Even the most beautifully designed, well-structured presentation can fall flat if your audience doesn’t feel inspired to take the next step. The good news? A few small shifts can make a big difference.
When you’re presenting, your job doesn’t end at informing. You want to move your audience—to say yes, to reach out, to try the new thing, to believe in your message. To do that, you need two things: external validation that your message is worth believing, and a clear call-to-action (CTA) to guide the next step.
The good news is, moving your audience to action doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are two simple tools you can start using right away.
Step One: Show Proof That It Works
Before you can ask someone to take action, you need to build trust. That’s where social proof comes in.
People are much more likely to act when they see that others have already benefited from what you’re offering. Testimonials, client quotes, case studies, or simple data points can go a long way.
Here’s a story that might sound familiar if you’ve ever worried about whether your message will really land.
We once worked with a major finance company that was understandably nervous about compliance. Their concern? That an outside presentation team (like us) would overlook compliance red flags and they’d be stuck in an endless loop of revisions.
When our first draft sailed through their compliance team with almost no edits, the comment we got back was:
“You guys are awesome. Most things we send to compliance get chewed apart with a ton of revisions. Never seen something get so few.”
This was especially meaningful because their reason for hiring us was to make their lives easier—and their biggest hesitation was whether our team could deliver on that promise.
Because we’d heard this concern before, we knew to anticipate it and address it early. Now, we can tell this story any time someone comes to us with the same concern. That’s the beauty of social proof—it helps your audience feel seen and reassured by others. You can show you’re walking the walk and not just talking the talk.
Step Two: Make the Ask
Once your audience believes in your solution, don’t leave them hanging. Give them a clear, specific next step.
You’ve spent all this time building a case—don’t let it fizzle out by ending with a vague “thank you” slide. A strong CTA should:
- Be clear (“Start your free trial today.”)
- Be actionable (“Schedule a 15-minute call.”)
- Be connected to your audience’s problem (“Let us take compliance off your plate.”)
Pro tip: CTAs work best when they’re not an afterthought. Instead, try to weave them in early, build your message toward them, and reinforce them with clarity and confidence.
You don’t just want them to understand your message. You want them to act on it.
Finish Strong
If there’s one thing to remember: Don’t assume your audience will take action unless you ask them to—and show them why they should.
Whether it’s a button on a slide, a compelling final story, or a powerful line that sticks in their mind, your closing moment matters.
Make it clear. Make it intentional. And most of all—make it feel like a natural next step your audience is excited to take.
Need help making this next step? Let us know! We’re always happy to help.
