How to Write an Amazing 45 to 60 Minute Keynote
Writing a 45 to 60 minute keynote can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. I’m going to share a process that will support you in crafting an amazing keynote. Imagine this scenario: you’ve been asked to speak at a conference in six months, and you happily say yes. You negotiate your speaker fee, start telling all your friends, and then it hits you – you have to write a keynote. The good news is you have six months, and here’s what can help.
Table of Contents
- Understanding the Structure of a Keynote
- Establishing Your Credibility
- Outlining Your Keynote
- Delivering the Content
- Making a Call to Action
- Final Tips for a Successful Keynote
Understanding the Structure of a Keynote
A keynote structure is simple yet effective. It typically includes the following components:
- Introduction and Credibility: Start by sharing why you are the credible expert.
- Outline: Tell the audience what you’re going to cover.
- Content: Cover the main points.
- Actionable Takeaways: Solve the problem with actionable takeaways.
- Summary: Summarize the main points.
- Call to Action: End with a strong call to action.
Establishing Your Credibility
Begin by explaining why you are the credible expert on the topic. This can be done in story form rather than just reciting a bio. For example, if your keynote is about limiting beliefs and self-sabotage, you might start with:
“I am super excited to be here today. I have spent most of my life self-sabotaging, and it feels so awesome to be up here sharing these stories with you so that you do not have to waste another second doing this.”
Outlining Your Keynote
Next, provide an overview of what you’re going to talk about. This helps set the stage for the audience and prepares them for the content ahead. For instance:
“Today, I’m going to cover what self-sabotage is, why we self-sabotage, how we can stop self-sabotaging, and how we can move from recovery to cure.”
Delivering the Content
Now, dive into the main content of your keynote. This is where you elaborate on the points you’ve outlined. Use stories, statistics, and expert citations to back up your points and keep the audience engaged.
- What is Self-Sabotage: Explain the concept and provide examples.
- Why We Self-Sabotage: Discuss the underlying reasons and psychology.
- How to Stop Self-Sabotaging: Offer practical strategies and solutions.
- Moving from Recovery to Cure: Guide the audience on how to make lasting changes.
Making a Call to Action
Your call to action is crucial. It should be clear and compelling. Ask the conference organizer if you can make an ask or sell from the stage. If permitted, you might sell your book or ask for donations to a cause. Alternatively, your call to action could encourage the audience to implement what they’ve learned:
“Implement what you’ve learned today so that you can live a fuller, richer life of joy, abundance, and ease.”
Final Tips for a Successful Keynote
- Practice Your Delivery: Rehearse your keynote multiple times to ensure smooth delivery.
- Engage with the Audience: Use eye contact, gestures, and movement to connect with your audience.
- Be Authentic: Share personal stories and be genuine in your delivery.
- Handle Q&A with Confidence: Prepare for potential questions and answer them confidently.
Conclusion
I hope this guide helps you gain more clarity on how to write an amazing keynote. Let me know your biggest takeaway from this post in the comments below. If you haven’t subscribed yet, be sure to hit that subscribe button and notification bell to get my latest updates. Thank you for being here, and I will always respond to your comments. Big love!
