what is presentation hierarchy

Improve your practice.

Enhance your soft skills with a range of award-winning courses.

How to Structure your Presentation, with Examples

August 3, 2018 - Dom Barnard

For many people the thought of delivering a presentation is a daunting task and brings about a  great deal of nerves . However, if you take some time to understand how effective presentations are structured and then apply this structure to your own presentation, you’ll appear much more confident and relaxed.

Here is our complete guide for structuring your presentation, with examples at the end of the article to demonstrate these points.

Why is structuring a presentation so important?

If you’ve ever sat through a great presentation, you’ll have left feeling either inspired or informed on a given topic. This isn’t because the speaker was the most knowledgeable or motivating person in the world. Instead, it’s because they know how to structure presentations – they have crafted their message in a logical and simple way that has allowed the audience can keep up with them and take away key messages.

Research has supported this, with studies showing that audiences retain structured information  40% more accurately  than unstructured information.

In fact, not only is structuring a presentation important for the benefit of the audience’s understanding, it’s also important for you as the speaker. A good structure helps you remain calm, stay on topic, and avoid any awkward silences.

What will affect your presentation structure?

Generally speaking, there is a natural flow that any decent presentation will follow which we will go into shortly. However, you should be aware that all presentation structures will be different in their own unique way and this will be due to a number of factors, including:

• Whether you need to deliver any demonstrations
• How  knowledgeable the audience  already is on the given subject
• How much interaction you want from the audience
• Any time constraints there are for your talk
• What setting you are in
• Your ability to use any kinds of visual assistance

Before choosing the presentation’s structure answer these questions first:

• What is your presentation’s aim?
• Who are the audience?
• What are the main points your audience should remember afterwards?

When reading the points below, think critically about what things may cause your presentation structure to be slightly different. You can add in certain elements and add more focus to certain moments if that works better for your speech.

What is the typical presentation structure?

This is the usual flow of a presentation, which covers all the vital sections and is a good starting point for yours. It allows your audience to easily follow along and sets out a solid structure you can add your content to.

1. Greet the audience and introduce yourself

Before you start delivering your talk, introduce yourself to the audience and clarify who you are and your relevant expertise. This does not need to be long or incredibly detailed, but will help build an immediate relationship between you and the audience. It gives you the chance to briefly clarify your expertise and why you are worth listening to. This will help establish your ethos so the audience will trust you more and think you’re credible.

Read our tips on  How to Start a Presentation Effectively

2. Introduction

In the introduction you need to explain the subject and purpose of your presentation whilst gaining the audience’s interest and confidence. It’s sometimes helpful to think of your introduction as funnel-shaped to help filter down your topic:

• Introduce your general topic
• Explain your topic area
• State the issues/challenges in this area you will be exploring
• State your presentation’s purpose – this is the basis of your presentation so ensure that you provide a statement explaining how the topic will be treated, for example, “I will argue that…” or maybe you will “compare”, “analyse”, “evaluate”, “describe” etc.
• Provide a statement of what you’re hoping the outcome of the presentation will be, for example, “I’m hoping this will be provide you with…”
• Show a preview of the organisation of your presentation

In this section also explain:

• The length of the talk.
• Signal whether you want audience interaction – some presenters prefer the audience to ask questions throughout whereas others allocate a specific section for this.
• If it applies, inform the audience whether to take notes or whether you will be providing handouts.

The way you structure your introduction can depend on the amount of time you have been given to present: a  sales pitch  may consist of a quick presentation so you may begin with your conclusion and then provide the evidence. Conversely, a speaker presenting their idea for change in the world would be better suited to start with the evidence and then conclude what this means for the audience.

Keep in mind that the main aim of the introduction is to grab the audience’s attention and connect with them.

3. The main body of your talk

The main body of your talk needs to meet the promises you made in the introduction. Depending on the nature of your presentation, clearly segment the different topics you will be discussing, and then work your way through them one at a time – it’s important for everything to be organised logically for the audience to fully understand. There are many different ways to organise your main points, such as, by priority, theme, chronologically etc.

• Main points should be addressed one by one with supporting evidence and examples.
• Before moving on to the next point you should provide a mini-summary.
• Links should be clearly stated between ideas and you must make it clear when you’re moving onto the next point.
• Allow time for people to take relevant notes and stick to the topics you have prepared beforehand rather than straying too far off topic.

When planning your presentation write a list of main points you want to make and ask yourself “What I am telling the audience? What should they understand from this?” refining your answers this way will help you produce clear messages.

4. Conclusion

In presentations the conclusion is frequently underdeveloped and lacks purpose which is a shame as it’s the best place to reinforce your messages. Typically, your presentation has a specific goal – that could be to convert a number of the audience members into customers, lead to a certain number of enquiries to make people knowledgeable on specific key points, or to motivate them towards a shared goal.

Regardless of what that goal is, be sure to summarise your main points and their implications. This clarifies the overall purpose of your talk and reinforces your reason for being there.

Follow these steps:

• Signal that it’s nearly the end of your presentation, for example, “As we wrap up/as we wind down the talk…”
• Restate the topic and purpose of your presentation – “In this speech I wanted to compare…”
• Summarise the main points, including their implications and conclusions
• Indicate what is next/a call to action/a thought-provoking takeaway
• Move on to the last section

5. Thank the audience and invite questions

Conclude your talk by thanking the audience for their time and invite them to  ask any questions  they may have. As mentioned earlier, personal circumstances will affect the structure of your presentation.

Many presenters prefer to make the Q&A session the key part of their talk and try to speed through the main body of the presentation. This is totally fine, but it is still best to focus on delivering some sort of initial presentation to set the tone and topics for discussion in the Q&A.

Other common presentation structures

The above was a description of a basic presentation, here are some more specific presentation layouts:

Demonstration

Use the demonstration structure when you have something useful to show. This is usually used when you want to show how a product works. Steve Jobs frequently used this technique in his presentations.

• Explain why the product is valuable.
• Describe why the product is necessary.
• Explain what problems it can solve for the audience.
• Demonstrate the product  to support what you’ve been saying.
• Make suggestions of other things it can do to make the audience curious.

Problem-solution

This structure is particularly useful in persuading the audience.

• Briefly frame the issue.
• Go into the issue in detail showing why it ‘s such a problem. Use logos and pathos for this – the logical and emotional appeals.
• Provide the solution and explain why this would also help the audience.
• Call to action – something you want the audience to do which is straightforward and pertinent to the solution.

Storytelling

As well as incorporating  stories in your presentation , you can organise your whole presentation as a story. There are lots of different type of story structures you can use – a popular choice is the monomyth – the hero’s journey. In a monomyth, a hero goes on a difficult journey or takes on a challenge – they move from the familiar into the unknown. After facing obstacles and ultimately succeeding the hero returns home, transformed and with newfound wisdom.

Storytelling for Business Success  webinar , where well-know storyteller Javier Bernad shares strategies for crafting compelling narratives.

Another popular choice for using a story to structure your presentation is in media ras (in the middle of thing). In this type of story you launch right into the action by providing a snippet/teaser of what’s happening and then you start explaining the events that led to that event. This is engaging because you’re starting your story at the most exciting part which will make the audience curious – they’ll want to know how you got there.

• Great storytelling: Examples from Alibaba Founder, Jack Ma

Remaining method

The remaining method structure is good for situations where you’re presenting your perspective on a controversial topic which has split people’s opinions.

• Go into the issue in detail showing why it’s such a problem – use logos and pathos.
• Rebut your opponents’ solutions  – explain why their solutions could be useful because the audience will see this as fair and will therefore think you’re trustworthy, and then explain why you think these solutions are not valid.
• After you’ve presented all the alternatives provide your solution, the remaining solution. This is very persuasive because it looks like the winning idea, especially with the audience believing that you’re fair and trustworthy.

Transitions

When delivering presentations it’s important for your words and ideas to flow so your audience can understand how everything links together and why it’s all relevant. This can be done  using speech transitions  which are words and phrases that allow you to smoothly move from one point to another so that your speech flows and your presentation is unified.

Transitions can be one word, a phrase or a full sentence – there are many different forms, here are some examples:

Moving from the introduction to the first point

Signify to the audience that you will now begin discussing the first main point:

• Now that you’re aware of the overview, let’s begin with…
• First, let’s begin with…
• I will first cover…
• My first point covers…
• To get started, let’s look at…

Shifting between similar points

Move from one point to a similar one:

• In the same way…
• Likewise…
• Equally…
• This is similar to…
• Similarly…

Internal summaries

Internal summarising consists of summarising before moving on to the next point. You must inform the audience:

• What part of the presentation you covered – “In the first part of this speech we’ve covered…”
• What the key points were – “Precisely how…”
• How this links in with the overall presentation – “So that’s the context…”
• What you’re moving on to – “Now I’d like to move on to the second part of presentation which looks at…”

Physical movement

You can move your body and your standing location when you transition to another point. The audience find it easier to follow your presentation and movement will increase their interest.

A common technique for incorporating movement into your presentation is to:

• Start your introduction by standing in the centre of the stage.
• For your first point you stand on the left side of the stage.
• You discuss your second point from the centre again.
• You stand on the right side of the stage for your third point.
• The conclusion occurs in the centre.

Key slides for your presentation

Slides are a useful tool for most presentations: they can greatly assist in the delivery of your message and help the audience follow along with what you are saying. Key slides include:

• An intro slide outlining your ideas
• A  summary slide  with core points to remember
• High quality image slides to supplement what you are saying

There are some presenters who choose not to use slides at all, though this is more of a rarity. Slides can be a powerful tool if used properly, but the problem is that many fail to do just that. Here are some golden rules to follow when using slides in a presentation:

• Don’t over fill them  – your slides are there to assist your speech, rather than be the focal point. They should have as little information as possible, to avoid distracting people from your talk.
• A picture says a thousand words  – instead of filling a slide with text, instead, focus on one or two images or diagrams to help support and explain the point you are discussing at that time.
• Make them readable  – depending on the size of your audience, some may not be able to see small text or images, so make everything large enough to fill the space.
• Don’t rush through slides  – give the audience enough time to digest each slide.

Guy Kawasaki, an entrepreneur and author, suggests that slideshows should follow a  10-20-30 rule :

• There should be a maximum of 10 slides – people rarely remember more than one concept afterwards so there’s no point overwhelming them with unnecessary information.
• The presentation should last no longer than 20 minutes as this will leave time for questions and discussion.
• The font size should be a minimum of 30pt because the audience reads faster than you talk so less information on the slides means that there is less chance of the audience being distracted.

Here are some additional resources for slide design:

• 7 design tips for effective, beautiful PowerPoint presentations
• 11 design tips for beautiful presentations
• 10 tips on how to make slides that communicate your idea

Group Presentations

Group presentations are structured in the same way as presentations with one speaker but usually require more rehearsal and practices.  Clean transitioning between speakers  is very important in producing a presentation that flows well. One way of doing this consists of:

• Briefly recap on what you covered in your section: “So that was a brief introduction on what health anxiety is and how it can affect somebody”
• Introduce the next speaker in the team and explain what they will discuss: “Now Elnaz will talk about the prevalence of health anxiety.”
• Then end by looking at the next speaker, gesturing towards them and saying their name: “Elnaz”.
• The next speaker should acknowledge this with a quick: “Thank you Joe.”

From this example you can see how the different sections of the presentations link which makes it easier for the audience to follow and remain engaged.

Example of great presentation structure and delivery

Having examples of great presentations will help inspire your own structures, here are a few such examples, each unique and inspiring in their own way.

How Google Works – by Eric Schmidt

This presentation by ex-Google CEO  Eric Schmidt  demonstrates some of the most important lessons he and his team have learnt with regards to working with some of the most talented individuals they hired. The simplistic yet cohesive style of all of the slides is something to be appreciated. They are relatively straightforward, yet add power and clarity to the narrative of the presentation.

Start with why – by Simon Sinek

Since being released in 2009, this presentation has been viewed almost four million times all around the world. The message itself is very powerful, however, it’s not an idea that hasn’t been heard before. What makes this presentation so powerful is the simple message he is getting across, and the straightforward and understandable manner in which he delivers it. Also note that he doesn’t use any slides, just a whiteboard where he creates a simple diagram of his opinion.

The Wisdom of a Third Grade Dropout – by Rick Rigsby

Here’s an example of a presentation given by a relatively unknown individual looking to inspire the next generation of graduates. Rick’s presentation is unique in many ways compared to the two above. Notably, he uses no visual prompts and includes a great deal of humour.

However, what is similar is the structure he uses. He first introduces his message that the wisest man he knew was a third-grade dropout. He then proceeds to deliver his main body of argument, and in the end, concludes with his message. This powerful speech keeps the viewer engaged throughout, through a mixture of heart-warming sentiment, powerful life advice and engaging humour.

As you can see from the examples above, and as it has been expressed throughout, a great presentation structure means analysing the core message of your presentation. Decide on a key message you want to impart the audience with, and then craft an engaging way of delivering it.

By preparing a solid structure, and  practising your talk  beforehand, you can walk into the presentation with confidence and deliver a meaningful message to an interested audience.

It’s important for a presentation to be well-structured so it can have the most impact on your audience. An unstructured presentation can be difficult to follow and even frustrating to listen to. The heart of your speech are your main points supported by evidence and your transitions should assist the movement between points and clarify how everything is linked.

Research suggests that the audience remember the first and last things you say so your introduction and conclusion are vital for reinforcing your points. Essentially, ensure you spend the time structuring your presentation and addressing all of the sections.

Blog > How to structure a good PowerPoint Presentation

How to structure a good PowerPoint Presentation

08.09.21   •  #powerpoint #tips.

When creating presentations, it is particularly important that they are well organized and have a consistent structure.

A logical structure helps the audience to follow you and to remember the core information as best as possible. It is also important for the presenter, as a good presentation structure helps to keep calm, to stay on the topic and to avoid awkward pauses.

But what does such a structure actually look like? Here we show you how to best organize your presentation and what a good structure looks like.

Plan your presentation

Before you start creating your presentation, you should always brainstorm. Think about the topic and write all your ideas down. Then think about the message you want to communicate, what your goal is and what you want your audience to remember at the end.

Think about who your audience is so that you can address them in the best possible way. One possibility is to start your presentation with a few polls to get to know your audience better. Based on the results, you can then adapt your presentation a little. Use the poll function of SlideLizard and have all the answers at a glance. SlideLizard makes it possible to integrate the polls directly into your PowerPoint presentation which helps you to avoid annoying switching between presentation and interaction tool. You can keep an eye on the results while the votes come in and then decide whether you want to share them or not.

• an informative
• an entertaining
• an inspiring
• or a persuasive presentation?

Typical Presentation Structure

The basic structure of a presentation is actually always the same and should consist of:

Introduction

Make sure that the structure of your presentation is not too complicated. The simpler it is, the better the audience can follow.

Personal Introduction

It is best to start your presentation by briefly introducing yourself which helps to build a connection with your audience right away.

Introduce the topic

Then introduce the topic, state the purpose of the presentation and provide a brief outline of the main points you will be addressing.

Mention the length

In the introduction, mention the approximate length of the talk and then also make sure you stick to it.

The introduction should be no longer than two slides and provide a good overview of the topic.

Icebreaker Polls

According to studies, people in the audience only have an average attention span of 10 minutes, which is why it is important to increase their attention right at the beginning and to arouse the audience's interest. You could make a good start with a few icebreaker polls for example. They lighten the mood right at the beginning and you can secure your audience's attention from the start.

For example, you could use SlideLizard to have all the answers at a glance and share them with your audience. In addition, the audience can try out how the polls work and already know how it works if you include more polls in the main part.

Get to know your audience

As mentioned earlier, it is always useful to think about who your audience actually is. Ask them questions at the beginning about how well they already know the topic of your presentation. Use SlideLizard for this so that you have a clear overview about the answers. You can use both single- and multiple-choice questions or also open questions and display their results as a WordCloud in your presentation, for example.

Include a quote

To make the beginning (or the end) of your presentation more exciting, it is always a good idea to include a quote. We have selected some powerful quotes for PowerPoint presentations for you.

Present your topic

The main part of a presentation should explain the topic well, state facts, justify them and give examples. Keep all the promises you made earlier in the introduction.

Length and Structure

The main part should make up about 70% of the presentation and also include a clear structure. Explain your ideas in detail and build them up logically. It should be organized chronologically, by priority or by topic. There should be a smooth transition between the individual issues. However, it is also important to use phrases that make it clear that a new topic is starting. We have listed some useful phrases for presentations here.

Visualize data and statistics and show pictures to underline facts. If you are still looking for good images, we have selected 5 sources of free images for you here.

Focus on the essentials

Focus on what is most important and summarize a bit. You don't have to say everything about a topic because your audience won’t remember everything either. Avoid complicated sentence structure, because if the audience does not understand something, they will not be able to read it again.

Make your presentation interactive

Make your presentation interactive to keep the attention of your audience. Use SlideLizard to include polls in your presentation, where your audience can vote directly from their smartphone and discuss the answers as soon as you received all votes. Here you can also find more tips for increasing audience engagement.

Repeat the main points

The conclusion should contain a summary of the most important key points. Repeat the main points you have made, summarize what the audience should have learned and explain how the new information can help in the future.

Include a Q&A part

Include a Q&A part at the end to make sure you don't leave any questions open. It's a good idea to use tools like SlideLizard for it. Your audience can ask anonymous questions and if there is not enough time, you can give them the answers afterwards. You can read more about the right way to do a question slide in PowerPoint here.

Get Feedback

It is also important to get feedback on your presentation at the end to keep improving. With SlideLizard you can ask your audience for anonymous feedback through star ratings, number ratings or open texts directly after your presentation. You can then export the responses and analyse them later in Excel.

Presentation style

Depending on the type of presentation you give, the structure will always be slightly different. We have selected a few different presentation styles and their structure for you.

Short Presentation

If you are one of many presenters on the day, you will only have a very limited time to present your idea and to convince your audience. It is very important to stand out with your presentation.

So you need to summarize your ideas as briefly as possible and probably should not need more than 3-5 slides.

Problem Solving Presentation

Start your presentation by explaining a problem and giving a short overview of it.

Then go into the problem a little more, providing both intellectual and emotional arguments for the seriousness of the problem. You should spend about the first 25% of your presentation on the problem.

After that, you should spend about 50% of your presentation proposing a solution and explaining it in detail.

In the last 25%, describe what benefits this solution will bring to your audience and ask them to take a simple but relevant action that relates to the problem being discussed.

Tell a Story

A great way to build an emotional connection with the audience is to structure a presentation like a story.

In the introduction, introduce a character who has to deal with a conflict. In the main part, tell how he tries to solve his problem but fails again and again. In the end, he manages to find a solution and wins.

Stories have the power to win customers, align colleagues and motivate employees. They’re the most compelling platform we have for managing imaginations. - Nancy Duarte / HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations

Make a demonstration

Use the demonstration structure to show how a product works. First talk about a need or a problem that has to be solved.

Then explain how the product will help solve the problem and try to convince your audience of the need for your product.

Spend the end clarifying where and when the product can be purchased.

Chronological structure

When you have something historical to tell, it is always good to use a chronological structure. You always have to ask yourself what happens next.

To make it more interesting and exciting, it is a good idea to start by telling the end of something and after that you explain how you got there. This way you make the audience curious and you can gain their attention faster.

Nancy Duarte TED Talk

Nancy Duarte is a speaker and presentation design expert. She gives speeches all over the world, trying to improve the power of public presentations.

In her famous TED Talk "The Secret Structure of Great Talks" she dissects famous speeches such as Steve Jobs' iPhone launch speech and Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech. In doing so, she found out that each presentation is made up of 4 parts:

• What could be
• A moment to remember
• Promise of “New Bliss”

Related articles

About the author.

Helena Reitinger

Helena supports the SlideLizard team in marketing and design. She loves to express her creativity in texts and graphics.

Get 1 Month for free!

Do you want to make your presentations more interactive.

With SlideLizard you can engage your audience with live polls, questions and feedback . Directly within your PowerPoint Presentation. Learn more

Top blog articles More posts

How to mask images to crop to shape in PowerPoint

Record voice narration for PowerPoint

Get started with Live Polls, Q&A and slides

for your PowerPoint Presentations

The big SlideLizard presentation glossary

Slide transitions.

Slide transitions are visual effects which appear in PowerPoint when one slide moves to the next. There are many different transitions, like for example fade and dissolve.

Solution Presentation

A solution has already been found during a solution presentation. The only thing that remains is to find a solution on how to realize the decision.

Learning on Demand

Learning on Demand means that the content is available extactly when it's needed by the learner

Virtual Reality

With Virtual Reality people can practice situations and important processes in a virtual room by putting on special digital glasses. They can influence what happens themselves.

Be the first to know!

The latest SlideLizard news, articles, and resources, sent straight to your inbox.

- or follow us on -

We use cookies to personalize content and analyze traffic to our website. You can choose to accept only cookies that are necessary for the website to function or to also allow tracking cookies. For more information, please see our privacy policy .

Cookie Settings

Necessary cookies are required for the proper functioning of the website. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information about the number of visitors, etc.

Home Blog Business Presentation Structure Guidelines for Effective Communication

Presentation Structure Guidelines for Effective Communication

In the business world, a presentation is so much more than just a bunch of slides or points—it’s a golden opportunity. It can sway decisions, propel change, or bring people together. How you structure your presentation is absolutely critical in getting your ideas across clearly and compellingly. 

When you’ve got a structured presentation just right, it’s like you’re taking your audience by the hand and guiding them through your thoughts, making sure they pick up all the important bits along the way. Moreover, it speaks of your degree of professionalism and how much knowledge you bear on the topic in question. 

Therefore, nailing your presentation structure isn’t just helpful; it’s downright necessary to get the results you’re after. Whether you’re pitching a new concept to the investors, sharing the latest findings with your team, or taking the stage at a conference, how you lay out your content becomes the language you use to interact with your audience. Get to know all that’s required to create a powerful presentation structure that will guarantee success in business meetings, academic dissertations, or motivational talks .

Table of Contents

What is a Presentation Structure

Introduction, techniques to structure your presentation, common mistakes to avoid when designing a presentation structure, final words.

Let’s compare a presentation structure to a business plan . Just as a business plan is essential for guiding a company’s strategy and ensuring all aspects of the business are aligned toward common goals, a presentation structure is crucial for organizing the content and delivery of your talk. 

The presentation structure lays out a clear and logical sequence of information, akin to the sections of a business plan that outline the company’s mission , market analysis , and financial projections. This clear sequence ensures that your audience can easily follow and understand your message, maximizing the impact your speech can deliver and influencing your target audience. 

Key Elements of a Presentation Structure

The easiest way to study a presentation structure is to subdivide it into sections. Basically, every presentation has a structure that follows this formula: Introduction > Body > Conclusion.

The introduction is the first section of the presentation and sets the tone for the rest of the presentation. It should be attention-grabbing and make the audience want to listen to the rest of the presentation.

When defining how to start a presentation , these are the best tips we recommend you implement.

Start with a Hook

Kick off your introduction with a strong hook that grabs your audience’s attention. This could be an intriguing fact, a thought-provoking question, or a compelling story related to your topic. A captivating opening will make your audience want to listen and engage with your presentation.

Clearly State Your Topic

Be clear and concise when stating your topic. Your audience should immediately understand what your presentation is about and what they can expect to learn. A clear statement of your topic sets the stage and provides a roadmap for the rest of your presentation.

Establish Credibility

Take a moment to establish your credibility by briefly sharing your qualifications or experience related to the topic. This helps to build trust and rapport with your audience, and it shows that you are knowledgeable and well-prepared.

Engage Your Audience

Make your audience part of the presentation by engaging them from the start. Ask a question, encourage participation, or invite them to think about how the topic relates to their own experiences. Engagement helps to create a connection between you and your audience. Using a surprise factor is an alternative if you feel the topic you’re about to present may not fully resonate with the target audience.

Preview Main Points

End your introduction by briefly previewing the main points you will cover in your presentation. This provides a clear structure for your audience to follow and helps them understand what to expect in the body of your presentation. An agenda slide is the perfect tool for this purpose.

The body is the main part of the presentation and provides the content and information that the audience came to hear. It should feature the main points and details supporting your presentation’s objective. Depending on your topic, this could include data, arguments, case studies, examples, or demonstrations. Each main point should be clear and distinct, with evidence or examples substantiating it. The content should be tailored to your audience’s level of knowledge and interest.

Different presentations call for various structures. For example, a Product Presentation ’s structure should start by dividing the content into clear sections or headings. For instance, if presenting a new software tool, sections could include its features, benefits, and user feedback.

On the other hand, a Persuasive Presentation begins with stating the current situation or problem, followed by proposed solutions, evidence supporting those solutions, and the benefits of adopting your proposition.

Workshop or Training Presentations begin with an overview of what will be taught, followed by step-by-step instructions, examples, demonstrations, and summaries or quizzes after each major section.

One essential aspect is to plan the multimedia elements to include in your presentation, including audio, images, and video, depending on the presentation style you aim to deliver. Through our expertise, we want to share some tips on how to plan this kind of content:

• Using relevant content: Each image should be related to its accompanying content. Avoid using images just for decoration. If using videos, dedicate an entire slide to them rather than sticking them to a corner of your slide. Plan a powerful hook to connect your thoughts with these visual aids.
• Quality: Ensure all images are of high resolution and can be clearly viewed, even from a distance. Avoid pixelated or distorted images.
• Simplicity: Infographics and diagrams should be easy to understand. If presenting data, use simple charts or graphs instead of complex tables. Limit the amount of text on each slide to ensure clarity. This rule of simplicity also applies to written content and the structure of your speech. Use the Feynman Technique as a time-saver approach to simplify content to reach any knowledgeable audience.
• Consistency: A common cause of presentation failures is to distract the audience with an unprofessional look. Maintain a consistent style and color scheme for all images to give your presentation a polished and professional feel.

Along the path of creating these media elements, you can rethink your strategy for disclosing content. In general lines, you should present your points in a logical order, often from the most to least important or in a chronological sequence. This helps the audience follow along and build understanding step by step. Well-known practices like the storytelling technique follow this approach to maximize audience engagement. 

Transition smoothly between points. Phrases like “moving on,” “in addition,” or “on the other hand” can guide your audience through your narrative. Break up long sections of spoken content with anecdotes, questions, or short videos. Such an approach adds variety and keeps the audience engaged.

A well-structured conclusion is the linchpin that holds your presentation together, reinforcing your main points and leaving a lasting impression on your audience. It is your final opportunity to communicate your message and encourage audience engagement. So, before you consider how to end a presentation , here are some powerful tips to ensure you conclude your presentation with impact.

End with a Strong Statement or Quote

This technique is commonly used in motivational presentations, where the speaker leaves the audience with a slide containing a quote related to the topic of the presentation, something that evokes inner reflection about the topic discussed. 

Conclude your presentation with a strong, memorable statement or a powerful quote that ties back to your main message. This adds weight to your argument and leaves a lasting impression on your audience. If you aim to surprise your audience, silence can also be a strong statement if your presentation has to raise awareness about a problem.

Incorporate a Call-to-Action

Clearly communicate to your audience what you want them to do next. Whether it’s to adopt a new perspective, take specific action, or continue the conversation outside of the presentation, a clear call to action drives engagement and encourages your audience to act upon your message.

Ask Thought-Provoking Questions

Pose thought-provoking questions that stimulate reflection and discussion. This opens the door for audience participation and engagement and allows you to interact with the audience in a Q&A session, or reach after your presentation concluded to network.

Additional Resources and Contact Info

Offer resources such as articles, websites, or books for those interested in exploring your topic further. This not only adds value to your presentation but also encourages the audience to engage with the content beyond the presentation itself.

Consider the way you leave a communication channel open with your audience. This can be in the format of a deliverable, writing down your contact data in the “Thank You” slide , or simply via speech to inform where they can know more about you and your work.

We already discussed the basic Introduction-Body-Conclusion framework for a presentation, but there are alternative approaches that can help you structure your talk.

Problem-Solution Framework

The Problem-Solution Framework is a compelling method to structure presentations, particularly when aiming to persuade or inform an audience about addressing specific challenges. The framework operates on a simple yet impactful premise: initially, highlight a problem or challenge that needs addressing and subsequently propose a viable solution or set of solutions.

Starting with the problem establishes a context, engages the audience by highlighting pain points or challenges they may recognize, and creates a desire for resolution. It sets the stage for the solution to be perceived as necessary and valuable.

The solution phase offers that much-needed resolution. By presenting a clear, actionable solution or set of recommendations, the presenter provides a pathway to overcome the identified challenge. This structure is not only logical but also highly persuasive, as it appeals to the audience’s desire for resolution and improvement. In essence, the Problem-Solution Framework is both a guide for content organization and a psychological tool for persuasion.

Chronological Structure

The Chronological Structure is an intuitive and organized approach to presenting information based on a sequence of events or a progression in time. Whether recounting historical events, outlining the stages of a project, or narrating a personal story, this structure follows a clear beginning, middle, and end sequence. By presenting details in the order they occurred, the audience can easily follow the narrative, making connections between events and understanding causality.

This structure is especially effective when the timeline of events is crucial to the narrative or when showcasing developments, evolutions, or growth over time. It provides clarity and eliminates confusion that might arise from a non-linear presentation. Moreover, by anchoring information on a timeline, the Chronological Structure aids memory retention, as the audience can mentally “map out” the journey of events. In sum, this method offers clarity and a compelling narrative arc, ensuring audience engagement from start to finish.

Comparative Structure

The Comparative Structure is a strategic approach to presentations that hinges on juxtaposing two or more elements, ideas, or solutions side by side. By examining similarities and differences, this method illuminates unique qualities, advantages, or drawbacks inherent in each element. Often employed in business scenarios like product comparisons, market analysis, or debates, the comparative structure helps audiences critically analyze options and make informed decisions.

Presenters utilizing this structure typically start by introducing the elements for comparison. They then delve into detailed analysis, often using criteria or metrics to maintain objective evaluations. Visual aids like Venn diagrams or comparison charts can enhance clarity and visual appeal.

The strength of the Comparative Structure lies in its ability to foster critical thinking. By directly contrasting items, audiences are engaged, encouraged to weigh pros and cons, and ultimately arrive at a deeper understanding or more nuanced perspective on the subject matter.

Matrix Structure

The Matrix Structure offers an approach to organizing presentations by segmenting information into distinct categories or sections, akin to a grid or matrix. Instead of a linear flow, topics are grouped by themes, criteria, or any relevant classification, allowing for simultaneous exploration of multiple facets of a subject. Think of it as viewing a topic through various lenses concurrently.

For instance, in a business setting, a product might be examined in terms of design, functionality, market positioning, and customer feedback. Each of these constitutes a segment in the matrix.

Visually, the matrix can be represented using tables, grids, or quadrant charts, making the content easily digestible and engaging. A key advantage of this structure is its flexibility; presenters can delve deep into one segment or provide a broader overview of all areas, depending on the audience’s needs. Ultimately, the Matrix Structure ensures a comprehensive and multifaceted examination of a topic, providing depth and breadth in analysis.

Modular Structure

The final model we will study is the Modular Structure. It takes content and packs it into modules, which can be arranged at any other the presenter requires them to be. Each module addresses a specific topic or idea and is designed to be self-contained, ensuring clarity even if presented independently or in a different order. This adaptability makes the modular approach especially valuable in dynamic settings, such as workshops or conferences, where audience feedback or time constraints might necessitate adjustments on the fly.

For example, in a corporate training session, different modules could cover distinct skills or topics. Based on the attendees’ prior knowledge or the session’s time limit, the presenter can prioritize, omit, or rearrange modules without compromising the integrity of each segment.

By adopting the Modular Structure, presenters gain flexibility without sacrificing depth. This approach fosters a responsive presentation style, allowing speakers to tailor content in real-time, ensuring maximum relevance and engagement for their audience.

Even well-seasoned presenters can fall prey to these common mistakes in terms of presentation structure. Let’s learn how to prevent them.

Overloading with Information

It’s tempting to include every bit of knowledge you have on a topic. Still, information overload can quickly disengage an audience. Prioritize key points and leave out extraneous details. As famous architect, Mies van der Rohe famously coined, “Less is More.”

Weak Transitions

Jumping abruptly from one point to another can disrupt the flow and confuse listeners. Ensure smooth transitions between sections, signaling shifts in topics or ideas to keep the narrative cohesive.

Dull Design

While content is king, visual appeal matters. Relying solely on walls of text or bland slides can lose your audience’s interest. Incorporate engaging visuals, charts, and multimedia elements to enhance your message and retain attention.

Ignoring the Call to Action

Concluding your presentation without guiding the audience on the next steps or what’s expected of them can be a missed opportunity. Whether it’s seeking feedback, prompting a discussion, or encouraging an action, always have a clear call to action.

Good communication is all about making your point clear, especially in presentations. We’ve talked about how the right structure can keep your audience hooked. But there’s more to it. Think about your presentation. Is it telling your story the way you want? Is it reaching your audience? Take a step back and really look at how you’re laying it out. Don’t just go with the flow – choose your format wisely. Remember, every presentation tells a story, and how you set it up matters a lot.

Like this article? Please share

Design, Presentation Approaches Filed under Business

Related Articles

Filed under Business • July 24th, 2024

How to Create a Demo Presentation

Discover the secrets behind successful demo presentations and what they should contain with this article. Recommended PPT templates included.

Filed under Presentation Ideas • July 17th, 2024

How to Convert a Text Document into a Presentation with AI

One of the biggest challenges for presenters is to summarize content from lengthy reports, academic papers, or any other kind of written media in an informative and concise way. Rather than losing countless hours going over and over the same text, we can speed up the process thanks to the virtues of artificial intelligence. In […]

Filed under Google Slides Tutorials • July 16th, 2024

How to Make a Google Slides Presentation Look Good

Polish your presentation slides with these 10 tips by design professionals. Learn how to make Google Slides look good now!

Leave a Reply

• SUGGESTED TOPICS
• The Magazine
• Newsletters
• Managing Yourself
• Managing Teams
• Work-life Balance
• The Big Idea
• Data & Visuals
• Reading Lists
• Case Selections
• HBR Learning
• Topic Feeds
• Account Settings
• Email Preferences

Structure Your Presentation Like a Story

• Nancy Duarte

To win people over, create tension between the status quo and a better way.

After studying hundreds of speeches, I’ve found that the most effective presenters use the same techniques as great storytellers: By reminding people of the status quo and then revealing the path to a better way, they set up a conflict that needs to be resolved.

• ND Nancy Duarte is a best-selling author with thirty years of CEO-ing under her belt. She’s driven her firm, Duarte, Inc., to be the global leader behind some of the most influential messages and visuals in business and culture. Duarte, Inc., is the largest design firm in Silicon Valley, as well as one of the top woman-owned businesses in the area. Nancy has written six best-selling books, four have won awards, and her new book, DataStory: Explain Data and Inspire Action Through Story , is available now. Follow Duarte on Twitter: @nancyduarte or LinkedIn .

Partner Center

Presentation Structures: Everything You Need to Organize Your Talk

Hrideep barot.

• Presentation , Public Speaking , Speech Writing

A presentation structure includes an introduction, context, main body, conclusion, and scope for questions. Depending on the type of presentation you’re doing, this format can change. The article discusses various considerations for each section of a presentation structure.

For presentations to be understood and create a good impression, they can’t be haphazard. It has to have some sort of pre-planned presentation structure that is both logical and simple enough. Depending on the type of presentation you’re doing, there are likely some basic frameworks available that people tend to follow. Before we delve into the format, let’s consider key points to consider when planning a presentation.

How do you structure and plan a presentation?

We plan a presentation by considering the type of presentation, who our audience is, ideating the purpose, and formulating subtopics through research.

Consider the type of presentation

This leads to understanding the ideal flow to convey your content best. For instance, for persuasive presentations, you could use creative ways to convey what is best about a product, such as starting with a story about how it has helped many people achieve something.

On the other hand, for a progress presentation at your workplace, you might have conventions about what is expected, which must be followed precisely.

A few other types of presentations include:

• Informative presentations
• Instructive presentations
• Motivational presentations
• Analytical presentations

You might also want to consider if you want audience interaction and put that into the structure accordingly. While some allow questions mid-presentation for smaller audiences, it is typically left towards the end.

Consider your audience’s knowledge level and interests

This will determine if you can assume a particular knowledge base and not include it in your presentation structure or if you have to start off with basics and build up on that.

For instance, if you’re teaching 1st-year students about something, you might start with basics. But for graduates, a similar format would be unnecessary as they might have already learned about it.

Similarly, if your purpose is to deliver something entertaining, knowing about the interests and values of your audience helps a ton.

The most simple way is demographics. It’s typically quite easy to find out the expected age group, gender, etc of the audience. This information can help you have a basic idea of the sort of experiences they go through, which helps formulate an understanding.

Consider the purpose of your presentation

While this may seem obvious, many of us lose track of the main purpose and spend too much time on remotely related content. This diverts attention from the topic and might even cause boredom.

For example, if you’re advocating for some social action, it would be beneficial to stay on the topic itself, like the pros, cons, what can be done practically, etc. Instead, if the presenters spend more time criticizing others, the presentation will fall short of its purpose.

Few other examples of different purposes your presentation could have:

• Entertainment
• Providing information
• Telling your story
• Proposing ideas
• Discussing future plans for the company

Research your topic and start noting down the subtopics

Skip this if you already know exactly what needs to be a part of your presentation, and plan to include just that. While looking up your topic, you’ll discover the various sub-topics within that field. After you start noting them down, you can organize later what comes under which to build a structure.

Here is a guide on short presentations that you might be interested in.

So with these three considerations and subtopics in mind, we’re good to go over to decide our final structure.

What is the best presentation form?

The best presentation format is one that includes the introduction, context, main body, conclusion, and questions.

Here, we will discuss a template or structure for a typical presentation.

Introduction

• Greet the audience and introduce yourself, e.g., what you do and why you’re here
• The purpose of your presentation
• The flow or outline gives a sense of what they can expect
• Depending on the topic and audience, you might have to provide more or less context about your topic
• This could include a brief history, terminologies, the current market status, the current status of the field, etc.
• Includes the full depth of the primary purpose of the presentation
• All major chunks of data, including examples, evidence like research studies, etc, are included here
• Care needs to be taken at times to ensure that your introduction and context are not taking up so much time that the main body isn’t receiving enough attention. Ever wonder if a presentation can be too short? Check out this article .
• Bring emphasis to the main takeaways
• Thank your audience if they have been a good one
• Take questions and encourage healthy discussion
• End with sharing ways they can address their questions later

To make sure that the structure works out, it is important that you practice your presentation. This will also tell you if you’re falling within the time constraints. Here is a guide on how you can go about practicing your presentation.

5 Ways to Structure Your Presentation

The five ways include ordered, problem-solution, comparative, storytelling, and demonstrating structures.

1. Ordered Structure

The presentation follows a logical sequence starting with an introduction, main points, and then conclusions. This is what this article has focused on, as it’s the most straightforward method and tends to be very clear for the audience. However, for presentations that do not follow a clear progression, this may not be useful.

2. Problem-Solution Structure

This is useful when persuading the audience. You explain the problem (+ its importance and impact) and then provide a solution that motivates the audience to take it. This could be in the form of a product, a particular method of communication, some technical thing, etc. There should be a decent amount of time spent on the benefits of the solution as well as the exact “How?” to implement it to make the audience convinced. It helps to address any questions or barriers you expect them to have during the speech itself.

3. Comparative Method

This is useful when you want to highlight the benefits of something over alternatives . It is ideal to first fully address the alternatives by talking about their benefits and limitations. Then you lastly talk about the solution that you possess that effectively addresses the other limitations or is in some way a better choice than others, based on your arguments.

Alternatively, if you do not want to highlight the benefits of something particular and just form a comparison that demonstrates the pros and cons of different subjects in an unbiased manner, this technique is still used. For instance, how the main benefit of a product is practically useful for the consumer in comparison to the main benefit of another product can be discussed.

4. Storytelling Structure

This is useful when your goal is just to tell a story. This could be to explain the context or history of a company. It could also serve to talk about yourself and how you got there. A story will typically have an introduction, a complicating factor that introduces some challenges, and then an ending that highlights the importance of some action or belief. 

You may also go in a timewise order when explaining a story. This might take away from the thrill but is useful nonetheless when it is required for the audience to properly understand what is being conveyed. Storytelling can be done in various ways, so feel free to find your own structure.

5. Demonstration Structure

This is useful when demonstrating products or services . The benefits of the product/service are highlighted and it is demonstrated showing those capabilities. The goal should be on persuading the audience that it is useful to them for their needs.

How to structure a scientific presentation?

Structuring a scientific presentation typically includes an introduction, methods, results, and discussion.

This typically follows the below format, but depending on the university/conference guidelines, you’ll have to adjust accordingly. The rest of the sub-topics revolves around these sections.

• Introduction/Background 
• Literature review (if applicable)
• Acknowledgments (often optional)

After this, time is given to take questions.

How do you structure a presentation script?

The presentation never includes the full extent of the information. It’s just a concise version of what you’re speaking that adds as a visual aid at times while also highlighting major points. 

The script is where the major content lies. The structure remains the same, but the content is greater in depth .

Sample Presentation Script

To make it easier for you to understand how you can structure your presentation script, here is a sample script for a presentation on the topic: Importance of Public Speaking.

This follows the same flow introduced earlier- introduction, context, main body, conclusion, and questions.

Title: Importance of Public Speaking

Slide 1: Why is Public Speaking Important?

Greetings, ladies, and gentlemen. Today, I will be exploring the importance of public speaking. My name is John, and I’m thrilled to discuss with you how improving our public speaking abilities may make a significant difference in our quality of life in the personal, social, and professional domains.

Slide 2: Introduction

Public speaking involves persuading an audience with a well-organized message. It is an essential part of our daily lives. We use it when we make conversation in social groups as well as when we address enormous crowds at social gatherings. It is a highly multifaceted and effective tool.

I will start off by giving some information about the context, moving on to its benefits, which is the main crux of our presentation, and then we will spend some time concluding.

Slide 3: Context

Effective communication is essential in our globally interconnected society. Speaking in front of an audience enables us to express our views and thoughts clearly and firmly. It facilitates the development of solid bonds and influences others, and acts as a catalyst for constructive change. Public speaking may open doors of opportunity and propel achievement for anyone, whether they are a student, professional, or member of the community.

Slide 4: Personal Development

Public speaking increases self-esteem and confidence, which are quite rudimentary to our self-efficacy. Effective communication skills help us to be more assertive and feel more in control of our lives. Research suggests that having an internal locus of control (i.e., feeling in control) leads to better outcomes in our personal lives as well as greater mental health.  As we organize our ideas and arguments through public speaking, it improves critical thinking and organizational abilities. Furthermore, as we interact with others during talks and Q&A sessions, public speaking also enhances our listening abilities.

Slide 5: Professional Advancement

The ability to speak in front of an audience effectively is highly essential in most workplaces.

You ask Why? Well, it is because we are better able to communicate our qualifications and worth to potential employers, which enhances our performance in job interviews. Secondly, our influence within organizations grows when we can make a strong case for our points in meetings and conferences.

Next, for leadership positions, where success depends on inspiring and motivating others, public speaking is critical. And in general, you’ll need public speaking in any meeting or any talk you would typically deliver in front of a bunch of people. 

Slide 6: Conclusion

Public speaking is a sought-after, multifaceted, and handy skill across many settings. It gives us the ability to inspire others, tell our stories, and make a lasting impression. Strong public speaking abilities help us communicate clearly and lead with influence in many facets of our lives.

Slide 7: Questions

I appreciate everyone here for being a great audience and cooperating wonderfully throughout the presentation. Now I will be taking any questions you all have. Feel free to discuss this now or reach out to me after the session is over.

Slide 8: Thank you

I want to thank you all for being here today.

I hope that the presentation did well to emphasize the importance of public speaking and perhaps motivated at least some of you to work on improving your abilities. We will end here.

[End of presentation]

Here are some tips for delivering an effective presentation.

We considered a few key points for presentation structure and the typical format that can be followed. We also covered five ways you can structure your presentation and the format for a scientific presentation. Lastly, we covered a sample script for presentations.

Public speaking coaching is a great way to increase your skills and get better at presentations as well.

Enroll in our transformative 1:1 Coaching Program

Schedule a call with our expert communication coach to know if this program would be the right fit for you

How to Brag Like a Pro as a Speaker

Less is More! Tips to Avoid Overwhelming Your Audience 

What does it mean to Resonate with the Audience- Agreement, Acceptance, Approval

• [email protected]
• +91 98203 57888

Get our latest tips and tricks in your inbox always

Copyright © 2023 Frantically Speaking All rights reserved

The 3 parts of a presentation: introduction, main part, closing part

The task of each part for the presentation structure.

A successful business presentation requires careful planning and structuring. In this article, we will look at presentation structure, focusing on the three parts: Introduction, main body, and conclusion of a presentation. We will explore what each part does and specific tips to help structure these parts of the presentation in the best possible way.

Part 1: The introduction of a presentation

Part 2: The main part of a presentation

Part 3: The conclusion of a presentation

A successful presentation needs a well-structured agenda. It helps your audience to keep track and follow the content of the presentation. The agenda ensures that all important aspects of a topic are covered in the presentation.

An attractively designed and worded agenda can also help to capture the audience’s attention right from the start and get them excited about the presentation. For example, the agenda can be designed using images, language, or terminology that is specific to the audience’s goals and interests. In this way, the presenter signals that they value the audience’s time and interest and are tailoring their presentation to meet their needs. Read more about the importance of the agenda in presentations and learn how to use action titles profitably as well.

Part 1: the introduction of a presentation

1. Greeting:

With a friendly greeting, you create a positive atmosphere right from the start. You give the audience the opportunity to arrive, get quiet and collect themselves and signal that it’s about to start. This phase is important to establish the audience’s concentration.

2.  Introduction:

Briefly introduce yourself and your organization. Give an overview of who you are and what your role is in your organization. By doing this, you will give your audience direction and reinforce your expertise and credibility at the very beginning of the presentation.

3. Objective:

Briefly outline the topic of your presentation and explain what you hope to accomplish with the presentation. Make sure the goal of the presentation is clear and concise.

4. Context:

Explain the context in which the presentation will take place. Why is the topic important? Why is it relevant to the audience? Here you should also make sure that you connect with the audience and tailor your presentation to their needs and interests.

After the introduction, you should have achieved the following with your audience:

• The audience is focused
• They know who you are and that you bring expertise to the topic
• It knows what the presentation is about and why it is worth paying attention.

Part 2: the main part of a presentation

The main part is the most important part of your presentation from a content point of view. Here you present your information, argue for your position, try to convince the target audience or bring them to a decision. In short, the middle section is the heart of your presentation. It should be structured in a logical and comprehensible way and should be consistently oriented towards your presentation objective. The biggest challenge is to make the main part compact and not to ramble too much, but still not to make any jumps in content where you might lose your audience. Ideally, when building the main body, you follow the thought processes your audience might have and answer any questions that might pop into your target audience’s head. Of course, this requires a good knowledge of your target audience and also some experience. If you have given similar presentations before, you should take into account insights you can derive from audience reactions or questions, for example, when building your next presentation.

The main part should make up about 75% to 80% of the total duration of the presentation. These are our tips for the main body:

1. Precise headings:

Make sure the main body is clear and logical and use precise headings. They will ensure that your audience can follow your arguments. Headings that are to the point also help the speaker, for example, when you want to jump back and forth within the presentation.

2. Key messages:

Present your core messages and arguments in a logical order. Make sure to support your arguments with examples and facts to strengthen your position. Report from the field to show that you understand the needs of your target audience.

3. Visualization:

Make sure you make your information easy to grasp quickly. Whenever possible, you should make use of visualizations. Diagrams, icons, and images are quicker to grasp than columns of scrubs, and you’ll stick in their minds. Your audience is more likely to remember a good picture than the text on your slides.

After the main part, you should have achieved the following with your audience:

• The audience has understood your information and your arguments
• You have answered or anticipated your audience’s most important questions and objections
• The audience has recognized the relevance of the topic for their own needs and requirements
• The audience is ready to take the next step toward your goal.

The closing section is the last part of your presentation and gives you the opportunity to emphasize your message once again. It’s not just about leaving a strong impression. The conclusion of your presentation determines whether you have achieved your presentation goal. Were you able to find supporters for your topic? Were you able to bring about a decision? Were you able to win a new customer? In order to be able to measure the achievement of your objectives, it is important to be specific at the end of your presentation. Depending on the goal, you can give an outlook here, agree on next steps or deadlines, or already distribute tasks. Use all possibilities for a binding exit and a concrete connection. Make sure that your topic is thought about further, a project is pursued or a collaboration is started. Otherwise, unfortunately, your presentation will be forgotten very quickly or other topics will push in front of it.

The conclusion of your presentation should be about 10% to 15% of the total duration of the presentation and include the following elements:

Summarize the most important points of your presentation again in a short and concise way. This will remind the audience of the key messages and strengthen your overall impression.

2. Call-to-action

Conclude your presentation with a call-to-action that fits your presentation objective. Ask the audience to make a decision, buy a product, or schedule a follow-up appointment with you. This will create commitment and ensure that your presentation objective is achieved.

Give an outlook on future developments or projects. Show the next steps or point out follow-up topics. By doing so, you show that you know the processes and are also an expert for the next steps and implementation.

4. Thank you

Conclude your presentation by thanking the audience. Show your appreciation for the interest and time the audience invested in your presentation. You can also include your contact information and offer to answer questions or provide further information. The thank you note should come from you in person; you don’t need a slide for that. Also read our tips for PowerPoint closing slides .

• The audience follows your recommendation.
• It acts in the sense of your presentation goal.
• Your presentation is remembered and you are set with the audience as an expert on the presentation topic.

You can find many more very helpful tips on presentation structure in our blog articles on the golden thread of your presentation and presentation structure .

Share your new knowledge with others

• More QuickTools
• Master & Templates
• Creating presentations
• Presentation Trainings
• Agency Support
• Value Discovery
• Corporate Design
• Content Management
• Modular Sales Kit
• Training materials
• Data Visualization
• Terms and Conditions
• Privacy Policy
• Masters and templates
• Agency support
• Modular sales kits

Unternehmen

• Weitere QuickTools
• Master und Templates
• Präsentationserstellung
• Präsentations-Trainings
• Agentur-Support
• Vertriebsbaukästen
• Schulungsunterlagen
• Datenvisualisierung
• Datenschutzerklärung
• Präsentationstraining

Structuring a Slide Presentation

Defining your structure is charting the path that the audience will take through your presentation. A poor structure is disorienting and leaves the audience wondering how they will get to their destination (or what the destination even is). Invest time in defining your central message and present your results as the evidence to support it. Don’t forget to tailor how much context you provide in your introduction and conclusion to the audience you are presenting to.

1. Before you start

Put away PowerPoint, Google Slides, and any software you’re tempted to open up. The first step to an effective presentation is clarifying your objectives, your audience, and your central (takeaway) message.

1.1. Identify your purpose

What do you want your audience to do, think, or feel after hearing your talk? Goals such as “update my audience” are short-sighted, but can be developed further. For instance, it could become “update my audience so they can appreciate all the promising work I’ve done and they’ll want to renew our grant.” Helpful goals are audience-centric and can inform what to include in your presentation.

1.2 Understand your audience

Think about who will be in attendance and tailor your talk to them. Determine your audience’s

• reason for attending your talk
• prior knowledge about your field or your work
• interests and motivations.

Understanding your audience will help you gauge how much background and technical detail to include. It will also help you motivate your work.

1.3 Craft a central message

Effective talks leave the audience with a clear take-away message. Based on your goal for the talk and the interests of your audience, create a single-sentence message that you would deliver to your audience.  If an audience member thinks back about your talk and remembers a single thing, what should that be?

Also, make sure you understand the format and constraints of your talk, including how much time you will have, how your slides will be shown (large projector vs. small TV screen), and how many people will attend and how they will participate (questions during vs. after).

Return to Contents

2. Developing your content

Your technical presentation should follow an hourglass-shaped narrative: start broadly with an issue that your audience cares about, lead into the specifics of your work, then open up again with what your results mean and how they link back to the bigger picture. When you structure your talk, however, start at the narrowest part of the hourglass—your results. Your central message will emerge from here.

2.1. Interpret your results

The most important part of your talk to the majority of your audience is not your results themselves, but the message they support. Start planning your talk by looking at your results and deciding what main points  you can draw from them.

Carefully group your results , not by how you performed the experiments, but by the main points they support. Aim for 2-4 groupings that each lead to a single main point.  These 2-4 main points should form the evidence for the main message of your talk.

Filter out less relevant results based on how well they support your main points. You often just can’t fit everything into one talk, so be selective about what you include to maximize your impact.

Evaluate your argument based on how well your results support your conclusions, and how well your conclusions support your main message. Look for logical holes in your argument, and address them or modify your main message to better fit your conclusions.

2.2 Explain your methods

Describe what you did to get to your results.  Give your audience the information they need to understand your results  (how you set up your experiment, simulation, etc.). Be selective about what information you include to keep focus on your central message.

2.3 Motivate your work

Explicitly tell your audience why they should invest time listening to your talk

Start with something your whole audience cares about.   For expert audiences, this could be a specific problem, where for uninformed audiences it should be a more general goal for your field.

2.4  Describe the impact

How did your work address the needs from your motivation? Look forward to the future and describe the difference made by your work.

Start with the most direct impact of your work. What is at least one thing that your work directly accomplishes? What next steps does your work motivate?

Connect back to your motivation. Describe how you see your project evolving to have a larger impact. Explain how your (and your group’s/colleague’s/field’s) work is coming together to meet a larger goal. End by connecting back to the thing the whole audience cares about, not a “Questions?” “Thank you!” or “backups” slide.

3. Putting it together

Build a slide list based on the information you gathered. Take your motivation, methods, results, and impact, and turn them into a series of sentences, each representing a single slide. These sentences will become your slide titles, and together they should form a coherent story.

Fill out your outline from your slide list.  Plan out what evidence you’ll need to support each slide title.

Now you can start creating slides !

4. Quick tips

• You can write, sketch, or storyboard your narrative to discover and develop your story. Just make sure that there is a clear logical flow leading from one point to the next.
• Do not focus on how many slides you should have. Especially in technical presentations, some of the content will be complex enough that animations will be needed, which will throw off your slide count. Instead, focus on constraints such as time limits and your audience’s capacity to understand your message.
• If you are recycling slides from a previous talk, take a moment to still go through the “ Before you start ” section. This will help ensure that you have a solid foundation for your new talk.

Additional resources

• Jean-luc Doumont, Trees, Maps, and Theorems (Principiae, 2009), specifically the “Designing the Presentation” chapter. You can borrow a copy from the NSE Communication Lab.
• Jean-luc Doumont’s one-page guide

To get started or receive feedback on your draft, make an appointment with us. We’d love to help!

This website uses cookies. Learn more

How to structure a PowerPoint presentation: A detailed guide

 · Create Courses

How do you structure a PowerPoint presentation?

Introduction , what is the 555 rule in powerpoint, what is the 10 20 30 rule in powerpoint, the conclusion , powerpoint presentation examples , graphy, the all-in-one course creation platform.

In this blog, you’ll understand the step-by-step guide on how you can structure a PowerPoint presentation effectively.

You might be a great presenter but suck at creating a structured presentation. The idea of outlining, selecting the right templates, and adding transitions is way out of your league. 

However, creating a structured presentation is as important as the narration.  

When information is presented logically, the retention rate automatically goes up. It becomes easier for a viewer to understand the meaning behind the words and create a flow of information. 

Monetize your skills and extertise GOT YOUR CONTENT READY? GRAPHY IS ALL YOU NEED TO GET STARTED!

A report published by Standard Business says that people retain 40% more information when presented structurally. 

So, here we are to help you understand how you should structure your PowerPoint presentation to make it likable and easy to digest. 

Table of Contents

You can follow this standard structure while creating your PowerPoint presentations. A good presentation is always one that has a good storyline and narration. Let’s dive into detail on how to create a solid PowerPoint structure.

An introduction is the most crucial part of a presentation. It sets the tone for your audience and makes them comfortable. Before you start with your presentation, make sure to

• Introduce yourself
• Explain the purpose of this presentation
• And, what outcomes can your audience expect at the end of it? 

This doesn’t have to be super-detailed, but it should build a connection with the person. You can include storytelling to gather attention and further move on to introducing the topic. 

Here are some slides that you must include in your introduction:

• The title: Introduce the topic of the presentation and add a brief description 
• Challenges/ objectives: Explain the goals or challenges you will target in the presentation. For example, I’ll “compare,” “evaluate,” and “analyze” this topic. 
• Outcome: Your audience must know the results they can expect at the end of the presentation. For instance, at the end of this presentation, I hope to provide you with a….
• Table of Content: You can include a table of contents for your audience to know the topic of discussion in the presentation. 

In the introduction, you can also tell the length of the talk or whether you want audience participation. Clarifying such small things can make presentations smoother and less awkward. 

The body 

This is the part where you take your introduction forward and briefly discuss the key topics. You must organize these points to transition smoothly from one topic to another. The body of your presentation needs to be spot-on for your audience to understand the information given. 

Here are some tips to consider when creating the body of your presentation:

• The length and structure of your slides are crucial to the body of your presentation. You can use the 5-5-5 and 10-20-30 rules to structure a PowerPoint presentation. 

The 555 rule says, to use at least

• 5 words on a single line.
• 5 lines of text on every slide
• 5 slides that use the mentioned rules in a row

The purpose of this 555 rule is to create a flow in presenting your information. This rule helps if you have to make a big presentation that requires heavy content and various slides. It will help you structure a presentation well and not overwhelm your audience with the information. 

The 10 / 20 / 30 rule in PowerPoint is fairly simple. It says that no PowerPoint presentation should have over 10 slides, be longer than 20 minutes, and have fonts smaller than 30 points. 

Each of the rules helps the presenter form a balance between design and explanation. This helps to structure a PowerPoint presentation and create easy-to-digest slides. 

• Use images more than words. The human brain processes visual stimuli 60 times faster than text. So, instead of writing lengthy paraphs, add photos or videos. If you think a concept is explainable through a photo, use it. 
• Your presentation should be short and crisp. You don’t have to write everything about the topic in your slides. Include a few short-crisp sentences and use narration to explain the topic in depth. 
• Try to organize your topics well. List points in order of numbers or alphabets put them in a time frame, or use transition words like next, then, and another for easy understanding. No matter how well you explain concepts, if your presentation lacks the translation to move from one topic to another, then it might not work. 

In your conclusion, you can summarise the main points you have made and do a recap of what your audience has learned. Lastly, mention how this new information meets your objective for the presentation. 

In conclusion, you must state your sources of information, like books, articles, or interviews with people. 

Include a Q&A part to ask questions. This way, there isn’t any open-ended conversation, and your audience is clear about the points you made. If you cannot answer any question because of a lack of time, note it down to provide the solution through mail or phone. 

End your presentation by thanking your audience for their precious time and asking for their feedback.

See how simple it is to structure a PowerPoint presentation. Now, look at a few examples of PowerPoint structures for your reference. 

Powerpoint presentations are mostly referred to as bland and boring, but that’s not the case. If you structure it well, your presentations will become more like a learning opportunity than an endurance test. Here are some PowerPoint presentation examples you can refer to:

• Teacher education 

Look at this slide deck , created for teachers on how to use Google Slides. It’s not overloading with information nor holding it back; it’s simply perfect. Most of the slides are image-oriented with practical examples to help the audience understand the basics of creating presentations in Google Slides. 

• Zuroa sales deck 

To see how storytelling works in presentation, refer to Zuroa’s sales desk . These slides are a perfect example of how you can make your audience relate to your issues. Including metrics and messages from well-known CEOs makes the slides authoritative. 

• Trackmaven research deck 

Creating a data-heavy presentation is quite tricky. Your audience can quickly accelerate from engaging to boring. Trackmaven excellently presents its report on the best time to post on social media. The presentation has more graphs than numbers or text. If you are looking for a reference for creating such data extensive topic, then, indeed, check this out. 

• Officevibe collaboration examples 

This slide deck increases awareness of the problem faced because of a disengaged team. The presentation has bright colors and unique designs that draw attention. Plus, it’s filled with relevant data to ensure the authority and seriousness of the issue. 

They are excellent examples of how you can structure a PowerPoint presentation. If you notice, none of them are text-heavy. Instead, they have used visuals or videos to convey most of their information. Thus, the information presented is easy to digest and keeps the audience hooked until the end. 

If you are looking to create your online course and sell it with minimum effort and easy-to-use features, then Graphy is the best place for you. Graphy has thousands of active content creators who have created their own online courses and monetized their skills. You can also do the same, and the best thing is that you can start for free.

Graphy offers a load of features that will definitely add stars to your success, features like:

• Branded website and mobile app
• Advanced-level marketing and sales tools and features
• Multi-layer content security
• Rich multimedia
• 24*7 customer support
• Customizable landing/sales pages
• Personalized course completion certificates for your learners
• Integrated payment gateways and country-specific pricing

Isn’t it amazing?

So join Graphy , just like 40,000+ creators.

Course platform

create your online course

online course platform india

PowerPoint presentation

structure a PowerPoint presentation

Top creators use Graphy to sell courses and memberships

Join 150K+ creators who have launched their online knowledge business using Graphy

You may also want to read

Top 3 Strategies For Online Course Marketing

5 Proven Strategies for Successfully Selling Online Courses (Creator's Experience)

Sell Courses

How to Become A Masterclass Instructor: A 7-Step Guide

Previous Post

A simple, engaging presentation structure that works every time

A simple, engaging presentation structure is like the air that your audience breaths: invisible, unnoticed and essential.

It will draw them into the content, and they will stay fully focused on what you have to say.

And if you don’t have a simple, engaging presentation structure your audience will suffer!

The benefits of this presentation structure

There are three key benefits, this presentation structure ensures that:

• The audience connects with your central message and key points
• You feel confident and in control
• You can flex the duration of the presentation to different circumstances

More on this last point a little later. Use my presentation structure and you’ll see how you can adapt it to a 1-minute elevator pitch or a 1-hour deep dive into the topic.

The ideal presentation structure

This presentation structure is deliberately simple (structure is not something that you should complicate!). At its highest level, it consists of the opening, content and closing.

Each of these three sections has a very specific purpose.

• The opening : deliver your central message and 3 key points
• The content : Dive into the detail of your 3 key points
• The closing : Recap your central message, Q&A, call to action

There’s more here on the benefits of this presentation structure from Inc’s 3 Tips from Aristotle article.

The opening

Let’s imagine for a moment that you’re proposing a 4-day working week for the whole company (with 5 days’ pay!), and your audience is the CEO and other C-level executives.

Open with your central message:

Good afternoon, I’m here to share with you how a 4-day working week can boost the profitability of the company. I realize that’s a big claim, let me tell you a little more about what I’ll be covering today.

Notice, you didn’t just mention the topic (4-day working week), you delivered your central message from the opening slide: that you can boost the productivity of the company. Motivate them to engage, ensure your central message is compelling to them , and deliver it right from the start.

Move to your agenda slide. This should be structured around 3 key points.

In this presentation I’ll be covering 3 points. How my proposal can: boost our productivity, reduce operating costs and increase revenues.

You’ve already hit your central message and key points. Then transition into the content.

Now, let me jump into the content, looking at our productivity first.

For added impact to your opening, explore how to use a presentation hook (to grab your audience!). 

The content

Structure your content around the three key points to your central message.

Take a look at this ethos3.com article on the rule of three , here’s an extract:

Steve Jobs was famous for using the Rule of Three in his presentations. In 2011, he described the iPad 2 as “ thinner, lighter, and faster ” than the first. These three adjectives were massively effective; they said everything the audience needed to know.

Three points is complete and perfectly formed. If you use two points, it looks like you’re missing something, four key points and your audience will start to forget. Five, six or seven key points, and your audience will be lost!

Avoid a laundry list of topics (it’s lazy and it doesn’t help your audience!), distill your message into three key points.

The elevator pitch

Earlier I mentioned how this structure will help you flex the presentation to any duration. If you’re in the elevator, and someone asks you about this presentation, just use your ‘opening’ it’s a summary of your complete presentation.

A 4-day working week is a great opportunity to increase profitability. Let me tell you how, there are just 3 key things to know: it will boost our productivity, reduce operating costs and increase revenues. Is this your floor? OK, see you later!

The deep dive

Or, if you have an hour, use this structure to give yourself the confidence to expound on the topic. Talk about each key point in some detail, tell stories, share data, ask for input.

And if you’re doing this deep dive, add in some additional structure, to help the audience navigate. Summarize at the end of each key point, and transition to the next key point.

Use this kind of language to summarize:

That has been a great discussion about the first point I wanted to cover, how my proposal will boost productivity. Let me just summarize…

And this kind of language to transition to the next key point.

Now, as I mentioned, the next big benefit is increased productivity. There are several perspectives on this, let me take the next 20 mins to walk you through and share my experience, feel free to jump in any time…

That’s the beauty of this structure, it gives you control.

The closing

Finally, the closing. Use it to reinforce your central message and key support points, open the presentation for more questions, and your call to action.

Before you open the presentation for more questions, make sure you take a look at these simple and powerful techniques for confident Q&As .

Finally, your call to action. You do have a call to action, right? What is it that you want your audience to do, as a result of your presentation?

There should always be an action. Never present as a ‘briefing’ or ‘for information’. If that’s the case, then send an email. Presentations are expensive. (Take a look at the cost of meetings .)

Presentations can only be justified if there is clear business value, and business value comes from taking action.

Presentation structure, in summary

A great presentation structure is like air. Your audience won’t notice it, because they’ll be fully engaged with your central message and key points.

Keep your presentation structure simple:

• Open with a central message
• Structure your content around 3 key points
• Close with a call to action

Always have a call to action, that’s the business value.

Keep it simple, let your content shine!

Take the next step

Learn to become a great presenter with these effective presentation skills .

• Tips & Tricks
• PowerPoint Templates
• Training Programs
• Free E-Courses

Getting The Presentation Structure Right

Home  > Presentation Outline  >Presentation Structure

This article provides 6 different types of presentation structure you can use to create stronger outline for your presentations.

As a presenter, you may feel that you have great points to share. But, these points won’t be remembered and appreciated till you get the structure of your presentation right .

Like the way a simple string connects a set of pearls…

How does this study affect us, as presenters?

A good presentation structure has the power to break down a large and complex idea into short meaningful chunks and connect them into a memorable story.

What are the different ways to chunk information?

Once you have defined your presentation objectives you can think about the structure of presentation detailed below.

You can chunk any complex information using 6 basic questions:

Who, What, When, Where, Why and How.

Here is how you treat each presentation structure…

In the first one, we will use two questions together…

1 & 2. Who does what / which one does what?

You can use this structure of presentation to chunk the information based on how different parts of a whole function.

The structure helps you distinguish people from their roles, parts of a machine from their function etc. Since you separate the objects from their performance, your audience can easily organize the information in their minds.

Examples of presentations made with this flow are…

• A presentation on organizational hierarchy
• A demonstration of the various parts of a machine and their functioning
• An explanation of the various modules in a program and their performances

The next way to chunk the information is to use…

You can use this presentation flow to explain how different events are related in time. Since it helps your audience to travel along the timeline, they remember your message as a story.

The presentations made using this format are…

• Review of organization history
• A presentation on impact of technology in the past, present and future
• A project report in the form of a Gantt chart

You can use this structure to explain how objects are related based on their location. It helps your audience to visualize the chunks of information clearly separated from one another.

Some examples for this type of flows are…

• Performance report of different branches across the country
• A chart on acupressure points in the body
• A map depicting the market potential for the product in different regions in the world

You can use this format to explain a process or a sequence of steps. The nature of this structure lends itself nicely to train people on what to do, and provide directions.

Some of the examples are…

• An explanation on how to create an effective presentation using Minimal® process
• A flow chart on how a file moves across various departments during its processing
• A step-by-step tutorial on how to use a software

You can use this structure to help your audience to evaluate option and make a logical decision. It is used to compare and contrast different objects based on a certain set of parameters.

Some of the examples for this are…

• A product presentation showing how it is better than the competition based on 6 critical parameters.
• Presentation on pros and cons of an alternative
• An analysis on the myths and realities, usual errors and ways to avoid them etc.

As you can see, once the brainstorming from target audience point of view, is completed, creating a presentation outline is a very simple process.

Another benefit of a clear structure

There is another major benefit in using a clear structure for your presentation – it helps your audience to know where they are and where they are going.

Thus, it addresses the basic human curiosity and gives them reassurance.

A simple statement by a presenter – “So far, we’ve covered four stages of the process. Now, we’ll move to the fifth and final stage” orients the audience instantly.

Use an appropriate structure of presentation to make your presentation more memorable.

Return to Top of Presentation Structure Page

Return to Main Presentation Outline Page

Share these tips & tutorials

Get 25 creative powerpoint ideas mini course &  members-only tips & offers. sign up for free below:.

Academic presentations: Structure

• Presentation Design
• Slide design
• Conferences
• Group presentations

Jump to content on this page:

“A solid structure is the foundation of a coherent presentation, and shows the relationship between the parts and whole.” Nancy Duarte,  Resonate

A presentation that has a strong, clear structure is a presentation that is easy to follow. Without structure, a presentation can be confusing to an audience. How do they know if you are going to cover what they need to know? How can they tell which slides contain the most important points? This page considers some ways that you can organise your slides to give shape to your presentation as a whole.

Basic presentation structure

Every presentation should flow like a good story. It should involve  the audience directly.

• The  beginning  section is where you hook them. Start with the general picture then explain the specific problem and how by listening to your presentation you can solve it for them.
• The  middle  section should contain the main detail of your presentation, and can be organised in a number of ways (two good ones are explained below).
• Finally your  end  section should summarise the presentation and lead the audience to the next step.

Design your slides so that these sections  look distinctive  and any  key points  stand out.

Beginning section

This section is all about drawing the audience in; giving them a reason to want to listen to the main part of your presentation.

You can include any or all of the following:

• A really well designed title slide that grabs the attention
• A slide that gives the audience the big picture
• A slide that shows what you will be focusing on
• A slide that uses the word 'you' or 'your' in the title to connect with the audience
• A slide that tells the audience what is to come in your presentation (its structure)

After your title slide, you need slides covering these areas

Middle section structure option 1 - key points

Several authors suggest using a structure that involves an introduction followed by a middle section containing key point slides (usually 3).

The ideas is that there is a  hierarchy  of slides so that after each key point you have other slides that explain or add detail to that key point.

Cliff Atkinson (writer of the book  Beyond Bullet Points ) suggested using a table in MSWord (similar to the one in the template that is available to download at the bottom of this page) to help you structure and plan your presentation before you even open PowerPoint. This means you can concentrate on your story before getting distracted by design and content issues. We have copy of the book in our library: Beyond Bullet Points:  Beyond Bullet Points .

Middle section option 2 - sparkline

For her book  Resonate  Nancy Duarte looked in detail at the structure of successful presentations throughout history (even back to Lincoln's Gettysburg Address). She discovered that many have the same structural form which she calls a 'sparkline'.

This structure makes a clear distinction between  what is  (the position before the presentation is seen and acted upon) and  what could be  (the position after the presentation is seen and acted upon). The audience is introduced to the what is  state at the beginning of the presentation and then switched back and forth between  what could be  and  what is  several times before ending in the  what could be  condition, which she calls  Reward:New Bliss .

Nancy explains this better here:  Sparkline Overview .

In terms of academic work the  what is  is the current level of knowledge or previous thinking on a subject and the  what could be  is the new knowledge or new thinking. The  new bliss  is what the audience could do or learn next now that they are aware of the change. 

End section

The end of your presentation is a very powerful part because it contains your final words, the ones that the audience will take away with them. After you have finished your middle section, have at least one slide that summarises your main points  and one slide that leaves the audience with  the most important point  of your presentation - the one you would like them to remember even if they forget everything else.

Include slides that show these in your end section

DO NOT  finish with a slide that says  Any Questions?  or  Thanks for Listening  as this a waste of your final slide and does not need a visual image to help the audience understand your words. This slide could potentially be viewed longer than any other slide (whilst you answer your questions or receive feedback) and so you want to make sure it contains something that is important to both you and the audience.

These slides are a waste of your last slide - use the final slide for your most important point not a throwaway.

Template for structuring an academic presentation

This MSWord document is a template for structuring a typical academic presentation, it can be adapted and changed if necessary depending on how long the presentation you need to give is. Try to fill it in using full sentences as these will become your slide titles .

The blue sections are optional. The NEED and TASK sections are most suited to research presentations.

This is designed for a presentation between 20-30 minutes long. Shorter presentations will have no explanatory points and longer presentations will need more explanatory points.

This is adapted from Cliff Atkinson's Beyond Bullet Points template. See the link to the book above.

• << Previous: Home
• Next: Presentation Design >>
• Last Updated: Nov 29, 2023 11:42 AM
• URL: https://libguides.hull.ac.uk/present
• Login to LibApps
• Library websites Privacy Policy
• University of Hull privacy policy & cookies
• Website terms and conditions
• Accessibility
• Report a problem

We use essential cookies to make Venngage work. By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.

Manage Cookies

Cookies and similar technologies collect certain information about how you’re using our website. Some of them are essential, and without them you wouldn’t be able to use Venngage. But others are optional, and you get to choose whether we use them or not.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are always on, as they’re essential for making Venngage work, and making it safe. Without these cookies, services you’ve asked for can’t be provided.

Show cookie providers

• Google Login

Functionality Cookies

These cookies help us provide enhanced functionality and personalisation, and remember your settings. They may be set by us or by third party providers.

Performance Cookies

These cookies help us analyze how many people are using Venngage, where they come from and how they're using it. If you opt out of these cookies, we can’t get feedback to make Venngage better for you and all our users.

• Google Analytics

Targeting Cookies

These cookies are set by our advertising partners to track your activity and show you relevant Venngage ads on other sites as you browse the internet.

• Google Tag Manager
• Infographics
• Daily Infographics
• Popular Templates
• Accessibility
• Graphic Design
• Graphs and Charts
• Data Visualization
• Human Resources
• Beginner Guides

Blog Beginner Guides How To Make a Good Presentation [A Complete Guide]

How To Make a Good Presentation [A Complete Guide]

Written by: Krystle Wong Jul 20, 2023

A top-notch presentation possesses the power to drive action. From winning stakeholders over and conveying a powerful message to securing funding — your secret weapon lies within the realm of creating an effective presentation .  

Being an excellent presenter isn’t confined to the boardroom. Whether you’re delivering a presentation at work, pursuing an academic career, involved in a non-profit organization or even a student, nailing the presentation game is a game-changer.

In this article, I’ll cover the top qualities of compelling presentations and walk you through a step-by-step guide on how to give a good presentation. Here’s a little tip to kick things off: for a headstart, check out Venngage’s collection of free presentation templates . They are fully customizable, and the best part is you don’t need professional design skills to make them shine!

These valuable presentation tips cater to individuals from diverse professional backgrounds, encompassing business professionals, sales and marketing teams, educators, trainers, students, researchers, non-profit organizations, public speakers and presenters. 

No matter your field or role, these tips for presenting will equip you with the skills to deliver effective presentations that leave a lasting impression on any audience.

Click to jump ahead:

What are the 10 qualities of a good presentation?

Step-by-step guide on how to prepare an effective presentation, 9 effective techniques to deliver a memorable presentation, faqs on making a good presentation, how to create a presentation with venngage in 5 steps.

When it comes to giving an engaging presentation that leaves a lasting impression, it’s not just about the content — it’s also about how you deliver it. Wondering what makes a good presentation? Well, the best presentations I’ve seen consistently exhibit these 10 qualities:

1. Clear structure

No one likes to get lost in a maze of information. Organize your thoughts into a logical flow, complete with an introduction, main points and a solid conclusion. A structured presentation helps your audience follow along effortlessly, leaving them with a sense of satisfaction at the end.

Regardless of your presentation style , a quality presentation starts with a clear roadmap. Browse through Venngage’s template library and select a presentation template that aligns with your content and presentation goals. Here’s a good presentation example template with a logical layout that includes sections for the introduction, main points, supporting information and a conclusion: 

2. Engaging opening

Hook your audience right from the start with an attention-grabbing statement, a fascinating question or maybe even a captivating anecdote. Set the stage for a killer presentation!

The opening moments of your presentation hold immense power – check out these 15 ways to start a presentation to set the stage and captivate your audience.

3. Relevant content

Make sure your content aligns with their interests and needs. Your audience is there for a reason, and that’s to get valuable insights. Avoid fluff and get straight to the point, your audience will be genuinely excited.

4. Effective visual aids

Picture this: a slide with walls of text and tiny charts, yawn! Visual aids should be just that—aiding your presentation. Opt for clear and visually appealing slides, engaging images and informative charts that add value and help reinforce your message.

With Venngage, visualizing data takes no effort at all. You can import data from CSV or Google Sheets seamlessly and create stunning charts, graphs and icon stories effortlessly to showcase your data in a captivating and impactful way.

5. Clear and concise communication

Keep your language simple, and avoid jargon or complicated terms. Communicate your ideas clearly, so your audience can easily grasp and retain the information being conveyed. This can prevent confusion and enhance the overall effectiveness of the message. 

6. Engaging delivery

Spice up your presentation with a sprinkle of enthusiasm! Maintain eye contact, use expressive gestures and vary your tone of voice to keep your audience glued to the edge of their seats. A touch of charisma goes a long way!

7. Interaction and audience engagement

Turn your presentation into an interactive experience — encourage questions, foster discussions and maybe even throw in a fun activity. Engaged audiences are more likely to remember and embrace your message.

Transform your slides into an interactive presentation with Venngage’s dynamic features like pop-ups, clickable icons and animated elements. Engage your audience with interactive content that lets them explore and interact with your presentation for a truly immersive experience.

8. Effective storytelling

Who doesn’t love a good story? Weaving relevant anecdotes, case studies or even a personal story into your presentation can captivate your audience and create a lasting impact. Stories build connections and make your message memorable.

A great presentation background is also essential as it sets the tone, creates visual interest and reinforces your message. Enhance the overall aesthetics of your presentation with these 15 presentation background examples and captivate your audience’s attention.

9. Well-timed pacing

Pace your presentation thoughtfully with well-designed presentation slides, neither rushing through nor dragging it out. Respect your audience’s time and ensure you cover all the essential points without losing their interest.

10. Strong conclusion

Last impressions linger! Summarize your main points and leave your audience with a clear takeaway. End your presentation with a bang , a call to action or an inspiring thought that resonates long after the conclusion.

In-person presentations aside, acing a virtual presentation is of paramount importance in today’s digital world. Check out this guide to learn how you can adapt your in-person presentations into virtual presentations . 

Preparing an effective presentation starts with laying a strong foundation that goes beyond just creating slides and notes. One of the quickest and best ways to make a presentation would be with the help of a good presentation software . 

Otherwise, let me walk you to how to prepare for a presentation step by step and unlock the secrets of crafting a professional presentation that sets you apart.

1. Understand the audience and their needs

Before you dive into preparing your masterpiece, take a moment to get to know your target audience. Tailor your presentation to meet their needs and expectations , and you’ll have them hooked from the start!

2. Conduct thorough research on the topic

Time to hit the books (or the internet)! Don’t skimp on the research with your presentation materials — dive deep into the subject matter and gather valuable insights . The more you know, the more confident you’ll feel in delivering your presentation.

3. Organize the content with a clear structure

No one wants to stumble through a chaotic mess of information. Outline your presentation with a clear and logical flow. Start with a captivating introduction, follow up with main points that build on each other and wrap it up with a powerful conclusion that leaves a lasting impression.

Delivering an effective business presentation hinges on captivating your audience, and Venngage’s professionally designed business presentation templates are tailor-made for this purpose. With thoughtfully structured layouts, these templates enhance your message’s clarity and coherence, ensuring a memorable and engaging experience for your audience members.

Don’t want to build your presentation layout from scratch? pick from these 5 foolproof presentation layout ideas that won’t go wrong. 

4. Develop visually appealing and supportive visual aids

Spice up your presentation with eye-catching visuals! Create slides that complement your message, not overshadow it. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words, but that doesn’t mean you need to overload your slides with text.

Well-chosen designs create a cohesive and professional look, capturing your audience’s attention and enhancing the overall effectiveness of your message. Here’s a list of carefully curated PowerPoint presentation templates and great background graphics that will significantly influence the visual appeal and engagement of your presentation.

5. Practice, practice and practice

Practice makes perfect — rehearse your presentation and arrive early to your presentation to help overcome stage fright. Familiarity with your material will boost your presentation skills and help you handle curveballs with ease.

6. Seek feedback and make necessary adjustments

Don’t be afraid to ask for help and seek feedback from friends and colleagues. Constructive criticism can help you identify blind spots and fine-tune your presentation to perfection.

With Venngage’s real-time collaboration feature , receiving feedback and editing your presentation is a seamless process. Group members can access and work on the presentation simultaneously and edit content side by side in real-time. Changes will be reflected immediately to the entire team, promoting seamless teamwork.

7. Prepare for potential technical or logistical issues

Prepare for the unexpected by checking your equipment, internet connection and any other potential hiccups. If you’re worried that you’ll miss out on any important points, you could always have note cards prepared. Remember to remain focused and rehearse potential answers to anticipated questions.

8. Fine-tune and polish your presentation

As the big day approaches, give your presentation one last shine. Review your talking points, practice how to present a presentation and make any final tweaks. Deep breaths — you’re on the brink of delivering a successful presentation!

In competitive environments, persuasive presentations set individuals and organizations apart. To brush up on your presentation skills, read these guides on how to make a persuasive presentation and tips to presenting effectively . 

Whether you’re an experienced presenter or a novice, the right techniques will let your presentation skills soar to new heights!

From public speaking hacks to interactive elements and storytelling prowess, these 9 effective presentation techniques will empower you to leave a lasting impression on your audience and make your presentations unforgettable.

1. Confidence and positive body language

Positive body language instantly captivates your audience, making them believe in your message as much as you do. Strengthen your stage presence and own that stage like it’s your second home! Stand tall, shoulders back and exude confidence. 

2. Eye contact with the audience

Break down that invisible barrier and connect with your audience through their eyes. Maintaining eye contact when giving a presentation builds trust and shows that you’re present and engaged with them.

3. Effective use of hand gestures and movement

A little movement goes a long way! Emphasize key points with purposeful gestures and don’t be afraid to walk around the stage. Your energy will be contagious!

4. Utilize storytelling techniques

Weave the magic of storytelling into your presentation. Share relatable anecdotes, inspiring success stories or even personal experiences that tug at the heartstrings of your audience. Adjust your pitch, pace and volume to match the emotions and intensity of the story. Varying your speaking voice adds depth and enhances your stage presence.

5. Incorporate multimedia elements

Spice up your presentation with a dash of visual pizzazz! Use slides, images and video clips to add depth and clarity to your message. Just remember, less is more—don’t overwhelm them with information overload. 

Turn your presentations into an interactive party! Involve your audience with questions, polls or group activities. When they actively participate, they become invested in your presentation’s success. Bring your design to life with animated elements. Venngage allows you to apply animations to icons, images and text to create dynamic and engaging visual content.

6. Utilize humor strategically

Laughter is the best medicine—and a fantastic presentation enhancer! A well-placed joke or lighthearted moment can break the ice and create a warm atmosphere , making your audience more receptive to your message.

7. Practice active listening and respond to feedback

Be attentive to your audience’s reactions and feedback. If they have questions or concerns, address them with genuine interest and respect. Your responsiveness builds rapport and shows that you genuinely care about their experience.

8. Apply the 10-20-30 rule

Apply the 10-20-30 presentation rule and keep it short, sweet and impactful! Stick to ten slides, deliver your presentation within 20 minutes and use a 30-point font to ensure clarity and focus. Less is more, and your audience will thank you for it!

9. Implement the 5-5-5 rule

Simplicity is key. Limit each slide to five bullet points, with only five words per bullet point and allow each slide to remain visible for about five seconds. This rule keeps your presentation concise and prevents information overload.

Simple presentations are more engaging because they are easier to follow. Summarize your presentations and keep them simple with Venngage’s gallery of simple presentation templates and ensure that your message is delivered effectively across your audience.

1. How to start a presentation?

To kick off your presentation effectively, begin with an attention-grabbing statement or a powerful quote. Introduce yourself, establish credibility and clearly state the purpose and relevance of your presentation.

2. How to end a presentation?

For a strong conclusion, summarize your talking points and key takeaways. End with a compelling call to action or a thought-provoking question and remember to thank your audience and invite any final questions or interactions.

3. How to make a presentation interactive?

To make your presentation interactive, encourage questions and discussion throughout your talk. Utilize multimedia elements like videos or images and consider including polls, quizzes or group activities to actively involve your audience.

In need of inspiration for your next presentation? I’ve got your back! Pick from these 120+ presentation ideas, topics and examples to get started. 

Creating a stunning presentation with Venngage is a breeze with our user-friendly drag-and-drop editor and professionally designed templates for all your communication needs. 

Here’s how to make a presentation in just 5 simple steps with the help of Venngage:

Step 1: Sign up for Venngage for free using your email, Gmail or Facebook account or simply log in to access your account. 

Step 2: Pick a design from our selection of free presentation templates (they’re all created by our expert in-house designers).

Step 3: Make the template your own by customizing it to fit your content and branding. With Venngage’s intuitive drag-and-drop editor, you can easily modify text, change colors and adjust the layout to create a unique and eye-catching design.

Step 4: Elevate your presentation by incorporating captivating visuals. You can upload your images or choose from Venngage’s vast library of high-quality photos, icons and illustrations. 

Step 5: Upgrade to a premium or business account to export your presentation in PDF and print it for in-person presentations or share it digitally for free!

By following these five simple steps, you’ll have a professionally designed and visually engaging presentation ready in no time. With Venngage’s user-friendly platform, your presentation is sure to make a lasting impression. So, let your creativity flow and get ready to shine in your next presentation!

Discover popular designs

Infographic maker

Brochure maker

White paper online

Newsletter creator

Flyer maker

Timeline maker

Letterhead maker

Mind map maker

Ebook maker

7 Incredible Ways to Structure Your Presentation

As a speaker, you make every effort to make your presentation stand out – you add high-resolution images, well-researched content, animation, and whatnot, but despite this, sometimes your slideshow fails to hit the mark. Can you think of any reason? Poor design, lack of facial expression, and ineffective delivery of speech are the most probable reasons you will give for the presentation failure . Well, these are quite obvious reasons. Wait! Are you overlooking one important aspect that makes the presentation fall flat, i.e., the structure?

Every decent presentation follows a natural flow with a clear beginning, middle, and end, and appropriate transitions and signposts, which gives a direction to the audience and keeps them on track. However, creating a well-structured presentation is a daunting task and takes a lot of nerve as you have to consider a lot of factors – the objective of your presentation, whether you need any visual assistance, settings where you will be delivering your talk, knowledge of the audience level, time constraints for your speech, etc.

If you are not sure how to organize your slides to create an impact on the audience, you have landed at the right place. In this blog post, we have provided some outstanding ways to structure your presentation. Let’s dive deeper!

1. Situation-Complication-Resolution

Image Source:

https://www.presentation-guru.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Situation-Complication-Resolution.jpg

This structure is the best fit for presentations that aim to persuade the audience. It first describes the current scenario (more precisely, what’s going on at present) and then introduces the audience to the complication or problem (causes and impact). Then portray the solution of the problem (the steps, resources, and time required to solve it, the objections you may encounter, etc.). Finally, visualize the benefits after the resolution of the problem. You can make the presentation more intriguing by backing up your information with real-life examples, proof, and facts.

To sum up, the flow of information in this structure goes this way:

• Situation – The current scenario is represented with clarity.
• Complication – The challenge/problem that needs to be solved.
• Resolution – It depicts the solution to the problem.

Example : In his TED talk, Paul Greenberg beautifully presented how fishing salmon, tuna, and shrimp can ruin the oceans. He then suggested a few specific ways to overcome the problem that can benefit both nature and the people who earn their livelihoods through fishing.

2. Hook, Meat, and Payoff

Image Source: 

https://www.presentation-guru.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hook-Meat-and-payoff.jpg

In this presentation structure, the presenter opens his talk with something (like surprising information, less known facts, provocative statements, rhetorical questions, etc.) that keeps the audience hooked and wanting more. Gradually, the story progresses in an interesting way and finally ends with a conclusion that relates to the beginning.

• Hook – It develops the interest of the audience and piques their curiosity, giving them a strong reason to stay intrigued and listen. 
• Meat – The main part of the presentation that describes what people actually need to understand.
• Payoff – The benefit or reward the audience gets after gaining new knowledge or developing a new understanding. 

Example : To learn more about how this structure works, watch this presentation by Simon Sinek on “How Great Leaders Inspire Action.”

3. Situation-Opportunity-Resolution

https://www.presentation-guru.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Situation-Opportunity-Resolution.jpg

Every problem has an opportunity – this can be better represented by leveraging the Situation-Opportunity-Resolution structure. Instead of focusing more on the audience’s fear, it gives more attention to their aspirations. 

• Opportunity – The opportunity that must be grabbed to address the problem.
• Resolution – It depicts the solution to the problem. You can provide evidence and proof to increase the credibility of the story.

Example : Watch this TED talk by Adam Galinsky on “How to Speak Up for Yourself” to get more insights into this structure.

4. The Drama

https://www.presentation-guru.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/The-Drama.jpg

https://www.presentation-guru.com/on-structure-the-hidden-framework-that-hangs-your-story-together/

This structure is generally followed to present the success story of the business/individual. To be more precise, this structure depicts a Hero’s Journey – how he embarked on a voyage, what challenges/obstacles he encountered on the way, what unique things he discovered about himself, and what was the outcome of the entire voyage.

The entire story is narrated in the following 8 steps:

• One Fine Day – Depicts a stage situation that is not completely perfect, but just average.
• The Challenge – The challenge that comes suddenly and can’t be overlooked.
• Descending Crisis – How the challenge made things worse for the hero.
• Rock Bottom – Everything is at its worst, and the hero feels lost.
• The Discovery – A ray of hope (new abilities, skills, etc.) that makes the hero believe that the problem can be resolved.
• The Rise – How the problem can be resolved in a positive manner.
• The Return – How the hero overcomes the challenge and opens the way to a new range of possibilities for him.
• The Lesson – The key takeaway message that the hero gets from the entire journey.

Example : See how beautifully Adam Driver narrated his story of becoming an actor from Marines. This TED talk is the perfect example of this structure.

5. The Pitch

https://www.presentation-guru.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/The-pitch.jpg

The Pitch is perfect for sales presentations that aim to make the audience believe that the presenter’s idea can help them resolve their problem. The slideshow begins with the evaluation of the current situation and then proceeds towards the hurdles and the solution. You can include data, research, experiments, case studies, or use tests to support your ideas. Conclude your talk with the action that the audience is supposed to take next. Don’t forget to add a ‘hook’ (added benefit).

Here is a quick look at how this structure looks like:

• The Wind Up – A summary of the current scenario.
• The Hurdle – The problem/issue that needs to be resolved.
• The Vision – A quick glimpse into the main idea on how the problem/issue can be solved.
• The Options – Illustrates two different options to solve the problem.
• The Close – The best option is presented as the ideal solution to the problem.
• The Fine Print – Represents how exactly the problem will be resolved.
• The Hook – Showcases the ‘added benefit’ of the solution.

Example : Check out how Enric Sala pitched to solve the problem of turning the high seas into a natural reserve. He ended by making people aware of how people can contribute to their country.

6. The Explanation

https://www.presentation-guru.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/the-explanation.jpg

This structure works best for crafting information-rich presentations that aim to educate the audience about a new regulation, initiative, insights, or process. The presentation progresses in an upward direction, depicting where we are now and where we need to reach or what we need to attain in the future. The steps to move to the next stage are showcased precisely, ensuring that the audience understands accurately how and why each stage affects or concerns them. The final stage of transformation is disclosed at the end. In a nutshell, this structure follows the following steps:

• The Lay of the Land – Where the things are now and what is the final destination.
• The Roadmap – The visual map that shows how to reach the final destination.
• The First Step – Instills the adventure to embark on the journey.
• The Next Step – Further steps are illustrated one by one.
• Almost There – Depicts how much you have progressed since the first step.
• The Arrival – Indicates the end of the journey.

Example : Watch this TED talk by Amy Cuddy, an American social psychologist. She followed an Explanation structure for delivering her talk on power poses and how they can impact the consequence of a difficult situation.

7. Fact and Storytelling

https://www.presentation-guru.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sparkline.jpg

If you are going to communicate your company’s or department’s vision or present an idea, product, or initiative, you can use this structure which follows a zig-zag pattern instead of a traditional linear one. Using this structure, you can zig-zag back and forth between ‘how things worked then’ and ‘how they would work in the future,’ giving momentum to your presentation. This structure focuses on concluding the slideshow on a high note.

Example : In 2007, Steve Jobs used the same structure for his keynote for launching the iPhone. He took advantage of the power of the unexpected to create a suspenseful opener and tease the audience. He threw light on what smartphones looked like and could do then and what they would look like and would do in the future. He finally demonstrated the iPhone in a very dramatic way. 

Watch Steve Jobs’ full keynote below:

The Bottom Line

Some presentations leave you informed or inspired. This is because the speaker crafted the slides in a simple and logical manner that made it easy for you to grab the key takeaway message quickly. 

A thoughtfully organized presentation benefits the speakers as well by helping them stay on topic, remain calm, avoid awkward silences, and deliver their talk with confidence. By choosing the right structure for your presentation, you can convert your boring information/data into an exciting story that appeals to your audience, both emotionally and intellectually. If you are presenting for the first time or have no time to craft a presentation from scratch, you can use pre-designed, high-definition templates to give a structured look to your information. If you have something relevant to the topic you want to share with us, write in the “Comments” section below. And, if you like the blog post, do share it on your social media handles.

Leave a Response Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Please enter an answer in digits: 14 + 10 =

You Might Also Like

12 Ways to Make an Engaging Slide Deck and Captivate Your Audience

Essential Tips to Find the Right Audience for Your Next Presentation

Expert Tips to Handle Distractions When You Speak on Stage

9 Tips to Craft the Perfect Title for Your Next PowerPoint Presentation

• VisualStory®
• Duarte DataStory®
• Presentation Principles™
• Slide:ology®
• Slide Design

Speaker Coaching

• Presenting Virtually™
• Illuminate™
• Adaptive Listening™
• Team training
• Learning journeys
• Brand and product storytelling
• Keynotes and events
• Sales enablement
• Communication systems
• Accelerator Lab™
• Our culture
• Our leaders
• Case studies
• Media mentions

Guides and tools

• Learner support

Presenting like a pro: The comprehensive guide

Phoebe Perelman

Drum roll please … presenting … a blog about presenting. Hold your applause. I’m about to present you with a jumping-off point into the big wide world of presentations.

What are the must-have presentation skills? What’s the difference between a pitch and a keynote? What are some fundamental presentation design principles? And how can you become a better presenter? This blog aims to answer these questions and more. It’s also rich with resources that allow you to double-click on any topic of your choice. So, without further ado, let’s get this presentation party started.

What is presenting?

Presenting has a myriad of comparable meanings. From the fields of medicine to law to entertainment, presenting can be defined as:

• Appearing formally before other people
• Representing (someone or something) to others in a particular way
• Showing or offering (something) for others to scrutinize or consider
• Giving someone (a gift or award) in a formal or ceremonial way

The common thread is this: presenting is about communicating or demonstrating something to others. Today we’re not talking about a specific field. We’re talking about presenting verbal and visual content, whether that be an internal recommendation, a product launch, or a board update.

You can present in front of 2 people or 200 people: it’s still presenting, nonetheless. And if you’re ever in a position to present, there are specific presentation skills that will serve you (and your message) well.

What are presentation skills?

Duarte is the original presentation company. We’ve spent more than 30 years creating cinematic presentations that move audiences. We’ve been so successful making presentations that we started teaching clients en masse how to improve their presentation skills. We start by focusing on the 4 foundational presentation skills you cannot go without:

Spoiler alert: when it comes to presenting, the presenter is not the most important person in the room. The audience is. And in order to win over those critical audience members, you must empathize with them. Think deeply about who the audience is, what they need to be successful, how they might be stuck, and how they consume information. Only then can you develop content that resonates with them.

Presentations aren’t inherently engaging. In fact, many presenters just spew out information with no compelling structure. Or they read from their slides robotically. Or maybe they provide an overwhelming amount of content with no context. But the presenters that grip us, engage us, and leave us forever changed – well, they tell a story. Stories are the secret presentation sauce. In a way, stories are just as essential for survival and success today as they were thousands of years ago.  Whether you’ve woven a full-circle story into your presentation from beginning to end, or you incorporate customer stories and personal anecdotes – stories are necessary to evoke emotion and convey memorable meaning.

Visuals help reinforce your message and make ideas stick. Although not always used, presenters often create slide decks on presentation software (like PowerPoint, Keynote, or Google Slides) to complement their oral presentations. Or, in place of slides, presenters may also use visual aids like videos or demonstrations throughout a presentation.

4. Delivery

How you say things matters just as much as your message itself. No matter how well-crafted your content, if you can’t deliver it with confidence and conviction, no one will hear – nevertheless act – upon your ideas. And in that case, what’s the point of presenting in the first place?! When it comes to presenting information in front of others, delivery is central to your success. Mastering public speaking is no easy feat, but it is possible, with self-awareness, coaching, and practice. 

Keynote speeches

Some presentations are higher stakes than others, like keynote speeches. And the presentation skills needed for these can vary slightly. Keynote speeches typically set a tone and central theme for an event, conference, or ceremony. Whether an event is in-person or virtual, small or large, keynote speeches hold a lot of weight.

At Duarte’s annual internal event, ShopWeek, we get to hear a keynote speech every year. These speeches rally us around a common goal. Last year we heard from a professional mountain climber. The year before that, we heard from an astronaut! (I guess we have a thing for courageous adventurers.) But anyone can deliver a keynote speech as long as they have a unique or exciting insight to offer.

Depending on the occasion, keynote speeches aren’t always accompanied by visuals, but they usually incorporate some type of visual aid. Video clips, product demonstrations, and presentation slides are all powerful ways to complement a keynote speech – as long as they’re executed for the (literal and figurative) spotlight.

Speaking of spotlights … it’s important to remember that in-person keynote speeches come with a myriad of in-person event elements. Lights! Cameras! Microphones! Stages! Confidence monitors! Action! So if you’ve never given a production-level presentation, it’s important to familiarize yourself with these elements in advance so you can prepare for all the extra commotion.

The main stage can be nerve-racking. But it offers an unmatched opportunity to:

• Demonstrate thought leadership
• Increase brand loyalty
• And initiate change

If you want to nail it, consider working with presentation experts to refine your content, visuals, and presence.

We help some of the biggest global brands create keynote content for massive industry events (like Dreamforce) using the Duarte Method. The Duarte Method relies on a proven presentation structure that Nancy Duarte uncovered  when studying the commonalities of the greatest presentations, stories, and speeches of all time. This structure emulates the captivating rise and fall of myths and movies by infusing contrast. Contrast between:

• What is and what could be
• Sacrifices and rewards
• Pros and cons
• Roadblocks and opportunities

Contrast (or conflict) keeps listeners engaged. It is what inches you closer to the edge of your seat during that awe-inspiring keynote speech. And just like all presentation skills, contrast can be taught.

Do you think you need presentation skills training?

Whether you’re delivering a keynote presentation on a mainstage for the first time, or you’re a seasoned presenter with a high-stakes talk on the horizon, everyone can benefit from presentation skills training.

Although your level of expertise will influence which type of presentation training best suits you, there is always room for improvement. After all, just because you’ve given a great talk in the past doesn’t mean your next presentation will be equally as successful (no offense). Presentation training helps ensure that you can ace your delivery consistently, by uncovering tools and techniques to coach yourself for every unique presentation opportunity that arises.

There are a few different presentation training formats:

• Self-guided presentation courses online
• Live online (virtual) workshops
• In-person training
• 1:1 speaker coaching

To determine which type of training is right for you, consider the speaking engagement, your experience, your professional development goals, and your preferred learning style.

Additionally, identify whether you need help with presentation content, presentation delivery, or presentation design.

What is presentation design?

Presentation design is exactly as it sounds: it involves the design and development of presentation slides or visual aids.

And to be honest, everyone who gives presentations could use the help of a presentation designer. I mean, have you ever looked at a slide and thought to yourself …”I have no idea what I’m looking at.” Be honest. How many presentations have you sat through where every slide consisted of boring bulleted lists? Or maybe you wished you had a magnifying glass to try and decipher what some teeny tiny text said? I know I have. And my head hurts just thinking about it.

Presentation slides have incredible potential to make a verbal message stick. But more often than not, presentation slides detract from the speaker and the message because they’re not designed with the audience in mind.

That’s why we train professionals in the art of slide design. Here are three presentation design principles that we live by at Duarte:

1. Design is not decoration.

Everything on your presentation slide should serve a purpose. And that purpose should always link back to your message. There’s no need to waste precious presentation real-estate with decorative icons or superfluous details. If it’s not adding meaning to your message, you don’t need it. When in doubt, leave it out.

2. Stick to one idea per slide.

Crowded slides crammed with lots of content are not effective. If your audience can’t comprehend what’s on your slide in  a few seconds, you’ll lose them. Presentation slides should support your presentation, not distract from it. So unless you want your audience to read your slides instead of listening to your talk, limit yourself to one main idea per slide and keep it as simple as possible.

3. Audience-centric slides are accessible slides.

Everyone digests information differently. As an  empathy-first organization, we encourage you to look at every presentation slide through an audience-centric lens and create visuals that are accessible to everyone. Because when you design with accessibility, you open the doors to a wider audience and create a more equitable and empathetic world. To ensure accessibility, review the AA accessibility standards. You can also download our  recent webinar about visual accessibility 101.

Oh, and if you’re designing slides specifically for virtual presentations, there are just a few additional slide design components to consider.

But overall, if you keep it simple, keep it aligned with your message, and keep your audience in mind, you’ll be off to a good start.

Honing in on data visualization

We can’t talk about presentation design without considering data visualization. After all, it’s rare we can ask anyone to make a decision without providing data to support our claim.

No matter what type of presentation you’re delivering, meaningful metrics are a must. Yet, another common presentation design pitfall we see is the dreaded “data dump.” That’s when someone includes way too much data on their presentation slides. Or, provides data with zero context or meaning behind it.

Datapoints alone don’t move audiences. They need a storyteller.

And data storytelling isn’t easy. If you’ve ever asked yourself “how do I display data the right way in presentations?” – you’re not alone. Presenting data is tricky because different rules apply to different contexts. That means, first and foremost, you’ve got to know your audience. Only then can you determine and extract the key messages they need to hear from a deluge of data.

Once you’ve identified what data matters most to your audience, you need to visualize that data in a way that’s both consumable and memorable. To do so:

• Choose charts that everyone can understand
• Write clear chart titles
• Make descriptive observations using adjectives
• Use color, labels, or highlights to draw attention to specific data points

If you want more guidance on how to synthesize your findings, craft recommendations, organize your thinking, and visualize meaning, consider enrolling in a data visualization training course like Duarte DataStory®.

Pitch presentations

Sales pitches, investor decks, start-up overviews – oh my! These are all examples of pitch presentations – and they’re presentations you need to get right if you want to get paid. Companies often come to us confused. They think they’ve included everything an investor or customer needs to know, but their pitch is not performing. There are a few common reasons for this:

1. They’re using a one-size-fits-all deck.

Every sales conversation must be customized to the stakeholder you’re speaking to. As author and management consultant Tom Peters says, “one size never fits all. One size fits one. Period.” Hashtag agreed. Modular sales decks and sales pitch templates sound good on paper, but are difficult to put into practice. Check out these sales enablement tips to learn how to build situational sales presentations for your team.

2. They aren’t highlighting anything unique.

If you don’t have anything unique to offer, your pitch won’t stand out no matter how charismatic your delivery or how beautiful your branding. Consider this statement: “We build incredible, unique, and thoughtful experiences that allow you to delight, surprise, and wow people.”

Despite the word unique being included, does that sound like a unique value proposition to you? I can’t even tell what this company sells based on that claim. It could be software, or it could be ice cream delivery. The world may never know. And that is a problem.

3. They don’t incorporate a story.

Facts and figures are helpful sales tools, don’t get me wrong. But nothing sells like stories do. After all, our feelings drive our decisions 70% of the time according to Gallup. Data proves a point, but stories influence people to act. When you intertwine analytical and emotional content, you’ve got a powerful pitch that appeals to both ethos and pathos.

4. They start with a single problem and make the rest of their pitch all sunshine and rainbows.

Our brains need contrast to stay engaged. If you vomit all product benefits for the last 80% of your pitch, it makes it harder to think critically about the necessary components that must be considered to move a decision forward. Not to mention, that listeners stop believing you. Instead, your audience needs vicissitude, or a back and forth, between problem one and solution one. Problem two and solution two. And so on. This requires brainstorming every possible objection or resistance point your audience might have, and weaving them throughout your pitch.

Now, how do you ensure your entire salesforce avoids these missteps? That’s where a sales enablement deck comes in.

A sales enablement deck equips reps with every sales resource they need to win: case studies, key metrics, audience personas, and expected objections, all wrapped in an overarching story, topic, or category.

But as stated, one size will never fit all. It just won’t! So refrain from relying on one sales enablement deck for everything. The more concise and tailored your sales enablement decks are, the easier it will be for your reps to use them, and the more likely you’ll hear that sales bell ring.

And if you want help crafting (or delivering) sales enablement training, that is one of the many presentation services Duarte offers.

Presentation services

As the O.G. presentation company turned communications consultants and trainers, we can help you (and your team) with every and any aspect of presentation development.

We offer training and custom agency services for presentation delivery and presentation creation.

Presentation coaching

Need executive coaching for an upcoming panel discussion? We’ve got coaches for that.

Need to help a group of sales reps up-level their delivery skills? We’ve got a course for that.

Presentation storytelling

Need a fresh sales pitch written for a high-stakes audience? We’ve got writers for that.

Need cinematic presentation slides for a keynote event? We’ve got designers for that.

Or, need to train your entire staff in the art of business storytelling? We’ve got a course for that too.

Presentation skills are critical  for our careers and our companies. Arm your team and your organization with the skills and resources needed to present their best.

Check out these related courses

Captivate™

Improve your public speaking

Overcome bad habits, conquer fears, and increase your confidence in any speaking setting. Discover your strengths and build on them to improve your delivery.

Personalized help for speakers

Up-level your speaking skills with one-on-one support. We’ll help you rehearse your talk, polish your presence, and transform your message delivery.

Presentation Principles™

Learn presentation basics

Follow a step-by-step method to write compelling stories, amplify ideas visually, and present with confidence while learning at your own pace.

Check out these related resources

How to stop that stutter: 7 steps to overcome presentation performance anxiety

Whether you stutter or suffer from anxiety before a presentation, learn 7 steps to help you calm the stutter, and your nerves, for your next presentation or big-stage moment.

Walking decks 101: A beginner’s guide and why you need one

Learn everything you need to know about walking decks, what they are, how to use one, and all the use cases for one.

How to design and deliver an investor pitch deck that gets funded

Learn tips and tricks to use for your investor pitch deck from the experts in presentation design and persuasive communication.

How to choose the best presentation coach for your needs

Unlock the key strategies for selecting the best presentation coach tailored to your specific needs to enhance your public speaking abilities.

How speaker coaching can catapult the results of any presentation

Learn from 4 executive speaker coaches how to maximize your impact and captivate audiences. Discover how to achieve desired results with speaker coaching!

4 ways to prepare for a hostile audience

Preparing for a presentation that feels more like a fight? Build confidence before you walk in the room with this free resource.

How to Structure a PowerPoint Presentation

No matter how sleek or beautiful your slide decks appear, your presentation won’t be a success if it fails to adhere to a sound and proper structure, throughout. This is why it’s worth taking some time to learn how most effective presentations are structured.

And what could be a better way to understand the right way to design your presentations than learn it from a presentation company ? In this article, we share the standard structure of an effective PowerPoint presentation, in addition to some practical tips on how to implement this structure technically, using PowerPoint.

What Is the Standard Presentation Structure?

A decent presentation always has an important story to tell and, just like any other narration, it primarily consists of three basic sections: introduction, main body, and conclusion.

Introduction

The first section in your presentation should be an introduction. It should set the tone for your entire presentation and explain to the audience what they can expect from your presentation. Here are some of the slides you may want to add in the introduction section: 

• The title of the presentation
• The objective(s) of the presentation
• A table of contents

As you can guess, this will be the main section of your presentation, where you explain your topic of concern. Break down your content into bite-sized points, arrange them in a logical order, and then present all the information you would like to share with your audience, in order to support each of your points.

This section is to summarise all the key points or highlights from your presentation. Share with your audience how this information will help them in the future. Finally, thank the audience for viewing your presentation.

Tips for Structuring a PowerPoint Presentation

Now that you know what sections a typical presentation consists of, let’s take a look at how to structure it effectively in Microsoft PowerPoint.

Create slides and edit them in Outline View

It’s always a good idea to structure a PowerPoint presentation while in the editing mode. To do this efficiently, go to the ‘View’ tab and select ‘Outline View’. It will show you the title and main text section for each slide, and let you edit the text, while also providing an overview of the presentation’s content.

TIP: You can also use the Outline View to select a section of bullet text and promote it to slide titles, and vice versa. To do this, right-click on a relevant piece of text or title and select ‘Promote’ or ‘Demote’.

Arrange slides into sections

If you are developing a large PowerPoint presentation, it’s best to organise it by clubbing multiple slides together into sections that can be easily collapsed and expanded, whenever required.

• To create a new section, go to the list of slides, and right-click on the slide from where you want a new section to begin. 

From the drop-down menu, select ‘Add Section’ and assign a name to the section.

• To re-order the sections, right-click on the section name and click ‘Move Section Up’ or ‘Move Section Down’.
• To expand or collapse a section, click on the icons for the same on the left of the section name.

TIP: You can also access these settings by going to the under the ‘View’ tab and choosing Slide Sorter.

Create a well-organised table of contents

The aforementioned tips will help you organise a presentation’s content. However, it’s also crucial that your audience can navigate through your presentation with ease. This is why it’s always a good idea to create a structured and interactive table of contents, and place it near the beginning of the presentation.

To do this, follow these steps:

• Go to the title slide or a blank slide and insert the table of contents.
• Switch to ‘Outline View’, right-click on the outline pane, and click ‘Collapse’. Then, click ‘Collapse All’ to display only the titles.
• Select all the slide titles, copy them, and paste them on the desired slide.
• Select the title of the first slide and right-click on it. Then, click on ‘Link’.
• In the window that opens next, select ‘Place in This Document’ (from the left-hand menu), select the corresponding slide for the selected title, and click OK.

Repeat this procedure for the remaining titles and link them to the corresponding slides.

Wrapping Up

There you have it! There are many more tips to come, so, if you are interested to learn more about presentation design, don’t forget to check out our future blog posts.

Want to take your online presentation game to the next level? Contact us today!

Your Guide To Corporate Presentations From Real Presentation Expertsn

Mastering the art of pitch deck designn, how to avoid using filler words in your presentationn, a guide to slide count in presentationsn, 6 essential presentation skills for pitching successn, a guide to crafting powerful endings in presentationsn, what can our clients tell us about social media usen.

Your Guide To Corporate Presentations From Real Presentation Experts

Mastering the Art of Pitch Deck Design

How to Avoid Using Filler Words in Your Presentation

More Good Stuff:

How hiring a professional can improve your commercial real estate powerpoint presentation.

Ready to transform your commercial real estate PowerPoint presentations into impactful visual narratives that drive results? Partner with KOAD.

5 Tips for Improving Your Upcoming Healthcare PowerPoint Presentation

Creating an engaging healthcare PowerPoint presentation can feel like a daunting task, especially when you're already juggling numerous day-to-day responsibilities.

7 Ways to Make Your Financial Presentation More Effective

With the right strategies and a touch of creativity, you can transform even the most detailed financial data into the best financial PowerPoint presentations.

Tips for Selecting the Right Professional PowerPoint Designer for Your Company Presentation

Transform your design ideas for PowerPoint into a compelling visual narrative that resonates with your audience.

4 Ways a PowerPoint Designer Can Keep Your Presentation Fluid

Implementing PowerPoint design suggestions from an experienced professional can enhance your presentation’s visual appeal and consistency with your desired theme.

What Is Visual Hierarchy, and Why Should My Presentation Have It?

You have a presentation coming up, you want to make sure your audience takes important information from your slides, but you’re not sure how to format your presentation.

You can hope that people pay attention to what you’ve painstakingly prepared, or you can employ a visual hierarchy to make sure that each slide has an impact. How? Let’s find out.

Breaking Down Visual Hierarchy

Visual hierarchy is a design principle used by professionals to arrange elements of a design according to principles like size, color, contrast, alignment, repetition, and proximity. You or a professional PowerPoint designer can use these elements in your next presentation design to subtly highlight important facts and effortlessly direct the audience’s eyes towards what you want them to see.

Why Is Visual Hierarchy Important?

​​A strong visual hierarchy leads your audience’s attention to where you want, and you can highlight bits of information that you deem to be most essential. A lot will depend on who your target audience is, but you can count on visual hierarchy to take advantage of two innate human traits:

• When people look at any written communication, in this case, your presentation slides, they react fast. Human eyes decide within a few milliseconds whether what they’re looking at is worth their time or not. You can use visual hierarchy to make sure that you capture their attention.
• Users’ eyes follow a culturally influenced reading pattern. Westerners who read left to right follow an F and a Z pattern . You can use this to lead your audience where you want them to look or create focal points to highlight the most critical points in your presentation.

Presentation Tips Using Visual Hierarchy

Visual hierarchy can make your presentation more effective and hold your audience by using certain design elements to your advantage.

Use Typography

The right kind of typography, or the art of arranging letters, and text can give your presentation the impact it needs. Remember to use large and heavy texts to draw attention and use smaller texts for supporting information.

Ideally, you would use two to three levels of typography per slide. A title will make up your largest level, with body text taking the size down, and captions or a footer rounding out your smallest level. Varying text size gives dimension to your slides, establishing a foreground, middle ground, and background using only text.

Use White Space

When you first design your presentation, it might be tempting to use all the space available to fit in every detail you think might be important. Remember that blank space is just as important as the space you fill with words or images.

You can use white space to group elements together, or you can separate elements to give them more of an impact. Giving information some breathing room helps distinguish it from other content and makes it more attractive to the viewer’s eye.

Use Different Shades and Intensities

Colors are a fantastic way to draw attention to your presentation. Bright colors immediately attract the eye, and you can use them to highlight certain aspects of your slides. Especially when accompanied by duller hues and shades, vibrant colors will draw the eye.

Try Proximity

Establishing importance doesn’t have to be so obvious. It can be as simple as intentionally placing elements next to or far from each other: things that are related should be close, and things that aren’t related should be far.

Proximity helps you delve deeper into your topic in an organized manner without spelling it out for your audience. It’s similar to how a TV dinner is set up: if there are multiple items in one compartment, you know that they go together. Things found in separate slots are meant to be eaten separately. The same goes for the way your audience will take in visual information.

The Rule of Odds

Create a focal point by using the rule of odds, or emphasizing a design element by putting it in the group’s center. You then place an equal number of neighboring objects on either side, creating an odd-numbered group. This kind of layout shows your audience that this center object if the most important

Creating an Immersive Experience

A beautifully crafted PowerPoint presentation created by someone with a solid knowledge of visual hierarchy is sure to create an immersive experience and captivate your audience from start to finish.

At Kristian Olson Art & Design, I personally design or oversee every aspect of your presentation. I have over 20 years of experience helping clients in a variety of industries deliver carefully crafted professional presentations. Get in touch with me today to find out how I can elevate your next presentation!

Ask questions. Get a quote. You know what to do.

Services by Role

Powerpoint presentation designer.

What is a Presentation? Objectives, Elements, Important skills, Four Ps

• Post last modified: 4 June 2023
• Reading time: 19 mins read
• Post category: Business Communication

What is a Presentation?

A presentation communicates a message, an idea or information to a group. It is similar to a report, but with a key difference–the human element. A presentation conveys the speaker’s personality and enables immediate interaction among all participants.

Table of Content

• 1 What is a Presentation?
• 2.1 To Inform
• 2.2 To Train
• 2.3 To Persuade
• 2.4 To Motivate
• 2.5 To Entertain
• 3 Main Elements of Presentation
• 4.1 Analytical ability
• 4.2 Effective communication ability
• 4.3 Creative ability
• 4.4 Good interpersonal skill
• 4.5 Sound time management
• 4.6 Problem-solving ability
• 4.7 A sense of humour
• 5 Evaluation Wheel
• 6.1 Prepare
• 6.2 Practice
• 6.3 Present
• 7.1 Know Yourself
• 7.2 Know Your Material
• 7.3 Know Your Purpose
• 7.4 Know Your Audience

Objectives of Presentation

The main objectives of a presentation are:

To Persuade

To motivate, to entertain.

A presentation is created to convey some information to a group of people. For example, a presentation may display an organisation’s quarterly performance.

Most training programmes in organisations are done through the presentation mode. Such instructional presentations convey a lot of information and are created with instructional design principles to keep the audience engaged for a long period.

Some presentations are used to convince a group of people to accept a particular idea and/or make a certain choice.

The growing popularity of TED Talks indicates how a presentation can be a powerful motivation tool. These presentations trigger emotions and inspire people to act.

Presentations can also be used to celebrate an event. For example, a farewell presentation of a colleague can be used to narrate the story of his/her overall tenure, experiences and achievement in the organisation.

Main Elements of Presentation

A presentation is said to be effective if it has three main elements, which are as follows:

• Specific content : This refers to the information that a presentation will comprise. The information must be conveyed effectively so that it is absorbed by the audience in one sitting. It should be relevant and meaningful to them.
• Audience : A presentation should be targeted for a specific group of audience who share the same purpose and have a similar level of pre-knowledge.
• Presenter: The presenter should act as the advocate of the information. If his/her conviction and passion in the message are clearly articulated, the audience will also pay attention to the subject.

Important Presentation Skills

In today’s business environment, presentation skills are requisite in almost every professional arena. Employees are often required to give presentations on the targets achieved by them. A presentation can be effective if it is carefully planned and prepared.

However, delivering presentations is not always easy for every individual. Some people take presenting as a probable opportunity to showcase skills, while others find it a challenging task. To provide an effective presentation, a presenter must possess some abilities.

Some of them are explained as follows:

Analytical ability

Effective communication ability, creative ability, good interpersonal skill, sound time management, problem-solving ability, a sense of humour.

It refers to a calibre which empowers an individual to collect, organise, visualise and comprehend data. Such skills enable a person to look at related patterns, draw conclusions and find solutions to problems. In addition, sound analytical skills also enable an individual to forecast future trends using various techniques such as brainstorming, forecasting, data mining and metrics interpretation.

Communication entails much more than mere talking to the audience. To communicate effectively during a presentation, one ought to showcase information lucidly. During a presentation, a person should not just have a good set of slides together; rather he needs to engage and strike a chord with the audience to transmit the intended message.

It refers to the ability to present things in a creative way that have not been explored earlier. Creative skills in presentation enable an individual to invent or develop something path-breaking, such as a new concept, unique way out from a problem, a method, a work of art or new machinery, etc.

It encompasses how an individual portrays or presents himself to the audience and builds a rapport with the audience. During a presentation, sound interpersonal skills empower a speaker to interact, communicate and collaborate with the audience effectively.

Interpersonal skills are prevalent across all personal and professional interactions between people. Interpersonal skills entail empathy, active listening and emotional intelligence.

While delivering a presentation, a person should manage time effectively, set a presentation schedule and end a presentation within a stipulated time. If a presentation is long, there are chances the audience may lose interest and the message may not be delivered.

A speaker cannot expect audience to actively listen to the presentation for hours. At the start of presentation, a speaker should aim to grab audience’s attention and allocate time for questions and answers at the end.

Problem-solving is a requisite skill for a presentation. During a presentation, the audience may ask the speaker any kind of questions. On the other hand, it is important for the speaker to provide an appropriate answer to the audience to make the presentation successful.

A sense of humour is crucial to deliver a quality presentation to make the environment light and engaging. Appropriate usage of light jokes relieves stress and holds the attention of an audience, which makes the presentation a memorable experience for both the speaker and the audience.

Evaluation Wheel

Evaluation wheel is a creative and effective tool that accumulates information on outcomes in a simple and accessible manner. A presenter can opt for the evaluation wheel tool to show the outcomes of the research or reports. This tool is used to provide various types of information and journeys of change within the organisation.

It offers a visual representation of progression and results in the form of a spider diagram. The evaluation wheel measures the exact outcomes for a programme at the start and end. It also helps educators, designers to comprehend information systematically. Figure shows an example of evaluation wheel:

Figure states the scale questionnaire in a circle form wherein respondents will analyse the instances from their discretion and experience and give rating on a scale of 1 to 5.

For instance, service users are appropriately involved. In this case, if the respondent strongly agrees, he/she will give 5 rating and if he/she does not agree, he/she will give 1 rating. The centre of the circle is for 1 and as the respondent agrees, they reach out to edge for 5 rating.

Ps of Presentation

Even the most powerful presentation may fail if the presenter comes unprepared. A presentation is both a mental and a physical effort. There are Ps of presentation that provide a checklist to the presenter for ensuring that the presentation is well-constructed and clear so that the audience gets the message. These four Ps are explained as follows:

A thoroughly prepared presentation captivates the interests of the audience. The topic or content of the presentation must be thoroughly researched. No one would develop interest in a vague or equivocal presentation. A speaker can make use of stories or relatable examples and quote references to give more depth to the presentation and make it intriguing.

Apart from that, it should be ensured that only important points are highlighted in bullets or using other graphical elements. Providing too much of theory or full sentences can create boredom for the audience.

While preparing for a presentation, the presenter should include the following sections:

• Introduction : This section includes the name of the topic and the purpose of the presentation.
• Body : This section contains the main content of the presentation; thus, it must be prepared in a well-organised manner.
• Summary : It provides a recap of the content of the presentation. It outlines the most important points of the presentation to ensure the key message is retained by the audience.

Practice will make a man perfect is an adage that is appropriate across all spheres of life. It helps a speaker become familiar with his/her own voice, words and phrases and adjust accordingly. By practising thoroughly, a speaker can explore how to fit different pieces of information together and practise transition.

Also, a speaker should make notes wherever required as a part of presentation support. Using an index card is a common form of note-taking that provides a quick glimpse of important points.

While delivering a presentation, the speaker needs to demonstrate confidence in front of the audience. The speaker must be polite, but not apologetic in situations, such as if the session is running overtime or the microphone has stopped working.

Instead he/she should expect and ask for discipline and attention. It is important for a speaker to engage with the audience during the presentation in order to assure them that he/she is genuinely interested in talking to them. 4. Pace, pitch and pause: A presenter should deliver the presentation in an easy-to-follow pace and try changing the pace to enliven the presentation.

For example, pauses can be taken intentionally between main points to reinforce them. Along with pace, pitch is equally important. Just as pace varies in normal conversations, it should be used effectively during presentations too. For example, when asking a question, the presenter can raise the pitch and can lower it down when explaining a point.

Four Cornerstones of Making Memorable Presentations

The most crucial aspect of delivering an effective presentation is that the speaker should appear confident and the speech should look effortless. Presentations are a source of anxiety for many individuals. However, getting well-prepared before delivering a presentation can reduce this feeling considerably and ease apprehension.

There are a number of ways to overcome feelings of anxiety, stress and stage fright before the presentation in order to appear confident in front of the audience. The four cornerstones of making a memorable presentation are provided in the upcoming sections.

Know Yourself

Know your material, know your purpose, know your audience.

A presenter should acknowledge his/her strengths and weaknesses. Accordingly, he/she should decide the style of delivering a presentation. For instance, if a presenter has a great sense of humour and can use it comfortably in the speech, he/she can make the presentation more engaging and interesting.

On the other hand, if the speaker who is an introvert and prefers to talk or engage less, he/she can add visuals in the presentation. Therefore, the trick is whosoever is delivering the presentation should feel comfortable.

Knowing the topic thoroughly is the most important step in preparing and delivering a presentation. A presenter with well-versed knowledge of the topic is bound to feel more confident. One should perform extensive research of the topic using credible websites and surveys.

A presenter with minimal information about the topic will not be able to deliver a memorable presentation; rather, it would create a negative image in front of the audience. A good presentation is one that is centred around the main theme, presents relevant information and stimulates thought.

It is crucial to know the purpose of the presentation. A presenter should be aware of whether the purpose is to create awareness or to build new skills or to change attitudes. For instance, professional firms or businesses use presentations for various purposes such as to create awareness, educate, motivate and persuade internal and external audiences.

Therefore, to prepare a presentation, identify its objective/purpose, determine the method of delivery, formulate a structure, include visual aids and rehearse.

One should know the type of audience and what is their purpose of attending the presentation. For instance, whether they are there for gaining knowledge or learning new skills, etc. The age, culture and knowledge base of the audience help a presenter in designing and delivering his/her presentation effectively and in a manner in which audience can easily understand and relate to.

A well-designed presentation uses visual aids effectively to reinforce the main points and enhance the audience’s level of understanding.

Business Communication Notes

( Click on Topic to Read )

• What is Business Communication?
• What is Communication?
• Types of Communication

7 C of Communication

• Barriers To Business Communication
• Oral Communication
• Types Of Non Verbal Communication
• What is Written Communication?
• What are Soft Skills?
• Interpersonal vs Intrapersonal communication
• Barriers to Communication
• Importance of Communication Skills
• Listening in Communication

Causes of Miscommunication

• What is Johari Window?
• What is Presentation?

Communication Styles

• Channels of Communication
• Hofstede’s Dimensions of Cultural Differences and Benett’s Stages of Intercultural Sensitivity
• Organisational Communication
• Horizontal C ommunication
• Grapevine Communication
• Downward Communication
• Verbal Communication Skills
• Upward Communication
• Flow of Communication
• What is Emotional Intelligence?
• What is Public Speaking?
• Upward vs Downward Communication
• Internal vs External Communication
• What is Group Discussion?
• What is Interview?
• What is Negotiation?
• What is Digital Communication?
• What is Letter Writing?
• Resume and Covering Letter
• What is Report Writing?
• What is Business Meeting?
• What is Public Relations?
• What Is Market Segmentation?
• What Is Marketing Mix?
• Marketing Concept
• Marketing Management Process
• What Is Marketing Environment?
• What Is Consumer Behaviour?
• Business Buyer Behaviour
• Demand Forecasting
• 7 Stages Of New Product Development
• Methods Of Pricing
• What Is Public Relations?
• What Is Marketing Management?
• What Is Sales Promotion?
• Types Of Sales Promotion
• Techniques Of Sales Promotion
• What Is Personal Selling?
• What Is Advertising?
• Market Entry Strategy
• What Is Marketing Planning?
• Segmentation Targeting And Positioning
• Brand Building Process
• Kotler Five Product Level Model
• Classification Of Products
• Types Of Logistics
• What Is Consumer Research?
• What Is DAGMAR?
• Consumer Behaviour Models
• What Is Green Marketing?
• What Is Electronic Commerce?
• Agricultural Cooperative Marketing
• What Is Marketing Control?
• What Is Marketing Communication?
• What Is Pricing?
• Models Of Communication
• What is Sales Management?
• Objectives of Sales Management
• Responsibilities and Skills of Sales Manager
• Theories of Personal Selling
• What is Sales Forecasting?
• Methods of Sales Forecasting
• Purpose of Sales Budgeting
• Methods of Sales Budgeting
• Types of Sales Budgeting
• Sales Budgeting Process
• What is Sales Quotas?
• What is Selling by Objectives (SBO) ?
• What is Sales Organisation?
• Types of Sales Force Structure
• Recruiting and Selecting Sales Personnel
• Training and Development of Salesforce
• Compensating the Sales Force
• Time and Territory Management
• What Is Logistics?
• What Is Logistics System?
• Technologies in Logistics
• What Is Distribution Management?
• What Is Marketing Intermediaries?
• Conventional Distribution System
• Functions of Distribution Channels
• What is Channel Design?
• Types of Wholesalers and Retailers
• What is Vertical Marketing Systems?
• What i s Marketing?
• What i s A BCG Matrix?
• 5 M’S Of Advertising
• What i s Direct Marketing?
• Marketing Mix For Services
• What Market Intelligence System?
• What i s Trade Union?
• What Is International Marketing?
• World Trade Organization (WTO)
• What i s International Marketing Research?
• What is Exporting?
• What is Licensing?
• What is Franchising?
• What is Joint Venture?
• What is Turnkey Projects?
• What is Management Contracts?
• What is Foreign Direct Investment?
• Factors That Influence Entry Mode Choice In Foreign Markets
• What is Price Escalations?
• What is Transfer Pricing?
• Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC)
• What is Promotion Mix?
• Factors Affecting Promotion Mix
• Functions & Role Of Advertising
• What is Database Marketing?
• What is Advertising Budget?
• What is Advertising Agency?
• What is Market Intelligence?
• What is Industrial Marketing?
• What is Customer Value
• What is Consumer Behaviour?
• What Is Personality?
• What Is Perception?
• What Is Learning?
• What Is Attitude?
• What Is Motivation?
• Consumer Imagery
• Consumer Attitude Formation
• What Is Culture?
• Consumer Decision Making Process
• Applications of Consumer Behaviour in Marketing
• Motivational Research
• Theoretical Approaches to Study of Consumer Behaviour
• Consumer Involvement
• Consumer Lifestyle
• Theories of Personality
• Outlet Selection
• Organizational Buying Behaviour
• Reference Groups
• Consumer Protection Act, 1986
• Diffusion of Innovation
• Opinion Leaders
• What is Business Law?
• Indian Contract Act 1872
• Essential Elements of a Valid Contract
• Types of Contract
• What is Discharge of Contract?
• Performance of Contract
• Sales of Goods Act 1930
• Goods & Price: Contract of Sale
• Conditions and Warranties
• Doctrine of Caveat Emptor
• Transfer of Property
• Rights of Unpaid Seller
• Negotiable Instruments Act 1881
• Types of Negotiable Instruments
• Types of Endorsement
• What is Promissory Note?
• What is Cheque?
• What is Crossing of Cheque?
• What is Bill of Exchange?
• What is Offer?
• Limited Liability Partnership Act 2008
• Memorandum of Association
• Articles of Association
• What is Director?
• Trade Unions Act, 1926
• Industrial Disputes Act 1947
• Employee State Insurance Act 1948
• Payment of Wages Act 1936
• Payment of Bonus Act 1965
• Labour Law in India
• What is Brand Management?
• 4 Steps of Strategic Brand Management Process
• Customer Based Brand Equity
• What is Brand Equity?

You Might Also Like

Emotional Intelligence

What is Report Writing? Parts, Types, Structure, Process

Barriers to Communication: Types, How to Overcome

What are Soft Skills? Types, Importance, How to Develop

What is Negotiation? Importance, Process, Strategic Model, Learning Skills

Difference between internal and external communication, what is digital communication website, social media, blogging as tool of communication.

What is Group Discussion? (GD), Objectives, Types, Prerequisites, Steps

What is Public Relations? Definition, Tools, Function, Advantages, Process

Leave a reply cancel reply.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

World's Best Online Courses at One Place

We’ve spent the time in finding, so you can spend your time in learning

Digital Marketing

Personal Growth

Development

• Design for Business
• Most Recent
• Presentations
• Infographics
• Data Visualizations
• Forms and Surveys
• Video & Animation
• Case Studies
• Digital Marketing
• Design Inspiration
• Visual Thinking
• Product Updates
• Visme Webinars
• Artificial Intelligence

12 Best Company Profile Template to Present Your Business

Written by: Olujinmi Oluwatoni

Whether you’re pitching your product or service to investors, clients, or partners, a compelling business profile can be the catalyst you need to win their confidence and secure deals.

A company profile is an excellent way to present who you are, what you do and, most importantly, why it matters. It goes beyond showcasing your company; it articulates your brand’s essence.

A poorly crafted company profile can cast a lasting shadow on your brand. Hence, it's crucial to put your best foot forward when creating one. To assist you, we've curated some professionally designed company profile templates you can easily customize right away. We’ve also included some of Visme’s features and tools to make your design experience seamless.

Let's get to it!

Before we dive in, here's a short selection of 8 easy-to-edit company profile templates you can edit, share and download with Visme. View more templates below:

Table of Contents

• What Is a Company Profile Template

The Importance of a Company Profile Template

12 best company profile templates, company profile faqs.

• A company profile template is a designed framework that offers a professional snapshot of a business.
• It typically includes key information, such as the company's background, mission, products or services, achievements and other relevant details.
• A company profile template enhances consistency, saves time, offers adaptability, simplifies updates, ensures professionalism and promotes effective collaboration.
• Visme offers an extensive library of company profile templates , features and tools to help you and your team create excellent company profiles.

What is a Company Profile Template?

A company profile template is a pre-designed framework that provides a professional overview of a business . It is an excellent way to showcase your company's essence and offerings.

A well-designed company profile creates a positive first impression on potential clients, partners, investors and other stakeholders. It is suitable for use in different contexts, such as creating presentations, proposals or marketing materials.

A typical company profile includes information such as the company's history, mission, vision, products or services rendered, target market, team members, achievements, pricing information and more.

A pitch deck and a company profile share similarities as tools for introducing a business. However, a pitch deck is brief and tailored for selling ideas or seeking funding. In contrast, a company profile is a comprehensive marketing tool used to introduce your company to a broader audience.

Creating the perfect profile for your company can be challenging without a template to work with.

Below are the benefits of using a company profile template

• A company profile template ensures consistency in branding, corporate messaging, representation and business detail as well as business documents and presentations.
• Using a template saves time by providing a pre-designed framework that only requires customization rather than starting from scratch.
• A well-designed profile template enhances the professional image of your company. It ensures that the information is organized clearly and creates a positive impression on clients, partners, investors and other stakeholders.
• A good profile template can be adapted easily to fit different purposes or changing business needs or landscapes. Whether it's a new product launch, a significant milestone, or a shift in focus, the template can be modified to keep the company profile current.
• Templates provide a structured framework for collaboration. When multiple individuals or teams contribute to a company profile, maintaining cohesiveness and structure becomes easier.

Visme’s company profile templates are designed to be adaptable to different purposes and audiences. You can customize the template based on your specific business requirements.

If your team needs to collaborate on a company profile, Visme allows you to do this seamlessly. Our collaboration tool allows teams and organizations of all sizes to work together on projects in real time.

Hey executives! Looking to cut design costs?

• Spend less time on presentations and more time strategizing
• Ensure your brand looks and feels visually consistent across all your organization's documents
• Impress clients and stakeholders with boardroom ready presentations

Sign up. It’s free.

In this section, we have listed twelve of the best company profile templates you can use to create one for your company right away

Our professionally crafted company profile examples are easily customizable to suit various needs and projects. You can effortlessly customize them by swapping, removing, or adding sections, adjusting text and fonts, brand colors, visuals and more.

And if you’re unable to find a template you like, you can always use Visme’s AI Designer to whip up a custom design for you based on prompts.

Here’s what one of Visme's clients had to say about our templates and features:

Cassandra C.

Graphic Designer & Business Owner

1. Technology Company Presentation Template

This company profile template is a perfect framework for providing a comprehensive overview of your tech startup to investors or clients. The presentation features a stylish purple background with white and pink text, ensuring optimal visibility and clarity. It also offers ample space to showcase your business without overcrowding the text.

You can utilize the dedicated sections to highlight your company's history, team, services, unique offerings, pricing and contact details. You can also add a link to website's contact us page if that's you're preferred communication.

Visme’s brand wizard makes it a breeze to turn this template into a document that truly reflects your brand identity . Simply input your company website and the Wizard will collect your colors, fonts, icons and more to generate a cohesive brand kit. It will even recommend templates that align with your branding.

2. Tangerine Presentation Template

Utilize this vibrant template to present business concepts to clients and investors, introduce project teams, or unveil new products and services.

The template highlights your company's creative essence with captivating shapes, pooping colors and lively themes. Dominated by orange hues, the design effortlessly captures attention.

The sections include an about us page, product showcase, user reach, SWOT analysis, mobile description, pricing details and more.

You can add flair by transforming this company profile example into a captivating page-turner with Visme's flipbook effect . This feature lets your audience virtually flip through pages, providing a document-like experience.

3. Retro Neon Startup Presentation Template

This retro-futuristic presentation template would work exceptionally well for a company targeted at young people or a startup specializing in quirky hardware tech.

It uses moody, neon colors, inspirational graphics and storytelling design to captivate your audience’s attention and keep them reading. The slides incorporate dynamic graphics—reminiscent of vintage neon signs—to create an engaging and visually striking appeal.

Sections covered in this template include about us, mission statement, team members, services offered and business statistics. With Visme's data visualization tools , including charts and widgets, you can present data-driven reasons why potential customers should choose you over competitors.

4. Terminal Presentation Template

Enhance your software business presentations and make a strong impact with this sleek terminal template. Whether you want to showcase your business to investors or introduce new offerings to clients, this template is a great choice.

This example of a company profile boasts stylish gradients, clean icons and user-friendly layouts, ensuring a professional and modern impact on your audience. The gradient color scheme captures attention while maintaining readability.

With a detailed presentation of your company overview, innovative strategies, SWOT analysis and financial details , this template helps you to present a compelling presentation.

The best part? This design is entirely customizable, making it adaptable to any product or brand.

If you have trouble crafting content for various sections, utilize Visme's AI writer to generate well-written initial drafts based on your prompts. You can also effortlessly refine, summarize, or edit your content using this AI tool.

5. Colorful CMYK Presentation Template

Want to show the artsy, fun side of your business? Build your company profile with this colorful CMYK presentation template.

CMYK stands for cyan, magenta, yellow and key(black) and this presentation template boasts a vibrant and diverse color palette inspired by this color model. The sections in this template cover diverse topics, from company details to project highlights, all presented in a bold and visually cohesive manner.

You can infuse more fun into this presentation by integrating diverse animations , such as stylish text and object transitions, along with animated icons, illustrations, characters and gestures.

6. Rebel Presentation Template

This rebel presentation template is a befitting design for a company looking to break the mold and differentiate itself from the competition. The template features dark, intense hues, conveying a sense of rebellion and nonconformity, as well as striking, greenish-yellow graphics that symbolize freshness.

The sections covered in this template include about us, services offered, business channels, relevant quotes, stats and contact details.

Use subtle hover effects or clickable pop-ups to include additional information like testimonials and technical details without cluttering the page. You can also allow seamless navigation by linking contact buttons, social media icons, or websites directly to relevant pages using interactive links.

7. Tiffany Startup Presentation Template

Looking for a modern, sleek company profile template that can be used to present your startup to customers, clients and investors? This template fits the bill.

The template blends shades of blue, creating a calm and professional aesthetic. It also integrates striking stock photos and icons to enhance visual appeal and reinforce key messages. Utilize its sections to emphasize your company overview, values, mission, team members, services and more.

If you prefer to customize the visuals, explore Visme’s vast library of high-quality icons and stock photos to find the perfect fit for your needs. If you want to give your existing photos a professional look, utilize Visme’s AI Touch Up tool .

Choose the photo you'd like to improve, then click “Edit” on the top left bar to access a range of touch-up options such as upscale, unblur, erase and replace or remove unwanted background. ‘

Though this template was designed for startups, it can easily be customized for established businesses.

8. Sky Background Company Profile

Showcase your creative projects in a visually striking manner and make a lasting impression on clients or investors with this elegant template.

The template boasts a contemporary design, crisp layout and refined red color palette that makes a bold statement. Its engaging slides incorporate storytelling, guiding clients or investors on why your solution stands out and outshines alternatives.

Utilize this template to present your company's plans for the future, your services, financial performance, team members and more.

Use Visme’s Presenter Studio to record a custom presentation of your company profile for prospects, investors and busy executives.

Watch this video to learn how to record your presentations using Visme’s presenter studio.

9. Sleek Presentation Template

This business profile template is perfect for showcasing tech products, but it can be customized to demonstrate any other product or service your company provides.

Featuring a contrasting blue and white background cream backdrop, the template is stylish and appealing, retaining sufficient space for essential information. Visual aids such as images, icons, charts and graphs help you present your content in an organized and engaging way. While there is a clear focus on style and general appeal, the design is still business-oriented and professional.

To make this company profile even more appealing, put your creativity to good use with Visme’s AI image generator . The wizard turns your text prompts into images in different output styles, such as photos, paintings, pencil drawings, etc.

10. Stratagem Presentation

Share your company narrative detailing your organization's plans and strategies with this compelling presentation template.

This template maximizes visual aids like charts, icons and images to tell your story effectively while maintaining a clean design.

Provide an overview of your company, covering goals, business processes, teams, services, products and more using this versatile presentation template.

With Visme's user-friendly share and publish feature , effortlessly distribute your finalized company profile to your target audience in various formats, such as PDF, PPTX, MP4 and HTML5, or generate a shareable link.

Curious about your presentation's impact on investors or clients? Utilize Visme's analytics to track engagement metrics like unique visits, average viewing time, duration, IP addresses and more.

11. Tesla Corporate Presentation

Whether you're introducing your recently established company, proposing a business concept, or unveiling a new product, feature, or service, this template will help you make an impactful presentation.

Its dynamic blend of blue and white, paired with compelling visuals and bold icons, ensures your presentation captures attention.

The template includes dedicated sections for key elements such as company introduction, team members, SWOT analysis, your process, product samples, clients across locations, timeline, testimonials and more.

Manually entering all this information on multiple company profile pages can quickly become cumbersome. Utilize Visme's dynamic fields tool to easily update data across your company profile.

12. Neuro Presentation Template

The best part of this template apart is its rich utilization of appealing data visualization tools like flowcharts, maps and pie charts, ensuring a clear and concise presentation of key statistics and figures.

Visme's collaboration feature allows team members to contribute to and review the consulting proposal individually or in real-time. The workflow tool enhances task management. You can easily assign tasks, set deadlines, monitor the progress of work and make corrections—all within a unified platform

Q. What Should a Company Profile Include?

A good company profile should provide a complete overview of the business. It should offer a written representation of the company and reflect everything it offers. It should include your company’s branding, history, culture and values; team members; products and services; contact information and testimonials. Be sure to include relevant numbers and dates.

Q. What Is the Basic Structure of a Company Profile?

The ideal company profile would have the following sections:

• Introduction: This section briefly introduces the company. It includes details such as the company's name and contact details.
• Mission and Vision Statement: You should clearly state the company's mission and vision and how these statements guide the company's actions in this section.
• Key Personnel: Introduce key team members, executives and leadership in this section. You can also include brief bios highlighting their roles.
• Products/Services: This section details the range of products or services you're offering. You can also highlight the unique selling points and competitive advantages.
• Clientele/Projects: Showcase major clients, successful collaborations and significant projects in this section.
• Financial Overview: Give a summary of your company's financial status, key financial indicators and growth trends in this section.
• Testimonials: This section should feature top customer reviews that resonate with your brand values and highlight your key benefits.
• Call to Action/Contact Information: Provide your contact details for further inquiries or partnerships.

Q. How Long Does It Take To Write a Company Profile?

To give an estimate, it can take anything from a few hours to several days, depending on the level of planning and coordination.

However, the time needed to write a company profile depends on several factors, such as whether you are starting from scratch or using a template, whether you already have the needed information on hand, the desired length of the profile, the complexity of the business, the level of detail required and the ease of collaboration between the team members involved.

A straightforward profile for a small business may be completed more quickly, while a detailed profile for a large corporation with multiple divisions might take longer.

Highlight the Best of Your Company with Visme

A company profile is a great way to market your business and communicate your company’s offerings. It is an incredible marketing tool that can help build and reinforce your company's brand identity and reputation.

Visme’s company profile templates are easy to customize and offer access to several built-in design assets to turn your company profile into the storytelling presentation it needs.

You'll also access a comprehensive suite of cutting-edge features, including an intuitive editor, collaboration tool, presenter tool, data visualizations and many more to enhance your creations.

Beyond company profiles, Visme empowers you to create professional business plans , marketing plans , video presentations , training materials and more.

Sign up for Visme to start creating impactful company profiles and business assets.

Design beautiful visual content you can be proud of.

Trusted by leading brands

Recommended content for you:

Create Stunning Content!

Design visual brand experiences for your business whether you are a seasoned designer or a total novice.

About the Author

Olujinmi is a Content writer for Visme who creates human-first SEO content. She loves helping businesses smash their ROI goals with strategic content development and optimization. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her composing songs.

• Search Search Please fill out this field.

What Is a Cash Flow Statement (CFS)?

• Using the Cash Flow Statement

How to Prepare a Cash Flow Statement

What is the cash flow formula.

• Limitations
• Income Statement & Balance Sheet

The Bottom Line

• Corporate Finance
• Financial statements: Balance, income, cash flow, and equity

Cash Flow Statement: What It Is and How to Read One

Thomas J Catalano is a CFP and Registered Investment Adviser with the state of South Carolina, where he launched his own financial advisory firm in 2018. Thomas' experience gives him expertise in a variety of areas including investments, retirement, insurance, and financial planning.

• Accounting Explained With Brief History and Modern Job Requirements
• Accounting Equation
• Current and Noncurrent Assets
• Accounting Theory
• Accounting Principles
• Accounting Standard
• Accounting Convention
• Accounting Policies
• Principles-Based vs. Rules-Based Accounting
• Accounting Method
• Accrual Accounting
• Cash Accounting
• Accrual Accounting vs. Cash Basis Accounting
• Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)
• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
• International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
• IFRS vs. GAAP
• US Accounting vs. International Accounting
• Understanding the Cash Flow Statement CURRENT ARTICLE
• Breaking Down The Balance Sheet
• Understanding the Income Statement
• Financial Accounting
• Financial Accounting and Decision-Making
• Financial vs. Managerial Accounting
• Cost Accounting
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• Chartered Accountant (CA)
• Accountant vs. Financial Planner
• Tax Accounting
• Forensic Accounting
• Chart of Accounts (COA)
• Double Entry
• Closing Entry
• Introduction to Accounting Information Systems
• Inventory Accounting
• Last In, First Out (LIFO)
• First In, First Out (FIFO)
• Average Cost Method

A cash flow statement tracks the inflow and outflow of cash, providing insights into a company's financial health and operational efficiency.

The CFS measures how well a company manages its cash position, meaning how well the company generates cash to pay its debt obligations and fund its operating expenses. As one of the three main financial statements, the CFS complements the balance sheet and the income statement. In this article, we’ll show you how the CFS is structured and how you can use it when analyzing a company.

Key Takeaways

• A cash flow statement summarizes the amount of cash and cash equivalents entering and leaving a company. 
• The CFS highlights a company's cash management, including how well it generates cash. 
• This financial statement complements the balance sheet and the income statement. 
• The main components of the CFS are cash from three areas: Operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities.
• The two methods of calculating cash flow are the direct method and the indirect method.

How the Cash Flow Statement Is Used

The cash flow statement paints a picture as to how a company’s operations are running, where its money comes from, and how money is being spent. Also known as the statement of cash flows, the CFS helps its creditors determine how much cash is available (referred to as  liquidity ) for the company to fund its operating expenses and pay down its debts. The CFS is equally important to investors because it tells them whether a company is on solid financial ground. As such, they can use the statement to make better, more informed decisions about their investments.

Structure of the Cash Flow Statement

The main components of the cash flow statement are:

• Cash flow from operating activities
• Cash flow from investing activities
• Cash flow from financing activities
• Disclosure of non-cash activities, which is sometimes included when prepared under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) .

Cash From Operating Activities

The operating activities on the CFS include any sources and uses of cash from business activities. In other words, it reflects how much cash is generated from a company’s products or services.

These operating activities might include:

• Receipts from sales of goods and services
• Interest payments
• Income tax payments
• Payments made to suppliers of goods and services used in production
• Salary and wage payments to employees
• Rent payments
• Any other type of operating expenses

In the case of a trading portfolio or an investment company, receipts from the sale of loans, debt, or equity instruments are also included because it is a business activity.

Changes made in cash, accounts receivable, depreciation, inventory, and accounts payable are generally reflected in cash from operations.

Cash From Investing Activities

Investing activities include any sources and uses of cash from a company’s investments. Purchases or sales of assets, loans made to vendors or received from customers, or any payments related to mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are included in this category. In short, changes in equipment, assets, or investments relate to cash from investing.

Changes in cash from investing are usually considered cash-out items because cash is used to buy new equipment, buildings, or short-term assets such as marketable securities. But when a company divests an asset, the transaction is considered cash-in for calculating cash from investing.

Cash From Financing Activities

Cash from financing activities includes the sources of cash from investors and banks, as well as the way cash is paid to shareholders. This includes any dividends, payments for stock repurchases , and repayment of debt principal (loans) that are made by the company.

Changes in cash from financing are cash-in when capital is raised and cash-out when dividends are paid. Thus, if a company issues a bond to the public, the company receives cash financing. However, when interest is paid to bondholders , the company is reducing its cash. And remember, although interest is a cash-out expense, it is reported as an operating activity—not a financing activity.

1 . Gather Financial Statements

Before you begin, collect the necessary financial statements:

• Income statement: Provides information on revenues, expenses, and net income.
• Balance sheet: Shows the company’s assets, liabilities, and equity at the beginning and end of the period.

2. Determine the Reporting Period

Identify the period for which you are preparing the cash flow statement. This could be monthly, quarterly, or annually.

3. Choose the Method

Decide whether you will use the direct method or the indirect method to prepare the CFS.

• Direct Method: The direct method involves listing all cash receipts and payments during the reporting period.
• Indirect Method: The indirect method starts with net income and adjusts for changes in non-cash transactions.

4. Prepare the Statement

Cash flow from operating activities.

Direct Method:

• List cash receipts: Include cash collected from customers.
• List cash payments: Include cash paid to suppliers, employees, interest paid, and income taxes paid.
• Calculate net cash flow from operating activities: Subtract total cash payments from total cash receipts.

Indirect Method:

• Start with net income: Obtain this from the income statement.
• Adjust for non-cash items: Add back depreciation and amortization.
• Adjust for changes in working capital: Account for changes in accounts receivable, inventory, accounts payable, and other working capital accounts.
• Calculate net cash flow from operating activities: Combine the adjusted net income with changes in working capital.

Cash Flow from Investing Activities

• Identify cash transactions for investments: Include cash spent on purchasing fixed assets, cash received from selling assets, and cash spent on or received from investing in securities.
• Calculate net cash flow from investing activities: Subtract cash payments for investments from cash receipts from sales of investments.

Cash Flow from Financing Activities

• Identify cash transactions for financing: Include cash received from issuing stock or debt and cash spent on repaying debt or buying back stock.
• Calculate net cash flow from financing activities: Subtract cash payments for financing activities from cash receipts from financing activities.

5. Combine All Sections

Add the net cash flows from operating, investing, and financing activities to determine the overall change in cash and cash equivalents for the period.

6. Reconcile with Beginning Cash

Add the change in cash to the beginning cash balance to arrive at the ending cash balance, ensuring it matches the cash balance reported on the balance sheet.

There are two methods of calculating cash flow: the direct method and the indirect method.

Direct Cash Flow Method

The   direct method   adds up all of the cash payments and receipts, including cash paid to suppliers, cash receipts from customers, and cash paid out in salaries. This method of CFS is easier for very small businesses that use the cash basis accounting method.

These figures can also be calculated by using the beginning and ending balances of a variety of asset and liability accounts and examining the net decrease or increase in the accounts. It is presented in a straightforward manner.

Most companies use the accrual basis accounting method. In these cases, revenue is recognized when it is earned rather than when it is received. This causes a disconnect between net income and actual cash flow because not all transactions in net income on the income statement involve actual cash items. Therefore, certain items must be reevaluated when calculating cash flow from operations.

Indirect Cash Flow Method

With the  indirect method , cash flow is calculated by adjusting net income by adding or subtracting differences resulting from non-cash transactions. Non-cash items show up in the changes to a company’s assets and liabilities on the balance sheet from one period to the next. Therefore, the accountant will identify any increases and decreases to asset and liability accounts that need to be added back to or removed from the net income figure, in order to identify an accurate cash inflow or outflow.

Changes in accounts receivable (AR) on the balance sheet from one accounting period to the next must be reflected in cash flow:

• If AR decreases, more cash may have entered the company from customers paying off their credit accounts—the amount by which AR has decreased is then added to net earnings.
• An increase in AR must be deducted from net earnings because, although the amounts represented in AR are in revenue, they are not cash.

What about changes in a company's inventory ? Here's how they are accounted for on the CFS:

• An increase in inventory signals that a company spent more money on raw materials. Using cash means the increase in the inventory's value is deducted from net earnings.
• A decrease in inventory would be added to net earnings. Credit purchases are reflected by an increase in accounts payable on the balance sheet, and the amount of the increase from one year to the next is added to net earnings.

The same logic holds true for taxes payable, salaries, and prepaid insurance . If something has been paid off, then the difference in the value owed from one year to the next has to be subtracted from net income. If there is an amount that is still owed, then any differences will have to be added to net earnings.

Limitations of the Cash Flow Statement

Negative cash flow should not automatically raise a red flag without further analysis. Poor cash flow is sometimes the result of a company’s decision to expand its business at a certain point in time, which would be a good thing for the future.

Analyzing changes in cash flow from one period to the next gives the investor a better idea of how the company is performing, and whether a company may be on the brink of bankruptcy or success. The CFS should also be considered in unison with the other two financial statements (see below).

The indirect cash flow method allows for a reconciliation between two other financial statements: the income statement and balance sheet.

Cash Flow Statement vs. Income Statement vs. Balance Sheet

The cash flow statement measures the performance of a company over a period of time. But it is not as easily manipulated by the timing of non-cash transactions. As noted above, the CFS can be derived from the income statement and the balance sheet . Net earnings from the income statement are the figure from which the information on the CFS is deduced. But they only factor into determining the operating activities section of the CFS. As such, net earnings have nothing to do with the investing or financial activities sections of the CFS.

The income statement includes depreciation expense, which doesn't actually have an associated cash outflow. It is simply an allocation of the cost of an asset over its useful life. A company has some leeway to choose its depreciation method , which modifies the depreciation expense reported on the income statement. The CFS, on the other hand, is a measure of true inflows and outflows that cannot be as easily manipulated.

As for the balance sheet, the net cash flow reported on the CFS should equal the net change in the various line items reported on the balance sheet. This excludes cash and cash equivalents and non-cash accounts, such as accumulated depreciation and accumulated amortization. For example, if you calculate cash flow for 2019, make sure you use 2018 and 2019 balance sheets.

The CFS is distinct from the income statement and the balance sheet because it does not include the amount of future incoming and outgoing cash that has been recorded as revenues and expenses . Therefore, cash is not the same as net income , which includes cash sales as well as sales made on credit on the income statements.

Example of a Cash Flow Statement

Below is an example of a cash flow statement: 

Investopedia / Sabrina Jiang

From this CFS, we can see that the net cash flow for the 2017 fiscal year was $1,522,000. The bulk of the positive cash flow stems from cash earned from operations, which is a good sign for investors. It means that core operations are generating business and that there is enough money to buy new inventory.

The purchasing of new equipment shows that the company has the cash to invest in itself. Finally, the amount of cash available to the company should ease investors’ minds regarding the notes payable, as cash is plentiful to cover that future loan expense.

What Is the Difference Between Direct and Indirect Cash Flow Statements?

The difference lies in how the cash inflows and outflows are determined.

Using the direct method, actual cash inflows and outflows are known amounts. The cash flow statement is reported in a straightforward manner, using cash payments and receipts.

Using the indirect method, actual cash inflows and outflows do not have to be known. The indirect method begins with net income or loss from the income statement, then modifies the figure using balance sheet account increases and decreases, to compute implicit cash inflows and outflows.

Is the Indirect Method of the Cash Flow Statement Better Than the Direct Method?

Neither is necessarily better or worse. However, the indirect method also provides a means of reconciling items on the balance sheet to the net income on the income statement. As an accountant prepares the CFS using the indirect method, they can identify increases and decreases in the balance sheet that are the result of non-cash transactions.

It is useful to see the impact and relationship that accounts on the balance sheet have to the net income on the income statement, and it can provide a better understanding of the financial statements as a whole.

What Is Included in Cash and Cash Equivalents?

Cash and cash equivalents are consolidated into a single line item on a company's balance sheet. It reports the value of a business’s assets that are currently cash or can be converted into cash within a short period of time, commonly 90 days. Cash and cash equivalents include currency, petty cash, bank accounts, and other highly liquid, short-term investments. Examples of cash equivalents include commercial paper, Treasury bills, and short-term government bonds with a maturity of three months or less.

A cash flow statement is a valuable measure of strength, profitability, and the long-term future outlook of a company. The CFS can help determine whether a company has enough liquidity or cash to pay its expenses. A company can use a CFS to predict future cash flow, which helps with budgeting matters.

For investors, the CFS reflects a company’s financial health , since typically the more cash that’s available for business operations, the better. However, this is not a rigid rule. Sometimes, a negative cash flow results from a company’s growth strategy in the form of expanding its operations.

By studying the CFS, an investor can get a clear picture of how much cash a company generates and gain a solid understanding of the financial well-being of a company.

Financial Accounting Standards Board. " Summary of Statement No. 95 ."

• Terms of Service
• Editorial Policy
• Privacy Policy

What To Know About The Olympics Closing Ceremony: What Time—And Who’s Performing

• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to Linkedin

This weekend’s Olympics closing ceremony is expected to include more than 100 acrobats and aerial performers, award the final Olympic champions their medals and include a sneak peak of what’s to come for the 2028 games in Los Angeles—which will reportedly feature an action movie-worthy stunt from Hollywood star Tom Cruise.

The Eiffel Tower and the Place Du Trocadero during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris ... [+] 2024 on July 26, 2024.

On Thursday, Team USA announce that swimmer Katie Ledecky and rower Nick Mead will carry the American flags at the closing ceremony.

Grammy winning artist H.E.R. is set to perform the U.S. national anthem, multiple outlets confirmed, as part of the hand-off to the 2028 Los Angeles games, and rumors are flying about what other big-name acts will make an appearance.

Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris 2024 committee, said the ceremony will be "solemn and emotional, but it will also be a time for celebration... Innovative, surprising and brilliant, these ceremonies already promise to be very powerful."

Other than promises of a dazzling stage performance and hints about several pre-filmed Cruise stunts, most of the ceremony remains shrouded in mystery.

What Time Is The Olympics Closing Ceremony—and Where Will It Air?

The closing ceremony will start at 3 p.m. EDT at the Stade de France, the country’s national stadium, where rugby sevens and track and field events have been hosted, and broadcast live on Peacock, with an edited version airing at 7 p.m. on NBC.

Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here .

When And Where Can You Watch The Olympic Closing Ceremony?

Live coverage will start at 2 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Aug. 11 and the closing ceremony will start at 3 p.m. It will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock and re-broadcast during primetime coverage at 7 p.m. EDT on NBC and Peacock.

What Will Happen At The Closing Ceremony?

Thomas Jolly, the same creative director who managed the much-buzzed about opening ceremony, has named the closing show " Records ." Performers will include acrobats, circus artists, dancers, gymnasts and aerial ballet dancers who are expected to perform atop metal structures representing the Olympic rings. The ceremonies will also include the traditional parade of flags and athletes, speeches, a final medal ceremony and the extinguishing of the Olympic flame before the Olympic flag is ceremoniously handed over to Los Angeles, which will host the summer games in 2028. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass will attend the ceremony.

Who Will Perform?

"World-renowned singers" will take the stage, according to the official Olympics website . American R&B singer H.E.R., an Oscar and five-time Grammy winner, is set to sing the American national anthem. Variety on Thursday reported —citing multiple anonymous sources—that Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg and the Red Hot Chili Peppers are among those will will take the stage. The artists will be seen in a mix of live and pre-taped performances, according to the report.

Why Is Tom Cruise Involved?

This week it was reported that Cruise, who is filming “Mission: Impossible 8” in Europe, will perform a stunt at the closing ceremony. A clip of the movie star skydiving to the Hollywood sign is expected to play a role in the handoff to Los Angeles for the 2028 Olympics, according to The Hollywood Reporter , and Cruise was reportedly spotted filming a scene—possibly for the ceremony—in May that included a motorcycle and large flag.

Will Beyoncé Perform At The Olympics Closing Ceremony?

There’s no evidence to support this rumor. Hosts of Britain's " This Morning ," Craig Doyle and Jordan North, said on-air Thursday that they'd heard Beyoncé may perform at the closing ceremony. "Don't quote me on that," North said, to which Doyle responded, "I can double up on that rumor, I did hear that as well." The claim has since circulated on social media, but no performers have been confirmed for the event. Rumors spread for weeks that Celine Dion or Lady Gaga were planning to perform at the opening ceremony in Paris before the pair dueted “L'Hymne à l'amour” by French singer Édith Piaf.

Who Will Carry The U.s. Flag At The Closing Ceremony?

Ledecky hit major career milestones in Paris, winning gold in the 800m and 1500m freestyles, silver in the 4x200m relay and bronze in the 400m free. Along the way, she became the the most-decorated U.S. female Olympian ever and the second-most decorated U.S. Olympian of all time, behind Michael Phelps. Mead, a former Princeton rower, is a two-time Olympian who won his first gold medal in the men's four rowing competition in Paris this year.

Who Is Hosting The Closing Ceremony?

Jimmy Fallon of "The Tonight Show" and longtime sports reporter Mike Tirico will co-host the ceremony. Former Olympians Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski—who have built a loyal fan base as commentators since they retired—and NBC Sports' Terry Gannon will be commentating .

What Medals Are Given Out At The Olympics Closing Ceremony?

The final medal ceremony is expected to award winners in the women’s marathon from earlier in the day.

Why Is The Romanian Prime Minister Boycotting The Closing Ceremony?

Marcel Ciolacu said he will not attend the Olympic closing ceremony after a last-minute score change kept Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu from winning bronze in the women's floor exercise. Celebrating of the medalists had already begun Monday—Barbosu was proudly carrying a Romanian flag—when coaches for Jordan Chiles, an American, made an appeal to judges to raise her score. The judges did so, and the 0.1-point boost was enough to push Chiles to bronze and knock Barbosu off the podium. Ciolacu said the Romanian athlete was "treated in an absolutely dishonorable manner" and promised Romania would honor her as an Olympic medalist. “To withdraw a medal earned for honest work on the basis of an appeal … is totally unacceptable!” he said on Facebook .

Further Reading

• Editorial Standards
• Reprints & Permissions

Join The Conversation

One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts. 

Forbes Community Guidelines

Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space.

In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site's  Terms of Service.   We've summarized some of those key rules below. Simply put, keep it civil.

Your post will be rejected if we notice that it seems to contain:

• False or intentionally out-of-context or misleading information
• Insults, profanity, incoherent, obscene or inflammatory language or threats of any kind
• Attacks on the identity of other commenters or the article's author
• Content that otherwise violates our site's  terms.

User accounts will be blocked if we notice or believe that users are engaged in:

• Continuous attempts to re-post comments that have been previously moderated/rejected
• Racist, sexist, homophobic or other discriminatory comments
• Attempts or tactics that put the site security at risk
• Actions that otherwise violate our site's  terms.

So, how can you be a power user?

• Stay on topic and share your insights
• Feel free to be clear and thoughtful to get your point across
• ‘Like’ or ‘Dislike’ to show your point of view.
• Protect your community.
• Use the report tool to alert us when someone breaks the rules.

Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Please read the full list of posting rules found in our site's  Terms of Service.

Jenkins Law Library Presentation - The Basics of Environmental Law for the Solo Attorney

Founded in 1802 in a small room in Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Law Library Company of the City of Philadelphia was formed by a group of lawyers who set out to provide legal information for the growing law community in the City.  Philadelphia's law library holds the prestigious position as America's first and oldest law library.  Through several moves and name changes, the library adapted to changing times and the needs of its members. In 1967, its name was changed to The Theodore F. Jenkins Memorial Law Library Company, now known as the Jenkins Law Library. The law library is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit corporation.   

This presentation by GT Shareholder and American College of Environmental Lawyers member David G. Mandelbaum, is ideal for those who represent a small business, local municipality, landowner, or real estate buyer or seller. In this one-hour CLE webinar you will learn the essentials of state and federal environmental law and be introduced to some of the more common environmental issues that non-environmental lawyers encounter in their practices: environmental due diligence and defenses under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA, commonly known as Superfund), basics of "Act 2" -- the Pennsylvania voluntary "brownfield" cleanup program, regulation of wetlands, construction stormwater, environmental justice, and how to get help when you need it.