The Ultimate Guide:How to Make a Presentation

What Makes a Great Presentation?

A great presentation isn't just about pretty slides and smooth delivery. It's about structure, clarity, and impact. Here's what you need to get right.

🎯

Clear Messaging

Know your core message. What do you want your audience to take away? Everything else should support the idea that you want your audience to remember.

🏗️

Structure

Break your content into three sections: Introduction, Body, and Conclusion. This creates a roadmap that your audience can easily follow.

🎨

Balanced Design

The visuals and videos in the presentation should enhance your message, not overwhelm it. The design is important, but content takes center stage.

👥

Audience-Centric Approach

Speak to their needs, interests, and concerns. Your presentation should feel like a conversation, not a lecture.

Engagement

It's not enough to talk to your audience—you need to engage. Ask questions, incorporate visuals, and keep them hooked throughout.

🧭

Purpose-Driven

Every slide and every point you make should serve a purpose. Don't overload your audience with fluff.

Let's talk about the practical steps of making a presentation. Regardless of the type of presentation you're making, these broad steps will serve you well.

1. The Foundation of Your Content

Before you dive into designing slides, take a moment to think strategically about your content.

Know Your Audience

It's not just about delivering your message—it's about delivering the right message. Ask yourself:

  • What's their level of expertise? For example, if you're presenting to a group of senior executives, your language and content might focus more on high-level strategies and results rather than granular details.

  • What are they hoping to gain from your presentation? Are they looking for solutions, insights, or actionable steps?

  • Are they likely to be skeptical, or are they already on your side? Adjust your tone and content accordingly.

Tailor your content to your audience's needs to ensure your presentation resonates with them.

Clarify Your Message

You're the expert—but your audience doesn't need to know every detail. Focus on one core message that will stick. This is the idea that will carry through your entire presentation, so make it clear, concise, and memorable. For instance, if you're talking about a new product launch, your message might be: "This product will save our company 30% in costs over the next year."

Create a Logical Flow

Structure is key. Without it, your presentation could feel like a jumbled mess. Break your content into:

  • Introduction:

    Establish context, outline your agenda, and grab attention.

  • Body:

    The meat of your presentation—explain your message in logical sections.

  • Conclusion:

    Wrap things up and leave them with a strong, clear takeaway.

Read more about presentation content

After the presentation, make sure to offer follow-up materials or answer any lingering questions. It's a great way to keep the conversation going and leave a lasting positive impression.

2. Design Your Presentation for High-Impact

Slides should be simple yet effective. Visuals make complex information easier to digest and keep your audience's attention. Visuals are more than just decoration—they're a critical part of your message. Humans process visuals 6x to 600x faster compared to text.

5 Design Tips for Professional Presentations

  • Keep it simple:

    Less is more. Too much text or too many images can overwhelm your audience. Use visuals to support your message, not compete with it. Stick to key points, and use the slides to highlight your message. For example, in a quarterly results presentation, don't put every single statistic on one slide—focus on the most important metric and explain why it matters.

  • Choose clean fonts and colors:

    Stick to a consistent font style and size (usually sans-serif). Choose colors that are easy on the eyes and make your text legible. The GenPPT templates are great for ensuring that your design remains simple and professional.

  • Use high-quality images:

    Low-resolution images can look unprofessional. Opt for sharp, high-quality visuals to make a strong impression.

  • Tell a Story:

    Your slides should tell a story, not just show facts. Think of your presentation as a narrative with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Use real-world examples or case studies to drive your point home. If you're presenting a new company strategy, share a success story of a business that adopted a similar approach and saw tangible results.

  • Use Data:

    Charts, graphs, and infographics are great for presenting data, but ensure they're clear and easy to understand. Edit your templates to avoid complex charts that require too much explanation. For instance, instead of a 3D pie chart, consider using a simple bar chart to illustrate growth over time.

Read more about presentation design

3. Use AI Presentation Tools To Save Time

Presentation tools have come a long way, offering diverse options to suit different needs, from classic software like Microsoft PowerPoint and Google Slides, which provide robust templates and collaboration features, to new creative platforms that focus on speed and visuals.

While PowerPoint remains a staple for corporate settings and Google Slides shines in collaborative environments, AI-powered presentation tools have taken things even further, enabling users to generate professional-looking slides in seconds.

The best AI presentation makers use customizable templates and easy-to-use design tools to fast-track the design process. This can save you time and help you create a polished, professional look without the need for design or editing skills.

From idea to presentation in seconds

Join over 40,000 professionals who use GenPPT to boost their productivity. Create standout presentations and impress audiences — no design expertise required.

Get started
Presentation screenshot

An AI presentation maker like GenPPT leverages artificial intelligence to create great presentations for marketing, conference presentations, business proposals, pitch decks, etc. The software includes:

  • Ready-to-go slides in seconds
  • Templates and professional designs
  • Content ideas and suggestions

Whether you're a student, a creative, or a business professional, these tools cater to every style and need, blending functionality with innovation.

Technology should enhance your presentation, not distract from it.

Read more about AI presentation tools

4. Master Your Presentation Delivery

The best slide deck in the world won't save you if your delivery falls flat. Here are 4 tips to nail it:

1. Avoid Technical Failures

Test all your equipment beforehand—projector, laptop, remote control—so everything runs smoothly. Also, have backup copies of your presentation in multiple formats, just in case.

2. Practice, Practice, Practice

The more you rehearse, the more confident you'll feel. Practice your timing, test your slides, and get feedback from a colleague or friend. Recording yourself can also help pinpoint areas for improvement.

3. Engage Your Audience

Use eye contact, body language, and vocal variety to keep your audience engaged. Ask questions, and don't be afraid to inject some humor. If presenting on a complex topic, start with a rhetorical question that forces your audience to think about the answer.

4. Get Ready for Questions

If you don't know the answer, it's okay to say so—offer to follow up later. A confident and composed approach will earn you respect and present like a pro, whether it's in the classroom or boardroom.

Read more about presentation delivery

5. Handle Stress and Anxiety

Even seasoned presenters get nervous. Nerves are natural, especially when the stakes are high. Remember, your audience wants you to succeed.

Here's how to calm your nerves:

  • Breathing exercises: Deep breaths can help calm your nerves.
  • Visualization: Imagine yourself delivering the presentation confidently.
  • Preparation: The more you prepare, the more in control you'll feel.

Read more about dealing with stress and anxiety

6. Wrap Up with a Lasting Impression

The conclusion of your presentation is your final opportunity to leave a lasting impression.

Summarize your key points and leave your audience with a clear takeaway. End on a note that reinforces your message and encourages action.

After the presentation, make sure to offer follow-up materials or answer any lingering questions. It's a great way to keep the conversation going and leave a lasting positive impression. For example, if you're presenting a sales pitch deck, you might offer a link to a demo video or a whitepaper that dives deeper into the details of your offering.

Create a Powerful Presentation Now with GenPTT

You now have the tools and techniques to create a powerful and effective presentation. Remember, a great presentation is not just about showing slides—it's about delivering a message that resonates with your audience.

Whether you're preparing for a corporate meeting, a conference presentation, or even a casual team briefing, the principles you've learned here will help you become a more confident, persuasive, and engaging presenter.

Use GenPPT to bring your presentation to life, ensuring that the visuals and content work in harmony to capture your audience's attention.

Take your presentation skills to the next level. Start using GenPPT now!