How to give a great presentation

As most of us know, public speaking is ranked as one of the top phobias people suffer from, along with spiders, small spaces and clowns. But at a trade show, such as ad:tech, presenters need to put aside their fear and deliver a professional and engaging presentation. Here are some tips on how to give a great presentation, no matter if you’re a student or CEO of an innovative marketing firm.

Practice Makes Perfect

One of the main reasons people mess up a presentation is that they don’t put in the time it takes to make their speech perfect; they just wing it. In order to deliver a flawless and smooth presentation, you must be willing to invest in plenty of practice time.

Most people will tell you that anything will get easier over time. The more you practice your presentation, the easier it becomes to deliver a great one. Practice reciting your lines, know all of the ideas you want to convey, and be sure to back up your stand with facts.

Know Your Audience

One of the most important things to remember while practicing a presentation is remembering that it’s not about you, it’s about your audience. An excellent presenter focuses all of their attention and energy on the group and makes them feel like they’re the center of the world.

The attendees at ad:tech New York are interested in the latest marketing, technological and media news in a digital world. Exhibators will include marketing companies such as Actual Light Media, AdConductor/Burst Media, adMarketplace.com and more. There will also be some of the biggest names of the web there, including PayPal and Getty Images. Keep in mind to present a lot of info on the latest marketing and digital innovatons in the field.

You also need to be able to meet your audience’s needs. Make sure they know about the items you are talking about, such as digital and social media techniques, in your presentation. If you don’t think they do, make sure you dedicate a part of your presentation on educating them and bringing them up to speed. Meeting the needs of your audience will enable them to be thoroughly engaged in your presentation.

Stay Organized

Nobody enjoys a jumbled or messy presentation. Jumping from one tangent to another will confuse your audience. Be sure to develop an organized body for your presentation, including an introduction, solid facts, and a conclusion.

Include an Activity

Having an activity allows you to interact with your audience. You can ask them a question, have them take a poll or organize them into small groups to talk about your presentation. Including an activity can break up your presentation to make it less monotonous and more enjoyable.

Some of the mobile app presenters allow their audience to test out the new app. This not only lets them show the group all of the benefits of the new product, but gives the audience a fun thing to do instead of just listening to somebody talk.

Make Yourself Accessible

Lastly, give your audience something to go home with. Make sure you have enough reading material, pamphlets or a website to send your group home with. This way, they can refresh their memories on what they learned.

Since everyone is techy at ad:tech, you can also give them your Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or Tumblr account, as well as contact info to your company's website and blog. They can stay in touch with you as easy as with a click of a mouse.

Have Fun

Enjoy yourself. A presentation is meant to not only be informative, but fun. Relax and go with the flow.

This article is part of Allvoices’ series on ad:tech, the largest digital marketing and technology conferences and expositions. Check out allvoices.com/adtech for more of Allvoices’ ad:tech New York event coverage. This series is supported by ad:tech.