . . .
How To Write A Speech
by Alyice Edrich
A speech is a great promoter of your
business; when done right. Make communicating with your audience a breeze, with
a well-written, well-rehearsed speech.
The type of event you attend will
determine the length of your speech. Below are sample speech lengths:
-
Average speaker speaks 100 to 135
words per minute
-
Standard keynote speaker: 18 to 22
minutes (est. 1,800 to 2,970 words)
-
Motivator: 12 to 15 minutes (est.
1,200 to 2,025 words)
-
Ceremonial speaker: 5 to 7 minutes
(est. 500 to 945 words)
-
News conference: 2 to 3 minutes
(est. 200 to 405 words)
-
Wedding toast: 2 to 3 minutes
(est. 200 to 405 words)
Your speech doesn't need to be fancy
or extremely creative to work; it just needs to use many of the following
points:
-
Address a target group or niche
market.
-
Be more than just sales copy; be
informative and definitely entertaining.
-
Have a good introduction that
hooks the audience (first five sentences).
-
Flow from point to point.
-
Deliver your speech by being
well-prepared.
Tip>>>Rehearse
your speech by first speaking in front of a mirror, then gather a few friends
and practice in front of an audience. Allow a little background noise in your
rehearsals. The worst thing you could do is simply read a sheet of paper, word
for word.
-
Memorize the main idea of your
speech—not word per word.
-
Use outline cards to keep you on
track.
-
Time yourself to make sure you
stay within the allotted timeframe.
-
Speak using a conversational tone,
as though your audience were your friends.
-
Give plenty of examples, don't
just re-iterate facts.
-
Use visual aides to help you feel
less nervous; especially if you have a complicated speech.
-
Find a focus point in the room.
Pick an object or person(s) that you can look at from time to time to help you
stay focused.
-
Don't fidget! Don't play with your
jewelry or hair. Don't twirl your fingers or jingle your change.
-
Don't use "uhm," "eh," "er," or
other sounds while giving your speech.
-
Be prepared for a Q&A segment, if
warranted. Keep answers focused, tight and to the point.
-
Remember that the audience isn't
there to pull your speech apart or point out all your flaws, they are there to
hear your expertise and learn something insightful.
-
Have fun.
Tip>>>Mingle
with the audience before your speech. They'll get to know you and you them,
making them feel more like friends! It will ease the stress and anxiety involved
in giving a speech.
When preparing your speech consider:
-
What is your voice? In other
words, do you have samples of past speeches that scream, "you?"
-
Why were you asked to speak at
this event? What were the reasons told to you?
-
What is the theme of the event you
are to speak at?
-
What are the other topics being
spoken on? (You don't want to reiterate what someone else is saying.)
-
What are the audiences' biases or
hot buttons?
-
What is the main point of the
speech?
-
What sub-points do you want your
speech to address?
-
Do you have any information to
back up the points you want to address?
-
Who is your intended audience?
-
What do you want the speech to
motivate the audience to do—call to action?
-
Are statistics needed to get your
point across? If so, what are they or where can I find them?
-
Is there someone you'd like to
quote in your speech? What is his/her full name, the quote and the relevance
to the speech?
-
How will these benefits meet the
needs of your target audience?
-
What have you tried in the past?
What worked and what failed?
-
Any poignant information you can
provide to make the speech stand out?
Alyice Edrich is the author of
several work-from-home e-books, including
Tid-Bits For Making Money With E-books. Buy
the e-book and get three free sessions to help you earn hundreds of dollars
selling information they already possess. Stop by
http://thedabblingmumpress.com to
order a copy today!
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