Before you start writing and designing, stop and think: what are the characteristics of the audience that will watch this? What are their dreams, needs, and desires? What bothers them or holds them back, and how do they tend to resolve their issues?
Pin down the key point, message, or narrative you want your presentation to get across. Found it? Now think about the kind of story that could package that message, demonstrate it best, and lead your audience to identify with it.
Use concepts and situations from the world of your audience to reduce initial skepticism, create identification, and help them better understand your messages.
People love stories and connect to them easily. Tell a compelling story that combines the data and facts you want to share, introduce the conflicts you faced along the way, create moments of tension, and describe the insights that led you to where you are today.
Don't use the slides in your presentation as a teleprompter. Their role is to add a visual dimension to your verbal messages — not to repeat them.
Break the presentation into chapters with transitions so the whole thing flows as a single, easy-to-follow show. Open with an issue, problem, or challenge — people struggle to cope with unsolved problems, so your audience will wait with bated breath for the next phase: the change, solution, and opportunity you offer.
Don't rely on your audience's imagination. Include clips, images, diagrams, visuals, and sounds to bring your story to life and convey your message through additional senses.
Include social evidence to reinforce your narrative: quotes, illustrations, and data that support your idea, lead the audience to the desired conclusion, and serve your business objectives.
Is your presentation ready? Practice delivering it in front of people or a mirror until you've mastered the material and your body language broadcasts ease and self-confidence.
If your presentation struck a chord, helped the audience absorb and remember the information, and even got them to share your story — your storytelling worked.