Save Your Deck: Methods to Recover an Unsaved PowerPoint File

Posted on January 18, 2017October 5, 2022 by Rick E

Sheer panic—that’s probably your first reaction when you realize that you couldn’t save the PowerPoint file you were working on. Maybe the power went out, or your computer unexpectedly crashed. Perhaps you were too preoccupied that you didn’t think to hit “Save.” Whatever the reason, you’ve suddenly lost hours of hard work and have no clue how to get it all back.
Luckily, there’s no reason to stress over losing an unsaved PowerPoint file. Using the latest versions of PowerPoint, you can easily retrieve and recover all your hard work. Follow these steps to recover a PowerPoint file you accidentally lost:

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Method One: Recover Unsaved Presentations

If you were interrupted before saving your PowerPoint file, you could simply look for it in the Microsoft Unsaved Files folder. Go to the File tab, make sure you’re on Recent, and click on Recover Unsaved Presentations. The icon is right below the list of folders under Recent Places.

Everything in the Unsaved folder is a temporary file. Make sure you recover and save everything you need because you might lose it after a few days.

Method Two: AutoRecover

If you’ve been periodically saving your work but was interrupted before you could save specific changes, you can retrieve your PowerPoint file using the AutoRecover function. First, check if you have it enabled. Go to the File tab, click on Options and go to Save. Make sure your options are similar to those in this picture:

If you don’t have AutoRecover enabled, there’s no other way to retrieve the changes you made to your PowerPoint file. You will have to redo your work from the last save. But if everything looks good, you can then follow these steps:
1.) Copy the file destination path in the same dialogue box.

2.) Open Windows Explorer, paste the path on the address bar, and hit Enter.

To avoid losing crucial information, ensure AutoRecover is enabled every time you create a PowerPoint deck.

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Conclusion

Retrieving an unsaved PowerPoint file is a no-brainer as long as you know these basic recovery methods.
You can either open the “Recover Unsaved Presentations” found in the “Recent Places” or use the AutoRecover function to check where that unsaved document must be hiding.
Learn these tricks by heart so you don’t have to worry about getting your presentation back!

Twitter: Lessons from Social Media

Posted on January 23, 2014December 16, 2019 by Rick E

If there is one social media platform that has changed the way we connect with the world around us, in only 140 characters or less, only one network comes to mind.

Twitter was founded all the way back in 2006, when social media started to take the tech world by storm. Like many young startups, Twitter’s popularity didn’t start growing until a few years later. It’s now one of the ten most visited sites on the Internet.

With over 500 million users and with over 400 million tweets sent daily, the platform has been noted as the “SMS” of the Internet. The application is simply designed to engage and connect users with hashtags and trending topics that spike during notable world events such as The Olympics.

Social media strategists now use Twitter to reinforce their client’s (or own brands) marketing efforts. They take advantage of the platform to boost their presence on the Internet. To successfully use Twitter there are a few rules and regulations one must follow. Some of these guidelines are also applicable in creating an effective PowerPoint presentation.

If you pay attention, there are a few similarities between creating a well-rounded “tweet” and a successful presentation.

Step 1: Simplify Your Thoughts

A tweet can only be 140 characters or less. This means your information has to be condensed and minimized to fit this requirement. A great presentation is one that is simplified. It only has minimal bullets, text, images, and animation.

Overloading your audience with too much of these will distract them from understanding your content. Before you go ahead and add extreme fonts or a fancy template, think about how less is more and how this can positively affect your presentation.

Step 2: Get With What’s Trending

Twitter is known for staying on top of prominent world topics with phrases or words that are “trending” or being tweeted by many users. Try to apply this concept to your presentation ideas. Utilize culturally in tune graphics, stories or videos within your presentation to better speak to your audience. Stay on top of the news and understand what’s going on in your audience’s culture. What do they know? What do they believe in? Knowing this ahead of time will allow you to connect with your audience at a higher level.

Step 3: Get Your Audience to Follow

Within the Twitter world, your “followers” are the equivalent to your friends on Facebook or connections on LinkedIn. You have to constantly engage and entertain your audience or followers if you want them to keep following. The same can be said for presentations.

You want to be constantly interacting with your audience the entire time. Ask them questions. Pause at the end of presentations to get feedback from them. You have to appeal to your audience over everything, if not you are basically speaking to an empty room.

References

“Keeping Your Audience in Mind : The 4 Essential Questions.” SlideGenius, Inc. December 11, 2013. Accessed January 23, 2014.
“Study Shows Simplicity Is Key When Creating a PowerPoint Presentation.” SlideGenius, Inc. July 24, 2013. Accessed January 23, 2014.
Twitter. Accessed January 23, 2014.

Oscar Speech Sounds A Lot Like…..

Posted on January 20, 2014December 16, 2019 by Rick E

Cue the famed actresses in overly expensive ball gowns. Cue the undeniably sarcastic and quirky host. Cue the applauses. It’s awards season in Hollywood.

The most prestigious, of the film awards, is of course the much anticipated Oscars. Every year The Academy nominates a few fortunate actors and actresses who are praised for their works in major motion pictures. It is a special award that every actor dreams of receiving. Only a few, however, are lucky enough to actually walk on stage and accept the gold statue themselves. After the nerve-wracking tearing of the envelope the winners are then presented on stage to deliver a speech. This speech defines their Oscar moments even as it is only done in less than two minutes.

So what can we compare an Oscar speech to?

An Elevator Pitch

Short. Simple. Sweet. And most of all, straight to the point. An elevator pitch presents a product or service in as less time as possible – usually under two minutes.

An Oscar speech follows the similar concept. It delivered quickly, with the winner wrapping up his speech of gratitude and thanks in a very small amount of time. There are a few similar adjectives that we can use to compare a successful elevator pitch (which is usually paired with a PowerPoint presentation and a well rounded Oscar speech:

1. Short

An elevator pitch, just like an Oscar speech, should be between 30 seconds to two minutes. You should impose a strict time limit to your pitches. Drawing out your pitch will make your audience become disinterested in your points and, worse, stop paying attention.

As much as possible, get your points across swiftly and avoid using fillers. Condense your content into the simplest form possible within your pitch. Your goal is to allow audience to understand and learn.

2. Memorable

Like many elevator pitches that investors and or potential clients hear daily, there are dozens of Oscar speeches going on throughout the night of the Academy Awards. A good pitch is one that is unique and becomes memorable over the other various pitches, one that stands out.

If your idea gets lost in a blur with the rest, it wasn’t a very successful one. You always remember the most unique speech of the night when you watch The Academy Awards. The same can be said for the most unique and successful pitch.

3. Passionate

An effective acceptance speech is one that is delivered with passion and pride. It simply draws you in. You can apply the same principles to an elevator pitch.

While a well-rounded Oscar speech ends with a riveting and memorable closing line, your pitch should end with a passionate power statement. When delivering a pitch, you want to present yourself to your audience as being as credible as possible. You can earn your credibility by pitching with plenty of passion.

References

Argetsinger, Amy. “Nine Oscar Speeches That Changed the World.” Washington Post. February 22, 2013. Accessed January 20, 2014.
“Ums, Likes and You Knows: Avoiding Fillers in Your Presentation.” SlideGenius, Inc. August 21, 2013. Accessed January 20, 2014.

Olympians Can Teach Presenters a Thing or Two

Posted on January 15, 2014December 16, 2019 by Rick E

Olympians are no ordinary athletes. They embody the qualities of an essential role model; an individual who represents their country and values in a positive and inspirational light. Not only are these characters unbelievably talented, but they are also a true description of a genuine champion.

With Sochi 2014 quickly approaching, Olympians from all corners of the globe will join together in Russia competing in various winter sports such as skiing, figure skating, snowboarding, and hockey. These athletes have devoted their months, and even years, to rigorous training and practice. Their hard work and dedication will soon pay off as the XXII Olympic Winter Games becomes their time to present.

Embracing the qualities that are associated with hardworking, well-respected Olympians will allow you to become a more effective presenter in the long run. Whether you’re speaking in front of a board of investors or pitching a sale to potential clients, perseverance and dedication will set you apart from the rest and allow your presentation to become effective and memorable.

There are a few questions to ask yourself before you step out on the ice or snow and present. These are the vital traits and questions Olympians from all backgrounds share in order to become gold medalists. Prior to your next PowerPoint presentation give yourself a few minutes to ask yourself these winning questions.

Have you trained adequately?

Olympians dedicate their entire lives in preparation for the big games. Long hours of training, dieting and exercise become their daily routine. A question to always ask yourself prior to your presentation is: How well prepared are you? Here are a few other guiding questions:

Will my audience be able to understand my main points?
Is this presentation marketable?
Does my pitch flow accordingly with my slides?

Do you have a strong will to win?

Olympians must have a passionate desire to go for the gold and win; take this mentality and apply it to your presentations. Though you may not necessarily, “win”, a gold medal you should have an aspiration to be the best, and be

Though you may not necessarily, “win”, a gold medal you should have an aspiration to be the best, and be your best. Your competition may not be visible at the time, but the audience will surely be comparing your presentation to other’s they’ve witnessed in the past.

Are you willing to accept the challenge?

Just as Olympic medalists overcome challenges during training and during the actual games, be prepared to accept any faults that may arise during your presentation. You might have a difficult question from an audience member or just a hard subject to tackle, in general, but going into the presentation with the mindset that things could, and may, go wrong will allow you to be better prepared.

You might have a difficult question from an audience member or just a hard subject to tackle, in general. But going into the presentation with the mindset that things could, and may, go wrong will allow you to be better prepared.

Are you Inspirational?

We’ve all be inspired by Olympic medalists such as, Gabby Douglas or Apolo Ohno, who’ve fearlessly decorated themselves with gold medals over the past years.

Learn from athletes like these, how can you inspire your audience? What makes your message different? What can you teach your audience? These concepts can push you in the right direction to be memorable, a concept that is crucial in presentation giving.

References

“Sochi 2014.” Olympic.org. Accessed January 15, 2014.
“Why Your Presentation Needs to Be These 3 Words.” SlideGenius, Inc. January 5, 2014. Accessed January 15, 2014.

Overcoming a Public Speaking Disaster: A Lesson from Michael Bay

Posted on January 13, 2014December 16, 2019 by Rick E

If you have been paying attention to recent pop culture news feeds lately, you may have heard of the phenomenon known as, “The Michael Bay Meltdown.”

During a Samsung CES press event that introduced their new 150-inch model television, the famed director was supposed to describe the product in detail. He started out great. When the teleprompter failed, however, he decided to just give up and casually walk off stage. If you haven’t had a chance to see the viral video, you can check it out here.

The fear of speaking in front of many people is a fear that most of us share. Whether it’s in front of an audience of one or a few hundred, public speaking can be intensely nerve-wracking. It causes any normal human being to experience moments of sheer panic. The best ways to learn from your presentation mistakes are to actually make them and adhere to these changes later down the road.

Though Michael Bay blamed the teleprompter failing for his public speaking woes, being the presentation specialists that we are, there are various lessons to take away from his blunder that could have, and will happen, to any presenter at any time.

1. Don’t Memorize a Script

Memorizing a script isn’t always good when it comes to public speaking. Talking points are far different than following an actual script or prompt, and focusing on memorizing your verbiage will allow for more opportunities to slip up and freeze. Though you should always be prepared with a script, don’t focus on remembering your content word for word.

Try to focus on describing and elaborating your information with your slides. If you slip up or get lost, your slides are there to highlight your talking points and act as an outline — which is crafted in your storyboard. Improvisation is always a great alternative if you slip up!

The mistake that Michael Bay made was that he was so focused on doing a word for word delivery. Unfortunately, it only caused him to freeze up. If he had just improvised his speech, this would’ve helped him get past the situation.

2. Being Honest Will Help You in The Long Run

Everyone is bound to slip up and make mistakes, especially with public speaking. Apologizing to your audience and throwing in some laughter will show how honest and sincere you are – and this is key to being a credible presenter.

If you can’t remember what to say, or mess up your words, just laugh it off to ease the situation then apologize and move forward. Chances are your audience wouldn’t have even noticed! If you get frustrated, just take a deep breath and continue to speak. Just giving up and walking off stage like Michael Bay did shows a lack of maturity and preparation.

3. Own Up to Your Mistakes

Michael Bay made a monumental mistake by announcing to his audience that the teleprompter failed. Never let your audience become aware of your faults. This not only takes away your credibility but shows them that you are not responsible enough to fix the errors yourself.

If technical difficulties occur with the PowerPoint presentation, a public speaking professional will step up and engage with the audience until the problem is solved.

Conclusion

All in all, there is no way you can prevent a presentation or a public speaking disaster from happening. Things will go wrong, you’ll get nervous and forget your words sometimes. But giving up entirely is never the proper, or professional, solution.

Reference

“Watch: Director Michael Bay’s CES Fail.” Bloomberg.com. Accessed January 13, 2014.

The Similarities Between Presentations and Advertisments : Super Bowl Edition

Posted on January 10, 2014December 16, 2019 by Rick E

With Super Bowl XLVIII in the near future, this brings the excitement millions of Americans will come to share on February 2, 2014, as two national football teams will go head to head in one of the most highly televised programs of the year.

Apart from the notoriety of the game itself, between the AFC and NFC champions battling it out for the esteemed title, the Super Bowl is also known for creative, humorous advertisements that air during game breaks. We can expect to see some of the most well-known brands putting their best foot forward in their most ingenious and creative commercial installments of the year.

These infamous advertisements share various similarities to what can be described as successful and effective PowerPoint presentations. Compiling a presentation that speaks to your audiences and engages them is a similar concept that should be applied to distinguishing an innovative commercial that markets and intrigues viewers. Below are a few shared examples that both successful Super Bowl commercials and presentations have in common.

Emotion Plays a Part

A good presentation is one that is memorable, and a memorable presentation is one that evokes emotion. Audience members are always captivated by content that is presented with emotion, which can be done by sharing a story or moving visuals. The same concept is applicable to an effective commercial as the brand’s focus is to connect with the audience on an emotional level. After all, the purpose of an advertisement is to sell. Appealing to the consumer’s emotion can make them feel connected to your product or message and in turn, generate sales.

Convey a Message

Every presentation should have a definitive message and this should be clearly repeated throughout your PowerPoint presentation. Having too many themes or conflicting ideas will leave your audience confused: you should attempt to actually teach them something. It’s important to stay on the same page with your audience throughout the entire presentation. The same can be said for a successful commercial, a good Super Bowl advertisement conveys a great message that not only covers what product or service it’s selling but the story behind it.

Become Memorable

Everyone’s favorite Super Bowl commercials are the ones they remember. Your PowerPoint presentation is a compilation of several different components, including graphics, statistics, bullets and talking points. As the presenter, it’s your job to carefully select these in order to project the purposes and themes you want your audience to remember overall. The most memorable Super Bowl commercial of all time was the Apple 1984 Introduction of the Mac Computer. You can watch the commercial here.

What’s your favorite Super Bowl commercial? Comment below and tell us why!

References

Apple 1984 Super Bowl Commercial Introducing Macintosh Computer. YouTube. Accessed January 10, 2014.
Met Life Stadium. Accessed January 10, 2014.

Maintain Audience Attention With This One Technique

Posted on January 7, 2014December 16, 2019 by Rick E

Catching someone’s attention is one thing. Keeping them interested is another.

So here’s your challenge: What can you do to maintain audience attention? It’s almost an unmanageable task due to different factors. For one, every audience member analyzes and processes information differently. This makes appealing to all types of thinkers quite a daunting task.

Another issue is that people have this aversion to sales talks, even if you are simply selling them a particular idea, not a product. So above everything, it’s imperative that your audience learns something interesting about your message instead. There is one rule of thumb that can help you make sure your presentation is above all, understandable….

Put Yourself in Their Shoes

When drafting up a presentation ask yourself this very simple question throughout the preparation of your PowerPoint. Will my points and train of thought be able to hold audience attention and keep them interested? Is this information useful to them? Is there too much content on this slide? Will they comprehend my message?

But placing yourself in the role of your audience will help guide you to think outside the box. Putting everything in their perspective, when you are outlining and creating your presentation, will not only help you cut down excess (and useless) information but also allow you to design a better PowerPoint.

Selfishness Hinders Audience Connections

While most of us subconsciously create our work in the mindset of thinking about us – think about them instead. Take this theory and apply this to your next presentation, you can practice it by going over your finished presentation and jot down notes at places you may think could use some editing and re-designing.

See if you are wholly interested throughout your PowerPoint presentation, and if your mind seems to wander at moments where information isn’t digestible or understandable. Take that into account because it is likely that your audience’s mind would wander at those exact same moments.

Conclusion

To maintain audience attention for a designated period of time does seem almost impossible. With breakthrough statistics categorizing the average adult attention span at a mere 5-12 minutes long, it makes sense for any professional presenter to panic. Sure, there are a few steps that you can take to enhance your professional PowerPoint presentations. However, they don’t offer a real guarantee that you will be able to capture audience attention or make them comprehend your ideas completely.

Being able to communicate effectively is the single most important factor in presentation science, regardless of your topic or message, your audience needs to be on the same page as you.

References:

“4 Types of Audience Members You Need to Present For.” SlideGenius, Inc. November 13, 2013.
Vidyarthi, Neil. “Attention Spans Have Dropped from 12 Minutes to 5 Minutes — How Social Media Is Ruining Our Minds [Infographic].” SocialTimes. December 14, 2011.

Why Your Presentation Needs to be These 3 Words

Posted on January 5, 2014December 16, 2019 by Rick E

Regardless the topic of your presentation, regardless the audience in front of you, regardless time allotted to you, and regardless the goal you have in mind; every single one of your presentations should be about these three words: Understandable, Memorable & Emotional.

Shape your presentation to concurrently fit these three categories, and you will be able to make millions! Not really, but you will definitely have a very effective presentation, which will lead to more sales.

Here is a Forbes’ breakdown of these three categories and the significance of each one:

Understandable.

Without clear and understandable slides, your professional PowerPoint presentation is practically useless. Simplicity is key when it comes to design. In aims to make your content and CTA’s clear to your audience, aim to keep your deck to ten slides and at a very maximum of 4 points per slide.

Bullet points are probably the most widely used form of delivery, but they aren’t necessarily the best. “In 2001 the iPod was “1,000 songs in your pocket.” In 2008, the MacBook Air was “The world’s thinnest notebook.” Steve Jobs always described his products in one sentence.” Bullet points can be effective because they are simple and quick, which makes them easy to understand, but nothing beats delivering your point in a conversational, one-sentence structure. Saying your point as if you were telling it to your mom, friend, or a random stranger is a great way to think of your delivery during your presentation.

Another useful way of thinking of understandability is the “Twitter Test.” If you can express your point in 140 characters or less, you’ll make your point in its simplest form, which is always the best form.

Memorable.

Memory’s magic number is 3! “Neuroscientists generally agree that the human mind can only consume anywhere from three to seven points in short-term, or “working memory” (This is why the phone number is only seven digits. Long ago scientists discovered if you ask people to remember eight digits, they forget just about the entire sequence of numbers). Incorporate this concept of 3 in your presentations. This can be done in a handful of creative ways: describe concepts in three words, divide your whole presentation into three parts (and say that you’re doing that), give the “three next steps,” or use the idea however you see fit. Rule-3 packaging makes things easier to understand, which in turn is more memorable.

Emotional.

Not all people are logical, but I can assure you that everyone is emotional. An emotional story will be more likely to reel in sales than a scientific finding. Ethical, unethical, right or wrong, it seems hearts and guts prove to be better salesmen than brains! Emotion can be presented in a multitude of useful venues. These include, but are not limited to photographs, videos, songs, colors schemes, the way you dress, the way you talk, and even the lighting in the room you present in. Everything around us can sway the way we feel in some way; large and small. Knowing your audience well enough to the point that you can identify what will make them cry, laugh, scream, or sing can be the single most useful tool at your disposal. Be emotional in the way you talk; if you want your audience to be excited, talk as if you were excited!

To sum up, when you’re designing your next corporate presentation, or investor pitch, or just any PowerPoint presentation, make sure you can describe the deck as understandable, memorable, and emotional, and you will find yourself accomplishing whatever the deck was created to accomplish.

Reference:

Gallo, Carmine. “The Three Basic Secrets of All Successful Presentations.” Forbes. February 22, 2013.

7 Apps Every Presenter Should Use

Posted on December 27, 2013December 16, 2019 by Rick E

“With all the apps out there, it’s easy to get stuck with the same icons on your home screen — and never so much as click on the newer ones that would benefit your business most.” – Mashable

Each of these apps have the capability to make your presentations more effective, organize your time to complete those PowerPoint presentations more efficiently, or just make your life easier in general.

1. Lift

Lift helps you achieve your goals, big or small. With your busy schedule, traveling, and running from conference to conference, it is important to stay organized, and keep the important goals you have in check. Lift will force you to keep consistently working on your important goals or tasks at whatever frequency you want.

2. CloudMagic

CloudMagic is a universal and indispensable search engine for all your data. CloudMagic lets you search across Gmail, Yahoo, Dropbox, Evernote, etc., through one simple search box. Very useful when putting together data for any investor pitch, corporate presentation, or sales pitch!

3. TripIt

Tripit is most useful for our “always traveling” presenters. TripIt gives you the ability to organize your travels just by forwarding your booking confirmations to an email address. This app will reduce your stress five times over and will allow you to relax and focus on your presentation instead of the flight.

4. Refresh

Refresh digs through social networks to provide users with a bio on anyone before meeting them; a great way to get some research on your audience prior to delivering your PowerPoint! Knowing the dirty “deets” on specific audiences will allow you to relate to them, which will in turn keep them interested.

5. Audible

As a speaker, you should always be learning and reading books. It’s a great way to keep a steady stream of personal stories, quotes, or news that will come in handy to keep your data unique, interesting, and relevant. I’ve found Audible extremely helpful to listen to books while on the go.

6. LIA

With LIA you can access sales content in the field on a tablet and it works. When you only have 5 minutes with your prospect – trust LIA

7. Corkulous

Corkulous is an easy-to-use idea board only for iPads in which you can collect, organize, and share your ideas in a completely natural and organic way.

8. Sadun’s Whiteboard

This app lets you transform your IPad into a presentation screen and connect to any projection system using an Apple VGA connection or composite/component video-out cable and draw directly to an external screen using standard whiteboard markers and erasers. Really creative way to do live examples of anything you’re presenting on.

If you know any other useful apps for presenters or work related to presentations, feel free to comment them below to be added to this post!

References:

Gerber, Scott. “15 Underrated Apps Every Entrepreneur Should Use.” Mashable. October 26, 2013.

Tan, Kay. “30 Useful IPad Apps for Business & Presentation.” Hongkiatcom.

A Lesson from A Christmas Story: How to Build Your Credibility

Posted on December 23, 2013December 16, 2019 by Rick E

Effectively gaining your audience’s trust is imperative in any presentation setting. Building that sense of reliability can be fairly tricky but there are a few lessons we can takeaway from one of the greatest holiday movies and a certain little boy named Ralphie.

If you aren’t familiar with Jean Shepard’s, A Christmas Story, it’s the classic story of a boy who will do anything to get what he wants for Christmas. In Ralphie’s case, he fantasizes about the, “official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model BB rifle with a compass in the stock “, the one and only thing he wants for Christmas. Throughout the entire film, Ralphie is set on a determined quest to convince his “Old Man”, mother, teacher and Santa himself that he absolutely needs this gift, even though he could potentially “shoot his eye out with that thing”.

So what can we learn about a hopeful little boy who desperately wants a gun for Christmas? It’s simple, Ralphie was able to build credibility with his parents because in the end he got what he wanted when they surprised him with his beloved BB gun. Though his parents were well aware of the possible danger of shooting his eye out, Ralphie constantly assured them that he “would be careful”- enabling their trust.

Here are a few suggestions to help you establish that credibility and trust from your audience when giving a PowerPoint presentation:

Ensure Strong Verbal Delivery and Body Language

Speak loud and clear: the more understandable you are to your audience, the more they can trust what you’re saying. Use effective body language as well: stand tall and don’t fidget nervously to assure them that you’re cool, calm and confident.

Teach More, Sell Less

The purpose of your presentation is to teach your audience your content- selling them goes simultaneously with this. The more your audience learns, the more they remember.

Engage Constantly

Ask questions and listen to their ideas. Effective communication goes along way with trust building: your audience can believe your ideas when you believe in their concerns.

Share Beneficial Content

Skip the fluff, even if your content is simplified—another important PowerPoint tip. Only provide your audience with information that is useful and relatable. Don’t project a ton of text and statistics that they will soon forget, less is more!

Design, Write and Look Professional

This is a three step process. You want your PowerPoint to look neat, clean and presentable so skip the over abundance of animation and bordered backgrounds. Grammar and spell check multiple times before presenting, even ask for a second pair of eyes for extra edits. And most importantly, look presentable! It’s better to be overdressed than under dressed.

These four tips will help you build trustworthiness with any audience base. Whether you are presenting to a conference room full of people, or even just one person, you are building a reputation for yourself within that time period. From start to finish your audience is meticulously judging your words, content and overall appearance of your professional presentation. Capture their attention in a good way and establish that trust from beginning to end.

Though Ralphie may not be a great example in this case, because in the end his parents ended up being right when he almost shot his eye out, he successfully built his own credibility by convincing his parents that they could trust him. In your next professional presentation consider these tips in order to effectively gain your audience’s trust, I double dog dare you.

How to Be the Best : Lessons from Brands that Changed the World

Posted on December 20, 2013December 16, 2019 by Rick E

Netflix. GoPro. The iPod.

What do all of them have in common? These are all original products and concepts that uniquely redefined their industries. They revolutionized the way we watch movies, listened to music and recorded the world around us.

It was pure originality that allowed these ideas to become the most popular name brand names of the era. Simplistic and innovative ideas combining together to create a one of the kind solution to certain problems. 10,000 songs in your pocket, a portable video camera, and a virtual Blockbuster.

So what can we learn from these very different products? Their ingenuity enabled them to become the most successful products and concepts in their markets and it is originality that allows you to create the most impactful PowerPoint presentation. There are a few concepts to utilize in your next presentation to create an innovative and unique PowerPoint.

Branded Templates: Market your way through every slide. Include customized branding and logos throughout your presentation, which gives each slide it’s own unique flair.

Simplicity: This concept goes hand in hand with originality. Minimalize your key points and make sure your content is easily understandable and memorable.

Creative Graphics, Visuals, and Animation: The most creatively designed PowerPoints are the most memorable presentations. Utilize impactful images, sensible animation, and visuals that will excite your audience.

In essence, creating an original PowerPoint doesn’t mean to go out of the standard boundaries of presentation etiquette. You should always have an organized outline with a beginning, middle and end that keeps your story flowing. Being unique is utilizing creativity as a supplementary component of something that is already structured.
An original presentation is not only an impressive one, but one that also shows your creative marketing strategy. Think of ways to use innovation and apply this to your content throughout your presentation. Tell a story, throw in some humor and ask questions throughout your presentations to engage your audience. Do what it takes to be different.

Reference:

“Putting Your Presentation before Your PowerPoint.” SlideGenius. December 9, 2013.

Lessons from Social Media: Instagram

Posted on December 18, 2013December 16, 2019 by Rick E

Whether it be taking picture of plane wings, an appetizing dinner or an artsy photo of your latte, Instagram has become one of the most prominent forms of social media to date. The application became so popular that it was acquired by Facebook this past year in a hefty billion dollar deal. It may be the pure simplicity of photo sharing that draws so many users to the app, but there are certain steps one must partake in to get the perfect “Insta”. We’ve created a comparison between the steps of taking the perfect picture and creating the perfect powerpoint presentation.

Step 1 : Picking the Perfect Angle

The first step of taking any Instagram is getting a unique angle, just like picking a perfect (and direct) angle for your audience when creating a presentation idea. Your ideas and thoughts presented (simply) within your powerpoint should be original and one of a kind, the better the ideas the more these will resonate with your audience.

Step 2: Picking the Perfect Filter

No Instagram is complete without a perfect filter to give it a spruce of color and the same is said for sparking up your presentation. You can add character to any powerpoint slides with eye-opening graphics, videos and images, the more colorful and put together- the better!

Step 3: Picking the Appropriate Hashtag

After you’ve snapped your picture and added the perfect filer, tagging hashtags is necessary to make the Instagram complete. The same step should be used in your final completion of your PowerPoints you should always review your finished slides to make sure all your ideas connect with each other and most importantly- make sense!

Avoiding a PowerPoint Penalty Flag

Posted on December 17, 2013December 16, 2019 by Rick E

You can really use PowerPoint for just about anything…..

This past week’s story in the world of sports came from a man who submitted a PowerPoint presentation as his resume for an open coaching position for the University of North Dakota’s football team. Turns out he doesn’t quite have the standard credentials we were expecting to see. Christopher McComas, who currently works as an technician at Marshall University, made headlines this week as his application for the position went viral on the Internet. He listed out many his esteemed qualifications which included his many years of experience playing Madden and NCAA Football on his beloved Playstation.

The story of Christopher’s application became an Internet sensation. Between the lack of actual qualifications that are appropriate for a collegiate athletic position and his horribly put together powerpoint design, there are a few take aways we can learn from his errors.

Here are a few mistakes we noticed in Christopher’s presentation:

Formatting : Avoid using Comic Sans and boring templates, this shows a lack of effort and preparation.
Grammar/Spelling: With bullet points people tend to think run on sentences are acceptable, but try to avoid this and utilize appropriate and professional language
Lack of Content: There is no significant or persuasive content within his presentations that supports his claim.
Organization: There is no real structure – a presentation should have all three components: a title, a body and a takeaway.

Though we wish Christopher the best of luck in his attempts to coach football at the University of North Dakota, one thing we can guarantee is that this PowerPoint is less than impressive and maybe next time he should just stick to the normal resume format for his next job application.

Full Story: http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2013/12/11/5202166/sb-nation-endorses-chris-mccomas-for-north-dakota-head-coach

The Top 5 Major PowerPoint Mistakes

Posted on December 15, 2013December 16, 2019 by Rick E

Save yourself from a PowerPoint disaster with SlideGenius’s top five list of major PowerPoint presentation no’s of the year. Avoiding these common mistakes will have you going from PowerPoint amateur to professional in a matter of minutes – creating your most impressive presentation yet.

5. Paragraphs on Slides

Having giant paragraphs on your slide will guarantee you two things: a disinterested audience that won’t remember your content. We tell stories with words and images, having a ton of paragraphs up on your slides will distract your audience from listening to your points. Too much text also provides you with more of an opportunity to read directly off of your slides, which of course is another major presentation no. You can avoid this by using bullet points as your primary text formatting- this allows you to broadcast important information without causing your audience to fall asleep.

4. Sound Effects per Animation

Sound effects cause too much chaos during any presentation and will divert your audience’s attention, prevent this mistake by eliminating sound with your transitions. You can easily do this by making sure you’ve clicked “none” in the sound options in the animation box.

3 Using Elementary Fonts

While we all we’ll admit to using our longtime favorites Comic Sans or Garamond Script (yes they are pretty and cute) avoid using these types of fonts within a professional presentation. Stick with the most basic and easily legible fonts available so your audience can actually read your text without wondering if that letter is a g…or maybe a y?

2. Unusual Color Choices and Palettes

Skip choosing awkward color schemes that don’t match well and could possibly distract your audience by let’s say, blinding them. Avoid unusual color combinations such as red and green that are bright and disruptive. Keep your color scheme consistent throughout your entire presentation utilizing the same two or three colors. Also, avoid using those tempting patterned or textured powerpoint themes that will cause your font to be lost in the midst of an chaotic background.

1. Avoiding T.M.I.

T.M.I or Too Much Information is the ultimate general mistake when drafting up any PowerPoint presentation. Too much text, too many slides, and too much content will backfire on transcribing your ideas to your audience. Remember that the average adult thinking span is only five to seven minutes long, so keep all information simple and short -less is more! Tips to avoid this are having time limits and slide maximums (this should be around 15 slides) so you aren’t going overboard with your presentation.
Works Cited: http://presentationsoft.about.com/od/presentationmistakes/tp/080722_presentation_mistakes.htm

Keeping Your Audience in Mind : The 4 Essential Questions to Ask Yourself

Posted on December 11, 2013December 16, 2019 by Rick E

“A good teacher, like a good entertainer who first must hold his audience’s attention, then he can teach his lesson” – John Henrik Clarke

If you ask any author what questions they ask themselves before drafting up their next bestseller, chances are they’ll tell you the first and most foremost step is targeting a specific audience. Presentations are all universally based around an audience because they are the reason why presenters, present. Before you start gathering content or building an outline for your next PowerPoint presentation, you should ask yourself these essential questions first.

Who Are They?

Your first step is knowing the basic knowledge and understanding of who your audience is. These include aspects such as their size, prior knowledge, and expectations. Are you presenting to a small or large group? What kind of production are they expecting? What kind of company culture do they share? Reaching out and personally connecting with them will make all the difference.

What Do They Know?

You don’t want to be going over concepts that the audience is already aware of. Understand what they have prior knowledge of and exclude sounding redundant in your presentation by not utilizing this information. This may require a substantial amount of research, but knowing this background information will put you a step ahead in the game.

What Interests Them?

Losing your audience’s interest is the ultimate presentation backfire, keep them entertained with personalized facts and ideas that are tailored to them exclusively. Do a substantial amount of research on their current projects and incorporate this knowledge within your powerpoint slides.

What Do You Want Them To Learn?

Your takeaway is the most essential feature of your entire presentation. The most vital question (before starting any presentation) is what do you want your audience to remember most? You are the teacher giving your audience a lesson- they should learn from you and your ideas. When crafting your presentation make sure to emphasize these themes or points regularly so your audience can remember the key points first.

Reference:

Sieber, Tina. “10 PowerPoint Tips for Preparing a Professional Presentation.” Makeuseof.com. May 23, 2009.

Our Best PowerPoint Recommendations of 2013

Posted on December 10, 2013December 16, 2019 by Rick E

The developing art of PowerPoint changes year by year; bringing forth new ideas that create all around better presentations. We’ve compiled our list of the most effective and beneficial tips from 2013.

Stay Consistent.

Consistency is key when it comes to your companies branding – the basic marketing should be universal throughout your entire presentation. This uniformity should include your companies logos, color, background, theme and graphic styling. The consistency will help reflect your company’s mission and philosophy by remaining constant on all platforms and this will create a recognizable brand to customers and audience members alike- which builds trust and loyalty.

Back to Basics.

You tell a story with your presentation slides, so think of your PowerPoint as a high school essay that starts with an outline; organizing your introduction, your main points, counterpoints and conclusion. Your presentation should include all of these concepts and flow through accordingly.

Outline Smart.

Every substantial project starts somewhere and your powerpoint presentation should always start with a storyboard. This tool keeps your slides on point and helps you follow your persuasive argument throughout the entire presentation. A storyboard efficiently allows you to write all your points and ideas down prior to starting your powerpoint, which organizes your ideas effectively.

Images Speak Louder than Words.

A picture is worth a thousand words. The images that you place within your slides should be carefully chosen to fit your presentation. Another tip to consider is to chose high quality images, look for HD or downloadable high-res images when searched on the Internet for your content, these will look much more polished on a large projector.

Applying the Right Tools.

Utilizing effective outside tools can be used to enhance many components of your presentation slides. Touching back on a few we’ve covered in the past include beneficial support sites including, The PowerPoint FAQ that answers all your common day PowerPoint questions.

Putting Your Presentation Before Your PowerPoint

Posted on December 9, 2013December 16, 2019 by Rick E

When drafting up any big presentation it’s easy to get caught up and forget about the vital questions that you should be asking yourself. With everything that is contributed to a PowerPoint presentation remember the key points you really want your audience to focus on.

A common misconception when giving any PowerPoint presentation is making your slides the focus, rather than your message- or actual verbiage. This is done by reading directly off your slides and reciting the text word for word. What most people don’t understand is that your PowerPoint is there as a supplementary piece that is used to solely enhance and elaborate your message.

While most of us have the urge to initially focus on getting all of our main points physically written onto a presentation- keep in mind that the PowerPoint slides are suppose to highlight takeaways and provide the content which is used accompany your story. The worst mistake you can make as a presenter is reading your slides word by word, which results in your audience completely losing interest and attention. Remember that, “communication is a transfer of emotion” and this becomes vital in getting your audience to understand your points and ideas.

Before you become caught up in dedicating your time to sprucing up your PowerPoint with tons of facts and fancy themed templates, understand that your speech is equally as important. Your story and words are just as significant as any statistic or graphics you have on your slides, so don’t forget to adequately prepare for your verbal content.

Your presentation is your message. It is the sole reason you even stand up in front of an audience and give PowerPoint in the first place. Be careful not to lose sight of the most significant details in any presentation preparation and make sure your message is portrayed in the most clear and effective way possible.

Works Cited: http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2007/01/really_bad_powe.html

Remapping the Self: A TEDx Talk with Erika Casriel

Posted on October 26, 2013December 16, 2019 by Rick E

How does one define themselves? Why is it that we tend to think our judgements and ideas surpass those around us; and why do our emotions play a part in this? Psychology journalist Erika Casriel discusses new developments within the neuroscience field in a describing a new concept titled, “conciocenterism”, an idea she presented with TED, an organization that broadcasts “ideas worth sharing”.

SlideGenius developed her TEDx Presentation which you can watch here.

Some of Erika’s presentation ideas about this revolutionary notion of “conciocenterism” included concepts such as, instead of thinking of ourselves as the center of the universe we must challenge ourselves and see the more rational sides of our emotions and actions. Her theory challenges us to step outside ourselves and silence the illusion of the “little man inside our mind”. She provides a great analogy stating that instead of seeing ourselves as the lead actor in our life we should place ourselves within the audience position as well; therefore not letting irrational emotions and single minded judgments get the best of ourselves but to look at the bigger picture.

This idea of drifting away from egocentrism can also be tied back into giving a presentation, as you as the presenter must see both sides of the picture in order to connect with your audience by allowing them to see your inner thoughts as well.

References:

Casriel, Erika. “Remapping the Self: Neuroscience Gets Personal.” Lecture, Navesink, January 1, 2013

“Why Your Presentation Needs to Be These 3 Words.” SlideGenius. January 5, 2014.

What Breaking Bad Can Teach Us about Closing a Presentation No Spoilers!

Posted on October 16, 2013April 24, 2020 by Rick E

Breaking Bad, AMC’s hit crime drama we’ve all come to know, love, and mournfully wave goodbye too, ended two weeks ago in a (without giving too much away) justified, epic climax after five seasons of watching Walter White (A.K.A. Heisenberg) turn from sheepish high school chemistry teacher to roaring meth kingpin.

For those of you who haven’t seen BrBa to its bitter-sweet end, I won’t go into details. What I will say of it is that I was thoroughly pleased with its conclusion, but not altogether satisfied, which is exactly what a great ending should be.

Ending our presentations requires the same careful planning. The show’s infamously meticulous Executive Producer Vince Gilligan put a great amount of thought and effort into the show’s final chapter, and that’s because he knows what his audience is going to remember.

There’s a famous saying in the sports world: “You’re only as good as your last game.” From this, we can take away that we’ll be remembered for our most recent victory and defeat. Our significance is who we are today. For a TV show–and for a presentation–the finale, or the closing, will be what is most remembered.

Even if the first 90 percent of your presentation is brilliant, but the last 10 percent is a total wash, guess what they’ll remember from the presentation? The horrific ending. Fair? maybe not, but definitely the reality.

So how to make sure your audience is left with the perfect ending? Here’s a few things Breaking Bad executed flawlessly that we can work into our presentations.

Leave Your Audience Wanting More

I previously stated that Breaking Bad’s ending was fantastic, yet not entirely satisfying. This is because, to me, the show ended at its peak, which I believe is precisely what Gillian planned. The series had a great story arc that resolved all issues, but we all still wanted the show to go on.

You don’t want your audience counting the minutes until you stop talking by the time you’re on the later half of your presentation. In fact, you should end the presentation saying everything you need to say, but your audience wants to keep listening. This will not only have them leaving with a favorable impression of you, but it will keep you and your presentation on their minds, ultimately leading to your information being better retained.

Don’t leave loose ends

There’s a big difference between a show ending at its peak and one that ends open-ended and often confusingly (I’m looking at you, Lost).

Just like this confusing promotional poster, Lost's conclusion left watchers scratching their heads. — Just like this confusing promotional poster, Lost’s conclusion left watchers scratching their heads.

Make sure everything in your presentation is adequately addressed and all questions answered. Many presentations leave their audience almost more confused that when the presentation started. A great way of ensuring your audience understood what you had to say is to leave time at the end for a Q&A session. At SlideGenius, we recommend to allot an equal amount of time for your Q&A session as for your presentation.

Hammer home your message

Just like Bogdan's eyebrows, our endings — Just like Bogdan’s eyebrows, our presentation’s message in our conclusion should be apparent and unavoidable.

Breaking Bad brought it all back out of the wood works for the finale. Characters we hadn’t seen in a couple seasons come back to life to be part of this modern-day western, and the episode even opens with Walter White back in his early meth-cooking days, where he still lies to his wife about having to work late at the car wash for its egotistical owner Bogdan. Don’t just end, recap. Remind them of your key points and overall message. Ending on your last point will likely reinforce the idea that the last point is the oly thing to take away, when it’s usually just one of many that you made.

What Professional Athletes Can Teach Us about Preparing for a Winning Presentation

Posted on October 9, 2013November 25, 2019 by Rick E

There’s a saying in the sports world that 90 percent of performance is mental.

This isn’t to say that all the intense physical preparation, practice, and training for the big game won’t have a huge effect on an athlete’s performance, but none of that hard work will matter without being mentally prepared for the pressures of high-level competition.

Similarly, while it’s obviously vital to practice, obtain the best professional PowerPoint possible and plan all aspects of your presentation carefully, to avoid stress and pressure affecting you at the moment of your presentation. If you’re not mentally prepared then that presentation you worked so hard to perfect might never come to fruition. Look at some of today’s top athletes, like Peyton Manning and Lebron James, prepare themselves physically and mentally before any big game and have this down to an exact science.

Visualize Success

There was a study conducted by Dr. Judd Blaslotto at the University of Chicago in which the subjects were divided into three groups. At the beginning of the study, he tested each group on how many free throws they could make.

After this, he had the first group practice free throws every day for an hour, the second group just visualized making free throws successfully for an hour, and the third group didn’t do diddly squat.

After 30 days, the groups were retested. The third group didn’t improve. The first group improved by 24 percent and the second—the ones who did nothing but sit around all day thinking about shooting free throws—they improved by 23 percent.

young boy thinking — Success can look as easy as this. Simply imagining the success of your presentation can help ensure it.

Visualizing success is imperative to that success manifesting itself. If you are continually thinking about all the terrible things that could go wrong during a speech, this negative reinforcement may result in a poor performance. However, if you make it a point in your preparation to picture yourself giving a winning presentation, studies show that this will have a discernible positive impact.

Golfing and Grace Under Pressure

When pro female golfer Inbee Park won the U.S. Female Open earlier this summer, she credited her success to two things: her experience and her mental health coach.

This reiterates the two-part recipe for success in both sports and presenting to an audience. Preparation, practice, and experience are the foundation for success, but mental toughness is the final ingredient to a winning presentation.

Champion golfer Inbee Park employs a mental health coach to help keep her cool on the course.

Many golfers now use a mental coach to learn how to embrace anxiety before a tournament in order to use it to their advantage. The right amount of anxiety can heighten our awareness and sharpen our senses. The trick is to stay on top of your anxieties, controlling them rather than letting them control you.

While obviously this post can’t do what a mental coach can, some important lessons a mental coach often provides are:

–Don’t carry mistakes from the previous hole through the rest of the round. When giving a presentation, don’t let past flubs haunt you. View each presentation as a unique opportunity to prove yourself.

–Deep breaths can go a long way. It will lower your heart rate and allow you to think clearly and rationally about the situation.

–Enjoy yourself. When you’re having fun, you won’t be weighed down by the pressure of the situation. Realize that people just want to enjoy your speech and have fun with it.

Maintain a Positive Outlook

Psychology today analyzed endurance sports such as marathon running and found that a key part of enduring these grueling races is mental outlook. While there isn’t as much crossover between presentation and endurance sports, there is a good lesson to learn about maintaining a positive attitude in the face of unexpected challenges, which is important when things don’t go as planned during our presentations.

“The key is how people respond to the stressful conditions,” writes psychologist Jim Taylor, Ph.D. “If you have two athletes of equal ability and one sees, for example, rain and wind as a threat that scares and intimidates them and the other as a challenge that they know they can overcome, the latter athlete will be more successful.”

This guy might be enjoying the rain a little too much, but he's certainly a good example of not letting misfortunes bog you down. — This guy might be enjoying the rain a little too much, but he’s certainly a good example of not letting misfortunes bog you down.

So if there’s a technology malfunction, an unruly crowd , or any of the unforeseeable flubs that tend to arise, remember to view them not as a death sentence to your presentation, but as another challenge to overcome and prove yourself with.

Check out our Webinar for ON24 :Teaching the Importance of Simplicity

Posted on October 7, 2013November 25, 2019 by Rick E

SlideGenius Founder and CEO Rick Enrico spoke last Thursday on the importance of simplicity in presentation design as a part of ON24’s very first installment of its Webinar Academy.

To view the webinar, titled, “Avoiding Information Overload: The Importance of Simplicity in Presentation Design,” do the quick, 1-minute registration here and view the entire webinar series created by ON24, a leading virtual communications company. Along with Rick’s, you’ll find several other Webinars that have a lot to teach about presenting in the digital age.

While most presentations designed by SildeGenius are given in person, the attention ON24 is giving to Webinars is indicative of a growing trend toward Internet-based presenting and how this is expanding our scope of how we can reach an audience. By viewing our webinar, you’ll see that all the key elements of an effective PowerPoint presentation are still there, but coupled with it is the ability to reach millions of people at the click of a button by creating your presentation online.

How to Think Like $5.99 and Not Like $6.00

Posted on September 6, 2013November 25, 2019 by Rick E

Imagine you own a clothing store. Now you decide to begin a sale for that store. Let’s say a particular type of shorts usually costs $20 per short, but for the purposes of the sale you’re going to mark them down to $15 a piece.

There are two ways you could present that discount. The first would be as a percentage. Going from $20 to $15 would be 25% off. The second would be as an absolute number with $5 off. Which way is better?

Both discounts amount to the same final price. 25% off $20 and $5 off $20 both result in the customer paying $15 for the shorts. So both representations of the discount should have the same effect, right?

Wrong. Jonah Berger, author of Contagion, explains to us that the consumers find the 25% discount more attractive than the 5$ off. While the two discounts are the same economically, they don’t trigger the same psychological effect. One feels like a larger discount than the other.

Accordingly, the next time you’re reporting numerical information, pay attention to how you are presenting it. The way changes are represented can have a big impact on how they’re perceived.

Focus on the final number.

Like the story above, most people seemed to be more enticed by the offer when the discount number was larger. Rule of thumb would be whenever you are offering a discount under $100 display it as a percentage, and when the offer is greater than $100 display it as an absolute number. This will make sure you are always maximizing your psychological impact. Simpler is better. No one cares about a page of numbers and figures that look like the green screen display from the matrix. You need to simplify your results, and then simplify them again. Think of your raw data as a pile of freshly picked vegetables. People don’t want to eat them when they still have dirt and leave stems on them. People want a quick and painless way to stay healthy, so what do you do? You take those vegetables, clean them, cut them, put them in a blender and make a smoothie. Then you take that smoothie and turn it into a wheatgrass shot. Quick and to the point. So yes, your data should be reduced to the size of a wheatgrass shot! After all, the simpler your can represent your findings, the easier it will be for your audience to understand you, which will in turn make your call-to-action more successful.

Tell a story.

Everyone knows the best stories are the ones told with pictures, so use them. Portraying data graphically reveals patterns in the data that are hard to notice otherwise Visual depictions of data are almost universally understood without requiring knowledge of a language. It is also useful to alter your tone and speed as you approach the finding of any given graph. Much like when telling a story, the storyteller tends to get really excited toward the climax or “best part” of the story; it is not only useful but critical to draw attention to the most important features of the data.

I’ll leave you with Hans Rosling’s fascinating TED talk revolved around displaying data effectively, which you can watch here.

References:

Berger, Jonah. “Fuzzy Math: What Makes Something Seem Like A Good Deal?” linkedin. August 28, 2013.

Kakutani, Michiko. “Mapping Out the Path to Viral Fame.” The New York Times. February 25, 2013.

Rosling, Hans. “The Best Stats You’ve Ever Seen.” ted.com. February 2006.

Building an Irresistible Pitch Deck for Investors

Posted on March 23, 2023March 23, 2023 by Rick E

To raise capital, entrepreneurs need to build an irresistible pitch deck for investors. Whether for seed funding, Series A funding, or beyond, a pitch deck is critical for convincing investors to take a chance on a business venture. However, creating a successful pitch deck can be difficult.

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This blog will cover tips for creating a pitch deck that investors cannot resist.

Tips for creating an irresistible pitch deck for investors

Securing investment for any business—no matter its size and industry—requires creating a pitch deck that grabs the attention of investors and delivers the message clearly and convincingly.

Here are some valuable insights on creating a pitch deck for investors that accomplishes its goals:

Keep it concise and visually appealing

Length and visual appeal are critical factors in creating a winning pitch deck for investors, as investors have limited time to review multiple pitch decks. Therefore, in one glance, your pitch deck should already convey the message you need them to remember. Aim for conciseness, visual appeal, and easy navigation.

Structure your pitch deck clearly and logically. Start with an attention-grabbing introduction that clearly explains your business and the problem it solves. Then, give an overview of your business model, target market, and competition. The rest of the slides should be for essential information the potential investors must know.

When presenting data, use visuals such as charts, graphs, and infographics to present information engagingly and understandably. Avoid using long paragraphs of text that can overwhelm the reader. Instead, format your presentation’s content carefully, using bullet points or turning text into visual content to highlight your key messages.

Focus on the problem and solution

Investors want to see your product or service at work, how it solves a specific problem in the market, and if there is a clear need for it.

To effectively communicate your solution, define the problem your business addresses. Be succinct with the problem statement, ensuring that it captures the pain points of your target market. Use statistics and real-world examples to back up your claims and emphasize the problem’s urgency.

Once you have established the problem, showcase your solution as the best available choice in your market by articulating your unique value proposition. Use data and testimonials to support your claims and build credibility.

Investors also want to understand the potential market size and opportunity for growth. Define your target market and demonstrate how your product or service can reach a significant portion of that. Use market research and data to support your projections and show potential for revenue, growth, and scalability.

Highlight your traction and milestones

Investors want to see that your business is on an upward trajectory, and there is evidence to support your claims of growth and potential success.

Identify significant milestones your business has achieved to date to persuade investors your business is a wise investment opportunity. Use data and concrete examples to show investors your business is succeeding.

Moreover, provide context for your milestones. Explain the ways the achievements have impacted your business. Furthermore, demonstrate the potential for future growth. You can include data on revenue growth, user engagement, and market share. Providing social proof can also reinforce the credibility of your business.

Use compelling storytelling

Using compelling storytelling is a critical aspect of an attractive pitch deck, as investors also want to be engaged and emotionally connected to your product or service.

Craft a narrative that highlights the problem your business addresses. Use anecdotes or real-life examples to create a sense of urgency and demonstrate the need for your solution. Assist investors in understanding the human impact of the problem and how your business can make a difference.

Then, present your solution clearly and compellingly. Use visual aids when applicable to illustrate how your product or service works to solve the problem. Finally, paint a vision for the future using your pitch deck—how can your solution change lives, impact society positively, and change the world?

Use powerful imagery or persuasive language to help investors envision what the world will look like once your business has succeeded.

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SlideGenius is a professional presentation design agency specializing in creating pitch decks for investors, no matter their sizes and industries. With years of experience creating visually stunning and persuasive presentations, it has become a go-to and leading design agency for companies, including Fortune 500 businesses.

Connect with SlideGenius today for a free consultation.

Applying Psychology-Proven Techniques to Create Compelling Presentations

Posted on March 22, 2023March 21, 2023 by Rick E

Not all presentations are created equal—some captivate audiences while others leave listeners counting the seconds until the end. Moreover, today’s fast-paced world requires creating engaging and compelling PowerPoint presentations to capture the audience and deliver a message.

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With so much information competing for our attention, applying psychology-proven techniques to build a compelling presentation is more crucial than ever. Let’s explore some psychology-backed strategies to create a PowerPoint that stands out.

Knowing the Audience

Audience engagement affects the success of a presentation. Therefore, knowing your audience is crucial to building effective PowerPoint presentations.

Understand your audience’s demographics, interests, and knowledge levels to tailor your presentation to meet their needs and keep them engaged.

How to gather your audience’s information? Before the presentation, you can conduct a survey or poll to help you understand your audience’s expectations, knowledge levels, and concerns. You can also use social media or online forums to gather information about your audience.

Storytelling

Cognitive psychologist Jerome Bruner claimed that stories are 22 times more memorable than facts alone.

As a powerful technique for engaging your audience and making your presentation more memorable, storytelling helps emotionally connect the audience with your message, making them remember it long after the presentation.

How to create engaging stories for your presentation? Use the classic storytelling structure of beginning, middle, and end. Introduce your topic, present the challenge or conflict to solve, and provide a resolution for a satisfying conclusion.

You can share a personal anecdote, a case study, or a customer success story to illustrate the benefits of your message in a way that resonates with your audience.

Using visual content

According to 3M, visual aids improve learning by up to 400%.

Visual content helps reinforce your message and makes your presentation more engaging for maximum learning and retention. However, it’s critical to use visual aids optimally.

Choose the right fonts, colors, and images, as they can significantly impact the effectiveness of your presentation.

Use high-quality images, as poor-quality ones can detract from your message. Limit the amount of text, as too much text on a slide overwhelms your audience. Use colors appropriately to emphasize key points and create a cohesive look and feel.

Reducing cognitive load

Cognitive load refers to the amount of mental effort required to process information. When an audience is overloaded with information, retention can become a challenge.

Reduce the cognitive load to make your presentation more interesting, engaging, and enjoyable for your audience.

Simplify your message by focusing on the key message you want to convey, avoiding unnecessary information. Use simple, easy-to-comprehend language to make it easier for the audience to follow your message. Break up information into digestible chunks for easier processing.

Using persuasive techniques

Persuading your audience to take action or adopt your point of view requires inspiring and motivating them.

Use social proof to be persuasive. Customer testimonials or success stories help deliver your message with impact and drive your point home. Moreover, you can create a sense of urgency to emphasize the importance of your message and highlight the consequences of inaction.

Build a strong argument that addresses your audience’s concerns and objectives to increase the audience’s motivation to take action.

Using psychology-proven techniques can help presenters build a compelling PowerPoint presentation. With these strategies, you can take your presentations to the next level and achieve your goals.

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SlideGenius is a presentation design agency that helps companies create compelling, high-impact presentations. They apply psychology-proven techniques to build presentations that resonate with their clients’ target markets. Moreover, they serve businesses and organizations across different industries, including Fortune 500 companies.

If you want to build professional, informative, and visually appealing presentations, you can partner with SlideGenius.

Contact SlideGenius today for a free consultation.

How to Choose the Right Presentation Design Agency for Your Business

Posted on March 21, 2023March 20, 2023 by Rick E

Presentations are some of the most used documents in business; however, building and designing an effective presentation requires specialized skills. Conveniently, companies and organizations can hire a presentation design agency to work on their documents.

Design agencies have the skills to deliver stunning, engaging presentations, but choosing the right one for your business can be challenging.

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Choosing the wrong agency could result in an ineffective presentation that fails to deliver your message effectively. In this blog, let’s explore ways to select the right presentation design agency for your business.

Determine your needs

Knowing your specific needs means you can choose a professional design agency that meets them. Here are some steps to take to determine your needs:

Identify your specific design needs

Determine the type of presentation you need. Is it a pitch deck, an annual report, a sales presentation, or a training PowerPoint presentation? Each type of presentation has particular design requirements. Therefore, it is critical to know which type you need to create.

Decide on the type of presentation

Consider the audience, as different audiences require different presentation styles and formats. For instance, an investor pitch deck may require a more professional and formal design, while a sales presentation may require a more creative and engaging design.

Define your audience and their expectations

Consider your audience’s preferences, demographics, and expectations. What are their interests and preferences? What kind of design and tone will resonate with them? Define your audience and their expectations to create a tailored presentation.

Evaluate potential agencies

After determining needs, the next step is finding and evaluating potential presentation design agencies. Here are some steps to take to ensure you select the right agency:

Conduct a thorough search

Look for agencies with experience designing presentations for businesses in your industry or niche. Read reviews and testimonials from past clients to get an idea of their expertise level and customer service.

Check out their portfolio

Most presentation design agencies have a portfolio of their previous work. Take the time to review their portfolio to assess their design style and quality. Look for agencies with experience designing presentations that align with your needs and expectations.

Evaluate design process

A presentation design agency’s design process will reveal how they work and how well they can meet your needs. Therefore, evaluate an agency’s design process when choosing the right one for your business.

Assess expertise and experience

Find presentation design agencies with a team of experienced designers with a proven track record of creating winning presentations. Consider the agency’s expertise in your specific industry or niche and their ability to deliver high-quality design services within your budget and timeframe.

Consider customer service and communication

Good communication and customer service are crucial when working with a presentation design agency. Look for a responsive and professional agency with a proven track record and reputation for delivering excellent customer service.

Asses service rates

Evaluate the service rates of design agencies to ensure their services align with your budget. However, remember that the lowest price doesn’t always mean the best value. Consider work quality, the scope of work, turnaround time, and customer service when evaluating rates.

With the right presentation design agency, you can have engaging and effective presentations that achieve your desired outcomes and drive the success of your business.

SlideGenius is a leading presentation design company that offers a wide range of design services to businesses of all sizes and industries.

With an experienced team of collaborative designers and project managers and a proven track record of delivering high-quality, high-impact presentations, SlideGenius is a popular choice among businesses.

Get in touch with SlideGenius today.

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Tips for Building Confidence Before a Presentation

Posted on March 20, 2023March 20, 2023 by Rick E

Have you ever felt nervous or unsure of yourself before a big presentation? It’s natural to be anxious when all eyes are on you. However, confidence is the key to a successful presentation—the more confident you are, the more engaging and effective your presentation will be.

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There are tips and tricks to help you build confidence before stepping onto the stage. In this blog, we’ll explore various techniques to prepare for a presentation.

Preparing for the presentation

To build confidence before a presentation, thoroughly preparing is critical.

Researching and practicing

Research the topic extensively to gain a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. Then, practice presenting the material until you build confidence in your delivery. Also, you can practice with colleagues, friends, or family to get feedback.

Preparing presentation materials

Prepare all the necessary materials, including slides, handouts, or other visuals. Ensure all materials are error-free, easy to read, and professional.

Familiarizing yourself with the venue

Visit the venue before the presentation to acquaint yourself with the space and know the available equipment. Doing so could reduce anxiety and make the talk feel more comfortable.

Dressing for success

What you wear can have a significant impact on how you feel.

Choosing appropriate attire

Choosing the right outfit can be instrumental in building confidence. Dress professionally and appropriately for the occasion to help you feel more comfortable and prepared.

Making sure you feel comfortable

Wear something that you feel comfortable in. Don’t wear something too tight or too loose to avoid feeling self-conscious, distracted, or uneasy. Choose an outfit that looks and feels good.

Utilizing body language

Body language can show how you feel about yourself and your message.

Practicing confident postures

Convey confidence by practicing appropriate postures. One of the best postures that exude confidence is standing tall with your shoulders back and head up. This posture does not only convey confidence but also makes you feel more in control of the situation.

Maintaining eye contact

Maintaining eye contact with your audience will make you appear more confident. Before your presentation, practice making eye contact with someone while you speak to help you get more comfortable.

Using gestures effectively

Aside from making you feel more comfortable and expressive, gestures can help emphasize key points in a presentation. However, using too many or inappropriate gestures can be distracting. Thus, practice in the mirror to see how you look when using hand gestures.

Managing nerves

It’s normal to feel nervous before a presentation, but there are techniques you can use to manage nervousness.

Deep breathing exercises

Reduce anxiety and increase relaxation by taking deep breaths, inhaling and exhaling slowly, and focusing on the sensation of air entering and leaving your body.

Positive self-talk

Use positive self-talk to boost confidence. Repeat affirmations such as “I am well-prepared,” “I am knowledgeable,” or “I am confident.” These affirmations can turn negative self-talk into positive self-take.

Visualizing success

Visualize yourself delivering a successful presentation and receiving positive feedback from the audience. Visualization can reduce anxiety and build confidence by creating a mental image of success.

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Building confidence before a presentation takes time and practice, but worth the effort. Follow the tips outlined in this blog to build your confidence as a presenter to deliver successful presentations.

Crafting a Compelling Story: Using the Five-Act Structure in Your Presentations

Posted on March 19, 2023March 20, 2023 by Rick E

A compelling story captures our attention, takes us on a journey, and moves us. It’s no surprise that storytelling has become an essential tool for brands looking to connect with their audience.

For presenters, storytelling is a critical element that can make the difference between a dull, forgettable presentation and one that leaves a lasting impression.

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The five-act structure can help presenters deliver engaging and effective presentations. It serves as a framework for creating a compelling story that takes the audience on a journey, from the opening scene to the satisfying resolution.

Each act of the five-act structure serves a specific purpose, helping presenters build tension, engage their audience, and drive their message home. Let’s take a closer look at each act and how presenters can use them to craft compelling stories that resonate with their audience.

Act One: Exposition

The first act is all about setting up the story. Its goal is to create a foundation for your story and set the stage for conflict and tension.

Introduce your topic and establish the context for your audience. Ensure your audience understands the topic’s importance and relevance to them.

Also, during this act, introduce your main character—your product, service, or idea. Connect with your audience and give them a reason to care about your topic and what you are saying.

Furthermore, establish the problem you’re trying to solve or the opportunity you’re trying to seize. Use anecdotes, statistics, or examples to illustrate or address the issue or challenge.

Act Two: Rising Action

The second act should introduce conflict and tension, raising the stakes and engaging the audience emotionally.

Introduce the main ideas and arguments. Then, elaborate on them. Highlight the consequences of not solving the problem you introduced in Act One.

Draw your audience in, ensuring they are engaged and interested. Moreover, build momentum, layering in details and examples to support your ideas.

Act Three: Climax

The third act is the high point of tension and excitement. It is where conflict is at its peak.

Climax is the most dramatic part of your presentation, and your audience waits eagerly to see how the story will unfold. Therefore, use storytelling techniques to keep your audience engaged.

Present your solution or idea and explain how it addresses the problem or opportunity. Then, create a sense of urgency and emphasize your solution’s benefits.

Use compelling visuals and emotional language to bring your story to life. You can also use examples of people who have benefited from your solution or idea for the relatability factor.

This act aims to build a crescendo and leave your audience excited about the possibilities presented.

Act Four: Falling Action

The fourth act begins to resolve the conflict and wind down the story.

Tie up loose ends and provide closure to your presentation. You could outline your product’s or service’s benefits and discuss how it solves the problem or addresses the topic you introduced.

You can also summarize your presentation’s main points and offer a call to action. After this phase, you should create a sense of resolution and leave your audience feeling satisfied.

Act Five: Resolution

The fifth act is the conclusion of your presentation. It’s the last impression your audience will have of your presentation.

Provide a satisfying conclusion that leaves your audience feeling fulfilled and motivated to take action. Summarize your key takeaways, reiterate your call to action, and give a final message. Use language that inspires your audience to take action and make a difference.

End your presentation with a memorable closing statement that reinforces your message, as it’s the one that will stay with your audience long after they’ve left the room.

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Your goal as a presenter is to engage your audience and make your message resonate with them. Using the five-act structure, you can create presentations that are not only informative but also memorable and impactful.

Creating Impactful Presentations for C-Suite Audiences

Posted on March 18, 2023March 17, 2023 by Rick E

When creating a presentation that meets the expectations of c-suite audiences, it is important to be mindful of their time constraints and decision-making responsibilities.

C-suite executives have a lot of information to process and evaluate. They often have to make quick decisions that could significantly impact the organization. Therefore, your c-suite presentation should be clear, concise, and engaging to capture their attention and convey your message effectively.

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Let’s explore practical tips for creating an impactful and engaging presentation for c-suite audiences.

Know your audience

When preparing a presentation for a c-suite audience, it’s best to understand who they are, what they do, and what they care about.

Research your audience’s background, interests, and challenges to tailor your presentation to their needs and preferences. Know your audience to create a presentation that resonates with them and addresses their concerns or questions.

Craft a compelling story

A compelling story engages your audience and communicates your message effectively.

Start by outlining your presentation’s structure and identifying the key points you want to make. Connect with your audience emotionally to make your presentation more memorable using storytelling. Your story should have a clear beginning, middle, and end and be designed to persuade your audience to take action.

Use visuals to support your message

Visuals are an effective way to communicate complex information and make your presentation more engaging.

Use charts, graphs, images, and videos to support your message and help your audience visualize your ideas. However, be mindful of using too many visuals, as they can distract or overwhelm your audience.

Keep your slides simple

When it comes to presenting to c-suite audiences, your presentation should be clear and simple.

Since c-suite executives have limited time and attention spans and are constantly processing large amounts of information, you can keep your presentation simple by limiting the number of slides, avoiding cluttered slides, and using simple and clear language.

Focus on key messages

Identify the key messages of your presentation and highlight them on your slides.

Once you’ve identified the key takeaways you want your audience to remember, you should ensure you can clearly communicate them throughout your presentation. You can also use visuals to emphasize key messages.

Stay to your key messages and avoid adding irrelevant information that can confuse your audience. Less is often more when it comes to creating impactful presentation slides.

Include clear call-to-actions

Ensure you direct the next actions of your audience using clear call-to-actions in your presentation.

C-suite executives are typically busy professionals who have limited time to devote to reviewing your presentation. CTAs can guide them toward the specific actions you want them to take. By doing so, you increase the likelihood of achieving your goals and making an impact.

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Creating impactful presentations for c-suite audiences is critical for anyone looking to make an impression in the business world. Follow the instructions outlined in this blog to craft presentations that are concise, persuasive, and memorable.

The Power of Design: How a Well-Designed PowerPoint Can Steal the Show

Posted on March 17, 2023March 17, 2023 by Rick E

Design has become an integral part of our lives—from the clothes we wear to the brands we support and the products we use. It plays a significant role in how we perceive and interact with the world around us. Similarly, in the field of presentations, the power of design cannot be overstated.

A well-designed PowerPoint presentation can capture the audience’s attention, communicate complex ideas effectively, and enhance the presenter’s credibility.

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Explore the power of design in presentations and how a well-designed PowerPoint can steal the show. We will also provide practical tips and common mistakes to avoid when designing a PowerPoint presentation.

Understanding design principles

Design principles refer to a set of guidelines that help designers create visual compositions that are aesthetically pleasing and effective in communicating their message.

When it comes to designing a PowerPoint presentation, understanding and applying design principles can make a big difference in the overall impact of the presentation.

Some essential design principles to consider when designing a PowerPoint presentation include the following:

Balance

Balance is the distribution of elements on a slide to create a sense of equilibrium. A well-balanced PowerPoint presentation consists of evenly distributed elements and is not cluttered.

There should be a balance of negative space around and between elements, as well as a balance of different types of elements, such as text, images, and graphics.

Contrast

Contrast refers to using different elements in a slide to create a visual impact. Achieve contrast using color, font, size, and shape.

Using these different elements, you can create a visual hierarchy and make certain elements stand out more than others, which can help draw attention to key points and improve the overall readability and effectiveness of your slide.

Emphasis

Emphasis is used to draw attention to a specific element on a slide. It can be achieved by using color, size, or position.

In addition to those elements, emphasis can also be achieved by using other visual elements such as contrast, font style, and graphic elements.

Hierarchy

Hierarchy is the arrangement of elements on a slide to show the importance of each element. It helps the audience understand the organization of the information being presented.

Hierarchy can be established in a PowerPoint presentation through the clever placement and use of fonts. Moreover, placing elements in a logical order, such as from top to bottom or left to right, can also help establish a hierarchy and guide the viewer’s eye through the slide.

Benefits of a well-designed PowerPoint

A well-designed PowerPoint presentation is not only visually appealing but also serves a critical role in engaging the audience and communicating information effectively. When you build a well-designed presentation, your audience is more likely to stay focused and retain the information you are presenting.

Here are some key benefits of a well-designed PowerPoint:

Capturing audience attention

Delivering an effective presentation requires capturing the audience’s attention.

A well-designed PowerPoint can do just that by using visually appealing graphics and a consistent design scheme that draws the audience’s attention to the most important elements of the presentation.

Communicating complex ideas effectively

Visual aids such as images, videos, charts, and graphs can help communicate complex ideas more effectively.

Rather than relying solely on words to convey information, visual aids can provide a more detailed and nuanced understanding of the concepts you are presenting.

Enhancing the presenter’s credibility

A well-designed PowerPoint can enhance your credibility as a presenter, showing you have put thought and effort into the presentation.

Your attention to detail can create a sense of trust between you and the audience, making it more likely that the audience will be receptive to the ideas you are presenting.

Making a lasting impression

A well-designed PowerPoint can leave a lasting impression on the audience, making the presentation more memorable.

You can make a lasting impression by using eye-catching visuals, incorporating storytelling techniques, and engaging the audience through interactive elements such as polls or quizzes.

Tips for designing a winning PowerPoint presentation

Creating a well-designed PowerPoint presentation requires careful consideration of various design elements.

Here are some tips to help you design a winning PowerPoint:

Choosing appropriate fonts

The right font can enhance the overall look and feel of the presentation, but it’s important to choose a font that is easy to read.

Avoid using overly stylized or decorative fonts, as they can be distracting and make the text difficult to read. Sans-serif fonts like Arial, Helvetica, or Calibri are good choices for body text, while serif fonts like Times New Roman can be used for headings.

Selecting the right color scheme

A cohesive color scheme can help create a professional and visually appealing presentation.

Choose colors that complement each other and consider the mood and tone of the presentation. You can use color to highlight important information, but avoid using too many colors or those that clash with each other.

Adding images and videos

Visual aids such as images and videos can help make your presentation more engaging and memorable.

Use high-quality images relevant to the content being presented, and avoid using low-resolution or pixelated images. Videos can be a powerful tool for demonstrating concepts or telling a story, but make sure they are appropriate for the audience and the content being presented.

Utilizing white space

White space is the empty space around design elements, such as text, images, and graphics.

Incorporating white space into your design can help create a clean and uncluttered look that is easy to read and understand. Use white space to separate different sections of your presentation and to draw attention to important information.

Using visual aids

Visual aids such as charts, graphs, and diagrams can help to illustrate complex information and make it easier to understand.

Use clear and easy-to-read charts and graphs relevant to the content being presented. Avoid using too many visual aids, as this can be overwhelming and distracting for the audience.

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Designing a well-designed PowerPoint presentation can bring many benefits to the presenter. Follow these tips to create a winning presentation that accomplishes its goal.

The Advantages of Hiring a Professional Design Agency for Your Business

Posted on March 16, 2023March 16, 2023 by Rick E

Your company’s visual identity and design can significantly impact how potential clients perceive your brand. Therefore, investing in high-quality, well-designed company resources that reflect your business accurately is crucial. To ensure your company resources are top-notch and create a good, lasting impression, hiring a professional design agency can be a wise investment.

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Professional design agencies offer creative services that can take your visual identity to the next level. In this blog, we’ll explore the benefits of hiring a design agency.

Professional design agencies have the expertise you need

Professional design agencies have a wealth of design expertise and a team of skilled designers who possess extensive industry knowledge and experience. They stay up-to-date with current design trends and know the best design practices for different industries.

Moreover, their experience with various design projects means they have creative problem-solving skills to help your business stand out from the competition.

With a professional design agency, you can be assured your visual identity will be in the hands of experts.

Professional design agencies can save you time and money

Time is money in the business world, and investing in a professional design agency can help you streamline your design process, saving you money.

Professional design agencies can save you time and money in the long term. They have a team of designers who can work together to create high-quality designs in a shorter amount of time than if you were to do it in-house.

Additionally, they can help you avoid costly design mistakes that can cost you more in the long run.

Professional design agencies value quality and consistency

Quality and consistency are crucial to your business’s visual identity. Professional design agencies can help you establish a consistent, strong visual identity across all of your marketing materials, from physical documents to virtual ones.

Hiring a professional design agency will ensure your designs are high quality and consistent with your brand messaging. They have the tools and resources to create high-quality designs that represent your business accurately.

Professional design agencies implement a collaborative process

A professional design agency can bring your vision to life through collaboration.

They will listen to your ideas, consider those, and provide feedback to elevate your designs. They will work with you throughout the design process, ensuring the designs align with your business objectives.

Design agencies implement a collaborative process, ensuring the designs accurately reflect your business’s identity and message and resonate with your target audience.

Professional design agencies have the resources and tools

Professional design agencies have access to professional tools and software needed to create high-quality designs. Also, they have in-house, expert designers who work together, delivering excellent, high-impact creative solutions. Additionally, they have a network of industry professionals they can tap into for additional resources and support.

By working with a professional design agency, you can leverage their resources and tools to create top-notch designs.

Professional design agencies increase business opportunities

Your visual identity significantly impacts your business’s success.

Professional design agencies can help you attract new customers, retain current ones, and enhance your business’s image and reputation. Create a positive first impression with potential customers and establish your business as a professional and trustworthy brand by investing in high-quality designs.

Establishing your visual identity with the assistance of a professional design agency can lead to increased business opportunities and ultimately, greater success for your business.

Hiring a professional design agency is a worthwhile investment for any business looking to improve its visual identity. With the advantages of partnering with one, it’s no wonder that more and more companies are turning to professional design agencies.

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SlideGenius is a design agency offering creative solutions that help businesses establish their visual identity. They have worked with clients across various industries, from startups to Fortune 500 companies, helping them achieve their business goals through design solutions.

Take your business to the next level to gain investors and partners by partnering with SlideGenius. Contact SlideGenius today.

Simplifying Complex Financial Data in Presentations

Posted on March 15, 2023March 16, 2023 by Rick E

PowerPoint presentations have become a ubiquitous tool for presenting complex financial data. However, presenting financial data can be daunting, particularly when it involves large datasets and intricate graphs.

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Let’s discuss tips and techniques for simplifying complex financial data in PowerPoint presentations, enabling you to create accessible and understandable presentations.

Understanding your audience

Knowing your audience is vital to creating effective PowerPoint presentations since different audiences may require different levels of complexity in financial data.

Consider your audience’s level of expertise and familiarity with financial terminologies. For example, a presentation to a group of financial experts may require a more detailed data analysis while a presentation to non-financial stakeholders may require a simplified version of the information.

Understanding your audience and tailoring your presentation to their needs will make the data more accessible and easier to understand.

Using visuals

Visuals can help break down large datasets into more easily digestible pieces of information.

Charts, graphs, and infographics are all effective ways to visually represent data easily and comprehensibly. For example, a pie chart can visually communicate how a company’s revenue is distributed, while a line graph can demonstrate trends over time.

Keep your visual content simple and easy to read. Avoid using overly complicated, hard-to-interpret ones.

Organizing your data

Organizing your data logically and coherently is crucial when presenting complex financial information. You aid the audience in understanding the relationships between different pieces of information and the overall structure of the data.

Grouping and labeling data into categories and sections that make sense to the audience is an effective way to simplify complex information. For example, grouping sales data by region can help the audience understand how sales vary across different areas.

A well-organized presentation makes it easier for the audience to follow the information presented and retain the key points.

Limiting your data

One of the biggest challenges when presenting complex financial data is selecting which ones to include and exclude.

Presenting too much information can dilute your key points. Therefore, highlight only the most critical data to avoid overwhelming the audience. Moreover, when selecting the data to include, prioritize the ones relevant to your audience and message.

Remember, when selecting data to present, include only the ones essential in delivering and simplifying your message.

Using simple language

Financial information is already complex, and using technical language or financial jargon unfamiliar to your audience can make your presentation hard to follow. Simplify the language without losing crucial information to ensure the audience understands the data being presented.

Every time you deliver a financial presentation, consider that your audience may be unfamiliar with financial terminology. Therefore, using simple language is vital to making the presentation accessible to everyone.

Simplifying complex financial data in PowerPoint presentations is essential to communicate information to your audience effectively. Applying these tips will enable you to present financial data with clarity and impact, allowing your audience to make informed decisions based on the information provided.

SlideGenius is a presentation design agency offering creative solutions that help businesses simplify their complex financial information. If you need help creating visually appealing and effective financial presentations, SlideGenius is available to assist you.

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With SlideGenius, you can deliver a presentation that is both visually appealing and informative. Contact SlideGenius today to learn more.

The Dos and Don’ts of Answering Questions During a Presentation

Posted on March 14, 2023March 13, 2023 by Rick E

Answering questions during your presentation reinforces your message, engages your audience, and demonstrates your expertise. However, not all presenters handle questions equally well, and poor answers can derail even the best presentations.

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Let’s explore the dos and don’ts of answering questions during a presentation, with practical tips and advice to help you navigate this crucial aspect of public speaking.

Dos of Answering Questions

To effectively answer questions during a presentation, it’s crucial to follow these dos:

Listen carefully and be attentive

Pay attention to the questioner and avoid distractions. Being attentive shows you respect your audience and value their input. Moreover, it helps you stay focused and ensure that you are providing relevant and accurate information.

Clarify the question if necessary

If you’re unsure what the questioner is asking, ask for clarification to ensure you answer the right question. By doing so, you avoid any misunderstandings and ensure you are answering the right question. Also, it demonstrates you are actively engaging with the audience and are interested in their feedback.

Repeat or summarize the question

To guarantee everyone in the audience understands the question, it is a good idea to repeat or summarize it. This technique assures clarity and grants you additional time to formulate your answer. Furthermore, it serves to address the questioner’s concerns directly and effectively.

Answer the question briefly and directly

When answering questions, keep your response brief and to the point. Avoid rambling or going off-topic, as this can confuse or bore the audience. Instead, focus on answering the question as clearly and concisely as possible.

Provide examples if possible

Providing examples is useful when answering questions during a presentation. Examples can help illustrate your point and make it easier for the audience to understand. Moreover, they can help engage the audience, making the presentation more memorable.

Thank the questioner for their input

Thanking the questioner for their input is a great way to show appreciation for their engagement. It also encourages others to participate and engage with the presentation. By thanking the questioner, you respect their input and reinforce your commitment to delivering a quality presentation.

Don’ts of Answering Questions

On the other hand, there are also some don’ts when it comes to answering questions during a presentation:

Ignore or dismiss the question

Even if the question seems irrelevant or difficult, you should show respect by addressing it. Ignoring a question can come across as rude or dismissive, damaging your credibility and relationship with the audience.

Give irrelevant or incorrect answers

Providing incorrect information can undermine the credibility of the presentation, leading to a loss of trust from the audience. If you’re stumped, it’s better to admit you don’t know the answer than to provide incorrect information.

Talk too much or stray off topic

Talking too much or deviating from the topic is a common mistake when answering questions during a presentation. Keep the answer brief and to the point, avoiding tangents that can bore or confuse the audience.

Staying on topic and providing a concise answer can help maintain the audience’s interest and keep them engaged throughout the presentation.

Become too defensive or confrontational

Sometimes, a question may be challenging or critical, causing you to become defensive or contentious. However, it’s crucial to stay calm and composed, even in difficult situations.

Responding with a defensive or confrontational attitude can create tension between the presenter and the audience, leading to a negative experience for everyone involved.

Forget to maintain eye contact and engage the audience

Remember to make eye contact and actively involve the audience during your presentation. Keeping the audience engaged and demonstrating a genuine interest in their questions and opinions can establish a positive connection with them.

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Answering questions during a presentation can be nerve-wracking, but with the right approach, it can be an opportunity to engage with your audience and reinforce your message. By following the dos and don’ts in this blog, you can answer questions confidently, concisely, and with maximum impact.

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Method One: Recover Unsaved Presentations

Method Two: AutoRecover

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If there is one social media platform that has changed the way we connect with the world around us, in only 140 characters or less, only one network comes to mind.

Step 1: Simplify Your Thoughts

Step 2: Get With What’s Trending

Step 3: Get Your Audience to Follow

References

Cue the famed actresses in overly expensive ball gowns. Cue the undeniably sarcastic and quirky host. Cue the applauses. It’s awards season in Hollywood.

So what can we compare an Oscar speech to?

An Elevator Pitch

1. Short

2. Memorable

3. Passionate

References

Have you trained adequately?

Do you have a strong will to win?

Are you willing to accept the challenge?

Are you Inspirational?

References

If you have been paying attention to recent pop culture news feeds lately, you may have heard of the phenomenon known as, “The Michael Bay Meltdown.”

1. Don’t Memorize a Script

2. Being Honest Will Help You in The Long Run

3. Own Up to Your Mistakes

Conclusion

Reference

Emotion Plays a Part

Convey a Message

Become Memorable

References

Put Yourself in Their Shoes

Selfishness Hinders Audience Connections

Conclusion

References:

Regardless the topic of your presentation, regardless the audience in front of you, regardless time allotted to you, and regardless the goal you have in mind; every single one of your presentations should be about these three words: Understandable, Memorable & Emotional.

Understandable.

Memorable.

Emotional.

Reference:

“With all the apps out there, it’s easy to get stuck with the same icons on your home screen — and never so much as click on the newer ones that would benefit your business most.” – Mashable

1. Lift

2. CloudMagic

3. TripIt

4. Refresh

5. Audible

6. LIA

7. Corkulous

8. Sadun’s Whiteboard

References:

Effectively gaining your audience’s trust is imperative in any presentation setting. Building that sense of reliability can be fairly tricky but there are a few lessons we can takeaway from one of the greatest holiday movies and a certain little boy named Ralphie.

Ensure Strong Verbal Delivery and Body Language

Teach More, Sell Less

Engage Constantly

Share Beneficial Content

Design, Write and Look Professional

Reference:

You can really use PowerPoint for just about anything…..

1. Avoiding T.M.I.

“A good teacher, like a good entertainer who first must hold his audience’s attention, then he can teach his lesson” – John Henrik Clarke

Who Are They?

What Do They Know?

What Interests Them?

What Do You Want Them To Learn?

Reference:

References:

There’s a saying in the sports world that 90 percent of performance is mental.

Visualize Success

Golfing and Grace Under Pressure

Maintain a Positive Outlook

Imagine you own a clothing store. Now you decide to begin a sale for that store. Let’s say a particular type of shorts usually costs $20 per short, but for the purposes of the sale you’re going to mark them down to $15 a piece.

Focus on the final number.

Tell a story.

References:

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Tips for creating an irresistible pitch deck for investors

Keep it concise and visually appealing

Focus on the problem and solution

Highlight your traction and milestones

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Conclusion

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