Know Your Audience
It is important to put some research into your audience prior to the presention day in order to best create your speech. For example, if you were to be presenting a new building project, your presentation would be tailored differently if speaking to community members or design engineers. Be sure to create a presentation that best addresses the specific concerns and needs of the people that will make up your audience.
Become an Expert
It is important that you become an expert on your subject matter when creating your presentation. It is vital that you research every aspect of your subject by looking up information and reading reports with the specific purpose of creating your presentation. When examining information in this manner, alternate ways of thinking and new ideas will develop. The ability to present your subject in a confident manner will affect the overall impression of your audience while helping to hold their attention.
Once you become an expert on your subject matter, you can also work to develop a theme for your presentation. All presentations will be designed with a single purpose to educate, sell, or provide entertainment. Be sure that you identify that purpose at the beginning of your presentation development process.
Spend Time on the Design
The visual aspect of your presentation is just as important as what you have to say, so it is important to spend time on your design. Start with an outline to determine what information needs to be included and the most important aspects you want your audience to take away. Decide on the most effective way to present the information, and arrange it in a way that is clear, easy to read, and visually appealing.
Prepare a Script
When it comes to developing a script for your presentation, you don’t need to come up with something that is a literary work of art. For people that are extremely comfortable with presentations, simply jotting down a basic outline on note cards will be sufficient. For others, a more detailed script may be more appropriate, especially if you will be dealing with nerves on the big day. Regardless, an effective presentation script should contain four main parts:
- Opening. Use this portion to set the stage for what will be included in your presentation.
- Body. As the bulk of your script, this should be broken up into smaller topics of conversation.
- Summary. This portion should be a simple and brief review of your presentation in which you reemphasize key points and your central theme.
- Closing. Summarize your presentation and distribute any handout materials that have accompanied your discussion.
Choose the Right Visual Aids
After you have done your research and developed your script, it is important to choose the right visual aids to support your speech. Consider computer and video projectors if conducting a presentation in person, and PowerPoint is one of the most popular software programs for creating visual presentations. Tablet computers may be effective presentation tools for informal meetings and small groups, but it is important to remember that good presentation visuals don’t have to be expensive. Even well-designed graphics can add professionalism and improve virtually any presentation.
Use Online Screen Sharing
Online screen sharing is a relatively new tool, but it is becoming more widely accepted as a way to help with developing an effective presentation. In fact, businesses that have workers in many different locations use online screen sharing to help connect and train employees simultaneously. This program involves sharing a desktop with another user who is operating a different computer, and since the other user can control the computer remotely, it is a good way to troubleshoot and perform remote training.
Practice, Practice, Practice
For many people, getting up to give an effective presentation doesn’t come easily. It takes a lot to calm the nerves as well as a lot of practice to ensure that you are projecting your voice properly. If you are giving a presentation in a small group of people, the projection may not be a concern, but you do still have to keep your listeners engaged. Creating and delivering a good presentation is a skill that takes practice, so be sure to do several trial runs of your speech before your actual presentation day.
