Have you ever listened to a speaker deliver a clear and concise talk, leaving you better informed and equipped than you were before you heard them? Or, on the other hand, have you ever heard a public speaker that left you feeling confused? Perhaps you forgot what they were even trying to say. These examples touch on a core principle of being a successful public speaker: simplicity in your message.
The best public speakers throughout history all share an important trait: they took complex ideas and turned them into powerful messages that could be shared with hundreds of thousands of people effectively. That would not be possible if they were trying to share overly complicated or multi-faceted ideas. The conciseness of their message empowered them to bring it to the world effectively.
That’s why simplifying your message as a public speaker could not be more important. It’s the difference between you making an impact on your audience and leaving them confused – likely meaning they ultimately forget your talk. But how do you apply this simplicity to your talk without losing the core ideas? In this article, we’ll cover why simplicity matters, and give you practical tips and ideas to help you keep it simple and make an impact.
Get The #1 Marketing Asset To Book More Paid Speaking Gigs
Join us for the Booked & Paid Bootcamp — our NEW 2-day virtual event designed to help you start booking more paid gigs FAST.
Over two 5+ hour days of live training and Q&A, our team of 6 and 7 figure speakers will give you the proven playbook you need to become a successful paid speaker.
The Power of Simplicity
The most important reason to simplify your message is that complexity is the enemy of clarity. Audience attention and focus is limited, along with their ability to retain information. When you pack too many ideas into a single message, you risk overwhelming your listeners and reducing your impact. You may think simplifying your message is dumbing it down, but that’s not the case. Instead, you’re making it accessible, clear and actionable for your listeners.
Think about the most compelling speech you can remember hearing. Chances are, it was about a single compelling and coherent idea that was being presented to you for the first time, or in a unique way. This isn’t coincidence; it’s the result of an intentional conciseness that enhances your impact.
Identify Your Core Message
The first step to simplifying your message is to know what your message actually is. You may have a lot of things you want to say in your speeches and talk about to your audiences, but you need to have a single, compelling idea that drives your entire career.
It’s important that this topic is framed as a solution to a problem. While you may be passionate about a general topic, you need to present it in a way that solves a problem for your audience, making them care about what you have to say. But it goes beyond merely choosing a problem to solve. The way you present your idea matters.
Start by asking yourself: “If my audience could remember only one thing from my presentation, what would I want it to be?” Try to answer the question in a single sentence. This answer should become your north star, guiding every decision about what to include or cut.
Eliminate Unnecessary Content
Now that you have a concise version of your message, it’s time to get rid of things that are irrelevant to your core topic. Write down everything you want to say, then ruthlessly eliminate anything that doesn’t directly support your core message.
This process might be painful – and there may be things you want to say which aren’t a core part of your message – but ultimately, by focusing your attention on a specific and concise message, you’re making yourself more bookable and increasing your opportunities for public speaking gigs.
Structure Your Talk for Clarity
Once you’ve identified your core message, build a simple structure around it. The most effective presentations follow predictable patterns that audiences can easily follow. The best way to do this will depend on your topic, speaking format and target audience, but there are a variety of common structures you can use. These include using an odd number of points (like 3 or 5), structuring your talk around a narrative, or simply telling your audience what you’re going to tell them, telling them, and then telling them what you told them.
Just make sure that whatever structure you use, you try to make it as concise as possible. The more content you add to your message, the less effective it will be. Each point should build toward your central message, creating a clear pathway for your audience to follow.
Simplify Your Pitch
Simplifying the talk itself is incredibly important, but where simplicity truly leads to speaking success is in your speaker marketing. A big part of this is formulating your message in what is known as an Expert Positioning Statement (EPS).
You should be able to concisely state what you speaking about like this: “I speak to (GROUP) about (TOPIC) so they can (SOLUTION).” This one-sentence clearly states who you speak to, what you speak about, and what the audience can hope to gain by listening to you, all without using unnecessary words or complex sentences.
But beyond just your EPS, you should be able to elaborate on your topic and talk about your unique ideas and communication style without overly complicating things. A good way to test your ability to do this is with the elevator pitch.
Can you explain your entire message in the time it takes to ride an elevator? This classic test forces you to distill your presentation to its absolute essence. If you can’t communicate your core idea in sixty seconds, you’ll have a difficult time capturing the attention of event planners or conference organizers.
How Simplicity Leads to Success
So now you have a basic understanding of ways to simplify your message. But how does this practically lead to success in your speaking business? This happens in a few ways:
Enhanced Audience Engagement
When your message is clear and focused, audiences stay engaged throughout your entire presentation. They don’t get lost in complex explanations or overwhelmed by too many competing ideas. Instead, they can follow your logic easily and remain connected to your content from start to finish. This engagement translates into better evaluations, more referrals, and increased demand for your speaking services.
Improved Memorability
Simple messages stick. Your audience is far more likely to remember and share a clear, concise idea than a complicated presentation with multiple takeaways. When people can easily recall and repeat your message, they become ambassadors for your ideas, extending your reach far beyond the original presentation. This word-of-mouth marketing is invaluable for building your speaking reputation.
Stronger Marketing Appeal
Event planners and conference organizers gravitate toward speakers who can clearly articulate their value proposition. A simplified message makes it easier for booking agents to understand exactly what you offer and how you’ll benefit their audience. This clarity reduces the decision-making burden on event organizers and makes you a more attractive booking option.
Greater Booking Opportunities
When your message is focused and clear, you become known as the expert on that specific topic – what we refer to in our SPEAK framework as “Establishing Your Expertise.” This specialization leads to more targeted opportunities that align perfectly with your expertise. Rather than competing with generalists, you occupy a unique position in the market that commands higher fees and better engagements.
Increased Speaker Confidence
Clarity in your message creates confidence in your delivery. When you know exactly what you want to say and why it matters, you speak with greater authority and conviction. This confidence is contagious, as audiences are more likely to trust speakers who demonstrate certainty in their message and expertise.
Better Business Results
Ultimately, simplified messaging leads to better business results. Clear communication generates more leads, converts more prospects, and creates stronger relationships with clients. When people understand exactly what you offer and how it benefits them, they’re more likely to hire you for speaking engagements, consulting work, or other business opportunities.
Find Out Exactly How Much You Could Make As a Paid Speaker
Use The Official Speaker Fee Calculator to tell you what you should charge for your first (or next) speaking gig — virtual or in-person!
Conclusion
Simplifying your message isn’t about reducing its power – it’s about amplifying its impact. The speakers who achieve lasting success understand that clarity trumps complexity every time. By identifying your core message, eliminating unnecessary content, and structuring your presentations for maximum clarity, you create talks that resonate deeply with audiences and drive real results for your speaking business.
Remember, your goal isn’t to impress people with how much you know, but to transform them with what matters most. Start with your next presentation by asking yourself that crucial question: “What one thing do I want my audience to remember?” Build everything around that answer, and watch as your simplified message opens doors to speaking opportunities you never thought possible.
The path to speaking success isn’t found in complexity. It’s discovered in the elegant simplicity of a message that changes lives, one clear idea at a time.
