Content will drive your presentation, but make sure it is relevant to your overall message. It’s easy to get enthusiastic about the sheer volume of information you may find through research. However, not all of it is necessary, despite how interesting the details may be. For example, in a presentation about earning a master’s degree in the United Kingdom, data on the rising number of Indonesian undergraduate students in Europe would be irrelevant. So, remember to stick to the point!

Once you’ve done your research, it’s time to present all that (relevant) information in a structured and cohesive manner. Just like an essay, your presentation should have a main topic that is then reinforced by supporting ideas and examples. Next, organize everything into parts. We recommend dividing the presentation into three main segments: an introduction (explain what you will cover in the presentation and state the main topic), a body (the largest portion of the presentation where you present your supporting ideas and examples) and a conclusion (to review, re-state your main topic and wrap things up).

One very common mistake people make when giving a presentation is reading directly from their PowerPoint slides. Not only is this boring for your audience, but it also suggests that you don’t know the subject well enough – which damages your credibility as a speaker. One way to avoid this is by placing more images or graphs in your presentation, and by keeping any text to a bare minimum; stick to one-word bullet points or phrases. And of course, know your subject inside out, so that you can describe each idea freely and with confidence.

A presentation is only as good as its speaker, and a good speaker is able to establish a good rapport with his or her audience. You can do this by making eye contact with people, approaching them directly with questions or to ask their opinions and by making them feel like they are a part of the presentation. By engaging with your audience and encouraging them to interact with each other, your presentation becomes a fun and informative experience.

Finally, as the old saying goes: practice makes perfect. So, remember to practice, practice and practice some more before taking the stage and facing your audience!