Presentations are all too often “data dumps,” a lot of information that we want to say. Rarely are presentations adequately tailored for a particular audience.
At CommCore we believe it is important that presentations are audience-focused. Here are a few tips to make your next presentation more Audience-Focused.
- Profile your audience. Before any presentation, it is vital to research who your audience is. Whether it’s a general audience of 1,000 or just 12 people in senior management, start with the key questions. Who am I speaking to? What are their interests? What do they need to know?
- Pare down your content. Once you have completed research on who your audience is, you should know what material is going to be the most essential and appropriate. Remember, less is more.
- Grab the audience. The grabber or opening statement, should introduce the topic in a catchy, arresting or amusing manner, or it should introduce you, creating a connection between you and your listeners. Grab the audience with an anecdote, case study or visual image that pulls them into the topic.
- Anticipate questions. Write down questions the audience might ask and be sure you either present answers during the body of the presentation, or have them at your disposal for the Q&A phase.
- Offer to be available after the presentation. Provide additional information, contact information and answer follow-up questions.