8 do’s and don’ts for creating an effective PowerPoint presentation
2nd, Nov 2023
A staple of many seminars and webinars is a PowerPoint presentation. While they can be valuable in highlighting the key points for listeners, they can also be a hindrance when they aren’t done well. Too many speakers fail to make the most of written materials – a lost opportunity considering that presentations are one of the most effective marketing tactics available. With that in mind, here is a list of 8 do’s and don’ts.
1. Do know your audience and prioritize accordingly. Yes, you’re very knowledgeable but that doesn’t mean you need to share everything you know. Understand your audience’s interests and organize your thoughts accordingly to ensure you present your strongest points in your PowerPoint.
2. Don’t include too many details. Your slides don’t need to restate every word you’re saying. Keep your PowerPoint concise and let your speech fill in the details. Remember too that too much text may distract your audience from listening.
3. Do create interest in learning more. Don’t provide comprehensive answers in your written materials. You want to leave your audience wanting more. Encourage questions and give attendees reasons to follow up with you during and after the presentation.
4. Don’t clutter up your slides visually. Avoid too much text or images on a page. While you may think it’s better to put a lot of information on a page to make the PowerPoint fewer pages; it’s overwhelming and hard to read blocks of text. Make sure you have plenty of white space on the page. Be mindful of font type and size, color usage, and word count. Look online for examples of clean, simple PowerPoint designs.
5. Do use visuals. Studies show that 90%of the information transmitted to the brain is visual. Take advantage of that by adding impact to your slides with charts, infographics, photos, videos and other visuals.
6. Don’t forget to proofread. Check for typos diligently but, if possible, also ask someone else to proofread it to catch things you may have missed.
7. Do infuse personality and humor. It’s okay to have some fun with your presentation materials. It can be hard when your topic is pretty dry but look for ways to make your written materials more memorable. For example, add lots of color, a cartoon, interesting graphics, or imbed a video.
8. Don’t treat it as a throwaway. Invest time and resources in creating a well-designed and compelling PowerPoint. It will not only help during the program but can be repurposed and promoted on your website, social media, and email to give you additional exposure after the event.
Your written materials are integral to your presentation’s success. They should complement and reinforce your speech ensuring a lasting impact during and after the event.
If you need assistance with developing a seminar and/or marketing it, contact us for a consultation.
For more help with your presentations, also read our related posts:
How To Promote Your Public Speaking On LinkedIn
Top Strategies For Marketing Your Speaking Event
How To Improve Your ROI On Public Speaking
Tagged: presentations
