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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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5 Effective and powerful ways to end a presentation!

Learn about their importance, common mistakes, and examples to conclude your presentation successfully!

Supriya Sarkar

Delivering presentations

Table of contents

Presentations are not just about delivering information; they are about leaving a lasting impact on your audience. The conclusion holds immense significance as it's the final chance to reinforce key messages, prompt action, and make a memorable impression. Research indicates a 25% reduction in our attention spans , highlighting the need for powerful conclusions to enhance retention.

In this guide, we'll look into the importance of ending a presentation effectively. Also, we will explore five effective techniques for concluding presentations with examples to end and common mistakes to avoid during this critical phase.

Why are presentation conclusions important?

When we engage in a movie or a lengthy session, our memory often captures the beginning, end, and occasionally some highlights from the middle. This tendency arises from the brain's limited capacity for sustained attention.

Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman explained the profound concept that explains the difference between the experiencing self and the remembering self . According to Kahneman, the experiencing self perceives events in the present moment, while the remembering self reflects on them afterward. Importantly, he emphasizes that our recollection of events is significantly shaped by their endings.

In presentations, where specific objectives are central, the conclusion becomes important. If the end of your presentation fails to impress or facilitate retention, its purpose is compromised. Therefore, the conclusion of a presentation serves several critical purposes:

• Reinforcing key messages: Summarizing the main points of your presentation reinforces them in the minds of your audience. Repetition aids retention, ensuring that your key messages are remembered long after the presentation ends.
• Motivating action: A well-crafted conclusion includes a clear call to action (CTA) that prompts the audience to take specific steps. Whether it's signing up for a service, implementing a strategy, or simply reflecting on the presented information, a compelling CTA bridges the gap between knowledge and action.
• Leaving an impression: The conclusion is your final opportunity to leave a memorable impression on your audience. It is the part of the presentation that lingers in their minds, shaping their perception of your message and your credibility as a speaker.

How to conclude a presentation? 5 Effective techniques:

When concluding a presentation, employing certain techniques can significantly strengthen your closing, thereby enhancing retention and impact levels. Let's explore five effective strategies to achieve this goal.

Summarization:

Summarizing the key points of your presentation reinforces them in the minds of your audience. Keep the summary concise, focusing on the most important takeaways. This technique ensures that your main messages stick with the audience long after the presentation is over.

Example of a short and crip summary: “In summary, our Q3 revenue surged by 20%, largely propelled by strong sales in the Asian market. However, to boost profitability, we must prioritize cost reduction efforts moving forward."

Emphasize a CTA:

A call to action is a powerful way to motivate your audience to take specific steps based on the information you've presented. Whether it's signing up for a service, making a purchase, or implementing a new strategy, a clear and compelling CTA guides your audience toward specific actions.

Example of a conclusion that motivates to take an action: "As we wrap up, I encourage all stakeholders to join us in this exciting journey. Let's collaborate to implement these strategies to cut carbon emissions by 42% by 2030. Together, we can drive meaningful change and propel our organization to new heights."

Audience engagement:

Engaging your audience in the conclusion helps maintain their attention and involvement until the end. This could involve asking thought-provoking questions, inviting feedback, or sharing relevant anecdotes that resonate with your audience.

Example of a feedback invitation before the conclusion: "Before we conclude, I would like to invite you to share one key takeaway from today's presentation. Let's take a moment to reflect on how we can apply these insights in our roles. Who would like to start?"

You can learn more about engaging your audience during a presentation in our detailed conversation with industry leaders and experts in this podcast.

Persuasion technique:

Employ persuasive language and storytelling techniques to drive home your message in the conclusion. You can make smart use of anecdotes, statistics, or testimonials to add credibility and emotional appeal to your presentation.

An impressive example of persuasion:

"In conclusion, I want to leave you with a powerful statistic: studies show that companies that prioritize employee well-being experience a 22% increase in productivity. By investing in initiatives that support our team's health and happiness, we're not just improving morale—we're driving tangible business results. Let's make employee well-being a top priority moving forward."

To learn more about advanced persuasion techniques you can explore our extensive guide here which dives into the topic in detail and provides examples for better understanding.

Conceptualization:

Conclude your presentation by effectively describing the future state or desired outcome. Help your audience visualize the benefits of implementing your ideas or solutions, inspiring them to action.

An example of a conclusion where conceptualization is used:

"In conclusion , let's envision the future with AI as our innovative solution. Imagine a scenario where AI streamlines our processes, enhances our decision-making, and drives unprecedented growth. By embracing AI technology, we empower our team to achieve remarkable results and stay ahead of the curve in our industry. Together, let's harness the power of AI to shape a brighter tomorrow."

What mistakes do you need to avoid at the end of a presentation?

Presenters sometimes make mistakes when wrapping up their presentations, which can weaken the impact they've built. By recognizing and avoiding these mistakes, you can ensure your presentation ends on a high note and leaves a lasting impression. Let's explore some common errors and how to steer clear of them to a strong conclusion.

Rushing to end a presentation:

One of the biggest mistakes presenters make is abruptly ending the presentation without a proper conclusion. This can throw off audience interest and leave them feeling disoriented.

Solution: Allocate sufficient time for the closing remarks to ensure a smooth and impactful conclusion. A well-paced conclusion allows for a seamless transition between points, keeping the audience engaged and focused on your message.

Overloading your conclusion:

Many presenters make the mistake of overloading the final slide with too much information, overwhelming the audience and detracting from the main message. Also, introducing new information at this stage can detract from the presentation's purpose.

Solution : To avoid this, focus on summarizing the key points concisely. Aim for a clear and concise conclusion that reinforces the main message without introducing new information. This ensures that your audience retains the information presented without feeling overwhelmed.

Avoid ending your presentation with Q&A:

While the Q&A session is valuable, using it as the conclusion can lead to an abrupt ending without proper closure for the audience.

Solution: Instead, provide the audience with a closing statement or a strong takeaway from your presentation. This helps you to provide clarity and direction, enhancing understanding and retention of the information presented.

Unaligned conclusions:

The conclusion should align with the presentation introduction to ensure a cohesive narrative. An unaligned conclusion makes the audience feel disoriented and impacts their ability to retain information.

Solution: To address this, create a sense of cohesion by referencing elements introduced at the beginning of your presentation. This could be a story, quote, or theme that ties your introduction to your conclusion. End your presentation with a memorable statement or compelling call to action to leave a lasting impression on your audience.

Inability to adapt the presentation end:

Not paying attention to audience reactions can lead to a lackluster conclusion. It's essential to read audience cues and adapt the end of the presentation accordingly.

Solution: Adjust your tone, pace, and content based on the audience's nonverbal cues to maintain engagement. Ensure that you remain flexible and prepared to adjust your conclusion based on audience reactions. This will also ensure continued receptiveness from the audience. Flexibility is key to addressing unforeseen circumstances while maintaining the integrity of your message.

Did you know that 80% of human communication is conveyed through body language and other non-verbal cues? That's why mastering the art of reading your audience is essential if you want to make a lasting impression. Read our detailed article to learn more about effectively interpreting your audience's non-verbal cues and optimizing your communication skills.

Skipping the Call to Action (CTA):

If you skip suggesting any prompt action from the audience, it can result in unappealing endings to presentations. On the other hand, if your presentation includes a call to action or concludes with a compelling statement, that motivates your audience to take the desired steps.

Solution: Clearly state what you want your audience to do next, whether it's signing up, implementing a strategy, or reflecting on the presented information. Communicate what you want them to do next and why it's important. A strong call to action will help you reinforce the message and at the same time encourage your audience to act upon it, bridging the gap between information and implementation.

Overusing clichés as a way to end:

While expressing gratitude is important, relying on generic phrases like “Thank you for your time” is not a strong way to end your presentation. These clichés have been overused and trigger a default response from the audience, resulting in immediate disengagement.

Solution: Craft a unique and memorable closing that aligns with your message and leaves a strong impression on your audience. Express gratitude for their time and attention in a way that provides closure. For example, summarize the journey you've taken together throughout the presentation or conclude with a thought-provoking statement that leaves them with something to consider beyond the presentation.

Examples of how to end a presentation with conclusion slides:

Here are some examples of effective presentation conclusion slides that you can refer to for inspiration in crafting your next presentation's ending. Feel free to use them directly or adapt them to suit your specific needs and style. Downloading these templates can also help streamline your presentation creation process and save valuable time.

Key takeaways on presentation conclusion:

•    End of presentations are crucial for leaving a lasting impact and ensuring audience retention. •    Techniques like summarization, emphasizing a call to action, engaging the audience, employing persuasive language, and conceptualization can strengthen your core message. •    Common mistakes to avoid in your powerpoint presentation include rushing to the end of your presentation, overloading it with information, ending with a Q&A, unaligned conclusions, and inability to adapt.

How can Prezent help to end your presentation with style?

Presentation software like Prezent can help you to conclude your business presentations effectively by providing a range of tools and features designed to enhance the closing stages of your presentations:

Templates: Prezent offers a variety of professionally designed slide templates that you can choose from. These templates include pre-designed conclusion slides covering various business scenarios with visually appealing layouts, making it easy for presenters to create impactful endings.

Auto-generate presentations: You can choose to generate an entirely new on-brand presentation if you don’t want to build one from scratch. This feature helps you quickly create presentations with impactful endings, which you can then refine and modify as per your requirements.

Training and resources : Prezent provides training materials and resources on effective presentation techniques , including tips for crafting compelling conclusions. You can access guides and industry best practices to improve your presentation skills and create more impactful endings.

Discover the full potential of Prezent's features and capabilities with our free trial today. If you prefer personalized guidance into our AI product, schedule a demo with our experts. We'll walk you through our platform, offering insights to streamline your business communications and presentation creation process effectively.

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End of presentation: 7 examples for the perfect conclusion

Ending a presentation is like adding the last stroke of a painter's brush - it rounds off the overall picture and creates a lasting impression. But how do you create a powerful end to a presentation that the audience will remember? Let's discover the secret together in this article.

What do you say at the end of a presentation?

You have given a convincing presentation, addressed everything important and got your message across effectively. Now you are faced with the challenge of finding a successful conclusion. This is where the right words matter. A simple "That's it" or "Thank you for your attention" will probably not be remembered by your audience. Instead, you can use a summary of your main points, a call-to-action or a catchy conclusion to leave a strong impression.

Why the end of your presentation is so important?

The end of a presentation is your last chance to leave a lasting impression. It gives you the opportunity to reinforce your message and inspire your audience, or spur them into action. It's not just about wrapping up your presentation, it's about ending it with a bang. Use this opportunity to reiterate your core message and make a strong emotional connection with your audience.

The principle of the recency effect

The recency effect states that people remember best what they heard last. This underlines why the end of your presentation is so important. If you design the end of your presentation effectively, your audience is more likely to remember it. Use this psychological phenomenon to your advantage and ensure that your conclusions and calls to action are remembered.

Presentation end: 7 examples to leave a lasting impression

• Summarize the main points: Repeat the main points of your presentation to reinforce them.
• Call-to-action: Ask your audience to perform a specific action or take a next step.
• Quote: A relevant and powerful quote can leave a lasting impression.
• Story or anecdote: A short, relevant story or anecdote can create an emotional connection and stick in the audience's mind.
• Questions: Ask a rhetorical or open-ended question that is thought-provoking.
• Surprising statistic or fact: An impressive statistic or fact can make a strong impression.
• Humorous remark: A funny remark or joke can lighten the mood and ensure a positive ending.

How to formulate a strong presentation ending

Formulating a strong presentation ending requires practice and creativity. Try to convey your core message in a way that suits your audience and your topic. Remember that your goal is to leave a lasting impression. Be clear, concise and engaging. Use metaphors or stories to illustrate your points and use rhetorical devices such as repetition and triples to reinforce your message. Here are some examples of how you can conclude your presentation:

• Summary and outlook: "Today we discussed the challenges and solutions for our product development. By implementing these solutions, our company will be even more innovative and efficient in the future."
• Call to action: "Now you know the advantages of our product. Let's exploit the opportunities that arise from this together. Let's start implementing it today!"
• Interaction question: "What do you think of these suggestions? Which measures do you see as a priority to achieve our goals?"
• Inspirational quote: "As Albert Einstein said: 'Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you have to keep moving'. So let's keep moving and pursue our goals together."
• Positive outlook: "I am confident that with these strategies we can achieve our goals and continue our success."

Each of these closing formulations has its strengths. Choose the one that best suits your style, your audience and your topic. Find out here how you can structure your presentation to create the perfect ending.

Presentation end - Rhetorical questions as a tool

The dos and don'ts for a successful end to a presentation.

It is crucial to design this finale in such a way that it is effective and memorable. To help you do this, here's a clear list of dos and don'ts to keep in mind at the end of your presentation. These tips will give you guidance to captivate your audience until the curtain falls.

How long should the end of a presentation last?

Make the end of the presentation fun.

Humor can be a great way to end your presentation in a light and enjoyable way. A joke or funny anecdote can lighten the mood and make your audience laugh. However, make sure the humor is appropriate and relevant to your topic.

What comes at the end of the presentation?

The closing slide of your presentation is your last chance to make a lasting impression. It should summarize your main points and include a call-to-action. You can also include your contact details or links to further resources. Make the closing slide engaging and easy to read to reinforce your message.

Take your presentations to the next level with Collaboard

End of presentation: the art of making a lasting impression.

The end of your presentation is more than just a conclusion. It's your chance to leave a lasting impression, reinforce your message and inspire your audience to take action. Take advantage of this opportunity and use techniques such as repeating your main points, asking rhetorical questions or adding humor to end your presentation effectively. Remember the principle of the recency effect and design your presentation to be memorable. No matter which method you choose, be authentic and stay true to yourself. Your audience will thank you for it.

Checklist: Effective end of presentation

This checklist will help you evaluate the effectiveness of your presentation ending and make sure you've covered all the important aspects. From the clarity of your message to the emotional resonance, these points are crucial to captivating your audience and leaving a lasting impression.

• Clarity of message: Has the main message of your presentation been clearly communicated?
• Answering audience questions: Were relevant questions from the audience addressed during or at the end of your presentation
• Visual impact: Was a strong, powerful image or graphic used effectively to reinforce the message?
• Audience engagement: Were techniques such as direct questions, interactive elements or calls to action used to actively engage the audience?
• Emotional resonance: Did the end of your presentation evoke an emotional response, be it inspiration, thoughtfulness or joy?
• Summary of content: Were the main points of your presentation summarized clearly and concisely?
• Lasting impression: Does the end of your presentation leave a strong, lasting image in the minds of your audience?
• Learn here more about how to design a professional presentation

Case study: Impressive presentation endings

There are presentations that continue to occupy and inspire us long after they have finished. It's often the ending that leaves a lasting impression. To understand how to design a professional presentation ending, let's take a look at two case studies.

Steve Jobs at Apple product launches

Jobs' famous "One More Thing..." technique was a masterstroke in the art of presentation. After introducing a series of products or features during the presentation, it seemed as if he had reached the end. But then came the moment everyone was waiting for: Jobs returned to the stage, often with the words "There's one more thing...". These words caused great anticipation and excitement in the audience. This approach was more than just a clever finish. It became a trademark of Apple events and a synonym for innovation and surprise. The "One More Thing..." moments were often the introduction of groundbreaking products or features that would shape the technology world. This technique not only enhanced the impact of the presentation, but also left a sense of awe and curiosity.

The power of storytelling in TED Talks

TED Talks have established themselves worldwide as a platform for some of the most inspiring and influential presentations. A key element that sets TED presentations apart is the way speakers end their talks - often with a personal story or transformative experience. These stories are not only poignant, but also a powerful tool to reinforce the message of the presentation.

Presentation end - Frequently asked questions & answers

How do you end a presentation appropriately.

A good ending to a presentation includes a summary of the main points, a convincing conclusion, words of thanks and a willingness to answer questions.

What phrases are suitable for closing a presentation?

Possible phrases could be: "To conclude...", "To summarize...", "In conclusion, I would like to say...", "This brings me to the end of my presentation...".

Should you ask questions at the end of the presentation?

Yes, it is common and recommended to open a Q&A session at the end of the presentation to clear up any ambiguities and encourage dialog.

How should you respond to questions that you cannot answer?

It is important to be honest and admit if you cannot answer a question. You can offer to provide the answer later or ask the audience if someone else can answer the question.

What should you do if no questions are asked?

If no questions are asked, you can ask some prepared questions to stimulate discussion or highlight other aspects of the topic.

How do you thank the audience at the end of a presentation?

A simple "Thank you for your attention" or "Thank you for taking the time to listen to my presentation" is an appropriate way to say thank you.

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10 Tips On How To End A Presentation [Examples + Templates]

Everyone agrees that the beginning of a presentation is crucial as it catches your audience’s attention and keeps them engaged, but what about the ending? The end of a presentation is as important as the start, which leaves a strong impression! A strong conclusion can transform a good presentation into a memorable one, but how do you end a presentation? That is exactly what this blog is going to help you with. In this blog, you will learn tips on how to end a presentation, a few common mistakes to avoid, and a lot more! So, what is the wait? Let’s dive in!

Why Is It Important To Have A Conclusion Slide In Your Presentation?

A conclusion is where, as a presenter, you have the opportunity to hammer the nail on its head and leave a memorable impression. But that is not all a conclusion should do; according to Business Communication: Process and Product should achieve three goals:

1. Summarize the main points of the slideshow. 2. Leaves the audience with a key takeaway. 3. Includes a statement that allows you to leave or pass on the mic.

A good conclusion is like the perfect punchline to a good joke; hence, you need to create a solid conclusion that drives your message home and everyone remembers it.

10 Tips On How To Conclude A Presentation

Now, let’s get onto the part that you have been waiting for! It’s time to discover the various tips on how to wrap up a presentation; these tips will not only help you craft a strong conclusion but also will help you learn various methods of delivering your conclusion!

1. Summarize key points

You have company if you struggle to remember what to say at the end of a presentation. Most people do not realize that an overall content summary is often the most fundamental part of an ending. One of the best ways to end a presentation is by summarizing 3-4 major points from your slideshow. This allows you to ensure that everyone present remembers these few points and their context and walks out with the message.  

2. End on a Strong Note

While a summary ensures that your audience knows the key highlights of your presentation, it is equally important that your presentation stays memorable. An essential point on how to end and conclude your presentation is by giving it the conclusion it deserves. As the introduction mentions, an audience will often try to remember information by attempting to recall the beginning or end, so try to make the end memorable and even more important in the context of your entire presentation.

Example: If you started with a personal anecdote, revisit it and show how your presentation has provided the solution or insight.

3. Add a Call To Action

A CTA gives the audience something to do after the presentation. This could be as simple as visiting a social media page, signing up on a website, contacting the presenter for anything related to the presentation, or following up on a future presentation or event. This makes the audience an active part of your presentation rather than passive listeners and makes them feel included and involved, where they are participants rather than mere spectators. 

4. Ask questions that make your audience think

Ask a rhetorical, thought-provoking question for which your audience must think back to your presentation for answers. Another way of doing this is by presenting your question at the beginning of the presentation and circling back to it by introducing the audience with enough information to answer it after the ending slide of the presentation. This allows you to make your presentation more interactive and helps you retain your audience’s attention. 

5. Have brief answers ready

When you think of how to close a presentation, being ready with brief answers to questions that you might ask is the best way! Sometimes, less is more when facing a question at the end of your presentation. This means that you try to keep your answers as short and crisp as possible, as it shows how well-versed you are with the information and to keep your audience’s interest piqued. Practice on questions you have thought about to give you someplace to start and think about how the audience will receive the answers to prepare accordingly.

6. End with a quote

Another great way on how to end a PowerPoint presentation is by using quotes. When talking about quotes, we don’t mean the typical, overused “words of wisdom” you see in every presentation. To go out on a strong note, quote someone relatable or relevant to the context of your presentation; keep the quote as relatable as possible. Don’t go out of your way to find overly philosophical sayings that go over your audience’s head; instead, find something that gives your presentation a conclusion that speaks for itself.

7. Tell a story

One of the best ways to end a presentation is to take the audience on a narrative journey and bring it full circle to relate it to something you said in the beginning. This could be as easy as answering a question you laid out at the beginning of a simple quote that relates to the situation after the end of the presentation. This makes it seem like you have rehearsed and planned a complete conclusive presentation, which helps your reputation as a presenter.

8. Use strong visuals

We are all familiar with the phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words,” which means that an image can strike a chord with the audience in a way that words simply cannot. Use vibrant colors and themes, maintain an aesthetic, and include background images and other elements to improve the quality of your presentations and make them more memorable with your audience. They are more likely to remember and recall a visual presentation rather than a boring, text-heavy presentation slide, making it a great method when you think about how to conclude a presentation.

9. Ask for feedback

One of the best ways to conclude a presentation is by asking for feedback from your audience right after thanking them. So, how can you ask them for feedback? It is pretty simple; all you have to do is ask everyone to share their thoughts about the presentation through a series of Q&A sessions, or you can approach people individually after the presentation. When you conclude a presentation by asking for feedback, it shows that you truly value their time and input as well, and it even helps you grow! 

10. Use a conclusion slide

The last tip on how to end a presentation has to be to use a conclusion slide. Many people use a thank you slide, but those slides hardly help close a slideshow. You can end a presentation by saying ‘Thank You,’ but it won’t have the same effect as having a conclusion that summarizes everything. A good conclusion helps you deliver the message you have been conveying throughout the presentation.

Common Mistakes To Avoid When Ending A Presentation

Now that you know how to conclude a PowerPoint presentation, you should also be aware of a few mistakes you can make when creating a conclusion for your presentations.

1. Being overly lengthy

It is best if you keep it brief as a presenter. The last thing an audience wants to hear in a conclusion is a detailed overview of what they just went over. Limit yourself to just the key takeaways rather than a story similar to what has already been presented to ensure an audience listens to you rather than tuning themselves out. 

2. Not having a precise meaning

Ending a presentation can quickly become very awkward if you have not prepared how to close a presentation as it transitions into an abrupt silence or unplanned conversation. Be sure to include a definite ending to your presentation so that there is no confusion between you and the audience, letting them know you have concluded your presentation.

3. Not thanking your audience and team

One of the last things you do as a presenter is thank all parties involved for all their contributions. This begins with thanking team members – those who compiled the slideshow, those who went through the efforts to find the relevant data and information, and those who are direct team members. This is an easy and efficient way to acknowledge those who have been involved with a project and give them the credit that they deserve for the work that they have put in. 

Finally, thank the audience for their time, patience, efforts, and respect to ensure they feel seen and understood at the end of the presentation. This is an etiquette for appreciating them and their participation. To add to your visuals, add a Thank You slide after your conclusion that encompasses your brand identity. Interestingly, you can combine it with the Contact Us page to make it more streamlined and include all vital information in a single slide.

How To End A Presentation Slides And Examples

If you are curious about what a good conclusion slide looks like, you can take a look at a few of SlideUpLift’s conclusion PowerPoint templates . These templates work as an inspiration and can be used directly in your presentation as well, as they are 100% customizable, allowing you to make the template into your slide.

Now that you know how to end a presentation like a pro, it is time for you to start creating slideshows that have conclusions that achieve all three goals a conclusion should. While knowing how to end a presentation, it is also great to learn how to create a title slide that will captivate your audience. So, get out there and create stunning presentations that portray everything you want!

How do you end a presentation?

To begin wrapping up your presentation, start by providing a summary of the presentation and key points, and follow that up with one of the CTA, Quotes, or Questions. Anticipate what the audience may ask, and provide contact details that will let the audience reach out to you. Finally, thank the audience and your team for all their efforts and time.

Should I end a presentation with a joke?

Ending a presentation with a joke is a very situational instance where you can afford to make a joke casually and informally with your peers. However, jokes may backfire with executives and team leaders in a more formal setting.

How can I make my presentation conclusion more memorable?

Using a quote or statistic, you can make your presentation conclusion more memorable. You can also tell a relatable story or anecdote while asking a thought-provoking question. Additionally, add visual elements to incorporate the message you are sending.

What do you say at the end of a presentation?

A few common phrases that you can say at the end of a presentation include:

• Thank you for your time.
• I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you today.
• I’ll now answer any questions you have.

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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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15 powerful ways to close your last minutes of a presentation

Usually, speakers pay particular attention to the beginning of their speeches. And it’s obvious. Hundreds of articles have been written about the importance of the first impression and the ability to catch an audience from the first sentence. Meanwhile, although every skilled speaker should know how to start a presentation, at the same time, it is equally important to know how to correctly end a presentation so that all efforts are not in vain. Why is it important? It’s obvious that you should leave a positive impression, be remembered, and bring listeners to the desired actions. In this article, we will learn how to do it.

Here, we gathered 15 effective methods that will help you find out how to end a presentation correctly so that be sure that your message is kept in listeners’ minds. When using one of the below-mentioned techniques, you’ll definitely find the right option for your presentations and will be able to create attractive and memorable projects.

A call to action

Do not leave an audience in limbo. Take the initiative in your own hands. After all, your work had some specific goal – so outline it. Tell attendees what they have to do next and how it will help. Encourage your listeners to contact you by leaving contacts, filling in a form, asking additional questions, getting details, ordering products or services, purchasing a product. 

The main thing to remember is that your last words must clearly call them to make a certain step. Otherwise, they’ll be uncertain and your speech is in vain.

Quote the words of a famous person, tell a catchphrase – this will always be appropriate for both speakers and listeners. A common mistake of this method is the choice of the wrong quote, which illogically ends the presentation.

In this case, it is important to find the right expression that will contain the main message of your speech. Thus, even if attendees don’t remember all the details of a presentation, they’ll at least recall the last quote.

A compelling story

This is one of the best and more effective methods to end a presentation. The main thing is to find the right story. It can be your own experience or just a story that will demonstrate the practical use of your message. Or at least it will help build an analogy and remember your topic.

An impressive photo, illustration, or infographics

Visualization is an important part of a speech. You can place a memorable photo on the last slide of your visual material. It is important that the chosen visual element is associated with your speech.

Contact information

To draw a line, speakers can display their contact information. Let the last thing a public sees in your presentation be contact information. Indicate the following: your name/ company name; phone number; E-mail address; a website; links to social networks; your photo and/or logo.

A contradictory example

British writer Ken Robinson successfully used this technique. He managed to draw everybody’s attention by speaking about viruses while the topic of his report was education system reforms. His vivid contradictory comparison with viruses made everyone remember his speech. 

A picture of the future

Outlining the future is an option that is not suitable for any topic. It will work perfectly in the case of new technologies if a speaker outlines an idealistic society.

A picture of the future will also come in handy for presentations on ecology topics. In this case, you can outline two pictures:

• What will happen if humankind continues the same route – scorched wastelands, lack of greenery, suffering animals?
• What happens if we act reasonably?

The essence of this method is an emotional impact. It is necessary to touch the inner core of every attendee, to show the possible benefits or unpleasant consequences of his/ her actions. Nevertheless, it can serve as one more way to use other words for concluding a speech.

A dialogue with an audience

Invite listeners to take part in a short survey or a poll. For example, a psychologist talks about harmful co-dependent relationships and at the end asks an audience to mentally answer “This is about me” or “This is not about me” to three short statements:

• “I often think about what my partner thinks over now.”
• “I can’t go about my business when my partner is not at home.”
• “I actively follow the page of my partner on social networks.”

And then the psychologist says: “If at least two of these statements are true for you, you are in a dependent relationship.” This technique involves each listener, and after that, you can call for action, give your contacts, offer psychotherapy to those present and their friends. A similar method of involvement can be used both at the end and at the beginning of a presentation.

Jokes or funny stories

Humor performs three important functions at once:

• It leaves a pleasant “aftertaste”.
• It causes an audience a personal affection for the speaker.
• It helps simplify perception and remembering of a presentation. 

But, like any conclusion to a speech, the joke should be appropriate for a problem that the speaker develops.

The connection between the beginning and the end

The beginning and end of a speech should always be connected logically. But in order to attract attention, you can connect both parts of your speech with the help of an illustration that evokes strong emotions.

For example, a speaker talks about relaxation techniques, and at the very beginning shows a picture or gif that depicts an exhausting cat. It is torn between screaming kittens and fish, which it should catch in order to have some food.

At the end of a presentation, there is another picture – the same cat that basks in the sun, kittens play in the distance, and fish splash in the water, and so close that it is enough to raise a paw. But the cat is resting. This image would not be remembered so much if there was no picture at the beginning of a presentation.

A rhetorical question

This is one of the standard methods of how to end a presentation. But, despite its prevalence, it does not lose relevance. A rhetorical question is able to leave a certain “aftertaste” after a speech, tune in attendees to certain thoughts and make people think over a particular topic. 

Make a compliment to an audience

In fact, a banal compliment can significantly attract your listeners, leave a good impression about a speaker. Aren’t these perfect presentation endings? Say something like this: “It is an honor for me to speak before you ...”; “I have never spoken to such a pleasant audience ...”; “Being here with you is the best pastime for me ...”; “You are the best listeners ...” etc.

If you deliver a speech, for example, at a conference or seminar that takes place on Friday night, wish everyone a good weekend. This will shake up an audience after your presentation, set them up in a positive way.

This is the best way to end a presentation. Inspire listeners. Just because every person naturally likes to hear words of approval and support. Thus, you will make an attendee make the first step. Thus, you’ll be sure that your speech causes action and is helpful. 

Summarizing

In the 21st century, every person daily processes a huge amount of information. That is why the perception of new data is significantly complicated. Simplify your speech due to the use of a summary. If during a presentation you spoke about several important things – at the end, recall what was discussed. Describe the key points of your speech.

What should be avoided

Many speakers advise avoiding a FAQ section as the final part of a presentation. It is recommended organizing a Q&A section as a pre-closing part of a speech. As if it is the final part, then listeners can get bored.

Slides with “Thank you for watching” will ruin all your speech even if it is brilliant. Forget about this slide and never even recall it!

Visualization as a useful tool of speech delivering

Nowadays, visual material serves as an indispensable (or even obligatory) part of any speech at a seminar, meeting, or conference. It adds vividness to speeches and simplifies topics consideration. Thus, it is important to properly choose the final slides for your speech. Not only words but also visual materials play a key role. Thus, it is possible to choose slides with quotes, contact information, funny illustrations, or infographics. The main rule is that their stylistics should be properly chosen. Colors and decorative elements should match your logo or brand.

For this reason, we have something to offer you! We suggest getting acquainted with a website that will significantly simplify the above-mentioned task. If you want to know how to end a  PowerPoint presentation  vividly, you should visit  this website . Below, you’ll find some links to the slides that can be used as another way to say some words in conclusion.

On the site, hundreds of slides and premade packs are waiting for skilled speakers. The resource is a real library of useful templates for different types of business and marketing presentation, or other digital projects and reports. There are available elements for different software. What is more pleasant is that many of them are available for free! Click on the link and start searching for the necessary element.

• Templates for PowerPoint >
• Templates for Keynote >
• Templates for Google Slides >

As you see, the mood with which listeners will leave a hall and the message that remains in their heads depend on few last sentences of your performance. Therefore, do not underestimate the importance of how to end a presentation and speech. We hope that the above-mentioned tips will be useful for you and help make speeches more memorable and vivid.

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How to End Your Presentation with a Bang

So you’ve spent days (maybe weeks) putting together a killer presentation. Now, you stand up with confidence, present every bullet point with poise, and then you get all the way to the end… and the presentation just fizzles.

It’s like a marathon runner who trains for months (maybe years), then just a half mile before the finish line, starts to cramps and can’t finish the race.

The last thing that you tell your audience will most likely be what they remember. So, you want to end your presentation with a bang!

In this post, we will cover three things that you should absolutely avoid when you close your presentation. In addition, we will also cover 6 killer ways to end on a positive note.

Want to beat stage fright, articulate with poise, and land your dream job? Take the 2-minute public speaking assessment and get the Fearless Presenter’s Playbook for FREE!

Eliminate these “Show Stoppers” from Your Presentation Conclusion

Avoid Ending Your Presentation with a Question & Answer Period.

One of the things that drives me up the wall is ending a fantastic presentation with a Q & A session that has a high propensity to just flop.

It reminds me of some sage advice from my jr high school football coach. He was an old-school running game type of coach. He’d say,

“In football, when you pass the ball, only three things can happen and two of them are bad.”

I kind of feel the same way about Question & Answer periods. There are only three ways that Q & A sessions can end, and two of them are bad .

Yes, If your audience asks you great questions, you can end your presentation on a high note. However, if your audience asks you odd questions or uninteresting questions, you can end on a low note. Even worse than getting crappy questions, though is getting no questions. Now, the ending will just seem odd.

When I present, I encourage people to ask questions DURING my presentation . That way, I can use a more dynamic way to end my presentation with a bang.

Don’t End by Thanking the Audience for Their Time.

When you stand up to speak, you should have the attitude that your audience is there to hear from you because you have important information that they need. When you thank your audience for their time, you are conceding that their time is more important than your time.

Also Avoid an Abrupt Ending with No Conclusion.

This happened to me early in my career. The first time that I really bombed a speech, I made two really big mistakes. The first was that I sped through the information so quickly that I finished in less than half of the allotted time. Then, I just ran out of things to say, so I sat down. The people in the audience were confused. I had more time and the ending was so abrupt, that they weren’t sure if I was finished.

So, spend time preparing your conclusion. Practice it a few times, and you will end on a high note.

Bonus Tip: Warn Your Audience Ahead of Time that Your Speech is Coming to a Close.

Our brains are wired to look for structure in things. That’s why people get frustrated with cliffhangers in movies. Only in movies, there’s a sequel. In speeches and presentations, the end is the end.

Give a hint that you are nearing a close a couple of slides or paragraphs before you actually do. Saying something like, “So let’s review what we’ve discussed so far”, “As I wrap up this presentation” or “In conclusion”.

Signaling the close prepares your audience for the ending. Ironically, it also makes the ending more memorable.

Secrets to a Powerful Presentation Ending – 6 Ways to End Your Presentation with a Bang

Not that we have covered what NOT to do, let’s focus on a few, turnkey ways to end your presentation with a bang.

(1) End Your Presentation with a Brief Summary You Key Points.

This technique works really well because it allows you to repeat your key points a few times. This repetition helps your audience remember the content better.

An Example of Using a Summary to End Your Presentation with a Bang!

A couple of months ago, I had a class member that used this technique really well. She worked for a local TV station that was trying to attract new viewers. Here is the presentation outline that she created:

We Can Increase the Number of Young Viewers by Focusing More on Our Social Media Platforms Teens get most news from social media. Increase coverage w/ teens increases interest in station. Making social media selective will make us stand out against competition.

[Introduction] “My topic today is about how we can increase the number of young viewers by focusing more on social media. The things that we are going to cover are, how teens get most of their news from social media, that if we increase our coverage with teens there will also be a corresponding increase in interest in our TV station, and how making our social media selective will allow us to stand out from the competition.”

After the introduction, the speaker would then cover the “meat” of the presentation by going through each point with specific examples and evidence about how each of those points is true.

At the conclusion, the speaker could just recap by saying, “So in conclusion, since teens get most of their news via social media, if we increase our coverage with teens, we will also increase interest in our station, and if we make our social media selective we will stand out from the crowd, I believe that we can increase the number of young viewers by focusing more on social media.”

The summary technique is a very easy way to conclude your speech, and it will also increase the retention of your audience.

For additional examples, see How to Write a Speech in Just a few Steps .

(2) End with an Example, Story, or Anecdote.

I spoke for another 45 minutes, and then I finished the presentation by describing the success story of one of my class members. He had implemented the very content that I had just delivered to that breakout session group. However, he was delivering a very data-intense presentation for the Center for Disease Control. (So his content was even more boring than the type of content the audience had to deliver.) The story showed the group how a speaker can take even boring, data-filled material and deliver it well.

Those contrasting stories — the one at the start of my presentation, and the one at the end, work really well together. They bookend the entire presentation.

An Easy Way to Find a Funny Anecdote to End Your Presentation.

Sometimes a good anecdote or funny story can be a good way to end on a positive as well. A good place to get funny anecdotes is from Reader’s Digest . (RD has a great book published that has just funny work-related stories. You can purchase it here: Laughter the Best Medicine @ Work: America’s Funniest Jokes, Quotes, and Cartoons )

This is kind of an embarrassing incident, but it shows that if you get a little creative, any type of story can be a great ending.

I was training an instructor years ago, and I had her just pick a random funny anecdote from Reader’s Digest. I told her that, no matter what the story was about, I’d find some way to insert the funny story into our class. Here is the story that she picked…

A woman went to her boss saying that she was going to go home early because she was feeling sick. The boss, having just gotten over a cold said that he hoped it wasn’t something that he had given to her. A coworker overhearing the conversation said, ‘I hope not. She has morning sickness.'”

(Obviously, this instructor-in-training also had a sense of humor, as well.) I thought about it a while, and I just ended the session with, “So, in summary, one of the most important parts of the presentation design process is knowing your audience. In fact, that reminds me of a story…” I then just added the anecdote word-for-word, and I got a big laugh.

I created a whole series of posts on storytelling starting with Storytelling in Public Speaking .

(3) Finish Your Speech by Telling the End of an Earlier Story.

Then, I finished the presentation by telling how, just a year later, after a little outside training, I had to stand in front of over 400 people to give an acceptance speech for an award. This time, I was calm, and I used my humor to win over the audience, and I killed it. By continuing the story and providing a positive result at the end, it makes for a pretty nice presentation ending.

So start with a story where you had a challenge and end with a success story about how you overcame that challenge.

(4) End Your Presentation with an Open-Ended Question.

That’s why people are drawn to thought-provoking questions. So a great way to end your speech is with a well-designed, thought-provoking question.

When I teach a class, I use this technique before almost every break. For instance, if I teach an hour-long session, it will be easy for the audience to forget a lot of the content if it isn’t reinforced right away. So, by asking a thought-provoking question about the content, it stimulates the content in the minds of the audience.

When you ask questions, though, avoid easy questions where the answer is an obvious “yes” or “no.” Instead, ask open-ended questions. The easiest way to do this is to ask for the audience members’ opinions.

For instance, if my title is “Starting with a 3-Point Outline Will Help You Save Time When You Design Presentations,” I could end the speech with a question like, “Based on what we’ve talked about today, how can you see starting with a three-point outline helping you save time?”

Any answers that the audience provides will help me prove my point. The more the better.

(5) Give the Audience a Call-to-Action at the End of Your Speech.

Just as an FYI, here, though, if you ask them to do a single thing, they are more likely to do it. If you ask them to do a second thing, they are more likely to do neither. Sp, to prevent that and to inspire your audience, challenge them to do one specific thing from your speech.

If your presentation is about why your company should invest in advertising, make your call to action very specific. “So, my suggestion is that we increase our advertising budget by 10% and use that budget for additional re-targeting ads.”

The thing to keep in mind here is that the more calls to action that you have, the less likely they will do anything. So, make your call to action just a single item. And make the item easy to implement.

(6) The Echo Close Is an Inspirational Way to End Your Speech with a Bang.

A wise man once said, “The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.” So, when you present, kindle the fire of knowledge. Kindle the fire of enthusiasm. Kindle the fire of humor. Kindle the fire of empathy. And you will kindle the fire of learning from your audience.

Another example might be.

So, in conclusion, brevity in public speaking is pretty important. In fact, George Orwell once said, “If it is possible to cut a word out of your speech, always cut it out.” So, when you create a presentation, cut the fluff. Cut the repetitive bullets. Cut the platitudes. And when you do, you will cut the confusion from your audience.

It is an easy technique if you prepare the ending and practice it a few times.

So that concludes the six ways that you can end your presentation with a bang. However… There is…

“One More Thing”

Steve Jobs was famous for concluding his keynotes with “One more thing…” then following it up with a surprising fact, feature, or innovation.

Why is this effective? Because it leaves people talking.

Regardless of how you choose to end your presentation, spend a little time on the ending. Make it flawless, and you will leave your audience wanting more! If you do, you will end your presentation with a bang!

Choose the Best Presentation Ending for Your Presentation Purpose

With all of the great choices, how do we know which presentation ending to use? Luckily, we have created a free handout to help you pick the best presentation ending. Although many of the tips above will work in many different types of speeches, the handout will help you identify which ending will accomplish specific purposes for your specific presentation.

For instance, if your goal is to help your audience retain the content, then summarizing your key points is a great choice. If your purpose is to inspire the audience, you might try the Call to Action or Echo technique instead. Just complete the form below for instant access!

Download the Free “How to End Your Presentation” Handout!

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How to End a Presentation: Leaving a Lasting Impression

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Published 13 August 2024

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