AlturaSolutions | B2B PR/Communications Agency

  • Home
  • About
    • Robert Kravitz
  • Services
  • Client Articles
  • Blog
  • Results
    • Results: Introducing the Kaivac No-Touch Cleaning System
    • Results: Introducing Waterless Urinals
    • Results: Promoting U.S. Products and Portable Carpet Extractors
    • Results: Introducing Enviro Solutions Cleaning Solutions
    • Results: Promoting Green Cleaning and a Green Cleaning Advocate
    • Praise
  • Videos
    • Interviews
      • Retail Theft: Interview with Mike Keenan
      • Political Extremism: Conversations with TAL Global
      • Making in the Cleaning Business
    • We Help B2B Experts Become Thought Leaders
    • Why Hire AlturaSolutions?
    • Video: What is PR
    • Say, What Do You Know About B2B Marketing Videos
    • What We Do
    • How to Hire a B2B Inbound Marketing Company
    • Do You Know the Power of Content When it Comes to Generating Sales?
    • COVID and Marketing. What to do Now?
    • Steve Jobs
    • Windows 95
    • PRINT IS DEAD, RIGHT?
    • Marketing Content Creation
    • Blogging Power
    • Thinking About Cutting Your Marketing Budget? Maybe Think Again
    • Inbound Marketing/Outbound Marketing What’s the Diff?
    • The Power of PR
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Blog! / Ten Tips on How to Give a Great Presentation

August 26, 2022 By Robert Kravitz

Ten Tips on How to Give a Great Presentation

Being an effective #ThoughtLeader often involves giving presentations – lots of presentations. At one time in my career, I was not a Thought Leader for the company I worked for, but a company spokesperson. My job was to give presentations at conventions, seminars, even at schools and universities, discussing key topics related to the company and its services.

Although I had been in speech classes in high school and college, that was a long time ago. So, I had to learn all over again how to give not only a good presentation but a great presentation.

Here are some of the things I learned:

Prepare Your Content

Initially, I wrote out everything I wanted to say and memorized it. This worked okay but sometimes resulted in a stilted presentation. If I ever needed to go off script, I could get flustered. In time I began to outline what I wanted to say instead. Having an outline kept my presentation focused while allowing for a conversational tone.

Tailor Your Presentation

Some famous presenters who travel from one convention to another do not bother to tailor their talks to their audiences. They figure whatever they have to say will prove valuable to anyone. That’s a mistake. Find out more about who will be attending your presentation. Students? B2B CEOs? Salespeople? Your talk must be tailored to your listeners.

Practice Does Make Perfect

As mentioned, initially, I memorized my presentations. I do not recommend memorizing a presentation, but I do recommend practicing it several times to yourself and in front of others. Also, make sure you practice without stopping. When practicing, we tend to start all over again if we stumble or make a mistake. That won’t be possible in front of a live audience. If you make a mistake – you just have to keep on going, so practice your presentation in the same manner.

Schmooze But Not Too Much

Most Thought Leaders like to make small talk with their audience for a few minutes before they start their presentation. A little schmoozing is fine. It breaks the ice for everyone. But keep it short. Schmoozing can get very dull very quickly, and you should not keep your audience waiting.

Be Careful with Teleprompters

Many presenters turn their laptops into teleprompters, whether giving a talk live or online. These can be immensely helpful but reading from a teleprompter can also build a wall between you and your audience.

The audience wants you to talk to them. You are a Thought Leader; they want to hear from you. This requires good eye contact, which is not always possible when using a teleprompter.

Use Simplified Visuals

Some presenters have spent a lot of time preparing exceptional visuals. The problem with amazing visuals is that they can become a distraction.

Presenters should include high-quality images and graphics where necessary to get the point across but beware of going overboard.

Speak Slowly

I did not realize it until someone pointed it out, but I tended to speak fast at the beginning of my presentations. As I got more comfortable on stage, I would slow down. Try to maintain a clear and steady presentation flow from start to end. It’s more engaging for the audience, and they will get more out of your presentation.

Control Your Nerves

A little stage fright goes a long way. A famous comedian once said that if he was not nervous before going on stage, he would bomb – and he was right. Same goes for Thought Leaders. When it comes to nervousness on stage, either we control the fear, or it controls us. Here are some ways to keep on top of it:

·     Don’t start your presentation as soon as you get on the platform. Give yourself a few seconds to get familiar with the setting.

·     Keep your feet firmly on the ground. Then, look at your audience and smile.

·     Discreetly, find someone you want to start speaking to directly. Finding one person helps your talk become a conversation; most good presentations are conversations.

Read Your Audience

I was once asked to give a talk to a company’s staff. For the first ten minutes, everyone seemed interested in what I was saying and was attentive. But soon, some started to look bored. I could have plowed on and gone through the material as quickly as possible to end everyone’s misery. Instead, I stopped and asked if there were any questions on anything covered so far. Some people did ask questions. Asking and answering questions turned the presentation into a conversation – and woke most people up.

Preparing for the Q&A

During the Q&A period, you may receive a question you did not anticipate – and therefore don’t know the answer. There are many tactful ways to handle this while on stage, such as offering to connect with the person afterward when you can find the answer for them or referring the person to a different resource. But the best way to handle this before the presentation is to prepare. Practicing in front of different groups can help elicit questions you hadn’t thought of before. Try to anticipate all questions that might arise, so you are prepared to answer them.

We create quality content that helps Thought Leaders turn their products, services, and expertise into business opportunities.

If you are a Thought Leader, individual, or organization ready to take your brand to the next level and would like AlturaSolutions to launch a strategic national PR campaign, let’s connect!

Filed Under: Blog!

Our Services

  • Thought Leadership Marketing
  • Social Media Marketing
  • Content Marketing
  • Article Publishing
  • Email Marketing

Follow us on Twitter

Tweets by @alturasolutions

Services

  • Thought Leadership Marketing
  • Social Media Marketing
  • Content Marketing
  • Article Publishing
  • Email Marketing

Recent Posts

  • AlturaSolutions Blogs Are Now Posted on LinkedIn
  • Ending the Confusion over Floor Safety
  • Best Times to Post on LinkedIn
  • Conversations With TAL Global on Political Extremism
  • My Experience With the Power of Content Marketing

Contact Us

Email: robert@alturasolutions.com
Phone: 312-880-8176

Office Location: 605 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

facebook AlturaSolutions linkedin AlturaSolutions

Copyright © 2023 · Log in