how to give an awesome wordcamp talk
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Tips for Giving an Epic WordCamp Talk
by Cory J. Miller
#WordCampTips @corymiller303
DON’T TALK TO STRANGERS
#WordCampTips @corymiller303
Don’t Talk to Strangers• You can’t move people you don’t understand
• Have a picture of who you’re talking to
• What matters to them?
• Pain, problems, hassles, fears, dangers, opportunities
• Connect your unique expertise & experience
#WordCampTips @corymiller303
Don’t Talk to Strangers• WordCamp audience — Beginners, Business,
Publishers, Developers
• I prefer Beginners or Business
• Review past WordCamp topics & tracks
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MOVE PEOPLE
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Move People• Care about them and want to help them
• Have ONE goal in mind
• Point A to Point B
• If you had 5 minutes to convince someone, how would you do it?
• Key points, stories to change heart & mind
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PASSION #BOOM
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Be Passionate• “Light yourself on fire and people will come watch
you burn.”
• Talk about things you’re actually interested in & enthusiastic about
• Pour. It. All. Out.
• Give the gold.
• Passion is contagious
#WordCampTips @corymiller303
CONFIDENCE & IMPACT COME FROM PRACTICE
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Practice, Practice, Practice• I still get nervous, but I feel more and more
confident each time
• Practice any chance you get
• Start somewhere — blogging, Meetups, lightning talks, webinars
• Always be improving for impact — I learn something new every time
#WordCampTips @corymiller303
BE PREPARED FOR ANYTHING
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Be Prepared• Preparation makes me less nervous, more
confident
• Prepare like it will all go wrong … because it will
• Have a fallback / backup plan
• Knowing everything will break helps me sharpen the message
#WordCampTips @corymiller303
Be Prepared• Arrive super, geeky early
• Review the room and setup
• Imagine where you’ll stand
• Watch a presenter before yours
• Slides to SlideShare
• Befriend point & A/V people
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HOW I PREPARE
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A good talk marinates in your heart & mind over
several weeks
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How I Prepare• Start with Mind Map or SimpleNote
• Organize, Outline
• Start fleshing it out
• Go to Keynote
• Have others review
• Whittle, Marinate, Whittle
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DURING THE TALK
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During the Talk• Start by getting the audience to do something
• Use a clicker (hat tip: Chris Lema)
• Have backup adapter cords
• Full battery charge; no screen savers or sleep
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During the Talk• Stories have the most impact — “I was lost.”
• Put Twitter ID + Conference Hashtag on slides
• Use (and request) a microphone
• Assign homework / challenges
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GETTING A TALK SELECTED
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Getting a Talk Selected• What is your title?
• Who are you seeking to help?
• What is my goal?
• Why you?
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Getting a Talk Selected• Get your polished bio ready
• Rehearse potential ideas on your blog, webinars
• Ask for topic ideas
• Submit multiple talks
• Click Publish and submit your first talk
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KEEP BEING YOU
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Be You• Don’t try to be me, or anyone else
• Takes time to find method & manner — I’m still honing mine
• Be you on AND off stage
• Remember: Someone changed your diapers
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Thanks and Good Luck!
!
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