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6 Ways to Make a Great Impression with Your Presentation By Peter Nibley Most of us will have to make a presentation at least once in our life. This may be in front of two or three people, or it could be an audience of more than 500. However, what's important is not the size of the audience, but how effective your presentation is. An effective presentation is one that gets your message across clearly and is understood by the audience. It relates to your audience, and it ensures they learn something new. How you present your content will also determine its effectiveness. When you begin your presentation, follow the tips below to make a good impression. It's normal to be nervous before you give a presentation. Actually, it's better to be nervous because you can use that energy to your advantage by putting it into your presentation, making it more interesting. Channel it correctly so your nerves don't get the better of you. The first thing to do is relax. You have prepared and practiced your presentation so you could do it blindfolded. Have all your notes, handouts and supporting materials in order. Use the 5 or 10 minutes beforehand to breathe deeply and visualize that you are going to give a confident performance. Arrive early and introduce yourself to members of the audience. This is a great way to engage with your audience and bring down any barriers before giving the presentation. By engaging with them beforehand, you will find the audience more receptive and warmer. This will also help you to keep calm and more relaxed. If you are giving a presentation at an event, it's likely that you will be introduced by the main presenter or organizer. It's good practice to pick up what is said about you as you're introduced. During your introduction, your background or interests may be mentioned, and you can follow up on these as you begin your presentation. This can be used to introduce a little humor to warm up the audience. Before you start, make sure you have your audience's attention. If someone introduces you, they should do this for you. However, if there is no one to introduce you, you need to do this yourself. This can be achieved by standing there silently for a few moments, and if that doesn't work, try a few polite coughs to get their attention. If you have a set time limit to finish the presentation, it's important that you do not overrun it as this will delay the organizer's schedule. Prepare in advance to finish in a specific period of time, including questions and answers.