The most successful and memorable presentations have one thing in common. They all have a story to tell. No matter how many facts or charts need to be presented, incorporating stories into a presentation will keep your audience focused and intrigued. Using stories to support data is a well-known technique in all aspects of public speaking, from motivational talks to in-company sales pitches. In this guide, we will look at 7 ways to structure your presentations using storytelling techniques to keep your audience engaged until the very end. Look closely at each one to see which fits your presentation’s purpose best. Read more at https://visme.co/blog/presentation-structure/#GDw2r22TyHo71TTX.99

1. 7 Ways to Structure
your Presentation
To Keep your Audience
Wanting More

2. 1. Fact and Story
A presentation with this story structure moves back and forth
between facts and stories, between “what is” (the present reality)
and “what could be.”
What
could be
What is What isWhat isWhat is
The gap
Reward:
New bliss
BEGINNING
Paint a picture of
the realities of the
audience's current
world.
MIDDLE
Present contrasting content, alternating
between what is and what could be.
Turning
point 1
CALL TO ADVENTURE
Create an imbalance by
stating what could be
juxtaposed to what is.
CALL TO ACTION
Articulate the finish line
the audience is to cross.
What
could be
What
could be
Turning
point 2

3. This presentation structure is meant to teach new insights
and abilities. Its main purpose is to inform about a process or
plan to either fix a problem or learn something new.
2. The Explanation
The lay of the land
Where are we now,
where are we going,
and what's between
here and there?
Do we agree onour
destination?
Ourroadmap
Here's the route we
will take to get to our
destination.
Do we agree onour
route?
Our1st step
Every journey
begins with a step,
and this is ourfirst.
Are we all still
together?
Ournext steps...
Here's the next
step...and the next,
and so on...
Do we knowwhat
we've done andwhere
we are?
Almost there...
We are just about
there. Let's take
a look back over
how far we've
come.
Do we see how
muchwe've
learned?
We've arrived!
We made it!We
now have some new
knowledge orability.
Canwe repeatit
onour own?

4. 3. The Pitch
This presentation structure is like a climb uphill that takes
you over a hurdle and on to a positive resolution.
Storytelling is used to show how the presenter’s idea can
really improve a situation.
TheWindup
Westart with
a quick
summaryof
whereweare
today.
TheHurdle
Weintroducea
problem we're
facing.
TheVision
Weshow a
glimpseof a
wayoverthe
problem.
TheOptions
Wepresent two ways to
reach thevision -a boring
oneand an inspiringone.
TheClose
Weshow why
theinspiring
option is really
theonlyoption.
TheFinePrint
With our
audienceexcited,
wecoverthe
details of how we
makeit happen.
TheHook
Weend with an
added benefit

5. This type of presentation is based on a classic
story structure called “The Hero’s Journey,” which
follows the plight of a main character from the
beginning of a story to the end.
4. The Drama
One fine day...
Maybe
everything isn't
perfect, but
we're doing
okay.
Out of nowhere
comes a
problem we
can't ignore.
The Challenge Happiness
The Return
The Lesson
Descending Crisis
As we grapple with
the problem, things
go from bad to
worse until we hit
Rock Bottom.
Rock Bottom The Discovery
Wait a minute, what's this?
We suddenly see a way out.
The Rise
Through abilities we never
knew we had, we fight our way
back to the surface.
We come
away with a
new gift that
we'll never
forget.
The Worst
We lie there
awaiting the end.
All hope is lost.
We come away with
a new gift that we'll
never forget.

6. 5. Situation - Complication - Resolution
In the realm of B2B sales and business consultancy, most
presentations follow the Situation - Complication -
Resolution structure. It is a three element storyline linked
by the words but and therefore.
Situation
What's
happening
now. An
unbiased view
of the current
conditions.
Complication
Resolution
The proposed
product/service
or solution that
meets the
challenges.
Make sure you
have evidence
to add
credibility to
the story.
But...
Therefore...
The challenge ahead. Use data
to back this up. It shines a
light on the problem and adds
tension to the story.

7. A similar structure to the one above, this
structure is perfect when you need to show that
something is not that hard to fix.
6. Situation - Opportunity - Resolution
Situation
What's happening
now. An unbiased
view of the current
conditions.
Opportunity
Opportunity is an
alternative path if
you wish to cast
the presentation in
a hopeful light.
Resolution
The proposed
product/service
or solution that
meets the
challenges. Make
sure you have
evidence to add
credibility to the
story.
But...
Therefore...

8. 7. Hook, Meat and Payoff
This presentation structure, like The Drama is deeply founded
in the art of storytelling. While the Hero’s Journey is more of a
literary technique; Hook, Meat and Payoff is more like a
spoken word progression.
remember
engage
Hook
Away to givethe
audiencea senseof
what's coming and
havethem leaning
forward in theirseats.
i.e. rhetorical question,
provocative
statement, personal
story.
understand
Payoff
Acall to action that
invites the
audienceto
participate.
Meat
Away to easily organizethe
presentation so that theaudience
knows wherethey areand can
follow along.
i.e. list, timeline.

9. Made With Visme
Source:
http://blog.visme.co/presentation-structure/