How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (2024)

Last updated on Mar 11, 2024

  1. All
  2. Presentation Design

Powered by AI and the LinkedIn community

1

Know your audience

2

Craft a catchy title

3

Start with a hook

4

Use a simple structure

5

Design attractive slides

6

Practice and rehearse

7

Here’s what else to consider

You have a great idea, a compelling message, and a valuable offer. But how do you make sure your presentation captures the attention of your audience from the start and keeps them engaged throughout? In this article, you'll learn some practical tips and techniques to design a presentation that connects with your audience and persuades them to take action.

Top experts in this article

Selected by the community from 53 contributions. Learn more

How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (1)

Earn a Community Top Voice badge

Add to collaborative articles to get recognized for your expertise on your profile. Learn more

  • Jason Lonsdale Chief Strategy Officer

    How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (3) How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (4) How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (5) 12

  • Marilyn Barefoot Why is creativity the business differentiator? It fuels innovation, challenges people, and creates new business…

    How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (7) How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (8) 7

  • Harry V Co-Founder @ MideaHub, Your Presentation Design Partner

    How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (10) How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (11) 6

How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (12) How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (13) How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (14)

1 Know your audience

Before you start designing your presentation, you need to understand who your audience is, what they care about, and what they expect from you. Research their background, interests, goals, challenges, and preferences. Use surveys, interviews, or social media to gather insights. Then, tailor your presentation to their needs, motivations, and pain points. Show them that you know them, respect them, and can help them.

Add your perspective

Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)

  • Suraj Totlani (Sunny) Value Added Design | 3D | Presentation Designer
    • Report contribution

    Consider your audience's background, age, profession, and disposition. Although polished layouts and vibrant slides are beneficial, the real value comes from tailoring the design playfulness and vibrancy to match your users. A lively and colorful presentation is effective for a younger, tech-savvy demographic, but opting for straightforward layouts and monochromatic or bichromatic palettes is a safer choice for mature audiences who prefer delving into data and forming their own interpretations.

    Like

    How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (23) 4

    Unhelpful
  • Mayur Sheth Creative Entrepreneur | Presentation Designer | Experience Designer | UI/UX Head | Helping Startups with Pitch Deck Design | PowerPoint Trainer | Helped my clients to raise more than USD 10 Million.
    • Report contribution

    To create a presentation that captivates your audience from the start, focus on a compelling opening. Begin with a thought-provoking question, a relevant anecdote, or a visually striking image. Establish a clear purpose and outline key takeaways to guide your audience. Use concise and visually appealing slides, avoiding clutter. Maintain a conversational tone, encourage audience participation, and consider incorporating interactive elements. By grabbing attention early, delivering a clear message, and maintaining engagement, your presentation is more likely to resonate with your audience from the outset.

    Like

    How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (32) How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (33) 2

    Unhelpful

Load more contributions

2 Craft a catchy title

Your title is the first thing your audience will see and hear. It should spark their curiosity, interest, and emotion. Use clear, concise, and catchy words that communicate the main benefit or promise of your presentation. Avoid vague, generic, or boring titles that don't tell your audience what's in it for them. You can use a question, a statement, a statistic, a quote, or a wordplay to craft a catchy title.

Add your perspective

Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)

  • Renata C. Castelo Branco Presentation Design | Storytelling | Education | Content Design | Public Speaking
    • Report contribution

    É comum que estejamos inclinados a usar títulos descritivos em apresentações, mas será que eles realmente engajam nossa audiência?Entender o valor da história que será contada para a sua audiência e o que você espera como resultado ao terminar de apresentar são dois pontos cruciais para gerar títulos que prendam a atenção sem gerar frustrações que podem levar à rápida perda de interesse.Lembre-se de ser consistente ao longo da apresentação com este "convite" que é feito ao início, gerando ganchos e oferecendo uma resolução ao final, já seja ela uma conclusão ou um call to action.

    Translated

    Like

    How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (42) 3

    Unhelpful
    • Report contribution

    From my experience, a catchy title is important for engagement, but captivating your audience begins with a well-crafted opening. This means creating an introduction that resonates with their needs and promises value. Start with a compelling story, an unexpected fact, a challenging question, or a relatable scenario that aligns with your presentation's theme. It's about building a connection and conveying why your presentation matters. This sets the stage for an engaging and meaningful presentation.

    Like

    How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (51) How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (52) 2

    Unhelpful

Load more contributions

3 Start with a hook

Your opening is the most critical part of your presentation. It should grab your audience's attention, establish your credibility, and preview your main points. You can use a variety of hooks to start your presentation, such as a story, a quote, a statistic, a question, a joke, or a surprise. Choose a hook that relates to your topic, your audience, and your tone. Make sure your hook is relevant, engaging, and memorable.

Add your perspective

Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)

  • Lucas Sena Executivo de Contas na TotalPass - Foco Total na Saúde Física e Mental
    • Report contribution

    Eu chamo o início de uma apresentação de 'Contexto': Porque estamos aqui e por que estamos fazendo isso.Por isso, o meu ganho preferido é contar uma boa história, antes de ir para o conteúdo de fato.A jornada do herói nunca falha.

    Translated

    Like

    How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (61) 1

    Unhelpful
    • Report contribution

    In my experience, beginning a presentation involves not just capturing attention, but forging an immediate, authentic connection with your audience. While conventional hooks like stories or statistics are effective, sharing a personal insight or challenge related to the topic can be profoundly impactful. This approach grabs attention and humanizes you as the speaker, fostering deeper engagement. It's about striking a balance between professionalism and personal touch. Your opening should give the audience a glimpse into why the topic matters to you personally, setting the stage for an informative and emotionally resonant presentation. This method can transform a routine presentation into a memorable journey for your audience.

    Like

    How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (70) 1

    Unhelpful

Load more contributions

4 Use a simple structure

Your presentation should have a clear and logical structure that guides your audience through your key messages and arguments. A simple structure consists of three parts: introduction, body, and conclusion. In the introduction, you should state your purpose, outline your agenda, and preview your main points. In the body, you should develop your main points with evidence, examples, and explanations. In the conclusion, you should summarize your main points, restate your purpose, and call your audience to action.

Add your perspective

Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)

  • Lucas Sena Executivo de Contas na TotalPass - Foco Total na Saúde Física e Mental
    • Report contribution

    A estrutura diz muito sobre como o público vai absover o conteúdo.Por isso, quase sempre uso essa que funciona muito bem:1 - Contexto (conte uma história)2 - Problema (qual dor precisamos resolver)3 - Solução (como resolvemos isso)4 - Benefícios (o que se ganha com isso)5 - Além (a longo prazo, como isso ajuda)6 - Conclusão (resumo + frase de impacto)

    Translated

    Like

    How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (79) How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (80) 3

    Unhelpful
  • Fanny Barjhoux Freelance Experte Powerpoint et formatrice [Je design des slides utlra impactantes]🎯

    (edited)

    • Report contribution

    Représenter visuellement ces étapes vous permettra de ne pas perdre votre public. Il pourra voir le fil d'Ariane de votre présentation, du point de départ jusqu'à la conclusion et suivre sereinement ce que vous lui raconter.

    Translated

    Like

    How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (89) 1

    Unhelpful

Load more contributions

5 Design attractive slides

Your slides are the visual aids that support your verbal delivery. They should enhance your presentation, not distract or confuse your audience. To design attractive slides, you should follow some basic principles of visual design, such as contrast, alignment, repetition, and proximity. You should also use colors, fonts, images, icons, charts, and graphs that match your brand, your topic, and your audience. Avoid using too much text, clutter, or animation on your slides.

Add your perspective

Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)

  • Marilyn Barefoot Why is creativity the business differentiator? It fuels innovation, challenges people, and creates new business opportunities.
    • Report contribution

    Try using only highly visual slides ... no words ... no fonts ... no writing ... simply a series of incredible pictures that align with the points you are making. People are visual learners. Remember you are making a presentation not a document !!!! 😴😴😴😴

    Like

    How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (98) How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (99) 7

    Unhelpful
  • Harry V Co-Founder @ MideaHub, Your Presentation Design Partner
    • Report contribution

    Creating awesome slides is like having a cool trick up your sleeve to grab attention and win over audience. Stick to the basics: make sure your content is easy to follow through clear hierarchy and alignment, leading your audience through your main points without any confusion.Sprinkle in some eye-catching visuals, like cool images, clear charts, or fun illustrations, to give your points an extra kick. Play with colors and contrast to make your slides pop and catch everyone's eye. Use simple language that everyone can understand.Blend all these elements together, and your presentation won't just give information; it'll tell a story that grabs your audience's attention right from the start, making it memorable and engaging.

    Like

    How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (108) How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (109) 6

    Unhelpful
  • Lucas Sena Executivo de Contas na TotalPass - Foco Total na Saúde Física e Mental
    • Report contribution

    Os slides precisam ser estratégicos e intencionais, que acompanhem a fala e complementem as informações passadas.Assim como a trilha sonora de um filme intensifica os sentimentos, os slides tem o poder de elevar a emoção do público e tornar a apresentação memorável.

    Translated

    Like

    How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (118) How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (119) 6

    Unhelpful
    • Report contribution

    -Apply strong visual hierarchy and reduce clutter through decisive editing.-Use white space, alignment and grouping to organize content.-Ensure sufficient color and text contrast for readability.-Limit fonts and establish typographic rhythm from template styling.-Refine line spacing, kerning, leading for polished polish.-Support key data trends with simple charts and graphs over tables.-Replace walls of text with concise bullets, icons and imagery.-Only use subtle, meaningful animations that emphasize main points.-Maintain color palette, logo, and layout consistency with brand identity.-Check accessibility standards for text size, color contrast ratio.-Well-designed slides amplify your narrative without distraction.

    Like

    How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (128) 3

    Unhelpful

Load more contributions

6 Practice and rehearse

The final step to design a presentation that engages your audience is to practice and rehearse your delivery. You should practice your presentation several times before the actual event, preferably in front of a mirror, a camera, or a friend. You should also rehearse your presentation in the same setting, equipment, and time frame as the real one. Practicing and rehearsing will help you improve your confidence, clarity, and charisma.

Add your perspective

Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)

  • Fanny Barjhoux Freelance Experte Powerpoint et formatrice [Je design des slides utlra impactantes]🎯
    • Report contribution

    Dans ce genre de situation, le support visuel d'une présentation aide à structurer sa pensée et rester synthétique slide à slide lorsque l'on répète. Elle vient appuyer le propos et permet de recentrer son discours en cas de flottement.

    Translated

    Like

    How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (137) 1

    Unhelpful
    • Report contribution

    -Invest time practicing delivery out loud in a mirror before presenting live.-Simulate actual event environment, setup, technology and time allotment.-Rehearse before colleagues or friends and ask for constructive feedback.-Refine pacing, volume modulation and hand gestures through self-analysis.-Watch video recordings to gauge body language and verbal crutch use.-Do multiple timed dry runs to build muscle memory and comfort with content flow.-Test clicker flow and presentation remote while rehearsing.-Outline speaking notes to avoid reading directly from slides.-Isolate tricky transitions or graphics and rehearse them until flawless.-Meticulous practice embeds confident delivery deeply to unlock authentic presence.

    Like
    Unhelpful

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

Add your perspective

Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)

  • Jason Lonsdale Chief Strategy Officer
    • Report contribution

    First, think about what you are going to SAY. How do you make it compelling without slides? YOU are the presentation, not your deck.So, first, write your speech. Then craft slides to accompany your narrative. Don’t compete with it.Use visuals more than words. Treat each slides like a billboard, not an essay. Remember that most people stop listening when they start reading. Pro tip if memorizing a whole preso is too daunting: put your words into the “speakers notes” section, not on the screen. Also allows the deck to work as a leave-behind document too.

    Like

    How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (154) How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (155) How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (156) 12

    Unhelpful
  • ADITI S. ✍ CONTENT WRITER📱Social Media Executive🔥Influencer with 14.4k+ followers💎1.1k followers on Quora📌250+ posts/articles written for clients📌150+ articles/blogs written as a Content Writer💎Content Reviewer
    • Report contribution

    Start with a compelling hook or question to grab attention. Use visuals that support your message and avoid clutter. Keep slides concise, focusing on key points. Incorporate stories or anecdotes to make it relatable. Encourage audience interaction through questions or polls. Maintain a conversational tone, and vary your delivery to prevent monotony. End with a strong conclusion that summarizes key takeaways. Practice, so you appear confident and connected with your audience.

    Like

    How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (165) 3

    Unhelpful
  • Eloke Ikiliagwu Digital Product Designer — Currently Improving User Interactions with AI through Human-Centric Design at Kwame AI.
    • Report contribution

    A best practice is to focus on conveying only one idea per slide. Treat each slide as valuable real estate. Avoid cramming too much content into it. When done this way, it is simpler and much easier for any audience to follow and engage.Additionally, it is crucial to refrain from directly reading the content verbatim from these slides. Doing this diminishes the effectiveness of the presentation and does not encourage active listening and engagement.

    Like

    How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (174) How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (175) 2

    Unhelpful

Presentation Design How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (176)

Presentation Design

+ Follow

Rate this article

We created this article with the help of AI. What do you think of it?

It’s great It’s not so great

Thanks for your feedback

Your feedback is private. Like or react to bring the conversation to your network.

Tell us more

Report this article

More articles on Presentation Design

No more previous content

  • How do you create a consistent visual identity for your portfolio? 10 contributions
  • What are some of the common challenges and pitfalls of presentation design? 23 contributions
  • How do you evaluate and improve your typography skills as a presentation designer? 7 contributions
  • How do you demonstrate your versatility and adaptability as a presentation designer in your portfolio? 9 contributions
  • How do you use grids and guides to create a balanced and symmetrical slide layout? 7 contributions
  • How can you avoid common presentation delivery mistakes? 25 contributions
  • What are some of the best tools and techniques for creating interactive presentations? 5 contributions
  • How do you use design principles and best practices to evaluate and improve your slide layout and formatting? 8 contributions
  • How do you showcase your presentation design portfolio to potential clients? 5 contributions
  • What are the benefits and challenges of working as a freelance presentation designer? 12 contributions
  • How do you test and evaluate your presentation design for different learning styles? 6 contributions

No more next content

See all

More relevant reading

  • Conference Speaking How do you make your presentation work for any audience?
  • Presentation Skills What do you do if your presentation slides are drowning out your message?
  • Project Management How can you make your presentation more accessible to all audience members?
  • Presentations How do you reinforce your presentation goals with visuals and words?

Help improve contributions

Mark contributions as unhelpful if you find them irrelevant or not valuable to the article. This feedback is private to you and won’t be shared publicly.

Contribution hidden for you

This feedback is never shared publicly, we’ll use it to show better contributions to everyone.

Are you sure you want to delete your contribution?

Are you sure you want to delete your reply?

How do you design a presentation that engages your audience from the start? (2024)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Margart Wisoky

Last Updated:

Views: 5829

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (78 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Margart Wisoky

Birthday: 1993-05-13

Address: 2113 Abernathy Knoll, New Tamerafurt, CT 66893-2169

Phone: +25815234346805

Job: Central Developer

Hobby: Machining, Pottery, Rafting, Cosplaying, Jogging, Taekwondo, Scouting

Introduction: My name is Margart Wisoky, I am a gorgeous, shiny, successful, beautiful, adventurous, excited, pleasant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.