Speaking prep tips

Field Vision kicked things off as the first speaker at brightonSEO in San Diego today, talking about how we have used our growth systems for 10+ years to drive content-led growth at companies such as Amazon, Twitch, Pandora, and more.

With that, here are our 5 favorite ways to prepare for a speech or presentation:

1. Write it down. Then, read it out loud. 

I know this sounds obvious, but so many people don’t actually do it. Writing it down forces you to think about each and every word. And when you say it out loud, your stomach will tell you everything you need to know; “Does this FEEL like ME?”.

2. Record yourself on audio. 

Grab your phone, open up that Voice Notes app, and hit record. Then pop those headphones in. Listen while you do the dishes. Put it on in your car while you commute. This starts to ingrain it in your memory and help you refine. Bonus points if you listen in front of your spouse (they just LOVE giving us feedback, don’t they?!). 

3. Now…create your visuals / slides. 

Who films the music video before they’ve recorded the single? Nobody. So you shouldn’t either. Trust me, when you nail the language and cadence first, your slides will hit so much harder. Because you aren’t relying on them - THEY are relying on YOU.

4. Record yourself again…but on video. 

CRINGE ALERT. I know. But you learn A LOT about how you present from doing this. Bonus points if you get out from behind your desk and stand. Double bonus points if you record yourself sharing your screen with your visuals.

5. Watch the video and commit it to memory. 

This is where it all comes together: the language, the cadence, the audio, and the visuals. When you do this, the presentation just starts to become part of you. On-stage stress melts away. You’ve seen this movie before!

Anybody else got any tips? Drop ‘em in the comments. We're gluttons for preparation.