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Presentation Script | Ultimate Guide To Engage Your Audience in 2024

Jane Ng • 05 April, 2024 • 8 min read

How can you organize a PowerPoint presentation so it engages the audience? this is a hot topic! Are you looking for a script presentation example? Every memorable presentation starts with a single blank page and a writer's determination to create something extraordinary. If you've ever found yourself staring at that intimidating blank canvas, unsure how to transform your ideas into a captivating script, fear not. 

In this blog post, we'll guide you on how to write an impeccable presentation script that will mesmerize your audience. Moreover, we'll provide you with practical tips and real-life examples that help you kickstart your journey toward crafting a compelling presentation script.

Learn how to write a presentation script with AhaSlides, today!

Table of Contents

Why a well-written presentation script matters, how to write a presentation script, expert tips for writing an engaging presentation script.

• Presentation Script Example 
• Key Takeaways

Overview - Presentation Script

• Presentation description
• Title ideas

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A well-written presentation script is the backbone of your delivery, ensuring structure, engaging your audience, boosting your confidence, and providing adaptability.

• An excellent presentation script brings structure and clarity to your message.
• It keeps your audience engaged and helps them understand your ideas. 
• It also ensures consistency and repeatability, especially when presenting multiple times. 
• A good script for presentation provides adaptability and preparedness, enabling you to adjust and handle unexpected situations. 

In addition, for many presenters, nerves and Glossophobia can be significant hurdles to overcome. A well-written script provides a sense of security and confidence. Like a safety net, it ensures that you have your key points and supporting details at your fingertips. This boosts your confidence and reduces anxiety, allowing you to deliver a more polished presentation.

So, how to make a script for a presentation?

Before writing a presentation script, you need to know your audience's background, interests, and knowledge level. Then clearly define the purpose of your presentation. Having a clear objective will help you stay focused while writing your script.

1/ Outline The Structure

Start with an attention-grabbing introduction, followed by the main points you want to convey, and conclude with a strong summary or call to action.

For example:

• Introduction - The introduction script for presentations should be a welcome and personal connection to the topic. 
• Main Points - Benefits of "topic"
• Transitions - Use phrases like "Now let's move on to," or "Next, we'll discuss." 
• Conclusion - Recap key points and call to action.

You can consider using bullet points or headings to organize your ideas within each section.

2/ Craft A Powerful Opening

Crafting a strong opening statement is crucial to capturing your audience's attention and setting the tone for your entire presentation. Here are some key elements to consider when creating an impactful opening statement:

• Hook the Audience: Start with a captivating hook that immediately grabs the audience's attention
• Establish Relevance: Communicate the relevance and importance of your topic to the audience. Highlight how it relates to their lives, challenges, or aspirations.
• Create an Emotional Connection: Appeal to your audience's emotions and create a sense of resonance or empathy. Connect with their desires, challenges, or aspirations to make a personal connection.

3/ Develop Key Points

When developing the key points in your presentation script, it's essential to provide supporting information, examples, or evidence that reinforces your message. Here's how you can expand on each main point:

Supporting Information:

• Present facts, data, or expert opinions that support your main point.
• Use credible sources to strengthen your arguments and provide context.
• Use evidence to back up your claims and increase credibility.

Logical Order or Narrative Flow

• Organize your main points in a logical order to facilitate understanding.
• Consider using a narrative flow to create a compelling storyline that connects your main points.

4/ Incorporate Visual Aids

Incorporating visual aids strategically into your presentation can significantly enhance understanding, engagement, and retention of information.

• Example: If you're discussing the features of a new product, display images or a short video demonstrating its functionality as you describe each feature.

5/ Include Transitions and Signposts

Including transitions and signposts helps guide your audience through your ideas and ensures they can easily follow your train of thought.

You can use concise and engaging language to introduce the upcoming subject matter.

• Example: "Next, we'll explore the latest..."

Or you can use questions to transition between sections or engage the audience's attention.

• Example: "But how can we tackle this challenge? The answer lies in..."

6/ Summarize and Conclude

• Recap your main points to reinforce key messages concisely.
• End with a memorable conclusion that leaves a lasting impact or a call to action for your audience.

7/ Seek Feedback and Revise

• Share your script with a trusted colleague, friend, or mentor for constructive feedback.
• Once you have made revisions based on feedback, practice delivering your revised script.
• Refine and fine-tune your script as needed through practice sessions and additional feedback.

Involve The Audience

Boost audience participation and engagement by leveraging interactive features such as Q&A session , live polls, quizzes and small activities through AhaSlides . By utilizing these interactive elements, you can transform your presentation into a dynamic and engaging experience for your audience.

You also can ask your audience for feedback by rating scale or Likert scale !

Use Conversational Language

Write your script in a conversational tone to make it more approachable and relatable. Avoid jargon and complex terminology that might alienate your audience.

Know Your Key Takeaways

• Identify the main messages or key takeaways you want your audience to remember.
• Craft your script around these key points to ensure they are emphasized throughout the presentation.

Address Potential Questions or Concerns

By proactively addressing potential questions or concerns within your presentation script, you demonstrate thoroughness, credibility, and a genuine commitment to addressing your audience's needs. 

This approach helps foster trust and ensures that your presentation provides clear and comprehensive information, leaving your audience feeling satisfied and informed.

Presentation Script Example

Here's an example of a presentation script about "The Power of Effective Communication": 

Key Takeaways 

In conclusion, crafting a well-written presentation script is essential for delivering a successful and impactful presentation. By following the steps and tips outlined in this guide, you can create a script that engages your audience, communicates your message effectively, and leaves a lasting impression.

Remember, incorporating interactive elements can significantly enhance audience engagement and make your presentation more memorable. AhaSlides, with our wide range of templates and interactive features like questions, polls , and activities, provides a powerful platform to involve your audience actively and create an interactive and dynamic presentation experience.

How do you write a script for a presentation?

Here are steps on how to write an effective presentation script: Outline the structure, including an attention-grabbing introduction, main points, and a strong conclusion.  Craft a powerful opening that hooks the audience, establishes relevance, and creates an emotional connection.  Develop key points with supporting information and logical order.  Incorporate visual aids strategically to enhance understanding.  Use transitions and signposts to guide your audience.  Summarize and conclude with impact .  Seek feedback, revise, and practice for a polished presentation.

How do you start a presentation script example?

Here's an example of how you can start a presentation script: - "Good morning/afternoon/evening, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you all for being here today. My name is_____, and I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak with you about_______. Over the next _______, we will explore [briefly mention key points or objectives of the presentation]." The opening lines should aim to grab the audience's attention, establish your credibility, and introduce the topic you will be discussing. 

Is it okay to read a script for a presentation?

While it's generally recommended to avoid reading directly from a script, there are situations where it can be beneficial. For formal or complex presentations like academic or technical talks, a well-crafted script ensures accuracy and keeps you on track.  However, in most cases, a conversational style with notes or prompts is preferred. This allows flexibility, spontaneity, and better audience engagement. 

A writer who wants to create practical and valuable content for the audience

Tips to Engage with Polls & Trivia

More from AhaSlides

4 Tips to Write an Effective Presentation Script

• By Judhajit Sen
• May 31, 2024

Writing a presentation script might seem difficult, but it’s not impossible. Start by making a plan. Learn how to write the main points you want to make and decide the order in which you will discuss them. Then, do some research on your topic so you know what you’re talking about.

Use simple language and avoid jargon. Use facts and numbers to back up your points. Practice your presentation many times so you feel confident when you speak. With some prep and practice, you can nail your script.

Writing a script of a speech is not easy. It takes time to learn and prowess that needs to be honed. Just like making templates, there are rules to follow. You must ensure your words meet your needs and don’t sound automated.

Crafting a great presentation isn’t just about the content. You also need a script. Learning to write one takes time. Like making templates, there are rules to stick to. This means you need to write a good story and breaks in your presentation speech. Make sure your words match your slides and sound natural.

Key Takeaways

• Plan Ahead: Crafting a compelling script requires careful planning and organization. Start by outlining your main points and backing them up with research to ensure clarity and coherence.
• Sync with Slides: Align your script closely with your presentation slides as an audience engagement strategy to facilitate understanding. Avoid discrepancies between your spoken words and visual content that leaves the audience puzzled.
• Include Pauses: Incorporate breaks strategically in your script to allow your audience time to process information and absorb visual content. Breaks also help control the pace of your speech and maintain the audience’s attention throughout.
• Practice Diligently: Rehearse your script multiple times, integrating your final templates to refine your delivery and boost confidence. Adjust your delivery to sound natural and engaging, ensuring a good presentation .
• Storyboarding Matters: Start by creating a storyboard to map out the flow and structure of your presentation. This essential step helps ensure a well-structured and engaging delivery, guiding your audience smoothly from start to finish.
• Focus on Delivery: Remember, presentations are not just about the content on your templates; they’re about how you deliver your message. Your script is your roadmap to guide your presentation and make a lasting impression.

Defining a Presentation

A presentation is when someone talks to a group to share information. They do this to explain ideas, teach, or convince others to do something. Presentations can happen face-to-face, on video calls, or online. They’re common in business meetings or school classes.

Presentations can tell, teach, or amuse, depending on what they’re for. They can be slideshows, videos, or things you can interact with. But no matter how they’re done, a smooth presentation needs planning, preparation, and public speaking skills that needs practice.

Components Of A Successful Presentation

Every presentation can be divided into three parts: the beginning, the main part, and the end. About 10-15% of your time talking is usually spent on the beginning, approximately 75% on the main part, and the remaining 10% on finishing up.

The main part of the Google slide or PowerPoint presentation should include facts and evidence supporting the key points, presented logically and easily understood. Use presentation design elements like pictures, graphs, and charts to help explain the points.

Finally, end a presentation by summarizing the main points and with an  effective call to action . With these parts done well, your strong presentation will surely grab the audience’s attention and leave them feeling positive throughout the presentation.

Presentation Script

A presentation script is like a roadmap for a presentation. It’s a written plan that helps the presenter know what to say when to show visual aids like templates, and how to keep things organized.

In a script, you’ll find the main things the speaker needs to talk about, details about the stuff they’re presenting, and tips on how to talk about it. This helps the company get its message across and connect with the audience from start to finish.

Presenters write their scripts using tools like Google Slides or PowerPoint. These different types of presentation tools let them jot down notes only they can see and even add voice recordings. For instance, in a financial presentation for shareholders, the script might include extra info to explain tricky money stuff and when to switch templates or use visuals.

Following are four tips on how to write a killer script.

Freeze the Storyboard

Planning is crucial when writing a script. To make the content flow naturally, a presenter needs enough time to prepare and practice before the event. The key to an excellent presentation content is clear and concise storyboarding.

Start with storyboarding before writing the business communication script. This is especially important if you’re also designing the presentation. It’s tempting to write the content first and then fit the design elements to match. However, this approach often leads to frustration and stress.

Using a storyboard helps you effectively plan the presentation’s length and content word for word. It serves as a guide, allowing you to lead your audience smoothly from start to finish. By prioritizing storyboarding, you’ll ensure a well-structured and impactful presentation.

Follow the Slide Content

When crafting an engaging presentation script, make sure it matches the content of your slides. This will keep your audience engaged and help them follow along without getting lost.

Start by using your templates as the foundation for your script. If your presentation doesn’t match the content of your script, it can confuse your audience. If the script doesn’t match much of the information in the presentation, people will have trouble keeping up and lose interest.

Always keep your presentation materials nearby when writing your script to prevent this. Break your script into sections or bullet points that match the order of your slides. This way, your script and templates will complement each other perfectly, making your presentation conversational and easy to follow.

Add Pauses to Your Script

When crafting a presentation script, remember that your audience has two main tasks: listening to your words and understanding the visual content. To help them do this effectively, you need to add pauses to your script’s content.

Putting yourself in the audience’s shoes can make a big difference. Breaks give them time to process what you’ve said and absorb the information from your templates or visuals, helping them absorb more of the content you are presenting and not forget something.

Including breaks in your speech with script also helps you as a speaker. Breaks allow you to improvise the rhythm of your speech and maintain the attention of the audience from start to finish. Planning these breaks can create a more engaging and effective presentation.

Rehearse the Script

Once your script is ready, set aside plenty of time to say the words, practice and memorize. Remember, the script is just one part of your presentation, so always practice with your final slides. This helps you see how everything fits together.

Practicing with your templates allows you to make last-minute changes to the script and practice your delivery. Persuasive speech is a skill so pay attention to how you stand, make eye contact , and use body language .

Scripts for presentations are often written more formally than how we naturally speak. If you don’t adjust this, your delivery might sound awkward and unnatural, and the audience will notice.

Practice your script several times to become comfortable with the material. This will help your smooth delivery, boost your confidence, and reduce fear of public speaking on the day of the presentation. Doing this helps make a persuasive presentation , ensuring you effectively convey your message and captivate your audience throughout your presentation.

Mastering Presentation Scripts: Your Path to Successful Presentations

Creating a good script isn’t rocket science but requires some savvy moves. Start by crafting a plan, laying out your main points, and backing them up with solid research. Explain complex jargon in simple language and practice until you feel like a pro.

Presentations aren’t just about what’s on your templates but about how you want to present. Whether you’re pitching an idea or teaching a concept, your script is your roadmap.

Remember the basics: a solid beginning to grab attention, a meaty central part supported by evidence, and a memorable ending to leave a lasting impression.

But how to write a presentation script that hits all the marks? Here are four game-changing tips:

First off, freeze that storyboard. Planning is critical, and storyboarding ensures your content flows seamlessly.

Next, sync your script with your slides. Ensure your words match what’s on the screen to keep your audience in the loop.

Remember to add breaks. Let your audience digest what you’re saying and absorb those visuals.

Lastly, rehearse like your presentation depends on it (because it does). Practice with your templates, tweak your delivery and own that stage.

With these tips in your arsenal, you’ll be armed and ready to write killer scripts that mesmerize your audience and drive your message home.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is a presentation script, and why is it important? A script is a written plan that guides the speaker on what to say during a presentation. It helps maintain organization and clarity and effectively communicates the message to the audience. Without a script, presenters might struggle to deliver coherent presentations, risking confusion among the audience.

2. How can I start writing a script for a presentation? Begin by crafting a storyboard to outline the flow of your presentation. This step is essential in ensuring your content is well-structured and engaging. Storyboarding allows you to plan the length and content effectively, providing a roadmap for your presentation.

3. Why is it essential for a script for a presentation to match the slide content? Matching the script with slide content is vital to keep the audience engaged and facilitate understanding. When the script aligns with the visuals, it helps the audience follow along smoothly without getting lost or confused.

4. Why should I add pauses to my presentation script? Adding pauses allows the audience time to digest the information presented and absorb visual content. It helps maintain audience engagement and ensures they can process the message effectively. Breaks also benefit the speaker by allowing them to control the rhythm of their speech and sustain the audience’s attention.

5. How important is rehearsal when preparing a presentation script? Rehearsal is crucial in delivering a polished and confident presentation. It allows the speaker to familiarize themselves with the script, practice delivery, and make necessary adjustments. Practicing with final templates helps ensure everything flows smoothly and enhances the overall impact of the presentation.

6. What are the critical elements of a killer presentation script? A killer script incorporates clear storytelling, matches slide content, includes strategic breaks, and undergoes thorough rehearsal. These elements ensure the script is engaging, easy to follow, and effectively delivers the intended message to the audience.

Master the Art of Persuasion: How Prezentium Can Elevate Your Presentation Scripts

Crafting a stellar presentation script is essential to delivering your message with impact. But fear not, because Prezentium is here to revolutionize your approach to presentations.

With our AI-powered services, including Overnight Presentations, Presentation Specialist expertise, and Zenith Learning workshops, Prezentium is your ultimate partner in creating stunning scripts that leave a lasting impression.

Forget the struggle of planning, scripting, and designing your presentations alone. Our specialist team will tirelessly transform your ideas into polished scripts that resonate with your audience. Whether you need a last-minute presentation or a comprehensive overhaul of your content, Prezentium has you covered.

Harness the power of structured problem-solving and visual storytelling with our Zenith Learning workshops, designed to elevate your presentation skills to new heights. From crafting compelling narratives to mastering the art of delivery, Prezentium provides the tools and expertise you need to succeed.

So why wait? Elevate your presentations with Prezentium today and unlock the potential of persuasive communication. Let’s work together to create scripts that captivate, educate, and inspire. Your audience awaits – are you ready to dazzle them?

Why wait? Avail a complimentary 1-on-1 session with our presentation expert. See how other enterprise leaders are creating impactful presentations with us.

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How to write an effective presentation script

If putting together presentation content wasn’t tough enough, a script also has to be written for, or by, the speaker. Learning how to write a presentation script can take some time to master, and just like a presentation design , there are some important rules to remember.

From putting together a storyboard and ensuring the words complement the slides, to inserting pause breaks and not sounding too scripted, delivering a presentation speech is a skill that needs to be honed. In this article, we will help you with all of that and more, so you can learn how to write a presentation script your audience will easily connect with.

1. Finalise the storyboarding

Planning is everything when it comes to  writing a script for a presentation . In order to make the content flow naturally, a speaker needs to be well-prepared with enough time ahead of the event for them to practise.

In order to achieve great presentation content , clear and concise storyboarding needs to be the first step. This is especially true in situations where the same person is writing the script and also putting together the design. It can be tempting to write the content first before attempting to retrofit the design elements so it matches the script.

However, following this method rarely ever works, and it only serves to increase frustration and stress levels. By using a storyboard it becomes much easier to plan the length of the presentation along with its content. It also creates a guideline that will enable the speaker to direct the audience from start to finish.

2. Stick to the slide content

A key point to remember is that the content of your slides must provide the foundation of your script. When you sit down to begin writing it can be easy to follow the flow of ideas to create a script that reads wonderfully on its own. What you can’t forget is this must tie directly into the presentation content you have already storyboarded.

Writing a script for a presentation that doesn’t match the content will leave the audience feeling confused. As the script starts wandering off into tangents that do not relate to the slides, the crowd will quickly lose their place and their concentration will soon follow.

An easy way around this is to write the script with the presentation content close to hand. Break down the words into sections that reflect the order of the slides so the two are always complementing each other perfectly.

3. Remember to add in some pause breaks

When an audience attends a presentation they have two tasks to juggle: firstly, to digest the words being delivered by the speaker, and secondly, to understand the information provided by the presentation content.

It’s important to place yourself in the shoes of the audience to remember this when writing a script for a presentation. You want as much of the information you are providing to be taken in by the audience, which means you need to factor in some time that will enable them to process your words and the visual data.

Writing pause breaks into the script plays a key role in achieving this. When the speaker pauses it gives the audience a moment to reflect on what has just been said. It also allows the speaker to create a  rhythm of speech  and have more control over the attention of the audience from start to finish.

4. Write, practice, iterate and repeat

Once you have your script ready to go, you will need to set aside a good amount of time to practice it. Don’t forget, the script is one half of the content you will be delivering to the audience, so you should always practice the material alongside the finalised slides, as this gives you a better feel for how it all comes together.

This also allows you to make final tweaks and changes to the script, as well as physically practicing how you will deliver it on the day. You can then rehearse the way you stand, your eye contact and the management of your overall body language in front of an audience.

It is also worth remembering that when you write a script for a presentation, it will be written more formally compared to the way you naturally speak. If the script isn’t changed to reflect this, it will sound unnatural and awkward and the audience will pick up on it very quickly.

5. Remember, You don’t always need to write a script

Please note that this final point isn’t intended to undermine everything we have talked about above! As we mentioned in the previous point, sometimes writing every word you are going to say can sound overly scripted, which can lack empathy and struggle to connect with the audience.

If you are experienced and confident enough, or if it fits the type of audience you will be speaking to, you can work around key points you have written down, or simply use the slide content as your start point.

This usually suits a more informal setting and you always have to be careful not to wander off on long tangents that will lose the audience in the process. Always remember the structure of your presentation and have a time limit so you will still deliver the information concisely and effectively.

Script writing is no easy task!

Just like creating content for your presentation, writing a script requires practice. With each one you write you will gain more confidence and improve the way they are structured and delivered. Use the guidelines above as a foundation for your scripts and you’ll soon be able to find a voice and style that will add real value to your presentations.

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Conference Call Script Samples: 5 Ways to Make Your Next Meeting Productive

This conference call script sample covers meeting introduction, goal making, speaking order, discussion steering, and call summary.

Let's face it: Conference calls aren’t always the most efficient way to communicate.

Confusion about who is speaking, participants talking over each other, how to start a conference call, unclear goals, and irrelevant side conversations can all waste time and frustrate participants.

Avoid these pitfalls and chair your next meeting with confidence with these five conference call script samples and guidelines.

1. Introduce Speakers, Meeting Introduction

Naturally, you’ll want to introduce yourself and all the presenters. Make sure to introduce participants who are new to the group.

Hello everyone. This is Larry from Microdot Technology. I'm calling in with Jimmy Wayne, Susan Francis, and Lou Denver. [Pause to allow them to greet]. We also have the Chief Financial Officer, Michael Chen, calling in from LA.

However, if you’ve got a larger conference call (more than 10 people), it’s not going to be efficient for you to run through a list of names during the meeting introduction. In fact, people may tune out. Instead, just acknowledge there are a lot of people and only introduce key speakers.

Hey everyone, Juan from Centurion Marketing here. I wanted to take a second to remind everyone to stay on mute during the presentation. Please hold your questions until the end, as there’ll be time for questions and answers. Without further ado, I’d like to introduce our speakers: Justin Davids and Priti Gupta from Passenger Technology.

2. Get to the Point

Next, open with a brief summary of why you’re meeting and what you hope to accomplish during the call.

Okay. So we want to come up with a strategy for the Cutlass Software buyout. We need to iron out how we're going to finalize the contract and secure the funds. Our legal team will coordinate details with our financial officers, and then I need to sign the paperwork. This is going to be a team effort for all of us on the call.

3. Plan Speaking Order Ahead of Time

Plan out the order that each person will speak in. If you’ve got multiple departments, consider arranging speakers by department in an order that makes sense for your topic. Think about emailing an agenda ahead of time so there's no uncertainty about who speaks and when. That way you can avoid dead air, talking over each other, and generalized confusion that can disrupt the call.

You can even go a step further and add estimated speaking times in the agenda. This will give speakers an idea of how long they have, as well as give participants a sense of forward momentum.

Let's get started with our Legal Counsel, Susan Francis. She's been working on the buyout contract for the past month. Susan, what can you tell us... [allow conversation] Thanks, Susan. The next speaker on our agenda is from our financial services department, James Fitzpatrick. James, tell us what the banks need from us... [allow conversation] So that's all for legal and financial. I'm going to say a few words about where Microdot Technology is headed... [allow conversation]

4. Steer Discussion Successfully

You can plan a discussion all you want, but conversations can have a life of their own and go in many different directions. So you’re going to have to shape the flow in a polite way. An effective way to do this is to acknowledge the previous person’s point and then offer to continue their conversation in another venue, whether offline or in a different conference call.

Susan, can we discuss your concern in a few minutes? Lou will present the logistics schedule next. James, that's a valid point, but let's take it offline after the meeting. These are all good ideas, but we only have 15 minutes left and need to focus on the main goal. I’ll arrange another call to go do some more brainstorming. Lou, we can save that for the presentation we're giving the shareholders next week. That's a fair point. But we don't need to finalize a public announcement until the buyout has been announced to Cutlass shareholders next quarter.

5. Summarize the Call

To wrap up your call, give a brief summary of what was discussed. It’s good practice to highlight how the call brought your team closer to the goals you outlined in step 2. This will make people feel like it was a productive meeting.

Then provide some guidance on what the next steps are. If you need another meeting, set a tentative date. Tell participants that you’ll follow up and share any new or outstanding action items with them. And don’t forget to thank everyone for their time.

Alright, nice call everyone. We decided to rewrite the contract, so Susan, please get started on that ASAP. And with the banks, James will determine if we should use our own capital to buy out the 8% share remaining with Cutlass Software or apply for a loan. Susan and James, please send your documents to the board of directors and me by Friday. We'll meet again when the contract gets finalized. Thanks, everyone. Have a good day, and talk to you soon.

For more ideas on how to start a conference call and how to conduct productive calls, read our blog posts about how to chair a conference call  and  conference call etiquette . And for those participants who are calling in from home, check out our blog on remote work tips to improve call quality.

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Tips for Writing an Effective Virtual Meeting Script

Sep 20, 2021 | Events

Not every virtual event needs a script, but it’s a great way to avoid awkward pauses and losing momentum in a world that has become very Zoom-forward. Do you have a conference, webinar, team meeting, or quarterly update coming up? Here are some great tips for writing an effective virtual meeting script.

Pattern the Way You Write after the Way You Speak

A crucial tip for creating a great virtual meeting script is to write like you talk. Skip the college thesis statement-style formal voice and stick to a more conversational, but professional tone.

Of course, the voice and tone of your script will be unique to the virtual event – no need to be extra formal if your event is more casual in nature, and vice versa. The script is just that – a script. It’s important to remember you are writing for video and audio. The goal of your script and your content should be to keep your audience engaged. One of the easiest ways to lose the attention of your participants is to use a script that feels more like a lecture than a conversation.

Quick tips:

• Keep your sentences short
• Don’t be afraid to start them with conjunctions like “and” or “but”
•   Use second person pronouns – speak to your audience and not at them. Use words like “you” and “your” to tie your listeners to the topics or ideas you are presenting.

We know your high school English teacher might cringe at these writing tips, but your audience will thank you!

Greet Your Audience and Manage Their Expectations

Your virtual meeting should be equal parts informative and welcoming. The first thing you should do is say hello, and introduce yourself by name, you can also give your role or job title if your meeting will be attended by people who don’t already know who you are.

As a part of your greeting, you can also offer some FAQ or helpful information: let participants know where to find recordings or transcripts of the meeting and give some background information on you and any other common questions that your participants may have as you dive into the event.

Sneak peeks, table of contents – audiences love knowing what to expect. And it helps you stay on track throughout the event as well. Create a quick reference guide or meeting outline that you can share with participants either before the event or towards the beginning of the presentation itself.  

Remember to Add in Some Personal (And Relatable) Content

Another great way to engage your audience and bookend dense or difficult topics is to incorporate personal elements and stories into your virtual meeting script. You can do this by asking rhetorical questions or creating mockup scenarios that fit the theme of your event and the topic of your personal experience.

You can also use personal stories to walk your audience through a complex process. This is especially helpful if the event is education-based. Personal stories are the best form of example presentation: using the words “for example” also creates engaging content. But the most poignant content comes from life experiences.

Not only does including personal stories create a relatable, real-life example, it also lends credibility to your own brand and personal reputation by giving your participants a look into your personal life and experiences.

Planning and Scripting an Event is a Team Effort

Are you looking for some help or guidance with an upcoming virtual event or meeting? Meet Me In The Cloud focuses on helping you plan from pre-event scheduling to post-event analytics. Check out our Event Assist programs here .

Contact us today with any questions.

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• Making the Most of Microsoft Teams With Online Training
• Microsoft Teams vs. Webex: Finding the Correct Solution for Your Company
• Collaboration
• Cyber Security
• E-learning for Educators and Administrators
• Remote Work
• Testimonial
• The Future of Work

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How to Structure your Presentation, with Examples

August 3, 2018 - Dom Barnard

For many people the thought of delivering a presentation is a daunting task and brings about a  great deal of nerves . However, if you take some time to understand how effective presentations are structured and then apply this structure to your own presentation, you’ll appear much more confident and relaxed.

Here is our complete guide for structuring your presentation, with examples at the end of the article to demonstrate these points.

Why is structuring a presentation so important?

If you’ve ever sat through a great presentation, you’ll have left feeling either inspired or informed on a given topic. This isn’t because the speaker was the most knowledgeable or motivating person in the world. Instead, it’s because they know how to structure presentations – they have crafted their message in a logical and simple way that has allowed the audience can keep up with them and take away key messages.

Research has supported this, with studies showing that audiences retain structured information  40% more accurately  than unstructured information.

In fact, not only is structuring a presentation important for the benefit of the audience’s understanding, it’s also important for you as the speaker. A good structure helps you remain calm, stay on topic, and avoid any awkward silences.

What will affect your presentation structure?

Generally speaking, there is a natural flow that any decent presentation will follow which we will go into shortly. However, you should be aware that all presentation structures will be different in their own unique way and this will be due to a number of factors, including:

• Whether you need to deliver any demonstrations
• How  knowledgeable the audience  already is on the given subject
• How much interaction you want from the audience
• Any time constraints there are for your talk
• What setting you are in
• Your ability to use any kinds of visual assistance

Before choosing the presentation’s structure answer these questions first:

• What is your presentation’s aim?
• Who are the audience?
• What are the main points your audience should remember afterwards?

When reading the points below, think critically about what things may cause your presentation structure to be slightly different. You can add in certain elements and add more focus to certain moments if that works better for your speech.

What is the typical presentation structure?

This is the usual flow of a presentation, which covers all the vital sections and is a good starting point for yours. It allows your audience to easily follow along and sets out a solid structure you can add your content to.

1. Greet the audience and introduce yourself

Before you start delivering your talk, introduce yourself to the audience and clarify who you are and your relevant expertise. This does not need to be long or incredibly detailed, but will help build an immediate relationship between you and the audience. It gives you the chance to briefly clarify your expertise and why you are worth listening to. This will help establish your ethos so the audience will trust you more and think you’re credible.

Read our tips on  How to Start a Presentation Effectively

2. Introduction

In the introduction you need to explain the subject and purpose of your presentation whilst gaining the audience’s interest and confidence. It’s sometimes helpful to think of your introduction as funnel-shaped to help filter down your topic:

• Introduce your general topic
• Explain your topic area
• State the issues/challenges in this area you will be exploring
• State your presentation’s purpose – this is the basis of your presentation so ensure that you provide a statement explaining how the topic will be treated, for example, “I will argue that…” or maybe you will “compare”, “analyse”, “evaluate”, “describe” etc.
• Provide a statement of what you’re hoping the outcome of the presentation will be, for example, “I’m hoping this will be provide you with…”
• Show a preview of the organisation of your presentation

In this section also explain:

• The length of the talk.
• Signal whether you want audience interaction – some presenters prefer the audience to ask questions throughout whereas others allocate a specific section for this.
• If it applies, inform the audience whether to take notes or whether you will be providing handouts.

The way you structure your introduction can depend on the amount of time you have been given to present: a  sales pitch  may consist of a quick presentation so you may begin with your conclusion and then provide the evidence. Conversely, a speaker presenting their idea for change in the world would be better suited to start with the evidence and then conclude what this means for the audience.

Keep in mind that the main aim of the introduction is to grab the audience’s attention and connect with them.

3. The main body of your talk

The main body of your talk needs to meet the promises you made in the introduction. Depending on the nature of your presentation, clearly segment the different topics you will be discussing, and then work your way through them one at a time – it’s important for everything to be organised logically for the audience to fully understand. There are many different ways to organise your main points, such as, by priority, theme, chronologically etc.

• Main points should be addressed one by one with supporting evidence and examples.
• Before moving on to the next point you should provide a mini-summary.
• Links should be clearly stated between ideas and you must make it clear when you’re moving onto the next point.
• Allow time for people to take relevant notes and stick to the topics you have prepared beforehand rather than straying too far off topic.

When planning your presentation write a list of main points you want to make and ask yourself “What I am telling the audience? What should they understand from this?” refining your answers this way will help you produce clear messages.

4. Conclusion

In presentations the conclusion is frequently underdeveloped and lacks purpose which is a shame as it’s the best place to reinforce your messages. Typically, your presentation has a specific goal – that could be to convert a number of the audience members into customers, lead to a certain number of enquiries to make people knowledgeable on specific key points, or to motivate them towards a shared goal.

Regardless of what that goal is, be sure to summarise your main points and their implications. This clarifies the overall purpose of your talk and reinforces your reason for being there.

Follow these steps:

• Signal that it’s nearly the end of your presentation, for example, “As we wrap up/as we wind down the talk…”
• Restate the topic and purpose of your presentation – “In this speech I wanted to compare…”
• Summarise the main points, including their implications and conclusions
• Indicate what is next/a call to action/a thought-provoking takeaway
• Move on to the last section

5. Thank the audience and invite questions

Conclude your talk by thanking the audience for their time and invite them to  ask any questions  they may have. As mentioned earlier, personal circumstances will affect the structure of your presentation.

Many presenters prefer to make the Q&A session the key part of their talk and try to speed through the main body of the presentation. This is totally fine, but it is still best to focus on delivering some sort of initial presentation to set the tone and topics for discussion in the Q&A.

Other common presentation structures

The above was a description of a basic presentation, here are some more specific presentation layouts:

Demonstration

Use the demonstration structure when you have something useful to show. This is usually used when you want to show how a product works. Steve Jobs frequently used this technique in his presentations.

• Explain why the product is valuable.
• Describe why the product is necessary.
• Explain what problems it can solve for the audience.
• Demonstrate the product  to support what you’ve been saying.
• Make suggestions of other things it can do to make the audience curious.

Problem-solution

This structure is particularly useful in persuading the audience.

• Briefly frame the issue.
• Go into the issue in detail showing why it ‘s such a problem. Use logos and pathos for this – the logical and emotional appeals.
• Provide the solution and explain why this would also help the audience.
• Call to action – something you want the audience to do which is straightforward and pertinent to the solution.

Storytelling

As well as incorporating  stories in your presentation , you can organise your whole presentation as a story. There are lots of different type of story structures you can use – a popular choice is the monomyth – the hero’s journey. In a monomyth, a hero goes on a difficult journey or takes on a challenge – they move from the familiar into the unknown. After facing obstacles and ultimately succeeding the hero returns home, transformed and with newfound wisdom.

Storytelling for Business Success  webinar , where well-know storyteller Javier Bernad shares strategies for crafting compelling narratives.

Another popular choice for using a story to structure your presentation is in media ras (in the middle of thing). In this type of story you launch right into the action by providing a snippet/teaser of what’s happening and then you start explaining the events that led to that event. This is engaging because you’re starting your story at the most exciting part which will make the audience curious – they’ll want to know how you got there.

• Great storytelling: Examples from Alibaba Founder, Jack Ma

Remaining method

The remaining method structure is good for situations where you’re presenting your perspective on a controversial topic which has split people’s opinions.

• Go into the issue in detail showing why it’s such a problem – use logos and pathos.
• Rebut your opponents’ solutions  – explain why their solutions could be useful because the audience will see this as fair and will therefore think you’re trustworthy, and then explain why you think these solutions are not valid.
• After you’ve presented all the alternatives provide your solution, the remaining solution. This is very persuasive because it looks like the winning idea, especially with the audience believing that you’re fair and trustworthy.

Transitions

When delivering presentations it’s important for your words and ideas to flow so your audience can understand how everything links together and why it’s all relevant. This can be done  using speech transitions  which are words and phrases that allow you to smoothly move from one point to another so that your speech flows and your presentation is unified.

Transitions can be one word, a phrase or a full sentence – there are many different forms, here are some examples:

Moving from the introduction to the first point

Signify to the audience that you will now begin discussing the first main point:

• Now that you’re aware of the overview, let’s begin with…
• First, let’s begin with…
• I will first cover…
• My first point covers…
• To get started, let’s look at…

Shifting between similar points

Move from one point to a similar one:

• In the same way…
• Likewise…
• Equally…
• This is similar to…
• Similarly…

Internal summaries

Internal summarising consists of summarising before moving on to the next point. You must inform the audience:

• What part of the presentation you covered – “In the first part of this speech we’ve covered…”
• What the key points were – “Precisely how…”
• How this links in with the overall presentation – “So that’s the context…”
• What you’re moving on to – “Now I’d like to move on to the second part of presentation which looks at…”

Physical movement

You can move your body and your standing location when you transition to another point. The audience find it easier to follow your presentation and movement will increase their interest.

A common technique for incorporating movement into your presentation is to:

• Start your introduction by standing in the centre of the stage.
• For your first point you stand on the left side of the stage.
• You discuss your second point from the centre again.
• You stand on the right side of the stage for your third point.
• The conclusion occurs in the centre.

Key slides for your presentation

Slides are a useful tool for most presentations: they can greatly assist in the delivery of your message and help the audience follow along with what you are saying. Key slides include:

• An intro slide outlining your ideas
• A  summary slide  with core points to remember
• High quality image slides to supplement what you are saying

There are some presenters who choose not to use slides at all, though this is more of a rarity. Slides can be a powerful tool if used properly, but the problem is that many fail to do just that. Here are some golden rules to follow when using slides in a presentation:

• Don’t over fill them  – your slides are there to assist your speech, rather than be the focal point. They should have as little information as possible, to avoid distracting people from your talk.
• A picture says a thousand words  – instead of filling a slide with text, instead, focus on one or two images or diagrams to help support and explain the point you are discussing at that time.
• Make them readable  – depending on the size of your audience, some may not be able to see small text or images, so make everything large enough to fill the space.
• Don’t rush through slides  – give the audience enough time to digest each slide.

Guy Kawasaki, an entrepreneur and author, suggests that slideshows should follow a  10-20-30 rule :

• There should be a maximum of 10 slides – people rarely remember more than one concept afterwards so there’s no point overwhelming them with unnecessary information.
• The presentation should last no longer than 20 minutes as this will leave time for questions and discussion.
• The font size should be a minimum of 30pt because the audience reads faster than you talk so less information on the slides means that there is less chance of the audience being distracted.

Here are some additional resources for slide design:

• 7 design tips for effective, beautiful PowerPoint presentations
• 11 design tips for beautiful presentations
• 10 tips on how to make slides that communicate your idea

Group Presentations

Group presentations are structured in the same way as presentations with one speaker but usually require more rehearsal and practices.  Clean transitioning between speakers  is very important in producing a presentation that flows well. One way of doing this consists of:

• Briefly recap on what you covered in your section: “So that was a brief introduction on what health anxiety is and how it can affect somebody”
• Introduce the next speaker in the team and explain what they will discuss: “Now Elnaz will talk about the prevalence of health anxiety.”
• Then end by looking at the next speaker, gesturing towards them and saying their name: “Elnaz”.
• The next speaker should acknowledge this with a quick: “Thank you Joe.”

From this example you can see how the different sections of the presentations link which makes it easier for the audience to follow and remain engaged.

Example of great presentation structure and delivery

Having examples of great presentations will help inspire your own structures, here are a few such examples, each unique and inspiring in their own way.

How Google Works – by Eric Schmidt

This presentation by ex-Google CEO  Eric Schmidt  demonstrates some of the most important lessons he and his team have learnt with regards to working with some of the most talented individuals they hired. The simplistic yet cohesive style of all of the slides is something to be appreciated. They are relatively straightforward, yet add power and clarity to the narrative of the presentation.

Start with why – by Simon Sinek

Since being released in 2009, this presentation has been viewed almost four million times all around the world. The message itself is very powerful, however, it’s not an idea that hasn’t been heard before. What makes this presentation so powerful is the simple message he is getting across, and the straightforward and understandable manner in which he delivers it. Also note that he doesn’t use any slides, just a whiteboard where he creates a simple diagram of his opinion.

The Wisdom of a Third Grade Dropout – by Rick Rigsby

Here’s an example of a presentation given by a relatively unknown individual looking to inspire the next generation of graduates. Rick’s presentation is unique in many ways compared to the two above. Notably, he uses no visual prompts and includes a great deal of humour.

However, what is similar is the structure he uses. He first introduces his message that the wisest man he knew was a third-grade dropout. He then proceeds to deliver his main body of argument, and in the end, concludes with his message. This powerful speech keeps the viewer engaged throughout, through a mixture of heart-warming sentiment, powerful life advice and engaging humour.

As you can see from the examples above, and as it has been expressed throughout, a great presentation structure means analysing the core message of your presentation. Decide on a key message you want to impart the audience with, and then craft an engaging way of delivering it.

By preparing a solid structure, and  practising your talk  beforehand, you can walk into the presentation with confidence and deliver a meaningful message to an interested audience.

It’s important for a presentation to be well-structured so it can have the most impact on your audience. An unstructured presentation can be difficult to follow and even frustrating to listen to. The heart of your speech are your main points supported by evidence and your transitions should assist the movement between points and clarify how everything is linked.

Research suggests that the audience remember the first and last things you say so your introduction and conclusion are vital for reinforcing your points. Essentially, ensure you spend the time structuring your presentation and addressing all of the sections.

How you begin a meeting matters. Explore the dos and don’ts of meeting introductions, and learn how you can use the IEEF framework to begin each meeting the right way.

What do a flustered host, the lack of a meeting agenda , and confused employees all have in common? They all indicate that a meeting is off to a bad start. 

We’ve all attended meetings where we knew from the start that our time would be wasted. For a meeting to be productive , it must be organized, have a clear purpose, and have a prepared agenda. 

If you regularly lead team sessions or one-on-ones, or you may need to host a meeting sometime soon, it’s important to learn how to introduce yourself in meetings. Read on to explore why the beginning of a meeting is important, learn the do’s and don’ts of meeting introductions, view examples of how you can begin a meeting on the right foot, and see some creative examples of how you can begin each meeting meaningfully. 

• Why is the start of a meeting so important?

Dos and don’ts of meeting introductions

• Meeting introduction steps and examples

Ways to start a meeting

How to start a meeting using the ieei framework, start meetings off on the right foot with fellow, why is the start of a meeting so important .

The beginning of a meeting sets the tone and introduces the major themes for the entire session. On one hand, if a meeting host makes it clear at the beginning that they’re unprepared, attendees may take it as a clear sign that the meeting won’t be valuable. An organized host, on the other hand, shows employees that their attendance and efforts are valued and that the session will run smoothly. 

Meeting introductions can transform the effectiveness of your meetings

How a meeting begins can significantly influence engagement. Meeting introductions should briefly outline the meeting’s purpose and objectives, ensuring everyone is on the same page. With AI-generated meeting agendas, you get custom recommendations for impactful introductions based on meeting type, tone, and participants. Save time on preparation and get inspired with Fellow today!

If you want ideas on how to open a meeting, here are a few creative and engaging ways you can begin a meeting the right way:

• Celebrate wins
• Surprise your team with a fact or statistic
• Share a memorable quote
• Tell a personal anecdote

1 Celebrate wins

Set a positive tone for your meeting by encouraging attendees to celebrate big and small wins. For example, the host could begin by congratulating the group on the recent success of a project, acknowledging a new hire, or giving an individual praise for leading a specific task. Alternatively, the meeting host can ask that each person give a shoutout to another member of the team. In doing so, the meeting host may lead attendees to begin associating group sessions with good news and team progress instead of boredom and mundane status updates. 

2 Surprise your team with a fact or statistic

An interesting way to begin each meeting is by offering the group a surprising statistic or fun fact to get everyone’s attention. The stat can be relevant to the meeting topic or completely irrelevant, depending on what tone you want to set. For example, if you want to captivate the group and make them smile, you can offer up a random fun fact like, “Did you know that avocados are a fruit, not a vegetable?” and ask that everyone else does the same. If you want to make the group feel motivated or get them thinking about the meeting topic, you can tell the group a statistic about your industry or organization. 

3 Share a memorable quote

Everyone loves a good quote! Quotes represent everything that people want to say but don’t know how. At the beginning of your next meeting , offer up a motivational or positive quote to deliver wisdom and provide a quick morale boost through well-worded thoughts. If you’re a “to the point” kind of leader, something quick-witted like, “The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary” might work. Alternatively, if your team is facing any kind of adversity, a quote like, “Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell and got back up again” might work well. 

4 Tell a personal anecdote

You can use the start of a meeting as an exercise in storytelling. If you want to grasp your attendees’ attention, share a real-life experience about a personal success, professional roadblock, or anticipated event. Discuss an experience that relates to the meeting topic, the group’s interests, or the team’s values. For instance, you can share a story about how a recent news event relates to your meeting topic, discuss new and exciting developments in your field, or tell a story about a recent professional success of yours. 

Consider these dos and don’ts when kickstarting a meeting. Keeping these in mind will help you get things off to a productive and meaningful start.

• Don’t take too long. Remember to be respectful of attendees’ time and keep in mind that some may have a meeting after the one you’re leading. Keep the introduction short and sweet.
• Do include attendees. Try using the word “you” to get people excited about participating and having a conversation. Doing so will also highlight what’s in the discussion for them.
• Don’t overpromise or exaggerate. Be as transparent as you can regarding the state of the project and don’t promise unrealistic results by the end of the meeting.
• Do get creative. Done well, the introduction can be a time for you to have some fun and get attendees comfortable around one another. 
• Do use Fellow for your introduction meeting agenda . 

Meeting introduction steps and examples 

Ready to kickstart the meeting with an introduction that sets the tone? Here are four steps for leading a meeting introduction, plus how to apply them to both informal and formal settings.

• Start with an introduction
• Announce the subject and duration of the meeting
• Explain the purpose
• Explain why the participants were chosen to be there

1 Start with an introduction

It’s a good idea to start a virtual or in-person meeting by greeting everyone and introducing yourself. This can be especially helpful if there are attendees who may not know you because they’re new to the organization, or if you’re stepping in for someone else as the meeting facilitator . 

• Informal: Hi everybody, I’m [your name], [your role] at [company name]. Thanks for joining the call today! I know most of you, but there are a few new faces! I’m excited to get started.
• Formal: Hello everyone, and thanks for joining. My name is [your name], and I’m the [your role] at [company name]. I appreciate everyone’s punctuality at this meeting. Let’s get started.

2 Announce the subject and duration of the meeting

Next, you’ll want to make sure everyone is aware of the subject of the meeting so they have an understanding of what’s about to be discussed. You should also mention how long the meeting will last.

• Informal: We’re all here to discuss our very exciting upcoming product launch! This meeting should last about an hour.
• Formal: Today, we’re going to talk about our new product launch. The meeting will last an hour.

3 Explain the purpose

Once the subject matter and duration have been established, touch on the purpose of the meeting . The last thing you’ll want is for attendees to be unsure why the meeting is taking place. Even though you should have had a clear purpose outlined in the agenda sent out before, it’s a good idea to remind everyone before the meeting gets started.

• Informal: When we’re done here today, we will have outlined a product launch schedule and assigned roles to everyone.
• Formal: Before this meeting concludes, a product launch schedule will have been established, in addition to everyone’s roles to make the launch a success.

4 Explain why the participants were chosen to be there

Finally, go over why all of the meeting participants were chosen to be there. You don’t necessarily need to go person by person, especially if the meeting has a high number of attendees, but a brief comment about who is meeting will suffice.

• Informal: You’re all here because everyone in this room/on this call will play a huge part in ensuring the product launch is a success!
• Formal: Everyone in attendance today will play an integral part in launching the product on time to our customers. 

You’re not limited to the IEEI framework, as there are other ways to start a meeting that can be considered. Consider these six alternatives if you’re looking for other ways to start a meeting. 

• Make use of meeting templates
• Leverage small talk
• Use icebreakers
• Reiterate ground rules
• Outline the objectives
• Share quick status updates

1 Make use of meeting templates

Get your meetings off to the right start by leveraging Fellow’s extensive library of expert-approved meeting templates , with pre-loaded meeting introduction sections for icebreakers or introductions. Check out our Remote Team Meeting Template or Hybrid Team Meeting Template to help you set a positive tone from the get-go.

2 Leverage small talk

People often roll their eyes when conversations veer into small talk—there are only so many times you can chat about the weather or your weekend plans. But small talk doesn’t have to be boring! Leveraging it the right way can help attendees know one another better.

Consider these outside-the-box small talk questions :

• Are you reading any good books right now?
• What’s your go-to comfort food?
• Would you rather have four ten-hour work days or five eight-hour work days?

Similar to an icebreaker, small talk is a great way to share a short conversation with attendees. 

3 Roll call

If the meeting you’re introducing is with a smaller group, taking attendance out loud is probably unnecessary. It’s likely that the person taking the meeting minutes will know everyone on a first-name basis and can note who is present and who isn’t in attendance.

If you’re leading a larger meeting that’s in person, you may choose to send around an attendance sheet. If someone vital to the matter being discussed is absent, it may be necessary to apologize for their absence and provide a short explanation as to why they’re not there. 

An example of this is: You’ll probably notice that [name of CEO] isn’t here today as they were called away on business.

4 Use icebreakers

You can also lean on icebreakers to start a meeting. These team-building questions can foster trust and build psychological safety with one another. There are a ton of options you can choose from! Some of our favorites are:

• What are your hobbies outside of work?
• What is your favorite thing to cook?
• What is your favorite reality TV show?
• Where is your dream vacation?
• Where is your favorite sit-down restaurant? 

You may be surprised by the attendees’ answers!

5 Reiterate ground rules

You can also start the meeting off by reminding everyone of the meeting ground rules . These are the standards or guidelines set up ahead of time that the attendees should follow for the meeting to be as productive and successful as possible. 

Some examples of meeting ground rules are:

• State your name before you begin speaking
• Stay 100% focused during the meeting by avoiding incoming emails, direct messages, and text messages
• Never interrupt the individual who is speaking or sharing a point
• Come prepared with action items to discuss with the team
• Stay on topic to allow enough time for everything on the agenda
• Have your camera on when it’s your turn to speak during a virtual meeting

6 Outline the objectives

Another alternative is to include an outline of the meeting objectives during the introduction. It’s far too common for attendees to join a meeting feeling like they have no idea what’s about to be discussed and what they’re expected to bring to the table. Establishing clear and concise objectives before a meeting starts can help avoid this confusion.

Some examples of how you can outline the objective during the meeting introduction are:

• “Thanks for joining this meeting! Today’s objective is to create a plan of action surrounding the new recruiting strategy for open positions that we’re looking to hire for this quarter.”
• “Thank you everyone for being on time for today’s meeting. The objective today is to develop a new plan to reduce customer churn in the second half of the year.”
• “Hi everyone! Thanks for joining on time. The objective today is to plan for the upcoming holiday party and discuss the theme, menu, and yearly awards.”

7 Share quick status updates

Finally, sharing quick but informative status updates is another great way to start things off. Depending on how many people are in attendance, you can have everyone share two to three sentences about where they are on a project or initiative or, for larger meetings, have the leader of each team or department share pertinent updates on a need-to-know basis. This keeps everyone informed and accountable for what is being worked on by each team.

Too often, meeting hosts start sessions by diving straight into the first meeting agenda item. An ineffective beginning can set a negative tone for the remainder of the meeting, which is why it’s so important to start the meeting on the right foot. 

At the start of each session, the host should state the purpose of the meeting, quickly review the agenda, and ask participants if they have any questions. One way leaders can learn how to address a meeting is by incorporating the IEEI framework into each group session. 

IEEI stands for Inform, Excite, Empower, and Involve. Use this abbreviation as a reminder of what to include in the opening of your meeting remarks. 

At the beginning of the meeting, the host should inform attendees of the purpose of the meeting and the objective the group is striving to achieve. Let participants know why they’re there and what the group will have once the meeting is done to keep everyone on track. The start of the meeting should help participants understand why they’re in attendance and how their contributions during the session will help the group achieve its goals. 

If helpful, you can use an opening line like, “The purpose of this meeting is to… At the end of the meeting, I want the group to have achieved…” to set the tone. 

In the second part of your meeting introduction, let attendees know why they should care about the topic at hand. Without excitement, morale and engagement may be low. in your opening remarks and meeting greetings, strive to use the words “you” and “your” multiple times in your opening remarks to indicate what’s in it for your participants. 

Here is an example of opening remarks you can give as the host to excite the attendees:

• “Hello everyone! Thank you for joining me this morning to discuss our team’s hiring process. The purpose of the meeting is to simplify our recruiting process. When the meeting ends, this group will have three key OKRs to simplify our overall hiring process, a game plan for how to speed up our hiring moving forward, and a step-by-step process to procure new recruitment software. This is exciting because if we achieve these meeting objectives, this team will walk away with a newly simplified hiring process to make our work more efficient!”

In the third step of the IEEI framework, ensure that all attendees are clear of the power they hold while in the meeting space. Empowering your teammates and stakeholders will encourage them to speak up and offer their thoughts, ideas, and insights. While you shouldn’t be corny, offering a simple, empowering statement in your opening remarks can be beneficial. 

Here are a few meeting introduction ideas you can use to empower your meeting attendees:

• “You’re all here because your manager thought you were the best employees to work on this specific project. I’m really looking forward to hearing your thoughts on how we can move forward today and reach our goals!”
• “Our team is looking to all of you for your candid feedback and expertise on how we can ensure this new initiative is a success.”
• “Senior management is looking to this group to create recommendations that will guide the company’s mission and values into the future.”

The final step of the framework is to involve attendees in the meeting conversation early so they are eager to participate throughout. At this stage, the meeting host should ask a question tied to the meeting’s objective . The goal of this step is to create an open and collaborative environment for everyone to contribute. 

Here are a few examples of involvement questions you can ask meeting attendees:

• “If we’re going to achieve the outlined objective, there are a few key issues we should address in advance. Let’s have a conversation about these. In order to be successful today, what specifically must we address first?”
• “Now that you understand what we hope to achieve today, what other outcomes would you like to see come out of today’s session?”
• “It’s been a while since we’ve had a group session. Let’s begin by going around the table and having everyone give a quick one-minute update.”
• “What would make you say, “That was an amazing meeting!” at the end of this session?” 

If you regularly lead team meetings or 1-on-1s, learning how to start a meeting impactfully is crucial. To take your meeting introductions to the next level, leverage Fellow as your all-in-one meeting management software . Fellow offers AI-generated meeting agendas and custom recommendations to help you craft thoughtful and impactful introductions.

With our extensive library of expert-approved meeting templates , complete with designated introduction sections and icebreakers, you can set an engaging tone right from the start. You can also gather insights post-meeting with the meeting feedback feature on how the introductions and the overall meeting were perceived. This allows for continuous improvement of the meeting process. Start optimizing your meeting habits today!

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Staff Meeting Agenda Blueprint: Best Practices and Checklist 8 min read

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How to Write a Webinar Script [+ Template]

Published: February 05, 2021

Whether or not you enjoy public speaking, I’d bet you don’t like hopping on stage without preparing for a speech or keynote address.

Running through slides, practicing in front of a mirror, or pre-writing a script — whatever type of preparation you prefer, it’s key to calming nerves and delivering an engaging, valuable presentation .

The same goes for a webinar. You and your panelists may be at home and behind a screen, but that doesn’t mean webinars are any less important to prepare for (or that they can be any less nerve-wracking).

To help your preparation and quell your nerves, consider writing a webinar script.

Not only will this guarantee your webinar presenters and panelists stay on topic, but it will also ensure you deliver a relevant, actionable webinar that doesn’t waste your audience's time.

What is a webinar script?

A webinar script is a pre-written dialogue of what you plan to share and teach during your webinar. At a minimum, your webinar script should include an introduction, an agenda of what you and your panelists plan to discuss, the specific points that your panelists will cover, and a closing call-to-action .

Webinar scripts can also include timing details (to ensure your guests don’t veer off course or take time from another presenter), navigational instructions (such as when to share a screen, direct attendees to a certain website, or at what point certain panelists may join or drop off), and certain terms or discussion points to avoid.

Why write a webinar script?

Webinar scripts are valuable because they help keep your webinar valuable . Without proper planning, it’s easy to lose your train of thought due to nervousness, excitement, or perhaps an audience question.

Writing a script for your webinar ahead of time also allows you to decide on the goal of your webinar. Think:

• What do you want your audience to learn?
• Who do you want to invite to speak that would help teach your audience?
• What actions do you want your audience to take during and after your webinar?

By answering these questions before your webinar (and before you write the script), you can tailor your webinar script and angle its speakers and content to stay focused on these deliverables. You can also share your webinar script with your speakers so they have an idea of the presentation flow.

Let’s say I was teaching a webinar on content marketing. There are so many topics and stories I could share — from freelance writing to building a strategy to SEO- vs. non-SEO-driven content.

If I sat down to write my webinar content ahead of time, I’d be forced to face how vast (and ambiguous) just “content marketing” is as a topic. Writing the script would require me to hone the purpose and goal of my webinar, which would then inspire my guest panel and subsequent CTA.

Webinar scripts keep your webinar focused, confident, and audience-centric. Finally, webinar scripts can inspire much of your webinar marketing , saving you significant work for writing up emails, social media copy, and promotional blog posts.

How to Write a Webinar Script

In this section, we’ll talk about what to consider when writing your script. I’ll also touch on when you should certainly use a script, and when a webinar script may be more limiting than liberating .

First, open a blank Google Doc or pull out a fresh notebook. Jot down why you want to run a webinar , what some main points or takeaways you want to feature, and any other ideas you may have. You may see a flow begin to form — what points you’ll open with, how to support your takeaways with panelists or research, and where they may be some gaps you can fill with further brainstorming. Consider this your webinar script “outline.”

(I encourage you to do this in a Google Doc versus slide deck as a slide deck will force you to parse up and order your ideas before you’re ready, which can interfere with the brainstorming process.)

Once you have a script outline, you’re ready to start fleshing out the script. Yes , I mean writing verbatim what you plan to say and what points you want to cover—your webinar talk track. If you’ll have panelists on your webinar, encourage them to do the same as it pertains to their sections.

While you can’t script the Q&A section, writing your webinar content ahead of time also allows you to understand what you plan to cover from start to finish. Therefore, if an audience member asks a question about a topic you know you or a guest speaker will be covering later on, you can ask them to wait versus derailing the presentation.

Now, let’s unpack the important components of a webinar script.

1. Webinar Introduction

The webinar introduction sets the stage (albeit digital) for your whole presentation. The introduction script should include a brief introduction of yourself and your business, explain why you’re equipped to teach, and touch on the webinar agenda — including what speakers your audience can expect to see.

Be sure you thank your audience in the introduction, too. If you plan to ask for audience engagement through polls or the webinar chat feature, make note of that for your attendees and briefly explain how they can participate if they so choose.

2. Webinar Agenda

You might’ve touched on the webinar agenda in your introduction, but this section is your chance to explain more of what your audience members will see and learn. You can break up your webinar into sections (e.g., What, Why, How, etc.) or, if you have guest speakers, outline what your speakers will be discussing.

This is also where you can mention how long each section and/or presentation will take, as well as how much time will be left at the end for questions. As I mentioned before, the goal of your webinar script is to keep your presentation on track and avoid wasting your audience’s time — a webinar agenda will do just that.

3. Webinar Goal and Purpose

Next, feature a section that discusses the “why” of your webinar. Perhaps you have a single, punchy sentence that will grab the attention of your audience. Or, you may choose to feature a bulleted list of ways your audience will benefit from the webinar.

However you choose to present your webinar goal or purpose, be sure to script supporting content to discuss during the section or slide. Don’t forget to mention what your audience can expect after  the webinar, too, be it a CTA or bonus for attending.

4. Webinar Educational Content

For your webinar, you may be bringing in panelists, or you may be presenting the webinar alone

If the former applies to your webinar, ask your panelists to script their sections ahead of time and send them over for your review. (You can also provide one of the recommended templates below or share your script as an example.)

If the latter applies, this section is the crux of your webinar script. It contains the valuable, educational information that your audience likely signed up to see . According to how you organized your presentation in the agenda section, develop the talk track for each section — down to the transitions. If you plan to include imagery, engage your audience, or share your screen to demonstrate a concept , make note of these actions in your script.

Don’t forget to incorporate stories and examples in your webinar lessons, as these will help your audience relate your concepts and takeaways to real-life scenarios. If you don’t want your anecdotes to feel too scripted or forced, perhaps make a note where you will tell that story (instead of writing it out word-for-word). This is an example of where a script can limit you.

Tip : If you’ve written blog content about your webinar topic, consider pulling in some of that content and reworking it to fit your lessons and main takeaways.

5. Webinar Conclusion and Q&A

The conclusion to your webinar is crucial; it helps anchor your lessons for your audience and recaps important takeaways. You can also script an engagement activity, such as a short concept quiz or brief feedback session when your attendees can share something new they learned.

This section serves as the TL;DR, so the script should be short and concise, too. After you’ve recapped your presentation, open the floor for questions.

6. Webinar Next Steps and Close

After you and/or your speakers have shared your webinar content and answered any questions, it’s time to wrap up. First, script your closing comments — thanking the audience and sharing any important contact or follow up information.

Then, share the next steps. What would you like your audience to do now that they’ve attended your webinar? Close the webinar presentation with a strong call-to-action and concise instructions on how your audience can follow suit.

Congratulations! You just wrote a webinar script. Now, I have a few final tips for you:

• Write your script as you talk, in a conversational tone and with everyday language. It helps to write the script with full sentences so you don’t get lost in a sea of bullet points or fragmented sentences.
• Practice your script from top to bottom, verbatim. Time yourself to see if the script is too long. Ask your presenters to do the same with their scripts.
• Only when you’ve read your script aloud a few times through should you begin to design your webinar slides. Don’t copy and paste your script to your slides; use the script to inspire important bullets and talking points.

Above, I encouraged you to start with a blank Doc or notebook as a starting point for your webinar script. If you need some help organizing your thoughts and ideas, consider using the following webinar script template as a starting point.

Webinar Script Template

This template serves as an example webinar script — not one to copy and plug the appropriate details. Even if you use this as a starting point, I encourage you to personalize the content to match your presentation, speakers, and audience.

Hello, everyone! Welcome, and thank you for dialing in for our webinar today. My name is [name] and I'm the [role] at [company]. At [company], we help [audience] like you [unique value proposition / product or service mention]. Today, we’ll be discussing [topic] and featuring [speaker], [speaker], and [speaker].

You can expect each speaker to have the floor for about 10 minutes, and we’ll conduct a short Q&A at the end of each session. If you have any questions during the webinar, please type them into the chat window — we’ll address them during the Q&A.

By the end of our time today, we hope you feel more comfortable and confident about [topic]. We’re very passionate about [topic] and have many exciting stories and learnings to share here today. Our goal is to [goal].

We’ll start with [speaker], who will be speaking on [topic]. [speaker] is [details and bio for credibility].

[Insert speaker’s webinar script here when I receive it.]

Thank you, [speaker]! Who has questions for her?

[I read questions from the chat window for the speaker to answer.]

Those are all of our questions. [speaker], anything else you want to touch on before we move onto our next guest?

[All speakers present and take questions.]

Well, that’s all we’ve got for you here today. Thank you for joining [company] to discuss [topic]. We appreciate you signing in and hope you learned [goal].

Before we sign off, I’d love to tell you about [main announcement or call-to-action]. Feel free to reach out to me via email if you’re interested or want to know more. We’ll see you next time!

How much you prepare for your webinar has a direct impact on its quality and benefit to your audience.

Writing a webinar script ahead of time helps you get aligned and focused on your topic, inform your guests of the purpose and flow of your webinar, and practice , practice , practice  until you’re confident in your presentation. Use this guide to help you get started writing your next webinar script.

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How to Run a Board Meeting Script: A Step-by-Step Guide to Planning, Chairing, and Executing Successful Meetings

An effective board meeting facilitates decision-making and helps a company grow. 

Naturally, for a meeting to be successful and productive, everything has to be well planned. And this is how a script for a board meeting can help.

If you need a how to chair a board meeting script, continue reading the article. You’ll learn how a board meeting script can improve the effectiveness of board meetings, how to write one, and how it’s realized in pre-, during-, and post-meeting phases. Additionally, receive a board meeting script sample to get inspired when creating one for your organization.

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Why is a board of directors meeting script important?

A meeting that doesn’t have a clear purpose and well-thought-out discussion steps can turn chaotic when everyone is speaking, but none gives practical value. 

That’s exactly why special “controlling and planning” instruments were created. Board chairs can now run a meeting using Robert’s Rules of Order or follow the steps mentioned in the board meeting agenda to get the most out of a meeting. 

However, for various reasons, such as being nervous or overwhelmed with duties, a chair can lose track of time or forget to mention particular points. That’s when a script for running a board meeting can help. 

A board of directors meeting script is basically “a scenario” of a board meeting . It’s like a script for a play but for a board meeting. When writing a script, each meeting’s phase is followed by concrete phrases to say or action items to perform so that the meeting goes smoothly.

Note: Creating a so-called script that helps to oversee all the possible issues that can appear on the way is also one of the board succession planning best practices .

How to start a board meeting script in 5 steps?

The process of creating a chairman script for a board meeting starts long before the meeting itself. Below are the five main steps to follow to start writing a board meeting script.  

1. Pay special attention to meeting preparation

Before creating a script for a board meeting, think about what has to be done before the meeting to ensure its effectiveness. Think about preparing a board pack and meeting agenda and sending them to board members for familiarization, and make sure they’re reflected in your future script. 

2. Gather all the necessary information for the meeting

To make the meeting flow smoother, you should know beforehand what you’ll talk about and what materials are needed. Additionally, you should know your audience so that you choose the right communication style. This is another reason why it’s important to know which board members are attending the meeting. 

3. Determine the structure and format of the script

A script has to be in a form that’s easy to follow for the chairperson. A script can be in print or prepared virtually with the help of software for board management . Such board portals offer various board management tools and ready-to-use templates of all essential board documents, such as a board meeting agenda template .

4. Identify the key items to cover in the script

Before creating a script, you should also know what items will be covered. It means clearly understanding the meeting’s agenda and how to follow its stages. The items to cover usually depend on the meeting type and company size. For example, the script for a small non-profit board will be more concise.

5. Prepare a fully-covered meeting scenario

After noting the data about the meeting’s purposes and expectations, you can start drafting a script. Typically, it should include not only the steps to take but also the words you’re going to say at each stage of the meeting.

Key components of a board meeting script

Chairing the board meeting script usually includes and is based on the following components:

• Agenda. This is the basis you should rely on when preparing a script. The agenda gives you a clear understanding of the stages to cover during a meeting.
• Discussion topics. Having a list of mandatory discussion topics makes it easier to ensure they won’t get missed.
• Action items. Action items ensure the effectiveness of the board meetings since they oblige concrete board members to perform concrete actions. Having those action items clearly stated in the script helps to ensure their execution or at least emphasize their importance.
• Robert’s Rules of Order. Creating a script based on Robert’s Rules of Order agenda helps to ensure structure during the meeting and helps the chairman control that board members mind them.

Tips for writing a board meeting script

When drafting a sample script of a board meeting, remember the following:

• Mind board members’ communication styles. You should think of ways to conduct the meeting and keep everyone active, considering the diversity of the board. 
• Don’t surprise board members. Before a meeting, all board members should have received a copy of the meeting agenda so that they know the top discussion items. This helps to ensure that each board member is well-prepared for the discussion.
• Make sure to involve all board members in communication. An effective board chair gives every board member an opportunity to express their opinion and be heard or encourages communication if someone isn’t eager to take part in a discussion. 
• Consider a sample board meeting script. If you’re creating a script for the first time, you might opt for a sample script of mock. You can check out a board meeting script example here and use it for inspiration, or rely on ready-to-use templates that some board portal software for online meetings for board provide. Additionally, you can create a basic Robert’s Rules of Order cheat sheet , which will also help you to conduct meetings more effectively.

Qualities and responsibilities of a chairperson

A board chair should have a certain set of qualities to be able to perform their responsibilities. A list of a chairperson’s key responsibilities and qualities for conducting effective board meetings is highlighted below.

What are the responsibilities of a chairperson?

The main chair’s responsibility is to guide board members and make sure everyone follows board meeting procedures. The full list of the general chairperson’s responsibilities looks similar to the following:

• Act as the organization’s representative. It implies presenting the organization’s mission and goals to outside parties.
• Run general and board meetings.   A chairperson is responsible for running board meetings and ensuring all the procedures and rules are followed.
• Ensure effective communication. A board chair should make sure everyone is actively engaged in the communication and is interested in reaching the company’s goals.
• Manage the composition and structure of a board. A chairperson is responsible for regularly reviewing the size of the board and its diversity and adjusting it when needed.

What qualities should a chairperson have?

The effective board chair should: 

• Know the business well
• Know how to establish effective communication
• Be objective
• Practice restraint
• Be assertive

Best practices of running a board meeting script : 12 steps to include 

A successful board meeting script not only embraces the meeting itself but also covers the preparation and post-meeting phases. Below are the steps a board meeting script can include — we’ve divided them into those that are to be done before, during, and after the meeting.

Now, let’s quickly review what each of the stages presupposes.

1. Craft the agenda

The agenda is a meeting plan. It includes the discussion items and gives a chairperson an understanding of how to structure the meeting script.

2. Create the board pack

The board pack, or board book, includes documentation that should be reviewed prior to the meeting. It aims to provide board members with an insight into the meeting’s main topics and prepare them for discussion. By preparing a board pack, a chairperson ensures that the board directors’ focus will be on the right issues. 

3. Distribute pre-meeting materials

Now, it’s time to distribute all the board books to board members so they’ll have time to review them and prepare to discuss them during the meeting.

4. Start a meeting properly  

Opening board meeting script usually means addressing issues of personal or perfunctory nature, such as thanking retiring members and welcoming visitors and other members. 

5. Recognize a quorum

The next step is to perform a roll call to make sure a quorum is present for voting.

6. Call the meeting to order

After making sure that a quorum is present, the chair calls a meeting to order.

7. Approve agenda and minutes

The next step is to approve the agenda for further discussion and meeting minutes from the previous meeting. Board members receive them with a board pack prior to the meeting. This is the moment when board members can suggest certain amendments to the agenda if they have any. If so, the proposed amendments are usually approved without voting.

8. Encourage communication and reports

When the agenda and minutes are agreed upon, it’s time for the speaker addressing the attendees to give the floor to the CEO or executive director, treasurer’s reports, and committee reports.

9. Discuss old and new business

The next step is to go over the items that were previously discussed but remain unresolved and are ready for formal approval. 

After this, the board starts discussing new business.

10. Closing the meeting

After discussing all agenda issues, the chair adjourns the meeting.

11. Distribute minutes and follow-up materials  

As a part of the post-meeting stage, a chairperson should distribute post-meeting materials with action points for each board member to perform. This significantly facilitates decision-making.

12. Cooperate with the corporate secretary on the next meeting’s agenda

The last step is to work on the meeting notes and agenda items for the next meeting. This will typically include any unfinished business from the previous meeting that requires discussion and should be ready for a vote at the next meeting.

The bottom line

A board meeting script for addressing all the agenda items helps the chairperson make sure all topics are covered and everyone’s engaged in discussion. It’s basically a “scenario” of an entire meeting that describes a board meeting structure and hints at what will be discussed at each stage.

A meeting script is built on and includes the agenda, discussion topics, action items, and Robert’s Rules of Order . 

A chairperson can create a sample print script or do it virtually by using board management software that also helps with conducting board meetings.

Time to use the modern board management software!

iDeals Board serves board of directors, committee members with a comprehensive suite for governance tools

Who should be involved in creating the board meeting script?

Typically, the board meeting script is created by a chairperson together with the corporate secretary.

How can we ensure that the board meeting runs smoothly?

The board meeting script is actually one of the ways to ensure that the board meeting is smooth and effective, as it helps to control every step of the process.

Discover everything you need to know about board portals

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5 Tips to Write an Effective Script for a Virtual Event

by Guest Author (Jessica Fender)

February 4, 2021

We’ve all been to virtual events before—conferences, webinars, online summits, or fairs. Some were great, others—not so much. When a virtual event is effective, it can help with sales, building a reputation and expanding a professional network. When it’s bad, the viewers are disengaged or even upset that they’re wasting their time.

The script is what drives the flow of a virtual event. It keeps you organized and ensures that you always have something to share. Here are five tips to write an effective script.

1. Write Like You Talk

Take you back to the college years, right?

Speakers who use this tone risk losing attendee interest in minutes. If a script sounds like a research paper or an HR report, many will feel like they’re listening to a lecture. This style is unengaging. More difficult to understand. Impersonal.

More :  Virtually Engaged: Ban Boring Events from Your Agenda

The best way to make a script for a successful virtual event is to write the way you speak. Seriously, imagine you’re having a conversation with someone you know and use the style you’d use in that conversation.

This style would be simple, natural and personal, which means you can:

• Keep incomplete sentences, start sentences with “and, or “but,” and use simpler versions of words
• Speak directly to viewers. Use “you” and “your” when making your speech.

 2. Give a Proper Welcome

The greeting sounds too obvious, sure, but getting it right is a must. A strong, confident and informative greeting welcomes viewers the right way and sets expectations for the entire meeting.

Here’s a common and effective formula for delivering a welcome message:

• “Hello everyone, and welcome to today’s meeting.” It’s a straightforward greeting that works across time zones and regions
• “My name is [your name here], and I am a [professional and experience]. ” Introduce yourself and give some background details to establish trust with the viewers. For example, you can mention where you work and your responsibilities—basically what makes you an authority on the meeting’s topic
• “A recorded version of this meeting will be available to stream on demand.” Answer one of the common questions that attendees have right at the beginning. Tell them where the webinar will be accessible and when
• “A Q&A session is coming at the end of our meeting.” Let the audience know that you’ll be accepting questions, so they can write them in the group chat. Make sure to activate the feature allowing viewers to ask questions.

Get started by writing some ideas around these four key points. Make sure that this intro doesn’t exceed two minutes of the speaking time.

📍 Smart Tip : Use Speech in Minutes to estimate how much speaking time it takes you to make an introduction. Enter how many words you have, indicate the speed of talking, and you’ll get an automatic estimation of the speaking time.

3. Outline the Topics

Keep things short when introducing the agenda for the first time. Make a bullet list of the main points from the topic and announce them. Also, consider adding numbers and stats where possible to improve viewer engagement. For example, if you’re talking about live chat in customer support, share a statistic from a company that improved customer satisfaction scores with this method.

4. Mention a Personal Story

A revealing personal story is an excellent way to grab the attention of the viewers and make the experience more memorable. If you have a story that’s relevant to the topic and can help viewers learn, go for it.

The best stories are personal stories from your experience, so make sure to brainstorm when planning the virtual meeting . Here are some examples to inspire you:

• A story of how you overcame a major challenge
• A relatable reason why you started your company or an interesting project
• A story about how the problem you’re talking about came to life

A major benefit of using the approach shows how you obtained some wisdom through a series of complex projects and obstacles. A good example could make you more relatable and confirm your expertise.

You can also share client success stories. A real-life example can keep the viewers interested in the content and give it more credibility. To make this idea work, be sure to mention figures, goals, and other specifics.

5. Avoid Reading the Script During the Meeting

That might be true in some cases. Still, it’s a bad idea to rely on the fact that you can read the script. The audience can tell if a speaker is reading, which is not a good way to impress them.

Referring to the script is totally fine, but only until it makes a speaker lose eye contact with the viewers. Instead, try reading and practicing your script as much as you can. This simple strategy will help you memorize more points and avoid outright reading.

Use these tips, and you’ll be a much better virtual event speaker . You’ll get the tone right, make yourself more comfortable with the text, and speak confidently.

Hey, you already are a better virtual event speaker. Here’s why—you’re looking to prepare the script ahead of time. A well-prepared script will keep you focused and make the whole thing run smoother.

Jessica Fender is a copywriter and blogger at GetGoodGrade with a background in marketing and sales. She enjoys sharing her experience with like-minded professionals who aim to provide customers with high-quality services.

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Home Blog Presentation Ideas How to Start a Presentation: 5 Strong Opening Slides and 12 Tricks To Test

How to Start a Presentation: 5 Strong Opening Slides and 12 Tricks To Test

Knowing how to start a presentation is crucial: if you fail to capture the audience’s attention right off the bat, your entire presentation will flop. Few listeners will stick with you to the end and retain what you have told.

That is mildly unpleasant when you are doing an in-house presentation in front of your colleagues. But it can become utterly embarrassing when you present in front of larger audiences (e.g., at a conference) or worse – delivering a sales presentation to prospective customers.

Here is how most of us begin a presentation: give an awkward greeting, thank everyone for coming, clear our throats, tap the mic, and humbly start to mumble about our subject. The problem with such an opening performance? It effectively kills and buries even the best messages.

Table of Contents

• The Classic Trick: Open a Presentation with an Introduction
• Open a Presentation with a Hook
• Begin with a Captivating Visual
• Ask a “What if…” Question
• Use the Word “Imagine”
• Leverage The Curiosity Gap
• The Power of Silence
• Facts as Weapons of Communication
• Fact vs. Myths
• The Power of Music
• Physical Activity
• Acknowledging a Person

How to Start a PowerPoint Presentation The Right Way

Let’s say you have all of your presentation slides polished up (in case you don’t, check our quick & effective PowerPoint presentation design tips first). Your presentation has a clear storyline and agenda. Main ideas are broken into bite-sized statements for your slides and complemented with visuals. All you have left is to figure out how you begin presenting.

The best way is to appeal to and invoke certain emotions in your audience – curiosity, surprise, fear, or good old amusements. Also, it is recommended to present your main idea in the first 30 seconds of the presentation. And here’s how it’s done.

1. The Classic Trick: Open a Presentation with an Introduction

When you don’t feel like reinventing the wheel, use a classic trick from the book – start with a quick personal introduction. Don’t want to sound as boring as everyone else with your humble “Hi, I’m John, the head of the Customer Support Department”? Great, because we are all about promoting effective presentation techniques (hint: using a dull welcome slide isn’t one of them).

Here’s how to introduce yourself in a presentation the right way.

a. Use a link-back memory formula

To ace a presentation, you need to connect with your audience. The best way to do so is by throwing in a simple story showing who you are, where you came from, and why your words matter.

The human brain loves a good story, and we are more inclined to listen and retain the information told this way. Besides, when we can relate to the narrator (or story hero), we create an emotional bond with them, and, again – become more receptive, and less skeptical of the information that is about to be delivered.

So here are your presentation introduction lines:

My name is Joanne, and I’m the Head of Marketing at company XYZ. Five years ago I was working as a waitress, earning $10/hour and collecting rejection letters from editors. About ten letters every week landed to my mailbox. You see, I love words, but decent publisher thought mine were good enough. Except for the restaurant owner. I was very good at up-selling and recommending dishes to the customers. My boss even bumped my salary to $15/hour as a token of appreciation for my skill. And this made me realize: I should ditch creative writing and focus on copywriting instead. After loads of trial and error back in the day, I learned how to write persuasive copy. I was no longer getting rejection letters. I was receiving thousands of emails saying that someone just bought another product from our company. My sales copy pages generated over $1,500,000 in revenue over last year. And I want to teach you how to do the same”

b. Test the Stereotype Formula

This one’s simple and effective as well. Introduce yourself by sharing an obvious stereotype about your profession. This cue will help you connect with your audience better, make them chuckle a bit, and set a lighter mood for the speech to follow.

Here’s how you can frame your intro:

“My name is ___, and I am a lead software engineer at our platform [Your Job Title]. And yes, I’m that nerdy type who never liked presenting in front of large groups of people. I would rather stay in my den and write code all day long. [Stereotype]. But hey, since I have mustered enough courage…let’s talk today about the new product features my team is about to release….”

After sharing a quick, self-deprecating line, you transition back to your topic, reinforcing the audience’s attention . Both of these formulas help you set the “mood” for your further presentation, so try using them interchangeably on different occasions.

2. Open a Presentation with a Hook

Wow your audience straight off the bat by sharing something they would not expect to hear. This may be one of the popular first-time presentation tips but don’t rush to discard it.

Because here’s the thing: psychologically , we are more inclined to pay attention whenever presented with an unexpected cue. When we know what will happen next – someone flips the switch, and lights turn on – we don’t really pay much attention to that action.

But when we don’t know what to expect next – e.g., someone flips the switch and a bell starts ringing – we are likely to pay more attention to what will happen next. The same goes for words: everyone loves stories with unpredictable twists. So begin your presentation with a PowerPoint introduction slide or a line that no one expects to hear.

Here are a few hook examples you can swipe:

a. Open with a provocative statement

It creates an instant jolt and makes the audience intrigued to hear what you are about to say next – pedal back, continue with the provocation, or do something else that they will not expect.

“You will live seven and a half minutes longer than you would have otherwise, just because you watched this talk.”

That’s how Jane McGonigal opens one of her TED talks . Shocking and intriguing, right?

b. Ask a rhetorical, thought-provoking question

Seasoned presenters know that one good practice is to ask a question at the beginning of a presentation to increase audience engagement. Rhetorical questions have a great persuasive effect – instead of answering aloud, your audience will silently start musing over it during your presentation. They aroused curiosity and motivated the audience to remain attentive, as they did want to learn your answer to this question.

To reinforce your message throughout the presentation, you can further use the Rhetorical Triangle Concept – a rhetorical approach to building a persuasive argument based on Aristotle’s teachings.

c. Use a bold number, factor stat

A clean slide with some mind-boggling stat makes an undeniably strong impact. Here are a few opening statement examples you can use along with your slide:

• Shock them: “We are effectively wasting over $1.2 billion per year on producing clothes no one will ever purchase”
• Create empathy: “Are you among the 20% of people with undiagnosed ADHD?”
• Call to arms: “58% of marketing budgets are wasted due to poor landing page design. Let’s change this!”
• Spark curiosity: “Did you know that companies who invested in speech recognition have seen a 13% increase in ROI within just 3 years?”

3. Begin with a Captivating Visual

Compelling visuals are the ABC of presentation design – use them strategically to make an interesting statement at the beginning and throughout your presentation. Your first presentation slide can be text-free. Communicate your idea with a visual instead – a photo, a chart, an infographic, or another graphics asset.

Visuals are a powerful medium for communication as our brain needs just 13 milliseconds to render what our eyes see, whereas text comprehension requires more cognitive effort.

Relevant images add additional aesthetic appeal to your deck, bolster the audience’s imagination, and make your key message instantly more memorable.

Here’s an intro slide example. You want to make a strong presentation introduction to global pollution.  Use the following slide to reinforce the statement you share:

“Seven of nine snow samples taken on land in Antarctica found chemicals known as PFAs, which are used in industrial products and can harm wildlife”

Source: Reuters

4. Ask a “What if…” Question

The “what if” combo carries massive power. It gives your audience a sense of what will happen if they choose to listen to you and follow your advice.  Here are a few presentations with starting sentences + slides to illustrate this option:

Alternatively, you can work your way to this point using different questions:

• Ask the audience about their “Why.” Why are they attending this event, or why do they find this topic relevant?
• Use “How” as your question hook if you plan to introduce a potential solution to a problem.
• If your presentation has a persuasion factor associated, use “When” as a question to trigger the interest of the audience on, for example, when they are planning to take action regarding the topic being presented (if we talk about an inspirational presentation).

5. Use the Word “Imagine”

“Imagine,” “Picture This,” and “Think of” are better word choices for when you plan to begin your presentation with a quick story.

Our brain loves interacting with stories. In fact, a captivating story makes us more collaborative. Scientists have discovered that stories with tension during narrative make us:

• Pay more attention,
• Share emotions with the characters and even mimic the feelings and behaviors of those characters afterward.

That’s why good action movies often feel empowering and make us want to change the world too. By incorporating a good, persuasive story with a relatable hero, you can also create that “bond” with your audience and make them more perceptive to your pitch – donate money to support the cause; explore the solution you are offering, and so on.

6. Leverage The Curiosity Gap

The curiosity gap is another psychological trick frequently used by marketers to solicit more clicks, reads, and other interactions from the audience. In essence, it’s the trick you see behind all those clickbait, Buzzfeed-style headlines:

Not everyone is a fan of such titles. But the truth is – they do the trick and instantly capture attention. The curiosity gap sparks our desire to dig deeper into the matter. We are explicitly told that we don’t know something important, and now we crave to change that. Curiosity is an incredibly strong driving force for action – think Eve, think Pandora’s Box.

So consider incorporating these attention grabbers for your presentation speech to shock the audience. You can open with one, or strategically weave them in the middle of your presentation when you feel like your audience is getting tired and may lose their focus.

Here’s how you can use the curiosity gap during your presentation:

• Start telling a story, pause in the middle, and delay the conclusion of it.
• Withhold the key information (e.g., the best solution to the problem you have described) for a bit – but not for too long, as this can reduce the initial curiosity.
• Introduce an idea or concept and link it with an unexpected outcome or subject – this is the best opening for a presentation tip.

7. The Power of Silence

What would you do if you attended a presentation in which the speaker remains silent for 30 seconds after the presentation starts? Just the presenter, standing in front of the audience, in absolute silence.

Most likely, your mind starts racing with thoughts, expecting something of vital importance to be disclosed. The surprise factor with this effect is for us to acknowledge things we tend to take for granted.

It is a powerful resource to introduce a product or to start an inspirational presentation if followed by a fact.

8. Facts as Weapons of Communication

In some niches, using statistics as the icebreaker is the best method to retain the audience’s interest.

Say your presentation is about climate change. Why not introduce a not-so-common fact, such as the amount of wool that can be produced out of oceanic plastic waste per month? And since you have to base your introduction on facts, research manufacturers that work with Oceanic fabrics from recycled plastic bottles .

Using facts helps to build a better narrative, and also gives leverage to your presentation as you are speaking not just from emotional elements but from actually recorded data backed up by research.

9. Fact vs. Myths

Related to our previous point, we make quite an interesting speech if we contrast a fact vs. a myth in a non-conventional way: using a myth to question a well-accepted fact, then introducing a new point of view or theory, backed on sufficient research, that proves the fact wrong. This technique, when used in niches related to academia, can significantly increase the audience’s interest, and it will highlight your presentation as innovative.

Another approach is to debunk a myth using a fact. This contrast immediately piques interest because it promises to overturn commonly held beliefs, and people naturally find it compelling when their existing knowledge is put to the test. An example of this is when a nutritionist wishes to speak about how to lose weight via diet, and debunks the myth that all carbohydrates are “bad”.

10. The Power of Music

Think about a presentation that discusses the benefits of using alternative therapies to treat anxiety, reducing the need to rely on benzodiazepines. Rather than going technical and introducing facts, the presenter can play a soothing tune and invite the audience to follow an exercise that teaches how to practice breathing meditation . Perhaps, in less than 2 minutes, the presenter can accomplish the goal of exposing the advantages of this practice with a live case study fueled by the proper ambiance (due to the music played in the beginning).

11. Physical Activity

Let’s picture ourselves in an in-company presentation about workspace wellness. For this company, the sedentary lifestyle their employees engage in is a worrying factor, so they brought a personal trainer to coach the employees on a basic flexibility routine they can practice in 5 minutes after a couple of hours of desk time.

“Before we dive in, let’s all stand up for a moment.” This simple instruction breaks the ice and creates a moment of shared experience among the attendees. You could then lead them through a brief stretching routine, saying something like, “Let’s reach up high, and stretch out those muscles that get so tight sitting at our desks all day.” With this action, you’re not just talking about workplace wellness, you’re giving them a direct, personal experience of it.

This approach has several advantages. Firstly, it infuses energy into the room and increases the oxygen flow to the brain, potentially boosting the audience’s concentration and retention. Secondly, it sets a precedent that your presentation is not going to be a standard lecture, but rather an interactive experience. This can raise the level of anticipation for what’s to come, and make the presentation a topic for future conversation between coworkers.

12. Acknowledging a Person

How many times have you heard the phrase: “Before we begin, I’d like to dedicate a few words to …” . The speaker could be referring to a mentor figure, a prominent person in the local community, or a group of people who performed charity work or obtained a prize for their hard work and dedication. Whichever is the reason behind this, acknowledgment is a powerful force to use as a method of starting a presentation. It builds a connection with the audience, it speaks about your values and who you admire, and it can transmit what the conversation is going to be about based on who the acknowledged person is.

Closing Thoughts

Now you know how to start your presentation – you have the opening lines, you have the slides to use, and you can browse even more attractive PowerPoint presentation slides and templates on our website. Also, we recommend you visit our article on how to make a PowerPoint Presentation to get familiarized with the best tactics for professional presentation design and delivery, or if you need to save time preparing your presentation, we highly recommend you check our AI Presentation Maker to pair these concepts with cutting-edge slide design powered by AI.

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Curiosity Gap, Opening, Public Speaking, Rhetorical Triangle, Speech, What If Filed under Presentation Ideas

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  Sometimes even the best presenters procrastinate their work until the very last moment. And then, suddenly, they get a flow of ideas to complete their slide deck and present like they have been preparing for it for ages. However, doing so has drawbacks, as even professional presenters cannot always elude the side effects of […]

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• March 1, 2022

These Conference Call Script Samples Actually Work

Content Writer

Even the most focused outbound calls can turn into chaos if not structured properly — let alone conference calls with 100 other people.   

With participants talking over each other, the nuisance of controlling who to speak next, and the awkwardness of dealing with the disagreements in the call can make it daunting. 

However, with thorough preparation, you can get through conference calls like a breeze!

Let’s take a look at 8 conference call script samples to help you steer your next conference call like a professional. 

The best conference call script structure

Before we dive deeper into the sample call scripts, here is the structure that most conference calls should have:

• A concise opening and brief introduction of yourself (the speaker)
• The reason(s) for the conference call, covered briefly
• Some background information about the conference call
• The main presentation
• Some time for discussion (if necessary)
• A Q&A session
• The closing remarks

Having a clear structure of how the conference call will proceed will help you and your audience set an expectation of what to expect. This will also keep them engaged throughout the call knowing what’s in it for them. 

Conference call scripts for the perfect introductions

Starting the call on the right foot is what will almost always ensure a successful conference call. Having an engaging opening, while still keeping it clear and concise, will set the tone for what’s to come.

An introduction can be as straightforward or complex depending on several factors, like the number of participants, the nature of your call, or the call’s purpose.

For a few participants

This script is ideal for small meetings where you probably know your participants and are familiar with their names, something like internal department conferences or sales kickoffs. 

When you have such few participants on the call, keeping it personal can engage with your audience even more. That said, address your attendees before you proceed with the main presentation.

Here’s a script you can use:

For many participants

If you’re hosting a huge conference with many participants, it’ll be impossible to address everyone by their name — this will just take too long and you don’t want to waste everyone’s time. 

Simply acknowledge everyone on the call and introduce the key speakers (if applicable). Also, since it’s such a big call, your introduction should also cover relevant details at the start of the call, such as your legal disclosures, guidance about recording the calls, safe harbor statements, or your privacy policies.

Conference call script to explain the call’s purpose

After the introductions, it’s good practice to summarize the purpose of the conference call. State the key points that will be covered in your discussion, like a verbal content page. It’ll be even better if you prepare some slides for your audience. 

Conference call script for steering great discussions

More often than not, discussions during conference calls can go in the wrong direction because of poor coordination.

It’s important to know the speaking order and how to control the flow of the conversation as it unfolds during the call session. Topics may arise that you did not plan for, participants might argue, or two or three people talk over each other.

The key here is to be clear in asking your questions and acknowledging their comments before moving to the next participant.

Also, genuinely appreciate the input of every member so they feel that their voice is heard and valued. You can rephrase their points to make them know you are listening.

Conference call scripts to bring a participant back to topic

Oftentimes, because there’s an open discussion, participants might go off the topic of the conference call. 

If you feel that a participant is deviating, don’t panic. Simply remind them politely to focus on the main point at hand.

Here are some scripts you can use:

Conference call scripts for Q&A sessions

If your conference call features a Q&A session to engage participants, you need to equip yourself with better conference call management skills to handle the sessions effectively.

Here’s what you should equip yourself with to lead a Q&A session successfully:

• Have a system for letting participants have their turn. You can do this by allocating the numbers to dial, or you can follow a pre-defined order.
• Set up and enforce restrictions on time for each question, the number of questions per participant, or who should ask and who should not ask questions.
• Have a system to follow up with participants who do not have time to ask questions. 
• Thank all the participants and acknowledge their efforts or show them how they can still ask the questions after the call. 
• Have a way to identify participants in the queue, for example, the name of the person and an identifier like location, or a unique username.

Conference call scripts for an effective conclusion

After the main session concludes, it’s wise to wrap up your call with style. Before you end the call, share any information about follow-ups or a possible post-Q&A session. 

Be sure to include a call to action if it is relevant or necessary. 

You’ll most likely want to follow up with a phone call, email, fax, or memo to get feedback on the call, share relevant details that you promised during the call, or confirm the decisions made and actions to be taken after the call.

You can also use the feedback that the participants shared with you to improve on your next conference call.

Finally, do not forget to thank all the participants for their time and contribution.  

A successful conference call comes from an effective structure of your calls and thorough preparation. And following these sample conference call scripts that actually work will bring you one step closer to hosting the perfect conference call!

For more of such templates and scripts, check out our blog ! 

Benard Kiplangat

Ben is a content writer at Novocall.

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The Right Way to Start a Meeting

• Liane Davey

Make a good first impression.

We all know there’s a price to pay for a making bad first impression: A limp handshake conveys low confidence; a wrinkled suit makes you seem lazy; oversharing comes across as emotional instability. But do you ever think about the first impression your meetings make? Frequently restarting meetings for stragglers sends the message that participants have more control than you do. Issues opened for discussion with no clear purpose get hijacked by participants with a clearer agenda than yours. Monologues validate everyone’s fears that your meeting is going to be about as valuable (and as scintillating) as watching an hour of C-SPAN.

• LD Liane Davey is a team effectiveness advisor and professional speaker . She is the author of The Good Fight and You First , and the coauthor of Leadership Solutions . LianeDavey

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• CE Transcript

How to Read From a Script During Digital Presentations — Without Making It Obvious

In a LinkedIn post, Timo Elliott of SAP shared his tips on how to write and master a script for a screen-to-screen event.

With most meetings taking place digitally, attendees get an up-close look at presenters — meaning that it’s more obvious than ever when presenters on the other side of the screen are reading from a script. According to Timo Elliott, vice president, global innovation evangelist for SAP, there are a couple of ways to tackle this “new normal” challenge.

A tried-and-true method for remembering lines during live events is reading from a teleprompter — something that can be recreated in the comfort of speakers’ homes. In a LinkedIn post , Elliott suggested apps like PromptSmart Pro and the Mac Teleprompter. If speakers opt to go this route, Elliott advised reading the script aloud “a gazillion times” before filming it, even if the words will still be readily available during the presentation. Teleprompter apps can stall and make speakers lose their place, Elliott noted, which isn’t ideal for speakers who are overly reliant on seeing the full script during their presentation.

Timo Elliott

“You’ll save time and correct as you go,” he wrote. “If you find yourself struggling over a passage, it’s probably a sign that it should be rewritten to be more natural.” Elliott noted that scripts should be written in a “spoken voice” to avoid sections that feel too stilted or formal, especially in a digital presentation format that can already feel less natural to attendees.

To limit eye movement that gives away the fact that the speaker is reading, Elliott suggested sitting or standing farther away from the camera or using a longer camera zoom. Not only does this make reading less noticeable, but it also allows the speaker to frame their arms and hands in a natural way that will help them underline their points with simple gestures and emote to the audience.

If the speaker must sit near their computer camera, such as for a meeting hosted on Zoom, WebEx, or Microsoft Teams — one way to avoid unnecessary eye movement in closer quarters is to slow down the teleprompter speed. The Democracy Labs , an online hub for ongoing innovations in local, state, and national government, created the BigStage Teleprompter online app that can fit in the same screen window as any virtual platform. Speakers can position the teleprompter to a comfortable spot on their screen, choose the font size, color, and scroll rate, and press “pause” to answer questions, according to the organization.

If that’s too much going on in one small screen for some speakers, they can also opt to use a second screen, like a tablet or cellphone, situated just above and behind the main laptop camera, according to Baltimore-based video production company Freedom Digital Media . Speakers can use the teleprompter on their second screen, ensuring that their eye-line meets up to the camera. The video production company suggested setting up a cell phone one foot away, a tablet three feet away, and a computer monitor or television five feet away from the camera

Of course, following a teleprompter isn’t for everyone — in fact, Elliott wrote that if speakers can’t figure out a teleprompter setup that works well for them, it’s best to not use one at all. “Instead, either just use it for bullet points, or use an old technique from reading from paper scripts,” he wrote.

If using this method, instead of trying to read sentences in full, Elliott suggested reading ahead “in order to get the first few words of the sentence into your mind.” Speakers should look directly at the camera as they recite the first half of the sentence. They can then look at their paper or teleprompter again to read ahead while finishing the second half of the sentence.

“Go slowly,” Elliott wrote, “and don’t be afraid of ‘confident pauses.’”

Casey Gale is associate editor at Convene.

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Meeting agenda slide template

Start every meeting off with a bang.

Say goodbye to chaotic meetings and hello to crystal-clear conversations with our meeting agenda slide template . Consider this your secret weapon for transforming disorganized discussions into streamlined meetings that are *actually* productive. With neatly segmented topics and time slots, it keeps everyone on track and ensures no crucial point is left out.

Whether you're wrangling a brainstorming session or steering a strategic planning session, this agenda slide template is your meeting’s new best friend. Use it for your next meeting and prepare to be amazed at how efficient your team can be.

Why agenda slides are important

We’ve all been a part of disorganized, half-baked meetings where we walk away without a clear understanding of what to do next. And you wouldn’t be alone — 1 out of 5 knowledge workers spend 11+ hours in meetings (yikes!).

The meeting agenda slide template helps create productive and focused meetings by breaking down key points and adding in specific time slots. It also helps prevent meetings from dragging on by driving the conversation back to the agenda. Action items and responsibilities are detailed, so your team is always on the same page when it comes to deadlines and deliverables. 

This agenda slide template can help you:

• Organize your thoughts and objectives for the meeting
• Provide clarity of what’s going to happen before, during, and after a meeting 
• Prep all attendees for team and project discussions by setting expectations
• Become an even better team member by showing your crew that you value their time

How to use Mural’s meeting agenda slide template

Step 1: customize your agenda template.

Customize your agenda template to fit the specific needs of your meeting, including sections for topics, speakers, time allocations, etc. You can start an agenda slide design here .

Step 2: Define your objectives

Use this time to think through your goals and list them at the top of your agenda slide template.

Step 3: Fill in your agenda slide

Start by adding specific topics you'll be discussing during the meeting, highlighting key takeaways from each. If you’d like to keep each section timed, add those in now.

Step 4: Distribute the agenda before your meeting

Once you’ve finished and reviewed your agenda, attach it to your meeting invite and let your team know that it’s there to review. Send it well in advance of the meeting so everyone gets a chance to review and prepare.

Step 5: Use it!

Be sure to stick to it so your meeting runs on schedule.

Tips for creating agendas

• Create your own adventure : Meeting agenda slide templates aren’t meant to be a one-size-fits-all solution. Rather, they’re meant to be a jumping-off point. So, make sure to change your template to best suit all your different meetings.
• Make sure to prioritize : When building out an agenda slide template, prioritization is the name of the game. Make sure to have the most important topics first so you can dedicate the most time to them.
• Build your agenda with your team : Have your team work together to build out the agenda slide template. This collaboration will give more incentive to be ready for meetings, stick to the agenda, and use the template for other meetings.

How to create a Meeting agenda slide template

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Meeting agenda slide template frequently asked questions

What slides should i add to my template, should a presentation have an agenda slide.

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