When you are making a professional presentation, or delivering a speech of any kind, you only get one chance to make a good impression. And, that window of opportunity is quite brief, usually a matter of seconds. Here are seven simple, yet very powerful tips to ensure your presentation makes an impact from the moment you walk to the front of the room.

1. Start with a Professional Appearance Nearly 60% of communication is non-verbal, so what you choose to wear has tremendous influence on how others see you. Dress to impress and remember the old adage, "Clothes make the man.(or woman)." Looking your best also affects your self-confidence, so when you look the part, you will be more likely to perform well too. Along with the right wardrobe, be sure to empty your jacket or pants pockets of anything that will create a distraction, like keys or spare chance. And please, shut your cell phone off and ask the audience to do the same.

2. Never Start with an Apology Good speakers begin with a strong opening. Unfortunately, many people who might not be feeling as confident as they like, start off with an apology of some sort. "I didn't get much time to pull this presentation together." Or "My voice is a bit scratchy today because I didn't get enough sleep." Making statements like these is like shooting yourself in the foot and demonstrates a lack of preparation or professionalism. Instead, open with a positive comment or question and project a confident attitude to capture the audience's attention. Refrain from making any excuses or saying anything that weakens your ability to command the room.

3. Establish Yourself as the Authority After your opening statements, share your credentials to position yourself as an expert. Let the audience know why they should listen to you! People want to hear how you came by your knowledge and why they should rely on the information you are about to deliver.

4. Prepare, Prepare, Prepare! Since you only have one chance to make a lasting impression, make sure you are properly prepared. Rehearse your speech several times until it becomes comfortable. Don't just read through it either, but make sure you practice out loud, so you know how it sounds. This is a crucial step to emphasize and drive home the most important points. Reading alone will not give you the experience you need to get comfortable with and polish your delivery.

5. Have a Clear Communication Objective Ask yourself this question, "What do I want the audience to know?" "What information do I want them to leave with?" If you can answers these questions, then you can feel certain you have a clear communication objective. Naturally it works best to think about this before crafting your speech, but it can also function as an excellent check and balance once it's written.

6. Engage Your Audience While standing in front of a podium or near a computer/projector limits your mobility, you will still need to "work" the room. You can do this effectively by making eye contact with people throughout the audience. Find some friendly faces scattered around the room so you can repeatedly connect with them. Another method that draws people in is to ask questions. Even if rhetorical, posing questions gets the audience thinking and involved. In fact, if appropriate, make the program interactive by asking questions and eliciting responses for the most engaging presentation possible.

7. Use Handouts Handouts are a wonderful way to provide your audience with a lasting reminder of your topic, credentials, services and contact information. But what works even better is when your handout offers added value. To do so, be sure the handout has a useful purpose. Think about what benefits the handout provides. Lastly, give your audience a follow up assignment or offer something special so there's a reason to hang on to the handout rather than tossing it once back at their own desk.

Thank you for your continued business and trusting Pilothouse Communications with your vital business communications. We are here to be your business partner in communications.

Sincerely,