how to greet everyone in a presentation

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35 Powerful Presentation Phrases in English for Engaging Your Audience

Your palms are sweating. 

For a moment, your mind goes blank. 

All eyes are on you.

That moment right before you start presenting – as you take in your audience – is usually the scariest. The nervousness lessens with practice, but even the most frequent public speakers still get butterflies in their stomach sometimes. Whether you’re facing an entire room of people or looking at everyone through your laptop screen, giving a presentation can still be intimidating – or exciting, once you move beyond the fear. 

There’s an extra layer of challenge too if you have to speak in your non-native language. For a more professional-sounding and engaging presentation, we’ve compiled some of the most useful English presentation phrases below.

We’ll also explore what else you can do to make even more of an impact on your audience. With the right intonation, body language, and gestures, you’ll really be able to catch their attention and emphasize your points. 

If this sounds interesting to you, you should check out the Creativa business meeting mastery course . There’s an entire video episode about giving a stunning presentation. You’ll learn about how to structure your ideas, deliver a report, and conclude a discussion. It covers not only fluent native phrases but also body language demonstrations that you can apply to your work right away. 

On top of this, the course has plenty of other engaging, high-quality video episodes that help you present your best self in English. Curious about it? You can access a free video here . 

Delivering a Powerful Presentation 

To lay the groundwork for your presentation in English, here’s what you’ll have to do first:

Consider the audience  

You’re probably always going to need slides, but every presentation will be different – and the audience that you’ll be presenting to won’t always find the same points interesting. Because of this, you’ll have to tailor your message to them. What style of presentation would be a good fit? For example, some audiences would want to see a lot of number-crunching, while others might be looking for more personal storytelling .

Prepare a structure 

Structure is key in presentations. People have short attention spans, and they can be forgetful. At the end of the day, your goal is for them to remember at least the main points in your presentation. What message do you want to convey? Since you might be discussing a lot of information, you can make it more digestible by ensuring that there’s a logical progression and then ending with a summary. 

Whatever your topic is, it’ll benefit from having a well-defined structure to guide your audience from start to finish. For a cheat sheet on this, scroll down here to download a free PDF worksheet with exercises about structuring your presentation so you can be clear and convincing. This way, you can have a presentation that’s strong in all sections – beginning, middle, and end. 

Key Business Phrases

Once you’ve decided on the style and message of your presentation, you can take it up a notch by including certain English presentation phrases all throughout. Let’s break it down from start to finish: 

Introduction

This is when you’ll be warming up your audience before you proceed to your main points. 

Greeting the audience

If you’re presenting to people who aren’t too familiar with you, you can quickly introduce yourself and mention your role or company. 

• Good morning, everyone. I’m glad to be able to present to all of you. 
• Hello, everyone! It’s nice to see all of you today. I’m [name], the [position] from [company].

Describing your topic

After greeting the audience, you’ll be explaining to them what your presentation is all about. To set their expectations, you might show them an outline of the talk and mention if there’ll be any activities such as breakout discussions.

• I’ll be talking about…
• I’ll be talking about our financial metrics over the past year.
• The topic of this presentation will be…
• The topic of this presentation will be major trends in the logistics industry.
• I’ll be discussing first the [first topic], next [second topic], and finally [third topic].
• I’ll be discussing first the project’s ideation process, next our initial trial, and finally, presenting our results.

Addressing questions and technical concerns

People might be wondering if they can ask questions during your presentation, so you can clarify this at the start. If you’re providing handouts or presenting online, it’s useful to ask people to alert you about any technical concerns. 

• Please feel free to ask any questions during the talk.
• For questions, there will be a Q&A section at the end.
• Can all of you see and hear me properly? Please let me know if you have any technical difficulties during the presentation.  

The body will make up the bulk of your presentation. Ideally, you would go through each of your points logically while letting your audience know when you’re moving on to the next section. 

The longer your presentation, the more important it is to use sequencing phrases. These act as cues that let your audience know where you are in the presentation. You can think of these as similar to detour signals that make the audience much more likely to get your meaning. 

• First, let’s discuss the…
• First, let’s discuss the initial spark for this idea.
• Moving into [the next item / point] …
• Moving into item 4, we can see that this is a major pain point for our target market.
• This leads us to the next…
• This leads us to the next section, where we’ll be looking at the facts and figures.

Linking is closely related to sequencing. Similar to writing, you can have a smoother presentation by connecting your ideas rather than suddenly jumping from one point to another. You can also refer back to points that you’ve mentioned before to make your presentation more cohesive. 

• In connection to what I said earlier…
• In connection to what I said earlier about growing our online presence, we can now look into potential social media campaigns.
• What this means is…
• What this means is that most of our growth is coming from a certain sector. Let’s analyze the data for this in the next section.
• This ties in with…
• This ties in with our survey findings about user reactions. I’ll go into detail about changes we’ve made to the app as a result.

Giving examples

To fully convey your point, you can bring up specific examples and case studies. These are much more memorable as well as engaging because you can tell these in the form of a story.

• For example…
• For example, costs were reduced significantly when we switched to the following materials.
• To demonstrate this point…
• To demonstrate this point, I’ll be showing you a video of a business that used this problem-solving method.
• Here’s an example of…
• Here’s an example of a seasonal product that our customers loved.

Showing visuals 

Visuals naturally attract people’s attention. If you’re using slides for your presentation, take the opportunity to include images, diagrams, infographics, or even charts. 

• As you can see from this…
• As you can see from this photo, we’ve redesigned our office space.
• Here’s a diagram / picture / chart that shows…
• Here’s a diagram that shows a high percentage of people are comfortable with online shopping.
• If you look at this…
• If you look at this infographic, you can see that the new color palette comes off as fun and casual.

Citing data

Citing data from research makes your presentation more persuasive. When you’re talking about results that you’ve achieved, try to bring up actual numbers – this can go a long way towards impressing your audience. 

• According to this study…
• According to this study from [journal], 65% of eCommerce companies are looking for more efficient payment methods.
• Based on our research…
• Based on our research, the most enthusiastic buyers of wellness products in this city are in the 20 to 30 age range.
• Looking at the data…
• Looking at the data, you’ll notice that there’s been an 18% spike in sales since we migrated our platform.

Restating an idea

Sometimes you’ll want to restate an idea so it’s easier to understand. This also serves to emphasize it. Because of the repetition, people are more likely to remember it compared to if you’d only mentioned it once. 

• In other words…
• In other words, partnering up with this client can make our operations more efficient and seamless.
• Another way of saying this is…
• Another way of saying this is that there might actually be more demand than supply by next year.
• What I mean is…
• What I mean is we’re already more than halfway to our business objective.

Handling technical issues

When you’re presenting on video call, all kinds of glitches can happen. Someone might have connection issues, you might have to figure out an app feature you’ve never used before, or background noises might keep interrupting your call. The phrases below can be very handy in these kinds of situations.

• If you can’t hear me, can you type in the chat, please?
• Could everyone mute their mic? There’s a lot of background noise.
• Sorry. The call dropped. I’m back through.

Concluding the Presentation 

By this time, the hardest part is already over! Still, you’ll have to wrap up your presentation nicely by going over the key takeaways during the conclusion. Your audience might also have questions that they’ll want you to address.

Summarizing the presentation

Out of everything that you’ve discussed, what would you like people to get out of it? A short summary towards the end serves to highlight your main ideas. 

• To wrap up…
• To wrap up, I’d like to point out three major takeaways.
• As a summary…
• As a summary of this report update, I would say we have seen a positive uptick in our workflow and productivity.
• All in all…
• All in all, we believe we’ve seen good results for this stage of our progress.

Thanking the audience

Similar to your greeting at the start, it’s common to address your audience again towards the end by thanking them for their time. 

• Thank you for listening!
• Thank you to everyone for being here. 
• I’d like to thank you all for coming here.

Addressing questions

If you’re open to questions from your audience, you can have a short question-and-answer session after your presentation. 

• Do you have any questions or clarifications?
• Feel free to ask me about any of the points I made during the presentation.
• Let me know if you have any questions. 

Practice is Crucial

When you’re all set with the content of your presentation, the next step is to practice your delivery. Regardless of how well you know the topic of your presentation, practicing it at least once will help you be more confident. You’ll discover potential issues that you can fix too before you go live. 

Do a run-through

The most basic way to practice is to do a run-through of your entire presentation . Set a timer on your phone, open up your slides, then start talking – all while imagining that you’re already presenting to your audience. Since you’re acting as if it’s in real-time, this means avoiding any pauses where you have to look up information. 

A run-through can pinpoint any weaknesses in your presentation, and you’ll notice any parts where you might be uncomfortable talking. You’ll also be able to see how much time you’ve spent so you can pace yourself accordingly.  

Record yourself

A more intensive version of the run-through basic would be to record yourself presenting. You can either record your voice or take a full video of yourself. People often notice that they use filler words a lot such as “um” or “uh.” You’ll also be able to check your pronunciation and whether you sound confident and natural all throughout.

Since body language can make or break your delivery, watching a video of yourself presenting is an incredibly effective way to improve your performance. Do your facial expressions match what you’re saying? Are you maintaining good posture throughout and making efforts to connect with the audience?   

When you combine a confident, approachable body language with the right business vocabulary, your ideas shine through better than ever. You can get a play-by-play of how exactly to do this with the Creativa business meeting mastery course . It features video sections that are all about making powerful transitions and expressing your points clearly during presentations. You’ll learn about specific native English phrases and gestures so you can move fluidly from one idea to the next. 

Together with the other episodes, the course dives deep into how you can be a strong communicator during professional meetings. For a preview, check out this free episode .  

Presenting on Video Call

Technical issues happen often enough in face-to-face presentations, but they’re even more frequent during video calls. To avoid any awkward delays when you’re presenting, get comfortable with the platform that you’ll be using. 

If it’s a face-to-face presentation, double-check your slides and make sure any images or videos are showing properly. For video calls, try doing a test call on the app or even call up a friend to practice. You can also get familiar with the app’s basic features, such as screen-sharing or inviting people to breakout rooms. 

But sometimes, even when you’ve practiced your presentation perfectly on video call, the unexpected can still happen. Scroll down here to download a free worksheet that we made precisely for dealing with technical issues in presentations. You’ll get an extensive list of English phrases to use for all sorts of video call glitches, along with practical tips for handling them in the moment. With enough preparation, you’ll be able to roll with surprises and conquer even video call presentations. 

Let’s explore some of the most common glitches (and how you can deal with them gracefully!):

Situation 1: You’re having a hard time hearing other people because of their laggy connection. 

For a presentation to work, everyone needs to have a decent internet connection. If someone’s connection drops, they won’t be able to see or hear you properly, and you won’t understand what they’re trying to say, either. In this case, let them know right away that you can’t hear them. You can also ask them to talk to you over chat instead. 

Example Phrases:

• [Name], you’re cutting in and out. Would you mind reconnecting?
• Audio problems – can you type it on chat instead?

Situation 2: You get disconnected from the call. 

In the case that it’s your connection that’s faulty, you might have to disconnect then reconnect your call. This can be awkward because it interrupts the flow of your presentation. Alerting your audience using certain English phrases can reassure them while getting you back on track with what you were saying.

• Sorry, guys, dropped call. But I’m back.
• Connection problems, everyone. Gonna log out and back in. 

Situation 3: People are having a hard time figuring out how to turn on their audio or video.

Another reason why you’d want to be really familiar with the video platform is you might have to coach people when they experience glitches. It’s almost expected that a few people might accidentally forget to turn on their mic while speaking. Alternatively, they might have issues with turning on their camera.

• I can’t see you, [name]. [Give instructions on how to turn on their video.]
• I can’t see you, Fatima. Look for the camera icon and make sure there’s no red line through it.
• Typing in chat: “Make sure your mic’s unmuted.” [Clarify how they’ll know if they’re unmuted.]
• Typing in chat: “ Make sure your mic’s unmuted. There should be no red lines through it.

The best presentations excel in all three areas: content, structure, and delivery. 

Including some of the key English phrases above will upgrade your performance. Aside from setting a professional tone, these English presentation phrases set the pace for your audience so they’re aware of where you are in the discussion. Your message will sound clearer, and your audience will be able to follow your ideas better.

The basic rules for presentations are the same, whether you’re on a video call or stepping in front of a stage. With the tips above, you’re all set to prepare an amazing presentation in English.

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100 Ways on How to Greet Your Classmates When Presenting a Speech

100 Ways on How to Greet your Classmates When Presenting a Speech:

Greeting your audience before delivering a speech in class is a crucial component of effective communication. A well-crafted greeting sets the tone for your presentation and establishes rapport with your classmates, making them feel acknowledged and valued. Engaging your audience from the outset helps to create a positive atmosphere conducive to learning, as it promotes attentiveness and receptiveness to your ideas. Moreover, a warm and personable greeting humanizes the speaker, fostering a connection between you and your audience , which is essential for maintaining their interest and encouraging active participation. In summary, a well-thought-out greeting lays the foundation for a successful speech, as it captures the audience’s attention, builds trust, and fosters an environment that encourages meaningful interaction and learning.

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#100 Ways on How to Greet Your Classmates When Presenting a Speech

The quick guide below is very useful for the following:

• greetings for reporting in class
• greetings for group reporting in class
• greetings for the speech in school
• formal greetings for speeches in school

A simple but effective way to greet your audience in a speech in class is to start with a “Good [morning/afternoon/evening],” followed by “ladies and gentlemen,” or “fellow students,” and then briefly introduce yourself. Here’s an example:

“Good morning, fellow students. My name is [Your Name], and today I’ll be talking to you about [Topic].” Source: Distinctionpass.com

Remember, your opening sets the tone for your entire presentation, so make it engaging and relevant to your audience.

Here are 100 examples of ways to greet your classmates, each followed by a brief introduction to help you begin your speech:

• Good morning, everyone! Today, I’d like to share with you some insights on…
• Hello, dear classmates! Let’s dive into the fascinating world of…
• Hey there, friends! Are you ready to explore the topic of…
• Greetings, fellow students! Join me as we discuss…
• Salutations, my peers! I’m excited to present my findings on…
• Hi, classmates! I’ve prepared something interesting for you about…
• Aloha, everyone! Let’s take a journey through the history of…
• Bonjour, mes amis! Today, we’ll be delving into the captivating story of…
• Hola, compañeros! Allow me to introduce you to the amazing world of…
• Ciao, amici! Let’s take a closer look at the fascinating aspects of…
• Namaste, dear friends! Together, let’s uncover the secrets of…
• Howdy, folks! Gather ’round as we explore the ins and outs of…
• G’day, mates! Today, I’ve got some intriguing information on…
• Hey, everyone! I can’t wait to share with you some of the latest developments in…
• Greetings, esteemed classmates! I’d like to present my research on…
• Hello, fellow scholars! Join me today as we delve into the topic of…
• Warmest greetings, dear colleagues! I’m here to share my perspective on…
• Good day, classmates! Today, we’re going to explore the many facets of…
• Hi there, fellow learners! I’m eager to discuss the concept of…
• Greetings, comrades! Let’s take a look at the ever-evolving field of…
• Hello, everyone! Are you ready to dive into the wonders of…
• Hi, fellow students! Let’s take a moment to discuss the importance of…
• Greetings, peers! Today, I want to introduce you to the incredible world of…
• Hey, friends! I’m excited to share my knowledge on…
• Good morning, everyone! It’s time to explore the remarkable story of…
• Hello, fellow classmates! Let’s dive into the topic of…
• Hey there, colleagues! Are you ready to embark on an adventure through…
• Greetings, fellow thinkers! Let’s take a closer look at the various aspects of…
• Salutations, classmates! I’m excited to discuss the latest advancements in…
• Hi, everyone! Today, I’d like to talk about a subject that’s close to my heart:…
• Hey, dear classmates! Let’s dive into the fascinating world of…
• Hello, friends! Are you ready to discover the secrets of…
• Greetings, fellow knowledge-seekers! Let’s take a journey into the realm of…
• Salutations, esteemed classmates! Today, I’ll be discussing the intriguing world of…
• Hi there, peers! Let’s embark on an exploration of…
• Hey, everyone! I can’t wait to discuss the amazing world of…
• Greetings, fellow adventurers! Join me as we delve into the captivating story of…
• Hello, classmates! Today, we’ll be discussing the incredible impact of…
• Hey there, fellow students! Are you ready to explore the significance of…
• Greetings, peers! Let’s take a moment to delve into the fascinating aspects of…
• Salutations, dear classmates! Today, I’m excited to share with you some of the latest discoveries in…
• Hello, fellow learners! Let’s take a closer look at the ever-changing world of…
• Greetings, everyone! Today, we’ll be examining the many challenges faced by…
• Hey, friends! Let’s take a deep dive into the exciting realm of…
• Good morning, fellow students! Join me as we explore the fascinating world of…
• Hello, dear peers! Today, we’ll be discussing the importance of…
• Hey, classmates! Are you ready to uncover the mysteries of…
• Greetings, fellow enthusiasts! Let’s take a journey through the intricacies of…
• Salutations, colleagues! I’m excited to present my thoughts on…
• Hi, everyone! Today, we’ll be looking at the remarkable achievements of…
• Hey, dear friends! Let’s dive into the fascinating realm of…
• Hello, fellow classmates! Are you ready to learn about the wonders of…
• Greetings, fellow explorers! Let’s embark on a journey through the world of…
• Salutations, peers! Today, I’d like to discuss the intriguing aspects of…
• Hi, fellow students! Let’s take a closer look at the remarkable world of…
• Hey, everyone! I can’t wait to share my experiences with…
• Greetings, colleagues! Join me as we discuss the captivating story of…
• Hello, classmates! Today, we’ll be delving into the amazing world of…
• Hey there, fellow learners! Are you ready to explore the fascinating realm of…
• Greetings, dear friends! Let’s take a moment to examine the various aspects of…
• Salutations, esteemed classmates! Today, I’ll be discussing the incredible world of…
• Hi there, peers! Let’s embark on a journey into the realm of…
• Hey, everyone! I can’t wait to share my insights on…
• Greetings, fellow thinkers! Join me as we delve into the captivating story of…
• Hello, classmates! Today, we’ll be exploring the inspiring world of…
• Hey there, fellow students! Are you ready to discover the importance of…
• Greetings, peers! Let’s take a closer look at the fascinating aspects of…
• Salutations, classmates! I’m excited to present my findings on…
• Hi, everyone! Today, I’d like to share some of the latest developments in…
• Hey, dear classmates! Let’s dive into the exciting world of…
• Hello, friends! Are you ready to explore the incredible realm of…
• Greetings, fellow knowledge-seekers! Let’s take a journey through the history of…
• Salutations, esteemed peers! Today, I’ll be discussing the intriguing world of…
• Hi there, fellow learners! Let’s embark on an exploration of…

Self-introduction greetings for speech in school

For a school speech, here are a few friendly and engaging self-introduction greetings you can use:

• “Good [morning/afternoon], everyone! I’m [Your Name], and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to speak with you all today.”
• “Hello, [School Name]! I’m [Your Name], and it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to share some thoughts and ideas.”
• “Greetings, fellow students and teachers! I’m [Your Name], and I’m excited to dive into today’s topic with you.”
• “Hi everyone, I’m [Your Name]. I’m one of you, a student here at [School Name], and I’m looking forward to discussing something really important with you today.”
• “Welcome, everyone! I’m [Your Name] from [Your Grade/Class], and I can’t wait to get started and explore our topic together today.”

Choose one that feels the most natural to you, and it will surely set a positive tone for your speech!

Remember, the key to an engaging introduction is to connect with your audience and create a sense of excitement about your topic. The more interested your classmates are in your subject, the more likely they are to listen attentively and learn from your presentation.

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How Do You Greet Everyone in a Conference Presentation?

When stepping onto the stage for a conference presentation, the opening moments are crucial. Your greeting sets the tone for the entire session, shaping your audience’s perception and engagement. So, “How do you greet everyone in a conference presentation?

Begin by extending a warm and genuine welcome to your audience. Use a friendly tone to break the ice, making everyone feel comfortable. Introduce yourself confidently, allowing attendees to connect with the person behind the presentation. Express gratitude for their presence; this simple act of appreciation goes a long way in building rapport.

As you embark on your conference presentation journey, remember that this crucial greeting moment is your gateway to a captivated audience. Now, let’s dive deeper into the art of conference presentation greetings and discover how they can elevate your message and connection with your listeners.

Significance of Greetings in a Conference Presentation

Greetings in a conference presentation hold immense significance. Initially, they establish a welcoming atmosphere, fostering a positive connection with the audience. This simple gesture sets the tone for a receptive and engaged audience.

Furthermore, greetings demonstrate respect for the attendees and acknowledge their presence, making them feel valued. They also serve as an icebreaker, helping to ease nervousness, both for the presenter and the audience. This small courtesy lays the foundation for effective communication and an interactive session.

In addition, greetings facilitate networking opportunities as they create a sense of community among participants. When speakers greet attendees individually or collectively, it promotes inclusivity, making everyone feel like an integral part of the conference. Ultimately, greetings elevate the overall experience, making presentations more engaging and memorable.

Types of Greetings Suitable for Conference Presentation

In a conference presentation, selecting the appropriate greeting sets the stage for effective communication and audience engagement. Here are several types of greetings suitable for such occasions:

Warm Welcome

Begin your presentation with a warm and friendly greeting to make the audience feel comfortable and valued. Setting a positive tone is essential. For example, “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. It’s a pleasure to have you all here today. Your presence is the cornerstone of our conference’s success.”

Acknowledgment of Dignitaries

If there are distinguished guests or speakers, consider acknowledging them in your greeting. This demonstrates respect and sets a tone of reverence. For instance, “I’d like to extend a special welcome to our esteemed guest, Dr. Smith.”

Interactive Icebreaker

Engage the audience with an interactive greeting to break the ice . You can ask a thought-provoking question or request a brief introduction from attendees, such as “Please share one word that describes your expectation for this conference.”

Cultural Sensitivity

Be mindful of cultural diversity in your audience. Tailor your greeting to respect and include different cultures and backgrounds. It’s a way of fostering inclusivity and respect. For instance, “Greetings and Salam Alaikum to our diverse audience. We honor and appreciate the rich tapestry of backgrounds represented here.”

Theme-Relevant Greeting

Align your greeting with the theme or topic of your presentation. This immediately connects your audience to the subject matter and creates anticipation. For example, “Welcome, explorers, to our journey through the world of sustainable innovation. Together, we’ll embark on a path towards a greener future.”

Express Gratitude

Show appreciation for the attendees’ time and participation, emphasizing the collective effort. Acknowledge their contribution to the event’s success. A simple expression like, “Thank you for being here today; your presence enriches this conference, and together, we’ll make this experience truly remarkable.”

The type of greeting you choose for your conference presentation plays a pivotal role in establishing rapport, engaging the audience, and ensuring a positive atmosphere. Select the greeting that best suits the context and objectives of your presentation, always keeping the audience’s comfort and cultural diversity in mind.

How Do You Greet Everyone in A Conference Presentation?

Greeting everyone in a conference presentation effectively is crucial to creating a positive and engaging atmosphere. Your initial interaction with the audience sets the tone for the entire presentation, making it essential to get it right. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how do you greet everyone in a conference presentation:

Step-1. Prepare Your Greeting

Before taking the stage, carefully plan your greeting. Consider the context of the conference, the demographics of the audience, and the purpose of your presentation. This initial step is crucial as it sets the tone for the entire presentation.

Step-2. Start with a Warm Welcome

As you begin your presentation, start with a warm and sincere welcome. Use positive body language, make eye contact, and speak with a friendly tone. This greeting should convey your genuine pleasure at having the audience in attendance, making them feel valued and comfortable.

Step-3. Acknowledge Dignitaries and Special Guests

If there are notable dignitaries or special guests present, acknowledge their presence with respect. Briefly introduce them and express your gratitude for their participation. This recognition not only shows courtesy but also enhances the prestige of your event.

Step-4. Engage with an Icebreaker

Break the ice to foster a sense of connection. Use an engaging icebreaker tailored to your audience and topic. This could be a relevant quote, a surprising statistic, or a question that sparks curiosity. Encourage audience interaction by asking for a show of hands or brief comments.

Step-5. Connect to the Presentation Theme

Seamlessly transition your greeting to align with the theme or subject of your presentation. Explain how the upcoming discussion relates to the audience’s interests or challenges, emphasizing the value they will gain from your talk. This connection piques their interest and sets expectations.

Step-6. Express Gratitude and Enthusiasm

Conclude your greeting by expressing sincere gratitude for the audience’s presence. Highlight the importance of their role in making the conference a success. Share your enthusiasm and eagerness to share valuable insights during the presentation. A genuine smile and positive energy go a long way in engaging your audience from the outset.

By following these detailed steps, you not only greet everyone effectively but also establish a strong rapport with your audience, making them more receptive to the content of your conference presentation.

Dos and Don’ts of Conference Greetings

Making a positive and memorable first impression during conference greetings is essential for engaging your audience effectively. To ensure you get it right, consider these dos and don’ts:

• Smile and Maintain Eye Contact: Smile genuinely while greeting the audience and maintain eye contact to establish a connection and convey warmth.
• Use a Clear and Confident Voice: Speak clearly and with confidence to ensure your greeting is heard and appreciated by everyone in the room.
• Tailor Greetings to the Audience: Consider the audience’s cultural diversity and preferences when choosing your greeting to ensure it’s inclusive and respectful.
• Acknowledge Dignitaries Appropriately: If there are special guests or dignitaries, acknowledge them respectfully in your greeting to show appreciation.
• Engage with an Icebreaker: Use an icebreaker to encourage audience participation and create an interactive atmosphere.

Don’ts

• Avoid Generic Greetings: Don’t use overly generic greetings that lack personalization and fail to connect with the audience.
• Skip Over Dignitaries: Avoid neglecting to acknowledge any dignitaries or special guests present, as it may be seen as disrespectful.
• Overcomplicate Icebreakers: Don’t use overly complex icebreakers that might confuse or intimidate the audience. Keep them simple and relevant.
• Exclude Anyone: Ensure that your greeting is inclusive and doesn’t make anyone feel left out or uncomfortable due to cultural insensitivity or exclusivity.
• Rush Through Greetings: Don’t rush through your greeting; take your time to make a genuine connection with the audience.

Following these dos and don’ts will help you make a positive and memorable first impression when greeting your audience at a conference presentation.

Why Greetings Matters in A Conference Presentation?

Greetings are more than just polite gestures; they are the opening chords of a successful conference presentation. They lay the groundwork for engagement, respect, and relevance, making their significance undeniable. Let’s explore why greetings truly matter in the context of a conference presentation.

Establishing a Connection

Greetings are the initial bridge that connects the presenter with the audience. They create a sense of rapport, setting the tone for an open and engaging exchange of ideas. A well-crafted greeting can personalize your presentation, making it relatable to your audience’s interests and needs.

Creating a Positive Atmosphere

A warm and welcoming greeting fosters a positive atmosphere within the conference venue. It puts attendees at ease, making them more receptive to the content of the presentation. An inviting atmosphere encourages active listening and a willingness to participate in discussions or Q&A sessions.

Respect and Recognition

Greetings are a mark of respect for the audience. They acknowledge the attendees’ presence and contributions, making each feel valued and appreciated. This respect sets the stage for a respectful and attentive audience throughout the presentation.

Engagement and Interaction

Well-crafted greetings can serve as icebreakers, encouraging audience participation. Interactive greetings, such as questions or brief introductions, spark engagement and set an interactive tone. Audience engagement fosters a two-way communication flow, making the presentation more dynamic and memorable.

Alignment with Theme

Tailoring greetings to the conference theme or topic creates immediate relevance. It aligns the audience’s mindset with the subject matter, enhancing their focus and comprehension. This alignment ensures that your message resonates with the audience and doesn’t feel disconnected.

Networking Opportunities

Greetings offer networking opportunities as they establish a sense of community among attendees. When the audience feels connected, they are more likely to interact with peers, fostering valuable connections. Networking can lead to post-presentation discussions, collaborations, and knowledge sharing, enriching the conference experience for all .

Greetings in a conference matter a lot. They set the stage for a successful presentation, making the audience feel welcome, respected, and engaged. Greetings create connections and enhance the overall conference experience.

Bottom Line

In every conference presentation, the initial greeting is crucial for setting an engaging and positive tone. It’s the first step in building a connection between the speaker and the audience, opening the door to a receptive and attentive environment.

When pondering “How do you greet everyone in a conference presentation?”, consider the significance of inclusivity and warmth. A well-crafted greeting, tailored to the audience’s cultural diversity and the presentation’s theme, acknowledges everyone’s presence, fostering a welcoming environment that values each attendee.

Such greetings lay the foundation for effective communication, making them vital for a memorable and successful presentation. By establishing a respectful and inviting atmosphere, they shape the audience’s perception and engagement from the very start, enhancing the overall impact of the presentation.

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How to Say Greetings Before Presentation: Formal and Informal Ways

When it comes to giving a presentation, it’s essential to start off on the right foot by greeting your audience. The greeting sets the tone for the entire presentation and helps establish a connection with your listeners. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore both formal and informal ways to say greetings before a presentation. We’ll also provide tips, examples, and even discuss regional variations if necessary. So let’s dive right in!

Table of Contents

Formal Greetings

Formal greetings are suitable for professional settings, such as business meetings, conferences, or academic presentations. These greetings project a sense of professionalism and respect for your audience. Here are some formal greetings you can use:

“Good morning/afternoon/evening, ladies and gentlemen.”

This is a classic and widely used formal greeting that works well for any time of the day. It addresses your audience in a polite and respectful manner, acknowledging their presence and setting a positive tone.

“Distinguished guests, esteemed colleagues, and respected members of the audience.”

This greeting is particularly useful when addressing a highly esteemed audience, such as senior executives, industry experts, or renowned professionals. It conveys a sense of honor and respect, recognizing their importance and expertise.

“Thank you all for being here today.”

Expressing gratitude is always a great way to start a presentation. By thanking your audience for their time and presence, you establish a positive rapport and show that you value their participation.

Informal Greetings

Informal greetings, on the other hand, are suitable for less formal or casual presentations. They create a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, which can help put your audience at ease. Let’s take a look at some examples of informal greetings:

“Hello everyone!”

Keeping it simple and straightforward, this informal greeting works well for most situations. It instantly creates a friendly vibe and shows your enthusiasm to engage with your audience.

“Hey folks!”

This informal greeting is more energetic and casual. It is particularly suitable for presentations that involve a younger or more informal audience, such as workshops, student gatherings, or team meetings.

“Good to see you all!”

This greeting conveys a warm and welcoming tone. By expressing how pleased you are to see your audience, you create an immediate connection that can greatly enhance audience engagement throughout your presentation.

Tips for Effective Greetings

No matter if you choose a formal or informal greeting, there are some tips you should keep in mind to ensure that your greeting has the desired impact:

1. Be confident

Confidence is key when giving a presentation. Make sure to deliver your greeting with a clear, strong voice and maintain eye contact with your audience. This will help you establish credibility and gain the attention of your listeners.

2. Consider the audience

Tailor your greeting to your specific audience and the context of your presentation. Gauge their level of formality and adjust your greeting accordingly. Understanding your audience will allow you to connect with them more effectively.

3. Smile and be genuine

A warm and genuine smile can go a long way in making your audience feel comfortable and welcomed. It shows that you are approachable and creates a positive first impression.

4. Practice and rehearse

Rehearsing your greeting beforehand will help ensure that it flows smoothly and confidently. Practice in front of a mirror or with a trusted friend to receive feedback and make any necessary improvements.

Examples of Regional Variations

While greetings before presentations generally follow similar patterns across different regions, it’s interesting to note a few variations influenced by local culture. Here are a couple of examples:

In Japan, it is customary to begin a presentation with a formal greeting, usually by saying “Konnichiwa” followed by a bow. This reflects the Japanese culture of politeness and respect for others.

Middle East

In some Middle Eastern countries, it is customary to start a presentation with an exchange of pleasantries and greetings, often accompanied by handshakes. This reflects the importance placed on building personal relationships and creating a warm atmosphere.

In conclusion, the way you say greetings before a presentation can significantly impact how your audience perceives you and your message. Whether opting for a formal or informal approach, choose a greeting that suits the context and audience. Remember to be confident, genuine, and considerate of cultural variations when applicable. By starting your presentation with a positive greeting, you establish a strong foundation for a successful and engaging presentation. Good luck!

Related Guides:

• How to Say Greetings in a Presentation
• How to Say “After Presentation” – A Comprehensive Guide
• How to Say “Et al.” in a Presentation
• Guide: How to End a Presentation
• Guide: How to Say No to a Timeshare Presentation
• How to Say Presentation in English: Formal and Informal Ways
• Tips and Examples: How to Say Presentation Outline in French
• Guide: How to Say “Welcome to My Presentation” in French

About The Author

Mohammed Matthew

52 Phrases for Better Flowing English Presentations

/ Steven Hobson / Business English , English Presentations , Vocabulary

Do you give English presentations at work, but feel that you could communicate your message in a more objective, fluid way?

Maybe you have an English presentation coming up and want to make sure that your speech is clear and structured so that your audience doesn’t lose concentration and stays with you all the way to the end.

A technique that can help you achieve objective, clear, and structured English presentations, is to use linking phrases that join the separate parts of your presentation together.

English presentations normally consist of an introduction, the main body, individual parts of the main body, and the ending or conclusion.

To help maintain your audience’s attention, you need to signal when you are going from one part to another.

In this article, I teach you 52 phrases that do exactly this – linking the different parts together, and therefore, making your presentation flow better. You’ll find that these phrases will act as ‘signposts’ for the audience when you finish one part and start another.

52 Phrases to Improve the Flow of Your English Presentations

The introduction.

All good presentations start with a strong introduction.

There are a number of different ways you can begin your English presentation. Here’s a simple, but effective introduction structure which works for most types of business presentations:

Introduce – Introduce yourself and greet your audience. Introduce the presentation topic – Explain the reasons for listening. Outline – Describe the main parts of the presentation. Question policy – Make it clear to your audience when they can ask questions: during or at the end?

Here are some phrases which you can use to structure the introduction in this way:

1. Good morning/afternoon (everyone) (ladies and gentlemen). 2. It’s a pleasure to welcome (the President) here. 3. I’m … (the Director of …)

Introduce the presentation topic

4. By the end of the talk/presentation/session, you’ll know how to… / …you will have learned about… / 5. I plan to say a few words about… 6. I’m going to talk about… 7. The subject of my talk is…

8. My talk will be in (three parts). 9. In the first part… 10. Then in the second part… 11. Finally, I’ll go on to talk about…

Question Policy

12. Please interrupt if you have any questions. 13. After my talk, there will be time for a discussion and any questions.

 Main Body

Now that you have finished the introduction, we now need to transition to the main body, and its individual parts in a smooth way.

There are three parts of the main body of a presentation where linking phrases can be used:

Beginning the Main Body Ending Parts within the Main Body Beginning a New Part

Here are some phrases which you can use for these parts:

Beginning the Main Body

14. Now let’s move to / turn to the first part of my talk which is about… 15. So, first… 16. To begin with…

Ending Parts within the Main Body

17. That completes/concludes… 18. That’s all (I want to say for now) on… 19. Ok, I’ve explained how…

Beginning a New Part

20. Let’s move to (the next part which is)… 21. So now we come to the next point, which is… 22. Now I want to describe… 23. Let’s turn to the next issue… 24. I’d now like to change direction and talk about…

Listing and Sequencing

If you need to talk about goals, challenges, and strategies in your English presentation, listing phrases can help link these together and improve the flow of your speech. If you have to explain processes, sequencing phrases are helpful:

25. There are three things to consider. First… Second… Third… 26. There are two kinds of… The first is… The second is… 27. We can see four advantages and two disadvantages. First, advantages… 28. One is… Another is… A third advantage is… Finally…

29. There are (four) different stages to the process. 30. First / then / next / after that / then (x) / after x there’s y. 31. There are two steps involved. The first step is… The second step is… 32. There are four stages to the project. 33. At the beginning, later, then, finally… 34. I’ll describe the development of the idea. First the background, then the present situation, and then the prospect for the future.

After you have presented the main body of your English presentation, you will want to end it smoothly.

Here are typical sections transitioning from the main body to the ending of the presentation, and then inviting the audience to ask questions:

Ending the Main Body Beginning the Summary and/or Conclusion Concluding An Ending Phrase Inviting Questions and/or Introducing Discussion Thanking the Audience

Ending the Main Body

35. Okay, that ends (the third part of) my talk. 36. That’s all I want to say for now on (the 2017 results).

Beginning the Summary and/or Conclusion

37. To sum up… 38. Ok, in brief, there are several advantages and disadvantages. 39. To conclude… 40. I’d like to end by emphasizing the main points. 41. I’d like to end with a summary of the main points.

42. I think we have seen that we should… 43. In my opinion, we should… 44. I recommend/suggest that we… 45. There are three reasons why I recommend this. First, … / Second, … / Finally,…

An Ending Phrase

46. Well, I’ve covered the points that I needed to present today. 47. That sums up (my description of the new model). 48. That concludes my talk for today.

Inviting Questions and/or Introducing Discussion

49. Now we have (half an hour) for questions and discussion. 50. So, now I’d be very interested to hear your comments.

Thanking the Audience

51. I’d like to thank you for listening to my presentation. 52. Thank you for listening / your attention. / Many thanks for coming.

Linking phrases are like the skeleton which holds your presentation together.

Not only do they improve the flow and help guide the audience, but by memorizing them they can also help you remember the general structure of your presentation, giving you increased confidence.

To help you memorize, I recommend saying the linking phrases on their own from the beginning to the end of your presentation while you practice.

I also suggest memorizing the introduction word for word. By doing this, you will get off to a great start, which will settle your nerves and transmit a positive first impression.

Whenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:

1. The Impactful English Academy : Join like-minded professionals from around the world in The Impactful English Academy. The comprehensive online courses will teach you the system and strategies I have used to help 100’s of professionals speak English more fluently, confidently and professionally. Click here to learn more.

2. One-to -one Coaching : Get access to my guidance and a customised program that has helped, managers, directors, CEO’s, doctors and Government officials worldwide transform into confident and articulate communicators in English. Click here to book a Discovery session with me.

3. Onsite and Online Company Training: Equip your team with the essential communication skills they need to thrive in today’s global marketplace. My tailored onsite and online training programs empower professionals to communicate effectively and confidently in English in international business environments. C lick here to schedule a meeting with me.

Author: Steven Hobson

Steven is a business English coach, a certified life coach, writer, and entrepreneur. He helps international professionals build confidence and improve fluency speaking English in a business environment.

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60 Essential Business Presentation Phrases in English [With Audio]

Giving a business presentation in English can be challenging, especially if it’s not your first language. However, with the right phrases and a bit of practice, you can deliver a confident and effective presentation.

Greeting Your Audience

Beginning your presentation, outlining the structure, transitioning between topics, highlighting key information, explaining data or visuals, restating your point, summarizing your main points, inviting questions, concluding your presentation, tips for preparing your presentation in english, have a plan, use visuals, structure your presentation well, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

The way you start your presentation sets the tone for the rest of it. Begin by greeting your audience and introducing the topic. Here are some phrases to get you started:

1. Good morning, everyone.

Depending on the time of day, you can also say “Good afternoon, everyone” or “Good evening, everyone.”  

2. Welcome to [name of event].

For example: “ Welcome to our 3rd Annual Sales Leadership Conference.”

3. First, let me introduce myself.  

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“First, let me introduce myself. I am Dan Smith from ABC Designs.”

4. Thank you for being here today.

These phrases help you clearly state the purpose of your presentation. This is a good way to give them an idea of what’s going on and to bring them up to date. 

5. Let’s get started with our presentation.

6. The purpose of today’s presentation is to…

7. I’m here to talk about…

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8. Today, I’d like to discuss…

9. Let’s begin by looking at…

10. Let me start by giving you some background information.

11. I’ll start with an overview of…

12. As you’re aware…

“ As you’re aware , the CEO of DHL Express has often said that globalization is here to stay.”

Once you’ve introduced yourself and your topic, it’s important to give your audience a roadmap of what to expect. Use these phrases to outline the structure of your presentation:

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13. Here’s what we’ll cover today…

14. Let me walk you through the agenda.

15. Our presentation will be divided into three main parts…

16. I’ll begin with…, followed by… and finally…

17. First, I’ll give you an overview of…, then we’ll discuss…

Transitions are key to keeping your presentation fluid and coherent. Use these phrases to smoothly move from one point to the next:

18. Let’s move on to…

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“ Let’s move on to our second sales strategy.”

19. Turning our attention now to…

“ Turning our attention now to the results of our 2016 customer survey.”

20. That brings us to the next point…

21. Moving on to the next topic…

22. Let’s take a closer look at…

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23. Now that we’ve covered…, let’s discuss…

24. This ties in with my next point…

In any presentation, there are certain points you’ll want to highlight. These phrases will help you draw attention to the most important information:

25. I’d like to expand on…

“Now I’d like to expand on my point about increasing our market share.”

26. Let me elaborate further.

27. What’s important to note here is…

28. I’d like to emphasize that…

29. Let me draw your attention to…

30. This is a crucial point because…

31. One thing to keep in mind is…

32. We have to remember that…

“ We have to remember that people are our most important resource.”

33. The significance of this is…

“ The significance of this is , if we complete this project on schedule, we’ll have more people available to work on the next project.”

34. This is important because…

“ This is important because any marketing effort we put in now will help to boost demand for our products in the long run.”

Concrete data presented with visual aids like charts and graphs can be powerful tools in a presentation, but only if you explain them clearly. These phrases can help:

35. Based on our findings…

“ Based on our findings, 74% of our market is made up of teenagers who find our clothing line stylish and upbeat.”

36. According to our study…

“ According to our study, 63% of working people in this city go directly to the gym after work.”

37. Our data indicates that…

“ Our data indicates that more than 23% of men in this town who used to drive to work now prefer to save money and the environment by cycling instead.”

38. As you can see from this chart…

39. This graph clearly shows that…

40. Looking at the figures, we can see…

41. This table highlights…

42. I’d like to illustrate this point by showing you…

The word “illustrate” means “show,” usually with examples, data or visuals.

“ I’d like to illustrate this point by showing you a chart of the number of people in each age group who prefer to shop online.”

43. This chart shows a breakdown of…

A “breakdown” refers to the detailed parts or figures that make up the total picture. A breakdown is often used in a presentation to show all the smaller parts behind something bigger.

“ This chart shows a breakdown of the ingredients we use in our gluten-free products.”

Sometimes in order to emphasize your point, you have to state it in a way that’s easier for your audience to understand and remember. This often involves rephrasing, simplifying or clarifying your point.

44. In other words…

“ In other words , we need to change our current design to make it more attractive to older children.”

45. To put it simply…

“ To put it simply , we’ll need you to work harder at making this launch a success.”

46. What I mean to say is…

“ What I mean to say is that we need to change the way we market our products.”

As you approach the end of your presentation, it’s important to summarize your main points and give a strong conclusion. Use these phrases:

47. In conclusion, let me sum up my main points.

As part of your closing statement, “sum up” (summarize, state briefly) your speech by mentioning the main points of your speech.

48. To summarize…

49. Let’s briefly recap the main points…

50. To wrap up, I’d like to…

51. The key takeaway from today’s presentation is…

Inviting questions during or after your presentation shows that you value your audience’s input. Here are some polite ways to do that:

52. Feel free to ask any questions at this point.

53. Are there any questions before we move on?

54. Does anyone have any questions so far?

55. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

56. I’ll be happy to answer any questions at the end.

Finally, close your presentation with a positive, professional note and thank your audience . Here are some phrases to help you finish strong:

57. Thank you for your time and attention.

58. That concludes my presentation.

59. I appreciate your participation today.

60. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and feedback.

Always have a plan. Spend some time thinking about what you’re going to say and how you’re going to say it. Think about the vocabulary , phrases and grammar that will make your message clear and easy to understand.

Here are a few suggesstions:

• Have a clear goal in mind to help you stay on track. Whenever you feel lost during the presentation, just remember this main goal. An example of a goal could be to convince potential clients to work with you. Remember to focus on the advantages you want to present and on examples of what you did in the past to deserve their trust. 
• Research content. If you know your facts, you already have the core of your presentation prepared. Write these facts down on topic cards, give out handouts with important information or include them on your PowerPoint slides.
• Prepare the delivery. Rehearse giving the presentation several times. Some people like recording themselves, others prefer practicing in front of a mirror or having friends listen to them while presenting. Choose the method that works best for you.

Using some visuals can make your presentation more entertaining, easier to understand and can get your points across more convincingly . My advice:

• Decide whether you need a PowerPoint presentation or not. Do you have graphs, results or other things like this to show? Then yes, you need one. Are you just telling a story? Then a PowerPoint probably isn’t necessary.
• Don’t fill your slides with too much information. Use a maximum of five or six short lines of text. Highlight key words so the audience can see the main ideas right away. Use bullet points rather than full sentences.
• Give the audience time to read graphs or charts. Don’t show a huge table of data if the audience won’t have time to read and understand it. Make sure you practice reading each slide while timing yourself to see how long it takes, so you don’t jump to the next slide too early during your presentation.

If you don’t structure your presentation well with a clear goal in mind, it may end up unclear and unorganized. You don’t want to run out of time before covering your main points or bore the audience.

Here are a few ways to make sure it goes smoothly:

• Decide on three main points (or less). Audiences can’t usually focus on more than three points, so narrow it down to the most important ones you want to make. 
• Tell them what points you’ll be making. Audiences like to know what to expect. Tell them the main goals of your presentation directly in the introduction.
• Use connectors to make transitions from one point to another.  Connectors can also help you present details within certain points. Here are some examples of connectors for different situations:

Mastering these presentation phrases will help to ensure that your message is conveyed clearly and professionally. They’ll also boost your confidence as you prepare to present in English. 

Practice using these phrases in your next presentation, and you’ll see how they help you succeed.

If you like learning English through movies and online media, you should also check out FluentU. FluentU lets you learn English from popular talk shows, catchy music videos and funny commercials , as you can see here:

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Greeting Your Audience

greet (someone or something) with open arms 1. To greet someone very happily and eagerly; to give someone a very warm, enthusiastic welcome.

Before beginning a presentation, you may find yourself questioning what you should do first. As you make your way to the front of the room, remember that one of the best ways to kick off your speech is by simply and effectively greeting your audience.

It may seem like common sense, but sometimes it can be a step that is forgotten, especially if there is pressure to start due to a time limit or maybe you are distracted by some pre-speaking jitters. 

Greeting your audience allows them to join you with full engagement and excitement, from the very start.

Here are 3 things to think about when greeting an audience:

1. keep it simple.

Say “Good Morning” (afternoon or evening) and introduce yourself, so that your audience can familiarize themselves with the person instructing them or giving them information of value.

2. Ask Your Audience a Question

Start a “conversation” where you ask the audience members to get involved by giving a verbal response, a show of hands, or just a nod of their head if they agree or disagree with a problem or statement that you’re asking about.

3. Begin With Introductions

Look at the size of the group, and the time you have available. You started by introducing yourself, but if possible go around the room asking audience members to state their name and something about themselves.  Help everyone in the room to know one another and rapport can begin.

We can’t say enough about the value of  First Impressions .   How you greet your audience is an essential part of that impression and of your presentation, it presents both you and eventually your topic to your audience.  A great beginning tells the audience that you will be energetic, interesting, and maybe even informing. So make sure you are all those things…from the start!

This information is from our  Public Speaking  curriculum. If you’re looking for ways to improve your communication skills, register for one of our  public classes .

Photo courtesy of  odd.note, other articles of interest:.

15 Ways to Say  Hello in English  – Phrasemix.com

A discussion on word usage when saying “Hello” to a group of people – English Language & Usage Stack Exchange

Saying Hello is Exhausting – Life of an Architect Blog

Start Strong – Give Your Audience A Greeting They Will Remember!

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Blog > English Presentation Structure (Introduction, Closing) & useful Phrases

English Presentation Structure (Introduction, Closing) & useful Phrases

02.21.20   •  #powerpoint #presentation #english.

When giving a presentation in english, there are certain guidelines you should follow. Maybe you haven't got a lot of experience presenting - or you would simply like to refresh your already existing knowledge - we're here to teach you the basics about presenting and provide you with a free list of useful phrases and the basic structure you can in your presentation!

1. Structure

The general structure of a presentation is the following:

• Introduction

It is up to you to design these three parts. Using videos or everyday-examples can be a great way to introduce the audience to the topic. The important thing is that you capture the audience's attention from the beginning by making an interesting introduction. The main part is where you present your topic, ideally divided into sections. You can be creative with it - incorporate images, videos, stories or interactive polls . We generally recommend using different kinds of elements, as that makes the presentation more lively. Make sure your main part is well structured, so your audience can follow. In the conclusion, you should give a short summary of the points you made without adding any new information. You can also make an appeal to your audience in the end.

2. Useful Phrases

Here you'll find several phrases that you'll need in every presentation. Of course, you should adapt them and use them in a context that is suitable for your setting. The phrases are divided into subcategories so you can find what you're looking for more easily.

Starting your Presentation

In your introduction, you should:

Welcome your audience

Good morning/afternoon/evening everyone!

Ladies and gentlemen, I welcome you to my presentation about...

Introduce yourself

I am ... (from company ...) and today I would like to introduce you to the topic of ...

My name is ... and I am going to talk about ... today.

Icebreakers (for audience engagement)

Icebreaker polls are an amazing way to engage your audience instantly. They function as a fun and playful element at the beginning, giving you the perfect start you need to give a successful presentation. Click here to read our detailed post about icebreaker polls!

Mention the presentation topic and the reason for giving the presentation

I am grateful to be here today and tell you you about...

I would like to take this opportunity to talk about ...

I am here today to talk to you about ...

The reason why I am here today to talk about ... is ...

The purpose of this presentation is to ...

My goal today is to ...

Hopefully, by the end of the presentation, you will all know more about ...

Give a short overview of the content

To make it as understandable as possible, I divided my presentation into ... parts. In the first part, I will concentrate on ..., the second part will be about ..., ...

First of all, I will give you a short introduction, then we will move on to ...

... and finally, I will give you some insights to ...

Here are a few phrases that you could use during the whole presentation, but especially in the main part.

Engage your audience

In order to raise the audience's attention and improve their engagement, it is extremely important to make contact with them. A great way to do so is by adding interactive elements such as polls. If you would like to know more about this topic, read our article on How To Boost Audience Engagement . You can also use a software like SlideLizard , which allows you to conduct live polls, do Q&A sessions with your audience, share your resources and many more benefits that take your presentation to the next level.

Please raise your hand if you ...

Have you ever thought about ... ?

I would like to do a poll about ...

Please ask any questions as soon as they arrive.

On one hand, … on the other hand…

Comparing … with …, we can see that…

Clearly, … makes more sense than …

Whereas Option A is …, Option B is …

Making new points

Firstly,… Secondly,…

What also has to be mentioned is…

Next, I would like to bring up the topic of…

That being said, now we are going to take a look at…

Let's move on to the next topic.

On the next slide,…

The last thing I would like to mention is…

We made a whole blog post about how to pose questions in your presentation: The Right Way to do a Question Slide .

Talking about images or videos

In this image you can clearly see that ...

We are now going to take a look at a picture/video of ...

I'm going to show you a video by ... about ... now.

I've prepared a video about ...

Talking about statistics and charts

I am now addressing this graph that refers to the results of study XY.

In the graph on this slide, you can see that ...

The average is at ...

This graph clearly shows that the majority ...

According to this graph, the focus should be on ...

What that study tells us for practice is that we should ...

Emphasizing

I would like to emphasize the importance of ...

Moreover, it has to be said that ...

I want to stress the importance of ...

We always have to remember that ...

This is of high significance because ...

That part is especially important because ...

When something goes wrong

I am sorry, but it seems like the projector isn't working.

Could someone please help me with ...?

Is anybody here who knows how to ...?

Could someone give me a hand with ...

I would like to apologize for ...

I apologize for the technical problems, we are going to continue in a minute.

I am sorry for the inconvenience.

End of Presentation

In the conclusion, you should...

Sum up the main points

In conclusion I can say that…

To sum up the main points,…

With all mentioned aspects taken into consideration, I can say that…

Make an appeal

So please, in the future, try to be conscious about...

Please take a moment to think about...

I would like to encourage you to...

Thank your audience and say goodbye

It was a pleasure being here today.

Thank you for listening and goodbye.

Thank you for being such a great, engaged audience. Goodbye.

Thank you so much for listening, see you next time.

What is the structure of a presentation?

Your presentations should always have an Introduction, a Main part and a Conclusion.

What is a good way to begin a presentation?

You can start by introducing yourself, giving an overview of your topic, telling a little story or showing the audience an introductory video or image.

What are good phrases to use in English presentations?

There are many phrases that will make your presentation a lot more professional. Our blog post gives you a detailed overview.

Related articles

About the author.

Pia Lehner-Mittermaier

Pia works in Marketing as a graphic designer and writer at SlideLizard. She uses her vivid imagination and creativity to produce good content.

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The big SlideLizard presentation glossary

Hybrid event.

When an event consist of both virtual and in-person parts, this is called a hybrid event. This type of event is popular as it combines the benefits of both online and live events.

Break-out-Room

In live online training, it is sometimes useful to divide the students into small groups for certain exercises, as it would be impossible to have conversations at the same time. Break-out-rooms are used so that people can talk to each other without disturbing the others. When the exercise is over, they are sent back to the main room.

Audience Demographics

Audience Demographics are the characteristics of listeners like age, gender, cultural backgrounds, group affiliations and educational level. The speaker has to consider all these characteristics when adapting to an audience.

Informative Presentations

An information presentation is created when no solution is currently available. Facts, data and figures or study results are presented and current processes are described.

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SpeakUp resources

Starting a presentation in english: methods and examples.

• By Jake Pool

If you’re going to make it in the professional world, most likely you’ll have to give a presentation in English at some point. No reason to get nervous!

Most of the work involved lies in the introduction. You may or may not need an English presentation PPT file, your topic, audience, or time limit may vary, but a strong opening is a must no matter what! Everything that follows can build from the opening outline you present to your audience.

Let’s look at some guidelines for starting a presentation in English. If you can master this part, you’ll never have to worry about the rest!

Opening in a Presentation in English

While it’s important to have your entire presentation organized and outlined, planning and organization are especially important in the introduction. This is what will guide you through a clear and concise beginning. Let’s look at how to start a presentation with well-organized thoughts .

Introduction Outline

• Introduce yourself and welcome everyone.
• State the purpose of your presentation
• Give a short overview of the presentation

As we say, it’s as easy as 1-2-3. (No need for a more detailed English presentation script!) Let’s examine the first step.

1. Introduce Yourself & Welcome Everyone

The self-introduction is your opportunity to make a good first impression. Be sure to open with a warm welcome and use language that is familiar and natural. Based on your audience, there are a few different expressions you can use to start your presentation.

If you’re presenting to coworkers who may already know you:

• Hello, [name] here. I would like to thank you all for your time. As you may know, I [describe what you do/your job title] I look forward to discussing [topic] today.
• Good morning/afternoon/evening everyone. Thank you for being here. For those who don’t know me, my name is [name], and for those who know me, hello again.

If you’re presenting to people you’ve never met:

• Hello everyone, it’s nice to meet you all. My name is [name] and I am the [job/title].
• Hello. Welcome to [event]. My name is [name] and I am the [job/title]. I’m glad you’re all here.

There are certainly more ways to make an introduction. However, it’s generally best to follow this format:

• Start with a polite welcome and state your name.
• Follow with your job title and/or the reason you’re qualified to speak on the topic being discussed.

2. State the Purpose of Your Presentation

Now that your audience knows who you are and your qualifications, you can state the purpose of your presentation. This is where you clarify to your audience what you’ll be talking about.

So, ask yourself, “ What do I want my audience to get from this presentation? ”

• Do you want your audience to be informed?
• Do you need something from your audience?
• Do you want them to purchase a product?
• Do you want them to do something for the community or your company?

With your goal in mind, you can create the next couple of lines of your presentation. Below are some examples of how to start.

• Let me share with you…
• I’d like to introduce you to [product or service]
• Today I want to discuss…
• I want to breakdown for you [topic]
• Let’s discuss…
• Today I will present the results of my research on [topic]
• By the end of this presentation, you’ll understand [topic]
• My goal is to explain…
• As you know, we’ll be talking about…

When talking about the purpose of your presentation, stick to your goals. You purpose statement should be only one to three sentences. That way, you can give your audience a clear sense of purpose that sets them up for the rest of the presentation.

3. A Short Overview of the Presentation

The final step in starting your presentation is to give a short outline of what you’ll be presenting. People like a map of what to expect from a presentation.

It helps them organize their thoughts and gives a sense of order. Also, it lets the audience know why they’re listening to you. This is what you’ll use to grab their attention, and help them stay focused throughout the presentation.

Here are some examples of how you can outline your presentation:

• Today, I’m going to cover… Then we’ll talk about… Lastly, I’ll close on…
• We’re going to be covering some key information you need to know, including…
• My aim with this presentation is to get you to… To do that we’ll be talking about…
• I’ve divided my presentation into [number] sections… [List the sections]
• Over the next [length of your presentation] I’m going to discuss…

That’s it! It’s as simple as 1-2-3. If you have a fear of public speaking or are not confident about presenting to a group of people, follow these three steps. It’s a simple structure that can get you off to a good start. With that in mind, there are other ways to bring your introduction to the next level too! Read on for bonus tips on how to really engage your audience, beyond the basics.

For a Strong Presentation in English, Engage your Audience

Presentations aren’t everyone’s strongest ability, and that’s OK. If you’re newer to presenting in English, the steps above are the basics to getting started. Once you’re more comfortable with presenting, though, you can go a step further with some extra tricks that can really wow your audience.

Mastering the skill of engaging an audience will take experience. Fortunately, there are many famous speakers out there you can model for capturing attention. Also, there are some common techniques that English-speakers use to gain an audience’s attention.

*How and when you use these techniques in your introduction is at your discretion, as long as you cover the 3 steps of the introduction outline that we discussed earlier.*

Do or say something shocking.

The purpose of shocking your audience is to immediately engage them. You can make a loud noise and somehow relate the noise to your presentation. Or, you can say, “ Did you know that… ” and follow with a shocking story or statistic. Either way, the objective is to create surprise to draw their attention.

Tell a story

Telling a story related to your presentation is a great way to get the audience listening to you.

You can start by saying, “ On my way to [location] the other day… ” or “ On my way here, I was reminded of… ” and then follow with a story. A good story can make your presentation memorable.

Ask your audience to take part

Sometimes a good introduction that captures attention will involve asking for help from the audience. You can ask the audience to play a quick game or solve a puzzle that’s related to your presentation. Also, you could engage the audience with a group exercise. This is a great way to get people involved in your presentation.

There are many more ways to engage the audience, so get creative and see what you can think up! Here are some resources that will help you get started.

Also, if you want to get better at public speaking (and help your English speaking too!), a great organization to know about is the Toastmasters . The organization is dedicated to helping you be a better speaker, and there are many local groups in America. They offer free lessons and events to help you master your English speaking, and also offer additional help to paying members.

The Takeaway

A presentation in English? No problem, as long as your introduction sets you up for success . Admittedly, this can be easier said than done. Native speakers and non-native speakers alike sometimes struggle with getting a good start on their English presentation. But the advice above can help you get the confidence you need to lay a good foundation for your next speech !

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How to Start a Presentation: 5 Templates and 90 Example Phrases

By Status.net Editorial Team on February 27, 2024 — 11 minutes to read

Starting a presentation effectively means capturing your audience’s attention from the very beginning. It’s important because it sets the tone for the entire presentation and establishes your credibility as a speaker.

Effective Openers: 5 Templates

Your presentation’s beginning sets the stage for everything that follows. So, it’s important to capture your audience’s attention right from the start. Here are some tried-and-true techniques to do just that.

1. Storytelling Approach

When you start with a story, you tap into the natural human love for narratives. It can be a personal experience, a historical event, or a fictional tale that ties back to your main point.

Example Introduction Template 1:

“Let me tell you a story about…”

Example : “Let me tell you a story about how a small idea in a garage blossomed into the global brand we know today.”

2. Quotation Strategy

Using a relevant quote can lend authority and thematic flavor to your presentation. Choose a quote that is provocative, enlightening, or humorous to resonate with your audience.

Example Introduction Template 2:

“As [Famous Person] once said…”

Example : “As Steve Jobs once said, ‘Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.'”

3. Questioning Technique

Engage your audience directly by opening with a thoughtful question. This encourages them to think and become active participants.

Example Introduction Template 3:

“Have you ever wondered…”

Example : “Have you ever wondered what it would take to reduce your carbon footprint to zero?”

4. Statistical Hook

Kick off with a startling statistic that presents a fresh perspective or underscores the importance of your topic.

Example Introduction Template 4:

“Did you know that…”

Example : “Did you know that 90% of the world’s data was generated in the last two years alone?”

5. Anecdotal Method

Share a brief, relatable incident that highlights the human aspect of your topic. It paves the way for empathy and connection.

Example Introduction Template 5:

“I want to share a quick anecdote…”

Example : “I want to share a quick anecdote about a time I experienced the customer service that went above and beyond what anyone would expect.”

How to Start a Powerpoint Presentation: 45 Example Phrases

Starting a PowerPoint presentation effectively can captivate your audience and set the tone for your message. The opening phrases you choose are important in establishing rapport and commanding attention. Whether you’re presenting to colleagues, at a conference, or in an academic setting, these phrases will help you begin with confidence and poise:

• 1. “Good morning/afternoon/evening, everyone. Thank you for joining me today.”
• 2. “Welcome, and thank you for being here. Let’s dive into our topic.”
• 3. “I’m excited to have the opportunity to present to you all about…”
• 4. “Thank you all for coming. Today, we’re going to explore…”
• 5. “Let’s begin by looking at the most important question: Why are we here today?”
• 6. “I appreciate your time today, and I promise it will be well spent as we discuss…”
• 7. “Before we get started, I want to express my gratitude for your presence here today.”
• 8. “It’s a pleasure to see so many familiar faces as we gather to talk about…”
• 9. “I’m thrilled to kick off today’s presentation on a topic that I am passionate about—…”
• 10. “Welcome to our session. I’m confident you’ll find the next few minutes informative as we cover…”
• 11. “Let’s embark on a journey through our discussion on…”
• 12. “I’m delighted to have the chance to share my insights on…”
• 13. “Thank you for the opportunity to present to such an esteemed audience on…”
• 14. “Let’s set the stage for an engaging discussion about…”
• 15. “As we begin, I’d like you to consider this:…”
• 16. “Today marks an important discussion on a subject that affects us all:…”
• 17. “Good day, and welcome to what promises to be an enlightening presentation on…”
• 18. “Hello and welcome! We’re here to delve into something truly exciting today…”
• 19. “I’m honored to present to you this comprehensive look into…”
• 20. “Without further ado, let’s get started on a journey through…”
• 21. “Thank you for carving time out of your day to join me for this presentation on…”
• 22. “It’s wonderful to see such an engaged audience ready to tackle the topic of…”
• 23. “I invite you to join me as we unpack the complexities of…”
• 24. “Today’s presentation will take us through some groundbreaking ideas about…”
• 25. “Welcome aboard! Prepare to set sail into the vast sea of knowledge on…”
• 26. “I’d like to extend a warm welcome to everyone as we focus our attention on…”
• 27. “Let’s ignite our curiosity as we begin to explore…”
• 28. “Thank you for your interest and attention as we dive into the heart of…”
• 29. “As we look ahead to the next hour, we’ll uncover the secrets of…”
• 30. “I’m eager to share with you some fascinating insights on…”
• 31. “Welcome to what I believe will be a transformative discussion on…”
• 32. “This morning/afternoon, we’ll be venturing into the world of…”
• 33. “Thank you for joining me on this exploration of…”
• 34. “I’m delighted by the turnout today as we embark on this exploration of…”
• 35. “Together, let’s navigate the intricacies of…”
• 36. “I’m looking forward to engaging with you all on the subject of…”
• 37. “Let’s kick things off with a critical look at…”
• 38. “Thank you for your presence today as we shine a light on…”
• 39. “Welcome to a comprehensive overview of…”
• 40. “It’s a privilege to discuss with you the impact of…”
• 41. “I’m glad you could join us for what promises to be a thought-provoking presentation on…”
• 42. “Today, we’re going to break down the concept of…”
• 43. “As we get started, let’s consider the significance of our topic:…”
• 44. “I’m thrilled to lead you through today’s discussion, which centers around…”
• 45. “Let’s launch into our session with an eye-opening look at…”

Starting a Presentation: 45 Examples

Connecting with the audience.

When starting a presentation, making a genuine connection with your audience sets the stage for a successful exchange of ideas. Examples:

• “I promise, by the end of this presentation, you’ll be as enthusiastic about this as I am because…”
• “The moment I learned about this, I knew it would be a game-changer and I’m thrilled to present it to you…”
• “There’s something special about this topic that I find incredibly invigorating, and I hope you will too…”
• “I get a rush every time I work on this, and I hope to transmit that energy to you today…”
• “I’m thrilled to discuss this breakthrough that could revolutionize…”
• “This project has been a labor of love, and I’m eager to walk you through…”
• “When I first encountered this challenge, I was captivated by the possibilities it presented…”
• “I can’t wait to dive into the details of this innovative approach with you today…”
• “It’s genuinely exhilarating to be at the edge of what’s possible in…”
• “My fascination with [topic] drove me to explore it further, and I’m excited to share…”
• “Nothing excites me more than talking about the future of…”
• “Seeing your faces, I know we’re going to have a lively discussion about…”
• “The potential here is incredible, and I’m looking forward to discussing it with you…”
• “Let’s embark on this journey together and explore why this is such a pivotal moment for…”
• “Your engagement in this discussion is going to make this even more exciting because…”

Building Credibility

You present with credibility when you establish your expertise and experience on the subject matter. Here’s what you can say to accomplish that:

• “With a decade of experience in this field, I’ve come to understand the intricacies of…”
• “Having led multiple successful projects, I’m excited to share my insights on…”
• “Over the years, working closely with industry experts, I’ve gleaned…”
• “I hold a degree in [your field], which has equipped me with a foundation for…”
• “I’m a certified professional in [your certification], which means I bring a certain level of expertise…”
• “Having published research on this topic, my perspective is grounded in…”
• “I’ve been a keynote speaker at several conferences, discussing…”
• “Throughout my career, I’ve contributed to groundbreaking work in…”
• “My experience as a [your previous role] has given me a unique outlook on…”
• “Endorsed by [an authority in your field], I’m here to share what we’ve achieved…”
• “The program I developed was recognized by [award], highlighting its impact in…”
• “I’ve trained professionals nationwide on this subject and witnessed…”
• “Collaborating with renowned teams, we’ve tackled challenges like…”
• “I’ve been at the forefront of this industry, navigating through…”
• “As a panelist, I’ve debated this topic with some of the brightest minds in…”

Projecting Confidence

• “I stand before you today with a deep understanding of…”
• “You can rely on the information I’m about to share, backed by thorough research and analysis…”
• “Rest assured, the strategies we’ll discuss have been tested and proven effective in…”
• “I’m certain you’ll find the data I’ll present both compelling and relevant because…”
• “I’m fully confident in the recommendations I’m providing today due to…”
• “The results speak for themselves, and I’m here to outline them clearly for you…”
• “I invite you to consider the evidence I’ll present; it’s both robust and persuasive…”
• “You’re in good hands today; I’ve navigated these waters many times and have the insights to prove it…”
• “I assure you, the journey we’ll take during this presentation will be enlightening because…”
• “Your success is important to me, which is why I’ve prepared diligently for our time together…”
• “Let’s look at the facts; they’ll show you why this approach is solid and dependable…”
• “Today, I present to you a clear path forward, grounded in solid experience and knowledge…”
• “I’m confident that what we’ll uncover today will not only inform but also inspire you because…”
• “You’ll leave here equipped with practical, proven solutions that you can trust because…”
• “The solution I’m proposing has been embraced industry-wide, and for good reason…”

Organizational Preview

Starting your presentation with a clear organizational preview can effectively guide your audience through the content. This section helps you prepare to communicate the roadmap of your presentation.

Outlining the Main Points

You should begin by briefly listing the main points you’ll cover. This lets your audience know what to expect and helps them follow along. For example, if you’re presenting on healthy eating, you might say, “Today, I’ll cover the benefits of healthy eating, essential nutrients in your diet, and simple strategies for making healthier choices.”

Setting the Tone

Your introduction sets the tone for the entire presentation. A way to do this is through a relevant story or anecdote that engages the audience. Suppose you’re talking about innovation; you might start with, “When I was a child, I was fascinated by how simple Legos could build complex structures, which is much like the innovation process.”

Explaining the Structure

Explain the structure of your presentation so that your audience can anticipate how you’ll transition from one section to the next. For instance, if your presentation includes an interactive portion, you might say, “I’ll begin with a 15-minute overview, followed by a hands-on demonstration, and we’ll wrap up with a Q&A session, where you can ask any questions.”

Practice and Preparation

Before you step onto the stage, it’s important that your preparation includes not just content research, but also rigorous practice and strategy for dealing with nerves. This approach ensures you present with confidence and clarity.

Rehearsing the Opening

Practicing your introduction aloud gives you the opportunity to refine your opening remarks. You might start by greeting the audience and sharing an interesting quote or a surprising statistic related to your topic. For example, if your presentation is about the importance of renewable energy, you could begin with a recent statistic about the growth in solar energy adoption. Record yourself and listen to the playback, focusing on your tone, pace, and clarity.

Memorizing Key Points

While you don’t need to memorize your entire presentation word for word, you should know the key points by heart. This includes main arguments, data, and any conclusions you’ll be drawing. You can use techniques such as mnemonics or the method of loci, which means associating each key point with a specific location in your mind, to help remember these details. Having them at your fingertips will make you feel more prepared and confident.

Managing Presentation Jitters

Feeling nervous before a presentation is natural, but you can manage these jitters with a few techniques. Practice deep breathing exercises or mindful meditation to calm your mind before going on stage. You can also perform a mock presentation to a group of friends or colleagues to simulate the experience and receive feedback. This will not only help you get used to speaking in front of others but also in adjusting your material based on their reactions.

Engagement Strategies

Starting a presentation on the right foot often depends on how engaged your audience is. Using certain strategies, you can grab their attention early and maintain their interest throughout your talk:

1. Encouraging Audience Participation

Opening your presentation with a question to your audience is a great way to encourage participation. This invites them to think actively about the subject matter. For instance, you might ask, “By a show of hands, how many of you have experienced…?” Additionally, integrating interactive elements like quick polls or requesting volunteers for a demonstration can make the experience more dynamic and memorable.

Using direct questions throughout your presentation ensures the audience stays alert, as they might be called upon to share their views. For example, after covering a key point, you might engage your audience with, “Does anyone have an experience to share related to this?”

2. Utilizing Pacing and Pauses

Mastering the pace of your speech helps keep your presentation lively. Quickening the pace when discussing exciting developments or slowing down when explaining complex ideas can help maintain interest. For example, when introducing a new concept, slow your pace to allow the audience to absorb the information.

Pauses are equally powerful. A well-timed pause after a key point gives the audience a moment to ponder the significance of what you’ve just said. It might feel like this: “The results of this study were groundbreaking. (pause) They completely shifted our understanding of…”. Pauses also give you a moment to collect your thoughts, adding to your overall composure and control of the room.

How should one introduce their group during a presentation?

You might say something like, “Let me introduce my amazing team: Alex, our researcher, Jamie, our designer, and Sam, the developer. Together, we’ve spent the last few months creating something truly special for you.”

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How to: use Presentation language 1 – greeting, introducing yourself and engaging the audience

Giving a presentation in English – whether online or in a face-to-face meeting, can be a challenging task. Preparation and practice is the key to a confident and clear presentation. Here is some advice to help you review the structure of a presentation and some of the language you can use at each stage. In this section we look at language you can use at the beginning of your presentation.

Greet your audience, introduce yourself and engage the audience

Ranging from more to less formal, here is some language you can use at the beginning of your presentation:

1) Welcome/greet the audience and introduce yourself

Good morning/afternoon, – Hello everyone, thank you for attending this presentation.

– Hello, It’s very nice to see you all today.

– Thanks for coming/joining me everyone.

– My name is XXX and I’m the XXX of XXX

– I’m XXX and I work for XXX in XXX…

2) Engage the audience

– Before I begin my presentation I’d like you to think about this question…

– I’m sure you’re all ready to learn something new today and I hope that this presentation will provide that opportunity

– I hope you’ve all had some coffee or tea and can stay alert for this presentation – I have some interesting information to share!

Don’t forget, whichever context you are presenting in – online or in a real life face-to-face situation – you need to engage with your audience. As well as speaking you can use non-verbal communication too, such as smiling, using hand gestures and looking at your audience.

English Training for Organisations

We deliver English language training for employees within organisations who want to develop their English as a second language. Organisations trust us to provide personalised, tailored support and upskill their workforce through a range of services. Our results speak for themselves!

• Employee immersion course in the UK
• Employee language coaching
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• Company Language Auditing

English Training for Professionals

If you are looking to improve your English as a second language for work, job interviews, presentations, business meetings and more, we offer a range of personalised services which are tailored to you and help you develop your English fast.

• Online intensive courses
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• Intensive immersion courses UK

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Start Strong!  — Give Your Audience a Greeting They'll Remember

Do you know how to start a speech successfully? You might need to power up your opening! Here's how to give your audience a greeting they'll remember.

Imagine you're an audience member who hears this from a speaker at the start of a sales pitch:

"Good morning. I'm Glenn Collect-More, president of Collect-More Medical Billing. Our experts help hospitals and medical groups maximize practice revenue. I'm delighted to speak to you this morning.  . . . Would you like to increase the number of patients you see in your hospital while reducing your paperwork and expenses?"

This opening looks okay when you see it like this, doesn't it? But now imagine that everything the speaker said took a total of 14 seconds. He delivered everything in a monotone. None of the words or phrases seemed to have any life to them.  How successful would you now say this speaker's opening was?

Discover 101 tips for great speeches and presentations   in the Public Speaking Handbook How to Give a Speech . Click on the image below for a free chapter! On  Amazon.

How to Craft a Powerful Speech Introduction

You may remember from your school days that a speech has three parts: Introduction, Body, and Conclusion. And while that may be generally true in a broad sense, most presentations include a fourth component: the Greeting.

Your greeting is an essential part of your Introduction because it presents both you and your topic to your audience. It gives listeners a flavor of what will follow. Equally important, it opens up the channel of communication between you and the audience. It tells them whether you're going to be interesting or not. And it gets them to pay maximum attention (or not).

All pretty vital! As a speech coach, I tell my clients and trainees that your greeting is absolutely an element of your speech that can't be neglected.

Once you greet your audience, you need to hook them so they'll pay maximum attention. Discover the most powerful ways for doing that in my e-book,  How to Start a Speech .

You Have 30-60 Seconds to Build Your Credibility

If you're like many speakers, you may have said concerning these opening moments of your speeches: "Things felt a little shaky at first. But after 2 or 3 minutes, I got on track and everything went fine after that."

But audiences judge you immediately! So you need to know  how to launch a presentation in the critical first 60 seconds ! That's all the time you have to get audience members' judgments working in your favor rather than against you. Again, your greeting is precious real estate that you must develop, not let lie fallow.

One scenario that I see often in my executive speech training , is that the speaker's content is actually fine, but it's that person's delivery that is undermining their effectiveness. You may, for instance, say the same thing, so many times to so many audiences, that you forget that these listeners have never heard it before. You may then become guilty of "phoning in your performance," as actors say, instead of investing it with all the energy and passion you're capable of in service to your topic.

To speak with true impact and influence, download my free e-book   "12 Easy Ways to Achieve Presence and Charisma."

How to Deliver a Strong Presentation or Pitch

The manner in which you start a pitch or presentation, then, will greatly influence whether you grab your audience's attention and get them listening. The selection at the start of this article, for instance, is similar to what I heard last week when I conducted a breakfast workshop for a professional group. One of the attendees volunteered to give us the opening of his "stump pitch," and that is the content (changed for privacy) that I included above.

What I said to the group concerning this opening—and it's an important point—is that there were actually  four  components to his greeting. Before he asked his "grabbing" question, that is, he did the following: 1) greeted his audience with "Good morning," 2) identified himself, 3) named his company's expertise that might be of interest to prospects, and 4) told his listeners that he was delighted to be speaking to them. After that came his "hook."  Before  that came the elements of his greeting that he'd specifically included to begin pleasantly and professionally.

The problem was that, although he knew why those elements were there, he'd rattled them off so many times that he'd lost his own interest in the content. He was telegraphing to his audience through his vocal skills (or neglect of them) that it no longer revved his engine to say these things. He needed, in other words, to work on his ways to improve vocal skills for pitches and presentations. 

I coached this gentleman briefly, helping him to invest emotionally in his greeting, rather than just rattling it all off. In a short time, he'd caught on, and his vocal delivery skills began to match the important information he was conveying.

His fellow workshop attendees spontaneously applauded his last attempt.  Now  he had a greeting that accomplished its job, helping to launch his presentation strongly.

Do you read thrillers and supernatural suspense ? If you do, you'll like Dr. William Scarlet, a Scotland Yard police surgeon and psychic. Start reading Series Book #1 Red Season  today!

You should follow me on Twitter  here .

Gary Genard   is an actor, author, and expert in public speaking and overcoming speaking fear. His company, The Genard Method offers  live 1:1 Zoom executive coaching   and corporate group training worldwide. He was named for nine consecutive years as  One of the World’s Top 30 Communication Professionals , and also named as  One of America's Top 5 Speech Coaches .  He is the author of the Amazon Best-Seller  How to Give a Speech . His second book,  Fearless Speaking ,  was named in 2019 as "One of the 100 Best Confidence Books of All Time." His handbook for presenting in videoconferences,  Speaking Virtually  offers strategies and tools for developing virtual presence in online meetings. His latest book is  Speak for Leadership: An Executive Speech Coach's Secrets for Developing Leadership Presence .  Contact Gary here.  

Tags: public speaking training , public speaking , effective presentations , public speaking skills , presentation greeting , how to open a presentation , how to begin a presentation , how to start a speech , how to give a speech , presentation training , effective speaking , speech introduction , how to open a speech , vocal dynamics , The Genard Method , Dr. Gary Genard , fearless speaking , speak for leadership , how to start a presentation , how to begin a speech , speech introduction examples , introduction , how to write an introduction , Red Season , Dr. William Scarlet Mysteries

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12+ Opening Speech Examples for Presentations & Quick Tips

Last updated on June 7th, 2024

These days, most of the audience prefers an informal approach in presentations, but at the same time, it must sound professional. When people prepare for any type of presentation, they often face this dilemma: how to start a presentation? What should be the opening speech? How much time should we take for the introduction part?

The first three minutes of your presentations are crucial to get to your audience with an engaging message and make the overall presentation effective. With the proper opening speech for your presentation, you can hook your audience, win the audience’s attention and get them audience interested in what you have to say. Check out some speech introduction examples to get familiar with this topic. Undoubtedly, if the beginning of your presentation is solid and exciting, the chances of success of your presentation increase. Opening your persuasive speech entirely depends upon your style and choice because when you are giving a presentation, you are required to be yourself and avoid putting artistic elements. So, choose something with which you are entirely comfortable.

If you are looking on how to start a speech then this article can help you to get some ideas. Here is a list of opening speech examples that you can use to prepare your presentations with a persuasive speech that convinces the audience. Find useful starting lines of speech, phrases and strategies to make your presentation a success:

1. Opening Speech with Greetings

This is the very basic, common and important step in which you need to greet your audience by wish them good morning/afternoon or evening (as per the time of session in which you are giving presentation). How to start a speech? Check out some of the examples below including a simple but effective speech introduction greeting example.

Example of Opening Greetings

Hello, everyone. I’d like, first of all, to thank the organizers of this meeting for inviting me here today.

Another example of opening Greeting speech.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I am honored to have the opportunity to address such a distinguished audience.

2. Open the Speech by Giving Compliment & Show Gratitude towards your Audience

Secondly, just after wishing greeting to your audience give them compliment and choose some words which show that you are delighted to see them there.

Example: 

It’s great to see you all, Thank you for coming here today.

3. Give your introduction: Introduce Yourself

How you introduce yourself during a presentation is important. There are many ways to introduce yourself. Here we will see some examples on how to introduce yourself in a presentation. First of all, give your introduction start from telling your name. You can show some casual attitude by telling your short name or nick name, and then tell the audience more about your background and what you do.

For example, a good way to start introducing yourself could be:

My name is Louis Taylor, friends call me Lee sometimes.

Then introduce yourself professionally and give quite information about what you do and why are here today. For Example:

I am a software engineer by profession and working in ABC Corp. Today, I am here to provide you some exciting information about new technology, which is going to be very beneficial for you in future.

Another example of self-introduction speech:

For those of you who don’t know me already, my name is Louis Taylor, and I’m responsible for the software department at ABC Corp.

Using a self-introduction template and slide in your presentation, you can support your speech while presenting the information about you in the projection. You can also visit self introduction speech examples to find out some examples on how to introduce yourself and download self-introduction templates for PowerPoint & Google Slides.

4. Opening with the Topic of the Speech

Next is the part where you introduce the topic of your presentation or speech. Here are some examples of good opening speech for presentations examples on a specific topic.

What I’d like to present to you today is…

Or here is a simplified example of a good introduction for presentation in which we try to get the audience’s attention over the screen where you are presenting the content of your PowerPoint or Google Slides presentation.

As you can see on the screen, our topic today is…

5. Signpost

Put all your information in front of them and then put your proposal and its related information and key point by which you can implement and utilize that idea effectively. Now let collect these points to make a summary and concise illustration. Here is an example of presentation starting speech that you can use:

“Good afternoon every one, it’s great to see you all here, thank you for coming. My name is Louis Taylor, friends call me Lee sometimes. I am a software engineer by profession and working with ABC Ltd. Today we are here to know about new software so that we can take most of it. Firstly, we will look how it work, next we will discuss where can we use it, then we will learn what are its advantages and finally we will discuss what precautions are required to kept in mind while implementing it.”

6. Creating an Emotional Connection in Your Opening Speech

An effective opening speech is not just about presenting information or stating facts; it’s about forging an emotional connection with your audience. Building this connection can make your presentation more engaging, relatable, and memorable. Here are some strategies to achieve this:

Storytelling: One of the most powerful ways to establish an emotional connection is through storytelling. Sharing a personal anecdote or a relevant story can evoke emotions and draw your audience into your presentation. Make sure your story aligns with the overall theme of your presentation and adds value to your message.

Example of speech opening:

“Good morning, everyone. When I was a little boy, I used to watch my grandfather work tirelessly on his old typewriter. The clacking of the keys was a lullaby that lulled me into dreams of creating something impactful. Today, I am here to talk about the evolution of technology and its effect on communication, from typewriters of old to the smartphones of today.”

Relatability: Find common ground with your audience. This could be based on shared experiences, values, or aspirations. Doing so helps to humanize you, making it easier for your audience to relate to your message.

“Like many of you, I too struggle with maintaining a work-life balance in this fast-paced digital world. Today, I’ll share some strategies I’ve discovered that have significantly improved my quality of life.”

Utilizing Emotions: Use emotions like humor, surprise, curiosity, or inspiration to engage your audience. Different emotions can be used depending on the tone and purpose of your presentation.

“Did you know that the average person spends two weeks of their life waiting for traffic lights to change? That certainly puts our daily commute in a new light, doesn’t it?”

Remember, authenticity is crucial in building an emotional connection. Be yourself, share your experiences, and speak from the heart. This helps to gain your audience’s trust and keeps them engaged throughout your presentation.

7. Harnessing the Power of Visual Aids in Your Opening Speech

Visual aids are a potent tool in any presentation, particularly in your opening speech. They can grab your audience’s attention with a visually appealing cover slide, support your message, and make a lasting impression. Here are some ways you can utilize visual aids in your opening speech.

Images: An image is worth a thousand words, they say, and it’s true. An impactful or relevant image can pique the curiosity of your audience and set the tone for your presentation. Ensure the image aligns with your topic and contributes to your overall message.

“As you can see on the screen, this is an image of a barren desert. It may surprise you to learn that this was once a thriving forest. Today, I’ll be talking about climate change and its irreversible effects.”

Short Videos: A short video can be a great way to engage your audience. This could be a brief clip that illustrates your topic, a short animation, or even a quick introductory video about you or your organization.

Example of a presentation opening statement:

“Before we start, let’s watch this brief video about the incredible journey of a raindrop.”

Infographics and Charts: If you are sharing statistical data or complex information, infographic slides or charts can simplify and clarify your message. They are visually engaging and can help your audience understand and remember the information.

“Take a look at this chart. It shows the exponential increase in cybercrime over the last five years, a topic that we will delve into further today.”

Slides: A well-designed slide can provide a visual structure for your opening speech. It should be clean, easy to read, and should not distract from your speech. Avoid cluttering your slides with too much text or complex graphics.

“According to the infographic on the screen, we can see the three core areas we’ll be focusing on in today’s presentation.”

Remember, the goal of using visual slides is to enhance your message, not overshadow it. They should complement your speech and provide visual interest for your audience. Always test your visual aids beforehand to ensure they work properly during your presentation.

8. Engaging Your Audience with Rhetorical Questions

A rhetorical question is a powerful tool you can use in your opening speech to provoke thought and engage your audience. By posing a question that doesn’t require an answer, you can pique your audience’s interest, make them think, and steer their focus towards your presentation’s key points. Here’s how to use rhetorical questions effectively in your opening speech:

Spark Curiosity: Use a rhetorical question to spark curiosity about your topic. This question should be thought-provoking and relevant to your presentation.

“Have you ever stopped to wonder how much of your life is influenced by social media?”

Highlight Key Issues: A rhetorical question can help highlight the key issues or problems that your presentation aims to address. This will help your audience understand the importance of your topic.

“What would happen if our natural resources were to run out tomorrow?”

Encourage Reflection: Encourage your audience to reflect on their personal experiences or beliefs. This will make your presentation more relatable and engaging.

“How many of us truly understand the value of our mental health?”

Set the Tone: You can also use a rhetorical question to set the tone of your presentation, whether it’s serious, humorous, or contemplative.

“Is there anyone here who doesn’t love pizza?”

Remember, rhetorical questions are meant to stimulate thought, not to put anyone on the spot. Make sure your questions are relevant to your topic and are appropriate for your audience. With the right questions, you can grab your audience’s attention, keep them engaged, and guide their thinking throughout your presentation.

9. Leveraging Statistical Data in Your Opening Speech

Using statistical data in your opening speech is a powerful way to capture the audience’s attention and lend credibility to your message. Surprising or impactful statistics related to your presentation’s topic can instantly make your audience sit up and take notice. Here’s how you can incorporate statistical data effectively in your opening speech:

Relevant and Interesting Data: Choose statistics that are directly relevant to your topic and are likely to pique your audience’s interest. This data should enhance your message and provide valuable context for your presentation.

“Do you know that according to the World Health Organization, depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, affecting over 264 million people?”

Simplify Complex Data: If you’re presenting complex or dense data, make sure to simplify it for your audience. Use percentages, comparisons, or visual aids like infographics or charts to make the data easily understandable.

“Look at this chart. It represents the staggering 80% increase in cybercrime incidents over the past five years.”

Credible Sources: Always ensure your data comes from credible and reputable sources. This not only adds legitimacy to your presentation, but it also boosts your credibility as a speaker.

“According to a recent study published in the Journal of Environmental Science, air pollution contributes to 1 in 8 deaths worldwide.”

Shocking or Surprising Data: If you have statistics that are surprising or counter-intuitive, they can be an excellent way to grab your audience’s attention and spark curiosity about your presentation.

“Can you believe that, according to the United Nations, we waste approximately 1.3 billion tons of food every year, while one in nine people worldwide go hungry?”

Using statistical data in your opening speech can help to highlight the significance of your topic, draw your audience in, and lay a solid foundation for the rest of your presentation. Remember to present your data in a clear, accessible way, and always cite your sources to maintain credibility.

10. Creating a Powerful Hook with Anecdotes and Quotations

Anecdotes and quotations can be a powerful tool in your opening speech, serving as hooks that draw your audience into your presentation. They can provide a human element to your topic, connect with your audience on an emotional level, and add depth to your message. Here’s how you can effectively incorporate anecdotes and quotations in your opening speech:

Relevant Anecdotes: Sharing a relevant anecdote, whether personal or related to your topic, can make your presentation more relatable and engaging. Your anecdote should be brief, interesting, and serve to illustrate a point related to your topic.

“When I was a teenager, my family’s home was destroyed by a fire. That experience ignited in me a passion for safety measures and awareness, which brings us to today’s topic: fire safety in residential areas.”

Inspiring Quotations: A well-chosen quote can add depth and perspective to your topic. It can inspire, provoke thought, or set the tone for your presentation. Presenting it with a visually appealing quote slide increases the chances to make a lasting impression. Make sure the quote is relevant to your topic and from a credible source.

“Albert Einstein once said, ‘The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.’ This leads us into our discussion today on the importance of mindset in personal development.”

Humorous Anecdotes or Quotations: Depending on the formality of the setting and the topic of your presentation, a funny anecdote or quote can help to relax the audience, making them more receptive to your message.

“Mark Twain once said, ‘I didn’t have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead.’ As a fellow writer, I can relate to this sentiment, which brings us to our topic today: the art of concise writing.”

Remember, your anecdote or quote should serve to enhance your message, not distract from it. It should be interesting, relevant, and appropriately timed. With the right anecdote or quote, you can create a powerful hook that engages your audience from the outset.

11. Integrating Storytelling in your Opening Speech

Storytelling is a compelling method to make your opening speech memorable and engaging. A well-told story can create a strong emotional connection with your audience, making your presentation more impactful. Here’s how to effectively weave storytelling into your opening speech:

Choosing the Right Story: The story you tell should be relevant to your topic and capable of illustrating the point you’re trying to make. It could be a personal experience, a case study, or a historical event.

“Years ago, I worked on a project that, at the outset, seemed destined for success. But due to a lack of clear communication within the team, the project failed. Today, we will be discussing the importance of effective communication within teams.”

Creating Suspense: Build suspense in your story to hold your audience’s attention. You can do this by posing a problem or a conflict at the beginning of your story, which gets resolved by the end of your presentation.

“One day, as I was walking through a remote village in Africa, I came across a scene that profoundly changed my perspective. But before I reveal what it was, let’s discuss the issue of clean drinking water in underdeveloped countries.”

Showing, Not Telling: Make your story more vivid and engaging by showing, not telling. Use descriptive language and paint a picture with your words to make your audience feel like they’re part of the story.

“As the sun rose over the bustling city of Tokyo, I found myself in a small sushi shop tucked away in a quiet alley, experiencing what would become a pivotal moment in my culinary journey.”

Relatable Characters: If your story involves characters, make them relatable. Your audience should be able to see themselves in your characters, or at least understand their motivations and challenges.

“Meet Sarah, a single mother of two, working two jobs just to make ends meet. Her struggle is the reason we’re here today, to discuss the issue of minimum wage in our country.”

Storytelling is a powerful tool that can bring your presentation to life. A well-told story can captivate your audience, making your message more memorable and impactful. Be sure to select a story that aligns with your overall message and is appropriate for your audience.

12. Incorporating Interactive Elements in Your Opening Speech

Involving your audience from the get-go can make your presentation more engaging and memorable. By integrating interactive elements into your opening speech, you can foster a sense of participation and connection among your listeners. Here’s how you can do it:

Audience Polling: Modern presentation software often includes real-time polling features. You can ask your audience a question related to your topic and display the results instantly.

“To start, I’d like to ask you all a question. (Show poll on screen) How many of you think that Artificial Intelligence will significantly change our lives in the next ten years?”

Questions for Thought: Pose a thought-provoking question to your audience at the beginning of your speech. It can stimulate curiosity and get your listeners thinking about your topic.

“Before we delve into today’s topic, I want you to ponder this: what would you do if you had only 24 hours left to live? Keep that in mind as we discuss the importance of time management.”

Physical Engagement: Depending on the formality and size of your audience, you can incorporate physical engagement. This can range from a simple show of hands to engaging activities.

“By a show of hands, how many of you have ever felt overwhelmed by the amount of information available on the internet? That’s what we’ll be discussing today: information overload in the digital age.”

Interactive Quizzes: Quizzes can be a fun and interactive way to engage your audience and test their knowledge on your topic. It can also serve as a hook to introduce your topic. You can use a free Quiz PowerPoint template to ease the job of creating a quiz for your presentation.

“I have a quick quiz for you all (show quiz on screen). Let’s see who can guess the most common fear among adults. The answer will lead us into our topic of discussion today: overcoming fear.”

Remember, the goal of incorporating interactive elements is to engage your audience, so it should be relevant and add value to your presentation. Tailor your interactive elements to suit the needs and preferences of your audience, and you’ll have a winning opening speech.

What are the Objectives of Preparing a Good Introduction and Opening Speech?

As we mentioned earlier, the first minutes of your presentation are crucial to hook the audience and let them pay attention to the message you want to convey. This will depend on the type of presentation (if it is persuasive presentation, informative presentation or a presentation for entertaining the audience), but in general terms, when presenting we need to:

• Capture the audience’s attention
• Present information, opinions, ideas to the audience.
• Present important details about a specific topic.
• Sell an idea.
• Make the information memorable so it can persist over the time.
• Get your audience to take action, a Call to Action. E.g. purchase a product, enroll to something, fundraise, etc.

Real-Life Examples of Effective Opening Speeches

Barack Obama started his speech in the White House Correspondents’ Dinner saying: “You can’t say it, but you know it’s true.”

In same cases, humour can be a great companion for your speech. If you can use humour in a positive way, then getting a laugh in the first seconds of a presentation can get your audience hooked. It is a great way to open your speech.

Final Thoughts

Try to make habit of starting your presentation this way, it will sound great. You may come across several more opening speech examples for presentation but, once you implement this you yourself will realize that this is the best one. Alternatively you can learn more on quotes for presentations & speech topics  to use during your presentation in PowerPoint, learn how to close your presentation , or find other relevant speech introduction greeting examples.

49 comments on “ 12+ Opening Speech Examples for Presentations & Quick Tips ”

thank you very much

Hi Kavishki, we hope the article was useful for you. Will be great to learn more about how you have used the speech examples. If you need more speech ideas, I’d recommend you free Persuasive Speech topics .

hi,good morning all of you.i’m shadi.now i’m going to do a panel discussion.we want some informations from you we believe all will support us.

Hi Kavishki, good morning. Can please provide more information about the Panel Discussion needs and if it involves a PowerPoint presentation? We’d be happy to be of help!

This was very useful to me! But i need more speech ideas!

Being a content person myself,i’ve gotta be honest.Now this was assisting,you bet…great stuffow.

Thank you so much. It’s very helpful. Keep it up.. Good luck <3

plesae i would like u my pleasure to help me with some opening celebration word,s specially greeting to the audience

It would be appreciable if you share more speech about this.thank you.

thanks a lot for dis.. really its very helpful

I do thank you for the tips you provided me with on how to make speeches/presentations.

a very gud thanks for such tips

Thank you for the information. Very good tips.

thanks you for the great ideas. this can help me to improve my presentation skill.

this information very nice to me.i get many new thing after i read this article.this information can help me to make a good presentation later.thank you.

I think this article is very useful for me to make presentations. Thank.

I think it is true.Keep it up.

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It is helpful for my presentations.

i hope someone could teach me present more effectively. i would appreciate it

Thank you for the information.i can learn about the article/speech with simple and easy to understand..

this is useful tips

Good tips on how to start a presentation.

Thankyou for this. This really helped me a lot.

This tips makes me more confident . Thank you very much and break a leg guys !

Hi, I’m Gayathiri. I would like to thank you for giving such a helpful tips. I will defenitely use this tips in my speech/presentation.So, I hope my friends also use this tips for their presentation.

it was a good tip for us newbie on how to make a speech without any worries.

Thank you for your note and tip… It can change me to be a good student..

This article really helped me a lot for preparing a presentation.

this all very useful tips…can boost my confident during the presentation.thank you so much….

it’s very use helpful..thank you!

I need to view ths document

This was a good read. Thank you for the information.

Thank you for the information about the introduction during pesentation.Truely,i really need to study lot about how to start my presentation so that the audience are interesting to hear what i want to talk about and do not feel bored.

it’s is very usefull article that can use as our revision in upcoming for the next presentation.Thank you..

Thank you miss because of this article, it can help me on my next presentation.

thank you for this article,it’s useful to improve my presentation tasks.

this article has many tips for prepare to our presentation.thank you for sharing this article.

Thanks for the useful information. Can I ask how can I improve my self-confidence so as not to be embarrassed when presenting? Any idea? Thank you.

thank you..i’ll try to use those information for my presentation so i’ll be the best presenter in my class

this information very nice and useful to me.i get many new thing and tips after i read this article.this information can help me to make a good and better presentation later.thank you for useful information and meaningful for me

first of all, thank you for the help. there are a lot of great idea for me to use for my next presentation

Hi please i would like you to help me write an introduction for a speech about myself to my teacher

It’s help my presentation

Thank you so so much I will tell this at the UNIVERSITY presentation

please i really love your speech but can you please throw more light on the introduction

Hi every body I have entretien to USA Ambassi.

I need good presentation.

thank you so much for such a beneficial tips.

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Updated for 2024 | 30 useful phrases for presentations in English

For non-native speakers giving a presentation in English can be quite a challenge. There are just so many aspects to consider.  

Firstly, the audience. Do you know them well? If so, more informal language can be used. Or are they unfamiliar to you? If this is the case, then more formal expressions should be adopted. Whether you use more formal or informal language, it is important to engage the audience through positive body language and a warm welcome. Your tone of voice and changes in intonation are additional useful tools and you might consider asking them relevant questions (real or  rhetorical ). 

The  audience  also needs to see a clear and logical structure to follow you effortlessly. Useful linking expressions, when delivered well, provide  effective  ‘bridges’ guiding the audience from one point to the next.

Here are 30 useful phrases for presentations in English for effective  structure and linking.  

Introduction

• Good morning/afternoon everyone and welcome to my presentation. First of all, let me thank you all for coming here today.
• Let me start by saying a few words about my own background.
• As you can see on the screen, our topic today is......
• My talk is particularly relevant to those of you who....
• This talk is designed to act as a springboard for discussion.
• This morning/ afternoon I’m going to take a look at the recent developments in.....

Presentation structure

• In my presentation I’ll focus on three major issues.
• This presentation is structured as follows....
• The subject can be looked at under the following headings.....
• We can break this area down into the following fields....
•  It will take about X minutes to cover these issues.
• Does everybody have a  handout  / copy of my report?
• I’ll be handing out copies of the slides at the end of my talk.
• I can email the PowerPoint presentation to anyone who would like it.  
• Don’t worry about taking notes, I’ve put all the relevant statistics on a  handout  for you
• If you have any questions, I am happy to answer them
• If you don’t mind, I'd like to leave questions until the end of my talk /there will be time for a  Q&A  session at the end...

Sequencing phrases

• My first point concerns...
• First of all, I’d like to give you an overview of....
• Next, I’ll focus on.....and then we’ll consider....
• Then I’ll go on to highlight what I see as the main points of....
• Finally, I’d like to address the problem of.....
• Finally, I’d like to raise briefly the issue of....

Highlighting information

• I’d like to put the situation into some kind of perspective
• I’d like to discuss in more depth the implications of....
• I’d like to make more detailed recommendations regarding....
• I’d like you to think about the significance of this figure here
• Whichever way you look at it, the underlying trend is clear
• I’d just like to finish with the words of a famous scientist/ politician/ author.......
• Now let’s go out and create opportunities for...! 

Improve your confidence in spoken English with our General English course or  Individual English training   in our centre in London or online.

Hopefully, these phrases help you to vary your vocabulary for clear, well-structured presentations with a logical joined-up flow. The most important thing, of course, is that you are comfortable and confident in your delivery, which helps the audience feels relaxed and ready to be engaged by your subject matter. Good luck! 

Glossary 

Rhetorical  -  (of a question) asked in order to produce an effect or to make a statement rather than to elicit information 

Audience  -  spectators or listeners at a public event such as a play, film, concert, or meeting 

Effectiv e -  successful in producing a desired or intended result 

Springboard -  springboard is also something that provides an opportunity to achieve something  

Handout - a document given to students or reporters that contains information about a particular subject 

Q&A  – an abbreviation for ‘question and answer’ 

Related blog posts 

• Business English Work and Careers: 50 words you need to know
• Email writing: how to start and end an email in English  
• 5 Tips for Polite and Diplomatic Language  

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How Do You Greet Everyone In A Speech

Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed colleagues, and friends, we’ve all been there before – standing in front of a diverse audience with the daunting task of greeting everyone in a speech. It’s a crucial moment that sets the tone for the entire presentation, and let’s face it – first impressions matter.

You’re probably wondering how you can make sure that your greetings are inclusive, engaging, and well-received by everyone in attendance. Fear not! In this article, we’ll explore various strategies to help you greet your audience with confidence and finesse.

As speechwriters or presenters ourselves, we understand the importance of making an instant connection with our listeners. We know that it’s essential to create an atmosphere where they feel acknowledged, respected, and eager to hear what we have to say.

With that in mind, let us embark on this journey together as we delve into the art of greeting everyone in a speech. By the end of this article, you’ll be equipped with practical tips and tricks to make your next introduction unforgettable. So sit back, relax, and let’s get started!

Understanding Your Audience

Did you know that 55% of our communication is nonverbal? This highlights the importance of audience adaptation and effective communication when delivering a speech .

As a speech writer, it’s crucial to understand your audience’s needs and expectations, ensuring that your message resonates with them on a deeper level. By doing so, you’ll be able to craft an engaging and memorable introduction that sets the tone for the rest of your speech .

And speaking of setting the tone, let’s move forward to discuss how choosing the appropriate salutation can make all the difference in capturing your audience’s attention right from the start.

Choosing The Appropriate Salutation

So, we’ve just discussed the importance of understanding your audience and their needs. Now, let’s delve into making a powerful first impression with the right salutation.

When addressing a diverse group, it’s essential to be inclusive and considerate of everyone present. Appropriate humor can be a great icebreaker, setting a relaxed and friendly tone for your speech. Keep in mind that salutation variations may be necessary depending on the formality of the event or cultural backgrounds of your audience members.

Remember, an engaging opening sets the stage for captivating your listeners’ attention and paves the way for an effective communication experience. With that said, let’s explore how to keep them hooked from the moment you begin speaking.

Engaging Your Listeners From The Start

Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, and fellow attendees, let’s dive right into the heart of how to make your speeches truly memorable.

Engaging your listeners from the very beginning is a crucial aspect of any successful speech, and captivating introductions are your key to achieving this goal .

Start with attention-grabbing openers – it could be a powerful quote, an intriguing question, or even a personal anecdote that relates to the theme of your speech.

By doing so, you create an instant connection with your audience and spark their curiosity for what comes next.

But remember, capturing their attention is just the first step; as we move forward in our discussion, let’s explore how demonstrating cultural sensitivity can further enhance the impact of your words on diverse audiences.

Demonstrating Cultural Sensitivity

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s important to recognize that demonstrating cultural sensitivity in our greetings is not only a sign of respect, but also a way for us to foster connections and understanding among diverse groups of people.

By increasing our cultural awareness and using inclusive language, we show that we value the individuals in our audience and their unique backgrounds.

It’s crucial to research the customs of different cultures, learn appropriate ways of addressing individuals from various communities, and practice empathy when interacting with others.

This attention to detail extends beyond simple greetings; it includes understanding body language , gestures, and maintaining an open-minded approach to communication.

As we move forward in today’s increasingly interconnected world, let us embrace these practices as integral steps towards personalizing our greetings for maximum impact.

Now, let’s delve into how you can tailor your greeting specifically for your audience…

Personalizing Your Greeting For Maximum Impact

Ladies and gentlemen, did you know that a staggering 93% of communication effectiveness is determined by nonverbal cues?

With this in mind, it’s essential to use inclusive language and a tailored approach when addressing an audience like yourselves. By doing so, we can create an atmosphere of unity and understanding, allowing each individual to feel valued and part of the conversation .

It’s crucial to make eye contact , smile genuinely, and use gestures that convey warmth and openness. This way, we can build rapport with our listeners while delivering a message that resonates deeply within their hearts and minds.

So let’s strive for personal connections with our audience because together, we can truly make a lasting impact.

In conclusion, greeting everyone in a speech is like weaving a beautiful tapestry that makes your audience feel acknowledged, respected, and eager to listen.

By understanding your audience, choosing the appropriate salutation, engaging listeners from the start, demonstrating cultural sensitivity, and personalizing your greeting for maximum impact, you set the stage for a successful speech.

So my dear friends, let’s embark on this journey together as we create memorable speeches that resonate with our audiences and leave lasting impressions.

The power of connection lies within our words – let’s use them wisely!

About Skillabilly Editorial Staff

The Editorial Staff at Skillabilly is a team of Personal and professional experts in the education and career services industry led by Shalev Morag. We have been creating Skill guides and tutorials since 2022, and Skillabilly has become an impactful free skills and abilities resource site in the industry.

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Stop Beginning Your Speeches with 'Good Morning and Thank You' and Start With This Instead

It doesn't matter how compelling your presentation is if you haven't grabbed your audience's attention in the first few seconds..

Every presentation is an opportunity to make an impression. You can either use your pitch to build credibility , engagement and buy-in, or blow the chance to share your story in a way that sells.

No matter how compelling your message is, if you don't capture your audience's attention in the first minute, you'll miss the momentum you need to get them on board -- and stay there.  That first minute is when you are supposed to establish your command of the room and the topic, build rapport, and signal that you're calm, so the audience can just relax -- you've got this.

But this rarely happens. Here are the presentation openers I hear over and over again:

"Hello! Thanks for being here."

"Good morning, everyone."

"Hey...how's everyone doing?"

"Hi there. Thanks for bearing with me today."

"Let me start by apologizing for..."

No. No. No. No. No.

A presentation opening is your promise to your listeners. These starters promise that this meeting is going to be boring at best, and a mess at most. A great introduction promises the audience that this presentation will be engaging, innovative, educational - and maybe even inspiring.

To do that, you need to stop being polite and start being passionate, from the moment you open your mouth. (Still feel the need to have a proper welcome and greeting? Make it your second paragraph, right after your compelling introduction. Nobody will mind, or likely even notice.)

While it's tempting to put weeks into building a captivating deck, spend days making sure the numbers all add up, and wake up at night worrying whether you've incorporated all the latest changes from the team, you are better off spending a few of those minutes making sure that your start is as strong, solid and sizzling as the rest of your presentation.

Here are 20 speech openings to get you started:

• Even though I've seen [insert movie title] dozens of times, I will always watch it when it comes on TV. And here's why...
• My [grandmother/previous boss/coach] was famous for saying...
• When I showed up for my first day of work here, I mistakenly thought that...
• 5/10/20 years ago, I never could have imagined that...
• If you were to ask my [mother/partner/teenager, etc.] what drives me crazy, s/he would tell you that...
• The year was...
• I will never forget the first time that...
• What would you do if you'd been in my shoes? Here's what happened...
• I have a confession to make....
• BOOM! That's the sound of [the competition imploding/our sales opportunities quadrupling/our large job copiers breaking, etc.]...
• I was raised to believe that...
• It came as a shock. A total shock...
• Among my friends, I am famous for/infamous for...
• As [Eleanor Roosevelt/Gandhi/Shakespeare, etc.] once said, ...
• I don't like to admit it, but...
• Something you'd never guess about me is...
• Experts say that...but I've found...
• I was this close to ...
• Let me set the scene...
• 100 years ago, [sliced bread/the first roller coaster/the hubcap] was invented. What's significant about that? Let me tell you...

A refreshed look at leadership from the desk of CEO and chief content officer Stephanie Mehta

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How to start a presentation and grab your audience’s attention

1. Tell a story

2. ask rhetorical questions, 3. use quotations, go and change the world with your speech.

“Audiences will forgive almost anything except being boring,” — Patricia Fripp

Did you know that you have only 30 seconds to gain your audience’s attention and motivate them to listen? When it comes to delivering a killer presentation, these precious opening seconds play a critical part. This is the time your audience form an impression of you. If you waste it with a bad joke, rambling, or pointless sentences full of “uhs” and “ums,” your listeners’ focus will probably fade away, and you may not get them back.

Capturing the room immediately is a challenging task for any speaker — and it requires creating and rehearsing an attention-getting opener. But how to start a presentation effectively? Open your speech with a HOOK !

In this article, we’ll walk you through some basic presentation tips on how to really make the beginning of your presentation pop. Even if you learn English as a second language, don’t worry. Regardless of your English level, we’ve created a list of three tried-and-tested grabbers that will help you start a presentation with confidence and hold your audience’s attention with ease.

3 hooks to start a presentation and quickly make an impact

Opening your speech with banality quickly makes you forgettable, especially if you have a cookie-cutter PowerPoint presentation that you simply drone through. Have you ever listened to a presentation where the presenter starts with words:

“Dear listeners, thank you for coming. So, I prepared a few major points on my topic. We’re going to run through them and be out of here within an hour.”

Boredom! What all people in the room are thinking about at the moment is their coffee break in 15 minutes, or they boldly start checking their Facebook feed or emails. But how to start a presentation introduction in such a way that you could keep your listeners glued to your words?

A creative hook or grabber motivates listeners to pay attention. In fact, people have a lot on their minds. Just imagine that they might be attending several talks that day or a week ago. Hence, you need to show them right away that your presentation is going to be interesting. To make an excellent lasting impact from the very beginning, you should use brief and catchy hook relevant to your topic.

Here are a few ways to start a presentation with a bang and make your speech stand out. The choice of method that works best for you will depend on your topic and speech type. Let’s take a closer look at the most popular presentation hooks.

Telling a compelling story is a good way to start a presentation . Research shows that brain is hardwired for storytelling. Have you ever noticed how kids begin attentively listening to their parents after the words: “Once upon a time.” That reaction doesn’t disappear when we become adults. In fact, narrating a story and sharing experience is something people do every day. Thus, adding it to your presentations won’t be a great challenge. Starting with a good story can also help you find creative ways to communicate the purpose of your presentation, besides just making a positive first impression. You can visuals to your presentation or use a video editor to make a quick, yet effective video within your presentation.

Your story should be brief and relevant to the point you’re trying to make. But don’t overload it with details. It can be a personal story showing your listeners why you’re so passionate about the topic. You can also tell a story about a person who can be an example for others to follow. If you can make a bold statement or a bold claim with this story, make eye contact, and communicate it with confidence, it will draw in the listener (even if they don’t agree with you).

Darlene Price, an author of “ Well Said! Presentations and Conversations That Get Results !”, emphasizes that as a speaker you can use a wisdom tale, fable, historical event, or even a good joke to start a presentation . The key is to start with a short story relevant to the central point of your topic. Price also suggests considering some questions to help you compose own version of “ Once upon a time ”:

• What challenges have you (or another person) faced regarding your message?
• How did you (or another person) overcome it?
• Who or what helped you?
• What lessons did you (or another person) learn?
• What do you want your listeners to feel or do after the story?

If you’re wondering how to start a presentation speech , start it with a question. One of the best ways is to ask a series of rhetorical questions. A great example of such techniques is Simon Sinek’s TED talk . He used the following words to start a presentation :

“How do you explain when things don’t go as we assume? Or better, how do you explain when others can achieve things that seem to defy all of the assumptions? For example, why is Apple so innovative?”

Such set of questions stimulate the listeners’ minds while they are thinking about the answers. Laura Bergells , an instructor of LinkedIn Learning course Public Speaking Foundations , recommends asking only open-ended questions, not closed-ended ones with a “yes/no” answers. For example, “How has social media changed your daily life?”. A worse example is: “Has social media changed your daily life?”. Using an open-ended questions helps you create a knowledge gap that you’ll later close in your speech. Another great way to get the audience involved is by asking for a show of hands on a particular question.

One of the funny ways to start a presentation is to quote movies . Why? Because it’s entertaining! Videos play a critical part in most people’s lives. So a well-placed movie quote at the beginning of your speech can liven up your listeners. Here are some examples:

“The first rule of leadership: everything is your fault” (Bug’s Life)

“The loudest one in the room is the weakest one in the room.” (American Gangster)

“Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” (Forrest Gump)

It’s also a common but effective practice to start a presentation with an opt quotes. In this case, speakers state the quotation and then add a twist to it. For example:

“We’ve all heard that a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. But we need to remember that a journey to nowhere also starts with a single step.”

There is a lot of sources for finding appropriate quotations online such as Brainy Quotes and Goodreads . But don’t pick an obvious quote to open with, like “little strokes fell great oaks.” Try to find more creative ways to start a presentation by using the following Steve Job’s quote: “My favourite things in life don’t cost any money. It’s clear that the most precious resource we all have is time.”

Remember the first seconds of your talk matter. You have only half a minute to win the audience’s attention. So, if you don’t know how to start your next presentation in English , do not hesitate to use one of these proven hooks. Alternatively, the Preply Business English language training for employees , specialising in teaching English for business situations, can offer further guidance.

But think carefully which hook to choose and, of course, be honest with yourself. Does the story you want to tell have any relevance? Are listeners going to laugh at your joke? Make sure you don’t overlook how your audience will react. 

Don’t forget to check out our ultimate guide on How to learn English!

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Candice Benjamin is an English teacher with more than 6 years of online teaching experience. Candice has taught English to children and adults alike of various levels, ensuring that each achieves their respective goals. Candice specializes in the IELTS, TOEFL, and Cambridge exams and creates courses and strategies specific to the needs and goals of each student, to help them achieve their desired grade. Candice is patient and determined to produce significant results for her students.

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Informal & Professional English Greetings for Every Situation

Dec 7, 2022 | Advanced Vocabulary

This lesson was originally posted in February 2016. It was updated in December 2022 with new content and a video lesson.

Have you ever heard someone you don’t know say, 

• Hey, what’s up?
• Hi, how’s it going?

Perhaps it was a stranger you walked past in your neighborhood. Or someone you’ve seen at work once or twice but you don’t really know.

What exactly are they asking? Do they want to know how your day is going?

And is it polite or respectful to say “Hey, how’s it going” even with people you don’t know very well, like your neighbors?

Well. Sometimes. 

In this Confident English lesson, you’ll learn other ways to say hello in English with greetings for professional situations, casual conversations, and encounters with strangers or people you don’t know well. 

You’ll understand the nuances of age, for example greeting peers vs. someone older than you.

And you’ll l earn a common structure of English greetings – most of the time, we don’t stop with a simple hello.  

Lastly, if you’re not sure what someone really wants to know when they say, “What’s up” or “How’s it going”, we’ll talk about that too. Including when someone truly wants to know how you’re doing.

English Greetings for Informal and Professional Situations — Other Ways to Say Hello

Common structure for english greetings.

Let’s start with a structure you’re likely to hear (and use) for spoken greetings in English. 

In an effort to be friendly and polite, it’s not uncommon for an English speaker to casually greet a friend, a neighbor, an acquaintance, or even a stranger with a greeting such as 

• Hey, how are ya?

To be clear, these are casual, friendly greetings that can be used in a variety of situations. 

And they all mean one thing: hello .

These are simple, polite greetings that acknowledge someone’s presence or take the first step in starting a conversation.

In this structure, you have a single greeting word (hi/hey) + a question. 

For example, How’s it going or what’s up?

However, this isn’t the same as asking: how are you? 

It’s not an invitation to talk about your day, how you’re feeling, or what’s happening at work right now.

In fact, the only response expected is a similar: “ Hey, how’s it going ?” or “ Hi. Good. You? ”

In other words, you exchange one greeting with a similar greeting. No one shares specific details about how they are feeling or what is happening in their life.

What this means is two strangers might politely pass each other on the street and say: 

A: Hey, what’s up?

B: Hey, how’s it going?

In this exchange, they are simply saying hello to each other.

If that’s the case, then how do you know when someone is REALLY asking: How are you?

That’s a great question. And I’ll be answering shortly but first, let’s look at other ways to say hello casually and professionally.

English Greetings for Informal Situations

Let’s start with casual greetings to use most of the time, whether you’re greeting a friend, a coworker on the elevator, a neighbor you’ve never spoken to, or a complete stranger on an early morning walk.

Because I’m an American and I currently live in the U.S., I’ll focus on greetings used in the United States.

There may be common greetings where you live that I haven’t included here. 

If you’re not sure what to say, I recommend listening to others around you, particularly those who consistently speak with politeness, kindness, and warmth. Which greetings to they typically use? 

This is a good way to identify the best ways to say hello to others where you live.

Now here are several you can use: 

Good Morning

This is the most formal way to say hello in casual conversation but it’s also very friendly and warm. With this combination of formality and warmth, it’s perfect to use when passing by a stranger on a morning walk, greeting a neighbor, or saying hello to coworkers.

Of course, because it includes the word ‘morning’ we stop using it around noon.

Hello / Hi / Hey / Hey there 

These are all common ways of saying “hello” in a casual, friendly way, and quite often, these are immediately followed by a question such as…

How’s it going? / What’s going on? / How’s everything? 

These questions are typically combined with hi, hey, or hey there. For example

• Hey, how’s everything? 
• Hey there. How’s it going?
• Hello. How’s it going?

When responding to these greetings, the expectation is that you use simple answers or simply respond with a similar greeting. For example

• Good, thanks. You?
• Fine thanks, you?
• Everything’s great, thanks. You?

What’s up? / What’s new?

Similar to how’s it going but more informal is what’s up or what’s new . 

For example:

Common responses include:

• Hey, what’s new?

Here is an example dialogue:

A: Hey Mina, what’s up?

B: Oh, hey. Not much. How’s it going?

While not as common as hi or hey, you may occasionally hear “yo.” It is typically only used with individuals who know each other well and is more common

“Howdy” is a regional greeting, which means it is only used in some areas of the United States. 

Good to see you. / It’s been ages! (since I’ve seen you.) / Where have you been hiding? / What have you been up to? 

These are common greetings when you have not seen someone you know for some time and often follow a hi or hey .

These expressions can be used as part of your greeting when you see someone unexpectedly, at a party, a family gathering, etc. 

The question “ where have you been hiding ” invites conversation. It is a way of saying, “ How have you been? ” Here is an example dialogue:

A: Hey! It’s good to see you! It’s been ages! Where have you been hiding?

B: Hi Sue, what’s up? I’ve just been busy, working a lot of long hours. What about you? How have you been?

A: Everything’s good. Nothing new really.

English Greetings for Professional Situations

Let’s transition to situations in which we may need more formal or business professional language in English. Some common examples include

• Business meetings & negotiations
• At a job interview
• Communicating with high-level management
• Saying hello to the company president or CEO
• Meeting new business colleagues
• Communicating with new clients, high-level clients, angry clients

Good morning / Good afternoon / Good Evening

Good morning is the only one on this list that is commonly used in place of “hello” when greeting an individual. 

To be particularly respectful, you can also include the person’s last name, for example: “ Good morning, Ms Jones .” If you know someone well, you can also use their first name.

  When you are greeting a group of people – for example at a meeting – you can also say something such as:

• Good morning, everyone. I hope you are doing well this morning .

In greeting an entire group, this is also when someone might use Good afternoon or Good evening. 

For example, at the start of a presentation or lecture.

How do you do?

How do you do is a bit old-fashioned and not often used. In fact, I’m not sure if I’ve ever used it. 

It is also quite formal and is used when meeting someone for the first time. 

It’s often confused with the question “How are you?” but it isn’t a question at all. How do you do is a statement. A greeting. It’s an alternative to “I’m pleased to meet you.”

Hello / Hi 

Similar to the casual greetings we discussed, we’ll often start a professional conversation with a simple hi or hello.

How have you been doing? / How have you been?

Similar to asking “how’s it going,” these questions will often be used after a hi or hello as a polite greeting.

The expectation is to receive a short, positive focused response such as:

• Great, thank you. And you?
• Very well. How are you?
• Good thanks. How about you?

When does “How are you” mean “How are you?”

With our casual and professional greetings, we’ve heard many alternatives to the question “How are you” including

• How’s it going?
• What’s new?
• How have you been?

But none of them really ask, how are you? When those questions get asked in a greeting, we don’t really expect a lengthy conversation about how you’re doing.

So when does someone what a real answer? When does someone truly want to know how you are?

The secret: they will ask you twice. 

Imagine you unexpectedly see a coworker at the grocery store. Here’s what that conversation might sound like:

• Your Coworker: Hey Sue! Good to see you. How’s it going?
• You: Good thanks. And you?
• Your Coworker. Everything’s fine. Just busy with the kids, of course. So how are you? It’s been a tough few weeks at work with the looming deadline, hasn’t it?

What do you notice?

In that dialogue, the coworker asked ‘how are you’ a second time, after the initial polite greeting. When that happens, someone really wants to know how you’re doing.

I’d love to hear from you! What is your favorite greeting in English? 

In your English life, do you use informal or professional greetings more often? What lessons have you learned about greetings in English from your own experiences?

Please be sure to share your experiences or ask questions in the comments section below.

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Hello Annmarie, I’ve got a question. My Japanese colleague told me that once I said “Good morning” to greet someone in the morning, then I couldn’t use “Good afternoon” to greet the same person later that day. I should use “Hello” or “Hi” instead. Is this correct?

Hi Calla, interesting question. I have never heard that advice before. The greetings ‘Good morning’ and ‘Good afternoon’ are perfectly appropriate at any time. They are both highly formal and polite. Using ‘hello’ or ‘hi’ are also okay. They are less formal and they suggest a level of closeness with the other person.

Thank you so much!💛

Hello Annmarie, Thank you dear, for your English lesson it was very helpful. 

You’re very welcome, Margaretha.

Hi Annmarie 🙋🏻‍♀️ I hope you and your husband are doing good in California. I‘m still constantly learning new things with you. Very easy and useful lesson. Thanks again! Deny

Hi Deny, it’s great to hear from you! I’m so glad you enjoyed this lesson. It’s surprising how much we can learn just about simple greetings.

Hi Anne!! What´s up? I found your video contents greatly informative and educational as well. I never miss any of your weekly presentations. I love the way U tell us about the latest as well as updated ways of communicating with others whoever the others are.

Thank you so much, Ana. I’m happy to know my lessons are so helpful to you!!

Good afternoon!! However, at time to say hello to someone you do not know just to gather his/her attention, in the USA people tend to keep distance. Days after I was told that it is a culture custom and was given a pice of advice that “never greet someone from behind”, depending on where I was, I could be in trouble.

Hi Annmarie, How is it going? How is life treating you? I’ve quite disconnected from your lessons. Basically, cos I passed my police force exam in Septemberand decided to have a small rest from English. My head was like a vase blender. Now, I feel a bit more relaxed and is high time to continue brushing my English with you. Thank you so much for how you teach everything to us.

Hi Victor, congrats on completing your police force exam! It’s totally normal to take breaks from time to time and I’m glad to have you back enjoying my lessons.

Thank you so much for this. İ praticed alot,thank you again,have a good day/night/evening/noon

İn our school,there will be a important english check up. Can İ make a greeting centence likd this?Greetings,İm glad to see you sir/ma’am.

Thank you for such an informative post. I have a question: could you greet a group of friends like Hello friends! Or it’s not common , and better to say Hey guys! thanks

Great question, Ann. Both are perfectly appropriate.

Interesting practical and useful. T/Y

Thanks so much Annemarie, it’s really educating

This article was so useful to me, similarly to other post of yours.

I’m glad to hear that, Sheila.

Thank you for this simple and very useful lesson. I am enjoying it so much

From my perspective, greeting goes hard for strangers because of being unaware of the native language in a certain ethnic group you are approaching but greeting senior or junior is much easy to distinguish by observing through appearance, job position, event on progress, the problem you are having to the person you are greeting.m e.g 1 you have gone the wrong way u need to ask u will use a very polite language. e.g 2 your lecturer is younger than but you will have to greet honorably .thank you

Thanks a lot for your help!!

Thank you. I am now in a position to distinguish types of greetings., because I will be teaching young learners who needs to be taught the righr thing at their age. That’s wonderful.

I want to in this course to speak English fluently without confusion and I want to improve my communication skills

Hi Saritha,

You can find out more about my available courses on my English courses page . Best, Annemarie

I got a clear picture of how to use the greetings. Thank you very much for such a wonderful way of describing how to use the various greetings.

thank you so much, this is very helpful

Hello Annemarie! This is the most exhaustive list of English greetings I have ever found. I’m writing a report on translating English greeting into Vietnamese or vice versa so I would like to cite your work in my report. Would you mind telling me how to cite it in the refference list of my report? I’m waiting for your answer. Thank you a lot.

Thank you for the comment and inquiring how to cite my work. I sincerely appreciate that and I’m thrilled to know this was helpful to you. Here is how you can site this page:

Fowler, Annemarie. “The Right Greeting for Every Situation in English.” Speak Confident English, 16 Feb. 2016, http://www.speakconfidentenglish.com/greetings-for-every-situation/ .

Didn’t find the answer for the questions that burns me a lot: two-three colleagues are chatting in the hall, you are approaching them and say “Good morning!” and …. is getting no sign of response: not a glance, not a wave, not a word…. Am I right to expect at least one of them? Do I need to ignore them at the first place ? Lastly, do I ignore someone’s greeting while conversing with somebody else?

Hi Vera, Thank you for sharing your question. That is a very frustrating situation and I have to say, I’m surprised. Can I ask what country this is in? I’m completely shocked that when you say “Good morning” you don’t get a glance or any responses. In my opinion, that is very rude of the others. I’ve always believed (and taught) that when someone says hello or greets you, you always greet them back. It’s the polite thing to do. Are these people you see every day? I think the decision about what to do is up to you. You …  Read more »

(Midwest American City perspective:) It could be contextual or non-verbal, or confusion, or just rudeness. If the conversation is critical (new emergency/imminent, high pressure meeting/personal correction) then, they may not spare the attention for those around them (still rude, if they’re in the hall). Probably not the case, if they’re just chatting in the hall. If they are in a conversation and you say “Good Morning” to the group, it would not be unusual for the person speaking to acknowledge the greeting non-verbally, typically by 1. Making eye contact, 2. slight smile, 3. slight lift of the chin for acknowledgement, …  Read more »

Hello Alex,

Thank you for sharing these helpful insights. You’re absolutely right that there are many reasons someone might not respond to a greeting.

In the end, it sounds to me like Vera has had this situation happen many times and that’s what I find shocking. It makes me sad to think people are being rude by not responding. I agree with your conclusion when you said, “I would continue to say ‘good morning’ and not think too much of it…” It’s always best to continue being polite, even if others aren’t.

Thanks for your comments.

this website is very inportant, i love it.

Thank you for your comment, Muktar. I’m happy it’s helpful to you.

Great! Your lesson like this opens the eyes of foreign language speakers like me. Please keep sharing.

Hello Mantegaftot,

Thank you for the comment. I’m happy to know you found it useful.

Thank you a lot, Annemarie! I appreciate your lessons, all are very helpful.

I’m so glad they’re helpful, Dildora! Thank you for your kind comment.

Hi How r u doing? Hopefully you are doing well.

Let me ask you: 1) Would you mind sending me conversation and dialogues between two friends how to overcome fear and shy short notice? 2) how can we speak with soneone confidently make him our friends ? 3) Could you send me such spoken English short and interesting congestion?

I am looking forward to seeing from you soon. Thank you very much for your help.

God bless you Abraham

Hello Abraham,

If you would like additional assistance in English, specifically with speaking, please review my Fluency School course. I offer it two times per year and that is the best place to get speaking practice and additional help from me. Thank you.

hello, do you have a YouTube channel so that i can follow your lesson there?

teacher annemarie, thank you very much for the time that you extended to me and i learnt a lot from you.

That’s great. I’m glad you’ve learned a lot, Aireen.

Interesting and useful indeed.Thank you very much,Annemarie.

I’m glad it was interesting and useful, Zou.

Thank you for your efforts us . We will done well

You’re very welcome.

Thank you so much. It’s so intresting and correct us a bit mistakes.

very interesting!this lesson helps improve more my knowledge when teaching english other fellows and co-workers.thanks a lot

Awesome, Iongin. I’m so glad this is useful to you and your English skills.

I am really glad, because I learn a lot from this lesson. and I am willing to join your class, thanks.

Hello Daji,

Wonderful! I’m very glad to know you liked it.

Good Afternoon

Thank you again your lessons really appropriate to me 🙂

best regards

Hi again, Alami,

You’re very welcome!

Good Day Dear AnneMarie as you see my greatest above , this is the way to great someone in professional life, I use the greatest when i wreat email and send them to some colleagues. apart that i used familial/slang greetting with family and friends like hi / hey or what’s up. also i want to thank you for the three familial greeting (how’s it going / how’s it going on / how’is everything) before when a heard these greeting i be confused what should do and say because i dont know what the meaning of them. now i wont …  Read more »

I’m thrilled to know this lesson helped you and you no longer feel confused by expressions such as how’s it going or how’s everything ! That’s great.

And for your emails, it looks like you have a great way to start them. Well done. Best, Annemarie

Thanking you very much

You’re very welcome, Naveen. 🙂

Thanks to my teacher, I am really love to join your bage or challenge ,because I want to learn this language fluently.

Thank you, I’m glad the lesson was useful to you.

Join Annemarie for an English Fluency Breakthrough starting September 2.

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How to Greet an Audience When Giving a Speech

How to Write a Speech to Welcome People to an Event

Few people are naturally gifted public speakers, a point that's worth remembering if you have been asked to speak in front of your class or school. Public speaking is a skill that people finesse with practice. Begin this new journey in your life by doing your homework so that you can greet your audience like a pro and get your speech off to a graceful start.

Find Your Voice

There are any number of ways to greet an audience, so what you say isn't as important as how you say it. Adopt a tone that suits your personality. If you're a genial person with an engaging personality, a humorous greeting might work for you. If you're a shy, reserved person, a more serious, straightforward greeting would be apropos. Finding your voice – and staying true to it – will help put you at ease in front of your audience and fortify your confidence as you continue your speech.

Prepare Your Greeting Ahead of Time

The key to a good greeting is preparation and practice. It's important to determine ahead of time who your audience is and craft your greeting based on their needs. Find out their ages, demographics, and backgrounds before you write-up your greeting. You might also want to ask about any other presenters so you can make sure your speech is unique. Once you know who you're speaking to, you can draft up your greeting and practice reading it before delivering your speech.

Reach Out and Touch

Make a personal connection with your audience from the very start. Imagine that you are talking to one person rather than a crowd and try to establish a rapport with your listeners. After introducing yourself and thanking everyone for attending, draw in the audience by posing a relevant question or telling a brief and relational anecdote. Revealing a bit of yourself at the beginning of your speech will help stir interest and ideally keep your listeners rapt with attention, eager to hear more.

Turn on the Spotlight

If any people of note are in your audience, you might greet them individually at the start of your speech. Introduce the guests, briefly summarize their importance and thank them for coming. You should spend no more than a few minutes on this, or people will start squirming, so carefully consider which individuals should receive this honor.

Other Ways to Greet the Audience

If you greet the audience as members of individual groups, place the groups in hierarchical order. So, a student addressing a high-school audience might start his speech by saying, “Respected principal, teachers, advisers and coaches, esteemed parents and fellow students...” Another way to greet an audience includes acknowledging the time of day: "Good morning," or "Good afternoon/evening," warms-up the audience for what's to come. If you can pull it off -- and it's the right audience -- you can start with humor. Sometimes relevant jokes or funny quotes can help lighten up the audience and make you less nervous.

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With education, health care and small business marketing as her core interests, M.T. Wroblewski has penned pieces for Woman's Day, Family Circle, Ladies Home Journal and many newspapers and magazines. She holds a master's degree in journalism from Northern Illinois University.

• Event Emcee

How to Start a Presentation: 13 Strategies to Hook Your Audience

Public Speaking  .  8 Min. Read . By: Devon Brown

W hen it comes to giving a speech, whether you’re a public speaker or trying to pitch an idea to a boardroom, the hardest part tends to be the start of it.

So much hangs on your ability to start your speech and grab the listener’s attention immediately. If you take a few minutes to really get to the good stuff, the audience is already drifting off and thinking about other things. It really does impact your entire speech for better or worse.

If you’re struggling to come up with an effective and powerful introduction for your speech, I have 13 tips on how to start a presentation that is going to get you over that initial hurdle and grab your audience’s attention immediately.

1: Introduce Yourself In A Way That Lets Them Know “W.I.I.F.M.”

W.I.I.F.M. stands for “What’s In It For Me?” This is, more often than not, the primary thought on your audiences mind. 

They don’t care where you’re from…

They don’t care how many years you were in school…

They don’t care how many awards you’ve won.

OK, maybe I’m being a little dramatic. After all, social proof is important. But the point I’m making is that the primary thing anyone in an audience cares about how you being in front of them is going to benefit THEM . 

I’m not saying that the audience is mean or shallow, I’m simply acknowledging human nature. And if we understand that what they really want to know is how you being on stage will improve their life, then that’s an opportunity to introduce yourself in a way that lets them know what’s in it for them.

So, when you’re opening your speech, as opposed to saying….

“My name is so and so and I achieved (insert big result here) in only 3 years”…

Instead say…

“My name is so and so and I achieved (insert big result here) in only 3 years, and I’m going to show you the shortcut to making it happen for yourself in less time than I did!”

See how that works?

We took your intro and we made it about what THEY’RE going to get out of it!

2: Use Ice Breakers Early On

You know that you’re nervous before giving a speech. I don’t blame you! You’re about to talk to a large crowd. However, your audience might be a little anxious, as well. They don’t know you, and they don’t know what to expect.

A great way to get comfortable with each other more quickly is to start with an Ice Breaker.

Some example Icebreakers could include:

• Having a funny picture as your first slide
• Telling them a crazy story that just happened
• Telling them an industry related (appropriate) joke. You can literally just google this 
• Telling them a self-deprecating joke
• Having them high-five each other
• Admitting that you're nervous
• Talk about the weather (especially if it's abnormal)
• Giving them a small present just for showing up 
• Having them turn to their neighbor and say "I'm excited to hear (your name here)"
• Asking a few "raise your hand if" questions
• Breaking some news. For example, maybe you just got married or had a child.

I think you get the idea.

The point is that ice breakers are a great way to overcome nerves and start a speech.

3: Make a Relevant Quote

This opening to a speech is so frequently used that it’s almost cliché. However, there’s a reason for that. It works!

Take some time to think about the end goal of your speech.

What are you trying to convince people of? 

Are you trying to sell the latest advancement in technology? If so, maybe start with a quote about the future and how bright it can be.

Or maybe your speech is about helping people get back on their feet. If this is the case, a quote about overcoming adversity is a good start.

Find a quote that resonates with that theme and goal and open your speech with a bang.

 4: Leverage Statistics

For most speeches, opening with a statistic can be very impactful.

Let’s say you’re trying to pitch an idea for a revolutionary new communication device. You might open with a statistic covering the number of emergency calls that don’t reach law enforcement fast enough. Something that naturally latches onto the audience’s emotions and shows that the topic is something they need to listen to.

5: Question the Audience

A good conversation is much more than just rambling in the audience's general direction. It's a back-and-forth effort.

You can help pull the audience in by

simply asking them a question.

You can help pull the audience in by simply asking them a question. Using my previous example for statistics, maybe you’d opt to ask the audience how many times they had to call the police in the last year, and then you could go into how many people did the same thing without the call going through.

This engages the audience and makes your presentation more than just a speech. It’s a conversation; even though it’s impractical to engage everyone one-on-one.

6: Open with a Story

Story is one of the most powerful tools a speaker can use. And if you’re giving a particularly emotional presentations, it can work wonders.

The best event emcees open the conversation with a personal anecdote or a story about a first-hand experience. The best wedding toasts tell stories of the bride or groom. The beast motivational speakers consistently use story to drive home a point.

Well… story does a few things. 

First, it humanizes you or your topic. When you use story, you're more than just some person presenting an idea.

Next, and more importantly, story takes your listener on a journey. This “hooks” your audience and compels them to listen and be attentive.

Bottom line, story rocks!

7: Appeal to Their Pain Points

This is a strategy often used in marketing. Every product or idea is typically designed with a particular problem in mind. Few things are just pulled out of thin air for the sole purpose of existing. The problem is called a “pain point”. This is what is causing problems in your target audience’s life. If you open by explaining the problem you’re trying to solve, you connect the audience to the conversation and show them that you know what they’re going through. This is the perfect way to present whatever it is you’re pushing as the solution.

8: Ask the Audience to Paint a Mental Picture

This is another popular tip on how to start a presentation that borders on cliché but is extremely effective . You open your presentation by asking the audience to think about something. For example, imagine you’re trying to revolutionize how cities are laid out to accommodate better public transportation and walking paths. You might ask the audience to imagine being able to casually hop on an electric scooter at any point in their journey, not have to deal with cars and get to their destination twice as fast. When you ask your audience to paint a mental picture, they’re engaging more parts of their brain. This, in turn, makes them more open, receptive, and attentive.

9: Open with Silence

This is one that is frequently leveraged by teachers. When students are rowdy, not paying attention, or otherwise not prepared to participate, the teacher will stand silently and make eye contact . The students expect the teacher to talk, get curious, and pay attention. You can use the same exact to ensure all eyes are on you at the start of the presentation. You draw all the attention to yourself, and you don’t have to worry about anyone not paying attention. However, it can backfire . You’re not trying to get the attention of rowdy kids. You’re trying to make an impact on people who willingly came to listen to you. So don’t go overboard with this one.

10: Use Visuals

With proper planning and material acquisition, you can open your presentation with a bang just by presenting a stunning visual that highlights the topic . This grabs the audience’s attention, gives you an easy way to start talking by explaining it, and it conveys a lot of information non-verbally.

11: Demonstrate

Of course, few things engage an audience more than actually showing them how something works. You can open your presentation with a demonstration if the presentation is related to a product or something similar that has a real-world counterpart you can show off.

This is harder to do with some topics, though.

12: Tell the Story that Led You Here

When you get up on that stage, you have a whole lifetime of experiences and choices that got you to that point. In some situations, telling that story to explain why you’re so passionate about the topic at hand is powerful.

For example, there are public speakers who are former convicts. Many of their speeches open with the story of their life, the hard times that came from certain decisions, how they turned it all around, and what made them want to start giving speeches.

It’s not appropriate all the time, but it can be powerful when it is a good option!

13: Use a Video Introduction

Finally, in a world with increasingly short attention spans, opening with a video can be a great option. As long as the information depicted in the video is relevant, high-intensity, and enthusiastic, this can be a great way to instantly grab the audience’s attention, convey a lot of information, and give you an easy bridge to start speaking. 

If you found these tips on how to start a presentation useful, make sure to check out the world’s most complete public speaking course and become the best public speaker in virtually any room you walk into.

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If you want to know how to be the best public speaker in virtually any room you walk into, check out the world's most complete  public speaking course below.

Read Next:  How To Overcome The Fear Of Public Speaking– Ultimate Guide

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Devon Brown  (“Duh-Von” not “Dev-in”) is a speaker, author, entrepreneur, former hip-hop dancer, and World's #1 Event Emcee. Once described as a sort-of ‘MC Hammer meets Tony Robbins’; his style is 50% education, 50% entertainment, and 100% must-experience. Be sure to connect with Devon on social media.

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