10 STEPS TO CRAFTING A GREAT PRESENTATIONBy Dr. Curtis R. Rogers, Communications Director

1. Prep time – outline your thoughts

2. Keep the end goal in mind

What is the real purpose of your talk?

Why is it that you were ask to speak?

What does the audience expect?

3. Learn about your audience

Who is the audience?  What is the purpose of the event?  Why were you asked to speak?  Where is it?  When is it? 

4. Tell a story

Good presentations include stories. The best presenters illustrate their points with the use of stories, most often personal ones.

5. It’s all about content

No matter how great your delivery, or how professional and beautiful your supporting visuals, if your presentation is not based on solid content, you can not succeed.

6. Plan for engaging the audience

Depending on the topic, plan an exercise or ask directed questions to get audience interaction.

Remember to make eye contact

Don’t turn your back to the audience

Ask for questions and don’t keep talking…

7. Less is MORE

EXERCISE:

If your audience could remember only three things about your presentation, what would you want it to be?

(1)__________

(2)__________

(3)__________

8. Find solid resources

Do your research

Ask a librarian Use

authoritative resources

9. Provide handouts/take aways Make enough copies Give business cards Use PR items

10. Visualize

When your presentation is ready, use visualization techniques to help you be comfortable and ready to present.

Concentrate on the room size, presentation equipment, where you’ll be standing, how many faces you’ll see in the audience, how tables are set up – everything!

Thank you!

Dr. Curtis R. Rogers Communications Director 803-734-8928 crogers@statelibrary.sc.gov