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Writing Catchy Presentation Titles: Proven Techniques You Should Know

It’s easy to overlook or give less attention to presentation titles, especially if you have limited time to assemble your material. You may rather prioritize other aspects, such as gathering information, creating slides, or rehearsing the delivery. Yet, hastily choosing the headline for your presentation is a blunder you wouldn’t want to commit.

First impressions – last, and that also applies when presenting. Engaging presentations begin with engaging titles and opening slides. If your title is sloppy, your audience will think your presentation is your best. This article will discuss what makes a good presentation title and how you can create it.

Table of Contents

The Anatomy of a Good Presentation Title

Presentation titles styles, tips for creating catchy presentation title, frequently asked questions on presentation titles.

A good presentation headline or title serves two purposes: practical and creative.

The practical purpose of a presentation title is to provide a clear and concise description of the content. It helps set the expectations of your audience, allowing them to anticipate what they will learn or gain from the presentation.

On the other hand, the creative aspect is one thing that charms your audience. An intriguing or thought-provoking title can pique the audience’s curiosity and motivate them to attend the presentation through and through. It generates interest and makes them eager to learn more.

As the presenter, you should strive to find a title that strikes the right balance between informative and engaging. It must go beyond mere description, as a descriptive title may fail to stand out or engage your audience. On the flip side, an overly clever title may sacrifice clarity and fail to encapsulate the content of your presentation accurately.

1. Surprise

Using startling statements or unexpected facts can effectively capture the audience’s attention. When something unexpected is presented, it naturally piques curiosity and leaves a lasting impression.

So, if you come across a fact, statistic, or quote about a topic that truly surprised you, work on it and make it your headline. Chances are, such information will likewise come as a surprise to your audience. Of course, you must ensure that the surprise element is relevant and contributes to the overall message you aim to deliver.

Example: Neil Patel, an online marketing expert, delivered a compelling piece titled “90% Of Startups Fail: What You Need To Know About The 10%”. The title contains an element of surprise, which suggests that most startup companies don’t survive. Within the article, Patel presented advice for startups to avert failure.

2. Intrigue

Ever wonder why you can’t seem to resist Buzzfeed headlines? That’s right; they are often intriguing and clickbaity. This technique also works on presentation titles.

Intrigue headlines capture attention and generate interest in presentations. They can create curiosity, engage the audience, and make your presentation stand out.

When crafting an intriguing headline, you may use thought-provoking questions or vague statements that spark the audience’s interest and, at the same time, clearly convey the topic of your presentation.

Example: Susan Colantuono’s Ted Talk, entitled “The career advice you probably didn’t get,” exhibits intrigue. The title immediately piques curiosity by suggesting that the presentation will provide unconventional or lesser-known career advice that the audience may not have received. This creates a sense of anticipation and motivates individuals to attend the presentation to discover what unique insights or perspectives will be shared.

3. Benefit or Value

Presentation titles that make clear claims about something’s worth may be more engaging than just stating it. When your audience knows exactly what’s in the presentation, they will likely lean in and listen.

The idea is to communicate right off the headline the main advantage the audience will gain from engaging with the content. You don’t have to include the entire proposition, but you may convey the essence of the value proposition to generate interest among the audience.

Example: Lawrence Ong’s “Break The Cycle: How To Gain Financial Freedom” clearly states the benefits of attending the presentation in the headline. It positions itself as a source of knowledge for building wealth and suggests that listening to the talk will equip the audience with the lessons they need to achieve their desired financial independence.

4. Wordplay 

Using wordplay in presentation titles can be a clever way to add flair to your presentation title. Playing with words can evoke emotions like humor and curiosity, which engages the audience from the start. It stands out from more specific titles, making people pause and take notice.

There are several types of word plays that you can incorporate into your presentation title, like puns, double-meaning words, metaphors , and rhymes. The idea is to strike the right balance so that the playfulness doesn’t overshadow the clarity and relevance of the title. The wordplay should align with the topic and purpose of your presentation while adding a touch of creativity.

Example: Steve Jobs’s keynote speech 2001 introducing the original iPod with the title “1000 songs in your pocket” is an excellent example of wordplay used in a presentation headline.

The wordplay in this example contrasts the figure “1000”, a substantial quantity, and the phrase “in your pocket,” representing portable space. By combining these elements, the presentation title effectively communicated the storage capacity and convenience of the device playfully and memorably.

1. Keep It Short

A strong presentation title conveys the main topic using a few words. Short statements are more likely to impact the audience immediately, and their brevity makes them easily understood and remembered, leaving a lasting impression.

How short is short? The ideal length for headlines on PowerPoint slides is 6-14 words, and this range helps ensure that the title of your presentation carries the message you want to get across without wordiness.

2. Use Concrete Language

Using concrete language in your presentation title is an effective way to make it more compelling. Concrete language has persuasive power as it clarifies your presentation title and makes it relatable to the audience.

Some powerful words you can inject into your headlines are adjectives, action words, and actual figures. So, instead of “Optimizing Business Processes,” you can say “Cut Costs by 20%: Streamlining Operational Efficiency”.

3. Use Technology or AI

Crafting a catchy presentation headline is hard enough – all the more when you have to fit it into little words. If you find yourself stuck in this task, there are available technologies that can help you generate title ideas for your presentations.

SEMRUSH, in particular, has an AI title generator that suggests headlines for content based on your prompts. You may also use ChatGPT for your presentations in a similar way.

However, we only suggest using these tools to speed up your brainstorming process, as repurposing those presentations into blog posts implies the risk of a site penalty for AI-generated content by Google. Reviewing and refining the generated headline to ensure it aligns with your specific presentation and captures the essence of your message is important.

4. Use Proven Formulas

Another way to speed up the process of generating title ideas presentation is to use proven formulas. Like your typical math equation, these formulas provide a framework to adapt to your specific presentation and audience. You can use them as a starting point to experiment with different combinations of words to create a headline that captures the gist of your piece,

Here are some presentation title formulas you can use:

• How to [Desirable Outcome] in [Specific Time Frame]
• Discover the [Number One] Secret to [Desirable Outcome]
• The [Adjective] Way to [Desirable Outcome]: [Unique Approach/Method]
• Are You [blank]?
• Unlocking the Secrets of [Topic]: [Key Insight/Strategy]”

Q1: What is the purpose of a catchy title in a presentation?

A: The purpose of a catchy title in a presentation is to grab the audience’s attention and, at the same time, communicate the main idea or focus of the talk.

Q2: How do I create a catchy title for my presentation?

A: Creating a catchy title involves balancing creativity, clarity, and relevance. Finding the right balance between description and creativity allows you to create a catchy title that generates interest without sacrificing clarity.

Q3: What are some tips for making a title stand out?

A: To make a title stand out, clearly describe the content while engaging the audience’s curiosity. Additionally, use concrete language and keep it short.

Q4: Can a title be too long for a presentation?

A: Yes. Keep presentation titles concise and to the point, as longer titles can be harder to read, remember, and fit on slides effectively.

Q5: How does a title affect the overall success of a presentation?

A: The title serves as a hook that entices people to attend the presentation and creates a positive first impression. It may be the first and last chance to convince your audience to lend their ears.

Q6: Are there any specific formats for presentation titles?

A: No, there is no specific format for presentation titles, but there are approaches that can make it more effective. You can use descriptive words, wordplay, figures, or surprising facts.

There are infinite ways to make your presentation title catchy, and this article presented some of the proven techniques that work. In creating an attention-grabbing title, ensure your main message is not overshadowed or lost. Keep it relevant, concise, and clear!

Once your compelling headline is ready, designing your opening slide will be next.

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9 Ways to Write a Catchy Presentation Title

What’s the first thing the audience sees about your presentation before you begin the speech? The title! 

Before starting your presentation, you must grab your audience's attention from the first moment. With a bland title, your audience will likely lose interest before you start.

One of the best ways to engage your audience from the beginning is by using a catchy title.

After all, it is the first thing your audience will see before the presentation commences. The title informs your audience about what your presentation entails; hence, it must be appealing. It must ensure that your listeners find the presentation interesting. 

So, if you want your presentation title to stand out, here are some tips on how to write a catchy presentation title.

9 Tips for Writing a Catchy Presentation Title

Utilize the tricks below to create the perfect presentation title according to your audience.

1. Provide Relevant Information

People typically seek to gain answers to their questions from presentations. One way they can confirm if a presentation holds information relevant to their question is with the title.

"How-to" titles usually do the trick if you want to attract your viewers and let them know that you can solve their problems.

You usually do not need to create lengthy titles to explain your content, and a simple yet informative title would suffice. Your title should inform your listeners what they stand to gain and make them curious about what your presentation entails.

Examples of this include:

• How to engage an audience and keep their attention
• How to create a presentation worth listening to

2. Tell a Story

People love to hear stories . However, you do not need to limit your storytelling to the actual presentation. You can also include the power of a story in your title.

The story you tell does not necessarily need to be your own but should be relevant to your presentation and resonate with your audience.

This format works best if you plan on presenting a case study. Remember that this format demands that you create a story that tells viewers how someone or something got from one point to another.

For example, 'How A got to B." Ensure to use adjectives to showcase the transformation from point A to point B truly.

Example titles include:

• How a low-income household started earning significantly
• How a charitable organization created opportunities for uneducated children

3. Make Use of Numbers

Adding numbers to your presentation title can attract even those well-versed in the topic you plan on discussing.

For instance, "three tips on how to teach kindergartners" sounds better than "how to teach kindergarteners."

Even the best kindergarten teachers would be intrigued and want to find out what these three tips are.

The number you decide to use depends on your presentation. However, it is best to keep the number at a minimum. Typically, it would be best to aim for three, but you can go as high as five.

Using fewer points allows you to go into detail on each point explicitly. This way, you can fully explain each concept to allow your viewers to grasp each.

It also shows them that you know what you are talking about. Remember, it is best to present your topic more deeply than to discuss numerous concepts widely.

4. Keep Your Audience Wanting More

Another way to grab your viewers' attention is to pique their interest. Provoke their curiosity, and you can keep them hooked until the end of your presentation.

This format works best when you want to reveal a new research study. After all, people attend seminars, workshops, and conferences to learn about the latest discoveries in their fields. An example of this is:

• New research shows that the most optimal method to teach kindergarteners

This title suggests there is a new trick that kindergarten teachers can use in their classrooms to improve the teaching and learning experience. If you were a kindergarten teacher, wouldn't you be intrigued to find out what this presentation is all about?

Alternatively, you can use this format even if you do not have recent research results to reveal. All you need to do is evoke curiosity. Here is an example:

• The best strategy to teach a classroom full of kindergarteners

This title does not discuss any research information, but it would still make the viewer wonder what the "best strategy is.

5. Use Questions in the Title

You can use questions in your headline to attract listeners.

However, ensure that the questions are related to something they care about. Otherwise, you risk losing your audience's interest. The trick is to relate your question to the benefit of listening to your presentation. Examples of this include:

• Do you want to know the five things you are doing wrong as a blogger?
• Are you ready to start exercising? Start the right way

The question in your header does not always need to be a question. You can simply hint or imply it. An example of this is:

• That's right! Skincare products produce better results than you expect

6. Command Your Audience

Sometimes, the best way to grab and keep your viewer's attention is to be direct. As a professional, you should tell them the action to make or to act a certain way. Tell your viewers what these actions can lead to.

This format's point is to ask your audience "why," so this curiosity would make them want to hear what you have to say. Some examples titles include:

• Stop wasting time on things that do not matter
• Throw that negativity away and embrace positive change

7. Imply Privileged Information

We all love secrets and want to feel like we are in on something private. This is why creating titles that imply that you are providing information that only a few people know can draw attention to your presentation. Examples include:

• Secrets of teaching kindergartners
• Teaching techniques that only pros know

8. Offer Easy Solutions

You can attract people when you tell them they can easily learn to do something or do it in a short amount of time.

In your title, ensure not to mention the process because it would seem like a lot of work. Instead, focus on the viewer's motivation. Talk about the result of listening to your presentation. For example, you can use:

• Learn to stop procrastinating right now
• Best way to cook chicken in less than 30 minutes

People get excited when they know they can learn something new that would instantly show significant improvements in their lives.

9. Create a Cause for Concern

This title format is a powerful technique to make people come to your presentation. This is because the title makes them wonder if they are making mistakes.

Hence, they would be interested to know if they are truly making mistakes and how they can fix or learn from them. For example:

• Common mistakes kindergarten teachers make
• Currents flaw in biology teaching techniques

The titles do not have to be general, and you can base the title on your experience. In some cases, these titles work best because it makes you more relatable, and the audience would be more receptive to what you have to say. Here is an example:

• Three mistakes I made while teaching kindergarteners and how you can learn from them

Conclusion: Writing an Interesting Speech Title

After creating informative and thought-provoking content for their presentation, some people find it hard to title their work properly. However, writing a catchy presentation title is quite easy.

The best presentation titles do not have to be complex, but they should not be simple either. All you need to do is ensure that the title is catchy.

You want to be able to grab your viewers' attention and hold it till the end of your presentation . Hopefully, you can now do so using one of the tips in this article.

91 Awesome Headline Formulas To Make Your Presentations Instantly Attractive

Obvious fact of the day: If you have a boring headline, your audience will think your entire presentation is boring. Yes, that goes for your videos, email and every other medium you use to engage with your audience and tribe.

Which then leads to the second obvious fact of the day: The most important part of your presentation is the headline you choose. Which is why I’m so excited to give you this uber-valuable resource to use in your presentations and videos. In fact, this is something you can come back to every time you create a new presentation.

Before we get started, let me share the backstory why I created all this. It began a few months ago, when out of nowhere — something wild happened. We started to get several THOUSANDS of people signing up for our live trainings on how to ‘awesome-ize’ their presentations and videos. We were showing people how to write better scripts, tell more addictive stories, how to have automatic ‘wow-factors’ with their presentations, and a whole lot more.

After analyzing several thousand videos and presentations — I began to notice a not-very-cool pattern in our tribe. That is that in virtually every single presentation or video — the headlines people choose were not awesome and sometimes even boring . At Powtoon , we live, breathe and fight to make your presentations awesome. So when we saw how many presentations were using boring headlines — we knew it was time. It was time to release the ultimate list of awesome headline formulas.

Meaning that from now on, you’ll never have to worry about what headline to come up with for your video or presentation. So anytime you need a headline – just go back to this page and use the plug-n-play formulas below. And boom, you have an instantly attractive headline.

This List of Headline Formulas is For You, Whether You’re a Professional Copywriter or Not

If you’re a professional copywriter, you’ve probably seen tons of examples of the ‘best headlines ever written’ – but not the headline formulas . And if you’re NOT a professional copywriter, it’s extremely difficult to understand how to apply those winning headlines in YOUR presentations. So here’s the exciting news.

I’ve taken the most effective headlines ever written – and broke them down for you to use as headline formulas in your presentations, whenever you need. And I gave you specific examples with each formula. Ranging from sleeping babies to SaaS CEO’s to men’s fashion to piano players to investors to cooks to hand models to Jack Black and yes, even 82-year-old HTML coders. Oh — and even Batman. So yes, you can use ANY of these for your specific presentation, topic, and niche.

Plus, I’ve added a whole bunch of headline formulas that are brand spanking new. So get ready for a damn good time today.

For you to get the most out of this resource, here’s how to use it. Start with the 5 principles to make a headline effective:

Winning Headline Formulas: The 5 Principles of an Effective Headline

1. Address Your Specific Audience (Being vague or general = boring university)

2. Highlight the Specific Benefit or Outcome They Desire

3. Highlight the Specific Pain They Most Want to Avoid

4. Create Curiosity

5. Add Urgency

The term I chose for ‘Niche’ or ‘Audience’ is ‘Avatar’. An Avatar means the identity of your target market or tribe. So let’s say your tribe consists of university students — then anytime you see the word ‘Avatar’ below, just put in the title of your Avatar. That could be ‘University Students’ or even mention the specific university you’re addressing. Of course, this applies to ANY tribe — and it absolutely applies to YOUR tribe.

Caveat: these are not black and white formulas, so feel free to play around a little. You might want to add certain elements within some of the formulas. The main thing is being specific to your tribe and leveraging the 5 principles above.

Remember, the secret to making your headlines ridiculously attractive is by deeply understanding what your tribe WANTS. The more clarity you have on what your audience wants, the easier it’ll be for you to use these formulas with power.

Also — you can use some of these together. One of the formulas might be a great headline and another would be a perfect supporting headline for you. Mix it up!

As you’ll see below, for some of these headline formulas I gave specific examples. Now as a fun bonus — I’m here to help you get the most out of this list. So if you’d like some extra help making your headline irresistibly awesome — choose one of the formulas below, use it to craft your own headline and write it in the comment section below. If you’re curious about how to make it even more awesome — just ask, and I’ll help you make it even better.

Introducing: The 91 Awesome Headline Formulas

• The World was engrossed/ obsessed by [Person’s] [Action] in/at [Place] (i.e. ‘The world was engrossed by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony in the Brett Kavanaugh hearings.’)
• How I Made a [Gain] With a [Simple/Crazy/Wild Idea ] (i.e. ‘How I Got My Newborn to Sleep With a Cherry Red Gibson Guitar’)
• Are You Still [Painful/Embarrassing Things ]? (i.e. ‘Are You Still Biting Your Nails?’)
• There Are Only/Always [Number] Types of [Avatar] You Ever Want To [Result] – Which Group Are You In? (i.e. ‘There Are Only 4 Types of Employees You Ever Want To Hire – Which Group Are Your Employees In?’)
• To People Who Want To [Avatar’s Action] – but Can’t Get Started (i.e. ‘To Young Mothers Who Want To Have Their Own Business While Raising Their Kids – But Can’t Get Started’)
• The Crimes We Commit Against Our [Avatar] (i.e. ‘The Food Crimes We Commit Against Our Body’ or ‘The Creativity Crimes We Commit Against Our Employees’)
• These [Number] of [Avatar] Messed With [Product], See What Happened (i.e. ‘These 5 New Piano Players Messed With Piano-Hero, See What Happened’)
• The Death of [Avatar’s Niche] (i.e. ‘The Death of Old School Social Media’)
• How One Word Can Get You [Avatar’s Worry] (i.e. ‘How One Word Can Get You Fired’)
• Add This One _____ To Your _____ To Get a [Wild Result] (i.e. ‘Add This One Word In Your Menu To Get Your Customers To Order It, Every Single Time’)
• The Greatest Reason in The World To Start [What Avatar Wants To Achieve] (i.e. ‘The Greatest Reason In The World To Start Playing Chess’)
• The [Avatar] in the [Your Product/Service] (i.e. ‘The WalMart Cashier in the Ferrari’)
• How [Your Product] Is Making [Avatar’s Niche] History (i.e. ‘How My Newest Court Case Is Making Legal History’ or ‘How GM Dynamic Keyboards are Making PC History’)
• How To [Crime in Avatar’s Niche], Legally (i.e. ‘How To Get Cuban Cigars, Legally’)
• A Startling Fact About [Avatar’s Desired Gain] (i.e. ‘A Startling Fact About Your Doctors’ Success Rate’)
• [Celebrity] Is a [What They’re a Celebrity For]. S/He’s Also [Your Niche]. See How [Your Niche/Product] Helped Him/She Change The World (i.e. ‘Mark Zuckerburg Founded Facebook. He’s Also a Taurus. See How His Horoscope Helped Him Change The World’ or ‘Warren Buffet Is One of the Wealthiest People Alive. He’s Also From Omaha. See How Growing Up In Omaha Helped Him Become So Successful’)
• How To Write a [Avatar’s Needed Action] (i.e. ‘How To Write a Resume’)
• The Secrets of Making [Avatar’s Target Audience] [Gain Desired Benefit] (i.e. ‘The Secrets of Making The Dentists Office Fun Again’)
• Advice to [Avatar] Whose [Avatar’s Challenging Person] Won’t [Avatar’s Needed Action] (i.e. ‘Advice To Single Mothers Whose Families Won’t Help Them’ or ‘Advice to CEO’s Whose Employees Won’t Listen To Them.’)
• How a New [Discovery/App] Made a Plain/Ugly [Avatar] [Avatar’s Desired Gain] (i.e. ‘How My New Software Made an Ugly Website Beautiful…In 24 Minutes’ or’How a New Organic Supplement Made a Headache Disappear…Fast’)
• How to Get/Win [Avatar’s Desired Benefit] and [Avatar’s Secondary Benefit] (i.e. ‘How To Get Your Child To Respect & Listen To You…And Still Be a Cool Parent’)
• How to [Avatar’s Action] without [Avatar’s #1 Worry] (i.e. ‘How to Get a Flood of New Chiropractor Clients Without Paying a Penny In Advertising’)
• Think [Avatar’s Niche] Is Just For _____? Meet This [Surprising Person] Who Might Disagree With You On That (i.e. ‘Think HTML Is Just For Young Coders? Meet This 82-Year-Old Grandma Who Might Just Disagree With You On That’)
• A New Kind of [Avatar’s Niche] Encourages [Avatar] To [Desired Result] (i.e. ‘A New Kind of Office Design Encourages Employees To Stay Longer At Work’)
• You Can Laugh at [Avatar’s Niche] Worries – if You Follow This Simple Plan (i.e. ‘You Can Laugh at Your Money Worries – If You Follow This Simple Plan’)

[Number] Known [X] Troubles – Which do You Want to Overcome? (i.e. ’10 Known Health Troubles – Which do you Want To Overcome?’)

• How I Improved My [X] in One [Time] (i.e. ‘How I Improved My Cooking Skills For My Family In One Afternoon’)
• Use/Do [Avatar’s Niche]? You Need This [Numbered Content] of [Avatar’s Resources] (i.e. ‘Exercise Much? You Need This List of 10 Post Workout Recipes’)
• New Free [Resource] Tells You [Number] Secrets of Better [Benefit] (i.e. ‘New Free Webinar Shows You The 12 Secrets of Better Family Vacations’)
• The Secret to Being [Avatar’s Desired Outcome] (i.e. ‘The Secret To Being a Woman That Every Man Wants’)
• To [Avatar] Who Want to Quit [What Avatar Wants to Avoid] While [X] (i.e. ‘To Loving Fathers Who Want To Quit Their Cubicle-Job While Their Kids Are Still Young’)

Imagine [Avatar’s Big Desire] for/in [Short Amount of Time] (i.e. ‘Imagine Being Able To Protect Yourself Like Batman, In Just 62 Days’)

• We Analyzed [Big Number] The Most Successful [Avatar’s Niche] of All Time & Discovered This Secret to [Avatar’s Desired Result] (i.e. ‘We Analyzed 174 of The Most Successful High Schools In American History to Discover The Secret to Successful Education’)
• Thousands Now [X] Who Never Thought They Could (i.e. ‘Thousands of Senior Citizens Now Create iPhone Apps – Who Never Thought They Could’)
• [Avatar’s Desired Action] for [Short Amount of Time] Will [Achieve Desired Result]. Here’s How (i.e. ‘Being Lazy for 45 Minutes a Day Will Make You More Productive. Here’s How’)
• Get the Kind of [X] You Want (i.e. ‘Get the Kind of S.A.T Score You Want’)
• Why [Your Product Consumers] Live Better (i.e. ‘Why Beer Drinkers Live Better’)

“Dear [Your Name Here]: You Saved My Life” (i.e. ‘Dear Uber Driver: You Saved My Life’)

• [Avatar]! Want Quick [X]? (i.e. ‘English Teachers! Want Extra Income on the Side?’)
• You May Be [Doing X] More [Avatar’s Enemy] Than You Should (i.e. ‘You May Be Working Harder Than You Should’)
• Get Rid of That [Avatar’s Enemy]! (i.e. ‘Get Rid of That Crack In Your iPhone’)
• How You can Get a Quick [X] of [Desired Outcome] – By [Using Your Product] (i.e. ‘How You Can Get a Quick, Lasting Burst of Energy In Your Day – By Snacking on This Vegetable’)
• Become a [Desired Benefit] [Avatar Title] With [Your Product/Resource] (i.e. ‘Look Like James Bond With These 5 Style Hacks’)
• How To Get More [Desired Benefit] From The [X] You [Already Take This Action] (i.e. ‘How To Get More Money From The Job You Already Have’)
• See How [Avatar]’s Life/Career Changed When They Started [Using Your Product] (i.e. ‘See How One Stylist’s Career Changed When They Started Using Johnson & Johnson’s New Conditioner)
• Wow! [Celebrity Name] [Doing Surprising Action] In [Surprising Location/Publication] (i.e. ‘Wow! Jack Black Does Bikram Yoga On Set Before Any Shoot’)
• See [Your Product] In Action (i.e. ‘See #Slides In Action’)
• How I [Achieved Result] in [Short Amount of Time] (i.e. ‘How I Got a 6-Pack In 32 Days’)
• You Can [Achieve Desired Result] Easily – Just Like [Person] (i.e. ‘You Can Learn Spanish Easily – Just Like David’)
• Get Rid of [Avatar’s] Worries for Good (i.e. ‘Get Rid of Blood Pressure Worries For Good’)

Keep Your [X] safe This [Current/Upcoming Season]! (i.e. ‘Keep Your School Safe This Summer Vacation’)

• Free to [Avatar]. [Action] for [Major Media/Publications/Company] You Want. (i.e. ‘Free to Members of our Gym. Be Featured In Any Fitness Magazine You Want’)
• The [Avatar’s Tool] of the [Avatar’s Desired Title] (i.e. ‘The Only Watch of YPO Presidents’)

For [Avatars] Who Don’t Have [Resource] for [X] (i.e. ‘For Bloggers Who Don’t Have Time for SEO’)

• How To Avoid [X] Hazards (i.e. ‘How To Avoid Employee Lawsuits’)
• Break Out/Stop of [Bad Habit]! (i.e. ‘Stop Overeating’)
• Free Yourself From [X] With [Number] of these [Avatar’s Niche] Secrets (i.e. ‘Free Yourself From Anger With 4 of these Meditation Techniques’)
• What Sort of [Avatar] [Takes Action With Your Product]? (i.e. ‘What Sort of Driver Reads Road & Track’)
• Will You Help me [X]? (i.e. ‘Will You Help Me Rebuild Our Community?’)
• Don’t Even Think About [X] Without Reading This Report! (i.e. ‘Don’t Even Think About Suicide Without First Reading This Letter’)
• Why [Avatar] [Achieves Exciting Result] (i.e. ‘Why Grammar School Teachers Live Longer’)
• The Secret of Having [X] (i.e. ‘The Secret of Having a Business That Runs Without You’)
• How To [Benefit] by just [Doing Simple Actions] (i.e. ‘How To Swim Like an Olympian By Just Doing This One Stretch Before Going In The Pool’)
• How To [Desired Outcome] Without [X] for [Minimal Output] (i.e. ‘How To Write Perfect Headlines Without Breaking Your Teeth In Just 90 Seconds’)
• [Number] Steps to [Outcome] (i.e. ‘4 Steps to a Passionate Marriage’)
• How To [Action] a [Desired Outcome] and [Extra Benefit] ( i.e. How To Win at Poker & Make Extra Money on The Side’)
• Who is [Getting Desired Outcome] and How (i.e. ‘Who Always Feels Like They’re In Zen At Work…and How’)
• How The Experts [Actions] (i.e. ‘How The Experts Do Sit-Ups’)
• Want to Be a [Avatar Title]? (i.e. ‘Want To Be a Hand Model?’)
• How To [Action] a Good [Outcome] (i.e. ‘How To Cook a Great Dinner In Just 15 Minutes’)
• But What if You Could [Desired Benefit]? (i.e. ‘But What if You Could Get Dry Cleaning at Home?’)
• Meet The [Avatar] Who [Achieved The Impossible] (i.e. ‘Meet The Homeless Man Who Became an Expert Investor’)
• How To [Achieve Desired Result], Hour-by-Hour (i.e. ‘How To Meditate Like a Buddhist Monk, Minute-By-Minute’)
• Is Your [Location] [ ‘X’] Poor? (i.e. ‘Is Your Neighborhood Park-Benches Poor?’)
• Why Some [Avatars] Almost Always [Achieve Desired Outcome] in [Location]? (i.e. ‘Why These Salons Almost Always Make More Money In Detroit’)
• How Much is Your [Thing You Wish Was Gone] Costing Your [X]? (i.e. ‘How Much Is Your Extra Fat Costing Your Grocery Budget Every Month?’)
• [Number] New Ways to a [X’s] Heart – in This fascinating Presentation/Report/Book/Review (i.e. ’10 New Ways To a Man’s Heart – In This Fascinating Presentation’)
• How To Give Your [Avatar] Extra [Desired Benefit] – 3 [Surprising Word] Ways (i.e. ‘How To Give Your Grandaughter Extra Savings For College – 3 Simple Ways’)
• Little [Problem] That Keep [Avatars] [Pain] (i.e. ‘Little WordPress Bugs That Keep Your Blog From Being Found’)
• This is a [Avatar] – [Action] To Her Death (i.e. ‘This is a CEO – Working To Their Death’)
• Take This One Minute Test!
• Here Is a Quick way to [Remove Pain] (i.e. ‘Here is a Quick Way to Relieve Stress’)
• “I lost my [Pain] – and [Got Benefit] too!” (i.e. ‘I got rid of all my debt – and made $42,000 too!’)

The Truth About Getting [Benefit] (i.e. ‘The Truth About Owning Your Own Restaurant’)

• The Most [Pain] Mistake of Your Life (i.e. ‘The Most Expensive Mistake of Your Life’)
• [Number] ways to [X] Your [Thing Avatar is Avoiding] (i.e. ’21 Ways to Kill Your Procrastination’)
• Need More [Desired Outcome]? (i.e. ‘Need More Passion In Your Marriage?’)
• What Your [X] Doesn’t Want You to Know (i.e. ‘What Your Bank Doesn’t Want You to Know’)
• [X] scandal reveals that more than [Number] of [Avatar’s] [What’s Valuable to Avatar] was [Bad Consequence] (i.e. Facebook’s Cambridge Analytica scandal revealed that more than 50 million people’s personal information was compromised for “research”‘)
• [Gain] Hiding In Your [Avatar’s Location] (i.e. ‘5 Optimization Secrets Hiding In Your YouTube Analytics’)
• A Little Mistake That Cost a [Title of Avatar] [Painful Loss] a [Time] (i.e. ‘A Little Mistake That Cost a SaaS CEO $50,000 a Month’)

BONUS HEADLINE: FINALLY! Here’s How To Get [Benefit A] & [Benefit B]…without [Pain] (i.e. ‘FINALLY! Here’s How To Get More Omega 3 & Calcium…Without Buying Expensive Supplements!’)

Awesomesauce… Now Tell Me, Which Of These Headline Formulas Is Your Favorite?

Use this page as a resource anytime you need some ridiculously attractive headline formulas for your presentations. This goes for your email subject lines, videos, blog posts, and even proposals. So let me know, which of these 91 headline formulas is your favorite? Which do you plan on using…this week?

The fun thing is that you can be as creative as you want with these bad boys — and they work every time. As long as you use the 5 principles above, your audience is going to fall in love with you all over again. My favorite part is how creative I can be with any one of these. It’s not difficult because it boils down to following the process I laid out for you. So go ahead and WOW your audience with these puppies. Using these headline formulas with Powtoon is almost too powerful — so don’t say I didn’t warn you. Use these headlines with a Powtoon template and your audience will be calling you a creative genius.

Bonus Round: Use These 11 Rocking Resources To Find Even More Explosive Headline Formulas

Here are a few resources to use along with this page to find winning headline formulas anytime you need:

1. UpWorthy (Yes, it’s their headlines which took them viral, so pay close attention to them)

2. Swiped (Love Mike, he’s doing what no one else is doing. Check his site out for genius swipe files of winning headlines)

3. Buffer (Here’s a great post they did on headline formulas)

4. CopyBlogger (Here’s their great post on headline formulas)

5. Unbounce + CopyHacker’s Joanna Weibe (This is advanced and awesome. Some ‘meta-strategies’ on headline formulas)

6. KISSmetrics (Love their ‘SHINE’ principle for headlines)

7. Digital Marketer (Russ Henneberry dedicated an entire post to headline formulas for social media. And yes, notice his killer headline for it!)

8. Greatist – (An ultimate health and wellness website with a plethora of genius headlines to learn from)

9. OkDork – (Noah Kagan founded AppSumo & SumoMe. He’s awesome. Here’s what was learned after analyzing 1 Million Headlines)

10. Buffer Wins Again ( Courtney Seiter from Buffer explains 8 winning headline formulas and the psychology why they work)

11. QuickSprout (We love Neil Patel and so will you after reading his post on the ‘perfect headline formula’)

As our final and fun bonus – I’m here to help you get the most out of this list. So if you’d like some extra help making your headline irresistible — choose one of the formulas above, use it to craft your own headline, and write it in the comment section below. If you’re curious about how to make it even more awesome — just ask, and I’ll help you make it even better.

You’re awesome!

P.S.  Then again, sometimes a headline can just be two words. This was voted the best ad of the 20th century . With a simple Headline: ‘Think Small’.

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Catchy Presentation Titles Are the Start of a Great Presentation

A Catchy Presentation Title is Important for Audience Satisfaction

Think about the last time you went to a conference that has multiple breakout sessions going at the same time. If you are like most people, you first scanned the list of titles. Almost instantly, you eliminated a few based solely on the topic or title. The titles that you looked at created an impression of the speech. Once you narrowed down your choices, only then do you move on to the description, etc. In that instant where you were scanning the titles, though, you probably had this inner monologue going. “Hhhmmmm… Nope. Not worth my time. Nope. Sounds boring. Nope. That one is unrelated to anything of interest to me. Aaahhh… That one might be okay.”

One of the real, closely-held, public speaking secrets is that every audience member has this inner monologue . This inner monologue occurs before every single meeting and every single presentation that we attend. In most cases, just as when we looked at the breakout session list, the answer we receive is, “Nope. This seems like a waste of my time.”

Examples of Presentation Titles that Make People Yawn

Here are a few titles that tell the audience that your presentation will be a snoozefest.

• Quarterly Financial Report
• Software Update
• Project Report
• Goals for 20__ [Fill in Your Own Year]
• Why We Need to Make Changes in Our Internal Processes

It is our job as the presentation designer (or deliverer) to make people want to pay attention to us. If you start with a great title, you are more likely to accomplish this task.

Presentation Title Generator

Follow this step-by-step approach, and your audience will want to hear you speak.

Create a One-Sentence Statement of What Your Topic is About.

• We Exceeded Our Corporate Goals and Increased Profit Last Quarter.
• The New Software Update Closed a Few Security Risks for Our Customers.
• The ABC Building Project is Behind Schedule.
• This Year, We Will Increase Revenue by $200,000 by Focusing on Repeat Business.
• Department Heads Need to Communicate Team Activities Better.

Just by forcing yourself to make your title into a complete sentence, you will narrow the topic down dramatically. If you look at the difference between the first list and the second, the second is more interesting already.

Identify Why the Audience Would Care About this Topic?

• Your Quarterly Bonus Has Increased.
• Your Customers are Less Likely to Experience a Data Breach.
• If We Adjust Our Plan, We Can Get Back on Schedule without Incurring Overruns.
• Your Commissions Will Also Increase.
• You Can Reduce Your Overall Department Costs.

Although we like to think that department heads care deeply about company revenue and profit, in reality, most of us are pretty self-centered. However, the department heads care very deeply about their bonuses. Outside of the tech folks, no one really cares about website security. However, if a company has a data breach, the entire company will have new challenges to deal with.

Combine the Sentence in Step #1 With the Benefit in Step #2.

Now that you have the two pieces, just put them together. When you do, you will create a series of catchy presentation titles .

• We Exceeded Our Corporate Goals and Increased Profit Last Quarter, So Your Quarterly Bonus Has Also Increased.
• Your Customers are Less Likely to Experience a Data Breach Because We Closed a Few Security Risks in the Recent Update.
• If We Adjust the Project Plan on the ABC Building, We Can Get Back on Schedule without Incurring Overruns.
• This Year, We Will Increase Revenue by $200,000 (And Commissions by $25,000) by Focusing on Repeat Business.
• If We as Department Heads Can Communicate Our Team’s Activities Better, We Should Be Able to Reduce Department Cost Significantly.

Maybe these presentation titles aren’t perfect, but you have to admit, they are dramatically better, now.

Compare the Two Titles

Originally, we had, “Quarterly Financial Report.” We ended up with, We Exceeded Our Corporate Goals and Increased Profit Last Quarter, So Your Quarterly Bonus Has Also Increased.” Which would you rather sit through? Guess what? Your audience thinks the same way. So, if you want to catch the attention of your audience right away, realize that catch presentation titles can help.

By the way, once you have a great title, the post called How to Design a Presentation Quickly is a good second step. In addition, we have a free Online Speech Creator that walks you through the entire process step-by-step. Also, make sure to visit our 101 public speaking tips blog post.

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Best Practices for Creating Strong Slide Headers

April 9, 2023 / Blog

Slide headers are a fundamental component of any presentation. They serve as the first point of contact between the presenter and the audience, capturing attention and setting the stage for what’s to come.

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Let’s discover the best practices for creating powerful slide headers that grab attention, communicate the main idea of the slide, and set the tone for the rest of the presentation.

Align slide headers with the overall message

Your slide headers should not exist in isolation; they should support the content and purpose of the slide, as well as the overall theme or goal of your presentation.

Ensure that the language and tone of your slide header are consistent with the rest of your slides, creating a cohesive and seamless flow throughout your presentation. Your slide headers should act as cues that guide your audience through the main points you want to convey.

When your slide headers are aligned with your overall message, they create a unified and impactful presentation that resonates with your audience .

Test slide headers with the “3-Second Rule”

The “3-Second Rule” is a simple yet effective way to test the effectiveness of your slide headers. It helps ensure that your slide headers are concise, impactful, and immediately resonate with your audience.

Within three seconds of looking at your slide, your audience should be able to grasp the main message of your slide header. If it takes longer than that, it may be too complex or not clear enough.

Test your slide header with colleagues or friends to get feedback. Then, make adjustments to ensure it communicates the main message quickly and effectively. The “3-Second Rule”.

Keep slide headers concise and focused

In today’s fast-paced world, attention spans are short, and presenters have limited time to make an impression—that’s why it’s crucial to keep your slide headers concise and focused.

Limit your header to one clear, specific message that effectively communicates the main idea of the slide. Avoid using complex, overwhelming, or confusing headers that might confuse your audience. Instead, use strong, action-oriented words that grab attention and convey your message succinctly.

Overall, your slide header should provide a snapshot of the slide, allowing your audience to understand your message quickly.

Make slide headers visually appealing

The visual aspect of your slide header is equally important in creating a strong impact.

Choose a font and size that are easy to read, even from a distance. Consider using contrasting colors for visibility and impact. Incorporate relevant visuals or icons that align with the slide’s content and purpose, and enhance the overall visual appeal of your header.

A visually appealing slide header can create an immediate impression and set the tone for the rest of your presentation. It can also help reinforce your message and make it more memorable for your audience.

A strong slide header sets the stage for a compelling presentation and captures your audience’s attention from the very beginning, helping you create a memorable and impactful presentation experience. By following these practices, you can create slide headers that are concise, visually appealing, aligned with your overall message, and effectively communicate your key messages to your audience.

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How to write a catchy presentation title

Sep 15, 2022

Posted by: Gemma King

Title writing.

It’s not as easy as you might think.

Take this article, for example. Can we really call an article about writing catchy titles “How to write a catchy title”? It’s hardly… well, catchy.

Fortunately for you, your presentation title doesn’t need to be anywhere near as functional. You don’t have to be easy to find when people google advice. You’ve got (almost) free rein to come up with something truly catchy.

That comes with its own challenges too, of course.

So I’ve gathered together some top tips from Steve Rawling of Storyteller Tactics , and the internet at large.

Let’s get to work!

Why do you need to write a catchy presentation title?

For optional-attendance events, your title needs to catch the attention of your audience enough for them to consider attending. It doesn’t matter how good anything else you have prepared is, if they don’t like the title, they’ll never get to see any of that stuff.

Of course, for many work-related presentations, your audience is pretty much guaranteed. It’s a work thing, so the people who need to be there, will be. Even then, a catchy title is important to set the tone of the session. And you don’t want that tone to be boring, do you?

We want attendees who feel anticipation, not dread or (worse) indifference.

That’s the Why; here are some Hows.

Techniques for writing catchy presentation titles

Buckle up, we’re starting with… worms!

Our community recently explored Mindworms in a live session to discover why some ideas stick in our minds and our memories while others fade into obscurity. Here are some key points you can apply to writing titles. If you include a handful of these things, you’re on the right track:

• Simplicity : is it easy to understand and repeat?
• Unexpectedness : is it surprising in some way?
• Concreteness : does it paint a clear picture?
• Emotionality : does it evoke hopes and/or fears or engage our sense of identity ?
• Storyness : does it describe some sort of causal chain (cause and effect)?
• Sensory : does it include elements like touch, smell or taste?
• Repetitiveness : are any elements or words repeated to help it stick?
• Rhyme : do you have any rhyming words that will help people recall it easily?
• Metaphors : can you use a metaphor to simplify the message?

I’d also consider adding alliteration and humour to this list; the latter particularly if it’s an internal-facing presentation with a known audience.

For example, you might not be particularly enthused about joining a session called: ‘ First-quarter Financial Report on Product X ’ (although it does use concreteness in mentioning ‘first quarter’ and is easy to understand).

You might be slightly more enthusiastic about ‘ Breakeven and beyond; Project X’s first quarter ’, and positively excited about ‘ Product X; the cash cow whose milk smells like success ’. The first employs hope (‘breakeven and beyond’), which is an emotion, as well as being simple and concrete. The second uses a metaphor (cow/milk), sensory words (smell), emotions are evoked (success) and is unexpected. Perhaps too unexpected, but it takes all kinds!

Story approaches

Every good story needs a title, so it’s no surprise that Steve Rawling, Author of Storyteller Tactics, has also covered this topic.

We can start off with the Secrets and Puzzles Storyteller Tactic - a fantastic way to format your presentation, by the way. But even if you don’t use it throughout your talk, you can use it in your title. People love secrets and puzzles. And you can create the sense of a secret about to be shared, or a puzzle to be solved, by using specific ‘keywords’:

• Secret, confidential, insider, exclusive, hidden, restricted, banned, untold, forgotten.
• Puzzle, riddle, odd, bizarre, unexpected, ironic, paradox, peculiar, mystery.

But remember - and this is important - if you promise a secret or something puzzling, you must deliver. As Steve says, the use of these words without any type of secret is just clickbait.

So let’s try the exercise again. Can you think of a better way to phrase this title? ‘ Exit interview data: 2022 learnings ’.

The presentation sounds like it’ll talk through the findings of HR’s interviews with team members who have left since the start of the year. This is prime material for a secret-inspired headline (what secrets did the interviews hold?) or a puzzle (how can the data be used to inspire change?).

Something like “ Famous last words; what secrets do 2022’s exit interviews hold? ” or “ Unexpected push factors: can 2022’s exit interviews catalyse change? ”. Both of these are concrete (giving a specific time frame), simple enough for the specialised audience to understand and promise something secretive or surprising.

If there doesn’t seem to be an appropriate secret or puzzle, there are lots of other Storyteller Tactics cards you can use to inspire an intriguing title. For example, Order & Chaos , Good & Evil and Curious Tales .

Another great Storyteller Tactic to use when searching for the perfect title is That’s Funny . It has you pick out something about your presentation/story that is a bit odd and makes you go “ Hmm, that’s funny… ”, or perhaps a person that is acting unusually. Something a little bit out of the ordinary (and unexpected) is a good way to reel people in. And talking of reeling people in…

Finally, Story Hooks is a fantastic tool. Steve looked at 1,000 TED talks to look for story hooks in their titles. He found a tonne of useful approaches: questions, surprises, ironies, relatability, superlatives and of course - knowledge. The promise that you will impart your hard-earned experience, in simple language, so that others may benefit from it, is a powerful one.

Other title-writing tricks to try

The internet is full of suggestions, some great and some utterly absurd. This list sticks to the former category! Pick a couple that are relevant to your presentation and give them a whirl.

• Use your title to create a knowledge vacuum. Is the content of your talk going to change something big? "This talk could change the way we talk to customers forever" - it lets people know that they'll be missing out on something important if they don't pay attention.
• Look for inspiration elsewhere. Probably not in your own calendar - catchy titles are still not the norm in most industries! Look at events online - or local newspaper headlines. They are rife with creativity (a little too much of it, sometimes!).
• Ask a question ; it gets people thinking about the answer straight away! And once they have started wondering, they'll be invested in finding out what the real answer is.

And we might be biased here, but the Pip Club newsletter (Pip's Practical Prompts) is a goldmine if you're looking for catchy titles and punchy, shorthand content inspiration. 

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The art of the headline: How to make your PowerPoint slides stand out

Why write strong headlines?

Are you a recent grad who is just starting to build presentations in your professional career? If so, then you know how important it is to make a good impression on your audience. But how do you create presentations that are engaging and effective?

Even if you're a few years out of school and into your career, you could also be overlooking one of the simplest changes that could make your presentations much stronger.

Weak headlines

Are you writing weak slide headlines?

There are a few reasons why most people write bad PowerPoint slide headlines and not even know it.

One reason is that they may not realize the importance of a strong headline. A headline is often the first thing that a person sees on a slide, and it can have a big impact on how the rest of the presentation is perceived. Therefore, it's important to take the time to craft a strong, effective headline for each slide.

Another reason why people may write bad PowerPoint slide headlines because they may not know how to write a good headline. Writing a strong headline takes practice and skill, and not everyone is naturally good at it. I know it took me a while get a hang of it myself!

A third reason people may write bad PowerPoint slide headlines is that they may not put enough time and effort into crafting their headlines. It's easy to throw together a quick, generic headline and move on to the next slide, but this can result in weak, uninteresting headlines that don't do your presentation justice.

Strong headlines

To write strong headlines, you need to take the time to think about your message, your audience, and the purpose of each slide, and then craft a headline that reflects this information.

• Make it clear and concise. A good headline should clearly and concisely convey the main point of the slide. Avoid using vague or overly complex language, and try to keep your headline to a single sentence or phrase if possible.
• Make it relevant. Your headline should be directly related to the content of the slide, and should provide context or background information that will help your audience understand and engage with the rest of the presentation.
• Make it interesting. A strong headline should be interesting and engaging, and should grab the attention of your audience. Try to use language that is lively and interesting, and avoid using dull or generic phrases like "Introduction" or "Conclusion."
• Make a point. A strong headline should make a point, rather than simply describing the information on the slide. It should have a point of view and provide context or background information that will help your audience understand and engage with the rest of your presentation.
• Use active language. A strong headline should use active language that is lively and engaging. Avoid using passive or dull language that doesn't grab the attention of your audience or convey your message effectively.
• Be specific. A strong headline should be specific and focused, rather than vague or general. Avoid using broad, generic phrases like "Introduction" or "Conclusion," and instead use language that is specific to the content of the slide and the overall message of your presentation.
• Use keywords. A strong headline should include keywords that are relevant to the content of the slide and the overall topic of your presentation. This will help your audience understand the purpose of the slide and make it easier for them to follow along with the rest of your presentation.
• Avoid unnecessary words. A strong headline should be concise and to the point, and should avoid using unnecessary words or filler phrases. Keep your headline short and focused, and only include the information that is necessary to convey your message effectively.

Here are a few examples of strong and weak headlines that you can use as a guide:

Strong headlines:

• "How our new technology is transforming the industry"
• "The top five trends that will impact your business in the next year"
• "Why our company is the best choice for your needs"

Weak headlines:

• "Company history"
• "Our products"
• "Q4 results"

Here's a visual example from a workshop for new grads and non-business majors I'm currently working on.

As you can see, strong headlines make a point and are supported by the content on the slide, while weak headlines simply state the topic of the slide and leave it up to the audience to make their own conclusions from the content.

In conclusion, writing strong headlines for your PowerPoint slides is an important part of creating an effective presentation. By following the tips above, you can craft good slide headlines that grab the attention of your audience, provide context and background information, and help ensure that your message is understood and remembered.

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Secrets to Writing Great Headlines and Brief Bullets in PowerPoint

• August 26, 2013
• Kevin Lerner

PowerPoint Users: Discover how to write headlines beyond flat fragments of fluff and boring bullets of blah for maximum presentation impact and authority.

Ha! You’re looking at this article! Chances are it was because of a compelling headline. Our eyes are naturally drawn to words of intrigue and curiosity. A title of “PowerPoint headline and bullet writing” might not have been as compelling. Headlines and bullets- whether in PowerPoint, Keynote, or Prezi- should hold that same eye-catching intrigue if you’re looking for you and your presentations to stand-out and be remembered.

1. Listen & Look

There are great examples of headlines all around us in all mediums; succulent enticing text that compel us to tune-in, read-on, or click here. Pay attention to the topics that grab you…and aim for the same attention-getting power in your presentation headlines. It may seem corny at first, but you’ll soon see more heads looking at you and the screen, than down looking at their cell phone or clock.

2. Think like a Tweeter

Twitter is a great tool to gain insights into headline writing; short simple statements of intrigue in under 160 characters. Adopt a similar strategy, aiming for fewer than 10 words in your presentation headlines.

3. A Head-Turning Headline: Catchy, Curious, & Compelling

When building a presentation, it maybe helpful to write-out a title that’s a simple basic fragmented sentence, or just a few words. But head-turning titles are Catchy, Curious and Compelling. They catch your eye, making you think and compelling you to want to know more.

Ask a question. Write a provocative statement. Tell them why they should listen or read-on. Short conversational words are best, eliminating any jargon or ambiguity. The headline can either stand-alone, or be supported by bullets and/or graphics.

4. Write Like an SEO Guru

Presentation headlines should be written similar to how a website blog headline would be written: a short, compelling statement aimed at generating clicks and readership. For presentations, aim to answer the viewer’s underlying interest in solving a problem or getting more information. Or – as in the case above- work to consolidate the top-level bullet with the headline.

Ask yourself: “If someone in my audience was searching for this slide, what would they search for?” Write your headline with that search concept in mind with fundamental keywords in the title.

This is especially helpful if you’re creating a presentation for an external audience, and placing the presentation online. Your presentation will have a good chance of appearing in Google if the headline and presentation titles are reflective of what your audience is searching for.

5. Headlines summarize the slide

Headlines are the high-level story of the presentation. In business presentations, executives often scan the presentation for keywords and takeaway points. Well-written headlines should guide the reader along through the presentation summarizing each page, distilling the supporting bullets or detail, and weaving a compelling story. This is especially important if there’s no presenter, or if the presentation is a standalone or printed deck.

In the example above the first version (Before) has a neutral headline “Safety Record.” The updated headline is more active and summarizes the charted data and information.

Fragmented sentence headlines (“Introduction”), while easy to write, do little to hook the audience and tell the story. But it’s best to aim for full-sentences of summation in the headlines of your presentation. You may, however, wish to use fragments or key words “Intro, example 1, etc.” for presentation sections or topic slides.

Some business presentations use takeaway messages, summarizing messages usually at the bottom of a page. Try to merge the title and takeaway points; you’ll have a cleaner, more open-spacious presentation with a more focused message. Less is more.

6. Don’t repeat the headline in the body of your slide.

The text or bullets of the presentation should support the slide headline…not duplicate it! Aim to keep your bullets brief and supportive of the slide’s headline, using similar- but not identical- words.

7. Fragment your bullets

Just as we aim to write short simple sentences for our headlines, we should aim to keep our bullets simple and concise also. But, unlike the titles where a short sentence is our goal, our goal in a solid bullet is a concise sentence fragment. There’s no need for a full in-depth sentence, especially if the presentation will be delivered by a speaker.

Aim to ditch most modifiers including extra adjectives, adverbs and action words. But look for ways to say the same message in fewer words.

8. Avoid all unnecessary words that you can find to help make the page more appealing and easier to understand*.

*This headline above can be edited to three words: “Avoid unnecessary words.”

Repeatedly read through the presentation with a critical eye. What can be eliminated? Merged? Restated more simply? Call on a friend or collague for assistance; eventually you’ll start writing short potent headlines perfectly.

9. No Orphans

Whenever you see one lovebird, you usually see another; these friends of a feather always flock together. Similarly, aim to avoid single-item bullets. Called “orphans” these one bullet items usually indicate another bullet is nearby. Indeed, one bullet demands a second bullet (that’s why they’re called bullets).

On single-item points, aim to combine the item with the topic/headline. Or remove the bullet symbol and keep the text as a subpoint of the main point.

“The Presentation” should not be viewed as document, but rather a graphical medium to help underscore key messages. Through regular practice of reviewing your presentation, you’ll find opportunities to trim the text and say more with less…leaving the text to the paper.

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How to present a research paper in PPT: best practices

A research paper presentation is frequently used at conferences and other events where you have a chance to share the results of your research and receive feedback from colleagues. Although it may appear as simple as summarizing the findings, successful examples of research paper presentations show that there is a little bit more to it.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the basic outline and steps to create a good research paper presentation. We’ll also explain what to include and what not to include in your presentation of research paper and share some of the most effective tips you can use to take your slides to the next level.

Research paper PowerPoint presentation outline

Creating a PowerPoint presentation for a research paper involves organizing and summarizing your key findings, methodology, and conclusions in a way that encourages your audience to interact with your work and share their interest in it with others. Here’s a basic research paper outline PowerPoint you can follow:

1. Title (1 slide)

Typically, your title slide should contain the following information:

• Title of the research paper
• Affiliation or institution
• Date of presentation

2. Introduction (1-3 slides)

On this slide of your presentation, briefly introduce the research topic and its significance and state the research question or objective.

3. Research questions or hypothesis (1 slide)

This slide should emphasize the objectives of your research or present the hypothesis.

4. Literature review (1 slide)

Your literature review has to provide context for your research by summarizing relevant literature. Additionally, it should highlight gaps or areas where your research contributes.

5. Methodology and data collection (1-2 slides)

This slide of your research paper PowerPoint has to explain the research design, methods, and procedures. It must also Include details about participants, materials, and data collection and emphasize special equipment you have used in your work.

6. Results (3-5 slides)

On this slide, you must present the results of your data analysis and discuss any trends, patterns, or significant findings. Moreover, you should use charts, graphs, and tables to illustrate data and highlight something novel in your results (if applicable).

7. Conclusion (1 slide)

Your conclusion slide has to summarize the main findings and their implications, as well as discuss the broader impact of your research. Usually, a single statement is enough.

8. Recommendations (1 slide)

If applicable, provide recommendations for future research or actions on this slide.

9. References (1-2 slides)

The references slide is where you list all the sources cited in your research paper.

10. Acknowledgments (1 slide)

On this presentation slide, acknowledge any individuals, organizations, or funding sources that contributed to your research.

11. Appendix (1 slide)

If applicable, include any supplementary materials, such as additional data or detailed charts, in your appendix slide.

The above outline is just a general guideline, so make sure to adjust it based on your specific research paper and the time allotted for the presentation.

Steps to creating a memorable research paper presentation

Creating a PowerPoint presentation for a research paper involves several critical steps needed to convey your findings and engage your audience effectively, and these steps are as follows:

Step 1. Understand your audience:

• Identify the audience for your presentation.
• Tailor your content and level of detail to match the audience’s background and knowledge.

Step 2. Define your key messages:

• Clearly articulate the main messages or findings of your research.
• Identify the key points you want your audience to remember.

Step 3. Design your research paper PPT presentation:

• Use a clean and professional design that complements your research topic.
• Choose readable fonts, consistent formatting, and a limited color palette.
• Opt for PowerPoint presentation services if slide design is not your strong side.

Step 4. Put content on slides:

• Follow the outline above to structure your presentation effectively; include key sections and topics.
• Organize your content logically, following the flow of your research paper.

Step 5. Final check:

• Proofread your slides for typos, errors, and inconsistencies.
• Ensure all visuals are clear, high-quality, and properly labeled.

Step 6. Save and share:

• Save your presentation and ensure compatibility with the equipment you’ll be using.
• If necessary, share a copy of your presentation with the audience.

By following these steps, you can create a well-organized and visually appealing research paper presentation PowerPoint that effectively conveys your research findings to the audience.

What to include and what not to include in your presentation

In addition to the must-know PowerPoint presentation recommendations, which we’ll cover later in this article, consider the following do’s and don’ts when you’re putting together your research paper presentation:

• Focus on the topic.
• Be brief and to the point.
• Attract the audience’s attention and highlight interesting details.
• Use only relevant visuals (maps, charts, pictures, graphs, etc.).
• Use numbers and bullet points to structure the content.
• Make clear statements regarding the essence and results of your research.

Don’ts:

• Don’t write down the whole outline of your paper and nothing else.
• Don’t put long, full sentences on your slides; split them into smaller ones.
• Don’t use distracting patterns, colors, pictures, and other visuals on your slides; the simpler, the better.
• Don’t use too complicated graphs or charts; only the ones that are easy to understand.
• Now that we’ve discussed the basics, let’s move on to the top tips for making a powerful presentation of your research paper.

8 tips on how to make research paper presentation that achieves its goals

You’ve probably been to a presentation where the presenter reads word for word from their PowerPoint outline. Or where the presentation is cluttered, chaotic, or contains too much data. The simple tips below will help you summarize a 10 to 15-page paper for a 15 to 20-minute talk and succeed, so read on!

Tip #1: Less is more

You want to provide enough information to make your audience want to know more. Including details but not too many and avoiding technical jargon, formulas, and long sentences are always good ways to achieve this.

Tip #2: Be professional

Avoid using too many colors, font changes, distracting backgrounds, animations, etc. Bullet points with a few words to highlight the important information are preferable to lengthy paragraphs. Additionally, include slide numbers on all PowerPoint slides except for the title slide, and make sure it is followed by a table of contents, offering a brief overview of the entire research paper.

Tip #3: Strive for balance

PowerPoint slides have limited space, so use it carefully. Typically, one to two points per slide or 5 lines for 5 words in a sentence are enough to present your ideas.

Tip #4: Use proper fonts and text size

The font you use should be easy to read and consistent throughout the slides. You can go with Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri, or a combination of these three. An ideal text size is 32 points, while a heading size is 44.

Tip #5: Concentrate on the visual side

A PowerPoint presentation is one of the best tools for presenting information visually. Use graphs instead of tables and topic-relevant illustrations instead of walls of text. Keep your visuals as clean and professional as the content of your presentation.

Tip #6: Practice your delivery

Always go through your presentation when you’re done to ensure a smooth and confident delivery and time yourself to stay within the allotted limit.

Tip #7: Get ready for questions

Anticipate potential questions from your audience and prepare thoughtful responses. Also, be ready to engage in discussions about your research.

Tip #8: Don’t be afraid to utilize professional help

If the mere thought of designing a presentation overwhelms you or you’re pressed for time, consider leveraging professional PowerPoint redesign services . A dedicated design team can transform your content or old presentation into effective slides, ensuring your message is communicated clearly and captivates your audience. This way, you can focus on refining your delivery and preparing for the presentation.

Lastly, remember that even experienced presenters get nervous before delivering research paper PowerPoint presentations in front of the audience. You cannot know everything; some things can be beyond your control, which is completely fine. You are at the event not only to share what you know but also to learn from others. So, no matter what, dress appropriately, look straight into the audience’s eyes, try to speak and move naturally, present your information enthusiastically, and have fun!

If you need help with slide design, get in touch with our dedicated design team and let qualified professionals turn your research findings into a visually appealing, polished presentation that leaves a lasting impression on your audience. Our experienced designers specialize in creating engaging layouts, incorporating compelling graphics, and ensuring a cohesive visual narrative that complements content on any subject.

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• 50 tips on how to improve PowerPoint presentations in 2022-2023 [Updated]
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• Types of presentations
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8 rules of effective presentation

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Employee training and onboarding presentation: why and how

How to structure, design, write, and finally present executive summary presentation?

120 Presentation Topic Ideas Help You Hook Your Audience

Updated: January 15, 2024

Published: August 09, 2023

Cooking is easy. The puzzle is figuring out what to eat. As soon as you know that, you can get started. The same holds for presentations. The sooner you can whip up a good, informative, and catchy topic, the easier the rest of the process becomes.

Pick a good topic that resonates with you and your audience to set a strong foundation. But select the wrong topic, and it becomes difficult to connect with your audience, find mutual interests, or hold their attention.

So, let’s learn how to develop thought-provoking and relevant topics for your presentations. You’ll also find some best practices to make your presentation memorable.

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How to Choose a Great Presentation Topic in 5 Steps

120 presentation topic ideas, 5 presentation tips.

2. Use visual aids.

Use creative and attractive visual aids to stimulate emotions, simplify complex topics, and keep your audience captivated. Moreover, imagery helps your audience retain information longer.

Study shows that up to 60% of your audience is likely to remember visual content after three days. In turn, only 10% lives in memory when receiving information exclusively verbally.

So, include visuals like images, infographics, gifs, charts, and videos at the right time. Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.

Explore more on the topic: Learn how neuromarketing can improve the visual flair of your products and boost sales.

3. Make it informative, clear, and relevant.

You know your presentation has valuable information for your audience, but does your audience know that? Explicitly communicate actionable takeaways and benefits they will gain from it.

Select the best method to get the message across to your audience. Use relevant stories and examples to help you explain. People love stories; they move your audience while getting the message across. Most importantly, do it in a fun way.

Here are several tricks on how to do that:

• Have a great opening and closing line.
• Add facts and statistics to back up your information.
• Use emotionally triggering words to stimulate your audience and keep them attentive.
• Add humor and anecdotes to keep boredom away.
• Include intriguing and relevant examples to connect strongly with your audience.
• Use a vibrant color palette that’s easy on the eyes.
• Use slides more like a billboard. Make them easy to read and comprehend.
• Use less text, more visuals, and a limited number of bullet points.

Watch “The secret structure of great talks” by Nancy Duarte, an expert in presentation design and principal of Duarte Design.

4. Choose an appropriate presentation style.

There are many ways to present a topic. Your personality, the topic at hand, and your audience’s personas will help you determine which style would best fit you and your audience.

Select a presentation style that will communicate the main idea clearly and have a lasting impact on your audience.

For instance, explore a freeform style presenter by Sir Ken Robinson.

5. Engage with your audience.

Work on your presentation skills to make a strong connection with your audience, get through to them and leave a mark.

Think of the presenter as the link between the topic and the audience. A strong or a weak presenter can make a difference between a presentation being a thriving success or a boring failure.

Hone your skills by engaging and interacting with your audience. Make them feel like a part of the presentation and not just spectators. 70% of marketers have found presentations with interactive content to be more effective than those without.

Here are a few ways you can make your presentation interactive:

• Start your speech with uncommon questions to your audience. Involve them from the get-go, like ask to raise their hands if X.
• Make eye contact to build credibility and show confidence. Don’t stare at your slides or notes. Smile occasionally and talk to the audience directly.
• Have an active and confident body language. Don’t stand in the same place the entire time. Move around the stage.
• Don’t be monotonous. Speak as you would to a colleague — with enthusiasm.
• Ask close-ended questions in between to keep the audience engaged without losing time. Address them using their names to keep things interesting.
• Share personal experiences and stories that your audience will find fascinating and relatable.
• Practice thoroughly before you present so you’re fluent with the material and delivery.
• Energy and excitement can be quite contagious. Make sure you exude enough to spread some to your audience.

Feeling Inspired Yet?

Now you have all the right ingredients for choosing amazing topics and a hundred ideas to drive inspiration from. So, go ahead and start cooking presentations that will blow your audience away.

Don’t forget to choose a super-relevant topic and add meaty information. Do it with excitement to make it enjoyable for you and your audience. Best of luck!

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• Academic writing
• How to write effective headings

How to Write and Format Headings in Academic Writing

Published on March 15, 2019 by Shane Bryson . Revised on July 23, 2023.

The goal of using headings in a document is not only to divide information, but also to allow easy navigation of the document. In academic writing , headings help readers find the specific information they want while retaining a sense of how that information fits with everything else in the document.

To test for overall heading clarity, ask yourself the following: from reading your headings in sequence, would an informed reader understand…

• The content of the document as a whole?
• The specific content of each section?
• How each section fits with the others?

If not, your headings aren’t effective , and may need some improvement.

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Headings vs. titles, how long should headings be, using descriptive headings, technical terms in headings, capitalization, formatting and sequencing, other interesting articles.

Although heading and titles are similar, they are distinct: A title leads the entire document and captures its content in one or two phrases; a heading leads only a chapter or section and captures only the content of that chapter or section. Read more in our article on writing good titles in academic writing .

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Headings should be as long as it takes to clearly communicate the content of the sections they head. However, each heading should be as concise as possible – a good rule of thumb is to limit the heading length to one line.

Higher-level vs. lower-level headings

Higher-level headings often make do with a single word (e.g. “ Introduction ” or “ Methods ”), while lower-level headings are often longer. This is because higher-level headings cover more general content and provide an overview. One word is clear enough because everyone already knows what happens in an introduction chapter – nothing more needs to be said.

Lower-level headings should use more specific terminology to help clarify the content of the section. These headings help readers find the exact information they’re looking for.

The main goal of a heading is to inform the reader of what content they can find in that section, so make your headings as descriptive as possible. The examples below show one non-descriptive heading and three descriptive headings that provide the reader with much more information.

• Profile of GPS technology
• Function of GPS in aviation
• GPS before 1999

Avoiding repetitive headings

No two sections should focus on the exact same content, so no two headings should be identical. Instead of closing a chapter with “Summary,” for example, try making the heading little more descriptive: “Summary of X .”

Documents in fields that rely heavily on jargon and technical language will contain headings that might not be clear to every reader. That’s fine as long as you keep your reader’s knowledge level in mind. However, if you don’t need the jargon to give a specific idea of your content, then avoid it.

At the outset, make a plan for how you will deal with matters of  capitalization , formatting and sequencing of headings. Headings at the same level should be formatted the same. For instance, “Section 2.2” should get the same treatment as “Section 4.1”. They should also have parallel structure .

Often, your style guide or university will offer specific directions on how to approach the capitalization, formatting, and sequencing of headings, so it’s wise to check before you start writing them. For example,  APA headings and MLA headings  require specific formatting.

Using automatic heading styles in Word

To avoid having to format each heading separately, it’s smart to use the heading styles feature offered by Microsoft Word, Google Docs and many other word-processing softwares.

An extra benefit of using these heading styles is that you can automatically generate and update a table of contents. This will save you a lot of time later on. Read more about this in our article on creating a  table of contents .

If you want to know more about AI for academic writing, AI tools, or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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46 Powerful Opening Lines for a Class Presentation

Hrideep barot.

• Public Speaking

Class presentations can be extremely stressful. The way you open your presentation will determine the way the rest of your presentation goes and how it is accepted by the audience. To make things easier for you, here is a list of powerful opening lines for a Class Presentation.

Before we get into the opening lines, here are some pointers to ensure your presentation has a good structure that will keep the audience engaged.

How to structure a good presentation

State the relevance and purpose to the audience, identify a core message, divide your presentation into three parts, use a simple and clear structure, use engaging and relevant slides, practice and rehearse your delivery, q & a session.

Determine the purpose of your presentation. What do you want your audience to learn or take away from it? Consider the knowledge level, interests, and expectations of your audience. This will help you tailor your content appropriately. Explain why the information is important or relevant to your audience

Identify a single central message that you would like to communicate to your audience. Then build your presentation around that core message. Select a clear and focused topic that aligns with the objectives of the assignment or class.

A presentation can be divided into three parts: an introduction detailing the purpose and structure of the talk; a body covering the main points; and a conclusion summarizing and highlighting the significance of your talk.

A good presentation structure means analyzing the core message of your presentation. Decide on a key message you want to impart to the audience, and then craft an engaging way of delivering it.

Design engaging and suitable slides that support your message and help your audience understand your presentation. Use rhetorical questions, anecdotes, or interactive elements to keep the audience engaged. Incorporate relevant visuals or multimedia to illustrate critical points. Ensure they are clear and legible, and add value to your presentation.

Practice your presentation beforehand to ensure that you can deliver it confidently and effectively.

Invite questions from the audience. Be prepared to respond thoughtfully.

Cite your sources if applicable. This adds credibility to your presentation. In fact, provide any recommended readings or resources for further exploration.

You can divide your presentation in the following manner-

Introduction:.

• Hook : Start with an attention-grabbing statement, question, or anecdote related to your topic.
• Presentation Statement : Clearly state the main purpose or argument of your presentation.
• Preview : Provide an overview of what you’ll be covering in the presentation.
• Each main point should be a separate section or slide.
• Present one key idea per slide or section.
• Provide evidence, examples, and supporting details for each point.
• Use visuals like images, graphs, or charts to enhance understanding.

Conclusion:

• Summary : Summarize the main points.
• Restate Thesis : Remind the audience of your main argument.
• Closing Statement : Provide a clear and impactful closing statement.

Structuring a class presentation effectively involves careful planning and organization. By following these steps, you can create a well-structured class presentation that effectively delivers your message and engages your audience.

Here are some additional tips for structuring your class presentation:

• Keep it simple: Don’t try to cram too much information into your presentation. Focus on the most important points you want to communicate.
• Use a variety of presentation techniques : This could include storytelling, humor, and interactive activities.
• Be clear and concise : Avoid using jargon and technical language that your audience may not understand.
• End powerfully: Leave your audience with a memorable thought or call to action.

By following these tips, you can create a class presentation that is informative, engaging, and memorable.

A powerful opening sets the tone for your class presentation and grabs your audience’s attention. Moving ahead to the main part of the article, here is a list of things you can incorporate to make your opening lines for a class presentation rather memorable.

Opening Lines for a class presentation

Ask a rhetorical question, use a startling statistic or fact, quote someone, make a provocative statement, interactive opening, visual description, make historical reference.

This is a great way to grab the audience’s attention and get them thinking about your topic. For example: “Have you ever wondered how the internet works?” or “What are the ethical implications of artificial intelligence?”

1. “Have you ever wondered why [topic] affects each and every one of us?”

2. “What if I told you that [startling fact or statistic]?”

Stories are a great way to connect with your audience and make your presentation more memorable. For example, you could tell a story about a personal experience related to your topic, or a story that illustrates a key point you want to make.

3. “Let me take you back to [a specific moment in time related to your topic].”

4. “I’d like to share a personal story that illustrates the importance of [topic].

This is a great way to grab the audience’s attention and make them want to learn more. For example: “Did you know that 90% of all data has been created in the past two years?” or “One in three people will experience depression at some point in their lives.”

5. “Did you know that [shocking statistic]?”

6. “It might surprise you to learn that [eye-opening fact].”

This is a great way to add credibility to your presentation. For example: “According to Albert Einstein, ‘Imagination is more important than knowledge.'” or “A recent study by Harvard University found that people who meditate regularly are more likely to be happy and successful.”

7. “As [famous figure] once said, ‘ [relevant quote].'”

8. “As Neil Armstrong once said, “That’s one small step for a man, a giant leap for mankind.” I believe space exploration is essential for the development of mankind.”

This is a great way to get the audience’s attention and make them think about your topic in a new way. For example: “The future of work is remote.” or “Artificial intelligence will revolutionize every industry.”

9. “Today, I’m here to challenge how we think about [topic].”

10. “Let’s consider a perspective on [topic] that might be different from what you’ve heard before.”

Other than these, there are certainly other ways of opening your presentation such as:

This is a great way to engage the audience from the beginning of the presentation. This will help keep the audience hooked and trigger their thought process too.

11. “I’d like to begin with a quick exercise. Raise your hand if [question-related to your topic].”

A visual description will help the audience to draw things from their imagination and will keep them engrossed in what you have to say after.

12. “Close your eyes for a moment and imagine [vivid scene related to your topic].”

Humor can never go wrong if you know the audience you are dealing with. A good laugh will always make your presentation go a lot smoother and easier.

13. “They say that [humorous twist on your topic]. But today, we’ll uncover the real story.”

Pick up a historical fact or reference that is quite common or that you can prove happened. This helps engage your audience and they would want to know how is that reference relevant in the context of your topic.

14. “In [specific time period], [relevant historical event] changed the course of [topic].”

Stating something and immediately countering your own statement will confuse the audience into listening to you more keenly. Which is why it serves the purpose of having your audience’s attention.

15. “While most people think [common misconception], the reality is quite different.”

Remember to choose an opening that aligns with your topic and style, and be sure to transition smoothly from your opening into the main content of your presentation. Additionally, practice your opening to ensure you deliver it confidently and engagingly.

Now, let’s look at some examples of opening lines for specific topics of class presentation

Opening lines for specific topics of a class presentation

Climate change, globalization and its effects, mental health awareness, artificial intelligence, gender equality, entrepreneurship, space exploration, cybersecurity, diversity and inclusion, the benefits of reading, the dangers of smoking.

• The challenges of poverty

The importance of recycling

16. “The world is on fire. Or at least it feels that way. The Amazon rainforest is burning, the Arctic is melting, and the Great Barrier Reef is dying. But we can still make a difference.”

17. “Imagine a world where our coastal cities are submerged, and our weather patterns become increasingly erratic.”

18. “In the next few minutes, we’ll confront a reality that demands our immediate attention: the accelerating crisis of climate change.”

19. “Today, our actions in one corner of the globe can have ripple effects thousands of miles away. The world truly is a web of interconnectedness.”

20. “As we discuss globalization, let’s remember that it’s not just about economics. It’s about cultures converging, traditions evolving, and societies adapting.”

21. “We all have mental health. Just like we have physical health. But why is it that we’re so afraid to talk about it? Why is it that we treat mental illness as a taboo topic?”

22. “Close your eyes and think about a time when you or someone you know faced a mental health challenge. It’s more common than you might think.”

23. “Mental health is just as important as physical health, but it is often overlooked.”

24. “One in five adults in the United States experiences mental illness each year.”

25. “Mental health problems can impact anyone, regardless of age, race, or socioeconomic status.”

26. “Imagine a world where machines can think and learn like humans. A world where robots can do our jobs, and self-driving cars can take us anywhere we want to go. This is the world of artificial intelligence.”

27. “From self-driving cars to virtual personal assistants, the rise of artificial intelligence is reshaping the way we live and work.”

28. “Today, we stand on the precipice of an era where machines can not only think but learn and adapt.”

29. “It’s time to talk about gender equality. It’s time to talk about the fact that women still earn less than men, that they are underrepresented in leadership positions, and that they face discrimination and harassment on a daily basis.”

30. “What do Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, and Elon Musk have in common? They’re all entrepreneurs who started with nothing and built billion-dollar companies. But what does it take to be a successful entrepreneur?”

31. “The cosmos, with its vastness and mysteries, has beckoned explorers and dreamers for centuries. Today, we’re on the cusp of new frontiers.”

32. “As we look up at the night sky, it’s important to remember that each star represents a potential world, waiting to be discovered.”

33. “In an era where our lives are increasingly intertwined with technology, the battleground for our security has shifted to the digital realm.”

34. “Picture this: a breach in cybersecurity can lead to consequences as real and impactful as a physical break-in.”

35. “Diversity isn’t just about ticking boxes on a checklist. It’s about recognizing the richness that comes from embracing different perspectives and experiences.”

36. “In this room, we each bring a unique story and perspective. Together, we have the power to shape a more inclusive world.”

37. “Diversity and inclusion lead to innovation and creativity.”

38. “Reading can improve your vocabulary, grammar, and writing skills.”

39. “Reading can help you to learn about different cultures and perspectives.”

40. “Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States.”

41. “Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, and other serious health problems.”

42. “Secondhand smoke is just as dangerous as smoking itself.”

 The challenges of poverty

43. “Poverty is a complex problem that affects millions of people around the world.”

44. “Poverty can lead to hunger, homelessness, and lack of access to education and healthcare.”

45. “We all have a role to play in fighting poverty.”

46. “Did you know that it takes 700 years for a plastic bag to decompose?”

These opening lines can be used as inspiration to create your own powerful opening line for your class presentation. Make sure it sets the tone for the rest of your presentation.

These opening lines are designed to capture attention and provide a strong foundation for your presentation on these specific topics. Remember to follow through with compelling content and a strong conclusion to leave a lasting impression on your audience.

List of other resources for you

As a college student, presentations carry a lot of weight, so How to Give a Presentation in Class as a College Student

As talked about, organizing your presentation is essential, hence Presentation Structures: Everything You Need To Organize Your Talk

Sometimes, you can have a lot of content and not know what to remove, 14 Techniques To Ensure Audience Engagement Through Long Presentations

Doing things at the last minute is not okay, unless and until you know how to get it done effectively. Help! I Have A Presentation Tomorrow & I Am Not Prepared

Sometimes you would not have someone around to practice your presentation, and for that Have A Presentation Coming Up. Here’s How You Can Practice It By Yourself

I hope this is helpful. When choosing an opening line for your presentation, be sure to consider your audience and what you want to achieve with your presentation. You can always try to get in touch with a professional to get advice on your presentation structure and how you present it. For this, check out our personalized coaching services !

Enroll in our transformative 1:1 Coaching Program

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How to Negotiate: The Art of Getting What You Want

10 Hand Gestures That Will Make You More Confident and Efficient

Interrupted while Speaking: 8 Ways to Prevent and Manage Interruptions

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• Sep 5, 2023

How to write an attention-grabbing title for a scientific poster

Scientific poster sessions are the best opportunity to be introduced to new, exciting, and potentially unfamiliar research topics. It’s a treasure trove of scientific know-how.

But as you do a little window shopping at the session, how do you decide which poster to walk towards?

Of course, eye-catching visuals are important for drawing attention. Though naturally, your eyes are also going to be drawn to the titles of each poster.

You see the typical “Investigation of X” and the classic “Characterisation of Y”.

It’s kind of what you expected. But you’re the lookout for the unexpected .

Instead, you might be more drawn to bolder posters written by an academic wordsmith with a compelling and captivating title which dares to challenge the literature and tugs at your heartstrings. After all, the title is the first thing the audience tends to read, and can influence whether they want to engage in a conversation with the presenter.

Though what kinds of titles grab the most attention at a poster session?

If you’re at the stage of writing your poster abstract and want to land a solid impression with the attendees, we’ve got a few tips to help you to create a solid title! 👇

Write your main key finding as your title

Have you ever wondered why it’s extremely tempting to click on news articles with headlines which sound like major clickbait?

“Homeless man wins $100M lottery and his life changed FOREVER”

“Family reunited with missing pet dog after searching for 5 long years”

It’s because these titles immediately convey the main take-away or finding of the story, and as readers, we want to know how the article got to that conclusion. I want to know HOW they found their dog and HOW they persevered for 5 years! Tell me MORE!

You can apply that exact same writing principle when concocting your scientific poster title when you’re writing your abstract.

In practice, having your main research take-away displayed as your title can poke and prod at the audience’s curiosity to want know the rest of the story . But it’s important to remember that your title should reflect the closest possible truth and isn’t misleading (i.e. does Drug X “cure” or “alleviate” disease symptoms?)

So why not try a title along the lines of:

“Living fossil discovered in the ancient waters of the Amazon River”

“Killer T-cells possess unique cellular compartments for carrying cytotoxins”

Though if you don’t yet have any conclusive findings, what’s another great approach for writing your title?

Write your title as a short question

This one’s easy! Everyone has a research question for their topic that they know like the back of their lab glove.

If you can shorten yours to <15 words, then you’ve got a solid title right there!

“Do malaria parasites need Protein X and Y in order to grow?”

“Who are the victims of ocean acidification in coral reefs?”

“How do macrophages promote multiple myeloma development?”

Though how else can we be more creative with our titles? 🎨

Write your title as a creative analogy

Have you got a penchant for wordsmithing? For those who want to get a little more creative with their titles, writing an analogy is a great way to dust off your high school poetry skills and makes your findings more accessible to everyone.

We’ve covered analogies for communicating research in extensive detail in our other post , but in a nutshell:

Write a metaphor, like:

“Chromosome 17 contains the blueprints for cellular DNA-damage responses”

“Angiogenesis: Blood vessels are complex highways inside of your body”

Write a simile, like:

“Black holes are like whirlpools in outer space: a model of their formation”

“Click-chemistry is like putting together pieces of LEGO ”

Not sure what analogy you could use? Perhaps you can ask a handy tool to inspire you. 👇

Write your title with the aid of Generative AI

We spend a LOT of brainpower on science already. So if any of the above examples resonated with you (but you just can’t think of a good title that hits the spot), pass the job over to generative AI!

After all, it’s no secret that generative AI tools, like ChatGPT, are helping us to develop new ideas by cutting down brainstorming time. If you’re not familiar with these tools, check out our guide here .

Then, after introducing your topic to your preferred AI model (perhaps by first feeding it your abstract), you can ask it these simple prompts:

“What is my main key finding or take-away message based on my abstract?”

“Write me 10 catchy titles which are <15 words based on my abstract”

“Write me 10 creative analogies for my research topic based on my abstract”

“What key research question am I asking based on my abstract?”

“Tell me something cool about my abstract that I don’t yet know myself” 🤪

Make an impact at your next poster session!

Ready with your brand new poster title? Fantastic! ✨

Though perhaps the title is all you’ve got time for, and there’s still the matter of actually DESIGNING the rest of the poster. And you’re running out of time until the conference!

Animate Your Science’s poster design services will connect you with our team of PhD-trained science communicators and professional artists to craft you a poster that’ll grab everyone’s attention. From layout to illustrations, allow us to take care of the design work so you can focus on what’s most important: your research!

Contact our team today to maximise your research poster’s impact.

Related Posts

How to use ChatGPT: Opportunities and Risks for Researchers

How to deliver an engaging scientific poster presentation: Dos and Don’ts!

5 compelling reasons to create a fresh scientific poster for every conference

Use Headlines — How to get the point of your presentation across.

If I could change one thing about PowerPoint, I would remove the “click to add title” feature and make it “click to add headline.” Maybe, just maybe, it might make people stop and think. Instead of plugging in what passes for a title on your next PowerPoint deck — 4th Quarter Highlights, Consolidated Finance Review, Business Strategy — there might be an actual, exciting, point-making, “I get it, now I’m interested”, “aha”, honest-to-goodness headline.

Most people forget that PowerPoint has the word point in it, and they are trying to make a point . In the news industry, a headline like “Headless Body Found in Topless Bar” sold newspapers. In the world of blogging and SEO, a headline has to work for humans and algorithms. If it’s not effective, you’re not getting eyeballs. In the world of PowerPoint, it has to make a point. You’re looking for self-explanatory (like a label) and catchy (to appeal to people). For instance, a slide on your remote learning strategy could be labeled “Remote Learning Strategy.” Or it could be a headline: “In the future, 70% of our learning will be delivered remotely.” The label tells you what it’s about. The headline tells you what you need to know.

Most people default to a label.

Look for labels. Your first warning sign should be the number of words. Check your title. If it isn’t a sentence or doesn’t read like a sentence, you probably have a label. Your label will be short, usually a couple of words, and categorize the information on the slide. Labels are ok for charts, bad for slides.

Recent Zoom investor slide (content blurred) p.13.

Take this Zoom investor slide. It’s clearly a label. “Q2 FY21 Expenses and Margins.” I know what I am looking at, but I don’t know what to think. The slide is asking me, the audience, to spend mental cycles figuring that out. Are they good? Are they bad? Did Zoom have a good Q2 or a bad Q2?¹

Headlines are better.

Here’s an example from Peloton. The home workout darling does a great job with a headline, stating clearly that, “Workout Growth Continues to Outpace Subscription Growth.” Even with blurred content, you know what evidence you are looking for on the slide, as the headline tells you so.

Recent Peloton investor slide (content blurred) p.8.

An example from later in the deck has Peloton reverting to a label. The slide itself is a fantastic example of borrowed credibility, with Peloton comparing itself to other industry disruptors like Amazon, Apple, and Netflix. But the title itself is a label. “Global Digital Disruption.” It situates the audience but doesn’t tell them what to think about the slide.

Recent Peloton investor slide (content blurred) p.12.

Here’s a reimagined title for that same slide.

Recent Peloton investor slide (content blurred), with a re-imagined headline. p.12.

With only a few extra words, the point of the slide comes across. Stating clearly that “Peloton is Digitally Disrupting the Global Fitness Market.”

Turning a label into a headline is a subtle but important change. If you look at the decks you produce now; I’ll bet they are littered with labels. So how do you turn those labels into headlines?

A good headline will do the work for you. It will make your point crisply. It’s both self-explanatory and catchy. How do you go from a label to a headline? Answering a simple question, “What do you want people to get from this slide?” will give you an answer that leads to your headline.

What kind of Headline?

Your headline will either be an assertion or a question. For example:

Labels: Storytelling in business. New product launches.

Headlines (assertion): Storytelling drives business results. New product launches drive our revenue growth.

Headlines (question): How can storytelling drive business results? Which new products will hit the market next year? ‍

The assertion makes a statement, which has to be backed up by evidence. The The assertion makes a statement, which has to be backed up by evidence . The question creates a curiosity gap. It draws the audience in. Either work and which one you use depends on the tone of your presentation .

To help you practice writing better headlines, focus on these six “how-to’s.”

Six keys to writing better headlines.

Length is important..

Two or three words will give you a label. Short headlines are sometimes harder to figure out. Most headlines we write run between 7 to 14 words. A good rule of thumb is to keep the headline below two lines. This key of headline length has similarities in SEO and content marketing. There, articles with longer headlines get double the traffic, double the shares, and more than five times as many backlinks.²

Make it readable.

Make sure it is clear and can be read at a glance. Test your headline by reading it aloud. It should roll off the tongue. It doesn’t need to be a complete sentence but shoot for sentence-like. This makes it readable. Punctuation helps. Style guides argue over Title Case and sentence case. Sentence case titles are easy to read. It’s the standard for Google.³ Make it your standard as well.

Use concrete language.

The more concrete the language of your headline, the better. This is a Strunk and White rule⁴ that you want to follow. It can persuade investors⁵ and increase customer satisfaction.⁶ Concrete language will work for you. Instead of “Executing our product strategy,” try “Five keys to a successful product launch.” The more concrete, the better.

Make it about you.

Every headline is a beat in a story. Every story has the audience as the hero in that story . The headline has to be relevant to the audience. At best, it evokes an emotional connection. Use you. Instead of “Five keys to a successful product launch,” make it “Five keys for our next successful product launch.”  Or better yet, “What can you do to make our next launch a winner?”

Remove acronyms, jargon, and terms of art.

Make the headline easy to understand.⁷ There are a lot of terms of art in your business. If you’re in technology, you might know what a churn walk is or port performance. You may not. You may understand what EPS, ECPD, AI, or ML are. You may not. But with a headline, it’s better to be sure. “Where are we losing business?” is a headline that’s concrete, compelling, and relevant. It also requires little to no thinking, compared to “Q2 Churn Walk.”

Let the verbs do the work for you.

Here is some old writing advice that’s useful in headlines. Let the verbs do the work for you. Consider,

“ Improving demand in our small business market.” Or, “ Growing demand in our small business market.” Or, “ Increasing demand in our small business market.” Or, “ Thriving demand in our small business market.” Or, “ Snowballing demand in our small business market.” Mastering your verbs can make a difference.

Before you start typing.

Next time you are staring at the click to add title cursor in PowerPoint, choose a different path. Instead of merely “labeling” your slide, write a punchy headline.

Gavin McMahon is a founder and Chief Content Officer for fassforward consulting group. He leads Learning Design and Product development across fassforward’s range of services. This crosses diverse topics, including Leadership, Culture, Decision-making, Information design, Storytelling, and Customer Experience. He is also a contributor to Forbes Business Council .

Eugene Yoon is a graphic designer and illustrator at fassforward. She is a crafter of Visual Logic. Eugene is multifaceted and works on various types of projects, including but not limited to product design, UX and web design, data visualization, print design, advertising, and presentation design.

¹ Owens, Jeremy. “ Zoom Made as Much Money in Three Months as It Did in All of 2019; Stock Shoots 22% Higher .” MarketWatch, 1 Sept. 2020. ² SEMRush The State Of Content Marketing. 2019 Global Report. ³ “ Capitalization | Google Developer Documentation Style Guide.” Google Developers. ⁴ Ohmann, Richard. "Use definite, specific, concrete language." College English 41.4 (1979): 390-397. ⁵ "Pan, Lingling, et al. "Give it to us straight (most of the time): Top managers’ use of concrete language and its effect on investor reactions." Strategic Management Journal 39.8 (2018): 2204-2225. ⁶ Packard, Grant, and Jonah Berger. "How Concrete Language Shapes Customer Satisfaction." ACR North American Advances (2019). ⁷ Dwyer, Colin. “ How to Write Great Headlines That Keep Readers Engaged: 5 Tips (and Examples) .” NPR Training. (Rule#2)

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The Power of Headings & Subheadings: Tips to Improve Your Writing

In content writing, crafting an engaging and well-structured piece is only half the battle. The real trick lies in making your work visually appealing and easy to navigate, ensuring readers can quickly locate the information they seek. This is where mastering the power of headings and subheadings can dramatically elevate your content’s impact. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore effective tips for creating headings and subheadings that improve readability and enhance your articles’ overall organization. So let’s dive deep into this essential writing skill, touching upon everything from APA heading styles to best practices for formatting head-turners.

What are Headings and Subheadings?

Headings are titles or phrases that break down a document or article into organized sections or topics. They provide structure by dividing content according to subject matter or theme while serving as cues for readers looking for specific information.

Subheadings are smaller divisions within those larger sections marked by headings. By offering deeper segmentation of the material, subheadings make it easier for readers to skim through an article quickly without needing to read every word on the page when attempting to answer their questions.

In essence, headings and subheadings work as signposts throughout your written work – guiding users toward particular points of interest within an otherwise dense text grouping. You can also think of them as section labels.

To better understand how these elements fit together in practice, consider examining great examples like:

• Headings:  Bolded section titles in newspapers or chapters in books
• Subheadings:  Descriptive captions under images or lists inside long-form articles

These distinctions enable authors (like you!) to keep their ideas organized while giving readers valuable cues about each segment.

Why are Headings and Subheadings Important?

Headings and subheadings are crucial in enhancing the readability and organization of written content. They serve multiple purposes, primarily guiding the reader through your work. Some key reasons explaining the importance of headings and subheadings are:

Structuring Your Content

Incorporating headers and subheaders facilitates structuring your article into logical sections, making it easy for readers to follow your line of thought. By breaking down your piece into smaller segments, you ensure that the audience clearly understands each aspect without getting overwhelmed.

Enhancing Readability

Including headings and subheadings improve readability by clearly signaling transitions between topics, thus helping readers navigate smoothly through the content. Furthermore, they aid in maintaining interest as well-formatted articles with properly separated sections create visually appealing work that encourages continued reading.

Boosting SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

From an online perspective, using headings and subheadings can significantly contribute to your article’s search engine optimization (SEO). Search engines prioritize pages with well-structured content, employing informative headers containing relevant keywords over others lacking this feature. Consequently, including these elements increases visibility on search engine results pages, driving more organic traffic to your site.

Aiding Readers’ Retention

Headings serve as visual cues that assist readers in processing information swiftly while staying focused on critical points in your text. Additionally, the appropriate use of headers aids reader retention; when people can quickly access specific sections containing pertinent details within an article or blog post, they will be more likely to remember those details later.

Catering to Skimmers

Many individuals skim through content instead of thoroughly reading it word-for-word. Properly formatted headings emphasize vital concepts discussed throughout any piece—an academic paper or a blog post—enabling skimmers to grasp the main ideas without reading every new paragraph.

Factors to Consider When Creating Headings

Creating successful headings involves much more than simply identifying topics; it requires careful consideration of several factors since they function as roadmaps for your readers’ journey through your piece. Here are a few essential aspects:

• Understandability: The backbone role of any header is to look after your content’s readability by breaking it down into digestible parts. So, prioritizing clarity should be foremost.
• Relevance : Each heading must directly correlate with its associated text block. If users click on a header expecting specific information, ensure that’s precisely what they get.
• Brevity : Remember this mantra – short enough to catch attention but long enough to encapsulate relevance.
• Consistency : Stick rigorously to one style throughout the article; varying formats might confuse readers about the text hierarchy.
• SEO-consciousness : Incorporate keywords into headers correctly for SEO ranking benefits—but not at the cost of undermining reader comfort.

Indeed, creating impactful headers isn’t simply an act—it’s an art that demands precision and practice that we will delve deeper into in the following sections.

Types of Headings and Subheadings

Before plunging into writing, one crucial element you must comprehend is the different types of headings that constitute a significant aspect of your content layout. When crafting an article or blog post, three types of headers come into play: Main headings, subheadings, and section headings.

Main Headings

Main headings (commonly known as H1 tags in digital print) serve as the title of your work. They’re responsible for communicating what your entire piece is about at a glance. Typically bold and larger than other text elements on the page, they should clearly echo the topic handled in your content.

For instance, if I were crafting a comprehensive guide about cooking basics targeted at novices, my main heading could be “Mastering Culinary Basics: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners.” It’s concise yet descriptive enough to give readers valuable insights into what they’ll gain from perusing my article.

Subheadings

While main headings offer a broad idea of your subject matter, what is a subheading? It narrows down and organizes specific sections within this umbrella topic you’re discussing. Notably labeled as H2 or H3 tags in blog/article formatting interfaces, these findings you present after thorough exploration under chunky waters beneath the surface.

Consider them as subdivisions within your primary theme; each handles specific arguments or ideas related to it. For example, using our above “Culinary Basics” storyline, suitable subheadings would be “Understanding Your Kitchen Equipment,” “Exploring Basic Food Preparation Techniques,” or “Must-know Cooking Terms.”

Section Headings

Finally, we have section headings – essentially bridges between main titles and their designated subsections. They assume vital responsibility by offering further granularity along our reader’s journey through our written masterpiece. Assume that under your “Understanding Your Kitchen Equipment” category (a 

Section headings come into play – each could focus on a specific gadget like “Mastering the Art of Using an Oven,” “The Miraculous Whisk: More Than Just An Egg Beater,” etc. Hence, they provide structure, enhancing readability by guiding readers smoothly from point A to B while not losing sight of our central theme.

Understanding these distinctions in headings and subheadings hierarchy provides clarity as it directs your writing flow, defining how your points interrelate, thus reinforcing coherence and logic in your discussion.

Best Practices on how to write Subheadings and Headings

Learning the art of crafting riveting headings and subheadings can vastly improve your content’s readability, navigation, and SEO performance. Following are some best practices to help you master this skill.

Capturing Reader Attention with Compelling Subheadings

The true power of a captivating subheading lies in its ability to draw readers into the heart of your content. In essence, compelling subheadings serve as mini headlines – they should be engaging informative, and establish an intriguing promise for what’s yet to come. Especially in digital platforms where users scan through pages, persuasive subheadings ensure a better user engagement rate, fearing less about bouncing off from installing intrigue into their minds.

Avoid clickbait : While catchy titles might attract quick attention from readers or potential visitors, refrain from producing deceptive titles that may mislead users about what they are clicking into – providing disillusionment might cost you credibility.

Adding Variation and Creativity to Subheadings to Enhance the Overall Flow of the Content

Incorporating creativity into your subheadings not only lends an element of surprise but significantly improves the flow of your content. A little playfulness or unexpectedness can break the monotony while maintaining reader interest. It’s like being on an unpredictable journey, holding their attention until they reach their destination: the end of your article.

Using Subheadings to Break Up Large Chunks of Text and Improve Readability

Chunking down intimidating walls of text by strategically placing subheaders can drastically improve such segments’ readability quotient. Brevity allows readers’ eyes – weary from screen glare – to repose periods within dense sections while enhancing comprehension by categorizing information concisely under respective subdivisions.

Choosing Clear and Descriptive Headings

Ensuring your headings accurately depict what follows is vital. Readers want clarity; they appreciate knowing immediately whether the provided details will satisfy their inquiry without needing poetic decipherment skills. This clear, descriptive style also aids search engines in understanding page context—supporting SEO benefits apart from user-friendliness.

Formatting and Styling Headings for Readability

Proper formatting is non-negotiable when aiming to amplify readability. As a rule of thumb, headers and subheaders should stand out in your text – which could be achieved through font size, bolding, or color variations. This visual hierarchy leads readers smoothly through the storyline.

Incorporating Keywords in Headings for SEO Purposes

Incorporating keywords strategically into your headings is crucial from an SEO perspective, as search engines give higher weightage to terms in these sections. However, this should not compromise flowing articulation; these insertions must be natural-sounding and illuminative about subsequent content.

Proper Capitalization and Punctuation

Following accepted grammatical conventions relating to capitalization and punctuation ensures professional integrity while avowing reader trust. Each word within headings typically capitalizes the first letter – excluding minor ones like prepositions or conjunctions unless starting or ending the subtitle.

Consistency in Style and Formatting

Create continuity by maintaining consistency across all headings and subheadings within an article. This involves maintaining uniform styling, tense usage, capitalization rules, and lexicon choice for all titles under a particular heading category. Uniformity aids comprehension while granting your written piece a structured, polished aesthetic sheen.

Maintain hierarchy

Properly structuring your heading levels is important for establishing a logical flow within your document or article. Start with a primary heading (H1), then follow it up with secondary (h2), tertiary (h3), and so forth, using smaller header sizes accordingly.

Examples of Great Headings and Subheadings

To provide some inspiration for creating impactful headlines yourself, let me share a few examples of excellent headings and subheadings:

• Subheading : Stand Out With Creative Captions
• Subheading : Engage Your Audience Through Stories
• Subheading : Collaborate With Influencers
• Subheading : Establish Your Budget and Priorities
• Subheading : Research Neighborhoods and Amenities
• Subheading : Schedule Visits And Inspections
• Subheading : Preparing The Necessary Documentation

By analyzing these examples, one can notice how each heading effectively communicates the article’s main topic in a clear and captivating manner. Additionally, the subheadings further break down those topics into specific sections that are easy for readers to navigate as they progress through your writing.

In conclusion, mastering the art of crafting attention-grabbing headings and informative subheadings is essential for any content writer. By employing clarity, strategic keyword use, proper structuring techniques with hierarchy, and avoiding clickbait headlines – you will be able to create engaging content that maintains reader interest while providing an effortless reading experience.

How to choose the proper headings and subheadings for the article

Choosing the right headings and subheadings for your article is crucial in effectively organizing and structuring your content. They help guide your readers through your text and make it easier to comprehend. To ensure that you choose relevant, concise, and engaging headings for your article, follow these tips:

• Identify the main topic : Start by identifying the main subject of your article. Your headings should reflect this central theme.
• Divide into logical sections : Break down your main topic into smaller, related sections using headers and subheaders as waypoints for guiding the reader on their journey through the content.
• Use keywords strategically : Incorporate 3-5 relevant keywords within each heading or subheading, making them sound natural; examples of such phrases include “examples of subheadings,” “apa heading,” or more granular concepts like “header and subheader.”
• Keep it clear & concise : Make sure each heading accurately represents its corresponding section’s content without being too long or complicated. Be succinct in expressing ideas while also maintaining an engaging tone.
• Maintain consistency:  Adopt a consistent style throughout all headings and subheadings levels and parallel structure in phrasing similar ideas across different sections.
• Consider hierarchy:  Ensure appropriate ordering using higher-order headers (H1) and lower-order ones (H2, H3) denoting subsections nested under overarching themes.
• Test readability : After crafting potential headers/subheaders, read them aloud to evaluate how easily they flow together; adjust wording wherever necessary for improved clarity overall.

These strategies can significantly enhance organization and comprehension when drafting high-quality articles with engaging headings/subheadings – ultimately benefiting both authors and intended audiences!

Steps to Create a Proper Outline with Headings

Creating a clear and well-structured outline is essential for organizing your thoughts, ensuring the logical flow of ideas throughout your writing, and effectively guiding readers. Headings are integral in outlining content as they provide essential context and help develop a coherent structure. Here are some steps to follow when crafting an outline using headings:

• Identify main points : Start by brainstorming the core concepts you want to discuss in your article or document. These will form the basis for your primary headings (e.g., Level 1).
• Create heading levels : Once you have determined the main topics of discussion, group related ideas under these higher level headings. For each subtopic, create subheadings that align with lower-level categories.
• Use consistent formatting : To distinguish between different heading levels quickly and easily, maintain consistency in their formatting style (e.g., font size or boldness). This visual hierarchy simplifies readability across the entire piece. You can use default heading settings in Google Docs or Microsoft Word.
• Apply parallel structure : Ensure consistency by utilizing similar phrasing and construction across all headings at the same level.
• Review and revise : As you progress through your draft or outline, frequently review the overall coherence of headlining choices. Modify them as needed until a harmonious organizational structure flows naturally from topic to subtopic.
• Connection to title : Make sure every heading relates to the central theme established in the title of your article or document; this enables continuity and focus throughout.
• Be succinct : Effective headings capture vital intent within a brief phrase—aim for brevity while conveying what readers should anticipate from subsequent content.

When executed carefully, adequately structured outlines that employ insightful heading choices can drastically elevate any written piece’s quality—academic work or casual blog posts—and better engage target audiences by promoting an accessible and organized format for navigating subject matter.

Formatting Headings and Subheadings

Proper formatting is crucial to improving the readability and organization of your content. By following a consistent format, you can ensure that your article has a clear hierarchy and navigable structure for your readers.

Subheading Best Practices

To make the most out of your structure, consider these best practices:

• Keep the style consistent: Once you have decided on a specific font, size, and color for the main headings, stick to it throughout the piece. The same applies to subheadings.
• Use appropriate nesting: Always use an H1 (header 1) for primary headings before moving to H2 (header 2) for subsequent levels.
• Use proper spacing: Ensure adequate spaces between headers, separating them from other text elements.

Use Parallel Structure

Parallel structure entails applying consistent grammatical patterns to each heading level. This uniformity creates coherence and enables readers to follow the flow of ideas:

• Start with action verbs.
• Keep tense usage consistent.
• Ensure similar phrasing throughout each level of headings.

For example:

I. Cooking Techniques

   A. Stir-frying

   B. Grilling

   C. Baking

Connect to Your Title

Headings should be extensions of your title, delving deeper into its message while maintaining relevance as they narrow down aspects of the broader theme:

• Ensures topical consistency across sections
• Prevents deviation from key messages

Be Succinct

Ideally, aim for brief yet descriptive section headings, by using concise language:

• Avoid lengthy phrases or clauses, use a few words
• Opt for simple wording without compromising clarity
• Refrain from posing questions within section headers

Pairing succinctness with informative language leads readers smoothly through content without causing disengagement due to verbosity.

Think of Subsection Headings as a Table of Contents

Subheadings should serve as accessible entry points to your content, much like chapters in a book’s table of contents:

• Provide clear, comprehendible indicators for the section’s focus.
• Arrange content logically and sequentially to guide users through topics.
• Make it easy for readers to skim and identify their areas of interest.

Treating subsection headings as if they formed a miniature table of contents allows you to create well-structured articles that cater to diverse reader requirements, helping them to locate key takeaways effortlessly.

Using Headings and Subheadings for SEO Optimization

The strategic usage of headings and subheadings plays a crucial role in structuring your text and maximizing the visibility of your content on search engines. Here’s how to enhance your article’s readability and SEO performance through savvy heading selection.

Incorporating Keywords in Headings for Search Engine Visibility

Your mission to optimize headings should start with embedding keywords effectively. Why? Because search engines like Google place a higher weightage on terms within headings or subheader content. This priority given to header text helps these algorithms determine what your page is about, thus indexing it more accurately.

When adding keywords to subheaders or headers, ensure they are relevant to the content that follows them. Remember that stuffing irrelevant terms into your subtitle heading will come off as confusing at best—and deceptive manipulation attempting to game the system at worst.

Here are some tips:

• Use long-tail keyword phrases instead of single words; they tend to be less competitive and more specific.
• Utilize variant synonyms or related concepts rather than repeating the same phrase multiple times.
• Maintain a natural flow – don’t shoehorn in keywords unnaturally.
• Prioritize inclusion in main headings where appropriate, although sub-subheading placements count too!

For instance, if I’m writing about “APA formatting headings,” I could use phrases like “how to format subheadings” or “example of headings and subheadings” throughout my piece.

Balancing SEO Optimization with User Readability

While incorporating keywords into headers for improved search engine visibility is beneficial, balancing SEO optimization and user readability is paramount.

As much as we might obsess over pleasing Google’s algorithmically finicky appetites, never forget that, ultimately, you’re writing first and foremost for human beings – not machine crawlers! Skewing too heavily towards SEO at the cost of clarity will only alienate readers, rendering your efforts pointless.

Instead, keep your title subtitle heading subheading formulation both SEO-friendly and user-considerate by ensuring it’s:

• Accurate: It should clearly convey what the subsequent section is about.
• Intriguing: Your headings should motivate your readers to continue reading. 3. Validating: Show that you’re providing value or solving a problem with your content.

To bring everything together—an essential facet of mastering ‘header subheader’ interaction rests on marrying search engine visibility goals with the crucial human aspect of content consumption—ensuring your hard work reaches the audience it deserves.

APA Headings and Subheadings – APA Style Papers

The American Psychological Association (APA) publication manual format is widely used in academic writing for organizing content and presenting research work. APA headings have specific rules for formatting to establish a clear structure that is easy to follow. It distinguishes five levels of headings.

APA Heading Level 1

Level of Heading no 1 signifies the main sections of your paper, such as the introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion. In an APA-styled document:

• Center-align the text.
• Use bold font.
• Title case – capitalize all significant words in the heading.
• Keep the heading on a separate line with no additional indentation or spacing.

Introduction

APA Heading Level 2

Heading level 2 marks sub-sections within each main section represented by heading level 1. To keep the same line with APA style:

• Left-align this text.
• Utilize a bold font.
• Title case.
• Place the heading on its line without indentations or extra spacing.

Example of a heading level 2 subheading:

Literature Review

Historical Development

• Current Trends

APA Heading Level 3

Sub-subsections are denoted by heading level 3 under an existing sub-section represented by heading level 2. These should be formatted according to APA standards as follows:

• Indent slightly from the left margin.
• Bold and italicize the text.
• Only capitalize the first significant word along with any proper nouns.
• Conclude with a period before continuing into subsection content.

For instance,

The origin of psychological theories.  Early psychological theories can be traced back…

APA Heading Level 4

Following levels of organization further down the article’s hierarchy are labeled as heading level 4 under each related subsection (heading level 3). Formats vary depending on how many subsections are required, but abide by APA guidelines to:

• Left-align the heading.
• End with a period before beginning the paragraph.

Example of heading level 4:

The origin of psychological theories.

Influential psychologists during the 1800s.  Some prominent figures include…

APA Heading Level 5

Lastly, sub-subsections requiring attention should be marked under an existing subheading (level 4) as previously described. Adhere to these formatting rules for the introduction section heading level 5 in an APA-styled document:

• Use italics exclusively.
• Capitalize solely the first letter of the initial word and any proper nouns.
• Also, end with a period before commencing paragraph content.

For example,

Influential psychologists during the 1800s

Psychodynamic theory: Sigmund Freud.  Sigmund Freud was a pioneer in…

Headings and Subheadings in Blogging

In the blogging world, headings and subheadings are crucial in making your content more accessible, captivating, and easy to digest. By incorporating well-crafted headers and subheaders throughout your blog posts, you can keep the reader engaged, provide them with context and structure, and make it easier for search engines to index your content.

The Role of Headings in Blog Posts

When writing blog posts, headings enable readers to screen content. They help:

• Catch the reader’s eye: A strong heading grabs the reader’s attention and entices them to read further.
• Organize your content: Headers offer visual separation between different sections or ideas within your post.
• Improve readability: Easy-to-scan headings enable readers to identify which sections are most relevant to their interests quickly.

Using key phrases from your keyword research in headings (for example, “header subheader”, “what are headings and subheadings”) further enhances readability while signaling search engine bots about the topic.

Enhancing Structure with Subheadings

Subheadings act as additional signposts within a piece of writing. They divide content into smaller categories, making it easier for readers to understand complex ideas or processes seamlessly while offering several benefits:

• Guide reading flow: Well-placed subheadings lead readers through your article by breaking down information logically.
• Highlight important points: Effective use of subheadings can emphasize vital concepts or tips that resonate with the audience.
• Facilitate skimming for users and screen readers: Busy internet users often skim articles before fully committing; clear subheadings ensure they comprehend crucial details even at a cursory glance.

Integrating keywords such as “examples of headings and subheadings”, and “headers and subheaders” into your text creates harmony across sections while enhancing SEO performance.

Impact on SEO

Effective use of headings and subheadings, especially when incorporating relevant keywords, can improve your blog’s search engine optimization (SEO) performance. Here are some reasons why:

• Content prioritization: Search engines assign more weight to the text within headings and subheadings, making it essential to include target keywords for better ranking.
• Ease of crawling: Providing separate sections through headers and subheaders makes it easier for search engine bots to crawl and index your content accurately.
• Boost accessibility: A logical structure with clear headings impacts the user experience positively and improves your site’s overall accessibility.

Tips for Writing Engaging Headings and Subheadings in Blogging

To make the most of headings and subheadings in blogging, keep these points in mind:

• Use action words: Begin with strong verbs that convey a sense of purpose or achieving something beneficial.
• Be concise yet descriptive: Prefer short, attention-grabbing phrases that accurately reflect the section’s contents without being overly long.
• Emphasize benefits or solutions: Showcase value proposition by highlighting solutions or outcomes readers can expect from the section.
• Leverage numbers/lists: Use numbered lists or steps whenever appropriate to add order to content while enhancing readability.

By carefully crafting captivating headings and well-structured subheadings in your blog posts, you’ll witness an improvement in user engagement levels leading to higher conversion rates on your platform.

FAQs on Headings and Subheadings Examples

What is the difference between a heading and a subheading?

Headings and subheadings are crucial in organizing content, but their distinct purposes can often lead to confusion. Let’s examine each one to understand the difference between these two terms better.

Heading : A heading is an overarching title that indicates a section’s main theme or subject within your document, article, or blog post. Headings are typically formatted with larger, bold text than the surrounding content to grab readers’ attention quickly. These headings act as signposts for readers scanning through long content to find particular topics of interest.

Subheading : In contrast, a subheading serves as a smaller, more detailed description or label under the main heading. Subheadings further divide sections into subsections by providing context and highlighting specific aspects of your material under their respective headings. Typically formatted to be slightly smaller than headings but still stand out from the body text, they help guide readers through your content by making it easy for them to identify relevant information.

By using headings and subheadings effectively in tandem – providing clear overviews yet breaking data down into digestible chunks –you create accessible, engaging documents for various audiences.

How many heading levels should you use?

The number of heading levels you should use depends on several factors:

• Content length and complexity : Use multiple heading levels if your content addresses various themes or contains in-depth analyses with subsections. Thoughtful navigation facilitates quick searches throughout complex works.
• Reader comprehension : Different audience members will possess varying knowledge bases; aim for clarity by structuring information accordingly.
• Style guidelines : Depending on stylistic preferences (for example, APA style), specific formatting rules may dictate how many hierarchical subdivisions prove most effective.
• Platform requirements : Evaluate your chosen platform’s standards (such as blogging platforms like WordPress) to ensure readability.

In general, most articles or papers utilize 2 to 4 levels of headings and subheadings. This range balances the need for structure alongside passage flow. Working with highly technical documents reaching beyond 15 pages may require additional hierarchical divisions for seamless comprehension.

Remember that employing too few heading levels can inhibit topic organization, while excessive use may render narratives convoluted or cluttered. Experiment accordingly to strike the appropriate balance tailored to your unique content needs.

Seasoned SaaS and agency growth expert with deep expertise in AI, content marketing, and SEO. With SEOwind, he crafts AI-powered content that tops Google searches and magnetizes clicks. With a track record of rocketing startups to global reach and coaching teams to smash growth, Tom's all about sharing his rich arsenal of strategies through engaging podcasts and webinars. He's your go-to guy for transforming organic traffic, supercharging content creation, and driving sales through the roof.

Table of Contents

• 1 What are Headings and Subheadings?
• 2 Why are Headings and Subheadings Important?
• 3 Factors to Consider When Creating Headings
• 4 Types of Headings and Subheadings
• 5 Best Practices on how to write Subheadings and Headings
• 6 Examples of Great Headings and Subheadings
• 7 How to choose the proper headings and subheadings for the article
• 8 Steps to Create a Proper Outline with Headings
• 9 Formatting Headings and Subheadings
• 10 Using Headings and Subheadings for SEO Optimization
• 11 APA Headings and Subheadings – APA Style Papers
• 12 Headings and Subheadings in Blogging
• 13 FAQs on Headings and Subheadings Examples

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