Category: Presentation Science

Presentation Set Up: Things to Do Before You Start Speaking

presentation delivery

presentation set up

presentation tips

Sep 03, 2014

It’s the big day. You’ve spent weeks preparing for this presentation. Your PowerPoint deck follows every design tip you found online. Your content is straightforward and concise. You even prepared handouts. And now you have a few minutes left before you’re scheduled to present. If you want your presentation to be successful, make sure that you’ve got these things pat down:

1. Familiarize yourself with the venue

It’s hard to be comfortable in an unfamiliar setting, so use the extra time to scope out your environment. When addressing an audience for a big presentation, you need to feel relaxed. It will be hard to do that if you can’t adjust the microphone to your height, or if you’re blinded by stage lights. Familiarize yourself with every aspect of the venue, including its equipment and seating arrangement.Most importantly, set up your PowerPoint deck right away to make sure that everything is working perfectly once your presentation begins.

2. Rehearse the beginning of your presentation

According to communication coach Gary Genard, the first minute of your presentation is crucial. During that time, your audience will start forming their opinion of you as a presenter.Do you know your material well? Are you a trustworthy source? To give them the best impression, you need to begin your presentation with something unique and captivating. Whatever you have planned, rehearse it in your mind before you take the stage.

3. Listen to your body

With moments left before your big presentation, you might think it’s better to just jump right in. As much as you want to start as soon as you can, it’s also important to listen to what your body is telling you.Is your heart beating fast? Are you breathless from feeling nervous? Take a moment to calm yourself down with some stretching and breathing exercises. And if you feel like you have to, make sure you use the bathroom.

4. Focus on achieving a positive outcome

It’s normal to feel anxious about presenting. In order to calm yourself down, try focusing on positive thoughts. Don’t think about the myriad of things that could go wrong during your presentation.Try not to worry about how your audience will react or how the equipment might malfunction. Keep your eyes on the prize and concentrate on the outcome you’re aiming for.

5. Assume the “power pose”

In her famous TED Talk, “Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are,” Amy Cuddy introduces a way you can channel success and confidence by simply changing the way you stand. She calls it the “power pose.”According to Cuddy, a social psychologist by profession, power posing can affect the levels of testosterone and cortisol in your brain. Simply stand straight, hold up your arms in a ‘V’ shape, and lift your chin.Think of the times you posed as a superhero when you were a child. It may seem silly, but it’s an effective way to “fake” confidence. Hold the pose for two minutes if you feel nervous about starting your presentation.–Your presentation set up can make or break the outcome you’re aiming for. Make sure you take the necessary steps so everything runs according to plan.

References:

“How to Begin a Presentation: The Critical First 60 Seconds.” Genard Method. Accessed September 03, 2014.Your body language shapes who you are. Amy Cuddy. TED. Accessed September 03, 2014. Featured Image: Oscar Rethwil via flickr.com

How to Organize Your Ideas with a Presentation Storyboard

presentation lessons

presentation storyboard

Sep 02, 2014

A presentation storyboard is an excellent tool for organizing your ideas and structuring your presentation before you start designing slides. Much like filmmakers use storyboards to plan scenes, a presentation storyboard helps you visualize the flow of your presentation and ensure that your content is cohesive and well-organized.Here’s how to create a storyboard to organize your presentation ideas:

1. Define Your Core Message

Before you begin storyboarding, it’s essential to define your core message—the central idea you want your audience to take away from your presentation. This core message will serve as the foundation for your storyboard.Why It Works:

  • Clarifies the Focus: Defining your core message helps you stay focused on what’s most important, preventing you from getting sidetracked.
  • Guides the Flow: The core message acts as a compass, guiding the structure and content of your storyboard.

How to Apply It:

  • Write down your core message in a single sentence and keep it visible as you create your storyboard.

Example: If you’re presenting on business growth, your core message might be: “Adopting a customer-centric approach will drive sustainable business growth.”

2. Break Your Presentation into Key Sections

Once you’ve defined your core message, break your presentation into sections based on the main points you want to cover. This is similar to how a movie is broken into scenes, each serving a specific purpose in telling the story.Why It Works:

  • Organizes Your Ideas: Dividing your presentation into sections helps you organize your ideas logically and ensures that you cover all the necessary points.
  • Creates a Clear Flow: Sections help you map out the flow of your presentation, ensuring that the content progresses smoothly from one idea to the next.

How to Apply It:

  • Break your presentation into three main sections: introduction, body, and conclusion.
  • Within each section, identify the key points or topics you’ll cover.

Example: For a presentation on a marketing strategy, your sections might include “Overview of Current Challenges,” “Proposed Solutions,” and “Expected Results.”

3. Visualize Each Section with a Simple Sketch

For each section of your presentation, create a simple sketch or diagram that represents the key idea or concept. You don’t need to be an artist—stick figures, arrows, and basic shapes work just fine. The goal is to visually map out how the content will be presented on each slide.Why It Works:

  • Simplifies Complex Ideas: Visualizing your content helps you simplify complex ideas and organize them into a cohesive narrative.
  • Provides a Blueprint for Slide Design: Storyboarding allows you to plan how your slides will look and flow, making the design process easier later on.

How to Apply It:

  • For each slide, draw a rough sketch of the key visual or diagram you’ll use to represent the content.
  • Add a headline or brief description of what the slide will communicate.

Example: If you’re presenting a timeline, sketch a simple horizontal line with milestones marked along it, noting what each milestone represents.

4. Refine Your Narrative Arc

With your sections sketched out, take a step back and look at the overall narrative arc of your presentation. Make sure that each section flows logically into the next and that the narrative builds toward a clear conclusion.Why It Works:

  • Ensures Cohesion: Refining your narrative arc helps you create a presentation that feels cohesive and unified, rather than disjointed.
  • Builds Engagement: A well-crafted narrative keeps your audience engaged from start to finish, guiding them toward your final message or call to action.

How to Apply It:

  • Review your storyboard to ensure that each section logically follows from the previous one and builds toward your conclusion.
  • Make adjustments to the structure or flow as needed to strengthen the narrative.

Example: Ensure that your presentation starts by outlining the problem, moves into presenting the solution, and ends with actionable next steps.

5. Plan Transitions and Visual Cues

A good storyboard doesn’t just outline the content of each slide—it also considers transitions and visual cues. Planning transitions between sections and slides helps maintain a smooth flow and prevents awkward pauses or disruptions.Why It Works:

  • Enhances Flow: Planning transitions ensures that your presentation flows smoothly, keeping the audience engaged throughout.
  • Keeps the Audience Oriented: Visual cues and transitions help the audience follow the progression of your presentation, ensuring they don’t get lost or confused.

How to Apply It:

  • Use arrows or lines between sections to represent transitions, noting how you’ll introduce the next topic.
  • Add notes about visual cues or animations you’ll use to guide the audience’s attention.

Example: If you’re transitioning from discussing challenges to presenting solutions, use a visual cue such as a shift in slide design or a bold headline to signal the change.

Final Thoughts

Storyboarding is an effective way to organize your ideas and structure your presentation before you start designing slides. By defining your core message, breaking your presentation into key sections, visualizing each section, refining your narrative arc, and planning transitions, you can create a clear and cohesive presentation that flows smoothly and engages your audience. A well-planned storyboard ensures that your content is organized, your message is clear, and your presentation is easy to follow.

Presentation Mistakes to Avoid When You’re Nervous

presentation mistakes

presentation tips

public speaking anxiety

Sep 01, 2014

An overwhelming majority suffers from glossophobia or the fear of public speaking. But regardless of how 5% of the world’s population might feel about it, presentations remain a permanent fixture in the world of business. You might not want to, but there will come a time when your career requires you to face an audience and share your ideas.If you feel anxious about this prospect, there are plenty of ways to work through your nerves. There are also some signs you can watch out for. Take note of these presentation mistakes and learn the best way to avoid them:

Presentation Mistake 1: Apologizing too much

When you feel too nervous about a situation, you might start apologizing for things you think the audience finds inadequate about your presentation. The way your slides look. Why you look a bit under-dressed. A whole list of things you haven’t prepared for. While this might make you feel better, it can also hurt your credibility as a presenter. It can also bring attention to the flaws you’re trying so hard to deflect from or cover up.Solution: You have nothing to worry about if you’re well-prepared. Your audience will form their opinions no matter what you do or don’t do. You just have to work hard to give off a positive impression. Aside from careful preparation, make an effort to practice your speech before the real deal.

Presentation Mistake 2: Avoiding eye contact

Eye contact is crucial to effective communication. The same thing goes for presentations. Eye contact plays an important role in building rapport with an audience. But when you’re feeling nervous, you tend to avoid it altogether. You’d rather look straight ahead or focus on your notecards. This could hurt your presentations significantly. You’ll seem distant, unprepared, and even unprofessional.Solution: If you’re presenting at a business meeting, you can glance around the room and focus on the familiar faces in the audience. Seeing friendly faces will allow you to feel more at ease. Once you’re comfortable, you might even feel confident enough to make eye contact with others. If you’re presenting to a larger group, it’s better to try this trick: Instead of looking straight into someone’s eyes, look at their foreheads or the top of their cheekbones.

Presentation Mistake 3: Rambling and speaking too fast

When you’re feeling anxious, you might want to finish your presentation as soon as possible. When you suffer a mental block, you tend to ramble off tangent just to keep the presentation going. Both situations will leave your audience feeling confused. If you talk too fast and rush through your slides, your audience might not remember anything. If you ramble and go off topic, your audience will soon lose interest in what you’re saying.Solution: Make sure you know all your key points. Study the presentation you prepared and make sure all points are clearly explained in your speech. Anytime you feel stuck during your presentation, glance up at your slides or your notes to remember what you have to say. The more you rush, the more you’ll be prone to committing mistakes. Learn to take deep breaths when you feel overwhelmed or jittery.

Plenty of people suffer from public speaking anxiety. But your nerves doesn’t have to get in the way of a successful presentation. Take note of these presentation mistakes and you’re on your way to delivering a strong message.

Reference

“Inside Glossophobia: Overcoming the Fear of Public Speaking.” The Creativity Post. December 04, 2012. Accessed September 01, 2014. Featured Image: Victor Jeg via Flickr

The Case for Videos in Presentations

Powerpoint

videos in presentations

Aug 20, 2014

Incorporating videos in presentations can significantly enhance audience engagement, retention, and understanding. Here’s the case for why videos are a powerful tool for presentations:

1. Increased Engagement and Attention

  • Why it matters: Videos have the ability to capture and hold the audience’s attention more effectively than static text or slides alone. The combination of visuals, sound, and motion stimulates multiple senses, making it easier for the audience to stay engaged throughout the presentation.
  • Supporting evidence: According to research, people are 55% more likely to pay attention to presentations that include visual and auditory stimuli like video, compared to text-based content alone .

2. Simplifying Complex Concepts

  • Why it matters: Videos can explain complicated ideas or processes more clearly than words or static images. This is especially useful in technical presentations, product demonstrations, or educational settings where seeing a process in action is more effective than reading about it.
  • Example: In a product demo, instead of explaining how a product works with bullet points, a short video can show the product in action, highlighting its features and benefits in a more engaging and understandable way.

3. Enhanced Emotional Impact

  • Why it matters: Videos have the power to evoke emotions, making your message more compelling. When used effectively, they can create an emotional connection with the audience, which can be crucial for persuasive presentations like sales pitches, fundraising efforts, or motivational talks.
  • Supporting evidence: Studies suggest that people are more likely to remember information when it’s tied to an emotional experience. A well-crafted video can evoke emotion and help make your message more memorable .

4. Improved Retention of Information

  • Why it matters: People tend to remember more of what they see and hear. Videos can help reinforce the key points of your presentation, increasing retention and recall after the presentation has ended.
  • Supporting evidence: The visual storytelling aspect of video content taps into how the human brain processes information, with research showing that 80% of people can recall a video they watched up to 30 days later, compared to only 20% retention from reading text .

5. Breaking Up Monotony

  • Why it matters: A long presentation filled with text-heavy slides can lose the audience’s attention. Incorporating video clips provides a break from the monotony, re-engaging the audience and providing variety in the way information is delivered.
  • Example: In a 30-minute presentation, a brief, relevant video clip halfway through can reset audience attention and refresh focus, making the overall presentation more engaging.

6. Showcase Real-Life Examples or Case Studies

  • Why it matters: Videos are an excellent medium for showcasing testimonials, case studies, or real-world applications of your product or service. By showing real people or scenarios, you can build trust and add credibility to your presentation.
  • Example: In a business presentation, sharing a video testimonial from a satisfied client can be far more convincing than simply reading their testimonial.

Conclusion

Using videos in presentations can greatly enhance the audience’s experience by making complex information more digestible, emotionally engaging, and memorable. Videos help break up dense content, provide variety, and ultimately make your presentation more dynamic and impactful. To maximize their effectiveness, ensure that videos are relevant, concise, and high-quality.

Enhance Your Sales Presentations with the AIDA Method

aida method

sales pitch

sales presentations

Aug 19, 2014

Did your last sales presentation end with blank stares from the audience? If your answer is a loud and desperate ‘yes’, it’s time to consider a new strategy. Luckily, there’s a classic marketing trick that will help sustain audience engagement throughout your presentation. It’s called the AIDA method.The AIDA method was first developed in 1898. It proves its longevity as it continues to provide an effective framework for marketing efforts. Utilize it for your next sales presentation.

What is AIDA?

AIDA is an acronym that stands for Attention, Interest, Desire, and Action. Basically, it serves as a framework for any type of content that aims to persuade, engage, and convert readers or viewers. For presentations, you start by grabbing the attention of your audience then move to building their interest.When that’s done, you strive to make an emotional connection. This will eventually lead to positive response.How exactly does AIDA work? Let’s break down each component of the method to see how it can improve your sales pitch:

A – Attention

Set up your presentation by introducing the problem your product or service can solve. Be creative with your approach. You can do it by describing a hypothetical scenario your audience can relate with. You can also start with shocking statistics. If you’re feeling brave, try integrating humor through a short anecdote. Another thing you can do is to ask your audience a thought-provoking question.

I – Interest

With your audience hooked, it’s time to dig a little bit deeper. Talk about the special features of your product or service. Provide them with information that’s backed by proof. If your product allows it, give your audience a short demonstration. This is your chance to impress your audience with case studies and facts gathered through research. The key is to build a strong case.

D – Desire

This step of the AIDA method is closely related to the previous one. After you sustain interest with hard facts, you have to generate a strong emotional connection. You want your audience to realize that you have the best solution to their problems. Continue explaining the features of your product or service, but frame the discussion in a way that’s a bit more personalized for your audience. Explain the advantages of your offer, and how that could benefit them. You can also show them a video of testimonials from relatable clients and customers.

A – Action

If you were able to sustain interest and create an emotional connection, the last step of the AIDA method will be easy to accomplish. After you’ve convinced your audience that your product/service is something they need, persuade them to take action. Take inspiration from advertisers who use a sense of urgency in their commercials. For your presentation, give the audience a call to action that’s straight to the point. 

Reference

“What Is AIDA?” About.com Money. Accessed August 19, 2014. Featured Image: Flazingo Photos via Flickr

Three Presentation Lessons from the Big Screen

movies

presentation lessons

Aug 15, 2014

Movies often captivate audiences with engaging storytelling, impactful visuals, and memorable moments. While presentations and films may seem worlds apart, there are many valuable lessons that presenters can learn from the big screen.Here are three key presentation lessons from the world of movies:

1. Use a Strong Opening Scene

In films, the first few minutes are crucial for grabbing the audience’s attention. Similarly, in a presentation, you need a strong opening that immediately hooks your audience and sets the tone.Why It’s Important:

  • Captures Attention: A compelling opening draws the audience in and piques their curiosity.
  • Establishes Expectations: Just like the opening scene of a movie, your introduction should give the audience a sense of what’s to come.

How to Apply It:

  • Start with a powerful statement, a thought-provoking question, or an intriguing story that ties into your main message.

Example: In a presentation about overcoming challenges, open with a real-life story of someone who faced and conquered a major obstacle.

2. Focus on Visual Storytelling

Movies rely heavily on visuals to tell the story. Whether it’s stunning cinematography or powerful imagery, visual elements are key to conveying the mood and message.Why It’s Important:

  • Keeps the Audience Engaged: Effective visuals can break up text-heavy slides and make the presentation more dynamic.
  • Enhances Understanding: Visual storytelling helps illustrate complex ideas and ensures that the audience remembers key points.

How to Apply It:

  • Use high-quality images, diagrams, or videos to reinforce your points. Avoid cluttering your slides with too much text.

Example: If you’re presenting data, use a simple, clear chart to visually represent the numbers rather than listing them in bullet points.

3. Build to a Climactic Conclusion

Just like a great movie builds to an exciting climax, your presentation should culminate in a strong, memorable conclusion. This is your opportunity to reinforce your main message and leave a lasting impression.Why It’s Important:

  • Leaves a Lasting Impact: A strong conclusion ensures that your key message sticks with the audience.
  • Encourages Action: Like a movie’s resolution, your conclusion should prompt the audience to reflect or take action based on what they’ve heard.

How to Apply It:

  • Summarize the key takeaways and end with a powerful statement, quote, or call to action that reinforces your message.

Example: If you’re presenting on the benefits of a new business strategy, end by summarizing the results your company can expect if they implement the strategy.

Final Thoughts

By applying lessons from the big screen—such as using a strong opening, incorporating visual storytelling, and building to a climactic conclusion—you can create presentations that captivate and inspire your audience just like a great film captivates its viewers.

Presentation Expert Tip: The 10-Minute Rule

10-minute rule

Carmine Gallo

presentation expert

presentation tips

Aug 08, 2014

The 10-Minute Rule is based on the idea that audience attention tends to wane after approximately 10 minutes. To keep engagement levels high, presenters should aim to change the pace, introduce new content, or shift focus every 10 minutes.Here’s how to apply the 10-Minute Rule to your presentations:

1. Break Up Your Presentation

Instead of delivering one long, uninterrupted presentation, break it up into smaller, manageable segments. Each section should focus on a different key point or topic to keep the audience engaged.Why It’s Important:

  • Maintains Engagement: Regularly introducing new content prevents the audience from becoming disengaged.
  • Increases Retention: By breaking the presentation into smaller chunks, you make it easier for the audience to absorb and retain information.

How to Apply It:

  • Divide your presentation into sections and ensure that each segment lasts no longer than 10 minutes.
  • Use transitions to clearly signal the end of one section and the start of the next.

Example: In a 30-minute presentation, divide your content into three 10-minute segments, each with its own focus, such as “Introduction to the Topic,” “Current Challenges,” and “Proposed Solutions.”

2. Introduce a Change Every 10 Minutes

To re-engage the audience every 10 minutes, introduce a change in format or content. This could be a visual change, a different type of media, or an interactive element.Why It’s Important:

  • Reinvigorates Focus: Introducing a new element helps to refocus the audience’s attention.
  • Prevents Monotony: Changing the pace or format every 10 minutes ensures that the presentation doesn’t become repetitive.

How to Apply It:

  • Alternate between speaking, showing a video, using a demo, or engaging the audience with a poll or Q&A session.
  • Use slides with different types of media—images, videos, or infographics—to create variety.

Example: After 10 minutes of talking, pause to show a relevant video or ask the audience to participate in a quick poll.

3. Encourage Audience Interaction

The 10-minute mark is an ideal time to shift focus from presenting to interacting with your audience. Whether through a short Q&A session or an audience poll, interaction keeps people engaged and gives them a chance to participate.Why It’s Important:

  • Increases Engagement: Audience interaction helps prevent passive listening and keeps people involved in the presentation.
  • Makes the Presentation More Dynamic: Introducing questions or activities breaks up the flow and adds variety to the presentation.

How to Apply It:

  • Every 10 minutes, ask the audience a question or invite feedback to encourage participation.
  • Use interactive tools like audience polls or quizzes to make the session more engaging.

Example: In a presentation on customer service, ask the audience, “What’s the biggest challenge your company faces with customer engagement?” and allow a few people to share their thoughts.

Final Thoughts

The 10-Minute Rule is a powerful strategy to maintain audience attention and engagement. By breaking your presentation into segments, introducing changes every 10 minutes, and encouraging audience interaction, you can keep your audience focused and ensure they remain actively engaged throughout your talk.

What’s Your Presentation Delivery Style?

examples

presentation delivery

presentation styles

Aug 07, 2014

Every presenter has a unique delivery style that affects how they connect with the audience. Understanding your presentation style can help you play to your strengths and work on areas for improvement. There are several key delivery styles, each with its own advantages, and knowing yours can help you deliver more engaging and effective presentations.Here are four common presentation delivery styles and tips on how to optimize each:

1. The Storyteller

Storytellers use narratives, anecdotes, and personal experiences to engage their audience. They often weave stories throughout their presentation to illustrate key points and make their message more relatable and memorable.Strengths:

  • Emotional Connection: Storytelling creates a strong emotional connection with the audience.
  • Engagement: Audiences are naturally drawn to stories, making it easier to hold their attention.

Tips to Optimize:

  • Use stories strategically to illustrate your key points, but don’t overuse them. Make sure each story ties directly into your main message.
  • Incorporate a mix of personal anecdotes and case studies to make your stories both relatable and informative.

2. The Instructor

The instructor is focused on educating the audience. This style is structured and informative, with an emphasis on providing clear explanations, data, and actionable insights. Instructors excel at delivering detailed, step-by-step presentations.Strengths:

  • Clarity: The instructor’s logical and methodical approach ensures that complex ideas are explained clearly.
  • Authority: Audiences often view instructors as knowledgeable and trustworthy.

Tips to Optimize:

  • Avoid overwhelming the audience with too much information at once—break down complex ideas into simple, digestible sections.
  • Engage the audience by asking questions or including interactive elements like polls to make your presentation more dynamic.

3. The Performer

Performers are charismatic, energetic, and use body language, tone, and humor to capture the audience’s attention. This style is often entertaining and keeps the audience fully engaged throughout the presentation.Strengths:

  • Charisma: Performers can hold the audience’s attention with their energy and enthusiasm.
  • Memorability: The use of humor and dynamic delivery makes the presentation more memorable.

Tips to Optimize:

  • While energy is key, make sure your presentation is also informative—don’t sacrifice substance for entertainment.
  • Be mindful of pacing—don’t let your energy rush you through important points.

4. The Facilitator

Facilitators focus on collaboration and audience participation. They guide discussions, encourage questions, and create an interactive environment. This style is ideal for workshops or sessions where audience input is valued.Strengths:

  • Engagement: Facilitators create a dialogue with the audience, making the presentation feel more interactive.
  • Collaboration: This style fosters a sense of collaboration and makes the audience feel like active participants.

Tips to Optimize:

  • Balance audience participation with content delivery to ensure you stay on track with your key points.
  • Be prepared to manage time effectively, especially if discussions run long.

Final Thoughts

Knowing your presentation delivery style can help you play to your strengths and refine your approach. Whether you’re a storyteller, instructor, performer, or facilitator, the key to success is understanding how your style resonates with your audience and making adjustments to enhance engagement, clarity, and impact.

What You Can Learn from TV Shows about Presentation Structure

presentation lessons

presentation structure

presentation tips

tv shows

Jul 30, 2014

Television shows often follow a specific structure designed to keep viewers engaged and invested in the story. From character development to suspenseful cliffhangers, TV shows offer valuable lessons that can be applied to presentation structure. Just like TV writers and producers, presenters need to keep their audience engaged, tell a compelling story, and leave a lasting impact.Here’s what you can learn from TV shows about structuring your presentation:

1. Build Suspense and Curiosity

Many successful TV shows build suspense by slowly revealing information, keeping viewers hooked until the very end. In the same way, your presentation should create curiosity and gradually reveal key points, keeping your audience engaged throughout.Why It Works:

  • Maintains Interest: Building suspense keeps the audience focused on your presentation, eager to learn what comes next.
  • Enhances Engagement: By creating curiosity, you encourage the audience to actively follow your presentation instead of passively absorbing information.

How to Apply It:

  • Start your presentation with a thought-provoking question or an interesting fact that piques curiosity.
  • Gradually reveal information throughout your presentation, saving the most important or surprising details for later.

Example: If you’re presenting on a new product, tease the most exciting feature early on but reveal the full details only near the conclusion to build anticipation.

2. Use a Character-Centric Narrative

TV shows often focus on character development, allowing viewers to connect emotionally with the story. Similarly, your presentation can benefit from a character-centric narrative—whether it’s a personal story, a case study, or a real-life example—to make your content more relatable and engaging.Why It Works:

  • Creates Emotional Connection: Focusing on a “character” helps the audience relate to your content on a personal level.
  • Makes Abstract Ideas Tangible: Using real-world examples or stories makes complex concepts easier to understand and more meaningful.

How to Apply It:

  • Use a customer case study or personal experience as the central narrative of your presentation.
  • Introduce the “character” early in the presentation and use their journey to illustrate key points.

Example: If you’re presenting a solution to a business challenge, tell the story of how a real client used your solution to overcome a specific problem, guiding the audience through their journey.

3. End with a Cliffhanger or Call to Action

TV shows often end episodes with cliffhangers, leaving viewers eager to tune in for the next installment. In a presentation, while you don’t want to leave your audience hanging, you can end with a powerful call to action or intriguing takeaway that inspires your audience to think further or take immediate action.Why It Works:

  • Encourages Engagement: A compelling ending keeps your presentation fresh in the audience’s mind and encourages them to take action.
  • Leaves a Lasting Impact: Ending with a strong call to action or a thought-provoking idea ensures your message sticks with the audience.

How to Apply It:

  • Conclude your presentation by summarizing the key points and delivering a clear call to action, such as “Let’s schedule a follow-up meeting” or “Start implementing these strategies today.”
  • Alternatively, end with a memorable quote or a thought-provoking question that leaves the audience with something to ponder.

Example: After presenting a new marketing strategy, end with a question like, “What will happen if we don’t take action today?” or provide a call to action such as, “Let’s take the first step toward achieving these results.”

4. Create a Logical Flow, Like a TV Episode

TV episodes follow a well-defined structure with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Similarly, your presentation should have a logical flow that guides the audience through the content, making it easy to follow.Why It Works:

  • Organizes Information: A clear structure helps the audience understand the progression of your presentation and retain key points.
  • Keeps the Audience Focused: When the presentation flows logically, the audience can follow along without getting lost or distracted.

How to Apply It:

  • Divide your presentation into three sections: introduction, body, and conclusion.
  • Use transitions between sections to signal shifts in the narrative and ensure a smooth flow of information.

Example: Start with an introduction that outlines the problem, move into the body where you present your solution, and conclude with a summary and call to action.

Final Thoughts

TV shows excel at keeping viewers engaged, telling compelling stories, and building anticipation—all elements that can improve your presentation structure. By building suspense, focusing on a character-centric narrative, ending with a strong call to action, and maintaining a logical flow, you can create presentations that captivate and inspire your audience, just like a great TV show keeps viewers coming back for more.

3 Questions Your Online Presentations Need to Answer

content marketing

online presentations

Jul 28, 2014

There are plenty of reasons you should include presentations in your content marketing strategy. Online presentations have the potential to become exactly the type of content users are gravitating towards today. If you re-purpose your slides properly, you can create a highly visual, dynamic, and engaging experience for a wider audience.But there’s more to great online presentations than adding more visual elements and animations. Without a speaker to explain the finer points, your online presentations need to speak through the screen. Before you upload your deck to SlideShare, Brainshark, and other presentation sharing websites, make sure your online presentation can answer the following questions:

Are you addressing your target audience?

Online users spend about 10 to 20 seconds browsing through a web page. They practice the “screen and glean” method, skimming fast to make sure it has what they’re looking for. If they skip over your online presentation, it’s likely they’re not coming back to it again. You need to make an impression right then and there. How do you capture attention in a matter of seconds?Make sure you’re clear on who you want to address. Fashion your headline and title slide in a way that lets your target audience know that you’re speaking to them. Avoid anything generic. Instead, lure viewers in with unique images and witty headlines.There’s plenty of “Top Ten Tips” type of content out there, but few that are specifically meant for your clientele. According to startup guru Mark Evans, if you’re familiar with and have properly defined your target market, this part won’t be difficult at all.

Are you giving them what they’re looking for?

Getting users to view your online presentations is just the first step. You also have to maintain their interest until the very end. If your slides can’t answer their questions, they can easily click “X” and move on to another page. To make sure they don’t stray, you need to immediately establish that you have the answer they’re looking for.Make sure the goal of your presentation is clearly defined before you delve into the main body. That way, your target audience knows that the presentation they’re viewing holds exactly what they’re looking for.

Are you clear on a Call to Action?

A Call to Action is important to any presentation, regardless of its medium of delivery. Your online presentations must have a proper CTA to let your target audience know what you want them to do next. By reaching the end of your presentation, you’ve successfully enticed and engaged their interest. Don’t let that impact go to waste without properly defining an action you want them to take.–Online presentations are an effective way to address your target audience. Make sure your slides can speak through the screen by following these tips.You can also try turning your presentation deck into a scrolling web pitch to give it a more interactive dimension. Contact us to schedule a free consultation today. Featured Image: Lali Masriera via Flickr