If Your Speech Feels Like 2010, You Are Losing Your Audience

Keynote speaking is an art that evolves. What captivated audiences a decade ago doesn’t necessarily hold their attention today. Yet, I recently watched a keynote that felt like a relic from the past; slides overloaded with text, a delivery that lacked energy, and insights that weren’t as fresh or actionable as they could have been. It wasn’t bad, but it missed the mark on what a modern keynote should be.

Audiences today have higher expectations. They don’t just want to sit and listen; they want to engage. They want a speaker who understands their industry, their challenges, and how to leave them with something useful. More than ever, keynote speakers must be dynamic, visually polished, and intentional about how they craft their message. That means keeping content relevant, designing slides that enhance (not distract), and ensuring there are clear takeaways that people can apply immediately.

It’s also important to remember that a keynote isn’t about self-promotion. If a talk is powerful, people will naturally want to connect afterward. There’s no need for a hard sales pitch or an aggressive call to action. We do not need every speaker to have a QR Code to get the audience on their mailing list! The best speakers create so much value in their talk that audiences seek them out… not the other way around.

Professional speakers have a responsibility to keep evolving. That means refining the content, pushing creatively, and always striving to be better than we were at our last event.

You do not want any audience member to proclaim “2010 called. It wants its keynote back”. If 2010 calls, it’s best to let it go to voicemail.

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Thom Singer, CSP, is a professional keynote speaker and the CEO at the Austin Technology Council.