why (and how) you should publish your speeches

Why (and how) you should publish your speechesA public speaking tutorial from

the popular post of the same name on The Eloquent Woman blog

If you give a speech or presentation,but don’t take steps to preserve itor publish it,did you make a sound?

Big issue for women speakers• Women have been

forbidden or discouraged from speaking in public throughout much of history• But it’s more difficult

to find records of their speeches• Even when they are

famous

“But my speech wasn’t important”

• You’re not the best judge of that• Only history can

decide your speech’s importance• But how can that

happen if you don’t preserve it?

“But I don’t have text or slides”• You still have plenty

of options for recording and saving your speeches and presentations, whether you used notes or spoke without them

Even more important…

HOW TO PUBLISH YOUR SPEECHES AND PRESENTATIONS

Options for every speaker

If you do have text or notes• Choose a version to

publish• Label it “Prepared for

delivery” if it reflects that• Or “As delivered,” to

indicate it’s what you really said

Transcribe• If recorded, but no

notes, publish a transcript• Text makes it easier

for search engines to find your speech, even if you have video or audio

Translate• If your speech was in

a language not in wide use, translate it• Ask for volunteers• Publish all versions

Publish it yourself• SlideShare• Scribd• Tumblr• Lanyrd• Your blog, website• Publish your

speeches & slides independently, even if your employer or conference do so

Publish what others heard• Use Storify to

capture live-tweets from your audience• Compile links to blog

or media coverage• Publish these

alongside your speech

Submit it to a publisher• Your professional

society• The hosting

conference• Local newspaper or

historical society• Vital Speeches of the

Day• Just be sure to publish

it yourself, too

Publish audio files• Preserve your voice,

cadence, emphasis• SoundCloud, iTunes

or other mp3 files• Use SlideShare’s

slidecasting feature to add voice to your slides

Publish video• YouTube• Vimeo• LiveStream• Again, do this

independently—even if your employer or conference has published it

Make it easy to share• Make it easy for

others to publish• Enable sharing

buttons and codes• Make sure we can

embed your video or audio or slides

Make this the new normal• Insist on it when you

are the speaker• Encourage others to

publish, share• Ask your professional

groups or employer to do this routinely

Find more public speaking tips and issues related to women and public speaking on The Eloquent Woman blog

Denise Graveline, author and publisher, is a Washington, DC-basedcommunications consultant and speaker coach. Email her at info@dontgetcaught.biz