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Building a blow-them-away presentation is fast and easy with a little bit of preparation.

Consider your Audience

Most speakers focus on their message rather than on the listener’s needs. The most important person in any presentation room is the listener. Start your presentation by telling them how your presentation will help/improve/enlighten them. What will they take away from your presentation and how will it benefit them?

Build an outline

Make it easy on yourself by building an outline first, rather than trying to simply start writing from the beginning. As you put pen to paper, think about your topic. What format will work best to illustrate your points? Comparisons to other products, a chronological description of events, do you need to bring samples or visual materials with you?

Pull in as many senses as possible

If you have product that your audience can see, and possibly even handle, they will retain more of your presentation. If you are using slides, add photographs and illustrations that reflect the message you are delivering. Consider using audience participation.

Dare to be different!

Some of the most effective slides I have seen in a presentation used a solid black background and contained a single word. It was unexpected, so it was memorable. Is there something you can add to your presentation to make it memorable?

Never end your presentation with a Q & A

You give up control to the audience, and a single, persistent person could drive the room completely off message. It is better to ask for questions near the end of your presentation, then quickly review the highlights and conclude. Make sure that your message is the last one your audience hears.

With a little thought, preparation and a few enhancements, your next presentation will blow away your audience and have them asking you back for more!

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