How to Create a Compelling Presentation – Video

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Create a Compelling Presentation: Story First, Slides Last

This video walks through a simple, reliable approach to creating a compelling presentation. You’ll hear why your story must come before your slides, how to understand what your audience care about and how to shape a message that delivers a clear result.

What you’ll learn

• Why starting without PowerPoint leads to a stronger presentation
• How to shape your story before adding any visual aids
• How to think about your audience and what captures their attention
• Why intent matters and how it guides your message
• How a professional coach can speed up the process

Short summary How to Create a Compelling Presentation

This video explains why compelling presentations begin with a clear story rather than a set of slides. By understanding your audience, defining your intention and working out what you want to say, you create a talk that stands on its own. Only then should you consider visual aids. You’ll also hear why working with a professional coach can help you refine these ideas more quickly.

Mini FAQ

Why shouldn’t I start with PowerPoint?
Because slides can trap you before you’ve shaped your message. Your story needs to work on its own first.

What makes a presentation compelling?
A clear intention, an understanding of your audience and a set of messages that support your goal.

How do I connect with the audience?
Think about what interests them and the words or ideas that catch their attention.

Can a coach help?
Yes. A coach who builds presentations daily can help you shape your structure and message more quickly.

Transcript (edited)

If you want to create a compelling presentation, don’t start with PowerPoint. This is my biggest tip. Work out your story first. What are you trying to say? How do you put it together? How do you connect with your audience? Once you’ve created a strong talk, then think about adding visual aids. It sounds back to front, but it works.

There’s a process to creating a great presentation. You need to understand what you want to say, who you’re saying it to and how you’re going to say it. Working with a professional presentation coach is a quick way to get there, because they do this every day.

To create a compelling presentation, start by thinking about your audience. What interests them? What are the words or ideas that grab their attention? Then decide what you’re trying to achieve — your intention. Finally, decide what you need to say to convince that audience and achieve your goal.

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Recommended Links

• shape your presentation story
• plan your talk on paper
• understand your audience’s interests
• work with a presentation coach

Read our Ultimate Guide to Business Presentations