Sharpen your presentation skills

Presentations and seminars are a great way to market your business. But will you waste your time in the spotlight?

If you have ever put a presentation together the night before your opportunity, and then felt you haven't made the impact you wanted to, then these tips might help.

Tip one
Be clear on your objectives and make them as specific as possible.

Think about why you are giving the presentation:

1. What change in attitude or behaviour do you want your audience to exhibit after the presentation?
2. What action should they take as a result of the behaviour?
3. What is the final impression you want to leave in the audience's minds as the presentation closes?

You can use your objectives later to help you decide what should and shouldn't be included in your presentation.

Tip two
Plan the presentation carefully.

Step 1. Begin by writing down everything you think you want to include, in no particular order. Estimate the time you will need to deliver each section and start cutting out unnecessary points now. Aim to be under your time limit at this stage - it is easier to add content than remove it.

Step 2. Put each idea into a category:
A. Things you must include.
B. Things you ought to include.
C. Things worth saying if there is time.

Step 3. Now put them into a logical sequence.

Step 4. Now rearrange them into an interesting sequence! (See tip three below.)

Tip three
Think about how you can link points together and keep the audience interested.

Don't include everything. You can issue written documentation or talk to people in more detail later.

Keep relating to the audience. When you make a point, guess what the audience will be thinking and allude to that (eg, 'But that point raises another question . . .').

Avoid long sections of just talk. Try including demonstrations and audience participation, spread throughout the presentation.

Move smoothly from point to point. Summarise each point and then introduce the new one.

People lose attention during the middle of a presentation. So make your most important points at the beginning and the ending. And when something really good is coming, tell the audience.

Always have a planned, well-rehearsed opening and ending. This makes sure you will get off to a good start (and therefore builds your confidence) and finish on a high.

Tip four
Remember the three Ps of successful presentations:

1. PREPARE!

2. PREPARE!

3. PREPARE!

© Peterborough Copywriting Bureau 2002

Use the form on our contact page to request your free information sheet with more useful tips, including:

1. All about using visual aids.
2. Presentation techniques to use on the day.

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