How can you create a winning title and abstract for your presentation?

1 Identify your audience

Before you start writing, you need to know who you are writing for. Who are the conference organizers and what are they looking for? Who are the potential attendees and what are their interests, needs, and challenges? What are the goals and themes of the conference and how does your presentation fit in? By answering these questions, you can tailor your title and abstract to appeal to your audience and show them why they should choose your presentation over others.

2 Craft a catchy title

Your title is the first thing that your audience will see, so it needs to grab their attention and spark their curiosity. A catchy title should be clear, concise, and relevant to your topic. It should also communicate your main message or benefit, and include a hook or a twist that makes it stand out. For example, instead of "How to improve your presentation skills", you could use "The 5 secrets of captivating presentations" or "How to avoid the 7 deadly sins of boring presentations".

3 Write a concise abstract

Your abstract is a short paragraph that expands on your title and gives more details about your presentation. A concise abstract should be around 150-200 words and cover the following points: what is the problem or opportunity that your presentation addresses, what is your main argument or solution, what is the evidence or data that supports your claim, and what is the outcome or takeaway that your audience can expect. Your abstract should also use clear and engaging language, avoid jargon and technical terms, and highlight your unique perspective or contribution.

4 Use keywords and phrases

Keywords and phrases are words or expressions that your audience might use to search for your topic online or in the conference program. By using keywords and phrases in your title and abstract, you can increase your chances of being found and selected by your audience. You can use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Answer the Public to find relevant keywords and phrases for your topic, and use them naturally and strategically in your title and abstract. For example, if your topic is about presentation design, you might use keywords like "visuals", "slides", "storytelling", or "impact".

5 Proofread and edit

Once you have written your title and abstract, you need to proofread and edit them to make sure they are error-free, coherent, and consistent. You can use tools like Grammarly or Hemingway to check your spelling, grammar, punctuation, and readability. You can also ask a colleague or a friend to review your title and abstract and give you feedback. You should aim to make your title and abstract as clear, concise, and compelling as possible, and avoid any unnecessary or redundant words or information.

6 Test and refine

The final step is to test and refine your title and abstract to see how they perform and how they can be improved. You can test your title and abstract by using them in different contexts and platforms, such as social media, blogs, newsletters, or online surveys. You can also measure the response and feedback that you get from your audience, such as likes, comments, shares, clicks, or ratings. Based on the results, you can refine your title and abstract to make them more appealing, relevant, and effective for your audience and your presentation.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?