5 Fail-Proof Free Strategies to Ensure Your Business Stands Out
The Best Method for Perfecting Your Product
COMMUNICATION
16 Body Language Tips to Exude Confidence
How This Ed Tech Startup Got to 10 Million Users in 3 Years
Why SolarCity and Airbnb Are Partnering to Go After Each Other's Customers
Ikea's New Commercial Is the Funniest Thing You'll See Today
Science Says This Tasty Food Might Be the Fountain of Youth for Today's Workers
You Eat a Banana for Breakfast? Here's the Bad News
Want to Raise Successful Daughters? Nag the Heck Out of Them, Says Science
Why Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart's New TV Show Is an Absolutely Brilliant Business Idea
These Are the Tricks Top Marketers Use to Build Their Brands
7 Things Selfish People Do in the Workplace
5 Signs That a Career Breakthrough Is Around the Corner
6 Best Books to Boost Your Public Speaking Skills
6 Insider Tricks That Will Make Your Resume Look More Impressive
INNOVATE
Why Drones Actually Can't Deliver Packages to Homes
TODAY'S MUST READS
SALES
5 Tips for Giving Really Amazing Presentations
Don't waste a presentation opportunity with foolish mistakes. Give it every chance of winning the day.
BY KEVIN DAUM
@KevinJDaum
Some people live for making presentations; others consider it their worse nightmare. It could be five people in a boardroom or 500 in the audience, but if you are the presenter the spotlight is on you. You'll either be the hero or the goat.
No need to panic. Here are five ways to help make your presentation astounding and enjoy the opportunity to bask in the limelight.
1. Give it Focus
No one is impressed by a presentation that rambles. Rambling happens when the speaker is both self-indulgent and unorganized. Your purpose and prose must be specifically directed to interests of your listeners or they will mentally shut you down. Even if you hit upon a topic of interest, you will lose them quickly if they can't follow the logic of your ideas. Outline the structure of your presentation in a way that people can follow easily. Research your audience to make sure the topic is truly of interest. Promoting the benefits of beef at a vegetarian conference will likely empty your venue no matter how strong your passion for steak.
2. Tell Compelling Stories
There must be a reason you are presenting to these people. Most likely you want them to take action of some kind. Maybe you want them to write you a check, get involved in an activity, or to make something happen in their own lives. They won't likely take action just because you tell them to do so. You need to connect with them emotionally and inspire them to change behavior. Stories do more for emotional connection than any other speech technique.