types of presentation with example

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8 Types of Presentations You Should Know [+Examples & Tips]

By Krystle Wong , Aug 11, 2023

From persuasive pitches that influence opinions to instructional demonstrations that teach skills, the different types of presentations serve a unique purpose, tailored to specific objectives and audiences.

Presentations that are tailored to its objectives and audiences are more engaging and memorable. They capture attention, maintain interest and leave a lasting impression. 

Don’t worry if you’re no designer —  Whether you need data-driven visuals, persuasive graphics or engaging design elements, Venngage can empower you to craft presentations that stand out and effectively convey your message.

Venngage’s intuitive drag-and-drop interface, extensive presentation template library and customizable design options make it a valuable tool for creating slides that align with your specific goals and target audience. 

Click to jump ahead:

8 Different types of presentations every presenter must know

How do i choose the right type of presentation for my topic or audience, types of presentation faq.

• 5 Steps to create a presentation with Venngage 

When it comes to presentations, versatility is the name of the game. Having a variety of presentation styles up your sleeve can make a world of difference in keeping your audience engaged. Here are 8 essential presentation types that every presenter should be well-acquainted with:

1. Informative presentation

Ever sat through a presentation that left you feeling enlightened? That’s the power of an informative presentation. 

This presentation style is all about sharing knowledge and shedding light on a particular topic. Whether you’re diving into the depths of quantum physics or explaining the intricacies of the latest social media trends, informative presentations aim to increase the audience’s understanding.

When delivering an informative presentation, simplify complex topics with clear visuals and relatable examples. Organize your content logically, starting with the basics and gradually delving deeper and always remember to keep jargon to a minimum and encourage questions for clarity.

Academic presentations and research presentations are great examples of informative presentations. An effective academic presentation involves having clear structure, credible evidence, engaging delivery and supporting visuals. Provide context to emphasize the topic’s significance, practice to perfect timing, and be ready to address anticipated questions. 

2. Persuasive presentation

If you’ve ever been swayed by a passionate speaker armed with compelling arguments, you’ve experienced a persuasive presentation . 

This type of presentation is like a verbal tug-of-war, aiming to convince the audience to see things from a specific perspective. Expect to encounter solid evidence, logical reasoning and a dash of emotional appeal.

With persuasive presentations, it’s important to know your audience inside out and tailor your message to their interests and concerns. Craft a compelling narrative with a strong opening, a solid argument and a memorable closing. Additionally, use visuals strategically to enhance your points.

Examples of persuasive presentations include presentations for environmental conservations, policy change, social issues and more. Here are some engaging presentation templates you can use to get started with: 

3. Demonstration or how-to presentation

A Demonstration or How-To Presentation is a type of presentation where the speaker showcases a process, technique, or procedure step by step, providing the audience with clear instructions on how to replicate the demonstrated action. 

A demonstrative presentation is particularly useful when teaching practical skills or showing how something is done in a hands-on manner.

These presentations are commonly used in various settings, including educational workshops, training sessions, cooking classes, DIY tutorials, technology demonstrations and more. Designing creative slides for your how-to presentations can heighten engagement and foster better information retention. 

Speakers can also consider breaking down the process into manageable steps, using visual aids, props and sometimes even live demonstrations to illustrate each step. The key is to provide clear and concise instructions, engage the audience with interactive elements and address any questions that may arise during the presentation.

4. Training or instructional presentation

Training presentations are geared towards imparting practical skills, procedures or concepts — think of this as the more focused cousin of the demonstration presentation. 

Whether you’re teaching a group of new employees the ins and outs of a software or enlightening budding chefs on the art of soufflé-making, training presentations are all about turning novices into experts.

To maximize the impact of your training or instructional presentation, break down complex concepts into digestible segments. Consider using real-life examples to illustrate each point and create a connection. 

You can also create an interactive presentation by incorporating elements like quizzes or group activities to reinforce understanding.

5. Sales presentation

Sales presentations are one of the many types of business presentations and the bread and butter of businesses looking to woo potential clients or customers. With a sprinkle of charm and a dash of persuasion, these presentations showcase products, services or ideas with one end goal in mind: sealing the deal.

A successful sales presentation often has key characteristics such as a clear value proposition, strong storytelling, confidence and a compelling call to action. Hence, when presenting to your clients or stakeholders, focus on benefits rather than just features. 

Anticipate and address potential objections before they arise and use storytelling to showcase how your offering solves a specific problem for your audience. Utilizing visual aids is also a great way to make your points stand out and stay memorable.

A sales presentation can be used to promote service offerings, product launches or even consultancy proposals that outline the expertise and industry experience of a business. Here are some template examples you can use for your next sales presentation:

6. Pitch presentation

Pitch presentations are your ticket to garnering the interest and support of potential investors, partners or stakeholders. Think of your pitch deck as your chance to paint a vivid picture of your business idea or proposal and secure the resources you need to bring it to life. 

Business presentations aside, individuals can also create a portfolio presentation to showcase their skills, experience and achievements to potential clients, employers or investors. 

Craft a concise and compelling narrative. Clearly define the problem your idea solves and how it stands out in the market. Anticipate questions and practice your answers. Project confidence and passion for your idea.

7. Motivational or inspirational presentation

Feeling the need for a morale boost? That’s where motivational presentations step in. These talks are designed to uplift and inspire, often featuring personal anecdotes, heartwarming stories and a generous serving of encouragement.

Form a connection with your audience by sharing personal stories that resonate with your message. Use a storytelling style with relatable anecdotes and powerful metaphors to create an emotional connection. Keep the energy high and wrap up your inspirational presentations with a clear call to action.

Inspirational talks and leadership presentations aside, a motivational or inspirational presentation can also be a simple presentation aimed at boosting confidence, a motivational speech focused on embracing change and more.

8. Status or progress report presentation

Projects and businesses are like living organisms, constantly evolving and changing. Status or progress report presentations keep everyone in the loop by providing updates on achievements, challenges and future plans. It’s like a GPS for your team, ensuring everyone stays on track.

Be transparent about achievements, challenges and future plans. Utilize infographics, charts and diagrams to present your data visually and simplify information. By visually representing data, it becomes easier to identify trends, make predictions and strategize based on evidence.

Now that you’ve learned about the different types of presentation methods and how to use them, you’re on the right track to creating a good presentation that can boost your confidence and enhance your presentation skills . 

Selecting the most suitable presentation style is akin to choosing the right outfit for an occasion – it greatly influences how your message is perceived. Here’s a more detailed guide to help you make that crucial decision:

1. Define your objectives

Begin by clarifying your presentation’s goals. Are you aiming to educate, persuade, motivate, train or perhaps sell a concept? Your objectives will guide you to the most suitable presentation type. 

For instance, if you’re aiming to inform, an informative presentation would be a natural fit. On the other hand, a persuasive presentation suits the goal of swaying opinions.

2. Know your audience

Regardless if you’re giving an in-person or a virtual presentation — delve into the characteristics of your audience. Consider factors like their expertise level, familiarity with the topic, interests and expectations. 

If your audience consists of professionals in your field, a more technical presentation might be suitable. However, if your audience is diverse and includes newcomers, an approachable and engaging style might work better.

3. Analyze your content

Reflect on the content you intend to present. Is it data-heavy, rich in personal stories or focused on practical skills? Different presentation styles serve different content types. 

For data-driven content, an informative or instructional presentation might work best. For emotional stories, a motivational presentation could be a compelling choice.

4. Consider time constraints

Evaluate the time you have at your disposal. If your presentation needs to be concise due to time limitations, opt for a presentation style that allows you to convey your key points effectively within the available timeframe. A pitch presentation, for example, often requires delivering impactful information within a short span.

5. Leverage visuals

Visual aids are powerful tools in presentations. Consider whether your content would benefit from visual representation. If your PowerPoint presentations involve step-by-step instructions or demonstrations, a how-to presentation with clear visuals would be advantageous. Conversely, if your content is more conceptual, a motivational presentation could rely more on spoken words.

6. Align with the setting

Take the presentation environment into account. Are you presenting in a formal business setting, a casual workshop or a conference? Your setting can influence the level of formality and interactivity in your presentation. For instance, a demonstration presentation might be ideal for a hands-on workshop, while a persuasive presentation is great for conferences.

7. Gauge audience interaction

Determine the level of audience engagement you want. Interactive presentations work well for training sessions, workshops and small group settings, while informative or persuasive presentations might be more one-sided.

8. Flexibility

Stay open to adjusting your presentation style on the fly. Sometimes, unexpected factors might require a change of presentation style. Be prepared to adjust on the spot if audience engagement or reactions indicate that a different approach would be more effective.

Remember that there is no one-size-fits-all approach, and the best type of presentation may vary depending on the specific situation and your unique communication goals. By carefully considering these factors, you can choose the most effective presentation type to successfully engage and communicate with your audience.

To save time, use a presentation software or check out these presentation design and presentation background guides to create a presentation that stands out.    

What are some effective ways to begin and end a presentation?

Capture your audience’s attention from the start of your presentation by using a surprising statistic, a compelling story or a thought-provoking question related to your topic. 

To conclude your presentation , summarize your main points, reinforce your key message and leave a lasting impression with a powerful call to action or a memorable quote that resonates with your presentation’s theme.

How can I make my presentation more engaging and interactive?

To create an engaging and interactive presentation for your audience, incorporate visual elements such as images, graphs and videos to illustrate your points visually. Share relatable anecdotes or real-life examples to create a connection with your audience. 

You can also integrate interactive elements like live polls, open-ended questions or small group discussions to encourage participation and keep your audience actively engaged throughout your presentation.

Which types of presentations require special markings

Some presentation types require special markings such as how sales presentations require persuasive techniques like emphasizing benefits, addressing objections and using compelling visuals to showcase products or services. 

Demonstrations and how-to presentations on the other hand require clear markings for each step, ensuring the audience can follow along seamlessly. 

That aside, pitch presentations require highlighting unique selling points, market potential and the competitive edge of your idea, making it stand out to potential investors or partners.

Need some inspiration on how to make a presentation that will captivate an audience? Here are 120+ presentation ideas to help you get started. 

5 Steps to create a presentation with Venngage 

Creating a stunning and impactful presentation with Venngage is a breeze. Whether you’re crafting a business pitch, a training presentation or any other type of presentation, follow these five steps to create a professional presentation that stands out:

• Sign up and log in to Venngage to access the editor.
• Choose a presentation template that matches your topic or style.
• Customize content, colors, fonts, and background to personalize your presentation.
• Add images, icons, and charts to enhancevisual style and clarity.
• Save, export, and share your presentation as PDF or PNG files, or use Venngage’s Presentation Mode for online showcasing.

In the realm of presentations, understanding the different types of presentation formats is like having a versatile set of tools that empower you to craft compelling narratives for every occasion.

Remember, the key to a successful presentation lies not only in the content you deliver but also in the way you connect with your audience. Whether you’re informing, persuading or entertaining, tailoring your approach to the specific type of presentation you’re delivering can make all the difference.

Presentations are a powerful tool, and with practice and dedication (and a little help from Venngage), you’ll find yourself becoming a presentation pro in no time. Now, let’s get started and customize your next presentation!

6 Different Types of Presentations

Presentations should be as unique as your business and the information you’re trying to present. However, there are certain types of presentations that are common across industries and teams. Before you worry about which slides to include or how to organize your information, you’ll need to determine which type of presentation is best for your audience. 

To figure this out, ask yourself: Are you entertaining or informing? Are you speaking to colleagues, investors, or potential customers? Asking these questions will help you choose the type of presentation that supports you best. Beautiful.ai is here to make this even easier with a description of different types of presentations to help you choose.

Informative Presentations

An informative presentation is educational, concise, and to the point. While other presentations may entertain or inspire, the main goal of an informative presentation is to share information.

A good example of an informative presentation is a human resources benefits presentation. Human resources needs to explain what benefits employees receive, how benefits work, which important dates employees need to remember, where employees can find more information, and so on. 

An HR benefits presentation for new hires (or any informational presentation) should be short, straightforward, and easy to understand so that new employees will remember the information they’re given. 

Instructive Presentations

A presentation that teaches something is similar to an informative presentation, but it goes beyond sharing facts. It also instructs the audience on a specific topic. People attend or view an instructive presentation with the intention to learn, and they leave with a better understanding of the topic of the presentation.

There are many examples of instructive presentations. Workshops, training sessions, or webinars teach audiences a new skill or procedure by offering specific information or instructions. Explaining new policies to a company is another type of instructive presentation. For example, an HR benefits presentation for new employees may be informative, but a presentation for existing employees about policy changes might lean more towards instructive, especially if employees have to take action or need to ask questions.     

Persuasive Presentations

Many presentations hope to sell something or persuade the audience to take certain actions. Persuasive presentations often present a problem and explain their solution using data. Examples of persuasive presentations include business pitches or sales proposals.

For example, a startup company looking for initial funding may need a startup pitch deck or a Series A presentation to convince investors to back their idea. A startup pitch deck would explain a problem in the market, how their startup will solve that problem, and how they’ll monetize their business. A Series A presentation can help a startup secure more rounds of funding to grow their company and pursue further goals.

Motivational Presentations

One of the most prominent examples of inspiring presentations? TEDTalks. Many motivational speakers use TEDTalks to inspire people to think or change their behavior. 

Motivational presentations in the business world may not be as dramatic or life-changing as a TEDTalk, but they still aim to generate interest or gain an audience’s approval. A company overview presentation is a good example of a motivational presentation. It may present the information of a company — how it was founded, who is leading it, what the company does — but more importantly, it tells the company’s story. 

A company overview presentation connects with the audience. A manager may use it to boost morale at a team meeting. Or an executive may present a company overview to convince potential customers or investors to work with them. Or, an HR rep may use it to make new hires feel welcome and excited to join the company.

Decision-making Presentations

Need to make a decision within the company? A presentation that shares a problem, solution options, and their outcomes can help speed along the process. Decision making presentations might be found in business meetings, government meetings, or all-hands meetings.

For example, let’s say a company wants to improve engagement on their social media channels. There are many ways they might achieve their goal, including hosting giveaways, dedicating more resources to creating Facebook posts or Instagram stories, and researching their audience or competitors to see how they can improve. A marketing campaign plan template for a presentation would keep details of the problem, different options, and possible outcomes organized in one place. It would inform and guide everyone involved in the meeting, helping them make informed decisions on how to move forward.

Progress Presentations

Imagine our hypothetical company decided on a marketing strategy to meet their goals. Now that they have a campaign in place, they need to report on the progress of said campaign. This sixth presentation type shares status updates, progress towards deadlines, collected data so far, any obstacles popping up, and tasks that need to be added or adjusted.

A team stand up presentation is a great example of this type of presentation. Team stand up presentations usually include an agenda, talking points, deliverable updates, discussion topics, and time for questions at the end. This presentation keeps everyone organized and focused, ensuring that everyone is still on the same page and working towards the same end goal.

Whichever Presentation Type You Choose, Create it With Beautiful.ai

Now that you know which presentation type is right for your project, it’s time to create a beautiful and effective presentation. With Beautiful.ai , you don’t need to set aside hours of time to build your presentation, nor do you need design expertise to do it. Use one of our many presentation templates that can be customized for your needs in minutes. No matter what type of presentation you create, Beautiful.ai can help you do it.

Beautiful.AI Team

Beautiful is an AI-powered presentation tool that makes it fast and easy for anyone to build clean, modern and professionally designed slides that they can be proud of.

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6 Types of Presentations and Which One is the Best for You

Last updated on October 5th, 2022

Presentations are an important part of the routine lives of students, business people, and other professionals. Different presentations are used for different occasions and purposes, such as student speeches, seminars, conferences, webinars, other eLearning activities, etc.

Choosing a proper presentation type for your next activity or meeting can be hectic for many professionals. That is why you must have a quick idea about how many presentation types are actually there and which one is best for you to achieve your specific goal or objective.

Are there any specific categories of presentations? Why is there a need for different types of presentation methods? This article will answer all of these questions in addition to some free premade presentation templates that have been made to save time and other resources for professionals, students, and business people.

Why Do You Need Different Types of Presentation Styles?

To deliver a persuasive and results-oriented presentation , the speaker must use techniques and tools to engage his audience and retain their attention. To achieve different objectives, a speaker may implement various techniques and methods of delivering his message.

If one expert says that the presenter should speak loudly, the other professional may argue that the visuals must be present throughout your presentation slides. Someone may stress the need for storytelling, while another mentor may think that statistics, infographics, or quotes are integral parts of successful presentations.

What if there was not a single way of delivering a presentation? What if there are several types of presentations that are used on different occasions for achieving specific objectives? Below, 6 different types of presentation styles are mentioned that are used for specific purposes only.

6 Different Types of Presentations (Plus Actionable Tips to Deliver Them)

When do you need specific types of presentation methods? How do they fulfill your specific purposes? Let’s have a look at 6 different types of presentations.

1. Informative Presentations

One of the most common presentation types is an informative presentation used for endless occasions, from educational to corporate business activities.

Why is there a need for informative presentations?

When you want to deliver detailed information or data about a specific product, service, idea, or process to a specific audience, these kinds of presentations are ideal. In such presentations, the speaker may seem analytical and rational to prove and make his concepts understandable to listeners. Informative presentations can be used in many situations . A news anchor may use informative presentations to present his data and information more systematically and comprehensively.  Businesses and institutions’ decision-makers use such presentations to discuss the pros and cons of a specific process, situation, or activity to reach effective solutions for specific problems. Hence, if you are looking forward to delivering a relatively longer presentation, an informative presentation can prove to be an appropriate choice for you. You can look at articles regarding how many slides for a long presentation or how many slides for 30 minutes to have a better idea of how to effectively present longer-duration presentations.

Tips for delivering effective informative presentations

Here are a few tips for informative presentations.

• You should focus on the main points or agenda of your topic first
• Don’t use complex sentences and graphics to avoid confusion among listeners.
• Try telling your presentation’s outline in the introduction section
• Summarize important points and ideas of your presentation in the end

2. Persuasive Presentations

Persuasion is an art through which an individual influences the opinions, thoughts, decisions, and actions of others. Delivering persuasive presentations is a need of the hour for many business people like marketers, project managers, and salespersons.

Why is there a need for persuasive presentations?

There are various circumstances in which persuasive presentations can be used.

Governmental institutions can use persuasive presentations in policy-making and election campaigns to convince their listeners to respond to a specific call to action . Senior executives or management of an organization can leverage such presentations to win the trust and confidence of their relevant stakeholders.  Speakers in TED Talks also need to convince their listeners regarding their concepts and ideas, and they use persuasive presentations to leave a significant impact on the minds of their audience . From youtube videos to sermons of religious leaders, persuasive presentations find their applications in many fields of life. If you are looking for premade free templates for your next persuasive presentation, look at our best PowerPoint Templates specifically made for your needs.

Tips for delivering effective persuasive presentations

Here are some actionable tips for delivering persuasive presentations.

• To develop credibility, start your presentation with a relevant quote or statistical analysis.
• Try to relate your arguments and data with personal experiences and stories.
• Try delivering your presentation passionately with genuine interest and attention.
• Your presentation should be an answer to the queries of your audience. Try to leave no stone unturned to deliver your message efficiently.

3. Demonstrative Presentations

Known as a demonstrative presentation when a presentation is based on the step-by-step demonstration of a product, service, or process . The audience is usually more attentive in such presentations, and you can leverage this added characteristic to your maximum advantage by implementing effective measures. 

Why is there a need for demonstrative presentations?

When an employer or trainer teaches his employees about a specific operational process, activity, or task systematically, he usually uses demonstrative presentation. Instructional videos and training generally depend on such presentations to effectively guide the audience. 

You don’t need to develop demonstrative presentations from scratch all by yourself. Our website Free PowerPoint Templates offers quality premade templates with in-built process demonstrations and infographics for your every possible need. Just download any of your desired templates with a simple click. You can make a few changes to the specific areas of your template as per your requirements, and in no time, your own professionally crafted demonstrative presentation will be ready to deliver. You can also easily get ideas regarding different presentation backgrounds for your next eye-catching and persuasive presentation.

Tips for delivering effective demonstrative presentations

Here are some effective tips for you.

• Try introducing your product, service, or process a bit before its elaborative demonstration.
• Use the maximum number of diagrams and visuals.
• Try clearing the doubts of your listeners during your presentation for better understanding. 
• Spend less time on the introduction part and more time on the demonstration part.
• Try mentioning some options or alternatives for the audience in the end so that they can implement the suggested measures as per their own desires and needs.

4. Inspirational Presentations

Also known as motivational presentations, inspirational presentations aim to inspire and motivate the audience . By developing an emotional connection with the listeners, the speaker tries to convey his ideas and thoughts through stories, personal experiences, and even humor sometimes.

Why is there a need for inspirational presentations?

Motivational speakers use such presentations to inspire their audience and make them see the positive aspects of life and the circumstances they face. For example, in TED Talks, a speaker uses a slide presentation along with his/her verbal speech to influence his/her listeners more effectively. Farewell speeches and presentations delivered by senior executives or management of businesses can also be considered examples of inspirational presentations. 

Tips for delivering effective inspirational presentations

By following the below-mentioned tips, you can become an appealing inspirational speaker.

• Start with a startling question or statement that will leave the audience thinking for a long time.
• Use the storytelling approach to resonate with the minds of your listeners.
•  Emphasize your presentation’s main points and ideas.
• Use humor if it helps in achieving your audience’s attention.
• Improve your body language and posture to establish authority on the stage. 

5. Business Presentations

In the business landscape, presentations are used for countless purposes like business planning, decision-making, developing a strategy, forecasting future results, hiring new employees, analyzing project management activities, etc. 

Why is there a need for business presentations?

As told before, business presentations have numerous applications in several areas of the business world . One of the most common usage of such presentations is in sales and marketing activities. A salesperson can use such a presentation to market his product effectively to convert his listener into a customer. 

Look at our Sales PowerPoint Templates to better understand such presentations. Business presentations are also used in corporate training sessions, meetings, e-presentations, seminars, webinars, one-on-one interviews, etc.

Tips for delivering effective business presentations

Here are some actionable business presentation tips for you.

• Use concise and solid points in your slides by making important keywords either bold or highlighted.
• Avoid informal tone of speech. Business presentations are usually formal and should be delivered accordingly.
• Be punctual during such presentations. Being late or showing irresponsible behavior is highly discouraged by the audience in such kinds of presentations.
• Go prepared in front of the audience so that you can answer all of their questions effectively.

6. PowerPoint Presentations

PowerPoint presentations are one of the most effective and widely used presentation types worldwide . They are easy to develop, deliver and understand. No matter what type of purpose you are trying to achieve, PowerPoint presentations can always come in handy in almost all possible situations you may find yourself in.

Why is there a need for PowerPoint presentations?

You can deliver such presentations for any audience, like for educational, business, formal, or informal purposes. You can use them to educate your listeners and inform them about a specific issue or process. PechaKucha presentations are also very popular for telling a story or narrating a personal experience. You don’t need to design and develop PowerPoint presentations yourself, as our website Free PowerPoint Templates is now offering thousands of free premade templates. Delivering and designing any PowerPoint presentation was never this easy.

In Conclusion

Although all types of presentations have their benefits and specific use cases , some are universal, and by modifying them a little bit, you can use them for various purposes. The best examples of such types of presentations are PowerPoint Presentations that can be used for a variety of purposes with the help of premade templates (as mentioned above). 

Every audience has different requirements; therefore, the presenter must be ready to deliver the desired message or idea per the needs of his listeners. Using the previously mentioned presentation types and methods, any user can now fulfill the demands of every possible situation in which he may have to deliver a presentation. With actionable tips, strategies, and premade templates mentioned above, you are now fully equipped to efficiently hit your desired presentation targets.

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6 Types of Presentation You Must Know (+ Tips)

Are you tired of giving the same old boring presentation, using the same format every time? Have you ever wondered if there are different types of presentations to achieve different objectives?

If any of these questions resonate with you, this blog is the perfect resource.

In today’s world, presentations are an essential part of almost every profession. At some point in your life, whether you are a student, business professional, or teacher, you will have to deliver a presentation. But do you know there are different types of presentations, each with a specific purpose and objective?

This blog will cover the six essential types of presentation that you should be familiar with. We will explain each type, its purpose, and some tips to deliver it effectively.

Let us delve into the different types of presentation and explore them together.

Why Do We Need Different Types of Presentations?

Different types of presentations effectively communicate ideas and information in a variety of settings and for different audiences. The purpose of a presentation can vary depending on the goals of the presenter and the needs of the audience. For example, a sales pitch may require a persuasive and visually appealing presentation to convince potential customers to buy a product, while a training session may need a more instructional and detailed approach.

The choice of presentation type depends on several factors, such as the purpose of the presentation, audience’s needs and preferences, and the presenter’s strengths and weaknesses. By selecting the appropriate type of presentation, the presenter can effectively communicate their message and achieve their desired outcome.

What are Different Types of Presentations?

To effectively communicate ideas and information, it is important to understand the different types of presentations that can be used for different purposes and audiences. Below is a list of different types of presentations:

Informative Presentations

Demonstrative presentations, persuasive presentations, instructional presentations, inspirational presentations, entertaining presentations.

Let’s explore them one by one:

Informative presentations, as the name implies, provide information or knowledge to the audience about a specific topic.

This type of presentation is often used in educational settings or business environments where information needs to be communicated clearly.

Tips for Creating Effective Informative Presentations:

• Know Your Audience: Understanding your audience is the key to creating an effective informative presentation. This means knowing their level of knowledge on the topic and what information will be most relevant and useful to them.
• Choose a Clear Topic: A clear and concise topic is essential for an informative presentation. This ensures that the audience understands the presentation’s focus and helps keep the content organized and easy to follow.
• Organize Your Content: Organizing your content into a logical structure can help to make the presentation easier to follow and understand. This means starting with an introduction, providing background information, and then moving into the main content of the presentation.

Demonstrative presentations are one of the many types of presentation methods that aim to show or demonstrate how something works or how a particular process is completed. 

These presentations are highly effective in technical or scientific fields but can also be used in other industries where hands-on demonstrations are necessary.

Tips for Creating Effective Demonstrative Presentations

• Choose the Right Props: Choosing the right props or models is essential for an effective demonstrative presentation. Ensure that the props accurately represent the topic and are easy to understand and use.
• Highlight Key Points: To make a demonstrative presentation effective, it is crucial to emphasize the critical points. This can help maintain the audience’s attention and concentration on the presented topic.
• Use Visual Aids: Incorporating visual aids like videos or images can significantly improve a demonstrative presentation. They can assist in simplifying intricate procedures or processes and increase audience engagement.

The purpose of persuasive presentations is to convince the audience to take a specific action or adopt a particular point of view. This type of presentation is focused on influencing the audience’s beliefs or behavior by presenting arguments, evidence, and emotional appeals.

These types of PowerPoint presentations are often used in sales, marketing, and advocacy, but they can also be used in other industries where persuasion is necessary.

The key to creating an effective persuasive presentation is to know your audience and tailor your message to their needs and interests.

Tips for Creating Effective Persuasive Presentations

• Use Emotional Appeals: Emotional appeals such as fear, guilt, or empathy can effectively persuade the audience. Ensure that your emotional appeals are relevant and not manipulative to the topic.
• Use Statistics and Facts: Using statistics and facts can add credibility to your persuasive presentation. Ensure that your statistics and facts are accurate and relevant to the topic.
• Use Stories: Using stories can be effective in persuading the audience. Stories can help to create an emotional connection with the audience and make your message more memorable.
• Provide a Clear Call to Action: Ensure your call to action is clear, actionable, and directly related to the topic.

Instructional presentations provide step-by-step instructions on how to perform a task or complete a process.

These presentations are often used in training, education, and technical fields.

Whether you’re teaching a new software program, demonstrating a manufacturing process, or explaining a complex concept, instructional presentations can be an effective tool for breaking down information into digestible pieces.

Tips for Creating Effective Instructional Presentations

• Identify Your Objectives: Identifying your objective is important for an effective instructional presentation. This helps you to focus your presentation on the most critical information and ensure that you are meeting the needs of your audience.
• Keep It Simple: Use simple language, avoid technical jargon, and break down complex procedures into manageable steps.
• Provide Examples: Use real-world examples relevant to your audience and demonstrate how the concepts or procedures can be applied.

Inspirational presentations are those types of presentations that aim to motivate, inspire, and uplift the audience. These presentation types are often used in business, education, and personal development.

These presentations are meant to help the audience see things from a new perspective, feel empowered to take action, and believe in their ability to make positive life changes.

Tips for Creating Effective Inspirational Presentations

• Use Personal Stories: Personal stories can help connect with the audience personally and inspire them to take action. Share your own experiences and struggles, and demonstrate how you overcame challenges and achieved success.
• Use Quotes and Examples: Using quotes and examples can help to reinforce your message and inspire the audience. Use quotes from influential personalities and provide examples of successful individuals who have achieved their goals.
• Provide Actionable Steps: Provide specific steps for the audience to achieve their goals and overcome challenges.

As the name suggests, entertaining presentations are meant to engage and captivate the audience with humor, storytelling, or other entertaining elements.

The primary goal of this type of presentation is to entertain the audience, leaving a lasting impression and making the presentation memorable.

Different types of PowerPoint presentations have specific goals, and entertaining presentations are often used in settings such as events, social gatherings, etc.

Tips for Creating Effective Entertaining Presentations

• Use Humor: Humor is a powerful tool that helps to engage and entertain the audience. Use jokes, puns, and witty remarks to add a touch of humor to your presentation.
• Tell a story: Use anecdotes, personal experiences, or fictional stories to create a narrative the audience can relate to.
• Use interactive elements: Incorporating interactive elements such as quizzes, polls, and games can effectively interrupt the monotony of the presentation and enhance audience engagement. Use these elements to encourage audience participation and create a more dynamic experience.
• Practice timing: Timing is everything when it comes to entertaining presentations. Make sure your presentation is well-timed, and avoid going over time, as this can disrupt the flow of the presentation and cause the audience to lose interest.
• Engage the audience: Engage the audience throughout the presentation by asking questions, encouraging participation, and creating a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere.

READ MORE: 10 Practical Ways To Improve Your Presentation Skills Today

Wrapping It Up

Understanding the different kinds of presentations is crucial for delivering an impactful and compelling message. By knowing the forms of presentation and their specific goals, you can tailor your content and delivery to achieve your desired outcome.

Whether you’re looking to inform, demonstrate, persuade, instruct, inspire, or entertain, the key is to know your audience and engage them through your content and delivery. By implementing the tips for each type of presentation, you can create a powerful and engaging presentation that leaves a lasting impression.

Remember, practice makes perfect. Take the time to rehearse and refine your presentation to ensure you deliver it confidently and clearly.

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Presentation types and styles explained

From high school, then all through college, and now in the workplace — presentations have been a pillar of passing down knowledge to various audiences. 

But, what are presentations? 

They are a tool used to inform and educate audiences in a fun and informative way. 

Well, that is the simple way of explaining their purpose and meaning. 

We want to dig in deeper, and that is what this article will bring to you — a deeper understanding of different types and styles of presentation, so you never get overwhelmed or confused when you need to make a presentation. 

We will discuss: 

• Different types and styles of presentations,
• The purpose of using presentations in the workplace, and 
• How to utilize and recognize types and styles of presentations.

We will also show you: 

• Famous presenters for each style, 
• How you can use each presentation style, and
• A quote for each style to work as a useful reminder if you ever get confused.

Let’s dive in, shall we?

Table of Contents

What are the purposes of presentations?

Sometimes, when a term is widely used, to the point where we subconsciously know the meaning and its purpose, it’s hard to pinpoint the true definition from memory. 

So, let’s start with the basics — what is the definition of presentations? 

Presentation is a manner of passing down knowledge from the speaker to the audience. A presentation can be a: 

• Demonstration,
• Lecture, or 
• Speech. 

The purpose of a presentation is whatever goal you set up to achieve. Those goals can be:

• To educate, 
• To persuade, and/or 
• To entertain.

According to LinkedIn’s article 4 goals for any speech, pitch or presentation , when you combine the goals we mentioned, your presentation will become powerful, meaningful, and impactful. The goals mentioned above are general and can be applied to any situation. Different types and styles of presentation can lead to different results. With the right type and style, you can: 

• Better your work and image with clients,
• Be more effective when presenting new ideas or solutions, and
• Ensure more progressive career growth.

These are only some of the business goals you can achieve with the right presentation type and presenting style. The more types and styles you try out, the more skillful you become, which helps you achieve your goals more efficiently.

What are the different presentation types?

Presentation types illustrate the way you structure your presentation . 

We’ve mentioned the 4 purposes of presentations — every goal or purpose corresponds to a certain type. Before you can choose a structure, you need to answer the question “ What is the purpose of this presentation? ” 

And methods and techniques, which we’ll talk about later, help you maintain that structure.

Once you know what you want to achieve with your presentation, you can choose its type. 

Here’s what you need to know about each presentation type:

Type #1: Informative presentations 

Informative presentations are analytical and, as the name states, informative. With this type of presentation, your end goal is to inform and educate . 

Your audience only has to listen and soak up all the knowledge that is given by you. 

With this type of presentation, you can report on new findings and new data or deliver a lecture. 

Since the goal is to educate, your presentation must be precise and correct. Make sure that the information you are communicating has real value. When presenting, try to engage your audience with visuals of your data to help them understand.

Type #2: Persuasive presentations

To use persuasive presentations, you must answer the question “ What do I want my audience to do after listening to me ?”

The point of this type of presentation is to persuade your audience, change their minds, or offer a new point of view, so that they take action .

Persuasive presentation comes in handy if you are presenting a new product or a service and you want your audience to feel the urge to buy said product.

When you use this presentation type you must exude confidence, since you are your audience’s only source of information for your product. 

Type #3: Motivational presentations

You’ve probably heard of motivational speakers, and if you haven’t, here’s a quick crash course. Motivational presentations have a purpose to inspire and change people’s minds . 

Most people who use this type of presentation have a story to tell. These people use their own experiences as key points in their presentations to help the audience to relate to them. 

Since the goal is to inspire and change people’s minds, you have to have a powerful topic to discuss. 

Remember to cater to your audience and adjust your presentation to them and their level.

Type #4: Instructive presentations

Instructive presentation is technical, precise, and often longer than other types we mentioned. This type is here to offer instructions to an audience. 

So, if your goal is to explain step by step how to achieve a goal or do a task— an instructive presentation should be your choice. 

When you are delivering this type of presentation you need to make sure that every instruction is clear, understandable, and easy to follow.  

How to determine which presentation type you should use?

To choose the correct type for your presentation, you must determine your goal. Once you have your goals clear, it will be easy to see which type works best with your presentation. 

Here are some helpful questions that will help you to narrow it down to one type: 

• What do I want the audience to take away from my presentation?’
• What am I trying to give the audience? Is it information, a lecture, or a look into a new product/feature?
• What obstacles are keeping me from delivering my presentation effectively?

Determining the correct type for your presentation is a trial-and-error process. You will find that some types are more your speed, while others might give you trouble. But, keep in mind that the end goal should always be to give your audience what they came for. 

No matter which type you prefer, they all exist for a reason. Give them all a chance, and remember that practice makes perfect.

Presentation methods and techniques

When you define the type of your presentation, it’s time to get into methods and techniques for delivering a presentation. 

There are a lot of ways you can deliver your presentation, and here is our take on it. 

Presentation methods

A method is how you approach your problem . 

When it comes to presentation methods, we linked them with public speaking. Methods cover:

• How you choose to deliver your presentation and 
• How you structure your speech. 

Here are the 4 main methods:

Method #1: Impromptu or unscripted 

The impromptu method applies to speeches that are: 

• Not prepared , 
• Emotionally charged, and 
• ‘Given on the spot’. 

This method of speaking is purely done by improvising, so there are no written rules on how it should be done. 

Improvising and making up your speech as you go is not a wrong way to deliver your presentation. Still, instead of basing your entire speech on your ability to ramble on, incorporate this method in segments where you see fit or feel inspired to do so. 

Method #2: Memorizing 

The memorizing method implies that the speaker needs to know their speech word for word. 

It is mostly used in oratory contests for high school and college students. This method is difficult, and you would need to spend a lot of time reading and memorizing your text.

But, this method is the easiest when it comes to performance anxiety. Since the text is perfectly constructed and your only job is to memorize and relay it to the audience, it’s less nerve-racking. 

💡 Pumble Pro-Tip  

If you struggle with anxiety before a presentation, we have an article to help you with that: 

• How not to be nervous for a presentation

The memorizing method, while being challenging at its core, can be freeing once the speaker is on stage. With this method, you can practice your body language to go with the text. And since the text is scripted and perfected, the speaker can move around the stage as they see fit.

Method #3: Extemporaneous

Extemporaneous is a synonym for impromptu and unscripted — so why is a synonym to a method we’ve already covered, now a completely new method? 

Well, that is because when it comes to the extemporaneous method, we think of a speaker that allows help during their performance . 

The extemporaneous method is a combination of the first two methods we mentioned. This method allows the speaker to prepare their speech and use notes and key points as an aid to keep on course. However, they will not learn their presentation by heart, but use their own words and speak in a conversational manner.

Method #4: Scripting 

The scripting method used to require a written speech from which the orator reads to the audience. Nowadays, we can see this method used by news outlets, with a teleprompter. 

So, to make use of this method, you need to write down your speech and read it proficiently to your audience. 

When it comes to in-person presentations and public speaking, this method is not the go-to. 

You shouldn’t spend the whole presentation just reading off of papers. When we present, we need to maintain eye contact and overall connection with the audience — and holding a piece of paper in front of the audience will get in the way of that connection.

Presentation techniques 

Presentation techniques are what you use before and during the presentation to make it compelling, informative, and easier to understand . 

Here are some of the techniques that we find quite useful: 

Technique #1: Practice

As a presenter, you want to make sure that everything goes smoothly — and for that to happen, you need to practice. The key to giving the best presentation is to practice relentlessly. 

Some useful tips to help you make the most of your practice are to: 

• Practice in front of a friend. — Practicing in front of a friend will not only help you with performance anxiety, but a friend might also have some useful tips on how to perform better. 
• Film yourself practicing. — When you film yourself giving your presentation aloud, it will help you to get used to cameras and the spotlight. Also, the camera will capture every mistake you make, and from there you can see what needs to be worked on.
• Practice in the auditorium. — It will do you good if you can practice giving your presentation in a meeting room or the auditorium. If you practice in the place you will be presenting, you will get used to the space, and it will be familiar to you on the day of your presentation.

Technique #2: Use visuals 

There is no need to overwhelm your audience with endless blocks of text. Think about how you can transform the data or information into a simple visual . 

The important thing to remember is that your audience might not be on the same level of knowledge as you. So, use visuals to help them follow your point. 

Technique #3: Incorporate stories 

No matter how informative and to the point your presentation is, including a story that is illustrating your point can be very helpful to your audience. 

Not only is storytelling a great way to engage and entertain your audience, but it is also a great way to show how your information is relevant to real-world events.

If you are curious to see what more you can do to prepare for your presentation, check out our article: 

• How to prepare for a presentation: Your 9-step guide to a successful presentation

Technique #4: Incorporate appropriate style 

Your presentation style is how you choose to deliver your presentation as a speaker. Style builds on the methods we have mentioned earlier, and it comes down to how you choose to speak to your audience. You can be a storyteller or a coach to your audience, and with each style comes a different influence. 

Methods and techniques are a great starting point when you are approaching your presentation structure and topic. 

But, there are different styles of presentation that you also should consider before walking up to that stage. Let’s learn more about them.

What is a presentation style?

A style is your preferred way of doing things, and when it comes to presentations, a style is how you choose to deliver your speech . Everything from your vocabulary to your tone defines your presenting style. 

If you are not sure what your personal presentation style is, you can always pick and choose from the already-established styles. Those include: 

• Storyteller, 
• Instructor, 
• Closer, 
• Connector, 
• Coach, 
• Lessig style, and
• Visual style.

Let’s get into more detail about each one of them.

Style #1: The Storyteller

The storytelling style consists of a (usually personal) story or anecdote. 

This style is used when the presentation doesn’t have any data or numbers that need to be explained. 

You can use this style to emphasize your point and to easily relay your goal to the audience. 

The storytelling style is great for the beginning of the presentation, as it is there to capture the audience’s attention. 

Formality level for the Storyteller style: Low

Since this style uses the speaker’s personal experiences and anecdotes to help the audience relate to the topic easily, the language used is conversational. There is no need for any excessive formality , and the speaker can address the audience in a friendly and familiar tone.

The Storyteller style characteristics

What characteristics should you be aware of when you want to utilize this style? 

The vocabulary that storytellers use is simple and conversational. Think about how you tell a story to your friends, colleagues, or family. Once you have that in mind, becoming a storyteller on stage won’t be a problem. 

Since the formality level is low, there is no need to overcomplicate things or to use synonyms for words that already have simpler and more known versions. 

Your story should have an introduction, where you will introduce the problem. Then, you can move into the main plot point that explains your topic. And finally, you should have a conclusion where you can circle back to the beginning and where you will untangle the web you cast and leave your audience with a final thought.

The pros of the Storyteller style 

Now let’s look at some of the pros of this style: 

• It’s easy to follow. 
• It illustrates your problem and solution in a creative way.
• It’s relatable and, therefore, more influential to the audience.

The cons of the Storyteller style 

Here are the cons of being the storyteller type: 

• A story that’s too long or not interesting enough can leave your audience bored. 
• Getting too caught up in the story can make your presentation longer than it should be.

Who is the Storyteller style best suitable for?

This style is great if you want to truly connect with your audience and have them feel as if you speak to them, rather than at them. Many people don’t like to be lectured, and if you are trying to make a point or a message stick out, try out the storytelling style.

Famous presenter with the Storyteller style

The storytelling style is preferred among TED talk speakers. 

But, when we think of storytelling, one particular speaker comes to mind — Nick Vujicic. He overcame great obstacles and has learned how to take what’s best from life. So now, when he tries to spread his message of endurance, he puts his trust into the storytelling style and lets his emotions and experiences speak to his audience. 

Quote by Nik Vujicic that embodies the Storyteller style

“ What really matters are the lives you touch along the way and how you finish your journey .” ― Nick Vujicic

Style #2: The Instructor

The instructing style of presenting shares some traits of the storytelling style. It still uses the power of metaphors to get the message across to the audience. 

But, the difference is that the instructing style has more of a commanding voice . The instructor can carefully align the story and the data in a logical and compelling manner, leaving the audience convinced and educated.

Formality level for the Instructor style: Medium

A lot of politicians use the Instructor style when they are trying to influence a larger crowd. Since this style has a higher formality level than the storytelling one, it allows the speaker to use more serious vocabulary and address the audience as superior. 

The Instructor style characteristics:

The Instructor’s style is characterized by logic and command. As we mentioned, the speaker who is fond of the Instructor’s style needs to be able to handle the facts and connect with the audience. 

So, the main characteristics of this style would be: 

• More formal use of language, 
• Commanding voice, and  
• Persuasive nature.

The pros of the Instructor style 

Let’s take a look at some of the pros of this style: 

• It helps get a complicated message across. 
• It’s persuasive. 
• It’s fairly easy to use. 

The cons of the Instructor style 

Here are some of the cons to be aware of: 

• The speaker could be deemed distant or cold. 
• The audience can lose interest if the presentation is too focused on pure data. 

Who is the Instructor style best suitable for?

This style is great if the speaker has a complicated topic to discuss with a less knowledgeable audience. This style is used mainly for lectures and political speeches. 

Famous presenter with the Instructor style

A famous presenter with the Instructor style is none other than the former Vice President of the United States, Al Gore. He uses metaphors, data, his own personal experience, and even visuals to bring complex issues closer to a wide audience.

Quote by Al Gore that embodies the Instructor style

“ When you have the facts on your side, argue the facts. When you have the law on your side, argue the law. When you have neither, holler. ” — Al Gore

Style #3: The Closer style

The Closer style of presenting is a style that demands action from the audience . Presenters who opt for this style want their audience to not only learn something new but to get up from their seats with a newfound urge to make a change. 

This style is a personification of a call to action. The presentations made in this style are short, since the speaker has a goal in mind. They then use this style to convincingly reach said goal.

Formality level for the Closer style: Medium

This style is a great tool to connect with the audience. So, to make a connection between the speaker and the audience, the formality level drops. But instead of treating the audience as friends, the speaker simply talks to them. 

The Closer style characteristics

The Closer style is persuasive and somewhat commanding. People who are fond of the Closer style cut right to the chase and make their audience get to a decision. With this presentation style, there are no boring statistics or data. The key points are clear and delivered with a short and clear explanation.

The pros of the Closer style 

Here are some of the pros of the Closer style: 

• The presentation is short.
• The Closer is confident and knows how to deliver a point.
• The audience rarely gets bored with this style.

The cons of the Closer style 

Take a look at some of the cons of this style: 

• Some audiences aren’t ready to make a quick decision.
• Some audiences might feel that this style is too harsh or rash.

Who is the Closer style best suitable for? 

The Closer style is best to use when you need your audience to make a decision or to give them the urge to make things happen. 

This style is mainly used by CEOs and salesmen.

Famous presenter with the Closer style

Many presenters use this style, but the one that stands out the most is the philosopher Ruth Chang. She has delivered great presentations on how to make hard decisions. She keeps her presentations short, sweet, and straight to the point. 

Quote by Ruth Chang that embodies the Closer style

“A world full of only easy choices would enslave us to reasons.” — Ruth Chang

Style #4: The Connector style

The Connector style speaker is most comfortable engaging with the audience . Some could say that the storytelling style is very similar to the Connector in that sense. Both styles base their presentations on the connection with the audience. The difference here is that the Connector is both a presenter and a member of the audience — and they are comfortable in both roles. 

This style of presentation (as the name suggests) allows the speaker to connect to the audience, and therefore deliver the materials easier. One way that this style connects the speaker and the audience is through Q&A.

Formality level for the Connector: Low 

Since this style’s main purpose is to connect the speaker to the audience, the formality level is low. The speaker appears as one of the audience, even though they are on stage. To keep the audience engaged and get them to ask questions, the Connector treats the audience as friends and acquaintances. 

The Connector style characteristics

The user of this style needs to appear as if they are one of the members of the audience, but they just happen to be on the stage instead in a seat. One of the main characteristics that stand out for this style is the eagerness of the speaker to engage with the audience. When a speaker is a Connector, they will constantly ask questions and listen to the audience’s opinions.

The pros of the Connector style

Let’s take a look at the pros of this style: 

• The audience is engaged and encouraged to participate.
• The presentation flows at a relaxed pace.
• The audience feels connected to the subject.

The cons of the Connector style

• Audience might not be comfortable with asking questions.
• The presentation might be longer than planned. 
• Too many opinions will derail the presentation.

Who is the Connector style best suitable for?

The great thing about the Connector style is that it can be used in any presentation and any setting. Since the main goal of this style is to connect the speaker and the topic with the audience, there are no rules or limits as to where it can and where cannot be used.

Famous presenter with the Connector style

Padraig Hyland is a TED Talk speaker and a specialist in audience engagement, so it is only natural that he uses the Connector style. He has delivered countless speeches on how to be a great presenter and how to connect with any audience.

Quote by Padraig Hyland that embodies the Connector style

“ To successfully navigate the current disruption, organizations need to nourish their authentic leadership voice and create a new story that engages their people on the journey .” — Padraig Hyland

Style #5: The Coach style

What is a coach? In every sense of the word, a coach is a person who guides you, teaches you, and helps you achieve your goals. 

It is the same with the coaching style. The person who uses this style guides their audience with their own enthusiasm for the subject. The Coach style is mainly used in motivational speeches, as it allows the coaches to interact with the audience and share knowledge on a topic they feel passionate about.

Formality level for the Coach style: Medium

The Coach style serves as a guide . It gives the speaker freedom to use their knowledge and personal experience to drive the audience to feel the same passion about the subject as the speaker does. To achieve that level of familiarity with the audience, the formality level drops, and the speaker talks to the audience as a teacher and, well, as a coach would.

The Coach style characteristics

The Coach style allows the speaker to guide their audience from point A to point Z, through knowledge and passion, which makes the presentation interactive and informative. 

This style of presentation can be seen in motivational speeches, lectures, and speeches delivered by sports coaches. The main characteristic that follows this style is that it is delivered by enthusiastic speakers.

The pros of the Coach style 

Here are some of the pros of this style to look into: 

• It allows the speaker to connect to the audience through enthusiasm. 
• Presentations in this style are interactive and engaging. 
• It gives the audience step-by-step instructions on the topic.

The cons of the Coach style 

Let’s examine some of the cons: 

• The speaker’s passion can be overwhelming to the audience.
• The speaker can forget to ask for feedback . 

Who is the Coach style best suitable for?

The Coach style, since it serves as a guide, is commonly used by motivational speakers and in self-help presentations. 

They tend to choose this presentation style because it allows them to connect with the audience while still delivering a detailed step-by-step on the topic they are discussing.

Famous presenter with this style

There are a lot of motivational speakers today that are a fan of the Coach style, but the one that caught our attention is Mel Robbins. She is a lawyer and a motivational speaker that helps her audience to form healthy habits and attain discipline to achieve their goals.

Quote by Mel Robbins that embodies the Coach style

“ You have been assigned this mountain so you can show others that it can be moved .” — Mel Robbins

Style #6: The Lessig style

If you are in a time crunch, but you have a lot of material to cover, then the Lessig style is the perfect style for you. 

The Lessig style was invented by Lawrence Lessig, and it states that a speaker should spend only 15 seconds on each slide or point during a presentation . This style usually agrees very well with the visual style. 

Since not all presentations have slides, this style cannot be used with any type of presentation. However, if you have too many slides and too many points to make, then the Lessig style can help you use your time slot well.

Formality level for the Lessig style: Depends

The Lessig style is not a style of speaking per se, but a style for presentation time management . So, the formality of the language you use will be up to you and your topic. You can decrease or increase the formality level and the Lessig style would still be the same.

The Lessig style characteristics

The main characteristic of this style is that it includes slides or at least some visual aid. 

This style is also the one that is not concerned with your verbal cues and style of speaking. If you choose to try out this style you can combine it with any of the styles we previously mentioned.

The pros of the Lessig style 

Here are the pros of this style: 

• It’s easy to use. 
• It helps you keep track. 
• It saves time.

The cons of the Lessig style

Here are some of the cons of this style: 

• It is not applicable to presentations without slides. 
• Sometimes the suggested 15-second rule isn’t enough. 
• The presentation may feel rushed or unfinished.

Who is the Lessig style best suitable for?

The Lessig style bases its rules on slides and visual aids, so it’s best suitable for presentations that consist of slides. The topics for this style are endless, and it is up to the speaker to see where this style works best in their presentation.

The most logical choice is, of course, the founder of this style — Lawrence Lessig, a lawyer and a political activist. 

Quote by Lawrence Lessig that embodies the Lessig style

“ Technology means you can now do amazing things easily .” — Lawrence Lessig

Style #7: The Visual style

Presentations can be all about the slides, data, or videos, and there are also powerful presentations that are delivered with only the speaker on the stage. But, technology is not something to shy away from . There are great advantages to using technology and feeding your audience with visuals that will support your claims. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. 

Formality level for the Visual style: Depends

The formality of this style doesn’t depend on the visuals used, but on the speaker and the topic. The great thing about the visual style is that it can be used with almost any topic and type of data. So, when using this style of presentation, you can choose the level of formality you feel comfortable with.

The Visual style characteristics

The Visual presentation style’s main characteristics are the visuals, as the name suggests. The visuals can be anything from a picture, video, or creatively shown data and statistics. 

This style can be used together with any other style that we mentioned, as long as you add some pictures or other visual elements.

The pros of the Visual style 

Here are the pros of the Visual style: 

• Visuals help the audience understand the presentation better — sometimes, they can illustrate your point better than your own words. 
• Visuals can help you move your presentation forward. 

The cons of the Visual style 

Here are some of the cons of the Visual style: 

• Overusing visuals in your presentation can take focus away from you. 
• Visuals can be redundant. 

Who is the Visual style best suitable for?

If you are creative enough or confident enough to not let the glamor of visuals take over your spotlight, you can incorporate visuals into any workplace presentation. Visuals can be helpful almost everywhere, and they can aid your audience if the topic is too complicated for them to follow.

Famous presenter with the Visual style

One of the best visual presenters is Steve Jobs. He was one of the founders of Apple, and every year he used to give a great visual presentation or a rundown of Apple’s new product releases.

Quote by Steve Jobs that embodies the Visual style

“ For you to sleep well at night, the aesthetic, the quality, has to be carried all the way through .” — Steve Jobs

How to determine which presentation style to use?

If you are wondering which style to use, first you need to ask yourself what kind of audience will be attending your presentation . Once you have an idea of who you will be talking to, you can start to think about your presentation style. 

Also, you need to know what is the purpose of your presentation and what you wish to achieve. 

Beyond that, try out different styles until you find the one you are comfortable with.

That’s a wrap: Time, place, and audience

Presentations in the workplace serve a great purpose, but utilizing different presentation types and presenting styles can affect your overall workplace image. 

When it comes to business presentations, each type and style influences the audience differently . For instance, the coaching style will help you to guide your colleagues through a new and complicated task. The instructive type will help you to showcase each employee’s new role and responsibilities with ease.

Now, you might have realized that presentation is a more intricate topic than you previously thought. 

So, to become a skillful presenter and to put together great presentations, you have to know how they work and what they consist of. 

This guide of presentation types and styles can deepen your understanding of presentations, but it all comes down to: 

• Knowing your audience and purpose. 
• Knowing where you will deliver your presentation, and 
• Knowing how to make use of the time slot you got.  

Once you know the basics, determining your type of presentation and style will be a piece of cake.

✉️ Did you know that there are so many different presentation styles and types? What do you think is your presentation style?

Let us know what your presentation type and style are via [email protected] and we might include your answers in this or future posts. If you found this article helpful, share it with someone who would also benefit from it.

Jana Pavlovic is a communication author and researcher. She enjoys educating herself and others on various team collaboration and technology topics. She found that working from home in a hybrid-type company is her perfect combination for work-life balance, and she’s eager to share her new-found knowledge with you.

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4 different types of presentations

Get your team on prezi – watch this on demand video.

Meghan Ryan July 29, 2022

Before your start building a presentation, you need a good structure. Ask yourself the purpose of your presentation – why are you getting in front of your audience? Are you trying to convince them to care about an issue and take action? Who are you speaking to – colleagues, customers, or investors? Asking yourself these questions will help you start to determine the type of presentation and structure it accordingly. Read on to discover 4 different types of presentations and how to structure them.

Persuasive presentations

What is a persuasive presentation.

A persuasive presentation is one that tries to convince the audience to accept a certain position and to take action. It uses facts, logic, and emotion to help the audience understand the impact of a certain situation and see it from a different perspective.

How to make a persuasive presentation

• Start your presentation off strong and make the first 30 seconds of your presentation count. This presentation type needs a good hook that draws the audience in and starts getting them invested in the topic.
• Introduce the problem that needs to be solved and compare it with your solution.
• Build a narrative around your solution. Use evidence, back up your ideas with statistics and findings, and use emotion to pull your audience through the narrative. You should be building to a strong conclusion at this point.
• End with a summary of your points and relate them back to the actions that your audience takes.

This type of presentation requires confidence. Show that you feel passionate about your topic and believe in your solution to your audience. They need to feel trust in you in order to follow your ideas. Rehearse your presentation, but not to the point that you have every single line memorized. You want to sound authentic, not as though you’re rattling off facts and figures.

Persuasive presentation examples

Some of the most common types of persuasive presentations are product or business pitch, but there are so many more out there. Seeing how someone persuades their audience might give you some inspiration, so here we’ve compiled a few of our favorite examples of this type of presentation.

Watch this product pitch by Thriftplan, a workspace-saving solution helping companies retain their talent and employees manage their long-term savings.

This presentation on deforestation shows the effects that deforestation has had on the planet and introduces ways to become a “tree hugger” and combat it:

Learn more about what goes into an effective persuasive speech by reading our article on the topic.

Informative presentations

What is an informative presentation.

An informative presentation is a type of presentation that is just there to provide information. Unlike a persuasive presentation, you’re not necessarily delivering it to get your audience to take action or change their minds. This type of presentation is often analytical. It may just “report the facts,” but you might also want to include some analysis of the information.

How to make an informative presentation

• This type of presentation needs to be about a specific topic, so research your topic thoroughly. Whether that means gathering data from your team or colleagues, or going to the library or interviewing experts, you’ll want to take every step you can in order to seem like an expert in front of your audience.
• Consider your crowd and write this presentation type for them. If your audience knows a lot about your topic, you can skip some of the background information, like when you deliver a report to your team. A teacher will want to go into much more detail if they’re preparing a lesson plan, though.
• Write a thesis statement and organize the presentation around that. This will help you structure all the data and information that you’re discussing, rather than just doing a data dump.
• End on a call to action. This type of presentation is of course different from a persuasive presentation, but it’s good practice to give your audience something to do with the information you just presented.

Informative presentation examples

You have likely come across this type of presentation often throughout your workday. Here’s one by Devin Banerjee describing parental leave policies in the financial sector.

Motivational presentations

What is a motivational presentation.

Motivational speaking might be one of the most enviable types of presentations for people. Motivational presentations can turn a mere story into an inspiring tale. Very similar to a persuasive presentation, a good motivational presentation will convince you to do something, rather than just waiting for it to happen. It has a clear purpose, often pulling from a personal story written for a specific audience, and inspires the audience to make a change in their lives.

How to make a motivational presentation

• Know your purpose. This is important for any type of presentation, but none more so than for this presentation type. You need to know the purpose of your presentation and build upon a singular message.
• Understand your audience and write your content for them.
• Start your presentation with a strong hook, like a question, a personal story, or a compelling statistic.
• Include a personal narrative or a story that your audience can closely relate to. This helps them understand the core message of your presentation and feel more compelled to take action at the end.
• Conclude your presentation with a call to action. Your audience is motivated to make a change, so they need an outlet to do so.

Motivational presentation examples

There are so many motivational presentations out there, and many of them live here on Prezi. Look at this presentation on climate change, which compels you to take action and combat climate change on your own.

Instructive presentations

What is an instructive presentation.

An instructive presentation is one that provides specific directions to accomplish a task. It might be a little longer than most types of presentations because you’ll need to discuss it step by step. At the end, your audience should walk away from this type of presentation more informed and with a new skill.

How to make an instructive presentation

• Determine exactly what you want your audience to learn at the end of your presentation. This type of presentation goes beyond just sharing facts. People want to learn how to do something, so make sure you have a clear idea of what that is.
• Map out the steps. Be clear about all ideas and information that is packed into your presentation.
• Have an understanding of your audience’s level of knowledge. Are they an informed audience or fresh to the topic you’re presenting? This type of presentation will be different depending on the audience you’re with.
• Use visuals and examples throughout your presentation so people new to the topic can more easily follow along.

Instructive presentation examples

Teacher Nucleo Vega teaches how to play and understand eighth note subdivisions in his instructional video:

For even more examples of instructional presentations, read our article on the best instructional videos on Prezi.

There are a lot of types of presentations out there, but they’re only effective if you understand the structure of each and utilize the structure to your advantage. Find more examples of presentations in our Presentation Gallery , or check out Prezi Present to start creating your own presentation today.

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• Top Presentations

The 6 types of presentation (and why you need them)

Hrideep barot.

• Presentation , Public Speaking

We all have been exposed to different types of presentations right from school years.

Group presentations, lectures by teachers and professors, seminars, webinars or online presentations, e-learning, e-conferences, etc., are all different types of presentations that we come across in our daily lives.

But each of them work for different settings.

In this article, we will take a look at 6 such types of presentations and when and why you need them.

1. Informative Presentations

This is the most common type of presentation, be it in an educational setting or business or corporate setting.

The aim of an informative presentation is to give detailed information about a product, concept, or idea to a specific kind of audience.

They are often analytical or require a rational analysis of the data presented.

Training sessions or one-day workshops are good examples where this kind of presentation is used.

Here is an example of an informative presentation on public speaking and presentations.

Now, there are different situations where you can use informative presentations.

a) Reporting

Although a report is a written explanation of an event, it can also be verbal.

A perfect place to use informative presentations is news reporting , as it requires the presenter to present information systematically.

b) Briefing

This involves explaining both positive and negative aspects of a particular topic in a few words.

It is providing information quickly and effectively about an issue to influence decisions or to come to solutions.

Hence, the decision-making bodies of an organization can make use of this kind of presentation to save time and effectively come to conclusions.

c) Research

Informative presentations are often used to present research findings to a specific audience , as it involves reporting the findings and briefing it to the audience.

Hence, almost everywhere where research takes place, be it in an educational context or occupational , can make use of this kind of presentation.

Tips for giving informative presentations

• As there would be a lot of technical information and statistics, focus on the main points or agenda first and if you have more time, you can add them at the end
• Keep your presentation simple and clear . Avoid complex sentence structures and graphics
• Tell the outline of your presentation briefly in the introduction for a better flow
• Make sure that your presentation does not stretch for too long. 10-15 minutes is what your audience can concentrate on
• Restate your keyphrase at the end and briefly summarize all the important points of your presentation

Speech topics for an informative presentation

• Cropping techniques
• Organic Farming
• Corporate Farming
• Hydroponics
• Sustainable Agriculture, etc
• Climate change
• Environmental issues
• Eco-friendly ways of management
• Eco-politics
• Eco-feminism, etc
• Gender studies
• Gender and education
• Religious studies
• History of education
• Philosophy of education, etc
• Ethnic cultures
• Indigenous cultures
• Multiculturalism
• Popular culture
• Cultural trends, etc
• Business administration
• Business ethics
• Business models
• Promotion and marketing communications
• Finance, etc

2. Persuasive presentations

Persuasion is the art of motivating or convincing someone to act or make a change in their actions or thoughts.

If you are planning to give a persuasive presentation, and are looking for how to give a persuasive speech, check out our article on A Comprehensive Guide to Writing a Persuasive Speech to gain in-depth knowledge about the art of giving persuasive presentations.

Persuasive presentations are also widely used form after informative presentations.

There are various circumstances where persuasive presentations can be used.

a) Policy-making

Government bodies make use of persuasion almost every time, be it the legislative or decision-making bodies, executive bodies, or even courts.

Even election campaigns involve using persuasive presentations as an instrument of their pre-determined goals of swaying the citizens.

For that matter, any executive or management body of an organization can make use of these kinds of presentations.

b) Value judgment

This kind involves answering the question “why” and supplementing it with possible benefits.

Most Ted talks and YouTube videos try to persuade the audience and fall into the persuasive presentation category.

Even religious heads use this as a means of persuading their believers to follow their belief system.

Deciding on a procedure or telling an audience the correct procedure of doing something is another situation.

An example of a persuasive presentation

Bailey parnell: is social media hurting your mental health.

This TED talk by Bailey Parnell is a good example of a persuasive presentation.

She starts strong by asking rhetorical questions that set the mood for her further points.

We can also see how the speaker is genuinely concerned regarding the issue, engaging the audience till the end.

Tips for giving a persuasive presentation

• Start your presentation with a relevant quote or statistics about your topic to establish credibility
• Tell personal anecdotes and examples wherever necessary to develop an emotional connection with your audience
• Deliver your presentation with passion and genuine interest to motivate your audience to think
• Answer the question “why” for better understanding and clarity in your presentation
• State your viewpoint clearly and clarify doubts if your audience seems to have any

Speech topics for persuasive presentations

• Is animal testing ethical?
• Should cosmetic surgery be banned?
• Can the death penalty be the only solution to the rising crime rates?
• Should the legal age be 18?
• Should immigration laws be revised?
• Why you should never add your parents on Facebook
• Guys are more interested in gossip than girls
• It is your major duty to annoy your parents
• You are not enjoying student life if you are not procrastinating
• Endless memes can be made on my life, etc
• Is taming wild and exotic animals ethical?
• The importance of emotional support animals
• Why are bunnies the perfect pet?
• Why do animals make the best companions?
• Why there is a need for patients to have emotional support animals, etc
• How and why there is a need to do business analysis before opening your business?
• Why small businesses are successful and more profitable?
• Why do sales and customer service departments need to be paid more?
• Why does the HR department need to be polite and understanding?
• Why should you not do business with a family member?
• How charity is a means of converting black money to white?
• Why is detaining people on the suspicion of terrorism justified?
• Should euthanasia be made legal?
• Should violent crime offenders be sentenced to death?
• Should foreigners be allowed to buy a property?

3. Demonstrative presentations

This involves demonstrating a process or the functioning of a product in a step-by-step fashion.

So, a master class on communication skills or making a product model is an example of a demonstrative presentation.

Usually, the audience is an active part of such presentations and these can work in any context where you want the audience to learn a new skill.

a) Instructions

This involves giving guidelines or steps of a process or work .

Teaching how to make a car model step-by-step is a good example where you can use this kind of informative presentation to guide your audience.

Another instance can be at the workplace , to train the employees or introduce them to a new product at work.

This type also works with demonstrating recipes and cooking workshops.

An example of demonstrative presentation

The easy guide on making just about any smoothie.

In this recipe demonstration, he tells his audience how many ingredients are involved and briefs them about the outline of his presentation at the start of his speech.

He also shows all steps in real-time so that the audience have a better understanding of the process and keeps them engaged.

Tips to give a demonstrative presentation

• Introduce your product and its function to your audience before telling them how to go about with the steps
• Explain the steps with diagrams or show them in real-time along with the audience
• Give equal time to every person in the audience for clearing doubts, if any
• Keep your introduction short. Not more than 5 minutes
• Discuss options or variations that the audience can try at the end of the presentation

Speech topics for demonstrative presentations

• How to administer CPR
• How to wrap a gift professionally
• How to budget your monthly income
• How to choose a car insurance
• How to restore a piece of antique furniture

4. Inspirational presentations

As the name suggests, this type of presentation involves inspiring others!

The main aim of an inspirational presentation is to motivate or move your audience and is also known as a motivational presentation.

Using techniques like storytelling, narrating personal anecdotes , or even humor work wonders as your audience develops an emotional connection to the message.

This TED talk by Luvvie Ajayi Jones is humorous but a lot more inspirational. Check it out!

Tips for giving an inspirational presentation

• Start with a question that will leave the audience thinking. Pause for some time and then begin with your presentation
• Develop a sense of connection by narrating personal incidents and experiences to grow empathy
• Have some main points that you want to emphasize on
• Make use of humor ! It instantly builds a connection with the listener
• Non-verbal elements like paralanguage, body language, speech modulations, tone, etc., makes a huge difference

Speech topics for an inspirational presentation

• Importance of diversity and inclusion
• Building mental resilience
• Need for change management
• Valuing small victories in life
• How procrastinating is your enemy

5. Business presentations

In the corporate world, presentations are the go-to solution to do anything: planning or strategizing, articulating company goals, screening candidates, status reports , and many more.

Let us take a dive into the different types of business presentations.

a) Sales presentation

Also known as sales pitches , sales presentations involve providing information about a product or a service to sell it.

It has a pre-defined strategy of initiating and closing the sales deal.

This can be done in person or nowadays, on the phone, or via e-communication .

b) Training sessions

Often employees have on-the-job training sessions that are aimed to increase the knowledge and skills of the employees.

This kind can also involve the audience to participate , like in demonstrative presentations.

c) Meetings

Meetings can be called for for different reasons and can be of different forms as well.

Conferences ( both video and in-person), board meetings, informal team meetings, daily reporting, etc., are all various contexts of meeting in a business setting.

d) E- presentations

E- presentations existed before the COVID pandemic as well but were used seldom.

But, with the ongoing pandemic, e-presentations or remote presentations have replaced all other types of presentations and will be with us for a while longer.

However, on the brighter side, it is an eco-friendly alternative to normal face-to-face kind of a set-up, and it also saves transportation and other costs !

e) Seminars

Seminars are widely used in the health sector , usually involving a panel of speakers on a topic. The audience is anywhere between 10 to 100.

It ends with a question and answers session , and the audience gets to take handouts with them.

f) One-on-one or 1:1

Interviews are usually one-on-one and involve presenting your achievements and capabilities to your prospective employer.

Apart from interviews, 1:1 meetings are also used in sales and marketing to crack a business deal.

Tips for giving business presentations

• Include key phrases and other important details on your slides and make them bold
• Avoid casual slangs and informal tone of speech
• If you are giving a sales presentation, explain your product or service in simple and clear words , and list the reasons why it is beneficial for your potential clients
• Make sure to be on time ! Delaying your audience will work against you and leave a bad impression on you and your company
• Know your material or content thoroughly to answer the questions asked by your audience

Speech topics for business presentations

• Implementing an Agile Project
• Introduction to data modeling
• Introduction to UML(Unified Modeling Language)
• Social Media strategies for a successful business
• Business writing for managers

6. Powerpoint presentations

PowerPoint presentations or PPTs are the most effective ones among all types of presentations simply because they are convenient and easy to understand .

They are available in different formats and are suitable to use in practically any type of presentation and context, be it business, educational, or for informal purposes.

There are various types of PowerPoint presentations that you can use depending on the context.

a) PPTs for general audience

• For general audiences, avoid using jargon terms

If you feel that you need to use them, provide the audience some background information about the field or topic being covered

• Avoid using more than 8 words per line, as anything more than that becomes difficult to remember
• Use bullets or a numbered list for better retention
• Try not to read from your PPT
• Give handouts or record your presentation in case anyone wants it

b) PPTs for teaching

• In this case, the PowerPoint is content-based
• Make sure that the words on the slides are visible
• Use bigger font and avoid fancy fonts
• Add relevant pictures and graphics to keep your audience engaged
• You can also add documentaries or relevant videos to aid in understanding

c) Repurpose PPTs

• This involves reinventing an earlier ppt or combining 1 or more than 1 PowerPoints
• Giving new touches to an earlier PPT or changing the format
• You can take any slide of your PPT and upload it on social media for growing your brand or business
• You can even convert your PPT into mp4 , i.e, video format
• You can even add voice and save the mp4 format, and you have a good marketing plan!

d) PechaKucha

• This type of PowerPoint presentation comes from the Japanese word PechaKucha meaning sound of a conversation or chit-chat
• This involves changing slides every 20 seconds
• There can be a maximum of 20 slides , which means your presentation lasts for only 6 minutes and 40 seconds
• The PPT mostly has graphics and fewer words
• This type of presentation is best suited for telling a story or a personal anecdote

e) Multimedia presentations

• This is the best kind of PPT to engage your audience
• It contains texts along with pictures, videos, infographics, music, illustrations, GIFs , and many more
• Add higher resolution images and videos , or even a 360-degree snapshot if you are in the sales and marketing industry
• Adding infographics such as charts and graphs makes the process of understanding easier and saves time
• Music in a PPT helps your audience to be relaxed, at the same time making them alert and engaged

Types of slides in a presentation

PowerPoint presentation slides are broadly classified into 3 categories: Text, Visual, and Mixed slides.

1. Text slides

As the name suggests, this category of slides involve words or texts.

You can format the text as plain sentences or pointers.

You may even arrange them all in a single slide or one line per slide.

The slide seen below is an example where every point is mentioned in a single slide.

2. Visual slides

This type of slide has visual elements such as images or videos , and are better known as conceptual slides since they are a better option than text slide to explain a particular concept.

You can use them at the start of the presentation to better visualize and grasp the meaning of the presentation.

The slide right below is a good example of a visual slide.

3. Mixed slides

Mixed slides combine the texts and visuals to give a comprehensive understanding of any concept or a speech.

Graphs and charts are the best examples of mixed slides.

Mixed slides have an advantage over the other slides; they keep your audience engaged, listening and participating more actively!

Types of Oral presentations

So far we came across 6 types of presentations, and they all share one common feature. They are all one of the types of oral presentations.

Oral presentations involve the use of verbal and non-verbal elements to deliver a speech to a particular or general audience.

All the types we discussed fall into these 4 broad categories:

1. Extemporaneous presentations

This type of presentation involves making short pointers or key phrases to aid while speaking.

You do not memorize, but organize the points and structure the speech way in advance.

Hence, on the day of your presentation, by just looking at the key points , you expand on them and move to the next point.

2. Impromptu presentations

Impromptu presentations are spoken without any preparation . It can be nerve-wracking for many, and hence not many are in favor of it.

There is a valid reason for their fear, as you have to make your speech as you say it!

However, those who are experts in their fields and are called upon to share a few words can easily give this type of presentation.

3. Manuscript presentations

The other extreme of the spectrum is manuscript presentations.

Here you have a script and you speak from it, word by word.

News anchors and show announcers usually engage in this type, since there are a lot of specific details that cannot be said wrong, and also, time constraints.

Usually, a prompter is used, from which the speaker speaks to their audience.

Nowadays, there are teleprompters , that are heavily used in the entertainment and media industry.

It is a digital screen that displays the contents, and the speaker speaks from it.

4. Memorized presentations

This type does not have any notes or cues , but you memorize or rote learn the whole speech.

School and some presentations at the workplace involve using this kind of presentation.

In most cases, we recommend not to memorise your speech in most cases. We’ve made a video on the same and how it could lead to you potentially blanking out on stage. Highly recommend you view this quick vid before choosing memorisation as a presentation path:

But, if you do choose it for whatever reason, since you are free from notes, you are free to focus on other aspects, such as body language and gestures.

Types of presentation styles

There are various presenting styles, but they do not work for all types of presentations.

Let us get familiar with them, and know which style works with which type.

a) The storyteller

This style of presentation involves the speaker narrating stories and engaging the audience emotionally .

This technique works best with persuasive and inspirational types of presentation.

So, how to tell a story in a presentation?

• Understand and know your audience : Knowing your audience will help you with how you will frame your story, at the same time gauging the relevance of your narrative
• Know your message : Be clear with what you want to convey through your story or how you are connecting the story with your actual presentation
• Try narrative a real-life story : Inspiring presenters often take their own stories or the stories of people whom they know as a supplement to their presentation. When the audience listens to your real-life examples, they become genuinely interested in your story
• Add visual aids : Using visual aids such as pictures, videos, multimedia, etc., increases the memory retention and engagement of your audience
• Use the “you” attitude : Tell the story keeping your audience in mind because ultimately they are going to be the receivers and hence, the story should be relevant and should include their point of view as well

Want more storytelling tactics? Mystery, characterisation and the final takeaway are some more key elements of a good story for your next presentation. We’ve gone deeper into this topic in this video if you would like to know more:

b) The Visual style

Most of us are visual learners, making visual information easy to understand and retain.

Visual aids like graphics, images, diagrams, key pointers or phrases , etc., are very useful when giving any type of presentation.

Some tips of presenting with visual style:

• Include only important pointers in your PowerPoint presentation and highlight or bold them
• Try including visuals that complement what you are saying and use them as a supplementary tool to aid in understanding your audience
• If you are giving a business presentation and want to include visuals, instead of plain texts, include graphics and charts to make information simpler to present and understand
• Avoid overly complex visuals as it will confuse the audience more
• Avoid using more than 6 lines per slide

c) Analytic style

If you have data records or statistical information to be presented, an analytic style will be more helpful.

It works best for Informative and Business types of presentations.

Tips to deliver in analytic style:

• Give handouts so that the audience is on track with your presentation and the information will be easier to comprehend
• Focus and speak on selected data as too much data statistics can be overwhelming for the audience
• You can make use of humor and personal anecdotes to keep the presentation interesting and engaging
• If you have too much data and are worried that you will not be able to explain it in the time frame given, avoid writing content of more than 2000 words

Quick tip: In case you have a PDF to present and want to edit the data points, there are multiple software programs that you can use to allow you to easily do this. Check out this list of the Best Free Recording Software Programs to know more.

d) The Connector

The connector style of presentation involves the speaker establishing a connection with the audience by pointing out similarities between them and the listeners.

This style works well with Sales and marketing presentations.

How to give a presentation using connector style?

• Have a Q & A round with the audience at the end of your presentation for clarifying any doubts and avoiding miscommunication
• Use audience polls at the start of your presentation to know your audience and tailor your speech accordingly
• Make use of body language and gestures for delivering your presentation effectively. If you are confused or want to know more about the aspects of how to use body and gestures, check out our article on To walk or stand still: How should you present when on stage?
• Ask questions to your audience at regular intervals for a better audience engagement
• Make use of multimedia sources to keep your audience engaged and entertained

Which type of presentation is best?

Although all the presentation types have their own bonuses and are suitable for certain circumstances, some are universal and can be used with a little bit of modification almost everywhere!

These are persuasive presentations!

You can use them in various settings; from political, business to educational.

Just remember to choose the right topic for the right audience, and a style that you think is the most suitable and you are good to go!

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To conclude

We saw 6 types of presentation and understood it in detail.

We also gained some tips on how to make our presentation more engaging and also came across things to avoid as well.

We then explored the types of slides that you can use, and also the types of presenting orally.

We also gave you some tips and a few topic ideas that you can incorporate in your next speech!

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How to choose best presentation format?

For the majority of people, Presentation means Microsoft PowerPoint or PPT popularly known. Are you also one to think that way?

Podcast On Business Building

EP 05: What is the best presentation format for you?

Well after reading this blog, you will be enlightened for many more interesting presentation formats which you can consider and you might end up with one which is more appropriate than PPT. So don’t decide on the format of presentation without reading it.

Presentation formats are just the medium for convey of information in front of your target audiences. We at Bharat InfoTech focus highly make a presentation in a way where audiences understands the presentation motive and make it a fun with slides embedded with realistic images. Our professional presenter create different types of presentation formats that fit in 4:3 aspect ratio and adjust them by 800px width with 600px height. Our presenters are passionate about advanced techniques, tools, practices which are used in presentation format designing.

What type of presentation format is best?

Below 5 points shall help you choosing most appropriate presentation format .

Don’t have time to read all? Just click on pointer and go directly to section to read more.

• Various presentation formats
• Parameters for choosing Presentation format?
• How to choose Right Presentation Format & type?
• The usual type of presentation requirements
• Types of Presentations
• Quick tabular format to find out the right format of presentation

Usually the word "Presentation" is taken as equal to PowerPoint presentation or slides, however, that is not true. There are multiple formats available for the presentation and you must be aware of their advantages and disadvantages before you decide which one to be chosen for your requirement.

Before we go deep let’s understand what is a presentation and why do we need one . By Wikipedia “ A presentation is the process of presenting a topic to an audience. It is typically a demonstration, introduction, lecture, or speech meant to inform, persuade, inspire, motivate, or to build goodwill or to present a new idea or product "

As the definition suggests through the presentation you want to communicate about a “topic” to an “audience” for demonstration, introduction or making them aware with agenda of inspiring them for the “Topic”.

Let’s take an example you are a bag pack company and you come up with new bag design. What will be the mode of communication to your audience ( buyers ) about your new offering ( topic) ? Well, it will be a presentation which will introduce your bag design ( topic) to your buyers ( audience) to motivate them to buy your new design.

Though the intent is not always to inspire anybody to buy, neither your audience is always the buyers and presentation ( process ) is not always required to be done in seminars or events and that is why you need specific presentation ( delivery material) for a specific purpose.

1. Various presentation formats

Before we go deep in understanding which presentation format is most suitable for your requirement, let’s understand the various type of presentation formats available in the market.

Following are the most offered presentation format available with any presentation designing agency.

• PowerPoint Presentation or Keynote
• Flash or Interactive or Multimedia Presentation
• Video /AV/ Film
• Whiteboard Presentation
• Hybrid Presentation

PowerPoint Presentation or Keynote : This is the most used presentation format. Almost everybody either using it from their own computer or getting it done from the PowerPoint designing agency .

In fact usage of PPT & Keynote is so high that PPT or PowerPoint become a synonym of Presentation.

We receive many calls at Recherche Digital where the client says “ I need a presentation of 10 slides” which means he needs “that” presentation in PPT format but chances are more that he/she may not even aware about other popular formats of presentation available in the market.

In any way there is no doubt that PPT is most widely used presentation format due it’s easy availability, editing capability, many handy designing features and easy to share on emails or present through various delivery modes.

Multimedia Presentation : This may be counted as third favourite presentation format in the market which declines rapidly in recent years because Apple & Android do not support Flash ( there is an interesting debut and here what apple has to say on this) and  flash is the main software used to design Multimedia Presentation .

The matter, benefits, and comparison with PowerPoint presentation is already given in this blog so we are not going discuss that in depth here. But Flash presentation is most advance Presentation format, which can help you get the most desirable presentation for your requirement.

It helps to deliver interactive presentation delivery and can save lot’s of time due to its facility of navigation.

You can divide the presentation in various modules and those modules can individually be played or skipped as per demand or need.

Video/ Film : Video has gained the momentum and it is expected in next few years video will take the mainstream on the internet. You can imagine it’s reach that more than 4 million hours of video data is uploaded on youtube   per day.

In presentation field, video presentation format  comes to number 2nd position leading by PowerPoint as number 1 presentation format.

Video presentation format has all good thing as motion, voice, music but it lacks interactivity of flash and lacks easy editing of PowerPoint. Besides, video shooting and editing both are costing high due to Types of equipment and lack of right resource.

So if you don’t need frequent editing or change figures and do not need interactivity, the video may be a good choice.

Consider videos for your branding need, or facility/factory/office infrastructure showcasing or interviews or showcasing process.

Whiteboard: This is comparatively new format rather it is difficult to say format, as it’s format, is the same as of video ie MP4 or MPEG etc but the main difference lies that it showcases the content through freehand moment giving the effect of blackboard drawing or sketching, sometimes known as doodling.

The designing technique of whiteboard  is different and it requires a special software to design whiteboard presentation.

It is not popularly known but whiteboard animation finds its’ application in explaining the concept, short stories,  general process etc.

It is particularly a good platform when you don’t have input data i.e images, videos. The whole whiteboard video is prepared with library images which are a symbolic representation of the topic or subject.

Many start-ups are the fan of this whiteboard presentation format as this helps them to explain the concept.

2. Parameters for choosing Presentation format?

Following are few parameters which do impact the selection of Presentation format .

You must discuss these pointers with your agency or any experienced presentation designing company will ask for these pointers

• Delivery mode ( Face to Face/remote)
• Self-explanatory or with an explanation
• Interactive or running
• Audience type
• The subject of presentation ( Complexity )
• Voice over or without voice
• Costing or budget for presentation

Let's learn about them one by one and see how it can impact our choice of presentation format.

a)    The complexity of the subject : Your agency may suggest a Video may be 3 D depending upon the complexity of the subject that is to be presented.

As evident 3D may showcase the object or product with various angles and cut n slice way, it may be easier to convince client by showcasing 3D Presentation than showcasing a PPT presentation for same subject.

b)    Delivery mode : Considering the fact that a presentation is required to be given face to face any presentation format may be suitable (  other factors may change the suggested format), however when the presentation is supposed to be given remotely then using of video and voice is recommended

c)    Self explanatory or with an explanation : A self-explanatory presentation requires more direct language and script rather than with explanation( Like PPT, or flash presentation with music but no voice)

If you plan to show your presentation where the user is expected to understand it by himself, you better go for interactive, voiceover, video or flash based presentation.

The difference between flash-based presentation and PPT presentation is given here.

d)    Interactive or running presentation: An interactive presentation is the most recommended presentation in many cases as this presentation not only have voice over, pictures but interactive buttons to control the presentation completely.

It can work like video and work like PowerPoint ( except editing is not that easy ), you can pause it, play it, skip the module or go to any section directly.

You have full control on delivery of presentation though it has the drawback of not being played on Apple pcs and Android.

e)    Audience type : This also impacts the presentation format. For large gathering like a seminar or event, it is recommended to use either video or PowerPoint.

While for a small gathering or one to one meeting interactive or hybrid presentation are recommended.

Also if you are planning to showcase the presentation to C suit or top management then you ought to use hybrid or flash presentation.

These people have a lack of time and always want to see some specific information with lots of facts & figures. Hybrid or flash presentation is the right presentation format for this audience type.

f)    The subject of Presentation : This also impacts the decision of presentation format. For complex subject, it is advisable to use, interactive presentation with voice over and fact sheet attached to that.

A hydride presentation is most recommended which can showcase video, image, voice, music, 3D or whiteboard collectively and any media can be used as per their best capability to explain the complexity of subject within frame of hybrid presentation.

Check with your agency if they can work on that format as it is not widely known to people.

g)    Voice or no Voice : If you need voice then PPT is not the right option, it has limited capability. For all voice over presentations, multimedia presentation or video presentation could be appropriate. Whiteboard may also be good if you have a concept to explain which is not very long.

h)    Budget/ Costing : We designed more than 1000+ presentation and as opposed to myth that PowerPoint is most cost-effective platform, our bill for a launching presentation was more than the cost of the video presentation. Nevertheless, depending upon the complexity & event or audience the price of any presentation may vary.

The subject of cost of presentation and how you may save up to 50% in another blog, check that here

3. How to choose Right Presentation Format type?

The decision of choosing the right presentation type is crucial as it will decide the impact and justify the effort & cost of presentation making & delivery .

As for, a successful presentation should  able to persuade the audience of the intent of the presentation and thus able to serve the purpose of showcasing the “Presentation”

At Recherche Digital we work with our client by understanding their requirement and then suggest to them the most appropriate type of “Presentation format ” .

During the process, our presentation expert asks few questions like

a.    Why do you think that you need (this) presentation?

This question itself is the way of exploring the reason why any client thought to reach agency for making a presentation.

Sometimes there is no need of presentation and subject is best explained or presented by verbal communication.

This helps us to know the pressing need, importance of the presentation.

b.    Who are the target audience, whom you want to present the presentation ( Their age, profile, language, background, domain etc)

The answer of this question helps us to determine the understanding level of the audience and which language to be used in presentation along with style of presentation and of course, it contributes partially for our suggestion for right presentation format for our clients.

c.    What is the delivery channel? ( Email, face to face, seminar, event )

With that, we try to understand how this presentation is going to be shared with the audience.

We may think of changing the presentation format for Email presentations or remote presentations than presentation which may be used for one to one meeting or interactive meetings.

d.    Who is going to present?

This is the most ignored question that any agency asks the client. While this one is the important one, depending upon the seniority the presentation format may be impacted.

The company sales executive presentation shall be much different to the company’s CEO presentation hence type or presentation, delivery, language even the resource selection within agency is also impacted with this factor.

e.    What is the delivery media where you planning to show the presentation?

Is it the projector or you will use your computer or just want to run on LED TV directly. Most people use their presentation on their computer or laptop, with 16:9 aspect ratio of screen .

Media makes difference as it is required to know the screen size, audio-video capabilities etc to design the presentation by optimizing the presentation delivery media.

Although these presentations are good for running most of the media but it should ideally be optimized as per media to showcase the best image & other media effects.

f.    Tentative duration of presentation ?

While suggesting the platform we also ask for a tentative duration of the presentation. For example, whiteboard presentations are good for concept clarity with duration up to 1 to 5 minutes at the most, if the client is willing to showcase content of 30 minutes or more than whiteboard is certainly not a right presentation format to be suggested.

4. Usual type of presentation requirement

At Recherche , we get a number of presentation designing requirement and out of them following makes 73% of total requirement.

• Sales presentation / Marketing Presentation / Pitch presentation
• Product presentation / Service Presentation/ Company Presentation
• Educational Presentation
• Financial Presentation
• Event Presentation
• Product catalogue
• Facility Presentation
• Motivational

In today era of PowerPoint presentation there are many ways you can represent your ideas. What if you have multiple choices of styles in which you can showcase your meaningful thoughts? This gives flexibility to each presentation scenario to express your talk into various meaningful manners. Now we discuss all in brief. Check out each of them which are the choices of Great Steve Jobs, Al Gore etc.

5. Types of Presentations:

Visual Presentation: This type of presentation is interesting only when you plan to deliver broad messages to your targeted audiences.

Freedom Style: This type of presentation is good for those people who have short period of time and better have point to point ideas related to their stories. Such type of presenters don’t need of taking slides for presentations.

Instructor Style: This type of presentation is only useful for those who find themselves in difficulty to express their thoughts and people are not well prepared for themselves. So people make logically strong presentations to aid their ideas using high contrast images, videos, texts, high impact visuals etc.

Coach Style: High energetic and charismatic presenter might choose coach style for presenting. This type gives high freedom of engagement between audiences and presenter worth more while speaking like in a conference room. People might use this presentation format style when they have sales presentations for selling business ideas through storytelling on what they sold.

Lessig Style: This presentation type was discovered by Lawrence Lessig, a professor of Law and Leadership in Harward Law School. This presenting style is performed by slides but only the mandatory thing is that each slide takes only 15 seconds to be cover up.

Connector Style: Connector style is just a simple presenting approach where speaker highly engage with audiences and encourages their reactions and feedbacks. In such presentation they use gestures to express in better ways to be easily understood.

6. Smart Table for finding the right presentation format for your requirement

Following table may give you some idea how to choose the right presentation format on the basis of variables like Audience, subject, complexity, and delivery mode.

I hope you have got a good idea and this blog helped you finishing the right presentation format for your presentation need.

Do let me know if you want to add any missing point or queries reading your upcoming presentation and I 'll be happy to respond.

Want to know the secrets of outstanding presentation?

A presentation can be a deal maker or breaker, learn critical aspects of presentation designing from experts.

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