The way you end a presentation can be just as important as how you start. A well-crafted ending can reinforce your key messages, inspire your audience and leave a lasting impression.

Whether it’s a client pitch, sharing results with your colleagues or introducing a new project, the final moments really count. From what to say at the end of a presentation to your last slide, discover practical tips for ending a presentation in style with Adobe Express.

Why is a presentation conclusion so important?

The end of a presentation plays a crucial role in how your message is remembered. Not only does it give you an opportunity to reinforce your key points, but your audience is also more likely to recall what you say and present at the end.

A strong closing also helps add clarity to your presentation. From pitching a product to sharing insights, you’re adding a sense of completion and hopefully inspiring people to take action. Here’s why your ending matters so much:

• It’s a chance to leave a lasting impression
• You get to reinforce your key messages
• It provides closure and clarity
• It gives you the chance to end on a high
• It’s an opportunity to introduce a call to action

8 effective ways to end your presentation.

Here are eight practical methods to end your presentation effectively. They’ll help you keep your audience engaged, bolster your message and leave a lasting impression.

1. Summarise your key points.

Briefly and succinctly recapping all your main points is a great way to drive your message home and make it clear to the audience. It lets you reinforce what’s important and offers a sense of completion. This is particularly important after you’ve been tackling a complex subject.

2. Echo the core message.

You can drill down even further and restate the central idea of your presentation at the end. It reminds your listeners what they’re here for and ensures they leave with your main topic fresh in their minds. Keep it short and sweet and think of it as your final headline.

3. Present a clear call to action.

A good call to action (CTA) tells your audience what you’d like them to do next. It might mean asking for more information or telling your team to apply the information they’ve learned to their work. No matter the type of presentation, keep it clear and actionable for maximum effect.

4. Use a powerful quote.

A well-chosen, relevant and inspiring quote can add depth, weight and even emotion to your presentation. It can lend authority to the ideas you’ve presented, reinforce key points and inspire your audience. Make it short, easy to remember and impactful.

5. Ask a rhetorical question.

Asking a rhetorical question at the end of your presentation can prompt reflection and engagement. This is particularly effective when the questions are linked to your key message and encourage discussion.

6. Tell a story or anecdote.

Sometimes it can be important to humanise your message and bring it into the real world – a story or anecdote can do just that. A relevant and personal tale can stimulate emotion or make what you’ve said relatable, especially when again linked to your core message.

7. Thank and acknowledge others.

A presentation isn’t just about itself, it’s also an opportunity to display professionalism and garner goodwill. You can boost that by thanking your audience for their time and acknowledging contributors to your work. This leaves things on a positive note and is a good way to wrap things up.

8. Maintain your stage presence to the very end.

How you project yourself at the end of a presentation is just as important as how you start. You need to ensure that you don’t rush your final words or trail off. Make a confident finish to help your message land by maintaining eye contact and speaking confidently.

What to put on your final presentation slide.

Your final slide should be designed to make a clear and lasting impression. It should have a clean, uncluttered design and focus on your key elements to reinforce what you’ve been saying and prompt a clear call to action.

Make a short summary of your main points to drive them home and, if necessary, add contact details if you want to invite the audience to follow up with you. Your call to action should be fuss-free, whether it’s to visit your website, read further materials or apply the lessons of the presentation.

Create a polished and professional final slide with ease with the Adobe Express free online presentation maker.

Finish your presentation with these editable slide ideas.

Examples of effective presentation conclusions.

Not sure how to bring everything together at the end of your presentation? Here are two example conclusions to show how a clear and confident close can leave a strong and lasting impression.

Professional scenario: “To summarise, our plan proposes a cost-effective and scalable solution that delivers clear benefits for long-term growth. It’s packed with potential and gives us the opportunity to move forward. Thank you for your time, I’m happy to answer any questions about what you’ve just heard.”

Inspirational scenario: “Today we’ve looked at how small daily habits can lead to big, long-term changes. With just five minutes of mindfulness or a quick entry in your journal, you’re remaining consistent in making progress. Small actions matter – so, what’s one small step you can take today to start changing your future?”

How can Adobe Express help you end your presentation powerfully?

Adobe Express offers a suite of intuitive tools and smart features to help you end your presentation powerfully:

Make the most of professional presentation templates.

Choose from a range of presentation templates that are specifically designed to deliver impactful conclusions. End your presentation with confidence with help from Adobe Express.

Align your slides to your brand.

Branding is important in professional presentations and can inspire confidence in your audience. Keep your presentation on-brand with a brand kit from Adobe Express. Align your sides to your brand in no time.

Collaborate with colleagues to get their feedback on your deck.

Want some feedback from colleagues ahead of your key presentation? Adobe Express’s collaboration tools mean you can easily share your deck and bounce ideas off colleagues. Then, use AI tools such as template suggestions or text effects to enhance your finished presentation.

Use the AI presentation maker to elevate your final slides.

The Adobe Express AI presentation maker can help you design high-impact closing slides with ease. Enter your topic or key points, and the AI will go to work generating on-brand slides that are visually engaging and tailored to your message.

It’s an ideal way to craft a compelling summary or an impactful call to action with minimal effort or design expertise required on your part. These tools can make sure your conclusion looks as strong as it sounds.

Try Adobe Express for free now

Good to know.

What should you say at the end of a professional presentation?

When you’re in professional settings, it’s a good idea to keep your closing remarks clear, confident and relatively formal. For example, “Thank you for your time, I’d be happy to answer any questions,” or “I look forward to further discussions about how we can move forward,” are professional but also set the scene for moving forward.

How long should your presentation conclusion be?

You should aim to spend about 5 to 10% of your total presentation time on the conclusion. So, for a 30 minute presentation, that’s 90 seconds to three minutes. It’s about being focused, so a 100 to 150 word conclusion, depending on the length of the presentation is ideal to wrap up your key points clearly without losing attention.

Is it good to end a presentation with a Q&A?

Some people like to end a presentation with a Q&A session, deeming it an interactive way to boost key points. But it might be a good idea to hold your Q&A before your final presentation summary so that you can ensure you have the last word.

Is Adobe Express free?

Yes, our free plan offers many core features including thousands of templates, photo editing and effects, animation, and 5 GB of storage. See our pricing page for details and to compare plans.