You are in the process of writing a speech. An inspiring keynote, a short welcome speech or a closing speech. And suddenly you think: how long should it actually be? What is a good guideline? We will help you further.
How long should my speech be?
Fair is fair: who likes an endless speech? No one is waiting for a drawn-out story where the speaker goes on and on. Maybe you could fill hours with your story, but will the listener find it that engaging? Probably not. The ideal speech length depends on the type of event, the venue and your role in it. Here's what we recommend:
’s welcome address If you have no (other) important announcements to make and your welcome address is genuinely intended as a welcome, then keep it between 2 and 5 minutes. Short, warm and to the point.- Keynote or plenary presentation
Allow 15 to 20 minutes. This gives you enough time to go into detail without losing the audience’s attention. Add to this the time needed for any questions. - Breakout or parallel session
A breakout session is often short. Allow for around 10 to 15 minutes of active speaking time. Also, leave some time for interaction.
How many words should your presentation be?
At home or in the office, you practise your speech and you come out perfect. Yet on stage, you suddenly find that you have oceans of time to spare. How can that be...? That's logical: often people talk just a little faster out of nerves. It is therefore wise not only to time your speech, but also to watch how many words your presentation has.
On average, we talk 120 to 140 words per minute in speeches. Keep the below schedule when writing your speech.
- A 5-minute speech = ± 600 words
- A 15-minute presentation = ± 1800 words
- A 20-minute keynote = ± 2400 words
As you understand, these are averages. Do you talk fast? Then you're more likely to be at 150 to 160 words per minute. Do you like silences and talk more calmly? Then you might not get above 100 or 110 words per minute. So besides writing out your speech, it is also smart to practise word count.
Some tips for a good speech
Perhaps the most important question of all is: how can you keep the attention? Because you can have such a great story, every second counts. Always. Keep these tips in mind for full attention from your listeners.
- Start with a bang
A question always makes for a great opening. Or an eye-catching fact. So don’t start with: ‘My name is…’ but rather: ‘The craziest thing I’ve ever seen in the industry…’ - Choose a key message
Stick to one message per speech. You can build the rest of your story around this. It keeps your story clear and makes it easier for people to remember. - Write for the ear, not the eye
You sound different on paper. But when you speak, you want to sound like yourself. Use everyday language and simple sentences. - Kill your darlings
Writers amongst us know the term ‘Kill your darlings’ all too well. In other words: cut out any text that doesn’t quite fit with your story. Even if it sounds really good. - Practise, practise, practise
And preferably out loud. Yes, really! Sometimes something reads beautifully, but you immediately get tongue-tied. If you practise your speech out loud, you can still polish it up in time.
Want more tips around organising an event? We are here for you. We have over 100 years of experience in organising and hosting events and we have seen it all. We are well versed, as we sometimes jokingly say. We both organise events ourselves and help our clients. Our account and event managers are happy to think along with you to make your event as successful as possible. So, would you like tips on specific topics? Get in touch with us and we will open a book for you.
