If you’ve ever watched a presenter who seems to be speaking directly to you—as if they somehow knew your challenges and goals—you’ve experienced the magic of customization.
That isn’t luck; it’s strategy.
In Deliver Unforgettable Presentations, my co-authors Darren LaCroix, Mark Brown, and I emphasize that when you customize your presentation, it is one of the surest ways to be remembered, recommended, and rebooked. When your audience feels that your message is tailor-made for them, they engage more deeply, recall your ideas more clearly, and are far more likely to act on what you say.
So how do you do it?
Start with your audience, not your slides.
Before you craft a single sentence, ask yourself:
- Who is my audience?
- What do they care about most right now?
- What keeps them up at night?
In Deliver Unforgettable Presentations, we write that “anyone can stand up and deliver a presentation, but not everyone connects.” Connection begins with understanding your listeners’ priorities and language. Customize your stories, data, and examples to reflect their industry, their challenges, and their success metrics.
- Build your structure around what matters most to them.
Your speech structure is “the skeleton under the flesh of your words.” Every audience wants clarity and flow.
Customize your structure so that your premise—the one sentence that defines your message—mirrors your audience’s objectives. For example:
- For sales teams: “You can close more deals when your message is clear, concise, and customized.”
- For leaders: “You can accelerate buy-in when your ideas are structured and easy to repeat.”
When you align your structure with their goals, you make it effortless for them to say “yes.”
- Personalize your stories—and your visuals.
People may not remember your statistics, but they’ll remember your stories. A customized story—especially one that reflects their world—builds credibility and trust.
Recently, I delivered a highly interactive speech for Kaiser Permanente in Honolulu, titled “Connect with Stories.” In preparing my introduction, I added a special touch: my Kaiser membership number. I’ve been a happy member since my mid-20s.
On the cover photo of my first slide, we added a Kaiser card. There I was, smiling and holding my membership card. Before I even spoke a word, the audience was laughing, applauding, and leaning forward.
Why? Because they instantly felt, “She’s one of us.”
That moment didn’t happen by chance—it was the result of deliberate customization. Too many speakers recycle the same material and introduction from one audience to another. They miss the chance to establish instant rapport through tailored photos and comments.
Customization is not a burden.
It’s fun to do—and a competitive advantage. It proves you’ve done your homework, that you care enough to adapt, and that you understand what matters to them.
Here’s the bonus: when your audience feels understood, they’ll listen more closely, engage more deeply, and remember you long after you’ve left the stage.
The next time you prepare a presentation, ask yourself:
- How can I reflect their language, culture, or stories?
- Where can I show we share common ground?
- What will make them think, “This speaker knows who we are”?
The Bottom Line
A “one-size-fits-all” presentation fits no one. The most unforgettable presentations are built around your audience’s needs, your authentic stories, and your structured clarity.
When you customize your presentation, you’re not just delivering information—you’re delivering relevance, empathy, and leadership. That’s what makes you unforgettable.
Ready to Take Your Presentations from Good to Unforgettable?
If you’re ready to captivate every audience you face—whether in person, online, or on stage—explore my FrippVT online learning platform. You’ll find step-by-step lessons, real examples, and proven techniques to elevate your speaking skills at your own pace.
Or, if you would like a conversation about personal or team coaching, let us chat.
“Patricia Fripp’s super-power is that she can listen to a superb presentation and find ways to make it even better.” Krister Ungerböck, Author of Talk Shifts
