End Your Presentation With Something That Will Leave Them Begging for More!

People remember best what you say last. And it's especially true when presenting to a group. So what you end your presentation with is what people take with them to put into action or connect with what they already know.

So the end for you is the beginning of what your audience will remember best. Typically, speakers reach their stride in the middle and have lost their audience by the end.

To prevent this, have a strong ending. And how do you do this? Here's some simple things to remember the next time you're called on to present.

1. Always find out in advance what is the purpose of your presentation. Do you want the audience to take action? Or understand? Or persuade them to do something? Or just entertain? The purpose will determine how you end the presentation. Many speakers lose sight of this; their endings do not fit their purposes and the audience leaves confused.

If you want the audience to act, tell them what they should do when they leave. State the specific action. Ask for a show of hands of all who intend to leave and act. If you're just entertaining them, leave them feeling good and laughing on the way out.

2. Summarize what you said. Use a powerful quote or phrase that's easy to remember. This is the exit line. This should be a short saying, profound idea or clever line that compels the audience to think about your presentation. This will help them remember what you want them to do. Punctuating the summary with a thought-provoking idea helps the audience understand clearly where to begin as they leave your presentation.

3. Your conclusion should be short. Only use "In conclusion" when you really mean it! Otherwise you will lose the audience if you keep talking after you announced you're done. Look at your audience as you end; know exactly what you want to say and don't fumble with notes. The ending raises the emotional level of the audience when you don't' hesitate. Look pleasant and don't hide behind the lectern. In fact, move toward them slowly.

4. Avoid introducing new material in the conclusion. "By the way..." should not be added once you complete your presentation. In the conclusion, summarize the main points, include a statement that reiterates your general purpose and deliver your exit line.

5. Don't take the ending too seriously. Some speakers look for a fantastic audience response only to be disappointed if it doesn't happen.

Generate a new spark for the audience at the end!