Whether or not you have experience giving presentations, you likely understand the difference between a terrible performance and one that captures your attention all the way through.
Here are some factors that make a successful presentation:
- Understanding your audience
- Using relatable term and jargon
- Introducing multi-media or other visuals
- Being presentable in appearance
- Utilizing the art of storytelling
"I believe that the most important part of a presentation is to have a compelling opening and closing. These are the times when the audience is the most engaged and when you should make the boldest statements of your pitch. I have given hundreds of presentations over the course of my career and this approach has never failed me."
"Although I have not presented in my career, I have created presentations for the VP whom I currently support. When making the slides, I like to include bullet points with compelling information and attractive pictures. I think that the multi-media used is a key component to building a presentation that captures attention."
"I have given many presentations in my management career and have found that when I start with a story, give some facts, and end with how those facts pertain to story; I can capture and keep the attention of my audience. Everyone loves a great story, especially one that is relatable to their personal or professional situation."
"Marketing is all about telling the right story, with the correct timing and message. For that reason, I believe that the key to a great presentation is first to know your audience before you begin to build your message. What are the pain points, the demographics of those you are presenting to, and what it is you want them to understand your pitch or offering."
"I have never given a presentation, but I have sat through some great ones, and some pretty boring ones too. I like presentations that infuse some humor and visuals."
"I present pitches to my clients on a regular basis. For myself, I have learned that the key to a compelling presentation is facts like percentages, numbers, and achievements. I avoid long drawn out sentences and long bunches of text on my slides."
"As an educator, I spend most of my day presenting! That is what teaching is all about. A successful class is one where my students are highly vocal and engaged - offering the opinion and asking insightful questions. I gather this result by asking questions of them and using a variety of resources and media."