Don’t just go with a boring opener.
Use these captivating techniques to engage your audience from the first second.
This Engages Curiosity
Open with a relevant question to spark your audience’s curiosity and encourage interactive thinking.
- Expert tip: Don’t start with a question that is too difficult. The audience needs to warm up to you first.
This Leverages Authority
Use a relevant quote from a well-known figure to add credibility and depth to your topic.
- Expert tip: Don’t use a cliché – people will immediately tune out.
This Hooks with Facts
Present a surprising or little-known fact relevant to your topic or industry to shock or intrigue your audience.
- Expert tip: You can add audience engagement by asking how many people are surprised to hear the statistic.
This Connects Emotionally
Begin with a personal or historical anecdote that ties into your main message.
- Expert tip: Don’t take too long to get to the point.
This Creates Visual Impact
Use a striking image or short video clip to draw attention and set the tone.
- Expert tip: The image should be thought-provoking, funny, or visually rich to create impact.
This Encourages Interaction
Involve the audience with a show of hands or a quick poll to increase engagement.
- Expert tip: Don’t be discouraged if people are shy at the beginning – aim to break the ice.
This Lightens the Mood
Open with a joke or humorous remark to relax the audience and capture their interest.
- Expert tip: Instead of a funny “ha-ha” joke, aim to use observational humor.
This Challenges Assumptions
Start with a controversial or bold statement to provoke thought and interest.
- Expert tip: Aim to observe if the audience reacts to the claim.
This Engages the Senses
Use sound effects or ambient audio to enhance your introduction.
- Expert tip: Using audio instead of video means the attention stays on you.
This Sets the Background
Provide a brief historical background to give depth to the discussion that will follow.
- Expert tip: Use something interesting, short, and crisp.
This Highlights a Need
Introduce a problem that your presentation will address and explore relevant strategies.
- Expert tip: Express the problem as simply as possible for maximum impact.
This Helps them Visualize Concepts
Bring a physical object, sample, or prop to illustrate your topic or spark interest.
- Expert tip: Watch out for overly gimmicky props; use it once and then set it aside.