english company presentation

English presentations: examples and useful phrases

Even for those who speak English as their native language, giving a presentation is a challenge. Naturally, this task becomes significantly harder for learners of the English language. In order to feel confident in front of your audience, you should therefore put a lot of work into the preparation of your presentation. You should also make sure that you are confident using business English and that you are not only equipped with the vocabulary and phrases that you will need during your presentation, but also with those needed to lead a discussion and deal with problems or interruptions from the audience.

Since it is often most efficient to learn English words and phrases in context, we’ve put together a sample English presentation in a business context. To save you some time, we have decided to just focus on excerpts from the presentation. Each example focuses on a specific topic, such as the introduction of your presentation, dealing with questions from the audience, presenting charts and so on. Below these example sections, you’ll find useful English phrases taken from our presentation. Many of them will come in handy for your next presentation.

We have also included a few general tips on presentations that apply to presentations given in any language, not just presentations in English.  

First part of the English sample presentation: introduction and structure

Imagine the following context for this presentation: Lyndon Sykes, CEO of Cornmill Industries, is addressing the media and presenting his company’s latest results in English.

1. Opening statements at the start of the presentation

Facilitator: Good morning everyone and welcome to Cornmill Industries. In this presentation, we will be looking at the company’s annual results. I would now like to introduce Lyndon Sykes, CEO of Cornmill Industries.

Lyndon: Hello! Before we get down to business, let me kick off by giving you a quick rundown of how today’s briefing will work. I’m going to start with some highlights from last year.

Then, I’ll hand over to Tricia Hancock, head of sales and marketing. In the second part of our presentation, she will briefly say a few words about our latest social media campaign. Next, Angus Finch, our head of R&D, will give you an overview of some of the work we’re doing to reduce our carbon footprint and go even greener than we are already.

Finally, you’ll hear from Stuart Dixon, our CFO, who is going to present the key financials.

We’ll have plenty of time for a Q&A session at the end of the presentation, so unless your question really can’t wait, may I ask you to save any questions till then and not interrupt us in full flow? That would be much appreciated.

Phrases you can use for the introduction and organizational details in your English presentation

• Good morning everyone and welcome to...
• I would now like to introduce...
• Hello! Before we get down to business, let me...
• Let me kick off this presentation by giving you a quick rundown of...
• I’m going to start the presentation with...
• Then I’ll hand over to...
• She will briefly say a few words about...
• Next, Angus Finch will give you an overview of...
• At the end of the presentation, you’ll hear from Stuart Dixon , who is going to present...
• We’ll have plenty of time for a Q&A session at the end of the presentation.
• I’m now going to hand you back to...
• There will be a live online Q&A session...

2. Smooth transitions within the presentation

Lyndon: Right, in a nutshell, in the current competitive environment this is the situation the company finds itself in. Let’s now turn to the outlook for the next three years. In a moment, I’m going to show you a slide with a summary of the main concerns our customers expressed last year. But before I do, can I ask you to quickly have a look at this slide? It gives you an excellent overview of last year's business highlights.

English phrases for transitions between the sections of a presentation

• Let’s now turn to...
• In a moment, I’m going to show you a slide with...
• But before I do, can I ask you to...
• Let me just show you...
• So, that’s all I want to say about...
• Before we round off this segment, I’d like to present...
• I’m now going to talk you through...
• I’ll start the presentation with... before going on with...
• Let’s now move on to...
• This brings me to...
• As I’m sure you’ll have read in the press...

3. Technical problems during the presentation

Lyndon: Let me just show you... Oh! What’s this? No visuals! Do we have a technician handy? Technician: Sorry, Mr Sykes, have you checked that your projector is plugged into the right port? Let me see. No, it isn’t. Just switch it over and it should work. Lyndon: That’s better, thank you. Sorry about that, ladies and gentlemen. Oh, and while you’re here, could you lower the blinds a  bit more for me? Thanks.

English phrases that help to deal with technical problems during a presentation

• Do we have a technician handy?
• Have you checked that... ?
• Could you lower the blinds a bit more for me?

Second part of the English sample presentation: audience questions

In the next part of the presentation, head of R&D Angus Finch and marketing officer Tricia Hancock show key developments in their divisions and answer questions from the audience.

4. Dealing with an interruption during the presentation

Angus: So, that’s all I want to say about the new developments... Yes, sir? Is that a question? Audience member: Sorry to interrupt, Mr Finch, but do you mind if I ask you a question at this point in the presentation? Angus: Not at all. Go ahead! Audience member: I’d just like to ask about your plans for dealing with the carbon emissions levy for next year. Do you... ? Angus: I’ll just cut you off there, if I may. I’d rather my colleague Stuart answered any financial questions. Would you mind tabling your question for now? [...] Angus: Before we round off this segment, I’d like to present some interim test results from our new sealants division. We are really proud of these, but they’re hot off the press so please bear with me. And it goes without saying that this might get technical, so I’d be grateful if you saved any questions until the end. Thanks.

Presentation tip: take control

It is your presentation, so you make the rules. By announcing what you want to happen at the beginning, you let your audience know where they stand so that nobody risks speaking out of turn.

5. Inviting questions during the presentation

Tricia: I’m now going to talk you through our latest marketing campaign. If you have any comments, feel free to stop me at any time during the presentation: I’d be delighted to hear them. And I’ll do my best to answer any questions you have. I’ll start with our new print media campaign before going on to our social media activities. [...] Tricia: Fine, so that’s all I want to say about Cornmill’s social media presence. Thank you all for the lively discussion this afternoon. Oh, sorry? Is that one last question? Audience member: Excuse me. As a marketing expert, what do you think about fake news? Should we be worried? Aren’t you in some way responsible? Tricia: I’m sorry, I’m not quite sure what you mean. Would you mind repeating the question?

Presentation tip: keep calm and stay polite

When handling questions or interruptions during a presentation, try to stay polite. The person asking the question just wants to know something and might not know their intervention is untimely. Don’t make them lose face by being abrupt or brusque.

English phrases for dealing with audience questions

Inviting questions during an english presentation.

• Is that a question?
• If you have any comments, feel free to stop me at any time during the presentation.
• I’ll do my best to answer any questions you have. Is that one last question?
• Are there any more questions or points?

Refusing questions during an English presentation

• May I ask you to save any questions until the end of the presentation?
• I’d rather ... answered any financial questions.
• Would you mind tabling your question for now?
• I’d be grateful if you saved any questions until the end of the presentation.
• Forgive me if I don’t go into too much detail.
• Perhaps ... can give you some more information about this.

Diplomatic interruptions during an English presentation

• I’ll just cut you off there, if I may...
• Sorry to interrupt, but do you mind if I ask you a question?

Asking for a question to be repeated during an English presentation

• I’m not quite sure what you mean. Would you mind repeating  the question?

Third part of the English sample presentation: talking about graphs and bad news

In the third part of the example presentation, CFO Stuart Dixon presents the financial results and talks about problems with data security.

6. Talking about graphs and charts in the presentation

Stuart: Right, if there are no more questions about that section, let’s now move onto the figures for the last two quarters. This graph shows the like-for-like growth we have seen on last year very well. As you’ll notice, sales had already picked up in the first quarter, but they absolutely rocketed in the second. We put this down to customers having more disposable income.

English phrases to refer to graphs and charts in a presentation

• It gives you an excellent overview of...
• I’d like to present... 
• This graph shows ... very well.
• As you’ll notice...

7. Handling bad news

Stuart: This brings me to our international operations. As I’m sure you’ll have read in the press, we have had some issues with data security at our outsourced customer service centre. I’m afraid some of the controls and checks weren’t as robust as we would have liked. Forgive me if I don’t go into too much detail in this presentation, but take it from me, things have improved since we put in a new management team. Basically, it was down to teething problems and a misinterpretation of company guidelines. Perhaps Lyndon can give you some more information about this when I hand back to him in a moment.  

Useful English phrases for apologizing in a presentation

• I’m afraid...
• Forgive me if...
• Sorry about that, ladies and gentlemen.
• Sorry to interrupt,...

Fourth part of the English example presentation: the conclusion

Angus and Lyndon are coming to the conclusion of their presentations and winding up the proceedings.

8. Wrapping up the presentation

Angus: So, ladies and gentlemen, I think that covers most of the questions that you raised during my presentation. Are there any more questions or points? No? Then let’s call it a day and wrap this section up. I’m now going to hand you back to Lyndon, who will say a few closing words.

Presentation tip: practice makes perfect

Rehearse your presentation with an English-speaking friend or colleague. Ask them to interrupt you and to ask questions. Don’t always begin at the introduction; practise starting halfway through, with the conclusion or choose a slide at random and begin explaining it.

9. Final remarks and closing

Lyndon: Thank you, Angus. Thanks also to Stuart and Tricia for their contributions. I’d like to conclude by thanking everyone for their contributions today and for your interest in Cornmill Industries. Don’t forget that all today’s presentations have been streamed on our website and there will be a live online Q&A session immediately after we finish here if any of you have any further questions. So, all that remains is for me to thank you once again for coming. Thank you and goodbye.

English phrases for the conclusion of a presentation

• Thank you all for the lively discussion.
• I think that covers most of the questions.
• Then let’s call it a day.
• Let’s wrap this section up. 
• I’d like to conclude by thanking everyone for their contributions today.
• Don’t forget that...
• All that remains is for me to thank you once again for coming.

Tips for giving English presentations

Would you like get more tips on how to prepare for a presentation and deliver a confident talk that won’t make your audience fall asleep? Our editor-in-chief Ian McMaster shares some secrets:

52 Phrases for Better Flowing English Presentations

/ Steven Hobson / Business English , English Presentations , Vocabulary

Do you give English presentations at work, but feel that you could communicate your message in a more objective, fluid way?

Maybe you have an English presentation coming up and want to make sure that your speech is clear and structured so that your audience doesn’t lose concentration and stays with you all the way to the end.

A technique that can help you achieve objective, clear, and structured English presentations, is to use linking phrases that join the separate parts of your presentation together.

English presentations normally consist of an introduction, the main body, individual parts of the main body, and the ending or conclusion.

To help maintain your audience’s attention, you need to signal when you are going from one part to another.

In this article, I teach you 52 phrases that do exactly this – linking the different parts together, and therefore, making your presentation flow better. You’ll find that these phrases will act as ‘signposts’ for the audience when you finish one part and start another.

52 Phrases to Improve the Flow of Your English Presentations

The introduction.

All good presentations start with a strong introduction.

There are a number of different ways you can begin your English presentation. Here’s a simple, but effective introduction structure which works for most types of business presentations:

Introduce – Introduce yourself and greet your audience. Introduce the presentation topic – Explain the reasons for listening. Outline – Describe the main parts of the presentation. Question policy – Make it clear to your audience when they can ask questions: during or at the end?

Here are some phrases which you can use to structure the introduction in this way:

1. Good morning/afternoon (everyone) (ladies and gentlemen). 2. It’s a pleasure to welcome (the President) here. 3. I’m … (the Director of …)

Introduce the presentation topic

4. By the end of the talk/presentation/session, you’ll know how to… / …you will have learned about… / 5. I plan to say a few words about… 6. I’m going to talk about… 7. The subject of my talk is…

8. My talk will be in (three parts). 9. In the first part… 10. Then in the second part… 11. Finally, I’ll go on to talk about…

Question Policy

12. Please interrupt if you have any questions. 13. After my talk, there will be time for a discussion and any questions.

 Main Body

Now that you have finished the introduction, we now need to transition to the main body, and its individual parts in a smooth way.

There are three parts of the main body of a presentation where linking phrases can be used:

Beginning the Main Body Ending Parts within the Main Body Beginning a New Part

Here are some phrases which you can use for these parts:

Beginning the Main Body

14. Now let’s move to / turn to the first part of my talk which is about… 15. So, first… 16. To begin with…

Ending Parts within the Main Body

17. That completes/concludes… 18. That’s all (I want to say for now) on… 19. Ok, I’ve explained how…

Beginning a New Part

20. Let’s move to (the next part which is)… 21. So now we come to the next point, which is… 22. Now I want to describe… 23. Let’s turn to the next issue… 24. I’d now like to change direction and talk about…

Listing and Sequencing

If you need to talk about goals, challenges, and strategies in your English presentation, listing phrases can help link these together and improve the flow of your speech. If you have to explain processes, sequencing phrases are helpful:

25. There are three things to consider. First… Second… Third… 26. There are two kinds of… The first is… The second is… 27. We can see four advantages and two disadvantages. First, advantages… 28. One is… Another is… A third advantage is… Finally…

29. There are (four) different stages to the process. 30. First / then / next / after that / then (x) / after x there’s y. 31. There are two steps involved. The first step is… The second step is… 32. There are four stages to the project. 33. At the beginning, later, then, finally… 34. I’ll describe the development of the idea. First the background, then the present situation, and then the prospect for the future.

After you have presented the main body of your English presentation, you will want to end it smoothly.

Here are typical sections transitioning from the main body to the ending of the presentation, and then inviting the audience to ask questions:

Ending the Main Body Beginning the Summary and/or Conclusion Concluding An Ending Phrase Inviting Questions and/or Introducing Discussion Thanking the Audience

Ending the Main Body

35. Okay, that ends (the third part of) my talk. 36. That’s all I want to say for now on (the 2017 results).

Beginning the Summary and/or Conclusion

37. To sum up… 38. Ok, in brief, there are several advantages and disadvantages. 39. To conclude… 40. I’d like to end by emphasizing the main points. 41. I’d like to end with a summary of the main points.

42. I think we have seen that we should… 43. In my opinion, we should… 44. I recommend/suggest that we… 45. There are three reasons why I recommend this. First, … / Second, … / Finally,…

An Ending Phrase

46. Well, I’ve covered the points that I needed to present today. 47. That sums up (my description of the new model). 48. That concludes my talk for today.

Inviting Questions and/or Introducing Discussion

49. Now we have (half an hour) for questions and discussion. 50. So, now I’d be very interested to hear your comments.

Thanking the Audience

51. I’d like to thank you for listening to my presentation. 52. Thank you for listening / your attention. / Many thanks for coming.

Linking phrases are like the skeleton which holds your presentation together.

Not only do they improve the flow and help guide the audience, but by memorizing them they can also help you remember the general structure of your presentation, giving you increased confidence.

To help you memorize, I recommend saying the linking phrases on their own from the beginning to the end of your presentation while you practice.

I also suggest memorizing the introduction word for word. By doing this, you will get off to a great start, which will settle your nerves and transmit a positive first impression.

Whenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:

1. The Impactful English Academy : Join like-minded professionals from around the world in The Impactful English Academy. The comprehensive online courses will teach you the system and strategies I have used to help 100’s of professionals speak English more fluently, confidently and professionally. Click here to learn more.

2. One-to -one Coaching : Get access to my guidance and a customised program that has helped, managers, directors, CEO’s, doctors and Government officials worldwide transform into confident and articulate communicators in English. Click here to book a Discovery session with me.

3. Onsite and Online Company Training: Equip your team with the essential communication skills they need to thrive in today’s global marketplace. My tailored onsite and online training programs empower professionals to communicate effectively and confidently in English in international business environments. C lick here to schedule a meeting with me.

Author: Steven Hobson

Steven is a business English coach, a certified life coach, writer, and entrepreneur. He helps international professionals build confidence and improve fluency speaking English in a business environment.

Related posts

Still Translating Instead of Thinking in English?

How to Speak English Politely By ‘Softening’ Your Language

How to Enhance English Fluency with Language ‘Chunks’

Job Skills > Business English: How To Present A Company Successfully

Business English: How To Present A Company Successfully

One of the things most people put down as their biggest fear is having to do a presentation to a large group of people. It’s even scarier if you have to do it in another language! If you work for an international company it is quite likely that you or a member of your team will need to officially present your company to someone else at some point. You may need to present your company to visiting clients, potential investors, new suppliers or managers.

In this article we will be giving you some useful Business English vocabulary and tips to help you talk clearly and confidently about what your company does. Let’s dive right in!

How to present a company in English

When we work in the world of business, there comes a time when we have to give a business English presentation. If that thought fills you with dread, we’re here to help .

There are several contexts in which you might need to give a business English presentation, or more specifically, know how to present your company to other industry professionals . For example:

• At a job interview
• For a sales pitch
• At an inter-departmental company meeting
• To new employees
• At a press conference
• At a networking event

Whatever the context, it is essential as a business industry professional that you have the right tools at your disposal to know how to present your company to industry peers at the drop of a hat, in a clear and slick manner. Let’s take a look at some of the key steps to know how to present a company in English .

How to introduce your presentation

Any good business English presentation begins in a natural and fluid way, by greeting your audience , putting your listeners at ease, and introducing the subject of your presentation. If you’re speaking to an unfamiliar audience, it is particularly important to make sure your listeners know who you are , why you’re there, and what you’ll be talking about. Even if you’re presenting to a room of familiar faces, taking a moment to set the scene for your talk will make sure no one gets left behind.

Once you’ve introduced yourself, you need to introduce the subject of your presentation . Here are some key phrases for doing just that:

• “As you may be aware, I will be speaking to you today about…”
• “The topic of today’s presentation will be…”
• “I’d like to take this opportunity to walk you through…”
• “My aim for today is that by the end of this presentation, each of you will know more about…”

When we learn English for presentations, it’s important to remember that we’ll often be presenting to non-native English speakers with differing levels of fluency. This is one reason why making the structure of your presentation crystal clear is essential . Here are some key phrases to help you do that:

• “Today’s presentation will take about 30 minutes and will be divided into three key sections.”
• “As time is of the essence, I will only be addressing two of the three key topics today.”
• “I’m planning to cover the following issues…”
• “First of all I will be discussing…. Secondly, … and last of all, …”

Making the main points

The heart of your business English presentation is the main points. This is where you dive into the central subject matter – the reason you’re all there. Here are some helpful phrases for segueing from the introduction to the main body of your talk:

• “Without further ado, let’s get started.”
• “I’d like to begin by talking to you about…”
• “Let’s kick things off with a quick look at…”

Each time you intend to transition into a new point, you should signal the transition with a phrase such as:

• “Now let’s turn our attention to…”
• “I’m conscious of the time, so let’s move our focus to…”
• “Next up on the agenda: …”
• “Moving on, let’s discuss…”

Making the effort to clearly outline the structure of your presentation and to signal transitions from one section to another will ensure no one gets lost .

Coming to a conclusion

To bring your presentation to a close, you should use a concluding phrase rather than coming to an abrupt halt . This gives your presenting style greater polish and signals to your listeners that the questions portion of the discussion can begin. Here are useful concluding phrases:

• “Seeing as we’re almost at the end of today’s session, I’ll start to wrap up.”
• “That concludes my presentation for today.”
• “The main takeaways from today’s presentation are…”
• “That’s all from me on this.”
• “Thank you for listening.”
• “Thank you for your attention.”

By following this structure and using set expressions, you can guide your listeners through even the most complex subject matters. Knowing how to present your company to a group of listeners is half subject matter, half language . If you learn these key phrases, you’re most of the way there !

The secrets to a successful business English presentation

Knowing how to present a company in a business English context is about more than the content of the presentation itself. A good presentation will also take into account speaking style, key expressions, body language, and engagement with your listeners . If you’re here to learn English for a business English presentation, take note of the following tips for how to ensure your presentation is a resounding success .

Plan your presentation

Have you ever heard the expression, “Failing to plan is planning to fail”? We can confirm that this is 100% true when it comes to giving a business English presentation. Knowing how to present a company in English can be difficult enough without the additional stress that comes with poor time management .

Mark the date of your presentation on the calendar, identify some intermediary targets, and build in some all-important wiggle room to ensure you’re ready for the big day .

Essential phrases on how to present a company

When we’re considering how to present a company to a group of listeners, we can already make a good start by thinking about the kind of language we can use to create a positive atmosphere in the room when we’re speaking. This begins with having the appropriate greetings at your fingertips for welcoming your audience :

• “Good morning” or “Good afternoon everyone”
• “Thank you for coming” or “Thank you for being here with us today”
• “I would like to welcome you to today’s meeting/event”
• “It’s a pleasure to speak to you today”

Using visual aids

Often, an important part of knowing how to present your company is talking about facts and figures. Diving into data can be a touch dull at the best of times, so a great way to make your points clear while keeping your audience engaged is using a visual aid, such as a chart, graph, or diagram. Here are some key phrases for including a visual aid in your business English presentation:

• “If you’d like to turn your attention to the screen, you’ll see…”
• “From looking at this graph, you’ll notice that…”
• “As you can see from the data…”

Practice makes perfect

At the end of the day, preparing how to present a company to your peers is all about practice. Even the most fantastic business English presentation can fall at the last hurdle if you haven’t taken the time to run through it once or twice , to identify the stumbling blocks, and to find your speaking style.

Our top tip on how to present your company is simple: practice, practice, practice !

Be ready for questions

You might have nailed knowing how to present your company, but are you ready for the questions? A business English presentation will typically finish with a section dedicated to questions and answers, allowing the audience to clarify parts of your talk they found unclear , or enquire about an issue you didn’t have time to mention . Here are some helpful phrases for responding to questions:

• “Thank you for that important question, Susan.”
• “That’s a great question, and I’m glad you asked it.”
• “That’s a challenging question, I haven’t considered that before.”
• “You know, that’s a tricky one. I’d like to think about it and get back to you on that.”

You might be presenting to a very important set of people, so it’s important to make sure that anyone who asks you a question feels heard . Here are some key phrases for doing just that:

• “Does that answer your question?”
• “Was that the answer you were looking for?”
• “I’d be happy to discuss it more together afterwards.”

Don’t forget body language

Last but not least, think about how you’re using your face and body to communicate with your audience. Words are essential, but they can get easily lost if your body language is distracting. Plus, using your physical communication skills to your advantage can be a great way of putting your audience at ease. Here are some top tips to ensure success:

• Connect with the members of your audience by smiling and making eye contact
• Use hand gestures to bring the important parts of your talk to life
• Remain standing during the questions to signal your willingness to continue engaging

Top tips for speaking English

When the day arrives and it’s time to give your business English presentation, this is the time to put all your effort into speaking in the clearest and most engaging way possible . If you’re presenting your own company to a group of potential collaborators or investors, it’s important to use every tool at your disposal to engage your listeners and get them as excited about your company as you are. Even congratulating your team requires training! Excellent oral communication in English comes down to a few key skills:

• Clear pronunciation (making an effort to learn English phonetics)
• Natural intonation (make sure to learn English stress patterns)
• Good pacing (too quick and you’ll lose your audience, too slow and they’ll disengage)
• Keep it interesting with

Our first three tips are things you can tackle when you learn English online with us. But how can you keep it interesting when you’re giving a business English presentation? Here are some more suggestions :

• Speak directly to your audience and address individual members
• Use rhetorical questions
• Ask the audience questions to lead into a new section
• Speak loudly and clearly, with a varied tone

All of these tips can also be used in various other scenarios, such as confronting a dissatisfied customer!

How GlobalExam’s business English platform can help

We’ve devised an entire platform to help you learn English online, including learning how to present your company. Sign up to our Business English platform to study grammar and vocabulary exercises , as well as hundreds of scripted learning “situations” that put your knowledge into context. You can also learn useful skills and vocabulary for writing a cover letter and other important documents. Our learning resources have been designed to cater for beginner, intermediate and advanced English users, so there’s something for everyone .

If you’re here to learn English specifically with the goal of learning how to present a company, we recommend focusing your efforts on the “Boost my career” and “Boost my skills” sections of the platform for starters. In these modules, you’ll find targeted activities on oral communication , vocabulary for presenting visuals, and tips on politeness.

Progress in English with virtual lessons

Do you feel confident knowing how to present your company in English yet? If the answer is still “no”, we’ve got the solution for you!

Applying newly acquired vocabulary and techniques to real-life interactions is essential to consolidating the skill in your head. This is one of the reasons we’ve introduced virtual lessons to our range of resources to learn English online. Our virtual teachers are mother tongue English speakers from all over the world , with qualifications to teach students just like you all there is to know in the world of business English.

If you’re still wondering how to present a company at your next important meeting, why not try booking a half-an-hour private lesson with a TESOL-certified teacher ? With one-on-one attention, you can maximize the time to take a detailed look at your business English presentation, from grammar and vocabulary to pronunciation and communication style .

Virtual lessons are a fantastic complement to other methods to learn English. Here are some of the main benefits when you choose to learn English online:

• Virtual lessons allow you to practice comprehension and expression
• Conversing with a partner in a group lesson enables you to build confidence in your own communication skills
• GlobalExam’s virtual teachers offer instant feedback and corrections
• One-on-one practice for your business English presentation ahead of the real thing

Have we convinced you yet? If you’re still not sure, why not come online and see for yourself!

Meta description

Do you know how to present your company in English? In this article, we share tips on preparing a business English presentation.

Related articles

Confronting a dissatisfied customer in English

Business English: Formal Greetings In English And Politeness

Congratulating Teams In English

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

60 Essential Business Presentation Phrases in English [With Audio]

Giving a business presentation in English can be challenging, especially if it’s not your first language. However, with the right phrases and a bit of practice, you can deliver a confident and effective presentation.

Greeting Your Audience

Beginning your presentation, outlining the structure, transitioning between topics, highlighting key information, explaining data or visuals, restating your point, summarizing your main points, inviting questions, concluding your presentation, tips for preparing your presentation in english, have a plan, use visuals, structure your presentation well.

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

The way you start your presentation sets the tone for the rest of it. Begin by greeting your audience and introducing the topic. Here are some phrases to get you started:

1. Good morning, everyone.

Depending on the time of day, you can also say “Good afternoon, everyone” or “Good evening, everyone.”  

2. Welcome to [name of event].

For example: “ Welcome to our 3rd Annual Sales Leadership Conference.”

3. First, let me introduce myself.  

“First, let me introduce myself. I am Dan Smith from ABC Designs.”

4. Thank you for being here today.

These phrases help you clearly state the purpose of your presentation. This is a good way to give them an idea of what’s going on and to bring them up to date. 

5. Let’s get started with our presentation.

6. The purpose of today’s presentation is to…

7. I’m here to talk about…

8. Today, I’d like to discuss…

9. Let’s begin by looking at…

10. Let me start by giving you some background information.

11. I’ll start with an overview of…

12. As you’re aware…

“ As you’re aware , the CEO of DHL Express has often said that globalization is here to stay.”

Once you’ve introduced yourself and your topic, it’s important to give your audience a roadmap of what to expect. Use these phrases to outline the structure of your presentation:

13. Here’s what we’ll cover today…

14. Let me walk you through the agenda.

15. Our presentation will be divided into three main parts…

16. I’ll begin with…, followed by… and finally…

17. First, I’ll give you an overview of…, then we’ll discuss…

Transitions are key to keeping your presentation fluid and coherent. Use these phrases to smoothly move from one point to the next:

18. Let’s move on to…

“ Let’s move on to our second sales strategy.”

19. Turning our attention now to…

“ Turning our attention now to the results of our 2016 customer survey.”

20. That brings us to the next point…

21. Moving on to the next topic…

22. Let’s take a closer look at…

23. Now that we’ve covered…, let’s discuss…

24. This ties in with my next point…

In any presentation, there are certain points you’ll want to highlight. These phrases will help you draw attention to the most important information:

25. I’d like to expand on…

“Now I’d like to expand on my point about increasing our market share.”

26. Let me elaborate further.

27. What’s important to note here is…

28. I’d like to emphasize that…

29. Let me draw your attention to…

30. This is a crucial point because…

31. One thing to keep in mind is…

32. We have to remember that…

“ We have to remember that people are our most important resource.”

33. The significance of this is…

“ The significance of this is , if we complete this project on schedule, we’ll have more people available to work on the next project.”

34. This is important because…

“ This is important because any marketing effort we put in now will help to boost demand for our products in the long run.”

Concrete data presented with visual aids like charts and graphs can be powerful tools in a presentation, but only if you explain them clearly. These phrases can help:

35. Based on our findings…

“ Based on our findings, 74% of our market is made up of teenagers who find our clothing line stylish and upbeat.”

36. According to our study…

“ According to our study, 63% of working people in this city go directly to the gym after work.”

37. Our data indicates that…

“ Our data indicates that more than 23% of men in this town who used to drive to work now prefer to save money and the environment by cycling instead.”

38. As you can see from this chart…

39. This graph clearly shows that…

40. Looking at the figures, we can see…

41. This table highlights…

42. I’d like to illustrate this point by showing you…

The word “illustrate” means “show,” usually with examples, data or visuals.

“ I’d like to illustrate this point by showing you a chart of the number of people in each age group who prefer to shop online.”

43. This chart shows a breakdown of…

A “breakdown” refers to the detailed parts or figures that make up the total picture. A breakdown is often used in a presentation to show all the smaller parts behind something bigger.

“ This chart shows a breakdown of the ingredients we use in our gluten-free products.”

Sometimes in order to emphasize your point, you have to state it in a way that’s easier for your audience to understand and remember. This often involves rephrasing, simplifying or clarifying your point.

44. In other words…

“ In other words , we need to change our current design to make it more attractive to older children.”

45. To put it simply…

“ To put it simply , we’ll need you to work harder at making this launch a success.”

46. What I mean to say is…

“ What I mean to say is that we need to change the way we market our products.”

As you approach the end of your presentation, it’s important to summarize your main points and give a strong conclusion. Use these phrases:

47. In conclusion, let me sum up my main points.

As part of your closing statement, “sum up” (summarize, state briefly) your speech by mentioning the main points of your speech.

48. To summarize…

49. Let’s briefly recap the main points…

50. To wrap up, I’d like to…

51. The key takeaway from today’s presentation is…

Inviting questions during or after your presentation shows that you value your audience’s input. Here are some polite ways to do that:

52. Feel free to ask any questions at this point.

53. Are there any questions before we move on?

54. Does anyone have any questions so far?

55. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

56. I’ll be happy to answer any questions at the end.

Finally, close your presentation with a positive, professional note and thank your audience . Here are some phrases to help you finish strong:

57. Thank you for your time and attention.

58. That concludes my presentation.

59. I appreciate your participation today.

60. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and feedback.

Always have a plan. Spend some time thinking about what you’re going to say and how you’re going to say it. Think about the vocabulary , phrases and grammar that will make your message clear and easy to understand.

Here are a few suggesstions:

• Have a clear goal in mind to help you stay on track. Whenever you feel lost during the presentation, just remember this main goal. An example of a goal could be to convince potential clients to work with you. Remember to focus on the advantages you want to present and on examples of what you did in the past to deserve their trust. 
• Research content. If you know your facts, you already have the core of your presentation prepared. Write these facts down on topic cards, give out handouts with important information or include them on your PowerPoint slides.
• Prepare the delivery. Rehearse giving the presentation several times. Some people like recording themselves, others prefer practicing in front of a mirror or having friends listen to them while presenting. Choose the method that works best for you.

Using some visuals can make your presentation more entertaining, easier to understand and can get your points across more convincingly . My advice:

• Decide whether you need a PowerPoint presentation or not. Do you have graphs, results or other things like this to show? Then yes, you need one. Are you just telling a story? Then a PowerPoint probably isn’t necessary.
• Don’t fill your slides with too much information. Use a maximum of five or six short lines of text. Highlight key words so the audience can see the main ideas right away. Use bullet points rather than full sentences.
• Give the audience time to read graphs or charts. Don’t show a huge table of data if the audience won’t have time to read and understand it. Make sure you practice reading each slide while timing yourself to see how long it takes, so you don’t jump to the next slide too early during your presentation.

If you don’t structure your presentation well with a clear goal in mind, it may end up unclear and unorganized. You don’t want to run out of time before covering your main points or bore the audience.

Here are a few ways to make sure it goes smoothly:

• Decide on three main points (or less). Audiences can’t usually focus on more than three points, so narrow it down to the most important ones you want to make. 
• Tell them what points you’ll be making. Audiences like to know what to expect. Tell them the main goals of your presentation directly in the introduction.
• Use connectors to make transitions from one point to another.  Connectors can also help you present details within certain points. Here are some examples of connectors for different situations:

Mastering these presentation phrases will help to ensure that your message is conveyed clearly and professionally. They’ll also boost your confidence as you prepare to present in English. 

Practice using these phrases in your next presentation, and you’ll see how they help you succeed.

Related posts:

Enter your e-mail address to get your free pdf.

We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe

35 Best Business English Presentation Phrases

You know that feeling as your throat get tight and dry. You swallow... g ulp.

You begin to have those feelings that you know so well, as you feel...

Can you relate to that terrible feeling of having to give a presentation in English?

You are a business executive, and you know you are not supposed to feel this way as a leader of your company. But, just the thought of an upcoming presentation significantly raises your stress level.

Giving a great presentation in any language is difficult.

Giving a great presentation in English as a non-native English business executive is a more difficult task. The good news is that there are many SKILLS you can learn to become a very effective presenter.

Although there are a few key components of every good presentation, this article will focus on the importance of using the The 35 Most Effective Business Presentation Phrases.

Let’s first take a moment and look at what makes an effective presentation.

An Effective Presentation

There are a few essential components for an effective presentation. The first step is great preparation for your upcoming presentation.

Preparation

Preparation is the most important part of every presentation. Before you give any presentation, you must have a plan for success.

The first step is to Know Your Audience. Who are you presenting to?

What is the Message Your Audience Needs or wants to hear from you?

What Call to Action do you want to leave your audience with?

Only after you have planned your presentation, it is time to move on to the actual presentation, which will include the following three sections:

Introduction

As stated earlier, this article will focus on the 35 Most Effective Business Presentation Phrases . This list will create great transitions and allow your presentation to flow naturally so that your audience is engaged in each step of the process.

Beginning with your Introduction

Your goal for the beginning of your presentation is to connect and engage with your audience.

You have prepared by getting to know your audience and now you want to introduce your message to your audience in a way that your audience can RELATE to your message.

Please do not start your presentation with

“Hi, my name is ______”

As you are aware, I’m a believer in beginning your presentation in a way that will connect and engage with your audience. Let's look at three great ways to start your presentation.

An effective presentation will begin in one of these ways:

There are times when a more traditional greeting will be appropriate and in these situations, you can greet your audience and specifically address your audience.

1. It is a pleasure to be here with the _______ (group/team/association) this morning/afternoon/ evening...

Example Sentence: it is a please to be here with the Digital Marketing Association this morning.

2. A special welcome to the _________ (group/team/association)...

Example Sentence. A special welcome to the XYZ Manufacturing Association. 

After you have properly started your effective presentation with a question/story/statistic, you may say something like...

3. I'm ___________ and I'm so excited to be here with the ________________ (group/team/association).

Example Sentence: I'm John and I'm so excited to be here with the sales team today.

Remember, do not use the "I'm ____ and I'm going to talk about____" as your first words - you only can do this after you have made an engaging introduction!

After you have successfully introduced your presentation and engaged your audience, it is time to begin discussing the content of your presentation.

Transition from the Introduction to the Message

After you have given an engaging introduction and connected with your audience, you are ready to begin speaking about your topic.

Don't just read your slides to your audience. They will not be engaged. Instead, use your slides as a guide and the key is to move from one slide to the next in an interesting way . This is called a "transition" and most of the phrases in this section will help you transition like a pro.

After all, who wants to listen to a speaker continue to say:  Next... Next.... Next... Next???

Here are some effective ways to transition from the introduction to the content of your presentation.

Remember, an effective presentation includes you serving your audience with a message they need.

Tell your audience up front what the message of the presentation is.

4. As a member of ___________ (refer to the group/team/association) you can relate to today's message of _____________

Example sentence: As a member of the ABC Digital Marketing team, I'm confident you can relate to today's message of knowing your audience.

5. As you are aware...

Example Sentence: As you are aware, it is important to keep up with the latest trends in your industry.

6. Let me start by providing some background information...

Example sentence: Let me start by providing some background information on the newest technology tools available.

Each of these above phrases are useful ways to engage your audience by giving them information at the beginning that they can relate to.

Now, let's explore how you can use different phrases that help with your transitions, provide more details, link to additional topics, emphasize your points, refer to your important information/data/numbers, explain charts/tables/graphs and restate your points.

Transitioning to the Next Topic

Before you move on to your next point, be sure to make it clear to your audience that you’re now starting a new topic. Let them know exactly what that new topic will be. The two phrases below are very similar in meaning, and they can both be used for transitions.

These are SO much better than saying "next..."

7. Turning our attention now to...

Example sentence: Turning our attention now to the second main issue today... 

8. Let's move on to...

Example sentence: Let’s move on to our second sales initiative.

Providing More Details

One of the essential parts of your message is to give more detail to some sections of your content because it will be helpful to your audience.

Remember, the key is that you only go into more detail because you know your audience will be interested in this detail, and they can use this information.

9. To elaborate on...

Example sentence: Let me elaborate on this idea...

10. I'd like to expand on...

Example sentence: I’d like to expand on this point about expanding our sales team.

Linking to Another Topic

As mentioned above, use linking words to create flow with your presentations. Effective presentations have flow.

When you think of flow, think of looking at the water in a river at a specific spot. The water is moving. The water was somewhere before it came to this spot and it will flow to a different place after it passes this spot.

This is the same in a presentation. You keep your audience engaged using flow, by telling them about topics you discussed earlier, and also that you will discuss later in the presentation.

As you can see, I used a linking phrase "as mentioned above" in the first words of the first paragraph of this section above. This is the example of using linking words in written form.

Below (another written linking word), you will see how you can use a different linking phrase when you are speaking. 

11. As stated earlier.. .

Example sentence: As stated a few minutes earlier, our industry is changing rapidly.

12. As mentioned earlier...

Example sentence: As I mentioned earlier in my presentation, the key to effective communication is knowing your audience.

13. As referenced earlier...

Example sentence: As referenced at the beginning of my talk today, preparation is critically important.

Each of these three phrases are self-explanatory and the linking phrases remind your audience that you discussed something earlier.

Again, you can create nice flow for your audience when you discuss a point and then later in your presentation, while referencing that same point, you remind your audience that you did discuss this point earlier.  It can also be used to emphasize a point or theme.

14. As I mentioned at the beginning...

Example sentence: As I mentioned at the beginning of the presentation, we’ll see a decrease in expenses if we implement this strategy.

15. As you may recall, this relates to my earlier point that...

This phrase will help you connect points in your presentation. It shows the connection between two different ideas.

Example sentence: As you may recall, this point relates closely to the earlier point about the importance of accountability.

16. This ties in with...  

Example sentence: This ties in with the point I made earlier regarding the expansion of our manufacturing facility.

Explaining to your audience that you will be discussing something later in your presentation is a key aspect of using flow.

17. This point will be mentioned in a few minutes...

Example sentence: In a few minutes, it will go into more detail about emphasizing a point.

18. This important point will be discussed later in detail...

Example sentence: This important point about having a great conclusion will be discussed later in my talk today.

The two above mentioned phrases are very effective in guiding your audience to where you are going in your presentation.

19. In a few minutes, you will hear this from ________ (one of your team members)...

Example sentence: In a few minutes, you will hear from Susan Jones, our CFO, about the importance of financial forecasting.

This is a really nice way of creating flow when you are able to reference another presenter that will speak after you.

Emphasizing a Point

An essential part of all presentations is creating emphasis. Everything in your presentation is important, but you need to emphasize the most important parts for your audience. These phrases below are excellent. 

20. This is significant because...

Significant is one of my favorite words. It is another word for important. One of the keys of being an excellent communicator in English is using different words that have similar meanings.

Example sentence: This is significant because we are planning to grow our workforce 20% this year. 

21. This is meaningful for the following reason(s)..

Example sentence: This is meaningful because the implementation of this recommendation will have an impact on multiple departments in our organization.

22. To reinforce this point...

Example sentence: Showing the significance of a better hiring process reinforces this point I am making with this data. 

23. Please draw your attention to…..

Example sentence: Please draw your attention to the revenue growth projections on this page.

Referring to Information, Data and Numbers

Let's turn our attention now to referring to information and data. In a presentation, you will often use data, facts, and studies that help support your message. These meaningful terms and phrases will help you refer to this significant information.

24. According to the ___ study, ...

Example sentence: According to the XYZ study, 84% of workforce efficiency is tied to a meaningful benefit package.

25. Based on our recent findings, ...

Example sentence: Based on our recent findings, only 22% of our clients continue to use our services after six months. 

 26. This data shows …

Example sentence: This data shows that more than 92% of our clients continue to be highly satisfied with our customer service one year after they received our product. 

Before moving on the next section, you might find this article on How to Naturally Say Numbers and Dates in Business English helpful for your next presentation.

Explaining Charts, Tables and Graphs

Most presentations use charts, tables or graphs to help support your message. Knowing how to use phrases describing these will create an effective presentation. 

27. To illustrate this point... 

The word “illustrate” is very effective and it is a great word to use when you are describing a chart, table or graph. 

Example sentence: This chart illustrates my earlier point about how more meaningful benefits impact worker satisfaction. 

28. This table provides a breakdown of …

A “breakdown” refers to the details within specific figures or numbers.  A breakdown is helpful to provide a more detailed picture of the situation. .

Example sentence: This table provides a breakdown of the 10 most important client feedback messages.

Explaining charts, tables and graphs often involves complex information.  Below is a short video from the English Leadership Academy's Executive Video Blog, titled What if You Were Able to Explain Complex Ideas in a Simple Way? that gives tips and strategies to make complex information more easily understandable by your audience.

Restating Your Point

Sometimes in order to emphasize your point, you have to state it in a way that’s easier for your audience to understand and remember.

This process is commonly referred to as paraphrasing. Paraphrasing is an essential skill for non-native English speakers that allows them to say the same thing with different words to enhance communication effectiveness.

This often involves rephrasing, clarifying or simplifying the point you are trying to make.

29. In fact, …

Use this phrase to restate your point in another way.

Example sentence: In fact, it is necessary that we make a change to our current policy to attain this goal.

30. In other words...

Example sentence. In other words, we don't stack up well against our competitors in this area.

31. To put it simply, …

Explaining complex messages in a presentation can lead to confusion. Your audience will benefit when you simplify complex messages. 

Example sentence: To put it simply, if we follow these recommendations, we'll achieve our goals six months sooner.

To summarize, by this point in the presentation, you have given your audience the message they needed or wanted.

You have emphasized the points that are especially important to them.

You are now ready to finish your presentation in the best way!

Now we reach a crucial aspect of the presentation and let's finish strong.

Concluding Your Presentation

Most people spend a lot of time working on the introduction and content of their presentation, but they do not spend any time preparing for their conclusion.

As stated earlier, you are presenting for your audience because they have a need or a want.

To emphasize this point, it is a great idea to challenge your audience to THINK in a different way. It is even better to challenge your audience to DO something different in the future.

In other words, create a call to action!

Let's now look at how you can summarize your presentation in a professional way.

32. In the final analysis...  

Example sentence: In the final analysis, it is critical that the company needs to immediately enhance our sales strategy to achieve our quarterly targets.

33. In conclusion, let me reiterate my message...

As part of your conclusion, you might want to emphasize your main points to leave the audience with a clear message of what you discussed. This is very effective to restate your main message!

Example sentence: In conclusion, let me reiterate my earlier message that time is of the essence for our team to solve this issue in the next 10 days.

34. I want to challenge you to do/think ….

Example sentence: You've heard the compelling arguments for a new mindset shift, and now I challenge YOU to begin making the necessary changes in the next five days!

Finally, as you reach the end of your presentation, you'll need a transition from the completion of your presentation to the Question and Answer (Q&A) portion of your presentation.

35. Thank you for your attention today, and we’ve got time for a few questions. Who would like to ask the first question?

This is a nice phrase that let's your audience know you have concluded your formal remarks and you are open to answering a few questions.

I appreciate your attention to this topic today and now I'd like to leave you with a challenge below.

My Challenge to You

I challenge you to begin preparing your future presentations in a different and more effective way.

Can you use at least three of these above-mentioned phrases in your next presentation?

You can do this!

Hello, I'm Grant!

I Want To Receive The First 6 Chapters Of The Book, Business English for CEOs 

 * No spam. Guaranteed.

Enter your email address and first name below to receive the download:

Grant Fenton

Executive Business English Coach

Blog > English Presentation Structure (Introduction, Closing) & useful Phrases

English Presentation Structure (Introduction, Closing) & useful Phrases

02.21.20   •  #powerpoint #presentation #english.

When giving a presentation in english, there are certain guidelines you should follow. Maybe you haven't got a lot of experience presenting - or you would simply like to refresh your already existing knowledge - we're here to teach you the basics about presenting and provide you with a free list of useful phrases and the basic structure you can in your presentation!

1. Structure

The general structure of a presentation is the following:

• Introduction

It is up to you to design these three parts. Using videos or everyday-examples can be a great way to introduce the audience to the topic. The important thing is that you capture the audience's attention from the beginning by making an interesting introduction. The main part is where you present your topic, ideally divided into sections. You can be creative with it - incorporate images, videos, stories or interactive polls . We generally recommend using different kinds of elements, as that makes the presentation more lively. Make sure your main part is well structured, so your audience can follow. In the conclusion, you should give a short summary of the points you made without adding any new information. You can also make an appeal to your audience in the end.

2. Useful Phrases

Here you'll find several phrases that you'll need in every presentation. Of course, you should adapt them and use them in a context that is suitable for your setting. The phrases are divided into subcategories so you can find what you're looking for more easily.

Starting your Presentation

In your introduction, you should:

Welcome your audience

Good morning/afternoon/evening everyone!

Ladies and gentlemen, I welcome you to my presentation about...

Introduce yourself

I am ... (from company ...) and today I would like to introduce you to the topic of ...

My name is ... and I am going to talk about ... today.

Icebreakers (for audience engagement)

Icebreaker polls are an amazing way to engage your audience instantly. They function as a fun and playful element at the beginning, giving you the perfect start you need to give a successful presentation. Click here to read our detailed post about icebreaker polls!

Mention the presentation topic and the reason for giving the presentation

I am grateful to be here today and tell you you about...

I would like to take this opportunity to talk about ...

I am here today to talk to you about ...

The reason why I am here today to talk about ... is ...

The purpose of this presentation is to ...

My goal today is to ...

Hopefully, by the end of the presentation, you will all know more about ...

Give a short overview of the content

To make it as understandable as possible, I divided my presentation into ... parts. In the first part, I will concentrate on ..., the second part will be about ..., ...

First of all, I will give you a short introduction, then we will move on to ...

... and finally, I will give you some insights to ...

Here are a few phrases that you could use during the whole presentation, but especially in the main part.

Engage your audience

In order to raise the audience's attention and improve their engagement, it is extremely important to make contact with them. A great way to do so is by adding interactive elements such as polls. If you would like to know more about this topic, read our article on How To Boost Audience Engagement . You can also use a software like SlideLizard , which allows you to conduct live polls, do Q&A sessions with your audience, share your resources and many more benefits that take your presentation to the next level.

Please raise your hand if you ...

Have you ever thought about ... ?

I would like to do a poll about ...

Please ask any questions as soon as they arrive.

On one hand, … on the other hand…

Comparing … with …, we can see that…

Clearly, … makes more sense than …

Whereas Option A is …, Option B is …

Making new points

Firstly,… Secondly,…

What also has to be mentioned is…

Next, I would like to bring up the topic of…

That being said, now we are going to take a look at…

Let's move on to the next topic.

On the next slide,…

The last thing I would like to mention is…

We made a whole blog post about how to pose questions in your presentation: The Right Way to do a Question Slide .

Talking about images or videos

In this image you can clearly see that ...

We are now going to take a look at a picture/video of ...

I'm going to show you a video by ... about ... now.

I've prepared a video about ...

Talking about statistics and charts

I am now addressing this graph that refers to the results of study XY.

In the graph on this slide, you can see that ...

The average is at ...

This graph clearly shows that the majority ...

According to this graph, the focus should be on ...

What that study tells us for practice is that we should ...

Emphasizing

I would like to emphasize the importance of ...

Moreover, it has to be said that ...

I want to stress the importance of ...

We always have to remember that ...

This is of high significance because ...

That part is especially important because ...

When something goes wrong

I am sorry, but it seems like the projector isn't working.

Could someone please help me with ...?

Is anybody here who knows how to ...?

Could someone give me a hand with ...

I would like to apologize for ...

I apologize for the technical problems, we are going to continue in a minute.

I am sorry for the inconvenience.

End of Presentation

In the conclusion, you should...

Sum up the main points

In conclusion I can say that…

To sum up the main points,…

With all mentioned aspects taken into consideration, I can say that…

Make an appeal

So please, in the future, try to be conscious about...

Please take a moment to think about...

I would like to encourage you to...

Thank your audience and say goodbye

It was a pleasure being here today.

Thank you for listening and goodbye.

Thank you for being such a great, engaged audience. Goodbye.

Thank you so much for listening, see you next time.

What is the structure of a presentation?

Your presentations should always have an Introduction, a Main part and a Conclusion.

What is a good way to begin a presentation?

You can start by introducing yourself, giving an overview of your topic, telling a little story or showing the audience an introductory video or image.

What are good phrases to use in English presentations?

There are many phrases that will make your presentation a lot more professional. Our blog post gives you a detailed overview.

Related articles

About the author.

Pia Lehner-Mittermaier

Pia works in Marketing as a graphic designer and writer at SlideLizard. She uses her vivid imagination and creativity to produce good content.

Get 1 Month for free!

Do you want to make your presentations more interactive.

With SlideLizard you can engage your audience with live polls, questions and feedback . Directly within your PowerPoint Presentation. Learn more

Top blog articles More posts

Elegant Architecture - Free PowerPoint Template

How to add a Countdown Timer in PowerPoint

Get started with Live Polls, Q&A and slides

for your PowerPoint Presentations

The big SlideLizard presentation glossary

Hybrid event.

When an event consist of both virtual and in-person parts, this is called a hybrid event. This type of event is popular as it combines the benefits of both online and live events.

Break-out-Room

In live online training, it is sometimes useful to divide the students into small groups for certain exercises, as it would be impossible to have conversations at the same time. Break-out-rooms are used so that people can talk to each other without disturbing the others. When the exercise is over, they are sent back to the main room.

Audience Demographics

Audience Demographics are the characteristics of listeners like age, gender, cultural backgrounds, group affiliations and educational level. The speaker has to consider all these characteristics when adapting to an audience.

Informative Presentations

An information presentation is created when no solution is currently available. Facts, data and figures or study results are presented and current processes are described.

Be the first to know!

The latest SlideLizard news, articles, and resources, sent straight to your inbox.

- or follow us on -

We use cookies to personalize content and analyze traffic to our website. You can choose to accept only cookies that are necessary for the website to function or to also allow tracking cookies. For more information, please see our privacy policy .

Cookie Settings

Necessary cookies are required for the proper functioning of the website. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information about the number of visitors, etc.

An Artificial Intelligent English Learning Platform

101 Business English Presentation Phrases

In business, first impressions are everything. That’s why it’s so important to use the right phrases when communicating with clients, customers, and business associates. If you’re looking to get ahead in your career, learning some business English presentation phrases can be a real asset. These phrases are designed to help you communicate more effectively in a business setting, and they can be used in a variety of situations.

By familiarizing yourself with these phrases, you can make a positive impression and improve your chances of success in an upcoming presentation. In this blog, we’ll walk you through some of the best phrases for non-native speakers. From introducing yourself to wrapping up your presentation, we’ve got you covered. So whether you’re giving a sales pitch or delivering a keynote speech, be sure to bookmark this page and refer back to it for the public speaker’s needs.

101 Phrases for Presentations

Greeting your audience.

Greeting your audience is an important part of building English Presentation skills . It sets the tone for the rest of your presentation, and it helps to create a connection with your audience. There are a few different ways to greet your audience, and the best option will depend on the situation. No matter how you choose to greet your audience, remember to smile and make eye contact, as this will help create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

1. Thank you for being here today.

2. It’s great to see all of you.

3. I’m glad you could make it.

4. Thank you for your time and attention.

5. It’s a pleasure to be with you today.

6. I appreciate your interest in what I have to say.

Beginning your Presentation

Beginning your presentation is an important opportunity to set the tone and make a good first impression. There are a few key phrases and vocabulary for presentations that can be useful in this situation. By using these business English phrases , you can start your presentation in a confident and professional way.

7. I’m excited to share with you what we’ve been working on.

8. I know you’re busy, so I’ll get right to the point.

9. As you know, our company is-

10. I’d like to start by telling you a story about-

11. I have some innovative ideas that I think you’ll find interesting.

12. Let’s get started by talking about our goals.

Referencing Information and Sources

In business, it is important to be able to reference information and sources accurately. This means knowing how to cite sources correctly and providing a list of references at the end of a document or presentation. By being accurate and consistent in your communication skills, you will show that you are a credible and trustworthy business person.

13. According to-

14. As shown in-

15. Demonstrated by-

16. Verified by-

17. Reported by-

18. According to our research-

Give an Outline for the Presentation

When giving a presentation, it is important to be clear, concise, and organized. One way to achieve this is to provide an outline for the presentation. An outline helps to focus the presentation, keep it on track, and ensure that all the important points are covered. It also allows the audience to follow along and take notes if they wish. Providing an outline at the beginning of a business presentation can help set the stage for effective communication and informative delivery.

19. Here is an overview of what will be covered.

20. Focusing on the main points-

21. First of all-

22. I’m going to cover three main points today.

23. Let me start by giving some background information.

24. Allow me to give a brief outline of our discussion.

Explaining Visual Data

This involves more than just reading off numbers from customer surveys- it also requires an understanding of how the data is related and what conclusions can be drawn from it. For instance, someone who can explain visual data might point out that a particular chart shows an increase in sales over the past year, and then explain what factors in the sales strategy might have contributed to this increase. In today’s business world, being able to explain visual data is a valuable skill that can help you stand out from the crowd.

25. This chart shows-

26. As you can see from this graph-

27. As demonstrated by this diagram-

28. This table indicates that-

29. These results indicate that-

30. We can conclude from this information that-

Hypothesize

Businesses often use hypotheses to drive their research efforts and to focus their attention on specific areas of interest. By formulating hypotheses, businesses can hone in on the most promising leads and investigate them more thoroughly. This helps to ensure that valuable resources are not wasted on dead-end investigations. With the right hypothesis, you will have the ability to craft amazing presentations.

31. We think that [X] because of [Y]. For example, [Z].

32. It is possible that [X], and here’s why: [Y] and [Z].

33. We hypothesize that [X] is caused by/due to [Y].

34. Our theory is that [X] happens when/if [Y].

35. Based on what we know, we predict that [X].

36. We conjecture that [X] is the result of [Y].

Stating Your Point

When you state your point, you are effectively summarizing the main idea of the actual presentation in a single sentence. This sentence should be clear and concise, and it should directly address the question or issue at hand. In business English, stating your point is often seen as the most important part of a presentation or pitch. This is because investors and clients need to have a clear understanding of what they are trying to achieve to make a decision.

37. Therefore, we can conclude that-

38. Based on this information, we recommend that-

39. We suggest that you use-

40. This is why-

41. I strongly believe that-

42. What this means for our company is-

Beginning a New Section of the Main Body

These phrases signal to your audience that you are transitioning to a new topic, and help to keep your presentation flowing smoothly. By using these phrases, you can help to keep your audience engaged and ensure that you have a clear, well-structured presentation.

43. As we move on to the next part of our presentation, I want to remind you of our goal.

44. Now that we’ve covered X, let’s move on to Y.

45. Let’s transition now to the next section of our presentation.

46. Now is a good time to take a few minutes to transition to the next part of our presentation.

47. Are there any questions before we move on?

48. Before we continue, does anyone have any questions?

Delivering Main Presentation Points

When delivering a presentation, it is important to focus on the main points that you want to get across to your audience. This can be difficult to do, especially if you are nervous or have a lot of information to cover. However, there are some simple phrases that you can use to make sure that your main points come across loud and clear. 

49. The most important thing to remember is-

50. The key point to take away from this is-

51. What this means for you is-

52. The bottom line is-

53. To put it simply-

54. In other words-

Introduce Solutions

When you’re presenting business solutions to clients, colleagues, or upper management, it’s important to use language that is both clear and persuasive. This requires informal language and strong communication effectiveness. To that end, here are a few key phrases to keep in mind when introducing business solutions.

55. We have a solution that will-

56. Our team has come up with a solution that will-

57. We’ve developed a solution that will-

58. We have the perfect solution for your problem-

59. Introducing our newest solution-

60. Our latest and greatest solution is-

Useful Words and Phrases

Using these phrases can help to make your presentation more professional and polished. Additionally, they can also help to ensure that your audience understands the key points that you are trying to communicate. When selecting business English phrases for your presentation, be sure to choose ones that are appropriate for the level of formality desired.

61. As an example

62. In conclusion

63. To summarize

64. Thank you for your time

65. Furthermore

66. Moreover

Discussion Questions

When leading a discussion, it is important to ask open-ended questions that cannot be answered with a simple yes or no. These types of questions encourage others to share their opinions and experiences. In addition, discussion questions should be relevant to the topic at hand and should be framed in a way that promotes constructive dialogue. By asking thoughtful questions and actively listening to the responses, you can use discussions to foster understanding and collaboration within your team or organization. It also allows your audience to deconstruct any complex messages you have delivered.

67. How will this proposal impact our bottom line?

68. What are the risks associated with this plan?

69. What are the potential benefits of this plan?

70. How does this plan compare to other options?

71. What are the challenges associated with implementing this plan?

72. What are the next steps?

Interacting with the Audience

Interacting with your audience is key to keeping their attention during a presentation. There are several ways to do this, such as making eye contact, using gestures and body language, and speaking in a clear and engaging voice. Asking questions is also a great way to interact with your audience, as it not only helps to keep them engaged but also allows you to gauge their understanding of the material.

73. Does that make sense?

74. Do you have a goal in mind?

75. Are you following me so far?

76. Do you have any questions?

77. Have I painted a clearer picture?

78. I’m happy to answer any questions you might have.

Concluding Your Presentation

When you reach the end of your presentation, it’s important to conclude effectively in order to leave your audience with a strong impression. By using one of these business English phrases, you can conclude your presentation professionally and effectively.

79. We appreciate your interest in our company.

80. Your input is invaluable to us.

81. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or require further information.

82. Thank you for your time and attention.

83. Together, we can make a difference.

84. Time for questions.

Ending the Presentation

Ending the presentation is just as important as starting it. Your goal is to ensure that your audience has taken away the key points from your talk and to leave them with a positive impression of you and your business. This allows you to address any concerns they may have and leaves them with a positive impression of you as a business professional. By using these simple phrases, you can ensure that your presentation ends on a strong note.

85. We look forward to working with you in the future.

86. This concludes our presentation. Are there any questions?

87. Just a quick recap-

88. Thank you for your business.

89. We appreciate your interest.

90. I hope I was able to answer your questions.

Thank your Audience and Close your Presentation

When you thank your audience for listening to your presentation, you are showing your appreciation for their time and attention. This is a polite way to end your talk, and it can help to leave a positive impression. No matter how you choose to express your thanks, closing with this business English vocabulary will show that you are professional and courteous.

91. Thank you for your trust in us

92. Thank you for partnering with us.

93. Thank you for your efforts.

94. Thank you for choosing us.

95. Thank you for your time today.

96. Thank you for considering us as a partner.

Popular Business Presentation Phrases

Popular business presentation phrases are expressions that are commonly used in business presentations. They can be divided into two categories: those that are designed to engage the audience and those that are designed to convey information. These phrases help the presenter structure the information in a way that is easy for the audience to understand.

97. Let’s get started

98. As you can see

99. If we could have your attention.

100. As you can see from this chart

101. This data shows

10 Simple Steps to Effective Business Presentations

1. research thoroughly.

Whether you’re giving a presentation to potential investors or presenting new data to your colleagues, it’s essential that you research thoroughly and present effectively. Knowing how to research and present is a critical business skill.

To research thoroughly, you need to understand your audience and what they’re looking for. What questions do they have? What information do they need? Once you know what your audience is looking for, you can begin your research.

Start by looking for reputable sources of information. Check out books, articles, websites, and other materials that will help you learn more about your topic. When you’re doing your research, be sure to take good notes. This will help you keep track of the information you find and make it easier to organize your thoughts when you’re ready to start writing your presentation.

2. Plan Your Points

In business, first impressions are everything. If you’re giving a presentation, you want to come across as confident, knowledgeable, and professional.

The best way to do this is to plan your points carefully. Make sure you know what you’re going to say, and structure your points in a way that will be easy for your audience to follow. Use business English presentation phrases to make your points clearly and confidently. And don’t forget to practice before the big day! By taking the time to prepare, you’ll give yourself the best possible chance of success.

3. Gather Phrases and Jargon

Whether you’re giving a business presentation or delivering a speech, using the right phrases and jargon can help you to engage your audience and get your point across effectively. Here are a few tips on how to gather the right phrases and jargon for your next presentation:

• Do your research. Before you start writing your presentation or speech, take some time to research your topic and audience. This will help you to identify the key points you need to make, and the jargon and phrases that will resonate with your audience.
• Identify your purpose. What do you want to achieve with your presentation or speech? Once you know your purpose, you can choose the words and phrases that will help you to achieve it. For example, if you’re trying to sell a product, you’ll need to use language that is persuasive and compelling.
• Keep it simple. Use language that is easy to understand, even if it means avoiding technical terms and jargon. Remember that your goal is to communicate effectively, not to impress with your vocabulary.
• Be natural. The best presentations and speeches sound effortless as if the speaker is having a conversation with the audience. To achieve this natural tone, avoid reading from a script or teleprompter; instead, focus on memorizing key points and using language that feels natural to you.

4. Develop Visual Aids

Before you begin developing your visual aids, it is important to take a step back and consider your audience. What type of information are they looking for? How much detail do they need? Once you have a good understanding of your audience, you can start developing visual aids that are both informative and engaging.

There are a few key business English presentation visual tips that will help you to develop effective visual aids. For example:

• Use clear and concise language
• Focus on one main idea per slide
• Avoid using too much text around the visual

By following these simple guidelines, you can ensure that your visual aids are easy to understand and visually appealing. Additionally, be sure to proofread your slides before sending them out or presenting them in front of a group. A few small typos can easily detract from an otherwise well-crafted presentation.

5. Practice Out Loud

When you’re preparing for business English vocabulary presentations, it’s important to Practice Out Loud as much as possible. This will help you get comfortable with the material and ensure that you deliver your points effectively. There are a few key business English presentation phrases that you can use to make sure that your presentation is polished and professional.

For example, beginning your presentation with a brief overview of what you’ll be covering is a great way to set the stage and engage your audience. As you move through your presentation, be sure to use clear and concise language.

And finally, conclude your presentation with a strong call to action or summary of the key points. By following these simple tips, you’ll be well on your way to delivering an effective business presentation.

6. Prepare for the Unexpected

Presenting to a group can be daunting, even for experienced speakers. The key to success is to be prepared for the unexpected. While it’s impossible to anticipate every possible scenario, there are some steps you can take to ensure that you’re ready for anything.

• First, brush up on your business English presentation phrases. Knowing how to effectively communicate your message will help you stay calm and focused if something unexpected happens.
• Second, make sure you know your material inside and out. If you’re well-versed in the subject matter, you’ll be able to think on your feet and address any questions or concerns that come up.
• Finally, remember to breathe. Taking a few deep breaths before you start will help you relax and focus on delivering your best presentation.

By following these simple tips, you can prepare for the unexpected and give an outstanding performance.

7. Body Language

When giving a business presentation in English, it is important to use body language effectively to engage your audience and convey your message clearly. There are a few key things to keep in mind:

• Make eye contact with individuals around the room; this shows that you are speaking to them directly and helps to build rapport.
• Use gestures to emphasize key points ; avoid crossing your arms or fidgeting, which can make you appear nervous or untrustworthy. Finally,
• Speak clearly and at a moderate pace ; if you speak too quickly, your audience may not be able to understand you, and if you speak too slowly, you may lose their attention.

8. Manage Your Nerves

Nerves are a perfectly normal response to presenting and public speaking. After all, you are basically putting yourself out there to be judged! The key is learning how to manage your nerves in a way that allows you to present effectively.

One way to do this is to focus on your business presentation phrases. This will help you to stay on track and sound confident, even if you are feeling nervous inside. Another tip is to take some deep breaths and relax your body before you start speaking. This will help to calm your nerves and allow you to focus on delivering your presentation.

Finally, remember that it is okay to be nervous. Embrace the feeling and use it to fuel your passion for the topic at hand. With these tips in mind, you will be sure to deliver an effective presentation.

9. Ask Questions

When you are asked to present in front of an audience, whether it is for business or academic purposes, it is important to ask questions to engage your audience and effectively communicate your message. Asking questions allows you to gauge your audience’s understanding of the material, ensure that they are paying attention, and elicit feedback.

Furthermore, questions can help to clarify points that may be confusing and provide opportunities for further discussion. However, it is important to ask questions in a way that is respectful and does not put your audience on the defensive. For example, avoid leading or loaded questions, and rephrase if necessary.

When used effectively, questions can be a powerful tool for making presentations more engaging and effective.

10. Be Open to Feedback

Giving a presentation can be nerve-wracking, but there are some things you can do to help ensure that it goes well. One of the most important things is to be open to feedback. This means being willing to listen to what other people have to say about your presentation, and then making changes based on their feedback.

It can be tempting to just stick with what you have, but if you’re not open to feedback, you’ll likely end up with a presentation that doesn’t quite hit the mark. So next time you’re getting ready to give a presentation, make sure you’re open to feedback, and you’ll increase your chances of giving a great talk.

This blog has provided 101 of the best English phrases to use in presentations, as well as tips and tricks for presenting effectively. These phrases have been grouped into categories, such as introducing yourself, dealing with difficult questions, and closing your presentation. By using these phrases, you can be confident that you are conveying your message clearly and professionally.

In addition, the tips and tricks included in this blog will help you to avoid common mistakes when giving presentations. By following these tips, you can ensure that your presentations are engaging and informative. Thanks for reading!

Frequently Asked Questions

Any good presentation skills training will tell you that there are five key elements to success: planning, preparation, delivery, design, and practice. By taking the time to plan your presentation, you can ensure that your ideas are well organized and that you have a clear objective. Preparation is also essential, and this means knowing your audience and understanding their needs. When it comes to delivery, it is important to be confident and to project your voice clearly. The design of your presentation should be clean and professional, and you should use practice slides to get a feel for the flow of the presentation. By following these simple tips, you can be sure that your next presentation will be a success.

First, you want to make sure that you are well-prepared. This means having a clear understanding of your audience and your goals for the presentation. It also means having all of your materials ready to go, including slides, handouts, and any other visual aids. Second, you want to be sure to deliver your presentation with confidence. This means speaking clearly and confidently, making eye contact with your audience, and using body language to convey your points. Finally, you want to make sure that you leave a lasting impression. This can be done by ending on a strong note, providing follow-up materials, or even offering a call to action.

The best business presentations are those that are able to engage the audience and keep their attention focused on the speaker. There are a few key elements that can help to make a presentation more engaging. First, it is important to have a clear and well-organized structure. This will help the listener to follow the presentation and understand the main points. Second, it is helpful to use visual aids to illustrate key points. This can make the information more memorable and easier to understand. Finally, it is important to be passionate about the topic. When the speaker is enthusiastic, it can be contagious and make the audience more interested in what is being said. By keeping these things in mind, you can help ensure that your next business presentation is engaging and successful.

When giving a business English presentation, there are a few key things to keep in mind. First, it is important to be clear and concise. This means using language that is easy to understand and getting straight to the point. It is also important to be respectful and professional. This means avoiding slang and casual language and maintaining a polite tone throughout the presentation. Finally, it is important to be well-prepared. This means having all of your materials ready in advance, and rehearsing your presentation so that you are confident and deliver smoothly. By following these tips, you can ensure that your business English presentation is successful.

A business presentation typically has four distinct stages: introduction, body, conclusion, and Q&A. The introduction is your opportunity to grab the audience’s attention and give them an overview of what you’ll be discussing. The body is where you provide more detailed information about your topic. The conclusion should summarize your key points and leave the audience with a strong impression. Finally, the Q&A section gives the audience a chance to ask questions and get clarification on anything they didn’t understand. By following these four simple steps, you can ensure that your business presentation is engaging, informative, and well-organized.

Learn from History – Follow the Science – Listen to the Experts

What’s the one thing that makes LillyPad so special? Lilly! She is a personal English tutor, and has people talking all over the world! Lilly makes improving your English easy. With Lilly, you can read in four different ways, and you can read just about anything you love. And learning with Lilly, well that’s what you call liberating! 

For learners of all ages striving to improve their English, LillyPad combines the most scientifically studied and recommended path to achieving English fluency and proficiency with today’s most brilliant technologies!

Additionally, the platform incorporates goal-setting capabilities, essential tracking & reporting, gamification, anywhere-anytime convenience, and significant cost savings compared to traditional tutoring methodologies.

At LillyPad , everything we do is focused on delivering a personalized journey that is meaningful and life-changing for our members. LillyPad isn’t just the next chapter in English learning…

…it’s a whole new story!

Do you want to improve your English? Visit www.lillypad.a i .

Follow us on Facebook or Instagram !

Bethany MacDonald

Bethany MacDonald has contributed articles LillyPad.ai since 2020. As their Blog Lead, she specialises in informative pieces on culture, education, and language learning

Related Articles

8 ways to improve your English by reading what you love with an AI Tutor!

How To Read Like a Professional

What are the Benefits of Reading Aloud?

The World of Online Book Clubs

Improve your English Faster with Lilly! An Artificial Intelligent Tutor!

Latest Posts

Understanding YLTE: Importance of English Test for Young Learners

Top 10 Errors in English Proficiency Tests & How to Avoid Them

Challenges in English Proficiency Tests for Language Learners

FLUOROSCOPE LANGUAGE CALCULATOR

How long will it take you to improve your English?

Design, write and practice your own phrases or learn  3,500+ premade English phrases  with Lilly!

© 2023 LillyPad.Ai

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Terms and Conditions
• British Council Global
• Accessibility

© 2024 British Council

• Mini English Lessons
• Business English

How to Ace Your Business Presentation in English

So, you need to make a business presentation in English.

First of all, congratulations! To be in your position, you must have invested a huge amount of time and effort in your English language skills. You should be proud.

That said, we totally understand that giving a presentation in a second language can be a challenge. You may be worried that your audience won’t understand your accent. Perhaps you are wondering whether you need to use specific vocabulary. Maybe you’re not sure how best to handle questions from your audience.

If this sounds like you, don’t worry. In this post, we’re going to run through our top tips for acing your business presentation in English. Even if you’ve already made a few presentations in the language, we’re sure you’ll find these suggestions helpful.

So, read on to learn more. And before we start, let us wish you the very best of luck in delivering your next presentation.

Understand your audience

As with all forms of communication, it’s vital that you understand who your audience is. Even in the business world, you can find yourself speaking to very different groups of people.

For example, if you are giving a presentation to members of another company, you would certainly be more formal than when you give a presentation to members of your own team. In each case, you need to think about what your audience will expect from your presentation.

So, before you write a word, ask yourself these questions about your audience. Who are they? What interests them? What do they need to know? What do you want them to do as a result of your presentation?

One useful tip for writing your presentation is to imagine your audience is a single person. It’s easier to write convincingly if you have a single person in mind. Try it!

Mind your language

Most audiences will expect you to give your presentation using formal Business English . Don’t make the mistake of confusing Business English with business jargon .

Successful Business English uses language that is simple, direct, professional and easy to understand. Business jargon on the other hand, relies on obscure phrases, clichés, and acronyms. In many cases, business jargon is complex, not very precise and a barrier to good communication .

We have some useful resources on Business English on this page . However, if in doubt, keep the language of your presentation as simple and clear as possible. It’s also a good idea to use sentences with the active, rather than the passive voice. This allows you to use fewer words, which makes your sentences shorter and more engaging.

To give an example, this is a sentence in the passive voice:

The interview was failed by over one third of applicants.

Now compare this sentence, which is in the active voice.

Over one-third of applicants failed the interview.

To learn more about the active and the passive voice, check out this explainer from the British Council.

Practise, practise, practise

If English isn’t your first language, it’s more important than ever to practise your presentation before delivering it. By practising, you’ll feel more comfortable using English in a business setting. You’ll be able to work on any words or phrases you find difficult to pronounce, or you can change them to words or phrases you are more comfortable with.

Ideally, you should practise giving your presentation in front of someone else. That way you can get useful feedback on what works well, and what doesn’t. If that’s not possible, make a video of yourself giving your presentation. When you see yourself on screen, it will give you helpful insights into ways you can improve your delivery.

Don’t forget to introduce yourself

It may sound obvious, but don’t forget to introduce yourself at the very beginning of your presentation. It not only breaks the ice , but it’s an opportunity to get the audience on your side. If you are presenting to native English speakers, you may wish to tell them that English is not your first language – but don’t apologise for it! If anything, your audience will be impressed that you can give a presentation in a second language.

Have a clear structure

When people learn to teach in the UK, they are often told to structure their lessons in this simple way:

• Say what you’re going to say
• Say what you’ve said

In other words, introduce the session by explaining what you intend to talk about. This sets the audience’s expectations – they know what’s going to happen.

You then use main part of the session to make your presentation. There are many effective ways of doing this, and we’ll cover some of these soon.

Finally, finish by summarising the most important points of your presentation. This helps your audience to remember them clearly.

One other tip, if you plan to let the audience ask questions, it’s a good idea to tell them you’d prefer to answer them at the end of the presentation. This will discourage them from interrupting your presentation at the wrong moment.

Use storytelling

People love stories. If you can capture your audience’s imagination with a story, you can make a very powerful impression.

For example, imagine you are giving a presentation about how to commission new advertisements for your company. You want to make the point that good copywriting as just as important as good visual design.

You can either make your point directly, like this:

“Successful adverts rely on good writing as well as good design. If you change the wording of an advert, it can often result in extra sales – or fewer. Therefore, the words we choose are as important as the images we use.”.

Or you could begin with a story, like this:

“I want you to imagine it’s the year 1907. A man called Louis Victor Eytinge is in prison, convicted of murder. He’s a drug addict, suffering from tuberculosis. He’s unlikely to live, never mind get out of jail. Yet, by 1923 he walked free into a well-paid advertising job and a career as a Hollywood screenwriter. How? He had written his way to freedom. I want to use his story to show you why, if we want successful adverts, we need to commission powerful writing as well as good design.”

Which version of the presentation would you rather listen to?!

Remember pace and pitch

One useful tip for acing your business presentations in English is to vary the pace and pitch of your delivery.

While you don’t want to speak too fast, it’s a good idea to use a different pace for different parts of your presentation. For example, when you want to communicate a key point, speaking more slowly will help people understand that you think it is important.

Equally, it’s a good idea to vary the pitch of your voice. Try and keep this as natural as possible, but experiment with using a higher pitch when asking questions and a lower pitch when beginning your sentences. One good way to learn how to vary your pitch is to listen to UK news broadcasts – news presenters are expert at varying the tone of their voice to keep listeners interested.

Add a call to action

Most business presentations are given for a specific purpose. You may want to convince another company to work with you. Or you may want to convince your own firm to invest in a new kind of product. You may simply be explaining to colleagues how a new training scheme will work.

Whatever the purpose of your presentation, always remember to tell your audience what you want them to do. This is a ‘call to action’. Do you want your audience to email you their ideas? Or send you a funding proposal? Or arrange a meeting?

No matter what you need your audience to do, don’t forget to tell them. And at the very end, be sure to thank them for their time!

More business presentation tips

There are many other tips we could share with you on how to ace a business presentation in English. For example, it’s never a good idea to read your presentation from a piece of paper – it’s not engaging and it means you can’t easily make eye contact. It’s also tempting to rely too heavily on visual aids like PowerPoint, but if you get it wrong your audience will read your slides instead of listening to you. On the other hand, it can really engage an audience if you ask them to work together in small groups to share ideas or solve problems.

However you choose to make your presentation, if you prepare well, speak clearly and work hard to connect with your audience, you are very likely to succeed. And if you’d like to improve your presentation skills even further, why not try live online classes with English Online ? They can help you succeed in any career where using English is essential.

Leave a comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts

Employability Skills: How to Ace Competency-Based Interview Questions

Learn how to navigate competency-based interview questions confidently and effectively with this helpful guide to using the STAR method. Advertisement Advertisement What are competency-based […]

• Social English

Your Ultimate Guide to Adapting Communication Styles to Different Situations

Ever found yourself wondering why a well-intended message didn’t land as expected? Or perhaps you’ve been on the receiving end of conversations that just […]

From Conflict to Collaboration: How to Manage Difficult Conversations at Work

Addressing challenging discussions at work is rarely enjoyable, but it’s something we all encounter sooner or later. These conversations have a big impact on […]

Get Exclusive access to offers and promotions

Enter your email address below to join the english online mailing list..

Personal details will be held by the British Council and will only be used in relation to your request. Please read our terms of use for more information.

Business English for Executives

Coaching Business Owners, CEOs and Executives to Communicate Confidently in English

35 Best Business English Presentation Phrases [Executive English]

35 best business english presentation phrases.

Executive leaders do not give many presentations, but being confident in the 35 best business English presentation phrases will make each presentation memorable.

You know that feeling as your throat gets tight and dry. You swallow… g ulp.

And then you begin to have those feelings that you know so well, as you start to feel…

Can you relate to that terrible feeling of having to give a presentation in English?

You are a business executive, and you know you are not supposed to feel this way as a leader of your company. But, just the thought of an upcoming presentation significantly raises your stress level.

Giving a great presentation in any language is difficult.

Undoubtedly, giving a great presentation in English as a non-native English business executive is a more difficult task. The good news is that there are many SKILLS you can learn to become a very effective presenter.

Although there are a few key components of every good presentation, this article will focus on the importance of using  The 35 Most Effective Business Presentation Phrases.

Let’s first take a moment and look at what makes an effective presentation.

An Effective Presentation

It is important to realize that there are a few essential components for an effective presentation. The first step is great preparation for your upcoming presentation.

Preparation

Preparation is the most significant part of every presentation. Before you give any presentation, you must have a plan for success.

The first step is to Know Your Audience. Who are you presenting to?

What is the Message Your Audience Needs or wants to hear from you?

Finally, what Call to Action do you want to leave your audience with?

Only after you have planned your presentation, it is time to move on to the actual presentation, which will include the following three sections:

Introduction

As stated earlier, this article will focus on the 35 Most Effective Business Presentation Phrases . This list will create great transitions and allow your presentation to flow naturally so that your audience is engaged in each step of the process.

Beginning with your Introduction

Most important, your goal for the beginning of your presentation is to connect and engage with your audience.

At this point, you have prepared by getting to know your audience and now you want to introduce your message to your audience in a way that your audience can RELATE to your message.

Please do not start your presentation with

“Hi, my name is ______”

As you are aware, I’m a believer in beginning your presentation in a way that will connect and engage with your audience. Let’s look at three great ways to start your presentation.

An effective presentation will begin in one of these ways:

After you have started your presentation in this way, you can now greet your audience and introduce yourself, if necessary. 

1. It is a pleasure to be here with the _______ (group/team/association) this morning/afternoon/ evening…

Example Sentence: it is a pleasure to be here with the Digital Marketing Association this morning.

2. A special welcome to the _________ (group/team/association)…

Example Sentence. A special welcome to the XYZ Manufacturing Association. 

Following your good start of your effective presentation with a question/story/statistic, you will say something like…

3. I’m ___________ and I’m so excited to be here with the ________________ (group/team/association).

Example Sentence: I’m John and I’m so excited to be here with the sales team today.

Remember, do not use the “I’m ____ and I’m going to talk about____” as your first words – you only can do this after you have made an engaging introduction!

After you have successfully introduced your presentation and engaged your audience, it is time to begin discussing the content of your presentation.

Transition from the Introduction to the Message

After you have given an engaging introduction and connected with your audience, you are ready to begin speaking about your topic.

Don’t just read your slides to your audience. They will not be engaged. Instead, use your slides as a guide and the key is to move from one slide to the next in an interesting way . This is called a “transition” and most of the phrases in this section will help you transition like a pro.

After all, who wants to listen to a speaker continue to say:  Next… Next…. Next… Next, as they move from slide to slide???

Here are some effective ways to transition from the introduction to the content of your presentation.

Remember, an effective presentation includes you serving your audience with a message they need.

Tell your audience up front what the message of the presentation is.

4. As a member of ___________ (refer to the group/team/association) you can relate to today’s message of _____________

Example sentence: As a member of the ABC Digital Marketing team, I’m confident you can relate to today’s message of knowing your audience.

5. As you are aware…

Example Sentence: As you are aware, it is important to keep up with the latest trends in your industry.

6. Let me start by providing some background information…

Example sentence: Let me start by providing some background information on the newest technology tools available.

Each of these above phrases are useful ways to engage your audience by giving them information at the beginning that they can relate to.

Now, let’s explore how you can use different phrases that help with your transitions, provide more details, link to additional topics, emphasize your points, refer to your important information/data/numbers, explain charts/tables/graphs and restate your points.

Transitioning to the Next Topic

Before you move on to your next point, be sure to make it clear to your audience that you’re now starting a new topic. Let them know exactly what that new topic will be. The two phrases below are very similar in meaning, and they can both be used for transitions.

These are SO much better than saying “next…”

7. Turning our attention now to…

Example sentence: Turning our attention now to the second main issue today… 

8. Let’s move on to…

Example sentence: Let’s move on to our second sales initiative.

Providing More Details

In short, one of the essential parts of your message is to give more detail to some sections of your content because it will be helpful to your audience.

Remember, the key is that you only go into more detail because you know your audience will be interested in this detail, and they can use this information.

9. To elaborate on…

Example sentence: Let me elaborate on this idea…

10. I’d like to expand on…

Example sentence: I’d like to expand on this point about expanding our sales team.

Linking to Another Topic

As mentioned above, use linking words to create flow with your presentations. Effective presentations have flow.

Whenever you think of flow, think of looking at the water in a river at a specific spot. The water is moving. The water was somewhere before it came to this spot and it will flow to a different place after it passes this spot.

In the same manner, this is true in a presentation. You keep your audience engaged using flow, by telling them about topics you discussed earlier, and also that you will discuss later in the presentation.

As can be seen, I used a linking phrase “as mentioned above” in the first words of the first paragraph of this section above. This is the example of using linking words in written form.

Below (another written linking word), you will see how you can use a different linking phrase when you are speaking. 

11. As stated earlier.. .

Example sentence: As stated a few minutes earlier, our industry is changing rapidly.

12. As mentioned earlier…

Comparatively, here is an example sentence: As I mentioned earlier in my presentation, the key to effective communication is knowing your audience.

13. As referenced earlier…

Example sentence: As referenced at the beginning of my talk today, preparation is critically important.

Each of these three phrases are self-explanatory and the linking phrases remind your audience that you discussed something earlier.

Again, you can create nice flow for your audience when you discuss a point and then later in your presentation, while referencing that same point, you remind your audience that you did discuss this point earlier.  It can also be used to emphasize a point or theme.

14. As I mentioned at the beginning…

Example sentence: As mentioned at the beginning of the presentation, we’ll see a decrease in expenses if we implement this strategy.

15. As you may recall, this relates to my earlier point that…

This phrase will help you connect points in your presentation. Significantly, it shows the connection between two different ideas.

Example sentence: As you may recall, this point relates closely to the earlier point about the importance of accountability.

16. This ties in with…  

Example sentence: This ties in with the point I made earlier regarding the expansion of our manufacturing facility.

After all, explaining to your audience that you will be discussing something later in your presentation is a key aspect of using flow.

17. This point will be mentioned in a few minutes…

Example sentence: In a few minutes, I will go into more detail about emphasizing a point.

18. This important point will be discussed later in detail…

Example sentence: This important point about having a great conclusion will be discussed later in my talk today.

The two above mentioned phrases are very effective in guiding your audience to where you are going in your presentation.

19. In a few minutes, you will hear this from ________ (one of your team members)…

Example sentence: In a few minutes, you will hear from Susan Jones, our CFO, about the importance of financial forecasting.

The above sentence is a very effective way of creating flow when you are able to reference another presenter that will speak after you.

At this point, do you see how you might use some of these 35 best business English presentation phrases when you give your next talk?

Emphasizing a Point

An essential part of all presentations is creating emphasis. Everything in your presentation is important, but you need to emphasize the most significant parts for your audience. These phrases below are excellent. 

20. This is significant because…

Significant is one of my favorite words. It is another word for important. One of the keys of being an excellent communicator in English is using different words that have similar meanings.

Example sentence: This is significant because we are planning to grow our workforce 20% this year. 

21. This is meaningful for the following reason(s)..

In the same manner, here is an example sentence: This is meaningful because the implementation of this recommendation will have an impact on multiple departments in our organization.

22. To reinforce this point…

Example sentence: Showing the significance of a better hiring process reinforces this point I am making with this data. 

23. Please draw your attention to…..

Example sentence: Please draw your attention to the revenue growth projections on this page.

Referring to Information, Data and Numbers

Let’s turn our attention now to referring to information and data. In a presentation, you will often use data, facts, and studies that help support your message. These meaningful terms and phrases will help you refer to this significant information.

24. According to the ___ study, …

Example sentence: According to the XYZ study, 84% of workforce efficiency is tied to a meaningful benefit package.

25. Based on our recent findings, …

Example sentence: Based on our recent findings, only 22% of our clients continue to use our services after six months. 

 26. This data shows …

Example sentence: This data shows that more than 92% of our clients continue to be highly satisfied with our customer service one year after they received our product. 

Before moving on the next section, you might find this article on How to Naturally Say Numbers in Business English helpful for your next presentation.

Explaining Charts, Tables and Graphs

Of course, most presentations use charts, tables or graphs to help support your message. To clarify, knowing how to use phrases describing these will create an effective presentation. 

27. To illustrate this point… 

Also, the word “illustrate” is very effective and it is a great word to use when you are describing a chart, table or graph. 

Example sentence: This chart illustrates my earlier point about how more meaningful benefits impact worker satisfaction. 

28. This table provides a breakdown of …

A “breakdown” refers to the details within specific figures or numbers.  A breakdown is helpful to provide a more detailed picture of the situation. 

Example sentence: This table provides a breakdown of the 10 most important client feedback messages.

Another key point is that explaining charts, tables and graphs often involves complex information.  Below is a short video from the English Leadership Academy’s Executive Video Blog, titled What if You Were Able to Explain Complex Ideas in a Simple Way? that gives tips and strategies to make complex information more easily understandable by your audience.

Restating Your Point

Sometimes in order to emphasize your point, you have to state it in a way that’s easier for your audience to understand and remember.

Specifically this process is commonly referred to as paraphrasing. Paraphrasing is an essential skill for non-native English speakers that allows them to say the same thing with different words to enhance communication effectiveness.

This often involves rephrasing, clarifying or simplifying the point you are trying to make.

29. In fact, …

Use this phrase to restate your point in another way.

Example sentence: In fact, it is necessary that we make a change to our current policy to attain this goal.

30. In other words…

Example sentence. In other words, we don’t stack up well against our competitors in this area.

31. To put it simply, …

Explaining complex messages in a presentation can lead to confusion. Your audience will benefit when you simplify complex messages. 

Example sentence: To put it simply, if we follow these recommendations, we’ll achieve our goals six months sooner.

To summarize, by this point in the presentation, you have given your audience the message they needed or wanted.

You have emphasized the points that are especially important to them.

You are now ready to finish your presentation in the best way!

Now we reach a crucial aspect of the presentation and let’s finish strong.

Concluding Your Presentation

Most people spend a lot of time working on the introduction and content of their presentation, but they do not spend any time preparing for their conclusion.

As stated earlier, you are presenting for your audience because they have a need or a want.

To emphasize this point, it is a great idea to challenge your audience to THINK in a different way. It is even better to challenge your audience to DO something different in the future.

In other words, create a call to action!

Let’s now look at how you can summarize your presentation in a professional way.

32. In the final analysis…  

Example sentence: In the final analysis, it is critical that the company needs to immediately enhance our sales strategy to achieve our quarterly targets.

33. In conclusion, let me reiterate my message…

As part of your conclusion, you might want to emphasize your main points to leave the audience with a clear message of what you discussed. This is very effective to restate your main message!

Example sentence: In conclusion, let me reiterate my earlier message that time is of the essence for our team to solve this issue in the next 10 days.

34. I want to challenge you to do/think ….

Example sentence: You’ve heard the compelling arguments for a new mindset shift, and now I challenge YOU to begin making the necessary changes in the next five days!

Finally, as you reach the end of your presentation, you’ll need a transition from the completion of your presentation to the Question and Answer (Q&A) portion of your presentation.

35. Thank you for your attention today, and we’ve got time for a few questions. Who would like to ask the first question?

This is a nice phrase that let’s your audience know you have concluded your formal remarks and you are open to answering a few questions.

In addition to the above phrases, you might find this article helpful as well 25 Powerful English Presentation Phrases to Impress Your Audience.

I appreciate your attention to this topic today and now I’d like to leave you with a challenge below.

My Challenge to You

I challenge you to begin preparing your future presentations in a different and more effective way.

Above, you have been provided with 35 best business English presentation phrases.  Can you use at least three of these above-mentioned phrases in your next presentation?

You can do this!

Additional articles and videos related to 35 Best Business English Presentation Phrases:

Confidently Speak English As A CEO in 4 Steps

How To Improve Your Executive Business English in 12 Steps

How to Be the Same Highly Effective Leader in English That You are in You Native Language  [free ebook]

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Related Post

Improve your ceo credibility with confident english skills, how can a ceo find the best business english coach [executive english], english is impossible [one word has 645 meanings], international ceos: stop saying filler words “um” and “ah”, how to improve your executive business english in 12 steps [best practices], 4 steps to business english negotiation skills for ceos.

• Student Login:

How to Prepare a Presentation in English Successfully [+ FREE Presentation Checklist]

May 1, 2018 | Business Professional English , Free Resource , Public Speaking & Presentations

This lesson on how to prepare a presentation in English has been updated since its original posting in 2016 and a video has been added.

Giving a presentation is already difficult to do, even in your native language. But to give a presentation in English? Well, it can feel impossible, maybe even terrifying.

If you’re nervous, you might be worried about:

• What if your audience doesn’t understand?
• What if you use the wrong word or – worse – forget your words?
• What if someone asks a question and you don’t understand?

These are all common questions about giving a presentation in English.  And the good news is: it is possible to give a presentation in English with confidence.

Whether you are presenting information about your company or presenting a proposal to a new client, presenting a new idea to your boss and colleagues or presenting to an audience at a conference, these are the strategies you need to best prepare for your next presentation in English.

These are exactly the same strategies native English speakers use to prepare for their presentations, too!

7 simple strategies to prepare a presentation in English.

Lesson by Annemarie

7 Strategies to Prepare a Presentation in English

Strategy 1: Plan, Plan, Plan

I know this sounds simple but this is maybe the most important step! That’s why I said it three times.

Before you do or write anything, spend some time thinking about what you want to say for this opportunity to present. You can use these two questions to help you:

• Where is your audience now (before your presentation)? In other words: what do they currently know or not know? Is there something they are missing? Imagine your presentation is a map and Question 1 is your Point A.
• Where do you want your audience to be after your presentation? What do you want your audience to know or do or think or believe after your presentation? On your presentation map, this is your Point B.

And now think of the steps you need to help your audience go from Point A to Point B.

Strategy 2: Know Your Who and Your What

Who is your audience?  You want to know the kind of people you will be speaking to so you can offer the right information, use the right language and think about the best visual aids.

For example: Imagine you design applications for smart phones. You’ve designed a great new application for children and you want to market/sell this application. As the designer you understand all the technical words and information about the application. And now you have the opportunity to present to a group of moms at a local school. It would be AMAZING if every mom in the audience bought your application.

How should you present to them? Do you want to use a lot of technical words? Will they understand them? Or should you use more common, everyday language that is clear and simple for everyone?

What is your purpose?  Generally, presentations are used to teach, to inform, to motivate. to persuade or to encourage action. When you understand the purpose of your presentation,  it will be easier for you to use the correct language and the correct style. It will also help you organize your presentation well.

“These are the seven strategies you need to prepare for a successful presentation in English, for any situation!”

Strategy 3: Get Organized

Presentations in English generally have 3 parts:

• Opening (Introduction)
• Body (Main Points and Details)
• Closing (Summary)

In the next several weeks, you will learn exactly what you need for each section of your presentation. For now, it is important to think how you can organize your information into these 3 parts.

Important advice : Limit the number of main points in your presentation from 3 to 5 (no more than 5!). You want your audience to be well-informed but not overwhelmed.

Strategy 4: Show, Don’t Tell

In English, we love stories and pictures to help us remember information.

What about you? Have you ever listened to a presentation that has a LOT of numbers and statistics and data and dates? Do you remember any of that information now? Most people say no to that question.

In English, the expression “show, don’t tell” means  help your audience understand your main points through stories, visual aids and/or strong action words .

People remember stories, not numbers. When you can, use a story or a great visual aid to help your audience remember your key points.

For example: If you are presenting scientific information and you want to use a number to talk about how many cells are in the human body. According to an article by Smithsonian, there are 37.2 trillion cells in the human body!!! How many is that? I have no idea! Instead you could use a picture to help you. Imagine the largest sports stadium and every seat is filled. Show this picture and now tell people how many full stadiums you need for 37.2 trillion. With a picture, your audience can visualize this big number. And it will be easier to remember.

Strategy 5: Talk, Don’t Read

This one is so important. Please, please, please do not read your presentation.

For an audience, when someone reads a presentation it:

• Shows you didn’t prepare well

Of course, you can use note cards to help you remember and to stay focused. But talk to your audience. Look at your audience. Move around. Be comfortable and natural.

The more you prepare, the more you practice, the easier this will be! And your audience will enjoy your presentation so much more!

Also, do not be afraid to go slow !

A good presentation does not mean speaking fast. Remember: this is the first time your audience is hearing this information. They need time to hear and to think about what you are saying. You will help them (and you!) if you speak slowly.

By speaking slowly, you will also have more time to think about what you want to say in your presentation, remember the key points and make fewer mistakes!

Strategy 6: Think Ahead

One of the scariest parts of a presentation in the Q&A ( = question and answer) part of the presentation. Most people fear they will not:

• Understand the words of the question
• Understand the accent of the person speaking
• Know what to say
• Remember the words they need

A Q&A session doesn’t always happen but if you have to do this, here is how you can calm your fears:

Review your presentation. Think about your audience (remember the  Who Are They  question!). Can you identify any likely questions?

Give your presentation to your peers, colleagues, friends, and family. Ask them what questions they have. It is possible they will have some of the same questions as your audience.

Now make a list of possible questions and prepare your answers ahead of time. Practice giving these answers when you practice your presentation.

The more prepared you are, the easier a Q&A session will be.

Strategy 7: Practice, Practice, Practice

I cannot say this enough. You must practice. Say your presentation out loud many times. Practice your presentation in front of your work colleagues, your friends, your family.

The more you practice, the more prepared and confident you will be.

And you can kiss some of those fears and nervous feelings goodbye !!* *[Idiom]  kiss something goodbye : to end or lose something. So, you can end your fears and end your nervous feelings!

Get the complete Presentations in English Series:

Part 1: How to Prepare for Your Presentation in English

Part 2: How to Start with a Great Introduction in Your Presentation

Part 3:  How to Organize Your Presentation in English

Part 4:  How to End Your Presentation Powerfully

Now that you’ve had time to review the lesson, I’d love to hear about your experience.

Have you had to prepare a presentation in English?

Please take a moment to share your advice on how to best prepare. What has helped you the most? You might have the perfect strategy for someone else in our Confident English Community.

You can share your advice and ideas in the comments section below. That is the best place to get feedback from me and learn from others.

Have a great week and thank you for joining me! ~ Annemarie

Get the Confidence to Say What You Want in English

Follow my 3-step solution to speak English with clarity, fluency, and freedom so you can say what you want with confidence.

You'll also get my Confident English lessons delivered by email every Wednesday and occasional information about available courses. You can unsubscribe any time.

More Like This

#318: Collocations with Situation | Advanced Vocabulary [+ Free Worksheet]

Searching for a smart method to build up vocabulary in English? In this lesson, you’ll discover how to master English collocations—a key strategy to make your English sound more natural and fluent.

#317: When to Use Rather Than and Instead Of | Accurate English Grammar

Confused about when to use “rather than” and “instead of”? 😕 These two phrases might seem similar, but they have distinct meanings and usages that can make a big difference in your English communication.

#316: Alternatives to ‘I Understand’ for Daily Conversations | Upgrade Your English

Using alternatives to ‘I understand’ enhances your vocabulary for daily conversations and helps you communicate more effectively and confidently.

#315: Think in English and Speak Faster in Conversations (How to Stop Translating in Your Head)

If you’ve ever struggled to translate your thoughts quickly, learn to transform how you think in English so you can speak faster in conversations.

#314: Master English Networking: How to Network with Coffee Chats

English speakers love creating new words, and we do it regularly with word blends such as glamping, hangry, bromance, and more. Discover current popular word blends in English.

#313: How to Understand English TV Without Subtitles

© Copyright 2014-2024 Speak Confident English  |   Privacy Policy  |   Terms & Disclaimer  | Online Class Policies

Thanks you for sharing your strategies to elaborate a presentation. I think this is very comprehensive and useful because it shows all the important steps to create a presentation. Very interesting.

I’m so glad to know it was helpful!

I am going to present my ppt for the college assignment and these are very wise advice which I’m sure they make my presentation more prepared.Tysm

I love all your videos. Thanks for sharing!

thank you for sharing about this. this is very helpful.

Thank you so much for your great presentation tips which we will implement in our areas. I used to so much mistakes that I realized after watching your video… Thanks once again for your valuable guidance..

Regards, Jaywant Patil 9819282438

so far, I haven’t had any experience in creating a presentation. but I am sure that everything is ahead

Hi, Very interesting your advices, sorry rigth now I haven’t give the presentation in english but I’m working to be confortable when I have to speak in english. You prononciation is very helpfull because I’m crying to repeat your video to improve my one. Very good video and so thank you

I appreciate u for the seven strategies of presentation may his soul peace and rest

Thank you very much ,this is very useful for me

Hello Annemarie! You are doing a great job these seven strategies are very useful for us in a presentation I am one of the students who always nervous on the stage so I like the point of doing “practise and practise” is great of becoming a good presenter. Thank you so much.By sharing one thing that my pronouncing and my grammar is very bad so I also have to do so many practices to become a good in English. I am not from a good background my family is very poor so I am doing my best for my family.

I can relate to that.

Hi Annemarie,

Thank you so much for sharing your strategies. All the seven strategies look very important and helpful. I particularly strongly agree with the 7th one. Without practicing in advance, it seems for me to easily lose confidence while making a presentation. I might need to be more diligent to prepare all the things in advance.

Thanks again for your very useful lecture! Hope you have a great weekend.

You’re very welcome, Erin. I’m happy to know it was helpful to you! Best of luck as you continue to prepare for things in advance. 🙂

Thank you indeed.I am a syh person and I get excited easily.I should practise and record myself.

I LIKE YOUR PRONOUNCIATON

Thank you for your comment. I’m glad my lessons are useful to you. And I definitely recommend recording yourself. It’s a great way to make progress and overcomes fear.

It’s very useful and done with the help of a clear and simple language, as usual. I’m agree with Tatyana, it’s real and nice presentation about “how to be ready to the presentation”. 🙂 I have a big expirience in the presentations but all of them were in my native language or with the help of an interpreter. To my mind this strategies are common for all the languages and the most important thing not to neglect them and not to be lazy to do all the steps you’ve spoken about. So I think in a few weeks I’m going …  Read more »

Great advice, Dzmitry! Thank you for sharing. And you’re right, these strategies are true no matter what language you’re presenting in and it’s essential not to neglect a single step. I love your advice on including a little joke to relieve the stress. 🙂

Dear Annemarie Actually I am university’s professor and I always use English texts for my teaching materials. Unfortunately I have no experience on giving presentation in English. I have been invited as an expert to give a talk in an academic conference in English and I don’t know can I do it perfectly or not? would you please give me some hints in this context. Ta

What an honor to be invited to speak as an expert! That’s great. Click here to find all my lessons on Giving Presentations in English . If you’re looking for more personalized assistance or one-on-one help, I provide that to students who purchase classes from me or join one of my courses .

Best wishes with your presentation!

Dear Annemarie I did a presentation in English in front of my class and my topic was “how to get confidence to speak in front of class?” I did gramatical mistakes but my respectful teacher helped me a lot. I m bery impress from you. You r doing very well.

Dear Annemarie ..I did a presentation in English at course it talked about how to be happy .. I practiced my talking a lot but when I started I forgot a lot f notes cuz this is my first presentation and I wanted to make a creative end I chose to make audience dance about ‘macrena dance’ In the final of the presentation, I received positive feedback from audience and I felling I proud of my self

Wonderful, Khaled. And congratulations. Presentations are challenging but it sounds like you were well prepared. You deserve to feel proud of yourself.

Thank you so much Anne, iam grateful to this information. it is timely, I needed it. I give organization Presentations, but I must admit that iam still nervous.(stage freak) thank you I look forward to more guidance and skills stay blessed Phyllis

Hello Phyllis,

You’re very welcome. I’m happy to know this lesson was timely and useful for you. The key to overcoming stage fright and nerves is practice. 🙂

Hi These are very usefull informations Annemarie thank you.In fact I have never give a presentation in English. It is so easy to understand your text and fortunately you use simple words for us.Buy the way i can apply your advices in my language too.I love your lessons and try to read all of them if i have time. See you😄👍

Dear Sümeyye,

Thank you so much for you kind comment! I’m thrilled to know these lessons are useful to you! And, if you do give a presentation in English in the future, don’t forget to use these lessons to help you prepare!

Can you tell me, what is your native language?

Thanks again Sümeyye! ~ Annemarie

Dear Annemarie, you shared the highlights of a good presentation, and it will be excellent to bear the ability to present it as a freely talk, without reading, or thinking about the next sentense, the next part of the topic or stucking in the next werb what doestn’t want arise in my mind . I would like to see the audience enjoing my talk because it is running fluently. I started to go on that way with your encourage. Thank you

Hello András,

Thank you so much for this comment. I’m thrilled to know this was useful to you. And yes, your improvements in English are growing every day!

Best, Annemarie

It’s very useful lesson for me! I don’t have a big experience in presentations, it’s quite scary for me especially the presentations in English! And it was very informative to read about main strategies which could help to prepare for presentations! It’s so clear and intresting, I have even a feeling of trying to do that, to practice a liitle)))) And thank you for new vocabulary, I love ” a killer presentation” and the idiom ” to kiss something goodbye”!) And in my opinion, your online lesson is also like a little presentation! I like how you focused on the …  Read more »

Dear Tatyana,

Thank you so much for your comment! And I am so glad it was useful even if you don’t have to give too many presentations. I think some of the guidance for a good presentation can also be useful for many other speaking situations in our daily life.

And I’m happy you liked the vocabulary expressions! They are great expressions to know!! 🙂

Thanks again for sharing your thoughts. ~ Annemarie

Thank you so much

Join Annemarie for an English Fluency Breakthrough starting September 2.

Pin It on Pinterest

SpeakUp resources

Starting a presentation in english: methods and examples.

• By Jake Pool

If you’re going to make it in the professional world, most likely you’ll have to give a presentation in English at some point. No reason to get nervous!

Most of the work involved lies in the introduction. You may or may not need an English presentation PPT file, your topic, audience, or time limit may vary, but a strong opening is a must no matter what! Everything that follows can build from the opening outline you present to your audience.

Let’s look at some guidelines for starting a presentation in English. If you can master this part, you’ll never have to worry about the rest!

Opening in a Presentation in English

While it’s important to have your entire presentation organized and outlined, planning and organization are especially important in the introduction. This is what will guide you through a clear and concise beginning. Let’s look at how to start a presentation with well-organized thoughts .

Introduction Outline

• Introduce yourself and welcome everyone.
• State the purpose of your presentation
• Give a short overview of the presentation

As we say, it’s as easy as 1-2-3. (No need for a more detailed English presentation script!) Let’s examine the first step.

1. Introduce Yourself & Welcome Everyone

The self-introduction is your opportunity to make a good first impression. Be sure to open with a warm welcome and use language that is familiar and natural. Based on your audience, there are a few different expressions you can use to start your presentation.

If you’re presenting to coworkers who may already know you:

• Hello, [name] here. I would like to thank you all for your time. As you may know, I [describe what you do/your job title] I look forward to discussing [topic] today.
• Good morning/afternoon/evening everyone. Thank you for being here. For those who don’t know me, my name is [name], and for those who know me, hello again.

If you’re presenting to people you’ve never met:

• Hello everyone, it’s nice to meet you all. My name is [name] and I am the [job/title].
• Hello. Welcome to [event]. My name is [name] and I am the [job/title]. I’m glad you’re all here.

There are certainly more ways to make an introduction. However, it’s generally best to follow this format:

• Start with a polite welcome and state your name.
• Follow with your job title and/or the reason you’re qualified to speak on the topic being discussed.

2. State the Purpose of Your Presentation

Now that your audience knows who you are and your qualifications, you can state the purpose of your presentation. This is where you clarify to your audience what you’ll be talking about.

So, ask yourself, “ What do I want my audience to get from this presentation? ”

• Do you want your audience to be informed?
• Do you need something from your audience?
• Do you want them to purchase a product?
• Do you want them to do something for the community or your company?

With your goal in mind, you can create the next couple of lines of your presentation. Below are some examples of how to start.

• Let me share with you…
• I’d like to introduce you to [product or service]
• Today I want to discuss…
• I want to breakdown for you [topic]
• Let’s discuss…
• Today I will present the results of my research on [topic]
• By the end of this presentation, you’ll understand [topic]
• My goal is to explain…
• As you know, we’ll be talking about…

When talking about the purpose of your presentation, stick to your goals. You purpose statement should be only one to three sentences. That way, you can give your audience a clear sense of purpose that sets them up for the rest of the presentation.

3. A Short Overview of the Presentation

The final step in starting your presentation is to give a short outline of what you’ll be presenting. People like a map of what to expect from a presentation.

It helps them organize their thoughts and gives a sense of order. Also, it lets the audience know why they’re listening to you. This is what you’ll use to grab their attention, and help them stay focused throughout the presentation.

Here are some examples of how you can outline your presentation:

• Today, I’m going to cover… Then we’ll talk about… Lastly, I’ll close on…
• We’re going to be covering some key information you need to know, including…
• My aim with this presentation is to get you to… To do that we’ll be talking about…
• I’ve divided my presentation into [number] sections… [List the sections]
• Over the next [length of your presentation] I’m going to discuss…

That’s it! It’s as simple as 1-2-3. If you have a fear of public speaking or are not confident about presenting to a group of people, follow these three steps. It’s a simple structure that can get you off to a good start. With that in mind, there are other ways to bring your introduction to the next level too! Read on for bonus tips on how to really engage your audience, beyond the basics.

For a Strong Presentation in English, Engage your Audience

Presentations aren’t everyone’s strongest ability, and that’s OK. If you’re newer to presenting in English, the steps above are the basics to getting started. Once you’re more comfortable with presenting, though, you can go a step further with some extra tricks that can really wow your audience.

Mastering the skill of engaging an audience will take experience. Fortunately, there are many famous speakers out there you can model for capturing attention. Also, there are some common techniques that English-speakers use to gain an audience’s attention.

*How and when you use these techniques in your introduction is at your discretion, as long as you cover the 3 steps of the introduction outline that we discussed earlier.*

Do or say something shocking.

The purpose of shocking your audience is to immediately engage them. You can make a loud noise and somehow relate the noise to your presentation. Or, you can say, “ Did you know that… ” and follow with a shocking story or statistic. Either way, the objective is to create surprise to draw their attention.

Tell a story

Telling a story related to your presentation is a great way to get the audience listening to you.

You can start by saying, “ On my way to [location] the other day… ” or “ On my way here, I was reminded of… ” and then follow with a story. A good story can make your presentation memorable.

Ask your audience to take part

Sometimes a good introduction that captures attention will involve asking for help from the audience. You can ask the audience to play a quick game or solve a puzzle that’s related to your presentation. Also, you could engage the audience with a group exercise. This is a great way to get people involved in your presentation.

There are many more ways to engage the audience, so get creative and see what you can think up! Here are some resources that will help you get started.

Also, if you want to get better at public speaking (and help your English speaking too!), a great organization to know about is the Toastmasters . The organization is dedicated to helping you be a better speaker, and there are many local groups in America. They offer free lessons and events to help you master your English speaking, and also offer additional help to paying members.

The Takeaway

A presentation in English? No problem, as long as your introduction sets you up for success . Admittedly, this can be easier said than done. Native speakers and non-native speakers alike sometimes struggle with getting a good start on their English presentation. But the advice above can help you get the confidence you need to lay a good foundation for your next speech !

Free practice (Facebook group)

Phone: +1 (510) 560-7571

Terms of Use

Privacy Policy

Company Home

How to Make a Company Profile Presentation (Tips & Examples)

Learn how to make a company profile presentation with our expert tips and company profile presentation examples. Try interactive templates for a personal touch.

Dominika Krukowska

9 minute read

Short answer

What is a company profile presentation?

A company profile presentation is a short, visually appealing presentation that tells your company's story — covering its mission, history, key achievements, and future aspirations. It's perfect for making a great first impression on clients and investors, showing them what makes your business special in a clear and engaging way.

Without a compelling company profile, you’re just another logo in a sea of businesses

In a world where every niche is crowded with competitors, both fresh startups and established giants, standing out is not just tough; it's a survival game.

Not having a strong company profile presentation can lead to missed opportunities and potential customers slipping through your fingers.

But here's the good news: I believe your company can not only compete but also shine.

Stick with me, and you'll learn to create a company profile presentation that not only stands out but also holds its own against the big players. I’m going to walk you through easy-to-implement, effective ways to elevate your company profile from just another name to a standout brand.

Let’s get started!

What makes an effective company profile presentation?

An effective company profile presentation blends engaging storytelling, interactivity, and personalized content that speaks directly to your audience. It's about making a connection, tailoring your message to resonate with viewers, and highlighting your company's journey, mission, and successes.

What should a company profile presentation include?

When you're putting together a business profile presentation, think of it as telling your business's story in a way that's both engaging and informative.

It's your chance to connect with your audience, whether they're potential investors, clients, or partners, and give them a real sense of what your company is all about.

Here's a breakdown of what to include to make your business profile presentation shine.

1) The story of your business

Begin with the origins of your company. This isn't just about dates and facts; it's about sharing the journey, the ups and downs, and the lessons learned along the way.

This narrative helps your audience connect with your business on a personal level, understanding where you come from and what has shaped your company.

2) Core principles and goals

Your mission, vision, and values aren't just corporate jargon; they're the heart and soul of your business. They guide your decisions and actions.

Clearly presenting these principles helps your audience understand what your business stands for and what you're striving to achieve.

3) Milestones and success stories

Highlight the key moments that have defined your company's journey. This could be anything from launching a groundbreaking product to expanding into new markets.

These milestones not only showcase your achievements but also demonstrate your growth and adaptability.

4) Awards and recognitions

Displaying awards and recognitions adds a layer of trust and credibility. It shows that external bodies have endorsed your company, which can be a powerful tool in building confidence in your brand.

5) The team

People connect with people, not just brands. Introduce the key figures in your company, highlighting their expertise and roles.

You can also include employee testimonials that offer a genuine look into your company culture and the people who make everything happen. This humanizes your company and builds trust by showing the faces behind the business.

6) What you offer

Clearly outline what your company offers. This section should be straightforward, explaining your products or services and how they benefit your customers.

Keep it simple but informative, ensuring your audience understands your value proposition.

7) What makes you different

In a competitive market, it's crucial to highlight what sets you apart. Discuss your unique selling points and how they differentiate you from your competitors. This is your chance to explain why your company is the better choice.

8) Financial health and growth

Share key financial data that showcases your company's stability and growth potential. This reassures your audience of your business's health and prospects, which is particularly important for investors and partners.

9) Future plans and aspirations

Describe your goals and how you plan to achieve them. This shows that you're not just focused on the present but are actively planning for future growth and success.

10) Clear call to action

Finish your presentation with a clear invitation for your audience to take the next step. Whether it's exploring a partnership, trying out your products, or discussing investment opportunities, make it easy for them to know how to engage with your company.

How do you create a company profile presentation?

Creating a company introduction presentation is more than just listing facts about your business; it's an opportunity to tell a compelling story that resonates with your audience and offer a window into the soul of your business.

Here’s how to create a captivating company introduction presentation in a few easy steps:

1) Understand the purpose of your presentation

Before you start, it's crucial to understand why you're creating this presentation. Is it to attract investors, inform potential clients, or introduce your company to new employees?

Knowing your audience and purpose shapes the content, tone, and style of your presentation, ensuring it resonates with the right people in the right way.

2) Start with a strong introduction

Your introduction is your first impression. Start with something that grabs attention – your company's mission statement, a brief but intriguing history, or an engaging anecdote about how your company came to be.

This isn't just about providing information; it's about setting the stage and getting your audience interested in what comes next.

Here’s an example of a deck with a strong introduction:

3) Personalize your presentation

Customize your presentation to speak directly to your audience's interests and needs. If you're addressing potential clients, focus on how your products or services solve their specific problems. For investors, emphasize business performance and growth potential.

You can also add dynamic variables to your company profile and import relevant data like your reader’s name or company directly from your CRM. This simple trick will get 68% more people to read your deck in full , and share it internally 2.3x more often.

Here’s a great example of a personalized slide:

4) Incorporate scrollytelling

Scrollytelling can transform a static presentation into an interactive experience, especially for digital formats.

As the viewer scrolls, new elements of your story appear, keeping them engaged and curious about what's next. This technique works wonders for keeping your audience hooked.

Here’s what scrollytelling looks like in practice:

5) Tell your story authentically

Share your company's journey with authenticity. Talk about the challenges you've faced and how you overcame them, the milestones you've achieved, and the reasons behind starting your business.

Authentic storytelling creates a deeper, more emotional connection with your audience.

If you’re looking for inspiration, we have a handy guide including the best presentation storytelling examples and techniques .

6) Add interactive elements

Interactive elements like clickable links, embedded videos, or tiered slides can significantly enhance your presentation's engagement level. These elements provide additional layers of information and interaction without overloading your slides with text.

7) Simplify complex information

Data visualization slides and infographics are powerful tools for presenting complex information in a digestible format.

Whether it's market trends, growth statistics, or financial data, visual representations make it easier for your audience to understand and remember key points.

Here’s a great example of using data visualization in a presentation:

8) Guide your audience to the next step

End your presentation with a clear call to action. What do you want your audience to do next? Whether it’s visiting your website, contacting your team, or exploring a partnership, make this step clear and easy to follow.

Interactive presentation makers let you integrate your calendar into your deck, making it easier than ever for readers to book a meeting with you.

Here’s what a next step slide looks like:

Company profile examples that make your business stand out

Creating a compelling company profile presentation is an art. It's about striking the perfect balance between informative content and engaging storytelling.

To help you master this craft, let's dive into some standout examples of company profile presentations.

Each one shows just how well creativity and clear thinking can work together to really bring out what a company does best and where it's headed, in a way that's both unique and easy to understand.

Jump ahead to page section

Company highlights

This company highlights template presents your journey, market growth, and customer satisfaction. It's ideal for companies like SMEs, startups, and enterprises looking to illustrate their success in AI-driven innovation.

What makes this company profile presentation great:

Using a mix of storytelling and data to highlight a company’s evolution and expertise.

Interactive elements like clickable data points and embedded testimonials bring the company's impact and client experiences to life.

The presentation strategically targets diverse business segments , demonstrating the company's versatility and wide-ranging applications in AI solutions.

Company profile overview

This template is ideal for businesses seeking to present a comprehensive overview. It effectively communicates your company's mission, vision, achievements, and future goals, making it suitable for all types of businesses aiming to establish a strong brand narrative.

Key metrics like annual revenue growth and customer retention rates are highlighted, demonstrating market impact and growth trajectory.

It cleverly segments its audience , detailing how its AI solutions cater to the specific needs of SMEs, startups, and large enterprises, demonstrating a tailored approach.

The company uniquely positions itself by emphasizing its specialized team , highlighting their expertise in driving AI innovation.

Enterprise snapshot

This template is designed for large-scale organizations. It effectively showcases your company's scale, capabilities, and market position, making it ideal for enterprises aiming to highlight their industry dominance and innovative solutions.

It uses tiered slides with tabs , effectively catering to different use cases and readers, allowing for a personalized presentation journey.

The presentation features easily editable logo placeholders , offering the flexibility to showcase past clients' logos, enhancing credibility and trust.

The ability to embed a case study directly into the presentation, providing tangible evidence of a company’s impact and success in real-world scenarios.

Corporate spotlight

This template is a concise yet impactful tool for highlighting your company's background, values, capabilities, and accomplishments. It's perfect for businesses wanting to emphasize their unique selling points and industry standing.

A smart Call-to-Action (CTA) that's strategically placed to engage viewers and encourage them to schedule a call directly from the company profile deck.

The fully interactive layout of the presentation invites viewers to actively engage with the content, creating a more immersive and memorable experience.

Data visualization elements transform complex data into easily digestible and visually appealing information, enhancing understanding and retention.

Company introduction

This template is tailored for businesses in the finance and technology sector. It effectively communicates your company's solutions, market challenges, and how you address them, making it ideal for companies looking to establish credibility.

The average reading time on the cover slide sets clear expectations for the audience and reduces bounce rate by almost a quarter .

The use of grayed-out content strategically highlights key information, guiding the viewer's focus to the most important aspects of the presentation.

Running numbers dynamically showcase key achievements and growth metrics, capturing attention instantly.

Corporate profile

This corporate profile emplate offers a succinct yet powerful presentation of your company. Highlight your unique selling points and industry standing, making a strong impression on your audience.

A video on the cover slide immediately sets the tone for the company's innovative approach and boosts engagement by up to 32% .

A perfect balance between image and text placeholders ensures a visually appealing layout that communicates effectively without overwhelming the audience.

A built-in analytics panel allows companies to track viewer engagement and gather valuable insights for future presentations and strategies.

General business overview

This general business overview template is a versatile tool for businesses across various industries. It showcases your company's innovative solutions, market growth, and customer satisfaction, suitable for companies aiming to highlight their market impact and user-centric approach.

The presentation begins with a strong, user-centric message , emphasizing commitment to enhancing user experience and streamlining operations.

The ability to add testimonials and case studies can enhance credibility and showcase the real-world impact of your company’s solutions.

A library of data visualization elements to highlight the most important growth metrics in an interactive way.

Company insights

This company insights template is perfect for businesses looking to showcase their innovative solutions and market impact. It highlights your company's growth, customer satisfaction, and industry solutions, ideal for companies aiming to illustrate their success and expertise.

It offers the option to integrate dynamic variables , which enables a personalized experience for each viewer to enhance engagement and relevance.

The ability to use an AI assistant for crafting messages and generating images , showcasing a forward-thinking approach in presentation design.

The presentation design allows for the addition of multiple smart CTAs , giving presenters the flexibility to guide viewer interaction and drive specific actions.

Company overview

This template emphasizes your company's innovative solutions, market growth, and customer satisfaction, making it suitable for e-commerce, startups, and large enterprises aiming to demonstrate their user-centric approach and success.

An intuitive editor makes it easy for users to create and customize their presentations.

Thanks to various CRM integrations , you can personalize your deck at scale, allowing for tailored messaging that resonates with each unique audience segment.

The option to extract branding elements directly from the brand name and company website, ensuring brand consistency and a cohesive visual identity across the presentation.

Company intro

This template showcases your company's innovative solutions, industry challenges, and the benefits of your services, making it ideal for companies aiming to demonstrate their expertise and capacity for digital transformation and financial empowerment.

Using dynamic variables makes personalization quick and easy while ensuring that 68% more people will read your presentation in full .

The layout of the presentation automatically adapts to any changes made, so you don’t have to worry about ever breaking the design.

The option to make changes even after it has been sent , offering flexibility and control over the messaging and content.

Company presentation

This template is perfect for 'About us' decks or company overviews. It tells the story of your business in a way that engages and resonates with the audience, making it ideal for companies looking to create a compelling narrative about their journey and achievements.

A mobile-responsive design ensures it looks great and functions smoothly on any device, enhancing accessibility and viewer engagement.

The option to embed videos directly into the deck adds a dynamic and interactive element that can effectively convey the company's story and values.

The scroll-based design of the presentation creates a seamless and intuitive user experience, guiding viewers through the content in a natural and engaging way.

How to design a company profile presentation?

Designing a compelling company profile presentation is about more than just listing your achievements and services. It's about creating a narrative that resonates with your audience and showcases your company's unique value.

Here’s how to make your company introduction presentation stand out:

1) Tell your company's story visually

Start with a strong visual narrative. Use images, infographics, and timelines to illustrate your company's journey, achievements, and future goals. This approach helps your audience connect with your story on a deeper level.

2) Incorporate your branding

Ensure your presentation reflects your company's branding. Use your brand colors, logos, and fonts consistently throughout the presentation. This does more than just give a polished look; it really helps hammer home what your brand is all about. Use all the toolstack you need for a hgh-end design, from logo creators to brand color palletes.

3) Use data visualization components

When presenting data, such as market growth, financials, or customer demographics, use charts and graphs. This makes complex information more digestible and engaging.

4) Personalize for different audiences

Tailor your presentation to your audience. Whether it's potential investors, clients, or partners, make sure the content speaks directly to their interests and needs.

Also, thanks to CRM integrations, you can extract information such as first name or company name, and use it to personalize your business profile presentations at scale in just a few clicks.

5) Add interactive elements for engagement

Consider adding interactive elements like clickable links, embedded videos, or animated product demos. This interactivity keeps the audience engaged and makes your presentation more memorable.

6) Prioritize clarity and readability

Organize your content in a way that's easy to follow. Use bullet points, short paragraphs, and clear headings. If you have a lot of information, consider using expandable sections or tabs.

7) End with a strong Call to Action

Conclude your presentation with a clear call to action. Whether it’s inviting questions, scheduling a meeting, or directing them to your website, make it easy for your audience to take the next step.

Interactive company profile presentation templates

Starting from scratch on a company profile presentation can be a real challenge. You need to figure out not only what to say but also how to say it in a way that truly represents your brand.

That's where interactive company profile presentation templates are a lifesaver. They give you a solid foundation with professional designs and layouts, so you can focus on customizing the content to tell your company's unique story.

Grab one and see for yourself.

Hi, I'm Dominika, Content Specialist at Storydoc. As a creative professional with experience in fashion, I'm here to show you how to amplify your brand message through the power of storytelling and eye-catching visuals.

Found this post useful?

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

Get notified as more awesome content goes live.

(No spam, no ads, opt-out whenever)

You've just joined an elite group of people that make the top performing 1% of sales and marketing collateral.

Create your best company profile to date

Try Storydoc interactive presentation maker for 14 days free (keep any presentation you make forever!)

Vocabulary and Phrases for Making Presentations in English

Here’s a step-by-step guide for making presentations in English. You’ll find the phrases you need for each step of your presentation.

After you give your opening statement, give a brief overview of your presentation. Say what your presentation is about, how long you will take and how you are going to handle questions.

For example, a presentation to sales staff could start like this: “Welcome / “Hello everyone.”

(Opening statement) “As you all know, this company is losing its market share. But we are being asked to increase sales by 20 – 25%. How can we possibly increase sales in a shrinking market?”

(Overview) “Today I am going to talk to you about how we can do this. My presentation will be in three parts. Firstly I am going to look at the market and the background. Then I am going to talk to you about our new products and how they fit in. Finally, I’m going to examine some selling strategies that will help us increase our sales by 20%. The presentation will probably take around 20 minutes. There will be time for questions at the end of my talk.”

Useful language for overviews

“My presentation is in three parts.” “My presentation is divided into three main sections.” “Firstly, secondly, thirdly, finally…” “I’m going to… take a look at… talk about… examine… tell you something about the background… give you some facts and figures… fill you in on the history of… concentrate on… limit myself to the question of…

“Please feel free to interrupt me if you have questions.” “There will be time for questions at the end of the presentation.” “I’d be grateful if you could ask your questions after the presentation.”

The main body of the presentation

During your presentation, it’s a good idea to occasionally remind your audience why your presentation and ideas are important or relevant.

“As I said at the beginning…” “This, of course, will help you (to achieve the 20% increase).” “As you remember, we are concerned with…” “This ties in with my original statement…” “This relates directly to the question I put to you before…”

Keeping your audience with you

Remember that what you are saying is new to your audience. You are clear about the structure of your talk, but let your audience know when you are moving on to a new point. You can do this by saying something like “right”, or “OK”. You can also use some of the following expressions:

“I’d now like to move on to…” “I’d like to turn to…” “That’s all I have to say about…” “Now I’d like to look at…” “This leads me to my next point…”

If you are using index cards, putting the link on the cards will help you remember to keep the audience with you. In addition, by glancing at your index cards you will be pausing – this will also help your audience to realise that you are moving on to something new.

Phrases for introducing visuals

It’s important to introduce your visual to the audience. You can use the following phrases:

“This graph shows you…” “Take a look at this…” “If you look at this, you will see…” “I’d like you to look at this…” “This chart illustrates the figures…” “This graph gives you a break down of…”

Give your audience enough time to absorb the information on the visual. Pause to allow them to look at the information and then explain why the visual is important:

“As you can see…” “This clearly shows …” “From this, we can understand how / why…” “This area of the chart is interesting…”

Summarising

At the end of your presentation, you should summarise your talk and remind the audience of what you have told them:

“That brings me to the end of my presentation. I’ve talked about…” “Well, that’s about it for now. We’ve covered…” “So, that was our marketing strategy. In brief, we…” “To summarise, I…”

Relate the end of your presentation to your opening statement:

“So I hope that you’re a little clearer on how we can achieve sales growth of 20%.” “To return to the original question, we can achieve…” “So just to round the talk off, I want to go back to the beginning when I asked you…” “I hope that my presentation today will help you with what I said at the beginning…”

Handling questions

Thank the audience for their attention and invite questions.

“Thank you for listening – and now if there are any questions, I would be pleased to answer them.” “That brings me to the end of my presentation. Thank you for your attention. I’d be glad to answer any questions you might have.”

It’s useful to re-word the question, as you can check that you have understood the question and you can give yourself some time to think of an answer. By asking the question again you also make sure that other people in the audience understand the question.

“Thank you. So you would like further clarification on our strategy?” “That’s an interesting question. How are we going to get voluntary redundancy?” “Thank you for asking. What is our plan for next year?”

After you have answered your question, check that the person who asked you is happy with the answer.

“Does this answer your question?” “Do you follow what I am saying?” “I hope this explains the situation for you.” “I hope this was what you wanted to hear!”

If you don’t know the answer to a question, say you don’t know. It’s better to admit to not knowing something than to guess and maybe get it wrong. You can say something like:

“That’s an interesting question. I don’t actually know off the top of my head, but I’ll try to get back to you later with an answer.” “I’m afraid I’m unable to answer that at the moment. Perhaps I can get back to you later.” “Good question. I really don’t know! What do you think?” “That’s a very good question. However, we don’t have any figures on that, so I can’t give you an accurate answer.” “Unfortunately, I’m not the best person to answer that.”

What to say if things go wrong during your presentation

You think you’ve lost your audience? Rephrase what you have said:

“Let me just say that in another way.” “Perhaps I can rephrase that.” “Put another way, this means…” “What I mean to say is…”

Can’t remember the word?

If it’s a difficult word for you – one that you often forget, or one that you have difficulty pronouncing – you should write it on your index card. Pause briefly, look down at your index card and say the word.

Using your voice when making presentations

Don’t speak in a flat monotone – this will bore your audience. By varying your speed and tone, you will be able to keep your audience’s attention. Practise emphasising key words and pause in the right places – usually in between ideas in a sentence. For example “The first strategy involves getting to know our market (pause) and finding out what they want. (pause) Customer surveys (pause) as well as staff training (pause) will help us do this.”

Don’t forget – if you speak too fast you will lose your audience!

Making Presentations

Your answer:

Correct answer:

Your Answers

• Home »
• Blog »

Updated for 2024 | 30 useful phrases for presentations in English

For non-native speakers giving a presentation in English can be quite a challenge. There are just so many aspects to consider.  

Firstly, the audience. Do you know them well? If so, more informal language can be used. Or are they unfamiliar to you? If this is the case, then more formal expressions should be adopted. Whether you use more formal or informal language, it is important to engage the audience through positive body language and a warm welcome. Your tone of voice and changes in intonation are additional useful tools and you might consider asking them relevant questions (real or  rhetorical ). 

The  audience  also needs to see a clear and logical structure to follow you effortlessly. Useful linking expressions, when delivered well, provide  effective  ‘bridges’ guiding the audience from one point to the next.

Here are 30 useful phrases for presentations in English for effective  structure and linking.  

Introduction

• Good morning/afternoon everyone and welcome to my presentation. First of all, let me thank you all for coming here today.
• Let me start by saying a few words about my own background.
• As you can see on the screen, our topic today is......
• My talk is particularly relevant to those of you who....
• This talk is designed to act as a springboard for discussion.
• This morning/ afternoon I’m going to take a look at the recent developments in.....

Presentation structure

• In my presentation I’ll focus on three major issues.
• This presentation is structured as follows....
• The subject can be looked at under the following headings.....
• We can break this area down into the following fields....
•  It will take about X minutes to cover these issues.
• Does everybody have a  handout  / copy of my report?
• I’ll be handing out copies of the slides at the end of my talk.
• I can email the PowerPoint presentation to anyone who would like it.  
• Don’t worry about taking notes, I’ve put all the relevant statistics on a  handout  for you
• If you have any questions, I am happy to answer them
• If you don’t mind, I'd like to leave questions until the end of my talk /there will be time for a  Q&A  session at the end...

Sequencing phrases

• My first point concerns...
• First of all, I’d like to give you an overview of....
• Next, I’ll focus on.....and then we’ll consider....
• Then I’ll go on to highlight what I see as the main points of....
• Finally, I’d like to address the problem of.....
• Finally, I’d like to raise briefly the issue of....

Highlighting information

• I’d like to put the situation into some kind of perspective
• I’d like to discuss in more depth the implications of....
• I’d like to make more detailed recommendations regarding....
• I’d like you to think about the significance of this figure here
• Whichever way you look at it, the underlying trend is clear
• I’d just like to finish with the words of a famous scientist/ politician/ author.......
• Now let’s go out and create opportunities for...! 

Improve your confidence in spoken English with our General English course or  Individual English training   in our centre in London or online.

Hopefully, these phrases help you to vary your vocabulary for clear, well-structured presentations with a logical joined-up flow. The most important thing, of course, is that you are comfortable and confident in your delivery, which helps the audience feels relaxed and ready to be engaged by your subject matter. Good luck! 

Glossary 

Rhetorical  -  (of a question) asked in order to produce an effect or to make a statement rather than to elicit information 

Audience  -  spectators or listeners at a public event such as a play, film, concert, or meeting 

Effectiv e -  successful in producing a desired or intended result 

Springboard -  springboard is also something that provides an opportunity to achieve something  

Handout - a document given to students or reporters that contains information about a particular subject 

Q&A  – an abbreviation for ‘question and answer’ 

Related blog posts 

• Business English Work and Careers: 50 words you need to know
• Email writing: how to start and end an email in English  
• 5 Tips for Polite and Diplomatic Language  

Recommended courses: 

Find out more about our  Business and Professional 25+ courses  in Canterbury and London. You can also take our  English for Work & Careers .  If you need to learn online, we offer  Online English Courses  and  Skype English lessons . 

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get English skills tips, offers, news, and events sent directly to your inbox

For details about how we use your information, read our Privacy Policy . You may withdraw your consent at any time by unsubscribing.

About The London School of English

The London School of English has over 100 years of history teaching English and communication skills to adult learners. It is the joint #1 English language school in the UK according to the British Council inspections, the highest rated English language school in the world on Trustpilot, and the best value for money school according The English Language Gazette. 

Our practical, individualised approach enables our clients to learn effectively and make rapid progress. Courses include General English, Individual English training, Legal English, Business and Professional English, IELTS preparation and Academic English. We also offer bespoke business solutions for staff training and assessment. 

You can learn English with our expert trainers in our London centre at 15 Holland Park Gardens, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, or you can choose to study English online in groups or in individual classes.  Contact us online  or via phone +44 (0) 207 605 4142.

Posted: 13 February 2020

Categories:

Post your questions and comments:

• Integrations
• Learning Center

MoSCoW Prioritization

What is moscow prioritization.

MoSCoW prioritization, also known as the MoSCoW method or MoSCoW analysis, is a popular prioritization technique for managing requirements. 

  The acronym MoSCoW represents four categories of initiatives: must-have, should-have, could-have, and won’t-have, or will not have right now. Some companies also use the “W” in MoSCoW to mean “wish.”

What is the History of the MoSCoW Method?

Software development expert Dai Clegg created the MoSCoW method while working at Oracle. He designed the framework to help his team prioritize tasks during development work on product releases.

You can find a detailed account of using MoSCoW prioritization in the Dynamic System Development Method (DSDM) handbook . But because MoSCoW can prioritize tasks within any time-boxed project, teams have adapted the method for a broad range of uses.

How Does MoSCoW Prioritization Work?

Before running a MoSCoW analysis, a few things need to happen. First, key stakeholders and the product team need to get aligned on objectives and prioritization factors. Then, all participants must agree on which initiatives to prioritize.

At this point, your team should also discuss how they will settle any disagreements in prioritization. If you can establish how to resolve disputes before they come up, you can help prevent those disagreements from holding up progress.

Finally, you’ll also want to reach a consensus on what percentage of resources you’d like to allocate to each category.

With the groundwork complete, you may begin determining which category is most appropriate for each initiative. But, first, let’s further break down each category in the MoSCoW method.

Start prioritizing your roadmap

Moscow prioritization categories.

1. Must-have initiatives

As the name suggests, this category consists of initiatives that are “musts” for your team. They represent non-negotiable needs for the project, product, or release in question. For example, if you’re releasing a healthcare application, a must-have initiative may be security functionalities that help maintain compliance.

The “must-have” category requires the team to complete a mandatory task. If you’re unsure about whether something belongs in this category, ask yourself the following.

If the product won’t work without an initiative, or the release becomes useless without it, the initiative is most likely a “must-have.”

2. Should-have initiatives

Should-have initiatives are just a step below must-haves. They are essential to the product, project, or release, but they are not vital. If left out, the product or project still functions. However, the initiatives may add significant value.

“Should-have” initiatives are different from “must-have” initiatives in that they can get scheduled for a future release without impacting the current one. For example, performance improvements, minor bug fixes, or new functionality may be “should-have” initiatives. Without them, the product still works.

3. Could-have initiatives

Another way of describing “could-have” initiatives is nice-to-haves. “Could-have” initiatives are not necessary to the core function of the product. However, compared with “should-have” initiatives, they have a much smaller impact on the outcome if left out.

So, initiatives placed in the “could-have” category are often the first to be deprioritized if a project in the “should-have” or “must-have” category ends up larger than expected.

4. Will not have (this time)

One benefit of the MoSCoW method is that it places several initiatives in the “will-not-have” category. The category can manage expectations about what the team will not include in a specific release (or another timeframe you’re prioritizing).

Placing initiatives in the “will-not-have” category is one way to help prevent scope creep . If initiatives are in this category, the team knows they are not a priority for this specific time frame. 

Some initiatives in the “will-not-have” group will be prioritized in the future, while others are not likely to happen. Some teams decide to differentiate between those by creating a subcategory within this group.

How Can Development Teams Use MoSCoW?

  Although Dai Clegg developed the approach to help prioritize tasks around his team’s limited time, the MoSCoW method also works when a development team faces limitations other than time. For example: 

Prioritize based on budgetary constraints.

What if a development team’s limiting factor is not a deadline but a tight budget imposed by the company? Working with the product managers, the team can use MoSCoW first to decide on the initiatives that represent must-haves and the should-haves. Then, using the development department’s budget as the guide, the team can figure out which items they can complete. 

Prioritize based on the team’s skillsets.

A cross-functional product team might also find itself constrained by the experience and expertise of its developers. If the product roadmap calls for functionality the team does not have the skills to build, this limiting factor will play into scoring those items in their MoSCoW analysis.

Prioritize based on competing needs at the company.

Cross-functional teams can also find themselves constrained by other company priorities. The team wants to make progress on a new product release, but the executive staff has created tight deadlines for further releases in the same timeframe. In this case, the team can use MoSCoW to determine which aspects of their desired release represent must-haves and temporarily backlog everything else.

What Are the Drawbacks of MoSCoW Prioritization?

  Although many product and development teams have prioritized MoSCoW, the approach has potential pitfalls. Here are a few examples.

1. An inconsistent scoring process can lead to tasks placed in the wrong categories.

  One common criticism against MoSCoW is that it does not include an objective methodology for ranking initiatives against each other. Your team will need to bring this methodology to your analysis. The MoSCoW approach works only to ensure that your team applies a consistent scoring system for all initiatives.

Pro tip: One proven method is weighted scoring, where your team measures each initiative on your backlog against a standard set of cost and benefit criteria. You can use the weighted scoring approach in ProductPlan’s roadmap app .

2. Not including all relevant stakeholders can lead to items placed in the wrong categories.

To know which of your team’s initiatives represent must-haves for your product and which are merely should-haves, you will need as much context as possible.

For example, you might need someone from your sales team to let you know how important (or unimportant) prospective buyers view a proposed new feature.

One pitfall of the MoSCoW method is that you could make poor decisions about where to slot each initiative unless your team receives input from all relevant stakeholders. 

3. Team bias for (or against) initiatives can undermine MoSCoW’s effectiveness.

Because MoSCoW does not include an objective scoring method, your team members can fall victim to their own opinions about certain initiatives. 

One risk of using MoSCoW prioritization is that a team can mistakenly think MoSCoW itself represents an objective way of measuring the items on their list. They discuss an initiative, agree that it is a “should have,” and move on to the next.

But your team will also need an objective and consistent framework for ranking all initiatives. That is the only way to minimize your team’s biases in favor of items or against them.

When Do You Use the MoSCoW Method for Prioritization?

MoSCoW prioritization is effective for teams that want to include representatives from the whole organization in their process. You can capture a broader perspective by involving participants from various functional departments.

Another reason you may want to use MoSCoW prioritization is it allows your team to determine how much effort goes into each category. Therefore, you can ensure you’re delivering a good variety of initiatives in each release.

What Are Best Practices for Using MoSCoW Prioritization?

If you’re considering giving MoSCoW prioritization a try, here are a few steps to keep in mind. Incorporating these into your process will help your team gain more value from the MoSCoW method.

1. Choose an objective ranking or scoring system.

Remember, MoSCoW helps your team group items into the appropriate buckets—from must-have items down to your longer-term wish list. But MoSCoW itself doesn’t help you determine which item belongs in which category.

You will need a separate ranking methodology. You can choose from many, such as:

• Weighted scoring
• Value vs. complexity
• Buy-a-feature
• Opportunity scoring

For help finding the best scoring methodology for your team, check out ProductPlan’s article: 7 strategies to choose the best features for your product .

2. Seek input from all key stakeholders.

To make sure you’re placing each initiative into the right bucket—must-have, should-have, could-have, or won’t-have—your team needs context. 

At the beginning of your MoSCoW method, your team should consider which stakeholders can provide valuable context and insights. Sales? Customer success? The executive staff? Product managers in another area of your business? Include them in your initiative scoring process if you think they can help you see opportunities or threats your team might miss. 

3. Share your MoSCoW process across your organization.

MoSCoW gives your team a tangible way to show your organization prioritizing initiatives for your products or projects. 

The method can help you build company-wide consensus for your work, or at least help you show stakeholders why you made the decisions you did.

Communicating your team’s prioritization strategy also helps you set expectations across the business. When they see your methodology for choosing one initiative over another, stakeholders in other departments will understand that your team has thought through and weighed all decisions you’ve made. 

If any stakeholders have an issue with one of your decisions, they will understand that they can’t simply complain—they’ll need to present you with evidence to alter your course of action.  

Related Terms

2×2 prioritization matrix / Eisenhower matrix / DACI decision-making framework / ICE scoring model / RICE scoring model

Prioritizing your roadmap using our guide

Talk to an expert.

Schedule a few minutes with us to share more about your product roadmapping goals and we'll tailor a demo to show you how easy it is to build strategic roadmaps, align behind customer needs, prioritize, and measure success.

Share on Mastodon

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Hiring for 2024-25 school year Our hiring program for the 2024-25 school year has begun! If you are interested in joining our teaching team then head to the jobs page for more information.

Trip to kolomna.

In April we are planning to visit one of the most interesting towns in Moscow region, Kolomna! 

Trip to Tula!

Everyone had such a great time on our trip to Tula. We are already busy planning for the next Simply English weekend getaway. Check out our video from the trip!

WELCOME TO SIMPLY ENGLISH MOSCOW

Simply English is a non-profit ESL company located in Moscow, Russia. We are dedicated to providing high quality, interesting, and unique English lessons to Russian students in schools, kindergartens, and private homes.

Originally founded by a native speaking staff in 2011, over the past ten years we have grown into a large and successful organization, working with some of the best and most prestigious schools in Moscow.

Our clients range from famous hockey players, movie stars, and politicians to simple, everyday families. Regardless of our students’ backgrounds, we focus on creating programs of study designed to inspire and entertain. 

TEACHER TESTIMONIALS

Orlando, Florida

“Working at Simply English is a challenging and rewarding experience. You get the opportunity to grow a lot as a teacher because of the dynamic mix of private clients and classroom instruction. You also get to really see the progress your students make, and grow close to them. Moscow isn’t for the faint of heart, though. While things may not always be easy, they are certainly always interesting here. I saw a t-shirt recently that said ‘if you’re tired of Moscow, you’re tired of life’. I guess you could say something similar about Simply English!”

Moscow, Idaho

“Simply English is a great place to work for anyone who wants to get a different experience from the usual ESL routine. Moscow is an incredibly interesting city, and you’ll likely get to work with a diverse group of students from different economic and social backgrounds. I would recommend Simply English to anyone looking for a bit of adventure in their life”

Tampa, Florida

“Working for Simply English has been a great experience! Living in a foreign country can be hard, but teachers here are taken care of very well. The company is run mostly by expats so they understand what problems you may have and how to fix them. The students we teach are also really fun and a pleasure to teach!”  

See all teacher testimonials