Best Practices for Persuasive Presentations (Collection)

Seven Classic Opening Gambits

1. Question. A question directed at the members of the audience.

2. Factoid. A striking statistic or little-known fact.

3. Retrospective/Prospective. A look backward or forward.

4. Anecdote. A short human-interest story.

5. Quotation. An endorsement about your business from a respected source.

6. Aphorism. A familiar saying.

7. Analogy. A comparison between two seemingly unrelated items that helps illuminate a complex, arcane, or obscure topic.

The Question

One excellent way to open a presentation is with a question directed at the audience. A well-chosen, relevant question evokes an immediate response, involves the audience, breaks down barriers, and gets the audience thinking about how your message applies ...