Successful webinars depend on superb opening remarks, engaging content, and a strong close. Without a powerful closing remarks speech, the rest of the presentation could be easily forgotten.
Ending your webinar on a high note is key to keeping your audience engaged and leaving them wanting more.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- How to nail your closing remarks and leave a lasting impression
- Why delivering an impactful webinar closing remark speech is important
- Compiling tips to create closing remarks examples
Use Humor Judiciously
You’re killing it with your jokes, and you get your audience’s interest. But how do you know when to stop? When should you bring the humor and move on to your closing remarks?
Humor is a great way to engage your audience and keep them entertained up until the last part. But it’s noteworthy to use it wisely.
Too much humor can be overwhelming. And if you go too far, you risk alienating your audience or coming across as insensitive. But if you use it correctly, you can leave your participants with a positive impression of your talk.
So what’s the secret to nailing the right words and getting your audience laughing? Here are a few key steps:
- Know your audience. Understand who you’ll be speaking to and what kinds of jokes they’ll appreciate. What kind of humor do they have? What are they likely to find funny? If you’re unsure, ask around or research ahead of time.
- Keep it clean. Avoid offensive material that could alienate or offend members of your audience. Stick to safe, family-friendly humor if in doubt.
- Timing is everything. A well-timed joke can get a laugh even if it’s not particularly funny. And if you come across as trying too hard to be funny, it’s likely to fall flat. So pay attention to your presentation’s flow.
- Don’t force it. Don’t try to save a joke by forcing the audience to laugh if it falls flat. Move on gracefully and try again with the next one.
- Don’t overdo it. A few well-placed jokes can be great, but too much humor can quickly become tiresome.
- Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. Practice makes perfect. Ensure you’re comfortable with your material before delivering it to an audience.
Paint a Picture with Your Words
You know the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words?” Well, people will remember something if they visualize the many things you mentioned. This comes in handy when concluding your presentation since you don’t want them to forget what you just said.
But how do you “paint a picture” with your audience? It’s pretty simple— use analogies, metaphors, and similes.
| Figure of Speech | Function | Example |
| Analogies | When you compare two similar things but not necessarily the same. | For example, you could say, “My supervisor is like a drill sergeant,” or “That quiz was a piece of cake.” |
| Metaphors | When you say, one thing is another thing. | For example, “time is gold” or “love is a battleground.” |
| Similes | When you say, one thing is like another thing. | For example, “She talks like an angel” or “She works like a dog.” |
Here are some steps to make your audience visualize:
- When introducing a new topic, start with a brief description of the scene or setting. Doing so will help your audience understand the context of what you’re about to say.
- Use vivid language to describe people, places, and things. The more detail you can provide, the easier it will be for your audience to picture what you’re talking about.
- Compare unfamiliar concepts to something your audience already knows. This way, you’ll make it easier for them to understand what you’re trying to say.
- Provide examples wherever possible. Even just one example can be helpful in clarifying your final point.
- Don’t forget to wrap up your description with a brief conclusion. Doing so will help fill your audience with the main points of what you’ve said.
Build Rapport
How often have you given a presentation and felt connected with your participants? Or, how often do you have them tune out when you get to your concluding remarks? If so, it can be frustrating.
But by building rapport, you enhance your audience engagement with your sample closing remarks. Besides that, it’s one of the most important aspects of giving successful presentations.
One way to build rapport is by speaking on behalf of your audience. You can say, “I know that staying updated on social media and other latest developments in the industry can be overwhelming. But by the end of this webinar, you’ll have a clear plan for how to approach your social media marketing strategy.”
Another way is by highlighting presentation aspects relevant to your audience’s needs.
For example, if you’re giving a presentation on time management, say, “I know that we don’t have enough hours in the day. But by implementing the strategies I will share with you today, you’ll be able to take back control of your time.”
Here are some ways to build rapport:
- Attention. Pay attention to your audience at the beginning. Make eye contact and call their name.
- Mirroring. Mimic the person’s body language and vocal tone. Doing so will help them feel like you’re on the same page as them.
- Similarities. Find common ground with the person. Talk about interests or experiences you have in common.
Use Persuasive Language
You want to leave your audience with a positive feeling during closing remarks. One way to do this is by using persuasive language.
For example, you’re discussing the importance of investing in quality products. You can say, “I hope this helped you see the value of investing in quality over quantity.” Doing so will be more convincing than just saying, “invest in quality.”
By using persuasive language, you can make your closing statement more impactful. Or you can create an aura of hope and quality around your product. And it can be a powerful sign to potential customers that your product is worth investing in.
Finally, you can use persuasive language to create a sense of urgency. This act can be especially effective in situations where you need immediate results.
To persuade people to take action, you should:
- Use emphatic language. Use words that express strong emotions or convictions, like “absolutely,” “definitely,” or “without a doubt.”
- Use punchy language. These sentences are declarative. And they are more likely to stick in your audience’s mind than long, complex ones.
- Use repetition. Repeating key points or slogans can help to drive your point home.
- Use loaded words. These words evoke an emotional response, like “horrific,” “appalling,” or “unacceptable.”
- Use inclusive language. Use words that everyone can relate to, like “we,” “us,” and “our.”
Offer a Call-to-Action (CTA)
Just like a ceremony speech, a webinar presentation should have a call to action in the closing remarks. Doing so will give your audience something to do with your presented information.
For example, you’re giving a presentation on healthy eating habits. Then, you might end your closing remarks with a call to action to sign up for a local CSA or visit a farmers market.
But with so many options, how do you choose the best CTA for your sample closing remarks?
Here are a few ways to help you make a perfect choice:
- Think about what your audience wants to do. Do you want them to sign up on your website? Buy your product? Donate to your cause? Once you know what action you want them to take, start brainstorming CTAs to encourage them to do just that.
- Keep it simple. Your CTA should be easy to understand and remember. Avoid using technical jargon that your audience may not be familiar with.
- Make it specific. Vague CTAs like “learn more” or “join us” aren’t likely to inspire much action. Instead, use language that clearly states what you want your audience to do and ask for their continued support. For example, “buy our new product.”
Finally, no matter what CTA you choose, make sure that it is something that your audience remembers and can easily do.
Tell a Story
When making closing remarks, many people find it helpful to tell a story. A story can help drive home your main point or be a fun way to end your speech. Either way, a well-told story can be an effective way to make your closing phrases successful.
Of course, not every story will work for every situation. If you’re unsure what kind of story to tell, try to think of something relevant to your topic. Or say something that will resonate with your audience.
That said, here are a few steps that can help you decide which story to tell:
- Consider the intention of your webinar. Are you trying to inspire or motivate your audience? Make them laugh? Or provide some food for thought? The story you tell should align with the tone of the event.
- Think about your audience and their interests. Are the participants working as industry professionals? Avid readers? Movie lovers? Knowing your audience will help you choose the final words that will speak to them.
- Consider your connection to the story. Why is this particular story meaningful to you? Do you have a personal connection to the characters or the setting? Telling your own story will help add an extra layer of connection with your audience.
And don’t forget to practice ahead of time! Telling a story and public speaking can be tricky, and you’ll want to ensure you have all the details before you get up in front of everyone.
But if you put in the hard work, telling a story can be a great way to make your closing statements or remarks successful.
