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15 Ways to Develop Better YouTube Presentation Skills

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In this article I’ll show you how to can improve your YouTube presentation skills.

In fact, I’m sharing 15 tips that have helped over 580 of my real-world clients and thousands of my online students. Enabling them to speak with confidence and clarity when previously they thought, “ I can’t speak on camera “.

Almost all these tips will cost you nothing. But when you apply them, they will bring you actual results.

So, let’s get started.

The most common reason for people not making videos is that they are nervous about turning the camera on themselves. It’s a frequent problem. And it’s easy to convince yourself that you can’t speak on camera.

That’s why I have 15 strategies to calm your anxiety in front of the lens to improve your YouTube presentation skills. At the end of the article, I also have a video that features many of the video presentation tips I will be talking about.

In a Hurry? Click on any of the items in the following list to go directly to that tip.

• Be prepared and know your subject .
• Use a teleprompter .
• Keep things as normal and familiar as possible.
• Slow down. Don’t rush to try to get to the end quickly.
• Avoid strenuous exercise immediately before filming.
• Do one or two stretches and warm-up exercises to loosen up your shoulder and neck muscles.
• Don’t worry about being judged. Ignore haters and embrace your fans.
• Imagine that you are speaking to a friend who is behind the camera.
• Use the chocolate bar method of filming. Record one chunk at a time and you’ll soon finish it all .
• Practice and familiarize yourself with the script before recording.
• Don’t try to be a TV presenter, just be yourself.
• Make changes to the script to make it your own.
• Comfortable clothing will help make you feel less awkward.
• Get a friend to join you in front of the camera.
• Accept that you don’t need to be perfect.  

Table of Contents

1. Be prepared and know your subject

The first and the most important tip of all is to know your stuff.

If it is your area of expertise, you may not need to do as much preparation. But if the topic is less familiar to you, make sure you brush up on the subject so that you can speak confidently and not worry that you can’t speak on camera.

Whether you are an expert in the field or a relative novice, always prepare a bullet list of what you want to say.

It does not always have to be a written list; it could just be a mental note to yourself. But I prefer to work with a physical list placed close to the camera lens.

The bullet list is a kind of security blanket, allowing you to calm your presentation nerves. You will know that you will cover all the necessary points and in the correct order.

The list assures you that the structure of the video is as you intended rather than in the order you remembered the points.

Knowing that you are on top of your subject matter and properly prepared will give you confidence in front of the camera.

If instead, you are unprepared and you know you are going to have to fill your video with fluff and repetition, subconsciously that will make you feel uncomfortable and nervous.

So, prepare, know your stuff, and give your viewer value with the quality of your content. Adopting that approach will help calm your nerves in front of the camera. This really will help you with your YouTube presentation skills

2. Use a teleprompter

A written script is a step up from a bullet list. It is a huge help if you find it difficult to speak unprompted or if you need to use precise technical words or phrases.

It can be stressful trying to remember your lines, but a teleprompter makes the process a lot easier.

You could go down the route of getting a professional teleprompter with a beam splitter, but it really isn’t necessary.

Provided you have at least 6.5ft (2m) between you and the camera, you can use a teleprompter app on an iPad.

Place the iPad next to or above the camera lens and at 6ft or more. At that distance, no one will notice you’re not looking directly into the lens.

Download a teleprompter app that is either voice-activated or has a remote control. This will ensure you will be less stressed.

With this kind of teleprompter, you won’t have to worry about keeping up or running out of words.

If you feel you can’t speak on camera, getting a teleprompter will go a long way to change your mind.

3. Keep things as normal as possible

Making videos may be a whole new world to you. But if you can keep things as normal as possible, you’ll find it a whole lot less stressful.

In other words, rather than stepping into an alien world of video production, try and bring video into your world.

Shoot your video in your office or lounge.

If possible, avoid lots of fancy lights that can be distracting and off-putting.

Choose clothing and makeup that you would normally wear. It will help normalize the situation.

Little things can make you feel a lot more comfortable. So, take time to incorporate them into your preparation for the shoot if you want to up your YouTube presentation skills.

4. Slow down

One huge giveaway that you’re nervous is speaking quickly, or at least quicker than normal.

Behind the break-neck pace is the thought that the quicker you go, the sooner you’ll be finished.

The faster you got, the more likely you will stumble over your own words.

So don’t do it.

Keeping the pace relaxed will make it easier for you to get the script right. Plus, your audience will also find it easier to follow what you’re saying.

So, before you start, close your eyes, and take a couple of deep breaths. Now open your eyes and look up into the lens of the camera. You’ll be more relaxed and can start speaking calmly and at a measured pace.

5. Don’t overexert yourself before filming

If you’re still worried that you can’t speak on camera, my fourth tip is not to overexert yourself just before filming.

Your pulse rate, respiration, and perspiration will be elevated after strenuous exercise. None of which will help you relax.

You’ll be conscious of heavy breathing, being flushed and perspiring and you won’t be able to appear calm in front of the camera.

If you are in that state take a few minutes to relax, cool down, and get yourself looking good.

Only then should you roll the camera.

6. Do a few warm-up exercises

Strenuous exercise is out of the question, but you can do some light warm-up exercises.

A few stretches will help you relax.

Rotate your shoulders and neck to loosen up.

Then try some breathing exercises. Close your eyes and breathe in and out slowly, concentrating on the rise and fall. Don’t try rapid breathing, you’re not trying to hyperventilate.

7. Don’t worry about being judged

You may be getting anxious because you think your viewers will judge you. I would like to say that they won’t, but they will.

The way you look, sound and dress will be noticed. It’s going to happen whatever you do, and there’s nothing you can do about it. So, if you can’t do anything to prevent it, don’t even worry about it. Just try and get over it.

Most of your viewers are not going to be judgemental. They’re watching because they want to hear what you have to say, whether it’s to learn from you or be entertained by you.

So, if someone makes a negative comment, don’t get anxious.

You’re never going to please everyone.

Develop a thick skin and accept that some people will hate you. Then embrace the viewers who love you because they WILL want to hear from you.

You will never please everyone, so don’t try. If you do, try to please everyone you’ll become bland and boring. You’ll no longer be the remarkable voice that you are.

So, chill. Relax. Be yourself. Your fans will love you for it.

8. Imagine you’re speaking to a friend

I’ll admit it. When I first had to speak at a seminar it was a little bit daunting.

So, I can understand that the thought of speaking to a large video audience can be scary.

Instead of thinking that you’re talking to a huge video audience, imagine you’re speaking to an individual behind the camera.

Better still. Imagine the individual is a friend, and you’re explaining something.

That’s a much less stressful situation than imagining you are talking to a huge crowd. After all, you have conversations every day without getting stressed. So, you CAN do it in front of a camera.

The truth is that it’s easier than real-world conversations. If you make a mistake in front of the camera you can stop and start again.

9. Use the chocolate bar method of filming

The more complicated you make the video shoot the more worried you will become.

So keep it super simple.

For instance, don’t give yourself too much to remember, whether that be what you have to say or do.

This especially applies to your first few videos where you are just learning how to do the basics.

Your video is likely to be at least a minute or two long. That can seem like forever and intimidate you into not starting.

But what if your video was just 10sec long?

I bet you could manage to record something as short as 10sec.

Now, if you can do a 10sec video, you can do a minute, five-minute, or ten-minute video. Moreover, it wouldn’t be any more stressful than doing a short 10sec video.

I know. You’re thinking, how’s that possible ?

It’s quite simple and relies on the fact that viewers, unlike traditional video professionals, don’t care about jump cuts. That’s where you seem to shift position between lines.

So, break up your script into short 5 or 10sec sections, that’s about 12 – 25 words respectively. Then record your video one section at a time or one chunk at a time.

You’ll feel a lot less anxious knowing there are just one or two lines to record at a time. That removes the pressure of thinking you must get to the end of a long script and be word perfect.

Record your script as short paragraphs or even phrases.

I call it the Chocolate Bar method of filmmaking.

You bite off one chunk at a time and you’ll get it all finished in no time.

When you come to edit your footage just cut the sections together.

Sure, there will be small jumps in your position, but your audience won’t care. It’s your amazing content they want, not Hollywood production values.

Record in short chunks and relax. It’s just like eating chocolate.

10. Practice and familiarize yourself with the script

We worry if the future is uncertain but feel happy and relaxed if we know what’s coming next. It’s the same when you’re presenting your videos.

Because you’re unsure of what’s coming up that gets you anxious. The greater your anxiety the more likely you’ll make a mistake and convince yourself that you can’t present your YouTube video.

The obvious answer is to read your script in advance.

Don’t read it in your head, read it aloud. You’ll understand where you need to slow down, where to add emphasis and what you need to stress.

You’re not trying to learn your lines; you just need to know what to anticipate. Consequently, you will feel more relaxed and present the script, so it sounds more natural.

Having had a practice, you will feel much more confident when the camera starts to roll.

11. Just be yourself

You’re not a TV presenter, so don’t try and be a fake one.

Some of your audience may even know you and think it’s weird if you put on a completely different persona.

Pretending to be someone you are not takes acting skill. Unless you’re an actor make it as easy for yourself as possible.

Just be yourself.

You know how to do that, so you’ll find presenting is much easier and you’ll be less awkward in front of the camera.

12. Mark up the script and make it your own

Make the script your own, especially if someone else has written it for you.

This is a YouTube presentation skill that’s about reading someone else’s words making them your own.

Adjust the words and phrasing so it sounds natural to you.

Speaking in ‘your own voice’ will seem easier and be more comfortable while presenting to camera.

Don’t include words that you wouldn’t normally use. It won’t sound like you and you’ll feel awkward and uncomfortable speaking that way.

So, make slight changes to the script to keep your performance natural and real.

13. Comfortable clothing with make you feel less awkward

This is one of those YouTube presentation skills that’s about making sure you feel comfortable.

Choose clothing that you feel comfortable in. Clothing that makes you feel good and confident.

If you feel awkward wearing a jacket collar and tie, that will show through, and you’ll appear awkward on-screen.

So, wear what you feel comfortable in to help dispel your anxiety.

14. Get a friend to help boost your YouTube presentation skills

You’ve probably heard the saying, ‘there’s strength in numbers’. Well, it can apply to your performance in front of the camera.

If feeling nervous about filming is a problem, remember that a problem shared is a problem halved.

What’s that?

Invite a friend to join you in the video. Do the video with a co-presenter or even as an interview.

If you decide to work with a co-presenter, it’s easy to get out of situations when you feel yourself drying up. If you feel stuck for what to say next, hand over to your partner. Do it in a natural way rather than just stopping though .

You could ask them for their opinion about what you just said or ask them if they have anything to add. There are many ways of handing over to your co-presenter. You could even ask them what’s coming up next.

Just like a script or cue cards are a safety net for you, having a co-presenter can work in the same way. If necessary, they ca n pick up the narrative while you get a chance to consider what to say next.

With a co-presenter, you don’t have to work to a fixed script.

The video could be recorded as a kind of conversation between the two of you. Each of you contributing your opinions on the topic you’re covering.

Or you could get your friend to interview you. Whether it’s a conversation or interview it will be easy to talk or answer questions because you know your subject.

Another advantage of working with someone else is that if either of you starts to ramble, the other is there to bring the conversation back to the topic of the piece and drive the video forward.

You will also potentially come up with more ideas for videos and how to do them if you work with another presenter. You can bounce ideas off each other and constructively criticize each other. It’s a fast track to boosting those YouTube presentation skills.

15. Accept that you’re not perfect

Finally, my fifteenth tip to improve your YouTube presentations skills is to allow yourself to be imperfect. Allow yourself to make mistakes.

By accepting that you don’t have to be perfect, you will make fewer mistakes. It may sound strange, but the acceptance of imperfection lifts a huge burden from your shoulders. You can then get on with presenting the video without it turning into a terrifying experience.

If you insist on getting everything right, you will keep stopping and become frustrated by every tiny mistake. In the past I even found myself stopping mid-sentence because in my head I thought I was about to make a mistake.

Incidentally, what you think is a mistake will often go unnoticed by your audience. As creators, we care about every detail. But the audience is not as critical as us. Furthermore, they aren’t looking for your mistakes. What they really want is your content, that’s what matters to them.

So just do your best, ignore any stumbles, and keep going. Knowing you can carry on will keep you calm, relaxed, and more productive. Being natural and real will be easier for you and your viewers will appreciate it.

Watch my video to help with YouTube presentation skills

As I mentioned at the start of the article, I’ve also recorded a video about improving your YouTube presentation skills and calming your presentation nerves.

Tosh Lubek runs an audio and video production business in the UK and has been using the Canon EOS R since it was released in the Autumn of 2018 and the Canon EOS R6 in 2020. He has used both cameras to shoot TV commercials broadcast on Sky TV, promotional business videos, videos of events and functions, and YouTube creator content. He has also won several international awards for his advertising and promotional work. You can meet him by visiting his “video booth” at HashTag Business Events across the country.

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How to give more persuasive presentations: A Q&A with Nancy Duarte

Stepping onto the TED or TEDx stage — or speaking in front of any group of people, for that matter — is truly nerve-wracking. Will you remember everything you wanted to say, or get so discombobulated that you skip over major points? Will the audience be receptive to your ideas, or will you notice a guy in row three nodding off to sleep?

Presentation expert Nancy Duarte , who gave the TED Talk “ The secret structure of great talks ,” has built her career helping people express their ideas in presentations. The author of  Slide:ology  and  Resonate , Duarte has just released a new book through the Harvard Business Review:  The HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations .

What would you say are the three keys to giving a great presentation?

The number one thing, I think, is to be audience-centric. To take the time to think through who the audience is and develop all your material from a place of empathy toward them. You’re asking them to adopt your idea, which means they may have to abandon a belief they hold as true — and that’s hard. So, know your audience — take a walk in their shoes. What keeps them up at night? How are they wired to resist your message? Most presenters are consumed with preparing their content rapidly, which makes the material about their own narrow perspective. By flipping that paradigm to an audience-centric approach, your material will resonate and the audience can feel a deeper connection to you and your material.

Number two, you need to understand your role in the presentation. So many people feel like they’re the central figure — kind of like the hero of the story — because they’re the one talking the most. But in reality, your role is that of a mentor — you should be giving the audience a magical gift or a special tool, or helping them get unstuck in some way. You have to defer to your audience. When you put your idea out there for an audience to contend with — if they reject your idea, your idea will die. You have to think of it as, “The speaker needs the audience more than the audience needs the speaker.” Then you’ll start to approach a material with your audience in mind – you’ll have more of a stance of humility than one of arrogance. That will help you create the kind of movement needed to get your idea to spread.

And then the third thing — wrap your content in story. A story serves like the sugarcoating on the outside of a pill in some ways — it just makes it go down easier. If you look at preliterate generations for thousands and thousands of years, stories would pass down for generation after generation after generation — and stay almost completely intact. Yet, a lot of people can’t remember the last presentation they sat through. So, using principles of story — the tension and release that happens in a story — that’s what will help persuade the audience toward your idea.

What do you feel like you learned from giving your own TED Talk?

I learned so much. Being the “Presentation Lady,” I knew I couldn’t suck at it. The hardest part was getting [my talk] to fit within this finite amount of time. So I trimmed and trimmed, keeping in mind that you still have to nail why this is important to the audience. I had a person coach me and point out places where I could trim. “You took too long here, and that made this part of emphasis too long.” I worked with the timer counting up until I knew I was within the time window — then what I did was work with the timer counting down so I’d know, “When I’m a fourth of the way through, I should be on this slide. When I’m halfway through, I need to be on this slide.” I created markers in my mind so I would know how I was running on time. Sure enough, I finished the talk and I had six seconds left on the clock.

It was a great experience for me because I hadn’t gone through it myself. I’d coached people through it but — wow — to actually be a victim was interesting. I learned the power of rehearsing. If you rehearse really, really, really well — it looks improvisational. Some people rehearse to a point where they’re robotic, and they sound like they have memorized their presentation and didn’t take it to the next level. Going from sounding memorized and canned to sounding natural is a lot of work.

So, the classic advice for stage fright is to imagine the audience in their underwear. What do you recommend people do to calm their nerves?

I don’t usually get nervous, but when I got on [the TED] stage, I was nervous because it’s pretty high stakes. I recommend doing some breathing exercises — breathe in as deep as you can, and then take a couple more big gasps. Then, release it really slowly. That calms my heart down. But my favorite piece of advice isn’t my own — it’s from a guy named Nick Morgan. He said, “What you need to do right before you walk on stage is think of someone that you love dearly.” Doing that, I felt the chemistry in my whole body change. My shoulders relaxed and my heart melted. That feeling of affection makes your body calm itself down. That’s a really great way to stop stage fright.

What is the best way to start creating a presentation?

My best advice is to not start in PowerPoint. Presentation tools force you to think through information linearly, and you really need to start by thinking of the whole instead of the individual lines. I encourage people to use 3×5 note cards or sticky notes — write one idea per note. I tape mine up on the wall and then study them. Then I arrange them and rearrange them — just work and work until the structure feels sound. And from that sound structure, you start to fill it in using a presentation tool.

[For visuals], I think people tend to go with the easiest, fastest idea. Like, “I’m going to put a handshake in front of a globe to mean partnership!” Well, how many handshakes in front of a globe do we have to look at before we realize it’s a total cliche? Another common one — the arrow in the middle of a bullseye. Really? Everyone else is thinking that way. The slides themselves are supposed to be a mnemonic device for the audience so they can remember what you had to say. They’re not just a teleprompter for the speaker. A bullseye isn’t going to make anyone remember anything. Don’t go for the first idea. Think about the point you’re trying to make and brainstorm individual moments that you’re trying to emphasize. Think to the second, the third, the fourth idea — and by the time you get to about the tenth idea, those will be the more clever memorable things for the audience.

One thing that is really different about giving a TED Talk is the fact that you know it will be filmed. How do you think about the difference between live presentations and ones that will exist on video?

On stage, it feels really awkward to do large movements because — normally in life — we’re talking to someone in a more intimate setting and moving your arms really big feels melodramatic. But on the stage, you have to move your body in really big gestures. It feels awkward at first if you’re not used to it, so you have to kind of close your eyes and get used to it. Say things and move largely. Take big bold steps forward, big bold steps backward. You have this grand stage and people don’t use the space enough. I think one of the great things that Jill Bolte Taylor did was how she used her body. Her arms stretched all the way up when she talked about nirvana. Then she when she talks about her whole soul feeling constricted, she brings her hands down and folds her arms down in front of her. She’s using her body as a prop. That’s an important way to create meaning.

Also, with video, a tech rehearsal is important. Your audience on video is exponentially larger than the people in the room. So by familiarizing yourself with the cameras, you can at least look in that general direction. You know how you’re supposed to look around the audience — look and hold for five seconds, look and hold for five seconds? You should look at the camera as if it’s a human. Get used to seeing that circular lens as a face. Feel like it’s a person you’re talking to, because that audience on camera needs to feel like they’re there and that you’re looking right at them.

To me, presentations are the most powerful device. You can’t really name a movement that didn’t start with the spoken word. TED was once this exclusive, amazing event where ideas were exchanged, but you’ve moved to treating presentations as a media type. You guys have been so refined at it, that what it’s done is created a movement. What TED has done is made a platform for introverts, for scientists, for inventors — to share their ideas in a way that’s clear and appeals to a broad audience so that their ideas spread and get adopted. It’s completely changed how people present. It’s created this desire to be excellent in communication.

When you look at even how businesses communicated in the ’30’s, ’40’s and ’50’s — they were so much clearer and well-crafted. I recently went to the Stanford Library and I got a bunch of old GE Board meetings from, like, 1957. And I thought, “These are so beautiful!” Their presentations referenced history, they quoted things, they crafted their words in such a beautiful way. Then PowerPoint entered into the mix and suddenly there wasn’t any desire to craft anymore. I think TED Talks have brought the desire for the craft back.

Your new book is from the Harvard Business Review. Is it intended for someone who is in business, or for anyone?

All of my books are for anyone who has an idea that they need to communicate! I loved working with Harvard Business Review and I think because of the publisher, business professionals may be more interested in this book. But anyone with an idea can benefit from it. It’s a guidebook, so that people can think, “Oh, I need to know how to do this specific thing. I’m going to go get this book and find that one thing.”

Want more advice on giving talks? Our curator Chris Anderson is writing the official TED guide to public speaking —to be published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in spring 2016. Titled Talk This Way! , it will be packed with insights on what makes talks work.

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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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• Inspiration

17 fun presentation ideas (with video!) to wow your audience

• 30 Mar 2023

So you want to be the next Steve Jobs. Or Martin Luther King. Or any other dazzling orator you look up to. But you need a little something to add to your presentation ideas – you don’t want to bore people to death with Powerpoint.

Whether you’re creating a sales presentation, an event presentation, or just showing your travel video to Uncle Ron, we’ve compiled some of the best ways to get your audience seriously hyped up about your message.

Biteable offers online video presentation software, so we know a thing or two about making engaging presentation videos. In this guide, we share some of our favorite video presentation inspiration and show you some of the different types of presentations you might consider.

When you’re ready to make your own video presentation, head over to  Biteable  for hundreds of brandable templates, video scenes, and workplace-ready animations. With Biteable, making a video presentation is as easy as making a PowerPoint – only a whole lot more fun.

Create videos that drive action

Activate your audience with impactful, on-brand videos. Create them simply and collaboratively with Biteable.

Types of video presentations

If you’re looking to win over your audience with a presentation, videos are the best way to do it. According to Insivia, viewers retain  95% of a message  when they see it in a video, but only 10% if they have to read on-screen text.

When you’re making your presentation, you could either make your video the whole presentation, or just a part of the whole. Did you know, for example, that you can  embed a video in a Powerpoint document?  Either is possible with our video templates and it can be interesting to mix things up once in a while.

There are four main types of presentations:

• Informative
• Demonstrative
• Inspirational

Picking the right one will ensure you’re onto a winner with your video presentation. For example, if you’re onboarding some new employees, you might choose a video template that’s an informative presentation like this one:

Or, if you want to show off how something works, a demonstration presentation might be what you want to create:

A persuasive presentation would involve creating a video more like this charity infographic example:

And if you want something a little more inspirational, try something like this positive quote video template.

But that’s not all, folks! If you’d like to check out more awesome Biteable video templates, visit our  templates page here .

Creative (and fun!) video presentation ideas

You’ve now picked the type of presentation you need. But how do you get creative with your video?

First of all, it’s important your video is top-notch. Without high-quality graphics and production value, your message may fall by the wayside. Choose online  video presentation software  that’s easy to use and makes great-looking videos. That’s where Biteable comes in.

Whatever the topic of your presentation, your video format and design need to match the overall tone and message.

Delivering a corporate presentation on climate change? A fast-paced, wildly colorful template with upbeat music is going to feel a little off-message.

To identify how to design your presentation, think about the feelings you want to evoke in your audience. Want them to be crying with laughter? Moved to tears? Motivated into taking action? Pinpointing the emotions behind your presentation will help you choose the right template and make the best video possible.

17 great video presentation ideas

Now you’ve nailed down the type of video presentation you want to make, it’s time to master the finer details. Here’s just some of the ways you can make your message sing.

1. Start with a bold statement

A bold statement can capture your audience’s attention right from the get-go. Your statement should offer something slightly unusual and maybe even a little controversial. Something to make people sit up and take notice.

2. Tell a story

One of the best ways to get your audience’s attention is to tell a story – it’ll hit them right in the feels.

A personal, human story works because it the audience can relate to it on a personal level. Think about some stand-out examples of human stories that relate to your business or idea, and tell that story so people will connect with the central character. The bigger the emotion the better: love, longing, overcoming obstacles, things we’ve all had to deal with at some point in our lives.

Think about the  ‘story arc’  – how will you frame your message so the audience immediately empathizes?

If you’re selling trainers, perhaps you’ll talk about someone who’s training for a marathon. If you’re lobbying for women’s rights, perhaps you’ll tell a story of when a passing comment affected you deeply. Maybe you should think back to the decision that started your business, and start your presentation with that.

Here’s a great example of storytelling from one of the world’s top brands:

3. Use music

Music has great power to support and enhance the emotion in a video presentation, and has been proven to sustain an audience’s attention and aid in information retention. Music is used in movies to suggest an emotional state to the viewer, so why not in a video presentation?

Modern, up-tempo music will snap people to attention at the right moment, while slow, minor-key sounds relax the brain, which is useful for reviewing content so it can slip more easily into long-term memory.

It can be a struggle to find good quality  royalty free music , but here at Biteable we have a selection of great royalty free tracks (or you can upload your own if you’re that way inclined).

Music is one of the most critical (and often overlooked) aspects of any presentation. Here’s a good example of a Biteable template where the music does a great job of supporting the message.

4. Visual metaphor

Research has shown that combining pictures and text is one of the best ways to help people engage with and retain information. There’s something about how our brain works that makes text by itself far less memorable, so if you can combine something visual with your message, you’ll keep people’s attention longer and they’ll remember more of your presentation.

Talking to a group of people about taking action on something that scares them? A picture of someone diving or bungee jumping could work. Telling your boss how important that company retreat is next year? Show them an image of happy, relaxed people with their toes in the sand.

It doesn’t have to be obvious and clichéd, either. Closed doors, wide open roads, and lighting a candle all have subconscious messages that you don’t really need to explain. (Whatever you do, just don’t use the ultimate cliche: the overused  ‘water ripple’ .)

5. Use questions

Questions can be a great way to open a presentation, because they encourage the audience to think for themselves. It opens them up to a realm of critical thinking, which is perfect when you’re gonna sock it to them with your impactful message.

‘Did you know 15 billion trees are cut down each year?’

‘Have you ever considered what life would be like if you didn’t have to save money?’

The art of asking questions in a presentation means you can incorporate them into your video as a great lead-in. Combined with some appropriate music, it can really get your audience thinking about the issue, and then you’ll go on to explain exactly what your solution is.

Having a laugh can really do a lot to win over an audience. There’s no need to be too serious, and even if you’re dealing with a heavy topic, lightening the mood can work wonders.

Whether you’re looking to create a funny sales video, an event presentation, or a presentation for an interview — one thing’s for sure, you can’t go wrong by including humor.

7. Repetition

Simple. Effective. Powerful.

Repetition can be used in several ways: by offering several one-word sentences in a row (the repetition is in the rhythm), or by repeating a word or a key phrase several time throughout your presentation.

In his famous Stanford speech in 2005, for example, Steve Jobs concluded by saying  “Stay hungry. Stay foolish.”

Repetition is powerful. It drives home your key message and strengthens your position.

8. Motion Graphics

Motion graphics  are basically animation with text as a major component, and is a staple of what we do at Biteable.

When you use moving graphics in a presentation, it instantly captures attention. If your audience is just taking their seats, or are halfway through hearing your story, there’s no doubt they’ll sit up and take notice if you introduce some cool motion graphics, like this Meeting Tips example.

Although they can sometimes feel clichéd, quotes are a great way to impart a message in a presentation. Want your audience to understand something complex? A quote from Einstein should do it. Or would you like to say something meaningful and poetic? A couple of lines of Shakespeare should convey some wisdom.

10. Audio narration

Narration can give a different mood to your presentation, especially if the voice is powerful and the words are heartfelt. Use it to change the tone or pace of your presentation and it will certainly keep your audience hooked if there’s a danger of them losing interest.

11. Go bright with color

Color can have a huge effect on how your video comes across. Don’t be afraid to experiment. The contrasts of black and white can be extremely effective, but you can also grab people’s attention with some carefully-chosen primary and secondary colors, like in our Motion Graphics template.

12. Use illustrations

Illustrations are a great way to communicate information, especially if you’ve got lots to say. Whether you want to create a crowd of people or a cool depiction of some new fancy gadget, illustrations can draw the eye and make your presentation more interesting.

13. Infographics

When you utilize infographics, you can pack in a huge amount of data and information without confusing your audience. Think pie charts, digital numbers, and ascending animated graphs. These can show your audience boring data in an exciting way.

14. Create interesting transitions

The one advantage of video over a standard presentation is that you can do all types of funky things with transitions, like a whip pan transition, when the camera quickly pans between scenes. It’s a bit like a wipe, but much faster. Check out our full article on transitions  here .

15. Make it look cinematic

Adding a cinematic touch can help your audience feel receptive to your message because subconsciously, they will associate these elements with being at the cinema, eating popcorn, and generally having a good time.

16. Go retro

A cool, retro look for your presentation will make it hard to ignore. By going retro, you add a little bit of cheeky style to your message. You don’t need to go  quite as retro as the template below, but taking a step back in time is a sure way to add a little bit of zing to things.

17. End on a meaningful note

Your presentation will only give your audience a lasting impression if you end it right.

It’s important to let the audience know what you want them to do next: to visit a website for more information, to ponder an idea or new direction, or to take action toward a particular goal.

An attention-grabbing visual will work really well here, along with a meaningful end to the music – a change of pace, volume, or pitch.

What’s the takeaway message? A strong CTA (call to action) will ensure your presentation is memorable and much more likely to be talked about.

Video brings your presentation alive

Of course, we’re a little biased here at Biteable, but we’ve also sat through enough mind-numbingly dull presentations to know that video offers a delightful treat for your audience. It brings your message to life in a way no other medium can.

Ready to start crafting your presentation? Check out our range of templates  here .

Make stunning videos with ease.

Take the struggle out of team communication.

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20 Great Examples of PowerPoint Presentation Design [+ Templates]

Published: January 17, 2024

When it comes to PowerPoint presentation design, there's no shortage of avenues you can take.

While all that choice — colors, formats, visuals, fonts — can feel liberating, it‘s important that you’re careful in your selection as not all design combinations add up to success.

In this blog post, I’m sharing some of my favorite PowerPoint tips and templates to help you nail your next presentation.

Table of Contents

What makes a good PowerPoint presentation?

Powerpoint design ideas, best powerpoint presentation slides, good examples of powerpoint presentation design.

In my opinion, a great PowerPoint presentation gets the point across succinctly while using a design that doesn't detract from it.

Here are some of the elements I like to keep in mind when I’m building my own.

1. Minimal Animations and Transitions

Believe it or not, animations and transitions can take away from your PowerPoint presentation. Why? Well, they distract from the content you worked so hard on.

A good PowerPoint presentation keeps the focus on your argument by keeping animations and transitions to a minimum. I suggest using them tastefully and sparingly to emphasize a point or bring attention to a certain part of an image.

2. Cohesive Color Palette

I like to refresh my memory on color theory when creating a new PowerPoint presentation.

A cohesive color palette uses complementary and analogous colors to draw the audience’s attention and help emphasize certain aspects at the right time.

10 Free PowerPoint Templates

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• Creative templates.
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It‘s impossible for me to tell you the specific design ideas you should go after in your next PowerPoint, because, well, I don’t know what the goal of your presentation is.

Luckily, new versions of PowerPoint actually suggest ideas for you based on the content you're presenting. This can help you keep up with the latest trends in presentation design .

PowerPoint is filled with interesting boilerplate designs you can start with. To find these suggestions, open PowerPoint and click the “Design” tab in your top navigation bar. Then, on the far right side, you'll see the following choices:

Creative PowerPoint (Template)

I like how this presentation template uses bright colors and plenty of white space to convey a modern but fun design. Organic shapes and geometric lines and patterns add an extra visual element (and personality) to the slides. Get it here .

This simplistic presentation example employs several different colors and font weights, but instead of coming off as disconnected, the varied colors work with one another to create contrast and call out specific concepts.

What I like: The big, bold numbers help set the reader's expectations, as they clearly signify how far along the viewer is in the list of tips.

10. “Pixar's 22 Rules to Phenomenal Storytelling,” Gavin McMahon

This presentation by Gavin McMahon features color in all the right places. While each of the background images boasts a bright, spotlight-like design, all the characters are intentionally blacked out.

What I like: This helps keep the focus on the tips, while still incorporating visuals. Not to mention, it's still easy for me to identify each character without the details. (I found you on slide eight, Nemo.)

11. “Facebook Engagement and Activity Report,” We Are Social

Here's another great example of data visualization in the wild.

What I like: Rather than displaying numbers and statistics straight up, this presentation calls upon interesting, colorful graphs, and charts to present the information in a way that just makes sense.

12. “The GaryVee Content Model,” Gary Vaynerchuk

This wouldn‘t be a true Gary Vaynerchuk presentation if it wasn’t a little loud, am I right?

What I like: Aside from the fact that I love the eye-catching, bright yellow background, Vaynerchuk does a great job of incorporating screenshots on each slide to create a visual tutorial that coincides with the tips. He also does a great job including a visual table of contents that shows your progress as you go .

13. “20 Tweetable Quotes to Inspire Marketing & Design Creative Genius,” IMPACT Branding & Design

We‘ve all seen our fair share of quote-chronicling presentations but that isn’t to say they were all done well. Often the background images are poor quality, the text is too small, or there isn't enough contrast.

Well, this professional presentation from IMPACT Branding & Design suffers from none of said challenges.

What I like: The colorful filters over each background image create just enough contrast for the quotes to stand out.

14. “The Great State of Design,” Stacy Kvernmo

This presentation offers up a lot of information in a way that doesn't feel overwhelming.

What I like: The contrasting colors create visual interest and “pop,” and the comic images (slides 6 through 12) are used to make the information seem less buttoned-up and overwhelming.

15. “Clickbait: A Guide To Writing Un-Ignorable Headlines,” Ethos3

Not going to lie, it was the title that convinced me to click through to this presentation but the awesome design kept me there once I arrived.

What I like: This simple design adheres to a consistent color pattern and leverages bullet points and varied fonts to break up the text nicely.

16. “Digital Transformation in 50 Soundbites,” Julie Dodd

This design highlights a great alternative to the “text-over-image” display we've grown used to seeing.

What I like: By leveraging a split-screen approach to each presentation slide, Julie Dodd was able to serve up a clean, legible quote without sacrificing the power of a strong visual.

17. “Fix Your Really Bad PowerPoint,” Slide Comet

When you‘re creating a PowerPoint about how everyone’s PowerPoints stink, yours had better be terrific. The one above, based on the ebook by Seth Godin, keeps it simple without boring its audience.

What I like: Its clever combinations of fonts, together with consistent color across each slide, ensure you're neither overwhelmed nor unengaged.

18. “How Google Works,” Eric Schmidt

Simple, clever doodles tell the story of Google in a fun and creative way. This presentation reads almost like a storybook, making it easy to move from one slide to the next.

What I like: This uncluttered approach provides viewers with an easy-to-understand explanation of a complicated topic.

19. “What Really Differentiates the Best Content Marketers From The Rest,” Ross Simmonds

Let‘s be honest: These graphics are hard not to love. I especially appreciate the author’s cartoonified self-portrait that closes out the presentation. Well played, Ross Simmonds.

What I like: Rather than employing the same old stock photos, this unique design serves as a refreshing way to present information that's both valuable and fun.

20. “Be A Great Product Leader,” Adam Nash

This presentation by Adam Nash immediately draws attention by putting the company's logo first — a great move if your company is well known.

What I like: He uses popular images, such as ones of Megatron and Pinocchio, to drive his points home. In the same way, you can take advantage of popular images and media to keep your audience engaged.

PowerPoint Presentation Examples for the Best Slide Presentation

Mastering a PowerPoint presentation begins with the design itself.

Get inspired by my ideas above to create a presentation that engages your audience, builds upon your point, and helps you generate leads for your brand.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in March 2013 and has been updated for comprehensiveness. This article was written by a human, but our team uses AI in our editorial process. Check out our full disclosure to learn more about how we use AI.

Don't forget to share this post!

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HR MASTERY TOOLKIT

My Secret Weapon for Giving Insanely Great HR Presentations (and 34 Things to Avoid)!

Public speaking and giving talks in your HR area of expertise is one of the fastest ways for you to promote yourself and advance your HR career.

I was reminded of this when I was recently asked to give a 30 minute talk to a group of 20 senior HR executives in Chicago.

Since I was only given a few days notice, I didn’t have a lot of time to prepare.

So I followed my “simple formula” for giving great 30 minute presentations…

Speak for 22 minutes straight from the heart. No slides. No handouts. No flip charts. Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse beforehand. And if you must open with a joke, let it be on you.

I’ve done a lot of talks over the years.  What I’ve discovered is that the best presentations are simple, authentic, genuine and leave the audience wanting more of you, not less.

And, one of the best things I ever did for my HR career is becoming a “good” public speaker.

Notice I said good, NOT great!

Let me be clear: no one will ever mistake me for being the next Tony Robbins, Reagan, JFK, MLK or Oprah (especially her Golden Globes speech, WOW!)

However, I’m convinced that any HR professional can give terrific presentations if they’re willing to speak, prepare in advance and have a passion for their topic.

The best HR leaders seek out opportunities to speak and enthusiastically share their message all the time.

The superstars in our profession give presentations at offsite meetings, team presentations, big annual meetings, or to HR associations.

Or they lead college recruiting presentations, orientation sessions, tele-classes or webinars.

They use these presentations to promote their topic, their organization…and yes, promote themselves and their HR career.

Guidelines For Giving Absolutely Horrible Presentations

The biggest presentation mistake I see HR professionals make is waiting until the last minute to prepare.

They rush to throw together a PowerPower presentation relying on it as their “crutch” to bail them out.  You can tell who these HR presenters are because they follow the guidelines below…(note: #16 & #28 are my personal favorites):

1. They dive right to their first slide – with no inspiring intro to grab your attention

2. They drown you in slides — say 1 slide/minute (or 60 slides per 1 hour speech)

3. They focus on facts and data – no interesting stories, anecdotes and examples

4. They use 12 lines of single-spaced, bullets per slide

5. They don’t use images or pictures on the slides, just lots of text

6. They read each slide word for word

7. They read the slide twice to make their points

8. They make an excuse about small text, “I know you can’t read this, but…”

9. They use lots of animations, especially twirls, fly-ins and spinning words

10. They make the text so small people in the back can’t see it

11. They turn their whole back to the audience when looking at a slide

12. They use that annoying laser pen

13. They make crazy little circles with that annoying laser pen

14. They make zig-zags with that annoying laser pen

15. They have no gestures, just stand there with arms dangling down

16. They wave their arms around like Michael Jackson singing Billie Jean

17. Or they don’t move at all

18. Or they pace like a lion in a cage

19. They stand in front of the screen (letting the words display on their face)

20. That tell jokes, that aren’t funny or are inappropriate

21. They walk with their hands in their pockets

22. They fold their arms

23. They don’t sound passionate about their own topic

24. They don’t engage the audience

25. They memorize their slides and sound like a robot

26. They put two or three charts on one slide

27. They use as many builds as humanly possible on each slide

28. They point to a slide with their middle finger

29. They point at the audience with any finger

30. They insert a video with poor sound quality

31. They use lots of word art and slanted text

32. They use child-like clip art and lots and lots of cartoons

33. They never repeat the agenda so people can follow their ideas

34. They always go over, never under their allotted time

I don’t know about you.  But nobody I know ever walked out of one of these presentations inspired, sold, or well-informed.

They just left bored out of their freaking mind saying silently to themselves: “I wonder how long that presenter is going to keep that great HR job she has.”

Obviously, I’m building up to a better way.

Tips For Giving Insanely Great Presentations

If you must give a presentation — and yes, if you must use PowerPoint — the video below will show you some better guidelines to follow…compliments of the late, great Steve Jobs:

And if you’re drop dead serious about taking your HR game to the next level, start taking steps today to polish up your presentation skills.

Besides, why should you settle for just giving average presentations…when you can give insanely great ones!

Hit me up with your comments on this article by CLICKING HERE.

About the author: Alan Collins is Founder of Success in HR and the author of a variety of best selling books for HR professionals  including UNWRITTEN HR RULES .   He was formerly Vice President – Human Resources at PepsiCo where he led HR initiatives for their Quaker Oats, Gatorade and Tropicana businesses.

Feed your network: If you like this article, feel free to share it with your FACEBOOK friends by clicking the “share” and “like” buttons below…or share this with your TWITTER followers by clicking the “tweet” button below.

38 Responses to “My Secret Weapon for Giving Insanely Great HR Presentations (and 34 Things to Avoid)!”

Alan: This is well put together.

I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Alan, the experience you have gained from your amazing career could help anyone ramp up quickly. I was on a panel discussion at a HRMAC event last year covering the topic of networking.

Being on a panel discussion showcased my skills as an expert in the industries and definitely generated a lot of interst. Coupling personality with the mechanics of an amazing presentation would definitely raise anyones game. Thank you for sharing your expert opinion in your book.

Alan: As a person who often speaks professionally, I’ve seen my share of speakers (and made my share of mistakes) over the years. You have put, in an easy to read essay, the critical components of a great presentation. The formula really isn’t all that complicated, is it? The suggestion to rehearse, rehearse and rehearse some more can’t be overstated. Thank you for taking the time to help us all become better speakers.

You are right on! There is nothing – absolutely nothing – more boring than watching a presenter read the powerpoint slide bullet points. In most cases, using a lot of slides is just an excuse for poor preparation. The presenter uses them as reminders of the details of the presentation.

As you indicated, if you must use slides, keep the slides and the bullet points to a minimum. The audience can read the words, the presenter must tell the audience why they should care about the slide’s message.

My most successful presentations were made to persuade a group to adopt a particular point of view or to accept a new idea. I’ve found that the maximum number of points that you can successfully make is three (3). Anything more than that, the audience will probably forget.

Lastly, to echo your “formula” — no slides, handouts, or flipcharts. Why would you want your audience to look at your props — they should be concentrating on YOU.

Great subject, great video, great points! Keep it coming.

Timely topic: I was just discussing this with a colleague who had returned from a deadly Power Point presentation. He said the entire audience was nodding off because they’d given up trying to follow the 10 point fonts on the screen. Your advice is solid and practical for all professionals, not just those in HR.

WHEN will people learn that a Power Point presentation alone will not make an effective presentation?

[…] on a recent HR project you got rave reviews on?  Do you blog?  Not a writer, ok – can you speak? Could you put together a short presentation that showcases your expertise?  Do you already have a […]

Superb advice. It is sad to see so many great HR professional sink like stones when doing direct talks or open forum presentations. Sage advice..

I’m one of those who hate public speaking, despite that I do it with near perfection point…the fear that I might get it wrong makes me do it and redo it imagining all moves and the reactions of my audience, and how I would respond to them. Alan, this is one of the best, easy put together, I hope everyone enjoyed it the way I did.

Dear Allan, Your topic is nice. I enjoyed with that.

I am sure that i does make a difference. I have been associated with Toastmasters intertnational and tremendously improved on my communication skills.

Great article.. I have been following many of your articles and all presented very well. Looking forward for many more articles as those have been of great help to me.

Mr Allan Your advice is worth millions. Thank you.

Thanks for a great article, Alan. Very timely as I am making a presentation at our area Non-Profit conference next week. Incorporating many of your helpful hints…However, I do enjoy a bit of child-like clip art now and then!

Very informative. As a soon to be graduating HR student it is reassuring that I have not made too many of your mistakes in the PowerPoints I have given. Also, I knew that joining Toastmasters would be helpful in my career goals. I enjoy public speaking but we can all use such great tips on how to do it well. Thank you.

Thanks for putting together such useful tips to make an effective presentation. What I fully endorse is your emphasizing Passion in one’s presentation, apart from other useful tips, because unless one is is convinced about what one is presenting, he/she cannot make an effective presentation. After all, all leaders need to be convincing speakers and passion goes with it. Thanks once again

I agree with some elements in this article. However, you can find more up-to-date information here: What make an excellent presenter? A new, original and polemic article by Ian Brownlee. Shortlink: http://wp.me/p2guX2-77

There are more articles dealing with communication at: ianbrownlee.wordpress.com

Alan–Again, good topic and good points. How often has the presenter just took a photo of a written page and presented it. Or, I use to go to a monthly financial update by the CFO, and ALWAYS he would photo his Balance Sheets and other Financials and throw it onto a slide, and ALWAYS apologize that the type is too small to read. The message really was–I do not give a dam about the audience. Too many times I have been at presentations that have 30 slides for a 20 minute presentation, and nothing is going to stop the “speaker” from going through his presentation and reading word-by-word to you. And what is amazing is most of these people continue doing the same wrong things time and time againl.

Dear Allan,

Another thought provoking tool from your tool kit to help HR professionals be the best in our field. Keep them coming!!

Dear Allen,

Really nice sharing, look forward to your next article. I’ve always learned a lot from your great advice.

Alan: Do you think that perhaps a lot of “Presentors” (not just HR folks) do all that you described because they are (1) unprepared as you state, (2) not passionate about the subject matter and (3)out of FEAR?? Aren’t most of the poor public speaking habits you describe arise out sheer panic or fear of public speaking in general? Thank you- Leslie DeMerville, BSc, MSc…Labor Rels

Here are some additional articles that cover this area:

– Making presentations sitting down= Less influence & more problems. Fastlink: http://wp.me/p2guX2-x

– Oh no! Not ANOTHER boring company presentation!: shortlink: http://wp.me/p2guX2-4q

– “An Elephant in the Room” # 2: The Hidden Dangers of Interrupting during Presentations. http://wp.me/p2guX2-2d

For many more additional articles visit: ianbrownlee.wordpress.com

Leslie, I would agree — and I think your points 1and 2 are the key to addressing the fear — especially your point 1.

Alan, I always love your articles and tips. This was great.

I do have one question that I struggle with and would love some tips from all you and your amazing followers. How do you keep some of the boring and redundant HR topics fresh and meaningful? For example, the annual anti-harassment trainings etc.

Thanks again Alan for another great topic and I look forward to everyones feedback.

Kelly, my suggestion would be to have include in your HR topic tons of: –stories (disguise the names) –anecdotes –case examples –cartoons –videos –guest speakers –industry experts –etc.

My experience is that people tire of hearing dry concepts, principles, guidelines and to-do’s quickly. Whatever you can do to turn “education” into “entertainment” (without losing your message) will be most appreciated by the audience.

That’s just one thought.

Anxious to hear others.

Alan, Wonderful article it reminded me of times I have made some of the same mistakes. But, that is how we learn and grow. I would have to say # 23. Don’t sound passionate or interested in their own material have to be the most dangerous mistakes of all. If you present yourself as being bored with your own information how could you expect the audience to gleam anything from what you are saying? If you show passion and sincere love for what you’re presenting, the audience can ignore some of the more minor infractions you may be displaying. The key word is “Presenting” not spewing, not mumbling, and not dictating. We are to present ourselves and our material with a passion. Passion can hold your audience even when you are fumbling. Actors practice their lines in order to perform. We need to do the same be prepared and show our passion.

Allan, Thanks a ton.Very useful & timely input on Power Point Presentation. Your article have always covered aspects which i never thought would even exist. Keep doing such great jobs.

Thanks Arti Vyas

I periodically teach ‘Presenting with Impact’. You’re list is fantastic! While I address about 33% of your list, the additional points will definitely add value.

Thank you again,

Lisa McSharry

Great post, Alan. Thank you. Sad to admit I’ve caught myself doing a few of these things. I do always try to rehearse and time myself in the process. And I always try to make it interactive; I figure if I’m boring myself, then I’ve certainly lost the audience!

I often gave presentations in grad school with no notes (I was well-rehearsed), and the class often commented how mine were always good. One particular instructor asked them why they thought mine were good, and then he pointed out that it was because I was prepared and knew my topic. (By the way, I picked that up from a former pastor, who always preached without notes. He NEVER lost his congregation’s attention!)

I am really impressed by the kind of articles you write Allan. This one is something I was really looking for and I agree with all the points. I am sure many people need to think again before giving a presentation; because usually they end up being boring and loose interest of their audience.

Thank you Alan! Great article, so much learning through such useful/valuable practical examples/videos. You are so enriching and empowering!

Alan, what i read is so true!!!! Do you know what is missing from most of HR colleagues in their presentations? PASSION. That’s what is missing. Speaking from the heart and engage your audience, needs passion for what you are talking about… My best presentation was with 1 slide and i video, holding a speech of about an hour and nobody wanted to leave the room! So, trigger us more with inspirational topics! We all needed them! Warmest Regards, Z.

Wow! Alan, you are always on point. I always look forward to your articles. You paint a very clear picture of the Presenter/ PowerPoint we all dread. I definitely don’t want to be that boring Presenter that puts grown adults to sleep ( after all it is not a lullaby ?)

I will print your list and hang it on my wall to remind me to always put in extra effort to make a great presentation.

This is an awesome I must say Alan. These things usually we do unconsciously some time! It will remind me not to do further. Thank u so much 🙂

thank you Alan. i just join HR division and i fully agree that many HR’s needs to prepare well before making a presentation. i realy felt that the message from the article is so empowering.

warmest regards

Great points. As HR leaders who have seen and experienced many unique situations we have plenty to share. Our ability to be passionate and relatable to a diverse audience enables us to connect and engage spectators which makes our message all the more interesting. I was the presenter with the slides and graphs, etc. and had a situation where the projector was broken. I had to improvise and I received more compliments from that presentation than any I had ever done. From that point forward I started speaking from my heart and left handouts summarizing my presentation. I believe there is a distinct correlation between the amount of fun you have as a presenter and the amount of information your audience takes away.

Dear Mr. Alen,

Lovely article once again.Inspiring, insightful and clearing all the myths over making great presentations.

You always bring something really innovative and impact-full. Sometime we really work more on what is not required then what is required and miss the buss.

Your article is really helpful to all HR professionals.

Keep sharing.

Best Regards, Rahul Mehandiratta

Thanks for another great article and it was a pleasure to meet you at your Detroit SHRM presentation!

Alan-I’m guessing you don’t like those little red laser pens (hehe). Thoroughly enjoyed this article. It brought to mind my presentations (which I like doing) and wondering how to improve. Thanks for the insight.

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5 Steps to Preparing an Engaging Industry Presentation You can make a great impression and generate interest with an exciting, informative presentation. Find out my five secrets to creating an industry presentation guaranteed to wow.

By Cyrus Claffey Edited by Chelsea Brown May 28, 2024

Key Takeaways

• This article offers practical advice for delivering impactful presentations at industry events, emphasizing the importance of a comfortable stage presence, understanding your audience, designing effective slides and more.

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Industry events are a chance to network with your colleagues and impress distributors — but to really make the most of your time at a conference, you need to learn how to prepare a presentation that engages, informs and leaves an impact.

I've presented at some of the most important real estate and property technology events in the country as the founder of ButterflyMX . Here are a few tricks I've picked up along the way to wow any audience.

Related: 6 Tips for Making a Winning Business Presentation

1. Getting comfortable with the stage

I recommend taking a walk around the stage before your presentation. By familiarizing yourself with your environment, you can prepare yourself better.

And while you're on stage, a relaxed, comfortable presence goes a long way in keeping your audience engaged . Whether you want to play your presentation casually or more formally, audiences can sense discomfort, which prevents them from fully connecting with your message.

To project your sense of comfortability, focus on your body language . You can project confidence by speaking slowly and clearly and by walking across the stage to keep the audience's attention — even if there's already a podium or lectern set up on stage.

Unfortunately, if a speaker spends too long standing behind the podium, an audience might interpret that as a sign of indecision and inaction from the speaker. Instead, you can remove any barriers between yourself and the audience by using the whole length of the stage.

2. Familiarity with industry statistics

An audience that doesn't know me might be wondering why they should be taking my advice. I certainly don't blame them. When I'm watching a new presenter, I ask the same question.

If you can back up your claims with hard data, your presentation will ring true with listeners. You can cite industry-wide statistics or establish your own bona fides by citing stats that buttress your own credibility by establishing your company's success.

In my case, I'm happy to use a couple of statistics that prove how successful my company, ButterflyMX, is in the proptech industry. For instance, we serve more than one million apartment units, and if you're interested in how consumers feel about us, look no further than the internet — we have over 20,000 five-star reviews !

Related: 7 Ways to Captivate Any Audience

3. Knowing your audience

Depending on who your audience is , you'll have to adjust your game plan and prepare for different things.

I've spoken at conferences where the audiences couldn't be more different — a presentation that wows one crowd might have no information that's applicable to another. As the founder of a property technology company, I have the pleasure of speaking at a variety of different conferences that serve different markets.

For example, integrators and installers might value a talk on product features and hardware more than others. And if I'm presenting to an audience of property managers, I'll know to dial down the technical talk and focus on the benefits a robust video intercom offers, such as simplifying their day-to-day workloads.

Depending on your audience, you need to strike the right balance between talking about hardware specs and features.

4. Designing your slides carefully

Slides are a good opportunity to share the aesthetics, tone and values of your company — but you've got to make sure you use them effectively.

A slide with too much text looks busy, and it'll distract your audience and draw focus away from you. Instead, consider putting that information into your notes and speaking it aloud. Slides should focus on one or two visual elements, like bullet points, charts and graphs.

As for the actual design of your slides, you should ensure that you adhere to your company's brand guidelines. If you're unfamiliar with the concept, brand guidelines are a single, governing document that goes over important design concepts like the colors and logos that your company has.

Related: 6 Ways to Take Your Next Presentation to the Next Level

5. Asking for audience participation

Asking for audience participation is the ultimate way to ensure everybody is locked in and paying attention — but it's also a double-edged sword. You also need to be prepared in case asking the audience to participate doesn't necessarily go your way.

For example, you might generally ask if an audience has any questions at the end of your presentation. But you run the risk of running into a hostile, bad-faith question — or you might even be met with silence.

That's why I'd recommend you give the audience questions and tasks that have a little more structure. You could do things like asking for a show of hands, asking for specific anecdotes or taking a poll.

Polls have gotten an especially high-tech upgrade recently — see if you can set up an electronic voting system that allows audience members to vote with their smartphones. Then, you'd be able to throw the results on screen and watch them update in real time!

You should pepper these interactive sections throughout your presentation to ensure that audiences are engaged throughout your entire talk.

Entrepreneur Leadership Network® Contributor

Founder of ButterflyMX

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

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Famous rescue Miss Peaches doing great things for shelter dogs thanks to her famous owner, Dave Portnoy

Bridgette Matter , Reporter

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Miss Peaches is a rescue dog now living the high life as one of the most famous dogs on the internet.

It was love at first sight for her owner, Dave Portnoy, the founder and owner of Barstool Sports.

By sharing his joy and love for Miss Peaches, Portnoy is also helping abandoned animals everywhere.

“If we are walking down the street, people are rolling down their windows yelling at her,” said Portnoy.

Pitbull Peaches went from a shelter to a posh Miami pad, complete with seven of her own beds.

But Peaches beginnings were rough as she was a victim of neglect.

“They used her as a breeding dog, she was in a hoarding situation,” said Portnoy.

Peaches was one of the approximately 3.1 million dogs that enter shelters annually.

Now Peaches and her media mogul papa are advocating for adoptions, raising close to $1 million in a matter of months, with some of those proceeds going back to shelters right here in South Florida.

Every penny Peaches raises goes back to the Adopt Don’t Shop movement.

“People are showing up saying can I get a Miss Peaches,” Portnoy said.

The pair are inspiring others to adopt their own pitbull.

Even Miami Mayor Francis Suarez presented her with the very first bone to the city.

While Miss Peaches is an advocate for all shelter dogs, she is learning to live a life of luxury and just be a happy pup.

Copyright 2024 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.

About the Author

Bridgette matter.

Bridgette Matter joined the Local 10 News team as a reporter in July 2021. Before moving to South Florida, she began her career in South Bend, Indiana and spent six years in Jacksonville as a reporter and weekend anchor.

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