Most people are troubled when they have to perform in front of a large audience. This is nothing to be ashamed of – it’s normal to have stage fright. This is something you need to work on and you’ll get addicted to the feeling you get on stage in time. But before you get there, you need to do your homework and learn about performing.
Related: First Impressions: You’ve Got 30 Seconds To Make The Right One
There are three equally important goals that your presentation needs to cover. First, a presentation should be all about new information that you want to share. Second, you need to find a way to share that information the right way, in order to increase the demand for your product. And third, your product must stand out when compared to the competition. If you follow the steps below, you’ll make a successful presentation.
1. Make a positive first impression
This is one of the few rare occasions where you don’t have time to correct the wrong first impression – you’ll have to try to do it right the first time. The key is in honesty. People won’t give you any feedback if you don’t give them a reason. Make sure that everything you say during a presentation is a reflection of your thoughts. It’s really easy for the audience to know when you’re being insincere. You need to be polite and simile genuinely. Also, a touch of classy humor won’t do you any harm.
2. Talk about legitimate information during your presentation
It’s really easy to check any unknown information today. So, if you make your audience think that you’re bending the truth to your advantage, they’ll just unlock their smartphones. Try not to give them a reason to doubt you, because you won’t be taken seriously. You could damage a whole promotional project with just one wrong sentence.
3. Connect with their life experience
If you want your audience to really pay attention to what you’re saying, you need to get inside their heads. Try to give a global example that can make most of them identify with it. It’s recommendable to do this somewhere in the beginning of the presentation and then just try to maintain their attention.
4. Interact with your audience using different methods
It’s not simple to have everyone interested, especially if you want to give a longer presentation. Make your audience feel that they’re involved. Ask them questions from time to time, even rhetorical ones will do the job – you just need to make them concentrate to what you’re trying to tell them. You should ask for feedback, but don’t push it because they may find you needy, and that won’t be good for your integrity.
5. Don’t keep it just verbal - visualization attracts attention
While you’re writing your speech, think about the moment when you’re going to interpret it to an audience. It’s desirable not to use any notes, so that you can make as much eye contact as possible. This way, you’ll make them feel important. Also, don’t try to use to much fancy words because they may consider you arrogant. Regarding your presentation, try to use visual tools. But, if you decide to make a PowerPoint presentation, try to avoid words. Keep your focus on pictures and videos so that the major part of your audience’s attention on you.
6. Make a back-up plan
Not everything will go according to the plan. Consider yourself a showman while you’re on the stage – you have to improvise. You should always expect tech problems. If that happens, you need to find a different way to keep everyone interested. Go with a learning game that’s connected to your topic – this way your audience will be entertained and you can be sure they’ll remember you later.
7. Reward your audience
Think of an award system that you could use during your presentation. For example, you could give them a quiz and reward those people who give a correct answer to your question with a promotional product, something like a key ring with your logo on it. Your promotion can only get positive reactions to gifts – everyone loves free things.
If you manage to cover all this, you did a flawless job. It may take some time to plan it, but practice makes perfect. All you need to do later is sit back and wait for results.
This post was originally published at an earlier date. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
