Top 5 Tips for Speaking at a Conference

At a recent conference, I sat in on an hour and fifteen minute presentation that lasted only 30 minutes. I felt a little cheated, considering I was supposed to receive PDH credits for sitting through the full session. Here are the top 5 things you should do when preparing to speak at a conference, trade show, seminar, symposium, community luncheon, etc.

• Design your presentation around the needs/interests of your audience. This ensures that your audience stays interested throughout the presentation and that they garner information that can be utilized in their professional or personal lives.
• Use the full time allotted. The audience expects to be there for a certain amount of time, so give them what they paid for. If you don't think you have enough content to fill a certain amount of time, either look at specific elements of your presentation that can be given additional content or use that time for mini group discussions/games or interactions. 
• Don't apologize. Don't apologize for using notes, something in your presentation, or anything else. It decreases the audience's confidence in you as a speaker and holder of knowledge. Even if you don't think things are going perfectly, more often than not, the audience isn't noticing a thing.
• Use case studies as part of your presentation, not as the focus. Case studies can be very good in helping to explain something that you're trying to educate people on, but it shouldn't be the focus. 
• Practice, practice, practice. Give your presentation multiple times in front of people that understand your topic and those that don't - and ask for honest feedback. Constructive criticism will help you adjust things to your presentation (speaking style or your presentation) that can help it look more polished and professional.

Keep these tips in mind the next time you're preparing to give a speech in front of an audience.