- Ruth Kogan
- Jun 27
- 8 min read
Updated: Jun 28
Presentations have been part of nearly everyone’s journey—whether it’s crafting your first college project, developing a marketing strategy, or pitching a big idea to a room of decision-makers. Love them or dread them, presentations are a core part of creative and professional life. And when done right, they’re a powerful tool to inspire, persuade, and leave a lasting impression.
To help elevate your presentation game, we’ve pulled together 11 practical tips designed to make your slides stand out and your delivery shine. Whether you’re gearing up for your next client proposal, team meeting, or creative showcase, these tips will help you connect with your audience, share your ideas with confidence, and deliver something truly memorable.
According to David Ayala, CEO and founder of SEOluciones:
"Public speaking is an essential skill in today's world. Whether you are making a presentation at work, giving a talk at a conference, or teaching a course from your website, the ability to communicate effectively in front of a group of people can make the difference between success and failure."
Explore our graphic design resources today to create visually stunning and impactful presentations.
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11 best tips to implement in your next presentation
01. Leave out the text. Yes, all of it.
Let’s start with a crazy idea: What if you don’t include any text in your slides? Instead, pick a few high-quality images that fit the narrative of your presentation. Apart from ending up with beautiful content, you will greatly impress your audience due to the fact that human beings are commonly visual creatures. Also, with no text to support your presentation, you will develop your verbal skills like never before – it’s like riding a bicycle without training wheels for the first time.
Learn how to make a slideshow that captivates your audience by focusing on visuals and storytelling.
02. Insert quotes between slides
How often has it been the case that after going to the movies or hanging out with friends, your strongest memory was a specific phrase someone said? This is the power of quotes. It doesn’t mean you should base your presentations strictly on them, but rather include a few handpicked ones that can add a dash of spice to your slides. This is especially true if you find a quote from a renowned scholar that affirms your claims. Just don’t forget to double-check that you have indeed quoted the correct person.
03. Don’t read, speak
This one shouldn’t even be on the list – we just wanted to drill it in. More than a tip, it’s an unspoken rule to not read off your slides. Regardless of the time and resources you invest in the visual aspect of your presentation, it should play nothing more than a supporting role in your show. People came to listen to what you have to say, so present your ideas with passion and show them that you know your stuff and believe in whatever you’re talking about. Your slides are merely a complement to your speech. If you need a script, that’s totally acceptable (we’re all human, no one has a perfect memory). Plan this aid ahead of time by preparing a sheet of paper that orders the topics you’ll be mentioning. Just don’t lose time reading your ‘cheat sheet’ out loud, as nothing shows more confidence than looking your audience right in the eyes.
04. Show-off with some stats
“Against facts, there are no arguments.” Here’s one quote that we simply can’t stop repeating in our heads when it comes to verifying our thoughts. Do you know why it works? Because we as humans love facts. And we love to be convinced by them. You can use a table to display your data, as long as it’s carefully created to show only the essential info – that is, don’t make it look like the Matrix Code. However, the best option is a well-designed graph, which has superpowers in terms of catching our audience’s attention and strengthening our opinions in certain arguments. Better yet, consider using an infographic. There are many types of infographics to choose from, and they combine visuals and data in a way that makes complex ideas easier to understand, while keeping your audience engaged and informed.
Learn more about how to make an infographic and discover creative infographic ideas to captivate and inform your audience.
05. Pause for a moment
Although a short break might seem like a bold move in the middle of your presentation, it can work greatly to your advantage. Think: nowadays, in the era of social media and texting, many people make sure to have their finger on the pulse of the latest information – to share it or tweet it out. There’s no fighting this, so you might as well use it to your advantage. How? If your presentation includes shocking revelations or astounding data, try taking a short break before presenting it (half a minute is enough, but you should read your room) and encourage your audience to share the upcoming information on social media. The same goes for data you’ve already presented – like asking a question, then allotting time for people to organize their thoughts before answering it. These pauses can make a huge difference in the way your messages come across.
06. There’s no shame in using a template
Creating visually impressive presentations doesn’t require you to be a professional designer or have expert knowledge of aesthetics. There are fantastic tools and templates available that make it easy for anyone to craft stunning slides. To make your presentation stand out, consider customizing the colors to reflect your unique style. For the best impact, stick to a single template to maintain consistency and create a polished, professional look. With the right tools and a few simple tips, you can create presentations that truly shine.
Need inspiration? Check out our top-notch presentation ideas to effortlessly captivate your audience.
07. Leave the paragraphs behind
In the age of millennials and overuse of technology, staying focused on one task has often led to epic failure – like trying to study for your next exam, while feeling the urge to watch TV and check your Instagram feed. With words in a presentation, the same concept applies. Your audience will undoubtedly struggle to hear your speech while reading the long text in your slides. The main thing to remember with words in a presentation is that quality over quantity wins every time. Although it might be tempting to use long phrases or lengthy paragraphs to explain your ideas, this will do your presentation more harm than good. It will devalue your speech and cause general confusion throughout the crowd. What you should do is list key points per slide that provide a roadmap for the topics you will verbally mention – this will keep your audience focused and engaged.
08. Practice makes ‘perfect’
Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. This is especially important if it’s your first time giving a presentation (or if you want to hide in the nearest cave when you hear the words ‘public speech’). To feel familiar and confident with your content, you should first create an order for your presentation with data points. Then, present to an audience of just yourself a few times to make sure you didn’t leave anything out. The next step is body language, which you can check by practicing your speech in front of the mirror or filming yourself. Lastly, practice in front of a small group and ask for their feedback. With these necessary steps, you’ll finally be ready to speak in front of a crowd with the confidence of Scandal’s Olivia Pope.
09. Keep up the rhythm
As nerve-wracking as it can be, it’s very important to keep your cool while presenting. In presentation words, there is a balance between speaking 100 MPH and pausing too often between words and sentences. You don’t want your audience to lose attention, become bored, or worst of all, doubt your confidence. Therefore, you should try to keep things as natural as possible by speaking in the same rhythm that you are used to talking in your daily life. In fact, the occasional pause to catch your breath or take a sip of water when necessary is the perfect amount of silence to allow your information to sink in with your listeners. And no matter what, remember that you are the specialist and hold all the knowledge about this subject – so hold onto that confidence.
10. Remember your presentation tool is your friend
There’s no reason to be afraid of using a presentation tool – actually, it’s the opposite. The more you know about it, the more confident you’ll be that your presentation is the best it can be. Watch tutorials, look for tips online, and above all, learn the tool’s shortcuts on your keyboard, mouse, and even on that clicker used to change slides. During presentations, it’s common for people to ask you to return to a previous slide or bring up a topic earlier than expected. So, make sure you know how to navigate smoothly in presentation mode. There’s nothing worse than having to leave full-screen view to find a lost slide.
11. Create a presentation website
Want to take your presentation from the ground floor to the penthouse? Create it on a one-page website. The advantages of using a website platform over a standard presentation software are unarguable. For starters, you’ll replace the need for multiple slides by having your information accessible on one long scrolling page. And with the Wix Editor, you can easily embed some stunning features, like transitions with parallax effects and scroll anchoring. Plus, your presentation is accessible from any device, without the need to send it through email, bring a USB drive, or carry your laptop (and search aimlessly for the connection cable). The best part of it all: if you’ve published your site, you can simply share a link with your audience to allow them to browse it afterwards – including your contact info, social links, and the other ways you choose to promote your work online.
Bonus Tip: It goes without saying that as a professional, you should avoid adding clipart, slow-motion transition effects, sound effects, and CAPS LOCK in any of your presentations.
Presentation tips FAQ
What is the best way to structure a presentation?
Follow a clear, logical flow with three key sections: the introduction, body, and conclusion. Start with an attention-grabbing opening, present your main ideas with supporting details, and close with a strong summary or call-to-action.
How can I deal with presentation nerves?
Practice extensively and focus on your breathing to stay calm. Prepare thoroughly, arrive early to familiarize yourself with the environment, and remember that your audience is rooting for you to succeed.
What are common mistakes to avoid in a presentation?
Avoid overcrowding your slides with text or using overly complex visuals. Stay away from distracting animations, reading directly from slides, or neglecting audience interaction. Dress appropriately and maintain eye contact for a professional impression.
