Public speaking does not come naturally to everyone and even the most experienced speakers often require support in the lead up to an important event. When the audience is the press, the task can be even more challenging.
As a Marketing Manager or PR Manager, you may be required to speak on behalf of your company or organisation on a topic that is not your personal area of expertise.
Below are some useful guidelines to help you research, prepare and present for a press conference.
Research:
- Speaking at an event positions you as an expert and industry thought leader so it is important to really understand the information you are presenting. Make sure you have all the key facts, have detailed supporting research and feel comfortable about the topic.
- Understand who your audience will be, their level of knowledge and experience in this area.
- Drafting your own Q&A document can help clarify the key points you want to make in your presentation. It may also help to ask people with similar knowledge levels, as your future audience, what questions they would have.
- Ensure you know the layout of the room where the event will be taking place. Acoustics, audience seating and presentation equipment are all important factors to be aware of in advance of the presentation, so you can be as relaxed as possible on the day.
Prepare:
- Ensure you have distinct messages that you are going to convey. Ideally three core messages should be delivered and reiterated so the audience is clear about the most important elements of the speech.
- Prepare a script to help you structure and remember your presentation, but have a clear and easy to read summary document to use on the day.
- Test out equipment you will be using on the day to ensure it works and you are familiar with it. It is worth having back-up options (e.g. presentation saved on a memory stick as well as emailing it through to the organisers in advance).
- Have a practice run in a similar venue. Ideally have a friendly audience to present in front of so you can get their honest feedback which will enable you to make any changes required to your presentation (visual or verbal).
Present:
- Remember to speak slowly, clearly, be yourself and enjoy the experience.
