A good presentation has to have a good start. You only have 30 seconds to grab your audience's attention which you should not waste by introducing yourself or with pleasantries. Begin by immediately gaining their interest. The openforum.com server recommends the following steps.
1. Refute a general held truth
Begin with quoting some “truth” and then make a provocative explanation about why in fact it is not true.
2. Use rhetorical questions
Prepare a series of rhetorical questions that relate to your topic and ask them all at once at the beginning.
3. Prepare an interesting quote
It should be brief, striking and preferably from the mouth of an important leader.
4. Surprise with a shocking statement
Submit a surprising statistic or other document that emphasises the seriousness of the topic.
5. Remember history
If there is a really interesting moment in the history of your topic, use that moment.
6. Encourage the audience to imagine something
The word “imagine” has very strong, emotional potential. So think about what your audience should imagine right at the start of your talk.
7. Use film “quotes”
Get inspiration from films (especially comedies) that are well-known and which people often quote in everyday life.
8. Make your audience curious
For example, try starting by saying that you would like to confess to something in your past. Describe a particular experience that you have learnt from and which is relevant to what you are going to be talking about.
9. Create your own quotation
Begin with a well-known quotation that you have adjusted to your experience.
10. Quote a proverb
Find an interesting proverb which your audience doesn't know. Proverbs from distance cultures are ideal.
11. Describe a hypothetical situation
Try starting a question with what would happen if...
12. Tell a story
Your audience will be far more interested in a story than a list of facts. But it should be a short story from life that contains a certain lesson.
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