To be an effective speaker, you need a lot of preparations not only on the speech you will deliver but as well as how you dress up. It requires mental and emotional preparation. There are a lot of people out there still trying to figure out how they can become an effective speaker. Here are the steps on how to be an effective speaker:

1. Never memorize your speech. Memorizing can make the delivery of your speech worse. It can make you sound like a robot and when you miss a single word, the whole sentence that you deliver may differ in meaning. It can make a mess. It will make you worry because all you do is stay on the script. Let your words flow naturally. Speak as if you're speaking in front of your friend.
2. Be prepared. Being prepared means that you need to prepare your materials such as your note cards, projector, presentation, hand outs, etc. If you are bringing hand outs, you must make sure that you have enough copies for your audience. You can bring extras just in case. Be sure that your projector works if you will need one.
3. Be confident. Your audience focuses on you when you speak in front of them. You have to be confident. You need to show it to them. Through your confidence is how your audience will believe in what you are saying. You must make sure that you won't have any bad breath so that your audience will not go away or take a distant step from you. It is important that you brush your teeth and rinse your mouth with mouth wash to make sure that you are pleasing in the eye of your audience.
4. Know your topic. It is more impressive if you know your own material and the subject matter itself. Always be sure that you walk the walk and talk the talk. Some people in the audience may ask you some questions so it is better if you really know the topic.
5. Have some notes. You may use index card to glance with. Many speakers actually use this to have their cue on when to speak. Notes are accepted in public speaking. These notes will make sure that you don't forget what you are going to say especially the key point of the lecture. Notes are just there to help you. It is always important to really know your topic.

To be a good speaker, all these tips are helpful. Your speech is like a book. It has an introduction, a body and a conclusion and there is a main point. What's important here is you deliver the main point of your speech and you are able to send the message with confidence to your audience.