How to Write an Effective Speech

As a speechwriter, there's nothing worse than staring at a blank screen and agonizing over how to start that speech. Especially if you have a deadline hanging over you. 

But rather than lose heart, approach things strategically. The experts at Write My Essay company have deduced three simple steps to move quickly from thinking up a speech to delivering it.

Step 1: Prepare

It's important to take a few minutes to think about what you want to accomplish with your speech or presentation. After all, “if you don't know where you're going, you'll end up somewhere else." So take a few minutes to think about the following:

1. What kind of presentation is this? Common types are informational (teaching, instructing), persuasive (your goal is to change people's beliefs and behavior), emotional (targeting an emotional response).

2. Who is your audience? How much do they already know about the topic? What do they think is true and what not? What do they need? What are they hoping for? What are they afraid of?

3. What should the audience feel? What do you want them to do? Choose 1-3 things you want to convey to them (based on what they already know or believe, what they hope for, what they want, what they fear, and what you want them to understand) that will then motivate them to do what you want them to do? If possible, stick to three main points as that is the optimal number for people to take on board.

4. What is your own point of view? Give it, as a neutral speech is a boring speech!

Step 2: Organize Your Content

Consumer psychology research shows that when you give people too many choices and too much information, their attention gets scattered and they end up not buying anything. When you expect your audience to "buy" what you're speaking about, you need to keep the ideas as simple and uncluttered as possible. Here's a simple scheme you can follow that will keep your audience's attention.

1. Have an attention-grabbing introduction. Use a quote, a story, a question, a statistic – anything that gets people hooked quickly. "Good morning, and thanks for having me," isn't an overly engaging beginning. Remember, this is your only chance to get the message across that you are worth listening to. If you’re struggling with this, you can use services such as paper writers for hire to have experienced writers prepare your opening statement. 

2. Always tell your audience what you're going to talk about: "Today we're going to talk about…" The old adage, "tell them what you're going to say, say it, and then tell them what you said" is absolutely correct. You can also add what benefits they will receive from your presentation. That will inspire them to listen even more carefully.

3. Now we come to the body of your speech, your three main points. These points should be built on your preparatory work, i.e., what you want the audience to know or understand. To have your talking points resonate with your audience, add stories, statistics, examples from current affairs and popular culture, quotes from experts, and personal experiences. But you don't need to cram all that into every paragraph. Choose one or two ways to bring each paragraph to life and move on.

4. Summary. Tell people what you just told them. Yes, seriously, do that – attention spans are short and thoughts will soon flutter away, so reinforce your message now.

5. Questions and Answers. Some recommend that you should leave the questions to the very end. The problem with that is that you're then letting the audience determine what topic and tone the presentation will end on. You've put too much work in to let that happen! Finish the Q&A before you summarize the presentation so you can end it on your own terms.

6. Conclusion. The audience will remember best what they heard last. Conclude by tying up any unfinished thoughts, then give one last inspiring, memorable message that encourages your audience to think and act on what you’ve said. A tip that works well is to make those last words refer back to the beginning of your speech, so your message is perceived as complete.

Step 3: Speak with passion

Your task is not just to deliver your speech, but to have your message hit home using empathy, humor, or whatever methods fit your style. Meet your audience with your eyes, use gestures to generate energy, walk around the stage, and have your voice and your face be alive. You must show that you really care about your topic and your audience in order to have them care. 

Step 4. Conclude your speech

We covered the conclusion of your speech above, but let’s expand a little on this as it is so important. 

Think about your final phrase. It is one that will stay in the mind? There are several ways to end your speech: you could ask a rhetorical question and leave the audience with their thoughts, or you could offer a few solutions to a problem. You should also inspire action.

Most often, the choice of the final sentence depends on the type of speech. For example, a product presentation can end with a demonstration of benefits, while an informative speech about a problem can end with ways to solve it.

If we're talking about inspirational speeches, you should make good use of succinct motivational phrases. 

So to summarize, how do you prepare a good speech?

First of all, think about what you wish to accomplish with your speech. For example, to promote a new project, attract investment, or inspire colleagues.

Then select what will help illustrate the main idea. And, of course, gather as much detailed information about your audience as possible.  This will make it much easier to find the right tone for your speech, as well as the right words and phrases. 

If you follow all these points, your speech is sure to reach its goal. And remember, for more information or the answers to questions about writing an effective speech, you can contact experienced writers at cheap writing services to get expert advice.

Disclaimer: this article includes a paid product promotion.