how to make your presentation last longer

8 Tips You Can Use to Make Your Presentation Longer

Last updated on May 31st, 2023

Striking that perfect duration for your presentation can be tricky. Your presentation should be brief so as not to bore your audience and to take advantage of the attention span , but it should also be thorough so you can fully deliver your message. There will be times when you’ll need to have a longer presentation than what you had planned, and it can be daunting to prolong the session on the spot if you don’t know what to do. Remember, a long presentation doesn’t mean a wordy presentation.

Let’s say you were forced to use a specific time frame for your presentation. As an example, let’s assume this is a 60-minute presentation. But when you realize you’ve prepared a presentation that you can deliver in 30 minutes, what would you do to cover the timing requirements and time constraints? While we already covered how many slides for a 30 minute presentation , in this article, we’ll share eight tips you can apply to make a presentation longer, some you can do before in preparation, and others you can use during the presentation. But first, let’s talk about why you might need a longer presentation.

What are some reasons you might need a longer presentation?

You don’t want to look unprepared. When not done properly, a presentation that is too short may give off the impression that you do not know a lot about the topic you are presenting, or that you did not exert enough effort in creating the presentation. This, even if you have delivered a message effectively and already said everything you needed to say. By having a long and effective presentation, you can show that you are capable and knowledgeable about the topic. It is not the idea to talk for the sake of talking, because if that is the case a wise decision would be to be honest with your audience and cut the presentation beforehand. But in some other situations, this is not the case, and you need to use all the time that you have available for the presentation.

Recommended reading: 75+ actionable topic ideas for your presentations in PowerPoint or Google Slides

You want your audience to feel engaged. Studies from military training have shown that there is a certain balance you should strike when delivering a message to make sure your audience connects with you and understands your key points. Too short a presentation usually does not give the audience enough time or information to fully embrace the topic.

Your presentation time was changed at the last minute . When you’re presenting as part of a panel, you always have to be prepared to adjust the duration of your speech in case you have to accommodate a change in schedule. If you have been asked to fill in for another presenter, you’ll have to find a way to stretch the presentation to make it longer .

What is the ideal length for a presentation? It will depend. Is the presentation you are creating a speech (not a workshop)? In those cases, ideal length may vary between 10 and 20 minutes. However, in some situations you may want to make your presentations longer in time.

How to make a presentation longer (8 Actionable Tips)

Before the presentation.

It is best to design your presentation to already be substantive beforehand so that you can take up as much time as needed to present your topic. Here are 4 tips and strategies to use when making your presentation:

Over-prepare

If you have been asked to present for 20 minutes, make sure to prepare enough content for at least 25 minutes. A common standard is that you should always be ready to speak 25% more than you were asked to do. It is much easier to be over-prepared and just cut the less important points from the presentation than to add points that you weren’t prepared for.

Layout a timed schedule for your presentation.

Plan out your speech by knowing how long you take for specific portions of the presentation. This includes your introduction, all the key points, your closing remarks, and any engagements you have prepared like a Q&A portion from the audience. This allows you to have a more detailed estimation of the duration of your presentation, and you can see which parts of your speech you can choose to stretch or insert additional information. This action requires a proper planning, and define the presentation structure beforehand. Alternatively, you can work in a presentation outline first.

Design your PowerPoint presentation purposefully.

Having a visual aid like a PowerPoint presentation is a must in any professional setting, and you can harness it to lengthen your presentation and make it more substantive. By including a graph or a data set to your slides, you are giving yourself a short break from constant speaking.

To help you in designing effective presentations, check out our roster of the best free PowerPoint templates , as chosen by the editor.

Present facts and quotes

A million dollar tip to make your presentation longer is to include new facts and why not, quote slides. Adding facts to your presentations not only will help to transmit the Logos part of the Rhetoric triangle (Logos is an appeal to logic, and is a way of persuading an audience by reason), but also help to lengthen your presentation a few seconds.

Similarly, presenting quotes from famous characters (they can be from different areas, such as politics, sports, public speaking, etc.), you can motivate your audience and keep then engaged. The audience will dedicate a few seconds to reasoning about the quote, what it means, what it tries to say and also about the personality or character who said it, remembering different stories. This will of course help to stretch your presentation a few seconds more. Using a free quote slide for PowerPoint can help you to achieve this with no hassle.

Vary the elements of your presentation.

When appropriate, you can add more types of media into your presentation. A short video clip or an impactful image is a great thing to incorporate. Not only do they lengthen your presentation, but they also spice up your speech and make it more engaging.

If your presentation is too short, you can apply the 10/20/30 rule for presentations, in which there should be no more than 10 slides, the presentation should last no more than 20 minutes, and there should be no text smaller than 30 points. This way, you can extend your presentation to a 20-minute length.

During the presentation

Making a presentation longer while you’re already at the podium is all about adapting and taking control of the time. Here are 4 tips that you can employ to make your presentation longer, during the presentation:

1. Speak slowly yet deliberately

Your nerves when public speaking can cause you to speak in a rush or in a panic. Take control of your voice and speak more slowly and include short pauses when making a point. By speaking slowly yet deliberately, you effectively lengthen your speech, and you also help your audience grasp your message much easier.

2. Stress out and repeat key concepts

When presenting, do not shy away from repeating the main points of your message throughout the presentation. By repeating key concepts, you hammer them down so that your audience remembers them and takes them away after the presentation. Stressing out main points is also one of the tips in making a brain-friendly presentation.

3. Add in your reserved examples, stories, and anecdotes

If you’ve done your over-preparation, this is the time when you can include the extra information you have exceedingly prepared and incorporate them into the speech. However, make sure that what you add is still related to the topic and adds substance to the speech. Remember, a long presentation does not mean a wordy presentation.

4. Enrich your presentations with videos

Adding videos to your presentations or embedding a video into your slides and playing it during the slide show can help you to make your presentation longer. However, this technique must be combined with other ones. If you embed a video in your PowerPoint presentations, make sure that it resonates with the topic and speech, and try to keep the attention span in mind. Videos longer than 3 minutes may make your presentation too boring unless the video is engaging enough. Please be sure to use this technique with caution. Additionally, consider that when using videos, the estimated number of slides may vary because each video is generally presented in a slide. So, for instance, if you rely on a specific number of slides for a 10-minute presentation , understand that using videos would require fewer number of slides.

Engage with your audience

Audience participation is a great strategy to use when you’re playing for time and need a longer presentation. There are many ways you can engage your audience throughout the presentation. You can say that you are open to questions during the speech rather than afterward in the Q&A session (Questions and Answers). You can also ask a question, and ask for simple input from the audience like a show of hands.

Final Thoughts

When you need to explain your topic thoroughly and intensively, long presentations are the way to go. However, keep in mind that longer presentations have to be engaging so as not to lose the interest of your audience You can use the 8 tips and techniques that we have mentioned above to help you deliver longer presentations that remain effective and dynamic, so you can nail your presentations every time.

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The Definitive Guide to Longer Presentations

In many situations, short and succinct presentations are the norm. A five-minute pitch, a 15-minute conference talk, or a brief classroom lecture can be incredibly effective. However, there are times when a longer presentation is not just beneficial but necessary. This can be the case when you have a complex topic to cover, a multifaceted message to convey, or an audience that expects a deep dive into your subject matter.

With that being said, longer presentations can lead to audience fatigue. When audience members become disengaged, they may lose interest and stop paying attention to your content.

So, can we extend a presentation while also ensuring audience engagement? How do we design presentations that are not just highly informative but also captivating? If you were wondering the same, you have come to the right page! Whether you’re a business professional, an educator, a public speaker, or someone who simply wants to share their ideas effectively through long-form presentations, you will find the tips and advice shared in this article useful in making your presentations longer without losing your audience’s attention.

But before we dive in, let’s first identify the scenarios in which a longer presentation is justified and also look at some common pitfalls of longer presentations (and ways to avoid them).

When is a Long Presentation Justified?

Extended presentations are valuable when you need to provide in-depth analysis, offer comprehensive solutions, or explore a multifaceted issue. In fact, a longer presentation is very much warranted in situations where the subject matter, audience, or goals demand a more in-depth and comprehensive exploration. With the help of such presentations, you can engage with your audience on a deeper level, providing a rich learning experience and enabling a thorough examination of your ideas.

Here are some common situations where a longer presentation is justified:

Complex Topics: When dealing with complex, multifaceted subjects that require thorough explanations, a longer presentation allows you to delve into the details, provide context, and ensure the audience gains a comprehensive understanding.

In-Depth Training: Training sessions, workshops, or educational seminars often require longer presentations to cover the curriculum extensively. This is especially true for technical or skill-based training programs.

Research and Analysis: Presentations based on extensive research or data analysis often need more time to present findings, methodology, and implications comprehensively.

Strategic Planning: Longer presentations are essential in corporate or organisational settings when discussing strategic plans, objectives, and business strategies. They require detailed explanations and discussions.

Policy and Legislative Matters: Government or policy-related presentations often require longer durations to discuss proposed legislation, regulations, or policy changes in detail, as well as address questions from stakeholders.

Innovation and New Technologies: Presentations on cutting-edge technologies or innovative solutions may demand additional time for explaining intricacies, applications, and potential disruptions.

Scientific and Academic Conferences: Longer presentations are common in scientific and academic conferences, where researchers and scholars present their findings and discuss them with peers.

Public Health and Safety: Information related to public health, safety, or emergency procedures necessitates longer presentations to ensure clarity and compliance with guidelines.

Comprehensive Marketing and Sales: Sales and marketing presentations for complex products or services may require a longer duration to address features, benefits, and customer questions.

Community Engagement: Presentations involving community issues, development projects, or local initiatives often require more time for public engagement and thorough discussions

Historical and Cultural Topics: Presentations about historical events, cultural practices, or traditions may demand a longer duration to provide background, context, and in-depth exploration.

In-Depth Workshops and Seminars: Workshops and seminars focused on skill development, personal growth, or leadership often require more time to provide hands-on experiences and interactive learning.

Government and Policy Briefings: Government officials often need longer presentations to brief stakeholders, agencies, or the public on policy proposals, legislative changes, or key government initiatives.

Strategic Decision-Making: Longer presentations are essential for board meetings, executive presentations, and decision-making discussions where strategic choices and their implications are under consideration.

Product Launches and Demonstrations: Product launches or demonstrations may need longer presentations to showcase features, benefits, and usage scenarios, as well as to answer questions from potential customers.

Educational Institutions: In academic settings, lectures, thesis defences, or educational sessions may require extended presentations to ensure a comprehensive transfer of knowledge.

Public Awareness and Advocacy: Presentations related to social issues, advocacy, and public awareness campaigns often need longer durations to effectively communicate the importance of the cause and potential actions.

Policy Debates: In debates related to policy or controversial topics, longer presentations allow for more thorough arguments and counterarguments.

Crisis Management and Response: Longer presentations are necessary for crisis response plans, as they require detailed explanations, response protocols, and communication strategies.

Market Research and Analysis: Business presentations that focus on market research, consumer behaviour, or industry analysis may require additional time to cover data, insights, and strategic implications in depth.

In these situations, a longer presentation ensures that the audience receives a comprehensive and well-rounded understanding of the subject matter, making it a necessary choice for effective communication and engagement.

What Are The Common Pitfalls of Longer Presentations?

While longer presentations can be valuable in certain situations, they also come with common pitfalls that presenters should be aware of and work to avoid. Some of these pitfalls include:

Loss of Audience Engagement: Longer presentations can lead to audience fatigue. When audience members become disengaged, they may lose interest and stop paying attention to your content.

Information Overload: Presenters risk overwhelming their audience with excessive information. Too much data or content can make it difficult for the audience to absorb and retain key points.

Lack of Clarity: Extended presentations can suffer from a lack of clarity if the presenter doesn’t structure the content well or if they go off on tangents. This can confuse the audience and dilute the message

Ineffective Time Management: Managing time in longer presentations is crucial. If a presenter doesn’t allocate enough time to different sections or overruns, the presentation can feel rushed at the end, leaving the audience with unanswered questions.

Loss of Focus: Longer presentations might lose focus as the presenter tries to cover too many subtopics. This can dilute the main message and make it challenging for the audience to identify key takeaways.

Audience Fatigue: As presentations extend beyond a certain duration, audience fatigue sets in. The longer the presentation, the more likely it is that audience members will start to lose interest and become restless

Decreased Retention: Longer presentations can lead to decreased information retention. The human brain has limits to how much information it can absorb and remember in a single sitting, so extended presentations may result in lower retention rates.

Repetition: To fill time in a longer presentation, presenters may inadvertently repeat points, which can frustrate the audience and diminish the overall quality of the presentation.

Ineffective Visuals: When presenters use visuals, such as slides, they must ensure that these visuals are engaging and relevant. In longer presentations, there’s a risk of using too many or poorly designed visuals, which can hinder understanding and engagement.

Inadequate Interaction: Longer presentations may lack audience interaction, which can lead to reduced engagement. Failing to involve the audience through questions, discussions, or activities can make the presentation feel like a one-way lecture.

Overloading with Data: When dealing with data-heavy content, it’s vital to present the data effectively. Longer presentations run the risk of inundating the audience with data without clear explanations or insights.

Complex Language and Jargon: Presenters might use complex language or industry-specific jargon in longer presentations, which can alienate or confuse the audience, especially if they are not experts in the subject matter.

Poor Storytelling: In a longer presentation, storytelling is still essential. If the presenter fails to incorporate relevant stories or anecdotes effectively, the content can become dry and uninspiring.

Lack of a Clear Roadmap: Longer presentations need a clear structure and roadmap. If the presenter fails to provide a sense of direction and organisation, the audience may feel lost.

Ineffective Visual Design: Longer presentations often rely on visuals for support. If these visuals are poorly designed or cluttered, they can detract from the presentation’s effectiveness.

Failure to Address Questions: In longer presentations, there may be time for audience questions. Failing to address questions effectively or dismissing them can lead to audience dissatisfaction.

Overestimating the Audience’s Attention Span: Presenters should be cautious not to overestimate the audience’s attention span. Even in longer presentations, breaks, interactive elements, or format changes are necessary to keep the audience engaged.

Lack of Adaptation: A longer presentation may necessitate adjustments based on the audience’s reactions and needs. Presenters should be prepared to adapt the content on the fly to maintain audience interest and engagement.

To avoid these common pitfalls, it’s essential to plan longer presentations meticulously, keeping the audience’s needs, attention span, and overall goals of the presentation in mind. Now that you are aware of the common mistakes most presenters make with longer presentations, let’s have a look at some of the best ways to avoid them.

Important Things to Keep in Mind When Creating Longer Presentations

Creating longer presentations requires careful planning and execution to ensure that your message remains engaging and effective throughout the extended duration. Here are important things to keep in mind when crafting longer presentations:

Understand Your Audience: Know your audience’s expectations, interests, and prior knowledge. Tailor your content to meet their needs and level of expertise.

Define Clear Objectives: Clearly articulate the goals and objectives of your presentation. What do you want to achieve, inform, or persuade your audience about?

Structure Your Content: Organise your presentation with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Create a logical flow that guides the audience through the content.

Use a Strong Opening: Start with an attention-grabbing introduction. Engage the audience from the beginning with a compelling story, a thought-provoking question, or a surprising fact

Focus on Key Messages: Identify the core messages you want to convey and keep them at the forefront throughout the presentation. Avoid going off on tangents.

Engage with Stories and Examples: Incorporate real-life stories, examples, and anecdotes to illustrate your points and make the content relatable.

Interactive Elements: Include interactive elements like questions, polls, group discussions, and activities to keep the audience engaged and participating.

Visual Aids: Use well-designed slides and visuals to complement your message. Visuals should enhance understanding, not overwhelm with information.

Practice and Rehearse: Practice your presentation multiple times to ensure a smooth and confident delivery. This also helps you manage time effectively

Time Management: Allocate appropriate time to each section and stick to your schedule. Be prepared to adjust if you notice you’re running behind or ahead of schedule

Clarity and Simplicity: Use clear and concise language. Avoid jargon or overly technical terms that might confuse your audience.

Transitions: Pay attention to smooth transitions between different sections of your presentation. Use transitional phrases to guide the audience

Audience Engagement: Continually assess the audience’s engagement levels. Adjust your delivery or content if you sense the audience is disengaging.

Incorporate Variety: Change the pace, tone, and style of your presentation to maintain interest. Break up monotonous segments with stories, questions, or multimedia.

Use Multimedia Wisely: Integrate multimedia (videos, images, and audio) when it enhances your message, but avoid overloading the presentation with too many elements.

Reinforce Key Points: Periodically summarise key points to reinforce the main message. This helps the audience remember the core takeaways.

Anticipate Questions: Prepare for common questions the audience might have and address them proactively in your presentation.

Feedback and Adaptation: Be open to feedback during the presentation. Adjust your approach based on the audience’s reactions and questions.

Confidence and Passion: Project confidence and enthusiasm about your topic. Your enthusiasm can be contagious and keep the audience engaged.

Effective Closure: End your presentation with a strong conclusion that summarises the main points and leaves a lasting impression on the audience.

Provide Additional Resources: Offer handouts, links, or references for those interested in diving deeper into the topic.

Continuous Learning: Reflect on each presentation and seek feedback to improve your skills for future presentations.

Remember that longer presentations require more attention to detail, but with proper planning and a focus on audience engagement, you can make them both informative and captivating. Adapt your approach to the specific needs and preferences of your audience while ensuring that your key message remains central throughout the presentation.

Now that we know when it’s best to create a long-form presentation, the challenges that may arise when you create such a presentation and how to best avoid such challenges, let’s have a look at the various ways you can make your presentation longer.

How to Make Your Presentation Longer?

If you need to make your presentation longer while keeping it engaging and informative, consider these strategies:

Expand on Key Points

To make your presentation longer, you can delve deeper into your key points or main arguments. This involves providing more comprehensive information, examples, and evidence for each point. Use specific case studies, anecdotes, or research findings to illustrate and support your main ideas. Take the time to explain the intricacies and nuances of each key point, helping your audience gain a more profound understanding of the subject matter.

Incorporate Case Studies

Case studies offer a practical and in-depth view of how your topic relates to the real world. By including well-researched and relevant case studies, you can extend your presentation and demonstrate the practical applications of your ideas. Analyse these cases thoroughly, highlighting the challenges, solutions, and outcomes to provide a richer context for your audience.

Introduce Expert Opinions

To add depth and authority to your presentation, incorporate expert opinions. Quote well-known experts, researchers, or thought leaders in your field who have expressed viewpoints related to your topic. This lends credibility to your presentation and allows you to explore different perspectives and approaches.

Present Counterarguments

Expanding on counterarguments or alternative viewpoints involves providing a detailed exploration of these opposing perspectives. Explain the reasons behind these counterarguments and offer a well-reasoned response. By engaging in a thorough discussion of counterarguments, you encourage critical thinking and offer a more comprehensive understanding of the topic.

Use More Visuals

Visuals, such as charts, graphs, images, and diagrams, can help convey complex information more effectively. You can extend your presentation by including additional visuals that provide a deeper insight into your subject. Ensure that each visual is carefully chosen and directly supports the content you’re presenting.

Explore Subtopics

Breaking down your main topic into subtopics is an excellent way to extend your presentation. Each subtopic can be explored in depth, allowing you to provide a comprehensive overview of the subject matter. By dedicating a portion of your presentation to each subtopic, you can ensure that the audience gains a thorough understanding of the entire topic.

Tell More Stories

Storytelling is a powerful tool for engagement. By sharing more stories, anecdotes, and examples, you can make your presentation longer while keeping it relatable and memorable. Personal stories or stories related to your topic can effectively illustrate your main points and connect with your audience on an emotional level.

Engage in Deeper Analysis

To extend your presentation, engage in a deeper analysis of your data, trends, or implications. Dive into the details, examine patterns, and consider the implications of the information you’re presenting. A thorough analysis can help your audience grasp the complexities and nuances of your subject.

Incorporate Audience Interaction

Engage your audience by incorporating interactive elements. Encourage questions, discussions, and participation to make your presentation longer while involving the audience. Interactive sessions allow the audience to apply the knowledge you’ve shared and can lead to deeper exploration of the topic.

Use Audience Polls

Incorporating audience polls or surveys can extend your presentation while actively involving the audience. Pose questions related to your topic and allow the audience to participate. Share the poll results and discuss the implications to encourage deeper exploration.

Utilise Extended Q&A Sessions

Dedicate more time to answering audience questions to make your presentation longer. Encourage an extended Q&A session to explore topics in greater depth. Engaging in open dialogues with the audience can lead to insightful discussions.

Include Expert Interviews

If possible, conduct or include interviews with experts in your field. Expert interviews offer a unique and valuable perspective, adding depth and credibility to your presentation. These insights can provide a more comprehensive understanding of the topic, making your presentation more informative.

Explore Different Perspectives

Extend your presentation by presenting various perspectives on the topic. By discussing contrasting viewpoints and different angles, you provide a more comprehensive view of the subject matter. Encourage critical thinking and analysis among your audience

Create More Examples

Generate additional examples, scenarios, and use cases that illustrate the practical applications of your ideas. Providing multiple instances where your concepts are applied can help the audience connect theory to practice and make your presentation more thorough.

Reinforce Key Point

Periodically reinforce your key points throughout the presentation. Summarise important takeaways and revisit the main message to ensure that the audience retains the core concepts. Repetition can help reinforce understanding.

Engage in Group Activities

Incorporate group activities or discussions that require audience participation. These activities can be used to delve deeper into specific aspects of your presentation. Encourage group discussions or problem-solving exercises to make your content more interactive and extensive.

Discuss Current Events

Incorporating current events and news into your presentation keeps the content relevant and relatable to the audience. To expand on this, discuss the context and significance of these current events as they relate to your topic. Consider how recent developments have influenced the subject matter, and explore potential future impacts. This not only prolongs the presentation but also highlights the real-time relevance of the subject, making it more engaging and informative.

Collaborate with Guest Speakers

Collaborating with guest speakers or experts can enhance your presentation by offering diverse perspectives and insights. To extend this collaboration, encourage an in-depth discussion with these guest speakers, allowing them to share their experiences and expertise. By doing so, you create a more interactive and informative presentation with a broader range of viewpoints.

Connect with Personal Experiences

Sharing personal experiences related to the topic adds authenticity and depth to your presentation. Expanding on these personal insights can involve a deeper exploration of the challenges faced, lessons learned, and the practical implications of your experiences. By offering a more comprehensive look at your personal journey, you connect with the audience on a deeper level.

Visualise Future Possibilities

Extending your presentation by visualising future possibilities or potential scenarios adds a forward-looking dimension to your content. Provide detailed discussions of the various paths and choices that could shape the future of your topic. Explore the long-term implications of these choices and highlight potential opportunities and challenges. By offering a more comprehensive exploration of future possibilities, you enable the audience to envision the subject’s future evolution.

Address Common Misconceptions

Identifying and addressing common misconceptions related to your topic involves providing detailed explanations that debunk these myths. Explain the origins of these misconceptions, clarify the correct information, and offer a well-informed response to these misconceptions. By providing a comprehensive exploration of common misconceptions, you ensure the audience gains a deeper and more accurate understanding of the subject matter.

Engage in Panel Discussions

Organising panel discussions with multiple experts or stakeholders offers diverse perspectives and insights. Expanding on panel discussions can involve facilitating in-depth conversations, allowing panellists to share their experiences and engage in meaningful debates. By offering a more comprehensive panel discussion, you create an interactive and informative presentation with a wide range of viewpoints.

Use Demonstrations

Incorporating live demonstrations or simulations into your presentation engages the audience in a hands-on learning experience. Expanding on demonstrations involves offering a detailed walkthrough of the demonstration, explaining the steps and intricacies involved. By providing a deeper exploration of the practical application of your ideas, you make your content more tangible and actionable, ensuring the audience gains a thorough understanding.

Final Thoughts

By using the tips and advice shared in this article, you can create longer presentations that inform, inspire, and captivate your audience, whilst also avoiding the common pitfalls that most presenters face when it comes to delivering extended presentations.

However, if you’re inspired to work with experts in crafting your upcoming presentation and preparing for it in the best way possible, look no further. At Presentation Experts, we specialise in not just presentation design, but also presentation skills development . Whether you’re seeking support in crafting a compelling presentation, refining your storytelling techniques, or acquiring the skills to keep your audience captivated during extended presentations, we’ve got you covered.

To learn more about our services, contact us today!

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Presentation Training Institute

A division of bold new directions training, how to lengthen a presentation.

Striking that perfect duration for your presentation can be tricky. You may feel as though you prepared a presentation that will last the appropriate length and then find out as you are speaking that you grossly miscalculated. Presentations can go by very quickly, especially when you are nervous and speeding through the material. For instance, you may have planned for a 60-minute presentation but soon realize that it will be over in just 30 minutes. When this happens, what can you do to cover the remaining time? Here we will take a look at a few tips and tricks for making your presentation longer. 

Over-Prepare Ahead of Time

If you have been asked to present for 30 minutes, make sure you have at least 35 minutes of material. You should always be prepared to speak for at least 25% longer than you were asked. Therefore, prepare extra content that can be used if you end up needing more time, but can also be easily discarded if things are going well. It’s always better to over-prepare with additional material than wind up looking unprepared with a short presentation. 

Speak Slowly and Deliberately

You don’t need to speak as though you have been turned on slo-mo, but you should pay attention to the speed at which you are speaking. When we get nervous, it is normal for people to talk faster. That’s why you need to be conscious of your pace and take control of your voice and slow down. You should also include short pauses when making important points. Not only will this buy you a little more time, but it will also make your points more dramatic. By slowing down your speech, you both effectively lengthen your speech and make your message clear. 

Add in a Reserved Story

If you did your preparation and overprepared, you should have a story or anecdote in your reserve, ready to pull out if needed. If you notice that you are ahead of your schedule, this is the time to include that extra story in your presentation. However, be sure that whatever story you are telling is still relevant to the topic. You don’t want to add a story simply for the sake of time. It should only be added if it serves a purpose.

Include a Relevant Video Clip

Adding videos to your presentation can be a great way to add a little extra time. It can also help give you a break and ease your nerves. Keep in mind that like the story, the video must be relevant to your topic and support your message. You also want to keep the video short and sweet. Anything longer than 3 minutes can actually detract from the presentation. 

Audience Participation

Finally, audience participation is a great strategy to use when you need to extend your presentation. Not only will this lengthen your presentation, but it will also engage your audience. There are several ways to do this such as having a question and answer session, conducting a live poll, breaking into small groups, or simply asking for a show of hands. This can help you lengthen your presentation while still giving the audience a speech that is interesting and dynamic.

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The Students’ Guide on How to Make a Presentation Longer

Are you having problems extending your presentation to the required length? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many students encounter this issue, but we have a solution for you in this blog post.

When aiming to make your presentation longer, focus on quality rather than quantity. Ensure your content is well-researched, organized, and supported by relevant information. Utilize examples, visuals, and engaging storytelling to captivate your audience. Additionally, consider exploring in-depth explanations of key points to add substance to your presentation.

By following the tips provided in this blog post, you can enhance the depth and breadth of your presentation, something you would get by hiring a professional paper writing service to do it for you. 

Table of Contents

10 Woking Tips on How to Make a Presentation Longer

These are 10 top tips from professional paper writers for students needing help with making a last minute presentation longer. 

Tip 1: Thorough Research

Conduct in-depth research on your topic. Gather additional facts, statistics, and examples to support your points. For instance, if your presentation is about renewable energy, delve into specific case studies or the latest advancements in solar technology.

Tip 2: Detailed Explanations

Extend the length of your presentation by providing detailed explanations for key concepts. Instead of briefly mentioning a point, delve into why it’s important or how it relates to your overall message. For example, if discussing market trends, elaborate on the factors influencing those trends. 

Tip 3: Visual Enhancements

Utilize visuals such as charts, graphs, and infographics. Expanding on visual content not only adds substance but also makes your presentation more engaging. For instance, if you’re presenting sales data, create visual representations to illustrate the trends and patterns.

Tip 4: Examples and Case Studies

Incorporate real-world examples and case studies to illustrate your points. This not only adds depth to your presentation but also makes it more relatable. If your topic is leadership skills, share anecdotes or case studies of successful leaders who exemplify those skills.

Tip 5: Engaging Storytelling

Tell compelling stories that tie back to your main message. Narratives can be an effective way to convey information and keep your audience captivated. If discussing teamwork, share a personal or relevant story that highlights the importance of collaboration.

Tip 6: Expansion on Subtopics

Identify subtopics within your main theme and expand on them. This not only elongates your presentation but also provides a more comprehensive understanding. If your presentation is about climate change, dedicate sections to specific aspects like carbon footprint reduction and sustainable practices. You can also play with different types of sentences to expand on the main idea. 

Tip 7: Interactive Elements

Incorporate interactive elements like polls, questions, or discussions. This not only extends the duration but also engages your audience actively. For instance, pause to ask the audience about their preferences or experiences with emerging technologies in a presentation about technology trends.

Tip 8: Q&A Session

Include a Q&A session at the end of your presentation. This allows you to address additional points or elaborate on certain aspects based on audience queries. If discussing a new product launch, anticipate questions about features or market positioning.

Tip 9: In-Depth Analysis

Offer a detailed analysis of relevant topics. Break down complex ideas into understandable components, providing a thorough examination of each. If your presentation involves economic trends, conduct a comprehensive analysis of the factors influencing the market.

Tip 10: Relevance to Audience

Ensure your content remains relevant to your audience. Tailor examples and explanations to their interests and needs. If presenting on time management, relate the concepts to the specific challenges your audience may face in their professional or academic lives.

Why Extending a Presentation can be challenging for students?

Extending a presentation can pose several challenges for students:

Insufficient Content

Students may struggle to generate enough substantive content to fill the allotted time. This challenge often arises when the topic is narrow or lacks extensive research material.

Maintaining Relevance

Lengthening a presentation while keeping the content relevant can be tricky. Students might be tempted to include irrelevant details or filler material, risking a loss of audience interest.

Quality vs. Quantity Dilemma

Balancing the need for a longer presentation with maintaining high-quality content can be challenging. Students may face the temptation to sacrifice depth for the sake of meeting time requirements.

Limited Research Skills

Some students might lack the research skills needed to find additional information or examples to expand their presentation effectively. This can hinder their ability to provide a comprehensive overview.

Time Management

Students may find it challenging to manage their time efficiently during the presentation, leading to either a rushed delivery or the need to fill time with less valuable content.

An Example to Understand How to Make a Presentation Longer 

Let’s consider a presentation topic: “The Impact of Social Media on Modern Society.” Initially, a student may have a concise outline covering key points such as the rise of social media platforms, the influence on communication, and potential societal challenges. To make the presentation longer, the student can implement the following:

Good Research

Original Version: Briefly mention the growth of social media.

Extended Version: Include statistics on the exponential increase in users, demographic trends, and the evolution of platforms over time.

Explanations

Original Version: Discuss the impact on communication briefly.

Extended Version: Delve into how social media has transformed interpersonal communication, exploring concepts like online etiquette, the rise of influencers, and the emergence of new forms of digital expression.

Utilize Visual Aids

Original Version: Display a simple graph on social media usage trends.

Extended Version: Create a more detailed presentation with visual representations of data, charts illustrating the growth of specific platforms, and screenshots of relevant social media posts.

Examples and Case Studies

Original Version: Mention a generic case study on social media impact.

Extended Version: Provide in-depth case studies, perhaps examining the role of social media in specific events or movements, like the Arab Spring or #BlackLivesMatter, showcasing the profound influence on societal dynamics.

Engage in Interactive Elements

Original Version: No interactive elements.

Extended Version: Include a segment where the audience can participate in a brief poll or share their experiences with social media, fostering engagement and extending the overall presentation time.

Expand on Subtopics

Original Version: Touch on various aspects without deep exploration.

Extended Version: Dedicate sections to subtopics such as the psychological effects of social media, the role in political discourse, and the impact on traditional media, thoroughly examining each aspect.

Effective Time Management

Original Version: Deliver the content in a concise manner.

Extended Version: Practice pacing to ensure a balanced delivery, allowing time for elaboration and audience engagement without rushing through key points.

What We Have Learned?  

In this blog post, we’ve adopted a strategic approach to guide students in expanding their presentations effectively. Recognizing that lengthening a presentation should not compromise its quality, we emphasize techniques that enhance content, engagement, and overall impact. The goal is not merely to add filler but to provide valuable insights on thoughtful expansion, ensuring that each slide or segment contributes meaningfully to the presentation’s depth and substance.

This guide gives you a step-by-step process to make your presentations longer without getting boring. It tells you to do some research, go into more detail on important points, and use examples, visuals, and interactive stuff to keep your audience interested. By understanding your topic and being creative, you can make a long presentation that grabs people’s attention and teaches them something.For those seeking additional support in crafting extensive and impactful presentations, our essay writing service offers a valuable resource. Our experienced writers understand the nuances of presentation development, providing personalized assistance in expanding content, refining structure, and incorporating compelling elements.

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How to Make a Presentation Longer

“Keep it short and sweet.” Many hear this common piece of advice when planning a speech or presentation . Because short attention spans are fairly common in the age of TikTok, text messaging, and an endless supply of stimulation at our fingertips, it’s often wise to compress a presentation if your goal is to  keep an audience interested .

However, there are instances in which a presentation might be too short to serve its purpose. Potential reasons you may be wondering how to make a presentation longer include:

• Meeting time requirements:  In some settings, a presenter may be expected to deliver a speech of a certain length.
• Covering additional material:  This is among the most common reasons to extend the length of a presentation. Depending on the topic you’re covering, a short presentation may not be enough to thoroughly address the idea.
• Engaging the audience:  Public speaking involves striking a balance. Yes, if a presentation is longer than necessary, you might lose the attention of your audience. However, if it’s not long enough, you might never captivate them, to begin with.
• Addressing a question:  It’s often wise to include time for some Q&A in a speech. Allowing audience members to ask questions results in an interactive presentation that is more likely to keep them engaged. Of course, including time for questions at the end could be a simple way to make a presentation longer. That said, there may be some questions or concerns you want to address within the presentation itself so that audience members never feel the need to ask these questions in the first place. This might be necessary if the topic of your presentation is somewhat controversial. In this scenario, you might need to lengthen your speech to address all potential objections before anyone raises them.

Those are just a few examples. Your reasons for wishing to add content to a presentation may be different. Regardless, as the following points will demonstrate, there are many ways to achieve this goal without adding unnecessary “fluff.”

How to Make a Presentation Longer: Ideas to Consider

Include an anecdote.

Including a relevant anecdote to illustrate one of the main points in your speech can transform a boring presentation into one that hooks an audience. As  experts point out , storytelling offers a powerful way to engage viewers and listeners because it allows you to share large amounts of information while also tapping into the emotions of audience members. Naturally, including a story can also add at least a few minutes to your presentation.

Learn to Pause

One of the best ways to prepare for a speech is to, well, practice your speaking skills. Fear of public speaking is a  common anxiety , and many a nervous presenter will rush through a speech without realizing they’re doing so.

This can prevent an audience from absorbing their key points. If public speaking makes you nervous, focus on learning to pause throughout a speech. Slowing down will help you get your message across more effectively while also resulting in a long speech.

Design Slides Properly

Does your presentation involve a slideshow? If so, it’s important to design slides so that you don’t bombard your audience with excessive visual information.

Tips to keep in mind include:

• Use only two to three fonts to maintain a degree of visual consistency.
• Consider working with a presentation maker that offers presentation templates you can customize to ensure your slideshow is organized.
• Try not to include too many images in a single slide. Typically, one image per slide is a good rule of thumb.
• Stick to a consistent color scheme.

The main reason to keep these presentation design tips in mind is to ensure members of the audience can absorb the information on your slides. However, breaking up the content across multiple slides can also help you naturally lengthen a presentation by forcing you to focus on small pieces of information at a time, instead of rushing through your points.

Using video in strategic spots throughout a speech can help you engage an audience, illustrate a complex topic, and provide clear examples that you may not be able to provide merely by speaking about them. Adding videos can also help you extend a presentation’s length.

( Tip:  Consider using  animation  instead of live-action video to illustrate certain ideas. This may be a cost-effective solution when you don’t have the resources to film the necessary footage.)

Make it More Interactive

This is yet another way to add to a presentation’s length and make it more engaging for those in attendance at the same time. Ways to make a presentation more interactive include:

• Skits and role-playing
• Audience member interviews

Delivering an effective presentation that’s long enough to suit your needs and enjoyable enough to please an audience is often much easier when you remember that the audience doesn’t need to be passive. On the contrary, it’s often very smart to make the audience members active participants.

How to Make a Presentation Longer: When a Few Minutes Aren’t Enough

Again, you may have no shortage of reasons to feel a presentation you need to give isn’t long enough just yet. Luckily, as the examples here show, there is also no shortage of ways to make a presentation longer. Best of all, the ideas here can help you add additional value to the content, instead of lengthening a speech for no its own sake.

Powtoon Offers the Right Presentation Maker for Your Needs

Adding to the length of a presentation isn’t enough to impress an audience if the presentation’s quality leaves much to be desired. You need to use the right presentation maker to ensure the visual elements enhance the word you speak to an audience.

Powtoon offers exactly that. This easy-to-use video maker tool also allows users to create the types of dynamic presentations that can’t be made with PowerPoint. Whether you’re delivering an online presentation or a traditional in-person speech, it will unlock your creativity. Learn more about what Powtoon can do for you by  signing up  today!

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What is the best way to make a presentation longer?

• February 11, 2023

Whether addressing a large audience or discussing a complex topic, making a presentation longer without compromising its quality is a common challenge. In this article, we’ll talk about how to extend the duration of your presentation while still preserving its effectiveness, and you will learn how to make a presentation longer what to add, how to manage presentation time, and what you should avoid. With a longer presentation, you can delve more deeply into your Presentation design services , engage the audience, and provide insightful information.

Table of Contents

 How to extend presentation time

Giving a presentation that is too short can be detrimental to conveying your message to the audience, so learning how to make your presentation longer can help you ensure that you stay on point and capture the attention of the attendees.

Fortunately, there are several strategies for making a presentation longer which involve using more visuals, increasing your speaking time, and considering other elements such as storytelling. With these simple steps and recommendations, you can extend your presentation in order to make sure that it does not come across as rushed or incomplete.

Keeping an audience engaged in a presentation can be a challenging task as you have to keep them engaged for longer than a few minutes. This is why it’s important to make your successful presentation last longer. There are several tips and tricks that you can use to make your presentation last longer without compromising on the quality of the overall experience.

From using visual aids such as slides, videos, and infographics to adding interactive elements such as polls, quizzes, and simulations, there are many ways to help make the presentation more engaging and interesting. With these tips, you can easily make your presentation keep the audience captivated for longer periods of time.

What to add to make your Presentation Longer?

Here are some factors about what to add to a presentation to make it longer:

• In-Depth Examples : Incorporate detailed case studies, real-life examples, or anecdotes related to your topic. These stories provide context and help illustrate your key points vividly.
• Additional Research and Data : Include more comprehensive research findings, statistics, and data to support your arguments. This strengthens your credibility and allows you to discuss findings in greater detail.
• Extended Explanations : Take the time to elaborate on complex concepts, theories, or processes. Break down intricate information into easily understandable segments, making it more accessible to your audience.
• Comparative Analysis : If relevant, compare and contrast different approaches, products, or solutions. This provides a comprehensive view and stimulates thoughtful discussions.
• Audience Interaction : Incorporate interactive elements, such as polls, surveys, or audience questions. This engagement not only extends the presentation but also enhances audience participation.

Reasons why you might require a longer presentation?

Don’t look unprepared..

A presentation that is too brief may make it appear that you don’t know enough about the topic or that you didn’t put in enough effort to create the presentation. Even if you’ve delivered your message clearly and said all you need to, this can happen. A well-structured presentation will show your knowledge and ability to present the topic. Talking for the sake of others is not a good idea. If that happens, it is wise to tell your audience upfront and cut the presentation. In other cases, however, it is not necessary to cut the presentation.

Engage your audience.

Military training has shown that there’s a balance to strike when you deliver a message. This will ensure your audience feels connected with you and fully understands your key points. A presentation that is too short often doesn’t give enough information or time to the audience and will not allow them to fully grasp the topic.

Your presentation time was modified at the last moment.

If you are presenting to a panel, it is important to know that you can adjust the length of your presentation to fit any changes in your schedule. You will need to extend the presentation if you are asked to do so.

How long is the best length for a presentation? It depends. It will depend on what presentation you are making. These cases may call for a presentation that is between 10 and 20 minutes in length. In some cases, however, you might want to extend the time for your presentations.

How to make the presentation longer?

1-layout an outline of your presentation.

You can plan your speech by planning how long each section will take. This includes your introduction, key points and closing remarks. This will allow you to estimate the length of your presentation and can also help you decide which parts of your speech to shorten or added. This requires planning and defining the presentation structure in advance.

2-Slowly but deliberately

Public speaking can be stressful if you are nervous. You can take control of your voice by speaking slowly and allowing for a few pauses between points. Slowly speaking but deliberately will help you lengthen your speech and make it more memorable. It will also make your message easier to understand by helping your audience better grasp your message.

3-Create your PowerPoint presentation with the purpose

A PowerPoint presentation is an essential tool in any professional setting. You can use it to enhance your presentation and make it more meaningful. You can give yourself a break from the monotony of constant talking by adding a graph to your slides.

4-Add your logo and company information

The logo should be displayed at the beginning and throughout the presentation.

If applicable, show a company logo and contact information on a slide prior to or after each section in your presentation. If applicable, show a company’s mission statement on one or more slides prior to or after each section in your presentation.

If possible, share some background information about the origins of your business. If applicable, share some values that will guide your decision-making in your company

5-Repeat your important points

One of the key paths to making a presentation longer and keeping your audience interested is emphasizing your key points. When giving a presentation, repetition is okay. There are important points to make, so it’s okay to repeat, summarize, or recap them. Try reciting the sentence with a different tone of emphasis if you feel that something you have said is particularly important.

• While repetition is great, it’s best to not repeat the same thing twice. This could cause your audience to tire.
• It is a great idea to use key ideas and themes as words and phrases throughout the recap.

6-Reiterate key concepts

Don’t be afraid to repeat the key points throughout your presentation when you present. Repeating key concepts throughout the presentation will help you to make sure your audience retains them. Another tip for making a presentation that is brain-friendly is to stress the main points.

7-Tell a Story

Stories can help you convey a point to your audience and keep them engaged for longer. Telling stories is another way to use stories. Although it may seem obvious, storytelling is a great way to keep people interested in presentations. They are more entertaining than facts alone and are much more engaging than just facts. Share anything that is interesting, funny or relevant about you or someone else. Your audience will enjoy every minute of your story.

8-Enhance your presentations with videos

You can make your slides longer by adding videos to them or embedding video in your slides. This technique should be used in conjunction with others. When embedding a video into your PowerPoint presentations, ensure that it is relevant to the topic and speech. Also, keep in mind the attention span. If the video is too long, it can make your presentation boring. This technique should be used with caution. Also, remember that videos can have a different number of slides than expected. Each video is usually presented on a slide. For example, if you have a 10-minute presentation and need to use a certain number of slides, videos will require fewer slides.

9-Be an expert!

To make a more engaging PowerPoint presentation, you can also draw on your personal experience and knowledge. Confidence is key to what you say. Use stories to illustrate your points. You should be passionate about your message. This will keep your audience interested and engaged in the subject. If possible, you can add tips from experts to your presentation. This will increase credibility and help with credibility.

How to Extend Presentation Time Effectively

• Expand on Subtopics : Divide your content into subtopics and allocate more time. This enables you to provide comprehensive coverage of each aspect without rushing through them.
• Q&A Sessions : Reserve time for a thorough question-and-answer session at the end. This allows you to address audience queries, clarify doubts, and add valuable content.
• Engaging Visuals : Integrate more visuals like diagrams, charts, and images. These aid comprehension and allow you to elaborate on each visual’s significance.
• Case Studies and Examples : Go into depth with case studies or examples by discussing the background, challenges, solutions, and outcomes. This provides a more complete understanding of the topic.
• Analogies and Analogous Stories : Use analogies to explain complex ideas and expand on these analogies with stories or scenarios that resonate with your audience.

Shouldn’t about how to make a presentation longer

• Filling with Filler : Avoid padding your presentation with irrelevant information or excessive filler content. Audience’s value concise and relevant information.
• Reading Slides Aloud : Reading each slide word-for-word can be monotonous. Instead, elaborate on the key points, providing context and insights beyond what’s on the slide.
• Repetition : While a certain level of repetition can reinforce key concepts, avoid being redundant. Repeating the same information excessively can disengage your audience.
• Rushing : Don’t speed through the presentation to fit a specific time frame. Rushing compromises, the quality of your delivery and hinders audience comprehension.
• Lack of Engagement : Pay attention to your audience’s engagement level. Monitor their reactions and adjust your pace accordingly.

Extending the length of a presentation while maintaining its quality requires thoughtful planning and strategic execution. Incorporate additional content, engage your audience effectively, and explore topics in greater detail. However, remember that quality should always take precedence over quantity. You can create a longer presentation that captures your audience’s attention and delivers meaningful insights by striking the right balance.

How do you lengthen a presentation time?

Things you need to consider:

•       Prioritize speaking slowly and clearly, and state your key points multiple times throughout your speech.
•       Add length by including stories, examples, facts, and quotes in your speech to back up your main points.
•       Use a visual aid like a PowerPoint or a handout to add time and audience engagement.

How do you make a 20-minute presentation long?

If your presentation is too short, you can apply the 10/20/30 rule for presentations, in which there should be at most 10 slides, the presentation should last at most 20 minutes, and there should be no text smaller than 30 points. This way, you can extend your presentation to a 20-minute length.

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Tips on How to Make a Presentation Longer

The presentation should be in a perfect duration as given. This session is quite tricky because you can deliver too fast or too slow. It should be exciting for the audience to get their attention. So, you have to know how to make a presentation longer effective.

1. Create an over-prepare presentation

The event will get you to know how long the duration of the presentation is. For example, if you have 15 minutes to present the topic, you can prepare a presentation for 20 minutes. During the presentation later, you can cut some topics if necessary.

2. Create a schedule

It is important to create a schedule for your presentation. The schedule is in the form of a layout where you prepare a portion of key points or topics you will deliver. For example, the introduction might only need two minutes, the full topic is 10 minutes, the conclusion is a minute and the rest is a Q & A session.

Time estimation is essential because you can measure how long to deliver each point you will talk about during the presentation. Some points might be more important than others, so it takes longer than the other parts. Create a layout of the more important key points to emphasize.

3. Designing the slides

Visualization on the slide is part of how to make a short presentation longer. A good slide design doesn’t have many words, but a visualization of the topic. You can insert some graphics and diagrams. It gets more engagement from the audience and you can prepare a few minutes to explain one image.

4. Give some facts and quotes

Before the presentation session, you can use these tips on how to make a presentation longer. Giving quotes and facts that are relevant to the topic will give the audience a better idea and visualization. Put it in your introduction slide either in words or images.

Why are some quotes and facts important? Your audience will engage with your presentation and you kick it off smoothly. They also motivate the audience such as reasoning them to keep up with your presentation. Don’t forget to bring famous and relevant characters for this part.

5. Speak slowly

Speaking slowly doesn’t mean you are slowing the pace of the presentation. This is the right way to show that you are not in a panic. Speaking too rushed will only form the idea that you are not comfortable in front of the audience. It’s effective to lengthen your presentation and improve your performance.

6. Emphasize the concept

Concepts in the presentation should be emphasized, so the audience will get the main idea of the topic you deliver. Repeat the concepts or key points to make the audience remember and take some notes. However, avoid doing it too often because the audience will be bored with your presentation.

7. Engage with the audience

Your audience is the main part of the presentation session. You are transferring knowledge to them and trying to be a bridge by presenting the topic. So, engaging with the audience should be in your mind during the presentation. It lengthens the time because you have the interaction in Q&A or mid-presentation.

8. Add some videos

Videos in a presentation is an additional material to create a longer presentation. You can play the video in the middle of the presentation or as the opening to engage with the audience. However, you have to make sure that the contents of the video are relevant to the topic.

Before delivering a presentation, you have to ensure how much time you have to present the topic. The tips on how to make a presentation longer will not work if you have too many points to present in a brief time. A good presentation isn’t wordy with the right and specific time to finish.

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Presentations

Communication, facilitation, ​powerspeaking blog: tips and strategies for crafting presentations, 15 tips: how to prepare for a last minute presentation.

by PowerSpeaking, Inc.     Oct 24, 2013 10:46:00 AM

Did you just find out that you need to give a presentation in 90 minutes? Here are a few easy and effective tips to help organize and present that next mission-critical presentation.

  Organizing Your Content

Develop a short, clear one sentence main message, i.e. "I have a dream."

An analogy, metaphor or memorable phrase for the main message increases retention, i.e. Informix's " The database with the future built in."

Repeat your main message a number of times during the presentation. Use the exact wording each time.

Stories and personal experience create longer retention. Illustrate points with stories, i.e. "Last week when I called on Bob Johnson, the CEO of Acme Jeans in Seattle, he said, 'You know John, using your customer service strategy has doubled our market share.' Then he said..."

PowerPoint Is Not The Talk...You Are!

Build your talk first, then add visuals as you need them. Do not let PowerPoint templates determine your content.

Use fewer visuals, not more. People are persuaded by you and respond to you, not slides.

Begin and end your presentation without visuals. People remember longer what they hear at the beginning and at the end. Your main message will have more impact without slides.

Design the talk so that every, say, seven to ten minutes you can turn off the projector and just talk to people. In PowerPoint you can just hit the "B" button to make your screen go blank. Hit it again to make the slides come back.

When referring to a slide, stand at the screen, facing the audience and use a pointer to highlight the key words or images.

Drive It Home With Style

The way to build style is to practice your presentation in real rehearsal. That is, standing up, moving around, speaking out loud.

In rehearsal, exaggerate everything. Talk louder, use longer pauses, wave your arms around, move from point to point and look 'em in the eye. Strong "in your face" style feels unnatural and phony, yet looks confident to the audience.

This is no time for the soft-spoken, self-effacing, humble approach. Throw back your shoulders and let 'er rip. You almost can't overdo the style, as contrived as it feels.

After asking for questions, wait a few moments. It may take people awhile to think of any. If no ones asks a question, ask your own: "You know, a question that often comes up when I give these talks is..."

Repeat questions for clarity. Answer to the whole group so everyone feels included.

If you don't know the answer, agree to find out and get back to them.

Now, you've got the tools. Knock 'em dead!

Related Blog Posts: Six Strategies For How To Control Timing , "A Shining City On The Hill" How A Metaphor Can Touch Your Audience , Five Game Changing Principles of Presenting Slides

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Topics: Presentation , Organization , Stories , Opening Tips , Style , Core Message , ToolKit , PowerPoint

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Natural Ways on How to Make a Presentation Longer Without Losing Your Audience

Don’t Just Tell a Story with Your Presentation, Entertain the Audience with It

Are you wondering how to make a PowerPoint presentation longer? Do you ever feel that a PowerPoint presentation is not long enough and wish there was a way to make it longer without having to add more slides or putting more details on each slide? We have good news for you! The trick is not to make it long but keep it interesting and up to the point.

The best speakers don’t talk for 15-20 minutes but can go for an hour or longer without people knowing it. How is that possible? Well, there is a little subtlety involved and it’s called pacing. The average PowerPoint presentation should be about 20 slides long. And for those twenty slides, the content should fit into about five basic categories. If you follow this rule you’ll have a good idea of how to lengthen a PowerPoint presentation and make it seem like time has just flown by.

Everybody likes a good presentation, but sometimes you need to make it longer. If a presentation is too short, people will not get enough information to fully embrace the topic. In this guide, we’ll show you how to lengthen your PowerPoint presentation naturally and easily. Please refer to these 15 tips on how to make a presentation longer naturally.

Table of Contents

• Introduction – Start by introducing your topic. – Prepare beforehand for a longer presentation – Expand on your logo and company information. – Expand on your agenda/timeline. – Tell a story. – Use a larger font size for all text, including bullets. – Use more pictures in your presentation. – Add music and videos. – Be the expert! – Show several examples of what you are presenting. – Add transition effects to every slide, no matter how short they may be. – Try to avoid using text on your slides if you can use a picture or graphic instead. – Layout a timed schedule for your presentation. – Present facts and quotes – Engage with your audience

Why would you need a longer presentation?

1 – start by introducing your topic.

First, start by introducing your topic. Begin with a clear statement of what you will be talking about and give a brief overview of the topic. Use an interesting and relevant story that engages the audience, followed by a list of bullet points highlighting key points in the presentation. Finally, end with an attention-grabbing title.

2 – Prepare beforehand for a longer presentation

• Prepare your material beforehand – you should have a good idea of what you want to say before the presentation starts. A good way of doing this is by writing down a list of points and subpoints, which will give you a good outline of your presentation.
• Practice makes perfect – When practicing your presentation, make sure that you practice it multiple times so that there are no mistakes in your delivery of the information. This is quite important if you are going to be presenting on a topic that is new to you. Read through all the slides two days before the actual presentation so that you can know what each slide says and how long each one lasts. Practice until your presentation flows smoothly without any hesitations or awkward pauses between slides. If you practice well enough, you’ll be able to make eye contact with your audience and keep their attention focused on you.

3 – Expand on your logo and company information

You can expand on your logo and company information by:

• Showing the logo at the beginning of the presentation.
• Showing a company’s logo and contact information on a slide before or after each section of your presentation (if applicable).
• Showing a company’s mission statement in one or more slides before or after each section of your presentation (if applicable).
• Sharing some history about how/why your business was started (if applicable).
• Sharing some values that guide decision-making within your organization (if applicable).

4 – Expand on your agenda/timeline

The purpose of your presentation is to inform, persuade or sell. You need to keep this in mind when you’re deciding how much detail to include. If you are presenting a training session, for example, consider including a detailed agenda with the time allotted for each topic outlined on it. For a product demonstration or sales pitch, go through your timeline step-by-step with the audience providing feedback along the way.

If you are presenting a business plan or strategy document, be sure to include details on how things will work from start-up until completion as well as growth projections and profitability expectations over time.

5 – Tell a story

You can use stories to help your audience understand a point and retain it longer. For example, if you’re talking about how to increase productivity and reduce stress, you could tell a story of how you used to work for a company that required long hours every week. You were stressed out all the time because of this and eventually decided that you needed to look for another job where they would let you take breaks when needed. This could help illustrate what happens when people are expected to work long hours without any breaks in between.

Another way that stories can be used is by telling them! It might sound obvious but one of the best ways to keep people engaged during presentations is through storytelling because they are more interesting than facts alone (and let’s face it: who doesn’t love hearing an interesting story?). If there is something interesting or funny about yourself or something relevant that happened with someone else, share it! Your audience will love every second spent listening to your story.

6 – Use a larger font size for all text, including bullets

The font size is another way to make your presentation seem longer. The larger the font, the more slides you can fit on a single screen, and therefore the longer your presentation will seem. But make sure it’s not too large!

Also, be consistent with your fonts throughout—if you’ve used one font for headings and another for text, you’ll get inconsistent results that aren’t as flattering as using just one throughout. And if you’re going big with everything else (bullets and titles), then go small with body copy—it’ll give people something to focus on besides all those slides of text!

7 – Use more pictures in your presentation

A picture is worth a thousand words. This is why you should use more images in your presentation. Images can help break up the text, illustrate your points, explain your points better than words could ever do, make your presentation more visually appealing, and make it easier to remember by forcing people to pay attention longer.

8 – Add music and videos

Adding music or videos to your presentation can help to keep the audience engaged, build up suspense, and even set the mood. It can also convey your message in a more effective way than spoken words alone.

It’s important that you don’t overdo it though! You want to avoid distracting your audience from your content or topic by using music that is too loud or too long, as this will make people lose interest. Likewise, if you add too many videos then it may be difficult for people to follow what’s going on!

9 – Be the expert!

You can also use your own experience and knowledge to make your PowerPoint presentation longer. Be confident in what you have to say. Tell stories that illustrate your points. Don’t be afraid to be enthusiastic about what you are saying, because this will help keep the audience engaged and interested in the topic at hand. You can also add some tips from other experts, if possible; this will help with credibility if it’s done correctly!

10 – Show several examples of what you are presenting

You can also use examples to make your presentation seem longer. Examples are a great way to show what you are talking about; however, if you have too many examples, the audience will lose interest and think that they know everything already.

The best way to use examples is by showing one example at a time and then explaining it thoroughly before moving on to the next one. This way, your presentation seems longer than usual because of all the explanations in between each example.

But wait! There’s more!

The most important thing about using examples is making sure they are relevant both to the audience and yourself as a speaker (or writer). The main goal of an example is not just providing information but helping people understand it better by providing real-life situations where these concepts have been applied successfully or unsuccessfully in the past.

11 – Add transition effects to every slide, no matter how short they may be

• Add transition effects to every slide, no matter how short they may be. The presentation will look more interesting and engaging, and it will help you avoid the problem of having an “all-nighter” with your audience.
• You can also use transitions to show a change in time or location: for example, moving from a house to an office building, from the office building to another building (your home), etc., or from a sunny day to a night time.

12 – Try to avoid using text on your slides if you can use a picture or graphic instead

Use pictures, graphics, charts, graphs, and tables instead of text if you want to make your presentation longer. A picture or graphic will take up less room on the screen than text. This gives you more time to talk about it and gives your audience more time to absorb what they are seeing.

Use a chart instead of text whenever possible! Charts are eye-catching and visually appealing. They also tell a story that can be difficult to convey through words alone.

If you have several points with numbers associated with them (e.g., 10% increase in sales) then try using a graph rather than listing them out one by one as bullet points in bullet slides within the presentation deck itself!

13 – Layout a timed schedule for your presentation

You can practice with a timed schedule to know how long your presentation is, and how much more time you need to add to it to make it longer. When you use a timed schedule to create a PowerPoint presentation, you will be able to focus on your content and not the time. Practicing with a timed schedule helps to develop your sense of pacing so that you can know when to pause for pictures or graphics and how much time to add to the rest of your content in order to make the presentation as long as you want it to be.

14 – Present facts and quotes

Start your presentation with a powerful quote, an interesting fact, or a story that will keep people engaged. This will not only make you seem knowledgeable about the topic that you’re presenting, but it can also catch your audience’s attention and keep them interested.

15 – Engage with your audience

Engage with your audience, ask questions, and get them involved. let them speak out about their opinions and write down short notes where necessary. This will engage your audience with the information that you are presenting, making it easier for them to remember what you said and also lengthen your presentation.

A longer presentation gives you more time to present the information and discuss your topic with the audience. Longer presentations also help you focus on what is really important about your topic and allows ample room for questions from the audience. If you have lots of figures, charts, graphs, or other types of data that support your presentation, then this is a good time to go with a longer one. Repetition allow you to explain complex information step-by-step, thus allowing the audience to better understand what you are trying to convey.

Hopefully, you found these tips helpful and are now better prepared to keep your audience engaged with your presentation. The key, of course, is to try and avoid getting too repetitive. Because whether you’re running through a slideshow, or moving your presentation towards a sale; it really doesn’t matter. In the end, you will have made your pitch–and that’s the goal, right?

A good presentation should captivate your audience, inspire them and make them want to listen to you. This is why the length of a presentation should always match its content. The idea of a presentation should be interesting enough for people to pay attention for an hour or two, so you don’t need slides that last longer than that. Some people say that a good way to lengthen your PowerPoint presentation is by including more information in each slide, but this goes against the purpose of using PowerPoint. If you want to get the best out of PowerPoint presentations, make sure you organize your ideas clearly to avoid having too many slides and wasting time on your talk.

In the end, your presentation length should be dictated by your audience and the content you have to share. You can never go wrong with being prepared for both a short and long presentation. In between a good night’s rest and some solid practice time, you can create an excellent presentation that will wow your audience!

At SlideBazaar, we help you create engaging and memorable presentations. Choose from our collection of professional templates or opt for our custom design services for a personalized touch. Your presentations deserve to be elevated to new heights, and we’re here to help you achieve just that!

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Best Ways to Conclude a Presentation

Last Updated: October 4, 2023 Fact Checked

Strategies for Wrapping up a Presentation

Other best practice presentation tips, public speaking advice, how should you end a presentation.

This article was co-authored by Patrick Muñoz and by wikiHow staff writer, Ali Garbacz, B.A. . Patrick is an internationally recognized Voice & Speech Coach, focusing on public speaking, vocal power, accent and dialects, accent reduction, voiceover, acting and speech therapy. He has worked with clients such as Penelope Cruz, Eva Longoria, and Roselyn Sanchez. He was voted LA's Favorite Voice and Dialect Coach by BACKSTAGE, is the voice and speech coach for Disney and Turner Classic Movies, and is a member of Voice and Speech Trainers Association. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 5,291 times.

You’ve just spent the last hour or so preparing a super thorough and detailed presentation. Now it’s time to add the finishing touches and come up with an attention-grabbing and memorable closer. What strategies can you use to make sure that people really remember what you've said? Keep reading to learn all the most effective methods you can use to conclude your presentation in a way that’ll really stick with your audience. We'll cover different strategies you can mix and match to end your presentation with a bang, then follow up with public speaking tips. Let's dive in!

Things You Should Know

• Bring your presentation to a close by first giving a clear indication that you’ll be wrapping up, followed by a short summary of your main ideas.
• Grab your audience’s attention with a strong call to action and an explanation of what good things will happen when they listen to your message.
• Make your presentation memorable by embellishing it with a powerful quote, a story, or a surprising statistic or fact.
• Get your audience involved by running a poll or survey at the end of your presentation.

• “In conclusion…”
• “In summary…”
• “As I conclude my presentation, let me ask you a question.”
• “This brings me to the end of my presentation today.”
• “In respect of time, allow me to wrap up my last comments.”

• “That brings me to the conclusion of my presentation. If you’re to take anything away from my presentation today, let it be the three Cs of credit that we talked about: character, capacity, and capital.”
• "Above all else, remember the acronym RAM: redesign, application, and management."

• “When you volunteer for this program, you will build your skills and gain valuable experiences.”
• “You will participate in the increased profitability of our company by joining this new program.”
• “Make this company a more inclusive and healthy place to work by taking just a few minutes out of your day to do these small actions.”

• “As the Greek historian Plutarch once said, ‘The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.’ Let’s kindle the fire within our minds and make the changes we want to see.”
• “I’ll leave you today with a quote from Theodore Roosevelt: ‘Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.’”
• “Work hard to inspire not only those around you, but yourself as well.”

• Pair this statistic or fact with a memorable visual, such as an illustrated graph, a video, or a picture. The more visual your presentation is, the more memorable it will be to your audience.

• Another way to go about telling a story is to start it in your presentation’s intro and end it during the conclusion. Your audience will be curious to know how the story ends.

• “What do you think the word ‘success’ means?”
• “How can we make an impact every day through the work we do?”
• “Why do you think people are so afraid of change and questioning the way things have always been done?”
• Asking a question at the beginning of your presentation and answering it during the conclusion is another strategy to consider. Just be sure that you don’t forget to answer this question and accidentally leave your audience hanging.

• “What’s your usual mood during the workday?”
• “Have you ever presented your supervisor with a new idea or suggestion?”
• “Do you see yourself participating in this new program?”

• What they liked and disliked about the presentation
• What improvements could be made
• One memorable thing they took away from your presentation

• Before your presentation, go and talk with some of the audience members. This will give them a chance to warm up to you and can help you feel more relaxed once you get up and start presenting.

• Using hand gestures also shows the audience that you’re in control of the space around you, and makes you appear much more confident and at ease.

Expert Q&A

• Keep in mind that your presentation gives you the chance to be a messenger. Give your audience something meaningful to walk with at the end of your speech. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/worst-ways-to-end-a-presentation-2014-7
• ↑ https://www.washington.edu/doit/presentation-tips-0
• ↑ https://www.wilmu.edu/edtech/documents/the-science-of-effective-presenations---prezi-vs-powerpoint.pdf
• ↑ https://www.mentimeter.com/blog/awesome-presentations/ways-to-end-a-presentation-and-tools
• ↑ https://www.niu.edu/presentations/organize/index.shtml
• ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2017/11/02/15-methods-of-every-effective-public-speaker/?sh=3a911bdd3047
• ↑ https://youtu.be/VRJzvJ5XPQI?t=11

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The Seven Best Ways to Make a Speech Longer

Hrideep barot.

• Speech Topics , Workplace Communication

Giving a speech can seem like an ordeal, especially if you don’t know ways to keep it engaging and comprehensive, covering everything and not going off track. Whether it is a school or university speech, a corporate meeting speech, or an event-based speech – you might be required to speak for approx. 5-7 minutes. If that seems like a task to you, here are some insightful ways that will help you make your speech longer and let those minutes sweep by!

Some practical and resourceful ways to prolong your speech can be classified in two ways: one in terms of content that is through voiceful delivery, sharing resources and videos, providing additional examples that support your content, and second in terms of interaction which involves exchanging stories, including question and answer rounds as well as fun segments such as quizzes, polls, and other relevant activities.

However, even before you put these techniques into practice, it’s essential to be focused and specific on the research because “content is the key.” If you aren’t well-versed with the content you provide, you may not be able to use these methods as you will lack materials in the first place. Thus, even before looking for additional ways to support your speech, ensure that the primary content is in place.

1. Practice Voice Modulation to Make Your Speech Longer

The importance of voice modulation is not hidden. If you have ever come across someone who speaks so fast that one cannot grasp a single meaning out of the speech and someone who speaks so slow that one has slipped into daydreaming, then you are undoubtedly aware of how essential voice modulation is and its benefits.

Advantages of Using Voice Modulation

Voice modulation and regulation have numerous advantages. Some of the most important ones include:

• Firstly, it keeps the audience hooked to your speech. For example, when a theatre artist or an actor performs a monologue, you will see that their delivery will include high tones, focusing on the critical and low and medium on the not so essential and passerby information. Additionally, thanks to their voice modulation, there is a very high chance that you even vividly remember what they might have said.
• Secondly, pauses help emphasize the key pointers. Not only does voice modulation include alternating between tones but also taking pauses. When you pause, mainly after an important message, you give time for comprehension and allow your message to sink in with the audience.

The pointers mentioned above have been evident across many famous speeches for a long time. For example: In the very famous “I Have a Dream” Speech by Martin Luther King, you will find that the phrase “I Have a Dream” has been emphasized by using a higher tone compared to the surrounding content. Similarly, effective pauses have been made throughout the speech after conveying important messages where the audience is seen pondering over the content just delivered to them.

So, to elongate your speech, it is essential to practice voice modulation, as changing your tone, pace, and pausing will not only buy you time but will also simultaneously reap fruitful outcomes such as impacting your audience and giving them time to think over what you just said.

“The most precious things in speech are the pauses.” Ralph Waldo Emerson (quotesgram)

2. Lengthen Your Speech by Engaging with Your Audience

Talking for 5 minutes on a stretch can seem burdensome; in the sense that there is a chance that questions like “what will I say for so long,” “how can I talk for 5 minutes? That’s too much!”, “What am I even going to say?” are popping up in your head. But here’s the secret – you don’t need to deliver a monologue for the entire time if you include multiple engagement segments with the listeners.

Ways to Engage With the Audience

You can interact and engage with the audience by including sections such as:-

• Questions and Answer Rounds – Here, you can ask questions to the audience related to the previously delivered content. This will make the environment interactive and help you infer if they have grasped the message you want to provide. For example, consider that you are delivering a speech on the topic “Investment Strategies You Can Follow.” After sharing ways you can invest; you can include a quick Q and A segment asking the audience strategies you shared, the more/ less risky ones, etc.
• Sharing a Story – This can often entail asking people in the audience to share their personal experiences or give their viewpoints about the topic. Taking the same example of “Investment Strategies You Can Follow ,” you can, at certain intervals, ask the audience their experience with any of the strategies, if they have had a positive or negative experience, and any tips to add to the same. 

Benefits of Engaging With the Audience

• Including multiple conversational segments makes the audience feel like their views matter, and they tend to concentrate, grasp, and interact to their best capability.
• Additionally, interacting with the audience is an insightful way to gain non-verbal feedback. It will help you understand if the audience can make sense of the information you are delivering.

Thus, engaging with the audience is a constructive way to make your speech longer and gain subtle feedback.

3 . Lengthen Your Speech by Showing Videos

Another method that you can include in your speech delivery to make it longer than usual is by showing videos and other visuals like presentations to the audience. You will benefit from a few minutes to spare when your viewers engage in such visuals and gain some simultaneous benefits.

Benefits of Including a Visual Stimuli

The impact of visual learning is way higher than verbal. One can keep explaining and elaborating on a very expertized topic, still find that their audience isn’t much engaged since they don’t have any visuals to look at. However, learning and understanding are increased when both modes are combined. To continue with the same example of “Investment Strategies,” ; along with your speech, you can prepare a presentation highlighting key strategies and testimonials of people who have benefited from the same. Moreover, you can find some informational videos on YouTube and other platforms that can supplement your content, and you will be good to present!

Thus, if you wish to elongate your speech to meet the allotted time, you can always show videos on relevant topics and keep a presentation covering pointers or examples that the audience can see!

“Content is the king, but design is the queen.” Anonymous (Pinterest)

4. Include Examples to Lengthen Your Speech

If you were to follow a traditional outline and give an introduction, a few pointers, advantages, disadvantages, and then the conclusion, there is a chance you might be left with some time in hand before your fixed time is up. However, one way to make your mundane framework a little more comprehensive is by including relevant examples.

Why Is It Essential To Include Examples

Supplementing your theoretical content with some helpful examples has some hidden benefits –

• Firstly, Examples help better understand the extensive content more straightforwardly. If you were to talk about “Environmental Awareness,” you can include examples of the Chipko Movement in India or the Contemporary Environmental Movement in Europe to set the context of how environmental awareness has been done through history.
• Secondly, you can also link examples to the previously mentioned interaction with the audience by asking relevant examples from their end and making the session more engaging and interactive!

Similarly, if I were to state the subtopics and give a brief explanation in this article, there are likely some unfilled gaps of understanding still left open. However, if not noticed, I am trying to include relevant examples such as “Investment Strategies” and “Environmental Awareness” mentioned above to help you better understand the theoretical information provided.

Hence, if you wish to communicate the information thoroughly, try to include relevant examples wherever possible so that passive listeners easily understand it! And I’m sure 2 minutes will sweep by!

5. Incorporate Fun Segments to Lengthen Your Speech

You are more likely to enjoy a speech or a talk if it’s engaging rather than monotonous. Having to hear some continuously for a considerable period is a task, and to deliver one – is a more strenuous one. So, to make it less challenging and more interactive and fun – it’s advisable to include collaborating segments to your speech.

Some Creative Ways to Make Fun Segments

These sections can take the form of anything – ideas as mentioned earlier, such as conversing with the audience or showing videos; however, you can choose to be more creative by including:

• Polls: wherein you can put up a question and ask the audience to vote and choose a particular option. For example, “ Shares vs. Property,” which is a more risky investment? ” can be an example of a poll question.
• Games: This can be a more informal way, such as giving a picture, finding an object, solving a riddle, etc. For example, Word Puzzles of investment strategies can be a fun and light game to play.
• Quizzes : This can include a series of questions similar to polls but having more options and elaborative than the former. One such question could be – “What is the best way to learn about investment – books/news/media/none.”

Comprising your speech with such segments will also help you understand if the audience is grasping the content and take up a few minutes of your otherwise speaking time.

Resources You Can Use While Making Your Segments

There are some helpful websites that you can use to make quizzes, polls, and games such as: –

• Slido – https://www.sli.do/
• Mentimeter – https://www.mentimeter.com/
• Kahoot – https://kahoot.it/
• Padlet – https://padlet.com/

These websites are user-friendly and have been used by people worldwide to supplement their presentations, talks, and lectures. So, go ahead and use these tools smartly to make your speech not only unique but also secretly longer!

6. Share Resources Towards the End

A very subtle way to lengthen your speech without seeming repetitive or dragging is to share some helpful resources on your topic towards the end.

How Does Sharing Resources Help?

Sharing resources and additional information has its pros. Mainly, it portrays the idea that you wish to help the audience gain more insight on the said topic and lets you gain some opinions and views from the audience. So, when you research and prepare the content for your delivery in the first place, you can save some resources in the form of articles, papers, videos, movies, books, and NGOs (whichever applies to your respective topic), which you can then provide in the form of presentations, pamphlets or even verbally.

For example: in this very article, I have tried my best to provide you resources through videos, website links, and examples. Similarly, if you were to talk about “Investment Strategies,” you can provide website links, news and journal articles, video suggestions, courses, and books that will assist them in understanding the concept at a deeper level.

Sharing helpful resources can take up approximately 2-3 minutes, often aiding in lengthening your speech helpfully and effectively.

7. Reiterate The Main Points to Lengthen Your Speech

Another way that you can make your speech longer yet more impactful is by repeating the main themes and points you want to convey to the audience. You can do so by paraphrasing and focusing on the tone and pauses through voice modulation.

For example, if “a happy mind is a key to a happy heart” is the message that I wish to convey, I can directly say this statement once at the start and once at the end. Other times, if I want to communicate the same idea subtly, I can include phrases like – “a happy heart often depends on a happy mind” or “happiness of mind and heart are linked.”  

So, I essentially wish to convey that by summarizing the essential pointers and phrasing the content, you can elongate your speech and gain the benefit of creating a substantial impact on the audience.

As we approach the end of the article, I have tried my best to provide resources that answer your question and subtly help you gain some benefits. One can also include some not so helpful ways, but if you were to take up some tools, it might as well be beneficial! We hope that this article has been helpful to you! Happy Speeching!

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou

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Last Slide of Your Presentation: How to Leave a Lasting Impression

Most of us have been in the position of having witnessed far too many presentations where the finale was dull or boring and where the audience, who had been attentive up to that point, started to lose interest or even went away. This can be extremely disheartening after hours of hard work on a presentation, and it might even leave you feeling embarrassed. It is therefore very important to always make sure that there is something special to the very end of your presentation to keep the attention focused and to provide a lasting impression. In this blog post, we are going to share some top tips on how to create the perfect last slide for your presentation that will captivate your audience and make a lasting impression. We will look at how to finish off your presentation on a high note, make a memorable closing statement and more, so read on to find out more.

What is the Last Slide of Presentation?

The last slide of a presentation is an incredibly powerful tool. It allows the presenter to summarize their key points, impress the audience with the central theme of their talk, and leave the audience wanting more. Unfortunately, this final slide can also be a missed opportunity if not crafted carefully. The most common type of last slide is a simple summary of the talk’s key points. This helps to reinforce the major themes and provide an easy reference for the audience members to recall what they heard during the presentation. However, this type of slide can be unengaging and potentially lead to confusion since only limited information is being provided. Additionally, if too much text or data is included on this slide, it can overwhelm viewers and distract from the rest of the message. Alternatively, some presenters use their final slide as an opportunity to draw attention to a single powerful image or quotation that encapsulates their message. This approach is often more effective since it captures viewers’ emotions and helps drive home the main point of the presentation even after they have left your session. While this type of slide may be more memorable and engaging than a traditional summary slide, it can also feel incomplete without additional context or explanation provided by the presenter. There are numerous ways to craft an effective last slide for a presentation; however, caution must be taken when developing and designing one’s final impression for viewers. Fortunately, by understanding both sides of this debate, presenters will be better prepared to create an effective last slide that gives their audience something to remember long after they have left the room. With that in mind, let’s move on to explore how to write an effective last slide that truly leaves a lasting impression on viewers.

Writing Your Last Slide

When it comes to writing your last slide, the approach you take can be the difference between an effective and unforgettable presentation or a forgettable one. Depending on your style and the message you want to convey, either using a few words or visuals to create the presentation’s impact can be successful strategies. The first method is to use minimalistic wording for your last slide. This option works best for powerful messages that don’t need any additional explanation. For example, if your presentation was about how important teamwork is in an organization, you could end with “Teamwork makes the dream work”. You may have already discussed this idea in your presentation, so ending it with this-one liner will painlessly summarize this message in the minds of your audience members. On the other hand, some presenters prefer to layer on extra visuals to add weight and memorability to their last slide. Including an eye-catching image that ties into the main theme of your presentation or has personal meaning can leave a lasting impression. If you are discussing employee turnover rates in companies, think about including a photo of people that joined forces and applied a collective effort for success. Even without words, this image may resonate better with certain people and make them think more deeply about your topic after the presentation is over. Finally, no matter what route you take when writing your last slide, make sure that it is consistent with your content and emphasizes the critical points of your presentation goal so that it leaves a lasting impression on those who viewed it. These two approaches are how many presenters choose to cap off their presentations and should not be taken lightly as they offer an opportunity to reinforce key ideas from throughout your speech and keep your message top-of-mind long after you finish speaking. By thoughtfully constructing what will be said and shown on your last slide, you will be able engage and motivate your audience while leaving a memorable impression behind as they walk away. Now that we have looked at how to write an effective final slide, let’s move onto reinforcing our main points so that our audience remembers our presentation long after it has ended.

Reinforce Your Main Points

Reiterating your key points at the end of your presentation will help to ensure your message resonates with the audience long after they leave. To do this, you need to review and discuss the main points you have laid out earlier in the presentation. This is also a great time to explain why these points are important and how they contribute to the overall objective. One way to reinforce your main points is to revisit key highlights throughout the presentation and reiterate why they should be remembered. Tying back in visuals associated with these critical points is also a great way for your audience to engage with each point one last time. Additionally, using graphics or other visual aids that reinforce your message can help stick that last impression in the minds of those watching. Your slides should be concise enough so as not to overwhelm your audience, yet still give the essence of each point you want them to remember. On the other hand, some people argue that too much summarizing during a presentation can lead to boredom and cause those listening to lose focus. Therefore it is important to ensure that you are reiterating the information in a new way or showing something new so as not to lose their attention. Additionally, it is important not to repeat yourself too much, as no one likes hearing things more than once and it helps to keep the recap brief with just enough detail that your audience can visibly see how all of the pieces fit together. By taking time to properly reinforce your main points before leaving the stage, you are helping to ensure that your presentation ends on an impactful note and leaves a lasting impression with those listening. As we move forward into our next section about including visuals for maximum effectiveness, keep in mind how powerful visuals can be when it comes creating energy and emotion within a presentation.

Include Visuals

Using visuals in your last slide is a great way to make a lasting impression on your audience. Visuals can help provide clarity to the material, help break up the text, and keep the audience engaged. Consider including visual elements such as images, icons, illustrations, charts, videos, and graphs to make your presentation memorable. Including too many visuals may detract from the impact of your message, so you should carefully select only those which are necessary. Images should be relevant to your topic and used appropriately. Graphs should be used to provide clear analysis of key data points, while videos can help edify the main takeaways of your presentation. It’s also important to keep all visuals cohesive by using colors, text size and types that flow together. Whether it’s an infographic or a video summary of your presentation, visuals should be simple and easily understandable for viewers to quickly decipher and remember what you discussed. Wrapping up your presentation with information-rich and visually stimulating materials will ensure that you have made a lasting impression on your audience. Be sure that all slide elements are professional, organized in an easy-to-follow manner and properly integrate them with any verbal commentary you plan use during the conclusion of the presentation .

Key Points to Know

The use of visuals in the last slide of a presentation is highly recommended as they can help to provide clarity, break up text and keep audiences engaged . When selecting visuals, choose those that are relevant and appropriate for the topic and be sure not to overuse them. Graphs should be used to analyse data points; videos should highlight takeaways; and all visual elements should be coordinated and professional. Finally, including information-rich visuals in the conclusion of a presentation will ensure that it has made a lasting impression on the audience.

Wrapping Up Your Presentation

Wrapping up your presentation is a vital step for leaving your audience with a lasting impression. If you want to create an effective last slide, it’s important to end on a strong note, emphasize the main points from throughout the presentation and provide an opportunity for questions. First, determine whether you should use a specific slide or not. When wrapping up a presentation, some prefer to summarize their points without showing an additional slide. Others think having one last slide as part of the conclusion can make a stronger impact on the audience. There’s no right answer – it largely depends on the type of information you need to convey. After deciding if you should present a final slide or not, come up with the content of your closing remarks. Summarize the key messages discussed during your talk and leave the audience with something memorable—like a quote or thought-provoking statement. This provides reinforcement of what you presented and encourages people to reflect on what they learned from your topic thereafter. It’s also important that during this pause , any questions that remained unanswered get clarified. Finally, be sure to thank your audience for attending and inviting you to present. Appreciating the time allotted for your session reinforces the value of both their presence and participation. At this point, if done correctly, you should have created a strong impression in your audience’s mind via an effective last slide or remarks and set the stage for creating a memorable impression afterwards. Now that you know how to wrap up your presentation effectively and leave your audience with something positive in mind, let’s pause here before continuing on to discuss how you can use visuals and content to really create an impactful memorable impression after they walk away from your session.

Create a Memorable Impression

Creating a memorable impression on your audience can be the most important part of a presentation. It’s your opportunity to leave them with something that they will remember and take away from the discussion. With the right approach, you can keep your audience engaged and interested until the very end of the presentation – even long after it’s finished if done correctly. When considering how to create a lasting impression, design and content are both important. Start by thinking about what visuals or images will make the most impact on your audience. Using tools such as graphs or pictures to support your message helps to cement the points you’ve been making throughout the presentation. Additionally, including a short quote or opinion from a well-known figure in the field can help to further convey your message in an interesting and powerful way. However there is also an argument for keeping things simple. For example, rather than overwhelming your audience with a strong image or abstract concept at the end of your presentation, you may find more success in leaving them with something easy to remember such as a performance summary statement – this could be a review of key points that were discussed combined with a few words emphasising why they should care about what they heard. This often works well in leaving a lasting impression while still avoiding overloading viewers with too much complex information at once. Ultimately, creating an effective last slide for your presentation should involve careful consideration of the design and content you use to best summarise the major points you have discussed for maximum impact on your audience. Next, we will discuss why it is important to keep this final slide brief and succinct.

Keep it Brief

When it comes to presenting a lasting impression on your audience with the final slide, brevity is key. An overly long presentation can be distracting and might dampen the desired impact you wish to create. Depending on the length of your presentation, there is usually no need for a lengthy explanation in order to bring the whole event to a strong conclusion. Instead, a concise summary will help summarize all the essential points without dragging out the presentation and overstaying its welcome. By choosing relevant visuals and brief statements which leave a vivid image in the minds of your viewers, you can both amplify any powerful emotions as well as condense an already longer message . The importance of being succinct must be balanced against the limited time available. Even if it means sacrificing some level of detail and allowing some perspective or information to remain unexplained or unsolved, retaining focus on key words or phrases will ensure that your points are not lost in lengthy details. Furthermore, there may be times when detailed conclusions are appropriate due to the nature and duration of your presentation; during such circumstances brevity should be reserved only for questions asked by audience members so that one person’s comment does not expend too much time or block any potential feedback from others in attendance. At the end of it all, it’s important to remember that shorter may be better — but not necessarily always preferable — when crafting an effective last slide for maximum retention. Ultimately, striking a balance between providing enough detail for comprehension and maintaining focus on clear phrases is ideal for creating an impactful conclusion. With this in mind, following directly onto our next topic we explore powerful endings and potential questions that can be posed during closing slides.

Thank You Slide in PPT 

Thank You slides are a popular concluding element to many PowerPoint presentations. They offer the presenter the opportunity to formally thank their audience for their attention, or use the slide as a way to reiterate one’s key points before they end the presentation. Depending on one’s objectives and audience size, Thank You slides can be effective tools or redundant and unnecessary, so it is important to consider both sides of the argument before including them in your presentation. Thanks You slides can help show that the presenter values the time and energy of their audience. A well-crafted Thanks You slide conveys appreciation for both short and long-presentations alike, and reinforces the professionalism of the presentation as a whole. Furthermore, it gives the presenter another chance to drive home any CTA’s (Call To Action) before ending their speech. Including a Thank You slide may appear redundant for short presentations if not done properly. Additionally, for larger crowds, presenting a slide with simple words of gratitude may come off as insincere or lack creativity. In general, if it appears forced or overly-generalized, it may detract from its effectiveness instead of leave a lasting impact on an audience. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference and understanding one’s audience when deciding whether or not to include a Thank You slide in PPT presentations. No matter what conclusion is reached, it pays to consider all aspects of using this common tool in order to maximize its effectivity in order deliver a powerful message in every presentation .

Answers to Common Questions

Are there any specific design guidelines to follow when creating a last slide.

When creating a last slide for your presentation, there are some specific design guidelines to follow. Firstly, it should make an impact with the visuals – use bright, vibrant colors and high-quality imagery or iconography. Secondly, ensure that your call to action is clear and succinct – the audience should understand exactly what you want them to do afterward. Thirdly, make sure all necessary text is present and visible – stick to basic typography and avoid overly long sentences or paragraphs. Finally, keep your design simple – too much going on can distract from the message of the presentation. Following these guidelines will help you create an effective last slide that leaves an impressive lasting impression.

What different elements can I include in the last slide my presentation?

When creating the last slide of your presentation, it is important to include a few key elements to ensure that you make a lasting impression. The first element you should include is an attention-grabbing visual. This could be an image, a graph or chart, or a quote that relates to the content of your presentation. In addition, you should also include a succinct and memorable summary of the main points from your presentation. Make sure this summary effectively conveys the main takeaway with just a few sentences or short phrase. Finally, include a call to action for your audience – something thoughtful and meaningful for them to do after hearing your presentation. It could be a request for feedback or questions, or perhaps offering resources for further study on the topic. By carefully selecting these three elements, you will be able to craft an effective last slide of your presentation that leaves a lasting impression on your audience.

What tips can I use to create an engaging and impactful last slide?

To create an engaging and impactful last slide, there are a few key tips to take into consideration. First and foremost, try to end with a memorable message – something that will linger with your audience long after you’ve finished speaking. For example, you could include a call-to-action or a strong statement about the values and mission of your organization. This can help solidify the core message of your presentation and draw attention to how attendees should apply the information to their own lives and work. Another tip for creating an effective last slide is to use visual elements such as charts, diagrams, graphs, photos, videos or other multimedia tools. These elements add visual interest and help emphasize key points while still being easy to grasp in a short time. Use colors strategically as well; stick with hues in the same color family but mix in bold shades here and there for emphasis. Finally, make sure your closing slide is concise, organized, and free of any unnecessary text or images. Eliminate filler words like “In conclusion…” or “I hope this has been helpful…” so that nothing distracts from your main message. Leaving just enough room for appreciation gives the right impression that you’ve accomplished what you set out to do. By following these strategies and practicing them before taking your presentation live, you should be able to create an engaging and impactful last slide.

How to Shorten Your Presentation without Losing Impact

Imagine, you’ve done all the work to prepare and rehearse a major presentation and at the last minute you’re told, “I’m so sorry, but we’re short on time. Can you give us the five-minute version?”

Is it possible to shorten a presentation without losing all of your impact? Yes. Don’t panic. After all, a sound bite is often more powerful than a lengthy dissertation. Here’s how to condense your speech without losing impact:

1. Don’t apologize or mention that you usually have much more time. Find confidence in the fact you’ve prepared. You can still get your central message across in five minutes. 2. Begin quickly. Start with an attention-getting statement such as, “Your job won’t exist five years from now,” or “I will convince you the best action to take is…”

3. Use a strongly visual story. A very brief story can illustrate your point – how it is now, how it will or could be. Choose a story so vivid that the audience can “see” it.

4. Divide your five minutes into three parts. For example, you might present a problem, your solution, and the payoff.  For example: “The best advice I can give you in facing this challenge today is…” Then, let your story illustrate and support your point. In closing, your words should emphasize the positive outcome your audience can expect when they go with your solution or approach to the challenge.

“I wanted a super bowl-quality coach, and I was lucky to be introduced to Patricia Fripp. Her help in coaching and scripting was world class. With Patricia Fripp on your team, you can go places.” – Don Yaeger, Long-Time Associate Editor for Sports Illustrated magazine, Award-Winning Keynote Speaker, New York Times Best-Selling Author

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Maximize Your Impact

Just a few more of the many resources on Fripp.com to help you deliver a presentation with impact:

• What to Do Just Before You Take The Stage
• Public Speaking – Delivery Strategy
• The Critical Moments Just Before You Speak: Conquering the Jitters
• Are You Speaking Too Quickly? Expert Advice
• Make Sure Your Movement Supports Your Message
• Physical Preparation for Successful Public Speaking
• What You Can Do When Your Audience Tunes Out

Executive Speech Coach and Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker Patricia Fripp works with individuals and companies who realize that powerful, persuasive presentation skills give them a competitive edge.

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How to Make Your Electric Bike Last Longer

Follow these steps to keep your electric bike and its battery running smoothly

By Michael Frank

with Ben Preston

A high-quality electric bike can be a significant investment, with prices ranging from less than $1,000 to well over $10,000, and the average in the $2,000 to $4,000 range. In addition to being costly to replace, high demand for e-bikes in some areas could make it tricky to find the one you want. Sales of electric motor-assisted bikes were 233 percent higher in 2023 than in 2019, according to NPD, a firm that tracks the industry. At any price, an e-bike can pay big dividends in increased fitness and inexpensive transportation.

Owning an electric bike is much less expensive than owning a car or motorcycle in most cases and also contributes to your physical fitness. A 2021 study published in  Translational Journal  concluded that compared with a regular bicycle, riding an e-bike for a simulated 3-mile commute resulted in lower metabolic, cardiovascular, and perceived effort and met the intensity level associated with healthy physical activity recommended by the World Health Organization and the American College of Sports Medicine. (The ACSM recommends at least 150 minutes per week of moderate cardiovascular exercise.)

Although they use parts that may be the same as or similar to what you’d find on a conventional bike, electric bikes also have an electric motor, typically powered by a lithium-ion battery. The added power and complexity make both riding and maintenance a bit different from a conventional bicycle, but following our tips can help you get the most from your electric bike.

We asked experts at bike brands Rad Power Bikes, Specialized, and Trek about the best methods to pedal your electric bike and for “hacks” to make it last longer, as well as advice on how to prevent your electric bike from being stolen. We also wanted to know the best ways to charge and maintain the battery, which can cost $500 or more to replace, and how to prevent an electric bike battery fire.

Here’s what they told us.

How to Shift Gears and Pedal on an Electric Bike

There are two common kinds of electric bikes: mid-drive, in which power from the electric motor helps turn the pedals and gets routed through the bike’s gearing, and hub-drive, in which the motor sends power directly to the rear wheel (pedal power from your legs still goes through the bike’s gearing).

Photo: Trek

Some e-bikes, regardless of where the motor is located, have a separate throttle control, typically a thumb-operated lever that applies electric power without the rider needing to pedal. This is handy for a quick, effortless takeoff, but it uses a lot more battery life than a pedal-assist setup, and that can limit the bike’s electric range, as well as the amount of exercise you’ll get from riding the bike.

Nate Bosscher, a senior engineer on the electric bikes team at Trek, says the motor on a mid-drive e-bike is “upstream of the gears and the chain, and that certainly puts more strain on the drivetrain than a non-e-bike.” You can reduce the wear and tear on the drivetrain by regular cleaning and lubrication, he says. Bosscher says hub-drive motors are less sensitive to strain than mid-drives.

Whether you’re riding a mid- or hub-drive electric bike, you should downshift to an easier gear ahead of a traffic light. That’s so you can resume pedaling without having to “mash” or stand on the pedals to make the bike move, Bosscher says.

You also don’t want to stand on the pedals with maximum force while trying to shift, which is especially hard on the bike’s transmission, Bosscher adds. This is true whether you’re shifting at a slower speed or flying down the road full-tilt. And it’s always best to lighten your pedaling as you shift gears to reduce wear on the gear cluster and chain. 

Marco Sonderegger, a senior product manager at Specialized, says that the best pedaling speed on the company’s mid-drive bikes is 70 to 90 rpm, which means your legs are moving at a speed similar to a fast jog. That typically puts less stress on the chain because you’re not putting a lot of torque on the system with each pedal stroke.

The moderate pedal speed also optimizes your range and eases the load on the motor because “the faster the internal electrical engine can spin, the higher the efficiency.”

Trek’s Bosscher says most e-bike manufacturers gear their motors for pedaling speeds of at least 60 rpm. For this reason, Sonderegger believes spinning at 70 to 90 rpm will increase your range roughly 10 to 12 percent compared with mashing at 50 rpm or slower.

That speed is also physically easier, Sonderegger says, because repeatedly pushing very hard and slowly is like doing heavy leg presses.

Caring for Your Electric Bike Battery

An e-bike’s battery can be one of its more expensive components, so it’s a good idea to care for the battery properly to ensure its long life and safe operation. The manufacturers we talked to said you can expect your bike’s battery to last for roughly five years. A lot will depend, of course, on how often you use the bike, where you store it, and how often you charge it.

Prolong Your Electric Bike's Battery Life

Regardless of how you ride, manufacturers shared a number of recommendations with CR for prolonging battery life.

Don’t drain the battery completely. Bike manufacturers use software to make sure batteries are not damaged during charging or discharging. But don’t let the battery get below 10 percent too frequently. Most electric bikes have an LCD display, or an indicator on the battery itself, so you can keep track.

Charge regularly. A spokesperson from Rad Power Bikes says you should recharge your battery after each ride, but then unplug the bike once it’s fully charged. Trek’s Bosscher says don’t let the battery get below 20 percent before recharging it. “Partially discharging and then charging will extend the service life of a battery significantly,” he says.

Store it partially charged. If you’re not going to ride your electric bike for a few weeks or longer, Bosscher says, it’s better to store the bike at less than fully charged. “Storing a battery at 100 percent charge is actually bad for its longevity,” he says. Trek’s guidelines recommend storage at between 40 and 80 percent charge, Rad’s say 75 percent, and Specialized at roughly 60 percent. Bosch, the German multinational engineering and technology company that makes a lot of the mid-drive bike components, recommends a 30 to 60 percent range. Consult the owner’s manual for specific guidance for your bike.

Cold is the enemy. As with anything powered by a battery, extremes of heat and cold will hamper your range. If storing an electric bike in an unheated shed during winter is your only option, take the battery indoors if you can and charge it separately at room temperature. Rad, Specialized, and Trek all say that riding in the cold won’t harm an e-bike’s battery, though you could see reduced range. However, your best bet is to start a ride with a battery that has been stored and charged in your heated home, then inserted in your bike before departure.

Wash with care. While electric bike batteries and related wiring are generally well-insulated from even heavy rain, they’re not designed to be submerged or cleaned by a high-pressure washer. Rad recommends removing the battery from the frame, wiping down the battery case and tray with a damp cloth, and allowing everything to dry completely before reassembling. This is consistent with Bosch’s guidance and that of other manufacturers. Wash a bicycle with a sponge and soapy water rather than a garden hose to prevent forcing water past delicate grease seals, which hold components (like bearings) that need to stay sealed and well-oiled. 

Prevent an Electric Bike Battery Fire

Although electric bike fires are relatively rare, their number and intensity have been on the rise as e-bikes have proliferated—particularly in New York City, where delivery riders and commuters have been using them for years already. Here are some tips from the New York City Fire Department about how to prevent an electric bike fires.

• Buy an electric bike that is certified by a qualified testing laboratory.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for charging and storage.
• Always use the manufacturer’s cord and power adapter made specifically for the bike.
• Do not leave an electric bike unattended while it’s charging, and don’t leave it charging overnight.
• If a battery overheats or you notice an odor, a change in shape or color, leaking, or odd noises, stop using it immediately.
• If the battery reacts in an alarming way, and it is safe to do so, move the device away from anything that can catch fire and call 911.
• Keep batteries and devices at room temperature. Do not place them in direct sunlight.
• Store batteries away from anything flammable.
• Do not use aftermarket batteries.
• Do not charge an electronic device under your pillow, on your bed, or near a couch.
• Do not block your primary way into and out of the building with an electric bike.
• Do not leave an electric bike in a child’s room or in any sleeping areas.

Deter Electric Bike Thieves

A chain or U-lock is absolutely necessary if you’re going to park your e-bike on the street. See CR’s bike lock ratings and reviews for more information. Always lock through a part of the frame and one of the wheels to a fixed structure. Worst case: Lock it to something that’s a chore to move. Electric bikes are relatively heavy so moving both the bicycle and another object would deter most thieves. Always remove the battery, too. Since bike sales have boomed, so have bike thefts . Removing the battery from an e-bike is an easy deterrent because that superhot commodity doesn’t look so appealing to a thief if it’s missing one of its most expensive parts. 

It’s a good idea to remove the bike’s battery even if your e-bike is locked to a rack on your car or RV, because exposure to weather and extremes in temperature isn’t great for that battery, either—and, again, will make your bicycle a that much less enticing to criminals.

Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2024, Consumer Reports, Inc.

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UC Davis vs. Long Beach State odds, score prediction: 2024 Big West Tournament final picks by proven model

Sportsline's model just revealed its ncaa basketball picks for the lbsu beach vs. uc davis aggies in the 2024 big west tournament title game on saturday.

The No. 2 seed UC Davis Aggies (20-12) will try to extend their four-game winning streak and book their spot in the NCAA Tournament when they face the No. 4 seed LBSU Beach (20-14) in the 2024 Big West Tournament title game on Saturday night. UC Davis beat LBSU in an 88-78 final last Saturday to wrap up the regular season, and it advanced to the conference title game with a 68-65 win over No. 3 seed Hawaii on Friday. LBSU opened its Big West Tournament run with an 86-67 win over No. 5 seed UC Riverside before taking down top seed UC Irvine on Friday. UC Davis is aiming for its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2017, while LBSU is seeking its first berth since 2012.

Tipoff is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET at Dollar Loan Center in Henderson, Nev. UC Davis is favored by 1.5 points in the latest UC Davis vs. LBSU odds, while the over/under is 144, per SportsLine consensus. Before entering any LBSU vs. UC Davis picks, you need to see the NCAA Basketball predictions from the model at SportsLine.

The model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters 2024 conference championship week on a 145-104 roll on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to last season, returning more than $1,700 for $100 players. It also has a strong 28-18 (+820) record on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following has seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on LBSU vs. UC Davis . You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several college basketball betting lines for the game:

• UC Davis vs. LBSU spread: UC Davis -1.5
• UC Davis vs. LBSU over/under: 144 points
• UC Davis vs. LBSU money line: UC Davis -127, LBSU +107
• UC Davis vs. LBSU picks: See picks here

Why UC Davis can cover

UC Davis has won 10 of the last 15 meetings between these teams, including its road win at LBSU last Saturday as a 2-point underdog. The Aggies took a 46-39 lead at halftime and wound up winning by double digits, as Kane Milling scored 24 points and grabbed five rebounds. They returned to the court on Friday night, taking down No. 3 seed Hawaii in the semifinals of this tournament.

Senior guard Elijah Pepper poured in 25 points on 10 of 23 shooting, while Milling chipped in 14 points and seven rebounds. Long Beach State has only covered the spread once in its last six games, and it is playing for the third day in a row. UC Davis is playing just its second game of the tournament, giving the Aggies a crucial rest advantage in the championship. 

Why LBSU can cover

LBSU was a streaky team in the regular season, winning five consecutive games in February before dropping its final five games of the campaign. The Beach have recovered when the stakes have been the highest, opening the conference tournament with an 86-67 win over UC Riverside as 3-point favorites. Junior forward Lassina Traore posted a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 8 of 10 from the floor. 

Sophomore guard AJ George added 21 points off the bench, while junior forward Aboubacar Traore notched a triple-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists. The Beach sprung an upset as 7.5-point underdogs against UC Irvine on Friday, as Aboubacar Traore had 20 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. They have covered the spread in eight of their last 12 games against UC Davis. See which team to pick here.  

How to make UC Davis vs. LBSU picks

The model has simulated LBSU vs. UC Davis 10,000 times and the results are in. The model is leaning Over, and it's also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in over 50% of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.

So who wins UC Davis vs. LBSU, and which side of the spread hits over 50% of the time?  Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that is on a 145-104 roll on its top-ranked college basketball picks , and find out.

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Inspiration

Maximum mileage: 12 easy ways to extend the life of your running shoes.

Runners share tips on getting started with simple, daily gear care. The best part? These hacks can help you reduce waste and be a more mindful runner.

“We’re All Innovators” is a series about the challenges athletes are facing — and overcoming through innovative thinking.

In the summer of 2020, London-based running coach Dora Atim found herself in the English countryside. “I literally burst into tears in the middle of this forest,” she remembers. “But it was a feeling of relief, of joy, of I can’t believe I have access to this. ” That kind of connection makes sense. When you run through a space — seeing its beauty, experiencing its power — it’s only natural to want to preserve it. The good news is that taking better care of the planet is a lot like becoming a better runner: Your daily habits add up. Even something as small as looking after your running shoes so they last longer can make a big difference over time, if it means you're less likely to buy new ones before you need to. So we asked our global running community, from pro athletes to passionate Nike designers, how they get the most out of their gear. We don’t have all the answers, but there’s a lot we can learn from each other — so check out our favorite pearls of wisdom below, find the ones that work for you, and let’s do this together.

Your shoes are your friends. Nike designers Rikke Bonde (L) and Shelby Wauligman (R) show ways they create a personal connection with their gear, like writing inspiring messages and switching up the laces.

1. Bond with Your Gear

“Building empathy for the things we own is where we have a huge opportunity to build more sustainable practices,” says Shelby Wauligman, a running apparel designer at Nike. “When we have respect for things, we’re more likely to extend their life.” Bonding with your running shoes can be as simple as swapping in custom shoelaces, writing a personally inspiring quote on them, or throwing them in your suitcase whenever you hit the road — like Raj Mistry, a senior apparel designer at Nike who has traveled far and wide with his trainers, from the castle city of Edinburgh to the streets of Hanoi.

Set yourself and your shoes up for long-term success. Like runners Chantal Gonzalez, Amritpal Ghatora and Kelechi Okorie (L-R), select shoes that will perform best for the distances, surfaces, and types of runs you’ll be doing.

2. Run in the Right Shoes for the Job

Here’s some advice for the next time you’re shopping: “Ask yourself what you want out of your run — not what you want out of your shoes,” says Jo Micheli, a Los Angeles-based EKIN (our name for a Nike product expert, which also spells Nike backwards). To get the most out of your shoes, and your run, ask “why” before you buy. Looking to take in some nature? Trail shoes will better withstand rocky and varied terrain. If you’ll be racking up mileage on asphalt or a treadmill, cushion-y road shoes will bounce back best.

London, England, July 2021. For Dora Atim, who started Ultra Black Running last year for Black women and non-binary people to join her outside and on the trails, running is a source of self-care and empowerment. Needless to say, she goes all out as she gets ready to go get some miles. “I’m a massive believer of you have to look good when you run, otherwise, it's not good for you,” she says. “You have to feel like you're absolutely bossing outfit.”

London, England, July 2021. For Dora Atim, who started Ultra Black Running for Black women, trans and non-binary people to join her outside and on the trails, running is a source of self-care and empowerment. That’s why she makes every part of the process — from hydration to dressing — a special occasion. “I’m a massive believer of you have to look good when you run,” she says. “You have to feel like you're absolutely bossing your outfit.”

3. Reserve Your Shoes for the Run

“Every shoe has a life expectancy, and every time they’re on your feet, your shoes are living part of their life,” says Chris “Coach” Bennett, Nike’s global head coach of running. “Your shoes aren’t as responsive, and you’ve only run 200 miles? Yeah, but you’ve lived in them for 500.” So the next time you head out for errands, remember that wearing your running shoes might mean one less run they can go on later down the road. Similarly, if you’re used to burning precious miles by walking in new running shoes to break them in, try this hack from pro middle distance runner Craig Engels instead: “I’ll actually take the inserts from old shoes and put them in the new ones,” he says, noting that the worn-in insoles help keep his feet from cramping, so he can hit the ground running in a box-fresh pair.

EKIN Jo Micheli shows the right and wrong way to remove your running shoes. Every little thing makes a difference!

4. Untie Your Dang Laces

When we say these tips are easy, we mean it! Even taking a brief moment after each run to untie your laces can make all the difference in the long-term life of your running shoes. Every time you kick off your shoes without untying them first — please don’t! — you could be wearing away at the structural integrity of the heel cup. “The minute you start to break the heel down, your run is going to suck,” Jo warns. This common bad habit could also lead to shoving your foot back into a still-tied shoe before your next run — doubling the damage on your footwear, not to mention giving yourself sub-par support. So take the time to properly tie, for the sake of your shoe and your foot. Win-win. Laces not your thing? You can also consider easy on/off footwear from Nike FlyEase , or try customizing a pair with Nike By You , with toggle-lacing options on select models. A cinch!

Dry shoes are happy shoes. London-based running coach Amritpal Ghatora shows one easy way you can help your shoes fend off moisture and bacteria: stuffing them with newspaper post-run.

5. Don’t Forget to Dry

Unchecked moisture can drastically shorten the life of a shoe. “Bacteria builds up in there. You gotta remember you’re sweating in those shoes, you’re running through creeks and puddles,” Coach Bennett explains. “One reason shoes don’t make it to 300 or 400 miles is not that they’ve lost their function, their cushion, their responsiveness — they just stank .” To stop the stank, make sure your shoes can dry out after every run. Start by simply storing them in a spot with decent air flow. Extra soggy? Go a step further by stuffing shoes with crumpled newspaper to absorb water and speed up the drying process. Raj, the apparel designer, even keeps a bucket of rice in his garage just for drying shoes — a bit like the trick you’ve likely used to extract moisture from a wet cell phone. One tip that most runners we spoke to agree on is to ditch the dryer. According to our quality engineers (the team who test Nike products and put them through the elements in a special lab), high heat is not ideal for the glues and bonding agents that hold shoes together.

6. Give Shoes a Break — and Consider a Rotation

Running shoes need rest days too. “[It’s like] giving them a recovery shake,” marathoner and coach Amritpal says. “Give them a post-run cool-down so they’re ready for the next time.” How long of a cool-down? No less than 24 to 48 hours, according to our engineers. They say that while shoes’ exact recovery times depend on multiple factors (material, weight, terrain, distance), allowing ample time for their foam midsoles to decompress after a run will help them fully support you on your next outing and retain more responsiveness over time. If you're running more frequently than that, you have good reason to start a shoe rotation. Although shelling out for another pair is an investment up front, it’s one that could help ensure your shoes stay in top form for as long as possible, avoiding an early grave due to overuse.

London, England, July 2021. After a pause during the pandemic, Dora hopes to return to weekly trail runs with the group where pre-lockdown turnout was as many as 30 to 40 people. “Black women need this space to just be them because we are constantly having to change the way we are to fit a narrative, or constantly being excluded or not being seen,” she says. “This is for them. It’s blossomed into something so amazing.”

London, England, July 2021. After a pause during the pandemic, Dora hopes to return to weekly trail runs with Ultra Black Running, whose pre-lockdown turnout was as many as 30 to 40 people. “Black women need this space to just be them, because we are constantly having to change the way we are to fit a narrative, or constantly being excluded or not being seen,” she says. “This is for them. It’s blossomed into something so amazing.”

7. Switch Up the Terrain

“Not all surfaces are created equal,” Coach Bennett points out. “You don’t need as much cushioning when you’re running on grass. It’s doing some of the work for you.” When you can, he suggests rotating in softer surfaces (grass, trails, track, beach) to give your gear and body a break. It’s a tip he used to offer his high school track and cross-country runners, for whom buying multiple pairs of running shoes often wasn’t possible. But even elite runners like Craig still swear by it. “We run 70 to 100 miles a week, and the goal is to find a soft surface,” Craig says of his team training regimen, adding that his preferred turf is cinder track. “If you’re running on concrete, you’re compressing [your shoes] way more.”

Know your numbers — specifically, your mileage. EKIN Jo Micheli demonstrates how easy (and automatic) it is to keep track of with the Nike Run Club app. Other times, Jo opts for a more analog method: marking new shoes with a “born-on date” and ballparking monthly miles from there.

8. Track Your Miles

For running shoes, age is just a number. How long you’ve had them matters less than how many miles you’ve racked up in them. As Coach Bennett puts it, “it’s not a carton of milk” — they don’t have an expiration date, so feel free to dust off an old pair that hasn’t gotten much use. But once you’re rolling, be sure to keep an eye on the mileage. One easy way to do that? Use the Nike Run Club app . Just tag your shoe (or shoes!) and a mileage target, and the app will automatically track your miles with each run, notifying you when you reach your goal. While mileage isn’t the be-all end-all of your shoe’s life span, it is the easiest way to gauge their approximate status. According to Nike quality engineers, most of our shoe designs are tested to last a minimum of 200 to 300 miles. The key word there being “minimum” — so if you hit that mark and your shoes still look and feel great, don’t discard them just yet! They may have gas still left in the tank.

Know your body, know your gear. Former competitive runner and current Nike store athlete Danielle Girard shows the importance of warm-ups and cool-downs to properly identify any sources of pain.

9. Understand Shoe Care Versus Self Care

The moment minor aches and pains kick in, some runners might start looking for a new pair of shoes. But runner Danielle Girard encourages the athletes she helps to re-examine their pre- and post-run routines before taking that step. “Your calves are really sore after every run?” asks Danielle, who is still an avid runner today. “It could be that your shoes are shot and you need more cushioning — or it could just be that your calves are tight and you need to stretch a bit more.” In other words, maybe it’s you, not the shoes. The more you run, the more you’ll be in tune with your body and gear, and the better you’ll be able to troubleshoot issues as they arise. In the meantime, remember to check your warm-up and cool-down before jumping to conclusions about your shoes — and of course, closely monitor any recurring or continuous discomfort.

London, England, July 2021. “For me, sustainability is about your kit. Do you pass it on? How often do you buy?” Another big way to make a difference? Take the time to properly clean your shoes whether with a quick tidy after each run or a deep wash. “I have a wash day for my shoes just to get the most out of them,” says Dora. “They look box fresh and I’m like, yes, I don’t need to get any new ones.”

“For me, sustainability is about your kit. Do you pass it on? How often do you buy?” says London-based running coach Dora . Another big way to make a difference? Properly cleaning your shoes, whether with a quick tidy after each run or a deep wash as needed. “I have a wash day for my shoes just to get the most out of them,” says Dora. “They look box-fresh, and I’m like, Yes! I don’t need to get any new ones.”

10. Know When (and How) to Wash

“[Cleaning your shoes] is to avoid all the dust and dirt getting trapped in seams or areas where you don’t want it. It’s about the longevity of the material,” says Rikke Bonde, a materials designer at Nike and avid ultra-runner. “If you wash it off, it will last longer.” Some runners we spoke to like to deep-clean shoes with mild soap and water now and then — like Kelechi Okorie, a London-based creative and TrackMafia run club member who aims for a “shoe bath” once a month. Others opt for lighter-touch techniques to keep shoes tidy: Nike designer Shelby suggests wiping off excess mud on a patch of grass, using a stick to clean out dirt-caked treads, and grabbing reusable cloth wipes when needed. Many people ask whether you can toss your shoes in a washing machine, but the runners we spoke to prefer taking the time to wash their shoes by hand. Think of it as another opportunity to bond with your shoes (Re: Tip #1).

Don’t be scared to take on small repairs. Above, materials designer Rikke Bonde stitches up a small tear. She calls it “menditation” — an opportunity to connect mindfully with yourself and your gear.

11. Repair What You Can

Running shoes are complex, but repairing them doesn’t have to be. “If things break but the overall structure is still good, I’ll repair them,” says London runner Kelechi, who taught himself to stitch up a tear in his Epic React upper by watching a YouTube video on sewing techniques. “You can Google anything.” While major structural repairs should be left to a professional, basic mending of the upper and outsole is something any runner can try. Sometimes it’s as easy as replacing frayed laces, or reinforcing high-friction areas with a piece of gaffer’s tape. “I’m not so precious about my stuff,” says Rikke, the materials designer who carries a mending kit on her ultra-runs. “I know if I do a good job, or I try at least, I can wear it or I can repair it again.”

Life goes on. Your old shoes may not be able to rack up runs any longer, but you can still use them on the go or in the garden, like Coach Bennett does. Just know when that day comes by looking for tell-tale signs, as Amritpal Ghatora demonstrates.

12. Recognize and Celebrate Your Shoes’ Retirement

“The goal isn’t to extend the life of the shoe forever. It’s to extend it for as long as it’s designed to last,” Coach Bennett says. “We’re not trying to raise a dead shoe from the great beyond.” So how do you know when it’s the end of the road? Well, there are a number of factors to consider. First, what mileage have you put on them? (Remember: 200 to 300 miles is a general sweet spot according to our quality engineers.) Then, check in with your shoes and your body. Kicks showing visible signs of wear and tear? Tread worn down to a smooth finish? Getting less response or need a longer recovery after a run? If this sounds like you, then… congratulations! You’ve given your shoes a long, fulfilling life. Be proud. And then stop running in them. While they won’t be out on runs with you, this doesn’t have to be goodbye forever. If your old shoes are still in wearable condition, consider giving them a second career as everyday walking or gardening shoes, or donating them to a new owner in need. Once they’re truly toast, you can drop off athletic shoes of any kind at select Nike stores participating in recycling programs .

Now That You Know, Pass It On

Your daily habits add up — imagine the difference our collective actions can make when we all work together. So if you’ve learned something new here about how to care for your shoes, share it with others! “The running community is a great place to do this, because it’s full of really considerate individuals who love getting outside to go on a run. That connection to the environment is built in,” says Nike designer Shelby, who runs to clear her mind and stay inspired. “Normalize taking care of the things you own. The more people do this, the more the culture will shift.”

Brought to you by Move to Zero: Nike’s journey toward zero carbon and zero waste to help protect the future of sport.

Words: Emily Jensen Photography: Holly-Marie Cato

Originally published: June 9, 2022

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