Category: Lessons

The Road to Delivering a Persuasive Presentation

persuasive presentations

presentation tips

Nov 24, 2014

As we frequently point out, the success of your presentation is measured through the impact it makes on the audience. If you can move them to action and persuade them to consider new ideas, then you’ll know that you’ve done your job right. Whether you’re pitching to investors, selling a product, or sharing your thoughts as an expert in a conference, the main goal is to convince and connect with the audience. As the presenter, you need to show them that your viewpoint is valid and worth their interest. Delivering a persuasive presentation is the quickest route toward this outcome.So what does it take to deliver a persuasive presentation? What do you need to do to enthrall and engage an audience? Here are 3 essential things you’ll need to keep in mind:

Start with a powerful hook

A persuasive presentation should always start with something that will capture the attention of your audience. According to some experts, presenters only have 60 seconds to make a positive impression on stage. If you can’t begin to engage the audience within that time, you might lose their attention quickly. That’s why it’s important to start with a hook. Whether or not you have longer than a few seconds, it’s important to begin with something that will make people sit up with curiosity.The best way to do that is by creating a sense of familiarity and relatability. Try to approach your presentation from the point of view of the audience. Show them that your presentation is more than just a collection of facts and data. Let them see that your presentation is actually relevant to their experience.This is where storytelling is particularly effective. A story is a great way to appeal to emotions. You can share something from your own experience or share a scenario that emphasizes the perspective of the audience. This is especially crucial if you’re delivering a sales pitch. Try to describe a vivid story that situates your audience as the protagonist, highlighting problems that you can solve.

Give your audience something to look forward to

At the heart of it, a persuasive presentation is all about being able to sell an idea. To do that, think about your own experience as a consumer. Why do you choose certain brands over others? Why are you compelled to try out new products? For both scenarios, it’s because you’re offered something you want or need. In other words, products make certain promises that interest you.The same should be said about your presentations. In order to “sell” your own ideas, you have to make a promise that the audience can look forward to. Consider the 2007 Apple Keynote where Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone. There, he repeatedly mentioned that their new product was going to “reinvent the phone“. Looking forward to this promise, 700,000 units were bought by consumers within the first weekend of its release.While it’s important to make powerful statements, you should also keep them grounded with supporting facts and data. In his keynote, Steve Jobs provided quick demos, stats, and visuals to strengthen his message. The only promises you should be making are the ones you are sure you can keep. Offer the audience evidence to bolster the validity of your message. Aside from research data, you can also share some testimonials or demonstrations. Let them determine that your presentation is both powerful and reliable.

End with a call to action

When you reach the end of your presentation, it’s not enough to say thank you and quietly ask for questions. First, you’ll need to reiterate your main points, making sure that the main takeaway is clear for the audience to see. Next, you’ll need to urge them to take positive action.Tailor a Call to Action statement that’s specific to the outcome you’re aiming for. After you’ve shared your ideas, it’s time to give the audience a particular goal or objective they can act on. What do you want to happen as a result of your presentation? Your answer to this question should be echoed to the audience in a strong and straightforward voice.As we’ve mentioned in an earlier blog post, you need to be brief and straight to the point. Avoid using phrases that sound like you’re beating around the bush. Statements such as “if it interests you, maybe you can consider…” make it sound like you’re hedging. You need to show confidence in your presentation. If you’re confident about your presentation, the audience will surely feel the same way.There are no shortcuts to a successful presentation, but the quickest route is through the art of persuasion. By delivering a persuasive presentation, you  can move the audience to consider and affirm new ideas. Follow these 3 tips to drive your audience into action and achieve the outcome that you’re hoping for. Featured Image: Corey Leopold via Flickr

Collaboration in Prezi: Creating a Cohesive Vision

Prezi Feature of the Week

prezi tips

prezi tutorial

Nov 20, 2014

Technology continues to make communication and collaboration much easier. Share your ideas and collaborate with everyone in your team with a step-by-step guide in this week’s Prezi Feature. A presentation isn’t always a lone endeavor. Maybe you’re working with collaborators on a new project. Maybe you need to ask some people in your team to corroborate the facts and data you have. Whatever the reason, there will be occasions when your work requires close collaboration with others. If you want to make sure that the core message is properly represented through visuals and content, you’ll need to take into account everybody’s input.Unfortunately, this isn’t as easy as it sounds. The process of collaboration can get a bit tedious, especially when you’re building a presentation deck together. There will be plenty of back and forths between different individuals. Dozens of emails sent. Different versions of the presentation file shared. There are so many steps to go through before everyone can agree on a final “look”. In between those steps, there are a lot of room for error as well. The process will be so much easier if you can all just sit and work together at one time. But what if there’s a conflict in schedules? Or what if your collaborators live across the country from you?We often talk about how today’s technology has significantly increased our ability to communicate, specifically in the world of business. You can save a lot of time and effort if you know which tools to use. Speed up the process and see everyone’s input instantly using Prezi’s collaboration feature.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to keep everyone’s ideas clear and cohesive:

With Prezi’s collaboration feature, you can work with up to 10 different users. While editing your presentation, click on the Share button at the right side of the top menu.Choosing ‘Share prezi’ will prompt a pop up where you can type down the email address of your collaborators. Prezi will send emails informing them that they can edit the presentation with you.From there, it’s as easy as working on your prezi as you usually would. Except now you’re working together with several other people, making your own edits on specific parts of the presentation.If you want to see which part of the prezi your collaborator is working on, click on their avatar and choose ‘Zoom to position’.You can also invite other users to join by expanding the sidebar on the right. If you want to review your prezi once everyone is done making their contributions, just click on ‘Start presentation’.You’ll be the presenter by default, but you can allow your collaborators to take the lead by clicking on their names and choosing ‘Hand over presentation’.

Collaboration is a crucial part of any project. When it comes to preparing presentations, the old saying “two heads are better than one” is often true. Allow others to share their ideas and contribute to create a strong and cohesive vision. Creating a presentation involves a lot of creativity and innovation. With Prezi’s collaboration feature, you can combine the best ideas into a single vision.

Featured Image: Death to the Stock Photo / Prezi logo via Wikimedia Commons

Improve Your Presentations with the Power of the Metaphor

metaphors for presentations

Nancy Duarte

presentation expert

presentation tips

Nov 18, 2014

Metaphors are a powerful tool for simplifying complex ideas and making abstract concepts more relatable. By comparing unfamiliar concepts to something your audience already understands, you can make your message clearer, more engaging, and easier to remember.Here’s how you can harness the power of the metaphor to improve your presentations:

1. Clarify Complex Concepts

When you’re dealing with difficult or abstract ideas, a well-chosen metaphor can help your audience grasp the concept more quickly. Metaphors act as mental shortcuts, making complex information easier to understand.Why It’s Important:

  • Simplifies Information: Metaphors break down complex ideas into more familiar terms, helping your audience grasp them faster.
  • Engages the Audience: Metaphors make your presentation more engaging by using vivid, relatable imagery.

How to Do It:

  • Use a metaphor to compare your concept to something familiar. For example, explaining a company’s growth strategy by comparing it to a tree’s growth, with roots representing foundations and branches representing expansion.

2. Make Your Presentation More Memorable

Metaphors help create vivid mental images that your audience is more likely to remember. These mental connections make your message stick long after the presentation is over.Why It’s Important:

  • Increases Retention: Metaphors can make your key points more memorable by tying them to familiar or striking images.
  • Strengthens Engagement: People are more likely to stay engaged with a presentation that uses creative, relatable language.

How to Do It:

  • Use metaphorical language to paint a picture for your audience. For example, “Our company’s strategy is a chess game—every move is calculated to get us closer to checkmate.”

3. Appeal to Emotions

Metaphors can evoke emotions, which in turn help reinforce your message. When your audience connects emotionally with your content, they are more likely to be persuaded or moved to action.Why It’s Important:

  • Builds Emotional Connections: A well-crafted metaphor can resonate emotionally with your audience, helping them connect with your message on a deeper level.
  • Inspires Action: Emotionally charged metaphors can inspire your audience to take action or think differently about your topic.

How to Do It:

  • Use metaphors that evoke positive emotions and relate to your audience’s experiences. For example, “Launching this product is like setting sail on a new adventure—we’re ready to weather the storms and reach our destination.”

4. Avoid Overcomplicating Metaphors

While metaphors can be powerful, they should not be overly complicated or obscure. The goal is to simplify the concept, not confuse your audience with an abstract or far-fetched comparison.Why It’s Important:

  • Prevents Confusion: A complex metaphor can confuse your audience rather than clarify your point.
  • Maintains Focus: Simple, direct metaphors help keep the focus on your main message.

How to Do It:

  • Choose metaphors that are simple and easy to understand. For example, “Think of our supply chain like a relay race—each department hands off the baton to the next, ensuring smooth operations.”

Final Thoughts

Metaphors are a powerful communication tool that can clarify complex ideas, make your message more memorable, and build an emotional connection with your audience. By incorporating metaphors into your presentations, you can engage your audience more effectively and help them understand your key points in a more relatable way. Keep your metaphors simple and relevant to ensure they enhance, rather than complicate, your message.

Presentation Science: 5 Thought-Provoking Presentation Resources You Need to See

presentation resources

presentation tips

Nov 14, 2014

Mastering the art of presenting isn’t just about charisma or design; it also involves understanding the science behind communication, audience engagement, and cognitive psychology. Whether you’re a seasoned presenter or just starting out, there are numerous resources that can help you deliver more effective and thought-provoking presentations.Here are five presentation resources that delve into the science of effective communication and can significantly improve your skills:

1. “The Back of the Napkin” by Dan Roam

Dan Roam’s “The Back of the Napkin” is a fantastic resource for understanding how visuals play a key role in communicating complex ideas. Roam argues that anyone can use simple drawings to clarify their thinking and convey powerful messages. The book explains how visual storytelling can help you break down abstract concepts into easily digestible parts.Why It’s Thought-Provoking:

  • Simplifies Complex Ideas: The book demonstrates how simple sketches can effectively communicate complex concepts.
  • Focuses on Visual Thinking: Roam explores how visual thinking can enhance your presentation’s impact and help the audience understand difficult topics.

Key Takeaways:

  • Use basic visuals like diagrams or charts to explain complicated information.
  • Don’t overcomplicate your visuals—simplicity is key.

2. “Made to Stick” by Chip and Dan Heath

“Made to Stick” explores why certain ideas succeed and others fail. The Heath brothers break down the principles that make ideas memorable and offer practical advice on how to apply these principles in presentations. The book delves into the psychology of storytelling, emotion, and how to frame your message to make it “stick” with your audience.Why It’s Thought-Provoking:

  • Explores the Science of Memorable Ideas: The book focuses on how to make your message clear, engaging, and unforgettable.
  • Provides Practical Frameworks: The Heath brothers offer actionable tips for crafting messages that resonate with audiences.

Key Takeaways:

  • Use the SUCCES framework (Simple, Unexpected, Concrete, Credible, Emotional, Stories) to craft memorable presentations.
  • Focus on telling stories that evoke emotion and leave a lasting impact.

3. TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking by Chris Anderson**

Chris Anderson, the head of TED, shares insights from some of the most successful TED Talks in “TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking.” This book goes beyond presentation techniques and dives into the mindset and preparation required to deliver engaging talks. Anderson explores the science of public speaking, including how to captivate audiences and effectively communicate your ideas.Why It’s Thought-Provoking:

  • Focuses on Presentation Mindset: Anderson emphasizes the importance of preparation, structure, and audience connection.
  • Based on Real TED Talks: The book draws from hundreds of TED speakers, providing proven examples of what works in public speaking.

Key Takeaways:

  • Focus on delivering a clear, central idea in your presentation.
  • Create an emotional connection with your audience by sharing personal stories or experiences.

4. “The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint: Pitching Out Corrupts Within” by Edward Tufte

Edward Tufte’s “The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint” critiques PowerPoint’s tendency to oversimplify complex information and argues that presentations should encourage deeper thinking and understanding. Tufte advocates for better data visualization and warns against relying too heavily on bullet points and templates. His work is a must-read for anyone who wants to improve their presentation’s effectiveness.Why It’s Thought-Provoking:

  • Challenges Conventional PowerPoint Use: Tufte critiques how PowerPoint oversimplifies information and offers alternatives for more effective communication.
  • Emphasizes Data Visualization: The book focuses on how to present data in ways that encourage deep understanding and insight.

Key Takeaways:

  • Avoid over-reliance on bullet points and use more visuals or data to convey complex information.
  • Focus on clarity and precision in your presentation design.

5. “Presentation Zen” by Garr Reynolds

“Presentation Zen” by Garr Reynolds focuses on simplicity, clarity, and visual storytelling. Reynolds offers a design-centric approach to presentations, emphasizing minimalism and the importance of aligning visuals with your spoken narrative. His work is highly regarded for merging presentation design with principles from Zen philosophy, making it a great resource for presenters looking to elevate their visual and communication skills.Why It’s Thought-Provoking:

  • Emphasizes Simplicity and Clarity: Reynolds advocates for minimalistic, elegant presentations that focus on key messages.
  • Blends Design with Philosophy: The book incorporates Zen principles to promote a mindful, thoughtful approach to presenting.

Key Takeaways:

  • Keep your slides simple and focused—less is often more.
  • Use visuals to complement your narrative, not distract from it.

Final Thoughts

These five resources combine the science of communication with practical techniques to help you deliver more engaging, memorable, and thought-provoking presentations. Whether it’s understanding the power of storytelling, improving your visual communication, or refining your presentation style, these resources will elevate your skills and help you connect more deeply with your audience.

Prezi Tips: How to Create Your Own Designs in No Time

Prezi Feature of the Week

prezi tips

prezi tutorial

Nov 13, 2014

Prezi is known for its dynamic, zoomable presentations that break away from the traditional slide-based format. With Prezi, you can create engaging and visually captivating presentations that move smoothly between different elements, helping you tell a compelling story. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced Prezi user, these tips will help you create your own designs in no time.

1. Start with a Prezi Template

Prezi offers a variety of ready-made templates that can be customized to fit your content. Starting with a template helps save time while providing a solid foundation for your presentation design.Why It’s Effective:

  • Saves Time: Prezi’s templates are professionally designed, allowing you to focus on customizing the content rather than starting from scratch.
  • Provides Structure: Templates provide a clear structure, making it easier to organize your presentation and create a cohesive flow.

How to Do It:

  • Open Prezi and browse the template gallery. Choose a template that matches your presentation’s style and theme.
  • Customize the template by adding your text, images, and other media.

Example: If you’re creating a business pitch, choose a professional template with clean lines and subtle colors that can be easily adapted to your company’s branding.

2. Use Prezi’s Zooming Feature Effectively

One of Prezi’s standout features is its zooming capability, allowing you to zoom in and out of content. This feature can help you present your information in a nonlinear way, making your presentation more interactive and engaging.Why It’s Effective:

  • Enhances Engagement: Zooming adds movement to your presentation, keeping your audience interested and helping them follow along.
  • Emphasizes Key Points: By zooming in on specific elements, you can highlight important information and create a visual hierarchy.

How to Do It:

  • When designing your Prezi, map out the flow of your content so that key points can be zoomed in on when needed.
  • Avoid excessive zooming, which can be disorienting for the audience. Use it strategically to guide the viewer through your presentation.

Example: Use zoom to start with an overview of your topic, then zoom in on specific points for deeper explanations, such as moving from a big-picture concept to detailed case studies.

3. Customize Your Path

In Prezi, your presentation follows a path that connects each element. While templates come with predefined paths, you can customize the path to better suit your narrative and control how the audience navigates through your content.Why It’s Effective:

  • Improves Flow: Customizing the path allows you to create a logical flow that matches the story you want to tell.
  • Tailors the Experience: You can adjust the path to focus more on key points and skip less important details if needed.

How to Do It:

  • Use the Edit Path feature in Prezi to customize the order in which elements are presented.
  • Rearrange, add, or remove elements from the path to create the flow you want.

Example: For a product presentation, you can start with the product overview, zoom in on its features, then move to customer testimonials, and finish with pricing details.

4. Incorporate Multimedia Elements

Prezi allows you to insert multimedia elements such as images, videos, and charts to make your presentation more interactive. These elements not only add variety but also help illustrate complex ideas more clearly.Why It’s Effective:

  • Enhances Engagement: Incorporating multimedia can break up the text and keep your audience visually engaged.
  • Simplifies Complex Information: Visuals like charts or videos can help explain difficult concepts more effectively than text alone.

How to Do It:

  • Drag and drop images, videos, or charts into your Prezi design. Make sure they are relevant to your content and support your key points.
  • Use multimedia elements sparingly to avoid overwhelming your audience.

Example: Include a short product demo video to show how your solution works or insert a chart that visualizes key data points.

5. Make Use of Prezi’s Frames

Frames in Prezi are like slide containers, used to group content together and control how the audience views each section of your presentation. Frames can be circular, rectangular, or invisible, allowing for flexible design.Why It’s Effective:

  • Organizes Content: Frames help break down your presentation into sections, making it easier to manage and navigate.
  • Guides the Viewer: Using frames allows you to control what the audience sees and when, guiding them through your narrative in a structured way.

How to Do It:

  • Use frames to group related content together. For example, one frame might contain all the key benefits of your product, while another contains customer testimonials.
  • Choose from Prezi’s different frame shapes to match the visual style of your presentation.

Example: Create a circular frame to highlight an important statistic and a rectangular frame to show a step-by-step process.

6. Keep It Simple

Prezi’s zooming and interactive features make it tempting to add a lot of movement and content, but it’s important to keep your presentation simple and focused. Overcomplicating the design can distract from your message and confuse your audience.Why It’s Effective:

  • Improves Clarity: Keeping the design simple ensures that your content is the focus and prevents the audience from feeling overwhelmed.
  • Maintains Engagement: A clean, simple design is easier for the audience to follow, helping them stay engaged with your message.

How to Do It:

  • Stick to one main idea per frame and avoid cluttering the design with too many elements.
  • Use zooming and movement sparingly, ensuring that every action serves a purpose.

Example: Instead of cramming multiple charts and text into one frame, focus on presenting one chart at a time, followed by a zoom into a key takeaway.

Final Thoughts

With these tips, you can create your own Prezi designs quickly and efficiently while still delivering an engaging, dynamic presentation. By using templates, customizing paths, incorporating multimedia elements, and keeping your design simple, you’ll be able to create professional, visually appealing Prezi presentations that captivate your audience.

Fine-tuning Your Presentation’s Core Message

core message

presentation content

presentation preparation

presentation writing

Nov 12, 2014

As a presenter, your main goal is to make sure that the audience remembers the vital parts of your discussion. It’s not a particularly easy task, especially if you’re tackling several different points throughout an hour-long presentation. That’s why crafting a fine-tuned core message is important. You should have a clear and effective way to deliver the “big idea” behind your presentation. You should have something short and straight to the point that the audience can repeat and memorize.The core message is the anchor that keeps your presentation from floating off. In other words, it keeps your presentation set on a single premise. Everything you present—from the data you share to the slides you show—should contribute in driving home this key idea. When you first sit down to prepare your presentation, it should be the first thing you have in mind. What do you want the audience to take away from your discussion? What’s the outcome you’re aiming for? The answer to these 2 questions is the first step towards an effective core message. After that, you’ll need to fine-tune your message to make sure it’s easy to repeat, recognize, and remember.Spend some time scribbling down your ideas. Keep revising your core message to meet the following criteria:

1. Is it specific and straight to the point?

As we’ve already mentioned, the core message will be the center of your presentation. If you want to keep the discussion on the right track, your core message needs to focus on the particulars of your message. The topic of your presentation gives the audience an overview of what you might talk about, but the core message is specific and straight to the point. Determine the purpose of your presentation and make sure it’s evident in your message.

2. Is it short and conversational?

If you want the audience to remember your message, you have to make sure that it stands out. Try to write your core message in a more conversational style. As you know, there are distinct differences between the way we write and speak. Craft your presentation as you would a conversation. If you want your message to stick, keep it short and cut back on jargon and industry talk.

3. Is it relevant to your audience?

Maintain the audience’s interest by placing them at the center of your presentation. Make sure your message is relevant to their interest by keeping in mind their point of view. Do this by addressing your message directly to them. Try to answer these four questions to learn more about your audience. Featured Image: Horia Varlan via Flickr

Why Your Presentations Need Better Slide Headlines

presentation content

presentation tips

presentation writing

slide headlines

Nov 04, 2014

Slide headlines play a crucial role in guiding your audience through your presentation. They not only introduce the content but also highlight key messages, helping your audience quickly grasp the main points. However, many presentations suffer from vague or ineffective slide headlines, which can confuse or disengage the audience. Improving your slide headlines can make your presentation more impactful and ensure that your key messages are clearly communicated.Here’s why your presentations need better slide headlines and how to craft them:

1. Headlines Summarize the Key Point

The headline of a slide should act as a summary of the most important point on that slide. Instead of using a generic headline like “Introduction” or “Sales Figures,” use the headline to convey the key message directly.Why It’s Important:

  • Clarifies the Main Idea: A clear, descriptive headline helps the audience understand the core message of the slide without having to read all the content.
  • Keeps Your Audience Engaged: Well-written headlines allow the audience to follow the narrative of your presentation easily, keeping them engaged and focused.

How to Do It:

  • Think of your slide headlines as “mini conclusions” that answer the “so what?” question.
  • Be specific and actionable—use headlines that tell the audience what they should take away from the slide.

Example: Instead of using a generic headline like “Company Growth,” use “Our Market Share Increased by 20% in Q3” to clearly communicate the key takeaway.

2. Headlines Provide a Visual Hierarchy

Effective slide headlines create a visual hierarchy that helps your audience navigate through your presentation. When used correctly, they guide the audience’s attention and emphasize the most important information.Why It’s Important:

  • Improves Readability: A strong visual hierarchy ensures that your audience can easily identify the most important information on each slide.
  • Guides the Flow of the Presentation: Headlines act as markers that signal transitions between sections or ideas, helping the audience follow your train of thought.

How to Do It:

  • Use larger, bolder fonts for your headlines to make them stand out from the body text.
  • Keep your headlines concise, aiming for no more than one or two lines.

Example: Create a clear distinction between your slide headlines and body text by using a different font size or color for the headline.

3. Headlines Reinforce Your Message

Slide headlines can reinforce your overall message by repeatedly communicating your key points. Each headline should contribute to the overall narrative of your presentation, leading your audience toward the final conclusion or call to action.Why It’s Important:

  • Strengthens Message Retention: Repeating key ideas through headlines helps reinforce your message, making it easier for the audience to remember important points.
  • Keeps the Narrative Cohesive: Well-crafted headlines create a seamless narrative flow that ties your slides together, ensuring that your presentation feels cohesive and logical.

How to Do It:

  • Ensure that each headline ties back to your core message or theme.
  • Use headlines to emphasize key points that align with your presentation’s goals, such as driving sales or persuading an audience.

Example: If your presentation is focused on driving customer engagement, each headline should reinforce how your product or strategy achieves that goal, such as “Our App Increased Customer Retention by 35%.”

4. Headlines Make the Content Easier to Scan

Audiences often skim through presentation slides, especially when there’s a lot of information to process. Effective headlines make it easier for your audience to scan and understand the key points, even if they’re not reading the entire slide.Why It’s Important:

  • Enhances Comprehension: Clear and concise headlines help the audience grasp the main idea of each slide, even if they don’t read every detail.
  • Improves Audience Focus: Headlines draw the audience’s attention to the most important information, ensuring that your key messages are not missed.

How to Do It:

  • Use short, punchy headlines that communicate the essence of the slide in just a few words.
  • Avoid vague or overly complex language—keep your headlines simple and direct.

Example: Instead of “Marketing Performance Review,” a more effective headline might be “Q2 Marketing Campaign Delivered 50% ROI.”

5. Headlines Help You Stay Focused

Clear slide headlines also benefit you as the presenter by helping you stay focused on your key messages. If your headlines are clear and well-defined, it’s easier to maintain a logical flow throughout your presentation.Why It’s Important:

  • Keeps Your Presentation Organized: Well-written headlines act as a roadmap for your presentation, ensuring that each slide supports your overall narrative.
  • Helps with Timing: Clear headlines keep you on track, preventing you from getting sidetracked or spending too much time on less important points.

How to Do It:

  • Review your slide deck to ensure that every headline aligns with your core message and moves the narrative forward.
  • Use your headlines as cues to remind yourself of the key points you need to cover on each slide.

Example: If you’re presenting a proposal, headlines like “Next Steps for Implementation” or “Expected Outcomes by Q4” can help you stay focused on actionable points.

Final Thoughts

Better slide headlines make your presentation clearer, more engaging, and easier for the audience to follow. By summarizing the main point, reinforcing your message, and providing a visual hierarchy, well-crafted headlines can transform your presentation from average to outstanding. Take the time to review and refine your slide headlines to ensure they convey the right message and guide your audience through your presentation with ease.

Visual Storytelling: How Stories are Told in Pictures

Marketing

presentation design

visual storytelling

Oct 28, 2014

Are pictures really worth a thousand words? Let’s take a look at some facts.According to a whitepaper published by NewCred and Getty Images, the following statistics are proof:

  • 40% of people will respond better to information presented visually
  • 83% of human learning is visual
  • 44% of users are more likely to engage with brands on social platforms if they post pictures
  • Articles and blog posts that contain images get 94% more views than those without

Aside from all that, there’s also proof in the way our mind works. The human brain can process visuals 60,000 times faster than information presented through text. In fact, we’re all highly attuned to our sense of sight. According to Dr. John Medina, vision trumps all of our other senses.With these facts laid out, it’s easy to see why images are important to presentations and marketing materials. Through visual storytelling, you can use pictures to create stronger emotional impact. Pictures can tell a story that immediately allows your audience to connect with the message you’re sharing.So whether you’re delivering a presentation or revamping your social media profiles, visual storytelling is the best way to go. When selecting pictures to use, try to keep in mind the four key characteristics of visual storytelling:

Authentic

The best stories come from candid moments. It’s why photo sharing has become so prevalent in the age of social media. Replacing the super-polished stock photos are snapshots that allow others to see the world through a more personal perspective. Take, for example, Dove’s Real Beauty campaign. Instead of featuring models that are photoshopped to perfection, Dove featured everyday women and challenged today’s absurd beauty standards.To find images that are more authentic to your story, focus on what your brand stands for. Look for images that convey your identity and experiences as a brand. Next, look for something that will resonate with your audience. Think about the people you’re addressing and what might be authentic for them.

Relevant

Visual storytelling should also take into account what’s happening in the world. After all, your message doesn’t exist in a bubble. It’s contextualized in a milieu—a world where billions of individuals are discovering new things every single day. Make sure your visual stories are relatable and relevant to the audience you want to target. Consider what Oreo did to make the most out of a blackout that interrupted the Super Bowl. For your own visual story, choose images that evoke a sense of time and culture.

Sensory

The only thing better than a picture is the real thing. But since you can’t have real situations on a PowerPoint slide, you’re going to have to settle for the next best thing. Visual storytelling thrives on imagery that can heighten emotions and senses.Close-up and macro shots are great for showing textures that audiences can almost touch. On the other hand, a long shot can also take your audience into a particular scene, allowing them to experience it through a wider perspective.

Archetypal

Lastly, the best of visual storytelling alludes to narratives that are practically as old as time. If you think about it, you’ll notice that all your favorite stories are tied together by recurring themes and archetypes. These are universal symbols—called such because they can be found across many different countries and cultures. For your visual stories to be a success, you need to take these symbols and turn it into your own.Find an archetype that relates to your brand and make it your own. Get to know your own new character and find images that correspond to this new version of a well-loved symbol.Visual storytelling is great technique to use in presentations and marketing efforts.  By weaving imagery together, you can create a story that speaks volumes about your core message.READ MORE: The Power of Visual Storytelling – NewsCred + Getty Images (Whitepaper) Featured Image: Ravinder M A via Flickr

Body Language: Signify Intent with Movement

body language

presentation delivery

presentation tips

Presentations

Oct 21, 2014

Nonverbal cues are just as important as the slides you’re presenting. The way you stand and move across the stage can have significant impact on the message you’re delivering. Improve your presentations and increase your influence by learning more about the art of body language.

Body language is a powerful weapon

In a previous blog post, we discussed how body language plays an important role in forming positive impressions. Your first few seconds on stage is particularly crucial. In that short span of time, the audience can gather enough information to form their own opinions about you. As Mark Bowden, author of Winning Body Language, points out,

“In the first few seconds of meeting someone, they will determine whether you are friend or predator, and the rest of the time their brains will be gathering information to support that.”

A recent study conducted by Dr. Alex Pentland takes this one step further. As quoted by Susanne Garguilo of CNN, research concludes that “body language can predict the outcome of interactions such as job interviews, dating, negotiations, etc., with an average accuracy of 80%.”

As such, we can’t possibly ignore the power body language has to significantly improve presentation delivery. If you want to connect with the audience, you need to show them that you’re trustworthy and reliable. You need to form a presence that commands their attention.

How body language adds to your presentation

Contrary to popular belief, body language isn’t similar to the way we express ourselves through speech. A certain movement doesn’t necessarily correspond to a specific word or feeling. There’s no such thing as a body language handbook or dictionary that will help you crack the hidden meaning behind particular gestures. As Forbes contributor Nick Morgan writes,

“Gestures are ambiguous. They can mean many things. If I cross my arms, I may be signaling my defensiveness, but I may also be cold, or simply tired and propping myself up with my arms – or just getting comfortable. And I could be signaling all those things at once. It’s possible to be simultaneously cold, tired, defensive, and desirous of comfort.”

When we’re unconscious of our movements, body language is pretty good at signifying our emotional intent.

“…research shows that whatever we’re feeling first shows up in our body, and only later (nanoseconds later) in our conscious minds. So, if we’re hungry, or impatient, or angry, or happy, our bodies know first, and they will pretty reliably signal those feelings. Learning to read body language, then, is a matter of learning to understand other people’s intents, not their specific conscious thoughts.”

If this is the case, how does body language add to presentation delivery? It works by highlighting the points and arguments you’re making. In other words, conscious adjustment of your posture, gestures, and expression will emphasize and underscore whatever your saying.–In this way, body language allows you to add an emotional dimension to your presentations. Even if your good posture doesn’t necessarily correspond to a specific meaning, it nonetheless shows the audience something positive and welcoming.Allow body language to add intent and dimension to your presentation by reading more tips:

[sg-blog-modules module=two]Featured Image: -5m via Flickr

Themes: Customizing a Prezi That’s Unique to Your Presentation

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Prezi Feature of the Week

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Oct 16, 2014

One of the strengths of Prezi is the ability to create presentations that are highly customized and visually unique. While Prezi offers a range of themes, customizing these themes to fit your specific needs and branding is what will truly set your presentation apart.Here’s how to customize a Prezi theme to make it unique to your presentation:

1. Choose a Base Theme

Prezi offers a variety of base themes that serve as the foundation for your design. While you can start with any theme, the real customization comes from adapting it to your needs and preferences.Why It’s Important:

  • Sets the Tone: The base theme provides a visual framework, such as colors and fonts, which sets the tone for your entire presentation.
  • Gives You a Head Start: Starting with a theme allows you to focus on customizing details instead of building a design from scratch.

How to Do It:

  • Browse the Prezi theme gallery and choose a theme that matches the tone and style of your presentation.
  • Once selected, begin customizing the theme to fit your needs.

Example: If you’re creating a presentation for a creative pitch, choose a theme with bold colors and dynamic layouts. For a corporate presentation, opt for a more subdued, professional theme.

2. Customize Colors to Match Your Brand

One of the easiest ways to make your Prezi unique is by customizing the colors to match your brand. Prezi allows you to adjust the color scheme, which will be applied to backgrounds, text, and other design elements.Why It’s Important:

  • Enhances Brand Recognition: Customizing colors to match your brand makes your presentation instantly recognizable and consistent with other marketing materials.
  • Improves Visual Cohesion: A well-chosen color palette ensures that your presentation looks cohesive and professional.

How to Do It:

  • In Prezi, click on the Theme button to access the color options.
  • Choose colors that reflect your brand or the mood of your presentation. For example, you can use your company’s official colors for backgrounds, headings, and key elements.

Example: If your company’s colors are blue and orange, customize the theme’s color scheme to apply those colors to key elements like backgrounds, text, and lines.

3. Adjust Fonts for Readability and Branding

Fonts are another key element of customization. Prezi allows you to change fonts for headings, subheadings, and body text, ensuring that your presentation is both readable and aligned with your brand’s typography.Why It’s Important:

  • Reinforces Brand Identity: Using your brand’s fonts ensures consistency with your other branded materials, reinforcing your brand’s identity.
  • Improves Readability: Choosing the right font size and style makes your content easier to read, especially when viewed on large screens.

How to Do It:

  • In the Theme settings, adjust the fonts for titles, headings, and body text.
  • Choose fonts that reflect your brand’s personality and ensure they are legible at all zoom levels.

Example: If your brand uses a modern, sans-serif font like Roboto, apply this font to your Prezi headings and body text to maintain a consistent look.

4. Customize Backgrounds

The background of your Prezi sets the overall tone of your presentation. Whether you choose a subtle texture, a bold image, or a simple color, customizing the background helps create a unique and immersive experience for your audience.Why It’s Important:

  • Creates Visual Impact: The background plays a significant role in shaping the audience’s first impression of your presentation.
  • Enhances Storytelling: A well-chosen background can support your narrative and create a more engaging visual experience.

How to Do It:

  • In the Theme settings, choose Customize Background.
  • Upload your own image, choose from Prezi’s library of backgrounds, or select a solid color or gradient that aligns with your message.

Example: For a travel-themed presentation, use a high-quality image of a famous destination as your background. For a more minimalist look, stick to a clean, white background with subtle texture.

5. Use Frames and Layouts Creatively

Frames in Prezi act as containers for your content. While Prezi templates come with predefined frames, you can adjust their shapes, sizes, and positions to fit your unique design vision.Why It’s Important:

  • Adds Personalization: Customizing frames allows you to better control the flow and structure of your presentation.
  • Enhances Visual Interest: Creative use of frames helps make your Prezi more dynamic and visually engaging.

How to Do It:

  • Edit or add new frames to your Prezi by clicking on the Frames menu.
  • Customize the shape and size of frames to suit your content. For example, use circular frames to highlight key statistics or rectangular frames for step-by-step processes.

Example: For a presentation about innovation, use a spiral path with circular frames to create a visually engaging flow that mirrors the iterative process of innovation.

6. Add Your Logo

To reinforce your brand and create a fully customized Prezi, consider adding your company logo to the presentation. This helps maintain brand consistency and professionalism.Why It’s Important:

  • Boosts Brand Visibility: Including your logo ensures that your presentation is clearly associated with your brand.
  • Enhances Professionalism: A logo adds a polished, professional touch to your Prezi design.

How to Do It:

  • Drag and drop your logo into the Prezi workspace, then resize and position it where appropriate.
  • Keep the logo small and unobtrusive but visible enough to reinforce your brand throughout the presentation.

Example: Place your logo in the corner of your title and closing slides or use it as a subtle watermark on key frames to maintain brand presence.

Final Thoughts

Customizing a Prezi theme allows you to create a unique, branded presentation that stands out. By adjusting colors, fonts, backgrounds, frames, and adding your logo, you can ensure that your Prezi aligns with your message, brand, and audience expectations. With these customization tips, you can create a presentation that not only looks great but also communicates your content effectively and memorably.