Here's how you can craft an impactful opening and closing for a presentation.

End on time. Let people know you want to leave this with this thought..... Thank the audience for the opportunity to address them and for their time. Be modest...don't close with an admonition if possible or that sort of tone. End in an upbeat manner.

Hook the audience with a question that is in their mind. Give three points on how you plan to resolve that question. Talk about three takeaways that the audience can take away with them. Build the entire presentation around these three points. In the end, recap, what the audience takes away from this session. By doing, you have created an audience-centric presentation.

I also believe that the way you start a your speech is vital in giving the audience a reason to continue listening to you. But I will go one step back. Often times when I speak at events, I try to get there early enough to get an opportunity to speak to those who will be in the audience. The reason why I do this is to get them warmed up to who I am, especially if they’ve never met me before. This gives them a sense of comfort and a desire to want to hear you if they feel like they’ve had a positive rapport with you before starting your speech. Once I go on stage, I often like to do something different to get them involved immediately . That first 30 seconds can determine whether they will listen to you or not. So Be creative!!!

Ditch the boring "Hello, my name is..." Start with something unexpected, like: "Did you know that the average human attention span is now shorter than a goldfish's? By the time I finish this sentence, half of you will have already checked your phones. Let’s change that." Throw in a bit of mystery: "Imagine waking up tomorrow with the power to [insert jaw-dropping benefit]. Sounds impossible? Stick around, and I’ll show you how it can be your reality." End with a bold statement: "This isn't just another presentation. Today, we're going to flip everything you thought you knew about [insert topic]. Ready? Let’s dive in." And if all else fails, promise free pizza. Trust me, they'll stay tuned

In a business meeting, drop the "personal story" advice and start with a strong statement linked to your conclusion. I've never seen a presentation in front of a board starting like a TED talk and it's not going to be soon

Once you've got attention (See above how to do it, I added) 2nd step - Make them stick. How? Again Formula. Terminology I used mostly related to my field and You can tailor to your field too. "Expectations brings Enthusiasim" Here is the formula. 1. You got pain- I got Pill 2. Here is mistake 3. Simple Exercise - You're Free. Let see withexample. By the end of talk you'll have 1. A tool that clear your Fear of public speaking Forever. 2. 3 Myth that cause fear- It's not your fault. 3. A simple daily exercise makes you super speaker. Now you're even more hooked to know what is the tool what are the 3 myths what is that exercise. Expectations means Raising the bar.

After grabbing their attention, set expectations clearly. Outline what they'll gain, such as "Today, you'll learn how scent marketing can boost sales, understand its psychological impact, and see real-world examples." Keep it concise to maintain engagement.

En varias ocasiones lo que he hecho es lo que vamos a lograr, el problema que vamos a resolver o situación deseada para los que le estoy presentando. Ubicarlos ahí, sigue enganchando a la audiencia.

I also think if this step as “Signposting” your talk. In addition to telling your audience the purpose of your talk (ie. to inform, engage, persuade, inspire, etc), you can signpost with a clear structure. For example, “We’ll take a brisk walk through history from the 60’s to the 70’s and to the 80’s to understand the origins of XYZ.” “I’ll share with you my three life mantras including Love, Learning and Legacy.” And use the stage to create visual cues as to when you’re moving from one topic to the next.

Once you grab people attention, now it's time to fullfill the expectation. Why you giving this presentation. For a solution, future vision, product launch, etc. Make sure this presentation full fill your expectation. Engaging people particapate in your speech idea or vision and give you support to take this step for a better future.

Establishing the emotional connection is THE most important part of any talk. So it’s so critical to know your audience. One of my favourite techniques is to “Tap & Transport”: TAP your audience in their world (with a question, universal truth, or relatable anecdote) and TRANSPORT them into your story and/or world. Also, watch out for the connection killers: - Being preachy or judgemental - Showing disdain or talking down to your audience (Unless you are a comedian, like Stuart Lee, and disdain for your audience is what they pay to see!) - Bragging or showing false modesty - Being inauthentic! Your audience is more clever than you think. Treat them with respect!

Humans are wired to be engaged with an emotional story. If a presenter narrates a personal story, he/she comes out as a more authentic person whom audience finds some common ground with. Once this is attained, going through the rest of the part becomes all the more engaging.

It’s important to consider that people want relatability. They want realness. In as much as you have the platform in that moment, how much you're able to connect with your audience is how much attention you'll get and impact you'll have. Bridge the speaker-audience gap by making yourself real.

In order for your message to be more impactful and better remembered, clear, easy to read slides which emphasise your key points and the structure of your presentation should be used as transmitting your information in two different ways (speaking and reading) will ensure better retention.

As you conclude, reinforce the key points of your presentation. Summarize the main takeaways succinctly, such as "Remember, scent marketing can enhance customer experiences, boost sales, and differentiate your brand. Implement these strategies to see significant impact." Emphasize the lasting value of your message to ensure it resonates.

Yes, give an outline of key points. More importantly, explain how those key points apply to your audience. They will 10x more interested when they understand what they will get out of it. Make the introduction about them!

Reinforce key points by connecting with the audience. Make them relatable. It's all about the audience and how the points impact them. Tell an anecdote so that the next time the audience comes across a similar situation, they will remember you talking about that point.

Closing 1. Summarize Key Points: ? “Today, we’ve explored the critical importance of privacy compliance in driving business success. We’ve seen real-world examples of the devastating impacts of non-compliance and the incredible benefits of proactive legal strategies.” 2. Call to Action: ? “I challenge each of you to go back to your organizations and evaluate your privacy and compliance strategies. Ask yourself: Are we prepared for the challenges of tomorrow’s regulatory landscape?” 3. Memorable Quote or Thought: ? “Remember, as Benjamin Franklin said, ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.’ In the world of corporate governance and privacy, this couldn’t be more true.”

For a memorable conclusion, think about circling back to your opening. This creates a sense of cohesion and reinforces your message. End with a compelling call to action that motivates your audience to apply what they've learned. By revisiting the beginning, you provide a satisfying closure, and your call to action leaves them inspired and ready to take the next step. The goal is to leave a lasting impression that compels your audience to act.

Totally agree with it. I end my presentation with something I call my “chaarisms” obviously kind of coming from my last name. I emphasize your point or a statement/point that you made in your presentation and if you opened with a quote ended it with a quote and give a bit a story about why you picked that quote or the author.

My ending is simple - End with a call to action. What do you want the audience to do as a result of witnessing your presentation? Don't be afraid to tell them to do it - Simple and effective!

The end of a talk is ALL about the delivery, not the words. If you have to say "thank you" when it's or say, "I'll leave you with", or "in conclusion"... you don't understand the closing delivery that allows the audience to ground your information into their subconscious. To land a conclusion to a talk, you must set YOURSELF up for the end first. Create a descending cadence ladder and end with a closed sentence structure with calm, centered energy!

It's essential to focus on rehearsing under actual conditions. Use the stage, equipment, AV setup, and time constraints you'll face during your presentation. Show up at least an hour before to test out all the AV components. This approach helps you work out all the kinks and make it as real as possible. By practicing in the actual setting, you ensure you're fully prepared and can deliver your presentation seamlessly.

Finally, practice is crucial. Rehearse your presentation multiple times to perfect your delivery. Pay special attention to the opening and closing lines, as these are critical moments. From my experience, being well-prepared boosts confidence and ensures a smooth, impactful presentation. Practice helps you deliver your message with clarity and conviction, making a strong impression on your audience.

Rehearsal is often overlooked and undermined because it sounds cliche! However, the more you practice to give a presentation the better it comes after the next time and the next time you give it! So take it that it’s important to practice.

Practice your presentation several times. This helps to internalize the content and reduce anxiety. Record yourself presenting to evaluate your posture, tone of voice and body language. Review the videos and identify areas for improvement.

For deliver a powerful presentation, keep practice again & again. Because practice makes you perfect. Identify your mistakes and improve it every single time. Work on your voice tone, words, feelings, energy, slides, stories, questions, etc. And prepare it well so people are learn many things from your presentation. Keep doing practice, because every single time you're getting better then previous time.

Keep in mind that the audience is observing your body language even before you open your mouth. An impression has already been created in their mind. Do be careful about what you project. When you begin, try and establish a connect; either emotional or professional. Hopefully by now they are engaged with you and will listen to you. As you end your speech, leave with lines that they will carry with them. It could be a quote, a witty appropriate ad or an emotional or professional thought.

Be a good listener! Ask a question and let them answer. You will learn a lot from them about their needs and interest. That’s when you can meet their needs as well as yours.

Add humour and keep the presentation light. Telling some relatable jokes act as an icing on the cake. Besides, one may engage the audience in a fun activity to break the montony and then, get return to the presentation even the rejuvenation.

Starting with an impactful.story is great but creating a powerful link with your ending that links back to the start can be a great way to create overall impact of your message/talk.