How do you craft a compelling speech for any platform?

1 Know your goal

Before you start writing your speech, you need to have a clear goal in mind. What do you want your audience to think, feel, or do after listening to you? How do you want to inspire, educate, persuade, or entertain them? Your goal will guide your content, your tone, and your call to action. Write down your goal in one sentence and keep it in front of you as you craft your speech.

2 Know your audience

The next step is to know your audience. Who are they, what are their needs, challenges, interests, and expectations? How can you relate to them, resonate with them, and provide value to them? How can you tailor your speech to their level of knowledge, their preferences, and their feedback? Research your audience, survey them, or interact with them before your speech. Use their language, their stories, and their questions to connect with them.

3 Know your platform

Different platforms require different approaches to crafting a speech. For example, a conference speech may be more formal, structured, and longer than a podcast interview. A webinar may allow more interaction, visuals, and polls than a social media live. A podcast may require more vocal variety, pauses, and sound effects than a webinar. Know the features, limitations, and best practices of your platform and adjust your speech accordingly.

4 Start with a hook

The first few seconds of your speech are crucial to capture your audience's attention and interest. Start with a hook that sparks curiosity, emotion, or surprise. You can use a story, a question, a statistic, a quote, or a joke to hook your audience. Make sure your hook is relevant to your goal, your audience, and your platform. Avoid clichés, apologies, or boring introductions that make your audience tune out.

5 Structure your speech

A well-structured speech is easy to follow, remember, and act on. Use a simple and clear framework to organize your speech into three parts: introduction, body, and conclusion. In the introduction, state your goal, your hook, and your main points. In the body, develop your main points with evidence, examples, and stories. In the conclusion, summarize your main points, restate your goal, and end with a call to action.

6 Deliver with confidence

The final tip is to deliver your speech with confidence and enthusiasm. Practice your speech until you feel comfortable and fluent. Use vocal techniques such as volume, pitch, pace, and tone to convey your message and emotion. Use body language such as eye contact, gestures, and posture to engage your audience and show your credibility. Use visual aids such as slides, images, or videos to support your speech and add variety. Most importantly, be yourself and enjoy the moment.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?