Your idea should be something your audience hasn’t heard before, or at least not in the way they’ve heard it presented before. Your idea should be a realistic one, something that your target audience can put into practice or be able to get the right people in their personal networks to put into practice. [3] X Research source
If you’re given a shorter time limit when asked to speak at a TED event, use that time limit instead.
Education. These TED talks inform the audience about the world around them. Topics often include the biological, physical, or social sciences, as well as information on new technologies and inventions and how they will impact the listeners’ lives. The speakers for these talks often have advanced degrees in one of the sciences, but not always. Entertainment. These TED talks often cover the creative arts, whether it be writing, art, music, or performing, and delve into the process behind the art. Inspiration. These TED talks seek to elevate their audience’s perception of themselves and the world around them, to think about things in new ways, and to apply that knowledge to their lives. Many of the speakers of this type of TED talk use their own experiences as examples to others. [6] X Research source
Your outline, however, should be something your audience can discern without being obvious. In other words, you don’t tell them what you’re going to say before you say it (no “Here’s what I’m going to share with you today”) and what you’ve said after you say it (no “And in conclusion …”). [7] X Research source If you’ve been scheduled to speak at a TED event, your outline, or a full script, needs to be sent to the event organizer about two months in advance of your appearance. This lets the event organizers provide preliminary feedback. [8] X Research source
If your idea is one your audience knows is relevant to them, state it clearly early on. If it’s not one your audience realizes is relevant to them, show them how it relates to something they do know is relevant to them, If your idea is an emotionally heavy one, start with an understated but forthright approach. Let your audience come to feel about the topic instead of dictating their emotions. Avoid using a string of statistics. A single relevant fact carries more weight, particularly if it comes as a surprise to your audience. [9] X Research source
Keep and devote more time in your talk to information that’s new to your audience and eliminate and devote less time to things they’ve already heard. Use more evidence that’s supported by your own and your audience’s observations and experience (empirical evidence) than by telling what happened to someone else (anecdotes). Keep the use of specialized terminology to a minimum and, where possible, present it in such a way that your audience can figure out the definition in context. Respectfully acknowledge legitimate doubts and contrary evidence. Save citations until after you’ve made your point or post them in small print at the bottom of relevant slides. Consider having someone help you gather and select your evidence. [10] X Research source
Contact the event organizer for information about the resolution and aspect ratio for slides before you start making any. If the organizer doesn’t provide you any technical specs, use a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and an aspect ratio of 16 to 9. Use each slide to support only one point in your talk. Avoid using bullet points to make multiple points in your presentation. Let the slide speak for itself. Don’t put a lot of explanatory text on the slide or devote time to explain what the picture on the slide represents. If your slide features a chart or infographic, keep it simple. Use only images you own or have permission to use. If you’re using an image under a Creative Commons license, cite the source of the image at the bottom of the slide. Either fill the entire slide with your image or keep it in the center of the slide; don’t put content in the edges. Use a sans serif font (Arial, Helvetica, Verdana) of point size 42 or larger. (Sans serif fonts are easier to read from a distance than serif fonts like Times New Roman. ) If you are using a custom font, be sure to send it to the organizers in advance. [11] X Research source (Presentation software typically can display only the fonts installed on the projecting computer. )
Your conclusion may include a call to action, if appropriate, as long as that call to action isn’t a sales pitch asking them to buy something. [12] X Research source
Yourself in a mirror. This lets you practice your body language. Family and friends. These can provide initial feedback, but may be more useful as a source of encouragement. A personal speaker coach. A speakers’ group, such as Toastmasters. A class related to the subject of your talk. For example, if your TED talk relates to marketing, you could speak in front of a college marketing class. A company speaker event, either at your own company or a company connected in some way to your talk. [13] X Research source
Online rehearsals through Skype. These let the event organizers provide feedback on how your talk is structured, how well you’ve paced it, and how clearly you deliver it. These online rehearsals usually are scheduled a month in advance of the event. Dress rehearsals on stage at the event site. These provide you with an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the venue, as well as to prepare for any possible surprises, such as unexpected laughter. [14] X Research source
