Table of contents

• The problem with presentation titles

• What makes a great presentation title?

• General rules for writing presentation titles

• How to make your title click

• How Deckster can help you write better titles?

• FAQ
  
  

Expectations vs. reality: writing presentation titles that work

Ever been in a situation where you confidently walk into a presentation, expecting one thing, only to realize it’s about something completely different?

I have. And every time, I sit there, feeling a bit stupid for assuming I knew what it was about. Now, I’m stuck, politely listening, while mentally calculating how much of my time just got wasted.

But who’s to blame? Honestly, no one. The presentation title in the Google Calendar invite just set the wrong expectations.

Now, if you don’t want to be the one confusing people and instead want your audience to care, here’s a guide to writing presentation titles that grab attention from the start.

What makes a great presentation title?

First, let me share how we at Deckster think about presentations.

To us, a presentation isn’t just about slides, animations, or graphs. A presentation is an effective tool to persuade your audience and convey a certain message to the world. Whether it's a sales pitch, corporate update, educational session, or project report, the goal is always the same: make your audience see the world as you do.

Sound familiar? If you’ve worked in sales or advertising, you’ll recognize this concept. Every ad or sales pitch is about delivering a message that resonates with the audience. Your audience should be a part of your presentation from the start.

And what’s the most important thing in any pitch or ad?

The Hook. You need to make people interested fast.

Advertising legend David Ogilvy once said, “On average, five times as many people read the headline as read the body copy.”

That means, if your presentation title doesn’t hook your audience, your chances of success are slim.

General rules for writing presentation titles

Despite how obvious they seem, these fundamental rules are often ignored or forgotten:

1. Reflect your message

If your audience can’t tell what your presentation is about, they won’t care. As E.B.White put it, “When you say something, make sure you have said it. The chances of your having said it are only fair.”

2. Keep it short

Attention spans are getting shorter (thanks, TikTok). Which of these titles do you think sticks? "Migration from amplitude to PostHog self-serve: a way to save on analytics tool costs and increase our hiring budget" or "Analytics costs are eating our hiring budget!".

3. Keep it simple

Avoid jargon and abbreviations. Just because you know what CPC, CR, or CI/CD means, doesn’t mean your audience does. And they won’t ask.

4. Make it relevant

As Ben Franklin wisely said, “Appeal to interest, not to reason.” Your audience must care about the topic.

5. Evoke emotion

If your title is relevant, it will naturally evoke emotion. But often, you need to push it further.

How to make your title click

Here are five proven title styles that grab attention:

1. The offer title

This is a direct, no-nonsense approach that highlights a tangible benefit. Offer-based titles often mention savings, guarantees, or efficiencies.

Best for: Business pitches, executive presentations, decision-makers.

Example: Switching to postHog will cut our expenses by 80%.

2. The promise title

This works similarly to the Offer title but is slightly less direct. Instead of opening with the solution, you start with a promising outcome.

Best for: Persuasive presentations, investor pitches.

Example: A way to slash our tool expenses by 3x.

3. The problem-solution title

Focuses on an urgent pain point your audience cares about before revealing the solution.

Best for: Educational talks, management meetings, corporate presentations.

Example: We are losing revenue because of heavy understaffing.

4. The big secret title

This teases exclusive knowledge or a hidden insight, sparking curiosity.

Best for: Technical presentations, internal knowledge sharing, product launches.

Example: Competitor X grew by 120% last Year – How?

5. The proclamation title

This approach makes a bold statement designed to challenge your audience’s assumptions.

Best for: Strategy meetings, executive briefings, high-impact reports.

Rules:

• Make it bold.

• Make a promise.

• Make it relevant to your audience.

• Return to your proclamation at the end of your presentation.

Example: Competitor X’s margins are 37%, ours are 12%. What are we missing?

How Deckster can help you write better titles

We all want instant results. That’s why Deckster exists - to help you write presentations that grab attention and tailor your presentation to the audience.

With Deckster, you don’t have to spend hours crafting the perfect title. Just answer a few questions, and our AI will generate a persuasive speech outline, including title, along with a Google Slides draft.

Want to see for yourself? Try it now for free and create a presentation that actually engages your audience.

FAQ

1. How do I choose the right title for my presentation?
Consider your audience and the purpose of your presentation. If you're pitching to executives, go for an offer or proclamation title. If you're educating a team, a problem-solution or big secret title works best.

2. Why is my presentation title important?
Your title is the first impression your audience gets. A compelling title captures interest, sets expectations, and increases engagement from the start.

3. How can I make a technical presentation engaging for a non-technical audience?
Use simple language, avoid jargon, and choose a title that highlights the impact rather than the technical details. For example, instead of “Implementing an data processing algorithm,” try “How our new system will speed up your workflow by 50%.”