how to make a good presentation title

How to write a presentation title that gets people flocking to your session

by Olivia Mitchell | 31 comments

Get inspiration for your presentation title from magazines. Photo credit: bravenewtraveler

You might not give much thought to your presentation title for a conference presentation. The conference organizers will have asked you to provide a title and an abstract for the conference programme and you manage to slap something together just before the deadline.

But your presentation title can determine whether you have a smattering of people attending, or standing room only.

The good news is that it’s not that hard to craft a presentation title. There are a number of tried and tested formats which are easy to adapt to your topic. This is the way professional copywriters write headlines. They don’t start from scratch. They have a collection of previously used headlines (called a swipefile) and then they simply work out which type of headline will work best for their current topic. Next time you’re in the store, check out magazines like Cosmo. You’ll see the same alluring headlines time and time again.

I’ll show you how this can work by taking one topic and generating a number of possible presentation titles by applying the different formats.

The topic is teaching bioethics in secondary schools. I have a good friend who’s an expert on this topic and gives presentations at conferences around the world.

1. Promise benefits

Dale Carnegie’s famous book “How to Win Friends and Influence People” is still one of the best-selling communications books on Amazon. The title of the book is a big part of it’s success. That title works because it promises benefits. It’s not enough to say:

How to teach bioethics

That’s ho-hum. Adding benefits to the title makes it sing:

How to teach a bioethics class that makes students think How to be an inspiring bioethics teacher How to engage and inspire your students through teaching bioethics

“How to” is the most common way of starting a benefit title. To explore the “How to” format more deeply check out this post on writing headlines for blog posts. It’s applicable to writing presentation titles too How to write a Killer How To Article that gets Attention

2. Promise a story

We love stories. You probably already know that telling stories is a powerful presentation technique. But you can also use the power of the story in your presentation title. For example:

How a poor school turned delinquent teenagers into philosophers How a burnt-out teacher reconnected with the love of teaching through bioethics

If you’re presenting a case-study, this format is ideal for your presentation title. Here’s the format “How A got to B”. Make “A” and “B” as far as part as possible by adding adjectives.

3. Put the number three at the front

Consider this title:

Critical concepts for teaching bioethics

Sounds kind of boring and academic, but what if you put a number in front of it:

Three critical concepts for teaching bioethics

Now your prospective audience member is thinking “I better know what those three critical concepts are”. Even if they’re an expert in teaching bioethics they’ll want to find out the three concepts a fellow expert considers critical.

Three is the ideal number of major points to cover in a presentation, and five at the outside. If you try and cover more you won’t be able to do justice to each point . It’s better to go deep, rather than wide. See my post When is it OK to break the rule of three-part structure .

4. Provoke curiosity

If you’re revealing new research in your presentation make the most of it. People want to hear what’s new. They come to conferences to be at the cutting-edge.

New classroom research reveals the bioethics teaching methodology that gets the best results

If you’re a teacher of bioethics how could you resist going to that session?

That title works because of the curiosity that it evokes. You can exploit the natural attraction power of curiosity even if you don’t have cutting-edge research to reveal. For example:

The #1 strategy for teaching bioethics in the classroom

5. Evoke concern

This type of presentation title makes people want to to come to your presentation to check that they’re not making big mistakes. It’s a powerful strategy. For example:

The common mistakes bioethics teachers make The flaws in current bioethics teaching methodology

or take some ownership with this version:

The mistakes I’ve made teaching bioethics and how you can learn from them

Mix ‘n’ Match Presentation Titles

You can use elements from these different types of title and mix them up. For example, many titles can be improved by adding the number 3. For example:

The common mistakes bioethics teachers make

The three common mistakes bioethics teachers make

Add contrast to your titles

Adding contrast adds the element of surprise to your title. For example, I can improve this title:

How to teach a bioethics class that makes students think

by changing ‘students’ to ‘teenagers’:

How to teach a bioethics class that makes teenagers think

Putting the words “students” and “think” next to each other doesn’t generate any surprise. But put the word “think” next to “teenagers” does.

So simply by applying these formats I’ve generated eleven possible titles. You can do the same. Once you’ve generated some titles, choose the one that resonates best with you and then plan your presentation to fulfill the promise that you’re making to your audience in the title.

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31 Comments

Olivia, another technique is to imply privileged information: “Secrets of bioethics teaching” or “Bioethics teaching techniques of the pros”

Hi, On which topic should i make presentation

Thanks for adding that technique. Olivia

Thanks for posting this Olivia. I definitely have “title challenge.” Seems like by the time I get to naming my presentations, my creativity is shot. Specifically I like the fact that you give examples! This really helped to clarify the topic.

Olivia A very useful post. I always put a lot of effort into trying to pull together a good presentation, but thinking of a title that will catch the interest is always Ichallenging.

Olivia, I really enjoyed this article and will read it each week for inspiration creating titles for my blogs. When I create presentations, blogs, and articles I use a working title until I am finished. It keeps me on track. Then I create my real title. I have read others that promote creating your title, then the content. Which do you prefer and why?

Thank you for this information. I am definitely title challenged. My colleagues recently told me that they decided not to attend my presentation as it did have any relevance to their courses. I will be sure to utilize these suggestions next time.

Ouch! Of course if it’s correct that it wasn’t relevant then that’s fine. But if it’s because the title didn’t attract them and show the relevance then that’s disappointing. Good luck with your next title.

Excellent ideas, Olivia, and well expressed! I’ve linked to this (and some of your other posts) from my blog.

Also came up with a simple 3-word model for involving the audience through the presentation title: Question, Action, Mention. (See http://remotepossibilities.wordpress.com/2011/11/23/answer-peoples-key-question-first-framework-part-1a/#involve_people )

I’m happy to read this write up, @ olivia you’re indeed an inspiring character. I’m working on my magazine please I need your sopports And contrIbutions. Please Olivia need your support…

I have been writing blogs and articles for years and need ideas of how to create some new titles. This has been extremely educational and helpful for me to create better titles. Thanks

As a fellow speaker, I just wanted to say a hearty thank you. We all need fresh ways at looking at old stuff and to continuously think creatively regarding how we communicate to get the best outcomes.

Many Thanks Olivia for your post, Your techniques have helped me think differently from the ways I have always titled my presentations

That’s great to hear Bernard!

oh ! great you are right !!

I know you’ve said there’s no need to grab attention at the start of a talk, but the title’s one place you definitely need to! So you might also like this 4-part method I just posted for attention-grabbing titles.

(It uses an “ABCD” mnemonic, meaning the title includes an Action, Benefit, “Conversation” and/or Digit. For example, one title might be “Smash your class target – top 5 bioethics teaching tips”.)

Love it, thanks Craig!

You’re very welcome! Also, comments (and links) are always welcome on my blog. 🙂

Hi I am still having a problem of formulating a title. please help

I do not even know how I ended up right here, but I thought this publish was once good. I do not recognise who you are however certainly you’re going to a well-known blogger for those who are not already. Cheers!

I use your tips in presenting a title that is very helpful for me Thanks http://khelopcgames.com

IM STILL HAVING A PROBLEM GETTING STARTED WITH MY PRESENTATION PLEASE HELP! IWANT TO DO IT ON MY PAST BUT I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO BEGIN.

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@barry: Thanks for that clarification … or are those the Before & After titles of your presentation after reading this excellent article?

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• ACRL 2011 National Conference Update – Paper/Panel Submissions - [...] Good luck to all those who submitted a proposal. I hope you came up with a snappy title (see…
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• Hur du gör en intresseväckande titel | I huvudet på Håkan Fleischer - [...] Blogginlägget är utmärkt – läs det här! [...]
• Public Speaking Tips and Techniques [2010-06-05] - [...] Mitchell reflects on how to write your presentation title to attract a larger audience. But your presentation title [...]
• Intrigue people (FiRST framework – part 1I) | Remote Possibilities - [...] are several places you can find bright ideas for titles that draw people to your talk. One is Olivia…
• Título de Presentación en PowerPoint | plantillas-powerpoint.com - [...] baja calidad. Es recomendable preparar un título que llame la atención. Un título adecuado puede prometer beneficios, una historia…
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• Do your talks’ titles bore people? Use “ABCD” headlines to grab attention – and keep it | Remote Possibilities - […] more ways to title your talk, also see “How to write a presentation title that gets people flocking to…

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Home Blog Presentation Ideas Writing Catchy Presentation Titles: Proven Techniques You Should Know

Writing Catchy Presentation Titles: Proven Techniques You Should Know

It’s easy to overlook or give less attention to presentation titles, especially if you have limited time to assemble your material. You may rather prioritize other aspects, such as gathering information, creating slides, or rehearsing the delivery. Yet, hastily choosing the headline for your presentation is a blunder you wouldn’t want to commit.

First impressions – last, and that also applies when presenting. Engaging presentations begin with engaging titles and opening slides. If your title is sloppy, your audience will think your presentation is your best. This article will discuss what makes a good presentation title and how you can create it.

Table of Contents

The Anatomy of a Good Presentation Title

Presentation titles styles, tips for creating catchy presentation title, frequently asked questions on presentation titles.

A good presentation headline or title serves two purposes: practical and creative.

The practical purpose of a presentation title is to provide a clear and concise description of the content. It helps set the expectations of your audience, allowing them to anticipate what they will learn or gain from the presentation.

On the other hand, the creative aspect is one thing that charms your audience. An intriguing or thought-provoking title can pique the audience’s curiosity and motivate them to attend the presentation through and through. It generates interest and makes them eager to learn more.

As the presenter, you should strive to find a title that strikes the right balance between informative and engaging. It must go beyond mere description, as a descriptive title may fail to stand out or engage your audience. On the flip side, an overly clever title may sacrifice clarity and fail to encapsulate the content of your presentation accurately.

1. Surprise

Using startling statements or unexpected facts can effectively capture the audience’s attention. When something unexpected is presented, it naturally piques curiosity and leaves a lasting impression.

So, if you come across a fact, statistic, or quote about a topic that truly surprised you, work on it and make it your headline. Chances are, such information will likewise come as a surprise to your audience. Of course, you must ensure that the surprise element is relevant and contributes to the overall message you aim to deliver.

Example: Neil Patel, an online marketing expert, delivered a compelling piece titled “90% Of Startups Fail: What You Need To Know About The 10%”. The title contains an element of surprise, which suggests that most startup companies don’t survive. Within the article, Patel presented advice for startups to avert failure.

2. Intrigue

Ever wonder why you can’t seem to resist Buzzfeed headlines? That’s right; they are often intriguing and clickbaity. This technique also works on presentation titles.

Intrigue headlines capture attention and generate interest in presentations. They can create curiosity, engage the audience, and make your presentation stand out.

When crafting an intriguing headline, you may use thought-provoking questions or vague statements that spark the audience’s interest and, at the same time, clearly convey the topic of your presentation.

Example: Susan Colantuono’s Ted Talk, entitled “The career advice you probably didn’t get,” exhibits intrigue. The title immediately piques curiosity by suggesting that the presentation will provide unconventional or lesser-known career advice that the audience may not have received. This creates a sense of anticipation and motivates individuals to attend the presentation to discover what unique insights or perspectives will be shared.

3. Benefit or Value

Presentation titles that make clear claims about something’s worth may be more engaging than just stating it. When your audience knows exactly what’s in the presentation, they will likely lean in and listen.

The idea is to communicate right off the headline the main advantage the audience will gain from engaging with the content. You don’t have to include the entire proposition, but you may convey the essence of the value proposition to generate interest among the audience.

Example: Lawrence Ong’s “Break The Cycle: How To Gain Financial Freedom” clearly states the benefits of attending the presentation in the headline. It positions itself as a source of knowledge for building wealth and suggests that listening to the talk will equip the audience with the lessons they need to achieve their desired financial independence.

4. Wordplay 

Using wordplay in presentation titles can be a clever way to add flair to your presentation title. Playing with words can evoke emotions like humor and curiosity, which engages the audience from the start. It stands out from more specific titles, making people pause and take notice.

There are several types of word plays that you can incorporate into your presentation title, like puns, double-meaning words, metaphors , and rhymes. The idea is to strike the right balance so that the playfulness doesn’t overshadow the clarity and relevance of the title. The wordplay should align with the topic and purpose of your presentation while adding a touch of creativity.

Example: Steve Jobs’s keynote speech 2001 introducing the original iPod with the title “1000 songs in your pocket” is an excellent example of wordplay used in a presentation headline.

The wordplay in this example contrasts the figure “1000”, a substantial quantity, and the phrase “in your pocket,” representing portable space. By combining these elements, the presentation title effectively communicated the storage capacity and convenience of the device playfully and memorably.

1. Keep It Short

A strong presentation title conveys the main topic using a few words. Short statements are more likely to impact the audience immediately, and their brevity makes them easily understood and remembered, leaving a lasting impression.

How short is short? The ideal length for headlines on PowerPoint slides is 6-14 words, and this range helps ensure that the title of your presentation carries the message you want to get across without wordiness.

2. Use Concrete Language

Using concrete language in your presentation title is an effective way to make it more compelling. Concrete language has persuasive power as it clarifies your presentation title and makes it relatable to the audience.

Some powerful words you can inject into your headlines are adjectives, action words, and actual figures. So, instead of “Optimizing Business Processes,” you can say “Cut Costs by 20%: Streamlining Operational Efficiency”.

3. Use Technology or AI

Crafting a catchy presentation headline is hard enough – all the more when you have to fit it into little words. If you find yourself stuck in this task, there are available technologies that can help you generate title ideas for your presentations.

SEMRUSH, in particular, has an AI title generator that suggests headlines for content based on your prompts. You may also use ChatGPT for your presentations in a similar way.

However, we only suggest using these tools to speed up your brainstorming process, as repurposing those presentations into blog posts implies the risk of a site penalty for AI-generated content by Google. Reviewing and refining the generated headline to ensure it aligns with your specific presentation and captures the essence of your message is important.

4. Use Proven Formulas

Another way to speed up the process of generating title ideas presentation is to use proven formulas. Like your typical math equation, these formulas provide a framework to adapt to your specific presentation and audience. You can use them as a starting point to experiment with different combinations of words to create a headline that captures the gist of your piece,

Here are some presentation title formulas you can use:

• How to [Desirable Outcome] in [Specific Time Frame]
• Discover the [Number One] Secret to [Desirable Outcome]
• The [Adjective] Way to [Desirable Outcome]: [Unique Approach/Method]
• Are You [blank]?
• Unlocking the Secrets of [Topic]: [Key Insight/Strategy]”

Q1: What is the purpose of a catchy title in a presentation?

A: The purpose of a catchy title in a presentation is to grab the audience’s attention and, at the same time, communicate the main idea or focus of the talk.

Q2: How do I create a catchy title for my presentation?

A: Creating a catchy title involves balancing creativity, clarity, and relevance. Finding the right balance between description and creativity allows you to create a catchy title that generates interest without sacrificing clarity.

Q3: What are some tips for making a title stand out?

A: To make a title stand out, clearly describe the content while engaging the audience’s curiosity. Additionally, use concrete language and keep it short.

Q4: Can a title be too long for a presentation?

A: Yes. Keep presentation titles concise and to the point, as longer titles can be harder to read, remember, and fit on slides effectively.

Q5: How does a title affect the overall success of a presentation?

A: The title serves as a hook that entices people to attend the presentation and creates a positive first impression. It may be the first and last chance to convince your audience to lend their ears.

Q6: Are there any specific formats for presentation titles?

A: No, there is no specific format for presentation titles, but there are approaches that can make it more effective. You can use descriptive words, wordplay, figures, or surprising facts.

There are infinite ways to make your presentation title catchy, and this article presented some of the proven techniques that work. In creating an attention-grabbing title, ensure your main message is not overshadowed or lost. Keep it relevant, concise, and clear!

Once your compelling headline is ready, designing your opening slide will be next.

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Catchy Presentation Titles Are the Start of a Great Presentation

A Catchy Presentation Title is Important for Audience Satisfaction

Think about the last time you went to a conference that has multiple breakout sessions going at the same time. If you are like most people, you first scanned the list of titles. Almost instantly, you eliminated a few based solely on the topic or title. The titles that you looked at created an impression of the speech. Once you narrowed down your choices, only then do you move on to the description, etc. In that instant where you were scanning the titles, though, you probably had this inner monologue going. “Hhhmmmm… Nope. Not worth my time. Nope. Sounds boring. Nope. That one is unrelated to anything of interest to me. Aaahhh… That one might be okay.”

One of the real, closely-held, public speaking secrets is that every audience member has this inner monologue . This inner monologue occurs before every single meeting and every single presentation that we attend. In most cases, just as when we looked at the breakout session list, the answer we receive is, “Nope. This seems like a waste of my time.”

Examples of Presentation Titles that Make People Yawn

Here are a few titles that tell the audience that your presentation will be a snoozefest.

• Quarterly Financial Report
• Software Update
• Project Report
• Goals for 20__ [Fill in Your Own Year]
• Why We Need to Make Changes in Our Internal Processes

It is our job as the presentation designer (or deliverer) to make people want to pay attention to us. If you start with a great title, you are more likely to accomplish this task.

Presentation Title Generator

Follow this step-by-step approach, and your audience will want to hear you speak.

Create a One-Sentence Statement of What Your Topic is About.

• We Exceeded Our Corporate Goals and Increased Profit Last Quarter.
• The New Software Update Closed a Few Security Risks for Our Customers.
• The ABC Building Project is Behind Schedule.
• This Year, We Will Increase Revenue by $200,000 by Focusing on Repeat Business.
• Department Heads Need to Communicate Team Activities Better.

Just by forcing yourself to make your title into a complete sentence, you will narrow the topic down dramatically. If you look at the difference between the first list and the second, the second is more interesting already.

Identify Why the Audience Would Care About this Topic?

• Your Quarterly Bonus Has Increased.
• Your Customers are Less Likely to Experience a Data Breach.
• If We Adjust Our Plan, We Can Get Back on Schedule without Incurring Overruns.
• Your Commissions Will Also Increase.
• You Can Reduce Your Overall Department Costs.

Although we like to think that department heads care deeply about company revenue and profit, in reality, most of us are pretty self-centered. However, the department heads care very deeply about their bonuses. Outside of the tech folks, no one really cares about website security. However, if a company has a data breach, the entire company will have new challenges to deal with.

Combine the Sentence in Step #1 With the Benefit in Step #2.

Now that you have the two pieces, just put them together. When you do, you will create a series of catchy presentation titles .

• We Exceeded Our Corporate Goals and Increased Profit Last Quarter, So Your Quarterly Bonus Has Also Increased.
• Your Customers are Less Likely to Experience a Data Breach Because We Closed a Few Security Risks in the Recent Update.
• If We Adjust the Project Plan on the ABC Building, We Can Get Back on Schedule without Incurring Overruns.
• This Year, We Will Increase Revenue by $200,000 (And Commissions by $25,000) by Focusing on Repeat Business.
• If We as Department Heads Can Communicate Our Team’s Activities Better, We Should Be Able to Reduce Department Cost Significantly.

Maybe these presentation titles aren’t perfect, but you have to admit, they are dramatically better, now.

Compare the Two Titles

Originally, we had, “Quarterly Financial Report.” We ended up with, We Exceeded Our Corporate Goals and Increased Profit Last Quarter, So Your Quarterly Bonus Has Also Increased.” Which would you rather sit through? Guess what? Your audience thinks the same way. So, if you want to catch the attention of your audience right away, realize that catch presentation titles can help.

By the way, once you have a great title, the post called How to Design a Presentation Quickly is a good second step. In addition, we have a free Online Speech Creator that walks you through the entire process step-by-step. Also, make sure to visit our 101 public speaking tips blog post.

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9 Ways to Write a Catchy Presentation Title

What’s the first thing the audience sees about your presentation before you begin the speech? The title! 

Before starting your presentation, you must grab your audience's attention from the first moment. With a bland title, your audience will likely lose interest before you start.

One of the best ways to engage your audience from the beginning is by using a catchy title.

After all, it is the first thing your audience will see before the presentation commences. The title informs your audience about what your presentation entails; hence, it must be appealing. It must ensure that your listeners find the presentation interesting. 

So, if you want your presentation title to stand out, here are some tips on how to write a catchy presentation title.

9 Tips for Writing a Catchy Presentation Title

Utilize the tricks below to create the perfect presentation title according to your audience.

1. Provide Relevant Information

People typically seek to gain answers to their questions from presentations. One way they can confirm if a presentation holds information relevant to their question is with the title.

"How-to" titles usually do the trick if you want to attract your viewers and let them know that you can solve their problems.

You usually do not need to create lengthy titles to explain your content, and a simple yet informative title would suffice. Your title should inform your listeners what they stand to gain and make them curious about what your presentation entails.

Examples of this include:

• How to engage an audience and keep their attention
• How to create a presentation worth listening to

2. Tell a Story

People love to hear stories . However, you do not need to limit your storytelling to the actual presentation. You can also include the power of a story in your title.

The story you tell does not necessarily need to be your own but should be relevant to your presentation and resonate with your audience.

This format works best if you plan on presenting a case study. Remember that this format demands that you create a story that tells viewers how someone or something got from one point to another.

For example, 'How A got to B." Ensure to use adjectives to showcase the transformation from point A to point B truly.

Example titles include:

• How a low-income household started earning significantly
• How a charitable organization created opportunities for uneducated children

3. Make Use of Numbers

Adding numbers to your presentation title can attract even those well-versed in the topic you plan on discussing.

For instance, "three tips on how to teach kindergartners" sounds better than "how to teach kindergarteners."

Even the best kindergarten teachers would be intrigued and want to find out what these three tips are.

The number you decide to use depends on your presentation. However, it is best to keep the number at a minimum. Typically, it would be best to aim for three, but you can go as high as five.

Using fewer points allows you to go into detail on each point explicitly. This way, you can fully explain each concept to allow your viewers to grasp each.

It also shows them that you know what you are talking about. Remember, it is best to present your topic more deeply than to discuss numerous concepts widely.

4. Keep Your Audience Wanting More

Another way to grab your viewers' attention is to pique their interest. Provoke their curiosity, and you can keep them hooked until the end of your presentation.

This format works best when you want to reveal a new research study. After all, people attend seminars, workshops, and conferences to learn about the latest discoveries in their fields. An example of this is:

• New research shows that the most optimal method to teach kindergarteners

This title suggests there is a new trick that kindergarten teachers can use in their classrooms to improve the teaching and learning experience. If you were a kindergarten teacher, wouldn't you be intrigued to find out what this presentation is all about?

Alternatively, you can use this format even if you do not have recent research results to reveal. All you need to do is evoke curiosity. Here is an example:

• The best strategy to teach a classroom full of kindergarteners

This title does not discuss any research information, but it would still make the viewer wonder what the "best strategy is.

5. Use Questions in the Title

You can use questions in your headline to attract listeners.

However, ensure that the questions are related to something they care about. Otherwise, you risk losing your audience's interest. The trick is to relate your question to the benefit of listening to your presentation. Examples of this include:

• Do you want to know the five things you are doing wrong as a blogger?
• Are you ready to start exercising? Start the right way

The question in your header does not always need to be a question. You can simply hint or imply it. An example of this is:

• That's right! Skincare products produce better results than you expect

6. Command Your Audience

Sometimes, the best way to grab and keep your viewer's attention is to be direct. As a professional, you should tell them the action to make or to act a certain way. Tell your viewers what these actions can lead to.

This format's point is to ask your audience "why," so this curiosity would make them want to hear what you have to say. Some examples titles include:

• Stop wasting time on things that do not matter
• Throw that negativity away and embrace positive change

7. Imply Privileged Information

We all love secrets and want to feel like we are in on something private. This is why creating titles that imply that you are providing information that only a few people know can draw attention to your presentation. Examples include:

• Secrets of teaching kindergartners
• Teaching techniques that only pros know

8. Offer Easy Solutions

You can attract people when you tell them they can easily learn to do something or do it in a short amount of time.

In your title, ensure not to mention the process because it would seem like a lot of work. Instead, focus on the viewer's motivation. Talk about the result of listening to your presentation. For example, you can use:

• Learn to stop procrastinating right now
• Best way to cook chicken in less than 30 minutes

People get excited when they know they can learn something new that would instantly show significant improvements in their lives.

9. Create a Cause for Concern

This title format is a powerful technique to make people come to your presentation. This is because the title makes them wonder if they are making mistakes.

Hence, they would be interested to know if they are truly making mistakes and how they can fix or learn from them. For example:

• Common mistakes kindergarten teachers make
• Currents flaw in biology teaching techniques

The titles do not have to be general, and you can base the title on your experience. In some cases, these titles work best because it makes you more relatable, and the audience would be more receptive to what you have to say. Here is an example:

• Three mistakes I made while teaching kindergarteners and how you can learn from them

Conclusion: Writing an Interesting Speech Title

After creating informative and thought-provoking content for their presentation, some people find it hard to title their work properly. However, writing a catchy presentation title is quite easy.

The best presentation titles do not have to be complex, but they should not be simple either. All you need to do is ensure that the title is catchy.

You want to be able to grab your viewers' attention and hold it till the end of your presentation . Hopefully, you can now do so using one of the tips in this article.

• Speaking & Media

How to Create Catchy Presentation Titles

Alexia Public Speaking

I love words. And unfortunately, when I started out as a speaker, my presentation titles were stuffed full of them.

While there is not one formula for how to create catchy presentation titles to capture the attention of companies and event organizers, using too many words is a surefire way for your pitches and speaking submissions to land in a decision maker’s trash.

I’ve recently been purging old files, and in the process, unearthing my old speaker one-sheets and proposals. I’ve found some real title doozies!

2012 was a particularly “big year” when it came to keynotes. I had 10 listed and described on the speaking page of my website. And most of my titles were 15 words or more. (As you’ll see below, I also was collecting colons like they were going out of style.)

For example, for what would become my Discover Your ‘Secret Sauce’ as a Speaker signature presentation, instead, I had—

Share Your Story, Morning Glory: How to Use Public Speaking to Effortlessly Attract the Right Clients.

This was also the year I developed my Step into Your Moxie® keynote. But rather than call it Step into Your Moxie or How to Speak with Moxie, instead I was sweet on my colons again and went with the mouthful—

Step Into Your Moxie: Listen to Your Voice, Sculpt Your Message and Speak with Confidence and Impact.

Each time I run The Spotlight Speaker Accelerator and work with coaches, consultants and experts on creating catchy presentation titles for their keynotes and business and association presentations, I see many of the same mistakes I made.

Here are three tips for creating catchy presentation titles for your speeches that event organizers, meeting planners, and business leaders will love.

Create a title that zeroes in on your “idea worth spreading .”

While it’s okay to have some pizzazz in your presentation title, you still want it to accurately reflect the key idea you want your audience to take action on and not be too open for interpretation.

Let your title communicate your point of view on your topic.

Decision makers get pitched oodles of similar topics, and it’s easy for speakers and their submissions to sound alike. When your title reflects your unique voice and, if appropriate, how you are taking a fresh (and maybe even disruptive) approach to a familiar topic, this will help you and your presentation to stand out.

And last, but most certainly not least…

Use titles that contain 8 words or less.

While, unfortunately, this isn’t always possible, in-demand speakers rarely have excessive words and colons in their titles. Rather, their titles are short, clear, and crisp.

In case you are curious, here are my most frequently requested keynotes .

Have a catchy presentation title that you love?

That captures your core brand message?

Consider registering it as a trademark in order to protect your intellectual property. Doing this with Step into Your Moxie® was one of the most important business decisions I made – well worth the nominal cost of trademark registration because it provides important protection against copycats.

Similarly, before you decide, yes, this is my smokin’ hot presentation title, be sure to check online and ensure that you are first to market on your idea. It’s much easier to tweak your title before you start using it in the world and getting known for it.

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• panel discussion
• Public Presentation

How to Write a Compelling Presentation Title

• February 9, 2024

By Tricia Richards-Service

Your presentation title serves as the initial point of engagement for your audience, setting the tone for what lies ahead. Let us explore strategic methodologies to ensure your titles captivate, intrigue, and ultimately inspire audience engagement.

Audience Analysis:  Prior to drafting your title, think about your audience demographics, interests, and expectations, and tailor your title to resonate. For instance, for a presentation targeting corporate leaders,  consider a title like “Navigating Digital Disruption: Strategies for C-Suite Executives”.

Clarity and Brevity:  Opt for clarity and brevity in your title, encapsulating the essence of your presentation. Avoid ambiguity or verbosity that may obscure your message. A clear and concise title like “Mastering Data Analytics: Unlocking Business Insights” effectively communicates the subject matter.

Evoke Curiosity:  Infuse your title with elements of intrigue and curiosity to capture the interest of your audience. Choose words that hint at the promise of valuable insights or solutions. Inspire curiosity with a title like “The Hidden Power of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership”.

Highlight Value Proposition:  Showcase the benefits or solutions offered by your presentation within the title itself. Encourage audience attendance with titles like “Revolutionizing Customer Experience: Innovative Strategies for Growth,” which emphasizes tangible benefits.

Creativity and Originality:  Embrace creativity and originality to differentiate your title from others and leave a memorable impression. Incorporate metaphorical language, wordplay, or striking imagery to captivate attention. For instance, a creatively crafted title such as “The Art of Storytelling: Painting Pictures with Words” adds a distinct flair to your presentation.

Choose Power Words:  Integrate power words—dynamic, emotionally resonant terms that evoke strong reactions—into your title to enhance impact. Employ words such as “empower,” “transform,” or “inspire” to convey dynamism and urgency. For instance, a title like “Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders: Strategies for Success” conveys a sense of empowerment and motivation.

Revise Until You’re Pleased:  Experiment with variations and solicit feedback from peers. Continuously refine your title until it effectively encapsulates the essence of your presentation. For example, refine a title like “Unleashing Creativity in the Workplace: Strategies for Innovation” based on feedback to ensure maximum resonance.

Align with Content:  Ensure alignment between your title and the substantive content of your presentation to foster audience trust and credibility. Misalignment may lead to disengagement and disillusionment among attendees. Validate the accuracy and relevance of your title in representing the presentation’s content. For instance, ensure that a title like “The Future of Sustainable Technologies” accurately reflects the thematic focus of your presentation.

SEO Considerations:  If your presentation will be shared online, consider incorporating relevant keywords into your title to enhance search engine visibility. Optimize your title for SEO to facilitate audience discovery and accessibility. For instance, incorporate keywords such as “innovation,” “leadership,” or “best practices” to improve online searchability.

Encourage Action:  Conclude your title with a compelling call to action or invitation to engage with the presentation. Motivate attendees to register, participate in discussions, or share insights to foster active audience involvement. For instance, conclude a title like “Navigating Change: Strategies for Adapting in a Dynamic Landscape” with an invitation to join a post-presentation networking session to further explore strategies for adaptation.

Armed with these strategic principles, you have the tools you need to craft presentation titles that resonate with your audience, elicit curiosity, and encourage meaningful engagement.

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How to write a catchy presentation title

Sep 15, 2022

Posted by: Gemma King

Title writing.

It’s not as easy as you might think.

Take this article, for example. Can we really call an article about writing catchy titles “How to write a catchy title”? It’s hardly… well, catchy.

Fortunately for you, your presentation title doesn’t need to be anywhere near as functional. You don’t have to be easy to find when people google advice. You’ve got (almost) free rein to come up with something truly catchy.

That comes with its own challenges too, of course.

So I’ve gathered together some top tips from Steve Rawling of Storyteller Tactics , and the internet at large.

Let’s get to work!

Why do you need to write a catchy presentation title?

For optional-attendance events, your title needs to catch the attention of your audience enough for them to consider attending. It doesn’t matter how good anything else you have prepared is, if they don’t like the title, they’ll never get to see any of that stuff.

Of course, for many work-related presentations, your audience is pretty much guaranteed. It’s a work thing, so the people who need to be there, will be. Even then, a catchy title is important to set the tone of the session. And you don’t want that tone to be boring, do you?

We want attendees who feel anticipation, not dread or (worse) indifference.

That’s the Why; here are some Hows.

Techniques for writing catchy presentation titles

Buckle up, we’re starting with… worms!

Our community recently explored Mindworms in a live session to discover why some ideas stick in our minds and our memories while others fade into obscurity. Here are some key points you can apply to writing titles. If you include a handful of these things, you’re on the right track:

• Simplicity : is it easy to understand and repeat?
• Unexpectedness : is it surprising in some way?
• Concreteness : does it paint a clear picture?
• Emotionality : does it evoke hopes and/or fears or engage our sense of identity ?
• Storyness : does it describe some sort of causal chain (cause and effect)?
• Sensory : does it include elements like touch, smell or taste?
• Repetitiveness : are any elements or words repeated to help it stick?
• Rhyme : do you have any rhyming words that will help people recall it easily?
• Metaphors : can you use a metaphor to simplify the message?

I’d also consider adding alliteration and humour to this list; the latter particularly if it’s an internal-facing presentation with a known audience.

For example, you might not be particularly enthused about joining a session called: ‘ First-quarter Financial Report on Product X ’ (although it does use concreteness in mentioning ‘first quarter’ and is easy to understand).

You might be slightly more enthusiastic about ‘ Breakeven and beyond; Project X’s first quarter ’, and positively excited about ‘ Product X; the cash cow whose milk smells like success ’. The first employs hope (‘breakeven and beyond’), which is an emotion, as well as being simple and concrete. The second uses a metaphor (cow/milk), sensory words (smell), emotions are evoked (success) and is unexpected. Perhaps too unexpected, but it takes all kinds!

Story approaches

Every good story needs a title, so it’s no surprise that Steve Rawling, Author of Storyteller Tactics, has also covered this topic.

We can start off with the Secrets and Puzzles Storyteller Tactic - a fantastic way to format your presentation, by the way. But even if you don’t use it throughout your talk, you can use it in your title. People love secrets and puzzles. And you can create the sense of a secret about to be shared, or a puzzle to be solved, by using specific ‘keywords’:

• Secret, confidential, insider, exclusive, hidden, restricted, banned, untold, forgotten.
• Puzzle, riddle, odd, bizarre, unexpected, ironic, paradox, peculiar, mystery.

But remember - and this is important - if you promise a secret or something puzzling, you must deliver. As Steve says, the use of these words without any type of secret is just clickbait.

So let’s try the exercise again. Can you think of a better way to phrase this title? ‘ Exit interview data: 2022 learnings ’.

The presentation sounds like it’ll talk through the findings of HR’s interviews with team members who have left since the start of the year. This is prime material for a secret-inspired headline (what secrets did the interviews hold?) or a puzzle (how can the data be used to inspire change?).

Something like “ Famous last words; what secrets do 2022’s exit interviews hold? ” or “ Unexpected push factors: can 2022’s exit interviews catalyse change? ”. Both of these are concrete (giving a specific time frame), simple enough for the specialised audience to understand and promise something secretive or surprising.

If there doesn’t seem to be an appropriate secret or puzzle, there are lots of other Storyteller Tactics cards you can use to inspire an intriguing title. For example, Order & Chaos , Good & Evil and Curious Tales .

Another great Storyteller Tactic to use when searching for the perfect title is That’s Funny . It has you pick out something about your presentation/story that is a bit odd and makes you go “ Hmm, that’s funny… ”, or perhaps a person that is acting unusually. Something a little bit out of the ordinary (and unexpected) is a good way to reel people in. And talking of reeling people in…

Finally, Story Hooks is a fantastic tool. Steve looked at 1,000 TED talks to look for story hooks in their titles. He found a tonne of useful approaches: questions, surprises, ironies, relatability, superlatives and of course - knowledge. The promise that you will impart your hard-earned experience, in simple language, so that others may benefit from it, is a powerful one.

Other title-writing tricks to try

The internet is full of suggestions, some great and some utterly absurd. This list sticks to the former category! Pick a couple that are relevant to your presentation and give them a whirl.

• Use your title to create a knowledge vacuum. Is the content of your talk going to change something big? "This talk could change the way we talk to customers forever" - it lets people know that they'll be missing out on something important if they don't pay attention.
• Look for inspiration elsewhere. Probably not in your own calendar - catchy titles are still not the norm in most industries! Look at events online - or local newspaper headlines. They are rife with creativity (a little too much of it, sometimes!).
• Ask a question ; it gets people thinking about the answer straight away! And once they have started wondering, they'll be invested in finding out what the real answer is.

And we might be biased here, but the Pip Club newsletter (Pip's Practical Prompts) is a goldmine if you're looking for catchy titles and punchy, shorthand content inspiration. 

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Blog > 10 creative Ideas for your Title- and End-Slides in Presentations

10 creative Ideas for your Title- and End-Slides in Presentations

11.13.19   •  #powerpointtips #presentation.

Of all the slides in a PowerPoint presentation, the ones that are without a doubt the most important ones are the first and the last one. It makes perfect sense – the title slide sets the general tone. Make it boring and you’ll loose your audience’s attention within the first few minutes. If you’re making it exciting and innovative on the other hand, you’re taking a big step towards giving an amazing presentation and having an engaged audience. It is very similar with the final slide. It will be the one that people are going to remember most, the one that is supposed to make people leave the room thinking ‘Wow! What a great presentation!’ A bad ending could even mess up what would otherwise be a good performance overall (just think of a good TV show with a bad ending…).

The most common mistakes for title and final slides

If you asked 100 people what belongs on your PowerPoint’s title slide, the majority would answer ‘The title, maybe a subtitle, the presenter’s name and company, the date’. That kind of title slide is alright, but you usually say all of these things in the beginning of a presentation anyway. Also, it is very likely that most of your attendees know these things – they usually signed up for it after all. So what’s the point in listing all of that information on your title slide, when you could also use it for making a stunning first impression? Not only the title slide is commonly designed in an uncreative and conventional way. Too often, you can see PowerPoint presentations ending with the ‘Any Questions?’ or even worse – the ‘Thank you for your attention’ slide. ‘Thank you for your attention’ is a set phrase that has been said so many times it can’t possibly be delivered in an authentic way anymore. Therefore, it’s better to think of something else for your grand final. Finding an unconventional ending that suits your presentation style makes you seem much more charismatic and authentic than using an empty phrase.

1. An inspiring quote

An inspiring quote on your slide is a perfect way to both start and finish your presentation. Well, it does not have to be inspiring. It could be any quote that is somehow connected to your presented topic. Just have fun looking through books and the internet to find interesting quotes that you want your audience to hear. Good pages to look at for inspiration are goodreads and brainyquotes.com .

2. A blank slide

This might seem strange to some people, but a blank slide can be really powerful if you want to have your audience’s full attention. You can use the advantage of blank slides by incorporating them at the beginning, in the end or even in between your regular slides. You can either use a blank slide of your regular template (so there will still be some design elements on it) or go all in and make the slide completely black (or white).

3. A call to action

If the goal of your presentation is to really make your audience act in some kind of way, there is no better way to start – or better yet end your presentation than with a call to action. This can be literally anything from little trivial things like “Drink enough water during the presentation so your brain stays intact!” – which will lighten up the mood – to more serious calls like “Help reducing waste by recycling whenever possible!”.

4. A question

Usually, it is the audience that asks questions after a presentation. However, you can also turn that around and ask your attendees instead. However, it’s important to ask a question that can be answered easily and individually – the best questions involve previous experiences and personal opinions (asking about facts or questions that are hard to understand can often lead to silence and no one wanting to answer).

5. An interactive poll

Nothing engages the audience like a live poll. Conduct one right at the beginning to get everybody envolved, and/or wait until the end to get your audience’s opinion on something. Icebreaker polls are the perfect way to start, as they lighten the mood. You can easily create polls for free with interactive software tools such as SlideLizard .

6. A funny picture, meme, or quote

I’m pretty sure that every student nowadays has that teacher that just tries a little too hard to be cool by throwing in a meme on literally every single slide. That may be a bit too much. But just a little comedy at the beginning or in the end can make you seem very charismatic and entertaining and catch the attention of your listeners. Open (or close) with a joke, a funny picture or a quote – whichever you feel comfortable with. It is usually best if it has something to do with the topic you’re presenting.

7. An interesting fact

Catch the audience’s attention by putting an interesting fact concerning the topic on one of your slides – ideally at the beginning, but maybe also in the end (to keep up the audience’s interest even after the presentation is done).

8. The title, but with a twist

If you feel like you need to put the presentations name/topic on the front slide, but still want that little creative twist, just change the title slightly. According to what I’m proposing, rather dull presentation titles like e.g. “Marine Biology – An Introduction to Organisms in the sea” can be transformed to “Marine Biology – Diving Deep” (or something less cheesy if you prefer). Make it either funny or over-the-top spectacular and catch the audience’s attention!

9. A bold statement, opinion, or piece of information

This is probably the best way to capture your audience from the beginning on. Start with a radical, crazy opinion or statement and then get your attendees hooked by telling them that during the presentation, they will learn why you’re right. It could be anything, really, as long as it goes well with your presented topic – from the statement “Everybody has the time to read 5 books a month” to “Going to college is a waste of time” or “The human species is not the most intelligent on earth” – Take whatever crazy, unpopular theory or opinion you have, throw it out there and (very important!) explain why you’re right. You’ll have your audience’s attention for sure and might even change some of their opinions about certain things.

10. No title and end slide at all

Yes, that’s a possibility as well. If you absolutely can’t think of any creative or otherwise good way to start and end your presentation – even after reading the tips mentioned above – then simply don’t. That’s right - no title and end slide at all. You can pull that of by simply introducing yourself in the beginning, then getting right into the topic (which makes a good impression, long introductions are usually rather tedious) and when you’re at your last slide just saying a simple ‘Goodbye, thank you and feel free to ask questions’.

Related articles

About the author.

Pia Lehner-Mittermaier

Pia works in Marketing as a graphic designer and writer at SlideLizard. She uses her vivid imagination and creativity to produce good content.

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The big SlideLizard presentation glossary

.ppsx file extension.

A ppsx file is a presentation file. When you open the file the slide show opens and not the editing mode like in ppt files.

Slide Layouts

PowerPoint has different types of Slide Layouts. Depending on which type of presentation you make, you will use more or less different slide layouts. Some Slide Types are: title slides, section heading slides, picture with caption slides, blank slides.

Audience Demographics

Audience Demographics are the characteristics of listeners like age, gender, cultural backgrounds, group affiliations and educational level. The speaker has to consider all these characteristics when adapting to an audience.

Verbal Communication

Communication is verbal if it includes talking with other people. This can be face-to-face but also over the telephone or via Skype

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Blog Beginner Guides

How To Make a Good Presentation [A Complete Guide]

By Krystle Wong , Jul 20, 2023

A top-notch presentation possesses the power to drive action. From winning stakeholders over and conveying a powerful message to securing funding — your secret weapon lies within the realm of creating an effective presentation .  

Being an excellent presenter isn’t confined to the boardroom. Whether you’re delivering a presentation at work, pursuing an academic career, involved in a non-profit organization or even a student, nailing the presentation game is a game-changer.

In this article, I’ll cover the top qualities of compelling presentations and walk you through a step-by-step guide on how to give a good presentation. Here’s a little tip to kick things off: for a headstart, check out Venngage’s collection of free presentation templates . They are fully customizable, and the best part is you don’t need professional design skills to make them shine!

These valuable presentation tips cater to individuals from diverse professional backgrounds, encompassing business professionals, sales and marketing teams, educators, trainers, students, researchers, non-profit organizations, public speakers and presenters. 

No matter your field or role, these tips for presenting will equip you with the skills to deliver effective presentations that leave a lasting impression on any audience.

Click to jump ahead:

What are the 10 qualities of a good presentation?

Step-by-step guide on how to prepare an effective presentation, 9 effective techniques to deliver a memorable presentation, faqs on making a good presentation, how to create a presentation with venngage in 5 steps.

When it comes to giving an engaging presentation that leaves a lasting impression, it’s not just about the content — it’s also about how you deliver it. Wondering what makes a good presentation? Well, the best presentations I’ve seen consistently exhibit these 10 qualities:

1. Clear structure

No one likes to get lost in a maze of information. Organize your thoughts into a logical flow, complete with an introduction, main points and a solid conclusion. A structured presentation helps your audience follow along effortlessly, leaving them with a sense of satisfaction at the end.

Regardless of your presentation style , a quality presentation starts with a clear roadmap. Browse through Venngage’s template library and select a presentation template that aligns with your content and presentation goals. Here’s a good presentation example template with a logical layout that includes sections for the introduction, main points, supporting information and a conclusion: 

2. Engaging opening

Hook your audience right from the start with an attention-grabbing statement, a fascinating question or maybe even a captivating anecdote. Set the stage for a killer presentation!

The opening moments of your presentation hold immense power – check out these 15 ways to start a presentation to set the stage and captivate your audience.

3. Relevant content

Make sure your content aligns with their interests and needs. Your audience is there for a reason, and that’s to get valuable insights. Avoid fluff and get straight to the point, your audience will be genuinely excited.

4. Effective visual aids

Picture this: a slide with walls of text and tiny charts, yawn! Visual aids should be just that—aiding your presentation. Opt for clear and visually appealing slides, engaging images and informative charts that add value and help reinforce your message.

With Venngage, visualizing data takes no effort at all. You can import data from CSV or Google Sheets seamlessly and create stunning charts, graphs and icon stories effortlessly to showcase your data in a captivating and impactful way.

5. Clear and concise communication

Keep your language simple, and avoid jargon or complicated terms. Communicate your ideas clearly, so your audience can easily grasp and retain the information being conveyed. This can prevent confusion and enhance the overall effectiveness of the message. 

6. Engaging delivery

Spice up your presentation with a sprinkle of enthusiasm! Maintain eye contact, use expressive gestures and vary your tone of voice to keep your audience glued to the edge of their seats. A touch of charisma goes a long way!

7. Interaction and audience engagement

Turn your presentation into an interactive experience — encourage questions, foster discussions and maybe even throw in a fun activity. Engaged audiences are more likely to remember and embrace your message.

Transform your slides into an interactive presentation with Venngage’s dynamic features like pop-ups, clickable icons and animated elements. Engage your audience with interactive content that lets them explore and interact with your presentation for a truly immersive experience.

8. Effective storytelling

Who doesn’t love a good story? Weaving relevant anecdotes, case studies or even a personal story into your presentation can captivate your audience and create a lasting impact. Stories build connections and make your message memorable.

A great presentation background is also essential as it sets the tone, creates visual interest and reinforces your message. Enhance the overall aesthetics of your presentation with these 15 presentation background examples and captivate your audience’s attention.

9. Well-timed pacing

Pace your presentation thoughtfully with well-designed presentation slides, neither rushing through nor dragging it out. Respect your audience’s time and ensure you cover all the essential points without losing their interest.

10. Strong conclusion

Last impressions linger! Summarize your main points and leave your audience with a clear takeaway. End your presentation with a bang , a call to action or an inspiring thought that resonates long after the conclusion.

In-person presentations aside, acing a virtual presentation is of paramount importance in today’s digital world. Check out this guide to learn how you can adapt your in-person presentations into virtual presentations . 

Preparing an effective presentation starts with laying a strong foundation that goes beyond just creating slides and notes. One of the quickest and best ways to make a presentation would be with the help of a good presentation software . 

Otherwise, let me walk you to how to prepare for a presentation step by step and unlock the secrets of crafting a professional presentation that sets you apart.

1. Understand the audience and their needs

Before you dive into preparing your masterpiece, take a moment to get to know your target audience. Tailor your presentation to meet their needs and expectations , and you’ll have them hooked from the start!

2. Conduct thorough research on the topic

Time to hit the books (or the internet)! Don’t skimp on the research with your presentation materials — dive deep into the subject matter and gather valuable insights . The more you know, the more confident you’ll feel in delivering your presentation.

3. Organize the content with a clear structure

No one wants to stumble through a chaotic mess of information. Outline your presentation with a clear and logical flow. Start with a captivating introduction, follow up with main points that build on each other and wrap it up with a powerful conclusion that leaves a lasting impression.

Delivering an effective business presentation hinges on captivating your audience, and Venngage’s professionally designed business presentation templates are tailor-made for this purpose. With thoughtfully structured layouts, these templates enhance your message’s clarity and coherence, ensuring a memorable and engaging experience for your audience members.

Don’t want to build your presentation layout from scratch? pick from these 5 foolproof presentation layout ideas that won’t go wrong. 

4. Develop visually appealing and supportive visual aids

Spice up your presentation with eye-catching visuals! Create slides that complement your message, not overshadow it. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words, but that doesn’t mean you need to overload your slides with text.

Well-chosen designs create a cohesive and professional look, capturing your audience’s attention and enhancing the overall effectiveness of your message. Here’s a list of carefully curated PowerPoint presentation templates and great background graphics that will significantly influence the visual appeal and engagement of your presentation.

5. Practice, practice and practice

Practice makes perfect — rehearse your presentation and arrive early to your presentation to help overcome stage fright. Familiarity with your material will boost your presentation skills and help you handle curveballs with ease.

6. Seek feedback and make necessary adjustments

Don’t be afraid to ask for help and seek feedback from friends and colleagues. Constructive criticism can help you identify blind spots and fine-tune your presentation to perfection.

With Venngage’s real-time collaboration feature , receiving feedback and editing your presentation is a seamless process. Group members can access and work on the presentation simultaneously and edit content side by side in real-time. Changes will be reflected immediately to the entire team, promoting seamless teamwork.

7. Prepare for potential technical or logistical issues

Prepare for the unexpected by checking your equipment, internet connection and any other potential hiccups. If you’re worried that you’ll miss out on any important points, you could always have note cards prepared. Remember to remain focused and rehearse potential answers to anticipated questions.

8. Fine-tune and polish your presentation

As the big day approaches, give your presentation one last shine. Review your talking points, practice how to present a presentation and make any final tweaks. Deep breaths — you’re on the brink of delivering a successful presentation!

In competitive environments, persuasive presentations set individuals and organizations apart. To brush up on your presentation skills, read these guides on how to make a persuasive presentation and tips to presenting effectively . 

Whether you’re an experienced presenter or a novice, the right techniques will let your presentation skills soar to new heights!

From public speaking hacks to interactive elements and storytelling prowess, these 9 effective presentation techniques will empower you to leave a lasting impression on your audience and make your presentations unforgettable.

1. Confidence and positive body language

Positive body language instantly captivates your audience, making them believe in your message as much as you do. Strengthen your stage presence and own that stage like it’s your second home! Stand tall, shoulders back and exude confidence. 

2. Eye contact with the audience

Break down that invisible barrier and connect with your audience through their eyes. Maintaining eye contact when giving a presentation builds trust and shows that you’re present and engaged with them.

3. Effective use of hand gestures and movement

A little movement goes a long way! Emphasize key points with purposeful gestures and don’t be afraid to walk around the stage. Your energy will be contagious!

4. Utilize storytelling techniques

Weave the magic of storytelling into your presentation. Share relatable anecdotes, inspiring success stories or even personal experiences that tug at the heartstrings of your audience. Adjust your pitch, pace and volume to match the emotions and intensity of the story. Varying your speaking voice adds depth and enhances your stage presence.

5. Incorporate multimedia elements

Spice up your presentation with a dash of visual pizzazz! Use slides, images and video clips to add depth and clarity to your message. Just remember, less is more—don’t overwhelm them with information overload. 

Turn your presentations into an interactive party! Involve your audience with questions, polls or group activities. When they actively participate, they become invested in your presentation’s success. Bring your design to life with animated elements. Venngage allows you to apply animations to icons, images and text to create dynamic and engaging visual content.

6. Utilize humor strategically

Laughter is the best medicine—and a fantastic presentation enhancer! A well-placed joke or lighthearted moment can break the ice and create a warm atmosphere , making your audience more receptive to your message.

7. Practice active listening and respond to feedback

Be attentive to your audience’s reactions and feedback. If they have questions or concerns, address them with genuine interest and respect. Your responsiveness builds rapport and shows that you genuinely care about their experience.

8. Apply the 10-20-30 rule

Apply the 10-20-30 presentation rule and keep it short, sweet and impactful! Stick to ten slides, deliver your presentation within 20 minutes and use a 30-point font to ensure clarity and focus. Less is more, and your audience will thank you for it!

9. Implement the 5-5-5 rule

Simplicity is key. Limit each slide to five bullet points, with only five words per bullet point and allow each slide to remain visible for about five seconds. This rule keeps your presentation concise and prevents information overload.

Simple presentations are more engaging because they are easier to follow. Summarize your presentations and keep them simple with Venngage’s gallery of simple presentation templates and ensure that your message is delivered effectively across your audience.

1. How to start a presentation?

To kick off your presentation effectively, begin with an attention-grabbing statement or a powerful quote. Introduce yourself, establish credibility and clearly state the purpose and relevance of your presentation.

2. How to end a presentation?

For a strong conclusion, summarize your talking points and key takeaways. End with a compelling call to action or a thought-provoking question and remember to thank your audience and invite any final questions or interactions.

3. How to make a presentation interactive?

To make your presentation interactive, encourage questions and discussion throughout your talk. Utilize multimedia elements like videos or images and consider including polls, quizzes or group activities to actively involve your audience.

In need of inspiration for your next presentation? I’ve got your back! Pick from these 120+ presentation ideas, topics and examples to get started. 

Creating a stunning presentation with Venngage is a breeze with our user-friendly drag-and-drop editor and professionally designed templates for all your communication needs. 

Here’s how to make a presentation in just 5 simple steps with the help of Venngage:

Step 1: Sign up for Venngage for free using your email, Gmail or Facebook account or simply log in to access your account. 

Step 2: Pick a design from our selection of free presentation templates (they’re all created by our expert in-house designers).

Step 3: Make the template your own by customizing it to fit your content and branding. With Venngage’s intuitive drag-and-drop editor, you can easily modify text, change colors and adjust the layout to create a unique and eye-catching design.

Step 4: Elevate your presentation by incorporating captivating visuals. You can upload your images or choose from Venngage’s vast library of high-quality photos, icons and illustrations. 

Step 5: Upgrade to a premium or business account to export your presentation in PDF and print it for in-person presentations or share it digitally for free!

By following these five simple steps, you’ll have a professionally designed and visually engaging presentation ready in no time. With Venngage’s user-friendly platform, your presentation is sure to make a lasting impression. So, let your creativity flow and get ready to shine in your next presentation!

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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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• March 3, 2022

Creating Titles for Your PowerPoint Slides: Tips & Tricks

Written by Tom Caklos

Presentation designer

Adding titles, visible or not, to your PowerPoint slides will help you in many ways. Navigating through the presentation, structuring the content, and keeping your audience in the loop are some of the main benefits that come with working with titles.

Does every PowerPoint slide need a title?

It is highly recommended to use the title on every PowerPoint slide. While you don’t need to necessarily make them visible to your audience, it still provides a great amount of value and benefits. Having a title on every slide helps your audience to keep up with the content structure.

It also helps them to understand the topic much better. Especially if the presentation is about some study with a lot of terminology and facts.

While some people would argue with me that sometimes “less is more” – having a title on every slide will give you many benefits I already mentioned.

Another thing to keep in mind.. you don’t need to make them visible to your audience. Just keep them there so you can remind yourself where you are in the presentation. It helps a lot.

Recommendation : Check out 6 PowerPoint Design tips to learn how to improve the design of your presentations!

How do you make a good title for each slide?

When crafting titles for your slides, try to always keep in mind a bigger picture. Step back, and try to think: “What sentence would draw the best conclusion for this specific slide?” and “How it would impact the rest of my presentation” ?

Don’t make the mistake of titling your PowerPoint slides without deeper thinking. It’s essential that it makes perfect sense.

Now be careful.. while it can make perfect sense to you, your audience might not get it. So what I recommend to avoid this scenario is to always show your presentation to a few people and ask them, if they understood everything.

That way you get non-biased opinions and feedback.

The best PowerPoint slide title ideas

Some of the best titles are usually:

• Funny & Humorous
• Draw conclusion

Here are a few great examples of the best PowerPoint slide title ideas:

When crafting titles for your slides, try to draw inspiration from other presentations on the internet – so you get a better idea of what worked and what didn’t. Life is too short to make all the mistakes, so we need to start learning from the mistakes and successes of other people!

Wrapping it up

So now that you understand the importance of titling your PowerPoint slides, and what role they are having in your success – go and apply what you learned! That’s the only way to learn properly.

Thanks for reading my article! When I write, I always try to bring as much value as I can. If you're having any questions, or if you need any help, feel free to reach out to me!

Did you learn something new? Share it with your network!

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How to Make a Stunning PowerPoint Title Slide (in 5 Minutes)

This is the best PowerPoint title slide tutorial on the Web. Period.

In fact, you’re going to learn a simple, 3-step process to designing gorgeous and professional presentation cover slides that get your point across. In 5 minutes top.

Let’s dive right in…

How to Make a PowerPoint Title Slide

⚠ Ground Rule :

Anyone, including your grandma, should be able to understand what your PowerPoint title slide is going to be about.

Here’s a concrete example:

In this cover slide, we quickly understand that the presentation will be covering details ( very  likely tips) on how to build a successful team for your startup.

The 3-Step Process to Making Great Cover Slides

Every presentation title slide has 3 “ingredients”.

Here they are:

👉 The background (your visual, or the color you’ll be using in your background) 👉 The lay-out (where and how you position the different elements in the slide) 👉 The text (usually, a headline and a sub-headline that wrap up what the presentation is about)

The process we’re about to follow will address how to deal with each of these elements.

Let’s do it!

Step 1 : Pick Your Title Slide Background 

Welcome to Step 1 😀

Here, you basically have two options to chose from:

1) Using a plain color for your slide background ( super easy) 2) Using a visual

As you’ve guessed, the first option is the quickest one. And it doesn’t require any brain work at all. So we’re going skip it and cover directly how to proceed with the second option.

If you want to design a cover slide that’ll grab people’s attention, you need to start with asking yourself this simple question:

What’s my presentation topic?

Answer using this formula:

Here are a few examples:

My presentation is about [ our yearly financial report ]. So the topic is [ finance ]. My presentation is about [ power supply dynamics ]. So the topic is [ power supply / engineering ]. My presentation is about [ our client’s social media strategy ]. So the topic is [ social media / marketing ].

See where I’m going?

Now that you have a clear topic for your presentation, you’re going to associate that topic with specific keywords. The point here is to find out keywords we’ll be using as search terms when looking for visuals online.

Topic: SEO services Related elements: Computer (or web traffic, web page, graph)

Topic: Consulting firm business proposal Related elements: office building (or business people, meeting, investors)

Now that you have a few keywords for your cover slide, you’re going to be looking for a relevant visual.

Beautiful, Free Photography Resources

Pexels  (my favorite’s, lots of visuals) Burst (solid) Gratisography  (crisp, fun) Death to the stock photo   (a bit of everything) Startup stock photos  (genuine-looking) Unsplash  (nature related) Little visuals  (like Unsplash) Pic jumbo  (urban-related mostly)

More resources here

First, check out the results.

Then, select one picture that closely relates to the identified keyword. If you’re struggling with choosing between various visuals, then ask a few colleagues which one they prefer and go for the most popular option.

✅ Search keywords that directly relate to your topic in order to find a relevant visual for your cover slide (e.g. finance -> “money”, “charts”, social media -> “phone”, “people”) ✅Download visuals in high resolution (this is especially important if you’re presenting on a screen). ✅ To save time in the future, create a folder on your desktop. Anytime you stumble upon a great visual, just add it to your folder (get more tips just like this one  right here ).

Step 2 : Chose the Lay-Out For Your Text

Now that you’ve found a visual that fits with your presentation topic, it’s time to decide which lay-out you will use to display the title of your presentation on your cover slide.

There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to deciding which lay out you’re going to use. I recommend you to make sure there’s the minimum amount of text possible on your cover slide for three reasons:

👉It’s easier to design a good looking introduction slide when there’s not too much text 👉No one want to be bothered by a wall of text straight off the bat 👉You need to be able to wrap up what your presentation is going to cover in a clear and concise way

Your title slide shouldn’t have more than a headline (that resumes the content of your deck in a sentence), a name (yours or the one of your company), and a logo or a date.

With that said, on top of choosing your lay-out, you’re going to have to chose whether you want your text to appear directly on top of your background or not. Here’s a simple rule you can follow:

⚠ For plain color backgrounds :  add your text on top of the background or integrate it on top of a rectangle/rounded shape ⚠ For visual backgrounds : to make sure your text can easily be read by your audience, add a shape on which you will display your title text

Of course, you can select other shapes such as these ones:

You can also customize your text bar playing with both color and transparency.

Adding transparency allows people to see the whole visual behind. But use it with care: your first priority is to get readers to feel comfortable when looking at your slides.

Contrast is the king . Dark shape = light/flashy colors for the text. Light shape = dark colors for the text.

Step 3 : Integrate Your Title Text 

I recommend that you create one text box per line. You’ll be able to customize both font size and overall style easier. Either align the text (to the left, the right or the center) for maximum coherence.

Here are three simple techniques you can use to create contrast and maximize the visual impact of your text:

Use Different Font Sizes to Create Hierarchy

Modifying the font sizes is a great way to control the hierarchy within your title slide. Plus, it helps your audience to immediately identify the important content from the less important one.

Now, the great news is that you can apply this technique on all types of slides. And it works  especially well  on cover slides.

Here’s an example:

Modify The Color of Specific Keywords

Changing the color of specific keywords you want to highlight is another great way to control the hierarchy (and contrast) within your slide.

Here’s an example:

Change the Typography of One Part of Your Text

On top of changing the color, you can also change the typography (a.k.a. the font) of a specific part of your text to draw attention toward it. You can combine this technique with the previous one for even more impact.

On this slide, we’ve used a different font for the “an amazing” text. On top of this, we’ve modified the color and embedded a rounded shape in the back.

Change the Color of the Shape On Which You’re Putting Your Text

This is another great and powerful way to create beautiful title slides for your presentations:

Free & Creative Font Resources

The top 10 fonts web designers love  (free and paid) Font Squirrel  ❤ Fonts2U Dafont

You can even add emojis to your cover slide text !

Get all your emojis here , and paste them directly in your text box.

⭐ Want to speed up your cover slide design process? Download this Cover Slide Template  where I’m sharing the cover slide text lay outs I’ve used in this article.

C ase Study : How I Made The Cover Slide Below

Step 1 : find a visual related to the topic covered.

Finding  the right image  is the key step of your presentation title design process.

Here, I wanted to illustrate what a great cover slide can look like. So I started to think: “Well, what do I mean by great… How can I show what a great cover slide means?”

And then I came up with words that are tied to the emotion I want to convey:

“Gorgeous” “Beautiful” “Stellar”

BOOM! I got it.

The keyword “stellar” that just translated perfectly what I wanted to communicate.

So then, I headed over to  Pexels   and typed “stellar”. But no free resource came up, so I tried “sky” instead (pro tip: head over to  Thesaurus  to find synonyms):

Got my visual.

Now, it’s time to move on to step 2.

Step 2 : Chose the Text Lay-Out 

I opted to place the text in the center of the image. I decided not to use a rectangle shape to put my text on. Why? Because the visual was pretty plain itself and it was easy to read my text on top of it.

If you can’t read the text easily on your cover, add a rectangle shape in between your visual and the text.

Step 3 : Add the Text 

I used a font called Forte for the “Cover slide” part.

For the word “cover slide”, I customized the text style with shadows (select the text -> click right > “format text effects…”) and play with the options until you get something that satisfies you.

Are You Spending a Lot of Time to Make Presentations? 

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If you want to make presentations that people will remember, then you should consider PPTPOP’s getting pre-built, fully editable template kit. Use it to:

• Present clean slides that grab – and keep – people’s attention
• Confidently expressing ideas, concepts and messages with visual elements.
• Wow your prospects, get them to walk away knowing you’re the pros and eliminating other options.

Create gorgeous slides that get their message across in a fraction of the time it normally takes.

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How to Create a Stunning Presentation Cover Page [+ Examples]

Published: January 06, 2021

When you're focused on creating a meaningful, persuasive presentation, it's easy to overlook the cover page. But giving that first page of your deck a little more love can actually go a long way towards grabbing your audience's attention early on and setting the tone for the rest of your presentation.

A stunning presentation cover page can intrigue your audience into wanting to know more and increase engagement with the information you’re presenting. On the other hand, a lackluster slide, or even the lack of one, can dampen audience enthusiasm for your presentation, and maybe even your own.

You've put so much work into your presentation -- why waste that valuable real estate on the first slide of your deck?

In this post, we'll cover the basics of creating a presentation cover page that's informative and attention-grabbing. Let's dive in.

What's included in a presentation cover page?

A good presentation cover page accomplishes three simple things:

• It introduces the topic with a straightforward title.
• It introduces you (and your organization, if applicable)
• It sets the tone of your presentation.

We probably don't need to tell you this one, but your presentation cover page should be centered around a title. And ideally, a title that's straightforward, descriptive, and simple. If you're finding it hard to keep your title short, add a subtitle (in smaller print) to clarify what you'll be speaking about.

Next, identify the person (or group) who will be giving the presentation. In some cases, this will be as simple as including your own name, and in others, you'll want to include your company name, logo, department, or other identifying information. As a general guideline, you'll need less identifying information if you're giving an internal presentation.

If your audience is mainly folks outside of your company (or there are plans to distribute your deck externally) you'll typically want to include more information to identify your company clearly.

A successful cover page sets the "tone" of your deck -- but what does that really mean? The colors, imagery, fonts, and placements of different elements on your cover page all create a specific visual style that the rest of your deck should follow.

A well-designed page conveys a sense of professionalism and preparedness that a simple monochrome text slide simply cannot. Even if you're not a design expert, you need to pay attention to the aesthetics of your cover page. Fortunately, it's easier than ever to find free, professional-looking presentation templates without needing a degree in graphic design. Whatever you choose, it's important to remain relevant to your presentation (and, if applicable, your company's branding).

We'll explore a few examples of cover pages below so you can see how different elements converge to set the tone for a variety of different presentations.

Presentation Cover Page Examples

Below, we've compiled a number of presentation cover pages that succeed in different areas. Remember: there's no single perfect format for a presentation cover page, but hopefully, you get some inspiration from this list.

Setting An Emotional Tone

The right presentation page can set an emotional tone as well as a visual one. This presentation cover page for a nonprofit conveys a mission-driven approach to protecting nature, with a well-selected, relevant image, and a call-to-action directly in the subtitle. (Photo by Andy Køgl on Unsplash )

Focusing on a Photo

You don't need to overcomplicate the format of your cover page, especially if you have a great photo to use as a full background image. A simple stock photo here provides a clean backdrop for this presentation on remote work. Just make sure your title text is legible over any background photo you decide to use. (Photo by Corinne Kutz on Unsplash )

Leading With Your Brand

Even if you're the central speaker for a presentation, it might make more sense to highlight your team or brand on your cover page, instead of including your own personal information (you can always include your own contact info at the end of your deck for follow-up questions). Context (if you're speaking at a particular event or annual meeting) can be important to highlight as well on your cover page.

There's a big difference between a cover slide you didn't put much thought into and a slide that makes good use of whitespace and leans on strong copy. Sometimes, the best way to lead an audience into your presentation is to create space for a little mystery.

If you're giving a more casual presentation or a pitch that doesn't need to follow a particular format, consider going the minimal route and opening with a simple cover page slide that asks your audience a question (one that you of course plan to answer).

Set a Purpose

Many presentations include an agenda slide directly after your cover slide, but that doesn't mean you can use your cover slide to set a clear purpose upfront. Consider using your subtitle to explain a more robust (but still simple!) description of what you'll cover.

Presentation Cover Page Templates

Instead of creating your presentation cover page from scratch, using a template can take much of the work out of the process. Check out these websites for templates that you can use for your presentation or for inspiration to create your own designs.

A tried-and-true favorite of many marketing teams, Canva offers up a wide selection of modern, drag-and-drop presentation templates with truly unique cover pages. If you're on the hunt for a cover page that looks like you hired a graphic designer to create it just for you, Canva is a good place to start your search. Canva offers both free and paid options.

Beautiful.ai

Beautiful.ai has an intuitive, highly-customizable presentation builder that allows you to import your own visual elements directly from your computer or a Dropbox folder. Like Canva, they offer a number of free and paid template options (with great cover pages). Their biggest differentiating feature is their (frankly, very cool) adaptive AI technology, which intuits how you're trying to design a slide and makes changes automatically to suit the direction of your project.

For a completely free option with cover page starter template to suit a wide range of different projects across different formats, check out EDIT. Their online tool is specifically designed to create cover pages in a simple, easy-to-use interface.

Another highly-customizable template source is Visme, which gives users the ability to select a starting template from their (expansive) library and customize elements in a simple web editor.

VectorStock ®

VectorStock® has a massive selection of PowerPoint presentation cover page templates for purchase if you're looking for something that's ready to plug and go without the need for customization (beyond adding your own name and title, of course).

First Impressions Matter

For better or worse, audiences will judge a presentation by its cover page. Because of this, it’s vital that you give your cover page the care and attention that it deserves. Ultimately, a cover page isn't simply a placeholder, it’s a vital component that can drum up interest for your presentation. The best part is that with the tools available online, you don’t have to be an artist to create a stunning presentation cover page.

The featured image on this post was created using a Canva template.

Don't forget to share this post!

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Create Stunning Title Slide For Your Presentation

Home  > PowerPoint Tutorials > Special Effects  > Title Slide

Learn to design a stunning title for your presentation and leave a lasting impression on your audience. Learn a simple method that gives you professional results every time.

Take a look at the following two title templates:

A title created using a standard design theme that comes with the software.

A title that uses a conceptual image to support the theme of the presentation:

Source: Business Start Up PowerPoint Template Set

Which presentation gives you the impression that the presenter has spent some time and effort to create it? Which one would you like to give your attention to?

Obviously, the answer is the second presentation!

That is the kind of difference a good opening slide can make to your presentation.

A title slide creates the first impression on your audience’s mind. If it looks professional, you gain and retain your audience’s attention. If it looks like ‘just another run of the mill presentation’, you lose your audience at “Hello”.

You don’t need to be a professional designer to design a well laid out title for your presentation. In this article you will learn a simple method to create great looking titles even if you have zero design skills. Let us start the process:

Step 1: Get a better grip on the space available on the slide

Start by dividing the slide area into small manageable chunks called cells. A cell is nothing but a rectangle of Height -1.5” and Width – 2”

Create copies of the cell and tile them to fill the slide as follows:

Now, imagine the slide as a giant weighing scale.

Every time a cell is filled with an image, text or color, the slide goes off balance. You need to restore the balance by filling another cell at an appropriate distance. For example:

The fill on the left is balanced by a corresponding fill on the right.

You can use a grid like this to create a professional looking PowerPoint floor too. See the tutorial here >>

This balance creates some interesting layouts for your presentation titles. Let us understand this better by exploring a few layouts.

Step 2: Start with the most basic layout:

The convention we follow to represent the filling of cells is – Red cell indicates ‘Photo or Image’. Green indicates – ‘Text box’. Black indicates ‘Color fill’.

A simple layout that works well is – a slide filled entirely with a relevant image and a sharp title. We would represent the layout as completely red in color as per our convention.

Here is the translation of the layout into a title slide:

The image and the title support each other. You can find a good stock photo that supports your presentation title and make this title slide in minutes.

Though the title looks good, you can create more sophisticated titles by playing with the layout balance. Take a look at an alternative here:

The fill on the top and bottom balance out. The text box on the left is balanced out by an image on the right. We purposely kept the ratio slightly off to lend some visual interest.

Related: 3D PowerPoint Scales tutorial

Here is the translation of the layout as title slide:

Source: Background templates from PowerPoint CEO Pack 2

This title layout looks far more sophisticated than the plain image title.

Let us try another alternative:

The fill on the left column is balanced out by the fill on the top row. The remaining space is filled by an image. The slide looks well balanced.

Here is the translation of the layout as Title slide:

We used different colors for the fill on the left and on the top. To ensure that there are no sudden jumps in design (when the eyes move through the cells), we added some transparency to the cells on the top and added a few white lines where the colors meet (just a few tricks you pick up with experience).

Once you understand this basic principle of layout balancing, you can create your own set of variations.

However, there is one simple rule you need to know to make your learning complete.

The rule is – “Different visual elements weigh differently on the slide”.

For example, a darker shade has more weight than a lighter shade. A photo has more weight than text. You need to balance the elements on your layout keeping this fact in mind. This will help you create more interesting layouts.

Take a look at the following layout:

Though the slide looks out of balance, you can create a balance by choosing a combination of lighter image and darker fill.

See the translation of the layout as title slide:

Even though the photo occupies 80% of the space, it has much lighter color intensity compared to the dark strip at the top. So, the slide looks harmonious and balanced.

Your sense of balance gets refined with practice. Keep experimenting with various elements till you feel the balance intuitively. Once you get enough experience, you can create more sophisticated layouts as follows, which have an inherent balance in design:

The above layouts were created using the same principles we discussed. Take a minute to study the way we balanced the weights of the cells.

Conclusion about Title Slide Design:

Creating good title layouts is as much an art as it is science. It is worth your time to practice the skill to create a lasting impression on your audience during your business presentations.

Related: Create A Cool PowerPoint Template In Minutes

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How To Create A Captivating Title Slide For A Presentation?

Discover the secrets to crafting a mesmerizing title slide that leaves your audience spellbound! Delve into the purpose and importance of a title slide, unraveling the key elements that make it truly captivating. Learn invaluable tips on creating an attention-grabbing title slide for your presentations, and explore the art of titling slides using PowerPoint.

When designing your PowerPoint presentation, there is no doubt that the most crucial slide is the one at the beginning of your presentation and the one that concludes it. A crisp title slide can amp up your presentation game and instantly get your audience’s attention.

This blog provides a detailed step-by-step guide to help you create captivating title slides.

What Is The Purpose Of A Title Slide?

A title slide for a presentation has to be interesting to stand out, and one has to be very cautious while making a title slide. If you make it dull, you will lose your audience’s attention within minutes. An  excellent first slide  is not only a reflection of professionalism but also a great way of triggering that much-needed initial interest. If you want to know how to create a title slide, this PowerPoint tutorial is for you. This step-by-step tutorial will help you make a beautiful title slide for your presentation. Let’s dive into the recipe for creating the first slide in a few steps.

Title Slide: Definition And Importance

As the name suggests, a title slide is the first slide of a PowerPoint presentation. Usually, a title slide’s content is the presentation’s title and subtitles.

What Should Be In The Title Slide?

A title slide contains

• the title of the presentation.
• At times, a preface of a presentation
• Author’s name.
• At times, background relevant to the topic of the presentation
• Branding of the company

How To Create A Title Slide For Presentation?

Method 1: choosing a template from the powerpoint library for creating a title slide.

Your title slide is ready. Make sure to play around with more tools and options to find out more features you can do to make it more attractive and presentable.

Method 2: Create a title slide design using the ‘Design’ tab

Method 3: Create a title slide using Slideuplift’s PowerPoint Add-In

Slideuplift provides a plethora of templates that can assist you in making a title slide. These templates are accessible through their PowerPoint Plugin.

Follow the steps given below to make a title slide using  Slideuplift PowerPoint Add-In .

And you are done!

Just type cover slides on the search console and get various title slides for your presentation. You can choose the one per your liking and make edits.

So these are three ways you can create a title page on PowerPoint.

How To Title A Slide In PowerPoint?

Writing a catchy title is very important. A catchy title triggers the viewers’ interest and shows that you have made some effort to make the presentation.

A title also sets the tone for a presentation; for instance, a Business presentation title slide. A title slide for informal events will have a formal tone and a casual or neutral tone.

The following tips can help you write catchy presentation titles.

• Make it easy to understand.
• The title should be directly related to the presentation.
• Add an element of emotion  to the title (keep it neutral during formal meetings and try to add humor if the occasion allows)
• Match other elements of the title slide, like background image, font, etc, with the title.
• Keep it concise and to the point.

Where Is The Layout Of The Title Slide Present In PowerPoint?

The layout of the title slide is present under the ‘home’ tab. You can change the title slide’s layout with this tool’s help.

Having a beautiful and functional title page is very important if you want to catch the attention of the viewer. A bland title page is not only boring but also shows your lack of effort, which can be a deal breaker. At the same time, keep the title slide minimalistic, only  use animations and effects  which add value and look interesting.

It’s time to buckle up for your next presentation now that you know how to create an interesting title slide.

Table Of Content

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10 Best Business PowerPoint Templates for Presentations

10 Best Business Presentation Topics to Captivate Your Audience

10 Best Google Slides Templates And Themes For Presentations

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How to Create Slides That Suit Your Superiors: 11 Tips

When you’re pitching ideas or budgets to execs in your organization, you need to deliver slides that fit those particular people just right. This checklist identifies the key considerations.

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I recently interviewed 20 of my customers, all in senior roles at Fortune 100 companies, and asked them their biggest pain point in presenting to higher-ups and even colleagues. What I heard consistently was that it can feel like Goldilocks bouncing from one option to the next, testing to figure out what’s “just right.” Does the audience want deep reports? Sparse slides? Something in between? Like … what?

Teams often come to presentation meetings with vast amounts of backup content just in case an exec wants to take a deep dive on any given point. There’s often a struggle to anticipate every direction attendees might want to go. It’s frustrating, and it’s not efficient.

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There are many ways to build slides. I’m not just talking about crafting them well versus poorly. I’m talking about all of the important decisions regarding how to organize them, how much text to use, when to lean into a chart, the best ways to use bullets and color, and whether to include an appendix with additional information. Before you make your next proposal or request of the executive team, use this list of 11 tips for your next set of slides as a guide.

Four Things You Must Have in Every Exec’s Slides

Before we drill down into the harder aspects, the ones where your executives’ tastes may vary widely, let’s quickly cover four aspects that you can consider the building blocks — the basics you should never proceed without.

Start with an executive summary. Begin the slide deck with a tight executive summary that follows a three-act structure. First, start with stating the current realities. Second, clearly state the problem or opportunity your idea addresses and its potential impact. Third, explain how your recommendation solves the problem or exploits the opportunity and the next steps you’re proposing.

Have a logical organization. The arc of the deck — the package from beginning to end — should make sense. If your audience reads only the headline of every slide, the order should be coherent and make most of the case for you. The content below each slide’s headline must support the statement made in the title. Remove everything that doesn’t support your point; as writers will tell you, you sometimes need to “kill your darlings” when you’re editing.

Begin the slide deck with a tight executive summary that follows a three-act structure.

Make it skimmable. Help your audience to quickly grasp the point without getting bogged down in details. Create a clear visual hierarchy. Guide the reader’s eye through the content: Use bold headings, bullet points, and numbered lists to break down information into digestible pieces. Highlight key takeaways or conclusions in a different color or font size to draw attention to these critical points.

Focus on concise insights. Succinct statements with clear insights are everyone’s jam. Every slide should serve a purpose and contribute directly to the decision-making process. Distill complex information. Don’t use 100 words when 20 words will nail it. If you’re having difficulty trimming, consider using company-approved AI tools to help you take out the fluff.

Five Preferences to Confirm With the Person You Want to Reach

Now we’ll delve into what your particular audience does and does not want. If you haven’t yet, start by asking the person you’re presenting to what they generally prefer. They probably know themselves well but have not been asked to articulate how they like to receive information.

Ask how dense is too dense. Some executives prefer detailed slides with comprehensive data. Others favor a more high-level approach. You’re weighing how to balance informative content with readability, ensuring that slides are not overloaded yet are sufficiently detailed to support decision-making.

Confirm the delivery format and timing. Some execs like information presented to them. Others prefer a pre-read of the material followed by a discussion. I always recommend our tool Slidedocs (I’ve written a free e-book on them), which are visual documents using both words and images. The templates help presenters organize their thoughts into a document for a pre-read or a read-along. They are designed to be skimmable and able to travel through your organization without the help of a presenter.

I’m a huge fan of pre-reads and prefer to use my time in meetings to ask questions and build alignment. If your audience didn’t review your material in advance, ask at the top of the meeting whether they would like you to present it or would prefer to read through it and then discuss it.

Find out how much data visualization they prefer. Charts, graphs, photos, and illustrations often communicate complex data more clearly than words alone. When execs can see what you’re saying, they often can better understand the impact of your idea. Does the exec want to understand exact numbers? Bar charts allow them to move their eyes across a series of specifics. Does the exec want to know the shape of a trend over time? Line charts can show the pattern. (See “Classic Charts Communicate Data Quickly.”) Some prefer charts with annotations that draw attention to what you think is the most important point. Others want to make their own conclusions from the data.

One of my clients, the CEO of a massive commercial real estate company, doesn’t want anything visualized. He prefers numbers, only in a table, and only in two colors — black and red. You might think this is archaic. But the fact that he’s clear to his teams about what he wants takes all the mystery out of how to communicate with him.

When the stakes are high, have a conceptual thinker help with diagrams and concepts. If you don’t have one on your team, and when it’s high stakes, find an internal designer to help you or hire one. You can’t afford to have the baby (your idea) thrown out with the bathwater (terrible slides).

Identify which details need spelling out. How well do the people you’re presenting to know the landscape and function of the company and products you’re talking about? For example, if your engineering team threw a slide into a deck about an issue that requires executive approval, do the execs all speak geek? Or do you need to explain the technology so that they will really understand the ask? Either eliminate internal jargon and acronyms or unpack those bits, especially if your proposal deeply involves expertise outside of the executives’ domain.

Ask whether appendices will be useful. When you’re organizing a presentation, you often troll data, read through complicated reports, and even hire external experts to figure out what’s best for the company. Do your execs want access to that supporting data? You can add a document to the end of the presentation as an appendix to show all of the data and source material. This allows the main content of the slides to remain focused and accessible while still providing comprehensive background information for those who want more.

Two Tips to Improve Your Presentation Skills

Getting materials in place is the biggest step. They will be your best tools for selling your ideas. But there are two extra areas to pay attention to as a presenter: how you handle questions and how you use every experience to improve.

Anticipate questions, and practice your answers. Before you have your meeting, gather a small team to challenge every point you make. Invite colleagues you trust to role-play as “a rapidly inquisitive exec” or “the doubting naysayer exec” so you are prepared to present your idea well. They’re gonna grill you, and practicing will help you remain unruffled when it happens.

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Ask for feedback after the presentation. Establish a feedback loop with those you presented to. Ask what worked well and how you can improve. If attendees don’t have the time, find people who have had their ideas funded and talk to them about what they did that worked. Advice and some perspective will help you nail your performance even better next time.

Empathetically understanding your audience members and how they process information, whether it’s executives or peers, sets up your ideas for success. Clarity creates efficiency. When a presentation fits just right, you’ve given your great thinking the best chance of moving through your organization and having maximum impact.

About the Author

Nancy Duarte is CEO of Duarte Inc. , a communication company in the Silicon Valley. She’s the author of six books, including DataStory: Explain Data and Inspire Action Through Story (Ideapress Publishing, 2019).

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