Is
your PowerPoint making its point?
Board meetings, tradeshows, conferences and sales
presentations wouldn’t be complete without them…each
with their own flashy backgrounds, whooshing sound bites and
analytical charts. But think about it: how many points do you
remember from the last PowerPoint presentation you saw? How many
points do you think were made with the last one you gave? Is
your PowerPoint getting your message across? It’s easy
to make the slides look nice, but delivering a knockout presentation
takes more. Here are five ways to help bring the house down at
your next meeting:
 1. Make them listen.
Do this not by making them read every word you are about to say, but
by keeping your slides brief and to the “point”. Use
your discussion to elaborate and engage your audience with details.
2. Remember
the Six-Shooter.
Use no more than six bullets per slide. Depending on how wordy you
are, even six can be pushing it, but just remember your most lethal
weapon is an outline of your presentation.
3. Show them the light at the end of the
tunnel.
Though it may seem like an insignificant gesture, telling your audience what
they’re in for can be a relief. A simple page number, including the total
number of slides (i.e. 2 of 18), allows the listener to relax, knowing that they
aren’t in for a 77-slide presentation. They may even pay better attention
to what you are saying.
4. A picture is
worth a thousand bites.
Adding images to a slide show can help illustrate important points,
BUT, choose wisely. Using ClipArt to fill space, instead of carefully
selected images, can detract from your message. Also, remember to
optimize pictures for use in PowerPoint. Using large, high-resolution
images can slow down your presentation and increase its overall file
size dramatically.
5. Less is more.
PowerPoint comes packed with WordArt, ClipArt, Sound bites and more.
This smorgasbord of creative options is tempting, but apply them
carefully. Arched, outlined or gradient lettering is hard to read
and can quickly become a distraction.
Business is challenging enough without worrying
about whether your colleagues, customers and members are getting
your message (or if you’re putting them to sleep). A successful
presentation can be the edge you need to stand out in a sea of so-so
slide shows.
* * *
w•inktips is published by Bremmer & Goris
Communications. Each issue is packed with information and useful
insights into marketing design and communications issues that
affect your business life.
© 2007 Bremmer
& Goris Communications. All rights reserved.
Bremmer & Goris Communications
creative thinking. effective campaigns.
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