What is the purpose of this presentation? To persuade, instruct, inform, or entertain

Main purposes of presentations

• To inform: Most common in business settings, used for team briefings, annual reports, quarterly reviews, and business plans . Informative presentations explain what you know and share vital information . This addresses the presentation goal of informing.

• To persuade: Aims to sway the audience's opinions and prompt desired action . Effective presentations can influence outcomes in the presenter's favor, from securing investments to gaining project approvals . This fulfills the presentation purpose of persuading.

• To instruct: Falls under the category of supporting presentations, which facilitate decision-making by explaining general "action plans" and breaking down necessary next steps . This type of presentation purpose focuses on instructing the audience.

• To entertain: While not a primary focus in business settings, entertainment elements can be incorporated to engage the audience and make the presentation more memorable. This addresses the presentation goal of entertaining.

Effectiveness of visual aids across presentation purposes

• Enhanced retention: People retain 65% of information from oral presentations with visuals, compared to only 10% from oral presentations alone after three days . This applies to all types of presentation purposes: persuade, instruct, inform, and entertain.

• Faster information processing: Visual presentations engage viewers 60,000 times faster than text, aiding decision-making and information retention . This is beneficial for all presentation goals: persuading, instructing, informing, and entertaining.

• Increased persuasiveness: 67% of audience members were more convinced by verbal presentations with visuals, compared to 50% with verbal-only presentations . This is particularly relevant when the purpose of the presentation is to persuade.

• Improved engagement: Visual aids help build emotional bridges with the audience, making viewers feel things that words cannot . This enhances all types of presentation purposes, especially when the goal is to entertain.

Best practices for effective presentations

• Use appropriate visual aids: Employ graphs, charts, infographics, and tables to present information clearly and concisely . This supports all presentation goals: persuading, instructing, informing, and entertaining.

• Maintain consistency: Use the same typography, color scheme, and visual styles throughout the presentation to create a cohesive story . This is crucial regardless of whether the purpose of the presentation is to persuade, instruct, inform, or entertain.

• Structure content effectively: Include an intro, agenda, main content, key takeaways, and call-to-action/next steps slides . This structure works well for all types of presentation purposes.

• Apply the Rule of Three: Present ideas in threes for better retention and audience appeal . This technique is effective across all presentation goals: persuading, instructing, informing, and entertaining.

• Incorporate interactive elements: Use picture polls or visuals that require audience participation to re-energize the room . This can enhance engagement regardless of whether the purpose of the presentation is to persuade, instruct, inform, or entertain.

FAQ

What are the main types of presentation purposes?

The main types of presentation purposes are to persuade, instruct, inform, and entertain. These purposes address the question "What is the purpose of this presentation?" and guide the content and delivery of the presentation.

How do I determine the purpose of my presentation?

To determine the purpose of your presentation, consider your goals and audience. If you're sharing information, your purpose is to inform. If you're trying to change opinions or prompt action, your purpose is to persuade. If you're teaching a skill, your purpose is to instruct. If you're aiming to engage and amuse, your purpose is to entertain.

Can a presentation have multiple purposes?

Yes, a presentation can have multiple purposes. For example, a presentation might aim to both inform and persuade, or instruct and entertain. The key is to prioritize your main purpose while incorporating elements of other purposes to enhance effectiveness.

How do visual aids support different presentation purposes?

Visual aids enhance all types of presentation purposes - persuading, instructing, informing, and entertaining. They improve retention, speed up information processing, increase persuasiveness, and boost engagement. For instance, visuals can make complex data more understandable when informing, or create emotional connections when persuading.

What are some best practices for effective presentations, regardless of purpose?

Some best practices for effective presentations, regardless of whether the purpose is to persuade, instruct, inform, or entertain, include: using appropriate visual aids, maintaining consistency in design, structuring content effectively, applying the Rule of Three, and incorporating interactive elements. These techniques can enhance the impact of your presentation across all purposes.