a hook for a presentation

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8 clever hooks for presentations (with tips)

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What’s a good hook?

The importance of a good hook, 8 good hooks for speeches and presentations , leave a lasting impression.

When delivering a presentation, the first few minutes are crucial for capturing your audience’s attention. This is your chance to build intrigue around your topic and give listeners an idea of what’s to follow.

The best speakers use powerful hooks for presentations to introduce their topics, build suspense, and spark curiosity . These hooks are sharp and quick to grab attention — the kind that sticks around until the end of the presentation. They can be a surprising statistic, a thought-provoking question , and even a short personal story.

Drafting excellent hooks for presentations is essential to building anticipation and sowing the seeds for your audience’s growing interest. And with a limited window of opportunity to gain your listener’s interest and trust, your hook needs to be as substantial as the rest of your presentation.

A good hook introduces your subject matter , engages your audience, and sets the tone for the rest of the presentation.

Capturing listeners’ attention can be challenging as a presenter, especially if they’re attending out of obligation rather than individual interest. Although it’s wonderful to present to a room full of people eager to hear what you have to say, this won’t always be the case.

Knowing how to make a good hook can set you up for a successful presentation , no matter who’s in the audience. It engages listeners from the very beginning (and might even ignite a disinterested party’s curiosity).

Consider who your audience members are and what they want to learn. Their background should inform the tone of the presentation and lay the groundwork for building an angle.

When giving a presentation on ocean acidification to an environmental board, you could deliver a thought-provoking statistic on coral bleaching or provide a personal story that illustrates ecological changes that have taken place in your lifetime.

Remember: the hook should hint at the value your listeners will gain from your presentation without giving away too much too soon. Don’t spoil the plot twist, but make sure you start foreshadowing.

Impressions are formed quickly, making it crucial for the start of your presentation to kick off on a high note.

According to psychologist Alexander Todorov and researcher Janine Willis, it takes a tenth of a second to form an impression of a stranger . During this brief moment, we evaluate qualities such as likability and trustworthiness. 

Although coming up with a hook idea that appeals to listeners within a tenth of a second may be impossible, your first few words are important. Knowing how quickly we form perceptions may be intimidating, but with the right intro, a short time frame can work in your favor.

A well-developed and intriguing hook gives your listeners a positive first impression and influences how they interpret the rest of the presentation.

The hook is a key opportunity to show why your topic is exciting or worth considering. Here are eight types of hooks and hook examples to stimulate your audience’s interest, no matter the subject.

1. Make a surprising claim

Starting your speech with a surprising statement or statistic is an excellent way to grab your listener’s attention. A person giving a presentation on the benefits of coaching services to a company’s top executives could share the increase in employee productivity that teams experience after implementing coaching in the workplace.

Example: “Productivity increases 63% in workplaces that provide employees with group coaching services.”

The trick to making a surprising claim? It needs to shock your audience. If you create a statistic-based hook, it must be substantial enough to be of value to your listeners and persuade them to learn more about your topic.

Imagine that the example above only referenced a 5% increase. The executives would likely view the number as too little to invest in coaching services, making them less eager to pay attention during the presentation.

2. Start with a story

Stories are an excellent way to enhance information retention, making them a great tool for leaving a lasting impression on your audience.

According to organizational psychologist Peg Neuhauser, we recall what we learned from a well-told story more accurately than we do from facts and figures . So, if there’s a piece of information you’d like to impart to your audience, consider wrapping it in a short but compelling narrative.

When selecting an anecdote to share, ensure it’s relevant to your topic and resonates with your audience. A story that excites a sales team will likely differ from what an engineering team finds compelling.

Example: When delivering a presentation on the benefits of sleep on mental clarity, the speaker provides a story from your personal experience . They describe a period when construction outside constantly interrupted their sleep and how that negatively impacted several areas of their life, including their career and relationships.

This story uses vulnerability to earn the audience’s trust and segues into the rest of the presentation: breaking down how deep sleep is vital to performing your best.

3. Reference a historical event

This extra creative spin on the storytelling hook relies on a fascinating historical moment rather than your personal experience. The odds that your audience understands the wider context and thus the relevance of your presentation makes historical references good attention grabbers.  

A person giving a product pitch to potential investors could start with an anecdote about when they developed the first iteration of their product.

Example: “Did you know that jeans were invented 150 years ago? On an ordinary day like today, Levi Strauss and tailor Jacob Davis combined metal rivets and denim trousers to create durable work pants for gold rush miners.”

This historical hook creates a captivating opening for a pitch about stylish and wearable apparel. The speaker can lean on this historical reference to introduce a product that’s even more universal than jeans.

4. Ask an intriguing question

Finding a single starting sentence that hooks readers isn’t always easy. But incorporating participation into the start of your presentation is a fun way to hook your audience, even if it’s with a rhetorical question that encourages them to participate mentally.

Your question should be as captivating and intellectually stimulating as possible to pique the interest of each of your audience members. This approach works great for introducing products, services, or projects, as you can present what you’ve been working on as the answer to the question.

Example: “What if there was a way to fight the climate crisis while you cook dinner?”

Remember to pause after asking a question to give your audience time to brainstorm possible answers and stimulate their curiosity.

If you’re giving a business presentation, conduct research beforehand to ensure your question is relevant to your clients. The answer should mean something to your audience or solve a pain point they experience.

5. Contradict expectations

Contradicting a widely held belief is a compelling way to grab your listener’s attention. Do this by starting your presentation with a statement that challenges your audience’s presumptions.

Example: “Hydration isn’t all about how much water you drink.”

This presentation hook intrigues audience members to learn what else is needed other than water to stay hydrated. You can then lead your presentation through several methods for staying hydrated , like incorporating electrolytes into your diet and eating fruits and vegetables with high water content.

6. Show a captivating video

Starting your presentation with a video allows someone else to break the ice for you. Choose a short video related to your topic that easily transitions into your slideshow.

Example: A graphic design team manager wants to introduce new software into their department. They show a video from the product designers that provides an in-depth and visually engaging overview of the software’s features and benefits.

After the video ends, the speaker can move on to slides that describe how the team can leverage the software to improve their workflow and creative outputs.

7. Use a quote from a famous figure

Find a quote from someone admirable that relates to your presentation and impart wisdom to your audience.

Example: Someone’s administering a presentation on professional networking. They use Maya Angelou’s famous quote, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Although this quote can apply to a number of topics, in a networking context , it emphasizes how important it is for people to consider how they make others feel when they first meet. This tells your audience that a critical networking component is connecting with others personally rather than focusing solely on what they do professionally.

8. Show an object

An object can promote interaction and help your audience visualize what you’re talking about. This is especially helpful if you’re pitching a product and want to show listeners what the product looks like in real life and how it functions.

Example: A salesperson presents a new lamp design to a furniture store. They enhance the pitch by bringing the lamp to the presentation and demonstrating its ambient light features.

This strategy also works in contexts when you’re discussing the gravity of a statistic. For instance, if you’re aiming to communicate the dire levels of microplastics in the ocean, you could illustrate the severity by showing the audience a container filled with plastic fragments.

It’s not always easy to grab your listener’s attention when speaking publicly. Using hooks for presentations is one of the most effective ways to fan your audience’s curiosity and earn their engagement from start to finish.

The key is to keep your hook brief, relevant, and engaging. Remember to take the time to know your audience and set up your presentation to deliver valuable information from the start.

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Elizabeth Perry, ACC

Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships. With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.

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8 Clever Hooks for Presentations That Will Captivate Your Audience

Have you ever noticed how the right beginning can make or break a talk? It’s the moment where you set the tone, grab attention, and invite your listeners to join you on a journey. Though often overlooked, the introductory moments of a talk can determine its ultimate success. Whether it’s a company meeting, a city council presentation, or even a podcast episode, knowing how to start strong is crucial.

Imagine this: you’re on a plane, rehearsing the draft of your slide deck. The session starts in just over an hour. You’re well-prepared, having done all the necessary tasks and coming up with effective methods to convey your ideas. But something feels off. You’ve got all the data, statistics, and anecdotes, yet there’s a lingering question in your mind: will they truly be getting engaged from the start?

In every presentation, it’s essential to figure an approach that will engage and intrigue. A creative and compelling opening can be the difference between being remembered or ignored. Yet it’s not enough to have interesting content; the way you begin has to be just as mesmerizing. We’re not just talking about an amusing anecdote or a curious fact, but something that resonates with your audience and paves the way for the remainder of your talk.

Let’s consider those speeches people still talk about years down the line. More often than not, these memorable moments have something in common: a strong introduction. The speakers didn’t just rely on the substance of their message but focused intensely on how they delivered that initial pitch. They practiced, got creative, and kept their audience’s attention from drifting. That level of preparation made a higher impact.

It’s not just about what you’re saying but how you start saying it. Whether through the use of a provocative question, an unexpected statistic, or even a brief story that builds intrigue, prioritizing a powerful introduction takes practice. The good news is, there are tried-and-true methods that you can incorporate into your own talks to ensure you start on the right foot.

Fancy listening to some podcasts might give you a few ideas as well. Many podcasters have developed a knack for grabbing listeners’ attention within the first few seconds. It’s a skill that’s undeniably transferable to live presentations. After all, in our fast-paced world, where everyone’s attention spans are getting shorter, a strong start is a necessity, not just a nice-to-have.

8 Creative Ways to Make Your Presentation Stand Out

Imagine this: your presentation is about to start, and you want to grab everyone’s attention immediately. The opening can make or break your talk. It sets the stage, engages people, and makes them eager to hear more. But how do you achieve that? These strategies will help you create an opening that people won’t forget, leaving a lasting impact on their minds.

1. Start with a Powerful Statement

Begin with something that jolts the audience. A provocative remark or surprising statistic can work wonders. For instance, “Did you know that over 5 million people…?” This instantly makes people think and gets them interested. The key is to choose a statement that is relevant and meaningful to your main topic.

2. Use a Historical Anecdote

History has a way of capturing imagination. Share a story from the past that relates to your subject. For example, “Back in 1969, when the first moon landing was announced…”. It creates a narrative that people can follow and recall easily. Plus, it pairs well with modern-day contexts, enhancing the depth of your speech.

The purpose here is not just to inform but also to inspire.

Look at it as painting a picture with words. People can’t help but be drawn in when there’s a rich story that pulls them into your world.

3. Pose a Rhetorical Question

Rhetorical questions are great attention getters. They make people think about the answer without you having to spell it out. For instance, “What would you do if…?” This type of question engages the mind and often makes people feel that they are part of the discussion. They’ll be more likely to stay tuned, thinking about the question even as you move on to other points.

Remember, the question should be directly tied to your content. This approach isn’t just about arousing curiosity; it’s about anchoring your talk in something that feels absolutely relevant and immediate.

4. Share a Real-Life Example

People relate to real stories. Share a case study or example from your company’s history or a well-known success story in your industry. Your audience is more likely to remember real-life instances than abstract concepts. For example, “When our company’s product first launched, we discovered…”. It grounds your speech in reality, making the benefits and outcomes you’re discussing seem tangible and achievable.

So, next time you’re preparing a presentation , don’t just focus on the factual content. Think about your opening. A strong start will make your audience sit up and pay attention. And once you have them hooked, you can guide them, step-by-step, through the rest of your talk, leaving them with comments that show they’re genuinely interested and engaged.

Expert Tips to Captivate Your Audience

Engaging your audience effectively is both an art and a science. Every field has its own dynamics, but the principles of holding attention often remain universal. It’s about creating a balance between substance and style, ensuring that your message not only informs but also resonates deeply. Simple methods can be incredibly powerful when executed with skill.

Prioritize a Strong Start

Your introduction sets the tone for the entire event. Start with a couple of questions that highlight the real significance of the topic at hand. “How would it feel to recharge your entire workflow?” or “What if you could visualize success straight from the get-go?” Such questions compel the audience to think and engage immediately. This simple technique of querying grabs attention, awakening a state of curiosity and anticipation.

Use the Power of Storytelling

Stories are a fundamental way humans impart knowledge, and they work wonders in presentations too. Elizabeth Perry, a storytelling coach, suggests that even statistics can be turned into gripping tales that hold the audience’s belief and interest. Consider recounting an anecdote about a small startup that defied odds, or narrate a moment of suspense from a major event in the business world. It’s about bringing data to life, in a way that feels relatable and real.

Whether you’re addressing clients, stakeholders, or team members, the right story doesn’t just inform – it inspires. A visualization of a real-world scenario, where solutions made a tangible impact, provides clarity and sticks in memory far better than abstract concepts.

Finally, don’t shy away from humor. Light jokes can recharge a slow moment, make serious points more palatable, and create a connection on a personal level. A simple joke or a light-hearted story can act as a breather, making the audience more receptive and productive during your talk.

Remember, captivating and maintaining interest doesn’t mean bombarding with information. Prioritize what matters most, slow down to ensure comprehension, and build your narrative thoughtfully. The result? An audience that not only listens but remembers and acts upon what they’ve learned.

The Art of Storytelling in Presentations

Presenting with story-driven narratives engages like no other technique. This approach bonds with listeners on a deeper level. Imagine starting with a captivating story. It pulls the audience right in. They love the personal touch; it makes them react. A strong opening can have a surprising effect. A long-winded introduction, however, will lose attention fast.

When pitching a new project, storytelling benefits are huge. It brings concepts to life. People remember stories better than facts. Select a story that aligns with your message. Miles ahead of a mere data dump, they create lasting impressions. This method has been honed over years and has proven effective.

To perfect this art, you must practice carefully. Choose concise and relatable anecdotes. Stories that people can connect with are almost always worth it. Long gone are the days of boring presentations. Ask yourself, what personal experience can I share here? Sometimes, a soft, emotional touch is all it takes.

Claiming the full focus of your audience is the goal. A story is a great attention grabber. Introductions often get forgotten, but stories stick. Use them during the initial phase of your talk. They will help in making a strong name for yourself. Remember that the best presenters are also the best storytellers.

Years of analysis show that audiences love narratives. Reacting positively to personal and relatable content is common. It’s a technique that yields growth and positive results. Launch your career to new heights! Storytelling isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a skill that can dramatically improve your presentations.

Including stories isn’t just about entertainment. It’s about ensuring the audience interacts with your message. You could reference a successful project or a surprising outcome. For instance, a couple of concise sentences could set the stage. The story needs to project you as sincere and relatable. In the end, it’s about making a lasting impression.

Engaging Your Audience with Questions

Engaging an audience is both an art and a science. One effective way to maintain their attention is by using questions. They can be rhetorical or direct. The key is strategic use. Questions can provoke thought and encourage participation, making the presentation a two-way conversation.

Imagine you’re addressing a group of professionals in New Zealand, and you start with a surprising question: “Did you know the average salary of a kiwi worker?” It’s an immediate grabber. People love surprising facts and real-world data. They’ll be more willing to listen and mentally respond, even if they don’t verbalize their answers.

Quoting experts and citing interesting sources like well-known books or articles adds depth. For instance, you might say, “As John Smith states, ‘The best way to predict the future is to create it.’ How do you imagine doing that in your role?” This not only emphasizes the significance of the topic but also enhances personal engagement.

Utilize anecdotal methods to drive points home. You could share a small story: “When I started my career, I always wondered why they’re so focused on infrastructure. Then something happened; I realized its importance in strategic terms over time.” Personal stories make ideas more relatable and human.

Open-ended questions encourage deeper thought. “What would you do if you were in charge of hiring?” Or try a reflective angle: “Think back to a time you faced a strategic challenge. How did you overcome it?” Such queries delve into past experiences and provoke introspection.

On the other hand, closed questions work well for gauging immediate reactions. “Do you agree?” or “Have you faced similar challenges?” These require simple yes or no answers and can be quick engagement tools. Remember, even a simple show of hands or a poll via apps like Slido or Mentimeter can break the monotony and encourage active participation.

Sometimes, adding a bit of humor can lower defenses and make the audience more receptive. Use a humorous question like, “Which tools wouldn’t you use even if they were hiring?” or “How many of you honestly thought about taking a break just now?” A joke a day keeps the boredom at bay, after all.

Wrap up with more pressing and pertinent questions about the future. “What’s the next big thing in your field?” or “How do you imagine shaping the future with these new tools and knowledge?” This leaves the audience pondering long after the talk ends, effectively increasing engagement.

Using Humor to Break the Ice

Humor has a unique way of connecting people and making them feel comfortable. When executed correctly, it can set a positive tone for your presentation. Many people appreciate a good laugh, especially at the beginning of what they might initially think will be a dull meeting. This section discusses how humor can be a substantial starting point.

Understanding Your Audience

Knowing your audience is the first step. What age group are they? Are they usually serious or more relaxed? Are there cultural or company-specific topics you need to be sensitive to? Understanding these nuances is essential. For example, imagine telling a joke about technology to a room full of tech-savvy individuals–they’re more likely to appreciate it. On the other hand, a joke about the intricacies of the kiwi market might only resonate with a niche group.

Here’s a scenario for you: you’re about to give a presentation to the board of directors of a conservative company. You need to break the ice but can’t come off as too flippant or unprofessional. In such cases, a light-hearted comment related to the company’s field or a humorous story from your own experience can work wonders, as long as it remains respectful.

Crafting the Perfect Joke

Writing a joke may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Think of a shared experience or common problem in your industry. Begin by sketching out a few ideas. Is there a recent event that everyone in your field is talking about? Is there a minister in a particular policy area whose decisions have caused a stir? Jokes that relate closely to your audience’s everyday life will land more effectively.

Take the opportunity to test your joke with colleagues before the big day. Feedback is crucial. In some cases, a joke might need minor adjustments to make it more effective. And don’t forget to consider timing. Launch your joke when it feels natural–the beginning of your presentation is usually the best time.

Below is a simple guide to help you create and deliver your humor effectively:

When done right, humor can be the catalyst needed to create a memorable and impactful presentation. So, don’t shy away from it. Take that leap; your audience will thank you! The takeaway is to be genuine and willing to show your human side. After all, everybody enjoys a good laugh.

Leveraging Visuals for Impact

Grabbing attention and making an impact is crucial in any presentation. Visuals play an indispensable role in keeping the audience engaged and improving retention. A well-chosen image can convey a complex message immediately. But how do you leverage visuals effectively? Let’s delve into the strategies.

One of the best ways to arouse interest is to add relevant and striking visuals. These visuals should not just be decorative but serve to enhance your message. Here are some tips to make your visuals count:

• Tell a Story: Images should help narrate your story. The right visual can tell a thousand words and add depth to your message.
• Be Creative: Use infographics, charts, and creative visuals to explain facts and data. This approach helps in breaking down complex information into digestible parts.
• Provide Contrast: Use contrasting images to highlight differences. This technique helps in making your key points stand out prominently.
• Grab Anticipation: Begin with a captivating image that hints at what’s coming. This keeps the audience held in anticipation, eager to know more.
• Quotes and Surprises: Incorporate famous quotes or surprising images related to your field. This method not only provides credibility but also arouses curiosity and keeps the audience engaged.

Besides these, ensure that your images are high-quality. Blurry or pixelated images can cost you credibility. High-quality visuals send the message that you value your presentation and, by extension, your audience. People spend a significant amount of time on sites with visually appealing elements–because we are visual beings.

Thanks to numerous tools available, you don’t have to be a design expert to have impactful visuals. Use tools like Canva, Piktochart, and others to improve your visual content. These tools provide ready-to-use templates and guides, making your job easier.

But, don’t overcrowd your slides with images. One well-placed image can be more effective than a clutter of visuals. Balance between text and imagery is key. Remember, visuals help recall. When your audience thinks back on your presentation, they’ll likely recall the powerful visuals you used, along with the messages they themselves told.

To sum up, visuals are a powerful tool to enhance the impact of your presentation. Used thoughtfully, they can bring your ideas to life and captivate your audience’s attention. You’ll find that this approach helps you to communicate more effectively and leave a lasting impression.

Effective Use of Quotations

Using quotations can transform a dull presentation into a memorable experience. They add depth and credibility. Moreover, they can illustrate points with clarity. Sometimes a single quote conveys more than a full slide of text. But does the effectiveness lie in the quote itself, or in how it’s presented? Let’s explore the strategies.

Why Quotations Work

Firstly, quotations tap into the collective memory. Everybody has likely heard some famous sayings before. This familiarity makes the message more relatable. Secondly, quotations from respected figures can lend authority to your arguments. When Albert Einstein said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge,” he left us with a metaphor that transcends age and discipline. In a global context, these words still resonate.

Picking the Right Quote

The right quotation is like a fine wine–it complements but doesn’t overpower. Consider your audience’s demographics. Are they academically inclined, business professionals, or perhaps a mix? In academic settings, quotes from renowned researchers are usually impactful. In business, anecdotes from industry giants can elevate your point. If you are looking to motivate, inspirational quotes work wonders.

For example, consider this: “The only way to do great work is to love what you do” by Steve Jobs. Here, the object of importance is the passion driving one’s tasks. Such a sentence can make even the most mundane of topics seem filled with potential.

Timing is crucial too. Introducing a quote at the beginning can set the tone. In the middle, it can revitalize waning attention. Near the end, it can leave a lasting impression. Wondered where it fits best in your speech? Analyze your draft carefully. Sometimes, embedding a complementing quote miles deep into your analysis works best.

Leverage the emotional power of quotations. While humor (think #ajokeaday) can enliven the atmosphere, a seriously framed quote like, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step” by Lao Tzu, can inspire action. It’s all about balance. Make your choice wisely.

Moreover, don’t just recite the quote. Share it visually to maximize impact. Imagine a presentation slide where Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” is not just written, but designed dynamically. It’s like watching a plane take off; the message will fly high and far.

Finally, always attribute right. Quoting someone without acknowledgment doesn’t earn you marks. Accuracy in citation shows respect and credibility. So, next time you’re drafting your talk, remember: a well-placed quote isn’t just filler–it’s a catalyst for growth.

Creating Anticipation with Insights

Grabbing and maintaining the attention of your audience can be challenging. It’s not just about delivering facts. It’s about engaging them right from the start. One excellent method is to create a sense of anticipation. People love the feeling of looking forward to something. This anticipation can elevate the overall impact of your presentation.

Start with a Provocative Question

Starting with a strategic and thought-provoking question can be a killer move. Ask something your audience can’t ignore. Make them think, “How would I answer that?” For instance, you might say, “What if I told you 4 simple changes could solve huge problems?” This immediately makes them recall their own problems and start thinking about solutions. A good question can set the stage for further engagement.

Share Historical Insights

Another technique is to delve into history. Talk about an intriguing historical event related to your topic. Present an attention-grabbing fact and link it to the present. For example, you could say, “Did you know this method we use today has its roots in ancient Rome?” This makes the information relatable and interesting.

Telling a quick, insightful story related to your presentation topic can also be highly effective. People have a natural affinity for stories. Share an interesting anecdote that provides an aha moment. This not only grabs attention but also makes the information memorable.

Don’t forget the power of humor. A little laugh goes a long way in easing the audience in. Crack a joke that’s relevant and in good taste. This can be especially rewarding if you know the sense of humor of your audience. Just like that, you’ve opened a channel of engagement.

Exploring commercial insights can also be powerful. Reference upcoming industry trends or data that feel like insider information. This approach creates a sense of exclusive knowledge. It makes your audience feel “in the know.” Naming real-world examples helps in grounding theory into practice.

Finally, do not downplay your own creative skills. Sharing personal insights or experiences adds a touch of authenticity. People appreciate knowing the person behind the presentation. Open up a little about yourself to make it more relatable. As a result, you build rapport and establish a deeper connection with your audience.

Arouse Curiosity

Engaging the audience’s interest can transform a regular presentation into a memorable experience. One powerful method is by arousing curiosity. People are naturally curious beings. They love discovering new, interesting things. By tapping into this innate quality, you can make your presentation unforgettable.

Imagine starting with a provocative statement or a fascinating fact. For instance, did you know that someone once paid $1.2 million for a single kiwi bird? Such a statement immediately grabs attention. It sparks questions in the minds of your listeners. How, why, what’s the story behind this? Curiosity is a great motivator; it drives listeners to stay tuned.

Using Rhetorical Questions

Rhetorical questions are effective in piquing interest. Questions like, “What would you do with an extra hour each day?” engage the imagination. They prompt audiences to think deeply. Moreover, rhetorical questions create an internal dialogue. Unlike other techniques, they demand personal reflection.

Sharing Intriguing Facts and Stories

Another technique involves sharing surprising facts or stories. Here are a few examples:

These facts do more than inform. They stimulate thought and arouse curiosity. They invite the audience to connect the dots themselves. Whether through a provocative statement, a rhetorical question, or an intriguing fact, these techniques work by capturing attention and sparking interest. After all, the real essence of a great presentation lies not just in what is shared, but in how it engages the audience’s minds.

Remember the old proverb: “Give a man a fish, and he eats for a day; teach a man to fish, and he eats for a lifetime.” Bringing curiosity into your presentation does more than deliver information. It gives audiences a reason to remember and apply what they’ve learned, ensuring a lasting impact.

What are some examples of clever hooks to start a presentation?

Examples of clever hooks to start a presentation can include a surprising statistic, a compelling question, a short anecdote or story, a vivid description, a quote from a well-known person, a demonstration of a problem, an intriguing statement, or a “what if” scenario. These methods are designed to grab your audience’s attention and set the stage for the rest of your presentation.

Why is having a strong hook important for a presentation?

Having a strong hook is important because it captures your audience’s attention right from the beginning. It sets the tone for your presentation and encourages your audience to be engaged and interested in what you have to say. A compelling hook can make your message more memorable and help you establish a connection with your audience.

How can I incorporate a surprising statistic as a hook in my presentation?

To incorporate a surprising statistic, first identify a fact or figure that is directly related to your presentation topic and has the potential to surprise or intrigue your audience. Begin your presentation by stating the statistic clearly, and then explain why it is significant. This sets a factual foundation while immediately grabbing attention.

Can you explain how to use a personal story as a hook effectively?

Using a personal story as a hook can be very effective when it is relevant to your topic and emotionally engaging. Start with a brief narration of your experience that relates to the central message of your presentation. Highlight the challenges, emotions, and outcomes to make the story relatable. This humanizes you and makes your audience more invested in what you have to share.

What should I avoid when creating a hook for my presentation?

Avoid hooks that are irrelevant to your topic, overly complex, or generic. Starting with a cliché or a statement that doesn’t intrigue the audience could lose their interest quickly. Additionally, avoid overly long hooks that delay getting to the main content of your presentation. Aim for something concise, impactful, and directly related to your message.

How to Start your Presentation: 4 Step Formula for a Killer Intro

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12 ways to hook an audience in 30 seconds.

Published: October 26, 2021

Updated: October 26, 2021

Do you want to grab your audience's attention from the first sentence? Here's a compilation of great ideas with examples and tips on how to write a good hook.

"When you advertise fire-extinguishers, open with the fire," says advertising executive  David Ogilvy . You have only 30 seconds in a TV commercial to grab viewers' attention. The same applies to a presentation. Knowing how to hook your audience in the first 30 seconds of your talk is crucial. This is the time your listeners form an impression of you and of what's to follow. The success of your talk depends upon grabbing your listeners’ attention and keeping them engaged. 

What is a speech hook and how does it work?

A hook is a presentation-opening tactic that immediately captures your audience’s imagination. As the word implies, it’s like a worm on a fishing hook that attracts a fish. A hook instantly engages your audience so that they want to listen to what you have to say.

Your hook must come at the start of your talk. First impressions count. Like a fine thoroughbred, you need to start strong out of the gate. Instead, many presenters are more like old, tired workhorses—they start weak by wasting those first precious seconds with platitudes and pleasantries.  Brain research  shows that we don't pay attention to boring things. Surprise your listeners with some creative speech attention grabbers.

How do you make a good hook?

Coming up with hook ideas is not difficult if you follow some basic guidelines on how to make a good hook.

A good hook is brief, catchy, well-rehearsed and pertinent to your topic. In brainstorming examples of hooks, avoid the dry and conventional.

For example, let's say you are  delivering a presentation  on investments. Instead of an obvious and trite question such as "How many of you would be unhappy to hear that your house is worth less than you paid for it?" consider using a catchy or thought-provoking question such as "How many of you thought that your home would be your safest investment?"

12 Killer Hooks to Grab Your Audience's Attention

If you're stuck for ideas on how to start with a hook, check out these 12 examples of hooks that will help you grab your audience's attention—and keep it.

1. Use a contrarian approach.

One of the best attention grabber examples is to make a statement of a universally accepted concept, then go against conventional wisdom by contradicting the statement. For example, a market trader starts by contradicting the commonly held advice of buying low and selling high. He says: "It's wrong. Why? Because buying low typically entails a stock that's going in the opposite direction—down—from the most desired direction—up." This tactic is a provocative attention grabber for speeches and it can help engage the audience right away.

2. Ask a series of rhetorical questions.

One of the most common hook ideas is to start with a rhetorical question. Better still, start with a series of rhetorical questions. An excellent example of this tactic is Simon Sinek's TED  presentation  on how great leaders can inspire action. He begins with: "How do you explain when things don't go as we assumed? Or better, how do you explain when others are able to achieve things that seem to defy all of the assumptions? For example, why is Apple so innovative? . . . Why is it that they seem to have something different? Why is it that Martin Luther King led the civil rights movement?" A series of rhetorical questions stimulate the audience's mind as they ponder the answers.

3. Deliver a compelling sound bite.

Top hook ideas include using a catchy phrase or sound bite that perks up the audience.  To create your sound bite, consider your message and package it in a brief and compelling statement. Then explain how it fits into your overall topic or message.

Take inspiration from speakers such as innovation expert  Jeremy Gutsche  who once used this sound bite in a keynote: "Culture eats strategy for breakfast. This is a sign that is on Ford's strategy War Room. And the lesson from it is not how good your PowerPoint slide deck is; what it really boils down to at the end of the day is how ready and willing your organization is to embrace change, try new things and focus on when you find an opportunity."

4. Make a startling assertion.

When you're stumped for ideas on how to make a hook, use a surprising or amazing fact. That's an easy and sure-fire way to gain people's attention. Take the time to research startling statistics that illustrate the seriousness of what you're going to talk about. For example, a presentation about conservancy can start with: "Every second, a slice of rainforest the size of a football field is mowed down. That's over 31 million football fields of rainforest each year."

5. Provide a reference to a historical event. 

Good attention getters for speeches include mentioning a historical event. There are times when the day you present may have some significance in history that can be tied to the subject of your presentation as an opening gambit. You can quickly look up what happened on any day in  Today In Sport  or a more general site such as  This Day In History . You never know what pertinence the day might have that will add some pizzazz to your presentation. It's worth a look.

6. Use the word imagine.

Another effective attention grabber for speeches is the word “imagine.” It invites the audience to create a mental image of something. Ever since John Lennon's famous song, it has become a powerful word with emotional appeal. A good example is Jane Chen's TED  talk . She speaks about a low-cost incubator that can save many lives in underdeveloped countries. Chen opens by saying: “Please close your eyes and open your hands. Now imagine what you could place in your hands, an apple, maybe your wallet. Now open your eyes. What about a life?” She displays a slide with Anne Geddes' image of a tiny baby held in an adult's hands as she says this. Combining a hook with a visual is one of the most engaging speech attention grabbers.

There is power in asking the audience to conjure up their imagination, to play along. You can easily adapt this tactic to any topic where you want the audience to imagine a positive outcome or a vision of a better tomorrow. You can also use this opening gambit to ask the audience to imagine being in someone else's shoes.

7. Add a little show business.

If you’re looking for ideas on how to make a hook that's entertaining, consider the world of movies. Movies occupy a central place in most people's lives and a well-placed, pertinent movie quote at the start of a presentation can perk up your audience. Perhaps you have your own inspirational quote from a favorite film. You can also find some classics here:  The Best Business Wisdom Hidden In Classic Movie Quotes .

8. Arouse curiosity.

Powerful attention grabbers spark people's curiosity. To do this, you can start with a statement designed to arouse interest and make the audience look up and listen to you attentively. Bestselling author Dan Pink does this masterfully in  one  of his talks. He says: "I need to make a confession, at the outset. A little over 20 years ago, I did something that I regret. Something that I am not particularly proud of, something that in many ways I wished no one would ever know, but that here I feel kind of obliged to reveal. In the late 1980s, in a moment of youthful indiscretion, I went to law school." The hook here leads to some self-deprecating humor, which makes it even more effective.

9. Use quotations differently.

Often-used hook ideas involve the use of quotes. While many speakers start with an apt quotation, you can differentiate by stating the quote and adding a twist. For example, "We've all heard that a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. But we need to remember that a journey to nowhere also starts with a single step." You can also use a quotation from your own life. For example, in a presentation on price versus quality, I have often used a quote from my grandfather, who used to say: "I am not rich enough to buy cheap."

There are numerous sources for quotations, such as  The Library of Congress , but you might also consider  The Yale Book of Quotations , which brings together over 13,000 quotes. You can also find such resources in app form, including  Famous Quotes  and  Brilliant Quotes .

10. Quote a foreign proverb.

A novel attention grabber for speeches is quoting a proverb from a culture your audience might not be familiar with. There is a wealth of fresh material to be culled from around the world. Chances are your listeners have never heard them, so they have novelty appeal. Here are some examples: "Our last garment is made without pockets" (Italy); "You'll never plow a field by turning it over in your mind" (Ireland); "The nail that sticks up will be hammered down" (Japan), and "Paper can't wrap up a fire" (China). Whatever phrase you select,  take the time to read and understand any important context around it, so as to make sure it's appropriate for your talk.

11. Take them through a "what if" scenario. 

A compelling way to start your presentation is with a "what if" scenario. For example, asking "What if you were debt-free?" at the start of a money management presentation might grab your listeners' attention as it asks them to look forward to a positive future and it can intensify their desire for your product or service. Exploring hook ideas that use a "what if" scenario may be fruitful as the "what if" concept is easily adaptable to almost any presentation.

12. Tell them a story. 

The most engaging and widespread examples of hooks, without a doubt, are stories. Nothing will compel listeners to lean in more than a well-told story.  Science  tells us that our brains are hardwired for storytelling. But the story needs to be brief, with just the right amount of detail to bring it to life. It must be authentic and have a "message," or lesson, to support your viewpoint. Above all, it must be kind. 

A version of this article was originally published on April 11, 2013. 

Photo: Getty Images

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Your presentation hook: the best way to grab your audience

To grab your audience at the start of a presentation you need a presentation hook. It’s called a hook because it should be short and sharp! And to take the analogy a step further, it should also be the right hook for your audience.

5 presentation hooks to get you started

A short story.

I work in IT, and I talk a lot with customers about cloud computing. Here’s my presentation hook:

It’s great to be here with you today. I thought of this presentation last night, when I was playing with my 5-year-old daughter. She was making a little ‘stop motion’ video on her iPad, and with all the pics she was taking she got a ‘storage full’ message. (It’s a pretty old iPad!). I was so sorry for her, because she’d been so excited about making the video. I tried to explain: “sorry my treasure, we’ll have to stop there”, but she just looked at me and said “daddy, can’t we put the pics on the cloud?”. That’s how prevalent cloud is today, even my 5-year-old is cloud savvy. And that’s why now is the right time for us to be talking about your cloud strategy”.

It’s quick, memorable, and it makes a connection to the subject of the presentation. I use it when I’m presenting to key decision-makers that are older (I don’t use it for the young professionals, it wouldn’t quite resonate with them in the same way).

Here’s a video of another opening story:

Build up your own portfolio of stories for the presentation topics that are relevant to your work!

Shock your audience

Here’s an example:

35% of the people who start a purchase through our website fail to complete the purchase. That’s lost revenue of approximately $450,000. I’m here today to talk about how we secure that revenue.

Relevant news

I read today that WordPress now hosts over 30% of the web, that’s up 5% in the past couple of years. I’m here today to talk to you about how we can benefit from the growth of WordPress.

We’re trying to fight a war against our competitors, but we’re using shot guns and they’ve got sniper rifles. We need to get much more precise and targeted with our marketing efforts if we’re going to win.

A relevant quotation

Bill Gates said: ‘Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning’. Well, I’m here today to tell you we have a lot of learning to do!

How do you know you’ve got a great presentation hook?

As you’re rummaging around for ideas, here’s a quick checklist to evaluate your presentation hooks.

Ideally, your hook is:

• Short and sharp : it’s shouldn’t take up too much time
• Distinctive : a fresh perspective so it’s easy to remember (and easy to remember you too!)
• Relevant to the audience : so that it resonates with their worldview and interests
• Connects to the subject matter : of course, this is a must!
• Builds your reputation : ideally the hook also builds your credibility too

More presentation hook ideas to explore

Here are more idea sources as you’re looking for hooks:

• Create a burning platform : “We have to act now, if we don’t, we’ll be out of business within the year”
• Ask, “what if…” : “What if we could double our profit margins. I’m here to tell you how we can”
• Make a promise : “I promise by then end of this presentation you’ll have a whole new perspective on…” (make sure you can deliver against the promise!)
• Use a movie clip : There are movie clips for every occasion, just use the guidance above to search for yours.
• Quote a proverb : Find a relevant proverb and use it as a ‘universal truth’ to introduce your presentation.
• “I believe…” : if you have a controversial perspective, sometimes its good to just put it out there, at will create interest in what you have to say.

Two presentation hooks to avoid: humor and questions

These two presentation hooks are often recommended, but in practice they’re dangerous territory.

Using humor at the start of a presentation has all kinds of risks. Your humor might fall flat, it might not resonate with specific individuals (potentially your ‘key decision makers’) and at worst you risk offending someone before you get started. Also, do you really want to build a reputation for being funny, at work? Your presentation is an opportunity to build your reputation. Humor is probably not the right way to go.

Questions are almost as bad. Ask a question that is too simple, and your audience will be thinking “Is this a trick? What’s going on?” and they won’t want to answer. Ask a question that is too challenging, and they won’t want to answer. And there’s often that awkward sense of “OK, so who’s going to answer this?”. Finally, if you have to answer your own question, it sets up entirely the wrong dynamic for discussion later. And if you’re thinking of asking a rhetorical question that doesn’t need an answer, then change it into a statement. It’s much more powerful to make a statement, then pause and hold the room.

Presentation hooks: in summary

Presentation hooks should be short, sharp and grab your audience.

Make sure they connect to your subject matter and build your reputation too.

Avoid opening your presentation with humor or questions, there are too many risks.

Develop a portfolio of hooks for the presentation topics that you cover most!

And once you’ve finished your presentation, here’s are some simple yet powerful techniques for confident Q&As !

Presentation Hooks: the 13 most successful presentation hook examples

Wouldn’t it be great if every single person who attends your presentation gets excited at your speech and stays tuned until the end, focusing on you the entire time? Have you seen any presentation hook examples that really got you involved in the presentation?

As presenters, the problem is that we always lack presentation hook ideas to start the  presentation .

If you want to catch the attention of your audience , however, you must really hook your audience from the very beginning.

Did you know that you normally lose 90% of your audience within the first 5 minutes of your presentation ?

If you get 60 minutes to present, you do not get 60 minutes worth of attention. In fact, the typical attention span in an hour-long meeting goes something like this (Source: Sequoia Capital ):

Your hook is often the difference between a successful effective presentation and a very boring one. Think about it.

If you don’t grab your audience right away , you’ll lose them forever.

You went through all that work of preparing a killer presentation , right? You worked hard at it. You did a ton of research and you spent a lot of time carefully taking care of every single slide .

However, the truth is that if your introduction sucks, your efforts will be for nothing. Well done, my friend, you lost before you even got started! 

If you want to spread your  presentation hook ideas so that they resonate with your audience , you need to conquer them from the very first moment you talk to them. How to hook the audience ?

Let me show you how.

Attention Getters for Speeches and Presentations

If you Google the topic “ Presentation hook ideas “, you’ll find plenty of public speakers and pitch experts who will give you their top 5, top 10, top (x) advice points on how to create the perfect hook persuading the audience .

I have identified commonalities and summarized the most impactful, shared and successful presentation hook ideas coming from the top experts below and I’ve enriched them with real life dedicated examples.

Below you’ll find a long list of presentation hook examples with a whole bunch of ready to use ideas to use.

How to Start a Presentation: Attention Getters

Pre-hook: interact with the speakers first.

When you speak at a conference, it’s very rare that you are alone. There might be other speakers like you, and you might not be the first one to talk. I like not being the first speaker, as this allows me to listen to the others carefully and improve on my own presentation .

If somebody speaks before you, it’s always a good strategy to connect your intervention to their speech .

Every time I’m invited to give a speech at a conference, I always request to join from the beginning, even though I’m not the first speaker. By doing so, I can listen to the other speakers, take notes and prepare my hook .

By connecting your intervention to the others, you show respect to the other speakers and you demonstrate that you have been an active listener while you were in the audience ; you’ll give a good example on how you expect your audience to behave during a speech.

Moreover, you create a connection that contextualizes your intervention into the flow of the conference and you turn the separated speeches into a dialogue that you trigger by commenting on the other speeches. By creating a dialogue atmosphere, the audience will wake up from the previous speech and connect with you .

Now you are ready for your hook!

How to Make a Good Hook: Presentation Hook Examples

Let’s take a look at the top 13 presentation hook ideas you can use to start your presentation and focus your audience ‘s attention on your message:

1. Storytelling

Starting with a story is one of the oldest and most powerful methods of introducing your presentation .

Storytelling is a good hook for  a speech because it shows you are human and shows you have feelings, emotions and reason. It is even more powerful if you start with a personal story.

The audience will feel close to you and will trust you. If you earn their trust, you’ll get their attention.

Normally when you start talking, people are tired from the other speeches, and their attention level is not ready for your core message or your call to action. You will need to start slowly and take them in gradually. A story is common to everybody, and it’s easy to follow .

In most cases, it’s very effective to start with a story. You don’t really need to introduce yourself at the beginning. Your introduction can be postponed to when the audience will be really listening to you .

If you start telling them why you’re good, you’ll immediately build distance from the audience , you won’t be perceived as one of them, so it will be harder for the audience to connect with you.

Psychologist Shawn Achor explains that the happy secret to better work starts straight away with a funny personal story about his childhood and keeps going until 2 minutes fifty, until the audience sympathizes with him, and so gives the audience his message.

Shawn shoots the message when he is sure that he has 100% of the audience ‘s attention , not before. He only gives information about his prestigious background (“When I applied to Harvard […]”) at 6:32, after he has passed the core message.

Still, he feels normal and empathetic to the audience when he shares the feeling of being an average guy surrounded by smarter guys, in such a great university. Therefore, he makes sure that his background does not bring him away from the audience.

Making the slides for this kind of hook will be very easy because all they need to do is help the audience visualize the story .

Therefore, all you need is just a sequence of beautiful full-screen pictures. If you are telling them a personal story, show personal pictures. This will make them feel how real your story is, and it will catch their attention .

Learn more about how storytelling applies to presentations : Forget slides, tell stories.

I want to show you a trick for perfect presentation hook examples. If you do not want to tell a personal story or you do not have one, I’d suggest you invent one!

After all, we have plenty of pictures on our social media channels we can leverage to invent an ad hoc story. The most important thing is that your story appears real, because if the audience thinks you are tricking them, they won’t trust you and you’ll lose any chance to connect with them.

How do you tell compelling stories?

How do you tell stories that your audience wants to hear?

How do you make them feel really engaged with your story?

What about the story of your brand?

There are many storytelling formulas you can leverage recommended by my friends from Buffer.com – 11 Storytelling Formulas to Supercharge Your Social Media Marketing

The reality is that storytelling is more than just telling stories.

What do I mean?

Recently I’ve found myself in the challenge of turning a boring presentation into a powerful story.

Taking in consideration the audience of my client that day, the story was the only possible solution for a manager who needed to share her experience in front of millennials at the university.

The way storytelling infused power to my presentation left me astonished, I think you should have a look at what happened that day: Storytelling techniques for presentations [Real case study].

If you have no creativity, you could even take inspiration from websites that offer stories by keywords like BusinessBalls . In BusinessBalls, for example, stories are characterized by keywords:

2. Questions and audience interaction

One of the most common errors that presenters commit nowadays is thinking they are one step above the audience, just because they came to present.

We are in the era of “listening” today, more than ever before, with the advent of social media. If we want to be listened, first you need to listen .

Presentations aren’t an exception.

If you want to give a successful presentation, first you need to build a one-on-one relationship with your audience and start a dialogue .

What’s better for engagement than asking questions to your audience from the beginning of your presentation?

Questions turn on people’s curiosity. Their brains will begin figuring out the answer. If they know the answer, they want to know if their answer is correct. If they do not know the answer, they might get involved and focus on the speaker in order to get the answer.

In any case, answering a question works like a reward, because people feel satisfied by the fact that they canceled one more doubt. People’s curiosity will make them focus on you to find the answer. 

When you ask question, you pair up with your audience as they feel like they’re in your position, and they want to help you answer the question. If you are perceived as one of them, you’ve won their trust and therefore their attention.

There are several kind of questions you might want to ask as good hook for a speech:

Yes/No questions

These questions help you interact with the audience. Having just simple answers, all you need to do is to ask people in a sequence to vote for “ Yes ” by raising their hands and then you can ask people to vote for “ No ” to do the same.

You can adopt this technique every time you have a multiple choice question, so the audience can vote for a single option by raising their hands.

You could ask how they’re affected by the problem you’re going to solve during your presentation.

• “How many of you get so frustrated with PowerPoint when it crushes? “
• “Raise your hand if you’ve fallen asleep during a presentation”.
• “Who struggles every time you need to choose colors for your next presentation? “

This is a good technique to use for checking the audience responsiveness. When you ask a Y/N question, people naturally answer loudly, so you’ll immediately know if most of them are still awake.

Open-ended questions

Using open-ended questions, you expect the audience to develop an answer. This is the typical situation of a Q&A session, and can be useful in those situations as a presentation hook example.

However, this technique enables you to open a real discussion with members of the audience. However, people may answer what they feel without a filter, so they can impede you if you are uncomfortable with their answer.

This is an incredibly powerful technique for creating presentation hook ideas , but at the same time, you risk getting controversial opinions by freeing people to develop their discourse.

Also, be sure that everybody can be heard when talking from the audience, because they’re not standing in front of everybody with a microphone.

Sometimes you have a hostesses who may bring the microphone to people for them to answer, but this depends on the size of the event. You’ll be in charge of picking somebody from the audience to answer.

A good practice is to repeat the answer to the audience in order to make sure everybody heard it. By doing so, you’ll give them the feeling of being part of the dialogue and you will show that you are careful to keep everybody in the loop .

Rhetorical questions

Rhetorical refers to those questions asked by a speaker who does not expect to receive an answer. Even though you know you don’t want an answer, the audience does not know if it’s a rhetorical question.

Their brains will be automatically triggered to elaborate an answer. Just by doing so, you’ll turn on their brains and you’ll catch their attention .

In order to maximize the effect of rhetorical questions, I recommend you to pause just after you ask.

People will be forced to think of an answer. If you talk too quickly and you skip immediately to the answer, they won’t have the time to think about the answer.

If you show you are thinking of the answer in real time, this will help you to make the audience feel close to you. They’ll feel involved and they’ll try helping with their answers. This already means that they are interacting with you, so you’ll have their attention.

Finally, if you choose this technique to open your presentation, I’d recommend you select the right number of questions based on their form . You do not want to open a full debate during your hook.

If you decide to go for open-ended questions, you won’t make more than one or two. On the other hand, if you ask a sequence of questions where the audience needs to raise their hands, you can ask more.

Question with surprise effect

A cool trick you could use for your presentation hook ideas is to send the audience in one mental direction , and then tell them they’re wrong. I know it sounds weird, but let me give you an example of a hook.

You ask a question and you give 3 possible options: A, B and C.

You ask the audience to vote for one of the 3 options . Once they vote, you tell them that none of the answers were correct. At this point, they’ll feel surprised and you can hook them, then show them the correct one.

You could build your speech step by step, commenting on why the 3 options are wrong . In this way, you’ll bring the audience to the message more naturally.

When I want to introduce the color theory for Lean Presentation Design , I commonly ask my students how many colors we need to use in a presentation, and I give them 3 options.

However, none of them is right, as I want to show them the technique on how to choose the best color palette to make colors work in the most effective way.

After the vote, they feel they have it wrong, so they want to know what the correct answer is. That’s a great hook for presentation.

Direct questions

Direct questions can be scary, and that’s why this is a powerful technique !

In this case, you ask the question and you pick someone random from the audience to answer. However, if the person does not know the answer or if they’re shy, they’ll feel embarrassed.

You need to be able to manage the embarrassment , or you’ll immediately create a tense atmosphere. However, people will know that you might call them all of the sudden to join the dialogue. Therefore, they’ll pay attention to avoid being caught unprepared.

Again, I recommend you to handle these situations carefully, because you do not want to recreate the atmosphere of a classroom exam.

Introduce yourself

I really like this technique and, more than the other presentation hook examples, I often use it during my training as a powerful icebreaker .

Instead of starting with you or your speech, start with your audience and ask them to introduce themselves one by one. I also like to add a question about what they expect to learn during my training , so I already set their expectations and I’m sure I’ll talk about something relevant to the audience.

One of the most common problems during presentations is that the audience isn’t interested in the topics discussed. On the other hand, it’s true that it’s often hard to know what everybody expects from the presentation, so what could be better than just asking them what they are looking for?

Knowing the people in front of you also enables you to acquire knowledge about your target and their language, so it will be easier for you to connect with them.

I suggest you to take note when people talk so that you can use the information during the rest of the presentation to hook them again.

For example, if I know that somebody comes from finance and wants to know how to present an ugly P&L, when I’m about to talk about that topic I can call his name and say something like, “Hey Anders, the coming section is the one you are interested in” . By doing this, I’ll wake him up and I’ll get his attention.

Another great technique to craft outstanding hook examples, is to discover the names of your attendants, so every time you talk to them, you can use their names . This will make them perceive you very close to them.

3. State a shocking fact

This is one of the classic presentation hook examples that leaves the audience with their mouths open, staring at you. To create this effect, you normally use a surprising statistic .

You can capture their attention by reminding them of their fears. If you properly leverage uncertainty, you can create anxiety due to the unknown, and people will need your answers to overcome their fears.

Jorge Soto uses this technique in his TED speech when he claims, “1 out of 3 people sitting in this audience will be diagnosed with some type of cancer”.

People are scared of cancer, so they want to listen to him to find out if he can provide them with a solution.

There are 2 ways to astonish your audience:

Did you know that…

When you start with the formula “Did you know that…? ” and add the fact, you are creating expectations. The trick is to choose the most effective stats to make the audience interested in your message. Therefore, you need a statistic that matches your presentation.

To get the right fact, it’s often a good practice to do some research in your field. But you can also find websites full of facts that you can use as hook sentence examples:

• Did you know August has the highest percentage of births ?
• Every 40 seconds someone in the world commits suicide.
• Did you know that unless food is mixed with saliva, you can’t taste it?
• Did you know the average person falls asleep in 7 minutes ?
• The Earth is being shaken by Earthquakes over 1 million times per year .
• Did you know 8% of people have an extra rib ?
• Did you know all your blinking in one day equates to having your eyes closed for 30 minutes ?

When deciding to choose this technique, your slides will play a crucial role. Check the difference between the two slides below:

The one to the left is made with a powerful graphic, but the second one shows the consequences of an earthquake. It shows destroyed buildings and the army helping people. The second one shows a dramatic situation, so it makes the problem immediately relevant, as it brings the consequences to life.

Imagine how much stronger the message could be if the city represented is the same city where your audience lives. If you can relate scary facts to the audience, you will resonate with them and you’ll be able to get their attention .

Facts first

In this case, you shoot the fact straight to your audience and then you introduce the consequences.

Giulia Miur (check the analysis) gives an example:

Before the rule, more than 50 people here were dying in trenches every year. When you get killed in a cave-in, it’s not an easy way to go. You’re literally crushed to death under the weight of the soil. Soil weighs approximately 3,000 pounds per cubic yard. Nobody deserves to go to work and die that way .

Finally, when you use a provocative fact as a way to hook your audience, I’d recommend you to make sure you integrate the fact with emotions. Always keep in mind that you need to use a fact with relevant consequences to your audience.

4. Use quotations to grab them

Opening with a famous quotation is a great way to borrow credibility from somebody who is well recognized and accepted by everybody. There are tons of presentation hook examples that use quotations.

The beauty of a great quote is its power to distill. To punctuate. To make things click. Sometimes the moral is presented on a plate, obvious as can be; sometimes the delivery is more subtle and sly. No matter how they’re served up, the best quotes resonate – for days, weeks, even years. Forbes

Quotes play a curious effect of attributing to the speaker the values and the meanings behind them.

However, even though they have a powerful communication effect , they need to be used carefully.

In fact, you absolutely need to be sure that the quote you choose matches your message.

It needs to be relevant to what you want to say. Take your time to scan the sources and find the best quote for the specific message you have to communicate.

There are different kind of quotes you can use to obtain this effect:

Hook famous quote

They just have a powerful and commonly accepted effect on people. If you can associate the quote to a resonating image, you’ll hit your strike on the very first slide.

Say I want to present a new technology for snowboards. I could use the following slide to introduce my speech:

You can source tons of famous quotes on the web. Let me share with you some of my favorite sources:

Presentation Hook Examples: movie quotes

Movies play a central role in most people’s lives. Movie quotes are a common knowledge and often part of jokes or slang.

Starting with a famous quote allows you to quickly connect to the audience, wake them up and creating presentation hook examples .

I’m presenting a new sailing boat brand. Instead of start saying why our boats are faster, with better sails and so on, I could start with the meaning behind the brand by quoting Captain Jack Sparrow:

If I want to sell plastic surgery to women, I could open my presentation with the following quote:

I’m clearly copying Joe E. Brown in “Some Like It Hot” and I’m combining it with an image that allows me to introduce my message. With a simple quote and a related picture, I can mean whatever I want by borrowing the powerful communication effect from Joe.

You could source famous quotes from many different places and use them as unlimited source of presentation hook ideas, let them inspire you!

• AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movie Quotes

Hook foreign quotes

You could also broaden the border of your quotes or proverbs and go catch some famous ones abroad. If your audience has never heard the quote, they could discover a new powerful proverb thanks to your speech.

Let’s make the presentation hook example of a company that produces yellow umbrellas. You could start with the famous Italian proverb shown in the slide below:

You can source many foreign proverbs from: site for foreign proverbs .

One more fantastic source of inspiration for quotes is Pinterest . You just type in “quotes” and it gives you many tags to combine to customize your research.

It also gives you some inspiration as all the posts associate an image to the quote.

Do not let Pinterest take your place . Remember that for this technique to work properly, you need to associate a meaningful image to the quote so that it delivers your message. Therefore, use it for inspiration but don’t let it do your job.

Another good way to leverage quotes is to adopt a controversial approach. You could also go against quotations and revert them: A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. But we need to remember that a journey to nowhere also starts with a single step. Bruna Martinuzzi

This will make the audience curious, as you are challenging a common belief. So they’ll want to hear how this can be possible and will focus their attention on you.

Another great technique to introduce quotations for your presentation  hook ideas is to use a picture of the author :

If you are talking about a famous author, you’ll automatically inherit the values that they bring with them.

Finally, remember that quotes are a powerful way of making your presentations memorable to the audience . Leverage the opportunity to hook them since the beginning with an opening stunning quote.

5. Break common belief and provoke the audience

Provocation can be a great tool to hook your audience and to raise their curiosity . By provoking the audience, I mean you have to claim something that is totally against their belief.

You’ll then spend the whole presentation supporting the claim and demonstrating how it can be true. If you are able to uncover the truth step-by-step, you’ll have them hooked to the end.

Let me give you an example from the outstanding TED speech of Jane McGonigal :

I’m Jane McGonigal. I’m a game designer. I’ve been making games online now for 10 years, and my goal for the next decade is to try to make it as easy to save the world in real life as it is to save the world in online games. Now, I have a plan for this, and it entails convincing more people, including all of you, to spend more time playing bigger and better games. Right now we spend three billion hours a week playing online games. Some of you might be thinking: “That’s a lot of time to spend playing games.” Maybe too much time, considering how many urgent problems we have to solve in the real world. I’ve calculated the total we need at 21 billion hours of game play every week. […] In fact, I believe that if we want to survive the next century on this planet, we need to increase that total dramatically.

This is the point where the audience thinks:

“ Wow! Hold on a second. Are you really claiming that to save the world I should be spending more time playing video games?”

The common belief is that video games are a way to escape reality and to waste productive time. We all think that the new generations are burning their lives in playing video games.

But suddenly at TED, an influential speaker is claiming exactly the opposite and this makes the audience curious to know how it can be true that the reality is so different to what they thought.

Jane is also great at uncovering the message step by step through the presentation . The audience can’t really figure out why this is true until the very end. So Jane proceeds to hook the audience with a persuasive claim and keep them hooked until she shoots her message.

Finally, go against something the audience is convinced of and claim the opposite. Then walk them through your logic step by step to show how this is possible, and you’ll get their attention from beginning to end. This is a good presentation hook example .

6. Bring it to life

“A picture is worth a thousand words” is an English idiom meaning that a complex idea can be conveyed with just a single image, or that an image conveys its meaning more effectively than a description.

What makes a good hook in this case?

Opening with a picture, a video or a prop allows you to bring the subject to life immediately .

If you are a good presenter, you’ll be able to leverage the imagination of your audience, but if you place the subject in front of their eyes, it’s not even a matter of imagination, it’s just true.

Let’s suppose you are in charge of presenting the new Apple SIRI, the virtual assistant. You could start talking about the features and all the functions it has, you could tell your audience how to activate it on their iPhones, or you could just show them the following video:

Watch out, because surely this takes attention off you, so it decreases the pressure level.

But you need to be able to catch the attention back immediately .

If you use a picture or a prop, this goes very fast because the processing time of a picture is very fast, and a prop is normally shown by a presenter, who interacts with it.

If you show a video instead, you’ll lose the attention of the audience for entire the length of the video and you’ll need to re-catch it once the video is finished .

A video, more than a picture, can help you convey a whole emotional environment to the audience. You can show a product demo, but you can also show a powerful trailer with music and enticing footage. This is a perfect tip for outstanding presentation hook examples and ideas.

7. Make them laugh

Not an easy task, I know. To make the audience laugh, sometimes a joke might not be enough and on certain occasions, the audience might miss the joke, causing a no reaction at all.

Looking at what the other influencers suggest online, as a result of my analysis, I’ve found a common opinion about how to make the audience laugh. Tell them a joke.

You can easily source jokes online if you do not have one.

What happens if they do not laugh? Well, your hook is dead but this does not mean that you ruined the whole presentation, so ignore the reaction and keep going.

Now, based on my experience, often telling a joke is not enough because to make people laugh, you need to feel the moment, you need to feel the connection with them and you need to behave in a such surprising way that you automatically trigger the fun.

In the following presentation, I was giving an introduction lesson about Lean Presentation Design and I made them laugh just by playing with the rhythm of my voice and showing them what could happen to the audience if you show them ugly slides.

So I showed them an ugly slide and then I showed them the sleeping audience. That was enough to make them laugh. I can tell you that afterwards, they were receptive, paying attention up to the end of the presentation.

8. Leverage historical events

Let’s say you work for a company that produces solar panels and wind turbines. The company closed a bad financial year and you, as a CEO, need to go out today, 26 th of April, to motivate your board and get their commitment for the coming year.

Instead of reminding them that they won’t receive a bonus this year and that if they perform better, they will for the next year, you could motivate them by giving meaning to their work.

You could take advantage of that date (26 th of April), show the following slide and saying, “About 10 years ago in Ukraine, a catastrophic nuclear accident occurred. Today, we exist to give the world an alternative”.

Your start will empower your board members. They’ll feel their work is important and has a real impact on the world, it saves lives. From now on, you can make your presentation because you will have them hooked.

9. Trigger the audience imagination

Imagine a big explosion as you climb past 3,000 ft. Imagine a plane full of smoke. Imagine an engine going clack, clack, clack. It sounds scary.

Plane crash survivor Ric Elias begins his speech by bringing the audience back to the event, straight into the story, triggering their imagination and making them visualize the scene of the plane crush. By using the word “ imagine “, he turns on the people’s minds and force them to start seeing the images and feeling to be there.

A very effective way of using this technique is beginning with “ Close your eyes and imagine “. Because in closing their eyes, people will focus on image visualization, not being distracted by the environment or the speaker. Moreover, you could prepare a surprise for when they re-open their eyes.

You could also begin with a “ what if … ” form.

You could depict an ideal scenario that could actually be true if they listen what you have to say. Of course, it has to be a desirable scenario for the audience. Let’s say you invented a cure for cancer, you could start saying, “ What if cancer deaths stop today?” Build on it.

“ What if you could no longer lose someone close, a parent or friend, because of cancer?” and so on. You can keep going and build up expectations, and the farther you go, the more curious the audience will be.

10. Straight to the Problem

Start the presentation by describing the problem straight away . Be sure that the problem is relevant to the audience if you want your hook to resonate with them.

Let me give you a very simple example.

“Good morning, everybody. Competitor A took us over in terms of revenue this year and we have nothing with which to return fire”.

Now, if you work in that company, you might be interested in this fact and therefore you would want to know what comes next, to check whether there is a solution or if the speaker can just walk you closer to a solution.

If you give a clear and relevant problem to the audience, then this is a very quick technique to hook them from the very beginning without spending time searching for specific visuals or the right quote.

Elon Musk in the Debuts of Tesla Powerwall presentation made a memorable speech that started with this technique.

So, what I’m gonna talk about tonight is about a fundamental transformation of how the world works about how energy is delivered across the Earth. This is how it is today

It’s pretty bad, it sucks! Exactly! I just wanna be clear, because sometimes some people are, like, confused about it. This is real. This is actually how most power of the world is generated, with fossil fuels, and if you look at the curve, that’s a famous curve, the Keeling curve…

He hooked the audience bringing their attention straight to a well-known shared problem ; this is a good presentation hook example.

…which shows the growth in CO2 concentration in the atmosphere, and every year it ratchets up, it gets higher and higher, and if we do nothing, that’s where it’s headed to levels that we don’t even see in the fossil record.

Well, I think we collectively should do something about this and not try to win the Darwin Award for us and a lot of other creatures too.

At this point, he starts with his discourse:

The way the grid works today is this: you got coal, you got natural gas, nuclear, hydro and wind and solar […].

11. Set the expectations

First of all, I want to make it clear that setting expectations does not absolutely mean sharing a summary of your presentation like the one shown in the slide below.

That would just bore your audience even before you start the presentation, and won’t add anything to them.

Let’s take an example from Cordell instead, who tells we should leverage the hook to go straight to the point and tell the audience:

• What about the topic
• What you need to know
• What you need to do

In this case, the audience feels more like you take care of them and you are saving them time by giving them only the information they need to know to take the proper action, which you’ll suggest as well.

In his 40.2 million views TED speech, Sir Ken Robinson gives an anticipation of 2 main topics that have been discussed by the others and that he wants to discuss during his presentation.

Check the first 2 minutes of the video below.

Without any special effects, Sir Robinson starts anticipating two main topics he will discuss and connecting his speech to the conference.

This technique isn’t creative at all compared to the others, but it is extremely powerful because tells the audience that they won’t waste their time and you’ll go straight to the point.

Imagine the scene when you come up on the stage and the first thing you say is, “Today, I’ll be telling you two things…”

A presentation hook examples technique comes from the outstanding presentation of Steve Jobs for the launch of the first iPhone. He sets the expectation and goes far beyond just exceeding them!

If you haven’t watched this video yet, you’ll be astonished:

Today we are going to introduce 3 revolutionary products of this class: the first one is an iPod.

The second is a revolutionary mobile phone.

And the third is a breakthrough internet communication device.

So, an iPod, a phone and a revolutionary internet communication device.

At this point, he keeps repeating the same sentence, telling the audience the three devices that he’s going to introduce.

At this point, the audience starts laughing and clapping his hands because they think he is happy about these 3 new devices, but here he comes out with an explosive surprise.

These are not 3 separate devices, this is one device!  

Boom! The audience goes crazy, he’s got them hooked from the very first moment of the presentation.

12. Use a surprising metaphor

Start with an image, just to create a suspense effect linked to your message and then uncover your message step-by-step with a metaphor .

The president of an electronics equipment company needed his managers to cut costs. Rather than showing mundane charts, graphs, and spreadsheets, he opened the meeting by asking, “What sank the Titanic?” When everyone in unison replied, “an iceberg,” he displayed a beautiful high-definition image of an iceberg on the screen: the tip of the iceberg was clearly visible above the water; the much larger portion was dimly visible below the surface of the water.

The same thing is about to happen to our company, he continued. Hidden costs — the dangers beneath the surface — are about to sink this company. I need your help. This visual metaphor spawned a creative, productive brainstorming session that inspired every business unit manager to diligently hunt for what they labeled the “icebergs”, says Price. The result was saving millions and ultimately the company.

Trying to imagine his opening slide, I designed the following graphic:

Mentioning the Lean Presentation Design Book here, you get a famous tip from Seth Godin:

The home run is easy to describe: You put up a slide. It triggers an emotional reaction in the audience. They sit up and want to know what you’re going to say that fits in with that image. Then, if you do it right, every time they think of what you said, they’ll see the image (and vice versa).  Sure, this is different from the way everyone else does it. But everyone else is busy defending the status quo (which is easy) and you’re busy championing brave new innovations, which is difficult.

13. Combine more hooking techniques together

We went through a long list of presentation hook ideas coming from all the most influential speakers on the net. You’ll have to choose your technique based on the specific situation and on your audience. However, nobody said you can’t combine more of them together to craft your special perfect opening.

In the following video, Alan Watts , master of storytelling, combines two presentation hook techniques we have analyzed.

First, he asks couple of rhetorical questions to the viewer and then introduces a story from his personal experience with his students.

It takes time to get to the message but when he gets there, you feel that what he’s telling you is the natural consequence of the story that brought you there (good hook for a presentation).

As a result, you are hooked from the beginning and the video results in impactful and memorable storytelling .

What did this video make you think? Did you like it? I just love this video and I like listening to this storytelling, as it is incredibly impactful.

The Hooking Strategy Map

For those looking to explore a structured approach to crafting engaging presentation openings, “The Hooking Strategy Map” provides a comprehensive guide. Designed to assist individuals in creating impactful beginnings for their presentations, this resource outlines a variety of strategies tailored to different audiences and contexts.

Each strategy is accompanied by real-world examples, common pitfalls, and the potential impact on audience engagement. By leveraging these techniques, presenters can effectively capture attention and maintain interest throughout their talks, ensuring their message is both memorable and persuasive.

Whether you are aiming to tell a compelling story, pose thought-provoking questions, or surprise your audience with a shocking fact, this map serves as an invaluable tool in your presentation toolkit.

Click to download

Try one of these presentation hook examples

A good hook for a speech launched in the first seconds of the presentation is the difference between success and failure.

Now you have 13 presentation hook ideas , and a long list of videos and examples from which you can take inspiration every time you need to make a new hook.

If you liked this piece of research, I’d invite you to share and comment in order to enrich the guide and make it even more useful, thanks to the contribution of new readers. I’m looking forward to seeing your presentation hook ideas described in the comments below.

Have you ever successfully hooked you audience? How did you do? What are your favorite presentation hook ideas?

Let me know your presentation hook examples.

Key Takeaways

The First Five Minutes are Critical : The majority of your audience’s attention is lost within the first five minutes. Capturing their interest from the start is essential to keeping them engaged throughout the presentation.

Storytelling is Powerful : Opening with a personal story can humanize you as a speaker, making the audience feel more connected to you. It’s an effective way to build trust and maintain attention.

Engage with Questions : Asking questions, whether rhetorical or direct, triggers curiosity and interaction. This technique can quickly turn passive listeners into active participants.

Start with a Shocking Fact : Presenting a surprising statistic or fact can immediately grab attention. It works well if the fact is relevant to the audience and relates directly to the topic of your presentation.

Use Quotations Strategically : A well-chosen quote can lend credibility to your message. It’s important to ensure that the quote is relevant and enhances the point you’re making.

Break Common Beliefs : Challenging the audience’s preconceived notions with a provocative statement can spark curiosity and keep them hooked as you unfold your argument.

Incorporate Visuals : Beginning with a striking image, video, or prop can bring your topic to life and make it more relatable. Visuals are processed quickly and can make your message more memorable.

Humor Can Be Effective : Starting with a joke or a light-hearted comment can relax the audience and make them more receptive to your message. However, timing and relevance are key to making humor work.

Set Expectations Early : Clearly stating what the audience will gain from your presentation can help align their focus and make them more engaged in the content.

Use Metaphors to Simplify Complex Ideas : A surprising metaphor can create a strong mental image that helps the audience understand and remember your message. It’s a subtle yet effective way to convey deeper meanings.

How can I keep my audience engaged throughout a presentation?

To keep your audience engaged, start with a strong hook that captures their attention from the very beginning. Use storytelling, surprising facts, or interactive questions to create an emotional connection with your audience and maintain their focus throughout your presentation.

What is the importance of a presentation hook?

A presentation hook is crucial because it determines whether your audience will stay engaged or lose interest early on. A well-crafted hook can make your presentation more impactful and memorable by grabbing attention and setting the tone for the entire talk.

Can storytelling be an effective hook for a presentation?

Yes, storytelling is one of the most powerful presentation hooks. By sharing a personal or relatable story, you can create an emotional connection with your audience, making them more likely to listen to and trust you. Stories also help to humanize the presenter and make complex ideas more understandable.

How can I involve my audience in the presentation?

You can involve your audience by asking interactive questions, encouraging them to participate in discussions, or using live polls. Interaction keeps the audience engaged and helps to create a dynamic and responsive environment, making your presentation more impactful.

What are some examples of presentation hooks?

Some effective presentation hooks include starting with a surprising fact or statistic, using a relevant quote, telling a compelling story, or posing a provocative question. Each of these hooks can capture the audience’s attention and set the stage for a successful presentation.

The 13 most successful hook ideas ever 

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Maurizio La Cava

About Maurizio

Comments on Presentation Hooks: the 13 most successful presentation hook examples

Thanks for the article – this was a fantastic resource for putting together my upcoming seminar presentation.

Great tips and ideas to focus on to get the audiences engagement

Mark Peter Quitorio

Very Nice, it helps me a lot to explore this techniques

I wanted to stop by and give my genuine feedback on your website. I really enjoyed to read your content, I think it’s interesting and very well written. I’ve been on your website for an hour or so and very enjoyed it.

I didn’t find your Instagram page though, do you have one?

Best, Yalla

Like a fine thoroughbred, you need to hit the ground running by starting strong. Instead, many presenters are more like old, tired workhorses—they start weak by wasting those first precious seconds with platitudes and pleasantries. Brain research shows that we don t pay attention to boring things. Surprise your listeners with a hook that immediately grabs their attention.

This was great information especially for my presentation

I love the way you practice what you profess to be true. Usually I flip through websites about public speaking… It’s pretty much all the same. YOURS WAS TOTALLY DIFFERENT. You actually showed us with words, with online examples, and with the presentation of your own message: Presentation hook examples. YOU KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK!!

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Table of Contents

9 Killer Speech Openers to Start a Talk or Presentation.​

Danny Riley 8 min read

What you’ll learn:

• The importance of a “killer” speech opening.
• 9 powerful speech openers and how to use them.
• Examples from great speakers you can learn from.

Great speech openers hook your audience.

“ Well begun is half done” – Mary Poppins.

A killer speech opener will make the difference between a presentation that makes you soar or your audience snore .

I’ve researched the whole web to find nine killer speech openers to make your audience lean in and listen rather than tune out and daydream.

You’ll see how masters of the craft have used them, and how you can too.

Number seven takes chutzpah to pull off. Ready for the whole list of killer speech openers?

The Shock Opener

One of the best ways to open your speech with a buzz is to startle or shock them.

You can shock an audience in many ways, but they all rest on the major senses of V.A.K.S:

•  Visual
• Kinaesthetic (touch) 

We don’t want your audience tasting your talk, but it should leave a good taste in their mouths.

Changing Minds suggests asking if the audience is awake after appearing from a flash bang and a cloud of smoke, and this might work for you if you’re a magician or playing some kind of character for your speech like a genie.

Suppose you aren’t going for the magic angle. 

In that case, you can shock them on a psychological level instead, as Conor Neill recommends, and tell your audience a surprising fact or statistic that makes them question their thinking or beliefs.

“Did you know that half the water on earth is older than the sun?”

Questions like these will shake an audience awake and turn on their critical thinking nervous-system.

Don’t take my word for it; you can see an incredible demonstration of the shock opener in Mohammed Qahtani’s speech, The Power of Words .

Qahtani opens by taking out a cigarette and placing it into his mouth before trying to light it. The audience is so shocked that they gasp and tell him to stop.

Remember, if your audience is shocked, they are listening.

Your audience doesn’t always have to be jolted to attention with a shock opener, though you can use a more subtle approach to grab their focus. 

Ready to speak with confidence ? We offer virtual & in-person coaching.

The story opener.

You can set the tone of your speech instantly with a story .

In Hollywood, filmmakers and directors use an ‘establishing shot’ to set the tone and theme of the entire film.

When creating your speech, think of a short story that sums up your talk.

Maybe you tell half the story to begin with, and then the other half at the end. 

The important thing is your tale must be relatable . If your audience can’t imagine themselves in the story, they won’t be engaged.

We all experience very similar things in life: 

• We all went to school and had a teacher we loved
• We all have parents who loved us or made mistakes in our upbringing
• We all had a first crush.

We are all cut from the same cloth, so it’s good to be reminded that others are going through what we face or think as we do.

Bryan Stevenson does a stellar job of recounting his mischievous grandmother in his TED talk, We need to talk about an injustice .

The best thing is, you can combine a story-opener with any other speech opener in this list.

It’s truly versatile.

One of my favourite speech openers is next, though.

The Intrigue Opener

I love this speech opener.

What better way to hook your audience than to intrigue them with mystery or a juicy secret?

Have a look at Daniel Pink’s TED Talk The puzzle of motivation . After he begins, Pink, looking like a guilty man sent to the gallows, tells his audience:

“I need to confess something, at the outset here. A little over 20 years ago, I did something I regret. Something I’m not particularly proud of”.

Wow. How intriguing, right?

You have to admit; you want to know what he’s about to confess.

Choose every sentence, every word, and every mark of punctuation to increase the tantalisation temperature.

Whether it’s a secret or confession, the Intrigue Opener piques just enough curiosity in your audience to keep them from checking WhatsApp.

As humans, we need closure.

We do not like open loops.

That’s why it is both enthralling and aggravating when someone plays on our need to be sure.

Just as we cannot stand an open loop, we are instantly engaged when someone gives us a puzzle to solve.

You’ll notice the best speeches, books, TV shows, and films do not spoon-feed you all the information.

I’ve always liked the way Malcolm Gladwell writes his non-fiction books, because they contain puzzles that you solve as a reader.

This puzzle needs to be related to the speech or presentation you’re delivering, of course. It cannot be a random puzzle and will ideally be impossible or extremely difficult to solve at first.

After the speech begins, and the puzzle is revealed, you should slowly drop hints on how to solve the mystery.

Up next, speech openers that use a physical object to create curiosity in the audience’s mind.

The Prop Opener

One of the most potent ways you will captivate your audience is to use a powerful prop in your opening address.

What better way to capture an audience’s imagination than to show them a mysterious or beautiful object?

If you’ve never seen the Prop Opener done well, then have a look at one of the greatest speeches of all time:

Dananjaya Hettiarachchi’s, See Something .

Danajaya enters with a simple rose in his breast pocket, takes it out, gazes at it nostalgically, smells it and then begins to speak.

This same prop appears again right at the end of his speech to end his talk with a flourish.

There are many different props you can use.

JJ Abrams used a Mystery Box to absorb the audience’s attention, and used the box as a metaphor for his entire career.

If you think the prop opener is just for TED Talks and Toastmasters Final Speeches, remember that most company product launch centre around one or more props.

Steve Jobs revealed his new products in ever-innovative ways.

Still, while the last two speeches I’ve mentioned opened with physical items, most of Jobs’s presentations built intrigue through the sight of the product.

So remember, you can use an object, or tease your audience with the absence of a prop, but make that prop integral to your talk.

You don’t always have to use a prop, of course. 

A more minimalist approach to opening your speech uses the best audience reaction a speaker can receive: laughter.

The Funny Opener

Using laughter to win over your audience is the golden ticket to immediate rapport with your audience.

Jack Schafer, PhD at Psychology Today, said that People Will Like You If You Make Them Laugh , which seems obvious, but at least you know we have scientists on the case. 

He also mentions that constructing humour requires and projects a high level of intelligence .

Of course, laughter is subjective, but it is also infectious, and if you get enough members of your audience to titter, it will spread across the whole group.

If you want to see just how quickly you can win an audience over with humour, have a look at Ken Robinson’s subtle but delightful ability to raise a chuckle in his speech Do Schools Kill Creativity? 

Ken’s ability to speak conversationally to an audience of thousands is genuinely remarkable.

If you break down his humour, it is easy to see how you could include similar content in your presentations. 

Whether you can pull it off as well as Ken is another story.

Not everyone feels like they can be a comedian, though; I get that. 

Well, that’s alright because there are other ways to open your talk that play on other strong emotions.

You can inspire your audience, too.

The Inspirational Opener

One of my favourite ways to help beginner speakers to open their presentation is with a quote.

A quote acts like a story in that it sets the tone and theme of your speech, but it takes much less effort and even less skill.

An effective quote is usually only one line long and supported by the credibility of the original author who uttered those words.

Watch the way Clint Smith opens his TED Talk  The Danger of Silence .

Using Martin Luther King’s voice to start his speech gives Clint what psychologists call the transference effect .

Just by citing someone else, especially someone admired and famous, you redirect the emotions an audience have towards that person onto yourself.

One caveat to using quotes, though:

Fact check them . I cringe whenever I see someone incorrectly quoting someone.

Have you ever heard the quote by Albert Einstein:

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results”?

A great quote, isn’t it?

But Albert Einstein never said those words .

A quick check on Reuters will help you add more credibility to your inspirational opener.

Finally, try to use a quote few people have ever heard. Inspiring words have been filling the archives of history for millennia. Seek out something that has been left dusty on the shelf, rather than the same recycled iterations.

Next, let’s look at a type of bold speech opener that take real chutzpah to land well.

The Perspective Shift Opener

A powerful speech opener that will take confidence is the perspective shift opener.

This opener will lead the audience in one direction before changing direction and setting a new pace for the speech.

Cameron Russel does a fantastic job of controlling the frame in her TED Talk, Looks aren’t everything. Believe me; I’m a model.

Russel takes to the stage dressed in a skimpy dress and begins to tell the audience about her career, but then does a rapid wardrobe change on stage in front of the entire audience. 

This change of dress sets a new tone, feel, and direction for the speech.

If you can change the audience’s perspective or frame of reality, you are in the driving seat.

One of the best things you can hope for as a speaker is moving hearts and changing minds. 

If you aren’t a confident speaker, start small.

Vanessa Van Edwards suggests never mentioning how nervous you are. 

It’s distracting and makes the audience pick up on all the subtle nervous energy and cues you give off. Control the frame instead and act cool and confident: they will buy into it.

Another great way to hold frame control over an audience is by using the power of silence .

The Silence Opener

Silence is a valuable commodity in today’s noisy and distracting digital world.

Creating silence at the beginning of your talk can profoundly affect your audience and their focus.

Did you ever have a teacher at school who used silence effectively?

When my English classmates were noisy, our teacher Mr Rylance would hold up his hand for silence. 

Slowly, we would settle down and focus on his raised hand. 

A few would giggle, but that would peter out until we all sat in a hypnotic stillness.

If you want to see an example of how to use silence, then look at Neal Glitterman’s speech The Power of Silence .

You can see how much gravity silence can have , especially as a speech opener.

The final killer opener I want to introduce you to is the big promise opener.

The Big Promise Opener

I believe that all speeches and presentations should contain a big promise, as it tells your audience why they should keep on listening.

Ideally, your big promise will be your speech title or phrase that pays, which is a recurring foundational phrase you will use throughout your presentation.

A big promise is your way of making a deal with the audience : you listen to me, and you’ll get something in return.

Creating a big promise at the beginning of your speech is like adding a teaser trailer to the beginning of a TV show. It suggests a reason you should stick around.

When Arthur Benjamin introduces his talk Faster than a calculator by announcing:

 “I am a human calculator!”

You know that proof is on the way.

Remember the essential rule of the Big Promise Opener: make it big, and keep your promise.

Impress your audience with these killer speech openers.

I hope you feel that I kept my promise of sharing nine killer speech openers to start a presentation.

Did you notice any other speech openers at the beginning of this article?

Don’t forget; these openers can be mixed and matched.

You can include a number of these speech openers in the same presentation to create more impact.

Let me know which of these killer openers was your favourite, and let me know if you have any more you’d like to share.

To your public speaking success,

Whenever you're ready, here's 3 ways I can help you:

1. Charisma Club : My flagship 3-month coaching programme for professionals. Follow a proven system to build confidence, find your charisma, and step-up as a speaker in your niche.

2.  Speak & Present : Looking for a quick way to supercharge your public speaking skills? Face your fears, develop new skills, and deliver a live speech in our 1-day Masterclass for professionals.

3.  Team Training : Bring confident communication to your team. I’ll help them to speak with clarity, enhance their leadership skills, and present with confidence. Bookable as half/full day training. Ideal for teams and senior leaders.

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Blog Beginner Guides How To Make a Good Presentation [A Complete Guide]

How To Make a Good Presentation [A Complete Guide]

Written by: Krystle Wong Jul 20, 2023

A top-notch presentation possesses the power to drive action. From winning stakeholders over and conveying a powerful message to securing funding — your secret weapon lies within the realm of creating an effective presentation .  

Being an excellent presenter isn’t confined to the boardroom. Whether you’re delivering a presentation at work, pursuing an academic career, involved in a non-profit organization or even a student, nailing the presentation game is a game-changer.

In this article, I’ll cover the top qualities of compelling presentations and walk you through a step-by-step guide on how to give a good presentation. Here’s a little tip to kick things off: for a headstart, check out Venngage’s collection of free presentation templates . They are fully customizable, and the best part is you don’t need professional design skills to make them shine!

These valuable presentation tips cater to individuals from diverse professional backgrounds, encompassing business professionals, sales and marketing teams, educators, trainers, students, researchers, non-profit organizations, public speakers and presenters. 

No matter your field or role, these tips for presenting will equip you with the skills to deliver effective presentations that leave a lasting impression on any audience.

Click to jump ahead:

What are the 10 qualities of a good presentation?

Step-by-step guide on how to prepare an effective presentation, 9 effective techniques to deliver a memorable presentation, faqs on making a good presentation, how to create a presentation with venngage in 5 steps.

When it comes to giving an engaging presentation that leaves a lasting impression, it’s not just about the content — it’s also about how you deliver it. Wondering what makes a good presentation? Well, the best presentations I’ve seen consistently exhibit these 10 qualities:

1. Clear structure

No one likes to get lost in a maze of information. Organize your thoughts into a logical flow, complete with an introduction, main points and a solid conclusion. A structured presentation helps your audience follow along effortlessly, leaving them with a sense of satisfaction at the end.

Regardless of your presentation style , a quality presentation starts with a clear roadmap. Browse through Venngage’s template library and select a presentation template that aligns with your content and presentation goals. Here’s a good presentation example template with a logical layout that includes sections for the introduction, main points, supporting information and a conclusion: 

2. Engaging opening

Hook your audience right from the start with an attention-grabbing statement, a fascinating question or maybe even a captivating anecdote. Set the stage for a killer presentation!

The opening moments of your presentation hold immense power – check out these 15 ways to start a presentation to set the stage and captivate your audience.

3. Relevant content

Make sure your content aligns with their interests and needs. Your audience is there for a reason, and that’s to get valuable insights. Avoid fluff and get straight to the point, your audience will be genuinely excited.

4. Effective visual aids

Picture this: a slide with walls of text and tiny charts, yawn! Visual aids should be just that—aiding your presentation. Opt for clear and visually appealing slides, engaging images and informative charts that add value and help reinforce your message.

With Venngage, visualizing data takes no effort at all. You can import data from CSV or Google Sheets seamlessly and create stunning charts, graphs and icon stories effortlessly to showcase your data in a captivating and impactful way.

5. Clear and concise communication

Keep your language simple, and avoid jargon or complicated terms. Communicate your ideas clearly, so your audience can easily grasp and retain the information being conveyed. This can prevent confusion and enhance the overall effectiveness of the message. 

6. Engaging delivery

Spice up your presentation with a sprinkle of enthusiasm! Maintain eye contact, use expressive gestures and vary your tone of voice to keep your audience glued to the edge of their seats. A touch of charisma goes a long way!

7. Interaction and audience engagement

Turn your presentation into an interactive experience — encourage questions, foster discussions and maybe even throw in a fun activity. Engaged audiences are more likely to remember and embrace your message.

Transform your slides into an interactive presentation with Venngage’s dynamic features like pop-ups, clickable icons and animated elements. Engage your audience with interactive content that lets them explore and interact with your presentation for a truly immersive experience.

8. Effective storytelling

Who doesn’t love a good story? Weaving relevant anecdotes, case studies or even a personal story into your presentation can captivate your audience and create a lasting impact. Stories build connections and make your message memorable.

A great presentation background is also essential as it sets the tone, creates visual interest and reinforces your message. Enhance the overall aesthetics of your presentation with these 15 presentation background examples and captivate your audience’s attention.

9. Well-timed pacing

Pace your presentation thoughtfully with well-designed presentation slides, neither rushing through nor dragging it out. Respect your audience’s time and ensure you cover all the essential points without losing their interest.

10. Strong conclusion

Last impressions linger! Summarize your main points and leave your audience with a clear takeaway. End your presentation with a bang , a call to action or an inspiring thought that resonates long after the conclusion.

In-person presentations aside, acing a virtual presentation is of paramount importance in today’s digital world. Check out this guide to learn how you can adapt your in-person presentations into virtual presentations . 

Preparing an effective presentation starts with laying a strong foundation that goes beyond just creating slides and notes. One of the quickest and best ways to make a presentation would be with the help of a good presentation software . 

Otherwise, let me walk you to how to prepare for a presentation step by step and unlock the secrets of crafting a professional presentation that sets you apart.

1. Understand the audience and their needs

Before you dive into preparing your masterpiece, take a moment to get to know your target audience. Tailor your presentation to meet their needs and expectations , and you’ll have them hooked from the start!

2. Conduct thorough research on the topic

Time to hit the books (or the internet)! Don’t skimp on the research with your presentation materials — dive deep into the subject matter and gather valuable insights . The more you know, the more confident you’ll feel in delivering your presentation.

3. Organize the content with a clear structure

No one wants to stumble through a chaotic mess of information. Outline your presentation with a clear and logical flow. Start with a captivating introduction, follow up with main points that build on each other and wrap it up with a powerful conclusion that leaves a lasting impression.

Delivering an effective business presentation hinges on captivating your audience, and Venngage’s professionally designed business presentation templates are tailor-made for this purpose. With thoughtfully structured layouts, these templates enhance your message’s clarity and coherence, ensuring a memorable and engaging experience for your audience members.

Don’t want to build your presentation layout from scratch? pick from these 5 foolproof presentation layout ideas that won’t go wrong. 

4. Develop visually appealing and supportive visual aids

Spice up your presentation with eye-catching visuals! Create slides that complement your message, not overshadow it. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words, but that doesn’t mean you need to overload your slides with text.

Well-chosen designs create a cohesive and professional look, capturing your audience’s attention and enhancing the overall effectiveness of your message. Here’s a list of carefully curated PowerPoint presentation templates and great background graphics that will significantly influence the visual appeal and engagement of your presentation.

5. Practice, practice and practice

Practice makes perfect — rehearse your presentation and arrive early to your presentation to help overcome stage fright. Familiarity with your material will boost your presentation skills and help you handle curveballs with ease.

6. Seek feedback and make necessary adjustments

Don’t be afraid to ask for help and seek feedback from friends and colleagues. Constructive criticism can help you identify blind spots and fine-tune your presentation to perfection.

With Venngage’s real-time collaboration feature , receiving feedback and editing your presentation is a seamless process. Group members can access and work on the presentation simultaneously and edit content side by side in real-time. Changes will be reflected immediately to the entire team, promoting seamless teamwork.

7. Prepare for potential technical or logistical issues

Prepare for the unexpected by checking your equipment, internet connection and any other potential hiccups. If you’re worried that you’ll miss out on any important points, you could always have note cards prepared. Remember to remain focused and rehearse potential answers to anticipated questions.

8. Fine-tune and polish your presentation

As the big day approaches, give your presentation one last shine. Review your talking points, practice how to present a presentation and make any final tweaks. Deep breaths — you’re on the brink of delivering a successful presentation!

In competitive environments, persuasive presentations set individuals and organizations apart. To brush up on your presentation skills, read these guides on how to make a persuasive presentation and tips to presenting effectively . 

Whether you’re an experienced presenter or a novice, the right techniques will let your presentation skills soar to new heights!

From public speaking hacks to interactive elements and storytelling prowess, these 9 effective presentation techniques will empower you to leave a lasting impression on your audience and make your presentations unforgettable.

1. Confidence and positive body language

Positive body language instantly captivates your audience, making them believe in your message as much as you do. Strengthen your stage presence and own that stage like it’s your second home! Stand tall, shoulders back and exude confidence. 

2. Eye contact with the audience

Break down that invisible barrier and connect with your audience through their eyes. Maintaining eye contact when giving a presentation builds trust and shows that you’re present and engaged with them.

3. Effective use of hand gestures and movement

A little movement goes a long way! Emphasize key points with purposeful gestures and don’t be afraid to walk around the stage. Your energy will be contagious!

4. Utilize storytelling techniques

Weave the magic of storytelling into your presentation. Share relatable anecdotes, inspiring success stories or even personal experiences that tug at the heartstrings of your audience. Adjust your pitch, pace and volume to match the emotions and intensity of the story. Varying your speaking voice adds depth and enhances your stage presence.

5. Incorporate multimedia elements

Spice up your presentation with a dash of visual pizzazz! Use slides, images and video clips to add depth and clarity to your message. Just remember, less is more—don’t overwhelm them with information overload. 

Turn your presentations into an interactive party! Involve your audience with questions, polls or group activities. When they actively participate, they become invested in your presentation’s success. Bring your design to life with animated elements. Venngage allows you to apply animations to icons, images and text to create dynamic and engaging visual content.

6. Utilize humor strategically

Laughter is the best medicine—and a fantastic presentation enhancer! A well-placed joke or lighthearted moment can break the ice and create a warm atmosphere , making your audience more receptive to your message.

7. Practice active listening and respond to feedback

Be attentive to your audience’s reactions and feedback. If they have questions or concerns, address them with genuine interest and respect. Your responsiveness builds rapport and shows that you genuinely care about their experience.

8. Apply the 10-20-30 rule

Apply the 10-20-30 presentation rule and keep it short, sweet and impactful! Stick to ten slides, deliver your presentation within 20 minutes and use a 30-point font to ensure clarity and focus. Less is more, and your audience will thank you for it!

9. Implement the 5-5-5 rule

Simplicity is key. Limit each slide to five bullet points, with only five words per bullet point and allow each slide to remain visible for about five seconds. This rule keeps your presentation concise and prevents information overload.

Simple presentations are more engaging because they are easier to follow. Summarize your presentations and keep them simple with Venngage’s gallery of simple presentation templates and ensure that your message is delivered effectively across your audience.

1. How to start a presentation?

To kick off your presentation effectively, begin with an attention-grabbing statement or a powerful quote. Introduce yourself, establish credibility and clearly state the purpose and relevance of your presentation.

2. How to end a presentation?

For a strong conclusion, summarize your talking points and key takeaways. End with a compelling call to action or a thought-provoking question and remember to thank your audience and invite any final questions or interactions.

3. How to make a presentation interactive?

To make your presentation interactive, encourage questions and discussion throughout your talk. Utilize multimedia elements like videos or images and consider including polls, quizzes or group activities to actively involve your audience.

In need of inspiration for your next presentation? I’ve got your back! Pick from these 120+ presentation ideas, topics and examples to get started. 

Creating a stunning presentation with Venngage is a breeze with our user-friendly drag-and-drop editor and professionally designed templates for all your communication needs. 

Here’s how to make a presentation in just 5 simple steps with the help of Venngage:

Step 1: Sign up for Venngage for free using your email, Gmail or Facebook account or simply log in to access your account. 

Step 2: Pick a design from our selection of free presentation templates (they’re all created by our expert in-house designers).

Step 3: Make the template your own by customizing it to fit your content and branding. With Venngage’s intuitive drag-and-drop editor, you can easily modify text, change colors and adjust the layout to create a unique and eye-catching design.

Step 4: Elevate your presentation by incorporating captivating visuals. You can upload your images or choose from Venngage’s vast library of high-quality photos, icons and illustrations. 

Step 5: Upgrade to a premium or business account to export your presentation in PDF and print it for in-person presentations or share it digitally for free!

By following these five simple steps, you’ll have a professionally designed and visually engaging presentation ready in no time. With Venngage’s user-friendly platform, your presentation is sure to make a lasting impression. So, let your creativity flow and get ready to shine in your next presentation!

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6 Hooks to Start Your Presentation

When it comes to a presentation, the first few minutes are crucial. This is when it’s critical to capture an audience's attention and hold it until the end. For presenters, a constructive, captivating hook that stimulates the audience is vital in order to hold attention throughout the presentation, and an effective design created by a PowerPoint presentation designer can further interest the audience.

Your presentation should flow smoothly from slide to slide to deliver the greatest impact, bringing together both the visual elements and your prepared remarks. A professional PowerPoint presentation designer can significantly improve the quality of your overall demonstration by incorporating visual rhetoric and persuasive design features that drive your message home. 

Your hook not only provides an opportunity to draw the audience’s attention but creates the first impression, setting the tone for the rest of your message. If you want your audience to be moved to action by your words, your hook is the first step to giving a memorable, meaningful presentation. 

In this blog post, we’ll discuss six hooks you can use to start your presentation and engage your audience!

The Importance of a Good Hook For a Presentation

As we know, first impressions are long lasting. Your audience will make assumptions about your presentation and your character within the first few seconds . 

As the presenter, your focus should be on providing concise and intriguing information for the presentation, utilizing a creative hook. Then a graphic or PowerPoint presentation designer can more easily find a way to cohesively connect the visuals with the information and hook provided.

Contradict Expectations

One way to engage your audience is to contradict their expectations. This can be done by starting with a statement that goes against what they’re expecting to hear. For example, if you are giving a presentation on the benefits of exercise, you could start by saying "Exercise is not good for your health." This will immediately pique your audience's interest and make them want to know more.

Make a Surprising Claim

Another way to engage your audience is to make a claim that is unexpected or surprising. You could bring up a surprising statistic about your topic that might hit home with your audience. This will grab their attention and make them want to know more about what you have to say. Be careful not to allow your claim to distract from your overall message, however.

Stimulate Curiosity

You can also engage your audience by stimulating their curiosity. Asking a question or making a statement that leaves them wanting to know more is a good way to accomplish this. If you’re able to make them think deeply about the topic and cause them to ask questions, they’ll be more attentive to your presentation.

Tell a Story

Telling a story will often draw your audience’s attention to the presentation. Stories are a powerful tool that can help you connect with your audience and make them want to hear more. When choosing a story to share, make sure it’s relevant to your topic and will resonate with your audience. 

For example, if you’re giving a presentation on the benefits of positive thinking, you could tell a story about how it helped you overcome a difficult situation in your life.

Ask a Question

Asking a thought-provoking question is another great way to engage your audience. This will encourage them to think about your topic and consider what you have to say. It’s also an easy way to encourage your audience into active participation with your presentation. 

State the Problem in Clear Terms

If you want to engage your audience, it’s important to state the problem in clear terms. This will help them understand the significance of your topic and make them want to hear more about what you have to say. 

For example, if you’re giving a presentation on the benefits of meditation, you could start by saying "Meditation can help you reduce stress." This would clearly state the problem (stress) and explain how meditation can help solve it.

How Kristian Olson Art & Design Can Help

If you're looking for help with your presentations, look no further than Kristian Olson Art & Design! I create custom presentation designs that are sure to engage your audience. Reach out today to learn more!

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15 Killer Hooks to Captivate and Engage Your Audience

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Do you want to make sure that your readers are completely hooked on your content and keep coming back for more? Are you looking for new ways to captivate and engage them so they’ll stick around till the very end of your post? 

If so, then you need killer hooks – those techniques that grab attention, capture interest and compel readers to take action. 

From personal anecdotes and storytelling to humor, surprise elements, questions and promises – this article will provide 15 clever hooks guaranteed to draw in even the most distracted reader. 

Read on if you’re ready to start crafting posts that have maximum impact!

What is a hook message to grab the reader's attention?

The hook message in an article or piece of content is the attention-grabbing statement or opening sentence that captures the reader’s interest and encourages them to read further. A compelling and effective hook message not only attracts attention but also keeps the reader engaged and interested in what follows.

According to studies, the average attention span of a person is only 8 seconds, which makes the hook message all the more important. And given the overwhelming amount of content available online, a well-crafted hook can make all the difference between a reader continuing to read or scrolling past.

There are several types of hooks that can be used, such as posing a question, using a startling statistic, or telling a story. However, the most effective hooks are typically those that tap into the reader’s emotions or curiosity.

One example of an emotional hook could be starting an article with a relatable personal story. This immediately sets the tone for the article and creates an emotional connection between the reader and the writer. Another type of hook that is effective is using a surprising or unexpected fact that challenges common assumptions.

Regardless of the type of hook used, the goal remains the same – to captivate the reader’s attention and encourage them to read on. So, whether you’re writing a blog post, article, or marketing copy, taking the time to craft an attention-grabbing hook can make all the difference in capturing your audience’s interest and keeping them engaged.

15 killer hooks to engage your audience

✅ shocking statistics.

Use a statistic that will get your audience thinking and wanting to know more.

✅ Interesting Quotes

Quotes can be powerful intros that give your audience a new perspective on your topic.

✅ Personal Anecdotes

Personal anecdotes are an effective way to humanize your message and connect with your audience.

✅ Surprising Facts

Surprising facts are great hooks that will leave your audience intrigued and wanting to know more.

✅ Contrasting Ideas

Contrasting two different ideas can be an effective way to draw your audience in and spark interest.

✅ Bold Statements

Bold statements can challenge your audience’s thinking and get them engaged in your message.

✅ Humorous Anecdotes

Humor is a great way to break the ice and ease the tension in your presentation.

✅ An Alluring Question

Asking an intriguing question can make your audience curious and keep them engaged.

✅ Powerful Images

Powerful images can captivate your audience and give your message an emotional impact.

✅ Unique Analogies

Analogies can be an excellent way to help your audience better understand complex concepts.

✅ Startling Comparisons

Comparing two different things can be a great way to highlight the importance of your message.

✅ Conspiracy Theories

Conspiracy theories can be a fun way to engage your audience and get them thinking critically.

✅ Controversial Ideas

Controversial ideas can be used to stimulate discussion and engage in healthy debate.

✅ Shocking News Stories

Using shocking news stories can be an effective way to get your audience’s attention and keep them engaged in your message.

✅ Emotional Appeals

Emotional appeals can be used to connect with your audience on a personal level and inspire them to take action.

Most famous hooks in history

“Four score and seven years ago…”  – This is the opening line of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, instantly capturing the attention of the audience with its memorable and poetic beginning.

“I have a dream…”  – Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic speech begins with this powerful and aspirational statement, immediately drawing the audience in with its hopeful and inspiring tone.

“In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit…”  – J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel “The Hobbit” starts with this intriguing line, sparking curiosity and inviting readers into a fantastical world.

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”  – Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities” begins with this contrasting statement, setting the stage for a story filled with drama and tension.

“Once upon a time…”  – This classic opening line is often used in fairy tales and folklore, instantly signaling to the audience that they are about to embark on a magical and enchanting journey.

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”  – Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” starts with this witty and satirical sentence, immediately capturing the attention with its ironic tone and social commentary.

“Call me Ishmael.”  – The opening line of Herman Melville’s “Moby-Dick” is simple yet intriguing, drawing the reader into the narrative by introducing a mysterious character.

“It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.”  – George Orwell’s “1984” begins with this unsettling and unusual line, immediately creating a sense of intrigue and setting the tone for a dystopian tale.

“In a galaxy far, far away…”  – The opening crawl of the “Star Wars” films grabs the audience’s attention by transporting them into a vast and epic science fiction universe.

“To be or not to be…”  – Shakespeare’s famous soliloquy from “Hamlet” starts with this existential question, instantly captivating the audience with its introspective and philosophical nature.

Most famous hooks in marketing to engage the audience

“Just do it.”  – Nike’s iconic slogan is a short and powerful hook that inspires action and motivation, appealing to the audience’s desire for achievement and self-improvement.

“Think different.”  – Apple’s memorable tagline challenges the status quo and appeals to individuals who want to stand out and embrace innovation.

“Got milk?”  – This simple yet catchy slogan from the California Milk Processor Board prompts the audience to consider the importance of milk consumption, making it memorable and thought-provoking.

“Finger-lickin’ good.”  – KFC’s slogan evokes sensory appeal and mouthwatering sensations, creating a strong connection between the audience and the product.

“Melts in your mouth, not in your hands.”   – M&M’s clever tagline emphasizes the product’s quality and convenience, leaving a lasting impression on the audience.

“Because you’re worth it.”  – L’Oréal’s slogan speaks to the audience’s desire for self-care and self-worth, positioning their products as a way to indulge and pamper oneself.

“The breakfast of champions.”   – Wheaties’ tagline positions their cereal as fuel for success and accomplishment, appealing to athletes and those striving for greatness.

“I’m lovin’ it.”  – McDonald’s popular jingle encapsulates the joy and satisfaction associated with their fast-food experience, creating an emotional connection with the audience.

“The happiest place on Earth.”  – Disneyland’s slogan taps into the audience’s longing for happiness and magical experiences, creating a desire to visit the theme park.

“Red Bull gives you wings.”  – Red Bull’s tagline implies that their energy drink provides an instant boost and a feeling of empowerment, appealing to individuals seeking energy and vitality.

These hooks have become iconic in marketing because they effectively capture the attention and resonate with the desires, emotions, and aspirations of the target audience.

Crafting the perfect hook can elevate your content and create a lasting impression with readers. Many of these hooks allude to a story, so focusing on how the hook will capture the audience’s imagination is key. 

If you want to leverage your story-telling skills and captivate your reader from beginning to end, a great hook is essential. With guidance and practice, it can be easy to craft an eye-catching hook for any type of content that you produce. 

Remember to focus on who you are writing for and weaving in interesting tidbits along the way. Hooks don’t have to be complex or long; they just need to evoke curiosity so readers continue exploring your content, making it enjoyable and easy to read! 

So go ahead — get creative with your 15 killer hooks! Who knows — maybe one will be the spark that captures countless readers’ attention.

• Pitch Hook Ideas That Will Get Your Audience's Attention

Pitch Hook Ideas That Will Get Your Audience's Attention

Great presentations captivate an audience right off the start. For that, having an excellent hook as an attention-getter is the most effective business presentation opener. So let us give you a good set of pitch deck hook ideas along with the best pitch deck opener tips for you to take into consideration before your next startup pitch. 

Tip #1: Put yourself in the audience’s shoes

First, writing a good hook for a presentation often stems from putting yourself in the audience’s shoes. 

By the time you pitch your startup or product, you will most likely have a solid reference of the type of audience you will have. Use that to your advantage. There is nothing more refreshing to an audience than feeling appealed. And you can do that if you take their background into account before planning the narrative structure of the presentation.

A great speech hook tends to answer the question: “How would I love to be wowed?” If you put yourself in the audience’s seat for a minute, it is very likely you will better stimulate your imagination to come up with unique and innovative presentation hook ideas. 

We know investors love startup founders who can think like an investor. That means putting VCs’ financial perspectives and overall posture into perspective when it comes to presenting in front of them. 

Is there any knowledge to this degree that you can put to work as a presentation hook for your upcoming business presentation? Even asking yourself this question is already a fruitful exercise in itself. 

Tip #2: Come up with unique hooks

There are no follow-through recipes to produce a great attention-getter. On the contrary, the better you can tailor your hooks to your specific business, the more powerfully your business presentation start will serve the purpose of captivating your audience. 

It is also a very beautiful experience when you craft such a unique attention-getter and business presentation opener that the lines you used can only be traced back to you. It gives a sense of uniqueness to your business presentation in that pitch room. That is what we call “making an impression.”

Tip #3: Consider attention spans

Just like we can count on the first few seconds of a first impression to be golden and unalterable, audiences are typically lost after about 5 minutes of a startup’s presentation. The audience’s attention curve is known to go up and down intermittently after the opening until a wrap-up’s final peak. Take this into account to keep investors motivated and interested.

This is also precisely why it is so relevant that your attention-getter is well established. The opening part of your pitch is very likely the most attention you will get throughout your entire presentation, so make the best of it!

There’s also a need for you to work in your public speaking skills .

Tip #4: Storytelling is still important

It doesn’t matter how much we vary business angles or startup pitch decks as a whole, storytelling is always amidst the first ingredients to a successful startup pitch. Most business presentation experts will agree that telling a story is a great way of captivating - and maintaining - an audience’s attention to what you’re saying. 

Also, use metaphors as much as possible. Doing so should enhance the art of storytelling to your advantage. While you’re at it, try to lose the fear of speaking in public as you deliver your initial story. Confidence is key in getting your point across in a way that is appealing to your viewers and listeners.

Questions can help

We have a tendency to think that presenting is all about delivering facts; about showing off as the most knowledgeable in your particular field. And while that is true to a large extent, don’t forget questions can also be of great help. Rhetorical queries, especially, are a great way to start a business pitch if you play them correctly. 

The idea behind a rhetorical question as the start to a startup pitch is to evoke thought. It is an easy way to interact with the audience and gets them thinking with and about your business or the data you just shared. 

Hopefully, however, you can also lure the audience back to your content with the start of your presentation slides. Give them some answers and roll them back into the stimuli you’re giving them. What we mean is that, while questions can be your ally, do not exceed into too complicated or intriguing queries. Those might drift your audience away and take too much focus far from where you are trying to lead your audience. 

Put humor to good use

If you can manage to have a clean, sharp and on-point sense of humor, by all means consider playing it as the hook with which you get your audience’s initial attention. Remember humor depends on your context, as well, so make sure you’ve got your bases covered. 

Though a bit of a tricky card to play and not severely recommended across the board, you can even try telling a joke or relying on some self-deprecating humor to get your audience to connect. Well-known and reputable masters of public presentation skills have been known to recommend this.

While a presentation that starts off on a joke might not be the most common pitch delivery, laughter can certainly be a strong tool to generate connection and empathy. Humor also makes presenters a bit more relatable if crafted correctly. A good tip is trying to use humor while you introduce yourself in the presentation , if applicable.

Furthermore, pulling off the right humoristic approach to your pitch hook gives you the benefit of sending healthy endorphins through your audience’s blood system. This effect will get VCs to relax and be better able to be present in that room with you.

Use “what if” imagination tricks

Very much tied to your proposed solution slide in a way, asking “what if” questions can get an audience thinking about imagined scenarios that could help your presentation start. As easy as using one word, ask your audience to “imagine” something. This can lead listeners to travel with you and in their minds, which can be very refreshing for everyone involved.

Rely on Hard Facts

Tie the above with a well-known fact, such as a reference to history or any other real-life data, and your imagination request can easily turn into a strong case of a provocative and successful beginning to a startup pitch deck delivery. 

Maximize quotes

A bit more classic to some degree, entrepreneurs tend to use quotes as final thoughts to their pitches. Move it up to your pitch deck opening and you could easily have a powerful attention-getter. 

Tip #5: Consider your whole deck

In the end, managing a great attention-getter should be the start of more business meeting follow-up requests. Yet, bear in mind that your hook is just a great start to a business presentation. 

Since we can rely on your hook’s attention peek to be lost after the first 5 minutes of your presentation, the rest of your business pitch success truly lies in every single step that follows all the way to your last slide. 

Related: What is a Pitch Deck Presentation: A complete Presentation Guide with examples.

We wish you the best in your upcoming business presentations. And always remember to bring up your slides to the next level with the AI-powered design of Slidebean!

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How to Hook Your Audience with An Effective Opening

Want to grab your presentation audience's attention immediately? Here's how to hook your audience with an effective opening.

"I speak to you for the first time as Prime Minister in a solemn hour for the life of our country, of our empire, of our allies, and, above all, of the cause of Freedom."

That's Winston Churchill, in his first broadcast speech as Prime Minister on May 19, 1940. Most of us don't have a topic as momentous as the "tremendous battle raging in France and Flanders" to speak about—or oratorical talent as great as Churchill's. But we have just as much need to hook our audiences at the start of our speeches and presentations.

Interested in the best presentation tips?  Discover  101 tips for great public speaking!   Get my Public Speaking Handbook,  How to Give a Speech .  Click on image below for more.

So, how are you doing in this department? The success of your talk depends upon your getting listeners to get engaged and stay that way . That's what a speech "hook" or "grabber" is designed to do. 

What Is a Speech Hook and How Does It Work?

A hook or grabber is the part of your presentation that compels an audience to sit up and pay attention. It should come at the very beginning of your talk, where it can do the most good. Audiences have a lot on their minds as they prepare to listen to your remarks. They might in fact be attending a number of presentations during that week. So you need to let them know right away that you're the speaker who is going to be interesting.

Do you know the best practices for doing that? Discover how to motivate, inspire, and activate people! Get my Free Guide , "Six Rules of Effective Public Speaking."

Once engaged, listeners will stay with you. As long, that is, as the body of your speech lives up to the expectation you've created in your opening. But it's that hook that gets everything started.

An Effective vs. Ineffective Opening

To grasp the difference between an opening that hooks your listeners, and one that lets them get away, consider the following two speech openings. They're both from TED talks, and both are delivered by scientists. Which one grabs your attention?

(A) "We're going to go on a dive to the deep sea."

(B) "I study ants . . . in the desert, in the tropical forest, in my kitchen, and in the hills around Silicon Valley, where I live."

Is this starting to sound like a formula for speaking success? It is! To learn more, download my Free resource , "How to Start a Speech: 12 Foolproof Ways to Grab Your Audience." 

I'll bet it's the first one. Who wouldn't want to go on a virtual dive with oceanographer David Gallo to explore the ocean depths (choice A)? It's nice that biologist Deborah Gordon studies ants (choice B). But it doesn't sound compelling.

In fact her topic—the link between ants, the human brain, and cancer—is fascinating. But her opening keeps her speech firmly tied to the earth. Like every speech, however, it needs to get airborne right off the launch pad.

Want to improve your "audience connecting" skills to start out with a bang? Download my Free resource , "How to Begin a Presentation: The Critical First 60 Seconds."

You Can Be Creative, Can't You?

So how can you make the Big Bang happen in your own speeches and presentations? Here are  four key elements of a successful speech hook, along with examples. Remember, a hook should occur as early in your speech as possible. What, then, does a good speech hook do?

(1) It resonates with the audience.

If your topic happens to be of general interest to everyone, this requirement should be easy. Sir Ken Robinson ,  for instance, pulls it off in just  nine seconds  in his TED talk, "Do Schools Kill Creativity?"

Here's his opening, referring to the previous speakers at the event: "It's been great, hasn't it? I've been blown away by the whole thing. In fact . . . I'm leaving." Humor delivered well is always a winner. Equally successful is an opening that has special relevance to listeners. If you know your industry and your audience, you should be able to come up with a hook that absolutely resonates in this way.

(2) It surprises them.

Have you ever groaned inwardly because a speaker began, "My topic today is . . . "? How differently we react to an opening that's original! That's the speaker would will delight rather than bore us. Someone who knows how to do that is Gavin Pretor-Pinney in his TED Talk. He starts out: "Clouds ... have you ever noticed how much people moan about them?" If I mention the talk is titled "Cloudy with a Chance of Joy," you'll understand his surprising yet logical choice for his opening.

(3) It's concise.

You want impact. You may tell a great story, but its effect will evaporate if it goes on too long. Always consider the total time you have and craft an opening that helps balance the talk as a whole. Mark Twain once began a speech following a toast to the New England weather by saying, "I reverently believe that the Maker who made us all makes everything in New England but the weather." (I bet that opening surprised his listeners, too.)

(4) It taps into something larger than your topic.

Remember, your topic is your doorway to a place where you help change the world of your listeners. No speaker understood this better than President John F. Kennedy in 1961, when he said in the opening of his inaugural speech: "We observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom."

And here's the unmatched simplicity and understatement (and mischief) of Sojourner Truth's opening in her 1851 speech on women's rights, "Ain't I a Woman," which reflects on that issue as well as the other great one of the day: slavery: "Well, children, where there is so much racket there must be something out of kilter."

Resonant, surprising, concise, and connected with a much larger issue. Take away that lesson to help change your own world—one speech, and one speech hook, at a time.

This article was originally published in 2016. It is updated here. 

You should follow me on Twitter   here .  

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7 Ways to Structure Your Presentation to Keep Your Audience Wanting More

Written by: Orana Velarde

The most successful and memorable presentations have one thing in common.

They all tell a story.

No matter how many facts or charts need to be presented, incorporating stories into a presentation will keep your audience focused and intrigued.

Using stories to support data is a well-known technique in all aspects of public speaking, from motivational talks to in-company sales pitches.

Here’s a short selection of 8 easy-to-edit modern presentation templates you can edit, share and download with Visme. View more templates below:

In this guide, we will look at 7 ways to structure your presentations using storytelling techniques to keep your audience engaged until the very end.

Look closely at each one to see which fits your presentation’s purpose best!

Planning Your Presentation Structure: Like Building a Lego Model

Is it easier to separate the correct pieces before you start building?  Or is it better to search in a big bucket with mixed parts for every new piece you need?

We’re pretty sure you will pick the first option.  In the beginning, it might seem like this option would take longer, but the opposite is true.

The first step to a successful presentation structure is to brainstorm your ideas and combine them into a rough draft. But first, consider the message you want to relay to your audience.

RELATED: A Non-Designer's Guide to Creating Memorable Visual Presentations

The Message

What is the message you want to convey with your presentation?

A good starting point is to decide if it will be informative, entertaining, inspiring or persuasive.

In a business setting, you might want your presentation to do two of these things: inform and persuade. If you are a mindset coach for companies, then you might want to entertain and inspire.

The main message should be easy to grasp from the title on your first slide. Think of an appropriate way to word what you want to give your audience in one or two sentences. This can of course be changed later, but having a preliminary title will help get your ideas in order for what comes next.

RELATED: 150+ Presentation Topic Ideas for Students [Plus Templates]

Once you know which direction your presentation will take, it’s time to jot all your ideas down on paper to create a presentation outline and rough draft of all the points you will cover.

7 Ways to Structure Your Presentation

Now that the brainstorming and rough draft are out of the way, it’s time to start structuring your presentation. This is when we introduce the storytelling aspect into the equation.

All the information you have gathered and organized in your rough draft now needs some attitude to really get your message across.

We are going to look at 7 different styles of storytelling structures that work great for presentations. They all have a different style of delivery and cadence. Choosing one for your presentation will depend on your message and who your audience is.

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Fact and Story

The first structure we will look at is Fact and Story . The premise is that the presentation moves back and forth between facts and stories.

Presentation guru Nancy Duarte wrote about this presentation structure in her book " Resonate ." She suggests that mixing storytelling with the relay of facts can help your audience stay interested until the end of your presentation.

According to Duarte, this type of structure should start off with an initial setting of the present reality: the “what is.” From there, an invitation to adventure is presented and the first instance of “what could be” is told as a story to illustrate how the initials facts can be improved.

This comparison of presenting the facts as what they are at the present moment with stories that show how things could be improved is what keeps your audience interested and waiting for more.

The conclusion should end at a high point, considerably higher than where it began. The audience should feel like they learned something and, at the same time, inspired to change.

This structure maintains a level of suspense and excitement, perfect for presentations that need to inspire AND inform.

This TED talk by David McCandless about the The Beauty of Data Visualization is a perfect example of the Fact and Story structure. He presents a collection of data visualizations which he created himself, along with a story of why he chose each particular set of data.

The topics he chose were extremely relevant to our present day and the audience related to all of them. The personal stories added to the intrigue and the audience left feeling like data visualizations are not only beautiful but also quite important.

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The Explanation

According to Gavin McMahon, co-founder of fassforward Consulting Group , the presentation structured labeled as The Explanation is meant to teach new insights and abilities.

Its main purpose is to inform about a process or plan to either fix a problem or learn something new. A good way to incorporate storytelling into the structure is to show the progression of the facts along with the progression of a story.

The presentation progresses in an upward motion following these steps:

• The Lay of the Land shows how things stand right now, what the destination is and how you plan to get there. The point is to get the audience excited and on board as quickly as possible by showing them the entire process straight up. Tell a story that relates directly to the introduction. Better yet, start with a story.
• The Roadmap is a visual map of how you will get to the final destination and reach the resolution. Set the audience on the right track.
• The First Step begins the adventure to get where you want to go.
• T he Next Steps is the middle section of the presentation, where all the steps are laid out one by one.
• Almost there is the catharsis where you look back at how much has changed and progressed since the first step.
• The Arrival is the celebration of the end of the journey. The audience should feel like they have learned something new and gained new knowledge.

The Explanation structure can be used for presentations by consultants that want to teach new ways of doing things inside a company or department. It could also perfectly fit in a sales meeting where a presenter can explain their process of a masterful sales plan.

This TED talk by Amy Cuddy about how your body language shapes who you are is a great example of an Explanation structure. She tells us about her experiment on power poses and how they can affect the outcome of a difficult situation.

The presentation starts off with a discussion on the natural animal and human condition of power and ends with a personal invitation to change your life with a 2-minute practice of power posing.

If you are a lover of the show "Grey’s Anatomy," this is the idea behind the power pose that the neurosurgeons do before a big procedure.

As you know, a pitch in the business sense is when a presenter uses the power of a presentation or speech to convince the audience of something he/she believes will improve a system or solve a problem, according to Gavin McMahon, co-founder of fassforward Consulting Group .

The Pitch presentation structure is like a climb uphill that takes you over a hurdle and on to a positive resolution.

It shows how the presenter’s idea can really improve a situation. By using a real and relatable story, the pitch makes more sense and feels more important.

• The Wind Up is a quick summary of what’s going on right now to presents the facts in a way that is easy to grasp and relatable to the audience.
• The Hurdle presents the problem that needs to be solved . Relay the problem with a story so that the emphasis is doubled.
• The Vision presents a glimpse into the main idea on how the problem can be solved.
• The Options is the moment when two different options are laid out as possibilities to solve the initial problem. The idea is to give an average option first, followed by a great option second. If there have already been tests and experiments to prove these facts, then these are the story.
• The Close is the point where the ideal option is presented as the best and only option.
• The Fine Print tells the audience exactly how the problem will be solved, the steps that need to be taken and the tasks to be resolved.
• The Hook is the uplifting conclusion to the presentation which relays an added bonus to the solution of the problem.

Use The Pitch presentation structure when you want to convince someone that your idea is the best for their problem. This structure also works when a new startup is looking for new funding or sponsorship opportunities.

This TED talk by Enric Sala about how to turn the high seas into the world’s largest natural reserve is a great example of a Pitch structure. He starts off with a story of how a group of fishermen revived an area of the ocean by stopping all the fishing there and turning it into a natural reserve.

Ten years later, that piece of ocean makes more money from scuba diving tourism than it ever did from fishing. He continues to talk about the same problem at a larger scale, the diminishing supply of fish and the destruction of the oceans.

His pitch to solve the impending problem is to turn the high seas into a natural reserve. He finishes by telling the audience that the plan is being pitched to the UN and that every individual can help their country abide by the new agreement if it goes through.

There is a well-known structure in literature called “The Hero’s Journey” which follows the plight of a main character from the beginning of a story to the end and leaves the reader feeling like they've learned a lesson they will never forget.

This type of presentation structure, The Drama , has a strong storytelling aspect. This is often used to tell the story of an influential company from founding days, through trials and tribulations, and then finishes with an inspiring show of success.

Another perfect presentation for The Drama structure is an inspiring personal story.

These are the steps of a Drama style presentation structure:

• One Fine Day . The introduction sets the stage with a situation where things are not perfect but just average. Imagine as if it were the first page of a book, where the setting is laid out and the audience gets an idea of a time and place.
• The Challenge. Suddenly a problem appears that can’t be ignored. The things that need to be solved are presented as a challenge.
• Descending Crisis . At this point, the problem is attacked head on but things gets worse until it hits rock bottom.
• Rock Bottom. When all seems lost and everything is at its worst, the story arrives at a standstill. As an added bonus, the presenter can pause for effect.
• The Discovery . This is the moment when a glimmer of light shows up and there is a discovery, a new way of resolving the problem.
• The Rise . By discovering new abilities, the problem can be tackled in a positive way.
• The Return . Not only are the problem and challenge resolved, the character and the audience break through and reach an unexpected happiness threshold, opening the world to a whole new range of possibilities.
• The Lesson . The conclusion is reached with an unforgettable lesson and resolution. The audience will feel inspired, informed and entertained.

This TED talk by Adam Driver about his journey from Marine to actor is the perfect example of The Drama structure.

He begins the story by telling the audience about what his life was like before he joined the Marines and what drove him to do it.

He tells how the Marines became his family, and closest friends. Then, right before deploying to Iraq or Afghanistan, he had an accident that separated him from the Marines for good.

He continues to explain how he went on to become an actor, followed by the creation of his project to unify theater with military service.

His talk ends with an example of the theater pieces he coordinates to be presented at military camps. Listeners are left with their hearts full of a newfound hope for humanity.

RELATED: This Classic Storytelling Model Will Help You Give a Mesmerizing Presentation

Situation - Complication - Resolution

According to Gavin McMahon , co-founder of fassforward Consulting Group, most presentations in the realm of B2B sales and business consultancy follow the Situation - Complication - Resolution structure. It is a three-element storyline linked by the words  but  and  therefore .

The starting point is The Situation , where current conditions are shown in an unbiased and transparent way. The situation connects to the next step through the word but .

A simple example: Our home decor company is selling pretty well this month, but…

This is when The Complication is presented.

In the above example, it could look something like this:

Our home decor company is selling pretty well this month, but  … we have been spending too much on international shipping.

When presenting The Complication , use facts to prove it. Present it as the challenge that needs to be overcome. The Complication is a low point, but from a low point we can only go up.

The final destination is The Resolution , which is connected to The Complication with the word, therefore .

Our home decor company is selling pretty well this month, but we have been spending too much on international shipping. Therefore,  we need to start using a new company that has a better price range and great service.

Back up all of your information with real facts and proof.

Situation - Opportunity - Resolution

A similar structure to the one above, the Situation - Opportunity - Resolution  replaces  Complication with   Opportunity . This three-part structure is also joined by the words  but  and  therefore .

The difference is that instead of the movement going down and then up, it goes slightly up and then levels out.

This structure is perfect when you need to show that something is not that hard to fix; that the problem might not be so big after all and that the solution is easy to grasp.

A presentation that follows this structure could turn out to be quite short, if only the facts are presented, but that would leave the audience feeling like “is that it?” Adding an interesting story to help the audience relate makes the overall presentation more effective.

This TED talk by Adam Galinsky about how to speak up for yourself is a perfect example of the Situation - Opportunity - Resolution presentation structure. He starts off by saying: “Speaking up is hard,” and instantly everyone in the audience can relate.

He gives a few personal stories about times when he should have spoken up and others when he shouldn’t. He gives contextual proof and explanations about how sometimes we feel powerless, other times powerful, and how this affects if we speak up or not.

His solution to the problem is not a huge effort but rather a personal mindset change. The presentation ends with an inspiring quote by the speaker’s father which leaves the audience feeling like they will know exactly when it’s the perfect time to speak up, or not.

Hook, Meat and Payoff

This presentation structure, like The Drama, is deeply founded in the art of storytelling. While the Hero’s Journey is more of a literary technique,  Hook, Meat and Payoff is more like a spoken-word progression.

The idea is that with the Hook , the presenter gives the audience a sense of place and time, plus a situation that will put them at the edge of their seats, wanting more.

The Meat is the middle section and usually the longest part of the presentation where the story progresses and all the information is relayed in an interesting and inviting way.

The Payoff is the inspiring conclusion that circles back to the beginning and leaves the audience feeling inspired.

It's like when you come out of the movie theater: You feel better about yourself and the world around you, as if you've learned something important that will make your life a little better.

This TED talk by Jill Bolte Taylor about her stroke of insight is a perfect example of a Hook, Meat and Payoff presentation structure.

One of the most famous TED talks of all time, this presentation starts with her personal story of the time she suffered a brain hemorrhage and stroke.

She is a neuroanatomist; she studies brains for a living. Her experience of having a stroke is one of the deepest stories you'll ever hear about the union between science and spirituality.

Her presentation hook, a real human brain which she shows to the audience, very much grabs your attention. The meat of the talk is also entertaining and interesting; she has the audience laughing and crying right along with her.

In the end, she recounts the moment when she felt her body die and then woke up feeling like she was a different person. She had lost all capacities with the stroke, and it took her eight years to learn to talk and walk again.

The Payoff is her invitation to everyone to feel like they have Nirvana at their fingertips, that being conscious of the world around us is not an impossible task.

RELATED: 7 Storytelling Techniques Used by the Most Inspiring TED Presenters

Make a Storyboard

Now that we've looked at the seven different ways that you can structure your presentation with storytelling techniques, it’s time to make a storyboard.

A storyboard is what film makers use to set up the structure of their movie before filming it. It is created with the help of the screenplay, following the flow of the story. Each rectangle in the storyboard is a scene in the film.

Presenters use this process of storyboarding to set up their presentations because it really helps with productivity. A storyboard is essentially a visual draft of your presentation.

(A note for the “un-artistic”: Don’t worry about things looking amazing right now! Uneven squiggles and weird shapes work the same way as perfect squares. The designed and finished look will come later when you set it all up in the Visme editor.)

As you add the story aspect to your presentation, make sure you don’t get too wordy and try using visuals instead of too much text. Use one or two sentences at most for each slide.

The best way to make a storyboard is with index cards, using each card as a slide. You can add things or easily take them away before you even start to design the final draft.

If it makes things easier, you can take a look at some presentation templates in Visme to see how we've created different slides. This might visually inspire the cards in your storyboard.

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Build it with Visme

You are now ready to move on to the final step: building your presentation with Visme. Okay, you can create it with whichever presentation software you like, but we think you'll conclude Visme is one of the best choices out there.

Promotions aside, it’s time to bring it all to life.

First, open a new presentation canvas, then choose a template or start from scratch. When you start from a blank canvas in Visme, you can add pre-built slides one by one from the slide library.

Create your slides by following the storyboard. For an added bonus, you can use animations, videos and audio to make your presentation unique.

Record your own audio and voiceovers within Visme

If your presentation is meant to be seen on its own, online or sent as a scrollable PDF, there might need to be more text than on a visual presentation which accompanies a speech. You can try animating the text so it's not just a big block of words.

Using audio also helps, but if the viewer has their computer on mute, they might miss it. Make sure your first slide gives the instruction to turn up the volume.

If your visual presentation is going to be used as a backdrop for a speech, you can forgo some of the text and make it more visual.

Remember to rehearse your speech along with the slides so it all flows seamlessly. TED speakers suggest you rehearse a spoken presentation at least 10 times until it flows naturally.

If you need more help with your presentation design, don't forget to grab our free e-book below.

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About the Author

Orana is a multi-faceted creative. She is a content writer, artist, and designer. She travels the world with her family and is currently in Istanbul. Find out more about her work at oranavelarde.com

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Presentations: 6 Ways to Hook Your Audience

by Robert Hellmann • Building a Business , On-the-job Success , Presentations

When you are giving a presentation, look to actively engage your audience right from the start. Don’t assume they are paying attention; they may be thinking about their last meeting or the next one! So go beyond the dry and conventional; Capture their imagination, make them part of the show. Use any of these six approaches to hook your audience, so you can then reel them in with a memorable, powerful presentation.

1.  Surprise the Audience We started one client’s presentation (to an executive audience at a global Fortune 500 company) with a slide that had a single large number on it: $3,000,000. The presenter began, “$30 million dollars, that’s right, $30 million dollars. That’s how much we lose every year because new hires are under-utilized. But we can cut this number in half with a one-time $100,000 on-boarding investment.”  My client reported back to me that the audience was surprised all around by both the magnitude of the cost and the inexpensive fix. In short, they were paying rapt attention right from beginning — they wanted to know more, and my client had them “hooked.”

Often surprise can take a different form, like sharing a counter-intuitive or unexpected piece of information. For example, you might say something like “Ask any executive, and they will tell you that the key to success is first x, then y.  But you may be surprised, as I was, to learn that the exact opposite is true.”

2.  Ask the Audience a Question Any interesting, intelligent question posed to the audience at the start of your presentation can help to hook the audience, since you are soliciting their active participation. Questions could be as simple as: “How many of you have ever done ‘x’?” Or “What do you do when ‘y’ happens?” For example, in a salary negotiation presentation, I might start off by asking the audience “What do you say when an interviewer asks about your current salary?” Asking this question engages them and raises an issue of great interest to them!

Here is another example: A client was pitching his company’s information services to a prospective corporate buyer. We created an opening slide that showed the logos of several well-known Fortune 500 companies and asked, “what do these companies all have in common?” When he presented this slide, no one got the right answer, which was “They all use our services.” My client not only engaged them by asking this question, but made an important point about his service’s perceived value.  He ultimately got the sale (although this “hook” was only one part of a much larger effort).

3. Combine a Question with Surprise Combining both of the above techniques is even more powerful. For example, sometimes in my Presentation Skills training workshops I’ll start off by asking the audience “Which of these five items is essential for a great presentation?”  I’ll list things like eye contact, where you stand in the room, and so forth. No one ever gets the correct answer, which is “none of the above.” And since people are surprised by the answer, they are immediately intrigued (as I’ve been told by audience members) and want to know more.

4. Use a Metaphor Starting off a presentation using a metaphor is like sharing a mini- story. You capture their imagination with the image in the metaphor, and make your point more memorable. For example, a client was putting together her pitch as part of a sales presentation for her company’s “workflow management” software. Here is how she started her winning pitch: “A client once said to me ‘our workflow management process was like the chaos of Manhattan streets during rush hour, until your software transformed it into a wide open superhighway.’ In fact, we’ve helped many clients in your industry create their own workflow superhighways…”

5. Tell a Story An engaging story can work wonders in any part of your presentation, and a short, bite-sized story at the start is no exception. As with the metaphor example, people will remember the image in the story, and will be more likely to remember the point you are making as well.

For example, with one client, an Information Technology executive who was presenting the case for investing in a new system architecture, we started out his presentation with: “One morning last week, I saw someone trip on a broken piece of sidewalk near our building and fall! I ran over to help them; luckily, their palms saved the day– they were fine. As I think back to them dusting themselves off and lamenting the crumbling infrastructure, I am reminded of the urgency with which we need to address not only our physical space, but our I.T. infrastructure problem first, before rolling out a new product…”

6. State the Problem in Stark Terms You can grab an audience’s attention by simply stating the problem clearly and right up front. I learned this early in my career from a former manager. She would start her presentations by presenting the dilemma in stark terms. For example, she might say something like “Competitor X is targeting our customers with product Y. We are beginning to lose market share and we have nothing in response.” She didn’t start off with the background, the research, the lengthy introduction. She simply got right to the point, with a problem or situation stated in dramatic terms that resonated with the audience.  Her approach was always an attention-grabber.

I share many more insights on how to deliver great presentations in my free RESULTS Matter: Make Your Presentations Great! webinar.

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