PR TIP - SPEAKING OPPORTUNITIES 

For some people speaking in public is their worst fear, and even the most poised public speaker can still approach the podium with sweaty palms, but it is worth seeking out such opportunities as they are a unique way to connect with an audience.

Publicity Queen's own Sally Romano will give a high-profile presentation at the Tonkin's Women in Leadership Forum in Sydney at the end of November. 

In preparation for this speech, here are some tips and hints that may be of assistance when preparing a speech or major presentation:

• Think of a speech as a circular journey - you want it to end up back where you begin, and the main points you make along the way are like your footprints
  
• Before you begin writing, plot your path - where do you begin, what steps (thoughts/ideas) will lead you there, and how do they connect to each other?
  
• Share personal insights, stories, jokes, illustrations that keep your audience engaged.
  
• Plan what the take-away will be - what sentence sums up what you want your audience to remember, and reinforce it throughout.
  
• Leave them wanting more, and on your last screen, provide a way for your audience to connect with you, whether it is your email, twitter account, or some other way to share how your presentation has left an impression.