How to Close to a Presentation

I frequently ask my seminar audiences the one presentation skill they most want to learn (If you would like to see how I do that, this short video will show you). One of the common answers is “How to be more effective with my close.”

Too often presentations end like balloons losing air. They just fade until the presenter mercifully lands on the last slide. Here’s a better way: Build your close around asking your audience what you want them to do next.

That might be sign up for a program, make the sale, grant a loan, reorganize your department, or any number of things. The more clear you are on what that step is, the more clarity you can bring to your close. The close should tie up any loose ends in your presentation, deliver a call to action, and create a compelling reason for your audience to take the action you want them to take.

I recently came across a street performer in Philadelphia. Her photo is to the right. She was playing violin and she had her case open for tips. Inside of her open violin case was a sign that read “Help me get to Italy.” Her music was her presentation; her sign was her close. She gave her audience great content. She was an amazing violinist. And people probably would have thrown some cash her way but because she shared a compelling reason (she wanted help getting to Italy) it motivated her audience (passers by) to do what she wanted them to do (give her money). It worked, too. I threw in a five dollar bill and in the few minutes I stood on the sidewalk listening to her, I saw at least fifteen other people drop cash in her violin case.

The same approach can work for you – even if you can’t play violin – for the close of your next presentation.

• Be clear what you want the audience to do
• Tell the audience what you want them to do
• Give the audience a compelling reason to do it

It’s that simple.

Here’s what I want you to do:

• Leave a comment in the comment box below telling me how you plan on using this technique.
• Or send me an e-mail at info@sanduskygroup.com and tell me about a presentation you have coming up and I’ll help you figure out your close.
• The person who leaves the most compelling comment will win a free, 20-minute presentation coaching session on Skype.

Okay, get busy.

This blog post has been re-published by kind permission of Gerry Sandusky – View the original post .