Writing a Keynote Speech: Tips for Success

Woman sitting at computer writing a keynote speech.

Whether you are an experienced writer or not, writing a keynote speech is the first step in preparing for success when speaking at a conference or other important event.

The main responsibility of a keynote speaker is to set the tone for an event or conference program. So a keynote speech needs to be inspirational and should bring the audience together by creating an agreement with the ideas presented and inspiring people to act. An effective keynote speech will empower the audience and motivate them. To deliver a winning keynote speech it’s important to write it out word for word and prepare yourself for delivering the speech.

Here are some tips that may help you in writing a keynote speech.

Learn about your audience before writing a keynote speech

It’s important to know about your audience before you begin writing your keynote speech. If have a know who’s in the audience – such as their age range, education or professional background – then it gives you an idea on how to write a keynote speech in a way that the audience will relate to it.

While you brainstorm ideas for writing a keynote speech, ask yourself some questions such as:

  • How can I get the audience to agree with my viewpoint?
  • What words or phrases will help me achieve this?
  • What information – stories, facts, figures, quotes, etc – will be relevant and convincing?

The answers to these questions will guide you to include pertinent information when writing a keynote speech. You can then tailor your writing to match the hearts and minds of audience members.

Plan your time when keynote speech writing

What to say and how to say it within the provided time is important. If you don’t plan your time wisely, then it’s likely you will miss some important points, include something that’s not relevant, or run out of time on the podium. So writing a keynote speech according to the time allotted is essential. A good rule of thumb is to write 100 to 150 words per minute of speech, and then practice delivering it to see how long it takes. If you are speaking faster than 150 words per minute, slow down. You are speaking too fast – which means your audience won’t be able to take in the information you are delivering.

Let’s say you have been given 30 minutes to speak. A 30-minute keynote speech can be divided into three sections; for example, the first 10 minutes can be used to introduce key points, the next 10 minutes can be used to expand on the key point, and the last 10 minutes can be used to reiterate the key points and conclude the keynote speech.

Again, each of these 10-minute sections can be further sub-divided into sessions of 2 to 3 minutes, so that you will have about 10 to 15 smaller sections in total.

Segmenting your time will also allow you to focus effectively on each sub-topic. You can write effectively on each sub-topic and then polish the content to meet the goal.

Of course, not every keynote speech has to fit this outline, but it can be helpful if you are not experienced in writing a keynote speech and need a basic formula to work with.

Add variety to your content when writing your speech

Research the subject as much as you can before you begin writing a keynote speech.

One way to approach writing a keynote speech can begin with a rough draft of the main topic, along with 2 to 3 supporting topics. Then you can develop the draft by building a structure of your speech.

A good keynote speech is not just a string of words. Adding a variety of content to your keynote speech will create more interest. A keynote speech without variety may bore audience members. So include statistics, humour, metaphors, real-life stories, case studies, and new ideas. If possible, show relevant videos and introduce audio content that supports your points.

Make a note of keywords/keyphrases

Writing a keynote speech emphasising keywords or key phrases will help you while you deliver the speech. Keywords can be highlighted in bold or typed with a different font colour, highlight important text and repeat key phrases for emphasis during the speech.

Rehearse and perfect your keynote speech

When you are done writing a keynote speech, begin rehearsing what you have written. Notice the flow of your speech. Does it sound natural? If not, rephrase words or sentences so that the speech may sound natural. If there are sentences that sound disjointed or ambiguous, you can polish your writing during the editing process.

It’s quite possible that we may miss some words while reading the speech aloud. If some words don’t fit the flow of your speech, delete them to make sentences shorter and crisper.

Make sure that the sentences are punctuated correctly. Look for full stops, exclamation points and commas. Be aware of where you want to pause during your speech. Make a note or include some signs for those portions while you are writing a keynote speech.

While you are reading the keynote speech aloud, you will find out whether you have adequate time to speak what is written. If your reading goes above the allocated time, then you may find yourself rushing to deliver the keynote speech when delivering it live. It’s also possible that you may end up with too little content, and you may not know be able to ‘pad’ the speech on the spot to meet the allotted time. In this case, you will want to add more content when writing a keynote speech.

After you have gone through the editing process, ask yourself whether your keynote speech is powerful, informative and motivating, and, above all, whether it will connect you to your audience.

If yes, then you are all set to deliver your keynote speech.

All the points in the article are explained in more detail in my book, Speech Power: The Leader’s Guide to Creating Powerful Speeches and Presentations.

Michael Gladkoff