how to make your presentation stand out

12 PowerPoint design tips to make your presentations stand out!

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PowerPoint continues to be a mainstay in most organisations.

And for good reason! PowerPoint (PPT) presentations can be the secret weapon that turns a simple investment pitch, internal knowledge update, or sales deck into something no one can ignore.

There’s an almost endless number of ways to utilise a PPT presentation. But after decades of “death by PowerPoint”, your audience might be a little wary of watching them.

With that in mind, let’s look at how to create truly engaging presentations with 12 PPT design tips from the experts at Design Buffs .

12 PPT design tips for design-savvy businesses

Resist the allure of the ‘Dissolve’ transition and hold fire on that eighth bullet point. Just because PowerPoint has all the design features and capabilities you could need, that doesn’t mean you need to use them.

Follow these simple but effective PPT design tips, instead, and you’ll be delivering PowerPoint presentations that keep everyone engaged.

PPT Design Tip 1: Use text sparingly

The point of a PowerPoint is to power your presentation. It’s supposed to be a visual tool that supports what you’re saying. So why do so many people insist on packing their slides full of text?

The text you use in your presentation shouldn’t be exactly what you’re saying out loud. Use text to emphasise key points or provide further context to your speech at a glance.

PPT Design Tip 2: Follow the 6x6 rule

One of the most common problems we see on PPT presentations is an overwhelming amount of text — normally accompanied by the presenter reading out the very same words. That’s not what PowerPoint is for.

The rule of thumb for how much text to include per slide is what we call the 6x6 rule.

Slides should have no more than 6 lines of text, with no more than 6 words per line. This helps to reinforce your main points rather than distracting your audience by giving them a novel to read on the screen.

PPT Design Tip 3: Keep your text readable

This may seem like an obvious PPT design tip, but how many times have you been forced to watch a presentation backed with Papyrus and Jokerman fonts? Sure, it can add a little character to your presentation, but it’s far from professional.

Any text that does make it onto your presentation should be an appropriate size and font. We recommend around 32pt, sans serif fonts to ensure it’s easy to read for everyone. Use colour to pick out keywords and limit punctuation (yes, we mean no use (or overuse) of exclamation marks!).

PPT Design Tip 4: Make single points, not paragraphs

If your piece of text takes more than a couple of seconds to read, remove it. Because when your audience is busy reading, they aren’t listening to what you’re saying.

For your message to land, you need to keep your audience’s focus. So instead of paragraphs of text, use simple, single, sentences — and consider a bullet point format.

PPT Design Tip 5: Stick to the natural reading order

Most Western languages read from left to right.

You’re doing it as you skim-read this article right now!

So make sure your PPT design is empathetic to skimmers — put the most important words at the start of the sentence and display titles in a larger font, to the top left of your main text.

PPT Design Tip 6: Keep slide design simple

Pretty is good. Pretty looks appealing. But what makes a PowerPoint great or not is more about graphic design than illustration .

Consistency and clarity are key for a PowerPoint presentation. Create a simple design template and stick to that theme for each slide. This helps your audience to understand your presentation better as they can look in the same areas on each slide to receive information.

PPT Design Tip 7: Avoid too many special effects

PowerPoint is full of really cool features and special effects, but use too many and your impactful presentation quickly turns into a dated 80’s sitcom.

Treat special effects, like transitions and animations, as you would any other component of your slide deck. Use them sparingly — that way, when you do throw out a text fly-in or funky transition, it serves a real purpose.

PPT Design Tip 8: Use high-quality images

It’s time to ditch the clip art. We’ve all seen the built-in, cookie-cutter clip art images a million times by now. Not only are we tired of seeing them, but they offer next-to-no impact at all.

Any images you use in a presentation should be top quality. That means having relevant meaning and high enough resolution . If you’re unsure if an image you want to use will cut it, simply test the slide on the projector. Does it pixelate? If you remove the text from the slide, can the visual still carry the message? It’s better to be safe than sorry!

PPT Design Tip 9: Keep everything relevant

Speaking of relevance… a slideshow should be a tool that supports your main message. It’s a facilitation technique, and the design is not supposed to take centre stage.

As such, everything in your PowerPoint should be relevant to the points you’re trying to make. Each graphic, piece of text, transition and animation should reflect what you’re saying.

This will help keep your audience’s focus.

PPT Design Tip 10: Don’t be afraid of “empty” space

Just like silence in a conversation, too many people rush to fill empty space. In a PPT presentation, this results in a cluttered, confusing chart deck — one that totally detracts from the point you’re trying to make.

Try to leave at least a third of each chart empty. We dare you!

PPT Design Tip 11: Back off the colours

Less is also more when it comes to your colour palette.

Bright colours may grab attention, but too much can overwhelm your audience. And multicoloured text reduces readability, especially at a distance. Stick to dark text on a light background, or light text on a dark background, to ensure maximum readability.

Most companies will have specific design guidelines for their official documentation. This often indicates suitable colours for any B2B communication, including PowerPoint presentations.

PPT Design Tip 12: Speed up loading times with optimised images

Waiting for a slide to load is a sure-fire way of tanking your presentation flow.

Before you know it, you’re trying to fill the gap with small talk or a terrible joke. Not only is this incredibly awkward for everyone involved, but it can undermine your message.

It might be tempting to just drag-and-drop images into your PPT straight from your desktop or the web. But this simple method could also be your downfall, as the slideshow becomes clogged with too high-resolution images and large, heavy file sizes.

We recommend optimising your images to fit the presentation format you will be using. If you’re using an HD Projector, for example, you should compress your images to a HD setting of 330 PPI.

If you’re printing your slideshow to be passed around the audience, compressing the images to 220 PPI does the trick.

Ditch the guesswork and get your PowerPoints up to speed

If any of these PPT design tips flew over your head, don’t panic. Design Buffs offer support to B2B marketing and sales teams, no matter how big or small they may be.

We’ll take responsibility for font sizes, image optimisation and everything else so that you can stand up in front of your audience and get yourself heard .

Get in touch today to find out how .

Design Buffs is a Creative-as-a-Service solution that elevates and brings your brand to life with technology-enabled design solutions that meet the day-to-day needs of B2B teams worldwide.

Design Buffs is the only creative-as-a-subscription solution that tackles the day-to-day design needs of ambitious B2B teams globally, by providing access to creative talent supported by technology and amazing human beings, in an era where high quality design, speed, access, and convenience matters.

How to make your powerpoint presentation stand out

Do you want create effective, compelling slides for your Powerpoint presentation? Many people have been through too many presentations with info-loaded slides that don’t seem to stick.

Have you ever been in the back row of a class or seminar, and the presenter asks you to read something extremely small and long on the screen?

You’ve probably seen slides that are word clouds of rainbow colors mashed together, or perhaps a layout of misshapen images that are sprinkled all over.

These are very amateur errors you can avoid when you design your own.

There are simple ways to create a beautifully designed powerpoint and you do not need to be a professional designer!

Your next presentation can be an engaging presentation simply by reading this article!

We offer a few ways and simple tips on how to make a stunning powerpoint presentation today. In no time, you can learn how to use Powerpoint effectively and be in your best presentation mode.

Do you have any tricks and tips for creating engaging and interactive presentations? Comment below.

Powerpoint Presentation Tips:

Tell a story by planning your content out before you think of your visual elements

A great example of how content planning informs design is first coming up with a great title. For eg, if you are doing a presentation on increasing literacy for children in school, you could think of what major points you could make for your presentation and craft a title like “How to Fund for Middle Grade Fiction and Non-Fiction Books” versus something to broad like “Get Kids Reading”.

When you define like this, in this example, you can find middle grade children photos versus a wide range of children at different ages, and you can make the Powerpoint geared to finance and grant funding, so you may consider a template that looks like more like a business presentation than say a Powerpoint presentation that looks like it was meant for children.

Another great example is making a list of topics and editing it like you would a paper, so you can work on the flow before spending too much time on the design.

Establish a consistent layout or use your branding

Really, you can do a lot with one slide in seeing which colours, fonts and images work for you. But if you want to get in deeper, you can start with designing three slides: your title slide, a list slide and a slide with a blurb and photo.

Once you design these three, you can use the style for the Powerpoint, and keep it clean and consistent on any new slide you create.

You can even train your viewer with your slide design, and as long as a text box is properly aligned and you add images and crop images well, you do not need advanced techniques to make it look clean.

Align objects well together with proper white space, and your Powerpoint presentation will already look better than most out there.

Whether you workshop one slide or want to create a presentation template for your presentation, we will go step by step on how to create a simple template.

1. Use effective fonts for your presentation template

You can get a lot of using one main font and playing with its types: italic, light, regular, semi-bold, bold and extra bold, and you can also use size to create a hierarchy.

For instance, you can make all titles bold and size 44; all sub titles semi-bold and size 40; and the body font regular and size 30, and as long as the entire slide follows this order, things will look clean and consistent.

But if you would like variety, pick two fonts to use and do not use more than that. One font should be clean and readable, like Times New Roman, Arial or any font that is similar.

The other font can be a decorative font like a handwritten looking one or one that like Times or Arial but may be bolder or thin and spaced out more like Bebas Neue or Impact.

Whatever the theme is for your PowerPoint. You should still set a hierarchy like setting titles to size 44, sub titles to size 40, and body font to size 30 to keep the design consistent!

When You Should Use Animation

Like font, it is best if you only pick a few colours for your presentation.

You can use colour wheel theories. Primary colors in the RGB color wheel are the colors that, added together, create pure white light. Secondary colors are colors that result from mixing two primary colors. Tertiary colors are colors made by combining a secondary color with a primary color.

• Complementary - Two colors that are on opposite sides of the color wheel.
• Analogous - Three colors that are side by side on the color wheel.
• Triadic - Three colors that are evenly spaced on the color wheel.
• Tetradic - Four colors that are evenly spaced on the color wheel.

A sweet spot is about 1-3 colours.

Even the most creative themes have only a few colour.

Think of the most effective brands and what are their colour schemes?

Think of Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter – they have one key colour and maybe one or two more colours associated with them.

The most common trio in design is black, white and red.

This is because white is easy to read on and black offers the maximum amount of contrast as the text on white, and red is a great accent colour.

When picking colours, you could start with your branding colours or simply think which colours are readable.

Would white and teal work in terms of reading? Probably not. But a nice navy blue and white would. And if you choose an accent to navy and white, looking at a colour wheel would show you perhaps choosing yellow would be a nice compliment.

An engaging presentation relies on people being able to read it and for their eyes not to get distracted by too many colours in the powerpoint slides.

The last thing you want is your slide deck to look too gaudy and bright for your audience to read.

A way of thinking of colour and seeing its use in the real world is this: the next time you are in a cafe or fast-food restaurant, what colour and design are their menus? Menus have a detailed list of items but they’re very easy to use and very well designed in terms of colour and readability.

A photo or video is worth a thousand words in a presentation

A photo can illustrate a point or concept without words and within seconds, so use images to your advance.

You could use a free resource website like Unsplash to find photos for your presentation. There are also sites like Shutterstock, Freepik, Pexels and many more if you need free photo content. Shutterstock and Freepik also have premium options that allow you to source high quality content at your fingertips.

Here are some general tips for photo usage:

Use images that supplement your point and not generic ones - think deeply about the message being conveyed in the image you select, when you crop your images, make that crop consistent wherever you can. will you use a square photo, a top banner or left banner try to use it a few times, even if there are slides that vary the shape and size in between., could the slide be an entire image with a few words or no words, if the image conveys what you are saying perfectly, consider using the image as a background, with a black or white overlay on it with a minimal amount of words as stand out slides., also consider colour scheme or style of images. keeping the same tone can help the visual look., downsize the photos if you can - it will help if your powerpoint is running slow..

You could also use an animated gif or animate the images to appear one by one if you are presenting something that needs to be shown in steps.

You could also use something like a youtube video to convey an infographic or something that is lengthy to explain.

Whether you create your own video content or use content from sites like Youtube, they can be embedded into the Powerpoint and can convey complex messages in minutes.

This is great referential content to help you illustrate points that may take too long to convey without a visual.

You can have the video play as a full screen object, or you can have fun and put a graphic of a screen or maybe use a shape to play your video in.

Pay attention to white space in your presentations

One simple technique is to pay attention to white space in your powerpoint presentations. This is probably the most important of our powerpoint presentation tips.

White space is the area between design elements. It can be any color, texture, pattern, or even a background image.

In your presentation slides, make sure there is enough breathing space between images and text; that the reading order works with the design.

If an audience is reading left to right, would an image on the top or bottom stand out as they’re reading?

Try playing with placements. If you have an image of person staring off to left or right, it could be fun to try to place the text to the sight line.

Even if you were to use powerpoint templates, the first thing you’ll notice is that most of them will have a quarter to half an inch of space around all elements.

Consider consistently adding this padding space to your Powerpoint presentations.

Another great tip for your presentation slides is using size 30. This helps the text always be readable and consistent across all slides.

It is hard for people to read something smaller at a distance, so it should not be lower than that.

You may be wondering how you can use such a big size if you have lots of information, but see the following tips.

You should not be packing your powerpoint presentation with too much information to begin with.

No Sentences!

And even worse, if you have someone who cannot read your slides from a distance due to eyesight, they’re immediately excluded from a paragraph slide.

That type of information should be coming from you, or consider using an audience handout if something long and complex needs to be conveyed.

6x6 Rule in your presentation

Utilize geometric shapes in your presentation

Lastly, you can use shapes to your advantage as a visual aid or talking points in your presentation.

You can highlight a key piece of information in a coloured box off to the side in your presentation.

You can use a transparent black box over an image to overlay a quote and make it more readable.

Shapes should be an accent throughout in your presentation, to draw attention to key bits of information, quotes and stats.

Animations and transitions: keep your presentation simple

Though there are many powerpoint tricks out there, engaging presentations do not necessarily need a thousand animations and transitions.

Having your list lines appear one-by-one, or your slides appear with a simple fade can do wonders.

While it is nice to use something exciting like a burst of stars or a flip animation, you should save those for slides with exciting content but not all of them.

The animation and transition functions of PowerPoint should supplement your talking points and not take away from them.

During your presentation, ask questions and be present

When you're in presenter view, you can see your powerpoint notes, what's coming up next and the time you've spent in your presentation.

This is very helpful because you can see if you’re spending too long one slide, or if you’ve missed a point in your notes. The presenter view deck is an invaluable tool in quantifying how you perform your presentation.

However, you do not want it to distract from your presentation.

Practice until the Powerpoint is memorized in your head.

Before your presentation, you can talk to your audience members and see why they've come to hear you speak., an engaging powerpoint presentation requires both stunning visual design and the person behind it to be fully present in their delivery., use a presentation template.

There is also nothing wrong with using a powerpoint presentation template for your slide deck.

What if you just want to work on your performance and not the presentation design? Maybe you’re feeling more nervous and need to work through the public speaking component of it, which is a reality for many people.

Or, maybe you have multiple slides that would be too time consuming to have unique slide designs in your presentation.

For example, maybe you are creating educational documents or HR documents for your organization and doing one for each policy would take you several weeks had you done it by hand for all of them.

If this is the case, you may be wondering where can you find a powerpoint presentation template for your next slide deck?

There are plenty of free presentation resources out there where you can create presentation slides in seconds.

Free template sites:.

Canva is an easy to use design software that is free and also specializes in other designs besides slides. You can create effortless graphic design pieces in seconds with Canva.

Canva has thousands of customizable templates, which allows for team collaboration and a powerful presentation experience to impress any audience. Their editors can be used on web, mobile and desktop.

There are Powerpoint templates here that are free, and more quality ones with a Freepik license.

However, Freepik is geared towards those with some design knowledge.

They offer template images in which you will have to manipulate them in some kind of editing software like Adobe.

If you have this skill set, the quality of image templates here are quite polished, so this could be an essential tool in your arsenal.

SlidesGo is a great tool if you’re using Google Slides, and offers many free resources.

SlidesGo is actually a part of Freepik, and the side that offers the editable templates.

If you have a license for Freepik, consider utilizing SlidesGo as part of your subscription.

Slides Carnival

SlidesMania

SlideModel boasts 30,000+ PowerPoint Templates.

They are all download ready-made slides & 100% editable templates for your presentations.

There's also plenty of built in themes in Microsoft Powerpoint, Google Slides, and any other presentation software.

A powerpoint template can be a useful place to start in order to learn how to presentation design and change objects in powerpoint as well..

A Powerpoint presentation template is not only a learning tool but a time saving one too!

And if you purchase one, it is a small investment in that time save for future presentations.

You do not necessarily need a different looking template each time you present. If you establish one style, that can be your own brand and a way to build familiarity with your content.

And you can still create engaging and interactive presentations by using templates – like our points above, the major component of the presentation is you after all!

However you create slides only lends to your spectacular presentation!

If you need professional presentation help, you can contact the Presentation Geeks!

We believe everyone deserves a beautiful & professionally designed presentation..

In whatever job we had, we were always the go-to guys to help make the boss’ presentation look good.

We quickly realized that successful professionals are busy; their time is valuable.

It simply doesn’t make sense for them to dump hour upon hour into keeping up with design trends and learning the latest features of complex software.

They are experts at what they do, and we are experts at what we do.

And this was the birth of Presentation Geeks. A service designed for the professional who understands their time is valuable, and their expertise may not necessarily lie in design and digital manipulation.

Remember those Geeks in high school who you could get to do your homework and they always did an amazing job? Well, we grew up. And now we’re here to make you a star for your next presentation.

You’re a busy professional. Your time is too valuable to be wasted staring at a screen trying to figure out how to make your story visual.

Ultimately we understand how important your presentations are to your business life.

Whether it be a delivery to the board, a sales pitch, a medical presentation, or a company digital display, your presentation goes hand in hand with you. Contact us or feel free to ask us questions here .

Author:  Content Team

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17 PowerPoint Presentation Tips From Pro Presenters [+ Templates]

Published: April 26, 2024

PowerPoint presentations can be professional, attractive, and really help your audience remember your message.

If you don’t have much experience, that’s okay — I’m going to arm you with PowerPoint design tips from pro presenters, the steps you need to build an engaging deck, and templates to help you nail great slide design.

Download Now

Buckle up for a variety of step-by-step explanations as well as tips and tricks to help you start mastering this program. There are additional resources woven in, and you’ll find expert perspectives from other HubSpotters along the way.

Table of Contents

How to Make a PowerPoint Presentation

Powerpoint presentation tips.

Microsoft PowerPoint is like a test of basic professional skills, and each PowerPoint is basically a presentation made of multiple slides.

Successful PowerPoints depend on three main factors: your command of PowerPoint's design tools, your attention to presentation processes, and being consistent with your style.

Keep those in mind as we jump into PowerPoint's capabilities.

Getting Started

1. open powerpoint and click ‘new.’.

A page with templates will usually open automatically, but if not, go to the top left pane of your screen and click New . If you’ve already created a presentation, select Open and then double-click the icon to open the existing file.

10 Free PowerPoint Templates

Download ten free PowerPoint templates for a better presentation.

• Creative templates.
• Data-driven templates.
• Professional templates.

You're all set!

Click this link to access this resource at any time.

Creating PowerPoint Slides

3. insert a slide..

Insert a new slide by clicking on the Home tab and then the New Slide button. Consider what content you want to put on the slide, including heading, text, and imagery.

• Finally, PowerPoint Live is a new tool that enables you to do more seamless presentations during video calls and may be a better overall match for doing presentations remotely. Check out this video:

11. Try Using GIFs.

12 Free Customizable Resume Templates

Fill out this form to access your free professionally-designed templates, available on:

• Microsoft Word
• Google Docs
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Google Slides

15. Embed multimedia.

PowerPoint allows you to either link to video/audio files externally or to embed the media directly in your presentation. For PCs, two great reasons for embedding are:

• Embedding allows you to play media directly in your presentation. It will look much more professional than switching between windows.
• Embedding also means that the file stays within the PowerPoint presentation, so it should play normally without extra work (except on a Mac).

If you use PowerPoint for Mac it gets a bit complicated, but it can be done:

• Always bring the video and/or audio file with you in the same folder as the PowerPoint presentation.
• Only insert video or audio files once the presentation and the containing folder have been saved on a portable drive in their permanent folder.
• If the presentation will be played on a Windows computer, then Mac users need to make sure their multimedia files are in WMV format.
• Consider using the same operating system for designing and presenting, no matter what.

16. Bring your own hardware.

Between operating systems, PowerPoint is still a bit jumpy. Even between differing PPT versions, things can change. The easiest fix? Just bring along your own laptop when you're presenting.

The next easiest fix is to upload your PowerPoint presentation into Google Slides as a backup option — just make sure there is a good internet connection and a browser available where you plan to present.

Google Slides is a cloud-based presentation software that will show up the same way on all operating systems.

To import your PowerPoint presentation into Google Slides:

• Navigate to slides.google.com . Make sure you’re signed in to a Google account (preferably your own).
• Under Start a new presentation , click the empty box with a plus sign. This will open up a blank presentation.
• Go to File , then Import slides .
• A dialog box will come up. Tap Upload.
• Click Select a file from your device .
• Select your presentation and click Open .
• Select the slides you’d like to import. If you want to import all of them, click All in the upper right-hand corner of the dialog box.
• Click Import slides.

When I tested this out, Google Slides imported everything perfectly, including a shape whose points I had manipulated. This is a good backup option to have if you’ll be presenting across different operating systems.

17. Use Presenter View.

In most presentation situations, there will be both a presenter’s screen and the main projected display for your presentation.

PowerPoint has a great tool called Presenter View, which can be found in the Slide Show tab of PowerPoint. Included in the Presenter View is an area for notes, a timer/clock, and a presentation display.

For many presenters, this tool can help unify their spoken presentation and their visual aid. You never want to make the PowerPoint seem like a stack of notes that you’re reading off of.

Use the Presenter View option to help create a more natural presentation.

Pro Tip: At the start of the presentation, you should also hit CTRL + H to make the cursor disappear. Hitting the “A” key will bring it back if you need it.

Your Next Great PowerPoint Presentation Starts Here

Now that you have these style, design, and presentation tips under your belt, you should feel confident to create your PowerPoint presentation.

But if you can explore other resources to make sure your content hits the mark. After all, you need a strong presentation to land your point and make an impression.

With several templates to choose from — both in PowerPoint and available for free download — you can swiftly be on your way to creating presentations that wow your audiences.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in September 2013 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

Don't forget to share this post!

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Ace the Presentation

Want to Stand Out? 15 Key Tips for an Awesome Presentation

• Connect with your audience
• Know your audience
• Show that you’re passionate 
• Remember Slideshow rules
• Keep it simple
• Focus on Word Strength
• Start Strong
• Finish Stronger
• Make eye contact
• Use your body language
• Use your voice
• Tell a story

Related Article:

15 Ways to Make a Speech UNIQUE, Memorable, and Inspiring

10 Public Speaking tips for Beginners

9 Qualities of a Great Presenter

The Art Of Delivering An Awesome Presentation and Stand Out!

• Always Keep Your Audience In Mind

Even if you’re not a seasoned presenter or public speaker, you can deliver a great presentation with a bit of work. The most important thing for any good presenter is to know their audience and to try and connect with them. 

For example, if you’re giving a presentation to a grade school class it should look very different from a presentation in the boardroom of a Fortune 500 company, even if the material is the exact same.

Many presenters get so caught up in what they are presenting, they forget the most important thing is who they are presenting to. 

The very first step, before you start thinking about what you’re going to say or show is to make sure you know the audience that will be receiving the information.

Spend some time researching your audience and their interests, make note of current trends or influences that matter to them.

For the grade-school class, it might be a TV show or book, for the boardroom, it could be an interest in green initiatives or cost-saving measures. 

Related Article: 10 Tips on How to conduct an Audience Analysis

You will not be able to connect to an audience if you don’t know them. You don’t need to know each one directly of course, but getting a general idea of what they are interested in, what matters to them, and how that relates to your topic will make you stand out in their minds and they will be more willing to hear what you have to say.

• Be Passionate About What You’re Presenting

This might seem like a no-brainer but you’d be surprised how many disinterested presenters there are. Worse, presenters who fake passion.

It can be hard to be yourself when you’re nervous, but if you’re honest and enthusiastic your audience will respond.

• Keep It Simple And Remember Slideshow Rules

Concentrating on the core message of your presentation is the best way to get your point across without oversaturating your presentation with needless information. This is what we mean by Word Power. 

Try and define a maximum of three points you want your audience to walk away remembering and don’t stray too far from the key message. Think about what your elevator pitch on the topic would be, a succinct 30-second summary that would make sense to a stranger being introduced to the topic for the first time, and keep that at the core of your presentation.

The best definition of the “slideshow rule” is the 10-20-30 metric. This metric states that a successful slideshow should contain no more than 10 slides, last no more than 20 minutes, and use a font size no smaller than 30 points.

The point of this rule is to keep the viewer engaged and to stop the presenter from overloading an audience with unnecessary information.

The 30 point rule is also important to stop presenters from trying to cram too much information onto a single slide, which is one of the easiest ways to lose an audience.

During a presentation, slides should be useless without the presenter. It is always better to have less information on a slide and to elaborate directly to the audience than it is to leave them reading off a projector.

If you think more information needs to be delivered in a visual format, create handouts, and give them to your audience after your presentation. 

• Start Strong And Finish Even Stronger

The beginning and end of a presentation are the most important parts of the entire thing. If you can start strong and grab your audience’s attention, your presentation will go a lot smoother.

Related Articles:

10 Awesome Tips to Start a Presentation with a BANG!

It is nearly impossible to get an audience back once they switch off, so give yourself a few minutes of grace time at the start to entertain them. Starting with a joke, an image that grabs attention on a slide or a story is the best way to do this.

If you’ve failed to execute this perfectly and you feel audience interest dipping, don’t panic. As long as you finish strong you’ll still be memorable even if the beginning wasn’t what you hoped for. The last few minutes with an audience are crucial, leaving a good impression is just as important as striking a good first impression and sometimes even more so. The end of a presentation often sticks in the brain more than the beginning of one, so close strong and leave your audience with a good lasting impression.

• Your Body Is The Most Important Prop On The Stage

Even if you’ve written a great speech and put together slides, props, or whatever else to make your presentation stand out, it will flop if the presenter is not engaging. Connecting with your audience is more than just knowing what they are interested in while researching and putting your presentation together. It also means smiling and making eye contact while you’re delivering the presentation itself. 

One big mistake many presenters make is letting the room be so dark only their slides can be seen. You need to make sure your audience can see you as well as your slides.

Body language comes in here as well. As an example, if you’re crossing your arms you’re sending a closed-off message to your audience. How are you going to expect to connect with them if your body language is sending the opposite message? Try to stay relaxed, keep your shoulders away from your ears, and don’t cross your arms. 

Also, pay attention to what your hands are doing, an audience will feel much more comfortable with a hand talker than someone who keeps their hands in their pockets or behind their backs. As for movement, as long as you’re not pacing the stage like a caged animal a bit of casual walking is fine. 

Related Article: 11 Best Body Language Tips for Engaging Presentations

If you’re an extremely nervous speaker, address it. An audience will be much more forgiving to a presenter who apologizes for their discomfort than one who lets that nervous energy take over the tone of a presentation with no explanation.

It’s always better for an audience to know you’re nervous than to interpret your nervous actions as hostility or disinterest.

• Use Your Voice And Tell A Story

When listening to a great storyteller you will probably notice they don’t speak in the same volume or tone for the entire story. The most effective presenters are ones who incorporate storytelling into their presentations using the same principles. Varying your pace and emphasizing important parts of your presentation by changing your pitch or tone will make your voice more interesting and hold the interest of your audience.

Related Article: 8 tips for Mastering Great Storytelling

Above, we mentioned one of the best ways to start strong is to tell a story, and that is very true. Additionally, though, your entire presentation should unfold like a story. Strong presentations have a clear beginning, middle, and end as well as a core point, like the moral of a story.

Some of the best presenters will even call back to their opening story in a way that is relevant to the topic at the end of the presentation to give a feeling of cohesion.

• Practice, Prepare and Relax

Naturally, you’ll be a better presenter if you can relax and have fun with your audience. For some people, this is second nature, but if you’re someone who gets stressed or nervous about presenting it takes a bit more work.

You’ll be your most relaxed if you’re confident in what you’re doing. Making sure that you feel prepared and ready will help you relax, and after practicing your presentation a few times you’ll probably start feeling pretty good about it. The worst thing you can do if you’re nervous about presenting is to go in unprepared. 

The good news is if you’ve made it this far you’re well on your way to delivering an awesome presentation and you know exactly what you need to do to knock it out of the park.

There are many of us who want to nail that presentation, ace that interview, close that sales deal, or sell that amazing idea to our audience and get more supporters to our cause, however, we fail miserably due to not getting the basics right.

I truly hope you can get the presentation tips listed in this post, as well as go in-depth in the related articles proposed and master each skill at a time. Your Audience will thank you for it!

Good Luck and Keep inspiring!

References and Further Reading

https://www.robertwaltersgroup.com/news/expert-insight/careers-blog/7-tips-for-a-stand-out-interview-presentation.html

https://www.beautiful.ai/blog/present-beautifully-a-5-step-guide-to-standout-presentations

17 Killer Presentations Tips for Students Who Want to Stand out

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Home Blog Presentation Ideas 23 PowerPoint Presentation Tips for Creating Engaging and Interactive Presentations

23 PowerPoint Presentation Tips for Creating Engaging and Interactive Presentations

PowerPoint presentations are not usually known for being engaging or interactive. That’s often because most people treat their slides as if they are notes to read off  and not a tool to help empower their message.

Your presentation slides are there to help bring to life the story you are telling. They are there to provide visuals and empower your speech.

So how do you go about avoiding a presentation “snoozefest” and instead ensure you have an engaging and interactive presentation?  By making sure that you use your slides to help YOU tell your story, instead of using them as note cards to read off of.

The key thing to remember is that your presentation is there to compliment your speech, not be its focus.

In this article, we will review several presentation tips and tricks on how to become a storytelling powerhouse by building a powerful and engaging PowerPoint presentation.

Start with writing your speech outline, not with putting together slides

Use more images and less text, use high-quality images, keep the focus on you and your presentation, not the powerpoint, your presentation should be legible from anywhere in the room, use a consistent presentation design, one topic per slide, avoid information overwhelm by using the “rule of three”.

• Display one bullet at a time

Avoid unnecessary animations

• Only add content that supports your main points

Do not use PowerPoint as a teleprompter

• Never Give Out Copies of the Presentation

Re-focus the attention on you by fading into blackness

Change the tone of your voice when presenting, host an expert discussion panel, ask questions, embed videos, use live polling to get instant feedback and engage the audience.

• He kept his slides uncluttered and always strived for simplicity
• He was known to use large font size, the bigger, the better.
• He found made the complex sound simple.

He was known to practice, practice, and keep on practicing.

Summary – how to make your presentation engaging & interactive, fundamental rules to build powerful & engaging presentation slides.

Before we go into tips and tricks on how to add flair to your presentations and create effective presentations, it’s essential to get the fundamentals of your presentation right.

Your PowerPoint presentation is there to compliment your message, and the story you are telling. Before you can even put together slides, you need to identify the goal of your speech, and the key takeaways you want your audience to remember.

YOU and your speech are the focus of this presentation, not the slides – use your PowerPoint to complement your story.

Keep in mind that your slides are there to add to your speech, not distract from it.  Using too much text in your slides can be distracting and confusing to your audience. Instead, use a relevant picture with minimal text, “A picture is worth a thousand words.”

This slide is not unusual, but is not a visual aid, it is more like an “eye chart”.

Aim for something simpler, easy to remember and concise, like the slides below.

Keep in mind your audience when designing your presentation, their background and aesthetics sense. You will want to avoid the default clip art and cheesy graphics on your slides.

While presenting make sure to control the presentation and the room by walking around, drawing attention to you and what you are saying.  You should occasionally stand still when referencing a slide, but never turn your back to your audience to read your slide.

You and your speech are the presentations; the slides are just there to aid you.

Most season presenters don’t use anything less than twenty-eight point font size, and even Steve Jobs was known to use nothing smaller than forty-point text fonts.

If you can’t comfortably fit all the text on your slide using 28 font size than you’re trying to say and cram too much into the slide, remember tip #1.4 – Use relevant images instead and accompany it with bullets.

Best Practice PowerPoint Presentation Tips

The job of your presentation is to help convey information as efficiently and clearly as possible. By keeping the theme and design consistent, you’re allowing the information and pictures to stand out.

However, by varying the design from slide to slide, you will be causing confusion and distraction from the focus, which is you and the information to be conveyed on the slide.

Technology can also help us in creating a consistent presentation design just by picking a topic and selecting a sample template style. This is possible thanks to the SlideModel’s AI slideshow maker .

Each slide should try to represent one topic or talking point. The goal is to keep the attention focused on your speech, and by using one slide per talking point, you make it easy for you to prepare, as well as easy for your audience to follow along with your speech.

Sometimes when creating our presentation, we can often get in our heads and try to over-explain. A simple way to avoid this is to follow the “ Rule of Three ,” a concept coined by the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle.

The idea is to stick to only 3 main ideas that will help deliver your point.  Each of the ideas can be further broken into 3 parts to explain further. The best modern example of this “Rule of Three” can be derived from the great Apple presentations given by Steve Jobs – they were always structured around the “Rule of Three.”

Display one sentence at a time

If you are planning to include text in your slides, try to avoid bullet lists, and use one slide per sentence. Be short and concise. This best practice focuses on the idea that simple messages are easy to retain in memory. Also, each slide can follow your storytelling path, introducing the audience to each concept while you speak, instead of listing everything beforehand.

Presentation Blunders To Avoid

In reality, there is no need for animations or transitions in your slides.

It’s great to know how to turn your text into fires or how to create a transition with sparkle effects, but the reality is the focus should be on the message. Using basic or no transitions lets the content of your presentation stand out, rather than the graphics.

If you plan to use animations, make sure to use modern and professional animations that helps the audience follow the story you are telling, for example when explaining time series or changing events over time.

Only add engaging content that supports your main points

You might have a great chart, picture or even phrase you want to add, but when creating every slide, it’s crucial to ask yourself the following question.

“Does this slide help support my main point?”

If the answer is no, then remove it.  Remember, less is more.

A common crutch for rookie presenters is to use slides as their teleprompter.

First of all, you shouldn’t have that much text on your slides. If you have to read off something, prepare some index cards that fit in your hand but at all costs do not turn your back on your audience and read off of your PowerPoint.  The moment you do that, you make the presentation the focus, and lose the audience as the presenter.

Avoid Giving Out Copies of the Presentation

At least not before you deliver a killer presentation; providing copies of your presentation gives your audience a possible distraction where they can flip through the copy and ignore what you are saying.

It’s also easy for them to take your slides out of context without understanding the meaning behind each slide.  It’s OK to give a copy of the presentation, but generally it is better to give the copies AFTER you have delivered your speech. If you decide to share a copy of your presentation, the best way to do it is by  generating a QR code  for it and placing it at the end of your presentation. Those who want a copy can simply scan and download it onto their phones.

Tips To Making Your Presentation More Engaging

The point of your presentation is to help deliver a message.

When expanding on a particularly important topic that requires a lengthy explanation it’s best to fade the slide into black.  This removes any distraction from the screen and re-focuses it on you, the present speaker. Some presentation devices have a built-in black screen button, but if they don’t, you can always prepare for this by adding a black side to your presentation at the right moment.

“It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it.”

Part of making your presentation engaging is to use all the tools at your disposal to get your point across. Changing the inflection and tone of your voice as you present helps make the content and the points more memorable and engaging.

One easy and powerful way to make your presentation interactive is experts to discuss a particular topic during your presentation. This helps create a more engaging presentation and gives you the ability to facilitate and lead a discussion around your topic.

It’s best to prepare some questions for your panel but to also field questions from the audience in a question and answer format.

How To Make Your Presentation More Interactive

What happens if I ask you to think about a pink elephant?  You probably briefly think about a pink elephant, right?

Asking questions when presenting helps engage the audience, and arouse interest and curiosity.  It also has the added benefit of making people pay closer attention, in case they get called on.

So don’t be afraid to ask questions, even if rhetorical; asking a question engages a different part of our brain. It causes us to reflect rather than merely take in the information one way. So ask many of them.

Asking questions can also be an excellent way to build suspense for the next slide.

(Steve Jobs was known to ask questions during his presentations, in this slide he built suspense by asking the audience “Is there space for a device between a cell phone and a laptop?” before revealing the iPad) Source: MacWorld SF 2018

Remember the point of your presentation is to get a message across and although you are the presenter, it is completely fine to use video in your PowerPoint to enhance your presentation.  A relevant video can give you some breathing time to prepare the next slides while equally informing the audience on a particular point.

CAUTION: Be sure to test the video beforehand, and that your audience can hear it in the room.

A trending engagement tool among presenters is to use a live polling tool to allow the audience to participate and collect immediate feedback.

Using a live polling tool is a fun and interactive way to engage your audience in real-time and allow them to participate in part of your presentation.

Google Slides has a built-in Q&A feature that allows presenters to make the slide deck more interactive by providing answers to the audience’s questions. By using the Q&A feature in Google Slides, presenters can start a live Q&A session and people can ask questions directly from their devices including mobile and smartphones.

Key Takeaways from one of the best presenters, Steve Jobs

He kept his slides uncluttered and always strove for simplicity.

In this slide, you can easily see he is talking about the battery life, and it uses a simple image and a few words. Learning from Jobs, you can also make a great presentation too. Focus on the core benefit of your product and incorporate great visuals.

Source: Macworld 2008

SlideModel.com can help to reproduce high-impact slides like these, keeping your audience engagement.

He was known to use large font sizes, the bigger, the better

A big font makes it hard to miss the message on the slide, and allows the audience to focus on the presenter while clearing the understanding what the point of the slide is.

He found made the complex sound simple

When explaining a list of features, he used a simple image and lines or simple tables to provide visual cues to his talking points.

(This particular slide is referencing the iMac features)

What made Steve Jobs the master of presentation, was the ritual of practicing with his team, and this is simple yet often overlooked by many presenters.  It’s easy to get caught in the trap of thinking you don’t need to practice because you know the material so well.

While all these tips will help you create a truly powerful presentation , it can only achieve if applied correctly.

It’s important to remember when trying to deliver an amazing experience, you should be thoroughly prepared. This way, you can elevate your content presentation, convey your message effectively and captivate your audience.

This includes having your research cited, your presentation rehearsed.  Don’t just rehearse your slides, also take time to practice your delivery, and your tone.  The more you rehearse, the more relaxed you will be when delivering. The more confident you will feel.

While we can’t help you with the practice of your next presentation, we can help you by making sure you look good, and that you have a great design and cohesiveness.

You focus on the message and content; we’ll focus on making you look good.

Have a tip you would like to include?  Be sure to mention it in the comments!

Like this article? Please share

Audience, Engaging, Feedback, Interactive, Poll, Rule of Three, Steve Jobs Filed under Presentation Ideas

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2 Responses to “23 PowerPoint Presentation Tips for Creating Engaging and Interactive Presentations”

Very great advices!

Greetings ! A compact composed communication for the host to have an impact -VOICE

Thank You ?

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16 presentation tips to help you to stand out from the crowd

Jun 10, 2018 by maurice decastro in leadership , presentation skills , presentation tips.

Would you like to stand out from the crowd as a presenter?

Cast your mind back to the last business presentation you sat through.

Did the speaker drone on and on telling you things that had little relevance or value to you?

Did they capture and maintain your attention, interest and curiosity throughout their presentation? In other words, did they stand out from the crowd?

If your experience was more of the former description please don’t scorn them; it’s not their fault.

Is it hard to stand out from the crowd when presenting?

It takes time, consciousness and a little creativity to connect emotionally as well as intellectually with any audience. If you are prepared to change your thinking and habits it becomes much easier to stand out.

The world is changing at lightning speed and many professionals are still presenting they way we did decades ago.

“In times of change, learners inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.” ―Eric Hoffer

The old rules

– Bid your audience good morning. Thank them for coming to listen to you, tell them your name, position and  how many offices you have.

Tell them how long you’ve been around, how many widgets you make and how wonderful you are.

– Show them a 8 point agenda on your first slide and then read it.

– Start speaking the moment you leave your seat, rather than standing still, pausing, breathing and smiling.

– Don’t be yourself; be the corporate spokesperson and sound like everyone else in your business. Be as serious as you can and whatever you do don’t smile.

– Turn your back to your audience to use your slides as a script and read them.

– Saturate your slides with text and data.

– Take at least twice as long to say what you really need to.

– Have your logo on every slide.

– Use as many clip art images as you can.

– Animate your slides and make sounds that your audience haven’t experienced before.

– Tell them you’re going to bore them, then bore them and conclude by reminding them how much you’ve just bored them.

The new rules

Whether you work in finance or pharmaceuticals, are the CEO or caretaker, you can be certain that your audience want something different from you.

Here are 16 presentation tips to help you  to stand out from the crowd:

1. set a clear intention.

Long before you open your laptop to prepare your presentation, ask yourself how you want your audience to feel when you finish speaking. Informed and engaged isn’t enough.

Create a strong emotional intention and craft your entire presentation around that feeling.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Maya Angelou

2. Focus on connecting rather than performing

To stand out from the crowd you have to accept the fact that you will be judged. Accepting that premise means you have to remember that your presentation is not about you. It’s about making a tangible difference to the lives of your audience. An ego based presentation will serve neither of you well.

Focus on connecting with your audience rather than performing for them.

‘The secret to happiness in public speaking is to let go of your ego and realize that the presentation isn’t about you speaking. It’s about the audience hearing something.’ Dr. Nick Morgan

3. Make it personal

Cut out the ‘noise’

Make absolutely certain that everything you say is relevant and personal to your audience in some way. Ensure that every fact, every story and every piece of data is completely aligned to your message.

Make your message personal.

‘ Mindful presenting begins with taking complete personal responsibility for every aspect of the presentation. That responsibility includes,  Making sure that everything you share is relevant and important to your audience.’ Mindful Presenter

4. Look at them

The greatest key to connecting emotionally with your audience is by making eye contact with them. Good eye contact also projects confidence and authority and can improve your concentration too.

“Where words are restrained, the eyes often talk a great deal.”  Samuel Richardson

“The right word may be effective,” Mark Twain once said, “but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.”

6. Make it content rich

Make sure that everything you say is of value to your audience.  A presentation fraught with data that serves no tangible value is pointless, regardless as to how well it is delivered. Give your audience only what really matters, is relevant, significant and helpful. If it does not support your message and enrich their experience leave it out.

‘At Mindful Presenter we coach professionals to focus on the ‘gold’. Imagine you are panning for gold. You can be absolutely certain that most of what you will find is dirt, dust and gravel. If you filter long and hard enough you just may find a piece of gold.

That’s our job as presenters, to filter the ‘noise’ until we find the gold.’   Mindful Presenter

7. Speak with passion, energy and purpose

Your audience wants to feel your enthusiasm and passion. If they connect with your positive energy it’s highlight likley that they will begin to feel that way too.

Don’t hold back on them; show them just how much you care!

“Yes, in all my research, the greatest leaders looked inward and were able to tell a good story with authenticity and passion.”

Deepak Chopra

8. Be in the room

Before you enter the room, take a few minutes beforehand to breathe, calm down and check in with yourself.

“We convince by our presence.” Walt Whitman

Have you every tried not warming to someone who smiles at you.

The moment you smile to your audience you send a very important message to them. You’re telling them that, you are a nice person, you are happy to be there and they are in good hands.  ‘The 9 Superpowers of Your Smile ’

“Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful.” ​Thich Nhat Hanh

10. Lighten up

Use humour where appropriate.

Being professional doesn’t mean you have to be deadly serious and rigid as you speak.

“I don’t trust anyone who doesn’t laugh.”  Maya Angelou

Move your hands, your legs, your eyes, your face. Movement represents energy and offers visual stimulation.

Don’t listen to the presentation coach who tells you to stand still. ‘The most popular TED talks had an average of 7,360,000 views and speakers used an average of 465 hand gestures.’

“Small gestures can have a big impact.” Julianna Margulies

12. Think in pictures

The old saying ‘a picture paints a thousand words’ has stood the test of time because it’s true.

Use clear, relevant and compelling images to help your audience to see the point you are trying to make.

“When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.” Ansel Adams

13. Tell them stories

Presented on their own facts and data are often recieved as boring.

Tell your audience short, relevant and powerful stories and they will be glad they came to listen to you. ‘A presentation without stories is a lecture.’

“Sometimes reality is too complex. Stories give it form.” Jean Luc Godard

14. Speak well

There is nothing worse than listening to a speaker with a monotone voice.

Mindful presenters don’t rely on hope to ensure that they connect with their audience vocally. They stretch, challenge and develop their vocal chords to ensure they speak well and with impact. Julian Treasure’s  TED talk offers some great tips for how to strengthen your voice.

“How wonderful is the human voice! It is indeed the organ of the soul. The intellect of man is enthroned visibly on his forehead and in his eye, and the heart of man is written on his countenance, but the soul, the soul reveals itself in the voice only.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

15. Think like a ‘tweet’

At the heart of every great presentation is a clear, strong and powerful message.

If you can’t articulate your message to yourself with the clarity of a tweet its likely you don’t understand it yourself.

“It’s a lack of clarity that creates chaos and frustration.”  Steve Maraboli

16.  Don’t be like a comedian

Get to the point quickly, don’t save the punchline for the end. That may work for comedian’s but business is different. Brevity is key.

‘The key to mindful presenting is having clarity of your ‘ M’ POINT ?’  Mindful Presenter

If you would like to stand out from the crowd and need a little help:

– Book yourself onto a powerful  public speaking course .

– Invest in some really good one to one  public speaking coaching .

– Get yourself some excellent  presentation training

The Mindful Presenter Blog has been selected as one of the Top 10 UK Public Speaking Blogs

Image courtesy of: www.istockphoto.com

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13 Design Tips to Make Your Presentation Stand Out

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If you have ever been to the presentation room, you might know what a bad presentation can do. Despite the presenter’s knowledge and skills, audience notice everything. And if we talk about design, it directly relates to the presenter and audience.

Presentation design is the foundation of the whole presentation, and it determines the result of your efforts. So whether you are a student, designer or any business person , you should know some essential designing know-hows in order to achieve your goals.

And to help you with that, we will discuss some excellent expert-described tips to make your presentation stand out. For a successful presentation, some helpful tips can move you ahead of the competition, and therefore these tips explain what you can do to design your presentation in a most efficient and appealing manner.

1. Try To Avoid Default Templates:

If you are using common presentation software and making your important presentation with one of the default templates, then this could be the first thing you need to stop doing. Default templates are generally outdated and very much overused. There are high chances that your client or audience must have seen your template and default colors and font styles.

To make a unique and notable presentation design, you have to pick the best elements. You can create your own or get some trendy templates from various online platforms. The template is the baseline of your whole presentation, so be careful and thoughtful while selecting one for your project.

2. Pick Attractive Color Palette:

The next thing you should take care of is your color palette . In a presentation, you get restricted with slides and content; therefore, many other elements get the wide space to create impact. A color palette of your presentation should have minimum colors, and they should not damage the visual hierarchy. Colors should be comforting and complimenting the theme and content.

Multiple different colors can not create a decent design. Therefore, if you want to experiment, try to check out some online templates and examples to understand the color concept better . The ideal limit is five colors, and more than that can trigger the overall image of your presentation, so try to avoid such mistakes while designing a presentation.

3. Use 6X6 Rule:

It is a simple rule that helps you keep the presentation balanced and neat with the content. 6X6 rule explains to use a maximum of six bullet points in each slide and keep six words as a maximum limit in each bullet sentence. Sometimes you tend to put more than required lines and content in the slides, which are definitely not suggested. So in order to keep the presentation appealing and accessible, you have to manage the content balance.

With this rule, you get a simple guideline of how far you can go with bullet points and words in your presentation. So don’t overburden your presentation with loads of information because instead of helping, that can damage your presentation. It’s better to keep things simple and attainable.

4. Avoid Fancy Fonts:

Your presentation is representing your content and objective, so it does not have to be overwhelming with fancy design elements. However, when it comes to font style, it should be clean, impactful, and readable. While working on your screen, you might be liking fancy and creative font styles , but you need to think from the projection perspective where the presentation is going to take place. And on that screen, fancy and creative styles might not look as attractive as you thought.

That is why it is always suggested to go for sans serif fonts in presentations because they make the content easily visible and readable. So it would be really helpful if you select a font style that has clean and straightforward sans serif fonts that can make your presentation design better.

5. Maintain Consistency Of Font Size And Layout:

Consistency is a very crucial subject in every design. It helps your design to carry out the intended message and context successfully. So when it’s about your presentation and if you are using some default template or pre-designed template, then you have to maintain consistency of your font size and font style strictly. More than two or three font styles can tone down the consistency level, and different font sizes can make your content look abrupt.

If you are designing your own presentation, then you have to take care of the layout and shapes as well. There should be no unnecessary and too many variants of design in the presentation. So take good care of this subject to maintain consistency level.

6. Create Effective Contrast In Design:

It’s highly important in a presentation that your content is not only visible but looks attractive and draws people’s attention. A weak presentation design can have many flaws, and one of them is a lousy contrast setting. That is why it’s very crucial for you to understand colors and their importance in design.

When your content is wrongly placed on a similar colored background, or you have given a bad color scheme to your fonts and text box, then your presentation quickly loses the contrast game. On the other hand, a good contrast elevates the whole design and content, which can eventually favor your presentation. So wisely select colors while keeping contrast, brightness, and saturation in mind to make the perfect design.

7. Don’t Add Multiple Images In One Slide:

When you need to add images to support your content, you have to act smartly. A slide filled with different images is not a good sign for a decent presentation. You can select one or two of the most compelling images and include them in your presentation, or if multiple images are really required, you can use multiple slides.

There are some creative transition and animation options as well. But stacking your slide with all the images can make the appearance weak. Your overall presentation design can look sophomoric, and that is something you surely want to avoid.

8. Add Strong Visuals Instead Of Words:

Visual content can be more impactful than written content, and that’s a proven fact. If you want to increase your presentation’s designing score, you need to give importance to every designing factor. Sometimes, when you are stating facts and examples, it’s advisable to speak through the visuals like graphs, images, and videos rather than just words.

It can boost your content and get the attention of your audience. They can easily understand and connect with your presentation. For a good presentation design, try to make a perfect balance of written content and visual content without overdoing any part so that you can seamlessly win your audience.

9. Incorporate Interesting Animation:

Thanks to some tremendous online software and platforms, anyone can make an excellent design with minimum effort. However, while designing a presentation, things would look more attractive if you add some pinch of animation . And for that, you don’t have to be an expert with the help of some online tools and marketplace; you can simply add animated objects in your presentation in few steps.

As discussed above, visual content is very much powerful, so animated content would be the next step from images and graphs. Animation helps your audience to stay connected where you require their most attention. So add animated content in your presentation at some intervals of slides to keep the interest of your audience alive and distraction away.

10. Highlight Your Text With Shapes And Objects:

Simply adding content to the images or background is a bit boring. People have been doing this for ages, and for attention, it’s probably not enough. So for a striking presentation design, find ways to illuminate your content part. And adding different shapes and objects can be an excellent way.

For example, with a contrast-colored geometric shape, your content can have more volume. Your slide can have different aspects, and your overall presentation can look more vibrant. Right placement of the shape is also essential, and do not forget about consistency.

Once you include shape and object for your content background, you need to stay consistent throughout the design, or things can go otherwise. You can use this idea only for headings and titles as well because that also would be enough to draw attention to the respective topic.

11. Use Seamless Transitions:

The transition between the slides is also another interesting aspect. You may not give much attention and simply shift the slides. But all the good presentation software and tools have transition options. Instead of sudden shifts, it’s better to give some seamless transition effect to your slides. Dramatic and loud transitions are not needed, but some interesting and eye-pleasing transitions can surely make your presentation more engaging.

You can maybe put transitions on some special slides as well if you believe all the slides don’t require a transition effect. As per your subject and audience, you can decide what kind of transition effect would look good and then use it smartly to make your presentation stand out.

12. Use Images Creatively:

Going deeper into the designing part next thing is making changes to the images of your presentation . When you are using more than one image, it’s nice to make the slide vacant by doing some manipulation to the images. You can crop your images into exciting shapes and objects. You can rotate them and change their projection as well to add creativity to your ordinary slides.

As per your layout and overall theme, you can select the shape and crop your images accordingly. If you want to put extra effort, you can separately edit your images and create something extraordinary to make your presentation more impactful. So do not just copy and paste the images; turn them into creative accessories for your presentation and see the results.

13. Go For Innovative Presentation Styles:

It can be a brilliant idea to choose any other software or platform for your presentation that is not PowerPoint. Microsoft PowerPoint is a widely used software for presentations, but we have so many other exciting software that provides great flexibility and creativity for innovative presentations in today’s time.

You can create interactive and unique presentation styles that do not follow common linear structures. You can create 3D styles and website-like structures as well. Some software and tools require subscription and payment, so highly advanced presentation styles can be expensive, but they can definitely provide an end number of benefits for a professional purpose.

So, according to your requirement, if you need a solid and compelling presentation design, then build your presentation on an innovative platform.

What is the deciding factor between good and bad presentations? The answer is design and content. While you are working hard on the content part as you should, you have to give equal importance to the design part as well. For example, suppose your colors, images, slides, and fonts are poorly placed . In that case, your presentation can become a significant distracting object for your audience, and that’s the last thing you want in your presentation session.

A bad presentation can also affect your impression in front of your audience because it can create trouble if you are being evaluated on a specific basis. So help yourself and learn essential things from the tips mentioned above so that when you start making your presentation, you would know what you must include and what you must avoid.

These design tips are easy to understand and follow. That’s why they can help almost everyone who is delivering some content through the presentation.

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• Design Tips

Make Your Presentation Stand Out with These 5 Design Tricks

Guest Writer

• Published on September 10, 2021

Table of Contents

We’ve all been in a situation when we needed to present some idea, a school project, ourselves, a new product feature, etc. And we’ve all sat through many presentations, some of which stayed in our minds for a long time. 

Whether you are trying to sell your brand , wow the audience with your products, send your portfolio, or pitch a business idea, you will need to master the art of making powerful visual stories.

What separates a fantastic speech from one that will fade out the minute we leave the room? Here are five design tricks to make your presentation stand out and have a pleasing effect on people.

How to use text to increase interest in your presentation

When it comes to text in your presentation, a few simple rules will ensure your message is effectively delivered.

Don’t use sentences

Don’t use sentences if you want to make your presentation stand out. You want your audience’s attention to be both on you and your presentation, and you want them to remember the core of your idea and the feeling you are trying to communicate. 

By putting whole sentences in your slides, you’ll lose the audience’s focus since they’ll try to read everything instead of listening to you.

You, as a speaker, are supposed to deliver content and information, and the display is there to reinforce your core ideas and attract attention visually. 

So, instead of using sentences, use bullet points. 

Use simple fonts

Fonts that are usually used on paper aren’t as great on presentations. A group of fonts that are easier to read on-screen is sans-serif fonts – Helvetica, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, etc.

Of course, you can try out some other fonts, but make sure to check out the font’s readability from far away.

Also, it would help if you stuck to one or two font tops. Don’t overdesign your slides with various fonts, as it will only draw attention and carry the message badly. 

Size of the matter of the letter – use 30pt or larger

If you want your presentation to be easily readable, you should stick to large font sizes – 30 or higher.

With this simple rule, you’ll do two things at a time – make your slideshow readable and focus only on essential points instead of whole thoughts.

To test if the slides can be easily seen, stand six feet from the monitor and check if you can read everything written on a slide.

To make a point, use simple effects

If you want to point out specifically, use bold , italics , or a change of color. Our minds are drawn to even the smallest changes, so these will be the easiest and most effective ways to make something stand out.

See also: Good Presentation Design Tips and Tricks to Develop

Use colors so your key points pop-out.

Make your presentation slides simple and adds all the exceptional details in your speech. Being simple is more effective when it comes to using colors, too.

If you use a light background and light colors, your audience will quickly get tired of figuring out what is written in the presentation. So stick to a light and dark color scheme – light letters on a dark background and vice versa. Also, avoid harsh gradients for both background and the letters since that can be hard to read.

You should use more than four colors on one chart. If you have a chart with many variables, try to break them down into a few charts. 

To pick the colors, check out your company’s brand guidelines which probably include primary and secondary colors that should be used when presenting in the company’s name. 

While you are at it, you can check if those guidelines have some rules about how the company’s logo should be used. That can affect your slide layout a lot.

Before your presentation, check how the colors are projected before your presentation since they can be different from what appears on the monitor.

See also: Want to Make Engaging Presentation Design? Follow 25 Tips Here

Use images to evoke interest and inspiration.

Images should be used to break down the text, add a human feel to your slides, and inspire the audience. 

To do so, you should pick the images you plan to include in your presentation carefully. We are all used to overly used stock photos of businesspeople in a meeting, so try to think about pictures in a different light.

If you choose the right images, you could make your audience ask themselves questions about your topic, connect it to something of their interest, better remember critical points, and come up with new ideas.

So, how to choose the right images for your presentation? Yeah, choosing the right visuals is also part of your responsibility to make your presentation stand out.

There is no simple answer, but there are a few guidelines. 

Avoid being generic

The images need to be relatable, original, and motivating. That means that you need to illustrate the situation in a way that is slightly different from the literal showing.

For example, it’s better to show intertwining tree roots or branches when trying to illustrate the connection than a cable.

Or, if you want to demonstrate teamwork, try to think about some complex systems like beehives, traffic, or something from daily life that can illustrate many components working together to make a whole, instead of a few people in an office.

Don’t be distractive

Another aspect to think about when choosing images for your presentation is how well it goes with your point. You don’t want people to look at the picture and stop listening to you.

For example, suppose you have a complicated chart with a lot of information. In that case, your audience will try to understand the chart, and their attention will transfer to the visual part of the presentation. 

Also, if you go too far with illustrating situations, people might lose the connection between the images and the topic you are talking about. So, try to find supportive photos for your presentation and lead your audience to understand why a specific idea is there.

Evoke inspiration and engagement

Just like we said at the beginning of this section, your images can make people think about your topic in the broader sense, coming up with new ideas or topics to research. 

That’s why you need to use a bit more abstract and aspirational images. That way, your audience will connect what you are saying and what they have thought about lately. 

To find inspirational images, you need to think about the tone of your presentation, colors, topic, and related ideas. 

A few general tips are to use one or two large images instead of several small images on a single slide, keep the size of the pictures the same throughout your slides, and arrange pictures vertically or horizontally.

Use templates already made for your topic

Presentation layout is an important part of how understandable your visual showcase is.

The way you distinguish headlines from other parts on a single slide, the way you position images, text, illustration, and use colors can make your display very effective or, on the other hand, make your audience baffled by trying to understand what is happening. 

There are endless possibilities on how you layout your slides, but if you want to avoid confused people trying to figure out what you are trying to show instead of listening to you, there are a few rules to follow.

Left to right, top to bottom

Most people are used to reading left to right, top to bottom. Also, we tend to read the largest letters first and the smallest at the end. Newspapers use that rule for headlines and subheadlines for ages. 

You can also use these tips to navigate people’s eyes the way you want them to see the information. 

Use premade templates for your topic

One of the tricks on how to make your presentation stand out is using premade templates related to your topic. When you don’t have time to figure out how your presentation should look and how the layout complements your topic, you can turn to premade templates and save a lot of time.

There are two ways you can approach a template. You can think about your idea, its key points, and how it should be organized and try to find a template that suits your needs.

Or, you can search templates by topic so the template can give you ideas on how to organize your visual story. 

People who made the templates researched many different topics and needs of people trying to present something, so they included everything you need in a particular template.

So, if you search a template by topic, you’ll find focused slides built for your industry needs. 

Most of the templates are easily adaptable and customizable to make the presentation look and feel like your brand. 

See also: 13 Best Places to Learn Presentation Design

Design rules to make your presentation even more attractive.

Since the possibilities are endless, there are many ways you can ruin or at least damage your presentation. But, here are some design rules that will make your presentation stand out, your job become easier, and your slides more attractive.

• Layout – standardize fonts, positions, colors, and styles throughout your slides
• Header – always use the same graphical rule at the top of the slides
• Background – should be consistent and subtle so your content can pop out
• Transitions – better to stick to one transition. At least limit the number of transitions so your audience doesn’t get confused
• Space – leave some space around your content (images, text)
• Borders – if you use borders, always stick to the same type
• The number of slides – keep it simple because too many slides can make your audience doze off. 

The need for a great to make your presentation stand out is never higher.

Whether you are pitching a new product, a new feature of a product, trying to explain something, teaching someone something new, or wanting to showcase your portfolio, you’ll need to show that you are not only great in what you do but also great at selling that.

See also: 20 Books about Presentation Design

It’s effortless to make your presentation stand out.

Some presentations can even make money online on their own, without the speaker. Being here and reading this means you are on a great track to learning how to make awesome slides, so bravo to you!

Keep on learning by reading, researching, and doing. And pay attention to your audience, ask them for feedback (the good and the bad points), and try to incorporate the feedback to get better every time you are presenting your brand.

Let’s visit RRSlide to  download free PowerPoint templates . But wait, don’t go anywhere and stay here with our  RRGraph Design  Blog  to keep up-to-date on the  best pitch deck template  collections and design advice from our  PowerPoint experts .

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14 Practical Tips to Improve Your Presentation Skills

• The Speaker Lab
• May 11, 2024

Table of Contents

Ever felt complete dread and fear at the thought of stepping up to deliver a presentation? If so, you’re not alone. The fear of public speaking is more common than you might think, but with the right presentation skills , it’s a hurdle that can be overcome.

In this article, we’ll help you master basic confidence-building techniques and conquer advanced communication strategies for engaging presentations. We’ll explore how body language and eye contact can make or break your connection with your audience; delve into preparation techniques like dealing with filler words and nervous habits; discuss tailoring content for different audiences; and much more.

Whether you’re prepping for job interviews or gearing up for big presentations, being prepared is key. With adequate practice and the proper attitude, you can crush your speech or presentation!

Mastering the Basics of Presentation Skills

Presentation skills are not just about speaking in front of a crowd. It’s also about effective communication, audience engagement, and clarity. Mastering these skills can be transformative for everyone, from students to corporate trainers.

Building Confidence in Presentations

Becoming confident when presenting is no small feat. But fear not. Even those who feel jittery at the mere thought of public speaking can become masters with practice and patience. Just remember: stage fright is common and overcoming it is part of the process towards becoming an effective presenter.

Taking deep breaths before you start helps calm nerves while visualizing success aids in building confidence. Also, know that nobody minds if you take a moment to gather your thoughts during your presentation—everybody minds more if they cannot understand what you’re saying because you’re rushing.

The Role of Practice in Enhancing Presentation Skills

In line with old wisdom, practice indeed makes perfect, especially when improving presentation skills. Consistent rehearsals allow us to fine-tune our delivery methods like maintaining eye contact or controlling body language effectively.

You’ll learn better control over filler words through repeated drills. Plus, the extra practice can help you troubleshoot any technical glitches beforehand, saving you the sudden panic during your actual presentations.

Remember that great presenters were once beginners too. Continuous effort will get you there sooner rather than later.

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Body Language and Eye Contact in Presentations

The effectiveness of your presentation can hinge on more than just the words you say. Just as important is your body language .

Impact of Posture on Presentations

Your posture speaks volumes before you utter a word. Standing tall exudes confidence while slouching could signal nervousness or lack of preparation.

If there’s one lesson to take away from our YouTube channel , it’s this: good presenters know their message but great ones feel it through every fiber (or muscle) of their being. The audience can sense that energy when they see open body language rather than crossed arms.

Maintaining Eye Contact During Your Presentation

Eyes are often called windows to the soul for a reason. They’re communication powerhouses. Making eye contact helps build trust with your audience members and keeps them engaged throughout your speech.

Avoid staring at note cards or visual aids too much as this might give an impression that you’re unprepared or uncertain about your chosen topic. Instead, aim to maintain eye contact between 50% of the time during presentations. This commonly accepted “50/70 rule” will help you exhibit adequate confidence to your audience.

If stage fright has gotten a hold on you, take deep breaths before you start speaking in order to stay calm. Make sure that fear doesn’t disrupt your ability to maintain eye-contact during presentations.

If body language and eye contact still feel like a lot to manage during your big presentation, remember our golden rule: nobody minds small mistakes. It’s how you handle questions or mishaps that truly makes a difference—so stay positive and enthusiastic.

Preparation Techniques for Successful Presentations

Presentation skills are like a craft that requires meticulous preparation and practice. Aspects like visual aids and time management contribute to the overall effectiveness of your delivery.

The first step towards delivering an impactful presentation is research and organization. The content should be well-researched, structured logically, and presented in simple language. This will make sure you deliver clear messages without any room for misinterpretation.

Dealing with Filler Words and Nervous Habits

Nervous habits such as excessive use of filler words can distract from your message. Luckily, there are plenty of strategies that can address these issues. For instance, try taking deep breaths before speaking or using note cards until fluency is achieved. In addition, practice regularly to work on eliminating these verbal stumbling blocks.

Avoiding Distractions During Presentations

In a digital age where distractions abound, maintaining focus during presentations has become an even more crucial part of the preparation process. This video by motivational speaker Brain Tracy provides insights on how one could achieve this level of focus required for effective presentations.

Maintaining Confidence Throughout Your Presentation

Confidence comes from thorough understanding of the chosen topic combined with regular practice sessions before the big day arrives. Make use of note cards or cue cards as needed but avoid reading from them verbatim.

Taking control over stage fright starts by arriving early at the venue so that you familiarize yourself with the surroundings, which generally calms nerves down considerably. So next time you feel nervous before a big presentation, remember—thorough preparation can make all the difference.

Engaging Your Audience During Presentations

Connecting with your audience during presentations is an art, and mastering it can take your presentation skills to the next level. Making the message conveyed reach an emotional level is essential, not just conveying facts.

Understanding Your Target Audience

The first step towards engaging your audience is understanding them. Tailor the content of your presentation to their needs and interests. Speak in their language—whether that be professional jargon or everyday slang—to establish rapport and ensure comprehension.

An effective presenter understands who they’re speaking to, what those individuals care about, and how best to communicate complex ideas understandably.

Making Complex Information Understandable

Dense data or complicated concepts can lose even the most interested listener if presented ineffectively. Breaking your key points down into manageable chunks helps maintain attention while promoting retention. Analogies are especially useful for this purpose as they make unfamiliar topics more relatable.

Audience Participation & Questions: A Two-Way Street

Incorporating opportunities for audience participation encourages engagement at another level. It allows listeners to become active participants rather than passive receivers of knowledge.

Consider techniques like live polls or interactive Q&A sessions where you invite questions from attendees mid-presentation instead of saving all queries until the end.

This gives you a chance not only engage but also address any misunderstandings right on spot.

• Treat each question asked as an opportunity—it’s evidence someone has been paying attention. Even challenging questions should be welcomed as they demonstrate an engaged, thoughtful audience.
• Encourage participation. It can be as simple as a show of hands or the use of interactive technologies for live polling during your presentation. This keeps your audience active and invested in the content.

Remember, your presentation isn’t just about putting on a show—it’s about meaningful interaction.

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Presentation Skills in Specific Contexts

Whether you’re nailing your next job interview, presenting an exciting marketing campaign, or delivering insightful educational content, the context matters. Let’s take a look.

The Art of Job Interviews

A successful job interview often hinges on effective communication and confidence. Here, the target audience is usually small but holds significant influence over your future prospects. Body language plays a crucial role; maintain eye contact to show sincerity and interest while open body language communicates approachability.

Bullet points summarizing key experiences are also helpful for quick recall under pressure. This allows you to present your chosen topic with clarity and positive enthusiasm without relying heavily on note or cue cards.

Pitching in Public Relations & Marketing

In public relations (PR) and marketing contexts, presentations need to capture attention quickly yet hold it long enough to deliver key messages effectively. Visual aids are valuable tools here—they help emphasize points while keeping the audience engaged.

Your aim should be highlighting presentation benefits that resonate with potential clients or partners, making them feel as though ignoring such opportunities would mean missing out big time.

Educational Presentations

An educational setting demands its own unique set of presentation skills where deep understanding trumps flashy visuals. You must make complex information understandable without oversimplifying essential details—the use of analogies can be beneficial here.

Keeping the audience’s attention is critical. Encourage questions and participation to foster a more interactive environment, enhancing learning outcomes for all audience members.

Tips for Becoming a Great Presenter

No single method is suitable for everyone when it comes to speaking in public. However, incorporating continuous improvement and practice into your routine can make you an exceptional presenter.

Tailor Your Presentation to Your Audience

Becoming an excellent speaker isn’t just about delivering information; it’s also about making a connection with the audience. So make sure that you’re taking setting, audience, and topic into consideration when crafting your presentation. What works for one audience may not work for another, so be sure to adapt your presentation styles according to the occasion in order to be truly effective.

The Power of Practice

The art of mastering public speaking skills requires practice —and lots of it . To become a great presenter, focus on improving communication skills through practice and feedback from peers or mentors. Try to seek feedback on every speech delivered and incorporate those pointers in your future presentations. Over time, this cycle of delivery-feedback-improvement significantly enhances your ability to connect with audiences and convey ideas effectively.

If you’re looking for examples of good speakers, our speech breakdowns on YouTube provide excellent examples of experienced presenters who masterfully utilize speaking techniques. Analyzing their strategies could give you great ideas for enhancing your own style.

Finding Your Style

A crucial part of captivating any audience lies in how you deliver the message rather than the message itself. Developing a unique presentation style lets you stand out as an engaging speaker who commands attention throughout their talk. Through — you guessed it — practice, you can develop a personal presentation style that resonates with listeners while showcasing your expertise on the chosen topic.

Your body language plays a pivotal role here: open gestures communicate confidence and enthusiasm towards your subject matter, two qualities essential for keeping audiences hooked. Similarly, using vocal variety adds dynamism to speeches by emphasizing points when needed or creating suspense during storytelling parts of your talk.

Cultivating Passion & Enthusiasm

Showcasing genuine passion for the subject helps keep listeners engaged throughout even lengthy presentations. Sharing stories related to the topic or expressing excitement about sharing knowledge tends to draw people in more than mere data recitation ever could.

Recognize that everybody is distinctive; don’t expect identical results from every speaker. The path to becoming a great presenter involves recognizing your strengths and working tirelessly on areas that need improvement.

FAQs on Presentation Skills

What are good presentation skills.

Good presentation skills include a clear message, confident delivery, engaging body language, audience understanding, and interaction. They also involve effective preparation and practice.

What are the 5 steps of presentation skills?

The five steps of presenting include: planning your content, preparing visual aids if needed, practicing the delivery aloud, performing it with confidence, and finally post-presentation reflection for improvements.

What are the 5 P’s of presentation skills?

The five P’s stand for Preparation (researching your topic), Practice (rehearsing your talk), Performance (delivering with confidence), Posture (standing tall), and Projection (using a strong voice).

What are your presentation skills?

Your personal set of abilities to deliver information effectively is what we call your presentation skill. It can encompass public speaking ability, clarity in speech or writing as well as visual communication talent.

Mastering presentation skills isn’t an overnight process, but practice and perseverance will put you well on your way to becoming an effective speaker.

You’ve learned that confidence plays a crucial role in effective presentations, so take deep breaths, make eye contact, and keep your body language open. As always, preparation is key. Tackle filler words head-on and get comfortable with visual aids for impactful storytelling.

Remember the importance of audience engagement — it’s all about understanding their needs and tailoring your content accordingly. This way, complex information turns into digestible insights.

Above all else: practice! After all, nothing beats experience when it comes to improving public speaking abilities.

• Last Updated: May 9, 2024

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PowerPoint: Eight Easy Ways to Make Your Presentation Stand Out

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Instructor: Jole Simmons

Making your PowerPoint slides more polished and engaging is easier than you think. In this short course, presentation guru Jole Simmons shares some helpful tricks to take your PowerPoint game to a new level. First, Jole teaches how to take both the presenter and the audience into account in your design approach. Next, learn to identify the main points of the story you’re trying to tell in PowerPoint. Find out how to go the extra mile in making design calls. Explore some ways to convey your information without forcing everybody to read what’s on the slide. Learn how to break information into threes, for better learning retention. Jole also discusses how to make sure your presentation is inclusive and geared towards a variety of people. Then, discover ways to add life to your slides with a well-placed surprise. Jole explains continuity, flow, and how to bring it all together.

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How to make your presentation stand out

Continue reading.

Whether you’re still in education or starting out in your career, presentation skills are high in-demand. So, how can you improve them, and what makes a great presentation?

Whether you’re still in education or starting out in your career, presentation skills are high in-demand.

So, how can you improve them, and what makes a great presentation?

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How to Present to an Audience That Knows More Than You

• Deborah Grayson Riegel

Lean into being a facilitator — not an expert.

What happens when you have to give a presentation to an audience that might have some professionals who have more expertise on the topic than you do? While it can be intimidating, it can also be an opportunity to leverage their deep and diverse expertise in service of the group’s learning. And it’s an opportunity to exercise some intellectual humility, which includes having respect for other viewpoints, not being intellectually overconfident, separating your ego from your intellect, and being willing to revise your own viewpoint — especially in the face of new information. This article offers several tips for how you might approach a roomful of experts, including how to invite them into the discussion without allowing them to completely take over, as well as how to pivot on the proposed topic when necessary.

I was five years into my executive coaching practice when I was invited to lead a workshop on “Coaching Skills for Human Resource Leaders” at a global conference. As the room filled up with participants, I identified a few colleagues who had already been coaching professionally for more than a decade. I felt self-doubt start to kick in: Why were they even here? What did they come to learn? Why do they want to hear from me?

• Deborah Grayson Riegel is a professional speaker and facilitator, as well as a communication and presentation skills coach. She teaches leadership communication at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and has taught for Wharton Business School, Columbia Business School’s Women in Leadership Program, and Peking University’s International MBA Program. She is the author of Overcoming Overthinking: 36 Ways to Tame Anxiety for Work, School, and Life and the best-selling Go To Help: 31 Strategies to Offer, Ask for, and Accept Help .

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10 Tips for a Persuasive Presentation

Powerful presentation is persuasion. here's how to elevate your impact..

Posted May 11, 2024 | Reviewed by Ray Parker

• Presentations aim to effect change. It's essential to be clear about what change you want to see.
• Powerful presenters embrace and extend empathy to seek first to understand their audience.
• Substance and style both matter to create an audience-informed communication experience.
• Persuasive presentations are relevant, reasoned, real, and resonant.

How many of us realize that giving a presentation or making a speech is all about persuasion , influence, and emotional intelligence ? Impactful presenters understand the power of empathy to understand and engage their audience, the efficiency and kindness of having a clear objective and message, and the importance of substance and style—all as a way to connect in a way that engages and inspires.

Much has been written on the power and behavioral science of persuasion, not least by expert Robert Cialdini. His bestselling book Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion explains seven research-based universal principles of influence .

From my experience as a leadership coach working with thousands of people worldwide, I have compiled a list of ten essentials to elevate our presentation.

1. Maintain an "other" focus. What do you know about your audience and how can you find out more? Ask yourself what kind of a speaker will appeal to your audience, what arguments are likely to resonate with them, and what feelings you want to inspire so the audience will positively respond to your ask. If your audience is predominantly data-driven, you may want to use more evidence-based arguments. If the audience is mixed, a combination of data, authority, and storytelling may be more appropriate. Extend Daniel Goleman’s three types of empathy to gather intelligence , understand your audience, and tailor your intervention to connect more profoundly.

2. Determine a specific objective: Presentations aim to effect change in some way. What change do you want to see in your audience? Every presentation aims to change the audience in some way. For instance, gaining their approval for a certain investment, soliciting their buy-in for a change, or creating a sense of enthusiasm for an idea or initiative. The purpose of a presentation is to bring about change so make sure you are clear on what kind of change you want to bring about.

3. Design a grabber: Our attention spans have shrunk as we have more and more competing demands on our attention . If you want to get someone’s attention you need to grab it at the outset and try and hold on. You can do this in a number of different ways. Throw out a question that demands a response from the audience. Give a surprising fact or statistic, or quote from a well-known figure. Tell a story or an anecdote. A good grabber captures the attention of everyone there, and makes them focus on what you have to say.

4. Crystalize your message and construct your arguments : Your message is the heart of your speech. Craft a brief phrase that clearly defines your proposal in 10-12 words. For example, “This post is about crafting presentations that inspire and engage others to elevate their presentations.” Make it memorable by choosing inspiring words, symbols, catchy expressions, something that will remain in the audience's mind. As Brené Brown says: “Clear is kind,” and a clear message provides a path to develop your ideas.

When you have a clear and concise message, it helps you formulate your arguments. Think of developing your arguments using the rule of three —three compelling arguments to convince but not overwhelm your audience.

5. Prepare a call to action: Remember, we want to change our audience in some way, so we need to make our ask in a clear and concrete manner.

Consider your call to action in terms of what you want your audience to think/feel/do:

• Think—“I want you to think about how you can improve your presentations.”
• Feel—“I want you to feel enthusiastic and motivated so that you can elevate your power to persuade.”
• Do—“I want you to try out some of these tips and tools for yourself.”

6. Craft a memorable closing: Close the speech in an elegant and memorable way. We need people to remember what we've told them, so prepare it well. This is not the time to improvise. Try to connect your closing to your opening grabber, which makes the presentation more memorable. Good preparation means preparing everything to the very end—finish well.

7. Plan your delivery: A dynamic speaker draws listeners in by using vocal variety (tone, intonation, speed, volume, pace, pauses, silence) and body language (posture, gestures, expression, and movement) to highlight important points and hold the audience’s attention. Be intentional: How will you use your voice and your body to emphasize a thought or idea? Think about it: If you increased the time you spent on style or delivery by 20 percent, what would it mean for the impact you make?

8. Think about how you will engage your audience : You want the audience to feel considered throughout. Include pauses so they can process what’s being said; connect with individuals throughout the room and make deliberate eye contact while speaking, especially when delivering key points. Read and respond to the audience by changing how you deliver as you go based on the audience’s nonverbal communication .

9. Rehearse and Practice: Practice is one of the most crucial elements of presenting—and probably the most neglected one. If this is new to you start by reading your presentation in front of a mirror to get comfortable speaking your presentation. Next, video yourself and watch out for nervous or distracting habits to eliminate them and identify any areas where you can improve your delivery. If you are feeling brave, practice in front of an audience and ask for feedback.

10. Prepare your success rituals and mantra: Public speaking and/or stage fright can feel debilitating for some. Have your calm-down ritual prepared and ready to go before you start your presentation. This might be a certain gesture, a power pose, breathwork, or a mantra. Try this tip: Identify three adjectives to describe how you would like to show up during this presentation. This sets an intention and helps focus our cognitive and emotional resources on success.

Powerful presenters embrace and extend empathy to seek first to understand their audience. They use this intelligence to carefully make choices about substance and style to create an audience-informed communication experience that feels relevant, reasoned, real, and resonant and creates a pathway for change.

Palena Neale, Ph.D. , is a women’s leadership coach, lecturer, and founder of unabridged, a boutique leadership development practice.

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Google Slides: How to make a Jeopardy game

J eopardy is one of the longest-running game shows, consistently garnering a large viewership. Many classrooms have adapted the popular American quiz show's format. Its familiarity and sense of competition make it an effective tool in school environments. Reviewing chapters becomes a fun experience for students. You can make a custom version of Jeopardy in Google Slides. The service works on your Android phone, iPhone, laptop, desktop PC, or budget Chromebook . This guide shows you how to make a Jeopardy game in Google Slides.

What is Jeopardy? How do you play it?

Jeopardy is a television quiz show which features three contestants trying to win money. The game show host quizzes them on trivia related to science, math, geography, language, and pop culture.

The Jeopardy game consists of three rounds. The first two rounds comprise six categories with five clues each. When a player chooses a topic and dollar value, the host reads the clue, and the participants use their buzzers to respond with the correct question. In Final Jeopardy, only contestants with a positive dollar amount can participate. The player with the highest total amount wins the prize and gets to play the next game. The second and third-place contestants win $2,000 and $1,000, respectively.

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How to make a jeopardy game in google slides from scratch.

You can make a custom Jeopardy game to prepare for a new subject, review for a test, and more in Google Slides. You'll start by dividing the process into manageable sections, like making the game board, clues, and question slides. Finally, you'll link the relevant slides to create a Jeopardy game.

Create the Jeopardy game board

You'll first make the game board with the categories and score. Create a table in Google Slides with the subjects in the top row and the scoring system in the remaining rows. In this example, to include five topics with five clues each, make a table with six rows and five columns.

Here's how to do it:

• Select Insert from the toolbar.
• Select Table .
• Set the table dimensions.
• Enter the topics in the top row.
• Enter the scores in the remaining rows.

If the table doesn't appeal to you, use shapes to represent the topic and score. Select them by navigating to Insert > Shapes .

Make the answer/clue slide

In Jeopardy, the clue or answer comes first, followed by the question.

• To add a new slide, click Slide and choose New slide . Alternatively, use the shortcut Ctrl + M .
• Add your answer by clicking Insert > Text box .
• Use the options from the toolbar to change the font style, size, and formatting.

You can add a home icon to return to the game board and a right arrow icon to navigate to the next slide. Use add-ons for a better selection. Here's how to include them in your presentation.

• Click Extensions in the toolbar.
• Select Add-ons .
• Choose Get add-ons .
• Type Icons for Slides & Docs .
• Click Install .
• From the toolbar, select Extensions .
• Choose Icons for Slides & Docs and click Start .
• Type home in the search bar and press Enter .
• Choose a size and color.
• Click Insert .
• Repeat the same steps to insert the right arrow.

Create the question slide

Here's how to make the question slide:

• Click Slide .
• Select New slide .
• Click Insert and choose Text box .
• Type your question.
• Add the home and right arrow icons at the top.

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Connect each slide.

The final step is to connect each slide using hyperlinks. Here's how to connect the points on the game board slide with the corresponding clues:

• Navigate to the game board (the first slide).
• Select a table cell for one of the point categories.
• Click Insert from the toolbar.
• Scroll down and select Link .
• Alternatively, right-click the selected text and choose Link from the drop-down menu.
• Type the slide number and click the text below it.
• Click Apply .
• Repeat the same process for the remaining points, linking the scores for each category with the corresponding clue.

The remaining slides (clue and question) include the home and right-arrow icons at the top. Here's how to add links to them:

• Click the home icon .
• Choose First Slide .
• Click the right arrow icon .
• Click Insert and select Link .
• Choose Next Slide .

After completing your question slide, copy it from the sidebar and paste it. Then, use it as a template for the remaining clues and questions. The template's home and right-arrow links are replicated, pointing toward the first and next slide, respectively. You don't need to repeat the hyperlinking process.

Copy a slide by selecting it and pressing Ctrl + C . Press Ctrl + V to paste ( Cmd + C and Cmd + V on a Mac).

Make your Google Slides presentations stand out with these tips

Follow the instructions above to make a fun Jeopardy game in Google Slides. These guidelines can also help you organize a fun trivia night for family gatherings. Spice up your presentations by adding audio clips , voiceovers, and other sound effects. If your slideshow looks bland, use these beautiful templates and add a creative spin. Use them for your work, business, or school assignments.