Embedded Files
You've come to the right place!
You've come to the right place!
Welcome to our blog where we explore the exciting world of training development, instructional design, and learning technologies! Here, we aim to provide you with fun, informative, and thought-provoking content to help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in the industry. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, we've got something for everyone. So, come on in and join the conversation!
The Do's and Don'ts of Creating a Killer Presentation
The Do's and Don'ts of Creating a Killer Presentation
By: Christine Garraway, March 16, 2023
Whether you're a seasoned pro or just getting started, there's always room for improvement when creating presentations. Presentations are crucial to almost every meeting, training, or sales pitch in today's business world. And with the rise of digital presentation tools like PowerPoint and Prezi, creating a professional-looking presentation is easier than ever. However, just because you can create a presentation doesn't mean you should. There's a big difference between creating an effective presentation and one that is just a waste of time. So, how can you make sure your presentations are killer?
Here are some do's and don'ts to help you create presentations that will engage and motivate your audience.
Do Your Research.
Do Your Research.
Before creating your presentation, it's essential to do your research. Make sure you know exactly what you want to cover and how you want to deliver the information. A great way to do this is to create an outline beforehand to maximize your time and ensure your content is focused. Researching the needs of your audience is also vital. Knowing what they want or need to hear helps you tailor your content to them. You don't want to waste your time in too much detail on things they don't care about. Doing the research beforehand lets you deliver the most relevant content to your audience and ensure your presentation is as effective and robust as possible.
Know Your Audience.
Know Your Audience.
Once you've researched, it's time to think about who you're presenting to. Knowing who you're speaking to helps you tailor your content and delivery specifically for them. Think about who's attending and their level of understanding, then adjust your presentation accordingly. An education-level audience may need more background and detail than a group composed of seasoned professionals. The way you phrase things and the examples you choose should also be tailored to your audience. If you're presenting to a more traditional crowd, you might want to use language and examples that are more familiar to them. On the other hand, if you're presenting to a younger, tech-savvy audience, you might want to use more modern examples using the language that they're used to.
Keep It Simple.
Keep It Simple.
No one wants to sit through a long, drawn-out presentation. Keeping your content concise is critical. Instead of cramming as many facts and figures as possible into your presentation, focus on the main points that you want to get across. Make sure that slides don't have too much information. Too much text can be distracting and take away from your message. Instead, focus on visuals that can help illustrate your key points. Visuals like charts and graphs can be great for simplifying large amounts of data and giving your audience a better understanding of the material.
Stick to Your Message.
Stick to Your Message.
Once you have your presentation's content down, it's time to focus on the delivery. It's easy to get off track when presenting, but it's important to stay focused on the key message of your presentation. You don't want to waste your audience's time going off on tangents or telling stories unrelated to your content. Practicing your presentation beforehand is a great way to ensure you stay on track. While practicing, pay attention to the amount of time you're spending on each slide and that you stick with the main points of your presentation.
Engage Your Audience.
Engage Your Audience.
Keep your audience engaged while presenting. When engaged, they're more likely to retain the information from your presentation and take action on it. Adding interactive elements can be a great way to engage your audience in the presentation. Ask them questions and then have them answer on their phones or laptops. Use polls and surveys to get their opinions and feedback. Doing this allows your audience to be active participants in the presentation rather than just passive listeners.
Don't Be Afraid to Show Your Personality.
Don't Be Afraid to Show Your Personality.
Don't be afraid to inject some of your personality into your presentation. Tell stories and anecdotes that bring your content to life and make it more relatable. Humor, if done correctly, can also be a great way to engage your audience and make your presentation more memorable. But make sure the jokes you use are relevant to your content, and avoid anything considered offensive.
Have Fun With It!
Have Fun With It!
At the end of the day, presentations should be enjoyable! If you're having a good time presenting, your audience will be more likely to enjoy it. Don't be afraid to be creative and show off your personality. Once you have the basics down, don't be scared to experiment with different formats and styles.. Technology is constantly changing, so don't be afraid to explore new presentation tools and techniques.
Creating a killer presentation doesn't have to be a daunting task. By following the do's and don'ts, you can create presentations that engage and motivate your audience. Do your research, know your audience, keep it simple, stick to your message, engage your audience, don't be afraid to show your personality, and have fun! All these things will help you create presentations that will make an impact.
Page updated
Report abuse