How to Create a Great Presentation (and Help Your Audience Remember It)

When you're preparing a presentation, don't think of it as just a series of slides packed with text. See it as your big opportunity to share an idea, knowledge, or a product in a way that will delight your audience, not put them to sleep. Here are a few tips to make the experience smooth, fun, and truly valuable for both you and your audience.

Photo: AI

Planning and Preparation

Define Your Goal

Start by asking yourself: “What do I want to achieve with this presentation?” Maybe you want to inspire, convince, inform, or simply make sure the audience doesn’t sneak out for a break before your big reveal. A clear goal will help you choose your content and tone wisely.

Know Your Audience.

Try to find out who will be listening. If you’re speaking to experts, skip the basic concepts. If you’re speaking to beginners, avoid complicated jargon and take the time to guide them through the topic. Mentally step into their shoes (hopefully comfy ones).

Organise Your Content

Introduction: Grab attention right away with an interesting anecdote, a joke, or a surprising statistic.

Body: Present key points logically, so the audience doesn't have to draw a family tree to follow your ideas.

Conclusion: Wrap up by emphasising the main takeaways and leave your audience with a thought or question they can carry with them.

Slide Creation

Stick to One Idea per Slide. Less is more: people will remember what’s highlighted clearly and simply, not what’s buried in an avalanche of data.

Keep Text Short. Ask yourself: Would you enjoy reading long blocks of text projected on a screen? If the answer isn’t "Yes, I absolutely love it!", cut it down.

Use Visuals. Add images, charts, or icons to break the monotony and make slides more engaging. Just be careful the visuals don’t outshine your message (unless your goal is to present surfing cats in sunglasses).

Maintain a Consistent Look. Use the same fonts, colours, and style throughout the presentation. That way, your audience can focus on the message, not spot the “design errors” between slides.

Mind Readability. Neon colours and tiny fonts turn your slides into eye exams, not presentations. Stick to high contrast and big enough letters to read comfortably.

Presentation Delivery

Pay Attention to Body Language. Stand upright, make eye contact, and smile when it feels natural. Save dancing on stage for another time (unless it’s part of the act).

Vary Your Voice and Pace. Speak loudly enough, but avoid sounding robotic. Slow down or pause at important points to let your audience digest what you’re saying.

Use Stories and Examples. People connect more easily to short, clear, and funny stories than to dry facts. Stories help you highlight key messages and make them stick.

Encourage Interaction. Ask a question, invite a quick comment. Participation keeps people awake and creates a sense of engagement.

Practice. Never underestimate the power of practising in front of a mirror or friends. It helps you get comfortable with your content and avoid stumbling over words you can’t even pronounce.

Motivation and Closing

Share Personal Stories. Audiences love seeing the human side of you. A quick personal anecdote or project story builds trust and brings your presentation to life.

Give a Clear Call to Action. If you want people to sign up for a workshop, try your advice, or support a project, say it clearly and directly.

End with a Strong Message. Instead of the usual "Thank you for your attention", leave them with a punchy statement. Something like: “And remember: nobody loves a slide with 200 words!”

Have Fun and Inspire

A successful presentation is a mix of solid preparation, a clear goal, and lively delivery. Add a touch of humour and real-life stories, and your audience will stay with you, probably even feel they’ve learned something valuable by the end. And remember: if you want to entertain your audience like a stand-up comedian, you need to prepare and rehearse – because great comedians don’t wing it without a plan. It’s that practice behind the scenes that turns a presentation into a small show people remember.