The seventh and final step in preparation is to decide on the title. And titling a talk requires a different approach from titling a paper.

A title's function in a paper is twofold. The first is to identify the subject and address the major research finding. The second is to act as a reliable “magnet” for internet or other searches (such as Medline). The greater the number of pertinent words in the title, the more matches the search will produce. Consequently, a writer might be rewarded by making the title both lengthy and nearly exhaustive in its description of the paper's content.

When it comes to a presentation title, however, length and exhaustiveness are liabilities. This is mainly due to the fact that the “search mechanisms” associated with a talk are quite different. Presentation titles are most likely posted in a conference schedule, calendar, dedicated flyer or email. Under these circumstances, attendees assume that the title represents only the highlights of the subject, not its every facet. The title, therefore, should reflect only those highlights. The audience expects to hear the specifics in the talk itself.

A title for a talk also needs to attract attention, for the obvious reason that it usually competes with other presentations.