We use essential cookies to make Venngage work. By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.

Manage Cookies

Cookies and similar technologies collect certain information about how you’re using our website. Some of them are essential, and without them you wouldn’t be able to use Venngage. But others are optional, and you get to choose whether we use them or not.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are always on, as they’re essential for making Venngage work, and making it safe. Without these cookies, services you’ve asked for can’t be provided.

Show cookie providers

  • Google Login

Functionality Cookies

These cookies help us provide enhanced functionality and personalisation, and remember your settings. They may be set by us or by third party providers.

Performance Cookies

These cookies help us analyze how many people are using Venngage, where they come from and how they're using it. If you opt out of these cookies, we can’t get feedback to make Venngage better for you and all our users.

  • Google Analytics

Targeting Cookies

These cookies are set by our advertising partners to track your activity and show you relevant Venngage ads on other sites as you browse the internet.

  • Google Tag Manager
  • Infographics
  • Daily Infographics
  • Graphic Design
  • Graphs and Charts
  • Data Visualization
  • Human Resources
  • Training and Development
  • Beginner Guides

Blog Beginner Guides

How To Make a Good Presentation [A Complete Guide]

By Krystle Wong , Jul 20, 2023

How to make a good presentation

A top-notch presentation possesses the power to drive action. From winning stakeholders over and conveying a powerful message to securing funding — your secret weapon lies within the realm of creating an effective presentation .  

Being an excellent presenter isn’t confined to the boardroom. Whether you’re delivering a presentation at work, pursuing an academic career, involved in a non-profit organization or even a student, nailing the presentation game is a game-changer.

In this article, I’ll cover the top qualities of compelling presentations and walk you through a step-by-step guide on how to give a good presentation. Here’s a little tip to kick things off: for a headstart, check out Venngage’s collection of free presentation templates . They are fully customizable, and the best part is you don’t need professional design skills to make them shine!

These valuable presentation tips cater to individuals from diverse professional backgrounds, encompassing business professionals, sales and marketing teams, educators, trainers, students, researchers, non-profit organizations, public speakers and presenters. 

No matter your field or role, these tips for presenting will equip you with the skills to deliver effective presentations that leave a lasting impression on any audience.

Click to jump ahead:

What are the 10 qualities of a good presentation?

Step-by-step guide on how to prepare an effective presentation, 9 effective techniques to deliver a memorable presentation, faqs on making a good presentation, how to create a presentation with venngage in 5 steps.

When it comes to giving an engaging presentation that leaves a lasting impression, it’s not just about the content — it’s also about how you deliver it. Wondering what makes a good presentation? Well, the best presentations I’ve seen consistently exhibit these 10 qualities:

1. Clear structure

No one likes to get lost in a maze of information. Organize your thoughts into a logical flow, complete with an introduction, main points and a solid conclusion. A structured presentation helps your audience follow along effortlessly, leaving them with a sense of satisfaction at the end.

Regardless of your presentation style , a quality presentation starts with a clear roadmap. Browse through Venngage’s template library and select a presentation template that aligns with your content and presentation goals. Here’s a good presentation example template with a logical layout that includes sections for the introduction, main points, supporting information and a conclusion: 

how to write a successful presentation letter

2. Engaging opening

Hook your audience right from the start with an attention-grabbing statement, a fascinating question or maybe even a captivating anecdote. Set the stage for a killer presentation!

The opening moments of your presentation hold immense power – check out these 15 ways to start a presentation to set the stage and captivate your audience.

3. Relevant content

Make sure your content aligns with their interests and needs. Your audience is there for a reason, and that’s to get valuable insights. Avoid fluff and get straight to the point, your audience will be genuinely excited.

4. Effective visual aids

Picture this: a slide with walls of text and tiny charts, yawn! Visual aids should be just that—aiding your presentation. Opt for clear and visually appealing slides, engaging images and informative charts that add value and help reinforce your message.

With Venngage, visualizing data takes no effort at all. You can import data from CSV or Google Sheets seamlessly and create stunning charts, graphs and icon stories effortlessly to showcase your data in a captivating and impactful way.

how to write a successful presentation letter

5. Clear and concise communication

Keep your language simple, and avoid jargon or complicated terms. Communicate your ideas clearly, so your audience can easily grasp and retain the information being conveyed. This can prevent confusion and enhance the overall effectiveness of the message. 

6. Engaging delivery

Spice up your presentation with a sprinkle of enthusiasm! Maintain eye contact, use expressive gestures and vary your tone of voice to keep your audience glued to the edge of their seats. A touch of charisma goes a long way!

7. Interaction and audience engagement

Turn your presentation into an interactive experience — encourage questions, foster discussions and maybe even throw in a fun activity. Engaged audiences are more likely to remember and embrace your message.

Transform your slides into an interactive presentation with Venngage’s dynamic features like pop-ups, clickable icons and animated elements. Engage your audience with interactive content that lets them explore and interact with your presentation for a truly immersive experience.

how to write a successful presentation letter

8. Effective storytelling

Who doesn’t love a good story? Weaving relevant anecdotes, case studies or even a personal story into your presentation can captivate your audience and create a lasting impact. Stories build connections and make your message memorable.

A great presentation background is also essential as it sets the tone, creates visual interest and reinforces your message. Enhance the overall aesthetics of your presentation with these 15 presentation background examples and captivate your audience’s attention.

9. Well-timed pacing

Pace your presentation thoughtfully with well-designed presentation slides, neither rushing through nor dragging it out. Respect your audience’s time and ensure you cover all the essential points without losing their interest.

10. Strong conclusion

Last impressions linger! Summarize your main points and leave your audience with a clear takeaway. End your presentation with a bang , a call to action or an inspiring thought that resonates long after the conclusion.

In-person presentations aside, acing a virtual presentation is of paramount importance in today’s digital world. Check out this guide to learn how you can adapt your in-person presentations into virtual presentations . 

Peloton Pitch Deck - Conclusion

Preparing an effective presentation starts with laying a strong foundation that goes beyond just creating slides and notes. One of the quickest and best ways to make a presentation would be with the help of a good presentation software . 

Otherwise, let me walk you to how to prepare for a presentation step by step and unlock the secrets of crafting a professional presentation that sets you apart.

1. Understand the audience and their needs

Before you dive into preparing your masterpiece, take a moment to get to know your target audience. Tailor your presentation to meet their needs and expectations , and you’ll have them hooked from the start!

2. Conduct thorough research on the topic

Time to hit the books (or the internet)! Don’t skimp on the research with your presentation materials — dive deep into the subject matter and gather valuable insights . The more you know, the more confident you’ll feel in delivering your presentation.

3. Organize the content with a clear structure

No one wants to stumble through a chaotic mess of information. Outline your presentation with a clear and logical flow. Start with a captivating introduction, follow up with main points that build on each other and wrap it up with a powerful conclusion that leaves a lasting impression.

Delivering an effective business presentation hinges on captivating your audience, and Venngage’s professionally designed business presentation templates are tailor-made for this purpose. With thoughtfully structured layouts, these templates enhance your message’s clarity and coherence, ensuring a memorable and engaging experience for your audience members.

Don’t want to build your presentation layout from scratch? pick from these 5 foolproof presentation layout ideas that won’t go wrong. 

how to write a successful presentation letter

4. Develop visually appealing and supportive visual aids

Spice up your presentation with eye-catching visuals! Create slides that complement your message, not overshadow it. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words, but that doesn’t mean you need to overload your slides with text.

Well-chosen designs create a cohesive and professional look, capturing your audience’s attention and enhancing the overall effectiveness of your message. Here’s a list of carefully curated PowerPoint presentation templates and great background graphics that will significantly influence the visual appeal and engagement of your presentation.

5. Practice, practice and practice

Practice makes perfect — rehearse your presentation and arrive early to your presentation to help overcome stage fright. Familiarity with your material will boost your presentation skills and help you handle curveballs with ease.

6. Seek feedback and make necessary adjustments

Don’t be afraid to ask for help and seek feedback from friends and colleagues. Constructive criticism can help you identify blind spots and fine-tune your presentation to perfection.

With Venngage’s real-time collaboration feature , receiving feedback and editing your presentation is a seamless process. Group members can access and work on the presentation simultaneously and edit content side by side in real-time. Changes will be reflected immediately to the entire team, promoting seamless teamwork.

Venngage Real Time Collaboration

7. Prepare for potential technical or logistical issues

Prepare for the unexpected by checking your equipment, internet connection and any other potential hiccups. If you’re worried that you’ll miss out on any important points, you could always have note cards prepared. Remember to remain focused and rehearse potential answers to anticipated questions.

8. Fine-tune and polish your presentation

As the big day approaches, give your presentation one last shine. Review your talking points, practice how to present a presentation and make any final tweaks. Deep breaths — you’re on the brink of delivering a successful presentation!

In competitive environments, persuasive presentations set individuals and organizations apart. To brush up on your presentation skills, read these guides on how to make a persuasive presentation and tips to presenting effectively . 

how to write a successful presentation letter

Whether you’re an experienced presenter or a novice, the right techniques will let your presentation skills soar to new heights!

From public speaking hacks to interactive elements and storytelling prowess, these 9 effective presentation techniques will empower you to leave a lasting impression on your audience and make your presentations unforgettable.

1. Confidence and positive body language

Positive body language instantly captivates your audience, making them believe in your message as much as you do. Strengthen your stage presence and own that stage like it’s your second home! Stand tall, shoulders back and exude confidence. 

2. Eye contact with the audience

Break down that invisible barrier and connect with your audience through their eyes. Maintaining eye contact when giving a presentation builds trust and shows that you’re present and engaged with them.

3. Effective use of hand gestures and movement

A little movement goes a long way! Emphasize key points with purposeful gestures and don’t be afraid to walk around the stage. Your energy will be contagious!

4. Utilize storytelling techniques

Weave the magic of storytelling into your presentation. Share relatable anecdotes, inspiring success stories or even personal experiences that tug at the heartstrings of your audience. Adjust your pitch, pace and volume to match the emotions and intensity of the story. Varying your speaking voice adds depth and enhances your stage presence.

how to write a successful presentation letter

5. Incorporate multimedia elements

Spice up your presentation with a dash of visual pizzazz! Use slides, images and video clips to add depth and clarity to your message. Just remember, less is more—don’t overwhelm them with information overload. 

Turn your presentations into an interactive party! Involve your audience with questions, polls or group activities. When they actively participate, they become invested in your presentation’s success. Bring your design to life with animated elements. Venngage allows you to apply animations to icons, images and text to create dynamic and engaging visual content.

6. Utilize humor strategically

Laughter is the best medicine—and a fantastic presentation enhancer! A well-placed joke or lighthearted moment can break the ice and create a warm atmosphere , making your audience more receptive to your message.

7. Practice active listening and respond to feedback

Be attentive to your audience’s reactions and feedback. If they have questions or concerns, address them with genuine interest and respect. Your responsiveness builds rapport and shows that you genuinely care about their experience.

how to write a successful presentation letter

8. Apply the 10-20-30 rule

Apply the 10-20-30 presentation rule and keep it short, sweet and impactful! Stick to ten slides, deliver your presentation within 20 minutes and use a 30-point font to ensure clarity and focus. Less is more, and your audience will thank you for it!

9. Implement the 5-5-5 rule

Simplicity is key. Limit each slide to five bullet points, with only five words per bullet point and allow each slide to remain visible for about five seconds. This rule keeps your presentation concise and prevents information overload.

Simple presentations are more engaging because they are easier to follow. Summarize your presentations and keep them simple with Venngage’s gallery of simple presentation templates and ensure that your message is delivered effectively across your audience.

how to write a successful presentation letter

1. How to start a presentation?

To kick off your presentation effectively, begin with an attention-grabbing statement or a powerful quote. Introduce yourself, establish credibility and clearly state the purpose and relevance of your presentation.

2. How to end a presentation?

For a strong conclusion, summarize your talking points and key takeaways. End with a compelling call to action or a thought-provoking question and remember to thank your audience and invite any final questions or interactions.

3. How to make a presentation interactive?

To make your presentation interactive, encourage questions and discussion throughout your talk. Utilize multimedia elements like videos or images and consider including polls, quizzes or group activities to actively involve your audience.

In need of inspiration for your next presentation? I’ve got your back! Pick from these 120+ presentation ideas, topics and examples to get started. 

Creating a stunning presentation with Venngage is a breeze with our user-friendly drag-and-drop editor and professionally designed templates for all your communication needs. 

Here’s how to make a presentation in just 5 simple steps with the help of Venngage:

Step 1: Sign up for Venngage for free using your email, Gmail or Facebook account or simply log in to access your account. 

Step 2: Pick a design from our selection of free presentation templates (they’re all created by our expert in-house designers).

Step 3: Make the template your own by customizing it to fit your content and branding. With Venngage’s intuitive drag-and-drop editor, you can easily modify text, change colors and adjust the layout to create a unique and eye-catching design.

Step 4: Elevate your presentation by incorporating captivating visuals. You can upload your images or choose from Venngage’s vast library of high-quality photos, icons and illustrations. 

Step 5: Upgrade to a premium or business account to export your presentation in PDF and print it for in-person presentations or share it digitally for free!

By following these five simple steps, you’ll have a professionally designed and visually engaging presentation ready in no time. With Venngage’s user-friendly platform, your presentation is sure to make a lasting impression. So, let your creativity flow and get ready to shine in your next presentation!

LOGO

Ace the Presentation

Cover Letter

How to Write a Cover Letter (11 Great Examples of Cover Letters)

Let’s face it, when you’re looking for jobs, it can feel like a never-ending quest sometimes. You keep applying to places, and you keep getting those dreaded emails that go, “Thank you for your application, but……”. Does anybody like reading those? Then, what’s the secret to getting that job you’ve been eyeing? The answer might surprise you – it all starts with what is called the cover letter!

A great cover letter can be the difference between getting a positive reply from your potential interviewer and having your CV discarded. Here are the 11 tried and tested tips on writing a great cover letter:

  • Understand the Purpose of a Cover Letter
  • Know Your Audience
  • Start with a Bang!
  • Tell Your Story
  • Show Them You’ve Done Your Homework
  • Prove Your Value
  • Make Sure To Have A Call-To-Action
  • Don’t Forget the Formalities
  • Proofread, Proofread, Proofread
  • Keep it Short and Sweet
  • Show Some Personality

Don’t worry, we’re not going to leave you high and dry by just listing out these ways. We’ll take you into each of these steps in detail and even give you sample examples so that you can model your own cover letter after those! Soon, you’re going to be a master at writing these out, and job offers are going to come knocking on your door before you know it. Let’s get started!

11 Tips To Help You Write The Perfect Cover Letter

You already know the different tips from what we’ve mentioned above, but let’s dive deep into the nuts and bolts of it all. If you want to write a stellar cover letter, these are the steps that you should religiously be following.

1) Understand the Purpose of a Cover Letter

First things first, you’ve got to understand what cover letters is all about. Why are they so important? Well, cover letters are where you connect the dots with your employer! It’s where you tell them about your experiences and skills and show them that you’re the best fit for the company. So, make sure you know who your audience is when writing a cover letter.

“ Dear Mr./Ms. {Name of Hiring Manager}, 

I am writing to express my interest in the {Position} at {Company Name}. With my extensive experience in {Specific Field or Industry}, I am confident that I would be a valuable asset to your team “.

2) Know Your Audience

You’re writing a cover letter for someone to read – so shouldn’t you be doing your homework on them? The cover letter must be customized to suit the company you’re applying for and also get into their mission, culture, and values. The better you understand your audience, the better your words will ring with them.

“ I’ve always been fascinated by the work that Tesla does in the autonomous vehicle industry. Your values of innovation and taking risks is what I embody in my own work ethic, and I hope to bring that to the table as part of the team “. 

3) Start With A Bang!

Your opening line should be the bomb – and it should make a big impact. Grab their attention! Ditch the tired old “I’m writing to apply for…” and try to come up with something innovative and that shows your enthusiasm. First impressions count, for sure!

“ Is your team looking for an outside-the-box thinker who can redefine the way you deliver your product? If so, then I’m the person that you need for your company “. 

4) Tell Your Story

Usually, most CVs will be full of stuff like academic details, work experience, and so on. The cover letter is where your story should come out – not just facts about you. Keep it relevant, but also make sure that anyone reading it would be able to connect with you.

“ I come from a small town in Massachusetts, where I grew up seeing the struggles of a small business first-hand. That’s what taught me to think with my feet and always look for the most effective solution. And that’s what I’d like to do for your company too “. 

5) Show Them You’ve Done Your Homework

What do employers love the most? Candidates who’ve done their homework and due diligence. Make sure that you not just show your interest in the job but also sneak in your interest in the company itself. Recruiters fall head over heels when you bring out information on the company’s core details.

“ As Apple’s founder Steve Jobs once said, “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” I think that for me, this place is where I can combine my creativity with my enthusiasm to be a leader. And that’s why I’m so excited to apply for this job at Apple “. 

6) Prove Your Value

This is a pretty simple (and most commonly used tip) – talk about yourself, and sell yourself hard. Show them why you’re the best match for their team. Talk about your achievements, skills, and experiences that give you an edge over the competition. This part of the cover letter is where recruiters really get to see your mettle.

“ I have 5 years of experience in Digital Marketing and have even completed Google’s prestigious certification on the fundamentals of this domain. I also received an award from my previous organization for successfully launching a new campaign that increased sales by 25% “. 

7) Make Sure To Have A Call-To-Action

Oftentimes, people will just end their cover letter by saying something generic like “Thank you, and I hope to hear from you soon”. Stop doing that! Don’t just thank them, make sure you’re encouraging them to take the next step. This could be anything from asking for an interview or even expressing your eagerness to discuss further.

“ I’m grateful to you for considering my application and would love to discuss further how I can be of value to your team. I’m available anytime that suits you, and I look forward to connecting with you and sharing my ideas on how I can help your business grow “. 

8) Don’t Forget the Formalities

You’re writing a cover letter, not a text message. Formalities are pretty important here – and this includes proper salutations, dates, a professional closing remark, and the works! You should also be leaving your contact information so that they can easily get in touch with you.

Example (Closing):

“ Yours sincerely,

+1 (555) 555 5555 

[email protected] “

9) Proofread, Proofread, Proofread

Nobody wants to read something that’s peppered with grammar mistakes, punctuation errors, and weird phrasings. A well-polished letter shows that you care about the job and have an eye for detail. It also makes your letter look aesthetic and a breeze to read through. So make sure to proofread your letter at least 3 times before you send it over (hence the 3 repetitions of ‘proofread’ in the subheading!).

Examples (of what not to do):

“ I’m really interest in this position. ” – Poor grammar

“ I can’t wait to hear back from u .” – Usage of the slang “u” instead of “you”. 

10) Keep it Short and Sweet

You’re writing a cover letter, not a novel. It’s quite easy to write pages and pages when you really want that job, and you have a lot of experience and achievements to show for it. But recruiters have to go through tons of these letters in a day, so make sure yours is short, sweet, and captures their attention quickly.

An ideal cover letter should just be around 250 to 400 words. Here are some short and easy cover letter templates you can use – https://zety.com/blog/short-cover-letter-examples . 

11) Show Some Personality

Last but not least, don’t be afraid to show some personality in your cover letter. No company is hiring an employee just for their skills, instead, they’re hiring an entire person. This means that your enthusiasm, passion, and unique perspectives are all pretty important. Make sure that part of you comes out in your letter.

“ I’m someone who loves to take on challenges and find creative solutions. I truly believe that in 5 years, we can achieve a 100% shift to carbon-efficient products and practices – it’s definitely achievable, and my passion lies in striving to make that change happen. ” 

Ace any job Interview

8 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO ACE ANY JOB INTERVIEW

Case Interview Presentation

9 Tips For Delivering A Stellar Case Presentation Interview

Job Interview Presentation

55 Job Interview Presentation Topics

Final thoughts.

Writing a cover letter can seem like a pretty difficult (and not to mention nerve-wracking!) task. But if you follow the tips that we’ve mentioned above, you can craft a cover letter that will impress any recruiter that reads it. So, are you ready to go out there and secure the job of your dreams? Then what are you waiting for? Start using these tips right away!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Let’s take a quick look at some of the most common questions we get asked when it comes to writing cover letters.

Q.1. Should I always include a cover letter?

A. Not every company would require you to submit a cover letter. But it’s always a good idea to include one, even if they haven’t asked. This creates a really good first impression, and also showcases your enthusiasm.

Q.2. Can I use the same cover letter for different jobs?

A. We would advise you not to use the same cover letter for different jobs. Cover letters are most effective when you’ve customized them for the company and role you want. You can always create templates that you can refer to, but it’s a poor idea to copy-paste the same cover letter everywhere.

Q.3. Should I address my cover letter to a specific person?

A. If you know who the hiring manager is, it’s always a great idea to specifically address that person. It creates a sort of connect with the person, which can increase your chances of selection. If you can’t find a specific name, a generic salutation like “Dear Hiring Manager” is also good enough.

Similar Posts

9 Interpersonal Skills to add to your resume or CV

9 Interpersonal Skills to add to your resume or CV

A resume serves, above all, to define whether or not we have alignment with the open position. If we look at the job ad, we will know the most important and proper skills to show that we’d be the ideal person for the position. The job ad usually describes the critical skills that interested professionals…

10 Effective Communication Skills to Jump-start Your Career

10 Effective Communication Skills to Jump-start Your Career

Regardless of the industry, you are going to work in; possessing effective communication skills to engage with your staff, colleagues, and superiors effectively. Nowadays, you must know how to effectively receive and convey messages in person and also through social media, email and over the phone/voice call. Having effective communication skills will assist you in…

55 Job Interview Presentation Topics

Job interview Presentations can give some butterflies in the stomach. After all, it might be the conversation that will decide your tomorrow. Things can get more serious if you are required to make a presentation as part of the interview. The good news is that shouldn’t be the end of the world. That nightmare can…

5 Good and Bad Mannerisms that Influence your Hiring

5 Good and Bad Mannerisms that Influence your Hiring

In a job interview, your verbal communication skills, reasoning, and problem-solving skills are extremely important skills to demonstrate. However, very underrated are the importance of good and bad mannerisms or body language skills. I have personally interviewed hundreds of candidates, and although getting a candidate with impressive skills is a given, the attitude and culture…

Top 10 Easy Tips for Conducting  Audience Analysis

Top 10 Easy Tips for Conducting Audience Analysis

Conducting audience analysis is as important as giving the speech itself. It assists in getting into the heads of your audience. Appropriate use of the audience analysis results before your speech or presentation can exponentially improve your chances as a speaker to meet and exceed your audience’s expectations. Over the years, professional public speakers have…

How to Improve your Communication Skills – 7 Essential Tips

How to Improve your Communication Skills – 7 Essential Tips

Before we delve into how to improve your communication skills, let us first address the basic definition of communication. Communication in simple terms can simply be defined as the act of transferring information from one place to another or, from one person to another. There are many forms of communication, such as verbal (words of…

SkillsYouNeed

  • PRESENTATION SKILLS

Writing Your Presentation

Search SkillsYouNeed:

Presentation Skills:

  • A - Z List of Presentation Skills
  • Top Tips for Effective Presentations
  • General Presentation Skills
  • What is a Presentation?
  • Preparing for a Presentation
  • Organising the Material
  • Deciding the Presentation Method
  • Managing your Presentation Notes
  • Working with Visual Aids
  • Presenting Data
  • Managing the Event
  • Coping with Presentation Nerves
  • Dealing with Questions
  • How to Build Presentations Like a Consultant
  • 7 Qualities of Good Speakers That Can Help You Be More Successful
  • Self-Presentation in Presentations
  • Specific Presentation Events
  • Remote Meetings and Presentations
  • Giving a Speech
  • Presentations in Interviews
  • Presenting to Large Groups and Conferences
  • Giving Lectures and Seminars
  • Managing a Press Conference
  • Attending Public Consultation Meetings
  • Managing a Public Consultation Meeting
  • Crisis Communications
  • Elsewhere on Skills You Need:
  • Communication Skills
  • Facilitation Skills
  • Teams, Groups and Meetings
  • Effective Speaking
  • Question Types

Subscribe to our FREE newsletter and start improving your life in just 5 minutes a day.

You'll get our 5 free 'One Minute Life Skills' and our weekly newsletter.

We'll never share your email address and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Few of us feel entirely comfortable writing a presentation. There is something very daunting for many people about the process of moving your thoughts from your head to paper (or a series of slides on the computer).

However, there are things that you can do to help yourself. These include knowing your material well and taking time to consider what you want to say.

This page provides advice on how to write a presentation. It discusses the initial writing, and then also explains how to review and edit your work. This will help to ensure that your presentation is as effective as possible.

Before you start...

Before you start to write your presentation, you need certain information: the objective, the subject, and details of the audience, for example. For more about this, see our page on Preparing Your Presentation .

Based on the information you have gathered, you should also have started to develop your ideas and select the main points to include. For more about this, see our page on Organising Your Material .

Some basic starting points

There are two really important things to remember when starting to write a presentation:

1. Give your presentation an introduction, a main message, and a conclusion.

Some people summarise this as ‘say what you’re going to say, say it, then say what you’ve said’ .

However, that is not the whole story. Your introduction needs to ‘set the scene’ a bit and give a broad outline of what you are going to cover in your presentation. If you are using presentation software such as PowerPoint, this should be a single slide. Your conclusion needs to sum up and present your main message to your audience, probably again in a single slide.

If you are taking questions after your presentation, and you are using PowerPoint, you will probably have a slide up on the screen during questions. You could, of course, have a final slide that says something like “Thank you for listening, any questions?”, or gives your contact details.

However, you could also leave up a final slide that highlights your conclusions.

This will help to ensure that your key messages remain in the minds of your audience.

2. Think about using stories to get your message across

We are hard-wired by thousands of years of evolution to listen to stories. Stories helped us survive by reminding us about important behaviours. We therefore tend to remember them much better than dry lists of facts or bullet points.

It is much easier to work with this than ignore it.

There are two aspects of this.

First, you should try to think about your presentation as telling a story to your audience. What is the point that you are trying to make, and how can you best get it across?

Second, it is helpful to use stories as part of your presentation . For example, if you start by telling a story or anecdote, it will act as a ‘hook’ to draw in your audience. You can also use stories to illustrate each point you want to make. Of course, your story has to link to your main message, because you can pretty much guarantee that your audience will remember the story much longer than the conclusion!

Structuring Your Presentation

The structure and content of your presentation will of course be unique to you.

Only you can decide on the best way to present your messages.  However, you might like to consider some standard presentation structures for inspiration:

1. Harnessing the Power of Three

In public speaking and rhetorical debate, as well as in much communication, three is a magic number.  The brain finds it relatively easy to grasp three points at a time.

People find three points, ideas or numbers, easier to understand and remember than four or more. 

You could therefore structure your presentation using the magic number of three.

For example, your presentation should have three main elements: the introduction, middle and conclusions. Within the main body of your presentation, divide your key message into three elements and then expand each of these points into three sub-points.  If you are using a visual aid such as PowerPoint, limit the number of bullet points to three on each slide and expand on each of these as you go along.

What should you do if you have more than three points to make?

Reduce them until you don’t have more than three points!

Your audience will probably only remember three of your five or six points anyway—but which three? Do the work for them, and identify the three most important points, and leave the others out.

2. What, Why, How?

An alternative structure uses the questions “What?”, “Why?” and “How?” to communicate your message to the audience. In a way, this also harnesses the power of three, but is a special case for driving action.

“What?” identifies the key message you wish to communicate. Think about the benefit of your message for your audience. What will they gain, what can they do with the information, and what will the benefit be?

“Why?” addresses the next obvious question that arises for the audience .  Having been told “what”, the audience will naturally then start to think “why should I do that?”, “why should I think that?” or “why should that be the case?”. Directly addressing the “why?” question in the next stage of your presentation means that you are answering these questions and your talk is following a natural route through the material. This will ensure that you have the audience on your side immediately.

“How?” is the final question that naturally arises in the audience’s mind . They want to know how they are going to achieve what you have just suggested.  Try not to be too prescriptive here. Instead of telling people exactly how they should act on your message, offer suggestions as to how they can act, perhaps using examples.

You should try to back up what you say with evidence. You can use case studies, personal examples or statistics here, but try to ensure that you use them in the form of stories.

There is more about this on our page Presenting Data .

Editing Your Content

Once you have a first draft of your presentation, it is important to review and edit this.

This will help to ensure that it really does get your message across in the most effective way.

When editing presentation content, you should consider:

The language . Make sure that what you are saying will be clear to your audience. Remove any jargon and try to use plain English instead. If necessary, explain terms when you first use them.

Sentence structure .  Use short sentences and keep the structure simple. Remember that you will be talking through your ideas and that the audience will be listening rather than reading.

The flow . Make sure that your presentation structure leads your audience through your ideas and helps them to draw your conclusion for themselves.

Use metaphors and stories to aid understanding and retention.

‘Hooks’ to get and hold the audience’s attention . Ensure that you have included several ‘hooks’ at various points in the presentation. This will help you to get and then keep the audience’s attention. These might be stories, or audience participation, or some alternative visual aids , such as a short video.

Check, and double check, for spelling and grammar . Make sure that any presentation slides or illustrations, titles, captions, handouts or similar are free from spelling mistakes.

Ideally, you should take a break from the presentation before editing so that you can look at your writing with a fresh pair of eyes.

You might also want to ask a friend or colleague to have a look, particularly at the flow and the language. If possible, ask someone who is not familiar with the material .

A final thought

The actual writing of your presentation is really the final stage of your preparation.

If you have done your homework, you will already be clear about the reason why you are presenting, the subject matter, and the main points you want to make. Actually putting it down on paper should therefore be relatively straightforward.

Continue to: Deciding the Presentation Method Preparing for a Presentation

See also: Organising the Presentation Material Working with Visual Aids Coping with Presentation Nerves Dealing with Questions

IMAGES

  1. 34 Free Business Introduction Letters (PDF & MS Word) ᐅ TemplateLab

    how to write a successful presentation letter

  2. 11 Sample Congratulation Letters

    how to write a successful presentation letter

  3. Presentation Letter Template For Your Needs

    how to write a successful presentation letter

  4. 34 Free Business Introduction Letters (PDF & MS Word) ᐅ TemplateLab

    how to write a successful presentation letter

  5. 34 Free Business Introduction Letters (PDF & MS Word) ᐅ TemplateLab

    how to write a successful presentation letter

  6. How To Write A Presentation Letter For A Job

    how to write a successful presentation letter

VIDEO

  1. How to write letter D amazing style with highlighter and marker

  2. English Letter presentation for class 9 , 11 / How to write with cut marker

  3. How to write Letter? 10th class 🙏Share please🙏

  4. 2 12 2024 Send It Paid Per Letter Presentation Discover How To Write Letters and Get Paid

  5. Letter Writing

  6. Informal Letter Writing

COMMENTS

  1. How To Make a Good Presentation [A Complete Guide]

    Apply the 10-20-30 rule. Apply the 10-20-30 presentation rule and keep it short, sweet and impactful! Stick to ten slides, deliver your presentation within 20 minutes and use a 30-point font to ensure clarity and focus. Less is more, and your audience will thank you for it! 9. Implement the 5-5-5 rule. Simplicity is key.

  2. How To Write A Cover Letter (11 Great Examples Of Cover

    Q.1. Should I always include a cover letter? A. Not every company would require you to submit a cover letter. But it’s always a good idea to include one, even if they haven’t asked. This creates a really good first impression, and also showcases your enthusiasm. Q.2. Can I use the same cover letter for different jobs? A.

  3. Writing Your Presentation

    1. Give your presentation an introduction, a main message, and a conclusion. Some people summarise this as ‘say what you’re going to say, say it, then say what you’ve said’. However, that is not the whole story. Your introduction needs to ‘set the scene’ a bit and give a broad outline of what you are going to cover in your presentation.