120 presentation topic ideas to help you captivate your audience

I recently hosted a presentation evening with my friends. If you are not familiar with the conceptIt involves a group of friends coming together to share presentations they have created on a topic of their choice.

The themes are typically light-hearted and entertaining. For example, for me it was “my friends as unknown animals”.

You’d be surprised how difficult it was to come up with ideas for something as silly and frivolous as a social presentation evening.

So of course it’s even more difficult to develop presentation topics for a professional environment where you need to impress, influence, educate or entertain.

I’ll walk you through how to develop thought-provoking and relevant topics for your presentations to ensure they’re memorable and resonate with your audience.

Table of contents

How to Choose a Great Presentation Topic in 5 Steps

I’ve broken down the arduously long process of selecting topics into five simple and straightforward steps. Let’s go through it.

Step 1: Start with the end in mind.

“Some things are better left unsaid,” is my opinion not I want people to say something about my presentations. That’s why I always have a specific goal before choosing a topic.

Some questions I ask myself are:

• What do I hope to achieve from the presentation?
• How do I want to come across?
• What do you want my audience to take away from the presentation?

Having a clear goal helps me start developing the title of my presentation. For example, if I’m giving a seminar on AI, my goal might be to convince my audience to incorporate more AI into their daily lives.

A powerful idea for a title might be: “Why AI WILL NOT ruin your life.”

Step 2: Know your audience.

Let’s say I’m preparing an internal presentation for my team at Nickelodeon. I would first consider my audience’s experiences and interests.

I don’t want to present something they already know well or have the topic go over their heads. Since this is my team, I am confident that these factors easily align with mine.

If you are presenting to an unknown audience, research the people or the general demographic if certain names are not available.

Next I would consider which style is preferred. Some jobs may be more formal and require a serious presentation tone.

Based on the type of content we work on at Nickelodeon, we keep it light at work, so I incorporate humor and a light tone into my presentation.

Pro tip: Always consider your audience’s level of knowledge on the topic before designing your presentation. For example, a social media presentation aimed at Generation Z is different than a presentation aimed at Millennials.

Step 3: Stay informed.

From moderators, 47% Tailor your presentation topics to current events to ensure the topic is new.

I’m not saying the presentation has to focus exclusively on a current event. Even including specific references or themes can alert the audience that this is not a previously created cut-and-paste presentation.

For example, if I were giving a presentation to my team at Nickelodeon, I might include a humorous reference to the 2024 film Evil as it is very culturally relevant.

If I wanted to focus my entire presentation on this topic, I might highlight some of the ways the PG-rated film manages to win hearts of all ages, which is relevant to our team’s family-friendly content.

Step 4: Be precise.

When I complete these first three steps, I am able to come up with good topic ideas. Now I can cut out the excess and choose a niche topic with a specific goal.

This is imperative because the broader the topic, the harder it will be for my audience to pick up key ideas and actionable tips. Additionally, it would be harder to attract an audience that is intrigued and excited by my topic.

For example, the first topic in the image is general, sounds vague and does not mention clear benefits. The second topic, on the other hand, mentions the target audience, tells them what to expect and provides a clear, actionable plan.

The audience knows exactly what they will take away from the presentation.

Step 5: Add a personal touch.

Presentations with stories are 22 times more likely be remembered as those with clear facts. This is the power of narrative and personalization in storytelling.

That’s why I always consider topics that I can relate to myself, which also helps the presentations appear more authentic. There are several ways I would do this:

• Choose a topic that I have first-hand experience with.
• Provide a unique opinion or insight/insight to add value to my words.
• Let the audience look at a controversial topic from my perspective.
• Choose a topic that I really care about.
• Tell a personal story that serves as a metaphor for my topic.

Pro tip: Think about where your interests and professional experience meet. Then narrow these topics down to two to five driving factors that you want to focus on in your presentation.

120 ideas for presentation topics

Below is an extensive list of presentation ideas from personal experiences to digital marketing and AI. I always refer to this list when I’m in trouble.

I can keep the framework and swap out keywords for many of these titles, creating an infinite combination of ideas.

Presentation topic ideas for personal experiences

1. The mistakes “I” made
2. My journey to balancing full-time and freelance work
3. How I made social media a productive space
4. Five life-changing habit changes I made this year
5. How I got out of my longest writing rut
6. My battle with Covid-19
7. How I turned my weaknesses into strengths
8. Dealing with anxiety and depression
9. I use my hobbies to advance my career
10. Remote vs. in the office: Where do I thrive?
11. What I wanted to be and what I became
12. How I rediscovered myself after hardship

Ideas for presentation topics on controversial topics

1. Future of genetically modified foods and preservatives
2. Data protection in the age of AI: Ethical issues
3. The power of social media in politics
4. Freedom of expression or harmful content
5. Navigating the line between cultural appropriation and appreciation
6. What can we do to prevent climate change?
7. Women’s rights are the rights of everyone
8. LGBTQ Rights: Balancing Equality and Tradition in the Future
9. The ethics of animal testing
10. The Impact of Social Media on Future Generations
11. How much screen time is too much?
12. Punishment vs. Rehabilitation

Ideas for presentation topics on current trends

1. Five small efforts to combat climate change
2. How local politics contributes to the bigger picture
3. What are Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies?
4. The latest fitness trends for 2024
5. Social Media Life vs. Real Life: How to Stay Sane
6. Water scarcity and water conservation
7. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Sources: Are We Ready?
8. The Benefits of Mindfulness and Meditation Practices for New Moms
9. Understanding and addressing mental health issues in Generation Z and Alpha.
10. 12 techniques for practicing self-care and self-compassion
11. Transitioning back to hybrid or full-time office models after years of remote work.
12. How X-Marketers Grow Their Personal Brands (and ROI).

Industry insights presentation topic ideas

1. How new AI technologies are changing the industry: 5 examples
2. Six key trends and industry predictions for the future
3. How to overcome these 10 challenges to be successful
4. Measuring and optimizing organizational marketing efforts using AI
5. Use predictive analytics to gain important marketing insights
6. 13 strategies to increase customer loyalty and retention
7. Improve your online visibility and traffic: 15 tips from LinkedIn gurus
8. Seven ways to create engaging video content for your business
9. Five ways for businesses to build a strong social media presence
10. Which social media channels are best for your brand?
11. Is AI revolutionizing retail?
12. Digital learning and the future of traditional learning systems

Digital Marketing Presentation Topic Ideas

1. The next big thing in digital marketing – unlocked
2. The Art of Storytelling in Marketing: 23 Companies That Are Doing It
3. Benefits of Cross-Channel Marketing for Software Development Companies
4. Voice search and its impact on digital marketing in 2025
5. Maximizing ROI for Your Startup Marketing: 3 Underrated Tactics
6. Changes in consumer behavior: reasons and effects
7. Importance of personalization in digital marketing
8. 10 new marketing trends and technologies
9. Designing an effective mobile strategy for your business
10. Importance of Infographics in Content Marketing: HubSpot Case Study
11. Creating effective marketing funnels for healthcare products
12. The power of user-generated content for business

AI presentation topic ideas

1. Six top stories about AI in 2024
2. Five strange but true facts about AI
3. What these three business experts say about AI
4. Three shocking ways AI can make you a better marketer
5. The dark side of AI
6. How do presidential campaigns benefit from AI?
7. Five AI tools every marketer needs
8. AI and Big Data: Changing the Landscape of Modern Business
9. Which jobs will AI replace?
10. Why do these X-list celebrities and industry leaders love AI?
11. AI in human resources: recruiting and talent management
12. The Ethics of AI: Balancing Business Interests and Social Impact

Sales presentation topic ideas

1. Cold Calling: Unethical Tactics and Gray Areas
2. Sales: Expectations vs. Reality
3. With AI, sales promotion becomes easier
4. Sales Conversations: Do’s, Don’ts and Musts
5. Six sales strategies you need to ditch
6. Five skills every salesperson needs to develop in 2024
7. Build long-lasting customer relationships with these three proven methods
8. Dealing with rejections: Five ways and a bonus tip
9. Patient waiting and seven ways to deal with it
10. 13 Effective Sales Strategies to Build Relationships and Close Deals
11. Develop effective sales training programs for new employees
12. 20 effective sales communication strategies

Presentation topic ideas for time management

1. How to achieve an ideal work-life balance for remote employees
2. How much time should you ideally spend networking on LinkedIn?
3. How to delegate tasks effectively
4. Buy your time back: opportunities and benefits
5. Six business principles of time management
6. How to Create an Effective Plan: Three Exercises You Can Start Today
7. 15 Ways to Improve Personal Efficiency and Productivity
8. The five steps of Pomodoro technique
9. Goal setting and prioritization: For IT startups
10. Nine best multitasking strategies of insanely successful business people
11. Time Management for Busy Professionals: Where to Start?
12. Stop Procrastinating: Eight Possibilities Starting Tomorrow

Presentation topic Ideas for IT

1. Advantages and risks of adopting cloud software
2. Open source software: seven best practices
3. Machine learning: advantages and disadvantages for marketing
4. How to create user-friendly interfaces for software and websites
5. The role of IT in digital transformation
6. The Internet of Things: five opportunities for companies and consumers
7. Six ways to protect your digital assets
8. Seven benefits and three risks of moving to the cloud
9. How does big data work?
10. Best strategies for protecting corporate data: five proven techniques
11. Technology and its impact on society and culture
12. Mobile Device Management: Where to Start?

Presentation topics ideas for companies

1. Optimize collaboration to save time across departments
2. Eight time management tools and apps for businesses
3. 12 Common Skills of Successful Business People
4. 10 tips and techniques for a successful marketing strategy
5. Harness the power of influencer marketing
6. Allocate a marketing budget to maximize ROI in five steps
7. Five manufacturing techniques to minimize costs
8. Understand ethical issues in business and marketing
9. 15 Ways to Reduce Your Business’s Carbon Footprint
10. Three old business models are making a comeback
11. Seven ways X developed a strong company culture
12. 12 strategies for building a sustainable and responsible business in 2023

5 presentation tips

While I’ve emphasized the importance of using presentation themes to focus on the audience, offer direct solutions, and fill knowledge gaps, there’s more.

Finally, the part that usually keeps me up the night before a big presentation is usually not the topic, but the thought of the actual presentation.

That’s why I’m sharing my five best tips to help you with your next presentation.

1. Design a clear layout.

I like to organize my presentations into four clear sections – introduction, body, conclusion and wrap-up – to help me create a clear layout attractive design. Here’s what I include in each area:

introduction

• A catchy title with a catch
• A thesis or big idea behind the presentation
• Table of Contents giving my audience a preview of what’s to come

Body

• A clear explanation of my topic
• I try to convey my argument, perspective or main message in three to five key points
• Expertly interspersed facts help to support my claims

Diploma

• A brief summary of key points and findings
• A catchy line that makes you think and encourages lively discussion.

Follow up

• Five to ten minutes at the end of my presentation for a question and answer session where I can clarify doubts and provide more context to my audience

2. Use visual aids.

I hate to admit it, but nothing makes me think faster than a black and white presentation with lots of words. Due to my shorter attention span and preference for visual learning, I find it difficult to concentrate on a purely verbal or text-based presentation.

Presentation visualizations can increase content engagement by up to 80%.

LinkedIn also provides several reasons supporting the importance of visual aids such as: B. attracting audience attention and interest, reducing cognitive load by breaking down complex concepts, and improving retention and recall of verbal messages.

I work in media and entertainment full-time, so it’s easy to add visual elements to my presentations in the form of key graphics, video promos and character art.

But even in less creative industries, visual aids such as charts and graphs, different color schemes and even brand logos can help break up the text.

3. Choose a presentation style that makes you confident.

I know my strengths and weaknesses best when it comes to presentation skills. I know I’m not the best at conveying a large amount of information quickly, but I have an excellent memory (no speaker notes here!) and easy communication.

All of this self-awareness helps me prepare presentation styles that I feel most comfortable and confident with. Presentation themes can also determine which style is best.

For example, if my topic is “Five Life-Changing Habit Changes I Made This Year,” I’ll probably adopt a narrative style. On the other hand, a topic like “The Ethics of AI: Balancing Business Interests and Social Impact” might require a lecturer style.

The moral is to choose a way of presenting the material that gives me the most confidence. The actual information may be difficult, but how I share it may be simple.

4. Design a slide deck you can be proud of.

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I live by the phrase “Look good, feel good.” When I’m sick, exhausted, or just having a bad day, I feel worse than I am when I wear pajamas and unwashed hair. But taking a shower and wearing my favorite outfit can change my entire day.

The same theory applies to presentations. I’ve had to turn around presentations with sloppy slides at the last minute, and the embarrassment about how they look can be enough to completely throw me off.

This has made sense ever since 91% of working people Feel more confident presenting a well-designed slide deck.

My company uses branded slide templates, which simplifies the process, but it’s essential to go into it manually to make fonts, colors, text spacing, and visuals look good.

You can also use Presentation templates to save time and discover beautiful, appealing designs.

It’s also important to practice going through these well-designed slides, especially if you’re responsible for a group presentation. Go through the presentation in slideshow mode and make sure everything looks as desired.

5. Interact with your audience.

Usually my biggest fear before a presentation is making sure I share all the information I have prepared.

However, what should be more important to me is to create a connection with my audience that is strong enough that my presentation resonates in their minds for a long time.

79% of the audience Prefer interactive presentations with opportunities for engagement, so presenters have used tools like polls and quizzes to increase audience engagement by 40%.

This is also a great way to take some of the pressure off myself – by throwing something to the audience every now and then, I can make the presentation feel more conversational.

Here are some ways my colleagues and I have made presentations more interactive:

• Start by asking the audience unusual questions. Engage them from the start by saying things like, “Raise your hand if X.”
• Add polls to slides and encourage viewers to share their answers.
• Make eye contact to build credibility and show confidence. Don’t stare at the slides or notes. Smile occasionally and speak directly to the audience.
• Share your personal perspective and ask whether anyone in the audience agrees or disagrees. Ask them to share why.
• Use active and confident body language. Don’t stand in the same place all the time. Move around the stage.
• Ask closed-ended questions every now and then to engage the audience without wasting time. Address them by their name to keep things interesting.
• Share personal experiences and stories that your audience will find fascinating and relatable.

Are you feeling inspired yet?

As a young professional in my industry, I am always looking for opportunities to make myself known, stand out from the crowd and demonstrate my leadership skills.

This blog post showed me that unique, memorable presentation topics can help me achieve these goals.

We all have a wealth of expertise, experience and personality, and that’s enough to create a story worth listening to. So the question is not, “What should I say?” but rather, “How can I say it?”

My main takeaway is that authenticity comes from finding ways to personalize presentation topics.

Even something that is data-driven or industry-focused offers an opportunity to point to an anecdote, metaphor, unique perspective, or audience engagement tool that can take presentations from informative to noteworthy.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in August 2023 and has been updated for completeness.