I just lately did a presentation evening with my associates. Should you’re unfamiliar with the idea, it’s when a gaggle of associates will get collectively to share displays they created a couple of matter of their alternative.
The matters are sometimes light-hearted and enjoyable. For instance, mine was “my associates as obscure animals.”
You’d be stunned how troublesome it was to develop concepts for one thing as foolish and unserious as a social presentation evening.
So, it’s naturally even more durable to ideate presentation matters for an expert setting with the stress of needing to impress, affect, educate, or entertain.
I’ll share easy methods to develop thought-provoking and related matters to your displays to make sure they’re memorable and resonate nicely along with your viewers.
Desk of Contents
The best way to Select a Nice Presentation Matter in 5 Steps
I’ve damaged down the painstakingly lengthy course of of selecting a subject into 5 easy and simple steps. Let’s stroll via it.
Step 1: Start with the top in thoughts.
“Some issues are higher left unsaid” is what I don’t need folks to say about my displays. That’s why I all the time have a particular purpose earlier than selecting a subject.
Some questions I ask myself are:
- What do I hope to attain from the presentation?
- How do I need to come throughout?
- What do I would like my viewers to remove from the presentation?
Having a strong purpose helps me start crafting the title of my presentation. As an illustration, if I’m presenting a seminar about AI, my purpose is likely to be to persuade my viewers to include extra AI into their each day lives.
A punchy concept for a title may very well be “Why AI Is NOT Ruining Your Life.”
Step 2: Know your viewers.
Let’s say I’m making ready an inside presentation for my crew at Nickelodeon. I might first contemplate my viewers’s expertise and pursuits.
I don’t need to current one thing they already know nicely or have the subject go over their heads. Because it’s my crew, I might really feel assured that these components overlap comfortably with mine.
Should you’re presenting to an unknown viewers, analysis the people or normal demographic if particular names aren’t obtainable.
Subsequent, I’d contemplate what model is most popular. Some workplaces is likely to be extra formal, requiring a critical presentation tone.
Based mostly on the kind of content material we work on at Nickelodeon, we hold issues gentle at work, so I’d combine humor and an off-the-cuff tone into my presentation.
Professional tip: All the time contemplate your viewers’s information degree on the subject earlier than drafting your presentation. For instance, a presentation on social media focused at Gen Z will differ from that focused at Millennials.
Step 3: Be present.
Of presenters, 47% tailor their presentation matters to present occasions, which is a simple manner to make sure the subject is novel.
I’m not saying the presentation needs to be fully centered round a present occasion. Even together with sure references or themes can alert audiences that this isn’t a cut-and-paste presentation that’s been accomplished earlier than.
As an illustration, if I have been giving a presentation to my crew at Nickelodeon, I would slip in a humorous reference to the 2024 movie Depraved because it’s very culturally related.
If I needed to tailor my whole presentation to this matter, I may spotlight among the methods the PG-rated film manages to seize hearts of all ages, which is related to our crew’s family-friendly content material.
Step 4: Be exact.
Finishing these first three steps places me in a spot with first rate matter concepts. Now, I can lower out the surplus and choose a distinct segment matter with a particular purpose.
That is crucial as a result of the broader the subject, the harder it will likely be for my viewers to remove key concepts and actionable suggestions. Additionally, it might be harder to assemble an viewers intrigued and excited by my matter.
As an illustration, the primary matter within the picture is generic, sounds imprecise, and doesn’t specify any clear advantages. Then again, the second matter mentions the target market, tells them what to anticipate, and gives a transparent, actionable plan.
The viewers is aware of precisely what they’ll take away from the presentation.
Step 5: Add a private contact.
Shows with tales are 22 instances extra doubtless to be remembered than these with straight information. Such is the ability of narrative and personalization in storytelling.
Subsequently, I all the time contemplate matters I can tie again to myself, which additionally helps the displays really feel extra genuine. There are a couple of methods I might do that:
- Decide a subject I’ve first-hand expertise with.
- Present a singular opinion or learnings/findings so as to add worth to my phrases.
- Let the viewers view a controversial matter from my perspective.
- Select a subject I’m genuinely captivated with.
- Inform a private story that features as a metaphor for my matter.
Professional tip: Take into consideration the place your pursuits {and professional} expertise meet. Then, slender these matters or themes all the way down to 2-5 driving components to give attention to in your presentation.
120 Presentation Matter Concepts
Beneath is an intensive record of presentation concepts from private experiences to digital advertising and AI. I all the time reference this record after I discover myself in a rut.
I can hold the framework and swap out key phrases for a lot of of those titles, offering an infinite mixture of concepts.
Presentation Matter Concepts for Private Experiences
- The failures that made “Me”
- My journey balancing full-time and freelance work
- How I made social media a productive area
- 5 life-changing behavior modifications I made this yr
- How I acquired out of my longest writing rut
- My battle with Covid-19
- How I turned my weaknesses into strengths
- Dealing with nervousness and melancholy
- Leveraging my hobbies to enhance my profession
- Distant vs. in-office: The place do I thrive?
- What I needed to be and what I grew to become
- How I rediscovered myself after hardship
Presentation Matter Concepts for Controversial Points
- Way forward for genetically modified meals and preservatives
- Privateness within the age of AI: Moral points
- The ability of social media in politics
- Freedom of expression or dangerous content material
- Navigating the road between cultural appropriation and appreciation
- What can we do to forestall local weather change?
- Girls’s rights are everybody’s rights
- LGBTQ Rights: Balancing equality and custom sooner or later
- The ethics of animal testing
- The implications of social media for future generations
- How a lot display screen time is an excessive amount of?
- Punishment vs. rehabilitation
Presentation Matter Concepts for Present Developments
- 5 small efforts to combat local weather change
- How native politics play into the large image
- What are blockchain and cryptocurrencies?
- The newest health traits of 2024
- Life on social media vs. actual life: The best way to hold your self sane
- Water shortage and conservation
- Renewable and sustainable vitality sources: Are we prepared?
- The advantages of mindfulness and meditation practices for brand new mothers
- Understanding and addressing psychological well being points in Gen Z and Alpha.
- 12 Methods for working towards self-care and self-compassion
- Transitioning again to hybrid or full-time workplace fashions after years of distant work.
- How X entrepreneurs develop their private manufacturers (and their ROIs)
Presentation Matter Concepts for Business Insights
- How new AI applied sciences are altering the {industry}: 5 examples
- Six key traits and {industry} forecasts for the long run
- The best way to overcome these 10 challenges to succeed
- Measuring and optimizing organizational advertising efforts utilizing AI
- Utilizing predictive analytics to extract key advertising insights
- 13 methods to extend buyer loyalty and retention
- Enhance your on-line visibility and site visitors: 15 suggestions from LinkedIn gurus
- Seven methods to create participating video content material to your firm
- 5 methods for companies to construct a powerful social media presence
- Which social media channels are greatest to your model?
- Is AI revolutionizing the retail {industry}?
- Digital studying and the way forward for conventional studying methods
Presentation Matter Concepts for Digital Advertising
- The following huge factor in digital advertising — unlocked
- The artwork of storytelling in advertising: 23 companies that kill it
- Advantages of cross-channel advertising for software program growth corporations
- Voice search and its influence on digital advertising in 2025
- Maximizing ROI to your startup advertising: 3 underestimated techniques
- Adjustments in client conduct: Causes and implications
- Significance of personalization in digital advertising
- 10 Rising advertising traits and applied sciences
- Designing an efficient cell technique for your online business
- Significance of infographics in content material advertising: HubSpot’s case research
- Creating efficient advertising funnels for well being merchandise
- The ability of user-generated content material for corporations
Presentation Matter Concepts for AI
- Six high tales about AI in 2024
- 5 bizarre, however true, information about AI
- What these three enterprise specialists are saying about AI
- Three surprising methods AI could make you a greater marketer
- The Darkish Aspect of AI
- How do presidential campaigns profit from AI?
- 5 AI instruments each marketer wants
- AI and Huge Information: Altering the panorama of contemporary enterprise
- Which jobs will AI change?
- Why do these X celebrities and {industry} leaders love AI?
- AI in human assets: Recruiting and expertise administration
- The Ethics of AI: Balancing enterprise pursuits and societal impacts
Presentation Matter Concepts for Gross sales
- Chilly calls: Unethical techniques and gray areas
- Gross sales: Expectations vs. Actuality
- Gross sales prospecting made easier with AI
- Gross sales calls: Do’s, Don’ts, and Musts
- Six gross sales methods it is advisable throw out the window
- 5 expertise each salesperson must develop in 2024
- Constructing long-lasting relationships with prospects utilizing these three tried and examined strategies
- Coping with rejections: 5 methods and one bonus tip
- Affected person ready and 7 methods to take care of it
- 13 efficient gross sales methods for constructing relationships and shutting offers
- Growing efficient gross sales coaching applications for brand new hires
- 20 efficient gross sales communication methods
Presentation Matter Concepts for Time Administration
- The best way to obtain a super work-life steadiness for distant staff
- How a lot time do you have to ideally spend networking on LinkedIn?
- The best way to successfully delegate duties
- Purchase again your time: Methods and advantages
- Six enterprise ideas of time administration
- The best way to make an efficient plan: Three practices you can begin at this time
- 15 methods to enhance private effectivity and productiveness
- The 5 steps of the Pomodoro Approach
- Purpose setting and prioritization: For IT start-ups
- 9 greatest multitasking methods of insanely profitable businesspeople
- Time administration for busy professionals: The place to start out?
- Cease procrastinating: Eight methods beginning tomorrow
Presentation Matter Concepts for IT
- Benefits and dangers of adopting cloud software program
- Open-source software program: seven greatest practices
- Machine studying: Professionals and cons for advertising
- The best way to create user-friendly interfaces for software program and web sites
- The function of IT in digital transformation
- The Web of Issues: 5 alternatives for companies and customers
- Six methods to guard your digital belongings
- Seven advantages and three dangers of transferring to the cloud
- How does Huge Information work?
- Greatest methods to guard organizational information: 5 tried and examined methods
- Know-how and its influence on society and tradition
- Cell system administration: The place to start out?
Presentation Matters Concepts for Enterprise
- Optimizing collaborations to avoid wasting time throughout all departments
- Eight time administration instruments and apps for companies
- 12 frequent expertise of profitable businesspeople
- 10 suggestions and methods for a profitable advertising technique
- Harnessing the ability of influencer advertising
- Allocating a advertising price range to maximise ROI in 5 steps
- 5 manufacturing methods to attenuate prices
- Understanding moral points in enterprise and advertising
- 15 methods to scale back your organization’s carbon footprint
- Three previous enterprise fashions making a comeback
- Seven methods X developed a powerful firm tradition
- 12 methods for constructing a sustainable and accountable enterprise in 2023
5 Presentation Suggestions
Whereas I’ve burdened the significance of utilizing presentation matters to place audiences first, provide direct options, and fill in information gaps, there’s extra.
In spite of everything, the half that often retains me up the evening earlier than an enormous presentation isn’t sometimes the subject however the considered really presenting.
That’s why I’m sharing my 5 greatest suggestions that will help you ace your subsequent presentation.
1. Design a transparent structure.
I like to prepare my displays into 4 clear sections — introduction, physique, conclusion, and follow-up — to assist me assemble a transparent structure and enticing design. Right here’s what I embrace in every space:
Introduction
- A catchy title with a hook
- A thesis assertion or huge concept behind the presentation
- Desk of contents that provides my viewers a preview into what’s coming
Physique
- A transparent rationalization of my matter
- My argument, perspective, or essential message I’m attempting to convey in three to 5 key factors
- Details expertly interspersed to assist bolster my claims
Conclusion
- A concise abstract of the details and takeaways
- A catchy line to encourage thought-provoking, vivid discussions.
Comply with-Up
- 5 to 10 minutes on the finish of my presentation for a Q&A, the place I can dispel doubts and supply extra context to my viewers
2. Use visible aids.
I hate to confess it, however nothing makes me zone out faster than a black-and-white, word-heavy presentation. My decrease consideration span and visible studying choice make it laborious to give attention to a strictly verbal or text-based presentation.
Presentation visuals can enhance content material engagement by as much as 80%.
LinkedIn additionally gives a number of causes supporting the significance of visible aids, akin to capturing the eye and curiosity of audiences, decreasing cognitive load by breaking down advanced ideas, and rising the retention and recall of verbal messages.
I work full-time in media and leisure, so it’s straightforward so as to add visuals to my displays within the type of key artwork, video promos, and character artwork.
Nonetheless, even in much less artistic industries, visible aids like charts and graphs, diversified shade schemes, and even model logos may also help break up the textual content.
3. Select a presentation model that makes you assured.
I do know my strengths and weaknesses greatest in terms of presentation expertise. I do know I’m not one of the best at getting a excessive quantity of data throughout shortly, however I’ve an exemplary reminiscence (no speaker notes right here!) and ease of communication.
All this self-knowledge helps me put together presentation types that make me really feel most comfy and assured. Presentation matters may also dictate what model is greatest.
As an illustration, if my matter is “5 life-changing behavior modifications I made this yr,” I’ll doubtless undertake a storytelling model. Then again, a subject like “The Ethics of AI: Balancing enterprise pursuits and societal impacts” may name for an teacher model.
The ethical is to decide on a manner of presenting the fabric that makes me really feel most assured. The precise data could also be troublesome, however how I share it may be easy.
4. Design a slide deck to be pleased with.
I reside by the phrase “look good, really feel good.” If I’m sick, exhausted, or simply having a foul day, staying in pajamas and unwashed hair makes me really feel worse than I’m. However showering and carrying my favourite outfit can flip my whole day round.
The identical principle applies to displays. I’ve needed to flip round last-minute displays on sloppy slides, and feeling embarrassed in regards to the look will be sufficient to throw me fully off.
This is smart since 91% of execs really feel extra assured presenting a well-designed slide deck.
My firm makes use of branded slide templates, which eases the method, however manually getting into to make the fonts, colours, textual content spacing, and visuals look good is crucial.
You may also use presentation templates to avoid wasting time and uncover lovely, participating designs.
It’s additionally vital to follow working via these well-designed slides, particularly when you’re driving the deck for a gaggle presentation. Stroll via the presentation in Slideshow mode and guarantee all the things seems as desired.
5. Have interaction along with your viewers.
Sometimes, my largest concern main as much as a presentation is guaranteeing that I relay all the knowledge I’ve ready.
Nonetheless, I needs to be extra nervous about creating a powerful sufficient reference to my viewers that my presentation resonates of their minds lengthy after.
Of audiences, 79% desire interactive displays with alternatives to get entangled, so presenters have used instruments like polls and quizzes to extend viewers engagement by 40%.
That is additionally a good way to alleviate among the stress from myself — by throwing to the viewers at instances, I could make the presentation really feel extra conversational.
Listed below are a couple of ways in which my colleagues and I’ve made displays extra interactive:
- Begin by asking unusual inquiries to the viewers. Contain them from the get-go, saying issues like, “Elevate your arms if X.”
- Add polls to the slides and name on viewers members to share their responses.
- Make eye contact to construct credibility and present confidence. Don’t stare on the slides or notes. Smile often and discuss to the viewers immediately.
- Share a private perspective and ask if anybody within the viewers agrees or disagrees. Name on them to share why.
- Use energetic and assured physique language. Don’t stand in the identical place the whole time. Transfer across the stage.
- Ask close-ended questions in between to maintain the viewers engaged with out shedding time. Handle them utilizing their names to maintain issues attention-grabbing.
- Share private experiences and tales that your viewers will discover fascinating and relatable.
Feeling Impressed But?
As a youthful skilled in my {industry}, I’m all the time in search of methods to make myself recognized, stand out from the group, and show my skill to be a pacesetter.
This weblog put up taught me that distinctive, memorable presentation matters may also help me accomplish these targets.
All of us have a wealth of experience, expertise, and persona, and that’s sufficient to create a narrative price listening to. So the query shouldn’t be “What ought to I say?” however quite “How can I say it?”
My most vital takeaway is that authenticity comes from discovering methods to personalize presentation matters.
Even one thing data-driven or industry-focused has the chance for a reference to an anecdote, metaphor, distinctive perspective, or viewers interplay instrument that may take displays from informative to exceptional.
Editor’s notice: This put up was initially revealed in August 2023 and has been up to date for comprehensiveness.