how to give an awesome wordcamp talk

Tips for Giving an Epic WordCamp Talk

by Cory J. Miller

#WordCampTips @corymiller303

DON’T TALK TO STRANGERS

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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

#WordCampTips @corymiller303

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

#WordCampTips @corymiller303

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

#WordCampTips @corymiller303

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

#WordCampTips @corymiller303

Thanks and Good Luck!

!

Giving a talk soon? Let us help.

ashley@iThemes.com