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A Guide to Mastering Virtual Presentations

Virtual presentations are becoming a standard. With over 30+ billion presentations being created every day, traditional in-person presentations, which used to be the commonality, are more and more being adapted to a more frequent online presentation scenario. 

Through the recent pandemic, the video conferencing platform, Zoom, had a participant increase of 2900% with a daily meeting participant figure of 350 million people in December 2020 alone. Yet, either triggered by the lack of human interaction or technological barriers, the truth is that online presentations can still and easily feel daunting.

That doesn’t need to be the case, however! With online presentation templates for a solid base and specific tactics to keep remote audiences engaged, presenters can easily connect with people in a virtual setting for great presentation success. 

This guide to virtual presentations provides a definition of virtual presentations, common examples, and instructions on how to best present online. 

What’s a virtual presentation?

A virtual presentation is an event whereby a presenter or a group of people face an audience online to go over virtual material of common interest. In the best of scenarios, a great rendition of an online presentation is clear, meeting a specific purpose that is of its audience’s interest. 

Examples of virtual presentations

At SlideModel, each of our PowerPoint templates sets a valuable example of the kind of virtual presentation that works best for very particular settings. These go over topics in business, strategy, marketing, and SWOT Analysis templates , to name a few. There are also different themes to these on diverse virtual presentation templates; the latest to suit numerous needs. 

As further examples of great online presentations, here’s a Notion at Work webinar titled Manage Your Contacts and Sales Funnel. It’s highly recommended by webinar software company LiveWebinar. This presentation’s style and setup might be of special interest to business presenters as it follows regular industry standards. 

How virtual presentations happen

Virtual presentations most commonly take place via web and/or video conferencing platforms . Though numerous tools exist to allow a presenter to meet an audience exclusively online, the most famous for this purpose are currently Zoom, as we described above, as much as Google Meet, and Skype. Other virtual presentations can take advantage of video presentations , where the presenter records the presentation, save it as a video, and then stream it to the target audience using a video presentation platform.

In general, these platforms include a screen-sharing ability to let presenters display online presentation decks . And they’ve become a great go-to resource with an augmented work-from-home (WFH) model worldwide. 

Presentation types

Internal virtual presentations (between colleagues).

We give these kinds of presentations to people within our organization. Whether it’s for the same department or team as ours or another stakeholder within our company, college, or any sort of official body with which we interact, internal presentations serve people whose interests and needs we can access first-hand via a common ground. 

Events (conferences, discussion panels, TED talks)

More public than the first item, virtual presentations can also be part of large events, whether these are public or private. Take all sorts of online conferences or talks into account. We can go online to meet worldwide communities of diverse sorts and be invited to speak at a discussion panel or conference, for example, making our presence visible to multiple computer users or over a single live broadcast on a large screen in an auditorium, for instance. 

Sales presentations with prospects

At times, pitches need to happen on-screen with potential prospects who give us a certain allotted timeframe in their schedules for us to touch base on our product or offer. Virtual sales pitch is another method to use.

Training/educational presentations

Other virtual presentations can be delivered for training purposes. Those can happen for internal and even external teams or as part of an educational program at different institutions. When we’re seeking to build talent up with new skills, our presentations require a lot of clarity with specific instructions, workflows, examples, charts, videos, and as many interactive or information-specific tools as possible. 

But how do we present online events like the above? 

How to Prepare for Virtual Presentations

Here are a few tips on how to best prepare for virtual presentations. We’ve made sure to include these steps as being well-prepared for an online meeting can significantly improve your road to success.

As usual, do your research before putting a single slide together. Reading up on what you will talk about to an audience can set an enormous difference between the knowledge you bring to a presentation and that of anyone else in the same room with you. Chances are that people listening to you as a presenter are very invested in your topic. As such, they can come from diverse backgrounds, and truly have a natural interest in what you have to say. Be valuable to your audience with high-quality content. For that, seek what interests them, how they respond to similar material, and the best ways in which you can engage them. 

Putting material together

Then, work at designing great PowerPoint slides . Keep a balance between design and content, tailoring what you present with your branding or voice in competitive, slick design that also clearly exposes your expertise. 

Consider your audience’s attention spans here. For that, spread content throughout several slides, if possible. Instead of packing each slide full of text or images, fill them with catchy titles, relevant sub-titles, meaningful text, and attention-grabbing visuals. Doing so will add dynamism and generate a more frequent visual change viewers are bound to appreciate. 

Add the above visual flow especially if your audience will need to spend a long time on-screen to follow you. Quicker online presentations can, on the contrary, afford concise and to-the-point material over the shortest amount of slides you can muster.  

Preparing your script

You may have all the know-how in the world on a given topic, company, subject of study, a product, or whatever is getting you to a virtual presentation need. Yet, an outline of ideas, a sequence of thoughts, and the most important areas of your presentation are all valuable tools to ensure success as you present. 

Write your thoughts out. Think of the sentences you’re verbalizing, how you’re phrasing your communications, and the order in which these will be presented. Slides don’t make up for your verbal communication. That vocal area needs preparation, too. 

Write an outline, jot down pointers, and even prepare an essay, if you must. However you feel most comfortable, a script in any form is necessary for a clear rendition of your ideas in front of an audience, whether that happens virtually or in person. 

While you’re at it, include attention-grabbers as you prepare what you’ll say. These can be as easy as saying: “Look over to our graph at the bottom right”, for example, inviting people to actually connect to what you’re presenting. These tricks are especially needed during a virtual presentation given the potential audiences have to be distracted via so many other means that are available on their computer, tablet, or cellphone. 

Practicing in front of an audience

Quite succinctly, peer feedback can do wonders for your virtual presentations. Gather whoever will connect with you to get their valuable insight on what’s coming through from your efforts. 

Sit back without judgment to listen to what business partners, friends, and even family have to say about your work.

Recording a demo

Tied to above, record that session. You can use it as your demo. 

Pushing you to be fully ready for a practice run will ensure you have thought about everything that matters for your final presentation. It will also add a level of security that can give you a more successful edge in the end. 

This practice might sound tedious, but it can also help your team, for example, if you bring people on board to your demo before you launch a product, face a client, present before a different department, face your teacher, and so much more!

Checking your online tools

Because online presentations essentially depend on technological tools, much more so than in any other kind of presentation setting, take the time to check everything works before you get started. 

Check your invitation links, log in to your meeting platform, open up relevant files, click on the presentation sharing icon, and make sure you’ve got all the privileges you need to perform any action you intend on making. Test your audio, try your mic and speakers, and hit the record button as a trial…do it all!

A demo, practice, and even setting 30 minutes ahead of your presentation can be golden for you to troubleshoot any unexpected technological failures. Go through your required steps one by one to make sure everything works!

Presenters are muted quite commonly and cannot get their volume to function, their cameras have stopped working, or they simply can’t share their screen. While no one will generally count that against anyone if the delays aren’t meaningful, this kind of setback can easily signal a lack of preparation. Because many issues can get in the way of a successful and timely virtual meeting, prepare for those challenges ahead of time. 

Concentration

Once your checklist up to here is done, remember to take some time for yourself. Seek your focus. However you concentrate best, find that mental spot where you can truly be attuned to your thoughts and the way you speak. Release any heavy emotions, such as anger, fear, anxiety, or stress. And seek to be balanced within your own self. Even three deep breaths can do the trick if time is pressing, but never forget to start presenting until you’re at your best concentration level. 

Putting yourself out there

Then go for it! Hit that record or live button, let people in your waiting room into your meeting area, say hi to anyone present, or let people know if you’re expecting anyone or waiting for someone for a few minutes. Become the host and take over as a leader, which is ultimately what presentations are about; for a specific period, all attention will be on you. Take your space, put yourself out there, and do your best. 

Establishing conversation

Virtual presentations don’t end when you’re done presenting your slides. Whenever possible, open up the space for the audience to give you feedback, ask questions, and engage in conversation with you. You can include a question and answer (Q&A) session or display frequently asked questions as a means of addressing commonly unclear areas. Also, leave room to address whatever comments come up via chat. 

By the way, just as a pointer to get your next presentation rolling, set the stage at the beginning of your online presentation in terms of when and how you’d like your audience to ask questions. Will everyone be able to stop you as you’re presenting to clear any items that come up? Or would you rather leave all questions for last? 

Commonly, addressing questions via chat or at the end of the session keeps your attendees’ focus under better control. Remember you’re directing people’s attention every time you present. This works just like a maestro would command an orchestra. Make the best of your expertise and knowledge to wow your audience with a unique presentation that gets people talking. 

Conclusions

Virtual meetings aren’t going anywhere. If anything, the use of online tools to group on a given topic is more and more common. As work-from-home leniency becomes widespread after COVID-19, especially, we can heavily rely on virtual presentations being here to stay. 

Consider using templates to help your slide quality. Templates are a great base for design as much as content. With industry or topic-specific material, templates are a great guide that can also accelerate how you create and share content in a high-paced environment. 

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Business PowerPoint Templates, Business Presentations, Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Presentations, Verbal Communication, Virtual Presentations Filed under Presentation Ideas

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A Deep Dive Into Virtual Presentations

Head of Product at Gloww

• Published on November 1, 2023

Virtual presentations are becoming increasingly common. With more businesses now embracing remote work, they’re an unavoidable adaptation that is essential for onboarding , employee development , and more. However, it’s not as straightforward as transplanting in-person presentation scripts into the virtual world. If you want to host virtual presentations that strike the right note, you need to think carefully about readying your material for online audiences. 

What is a virtual presentation? How can you keep online audiences engaged? These are the questions you should be asking yourself if you want to make effective use of the virtual format. 

How Are Virtual Presentations Different From Regular Presentations?

While the ultimate goal of virtual presentations is the same as in-person presentations, there are a lot of differences between the two formats . For starters, there’s generally less performance involved. When delivering an in-person presentation, a lot of focus is placed on keeping an audience engaged . A good presenter needs to be comfortable with public speaking and a master when it comes to body language. 

When presenting online, there’s far less pressure when it comes to performance. This is despite the fact that a presenter may be broadcasting to dozens, if not hundreds of people. An effective virtual presentation is generally more informal and relaxed. 

However, there are some downsides to delivering a presentation online. One of the biggest issues that presenters face is that they’ll have to contend with more distractions than if they were presenting to an in-person audience. These same distractions are what can render a standard conference call a challenge, and presenters often have to work extra hard to maintain audience engagement. 

What’s more, while the usual presentation skills aren’t always necessary, different proficiencies come into play. Body language doesn’t read as well when presenting online, but a speaker will still need to project a message virtually. Tone of voice is crucial, and a speaker needs to consider pauses carefully. Additionally, it’s important to constantly engage the audience if you want to maintain their interest levels. Relying too heavily on slides or failing to interact with an audience is a surefire way of dooming a virtual presentation to failure. For some inspiration you can find our employee engagement calendar on our blog too.

Why Are Virtual Presentations Important?

If your business operates in the virtual space and your teams are working remotely, you need to be thinking seriously about virtual presentations . It’s simply not practical to bring remote teams together for in-person training and team-building exercises, especially if employees are dispersed across the globe. 

Virtual presentations can be used as a learning tool to develop your workforce and introduce them to new ideas and ways of working. Some businesses utilize digital training documents for this purpose, but there’s little scope for interactivity here. With virtual presentations, you’re giving yourself the chance to connect with remote teams . As well as being a powerful tool for communication and instilling a sense of company culture , a live virtual presentation provides you with the chance to gauge engagement and understanding levels. 

How Do You Create a Virtual Presentation?

Is this your first time staging a virtual presentation ? Adapting your in-person approach to the virtual world might seem like a good idea, but you won’t achieve good results this way. To make your next virtual presentation a success , we’ve put together some handy tips. 

Start with Your Content 

This is the most important thing to consider when readying your presentation material for an online audience . While the bare bones of your in-person presentations can be used, they’ll need to be refined for the virtual space. Are you delivering training content to an online audience? All the key information can be captured here, but make sure it’s accessible and not overbaked. Is your presentation more client-facing? Make sure you’re capturing key selling points and considering what can be shared in other formats. 

Think About Your Slides 

Cramming too many slides into your presentation is a guaranteed way of sending your audience to sleep. If you want to maintain high engagement levels, keep slides sparse . During an in-person presentation, it’s easy to read the room and elaborate on complex slides if you feel the need to. When presenting online, this isn’t always possible. If your presentation has to be slide-heavy, try and stick to a single slide for every minute of speech. Ensure the slides you are using are concise and capture key information. 

Focus On Your Audience 

When presenting to an audience, you need to constantly reaffirm the fact that the information you’re discussing is relevant to them. Reading body language and audience responses can be a little tricky when presenting online, but keeping the focus on participants is crucial if you want to achieve good results. Regular interaction is a good way of keeping presentation material focused on your audience. Make a point of underlining how what you’re talking about applies to them and how it can help them achieve their everyday goals. 

Even if the material you’re covering in a presentation is pretty dense, you need to remain lively and dynamic to capture audience attention. Avoid leaning on your slides too heavily and make sure you’re not bound to a script. A little deviation can work wonders for audience engagement. 

Involve Your Audience to Avoid the Ringelmann Effect 

The Ringelmann Effect is something you might encounter if you’re presenting to a large audience. The bigger an audience gets, the less likely it is that individual participants are going to engage. By constantly involving your audience, you can overcome this. If you need to bring a hypothetical scenario into play , put someone on the spot. This way, everyone’s kept on their toes and constantly braced to interact. 

Remove External Distractions

While there’s not much you can do to ensure participants aren’t dealing with their own distractions, you can eliminate distractions from your presenting environment . Make sure your schedule is completely cleared to avoid any unwanted phone calls or interruptions. Are you presenting from an office location? Let anyone who is sharing your space know you need complete quiet so you can concentrate on delivering the best virtual presentation possible. 

Be Enthusiastic 

Even if the content of your presentation is on the dry side, you need to be able to sell it to your audience . If you’re not animated and engaged with the material, you can’t expect your audience to show an interest. Familiarizing yourself with presentation content will go a long way in ensuring you can deliver a lively and passionate event for participants. 

Professional Surroundings and Backgrounds 

No matter how animated you are during a presentation, you’ll still need to keep things professional . A low-key background will not only eliminate distractions but set the right tone for learning and development. Here’s our list of best backgrounds .

Best Virtual Presentation Tips

Now you’ve created a compelling outline for your virtual presentation , you’ll need to work on your presentation skills and deliver a memorable event. Below are some handy tips to get you started. 

Proper Webcam and Lighting 

Production values count when it comes to virtual presentations. A standard laptop webcam probably isn’t going to cut it if you want to make the right impression. An external webcam is therefore a must. You’ll also want to play around with lighting to make your presentation as effective as possible. 

Check Your Internet Connection 

Technical issues are sometimes unavoidable. However, even the slightest lag can render a virtual presentation pointless. Check your internet connection ahead of time to ensure you’re not going to have to contend with this issue. 

Talk to the Camera

It’s tempting to check the reactions of your online audience, but this isn’t really practical if you’re delivering a presentation to a large number of people. Rather than work overtime in an attempt to make a personal connection, talk to the camera instead. This gives you the best chance of making a connection with everyone who’s watching.  

Use Body Language 

Body language is very important when presenting online. While you won’t be able to make eye contact with individual audience members and use the space around you, you can make use of hand gestures and facial expressions to strengthen your message. However, remember to keep things simple.  

Engage Your Audience Members 

If you’re planning a longer virtual presentation or covering a lot of key topics, you need to make sure your audience is engaged . Constantly reach out to participants to hammer out specifics with examples or use quick-fire quizzes to keep everyone engaged. You can even use one of the 49 icebreakers to spice things up .

Be Yourself 

Authenticity matters when presenting online. It’s particularly important if you’re an employer presenting to remote teams. Make sure the persona you’re projecting is true to the one you’ve already established. The more authentic you are, the more credible your message will seem. 

What is the Optimum Amount of Time You Can Keep People Engaged Online? 

Most people will struggle to remain engaged with a single topic beyond five minutes. Your presentation is going to be longer than this, so avoid dwelling on specific topics for too long. For best results, try and keep your overall presentation no within 45 minutes . 

How Often Should Your Audience Share Their Thoughts?

Reach out to participants once every five minutes or so. You can ask individual participants to reflect on topics you’ve just covered, or break things up with more interactive elements like quizzes and polls. 

How Many Presenters Should There Be in a Virtual Presentation? 

With shorter presentations, it makes sense to keep things simple with a single presenter. If you’re planning a longer event and want to keep things as dynamic as possible, consider using two or three speakers. 

Host Your Next Virtual Presentation with Gloww 

Ready to unlock the potential of virtual presentations? Whether you’re presenting to prospective clients or need to reach out to remote teams, virtual presentations are the way forward . However, you’ll need a reliable video conferencing solution to stage a successful virtual presentation. 

With Gloww, you have everything you need to deliver memorable presentations that strike the right note with audiences. You can adapt your existing presentation material for the virtual space or explore brand-new elements to bring interactivity to your sessions. Add existing slide decks to readymade templates, make things more interesting with polls and quizzes, or integrate multimedia assets to take your presentations to a whole new level. You can get started with Gloww today. If you want to learn about Gloww can help you fine-tune your virtual presentations, explore our pricing plans , and discover more about our premium features. Do you still have questions about Gloww? Get in touch with the team.

Want to learn more? Here’s everything you need to record your meeting , a template for your monthly business review meetings , virtual meeting etiquettte , and all about how video conferencing works .

Ben Aflalo heads Gloww's product team with over two decades of leadership experience. Passionate about leveraging innovative technology, he is committed to building products for the greater good.

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presentation

Definition of presentation

• fairing [ British ]
• freebee
• largess

Examples of presentation in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'presentation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing presentation

• breech presentation

Dictionary Entries Near presentation

present arms

presentation copy

Cite this Entry

“Presentation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presentation. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of presentation, medical definition, medical definition of presentation, more from merriam-webster on presentation.

Nglish: Translation of presentation for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of presentation for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about presentation

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What Is a Digital Presentation & How to Get Good At It

Learn the basics of presentation decks and how to create one. Explore examples and tips to make your own deck more effective and engaging.

Dominika Krukowska

16 minute read

Short answer

What is a presentation.

A presentation is a slide-based visual storytelling aid. It’s used for transferring information and emotion to an audience with visual, vocal, and textual communication.

The purpose of a presentation is to help the audience understand a subject matter. Presentations are used in business, academics, and entertainment. They can be made in PowerPoint, PDF, or webpage format.

You will lose your audience with static presentations.

Have you ever sat through a digital presentation that felt like it was dragging on forever? Or worse, have you been the one giving the presentation when people’s eyes glazed over? This feeling of agonizing boredom is called Death by PowerPoint.

Failing to give an engaging presentation will make you lose your audience's attention , and as a result, their ability to remember anything you have to say.

If you’re wondering how exactly you avoid this fate, you’re not alone. Everyone struggles with this. It’s not you - it’s PowerPoint.

The solution? I’m going to show you how to never again suffer from Death by PowerPoint by avoiding the common PowerPoint pitfalls and much much more.

By the end of this blog post, you’ll learn to create digital presentations that immediately engage your audience, capture their interest, and make them care.

Spoiler - the key is to ditch your static slides for interactive experiences.

Let's dive in!

What is the main purpose of a presentation?

The purpose of a presentation is to communicate information or ideas to an audience in a clear and effective manner. The reasons for making a presentation can be to inform, persuade, motivate, educate, entertain, or simply share knowledge or experiences.

The goal of a presentation can be to help your audience understand complex concepts, make informed decisions, or take action based on the information you present.

In business settings, presentations are often used to pitch products or services, report on progress or performance, or make recommendations to stakeholders.

What are the 2 main types of presentations?

When it comes to creating a presentation, there are 2 primary types: (1) speech presentations and (2) digital presentations (made for reading). There are key takeaways for nailing each presentation type. Take note of them if you intend to get good at both.

Reading presentations

Speech presentations

Digital presentations (Reading presentations)

Digital presentations, on the other hand, are presentations that the audience can access on their own computer or phone without the presenter being physically present. These presentations require a different set of skills and techniques to keep the audience engaged.

Essentials for improving your digital presentations:

• Written clarity is critical: Since your audience will be reading your presentation, it's essential to keep your content clear and concise. Say more with less.
• Show, don't tell: Use supporting visuals to help illustrate your points and make your presentation more engaging.
• Animation and annotation: Use animations and annotations to direct your audience's attention to the right place at the right time, keeping them engaged throughout. there are plenty of free animation software to help you create these.
• Personalization: Make your audience feel like you're speaking directly to them by personalizing your presentation. Use inclusive language and address their pain points, needs, and interests.

Speech presentations (Face to face)

Speech presentations are the classic type of presentation where a speaker presents to an audience in person. These presentations are usually given at conferences or meetings, and can now also take place virtually through platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, or Skype.

Essentials for improving your speech presentations:

• Less written, more spoken: Speech presentations are all about the spoken word, so it's crucial to avoid cramming too much text onto your slides. Focus on speaking to your audience instead.
• Body language and voice: In a speech presentation, your body language and tone of voice are essential to engaging your audience. Use humor, sarcasm, or suspense to keep your listeners interested.
• Rapport: Making eye contact and using real-time communication can help you build rapport with your audience and make them feel involved in your presentation.

What are the main types of digital presentations?

Digital presentations come in all shapes and sizes, but understanding the main types can help you choose the right format for your message.

Business presentations

Marketing presentations, sales presentations, education and training presentations, personal presentations.

Education & training

Business presentations are used for showcasing company performance updates, introducing new products or services, discussing future plans with clients and partners, or briefing investors.

Whether it's an internal meeting or an external one with stakeholders, business presentations are all about delivering a clear and compelling message that drives the company forward.

Marketing presentations are visual decks used to present your target audience, marketing strategies, and campaign outcomes to prospective clients, ad agencies, or stakeholders.

Sales presentations are decks that contain details about the features, pricing, and main benefits of your offering, and are used during in-person meetings or online sales calls. They’re designed to help sales reps close deals or land new clients.

Education and training presentations are slide decks designed to teach new concepts and best practices to a variety of audiences, including students, employees, or clients.

A personal presentation is used during networking events, business conferences, or public speaking engagements. It’s used to share your key accomplishments and demonstrate your passion and the main values you stand for.

What makes a good presentation?

A good presentation captivates by establishing trust, engaging the audience with interactive elements, and weaving data into an enthralling narrative that sparks emotions and inspires, leaving a lasting impact.

There are 3 things any good presentation must do:

1. Establish trust and credibility

Without your audience trusting you and your authority you will never get them to listen. And to really listen, some say, they have to like you.

To establish yourself as a credible source of information, use relevant visuals, stories, and examples that showcase your expertise and experience, earning the trust of your audience.

2. Interact with the audience

Static PowerPoint slides are no longer enough to engage anyone. Presentations need to be informative but also entertaining.

Therefore, incorporating interactive elements into your presentations like animations, videos, calculators, quizzes , polls, and live infographics is now essential to grab attention and keep your audience engaged start-to-finish .

3. Tell a good story

When it comes to digital presentations, it's not just about the information you share, but how you share it. That's where storytelling comes in! It's all about weaving a relatable narrative that resonates with your viewers, leaving them eager for more.

By blending your data and facts into an enthralling tale, you're not only dishing out knowledge but also sparking emotions and inspiration. It's a game-changer for grabbing your audience's attention and getting your message across effectively.example

How to create a good digital presentation?

To create a great digital presentation, you need to think beyond the slides and consider the experience you want your audience to have.

Think of your presentation as a journey that takes your audience from point A to point B - you need to ensure that every step of the way is memorable and captivating.

When creating a digital presentation, there's more to it than just putting together a few slides.

You can make it real-pretty, but to make it truly effective you need to have a clear understanding of where you want to take your audience, and tailor your content accordingly.

Good presentation example

This example shows how interactive content can make a presentation that pulls you in and makes you feel part of the journey.

What should a presentation include?

Most decks contain the following 3 elements:

• Introduction (the objectives and agenda of your presentation)
• Main body (key talking points that you want to cover)
• Conclusion (followed by a single, actionable call to action)

The specific outline of your presentation will depend on your particular use case.

Check out our dedicated guides for particular business presentations:

• What to Include in a Pitch Deck (Slides 99% of Investors Want)
• 7 elements of a great sales deck structure
• What should a one-pager include?
• What does a marketing deck include?

How to start and how to end a presentation?

Start your presentation with a strong hook that captures your audience's attention and makes them interested in what you have to say.

You can end your presentation with a thank you slide, but that would be too bad. For your words to carry beyond the last slide you’ll need to give your audience the next step.

And so, you should end your presentation with a singular, clear call to action that inspires your audience to follow through on your message.

What are the essential building blocks of a successful presentation?

Almost everyone nowadays makes beautiful presentations. But that’s not enough to make them successful.

5 key elements that every successful presentation includes:

1. Compelling (human) story: Your presentation should tell a story that connects with your audience on a personal and emotional level, making your message relatable and memorable.

Here are 5 quick storytelling tips to deliver engaging presentations:

2. Clear structure: A clear structure helps your audience follow along and understand the flow of your presentation. This can be chronological, sequential, before-after, problem-solution-resolution, or any other simple and easy-to-follow structure.

3. Problem and solution: Your presentation should address a problem that your audience faces and offer a solution that your product or service can provide.

4. Actionable takeaways: Your presentation should leave your audience with actionable steps or insights that they can use to apply the information you've presented.

5. Supporting visuals (product demo) and data visualization (graphs, charts, and infographics): Using visuals to support your presentation can reinforce your message and help your audience retain the information you presented.

6 biggest mistakes to avoid when creating a presentation

It’s easy to forget that the presentation is for your audience rather than for you. You may want to tell them everything from A to Z, but they may only want to know ABC.

It’s even easier to take for granted that the things you understand are clear to others. But for them, these things are horribly complex (look up the curse of knowledge).

1. Using too much text: Overloading your slides with text can cause your audience to lose interest and detract from your main points. Keep your text to a minimum and use visuals to reinforce your key takeaways.

2. Going too much into detail: attention is a limited resource so you can’t fit everything in a single presentation. Tell your audience only what they really want (and need) to know. Avoid any technical details or complex jargon that does not contribute to the core of your message.

3. Neglecting interactivity: Failing to include interactive elements can cause your audience to disengage. Use polls, quizzes, and other interactive tools to keep your audience engaged.

4. Ignoring the power of storytelling: Telling a compelling story is critical to capturing your audience's attention and leaving a lasting impression. Use relatable stories and examples that support your key points.

5. Poor use of visuals: Using low-quality visuals, irrelevant images, or poorly designed charts and graphs can detract from your presentation and cause confusion. Use high-quality visuals that reinforce your key ideas and are easy to understand.

6. Lack of personalization: If you don’t tailor your presentation to your audience's needs, interests, and level of understanding, your message will fall flat. Make sure to consider your audience's perspective and adjust your deck accordingly.

You don't want your presentation to end up looking like this:

How to design a presentation?

Designing a presentation is a bit like decorating a cake - you want it to be visually appealing but also yummy to consume. You want it to leave your audience with a taste for more rather than a bad taste in their mouth.

Lucky for you there are practical steps for designing a presentation that truly wows your audience every time.

Practical presentation design tips:

1. Choose a color scheme: Just like choosing the perfect icing color for your cake, selecting a color scheme that complements your brand can make your presentation feel more coherent. Or, if you’re pitching to a client, you can use their brand colors instead in order to impress them.

2. Use high-quality images: Using high-quality images is like adding a layer of delicious, rich frosting to your cake. It makes your presentation more visually interesting and helps support your key message.

3. Use consistent fonts: Using consistent fonts throughout your presentation can make it easier to read. Stick to two or three fonts that complement each other and use them consistently.

4. Incorporate visual aids: Visual aids like colorful sprinkles and creative cake toppers can take your cake to the next level. Similarly, graphs, charts, and infographics can help break text patterns and, therefore, make your presentation more memorable.

Check out our use-ready slide design with every type of slide you can think of designed according to our tips and best practices.

Where to find presentation templates?

Scouring the web for presentation templates can be a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack - it's time-consuming, frustrating, and can leave you feeling a bit lost. Most designs available look dull and samey, and are not optimized for engagement.

But don't worry, we've got you covered! Here are the best interactive presentation templates for different use cases:

Choose template by:

What tools to use to create presentations?

Unfortunately, there's no one-size-fits-all tool for creating a digital presentation. And with so many presentation tools out there, it can be hard to know where to start looking.

That’s why we've done the research for you - check out our article rounding up the best presentation software to pick the right one for your needs!

And, if you want to learn more about creating effective digital presentations, check out these posts:

• How to Make Effective & Impactful Presentations (12 Steps)
• How to Make a Multimedia Presentation (5 Easy Steps)

How to give a presentation?

Giving a presentation can be intimidating, but it's an excellent opportunity to showcase your knowledge and expertise. To deliver a successful presentation, you need to focus on engaging your audience, keeping their attention, and providing valuable information.

9 tips to help you give a memorable presentation:

1. Start with a strong hook

A strong opening is crucial to grab your audience's attention and pique their interest. Begin with a bold statement, a surprising fact, or a personal anecdote that relates to the topic of your presentation. This will immediately grab the audience's attention and make them want to listen to what you have to say.

2. Make your objectives and agenda clear

Engage your audience right from the start by letting them know what's in store for them. Outlining your objectives and agenda early on will keep your audience focused and ensure that they don't miss out on any crucial information. Let them know why it's important to pay attention to your presentation and what they can expect to learn from it. By doing this, you'll build anticipation and get them excited about what's to come!

3. Leverage storytelling

People love stories, and they are an effective way to connect with your audience. Use anecdotes, metaphors, and examples to illustrate your points and make your presentation more relatable. This will help the audience understand the concepts you're presenting and retain the information up to 60-70% better .

4. Ask questions, use humor, give simple directions that prove a point

Engage your audience by asking questions, using humor, and giving them simple tasks to perform that illustrate your point. This will keep their attention and make the presentation more interactive.

5. Direct the audience's attention

Use a pointer or built-in animation to draw the audience's attention to critical information. This will help them focus on what you're saying and avoid distractions.

6. Work on the delivery

Speak slowly and clearly, use positive language, and avoid reading from notes as much as possible. Use humor and engage with your audience to make the presentation more enjoyable. Ensure your body language is confident and relaxed, and maintain eye contact with your audience.

7. Add interactive elements

Incorporate interactive elements like polls, quizzes, or surveys to involve your audience and gather valuable feedback. This will make your presentation more engaging and ensure your audience retains the information presented.

8. Close with a CTA

End your presentation with a strong call to action (CTA). Inspire your audience to take the next step, whether it's signing up for a newsletter, buying a product, or visiting your website. Make it clear what you want your audience to do after the presentation.

9. Leave time for a Q&A session

Finally, leave ample time for a Q&A session. This will allow your audience to clarify any doubts and ask questions. It's also an excellent opportunity for you to engage with your audience and get valuable feedback on your presentation.

Create amazing digital presentations from templates

Creating a digital presentation that grabs your audience's attention and drives results may feel like a daunting task.

After all, a strong digital presentation can be the difference between leaving a lasting impression on your audience or falling flat and losing their attention.

It's like trying to teach a class without proper preparation - you're not giving your knowledge and expertise a chance to shine, and your audience might not retain the information you're presenting.

To make things easier, try using our customizable digital presentation templates that will help you create an engaging and impactful digital presentation in no time!

Where can I see examples of good presentations?

If you’re looking for real-life examples that drove results for other companies from different industry sectors, check out highly effective presentation examples by our clients .

Alternatively, if you want to see the best presentation examples that you can replicate to create your own, here are our dedicated guides:

• 10 Perfect Presentation Examples That Win Over Anyone
• 9 Unique Sales Deck Examples that Outsell the Rest
• 10 Top Pitch Deck Examples to Inspire Your Fundraising Efforts
• Top Product Presentation Examples That Wow Everyone
• Marketing Deck: What It Is & How to Make It Win (Examples)
• 6 Elevator Pitch Examples for Any Scenario (Ready for Use)

Where can I find good presentation templates?

If you’re looking for snazzy presentation templates, Storydoc should be your go-to place. We offer a fantastic selection of visually stunning designs to make your digital presentation pop.

All components have been designed with best practices in mind and optimized for engagement. Thanks to the built-in analytics panel, you can also check how your presentations perform in real-time.

Click on any of these categories to see the best presentation templates for your specific use case:

• One-pager templates
• Sales deck templates
• Pitch deck templates
• Business proposal deck templates
• Marketing decks templates
• Case studies templates
• Report templates
• White paper templates

What are common types of business presentations?

The most common types of business presentations are:

• Sales decks
• Pitch decks
• Business proposal decks
• Marketing decks
• Case studies

Is a presentation the same as a slideshow?

Technically, a slideshow is a type of presentation, but not all presentations are slideshows.

A presentation can take many different forms, from a speech to a product demonstration, and can use various tools, including slideshows, to deliver the message. So while a slideshow is certainly a popular choice for presentations, it's not the only option out there.

What is death by PowerPoint?

Death by PowerPoint is the phenomenon of boring, uninspired, and ineffective presentations that use an overabundance of bullet points, text-heavy slides, and monotonous delivery. It's a surefire way to put your audience to sleep and leave them counting down the minutes until your presentation is over.

To avoid death by PowerPoint, aim to create presentations that are visually engaging, incorporate storytelling, and use multimedia elements like images, videos, and interactive features. Remember, a presentation should be a tool to enhance your message, not a crutch to lean on.

What are common types of presentation delivery formats?

There are 5 popular types of presentation delivery formats to choose from:

• Powerpoint: A classic choice, PowerPoint offers a range of design and animation options to create static slide-based presentations.
• Google Slides : As a cloud-based tool, Google Slides makes it easy to collaborate with others in real-time. It's an excellent option for static team presentations and remote work situations.
• Keynote : Exclusive to Apple devices, Keynote is known for its sleek and elegant design options. It's an ideal choice for visually appealing presentations on Mac or iOS devices.
• PDF: For a simple, static, and easily shareable format, PDF presentations are a reliable option. They ensure consistent formatting across different devices and platforms.
• Storydoc : Taking presentations to the next level, Storydoc provides immersive and interactive templates that are sure to captivate your audience and leave a lasting impression.

What are common types of presentation speech formats?

There are 4 common types of presentation delivery formats:

• Memorized: In a memorized delivery, the presenter memorizes the entire presentation word-for-word and delivers it without notes. This format can be effective for short presentations or speeches but can be challenging to execute for longer presentations.
• Manuscript: In a manuscript delivery, the presenter reads from a written script or teleprompter. This format is great for delivering complex or technical information but can come across as less engaging.
• Impromptu: In an impromptu delivery, the presenter delivers a presentation without prior preparation or planning. This format is often used in situations like interviews or meetings and requires quick thinking and adaptability.
• Extemporaneous: In an extemporaneous delivery, the presenter delivers a presentation using notes or an outline, but not a fully scripted presentation. This format allows for flexibility and engagement with the audience while still maintaining structure.

Why is a presentation important for my business?

Here are the main reasons why presentations are essential for your business:

• Be the expert: Presentations provide a platform to showcase your expertise and share your unique perspectives with your audience, establishing you as a thought leader in your industry.
• Build connections: Presentations provide an opportunity to connect with your audience, building relationships that can lead to future business opportunities.
• Leave a lasting impression: An engaging and memorable presentation can leave a lasting impact on your audience, increasing brand awareness and improving message retention.
• Achieve your goals: Presentations can be used to achieve business goals, from generating leads to securing funding or closing deals.

How to measure the effectiveness of a presentation?

Measuring the effectiveness of a presentation is crucial to ensure it hits the mark with your audience and achieves its goals. Here are some ways to measure the effectiveness of a presentation:

Ask for feedback: Don't be afraid to ask your audience for feedback after the presentation, either through surveys or live feedback. This feedback can provide valuable insights into what worked well and what could be improved, helping you refine your approach for future presentations.

Monitor engagement: Keep a pulse on engagement metrics such as views, shares, or the average reading time if the presentation is delivered online. These metrics can give you a sense of the level of interest generated by the presentation and which parts resonated with your audience. Our own presentation maker comes with built-in analytics tracking and reporting .

Track business outcomes: If your presentation is designed to drive business results, track metrics such as lead generation, sales, or conversion rates to assess its effectiveness in achieving these goals.

Hi, I'm Dominika, Content Specialist at Storydoc. As a creative professional with experience in fashion, I'm here to show you how to amplify your brand message through the power of storytelling and eye-catching visuals.

Perfect Presentation Examples That Win Over Anyone

Top Product Presentation Examples That Wow Everyone Sales and Marketing Presentations Statistics Marketing Presentation Examples that Engage & Convert

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Virtual presentation framework: Your guide to presenting online

Get your team on prezi – watch this on demand video.

Michael Lee March 01, 2021

By now, virtual presentations are a staple in the way many organizations conduct business. But just because most people are used to presenting online doesn’t mean they’re any good at it. The best virtual presentations require more than just appearing on screen or sharing content. To really connect with your audience, you need to follow the virtual presentation framework : Establish credibility, build trust, and appeal to your audience’s emotions.

This presentation framework serves as an online presentation guide to help you make sense of the most common elements of successful online interactions. As you get more comfortable with all the elements, you’ll be able to use the presentation framework as a digital toolbox of sorts, calling on the right skills at the right time.

It’s important to note that these segments are not mutually exclusive, but should work together. After all, you can be credible without earning trust, and you can be informative without eliciting any emotion. The best online presenters and speakers will apply the presentation framework as a whole to both their content and delivery. Read on for a more detailed look at each segment in the virtual presentation framework. 

Presentation framework: Establish credibility 

Credibility is a measure of how qualified you are (or at least, how qualified you seem) to speak on your topic. Basically, do you look like you know what you’re doing? On virtual presentations, you’ll need to consider:

How you set up your space

It may seem like a minor detail next to everything else you have to do for your presentation, but your home studio setup can greatly impact audience perceptions. If your face is dimly lit or your audience can’t hear you, it’ll make your entire presentation feel less professional. 

Position your light source in front of you (whether it’s a window or a lamp). Also, test out different microphones to find the one with the best audio quality. You’ll also want to avoid distracting your audience with busy backgrounds. Though, don’t be afraid to show more personality than a blank white wall! Even small, inexpensive adjustments can make a big difference. 

Get more tips from Jessica Chen , the founder, and CEO of Soulcast Media and an Emmy Award-winning journalist:

How you present yourself 

Any online presentation guide will tell you that to deliver an engaging presentation, you’ll need to practice. While one of the benefits of virtual presentations is the ability to include presenter notes , you also don’t want to look like you’re reading the entire time. Practice speaking with confidence, paying particular attention to your pacing and volume. Also, try cutting out filler words like “um” and “like.” Lorraine Lee , the Managing Editor here at Prezi, shares how standing while you present and projecting your voice can help:

How well do you know your material?

It can sometimes be painfully obvious when someone speaks on a topic they don’t actually know much about. If you’re giving a virtual presentation, it means you’ve had the time to prepare and pick your topic. Make sure you’re speaking to your subject matter expertise, whether it’s for a keynote, webinar, sales pitch, or just an internal presentation. 

Richard Mulholland , a global speaker and founder of presentation agency Missing Link , highlights the benefits of finding your “area of authority” and then focusing the vast majority of your attention on that subject: 

Presentation framework: Build trust

While trust may seem very similar to credibility, there’s a key difference. Credibility determines if your audience finds you qualified to speak about your topic. However, trust determines whether they’ll actually believe what you say. To build trust with your audience on virtual presentations, you should: 

Appear on the screen 

Body language and facial cues are crucial in conveying meaning, which is why it’s necessary to appear on-screen if you want your audience to trust what you’re saying. This also applies to screen sharing. If your camera’s on, but nobody can see you, then you’re going to lose out on opportunities to connect with your audience. 

Vanessa Van Edwards , a keynote speaker and Lead Investigator at Science of People , explains that hands act as “trust indicators.” That’s why you should use tools like Prezi Video to bring your content on-screen with you, so that you can show your content while still using hand gestures to keep your audience engaged . Watch Vanessa’s video to learn more and to see these principles in action: 

Back up your claims

With enough practice, you can say anything with confidence, but empty promises and hyperbole will only erode your audience’s trust. Make sure you use trusted sources while researching, and present facts and data as necessary. 

For example, see how Brian Xu , a Senior Data Scientist at LinkedIn , uses data to analyze the economic impacts of COVID-19: 

Respect your audience

Don’t forget that while you’re the one presenting, your audience is also investing their time and attention into your content. Make sure your content is tailored and relevant, and be mindful of sticking to your allotted time. 

You may also want to consider employing a more conversational approach to your virtual presentation. In a remote sales pitch , for instance, you don’t have to go through all of your content from start to finish. Instead, find out what your buyers are most interested in and only focus on those topics.

Presentation framework: Appeal to emotions 

Even if your content is well-researched and expertly presented, it ultimately won’t matter if your audience can’t remember any of it. Part of what makes content impactful and memorable is having it resonate on an emotional level. Be sure to include these elements in your virtual presentations: 

Displaying a wall of text on the screen is only going to result in glazed eyes. Use visual communication to help your message resonate with your audience — whenever possible, replace text with images, videos, and charts. 

In this webinar with Tiffani Bova , the Global Growth and Innovation Evangelist at Salesforce , she uses both photos and designed graphics, and clever placement of her visuals, to support her message. When illustrating the divide between sellers and buyers, she puts photos on either side of her screen. This creates a more visceral and memorable message than a bullet point:

Interactivity

Because you’re working with limited screen real estate on virtual presentations, you’ll need to work harder to keep your audience invested and engaged. That means you should avoid becoming a static talking head or hiding behind your screen share. Take advantage of Prezi Video to add some interactivity to your presentation. With Prezi Video, you can point at graphics you want to focus on or emphasize your message with gestures. 

Plus, there are currently a wealth of tools that can help you better connect with your audience. Take advantage of the chat, poll, and Q&A functions on your video conferencing tools, or use third-party apps like Slido to create impactful conversations . 

Storytelling

Stories are still one of the best ways to connect with your audience. They can take complex ideas and recontextualize them in a way that feels relevant and evokes emotions. And, our brains are already wired for stories (which is why they make up two-thirds of our daily conversations). 

Try starting your virtual presentation with a story or anecdote to capture your audience’s attention quickly. Elena Valentine , the CEO, and co-founder of workplace media company Skill Scout Films , explains how stories and anecdotes can make you seem more human instead of just “the expert,” and why that works in your favor:

Using the virtual presentation framework

This virtual presentation framework is by no means comprehensive. However, it can serve as a useful guide to online presentations. As you start putting content together for your next presentation, refer to the framework to pinpoint areas that you’re still missing and start incorporating them. You can also get even more advice and insights from our Virtual Presentation Innovators .

If you’re speaking at an upcoming virtual conference or event , drop us a line at [email protected] for a chance to work together on a virtual presentation that your audience won’t forget.

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The ULTIMATE guide to virtual presentations

• Written by: Hannah Harper
• Categories: Presentation technology , Industry insights
• Comments: 4

For many organizations, the days of giving face-to-face presentations for every meeting are over. Though face-to-face meetings are still a powerful communications tool, conference organizers, marketing teams, and B2B sales people can attest that virtual presentations are here to stay. However, attempting to simply give the same presentation online as you would offline is likely to result in a disappointing presentation that neither engages nor impresses your audience.

Throughout this article we’re going to look at some practical ways your teams can make an impact in an online era. If you want even more detail, we’ve compiled this, and more, in a report you can download for free:

Click here to download the report

What makes online presenting different?

How to eliminate distraction, how to create compelling content, how to run an effective sales meeting online, how to run a successful online conference, how to run hybrid presentations.

These days web conferencing platforms are widely available, affordable, and really pretty good. But what effort is involved in making your in-person content online-ready? Sadly, we’re not talking about a lift and shift here, and to understand how content needs to change, we need to understand the differences between in-person and online presentations.

All of this means that both the presenter and the slides must work much harder if they’re to keep audiences engaged, and that means the content you have for your face-to-face audiences has to change if it’s to be effective in an online setting.

In a sense all presentations can be thought of as the struggle of compelling content against distraction. Take a presentation online and it’s both harder to make the content compelling – because the presenter and slides aren’t in the room but just showing on a small screen –  and  harder to avoid distraction – because the audience are much freer to go off and do other things. So all we need to do is eliminate distraction and make our content compelling!

Your audience is in high demand: there are people wanting urgent responses to emails, friends trying to decide where to go for pizza that evening, the dog chewing the blinds – again. That means you, as a presenter, need to be on your a-game if you’re going to capture and hold the attention of your audience for the duration of your online session. For that you need a great set-up so you can present confidently without fear of interruption, but also so that your audience doesn’t have to work too hard to hear you or see you, and so that they can’t get distracted by trying to figure out what laundry you have hanging up behind you.

Best practices for an online set-up

We all remember the viral clip of Professor Robert Kelly being interrupted by his delightful children . Whether you’re presenting from a home office or from the office, ensuring you have the right set-up to host and attend meetings is a must. It’s not just about locking the door and throwing a smart jumper over your pyjamas, your online meeting set-up needs a little more thought. Here are some of the main things you should consider:

What meeting platform is right for you?

There are lots of online meeting platforms out there. Different platforms suit different organisations, but if you’re in a hurry to find the right one for you, we have  a handy comparison table on page 6 of our report  that you can use to review your options. It’s worth noting that Microsoft Teams is making a big push to help with slower connections (although it may not be a problem in a corporate office setting) by allowing you to share a PowerPoint file directly from OneDrive or SharePoint. That reduces the bandwidth requirements compared to full screensharing, which makes things much clearer and smoother for your audience.

The other side to running successful online sessions is to create compelling content. Even if the presenter is doing all they can to engage their audience, it still won’t be enough if their slides are a bit boring and plain. This means your slides need to be designed well and be animated.

How to design compelling slides

When it comes to design as a starting point, it’s easy enough to work out what we shouldn’t do: dull text-heavy slides that stay on screen for minutes at a time with nothing moving or changing. All you need is a monotonous voice in the background, and you’ve got a first-class remedy for insomnia. But, when you open PowerPoint and see the ‘click to add text’ prompt tempting you into a deep mire of PowerPoint hell, it can be really difficult to know what to do instead.

We have a wealth of presentation inspiration for everyone, from the entry levellers dipping their toes into PowerPoint, to those with real design know-how looking to get the golden ratio involved.

Presentation design resources

Three easy design hacks to make your presentations more professional

Presentation design principles for better PowerPoint design

Stunning presentation design using PowerPoint morph

Advanced PowerPoint grids and guides

How to animate compelling slides

Presentation slides should always be visual, otherwise you just have a presenter giving a speech with a rubbish backdrop. But even if you have beautiful slides, if they aren’t dynamic, don’t have movement then you’re still asking your presenter (remember, the tiny person in the small window in the corner of a screen) to carry the energy of your session alone. If something is changing frequently on screen, audiences are likely to keep paying attention. Leave things static for too long and they’ll drift off. We think every 20 seconds is about the right frequency for something to change on screen, certainly no more than 30 seconds. These changes could be a major build, or a new slide. It seems like a lot of animation, but it really doesn’t feel like it for the audience. If animation seems scary, or worse cheesy, try to put those preconceptions aside. Animation doesn’t need to be a mystery and your audiences will be endlessly grateful that you put in the time to figure it out. We’ve got some great tips and hacks you can learn in a matter of minutes that will transform your static slides into dynamic content with just a few clicks!

Presentation animation resources

How to be a PowerPoint animation ninja

Stunning presentation transitions using PowerPoint morph

How to take your PowerPoint animation to the next level

Webcam etiquette

With online meetings it’s worth adding a note about webcam etiquette. Throughout this paper, we’re assuming you’ll use webcam, but we can be a bit more nuanced than that.

• Use video, but not where this distracts from your slides.
• Use your webcam for introductions, for conversation, and to answer questions, but think about turning your camera off when presenting slides.
• If you have access to a greenscreen or can videocast yourself presenting in front of your slides, consider that as an option – but please practice first!
• In a much smaller meeting – like a sales meeting – turning on your webcam creates a social pressure for the audience to do the same, so as a courtesy make it clear that you are planning a video meeting when setting up the call.
• On some online platforms you can set a picture as a background image – so you could set a static slide as your background. But hacking this function to display your slide show is high risk because of the set-up and rehearsal needed to make it as slick as possible. It  can  work well, however, if you use the background to bring up a key visual or stat during a Q&A session.
• More recently Zoom has added the ability to incorporate a PowerPoint deck as your background, so you can superimpose yourself on the slides. It’s great, but remember, you don’t want to cover up key content, so you’ll probably need to design slides to specifically leave space for your video. Also, the slides are static with no animation, but you can split content over several slides to achieve ‘build’ effects.
• Microsoft Teams has the same idea, but takes it a step further to incorporate animated PowerPoint presentations as your video background, along with different layouts you can choose from.

Presentation skills for online meetings

Online presenters need to avoid monotony. We used to think that for some presenters the best way to do that was to work hard to develop and refine a natural-sounding script. If you aren’t using video while you present slides, then there’s no risk of being seen reading. But very few people can deliver even the best script in a convincingly natural way. So, our advice is to:

• Speak from notes, not a full script
• Practice beforehand
• Don’t read verbatim

To break up monotony further, consider playing around with the way you structure your content, and the format you use to present it.

• Break up your material every five to eight minutes, so that attention levels don’t sag too much. A non-stop 30-minute presentation might make sense face-to-face, but it’s not going to work online.
• Intersperse chunks of material with clean breaks in the content, use a change of speaker, or even an interview format – introducing content in response to pre-planned questions – to keep your audience engaged.
• If you’re selling to a small group, show a few minutes of content at a time, and select this content in response to questions and the direction of the conversation. Create a visual conversation.

Even with the best presentations, virtual events aren’t the same as their in-person equivalents: sales meetings can, however, come much closer. Online sales meetings can still feel quite intimate, people can jump in when they have a question or comment and, if you’re using webcams, you’ll probably be able to see the other people too.

But you still have to modify your approach…

The problem:  in a sales meeting, your prospects are visible on webcam; because they’re observed it makes them less likely to be distracted, but that level of focus required much more energy. If you overwhelm them with too much information at once, they’re going to tune out and disengage from the content, no matter how visual it is.

The solution:  Split your whole presentation into 3-4-slide sections and present based on what topics the prospect is most interested in, or where you see you can add most value. This keeps the pace and the energy of the meeting high, and you’re communicating to the prospect that you’re first and foremost concerned with their needs.

You can create a ‘visual conversation’ by presenting sections of slides then exiting the presentation and finding the next relevant section. Or you could create a menu slide and use hyperlinks so you can easily navigate around your presentation without having to exit show mode to find the slides you want.

If you want the low-down on how hyperlinks work, then  check out this video tutorial .

Compared to sales meetings, events are much harder to move online without some people feeling they are missing out. This is partly because conferences aren’t just about the presentations and talks. People attend events for swag, networking, and the chance to learn from other delegates.

You also no longer have everyone’s undivided attention. Calendars fill back up again. Out-of-office messages get switched off. So what do you do? Here are three practical ways make your online sessions as effective as possible:

• Schedule small discussion groups around certain topics, with cameras on so that delegates can still network and socialise.
• Shorten your sessions. Give your audience breaks from their screen, and condense the content you have into shorter, more impactful sessions.
• Make the most of your platform’s interactive features to make your session more engaging. You might want to do a quick orientation at the beginning of your session – point out what interactivity options there are and where to find them.

How to deliver hybrid presentations

Hybrid events aren’t new, but audience expectations have changed. Typically, people dialling in were somewhat ignored, but what was tolerated then won’t be tolerated now! The way to create compelling content is the same as when you’re presenting remotely: meaningful visuals, animation to impart meaning and keep things moving, interactions to help with pacing. It’s your set-up that needs some serious thought.

That said, how can you improve the hybrid presentation experience?

Make sure your audience can hear and be heard: Sound for hybrid presentations can be tricky because usually room conference phones are not great and having multiple mics open in the room at once can cause feedback. A Bluetooth mic can work well but only if you can manage muting and unmuting the room conference phone and your own mic when your audience want to ask questions. Don’t just assume that people joining remotely can hear – run a soundcheck beforehand.

Make sure your audience can see and be seen : Not only should your audience be able to see you, they should also be able to see other audience members and be seen themselves. With a single display room, use the display to show slides and (in a small view) the online audience. You might need to extend the presenter’s screen. If possible, use a webcam to make those in the room visible to those who aren’t. If you’re using two cameras one should show the presenter and the other show people in the room. Microsoft Teams is really trying to push this, with new views and layouts that allow remote audience members to be on the screen next to the main slides.

Leave the meeting chat on and use it : It’s important that your audience can ask questions and provide feedback. Have someone monitor the chat, field questions for the presenter, respond etc. Only encourage people in the room to join in if it doesn’t distract the presenter.

Consider having multiple presenters : Having one presenter in the room and one remote can ensure you’re not ignoring online audience members. The remote presenter can monitor the chat, respond to some points, advocate for the remote audience and present some of their own content to make it clear that remote participants are equal.

We’ve covered a lot in there, but to summarise, here are some key takeaways to remember:

• Don’t just take what you would do face-to-face and try to do the exact same thing online. It makes a huge difference to attention levels and energy levels not being in the room with the presenter.
• Slides presented online need to be visual, and they need to change onscreen frequently. We think every 20 seconds to keep things compelling.
• Use natural breaks in content, or speaker changes, or interactivity, to keep sections short. This makes it easier for the audience to stay engaged.
• Use video, but not necessarily while you are sharing slides. If you will want your audience to use video too, do them the courtesy of letting them know in advance.
• If you move an event online, consider condensing some sessions, introduce breaks, and insert sessions specifically to make up for the lack of networking opportunities.
• Think seriously about your set-up and make sure all audience members can see and be seen and hear and be heard.

Hannah Harper

Principal consultant, related articles, why powerpoint crashes and how to prevent it.

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Hi Hannah, The article references a comparison table of different online platforms for online meetings but I can’t see it, or a link to it.

Please could you point me towards the table?

Many thanks.

Hi Deanna – you can see the table on page six of this report – https://www.brightcarbon.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Moving-Presentations-Online-3-13.pdf .

I suspect it’s going out of date by the hour, but it gives a good starting point at least.

The text in that graphic of what to consider is too small to read (ironic?) on my 13″ laptop. Is there a larger version you can add that users can click on? Thanks. Connie

Hi Connie – thanks for reading, and for the feedback. That image is now clickable, taking you to a full size version.

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First of all the deck looks great, once again you guys have done an outstanding job. Second, I’d like to comment on the quality of the training provided by your colleagues - quite simply it was exceptional. I have spoken to the whole team and that view is unanimous. Please pass this on. James Bagan MyLife Digital

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• Published: 25 April 2022

The key to delivering successful online presentations

• Sneha Chotaliya 1  

BDJ Student volume  29 ,  pages 8–9 ( 2022 ) Cite this article

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By Sneha Chotaliya , Academic Foundation Dentist, Central London Scheme

©VioletaStoimenova/E+/Getty

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on our lives, including how we communicate, present and disseminate our research work. Interviews, conferences, and scientific meetings which were originally in-person became virtual and moved online. Perhaps this change will stay or become increasingly common in our global quest to improve our carbon footprint and decrease long distance travel in response to the climate change crisis. Either way, our presentation style needs to be adapted for this medium of presentation.

Originally, whilst we used to analyse the use of stage space, ability to walk strides across the podium or giving eye-contact across the whole room, we now find ourselves confined to a small screen with only our head and upper torso visible. Whilst the area of focus has now been decreased and concentrated to a smaller area, presentation skills have become all the more important to ensure the effective delivery of the message to our intended audience.

Successful presentations are attributed to a multitude of factors such as the energy and relationship we can build with the audience, and our ability to take them on a journey with us. Here are key points to bear in mind.

When presenting online, you may feel like you have no control over your background. We often pay no attention to what is on display behind us, nor do we give any importance to it. Perhaps we assume the audience will not notice it at all. In fact, we have greater control over our setting than when we are presenting in person.

Background : Your background should be appropriate for the topic of the talk. It should be a calm and serene environment to avoid distraction from the words of the speaker. Perhaps you can experiment with light pastel colours. However, it should not stand out or distract the audience from your presentation. It should complement the tone of your presentation and literally add a backdrop to your presentation. Perhaps, a coloured wall, with a painting. If you choose to have a background of bookshelves, this should suit the topic of your talk, your level of expertise and knowledge base. For example, if you have a dozen denture construction books behind you but cannot answer a question about the stages of denture design, the artificially crafted façade behind you would become more apparent. Your knowledge should reflect and justify the books you display behind you. Perhaps your audience will be more forgiving if you do not make a false presence of academic reading.

Lighting : A key aspect of the presentation delivery. If there is not enough light, eyebags look darker and more pronounced. It can look less welcoming and even give the presenter a fake black-eye - not the look you should be aiming for.

Space : Your image to the audience will be restricted to a screen, so think carefully about how you use the space available. Having enough space around your torso means you can freely use your arms if you have a tendency to speak with your hands, for example. It is good to use these naturally rather than excessively.

Successful presentations are attributed to a multitude of factors such as the energy and relationship we can build with the audience, and our ability to take them on a journey with us

Use of voice

You may start to speak in a certain tone which will gradually revert to your comfortable natural speaking style once you've settled. It's natural, but think about these two factors:

Speed : You should vary your speed and prevent yourself from talking too fast. There is often a natural tendency to speak faster when we are nervous or do not feel like we have the authority to talk. As a speaker, you have a right of stage and should use that to talk comfortably and at your own pace. As the content of your speech is new to the audience, you should speak slowly; at about one clap between each word. This might seem really slow but is a good speed for the audience who have never listened to your content before.

Tone : Your tone should be appropriate for your audience. If it is too high or low, it can sound unnatural for the audience and can be very distracting. It is very useful to find your own natural tone of voice as this is the most comfortable for your vocal cords and allows sustained speech for a longer period. This is also the tone that would sound the most genuine and be the most relatable for the audience.

Planning the structure and flow is usually the part of a presentation that we spend the most time on. Sometimes the fear of forgetting one's points urges people to memorise their whole speech word for word. However, this will most probably sound monotonous and boring to the audience - and perhaps easily seen-through. To avoid this, consider:

Preparation : Experienced speakers usually only learn their key points to allow speech to naturally flow from themselves when presenting. It can be beneficial to practice the speech using different words each time so any obvious mistakes can disguise easily.

Practice : Even the best speakers practice before any presentations. It can be useful to get feedback from friends and even record yourself to watch the video back yourself. Sometimes watching ourselves makes us aware of something we may have missed. It can also be useful to practice in a mirror.

Regardless of what or to whom we are presenting, making presentations is a useful skill that will be required in many different stages of our dental career. Improving your presentation style may take time, but this is all part of a process to be a better presenter than you previously were and being able to adapt to different circumstances. Good luck!

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Chotaliya, S. The key to delivering successful online presentations. BDJ Student 29 , 8–9 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41406-022-0304-0

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You should present online, here’s why

I wrote this post back in 2013, lots has changed since then . At the time I was trying to convince more people to deliver their conference presentations online. Today in 2021, a year into the COVID-19 Pandemic, more people are presenting online than ever.

While this post still holds up, you may be hoping for something a little more practical. So now in 2021, I wrote you this: How to Plan and Deliver an Online Presentation with Zoom . With all that said, here is the classic post:

Ever go to a conference and get completely overwhelmed by the number of presentations. Try as you might but with only so much time, and the desire to catch up with old friends, how many sessions do you actually attend?

Maybe you give presentations. Too bad yours had to be on Saturday afternoon, up against my own, at a time when I was exhausted, <insert other valid reason for not attending here>, or I would have attended. Sometimes the uncrowded room has nothing to do with a lack of interest and a lot more to do with bad timing.

Now if you were to craft an online presentation, I would be there in a heartbeat. That is, as long as you tailor it for the web and don’t put up too many barriers.

Don’t worry if you don’t know how, that’s why I’m here.

Here’s what this post will cover.

• I start with a simple definition of presentation;
• then talk about the stuff that’s secondary;
• cover the two big benefits to traditional approaches;
• then talk about the costs (they’re significant);
• introduce online presentations;
• list out 6 common online presentation problems;
• and end with a question for you.

Here we go…

Defining presentation

Let’s define presentation.  Here’s my super simple definition…

Presentation: Communicating something to someone.

• The something is your idea, your message, your lesson, your evidence, your story, your report…
• The someone is your audience, the person or persons you hope receive your something.

Pretty simple right?

But, as anyone who has ever stood on a stage in front of an audience knows…

Actually communicating your something so that it is received by your someone, is far easier to say than do.

Everything else is secondary

If you fully buy into the notion that presenting is just communicating something to someone then everything else we agonize over becomes secondary.

Conference rooms, journals, handouts, powerpoint slides, pictures, websites, YouTube, WordPress, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, SlideShare, pdfs, Word, webinars, stories, infographics, interactive visualizations.

These things matter, but they only matter if they help you communicate your something to your someone.

The benefits of the traditional

Why do we travel to conferences, write in journals, offer courses or organize meetings?

Is it because they are the only way we can reach our audience?

As Clay Shirky would say , we live in a time when publishing is a button.  Any presenter can start a blog or publish a series of videos.

The traditional approach offers two big benefits. It forces us to flesh out our something and provides us with receptive someones, just at a cost.

• Flesh out your something: Ever submit a vague proposal for a presentation or article?  Well, maybe, but generally the proposal process requires you to flesh out your ideas.
• Receptive someones:  When you pick up a journal or go to a conference presentation, you are usually at least somewhat receptive to the something being communicated.  The same isn’t true on the web.

The cost of the traditional

Never underestimate the costs of the traditional.  By presenting only in the traditional realm you are almost always leaving out a large part of your target audience.  A conference presentation can only be seen by the someones who show up.  A paper in a journal can only be read the someones who have access.

[This cartoon is like a year and a half old (I know, ancient).  I’m pretty sure that’s Ronald McDonald in the lower right]

Presenting in the big room

Presenting in the big room (a.k.a. the web) allows you to avoid some of the inherent costs of the traditional.

Presenting online means your presentation doesn’t have to be tied to a specific hour on a specific day. It also doesn’t have to be tied to a room in a hotel.

We tend to overthink technology. And when we do, it gets complicated. The web is just a presentation platform. And by using it, you get access to a collection of tools that help you communicate your something to your someones.

When you fail at presenting online, it’s easy to blame the technology. But, more times than not, your failure is due to execution.  That’s ok, just remember, we’re all still learning and learning takes practice.

6 common online presentation problems

I’d say these are the most common problems that lead to poor execution of online presentations.  Don’t worry, they can all be fixed.  If you’re interested in knowing how, I suggest following me  via email (I’ll be going into detail in the coming months as I write a book on the subject).

1. You don’t have a something.

Not having a something is a common problem for new online presenters.

Seth Godin gives the advice, “ write every single day .”  I used to think that the advice was about publishing, it’s not.  Even though I don’t post every day, I write/create every day.  It’s surprising how much you can learn about your something through regular authorship.

2. Your something stinks.

Usually happens when you develop a something before figuring out a someone.

3. You don’t know how to package your something.

The web is different, so it requires a different approach.  If you want to give a good presentation, you need to do more than emulate the offline.

4. You don’t know your someone.

This is another problem for new online presenters.  Also, when you write to everyone, you reach no one.

5. You don’t know how to reach your someone.

Or you do know how, you just haven’t given it enough thought or translated that thought into action.

6. Your someone is not receptive.

When surfing the web, are you always up for an engaging discussion on an academic something?  Yeah, me neither.  So don’t expect it out of your audience.  If your presentation is good enough, they’ll come back when they’re ready.

Do you present strictly offline?

Why? I don’t know your situation, but I can tell you already, you’re missing out.

Reader Interactions

December 3, 2013 at 9:56 am

Insightful as always. I’m now off to think about my something and my someone.

December 3, 2013 at 10:01 am

Thanks Kylie 🙂

December 3, 2013 at 10:36 am

Way to break it down, Chris.

December 3, 2013 at 10:37 am

Thanks Christine 🙂

December 4, 2013 at 11:54 pm

Seems more and more conferences are going to be focused on online presentations and formats for a huge number of great reasons. Now we need to think about how to make far better use of the f2f time when we do gather … Perhaps every two to three years if not annually.

December 5, 2013 at 8:34 am

My favorite part of gatherings is getting some face to face time with the people I connect with all throughout the year on the web. Not sure we’re at the point where the online experiences can dictate a change in the offline experiences.

Many online conferences I’ve seen approach online by replicating the offline. They end up putting in a lot of time, place and participation restrictions (ex. live this day, only through our site, just the big names presenting). Ultimately you end up taking away a good bit of the web’s benefits and create a shallow conference. It can reach more people, but it can’t touch the experience of an offline conference.

I think we can approach all of this in a different way, I’ll be going into more detail and provide a model soon. If you can create rich online experiences if gives you the opportunity to approach offline differently (more personal, Q&As, networking), etc..

December 5, 2013 at 1:20 pm

Love this post, Chris, and the wheels are turning! I’ll let you know when I take the plunge.

December 5, 2013 at 1:26 pm

Thanks Rhonda, you’ve already taken the first steps by starting your blog 🙂

http://www.rhondaschlangen.com/evaluators-journal

December 9, 2013 at 12:42 pm

Thanks for this post, Chris! It’s just what I needed to hear! I think I’m stuck in the f2f mode (presentations at conferences, workshops for faculty and grad students). I know I’m missing out on a whole world of people and much greater impact.

I also think there’s a need for continuing support for folks who try new things. In my case, I’m helping people improve their STEM teaching at universities and colleges. The online world could really make that happen for those who are interested.

You’ve inspired me!

December 9, 2013 at 12:46 pm

Thanks Rebecca, that’s great 🙂

I’m going to be going into a lot more depth over the next little while, so hang with me, a new post is written and should be up tomorrow.

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Presentation Definition: A Comprehensive Guide

Table of contents, unraveling the presentation definition.

Presentation – a word frequently used in English, Spanish, Latin, French, and Arabic contexts, but what does it exactly mean? In this article, we delve into the definition of presentation , exploring its various facets and applications in different fields.

The Essence of Presentation: A Definition

What is a presentation.

A presentation is the act of presenting information or ideas to a group of people in a structured and deliberate manner, often with the aid of visual aids like PowerPoint, Keynote, or multimedia tools.

Presentations are a ubiquitous part of the professional, educational, and social landscape. The act of presenting, essentially communicating information and ideas to a group of people, has evolved significantly over time. This article explores the definition of a presentation, its various formats, the skills required to make it effective, and the nuances of a great presentation, all while weaving in an eclectic mix of keywords.

Historical Roots: From Latin to Modern Day

The Evolution from ‘Praesentātiō’ to ‘Presentation’

In its essence, a presentation is the act of presenting or displaying information or ideas to an audience. The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as “the action or process of presenting something to someone.” In Latin, the term stems from ‘praesentātiō’, denoting the action of placing before or showing. This definition has broadened in modern English to encompass various methods of showcasing information, whether it’s a business pitch, an academic lecture, or introducing a new product.

The term has its origins in Latin (‘praesentātiō’), evolving through various languages like French and British English, symbolizing the act of presenting, displaying, or giving something to others.

Types and Formats of Presentations

Diverse Formats for Different Needs

Presentations can vary in formats – from formal PowerPoint presentations to informal Prez (an informal abbreviation of presentation) discussions, each tailored to suit specific requirements.

Enhancing Presentation Skills: A Guide

Mastering the Art of Presentation

Presentations come in various formats, from the traditional speech to more contemporary multimedia showcases. PowerPoint, a widely used tool, allows the integration of text, images, and graphs to create visually appealing slides. Similarly, Apple’s Keynote offers tools for creating impactful multimedia presentations. The inclusion of visual aids, like graphs and charts, enhances comprehension and retention. For those interested in learning Spanish, Arabic, or French, incorporating these languages in presentations can broaden audience reach.

Effective presentation skills involve a blend of clear communication, eye contact , engaging visual aids , and a confident delivery. These skills are crucial in both business and educational settings.

Presentation in the Digital Age: Multimedia and Keynote

Embracing Technology for Impactful Presentations

In the era of digital communication, tools like multimedia presentations and Apple’s Keynote software have become indispensable for creating dynamic and interactive presentations.

The Art of Visual Aids: Graphs and More

Using Graphs and Visuals Effectively

Effective presentations often include graphs and other visual aids to convey complex information in an easily digestible format, enhancing the audience’s understanding.

Presentation in Different Languages

A Multilingual Perspective

The concept of presentation transcends languages, from English to Arabic , each offering unique nuances in the art of presenting.

Presentation in Literature and Culture

Presentation Copy and Beyond

The term also appears in literary contexts, such as a “presentation copy” of a book, and in cultural scenarios like a “breech presentation” in childbirth, where the baby is positioned to exit the birth canal feet first.

Effective Presentation: Tips and Techniques

Crafting an Impactful Presentation

An effective presentation is more than just delivering facts; it involves engaging storytelling, structured key points , and the ability to connect with the audience.

To deliver an effective presentation, certain skills are paramount. English, being a global lingua franca, is often the preferred language for presentations. However, the ability to present in multiple languages, like Spanish or French, can be a significant advantage.

Eye contact is a crucial skill, establishing a connection with the audience and making the presentation more engaging. Additionally, the ability to read the room and adjust the presentation accordingly is vital.

Incorporating Quizzes and Group Activities

Interactive elements like quizzes can transform a presentation from a monologue into a dynamic group activity. They encourage participation and can be especially effective in educational settings. Quizzes can also be used in business presentations to gauge audience understanding or to introduce a new product.

Presentation in Educational Contexts

Learning Through Presentations

In educational settings, presentations are used as a tool for teaching and assessment, often involving quizzes and interactive sessions to enhance learning.

Synonyms and Related Terms

Exploring Synonyms and the Thesaurus

The thesaurus offers a range of synonyms for ‘presentation,’ such as exhibition, demonstration, and display, each with slightly different connotations.

The Thesaurus and Vocabulary Expansion

Utilizing a thesaurus can enrich presentation language, offering synonyms and example sentences to clarify points. The ‘word of the day’ concept, often found in English learning resources, can be an interesting addition to presentations, especially in multilingual contexts.

Historical and Specialized Types of Presentations

The term ‘presentation’ also has specialized meanings. In historical contexts, a ‘presentation copy’ refers to a book or manuscript gifted by the author. In obstetrics, ‘breech presentation’ denotes a situation where the baby is positioned to exit the birth canal feet or buttocks first. Understanding these specialized definitions enriches the overall grasp of the term.

Presentation in Business: Introducing a New Product

The Role of Presentation in Business

In business contexts, presentations are crucial for scenarios like introducing a new product , persuading investors, or communicating with stakeholders.

Word of the Day: Presentation

Expanding Vocabulary with ‘Presentation’

In language learning, ‘presentation’ can be a word of the day , helping learners understand its usage through example sentences and pronunciation (notated as /ˌprez.ənˈteɪ.ʃən/ in English).

Key Points and Summarization

An effective presentation distills complex information into key points, making it easier for the audience to remember the most important takeaways. Summarization skills are critical in achieving this clarity.

Cultural Influences and Adaptations

The concept of presentations varies across cultures. In Arabic-speaking countries, the style of presentation might differ significantly from that in English-speaking contexts. The benefice of understanding cultural nuances cannot be overstated, as it can significantly impact the effectiveness of a presentation.

The Role of Technology

Technology, particularly multimedia, plays a pivotal role in modern presentations. From PowerPoint slides to advanced software like Keynote, the use of technology has revolutionized the way information is presented. The integration of videos, sound, and interactive elements makes presentations more engaging and memorable.

Eye Contact and Body Language

In delivering a presentation, non-verbal cues like eye contact and body language are as important as the spoken content. Maintaining eye contact with the audience establishes a connection and keeps them engaged. Similarly, confident body language can convey authority and enthusiasm.

The Art of Storytelling

A great presentation often resembles storytelling. It’s not just about relaying facts; it’s about weaving a narrative that resonates with the audience. This involves understanding the audience’s needs and interests and tailoring the content accordingly.

Innovation and New Products

Presentations are often the first introduction of a new product to the market. The effectiveness of these presentations can make or break the product’s success. Highlighting the unique features and benefits in a clear, compelling manner is crucial.

The Power of Presentation

Presentations are a powerful tool for communication and education. Whether in a formal business setting or an informal educational environment, mastering the art of presentation can lead to more effective and impactful communication.

1. Oxford English Dictionary

2. Merriam-Webster Thesaurus

3. Apple Keynote User Guide

4. Presentation Techniques in Educational Literature

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## Frequently Asked Questions About Presentations

### What is in a presentation?

A presentation typically includes a combination of spoken words and visual aids such as PowerPoint slides, graphs, or multimedia elements. It’s an organized way to convey information or ideas to a group of people.

### What is meant by giving a presentation?

Giving a presentation refers to the act of presenting information or ideas to an audience. This act, known in various languages including English, Spanish, and French as ‘presentation’ (or ‘praesentātiō’ in Latin), involves communication skills, visual aids, and sometimes interactive elements like quizzes.

### What makes a good presentation?

A good presentation effectively communicates key points, engages the audience through eye contact and clear speech (often practiced as a ‘word of the day’ in English classes), uses visual aids like graphs, and is well-structured. Effective presentation skills are crucial for this.

### What are the types of presentation?

There are various types of presentations, including formal business presentations (often using PowerPoint or Keynote), educational lectures, sales pitches for a new product, and informal talks. Each type uses different formats and approaches.

### What are the 4 parts of a presentation?

The four main parts of a presentation are the introduction, the main body, the conclusion, and the Q&A session. Each part plays a vital role in delivering an effective presentation.

### What are the three things that a good presentation should do?

A good presentation should inform, engage, and persuade or inspire the audience. It’s about more than just delivering facts; it’s an act of communication that can change perspectives or encourage action.

### How is a presentation linked with multimedia?

Presentations often use multimedia elements like videos, audio clips, and animated graphs to enhance the viewer’s understanding and engagement. Multimedia tools like PowerPoint and Keynote are widely used in creating dynamic presentations.

### How long should a presentation be?

The length of a presentation can vary, but it’s typically between 15 to 30 minutes. The duration depends on the context and the amount of information to be covered. It’s important to keep presentations concise to maintain the audience’s attention.

These answers incorporate various aspects of presentations, including their definition, formats, and the skills required, in multiple languages and contexts, as seen in resources like Oxford dictionaries and thesaurus.

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Online Presentations: 3 Ways to Present Live Online in PowerPoint!

Demand for online presentations, and the programs to deliver them, has increased exponentially, especially in the last couple of years . Whether for business or in educational settings, being able to present well online is crucial in 2023, and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future.

Thanks to modern technologies, we can now present long distance . So you’re no longer tied to a meeting room and can reach a much wider audience through the internet. Theoretically, it’s possible to work from anywhere and present to anywhere, saving time and costs all round. We’ll outline three different ways to deliver your PowerPoint presentations online.

In today’s blog post we would like to introduce you to three variants of live streaming PowerPoint presentations.

Online Presentations: An absolute must in 2023

It’s not a completely new thing that events and (PowerPoint) presentations are being delivered via video link rather than in person, but the pandemic has hugely accelerated the trend. There are now many online presentation options on the market allowing you to share your presentation live and let your audience actively participate .

Thanks to modern technologies, it is possible to show presentations over long distances . This means you are no longer tied to a meeting room and can reach a wider audience via the Internet. In theory, there is the possibility to work from any place and thus save time and travel.

Nowadays you can broadcast your presentation (live) and let your audience actively participate in the presentation.

We’ll show you three ways to present online, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of each. If you need help creating an online presentation, this blog post can help. Tips for delivering your online presentation can be found here .

Addressing data protection and security concerns

It is important to consider privacy and security issues to ensure the privacy of participants and the security of data . By paying attention to these aspects, the trust of the participants can be gained, and a successful and safe live presentation can be conducted.

Select only reputable providers that offer a secure connection and encryption . Find out about the provider’s privacy policy to ensure that no personal data of participants is stored.

Preparation of a PowerPoint presentation for online sharing

To ensure a smooth process when sharing your presentation, you should check your presentation in advance . If possible, view the shared presentation yourself and make sure that all elements are displayed correctly.

Check your notes or comments . Are they sufficient for the presentation or do you need to add more?

Tip: For jumping from slide to slide faster, you should include links or hyperlinks in your presentation in advance. This way, you can jump directly to the corresponding slide if there are any questions.

3 options on how to present your presentation live

Option 1: online presentation, option 1: share as a link.

The first way to share your presentation with your audience is really simple: just send a link. This allows you to present to a wide and unlimited audience directly, easily and hassle-free . If you’re doing it this way, the more compact and concise you can make your presentation, the better, so as to minimize loading delays. Some features may need to be compromised, however.

• Live stream your presentation by clicking the Share option in the File tab, and then clicking Show Online.
• This opens a dialog box that displays the custom URL of your presentation.
• Simply copy the link and email it to your audience.
• When they receive the link, click Start Presentation and you can present to your audience in real time.
• When you are done with the presentation, just click End Online Presentation .

Online Presentation, option 2: Office Mix

You can use this method if you subscribe to Office 365 or use PowerPoint 2013 and download the free Office Mix add-in . This blog post explains how to download add-ins.

Office Mix is designed to facilitate interaction between different Microsoft Office programs, and offers many features and possibilities.

The advantage of this program is that Office Mix works fluidly with your slide content, allowing you to add audio files, videos, polls and quizzes to your slides and make them more interesting . This is especially useful in an educational environment to track the progress of students outside the classroom. It helps you, as a presenter, to maximize the motivation and engagement of your audience. These features can be found under the Mix tab and Quizzes and Video apps. Office Mix also offers a live feature that allows you to guide viewers through the slides in real time using videos, audio files, and illustrations . Office Mix also has its own website to help users navigate through the handy features and provides several tutorials to help new users get started. The program just requires an internet connection, and you then share your presentation online with your audience. A major advantage is that the audience can return to the slides after you’ve finished your online presentation and access them again .

Online Presentation, option 3: Upload to a platform

SlideShare is a collection of websites where you can upload, share and archive your online presentation. You can also search and view online presentations yourself using the search box. Similarly, others can find your presentation using keywords. This sounds great, but the platform does not allow you to interact directly with your audience.

If you don’t want your presentation to be private, y ou can share it on all possible channels and gain a wide audience . Do keep in mind that people have to be able to understand your presentation even without your accompanying lecture. As your audience is unable to interact, there is no room for follow-up questions . When creating your online presentation, then, try to create appealing and comprehensive slides in order to keep the audience’s attention.

Click here to go to SlideShare.

PowerPoint for the web

PowerPoint offers a free, pared-down, web version . This lets you create, upload and share your presentations directly. To use the service, you must have a Microsoft account. You can find more information about the platform in this post .

The big advantage of the web version is being able to present online presentations live . To access this, select whether the presentation is publicly accessible or only to be seen by a selected audience (e.g. employees or customers) under Screen Presentation . When you start the broadcast, a link and a QR code are generated that are unique to your online presentation. Participants can then scan the QR code or enter the link in their browser to join the online presentation.

Click here for PowerPoint for the web.

Group-chat software like Skype (for business), Zoom or Microsoft Teams

Group-chat software was around long before the pandemic, but is now increasingly relevant. Such software allows you to interact with your audience, broadcast your presentation live, and respond directly to questions .

You can use all three programs for free after registration , then share your presentation with your audience using the Share Screen option. Note that Zoom has a screen sharing time limit in the free version; you can bypass this by upgrading to the paid version.

All three programs allow you to interact directly with your audience and, if you want, to see your audience through the camera option. The options for viewers to raise their hands to ask a question or write a comment in the chat, mean that you can respond directly to questions.

Click here for Skype, here for Zoom and here for Microsoft Teams.

Tip: Skillfully deliver your online lecture

You’ve created the perfect PowerPoint presentation to share? Great, now consider the next step: the online lecture.

This type of presentation differs in some respects from a presentation with an audience on site . You need to focus even more on keeping the attention of the audience . After all, ending your presentation is just a click away.

You will get many tips & tricks around the online lecture in the article on “Virtual Lectures”.

Conclusion: There are so many ways to present well online

Presenting your presentation live online has never been easier. Most of the options available are even free ! Do bear in mind, though, that on some of the platforms you can’t interact with the audience.

Have a look at the options and choose the one which suits you best .

If you have any questions about online presentations, or indeed about PowerPoint in general, please feel free to contact us on [email protected] .

Are you looking for visually supportive and professionally designed slide templates ? Feel free to have a look around our store. Here we have numerous slides prepared for you to download on a wide variety of (business) topics. Take a look today! ► To the store

You might also be interested in the following articles:

• PowerPoint Online
• Virtual presentations
• Body language while presenting

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• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of presentation in English

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presentation noun ( EVENT )

• talk She will give a talk on keeping kids safe on the internet.
• lecture The lecture is entitled "War and the Modern American Presidency".
• presentation We were given a presentation of progress made to date.
• speech You might have to make a speech when you accept the award.
• address He took the oath of office then delivered his inaugural address.
• oration It was to become one of the most famous orations in American history.
• The presentation was a collaborative effort by all the children in the class .
• The charity invited the press to a presentation of its plans for the future .
• The magazine asked its readers to send in their comments about the new style of presentation.
• Jenny's retiring and I think there's going to be a small presentation this afternoon .
• Graduates must be in full academic dress at the presentation of certificates .
• call for papers
• extemporize
• maiden speech
• talk at someone

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

presentation noun ( APPEARANCE )

• adverse conditions
• good/bad karma idiom
• have it in you idiom
• unaffiliated
• undercurrent

presentation | American Dictionary

Presentation | business english, examples of presentation, collocations with presentation, presentation.

These are words often used in combination with presentation .

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Translations of presentation

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balancing act

a difficult situation in which someone has to try to give equal amounts of importance, time, attention, etc. to two or more different things at the same time

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• Mr.Prezident - Engels
• the-differences-in-online-and-offline-presentation

The differences between presenting online and offline.

Since the start of the pandemic, there has been a significant shift to online work and presentations. While the pandemic may be behind us, online presentations have become the norm. So, what are the real differences between online and offline presentations ? Read on to find out.

Maintaining audience attention during online and offline presentations.

The differences between online and offline presentations should not be underestimated. In an offline presentation, the presenter and audience are in the same room, making it much easier to maintain audience attention. When the audience is at home, they can easily become distracted by household members, children, or clutter, making it harder to focus. In an offline presentation, the audience is more or less forced to pay attention. Additionally, having everyone in the same room can be more motivating. Offline presenters also have more tools at their disposal, such as non-verbal communication like gestures and pointing, which can help keep the audience engaged, in addition to PowerPoint and their voice.

Managing distractions.

How can you make sure that your audience isn't distracted during an online presentation? During online presentations, there is more distance between the presenter and the audience. Not only physically, but also emotionally. Your way of speaking doesn't come across as effectively, you can't use non-verbal communication, and often you can't even see the audience yourself. As a result, it is more difficult to connect with them. A good PowerPoint presentation is therefore extra important. It should not only contain the necessary information but also have a beautiful and playful layout that continues to capture the audience's attention. Additionally, you can try to involve your audience in the presentation, for example, by asking questions.

Technical issues.

While technical problems can already occur during an offline presentation, they occur even more frequently during online presentations. Not only can the PowerPoint presentation have glitches, but the connection can also be lost - both yours and that of the audience. As a presenter, you should sit in a room where the internet generally works well. Unfortunately, you have no control over the audience's internet connection. Wait to start the presentation until everyone is in the meeting and try not to worry too much about disruptions on their end during the presentation.

Having an offline or online presentation made by Mr.Prezident.

Mr.Prezident knows how to create a great presentation, both online and offline. With our expertise in creating captivating PowerPoint presentations for both settings, we understand that there are differences between an online and an offline presentation. We provide various templates that you can use to create your own presentation, or we can create a ready-made presentation for you. If you regularly need to create and/or deliver presentations, you can participate in one of our trainings and become an expert in both online and offline presentation in no time.

Need help with your presentation? Send us a message.

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How to Make a “Good” Presentation “Great”

• Guy Kawasaki

Remember: Less is more.

A strong presentation is so much more than information pasted onto a series of slides with fancy backgrounds. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others. Here are some unique elements that make a presentation stand out.

• Fonts: Sans Serif fonts such as Helvetica or Arial are preferred for their clean lines, which make them easy to digest at various sizes and distances. Limit the number of font styles to two: one for headings and another for body text, to avoid visual confusion or distractions.
• Colors: Colors can evoke emotions and highlight critical points, but their overuse can lead to a cluttered and confusing presentation. A limited palette of two to three main colors, complemented by a simple background, can help you draw attention to key elements without overwhelming the audience.
• Pictures: Pictures can communicate complex ideas quickly and memorably but choosing the right images is key. Images or pictures should be big (perhaps 20-25% of the page), bold, and have a clear purpose that complements the slide’s text.
• Layout: Don’t overcrowd your slides with too much information. When in doubt, adhere to the principle of simplicity, and aim for a clean and uncluttered layout with plenty of white space around text and images. Think phrases and bullets, not sentences.

As an intern or early career professional, chances are that you’ll be tasked with making or giving a presentation in the near future. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others.

• Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist at Canva and was the former chief evangelist at Apple. Guy is the author of 16 books including Think Remarkable : 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference.

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Business Jargons

A Business Encyclopedia

Presentation

Definition : A presentation is a form of communication in which the speaker conveys information to the audience. In an organization presentations are used in various scenarios like talking to a group, addressing a meeting, demonstrating or introducing a new product, or briefing a team. It involves presenting a particular subject or issue or new ideas/thoughts to a group of people.

It is considered as the most effective form of communication because of two main reasons:

• Use of non-verbal cues.
• Facilitates instant feedback.

Business Presentations are a tool to influence people toward an intended thought or action.

Parts of Presentation

• Introduction : It is meant to make the listeners ready to receive the message and draw their interest. For that, the speaker can narrate some story or a humorous piece of joke, an interesting fact, a question, stating a problem, and so forth. They can also use some surprising statistics.
• Body : It is the essence of the presentation. It requires the sequencing of facts in a logical order. This is the part where the speaker explains the topic and relevant information. It has to be critically arranged, as the audience must be able to grasp what the speaker presents.
• Conclusion : It needs to be short and precise. It should sum up or outline the key points that you have presented. It could also contain what the audience should have gained out of the presentation.

Purpose of Presentation

• To inform : Organizations can use presentations to inform the audience about new schemes, products or proposals. The aim is to inform the new entrant about the policies and procedures of the organization.
• To persuade : Presentations are also given to persuade the audience to take the intended action.
• To build goodwill : They can also help in building a good reputation

Factors Affecting Presentation

Audience Analysis

Communication environment, personal appearance, use of visuals, opening and closing presentation, organization of presentation, language and words, voice quality, body language, answering questions, a word from business jargons.

Presentation is a mode of conveying information to a selected group of people live. An ideal presentation is one that identifies and matches the needs, interests and understanding level of the audience. It also represents the facts, and figures in the form of tables, charts, and graphs and uses multiple colours.

Related terms:

• Verbal Communication
• Visual Communication
• Non-Verbal Communication
• Communication
• 7 C’s of Communication

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Online vs Face-to-Face Presentations: Advantages and Disadvantages

• First Online: 20 May 2023

Cite this chapter

• Can Cemal Cingi 4 ,
• Nuray Bayar Muluk 5 &
• Cemal Cingi 6  

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Online presentations may be audio-only or a combination of video plus audio (i.e. videoconferencing). Audio-only teleconferencing is efficient and inexpensive if there is a need to supply a select group of people with the same information at the same time. However, if the audience becomes too large or the audio quality is not high, this method becomes an ineffective way of communicating. Normally, people rely on visual clues to decide when to speak and when to listen, as well as to understand what is being said. As with any meeting, a virtual meeting is undertaken to achieve some objective, but expands the possibilities by reducing the usual barriers to meeting for individuals in different locations, namely the physical separation and the time and cost of travelling to a common venue. An online meeting can be conducted at any time and location. For this reason, online meetings have enjoyed considerable attention in the commercial, academic and other fields. Face-to-face meetings offer networking opportunities and the chance for personal engagement. Coffee break discussions, socialising events and conference meals help teams to establish themselves. When attendees are at a face-to-face event, they tend to be less easily distracted from the business of the meeting than may occur with an online event. Both the presenters and the audience members can read many body language clues which reveal how engaged they are with the topic and what their feeling may be. These clues can be lost with videoconferencing. Teams tend to trust each other more when they have actually met in person.

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Advantages and disadvantages of online meetings. My own conference. 2020. https://myownconference.com/blog/en/advantages-disadvantages-online-meetings/ . Accessed 11 Mar 2022.

On-site vs. virtual meetings. 2019. https://hutchinsoncenter.umaine.edu/2019/06/28/on-site-vs-virtual-meetings/ . Accessed 11 Mar 2022.

Skloot G. Advantages and disadvantages of meetings. https://getweeklyupdate.com/blog/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-meetings/ . Accessed 11 Mar 2022.

Onsite v. offsite meetings. https://www.blueoceanfacilities.com/latest-blog/onsite-v-offsite-meetings/ . Accessed 11 Mar 2022.

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Faculty of Communication Sciences, Anadolu University, Tepebaşı/Eskişehir, Türkiye

Can Cemal Cingi

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Kirikkale University, Kirikkale, Türkiye

Nuray Bayar Muluk

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Türkiye

Cemal Cingi

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Cingi, C.C., Bayar Muluk, N., Cingi, C. (2023). Online vs Face-to-Face Presentations: Advantages and Disadvantages. In: Improving Online Presentations. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-28328-4_23

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Definition of presentation noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

presentation

• presentation on/about somebody/something The sales manager will give a presentation on the new products.
• Several speakers will be making short presentations .
• The conference will begin with a keynote presentation by a leading industry figure.
• a slide/video/multimedia presentation
• presentation on

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• The trial was adjourned following the presentation of new evidence to the court.
• The presentation of prizes began after the speeches.
• The Mayor will make the presentation (= hand over the gift) herself.
• on presentation of something Members will be admitted on presentation of a membership card.
• a presentation copy (= a free book given by the author or publisher )
• a presentation ceremony/evening
• presentation to
• Improving the product's presentation (= the way it is wrapped, advertised, etc.) should increase sales.
• I admire the clear, logical presentation of her arguments.
• The main emphasis of the training will be on presentation skills .
• I've put my presentation on a memory stick.
• the school's annual presentation evening
• [countable] a performance of a play, etc. in a theatre
• [countable, uncountable] ( medical ) the position in which a baby is lying in the mother’s body just before birth

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