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Home Blog Presentation Ideas How to Start a Presentation: 5 Strong Opening Slides and 12 Tricks To Test

How to Start a Presentation: 5 Strong Opening Slides and 12 Tricks To Test

Knowing how to start a presentation is crucial: if you fail to capture the audience’s attention right off the bat, your entire presentation will flop. Few listeners will stick with you to the end and retain what you have told.

That is mildly unpleasant when you are doing an in-house presentation in front of your colleagues. But it can become utterly embarrassing when you present in front of larger audiences (e.g., at a conference) or worse – delivering a sales presentation to prospective customers.

Here is how most of us begin a presentation: give an awkward greeting, thank everyone for coming, clear our throats, tap the mic, and humbly start to mumble about our subject. The problem with such an opening performance? It effectively kills and buries even the best messages.

Table of Contents

• The Classic Trick: Open a Presentation with an Introduction
• Open a Presentation with a Hook
• Begin with a Captivating Visual
• Ask a “What if…” Question
• Use the Word “Imagine”
• Leverage The Curiosity Gap
• The Power of Silence
• Facts as Weapons of Communication
• Fact vs. Myths
• The Power of Music
• Physical Activity
• Acknowledging a Person

How to Start a PowerPoint Presentation The Right Way

Let’s say you have all of your presentation slides polished up (in case you don’t, check our quick & effective PowerPoint presentation design tips first). Your presentation has a clear storyline and agenda. Main ideas are broken into bite-sized statements for your slides and complemented with visuals. All you have left is to figure out how you begin presenting.

The best way is to appeal to and invoke certain emotions in your audience – curiosity, surprise, fear, or good old amusements. Also, it is recommended to present your main idea in the first 30 seconds of the presentation. And here’s how it’s done.

1. The Classic Trick: Open a Presentation with an Introduction

When you don’t feel like reinventing the wheel, use a classic trick from the book – start with a quick personal introduction. Don’t want to sound as boring as everyone else with your humble “Hi, I’m John, the head of the Customer Support Department”? Great, because we are all about promoting effective presentation techniques (hint: using a dull welcome slide isn’t one of them).

Here’s how to introduce yourself in a presentation the right way.

a. Use a link-back memory formula

To ace a presentation, you need to connect with your audience. The best way to do so is by throwing in a simple story showing who you are, where you came from, and why your words matter.

The human brain loves a good story, and we are more inclined to listen and retain the information told this way. Besides, when we can relate to the narrator (or story hero), we create an emotional bond with them, and, again – become more receptive, and less skeptical of the information that is about to be delivered.

So here are your presentation introduction lines:

My name is Joanne, and I’m the Head of Marketing at company XYZ. Five years ago I was working as a waitress, earning $10/hour and collecting rejection letters from editors. About ten letters every week landed to my mailbox. You see, I love words, but decent publisher thought mine were good enough. Except for the restaurant owner. I was very good at up-selling and recommending dishes to the customers. My boss even bumped my salary to $15/hour as a token of appreciation for my skill. And this made me realize: I should ditch creative writing and focus on copywriting instead. After loads of trial and error back in the day, I learned how to write persuasive copy. I was no longer getting rejection letters. I was receiving thousands of emails saying that someone just bought another product from our company. My sales copy pages generated over $1,500,000 in revenue over last year. And I want to teach you how to do the same”

b. Test the Stereotype Formula

This one’s simple and effective as well. Introduce yourself by sharing an obvious stereotype about your profession. This cue will help you connect with your audience better, make them chuckle a bit, and set a lighter mood for the speech to follow.

Here’s how you can frame your intro:

“My name is ___, and I am a lead software engineer at our platform [Your Job Title]. And yes, I’m that nerdy type who never liked presenting in front of large groups of people. I would rather stay in my den and write code all day long. [Stereotype]. But hey, since I have mustered enough courage…let’s talk today about the new product features my team is about to release….”

After sharing a quick, self-deprecating line, you transition back to your topic, reinforcing the audience’s attention . Both of these formulas help you set the “mood” for your further presentation, so try using them interchangeably on different occasions.

2. Open a Presentation with a Hook

Wow your audience straight off the bat by sharing something they would not expect to hear. This may be one of the popular first-time presentation tips but don’t rush to discard it.

Because here’s the thing: psychologically , we are more inclined to pay attention whenever presented with an unexpected cue. When we know what will happen next – someone flips the switch, and lights turn on – we don’t really pay much attention to that action.

But when we don’t know what to expect next – e.g., someone flips the switch and a bell starts ringing – we are likely to pay more attention to what will happen next. The same goes for words: everyone loves stories with unpredictable twists. So begin your presentation with a PowerPoint introduction slide or a line that no one expects to hear.

Here are a few hook examples you can swipe:

a. Open with a provocative statement

It creates an instant jolt and makes the audience intrigued to hear what you are about to say next – pedal back, continue with the provocation, or do something else that they will not expect.

“You will live seven and a half minutes longer than you would have otherwise, just because you watched this talk.”

That’s how Jane McGonigal opens one of her TED talks . Shocking and intriguing, right?

b. Ask a rhetorical, thought-provoking question

Seasoned presenters know that one good practice is to ask a question at the beginning of a presentation to increase audience engagement. Rhetorical questions have a great persuasive effect – instead of answering aloud, your audience will silently start musing over it during your presentation. They aroused curiosity and motivated the audience to remain attentive, as they did want to learn your answer to this question.

To reinforce your message throughout the presentation, you can further use the Rhetorical Triangle Concept – a rhetorical approach to building a persuasive argument based on Aristotle’s teachings.

c. Use a bold number, factor stat

A clean slide with some mind-boggling stat makes an undeniably strong impact. Here are a few opening statement examples you can use along with your slide:

• Shock them: “We are effectively wasting over $1.2 billion per year on producing clothes no one will ever purchase”
• Create empathy: “Are you among the 20% of people with undiagnosed ADHD?”
• Call to arms: “58% of marketing budgets are wasted due to poor landing page design. Let’s change this!”
• Spark curiosity: “Did you know that companies who invested in speech recognition have seen a 13% increase in ROI within just 3 years?”

3. Begin with a Captivating Visual

Compelling visuals are the ABC of presentation design – use them strategically to make an interesting statement at the beginning and throughout your presentation. Your first presentation slide can be text-free. Communicate your idea with a visual instead – a photo, a chart, an infographic, or another graphics asset.

Visuals are a powerful medium for communication as our brain needs just 13 milliseconds to render what our eyes see, whereas text comprehension requires more cognitive effort.

Relevant images add additional aesthetic appeal to your deck, bolster the audience’s imagination, and make your key message instantly more memorable.

Here’s an intro slide example. You want to make a strong presentation introduction to global pollution.  Use the following slide to reinforce the statement you share:

“Seven of nine snow samples taken on land in Antarctica found chemicals known as PFAs, which are used in industrial products and can harm wildlife”

Source: Reuters

4. Ask a “What if…” Question

The “what if” combo carries massive power. It gives your audience a sense of what will happen if they choose to listen to you and follow your advice.  Here are a few presentations with starting sentences + slides to illustrate this option:

Alternatively, you can work your way to this point using different questions:

• Ask the audience about their “Why.” Why are they attending this event, or why do they find this topic relevant?
• Use “How” as your question hook if you plan to introduce a potential solution to a problem.
• If your presentation has a persuasion factor associated, use “When” as a question to trigger the interest of the audience on, for example, when they are planning to take action regarding the topic being presented (if we talk about an inspirational presentation).

5. Use the Word “Imagine”

“Imagine,” “Picture This,” and “Think of” are better word choices for when you plan to begin your presentation with a quick story.

Our brain loves interacting with stories. In fact, a captivating story makes us more collaborative. Scientists have discovered that stories with tension during narrative make us:

• Pay more attention,
• Share emotions with the characters and even mimic the feelings and behaviors of those characters afterward.

That’s why good action movies often feel empowering and make us want to change the world too. By incorporating a good, persuasive story with a relatable hero, you can also create that “bond” with your audience and make them more perceptive to your pitch – donate money to support the cause; explore the solution you are offering, and so on.

6. Leverage The Curiosity Gap

The curiosity gap is another psychological trick frequently used by marketers to solicit more clicks, reads, and other interactions from the audience. In essence, it’s the trick you see behind all those clickbait, Buzzfeed-style headlines:

Not everyone is a fan of such titles. But the truth is – they do the trick and instantly capture attention. The curiosity gap sparks our desire to dig deeper into the matter. We are explicitly told that we don’t know something important, and now we crave to change that. Curiosity is an incredibly strong driving force for action – think Eve, think Pandora’s Box.

So consider incorporating these attention grabbers for your presentation speech to shock the audience. You can open with one, or strategically weave them in the middle of your presentation when you feel like your audience is getting tired and may lose their focus.

Here’s how you can use the curiosity gap during your presentation:

• Start telling a story, pause in the middle, and delay the conclusion of it.
• Withhold the key information (e.g., the best solution to the problem you have described) for a bit – but not for too long, as this can reduce the initial curiosity.
• Introduce an idea or concept and link it with an unexpected outcome or subject – this is the best opening for a presentation tip.

7. The Power of Silence

What would you do if you attended a presentation in which the speaker remains silent for 30 seconds after the presentation starts? Just the presenter, standing in front of the audience, in absolute silence.

Most likely, your mind starts racing with thoughts, expecting something of vital importance to be disclosed. The surprise factor with this effect is for us to acknowledge things we tend to take for granted.

It is a powerful resource to introduce a product or to start an inspirational presentation if followed by a fact.

8. Facts as Weapons of Communication

In some niches, using statistics as the icebreaker is the best method to retain the audience’s interest.

Say your presentation is about climate change. Why not introduce a not-so-common fact, such as the amount of wool that can be produced out of oceanic plastic waste per month? And since you have to base your introduction on facts, research manufacturers that work with Oceanic fabrics from recycled plastic bottles .

Using facts helps to build a better narrative, and also gives leverage to your presentation as you are speaking not just from emotional elements but from actually recorded data backed up by research.

9. Fact vs. Myths

Related to our previous point, we make quite an interesting speech if we contrast a fact vs. a myth in a non-conventional way: using a myth to question a well-accepted fact, then introducing a new point of view or theory, backed on sufficient research, that proves the fact wrong. This technique, when used in niches related to academia, can significantly increase the audience’s interest, and it will highlight your presentation as innovative.

Another approach is to debunk a myth using a fact. This contrast immediately piques interest because it promises to overturn commonly held beliefs, and people naturally find it compelling when their existing knowledge is put to the test. An example of this is when a nutritionist wishes to speak about how to lose weight via diet, and debunks the myth that all carbohydrates are “bad”.

10. The Power of Music

Think about a presentation that discusses the benefits of using alternative therapies to treat anxiety, reducing the need to rely on benzodiazepines. Rather than going technical and introducing facts, the presenter can play a soothing tune and invite the audience to follow an exercise that teaches how to practice breathing meditation . Perhaps, in less than 2 minutes, the presenter can accomplish the goal of exposing the advantages of this practice with a live case study fueled by the proper ambiance (due to the music played in the beginning).

11. Physical Activity

Let’s picture ourselves in an in-company presentation about workspace wellness. For this company, the sedentary lifestyle their employees engage in is a worrying factor, so they brought a personal trainer to coach the employees on a basic flexibility routine they can practice in 5 minutes after a couple of hours of desk time.

“Before we dive in, let’s all stand up for a moment.” This simple instruction breaks the ice and creates a moment of shared experience among the attendees. You could then lead them through a brief stretching routine, saying something like, “Let’s reach up high, and stretch out those muscles that get so tight sitting at our desks all day.” With this action, you’re not just talking about workplace wellness, you’re giving them a direct, personal experience of it.

This approach has several advantages. Firstly, it infuses energy into the room and increases the oxygen flow to the brain, potentially boosting the audience’s concentration and retention. Secondly, it sets a precedent that your presentation is not going to be a standard lecture, but rather an interactive experience. This can raise the level of anticipation for what’s to come, and make the presentation a topic for future conversation between coworkers.

12. Acknowledging a Person

How many times have you heard the phrase: “Before we begin, I’d like to dedicate a few words to …” . The speaker could be referring to a mentor figure, a prominent person in the local community, or a group of people who performed charity work or obtained a prize for their hard work and dedication. Whichever is the reason behind this, acknowledgment is a powerful force to use as a method of starting a presentation. It builds a connection with the audience, it speaks about your values and who you admire, and it can transmit what the conversation is going to be about based on who the acknowledged person is.

Closing Thoughts

Now you know how to start your presentation – you have the opening lines, you have the slides to use, and you can browse even more attractive PowerPoint presentation slides and templates on our website. Also, we recommend you visit our article on how to make a PowerPoint Presentation to get familiarized with the best tactics for professional presentation design and delivery, or if you need to save time preparing your presentation, we highly recommend you check our AI Presentation Maker to pair these concepts with cutting-edge slide design powered by AI.

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What It Takes to Give a Great Presentation

• Carmine Gallo

Five tips to set yourself apart.

Never underestimate the power of great communication. It can help you land the job of your dreams, attract investors to back your idea, or elevate your stature within your organization. But while there are plenty of good speakers in the world, you can set yourself apart out by being the person who can deliver something great over and over. Here are a few tips for business professionals who want to move from being good speakers to great ones: be concise (the fewer words, the better); never use bullet points (photos and images paired together are more memorable); don’t underestimate the power of your voice (raise and lower it for emphasis); give your audience something extra (unexpected moments will grab their attention); rehearse (the best speakers are the best because they practice — a lot).

I was sitting across the table from a Silicon Valley CEO who had pioneered a technology that touches many of our lives — the flash memory that stores data on smartphones, digital cameras, and computers. He was a frequent guest on CNBC and had been delivering business presentations for at least 20 years before we met. And yet, the CEO wanted to sharpen his public speaking skills.

• Carmine Gallo is a Harvard University instructor, keynote speaker, and author of 10 books translated into 40 languages. Gallo is the author of The Bezos Blueprint: Communication Secrets of the World’s Greatest Salesman  (St. Martin’s Press).

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Starting a presentation in english: methods and examples.

• By Jake Pool

If you’re going to make it in the professional world, most likely you’ll have to give a presentation in English at some point. No reason to get nervous!

Most of the work involved lies in the introduction. You may or may not need an English presentation PPT file, your topic, audience, or time limit may vary, but a strong opening is a must no matter what! Everything that follows can build from the opening outline you present to your audience.

Let’s look at some guidelines for starting a presentation in English. If you can master this part, you’ll never have to worry about the rest!

Opening in a Presentation in English

While it’s important to have your entire presentation organized and outlined, planning and organization are especially important in the introduction. This is what will guide you through a clear and concise beginning. Let’s look at how to start a presentation with well-organized thoughts .

Introduction Outline

• Introduce yourself and welcome everyone.
• State the purpose of your presentation
• Give a short overview of the presentation

As we say, it’s as easy as 1-2-3. (No need for a more detailed English presentation script!) Let’s examine the first step.

1. Introduce Yourself & Welcome Everyone

The self-introduction is your opportunity to make a good first impression. Be sure to open with a warm welcome and use language that is familiar and natural. Based on your audience, there are a few different expressions you can use to start your presentation.

If you’re presenting to coworkers who may already know you:

• Hello, [name] here. I would like to thank you all for your time. As you may know, I [describe what you do/your job title] I look forward to discussing [topic] today.
• Good morning/afternoon/evening everyone. Thank you for being here. For those who don’t know me, my name is [name], and for those who know me, hello again.

If you’re presenting to people you’ve never met:

• Hello everyone, it’s nice to meet you all. My name is [name] and I am the [job/title].
• Hello. Welcome to [event]. My name is [name] and I am the [job/title]. I’m glad you’re all here.

There are certainly more ways to make an introduction. However, it’s generally best to follow this format:

• Start with a polite welcome and state your name.
• Follow with your job title and/or the reason you’re qualified to speak on the topic being discussed.

2. State the Purpose of Your Presentation

Now that your audience knows who you are and your qualifications, you can state the purpose of your presentation. This is where you clarify to your audience what you’ll be talking about.

So, ask yourself, “ What do I want my audience to get from this presentation? ”

• Do you want your audience to be informed?
• Do you need something from your audience?
• Do you want them to purchase a product?
• Do you want them to do something for the community or your company?

With your goal in mind, you can create the next couple of lines of your presentation. Below are some examples of how to start.

• Let me share with you…
• I’d like to introduce you to [product or service]
• Today I want to discuss…
• I want to breakdown for you [topic]
• Let’s discuss…
• Today I will present the results of my research on [topic]
• By the end of this presentation, you’ll understand [topic]
• My goal is to explain…
• As you know, we’ll be talking about…

When talking about the purpose of your presentation, stick to your goals. You purpose statement should be only one to three sentences. That way, you can give your audience a clear sense of purpose that sets them up for the rest of the presentation.

3. A Short Overview of the Presentation

The final step in starting your presentation is to give a short outline of what you’ll be presenting. People like a map of what to expect from a presentation.

It helps them organize their thoughts and gives a sense of order. Also, it lets the audience know why they’re listening to you. This is what you’ll use to grab their attention, and help them stay focused throughout the presentation.

Here are some examples of how you can outline your presentation:

• Today, I’m going to cover… Then we’ll talk about… Lastly, I’ll close on…
• We’re going to be covering some key information you need to know, including…
• My aim with this presentation is to get you to… To do that we’ll be talking about…
• I’ve divided my presentation into [number] sections… [List the sections]
• Over the next [length of your presentation] I’m going to discuss…

That’s it! It’s as simple as 1-2-3. If you have a fear of public speaking or are not confident about presenting to a group of people, follow these three steps. It’s a simple structure that can get you off to a good start. With that in mind, there are other ways to bring your introduction to the next level too! Read on for bonus tips on how to really engage your audience, beyond the basics.

For a Strong Presentation in English, Engage your Audience

Presentations aren’t everyone’s strongest ability, and that’s OK. If you’re newer to presenting in English, the steps above are the basics to getting started. Once you’re more comfortable with presenting, though, you can go a step further with some extra tricks that can really wow your audience.

Mastering the skill of engaging an audience will take experience. Fortunately, there are many famous speakers out there you can model for capturing attention. Also, there are some common techniques that English-speakers use to gain an audience’s attention.

*How and when you use these techniques in your introduction is at your discretion, as long as you cover the 3 steps of the introduction outline that we discussed earlier.*

Do or say something shocking.

The purpose of shocking your audience is to immediately engage them. You can make a loud noise and somehow relate the noise to your presentation. Or, you can say, “ Did you know that… ” and follow with a shocking story or statistic. Either way, the objective is to create surprise to draw their attention.

Tell a story

Telling a story related to your presentation is a great way to get the audience listening to you.

You can start by saying, “ On my way to [location] the other day… ” or “ On my way here, I was reminded of… ” and then follow with a story. A good story can make your presentation memorable.

Ask your audience to take part

Sometimes a good introduction that captures attention will involve asking for help from the audience. You can ask the audience to play a quick game or solve a puzzle that’s related to your presentation. Also, you could engage the audience with a group exercise. This is a great way to get people involved in your presentation.

There are many more ways to engage the audience, so get creative and see what you can think up! Here are some resources that will help you get started.

Also, if you want to get better at public speaking (and help your English speaking too!), a great organization to know about is the Toastmasters . The organization is dedicated to helping you be a better speaker, and there are many local groups in America. They offer free lessons and events to help you master your English speaking, and also offer additional help to paying members.

The Takeaway

A presentation in English? No problem, as long as your introduction sets you up for success . Admittedly, this can be easier said than done. Native speakers and non-native speakers alike sometimes struggle with getting a good start on their English presentation. But the advice above can help you get the confidence you need to lay a good foundation for your next speech !

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How to Start a PowerPoint Presentation Speech: Captivate Your Audience from the First Slide

Want to learn how to start a powerpoint presentation speech? This is your guide to find out!

Introduction: Setting the Stage for Success

Keywords: powerpoint presentation, audience engagement, presentation speech, understanding your audience.

• Demographic Analysis : Age, profession, and interests of your audience.
• Expectations and Needs : What does your audience hope to gain from your presentation?

Keywords: audience analysis, demographics, attendee expectations

Crafting a compelling opening.

• Start with a Hook : Use a startling statistic, a thought-provoking question, or a relevant anecdote.
• Connect Emotionally : Humanize your talk by sharing a personal story related to the topic.
• Establish Credibility : Briefly introduce your background to establish authority on the subject.

Keywords: presentation hook, emotional connection, speaker credibility

The role of visuals in your opening.

• High-Impact Imagery : Choose images that evoke emotion or curiosity.
• Minimalist Design : Use clean, uncluttered slides to keep the focus on your speech.
• Consistent Theme : Ensure all visuals align with your presentation’s theme for a cohesive look.

Keywords: PowerPoint visuals, slide design, impactful imagery

Setting the agenda.

• Brief Overview : Summarize the main points that will be covered.
• Timeline : Indicate the flow of the presentation and time allocations for each section.
• Interactive Elements : Mention any interactive segments like Q&As or polls to keep the audience engaged.

Keywords: presentation agenda, speech organization, interactive presentation

Engaging your audience throughout the presentation.

• Dynamic Delivery : Vary your tone and pace to maintain interest.
• Audience Participation : Encourage questions and discussions.
• Practical Examples : Use case studies or real-life scenarios to illustrate points.

Keywords: audience engagement, dynamic delivery, practical examples

Using technology to enhance your presentation.

• Polling Software : Use real-time polling to gather audience opinions.
• Interactive Slides : Incorporate elements that can be manipulated during the presentation.
• Social Media Integration : Encourage live tweeting or sharing on social platforms.

Keywords: presentation technology, interactive PowerPoint, social media integration

Conclusion: ending with impact, keywords: powerful conclusion, call to action, memorable close, final thoughts, create ppt using ai.

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How to Make a Persuasive PowerPoint Presentation (With Powerful Tips + Video)

For most professionals, you'll have to create a PowerPoint presentation at least once in your career. 

Presenting, as with other "soft skills" (like communication, leadership, and negotiation), is now a must-have for most roles in the workplace. This means it's important to learn how to make compelling presentations—even if you're not an experienced presenter, speaker, or designer. 

Discover six steps that will help you level up your presentation game. 

Guide to Making Great Presentations (Free eBook Download)

But, before you do that, download our free eBook:  The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations . It's packed with professional strategies to help you master the complete presentation process.

Now let's dig into this tutorial. Learn how to make a more persuasive PowerPoint presentation that will grab your audience's attention and move them to action: 

Top Tips on How to Make a Persuasive PowerPoint Presentation (Video)

Are you in a hurry to get started with your persuasive video? We've got you covered with this quickstart video that includes some of our best persuasive PowerPoint tips:

Do you want to learn even more about how to make a persuasive PowerPoint? Keep reading for even more tips and ideas.

Step 1. Learn How to Start a PowerPoint Presentation Persuasively

One thing you need to keep in mind as you're planning your persuasive presentation is how you'll start it. You don't have to write out the beginning right now, but throughout the planning process, you need to be on the lookout for the hook of your presentation. 

This hook is crucial because with a strong beginning, you can draw your listeners in. Without a hook, it will take them a while to adjust to being receptive to your message. Here are some characteristics that make a strong hook:

1. Grab Your Audience's Attention

When they hear your hook, it should force them to focus on the presentation and wait in anticipation for what you're going to say next. This means it should be brief and to the point.

2. Address Their Wants and Fears

It's also great to start by addressing your audience's most pressing concerns upfront. If you're giving a persuasive presentation to small business owners on how they can get more customers, you can start with something like: 

You're here because at some point, you've looked at your sales and thought, 'I could have done better'.

Addressing their main concerns, especially if it's emotionally strong, reminds them of what's at stake. More importantly, you're suggesting that you do understand where they're coming from.

3. Ask a Question

Starting with a question leads your audience to try to come up with the answer in their heads. It's also a good idea to ask a question that leads people to raise their hands or interact with you in some way so that they feel more involved in the presentation. Given the example above, an alternate beginning would be to ask:

How many of you looked at your sales last month and felt disappointed?

If you want to take a deeper look into creating a strong hook, you can check out this guide for writing attention-grabbing speeches:

Step 2. Put Your Audience First

One common mistake that presenters make is focusing mostly on their own ideas and story. Unless you tie these things with your audience's needs, they might end up bored, distracted, or worse, they might even walk out. 

To prevent this, put your audience first. Before you start writing your persuasive presentation, it's best to clarify who your audience is and what their needs and expectations are. As you write your presentation, ask yourself the following questions:

• Why are they watching your presentation? What do they hope to get out of it? Figure out what their expectations and goals are and how your presentation fits into both these things. If you can conduct a survey or get in touch with your audience beforehand, this can give you a more specific idea of what they're looking for.
• How much knowledge and experience do they have on the subject? If there are any knowledge gaps, be prepared to fill them. Also, avoid spending too much time on the ideas that are too simple for your audience. For example, there's no point in explaining how to use basic Photoshop tools to a room full of advanced graphic designers.
• How would they feel about your primary message?  Are there any concerns or hesitations that your audience might have against the message you're trying to relay? Be prepared to address these concerns throughout your persuasive presentation.
• What possible questions will they have along the way? Answering your audience's internal questions as you go through your presentation lets them know that you're on the same page. Plus, if there's a Q&A portion after you speak, you would have already answered the most basic questions in your presentation, paving the way for more interesting advanced questions in the Q&A.

Answering these questions can help you craft a presentation that's as engaging as possible to your audience.

Step 3. Think in Pictures and Stories

As you flesh out the points of your presentation, keep in mind the old saying "Show, don't tell." Rather than just stating your points matter-of-factly, find ways to deliver them through metaphors or stories. This will make your most important ideas easier to understand and remember. 

Another advantage to thinking in metaphors and stories is that the more visual the metaphor, the easier for you to pick photos and graphics to go with your presentation.

Here are some tips that can help you come up with metaphors and stories you can use:

1. Find Existing Stories

For every crucial point you deliver, think about some stories from history, case studies, or your own experience that can help your audience see the point in a fuller context. 

If you're going to present to your company about the perils of bad customer support, tell your own horror stories of bad customer support that led you to switch brands. 

If you're presenting to a client the dangers of failing to keep their website secure, and how technical errors and client data leaks can harm their business, look for case studies or news items about businesses that closed shop or lost customers because of it.

You can also use historical examples. Books like Robert Greene's "The 33 Strategies of War"  or "The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries use stories and figures from history to illustrate their points. "The Lean Startup" also goes the personal route by telling stories from Ries' own experience with his startup.

2. Create a Storyboard

While you're thinking in terms of visuals and stories, it might also help to create a basic storyboard of your entire presentation. This is useful for setting some early plans on how your presentation will look, not just in terms of photos and graphics, but also the layout of the text and how the slides look when shown one after the other.

Step 4.  Pick Your Persuasive PowerPoint Template 

Picking your persuasive PPT template and creating your slides is the fourth step on this list, rather than the first—and for good reason. The content of your presentation should come first. 

When you're starting out, it's easy to get hung up on choosing templates, fonts, and graphics, and laying out all the elements of your slides. Without strong content that appeals to your audience, however, it doesn't matter how beautiful and well-designed your slides are. 

Presentation design is critical to success though. You need your visuals to compliment the ideas you present.

When you're ready to choose your PPT design template here are some criteria you should look at:

1. Uniqueness

As much as possible, avoid using the most common stock templates that people use. These are typically the ones that come with PowerPoint by default. 

When you use a persuasive PowerPoint template design that everyone's seen over and over again, they might assume that your presentation will be equally predictable and commonplace. Then your audience will stop paying attention as soon as they see the first slide. 

Instead, choose a well-designed, unique template. 

There are new PowerPoint Templates with awesome designs being added to Envato Elements. They give you a number of creative styles and fresh designs options to choose from. 

Discover more great designs: 

2. Readability

When testing out PPT templates, try to reduce their size on the screen. Can you still read the text effortlessly? If you're presenting to a large audience, it's important that everyone can read any text on the slides, especially those people sitting in the back or those who have poor eyesight.

3. Interesting Imagery

Since you'll be using stories and metaphors in your presentation, it's best to accompany those with photos or graphics that fully capture the idea. These images can also break the monotony from too many consecutive slides that are just text. 

If you want a large collection of professional royalty free stock photos to choose from, try searching through Envato Elements or browse through our  PhotoDune  gallery of photography. 

Step 5. Practice and Get Feedback

Now that the visuals and text of your presentation are ready, it's time to practice. You're practicing for several reasons. First, you want to make sure that your presentation fits within your allotted presentation time. Personally, I've spoken in a handful of events where some speakers went overtime, monopolizing the time allotted for other speakers and their Q&A sessions. 

Going overtime might also affect the timing and length of breaks. Consider these costs if you're tempted to make your presentation longer than it should be or if you want to skip practicing altogether. You don't want to be the speaker that everyone in the event ends up resenting. Instead keep your presentation compact.

More importantly, you're practicing to get feedback. Use this opportunity to record a video of yourself speaking. Then, try to evaluate your performance in the video. Consider questions like:

• Do you speak at a good enough pace to be understood? 
• Do you use different tonalities for emphasis? 
• Do you appear confident? 

You can even show the video to some trusted colleagues and get their constructive feedback. It might sound scary to do this, but it's better to make mistakes in a safe space with people you trust rather than in the actual presentation itself.

For each run-through of your presentation, set a specific improvement goal based on your observations or the feedback you get: 

• Should you be speaking slower? 
• Should you speak louder? 
• Would your presentation seem more engaging if you moved your hands? 

By doing this kind of deliberate practice, you'll end up with a greatly improved presentation style—no matter how awkward you were when you started.

Step 6. Polish Your Presentation

Having compelling content and design for your presentation is good, but to make it great, make sure it's polished. Here are some final touches you can apply to your presentation as you're finishing it up:

1. Proper Alignment

Make sure all the elements of each slide are properly aligned. This maintains the balance and symmetry of your text and graphics. Alignments are adjusted one slide at a time. First, for each slide that you want to adjust, select all the objects. Then, from the PowerPoint Format tab, select Align . 

This will bring down a menu of alignment options. Click Align Selected Objects . When the Align menu closes, open it again, then select the type of alignment that works best for that slide. For example, if you want things centered properly, click Align Center .

2. Embedded Fonts

It's possible that the equipment you'll be using on presentation day might not have the same fonts you've used while designing your presentation. To avoid such typographic mess-ups, embed your chosen fonts within the presentation. 

To do this, go to the File  tab then click Options . When the Options  menu launches, click the Save  option from the menu on the left. Scroll down until you see the checkbox marked Embed fonts in the file . 

Check this box and choose the type of embedding you want. This will ensure that when you open your presentation, the text will display as you designed it, even if the device displaying it doesn't have the fonts you used.

3. Export Slides

Another way to ensure that your slides look the same regardless of the device viewing it is to export it to PDF or JPEG . When you send or bring your files to the venue, make sure that you save them in PPT, PDF, and JPG as a contingency plan in case there are some software or hardware problems that prevent your PPT file from displaying correctly.

4. Run Through Your Cues

Do a run through of your cues. For your last practice sessions, make sure you include your slide cues in your rehearsal. It's going to be inconvenient, confusing, or jarring for you and your audience if you've got to keep looking at your slides behind you as you're presenting.

Here are a few tutorials that'll show you how to take your presentation to the next level:

10+ Powerful Persuasion and PowerPoint Presentation Tips

Now that we’ve covered the basics of how to make a persuasive PowerPoint presentation, there are a few more tips you can use to ensure your presentation not only delivers your message but captivates your audience and convinces them to care about your cause or invest in your idea.

The tips below cover both persuasion and PowerPoint tips so you can ensure the design of your presentation matches the delivery. Without further ado, here are 10+ powerful persuasion and PowerPoint presentation tips:

• Know your audience  and what they respond to makes it easier for you to tailor the presentation to their interests and use language and phrases they respond to.
• Use body language  to your advantage. Body language says a lot about you and can do wonders for showing your audience why they should care about the topic of your presentation.
• Remember to address their wants and fears early on so you can capture their attention and remind them what’s at stake
• Use storytelling to make your presentation more relatable and powerful.
• Provide background on the topic of your presentation instead of jumping straight into data and information
• Use a visually attractive template that'll illustrate your story. Customize the persuasive PPT template with your brand assets and use compelling imagery.
• Adhere to the basic design principles  for a presentation that's visually appealing and legible.
• Export your presentation deck as PDF to ensure it appears uniform across all devices and consider giving it to your audience as a handout.
• Establish and maintain eye contact with your audience.
• Practice your speech and the delivery of the persuasive presentation well in advance.
• Get to the venue early and test all the equipment such as the projector, the microphone and the connections to avoid technical difficulties.
• Remember to breathe to avoid running out of breath or talking too fast, which will make it difficult for your audience to understand you.
• Avoid standing still as this can make you appear stiff and cause your audience to tune out.

How to Make the Most Out of PowerPoint

We mentioned earlier that your slide deck needs to be attractive in order to help you tell the story behind your presentation. For starters, you need a unique persuasive PowerPoint template that matches your industry or your topic.

Luckily, there are hundreds of presentation templates available on Envato Elements that are suitable for business presentations. Envato Elements is a great choice if you plan on giving presentations regularly and want access to thousands of design elements for one low monthly price.

Throughout your persuasive presentation, use larger font sizes to ensure your presentation is readable. Consider reducing the size of your template on the screen to check readability.

Another tip to remember is to use alignment properly to ensure your slides look balanced and aesthetically pleasing.

Below are a few of our tutorials that'll help you master PowerPoint even more.

Learn How to Make Great Presentations (Download This Free eBook)

Take the tips you learned in this article further with our new eBook:  The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations .  Grab it now for FREE with a subscription to the Tuts+ Business newsletter . 

It'll help walk you through the complete presentation process. Learn how to write your presentation, design it like a pro, and prepare it to present powerfully.

All This Prep Work Is Worth It

From planning your hook, to coming up with metaphors, and picking the right PPT template design , creating a persuasive presentation sounds like a lot of work. The good news is that if you do it right, none of that work will go to waste.

In fact, it'll be a bigger waste of an opportunity if you just "wing it." By spending enough time preparing the message, content, design, and delivery of your presentation, you can be sure that your audience will appreciate and be persuaded by your final presentation.

You can save time by choosing a great persuasive PowerPoint template from Envato Elements and customizing it quickly with a professional workflow. 

Editorial Note:  This post was originally published in December of 2015. It's been comprehensively revised to make it current, accurate, and up to date by our staff—with special assistance from Brenda Barron . We've also added a video from Nathan Umoh .

How to Start a Presentation: 5 Templates and 90 Example Phrases

By Status.net Editorial Team on February 27, 2024 — 11 minutes to read

Starting a presentation effectively means capturing your audience’s attention from the very beginning. It’s important because it sets the tone for the entire presentation and establishes your credibility as a speaker.

Effective Openers: 5 Templates

Your presentation’s beginning sets the stage for everything that follows. So, it’s important to capture your audience’s attention right from the start. Here are some tried-and-true techniques to do just that.

1. Storytelling Approach

When you start with a story, you tap into the natural human love for narratives. It can be a personal experience, a historical event, or a fictional tale that ties back to your main point.

Example Introduction Template 1:

“Let me tell you a story about…”

Example : “Let me tell you a story about how a small idea in a garage blossomed into the global brand we know today.”

2. Quotation Strategy

Using a relevant quote can lend authority and thematic flavor to your presentation. Choose a quote that is provocative, enlightening, or humorous to resonate with your audience.

Example Introduction Template 2:

“As [Famous Person] once said…”

Example : “As Steve Jobs once said, ‘Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.'”

3. Questioning Technique

Engage your audience directly by opening with a thoughtful question. This encourages them to think and become active participants.

Example Introduction Template 3:

“Have you ever wondered…”

Example : “Have you ever wondered what it would take to reduce your carbon footprint to zero?”

4. Statistical Hook

Kick off with a startling statistic that presents a fresh perspective or underscores the importance of your topic.

Example Introduction Template 4:

“Did you know that…”

Example : “Did you know that 90% of the world’s data was generated in the last two years alone?”

5. Anecdotal Method

Share a brief, relatable incident that highlights the human aspect of your topic. It paves the way for empathy and connection.

Example Introduction Template 5:

“I want to share a quick anecdote…”

Example : “I want to share a quick anecdote about a time I experienced the customer service that went above and beyond what anyone would expect.”

How to Start a Powerpoint Presentation: 45 Example Phrases

Starting a PowerPoint presentation effectively can captivate your audience and set the tone for your message. The opening phrases you choose are important in establishing rapport and commanding attention. Whether you’re presenting to colleagues, at a conference, or in an academic setting, these phrases will help you begin with confidence and poise:

• 1. “Good morning/afternoon/evening, everyone. Thank you for joining me today.”
• 2. “Welcome, and thank you for being here. Let’s dive into our topic.”
• 3. “I’m excited to have the opportunity to present to you all about…”
• 4. “Thank you all for coming. Today, we’re going to explore…”
• 5. “Let’s begin by looking at the most important question: Why are we here today?”
• 6. “I appreciate your time today, and I promise it will be well spent as we discuss…”
• 7. “Before we get started, I want to express my gratitude for your presence here today.”
• 8. “It’s a pleasure to see so many familiar faces as we gather to talk about…”
• 9. “I’m thrilled to kick off today’s presentation on a topic that I am passionate about—…”
• 10. “Welcome to our session. I’m confident you’ll find the next few minutes informative as we cover…”
• 11. “Let’s embark on a journey through our discussion on…”
• 12. “I’m delighted to have the chance to share my insights on…”
• 13. “Thank you for the opportunity to present to such an esteemed audience on…”
• 14. “Let’s set the stage for an engaging discussion about…”
• 15. “As we begin, I’d like you to consider this:…”
• 16. “Today marks an important discussion on a subject that affects us all:…”
• 17. “Good day, and welcome to what promises to be an enlightening presentation on…”
• 18. “Hello and welcome! We’re here to delve into something truly exciting today…”
• 19. “I’m honored to present to you this comprehensive look into…”
• 20. “Without further ado, let’s get started on a journey through…”
• 21. “Thank you for carving time out of your day to join me for this presentation on…”
• 22. “It’s wonderful to see such an engaged audience ready to tackle the topic of…”
• 23. “I invite you to join me as we unpack the complexities of…”
• 24. “Today’s presentation will take us through some groundbreaking ideas about…”
• 25. “Welcome aboard! Prepare to set sail into the vast sea of knowledge on…”
• 26. “I’d like to extend a warm welcome to everyone as we focus our attention on…”
• 27. “Let’s ignite our curiosity as we begin to explore…”
• 28. “Thank you for your interest and attention as we dive into the heart of…”
• 29. “As we look ahead to the next hour, we’ll uncover the secrets of…”
• 30. “I’m eager to share with you some fascinating insights on…”
• 31. “Welcome to what I believe will be a transformative discussion on…”
• 32. “This morning/afternoon, we’ll be venturing into the world of…”
• 33. “Thank you for joining me on this exploration of…”
• 34. “I’m delighted by the turnout today as we embark on this exploration of…”
• 35. “Together, let’s navigate the intricacies of…”
• 36. “I’m looking forward to engaging with you all on the subject of…”
• 37. “Let’s kick things off with a critical look at…”
• 38. “Thank you for your presence today as we shine a light on…”
• 39. “Welcome to a comprehensive overview of…”
• 40. “It’s a privilege to discuss with you the impact of…”
• 41. “I’m glad you could join us for what promises to be a thought-provoking presentation on…”
• 42. “Today, we’re going to break down the concept of…”
• 43. “As we get started, let’s consider the significance of our topic:…”
• 44. “I’m thrilled to lead you through today’s discussion, which centers around…”
• 45. “Let’s launch into our session with an eye-opening look at…”

Starting a Presentation: 45 Examples

Connecting with the audience.

When starting a presentation, making a genuine connection with your audience sets the stage for a successful exchange of ideas. Examples:

• “I promise, by the end of this presentation, you’ll be as enthusiastic about this as I am because…”
• “The moment I learned about this, I knew it would be a game-changer and I’m thrilled to present it to you…”
• “There’s something special about this topic that I find incredibly invigorating, and I hope you will too…”
• “I get a rush every time I work on this, and I hope to transmit that energy to you today…”
• “I’m thrilled to discuss this breakthrough that could revolutionize…”
• “This project has been a labor of love, and I’m eager to walk you through…”
• “When I first encountered this challenge, I was captivated by the possibilities it presented…”
• “I can’t wait to dive into the details of this innovative approach with you today…”
• “It’s genuinely exhilarating to be at the edge of what’s possible in…”
• “My fascination with [topic] drove me to explore it further, and I’m excited to share…”
• “Nothing excites me more than talking about the future of…”
• “Seeing your faces, I know we’re going to have a lively discussion about…”
• “The potential here is incredible, and I’m looking forward to discussing it with you…”
• “Let’s embark on this journey together and explore why this is such a pivotal moment for…”
• “Your engagement in this discussion is going to make this even more exciting because…”

Building Credibility

You present with credibility when you establish your expertise and experience on the subject matter. Here’s what you can say to accomplish that:

• “With a decade of experience in this field, I’ve come to understand the intricacies of…”
• “Having led multiple successful projects, I’m excited to share my insights on…”
• “Over the years, working closely with industry experts, I’ve gleaned…”
• “I hold a degree in [your field], which has equipped me with a foundation for…”
• “I’m a certified professional in [your certification], which means I bring a certain level of expertise…”
• “Having published research on this topic, my perspective is grounded in…”
• “I’ve been a keynote speaker at several conferences, discussing…”
• “Throughout my career, I’ve contributed to groundbreaking work in…”
• “My experience as a [your previous role] has given me a unique outlook on…”
• “Endorsed by [an authority in your field], I’m here to share what we’ve achieved…”
• “The program I developed was recognized by [award], highlighting its impact in…”
• “I’ve trained professionals nationwide on this subject and witnessed…”
• “Collaborating with renowned teams, we’ve tackled challenges like…”
• “I’ve been at the forefront of this industry, navigating through…”
• “As a panelist, I’ve debated this topic with some of the brightest minds in…”

Projecting Confidence

• “I stand before you today with a deep understanding of…”
• “You can rely on the information I’m about to share, backed by thorough research and analysis…”
• “Rest assured, the strategies we’ll discuss have been tested and proven effective in…”
• “I’m certain you’ll find the data I’ll present both compelling and relevant because…”
• “I’m fully confident in the recommendations I’m providing today due to…”
• “The results speak for themselves, and I’m here to outline them clearly for you…”
• “I invite you to consider the evidence I’ll present; it’s both robust and persuasive…”
• “You’re in good hands today; I’ve navigated these waters many times and have the insights to prove it…”
• “I assure you, the journey we’ll take during this presentation will be enlightening because…”
• “Your success is important to me, which is why I’ve prepared diligently for our time together…”
• “Let’s look at the facts; they’ll show you why this approach is solid and dependable…”
• “Today, I present to you a clear path forward, grounded in solid experience and knowledge…”
• “I’m confident that what we’ll uncover today will not only inform but also inspire you because…”
• “You’ll leave here equipped with practical, proven solutions that you can trust because…”
• “The solution I’m proposing has been embraced industry-wide, and for good reason…”

Organizational Preview

Starting your presentation with a clear organizational preview can effectively guide your audience through the content. This section helps you prepare to communicate the roadmap of your presentation.

Outlining the Main Points

You should begin by briefly listing the main points you’ll cover. This lets your audience know what to expect and helps them follow along. For example, if you’re presenting on healthy eating, you might say, “Today, I’ll cover the benefits of healthy eating, essential nutrients in your diet, and simple strategies for making healthier choices.”

Setting the Tone

Your introduction sets the tone for the entire presentation. A way to do this is through a relevant story or anecdote that engages the audience. Suppose you’re talking about innovation; you might start with, “When I was a child, I was fascinated by how simple Legos could build complex structures, which is much like the innovation process.”

Explaining the Structure

Explain the structure of your presentation so that your audience can anticipate how you’ll transition from one section to the next. For instance, if your presentation includes an interactive portion, you might say, “I’ll begin with a 15-minute overview, followed by a hands-on demonstration, and we’ll wrap up with a Q&A session, where you can ask any questions.”

Practice and Preparation

Before you step onto the stage, it’s important that your preparation includes not just content research, but also rigorous practice and strategy for dealing with nerves. This approach ensures you present with confidence and clarity.

Rehearsing the Opening

Practicing your introduction aloud gives you the opportunity to refine your opening remarks. You might start by greeting the audience and sharing an interesting quote or a surprising statistic related to your topic. For example, if your presentation is about the importance of renewable energy, you could begin with a recent statistic about the growth in solar energy adoption. Record yourself and listen to the playback, focusing on your tone, pace, and clarity.

Memorizing Key Points

While you don’t need to memorize your entire presentation word for word, you should know the key points by heart. This includes main arguments, data, and any conclusions you’ll be drawing. You can use techniques such as mnemonics or the method of loci, which means associating each key point with a specific location in your mind, to help remember these details. Having them at your fingertips will make you feel more prepared and confident.

Managing Presentation Jitters

Feeling nervous before a presentation is natural, but you can manage these jitters with a few techniques. Practice deep breathing exercises or mindful meditation to calm your mind before going on stage. You can also perform a mock presentation to a group of friends or colleagues to simulate the experience and receive feedback. This will not only help you get used to speaking in front of others but also in adjusting your material based on their reactions.

Engagement Strategies

Starting a presentation on the right foot often depends on how engaged your audience is. Using certain strategies, you can grab their attention early and maintain their interest throughout your talk:

1. Encouraging Audience Participation

Opening your presentation with a question to your audience is a great way to encourage participation. This invites them to think actively about the subject matter. For instance, you might ask, “By a show of hands, how many of you have experienced…?” Additionally, integrating interactive elements like quick polls or requesting volunteers for a demonstration can make the experience more dynamic and memorable.

Using direct questions throughout your presentation ensures the audience stays alert, as they might be called upon to share their views. For example, after covering a key point, you might engage your audience with, “Does anyone have an experience to share related to this?”

2. Utilizing Pacing and Pauses

Mastering the pace of your speech helps keep your presentation lively. Quickening the pace when discussing exciting developments or slowing down when explaining complex ideas can help maintain interest. For example, when introducing a new concept, slow your pace to allow the audience to absorb the information.

Pauses are equally powerful. A well-timed pause after a key point gives the audience a moment to ponder the significance of what you’ve just said. It might feel like this: “The results of this study were groundbreaking. (pause) They completely shifted our understanding of…”. Pauses also give you a moment to collect your thoughts, adding to your overall composure and control of the room.

How should one introduce their group during a presentation?

You might say something like, “Let me introduce my amazing team: Alex, our researcher, Jamie, our designer, and Sam, the developer. Together, we’ve spent the last few months creating something truly special for you.”

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PowerPoint Presentation Best Practices: The Presentation: Public Speaking

• Slide Content
• The Presentation: Public Speaking
• Tips & Resources

Don’t talk too fast. You may want to get your presentation over with, but pace yourself. Otherwise, it'll be hard to understand you. But definitely don't go over your allotted time, or people will start to zone out.

Try an Anecdote

When people hear a speech, they don't usually recall the data afterwards. Try using an anecdote—a quick interesting story—that gets your point across and makes it memorable.

If someone asks a question, remember to be courteous and thank your classmate or instructor for the question. If someone challenges your presentation, your instinct might be to become defensive. But remain calm, take a second, and then give your reasoning for why you stand by your presentation, restating your thesis if need be.

"But what do I do with my hands?!" (Body Language)

Try not to cross your arms, wring your hands, or clutch them together. You'll seem nervous (which of course you are, but they don't need to know that). Try putting a hand in your pocket or on your hip, or use a hand to gesture, or use one hand to hold (not clutch!) your cue cards. Stand up straight with your shoulders pushed back slightly— you'll look taller, cool, and knowledgeable. If you're feeling confident, step away from the podium. All the great presenters walk around the stage like they own it (think Steve Jobs). And of course there's eye contact...

You're a Human Being, Not a Robot

You want to enunciate your words, but without sounding robotic. Here's how: don't read from cue cards you wrote your speech on, word for word . Take it from me, and my personal experience. You think you're being sly, but everyone knows you're basically reading out loud, no matter how often you try to lift your head up to make brief eye contact. You just end up looking like a bobble head. (Or Ross from Friends — see clip below.) Try using cue cards with bullet points for each point you need to make, with key words or phrases—not full sentences, or you'll be tempted to read from it.

Practice, Practice, Practice!

Not sounding like a robot is where practice comes in. You need to be familiar with your own presentation, so you don't end up with your nose in your cue cards. Trust me; your presentation will seem so much more natural and you'll seem super confident and extroverted. And the rest of your class will be receptive to that, and pay more attention. Don't sweat! Just practice, take deep breaths, and feel free to make an (appropriate) joke or anecdote to break the ice.

What did you notice about Ross's presentation?

(He was reading from the cue cards in full sentences, which threw off his eye contact and his ability to sound like a normal human being. Even practice won't help that!)

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• Last Updated: Dec 8, 2023 12:36 PM
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Using PowerPoint or Prezi Effectively

Using powerpoint or prezi effectively  (view pdf) .

Powerpoint and Prezi presentations are meant to serve as visual aids that can enhance audience engagement and their understanding of your speech. These 10 tips will set you on the path to presentation success.

Best Practices

• Only use bullet points . You should not have full sentences on PowerPoint or Prezi because they distract from your speech and you want your audience to listen, not read. Use short fragments or keywords to keep your presentation organized.
• Have a backbone slide . Have a slide that demonstrates the direction your presentation will have by outlining the major elements of your speech.
• Use Animations VERY carefully.  It may look nice, but it can also be a distraction. Only use them if they play an essential role in your presentation (such as concealing a bullet point for a later point in the presentation).
• Make sure the text is visible.  Your text should be large enough to be visible from the back of the room for someone with average eye sight. Sometimes, the text may get lost in the background of the slide (especially if the background includes a picture) or the text color is too close to the background color. Be sure to avoid red/green and blue/yellow color schemes as people with colorblindness may not be able to differentiate the text from the background.
• Keep the focus where you want it.  If you are going to incorporate a graph or a quote into your presentation, be sure to have a slide with only the graph or quote, allowing you to speak about it to your audience and to use it as a reference. If you use an image, you should generally limit yourself to one image per slide.
• Cite your sources . For many of your presentations, you will be using outside sources. If so, be sure to cite them in the proper format on the last slide or throughout your presentation. For pictures, include an indication of the source next to the image. Be sure the pictures you chose are freely available for use. See creativecommons.org for great searching tools.
• Show a slide when it’s relevant. Use black screen or a blank slide to hide slides you’re not ready to show the audience. If you are going to speak for any length of time without a relevant slide, add a slide to your presentation that is simply black. You can keep your audience’s focus on you rather than on the slides.
• Provide a warning when necessary. If you are using graphic images that may seem unsettling to members of your audience, be sure to let them know before revealing the image(s).
• Have a backup. Sometimes you lose wifi access and sometimes your USB drive suddenly stops working. Be prepared by being able to access the presentation in multiple ways (e.g., have a copy in your email and on your laptop that you bring with you).
•   Do not depend on the PowerPoint or Prezi. Technical difficulties occur all the time, so you may have to deliver your presentation without a PowerPoint. Also, you should not have to read off the PowerPoint or Prezi. Remember: you are the expert on the subject!

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Dictate your presentations and slide notes in PowerPoint

Dictation lets you use speech-to-text to author content in Office with a microphone and reliable internet connection. It's a quick and easy way to add content into presentation placeholders and slide notes.

How to use Dictation

Sign in to your Microsoft account using Edge, Firefox, or Chrome.

Wait for the button to turn on and start listening.

Move your cursor to a placeholder or to the slide notes and start speaking to see text appear.

Insert punctuation at any time by saying them explicitly.

Fix mistakes with your keyboard without having to toggle the mic icon off.

Punctuation

• Select your language

Mathematics

Emoji/faces

While dictating

Tip:  * To resume dictation, use the keyboard shortcut ALT + ' or press the Mic icon in the floating dictation menu.

Spoken languages supported

By default, Dictation is set to your document language in Office.

We are actively working to improve these languages and add more locales and languages.

Supported Languages

Chinese (China)

English (Australia)

English (Canada)

English (India)

English (United Kingdom)

English (United States)

French (Canada)

French (France)

German (Germany)

Italian (Italy)

Portuguese (Brazil)

Spanish (Spain)

Spanish (Mexico)

Preview languages *

Arabic (Bahrain)

Arabic (Egypt)

Arabic (Saudi Arabia)

Chinese (Traditional, Hong Kong)

Chinese (Taiwan)

Croatian (Croatia)

Dutch (Netherlands)

English (New Zealand)

Gujarati (India)

Marathi (India)

Norwegian (Bokmål)

Portuguese (Portugal)

Swedish (Sweden)

Tamil (India)

Telugu (India)

Turkish (Turkey)

* Preview Languages may have lower accuracy or limited punctuation support.

This service does not store your audio data or transcribed text.

Your speech utterances will be sent to Microsoft and used only to provide you with text results.

For more information about experiences that analyze your content, see Connected Experiences in Office .

Troubleshooting

Can't find the dictate button

If you can't see the button to start dictation:

check if you are on the new Edge, Firefox, or Chrome.

make sure you're signed in with your Microsoft account.

on Windows: make sure you have Windows 10 or above.

Dictate button is grayed out

If you see the dictate button is grayed out:

make sure the document is not in a Read-Only state.

Microphone doesn't have access

If you see "Please check your audio settings" or "We don’t have access to your microphone":

make sure no other application or web page is using the microphone and try again.

Microphone isn't working

If you see "There is a problem with your microphone" or "We can’t detect your microphone":

make sure the microphone is plugged in.

test the microphone to make sure it's working.

on Windows 10: check the microphone settings in Control Panel.

on Windows 10: also see How to set up and test microphones in Windows 10.

on a Surface running Windows 10: Adjust microphone settings.

Dictation can't hear you

If you see "Dictation can't hear you" or if nothing appears on the screen as you dictate:

make sure your microphone is not muted.

adjust the input level of your microphone.

move to a quieter location.

if using a built-in mic, consider trying again with a headset or external mic.

Accuracy issues or missed words

If you see a lot of incorrect words being output or missed words:

make sure you're on a fast and reliable internet connection.

avoid or eliminate background noise that may interfere with your voice.

try speaking more deliberately.

check to see if the microphone you are using needs to be upgraded.

Move your cursor to a placeholder to the slide notes and start speaking to see text appear.

Fix mistakes with keyboard without having to toggle the mic icon off.

Tip:  You can also move your cursor to a new comment to dictate feedback for others.

Dictate is not available in Office 2016 or 2019 without Microsoft 365 .

make sure you have Windows 10 or above.

Make sure the document is not in a Read-Only state.

If you see "We don’t have access to your microphone":

check the microphone settings in Control Panel.

also see How to set up and test microphones in Windows 10

on a Surface running Windows 10: Adjust microphone settings

Need more help?

Want more options.

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

Microsoft 365 subscription benefits

Microsoft 365 training

Microsoft security

Accessibility center

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.

Ask the Microsoft Community

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How to Add Text-to-Speech in PowerPoint: A Step-by-Step Guide

Adding text-to-speech to PowerPoint presentations is a nifty feature that allows your slides to be more accessible and engaging. Simply go to the ‘Insert’ tab, select ‘Audio’ and then ‘Text-to-Speech’ to add a spoken version of your text. You can choose from different voices and adjust the speed to suit your needs.

Once you’ve added text-to-speech to your PowerPoint, your slides will now have an audio feature that reads the text aloud to your audience. This is especially useful for those who may have difficulty reading or for presentations that will be viewed without a presenter.

Introduction

Talking about presentations, have you ever thought of making your PowerPoint slides talk? Literally! In this digitized era, accessibility is key, and one way to enhance your PowerPoint presentations is by adding text-to-speech (TTS). TTS is an assistive technology that reads digital text aloud, and it’s a game-changer for creating inclusive content. It’s beneficial for individuals with visual impairments, reading difficulties, or those who prefer auditory learning. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to give your presentation a voice when you can’t be there in person.

But why is this important? Well, think about it. We live in a world where content is consumed in various ways. By adding TTS to your PowerPoint presentations, you’re making sure that your content is accessible to a wider audience. This feature is not just for those with disabilities; it’s for everyone. It’s for the multitasker who listens to your presentation while doing something else, or the non-native speaker who benefits from hearing the pronunciation of words. It’s for the educator who wants to provide different ways for students to engage with material, or the professional who wants to add a touch of innovation to their slides. So, let’s dive in and learn how to give your PowerPoint presentations their own voice!

Step by Step Tutorial: How to Add Text-to-Speech in PowerPoint

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, understand that by following these steps, you’ll be able to add audio to your PowerPoint slides that will read the text you select. This will not only make your slides more dynamic but also more inclusive.

Step 1: Open PowerPoint and select the slide

Open your PowerPoint presentation and click on the slide where you want to add text-to-speech.

Choosing the right slide is crucial because the TTS audio will be associated with that particular slide. If you have a lot of text, consider breaking it up across multiple slides to make it easier for your audience to follow along.

Step 2: Go to the ‘Insert’ tab

Navigate to the ‘Insert’ tab on the PowerPoint ribbon, which is at the top of the screen.

The ‘Insert’ tab is where the magic happens. It’s where you can add all sorts of elements to your slides, from images to videos, and yes, TTS audio.

Step 3: Select ‘Audio’ then ‘Text-to-Speech’

Click on ‘Audio’ in the media section of the tab, and then choose ‘Text-to-Speech’ from the dropdown menu.

By selecting ‘Text-to-Speech,’ you’re telling PowerPoint that you want to convert your selected text into spoken words. It’s pretty cool!

Step 4: Highlight the text you want to read aloud

Once the TTS window opens, highlight the text on the slide that you want to convert to speech.

Be selective with the text you choose. Remember, you want your TTS to complement your presentation, not dominate it.

Step 5: Choose the voice and speed

In the TTS window, select the voice and speed you want for the audio. You can preview it to make sure it sounds just right.

This is where you can personalize the TTS feature to match the tone and pace of your presentation. Play around with the different options to find the perfect fit.

Step 6: Insert the audio

After you’re satisfied with the TTS, click ‘Insert’ and the audio will be added to your slide.

Voilà! You’ve now added a voice to your PowerPoint slide. You can move the audio icon around and hide it behind images or off the slide if you prefer a cleaner look.

Additional Information

When it comes to adding text-to-speech in PowerPoint, there are a few additional tips and insights that can enhance your experience. First off, not all versions of PowerPoint have the TTS feature built-in. If you’re using an older version, you might need to upgrade or find a third-party TTS plugin. Also, consider the language and clarity of your text. Since TTS reads exactly what’s written, ensure your text is clear, concise, and free of jargon that might confuse the TTS software.

Furthermore, practice good design principles when using TTS. Since the audio will draw attention to the text, make sure it’s easy to read and visually appealing. Use bullet points, short sentences, and avoid cluttering the slide with too much information. Remember, the goal is to enhance your presentation, not overwhelm your audience.

Lastly, always test your TTS before presenting. This will help you catch any errors, adjust the volume, and ensure the pacing is right. Consider the environment where your presentation will be viewed. Will there be noise interference? Will the audience have headphones? All these factors can affect how well your TTS is received. By paying attention to these details, you ensure that your message is heard loud and clear.

• Open PowerPoint and select the slide.
• Go to the ‘Insert’ tab.
• Select ‘Audio’ then ‘Text-to-Speech’.
• Highlight the text for TTS.
• Choose the voice and speed.
• Insert the audio into your slide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i customize the voice in text-to-speech.

Yes, you can choose from different voices provided by PowerPoint to find one that suits your presentation.

What if my PowerPoint version doesn’t have text-to-speech?

You may need to upgrade to a newer version or find a third-party TTS plugin compatible with PowerPoint.

Can I adjust the speed of the text-to-speech?

Absolutely, you have control over how fast or slow the TTS reads your text.

Will text-to-speech work with any text on my slide?

TTS will read any text that you highlight and choose to convert. However, keep in mind any limitations in text length.

Is there a way to test the text-to-speech before presenting?

Yes, you can preview the TTS in PowerPoint and make adjustments as needed before finalizing your presentation.

PowerPoint has come a long way, and with the text-to-speech feature, it’s making strides in accessibility and versatility. Whether you’re an educator, professional, or just someone who loves to create dynamic presentations, adding TTS is a step towards making your content more inclusive and engaging.

Remember, the goal is to communicate effectively, and by giving your slides a voice, you’re ensuring that your message is not just seen but also heard. So, go ahead, explore this feature, and let your PowerPoint presentations speak for themselves!

Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.

After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.

His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.

Read his full bio here.

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How to Give a Speech With PowerPoint

When preparing a speech for your small business, you often feel pressure to make every last detail of the presentation perfect. PowerPoint helps you create accompanying slides for your speech. Used well, the slides enhance the speech's impact on your audience. Used poorly, a PowerPoint presentation overwhelms your speech, reducing its effectiveness and leaving your audience distracted and dissatisfied. Identify your speech's key points to carefully craft a supporting PowerPoint presentation.

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Begin by preparing your speech and then basing your PowerPoint presentation on it, rather than the reverse. PowerPoint's features add value and interest to your speech, but don't the slides themselves become something without which your speech wouldn't exist.

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Keep your PowerPoint presentation simple. Maintain your audience's focus on the presentation, rather than simply reading the screen behind you and ignoring those to whom you are presenting.

Use as few slides as possible. Include only the bare bones of your speech, along with any supporting material that is better shown than described, such as product photos or charts.

Insert black slides into your presentation. These slides transition between the content you've covered on the last slide and the content on the following slide. Inserting a black slide shifts your audience's focus back to you, increasing the effectiveness of your speech.

Advance the presentation to the next slide or pause it automatically. If you walk back and forth from your speaking location in the room to your computer, you create unnatural or uncomfortable pauses in your speech. Use either a remote to control the computer, enlist help or simply position your computer so that you can reach the mouse without moving or bending over.

Practice your speech until you have the speech memorized and you no longer need the PowerPoint presentation to deliver it. If a technical issue occurs that stops your PowerPoint slides from working, you can still present the speech and leave copies of the slides or have them delivered at a later point.

• Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs: Thoughts on using PowerPoint Effectively
• Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs: Tips on using Microsoft PowerPoint

200 Topics for 5-Minute Presentations

As a presenter, having a variety of brief yet captivating topics is key to engaging your audience effectively. Explore these 200 topics for 5-Minute Presentations to ensure your next speaking engagement is both dynamic and memorable!

• The Importance of Time Management Skills
• The Impact of Social Media on Society
• The Benefits of Reading Daily
• How to Cultivate Healthy Eating Habits
• The Significance of Renewable Energy
• The Psychology behind Procrastination
• The Role of Technology in Education
• The Art of Public Speaking
• The History of the Internet
• The Effects of Globalization
• The Power of Positive Thinking
• Climate Change and Its Consequences
• The Evolution of Artificial Intelligence
• Overcoming the Fear of Failure
• The Basics of Personal Finance
• The Importance of Work-Life Balance
• The Future of Telecommunication
• The Rise of Veganism
• The Significance of Cultural Diversity
• Understanding Body Language
• The Influence of Music on Mood
• The Ethics of Genetic Engineering
• The Growth of E-commerce
• The Benefits of Yoga and Meditation
• The Impact of Tourism on Local Communities
• The Role of Women in History
• The Dangers of Texting and Driving
• The Process of Goal Setting
• The Value of Teamwork
• The Mystery of the Bermuda Triangle
• The Science behind Sleep
• The Truth about Multitasking
• Self-Defense Basics Everyone Should Know
• The Power of Gratitude
• The Effects of Stress on Health
• The Principles of Minimalism
• The History of Olympic Games
• The Importance of Conserving Water
• The Theory of Multiple Intelligences
• The Impact of Fast Fashion
• The Role of Parents in Child Development
• The Rising Trend of Digital Detox
• The Significance of the Rosetta Stone
• The Process of Making Coffee
• The Intergenerational Gap in Technology Use
• The Fascinating World of Bees
• The Essentials of Cybersecurity
• The Benefits of Learning a Second Language
• The Mysteries of the Deep Sea
• The Pros and Cons of Freelancing
• The Contributions of Leonardo da Vinci
• The Importance of Civic Engagement
• The History of Comic Books
• The Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate
• The Basics of Origami
• The Psychological Effects of Social Isolation
• The Influence of Cartoons on Children
• The Basics of Investing in Stocks
• The Beauty of Haiku Poetry
• The Science of Happiness
• The Environmental Impact of Plastic Bags
• The Advantages of Remote Work
• The Tradition of Afternoon Tea
• The Potential of 3D Printing
• The History of Morse Code
• The Foundations of Democracy
• The Cultural Significance of Tattoos
• The Secrets of Ancient Egyptian Pyramids
• The Impact of Drones on Privacy and Security
• The Art of Japanese Garden Design
• The Challenge of Antibiotic Resistance
• The Wonders of the Aurora Borealis
• The History of Chess
• The Basics of Calligraphy
• The Role of Antibodies in Immunity
• The Phenomenon of Urban Exploration
• The Value of Good Listening Skills
• The Implications of Virtual Reality
• The Benefits of Community Gardens
• The Life and Legacy of Nelson Mandela
• The Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright
• The History of the English Language
• The Mystery of Dark Matter
• The Significance of the Great Wall of China
• The Rise of Subscription Box Services
• The Future of Drones in Delivery Services
• The Evolution of Video Games
• The Ethical Dilemmas of Autonomous Vehicles
• The Healing Power of Pets
• The Origins of Common Superstitions
• The Significance of the Human Genome Project
• The Benefits of Intermittent Fasting
• The Controversy Surrounding Designer Babies
• The Importance of Bees in Pollination
• The Future of Space Exploration
• The Role of Microbes in Human Health
• The Art and Science of Photography
• The Phenomenon of Tidal Waves and Tsunamis
• The Importance of Coral Reefs
• The History of Halloween
• The Future of Smart Homes
• The Legacy of Ancient Rome
• The Science of Forensic Analysis
• The Impact of Overfishing on Marine Life
• The Benefits and Challenges of Solar Energy
• The Key to Effective Communication
• The Importance of Biodiversity
• The Ethics of Animal Testing
• The Influence of Advertising on Consumer Behavior
• The Legacy of Steve Jobs and Apple
• The Dangers of Artificial Sweeteners
• The Relevance of the United Nations Today
• The Rise of Augmented Reality
• The Fascination with True Crime Stories
• The Basics of Gardening
• The Psychological Impact of Color
• The Architecture of Antoni Gaudi
• The Changing Landscape of News Media
• The Value of Historical Fiction
• The Potential of Hydroponic Farming
• The Principles of Sustainable Living
• The Role of Coding in Modern Education
• The Benefits of Green Spaces in Urban Areas
• The Significance of the Silk Road
• The Art of Making Sourdough Bread
• The Contributions of Sir Isaac Newton
• The Rise of Influencer Marketing
• The Impact of Noise Pollution
• The Power of Mindfulness
• The Secrets of Memory Champions
• The History of Sudoku
• The Cause and Effect of Urban Sprawl
• The Ethics of Cloning
• The Phenomenon of Bioluminescence
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• The Decline of Bee Populations and Its Impact
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Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Public Speaking and Presentations

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

Public Speaking and Presentations: Tips for Success

This resource includes tips and suggestions for improving your public speaking skills.

Even if you’ve never spoken in front of a large group before, chances are you will encounter public speaking sometime during your life. Whether you’re giving a presentation for your classmates or addressing local politicians at a city council meeting, public speaking allows you to convey your thoughts and feelings in clear ways. Having the right tools can prepare you for successful public speaking and equip you with high-quality communication skills.

Know Your Audience

Different audiences require different modes of public speaking. How you address a room full of preschoolers will vary from how you address a group of professors at an academic conference. Not only will your vocabulary change, but you might alter your pacing and tone as well.

Knowing your audience also helps you decide the content of your speech. For example, if you’re presenting research to a group of scientists, you might not need to define all your scientific language. However, if you present that same research to a group of individuals who are unfamiliar with your scientific field, you may need to define your terms or use simpler language.

Recognizing the extent to which your audience is familiar with your topic helps you center your presentation around the most important elements and avoid wasting time on information your audience either 1) already knows or 2) does not need to know for the purpose of your speech.

Knowing your audience also means tailoring your information to them. Try to keep things straight and to the point; leave out extraneous anecdotes and irrelevant statistics.

Establish Your Ethos and Feel Confident in Your Subject

It’s important to let your audience know what authority you have over your subject matter. If it’s clear you are familiar with your subject and have expertise, your audience is more likely to trust what you say.

Feeling confident in your subject matter will help establish your ethos. Rather than simply memorizing the content on your PowerPoint slides or your note cards, consider yourself a “mini expert” on your topic. Read up on information related to your topic and anticipate questions from the audience. You might want to prepare a few additional examples to use if people ask follow-up questions. Being able to elaborate on your talking points will help you stay calm during a Q & A section of your presentation.

Stick to a Few Main Points

Organizing your information in a logical way not only helps you keep track of what you’re saying, but it helps your audience follow along as well. Try to emphasize a few main points in your presentation and return to them before you conclude. Summarizing your information at the end of your presentation allows your audience to walk away with a clear sense of the most important facts.

For example, if you gave a presentation on the pros and cons of wind energy in Indiana, you would first want to define wind energy to make sure you and your audience are on the same page. You might also want to give a brief history of wind energy to give context before you go into the pros and cons. From there, you could list a few pros and a few cons. Finally, you could speculate on the future of wind energy and whether Indiana could provide adequate land and infrastructure to sustain wind turbines. To conclude, restate a few of the main points (most likely the pros and cons) and end with the most important takeaway you want the audience to remember about wind energy in Indiana.

Don't be Afraid to Show Your Personality

Delivering information without any sort of flourish or style can be boring. Allowing your personality to show through your speaking keeps you feeling relaxed and natural. Even if you’re speaking about something very scientific or serious, look for ways to let your personality come through your speech.

For example, when Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek announced in March of 2019 that he had stage 4 pancreatic cancer, he still let his trademark dignity and professionalism set the tone for his address. He began his announcement by saying “it’s in keeping with my long-time policy of being open and transparent with our Jeopardy! fan base.” Later, he joked that he would need to overcome his illness in order to fulfill his contract, whose terms required him to host the show for three more years. Though the nature of Trebek's announcement could easily have justified a grim, serious tone, the host instead opted to display the charm that has made him a household name for almost thirty-five years. In doing so, he reminded his audience precisely why he is so well-loved.

Use Humor (When Appropriate)

Using humor at appropriate moments can keep your audience engaged and entertained. While not all occasions are appropriate for humor, look for moments where you can lighten the mood and add some humor.

For example, just two months after the assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan, Reagan was in the middle of giving a speech when a balloon loudly popped while he was speaking. Reagan paused his speech to say “missed me,” then immediately continued speaking. This off-the-cuff humor worked because it was appropriate, spontaneous, and did not really distract from his message.

Similarly, at the end of his final White House Correspondents Dinner, Barack Obama concluded his speech by saying “Obama out” and dropping the mic. Once again, the humor did not distract from his message, but it did provide a light-hearted shift in his tone.  

Don't Let Visual Aids Distract From Your Presentation

Visual aids, such as PowerPoints or handouts, often go alongside presentations. When designing visual aids, be sure they do not distract from the content of your speech. Having too many pictures or animations can cause audience members to pay more attention to the visuals rather than what you’re saying.

However, if you present research that relies on tables or figures, having many images may help your audience better visualize the research you discuss. Be aware of the ways different types of presentations demand different types of visual aids.

Be Aware of Your Body Language

When it comes to giving a presentation, nonverbal communication is equally as important as what you’re saying. Having the appropriate posture, gestures, and movement complement the spoken element of your presentation. Below are a few simple strategies to make you appear more confident and professional.

Having confident posture can make or break a presentation. Stand up straight with your shoulders back and your arms at your sides. Slouching or crossing your arms over your chest makes you appear smaller and more insecure. However, be sure you’re not too rigid. Just because you’re standing up tall does not mean you cannot move around.

Eye contact

Making eye contact with your audience not only makes them feel connected to you but it also lets you gauge their response to you. Try to look around the room and connect with different audience members so you’re not staring at the same people the whole time. If you notice your audience starting to nod off, it might be a good time to change your tone or up your energy. 

Avoid distracting or compulsive gestures

While hand gestures can help point out information in a slide or on a poster, large or quick gestures can be distracting. When using gestures, try to make them feel like a normal part of your presentation.

It’s also easy to slip into nervous gestures while presenting. Things like twirling your hair or wringing your hands can be distracting to your audience. If you know you do something like this, try to think hard about not doing it while you’re presenting.

Travel (if possible)

If you are presenting on a stage, walking back and forth can help you stay relaxed and look natural. However, be sure you’re walking slowly and confidently and you’re using an appropriate posture (described above). Try to avoid pacing, which can make you appear nervous or compulsive.

Rehearse (if Possible)

The difference between knowing your subject and rehearsing comes down to how you ultimately present your information. The more you rehearse, the more likely you are to eliminate filler words such as like and um . If possible, try practicing with a friend and have them use count the filler words you use. You can also record yourself and play back the video. The more you rehearse, the more confident you will feel when it comes time to actually speak in front of an audience.

Finally, Relax!

Although public speaking takes time and preparation, perhaps one of the most important points is to relax while you’re speaking. Delivering your information in a stiff way prevents you from appearing natural and letting your personality come through. The more relaxed you feel, the more confident your information will come across.

Presentation templates

Captivate your audience with customizable business presentation templates. whether you're pitching clients, wooing investors, or showing off your latest wins, there are presentation templates that'll suit your next meeting..

Free slide templates for presentations

Presentation decks can make or break your speech—don't risk boring or unprofessional slides distracting from your message. Set yourself up for success with free, eye-catching presentation templates that don't require graphic design skills to use. Whether you're pitching to investors or sharing a class project, using presentation templates allows you to focus on the content of your work without worrying about the design. Explore presentation templates for pitch decks, annual reviews, and conference slides, and get ready to wow your audience. Choose a presentation template and customize it with your business's branding and logo. If you work in a creative field, don't shy away from bold designs and vivid colors . Presentation templates offer versatile options for personalizing—get creative by customizing your template or opt for adding your own text to existing designs. When you use a template at your next meeting, you'll turn a simple presentation into an opportunity to impress. To make presenting even easier, you can download your template in a variety of formats, like PowerPoint and PDF, or share it digitally with your colleagues.

How to Enable Text-To-Speech in PowerPoint

Text-to-speech (TTS) technology enables software and applications to play back written text as human spoken words. You can use PowerPoint to make a speech every time you highlight a text on the screen or slide. In other words, you can hear most text on your screen in Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, OneNote and Microsoft Office programs.

To enable text-to-speech in PowerPoint, you can add the command to the Quick Access toolbar. Right-click on the top of the Quick Access toolbar to configure it.

Then, you will see Quick Access Toolbar options and choose All Commands from the top list. Then you can look for Speak command and add it to the right select list. This is the list of active Quick Access Toolbar commands.

You can also use text-to-speech in different languages, but for this purpose you will need to enable the Multilingual TTS.

Pro Tip: If instead of using text to speech you need to tell PowerPoint what to write in the slides, then you can use the Dictate feature in PowerPoint .

If you are looking how to use TTS to automatically speak while presenting a slideshow or PowerPoint presentation, you can learn more about PowerTalk, it is a free tool that you can use to make your PowerPoint presentations speak .

Text to speech in PowerPoint can be a great way to add an extra level of engagement to your presentations. By reading text aloud, you can help improve the accessibility of your presentations, and ensure that audience members are able to follow along and understand the content of your presentation. Additionally, text to speech can also be used to emphasize key points or quotes, making them more memorable for your audience.

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Text to speech in Powerpoint

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Table of contents, how to use text-to-speech in powerpoint, text to speech software and its benefits, customize powerpoint presentations, how to create an effective presentation with text-to-speech, speechify - the best tts software available, ​how do i get powerpoint to read text out loud, what is the difference between text-to-speech and speak, what is the voice quality like in powerpoint.

In recent years, text-to-speech software has become increasingly popular and useful. This software is used to convert text into spoken words, making it easier for people to understand the content of a powerpoint.

Text-to-speech software or commonly also known as TTS or read aloud, has become increasingly popular and useful. This software is used to convert text into spoken words, making it easier for people to understand the content of a presentation. Why utilize this software? Microsoft PowerPoint can be vital to a business’s success. It's a great tool for creating visuals and making presentations, promoting the transmission of complex ideas, and it helps people save time and remain engaged with the audience. A text-to-speech function in Microsoft PowerPoint can be a great functionality.

Text-to-speech (TTS) is the ability of your computer or device to read text aloud through software and artificial intelligence. Research has shown that text-to-speech technology improves accessibility, facilitates comprehension, and creates a more efficient learning environment. Whether it's used to assist students, business needs, or just for personal use, TTS has helped numerous people. Individuals with disabilities, such as dyslexia, or blindness have a particularly valuable advantage when utilizing this speech software.

Microsoft PowerPoint is a versatile program that can be used for many different purposes. One of its best features is the ability to customize your presentations. This includes being able to choose different templates, add your own photos and graphics, and record a voice-over. This allows you to create a presentation that is truly unique and reflects your own style. PowerPoint also allows you to share your presentations online, so others can view them or even edit them.

If you are at some point in your career or in your academic career, you may have created a PowerPoint presentation, whether in high school, in college, or in your job.

To use the text-to-speech feature in PowerPoint, open the presentation and select the slide or the text box you want to read aloud. In the toolbar, click on the "Aa" icon and select "Text Box." Type or paste your text into the text box. In the toolbar, click on the "Speak" icon (the microphone). Your computer will start reading the text aloud. You can customize the settings by clicking on the "Settings" icon (the gear).

You can also use TTS software such as Speechify . A nice feature of TTS apps is the different languages it supports and the voice speed you can adjust. The voice-over or text-to-speech voices can also be changed and you will have several options; male, female, British, or Australian voices for instance. In addition to this functionality, it is also possible to use the dictation feature. After you have used this feature, the TTS software can read the text aloud, in turn helping you work faster or catch any grammar mistakes.

To break it down and make sure there is no confusion between the two, the text-to-speech (TTS) feature is your computer or device being able to read aloud written text. While the dictating feature is a built-in feature you find in Microsoft Office applications like Powerpoint, Excel, Outlook, OneNote, or any other Microsoft Office tool. Here you can speak to have text written out. Using each in conjunction with one another goes a long way with learners trying to maximize their time or soak in the information.

Speechify is available as a Google Chrome and Safari extension or an API. It can also be used with Microsoft Office applications like PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, OneNote, or any other Microsoft Office tool. Aside from using this TTS with Microsoft products, you can use it with just about any other system. Your emails, web pages, and documents can all have a voice-over. It almost feels like you're listening to a podcast.

In addition, Speechify is a great way to create appealing and effective PowerPoints. Its easy-to-use interface makes it perfect for users of all levels of experience, and its wide range of features ensures that you can create a presentation that is perfect for your needs. So if you’re looking for an easy and efficient way to create a powerful and informative presentation utilizing speech recognition, Speechify is the software for you.

Text-to-speech software has proven to be very beneficial to people with disabilities to help them read and write. This isn't just a tool for people with disabilities, however. Whether it be due to dyslexia or a busy schedule due to e-learning, you're likely better off having text-to-speech run for you instead. Speechify helps you make the most out of your time. You’ll benefit from boosting your understanding and focus while maximizing your time and doing more at once. 

Open PowerPoint on the computer and click on any file. Click the Read a Portion of This Document button in the Quick Access Toolbar and select the volume or speed at which you want to listen. Select the Read button, and begin to listen.

Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and OneNote all feature a Speak feature. With this function, you can have text read aloud in the language of your choice. Text-to-speech (TTS) is your computer or device’s ability to read aloud text.

Voice quality is determined by the audio file. Sound formats that work with PowerPoint presentations include WAV., MP3, and WMA.

The 5 best text to speech Chrome extensions

Read Aloud: Transforming the Way We Experience Text

Cliff Weitzman

Cliff Weitzman is a dyslexia advocate and the CEO and founder of Speechify, the #1 text-to-speech app in the world, totaling over 100,000 5-star reviews and ranking first place in the App Store for the News & Magazines category. In 2017, Weitzman was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list for his work making the internet more accessible to people with learning disabilities. Cliff Weitzman has been featured in EdSurge, Inc., PC Mag, Entrepreneur, Mashable, among other leading outlets.

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Last updated by Chelsea Swiecinski on December 9, 2022 • Leave a Comment

Parts of Speech PowerPoints That Are Interactive & Fun

How to teach parts of speech in a fun and engaging way? Start with interactive lesson visuals! In this post I’ll share several parts of speech PowerPoints make teaching grammar both easy and fun. Take a look at these easy to use lesson slides and think about how you can use them in your lessons!

Parts of Speech PowerPoints

The more activities to teach parts of speech , you have in your teacher toolkit the better.  Students need a variety of ways to practice grammar skills.

15-Minute Mini-lessons

At the beginning of each week of grammar lessons, I introduce a new part of speech in a brief and direct mini-lesson. In this mini-lesson, I model the skill we are focusing on for the week.

I use the lesson slides in the PowerPoints to introduce the grammar skill and provide examples. These guide students through the mini-lesson by providing examples and show how the target part of speech is used in context.

Short, targeted mini-lessons easily fit into your schedule and are most beneficial to young students when they are direct and clear. Students can fully focus on one specific skill, see examples, generate their own examples and then practice independently in writing or or with the game slides.

Interactive Slides Make Practicing Fun

Interactive slides allow students to truly participate and are an essential component to my parts of speech PowerPoints. The interactive practice slides have moveable parts that can be manipulated by students for practice or used by teachers to model the lesson.

Include Partner Work

Partner work is important and helpful in the elementary classroom. It keeps students engaged and accountable and allows them to teach and learn from one another. Explaining to a partner what they’ve just learned reinforces their understanding and helps to build oral language and social skills.

Each parts of speech PowerPoint includes opportunities for students to work with a partner using the turn-and-talk and partner practice activities.

Parts of Speech PowerPoints & No-Prep Activities

These PowerPoints are part of a complete series of second grade grammar units . Each unit includes lessons and activities that are no-prep, ready to use, and easy to implement.

Each grammar unit includes everything you need to teach, practice, and assess all 2nd grade grammar and language skills and standards in just 15 minutes or less each day.

Click HERE to see the yearlong series of second grade grammar units available separately or in money-saving bundles.

These interactive grammar lessons will engage your students and make learning parts of speech fun!

Pin this post for later so you have it when you plan.

For more teaching ideas and grammar activities, visit these posts:

9 Parts of Speech Activities for 2nd Grade

8 Ways to Differentiate Grammar Activities & Reach All Learners

7 Easy Ways to Teach Contractions in 2nd Grade

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Trump draws fire for remarks about Medal of Honor recipients

Trump has previously sparked criticism for swipes at servicemembers.

Former president Donald Trump sparked criticism when he said the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award, is "much better" than the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military honor, because soldiers are in "bad shape" or dead when they receive it – comments Trump's campaign suggested were misinterpreted.

During an event at his Bedminster, New Jersey, estate Thursday night, which was about antisemitism, Trump called attention to a major donor, Miriam Adelson – the widow of his friend and business mogul Sheldon Adelson – upon whom he bestowed the Medal of Freedom in 2018.

"Sheldon and Miriam were best friends together, and I was in their group. And we just had always a great relationship, known her for a long time," Trump said. "Sheldon was one of the greatest businessmen in the world, and she's turning out to be one of the greatest businesswomen of the world."

Trump then recalled the moment Miriam Adelson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

"But I really, I watched Sheldon sitting so proud in the White House when we gave Miriam the Presidential Medal of Freedom," he said. "That's the highest award you can get as a civilian. It's the equivalent of the Congressional Medal of Honor, but civilian version, it's actually much better, because everyone gets the Congressional Medal of Honor, they're soldiers. They're either in very bad shape because they've been hit so many times by bullets, or they're dead. She gets it and she's healthy, beautiful woman."

Miriam Adelson was awarded the Medal of Freedom as a "committed doctor, philanthropist, and humanitarian." "As a committed member of the American Jewish community, she has supported Jewish schools, Holocaust memorial organizations, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, and Birthright Israel, among other causes," the Trump White House wrote in part.

A prominent national veterans group leader released a statement on Friday criticizing Trump's comments, calling them "asinine."

"These asinine comments not only diminish the significance of our nation's highest award for valor, but also crassly characterizes the sacrifices of those who have risked their lives above and beyond the call of duty," Veterans of Foreign Wars National Commander Al Lipphardt said.

"When a candidate to serve as our military's commander-in-chief so brazenly dismisses the valor and reverence symbolized by the Medal of Honor and those who have earned it, I must question whether they would discharge their responsibilities to our men and women in uniform with the seriousness and discernment necessary for such a powerful position," Lipphardt continued. "It is even more disappointing when these comments come from a man who already served in this noble office and should frankly already know better," he said.

The Kamala Harris campaign pounced on Trump's words, saying he "knows nothing about service to anyone or anything but himself."

And progressive veterans group VoteVets said in a statement: "It isn't just that Donald Trump doesn't respect Veterans and their sacrifice. It's that Donald Trump hates Veterans and their sacrifice, because he looks so small in comparison to them."

In a statement, the Trump campaign said the former president was referring to the experience of giving the award, not denigrating the Medal of Honor or the actions of servicemembers.

"President Trump was simply saying how it can be an emotionally difficult experience to give the Congressional Medal of Honor to veterans who have been wounded or tragically killed defending our country, as he proudly did when he was Commander in Chief," said campaign spokesperson Brian Hughes.

On Friday, Trump's running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, a Marine veteran, defended the former president.

"This is a guy who loves our veterans and who honors our veterans," Vance said during an event at the Milwaukee Police Association. "I don't think him complimenting and saying a nice word about a person who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom is in any way denigrating those who received military honors."

MORE: Trump says he's 'entitled' to make personal attacks on Harris, citing lack of respect

Trump, who holds himself up as a champion of the military and regularly discusses his record of rebuilding the military while in office, has drawn fire for swipes at servicemembers.

One of the most notable examples was when he criticized another Republican, John McCain -- the late Arizona senator and former presidential candidate -- who spent five years as a POW during the Vietnam War, casting doubt on his status as a war hero.

"I like people who weren't captured," Trump said in 2015 . At the time, the remarks set off a firestorm, including from members of the Republican party, who called for him to drop out of the 2016 presidential race.

More recently, Trump came under scrutiny when The Atlantic reported in 2020 that he had called those who died in war "suckers" and "losers." Trump has vehemently denied the reported remarks, which President Biden repeated on the campaign trail before he dropped out of the race. ABC News has not independently confirmed the story.

During the Bedminster event, Trump highlighted the importance of the Jewish vote, while also making false claims about various Democrats, including Harris.

"We're here tonight because we believe that this vicious outbreak of militant and antisemitism is very militant. Must be given no quarter, no safe harbor, no place in a civilized society. We must reject it in our schools, reject it in our foreign policy, reject it in our immigration system and reject it at the ballot box," Trump told the crowd.

Trump then repeated a dual loyalty trope – that itself has been criticized as antisemitic – that American Jews owe a dual loyalty to Israel or having two separate interests that conflict, telling the audience, "Jewish people have to not vote by habit. You vote by habit for Democrats, and the Democrats are really against you."

Trump continued to make similar comments, suggesting that Jewish people need to "stop" voting for Democrats. "You have to be smart," Trump said, before discussing his list of accomplishments such as the Abraham Accords and withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal.

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