30 Examples: How to Conclude a Presentation (Effective Closing Techniques)
By Status.net Editorial Team on March 4, 2024 — 9 minutes to read
Ending a presentation on a high note is a skill that can set you apart from the rest. It’s the final chance to leave an impact on your audience, ensuring they walk away with the key messages embedded in their minds. This moment is about driving your points home and making sure they resonate. Crafting a memorable closing isn’t just about summarizing key points, though that’s part of it, but also about providing value that sticks with your listeners long after they’ve left the room.
Crafting Your Core Message
To leave a lasting impression, your presentation’s conclusion should clearly reflect your core message. This is your chance to reinforce the takeaways and leave the audience thinking about your presentation long after it ends.
Identifying Key Points
Start by recognizing what you want your audience to remember. Think about the main ideas that shaped your talk. Make a list like this:
- The problem your presentation addresses.
- The evidence that supports your argument.
- The solution you propose or the action you want the audience to take.
These key points become the pillars of your core message.
Contextualizing the Presentation
Provide context by briefly relating back to the content of the whole presentation. For example:
- Reference a statistic you shared in the opening, and how it ties into the conclusion.
- Mention a case study that underlines the importance of your message.
Connecting these elements gives your message cohesion and makes your conclusion resonate with the framework of your presentation.
30 Example Phrases: How to Conclude a Presentation
- 1. “In summary, let’s revisit the key takeaways from today’s presentation.”
- 2. “Thank you for your attention. Let’s move forward together.”
- 3. “That brings us to the end. I’m open to any questions you may have.”
- 4. “I’ll leave you with this final thought to ponder as we conclude.”
- 5. “Let’s recap the main points before we wrap up.”
- 6. “I appreciate your engagement. Now, let’s turn these ideas into action.”
- 7. “We’ve covered a lot today. To conclude, remember these crucial points.”
- 8. “As we reach the end, I’d like to emphasize our call to action.”
- 9. “Before we close, let’s quickly review what we’ve learned.”
- 10. “Thank you for joining me on this journey. I look forward to our next steps.”
- 11. “In closing, I’d like to thank everyone for their participation.”
- 12. “Let’s conclude with a reminder of the impact we can make together.”
- 13. “To wrap up our session, here’s a brief summary of our discussion.”
- 14. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to present to you. Any final thoughts?”
- 15. “And that’s a wrap. I welcome any final questions or comments.”
- 16. “As we conclude, let’s remember the objectives we’ve set today.”
- 17. “Thank you for your time. Let’s apply these insights to achieve success.”
- 18. “In conclusion, your feedback is valuable, and I’m here to listen.”
- 19. “Before we part, let’s take a moment to reflect on our key messages.”
- 20. “I’ll end with an invitation for all of us to take the next step.”
- 21. “As we close, let’s commit to the goals we’ve outlined today.”
- 22. “Thank you for your attention. Let’s keep the conversation going.”
- 23. “In conclusion, let’s make a difference, starting now.”
- 24. “I’ll leave you with these final words to consider as we end our time together.”
- 25. “Before we conclude, remember that change starts with our actions today.”
- 26. “Thank you for the lively discussion. Let’s continue to build on these ideas.”
- 27. “As we wrap up, I encourage you to reach out with any further questions.”
- 28. “In closing, I’d like to express my gratitude for your valuable input.”
- 29. “Let’s conclude on a high note and take these learnings forward.”
- 30. “Thank you for your time today. Let’s end with a commitment to progress.”
Summarizing the Main Points
When you reach the end of your presentation, summarizing the main points helps your audience retain the important information you’ve shared. Crafting a memorable summary enables your listeners to walk away with a clear understanding of your message.
Effective Methods of Summarization
To effectively summarize your presentation, you need to distill complex information into concise, digestible pieces. Start by revisiting the overarching theme of your talk and then narrow down to the core messages. Use plain language and imagery to make the enduring ideas stick. Here are some examples of how to do this:
- Use analogies that relate to common experiences to recap complex concepts.
- Incorporate visuals or gestures that reinforce your main arguments.
The Rule of Three
The Rule of Three is a classic writing and communication principle. It means presenting ideas in a trio, which is a pattern that’s easy for people to understand and remember. For instance, you might say, “Our plan will save time, cut costs, and improve quality.” This structure has a pleasing rhythm and makes the content more memorable. Some examples include:
- “This software is fast, user-friendly, and secure.”
- Pointing out a product’s “durability, affordability, and eco-friendliness.”
Reiterating the Main Points
Finally, you want to circle back to the key takeaways of your presentation. Rephrase your main points without introducing new information. This reinforcement supports your audience’s memory and understanding of the material. You might summarize key takeaways like this:
- Mention the problem you addressed, the solution you propose, and the benefits of this solution.
- Highlighting the outcomes of adopting your strategy: higher efficiency, greater satisfaction, and increased revenue.
Creating a Strong Conclusion
The final moments of your presentation are your chance to leave your audience with a powerful lasting impression. A strong conclusion is more than just summarizing—it’s your opportunity to invoke thought, inspire action, and make your message memorable.
Incorporating a Call to Action
A call to action is your parting request to your audience. You want to inspire them to take a specific action or think differently as a result of what they’ve heard. To do this effectively:
- Be clear about what you’re asking.
- Explain why their action is needed.
- Make it as simple as possible for them to take the next steps.
Example Phrases:
- “Start making a difference today by…”
- “Join us in this effort by…”
- “Take the leap and commit to…”
Leaving a Lasting Impression
End your presentation with something memorable. This can be a powerful quote, an inspirational statement, or a compelling story that underscores your main points. The goal here is to resonate with your audience on an emotional level so that your message sticks with them long after they leave.
- “In the words of [Influential Person], ‘…'”
- “Imagine a world where…”
- “This is more than just [Topic]; it’s about…”
Enhancing Audience Engagement
To hold your audience’s attention and ensure they leave with a lasting impression of your presentation, fostering interaction is key.
Q&A Sessions
It’s important to integrate a Q&A session because it allows for direct communication between you and your audience. This interactive segment helps clarify any uncertainties and encourages active participation. Plan for this by designating a time slot towards the end of your presentation and invite questions that promote discussion.
- “I’d love to hear your thoughts; what questions do you have?”
- “Let’s dive into any questions you might have. Who would like to start?”
- “Feel free to ask any questions, whether they’re clarifications or deeper inquiries about the topic.”
Encouraging Audience Participation
Getting your audience involved can transform a good presentation into a great one. Use open-ended questions that provoke thought and allow audience members to reflect on how your content relates to them. Additionally, inviting volunteers to participate in a demonstration or share their experiences keeps everyone engaged and adds a personal touch to your talk.
- “Could someone give me an example of how you’ve encountered this in your work?”
- “I’d appreciate a volunteer to help demonstrate this concept. Who’s interested?”
- “How do you see this information impacting your daily tasks? Let’s discuss!”
Delivering a Persuasive Ending
At the end of your presentation, you have the power to leave a lasting impact on your audience. A persuasive ending can drive home your key message and encourage action.
Sales and Persuasion Tactics
When you’re concluding a presentation with the goal of selling a product or idea, employ carefully chosen sales and persuasion tactics. One method is to summarize the key benefits of your offering, reminding your audience why it’s important to act. For example, if you’ve just presented a new software tool, recap how it will save time and increase productivity. Another tactic is the ‘call to action’, which should be clear and direct, such as “Start your free trial today to experience the benefits first-hand!” Furthermore, using a touch of urgency, like “Offer expires soon!”, can nudge your audience to act promptly.
Final Impressions and Professionalism
Your closing statement is a chance to solidify your professional image and leave a positive impression. It’s important to display confidence and poise. Consider thanking your audience for their time and offering to answer any questions. Make sure to end on a high note by summarizing your message in a concise and memorable way. If your topic was on renewable energy, you might conclude by saying, “Let’s take a leap towards a greener future by adopting these solutions today.” This reinforces your main points and encourages your listeners to think or act differently when they leave.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some creative strategies for ending a presentation memorably.
To end your presentation in a memorable way, consider incorporating a call to action that engages your audience to take the next step. Another strategy is to finish with a thought-provoking question or a surprising fact that resonates with your listeners.
Can you suggest some powerful quotes suitable for concluding a presentation?
Yes, using a quote can be very effective. For example, Maya Angelou’s “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel,” can reinforce the emotional impact of your presentation.
What is an effective way to write a conclusion that summarizes a presentation?
An effective conclusion should recap the main points succinctly, highlighting what you want your audience to remember. A good way to conclude is by restating your thesis and then briefly summarizing the supporting points you made.
As a student, how can I leave a strong impression with my presentation’s closing remarks?
To leave a strong impression, consider sharing a personal anecdote related to your topic that demonstrates passion and conviction. This helps humanize your content and makes the message more relatable to your audience.
How can I appropriately thank my audience at the close of my presentation?
A simple and sincere expression of gratitude is always appropriate. You might say, “Thank you for your attention and engagement today,” to convey appreciation while also acknowledging their participation.
What are some examples of a compelling closing sentence in a presentation?
A compelling closing sentence could be something like, “Together, let’s take the leap towards a greener future,” if you’re presenting on sustainability. This sentence is impactful, calls for united action, and leaves your audience with a clear message.
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How to Close Your Presentation in English Powerfully [+ FREE Presentation Checklist]
May 9, 2018 | Business Professional English , Free Resource , Public Speaking & Presentations
This lesson has been updated from its original posting in 2016.
You’re giving your presentation in English. You have just two minutes left. And it’s time for the conclusion …
Did you know most people only remember the first and last things you tell them? It’s true.
If you are giving a presentation in English, then you definitely want people to remember what you say at the end. And this means your closing must be powerful!
You’ve worked hard on your presentation. You searched for information online. You couldn’t sleep at night. You felt nervous about making mistakes. You spent hours preparing. You reviewed the grammar and vocabulary. You worried about someone asking a question. You practiced and practiced and practiced.
And now it’s the last two minutes. This is the last opportunity for your audience to hear your key points. It is the last chance you have to help your audience remember your comments.
A closing in a presentation should be short and clear. It should summarize your key points. And, most importantly, it should be powerful.
In today’s lesson, you’re going to learn about 3 ways to make your closing more powerful. Plus you’ll learn useful key expressions you can use in your presentation.
3 steps to a powerful closing in your presentation.
Lesson by Annemarie
3 Strategies to Close Your Presentation Powerfully
Use these 3 strategies in your conclusion to:
- recapture your audience’s attention
- get your audience to focus and remember your key points
- help your audience connect with you and your topic
- end your presentation powerfully
One: Include a Call to Action (CTA)
Is there something you want your audience to do or think after your presentation. Do you want them to take action? Tell your audience exactly what you want them to do with a Call to Action.
Here’s my example:
“ After you finish today’s lesson, please take 2 minutes to leave a comment about your experience with presentations. You can share your thoughts or ask questions in the comments section at the bottom of this lesson – it’s the perfect place to join a discussion on this topic.”
A couple useful expressions to help you introduce your CTA is:
- To close, I’d like to ask you to do this one thing…
- And finally, before you leave the conference today, please take two minutes to…
Two: End with a Powerful/Inspirational Quote
Is there one thing you really want your audience to remember? Or is there a specific feeling you want your audience to have after your presentation?
Using a powerful quote can help you do that. You could introduce a great quote or interesting statistic with:
- I’d like to finish with this powerful/interesting/wonderful/inspiring/ quote from …
- And finally, let’s finish up today’s discussion with this surprising/useful/shocking/hopeful statistic …
Here are some example quotes that might help people be prepared to take action or to think differently. But remember! Always match the quote or statistic to your topic:
“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” – Martin Luther King, Jr. “Sometimes we stare so long at a door that is closing that we see too late the one that is open.” – Alexander Graham Bell
Three: Add a Surprising Fact or Statistic
Is there something you’d love for your audience to think about after your presentation? Is there a statistic or fact that will help someone remember your key points?
A surprising fact can also help re-engage your audience, it will snap their attention back to you.
For example:
Did you know that the human brain’s capacity is limitless – that’s great new right? BUT … did you also know that a person is likely to remember only 25% of a presentation after 24 hours?
Uh oh. That is why it’s SO important to have a powerful ending! Remember: the key is to find a statistic or fact that connects directly to your topic.
Useful Language to Close Your Presentation
Summarize Your Key Points & Close Your Presentation
- That brings us to the end of the presentation. I’d like to summarize by saying …
- That concludes my presentation. However, I’d like to quickly summarize the main points or takeaways.
- And on that final note, that concludes my presentation.
- To quickly recap, I’d like you to remember these key points …
- To summarize …
- In conclusion …
- I’d like to bring this presentation to a close with …
- I’d like to close this talk with …
- So, this concludes the focus of discussion today. To end, I’d like to highlight …
- This concludes [name/title of the section] so let’s move on to the final comments.
Thank Your Audience
- I sincerely appreciate your attention today/this evening/this morning.
- And that brings us to the end. I’d like to thank you for your time and attention today.
- Thank you so much for your interest and attention.
- At this time, I’d like to have my colleague speak so I’ll finish up by saying thank you for your attention.
- I can see that our time is just about up so to finish I’d like to say thank you.
- I sincerely appreciate that I’ve had this opportunity to present to you.
- If there is one thing I would like you to remember from today’s presentation it’s …
Take Questions
- If anyone has any questions, I’d be happy to open up the discussion.
- If anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask now and I’ll do my best to answer.
- Would anyone like to ask any questions?
- I would now be interested to hear from you with your thoughts or questions.
- Now let’s move on to some Q&A. (Q&A = Questions and Answers)
Provide Next Steps or Contact Information
- If you would like more information, here is a list of useful resources/websites.
- If anyone who like more information or has questions, please feel free to contact me at: [include contact info]
- Here is a list for further reading on this topic. (Include the list of books or websites.)
Get the complete Presentations in English Series:
Part 1: How to Prepare for Your Presentation in English
Part 2: How to Start with a Great Introduction in Your Presentation
Part 3: How to Organize Your Presentation in English
Part 4: How to End Your Presentation Powerfully
After you’ve watched the video and reviewed the lesson, I’d love to hear from you!
Tell me about the best presentation you ever heard. Who gave the presentation? And why do you remember it? Share what you remember in the comments section below.
And for the bonus question!! Have you given a presentation in English? What tips or advice would you like to share with others? You can add your advice in the comments section.
Thank you so much for joining me!
~ Annemarie
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I’m glad to hear it was helpful!
This was very helpful
Thanks, Ma’am/Sir. This helped me a lot…
Same here ma’am
This is so helpful. Thank you so much
This helped a lot. Thank you so much <3
I accidentally found your page while working on my English video presentation. It’s really helpful. Thanks soooo much 🙂
I’m very glad to know it was helpful!
Hi! I found your page very insightful. Thank you very much!
I’m glad to hear it!
great video series. thank you so much. you mentioned that you had a downloadable checklist in the final video. where could I find this thanks?
Hi Ellie, I’m glad the series was helpful.
When you visit the lesson, there should be an image that pops up with an opportunity to get the download. If you don’t see it, please let me know so I can fix it.
Helped a lot! Thank you very much <33
thank you so much
I love your method
Hello, I have a 5 minute oral presentation of a fictional book, w/the main focus on the leadership traits of the characters. I enjoyed the book, and suspect others might, so to that end, is it OK to NOT share the ending? Thank you
Thanks for your help 🙂
Great website. I found a typo in on the presentation closings page “Useful Langauge to Close Your Presentation”.
Good eyes! Thanks so much for the note. We’ve fixed the typo.
Dear Annemarie, thank you so much for sharing.
Dear Annemarie, thank you so much for sharing. I learned so much from your 4 videos and I will work on improving my presentation skills. Love your spirit of excellence. For me as a presenter, its important i am passionate about the topic i share and audience will be able to apply some of the learnings in their life. Thank you Annemarie. I love your voice too. Stay blessed.
I watch continuously watched ur 4 videos and U r a great teacher.Thanks for making such purposeful videos.
I am so happy , I have more form you thank you very much
You are absolutely wonderful and your website is extremely useful and also quit impressive i habe my english A-levels in December i copied this text i sinisterly appreciate that i have had this opportunity to present to you and i also add something * it was a honor for me so thank you ☺️
Thanks, Jasmin! I’m so glad to know my lessons are helpful to you.
hey Annemarie could you help me in ending my presentation on mental health. it is a school presentation for MUN
If you’d like editing help, please see our options for 1:1 classes .
You are my favorite speaker. ☺
Hi Anna, that’s so kind of you. Thank you. 🙂
It’s so useful to us…… I’m so happy by this
I’m glad it was helpful to you, Kalpana.
I was holistically stuck about how to give my first ever presentation, but this gave me an impetus and confidence. Thanks a lot for this exquisite info
Awesome. I’m glad this helped you to move forward.
Thank YOU for tour tips. They are really inspiring. I Will try to put them into practise.
Hi Nancy, Wonderful! I’m glad they’re helpful to you!
It’s so useful to us…… I’m so happy by this
do you have Presentation course
Hi Hammad, I don’t at this time but it’s definitely something I’m thinking about.
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10 Powerful Examples of How to End a Presentation
- By Illiya Vjestica
- - January 23, 2023
Here are 10 powerful examples of how to end a presentation that does not end with a thank you slide.
How many presentations have you seen that end with “Thank you for listening” or “Any questions?” I bet it’s a lot…
“Thank you for listening.” is the most common example. Unfortunately, when it comes to closing out your slides ending with “thank you” is the norm. We can create a better presentation ending by following these simple examples.
The two most essential slides of your deck are the ending and intro. An excellent presentation ending is critical to helping the audience to the next step or following a specific call to action.
There are many ways you can increase your presentation retention rate . The most critical steps are having a solid call to action at the end of your presentation and a powerful hook that draws your audience in.
What Action do You Want Your Audience to Take?
Before designing your presentation, start with this question – what message or action will you leave your audience with?
Are you looking to persuade, inspire, entertain or inform your audience? You can choose one or multiple words to describe the intent of your presentation.
Think about the action words that best describe your presentation ending – what do you want them to do? Inspire, book, learn, understand, engage, donate, buy, book or schedule. These are a few examples.
If the goal of your presentation is to inspire, why not end with a powerful and inspiring quote ? Let words of wisdom be the spark that ignites an action within your audience.
Here are three ways to end your presentation:
- Call to Action – getting the audience to take a specific action or next step, for example, booking a call, signing up for an event or donating to your cause.
- Persuade – persuading your audience to think differently, try something new, undertake a challenge or join your movement or community.
- Summarise – A summary of the key points and information you want the audience to remember. If you decide to summarise your talk at the end, keep it to no more than three main points.
10 Examples of How to End a Presentation
1. Asking your audience to take action or make a pledge.
Here were asking the audience to take action by using the wording “take action” in our copy. This call to action is a pledge to donate. A clear message like this can be helpful for charities and non-profits looking to raise funding for their campaign or cause.
2. Encourage your audience to take a specific action, e.g. joining your cause or community
Here was are asking the audience to join our community and help solve a problem by becoming part of the solution. It’s a simple call to action. You can pass the touch to your audience and ask them to take the next lead.
3. Highlight the critical points for your audience to remember.
Rember, to summarise your presentation into no more than three key points. This is important because the human brain struggles to remember more than three pieces of information simultaneously. We call this the “Rule of Three”.
4. If you are trying to get more leads or sales end with a call to action to book a demo or schedule a call.
Can you inspire your audience to sign up for a demo or trial of your product? Structure your talk to lead your prospect through a journey of the results you generate for other clients. At the end of your deck, finish with a specific call to action, such as “Want similar results to X?”
Make sure you design a button, or graphic your prospect can click on when you send them the PDF version of the slides.
5. Challenge your audience to think differently or take action, e.g. what impact could they make?
6. Give your audience actions to help share your message.
7. Promote your upcoming events or workshops
8. Asking your audience to become a volunteer.
9. Direct your audience to learn more about your website.
10. If you are a book author, encourage your audience to engage with your book.
6 Questions to Generate an Ending for Your Presentation
You’ve told an engaging story, but why end your presentation without leaving your audience a clear message or call to action?
Here are six great questions you can ask yourself to generate an ending for your presentation or keynote talk.
- What impression would you want to leave your audience with?
- What is the big idea you want to leave them with?
- What action should they take next?
- What key point should you remember 72 hours after your presentation?
- What do you want them to feel?
- What is the key takeaway for them to understand?
What to Say After Ending a Presentation?
When you get to the end of a book, you don’t see the author say, “thank you for reading my last chapter.” Of course, there is no harm in thanking the audience after your presentation ends, but don’t make that the last words you speak.
Think of the ending of the presentation as the final chapter of an epic novel. It’s your chance to leave a lasting impression on the audience. Close with an impactful ending and leave them feeling empowered, invigorated and engaged.
- Leave a lasting impression.
- Think of it as the last chapter of a book.
- Conclude with a thought or question.
- Leave the audience with a specific action or next step.
How to End a Presentation with Style?
There are many great ways you can end your presentation with style. Are you ready to drop the mic?
Ensure your closing slide is punchy, has a clear headline, or uses a thought-provoking image.
You want to capture the audience’s attention before closing the presentation. Make sure the fonts you choose and are clear and easy to read. And What are the Best Colours for Your PowerPoint presentation? Use them wisely.
Do you need to consider adding a link? If you add links to your social media accounts, use icons and buttons to make them easy to see. Add a link to each button or icon. By doing this, if you send the PDF slides to people, they can follow the links to your various accounts.
What Should you Remember?
💡 If you take one thing away from this post, it’s to lose the traditional ending slides. Let’s move on from the “Thank you for your attention.” or “Any questions.” slides.
These don’t help you or the audience. Respect them and think about what they should do next. You may be interested to learn 3 Tactics to Free Your Presentation Style to help you connect to your audience.
Create stunning presentations with our templates, toolkits and guides.
Illiya Vjestica
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Learn the Phrases to Conclude your Presentation
How you end your presentation is as important as how you start your presentation Yet, many presenters finish simply because their time limit is up or they have nothing more to say. It doesn’t have to be this way.
Many audience members only begin paying attention to a presentation once they hear the words “In conclusion…” or “Finally…” The conclusion is where things crystallise and where you summarise your main points. It is an excellent opportunity to leave a lasting impression. It’s how your audience will remember you, so it shouldn’t be taken for granted.
In this Business English lesson, you will learn the Phrases on the topic of ‘Concluding a Presentation.’ Watch the lesson and then read the article for definitions and examples.
Don’t forget to like and follow us on YouTube and LinkedIn .
Example Phrases to help Conclude your Presentation…
Indicating the end of your presentation.
“That completes my presentation/talk.” “I’m now nearing the end of my presentation/talk.” ”That’s everything I wanted to say about…” ”Well, this brings me to the end of my presentation/talk.”
Summarising Points
“Let me just look at the key points again.” ”To conclude/In conclusion, I’d like to…” ”I’ll briefly summarise the main issues.” ”To sum up (then), we….”
Making Recommendations
“It’s recommended that…” ”We’d suggest…” ”It’s my opinion that we should…” ”Based on these findings, I’m recommending that…”
Closing your Presentation
“Thank you for your attention/time.” ”Before I end, let me just say…” ”Thank you for listening.”
Inviting Questions
“Do you have any questions?” ”Now we have time for a few questions.” ”If you have any questions, please do ask.” ”And now, I’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have.”
LESSON END.
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How to end a presentation in english: methods and examples.
- By Matthew Jones
Naturally, the way you end a presentation will depend on the setting and subject matter. Are you pitching an idea to your boss? Are you participating in a group presentation at school? Or are you presenting a business idea to potential investors? No matter the context, you’ll want to have a stellar ending that satisfies your audience and reinforces your goals.
So, do you want to learn how to end a presentation with style? Wondering how to end an informative speech? Or do you want to know how to conclude a Powerpoint presentation with impact? We’re here to help you learn how to end a presentation and make a great impression!
How to End a Presentation: 3 Effective Methods
Every presentation needs a great beginning, middle, and end. In this guide, we will focus on crafting the perfect conclusion. However, if you’d like to make sure that your presentation sounds good from start to finish, you should also check out our guide on starting a presentation in English .
Though there are many ways to end a presentation, the most effective strategies focus on making a lasting impression on your audience and reinforcing your goals. So, let’s take a look at three effective ways to end a presentation:
1. Summarize the Key Takeaways
Most presenters either make an argument (i.e. they want to convince their audience to adopt their view) or present new or interesting information (i.e. they want to educate their audience). In either case, the presentation will likely consist of important facts and figures. The conclusion gives you the opportunity to reiterate the most important information to your audience.
This doesn’t mean that you should simply restate everything from your presentation a second time. Instead, you should identify the most important parts of your presentation and briefly summarize them.
This is similar to what you might find in the last paragraph of an academic essay. For example, if you’re presenting a business proposal to potential investors, you might conclude with a summary of your business and the reasons why your audience should invest in your idea.
2. End with a CTA (Call-To-Action)
Ending with a Call-To-Action is one of the best ways to increase audience engagement (participation) with your presentation. A CTA is simply a request or invitation to perform a specific action. This technique is frequently used in sales or marketing presentations, though it can be used in many different situations.
For example, let’s say that you’re giving an informational presentation about the importance of hygiene in the workplace. Since your goal is to educate your audience, you may think that there’s no place for a CTA.
On the contrary, informational presentations are perfect for CTA’s. Rather than simply ending your presentation, you can direct your audience to seek out more information on the subject from authorities. In this case, you might encourage listeners to learn more from an authoritative medical organization, like the World Health Organization (WHO).
3. Use a Relevant Quote
It may sound cliche, but using quotes in your closing speech is both memorable and effective. However, not just any quote will do. You should always make sure that your quote is relevant to the topic. If you’re making an argument, you might want to include a quote that either directly or indirectly reinforces your main point.
Let’s say that you’re conducting a presentation about your company’s mission statement. You might present the information with a Powerpoint presentation, in which case your last slide could include an inspirational quote. The quote can either refer to the mission statement or somehow reinforce the ideas covered in the presentation.
Formatting Your Conclusion
While these 3 strategies should give you some inspiration, they won’t help you format your conclusion. You might know that you want to end your presentation with a Call-To-Action, but how should you “start” your conclusion? How long should you make your conclusion? Finally, what are some good phrases to use for ending a presentation?<br>
Examples of a Good Conclusion
In conclusion, I believe that we can increase our annual revenue this year. We can do this with a combination of increased efficiency in our production process and a more dynamic approach to lead generation. If we implement these changes, I estimate that annual revenue will increase by as much as 15%.
The example above shows a good conclusion for a business presentation. However, some people believe that the term in conclusion is overused. Here’s how to end a presentation using transition words similar to in conclusion .
Transition words help your audience know that your presentation is ending. Try starting your conclusion with one of these phrases:
- To summarize
However, transition words aren’t always necessary. Here are a few good ways to end a presentation using a different approach.
- Summarize Key Takeaways : There are two things that I’d like you to remember from today’s presentation. First, we are a company that consults startups for a fraction of the cost of other consultation services. And second, we have a perfect record of successfully growing startups in a wide variety of industries. If anything was unclear, I’d be happy to open the floor to questions.
- Make a Call-To-Action : I am very passionate about climate change. The future of the planet rests on our shoulders and we are quickly running out of time to take action. That said, I do believe that we can effect real change for future generations. I challenge you to take up the fight for our children and our children’s children.
- Use a Relevant Quote: I’d like to end my presentation with one of my favorite quotes: “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”
As you can see, your conclusion does not need to be very long. In fact, a conclusion should be short and to the point. This way, you can effectively end your presentation without rambling or adding extraneous (irrelevant) information.
How to End a Presentation in English with Common Phrases
Finally, there are a few generic phrases that people frequently use to wrap up presentations. While we encourage you to think about how to end a presentation using a unique final statement, there’s nothing wrong with using these common closing phrases:
- Thank you for your time.
- I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you today.
- I’ll now answer any questions you have about (topic).
- If you need any further information, feel free to contact me at (contact information).
We hope this guide helps you better understand how to end a presentation ! If you’d like to find out more about how to end a presentation in English effectively, visit Magoosh Speaking today!
Matthew Jones
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How to End a Presentation? [Top 8 Strategies with Examples]
Guru - May 9, 2023 - Leave your thoughts. 9 min read
animaker deck , presentation , presentation ideas , Presentation Software , presentation tips
How you end a presentation is just as crucial as its opening. It can make or break the impression that you leave on your audience.
A strong conclusion can reinforce your key message and ensure that your audience remembers it even after the presentation is over.
A well-concluded presentation can leave your audience impressed, energized, and motivated to take action.
So now, are you wondering what’s the best way to conclude your presentation? Don’t worry! You have come to the right place!
To help you make a powerful ending to your presentation, we have compiled a list of 8 different strategies in this blog post.
Each of these strategies is designed to help you create a memorable and impactful conclusion to your presentation.
By choosing the most appropriate one for your presentation, you can ensure that your audience remembers your key message and feels motivated to take action.
Let’s jump right in,
1. Emphasize the core message 2. Mirror your opening statement 3. Pose an open-ended question 4. End with a Call to action 5. Thank the audience 6. End with a powerful quote 7. Acknowledge your contributors 8. Ask for feedback
1. Emphasize the core message:
One of the most important aspects of any presentation is ensuring your audience understands your core message.
Reiterating your main points and summarizing your message at the end of your presentation can reinforce this and leave a lasting impression.
It helps to ensure that your audience understands the purpose of your presentation and has a clear takeaway from the information you have provided.
In this video, the speaker restates her topic to conclude her speech firmly and gives a pause, resulting in tremendous applause from the audience.
Similarly, by restating your core message, you can also create a sense of cohesion and give your presentation a firm closure.
This can be particularly important if you want to motivate your audience to take action or influence their behavior in some way.
However, it's important not to repeat EVERYTHING you have said. Instead, focus on the most crucial elements and highlight them in a concise and clear manner.
2. Mirror your opening statement:
A great way to end your presentation is by mirroring your opening statement in your conclusion.
Highlighting your presentation's key message at the end and emphasizing the central idea you aimed to communicate will help your audience to retain it in their memory.
During the conclusion of the presentation, the speaker effectively utilized the technique of mirroring the opening example she had presented - ordering a pizza on the phone by herself.
The speaker demonstrated the remarkable transformation she had undergone in terms of personal growth and confidence, which strongly reinforced her message to the audience.
By mirroring her opening example, she created a sense of familiarity and connection with her audience while simultaneously driving home the key message of her presentation.
This technique allowed the audience to understand better and relate to the speaker's personal journey and the message she was conveying.
Similarly, you can also use this strategy to conclude your presentation. This can be particularly effective if you are trying to reinforce a specific theme or idea throughout your presentation.
3. Pose an open-ended question:
One of the best ways to conclude your presentation is to elicit a response from your audience using an open-ended question that can effectively engage them and make your presentation more memorable.
Look at how the speaker concludes her speech with an open-ended question in this video.
Similarly, you can also raise open-ended questions to help your audience look from a different perspective and encourage them to investigate more thoroughly on the information presented.
Most importantly, ensuring that your question is relevant to your presentation and doesn't detract from your overall message is essential when eliciting a response.
So make sure that you kindle your audiences’ thoughts and ideas with the open-ended question at the end. This helps create a good long-lasting impression of your presentation.
4. End with a Call to action:
One of the best ways to end your presentation is by concluding with a call to action slide.
Incorporating a call to action into your presentation can be a powerful way to encourage your audience to take the next step.
Whether it's signing up for a program, making a purchase, or supporting a cause, a clear call to action is essential to achieving your desired outcome.
Similarly, according to your type of presentation, you can include a relevant call to action.
For example, this might involve providing specific instructions or offering an incentive for taking action, such as a discount or free trial.
It's essential that you understand their pain points and make your call to action compelling. Ensure that your core message and the needs of your audience are aligned so that they are motivated enough to act.
5. Thank the audience:
At the end of your presentation, it's essential to recognize that your audience has taken time out of their busy schedules to attend and listen to your message.
Thanking your audience for their time and attention can create a positive impression and make them feel appreciated.
It's essential to make your gratitude genuine and sincere rather than a superficial gesture. For example, consider expressing your gratitude with a personal anecdote or acknowledging specific individuals in the audience.
This simple act of gratitude can also create a sense of personal connection and signal to your audience that the presentation has reached its conclusion, paving the way for future interactions with them.
6. End with a powerful quote:
One effective strategy to end your presentation on a high note is by leaving the audience with a powerful quote.
However, it's crucial to choose a quote that is not only impactful but also unique and relevant to your topic.
Using a commonly known quote may come across as unoriginal and irrelevant, losing the attention and interest of your audience in most cases.
In this presentation, Steve Jobs concludes his speech with an inspiring and powerful message, “Stay Hungry! Stay Foolish”. Thereby emphasizing that you should never stop learning, pursue more goals, and never stop being satisfied.
Similarly, in your conclusion, consider using a relevant quote to make an impact.
7. Acknowledge your contributors:
Another best way to conclude your presentation is by showing gratitude to your contributors.
For example, if you deliver a business presentation on behalf of a team or a department, it's essential to recognize the collective effort that went into creating the presentation.
The concluding moments of your speech are the perfect opportunity to acknowledge your team members' hard work and dedication.
You can express gratitude to your team as a whole, thanking them for their contribution to the presentation.
However, if you want to ensure that the individual efforts of team members are recognized, highlighting specific contributions may be a better approach.
Some examples include:
"Join me in giving a round of applause to my incredible team, who played a significant role in arranging this pitch deck."
"Finally, I would like to mention that my tech team experts provided me with insight into the technical nuances, and without their contribution, this presentation would not have been as informative as it is now."
"As I conclude, I want to express my gratitude to Mark and Serene from the Marketing team, whose assistance in gathering the data and designing the slides was invaluable."
By acknowledging individual team members, you are demonstrating your appreciation for their work and giving them the recognition they deserve.
This will not only make them feel valued but also motivate them to continue contributing to the success of future presentations.
So be sure to end your presentation with the required acknowledgment for all the contributions.
8. Ask for feedback:
You can conclude your presentation seamlessly by thanking the audience and asking for feedback from them.
Encouraging feedback from your audience can greatly benefit your future presentations. It allows you to understand how your message was received and how you can improve for the next time.
So, how can you gather feedback effectively?
Firstly, ask attendees to share their thoughts on your presentation after you finish speaking. This can be done by initiating a Q&A session or by approaching individuals directly.
Another option is to set up a QR code near the exit and ask people to scan and jot down their thoughts on the online form as they leave. This allows attendees to provide their feedback in a confidential and hassle-free manner.
Also, consider having a suggestion box for handwritten feedback notes or creating an anonymous online survey that links to your presentation slides. This method is beneficial if you want to gather feedback from a large audience or if you prefer to have quantitative data.
By actively seeking feedback, you show your audience that you value their input and are committed to improving your presentation skills.
However, this strategy does not apply to all the general presentations. So use this way of concluding your presentation where it makes more sense to you and the audience.
In summary, an impactful conclusion is vital to wrap up your presentation successfully.
Each of these strategies serves a unique purpose, and by combining them, you can create a conclusion that is both engaging and impactful.
By incorporating the 8 critical strategies mentioned in this guide, you can leave a lasting impression on your audience, ensuring that your message stays with them even after the presentation has ended.
Now that you have learned the pro strategies of how to end a presentation, take a look at this guide on “How to start a presentation” as well and nail your presentation from start to end!
If you are still uncertain about how to make a presentation from the ground up, we suggest checking out Animaker Deck - the world's first avatar-driven presentation software.
With over 40 distinct and creatively designed templates at your disposal, we are confident you will find it worth trying!
We hope this article was helpful. Do let us know your thoughts on which strategy worked best for you, and also suggest your own ways of ending a presentation.
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How to End a Presentation (+ Useful Phrases)
Table of Contents
Most people are aware of the power of first impressions.
However, our appearance and the first words we utter are only one part of the impact we have on others.
Arguably, the final words we exchange during an interaction can have an even more lasting effect . And that applies to public speaking, too.
Obviously, the way you introduce yourself and the topic you’ll be discussing is important.
However, the end of a presentation should also be recognized as a crucial part of the experience .
With that in mind, this article will walk you through some:
- Things you should consider before drafting your conclusion,
- Tips for ending a presentation memorably,
- Mistakes you should avoid, and
- Phrases you can use to wrap up your speech.
But, before we discuss how to end a presentation, let’s establish why having an impactful conclusion is so essential.
Why is it important to have an impactful ending for your presentation?
In our article about starting a presentation , we explained how the steps of the motivated sequence framework correspond to the structure of the average presentation or speech.
As we have established, the introduction of a presentation mirrors the first step of that model. That means that one of its main goals is to get the listeners’ attention .
The central part of the speech, or the body , corresponds to the second, third, and fourth steps of the motivated sequence framework. In other words, it has to:
- Introduce the audience’s need (or identify a problem the listeners are having),
- Offer a way to satisfy (or resolve) that need, and
- Help the listeners visualize the successful implementation of the speaker’s solution.
Having checked off these points, we arrive at the conclusion , i.e., the subject of this article.
That stage of a presentation corresponds to the final step of the motivated sequence model — which consists of the call to action .
So, the conclusion of a presentation allows the speaker to drive their point home and nudge the audience toward performing a specific action.
However, that’s not the only purpose of a conclusion.
According to the authors of Business Communication: Process & Product , the final section of a presentation should achieve 3 goals . It should:
- Summarize the main themes of the presentation,
- Leave the audience with a specific and noteworthy takeaway (i.e. propose a specific course of action), and
- Include a statement that allows the speaker to leave the podium (or pass the mic) gracefully.
Above all, the ending of a presentation should be memorable , akin to the punchline of a joke.
Having said that, let’s talk about some factors you should consider as you’re writing the conclusion of your speech.
Things to consider before crafting the conclusion of your presentation
If you’re trying to figure out how to end a presentation, knowing the goals of a conclusion should help.
However, those objectives are only one part of the puzzle. To get the others, you should also consider:
- Your audience’s demographic breakdown,
- The general purpose of your presentation ,
- The specific purpose of your presentation , and
- Your thesis statement .
With that in mind, let’s see how each of these factors can help you develop an impactful conclusion for your presentation.
Factor #1: The demographic breakdown of the audience
As we have noted in our article about starting presentations, understanding the demographic breakdown of one’s audience is a crucial part of drafting a speech .
After all, the audience affects all of the choices we make — from the way we present ourselves to the vocabulary and the supporting materials we use during our presentations.
In our quest to learn more about the effect an audience can have on a presentation, we spoke to Persuasion Strategist Juliet Huck .
Having spent a significant portion of her professional career preparing people to take the witness stand, Huck knows a thing or two about adjusting one’s messaging to fit the preferences of one’s audience. She says:
“[The] ending [of] every presentation should be different and always based on the background of your audience. This should not be a blanket statement. It also depends on if you are educating your audience or persuading them to make a decision in your favor. You must do the homework on your audience prior to giving a presentation and end by leading them to your desired conclusion by giving them a conclusion they can relate to.”
But, if you’re not entirely sure how to take your audience into account when drafting your conclusion, consider the following questions:
- How will your audience connect to the topic you’re discussing?
- How can you relate the information you’re sharing to the listeners’ needs?
- What would make your audience think back on your presentation in positive terms?
- What would be the most effective way to get your point across to this specific audience?
Knowing whether your audience is friendly, neutral, uninterested, or hostile will also help you adjust your approach.
If nothing else, it’ll tell you whether you should stick to the facts or feel free to deliver a more casual or rousing speech.
Examples of different audience breakdowns
In our article about starting a presentation, we demonstrated our tips through 3 fictional speakers. So, let’s use the same presenters to illustrate this point.
- Nick Mulder is talking about the dangers of phishing. He introduced himself as the head of the security department. So, we can assume that he’s speaking to an audience of fellow employees, perhaps even through video conferencing software. Therefore, he was addressing an internal problem the company was having in front of a fairly receptive audience.
- Joan Miller is talking about how artificial intelligence is changing the future of the marketing industry. In her introduction, she mentioned having over four decades of experience in marketing. Consequently, we can infer that she’s speaking to an audience of marketing specialists who were previously unaware of her credentials.
- Milo Green is talking about employee retention. In his introduction, he indicated that the audience may know him as the founder of Green & Co. So, he’s probably famous enough to be recognized by at least a portion of his audience. Between that and the subject of his presentation, we can assume that he’s talking to the upper management of other companies.
From our examples, we can see how the identity of the speaker and their level of familiarity with the listeners might affect the way they prepare their presentations .
Factor #2: The general purpose of your presentation
Understanding the general purpose of a speech brings you one step closer to knowing how to end a presentation.
According to the authors of Communicating at Work , most presentations can be sorted into one of 3 categories based on that factor. In that regard, your presentation could be:
- Informative , aiming to expand the listeners’ knowledge and/or help them acquire a specific skill,
- Persuasive , with the goal of changing the listeners’ opinions or encouraging them to behave a certain way, or
- Entertaining , which is good for getting the audience to relax and look forward to upcoming speakers or events.
The general purpose of your presentation will naturally affect your conclusion because it will change what you choose to emphasize.
💡 Pumble Pro Tip
The basic goal of your presentation could correspond with the type of presentation you’re giving. To learn more about presentation types and styles, check out this article:
- Presentation types and styles explained
Examples of defining the general purpose of a presentation
Let’s see how our imaginary presenters would define the general purpose of their presentations.
- The general purpose of our phishing expert’s presentation is informative . The speaker’s primary goal is to teach his coworkers how to recognize and defend themselves against phishing attempts.
- Our marketing expert’s presentation is persuasive . She wants to change her listeners’ minds and make them more open to using AI in their marketing campaigns.
- The last speaker’s presentation about employee retention is also persuasive . After all, the speaker is attempting to show his listeners how they can increase the employee retention rate at their own companies. However, depending on the circumstances surrounding the speech, it could also take on some entertaining qualities.
Factor #3: The specific purpose of your presentation
The specific purpose of a presentation is essentially the outcome you’re looking to achieve with your speech. Defining this goal will require you to know the answers to the following questions :
- Who do you want to influence?
- What do you want them to think or do?
- How, when, and where do you want them to do it?
Ideally, the specific goal you come up with should be realistic and highly specific .
To that end, the authors of Communicating at Work recommend setting measurable goals . So, for example, instead of thinking: “ I want to get approval for my project. ”,
“I want my manager to let me set aside one day per week to work on this project. I also want them to let me ask one or two other people to help me with it.”
Having this kind of goal in mind will help you figure out how to wrap up your presentation.
Examples of defining the specific purpose of a presentation
So, how would our 3 speakers specify the desired outcomes of their presentations in measurable terms? Let’s see:
“I want the people in my company to understand the dangers of phishing attacks. They should learn the exact steps they need to take when they see a suspicious email in their inbox.”
“I want these marketing experts to be more knowledgeable about the way artificial intelligence works right now and understand how they can incorporate that software into their professional practice.”
“I want managers and HR professionals to know how they can make their companies a better place to work so they can keep their employee retention rate high.”
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Factor #4: Your thesis statement
Ultimately, defining the general and specific goals of your presentation is a great way to keep yourself on track when crafting your speech.
However, the audience doesn’t need to know those goals.
Instead, they can hear your thesis statement — a summary of your overall message .
You can treat this statement as the throughline of your presentation. It will appear at least once in the introduction, followed by a few repetitions throughout the body of the presentation.
Finally, you’ll also want to include that same idea in your conclusion at least once.
In addition to keeping you, as the speaker, grounded, that repetition also keeps your audience from wondering what your presentation is about .
Examples of defining the thesis statement of a presentation
So, what would a thesis statement look like in practice? Let’s hear it from our fictional presenters:
“Identifying and reporting phishing emails will save the company’s information and money in the long term.”
“Right now, artificial intelligence isn’t as advanced as people think it is. However, we can still use it for marketing purposes as long as we make sure the process doesn’t begin and end with AI.”
“Improving your employee retention rate makes employees more engaged with their work and saves the company time and money that would otherwise go to training new personnel.”
How to end a presentation with a bang: 10 tips + examples
Now that we know why having an impactful conclusion is so crucial, it’s time to find the right way to achieve your goals.
To that end, we have highlighted 10 tips that might help you wrap up your presentation .
- Reiterate the key points and your core message.
- Mirror your opening statement.
- Elicit a response.
- Engage the audience.
- Call to action.
- Hand out materials.
- Acknowledge your contributors.
- Provide contact information.
- Thank the audience.
- Ask for feedback.
Of course, many of these methods we’ll discuss can be combined. However, your choices may be limited depending on the factors we have previously mentioned.
Tip #1: Reiterate the key points and your core message
Making sure the audience remembers your main points is one of the most important objectives your conclusion should accomplish.
With that in mind, you should dedicate some time at the end of your speech to reinforcing what you were trying to say throughout your presentation.
Take it from Mark Beal , Assistant Professor of Professional Practice, Communication, at Rutgers University:
“Every presentation should deliver and consistently reinforce three key message points. Most audience members will not recall more than three messages. Some may only recall one or two. With that [in mind], an engaging and effective presentation should conclude with the three messages the presenter wants the audience to take away.”
In essence, you’ll want to summarize your presentation by reiterating up to 3 key points and then repeating your thesis statement.
You could even translate this tip to your presentation slides. As Juliet Huck says:
“Your last slide should always draw your audience to your desired conclusion. [It] should be your billboard message , as we remember 70% of what we see and 20% of what we hear.”
We can see what that might look like through the example of our imaginary presentation on the dangers of phishing, below.
Tip #2: Mirror your opening statement
According to the authors of Communicating at Work , splitting a narrative between the introduction and the conclusion of your presentation is a good way to keep your audience’s attention.
Assistant Professor of Rhetorical Communication at the State University of New York, Dr. Lee M. Pierce , agrees:
“Psychological closure is looping back to the beginning to give the audience a sense of a closed circle. Don’t add new information in the conclusion, just tie the presentation up with a bow. [For example,] I always customize my closings based on the opening of the speech. During a TEDx Talk on Beyoncé’s ‘Formation,’ I began by walking out to the introduction to the song, and then I ended by walking off to the end of the song.”
The above quote demonstrates that this tip can be useful no matter which method you used to start your presentation .
You can use it to put a new spin on a statistic you shared in the introduction, give a story you told a different ending, or finish the punchline of a joke you started with.
Overall, coming back to the theme you introduced at the beginning of your speech should make your presentation seem more complete and intentional .
Phrases you can use to reflect the introduction of your presentation in the conclusion
With all that being said, let’s see how our imaginary speakers would mirror the opening lines of their presentations in their conclusion.
Having started with a phishing statistic, our first speaker might say:
“Going back to the number we started with, remember that the Anti-Phishing Working Group has recorded 1,270,883 individual phishing attacks in the third quarter of 2022 — and that number is always on the rise. Luckily, you now have all the information you need to avoid becoming a part of that statistic.”
Our second speaker would have announced her plans to survey her listeners at the beginning of her presentation. In her conclusion, she might say:
“At the beginning of my presentation, I asked you to answer a quick survey on whether you’d be willing to work with AI. If you look back at your phones, you’ll see a different link in the #general channel on Pumble . Let’s see if this talk has managed to sway some opinions!”
Lastly, our final speaker might refer back to a humorous statement he made about chaining one’s employees to their desks to ensure that employee retention rates stay high.
“Once you start making your company a better place to work, your employees will happily perform their daily tasks — without being glued to their desks.”
Tip #3: Elicit a response
Making an audience experience strong emotions is always a good thing, but especially as the presentation comes to a close.
Putting the listeners in a contemplative mood or, even better, a cheerful one, means that they’ll be more likely to remember you and the points you made after your presentation ends.
On top of that, concluding your presentation in this manner would allow you to step off the stage gracefully, which is one of the main goals your conclusion should accomplish.
Now, depending on the type of presentation you’re delivering and, indeed, your style of presenting, you could elicit a response by:
- Ending with a short but powerful statement ,
- Asking a thought-provoking rhetorical question ,
- Relying on an impactful statistic or a quote , or even
- Inserting a funny picture or a meme on your final presentation slide.
Any one of these methods could help you solidify yourself and your message in the minds of the audience.
Phrases you can use to elicit a response from the audience
So, how would our 3 presenters try to get a response from their audiences? Well, they might use the following statements.
“Ultimately, the best defense against phishing attacks is human intelligence. You, alone, can ensure that your information remains secure by implementing the checklist I’ve shared today.”
“So, let me ask you again. Would you be willing to incorporate AI into your marketing campaign?”
“Hey, if the conditions you’re offering to your employees are good enough — there’s no need to keep them glued to their desks.”
Tip #4: Engage the audience
As we’ll discuss later on, having a Q&A session at the end of your presentation doesn’t always pan out the way you want it to.
Even so, getting your audience — or at least a few select listeners — to verbally respond to you can go a long way toward making you seem like a more engaging speaker.
Still, you can’t implement this tip without a strategy. You want to lead your audience to a certain type of response .
Professional speaker, career change consultant, and host of the Career Relaunch® podcast, Joseph Liu , had this to say:
“I often invite attendees to share what action they’re going to take amongst the potential ones I’ve covered throughout the presentation or to at least commit to taking some sort of action.”
Speaker, author, and editorial producer at CNN, Nadia Bilchik , agrees:
“If time allows, I always ask participants to share their biggest takeaway.”
The quote above also highlights the importance of being aware of the time as you are concluding a presentation — which is another thing we’ll talk about later.
For now, we’ll just boil this tip down to the following statement: if possible, try to make people verbalize or at least think about the knowledge they’re taking away from your speech .
Phrases you can use to engage the audience
Going back to our imaginary speakers, let’s see how this tip might work in practice.
“As we approach my conclusion, I’d like for us to reflect on everything we’ve learned here today. So, let me turn the spotlight on you all. Does anyone remember how to recognize a phishing email without opening it?”
“Now, I’m sure everyone here has some idea of how they might incorporate AI into their next marketing campaign. Is anyone willing to share their strategy?”
“Alright! Pop quiz time — don’t worry, I won’t grade you. Can you all shout out the main 3 ways to increase employee retention? Number 1?”
Tip #5: Call to action
Once you have finished reiterating your core message and making sure you have your audience’s attention, you need to be able to direct the listeners to the next step.
As Michelle Gladieux , author of Communicate with Courage and President of Gladieux Consulting, an employee coaching provider, would put it:
“What can the audience DO with the information you’ve shared? Suggest a positive, fruitful next step or, even better, suggest several, and let your presentation participants choose among options that have panned out well for others.”
In her workshops, Gladieux says:
“We ask participants to document at least one goal for behavior change that is specific, measurable, and time-based, and take a bonus step of inviting them to name one person they’ll tell about their goal for added accountability.”
According to the authors of Communicating at Work , there are 2 ways to deliver a call to action at the end of your presentation. Namely, you can either phrase it as:
- An appeal or a question (e.g. “If any of this sounds interesting, you can learn more by signing up for our newsletter through the link on the screen behind me.” ), or
- A challenge or a demand (e.g. “Now, you can keep doing what you’re doing and getting lackluster results. Or, you can sign up for our newsletter to receive tips that will help you upgrade your strategy.” ).
As always, your choice will depend on the factors we have listed at the top of this article.
Phrases you can use to call the audience to action
Let’s see what our fictional speakers’ calls to action might look like.
“Remember, even if you happen to open a phishing email, you’ll be able to deal with it easily by forwarding it to this email address. That’s the main thing you need to remember from this talk.”
“I bet many of you could come up with even more creative ways to incorporate AI into your marketing campaigns. So, how about this: if you fill out the form I’m about to send you, I’ll check in with you in about three months. Those of you who succeed in using AI in a meaningful way will get a chance to share your insights on this very stage next year!”
“I have a challenge for those of you who are ready to meet me at my level. I want you to sign a pledge, promising to boost your employee retention rate by 10% in the next year. We had a similar experiment at one of my talks a couple of years back, and even I was surprised by the results.”
If you decide to accompany this part of your speech with a call to action slide, keep Juliet Huck’s advice in mind:
“A call to action slide is not always persuasive. Persuasion is not a call to action — it is a directed action. To ‘call’ means someone can say no, but to ‘persuade’ [is to] direct your audience to your desired conclusion based on a number of steps.”
In effect, that means that your call to action should be the final step of your persuasion strategy.
You should start building to that desired outcome well before you get to the end of your presentation.
Tip #6: Hand out materials
The ending of a presentation is the perfect time to give the audience a keepsake of your speech .
But, keep in mind that a memento doesn’t have to be a physical item. As Michelle Gladieux would say:
“I like to direct my audiences to free downloadable resources on our website for those who want to continue their personal and professional growth as leaders and communicators.”
So, sharing resources through email or a business messaging app would work just as well.
Of course, you don’t have to hold off until the conclusion of your presentation to give your audience something to remember you by. Gladieux also shared a method she used in her workshops:
“[Most of our] participants have our high-quality original workbooks in hand during the presentation and available later as a tangible resource. Folks add notes, take short assessments, and work on case studies when we teach using workbooks. If we use presentation slides, we keep the content as engaging visually as possible and short on words.”
If your budget allows you to do something similar, that might be a good way to make the audience remember you.
Phrases you can use before handing out materials
In the scenarios we have conjured up, the speakers might introduce their additional materials like so.
“If you’re interested in learning more about phishing and how you can defend yourself from future attacks, you’ll find more information by following the link on the screen.”
“Now, at this point, I see that my associates have already started delivering some additional materials and miscellaneous goodies to you. I hope you’ll use them to workshop further ideas for using AI in your marketing strategies.”
“I’ll go ahead and forward these presentation slides as well as some additional resources for improving employee retention to you all.”
If you’re looking for a convenient way to deliver additional resources to the attendees of your speech, Pumble is a great option. This article offers some practical tips for using business messaging software for educational purposes — including online conferences:
- Using Pumble for teaching and learning
Tip #7: Acknowledge contributors
If you’re delivering a business presentation as a representative of a team or a department, you can also use the final moments of your speech to acknowledge everyone who worked on the presentation with you.
On the one hand, you could simply thank your team in general terms and leave it at that.
Alternatively, you could highlight the individual contributions of specific team members if you want to make sure their effort doesn’t go unnoticed.
Phrases you can use to acknowledge your contributors
Here’s how our fictitious presenters might acknowledge the people who helped them create their presentations:
“Before I sign off, I’d like to take a moment to thank Jill and Vanessa from the security team, who helped me compile the data and create the slides you just saw.”
“Finally, I’d like to acknowledge that this presentation wouldn’t be half as informative without the experts who helped me understand the technical side of AI.”
“Now, let’s all give it up for my wonderful team, who helped me organize this lecture.”
Improve communication and collaboration for increased team efficiency with Pumble.
Tip #8: Provide contact information
Business presentations often double as networking opportunities , both for presenters and for audience members.
With that in mind, you might want to put your contact information on one of your closing slides.
For one, doing so would show the audience how they can get in touch with you after your presentation ends. After all, they may have additional questions or even interesting business opportunities for you.
On top of that, putting your contact information on the last slide is also a good way to remind the audience of your name and credentials .
For that reason, our second imaginary speaker might have “Joan Miller — Chief Marketing Officer at Happy Media” on her final slide.
Phrases you can use to provide contact information
So, how would our presenters encourage their audience to keep in touch? Well, they might say:
“I’m always happy to answer any of your security or phishing-related questions on Pumble. You’ll find me by clicking the plus sign next to the direct messages section and searching my name, Nick Mulder.”
“If you all have any follow-up questions for me or one of the AI experts I’ve spoken to, you’ll find all of our contact information on this slide.”
“If you want to stay up to date on Green & Co’s latest news, follow us on LinkedIn.”
Tip #9: Thank the audience
Many presenters find a way to incorporate a “ thank you ” slide at the end of their presentations.
If you want to express your appreciation to your audience members , you could do the same thing.
However, as we’ll soon discuss, many of the experts we’ve spoken to would advise against having pointless visuals at the end of your presentation.
After all, you want to leave the audience with something memorable to take away from your speech.
Still, if you want to thank the audience, you could always make that final slide serve multiple functions .
For example, a “thank you” slide can also contain the speaker’s contact information, as well as additional resources.
This example “thank you” slide above features a QR code (you can create one using a QR code generator ) leading to more resources — it prompts the audience to find the speaker on various social media platforms.
Tip #10: Ask for feedback
Lastly, some speakers might benefit from knowing what the audience thinks about their delivery and other aspects of their presentation.
That’s why some of the experts we’ve spoken to suggest that conducting a brief survey of the audience could be a good activity to end a presentation with.
Rutgers University professor, Mark Beal, says that:
“Offering audience members the opportunity to take a concise survey at the conclusion of a presentation will result in valuable insights that will inform how to consistently evolve and improve a presentation. […] We use the last few minutes of seminars to allow participants to answer a few questions about what was most useful in our content and delivery, and what, in that individual’s opinion, could improve.”
Michelle Gladieux is also an advocate for audience surveys, saying:
“I’ve delivered thousands of training workshops and keynotes and never miss an opportunity to ask for feedback formally (in writing), informally (in conversation), or both. As you might guess, I advise every presenter reading this to do the same.”
You could encourage this type of feedback by:
- Asking attendees to share their thoughts on your presentation after you step off the stage,
- Setting up a notebook near the door and asking people to jot down their thoughts as they exit,
- Having a suggestion box for hand-written feedback notes, or
- Creating an anonymous survey online and linking to it on your presentation slides.
Most presenters nowadays tend to rely on technology to compile audience feedback, but the method you use will depend on the circumstances surrounding your presentation.
If you’ve never had to ask for feedback before, you might find this article interesting:
- How to ask your manager for feedback
The worst ways to end a presentation
Having gone through the best practices for concluding a presentation memorably, we also wanted to know what are some of the mistakes speakers should avoid as they reach the end of their speech.
The experts we have spoken to have identified 5 of the worst ways to end a presentation :
- Overloading your final slide.
- Settling for a lackluster closer.
- Ending with a Q&A session.
- Not having time for any questions at all.
- Going over your time.
So, let’s see what makes these mistakes so bad.
Mistake #1: Overloading your final slide
Overloading your presentation slides isn’t a mistake you can make only at the end of your presentation.
Professional speakers know that slides are only there to accompany your speech — they shouldn’t be the main event.
As Nadia Bilchik says:
“Slides are only there to support your message. Towards the end of the presentation, I may even stop the slideshow entirely and just have a black screen. At the very end of the presentation, my suggestion is to have a slide up with the next steps or a call to action.”
Dr. Lee M. Pierce also tends to use blank slides:
“I always end and begin with blank slides. As a speaker, you’re trying to build connection and rapport between you and the audience, not between the audience and your slide deck.”
Therefore, putting too much information onto a single slide can make the speaker seem unprepared, in addition to overwhelming the audience.
When in doubt, remember Kawasaki’s 10/20/30 rule :
- No more than 10 slides per presentation,
- Keep your presentations under 20 minutes, and
- The text on your slides should never be smaller than 30-point font.
Mistake #2: Settling for a lackluster closer
If your goal is to become a proficient speaker, you’ll have to stop using uninspired closers like:
- “Well, I guess that’s it.”
- “That’s pretty much all I had to say.”
- “That’s about it from me. Can we get some applause?”
The audience will respond if you say something deserving of a response.
Instead of using these bland lines, remember Juliet Huck’s advice:
“Never end your presentation without closing the loop of your beginning theme and being specific when asking for your desire conclusion.”
As we have established, it’s best to conclude your speech by bringing back your thesis statement and key points.
Finishing with weak visuals is similarly offensive — and here we’re not just talking about presentation slides.
Remember, body language is an important component of our communication .
Fidgeting as your presentation comes to a close or slumping your posture as soon as you’re finished speaking won’t do.
As Michelle Gladieux would say:
“Never end a presentation seeming happy to be done, even if you are! Be certain you’re happy to be the presenter before you begin, or find someone else to do it.”
In other words, try not to show signs of anxiety during your presentation .
Maintain a confident demeanor for as long as you remain on stage or as long as you’re on camera, in the case of virtual meetings .
Mistake #3: Ending with a Q&A session
One of the experts we have spoken to, Nadia Bilchik, was particularly adamant about not ending presentations with Q&A sessions.
“Never ever end a presentation on a question-and-answer session. I have seen numerous presenters end by asking ‘Any questions?’ Too often there are no questions, and the presenter is left looking deflated and muttering ‘Thank you.’ [If there are] no questions, you can always say ‘A question I’m often asked is…’ or ‘Something I would like to reiterate is…’ Never end your presentation without your audience being clear about what they are expected to do with the information you have just shared.”
Adding that you can:
“Ask for questions, comments, and concerns, and only then end with a quick wrap-up. The goal is to end with your audience being clear on their next steps.”
Even if the listeners do have questions, there’s a good reason not to have a Q&A session at the very end of your presentation.
Namely, there’s always a chance that someone will ask a question that completely derails the conversation.
If you have the Q&A portion right before your conclusion, you’ll have time to reiterate your core message and proceed with a memorable closing statement .
For reference, you can ask for questions by saying:
“Before I close out this lecture, do you guys have any questions for me?”
Then, if there are no questions, you can still proceed to your conclusion without losing face.
A Q&A session is one of the best ways to make your presentations more interactive — but it’s not the only way to go about it. To learn more, check out this article:
- 18 Ways to make presentations more interactive and engaging
Mistake #4: Not having time for any questions at all
Ending with a Q&A session could be a problem — but, perhaps, not as big of a problem as not taking questions at all.
As Mark Beal would say:
“Not giving the audience the opportunity to participate in the presentation via a question and answer session is another ineffective way to end a presentation. Audiences want to have a voice in a presentation. They will be more engaged with the presentation content and recall it more effectively if given the opportunity to participate in the presentation and interact with the presenter.”
Dr. Lee M. Pierce adds:
“It’s always good to leave at least 15 minutes for questions. Leaving 5 minutes is annoying and pointless. Also, be prepared that the audience may not have questions or not feel comfortable just jumping in, so have some of your own questions ready to offer them. You can say something like, ‘Just to put it out there, if I were going to ask me a question, I’d ask…’ ”
Now, both Nadia Bilchik and Lee M. Pierce have mentioned phrases you can use if no one comes forth with a question.
You’ll notice that the sentences they have come up with will require you to consider the questions you may be asked ahead of time .
In addition to helping you create a better presentation, doing this will also allow you to answer any questions effortlessly.
Mistake #5: Going over your time
Last but not least, many of the professional speakers we have interviewed have stressed the importance of ending one’s presentation on time.
Michelle Gladieux said it best:
“The best way to end a presentation is ON TIME. Respect others’ time commitments by not running over. You can always hang around for a while to speak with people who have more to say or more to ask.”
Dr. Lee M. Pierce agrees:
“The worst thing you can do is run over time. If you were given 45 minutes for a presentation plus 15 minutes for Q & A, you should end at 45 minutes — better if you end at 35 or 40.”
Then again, according to Guy Kawasaki’s 10/20/30 rule, even going over the 20-minute mark could risk boring and alienating one’s audience.
Useful phrases for ending a presentation
In the course of our research, we’ve found many practical phrases one might use to wrap up a presentation.
We even had experts send in their suggestions. For example, Nadia Bilchik says:
“I always end with a very quick summary of the content, a definitive call to action, and a reiteration of the benefits to the audience. This is a superb model, and I have shared it with thousands of individuals who have found it immensely valuable. Use this as your framework: What I have looked at today… What I am asking you to do… The benefits are…”
Other phrases you might use at the end of your presentation include:
“To recap, we’ve discussed…”
“Throughout this presentation, we talked about…”
“In other words,…”
“To wrap up/conclude,…”
“In short, I’d like to highlight…”
“To put it simply,…”
“In conclusion…”
“In summary, the goal of my presentation…”
“If there’s one thing you take away from my presentation…”
“In bringing my presentation to a close, I wanted to…”
If you’d like to incorporate a call to action, you might say:
“I’m counting on you to…”
“After this presentation, I’d like to ask you to…”
“Please take a minute to…”
“Next time you (see a suspicious email), remember to (forward it to this email address).”
To end with a quote, you could say:
“Let me leave you with this quote…”
“That reminds me of the old saying…”
Lastly, more useful phrases include:
“Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.”
“For more information, head to the link on the screen.”
“Thank you for your time/attention.”
“I hope you found this presentation informative/useful/insightful.”
Remember: the last words you say should make it abundantly clear that your presentation has ended.
What should your final slide look like?
If you don’t want to leave your final slide blank as some of the experts we have talked to would recommend, there are other ways to fill that space.
Joseph Liu told us:
“I tend to make it very clear the presentation is coming to an end by having a slide that says, ‘Closing Thoughts’ or something to that effect. I recommend ending with a recap of your content, reconnecting with the initial hook you used at the start, and finally, some sort of call to action.”
Mark Beal has a similar formula for his closing slides, saying:
“The final slides of my presentation include: A slide featuring three key messages/takeaways, A question and answer slide to engage the audience at the conclusion in the same manner a presenter wants to engage an audience at the start of a presentation, and A final slide including the presenter’s contact information and a website address where they can learn more information. This slide can include a QR code that the audience can screenshot and access the presenter’s website or another digital destination.”
Between these two suggestions and the many examples we have included throughout our guide, you ought to have a clear picture of what your final slide might look like.
End your presentations with a bang on Pumble
Knowing how to end a presentation effectively is a skill like any other — you’re bound to get better through practice and repetition.
To get the most out of your presentations, make sure to give them on Pumble.
Pumble — a team communication and collaboration app — allows you to have the most interactive, efficient presentations thanks to:
- The video conferencing feature that allows you to share your knowledge with a large group of people,
- The screen sharing feature that allows you share your presentation,
- The in-call message feature, to ensure your audience can participate (and send questions for the FAQ partition of the presentation, for example), and
- The blur background feature, that ensures your audience’s attention is always on you and you alone.
Secure, real-time communication for professionals.
Olga Milicevic is a communication researcher and author dedicated to making your professional life a bit easier. She believes that everyone should have the tools necessary to respond to their coworkers’ requests and communicate their own professional needs clearly and kindly.
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Blog Marketing How To End A Presentation & Leave A Lasting Impression
How To End A Presentation & Leave A Lasting Impression
Written by: Krystle Wong Aug 09, 2023
So you’ve got an exciting presentation ready to wow your audience and you’re left with the final brushstroke — how to end your presentation with a bang.
Just as a captivating opening draws your audience in, creating a well-crafted presentation closing has the power to leave a profound and lasting impression that resonates long after the lights dim and the audience disperses.
In this article, I’ll walk you through the art of crafting an impactful conclusion that resonates with 10 effective techniques and ideas along with real-life examples to inspire your next presentation. Alternatively, you could always jump right into creating your slides by customizing our professionally designed presentation templates . They’re fully customizable and require no design experience at all!
Click to jump ahead:
Why is it important to have an impactful ending for your presentation?
10 effective presentation closing techniques to leave a lasting impression, 7 things to put on a conclusion slide.
- 5 real-life exceptional examples of how to end a presentation
6 mistakes to avoid in concluding a presentation
Faqs on how to end a presentation, how to create a memorable presentation with venngage.
People tend to remember the beginning and end of a presentation more vividly than the middle, making the final moments your last chance to make a lasting impression.
An ending that leaves a lasting impact doesn’t merely mark the end of a presentation; it opens doors to further exploration. A strong conclusion is vital because it:
- Leaves a lasting impression on the audience.
- Reinforces key points and takeaways.
- Motivates action and implementation of ideas.
- Creates an emotional connection with the audience.
- Fosters engagement, curiosity and reflection.
Just like the final scene of a movie, your presentation’s ending has the potential to linger in your audience’s minds long after they’ve left the room. From summarizing key points to engaging the audience in unexpected ways, make a lasting impression with these 10 ways to end a presentation:
1. The summary
Wrap up your entire presentation with a concise and impactful summary, recapping the key points and main takeaways. By doing so, you reinforce the essential aspects and ensure the audience leaves with a crystal-clear understanding of your core message.
2. The reverse story
Here’s a cool one: start with the end result and then surprise the audience with the journey that led you to where you are. Share the challenges you conquered and the lessons you learned, making it a memorable and unique conclusion that drives home your key takeaways.
Alternatively, customize one of our cool presentation templates to capture the attention of your audience and deliver your message in an engaging and memorable way
3. The metaphorical prop
For an added visual touch, bring a symbolic prop that represents your message. Explain its significance in relation to your content, leaving the audience with a tangible and unforgettable visual representation that reinforces your key concepts.
4. The audience engagement challenge
Get the audience involved by throwing them a challenge related to your informational presentation. Encourage active participation and promise to share the results later, fostering their involvement and motivating them to take action.
5. The memorable statistic showcase
Spice things up with a series of surprising or intriguing statistics, presented with attention-grabbing visual aids. Summarize your main points using these impactful stats to ensure the audience remembers and grasps the significance of your data, especially when delivering a business presentation or pitch deck presentation .
Transform your data-heavy presentations into engaging presentations using data visualization tools. Venngage’s chart and graph tools help you present information in a digestible and visually appealing manner. Infographics and diagrams can simplify complex concepts while images add a relatable dimension to your presentation.
6. The interactive story creation
How about a collaborative story? Work with the audience to create an impromptu tale together. Let them contribute elements and build the story with you. Then, cleverly tie it back to your core message with a creative presentation conclusion.
7. The unexpected guest speaker
Introduce an unexpected guest who shares a unique perspective related to your presentation’s theme. If their story aligns with your message, it’ll surely amp up the audience’s interest and engagement.
8. The thought-provoking prompt
Leave your audience pondering with a thought-provoking question or prompt related to your topic. Encourage reflection and curiosity, sparking a desire to explore the subject further and dig deeper into your message.
9. The empowering call-to-action
Time to inspire action! Craft a powerful call to action that motivates the audience to make a difference. Provide practical steps and resources to support their involvement, empowering them to take part in something meaningful.
10. The heartfelt expression
End on a warm note by expressing genuine gratitude and appreciation for the audience’s time and attention. Acknowledge their presence and thank them sincerely, leaving a lasting impression of professionalism and warmth.
Not sure where to start? These 12 presentation software might come in handy for creating a good presentation that stands out.
Remember, your closing slides for the presentation is your final opportunity to make a strong impact on your audience. However, the question remains — what exactly should be on the last slide of your presentation? Here are 7 conclusion slide examples to conclude with a high note:
1. Key takeaways
Highlight the main points or key takeaways from your presentation. This reinforces the essential information you want the audience to remember, ensuring they leave with a clear understanding of your message with a well summarized and simple presentation .
2. Closing statement
Craft a strong closing statement that summarizes the overall message of your presentation and leaves a positive final impression. This concluding remark should be impactful and memorable.
3. Call-to-action
Don’t forget to include a compelling call to action in your final message that motivates the audience to take specific steps after the presentation. Whether it’s signing up for a newsletter, trying a product or conducting further research, a clear call to action can encourage engagement.
4. Contact information
Provide your contact details, such as email address or social media handles. That way, the audience can easily reach out for further inquiries or discussions. Building connections with your audience enhances engagement and opens doors for future opportunities.
Use impactful visuals or graphics to deliver your presentation effectively and make the conclusion slide visually appealing. Engaging visuals can captivate the audience and help solidify your key points.
Visuals are powerful tools for retention. Use Venngage’s library of icons, images and charts to complement your text. You can easily upload and incorporate your own images or choose from Venngage’s library of stock photos to add depth and relevance to your visuals.
6. Next steps
Outline the recommended next steps for the audience to take after the presentation, guiding them on what actions to pursue. This can be a practical roadmap for implementing your ideas and recommendations.
7. Inspirational quote
To leave a lasting impression, consider including a powerful and relevant quote that resonates with the main message of your presentation. Thoughtful quotes can inspire and reinforce the significance of your key points.
Whether you’re giving an in-person or virtual presentation , a strong wrap-up can boost persuasiveness and ensure that your message resonates and motivates action effectively. Check out our gallery of professional presentation templates to get started.
5 real-life exceptional examples of how to end a presentation
When we talk about crafting an exceptional closing for a presentation, I’m sure you’ll have a million questions — like how do you end a presentation, what do you say at the end of a presentation or even how to say thank you after a presentation.
To get a better idea of how to end a presentation with style — let’s delve into five remarkable real-life examples that offer valuable insights into crafting a conclusion that truly seals the deal:
1. Sheryl Sandberg
In her TED Talk titled “Why We Have Too Few Women Leaders,” Sheryl Sandberg concluded with an impactful call to action, urging men and women to lean in and support gender equality in the workplace. This motivational ending inspired the audience to take action toward a more inclusive world.
2. Elon Musk
Elon Musk often concludes with his vision for the future and how his companies are working towards groundbreaking advancements. His passion and enthusiasm for pushing the boundaries of technology leave the audience inspired and eager to witness the future unfold.
3. Barack Obama
President Obama’s farewell address concluded with an emotional and heartfelt expression of gratitude to the American people. He thanked the audience for their support and encouraged them to stay engaged and uphold the values that define the nation.
4. Brené Brown
In her TED Talk on vulnerability, Brené Brown ended with a powerful quote from Theodore Roosevelt: “It is not the critic who counts… The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.” This quote reinforced her message about the importance of embracing vulnerability and taking risks in life.
5. Malala Yousafzai
In her Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, Malala Yousafzai ended with a moving call to action for education and girls’ rights. She inspired the audience to stand up against injustice and to work towards a world where every child has access to education.
For more innovative presentation ideas , turn ordinary slides into captivating experiences with these 15 interactive presentation ideas that will leave your audience begging for more.
So, we talked about how a good presentation usually ends. As you approach the conclusion of your presentation, let’s go through some of the common pitfalls you should avoid that will undermine the impact of your closing:
1. Abrupt endings
To deliver persuasive presentations, don’t leave your audience hanging with an abrupt conclusion. Instead, ensure a smooth transition by providing a clear closing statement or summarizing the key points to leave a lasting impression.
2. New information
You may be wondering — can I introduce new information or ideas in the closing? The answer is no. Resist the urge to introduce new data or facts in the conclusion and stick to reinforcing the main content presented earlier. By introducing new content at the end, you risk overshadowing your main message.
3. Ending with a Q&A session
While Q&A sessions are valuable , don’t conclude your presentation with them. Opt for a strong closing statement or call-to-action instead, leaving the audience with a clear takeaway.
4. Overloading your final slide
Avoid cluttering your final slide with too much information or excessive visuals. Keep it clean, concise and impactful to reinforce your key messages effectively.
5. Forgetting the call-to-action
Most presentations fail to include a compelling call-to-action which can diminish the overall impact of your presentation. To deliver a persuasive presentation, encourage your audience to take specific steps after the talk, driving engagement and follow-through.
6. Ignoring the audience
Make your conclusion audience-centric by connecting with their needs and interests. Avoid making it solely about yourself or your achievements. Instead, focus on how your message benefits the audience.
What should be the last slide of a presentation?
The last slide of a presentation should be a conclusion slide, summarizing key takeaways, delivering a strong closing statement and possibly including a call to action.
How do I begin a presentation?
Grabbing the audience’s attention at the very beginning with a compelling opening such as a relevant story, surprising statistic or thought-provoking question. You can even create a game presentation to boost interactivity with your audience. Check out this blog for more ideas on how to start a presentation .
How can I ensure a smooth transition from the body of the presentation to the closing?
To ensure a smooth transition, summarize key points from the body, use transition phrases like “In conclusion,” and revisit the main message introduced at the beginning. Bridge the content discussed to the themes of the closing and consider adjusting tone and pace to signal the transition.
How long should the conclusion of a presentation be?
The conclusion of a presentation should typically be around 5-10% of the total presentation time, keeping it concise and impactful.
Should you say thank you at the end of a presentation?
Yes, saying thank you at the end of a PowerPoint presentation is a courteous way to show appreciation for the audience’s time and attention.
Should I use presentation slides in the concluding part of my talk?
Yes, using presentation slides in the concluding part of your talk can be effective. Use concise slides to summarize key takeaways, reinforce your main points and deliver a strong closing statement. A final presentation slide can enhance the impact of your conclusion and help the audience remember your message.
Should I include a Q&A session at the end of the presentation?
Avoid Q&A sessions in certain situations to ensure a well-structured and impactful conclusion. It helps prevent potential time constraints and disruptions to your carefully crafted ending, ensuring your core message remains the focus without the risk of unanswered or off-topic questions diluting the presentation’s impact.
Is it appropriate to use humor in the closing of a presentation?
Using humor in the closing of a presentation can be appropriate if it aligns with your content and audience as it can leave a positive and memorable impression. However, it’s essential to use humor carefully and avoid inappropriate or offensive jokes.
How do I manage nervousness during the closing of a presentation?
To manage nervousness during the closing, focus on your key points and the main message you want to convey. Take deep breaths to calm your nerves, maintain eye contact and remind yourself that you’re sharing valuable insights to enhance your presentation skills.
Creating a memorable presentation is a blend of engaging content and visually captivating design. With Venngage, you can transform your ideas into a dynamic and unforgettable presentation in just 5 easy steps:
- Choose a template from Venngage’s library: Pick a visually appealing template that fits your presentation’s theme and audience, making it easy to get started with a professional look.
- Craft a compelling story or outline: Organize your content into a clear and coherent narrative or outline the key points to engage your audience and make the information easy to follow.
- Customize design and visuals: Tailor the template with your brand colors, fonts and captivating visuals like images and icons, enhancing your presentation’s visual appeal and uniqueness. You can also use an eye-catching presentation background to elevate your visual content.
- Incorporate impactful quotes or inspiring elements: Include powerful quotes or elements that resonate with your message, evoking emotions and leaving a lasting impression on your audience members
- Utilize data visualization for clarity: Present data and statistics effectively with Venngage’s charts, graphs and infographics, simplifying complex information for better comprehension.
Additionally, Venngage’s real-time collaboration tools allow you to seamlessly collaborate with team members to elevate your presentation creation process to a whole new level. Use comments and annotations to provide feedback on each other’s work and refine ideas as a group, ensuring a comprehensive and well-rounded presentation.
Well, there you have it—the secrets of how to conclude a presentation. From summarizing your key message to delivering a compelling call to action, you’re now armed with a toolkit of techniques that’ll leave your audience in awe.
Now go ahead, wrap it up like a pro and leave that lasting impression that sets you apart as a presenter who knows how to captivate, inspire and truly make a mark.
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COMMENTS
30 Example Phrases: How to Conclude a Presentation. 1. “In summary, let’s revisit the key takeaways from today’s presentation.” 2. “Thank you for your attention. Let’s move forward together.” 3. “That brings us to the end. I’m open to any questions you may have.” 4. “I’ll leave you with this final thought to ponder as we ...
Use these 3 strategies in your conclusion to: recapture your audience’s attention; get your audience to focus and remember your key points; help your audience connect with you and your topic; end your presentation powerfully One: Include a Call to Action (CTA) Is there something you want your audience to do or think after your presentation.
We can create a better presentation ending by following these simple examples. The two most essential slides of your deck are the ending and intro. An excellent presentation ending is critical to helping the audience to the next step or following a specific call to action.
The conclusion is where things crystallise and where you summarise your main points. It is an excellent opportunity to leave a lasting impression. It’s how your audience will remember you, so it shouldn’t be taken for granted. In this Business English lesson, you will learn the Phrases on the topic of ‘Concluding a Presentation.’
Level up your presentation skills and charm your audience with these proven closing techniques: include a strong call-to-action (CTA), don't end with a question and answer slide, conclude with a memorable quote, tell a story, summarize your main points and thank the audience.
Try starting your conclusion with one of these phrases: In short; To summarize; Overall; Finally; In closing; Lastly; However, transition words aren’t always necessary. Here are a few good ways to end a presentation using a different approach. Summarize Key Takeaways: There are two things that I’d like you to remember from today’s ...
A strong conclusion can reinforce your key message and ensure that your audience remembers it even after the presentation is over. A well-concluded presentation can leave your audience impressed, energized, and motivated to take action.
However, the end of a presentation should also be recognized as a crucial part of the experience. With that in mind, this article will walk you through some: Things you should consider before drafting your conclusion, Tips for ending a presentation memorably, Mistakes you should avoid, and; Phrases you can use to wrap up your speech.
Here are a few ways to effectively conclude a presentation: Choose three or four points from the presentation and reiterate them. This is a good way to ensure that your main points are appropriately communicated and that your audience is walking away with the information that you intended to convey.
In this article, I’ll walk you through the art of crafting an impactful conclusion that resonates with 10 effective techniques and ideas along with real-life examples to inspire your next presentation. Alternatively, you could always jump right into creating your slides by customizing our professionally designed presentation templates.