Did you know that the number one fear in the U.S. is public speaking? Number two is death.

For some reason people are more afraid of public speaking than they are of death. One of the key problems people have is that they haven't practiced enough of speaking in front of an audience.

In this article I will give you 3 tips for practicing public speaking.

Practice in Front of a Mirror
Practicing in front of a mirror is a great way to get better at speaking in public. It helps you to take a look at yourself while speaking. This will definitely help you to get more confidence when speaking in public.

Look at your gestures while you speak. If they look somewhat wrong then try to use other gestures. Try to use gestures that underline what you are saying.

Practice with your Friends
Friends are always there for you if you need help. One great way to get better at public speaking is to practice with them.

Prepare your speech or presentation and then ask them to take a look at it. Then after wards hold your presentation in front of your friends. Ask them for feedback whether it is negative or positive.

Practice in Front of a Camera
People are pretty frightened of speaking in front of a camera especially if they know that a lot of people are going to see it. But it doesn't necessarily have to be that way.

Practicing in front of a camera can be a very rewarding experience. First of all it will give you a good indication of what you are doing while holding a speech. Usually people aren't even aware of what they are doing. Through a video tape it will be easy for you to find out what you have done wrong or what you could do better next time.
Also combining the last two points is a great addition to improve your public speaking skills. If you hold your presentation in front of friends and in the meantime video tape yourself then this will be an even more rewarding experience.