How to Create a Killer 5-Minute Presentation

Developing and delivering a five-minute presentation seems like a straightforward task at first – until you realize that the compressed format is actually very demanding More Efficiency, focus and attention to detail as longer presentation types.

When there is less time to get your point across, every second counts.

While short presentations can be unexpectedly difficult to create, if done correctly, they can be more impactful than longer presentations.

Five minutes is just enough time to present a compelling narrative on a subject with no filler or fluff. The time limit forces you to pack as much valuable information as possible into your presentation while maintaining a coherent structure.

The shorter format also encourages audiences to pay more attention.

But how can you ensure that your brief presentation gets everything it needs in just five minutes? We have put together a guide (condensed accordingly) for five-minute presentations to help you get started.

How many words is there in a 5 minute presentation?

A person speaks an average of 120 to 160 words per minute which means The average five-minute presentation is 600 to 800 words. That means that each word should be carefully chosen to support the central idea of ​​your presentation.

As you make a longer presentation, you may be more concerned about transitions and keep the audience connected with larger narrative elements.

In a short presentation, everything you say should be directly Tie yourself back to your central premise and take your main point forward. By keeping a tight frame and using your words carefully, you will ensure that your time is not wasted and that the audience leaves with a clear, unique snack.

How many slides is there in a 5-minute presentation?

In general, you should stick to only five or six slides for a five-minute presentation, but there is no set limit to the number of slides you can use. You can choose between 20 slides and spend around 10 or 15 seconds on them, depending on the topic.

More important than your number of slides is what each slide contains. While keeping your slides simple and focusing on visuals (rather than text) for any length presentation is a good rule, this is especially important when working with a compressed presentation window.

With a small window of time, it can be tempting to enter as much information as you can – resist the urge. Instead, focus on simple, clean graphics that are (again) all tied to your central premise.

If you are concerned that reducing the size of your presentation will not cause problems, add a slide at the end of the deck with additional resources and information for your audience to access after the presentation is over.

5 minute sample presentation format

If you’re looking for a starting point for your own five-minute presentation, we’ve created a basic overview below to help you organize your first thoughts in the planning phase.

You can assign a slide or multiple slides to each section if you want to split them up further.

They may vary in structure depending on the content or format of your presentation. Remember not to give your audience too much to chew on – the key here is – you guessed it – to associate each slide with a central idea.

An extremely brief introduction

Your first slide should serve as an introduction to the topic of your presentation. Try to limit your title to a maximum of six words. If your title is too long it can become unwieldy and your presentation can confuse your audience by covering too much.

Remember: your audience already has an idea of ​​what you’re presenting at (hopefully!) So they don’t have to spend too much valuable time or move real estate to explain what you want to cover – just jump to the right.

One problem slide

Most presentations can be reduced to a problem that you have identified, solved, or is being solved. Lead with this familiar narrative. This gives your presentation a clear starting point and prepares your audience for the rest of your slides.

A solution / analysis slide (s)

Now that your problem is introduced, let your audience know what they need to know about what you are doing about it. In shorter presentation formats, you should focus less on the details than on the overall elements. Ask yourself: What are your audience doing? need to know when to leave the room? Everything that falls into the “good to know” category can be cut in a follow-up email after the meeting and sent to the stakeholders.

A final slide

The closing page allows you to finish your presentation in a coherent way and summarize the important takeaway points for your audience. Don’t skimp on your conclusion just because it’s a short presentation – it’s the last your audience will hear from you. A good finish reinforces the other information you presented and makes your presentation more memorable overall.

5-minute presentation examples

While we (unfortunately) weren’t in the room when these presentations were originally given – and therefore can’t confirm with 100% certainty that they only ran for five minutes – these decks are all clocking in with fewer than 15 slides and using a simple format to convey a problem and a solution.

1. AirBnB pitch deck

2. Buffer pitch deck

3. Mix panel pitch deck

How do I create a 5 minute killer presentation?

Here are some best practices for creating a short presentation.

1. Focus on that most important part.

The biggest challenge in designing your presentation is choosing what to focus on. However, using the format described above, you can see how important it is to have a single requirement in designing your presentation.

It is easy to get overambitious in your presentation or to be overwhelmed by the information you are trying to present. Choosing a single idea to focus on gives you clarity in designing your language and allows you to cut out unnecessary information. It also provides a narrative structure that your audience can more easily grasp.

2. Research, verify facts, and do it twice.

Your presentation is your chance to shine – but the shorter format also means that every point you raise will be more visible, memorable and, consequently, more prone to scrutiny.

Take the time to research the topic of your presentation thoroughly and ensure that each point you make is both technically correct and easy to understand. This puts you in a better position to answer questions and discuss your topic in depth. With a strong mastery of your subject, your delivery will also be more secure and compelling.

3. Appeal How People Learn Best: Stories.

A story can give your presentation meaning and turn it into more than just facts, figures and some eye-catching slides. Building your presentation on a simple, easy-to-understand narrative (like the problem / solution narrative we showed you in the Avoid template) can help make your content more digestible. Your presentation will only take a few minutes, but the story you are telling needs to stay in your audience’s mind longer – and of course, stories help people understand and store information more easily.

4. Do not skip this tutorial.

Just because your presentation only lasts five minutes doesn’t mean you should try to spur it on. Your audience’s time is valuable and if you practice your presentation before delivering it to them, you can get the most of it.

From the CEO to the intern, everyone can benefit from practicing their presentations ahead of time, no matter how confident they are.

If you are able to deliver a lot (or everything) by heart, your delivery will be much more natural so you can build a stronger connection with your audience. And once the nerves are hit, you have the muscle memory to fall back on and carry you through the rough spots!

5. Relax and do not rush.

You only have five minutes to present. So it’s only natural to feel the pressure to go a little too fast. During your presentation, stay relaxed and avoid distractions, e.g. For example, when someone informs you that you only have a minute left.

Focusing on your presentation will improve your delivery and give you more confidence, even if you are usually scared of public speaking.

If you need to speed up your presentation to squeeze it into a five minute window, this is a good sign that you are overdoing and considering shortening your slides.

You know your audience best

As you create your five-minute presentation, keep your audience in mind and design them to speak to them.

The information you want to highlight and the way you design it vary significantly depending on who your presentation is for.

It’s of course nervous to get into your presentation, especially if you don’t like to speak in public or if you are afraid to, but with enough consideration and practice you will be able to master any topic you want to present.