Do you dread the thought of standing up and making a speech? Are you terrified of public speaking? If so, you are not alone. Public speaking is one of the scariest things around for many people. To help overcome your fear of giving a speech, read the advice in this article.

Know the room before you speak in public. Find out how far your voice goes in the room without amplification. Get a better feel by using equipment. Visual aids can be very important in your speech. Also, figure out how much eye contact you should make.

If you accidentally forget to touch on a point during your speech that isn’t mandatory, don’t stop. Stopping and returning to the sentence may ruin the entire speech. Plus, people are less likely to realized you skipped a sentence if you do not bring any attention to the matter.

You will win your audience over if you add a little humor to your speech. There is nothing wrong with trowing in a joke or two and putting a smile on your audience‘s faces. However, do not go overboard on the jokes, as your audience will not take you serious.

One key to a successful speech is to make it an appropriate length. Basically, when a speech is too short, you may not be giving all the information the audience is looking for. On the other hand, if your speech is too long, your audience may become bored and you may lose their attention.

Whether you are new to public speaking or it is something you have done dozens of times, watching videos of the pro can be helpful. Viewing them allows you to see what the experts do and say to engage their audience. You can then try using these techniques when you give your next speech.

Do not be afraid to let your audience know that you have no idea of the answer to some of their questions. People will respect your honesty and understand that you are human. This is much better than rambling on trying to convince them you know what is going on when you don’t.

Always be yourself when you are giving a speech and you will have better luck with the audience. Sincerity is a quality that many people respect and admire. If it is clear to the audience that you are not putting on a show when you are speaking to them, they will receive your message better.

When preparing a speech that contains large amounts of information, don’t be too proud to use note cards. Even the most gifted orators recognize the usefulness of notes. It is preferable to quickly glance at your notes rather than cite information incorrectly or omit key points. This works especially well when the topic includes specific figures, such as dollar amounts, percentages, and dates.

As you can see, there is really nothing to be afraid of when it comes to public speaking. You may feel a bit nervous the next time you are called upon to give a speech, but just remember what you have read here. This advice will make it all a lot easier.