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How to Create Your Perfect Webinar Presentation (+Examples)

Whether you’re doing webinar slides for the first time or just want to level up an existing deck, here you’ll learn how to create the perfect webinar presentation. We’ll go through best webinar practices and identify the key slides every webinar presentation should have. Are you ready?

Webinar Best Practices: 6 Things to Consider for a Great Webinar Presentation

First, let's set this straight: Powerful webinars don’t just happen. Impressive facts and figures don’t do it anymore. Nowadays, you have to be strategic in order to create webinar presentations that convert. So, before getting into the nitty-gritty of this post, I recommend you review these six aspects :

#1 Be clear on your webinar objective

As with all business activities, you need to set a clear objective for your webinars. Ask yourself: What’s the main purpose of doing this webinar? What action do you want your audience to take at the end of your presentation?

#2 Do your research

I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to adjust your content to your audience’s needs. The big difference between a perfect webinar and a poor one is how the information you share solves your audience’s big questions . There are plenty of social media platforms, forums, and blogs you can review to ensure your webinar presentation covers what potential customers want to know.

#3 Only use high-quality visuals

People engage more with visual content ; that’s why pictures, graphics, and videos are a must in webinars. However, you need to be careful with the quality of your visuals. Consider that your audience could be looking at your presentation from a laptop, iPad, or mobile phone , so making sure your visuals are top quality is always a smart move.

#4 Brand your Webinar Slides

In the same line, your webinar presentation design is key for a well-rounded delivery. Don't make your work harder by pitching in plain boring PowerPoint slides. Instead, get your presentation on-brand and elevate trust in your business.

If PowerPoint design is not your strongest suit, consider hiring a presentation designer . Most companies outsource the design of their presentations, and it doesn’t cost as much as you think. For reference, you can check the 24Slides pricing table .

#5 Present your own data

Go one step further and conduct your own research. Start by simply sending an online survey to your customers or preparing a trend report around your market. Any finding that you get will only enrich your webinar presentation. And you'll likely position your brand as an authority in your niche.

#6 Cite your sources

And if you happen to use second-hand data, always cite your sources! Just because we find something on the internet doesn't mean it doesn't belong to anyone. This practice also helps to double-check where the information comes from and adds up to your credibility as a speaker.

The Anatomy of the Perfect Webinar Presentation (Key Slides)

Note that the “perfect webinar presentation” looks different for everyone because it depends on the topic and type of information you’ve got. However, all impactful webinars include a key set of slides that I’m going to break down for you:

#1 Introduce yourself

One of the reasons webinars are so popular is because they allow you to engage with an audience in real-time. But for people to get comfortable and spark conversations, you have to make the first move.

Use an “About me” slide for a quick introduction. You can highlight your credentials as an expert in the field or, even better, share the unique experience you went through that makes you qualified to lead the webinar. This is not about bragging but showing why they should listen to you.

And if you’re conducting the webinar with your team, there’s a special slide for them as well:

#2 Let your audience know what’s coming

Some people think of this slide as obsolete, but they just don’t know how to use it the right way. I’m talking about the Table of Contents slide.

Your webinar's first minutes are crucial to building your audience’s interest. Provide them with a glimpse of the topics you’ll cover using a table of contents. It also serves you to interlink your slides (as a menu) and create an interactive presentation.

The divider or section header slides also fall under this title. Use them to make strategic transitions between topics. Adding these breaks will make your presentation easier to follow.

#3 Present your content in different formats

We’ve made it to the meaty part! This is what people came for, and you can’t disappoint.

You’ve already got top-notch information, but what’s the best way to present it?

You can go the usual route and use text slides (no judging here!), or… you can channel your audience’s attention with fresh alternatives :

Data charts

It's very common to overload your slides when talking about data. But a wall of numbers won’t make your findings appealing.

Instead of copying your Excel tables, use data visualization slides. Check out these examples:

Another great thing about presentations is that you can insert multimedia elements! Use videos to illustrate a point, explain a complex idea, or show a testimonial. Just make sure to keep it short - people are eager to hear you, not to watch a movie.

Here are some webinar slides where you can embed your videos:

It’s not rocket science why people engage with diagrams. They provide a quick visualization of something that otherwise would take several paragraphs to explain. So, as a quick reminder, whenever you face the text-or-visuals dilemma, always choose the latter.

Now, there are so many diagrams that this post won’t suffice to show them all. But to give you an idea of what type of diagrams you could pick for your webinar, here are the most popular ones:

Want to see more options? Visit the 24Slides templates site and download the diagram slides you like the most - for free!

Quote slides have gained a bit of a bad reputation. We’ve seen for so long these random motivational quotes that add little to no value to a presentation and think it’s all these slides can do. But I’m here to prove you wrong.

A strategic way to use your quote slides is for social proof. You can showcase product reviews, client testimonials and even collect what people say about your brand on social media.

This is my favorite template for quotes:

Key takeaways

Help your audience remember the main points of your topic with a slide for key takeaways. Be succinct and sum up your key lessons or conclusions in a few words.

#4 Be open to Questions

As I said before, one of the benefits of doing webinars is that you can start a direct interaction with potential customers, so it makes sense to include a Q&A section.

To break the ice, try to prepare some initial questions for them and get the conversation going. You can use these webinar slides for an interactive session.

#5 Don’t forget your call-to-action

This point is linked to the webinar best practice #1 “Be clear on your webinar objective.”

What’s the whole purpose of doing this webinar presentation? Maybe you’re about to release an online class and want your audience to sign-up . Or perhaps you’re looking to increase brand awareness and it’d be cool if they tweet about the webinar . It’s all up to you, but you have to tell them. And these are the right slides for it.

So, to recap, these are the key slides every webinar presentation should have:

• About Me Slide (or Meet the Team Slide if there's more than one speaker)
• Table of Contents Slide
• Header Section Slides
• Data charts (to summarize complex information)
• Video (for visual engagement)
• Diagrams (to present a process)
• Quotes (to include social proof)
• Key Takeaway Slide (to refresh your audience's memory)
• Q&A Slide
• Call-to-Action Slide

But we're not done yet. Keep reading to find out how all your hard effort will come together in a perfect webinar slide deck.

Final Step: Your Webinar Presentation Design

Unlike traditional presentations, webinars are highly visual experiences . And to get there, the design of your slides plays a huge role. So, make sure to give your final presentation an eye-catching professional aspect.

But if PowerPoint design is not really your thing, there are still some alternatives. For instance, you can use a free webinar template like the examples above, or follow the 24Slides PowerPoint designers' secrets to create top presentation. Or even better, you can let them work on your slides! Check out how to get your webinar slides expertly designed from as little as $9 per slide.

If you've made it here, you're ready to take on your next webinar presentation like a pro. Just remember: Be strategic when it comes to choosing your slides and put the same effort into the design as you do into the content. Happy presenting!

You might also like these articles:

• +20 Creative Webinar Flyer Templates to Drive Registrations
• 20+ of the Best Webinar Slide Deck Templates for This Year
• How To Use PowerPoint For Your Webinar

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What It Takes to Give a Great Presentation

• Carmine Gallo

Five tips to set yourself apart.

Never underestimate the power of great communication. It can help you land the job of your dreams, attract investors to back your idea, or elevate your stature within your organization. But while there are plenty of good speakers in the world, you can set yourself apart out by being the person who can deliver something great over and over. Here are a few tips for business professionals who want to move from being good speakers to great ones: be concise (the fewer words, the better); never use bullet points (photos and images paired together are more memorable); don’t underestimate the power of your voice (raise and lower it for emphasis); give your audience something extra (unexpected moments will grab their attention); rehearse (the best speakers are the best because they practice — a lot).

I was sitting across the table from a Silicon Valley CEO who had pioneered a technology that touches many of our lives — the flash memory that stores data on smartphones, digital cameras, and computers. He was a frequent guest on CNBC and had been delivering business presentations for at least 20 years before we met. And yet, the CEO wanted to sharpen his public speaking skills.

• Carmine Gallo is a Harvard University instructor, keynote speaker, and author of 10 books translated into 40 languages. Gallo is the author of The Bezos Blueprint: Communication Secrets of the World’s Greatest Salesman  (St. Martin’s Press).

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Preparing And Presenting a Seminar - A Guide.

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Udeme Usanga

The primary objective of seminar presentation is to enhance presentation skills when persuading, educating, or informing an audience. Specifically, it provides a focus on the fundamental aspects of a quality academic, professional and business communications including structure, preparation and strategy for delivery, using visual aids, and handling question and answer sessions. The presenter/student practices by preparing and delivering an ideal real-life academic/business presentation. Strict adherence to the instructions outlined allows the presenter to evaluate his/her progress and alter any distracting behaviours before and during presentation. It also enables the participant to learn by doing. The aim of this paper is to introduce students to simple principles on how to plan, writs and present their findings as technical conference papers, then act as the mini-conference programme committee members in reviewing each other's submissions. Finally, in addition to the model itself, description of some variations in instantiation and an assessment of the benefits of this general approach and recommendation for adoption by faculties and educators are proffered. Introduction Rarely are the three pillars of academia-research, teaching and service-addressed together, within one intellectually cohesive context in the graduate curriculum. Such a context is important for exposing students to the interrelationships among these facets. Oftentimes, people are confused what a seminar, workshop or conference means. They are sometimes considered to mean the same thing. However, workshop is a brief intensive educational programme for a relatively small group of people that focuses on techniques and skills in a particular field. Seminar on the other hand is a meeting of a group of advanced students studying under a professor/officer with each doing original research and all exchanging results of their findings through reports and discussions. A conference is a meeting of two or more persons/bodies organized for the benefit of discussing matters of common concern, which usually involves formal interchange of views.

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Graduate students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst redesigned their departmental seminar series to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion, and other institutions could do the same.

A Handbook for Clinical Teachers

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DESCRIPTION A description of a seminar for writing up thesis at HCMC Open university

New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education

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The term workshop has been borrowed from engineering. There are usually workshops in the engineering. In these workshops persons have to do some task with their hand to produce something, Question Bank Workshops are organized in education to prepare questions on the subject. The designers are given knowledge and training for preparing questions in the workshop. Teaching is a continuum from conditioning to indoctrination and training. The new innovations and practices of education are introduced by organizing workshop in which teachers are trained to use new practices in their teaching learning process. The workshops are organized to develop the cognitive and psychomotor aspects of the learner regarding practices of new innovations in area of education. Participants have to do some practical work to produce instructional teaching and testing material. OBJECTIVE OF WORKSHOP General objective:  To enhance the capabilities of teachers in planning and implementing instruction in teacher...

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Home Blog Education Presentation Skills 101: A Guide to Presentation Success

Presentation Skills 101: A Guide to Presentation Success

Getting the perfect presentation design is just a step toward a successful presentation. For the experienced user, building presentation skills is the answer to elevating the power of your message and showing expertise on any subject. Still, one can ask: is it the same set of skills, or are they dependable on the type of presentation?

In this article, we will introduce the different types of presentations accompanied by the skillset required to master them. The purpose, as always, is to retain the audience’s interest for a long-lasting and convincing message.

Table of Contents

The Importance of Presentation Skills

Persuasive presentations, instructional presentations, informative presentations, inspirational presentations, basic presentation skills, what are the main difficulties when giving a presentation, recommendations to improve your presentation skills, closing statement.

Effective communication is the answer to reaching business and academic goals. The scenarios in which we can be required to deliver a presentation are as diverse as one can imagine. Still, some core concepts apply to all presentations.

 We define presentation skills as a compendium of soft skills that directly affect your presentation performance and contribute to creating a great presentation. These are not qualities acquired by birth but skills you ought to train and master to delve into professional environments.

You may ask: is it really that evident when a presenter is not prepared? Here are some common signs people can experience during presentations:

• Evasive body language: Not making eye contact with the audience, arms closed tightly to the body, hands in pockets all the time.
• Lack of interest in the presenter’s voice: dull tone, not putting an effort to articulate the topics.
• Doubting when asked to answer a question
• Irksome mood

The list can go on about common presenter mistakes , and most certainly, it will affect the performance of any presented data if the lack of interest by the presenter is blatantly obvious.  Another element to consider is anxiety, and according to research by the National Institute of Mental Health, 73% of the population in the USA is affected by glossophobia , which is the fear of public speaking, judgment, or negative evaluation by other people.

Therefore, presentation skills training is essential for any business professional who wants to achieve effective communication . It will remove the anxiety from presentation performance and help users effectively deliver their message and connect with the audience.

Archetypes of presentations

Persuasive presentations aim to convince the audience – often in short periods – to acquire a product or service, adhere to a cause, or invest in a company. For business entrepreneurs or politicians, persuasive presentations are their tool for the trade.

Unless you aim to be perceived as an imposter, a proper persuasive presentation has the elements of facts, empathy, and logic, balanced under a well-crafted narrative. The central pillar of these presentations is to identify the single factor that gathered your audience: it could be a market need, a social cause, or a revolutionary concept for today’s society. It has to be something with enough power to gather critiques – both good and bad.

That single factor has to be backed up by facts. Research that builds your hypothesis on how to solve that problem. A deep understanding of the target audience’s needs , concerns, and social position regarding the solution your means can offer. When those elements are in place, building a pitch becomes an easy task. 

Graphics can help you introduce information in a compelling format, lowering the need for lengthy presentations. Good presentation skills for persuasive presentations go by the hand of filtering relevant data and creating the visual cues that resonate with what your audience demands.

One powerful example of a persuasive presentation is the technique known as the elevator pitch . You must introduce your idea or product convincingly to the audience in a timeframe between 30 seconds and less than 2 minutes. You have to expose:

• What do you do 
• What’s the problem to solve
• Why is your solution different from others 
• Why should the audience care about your expertise

For that very purpose, using engaging graphics with contrasting colors elevates the potential power of your message. It speaks professionalism, care for details, and out-of-the-box thinking. Knowing how to end a presentation is also critical, as your CTAs should be placed with care.

Therefore, let’s resume the requirements of persuasive presentations in terms of good presentation skills:

• Identifying problems and needs
• Elaborating “the hook” (the element that grabs the audience’s attention)
• Knowing how to “tie” your audience (introducing a piece of information related to the hook that causes an emotional impact)
• Broad knowledge of body language and hand gestures to quickly convey your message
• Being prepared to argue a defense of your point of view
• Handling rejection
• Having a proactive attitude to convert opportunities into new projects
• Using humor, surprise, or personal anecdotes as elements to sympathize with the audience
• Having confidence
• Be able to summarize facts and information in visually appealing ways

You can learn more about persuasive presentation techniques by clicking here .

In the case of instructional presentations, we ought to differentiate two distinctive types:

• Lecture Presentations : Presentations being held at universities or any other educative institution. Those presentations cover, topic by topic, and the contents of a syllabus and are created by the team of teachers in charge of the course.
• Training Presentations : These presentations take place during in-company training sessions and usually comprise a good amount of content that is resumed into easy-to-take solutions. They are aimed to coach employees over certain topics relevant to their work performance. The 70-20-10 Model is frequently used to address these training situations.

Lecture presentations appeal to the gradual introduction of complex concepts, following a structure set in the course’s syllabus. These presentations often have a similar aesthetic as a group of professors or researchers created to share their knowledge about a topic. Personal experience does tell that course presentations often rely on factual data, adequately documented, and on the theoretical side.

An example of a presentation that lies under this concept is a Syllabus Presentation, used by the teaching team to introduce the subject to new students, evaluation methods, concepts to be learned, and expectations to pass the course.

On the other hand, training presentations are slide decks designed to meet an organization’s specific needs in the formal education of their personnel. Commonly known as “continuous education,” plenty of companies invest resources in coaching their employees to achieve higher performance results. These presentations have the trademark of being concise since their idea is to introduce the concepts that shall be applied in practice sessions. 

Ideally, the training presentations are introduced with little text and easy-to-recognize visual cues. Since the idea is to summarize as much as possible, these are visually appealing for the audience. They must be dynamic enough to allow the presenter to convey the message.

Those key takeaways remind employees when they revisit their learning resources and allow them to ruminate on questions that fellow workers raise. 

To sum up this point, building presentation skills for instructional presentations requires:

• Ability to put complex concepts into simpler words
• Patience and a constant learning mindset
• Voice training to deliver lengthy speeches without being too dense
• Ability to summarize points and note the key takeaways
• Empathizing with the audience to understand their challenges in the learning process

The informative presentations take place in business situations, such as when to present project reports from different departments to the management. Another potential usage of these presentations is in SCRUM or other Agile methodologies, when a sprint is completed, to discuss the advance of the project with the Product Owner.

As they are presentations heavily dependent on data insights, it’s common to see the usage of infographics and charts to express usually dense data in simpler terms and easy to remember. 

Informative presentations don’t just fall into the business category. Ph.D. Dissertation and Thesis presentations are topics that belong to the informative presentations category as they condense countless research hours into manageable reports for the academic jury. 

Since these informational presentations can be perceived as lengthy and data-filled, it is important to learn the following professional presentation skills:

• Attention to detail
• Be able to explain complex information in simpler terms
• Creative thinking
• Powerful diction
• Working on pauses and transitions
• Pacing the presentation, so not too much information is divulged per slide

The leading inspirational platform, TEDx, comes to mind when talking about inspirational presentations. This presentation format has the peculiarity of maximizing the engagement with the audience to divulge a message, and due to that, it has specific requirements any presenter must meet.

This presentation format usually involves a speaker on a stage, either sitting or better standing, in which the presenter engages with the audience with a storytelling format about a life experience, a job done that provided a remarkable improvement for society, etc.

Empathizing with the audience is the key ingredient for these inspirational presentations. Still, creativity is what shapes the outcome of your performance as people are constantly looking for different experiences – not the same recipe rephrased with personal touches. The human factor is what matters here, way above data and research. What has your experience to offer to others? How can it motivate another human being to pursue a similar path or discover their true calling?

To achieve success in terms of communication skills presentation, these inspirational presentations have the following requirements:

• Focus on the audience (engage, consider their interests, and make them a part of your story)
• Putting ego aside
• Creative communication skills
• Storytelling skills
• Body language knowledge to apply the correct gestures to accompany your story
• Voice training
• Using powerful words

After discussing the different kinds of presentations we can come across at any stage of our lives, a group of presentation skills is standard in any type of presentation. See below what makes a good presentation and which skills you must count on to succeed as a presenter.

Punctuality

Punctuality is a crucial aspect of giving an effective presentation. Nothing says more about respect for your audience and the organization you represent than delivering the presentation on time . Arriving last minute puts pressure on the tech team behind audiovisuals, as they don’t have enough preparation to test microphones, stage lights, and projector settings, which can lead to a less powerful presentation Even when discussing presentations hosted in small rooms for a reduced audience, testing the equipment becomes essential for an effective presentation.

A solution for this is to arrive at least 30 minutes early. Ideally, one hour is a sweet spot since the AV crew has time to check the gear and requirements for your presentation. Another benefit of this, for example, in inspirational presentations, is measuring the previous presenter’s impact on the audience. This gives insights about how to resonate with the public, and their interest, and how to accommodate your presentation for maximum impact.

Body Language

Our bodies can make emotions transparent for others, even when we are unaware of such a fact. Proper training for body language skills reduces performance anxiety, giving the audience a sense of expertise about the presented topic. 

Give your presentation and the audience the respect they deserve by watching over these potential mistakes:

• Turning your back to the audience for extended periods : It’s okay to do so when introducing an important piece of information or explaining a graph, but it is considered rude to give your back to the audience constantly.
• Fidgeting : We are all nervous in the presence of strangers, even more, if we are the center of attention for that moment. Instead of playing with your hair or making weird hand gestures, take a deep breath to center yourself before the presentation and remember that everything you could do to prepare is already done. Trust your instincts and give your best.
• Intense eye contact : Have you watched a video where the presenter stared at the camera the entire time? That’s the feeling you transmit to spectators through intense eye contact. It’s a practice often used by politicians to persuade.
• Swearing : This is a no-brainer. Even when you see influencers swearing on camera or in podcasts or live presentations, it is considered an informal and lousy practice for business and academic situations. If you have a habit to break when it comes to this point, find the humor in these situations and replace your swear words with funny alternatives (if the presentation allows for it). 

Voice Tone plays a crucial role in delivering effective presentations and knowing how to give a good presentation. Your voice is a powerful tool for exposing your ideas and feelings . Your voice can articulate the message you are telling, briefing the audience if you feel excited about what you are sharing or, in contrast, if you feel the presentation is a burden you ought to complete.

Remember, passion is a primary ingredient in convincing people. Therefore, transmitting such passion with a vibrant voice may help gather potential business partners’ interest.  

But what if you feel sick prior to the presentation? If, by chance, your throat is sore minutes before setting foot on the stage, try this: when introducing yourself, mention that you are feeling a bit under the weather. This resonates with the audience to pay more attention to your efforts. In case you don’t feel comfortable about that, ask the organizers for a cup of tea, as it will settle your throat and relax your nerves.

Tech Skills

Believe it or not, people still feel challenged by technology these days. Maybe that’s the reason why presentation giants like Tony Robbins opt not to use PowerPoint presentations . The reality is that there are plenty of elements involved in a presentation that can go wrong from the tech side:

• A PDF not opening
• Saving your presentation in a too-recent PowerPoint version
• A computer not booting up
• Mac laptops and their never-ending compatibility nightmare
• Not knowing how to change between slides
• Not knowing how to use a laser pointer
• Internet not working
• Audio not working

We can come up with a pretty long list of potential tech pitfalls, and yet more than half of them fall in presenters not being knowledgeable about technology.

If computers aren’t your thing, let the organization know about this beforehand. There is always a crew member available to help presenters switch between slides or configure the presentation for streaming. This takes the pressure off your shoulders, allowing you to concentrate on the content to present. Remember, even Bill Gates can get a BSOD during a presentation .

Presentations, while valuable for conveying information and ideas, can be daunting for many individuals. Here are some common difficulties people encounter when giving presentations:

Public Speaking Anxiety

Glossophobia, the fear of public speaking, affects a significant portion of the population. This anxiety can lead to nervousness, trembling, and forgetfulness during a presentation.

Lack of Confidence

Many presenters struggle with self-doubt, fearing that they may not be knowledgeable or skilled enough to engage their audience effectively.

Content Organization

Organizing information in a coherent and engaging manner can be challenging. Presenters often grapple with how to structure their content to make it easily digestible for the audience. Artificial Intelligence can help us significantly reduce the content arrangement time when you work with tools like our AI Presentation Maker (made for presenters by experts in presentation design). 

Audience Engagement

Keeping the audience’s attention and interest throughout the presentation can be difficult. Distractions, disengaged attendees, or lack of interaction can pose challenges.

Technical Issues

Technology glitches, such as malfunctioning equipment, incompatible file formats, or poor internet connectivity, can disrupt presentations and increase stress.

Time Management

Striking the right balance between providing enough information and staying within time limits is a common challenge. Going over or under the allotted time can affect the effectiveness of the presentation.

Handling Questions and Challenges

Responding to unexpected questions, criticism, or challenges from the audience can be difficult, especially when presenters are unprepared or lack confidence in their subject matter.

Visual Aids and Technology

Creating and effectively using visual aids like slides or multimedia can be a struggle for some presenters. Technical competence is essential in this aspect.

Language and Articulation

Poor language skills or unclear articulation can hinder effective communication. Presenters may worry about stumbling over words or failing to convey their message clearly.

Maintaining appropriate and confident body language can be challenging. Avoiding nervous habits, maintaining eye contact, and using gestures effectively requires practice.

Overcoming Impersonal Delivery

In virtual presentations, maintaining a personal connection with the audience can be difficult. The absence of face-to-face interaction can make it challenging to engage and read the audience.

Cultural and Diversity Awareness

Presenting to diverse audiences requires sensitivity to cultural differences and varying levels of familiarity with the topic.

In this section, we gathered some tips on how to improve presentation skills that can certainly make an impact if applied to your presentation skills. We believe these skills can be cultivated to transform into habits for your work routine.

Tip #1: Build a narrative

One memorable way to guarantee presentation success is by writing a story of all the points you desire to cover. This statement is based on the logic behind storytelling and its power to connect with people .

Don’t waste time memorizing slides or reading your presentation to the audience. It feels unnatural, and any question that diverts from the topic in discussion certainly puts you in jeopardy or, worse, exposes you as a fraud in the eyes of the audience. And before you ask, it is really evident when a presenter has a memorized speech. 

Build and rehearse the presentation as if telling a story to a group of interested people. Lower the language barrier by avoiding complex terms that maybe even you aren’t fully aware of their meaning. Consider the ramifications of that story, what it could lead to, and which are the opportunities to explore. Then, visualize yourself giving the presentation in a natural way.

Applying this technique makes the presentation feel like second nature to you. It broadens the spectrum in which you can show expertise over a topic or even build the basis for new interesting points of view about the project.

Tip #2: Don’t talk for more than 3 minutes per slide

It is a common practice of presenters to bombard the audience with facts and information whilst retaining the same slide on the screen. Why can this happen? It could be because the presenter condensed the talk into very few slides and preferred to talk. The reality is that your spectators won’t retain the information you are giving unless you give visual cues to help that process. 

Opt to prepare more slides and pace your speech to match the topics shown on each slide. Don’t spend more than 3 minutes per slide unless you have to introduce a complex piece of data. Use visual cues to direct the spectators about what you talk about, and summarize the principal concepts discussed at the end of each section.

Tip #3: Practice meditation daily

Anxiety is the number one enemy of professional presenters. It slowly builds without you being aware of your doubts and can hinder your performance in multiple ways: making you feel paralyzed, fidgeting, making you forget language skills or concepts, affecting your health, etc.

Meditation is an ancient practice taken from Buddhist teachings that train your mind to be here in the present. We often see the concepts of meditation and mindfulness as synonyms, whereas you should be aware that meditation is a practice that sets the blocks to reach a state of mindfulness. For presenters, being in the here and now is essential to retain focus, but meditation techniques also teach us to control our breathing and be in touch with our body signals when stress builds up. 

The customary practice of meditation has an impact on imagination and creativity but also helps to build patience – a skill much needed for connecting with your audience in instructional presentations.

Having the proper set of presentation skills can be quite subjective. It goes beyond presentation tips and deepens into how flexible we can be in our ability to communicate ideas.

Different presentations and different audiences shape the outcome of our efforts. Therefore, having a basic understanding of how to connect, raise awareness, and empathize with people can be key ingredients for your career as a presenter. A word of advice: success doesn’t happen overnight. It takes dedication and patience to build communication skills . Don’t condition your work to believe you will be ready “someday”; it’s best to practice and experience failure as part of the learning process.

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How to Structure your Presentation, with Examples

August 3, 2018 - Dom Barnard

For many people the thought of delivering a presentation is a daunting task and brings about a  great deal of nerves . However, if you take some time to understand how effective presentations are structured and then apply this structure to your own presentation, you’ll appear much more confident and relaxed.

Here is our complete guide for structuring your presentation, with examples at the end of the article to demonstrate these points.

Why is structuring a presentation so important?

If you’ve ever sat through a great presentation, you’ll have left feeling either inspired or informed on a given topic. This isn’t because the speaker was the most knowledgeable or motivating person in the world. Instead, it’s because they know how to structure presentations – they have crafted their message in a logical and simple way that has allowed the audience can keep up with them and take away key messages.

Research has supported this, with studies showing that audiences retain structured information  40% more accurately  than unstructured information.

In fact, not only is structuring a presentation important for the benefit of the audience’s understanding, it’s also important for you as the speaker. A good structure helps you remain calm, stay on topic, and avoid any awkward silences.

What will affect your presentation structure?

Generally speaking, there is a natural flow that any decent presentation will follow which we will go into shortly. However, you should be aware that all presentation structures will be different in their own unique way and this will be due to a number of factors, including:

• Whether you need to deliver any demonstrations
• How  knowledgeable the audience  already is on the given subject
• How much interaction you want from the audience
• Any time constraints there are for your talk
• What setting you are in
• Your ability to use any kinds of visual assistance

Before choosing the presentation’s structure answer these questions first:

• What is your presentation’s aim?
• Who are the audience?
• What are the main points your audience should remember afterwards?

When reading the points below, think critically about what things may cause your presentation structure to be slightly different. You can add in certain elements and add more focus to certain moments if that works better for your speech.

What is the typical presentation structure?

This is the usual flow of a presentation, which covers all the vital sections and is a good starting point for yours. It allows your audience to easily follow along and sets out a solid structure you can add your content to.

1. Greet the audience and introduce yourself

Before you start delivering your talk, introduce yourself to the audience and clarify who you are and your relevant expertise. This does not need to be long or incredibly detailed, but will help build an immediate relationship between you and the audience. It gives you the chance to briefly clarify your expertise and why you are worth listening to. This will help establish your ethos so the audience will trust you more and think you’re credible.

Read our tips on  How to Start a Presentation Effectively

2. Introduction

In the introduction you need to explain the subject and purpose of your presentation whilst gaining the audience’s interest and confidence. It’s sometimes helpful to think of your introduction as funnel-shaped to help filter down your topic:

• Introduce your general topic
• Explain your topic area
• State the issues/challenges in this area you will be exploring
• State your presentation’s purpose – this is the basis of your presentation so ensure that you provide a statement explaining how the topic will be treated, for example, “I will argue that…” or maybe you will “compare”, “analyse”, “evaluate”, “describe” etc.
• Provide a statement of what you’re hoping the outcome of the presentation will be, for example, “I’m hoping this will be provide you with…”
• Show a preview of the organisation of your presentation

In this section also explain:

• The length of the talk.
• Signal whether you want audience interaction – some presenters prefer the audience to ask questions throughout whereas others allocate a specific section for this.
• If it applies, inform the audience whether to take notes or whether you will be providing handouts.

The way you structure your introduction can depend on the amount of time you have been given to present: a  sales pitch  may consist of a quick presentation so you may begin with your conclusion and then provide the evidence. Conversely, a speaker presenting their idea for change in the world would be better suited to start with the evidence and then conclude what this means for the audience.

Keep in mind that the main aim of the introduction is to grab the audience’s attention and connect with them.

3. The main body of your talk

The main body of your talk needs to meet the promises you made in the introduction. Depending on the nature of your presentation, clearly segment the different topics you will be discussing, and then work your way through them one at a time – it’s important for everything to be organised logically for the audience to fully understand. There are many different ways to organise your main points, such as, by priority, theme, chronologically etc.

• Main points should be addressed one by one with supporting evidence and examples.
• Before moving on to the next point you should provide a mini-summary.
• Links should be clearly stated between ideas and you must make it clear when you’re moving onto the next point.
• Allow time for people to take relevant notes and stick to the topics you have prepared beforehand rather than straying too far off topic.

When planning your presentation write a list of main points you want to make and ask yourself “What I am telling the audience? What should they understand from this?” refining your answers this way will help you produce clear messages.

4. Conclusion

In presentations the conclusion is frequently underdeveloped and lacks purpose which is a shame as it’s the best place to reinforce your messages. Typically, your presentation has a specific goal – that could be to convert a number of the audience members into customers, lead to a certain number of enquiries to make people knowledgeable on specific key points, or to motivate them towards a shared goal.

Regardless of what that goal is, be sure to summarise your main points and their implications. This clarifies the overall purpose of your talk and reinforces your reason for being there.

Follow these steps:

• Signal that it’s nearly the end of your presentation, for example, “As we wrap up/as we wind down the talk…”
• Restate the topic and purpose of your presentation – “In this speech I wanted to compare…”
• Summarise the main points, including their implications and conclusions
• Indicate what is next/a call to action/a thought-provoking takeaway
• Move on to the last section

5. Thank the audience and invite questions

Conclude your talk by thanking the audience for their time and invite them to  ask any questions  they may have. As mentioned earlier, personal circumstances will affect the structure of your presentation.

Many presenters prefer to make the Q&A session the key part of their talk and try to speed through the main body of the presentation. This is totally fine, but it is still best to focus on delivering some sort of initial presentation to set the tone and topics for discussion in the Q&A.

Other common presentation structures

The above was a description of a basic presentation, here are some more specific presentation layouts:

Demonstration

Use the demonstration structure when you have something useful to show. This is usually used when you want to show how a product works. Steve Jobs frequently used this technique in his presentations.

• Explain why the product is valuable.
• Describe why the product is necessary.
• Explain what problems it can solve for the audience.
• Demonstrate the product  to support what you’ve been saying.
• Make suggestions of other things it can do to make the audience curious.

Problem-solution

This structure is particularly useful in persuading the audience.

• Briefly frame the issue.
• Go into the issue in detail showing why it ‘s such a problem. Use logos and pathos for this – the logical and emotional appeals.
• Provide the solution and explain why this would also help the audience.
• Call to action – something you want the audience to do which is straightforward and pertinent to the solution.

Storytelling

As well as incorporating  stories in your presentation , you can organise your whole presentation as a story. There are lots of different type of story structures you can use – a popular choice is the monomyth – the hero’s journey. In a monomyth, a hero goes on a difficult journey or takes on a challenge – they move from the familiar into the unknown. After facing obstacles and ultimately succeeding the hero returns home, transformed and with newfound wisdom.

Storytelling for Business Success  webinar , where well-know storyteller Javier Bernad shares strategies for crafting compelling narratives.

Another popular choice for using a story to structure your presentation is in media ras (in the middle of thing). In this type of story you launch right into the action by providing a snippet/teaser of what’s happening and then you start explaining the events that led to that event. This is engaging because you’re starting your story at the most exciting part which will make the audience curious – they’ll want to know how you got there.

• Great storytelling: Examples from Alibaba Founder, Jack Ma

Remaining method

The remaining method structure is good for situations where you’re presenting your perspective on a controversial topic which has split people’s opinions.

• Go into the issue in detail showing why it’s such a problem – use logos and pathos.
• Rebut your opponents’ solutions  – explain why their solutions could be useful because the audience will see this as fair and will therefore think you’re trustworthy, and then explain why you think these solutions are not valid.
• After you’ve presented all the alternatives provide your solution, the remaining solution. This is very persuasive because it looks like the winning idea, especially with the audience believing that you’re fair and trustworthy.

Transitions

When delivering presentations it’s important for your words and ideas to flow so your audience can understand how everything links together and why it’s all relevant. This can be done  using speech transitions  which are words and phrases that allow you to smoothly move from one point to another so that your speech flows and your presentation is unified.

Transitions can be one word, a phrase or a full sentence – there are many different forms, here are some examples:

Moving from the introduction to the first point

Signify to the audience that you will now begin discussing the first main point:

• Now that you’re aware of the overview, let’s begin with…
• First, let’s begin with…
• I will first cover…
• My first point covers…
• To get started, let’s look at…

Shifting between similar points

Move from one point to a similar one:

• In the same way…
• Likewise…
• Equally…
• This is similar to…
• Similarly…

Internal summaries

Internal summarising consists of summarising before moving on to the next point. You must inform the audience:

• What part of the presentation you covered – “In the first part of this speech we’ve covered…”
• What the key points were – “Precisely how…”
• How this links in with the overall presentation – “So that’s the context…”
• What you’re moving on to – “Now I’d like to move on to the second part of presentation which looks at…”

Physical movement

You can move your body and your standing location when you transition to another point. The audience find it easier to follow your presentation and movement will increase their interest.

A common technique for incorporating movement into your presentation is to:

• Start your introduction by standing in the centre of the stage.
• For your first point you stand on the left side of the stage.
• You discuss your second point from the centre again.
• You stand on the right side of the stage for your third point.
• The conclusion occurs in the centre.

Key slides for your presentation

Slides are a useful tool for most presentations: they can greatly assist in the delivery of your message and help the audience follow along with what you are saying. Key slides include:

• An intro slide outlining your ideas
• A  summary slide  with core points to remember
• High quality image slides to supplement what you are saying

There are some presenters who choose not to use slides at all, though this is more of a rarity. Slides can be a powerful tool if used properly, but the problem is that many fail to do just that. Here are some golden rules to follow when using slides in a presentation:

• Don’t over fill them  – your slides are there to assist your speech, rather than be the focal point. They should have as little information as possible, to avoid distracting people from your talk.
• A picture says a thousand words  – instead of filling a slide with text, instead, focus on one or two images or diagrams to help support and explain the point you are discussing at that time.
• Make them readable  – depending on the size of your audience, some may not be able to see small text or images, so make everything large enough to fill the space.
• Don’t rush through slides  – give the audience enough time to digest each slide.

Guy Kawasaki, an entrepreneur and author, suggests that slideshows should follow a  10-20-30 rule :

• There should be a maximum of 10 slides – people rarely remember more than one concept afterwards so there’s no point overwhelming them with unnecessary information.
• The presentation should last no longer than 20 minutes as this will leave time for questions and discussion.
• The font size should be a minimum of 30pt because the audience reads faster than you talk so less information on the slides means that there is less chance of the audience being distracted.

Here are some additional resources for slide design:

• 7 design tips for effective, beautiful PowerPoint presentations
• 11 design tips for beautiful presentations
• 10 tips on how to make slides that communicate your idea

Group Presentations

Group presentations are structured in the same way as presentations with one speaker but usually require more rehearsal and practices.  Clean transitioning between speakers  is very important in producing a presentation that flows well. One way of doing this consists of:

• Briefly recap on what you covered in your section: “So that was a brief introduction on what health anxiety is and how it can affect somebody”
• Introduce the next speaker in the team and explain what they will discuss: “Now Elnaz will talk about the prevalence of health anxiety.”
• Then end by looking at the next speaker, gesturing towards them and saying their name: “Elnaz”.
• The next speaker should acknowledge this with a quick: “Thank you Joe.”

From this example you can see how the different sections of the presentations link which makes it easier for the audience to follow and remain engaged.

Example of great presentation structure and delivery

Having examples of great presentations will help inspire your own structures, here are a few such examples, each unique and inspiring in their own way.

How Google Works – by Eric Schmidt

This presentation by ex-Google CEO  Eric Schmidt  demonstrates some of the most important lessons he and his team have learnt with regards to working with some of the most talented individuals they hired. The simplistic yet cohesive style of all of the slides is something to be appreciated. They are relatively straightforward, yet add power and clarity to the narrative of the presentation.

Start with why – by Simon Sinek

Since being released in 2009, this presentation has been viewed almost four million times all around the world. The message itself is very powerful, however, it’s not an idea that hasn’t been heard before. What makes this presentation so powerful is the simple message he is getting across, and the straightforward and understandable manner in which he delivers it. Also note that he doesn’t use any slides, just a whiteboard where he creates a simple diagram of his opinion.

The Wisdom of a Third Grade Dropout – by Rick Rigsby

Here’s an example of a presentation given by a relatively unknown individual looking to inspire the next generation of graduates. Rick’s presentation is unique in many ways compared to the two above. Notably, he uses no visual prompts and includes a great deal of humour.

However, what is similar is the structure he uses. He first introduces his message that the wisest man he knew was a third-grade dropout. He then proceeds to deliver his main body of argument, and in the end, concludes with his message. This powerful speech keeps the viewer engaged throughout, through a mixture of heart-warming sentiment, powerful life advice and engaging humour.

As you can see from the examples above, and as it has been expressed throughout, a great presentation structure means analysing the core message of your presentation. Decide on a key message you want to impart the audience with, and then craft an engaging way of delivering it.

By preparing a solid structure, and  practising your talk  beforehand, you can walk into the presentation with confidence and deliver a meaningful message to an interested audience.

It’s important for a presentation to be well-structured so it can have the most impact on your audience. An unstructured presentation can be difficult to follow and even frustrating to listen to. The heart of your speech are your main points supported by evidence and your transitions should assist the movement between points and clarify how everything is linked.

Research suggests that the audience remember the first and last things you say so your introduction and conclusion are vital for reinforcing your points. Essentially, ensure you spend the time structuring your presentation and addressing all of the sections.

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How to Start a Presentation: 12 Ways to Keep Your Audience Hooked

Written by: Nayomi Chibana

Wondering how to start a presentation that makes your audience sit up in their seats with excitement?

"Today, you will learn something that will add 10 years to your life."

"20 years from now, your job won't exist."

"Did you know that more people have access to a mobile phone than a toilet?"

Presentation starters like these are key to grabbing your audience's attention and making the most of the time allotted to you.

Instead of thanking the audience, making an unrelated joke or apologizing for a technical issue, why not dive right into the subject matter with a gripping statement or thought-provoking question?

To help you craft your own killer presentation starters, we've sorted through some of the most popular TED talks in history and created this list of the most effective ways to start your next presentation .

Many of these presentation starters are successful because they appeal to human emotions such as curiosity, awe, surprise or fear. You can read more on creating viral content that triggers emotional responses in this post .

Better yet, check out the video version of this blog post. This video distills 12 killer strategies to start your presentation and keep the audience's attention throughout.

• Knowing how to start a presentation is crucial because it sets the tone for the rest of the presentation. A strong and engaging opening can capture the audience's attention and generate interest in your presentation.
• There are many ways to start a presentation: make a provocative statement, incite curiosity; shock the audience; tell a story, be authentic;  quote a famous or influential person.
• Here are other presentation opening strategies: Begin with a captivating visual; ask a question; use silence; start with a prop; tell a relevant joke; use the word "imagine.
• Take advantage of Visme's free online presentation software to create attention-grabbing presentations that align with your branding and engage your audience.
• If you're short on time, tap into the power of Visme's AI presentation maker to create stunning presentations in minutes. Simply describe what you want to create, select your preferred design option and let the tool do the heavy lifting.

How to Start a Presentation

Knowing how to start a presentation is just as crucial as the message you're trying to convey. If you can't start it effectively, you might not be able to leave a strong enough impact by the end of it.

TED speakers are some of the best presenters in the world, and there's a lot you can learn from their talks. Below, we've handpicked some of these presentations that start with a bang and manage to keep the audience hooked till the very end.

1 Make a provocative statement.

"I want to discuss with you this afternoon why you're going to fail to have a great career."

One surefire way to get your audience's attention is to make a provocative statement that creates interest and a keen desire to know more about what you have to say.

The presentation above, for example, does just that by making a surprising first statement that inspires surprise, amusement, curiosity and fear at the same time.

With 4.8 million views and counting, this talk by an economics professor draws you in precisely because it steers clear of the traditional talk, using blunt humor to enumerate all the irrational excuses people make for not pursuing their dreams and passions.

2 Incite curiosity.

"I need to make a confession at the outset here. A little over 20 years ago, I did something that I regret, something that I'm not particularly proud of. Something that, in many ways, I wish no one would ever know, but here I feel kind of obliged to reveal."

Another way to grab your audience by the collar is to incite curiosity. In this popular TED talk viewed over 15.4 million times, career analyst Dan Pink succeeds at getting the entire audience to look at him intently, waiting for his next word, by resorting to an opening statement that builds suspense.

Since human beings are by nature curious creatures, most people in the audience were probably asking themselves "What did he do?" and imagining all sorts of possible scenarios.

3 Shock the audience.

"You will live seven and a half minutes longer than you would have otherwise, just because you watched this talk."

In many ways related to the previous two presentation starters, this hook involves making a counter-intuitive or paradigm-shifting statement that goes against a popular belief or simply shocks due to the perceived impossibility of the proposed statement.

This introduction by game designer Jane McGonigal, for example, achieves a level of surprise by making a seemingly improbable assertion. After hearing this kind of statement, most people will want to listen to your entire talk, if not out of genuine interest, then at least for the sake of pacifying their incredulity.

(By the way, she makes good on her promise by revealing a game she designed to boost resilience, which is backed by scientific research.)

4 Tell a story.

"When I was seven years old and my sister was just five years old, we were playing on top of a bunk bed..."

As covered in a previous post , storytelling is the key ingredient that separates good, engaging presentations from bad ones that lack a clear message and persuasive delivery.

In his popular talk on the secret to being more productive, psychologist Shawn Achor tells a childhood story to lead into the effectiveness of positive psychology. He then goes on to provide concrete evidence backing his claim that pursuing happiness, rather than productivity for its own sake, actually makes you more--not less--productive.

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5  Be authentic.

"I'm going to tell you a little bit about my TEDxHouston Talk. I woke up the morning after I gave that talk with the worst vulnerability hangover of my life. And I actually didn't leave my house for about three days."

Another way to draw your audience into your own world is to tell a revealing personal story. This is certainly not easy but, when done right, can quickly spark interest in your topic and build an emotional connection between you and your audience.

In Brene Brown's talk on confronting shame, she begins by admitting that she felt embarrassed over the revelations she had made in her massively popular TED talk on embracing vulnerability.

6 Quote an influential person.

One of the easiest ways to start a presentation is to quote an influential person. In these cases, it's best to use a pithy, short and relevant quote to catch your audience's attention.

In the widely viewed video above, for example, writer Andrew Solomon quotes Emily Dickinson to begin his talk on depression, an illness he asserts affects many more people than the official figures suggest.

The quote is particularly powerful and effective because it eloquently describes the state of depression from the point of view of a person who is feeling all the emotions associated with it.

7 Begin with a captivating visual.

To introduce this fascinating TED talk on how movements really get started, entrepreneur Derek Sivers uses some surprising footage to support his statements. They are especially captivating because they debunk widely held beliefs on the matter, proving that it takes more than just a charismatic leader to start a revolution of any sort.

8 Ask a question.

"Do you think it's possible to control someone's attention? Even more than that, what about predicting human behavior?"

In this attention-grabbing presentation on the flaws in human perception, world-famous pickpocket Apollo Robbins starts off by asking the audience a question that leads right into the meat of his talk, which has been viewed worldwide more than 10.5 million times.

In these cases, it's best to pose a question that will really get your audience thinking and, in the best possible scenario, challenge their prevailing beliefs or preconceptions on a certain topic.

51 Best Presentation Slides for Engaging Presentations (2024)

9 Use silence.

Another effective technique--which should only be used if you're a seasoned presenter and are able to maintain your composure throughout--is to leverage silence to command a room.

Watch, for example, how musician Amanda Palmer starts off her talk by not saying a word, simply breathing in and out and using props to communicate her message.

Although you may not want to resort to both silence and using a prop in your presentation, this is a very effective dramatic technique that, if done right, quickly draws all eyes to you.

10 Start with a prop.

Considering that the audience's gaze is attracted by motion and visual objects, another way to hook them right from the outset is to use a prop.

Take a look at how best-selling author Susan Cain uses a physical object to visually complement her opening story on her first summer camp experience. It not only adds a dramatic effect, it also keeps viewers eyes on her while on stage.

11 Tell a relevant joke.

"Okay, now I don't want to alarm anybody in this room, but it's just come to my attention that the person to your right is a liar."

Humor is not only a good way to break the ice and endear the audience to you right from the outset, it can also be very effective in getting your point across if it's relevant to your talk.

Lie detector Pamela Meyer, for example, deftly uses both humor and an element of surprise in her opening statement as she tells the audience that the person to their right is probably a liar. This gets the audience to laugh and then focus on her topic at the same time.

She goes on to give some shocking statistics (such as that on any given day, we're lied to up to 200 times) and delivers an intriguing talk that has been seen close to 13 million times.

12 Use the word "imagine."

"Imagine a big explosion as you climb through 3,000 ft. Imagine a plane full of smoke. Imagine an engine going clack, clack, clack. It sounds scary."

Lastly, there are times when leading your audience to use their imaginations is the best bet. You can prompt them to do this by using the commands "imagine," "think of" or "picture this." These are just a few of the most powerful opening words for presentation.

Plane crash survivor Ric Elias, for example, uses this technique in the video above to quickly thrust his audience into the central scene of his harrowing story.

Learn How to Start a Presentation Effectively

What about your next presentation? Have you thought about how you're going to set the mood for your talk? We've rounded up some of the best way to start a presentation.

When you're ready to get started creating your presentation, give Visme's presentation software a try! The tool comes with an AI writer that helps you generate killer content for your next presentation in seconds.

Plus, check out our post on how to end a presentation so you both start and end your speech with a bang.

And if you want to learn all our secrets on how to deliver an unforgettable presentation, as well as how to create visual slides with impact, grab our free e-book below.

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About the Author

Nayomi Chibana is a journalist and writer for Visme’s Visual Learning Center. Besides researching trends in visual communication and next-generation storytelling, she’s passionate about data-driven content.

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Blog Marketing How To Start a Presentation: 15 Ways to Set the Stage

How To Start a Presentation: 15 Ways to Set the Stage

Written by: Krystle Wong Jul 25, 2023

The opening moments of your presentation hold immense power – it’s your opportunity to make a lasting impression and captivate your audience. 

A strong presentation start acts as a beacon, cutting through the noise and instantly capturing the attention of your listeners. With so much content vying for their focus, a captivating opening ensures that your message stands out and resonates with your audience.

Whether you’re a startup business owner pitching a brilliant idea, a seasoned presenter delivering a persuasive talk or an expert sharing your experience, the start of your presentation can make all the difference. But don’t fret — I’ve got you covered with 15 electrifying ways to kickstart your presentation. 

The presentation introduction examples in this article cover everything from self-introduction to how to start a group presentation, building anticipation that leaves the audience eager to delve into the depths of your topic.

Click to jump ahead:

How to start a presentation introduction

15 ways to start a presentation and captivate your audience, common mistakes to avoid in the opening of a presentation, faqs on how to start a presentation, captivate the audience from the get-go.

Presentations can be scary, I know. But even if stage fright hits, you can always fall back on a simple strategy.

Just take a deep breath, introduce yourself and briefly explain the topic of your presentation.

To grab attention at the start, try this opening line: Hello everyone. I am so glad you could join me today. I’m very excited about today’s topic. I’m [Your Name] and I’ll be talking about [Presentation Topic]. Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by [Challenge related to your topic]. Many of us might have faced challenges with [Challenge related to your topic]. Today, we’ll explore some strategies that’ll help us [Solution that you’re presenting].

Regardless of your mode of presentation , crafting an engaging introduction sets the stage for a memorable presentation.

Let’s dive into some key tips for how to start a presentation speech to help you nail the art of starting with a bang:

Understand your audience

The key to an engaging introduction is to know your audience inside out and give your audience what they want. Tailor your opening to resonate with their specific interests, needs and expectations. Consider what will captivate them and how you can make your presentation relevant to their lives or work.

Use a compelling hook

Grab the audience’s attention from the get-go with a compelling hook. Whether it’s a thought-provoking question, a surprising fact or a gripping story, a powerful opening will immediately pique their curiosity and keep them invested in what you have to say.

State your purpose

Be crystal clear about your subject matter and the purpose of your presentation. In just a few sentences, communicate the main objectives and the value your audience will gain from listening to you. Let them know upfront what to expect and they’ll be more likely to stay engaged throughout.

Introduce yourself and your team

Give a self introduction about who you are such as your job title to establish credibility and rapport with the audience.

Some creative ways to introduce yourself in a presentation would be by sharing a brief and engaging personal story that connects to your topic or the theme of your presentation. This approach instantly makes you relatable and captures the audience’s attention.

Now, let’s talk about — how to introduce team members in a presentation. Before introducing each team member, briefly explain their role or contribution to the project or presentation. This gives the audience an understanding of their relevance and expertise.

Group presentations are also a breeze with the help of Venngage. Our in-editor collaboration tools allow you to edit presentations side by side in real-time. That way, you can seamlessly hare your design with the team for input and make sure everyone is on track. 

Maintain enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is contagious! Keep the energy levels up throughout your introduction, conveying a positive and upbeat tone. A vibrant and welcoming atmosphere sets the stage for an exciting presentation and keeps the audience eager to hear more.

Before you think about how to present a topic, think about how to design impactful slides that can leave a lasting impression on the audience. Here are 120+ presentation ideas , design tips, and examples to help you create an awesome slide deck for your next presentation.

Captivating your audience from the get-go is the key to a successful presentation. Whether you’re a seasoned speaker or a novice taking the stage for the first time, the opening of your presentation sets the tone for the entire talk. 

So, let’s get ready to dive into the 15 most creative ways to start a presentation. I promise you these presentation introduction ideas will captivate your audience, leaving them hanging on your every word.

Grab-attention immediately

Ask a thought-provoking question.

Get the audience’s wheels turning by throwing them a thought-provoking question right out of the gate. Make them ponder, wonder and engage their critical thinking muscles from the very start.

Share a surprising statistic or fact

Brace yourself for some wide eyes and dropped jaws! Open your presentation with a jaw-dropping statistic or a mind-blowing fact that’s directly related to your topic. Nothing captures attention like a good ol’ dose of shock and awe.

State a bold statement or challenge

Ready to shake things up? Kick off with a bold and daring statement that sets the stage for your presentation’s epic journey. Boldness has a way of making ears perk up and eyes widen in anticipation!

Engage with a poll or interactive activity

Turn the audience from passive listeners to active participants by kicking off with a fun poll or interactive activity. Get them on their feet, or rather — their fingertips, right from the start!

Venngage’s user-friendly drag-and-drop editor allows you to easily transform your slides into an interactive presentation . Create clickable buttons or navigation elements within your presentation to guide your audience to different sections or external resources. 

Enhance engagement by incorporating videos or audio clips directly into your presentation. Venngage supports video and audio embedding, which can add depth to your content.

Begin with an opening phrase that captures attention

Use opening phrases that can help you create a strong connection with your audience and make them eager to hear more about what you have to say. Remember to be confident, enthusiastic and authentic in your delivery to maximize the impact of your presentation.

Here are some effective presentation starting words and phrases that can help you grab your audience’s attention and set the stage for a captivating presentation:

• “Imagine…”
• “Picture this…”
• “Did you know that…”
• “Have you ever wondered…”
• “In this presentation, we’ll explore…”
• “Let’s dive right in and discover…”
• “I’m excited to share with you…”
• “I have a confession to make…”
• “I want to start by telling you a story…”
• “Before we begin, let’s consider…”
• “Have you ever faced the challenge of…”
• “We all know that…”
• “This is a topic close to my heart because…”
• “Over the next [minutes/hours], we’ll cover…”
• “I invite you to journey with me through…”

Build connection and credibility

Begin with a personal connection .

Share a real-life experience or a special connection to the topic at hand. This simple act of opening up creates an instant bond with the audience, turning them into your biggest cheerleaders.

Having the team share their personal experiences is also a good group presentation introduction approach. Team members can share their own stories that are related to the topic to create an emotional connection with your audience. 

Tell a relevant story

Start your presentation with a riveting story that hooks your audience and relates to your main message. Stories have a magical way of captivating hearts and minds. Organize your slides in a clear and sequential manner and use visuals that complement your narrative and evoke emotions to engage the audience.

With Venngage, you have access to a vast library of high-quality and captivating stock photography, offering thousands of options to enrich your presentations. The best part? It’s entirely free! Elevate your visual storytelling with stunning images that complement your content, captivate your audience and add a professional touch to your presentation. 

Use a powerful quote

Sometimes, all you need is some wise words to work wonders. Begin with a powerful quote from a legendary figure that perfectly fits your presentation’s theme — a dose of inspiration sets the stage for an epic journey.

Build anticipation

Provide a brief outline.

Here’s a good introduction for presentation example if you’re giving a speech at a conference. For longer presentations or conferences with multiple speakers especially, providing an outline helps the audience stay focused on the key takeaways. That way, you can better manage your time and ensure that you cover all the key points without rushing or running out of time.

Pose a problem and offer a solution

A great idea on how to start a business presentation is to start by presenting a problem and offering a well-thought-out solution. By addressing their pain points and showcasing your solution, you’ll capture their interest and set the stage for a compelling and successful presentation.

Back up your solution with data, research, or case studies that demonstrate its effectiveness. This can also be a good reporting introduction example that adds credibility to your proposal.

Preparing a pitch deck can be a daunting task but fret not. This guide on the 30+ best pitch deck tips and examples has everything you need to bring on new business partners and win new client contracts. Alternatively, you can also get started by customizing one of our professional pitch deck templates for free. 

Incite curiosity in the audience

Utilize visuals or props.

Capture your audience’s gaze by whipping out captivating visuals or props that add an exciting touch to your subject. A well-placed prop or a stunning visual can make your presentation pop like a fireworks show!

That said, you maybe wondering — how can I make my presentation more attractive.  A well-designed presentation background instantly captures the audience’s attention and creates a positive first impression. Here are 15 presentation background examples to keep the audience awake to help you get inspired. 

Use humor or wit

Sprinkle some humor and wit to spice things up. Cracking a clever joke or throwing in a witty remark can break the ice and create a positively charged atmosphere. If you’re cracking your head on how to start a group presentation, humor is a great way to start a presentation speech. 

Get your team members involved in the fun to create a collaborative and enjoyable experience for everyone. Laughter is the perfect way to break the ice and set a positive tone for your presentation!

Invoke emotion

Get those heartstrings tugging! Start with a heartfelt story or example that stirs up emotions and connects with your audience on a personal level. Emotion is the secret sauce to a memorable presentation.

Aside from getting creative with your introduction, a well-crafted and creative presentation can boost your confidence as a presenter. Browse our catalog of creative presentation templates and get started right away!

Use a dramatic pause

A great group presentation example is to start with a powerful moment of silence, like a magician about to reveal their greatest trick. After introducing your team, allow a brief moment of silence. Hold the pause for a few seconds, making it feel deliberate and purposeful. This builds anticipation and curiosity among the audience.

Pique their interest

Share a fun fact or anecdote.

Time for a little fun and games! Kick-off with a lighthearted or fascinating fact that’ll make the audience go, “Wow, really? Tell me more!” A sprinkle of amusement sets the stage for an entertaining ride.

While an introduction for a presentation sets the tone for your speech, a good slide complements your spoken words, helping the audience better understand and remember your message. Check out these 12 best presentation software for 2023 that can aid your next presentation. 

The opening moments of a presentation can make or break your entire talk. It’s your chance to grab your audience’s attention, set the tone, and lay the foundation for a successful presentation. However, there are some common pitfalls that speakers often fall into when starting their presentations. 

Starting with Apologies

It might be tempting to start with a preemptive apology, especially if you’re feeling nervous or unsure about your presentation. However, beginning with unnecessary apologies or self-deprecating remarks sets a negative tone right from the start. Instead of exuding confidence and credibility, you’re unintentionally undermining yourself and your message. 

Reading from Slides

One of the most common blunders in the opening of a PowerPoint presentation is reading directly from your slides or script. While it’s crucial to have a well-structured outline, reciting word-for-word can lead to disengagement and boredom among your audience. Maintain eye contact and connect with your listeners as you speak. Your slides should complement your words, not replace them.

Overwhelming with Information

In the excitement to impress, some presenters bombard their audience with too much information right at the beginning.

Instead of overloading the audience with a sea of data, statistics or technical details that can quickly lead to confusion and disinterest, visualize your data with the help of Venngage. Choose an infographic template that best suits the type of data you want to visualize. Venngage offers a variety of pre-designed templates for charts, graphs, infographics and more.

Ignoring the Audience

It’s easy to get caught up in the content and forget about the people in front of you. Don’t overlook the importance of acknowledging the audience and building a connection with them. Greet them warmly, make eye contact and maintain body language to show genuine interest in their presence. Engage the audience early on by asking a show of hands question or encourage audience participation. 

Lack of Clarity

Your audience should know exactly what to expect from your presentation. Starting with a vague or unclear opening leaves them guessing about the purpose and direction of your talk. Clearly communicate the topic and objectives of your presentation right from the beginning. This sets the stage for a focused and coherent message that resonates with your audience.

Simplicity makes it easier for the audience to understand and retain the information presented. Check out our gallery of simple presentation templates to keep your opening concise and relevant. 

Skipping the Hook

The opening of your presentation is the perfect opportunity to hook your audience’s attention and keep them engaged. However, some presenters overlook this crucial aspect and dive straight into the content without any intrigue. Craft an attention-grabbing hook that sparks curiosity, poses a thought-provoking question or shares an interesting fact. A compelling opening is like the key that unlocks your audience’s receptivity to the rest of your presentation.

Now that you’ve got the gist of how to introduce a presentation, further brush up your speech with these tips on how to make a persuasive presentation and how to improve your presentation skills to create an engaging presentation . 

How can I overcome nervousness at the beginning of a presentation?

To overcome nervousness at the beginning of a presentation, take deep breaths, practice beforehand, and focus on connecting with your audience rather than worrying about yourself.

How long should the opening of a presentation be?

The opening of a presentation should typically be brief, lasting around 1 to 3 minutes, to grab the audience’s attention and set the tone for the rest of the talk.

Should I memorize my presentation’s opening lines?

While it’s helpful to know your opening lines, it’s better to understand the key points and flow naturally to maintain authenticity and flexibility during the presentation.

Should I use slides during the opening of my presentation?

Using slides sparingly during the opening can enhance the message, but avoid overwhelming the audience with too much information early on.

How do I transition smoothly from the opening to the main content of my presentation?

Transition smoothly from the opening to the main content by providing a clear and concise outline of what’s to come, signaling the shift and maintaining a logical flow between topics.

Just as a captivating opening draws your audience in, creating a well-crafted presentation closing has the power to leave a lasting impression. Wrap up in style with these 10 ways to end a presentation .

Presenting virtually? Check out these tips on how to ace your next online presentation . 

Captivating your audience from the very beginning is crucial for a successful presentation. The first few moments of your talk can set the tone and determine whether your audience remains engaged throughout or loses interest. 

Start with a compelling opening that grabs their attention. You can use a thought-provoking question, a surprising statistic or a powerful quote to pique their curiosity. Alternatively, storytelling can be a potent tool to draw them into your narrative. It’s essential to establish a personal connection early on, whether by sharing a relatable experience or expressing empathy towards their needs and interests.

Lastly, be mindful of your body language and vocal delivery. A confident and engaging speaker can captivate an audience, so make eye contact, use appropriate gestures and vary your tone to convey passion and sincerity.

In conclusion, captivating your audience from the very beginning requires thoughtful preparation, engaging content and a confident delivery. With Venngage’s customizable templates, you can adapt your presentation to suit the preferences and interests of your specific audience, ensuring maximum engagement. Go on and get started today!

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• CAREER COLUMN
• 15 May 2019

Ways to give an effective seminar about your research project

• Ananya Sen 0

Ananya Sen is a PhD student in microbiology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

In my first year of graduate school, I was terrified of giving presentations. I would put too much information on my slides, talk too fast and constantly forget or trip over certain words. Unsuprisingly, the reception was lukewarm at best.

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-019-01574-z

This is an article from the Nature Careers Community, a place for Nature readers to share their professional experiences and advice. Guest posts are encouraged. You can get in touch with the editor at [email protected].

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Preparing and Delivering a Seminar

Build a seminar around the main points you want to convey. make sure that each one is clearly, slowly and explicitly stated when it first arises during the talk. at the end of the talk, restate all of the points in a summary..

Here are some additional principles, practices, and tips for preparing and delivering seminars. Some of these ideas apply to writing papers, too.

• Assume your audience is infinitely ignorant but infinitely intelligent. The audience will understand a clear, complete explanation. (Thanks to Barry Honig.)
• Give a good introduction. A research report will be boring to everyone except an expert in your area unless you provide the context. Explain why what you are doing is interesting and important.
• Never underestimate a person's pleasure in hearing a good presentation of what he or she already knows. Don't feel foolish providing background that your audience might be familiar with. And don't assume your audience knows a great deal more than you do, even if you are a graduate student and they are professors. They still need you to orient them to what you are doing. (Thanks to Andy McCammon.)
• Keep your audience oriented. Make sure that they understand, at each step, why you are presenting each topic. If the audience becomes disoriented, you will lose their attention. Presenting an outline of the talk near the beginning can help. (Thanks to Marti Head.)
• A talk should entertain. The best scientific talks entertain by giving people new ideas and perspectives. High-quality graphics can also help.
• Present only one big idea per slide. This helps convey your ideas forcefully, and prevents the audience from reading ahead instead of listening to you. (The exceptions are the outline and summary slides.)
• Never read aloud from your slides! A slide should support your talk, never substitute for it.
• Avoid spending time on highly technical points. Unless it is a critical detail, it is acceptable to briefly state what was done and that it was reasonable, and add that you'd be happy to explain it in detail if anyone is interested. Then continue with the seminar.
• Practice. Stand in front of a seminar room and present to an imagined audience or to a friend. Identify parts where you have trouble finding the right words and work on them. Make sure the talk is about the right length.
• Benefit from other people's opinions of your talk. Parts of your talk may be less clear than you imagined. Even invalid criticism can be helpful: if one person thought your talk had an error, someone else probably will also, so head off future concerns by add a sentence or two to make your point clearer.
• Pay attention to your audience when you're speaking . If everyone is watching you and listening, you are succeeding! If people look lost or somnolent, you may need to slow down, speak more loudly, and/or explain better.
• When you are speaking, you are in charge. A talk can be badly derailed if you get into a discussion or debate with someone in the audience. If the discussion seems to have no end, say that you'll be pleased to continue the discussion after the talk and then resume.
• Check the time occasionally during your talk. Adjust the level of detail and the rate of presentation so that the talk fits the allotted time.

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A student presenting

Skills for presenting in seminars

It's really important to express your ideas clearly and support them with examples. You should also try to present both sides of the argument, whatever your own opinion is. - Haia

One of the things you might be asked to do on your university course is to give an oral presentation during a seminar. Formal speaking in front of an audience can be challenging if you have not done this before, and plenty of preparation beforehand can help to increase your confidence if you are asked to do this.

In these activities you will think about what skills are needed to give a good oral presentation. You will also watch a video of a student presenting in a seminar in order to recognise some techniques that he uses, and then identify the effects of using certain techniques.

What skills are needed for presenting?

You are going to think about the skills and preparation that are needed to give an oral presentation. Think of a good lecture, presentation or talk that you have attended. Think particularly about how the speaker delivered it. What skills did they use to help communicate their ideas effectively?

Instruction

Make a list below of all the different aspects of the presentation which made it effective. When you have listed everything you can think of, read the feedback and compare your list with the answers that British students gave to the same question.

Use the keyboard to type your answers in the text box. One example of what British students said helped make a presentation effective was having a clear structure.

Here is a list made by British students in answer to the same question. How many of them did you include in your list? First of all, the speaker introduced their presentation and gave a brief overview of its content. The speaker made sure people understood the important points by summarising them later. The presentation had a good beginning, clear sections, and the end was signalled. The speaker used visual aids (PowerPoint slides or transparencies). The visual aids were interesting, did not contain too much information and the text was large enough to read. The speaker didn't sit down but moved about a bit and looked at the audience. The speaker used a clear voice, spoke loudly enough and spoke at a good speed. The speaker seemed confident and had probably rehearsed it beforehand.

Recognising good presentation techniques

You are going to watch part of a video of an international student presenting in a seminar on his university course and identify some effective techniques that he uses.

Watch the video extract showing the beginning and the end of Tarek's seminar presentation on 'The Language and Identity of the Berbers'. Look at the list below and select any good presentation techniques that Tarek uses. Then read the feedback.

Select an option in the list by clicking on the check box next to it.

There is a transcript for you to look at if you need help while listening: Video transcript (pdf, 10kb).

Introduces the topic at the start of his presentation Interacts with his audience Reads his presentation aloud Makes eye contact with his audience Stands, and uses hand movements to help deliver the presentation Indicates what will follow later in his presentation Has interesting slides with clear and brief content Refers to specific slides in his presentation Indicates that his presentation is coming to an end Ends his presentation and invites questions

Tarek uses all of the following good presentation techniques: Introduces the topic at the start of his presentation Interacts with his audience Makes eye contact with his audience Stands, and uses hand movements to help deliver the presentation Indicates what will follow later in his presentation Has interesting slides with clear and brief content Refers to specific slides in his presentation Indicates that his presentation is coming to an end Ends his presentation and invites questions

How did his use of these techniques help his presentation?

Tarek does not read his presentation aloud . Reading a presentation aloud is not recommended. It is much better to use your PowerPoint slides or a few notes to guide yourself as you speak. Your presentation will be more effective and more easily understood by your audience if it delivered naturally.

Video transcript (pdf, 24kb).

Watch the video extract again with the transcript above if you need to check your understanding. The parts of the transcript containing the answers to the listening task are highlighted.

How can different techniques help?

In this activity, you are going to think about how the use of different techniques can help when giving an oral presentation.

Select a presentation technique from the list on left and then match it with the reason for using it in the list on the right. When you have selected and matched up all of the items, check your answers and read the feedback.

Click once on an item in the list on the left. This will highlight it. Then click once on a corresponding item on the right. A line will appear linking the two items together. Click on a different item on the right to change your selection and a new line will appear and replace the first line.

Use the reset button if you wish to begin the task again.

Here are the techniques correctly matched with their uses:

Make sure your presentation has an introduction, recognisable sections and a clear end. A clear structure will help the audience to understand better.

Use visual aids (PowerPoint slides or transparencies) to highlight the main points. Information that can be seen helps your audience's understanding of what they hear.

Reinforce important points by summarising them at the end of a section. This ensures the audience grasp the essential points that you want to communicate.

Check that visual aids do not have too much information and can be read easily. Visual aids need to be read easily and quickly while listening.

Have a 'live' rehearsal beforehand with a friend acting as the audience. This helps ensure that you can keep to time and will help you develop confidence.

Try to project your voice, speaking loudly enough to be heard. Voice control is important for your audience to be able to follow you.

Stand to deliver your presentation and try to use eye contact. It will help engage your audience in the topic if you are both clearly visible and looking at them.

Using techniques like these will help you give a more effective oral presentation if you are asked to give one during your course. You may be asked to give a joint presentation with another student, in which case you will need to organise carefully who does what.

Would you like to review the main points?

From these activities, you should now have a clear idea of what skills and preparation are needed in order to give a good oral presentation if you are asked to give one on your university course in the UK. Presenting effectively in a seminar requires good language control and communication skill, use of a range of presentation techniques and good management of time. By practising beforehand your confidence will also increase. A benefit of learning how to present effectively while on your course is that this skill is also likely to be useful to you later in your professional life.

Developed by members of eLanguages in Modern Languages and Linguistics at the University of Southampton : Julie Watson (concept, design and academic content) and Andrew Davey (platform, build, technology management and maintenance). Funded by the UK Council for International Student Affairs .

© University of Southampton / UKCISA, 2008- 2018 .

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Agricultural and Applied Economics—Without Apology

22 Tips for Conference and Seminar Presentations

Last updated on May 24, 2015

A graduate student whose (excellent) second-year paper was accepted at a few conferences came to my office last week to ask me how she should prepare her conference presentations. Because I have never given much thought to how I actually do prepare for conference and seminar presentations, I told her I would write a blog post on the topic after thinking about it. So here is my list of tips on how to prepare conference and seminar presentations, in no particular order. I’m sure I’m forgetting many things; please feel free to include your own best tips in the comments section.

(Note: If you are doing theory or your presentation contains some theory, I also suggest reading William Thomson’s A Guide for the Young Economist , which offers good if dated advice for budding economic theorists.)

• Whatever you do, make sure you know exactly how long you will have to present, and prepare accordingly. There is nothing worse than showing up for a talk expecting to have the usual 75 minutes only to learn that the norm at that institution is to have a 45-minute talk followed by a 15-minute Q&A. In this case, I think the old rule of thumb of one slide per minute applies. Though this does not mean that a 75-minute seminar needs 75 slides (most of my seminar presentations have fewer than 60 slides), it really does mean that a 15-minute conference presentation should have no more than 15 slides.
• What your presentation should include is really a function of time. For example, when presenting my work with Tara Steinmetz and Lindsey Novak on female genital mutilation (FGM) in a seminar, I go into how there are four types of FGM, present a diagram that shows the area excised under each type and what each type looks after healing, I discuss the physiological and psychological consequences of FGM in depth, etc. But when I presented at the CSAE conference last month , where presenters only have 15 minutes, earlier this month, my motivations occupied three slides, and were essentially “FGM affects 100 million women worldwide and has really bad consequences on their health; trust me on that, okay?” (though I still had five intro slides …) In other words, the less time you have, the more your motivations should be highly concentrated and the quicker they should answer the “Why should we care?” question.
• Should you practice your talk? Absolutely. Practice over and over, and time yourself. The more you advance in your career, the less you’ll have to practice your talks, but as a beginner, you have every interest in practicing under a time constraint. As I mentioned when giving advice on the job market, I never practice my talks and I have done reasonably well following this foolhardy strategy, but this does not mean you should be equally foolhardy.
• One thing graduate students consistently get wrong in presentations is the level of technique. Sure, you just spent the last few years doing almost nothing but learning highly mathematical concepts and methods, and you want to show off, Don’t . At an economics conference, most of your audience will have been there and done that, and your display of technical ability impresses no one, really. You can never go wrong assuming you are presenting to an audience of smart college graduates with no experience in your field. This means you should emphasize the motivations and intuition, and define technical concepts in plain English.
• Inevitably, you’ll have to get technical and lose some people when you present your theory or empirical framework or identification strategy. That’s okay, as long as you bring them back at the end in your conclusions, and as long as you try to explain your theory, empirical framework, or identification in plain English as you go through your more technical slides.
• Always have an outline slide, unless you use a Beamer theme that shows the outline on top and highlights which section you’re in, as in this case. It comforts your audience in that they know where you are taking them with this presentation.
• On a related note, always provide a preview of your results. This isn’t a murder mystery: it’s only when people know where you’re taking them that they can enjoy the scenery along the way.
• I am a big fan of using LaTex and Beamer for presentations. Almost every computer in the world can read .pdf documents and has working “Ctrl” and “L” keys. PowerPoint, however, will sometimes crash on you, or it will not display on a PC the equations that looked so pretty on your Mac, and among economists, I suspect Prezi is interpreted as a sufficient statistic for one’s lack of content. Plus, LaTex does math beautifully. PowerPoint does it horribly  not so much.
• For your introduction, use Keith Head’s introduction formula : Hook (titillate your audience with a strong start or broad motivation), Research Question , Antecedents (the four or five studies closest to yours), Value Added (what you are bringing to the table relative to those previous studies), and Roadmap (which is really your outline slide).
• Never, ever have a literature review in your slides. If literature reviews are boring to read in papers, they are insanely boring to listen to during presentations.
• After your introduction, present your theoretical framework, empirical framework, data, results, limitations, and conclusion. Again, depending on how much time you have, you might want to maintain some of those steps to a minimum. One trick that few people seem to know about when presenting is the Magic Appendix Trick: You can have 15 slides for your conference presentation, followed by 30 appendix (i.e., not part of the main attraction) slides which you can resort to if people ask to see them. This is a good place to put descriptive statistics, robustness checks, proofs of propositions, additional graphs, etc.
• If you have a theoretical model in the context of an empirical paper, unless your theory is your main contribution, it might be sufficient to just present your assumptions and testable predictions, and have your full-blown model in your appendix.
• As above, so below, and so your presentation should follow the order in which you discuss things in your paper. It’s also perfectly fine to self-plagiarize here and cut and paste whole sentences from your paper. Writing is rewriting, and hopefully by now your paper is beautifully written. There is no use reinventing the wheel at this stage.
• If you can tell your story with a graph or picture, do so. My two papers which were the most successful in seminars are my aforementioned paper on FGM with Steinmetz and Novak and my forthcoming paper on food prices and food riots. In both cases, the paper contains a graph that essentially tells you the whole story in one simple, self-explanatory picture. Even when presenting to the smartest people in the world, a picture is really worth a thousand words.
• Tables of empirical results should focus on your coefficient(s) of interest. This means that you should have a line in there that says “Control Variables? Yes” for those cases where you do include controls, “Village Fixed Effects? Yes” for those cases where you do include village fixed effects, and so on. Again, stick the full-blown results in the appendix, and present only the results that are the most relevant for your talk as part of the main attraction. See slides 22 to 24 of my CSAE presentation .
• Do not read your slides. Do not learn them by heart. Keep the tone of your presentation conversational. Abstain from making jokes: as a grad student, you want to signal that you have competently investigated an important question and provided a technically sound answer to it. Keep your jokes for when you are a senior scholar in your field.
• Development students: Though you are undoubtedly proud of the fact that you’ve done fieldwork, but unless a picture you took while in the field is absolutely necessary for your audience to understand a point you’re making, avoid fieldwork pictures in your presentations (doubly so for pictures with smiling developing-country children, which are incredibly cliché…)
• Likewise, maps have become pervasive in econ talks these past few years. If you are exploiting some spatial source of variation, go ahead and include a map. But if you’re just including a map because you think your audience won’t know where The Gambia is, put it in the appendix.
• Similarly, I always thought it was a bit odd when people added a last, one-word slide that either said “Questions?” or “Thank You!” Audiences are generally not shy about asking questions, and when they are, they’ll find you after you’re done. As for thanking people, I find that the best thing you can do is thank people for their time and attention either at the beginning or at the end of your presentation.
• I have never had to present a poster at a conference, but here is a list of tips that strike me as sensible. Perhaps the smartest idea for posters is to print your poster on location: since most conferences are held in college towns, you’ll easily find a copy shop where you can print your poster. That way, you will avoid having to travel with your poster, and risking your poster case getting crushed by that inevitable guy on your flight who tries to jam-pack his enormous-size “carry-on” luggage in the overhead compartment by pushing as hard as he can on everything else inside.
• When questions arise, answer them to the best of your ability. If you don’t know, say that you don’t know. If your answer is tentative, explain that your answer is off the top of your head. If a question is obviously of little interest to most people, or takes you too far afield, politely offer to discuss it with the person who asked after the talk.
• Above all, have fun. Giving talks is the most effective way to communicate your excitement about your research. If you are not having fun, chances are people in the audience aren’t either, and if they aren’t having fun, they cannot get excited about your research, which means that your impact will be much more limited.

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How to Plan, Organize, and Manage a Successful Seminar: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

Seminars are integral to academic life, providing a platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and professional growth. Whether you're a student, academic, or industry professional, attending a seminar can be a rewarding experience. In this comprehensive guide, we will not only walk you through the steps of planning and executing a successful seminar but also explore the core elements of a seminar, how attendees participate, and the techniques used to foster an engaging learning environment.

What is a Seminar?

A seminar is an interactive event where experts, researchers, or industry professionals gather to present and discuss their ideas, research findings, and experiences within a specific subject area. It typically involves presentations, panel discussions, workshops, and opportunities for networking and collaboration. Seminars can focus on various topics, from academic research to industry trends, and are usually organized around a central theme.

Participation and Interaction in Seminars

Unlike traditional lectures, seminars encourage active participation and interaction among attendees. Participants are encouraged to engage in discussions, ask questions, and share their thoughts. This two-way exchange of ideas creates a dynamic learning environment and enhances the overall learning experience.

Techniques Used in Seminars

To foster an engaging learning environment, various techniques are used in seminars. Some common techniques include:

Panel Discussions

Panels are an essential aspect of seminars, offering a platform for in-depth discussions and diverse perspectives on specific topics. Typically, a panel consists of a group of experts or professionals in the field, each providing insights and analysis. The moderator plays a crucial role in guiding the conversation and ensuring that the discussion remains focused and engaging. Panels are highly interactive, allowing audience members to pose questions and share their views, promoting a dynamic exchange of ideas. To make panels more effective, it's essential to curate a diverse set of panelists with contrasting viewpoints, enabling attendees to gain a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. Panels are especially valuable for shedding light on complex issues, encouraging critical thinking, and fostering meaningful dialogues among participants. As an attendee, participating in panel discussions provides an excellent opportunity to engage directly with industry experts, expand your knowledge, and network with like-minded individuals. For organizers, creating well-balanced and engaging panels can significantly enhance the overall seminar experience, leaving a lasting impact on participants.

Workshops are an integral part of seminar organization, offering a more hands-on and interactive learning experience. Unlike traditional lectures, workshops focus on active participation and skill-building. They are typically led by experienced facilitators or subject matter experts who guide attendees through practical exercises and activities. Workshops provide a unique opportunity for participants to delve into specific topics, hone their skills, and apply theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios. These sessions can range from small group discussions to immersive training sessions, depending on the seminar's objectives. One of the key benefits of workshops is the opportunity for attendees to engage in problem-solving, collaborate with peers, and receive immediate feedback from facilitators. As an organizer, ensuring that workshops are well-structured, relevant, and align with the overall theme of the seminar is crucial. By offering diverse and skill-enhancing workshops, seminar organizers can create a dynamic and enriched learning environment, leaving attendees with practical takeaways and a memorable learning experience.

Group Activities

Group activities are another essential component of a successful seminar, fostering teamwork, collaboration, and networking among participants. These activities aim to break the ice, encourage interaction, and promote a sense of camaraderie among attendees. Depending on the seminar's nature and objectives, group activities can vary widely, from icebreaker games and team-building exercises to group discussions and brainstorming sessions. The key is to create a supportive and inclusive environment where participants feel comfortable sharing their ideas and engaging with others. Group activities not only enhance the overall learning experience but also provide valuable opportunities for attendees to expand their professional networks. As an organizer, incorporating well-designed group activities can add a sense of excitement and fun to the seminar, making it more enjoyable and memorable for everyone involved. By carefully selecting activities that align with the seminar's goals and themes, organizers can ensure that participants leave the event with new connections, fresh perspectives, and a renewed enthusiasm for their academic or professional pursuits.

Q&A Sessions

Q&A sessions are a fundamental element of seminars that allow participants to engage in direct and interactive discussions with speakers or panelists. These sessions provide a valuable opportunity for attendees to seek clarification, share their insights, and delve deeper into the topics presented during the seminar. Q&A sessions are typically scheduled after each presentation or panel discussion, allowing the audience to ask questions related to the content or express their viewpoints.

To make Q&A sessions effective and inclusive, it's crucial for organizers to set clear guidelines and encourage active participation from the audience. Moderators play a vital role in managing the session, ensuring that questions are relevant and respectful, and giving everyone a chance to contribute. Additionally, utilizing technology such as audience response systems or online platforms can facilitate smooth communication and help manage the flow of questions.

Q&A sessions offer an opportunity for speakers and panelists to showcase their expertise, engage with the audience on a personal level, and address any lingering doubts or concerns. From the attendees' perspective, these sessions provide a chance to gain deeper insights, explore different perspectives, and enrich their understanding of the seminar's subject matter.

To enhance the success of Q&A sessions, organizers can encourage participants to submit questions in advance or use real-time polling to identify the most popular topics for discussion. By fostering a supportive and inclusive atmosphere, Q&A sessions can become a dynamic part of the seminar, sparking thought-provoking discussions and creating lasting impressions for all involved.

Interactive Presentations

Interactive presentations are a dynamic and engaging approach to delivering seminar content. Unlike traditional one-way lectures, interactive presentations encourage active participation from the audience, making the learning experience more immersive and memorable. Various techniques can be incorporated into interactive presentations to stimulate audience involvement and foster meaningful interactions.

One popular method is the use of multimedia elements such as videos, images, and audio clips to enhance the presentation's visual appeal and reinforce key points. This approach captivates attendees' attention and ensures a multi-sensory experience, making the content more accessible and easier to comprehend.

Another effective technique is incorporating audience polling or live quizzes during the presentation. This not only keeps participants engaged but also provides instant feedback to presenters, enabling them to tailor the discussion to the audience's interests and understanding level.

Gamification is another innovative approach to creating interactive presentations. By introducing gamified elements like quizzes, challenges, or group activities, the seminar becomes not only educational but also fun and enjoyable. This approach encourages healthy competition among attendees and motivates them to actively participate.

Additionally, interactive presentations can involve breakout sessions where attendees split into smaller groups to discuss specific topics or case studies. This allows for in-depth exploration of ideas and encourages collaboration and knowledge sharing among participants.

The benefits of interactive presentations are manifold. They foster a sense of inclusivity, as participants feel their opinions are valued and heard. The dynamic nature of these presentations helps maintain audience engagement throughout the seminar, leading to better knowledge retention and a more impactful learning experience.

Planning Your Seminar

✔︎ define your objectives.

Clearly outline the goals and objectives of your seminar. Consider the target audience, theme, and desired outcomes.

✔︎ Choose the Right Venue

Select a venue that can accommodate the number of attendees and offers the necessary facilities, such as audio-visual equipment and Wi-Fi.

✔︎ Invite Engaging Speakers

Attract knowledgeable and influential speakers who can add value to your seminar and spark meaningful discussions.

✔︎ Create an Engaging Agenda

Craft a well-balanced agenda with diverse sessions that cater to the interests of your participants.

✔︎ Implement Effective Marketing

Utilize digital platforms and strategic partnerships to promote your seminar and attract the right audience.

Managing Your Seminar

✔︎ facilitate networking.

Encourage networking opportunities during breaks and networking events to foster meaningful connections among participants.

✔︎ Ensure Smooth Logistics

Thoroughly plan event logistics, including accommodation options, catering, and onsite management.

✔︎ Foster Interaction

Encourage active participation through Q&A sessions, interactive presentations, and group activities.

✔︎ Gather Feedback

Request feedback from participants to evaluate the success of your seminar and identify areas for improvement.

A well-organized seminar provides a platform for participants to engage, learn, and collaborate within their field of interest. By understanding the core elements of a seminar, implementing interactive techniques, and facilitating meaningful networking, you can create a successful and impactful event. Whether you're a seminar organizer or attendee, embracing the spirit of knowledge sharing and collaboration will ensure a rewarding seminar experience for all involved. So, start planning your next seminar today and unlock its potential for growth and innovation in your field.

If you are interested in learning more about the academic event types you can also check our blog post article " Unraveling the Academic Event Landscape: Congresses vs. Conferences - What Sets Them Apart? "

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If you enjoyed reading this article, please do not forget to share it with your friends.!

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How to Introduce Yourself Before Giving a Seminar

Last Updated: December 23, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Patrick Muñoz . Patrick is an internationally recognized Voice & Speech Coach, focusing on public speaking, vocal power, accent and dialects, accent reduction, voiceover, acting and speech therapy. He has worked with clients such as Penelope Cruz, Eva Longoria, and Roselyn Sanchez. He was voted LA's Favorite Voice and Dialect Coach by BACKSTAGE, is the voice and speech coach for Disney and Turner Classic Movies, and is a member of Voice and Speech Trainers Association. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 415,024 times.

Giving a seminar is an exciting opportunity to share your professional or academic knowledge. No matter who your audience is, begin your presentation with a personal introduction to give the attendees some context about why you’re there. We know how much work goes into preparing for public speaking, so we’ve put together this list of tips to help make introducing yourself a breeze!

Stand up straight.

• This can also help if you’re feeling a little nervous before giving your seminar. A powerful stance helps you feel more confident in yourself as well.

Smile at the attendees.

• Smiling is another thing that can help you feel confident about your presentation before you get into it. This is because it releases endorphins that can calm down anxious feelings.
• Your presentation instantly comes from a very strong place when you start with a big smile, lots of energy, and lots of volume.

Chat with people before the seminar starts.

• For example, if you’re giving a seminar about psychology at a university and you’re up at the front of the classroom with some audience members who are already seated in the front row, you can say something like: “Hi everyone, thanks for coming. Are you all psychology majors?”

Keep your introduction short.

• This is your chance to get the audience’s attention. If you go on too long about yourself before you even get into the content of your seminar, the people might just tune you out right from the start.

Start with your name.

• For example, say something like: “Hi everybody, thank you all so much for coming today. My name is Bob Johnson.”
• If you have any professional titles, such as “Doctor,” include those when you say your name as well.

State your company or profession.

• For instance, say something like: “I’m with Creative Consulting LLC.” Or, say something like: “I work in the marine biology department.”

Say what your specialty is.

• For example, say something along the lines of: “Our specialty is working with new companies to develop their brand’s identity.” Another idea is something like: “My specialty is studying local marine life along Washington’s coast.”

Give an overview of your background.

• For example, you can say: “I studied public relations and journalism at Washington State University and I’ve worked in marketing for almost 10 years now.” Or, say: “I’ve taught marine biology 101 and 209 here on campus for the past 8 years, as well as being involved in the research program for the past 5 years.”

Provide more personal info that you feel is important.

• For instance, you could say: “I’m originally from Canada, but I’ve lived in Washington for half my life now.” Or, say: “When I’m not helping companies with their marketing strategies, I like to go skydiving.”

Introduce your seminar topic.

• For example, say: “In the past decade, we’ve seen a drastic reduction in the native whale populations along Washington’s coast. Today I’m going to compare the current whale activity with that of the 90s, discuss why the population has declined so much, and propose some ways to help the population bounce back over the coming decade.”
• It can be good to introduce your seminar topic intro with an attention-grabbing fact. For instance, if your presentation is about homelessness in Seattle, say: “Every night, more than 3,000 people sleep on the streets of Seattle.”
• It's also helpful to take the audience on a little journey into their won experience. You might start off with a statement like "Think back on your happiest childhood memory..." or "What was the scariest moment of your life?"

Practice your intro ahead of time.

• Your whole intro might go a bit like this: “Hi everyone, thanks so much for coming today. My name is Sarah Ramirez and I’m with Red Door Recruiting. My specialty is recruiting for the finance industry. I studied business at USC and I’ve worked in recruitment for 5 years now. Every year, 25,000 students graduate from our state’s universities and start seeking employment. Today, I want to discuss some of the new platforms and technologies we have for finding and connecting with those new professionals.”

Expert Q&A

Tips from our Readers

• Make eye contact with the audience by looking slightly above people’s heads.
• Be confident in what you have to say!

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Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about introducing yourself, check out our in-depth interview with Patrick Muñoz .

• ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/prefrontal-nudity/201209/standing-confidence
• ↑ https://positivepsychology.com/self-confidence/
• ↑ https://www.apa.org/monitor/2017/02/tips-speaking
• ↑ https://hbr.org/2019/09/to-overcome-your-fear-of-public-speaking-stop-thinking-about-yourself
• ↑ https://hbr.org/2022/08/a-simple-way-to-introduce-yourself
• ↑ https://www.apa.org/members/content/public-speaking
• ↑ https://www.engineering.iastate.edu/ecs/students/the-employment-process/the-employment-process-for-graduate-students/interviewing-as-a-graduate-student/on-site-interviewing/interview-seminar/
• ↑ https://www.luc.edu/media/lucedu/lurop/pdfs/Guide%20to%20Oral%20Presentation%20Introductions.pdf
• ↑ https://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/psn/2019/02/skillful-student

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What is a Seminar? The Complete Guide

If you are in the field of delivering training to at least one organization, you must understand the term seminar. A seminar is a meeting or conference designed to increase awareness of an idea or expand understanding of a topic. 

Seminars frequently feature lectures, discussions, and workshops. If you are wondering “what is a seminar” or “what is it that a seminar can do for you,” then this article is for you. It’s focused on the what, the when, and the why of seminars.

What is a Seminar and How Does It Work?

Seminars are held in a place that is set up with enough room to accommodate all the intended attendees. This venue can either be outdoors, indoors or even in the case of physical causes, it can be done online. 

In education, seminars are used to share information other than acquiring knowledge from the teacher. They are an effective way of passing on other forms of knowledge from different sources. 

A seminar may also have a few group exercises and lectures. However, most of the time is spent listening to presentations. 

What is the Purpose of a Seminar?

1. providing an opportunity to explore a topic in-depth.

A seminar is a live presentation of a set topic where all participants can ask questions and interact to gain a better understanding.

2. To sell products, services, or new projects

Additionally, seminar organizations organize seminars as a means of promoting their products or services to gain new clients. Experts may present seminars with the assistance of multimedia, such as slide projectors.

3. Collaboration, brainstorming, and discussion among participants

4. to serve as a training tool for businesses .

Seminars, when conducted correctly can help organizations learn more about their employees and how to handle specific situations in the workplace. 

5. To meet new people and develop relationships

A seminar can be a branded event hosted by a company or an educational series hosted by a university. They’re common in markets where recruiting and ongoing training are a priority. They can also be used in ongoing professional development.

Seminars help to meet new people and develop relationships within fields of interest.

How Can Seminars Be Used to Enhance the Learning Process?

1. stimulate the imagination of learners.

Seminars in business and education creatively propel learners’ thinking. Yet, when it is time for them to return to their daily activities, they have to regroup their thoughts and assets gained from the seminar. 

2. Experiment with learning styles

Seminars focus on various learning styles and can help in problem-solving and taking informed decisions. In addition to equipping the participants with new skills and tools.

3. Motivate, coach, and empower

A seminar is a session in which you share your knowledge, ideas, and experience with clients to help them. They are generally conducted in a classroom or conference room. 

However recently more organizations are using virtual classrooms that run using interactive whiteboard tools or computers. 

4. Encourage lifelong learning

Seminars allow participants to interact with one another, allowing them to gain insights from their experiences, opinions, and ideas on specific subjects. They can also be used as social events, where friendships are formed and old acquaintances are renewed. 

5. Serve as a vehicle for exploration and discovery

Seminars are often held to inform or educate. These events can serve as a vehicle for exploration and discovery.

In addition, participants might have the opportunity to discuss certain parts of the material presented during breaks or after the seminar is over. This way there is room for the discovery of new things.

What Are the Forms of Seminars Available? 

It is often referred to as a “ face-to-face seminar “. A physical seminar is a live event where people come together to hear what the speaker or teacher has to say. It‘s a formal meeting that usually involves highly focused learning.

Online seminars (Webinars)

Unlike seminars, webinars are delivered online making them cost-effective and convenient for learners located around the world to participate.

What Are the Benefits of Attending a Seminar?

1. acquire new skills and knowledge.

Seminars are designed to help individuals up-skill themselves in an area of expertise. This is achieved through the presentation of various topics featuring new, upcoming, and proven concepts.

Additionally, learning new skills can enable individuals to build up their vocational knowledge which they can use to succeed in their professional careers.

2. You will be able to practice your public speaking

3. gain practical experience in your field, 4. get answers to your questions.

A seminar will answer most, if not all, of your questions. Exhibitors and seminar leaders do their best to address the specific concerns of the audience. Besides, the main purpose of a seminar is to help you learn from industry experts. 

It will answer the questions you have about your work and thus, help you in your journey to the top.

5. Build relationships with people you meet at seminars

Furthermore, networking helps you build lasting relationships with others in your industry. These types of relationships will also help you improve your ventures in any area of life, including business.

What Skills Do You Need for Presenting in a Seminar?

Thankfully, some strategies are easy to implement that can significantly increase the effectiveness of any presentation. Below are some tips on preparing for a seminar.

What Are the Tips to Prepare for a Seminar?

1. know your message.

You’ve done the research; now it’s time to find the audience. The first step in putting together your seminar is to know exactly what you want to say. This isn’t easy if you’re an expert in several areas. 

Ideally, write an outline for each of your speeches and practice them (out loud) to see how they sound. If your message is well-supported by its arguments, it will be easier for you to present.

2. Consider the goal of the audience 

Public seminars can be a great way to get your name out there about what you do. But it is important to be aware of what an audience expects from a seminar. One of the goals of a seminar is to provide information to meet your audience’s needs. 

3. Who will be at the seminar

 Identify who will be attending the seminar before kick-off. This will help you determine the content, activities, or handouts you need to have ready. It also reveals how to best market your seminar as a result. 

4. Anticipate possible questions

Anticipating possible questions from the audience will help you convey your message concisely and effectively.

5. Provide value and remove objections

Give the audience something of value. This might be an offer of free information that has value, or it might be something tangible, like a light lunch or free samples.

How is a seminar different from a conference or symposium?

Who can organize a seminar.

You can organize a seminar when, say, you have a burning topic that you think is important and others should know about.

Or you run an organization that wants to attract more members. Either way, a seminar is a great way to get your name out there.

Final Thoughts 

A seminar is a meeting of people with similar interests, objectives, or professions to discuss issues related to their field. It provides a flexible learning atmosphere that allows participants to interact with one another and with the presenter.

Seminars also allow students to network with other students and professionals in their major or career field.

The blog, LMS Hero provides high-quality information on e-learning and education to the general public as well as experts. You are welcome to explore the blog at your leisure.

Thanks for reading.

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Representing more than 13,500 workers across the midwest, 2024 educational programs: harassment seminar, history presentation, and stewards’ training.

Posted on June 26, 2024 in Local News

Teamsters Local 710 is proud to announce our 2024 member education programs! In addition to our annual Stewards’ Training, we will also conduct a Harassment Seminar and History Program, which will be open to all rank-and-file members.

Space is limited and reserved on a first-come, first-served basis: ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Please complete the appropriate registration form to RSVP ASAP! You will receive a registration receipt upon completion of the form. You will receive a separate email confirming your seat in your chosen program by July 31. If the programs fill up, you will be notified and placed on a wait list.

Stewards’ Training

When: Friday, August 23 through Sunday, August 25, 2024 Where: Local 710 – 9000 W. 187th Street, Mokena, IL 60448

Teamsters Local 710 is proud to offer an interactive training for our Stewards. This 2-day program (plus Friday night reception) will be run by your Local 710 Representatives, attorneys from Willig, Williams, and Davidson, and Sister Karin Jones, IBT Historian. Must be a Union Steward to attend Friday and/or Saturday.

Friday, August 23, 2024 (OPTIONAL) 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Stewards’ Reception

Saturday, August 24, 2024 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Stewards’ Training

Sunday, August 25, 2024 9:00 am to 12:00 pm Harassment Seminar & Teamster History

Harassment Seminar & History Presentation

When: Sunday, August 25, 2024 Where: Local 710 – 9000 W. 187th Street, Mokena, IL 60448

Teamsters Local 710 is proud to offer two programs for all our members! 710 Representatives and attorneys from Willig, Williams, and Davidson will give a presentation on Harassment and how to combat it in your workplace, followed by a Teamster History presentation by IBT Historian Karin Jones.

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How to create an effective customer service presentation (+design tips)

Customer service is one of the most crucial elements of any business. You can have the best product or offer the lowest price, but if your customer service is subpar, it will be challenging to develop and thrive in a competitive landscape. On the other hand, excellent customer service can enhance your brand’s reputation, keep current clients happy, and help attract new ones through referrals.

This is where customer service training becomes a key strategy. And what better way to walk your team members through their responsibilities than with a customer service PowerPoint presentation? Let’s now break down the importance of this type of presentation and how it can help set your business up for success.

What’s a customer service training presentation?

Customer service PPT is a means of educating employees on the principles and best practices of effective customer service. It usually includes slides and visuals that explain how to handle difficult situations or client questions through calls, emails, or face-to-face interactions and explain the importance of good customer service.

Benefits of a customer experience presentation

A thorough understanding of client service expectations and guidelines can set your business up for success in various ways, including:

• More qualified customer support agents

The main purpose of customer service presentations is to train staff members who will be providing service to clients. When properly trained, your employees can complete their responsibilities to company standards and deliver exceptional service to your clients.

• Effective service for your clients

If a customer has a problem and needs someone to listen and help resolve it, but your support team lacks customer service training, it can lead to various issues, including losing them as a customer. On the contrary, when clients receive quality service from your employees across all channels, they feel valued and are more likely to come back or recommend your product or service to someone else.

• Improved brand reputation

Reviews from customers, whether on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, Google, or sites like Sitejabber and Trustpilot, can have both a positive and a negative impact on your business. That’s why putting your customers first and providing excellent service to them can help build a strong reputation and establish your company as an industry leader.

What to put in your presentation on customer service

According to top experts at our PowerPoint design company , your slides have to touch upon the following topics:

• Conflict resolution best practices
• Product/service knowledge
• Communication styles
• Most common customer issues
• Reasons for customer complaints
• Understanding who has authority for specific tasks
• Approaches to building relationships with clients
• Ways to measure success

Here are some key components of a well-crafted PPT presentation on customer service:

• Introduction: An explanation of why customer service is important and how it affects the business.
• Company values & mission: How customer service connects with what the company believes in and aims to achieve.
• Customer service standards: Guidelines on how employees should act when interacting with customers.
• Communication skills: Tips and techniques for effective verbal and non-verbal communication.
• Customer experience: Ways to improve customer service quality and go beyond what they expect.
• Problem-solving: Top methods for resolving clients’ issues and dealing with common complaints.
• Role-playing scenarios: Examples and role-playing activities to help employees practice and get better at customer service.
• Performance metrics: Ways to measure customer service performance and why reacting to feedback is essential.
• Q&A session: An opportunity for employees to ask questions and discuss their concerns or uncertainties.

Now that you know the fundamentals, let’s move on to the top tips for creating an effective PowerPoint customer service presentation.

Expert tips to make your client service presentation more engaging

Creating an engaging presentation on customer services is not easy. If you want your employees to be interested and willing to do what you ask them to, you have to prepare your presentation very carefully and learn how to deliver it in the best way possible. The tips below will help you create slides that catch and hold your employees’ interest so they can engage with the material more effectively and retain the key information faster.

1. Start with a strong opening

This can be anything from a relevant story, statistic, question, or captivating anecdote. Remember, your goal is to hook the audience right from the start.

2. Keep your presentation simple and clear

Organize your thoughts logically, with an introduction, key points, and a solid conclusion. Avoid cluttered slides and complex jargon. Each slide should convey one main idea.

3. Select a consistent color palette and design structure

These should complement your message and branding, not compete with it. Ensure readability by harmonizing colors and employing suitable design elements to emphasize important content.

4. Keep your content concise

You can utilize bullet points, bold text, short phrases, or keywords to convey your message. However, avoid long paragraphs or any unnecessary data on slides.

5. Use visuals

Where appropriate, incorporate engaging images and informative charts to visually represent data and concepts. Remember, visual aids can make complex information more digestible and your presentation more interesting.

6. Include real-life examples

These can be case studies, customer stories, or any other examples your employees can relate to. This way, you’ll make your presentation easier to understand.

7. Engage your audience

Incorporate interactive elements like polls into your presentation. This way, you’ll encourage participation and keep your employees engaged.

8. End with a strong conclusion

Summarize the main points and give the audience a clear call to action. You can also add a memorable closing statement or a quote to reinforce your message.

9. Prepare handouts or resources

Provide handouts, cheat sheets, or additional resources for your employees to take away. This will offer reference material and help them further retain the information presented.

10. Polish your presentation

As the presentation day approaches, give your slides a final look. Review your talking points and make any final tweaks.

• Choose a sans-serif font, such as Helvetica or Arial. Fonts like Palatino and Times New Roman can be harder to read at times.
• Never use a font size of less than 24 points.
• All your headlines should have the same font.
• Use bold and different sizes of fonts for subheadings and captions.
• Every screen should have a clear label. For the title, choose a larger font (35–45 points) or a different color.
• Don’t use more than four fonts in your presentation.
• Choose larger fonts to indicate importance.
• Use different sizes, colors, and styles (e.g., bold) for impact.
• Don’t use too many punctuation marks.
• Avoid italicized fonts and long sentences.
• Refrain from using all caps (except for titles).
• Add a maximum of 6-8 words per line.
• Use the 6 x 6 Rule: one thought or 6 words per line and 6 lines per slide max.
• Either use light text on a dark background or dark text on a light background. However, light backgrounds are preferable.
• Put page numbers and other repeating elements in the same location on each slide.
• Don’t put too many colors on one screen.
• Use no more than four different colors on a single chart.
• Check colors on a projection screen before the presentation, as they can project differently than on your monitor.

Design and graphical elements

• Before designing your presentation, look for customer service presentation ideas online.
• Standardize styles, positions, and colors.
• Keep the details to a minimum and only include essential information.
• Use colors that complement and contrast.
• Keep the presentation background consistent.
• Use a single style for bullets throughout the slide.
• Use one or two large images instead of lots of small ones.
• Make all images the same size when appropriate.
• Arrange images horizontally or vertically.
• Use the same border for all slides.
• Keep the design uncluttered. Leave empty space around graphical images and text.
• Use quality clipart that relates to the slide’s topic.
• Use graphical images of the same style throughout the presentation.
• Use image repetition to reinforce the message.

Remember, a great customer service presentation comprises relevant information, product knowledge, and company-specific employee guidelines, so plan carefully.

If you require professional assistance with your customer service slides, the certified design experts at SlidePeak are here to help. Our dedicated team can tailor a fully editable customer service PowerPoint template for your company and employees so you can easily customize and update it as needed. Google Slides design experts are also available!

All initial consultations are free of charge and confidential, with no obligation to continue. Call now or fill out our online form, and we’ll get back to you in under 15 minutes!

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• Presenting techniques
• 50 tips on how to improve PowerPoint presentations in 2022-2023 [Updated]
• Present financial information visually in PowerPoint to drive results
• Keynote VS PowerPoint
• Types of presentations

• Guide & How to's

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How to create and give a great presentation at a job interview?

How to create a business plan presentation?

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An official website of the United States government

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Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. .

Managing Floodplains for Local, Elected Officials and Executives

The purpose of this 1.5 hour presentation is to help you explain floodplain management to your community’s senior leadership. Ideally, this presentation will persuade them to increase resources for floodplain management in your local area. More resources will help improve your community’s floodplain and support you in your role!

This presentation is designed to be given by any Floodplain Administrator. You don’t need experience teaching or to be an expert in floodplain management. Even if you have limited public speaking experience, you will be a great presenter.

Course Materials

For presenters.

Presenters may download and use the materials provided below.

• Presenter Guide : This guide provides helpful information, notes and tips for delivering the presentation.
• Synopsis of Learning Objectives (by unit) : This plan of instruction provides insight on the design of the presentation, including objectives, delivery options, suggested time plans and additional resources.
• Presenter Evaluation Form : Presenters (or participants) can use this form to tell FEMA if the course was helpful.

For Participants

• Participant Manual : This “takeaway” document allows participants to follow along with presenters and includes space for individual notes along with key points and links to additional resources.

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

• Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)

Contractor, Trade School Among 6 Businesses Joining HSI IMAGE Program to Ensure Compliant Hiring Practices

EL PASO, Texas — Six area businesses joined Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI) IMAGE, or Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers program and another renewed its agreement June 17.

IMAGE assists employers improve their hiring practices and eliminate unauthorized employment. The program is free and serves the business community by strengthening their hiring practices through training and education. It’s a voluntary partnership initiative between the federal government and private sector employers. Businesses that enroll in IMAGE are provided with several trainings and guidance in topics such as anti-discrimination, fraudulent documents, E-Verify, forced labor and an overview on child labor.

HSI El Paso acting Special Agent in Charge Jason T. Stevens signed the certificates on behalf of HSI for the following businesses that have completed the training:

• PC Automated Controls, Inc.
• Mirador Enterprises, Inc.
• Felher Transportation, Inc.
• El Paso Staffing Services, LLC.
• El Paso Trade School, Inc. d/b/a Western Technical College.
• Cano HR Group, LLC.

Patagonian Foods, LLC, doing business as Garufa Argentinean Restaurant, signed a renewal agreement.

Since the program started in 2006, HSI El Paso has partnered with 33 businesses in its area of responsibility, which includes West Texas and New Mexico. The membership is for four years with the option to renew for another four years.

“For us it’s not about catching people doing wrong, but helping people do things right. That’s really what we’re here for,” said Stevens. “While HSI is a member of the law enforcement community, we live and serve in the very community that we protect, and we are happy to serve and help business owners hire and maintain a lawful workforce.”

HSI El Paso leads the nation in IMAGE outreach counts and new IMAGE members for fiscal year 2024. HSI agents and support personnel have conducted 20 IMAGE presentations since Oct. 1, reaching out to approximately 200 businesses.

“Collaborating with the Department of Homeland Security through IMAGE provides our business with helpful resources to ensure our hiring practices comply with employment laws and prevent illegal employment,” said Martha Molinar, human resources director for Western Technical College. “We strive to maintain the highest standards of integrity and professionalism, ensuring a secure and lawful workplace for all our employees.”

Undocumented workers may secure jobs through fraudulent means, such as presenting false documents, completing fraudulent benefit applications, and stealing the identity of legal U.S. workers. The IMAGE program helps combat unlawful employment and reduce vulnerabilities that help undocumented noncitizens gain such employment.

To qualify for IMAGE certification, partners must agree to the following conditions:

• Conduct a self-assessment of their hiring practices to uncover vulnerabilities that could be exploited by unauthorized workers.
• Enroll in E-Verify , an employment eligibility verification program.
• Train staff on IMAGE best employment practices and the use of new screening tools.
• Undergo a Form I-9 audit by HSI.

The IMAGE program was created in July 2006 to assist employers develop a more secure and stable workforce. It also enhances fraudulent document awareness through education and training.

IMAGE now offers a formal membership certification program that focuses on exceptional employers that have the ability to effect change within their industry or region. These employers also serve as an example and role model in the business community while highlighting the importance and viability of immigration compliance.

All IMAGE members must participate in the Department of Homeland Security E-Verify employment eligibility verification program. Through this program, employers can verify that newly hired employees are eligible to work in the United States. This internet-based system is available throughout the nation and is free to employers. It provides an automated link to the Social Security Administration database and DHS immigration records.

Upon enrollment in and commitment to the IMAGE best employment practices, program participants are deemed “IMAGE certified,” a distinction DHS and HSI believe will become an industry standard. IMAGE also provides free training to all employers on the provisions surrounding their Forms I-9 fraudulent document detection and building a solid immigration compliance model.

IMAGE members will also learn about the importance of avoiding discrimination in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act’s anti-discrimination provision.

The U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division Immigrant and Employee Rights Section enforces the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This statute prohibits discrimination in hiring, firing or recruitment or referral for a fee that is based on an individual's national origin or citizenship status. The statute also prohibits discrimination during the employment eligibility verification (Form I-9 and E-Verify) process (document abuse), and retaliation or intimidation.

IMAGE Training Presentations

HSI El Paso conducts IMAGE training presentations. The training sessions are free to employers after making a reservation.

For more information, El Paso business owners should contact the HSI El Paso IMAGE coordinator at 915-857-6150 or 915-857-6370 .

Learn more about HSI El Paso’s mission and investigations in your community at @HSIElPaso .

HSI is the principal investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security, responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel and finance move. HSI’s workforce consists of over 10,000 employees, assigned to 235 offices within the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI's international presence represents the Department of Homeland Security’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.

• Law Enforcement
• Employment Verification
• Forced Labor
• Law Enforcement Partnership