I’ve always had a rather ambivalent attitude toward PowerPoint presentations. In spite of their advantages, lots of listeners continue to find them ponderous and archaic. I have just read a book by Cliff Atkinson, author of ‘Beyond Bullet Points’, who believes PowerPoint to be the software tool associated more with boredom than brilliance. Nevertheless, PowerPoint remains a cornerstone of contemporary education delivery. So, to keep your presentations interesting and your audience engaged, let’s see how YOU can avoid delivering Death by PowerPoint!
Think of each of your presentations as if it was a website.
Design the layout of your PowerPoint presentation just like a website. Everyone pays extraordinary attention to detail with every aspect of the branding on their website – your presentation should follow this same rule. Aesthetic concerns are of the utmost of importance, and your presentation should appear flawless and carefully designed. Utilise a theme running throughout the presentation, and refrain from using bright contrasting colours, as they will distract your audience from the information which you’re endeavouring to teach.
Stay away from the ClipArt!
Always use high grade graphics from top notch stock image sites to add a unique quality to your slides. There are lots of sites where you can purchase photos for as little as $1 each – a great investment! A few of my personal favourites are Stockxpert, Shutterstock and iStockPhoto, however there are quite a few others out there, so if you’re interested, do a search on Google for “Royalty Free Stock Photography”.
Less is More
Don’t crowd your slides with irrelevant text – make them succinct and uncomplicated. Sometimes actions speak louder than words. With PowerPoint, your main goal is to convey knowledge through words, images and flow charts. The presentation is a visual guide of what you’re dicussing – not something in place of the presenter. Even if it’s a simple line or quote, less is often more.
Use 3D
Give your diagrams added interest by making them 3D, and they will visually hold the viewers attention far more than flat, uninteresting diagrams. This works really well with pyramids, and it will make your objects leap off the page, instead of being static and boring.
And Finally… Don’t Over Animate
Going animation happy and overdoing the movement on your template is a definite no no. Having items whizzing in and out from all over the place, moving sideways and bouncing up and down – will only confuse people. Should you wish to employ animation in your presentations, stick to simple and stylish fading in and out. Leave the flying about to your favourite cartoon characters!
Follow these simple steps and your presentation should be a pleasure to watch, rather than an uncomfortable coffee break, and if you decide that all of this sounds like too much hassle – hire a virtual assistant to do it for you!
Michelle Dale is The Managing Director of Virtual Miss Friday, an Experienced Executive Virtual Assistant who collaborates with businesses and individuals with the sole aim of accomplishing their professional goals. Want to learn more about these comprehensive online business building success strategies? Join the Campaign for FREE Virtual Assistance right now!