27 Tips For An Effective Presentation

So you're not a professional speaker. That's no excuse for NOT giving a professional presentation.

You have a great product or service! You've put together an awesome presentation with great content!

You really know your stuff! You're an expert! None of this matters if you don't have public speaking skills.

If you don't speak like a pro, you won't get the results you want.

1. Introduction Bring a typed introduction and ask your introducer to read it verbatim. This will give you credibility and give the audience a reason to listen to you.

2. Audience Speak in front of an audience that can benefit from your service and can hire you.

3. Opening You only have 30 seconds to grab your audience's attention otherwise you may lose them forever. Open with a story, a question, a song, etc. that is relative to your speech or at least to the audience.

4. Body Give enough information that they will remember and want more. A common mistake for many is that they give way too much information. Leave your audience feeling good not overwhelmed.

5. Closing A good movie with a bad or disappointing ending will ruin the impact of the movie. Same with your presentation. Be sure to have a strong close in order to have impact on your audience.

6. Stories Tell personal stories in order to make your points. People remember stories more than anything else. 7. Humor Make your audience smile, chuckle, or laugh. When people have fun they remember more and will stay attentive to you.

8. Attention There are many ways to keep your audience's attention. Many are mentioned in this article. The more attention you have, the more results you will get.

9. Authenticity Be yourself. When you are sincere and show the audience who you really are, you will have more of an impact.

10. Confidence So you're nervous sometimes. So what. You don't have to let others know. Act confident and you will appear and feel confident.

11. Preparation The more you're prepared, the more confidence you will have, and the better job you will do. Know your material!

12. Pausing This is a great attention getter. After saying something that you want your audience to remember, pause, be silent, and give it time to sink in. Pause instead of using ah or um. Pause when you forget what you were going to say next. It's o.k. to pause and re-collect your thoughts. 13. Vocal Variety Have your voice match what you are saying. Be expressive and show it in your voice.

14. Body Language Have your body match what you are saying. If you are telling a story about someone talking on the phone, use your hand as a fake phone and pretend you are talking into it.

15. Nervous Fidgeting Pacing back and forth, hands in your pockets, and rocking are all distractions. Be aware of your own nervous habits and stop doing them.

16. Eye Contact Look at your audience. Move your eyes from one side of the audience, to the middle to the other side in a smooth motion.

17. Time Stick to your allotted time and be prepared for your time to be cut short.

18. Connect with the audience. Find something that they can relate to you with.

19. Control You are in command of the room. Do not talk over people if others are talking among themselves.

20. Stay on Track If someone asks a question that is not relevant, tell them you will be happy to answer that question after the session. 21. Notes It's o.k. to use notes. Have them be your handouts, your flipcharts, your power point, etc.

22. Visualization Imagine yourself the way you would like to be perceived when presenting, then act that way.

23. Hand Outs Try to always have hand outs and be sure they have your contact information on them. This way you have given people a way to get in touch with you.

24. Dress Wear something that makes you feel like a million bucks and you will act and appear like a million bucks.

25. Record and/or video tape your presentations. You will learn a great deal from them.

26. Give A Ways If you have a product for sale, give a few away as prizes. This lets the audience know you've got stuff without having to give a sales pitch.

27. Listen Get your audience to open up and listen carefully. You may gather valuable information for your next presentation.

About The Author

Jacki Rose is a Professional Speaker and Training Consultant who teaches business professionals how to be more dynamic, engaging, and successful presenters.

jackirose.com

jacki@jackirose.com

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Cell Phone Dos And Dont During A Meeting

What would we do without our cell phones? Wow, there's... Read More

Facilitating Panel Discussions

A client recently called to say she was going to... Read More

Can Stage Presence be Learned?

What is stage presence? Can it be learned?There are, undoubtedly,... Read More

Shamus Browns Top 5 Sales Presentation Tips

When its time to give your next sales presentation, here... Read More

Move Key Audiences to Actions You Want

How?Try a blueprint like this: people act on their own... Read More

Tech Tips: PowerPoint Keyboard Shortcuts for PowerPoint Slide Shows

Whether you use a mouse or a remote control to... Read More

Winning The Big Pitch - The 7 Deadly Sins Of Business Presentations And How To Avoid Them!

Are poor presentations costing you business?The ability to deliver a... Read More

Communication Barriers and Simplifying the Communication Process

The communication process can be much more difficult than a... Read More

Media Training 101: Mastering the Television Interview

As I travel around the world I always enjoy sampling... Read More

The Presentation After the Presentation

Allowing the audience to ask questions after your presentation is... Read More

Secrets of Successful Presentations

Does the thought of speaking in front of others send... Read More

Practice Makes Perfect ? 7 Tips for Making the Most of Your Presentation Practice

Believe it or not, preparation is a better determinant of... Read More

Super Preparation ? Keys to Getting a Great Start to Every Presentation

Super Preparation ?Keys to Getting a Great Start to Every... Read More

Handling Questions with Authority

At some point in your presentation you will be expected... Read More

Present Your Message with Power and Pizzazz

If you're ready to kick your career or business up... Read More

Qualities of Good Communication

Webster's Dictionary defines communication as "a giving or exchanging of... Read More

Preparation for Your Presentations

(Excerpted From the Jim Rohn Millennium Weekend Event)Persistence in your... Read More

How To Make Your Best Ever Presentation

The most important tip...EVER!Make sure that you always think of... Read More

Create A Better Impresion With Your Emails

How do you come across in your emails?As I receive... Read More

Presentation Skills: Be More Productive Using a Facilitator Mode

There are many definitions for presentations. When you present there... Read More

What Every Manager Should Know About How to Sharpen His Presentation Skills

Regardless of the nature of our job or social standing,... Read More

Trade Show Victory!

So you're going to have a booth at a trade... Read More

Nonverbal Communication in Business

There are five key elements that can make... Read More

Projector Hire - Choosing the Right One for Your Presentation

Calling a projector hire company will often get you confused... Read More

Sharpening Your Presentation Skills

Regardless of the nature of our job or social standing,... Read More

If You Want Business - Throw a Seminar!

Why is throwing a seminar good for business?If you want... Read More

Using Your Audience to Your Advantage

Regardless of what response technique may be convenient in a... Read More

Grand Opening: The Key To Great Presentations

Whether you are speaking in front of a civic group... Read More

Lecturing from the Lectern

Most people love to hide behind the lectern.. It makes... Read More

How To Run Your Greatest Conference Ever

Like most good achievements, a magnificent meeting depends on planning... Read More

Why You Need a Lesson Plan

LESSON PLAN DEVELOPMENT: Lesson plans, believe it or not, are... Read More

Watch Out For Power Thieves

"I'm not an expert on this topic, but . .... Read More

5 Breakthrough Marketing Ideas

Do you ever get frustrated with your marketing? Are you... Read More