Presentations are only really enticing when they make the audience curious. You want to inform the people in the room, make them think, and convince them with your story. You can attract attention using a catchy opening, but you have to hold it. That is simply said… but how do you go about it? We give you some valuable presentation tips.
1. Nothing beats a good beginning
Getting your presentation off to a good start is essential. Everyone in the room already decides whether your presentation is interesting enough in the first minute. If not? Then the cell phones are taken out of the bag, and the soft buzz in the room begins. Of course, you want to prevent this. Therefore, start with a good “punchline.” This can be done in various ways. You can use an excellent quote, a short movie, mention a shocking fact, or, for example, show a telling photo. A good punchline immediately attracts the audience’s attention and makes the presentation lively and concrete.
2. Put your heart into it
If you don’t believe the message of your own presentation. It is not enough to simply inform the public. Your audience must be convinced, and you should make your audience think. This is only possible if the speaker puts his heart into it. Suppose you manage to convey your own enthusiasm and experience to the audience. In that case, there is a good chance that the audience will want to know more after leaving the room and will be less likely to let go of the subject. Bring your information with passion!
3. Think
Presentations can sometimes be a stream of information. Although you want to tell a lot to the public, it is not very practical to give too much information. People can only store a relatively small percentage of data. It is much more effective to let the audience think about the subject for themselves. Utilizing striking facts, a visual story, and beautiful illustrations, it is more likely that your audience will actively contribute ideas and ask questions.
4. Tell a story
Putting your information as a story can give your audience a better idea of the presentation. This can be immensely clarifying, especially regarding more complex subjects. Stories capture the audience’s imagination and make it easier to remember. It is also possible to let the audience be part of your story. For example: “Imagine you are a guest in a fancy restaurant.” In this way, the audience dives into the role of the story in which you, as a speaker, can make something clear. Please note that a story must always have a good structure and not cause confusion.
5. May I give an example?
Suppose you want to use several examples in your presentation. In that case, it is recommended that you give them a personal touch every now and then. This creates a bond with the people in the room and keeps them involved in the presentation. Using general examples, you create distance and the impression that, as a speaker, you have told the same story many times.
6. Metaphors
Metaphors are a form of symbolic language use and can also be used as extra support for a presentation. They can be used in a presentation instead of telling a story (point 3) or giving an example (point 4). Metaphors often appeal to the imagination and can be both clarifying and humorous.
7. Puzzle
Include a puzzle in your presentation. You will hold the audience’s attention longer by asking a question in the beginning for the audience to answer at the end of the presentation. The audience wants to solve the puzzle. But beware, don’t make the puzzle too difficult or too mysterious. It can happen that the message of the presentation does not get across properly.
Do you already use one of these steps while presenting? Do you know any other steps we missed? Let us know!
