How to create a killer presentation.

Posted by Anya Sleezer << back to blog

Last Updated on September 24, 2024

Never underestimate the value of an awesome presentation.

It can position you as an industry leader, win hearts and minds, break down barriers, bring people together, and make or break a deal.

The right presentation can turn prospects into customers, and customers into advocates.

The wrong presentation? Well, let’s just not even think about that.

Remember, a presentation is not an excuse to brag, boast, or draw attention to yourself. It’s an opportunity to educate, enlighten, and entertain with a piece of content that brings value to your audience’s lives.

Easier said than done. Good thing we’re here to help with ten steps on how to create a killer presentation.

Grab the audience’s attention.
First impressions matter. No one wants to sit through a boring presentation, and your audience can usually tell within 30 seconds whether they’re going to actively listen to you … or zone out. So grab your audience’s attention immediately. It could be with a video, quote, graphic, story, joke, statement, whatever. Make them stop, think, and want to hear more.
Keep your audience top of mind.
Don’t make a presentation all about you. Make it about them. Put yourself in your audiences’ shoes and think about how to deliver value to them. What’s the current market landscape? What trends impact their bottom line? What are their biggest pain points? What struggles can you help them overcome?
Keep it short and sweet.
Cluttered slides are the worst. We’ve all had to sit through presentations where the speaker copied-and-pasted their speech onto the screen. Don’t use 500 words to say what you could say in 100; and don’t use 100 words for what you can say in ten. Think of each slide like a 280-character tweet. Never put more than six bullets per slide, or six words per bullet. Cut the clutter and save the context for your speech.
Look good.
You don’t have to be a graphic designer to make a professional-looking presentation (though it does help). Here are some pointers:

Keep graphics simple and eye-catching. When possible, create custom graphics that you can own (if you can use stock images, so can everyone else). Keep file sizes small so that your presentation is easy to share, but still clear. When possible, use graphs, charts, tables and infographics to support your message.
Keep your fonts consistent across slides. Using too many fonts, colors, and sizes looks unprofessional, can overwhelm viewers, and makes it hard to know which information is most important.
Stay on brand with your fonts and color selections to increase brand awareness and recognition.

Show supporting data.
People will value your expertise more when you provide data. You don’t have to clutter your slides (see #3), but you can footnote case studies and data. Use data to drive home your points, and remember to keep your audience in mind (see# 2).
Practice.
You may be the type of presenter who can just “wing it.” But the more you know your presentation, the more comfortable you will be — and the more comfortable your audience will be. Get there early and set up. Test equipment to avoid technical issues. Don’t just read your slides and speak in a monotone voice. Add to the presentation, don’t just recite it.
Showcase your personality, and the brand’s.
People relate to your brand through you. Be real and relatable, not a human robot reciting, “brand speak.” Don’t freak out about accidents; use them as an opportunity to connect with the crowd. If you’re nervous, having mic issues, whatever, own it. Strive to be as authentic on stage as you are off. Be the best version of yourself.
Encourage audience engagement.
Audience interaction is almost always a good thing (at least when it’s not heckling). Think of how to engage people without being too intrusive or aggressive. Some ideas can include playing a game, asking for volunteers, or doing a demonstration. Get creative!
Close with a call to action.
“Goodbye” ends a conversation. You want your presentation to start a conversation. So close with a clear call to action. Use this opportunity to drive home your message. Your presentation will be much more memorable if you make a strong closing appeal.
Include a Q&A.
Always save time for questions at the end. Questions create audience engagement (see #8) and also give you immediate feedback. Did people understand your points? Do you need to clarify anything further? Use this time to deepen your relationship with your audience.

Presentations can be challenging, but that’s because they’re so important. You don’t have to go it alone. While we can’t give your presentation for you, we can help you prepare, so you’re prepared to succeed.

FAQs

How do you create a killer presentation?

Grab the audience’s attention, speak directly to them, keep it short and sweet, use supporting data, showcase your personality, encourage audience engagement, close with a call to action, and includes time for a Q&A.

Is it worthwhile to have your presentation professionally designed?

Yes! A professionally designed presentation makes your presentation more effective, and increases brand awareness and legitimacy. It also saves you time that you can spend on developing content and practicing.

What’s the key to a good presentation?

Use your presentation as a chance to educate, enlighten, and entertain. Always keep your audience in mind at all times and make sure you’re providing value to them.

Anya Sleezer

Anya Sleezer is the owner of Levo, a full–service marketing agency, focused on helping companies from all industries who are concerned with their marketing results, traffic, branding, advertising, or websites.

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