Delivering Presentations: Tips for Success

Great slides don't present themselves—you do. This tutorial teaches you techniques to deliver with confidence, engage audiences, and handle any situation.

Time: 4 minutes
Level: Beginner
Prerequisites: You've created a presentation

Preparing Before You Present

Confidence comes from preparation.

Rehearse out loud: Read through your presentation 2-3 times. Say the words, don't just think them.

Time yourself: Know how long your presentation takes. Aim to finish 10% under your time limit.

Test your tech: Open your presentation on the device you'll use. Check that animations, images, and fonts load correctly.

Have a backup: Export to PDF as a fallback. Email it to yourself or save on a USB drive.

Know your first 30 seconds cold: Memorize your opening—strong starts set the tone.

Result: You walk in confident, not scrambling.

Opening Strong

The first minute determines if audiences listen or tune out.

Start with impact:

• Bold statement: "We're leaving $2M on the table every quarter"
• Provocative question: "What if I told you email marketing is dead?"
• Surprising statistic: "75% of our customers never use our core feature"
• Brief story: "Last Tuesday, a client called me in tears..."

Don't start with:

• "Um, so, I guess we'll get started..."
• "Thanks for being here today..." (skip the ceremony)
• "My name is X and I'm here to talk about..." (they know)
• Apologizing: "I'm not a great presenter, but..." (never)

First slide rule: Your first slide should hook interest, not display logistics.

Tip: Skip the agenda slide unless required. Audiences care about outcomes, not your plan.

Result: You capture attention immediately and set a confident tone.

Using Presenter Notes Effectively

Outline's presenter notes keep you on track without reading slides.

To add notes:

1. Select a slide in the editor
2. Click Notes at the bottom of the canvas
3. Type your talking points or reminders
4. Notes appear only to you during presenting

What to include:

• Key points to mention
• Statistics or data to cite
• Transition phrases to next slide
• Time checkpoints ("5 minutes in")
• Questions to ask audience

Don't write full scripts: Notes are prompts, not speeches. Bullet points only.

During presenting:

• Press Present to enter presentation mode
• Your notes appear on your screen
• Audience sees only slides on their screen (if using dual display)

Result: You stay on message without memorizing or reading slides.

Engaging Your Audience

Keep attention with interaction and energy.

Make eye contact: Look at individuals for 2-3 seconds each. Scan the room—don't stare at slides or notes.

Use pauses: Silence after important points lets ideas land. Don't fear quiet moments.

Vary your pace: Speed up for excitement, slow down for emphasis.

Ask questions: "How many of you have experienced this?" or "What would you do in this situation?"

Tell stories: Short anecdotes (30 seconds) make abstract concepts concrete.

Move intentionally: Walk toward audience for emphasis, step back for transitions. Don't pace nervously.

Result: Audiences stay engaged instead of checking phones.

Navigating Your Slides

Control your presentation flow smoothly.

Keyboard shortcuts:

• Space or →: Next slide
• ←: Previous slide
• B: Black screen (pause presentation)
• Escape: Exit presentation mode
• Number + Enter: Jump to specific slide

Best practices:

• Don't advance slides while talking—finish your point, then click
• Pause on key slides longer than others
• Skip slides if running short on time (build flexibility into your deck)
• Never say "oops, wrong slide"—if you misclick, just keep going

For remote presenting:

• Share your screen showing presentation mode
• Keep video on for connection
• Disable notifications before presenting
• Use a wired internet connection if possible

Result: Smooth delivery without technical fumbles.

Handling Questions

Questions are opportunities, not interruptions.

During Q&A:

• Repeat the question so everyone hears it
• Pause before answering—shows you're thinking
• Answer concisely (30 seconds maximum)
• If you don't know: "Great question. I'll find out and follow up"

For difficult questions:

• Don't get defensive: "That's a fair concern"
• Acknowledge the issue, then provide context
• Redirect to your main point: "What's important here is..."
• Offer to discuss details offline if complex

Interruptions during presentation:

• "Hold that thought—I'll address it on slide 7"
• "Great question. Can I answer that at the end?"
• For critical questions, pause and answer immediately

Tip: Plant a friendly colleague to ask the first question. First questions break the ice.

Result: You handle challenges confidently and professionally.

Reading the Room

Adjust your delivery based on audience reactions.

Signs of engagement:

• Nodding, eye contact, leaning forward
• Taking notes
• Asking questions
• Smiling or reacting to points

Signs of disengagement:

• Checking phones or laptops
• Side conversations
• Looking around the room
• Slouching or closed body language

How to re-engage lost audiences:

• Ask a question: "Show of hands—who's dealt with this?"
• Tell a story or share an example
• Skip ahead: "Let me jump to the most important part"
• Take a break if it's a long presentation
• Change your energy level—move, vary pace

Result: You adapt in real-time instead of losing your audience.

Managing Presentation Anxiety

Everyone gets nervous—here's how to manage it.

Before presenting:

• Breathe deeply: 4 seconds in, 6 seconds out, repeat 5 times
• Reframe nerves as excitement: "I'm excited to share this"
• Focus on your message, not yourself
• Remember: audiences want you to succeed

During presenting:

• Slow down—nervous presenters rush
• Plant your feet—don't shift weight nervously
• Make eye contact with friendly faces first
• Pause and breathe between slides

If you make a mistake:

• Don't apologize or draw attention to it
• Correct briefly and move on
• Remember: audiences don't know what you planned to say

Tip: Confidence comes with practice. Present often—to colleagues, friends, or recording yourself.

Result: You present with calm confidence instead of visible anxiety.

Following Up After Presenting

Your presentation doesn't end when slides do.

Immediately after:

• Thank attendees for their time and attention
• Offer to share the slide deck
• Provide contact information for questions
• Mention clear next steps or actions

Within 24 hours:

• Send slide deck via email or link
• Answer any questions you promised to follow up on
• Send additional resources mentioned during presentation
• Thank key stakeholders or decision-makers

For sales presentations:

• Recap agreed-upon next steps
• Include pricing or proposal documents
• Set specific date for follow-up conversation
• Personalize the message—reference specific discussion points

Result: Strong follow-through reinforces your message and drives action.

What You've Learned

• Preparing thoroughly before presenting
• Opening with impact to hook audiences
• Using presenter notes effectively
• Engaging audiences with interaction and energy
• Navigating slides smoothly
• Handling questions confidently
• Reading and adapting to audience reactions
• Managing presentation anxiety

Next Steps

• Build persuasive content: Create compelling narratives in Building Sales Presentations That Convert
• Master slide design: Optimize layouts in Mastering Slide Layouts
• Share your work: Export and distribute in Exporting and Sharing Your Presentation

Success! Presentation skills improve with practice. Present often, seek feedback, and refine your delivery with each opportunity.