There is one thing that separates a great presenter from the rest: they have the ability to connect with their audience. In any business presentation it is important to communicate information, but if the audience is not engaged they will tune you out and your presentation will be ineffective. Therefore, it is imperative that presenters learn a few strategies that will help them engage their audience and communicate effectively with a crowd.
Tell your audience what they will take away from your talk.
Let your audience know right from the start what they will learn and what things you want them to remember. They will understand exactly what your goals are and they will be more likely to retain the information.
Tell a story.
Everyone can appreciate a good story and this is a great way to get the audience emotionally connected. It is a good idea to tell a story within the first 10 minutes of your presentation. This is a powerful tool that can engage the audience and really capture their attention. It also helps to illustrate your key points in a way that the audience can relate to.
Set up a demonstration.
There is no better way to get the audience involved than by asking them to participate in a demonstration. Use the demonstration to convey pertinent information and allow the audience to experience it for themselves. This is a great way to add a memorable element to your presentation.
Use creative props.
Props can add value to your presentation because they capture audience attention. Choose a prop that is relevant to your message and use your imagination to get creative with your props. One way to do this is to think about analogies or metaphors for the points you want to make and choose a prop that would be appropriate.
Conduct an interactive game.
When delivering your presentation the audience is expected to sit and listen for a period of time.  Why not give them a break from listening and allow them to participate? You can do this by having a quiz game of sorts complete with prizes. This strategy allows you to turn your presentation into a fun activity that boosts attention and participation.
Use a video or audio clip.
Inserting short clips into your presentation provides a variation in the format and allows the audience to hear from a variety of speakers. A well-produced clip that includes testimonials, a message from the corporate president, or advice from experts can be a highly effective method for capturing audience attention.
Engaging your audience is fundamental in delivering a powerful presentation. You might have excellent information to present but if you are unable to engage your audience you will likely have an unproductive presentation. Use these strategies to help create a presentation that peaks interest and curiosity from the audience.