Public relations is more subtle than outright sales and requires a soft-sell approach. At the same time, a public relations speech is intended to persuade your audience to take action or arrive at certain conclusions about your product, organization, candidate or idea. Clarify your message while writing and only include information and anecdotes that support your message.

Choose your topic and clarify your objective. The most effective speech has one clear point to make and uses the time to support the argument and drive home the main message. Research your topic so that you can include facts and figures to back up your assertions. Use charts and other multimedia tools to illustrate the facts you’ve unearthed.

Write mostly short sentences that are interspersed with longer sentences to keep your audience alert. It’s much easier for audiences to digest short ideas than to hang on to an idea that gets bogged down in a series of long, complex sentences. Write in the same manner that you speak. Not only will your speech sound more natural and conversational, but you’ll end up with a clearer message.

Present your case first and then provide supporting material. For example, if your PR message is that schools need more funding, start by writing that premise emphatically: “Schools need more funding.” Follow your statement with facts that support your argument and end with your list of solutions and a call to action.

Share personal stories about how the organization or service you’re promoting has affected you. When you can get your audience to relate to you, you have a better chance of getting them to listen to your message and act on your suggestions.

Repeat key words and phrases that you want your audience to remember. Stick in a few rhetorical questions to get your audience to think while you present your case and add a quote or two as long it’s from someone your audience is sure to recognize.

Things You Will Need

  • Charts

  • Multimedia presentation

Tip

Practice by reading your written speech aloud before the presentation. Use a mock audience that will provide you with constructive criticism. Cut lengthy sentences and extra words to give your talk more impact. Figure to write about one page of double-spaced copy for every 90 seconds of your speech.

Warning

Don’t make your speech too long. According to the Public Affairs Council, audiences can only sit still and listen carefully for 20 to 25 minutes before they start to lose interest.