Word cloud analysis of President Obama's State of the Union address

Word clouds are a creative way to gauge whether your message stands out in a speech. Pictured here is a word cloud of President Obama's State of the Union address Wednesday night.

Ask yourself whether the right themes break through, then give your own company's message a test drive for free at http://www.wordle.net/. You could insert your CEO's upcoming speech, the executive summary of your last annual report, or even a press release or a blog post. You may be surprised at what themes pop out most.

To be sure, a word cloud is not the final arbiter of whether your message passes the clarity test. It cannot account for tone, body language, compelling stories, or the speaker's ability to personally connect with his or her audience, but it's a fun tool that may add some fresh perspective to your company's messaging goals.

History's advice for public speakers

With President Obama's first State of the Union speech days away, it's a good time to dust off quotes from some of history's best speech givers and speech writers. The advice below applies to corporate executives and communications managers as much as it does to public officials.

"Be sincere; be brief; be seated." -- Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

"Tell 'em what you're going to tell 'em. Then tell 'em. Then tell 'em what you told 'em." -- New York Times columnist and Nixon speechwriter William Safire.

"Let thy speech be brief, comprehending much in few words." -- King James Bible.

“A speech is poetry: cadence, rhythm, imagery, sweep! A speech reminds us that words, like children, have the power to make dance the dullest beanbag of a heart.” -- Reagan speechwriter Peggy Noonan.

"It's not that tough to write a good speech, but rather just a matter of a few lines." -- Kennedy speechwriter Ted Sorenson.

"Grasp the subject; the words will follow." -- Cato the Elder.

Executives would be well served to heed this advice next time they deliver prepared remarks or interview with a local reporter. Communicating effectively requires more than having something to say; it requires thought, preparation, and knack for memorable quotes.

Let's hear from you. What are the most memorable speeches or quotes in your mind?