During a recent project, a client said, "The last thing I want is to deliver this presentation at a conference and have people think it was boring. So how do we make this presentation interesting?"
If you’re reading this blog, there’s a high possibility that you’re struggling with the same issue. Maybe you’ve worked on your slides for hours, but something still feels off. Maybe you’ve seen your audience zone out one too many times. As a presentation design agency, we’ll try to address this topic to the best of our knowledge and experience.
And if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s this: An interesting presentation isn’t about stuffing it with animations or flashy visuals—it’s about engagement, clarity, and storytelling. Let’s break down how to make that happen.
How to make a presentation interesting
Start with a Hook, Not a Greeting
Most presentations begin with the usual, “Good morning, everyone. I’m here to talk about…” and by the time the first slide appears, half the audience has already checked out. Instead, open with something that commands attention. A bold statement. A question. A surprising statistic. One of our clients, presenting to a room of investors, started with, “This industry has been doing it wrong for the past 20 years. Here’s why.” That immediately made people sit up and listen.
The first 30 seconds of your presentation set the tone. If you don’t hook them immediately, regaining their attention later becomes an uphill battle.
Tell a Story, Not Just Facts
One of the biggest mistakes presenters make is overwhelming audiences with information. Data is important, but information alone doesn’t engage—stories do. We always tell our clients to structure their presentations like a narrative.
Think about the problem, the journey, and the resolution. Instead of listing product features, tell the story of a customer whose life changed because of your solution. Instead of reciting revenue figures, show what those numbers mean in real-world impact. People remember stories far more than they remember bullet points.
Design with Intention
Let’s get this straight: Bad slides kill good presentations. You might be the most engaging speaker, but if your slides look like a 1999 PowerPoint template packed with tiny text, people will mentally check out.
We always recommend...
Minimal text: Your slides are not a transcript. Use key phrases, not full paragraphs.
Visual hierarchy: Important points should be bold and easy to read at a glance.
Consistent design: Mismatched fonts, inconsistent colors, and cluttered layouts make your presentation look unprofessional and distracting.
Effective visuals: Not just stock photos for the sake of it—use meaningful charts, custom graphics, and real examples that reinforce your message.
Make Data Work for You
We’ve seen too many presentations where data is just dumped onto slides with no context. A spreadsheet screenshot is not a presentation slide. If you need to present data, do it in a way that makes it digestible and impactful.
One of our clients, instead of showing raw sales figures, used a before-and-after comparison with a simple, bold bar graph. The difference was immediately clear without needing long explanations. Your data should tell a story, not require detective work.
Keep the Energy High
A monotonous voice, zero movement, and a rigid stance can drain the energy from even the most exciting content. We always advise presenters to use voice modulation, deliberate pauses, and movement. But it’s not just about performance—it’s about authenticity.
One of the best presentations we worked on was for a tech company founder. He was naturally animated when talking about his product but became stiff on stage because he thought that’s what a ‘professional’ presentation should look like. We encouraged him to be himself—using his natural hand gestures and conversational tone. The result? The audience connected with him instantly.
Interact With Your AudienceIf you want people to stay engaged, get them involved. We’ve helped clients integrate interactive elements like live polls, Q&A sessions, or even simple audience questions throughout their presentations.
For example, during a sales pitch, instead of explaining how a product solves a problem, one of our clients asked the audience, “Have any of you ever struggled with [problem]?” That simple question made it personal, and hands went up. Engagement skyrocketed because now the presentation wasn’t just a one-way speech—it was a conversation.
Cut the Clutter
We see this mistake all the time: trying to cram too much into one presentation. Just because you have a 30-minute slot doesn’t mean you need 50 slides.
Less is more. Every slide should have a clear purpose. If something doesn’t add value, cut it. Your audience doesn’t need to know every minor detail—just the ones that matter. One of our clients once removed 15 unnecessary slides from a deck, and the result was a presentation that was sharper, more impactful, and actually left the audience wanting to learn more, instead of zoning out.
End with Impact, Not Just a Thank You SlideThe worst way to end a presentation? A generic ‘Thank You’ slide. We advise clients to end with a strong takeaway—a powerful statement, a call to action, or a thought-provoking question that sticks with the audience even after they leave.
A CEO we worked with wrapped up his presentation by saying, “In five years, every company in this room will need to adapt to this trend—or be left behind. Which side will you be on?” It left people thinking long after the event ended. That’s how you make a presentation memorable.
Work with us
If, like Sarah, you’d like our assistance with your presentations, please feel free to reach out. We’d love to collaborate with you.
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