{"id":27191,"date":"2021-02-28T09:29:57","date_gmt":"2021-02-28T13:29:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=27191"},"modified":"2021-03-03T16:39:57","modified_gmt":"2021-03-03T20:39:57","slug":"message-map","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/message-map\/","title":{"rendered":"Message Map: How to Plan Your Perfect Speech"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is a message map? What is its purpose and how do you use it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A message map is a framework for creating a compelling and persuasive message or argument for your target audience. It also serves as an organizational tool to help you conceptualize a message that is cohesive and articulate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is how to create a message message map for a talk or a presentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

How to Create a Message Map for a Presentation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Effective planning involves working out exactly how you want your presentation to unfold<\/strong>\u2014for example, the points you want to make and the supporting evidence you want to use. Your talk is much more likely to run smoothly if you have a clear idea of what you want to say, rather than having to make your points up as you go along. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You could use a message map as a planning tool. A message map is a one-page summary of everything you want to include in your talk.<\/strong> Creating a message map involves three steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1: At the top of a sheet of paper, draw an oval.<\/strong> In the oval, write a short \u201cheadline\u201d that summarizes the main point<\/a> of your talk\u2014the message that you most want your audience to remember. Be as concise as possible (Gallo advises keeping the headline below 140 characters). For instance, a short and simple headline might be \u201cBuying Our Product Will Improve Your Life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2: Next, draw three arrows pointing down from the oval.<\/strong> At the end of each arrow, write a sub-point that will support your overall argument. For example, if your overall argument is that buying your product will benefit customers, write three reasons why this is the case. Don\u2019t include any more than three sub-points\u2014this would break the Rule of Three discussed in Chapter 7. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3: Below each sub-point, write all of the supporting material you\u2019re going to include when discussing it.<\/strong> For example, are you going to tell a story that proves your sub-point is valid? Are you going to include a humorous anecdote in this section of the speech or incorporate a shocking moment? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember, you\u2019re trying to keep your plan to one page, so don\u2019t feel the need to write stories or anecdotes out in full. Summarize them in just a few key words that will remind you what you want to say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After completing the three steps, your message map should look something like this:
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