We’re In An Epidemic And It’s Called… Powerpoint!

Everyone uses it, but is it the best way to present your information?
Most people who use PowerPoint or give Presentations have not had much, if any, public speaking or presentation skills training.

To get the most out of your PowerPoint presentations, follow these 5 Crucial Steps…

1 – Main Attraction is You

You are your presentation, not your slides. Your audience would much prefer to look at you than your slides. Believe it or not, you are better looking that your slides. You are more engaging than your slides. You are much more interesting than your slides. The more interesting your presentation, the more engaged your audience will be and the more engaged they are, the more they will want to do business with you.

2 – Converse Rather Than Read

Never ever read your slides! It will insult your audience and bore your audience to death. Your audience would prefer you engage in conversation with them rather than read and present your slides to them. Show them that you know what you are talking about by explaining each slide rather than reading them. The more you converse with them rather than read to them, the more knowledgeable you will appear. The more knowledgeable you appear, the more confident you will seem and people like to do business with those who show confidence.

3 – Screen off to Side

Seems like almost every PowerPoint presentation you see today, the screen is in the middle of the room and the main attraction. The presenter is hidden off to the side some place and the audience can’t find them. If you place the screen off to the side a bit, and you are the center of the platform, your audience will be able to pay more attention to what you are saying. This is important because your slides cannot engage your audience, only you can. Your slides cannot explain to the audience what they mean and can do for them, only you can. Your slides cannot get your audience to do what you want them to do, only you can (i.e. buy from you, learn from you, etc. – whatever your goal may be).
People read from left to right so try to stand to the right of the screen if possible. If the screen must be in the center, try to stand as close to the screen/center of the room as possible.

4 – One Bullet Point Per Slide

Most people put way too much information on one slide. If you want your audience to be focused on the item you are discussing, have only that item showing at a time. Have one bullet point per slide or cover up the other points on that slide and only have the one showing that you are talking about.

5 – Use Pictures and Graphics

My personal opinion when using PowerPoint is to have as many slides as possible with pictures and/or graphics rather than text. A picture gets your message across much more effectively with a whole lot more impact. Pictures and graphics are also more engaging and will keep the attention of your audience much more than any text slide.

Does this mean you have to go and redo your entire PowerPoint presentation? Not necessarily. Go through your entire presentation and try to find slides you can shorten and try to find slides you can replace with a picture or graphic. Then write out everything you want to say about your slides and/or include in your presentation. Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse, and you will have your audience engaged, excited, and wanting to do business with you!