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20 creative presentation ideas to captivate your audience

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Michael Lee June 17, 2019

The ultimate aim of every presentation is to etch a memorable mark that lingers in the minds of your audience long after the final slide fades away. Memorable presentations should be a creative blend of captivating design, innovative elements, and engaging delivery. To ignite your presentation prowess and set your creativity on fire, we’ve handpicked a treasure trove of 20 ingenious creative presentation ideas that will transform your presentations from bland to brilliantly unforgettable:

1. Experiment with color

It’s surprising what a little color can do. The way you use and pair colors in your presentation design can grab an otherwise disinterested audience member’s attention. Just make sure you do it tastefully and carry the theme across all frames. When in doubt, you can simply choose from one of Prezi’s existing content layouts , each with an appealing color palette.

Try experimenting with a two-toned design by adding different accents to your presentation background and other visual elements. You might start with a black-and-white design, then add a bright pop of one color throughout. Contrasting color palettes (think yellow and blue, pink and mint green, etc.) can also create this eye-popping effect. Alternatively, you can use neutral shades to give off a more subdued vibe.

Another idea? Add a color filter to your images to tie them into your color theme. Learn more about presentation colors in our guide.

2. Use a striking background theme

Looking for more presentation ideas and creative ways to present? Put some thought into your background image, as it’s what your audience will be looking at during the entire presentation. If you want to use a photo, choose one that’s beautiful, sentimental, or has action and flow. Just make sure you pick an image that has enough negative space on which to place text. You can also play around with textures and patterns, such as ripples or wood, or themes that are symbolic of your message, such as a passport, billboard, rocket launch, road trip, etc.

Additionally, make sure your chosen background image isn’t distracting. You want to keep your audience’s focus on the foreground — the graphics, text, and special effects you’ve created. Prezi already has a large library of effective and high-quality backgrounds and images you can search for when designing your presentation, so no need to source them from somewhere else.

3. Put thoughts into speech bubbles

Other creative ways to present information include using speech bubbles to communicate key points to audience members. Use them to illustrate an idea or to reveal a character’s thoughts or fears in your story. Have them pop up as notes or commentary in the frame you’re presenting. Similarly, you can use speech bubbles to show milestones on a timeline. If you’re revealing poll or survey results about a product or service, for instance, place data or participant feedback in bubbles.

But, like anything in a presentation, don’t go overboard with it. While speech bubbles can be a fantastic addition, excessive use might divert your audience’s focus from the core message. So, using speech bubbles in the right places to create impact can be effective for engaging your listeners, but scattering them throughout every slide might be a little excessive and cause the opposite effect. Balance is key when using speech bubbles. 

4. Abandon the slide-by-slide style

Free your presentations from the confines of slides. As an interactive presentation tool, Prezi allows for dynamic designs to take your audience on a journey as you tell your story. Zoom in and out on key points. Navigate between topics and sections of your presentation in any order. Go vertical instead of horizontal. Make transitions between ideas look like pathways or scenes instead of simply clicking sequentially from frame to frame. All of these elements come together to make a memorable presentation.

These types of tactics will give your presentation a cinematic feel that will captivate and inspire your audience. An open canvas design also makes it easier for you to tell a story , which people tend to process and remember more easily than straight facts. Prezi’s ready-made templates and striking graphics make it simple for you to share your narrative via one of these seemingly complex designs. If you want to transform a static PowerPoint presentation into a dynamic moving story, simply upload your file and try Prezi’s PowerPoint Converter feature .

5. Tell your story with a video

Presenters have been incorporating video into their slide decks for decades. Video is one of the most creative ways to present projects. It allows you to tell your story using visuals instead of big blocks of text. Now, however, it’s time to elevate the video so it captures your audience’s attention and enhances your narrative. Embed videos that play automatically when you navigate to certain parts of your Prezi canvas.

Just be sure to use videos that aren’t distracting and that work with the rest of your presentation’s flow. They should still complement your presentation’s overall design theme and message. If you’re not producing a video yourself, you can find thematic ones from stock video sites or on YouTube. Just be aware that you might need permission to use some videos.

It’s important to select videos beforehand and place them strategically so that they hit hard in the right places. Selecting the perfect videos is like choosing gems to adorn your presentation’s crown. These videos should harmonize seamlessly with your content, elevating the story you’re weaving.

Imagine, for instance, using a time-lapse video of a bustling cityscape to represent the rapid pace of change in the business world during your presentation on industry trends. Blending your videos with the theme of your topic in this way goes beyond just catching your audience’s eye, it actually adds depth to your story while also making your message more impactful.

6. Bring your story to life with audio

Another presentation idea to minimize text and maximize audience engagement is to add sound to your presentation. Tell your story using pre-recorded audio. This creative presentation style turns the viewer experience into just that — an experience. While the audio plays, you can move around the stage and navigate to various parts of the presentation that support the narrative visually. Again, the effect is almost movie-like.

Another auditory presentation tool is music. Use music to set the tone of your talk, or inject it periodically to regain the audience’s attention. The appropriate song choice can get the entire audience into the mood of your presentation. Choose upbeat tunes to convey excitement or dramatic ones that will trigger an emotional response . Plus, if you play a catchy tune that sticks in people’s heads, that’ll help them remember your presentation that much more.

7. Add animations

Another creative way to present is by bringing an otherwise static design to life is animation. Go beyond video by borrowing from stop-motion principles for your presentation. Stop motion is a technique in which you film objects one frame at a time to simulate motion in a scene or a story. You can recreate this effect in Prezi by using zoom, fade, and pan animations to tell a moving story frame by frame.

Animations can inspire and engage your audience, but just be sure to use them sparingly and as a complement to your story or message.

7.1. Make it fun with GIFs

Adding animated GIFs to your presentation can not only make it more fun but also help catch your audience’s eye. Because they’re trendy and often reference pop culture or common emotions, GIFs can help you get your point across without having to use just words.

However, it’s crucial to exercise moderation when employing these elements. While animations and GIFs can enhance engagement, excessive use of them can become distracting. There’ll be certain presentation topics or subjects where GIFs will look misplaced, so just make sure you think carefully about whether they correlate with your message before you use them. However, GIFs are a great way to inject humor and light-heartedness right after slides filled with heavy information. When executed skillfully, animations and GIFs transform your presentation into a dynamic and interactive visual journey, leaving an enduring impression on your audience.

8. Create a timeline

The timeline is nothing new. It’s how you apply it to a presentation that can really wow an audience. Prezi’s dynamic designs let you use the timeline as the basis or focal point of the presentation and then navigate along as you tell your story or plan of action.

Zooming in on specific elements of your timeline as you discuss them adds another layer of clarity and focus. It helps make sure your audience stays on track with your story and doesn’t get lost in the details or complexities. This laid-back way of highlighting key moments or steps keeps people interested and makes it easier for them to remember what you’re talking about.

9. Use maps

Deliver a creative presentation with maps, especially if there’s a geographic or location-based topic in your content. Set a map as your background or focal point, and prompt different regions to change colors or pop out as you navigate over them. When it comes to designing maps , make sure you’re purposefully selecting colors, as the color palette you choose can change the way people respond to your data. Don’t pick colors that are too similar when you’re making comparisons, for example. Use Prezi’s zoom function to zero in on areas for more details, or pull back to reveal the larger context.

You can also go the thinking map route, which is a visual learning technique that can convey complex ideas simply and creatively. Start with a central theme, then branch out into paths or surrounding points. The eight variations of thinking maps include circle maps, bubble maps, flow maps, treemaps, and more. These can be effective interactive aids in educational presentations as well as for small businesses.

10. Do away with bulleted lists

To truly transform your presentations, consider stepping away from the conventional bullet-point lists that often lead to passive learning. Instead, harness the power of visuals to inspire active engagement from your audience. Visual content stimulates the brain’s cognitive processes, making your message more memorable. Engage your listeners by replacing bullet points with visuals .

Prezi’s open canvas design is a valuable tool in this transformation. It shifts the focus from passive delivery to interactive engagement. By using visuals, you prompt your audience to actively process and respond to your content, fostering a deeper understanding and connection with your message. This shift from traditional bullet points to a visually driven, interactive approach can significantly enhance the impact of your presentations.

11. Communicate with images

Presentation images are nothing new. However, when standing alone, photographs, paintings, and other images can have a really powerful effect. Instead of trying to talk over an image, use it as a stepping stone in your presentation, a point of reflection. Once in a while, let visuals do the talking.

Also, a study has found that people process visuals 60,000 times faster than text . So, incorporating more images will make your presentation more memorable.

However, be careful with your selection of images – make sure that they’re relevant to the topic and aren’t just filling up an empty space.

Also, If you’re using Prezi for your presentation, you can access a huge library of images that takes away the headache of finding that one perfect shot. It’s like having a cheat code for making your presentation pop. So dive into the library and pick out visuals that’ll make your presentation not just informative, but engaging.

12. Play with transitions

Using slide transitions is one of the simple yet creative ways to present a project. They create visual continuity and add movement to slides. However, choosing the right page transition for your slides is truly a form of art. You have to consider the topic, tone of voice, and your presentation design. Page transitions should match the overall design, create flawless continuity, highlight key areas in your presentation, and do all that without stealing the show. Ultimately, you want it to compliment your presentation.

If you are looking for inspiration, check out Prezi Present ‘s wide selection of templates . You can play with transitions by adding additional animated elements that will make your presentation even more dynamic.

13. Swap for an infographic

To truly stand out and make a lasting impression, consider departing from the traditional slide-based approach and exploring infographics. Infographics are powerful visual tools that condense complex information into digestible, visually appealing formats. Instead of the conventional slide-by-slide progression, imagine scrolling through your presentation, seamlessly transitioning from one section to the next. This fluid movement allows you to verbally expand on key points while displaying the core information visually.

When you’re adding infographics, aim for designs that are easy to understand but also match your brand’s vibe. You want something that looks good and fits well with the rest of your presentation, so everything feels like it’s part of the same story. This helps make your presentation both easy to follow and hard to forget.

14. Get social

Employing a unique hashtag associated with your brand can significantly amplify the impact of your presentation, extending its reach far beyond the confines of the physical venue. This hashtag acts as a vital link between your presentation and the vast world of social media. Inviting your audience to dive into the live-tweet action with a dedicated hashtag during your talk isn’t just a savvy move; it’s a dynamic double play. You expand your reach, drawing in more eager participants, while simultaneously igniting a thriving online symphony of ongoing discussions and insights.

This approach effectively transforms your presentation into an active, two-way conversation. As you speak, people can immediately share their thoughts, favorite parts, and main lessons, creating a sense of togetherness and active involvement. Furthermore, the utilization of a branded hashtag allows you to monitor and engage in these conversations, strengthening your connection with your audience and providing an avenue for addressing questions or feedback. 

Even after your presentation concludes, these online discussions continue to thrive, ensuring that your message remains fresh in the minds of your audience members long after they’ve left the physical venue. This lively and extended interaction adds an exciting twist to your presentations, transforming them from just informative sessions into lively hubs of ongoing conversation and learning.

15. Use creative props

Physical props add a memorable dimension to your talk. Props serve as powerful visual aids, helping to illustrate key points, provide tangible examples, and offer visual cues. Props can be particularly useful for educational presentations, especially if you need to demonstrate an example. Another situation where props are paramount is if you are a brand that’s launching a new product and doing a promotional presentation. 

With Prezi’s creative tools at the forefront of your presentation along with your latest product at hand- you’re bound to persuade your audience. Integrating props at the right time in connection to your current presentation can really create a connection between you and your listeners. Put yourself in your audience’s shoes, would you take in the information by just reading and listening, or would seeing and touching physical props add a layer of interest that enhances your mental absorption?

16. Utilize virtual reality (VR)

VR technology allows you to transport your audience into a different environment or scenario closely related to your presentation topic. Transforming your presentation into a new virtual world takes it far beyond the expectations of mundane slide-by-slide presentations.

With VR, you can engage your audience with a dynamic three-dimensional world where they become active explorers, engaging directly with your content. Picture this: You’re showing off architectural wonders, recreating epic historical events, or unraveling the inner workings of intricate systems. VR takes your presentations to a whole new level, letting your audience not only see and hear but also experience and genuinely feel your message. It’s like inviting them to step right into the heart of your story.

17. Use gamification

Picture turning your presentation into an exhilarating game that dares to captivate and thrill your audience. When you add a little playfulness to your presentation, your audience is going to absorb your information without it feeling like a chore. Making aspects of your talk into fun learning experiences is going to keep your audience switched on throughout the whole presentation. 

You can achieve this by incorporating various interactive elements like puzzles, questions, or interactive storytelling that turn your presentation into an immersive and educational game. Encouraging your audience to think and respond will result in active participants rather than passive observers. 

18. Employ live demonstrations

Incorporating live demonstrations into your presentation is a potent strategy for effectively conveying your message. Whether you’re showcasing a product’s functionality, conducting a captivating science experiment, or engaging your audience in a hands-on activity, live demonstrations actively involve your audience and leave an enduring mark.

Live demonstrations can transform presentations into captivating journeys where your audience doesn’t just listen but also witnesses concepts coming to life before their eyes. This physical approach creates curiosity and entices active participation, effectively transforming your message into something tangible. When people can see, touch, or take part in live demonstrations, it makes a strong connection. It brings your audience right into your content and makes sure they take the message away with them afterward. 

19. Design comic-style frames 

Using comic strips as a presentation style is great when you want to make your presentation engaging and easy to remember. It works well for topics where you want to tell a story, explain things step by step, or simplify complex information. Comic strips contain the best of both worlds, combining visuals with storytelling. This means they’re versatile for various topics, such as education, marketing, and product demos.

The clever approach of comic strips crafts an animated, captivating experience that keeps your audience glued to their seats and sparks their eagerness to participate. Not only that, but it also makes your message highly memorable.

Creating a comic strip in Prezi is straightforward. Start by planning your content and breaking it down into bite-size sections that will be arranged in sequence. Then, use Prezi’s features to design each section as a comic frame, inserting relevant visuals and images. Prezi’s text and shape tools help you add speech bubbles or captions to guide the story you’re telling. As you present, take on the role of a storyteller, guiding your audience through each frame of your comic strip presentation with captivating explanations that hold their attention.

20. Emulate the style of TED talks

The TED-style approach is a powerful method of delivering presentations that revolves around the core principles of clarity, simplicity, emotional resonance, and compelling storytelling. In this approach, speakers focus on distilling complex ideas into easily digestible narratives, using relatable language and impactful visuals to engage their audience. TED-style talks typically center on a single compelling idea , conveyed with passion and authenticity, making them concise, memorable, and inspiring for a wide range of viewers.

Learn how you can excel in storytelling and develop TED Talk presentation skills in the following video:

Staying current with creative presentation ideas

Just as technology and communication methods constantly change, so do presentation audience preferences and expectations. Keeping your creative presentation ideas fresh and aligned with contemporary trends can significantly impact your effectiveness as a presenter.

Why keeping up matters

Adapting to audience expectations.

This is the key to making a memorable impact with your presentations. In the modern world, audiences want more than the ordinary; they seek thrilling, dynamic experiences. To make this happen, you must wholeheartedly embrace cutting-edge technologies and innovative concepts to make your presentations highly engaging. So, why stick with the mundane when you can captivate your audience’s imagination and curiosity with creative presentation ideas? Break free from the conventional and explore new concepts using Prezi. 

Maintaining relevance

Staying relevant is the cornerstone of success. To connect deeply with your audience, demonstrate your strong dedication to delivering top-notch content consistently. Your presentations should stand out with innovation and creativity, signaling that you’re not merely keeping pace with the times – you’re setting the tempo. With Prezi’s toolbox, you’ll be ready to explore a range of creative presentation ideas that leave a lasting impression on your audience. 

Fueling engagement

Elevating your presentations from mere information-sharing sessions to immersive experiences can be a game-changer. By staying in the loop on fresh creative presentation ideas and cool interactive tricks, you’re all set to captivate your audience. Adding some of these new, interactive touches can help you grab and keep people’s attention way better than just repeating the same slideshows.

Where to get your inspo 

If you’re ready to improve your creative game, there are plenty of helpful blogs, webinars, and online courses about fun presentation ideas you can dive into. Prezi offers a lot of useful tips for making your presentations stand out. Think of Prezi as your toolbox, always within reach to unlock your presentation’s potential and make a lasting impression. For presentation inspiration , check out Prezi’s presentation gallery and explore our highly engaging and creative templates .

Watch this video and learn more about creative presentation ideas:

Get inspired for more presentation ideas

The world isn’t flat, and your presentations shouldn’t be, either. Step outside your comfort zone, and play around with these 20 creative ways to present. Better yet, come up with your own creative ways to present and incorporate them into one of Prezi’s dynamic content layouts. Using this presentation software’s open canvas approach, you can tell your story conversationally and spontaneously so that audience members will engage with and remember.

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Creativity: Multimodal Presentations with Text and Visual Harmony

• October 3, 2023

Multimodal communication involves the integration of various ways to convey information and ideas, making use of our senses like sight, hearing, and touch. Employing multiple communication modes can greatly assist in effectively reaching your audience.

When you're planning and drafting your presentation, there are several options to consider. You can opt for slide-based formats like PowerPoint or Prezi, create a video, design artwork, develop an interactive website, or even perform your presentation live. Each of these options has its advantages and disadvantages, so it's crucial to assess which one aligns best with your assignment or the expectations set by your instructor.

Ensuring readability is paramount in a multimodal presentation . To achieve this, keep these tips in mind:

Focus on including the most crucial elements of your research, avoiding information overload.

Consider the type of fonts you use. Sans serif fonts tend to be more readable on screens, while serif fonts are generally better for printed materials. Whichever you choose, maintain consistency throughout your presentation.

If you use colors, strike a balance between professionalism and visual appeal. Harmonious color combinations can enhance the audience's understanding and feelings about your content.

Engaging your audience is a key goal in any presentation, and visual elements play a significant role in achieving this engagement. Here are some considerations for different types of visuals:

Simplify or crop images as needed to focus on key details.

Include captions and proper citations for your images, providing titles, brief descriptions, and retrieval information or citations.

Ensure that you have the right to use the images you incorporate, avoiding copyrighted or licensed material. Consider utilizing free image galleries such as Pixabay, Pexels, Gratisography, and Compfight.

Keep video clips concise to maintain audience interest.

Whenever possible, embed video files directly into your presentation to ensure seamless transitions and minimize potential technological issues associated with linked videos.

Sound or music can enhance your presentation, but it's crucial to choose sounds or music that are appropriate for your content.

Embed audio files within your presentation rather than relying on external links for a smoother experience.

In oral presentations, guiding your audience effectively involves three key components:

Verbal: What you say.

Vocal: How you say it.

Visual: Everything the audience can see.

To structure your presentation effectively, outline your major points, explain each one, and then recap them. Use transitional phrases and keywords to guide your audience through your talk, such as "Consequently," "The next point I would like to discuss," "On the contrary," or "To revisit what I mentioned earlier."

For group presentations, coordination and preparation are essential:

All group members should rehearse and become familiar with the content, enabling each member to transition smoothly between slides or sections.

Distribute the sections or slides of the presentation among team members fairly.

Every group member should make an equal contribution to both the creation and delivery of the presentation.

Here are some pro tips to enhance your presentation skills :

Create presentation notes to avoid reading directly from slides or a script.

Practice and rehearse to feel more comfortable and confident when presenting.

It's normal to feel nervous, but preparation and rehearsal can alleviate this.

Speak extemporaneously, emphasizing your main points.

Seek feedback from others, including Writing Consultants, classmates, or your professor.

Maintain eye contact with your audience and engage with them instead of simply speaking at them.

Utilize your voice effectively by varying your tone, pace, and volume to emphasize key points. Be confident and avoid unnecessary apologies for mistakes.

Use positive body language, maintaining a stable and authoritative posture.

Embrace pauses when necessary rather than relying on filler words like "um" or "uh."

Dress professionally and avoid distracting attire that may affect your audience's perception of you.

Visualize your desired outcome instead of dwelling on what you want to avoid.

In summary, creating multimodal presentations involves effectively blending various communication modes to engage your audience's senses. By considering factors like readability, visuals, and effective oral communication, you can deliver compelling and impactful presentations that effectively convey your message.

Related Articles:

1)   adjectives vs adverbs: understanding the difference, 2) unlocking language learning: the power of spellings, 3) after-school english program for kids, 4) how to improve on your writing skills.

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15 Interactive Presentation Ideas to Elevate Engagement

By Krystle Wong , Aug 04, 2023

As attention spans continue to shrink, the challenge of engaging audiences in a short timeframe has never been more significant. Let’s face it — grabbing and keeping your audience’s attention can be quite the challenge, especially when time is ticking away. But fear not, I’ve got the perfect solution: interactive presentations!

Believe it or not, creating an interactive presentation is easier than you might think. In this guide, I’ll show you how to effortlessly turn ordinary slides into captivating experiences with 15 interactive presentation ideas that will leave your audience begging for more. From quirky polls and fun games to storytelling adventures and multimedia magic, these ideas will take your presentation game to the next level.

Venngage is a game-changer when it comes to empowering interactive presentations. With just a few clicks, users can customize their favorite presentation templates , add multimedia content and create immersive experiences that leave a lasting impact. Whether you’re a seasoned presenter or a newcomer, get started with Venngage to elevate your presentation game to new heights of engagement and creativity.

Click to jump ahead:

What is an interactive presentation?

15 ways to make a presentation interactive, 7 best interactive presentation software, what are some common mistakes to avoid when creating interactive presentations, interactive presentation faqs, how to create an interactive presentation with venngage.

An interactive presentation is a dynamic and engaging communication format that involves active participation and collaboration between the presenter and the audience. Unlike traditional presentations where information is delivered in a one-way manner, interactive presentations invite the audience to interact, respond and contribute throughout the session.

Think of it as a two-way street where you and your audience have a friendly chat. It’s like playing a fun game where you ask questions, get live feedback and encourage people to share their thoughts. 

To make a good presentation , you can utilize various tools and techniques such as clickable buttons, polls, quizzes, discussions and multimedia elements to transform your slides into an interactive presentation. Whether you’re presenting in-person or giving a virtual presentation — when people are actively participating, they’re more likely to remember the stuff you’re talking about.

Interactive presentations leave a lasting impression on the audience. By encouraging active participation and feedback, interactive presentations facilitate better understanding and knowledge retention. Here are 15 innovative 5-minute interactive presentation ideas to captivate your audience from start to finish:

1. Ice-breaker questions

Start your presentation with intriguing and thought-provoking questions or a fun icebreaker game. These questions should be designed to pique the audience’s curiosity and encourage them to think about the topic you’ll be covering. By doing so, you create an immediate connection with your audience and set the stage for a more engaged and attentive audience.

For example, if you’re giving a business presentation about management and leadership training, you could ask audience questions such as “What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received, and how has it impacted your career?”

2. Live polling

Incorporate live polls during your presentation using audience response systems or polling apps. This allows you to collect real-time feedback, opinions and insights from active participants. Live polling encourages active participation and involvement, making your presentation feel like a collaborative and interactive experience.

3. Q&A sessions

Encourage the audience to ask questions throughout your presentation, especially for pitch deck presentations . Address these questions in real-time, which fosters a more interactive and dynamic atmosphere. This approach shows that you value the audience’s input and promotes a two-way communication flow.

4. Clickable buttons

Add clickable buttons to your slides, allowing the audience to navigate to specific sections or external resources at their own pace. For example, you could include links to your social media accounts or extra reading materials in your education presentation to give further information about the topic and get your students engaged. By providing this autonomy, you empower the audience to explore areas of particular interest, creating a more personalized and engaging experience through your interactive slideshow.

5. Storytelling

Incorporate anecdotes or personal stories related to your topic. Storytelling is a powerful way to emotionally connect with your audience, making your presentation more relatable and memorable. A little storytelling along with a set of creative slides draws the audience in and keeps them engaged as they follow the narrative.

6. Interactive charts and graphs

Use interactive charts and graphs that respond to user input to make your presentation interactive. For instance, allow the audience to click on data points to view more detailed information or to change the displayed data series. Creating charts with interactive visuals help the audience interact with the data, fostering better understanding and engagement.

7. Animated infographics

Add animations to your infographics, making them visually dynamic and progressive. Animated infographics reveal information gradually, keeping the audience curious and attentive. This transforms complex data into an easily digestible and engaging format.

Venngage’s extensive library of infographic templates is a powerful tool to visualize data and elevate the interactivity of your presentations. Personalizing the visuals ensures a cohesive and professional look throughout your interactive presentation. The templates are highly customizable, allowing you to adjust colors, fonts, and styles to match your presentation’s theme and branding. 

8. Gamification

Introduce an interactive quiz, puzzles, or challenges related to your presentation content. Gamification adds an element of fun and competition, motivating the audience to participate actively and boosting their learning experience. Here are some gaming presentation templates you could use. 

9. Virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR)

If applicable, leverage VR or AR technologies to provide immersive experiences. These interactive presentation tools transport the audience into a virtual or augmented environment, making your presentation more captivating and memorable.

10. Collaborative whiteboarding

Get your audience involved in your presentation by utilizing digital whiteboards or collaborative tools to brainstorm ideas collectively. This fosters teamwork and creativity, enabling the audience to actively contribute and feel a sense of involvement in the presentation.

11. Hyperlinked text

Keep the information in your slides minimal with a simple presentation and incorporate hyperlinks to direct viewers to relevant websites or blogs , resources, or additional information. This encourages self-exploration and gives the audience the opportunity to delve deeper into topics of interest.

12. Role-playing

Engage the audience in role-playing scenarios to explore different perspectives. Role-playing promotes active learning and helps the audience relate the content to real-life situations, enhancing their understanding and retention.

13. Embedded videos

Include video clips in your slides to provide visual explanations, demonstrations, or interviews. Videos add a dynamic element to your presentation, enriching the content and keeping the audience engaged.

14. Audience-generated content

Encourage the audience to contribute ideas, stories or examples related to your professional presentation . Audience-generated content fosters a sense of ownership and involvement, making the presentation more interactive and personalized.

15. Slide transitions

Use slide transitions to create smooth animations between slides. Well-planned transitions maintain the audience’s interest and keep the presentation slides flowing seamlessly.

Interactive elements aside, enhance your presentation with these guides on how to summarize information for a captivating presentation and how to make a persuasive presentation to captivate your audience. 

If you’re looking to create engaging and interactive presentation slides that captivate your audience, these presentation software options are sure to elevate your game:

Prezi is renowned for its dynamic and non-linear presentation style, enabling users to craft visually stunning and interactive presentations. With an array of templates and animation effects, Prezi enhances audience engagement, making your presentations more captivating and memorable.

2. Mentimeter

Mentimeter serves as an audience response system, empowering real-time interaction during presentations. Users can create interactive polls, quizzes, word clouds and more, allowing the audience to respond using their smartphones or other devices. This fosters active participation and provides valuable feedback instantly.

3. Google Slides

Google Slides is a free cloud-based presentation software that not only offers collaboration features but also enables real-time interactions. It includes add-ons and third-party integrations to further enhance interactivity, making it an excellent choice for collaborative and engaging presentations.

4. Microsoft PowerPoint

PowerPoint, a classic presentation software, has evolved to incorporate more interactive features like live captions, real-time collaboration and interactive elements such as quizzes and forms. With its familiar interface and versatile functionalities, PowerPoint remains a reliable choice for interactive presentations.

5. Prezentor

Prezentor caters to sales-oriented presentations focusing on interactive storytelling and data-driven content. It offers analytics to track audience engagement and behavior during presentations, allowing you to fine-tune your approach and keep your audience hooked.

6. Opinion Stage

Opinion Stage is a visual and interactive data collection tool designed to engage and excite audiences whether sitting in a lecture hall, participating in a live Zoom, or watching an on-demand webinar. The Opinion Stage tools are simple and intuitive, making it easy to create attention-grabbing quizzes, surveys, and polls in minutes. A great way to spice up any presentation, encourage audience participation, and collect authentic feedback.

7 . Venngage

Venngage stands out as a versatile design tool that facilitates the creation of interactive infographics, data visualizations and presentations with ease. Offering various interactive elements and animations, Venngage empowers you to craft visually appealing and engaging presentations effortlessly.

With these interactive presentation software options at your disposal, you can unleash your creativity and deliver presentations that leave a lasting impact on your audience. So, go ahead and make your presentations interactive, captivating and memorable!

For more presentation software options, check out this blog on the 12 best presentation software for 2023.

Creating interactive presentations can be a game-changer for engaging your audience and enhancing your presentation skills, but steering clear of common pitfalls is essential. Here are some key mistakes to avoid when crafting your interactive presentations:

1. Overloading with interactivity

While interactivity is fantastic, bombarding your audience with too many interactive elements can backfire. Strive for a balanced approach that enhances engagement without overwhelming your listeners.

2. Ignoring audience relevance

Failing to tailor interactive elements to your audience’s interests and preferences can lead to disconnection. Make sure your interactions resonate with your specific audience for a more meaningful experience.

3. Not testing interactive elements

Skipping thorough testing of interactive features before showtime can spell disaster. Avoid technical glitches by diligently testing all interactive components in advance.

4. Poor timing and pace

Timing is everything, especially with interactive activities. Ensure seamless integration by planning your key points and the timing of your interactive elements carefully.

5. Lack of clear purpose

Every interactive element should serve a purpose and contribute to your presentation’s objectives. Don’t add interactions just for the sake of it — ensure they add value and align with your message.

6. Failing to engage beyond interactivity

While interactive elements are powerful tools, remember that content is king. Combine your interactive features with compelling storytelling and valuable insights to create an immersive and impactful presentation.

Incorporating animated slides into your interactive presentations enhances the overall appeal and interaction, turning an ordinary presentation into an engaging experience. Try it out with one of our animated presentation templates to get started. 

How do you start an interactive presentation?

Begin by grabbing the audience’s attention with an intriguing question or a surprising fact, setting the tone for a dynamic and engaging session.

Which type of presentation is the most interactive?

Workshops and seminars are often the most interactive types of presentations as they encourage active participation, discussions and hands-on activities.

How can interactive presentations enhance audience engagement?

Interactive presentations foster a two-way communication flow, involving the audience through polls, quizzes, discussions and multimedia elements, leading to increased interest, attentiveness and better retention of information.

What are some common interactive elements to include in a presentation?

Common interactive elements include clickable buttons, hyperlinked text, polls, quizzes, interactive charts, multimedia content and audience participation activities.

Can interactive presentations be used for educational purposes?

Absolutely! Interactive presentations are highly effective for educational purposes as they promote active learning, encourage critical thinking, and provide real-time feedback and knowledge exchange opportunities.

Need inspiration on how to give an engaging presentation ? Here are 120+ presentation ideas you could use. 

Venngage makes it easy for anyone to infuse interactivity into their presentations. From clickable buttons and hyperlinked text to interactive infographics and dynamic charts, Venngage offers a diverse range of interactive elements to captivate and engage the audience. Here’s how you can make your presentation more fun and interesting with Venngage:

• Sign up or log in to Venngage to access the platform.
• Choose a presentation template or start with a blank canvas to begin designing your interactive presentation.
• Add and edit slides in the Venngage editor to structure your presentation content effectively.
• Customize the design by selecting themes, fonts, colors and backgrounds to match your style and branding.
• Use interactive elements like buttons, links, pop-ups and hover effects to engage the audience during the presentation.
• Enhance engagement by incorporating interactive media such as videos and audio clips.
• Preview and test your entire presentation to ensure everything works smoothly before presenting it to your audience.
• Save your interactive presentation on Venngage and share it online or download it in various formats for presenting purposes.

Well, I hope these 15 5-minute interactive presentation examples can help unlock a new level of audience engagement for your next presentation. From fun quizzes and interactive storytelling to multimedia magic and gamified challenges, the possibilities are endless. So, don’t be afraid to experiment, tailor the ideas to suit your audience members and let your creativity shine.  

That said, remember to strike a balance and keep the interactivity purposeful and relevant. Some common mistakes to avoid when creating interactive slides include overloading the presentation with too many interactive elements and failing to align the interactive elements with the overall presentation goals and content. 

Got it? Great. Now let’s turn that boring presentation around!

Inspiring Multimedia Presentation Examples in 2024 to Spark Your Imagination

Leah Nguyen • 08 Apr 2024 • 7 min read

Is it difficult to make a multimedia presentation? Moving beyond traditional static PowerPoint slides, multimedia presentations employ a powerful blend of images, audio, video and interactivity to illuminate your talk in the best way possible.

In this blog post, we’ll explore a variety of multimedia presentation examples that can make abstract concepts come alive while strengthening vital communication abilities.

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Table of Contents

What is a multimedia presentation, #1. determine your goal, #2. choose a presentation platform, #3. design slides, #4. add interactive elements, #5. practice delivery, #6. gather feedback, example #1. interactive poll, example #2. q&a section, example #3: spinner wheel, example #4: word cloud.

• Key Takeaways 

Frequently Asked Questions

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A multimedia presentation is a presentation that uses multiple digital media formats and interactive elements like images, animations, video, audio, and text to convey a message or information to an audience.

Unlike a traditional slide-based presentation, it incorporates various media types like interactive slides , quizzes , polls , video clips, sounds, and such. They engage the audience’s senses beyond just reading slides of text.

They can be effectively used in classrooms to enhance students’ interests, business presentations, employee onboarding or conferences.

How to Create a Multimedia Presentation

Making a multimedia presentation is simple with these 6 simple steps:

Clearly define the purpose of your presentation – Is it to inform, instruct, motivate, or sell an idea?

Consider your audience, their backgrounds and prior knowledge so you can choose a focused concept or idea to present rather than try to cover too much.

Draw in viewers’ attention with a few words about what they will learn, and a 1-2 sentence summary of your central idea or argument to make your message clear.

You can start with an intriguing question related to your topic that snags their curiosity from the outset, such as “How might we design more sustainable cities?”

Consider your content – What media types will you use (text, images, video)? Do you need fancy transitions? A Q&A slide to address all the concerns?

If you are presenting remotely or some parts of the presentation require the use of the audience’s devices, check if your platform and file type can display properly cross-device. Test on different devices to see how the presentation looks across varying screen sizes/resolutions.

Things like templates, animation tools, and interactivity levels vary greatly between options, so you’ll also need to evaluate each of them.

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Make your presentation genuinely fun. Avoid boring one-way interaction, we’ll help you with everything you need.

After you’ve laid out the content, it’s time to move to the design. Here are the general components for a multimedia presentation that “wow” the audience:

• Layout – Use consistent formatting with placeholders for consistency. Vary 1-3 content zones per slide for visual interest.
• Colour – Choose a limited colour palette (max 3) that coordinates nicely and won’t be distracting.
• Imagery – Include high-resolution photos/graphics that help illustrate points. Avoid clip art and credit sources if possible.
• Text – Keep wording concise using a large, easy-to-read font. Multiple short bullet points are better than walls of text.
• Hierarchy – Differentiate headings, subtext, and captions using size, colour, and emphasis for visual hierarchy and scannability.
• White space – Leave margins and don’t cram content by utilising negative space for ease on the eyes.
• Slide background – Use backgrounds sparingly and ensure readability with sufficient colour contrast.
• Branding – Include your logo and school/company marks professionally on template slides as applicable.

Here are some engaging ways to include interactive elements in your multimedia presentation:

Spark debates with polling: Pose thought-provoking questions and let viewers “vote” on their choices in AhaSlides’ real-time polls. See the results revealed and compare viewpoints.

Stimulate discussions with breakouts: Pose an open question and split viewers into random “discussion groups” using breakout rooms to exchange perspectives before reconvening.

Level up learning with games: Make your content competitive and fun through quizzes with leaderboards, scavenger hunt-style slide activities with prizes, or interactive case study simulations.

Getting hands-on with interactive polls, collaborative exercises, virtual experiences and discussion-based learning keeps all minds fully engaged throughout your presentation.

Smoothly moving between slides and media elements is critical. Practice your flow and use cue cards if needed to cover all the vital points.

Run through your presentation from start to finish with all technology (audio, visuals, interactivity) to troubleshoot.

Solicit reviews from others and integrate their recommendations into your delivery approach.

The more you rehearse out loud, the more confidence and composure you’ll have for the big show.

Pay attention to looks of interest, boredom, and confusion expressed through body language.

Pose live polling questions during the presentation on understanding, and engagement levels.

Track what interactions like Q&A or surveys reveal about interest and comprehension, and see which slides viewers interact with most post-event.

🎊 Learn more: How to Ask Open-Ended Questions | 80+ Examples in 2024

The audience feedback will help you refine your skills as a presenter over time.

Multimedia Presentation Examples

Here are some multimedia presentation examples that spark creativity and generate discussions you should check:

Polls enhance interactivity. Break up blocks of content with a quick poll question to encourage participation.

Polling questions can also spark discussion and get people invested in the topic.

Our polling tool can help the audience interact through any device. You can create a lively presentation on AhaSlides alone, or integrate our polling slide to PowerPoints or Google Slides .

Asking questions makes people feel involved and invested in the content.

With AhaSlides, you can insert the Q&A throughout the presentation so the audience can submit their questions anonymously at any time.

The questions you’ve addressed can be marked as answered, leaving room for upcoming questions.

A back-and-forth Q&A creates a more lively, interesting exchange versus one-way lectures.

🎉 Learn: Best Q&A Apps to Engage With Your Audience | 5+ Platforms For Free in 2024

A spinner wheel is useful for game-show style questions to test understanding.

The randomness of where the wheel lands keeps things unpredictable and fun for both the presenter and the audience.

You can use AhaSlides’ spinner wheel to pick questions to answer, designate a person, and raffle draw.

A word cloud lets you pose a question and lets the participants submit short-word answers.

The size of the words correlates to how frequently or strongly they were emphasised, which can spark new questions, insights or debate among attendees.

The visual layout and lack of linear text work well for those who prefer visual mental processing.

AhaSlides’ word cloud feature lets your participants submit their answers through their devices with ease. The result is displayed instantly on the presenter’s screen.

Key Takeaways

From interactive polls and Q&A sessions to animated slide transitions and video elements, there are countless ways to incorporate engaging multimedia components into your next presentation.

While flashy effects alone won’t save a disorganised presentation, strategic multimedia use can bring concepts to life, spark discussion and create an experience people will remember long after.

What is a multimedia presentation?

An example of a multimedia presentation can be embedded GIFs for a more lively animated slide.

What are the 3 types of multimedia presentation?

There are three main types of multimedia presentations: linear, non-linear and interactive presentations.

Leah Nguyen

Words that convert, stories that stick. I turn complex ideas into engaging narratives - helping audiences learn, remember, and take action.

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• Presentation Trends

Creating a Multimodal Masterpiece With Online Platforms

• By: Amy Boone

On Wednesday we talked about what it means to give a multimedia or multimodal presentation and why it’s so important. But how do we create multimedia presentations when so much of our business these days is conducted via online platforms?

By Tay Vaughan’s definition in his book Multimedia: Making It Work , a multimedia presentation combines elements of text, images, sound, animation, and video. Below are 3 ways to get creative with presentations conducted on platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Hangouts, or Skype.

Use the Chat Thread

One of the easiest ways to create a more engaging multimodal presentation is to use the chat thread feature available in most online platforms. For example, you could pose a question and have the audience respond individually in the thread. This gets more people involved, especially those who don’t like talking in a online chat format. You might even ask them to respond with only an image or GIF. This allows you to get away from text/words and move toward visuals.

Think about whether you’ll have a lot of activity on the chat thread or if you plan to use it a lot. If so, consider having someone else facilitate the chat thread so that you can focus on the presentation. That way, you aren’t distracted by the thread, but the chat still gets the attention it deserves. Just have someone from your team respond to questions and bring to your attention anything you need to address. And remember that most online platforms allow you to control the thread , so you can turn it off completely or adjust the settings. Take some time to think about how you can use it in a way that enhances the experience for your audience.

Move Outside the Platform

Another strategy for getting more variety in online presentations is to allow the audience members to navigate outside the platform for a brief time. I saw a great example of this recently. I was attending an online conference about social media, race, and social justice. Towards the beginning of the presentation, the speaker started by telling everyone to spend the next 3 minutes exploring the content they could find under the #GeorgeFloyd hashtag on Twitter. For 3 minutes, all of the audience members scrolled through posts, pictures, and a videos on the topic before the speaker brought us back together to begin a presentation on the role of social media in social movements.

Most of us are presenting to audiences who are accustomed to traversing technology with ease. When we ask them to spend time on a website or another platform, it feels comfortable and familiar for them because it mimics our natural information and entertainment patterns. Plus, it allows for variety and increased attention once everyone comes back together on the video call. Just make sure to give clear instructions about turning mics and videos off and about when to come back. Some platforms even allow you to post a timer for when you’ll resume the presentation which gives the audience members a helpful countdown.

Create a Video

One of the things that keeps presenters from creating multimedia presentations on online platforms is that they dread using the screen share function. Which makes sense. It can be tricky to get the audio and visual elements to function correctly. It gets even trickier if you are using multiple screens or going back and forth frequently.

However, you can avoid these potential technology pitfalls by creating a pre-packaged video ahead of time. A video often combines multimedia elements like sound, animation, or video. Then, all you have to do is share the screen once during the presentation. I always suggest creating an unlisted YouTube link of your video, as well.  That way, you have an easy link you can share. Then the audience can just access your video from the chat thread link if the screen share function doesn’t work properly.

And if you are nervous about using the chat thread or screen share function, set up a call with a friend or coworker ahead of time to test it all out. In fact, do that even if you feel completely comfortable with the technology. Create a technology run through the same way you would if you were giving a presentation in person.

Just because you have to use an online platform doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of the engaging and entertaining features of multimodal presentations. Which one will you try on your next Zoom call? The chat thread? Involving another website? Or a sharing a video? Whatever you decide to use, your audience will thank you.

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10 creative presentation ideas to boost your next talk.

Written by Eugene Cheng

Presentations are not easy to do, we get that. They’re time-consuming, stressful, and more often than not, boring. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With the help of the right tools and tricks, you can create an interesting speech in a short period of time without much effort.

Here are 10 creative presentation ideas that you can incorporate into your next talk to give it that extra punch.

Presentation Idea #1.Share a Story – Make it Personal

In general, we recall life’s experiences through moments, not days. Similarly, it is human nature to remember intricate stories, not facts.

In a study conducted by two Stanford professors , they found that the students tested were able to recall words that played a part in constructed stories about six to seven times better than a random set of unrelated words. This is why presentation storytelling and using narratives is so powerful – it drives that important message home, and inspires action from your key stakeholders or audience.

To make a statement, and leave an impactful message in the minds of your audience, weave a story of a personal situation into your presentation. Share an anecdote, a short story, or a memorable incident related to your talk.

One good example to learn from would be fellow Singaporean Darren Tay’s speech during the World Championship of Public Speaking.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6H5vY7ujl4

In his speech, Darren narrates an intriguing story of a school bully, and linked it to his message of getting the audience to face their own inner bully, acknowledging its presence, and overcoming it. If he had simply made a point, it would have been forgotten in minutes. However, Darren’s personal story made the audience empathise, driving the key message deeper into their minds.

Presentation Idea #2.Use the Hero’s Journey to Create Your Narrative

We’ve all heard of Star Wars, it’s one of the most successful movie franchises around. But how did it retain an enthusiastic cult even 40 years after its debut?

Well, fans have the monomyth (also known as the hero’s journey) to thank, as the application of this evergreen narrative pattern has allowed us to experience an individual’s journey from start to end. With a strategic sequence of actions, we witnessed a beloved character (Luke Skywalker) leave his world of comfort to face an awakening (The Sith), before returning stronger to conquer the ordeal at hand (as a Jedi Master).

In the original monomyth popularized by Joseph Campbell, there are quite a few steps which may not always be obvious in a hero’s journey . Justin Roiland – the creator of the well-known series ‘Rick & Morty’ uses Dan Harmon’s simplified edition of the monomyth also called the ‘story circle’.

Justin has credited this deceptively simple circle for the riveting yet seemingly nonsensical plot of the series’ episodes that has drawn a cult following of millions of fans worldwide.

This can be applied to your presentations as well. When you bring the audience on a journey, placing them in the shoes of the hero, you can influence them to see the outcome you’re seeking, and the steps needed to get there. Think of your slide narrative as a story, where you show them the beginning (the problem they face), the middle (the actions they need to take) and the end (the ultimate goal of your speech).

We sometimes also see occurences of this in investor pitch decks .

Presentation Idea #3.Break Your Presentation into 3 Big ‘Acts’

From literary classics like Three Little Pigs and A Christmas Carol , to slogans like the Olympics’ Citius, Altius, Fortius , it has been proven that characters or events grow on us when they are grouped in threes to emphasize an idea.

In the presentation sphere, this writing principle – the rule of three as we call it – has allowed contemporary speakers like Steve Jobs and Barack Obama to convey high-level information in a simple and catchy manner.

For example, when he shared with the world a decade ago that Apple would launch the revolutionary iPhone, Steve Jobs said:

“Today, we’re introducing three revolutionary products of this class. The first one: is a widescreen iPod with touch controls. The second : is a revolutionary mobile phone. And the third is a breakthrough Internet communications device. … These are not three separate devices, this is one device, and we are calling it iPhone. Today, Apple is going to reinvent the phone, and here it is.”

Similarly, Obama struck a chord with the American people during his first inaugural speech with his frank 3-part statement:

“Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered.”

The rule of three helps to keep your content simple, yet memorable enough to help your audience remember the key messages you’re bringing across.

Presentation Idea #4.Ask Provocative Questions

It takes zero effort to ask easy questions. But what happens if we ask mediocre questions? The listener grows bored and begins to tune out from the conversation.

Posing provocative questions gives your presentation an edge over others, and allows them to think about your speech from a different perspective. Take Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech for example. He boldly addressed the marginalized Negro population, asking them, “When will you be satisfied?” Imagine the reaction that followed, and the rest, as we say, is history.

It seems challenging, but a question of such nature should not be underestimated as it can serve as a springboard for your audience to crystalize the problem which they have been facing.

Once you’ve asked the question during your presentation, seize the moment! Paint the less-than-ideal scenario that your audience faces, before steering them towards the aspired narrative that you can promise as a solutions provider. Don’t worry about the dozens of other questions they may have – leave them to the Q&A.

Presentation Idea #5.Use Evocative Imagery in Your Presentation

Did you know? Research has shown that our brains process images 60,000 times faster than text. That’s like information transfer on steroids!

Not only are images processed more efficiently, but they also increase our recall of the information as well. For example, one of the proven ways to ensure that learners store memories for the long-term is by pairing ideological concepts with meaningful imagery. A study found that this effect increases over time, and users recalled three times more visual information than textual ones.

In another study from the 1970s, a Canadian psychologist, Lionel Standing, conducted an experiment where subjects were shown 10,000 general, boring images over a few days and tested on their recall after two days. The result was a 66% recall rate. A smaller set of 1,000 more vivid images were tested as well and the result was an astounding 88% recall rate for pictures such as a dog with a pipe in its mouth. Takeaway: We tend to remember things that are easy for us to visualize.

Other studies have also found that some visuals can cause an emotional, almost visceral reaction. Images can influence us to take action or become more cautious, take a liking to something or shy away from it. That is why some of the best ads of our time have used impactful images. In fact, presentation slides are not that different from a great ad. Both need to be brief, attention-grabbing, and influence audiences to perform an action.

A recent presentation that has used large, full-bleed images to great effect is Elon Musk’s PowerWall showcase. During his talk, he used a variety of different images to depict the scale of pollution and the potential of Tesla’s products.

Imagine if Elon had merely used text to communicate those grandiose ideas, the presentation would have inevitably tanked quickly (think something reminiscent of an early Bill Gates presentation).

When you’re designing your next slide deck , try to incorporate a couple of evocative images for a more memorable, persuasive and captivating presentation.

Presentation Idea #6.Use Visual Metaphors

Many of us retain information well through visuals, and sometimes, it is the best way to bring a concept or message across, ensuring that it stays in the audience’s mind.

Take this image for example, which has been used frequently in dozens of presentations, and which you’d have most likely come across at least once. The hidden iceberg beneath shows a depth that’s not seen by people, and is commonly used by speakers to demonstrate or relate to something unseen, or an underlying issue.  

When you’re choosing an image, a video, or any other visual, make sure that the link to your message is clear enough for the audience to see the relation, while still remaining a little mysterious for them to figure it out themselves.

Presentation Idea #7.Use Live, Physical Props

There are times where you wish to explain or emphasize a concept or an idea. Unfortunately, not everyone can visualize the same way you do, or know exactly what you’re thinking. In these cases where you’re sharing something abstract, physical props can make a huge difference in supporting your talk, and even add a level of novelty and intimacy when used appropriately.

One good example you can learn from would be Bill Gates’ TED talk. In his speech, he discussed about the issue of malaria, while releasing a jar of live mosquitoes into the audience to highlight or ‘shock’ the audience into realizing the importance of malaria prevention.

The move was dramatic and definitely impactful, but most importantly, it pushed the listeners to think from a different perspective.

When you choose your props, think of the main message you’re trying to bring across. Using too many can backfire and bore your audience, so use this technique sparingly.

Presentation Idea #8. Have Obvious Presentation Transitions

How many times have you delivered a presentation halfway, only to notice your audience members looking incredibly lost?

If you lack the time to work on your narrative, try to include transitions, which act as ‘visual signposts’ that guide your audience and you through the presentation.

These do not need to be complex; in fact, it can be extremely simple. In your presentation deck, instead of using the same background throughout, decide on an alternative color or style to differentiate your transition slides from every other slide. These will act as your ‘markers’ to visually indicate to your audience that you’re moving on to your next point. If they got lost anywhere during your presentation, you’ll be able to jolt them back on track.

Once you’ve decided on what these would look like, insert these at specific junctures of your presentation such that they stands out clearly from the rest of the slides.

Presentation Idea #9. Use Quotes to Make Your Point

As you’re about to conclude your presentation, you’ll probably see heads twitching, bodies fidgeting, and cellphones appearing. It’s not an uncommon sight – We generally have short attention spans, and knowing that a presentation is about to end tempts us to begin checking our phones and getting ready to leave.

In fact, it’s a well known fact that humans have a shorter attention span than a goldfish , thanks to smartphones.

To maximize your audience’s remaining attention, a good way to sum up your points and leave an impression would be through a quote.

You may wonder, “If I’m just going to echo what others have said, won’t that reduce my credibility as a speaker?”

Absolutely not! As long as you reference a line that is brief and contextualized to your speech, your chosen quote could serve as a springboard to bring your audience back to the ‘big picture’.

For example, the 2003 World Champion of Public Speaking, Jim Key, quoted Martin Luther King, saying, “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the greatest dreamers of our age, said, “The time is always right to do what is right”.”

He then followed it up with his own interpretation: “That means if it’s right for us to dream as children, then it’s just as right for us to dream as adults.”, before highlighting his message – “The question is: do we have the courage to dream?”

Sharing a quote can also highlight your domain knowledge and preparation, especially if you are, or would like to gain stead as a market leader. You can craft a quote based on your own words, or modify a popular one to match your situation.

The power of quotes and their ability to add credibility to a story should not be underestimated. They can also serve as guides or ‘reminders’ to keep the audience and the story on track. With a simple quote, you now have a good springboard to launch your next talking point. Of course, do remember that you will need practice to pull it off smoothly!

Presentation Idea #10. Try Having One Headline Per Slide

Many people have frequently debated on the ‘right amount’ of words each slide should contain. If you’re daring, here’s a radical idea which you can try – having only one word or headline per slide. There have been two popular proponents of this method, Masayoshi Takahashi and Lawrence Lessig.

Masayoshi Takashi is a programmer who gained notoriety through his unusual presentation style at RubyConf. When he dabbled in PowerPoint for the first time, he found that having one word or phrase per slide worked well for Japanese text, and brought his audiences through the presentation effectively.

The second popular originator of a similar method is Lawrence Lessig, a professor at Harvard who began presenting in an unusual way: Having only one word, phrase and/or image in each slide moving in rapid succession as he spoke. His presentation decks usually contain hundreds of slides, which goes to show that your presentation should not be limited by a number of slides. Interestingly enough, the method was proven to be pretty effective in his lectures and he soon had a chance to show it off on the TED stage:

The Takashi method and Lessig method forces your audience to listen to you in order to understand the presentation, ensuring that you have their full attention. However, do be cautious as this should not be applied in every situation. If used in a more serious setting, it may backfire as it can be jarring.

If you’re unsure whether you will be able to pull this off, try to start off by incorporating this method in a couple of slides. The variety and change of pace can prove to be a refreshing one for your audience, keeping them engaged in your presentation.

So the next time you’re doing a talk, keep in mind these 10 creative presentation ideas:

• Share a personal story during your presentation to get your message across effectively
• Bring your audiences on a ‘Hero’s Journey’ using a monomythic narrative
• Break your presentation down into three parts to keep your content memorable and bite-sized
• Ask provocative questions to help your audience view things from a different perspective
• Add meaningful images to create an impact and increase recall
• Use visual metaphors to explain a complex concept or message so that it sticks
• Support your presentation with live and physical props to stimulate the senses
• Insert transitions to guide your audience through a lengthy presentation
• Reference quotes to add credibility to your assertions
• Experiment with using one headline per slide to keep things fresh and punchy

Phew! We’ve finally reached the end of this behemoth of a post. These should give you enough fodder to spice up your next presentation. If you think we’ve missed anything, leave us a comment below!

Article Written By: Eugene Cheng

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Tech Spirited

Multimedia Presentation Ideas

A multimedia presentation allows you to add many advanced features to your presentation so that it becomes more effective. In this article, you will find some ideas for a multimedia presentation.

Like it? Share it!

A multimedia presentation is a presentation, which includes more than one medium, such as text, graphic, audio, visual, etc. It allows you to effectively communicate with your audience. The various features provided by a presentation software add to the learning and understanding of the audience. Microsoft Powerpoint is a great tool for creating effective multimedia presentation. However, to deliver an effective presentation one must know how to use the features provided with the presentation software. Implementing some innovative multimedia presentation ideas can further make your presentation more entertaining.

Creative Ideas for Multimedia Presentations

Adding basic features.

• A template is a very useful design tool provided by Microsoft. A readymade template design takes away all the efforts of designing a template on your own. Thus, you can now concentrate more on your content.
• The templates provided by Microsoft are designed by professional graphic designers. They are designed in such a way that they give a very appealing look to your slides, without detracting the viewers from the content of the slide.
• A subtle design provides just enough visual impact as required. You can find more user designed templates on Microsoft website.
• Third party vendors also put their templates for sale. No matter what template you decide to use, always make sure the background color is soothing to the eyes.
• The font color should be chosen according to the color of the slide. Powerpoint comes with a slide master so that you are relieved of choosing the color, font etc of the slide. Those who know how to use Powerpoint will find another useful feature offered by Powerpoint, an ‘outline view’, which enables you to plan your slide.
• You can rearrange your slides by simply dragging and dropping the title and content of the slides. Besides, you can also import file outlines in plain text or Rich Text from other programs.

Adding Advance Features

• Advance multimedia features such as animation, sound and video clips, photos, etc., add a great entertainment value to your presentation.
• Microsoft Powerpoint allows you to import sound, image or video files from other programs and applications.
• The main aim of these features is to emphasis the important point of your discussion. Your audience is more likely to remember a 15 second animation than a 500 words explanation for the same.
• Similarly, audio, video clips can also keep your audience engaged in your presentation. Using hyperlinks in your presentation is also one of the most useful multimedia presentation ideas.
• However, limit the use of special effects in your presentation, as it can become distracting or even annoying at times. For business presentations, slide transitions, or sound effects aren’t considered appropriate.
• If you must, keep them simple. Another important thing to remember is that special effects should assist the content of your presentation and not become the content itself. Hence, you must never compromise on the quality of the content of your presentation.
• While preparing for a multimedia presentation, start planning well before the time. Develop a theme or concept for each slide and draft content accordingly.
• Sequence the content and the slide so that your presentation follows a structured flow. Do not over-stuff your slides with too much of content. Only emphasize on the key points.
• You can elaborate these points later, while you talk. Rehearse your presentation well, so that you don’t mess up at the last moment.
• There is no need to learn the content by heart, simply remember the key points and elucidate them in your own words. One of the biggest mistakes that you can make while giving a presentation is reading aloud the content from the slide.

Planning gives you the confidence required to make a successful presentation. So, plan beforehand and give a great performance.

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Privacy overview.

• Creating multimodal texts

Multimodal texts combine two or more modes such as written language, spoken language, visual (still and moving image), audio, gestural, and spatial meaning (The New London Group, 2000; Cope and Kalantzis, 2009). Creating digital multimodal texts involves the use of communication technologies, however, multimodal texts can also be paper-based or live performances.

The Victorian Curriculum recognises that students need to be able to create a range of increasingly complex and sophisticated spoken, written, and multimodal texts for different purposes and audiences, with accuracy, fluency and purpose.

Why teaching creating multimodal texts is important

Creating multimodal texts is an increasingly common practice in contemporary classrooms. Easy to produce multimodal texts including posters, storyboards, oral presentations, picture books, brochures, slide shows (PowerPoint), blogs, and podcasts. More complex digital multimodal text productions include web pages, digital stories, interactive stories, animation, and film.

Student authors need to be able to effectively create multimodal texts for different purposes and audiences, with accuracy, fluency, and imagination. To do this, students need to know how meaning is conveyed through the various modes used in the text, as well as how multiple modes work together in different ways to convey the story or the information to be communicated.

Students need to know how to creatively and purposefully choose how different modes might convey particular meaning at different times in their texts, and how to manipulate the various combinations of different modes across the whole text to best tell their story (Jewitt, 2009). See: Modes .

Multimodal texts containing elements of other languages support EAL/D students to engage and achieve at school. They use the language and social abilities that they develop outside of school in classroom communication and tasks. These include translating, combining more than one language to communicate and learn, and using diverse linguistic and cultural practices when they communicate.  

When EAL/D students use all their language abilities in a learning task, they make connections between existing and new knowledge. It enhances engagement and affirms their identities as learners who can integrate their knowledge of multiple languages to communicate, learn a new language and learn a new language. 

EAL/D students learn to think critically about the purpose and function of each language they use in a multimodal text. Using the teaching and learning cycle, the teacher explicitly teaches the language and text structures that students need to complete these tasks. 

EAL/D student authors who can use English and their language to create texts for multilingual audiences can, with support, choose how different multimedia modes and different languages combine in a text. It allows students to make creative and purposeful decisions about how to communicate effectively to particular audiences.  

The choice to include elements of other languages in a text is an overt and concrete means by which students can develop their skills as text analysts. They detect and analyse underlying values, beliefs, views, and discern reader/viewer position within the text.  

Support students to analyse a text by asking questions such as:  

• Why include more than one language?
• Who is included/excluded?
• What information should be contained in English and the other language? Do they need to be the same?
• How might a monolingual English speaker view the text? In what ways would it be different from a bilingual speaker or non-speaker of English?

For more information about text analyst, see: The four resources model for reading and viewing  

Examples of texts to create

Below are examples of different forms of texts students might create in the classroom. The complexity of creating texts increases proportionately with the number of modes involved and the relationships between the various semiotic, or meaning-making, systems in a text, as well as the use of more complicated digital technologies.

Simple multimodal texts include comics/graphic novels, picture books, newspapers, brochures, print advertisements, posters, storyboards, digital slide presentations (e.g. PowerPoint), e-posters, e-books, and social media.

Meaning is conveyed to the reader through varying combinations of written language, visual, gestural, and spatial modes.

Podcasts are also simple to produce, involving combinations of spoken language, and audio modes.

Live multimodal texts include dance, performance, oral storytelling, and presentations. Meaning is conveyed through combinations of various modes such as gestural, spatial, audio, and oral language.

EAL/D learners can be supported to understand and create simple multimodal texts that reflect the diversity in languages and cultures within the school. For example:  

• creating posters, newsletters, brochures or blogs with sections translated into home languages, or headings, captions and diagrams labelled in English and home languages. Students can also add glossaries or translations of key terms
• creating comics with captions and speech bubbles written in English and home language, as appropriate for the purpose and audience. This could include different scripts in illustrated scenes and ‘sound effects. Particular characters may also speak a combination of English and another language or dialect
• creating translations of popular picture books, their own or their classmates’ stories to contribute to the classroom library, making sure that meaning is not lost in translation. This could include using metaphors in their home languages that approximate the meaning in the English text
• creating slideshows that include translated vocabulary, explanations or pronunciation guides
• creating content for social media. EAL/D learners could be typing in different scripts or transliterating the sounds of their language using English script in social media. Social media users create and access videos, music, stories and memes in a range of languages
• creating multilingual resources for the school community including signage, welcome packs, teaching and learning resources.

Students can also be supported to create live multimodal texts that reflect the diversity in languages and cultures within the school. For example, to create live multimodal texts, students:  

• use music and gestures from different cultural dance traditions in dance performances
• create translations to accompany school plays, for example, subtitles in English and/or another language and bilingual glossaries in the program
• tell a story from their home culture in English, or retell a familiar English story in their home language.

Complex digital multimodal texts include live-action films, animations, digital stories, web pages, book trailers, documentaries, music videos. Meaning is conveyed through dynamic combinations of various modes across written and spoken language, visual (still and moving image), audio, gesture (acting), and spatial semiotic resources. Producing these texts also requires skills with more sophisticated digital communication technologies.

EAL/D learners can incorporate multiple languages into complex digital multimodal texts by: 

• writing the subtitles in English or a different language for films, animations, digital stories or documentaries.  Support students choose the most appropriate language for speech and subtitles, depending on their audience. Visual effects and images can be used to add text in multiple languages for emphasis or explanation.
• including hyperlinks and mouse-overs are an excellent way for students to provide translations, pronunciation of key terms or a glossary in web pages. Different sections of text can be written in different languages with translations into English, and multilingual audio or video clips may be incorporated. Students can also learn purposeful ways of incorporating computer translation tools into web pages they create
• incorporating English and home languages into their music videos and song lyrics. These may be accompanied by text or subtitles, or use visual effects to emphasise words or phrases in different languages
• creating original films, animations and digital stories using voiceover, with or without subtitles.

What teachers and students need to know

The skilled multimodal composition requires students to know the subject or field of the text, textual knowledge of how to best convey meaning through the text; digital multimodal authoring also requires knowledge of the technology and of the processes required to produce innovative digital media productions (Mills, 2010).

Textual knowledge encompasses both semiotic knowledge and genre. Semiotic knowledge concerns how each mode conveys meaning in different ways in the text, where each mode has its specific task and function (Kress, 2010, p. 28) in the meaning-making process.

Multimodal authors also need to be able to imaginatively combine different modes in various strategic arrangements throughout the text, for example, print and visual semiotic resources in a picture book, to effectively and creatively convey the meaning required.

Genre concerns knowledge of the social functions and contexts in which a text is produced and used, and how the text is organised and staged to meet a specific social purpose (Martin, 2008). Like writing, the successful multimodal composition includes consideration of purpose, audience and text type (for example, to entertain, inform, or persuade). 

Technological knowledge concerns knowledge of the technical content as well as of the processes required to produce innovative digital media productions, including knowledge of the machines involved and the media applications (Mills, 2010, p. 224).

Effectively teaching students how to create multimodal texts requires new and diverse literacy skills and semiotic knowledge which, by necessity, extend beyond the realms of traditional print-based literacy into other learning disciplines. 

Literacy teachers need to draw on expertise and knowledge and skills from other disciplines, to support the development of new literacy competencies. This includes essential aspects from The Arts – music, media, drama, film, and art; and from Information Communication Technologies (ICT).

To create multilingual multimodal texts that strategically include elements of EAL/D students’ home languages, students also need to know both the English and the home language (or additional language) features that they want to publish in. This linguistic knowledge does not necessarily have to be comprehensive or formal, but rather appropriate for the purpose and audience of the text. Students working in groups may know different aspects of the language.

Teaching creating multimodal texts: production stages

Teaching creating multimodal texts is based on teaching writing, extended to teaching students how to produce short, purposeful, and engaging texts in different forms and media formats.

Students need to develop increasing control over the different semiotic contributions of each of the modes deployed, and at the same time, attend to creatively combining modes into a meaningful whole (Hull, 2005, p.234). In addition, pedagogic attention to any technical requirements is also essential.

Teaching creating multimodal texts can be structured in stages around the film production approach. This includes pre-production, production, and post-production.

Pre-production

The pre-production stage includes consideration of the topic, the purpose, the audience and the context. The story/content is drafted and organised, and manageable boundaries are established. This includes setting limits to several pages in a picture book, or slides in a PowerPoint or time limits for digital productions – 30 to 90 seconds is long enough for novice podcasts, film or animation productions.

The production process is planned. This might include writing a story outline that provides brief information about who, what, where, and when; a script that includes information about the text participants (characters or subjects), dialogue, action, sound effects, and music; and preparing a storyboard to scope the visual design of the text – what is to be shown and how it will be seen. (See Visual metalanguage for more information.)

Image 1: Storyboard example  (Creative Commons BY-ND 4.0)

For EAL/D students to produce multilingual multimodal texts, they might engage in the pre-production stage using their strongest language to achieve depth in their ideas. This may mean students plan a multimodal text using a storyboard with descriptions in their home language. They can then discuss and refine their ideas with the teacher or other students using English.

If students create multimodal texts that include home languages, they may work with the same language peer, bilingual staff member or parent to check and edit work that will be published. However, the EAL/D student must assume responsibility for discussing and reporting their work in English with peers and the teacher.

The production stage

The production stage is where the text is composed or produced. Production can be a simple process using familiar tools and resources or can involve learning to use more complex digital tools including cameras, recording equipment, or digital applications and software.

Complex media production processes can be simplified for the literacy classroom. For example, a simplified approach to creating live-action films involves an ‘in-camera’ edit. This requires the whole sequence to be carefully planned first. 

Beginning with the title shot, the film is shot in sequence, shot by shot, pausing the camera between shots. Sound effects and additional information must be recorded at the same time as the action. Following the final shot, the film is finished, and there is no further editing or post-production. The same approach can be used recording simple podcasts, as an ‘in-microphone’ edit.

In contrast, a conventional approach to filmmaking/podcast production involves filming or recording the content in segments first and then putting the final text together through post-production.

The teacher may need to explicitly teach EAL/D students the use of the equipment and technical skills needed to capture and create digital multimodal texts. The teacher may provide reference materials with annotated visuals to support students in learning the technical language associated with production skills.

Post-production stage

In the post-production stage filmed shots or recorded audio segments, are edited using a digital editing program to remove sections, order information, and add in introductions, titles, music, visual and sound effects.

The teacher explicitly teaches EAL/D students the technical skills needed to edit and manipulate multimodal texts. In addition to the general editing skills, the teacher may need to find a 'knowledgeable other' to teach students specific multilingual skills such as typing in different scripts or using translation apps.

For more information on EAL/D teaching strategies that support students to produce language and content for their multimodal texts, see Writing Process .

Using the teaching and learning cycle for creating multimodal texts

The teaching and learning cycle (TLC) initially developed for teaching writing and reading provides a logical, systematic process for teaching creating multimodal texts (Zammit, 2015; 2014; Chandler, O’Brien and Unsworth, 2010).

This approach supports teaching students how to successfully create a range of different texts for different purposes and audiences, which communicate the author’s meaning (Miller, 2010, p.214) through attention to meaning design in the different modes deployed.

The teaching and learning cycle focuses on the cyclical nature of the teacher’s role through the various production stages. It includes teacher modelling, and explicit teaching of relevant semiotic knowledge and the metalanguage of meaning-making in different modes, as well as required skills for effective use of any technology, used. 

Textual knowledge, both semiotic and genre, as well as technological knowledge required need to be explicit, stated and incrementally taught (Christie and Macken-Horarik, 2007). Competent digital authoring requires coherent and systemic levels of pedagogical attention and support, in the same ways that writing is taught and valued in schools (Burn, 2006).

The TLC involves four key stages which incorporate social support for creating multimodal texts through varied interactional routines (whole group, small group, pair, individual) to scaffold students’ learning about meaning-making in a variety of modes and texts.

These stages are:

• Building the context or field – understanding the purpose of the text and the context (genre) and building a shared understanding of the topic
• Modelling the text (or deconstruction) – the use of mentor or model texts to focus explicitly on the structure of the text, identify the modes used and the different semiotic resources used in each mode, examples of meaning design choices made in different modes, how modes work independently and together to shape meaning and to build a metalanguage
• Guided practice (or joint construction) – teachers and students jointly construct a text
• Independent construction – students’ independent composing of a new text. (Derewianka and Jones, 2016; Humphrey, 2017; Humphrey and Feez, 2016)

Mentor or model texts need to be carefully selected by the teacher to support the students to work within their ‘zone of proximal development (Vygotsky 1978) in developing their knowledge of how meaning is conveyed in different modes in different texts. 

Dependent on the year level, the selected text and the teaching focus, whole texts or text extracts can be used. See visual metalanguage for examples of visual semiotic resources, and the teaching and learning cycle for further guidance.

For more information on using the teaching and learning cycle with EAL/D students to create multimodal texts, see: Teaching and learning cycle for EAL/D learners .

Resources to support creating digital multimodal texts

• Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI): Film it - The filmmakers' tool kit
• Education Department of Victoria, FUSE : search for Filmmaking 101
• Education Services, Australia (ESA): Scootle (Search by keywords such as ‘create’, ‘filmmaking’, “comic’, ‘digital story’, ‘poster’, ‘blog’, ‘webpage’, ‘advertisement’; ‘design’. Refine search by year level, and subject area: English.)

Resources to support EAL/D learners to plan, draft, edit and publish in multiple languages include:

• human resources such as teachers or support staff with knowledge of the language, same language peers or students from other classes, family or community members
• text resources such as bilingual dictionaries, translation tools and software, publications or websites in the home language, and examples or models of multilingual texts

Teachers scaffold the EAL/D learners to use these resources critically and effectively in creating meaning.

Burn, A., and Durran, J. (2006). Digital anatomies: analysis as production in media education. In D. Buckingham and R. Willett (Eds.), Digital Generations Children, young people, and new media. (pp. 273-293). New York, London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Chandler, P. D., O'Brien, A., and Unsworth, L. (2010). Towards a 3D multimodal curriculum for upper primary school. Australian Educational Computing, 25(1), 34-40.

Christie, F. and Macken-Horarik, M. (2007). Building verticality in subject English, In F. Christie, J.M. Martin. Language, knowledge and pedagogy: functional linguistic and sociological perspectives. London; New York: Continuum. 156-83.

Cope, B., and Kalantzis, M. (2009). A grammar of multimodality. The International Journal of Learning, 16(2), 361-423.

Hull, G. (2005) Locating the Semiotic Power of Multimodality, Written Communication, 22(2), 224-261.

Jewitt, C. (ed.) (2009). The Routledge Handbook of Multimodal Analysis, London: Routledge.

Kress, G. (2009). Multimodality: a social semiotic approach to contemporary communication. London; New York: Routledge.

Martin, J. R., and Rose, D. (2008). Genre relations: mapping culture. London; Oakville, CT: Equinox Pub.

Miller, Suzanne M. (2010). Towards a multimodal literacy pedagogy: Digital video composing as 21st-century literacy. In P. Albers. Literacies, Art, and Multimodality. Urbana-Champaign, Illinois: National Council of Teachers of English. 254-281.

Mills, K. A. (2010). What Learners "Know" through Digital Media Production: Learning by Design. E-Learning and Digital Media, 7(3), 223-236.

The New London Group. (2000). A pedagogy of Multiliteracies designing social futures. In B. Cope and M. Kalantzis (Eds.), Multiliteracies: Literacy Learning and the Design of Social Futures (pp. 9-38). South Yarra: MacMillan.

Zammit, K. (2015). Extending Students’ Semiotic Understandings: Learning About and Creating Multimodal Texts. In P. P. Trifonas (Ed.), International Handbook of Semiotics (pp. 1291-1308). New York, London: Springer.

Zammit, K. (2014). Creating Multimodal Texts in the Classroom: Shifting Teaching Practices, Influencing Student Outcomes. In R. E. Ferdig and K. E. Pytash (Eds.), Exploring Multimodal Composition and Digital Writing (pp. 20-35). Hershey PA: IGI Global. ​

Our website uses a free tool to translate into other languages. This tool is a guide and may not be accurate. For more, see: Information in your language

• Marketing Strategy

9 Video Presentation Ideas to Keep Your Audience Awake

Let’s be honest: we’re all bored to death of dull, static PowerPoint presentations.

In fact, most people switch off just 10 minutes into a traditional presentation . Despite this, Microsoft PowerPoint is still the first port of call for 89% of people when they need to make a slideshow.

Next time you need to put together a presentation for your team, consider doing things differently. Video presentations are dynamic, engaging, and better at keeping your audience’s attention than a PowerPoint or Google Slides presentation .

Create a stunning video in minutes

Why should you use video presentations?

The numbers are clear: people like video . In fact, 78% of people report watching online video content every week, with 55% watching videos every day — so it’s a format we’re all used to. And according to Social Media Week, viewers retain 95% of a message when they learn it through a video, which makes it a great tool for business presentations.

Here are four more benefits of using video presentations over traditional ones .  

They’re easy to digest

The length of a traditional professional presentation depends on the presenter’s delivery and how long it takes an audience to read your PowerPoint slides. But since you’ll always know exactly how long a video presentation is, you can easily slot them into meetings without fear of running over. And your audience is much less likely to switch off if they’re told how long the video is before it starts .

Video lends itself very well to short-form content — and video presentations are no different. A short video can easily be sent out in an email to deliver a quick message. Learn more on video email marketing in this blog post.

💡 What about industry-specific content?

You're right, industry-specific content is often complex for outsiders or too boring for insiders. Why not capture your audience with video? Just make sure that your content is relevant to your target group by educating, informing or entertaining them! You're working in healthcare industry? Perfect, find everything related to healthcare video marketing in this blog article.

They’re dynamic

A video presentation can (and should) include music, images, GIFs and dynamic transitions which help keep your audience engaged far more than a static PowerPoint. These visuals and moving graphics reinforce your message and drive home your audience’s understanding .

Curious about how to effortlessly create engaging videos? Look no further than PlayPlay's video presentation maker . Our tool empowers you to craft professional videos in no time.

They’re persuasive

Visual information is processed faster than text . So it makes sense to reinforce your message with visual cues such as arrows, icons, and fonts of different colors and sizes. With a video presentation, you can also use music to complement your message and help persuade your audience to take action.

They’re accessible (any time and anywhere)

In this new world, we’re all getting used to WFH and WFA (work-from-anywhere) policies. So it’s more important than ever to find new ways to transmit information to your staff, customers, and stakeholders . A video presentation is easier to share online than a traditional one, and can be watched multiple times — so there’s no need to worry if your team doesn't pick up everything the first time around. Discover how to make a presentation with our best steps and tips in this article.

Create a video presentation in minutes

9 video presentation ideas to keep your audience from snoozing

Video presentations are versatile and can be used for a whole variety of purposes. While a PowerPoint presentation risks putting your audience to sleep before you get through the first three slides, a stand-out video will wake them up and drive your message home.

And, as an added bonus, if public speaking’s not your strong point, no worries. You can just hit the play button and let the video do the hard work.

Here are 9 video presentation ideas you could try for your business .

#1. Product launches

If you have a new product to show off to your customers, don’t put them off before they’ve even seen it with a slide deck that puts them to sleep.

Instead, bring your product to life and impress your viewers with an engaging video presentation that showcases its features and benefits and drums up the excitement it deserves. Discover all the tips on how to make engaging videos .

Take a look at this example from financial services company Acorns, announcing their new debit card. They do a great job of using interesting graphics to keep viewers engaged, and on-screen text to complement the audio narration and reinforce the message.

#2. Sales presentations

Sales teams want to get your prospective clients excited about your products. But let’s be honest: your run-of-the-mill business presentation full of dry data doesn’t make that easy. Even for the most rehearsed and confident presenters.

With a video presentation, however, you can incorporate infographics, music, and even humor — all while transmitting that all-important message . Since video presentations are easy to send online (or host on a dedicated landing page), you can even use them as part of your sales outreach efforts.

Account-based marketing with Terminus (in 3 minutes!) This really original sales presentation by SaaS marketing tool Terminus uses a combination of visual aids, animations, graphics, and plenty of humor to highlight their product’s features and real-life benefits for their target customer — in a way they’ll likely remember.

#3. Onboarding for new recruits

Onboarding presentations are an important tool for familiarizing new hires with the people and processes that make up your company . However, first days can be overwhelming and your new recruits may not necessarily retain everything the first time. You can make things easier on them by sending a link to an online presentation that they can easily refer back to when needed.

Welcome to the Future - Discover STATION F's New Onboarding Video

Video onboarding presentations also allow you to inject a little humor and give new recruits a taste of your company’s personality — like in this excellent example from Station F .

#4. Q&A sessions

Another great video presentation idea is to record Q&A sessions and edit them into a quick presentation . By displaying the questions as text, interspersed with short recorded answers, you can create a compelling video that’s naturally divided into digestible chunks.

Student Officer Q&A Highlights - Queen's Campus - Durham Student's Union In this video presentation by the Students’ Union at Durham University, the questions make for natural breaks in the video, and the addition of music helps to tie things together for the viewer.

#5. Explainers or tutorials

Honestly, how many times have you sat through a presentation on how to use a new tool or piece of software , and remembered practically none of it once you got back to your desk? With an explainer video presentation, you don’t need to worry, as you and your team will be able to look back over it as many times as you need to.

Trello | Take A Tour Of Trello Trello uses video storytelling to demonstrate how their tool could be used by a real business. Not only is this technique far more engaging than simply walking through the features, demonstrating it with a real use case gives viewers a much better idea of how they could apply it to their own workflow.

#6. Internal announcements

You can use video presentations to keep employees up-to-date on new hires, projects, acquisitions, or anything else they need to know about. Their format means they’re easy to distribute company-wide even in large organisations, without needing to gather everyone together.

NEAT Method Acquisition Announcement!

This presentation announcing NEAT’s acquisition by Whitmore could work as an internal or external announcement, and the combination of useful information and humor makes for a compelling video that keeps people engaged.

#7. Project highlights or upcoming projects

If you need to share the progress of a project with internal or external stakeholders , a video presentation is one of the most engaging ways to do it. You can share key statistics, facts and information without being too dry. Video presentations are also a great way to communicate visually about upcoming projects.  

Coca-Cola Content 2020 Initiative Strategy Video - Parts I & II

For example, take a look at the internal video marketing strategy of Coca-Cola. The cute, animated presentation design and the use of text to reinforce the voice-over narration work to keep the audience focused and engaged.

#8. Quarterly or annual business results

Just the words “quarterly business review” are enough to make all but the most seasoned business analysts start yawning. And long, number-heavy presentations are an easy way to guarantee a sleepy crowd during a keynote. With video, you can create a dynamic presentation that highlights those key statistics, interviews and quotes through animation, images and videos to keep your audience engaged (and awake).

Shell's first quarter 2021 results presentation | Investor Relations In this video, Shell shares their first quarter 2021 results with a combination of live narration, visual displays of data such as diagrams and charts, and brand-consistent graphics.

#9. Event promotions

Got an upcoming event and want to get the word out ? An event video presentation is easy to send out online, and lets you share key details about the event in a digestible format.

The World's Largest Online Advertising Event | Ad World 2020

This promotional video for Ad World’s 2020 conference uses music and fast, eye-catching graphics to grab its audience’s attention, and presents key details about the event in a way that drums up anticipation. You want to create as much buzz as possible around your next event? Test viral video marketing !

Next time you need to deliver a presentation, consider ditching the boring PowerPoint and creating a dynamic, engaging, and interactive video presentation instead — your team will thank you.

And creating effective presentations that engage your audience doesn’t have to be complicated — with the right tools. With PlayPlay ’s intuitive video creation platform, you can create your own professional-quality video presentations in no time, with no editing expertise needed. Plus, the colors, logo and fonts are all customizable so you can make sure they’re in line with your branding. Why not start your 7-day free trial in time for your next presentation?

Start creating videos

That make information easy to retain, explanations convincing, and brand storytelling compelling.

By Marcus Twigg

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