How to Prepare for Presenting at a Conference

Presenting at a conference is a great opportunity to get exposure for your research and to make connections with other researchers in your field. Taking the time to prepare will ensure that your presentation is as effective as possible.

Keep in mind that a good conference presentation rises or falls on its content, not on its style. The following tips can help you improve your presentation skills:

Know Your Topic

A conference presentation is a lot different than a written paper, so it’s important to understand your topic very well. This can include knowing the background of your research and fully understanding your findings.

It is also helpful to be able to answer questions about your work. This can include explaining acronyms, terms, or complicated experimental methodologies. It is fine to ask your audience if they have any questions throughout the presentation, but you should usually try to save any questions for the end.

It is also important to know how much time you have to present and practice timing yourself. This will help you stay on track and avoid running out of time while presenting. It’s also a good idea to use props and move around a little while presenting, as this can engage the audience more and make them feel less like you are reading off of slides.

Know Your Audience

Whether you’re a businessperson or an academic, presenting at a conference is an important opportunity to present your research and share your ideas with your peers. It allows you to showcase months of work and potentially opens doors for future collaborations.

Before you begin preparing your presentation, it’s important to know your audience. This includes identifying their job titles, education and background, as well as learning more about their individual priorities and concerns.

You’ll also want to find out how much familiarity they have with your topic. For example, if you’re presenting to an academic audience, they may already have a general understanding of your research area. This can save you time by eliminating the need to cover basic ground. It can also help you decide how to structure your presentation.

Know Your Materials

When presenting, having your slides or handouts can help keep you organized and on track. They can also give your audience a chance to take notes during the presentation. If you do not have a slideshow or handouts, be prepared to answer questions about your research. It is also a good idea to prepare for Q&A sessions by writing down the questions you anticipate being asked, and practicing how you will respond.

Always practice the timing of your conference presentation, so that you are familiar with how long your talk is expected to last. Keeping an eye on your time can help you avoid going over it, which can feel awkward for the chair and audience members alike. The organic nature of a real presentation can often throw you off, however, and so it is important to be flexible.

Know Your Technology Requirements

Although you can’t control the venue or other unforeseen issues that may arise during your presentation, you can do your part to avoid technical glitches. Test your equipment beforehand, ideally in the room where you will be presenting, and keep backups of your materials at hand to make sure that you can continue with your presentation even if something goes wrong.

If you are allowed to take questions at the end of your talk, be prepared for a range of queries related to your findings and recommendations. Try to anticipate what your audience might ask and prepare concise answers, but also consider following up with more detailed responses in a blog post or on social media to engage those who couldn’t attend your session.

Know Yourself

Even seasoned professionals get nervous about giving presentations. However, if you practice and prepare well enough, conference presentations can be a wonderful opportunity to share your work with like-minded people.

Start with a powerful introduction that establishes context and builds credibility. Use an anecdote or a metaphor to help your audience relate to your research. People are more likely to remember a story or an analogy than facts and figures alone.

Anticipate possible questions and prepare concise answers. Be sure to leave time for the Q&A session at the end of your presentation. If you can, scope out the room where you will present ahead of time. This will save you from the stress of not knowing how to navigate a strange space or what the lighting conditions are like.