Write down your most important points. See if you notice a key point emerging. If your audience were to take away one thing from this presentation, what would it be? Don’t just bombard your audience with facts. Think about what these facts do for your audience. What’s the point you’re trying to make with the information?
Are you trying to sell them a product, introduce them to a new idea, alter their way of thinking? Think about the kind of people in your audience. Do you have a tougher crowd, or do you have a group of enthusiastic people excited about what you’re going to say?
For example, if you’re talking to a company about recycling program, you might discuss how corporate pollution contributes to global warming and how recycling can help the company save money. You wouldn’t discuss the melting ice caps as a key point. Melting ice caps are a valid concern, but they are a fact or a supporting point.
Add clarity to your argument by explaining anything the audience may not understand. For example: a brief overview of pollution’s effect on climate change. Add authority by making connections with existing research, studies, and information. For example, you could mention the consensus in the scientific community that global warming is manmade and cite a few studies. Add color to your argument through visuals, like pictures and videos. For instance, you could show a chart of the amount of waste an average corporation produces in one month.
Include the basics of introducing yourself. You can say something like, “I’m Clara Thompson from Clean Water Action, and I would like to address your company today. " Get your audience’s attention with a question or a fact. For example, you could ask: “Have you ever passed a body of water covered in green sludge and wondered how this happened? The answer may surprise you. " You don’t have to write your presentation in chronological order. If you want to work on your main points first and save the introduction for last, you can.
For example, you’re trying to get the corporation to alter their recycling program. Start by overviewing the vast amount of corporate pollution in the world. Explain the consequences of this. Show how pollution contributes to climate change, then show what the corporation can do through changes in their policies.
Common linking statements include things like, “Another important issue. . . ,” “Based on this data, you can now see. . . " and, “This brings me to my main point. . . " For example, “Now that I’ve shown you the effects of corporate pollution, this brings me to my main point. What can you do to stop it?”
If you have any graphs or diagrams that will help illustrate your point, use them. Physically seeing information can help make your point more clear. You should also see if there are any videos you can include. A brief video of someone succinctly explaining an issue can shake things up a bit. Pictures are also nice. Each slide should have a picture related to the topic at hand. Make sure not to overuse graphics or visuals. Too many could be overwhelming or distracting for your audience.
You only need one slide. Recap what your point was. Begin with something like, “As you can see. . . " and then briefly repeat your main point. A visual can help as well. Try adding one last visual aid that sums up your point. A graph or diagram would work well here.
If you’re taking longer, cut some information out. You do not want to talk fast to include all information, as this can make you difficult to understand. For accuracy, talk in your regular voice. Do not speak too fast or too slow. You want to make sure you can fit in all information talking at a normal rate.
Are any facts extraneous? It’s great to illustrate the effects of global warming, but do you really need five examples of environmental decay? Try to cut it down to two or three.
You should sound enthusiastic when presenting. Talk without hesitance, and don’t use filler words, like “um” or “uh. " Don’t jump between topics. Use your linking sentences, and say things like, “And this brings me to the following. . . " Watch the time. Make sure your presentation isn’t going on for too long. Watch yourself give the presentation in a mirror so you can correct any distracting movements or gestures.
Don’t read the information off of your visuals since it could affect your engagement between yourself and the audience.
