- Reveal a shocking statistic. A relevant and powerful statistic can set the tone for your presentation and show your audience the importance of your message.
- Tell a relevant joke. Humor is a great way to break the ice and keep your audience engaged. A boring presentation can quickly cause the listener to zone out.
- Ask a question. Get your audience involved by asking them a question relevant to your presentation topic. The more you interact with them, the more likely they’ll be to listen to what you’re saying.
- Quote an influential person. A powerful quote can often motivate or inspire your audience to sit up and listen to what you have to say.
- Tell a short story. Stories are personal and can evoke emotions. Telling a relatable story that also gets the audience curious to know more is a great way to start your presentation.
- Use an interesting prop. Using a prop can break the monotony of your presentation. Using motion and a visual object can also help attract your audience’s gaze.
- Show a captivating visual. Pictures speak louder than words, which is why using a powerful image that tells a story or shows the importance of your topic is an effective way to start your presentation.
- Think about what you're wearing. Attire should be simple and non-distracting. We want the focus to be what you're saying - not what you're wearing.
Remember, there will be a trained staff member in the session room throughout your presentation to help make things go smoothly, admit people to the session, help with you technical issues, and guide you through sharing your screen if needed.
Need more? Here are some helpful tutorial videos to make you a GREAT virtual presenter.
