120 Presentation Topic Ideas to Help You Hook Your Audience

I just lately did a presentation evening with my buddies. Should you’re unfamiliar with the idea, it’s when a gaggle of buddies will get collectively to share displays they created a couple of matter of their selection.

The subjects are usually light-hearted and enjoyable. For instance, mine was “my buddies as obscure animals.”

You’d be shocked how troublesome it was to develop concepts for one thing as foolish and unserious as a social presentation evening.

So, it’s naturally even tougher to ideate presentation subjects for an expert setting with the stress of needing to impress, affect, educate, or entertain.

I’ll share learn how to develop thought-provoking and related subjects in your displays to make sure they’re memorable and resonate properly together with your viewers.

Desk of Contents

Easy methods to Select a Nice Presentation Matter in 5 Steps

I’ve damaged down the painstakingly lengthy course of of selecting a subject into 5 easy and simple steps. Let’s stroll via it.

Step 1: Start with the top in thoughts.

“Some issues are higher left unsaid” is what I don’t need folks to say about my displays. That’s why I all the time have a particular aim earlier than selecting a subject.

Some questions I ask myself are:

• What do I hope to attain from the presentation?
• How do I need to come throughout?
• What do I would like my viewers to remove from the presentation?

Having a strong aim helps me start crafting the title of my presentation. For example, if I’m presenting a seminar about AI, my aim is likely to be to persuade my viewers to include extra AI into their each day lives.

A punchy thought for a title may very well be “Why AI Is NOT Ruining Your Life.”

Step 2: Know your viewers.

Let’s say I’m getting ready an inside presentation for my workforce at Nickelodeon. I’d first take into account my viewers’s expertise and pursuits.

I don’t need to current one thing they already know properly or have the subject go over their heads. Because it’s my workforce, I’d really feel assured that these elements overlap comfortably with mine.

Should you’re presenting to an unknown viewers, analysis the people or basic demographic if particular names aren’t accessible.

Subsequent, I’d take into account what fashion is most popular. Some workplaces is likely to be extra formal, requiring a critical presentation tone.

Primarily based on the kind of content material we work on at Nickelodeon, we preserve issues gentle at work, so I’d combine humor and an off-the-cuff tone into my presentation.

Professional tip: At all times take into account your viewers’s information degree on the subject earlier than drafting your presentation. For instance, a presentation on social media focused at Gen Z will differ from that focused at Millennials.

Step 3: Be present.

Of presenters, 47% tailor their presentation subjects to present occasions, which is a simple means to make sure the subject is novel.

I’m not saying the presentation needs to be utterly centered round a present occasion. Even together with sure references or themes can alert audiences that this isn’t a cut-and-paste presentation that’s been performed earlier than.

For example, if I had been giving a presentation to my workforce at Nickelodeon, I would slip in a humorous reference to the 2024 movie Depraved because it’s very culturally related.

If I wished to tailor my whole presentation to this matter, I might spotlight among the methods the PG-rated film manages to seize hearts of all ages, which is related to our workforce’s family-friendly content material.

Step 4: Be exact.

Finishing these first three steps places me in a spot with first rate matter concepts. Now, I can reduce out the surplus and choose a distinct segment matter with a particular aim.

That is crucial as a result of the broader the subject, the harder will probably be for my viewers to remove key concepts and actionable suggestions. Additionally, it could be harder to collect an viewers intrigued and excited by my matter.

For example, the primary matter within the picture is generic, sounds imprecise, and doesn’t specify any clear advantages. However, the second matter mentions the audience, tells them what to anticipate, and gives a transparent, actionable plan.

The viewers is aware of precisely what they may take away from the presentation.

Step 5: Add a private contact.

Displays with tales are 22 instances extra more likely to be remembered than these with straight information. Such is the ability of narrative and personalization in storytelling.

Subsequently, I all the time take into account subjects I can tie again to myself, which additionally helps the displays really feel extra genuine. There are a number of methods I’d do that:

• Choose a subject I’ve first-hand expertise with.
• Present a singular opinion or learnings/findings so as to add worth to my phrases.
• Let the viewers view a controversial matter from my perspective.
• Select a subject I’m genuinely captivated with.
• Inform a private story that features as a metaphor for my matter.

Professional tip: Take into consideration the place your pursuits {and professional} expertise meet. Then, slender these subjects or themes all the way down to 2-5 driving elements to give attention to in your presentation.

120 Presentation Matter Concepts

Under is an in depth listing of presentation concepts from private experiences to digital advertising and marketing and AI. I all the time reference this listing once I discover myself in a rut.

I can preserve the framework and swap out key phrases for a lot of of those titles, offering an infinite mixture of concepts.

Presentation Matter Concepts for Private Experiences

1. The failures that made “Me”
2. My journey balancing full-time and freelance work
3. How I made social media a productive area
4. 5 life-changing behavior modifications I made this yr
5. How I received out of my longest writing rut
6. My battle with Covid-19
7. How I turned my weaknesses into strengths
8. Dealing with nervousness and melancholy
9. Leveraging my hobbies to enhance my profession
10. Distant vs. in-office: The place do I thrive?
11. What I wished to be and what I turned
12. How I rediscovered myself after hardship

Presentation Matter Concepts for Controversial Points

1. Way forward for genetically modified meals and preservatives
2. Privateness within the age of AI: Moral points
3. The ability of social media in politics
4. Freedom of expression or dangerous content material
5. Navigating the road between cultural appropriation and appreciation
6. What can we do to stop local weather change?
7. Girls’s rights are everybody’s rights
8. LGBTQ Rights: Balancing equality and custom sooner or later
9. The ethics of animal testing
10. The implications of social media for future generations
11. How a lot display screen time is an excessive amount of?
12. Punishment vs. rehabilitation

Presentation Matter Concepts for Present Developments

1. 5 small efforts to combat local weather change
2. How native politics play into the massive image
3. What are blockchain and cryptocurrencies?
4. The newest health developments of 2024
5. Life on social media vs. actual life: Easy methods to preserve your self sane
6. Water shortage and conservation
7. Renewable and sustainable vitality sources: Are we prepared?
8. The advantages of mindfulness and meditation practices for brand new mothers
9. Understanding and addressing psychological well being points in Gen Z and Alpha.
10. 12 Methods for practising self-care and self-compassion
11. Transitioning again to hybrid or full-time workplace fashions after years of distant work.
12. How X entrepreneurs develop their private manufacturers (and their ROIs)

Presentation Matter Concepts for Trade Insights

1. How new AI applied sciences are altering the {industry}: 5 examples
2. Six key developments and {industry} forecasts for the longer term
3. Easy methods to overcome these 10 challenges to succeed
4. Measuring and optimizing organizational advertising and marketing efforts utilizing AI
5. Utilizing predictive analytics to extract key advertising and marketing insights
6. 13 methods to extend buyer loyalty and retention
7. Enhance your on-line visibility and site visitors: 15 suggestions from LinkedIn gurus
8. Seven methods to create partaking video content material in your firm
9. 5 methods for companies to construct a robust social media presence
10. Which social media channels are finest in your model?
11. Is AI revolutionizing the retail {industry}?
12. Digital studying and the way forward for conventional studying techniques

Presentation Matter Concepts for Digital Advertising and marketing

1. The subsequent large factor in digital advertising and marketing — unlocked
2. The artwork of storytelling in advertising and marketing: 23 companies that kill it
3. Advantages of cross-channel advertising and marketing for software program improvement corporations
4. Voice search and its affect on digital advertising and marketing in 2025
5. Maximizing ROI in your startup advertising and marketing: 3 underestimated techniques
6. Modifications in shopper habits: Causes and implications
7. Significance of personalization in digital advertising and marketing
8. 10 Rising advertising and marketing developments and applied sciences
9. Designing an efficient cell technique for your online business
10. Significance of infographics in content material advertising and marketing: HubSpot’s case research
11. Creating efficient advertising and marketing funnels for well being merchandise
12. The ability of user-generated content material for corporations

Presentation Matter Concepts for AI

1. Six high tales about AI in 2024
2. 5 bizarre, however true, information about AI
3. What these three enterprise consultants are saying about AI
4. Three surprising methods AI could make you a greater marketer
5. The Darkish Facet of AI
6. How do presidential campaigns profit from AI?
7. 5 AI instruments each marketer wants
8. AI and Massive Information: Altering the panorama of recent enterprise
9. Which jobs will AI change?
10. Why do these X celebrities and {industry} leaders love AI?
11. AI in human sources: Recruiting and expertise administration
12. The Ethics of AI: Balancing enterprise pursuits and societal impacts

Presentation Matter Concepts for Gross sales

1. Chilly calls: Unethical techniques and gray areas
2. Gross sales: Expectations vs. Actuality
3. Gross sales prospecting made less complicated with AI
4. Gross sales calls: Do’s, Don’ts, and Musts
5. Six gross sales methods it is advisable throw out the window
6. 5 abilities each salesperson must develop in 2024
7. Constructing long-lasting relationships with clients utilizing these three tried and examined strategies
8. Coping with rejections: 5 methods and one bonus tip
9. Affected person ready and 7 methods to cope with it
10. 13 efficient gross sales methods for constructing relationships and shutting offers
11. Creating efficient gross sales coaching packages for brand new hires
12. 20 efficient gross sales communication methods

Presentation Matter Concepts for Time Administration

1. Easy methods to obtain an excellent work-life steadiness for distant employees
2. How a lot time must you ideally spend networking on LinkedIn?
3. Easy methods to successfully delegate duties
4. Purchase again your time: Methods and advantages
5. Six enterprise rules of time administration
6. Easy methods to make an efficient plan: Three practices you can begin in the present day
7. 15 methods to enhance private effectivity and productiveness
8. The 5 steps of the Pomodoro Method
9. Objective setting and prioritization: For IT start-ups
10. 9 finest multitasking methods of insanely profitable businesspeople
11. Time administration for busy professionals: The place to start out?
12. Cease procrastinating: Eight methods beginning tomorrow

Presentation Matter Concepts for IT

1. Benefits and dangers of adopting cloud software program
2. Open-source software program: seven finest practices
3. Machine studying: Professionals and cons for advertising and marketing
4. Easy methods to create user-friendly interfaces for software program and web sites
5. The position of IT in digital transformation
6. The Web of Issues: 5 alternatives for companies and shoppers
7. Six methods to guard your digital belongings
8. Seven advantages and three dangers of shifting to the cloud
9. How does Massive Information work?
10. Greatest methods to guard organizational knowledge: 5 tried and examined methods
11. Expertise and its affect on society and tradition
12. Cellular gadget administration: The place to start out?

Presentation Subjects Concepts for Enterprise

1. Optimizing collaborations to avoid wasting time throughout all departments
2. Eight time administration instruments and apps for companies
3. 12 widespread abilities of profitable businesspeople
4. 10 suggestions and methods for a profitable advertising and marketing technique
5. Harnessing the ability of influencer advertising and marketing
6. Allocating a advertising and marketing funds to maximise ROI in 5 steps
7. 5 manufacturing methods to reduce prices
8. Understanding moral points in enterprise and advertising and marketing
9. 15 methods to scale back your organization’s carbon footprint
10. Three previous enterprise fashions making a comeback
11. Seven methods X developed a robust firm tradition
12. 12 methods for constructing a sustainable and accountable enterprise in 2023

5 Presentation Suggestions

Whereas I’ve pressured the significance of utilizing presentation subjects to place audiences first, supply direct options, and fill in information gaps, there’s extra.

In spite of everything, the half that often retains me up the evening earlier than an enormous presentation isn’t usually the subject however the considered really presenting.

That’s why I’m sharing my 5 finest suggestions that can assist you ace your subsequent presentation.

1. Design a transparent structure.

I like to prepare my displays into 4 clear sections — introduction, physique, conclusion, and follow-up — to assist me assemble a transparent structure and enticing design. Right here’s what I embrace in every space:

Introduction

• A catchy title with a hook
• A thesis assertion or large thought behind the presentation
• Desk of contents that provides my viewers a preview into what’s coming

Physique

• A transparent rationalization of my matter
• My argument, perspective, or essential message I’m making an attempt to convey in three to 5 key factors
• Info expertly interspersed to assist bolster my claims

Conclusion

• A concise abstract of the details and takeaways
• A catchy line to encourage thought-provoking, vivid discussions.

Observe-Up

• 5 to 10 minutes on the finish of my presentation for a Q&A, the place I can dispel doubts and supply extra context to my viewers

2. Use visible aids.

I hate to confess it, however nothing makes me zone out faster than a black-and-white, word-heavy presentation. My decrease consideration span and visible studying choice make it arduous to give attention to a strictly verbal or text-based presentation.

Presentation visuals can enhance content material engagement by as much as 80%.

LinkedIn additionally gives a number of causes supporting the significance of visible aids, equivalent to capturing the eye and curiosity of audiences, lowering cognitive load by breaking down complicated ideas, and rising the retention and recall of verbal messages.

I work full-time in media and leisure, so it’s simple so as to add visuals to my displays within the type of key artwork, video promos, and character artwork.

Nevertheless, even in much less artistic industries, visible aids like charts and graphs, various colour schemes, and even model logos may also help break up the textual content.

3. Select a presentation fashion that makes you assured.

I do know my strengths and weaknesses finest relating to presentation abilities. I do know I’m not the perfect at getting a excessive quantity of knowledge throughout rapidly, however I’ve an exemplary reminiscence (no speaker notes right here!) and ease of communication.

All this self-knowledge helps me put together presentation kinds that make me really feel most snug and assured. Presentation subjects also can dictate what fashion is finest.

For example, if my matter is “5 life-changing behavior modifications I made this yr,” I’ll possible undertake a storytelling fashion. However, a subject like “The Ethics of AI: Balancing enterprise pursuits and societal impacts” would possibly name for an teacher fashion.

The ethical is to decide on a means of presenting the fabric that makes me really feel most assured. The precise info could also be troublesome, however how I share it may be easy.

4. Design a slide deck to be happy with.

Supply

I reside by the phrase “look good, really feel good.” If I’m sick, exhausted, or simply having a nasty day, staying in pajamas and unwashed hair makes me really feel worse than I’m. However showering and carrying my favourite outfit can flip my whole day round.

The identical idea applies to displays. I’ve needed to flip round last-minute displays on sloppy slides, and feeling embarrassed in regards to the look may be sufficient to throw me utterly off.

This is sensible since 91% of pros really feel extra assured presenting a well-designed slide deck.

My firm makes use of branded slide templates, which eases the method, however manually stepping into to make the fonts, colours, textual content spacing, and visuals look good is crucial.

You may also use presentation templates to avoid wasting time and uncover stunning, partaking designs.

It’s additionally necessary to apply operating via these well-designed slides, particularly for those who’re driving the deck for a gaggle presentation. Stroll via the presentation in Slideshow mode and guarantee every part appears to be like as desired.

5. Interact together with your viewers.

Usually, my largest worry main as much as a presentation is making certain that I relay all the data I’ve ready.

Nevertheless, I must be extra nervous about creating a robust sufficient reference to my viewers that my presentation resonates of their minds lengthy after.

Of audiences, 79% desire interactive displays with alternatives to get entangled, so presenters have used instruments like polls and quizzes to extend viewers engagement by 40%.

That is additionally a good way to alleviate among the stress from myself — by throwing to the viewers at instances, I could make the presentation really feel extra conversational.

Listed below are a number of ways in which my colleagues and I’ve made displays extra interactive:

• Begin by asking unusual inquiries to the viewers. Contain them from the get-go, saying issues like, “Increase your palms if X.”
• Add polls to the slides and name on viewers members to share their responses.
• Make eye contact to construct credibility and present confidence. Don’t stare on the slides or notes. Smile often and discuss to the viewers instantly.
• Share a private perspective and ask if anybody within the viewers agrees or disagrees. Name on them to share why.
• Use lively and assured physique language. Don’t stand in the identical place the whole time. Transfer across the stage.
• Ask close-ended questions in between to maintain the viewers engaged with out dropping time. Deal with them utilizing their names to maintain issues attention-grabbing.
• Share private experiences and tales that your viewers will discover fascinating and relatable.

Feeling Impressed But?

As a youthful skilled in my {industry}, I’m all the time searching for methods to make myself recognized, stand out from the group, and show my capacity to be a pacesetter.

This weblog put up taught me that distinctive, memorable presentation subjects may also help me accomplish these objectives.

All of us have a wealth of experience, expertise, and persona, and that’s sufficient to create a narrative price listening to. So the query will not be “What ought to I say?” however somewhat “How can I say it?”

My most necessary takeaway is that authenticity comes from discovering methods to personalize presentation subjects.

Even one thing data-driven or industry-focused has the chance for a reference to an anecdote, metaphor, distinctive perspective, or viewers interplay instrument that may take displays from informative to outstanding.

Editor’s observe: This put up was initially printed in August 2023 and has been up to date for comprehensiveness.