Category: Rick Enrico Blog

Enhance Your Sales Presentations with the AIDA Method

aida method

sales pitch

sales presentations

Aug 19, 2014

Did your last sales presentation end with blank stares from the audience? If your answer is a loud and desperate ‘yes’, it’s time to consider a new strategy. Luckily, there’s a classic marketing trick that will help sustain audience engagement throughout your presentation. It’s called the AIDA method.The AIDA method was first developed in 1898. It proves its longevity as it continues to provide an effective framework for marketing efforts. Utilize it for your next sales presentation.

What is AIDA?

AIDA is an acronym that stands for Attention, Interest, Desire, and Action. Basically, it serves as a framework for any type of content that aims to persuade, engage, and convert readers or viewers. For presentations, you start by grabbing the attention of your audience then move to building their interest.When that’s done, you strive to make an emotional connection. This will eventually lead to positive response.How exactly does AIDA work? Let’s break down each component of the method to see how it can improve your sales pitch:

A – Attention

Set up your presentation by introducing the problem your product or service can solve. Be creative with your approach. You can do it by describing a hypothetical scenario your audience can relate with. You can also start with shocking statistics. If you’re feeling brave, try integrating humor through a short anecdote. Another thing you can do is to ask your audience a thought-provoking question.

I – Interest

With your audience hooked, it’s time to dig a little bit deeper. Talk about the special features of your product or service. Provide them with information that’s backed by proof. If your product allows it, give your audience a short demonstration. This is your chance to impress your audience with case studies and facts gathered through research. The key is to build a strong case.

D – Desire

This step of the AIDA method is closely related to the previous one. After you sustain interest with hard facts, you have to generate a strong emotional connection. You want your audience to realize that you have the best solution to their problems. Continue explaining the features of your product or service, but frame the discussion in a way that’s a bit more personalized for your audience. Explain the advantages of your offer, and how that could benefit them. You can also show them a video of testimonials from relatable clients and customers.

A – Action

If you were able to sustain interest and create an emotional connection, the last step of the AIDA method will be easy to accomplish. After you’ve convinced your audience that your product/service is something they need, persuade them to take action. Take inspiration from advertisers who use a sense of urgency in their commercials. For your presentation, give the audience a call to action that’s straight to the point. 

Reference

“What Is AIDA?” About.com Money. Accessed August 19, 2014. Featured Image: Flazingo Photos via Flickr

9 Trade Show Tips for a Flawless Outcome

conventions

industry events

trade show tips

trade shows

Aug 18, 2014

Trade shows, conventions, and other similar industry events offer countless opportunities for your business. These events allow you to learn current trends in your field and outdo your competitors.But more than that, they’re a great venue to showcase the best of your brand. As startup CEO David Adelman pointed out, a few days in an industry event allows you to achieve what could take months of cold calls and emails. To get the same results, we’ve compiled 9 trade show tips to help you out.

Pre-Show Planning

Success comes from careful planning. Our first three trade show tips will help you smooth out details before the big event.1.) Set your goals. Participating at trade shows is an investment, so you need to be aware of what you want to achieve. Are you looking to promote a product you’re launching? Are you hoping to meet industry professional and potential clients? List down the outcome you want to achieve and this will help guide you make decisions along the way.2.) Do some research. Not all trade shows are created equal. Make sure the trade show you’re signing up for is the best match for your brand. Before you commit to anything, look through websites and past programs to help you determine which event matches your goals. Choose shows that can help you reach out to key decision makers to get the best ROI.3.) Prep your team. Gather your team and have regular meetings to plan and prepare for the trade show. Trade show exhibits are a lot like presentations. Aside from the visuals, you need to be able to engage the crowd with good delivery.  This won’t happen unless all of you are on the same page. Discuss your goals and train your team long before you’re slated to attend the event.

Exhibit Set-Up

Once everything has been set in place, it’s time to prepare your visuals and display. Here are trade show tips to guide your exhibit set-up.4.) Don’t be caught unaware. Get in touch with the organizers and learn the specific details about your exhibition space. Learn more about the layout and technical requirements to avoid any unpleasant surprises. You don’t want to be setting up your booth only to find out that there are no electrical outlets near your assigned space.5.) Make a trade show loop. Aside from decorating your booth in subtle colors that match your brand logo, you should also have a trade show loop set up. Crowds at industry events won’t spend more than a few minutes in each booth. A trade show loop can quickly show those just passing by what your exhibit is about. You can use PowerPoint to make one. You can read our tutorial here or ask the help of our professional PowerPoint designers.6.) Be organized and creative. Draw the crowd’s attention by keeping your booth organized, but with an element of fun. Your display will be easier on the eyes if you arrange your materials in levels. Place smaller items up front and larger objects at the back. Arrange your flyers and brochures in a place where people can easily reach for them. You can also display a portfolio so others can learn about your past projects. These are usual things for a trade show booth, so don’t forget to integrate something new. It’s common to offer giveaways at a booth. Most exhibitors like to give office supplies. Deviate by coming up with something more creative with a care package, or food.

Networking

Engage the crowd by giving them a pleasant experience. These trade show tips are useful for networking with prospects.7.) Utilize social media. Most big industry events will have a strong online presence.  Even for smaller shows, organizers will likely integrate the use of social media. If this is the case, tweet about your involvement using the trade show’s official hashtag. This will serve you two ways. You can draw attendees to your booth if they see your tweet in the event’s live feed. It will also give your followers a chance to get a glimpse of your exhibit, even if they’re far away.8.) Make conversation.  It’s important to strike up a conversation with those visiting your booth. It doesn’t have to be too long. Chat up people who stop by your exhibit, using the opportunity to introduce others to your brand. Don’t forget to exchange business cards. You should also have some press kits prepared, just in case someone from the media stops by.9.) Don’t forget to follow up. Connect with contacts you’ve made right after the trade show. Write an email with a personalized message. Use the opportunity to re-introduce  them to your company. Frame it in a way that relates to their own interests. Learn more about making follow-ups here.

Industry events are the perfect venue to introduce your brand to potential customers or clients. Make sure you put the best foot forward. Follow these trade show tips and you’ll meet a successful outcome.

Reference

Adelman, David. “10 Simple Tricks For Getting More Out Of Conventions And Trade Shows.” Forbes. Accessed August 18, 2014.Featured Image: Think Geo Energy via Flickr

Three Presentation Lessons from the Big Screen

movies

presentation lessons

Aug 15, 2014

Movies often captivate audiences with engaging storytelling, impactful visuals, and memorable moments. While presentations and films may seem worlds apart, there are many valuable lessons that presenters can learn from the big screen.Here are three key presentation lessons from the world of movies:

1. Use a Strong Opening Scene

In films, the first few minutes are crucial for grabbing the audience’s attention. Similarly, in a presentation, you need a strong opening that immediately hooks your audience and sets the tone.Why It’s Important:

  • Captures Attention: A compelling opening draws the audience in and piques their curiosity.
  • Establishes Expectations: Just like the opening scene of a movie, your introduction should give the audience a sense of what’s to come.

How to Apply It:

  • Start with a powerful statement, a thought-provoking question, or an intriguing story that ties into your main message.

Example: In a presentation about overcoming challenges, open with a real-life story of someone who faced and conquered a major obstacle.

2. Focus on Visual Storytelling

Movies rely heavily on visuals to tell the story. Whether it’s stunning cinematography or powerful imagery, visual elements are key to conveying the mood and message.Why It’s Important:

  • Keeps the Audience Engaged: Effective visuals can break up text-heavy slides and make the presentation more dynamic.
  • Enhances Understanding: Visual storytelling helps illustrate complex ideas and ensures that the audience remembers key points.

How to Apply It:

  • Use high-quality images, diagrams, or videos to reinforce your points. Avoid cluttering your slides with too much text.

Example: If you’re presenting data, use a simple, clear chart to visually represent the numbers rather than listing them in bullet points.

3. Build to a Climactic Conclusion

Just like a great movie builds to an exciting climax, your presentation should culminate in a strong, memorable conclusion. This is your opportunity to reinforce your main message and leave a lasting impression.Why It’s Important:

  • Leaves a Lasting Impact: A strong conclusion ensures that your key message sticks with the audience.
  • Encourages Action: Like a movie’s resolution, your conclusion should prompt the audience to reflect or take action based on what they’ve heard.

How to Apply It:

  • Summarize the key takeaways and end with a powerful statement, quote, or call to action that reinforces your message.

Example: If you’re presenting on the benefits of a new business strategy, end by summarizing the results your company can expect if they implement the strategy.

Final Thoughts

By applying lessons from the big screen—such as using a strong opening, incorporating visual storytelling, and building to a climactic conclusion—you can create presentations that captivate and inspire your audience just like a great film captivates its viewers.

Presentation Expert Tip: The 10-Minute Rule

10-minute rule

Carmine Gallo

presentation expert

presentation tips

Aug 08, 2014

The 10-Minute Rule is based on the idea that audience attention tends to wane after approximately 10 minutes. To keep engagement levels high, presenters should aim to change the pace, introduce new content, or shift focus every 10 minutes.Here’s how to apply the 10-Minute Rule to your presentations:

1. Break Up Your Presentation

Instead of delivering one long, uninterrupted presentation, break it up into smaller, manageable segments. Each section should focus on a different key point or topic to keep the audience engaged.Why It’s Important:

  • Maintains Engagement: Regularly introducing new content prevents the audience from becoming disengaged.
  • Increases Retention: By breaking the presentation into smaller chunks, you make it easier for the audience to absorb and retain information.

How to Apply It:

  • Divide your presentation into sections and ensure that each segment lasts no longer than 10 minutes.
  • Use transitions to clearly signal the end of one section and the start of the next.

Example: In a 30-minute presentation, divide your content into three 10-minute segments, each with its own focus, such as “Introduction to the Topic,” “Current Challenges,” and “Proposed Solutions.”

2. Introduce a Change Every 10 Minutes

To re-engage the audience every 10 minutes, introduce a change in format or content. This could be a visual change, a different type of media, or an interactive element.Why It’s Important:

  • Reinvigorates Focus: Introducing a new element helps to refocus the audience’s attention.
  • Prevents Monotony: Changing the pace or format every 10 minutes ensures that the presentation doesn’t become repetitive.

How to Apply It:

  • Alternate between speaking, showing a video, using a demo, or engaging the audience with a poll or Q&A session.
  • Use slides with different types of media—images, videos, or infographics—to create variety.

Example: After 10 minutes of talking, pause to show a relevant video or ask the audience to participate in a quick poll.

3. Encourage Audience Interaction

The 10-minute mark is an ideal time to shift focus from presenting to interacting with your audience. Whether through a short Q&A session or an audience poll, interaction keeps people engaged and gives them a chance to participate.Why It’s Important:

  • Increases Engagement: Audience interaction helps prevent passive listening and keeps people involved in the presentation.
  • Makes the Presentation More Dynamic: Introducing questions or activities breaks up the flow and adds variety to the presentation.

How to Apply It:

  • Every 10 minutes, ask the audience a question or invite feedback to encourage participation.
  • Use interactive tools like audience polls or quizzes to make the session more engaging.

Example: In a presentation on customer service, ask the audience, “What’s the biggest challenge your company faces with customer engagement?” and allow a few people to share their thoughts.

Final Thoughts

The 10-Minute Rule is a powerful strategy to maintain audience attention and engagement. By breaking your presentation into segments, introducing changes every 10 minutes, and encouraging audience interaction, you can keep your audience focused and ensure they remain actively engaged throughout your talk.

What’s Your Presentation Delivery Style?

examples

presentation delivery

presentation styles

Aug 07, 2014

Every presenter has a unique delivery style that affects how they connect with the audience. Understanding your presentation style can help you play to your strengths and work on areas for improvement. There are several key delivery styles, each with its own advantages, and knowing yours can help you deliver more engaging and effective presentations.Here are four common presentation delivery styles and tips on how to optimize each:

1. The Storyteller

Storytellers use narratives, anecdotes, and personal experiences to engage their audience. They often weave stories throughout their presentation to illustrate key points and make their message more relatable and memorable.Strengths:

  • Emotional Connection: Storytelling creates a strong emotional connection with the audience.
  • Engagement: Audiences are naturally drawn to stories, making it easier to hold their attention.

Tips to Optimize:

  • Use stories strategically to illustrate your key points, but don’t overuse them. Make sure each story ties directly into your main message.
  • Incorporate a mix of personal anecdotes and case studies to make your stories both relatable and informative.

2. The Instructor

The instructor is focused on educating the audience. This style is structured and informative, with an emphasis on providing clear explanations, data, and actionable insights. Instructors excel at delivering detailed, step-by-step presentations.Strengths:

  • Clarity: The instructor’s logical and methodical approach ensures that complex ideas are explained clearly.
  • Authority: Audiences often view instructors as knowledgeable and trustworthy.

Tips to Optimize:

  • Avoid overwhelming the audience with too much information at once—break down complex ideas into simple, digestible sections.
  • Engage the audience by asking questions or including interactive elements like polls to make your presentation more dynamic.

3. The Performer

Performers are charismatic, energetic, and use body language, tone, and humor to capture the audience’s attention. This style is often entertaining and keeps the audience fully engaged throughout the presentation.Strengths:

  • Charisma: Performers can hold the audience’s attention with their energy and enthusiasm.
  • Memorability: The use of humor and dynamic delivery makes the presentation more memorable.

Tips to Optimize:

  • While energy is key, make sure your presentation is also informative—don’t sacrifice substance for entertainment.
  • Be mindful of pacing—don’t let your energy rush you through important points.

4. The Facilitator

Facilitators focus on collaboration and audience participation. They guide discussions, encourage questions, and create an interactive environment. This style is ideal for workshops or sessions where audience input is valued.Strengths:

  • Engagement: Facilitators create a dialogue with the audience, making the presentation feel more interactive.
  • Collaboration: This style fosters a sense of collaboration and makes the audience feel like active participants.

Tips to Optimize:

  • Balance audience participation with content delivery to ensure you stay on track with your key points.
  • Be prepared to manage time effectively, especially if discussions run long.

Final Thoughts

Knowing your presentation delivery style can help you play to your strengths and refine your approach. Whether you’re a storyteller, instructor, performer, or facilitator, the key to success is understanding how your style resonates with your audience and making adjustments to enhance engagement, clarity, and impact.

Collaborating with a Professional PowerPoint Designer

powerpoint designer

powerpoint services

professional presentation designer

Aug 05, 2014

You’ve been asked to give a presentation that is crucial to your company’s performance. The stakes are high and there’s little room for error. Your presentation needs to be clear and concise, enhanced by strong visuals that help deliver your message. To ensure success, the best way forward is to work with a professional PowerPoint designer. Working with a PowerPoint designer involves an extensive process of communication. After your initial conversation, you can’t just sit back and wait for magic to happen. While they’re experts at turning ideas into visuals, PowerPoint designers are no mind readers. A lot could get lost in translation if you don’t take the time to properly convey your vision. Without proper communication, you might end up with a PowerPoint deck that clashes with what you’re presenting.Make the most out of working with a professional PowerPoint designer. Follow these tips for effective collaboration:

Provide specific instructions

The secret to a successful collaboration is open communication. When you first contact a professional PowerPoint designer, you have to provide specific details about the nature of your presentation. It’s not enough that you share what color scheme you’d want your PowerPoint deck to have. PowerPoint designers are experts at turning business stories into comprehensible visuals. They can’t do their jobs with mere superficial details.Introduce the PowerPoint designer to the nature of your presentation by answering these specific questions:

  • What is the presentation about and what is it for?
  • Who is the audience?
  • What is the key message/main takeaway?

You should also provide the designer with materials they can use, including logos and pictures. Make sure the content is complete when you hand it over to your designer.At SlideGenius, we have a team of copywriters who can help you come up with compelling content.

Know what you want but keep an open mind

It’s wrong to think that professional PowerPoint designers will take care of everything. As we pointed out earlier, you need to be clear about the things you’d like for your PowerPoint deck. Don’t give generalized instructions. Be decisive because you and the designer could have different interpretations of what “something amazing” could mean.On the other hand, you should also keep an open mind. It’s important that you learn to trust the PowerPoint designer you’re collaborating with. Give them some leeway to explore their creativity and you’ll be surprised at what they can deliver.

Be specific with your feedback

There’s an awkward dance most collaborators do. After an initial draft is presented, feedback is repeatedly given in small doses. This forces the PowerPoint designer to go back and forth just to make sure all the points are covered. It’s a common situation, but it’s definitely far from the ideal. Too much back and forth in the communication process can be frustrating and time-consuming.To streamline your collaboration, you need to be able to provide specific and substantial feedback. Examine drafts carefully and take note of all the things you’d like to have modified. Once you have all your notes compiled, turn it over to the designer. Feedback should be given through one powerful dose. For more tips, read “How to give feedback (without driving your designer insane!)” from Trigger and Sparks.com.–Remember: the key to any collaboration is clear and open communication. To ensure the success of your presentation, build a healthy working relationship with your PowerPoint designer.At the end of the day, there’s no better way to make an impact on your audience than with visuals that tell an interesting story. Featured Image: Ken Teegardin via Flickr

What You Can Learn from TV Shows about Presentation Structure

presentation lessons

presentation structure

presentation tips

tv shows

Jul 30, 2014

Television shows often follow a specific structure designed to keep viewers engaged and invested in the story. From character development to suspenseful cliffhangers, TV shows offer valuable lessons that can be applied to presentation structure. Just like TV writers and producers, presenters need to keep their audience engaged, tell a compelling story, and leave a lasting impact.Here’s what you can learn from TV shows about structuring your presentation:

1. Build Suspense and Curiosity

Many successful TV shows build suspense by slowly revealing information, keeping viewers hooked until the very end. In the same way, your presentation should create curiosity and gradually reveal key points, keeping your audience engaged throughout.Why It Works:

  • Maintains Interest: Building suspense keeps the audience focused on your presentation, eager to learn what comes next.
  • Enhances Engagement: By creating curiosity, you encourage the audience to actively follow your presentation instead of passively absorbing information.

How to Apply It:

  • Start your presentation with a thought-provoking question or an interesting fact that piques curiosity.
  • Gradually reveal information throughout your presentation, saving the most important or surprising details for later.

Example: If you’re presenting on a new product, tease the most exciting feature early on but reveal the full details only near the conclusion to build anticipation.

2. Use a Character-Centric Narrative

TV shows often focus on character development, allowing viewers to connect emotionally with the story. Similarly, your presentation can benefit from a character-centric narrative—whether it’s a personal story, a case study, or a real-life example—to make your content more relatable and engaging.Why It Works:

  • Creates Emotional Connection: Focusing on a “character” helps the audience relate to your content on a personal level.
  • Makes Abstract Ideas Tangible: Using real-world examples or stories makes complex concepts easier to understand and more meaningful.

How to Apply It:

  • Use a customer case study or personal experience as the central narrative of your presentation.
  • Introduce the “character” early in the presentation and use their journey to illustrate key points.

Example: If you’re presenting a solution to a business challenge, tell the story of how a real client used your solution to overcome a specific problem, guiding the audience through their journey.

3. End with a Cliffhanger or Call to Action

TV shows often end episodes with cliffhangers, leaving viewers eager to tune in for the next installment. In a presentation, while you don’t want to leave your audience hanging, you can end with a powerful call to action or intriguing takeaway that inspires your audience to think further or take immediate action.Why It Works:

  • Encourages Engagement: A compelling ending keeps your presentation fresh in the audience’s mind and encourages them to take action.
  • Leaves a Lasting Impact: Ending with a strong call to action or a thought-provoking idea ensures your message sticks with the audience.

How to Apply It:

  • Conclude your presentation by summarizing the key points and delivering a clear call to action, such as “Let’s schedule a follow-up meeting” or “Start implementing these strategies today.”
  • Alternatively, end with a memorable quote or a thought-provoking question that leaves the audience with something to ponder.

Example: After presenting a new marketing strategy, end with a question like, “What will happen if we don’t take action today?” or provide a call to action such as, “Let’s take the first step toward achieving these results.”

4. Create a Logical Flow, Like a TV Episode

TV episodes follow a well-defined structure with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Similarly, your presentation should have a logical flow that guides the audience through the content, making it easy to follow.Why It Works:

  • Organizes Information: A clear structure helps the audience understand the progression of your presentation and retain key points.
  • Keeps the Audience Focused: When the presentation flows logically, the audience can follow along without getting lost or distracted.

How to Apply It:

  • Divide your presentation into three sections: introduction, body, and conclusion.
  • Use transitions between sections to signal shifts in the narrative and ensure a smooth flow of information.

Example: Start with an introduction that outlines the problem, move into the body where you present your solution, and conclude with a summary and call to action.

Final Thoughts

TV shows excel at keeping viewers engaged, telling compelling stories, and building anticipation—all elements that can improve your presentation structure. By building suspense, focusing on a character-centric narrative, ending with a strong call to action, and maintaining a logical flow, you can create presentations that captivate and inspire your audience, just like a great TV show keeps viewers coming back for more.

3 Questions Your Online Presentations Need to Answer

content marketing

online presentations

Jul 28, 2014

There are plenty of reasons you should include presentations in your content marketing strategy. Online presentations have the potential to become exactly the type of content users are gravitating towards today. If you re-purpose your slides properly, you can create a highly visual, dynamic, and engaging experience for a wider audience.But there’s more to great online presentations than adding more visual elements and animations. Without a speaker to explain the finer points, your online presentations need to speak through the screen. Before you upload your deck to SlideShare, Brainshark, and other presentation sharing websites, make sure your online presentation can answer the following questions:

Are you addressing your target audience?

Online users spend about 10 to 20 seconds browsing through a web page. They practice the “screen and glean” method, skimming fast to make sure it has what they’re looking for. If they skip over your online presentation, it’s likely they’re not coming back to it again. You need to make an impression right then and there. How do you capture attention in a matter of seconds?Make sure you’re clear on who you want to address. Fashion your headline and title slide in a way that lets your target audience know that you’re speaking to them. Avoid anything generic. Instead, lure viewers in with unique images and witty headlines.There’s plenty of “Top Ten Tips” type of content out there, but few that are specifically meant for your clientele. According to startup guru Mark Evans, if you’re familiar with and have properly defined your target market, this part won’t be difficult at all.

Are you giving them what they’re looking for?

Getting users to view your online presentations is just the first step. You also have to maintain their interest until the very end. If your slides can’t answer their questions, they can easily click “X” and move on to another page. To make sure they don’t stray, you need to immediately establish that you have the answer they’re looking for.Make sure the goal of your presentation is clearly defined before you delve into the main body. That way, your target audience knows that the presentation they’re viewing holds exactly what they’re looking for.

Are you clear on a Call to Action?

A Call to Action is important to any presentation, regardless of its medium of delivery. Your online presentations must have a proper CTA to let your target audience know what you want them to do next. By reaching the end of your presentation, you’ve successfully enticed and engaged their interest. Don’t let that impact go to waste without properly defining an action you want them to take.–Online presentations are an effective way to address your target audience. Make sure your slides can speak through the screen by following these tips.You can also try turning your presentation deck into a scrolling web pitch to give it a more interactive dimension. Contact us to schedule a free consultation today. Featured Image: Lali Masriera via Flickr

Business Storytelling: Turn Presentations into a Powerful Marketing Tool

Branding

business storytelling

content marketing

Jul 24, 2014

Business storytelling has been helping brands add more impact to their online content, and it can do the same for your presentations.We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again: Your presentations have the potential to become one of the most powerful marketing tools in your arsenal. During presentations, you’re directly talking to the people you want to reach out.So don’t waste a good opportunity by boring potential clients with bad delivery. Engage them with a simple technique that’s ‘as old as time’. Tell them a great story.

What is business storytelling?

According to Mike Murray, business storytelling is basically about “brands sharing their messages in ways that engage audiences and drive them to a desired action.” It might sound similar to the definition of content marketing we gave previously, but Murray maintains that they are two separate, but related things.

“Business storytelling is a distinct content discipline that leverages well-crafted narratives in a diverse range of content types, while content marketing is much broader and speaks to the collective efforts that companies use to communicate with their audiences in informative and engaging ways.”

To frame it, content marketing refers to a collection of things you do to reach out and engage consumers and potential clients. One of the ways you can do that is through presentations that reveal the core identity of your brand and company.

What business story should you tell?

In her book, “Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins,” Annette Simmons identified six kinds of stories that can help facilitate business communications:

  • “Who am I” Stories
  • “Why am I here” Stories
  • Vision Stories
  • Values-in-Action Stories
  • Teaching Stories
  • “I know what you’re thinking” Stories

While Simmons uses these stories to help frame interactions that are more straightforward, her insights can also be helpful to marketing presentations. Particularly, it’s the first three that are important to business storytelling in your presentations. These are the type of stories that help reveal insights to build trust and establish rapport between you and your audience.Obviously, you won’t be telling stories from your own personal experience. Instead, think of answers to “Who am I”, “Why am I here” and “What do I envision” in terms of your brand and company identity. Here are a few specific questions, courtesy of Content Marketing Institute, to help you narrow it down:

  • What’s your reason for being?
  • What’s your history?
  • Who are your main characters?
  • What’s your corporate mission?
  • How have you failed?

Humans have always been storytellers. It’s our way of connecting with each other. In whatever form, the core of all our communications is the primordial impulse to tell and hear stories. Why not use that to improve your presentations? 

References

Murray, Mike. “Business Storytelling: Key Questions.” Content Marketing Institute. April 23, 2014. Accessed July 24, 2014.”The Six Kinds of Stories.” Annette Simmons. 2014. Accessed July 24, 2014.Williams, Debbie. “Find the Heart of Your Brand Storytelling with These 6 Questions.” Content Marketing Institute. June 19, 2013. Accessed July 24, 2014. Featured Image: UNE Photos via Flickr

Online Tools to Enhance Your PowerPoint Designs

design tools

online resources

PowerPoint Design

Jul 23, 2014

Creating a visually appealing PowerPoint presentation often requires more than just text and basic shapes. To truly elevate your design, it helps to incorporate high-quality visuals, creative fonts, and other design elements. Thankfully, there are several online tools that can help you enhance your PowerPoint slides without needing extensive design experience.Here are some powerful online tools to improve your PowerPoint design:

1. Canva

Canva is a popular graphic design tool that offers a vast collection of templates, icons, fonts, and images that can be easily incorporated into PowerPoint presentations. With its user-friendly interface, you can create custom graphics, infographics, and visual elements tailored to your presentation.How It Enhances Your PowerPoint:

  • Use Canva to create visually appealing cover slides or custom images for your presentation.
  • Export designs as high-quality PNG or JPG files and insert them into your PowerPoint slides.

Example: Use Canva to design an eye-catching title slide for your presentation by combining text and unique visual elements.

2. Pexels and Unsplash

High-quality, free stock images can elevate your presentation design, making it more visually appealing and professional. Pexels and Unsplash offer extensive libraries of royalty-free images that you can use in your PowerPoint designs without worrying about licensing fees.How It Enhances Your PowerPoint:

  • Search for and download high-resolution photos to use as backgrounds or in slides where images are necessary to convey your message.
  • Both platforms offer images across various themes, such as business, nature, technology, and more.

Example: Download high-resolution images from Unsplash to use as the background for a product launch presentation.

3. Google Fonts

The right font can make a big difference in your presentation’s overall design. Google Fonts is a free resource that offers a wide variety of fonts, from professional serif fonts to creative and playful typefaces. You can download these fonts and use them directly in PowerPoint to customize your typography.How It Enhances Your PowerPoint:

  • Choose fonts that align with your brand or the tone of your presentation.
  • Combine different fonts to create a visual hierarchy between titles, headings, and body text.

Example: Use Google Fonts to download a modern sans-serif font like Roboto for your headings and a classic serif font like Merriweather for your body text.

4. Noun Project

Icons can add clarity and creativity to your PowerPoint slides, and Noun Project is a comprehensive resource for high-quality, customizable icons. With thousands of icons available, you can find icons to represent virtually any concept.How It Enhances Your PowerPoint:

  • Search for icons that visually represent your key points, simplifying complex ideas or processes.
  • Customize the icons by adjusting their color and size to match your presentation’s theme.

Example: Use icons from Noun Project to represent different departments in an organizational chart or to illustrate steps in a process.

5. Piktochart

Piktochart is an online tool designed for creating infographics, reports, and presentations. It offers easy-to-use templates that can help you create visually stunning charts, diagrams, and data visualizations for your PowerPoint slides.How It Enhances Your PowerPoint:

  • Use Piktochart to create data-driven infographics and charts that can be imported into PowerPoint as images.
  • Simplify complex data into visual formats that are easy to understand and visually appealing.

Example: Create a sleek infographic on Piktochart to summarize survey results and add it to your PowerPoint slide.

6. Coolors

Choosing the right color palette is key to creating a visually cohesive presentation. Coolors is a color palette generator that helps you create harmonious color schemes for your slides.How It Enhances Your PowerPoint:

  • Generate color schemes that match your brand or presentation theme and use them consistently across your slides.
  • Coolors allows you to export color palettes with hex codes, making it easy to apply your chosen colors to PowerPoint text, shapes, and backgrounds.

Example: Generate a professional color palette in Coolors, then apply those colors to your headings, bullet points, and shapes in PowerPoint.

7. Remove.bg

Remove.bg is a tool that allows you to quickly remove backgrounds from images, making it easy to create transparent images or cut out objects to use in your PowerPoint design.How It Enhances Your PowerPoint:

  • Use Remove.bg to isolate subjects in photos and create clean, professional-looking images with transparent backgrounds.
  • Incorporate these cutouts into your PowerPoint slides for a polished, design-forward look.

Example: Remove the background from a product photo using Remove.bg and place it on your slide with a clean, transparent background.

Final Thoughts

These online tools can significantly enhance your PowerPoint designs by providing access to high-quality images, custom fonts, icons, and other visual assets. By leveraging these tools, you can create more visually appealing, professional, and effective presentations that engage your audience and communicate your message more effectively.