How to Start a Presentation | Everything You Need to Know

Whether you’re presenting for a class, leading a team meeting, or speaking at a community event, a strong introduction is essential for capturing attention and setting expectations. That’s why knowing how to start a presentation is one of the most important public speaking skills you can develop.

A strong presentation introduction follows four steps: Hook your audience, explain the purpose, establish credibility, and preview your content. As you prepare your opening, focus on writing what you’ll say first. Then, design your slides to support it. Begin with a concise title slide, followed by an introduction slide that highlights the objective and outlines your points.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to script an effective presentation introduction and how to create your first two slides. Plus, with QuillBot’s free presentation maker, you can explore different layouts, templates, and ideas to make your next presentation truly stand out.

How to script a presentation introduction

When learning how to introduce a presentation, it’s important to understand that your spoken words should have more detail than your slides. In a presentation, your slides are visual cues that outline your ideas with bulleted lists. The spoken part of your presentation introduction includes four main steps.

1. Hook your audience

Start a presentation with a hook that grabs your audience’s attention, such as:

• A thought-provoking question
• A surprising statistic or fact
• A short anecdote

2. Explain the purpose

The purpose of your presentation is the main reason why your topic matters. Show your audience why they should care about your topic or what they’ll gain from your insights. What problem or need does your presentation address?

3. Establish credibility

Next, briefly explain why you’re qualified to speak on this topic, so your audience knows they can trust your insights. For example, you might briefly describe your first-hand experience or the credentials that make you a trustworthy source.

4. Preview what’s coming

At the end of your presentation introduction, provide a quick roadmap so your audience knows what to expect. What type of information will the body of your presentation cover? If you provide an overview of your main subtopics, your audience is more likely to follow and remember your key points.

The transcript of a presentation introduction below shows how all of these elements work together to engage and prepare an audience.

What to include on a title slide

Your title slide is the first thing your audience sees, so it should be simple, clear, and professional. Here’s what to include:

• Presentation title: Keep it short and engaging, ideally 5–10 words that clearly convey the topic without overwhelming the slide.
• Subtitle (optional): Below the title, you can include around 10 additional words in a smaller font to add context or clarify the focus.
• Presenter name: Include your full name so the audience knows who’s speaking. For professional presentations, you can also include your role, title, or department.
• Presentation date: Include the day, month, and year, especially if your audience will refer back to your slide deck at a later date.
• Company, school, or organization (if relevant): For professional presentations, this information provides credibility. For school presentations, you might also include your instructor’s name and/or the name of the class.
• Visual element: Incorporate a clean image, icon, or branded background that doesn’t affect the legibility of the text. Avoid using too many colors.

How to make an introduction slide

After your title slide, the introduction slide guides your audience into your presentation and complements what you’re going to say to hook your audience and prepare them for the main content. Here’s what to include:

• Hook or key question (optional): If your hook is brief (e.g., a short question or fact), you might place that below your heading.
• Objective or purpose: Write a phrase that gives the presentation’s main objective.
• Roadmap: Include a bulleted list of the 3–5 main points you’ll cover.

Frequently asked questions about how to start a presentation

What is the best title slide design?

The best title slide design depends on the topic and tone of your presentation. For formal presentations, use plain fonts and a clean design with a solid background and neutral colors.

For less formal audiences or lighthearted topics, you can experiment with bright colors, photo images or illustrations, and creative fonts (as long as they’re visible from the back of the room).

Whichever design you choose, opt for a strong contrast between the background and text to improve visibility.

QuillBot’s AI presentation maker has a variety of design templates to choose from, and it’s completely free to use.

What are some interactive presentation techniques to engage my audience?

Engaging your audience is key to a successful presentation. Here are some effective interactive presentation techniques you can use:

• Ask open-ended questions to encourage participation and invite discussion.
• Use live polls or quizzes to make your presentation more dynamic and gather instant feedback.
• Incorporate short activities or brainstorming sessions to involve your audience actively.
• Encourage nonverbal responses like nodding or hand-raising to maintain connection.
• Use storytelling and relatable examples to draw listeners in and keep their attention.
• Invite questions throughout or set specific Q&A moments to foster interaction.

These techniques help maintain audience interest and make your presentation more memorable. For support in creating engaging slides that complement your delivery, try QuillBot’s AI presentation maker.

How can I improve my presentation skills?

Improving your presentation skills comes down to consistent practice and mastering key presentation techniques. Here are practical tips you can focus on:

• Rehearse your presentation several times, paying attention to your delivery and timing.
• Record yourself to evaluate your body language, voice projection, and pacing.
• Ask for feedback from friends, colleagues, or mentors to spot what’s working and what needs adjustment.
• Practice important presentation techniques like storytelling, making eye contact, and using effective pauses.
• Consider joining groups like Toastmasters or taking public speaking courses to build confidence and refine your skills.

When you’re ready to design your slides, QuillBot’s AI presentation maker can help you create professional, polished decks.