Tag: public speaking

Tips for Expressing Natural Body Language in Presentations

body language

overcoming presentation anxiety

presentation skills

public speaking

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

speech communication

Jun 11, 2015

The fear of public speaking is a common obstacle that hinders you from delivering effective presentations. It affects your communication skills, making you more conscious of your words and your actions.[sg-blog-modules module=three]Exuding a confident and relaxed image is important when presenting to a crowd. According to presentation trainer Olivia Mitchell, however, speaking with confidence doesn’t only involve your pitching skills, but also your body language.Below are tips for best expressing natural body language during your presentations:

Pace Yourself

Walking and speaking at a slower pace allow you to move calmly.Slower movements make it easier for you to get something across without looking nervous.They prevent you from expressing boring and unnecessary body language like scratching your face, looking at the floor, and rocking back and forth, which can seriously undermine your speech and distract your audience.

Space Everything Evenly

The amount of space on your presentation stage is as important as white space in your presentation slide.But unlike white space, you need to fill in the spaces of the stage with your movement. Don’t stand stiffly in the center. This creates a disconnect between you and your listeners.Showing your audience that you’re comfortable in the spotlight builds up spontaneous movement and gestures.

Free Your Hands

You can’t naturally express nonverbal cues if your hands aren’t free.Keeping them in your pockets, holding them behind your back, and folding them across your chest hinder you from making actions that complement your presentation idea.The most natural hand position is hanging them loosely at your sides. This gives you total freedom to move them for emphasizing points or interacting with your audience.

Relax Your Shoulders

Your business presentation is an extension of your company, just as your hands are connected to your shoulders.All those hand and finger motions are expressed gently and naturally if your shoulders are relaxed.Maintain a professional stance that keeps the shoulders back, your head up, and hands up front to convey confidence, reinforce your message, and engage your audience.

Conclusion

Body language communicates assertiveness, appreciation, sincerity, and more.Using nonverbal cues appropriately isn’t enough in presentations. They should also appear natural to mark an amazing speaking presence.Need assistance with your PowerPoint presentation slides? Contact SlideGenius and we’ll help you start your deck ASAP.[sg-blog-modules module=two]

References

“Public Speaking Anxiety: Facts, Stats, and Methods to Beat It.” SlideGenius, Inc. 2014. Accessed June 11, 2015.”The 5-step Cure for Boring Body Language.” Speaking about Presenting. Accessed June 11, 2015.

3 Acting Tips for More Persuasive Business Presentations

audience engagement

presentation delivery

presentation tips from acting

public speaking

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

Jun 09, 2015

Movie and theater actors can instantly influence and move viewers however they want. They excel at transfixing audiences, making people value their presence enough to attentively watch their words and actions.[sg-blog-modules module=three]According to speech coach Gary Genard, speakers can also use these crucial acting skills to inject persuasion into their presentations.Here’s our own spin on how acting techniques can leave a great impact on the crowd:

Own the Stage

Deliver your business pitch the way actors give their all, resulting in shining moments. Solid commitment to your presentation leaves your audience with something important to remember.Owning the stage means taking full responsibility for whatever happens during your discussion.Besides sharing relevant stories and citing related quotations or important facts, your listeners are more likely to believe you if they recognize your credibility on the topic and your composure in handling difficult situations, unexpected or not.

Use Your Emotions

Actors have the eloquent skill of playing with their own emotions. They can laugh at one point and cry at another.In presentations, you also need to express your genuine feelings to best connect with your listeners. At the same time, choose the appropriate tone for every occasion.If your business speech tackles a major breakthrough in the industry, you have to sound involved, proud, and enthusiastic. If you’re trying to emphasize a hurdle that needs an immediate remedy, speak in a serious tone that will call the audience to action.

Control Vocal Power

Controlling your vocal power is an effective way to emphasize a point.This is another acting skill that stage artists use to make scenes realistic and convincing.Your business pitch doesn’t sell solely because of its content. Your presentation delivery also plays a big part in your success. How you convey your main idea and key points through yourHow you convey your main idea and key points through your voice and choice of words creates a rhythm that carries the meaning to your audience.–Consider acting as a core skill to deliver dynamic and persuasive business presentations. Show your audience that you’re an expert on the topic to make them believe everything you have to say.Express the appropriate emotions according to your statement’s aim and content. Control your voice to match the kind of drama you want to inject into your pitch.Incorporate these  tips to engage and entertain your audience the way actors do, and you’ll turn your audience into loyal fans, effectively converting your leads into more sales.Got a presentation requirement you need to work on? SlideGenius will be pleased to help you. Email us at sales@slidegenius.com and we’ll contact you ASAP.[sg-blog-modules module=two]

References

“An Actor’s Secrets for Great Business Presentations.” The Genard Method. Accessed June 9, 2015.”Presentation Tips: 5 Easy Ways to Establish Your Credibility.” SlideGenius, Inc. 2014. Accessed June 9, 2015.”Your Voice Is The Most Valuable Presentation Tool.” SlideGenius, Inc. January 27, 2015. Accessed June 9, 2015.

4 Sales Presentation Ideas from Radio Advertisement Writers

delivery

presentation delivery

presentation tips

presentation tips from advertising

public speaking

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

Jun 09, 2015

According to ad veteran, Luke Sullivan, presenters and radio ad writers come up with ways to get customers to listen and buy what they advertise.While presenters have the advantage of more time (ten to twenty minutes of presentation time vs. a thirty-second radio ad) and a PowerPoint deck to provide visuals, the majority of the pitch depends on how the presenter talks.[sg-blog-modules module=three]Voice tones, hand gestures, and even body language contribute to how effectively you deliver your sales presentation.Brand communications expert, Carmine Gallo, suggests that you can either give a listless presentation with notecards, or you can study your product long enough to come up with an interesting idea that sells itself.Because radio ad writers and presenters share a common problem, there are solutions that are applicable to both parties:

Use words to paint images.

Telling a story is one effective way to make a compelling presentation, but using words to describe a picture can effectively engage your audience, letting them visualize what you have in mind.Your sales PowerPoint is there to provide a visual image for your audience when you give your speech.This becomes even more effective when the deck applies the right design methods to enhance your core message.

Use speech ideas you can describe in a sentence.

Simplifying your topic gives your clients a clearer picture of what you have to offer.The same thing applies when you craft your presentation speech. The first question you need to ask is: “What is my pitch all about?”Once you answer this, start writing your script and practice it.Whether you want to present a car that gets you to where you want to go, or an impressive quarterly sales result for your brand, boil down your topic into one simple idea.You’ll have more freedom to write your script.

Use the right tone for your pitch.

While using a conversational tone works for most professional presentations, there are times where you need to bring your passion into your pitch, particularly when building hype for a new product or celebrating a new sales record and making new recommendations.The key is to know your client’s expectations.Once you do, stay relevant to those expectations in order to connect with your clients.You may want to use humor in your speech, but that won’t work if the client expects you to be serious and professional.

You can be funny, but you need to be interesting.

While some presenters like to poke fun during their presentations, remember to be professional and take your clients seriously so you can sell.If the situation calls for you to poke fun at your product, then it’s fine. Sullivan reiterates that every presenter needs to be “interesting.”Being interesting means having an idea.Fortunately, as renowned author Jim Aitchison suggests, every product has a story to tell.Maybe it has something that no other competitor has, the way it was made puts it above others, or maybe it has benefits that no other product has.Whatever your speech idea, always go back to what you want to talk about. Chances are, there’s an interesting story to tell your clients.That story might be your ticket to selling your pitch.–As with every story, getting someone to look it over gives you room for improvement, increasing your chances of selling.Just as radio ad writers need editors, every presenter needs the help of a professional presentation specialist to give them that selling advantage.[sg-blog-modules module=two]

References

Aitchison, J. (2004). Cutting Edge Advertising: How to Create the World’s Best Print for Brands in the 21st Century. Singapore ; New York: Prentice Hall.Gallo, C. (2010). The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience. New York: McGraw-Hill.”Sales Presentation Skills: Stay Relevant to Pitch Ideas.” SlideGenius, Inc. May 11, 2015. Accessed June 9, 2015.Sullivan, L. (2008). Hey, Whipple, Squeeze This! A Guide to Creating Great Ads. Hoboken, NJ – J. Wiley & Sons.”Why Conversational Tones Work for Corporate Presentations.” SlideGenius, Inc. 2015. Accessed June 9, 2015. Featured Image: “Radio ZRK Eroica cropped background” by Tomek Goździewicz on Wikimedia Commons

How Printed Handouts Benefit Your Business Presentation

communication

presentation handouts

public speaking

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

speech skills

Jun 05, 2015

While most presenters focus on making effective PowerPoint presentations, handouts are also essential tools for clearly understanding topics.[sg-blog-modules module=one]Handouts aren’t suited for all situations like inspirational talks, for example. Business presentations, however, require more complex information and data. In this case, provide your audience with hard copies that summarize your message.

What’s Inside?

Handouts should reflect your overall business presentation, but don’t print out all your slides. Include only what is relevant—plan what your handouts should contain and only include keywords which drive your main points.Explaining everything in one sitting might lose your audience’s interest because they’re burdened with too much information.At the same time, presentation trainer Olivia Mitchell encourages the use of white space in handouts to let audience members write down any important questions or ideas they have while you deliver.Instead of separating you from them, it actually helps you engage them more.

How Is It Important?

Handouts are great for business presentations that demand detailed explanations, especially when you’re maximizing your time while presenting your ideas.While this isn’t a prerequisite when you do a presentation, it’s one way of making it more memorable for your audience.Though practice and preparation prevent you from forgetting some of your key points, it’s still significant to give time for making your handout to avoid leaving your audience hanging.

When Should You Give Handouts?

Give them out before, during, or after your presentation. Each time period has its pros and cons.Providing handouts beforehand might make them think they don’t need to listen to your presentation since they already have the information. They can also be distracted reading your handouts instead of paying attention to your speech.But if you do choose to distribute before the presentation, let your handouts serve as a guide, not a distraction.On the other hand, giving handouts during the presentation lets you interact with your audience and makes them feel involved. People can write down their ideas and notes on these interactive handouts, making them feel more invested in what you have to say.If you choose to distribute handouts after the presentation, advise your audience before you begin. Inform them that you’ll provide a summary, so they won’t be distracted by listing down complex data or facts.It’s not an issue at what point in your presentation you distribute your handouts. What’s important is that you engage and capture your audience’s attention.–Knowing your handouts’ benefits makes your presentation more memorable. They can be kept for future reference since they’re printed materials, helping your audiences remember your company after your presentation.Giving your audience something to review lets them recall your presentation’s key message. SlideGenius can help you craft printed materials containing stand-out texts and visuals.Take a look at our portfolio, or contact us. All it takes is fifteen minutes.[sg-blog-modules module=two]

References

“13 Best Practice Tips for Effective Presentation Handouts.” Speaking about Presenting. Accessed June 5, 2015.”A Quick Guide to Presentation Handouts.” SlideGenius PowerPoint Design & Presentation Experts. 2014. Accessed June 5, 2015.”Presentation Tips: 5 Quick Steps to Audience Engagement.” SlideGenius, Inc. December 16, 2014. Accessed June 5, 2015.”Using Handouts.” Total Communication. Accessed June 5, 2015.

How Lecterns Help or Hinder Your Marketing Presentation

lecterns

marketing presentations

public speaking

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

speech skills

Jun 03, 2015

Presenters have been trained to eliminate all personal anxieties in order to engage the audience. However, they rarely notice physical nonverbal speech barriers such as lecterns. These are traditionally used as stands to place your notes on. However, it can keep you from grabbing your audience’s attention and building a connection with them.Why do most effective public speakers never use it? Can it be used effectively?The answer is, lecterns can help or hinder your marketing presentation, depending on how and when you use it.[sg-blog-modules module=one]

Pros and Cons

Most politicians use lecterns in formal settings because it lets them project authority.Even pastors use lecterns to hold their notes, bibles, and other sermon materials. But they don’t stay there all the time. For example, Joel Osteen, the Houston’s Lakewood Church’s famous pastor, never stays behind the lectern. He maintains eye contact and interacts with the audience, walking around the stage without looking at his notes.For some public speakers, lecterns block them off from their viewers, preventing full engagement. This physical barrier keeps the crowd from seeing the presenter’s body language, non-verbal cues, posture and gestures.

Proper Use of Lecterns

Staying behind a lectern is different from standing behind it occasionally. Sometimes, you have to stand behind it due to its built-in mic and limited stage space. Other times, lecterns are unnecessary in venues such as conference rooms. Whether you can freely move around or are stuck in one place, involve your listeners by keeping eye contact no matter where you go.

Conclusion

Staying away from the lectern increases your chances of connecting with your audience. They’re also more likely to listen because they see you standing openly in front of them.No matter where you deliver your marketing presentation, practice and prepare your pitch so you can deliver your message without looking at your notes back at the lectern.[sg-blog-modules module=two]

References

Donovan, J. “How To Speak Behind A Lectern.” SpeakingSherpa. 2012. Accessed July 3, 2015.”Power Your Presentations with These Body Language Tips.” SlideGenius, Inc. 2014. Accessed June 3, 2015.”Public Speaking.” Atlantic International University. Accessed June 3, 2015.

How to Use Body Language Like a Presentation Expert

Albert Mehrabian method

body language

public speaking

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

speaking tips

speech communication

Jun 02, 2015

People communicate not only with words but with small actions like smiling, raising eyebrows, hand gestures, and other non-verbal cues.Words aren’t enough to effectively convey your intended message. Use body language like a presentation expert to deliver a successful presentation.

Defining Body Language

Non-verbal gestures are quiet, but they add impact to sales presentations. Posture, gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact contribute greatly to expressing and complementing your main idea.In your next corporate meeting, use these non-verbal cues to reinforce your presentation skills.

Why It’s Important

Body language speaks louder than words. In fact, Albert Mehrabian’s 7%-38%-55% rule states that non-verbal communication covers about 90% of overall messages’ impact. Spoken words influence your audience the least.Your audience judges your physical behavior because it reveals your character and signifies your intent. Align your body language with your message to display authority and influence.

How It Helps You

Here’s how each of the typical signals affects your viewers:

Eye Contact

Never discount the value of looking into your listeners’ eyes to connect with them. This makes your audience feel that they’re involved and also shows that you trust them and have nothing to hide. This is useful when giving and receiving feedback or prompting others to speak.

Posture

Good posture indicates competence and confidence. Stand up straight yet relaxed, and avoid slouching or hunching over. This shows that you’re in control while also expressing friendliness, positivity, and even detachment when needed.

Hand Gestures

Your palm has the power to persuade your audience. Use an open palm together with fingers toward the audience to express sincerity. Face your palm backwards with fingers upward for persuading. Use a precision grip with your index finger and thumb together for emphasizing key points, or a power fist for grasping an issue.–Go above and beyond the spoken or written language with nonverbal communication. Even the simplest body movements, such as glancing at your audience, gesturing with your hand, or standing up straight, give your presentation implicit meanings.Be cautious about your body language and use only those actions that’ll support your content and delivery. With enough practice, you’ll be able to land those sales with one word and one gesture.[sg-blog-modules module=two]

References

“Body Language: Signify Intent with Movement.” SlideGenius, Inc. October 20, 2014. Accessed June 2, 2015.”Mehrabian’s Communication Research.” Business Balls. Accessed June 2, 2015.

Canons of Rhetoric: Applying Arrangement to Presentations

canons of rhetoric

oration

presentation delivery

public speaking

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

speech communication

Jun 02, 2015

We’ve discussed the canons of rhetoric and examined invention’s importance in public speaking.This post focuses on the second canon—arrangement.In Classical Roman oration, arrangement is organizing a speech to maximize persuasiveness. This process of forming a coherent speech structure can be applied to any PowerPoint presentation.[sg-blog-modules module=one]If you’ve survived the invention phase, then this canon won’t give you trouble. Let’s talk about how to organize your argument the rhetoricians’ way.

Exordium: Introducing Your Speech

All speeches begin with introductions—stating your purpose and establishing your credibility. Tell your audience what your message is about and why it’s important. Your introduction may sometimes require storytelling to make your material more convincing while reinforcing an element of fun.

Narratio: Stating the Facts

Follow up your introduction by stating supporting facts, or further information on your topic. Narrating fact-based examples back up your argument, making it more persuasive. If you hook your audiences with your introduction, this is where you reel them in.

Partitio: Dividing Your Topic

According to the Roman rhetorician Quintilian, this is where you streamline your key points. This is your argument’s outline—the trail that your audience follows. This gives them an idea on how long your speech will take. Listeners always look for clues to find out if you’re worth their time.

Confirmatio: Proving Your Argument

The proof stage is the life of your presentation. Have you ever read a good story and expected a great ending, only to be let down because the ending doesn’t make sense? The elements for a good story were there; they just weren’t properly connected. That’s why you present and construct arguments that stem directly from your earlier stated facts.

Refutatio: Refuting Yourself

There will always be ideas that contradict yours. This is where you refute these counterarguments. Admit your argument’s flaws while assuring that they’re solvable or relatively insignificant. This shows that you’re human and lets you gain your audience’s sympathy and trust.

Peroratio: Concluding Your Speech

End your discussion with a potent conclusion. Don’t simply restate what you’ve already said. Make your ending meaningful by leaving a call to action that encapsulates your narrative, reasons, and explanations. This is your last and most important chance to leave a lasting impact.–The rhetorical canon of arrangement gives your speech good structure. If you’ve arranged your ideas in the right order, your audience will easily follow and understand your message.Master this canon and the rest of your business presentations will not only make more sense but will also land you more sales and approvals.[sg-blog-modules module=two]

References

“Canons of Rhetoric: Applying Invention to Presentations.” SlideGenius, Inc. May 21, 2015. Accessed June 2, 2015.McKay, Brett, and Kate McKay. “Five Canons of Rhetoric: Arrangement.” The Art of Manliness. 2011. Accessed June 2, 2015.”Why Storytelling Is an Effective Presentation Technique.” SlideGenius, Inc.. September 8, 2014. Accessed June 2, 2015.

Don’t Depend on Your PowerPoint Presentation Scripts

cue cards

presentation notes

public speaking

Rick Enrico

scripts

SlideGenius

speech communication

May 29, 2015

Have you ever seen a theater play where actors read their scripts onstage? Luckily, professional actors rehearse and deliver their lines naturally. The same goes for most public speakers.Preparing a script isn’t a bad thing, but it can make your speech less effective.[sg-blog-modules module=three]How can you fully engage your audience if you’re focused on reading a piece of paper or whatever’s projected onscreen?In reality, great presenters write notes whenever they have speeches. This is to show that even professionals also rely on scripts to avoid getting lost in their topic.

Why You Shouldn’t Depend on Your Script

As a public speaker, your goal is to engage the audience. There’s nothing wrong with looking at your notes, but you can’t rely on them all the time or you may distance yourself from the crowd.Scripts serve as your guide, but reading notes prevent you from connecting with your audience. Imagine yourself as an audience member whom the speaker doesn’t make any eye contact with. How would that feel?Do your listeners a favor and connect emotionally with them with just a small glance here and there.

The Power of Your Brain

Writing down your script organizes your thought. Reading your script also lets you present ideas completely. Some presenters try to memorize their pitch so as not to depend on their notes.There may be unexpected situations like corrupted files or technical problems before your PowerPoint presentation. That’s why you should rely more on how your brain works for you.It’s still advisable to incorporate notes into your PowerPoint slides. However, being knowledgeable about your topic boosts your confidence to speak without looking or reading any guides.According to Gallo (2010), you can make your speech more natural and conversational with these steps:

1. Write your notes in PowerPoint’s Notes section.

Construct your ideas to form four to five sentences. Don’t edit excessively. Just let your thoughts flow.

2. Emphasize the keyword from each sentence by highlighting it.

Practice by reading and familiarizing yourself with your script. Glance at the key words to remember them.

3. Remove unnecessary words from your notes.

Keep only the keywords as reminders.

4. Memorize the key idea in each slide.

Think of that one main point that you want your audience to recall.

5. Rehearse the whole presentation without notes.

Use your PowerPoint deck as your visual aid. Remember each significant idea behind your message.–Practice is still the best way to stop depending on your scripts. Using the above guidelines lets you speak naturally in front of your audience and focus on dealing with them.Plan your PowerPoint presentation, pinpoint your main ideas, and practice, practice, practice —you’ll never have to glance at a note card ever again.[sg-blog-modules module=two]

References

“3 Tips for Handling Unexpected Events During Presentations.” SlideGenius, Inc. 2015. Accessed May 29, 2015.Gallo, Carmine. The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience. New York. McGraw-Hill, 2010.”Presentation Tips: 5 Quick Steps to Audience Engagement.” SlideGenius, Inc. December 16, 2014. Accessed May 29, 2015.

Use AIDA for Persuasive PowerPoint Presentations

aida method

presentation tips from advertising

public speaking

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

speech communication

May 27, 2015

It doesn’t matter whether you’re walking down the street or surfing the web, you just can’t escape advertising.[sg-blog-modules module=three]Have you noticed that certain ads stick to you, while the rest just falls into obscurity? You can thank AIDA for that.Now, you, too, can use this time-tested method to streamline your flow, to maximize, and sustain audience engagement with persuasive PowerPoint presentations.AIDA is a helpful acronym and method that advertisers use to get the most of their campaigns and marketing materials. It breaks down the stages of a viewer’s stages of comprehension: Attention, Interest, Desire, and Action. It’s a highly versatile advertising method, helping copywriters find the most effective words and helping designers create the most suitable images.

Attention

Start by explaining who you are and what you do. Then, make the crowd lean forward and listen intently by:

  • Presenting a thought-provoking scenario the crowd can relate with
  • Initiating the lecture with a thought-provoking statistic or question
  • Incorporating humor into a short anecdote

Interest

Once you have their eyes and ears, explain what you can specifically do for your audience.State your FAB—Features, Advantages, and Benefits—to differentiate your product or service from your competitors’. Highlight the niche you want to occupy and emphasize how you’ll fill it.

Desire

Build on your listeners’ interest and develop a craving for what you’re offering by appealing to their emotions. Explain what they will gain from what you’re offering them. Make them feel that what you have is essential for improving their lives, or that it results in greater sales.

Action

Now it’s time for your hard work to pay off.Create a simple yet memorable call to action that persuades your listeners to come to your way of thinking. Include how they should proceed next. Remind them how they can contact you for more information, or how they can search for you if they have yet to decide.–Effectively communicating your message is the key to convincing your audience. However, putting all the information you have may not be enough to achieve this.AIDA is a great method to maximize your time onstage and streamline your flow and delivery.Next time you have an important opportunity, use this method to create a persuasive PowerPoint presentation that delivers optimal results.[sg-blog-modules module=two]

References

“AIDA: Attention-Interest-Desire-Action: Inspiring Action with Your Writing.” Mind Tools. Accessed May 27, 2015.”AIDA.” Changing Minds. Accessed May 27, 2015.”Presentation Ideas from Ancient Greece: Pitching With Pathos.” SlideGenius, Inc. September 4, 2015.

Plan Ahead to Avoid PowerPointless Presentations

creating a meaningful PowerPoint

deck design

design preparation

presentation tips

public speaking

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

May 27, 2015

Forgetting to prepare can lead to unforeseen consequences during your actual pitch.[sg-blog-modules module=one]Planning is the most crucial part of presentations. It requires careful topic-analysis, in-depth research and proper selection of visuals and content to successfully meet your audience’s expectations.

How Important is Planning Before Your Presentation?

“If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.” – Harvey MacKay

People who carefully plan avoid failure, but it requires plenty of discipline. The same principle applies to presentations. Before crafting your pitch, you need a roadmap to guide you to your destination.

What’s your topic?

This is the most important part of the preparation process, whether it’s related to business, sales, or otherwise. Without this, you don’t have a solid idea to work from, and you can’t continue with the rest of your deck.

Determine the purpose of your presentation

If it’s difficult to choose ideas to focus on, write down what you want to achieve first to help you move forward and gather more information to support your statement. Do you want to persuade your audience? Do you want to teach them something.

Do your research

Planning starts and ends with research. It’s how you generate ideas: by getting information and building on that existing data with your personal take on things.You need ample time to find appropriate research materials such as books, newspapers, and reliable websites.In relation to the previous two points, knowing your specific subject and purpose keeps your research focused. This prevents you from wasting time figuring out what information to look for.

Find the big idea

Having too many ideas can be overwhelming, but focus on determining your core message. This makes driving your key points home way easier. Highlight the important points by making sure you mention them repeatedly.

Draft your presentation ahead of time

An unwieldy PowerPoint is your greatest enemy. Prevent this by controlling it from the start. Draft outlines on paper to construct your ideas’ flow. Condense each slide’s content and incorporate appropriate visual design so you don’t mislead your audience on what your main idea is.

Know what to place in each slide

Don’t let your deck distract the audience from your message. Heavily written statements and cluttered decks can divert people’s attentions. They’ll just read what’s written on each slide and won’t bother to listen to you. Instead, keep a few brief cue cards or notes for yourself that differ from the text on your slides. Remember: your slides are only a guide, not your speech itself.

Practice your pitch

The secret to excellence is that no one starts out perfect. Consistent practice and perseverance are what make up a good presenterYou don’t have to memorize your entire pitch. Just be prepared and knowledgeable enough to accommodate all possible questions that may arise after you’re done speaking. This will make you more comfortable when delivering your message.–Avoid confusing your audience by applying each of these steps when preparing for a pitch. In case you skip any of these tips, you can still go back and accomplish each stage more completely. Begin with careful planning to achieve better results. Put the point in your PowerPoint.[sg-blog-modules module=two]

References

“3 Ways to Make PowerPoint Presentation Notes Your Ally.” SlideGenius, Inc. Accessed May 27, 2015.”Crafting Content: How to Conduct Presentation Research.” SlideGenius, Inc. Accessed May 27, 2015.”PowerPoint or PowerPointless: Designing Presentations That Engage.” Informa Insights. July 22, 2013. Accessed May 27, 2015.