Good public speaking begins with the content of the speech itself. The first thing you should consider is the topic, or subject, of the speech. Choosing a topic that is relevant to your audience's interests will help you keep them engaged. Once a topic is chosen, narrowing down the focus of the topic will allow you to cover more detailed information, and your audience should find the speech easier to follow as a result. When writing the speech, keep the purpose of your words in mind. Do you want to inform your audience of something, or do you want to persuade them to your side of an argument? Creating a well-organized speech that introduces a topic, emphasizes a few main points, and leads to a conclusion that sums up a central thesis, will make your job easier when it comes time to speak.

Even if you're confident in the quality of your speech beforehand, the actual process of speaking in front of an audience provides many opportunities to enhance your message. As the focus of attention, you have the ability to use both vocal and visual elements to your advantage. Effective vocal delivery involves changing elements such as pitch, volume, and speaking rate in order to emphasize parts of your speech that are integral to its theme.