Although most people don’t think of it, one of the best ways to make your presentation more interactive and engaging is to add humor to your speech or presentation. In fact, if you can make the audience laugh, you’re likely doing something right! This article will cover why you should use humor in your presentation and how you can craft jokes that are not only relevant but will get laughs from your audience. By incorporating humor into your presentations and speeches, you’ll be surprised at how much better they are received by your audience!

Why A Joke Can Help Your Presentation

## Test Their Participation
The best way to see if your audience is engaged with your presentation is to use a joke. In most cases, jokes immediately get people’s attention, especially when it comes as a surprise. If you can make them laugh and they stay interested in what you have to say after that, then you know that they are actively participating in your presentation. If not, then there might be something wrong with your material or delivery style. Either way, using a joke during your presentation can help you identify where things need improvement so that you can improve them before moving on to other parts of your talk.

It’s important to give your audience something to do. This can be a survey, an interactive game, or even just some sort of fun activity that they can participate in while you talk. If your presentation is interactive, it will keep them engaged and focused on what you have to say. If it isn’t interactive, then at least try to make it interesting by adding humor and stories. You don’t want them looking at their phones instead of listening to you!

Give The Audience Something To Do

People like to feel like they’re in on a joke, so it can help your presentation by using humor. However, make sure you don’t use jokes that are offensive or embarrassing. This will only hurt your credibility and distract from what you’re trying to say. If used correctly, humor can be a great way to keep people engaged during your speech and show them that you aren’t afraid of making fun of yourself.

Use Humor To Keep Them Engaged

While adding humor to your presentation is a great way to get your audience more engaged there are other ways. For example  you can use a [Q&A quiz](/en/questions/qa/) to get the conversation going. [Open questions](/en/questions/open-ended/) are also a great way to boost the audience interaction levels. Because no matter how good your presentation is, the audience will remember it best when there is some sort of interaction. If you’re not sure where to start, check out [this blogpost](/en/blog/how-do-you-make-your-presentation-interactive/) on how to make any type of business event or meeting interactive!

Introduce Some Interactivity Into Your Presentation

 One of the best ways to make your presentation more interactive and engaging is to add humor. Find out why in this article.

Think about it, when someone tells you a story you want to be taken along with it, you want to feel the emotion and hear the meaning behind every word. A total dealbreaker is a monotonous speaker. First of all I want to be clear about what monotonous is. Lets break the word apart, ‘mono’ is Latin for single while ‘tonos’ translates to tone. Talking with a single tone will bore your audience, so here are a few tips to giving a monotonous presentation.  

How to prevent a meeting/pre­sen­tation to become mono­tonous

## Posture is key
A strong and supported voice is crucial for a good vocal presentation however this is only doable when having the right posture. Your ribcage should be aligned in order to take in enough air. So before you even start your presentation make sure your back is straight and relaxed, your knees should be somewhat bent and your head needs to be held up high. You should be in a vertical line and experience how easy it is to make your voice strong and supported. 

The biggest problem in a monotone speech is no intonation. This can be a challenge to add to your voice if you don’t do this naturally. Just like you would highlight all the important information in a big chunk of text, you should also do this in your presentation. The words that would have been highlighted if it was read needs to have a different tone when it is spoken. Mix it up between pace, intonation and volume to highlight your key message. Use the fist rule of pronouncing at least one word different in each sentence in order to not bore your audience.  

Your voice should be your highlighter

Peoples minds will start to wonder when the presenter is talking in the same repetitive rhythm, just like you wouldn’t listen to a song that is a constant repetition of the last few chords. Mix it up between your pace. For example you can slow down when important information is given, this way the audience can process. Contrarily you can speed up when you are reciting a long list that is not that important. Another trick to mix up your pace is by leaving pauses. By pausing before an important message people will start to wonder what will come next and will pay more attention. On the other hand you can also pause after an important message, this way people will have the time to think and process the thing you just said. A silence can also be used to give structure to your presentation. Pause between each paragraph to let the audience know you will cover a different subject. 

Praise your pace

Monotonous presentations can be stopped by showing more expression overall. While vocal tonality is the main tool for expressiveness there are a few other options. The practice shows that when a speaker is increasing body movements, facial expressions or lively vocabulary the vocal tonality will follow automatically. So if you are having a hard time changing your monotone voice, start moving more, make hand gestures or even try showing emotions in the words you are saying.  

Expression overload 

It is in our nature to talk with a lot of expression when in a conversation with someone. Make use of this natural instinct by starting a conversation while presenting. When you start talking instead of presenting you are more likely to talk with a different tone, volume and pace, and in this way it is very unusual to talk monotonous. There are a few tricks to start a conversation in your presentation. When you are in a conversation you do not have any cheat sheet, so why are you using them during a presentation? Start talking about your subject on the top of your head, this way it makes it harder to talk monotonous. Secondly have an actual conversation with your audience. By using our Q&A tool, with this tool the audience can ask questions throughout your entire presentation. You are obligated to answer these questions off guard what will lead to surprising interactions and will help you break out of your monotony. 

With all of these tips monotony will no longer be a struggle for you. Start practicing and experience the added value of being a great presenter! 

Stop presenting and start talking 

Talking with a single tone will bore your audience, so here are a few tips to avoid giving a monotonous presentation.

Storytelling has always been an effective way to grab your audience’s attention and convince them of your point of view. It’s also an important skill to help people remember the stories you tell, but most importantly remember what you want them to take away from the story you’re telling in the first place. Effective storytelling can really make a world of difference in how well your message comes across and how well your presentation goes over with the audience in attendance. In order to start incorporating storytelling into your presentations, check out these little known ways to imply storytelling in your presentation.

Little Known Ways to Imply Storytelling in Your Presentation

Framing your presentation with three parts (e.g., problem, solution and results) makes it easier for your audience to follow along with you. It also helps make your argument stronger—and no one will argue that a strong presentation is better than one that’s confusing or disorganized.

1. Use storytelling structure

It’s easy to bore an audience with cold, hard facts and figures. To make your presentation more interesting, you should use anecdotes – mini-stories that illustrate your point.

2. Use anecdotes

Varying your voice makes you seem more dynamic and interesting. Studies have shown that people pay more attention when a presenter speaks with a variety of intonations, tones, and speeds.

3. Vary your voice

The easiest way to ruin a presentation is by turning it into a slide show. A good presentation should always have something more going on than just a series of bullet points and slogans.

4. Never just read off slides

## 5. Create mystery through body language
Body language can be used to imply a story without having to actually tell one. Pacing around, waving your hands and gesticulating help create a sense of passion and enthusiasm. This, in turn, helps keep your audience engaged.

It’s not enough to simply create a solid presentation, you have to engage your audience to make them feel like they are part of what you are presenting. One way of doing that is by asking them [questions](/en/questions/) via Sendsteps. Sendsteps allows you to engage your audience in many different ways. You can use [word clouds](/en/questions/wordcloud/), [quizzes](/en/questions/quiz/) and more.  

In conclusion, storytelling can be a really powerful and engaging tool for your presentations. These little known ways of implying story telling in your presentation will surely draw attention and keep people engaged throughout your entire presentation.

6. It’s not just slides

Storytelling is an effective way to grab your audience’s attention. Check out these ways to imply storytelling in your presentation.

Giving a presentation in front of your boss, coworkers, and clients can be an extremely nerve-wracking experience, even if you’re a public speaker who has given the same talk dozens of times. That’s because presentations are inherently awkward; with everyone focusing on you, you can never be completely sure if what you’re saying makes sense or if your body language is conveying the right message. To make sure your presentation stays on track and doesn’t get derailed by awkward moments, follow these seven tips to keep your presentation from being awkward.

7 Ways to Keep Your Interactive Presentation from Being Awkward

## 1. Have an interactive presentation
When you have an interactive presentation, people will pay more attention. Instead of trying to gauge if they’re interested, you can easily tell if they’re bored. It also forces you to think on your feet and be spontaneous—and it gives them a chance to follow along by asking questions or making comments using the [Q&A sessions](/en/questions/qa/). This makes it much less awkward and lets you focus on what’s really important: having a good conversation.

Make eye contact with your audience, it helps create an interactive environment where your audience is more likely to open up and participate. The easiest way is to look at someone in their eyes for about 2 seconds before moving on to another person.

2. Eye contact is important

This makes it much easier for your audience to interact with you. Remember, even if you feel like you’re not getting good feedback, there are people out there who want to help you succeed! So encourage a positive atmosphere and you can count on some helpful thoughts and suggestions. And, of course, an easy way to smile is to find someone in the audience that seems interested in what you have to say; try looking at them when making a point or asking for their input.

3. Smile, it makes you look friendly

Giving your audience time to think will make them more receptive to your message. Take pauses between points to help you speak at a steady pace and to let your presentation flow well.

4. Don’t be afraid to pause

If you find yourself saying um or ah too much in a presentation, it can make you appear less confident than if you had said nothing at all. Instead of attempting to correct your speech errors on-the-fly, try rehearsing them out loud until they’re out of your vocabulary for good. The more comfortable you are with your speech and its flow, the more audiences will be able to focus on what you have to say—and not how well you present it.

5. Avoid Ums and Ahs

A powerful and impressive presentation makes it easy for your audience to envision themselves in your world. That’s why adjectives are more powerful than nouns—and that’s why you should use them. Using adjectives instead of nouns makes it easier for your audience to connect with what you’re saying, and is especially important during interactive presentations, where your audience members can participate in discussions about content by raising their hands or answering questions posed by a moderator.

6. Use adjectives instead of nouns as much as possible

Practice makes perfect. Practice your presentation in front of a mirror and ask for feedback from a close friend or family member. Be honest with yourself about what works and what doesn’t, and make adjustments based on their input. Then practice some more!

When you’re speaking to a large audience, it can feel very intimidating. However, presenting doesn’t have to be scary. With these seven tips in mind, your next presentation should feel much more interactive and comfortable for you and your audience. And that means less awkwardness overall!

7. Practice, practice, practice!

Presenting in front of a crowd can be nerve-wracking. Follow these 7 tips to make sure your presentation doesn’t get derailed by awkward moments.

Attending business events can be valuable, but it’s also easy to get bored when you’re just sitting and listening to speakers talk. Here are five ways you can make your next event more interactive and keep attendees engaged throughout the day.

5 Ways to Keep Attendees Engaged at Your Next Event

Knowing what you want attendees to take away from your event will keep them engaged and on task throughout. The best way to figure out what you want out of your event is by writing an agenda in advance.

1. Start with the end in mind

Technology can help make your business event more interactive, allowing you to use technology such as collaboration tools, social networking platforms and videoconferencing equipment. If you’re holding an event and want attendees to participate in meaningful ways, consider using Sendsteps. Sendsteps has multiple[ question types](/en/questions/) to keep your audience engaged.  

2. Technology can be your friend

Hosting a social event is great for building brand awareness and creating buzz, but a lot of events end up being the same. Break out of your routine by shaking things up a bit. Incorporate new activities, change up your environment and switch up your staff—whether you’re hosting an annual company picnic or team-building retreat—keep people interested and engaged in what you have to offer.

3. Mix it up!

## 4. Have a twist ending

There’s a reason moviegoers have become familiar with the twist. Not only does it come as a surprise, but it also elevates our investment in (and enjoyment of) whatever story we’re consuming. The same principle holds true for events—if you can add an unexpected element, your audience will be more involved and will take away something different from your presentation or session. Here is an example:

End the event with a giveaway, people love to get things for free. Giveaways are beneficial for business events. It’s a great marketing tool and gives you the chance to collaborate with other companies. It also increases the word-of-mouth awareness of your business. 

The key here is balance—so let them participate. Ask them questions using a [quiz](/en/questions/quiz/) or a [word cloud](/en/questions/wordcloud/). This can  be easily done via Sendsteps. You want attendees to remember your event, not just feel like they got their money’s worth.

5. There’s no rule against fun

 Business events are very valuable and shouldn't be boring. Find out how to keep your attendees engaged at an event throughout the day.

A GIF is the ideal way to spice up your boring monotonous PowerPoint. While videos are usually heavy files and photos are static pictures that do not capture the interest of your audience, GIFS are your way to go! Follow this step-by-step plan below to add a GIF in your next presentation.

How can I add a GIF-animation in PowerPoint?

## Step 1: Save a GIF

In order to add a GIF file to your PowerPoint it needs to be saved on your computer. You can download GIFs on websites like giphy.com. Download your desired GIF and save it somewhere on your computer where it can be easily found.

In the top bar in PowerPoint choose for the tab ‘add’ and then click the ‘images’ button. Scroll through the ‘add images’ to the location of your saved GIF. Select the GIF file you want to add to PowerPoint and click on ‘add’ or ‘open’.

When you will click on ‘start slideshow’ the GIF animation will automatically be played.

It is more time consuming when you first need to search for a funny GIF and then needing to download it on your computer before you can add it in your slideshow. This process will be a lot easier and faster when using the presentation tool Sendsteps. You can use the Sendsteps database to add GIFs to your presentation. In this way you don’t need to download GIFs from external websites, but everything is gathered on one website to make a beautiful slideshow.  Still attached to PowerPoint? No worries, Sendsteps is fully integrated into PowerPoint.

Step 2: Add GIF file in PowerPoint

 A GIF is an ideal way to spice up your PowerPoint. GIFS are your go to! Follow this step-by-step plan to add a GIF in your next presentation.

Engagement in [meetings](/en/solutions/meetings/) tends to get lower and lower as the meeting goes on, regardless of how well-organized it started out. Many meetings don’t actually have to suffer from this fate, however; here are 7 ways to increase engagement in meetings that you can start implementing today to see results immediately.

7 Ways to Increase Engagement in Meetings

Before you even have a meeting, sit down and determine exactly what you want it to accomplish. Without knowing what you’re trying to achieve, your meeting will be all over the place and won’t be as effective.

1. Set objectives

If you want your audience to stay engaged during a meeting, send an email beforehand reminding them of what’s going on and why they should care.

2. Send emails beforehand

[Questions](https://www.sendsteps.com/en/questions/) are a great way to engage an audience and draw them out of their comfort zones. Here are some questions you can ask at meetings: What do you think? How do you feel about that? Why is that important? How do we solve it?

3. Ask questions

Don’t send out meeting invites that are more than a few sentences long. If you need to give more information, consider sending out links or attachments via email.

4. Keep the invite short

## 5. Give feedback after meetings
In order to help your attendees leave meetings feeling energized and valued, make sure you give them time at the end of each meeting to share their thoughts. This can be easily done via [open ended questions](/en/questions/open-ended/) with Sendsteps.

Polls can be an effective way of increasing engagement during meetings. People will also feel more included because they have a stake in what is being discussed. [Read here](/en/blog/create-an-online-poll-with-sendsteps/) how you can implement polls in your PowerPoint.

6. Use polls

One of the most important things you can do when it comes to meeting time management is keeping track of what’s on your schedule and being realistic about how much time certain tasks will take.

Keeping an audience engaged during meetings can be though. Sendsteps resolves this problem by adding  interactive features to ensure there are no bored faces in your presentation or meeting room ever again.

7. Manage time well

Knowing how to properly present online is a must in this day and age. However, it can be a bit difficult to make an online presentation personal or to find a real connection with your audience through a screen. That’s why we would like to share ten tips about how you can pass on your knowledge – like the expert you are – during an online presentation.

10 tips that will take your online presentation to the next level

## 1. Choose the right software

There are many different tools you can use to give online presentations. Try to think about the purpose of your presentation and investigate which software best suits your goal. Is your purpose to have interaction with your audience? Sendsteps will make this happen. The software will help you make your presentations more engaging and interactive. When you have chosen the right software you want to make sure you have practiced enough so you know all the ins and outs of the software. This will help you make your presentation as smooth as possible.

You can easily switch your workspace into a professional presentation room with a few small adjustments. Make sure to keep in mind the quality of the light, sound and your screen. A lot of people forget that when using the camera in the right way it can increase the attention your audience has for your story. Make sure to look directly into the camera while presenting and do not forget that even when you are online, body language can make a huge difference.  

2. Turn your workspace into a studio

UX is all about the user experience. With the help of UX you can influence the audiences behavior. Research shows that people read in the shape of the letter Z. This is useful information when designing your PowerPoint slide. For example, have a long sentence on top of the screen, in the middle you can add bullet points and on the bottom a long sentence again. This way your slide will be read in the Z shape. Strong visuals are also an important part of an UX presentation, the best position for this is on the right side of your slideshow. 

3. Make use of UX design and visuals

Organize a clear structure in your story and presentation. It is wise to think about the goal of your presentation beforehand. If you use PowerPoint it is important to keep it simple and not filled with a lot of text. Think about what people should learn from your story. What is your key message? Only add this information on your slides.

4. Organize a structure

It is even a harder challenge to keep your story interesting online than live. A way to tackle this challenge is by making sure your story is diverse and dynamic. One way to achieve this is by using examples and anecdotes. You can also introduce an online WordCloud where the public can share their thoughts.[ Read here more about how to make a Word Cloud in PowerPoint](/en/questions/wordcloud/). In this way your story will be better remembered and more personal.

5. Make use of storytelling in your online presentation

When a speaker is using his entire body to tell a story it results in a more interesting presentation. Use facial expressions to show what you mean or feel with your text. Keep the audience’s attention by varying your vocal range or by pausing. Make sure to have an open attitude and talk with your entire body. This will result in more liveliness in your story!

6. Make use of your entire body while giving an online presentation

It is good to prepare your text, but only use this as a guideline. You don’t need to recite your premeditated text. When you only use your text like a guideline, you’re allowing yourself to improvise which will make your presentation feel more natural. Use short sentences and avoid a too professional tone of voice. This way your presentation will most likely come across spontaneous which is more pleasing to listen to

7. Speak normal 

Your presentation skills will increase when you have more confidence. One way to achieve this confidence is by practicing a lot. However sometimes things go wrong while you are presenting online and unexpected things happen. Keep calm! Try to pick yourself up and continue where you left off. You can also inform the public that you are a bit lost, if just continuing doesn’t work. Even the best of us make mistakes and there is nothing wrong with that.

8. Do not panic when things go wrong

It is important that the audience feels seen and heard. This can be achieved by asking questions and allowing people to provide a response. There are [different question types](/en/questions/) that you can implement in your online presentation. On top of that be aware of the body language of your audience. You can mention if you see a member of the audience laughing. This way your audience feels seen, resulting in a more attentive audience that will increase their focus for your story. If you want some more tips you can read it in our blog: [How do you make a presentation interactive?](/en/blog/how-do-you-make-your-presentation-interactive/)

9. Involve your audience in your online presentation

Trust yourself by knowing you own enough knowledge and experience to start speaking publicly. Do not be afraid to be yourself and chose a stage that resonates with who you are. You can share your knowledge on social media or in a podcast. Creating content about your subject is important in order to create a connection with your audience before your presentation has even started. Don’t be quiet, speak up! This way your audience will feel the added value of your presentation.

Giving an online presentation is indispensable in these times, but it also contains a lot of challenges. Keeping your audience’s attention, especially online, can be challenging but also very important. Sendsteps helps you create a stronger connection with your audience. Try starting your presentation with a WordCloud or test the audience’s knowledge with a quiz. This way your audience will stay focused and your presentation will be unforgettable.

10. Grab your stage

 Knowing how to present online is a must. It’s difficult to find a connection through a screen. Here are 10 tips on giving a good presentation

How do you make your presentation interactive?

There are many online and offline ways to make your presentation interactive, otherwise you are facing the risk of losing your audience’s attention. For example, start with a small dialogue. People are much more alert during a conversation, as they are experiencing the “danger” of not reacting properly. But they relax when this conversation turns into a monologue. Try to keep the audience focused and start using Sendsteps to talk to your audience in your next presentation!

There are two types of interaction: dynamic and static. Dynamic interaction has simple offline ways to create and improve your interaction with the audience. Dynamic means all physical forms of interaction that you can use to keep your audience engaged and alert without affecting the contents of your presentation. Below you can see a few examples of dynamic interaction: 

### 1. Let your audience vote by moving
This can be a simple raise of a hand. You could also be creative and have your audience wave, dance or move around the hall. You can make it as fun as it gets! Be prepared to demonstrate first or do it together with your audience, so that nobody feels silly. 

### 2.	Use red/green signs
Use different signs or badges to receive your audience’s opinion. It can be very tricky to engage a large group of people and get everyone to express their opinion. You can make your presentation interactive by using red or green signs. This way, you can prevent chaotic movements around the hall where everyone wants to speak out and you can still hear everyone out. 
Dynamic interaction in a presentation is a very good way of breaking the ice and engaging the public. But proceed with caution! A lot of physical interaction can become boring. When you ask your audience for interaction but don’t add any actual meaning to it, your story becomes boring and your people lose interest.   

Dynamic interaction in a presentation 

This empty interaction can be prevented by creating a substantive interaction. In other words, static interaction that you tailor to the input of the audience. They get a sense of appreciation when they are listened to and will give more input. This interaction is easy to create with the Sendsteps online tool and everyone gets a chance to comment. Below are a few concrete examples of static interaction:

### 1.	Use a Q&A session
Sendsteps enable you to have a [Q&A session](/en/questions/qa/) for the duration of your entire presentation. Your audience will simply need to go on the website and ask questions without interrupting you. Make time within your presentation to answer these questions and you will have already created some interaction. This will also give you a nice break from presenting and let you speak to your audience. 

### 2.	Ask open questions
By using [open questions](/en/questions/open-ended/), you can easily engage the audience and hear everyone out. This lowers the threshold and enables people to open up and provide you with honest and meaningful answers. You can make your presentation interactive by responding to some of these answers. 

### 3.	A quiz in between
Why would you have a [quiz](/en/questions/quiz/) at the end of your presentation when you can have one in the middle? This will incredibly increase the awareness within your audience. The people can actually engage and not just listen. This can also work as an energizer during a long presentation. A quiz will also allow the presenter to see which covered topics weren’t clear and need to be repeated or skipped. 

Say goodbye to a boring presentation and use these interactive tools to make it unforgettable. Turn your next presentation into a conversation and not a monologue, and you will notice the difference in the audience! 


Make a static presentation interactive 

There are many ways to make your presentation interactive, without you are risking to lose the audience’s attention. Try to keep the audience focused!

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