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Making Presentations People Want To See
by Megan Stansfield
More Business Skills Articles
Published on this site: November 15th, 2007- See
more articles from this month
Standards have risen sharply in recent years when it comes to
making intriguing presentations. The days of boring slides and
droning speakers are over. With the widespread use of PowerPoint
and the ease of making colorful, interesting slides with
movement and sound effects, it is expected that you will make a
fabulously engaging presentation whether it's in a classroom, a
boardroom, or at a trade show.
Here are some tips on how to make a terrific slide
presentation.
- First: Be prepared. Make sure you have a laptop, a projector,
and a projector cart ready to go. We recommend the Fusion Laptop
Projector Cart from Versatables. Many hotels, universities, and
businesses have one—so don't be afraid to ask if they do when
you're getting ready to make the presentation. The Fusion Laptop
Projector Cart allows for easy projection and control of the
laptop from one mobile unit. If they don't have one, you may
need to make other arrangements. If you aren't using your own
laptop, bring your presentation on a flash drive and email it to
yourself as well. Just in case the flash drive doesn't work,
you'll be able to access your email on the laptop (most places
now have Wi-Fi) and download it directly to the laptop you'll be
working from.
- Second: Bring handouts of your slides just in case. I know of a
woman who went to give a power point presentation and the
university's projector wasn't working. Luckily, she handed out
the handouts she brought and the show went on. She looked like a
star for being prepared when the university wasn't.
- Third: Don't overdo it. Too many graphics, too much color, and
too much sound can all negatively impact a presentation. You
want the means of the presentation to enhance the subject you're
presenting—not overpower it. Pick one color scheme and stick to
it. Avoid the swirling graphics and stick to simpler ones. Don't
include a million examples of clip art or decorative
photographs. As you create the slides, make sure the information
is presented in a clear, logical way. Then look at each
individual slide and ask if there is anything that could be
added to visually enhance the viewer's understanding of the
material. A chart? A graphic? A photo? If the answer is no,
don't include one. If it's yes, think long and hard about which
graphic achieves your goal of enhancing understanding before
adding it. The problem with many presentations is that they seem
amateurish because the presenter went overboard decorating
his/her presentation with graphics that distract more than they
enhance.
- Fourth: Pay attention to time. If you can convey the same
information in eight minutes instead of twelve, why wouldn't
you? Everyone's time is precious and attention spans are short.
If you're clear and concise about what you want to get across,
there may not be a need to give lots of convoluted information
and scenarios. Stick to one clear example that illustrates your
point and applies to the people you're presenting to.
Megan Stansfield: Does your business need computer wall mounts
http://www.versatables.com/pages/wallmountmain.php? Or wouldn't
it be great if your IT department had computer carts
http://www.versatables.com/pages/sittostandmain.php to setup new
employees. Visit Versatables.com today.
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