There’s nothing worse than watching a presentation and seeing the audience start to look bored or antsy. That’s why it’s essential to know how to give a presentation that wows!

Your voice is one of the most important parts of your presentation. Speak clearly and at an appropriate volume for the space you are presenting in. Avoid using filler words like “um” and “ah”.

Do Your Homework

Throughout your educational and professional career, you'll likely be asked to present information to one or more individuals. The key to giving a great presentation is preparation and practice.

It's important to run through the entire presentation several times before the big event. This will allow you to see how long the presentation takes and if any parts do not flow well.

Consider using visual aids such as PowerPoint slides and WOWESSAYS database materials. However, make sure that the slide does not overpower the information you are delivering. If the slides contain too much text, the audience may become distracted and tune out.

It's also a good idea to create a 3 x 5 card that lists questions your audience may have. This can be read silently as people settle in and will ensure that you are prepared to answer any questions during or after your presentation.

Know Your Topic

One of the most important things you can do before presenting is to know your topic. This will allow you to tailor your presentation to fit your audience. It also allows you to include relevant facts and figures that will improve your presentation.

Getting to know your topic helps you understand what kind of audience you are dealing with and what level of knowledge they may have, so you can try to research or even buy presentations from other authors to get more familiar with the topic. You can then tailor your presentation to meet their needs, using humor or other tactics to engage them.

During your presentation, use stories to explain your points and illustrate them. This will help the audience relate to your information and make it more memorable. You can also shock the audience, such as with a video clip or anecdote.

Create a Key Message

It is worth establishing a key message before you start creating your presentation. This should form a filter for your content and arguments and the overall structure of the presentation should support it.

The key message should be a memorable statement that makes immediate sense. It may need to be repeated to ensure the audience remembers it. It is also important to note that the key message should change depending on the context of your presentation. Audiences will give politicians, evangelists and salespeople a certain level of license to make grandiose statements but you should keep these in perspective.

A well-developed key message will help you to create a powerful presentation that resonates with your audience and leaves them thinking long after the event. It will also serve as a guiding light during your presentation and ensure you stay on track.

Keep It Simple

People want to learn from presentations that require minimal time and effort to understand. Complicated visuals and charts can be distracting and confusing.

If you are presenting with slides, only put the most important information on them. Too much text can overwhelm an audience and discourage them from paying attention to your presentation.

Keep your pace reasonable and include pauses in your speech. This will help your listeners to follow what you are saying and also reduce the number of verbal fillers.

Practice using a timer to test your speaking pace beforehand. Holding a strong, confident body posture and smiling will also improve your performance. Remember to smile at the audience! Seeing you smile will help them to relax and feel at ease as well.

Be Prepared for Questions

It is inevitable that questions will be asked during presentations. It is important to be prepared and know how to respond. It is easy to get off-track or seem rude or dismissive when you do not have a clear answer.

Prepare for questions in advance by rehearsing short, clear answers. Think about any questions that may be asked and try to anticipate the tone of the questioner so that you can frame your response in the right way.

Be sure to practice your presentation and time yourself. This will help you stay within your allocated time and be more effective. Pauses are useful for highlighting key points, making transitions obvious and eliminating excessive verbal fillers such as “umm”, “err” and “ahhhh”. Remember to face the audience regularly and use eye contact to create a confident impression.