Industry events are a chance to network with your peers and impress distributors—but to make the most of your time at a conference, you need to learn how to prepare a presentation that engages, informs and makes an impact.

I have presented at some of the most important real estate and property technology events in the country as the founder of ButterflyMX. Here are some tricks I've picked up along the way to wow any audience.

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1. To feel comfortable with the scene

I recommend taking a walk around the stage before your presentation. By becoming familiar with your surroundings, you can be better prepared.

And while on stage, a relaxed and comfortable presence goes a long way keeping your audience engaged. Whether you want to play your presentation casually or more formally, the audience can feel awkward, which prevents them from fully connecting with your message.

To project your sense of comfort, focus on your own body language. You can show confidence by speaking slowly and clearly and pacing the stage to hold the audience's attention — even if a podium or lectern is already set up on the stage.

Unfortunately, if a speaker lingers too long standing behind the podium, an audience may interpret this as a sign of indecision and inaction on the part of the speaker. Instead, you can remove any barriers between you and the audience by using the entire length of the stage.

2. Familiarity with industry statistics

An audience that doesn't know me might wonder why they should take my advice. I certainly don't blame them. When I watch a new presenter, I ask the same question.

If you can back up your claims with hard data, your presentation will ring true with listeners. You can cite industry-wide statistics or build your confidence by citing statistics that support your credibility in establishing your company's success.

In my case, I'm happy to use some statistics that prove how successful my company, ButterflyMX, is in the tech industry. For example, we service more than one million apartment units, and if you're interested in how consumers feel about us, look no further than the Internet – we have over 20,000 five star reviews!

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3. Knowing your audience

Depends on the who is your audienceyou will have to adjust your game plan and prepare for different things.

I've spoken at conferences where the audience couldn't be more diverse—a presentation that wows one crowd may not have information that's applicable to another. As the founder of a property technology company, I have the pleasure of speaking at a number of different conferences that serve different markets.

For example, integrators and installers may value a conversation about product features and hardware more than others. And if I'm presenting to an audience of property managers, I'll know to shut down the technical chatter and focus on the benefits a powerful video intercom provides, such as simplifying their day-to-day workloads.

Depending on your audience, you need to strike the right balance between talking about hardware specs and features.

4. Design your slides carefully

Slides are a great opportunity to share your company's aesthetic, tone, and values ​​— but you need to make sure you use them effectively.

A slide with a lot of text looks busy and will distract your audience and draw attention away from you. Instead, consider putting that information in your notes and saying it out loud. Slides should focus on one or two visual elements, such as bullet points, charts, and graphs.

Regarding actual design of your slides, you need to make sure you adhere to your company's branding guidelines. If you're not familiar with the concept, brand guidelines are a single governing document that includes important design concepts like colors and logos that your company has.

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5. Asking for audience participation

Asking for audience participation is the ultimate way to ensure that everyone is locked in and paying attention – but it's also a double-edged sword. You also need to be prepared in case asking the audience to participate doesn't necessarily go your way.

For example, you can generally ask if an audience has any questions at the end of your presentation. But you run the risk of facing a hostile, bad-faith question – or you may even be met with silence.

This is why I would recommend giving your audience questions and tasks that have a bit more structure. You can do things like ask for a show of hands, ask for specific anecdotes, or take a poll.

Polls have gotten a particularly high-tech upgrade lately—see if you can set up an electronic voting system that allows audience members to vote with their smartphones. Then, you'll be able to throw the results on the screen and watch them update in real time!

You should complete these interactive sections throughout your presentation to ensure that the audience is engaged throughout your speech.