I not too long ago did a presentation evening with my mates. Should you’re unfamiliar with the idea, it’s when a gaggle of mates will get collectively to share displays they created a few subject of their alternative.
The matters are sometimes light-hearted and enjoyable. For instance, mine was “my mates as obscure animals.”
You’ll be stunned how tough it was to develop concepts for one thing as foolish and unserious as a social presentation evening.
So, it’s naturally even more durable to ideate presentation matters for an expert setting with the strain of needing to impress, affect, educate, or entertain.
I’ll share find out how to develop thought-provoking and related matters to your displays to make sure they’re memorable and resonate nicely along with your viewers.
Desk of Contents
The best way to Select a Nice Presentation Subject in 5 Steps
I’ve damaged down the painstakingly lengthy course of of selecting a subject into 5 easy and simple steps. Let’s stroll by way of it.
Step 1: Start with the tip in thoughts.
“Some issues are higher left unsaid” is what I don’t need individuals to say about my displays. That’s why I all the time have a selected purpose earlier than selecting a subject.
Some questions I ask myself are:
- What do I hope to attain from the presentation?
- How do I wish to come throughout?
- What do I would like my viewers to remove from the presentation?
Having a strong purpose helps me start crafting the title of my presentation. As an example, if I’m presenting a seminar about AI, my purpose is perhaps to persuade my viewers to include extra AI into their day by day lives.
A punchy concept for a title might be “Why AI Is NOT Ruining Your Life.”
Step 2: Know your viewers.
Let’s say I’m making ready an inside presentation for my workforce at Nickelodeon. I might first think about my viewers’s expertise and pursuits.
I don’t wish to current one thing they already know nicely or have the subject go over their heads. Because it’s my workforce, I might really feel assured that these elements overlap comfortably with mine.
Should you’re presenting to an unknown viewers, analysis the people or common demographic if particular names aren’t obtainable.
Subsequent, I’d think about what type is most well-liked. Some workplaces is perhaps extra formal, requiring a severe presentation tone.
Primarily based on the kind of content material we work on at Nickelodeon, we maintain issues gentle at work, so I’d combine humor and an informal tone into my presentation.
Professional tip: At all times think about your viewers’s data stage on the subject earlier than drafting your presentation. For instance, a presentation on social media focused at Gen Z will differ from that focused at Millennials.
Step 3: Be present.
Of presenters, 47% tailor their presentation matters to present occasions, which is a straightforward approach to make sure the subject is novel.
I’m not saying the presentation must be utterly centered round a present occasion. Even together with sure references or themes can alert audiences that this isn’t a cut-and-paste presentation that’s been achieved earlier than.
As an example, if I had been giving a presentation to my workforce at Nickelodeon, I’d slip in a humorous reference to the 2024 movie Depraved because it’s very culturally related.
If I wished to tailor my total presentation to this subject, I might spotlight a number of the methods the PG-rated film manages to seize hearts of all ages, which is related to our workforce’s family-friendly content material.
Step 4: Be exact.
Finishing these first three steps places me in a spot with first rate subject concepts. Now, I can reduce out the surplus and choose a distinct segment subject with a selected purpose.
That is crucial as a result of the broader the subject, the harder it will likely be for my viewers to remove key concepts and actionable ideas. Additionally, it could be harder to assemble an viewers intrigued and excited by my subject.
As an example, the primary subject within the picture is generic, sounds obscure, and doesn’t specify any clear advantages. Then again, the second subject mentions the target market, tells them what to anticipate, and offers a transparent, actionable plan.
The viewers is aware of precisely what they are going to take away from the presentation.
Step 5: Add a private contact.
Shows with tales are 22 instances extra probably to be remembered than these with straight information. Such is the facility of narrative and personalization in storytelling.
Due to this fact, I all the time think about matters I can tie again to myself, which additionally helps the displays really feel extra genuine. There are a couple of methods I might do that:
- Choose a subject I’ve first-hand expertise with.
- Present a singular opinion or learnings/findings so as to add worth to my phrases.
- Let the viewers view a controversial subject from my perspective.
- Select a subject I’m genuinely enthusiastic about.
- Inform a private story that features as a metaphor for my subject.
Professional tip: Take into consideration the place your pursuits {and professional} expertise meet. Then, slender these matters or themes all the way down to 2-5 driving elements to give attention to in your presentation.
120 Presentation Subject Concepts
Beneath is an intensive record of presentation concepts from private experiences to digital advertising and AI. I all the time reference this record after I discover myself in a rut.
I can maintain the framework and swap out key phrases for a lot of of those titles, offering an infinite mixture of concepts.
Presentation Subject Concepts for Private Experiences
- The failures that made “Me”
- My journey balancing full-time and freelance work
- How I made social media a productive area
- 5 life-changing behavior modifications I made this yr
- How I obtained out of my longest writing rut
- My battle with Covid-19
- How I turned my weaknesses into strengths
- Dealing with nervousness and melancholy
- Leveraging my hobbies to enhance my profession
- Distant vs. in-office: The place do I thrive?
- What I wished to be and what I turned
- How I rediscovered myself after hardship
Presentation Subject Concepts for Controversial Points
- Way forward for genetically modified meals and preservatives
- Privateness within the age of AI: Moral points
- The facility of social media in politics
- Freedom of expression or dangerous content material
- Navigating the road between cultural appropriation and appreciation
- What can we do to stop local weather change?
- Girls’s rights are everybody’s rights
- LGBTQ Rights: Balancing equality and custom sooner or later
- The ethics of animal testing
- The implications of social media for future generations
- How a lot display time is an excessive amount of?
- Punishment vs. rehabilitation
Presentation Subject Concepts for Present Traits
- 5 small efforts to battle local weather change
- How native politics play into the large image
- What are blockchain and cryptocurrencies?
- The most recent health developments of 2024
- Life on social media vs. actual life: The best way to maintain your self sane
- Water shortage and conservation
- Renewable and sustainable power sources: Are we prepared?
- The advantages of mindfulness and meditation practices for brand spanking new mothers
- Understanding and addressing psychological well being points in Gen Z and Alpha.
- 12 Methods for practising self-care and self-compassion
- Transitioning again to hybrid or full-time workplace fashions after years of distant work.
- How X entrepreneurs develop their private manufacturers (and their ROIs)
Presentation Subject Concepts for Business Insights
- How new AI applied sciences are altering the {industry}: 5 examples
- Six key developments and {industry} forecasts for the longer term
- The best way to overcome these 10 challenges to succeed
- Measuring and optimizing organizational advertising efforts utilizing AI
- Utilizing predictive analytics to extract key advertising insights
- 13 methods to extend buyer loyalty and retention
- Enhance your on-line visibility and visitors: 15 ideas from LinkedIn gurus
- Seven methods to create participating video content material to your firm
- 5 methods for companies to construct a powerful social media presence
- Which social media channels are greatest to your model?
- Is AI revolutionizing the retail {industry}?
- Digital studying and the way forward for conventional studying techniques
Presentation Subject Concepts for Digital Advertising and marketing
- The following huge factor in digital advertising — unlocked
- The artwork of storytelling in advertising: 23 companies that kill it
- Advantages of cross-channel advertising for software program improvement firms
- Voice search and its impression on digital advertising in 2025
- Maximizing ROI to your startup advertising: 3 underestimated techniques
- Modifications in shopper habits: Causes and implications
- Significance of personalization in digital advertising
- 10 Rising advertising developments and applied sciences
- Designing an efficient cell technique for your corporation
- Significance of infographics in content material advertising: HubSpot’s case research
- Creating efficient advertising funnels for well being merchandise
- The facility of user-generated content material for firms
Presentation Subject Concepts for AI
- Six prime tales about AI in 2024
- 5 bizarre, however true, information about AI
- What these three enterprise specialists are saying about AI
- Three stunning methods AI could make you a greater marketer
- The Darkish Aspect of AI
- How do presidential campaigns profit from AI?
- 5 AI instruments each marketer wants
- AI and Huge Knowledge: Altering the panorama of contemporary enterprise
- Which jobs will AI change?
- Why do these X celebrities and {industry} leaders love AI?
- AI in human assets: Recruiting and expertise administration
- The Ethics of AI: Balancing enterprise pursuits and societal impacts
Presentation Subject Concepts for Gross sales
- Chilly calls: Unethical techniques and gray areas
- Gross sales: Expectations vs. Actuality
- Gross sales prospecting made less complicated with AI
- Gross sales calls: Do’s, Don’ts, and Musts
- Six gross sales methods it is advisable to throw out the window
- 5 abilities each salesperson must develop in 2024
- Constructing long-lasting relationships with clients utilizing these three tried and examined strategies
- Coping with rejections: 5 methods and one bonus tip
- Affected person ready and 7 methods to cope with it
- 13 efficient gross sales methods for constructing relationships and shutting offers
- Growing efficient gross sales coaching packages for brand spanking new hires
- 20 efficient gross sales communication methods
Presentation Subject Concepts for Time Administration
- The best way to obtain a perfect work-life stability for distant staff
- How a lot time do you have to ideally spend networking on LinkedIn?
- The best way to successfully delegate duties
- Purchase again your time: Methods and advantages
- Six enterprise ideas of time administration
- The best way to make an efficient plan: Three practices you can begin immediately
- 15 methods to enhance private effectivity and productiveness
- The 5 steps of the Pomodoro Approach
- Aim setting and prioritization: For IT start-ups
- 9 greatest multitasking methods of insanely profitable businesspeople
- Time administration for busy professionals: The place to begin?
- Cease procrastinating: Eight methods beginning tomorrow
Presentation Subject Concepts for IT
- Benefits and dangers of adopting cloud software program
- Open-source software program: seven greatest practices
- Machine studying: Execs and cons for advertising
- The best way to create user-friendly interfaces for software program and web sites
- The function of IT in digital transformation
- The Web of Issues: 5 alternatives for companies and customers
- Six methods to guard your digital property
- Seven advantages and three dangers of shifting to the cloud
- How does Huge Knowledge work?
- Finest methods to guard organizational knowledge: 5 tried and examined methods
- Expertise and its impression on society and tradition
- Cellular gadget administration: The place to begin?
Presentation Matters Concepts for Enterprise
- Optimizing collaborations to avoid wasting time throughout all departments
- Eight time administration instruments and apps for companies
- 12 widespread abilities of profitable businesspeople
- 10 ideas and methods for a profitable advertising technique
- Harnessing the facility of influencer advertising
- Allocating a advertising finances to maximise ROI in 5 steps
- 5 manufacturing methods to attenuate prices
- Understanding moral points in enterprise and advertising
- 15 methods to scale back your organization’s carbon footprint
- Three previous enterprise fashions making a comeback
- Seven methods X developed a powerful firm tradition
- 12 methods for constructing a sustainable and accountable enterprise in 2023
5 Presentation Suggestions
Whereas I’ve pressured the significance of utilizing presentation matters to place audiences first, provide direct options, and fill in data gaps, there’s extra.
In any case, the half that often retains me up the evening earlier than a giant presentation isn’t sometimes the subject however the considered really presenting.
That’s why I’m sharing my 5 greatest ideas that can assist you ace your subsequent presentation.
1. Design a transparent format.
I like to arrange my displays into 4 clear sections — introduction, physique, conclusion, and follow-up — to assist me assemble a transparent format and engaging design. Right here’s what I embrace in every space:
Introduction
- A catchy title with a hook
- A thesis assertion or huge concept behind the presentation
- Desk of contents that provides my viewers a preview into what’s coming
Physique
- A transparent clarification of my subject
- My argument, perspective, or important message I’m attempting to convey in three to 5 key factors
- Information expertly interspersed to assist bolster my claims
Conclusion
- A concise abstract of the details and takeaways
- A catchy line to encourage thought-provoking, vivid discussions.
Observe-Up
- 5 to 10 minutes on the finish of my presentation for a Q&A, the place I can dispel doubts and supply extra context to my viewers
2. Use visible aids.
I hate to confess it, however nothing makes me zone out faster than a black-and-white, word-heavy presentation. My decrease consideration span and visible studying desire make it laborious to give attention to a strictly verbal or text-based presentation.
Presentation visuals can improve content material engagement by as much as 80%.
LinkedIn additionally offers a number of causes supporting the significance of visible aids, equivalent to capturing the eye and curiosity of audiences, lowering cognitive load by breaking down complicated ideas, and rising the retention and recall of verbal messages.
I work full-time in media and leisure, so it’s straightforward so as to add visuals to my displays within the type of key artwork, video promos, and character artwork.
Nevertheless, even in much less artistic industries, visible aids like charts and graphs, diverse shade schemes, and even model logos will help break up the textual content.
3. Select a presentation type that makes you assured.
I do know my strengths and weaknesses greatest in terms of presentation abilities. I do know I’m not the perfect at getting a excessive quantity of data throughout rapidly, however I’ve an exemplary reminiscence (no speaker notes right here!) and ease of communication.
All this self-knowledge helps me put together presentation types that make me really feel most snug and assured. Presentation matters can even dictate what type is greatest.
As an example, if my subject is “5 life-changing behavior modifications I made this yr,” I’ll probably undertake a storytelling type. Then again, a subject like “The Ethics of AI: Balancing enterprise pursuits and societal impacts” would possibly name for an teacher type.
The ethical is to decide on a approach of presenting the fabric that makes me really feel most assured. The precise data could also be tough, however how I share it may be easy.
4. Design a slide deck to be pleased with.
I dwell by the phrase “look good, really feel good.” If I’m sick, exhausted, or simply having a foul day, staying in pajamas and unwashed hair makes me really feel worse than I’m. However showering and carrying my favourite outfit can flip my total day round.
The identical idea applies to displays. I’ve needed to flip round last-minute displays on sloppy slides, and feeling embarrassed concerning the look might be sufficient to throw me utterly off.
This is sensible since 91% of pros really feel extra assured presenting a well-designed slide deck.
My firm makes use of branded slide templates, which eases the method, however manually entering into to make the fonts, colours, textual content spacing, and visuals look good is crucial.
You may as well use presentation templates to avoid wasting time and uncover lovely, participating designs.
It’s additionally vital to observe working by way of these well-designed slides, particularly when you’re driving the deck for a gaggle presentation. Stroll by way of the presentation in Slideshow mode and guarantee all the things appears to be like as desired.
5. Have interaction along with your viewers.
Sometimes, my greatest worry main as much as a presentation is making certain that I relay all the knowledge I’ve ready.
Nevertheless, I ought to be extra apprehensive about creating a powerful sufficient reference to my viewers that my presentation resonates of their minds lengthy after.
Of audiences, 79% favor interactive displays with alternatives to become involved, so presenters have used instruments like polls and quizzes to extend viewers engagement by 40%.
That is additionally a good way to alleviate a number of the strain from myself — by throwing to the viewers at instances, I could make the presentation really feel extra conversational.
Listed here are a couple of ways in which my colleagues and I’ve made displays extra interactive:
- Begin by asking unusual inquiries to the viewers. Contain them from the get-go, saying issues like, “Increase your fingers if X.”
- Add polls to the slides and name on viewers members to share their responses.
- Make eye contact to construct credibility and present confidence. Don’t stare on the slides or notes. Smile often and discuss to the viewers instantly.
- Share a private perspective and ask if anybody within the viewers agrees or disagrees. Name on them to share why.
- Use lively and assured physique language. Don’t stand in the identical place your complete time. Transfer across the stage.
- Ask close-ended questions in between to maintain the viewers engaged with out shedding time. Tackle them utilizing their names to maintain issues fascinating.
- Share private experiences and tales that your viewers will discover fascinating and relatable.
Feeling Impressed But?
As a youthful skilled in my {industry}, I’m all the time in search of methods to make myself identified, stand out from the group, and show my skill to be a pacesetter.
This weblog put up taught me that distinctive, memorable presentation matters will help me accomplish these objectives.
All of us have a wealth of experience, expertise, and persona, and that’s sufficient to create a narrative price listening to. So the query shouldn’t be “What ought to I say?” however reasonably “How can I say it?”
My most vital takeaway is that authenticity comes from discovering methods to personalize presentation matters.
Even one thing data-driven or industry-focused has the chance for a reference to an anecdote, metaphor, distinctive perspective, or viewers interplay software that may take displays from informative to outstanding.
Editor’s word: This put up was initially revealed in August 2023 and has been up to date for comprehensiveness.