1.
Tips for Giving
an Epic WordCamp Talk
by Cory J. Miller

2.
DON’T TALK TO
STRANGERS
#WordCampTips @corymiller303

3.
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

4.
Don’t Talk to Strangers
• WordCamp audience — Beginners, Business,
Publishers, Developers
• I prefer Beginners or Business
• Review past WordCamp topics & tracks
#WordCampTips @corymiller303

5.
MOVE PEOPLE
#WordCampTips @corymiller303

6.
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

7.
PASSION #BOOM
#WordCampTips @corymiller303

8.
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

9.
CONFIDENCE & IMPACT
COME FROM PRACTICE
#WordCampTips @corymiller303

10.
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

11.
BE PREPARED
FOR ANYTHING
#WordCampTips @corymiller303

12.
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

13.
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

14.
HOW I PREPARE
#WordCampTips @corymiller303

15.
A good talk marinates in
your heart & mind over
several weeks
#WordCampTips @corymiller303

16.
How I Prepare
• Start with Mind Map or SimpleNote
• Organize, Outline
• Start fleshing it out
• Go to Keynote
• Have others review
• Whittle, Marinate, Whittle
#WordCampTips @corymiller303

17.
DURING THE TALK
#WordCampTips @corymiller303

18.
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
#WordCampTips @corymiller303

19.
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
#WordCampTips @corymiller303

20.
GETTING A TALK
SELECTED
#WordCampTips @corymiller303

21.
Getting a Talk Selected
• What is your title?
• Who are you seeking to help?
• What is my goal?
• Why you?
#WordCampTips @corymiller303

22.
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
#WordCampTips @corymiller303

23.
KEEP BEING YOU
#WordCampTips @corymiller303

24.
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

25.
Thanks and
Good Luck!
!
Giving a talk soon?
Let us help.
ashley@iThemes.com
#WordCampTips @corymiller303