Here are some tips on how to host a great presentation!

1. 10 STEPS TO
CRAFTING A GREAT
PRESENTATION
By Dr. Curtis R. Rogers, Communications
Director

2. 1. Prep time – outline your
thoughts

3. 2. Keep the end goal in mind
 What is the real
purpose of your
talk?
 Why is it that you
were ask to speak?
 What does the
audience expect?

4. 3. Learn about your audience
 Who is the audience?
 What is the purpose of the event?
 Why were you asked to speak?
 Where is it?
 When is it?

5. 4. Tell a story
 Good presentations include stories. The best
presenters illustrate their points with the use of
stories, most often personal ones.

6. 5. It’s all about content
 No matter how
great your
delivery, or
how
professional
and beautiful
your
supporting
visuals, if your
presentation is
not based on
solid
content, you

7. 6. Plan for engaging the
audience
 Depending on the
topic, plan an
exercise or ask
directed questions to
get audience
interaction.
 Remember to make
eye contact
 Don’t turn your back
to the audience
 Ask for questions and

8. 7. Less is MORE
EXERCISE:
If your audience
could remember
only three
things about
your
presentation,
what would you
want it to be?
(1)__________
(2)__________
(3)__________

9. 8. Find solid resources
 Do your research
 Ask a librarian
 Use authoritative
resources

10. 9. Provide handouts/take aways
 Make enough copies
 Give business cards
 Use PR items

11. 10. Visualize
 When your presentation
is ready, use visualization
techniques to help you be
comfortable and ready to
present.
 Concentrate on the room
size, presentation
equipment, where you’ll
be standing, how many
faces you’ll see in the
audience, how tables are
set up – everything!

12. Thank you!
 Dr. Curtis R. Rogers
 Communications Director
 803-734-8928
 crogers@statelibrary.sc.gov