🎤 Speaker Notes Creation Guide
Master the art of creating effective speaker notes that sync perfectly with your presentation slides.
1. Basic Structure
Speaker notes are separated by three dashes (---) on their own line. Each section corresponds to one slide in your presentation.
## Slide 1: Welcome
Your notes for the first slide go here
---
## Slide 2: Main Content
Your notes for the second slide go here
---
## Slide 3: Conclusion
Your notes for the third slide go here
⚠️ Critical: The separator must be exactly three dashes (---) on its own line with no spaces before or after.
2. Formatting Options
Speaker notes support basic Markdown formatting:
| Format |
Syntax |
Result |
| Bold |
**text** |
text |
| Italic |
*text* |
text |
| Bullet List |
- item |
• item |
| Heading |
## Heading |
Heading |
3. Structure Templates
Basic Template
## Slide Title
- Main talking point
- Supporting detail
- Another key point
**Remember:** Keep eye contact with audience
---
Detailed Template
## Slide Title: Topic Name
**Opening:**
- Grab attention with question/story
- State the main point
**Key Points:**
- First major point
- Supporting evidence
- Example or story
- Second major point
- Data or statistics
- Real-world application
**Transition:** Lead into next topic...
**Timing:** 3-5 minutes
---
Technical Presentation Template
## Feature Overview
**Demo Steps:**
1. Open the application
2. Navigate to settings
3. Show the new feature
**Potential Questions:**
- Q: How does this integrate with existing systems?
- A: Through our API...
- Q: What about security?
- A: We use industry-standard encryption...
**Troubleshooting:**
- If demo fails, show backup screenshots
- Have offline version ready
---
4. Complete Example
Here's a complete set of speaker notes for a 5-slide presentation:
## Slide 1: Welcome and Introduction
- Greet audience warmly
- Introduce yourself and credentials
- **Thank them for their time**
State the agenda:
- Problem we're solving (5 min)
- Our solution (10 min)
- Implementation (10 min)
- Q&A (5 min)
**Hook:** "How many of you have struggled with..."
---
## Slide 2: The Problem
- Start with relatable story/statistic
- Current challenges businesses face:
- Time constraints
- Budget limitations
- Technical complexity
**Key stat:** 73% of businesses struggle with this
*Pause for emphasis*
Ask: "Does this sound familiar?"
---
## Slide 3: Our Solution
**Demonstrate the solution:**
- Show main interface
- Highlight 3 key features
- Explain unique value proposition
Benefits:
- Saves 10 hours per week
- Reduces costs by 40%
- No technical expertise required
**Important:** Focus on benefits, not features
---
## Slide 4: Implementation Roadmap
Walk through the timeline:
- Week 1: Initial setup and training
- Week 2-3: Pilot program
- Week 4: Full rollout
**Address concerns:**
- Yes, we provide full support
- No, there's no downtime
- Training is included
Show ROI calculator if time permits
---
## Slide 5: Next Steps & Q&A
**Recap key points:**
- Problem is costing you time and money
- Our solution is proven and easy
- Implementation is straightforward
**Call to action:**
- Schedule a demo
- Start free trial
- Get the special offer (expires Friday)
Open floor for questions
Thank audience for their attention
5. Best Practices
✅ Good Example:
## Customer Success Stories
- Share Sarah's company results
- **30% increase** in efficiency
- Team morale improved
- Mention TechCorp case study
*Pause for questions*
**Transition:** "Now let's see how you can achieve similar results..."
❌ Bad Example:
## Slide 4
Talk about stuff
mention the thing
don't forget the other thing
6. Advanced Tips
Timing Markers
Include timing to keep your presentation on track:
## Market Analysis
[2-3 minutes]
- Current market size: $5.2B
- Growth rate: 15% annually
- Our market share potential
**Quick poll:** Who's currently using a competitor?
Interaction Cues
Plan audience engagement:
## Interactive Demo
**[AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION]**
- Ask for volunteer
- Have them try the feature
- Guide them through process
**Backup plan:** If no volunteers, use pre-recorded video
Visual Cues
Reference slide visuals in your notes:
## Data Visualization
**[POINT TO GRAPH]**
- Notice the sharp increase in Q3
- This represents our new algorithm
- Compare to competitor's flat line
**[CLICK TO REVEAL]**
- Now showing projected growth
- Based on current adoption rate
💡 Pro Tips:
- Write notes in your natural speaking style
- Include reminders for body language and pauses
- Add questions you might get asked
- Keep notes concise - they're reminders, not scripts
- Practice with your notes to find the right balance
- Include transitions between slides
- Add timing markers to stay on schedule
7. Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake |
Why It's Bad |
Better Approach |
| Writing full sentences |
You'll read instead of speak naturally |
Use bullet points and keywords |
| Too much detail |
Hard to find key points quickly |
Highlight only essential reminders |
| No structure |
Easy to lose your place |
Use consistent formatting |
| Missing transitions |
Awkward jumps between topics |
Include transition phrases |
| No timing info |
Presentations run too long/short |
Add time estimates per section |
8. Quick Reference
Essential Elements Checklist
- ☐ Clear slide titles
- ☐ Key talking points (bulleted)
- ☐ Important statistics/data highlighted
- ☐ Transition phrases between topics
- ☐ Timing markers for each section
- ☐ Audience interaction cues
- ☐ Q&A preparation
- ☐ Backup plans for demos/tech issues
---
Remember: The best speaker notes are the ones that help YOU deliver YOUR best presentation.
Customize these templates to match your speaking style!