How to Make a Presentation in Three Easy Steps

The thought of giving a presentation is enough to leave many shaking in their boots. What’s more, it can feel like some people are just naturally gifted when it comes to making a snappy slide deck or delivering a presentation well. Yet, with the right approach and a clear blueprint on how to make a presentation, it’s a skill that just about anyone can learn.

In this guide, you find a clear breakdown of everything you need to know about how to make a presentation so you can approach the process in manageable steps and maybe even have some fun along the way.

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1. Planning and preparation

Before you even touch those slides, it’s important to consider the big picture. Spend some time thinking deeply about the point you want to get across and which strategies you will use to do so effectively. In this section, we’ll cover the key considerations for planning and preparing a stand-out presentation.

Define your goal primary goal

Just like writing a paper or pitching an idea, having a crystal clear goal will be the bedrock of your entire presentation. If your audience could take away just one message from what you share, what would it be?

Even if it feels like your scope of your message is pretty narrow, structuring your presentation around a single core thesis statement will make a much bigger impact than trying to cram everything you know about the topic into your slide deck.

Outline your main points

It can also help to approach fleshing out the flow of your presentation in a similar way that you would an essay or position paper. Break it down as follows:

• Introduction: Start your presentation with a hook that grabs your audience’s attention. It can be a story, surprising fact, or something that speaks directly to the pain points and experiences of those listening. Have the hook lead up to your thesis statement and briefly give an overview of the presentation if it makes sense to do so.
• Body: Back up your thesis or core message with some concrete supporting examples or subtopics. You can break down the body outline into three steps:

1. Choose 3-4 subtopics (e.g., reasons for an argument, effects of a problem, or steps in a process, depending on the genre).
2. Decide how many slides you need for each subtopic. Generally, there should be the same number of slides for each one.
3. Make a list of all the slides you’ll include and the topic for each one.

Use tangible evidence, visual representations of data, and real-world scenarios to make your point.

• Conclusion: Finish your presentation by reiterating your main message and ideally, leaving your audience with something to think about, suggested next steps, or a call-to-action.

Know your audience

Just as important as anchoring your presentation to a single clear message is knowing how to convey it to the people who are hearing it. Here are some things to consider when tailoring your presentation ideas to your particular audience:

• What are their demographics and focus areas? For example, your presentation ought to look different whether you’re speaking to a group of prospective college students or a cohort of data scientists. It’s also worth considering yourself in relation to the audience, and whether you are speaking to peers or if you need to build trust.
• What is important to the people who are listening? Connect with your audience’s pain points, cultural references, and goals to keep them engaged. Whether you choose to make a joke that will have those prospective students cracking up or communicating in the form of data metrics visualizations in order to speak the data scientists’ language.
• What is your audience’s familiarity with the topic at hand? Adjust the contents of your presentation to whether the audience is entirely new to the topic or subject experts. Pay mind to whether they might find it controversial, boring, or be skeptical. Address these potential responses head on in how you present the information or anticipate questions.

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2. Design your slides

Now that you’ve solidified the core message, structure, and audience persona, it’s time to create the presentation itself. Keep in mind the groundwork you’ve laid in the previous section when working through the following considerations.

Choose a tool

There are many options available today for making presentations, so you can choose whichever works best for your needs. Here are some aspects to keep in mind when selecting an online presentation tool:

• User friendliness: Opt for a presentation tool that you’re already familiar with or that makes creating and editing your slides feel easy and straightforward.
• Level of AI assistance vs manual editing: AI presentation makers translate your ideas and outlines into a polished slide deck in seconds. That said, the best tools use AI to remove the gruntwork while still giving you creative autonomy with manual editing features.
• Comprehensiveness: Select a presentation tool that is part of a larger creative suite to make full use of grammar checking, image generation, writing, and summarizing tools all in one place.
• Presentation types and formats: In addition, you’ll want to avoid the panic of attempting to pull up your slides on the day of your presentation, only to find the format is incompatible with the hardware available onsite. Ideally, seek a presentation tool that accepts uploads of common file formats like PDF, Word, PowerPoint, or images (PNG, JPG, JPEG, and WebP), and downloads in formats like  PPT, PDF, JPG, PNG or GIF.

Keep your slides minimalist and visually appealing

One of the biggest mistakes people make when creating their slides is including too much text. As a general rule, you should not simply read off of your slides—unless you want to put your audience to sleep. Rather, think of your slides as a visual aid to accompany your speaking.

Instead of cramming your slides with text, the try incorporating the following elements into your slides:

• A clear heading that signals the main point of what you are talking about on that slide.
• A short quote that delivers a strong message in alignment with a point you want to make.
• A clear, visual representation of particularly interesting or impactful data such as a chart, graph, or infographic.
• A striking photo or illustration that complements your topic. If appropriate, a relatable meme can also build rapport and trust through humor.

Add elements for audience engagement

When it comes to making a presentation, avoid simply talking at your audience. If time and subject matter allow, you’re much more likely to make an impact if you invite them to actively participate and contribute to the topic.

This can be as simple as including some breaks with discussion prompts in your slides. You can also integrate a breakout session into the presentation to allow people to speak in smaller groups about the topic at hand. In addition, you can poll the audience or engage in a collective brainstorming activity to foster engagement.

Practice your delivery

Making beautifully polished slides that incorporate the principles laid out in the previous section will serve as the foundation of your presentation, but don’t forget to devote some time to practicing your delivery.

You’ll appear a lot more confident—and worth listening to—if you feel strongly about what you have to say and appear comfortable when saying it. Try these tips for improving your presentation delivery:

• Rehearse out loud—whether by yourself, to a friend, or in front of your dog. Get comfortable with what you have to say, along with the timing. This way, you’ll also discover any areas that lag or feel a bit awkward so you can address them before you present.
• Avoid simply reading off your slides or notes. You’ll come across much more assertive and captivating if you can speak without having your eyes glued to a piece of paper the entire time.
• Engage the room: Make eye contact, tell stories, pause for emphasis, and generally approach your presentation from the perspective that you are speaking to a room of real individuals rather than a faceless mob.
• Have fun. Avoid rehearsing endlessly or memorizing every point you want to make in order to leave some room for some spontaneity. Enjoy the fruits of your hard work on presentation day, and view it as your moment to shine. The audience will respond to your energy in turn.

Frequently asked questions about how to make a presentation

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.

How can I make my presentation look good?

Creating an appealing presentation means combining effective presentation techniques with smart design. Here are some simple tips to make your slides stand out:

• Use clean, simple layouts with consistent fonts and colors to ensure readability.
• Choose high-quality images and visuals that enhance your message without distracting.
• Keep text minimal—use key phrases instead of full sentences to avoid clutter.
• Apply visual hierarchy by emphasizing important points with size, color, or placement.
• Use a tool like Quillbot’s AI presentation maker to create eye-catching, professional slide designs quickly and easily. You can also try Quillbot’s AI image generator to create eye-catching visuals for your presentation.

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.

What are some persuasive presentation topics?

Persuasive presentation topics are about convincing your audience to take a specific action or agree with your opinion. For example, a persuasive presentation might convince your audience to:

• Rethink their relationship with energy drinks
• Buy second-hand clothing instead of fast fashion
• Support local farmers and farmers markets
• Take at least one art class during college
• Start and maintain a regular yoga practice
• Drive more slowly in residential areas
• Start using a new approach or tool at work

When you’re ready to make a persuasive presentation, Quillbot’s free presentation maker can show you some creative presentation ideas.

Do online presentation tools use AI?

Yes, many of the latest online presentation tools—like Quillbot’s free AI presentation maker—use AI to suggest text and generate visuals.