While speaking, do not hide behind the podium or table. Get right out there and be with your audience. After you’ve spoken, stay around so your audience can speak with you. If you’re at a trade show or doing a keynote at a convention, stay at the same hotel as the attendees. You’d be amazed at the good will it will create for you.
Always videotape every presentation you do. Use the video to review your presentations. What is working, what isn’t? You’d be amazed at what you can tell from the video. You’ll see what works, what doesn’t, your stories that get the best reactions and the ones that don’t work.
Your vocal control is extremely important. You’ll learn to use intonation. The level of your voice says nearly as much as your words. You need to make sure you’re comfortable with your vocabulary. Don’t use words that you’ll stumble over.
It took me years to master “orientated” over “oriented”. I grew up with a learning disability and was terrified of using the wrong words at the wrong time but eventually learned not to use words until I thoroughly understood their meaning.
When you use dates, be sure that they are correct. If you use statistics be sure they’re accurate. And one of my real pet peeves is not giving the person the credit for a quote who created it or not using the quote accurately.