I lately did a presentation night time with my associates. When you’re unfamiliar with the concept, it’s when a gaggle of associates will get collectively to share displays they created a couple of matter of their alternative.
The subjects are usually light-hearted and enjoyable. For instance, mine was “my associates as obscure animals.”
You’d be stunned how tough it was to develop concepts for one thing as foolish and unserious as a social presentation night time.
So, it’s naturally even tougher to ideate presentation subjects for knowledgeable setting with the strain of needing to impress, affect, educate, or entertain.
I’ll share the best way to develop thought-provoking and related subjects on your displays to make sure they’re memorable and resonate effectively along with your viewers.
Desk of Contents
The best way to Select a Nice Presentation Subject in 5 Steps
I’ve damaged down the painstakingly lengthy course of of selecting a subject into 5 easy and simple steps. Let’s stroll by means of it.
Step 1: Start with the top in thoughts.
“Some issues are higher left unsaid” is what I don’t need folks to say about my displays. That’s why I at all times have a particular aim earlier than selecting a subject.
Some questions I ask myself are:
- What do I hope to realize from the presentation?
- How do I wish to come throughout?
- What do I would like my viewers to remove from the presentation?
Having a stable aim helps me start crafting the title of my presentation. For example, if I’m presenting a seminar about AI, my aim could be to persuade my viewers to include extra AI into their each day lives.
A punchy concept for a title might be “Why AI Is NOT Ruining Your Life.”
Step 2: Know your viewers.
Let’s say I’m making ready an inner presentation for my crew at Nickelodeon. I’d first think about my viewers’s expertise and pursuits.
I don’t wish to current one thing they already know effectively or have the subject go over their heads. Because it’s my crew, I’d really feel assured that these components overlap comfortably with mine.
When you’re presenting to an unknown viewers, analysis the people or common demographic if particular names aren’t out there.
Subsequent, I’d think about what model is most popular. Some workplaces could be extra formal, requiring a critical presentation tone.
Primarily based on the kind of content material we work on at Nickelodeon, we maintain issues mild at work, so I’d combine humor and an off-the-cuff tone into my presentation.
Professional tip: All the time think about your viewers’s information degree on the subject earlier than drafting your presentation. For instance, a presentation on social media focused at Gen Z will differ from that focused at Millennials.
Step 3: Be present.
Of presenters, 47% tailor their presentation subjects to present occasions, which is a simple method to make sure the subject is novel.
I’m not saying the presentation needs to be utterly centered round a present occasion. Even together with sure references or themes can alert audiences that this isn’t a cut-and-paste presentation that’s been carried out earlier than.
For example, if I have been giving a presentation to my crew at Nickelodeon, I would slip in a humorous reference to the 2024 movie Depraved because it’s very culturally related.
If I needed to tailor my total presentation to this matter, I may spotlight a few of the methods the PG-rated film manages to seize hearts of all ages, which is related to our crew’s family-friendly content material.
Step 4: Be exact.
Finishing these first three steps places me in a spot with first rate matter concepts. Now, I can minimize out the surplus and choose a distinct segment matter with a particular aim.
That is crucial as a result of the broader the subject, the harder it is going to be for my viewers to remove key concepts and actionable ideas. Additionally, it will be harder to assemble an viewers intrigued and excited by my matter.
For example, the primary matter within the picture is generic, sounds imprecise, and doesn’t specify any clear advantages. Then again, the second matter mentions the audience, tells them what to anticipate, and gives a transparent, actionable plan.
The viewers is aware of precisely what they’ll take away from the presentation.
Step 5: Add a private contact.
Shows with tales are 22 times more likely to be remembered than these with straight information. Such is the facility of narrative and personalization in storytelling.
Due to this fact, I at all times think about subjects I can tie again to myself, which additionally helps the displays really feel extra genuine. There are a couple of methods I’d do that:
- Decide a subject I’ve first-hand expertise with.
- Present a novel opinion or learnings/findings so as to add worth to my phrases.
- Let the viewers view a controversial matter from my perspective.
- Select a subject I’m genuinely enthusiastic about.
- Inform a private story that features as a metaphor for my matter.
Professional tip: Take into consideration the place your pursuits {and professional} expertise meet. Then, slim these subjects or themes all the way down to 2-5 driving components to give attention to in your presentation.
120 Presentation Subject Concepts
Beneath is an intensive record of presentation concepts from private experiences to digital advertising and marketing and AI. I at all times reference this record after I discover myself in a rut.
I can maintain the framework and swap out key phrases for a lot of of those titles, offering an infinite mixture of concepts.
Presentation Subject Concepts for Private Experiences
- The failures that made “Me”
- My journey balancing full-time and freelance work
- How I made social media a productive house
- 5 life-changing behavior adjustments I made this yr
- How I bought out of my longest writing rut
- My battle with Covid-19
- How I turned my weaknesses into strengths
- Dealing with nervousness and despair
- Leveraging my hobbies to enhance my profession
- Distant vs. in-office: The place do I thrive?
- What I needed to be and what I turned
- How I rediscovered myself after hardship
Presentation Subject Concepts for Controversial Points
- Way forward for genetically modified meals and preservatives
- Privateness within the age of AI: Moral points
- The facility of social media in politics
- Freedom of expression or dangerous content material
- Navigating the road between cultural appropriation and appreciation
- What can we do to forestall local weather change?
- Ladies’s rights are everybody’s rights
- LGBTQ Rights: Balancing equality and custom sooner or later
- The ethics of animal testing
- The implications of social media for future generations
- How a lot display screen time is an excessive amount of?
- Punishment vs. rehabilitation
Presentation Subject Concepts for Present Developments
- 5 small efforts to battle local weather change
- How native politics play into the massive image
- What are blockchain and cryptocurrencies?
- The newest health tendencies of 2024
- Life on social media vs. actual life: The best way to maintain your self sane
- Water shortage and conservation
- Renewable and sustainable vitality sources: Are we prepared?
- The advantages of mindfulness and meditation practices for brand spanking new mothers
- Understanding and addressing psychological well being points in Gen Z and Alpha.
- 12 Methods for working towards self-care and self-compassion
- Transitioning again to hybrid or full-time workplace fashions after years of distant work.
- How X entrepreneurs develop their private manufacturers (and their ROIs)
Presentation Subject Concepts for Business Insights
- How new AI applied sciences are altering the {industry}: 5 examples
- Six key tendencies and {industry} forecasts for the longer term
- The best way to overcome these 10 challenges to succeed
- Measuring and optimizing organizational advertising and marketing efforts utilizing AI
- Utilizing predictive analytics to extract key advertising and marketing insights
- 13 methods to extend buyer loyalty and retention
- Enhance your on-line visibility and visitors: 15 ideas from LinkedIn gurus
- Seven methods to create partaking video content material on your firm
- 5 methods for companies to construct a powerful social media presence
- Which social media channels are finest on your model?
- Is AI revolutionizing the retail {industry}?
- Digital studying and the way forward for conventional studying methods
Presentation Subject Concepts for Digital Advertising
- The subsequent large factor in digital advertising and marketing — unlocked
- The artwork of storytelling in advertising and marketing: 23 companies that kill it
- Advantages of cross-channel advertising and marketing for software program improvement corporations
- Voice search and its affect on digital advertising and marketing in 2025
- Maximizing ROI on your startup advertising and marketing: 3 underestimated techniques
- Adjustments in client conduct: Causes and implications
- Significance of personalization in digital advertising and marketing
- 10 Rising advertising and marketing tendencies and applied sciences
- Designing an efficient cellular technique for your online business
- Significance of infographics in content material advertising and marketing: HubSpot’s case research
- Creating efficient advertising and marketing funnels for well being merchandise
- The facility of user-generated content material for corporations
Presentation Subject Concepts for AI
- Six prime tales about AI in 2024
- 5 bizarre, however true, information about AI
- What these three enterprise specialists are saying about AI
- Three stunning methods AI could make you a greater marketer
- The Darkish Facet of AI
- How do presidential campaigns profit from AI?
- 5 AI instruments each marketer wants
- AI and Large Information: Altering the panorama of contemporary enterprise
- Which jobs will AI exchange?
- Why do these X celebrities and {industry} leaders love AI?
- AI in human assets: Recruiting and expertise administration
- The Ethics of AI: Balancing enterprise pursuits and societal impacts
Presentation Subject Concepts for Gross sales
- Chilly calls: Unethical techniques and gray areas
- Gross sales: Expectations vs. Actuality
- Gross sales prospecting made easier with AI
- Gross sales calls: Do’s, Don’ts, and Musts
- Six gross sales methods that you must throw out the window
- 5 abilities each salesperson must develop in 2024
- Constructing long-lasting relationships with prospects utilizing these three tried and examined strategies
- Coping with rejections: 5 methods and one bonus tip
- Affected person ready and 7 methods to cope with it
- 13 efficient gross sales methods for constructing relationships and shutting offers
- Creating efficient gross sales coaching applications for brand spanking new hires
- 20 efficient gross sales communication methods
Presentation Subject Concepts for Time Administration
- The best way to obtain a perfect work-life stability for distant staff
- How a lot time do you have to ideally spend networking on LinkedIn?
- The best way to successfully delegate duties
- Purchase again your time: Methods and advantages
- Six enterprise rules of time administration
- The best way to make an efficient plan: Three practices you can begin at the moment
- 15 methods to enhance private effectivity and productiveness
- The 5 steps of the Pomodoro Technique
- Objective setting and prioritization: For IT start-ups
- 9 finest multitasking methods of insanely profitable businesspeople
- Time administration for busy professionals: The place to start out?
- Cease procrastinating: Eight methods beginning tomorrow
Presentation Subject Concepts for IT
- Benefits and dangers of adopting cloud software program
- Open-source software program: seven finest practices
- Machine studying: Professionals and cons for advertising and marketing
- The best way to create user-friendly interfaces for software program and web sites
- The function of IT in digital transformation
- The Web of Issues: 5 alternatives for companies and customers
- Six methods to guard your digital property
- Seven advantages and three dangers of transferring to the cloud
- How does Large Information work?
- Greatest methods to guard organizational information: 5 tried and examined strategies
- Expertise and its affect on society and tradition
- Cellular system administration: The place to start out?
Presentation Matters Concepts for Enterprise
- Optimizing collaborations to avoid wasting time throughout all departments
- Eight time administration instruments and apps for companies
- 12 widespread abilities of profitable businesspeople
- 10 ideas and strategies for a profitable advertising and marketing technique
- Harnessing the facility of influencer advertising and marketing
- Allocating a advertising and marketing finances to maximise ROI in 5 steps
- 5 manufacturing strategies to reduce prices
- Understanding moral points in enterprise and advertising and marketing
- 15 methods to cut back your organization’s carbon footprint
- Three previous enterprise fashions making a comeback
- Seven methods X developed a powerful firm tradition
- 12 methods for constructing a sustainable and accountable enterprise in 2023
5 Presentation Suggestions
Whereas I’ve burdened the significance of utilizing presentation subjects to place audiences first, supply direct options, and fill in information gaps, there’s extra.
In any case, the half that often retains me up the night time earlier than a giant presentation isn’t usually the subject however the considered truly presenting.
That’s why I’m sharing my 5 finest ideas that will help you ace your subsequent presentation.
1. Design a transparent format.
I like to prepare my displays into 4 clear sections — introduction, physique, conclusion, and follow-up — to assist me assemble a transparent format and attractive design. Right here’s what I embrace in every space:
Introduction
- A catchy title with a hook
- A thesis assertion or large concept behind the presentation
- Desk of contents that provides my viewers a preview into what’s coming
Physique
- A transparent clarification of my matter
- My argument, perspective, or most important message I’m making an attempt to convey in three to 5 key factors
- Information expertly interspersed to assist bolster my claims
Conclusion
- A concise abstract of the details and takeaways
- A catchy line to encourage thought-provoking, vivid discussions.
Comply with-Up
- 5 to 10 minutes on the finish of my presentation for a Q&A, the place I can dispel doubts and supply extra context to my viewers
2. Use visible aids.
I hate to confess it, however nothing makes me zone out faster than a black-and-white, word-heavy presentation. My decrease consideration span and visible studying desire make it arduous to give attention to a strictly verbal or text-based presentation.
Presentation visuals can enhance content material engagement by up to 80%.
LinkedIn additionally gives a number of causes supporting the significance of visible aids, reminiscent of capturing the eye and curiosity of audiences, lowering cognitive load by breaking down complicated ideas, and growing the retention and recall of verbal messages.
I work full-time in media and leisure, so it’s straightforward so as to add visuals to my displays within the type of key artwork, video promos, and character artwork.
Nonetheless, even in much less inventive industries, visible aids like charts and graphs, various coloration schemes, and even model logos may also help break up the textual content.
3. Select a presentation model that makes you assured.
I do know my strengths and weaknesses finest in terms of presentation skills. I do know I’m not the perfect at getting a excessive quantity of data throughout rapidly, however I’ve an exemplary reminiscence (no speaker notes right here!) and ease of communication.
All this self-knowledge helps me put together presentation styles that make me really feel most snug and assured. Presentation subjects may dictate what model is finest.
For example, if my matter is “5 life-changing behavior adjustments I made this yr,” I’ll possible undertake a storytelling model. Then again, a subject like “The Ethics of AI: Balancing enterprise pursuits and societal impacts” would possibly name for an teacher model.
The ethical is to decide on a method of presenting the fabric that makes me really feel most assured. The precise info could also be tough, however how I share it may be easy.
4. Design a slide deck to be happy with.
I dwell by the phrase “look good, really feel good.” If I’m sick, exhausted, or simply having a foul day, staying in pajamas and unwashed hair makes me really feel worse than I’m. However showering and carrying my favourite outfit can flip my total day round.
The identical idea applies to displays. I’ve needed to flip round last-minute displays on sloppy slides, and feeling embarrassed concerning the look might be sufficient to throw me utterly off.
This is sensible since 91% of professionals really feel extra assured presenting a well-designed slide deck.
My firm makes use of branded slide templates, which eases the method, however manually stepping into to make the fonts, colours, textual content spacing, and visuals look good is crucial.
It’s also possible to use presentation templates to avoid wasting time and uncover stunning, partaking designs.
It’s additionally essential to apply operating by means of these well-designed slides, particularly in the event you’re driving the deck for a gaggle presentation. Stroll by means of the presentation in Slideshow mode and guarantee the whole lot appears as desired.
5. Have interaction along with your viewers.
Sometimes, my greatest worry main as much as a presentation is making certain that I relay all the knowledge I’ve ready.
Nonetheless, I must be extra apprehensive about creating a powerful sufficient reference to my viewers that my presentation resonates of their minds lengthy after.
Of audiences, 79% desire interactive displays with alternatives to become involved, so presenters have used instruments like polls and quizzes to extend viewers engagement by 40%.
That is additionally a good way to alleviate a few of the strain from myself — by throwing to the viewers at occasions, I could make the presentation really feel extra conversational.
Listed here are a couple of ways in which my colleagues and I’ve made displays extra interactive:
- Begin by asking unusual inquiries to the viewers. Contain them from the get-go, saying issues like, “Increase your arms if X.”
- Add polls to the slides and name on viewers members to share their responses.
- Make eye contact to construct credibility and present confidence. Don’t stare on the slides or notes. Smile often and speak to the viewers straight.
- Share a private perspective and ask if anybody within the viewers agrees or disagrees. Name on them to share why.
- Use lively and assured physique language. Don’t stand in the identical place all the time. Transfer across the stage.
- Ask close-ended questions in between to maintain the viewers engaged with out dropping time. Deal with them utilizing their names to maintain issues attention-grabbing.
- Share private experiences and tales that your viewers will discover fascinating and relatable.
Feeling Impressed But?
As a youthful skilled in my {industry}, I’m at all times on the lookout for methods to make myself recognized, stand out from the gang, and show my capacity to be a pacesetter.
This weblog submit taught me that distinctive, memorable presentation subjects may also help me accomplish these objectives.
All of us have a wealth of experience, expertise, and character, and that’s sufficient to create a narrative value listening to. So the query will not be “What ought to I say?” however somewhat “How can I say it?”
My most essential takeaway is that authenticity comes from discovering methods to personalize presentation subjects.
Even one thing data-driven or industry-focused has the chance for a reference to an anecdote, metaphor, distinctive perspective, or viewers interplay device that may take displays from informative to exceptional.
Editor’s word: This submit was initially revealed in August 2023 and has been up to date for comprehensiveness.