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How to give a good presentation that captivates any audience

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What are the main difficulties when giving presentations?

How to create an effective presentation, after that, how do i give a memorable presentation, how to connect with the audience when presenting.

If you’ve ever heard someone give a powerful presentation, you probably remember how it made you feel. Much like a composer, a good speaker knows precisely when each note should strike to captivate their audience’s attention and leave them with a lasting impression.

No one becomes a great public speaker or presenter without practice. And almost everyone can recall a time one of their presentations went badly — that’s a painful part of the learning process.

Whether you’re working within a small creative team or a large organization, public speaking and presentation skills are vital to communicating your ideas. Knowing how to present your vision can help you pitch concepts to clients, present ideas to your team, and develop the confidence to participate in team meetings.

If you have an upcoming presentation on the horizon and feel nervous, that’s normal. Around 15-30% of the general population experience a fear of public speaking . And, unfortunately, social anxiety is on the rise, with a 12% increase in adults over the last 20 years . 

Learning how to give a good presentation can dismantle your fears and break down these barriers, ensuring you’re ready to confidently share your point of view. 

It’s the week before your presentation, and you’re already feeling nervous . Maybe there’ll be an important mentor in the room you need to impress, or you’re looking for an opportunity to show your boss your value. Regardless of your countless past presentations, you still feel nervous. 

Sharing your vision and ideas with any sized group is intimidating. You’re likely worrying about how you’ll perform as a presenter and whether the audience will be interested in what you offer. But nerves aren’t inherently negative — you can actually use this feeling to fuel your preparation.

It’s helpful to identify where your worries are coming from and address your fears. Here are some common concerns when preparing for an upcoming presentation:

Fear of public speaking: When you share your ideas in front of a group, you’re placing yourself in a vulnerable position to be critiqued on your knowledge and communication skills . Maybe you feel confident in your content, but when you think about standing in front of an audience, you feel anxious and your mind goes blank.

It’s also not uncommon to have physical symptoms when presenting . Some people experience nausea and dizziness as the brain releases adrenaline to cope with the potentially stressful situation . Remember to take deep breaths to recenter yourself and be patient, even if you make a mistake.

Losing the audience’s attention: As a presenter, your main focus is to keep your audience engaged. They should feel like they’re learning valuable information or following a story that will improve them in life or business.

Highlight the most exciting pieces of knowledge and ensure you emphasize those points in your presentation. If you feel passionate about your content, it’s more likely that your audience will experience this excitement for themselves and become invested in what you have to say.

Not knowing what content to place on presentation slides: Overloading presentation slides is a fast way to lose your audience’s attention. Your slides should contain only the main talking points and limited text to ensure your audience focuses on what you have to say rather than becoming distracted by the content on your slides.

Discomfort incorporating nonverbal communication: It’s natural to feel stiff and frozen when you’re nervous. But maintaining effective body language helps your audience stay focused on you as you speak and encourages you to relax.

If you struggle to incorporate body language into your presentations, try starting small by making hand gestures toward your slides. If you’re working with a large audience, use different parts of the stage to ensure everyone feels included. 

Each presenter has their own personal brand and style. Some may use humor to break the ice, while others might appeal to the audience’s emotional side through inspiring storytelling. 

Watching online presentations, such as TED talks, is an excellent way to expose yourself to various presentation styles and develop your own. While observing others, you can note how they carry themselves on stage and learn new ways to keep your audience engaged.

Once you’ve addressed what’s causing your fears, it’s time to prepare for a great presentation. Use your past experience as inspiration and aim to outshine your former self by learning from your mistakes and employing new techniques. Here are five presentation tips to help you create a strong presentation and wow your audience:

1. Keep it simple

Simple means something different to everyone.

Before creating your presentation, take note of your intended audience and their knowledge level of your subject. You’ll want your content to be easy for your intended audience to follow.

Say you’re giving a presentation on improving your company’s operational structure. Entry-level workers will likely need a more straightforward overview of the content than C-suite leaders, who have significantly more experience. 

Ask yourself what you want your audience to take away from your presentation and emphasize those important points. Doing this ensures they remember the most vital information rather than less important supporting ideas. Try organizing these concepts into bullet points so viewers can quickly identify critical takeaways.

2. Create a compelling structure

Put yourself in your audience member’s shoes and determine the most compelling way to organize your information. Your presentation should be articulate , cohesive, and logical, and you must be sure to include all necessary supporting evidence to strengthen your main points.

If you give away all of your answers too quickly, your audience could lose interest. And if there isn’t enough supporting information, they could hit a roadblock of confusion. Try developing a compelling story that leads your audience through your thought processes so they can experience the ups and downs alongside you. 

By structuring your presentation to lead up to a final conclusion, you’re more likely to keep listeners’ attention. Once you’ve reached that conclusion, you can offer a Q&A period to put any of their questions or concerns to rest. 

3. Use visual aids

Appealing to various learning styles is a great way to keep everyone on the same page and ensure they absorb your content. Visual aids are necessary for visual learners and make it easier for people to picture your ideas.

Aim to incorporate a mixture of photos, videos, and props to engage your audience and convey your key points. For instance, if you’re giving a presentation on anthropology subject matter, you could show your audience an artifact to help them understand how exciting a discovery must have been. 

If your presentation is long, including a video for your audience to watch is an excellent way to give yourself a break and create new jumping-off points for your speech.

4. Be aware of design techniques and trends

Thanks to cutting-edge technology and tools, you have numerous platforms at your disposal to create a good presentation. But keep in mind that although color, images, and graphics liven things up, they can cause distraction when misused.

  Here are a few standard pointers for incorporating visuals on your slides: 

• Don’t place blocks of small text on a single slide
• Use a minimalistic background instead of a busy one
• Ensure text stands out against the background color
• Only use high-resolution photos
• Maintain a consistent font style and size throughout the presentation
• Don’t overuse transitions and effects

5. Try the 10-20-30 rule

Guy Kawasaki, a prominent venture capitalist and one of the original marketing specialists for Apple, said that the best slideshow presentations are less than 10 slides , last at most 20 minutes, and use a font size of 30. Following this strategy can help you condense your information, eliminate unnecessary ideas, and maintain your audience’s focus more efficiently.

Once you’re confident in creating a memorable presentation, it’s time to learn how to give one. Here are some valuable tips for keeping your audience invested during your talk: 

Tip #1: Tell stories

Sharing an anecdote from your life can improve your credibility and increase your relatability. And when an audience relates to you, they’re more likely to feel connected to who you are as a person and encouraged to give you their full attention, as they would want others to do the same.

Gill Hicks utilized this strategy well when she shared her powerful story, “ I survived a terrorist attack. Here’s what I learned .” In her harrowing tale, Hicks highlights the importance of compassion, unconditional love , and helping those in need.

If you feel uncomfortable sharing personal stories, that’s okay. You can use examples from famous individuals or create a fictional account to demonstrate your ideas.

Tip #2: Make eye contact with the audience

Maintaining eye contact is less intimidating than it sounds. In fact, you don’t have to look your audience members directly in their eyes — you can focus on their foreheads or noses if that’s easier.

Try making eye contact with as many people as possible for 3–5 seconds each. This timing ensures you don’t look away too quickly, making the audience member feel unimportant, or linger too long, making them feel uncomfortable.

If you’re presenting to a large group, direct your focus to each part of the room to ensure no section of the audience feels ignored. 

Tip #3: Work on your stage presence

Although your tone and words are the most impactful part of your presentation, recall that body language keeps your audience engaged. Use these tips to master a professional stage presence:

• Speak with open arms and avoid crossing them
• Keep a reasonable pace and try not to stand still
• Use hand gestures to highlight important information

Tip #4: Start strong

Like watching a movie trailer, the first seconds of your talk are critical for capturing your audience’s attention. How you start your speech sets the tone for the rest of your presentation and tells your audience whether or not they should pay attention. Here are some ways to start your presentation to leave a lasting impression:

• Use a quote from a well-known and likable influential person 
• Ask a rhetorical question to create intrigue
• Start with an anecdote to add context to your talk 
• Spark your audience’s curiosity by involving them in an interactive problem-solving puzzle or riddle

Tip #5: Show your passion

Don’t be afraid of being too enthusiastic. Everyone appreciates a speaker who’s genuinely excited about their field of expertise. 

In “ Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance ,” Angela Lee Duckworth discusses the importance of passion in research and delivery. She delivers her presentation excitedly to show the audience how excitement piques interest. 

Tip #6: Plan your delivery

How you decide to deliver your speech will shape your presentation. Will you be preparing a PowerPoint presentation and using a teleprompter? Or are you working within the constraints of the digital world and presenting over Zoom?

The best presentations are conducted by speakers who know their stuff and memorize their content. However, if you find this challenging, try creating notes to use as a safety net in case you lose track.

If you’re presenting online, you can keep notes beside your computer for each slide, highlighting your key points. This ensures you include all the necessary information and follow a logical order.

Tip #7: Practice

Practice doesn’t make perfect — it makes progress. There’s no way of preparing for unforeseen circumstances, but thorough practice means you’ve done everything you can to succeed.

Rehearse your speech in front of a mirror or to a trusted friend or family member. Take any feedback and use it as an opportunity to fine-tune your speech. But remember: who you practice your presentation in front of may differ from your intended audience. Consider their opinions through the lens of them occupying this different position.

Tip #8: Read the room

Whether you’re a keynote speaker at an event or presenting to a small group of clients, knowing how to read the room is vital for keeping your audience happy. Stay flexible and be willing to move on from topics quickly if your listeners are uninterested or displeased with a particular part of your speech.

Tip #9: Breathe

Try taking deep breaths before your presentation to calm your nerves. If you feel rushed, you’re more likely to feel nervous and stumble on your words.

The most important thing to consider when presenting is your audience’s feelings. When you approach your next presentation calmly, you’ll put your audience at ease and encourage them to feel comfortable in your presence.

Tip #10: Provide a call-to-action

When you end your presentation, your audience should feel compelled to take a specific action, whether that’s changing their habits or contacting you for your services.

If you’re presenting to clients, create a handout with key points and contact information so they can get in touch. You should provide your LinkedIn information, email address, and phone number so they have a variety of ways to reach you. 

There’s no one-size-fits-all template for an effective presentation, as your unique audience and subject matter play a role in shaping your speech. As a general rule, though, you should aim to connect with your audience through passion and excitement. Use strong eye contact and body language. Capture their interest through storytelling and their trust through relatability.

Learning how to give a good presentation can feel overwhelming — but remember, practice makes progress. Rehearse your presentation for someone you trust, collect their feedback , and revise. Practicing your presentation skills is helpful for any job, and every challenge is a chance to grow.

Enhance your presentation skills

Discover coaching that transforms your public speaking and boosts your confidence in presenting.

Elizabeth Perry, ACC

Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships. With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.

How to make a presentation interactive and exciting

6 presentation skills and how to improve them, 8 clever hooks for presentations (with tips), how to write a speech that your audience remembers, how to not be nervous for a presentation — 13 tips that work (really), 3 stand-out professional bio examples to inspire your own, the importance of good speech: 5 tips to be more articulate, how the minto pyramid principle can enhance your communication skills, how to set short-term professional goals, how to disagree at work without being obnoxious, the 11 tips that will improve your public speaking skills, 30 presentation feedback examples, fear of public speaking overcome it with these 7 tips, stay connected with betterup, get our newsletter, event invites, plus product insights and research..

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How can you make a good presentation even more effective?

This page draws on published advice from expert presenters around the world, which will help to take your presentations from merely ‘good’ to ‘great’.

By bringing together advice from a wide range of people, the aim is to cover a whole range of areas.

Whether you are an experienced presenter, or just starting out, there should be ideas here to help you to improve.

1. Show your Passion and Connect with your Audience

It’s hard to be relaxed and be yourself when you’re nervous.

But time and again, the great presenters say that the most important thing is to connect with your audience, and the best way to do that is to let your passion for the subject shine through.

Be honest with the audience about what is important to you and why it matters.

Be enthusiastic and honest, and the audience will respond.

2. Focus on your Audience’s Needs

Your presentation needs to be built around what your audience is going to get out of the presentation.

As you prepare the presentation, you always need to bear in mind what the audience needs and wants to know, not what you can tell them.

While you’re giving the presentation, you also need to remain focused on your audience’s response, and react to that.

You need to make it easy for your audience to understand and respond.

3. Keep it Simple: Concentrate on your Core Message

When planning your presentation, you should always keep in mind the question:

What is the key message (or three key points) for my audience to take away?

You should be able to communicate that key message very briefly.

Some experts recommend a 30-second ‘elevator summary’, others that you can write it on the back of a business card, or say it in no more than 15 words.

Whichever rule you choose, the important thing is to keep your core message focused and brief.

And if what you are planning to say doesn’t contribute to that core message, don’t say it.

4. Smile and Make Eye Contact with your Audience

This sounds very easy, but a surprisingly large number of presenters fail to do it.

If you smile and make eye contact, you are building rapport , which helps the audience to connect with you and your subject. It also helps you to feel less nervous, because you are talking to individuals, not to a great mass of unknown people.

To help you with this, make sure that you don’t turn down all the lights so that only the slide screen is visible. Your audience needs to see you as well as your slides.

5. Start Strongly

The beginning of your presentation is crucial. You need to grab your audience’s attention and hold it.

They will give you a few minutes’ grace in which to entertain them, before they start to switch off if you’re dull. So don’t waste that on explaining who you are. Start by entertaining them.

Try a story (see tip 7 below), or an attention-grabbing (but useful) image on a slide.

6. Remember the 10-20-30 Rule for Slideshows

This is a tip from Guy Kawasaki of Apple. He suggests that slideshows should:

• Contain no more than 10 slides;
• Last no more than 20 minutes; and
• Use a font size of no less than 30 point.

This last is particularly important as it stops you trying to put too much information on any one slide. This whole approach avoids the dreaded ‘Death by PowerPoint’.

As a general rule, slides should be the sideshow to you, the presenter. A good set of slides should be no use without the presenter, and they should definitely contain less, rather than more, information, expressed simply.

If you need to provide more information, create a bespoke handout and give it out after your presentation.

7. Tell Stories

Human beings are programmed to respond to stories.

Stories help us to pay attention, and also to remember things. If you can use stories in your presentation, your audience is more likely to engage and to remember your points afterwards. It is a good idea to start with a story, but there is a wider point too: you need your presentation to act like a story.

Think about what story you are trying to tell your audience, and create your presentation to tell it.

Finding The Story Behind Your Presentation

To effectively tell a story, focus on using at least one of the two most basic storytelling mechanics in your presentation:

Focusing On Characters – People have stories; things, data, and objects do not. So ask yourself “who” is directly involved in your topic that you can use as the focal point of your story.

For example, instead of talking about cars (your company’s products), you could focus on specific characters like:

• The drivers the car is intended for – people looking for speed and adventure
• The engineers who went out of their way to design the most cost-effective car imaginable

A Changing Dynamic – A story needs something to change along the way. So ask yourself “What is not as it should be?” and answer with what you are going to do about it (or what you did about it).

For example…

• Did hazardous road conditions inspire you to build a rugged, all-terrain jeep that any family could afford?
• Did a complicated and confusing food labelling system lead you to establish a colour-coded nutritional index so that anybody could easily understand it?

8. Use your Voice Effectively

The spoken word is actually a pretty inefficient means of communication, because it uses only one of your audience’s five senses. That’s why presenters tend to use visual aids, too. But you can help to make the spoken word better by using your voice effectively.

Varying the speed at which you talk, and emphasising changes in pitch and tone all help to make your voice more interesting and hold your audience’s attention.

For more about this, see our page on Effective Speaking .

9. Use your Body Too

It has been estimated that more than three quarters of communication is non-verbal.

That means that as well as your tone of voice, your body language is crucial to getting your message across. Make sure that you are giving the right messages: body language to avoid includes crossed arms, hands held behind your back or in your pockets, and pacing the stage.

Make your gestures open and confident, and move naturally around the stage, and among the audience too, if possible.

10. Relax, Breathe and Enjoy

If you find presenting difficult, it can be hard to be calm and relaxed about doing it.

One option is to start by concentrating on your breathing. Slow it down, and make sure that you’re breathing fully. Make sure that you continue to pause for breath occasionally during your presentation too.

For more ideas, see our page on Coping with Presentation Nerves .

If you can bring yourself to relax, you will almost certainly present better. If you can actually start to enjoy yourself, your audience will respond to that, and engage better. Your presentations will improve exponentially, and so will your confidence. It’s well worth a try.

Improve your Presentation Skills

Follow our guide to boost your presentation skills learning about preparation, delivery, questions and all other aspects of giving effective presentations.

Start with: What is a Presentation?

Continue to: How to Give a Speech Self Presentation

See also: Five Ways You Can Do Visual Marketing on a Budget Can Presentation Science Improve Your Presentation? Typography – It’s All About the Message in Your Slides

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Blog Beginner Guides How To Make a Good Presentation [A Complete Guide]

How To Make a Good Presentation [A Complete Guide]

Written by: Krystle Wong Jul 20, 2023

A top-notch presentation possesses the power to drive action. From winning stakeholders over and conveying a powerful message to securing funding — your secret weapon lies within the realm of creating an effective presentation .  

Being an excellent presenter isn’t confined to the boardroom. Whether you’re delivering a presentation at work, pursuing an academic career, involved in a non-profit organization or even a student, nailing the presentation game is a game-changer.

In this article, I’ll cover the top qualities of compelling presentations and walk you through a step-by-step guide on how to give a good presentation. Here’s a little tip to kick things off: for a headstart, check out Venngage’s collection of free presentation templates . They are fully customizable, and the best part is you don’t need professional design skills to make them shine!

These valuable presentation tips cater to individuals from diverse professional backgrounds, encompassing business professionals, sales and marketing teams, educators, trainers, students, researchers, non-profit organizations, public speakers and presenters. 

No matter your field or role, these tips for presenting will equip you with the skills to deliver effective presentations that leave a lasting impression on any audience.

Click to jump ahead:

What are the 10 qualities of a good presentation?

Step-by-step guide on how to prepare an effective presentation, 9 effective techniques to deliver a memorable presentation, faqs on making a good presentation, how to create a presentation with venngage in 5 steps.

When it comes to giving an engaging presentation that leaves a lasting impression, it’s not just about the content — it’s also about how you deliver it. Wondering what makes a good presentation? Well, the best presentations I’ve seen consistently exhibit these 10 qualities:

1. Clear structure

No one likes to get lost in a maze of information. Organize your thoughts into a logical flow, complete with an introduction, main points and a solid conclusion. A structured presentation helps your audience follow along effortlessly, leaving them with a sense of satisfaction at the end.

Regardless of your presentation style , a quality presentation starts with a clear roadmap. Browse through Venngage’s template library and select a presentation template that aligns with your content and presentation goals. Here’s a good presentation example template with a logical layout that includes sections for the introduction, main points, supporting information and a conclusion: 

2. Engaging opening

Hook your audience right from the start with an attention-grabbing statement, a fascinating question or maybe even a captivating anecdote. Set the stage for a killer presentation!

The opening moments of your presentation hold immense power – check out these 15 ways to start a presentation to set the stage and captivate your audience.

3. Relevant content

Make sure your content aligns with their interests and needs. Your audience is there for a reason, and that’s to get valuable insights. Avoid fluff and get straight to the point, your audience will be genuinely excited.

4. Effective visual aids

Picture this: a slide with walls of text and tiny charts, yawn! Visual aids should be just that—aiding your presentation. Opt for clear and visually appealing slides, engaging images and informative charts that add value and help reinforce your message.

With Venngage, visualizing data takes no effort at all. You can import data from CSV or Google Sheets seamlessly and create stunning charts, graphs and icon stories effortlessly to showcase your data in a captivating and impactful way.

5. Clear and concise communication

Keep your language simple, and avoid jargon or complicated terms. Communicate your ideas clearly, so your audience can easily grasp and retain the information being conveyed. This can prevent confusion and enhance the overall effectiveness of the message. 

6. Engaging delivery

Spice up your presentation with a sprinkle of enthusiasm! Maintain eye contact, use expressive gestures and vary your tone of voice to keep your audience glued to the edge of their seats. A touch of charisma goes a long way!

7. Interaction and audience engagement

Turn your presentation into an interactive experience — encourage questions, foster discussions and maybe even throw in a fun activity. Engaged audiences are more likely to remember and embrace your message.

Transform your slides into an interactive presentation with Venngage’s dynamic features like pop-ups, clickable icons and animated elements. Engage your audience with interactive content that lets them explore and interact with your presentation for a truly immersive experience.

8. Effective storytelling

Who doesn’t love a good story? Weaving relevant anecdotes, case studies or even a personal story into your presentation can captivate your audience and create a lasting impact. Stories build connections and make your message memorable.

A great presentation background is also essential as it sets the tone, creates visual interest and reinforces your message. Enhance the overall aesthetics of your presentation with these 15 presentation background examples and captivate your audience’s attention.

9. Well-timed pacing

Pace your presentation thoughtfully with well-designed presentation slides, neither rushing through nor dragging it out. Respect your audience’s time and ensure you cover all the essential points without losing their interest.

10. Strong conclusion

Last impressions linger! Summarize your main points and leave your audience with a clear takeaway. End your presentation with a bang , a call to action or an inspiring thought that resonates long after the conclusion.

In-person presentations aside, acing a virtual presentation is of paramount importance in today’s digital world. Check out this guide to learn how you can adapt your in-person presentations into virtual presentations . 

Preparing an effective presentation starts with laying a strong foundation that goes beyond just creating slides and notes. One of the quickest and best ways to make a presentation would be with the help of a good presentation software . 

Otherwise, let me walk you to how to prepare for a presentation step by step and unlock the secrets of crafting a professional presentation that sets you apart.

1. Understand the audience and their needs

Before you dive into preparing your masterpiece, take a moment to get to know your target audience. Tailor your presentation to meet their needs and expectations , and you’ll have them hooked from the start!

2. Conduct thorough research on the topic

Time to hit the books (or the internet)! Don’t skimp on the research with your presentation materials — dive deep into the subject matter and gather valuable insights . The more you know, the more confident you’ll feel in delivering your presentation.

3. Organize the content with a clear structure

No one wants to stumble through a chaotic mess of information. Outline your presentation with a clear and logical flow. Start with a captivating introduction, follow up with main points that build on each other and wrap it up with a powerful conclusion that leaves a lasting impression.

Delivering an effective business presentation hinges on captivating your audience, and Venngage’s professionally designed business presentation templates are tailor-made for this purpose. With thoughtfully structured layouts, these templates enhance your message’s clarity and coherence, ensuring a memorable and engaging experience for your audience members.

Don’t want to build your presentation layout from scratch? pick from these 5 foolproof presentation layout ideas that won’t go wrong. 

4. Develop visually appealing and supportive visual aids

Spice up your presentation with eye-catching visuals! Create slides that complement your message, not overshadow it. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words, but that doesn’t mean you need to overload your slides with text.

Well-chosen designs create a cohesive and professional look, capturing your audience’s attention and enhancing the overall effectiveness of your message. Here’s a list of carefully curated PowerPoint presentation templates and great background graphics that will significantly influence the visual appeal and engagement of your presentation.

5. Practice, practice and practice

Practice makes perfect — rehearse your presentation and arrive early to your presentation to help overcome stage fright. Familiarity with your material will boost your presentation skills and help you handle curveballs with ease.

6. Seek feedback and make necessary adjustments

Don’t be afraid to ask for help and seek feedback from friends and colleagues. Constructive criticism can help you identify blind spots and fine-tune your presentation to perfection.

With Venngage’s real-time collaboration feature , receiving feedback and editing your presentation is a seamless process. Group members can access and work on the presentation simultaneously and edit content side by side in real-time. Changes will be reflected immediately to the entire team, promoting seamless teamwork.

7. Prepare for potential technical or logistical issues

Prepare for the unexpected by checking your equipment, internet connection and any other potential hiccups. If you’re worried that you’ll miss out on any important points, you could always have note cards prepared. Remember to remain focused and rehearse potential answers to anticipated questions.

8. Fine-tune and polish your presentation

As the big day approaches, give your presentation one last shine. Review your talking points, practice how to present a presentation and make any final tweaks. Deep breaths — you’re on the brink of delivering a successful presentation!

In competitive environments, persuasive presentations set individuals and organizations apart. To brush up on your presentation skills, read these guides on how to make a persuasive presentation and tips to presenting effectively . 

Whether you’re an experienced presenter or a novice, the right techniques will let your presentation skills soar to new heights!

From public speaking hacks to interactive elements and storytelling prowess, these 9 effective presentation techniques will empower you to leave a lasting impression on your audience and make your presentations unforgettable.

1. Confidence and positive body language

Positive body language instantly captivates your audience, making them believe in your message as much as you do. Strengthen your stage presence and own that stage like it’s your second home! Stand tall, shoulders back and exude confidence. 

2. Eye contact with the audience

Break down that invisible barrier and connect with your audience through their eyes. Maintaining eye contact when giving a presentation builds trust and shows that you’re present and engaged with them.

3. Effective use of hand gestures and movement

A little movement goes a long way! Emphasize key points with purposeful gestures and don’t be afraid to walk around the stage. Your energy will be contagious!

4. Utilize storytelling techniques

Weave the magic of storytelling into your presentation. Share relatable anecdotes, inspiring success stories or even personal experiences that tug at the heartstrings of your audience. Adjust your pitch, pace and volume to match the emotions and intensity of the story. Varying your speaking voice adds depth and enhances your stage presence.

5. Incorporate multimedia elements

Spice up your presentation with a dash of visual pizzazz! Use slides, images and video clips to add depth and clarity to your message. Just remember, less is more—don’t overwhelm them with information overload. 

Turn your presentations into an interactive party! Involve your audience with questions, polls or group activities. When they actively participate, they become invested in your presentation’s success. Bring your design to life with animated elements. Venngage allows you to apply animations to icons, images and text to create dynamic and engaging visual content.

6. Utilize humor strategically

Laughter is the best medicine—and a fantastic presentation enhancer! A well-placed joke or lighthearted moment can break the ice and create a warm atmosphere , making your audience more receptive to your message.

7. Practice active listening and respond to feedback

Be attentive to your audience’s reactions and feedback. If they have questions or concerns, address them with genuine interest and respect. Your responsiveness builds rapport and shows that you genuinely care about their experience.

8. Apply the 10-20-30 rule

Apply the 10-20-30 presentation rule and keep it short, sweet and impactful! Stick to ten slides, deliver your presentation within 20 minutes and use a 30-point font to ensure clarity and focus. Less is more, and your audience will thank you for it!

9. Implement the 5-5-5 rule

Simplicity is key. Limit each slide to five bullet points, with only five words per bullet point and allow each slide to remain visible for about five seconds. This rule keeps your presentation concise and prevents information overload.

Simple presentations are more engaging because they are easier to follow. Summarize your presentations and keep them simple with Venngage’s gallery of simple presentation templates and ensure that your message is delivered effectively across your audience.

1. How to start a presentation?

To kick off your presentation effectively, begin with an attention-grabbing statement or a powerful quote. Introduce yourself, establish credibility and clearly state the purpose and relevance of your presentation.

2. How to end a presentation?

For a strong conclusion, summarize your talking points and key takeaways. End with a compelling call to action or a thought-provoking question and remember to thank your audience and invite any final questions or interactions.

3. How to make a presentation interactive?

To make your presentation interactive, encourage questions and discussion throughout your talk. Utilize multimedia elements like videos or images and consider including polls, quizzes or group activities to actively involve your audience.

In need of inspiration for your next presentation? I’ve got your back! Pick from these 120+ presentation ideas, topics and examples to get started. 

Creating a stunning presentation with Venngage is a breeze with our user-friendly drag-and-drop editor and professionally designed templates for all your communication needs. 

Here’s how to make a presentation in just 5 simple steps with the help of Venngage:

Step 1: Sign up for Venngage for free using your email, Gmail or Facebook account or simply log in to access your account. 

Step 2: Pick a design from our selection of free presentation templates (they’re all created by our expert in-house designers).

Step 3: Make the template your own by customizing it to fit your content and branding. With Venngage’s intuitive drag-and-drop editor, you can easily modify text, change colors and adjust the layout to create a unique and eye-catching design.

Step 4: Elevate your presentation by incorporating captivating visuals. You can upload your images or choose from Venngage’s vast library of high-quality photos, icons and illustrations. 

Step 5: Upgrade to a premium or business account to export your presentation in PDF and print it for in-person presentations or share it digitally for free!

By following these five simple steps, you’ll have a professionally designed and visually engaging presentation ready in no time. With Venngage’s user-friendly platform, your presentation is sure to make a lasting impression. So, let your creativity flow and get ready to shine in your next presentation!

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How to Make a “Good” Presentation “Great”

by Guy Kawasaki

Summary .   

• Fonts: Sans Serif fonts such as Helvetica or Arial are preferred for their clean lines, which make them easy to digest at various sizes and distances. Limit the number of font styles to two: one for headings and another for body text, to avoid visual confusion or distractions.
• Colors: Colors can evoke emotions and highlight critical points, but their overuse can lead to a cluttered and confusing presentation. A limited palette of two to three main colors, complemented by a simple background, can help you draw attention to key elements without overwhelming the audience.
• Pictures: Pictures can communicate complex ideas quickly and memorably but choosing the right images is key. Images or pictures should be big (perhaps 20-25% of the page), bold, and have a clear purpose that complements the slide’s text.
• Layout: Don’t overcrowd your slides with too much information. When in doubt, adhere to the principle of simplicity, and aim for a clean and uncluttered layout with plenty of white space around text and images. Think phrases and bullets, not sentences.

As an intern or early career professional, chances are that you’ll be tasked with making or giving a presentation in the near future. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others.

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Visual Storytelling with Slides

Visual storytelling is the practice of using images to tell a story and enhance your message. It can help make your presentation more engaging and memorable by appealing to your audience’s visual senses.

Action Step: Use compelling images and minimal text to create a narrative that complements your spoken words and use a consistent visual theme for coherence. For example, for a presentation on renewable energy, you could use a slide with a powerful image of a wind farm and a single phrase like “The Future of Energy.”

Reminder: Avoid cluttering slides with too much text. Keep it clean and simple to ensure your audience stays focused on your message.

Use a Dynamic Voice

Studies show that speakers who use vocal variety can boost listener engagement by up to 20%. How? Dynamic voice modulation involves varying your pitch, tone, and speed to maintain audience engagement and highlight key points in your presentation.

To practice voice modulation:

• Select a passage from your presentation. Choose a section that includes a variety of points, like your main body—some that require emphasis and others that serve as supporting information.
• Mark where you want to change your pitch or tone. Highlight parts where you want to raise or lower your voice. This could be in the middle where people might drift off, or near the end when you want to give a powerful finish. You can add a pause or slow down for dramatic effect.
• Record yourself delivering the passage. Listen carefully to how changes in your voice affect the overall impact. Try speaking slower or faster, louder or quieter at certain parts to see how the dynamics change.
• Review and adjust as needed. Fine-tune your delivery based on feedback or rewatching your recordings.
• “Imagine a world without clean water…” Starting with a slightly slower and softer tone creates a contemplative mood.
• [Pause, lower voice] “It’s a reality for millions today.” The pause and lower pitch emphasize the seriousness of the issue.
• [Pause, return to normal tone] “But what if we could change that?” The pause here transitions to a more hopeful and engaging tone, inviting the audience to think about possibilities.
• [Increase pitch slightly] “What if each one of us took a small step to make a big difference?” The increased pitch conveys enthusiasm and optimism.
• [Pause] “Together, we can create a ripple effect that ensures clean water for all.” The pause before this statement adds weight to the collaborative effort.

Want to learn how to level up your voice?

Make Scanning Eye Contact

Research shows that making eye contact can boost engagement and trust. When you look someone in the eye, it shows you are focused and interested and also makes THEM focused and interested, too.

Action Step : During your presentation, make a conscious effort to maintain eye contact with different audience members. Here’s how:

• Scan the room : Shift your gaze every 5-10 seconds to include different sections of the audience. Look at people in different areas to ensure everyone feels included.
• Hold for a few seconds : When making eye contact, hold it for about 3-5 seconds before moving on. This shows confidence and helps keep individuals engaged.
• Balance your attention : Avoid staring at one person or section. Rotate your eye contact across the room, spending a few seconds on each person or group, ensuring no area is neglected.

Reminder: Keep your eye contact natural and relaxed. Overdoing it or staring can make people uncomfortable, so ensure it feels genuine.

For more helpful tips on how to master eye contact, read on: How to Read People’s Eye Direction and Behavior With 34 Cues

Be Authentic, Avoid Jargon

 Most of the time, you’ll probably want to use easy-to-understand language. Think high-school level. Jargon , on the other hand, can alienate listeners and create barriers to understanding. Try to lean towards simple unless your audience’s needs demand it.

Action Step: Review your presentation and replace complex terms with simpler words. Explain your ideas as if to someone unfamiliar with your field. For example, instead of saying, “utilize a customer-centric approach,” say, “focus on our customers.” Clear language makes your message easy to understand.

Here are some sample words to consider: Similar Words vs. Jargon

Engage with Direct Questions

Research shows that asking questions during a presentation can boost audience engagement by up to 30%. This suggests that using questions effectively can turn a passive presentation into an engaging, interactive experience that captivates your audience and reinforces your message.

To effectively use direct questions:

• Choose questions that are relevant to your topic and will prompt your audience to think critically or reflect on their experiences, such as “Have you ever considered how much water you use in a day?”
• Introduce questions at strategic points, like after presenting a key fact, to maintain flow and keep your audience engaged.
• Be open to audience responses, whether verbal or through a show of hands, and respond thoughtfully.
• Use questions to create a dialogue rather than a monologue, for example, “What small changes can each of us make to conserve water?”

Practice adding questions and watch how your audience responds. This will help you refine your approach and maximize engagement.

Use Interactive Polls

By inviting participation using polls, you create a two-way conversation instead of keeping things one-sided.

For example, take a look at how Simon Sinek 4 https://simonsinek.com/stories/simons-1-rule-of-public-speaking/ uses interactive polls in his presentations. Known for his work on leadership and motivation, Sinek uses real-time polls to get audience opinions and experiences. Gathering real-time opinions makes his talks engaging and more impactful.

Action Step: Integrate live polling tools like Mentimeter 5 https://www.mentimeter.com/ or Slido 6 https://www.slido.com/ into your presentation. Pose questions that relate directly to your topic to gauge your audience’s opinions or test their knowledge. For example, in a presentation on workplace productivity, you could ask, “What is your biggest productivity challenge?” and show the results in real-time to spark discussion.

Work on Your Stage Presence

Studies have shown that presenters who use deliberate and strategic movements can significantly boost audience engagement and retention.

While your tone and words can be the most impactful parts of your presentation, remember that body language plays a big role in keeping your audience engaged.

Jill Bolte Taylor, in her TED Talk episode My Stroke of Insight 7 https://www.ted.com/talks/jill_bolte_taylor_my_stroke_of_insight/transcript , used great body language to boost stage presence. Taylor uses deliberate movements and gestures to map out her content, making her points more engaging and memorable.

Here are some specific tips based on her approach and other TED speakers:

• Speak with open arms. Avoid crossing your arms; it can make you seem closed off. Open arms show confidence and make you look approachable.
• Keep moving. Don’t stand still. Move around the stage to keep your audience’s attention. Taylor pivots to face different parts of the audience, making everyone feel included.
• Use hand gestures. Use hand gestures to emphasize key points and make your message stick. Taylor’s expansive gestures reflect the scope of her topic, keeping the audience visually engaged.

To practice stage movement:

• Choose three main points. For example, move left for the beginning, center for the middle, and right for the end of a project timeline.
• Decide specific movements to help the audience visually map your content. For example, step forward and gesture when highlighting an important statistic.
• Rehearse with these moves, making sure your steps and gestures are smooth and confident.
• Film yourself with your phone or a camera. Watch the video to check if your movements enhance your message.
• If a move feels awkward, simplify it or adjust the timing to fit your speech better.

Tell Personal Stories And Anecdotes

Research shows that personal stories can really help people learn and remember your presentation. This emphasizes that when people hear a story, their brains sync up with the storyteller, creating a shared experience that makes it easier to understand and remember the information. 

Timing matters too. Share anecdotes at key points—like at the start to grab attention, to explain complex ideas, or to highlight important takeaways. Starting with one or two stories per main idea can make your key points stick better with your audience.

Action Step: When you’re presenting someone a new concept, personal stories can make a big difference. Here’s how you can do it effectively:

• Kick-off with a short tale about your first time using the software. Talk about the common problems you faced and how you solved them.
• Walk through the key steps of using the software, blending in your personal experience to make each step clear and relatable.
• Once you’ve covered the basics, tell another story about a specific issue you encountered and how you fixed it. This shows practical problem-solving.
• Finish with a story that connects all the steps, showing how mastering the software boosted your efficiency.

Use Silence Wisely

Ever noticed the power of silence in a conversation or when you’re trying to present something? When used right, silence can be your great tool. Misused, it can lead to awkwardness or miscommunication.

Smart communicators or presenters know when to stop talking. Silence can emphasize a point, give space for reflection, or let others speak.

For example: When you’re trying to convince them during your presentation, make your point and then give them a few seconds of silence. This can give them time to think and shows you’re confident.

Instead of filling every gap, think about who you’re talking to. Do they need time to process? Or will they see silence as disinterest?

When explaining something complex, a moment of silence can help your audience absorb the information. Ignoring silence can overwhelm your audience, rush conversations, and weaken your message.

Key Points with Props

Using props can make your presentation more engaging and memorable. Here’s how to do it effectively:

• Pick props that directly relate to your key points. For example, if you’re talking about old versus new technology, show an outdated gadget next to a modern one.
• Make sure everyone can see your props. If it’s small, either pass it around (if feasible) or use a camera to project it onto a screen.
• Don’t overload your presentation with too many props. One or two well-chosen items are far more effective than a cluttered table.
• Know exactly how and when you’ll use your props. Practice ahead of time to avoid any awkward moments.
• Make sure the prop reinforces your key point. For instance, if you’re explaining a concept, use a prop that clearly demonstrates it.

Example Scenario: Imagine you’re giving a presentation on the evolution of mobile phones. Start by showing a classic Nokia 3310 alongside the latest iPhone, holding them up for everyone to see or projecting the images onto a screen. Share a personal story about your first mobile phone experience with the Nokia 3310, describing how it felt to use it compared to using the latest iPhone today. This not only makes the topic more relatable but also highlights the dramatic changes in technology over the years.

Use the Nokia to highlight durability and simplicity, then contrast it with the iPhone to showcase modern advancements.

Use Analogies and Metaphors

Studies 8 https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2F0022-0663.75.3.450 have shown that using analogies and metaphors can improve understanding and memory by up to 30%. This means that these techniques can make your points clearer and help your audience remember them longer.

Here’s how to use them:

• Identify tough concepts. Find parts of your presentation where you need to explain something complicated, such as explaining what is a firewall.
• Then, find relatable comparisons. Think of everyday experiences or objects that are similar to the concept you’re explaining, such as saying, “A firewall is like a security guard at a building entrance.”
• Next, craft your analogy or metaphor.  Create a short, clear comparison that highlights the key points of your idea. You might say something like “A firewall is like a security guard checking everyone who enters to ensure they are authorized.”

Here’s an example scenario:

“Your computer’s hard drive is like a filing cabinet in your office. Each document and file is neatly stored in a specific drawer. But what happens when you run out of space in your cabinet? You’d need to get a bigger one or clear out some files.”

“Now, think of cloud storage as an infinite library. Instead of keeping your files in your limited filing cabinet, you send them to this library where there’s endless room. You can access your files anytime, from anywhere, just like borrowing a book from a library.”

Add a Touch of Humor

Studies 9 https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/advan.00030.2017 have shown that humor activates the brain’s dopamine reward system, stimulating goal-oriented motivation and long-term memory. It can increase retention by up to 50% and improve overall engagement. When people laugh, they relax and are more receptive to new information.

Our Science of People founder, Vanessa Van Edwards started her TEDx London talk with a joke and it now has over 4 million views!

Presentation Mistake : Delivering a presentation that is entirely serious, with no moments that change emotion or add humor.

Have you heard of the phrase, “Laughter is the best medicine” ? Think about how you can incorporate humor into your presentation to keep your audience engaged and make your message more memorable. Here are some ideas:

• Anecdotes: Share a funny story that relates to your topic. For example, “I once tweeted my grocery list instead of posting it privately. My followers were very curious about why I needed 15 avocados!”
• Visual Humor: Use amusing images or cartoons to highlight key points. You might try to display a cartoon of people rowing a boat in different directions with the caption, “Teamwork makes the dream work…unless you’re all dreaming different dreams.”
• Self-Deprecation : Lightly poke fun at yourself to build rapport with your audience, such as saying “In my first presentation, I said, Good afternoon, to a 9 AM audience. At least they laughed!”
• Interactive Humor : Engage the audience with humorous questions or activities. For example, “Raise your hand if you’ve ever sent an email to the wrong person. Keep it up if that email had a typo that changed the meaning completely. Looks like we have some fellow ‘oops!!!’ experts here!”

Remember , humor should be relevant and appropriate for your audience. Avoid controversial or offensive jokes. Instead, opt for universal themes and light-hearted moments that everyone can appreciate.

To be an expert on making your speech more fun, lively, and active, check this out on: Be an Expert at Witty Banter…How to Charm With Your Words

Use Data and Statistics (only if necessary and fascinating)

Using data and statistics in your presentation can make you look more credible and help get your point across. But it’s important to be picky about which numbers you use.

Go through your content and ask yourself: Does this statistic help my argument or explain something complicated? If it doesn’t, skip it.

For example, if you’re talking about the benefits of working from home, mentioning a study that shows a 13% boost in productivity for remote workers is powerful. But throwing in stats about the average number of emails sent daily might just clutter your message.

Reminder: Always double-check your data to make sure it’s accurate and from a trustworthy source. Wrong or misleading stats can hurt your credibility.

Use Technology

Adding technology to your presentations can really boost how engaged your audience is and how well they understand your message.

Interactive tools, like live polls or Q&A sessions , can turn a boring presentation into an exciting conversation.

If you’re explaining something complex, a short video or an animated diagram can simplify things, making it clearer for your audience. Try Powtoon or Animoto for creating engaging visuals and tp make tricky information easier to grasp

Presentation software like Prezi or Canva can make your slides more appealing with creative templates and transitions that can keep your audience’s attention.

For working with others, use tools like Google Slides 10 https://ipv4.google.com/slides/about/?hl=en_uk or Microsoft PowerPoint Online 11 https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/free-office-online-for-the-web?msockid=394b3de64098642d16b0296941f86512 . These allow multiple people to edit the same presentation at the same time, making it easier to combine different ideas and inputs.

The key to using technology effectively is to stay consistent and relevant. Pick tools that enhance your message and make your presentation better, not ones that distract from it.

Adapt to Audience Feedback

Adapting to audience feedback is key for effective teaching. This means being responsive to your audience’s needs without changing your entire plan.

Engaging with your audience and making real-time adjustments can greatly enhance their learning experience. Observing body language, answering questions, and picking up on cues helps make your teaching more impactful.

• Begin by asking, such as saying “What experience do you have with this topic?” This helps gauge their familiarity.
• Watch body language and expressions. If you notice puzzled looks or furrowed brows, pause and say, “It looks like this part might be confusing. Let me explain it another way.”
• Use a quick poll with a question like, “How comfortable are you with this concept?” to see where everyone stands.
• Create a welcoming environment for questions. You can say something like, “Feel free to ask questions at any time.” When someone asks a question, address it immediately to prevent misunderstandings.
• If feedback indicates unclear points, say, “Let’s go over that step again,” and provide more explanations or examples. Slow down if necessary.
• Conclude by asking, “What part of today’s session was most helpful? What could be improved?” Use this feedback to adapt in the moment and prepare for future presentations.

Recognize Audience Contributions

When someone asks a good question or makes a useful comment, don’t just brush it off. Take a moment to highlight their contribution and explain why it matters. This encourages more people to participate and keeps the energy up.

Action Step: Here’s how to do it:

• Be Specific: Point out exactly what they did. For example, “Thanks for asking about our new feature; it’s a key point.”
• Explain the Impact: Tell everyone how their input helped. “Your question shows how this feature can improve user experience by 20%.”
• Encourage More Input: Let them know their participation is valued. “Keep those questions coming; your insights are making this session better.”

Pro Tip : Use tools like live Slack or Teams to give real-time recognition. This can show appreciation and sets the tone for a more interactive and engaging presentation.

Seamless Transitions Between Topics

Consider how Brené Brown transitions in her TED Talk The Power of Vulnerability 12 https://www.bing.com/search?pglt=675&q=TED+TalkThe+Power+of+Vulnerability&cvid=a9f7b0b838bd4877908a76d65a24e624&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIGCAEQABhAMgYIAhAAGEAyBggDEAAYQDIGCAQQABhAMgYIBRAAGEAyBggGEAAYQDIGCAcQABhAMgYICBAAGEDSAQgyOTg3ajBqMagCALACAA&FORM=ANNTA1&PC=U531 . She connects ideas with personal stories and relevant examples, making the shift between topics feel natural and cohesive.

Here’s how to link different sections effectively:

• Preview and summarize : Before moving to a new topic, briefly recap what you’ve covered and preview what’s next. For example, if you’re shifting from workplace productivity to stress management, you might say, “We’ve talked about boosting productivity; now let’s see how managing stress can enhance it further.”
• Use transitional phrases : Phrases like “building on that idea,” “another key point,” or “similarly” help connect different topics. For example, “Building on our discussion about productivity tools, let’s now consider how time management techniques can support those tools.”
• Pose a question : Engage your audience by asking a question that leads into the next topic. You might ask something like “How does stress impact your productivity?” This creates a natural transition and encourages audience reflection.

Address All Senses

Want to make your presentation unforgettable? Engage all your audience’s senses. By appealing to sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell, you create a richer, more memorable experience that sticks with everyone.

Just take a look again on how Steve Jobs launched Apple products 13 https://www.forbes.com/sites/carminegallo/2022/06/30/steve-jobs-surprise-iphone-reveal-is-still-a-presentation-classic/ . Aside from talking and describing new releases of the iPhone, he is showing high-quality images, playing sounds, and letting the audience see and hear the device in action. This multisensory approach made his presentations powerful and memorable.

Here’s how you can do the same:

• Visuals : Use high-quality images, videos, and live demonstrations.
• Sound : Add sound effects, music, or audio clips that match your message.
• Touch : If you can, let your audience handle samples or prototypes.
• Taste and smell : For food presentations or sensory branding, offer samples that your audience can taste or smell. Or, just offer food anyway if you’d like.

For example, if you’re talking about a new coffee blend:

• Show great images of the coffee beans and brewing process.
• Play the sounds of coffee beans grinding and coffee brewing.
• Let the audience feel the texture of the coffee beans.
• Offer small samples for them to taste and smell the coffee.

Do Your Homework

When you’re given a topic for a presentation, it’s important to really understand it. First things first, dive deep into research .

• read articles and books
• watch videos
• or listen to podcasts related to your subject

End with a Call to Action

One of the best ways to wrap up your presentation is with a strong call to action (CTA). A CTA gives your audience clear next steps and encourages them to act on what they’ve just learned. 

Make sure your CTA is clear, specific, and relevant to your presentation.

• Direct and clear : After a marketing presentation, say, “Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated with the latest marketing trends.” At the end of a workshop on time management, say, “Download our time management app today and start organizing your schedule more efficiently.”
• Relevant to the content : If you’ve given a talk on healthy eating, end with, “Join our 30-day healthy eating challenge to kickstart your journey .” For a sales pitch, say, “Contact our sales team for a personalized demo and see how our product can benefit your business.”
• Create urgency : After a webinar on investment strategies, say, “Sign up for our investment course within the next 24 hours to receive a 20% discount.” At the end of a charity event, say, “Donate now and help us reach our goal by the end of the month.”
• Provide easy steps : After a presentation on career development, say, “Visit our website, sign up for our career coaching sessions, and take the first step towards your dream job. “

Pro Tip: Want to really know how to nail your ending? We got you covered:

How to End a Speech: My Favorite Closers

Do you know how to end on a high? Leave a lasting impression in your presentation? Science tells us that the first and last parts of your presentations are the most important. Get our FREE download to get our closer guide.

Things To Avoid During Presentation

A study 14 https://www.vumc.org/surgical-sciences/sites/default/files/HBR%20Guide%20To%20Persuasive%20Presentations.PDF by Harvard Business Review found that 69% of people said they find presentations boring if they lack engagement and clear messaging.

To have a great presentation, you have to connect with your audience and make your message stick, not just share the information.

Here are some things to avoid during your presentation to keep your audience interested and your message clear.

Reading Directly from Slides

• Why to Avoid: Reading from your slides makes your presentation boring and impersonal.
• What to Do Instead: Use slides as prompts and talk to your audience. Make eye contact and share personal stories.

For example: Instead of reading “ Our sales increased by 20% last quarter,” say, “Here’s how we boosted our sales by 20% last quarter…”

Overloading Slides with Text

• Why to Avoid : Too much text can overwhelm your audience and distract from your message.
• What to Do Instead : Keep slides simple with bullet points, key phrases, and visuals. Aim for no more than 5-6 lines per slide.

For example : Replace a text-heavy slide with “Strategies for Growth” and list 3-4 key points, each with an image or icon.

Ignoring the Audience

• Why to Avoid: Not engaging with your audience can make them lose interest.
• What to Do Instead: Ask questions, encourage participation, and respond to their reactions. Tailor your talk to their interests.

For example: Instead of just talking, pause to ask, “How many of you have faced this challenge?” and get some responses.

Speaking in a Monotone

• Why to Avoid: A flat voice can make even the best content seem dull.
• What to Do Instead: Vary your tone, pitch, and pace to keep your audience engaged. Practice emphasizing key points and using pauses.

For example: Instead of saying, “We saw an increase in customer satisfaction,” say, “We saw an amazing 30% increase in customer satisfaction! Isn’t that great?”

Poor Time Management

• Why to Avoid: Running over time or ending too early can mess up the flow and leave a bad impression.
• What to Do Instead: Practice your presentation to fit the allotted time. Use a timer to stay on track.

For example: If you have a 30-minute slot, plan for 25 minutes of content and 5 minutes for Q&A.

Technical Issues

• Why to Avoid: Tech problems can derail your presentation and frustrate your audience.
• What to Do Instead: Test all your equipment before you start. Have backups of your slides and be ready to present without tech if needed.

For example: Arrive early to set up your laptop, check the projector, and ensure your slides work. Have a printed version of your key points just in case.

Not Handling Questions Well

• Why to Avoid : Poorly handling questions can make you look bad and leave your audience unsatisfied.
• What to Do Instead : Prepare for common questions, listen carefully, and if you don’t know the answer, promise to follow up.

For example : If asked something unexpected, say, “That’s a great question. I’ll need to check the details and get back to you after this session.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on  Presentations

Feeling nervous is normal. Try deep breathing to calm your nerves. Visualize yourself giving a successful presentation. Practice a lot, and remind yourself that confidence comes from being prepared. Positive self-talk and remembering past successes can help too.

Be ready for questions by thinking about what might come up. Listen carefully, repeat the question for clarity, and give a short, honest answer. If you don’t know the answer, it’s okay to say so and offer to follow up later. Encouraging questions shows you’re open and knowledgeable.

Start with a strong hook to grab attention. Use stories, humor, and real-life examples. Ask questions, conduct quick polls, or get the audience involved in discussions. Change your tone and pace, and make eye contact to keep a connection.

Pause and take a breath to collect your thoughts. Refer to your notes or slides to get back on track. Recap your last point to buy some time. If necessary, acknowledge the moment with humor to ease the tension.

Always have a backup plan. Bring printed copies of your slides and notes. Get familiar with the presentation equipment before you start. Stay calm, apologize for the inconvenience, and keep going with your presentation while you troubleshoot or use your backups.

Master Your Next Presentation

Presenting like a pro can seriously up your game at work and beyond. Here’s a recap on some of the tips in the article:

• Start strong Hook them from the get-go. Use a killer quote, ask a juicy question, or kick off with a story that makes them sit up and listen.
• Practice makes perfect : Go through your presentation three times. First, read it out loud. Second, get your body language in check. Third, do a dress rehearsal. Don’t overdo it—stay fresh.
• Follow the 10-20-30 rule : Keep it tight with 10 slides, 20 minutes of talk, and 30-point font. Short and sweet keeps ‘em engaged.
• Know your audience : Tailor your talk to what they care about. Do a little homework on their interests and tweak your content to match.
• Pause for effect : Use strategic pauses to let key points sink in. Silence is golden and gives your audience a moment to digest.
• Body language rocks : Mirror your audience’s gestures and move with purpose. Your body language can say a lot more than words.
• Tell a visual story : Use cool images and minimal text to get your story across. Let your visuals do the heavy lifting.

Remember, a great presentation can open doors and make a lasting impact. Follow these tips to ensure you nail your next presentation!Whether you’re explaining something in front of your colleagues or presenting to a large audience, try to build your confidence. If you feel nervous or intimidated, it is important to maintain your stage presence. For more helpful tips on maintaining your stage presence, read on: Stage Presence: How to Improve Your Own And Win the Crowd

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14 effective presentation tips to impress your audience

Get your team on prezi – watch this on demand video.

Anete Ezera July 15, 2022

An effective presentation can communicate key ideas and opinions, save time, and contribute to your overall success as a business, but good presentation skills don’t come naturally to everyone. In this blog post, you’ll find 14 effective presentation tips you can implement in your next presentation to make it a success. 

Whether you’re preparing for an important presentation at work or school, or you’re looking for ways to generally improve your presentation skills, you’ll find these presentation tips useful. We’ve gathered a list to help you impress your audience from the get-go. You’ll find tips for creating and presenting your slides, talking in front of an audience, and other effective presentation techniques to help you stand out. 

Most common presentation mistakes

Before we list our top effective presentation tips, let’s explore the most common presentation mistakes. If you’ve made one or more mistakes in this list, you’re not alone. Most people have made at least one mistake. However, what’s important is to be aware of these errors and try avoiding them next time.

#1 A poor start

One of the most common mistakes people make is undermining the importance of the first few minutes or seconds of their presentation. 

Let’s say you’ve practiced your key talking points meticulously and gone over your slides a million times, but when you’re in the spotlight and need to say your first line, do you know exactly what to say to wow the audience? 

The start of your presentation is crucial. Not only because how you start sets the tone for the rest of your presentation, but also because people generally require around 8 seconds to decide whether they find the subject interesting enough to keep listening. Starting your presentation with a captivating intro is even more important than you think. To ensure you start off right, read our guide on how to start your presentation . 

#2 Lack of preparation

Yes, even though it’s clear that you should prepare before giving a presentation, it’s still a common mistake amongst presenters. Preparing content and talking points is an obvious start, but there are other steps that you might be overlooking.

Before you even join a meeting or walk into a room where you’re going to present, consider the technical requirements and get familiar with the equipment. If you’re presenting online, make sure to test-run your presentation and the visual aids you’re going to use. The last thing you want is a broken video link, poor audio, or a weak connection when you’re presenting. 

Also, consider the questions your audience might want to ask you about the topic. Think about how you’d answer those questions, or do even further research to really impress the audience with your answers. 

Explore other ways to prepare for a presentation to feel even more confident when presenting.

#3 Losing track of time

It’s great to feel passionate about your topic. However, you’ll have to consider your audience’s level of interest and knowledge. Some details might seem fascinating to you, and you’d like to talk about them for hours, but for your audience, too much information will drain their energy and lose their attention. 

Therefore, make sure to keep track of time. Also, consider your audience’s interests. A concise presentation is always better than a long one with a ton of information. Plus, you’ll have a higher chance of keeping your audience’s attention throughout the presentation. 

Effective presentation tips

Now that we’ve looked at some of the most common presentation mistakes – let’s dive into effective presentation tips that’ll help you excel in future presentations. 

#1 Tell a story

Stories connect, inspire, and empower people. Telling a story can entice action, help understand an idea, and make people feel connected to the storyteller. It’s also one of the most effective presentation tips. A study by organizational psychologist Peg Neuhauser found that a well-told story is easier to remember than facts, which makes it a highly effective learning technique. 

With that in mind, telling a story when you’re presenting can engage your audience and make it a more memorable experience. You can either share a personal story or a historical event, just make sure to have a clear connection between the story and the topic you’re presenting. 

#2 Work on your body language

Body language can make a huge difference in how your presentation is perceived. It’s one of the presentation tips you definitely shouldn’t overlook. 

Body language says a lot about a person’s confidence level, emotions, state of mind, and even credibility. For the audience, it’s a way to understand what the person is saying and how interested they are in the topic. 

Therefore, work on your body language to better convey the message you’re trying to communicate. Practice in front of a mirror before your presentation and be conscious of your hand gestures and facial expressions. 

#3 Understand your audience

Before crafting your presentation, you must know who you’re speaking to. Understanding the interests, demographics, professional background, and other valuable information of your audience is crucial in making your speech successful. 

If you’re speaking at an event, contact the organizers to get more information about other speakers and the audience. If you’re presenting at work, you may already know your audience fairly well. Use this information to your advantage and create content you know they’ll resonate with.

#4 Use high-quality visuals

What’s one of the most effective presentation techniques? Use of visuals. They play a crucial role in your presentation. However, only high-quality visuals will make a good impression and effectively communicate your message. Use high-quality visuals like images, videos, graphs, maps, and others to really land your point. 

Using visuals is a great way to convey your ideas as they’re easier to process than text. If you’re not sure where to find great visuals, check out our blog post on presentation visuals for five free resources.

P.S. the Prezi library holds a variety of images, videos, GIFs, stickers, and other visuals, including different charts and maps to spice up your presentation. It’s all available in your dashboard .

#5 Use data visualizations

Do you want to showcase statistics or other datasets in your presentation? Use data visualizations to make your data stand out and impress your audience. 

There’s nothing more boring than a bunch of data presented in a flat way. If you want to tell a story with your data, use interactive infographics or slides enriched with eye-catching visuals. Showcasing data will make your ideas appear more trustworthy and credible. 

Prezi Design offers a range of templates to choose from. You can start creating data visualizations from scratch or choose a template and edit the data there. 

#6 Make it engaging with interactive elements

It’s not easy to deliver an engaging presentation. People can easily get distracted or try to multitask, especially in the virtual environment. Sometimes, it’s difficult to focus on the speaker and the written text. Other times, the content just isn’t impressive enough to hold the audience’s attention. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

You can make your presentation more engaging for everyone by including interactive content like graphs and charts. With interactive data visualizations, you’ll make the data discovery process more engaging and exciting for your audience. 

Your audience will be able to hover over data points and click on certain icons or datasets to discover information on their own. Interactive visualizations will make the presentation more memorable and impressive. 

As you can see in the example below, you can discover different data by engaging with the infographic. 

#7 Stay consistent with fonts and color styles

You want your presentation to look visually appealing and highlight essential information. To make that happen, stay consistent with font styles and color schemes throughout your presentation. 

Use one or two fonts max to make the text easy to read and understand. Also, use a carefully selected color scheme that’s not too distracting. If you’re using Prezi Design, you can easily copy and paste styles by right-clicking on your data visualizations and selecting “copy styles.” This makes it easier to stay consistent and saves time when picking matching colors. 

#8 Structure your presentation properly

Before creating your presentation, think about its structure. What’s the main idea you want to convey? Use that as your starting point, and only include information that adds value to the narrative. 

Plan out the first topics carefully to properly introduce your argument. Add the essential information in the middle part of your presentation. Lastly, close your presentation with a summary of the main points and leave your audience with an afterthought. Also, plan when you’re taking questions and for how long. 

For more insight, watch this tutorial on how to structure your presentation:

#9 Practice your public speaking skills

Public speaking may not be your forte, but you can get better with practice. Don’t decline a great opportunity to share your ideas with a larger audience just because you feel nervous speaking in front of a group of people. 

One of the best ways to improve your public speaking skills is to practice in front of your family or friends – people you feel comfortable with. Also, focus on the topic you’re presenting and get excited about the idea you want to convey. This way you’ll appear more confident and feel less nervous about public speaking. 

Explore other public speaking tips from Jessica Chen, the founder, and CEO of Soulcast Media: 

#10 Show your slides next to you on-screen

If you’re presenting on Zoom or in a virtual meeting , think twice before you share your screen. The days of hiding behind slides are over. People want to see and connect with other people, not sit through another run-of-the-mill screen share. To do that, use Prezi Video to showcase all your content right next to you in your video feed. 

As a result, your presentation will look more engaging than a traditional virtual presentation . Also, your audience will have the chance to read your body language and follow along with what you’re saying even better. 

If you already have your slides prepared, don’t worry – you can easily integrate them into Prezi. 

See Prezi Video in action and check out our video templates to get started.

#11 Calm down before presenting

Being in front of an audience can feel nerve-racking. However, there are ways to calm down before presenting that will make you feel more centered and confident. The last thing you want is all your hard work to go to waste just because of stress. 

Try breathing exercises or a five-minute guided meditation before presenting. The trick is to remove all distractions and focus on the present moment so you’re not overthinking right before starting your presentation. Also, be fully prepared and know exactly what to say and when which will help you feel more collected. If you want to discover other ways to feel and look more confident, read how not to be nervous before a presentation . 

#12 Use transitions and animations 

Add movement to your slides with transitions and animations. You’ll make your presentation more visually appealing and engaging. However, be careful not to overwhelm your audience with your choice of transitions and animations. 

Choose a transition that matches your presentation visually and use it throughout your presentation. Consider what animations will be relevant to your audience and select a few to add to your slides. Don’t overdo it. Keep the focus on the message you’re trying to convey, and use animations to only support that message. 

#13 Be enthusiastic 

When you’re in a room with a positive and enthusiastic person, you can’t help but feel uplifted as well. High-energy people have this effect on others. Most importantly, a lot of people tend to mimic people’s behavior and mirror their energy when they feel a connection or relate to them. That’s called the chameleon effect . 

When you’re presenting, you want your audience to feel curious about what you’re presenting. You may also want to leave your audience feeling uplifted, interested to know more, or inspired. To have that effect on others, try to convey those emotions when presenting. Practice your speech, slow down your narration at times, or take a pause after you’ve delivered a statement, and use different presentation techniques to present your project and really drive your points home. 

#14 End your presentation in a memorable way

The first few minutes of your presentation are crucial for captivating your audience’s attention. However, don’t underestimate the importance of ending your presentation as powerfully as you started it. 

The way you end your presentation will play a crucial part in how your audience will remember it. You want to make a memorable impression by closing your presentation with a summarizing statement, a rhetorical question, a call to action, or another impactful way. Discover 10 ways you can end your presentation in our guide.  

There are a lot of factors to consider when creating and delivering a presentation. You want your slides to look professional and visually appealing while conveying your main points. You also want to look and sound confident even if you’re nervous about public speaking. Whatever your concerns may be, remember that preparation is essential. Practice and dedication are the keys to giving a successful presentation . Make sure to follow these effective presentation tips to excel in your future presentations. If you’re interested in creating a captivating presentation with Prezi, contact us to learn more or try it for free . 

Elevating presentations with Prezi AI

Embrace the innovation of Prezi to bring your presentations to life. With its unique platform, Prezi AI offers more than just visually appealing templates; it provides an immersive narrative experience, engaging your audience with a story-driven approach. By integrating Prezi AI , our platform’s capabilities are further enhanced, offering intelligent design suggestions and optimizing content layouts to ensure your presentations are not only beautiful but impactful. This integration is a perfect example of effective presentation techniques in action, using technology to create a more engaging presentation.

Interactive elements: transforming passive listening into active engagement

Prezi revolutionizes the way information is presented by incorporating interactive elements that invite audience participation. With Prezi AI, these features become even more accessible, suggesting ways to make your presentation more engaging through clickable areas, zoomable images, and dynamic visualizations. This level of interaction encourages exploration, making your message more memorable and transforming a standard presentation into an effective presentation.

Adding a personal touch in digital presentation with video

Prezi Video stands out by seamlessly integrating your content alongside your video feed, bridging the gap between traditional presentations and personal engagement. This feature is crucial for those looking to follow presentation tips that emphasize the importance of connecting with your audience on a more personal level. Prezi AI enhances this experience, ensuring your content is displayed in the most effective way possible, making your virtual presentations feel as though you’re directly conversing with your audience.

Mastering presentation artistry with Prezi

The journey to becoming a skilled presenter involves continuously refining your approach and embracing tools that elevate your ability to communicate effectively. Prezi, enriched with Prezi AI, is one such tool that transforms ordinary presentations into captivating experiences. By leveraging these advanced features, you can deliver presentations that are successful, memorable, and truly unforgettable, embodying the essence of tips for presentation mastery.

Whether you’re an experienced speaker or preparing for your first presentation, Prezi equips you with the tools to succeed. Engage your audience, tell compelling stories, and deliver your message with confidence and creativity. Following effective presentation tips and exploring how Prezi AI can transform your next presentation is a step towards mastering the art of impactful communication. Delve into the features and begin your journey to presentation mastery today.

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Presentation Skills: 16 tips for effective presentations

A successful presentation requires good presentation skills and effective presentation techniques. Here we provide you with 16 presentation tips for effective presentations. Whether you are an experienced presenter, or just starting out, there should be ideas here to help you improve your presentation skills.

Presenting successfully: 16 tips to improve your presentation skills and give a killer presentation 

Why p resentation s kills are i mportant.

Presentation skills are crucial in today's professional landscape, enhancing one's ability to communicate effectively and persuasively. They not only help in delivering messages clearly but also boost confidence and engagement with the audience. Mastering presentation skills can lead to career advancements, improved professional relationships, and increased influence.  

Benefits of i mproving p resentation s kills  

Enhanced communication: clearer and more impactful message delivery.  

Increased confidence:    greater self-assurance during public speaking.  

Career advancement: better job prospects and professional growth.  

Stronger engagement: improved ability to captivate and maintain audience interest.  

Influence and persuasion: more effective in convincing and motivating others.

How do you give a good presentation? This is how to succeed!

In order to be able to present successfully, not only the layout and the content of the presentation must be convincing. The decisive step is to convey the content of the presentation to the audience in the best possible way by presenting it correctly. The tips listed below should help you do this by improving your presentation skills. The most important thing to keep in mind is a healthy combination of the tips listed below. (The order of the tips does not give any information about their importance).

Not every tip will lead to a successful presentation. What is important in a presentation?

As mentioned earlier, you should try to implement a combination of the tips to give a successful presentation. It should be noted that not every one of these tips needs to fit in your own presentation. In addition, too many of these tips can make the presentation look overloaded and too "rehearsed". Therefore, think carefully in advance about what you want to pay particular attention to.

Here are 16 tips for killer presentations:

Tip 1: maintain eye contact while presenting and smile.

In order to give each of your listeners the feeling of being important and to make them feel personally addressed, it is particularly important to maintain eye contact with the audience during the presentation. Not only does this exude confidence, but it also helps your audience to connect with you and your subject. It also helps you feel less nervous.  Easier said than done right? Here's what can help:

Find someone in the audience who seems to be genuinely interested in the topic and is listening attentively (for example, your lecturer). Make eye contact with this person at the beginning of the presentation. Once you start feeling more calm and confident let your gaze drift over the audience to address the other listeners as well. Keep returning your gaze to the initial person to stay calm throughout the whole presentation.

Another alternative is to find a fixed point in the room (preferably on the wall behind the audience) which you fix at the beginning of the presentation. Similar to the first example, after you have achieved confidence, you can let your gaze wander over the audience and return to the previously selected fixed point again and again.

Don't look at the screen! Don't look at the floor! Don't just look at your index cards! Don't just look at the laptop!

Tip 2: Use of gestures and facial expressions

To emphasize the content of your presentation, it is advisable to use appropriate gestures and body language to get your message across. Avoid crossed arms, hands behind your back, or in your pockets during a presentation.  Always stand up straight, and try not to appear tense or stressed. You can do that by using your hands and arms to emphasize what you are saying and get your message across.  Your facial expressions should always be friendly and open. Smile and show that you enjoy the topic and you are confident in the information you are presenting.

Tip 3: Avoid distractions

Often you will not be able to avoid the use of aids. For example, you may need to use a laser pointer to show something on the screen, or you may need to use a pen to write something down on a flipchart. To avoid distractions for you and the audience, get into the habit of putting down tools you don't need! That way you will not be tempted to deal with them in the first place. You will also have your hands free for gestures.

Tip 4: Be prepared: Practice makes perfect

Practice makes perfect, right? If you prepare well before the presentation, you will feel more relaxed and confident while presenting and it will also improve your body language. 

Here are some ways to help you prepare for a presentation:

Rehearse in front of a crowd

Time yourself

Record yourself

Tip 5: Be confident

By appearing self-confident, you convey to the listener that you are confident in your topic and have prepared yourself sufficiently. Try to relax and not appear too stressed or nervous. Another tip for advanced speakers: Step out in front of the podium and walk around the room and get closer to the audience. This also exudes self-confidence and helps in attracting your audience's attention.

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Tip 6: Effective beginning/end

Good presentation skills can help you in captivating your audience straight away. In order to do that, you should start your presentation with a bang. Many studies show that if you can capture someone’s interest straight away, there’s a good chance they’ll listen to the rest of the presentation. Shock the audience, ask them to imagine something or think of a what-if situation, share a personal story, share a joke, u se a quote, or a video. You should also give an overview of the time and structure of your presentation. This outline should run through your presentation so that you can always assign the individual contents to an outline point. It is also helpful for your audience to have the outline displayed in a slimmed-down form during the whole presentation.

How you end the presentation is as important as how you start it. A weak ending will leave the audience uninspired. But a good ending will motivate them and help them walk away on a positive note. For example, include a call to action, end the presentation with a memorable quote, or a personal story, and don't forget to thank and acknowledge the audience. 

Tip 7: Speak freely

The headline speaks for itself. To make the presentation as lively and enjoyable as possible, you should avoid reading it off. Speak freely, slowly, and clearly. If you are not yet confident in what you are presenting, try using note cards. But keep in mind: No continuous text, but only short, concise bullet points! If you use note cards to support you, it is especially advisable at this point to memorize at least the beginning and end of your presentation, as eye contact is crucial at these points.

Tip 8: Avoid filler words

In order to make your presentation flow as smoothly and confidently as possible, you should avoid using filler words such as "um," "so," and so on. For your listeners, these words convey insecurity and inadequate preparation.

Tip 9: Bring along something to share

In addition to a handout, other small takeaways can also significantly improve your presentation. For example, if you are giving a presentation on gummy bears, why not offer some to your audience? If you are giving a presentation about your fishing hobby, why not show the audience your fishing equipment?

Tip 10: Use different types of media

A presentation can quickly become boring and monotonous. To avoid this, it is advisable to use different types of media. For example, combine videos and flipcharts, use the whiteboard, or show something practical on a model. This will increase the attention of your audience enormously and will help in keeping them engaged until the end.

Tip 11: Use effective pauses

When giving a presentation, you should keep in mind that you have already heard the content several times - your audience probably hasn't! Therefore, give your audience enough time to read and understand the content of your slides.

Effective use of speech pauses is a master technique. It is one of the most versatile tools in a presenter's toolbox. Yet very few people perform it well. A pause, if used correctly, can add a great deal to your presentation or speech. Pause before, during, or after saying something that you would like to emphasize. Pausing between two different parts of your presentation can indicate to the audience that something new is coming. A quick pause could also help you in remembering your next point, without the audience noticing that you forgot what to say.

Tip 12: Speak the language of the audience

When creating your presentation, you should already think about your target audience. This will help you present successfully later on. It is especially important that you speak the language of the audience. Use appropriate and relevant examples. Use "strong" and meaningful words in short sentences to avoid losing the audience. Make sure to use appropriate analogies and anecdotes and avoid foreign words, empty phrases, and clichés. If you have to use foreign words, explain them in a handout or footnote within the presentation.

Tip 13: Engage with the audience

Always try to keep the attention of your audience and keep them engaged during a presentation. To do this, it is advisable to regularly involve the audience. One way to do this is to ask questions. Deliberately ask "easy" questions so that can easily be answered by your audience. Another way to involve the audience in your presentation is by interacting with them. To make a point clearer, you can use an example to explain it in more detail, using a person (whose name you should know). You can address participants directly and refer to their work.

Tip 14: Don't fight the stage fright & take deep breaths

Stage fright is one of the biggest enemies of a presentation, yet you shouldn't let yourself be a victim of your feat. Do not fight it, rather address your fear and try and accept it, and transform it into positive enthusiasm. Don't let your stage fright get you all worked up and nervous. Take a couple of deep breaths to get oxygen to your brain and relax your body.

Tip 15: Choose the right angle on standing during a presentation

One of the most frequent questions that speakers ask themselves during a presentation is, how do I best position myself, and where do I stand in front of the audience?

You have a free stage without a podium

In many cases, you will be facing your audience in a "free space", without a podium. This gives you a lot of room to move, but at the same time, it creates uncertainty because you don't know how to position yourself properly or how to move. Avoid standing frontally in front of the audience! This frontal facing is unconsciously perceived negatively by the audience. It is perceived by the audience as a kind of frontal attack and causes stress in your audience. Make sure to stand slightly to the side of the audience. If you notice during the presentation that you are again standing frontally in front of your audience, simply move your right or left foot 20 cm forward.

You have a podium at your disposal

A podium makes it easier to decide how to position yourself and where to stand in front of the audience. In order not to make your presentation too monotonous, it is advisable to leave the "safe position" behind the lectern from time to time, e.g. to walk to the other side of the screen or to show something on the flipchart. This brings movement into your presentation and helps keep the connection with your audience.

Tip 16: Create something with the whiteboard during the lecture

PowerPoint is no longer the tool of choice for a successful presentation. Photo collages, company logos on every slide and flashing text boxes often distract from the essentials. A presentation convinces the audience especially when they witness how something is being created. In addition to the classic flipchart, the whiteboard is recommended for this purpose. This is because diagrams, keywords and the results of a brainstorming session are written in real time on a whiteboard. Board markers allow a wide range of colors and the magnetic property of pinning additional information. The result of the presentation produced in this way is remembered longer than ready-made slides.

Björn Rolleter

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