How to Write a Presentation Step by Step

The best way to tackle presentation nerves is to be prepared. Public speaking can be difficult, but adequate preparation can help you conquer your anxiety to deliver a presentation with confidence. How, then, do you prepare for an upcoming presentation? It starts with organizing your thoughts and creating an outline of what you want to say. Just as you gather all of your ingredients before baking a cake, you need to gather all of your ideas, facts, and information before giving a presentation. A presentation outline acts as the bones of a presentation, guiding you seamlessly from one point to another. Its purpose is to organize your thoughts into a logical sequence. Here we will guide you through the steps of crafting the perfect presentation.

1. Select a Topic

You may have a topic given to you, but if not, choose something that is of interest to you and the audience. It is important to choose a topic that your audience will find relevant. Likewise, you are more likely to do a good job if the topic is something that you are passionate about as well. Furthermore, try to choose a topic with which you are familiar. You will feel more comfortable and confident speaking about something in which you have prior knowledge. 

2. Know Your Audience

Another important step in the planning process is to know your audience. Are you speaking to colleagues, executives, customers, students, or the general public? Your presentation should be tailored to meet the needs of your specific audience. It can be completely different depending on whether your audience members are novices or experts in your field. Understanding who you are presenting to can help you select appropriate information, vocabulary, and anecdotes to convey your message. 

3. Determine Your Purpose

Now that you know your topic and your audience, it’s time to decide what you want the audience to learn and take away from your presentation. Are you teaching the audience something? Are you trying to sell a product or service? Are you trying to convince them to implement a new idea or strategy? Are you simply wanting to inform them about something? The purpose or objective of your presentation should be defined in one simple sentence and should specify exactly what you want your audience to learn from your presentation. 

4. Prepare the Body of the Presentation

Next, you need to determine how much information you can present in the time allotted. Again, think about your audience so you don’t prepare a presentation that is too basic or too advanced. The body is where you present your facts and ideas. Consider three to four details that support your main point. Be sure to illustrate your supporting details with facts and data, stories, quotes from experts, or personal experiences. Remember to vary your communication, as people quickly become bored by lots of facts and information.

5. Prepare you Introduction and Conclusion

Plan an introduction that draws your audience in and captures their attention right away. Start with a startling fact or statistic, a meaningful quote, or a quick story. The goal is to intrigue your audience right away so they want to hear more. When planning your conclusion, think about wrapping things up in a way that really drives home your main point. 

6. Prepare Your Visual Aids

Visual aids are an important part of a presentation because they help to illustrate your points. You can incorporate a variety of visuals such as photographs, objects, charts, graphs, videos, and a slideshow. Be sure you choose visuals that enhance your presentation and don’t detract from it. Make sure each visual serves a purpose, and it’s just there for a fancy look. Finally, make sure your visuals are relevant and easy to see and understand. This means avoiding text-heavy slides, small or fancy fonts that are difficult to read, or images that are too small to be seen from a distance.