How to End a Presentation: 9 Ways to Finish Strong + Examples
Knowing what to say when concluding a presentation can feel tricky.
Many of us feel confident breezing through the body of the talk, only to stumble across the final slide with an awkward, “OK, that’s it!”
But mastering how to end a presentation — and crafting a closing statement — is simpler than you might think.
Here, I’ve outlined 9 proven ways to end a presentation. These are based not just on public speaking best practices, but also on techniques I‘ve personally used in professional presentations and seen work brilliantly as an audience member.
You’ll find tips on when to use each closing, real-world examples, and how exactly to pair them with a compelling end slide.
What Makes a Good Presentation Closing? Key Components
We tend to remember and recall the most recently presented information better than details presented earlier. This phenomenon is called the recency bias in psychology.
This means, when your audience thinks about your presentation hours or days later, they are more likely to remember how you concluded it rather than the main points you made in the middle.
As such, your presentation closing should ideally include these two components:
- A summary of your key takeaway
- A clear next step for your audience to take*
*applies to persuasive presentations only
A concise wrap-up statement that summarizes your main message will make it easier for your audience to remember it.
A mentor once gave me this helpful advice to prepare a strong conclusion: “Imagine what an audience member would say if someone asked them, ‘So, what was that talk about?’ Their response is your conclusion statement.”
Alright, with that, let’s dig into the actual tactics for concluding a presentation.
9 Powerful Ways to End a Presentation (and Leave a Lasting Impression)
There’s more than one way to drive your final message home. Below, I’ve listed 9 strong ways to end your presentation with confidence.
For each closing technique, you’ll find tips on when to use it, how to prepare, and real conclusion examples to make it your own.
Whether you’re looking for something memorable, to-the-point, or persuasive, there’s likely a closing style here for you.
1. Circle Back to Your Opening Message
2. Summarize Your Key Takeaway
3. Tell Us What Happens Next
4. Provide a ‘Call to Action’
5. End with a Story
6. Ask a Thought-Provoking Question
7. Use a Powerful Quote
8. Present a New Vision for the Future
9. The “One More Thing” Close (Apple Style)
1. Circle Back to Your Opening Message
Refer back to the starting point of your presentation — and reframe it with the new knowledge you shared with your audience.
For example, if you started your talk with an intriguing question, state it once again towards the end, with a phrase like, “At the beginning I asked you…” Then proceed to answer that question in your concluding statements: “We can now see how it’s entirely possible to…”
Why this works:
The ‘circle back’ technique creates a satisfying sense of closure for the audience. It’s that same feeling of warm fuzzies when you return to the starting point after an exciting rollercoaster ride.
Use this for:
- High-stakes presentations: Keynotes, product launches, annual company presentations
- Training and workshops
- Pitches and fundraiser presentations
Examples:
Corporate
“We started today with a simple question: What would it take to truly recession-proof our business? Now that we’ve examined our risk assessment results and changed our strategy, we can answer that question with confidence: future-proofing isn’t just a buzzword, it’s our next priority.”
Academic
“In the beginning, I posed the question: ‘Is the XYZ protein array sensitive enough to detect small amounts of CSF samples?’ After running our tests across 3 different sample sets, it’s clear that the XYZ array not only accurately detects protein in microliters of sample but also performs reliably.”
2. Summarize Your Key Takeaway
Identify 1-3 points you want your audience to remember. Then display these on a slide as a summary of your talk.
Pair it with a persuasive phrase such as: “If there’s one thing I want you to remember from today’s presentation, it’s this….”
Why this works:
Recapping key points reinforces the message and helps the audience retain the information longer.
Use this for:
- Lectures
- Educational seminars or training
- Research presentations
Examples:
Corporate
“To summarize: If we set up a ticketing system for internal requests and keep the requests visible, that will save us 12 hours each week and set clear expectations for all departments.”
Academic
“At its core, our work is really about one thing: Our lifestyle choices can change our genetic makeup.”
3. Tell Us What Happens Next
Outline the immediate next steps that you, the team, the audience, or the organization plans to take. The goal here is to provide a forward-looking conclusion to continue the momentum beyond your presentation.
Use a phrase such as, “Here are the next action steps…” or “Let me show you where we go from here.”
Why this works:
People appreciate clarity. By telling them what happens next, you’ve established a sense of direction and have reassured them that your ideas aren’t just theoretical; they’re ready to be implemented.
WHAT TO AVOID
If you’re using this technique to close, get very specific about the next steps; stay away from vague, futuristic goals that can’t be implemented right away.
Use this for:
- Weekly or monthly updates (internal)
- Project updates (external)
- Stakeholder updates
- Research proposal presentation
Examples:
Corporate
“Here’s our plan for the next quarter. We’ll roll out this workflow to a small pilot team, gather feedback, and then share the learnings with team leaders before full implementation.”
Academic
“Based on this data, we have 2 other projects in the pipeline…”
4. Provide a ‘Call to Action’
Here, you’d ask your audience to do something at the end of your presentation — change their perspective or take the next action step. Your call to action (CTA) should leave no ambiguity about what happens next.
A ‘call to action’ at the end of a presentation can include any of the following:
‘Calls to action’ to do something
- Approve a proposal
- Book a call
- Request a demo
- Sign up for a program
- Buy a book
- Buy a product
- Download a guide
- Vote for something
- Register for an event
- Sign up to volunteer
‘Calls to action’ to think differently
- Adopt a different approach
- Change one’s behavior
- Embrace change
Why this works:
People are more likely to act when they’re given a clear, achievable next step.
Use this for:
- Sales presentations
- Any type of proposal (marketing, fundraising, research, etc.)
- Product launches
- Marketing webinars
- Nonprofit campaigns
- Training sessions or instructional lectures
💡 Pro tip: Create a standalone slide for your ‘call to action’. Include any details that will make it easier for your audience to jump into action. For example, a QR code to book a call or an easy-to-remember URL to download materials.
💡 Pro tip: Keep the ‘call to action’ slide displayed as you answer any questions.
Examples:
Corporate
“The next step is simple: I’d like each of you to check your team’s onboarding checklist. Does it still reflect the way we actually work today?”
Academic
“I invite you to look at digital laboratory notebooks through a new lens — it’s time to get with the times and go paperless.”
5. End with a Story
Use a personal story or a relevant borrowed story (i.e., case study, customer success, media stories, and so on) to drive your main message home using emotional appeal.
Why this works:
Ending with a story humanizes your content and makes it more memorable. Your audience will always remember narratives better than facts.
WHAT TO AVOID:
- Avoid long-winded stories — your audience has limited patience towards the end of your talk. Get to the point quickly.
- In formal settings such as funding proposals or investor pitches, consider your audience and the environment in the room before choosing to close with a story. Often, decision-makers in these settings are pretty rigid about presentation formats and may not always be receptive to a story.
Use this for:
- Change management or team motivation presentations
- Motivational talks, leadership speeches, or keynote presentations
- Nonprofit fundraising
- Training sessions
Examples:
Corporate
“Last year, a junior analyst flagged a minor bug no one else noticed. That single observation saved us thousands. Great systems are built on everyday vigilance, not just big ideas.”
Academic
“When I presented this research to a group of undergrads, one student emailed me weeks later. She said it helped her feel seen as a bilingual learner. That’s the kind of impact we’re aiming for.”
6. Ask a Thought-Provoking Question
Frame a question that inspires self-reflection or future exploration. It should be open-ended and encourage your audience to think differently.
This technique is particularly effective when your goal is to shift mindsets, plant an idea, or embrace change.
Why this works:
Asking an introspective question as part of your conclusion invites the audience to keep thinking about your topic long after they’ve left the premises.
WHAT TO AVOID:
Avoid answering the question yourself once you’ve asked it! The question, stated confidently, should be the last thing your audience hears. We expect them to answer it for themselves.
Use this for:
- Workshops and trainings
- Sales presentations
- Product presentations or innovation talks
- Keynotes or thought leadership presentations
- Nonprofit fundraising
Examples:
Corporate
“What would it look like if every meeting ended with a clear next step — would we still need so many of them?”
Academic
“If we say public health is about access, why are so many programs still designed to only benefit neurotypical individuals?”
7. Use a Powerful Quote
End with a quote that perfectly captures your key message. The quote can be inspiring, provocative, or humorous, but it needs to be aligned with your presentation’s topic and tone.
Why this works:
Quotes let you borrow credibility and authority from another respected figure in your industry. It’s a subtle way of indicating that your ideas are in good company.
Additionally, clever quotes tend to linger in the minds of audiences longer, making your presentation all the more memorable.
WHAT TO AVOID:
- Avoid clichéd, overused quotes.
- If you’re trying to brand yourself as a thought leader in your industry (for example, you’re an author or consultant), you may want to refrain from ending with someone else’s quote. Instead, consider ending with an original idea or statement that isn’t borrowed from another individual.
Use this for:
- Mission-driven presentations
- Presenting a vision, a new idea, or implementing change
- Thought leadership keynotes
- Lectures at conferences
- Welcome speeches or closing remarks
Examples:
Corporate
“I want to leave you with a quote that I often heard growing up: ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’“
Academic
“As we continue exploring the complex kinase pathway, I’ll end with the words of Marie Curie: ‘Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood.’”
8. Present a New Vision for the Future
Paint an optimistic picture of what the future would look like if your ideas, solutions, or proposals are adopted.
This closing technique works best when paired with the ‘pose a “What if” scenario’ or ‘declare the problem upfront’ presentation openers.
Why this works:
Humans are inspired by possibility. By showing a glimpse of a better future, you’ll leave your audience feeling uplifted, motivated, and excited for what’s to come.
Use this for:
- Project proposals
- Sales pitches
- Product launches
- Change management presentations
Examples:
Corporate
“Let me paint you a picture of what it would look like if we offered free shipping on orders over $50…”
Academic
“Imagine being able to press a button from your phone and automate your entire proteomics workflow — as you sleep at night.”
9. The “One More Thing” Close (Apple Style)
Made popular by Steve Jobs, this type of presentation closing reveals a surprise detail or exciting announcement at the very end, coupled with the phrase, “Oh, and one more thing…”
Why this works:
We pay attention to anything that breaks a pattern.
Just when your audience thinks you’re about to wrap up your talk, they’re surprised with an unexpected final piece of information. This adds a bit of delight and drama, and keeps your message memorable for days.
WHAT TO AVOID:
- Avoid overusing this technique. It will lose its charm if used in everyday settings.
- Don’t “force” an additional detail at the very end just for the sake of it — it can come across as gimmicky. For this closing technique to work, the extra detail at the very end needs to be meaningful enough to justify a special placement.
Use this for:
- Product launches
- Tech demos or innovative showcases
- Sales pitches or investor pitches
- Keynote presentations
- Annual company presentations
Examples:
Corporate
“Oh, and one more thing. Our internal AI assistant was launched this morning. You’ll each get access to test it.”
Academic
“And now, here’s something I’ve saved for last. Our 3D model was featured on the front cover of ‘Nature Physics’ last week.”
Ready-to-Use Phrases for Ending a Presentation
Now that we’ve seen the different approaches to concluding a presentation, let’s take a look at exactly what to say as you close.
A well-chosen closing phrase can help you land your message and finish strong. Below are some ready-to-use phrases for different types of presentation closings.
Phrases to Circle Back to Your Opening Message
- “At the beginning I [asked/told] you… We can now see how…”
- “And that brings us back to where we began…”
- “Remember the [story/fact/question] I started with? Let’s take a look at that once again.”
- “We’ve come full circle. From [opening point] to [closing insight].”
Phrases to Summarize Your Key Takeaway
- “If there’s one thing I hope you remember from today, it’s this…”
- “To sum it all up: [key takeaway].”
- “Let me leave you with this final thought…”
- “At its core, our work is really about one thing: [main point].”
Phrases to Tell Us What Happens Next
- “So, where exactly do we go from here?”
- “So, what happens next? Let’s take a quick look at…”
- “Here’s our plan for the next quarter.”
- “We have exciting projects in the pipeline…”
- “This isn’t the end — it’s just the beginning of what’s next.”
Phrases to Provide a ‘Call to Action’
Get your audience to think differently:
- “I invite you to look at [topic] through a new lens.”
- “Before you start your day tomorrow, ask yourself: What’s one thing I’m willing to change about [topic]?”
Get your audience to do something:
- “If you’re ready to move forward, scan the QR code to book a call.”
- “The next step is simple: you approve the proposal and we’ll start working on your campaign by Monday next week.”
- “Take the first step today by booking a free trial.”
- “If this resonated with you, here’s what you can do right now…”
Phrases to End with a Story
- “In case you’re still on the fence about [topic], I want to share something with you…”
- “Let me tell you about something that happened recently. It changed how I looked at [topic]…”
- “We hear success stories from our clients every day — let me share one such story with you…”
Phrases to End with a Thought-Provoking Question
- “So, I’ll leave you with this question: [insert question].”
- “What if we all chose to [insert idea] — imagine what would happen?”
- “What’s one thing you plan to change starting tomorrow?
Phrases to End with a Powerful Quote
- “As [influential person] once said: [insert quote].”
- “[Influential person] captured this perfectly when [he/she] said: [insert quote].”
- “I’ll end with the words of [influential person]: [insert quote].”
- “I want to leave you with something I read just last week, and it stuck with me: [insert quote].”
Phrases to Present a New Vision for the Future
- “Imagine a future where [X] is no longer a problem…”
- “Let me paint you a picture of what it would look like if we [did something differently].”
- “Remember, this is the future we can create together — if we start today.”
Phrases to End with “One More Thing” (Apple Style)
- “Oh, and one more thing…”
- “Before I go, there’s just this one thing I need to tell you…”
- “And now, here’s something I’ve saved for last…”
Body Language and Voice Modulation When Ending a Presentation
How you convey your concluding message — particularly, your stage presence and delivery skills — matters just as much as what you say.
Here’s how to look and sound confident as you close:
Confident body language to conclude a presentation
Eliminate barriers between you and the audience
If you’re standing behind a podium or a laptop, step away from it as you prepare to close. Face your audience directly to deliver your closing message. Removing physical barriers, even briefly, makes you feel more present and connected.
Change your moving pattern
If you generally tend to pace around and use lots of gestures, get still as you deliver the final message. Conversely, if you’ve been standing still behind a podium during the talk, step out and take a few steps forward as you close. This obvious shift in your body language draws your audience’s attention.
Maintain eye contact with your audience
It’s tempting to look at the final slide or your notes as you deliver the closing statement. But now’s the time to look at your audience. Making eye contact as you conclude makes your message feel more sincere and genuine.
Vocal tactics to drive your message home
Pause before and after your concluding statement
A brief, intentional pause before delivering your final line signals to your audience: Something important is coming up. They’ll lean in and listen.
And pausing after your concluding message gives you the chance to accept applause and acknowledgement, before the questions start trickling in.
Slow your pacing and lower your pitch
Don’t rush the ending, even if you’re short on time. Deliberately slow down a bit at this stage, and lower your pitch. It lends more weight and gravitas to your concluding message.
End Slide: What to Include in the Last Slide of Your Presentation
Your audience will spend more time staring at your final slide than at any other slide in your deck. We need to use that screen time wisely.
A good closing slide reinforces your message or guides your audience on what to do next.
Your ending slide should typically include:
- A message that complements your presentation closing, i.e., a summary statement, a clear ‘call to action’, a quote, and so on
- Your contact details, if applicable (in smaller font)
- A QR code or URL for the audience to take further action
What NOT to include in your ending slide:
- ❌ Avoid displaying the word ‘Questions?’ on your last slide (and, no, you also don’t need an image of a question mark). Instead, display your summary slide or the ‘call to action’ during the Q&A.
- ❌ Avoid displaying the words ‘Thank you’ on your last slide. Instead, just verbally thank your audience.
- ❌ Avoid cluttering your last slide with logos of collaborators. This is often seen in academic presentations where the speaker wants to thank supporting partners and funders. Instead, show your gratitude before you conclude your presentation.
Below, I’ve listed some slide-friendly ideas complementary to each of the 9 presentation closing tactics we’ve covered.
|
Presentation closing |
What to include in your end slide? |
|
Circle back to your opening message |
Display your opening slide, but add additional context to show how the audience’s understanding has evolved. |
|
Summarize your key takeaway |
A one-sentence summary appearing on the slide. |
|
Tell us what happens next |
A simple ‘next steps’ bulleted list. |
|
Provide a ‘call to action’ |
Display the ‘call to action’ on the slide (for example, “Book a call”). Include a QR code or an easy URL. |
|
End with a story |
No slide required. |
|
Ask a thought-provoking question |
No slide required. |
|
Use a powerful quote |
Display the quote on the slide attributed to the source. Use large text. |
|
Present a new vision for the future |
No slide required. |
|
The “one more thing” close |
Display the words “One more thing…” in large text, followed by the verbal reveal. |
How to Smoothly Transition to Q&A
Alright, you’ve made your final point concluding the presentation, and now it’s time to shift gears — from presenting to your audience to engaging with them.
And we’ll need to make that transition to Q&A smoothly so we don’t abruptly cut off our strong close.
Below are a few tips to seamlessly move to the Q&A session:
Your presentation closing needs to be a separate moment
Your final message — whether it’s a summary or a call to action — needs to stand on its own. Please don’t tag along “Any questions?” at the end of your close; that will reduce the impact of your conclusion.
Instead, here’s the sequence I recommend:
Close your presentation > Pause + Accept applause > Transition to Q&A
Use polished phrases to prompt Q&A participation
Instead of the uninspiring “Any questions?” followed by blank stares from the audience, use phrases that encourage audience members to raise their hands and ask a question.
Example Phrases to Transition to Q&A
- “What questions do you have for me?” [My favorite! It assumes that they already have questions, so they’re more likely to raise their hands.]
- “Alright, let’s open the floor for questions.”
- “I’m open to any questions or comments you have.”
Pass the stage to the moderator, if applicable
In formal settings (conferences or academic seminars), you’ll likely have a moderator or a host who facilitates the Q&A session. In this case, once you close your presentation, you’ll hand over the stage to the moderator.
Example Phrases to Hand Over to a Moderator
- “With that, I’ll hand it back to [Moderator’s Name] for the Q&A session.”
- “I’ll now pass it over to [Moderator’s Name] to lead the Q&A.”
One of the best ways to handle a Q&A session with confidence is to anticipate tough questions in advance. Thinking ahead about the different questions you might encounter, and then preparing how you’re going to respond to them, will help you stay composed under pressure.
Related reading:
- 5 Steps to Anticipate Audience Questions (and Prepare in Advance)
- How to Start a Presentation: 14 Catchy Intro Ideas & Examples
- How to Introduce Yourself in a Presentation: 5 Sample Scripts
- How to Make a Presentation Funny: 6 Easy Ways + Examples
- Audience Analysis in Public Speaking: 3 Easy Steps & Examples
- 19 Types of Visual Aids for Presentations (With Examples)
Get actionable communication tips straight to your inbox
No fluff. Just valuable insights and practical strategies to communicate better.
We promise to keep your email address safe.
By signing up, you agree to receiving communication tips and sporadic updates from Word Cortex. You can unsubscribe anytime.
