The ultimate gift guide for public speakers

I ran this list a few years back, and I’ve updated it for 2014: What to get your favorite public speaker for the holidays.

Following are 10 gift suggestions for speakers. Get shopping!

1. A new website

I regularly check out speaker websites, and they are pretty bad—overcrowded, underwhelming, inadequate and poorly designed for quick connections—the opposite of what the Web is all about.

Get a decent designer and writer, rethink the approach and get a website as good as this one: http://www.jonathanfields.com/. Note that it works well on mobile, too. Many websites don’t.

2. A tablet and apps

I recommend Apple, but Microsoft has plenty of options, too. Whichever you choose, a tablet will help you show slides, take notes and record a speech. It can also act like a teleprompter or white board.

This gift will bring your public speaker into the 21st century, and save room in his or her carry-on bag.

3. A year of improv lessons