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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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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 !

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Curated For You

Related content, 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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15 Killer Hooks to Captivate and Engage Your Audience

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          TABLE OF CONTENTS

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.

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"Be a voice not an echo." - Albert Einstein

How to Hook Your Audience with a Great Opener

Want to grab listeners' attention and engagement immediately? Here's how to hook your audience with a great opener!

"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" [i] to speak about—or a 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.

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

So how are you doing in this department? It's not going too far to say that 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 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 that week. So you need to let them know right away that you're the speaker who is going to be interesting .

Once engaged, listeners will stay with you. That is, as long as the body of your speech doesn't fail to live up to expectations. But it's that hook that gets everything started.

Doesn't that sound like a formula for speaking success? To get there, see my 12 foolproof ways to grab an audience . It's all about knowing how to start a speech.

An Effective vs. Ineffective Opening

To grasp the difference between an opening that hooks and one that lets your listeners slip 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." [ii]

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

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.

You Can Be Creative, Can't You?

So how can you make that happen in your own speeches and presentations? Here are what I believe are the four key elements of a successful speech hook, along with speech introduction examples. Keep in mind, they should occur as early in your speech as possible, so you tap into the critical first 60 seconds of a speech . 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." [iv] Humor done well is always a winner. Equally successful is an opening that has special relevance to listeners (rather than being a topic that anyone can relate to). 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 sighed resignedly because a speaker began, "My topic today is . . . " How differently we react when he or she approaches us from an unexpected direction! That speaker may elicit delight rather than heavy eyelids. Here is someone who does that: Gavin Pretor-Pinney in his TED Talk. He starts out: "Clouds ... have you ever noticed how much people moan about them?" [v] If I mention the talk is titled "Cloudy with a Chance of Joy," you'll understand his surprising yet logical choice of an 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." [vi] (I bet that opening surprised his listeners, too.)

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

Remember, your topic is only 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." [vii]  

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." [viii]

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 .  

[i] http://www.winstonchurchill.org/learn/speeches/speeches-of-winston-churchill/91-be-ye-men-of-valour

[ii] http://www.ted.com/talks/david_gallo_shows_underwater_astonishments 

[iii] http://www.ted.com/talks/deborah_gordon_what_ants_teach_us_about_the_brain_cancer_and_the_internet#t-11094

  [iv] http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity#t-12634 

[v] http://www.ted.com/talks/gavin_pretor_pinney_cloudy_with_a_chance_of_joy 

[vi] http://www.gutenberg.org/files/3188/3188-h/3188-h.htm#link2H_4_0012 

[vii] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEC1C4p0k3E 

[viii] http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/sojtruth-woman.asp

Tags: speeches , how to open a presentation , how to begin a presentation , how to start a speech , speech format , how to open a speech , how to organize a presentation , speech hook , how to organize a speech , how to start a presentation , speech hooks , speech grabbers , how to begin a speech , speech introduction examples

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• 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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• 7 Super and Strategic Hooks In Speaking
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Recent speech at an education conference to 500 educators but many more showed up!

If you don’t have hooks strategically sprinkled throughout your speech, chances are your audience will bail mentally if not physically.

You have to find ways to keep hooking your audience so THEY don’t want to let go.

Below you’ll find 7 super hooks (in no particular order) that get your audience to say, “Tell me more” or “What happened next?”

Hook #1: Curiosity Hook

“After 15 years of trial and error, research, and blood, sweat, and tears, I’ve finally found out what makes the difference between a good presenter and a great one. It’s…”

That’s an example of a curiosity hook. You find ways to make your long road lead to their shortcut. However, you don’t tell them what they want to know…at least not immediately. Make them curious, tease them a little more, and then give them the tool (or solution, answer, or formula, etc.).

Hook #2 – Avoidance Hook

Here’s an example of an Avoidance Hook.

I tell a story about a speech I gave in Michigan when I failed miserably to the point where the meeting planner couldn’t even look me in the eyes. Then I say to my audience of speakers, “This is something you should not have to go through and you won’t if you listen closely.”

The Avoidance Hook focuses on something your audience wants to avoid. It’s important to use this type of hook because sometimes people are motivated by what they want to avoid more than they are by what they want to attain.

Hook #3 – Attainment Hook

I’ve said to an audience of speakers, “How would you like a tool to make a deeper connection than you’ve ever made before? If so, say yes.” They always yell, “YES!”

The Attainment Hook is just how it sounds. You simply let the audience know what they can attain if they pay attention to what’s coming next. Think results-based. I mention that they’ll be able to make a deeper connection than they ever have before. That’s certainly something they want, but I make sure to tease them before I tell them. Don’t give it up too soon. Make them wait for it and want it.

Hook #4 The “Most People” Hook

When speaking, always keep this in mind:

Most people don’t want to be most people”

When I used to watch the master presenters, I realized many of them made statements like, “Most people do this” or “Most people do that.” Whenever I heard those statements, I’d say to myself “I’m not going to be like most people. I don’t want to be average. I want to do something different.”

That’s the effect the words “most people” have on people. For example, I’ve said, “Most people live their lives on get-set. When it comes to pursuing their goals and dreams, they take their marks, they get-set, and they never go. They live and they die on get-set.”

Because “most people” are two of the most persuasive words in the English language, my audience members get very motivated to “go” rather than live on “get-set.”

Hook #5 – Conflict Hook

Good stories have a conflict that is established early. Great stories not only establish the conflict, they also escalate it. Think about the Titanic. One of the conflicts was when the Titanic hit the iceberg. However, the escalation of the conflict was when the water rose on the Titanic. If the water never rose on the Titanic, then that would have been a terrible movie. Always think, “How can I raise the water on the Titanic in my story?”

The conflict is the hook because your audience wants to see how you will overcome it and what tools you will use. Why? Because maybe they can use similar tools for similar situations. In that way, your speech has become very useful to them.

Hook #6 Silence Hook

I tell a story about how excited I was to meet my speaking hero. The only problem was, when I approached him, he said nothing back to me. That silence in the story becomes a hook because my audience is anxious to hear what he is going to say and then, when he doesn’t say anything, they get ever hungrier to see what I’m going to do about it. The silent moment becomes the hook.

The problem with some speakers is they rush through the silence and make the potential hook much less effective. Take your time, dance in the silence, and watch your audience move to the edge of their seats.

Hook #7 Statement Hook

One of the first stories I ever told as a speaker started out like this:

“Nobody has ever died from a snakebite.”

My audience wonders, “What’s he talking about? People get bitten all the time and I’m sure some of them have died.”

I then go on to tell them it’s not the bite, it’s the venom that kills them.

The key is that the first statement hooked them in to want to know more. The rest of the story cleared it up and answered their question.

When all of your hooks are done, your speech is over.

Final Words on Hooks

As you can see, it’s important not only to have hooks at the beginning and end of your speeches, but to sprinkle them throughout. Remember, when you are in speaking, you are in sales. These hooks will sell your audience on listening to the next part of your presentation.

Oh, wait a minute!  I almost forgot. There is an 8 th hook and it’s more powerful than the other 7 combined. It’s…

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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, “$3 million dollars, that’s right, $3 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 $25,000 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.

EMAIL: [email protected]

120 Presentation Topic Ideas Help You Hook Your Audience

Updated: January 15, 2024

Published: August 09, 2023

Cooking is easy. The puzzle is figuring out what to eat. As soon as you know that, you can get started. The same holds for presentations. The sooner you can whip up a good, informative, and catchy topic, the easier the rest of the process becomes.

Pick a good topic that resonates with you and your audience to set a strong foundation. But select the wrong topic, and it becomes difficult to connect with your audience, find mutual interests, or hold their attention.

So, let’s learn how to develop thought-provoking and relevant topics for your presentations. You’ll also find some best practices to make your presentation memorable.

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Table of Contents

How to Choose a Great Presentation Topic in 5 Steps

120 presentation topic ideas, 5 presentation tips.

Step 4: Be precise.

Once you have completed the first three steps, you probably have a few topic ideas ready. Now, cut out all the excess and select a niche topic with a very specific goal.

The broader your topic, the more difficult it will be for your audience to take away key ideas and actionable tips. Also, it’d be more difficult to gather an audience.

Discuss one problem and solve that problem only. By the end, your audience should have a clear idea of what they’ve gained from the presentation and what one (several at max) problems you helped solve.

4. Choose an appropriate presentation style.

There are many ways to present a topic. Your personality, the topic at hand, and your audience’s personas will help you determine which style would best fit you and your audience.

Select a presentation style that will communicate the main idea clearly and have a lasting impact on your audience.

For instance, explore a freeform style presenter by Sir Ken Robinson.

5. Engage with your audience.

Work on your presentation skills to make a strong connection with your audience, get through to them and leave a mark.

Think of the presenter as the link between the topic and the audience. A strong or a weak presenter can make a difference between a presentation being a thriving success or a boring failure.

Hone your skills by engaging and interacting with your audience. Make them feel like a part of the presentation and not just spectators. 70% of marketers have found presentations with interactive content to be more effective than those without.

Here are a few ways you can make your presentation interactive:

• Start your speech with uncommon questions to your audience. Involve them from the get-go, like ask to raise their hands if X.
• Make eye contact to build credibility and show confidence. Don’t stare at your slides or notes. Smile occasionally and talk to the audience directly.
• Have an active and confident body language. Don’t stand in the same place the entire time. Move around the stage.
• Don’t be monotonous. Speak as you would to a colleague — with enthusiasm.
• Ask close-ended questions in between to keep the audience engaged without losing time. Address them using their names to keep things interesting.
• Share personal experiences and stories that your audience will find fascinating and relatable.
• Practice thoroughly before you present so you’re fluent with the material and delivery.
• Energy and excitement can be quite contagious. Make sure you exude enough to spread some to your audience.

Feeling Inspired Yet?

Now you have all the right ingredients for choosing amazing topics and a hundred ideas to drive inspiration from. So, go ahead and start cooking presentations that will blow your audience away.

Don’t forget to choose a super-relevant topic and add meaty information. Do it with excitement to make it enjoyable for you and your audience. Best of luck!

Don't forget to share this post!

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8 Effective Hooks to Start Your Speech

Table of Contents

Speeches can be challenging to communicate complicated or nuanced information, which is why the opening sentence matters so much. Hooks for speeches have the power to pull the listener in and keep them involved.

They will grab your audience’s attention, get them engaged and interested in what you say, and gradually help set the tone for your speech.

In this article, you’ll find eight effective ways to hook your audience and start a strong presentation.

What Is a Hook in Speech?

A hook is a tool to show your audience where you are going in your speech. They are used in two different ways. Firstly, they are used as a transition between ideas. Secondly, Hooks are used to keep the audience involved and engaged .

Using a hook can help keep your audience focused and give them something to hold on to while you get your point across. A good hook grabs the audience’s attention and gets them interested in what you’re saying.

8 Effective Hooks for Speeches

One way to start your speech is to hook your audience with a powerful way of describing the topic you are speaking on. Hooks can be as simple as descriptions, metaphors, or quotations. Here are eight hooks for speeches to make a lasting impression on the audience.

1. Take a Contrarian Stance

One way to start your speech with a powerful hook is to use a contrarian approach. This means that you take another stance on the issue and discuss it orally, thereby raising doubts in your audience.

One way to create a contrarian approach is to argue against an opinion or belief. A contrarian attitude can create easily recognizable hooks for a speech and succeed in catching the audience’s attention.

2. Ask Several Rhetorical Questions

Rhetorical questions are powerful because they pull at people’s heartstrings. They make statements and ask the listener to agree. Used wisely, they can lead the audience into an argument.

The goal of the question is to ask the listener to think and make a judgment on his own.

3. Use a Powerful Sound Bite

A sound bite is a brief statement that captures the attention of your audience and promises a thought-provoking result. It makes it easier to remember the specifics of what you are talking about.

For example, “Did you know that in 2016 each enterprise had a choice? The choice to go from silos and silences to voice and insight”?

4. Provide a Reference to a Historical Event

Mentioning a historical event is a good attention-getter for speeches. Sometimes you can use the day you present as an opening gambit to tie the topic of your presentation to some historical significance.

Whenever you reference historical events, the audience instantly associates them with their own experience. This leads to a higher level of interest.

5. Employ a Startling Assertion

Making a startling assertion is a quick and effective strategy to get attention. If you’re having trouble coming up with a hook, employ a striking fact. Spend some time researching shocking data that show how serious the topic you’re going to discuss is.

For example, “You might not know, but your brain has less than three seconds to react when you see a bear in the wild.” This is startling as people believe they have enough time to think about what will happen before a bear attack.

6. Take Them Through Imagine or What If Scenario

This is a great hook to start a persuasive speech or one that discusses possible scenarios. It’s an ideal hook for a premise based on hypothetical situations and the effects of potential changes.

Ask the audience something that might change their viewpoint, like what if you could go invisible for a day or go back in time? You can also use the word ‘Imagine’ to draw a mental image and engage the mind.

7. Use Quotations With Your Twist

The usage of quotations is a common strategy for hooks. Although many speakers begin with an appropriate quotation, you might stand out by reciting the quote and putting a twist. You might also use a quote from your personal experience.

8. Tell the Audience a Story

Starting a speech with a story is a great way to engage your audience. For example, “Remember the first time you had a conversation with a child, someone who hadn’t even been born yet? ”

Each of your listeners would probably remember this conversation vividly because they were a part of it. When starting a speech with a story, use an analogy or an experience to heighten the experience.

Make it relatable and better engage your audience.

Hooks are the rhetorical devices that help you to pull your audience in . There are many different hooks for speeches, and each one is effective in its way.

They help to create a dynamic and colorful tone that keeps the audience engaged. Remember that the audience will only give you about 30 seconds before deciding whether or not to continue listening.

Employ one of the eight effective hooks mentioned in this post to make your speech memorable for the audience.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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12 Compelling Pitch Opening Lines to Steal Today

Hrideep barot.

• Public Speaking

“12 Compelling Pitch Opening Lines to Steal Today” is your ultimate guide to the art of crafting irresistible introductions. These pitch opening lines are not just words; they are the keys to unlocking the hearts and minds of your readers. In this blog, we’re about to embark on a journey into the heart of storytelling and persuasion. These lines aren’t just hooks; they’re magnetic forces that draw your clients into your narrative.

We’ll unravel the secrets of what makes an opening line compelling, and how it piques curiosity, sparks imagination, or ignites interest. Whether you’re a writer, marketer, or just someone who wants to grab attention, you’ll discover the power of words in action.

So, get ready to steal a dozen pitch-perfect opening lines that will not only captivate but also inspire your own creative endeavors. 

What is a Pitch Opening Line?

It’s essential to understand what a pitch opening line is before delving into the specifics.

A pitch opening line is an initial statement or phrase you use at the beginning of your pitch or presentation to grab the client’s attention, create interest, and set the tone for the rest of your communication. It’s the hook that draws people in and makes them want to hear more.

Your pitch opening line should be concise and impactful, aiming to captivate your audience, whether you’re delivering a sales pitch, a presentation, a speech, or any other form of communication where you need to engage your listeners right from the start.

Think of it as the door to your pitch—your listener decides whether they’ll enter and engage with your message based on that first impression. The role of a pitch opening line is to create a strong initial connection and generate curiosity or interest, ultimately encouraging your audience to listen further.

The ideal pitch opening line is tailored to your specific audience, topic, and purpose. It can take various forms, such as a statement, a question, a fact, a story, or a bold assertion, depending on what will be most effective in engaging your particular audience.

What makes a good Pitch Opening line?

-relevance:.

A relevant opening line is essential because it immediately establishes a connection between the pitch and the client. The moment you utter the first words of your pitch, listeners should recognize the value of what you’re about to say. It answers the unspoken question, “Why should I pay attention?” Relevance can be achieved through careful research and understanding of your target customer. What are their needs, interests, and pain points? A relevant opening line taps into these aspects, making your pitch more engaging and purposeful.

-Engagement:

Engagement is the hook that captures the businessman’s attention. Think of it as a literary cliffhanger that compels them to keep reading or listening. It can take various forms, such as a captivating story, an intriguing question, a startling statistic, or a bold statement. The key is to stimulate curiosity and curiosity leads to engagement. An engaging opening line makes the audience feel like they’re embarking on an exciting journey, and it motivates them to stay the course.

Clarity is crucial. An opening line may be incredibly relevant and engaging, but it loses its effectiveness if it’s not clear. You don’t want your listeners to spend the first part of your pitch deciphering what you meant. Clarity can be achieved through simple and straightforward language. Use words and phrases that everyone can understand. Avoid jargon or complex terminology that might alienate some of your listeners. A clear opening line immediately conveys its meaning without ambiguity.

-Originality:

The battle for attention in today’s fast-paced world is fierce. An original opening line can be your secret weapon. Overused, clichéd phrases or predictable beginnings often result in listeners’ disengagement. In contrast, an original opening line can stand out and make your pitch memorable. Originality doesn’t mean being overly creative; it means presenting a fresh perspective, a unique angle, or a novel approach to your topic. It should feel like a breath of fresh air amidst a sea of familiarity.

-Resonance:

To resonate with your client means connecting with their emotions, concerns, or aspirations. It’s about evoking feelings that your audience can relate to. When the opening line touches their hearts or minds, they’re more likely to continue listening. Resonance is achieved by understanding your audience deeply. What are their pain points? What are their dreams and desires? If you can address these elements through your opening line, you’re on the right track to creating a powerful connection.

Brevity is the soul of wit, as Shakespeare said. An opening line that’s overly long or verbose can lose its impact. A succinct opening line gives a sneak peek into what’s coming without overwhelming the listeners. It should be concise but packed with meaning. Brevity allows your audience to digest the information quickly and sets the tone for a focused and efficient pitch.

-Alignment:

Alignment is about ensuring that your opening line fits seamlessly with the rest of your pitch. It should be a natural introduction to the core message you’re about to deliver. Imagine your pitch as a puzzle; the opening line is the piece that bridges the audience’s current state of mind to the topic you’re presenting. Alignment creates a smooth transition, making it easier for your audience to follow your pitch’s flow.

-Memorability:

In an age of information overload, it’s essential to make your pitch memorable. A memorable opening line lingers in your client’s mind. This memorability can be achieved through storytelling, humor, or a unique perspective. When an audience remembers your opening line, it’s more likely they’ll remember the rest of your pitch, too.

-Versatility:

A versatile opening line adapts to different situations and customers. You might use the same opening line in various presentations, and it should remain effective. This versatility gives you a valuable tool that you can rely on in different scenarios. It means that you don’t need to craft a unique opening line for every pitch; instead, you have a go-to approach that consistently works.

-Audience-Centric:

A great opening line always places your target client at the center. It’s about their needs, their interests, and their benefits. When crafting your opening line, ask yourself how it addresses the audience’s perspective. How does it show them that this pitch is relevant and valuable to them? An audience-centric opening line immediately captures their attention because it puts their concerns first.

Each of these elements contributes to the effectiveness of a pitch opening line. When combined, they create an opening line that’s not only engaging but also compelling. Now, let’s proceed to explore the best pitch opening lines to use in your presentations. These lines encompass the qualities mentioned above and are designed to captivate your audience’s interest and set the stage for a successful pitch.

The 12 Best Pitch Opening Lines you can use: – 

In this section, we’ll explore a variety of opening lines that are not only effective but also engaging. These lines are designed to capture your audience’s attention and create a memorable start to your pitch.

1. The Provocative Question:  

Asking a thought-provoking question at the beginning of your pitch is an effective technique to engage your listener’s curiosity. The question should be relevant to the problem your product or service solves, compelling your audience to think deeply about the issue. It encourages active participation and sets the stage for you to provide the solution. For example, you might begin with, “Have you ever wondered what could happen if you embraced innovation without fear?”

2. The Startling Statistic: 

Leveraging a surprising statistic or fact grabs immediate attention. It’s a powerful way to highlight the significance of the problem your pitch addresses. When you lead with a startling statistic, the client recognizes the urgency and relevance of your pitch. For instance, “Did you know that 85% of small businesses fail within their first year due to poor financial management?”

3. The Compelling Story:  

Storytelling is an effective way to create an emotional connection with the businessman. Opening with a short, relatable story can help your prospects understand how your product or service can solve their problems. Narratives that reflect real-world situations and the positive outcomes achieved through your offering can be highly persuasive. For instance, you might start with, “Let me tell you about Jane, a single mother who turned her passion for baking into a thriving business.”

4. The Positive Quote:  

A quote from a respected figure in your industry or someone known for their wisdom and success can lend credibility to your pitch. It sets a positive tone and reinforces your message. A relevant quote can be particularly effective in establishing trust with your audience. For example, you could lead with, “As Warren Buffett once said, ‘Opportunities come infrequently. When it rains gold, put out the bucket, not the thimble.'”

5. The Bold Assertion: 

A bold, assertive statement can grab your listener’s attention and spark interest. This approach involves making a claim that challenges the status quo and underscores the unique value your product or service offers. Bold assertions should be supported by evidence, and they can effectively demonstrate your confidence in your offering. You might begin with, “Forget everything you’ve heard about marketing. We’ve cracked the code to double your leads in half the time.”

6. The Interactive Scenario:  

Engaging your clients through interactive scenarios is an excellent way to get them involved from the start. Paint a vivid picture that portrays a situation or problem they can relate to. Encourage them to envision themselves in that scenario, and then introduce your product or service as the solution. For example, you could say, “Close your eyes for a moment and imagine you’re on a tropical beach with your dream house in the background. That dream can be your reality with our real estate investment program.”

7. The Teaser of Benefits:  

This approach involves presenting a teaser of the benefits your product or service offers. Highlight the value your client will receive and the problems it will solve without revealing the full details. Teasers create intrigue and make your prospects eager to hear more. For instance, you might say, “In the next few minutes, I’ll share how you can improve your productivity, boost your profits, and reclaim your time.”

8. The Customer Testimonial: 

Leading with a compelling customer testimonial can be persuasive, as it demonstrates real-world success with your offering. Choose a testimonial that encapsulates the transformative impact your product or service has had on a customer’s life or business. This approach starts your pitch on a positive note, building trust and credibility. For example, you might open with, “Listen to what John, a small business owner like many of you, experienced when he started using our e-commerce platform…”

9. The Thought-Provoking Metaphor: 

Metaphors and analogies are excellent tools for simplifying complex ideas and making them relatable. Using a thought-provoking metaphor at the beginning of your pitch can help your audience grasp the essence of your message quickly. It can be particularly effective when introducing innovative or abstract concepts. For instance, you could begin with, “Think of your business as a ship, navigating uncharted waters. Our consulting services are the compass that ensures you stay on course.”

10. The Personal Declaration:  

An authentic personal declaration can add a human touch to your pitch. Share a personal reflection or a declaration of your values and beliefs related to the problem you’re addressing. This creates an emotional connection with your clients and demonstrates your commitment to their welfare. For example, you might start with, “I’ve spent the past decade dedicated to helping entrepreneurs like you realize their dreams. Today, I’m here to declare that your success is my mission.”

11. The Bold Challenge: 

Issuing a bold challenge at the outset of your pitch is an engaging way to spark interest and action. Challenges encourage your audience to reevaluate their current situation and consider new possibilities. By presenting a challenge that aligns with the value you offer, you not only grab their attention but also motivate them to take action. It’s a call to action that can be particularly effective in driving engagement and demonstrating your commitment

12. The Rhetorical Question:  

The use of rhetorical questions in your pitch opening line can create a compelling dialogue with your audience. It prompts your listeners to think about the subject matter, effectively engaging them in the conversation from the start. For instance, you could open with, “Have you ever considered what sets high achievers apart from the rest?”

Remember that the best opening line for your pitch depends on your audience, the nature of your pitch, and your own style. Experiment with these options and tailor your choice to suit your specific presentation. Now, let’s delve deeper into the world of opening lines.

What is a hook statement for a sales Pitch?

A hook statement in a sales pitch acts as the beacon that guides your clients into the story you’re about to tell. It’s your opportunity to capture their attention, evoke their interest, and invite them to become active participants in the narrative. This sentence or two should be a unique blend of intrigue and relevance, designed to pique curiosity and set the stage for what’s to come. Whether it’s a thought-provoking question, a startling statistic, an evocative story, or a bold statement, the hook must be tailored to the specific needs and interests of your audience. It should provide them with a reason to keep listening, to learn more, and to ultimately take the actions they desire. A well-crafted hook statement is not a one-size-fits-all solution; rather, it’s a precise tool that resonates with your target customer, draws them in, and aligns their aspirations with your message.

How can you be a good sales pitch opener?

Being a proficient sales pitch opener involves mastering the art of first impressions and setting the stage for a successful pitch. It’s about commanding attention, building rapport, and establishing credibility in those crucial initial moments. Here’s how you can be a top-notch sales pitch opener:

1. Research Your Target Client:  

Before the pitch, delve into your audience’s needs, preferences, and pain points. Tailor your opener to resonate with their specific interests, which will immediately capture their attention.

2. Confidence is Key:  

Approach your pitch with confidence. Walk in with a strong handshake, maintain eye contact, and convey a composed demeanor. Your confidence will be contagious and reassure your audience.

3. Engaging Storytelling:  

Begin with a compelling story that aligns with your product or service. Storytelling allows your customers to emotionally connect with your pitch and encourages them to keep listening.

4. Highlight Value:  

Clearly communicate the value your product or service brings to the clients. This upfront demonstration of benefits provides a solid reason for them to invest time in your pitch.

5. Ask Thought-Provoking Questions:  

Pose questions that stimulate your audience’s thinking. This technique engages them and encourages active participation from the start.

6. Empathetic Listening:  

Pay attention to your client’s responses during the pitch. Listening empathetically allows you to adapt and address their specific needs effectively.

7. Credibility Building:  

Mention your credentials or your company’s achievements early on to establish trust. Credibility is crucial in ensuring your audience takes your pitch seriously.

8. Use Visual Aids Strategically: 

If your pitch involves visual aids, use them to enhance your points. Visuals can make complex information easier to understand and keep your clients engaged.

9. Stay Concise:  

Avoid long-winded introductions. Keep your opener succinct while packing in impactful information. Being concise communicates that you respect your audience’s time.

10. Follow Up:  

Conclude your opener by teasing what’s coming next in the pitch. This provides a hook for your audience to stay engaged throughout your presentation.

By incorporating these techniques, you can set the stage for a successful sales pitch. Remember, being a great opener is not just about delivering a rehearsed speech; it’s about actively engaging with your audience and adapting to their needs in real time.

Opening a Sales Pitch in different situations:

1. how do you start a cold call opening pitch.

Initiating a cold call can be daunting, but it’s crucial to begin with confidence. Here’s how to approach it effectively:

Polite Introduction: Start by politely introducing yourself and your company. Remember, you have limited time to capture the prospect’s attention.

Concise and Compelling Value Statement: Quickly deliver a concise value statement that focuses on how your product or service can solve a specific pain point for the prospect. Be sure to address their needs directly.

Create Curiosity: Craft your introduction to pique the prospect’s interest. Use statements that trigger curiosity or emphasize a potential benefit.

Ask Permission to Proceed: After your introduction, ask if this is a good time for them to continue the conversation. This respects their time and sets the stage for a more engaged discussion.

Prepare for Objections: Anticipate objections and have concise responses ready. Addressing objections confidently can help you build credibility.

2. How do you start a Warm call opening pitch?

Warm calls, where you have a prior connection or some level of familiarity, provide a more comfortable opening:

Acknowledge the Connection: Start by acknowledging the existing relationship or the reason for the warm call. This could be a referral, a shared event, or previous interactions.

Express Appreciation: Express gratitude for the connection or the opportunity to speak with them. A warm, appreciative tone sets a positive atmosphere.

Remind Them of the Benefits: Quickly remind the prospect of the value or benefits they’ve gained or will receive by considering your offer.

Reinforce the Connection: Strengthen the connection by highlighting how your product or service aligns with their interests or previous discussions.

3. How do you sell yourself in an opening Speech?

In situations where you’re selling yourself, such as job interviews or personal branding:

Confident Introduction : Begin with a confident introduction. Clearly state your name and provide a brief summary of your background and expertise.

Unique Selling Proposition (USP) : Highlight your unique selling proposition. What sets you apart? What special skills or qualities do you bring to the table?

Relevant Experience : Showcase your relevant experience and achievements. Provide concrete examples that demonstrate your capabilities.

Alignment with Goals : Emphasize how your skills, values, and goals align with the needs or mission of the organization or audience.

Engage with Passion : Infuse your opening with passion and enthusiasm. Passion is infectious and can create a memorable impression.

Express Your Commitment : Conclude your opening by expressing your commitment to the role or the audience’s needs. This reinforces your dedication.

By tailoring your opening to each situation, you can effectively engage your audience and set the stage for a persuasive sales pitch.

What do you say in a 1 minute Intro? – (A Model Script for their reference)

“Hello there, wonderful people! I’m thrilled to stand before you today. My name is [Your Name], and for the next 60 seconds, I invite you to embark on a journey into the exciting world of [Your Presentation Topic].

Picture this: [Paint a vivid picture with your words related to your topic]. You see, our time together will be just as transformative.

I often think about a fascinating concept: [Insert an intriguing concept or idea related to your topic]. Today, we’re going to explore this concept, unlock its potential, and discover how it holds the key to [mention the benefits or changes your audience can expect].

By the end of our time together, you’ll have valuable insights, practical strategies, and a renewed sense of [highlight the key takeaways].

But here’s the twist: [Pose an engaging question related to your topic]. This question is the linchpin to our journey, the gateway to [reiterate the benefits or solutions].

So, as we dive into [Your Presentation Topic], fasten your mental seatbelts, because we’re in for a remarkable adventure. I’m excited to be your guide on this quest for knowledge and growth.

Thank you for joining me today, and let’s dive in!”

Conclusion:

As we wrap up this guide on creating compelling pitch opening lines, think of it as your journey to becoming a persuasive communicator. We’ve explored what makes pitches engaging and discussed various scenarios like cold calls, warm conversations, and even self-introductions. Plus, we’ve provided a model script for a 1-minute introduction.

Effective pitches go beyond words; they can turn potential customers into loyal clients and disinterested listeners into enthusiastic supporters. In your future sales and presentation endeavors, remember these principles as your guiding light. Your pitch is your key to sparking curiosity, connecting emotionally, and setting the stage for a successful interaction.

Imagine your pitch as a magnet that attracts attention, and your persuasion as a powerful symphony. Now, go out there and shine with your captivating opening lines!

To learn more about how to communicate and imbibe great presentation skills you can reach out to us here.

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10 Tips for a Persuasive Presentation

Powerful presentation is persuasion. here's how to elevate your impact..

Posted May 11, 2024 | Reviewed by Ray Parker

• Presentations aim to effect change. It's essential to be clear about what change you want to see.
• Powerful presenters embrace and extend empathy to seek first to understand their audience.
• Substance and style both matter to create an audience-informed communication experience.
• Persuasive presentations are relevant, reasoned, real, and resonant.

How many of us realize that giving a presentation or making a speech is all about persuasion , influence, and emotional intelligence ? Impactful presenters understand the power of empathy to understand and engage their audience, the efficiency and kindness of having a clear objective and message, and the importance of substance and style—all as a way to connect in a way that engages and inspires.

Much has been written on the power and behavioral science of persuasion, not least by expert Robert Cialdini. His bestselling book Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion explains seven research-based universal principles of influence .

From my experience as a leadership coach working with thousands of people worldwide, I have compiled a list of ten essentials to elevate our presentation.

1. Maintain an "other" focus. What do you know about your audience and how can you find out more? Ask yourself what kind of a speaker will appeal to your audience, what arguments are likely to resonate with them, and what feelings you want to inspire so the audience will positively respond to your ask.

If your audience is predominantly data-driven, you may want to use more evidence-based arguments. If the audience is mixed, a combination of data, authority, and storytelling may be more appropriate. Extend Daniel Goleman’s three types of empathy to gather intelligence , understand your audience, and tailor your intervention to connect more profoundly.

2. Determine a specific objective. Presentations aim to effect change in some way. What change do you want to see in your audience?

For instance, gaining their approval for a certain investment, soliciting their buy-in for a change, or creating a sense of enthusiasm for an idea or initiative. The purpose of a presentation is to bring about change so make sure you are clear on what kind of change you want to bring about.

3. Design a grabber. Our attention spans have shrunk as we have more and more competing demands on our attention . If you want to get someone’s attention, you need to grab it at the outset and try and hold on.

You can do this in several different ways. Throw out a question that demands a response from the audience. Give a surprising fact or statistic, or quote from a well-known figure. Tell a story or an anecdote. A good grabber captures the attention of everyone there and makes them focus on what you have to say.

4. Crystalize your message and construct your arguments. Your message is the heart of your speech. Craft a brief phrase that clearly defines your proposal in 10-12 words—for example, “This post is about crafting presentations that inspire and engage others to elevate their presentations.”

Make it memorable by choosing inspiring words, symbols, catchy expressions, something that will remain in the audience's mind. As Brené Brown says: “Clear is kind,” and a clear message provides a path to develop your ideas.

When you have a clear and concise message, it helps you formulate your arguments. Think of developing your arguments using the rule of three —three compelling arguments to convince but not overwhelm your audience.

5. Prepare a call to action. Remember, we want to change our audience in some way, so we need to make our ask clearly and concretely. Consider your call to action in terms of what you want your audience to think/feel/do:

• Think: “I want you to think about how you can improve your presentations.”
• Feel: “I want you to feel enthusiastic and motivated so that you can elevate your power to persuade.”
• Do: “I want you to try out some of these tips and tools for yourself.”

6. Craft a memorable closing. Close the speech in an elegant and memorable way. We need people to remember what we've told them, so prepare it well.

This is not the time to improvise. Try to connect your closing to your opening grabber, which makes the presentation more memorable. Good preparation means preparing everything to the very end—finish well.

7. Plan your delivery. A dynamic speaker draws listeners in by using vocal variety (tone, intonation, speed, volume, pace, pauses, silence) and body language (posture, gestures, expression, and movement) to highlight important points and hold the audience’s attention. Be intentional: How will you use your voice and your body to emphasize a thought or idea? Think about it: If you increased the time you spent on style or delivery by 20 percent, what would it mean for the impact you make?

8. Think about how you will engage your audience. You want the audience to feel considered throughout. Include pauses so they can process what’s being said; connect with individuals throughout the room and make deliberate eye contact while speaking, especially when delivering key points. Read and respond to the audience by changing how you deliver as you go based on the audience’s nonverbal communication .

9. Rehearse and practice. Practice is one of the most crucial elements of presenting—and probably the most neglected one. If this is new to you, start by reading your presentation in front of a mirror to get comfortable speaking your presentation.

Next, video yourself and watch out for nervous or distracting habits to eliminate them and identify any areas where you can improve your delivery. If you are feeling brave, practice in front of an audience and ask for feedback.

10. Prepare your success rituals and mantra. Public speaking and/or stage fright can feel debilitating for some. Have your calm-down ritual prepared and ready to go before you start your presentation. This might be a certain gesture, a power pose, breathwork, or a mantra.

Try this tip: Identify three adjectives to describe how you would like to show up during this presentation. This sets an intention and helps focus our cognitive and emotional resources on success.

Powerful presenters embrace and extend empathy to seek first to understand their audience. They use this intelligence to carefully make choices about substance and style to create an audience-informed communication experience that feels relevant, reasoned, real, and resonant and creates a pathway for change.

Palena Neale, Ph.D. , is a women’s leadership coach, lecturer, and founder of unabridged, a boutique leadership development practice.

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Wacky Rig: A Complete Guide on Rigging, Setups, and How to Fish It

By Derek Horner

Posted on May 9, 2024 12:57 PM EDT

7 minute read

Wacky rigs are ideal for throwing around docks during the post spawn.

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A wacky rig is perhaps the most subtle, natural, and non-invasive presentation bass anglers use. It’s a very slow and finessed presentation unlike a crankbait or chatterbait.

But the true beauty of the wacky rig is that bass will bite it regardless of the conditions. They’ll bite a wacky rig when the bite is wide open, and when they won’t eat anything else. It doesn’t matter what mood the fish are in; they can’t resist the slow sinking wiggle of a wacky rig.

Whether you’re fishing boat docks, laydowns, grass lines, or rock piles, having a wacky rig tied on and ready to deploy is a must. Here’s everything you need to know about fishing a wacky rig.

The Wacky Rig

The standard wacky rig is a 2/0 octopus-style hook rigged through an O-ring that’s been placed in the center of a 4- or 5-inch stick bait. While the O-ring isn’t always necessary, it’s helpful in prolonging the life of your stick bait. O-ring or not, the wacky rig works so well because it’s simple. As the bait slowly sinks through the water column both ends of the stick bait shimmy, driving bass nuts.

How to Rig a Wacky Rig

A wacky rig should take no more than 30-seconds to be ready to fish. The longest part of the process is attaching the O-ring to your stick bait of choice. Below is a step-by-step guide.

Step 1 : Select your hook. Some offerings include weed guards, which can be helpful when fishing around grass and heavy cover.

Step 2 : Take your stick bait of choice and slide it into an O-ring tool . With this tool, you’ll simply slide the O-ring down the shaft and place it in the middle of your stick bait.

Step 3 : Thread your hook between the O-ring and stick bait.

Step 4 : Using a Palomar knot , tie your line to the hook. 

What Makes the Wacky Rig Effective?

Scott Einsmann

There are a lot of baits and lures out there that are made to catch fishermen rather than fish. As you walk down the aisle at your favorite tackle shop, you’ll see exactly what I’m talking about. Topwater baits with flapping arms and spinners, jerkbaits with blades on the back treble, and lures that imitate animals like rats and ducks . While some of those baits may work in certain situations, oftentimes they’re more than you need.

A wacky rig is the exact opposite.

Its simplicity makes it arguably the most effective soft plastic fishing technique to ever exist. The subtle, slow-sinking shimmy tugs on a bass’s instincts and triggers them to feed. Whether they believe the stick bait is a baitfish, a leech, or even a snake, they can’t resist the action of a wacky rig.

Bass are ambush predators, and they often stage near cover like dock pilings, laydowns, and grass lines waiting for unsuspecting prey. The wacky rig seems to trigger their ambush reflex as it slowly sinks near the cover. The reason is in the action.

In my opinion, the wacky rig represents a dying baitfish. The slender profile resembles a shad, and the shimmy of the stick bait as it falls on a slack line looks exactly like a baitfish sinking through the water column — wiggling its head and tail simultaneously.

For a deep dive on the wacky rig, check out this great video from my friend Flukemaster.

When to Throw a Wacky Rig

If you’re trying to decide when to throw a wacky rig, ask yourself this simple question: Am I fishing for bass? If the answer is yes, regardless of the time of year, a wacky rig will get you bites.

Now, as with all year-round techniques, there is a prime-time to fish a wacky rig, and to me, that’s the post-spawn. In the post-spawn, bass get lethargic. They’re recovering from the spawn and they don’t have the energy to go offshore and chase schools of baitfish in deep water. Typically, once the spawn ends, the bass head to the first piece of cover they can find in 8 to 12 feet of water to recuperate and feed on easy prey.

That’s why fishing a wacky rig during the post spawn around dock pilings and laydowns can be some of the best fishing you’ll experience all year. The wacky rig is an easy meal for tired bass. It’s similar to running a marathon and being offered a cheeseburger 30 minutes after you cross the finish line. You probably can’t resist.

Another reason as to why the wacky rig is a go-to during the post-spawn is that there are plenty of bass still in the shallows guarding their fry. When your bait approaches the small school of baby bass, the fry-guarding bigger bass will treat the bait like an intruder and eat it to protect their offspring. It’s not often that you’ll have the rod ripped out of your hands when fishing a wacky rig, but this is one of those times.

The Best Wacky Rig Rod Setups, Baits, and Gear

Here’s the rod, reel, line, hooks, baits, and O-ring tool you’ll need to fish a wacky rig.

Picking the Right Rod

When faced with selecting the right rod for your wacky rig, you’re in luck. Most of the best spinning rods will do the trick. If you have a favorite spinning rod for fishing light Texas rigs or weightless worms, then you probably don’t need to go shopping. But, if you’re looking to upgrade to the perfect wacky rig rod, look no further than the Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris CarbonLite Wacky Rig spinning rod. At 7 feet, 2 inches and a medium action, this rod is specifically designed for making long, accurate casts with a wacky rig. It’s got a stiff enough backbone to make sure the fish is hooked well, but a soft enough tip to make sure they don’t come off during the fight.

Picking the Right Reel

Similarly to the rod you choose, your reel can be just about any of the best spinning reels you have in your arsenal. But, if you’re looking for the perfect wacky rig reel, I would recommend going with a lightweight spinning reel that offers a high-speed gear ratio. That will be important for quickly picking up the slack in your line after you feel the bite to ensure a good hook set. For me, the Lew’s HyperMag Magnesium spinning reel in a size 200 is the perfect choice.

Baits 

In my experience, the saltier the stick bait, the longer they’ll hold on after a bite. With that in mind, I’ve almost exclusively used a Gary Yamamoto Senko . The high salt content in their soft plastic stick bait just seems to add more action and increases the fall rate when compared to some other stick baits. If you’re looking for another option to add to your stick bait arsenal, I’ve also had some great luck with a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General Worm . While the salt content might not be quite as high, the addition of the MaxScent can sometimes be the ticket, especially when fishing more heavily pressured bodies of water.

As far as the size of your stick bait goes, picking between a 4- or 5-inch bait is all you really need. I personally prefer the 5-inch options as they tend to offer more action, but will go with a 4-inch bait if I’m fishing a smaller pond or lake that offers smaller baitfish. Always try to match the size of your bait to the typical baitfish in the body of water.

Hooks 

The hook you decide to use for your wacky rig is critical. While there are plenty of options out there, I’ve always had luck with the 2/0 TroKar weedless wacky worm hooks . I prefer the weedless option as I’m typically fishing a wacky rig around heavy cover, laydowns, or docks that are surrounded by grasses like hydrilla and milfoil. The weedless hook might not keep every strand of grass off, but every little bit helps.

Another great option in wacky rig hooks for folks trying to step up their terminal tackle game is the VMC wacky rigging kit . The kit offers regular wacky hooks, weedless hooks, and even weighted wacky hooks for deep water applications.

O-Ring Tool

The O-ring is an optional addition, but one that I tend to lean on as it extends the life of my bait. There isn’t much to the O-rings themselves, but getting them on the stick bait without an O-ring tool can be taxing. My favorite O-ring tool is the Bass Pro Shops Floating Quick Rigger Tool . The fact that it floats sold me on it, and it works exactly how it’s supposed to.

The last piece of gear you’ll need is the line on your reel. Avid bass anglers often fish spinning reels with a braid-to-fluorocarbon leader. For my braided line, I like to go with 10-pound Daiwa J-Braid , but most braided lines will do the trick. As for the fluorocarbon leader, I lean on 8-pound Sunline FC .

Final Thoughts

Throwing a wacky rig is never a bad option. There are plenty of professional bass anglers that still rely on a wacky rig over the course of a four-day tournament to get much needed bites to cash checks. If the pros are using it, that’s a good sign that you should follow suit. Tie one on and it won’t let you down.

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