Introduction
Even if you know your subject matter perfectly, it's hard to give an interesting, memorable presentation. What makes the difference between a boring, difficult presentation, and an exciting, memorable one? Here are some tips based on my experience speaking, and watching people speak.
Talk to the audience
The worst presentations are when you read off a slide-show. It's better to have a very simple slide show, and use this to back-up what you say. But it's better to use no slides at all and just speak to the public. If you need to provide material, print hand-outs.
Stand up and get close, don't sit
Stand in front of your public, move around, look at them, and get close to them. A speaker who stays distant from his audience can never be fully convincing.
Look at the audience, not the screen
It's bad enough to use slides, but worse when you turn your back to the audience and read from the screen.
Keep it simple
It's always tempting to say everything, but people are not able to digest too much data. Don't try to say everything - write down five or six main points and focus on those.
Structure your speech
Tell a story, with a start, a middle, and a conclusion. Don't just start talking.
Body language
Stand straight, look at your audience, use your hands like a conductor, and smile confidently.
Speak slowly and clearly
Remember I said, don't try to say too much. Well, also say it slowly and clearly.
Think about your public
Every audience is different, and needs a different speach. This is why you don't want to read from slides. You need to think: what do these people really want to hear?
Conclusion
Remember always that a presentation is about talking to people. This means getting close to your audience, getting them interested, and speaking with emotion and confidence. A good presentation is like telling a story around a campfire.
If you have a hard time relaxing in front of a crowd, then practice. You can go to clubs like Toastmaster International to learn how to speak well in public. They will tell you: relax, speak without a presentation, learn confident body language, and get close to your audience, both emotionally and physically.