We have all been witness to a speaker who doesn't quite know how to engage his or her audience. It can happen to the best of us. No wonder public speaking is the number one fear for people.

Some speakers sound like they are reading out of a textbook: all fact and no fun! Some have used all the clichés one can think of in a single presentation and some simply lack passion on their subject- if they don't care, why should the audience? While public speaking can be a frightening undertaking, it's not impossible to perk up your presentation skills and keep your audience wanting more.

Research Your Audience

Before you begin creating your presentation, you must research your audience. Find out the general age, gender, occupation, educational level and culture of the group. You would speak differently to a group of financial analysts than you would to a group of social workers. Be sure to tailor your presentation accordingly.

Research Your Topic

You may be a professional on the topic you are presenting, but nerves can cause you to forget important and interesting information. A small case of stage fright can also keep you from being prepared to answer the dreaded difficult questions from your audience. Be sure you are up-to-date on the topic you have been asked to discuss.

Tell a Story

Where appropriate, telling a story, especially a humorous one, can help build interest in the information you are sharing with your audience. Think about your own past experiences related to the subject. What did you learn? Would you change anything from the experience? How did this story shape your future decisions?

Be Visual

Incorporate visuals such as pictures, whiteboards, flipcharts and video clips. The use of visual aids can be an excellent way to get a message across to your audience. Visuals shift the attention away from the main speaker, you, and onto what is being displayed. With the average adult attention span only lasting 20 minutes, this is especially useful for longer presentations.

Get Participation

Audience participation helps draw interest and is an excellent learning tool. Have your audience sit in groups at round tables rather than the standard lecture room style. Create mini discussion groups, and allow each to share their unique ideas and knowledge with the rest of the audience.

It's OK to Ask Questions!

Keep your audience engaged by drawing them into your speech. Ask questions related to the topic of discussion and comment on answers provided. Be sure to also leave room at the end for Q&A. It's a good idea to be as interested in the group you are presenting to as you expect them to be in you.

Keep It Simple

Don't complicate the topic you are presenting by creating overly informative PowerPoint presentations, using insider lingo your audience may not understand, or overloading your presentation with too many fine points. Remember to KISS - Keep it Simple, Speaker!

Be Passionate

It is very important to sound excited and passionate about the topic you are discussing. If you are not excited, how do you expect your audience to be? No matter how mundane the topic may be, focus on one aspect that interests you and use it to generate enthusiasm with your audience.