Snore ... snore ... ducking presentations that bore
Presentations have gotten out of control, as people use cookie cutter templates with 10-point font and over 20 words a page. We believe presentations should sing, zing and ring audiences. We're working on marketing a new invention, so that means lots of presentations and explanations. What are the elements in a presentation that have worked for you or that you've seen in a successful presentation?
— Janet, Marketing Manager
Summary of Advice Received
How to take the zzz out of presentations
by Meryl K. Evans, eNJ Editor
You're sitting on a hard chair, constantly shifting position, trying to get more comfortable. The speaker doesn't keep your mind off your discomfort. This guy is just saying exactly what's on the slides, which you have to squint to read because he has squeezed two pages worth of content in 10-point font on each. Sound familiar?
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To prevent this scenario, a highly recommended guideline is the 10/20/30 rule: 10 slides in 20 minutes with 30-point font. Yes, that's 30 points, not 10 or 12. Your audience will thank you, and it'll encourage you to get more creative.
PowerPoint has gotten a bad rap. Boring presentations are not the program's fault. The presenter is the one who has abused its use. Can't seem to rivet your audience? Check out the great tips below from readers, and you should be a presentation star in no time. Here are two tips to make presentations sing:
KISS: Keep it short and sweet
The 10/20/30 rule should help you out here. One reader says to avoid too many words per slide and KISS! Pause between slides; let the audience capture the thought.
"Touch, turn, talk." Talk to the audience instead of the wall.
Ensure your text is readable and graphics appropriate, but also use fewer images on each slide and make them large. Charts and graphs could benefit from a larger view. Also, ensure you have contrast between the images, charts, text and background.
Heck, you could even shed PowerPoint and rely on other props instead. Turn the presentation into a game and involve the audience.
Show what's in it for them
Good ol' reliable benefits still make a difference. If you're selling a pencil, people will be more interested in knowing it leads to less cramps than the fact it's made of such
'n such material. They also want an eraser that lasts a long time and doesn't break. Prospects buy for their reasons not yours — or the sales person's — notes Howard Goldstein, project manager with Sandler Systems, Inc.
"To keep your
audience's attention, make sure that your presentation addresses their major
concerns and also answers the likely 'what,' 'why' and 'how' questions. Of
course, that requires doing a thorough job of qualifying the prospect before
ever starting to work on the presentation.
"Avoid the temptation to pack the presentation with 'added-value' elements that aren't directly in line with the audience's previously identified primary interests. Often, it's the need to ‘think about’ the added-value elements that prevents the audience from taking the action the presentation was designed to elicit. If you do your homework and keep your presentations focused on the audience's interests, you'll keep their attention."
It's not easy creating a presentation when we have many media choices to use in presentations. Also, our audience members have shorter attention spans with gadgets like cell phones and Blackberries distracting them. These creative suggestions from readers should help you hit a homerun on your next presentation.
Meryl K. Evans is the content maven behind meryl.net, helping companies get better results through simple words that make a big impact. Stop by her blog or contact her anytime.
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