Storytelling is a powerful tool in the hands of those who know how to use it. With a fascinating, effective story,

you can sear your messages into the consciousness of your audience, guiding them to want to be a part of your story.

Here’s how to do it right.

 

Define your target audience 

Before you get started on writing and designing your presentation, stop everything and think: what are the characteristics of the audience that will watch it? What are their dreams, needs, and desires? What bothers them or prevents them from acting, and how do they tend to resolve their issues?

Define a key message

Define for yourself the key point, message, or narrative that you want your presentation to get across.
Found it? Excellent. Now think about the kind of story that could package your message and best demonstrate it and lead your audience to identify with it.

Speak the language of your audience

Use concepts and situations from the world of your audience to reduce initial skepticism, create identification and help your audience better understand your messages.

 

It’s a presentation. Not a lecture

People love stories and connect to them more easily. That’s why you should tell a compelling story that combines the data and facts you want to share, introduce the audience to the conflicts you faced throughout the way, create moments of tension, and describe the insights that led you to where you are today.

 

Reduce your amount of text

Don’t use the documents in your presentation as a teleprompter! Their role is to add a visual dimension to your verbal messages.

And not repeat them.

 

Lead the audience from the problem to the solution and the opportunity.

Break the presentation into chapters and add transitions to make the whole presentation into a single flowing ‘show’ that’s easy to follow. Open your presentation with an issue, problem, or challenge. It turns out that people have difficulty coping with unsolved issues and that's why it’s a safe guess that your audience will wait with bated breath for the next phase: the news, change, or solution that you offer and the opportunity involved.

 

Add elements that stir the imagination

Don’t rely on your audience’s imagination. Include clips, images, diagrams, visuals, and sounds in your presentation to bring your story to life and convey your message through additional senses.

 

Bring proofs.

Include social evidence to reinforce your narrative: quotes, illustrations, and data that support your idea and lead the audience to the desired conclusion and serve your business objectives.

 

Practice giving your presentation and do a general rehearsal

Is your presentation ready? Excellent. Practice giving the presentation in front of people or in front of the mirror, until you feel that you master the material and your body language broadcasts ease and self-confidence.

 

The presentation you gave struck a chord with your audience, helped them assimilate the information, remember it over the long term

and even caused them to share your story with a third party or on social media?

Your storytelling worked!