I am a speaker on a national circuit, and many of the comments here resonate with my experience<p>- Start small.<p>I started with brown bags at my company, then moved to our quarterly company meetings, then user groups (I spoke in multiple user groups any chance I got), then a local conference, and finally with the big ones.<p>- Topic choice<p>Always speak about something you know well. Audiences will often throw a curve ball at you and you should be able to step away from the main script, answer a question and then arch the conversation back to the main talking point.<p>A good starting point, once you have a topic in mind, is to read a book on the subject (or at least glance at the table of contents) or watch someone else's video on the subject. This usually gives you a (good) starting point to frame your agenda.<p>- Practice practice practice!<p>Even after doing this for many years, I incessantly practice my talks. Do it out loud and it will help highlight rough edges when segueing from one section to another, or even gaps in your own understanding.<p>As other commentators have said, it also improves timing. I now have a gut feeling on how much material fits in a 60 or 90 minute talk, or even a half/full day workshop. It will come.<p>Finally, get your significant other/kids/friends/colleagues to watch you give a talk and provide honest feedback. Body language, tone, inflection all matter.<p>- Slides are good, but not important<p>In other words, slides are props, you are the main act. I have never appreciate it when conferences ask you to email a PDF of your slides, because invariably my slides contain at most a word or two. They do not and cannot stand by themselves.<p>- Again, start small, get a feel for it, then read a book or two. One I highly recommend is Presentation Patterns - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Presentation-Patterns-Techniques-Crafting-Presentations-ebook/dp/B0093J9K14/" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/Presentation-Patterns-Techniques-Craf...</a> [Disclaimer - All 3 authors are friends of mine]<p>Speaking is like running. Till you don't do it, reading a book on it seems to add little value. Once you have a little bit of experience sections of these books will pop out at you, revealing places where you can improve<p>At the time of giving the talk, just remember,<p>- It's OK to be nervous. If you are not nervous then something is wrong. I still get butterflies in my stomach every single time
- The audience WANTS you to succeed. They are going to spend the next 60/90 minutes of their lives watching you speak, and they want it to be a productive time.<p>Good luck!