How to Make a Presentation [Beginner’s Guide]
- Ink Narrates | The Presentation Design Agency
- Mar 20
- 6 min read
Our client, Joon, asked us a question while we were working on his presentation: "What’s the secret to making a presentation that people actually pay attention to?"
Our Creative Director answered without hesitation: "If your slides can’t hold attention, your voice won’t either."
As a presentation design agency, we work on countless presentations throughout the year and have observed a common challenge—most beginners focus too much on what they want to say rather than how their audience will receive it.
So, in this blog, we’ll cover how to make a presentation from scratch, breaking it down step by step, so even if this is your first time, you’ll walk away knowing exactly what to do.
Why Presentations Matter More Than You Think
Most people assume a presentation is just a set of slides with some talking points. That mindset is exactly why so many presentations fail. A presentation isn’t just about delivering information. It’s about influence. Whether you’re pitching an idea, training a team, or convincing a client, your presentation shapes how people perceive you and your message.
Here’s the truth: people don’t remember slides; they remember how you made them feel.
Think about the last time you sat through a boring, text-heavy, lifeless presentation. Did you retain anything? Probably not. Now, think about a time when someone presented with clarity, confidence, and visuals that actually made sense. That’s the kind of presentation that sticks.
When done right, a presentation:
Grabs attention
Because if you lose your audience in the first minute, you’ve already failed.
Simplifies complex ideas
Making it easier for people to understand and act on your message.
Builds credibility
A polished, well-structured presentation makes you look professional and prepared.
Drives decisions
Whether you’re persuading investors, inspiring employees, or educating customers, a strong presentation moves people to action.
Presentations are not just a formality. They are a tool for impact. And if you treat them like a glorified document, you’ll get results that are just as forgettable.
How to Make a Presentation from Scratch
Creating a presentation isn’t just about throwing together slides. It requires structure, clarity, and a deep understanding of your audience. Here’s how to build a compelling presentation step by step.
1. Define Your Objective Clearly
Most beginners jump straight into making slides without first clarifying why they’re presenting. That’s a mistake. Before you even open your presentation software, ask yourself: What is the one thing I want my audience to take away?
A good presentation has a clear purpose. Are you trying to sell an idea? Educate an audience? Inspire action? If you’re not crystal clear about your objective, your audience won’t be either. Your entire presentation should be built around this central goal.
For example, if you're pitching a product, your objective isn’t just to “showcase features.” It’s to convince your audience why they need it. If you’re leading a training session, your goal isn’t just to “share information.” It’s to ensure understanding and retention. Every slide, every word, and every visual should serve that purpose.
2. Know Your Audience Inside Out
A presentation isn’t about you—it’s about your audience. Who are they? What do they care about? What problems do they need solved? These questions dictate how you structure your content.
A common mistake is assuming that every audience wants the same thing. A room full of executives wants quick insights and big-picture takeaways. A technical team needs detailed explanations. A group of potential customers is looking for how your solution benefits them specifically.
When you understand your audience, you can shape your message in a way that resonates. Speak their language. Address their concerns. If you start with what matters to them, they’ll pay attention. If you only focus on what you want to say, they’ll tune out.
3. Outline Your Content Before Making Slides
Jumping into slide design without an outline is like building a house without a blueprint. You need a structure. A simple, effective outline follows this format:
Introduction – Hook your audience and set the stage.
Main Points – Break down your key ideas logically.
Supporting Evidence – Use data, examples, and stories to reinforce your points.
Conclusion – Tie everything together and leave a lasting impression.
Every great presentation has a narrative flow. Your audience should feel like they’re going on a journey, not just getting random pieces of information. Think about the order in which you present ideas. Does it build up logically? Does it keep attention from start to finish? If your content feels disjointed, people will disengage.
4. Create Slides That Support (Not Replace) Your Speech
Here’s where most people go wrong: they treat slides as a script. Instead of designing visuals that support their message, they cram entire paragraphs onto slides and read them out loud. This kills engagement instantly.
Slides should complement what you say, not compete with it. Follow these principles:
Keep text minimal – Use short phrases, not long sentences.
Use visuals strategically – Diagrams, charts, and images should clarify ideas, not decorate the slide.
Stick to one idea per slide – Overloading slides confuses your audience. Keep it clean and focused.
If your audience can understand your entire presentation just by reading your slides, you’re doing it wrong. They should need you to provide context and meaning.
5. Design for Readability and Impact
Even if your content is strong, poor design can ruin everything. If your slides are cluttered, hard to read, or visually inconsistent, your message will get lost.
Here’s how to design slides that work:
Choose a readable font – Avoid decorative fonts. Stick to professional, clean fonts like Helvetica, Arial, or Montserrat.
Use a consistent color scheme – Pick a few brand-aligned colors and stick with them. Random colors create visual chaos.
Maintain contrast – Light text on a dark background or dark text on a light background ensures readability. Avoid weak contrasts like gray text on white.
Align elements properly – Don’t just place things randomly. Use grids and alignment tools to create a polished look.
A well-designed slide doesn’t just look good—it makes your content easier to understand. If your audience struggles to read or process information, they won’t focus on your message.
6. Master Your Delivery (Because Slides Alone Don’t Work)
No matter how well-designed your slides are, your presentation will fail if your delivery is weak. Your voice, tone, and body language matter just as much as your content.
Here’s how to deliver with impact:
Practice, but don’t memorize – Rehearse enough to be confident, but don’t sound robotic. You need to sound natural and engaging.
Control your pace – Rushing through slides makes you seem nervous. Speaking too slowly loses attention. Find a rhythm that feels confident and clear.
Use pauses effectively – A well-timed pause can emphasize a key point better than any animation ever could.
Engage with your audience – Make eye contact. Ask questions. React to their body language. The more interactive your delivery, the more engaged they’ll be.
Most people spend 90% of their time making slides and only 10% preparing their delivery. That’s a huge mistake. A strong delivery can save a weak deck, but even the best-designed slides can’t save a boring speaker.
7. Anticipate and Address Questions Proactively
A great presentation isn’t just about delivering information—it’s about handling what happens after. Your audience will have questions, and how you respond can shape their perception of your expertise.
To prepare:
Predict common questions – Think about what your audience is likely to ask and have answers ready.
Clarify complex points in advance – If certain slides might cause confusion, address potential concerns before they come up.
Stay open and confident – If you don’t know the answer to a question, don’t panic. Acknowledge it, promise to follow up, and move forward.
Handling questions smoothly shows that you know your material inside out. It builds credibility and reassures your audience that they’re in good hands.
8. End with Impact, Not Just a “Thank You” Slide
Too many presentations fizzle out with a weak ending. A simple “thank you” slide or an abrupt stop leaves no lasting impression. Your conclusion should reinforce your message and drive home the main takeaway.
A strong ending can include:
A call to action – What do you want your audience to do next? Make it clear.
A thought-provoking statement – Something that sticks in their minds after they leave the room.
A powerful visual – An image that encapsulates your message.
The last thing you say is what people will remember most. Make it count.
Why Hire Us to Build your Presentation?
If you're reading this, you're probably working on a presentation right now. You could do it all yourself. But the reality is - that’s not going to give you the high-impact presentation you need. It’s a lot of guesswork, a lot of trial and error. And at the end of the day, you’ll be left with a presentation that’s “good enough,” not one that gets results. On the other hand, we’ve spent years crafting thousands of presentations, mastering both storytelling and design. Let us handle this for you, so you can focus on what you do best.