How to Give a Memorable Presentation

You have spent weeks preparing for your presentation and you want people to remember what you say long after your presentation is over. How do you create this memorable experience for your audience? The goal of any presentation is to be remembered, but this is harder than it seems. The minute you take the stage and begin talking, you realize your audience isn’t nearly as interested in your content as you are. You have spent so much time working on remembering your own presentation that you have forgotten about working to ensure your audience remembers it too. 

Memorable speeches and presentations tug at the heartstrings of listeners and touch people in meaningful ways. They are presented in such a way that the audience still remembers the experience months after the presentation has ended. This kind of impact is powerful and is the difference between an average presentation and an excellent one. In order to be remembered, you must learn to entertain and engage your audience. It requires so much more than simply presenting information. You need to communicate in a way that resonates with your audience. Consider the following strategies to help you create a presentation that everyone will remember. 

Know Your Audience

It’s important to note that your presentation isn’t about you; it’s about your audience. Therefore, you need to tailor your presentation to meet the needs and interests of your audience. In order to appeal to them, you must get to know them. Start by considering their backgrounds, professional careers, age, demographics, and prior knowledge on the topic. Are you presenting to a room of colleagues in the same industry? Are you presenting to the general public? Does your audience share the same interests and values as you? Knowing this information allows you to adapt your presentation and personalize it so it relates to your audience. 

Tell a Story

In a presentation, stories can be one of the most effective means of communicating. Stories create a powerful connection between the speaker and the audience. It transforms the presentation from a group of words into a meaningful message. Stories bring the presentation to life in a way that is more relevant and interesting to listeners. Stories can be especially memorable when they are personal. When you speak from personal experience, you connect with your audience on a much deeper level. 

Be Authentic

A speaker who is genuine and authentic is well appreciated by their audience. Audiences relate better to a speaker who is authentic as opposed to one who is over-rehearsed. Rather than stiffly reading from a slideshow, be yourself and speak from the heart. This makes the presentation feel more like a conversation and that’s what audiences will remember. 

Engage Your Audience

There’s no question that audience engagement is the key to delivering a memorable presentation. When you involve your audience, they become part of your presentation and this makes it easier for them to embrace your ideas. It’s through this participation that the audience deepens their understanding of the topic and will therefore remember it long after it is over. 

Use a Catchphrase 

Find an image or catchphrase that can become your personal brand. Then, theme your presentation around it and make yourself become known for that phrase or image. Repeat it throughout your presentation so that it sticks in your audiences’ minds. Believe it or not, associating you with a specific phrase or image will help audiences remember the rest of your presentation. 

Have a Strong Opening and Closing

You only have a matter of seconds to grab your audience’s attention so your opening statements matter…a lot! Start with something interesting such as a fascinating fact or a thought-provoking question. This is a great way to captivate listeners right from the start and get them excited about your presentation. Do the same thing at the end of your presentation. You want to go out with a bang so your audience has something that sticks with them.