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How to Make a “Good” Presentation “Great”

• Guy Kawasaki

Remember: Less is more.

A strong presentation is so much more than information pasted onto a series of slides with fancy backgrounds. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others. Here are some unique elements that make a presentation stand out.

• Fonts: Sans Serif fonts such as Helvetica or Arial are preferred for their clean lines, which make them easy to digest at various sizes and distances. Limit the number of font styles to two: one for headings and another for body text, to avoid visual confusion or distractions.
• Colors: Colors can evoke emotions and highlight critical points, but their overuse can lead to a cluttered and confusing presentation. A limited palette of two to three main colors, complemented by a simple background, can help you draw attention to key elements without overwhelming the audience.
• Pictures: Pictures can communicate complex ideas quickly and memorably but choosing the right images is key. Images or pictures should be big (perhaps 20-25% of the page), bold, and have a clear purpose that complements the slide’s text.
• Layout: Don’t overcrowd your slides with too much information. When in doubt, adhere to the principle of simplicity, and aim for a clean and uncluttered layout with plenty of white space around text and images. Think phrases and bullets, not sentences.

As an intern or early career professional, chances are that you’ll be tasked with making or giving a presentation in the near future. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others.

• Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist at Canva and was the former chief evangelist at Apple. Guy is the author of 16 books including Think Remarkable : 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference.

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How To Make a Good Presentation [A Complete Guide]

By Krystle Wong , Jul 20, 2023

A top-notch presentation possesses the power to drive action. From winning stakeholders over and conveying a powerful message to securing funding — your secret weapon lies within the realm of creating an effective presentation .  

Being an excellent presenter isn’t confined to the boardroom. Whether you’re delivering a presentation at work, pursuing an academic career, involved in a non-profit organization or even a student, nailing the presentation game is a game-changer.

In this article, I’ll cover the top qualities of compelling presentations and walk you through a step-by-step guide on how to give a good presentation. Here’s a little tip to kick things off: for a headstart, check out Venngage’s collection of free presentation templates . They are fully customizable, and the best part is you don’t need professional design skills to make them shine!

These valuable presentation tips cater to individuals from diverse professional backgrounds, encompassing business professionals, sales and marketing teams, educators, trainers, students, researchers, non-profit organizations, public speakers and presenters. 

No matter your field or role, these tips for presenting will equip you with the skills to deliver effective presentations that leave a lasting impression on any audience.

Click to jump ahead:

What are the 10 qualities of a good presentation?

Step-by-step guide on how to prepare an effective presentation, 9 effective techniques to deliver a memorable presentation, faqs on making a good presentation, how to create a presentation with venngage in 5 steps.

When it comes to giving an engaging presentation that leaves a lasting impression, it’s not just about the content — it’s also about how you deliver it. Wondering what makes a good presentation? Well, the best presentations I’ve seen consistently exhibit these 10 qualities:

1. Clear structure

No one likes to get lost in a maze of information. Organize your thoughts into a logical flow, complete with an introduction, main points and a solid conclusion. A structured presentation helps your audience follow along effortlessly, leaving them with a sense of satisfaction at the end.

Regardless of your presentation style , a quality presentation starts with a clear roadmap. Browse through Venngage’s template library and select a presentation template that aligns with your content and presentation goals. Here’s a good presentation example template with a logical layout that includes sections for the introduction, main points, supporting information and a conclusion: 

2. Engaging opening

Hook your audience right from the start with an attention-grabbing statement, a fascinating question or maybe even a captivating anecdote. Set the stage for a killer presentation!

The opening moments of your presentation hold immense power – check out these 15 ways to start a presentation to set the stage and captivate your audience.

3. Relevant content

Make sure your content aligns with their interests and needs. Your audience is there for a reason, and that’s to get valuable insights. Avoid fluff and get straight to the point, your audience will be genuinely excited.

4. Effective visual aids

Picture this: a slide with walls of text and tiny charts, yawn! Visual aids should be just that—aiding your presentation. Opt for clear and visually appealing slides, engaging images and informative charts that add value and help reinforce your message.

With Venngage, visualizing data takes no effort at all. You can import data from CSV or Google Sheets seamlessly and create stunning charts, graphs and icon stories effortlessly to showcase your data in a captivating and impactful way.

5. Clear and concise communication

Keep your language simple, and avoid jargon or complicated terms. Communicate your ideas clearly, so your audience can easily grasp and retain the information being conveyed. This can prevent confusion and enhance the overall effectiveness of the message. 

6. Engaging delivery

Spice up your presentation with a sprinkle of enthusiasm! Maintain eye contact, use expressive gestures and vary your tone of voice to keep your audience glued to the edge of their seats. A touch of charisma goes a long way!

7. Interaction and audience engagement

Turn your presentation into an interactive experience — encourage questions, foster discussions and maybe even throw in a fun activity. Engaged audiences are more likely to remember and embrace your message.

Transform your slides into an interactive presentation with Venngage’s dynamic features like pop-ups, clickable icons and animated elements. Engage your audience with interactive content that lets them explore and interact with your presentation for a truly immersive experience.

8. Effective storytelling

Who doesn’t love a good story? Weaving relevant anecdotes, case studies or even a personal story into your presentation can captivate your audience and create a lasting impact. Stories build connections and make your message memorable.

A great presentation background is also essential as it sets the tone, creates visual interest and reinforces your message. Enhance the overall aesthetics of your presentation with these 15 presentation background examples and captivate your audience’s attention.

9. Well-timed pacing

Pace your presentation thoughtfully with well-designed presentation slides, neither rushing through nor dragging it out. Respect your audience’s time and ensure you cover all the essential points without losing their interest.

10. Strong conclusion

Last impressions linger! Summarize your main points and leave your audience with a clear takeaway. End your presentation with a bang , a call to action or an inspiring thought that resonates long after the conclusion.

In-person presentations aside, acing a virtual presentation is of paramount importance in today’s digital world. Check out this guide to learn how you can adapt your in-person presentations into virtual presentations . 

Preparing an effective presentation starts with laying a strong foundation that goes beyond just creating slides and notes. One of the quickest and best ways to make a presentation would be with the help of a good presentation software . 

Otherwise, let me walk you to how to prepare for a presentation step by step and unlock the secrets of crafting a professional presentation that sets you apart.

1. Understand the audience and their needs

Before you dive into preparing your masterpiece, take a moment to get to know your target audience. Tailor your presentation to meet their needs and expectations , and you’ll have them hooked from the start!

2. Conduct thorough research on the topic

Time to hit the books (or the internet)! Don’t skimp on the research with your presentation materials — dive deep into the subject matter and gather valuable insights . The more you know, the more confident you’ll feel in delivering your presentation.

3. Organize the content with a clear structure

No one wants to stumble through a chaotic mess of information. Outline your presentation with a clear and logical flow. Start with a captivating introduction, follow up with main points that build on each other and wrap it up with a powerful conclusion that leaves a lasting impression.

Delivering an effective business presentation hinges on captivating your audience, and Venngage’s professionally designed business presentation templates are tailor-made for this purpose. With thoughtfully structured layouts, these templates enhance your message’s clarity and coherence, ensuring a memorable and engaging experience for your audience members.

Don’t want to build your presentation layout from scratch? pick from these 5 foolproof presentation layout ideas that won’t go wrong. 

4. Develop visually appealing and supportive visual aids

Spice up your presentation with eye-catching visuals! Create slides that complement your message, not overshadow it. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words, but that doesn’t mean you need to overload your slides with text.

Well-chosen designs create a cohesive and professional look, capturing your audience’s attention and enhancing the overall effectiveness of your message. Here’s a list of carefully curated PowerPoint presentation templates and great background graphics that will significantly influence the visual appeal and engagement of your presentation.

5. Practice, practice and practice

Practice makes perfect — rehearse your presentation and arrive early to your presentation to help overcome stage fright. Familiarity with your material will boost your presentation skills and help you handle curveballs with ease.

6. Seek feedback and make necessary adjustments

Don’t be afraid to ask for help and seek feedback from friends and colleagues. Constructive criticism can help you identify blind spots and fine-tune your presentation to perfection.

With Venngage’s real-time collaboration feature , receiving feedback and editing your presentation is a seamless process. Group members can access and work on the presentation simultaneously and edit content side by side in real-time. Changes will be reflected immediately to the entire team, promoting seamless teamwork.

7. Prepare for potential technical or logistical issues

Prepare for the unexpected by checking your equipment, internet connection and any other potential hiccups. If you’re worried that you’ll miss out on any important points, you could always have note cards prepared. Remember to remain focused and rehearse potential answers to anticipated questions.

8. Fine-tune and polish your presentation

As the big day approaches, give your presentation one last shine. Review your talking points, practice how to present a presentation and make any final tweaks. Deep breaths — you’re on the brink of delivering a successful presentation!

In competitive environments, persuasive presentations set individuals and organizations apart. To brush up on your presentation skills, read these guides on how to make a persuasive presentation and tips to presenting effectively . 

Whether you’re an experienced presenter or a novice, the right techniques will let your presentation skills soar to new heights!

From public speaking hacks to interactive elements and storytelling prowess, these 9 effective presentation techniques will empower you to leave a lasting impression on your audience and make your presentations unforgettable.

1. Confidence and positive body language

Positive body language instantly captivates your audience, making them believe in your message as much as you do. Strengthen your stage presence and own that stage like it’s your second home! Stand tall, shoulders back and exude confidence. 

2. Eye contact with the audience

Break down that invisible barrier and connect with your audience through their eyes. Maintaining eye contact when giving a presentation builds trust and shows that you’re present and engaged with them.

3. Effective use of hand gestures and movement

A little movement goes a long way! Emphasize key points with purposeful gestures and don’t be afraid to walk around the stage. Your energy will be contagious!

4. Utilize storytelling techniques

Weave the magic of storytelling into your presentation. Share relatable anecdotes, inspiring success stories or even personal experiences that tug at the heartstrings of your audience. Adjust your pitch, pace and volume to match the emotions and intensity of the story. Varying your speaking voice adds depth and enhances your stage presence.

5. Incorporate multimedia elements

Spice up your presentation with a dash of visual pizzazz! Use slides, images and video clips to add depth and clarity to your message. Just remember, less is more—don’t overwhelm them with information overload. 

Turn your presentations into an interactive party! Involve your audience with questions, polls or group activities. When they actively participate, they become invested in your presentation’s success. Bring your design to life with animated elements. Venngage allows you to apply animations to icons, images and text to create dynamic and engaging visual content.

6. Utilize humor strategically

Laughter is the best medicine—and a fantastic presentation enhancer! A well-placed joke or lighthearted moment can break the ice and create a warm atmosphere , making your audience more receptive to your message.

7. Practice active listening and respond to feedback

Be attentive to your audience’s reactions and feedback. If they have questions or concerns, address them with genuine interest and respect. Your responsiveness builds rapport and shows that you genuinely care about their experience.

8. Apply the 10-20-30 rule

Apply the 10-20-30 presentation rule and keep it short, sweet and impactful! Stick to ten slides, deliver your presentation within 20 minutes and use a 30-point font to ensure clarity and focus. Less is more, and your audience will thank you for it!

9. Implement the 5-5-5 rule

Simplicity is key. Limit each slide to five bullet points, with only five words per bullet point and allow each slide to remain visible for about five seconds. This rule keeps your presentation concise and prevents information overload.

Simple presentations are more engaging because they are easier to follow. Summarize your presentations and keep them simple with Venngage’s gallery of simple presentation templates and ensure that your message is delivered effectively across your audience.

1. How to start a presentation?

To kick off your presentation effectively, begin with an attention-grabbing statement or a powerful quote. Introduce yourself, establish credibility and clearly state the purpose and relevance of your presentation.

2. How to end a presentation?

For a strong conclusion, summarize your talking points and key takeaways. End with a compelling call to action or a thought-provoking question and remember to thank your audience and invite any final questions or interactions.

3. How to make a presentation interactive?

To make your presentation interactive, encourage questions and discussion throughout your talk. Utilize multimedia elements like videos or images and consider including polls, quizzes or group activities to actively involve your audience.

In need of inspiration for your next presentation? I’ve got your back! Pick from these 120+ presentation ideas, topics and examples to get started. 

Creating a stunning presentation with Venngage is a breeze with our user-friendly drag-and-drop editor and professionally designed templates for all your communication needs. 

Here’s how to make a presentation in just 5 simple steps with the help of Venngage:

Step 1: Sign up for Venngage for free using your email, Gmail or Facebook account or simply log in to access your account. 

Step 2: Pick a design from our selection of free presentation templates (they’re all created by our expert in-house designers).

Step 3: Make the template your own by customizing it to fit your content and branding. With Venngage’s intuitive drag-and-drop editor, you can easily modify text, change colors and adjust the layout to create a unique and eye-catching design.

Step 4: Elevate your presentation by incorporating captivating visuals. You can upload your images or choose from Venngage’s vast library of high-quality photos, icons and illustrations. 

Step 5: Upgrade to a premium or business account to export your presentation in PDF and print it for in-person presentations or share it digitally for free!

By following these five simple steps, you’ll have a professionally designed and visually engaging presentation ready in no time. With Venngage’s user-friendly platform, your presentation is sure to make a lasting impression. So, let your creativity flow and get ready to shine in your next presentation!

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23 presentation examples that really work (plus templates!)

• 30 Mar 2023

To help you in your quest for presentation greatness, we’ve gathered 23 of the best business presentation examples out there. These hand-picked ideas range from business PowerPoint presentations, to recruitment presentations, and everything in between.

As a bonus, several of our examples include editable video presentation templates from  Biteable .

Biteable allows anyone to create great video presentations — no previous video-making skills required. The easy-to-use platform has hundreds of brandable templates and video scenes designed with a business audience in mind. A video made with Biteable is just what you need to add that wow factor and make an impact on your audience.

Create videos that drive action

Activate your audience with impactful, on-brand videos. Create them simply and collaboratively with Biteable.

Video presentation examples

Video presentations are our specialty at Biteable. We love them because they’re the most visually appealing and memorable way to communicate.

1. Animated characters

Our first presentation example is a business explainer from Biteable that uses animated characters. The friendly and modern style makes this the perfect presentation for engaging your audience.

Bonus template:  Need a business video presentation that reflects the beautiful diversity of your customers or team? Use  Biteable’s workplace scenes . You can change the skin tone and hair color for any of the animated characters.

2. Conference video

Videos are also ideal solutions for events (e.g. trade shows) where they can be looped to play constantly while you attend to more important things like talking to people and handing out free cheese samples.

For this event presentation sample below, we used bright colours, stock footage, and messaging that reflects the brand and values of the company. All these elements work together to draw the attention of passers-by.

For a huge selection of video presentation templates, take a look at our  template gallery .

Business PowerPoint presentation examples

Striking fear into the hearts of the workplace since 1987, PowerPoint is synonymous with bland, boring presentations that feel more like an endurance test than a learning opportunity. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Check out these anything-but-boring business PowerPoint presentation examples.

3. Design pointers

This PowerPoint presentation takes a tongue-in-cheek look at how the speakers and users of PowerPoint are the problem, not the software itself.

Even at a hefty 61 slides, the vintage theme, appealing colors, and engaging content keep the viewer interested. It delivers useful and actionable tips on creating a better experience for your audience.

Pixar, as you’d expect, redefines the meaning of PowerPoint in their “22 Rules for Phenomenal Storytelling”. The character silhouettes are instantly recognizable and tie firmly to the Pixar brand. The bright colour palettes are carefully chosen to highlight the content of each slide.

This presentation is a good length, delivering one message per slide, making it easy for an audience to take notes and retain the information.

Google slides examples

If you’re in business, chances are you’ll have come across  slide decks . Much like a deck of cards, each slide plays a key part in the overall ‘deck’, creating a well-rounded presentation.

If you need to inform your team, present findings, or outline a new strategy, slides are one of the most effective ways to do this.

Google Slides is one of the best ways to create a slide deck right now. It’s easy to use and has built-in design tools that integrate with Adobe, Lucidchart, and more. The best part — it’s free!

5. Teacher education

Here’s a slide deck that was created to educate teachers on how to use Google Slides effectively in a classroom. At first glance it seems stuffy and businessy, but if you look closer it’s apparent the creator knows his audience well, throwing in some teacher-friendly content that’s bound to get a smile.

The slides give walkthrough screenshots and practical advice on the different ways teachers can use the software to make their lives that little bit easier and educate their students at the same time.

6. Charity awareness raiser

This next Google slide deck is designed to raise awareness for an animal shelter. It has simple, clear messaging, and makes use of the furry friends it rescues to tug on heartstrings and encourage donations and adoptions from its audience.

Pro tip: Creating a presentation is exciting but also a little daunting. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed — especially if the success of your business or nonprofit depends on it.

Prezi presentation examples

If you haven’t come across  Prezi , it’s a great alternative to using static slides. Sitting somewhere between slides and a video presentation, it allows you to import other content and add motion to create a more engaging viewer experience.

7. Red Bull event recap

This Prezi was created to document the Red Bull stratosphere freefall stunt a few years ago. It neatly captures all the things that Prezi is capable of, including video inserts and the zoom effect, which gives an animated, almost 3D effect to what would otherwise be still images.  

Prezi has annual awards for the best examples of presentations over the year. This next example is one of the 2018 winners. It was made to highlight a new Logitech tool.

8. Logitech Spotlight launch

What stands out here are the juicy colors, bold imagery, and the way the designer has used Prezi to its full extent, including rotations, panning, fades, and a full zoom out to finish the presentation.

Sales presentation examples

If you’re stuck for ideas for your sales presentation, step right this way and check out this video template we made for you.

9. Sales enablement video presentation

In today’s fast-paced sales environment, you need a way to make your sales enablement presentations memorable and engaging for busy reps.  Sales enablement videos  are just the ticket. Use this video presentation template the next time you need to present on your metrics.

10. Zuroa sales deck

If you’re after a sales deck, you can’t go past this example from Zuora. What makes it great? It begins by introducing the worldwide shift in the way consumers are shopping. It’s a global phenomenon, and something we can all relate to.

It then weaves a compelling story about how the subscription model is changing the face of daily life for everyone. Metrics and testimonials from well-known CEOs and executives are included for some slamming social proof to boost the sales message.

Pitch presentation examples

Pitch decks are used to give an overview of business plans, and are usually presented during meetings with customers, investors, or potential partners.

11. Uber pitch deck

This is Uber’s original pitch deck, which (apart from looking a teensy bit dated) gives an excellent overview of their business model and clearly shows how they intended to disrupt a traditional industry and provide a better service to people. Right now, you’re probably very grateful that this pitch presentation was a winner.

You can make your own pitch deck with Biteable, or start with one of our  video templates  to make something a little more memorable.

12. Video pitch template

This video pitch presentation clearly speaks to the pains of everyone who needs to commute and find parking. It then provides the solution with its app that makes parking a breeze.

The video also introduces the key team members, their business strategy, and what they’re hoping to raise in funding. It’s a simple, clear pitch that positions the company as a key solution to a growing, worldwide problem. It’s compelling and convincing, as a good presentation should be.

13. Fyre Festival pitch deck

The most epic example of a recent pitch deck is this one for Fyre Festival – the greatest event that never happened. Marvel at its persuasion, gasp at the opportunity of being part of the cultural experience of the decade, cringe as everything goes from bad to worse.

Despite the very public outcome, this is a masterclass in how to create hype and get funding with your pitch deck using beautiful imagery, beautiful people, and beautiful promises of riches and fame.

Business presentation examples

Need to get the right message out to the right people? Business presentations can do a lot of the heavy lifting for you.

Simply press play and let your video do the talking. No fumbling your words and sweating buckets in front of those potential clients, just you being cool as a cucumber while your presentation does the talking.

Check out two of our popular templates that you can use as a starting point for your own presentations. While they’re business-minded, they’re definitely not boring.

14. Business intro template

Modern graphics, animations, and upbeat soundtracks keep your prospects engaged as they learn about your business, your team, your values, and how you can help them.

15. Business explainer template

Research presentation examples.

When you’re giving a more technical presentation such as research findings, you need to strike the perfect balance between informing your audience and making sure they stay awake.

As a rule, slides are more effective for research presentations, as they are used to support the speaker’s knowledge rather can capture every small detail on screen.

With often dry, complex, and technical subject matter, there can be a temptation for presentations to follow suit. Use images instead of walls of text, and keep things as easy to follow as possible.

16. TrackMaven research deck

TrackMaven uses their endearing mascot to lighten up this data-heavy slide deck. The graphs help to bring life to their findings, and they ensure to only have one bite-size takeaway per slide so that viewers can easily take notes.

17. Wearable tech research report

Obviously, research can get very researchy and there’s not a lot to be done about it. This slide deck below lays out a ton of in-depth information but breaks it up well with quotes, diagrams, and interesting facts to keep viewers engaged while it delivers its findings on wearable technology.

Team presentation examples

Motivating your team can be a challenge at the best of times, especially when you need to gather them together for….another presentation!

18. Team update template

We created this presentation template as an example of how to engage your team. In this case, it’s for an internal product launch. Using colorful animation and engaging pacing, this video presentation is much better than a static PowerPoint, right?

19. Officevibe collaboration explainer

This short slide deck is a presentation designed to increase awareness of the problems of a disengaged team. Bright colors and relevant images combine with facts and figures that compel viewers to click through to a download to learn more about helping their teams succeed.

Recruitment presentation examples

Recruiting the right people can be a challenge. Presentations can help display your team and your business by painting a dynamic picture of what it’s like to work with you.

Videos and animated slides let you capture the essence of your brand and workplace so the right employees can find you.

20. Company culture explainer

If you’re a recruitment agency, your challenge is to stand out from the hundreds of other agencies in the marketplace.

21. Kaizen culture

Showcasing your agency using a slide deck can give employers and employees a feel for doing business with you. Kaizen clearly displays its credentials and highlights its brand values and personality here (and also its appreciation of the coffee bean).

Explainer presentation examples

Got some explaining to do? Using an explainer video is the ideal way to showcase products that are technical, digital, or otherwise too difficult to explain with still images and text.

Explainer videos help you present the features and values of your product in an engaging way that speaks to your ideal audience and promotes your brand at the same time.

22. Product explainer template

23. lucidchart explainer.

Lucidchart does a stellar job of using explainer videos for their software. Their series of explainers-within-explainers entertains the viewer with cute imagery and an endearing brand voice. At the same time, the video is educating its audience on how to use the actual product. We (almost) guarantee you’ll have more love for spiders after watching this one.

Make a winning video presentation with Biteable

Creating a winning presentation doesn’t need to be difficult or expensive. Modern slide decks and video software make it easy for you to give compelling presentations that sell, explain, and educate without sending your audience to snooze town.

For the best online video presentation software around, check out Biteable. The intuitive platform does all the heavy lifting for you, so making a video presentation is as easy as making a PowerPoint.

Use Biteable’s brand builder to automatically fetch your company colors and logo from your website and apply them to your entire video with the click of a button. Even add a  clickable call-to-action  button to your video.

Share your business presentation anywhere with a single, trackable URL and watch your message turn into gold.

Make stunning videos with ease.

Take the struggle out of team communication.

Try Biteable now.

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Ideas and insights from Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning

Powerful and Effective Presentation Skills: More in Demand Now Than Ever

When we talk with our L&D colleagues from around the globe, we often hear that presentation skills training is one of the top opportunities they’re looking to provide their learners. And this holds true whether their learners are individual contributors, people managers, or senior leaders. This is not surprising.

Effective communications skills are a powerful career activator, and most of us are called upon to communicate in some type of formal presentation mode at some point along the way.

For instance, you might be asked to brief management on market research results, walk your team through a new process, lay out the new budget, or explain a new product to a client or prospect. Or you may want to build support for a new idea, bring a new employee into the fold, or even just present your achievements to your manager during your performance review.

And now, with so many employees working from home or in hybrid mode, and business travel in decline, there’s a growing need to find new ways to make effective presentations when the audience may be fully virtual or a combination of in person and remote attendees.

Whether you’re making a standup presentation to a large live audience, or a sit-down one-on-one, whether you’re delivering your presentation face to face or virtually, solid presentation skills matter.

Even the most seasoned and accomplished presenters may need to fine-tune or update their skills. Expectations have changed over the last decade or so. Yesterday’s PowerPoint which primarily relied on bulleted points, broken up by the occasional clip-art image, won’t cut it with today’s audience.

The digital revolution has revolutionized the way people want to receive information. People expect presentations that are more visually interesting. They expect to see data, metrics that support assertions. And now, with so many previously in-person meetings occurring virtually, there’s an entirely new level of technical preparedness required.

The leadership development tools and the individual learning opportunities you’re providing should include presentation skills training that covers both the evergreen fundamentals and the up-to-date capabilities that can make or break a presentation.

So, just what should be included in solid presentation skills training? Here’s what I think.

The fundamentals will always apply When it comes to making a powerful and effective presentation, the fundamentals will always apply. You need to understand your objective. Is it strictly to convey information, so that your audience’s knowledge is increased? Is it to persuade your audience to take some action? Is it to convince people to support your idea? Once you understand what your objective is, you need to define your central message. There may be a lot of things you want to share with your audience during your presentation, but find – and stick with – the core, the most important point you want them to walk away with. And make sure that your message is clear and compelling.

You also need to tailor your presentation to your audience. Who are they and what might they be expecting? Say you’re giving a product pitch to a client. A technical team may be interested in a lot of nitty-gritty product detail. The business side will no doubt be more interested in what returns they can expect on their investment.

Another consideration is the setting: is this a formal presentation to a large audience with questions reserved for the end, or a presentation in a smaller setting where there’s the possibility for conversation throughout? Is your presentation virtual or in-person? To be delivered individually or as a group? What time of the day will you be speaking? Will there be others speaking before you and might that impact how your message will be received?

Once these fundamentals are established, you’re in building mode. What are the specific points you want to share that will help you best meet your objective and get across your core message? Now figure out how to convey those points in the clearest, most straightforward, and succinct way. This doesn’t mean that your presentation has to be a series of clipped bullet points. No one wants to sit through a presentation in which the presenter reads through what’s on the slide. You can get your points across using stories, fact, diagrams, videos, props, and other types of media.

Visual design matters While you don’t want to clutter up your presentation with too many visual elements that don’t serve your objective and can be distracting, using a variety of visual formats to convey your core message will make your presentation more memorable than slides filled with text. A couple of tips: avoid images that are cliched and overdone. Be careful not to mix up too many different types of images. If you’re using photos, stick with photos. If you’re using drawn images, keep the style consistent. When data are presented, stay consistent with colors and fonts from one type of chart to the next. Keep things clear and simple, using data to support key points without overwhelming your audience with too much information. And don’t assume that your audience is composed of statisticians (unless, of course, it is).

When presenting qualitative data, brief videos provide a way to engage your audience and create emotional connection and impact. Word clouds are another way to get qualitative data across.

Practice makes perfect You’ve pulled together a perfect presentation. But it likely won’t be perfect unless it’s well delivered. So don’t forget to practice your presentation ahead of time. Pro tip: record yourself as you practice out loud. This will force you to think through what you’re going to say for each element of your presentation. And watching your recording will help you identify your mistakes—such as fidgeting, using too many fillers (such as “umm,” or “like”), or speaking too fast.

A key element of your preparation should involve anticipating any technical difficulties. If you’ve embedded videos, make sure they work. If you’re presenting virtually, make sure that the lighting is good, and that your speaker and camera are working. Whether presenting in person or virtually, get there early enough to work out any technical glitches before your presentation is scheduled to begin. Few things are a bigger audience turn-off than sitting there watching the presenter struggle with the delivery mechanisms!

Finally, be kind to yourself. Despite thorough preparation and practice, sometimes, things go wrong, and you need to recover in the moment, adapt, and carry on. It’s unlikely that you’ll have caused any lasting damage and the important thing is to learn from your experience, so your next presentation is stronger.

How are you providing presentation skills training for your learners?

Manika Gandhi is Senior Learning Design Manager at Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning. Email her at [email protected] .

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• Presentation Science

The Complete Guide To Creating A Captivating Professional Presentation

• By: Leslie Belknap

. Do you have a presentation in the near future, but don’t know how to start preparing for it?

You’re in luck!   Included below are 10 steps to help you create a truly captivating presentation, and avoid creating a conference room killer  – the infamous, dreaded  Death By PowerPoint presentation.

If you work through each of the 10 steps below, as well as watch the included videos, and review the embedded resources, you will have all of the information you could ever need to create a stunning, professional presentation, instead of a boring conference room killer presentation.

The key to success is starting early so you have ample time to complete each of the 10 steps thoughtfully. So go ahead and begin immediately; don’t delay. These tips will help you start, and finish your presentation like a presentation professional .

If you have questions about any of these tips, contact us .  We’re here to help you create amazing presentations!

10 Steps To A Captivating Presentation

1. describe your presentation in one sentence.

Simplify your presentation topic to a one-sentence summary before you begin writing or designing your presentation.  If you cannot explain your presentation in one sentence, you are not ready to create your presentation.

The one-sentence description serves as a compass during the content development process, making it easy to explore supporting ideas without getting lost in the sea of possibilities.  

If you think your idea is too big for a one-sentence summary , consider that  Daniel Pink , the chief speechwriter for Vice President Al Gore from 1995 to 1997, and author of three  New York Times  bestsellers, suggests writing a one-sentence summary for the purpose of your life. If it is possible to define your life in one sentence, it is undoubtedly possible to encapsulate any presentation in one sentence.

Pink derived inspiration for his advice from a story about Clare Boothe Luce,  the  first American woman  to represent her country to a major world power.  In 1962 Luce said to John F. Kennedy,  a great man is one sentence.  Luce advised Kennedy to write a one-sentence summary.  She was telling him to concentrate, to know the great themes and demands of his time and focus on them , according to the  Wall Street Journal  article,   To-Do List: A Sentence, Not 10 Paragraphs .

Summary: Write one sentence that describes your presentation topic. Think of the one sentence as your elevator pitch for your presentation. If you were riding the elevator to go up only one floor, how would you explain your presentation to someone in that short amount of time? This is your one sentence statement, and the heart of your presentation.

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2. Identify the 3 main takeaways of your presentation.

Once you have clearly defined your presentation topic with a one-sentence statement, your next step is to identify the three main ideas of your presentation. These three ideas will be the pillars of your presentation.

To identify the three pillars, ask yourself, “If the audience will only remember three things about my talk, what do I want those three takeaways to be?” Ask yourself this question because most likely audience members will indeed only remember three ideas from your entire presentation.  You will build the rest of your presentation around these three pillars, which ultimately support your core message as defined in your one sentence summary.

Every element of your presentation should, in one way or another, connect to one of your main three ideas. If you are considering including an element that cannot be directly linked to one of your three pillars, ask yourself, “Is this really necessary?” If you decide that you absolutely must include something that seems to not connect to one of your three main ideas, consider reframing the seemingly unrelated point so it can connect to one of your three main ideas, or consider changing your selected three pillars.

Summary: For inspiration, think of the Latin phrase Omne trium perfectum,  which means  everything that comes in threes is perfect, or, every set of three is complete . No matter the topic or length of your presentation, the “rule of three” should be used to structure your presentation content. By only providing three main takeaways, your presentation will be easier for your audience to remember, and your main points will be easier for you to recall when you’re presenting.

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3. Get Real.

After you have sculpted your one sentence summary and three pillars, start developing your content to support your three main ideas. Your supporting content is your opportunity to talk about your research, data, and case studies.

According to a Buffer article ,  one study published in Communication Research  found that a whole week after reading, passages with statistics were  more persuasive  than passages  driven by story . As you will read later, this claim is disputed, and many people think stories are more persuasive than data. Don’t worry about which is more important though because you will need both. Thus, if you have some data to prove your points, select your strongest stats, and use them to add weight to your ideas. Just don’t overdo the data. Get to the point, and keep moving so you don’t lose your audience by wading through unnecessary details.

As you construct your first draft of your supporting content, continually ask yourself, “So what?” Many audience members will listen to a presentation, process the information, consider the points, and then think, “What’s in it for me?” or  “Why does this matter?” Basically, they are thinking, “So what? Why should I care?”

You need to drive home the value of your material throughout your entire presentation . If you would be unable to respond to an audience member who asked, “Why should I care?” in response to a particular piece of your content, delete that point.  Every point should be relevant to your message, and your audience. If you do not answer these questions, some audience members will probably think your presentation was a waste of their time.

When considering your answer, think about what keeps your audience up at night. What are their problems, concerns, and challenges? Can your insights and ideas solve a problem for them?

As you continue to develop the supporting elements of your presentation, keep a “devil’s advocate” mindset . Once you have ensured all of your points will be meaningful to your audience, review your content from perspective of an audience member with an opposing viewpoint.

For example, it might seem like no one could argue with a presentation that proposed the idea of giving away food to prevent hunger. However, don’t forget the saying, “Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man, feed him forever.” Sharing food is a noble mission however there will still be someone who disagrees with your solution to the problem. Develop your content to sway audience members with opposing viewpoints.

Summary: Support your presentation with facts that will resonate with your audience, including any disagreeing attendees. In addition, clearly answer “So what?” for the audience. No presentation is exempt from this requirement. Get real, and cut the fluff.

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4. Find Your Story.

At this point you have defined your presentation with one sentence, identified the three pillars of your topic, and crafted your supporting content to satisfy challenging perspectives.  

Take a good look at all of these elements and then step away from working on your presentation. This is the time to do a little soul searching.  Go for a walk, write in your journal, or engage in other activities that will open your mind to inspiration.

Search your memories until you remember a story that easily relates to your presentation topic. No presentation is complete without at least one story so don’t skip this step.

Storytelling is an important part of all presentations because many credible sources claim stories are easier to recall  than stats or facts. Descriptive tales can activate up to 7 areas of the human brain, while non-narrative information typically activates only two areas of the brain.

With so many areas of the mind engaged, listeners  experience  the story instead of process  it. In addition, a carefully crafted story will likely inspire emotional reactions from audience members.  Emotions, not logic, inspire most actions .

So, not only will audience members remember a story more easily than facts, a story is also more likely to inspire action. Since all presentations need a  call to action , the more you can inspire your audience to take action, the more successful you will be as a presenter.

Learn more about the power of stories for presentations by reviewing the infographic below.

Summary: Tell at least one story during your presentation. Don’t settle for just any story, though. Take the time to select a relevant story that will spark an emotional response within audience members. To inspire action, speak to the heart as well as the mind.

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5. Identify a clear call-to-action.

Now that you have developed content that guides your audience to a new perspective, decide what you want the audience to do next.  

Do you want your audience to use their knowledge to grow their business? If so, quickly reiterate the process to take that action, and then send them on their way with an easy-to-remember homework assignment. Provide your contact information so they can let you know how the process went for them.

Do you want people to follow you on social media? If yes, then at the end of your presentation, ask audience members to pull out their mobile devices and follow you right then and there.  Provide an incentive to encourage engagement.

If you want your audience to purchase your product, how can you simplify that process for them? Perhaps you can sell your goods in the lobby after your talk. If that is the case, your call-to-action should be an exciting request to join you in the lobby to check out your product firsthand.  

No matter your topic, your presentation should be structured so that audience members are not left hanging, wondering what to do with their newly acquired insights.

If you choose to include a Q&A session in your presentation, do not end with the Q&A. You always want to end with a quick summary of your most important points followed by your call-to-action. To insert a Q&A before your conclusion, say something like, Before I wrap-up by telling you how to utilize these insights, I would like to open the floor to questions for two-minutes. Does anyone have any questions?

To persuade your audience to complete your call-to-action, try some of these persuasion techniques :

Summary: Use the last sentences of your presentation to deliver a clear call-to-action. Tell your audience what they should do after your presentation. In addition, offer an incentive, and create a sense of urgency.

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6. Outline your slides as a storyboard.

At this point, you have done most of the heavy lifting in regards to content development. Your content might be a collection of notes and ideas, or perhaps it looks like a college essay. Either way, now is the time to organize your content in a storyboard. A storyboard is an outline that lists the words and numbers you will include on each slide, as well as notes about the design for the slide. You don’t need to start designing yet, however this is a great time to start thinking about your presentation design since that will be the next step once your storyboard is finalized.

To begin the first draft of your outline, list your three main ideas, your stories, and your call-to-action. By first jotting down these elements, you ensure that these critical components will be the focus of your presentation. Leave room in your outline to fill in the supporting ideas later.  

Also, have your one sentence summary nearby and reference it regularly throughout the storyboard process. Even if you don’t state your one sentence verbatim during your talk, your audience should be able to easily grasp the central idea of your presentation.  If it is appropriate to feature your one sentence summary on a slide as-is, go for it!

With these items roughly in place, focus on the content for the first few slides of your presentation. These slides are significant because you need to have a strong start to your presentation. Easing an audience into a presentation, and slowly building towards a conclusion is a recipe for mediocrity. Instead, hook your audience’s attention immediately, or risk losing them forever.

To engage your audience at the beginning of your talk, consider asking a question – either a rhetorical question, or a genuine question that includes a request for a show of hands. If you have mastered the art of humor, get your audience smiling by telling a funny story at the beginning of your presentation.

In addition, you can wake up the audience during the beginning of your presentation by revealing a shocking fact. For example, you could say, “10 years from now your job will not exist.” If you’re speaking to a group of ambitious professionals, this information will surely spark their interest.

Now that you have some ideas for the beginning of your presentation, pick a solution that seems like the best fit for your speaking style, your topic, and your audience. If you’re not sure how to start your presentation, you might need to continue researching your audience. The more you know about your audience, the easier it will be to edit and refine your slide outline.

After you develop the first few slides, continue to move through your outline by filling in the supporting ideas for your three main points . Remember that your outline should inspire the audience to take a specific action at the end of your talk. Craft your slide outline so that it builds towards your call-to-action.

In addition, when you arrange your content, try to include only one idea per slide.   Keep your ideas succinct since you will need to enhance your message with a visual on each slide. This might seem excessive if you typically use bullet points or numbered lists to cram a lot of information on one slide. You might save some time on your presentation development by using bullet points, but your audience will likely be bored to tears during your presentation, and you will not be as successful with your presentation as you could be.  

In 2014, the  International Journal of Business Communication  published the results from  The Use of Visualization in the Communication of Business Strategies , an experiment conducted to gather empirical evidence regarding whether the use of visualization is better than text in the communication of a business strategy.  

The results of that study confirmed that lists of text and bullet points should be avoided for presentations . Specifically, the study concluded : Subjects who were exposed to a graphic representation of the strategy paid significantly more attention to, agreed more with, and better recalled the strategy than did subjects who saw a (textually identical) bulleted list version.

In summary, bullet point lists kill presentations because your audience will struggle to pay attention to your lists, agree with your lists, and recall your lists.  Those three reasons should be enough to convince you to never use bullet points again.

Once the first draft of your outline is complete, step away from your storyboard. When you are refreshed, return to your content outline and look for holes in your logic, as well as unnecessary information, or lulls in the energy of your talk.

Edit, edit, and edit again . Don’t be afraid to alter some of the foundational elements of your talk, as long as you ensure all of the critical pieces are included after your edits are complete. Also, check to make sure all of the required content pieces still fit together appropriately after your revisions to the storyboard. For example, if you decide to change one of you three pillars because it no longer resonates with you, make sure your revised pillar still fits with your one sentence summary, as well as the other two pillars and your call-to-action.

Summary: When you organize your content in a storyboard format, stay focused on your one sentence summary, your three main points, and your call-to-action. Only include supporting content that relates to these critical components. Also, craft an exciting introduction, and remember to include only one idea per slide.

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7. Create a mood board to guide your design.

Since your content is now rock solid, you can start planning your presentation design . To ensure your design is consistent and intentional, don’t launch into designing slides without first creating a mood board.

What is a mood board? A mood board is a curated collection of influences that form a map for you to follow during the design process.  

Mood boards typically include a color scheme, your few selected fonts, photography style samples, icons, and a few design samples that match your ideal look and feel.

When developing your color scheme, take your time. Colors can dramatically influence the emotions and behaviors of viewers, so don’t rush and select colors impulsively.  Since reactions to colors vary across cultures, genders, and ages, do your homework to know what colors are the most appropriate for your presentation, and your specific audience.

For presentations, fonts are just as important as color scheme, images, and layout.   Limit yourself to using one or two fonts throughout the presentation. Too many different fonts might distract the audience, and effective fonts are something that should live in the background of your presentation. The audience shouldn’t necessarily notice them in any particular way; they should simply work with the content presented. Choose fonts that flow with the theme, narrative and content of your presentation.

Tools to Help Create Mood boards:

1.  Adobe Suite   (In-Design, Illustrator, Photoshop) Adobe Suite can be time intensive to learn, but allows you play with layouts and bring some of the proposed elements/inspiration into the design of the moodboard.

2.  Evernote – A quick and easy way to store thoughts and images through text, recordings, and images. Both mobile and desktop versions are available.

3.  Pinterest – A highly visual moodboard where you can save images from the internet to their respective “boards” or upload your own.

4.  Sampleboard – An online concept creation tool that is basically a Pinterest board on steroids. It allows users to search by color, palette, or pattern and share with ease.

5.  Adobe Color CC : To design with a unified color scheme, start by visiting Adobe Color CC; it is one of the best tools available for presentation designers when selecting color schemes. Both a web-based tool and a free app, Adobe Color CC allows you to explore and create infinite color schemes.

If you’re not sure how to devise a mood board with a look and feel that will resonate with your target audience, create a few mood boards and share them with colleagues who are similar to the demographic of your presentation audience.   Let their preferences guide your design decision.

Summary : Just like most people create a Pinterest board before remodeling a room in their house, you need to create a mood board before designing your presentation.  Carefully select fonts, colors, and inspiration pieces to build a mood board that can guide your design process.

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8. Design your slides.

The slide design stage is exciting because you finally get to see your presentation blossom into a beautiful masterpiece of visual communication.  

If you’re tired of working on your presentation, this is another great time to take a break and replenish your personal creative resources. If you get sloppy during the design process, you are essentially throwing away all of your hard work.

For example, if you select visuals that don’t directly support your message, your audience members will exert unnecessary mental energy trying to connect the visuals to your concept. All of the time you spent refining your content will be wasted because your audience will not be listening to you if they are too busy trying to understand your seemingly unrelated design . Visuals should simplify your message for your audience, not muddy the meaning of your presentation.

So, how can you design slides that enhance your message?  Think BIG. Big visuals and big text are ideal for presentations because they keep your audience from straining to view the elements on your slides.

The slides below are good examples of big visuals and big text.

To create slides with big visuals, aim to use visual elements that can cover the entire slide. Never place a small visual in the center of your slide, and leave the rest of your slide empty. If your visual elements are low resolution and will pixelate if stretched to fill the slide, use the rule of thirds to find an appropriate place for your visual on the slide. However, if possible, avoid low-resolution elements at all costs.  Low resolution visuals can quickly kill your credibility.

In addition, question every design element you choose to include. Look at your slides from the perspective of an audience member who is unfamiliar with your presentation topic. Will they understand your choice of visual elements? For example, if you want to use a photo on a slide about the power of storytelling , you might want to skip over stock photos that show someone reading a book in a library, and instead opt for a picture featuring a group of people laughing around a campfire. Yes, the images that feature someone reading in a library relate to storytelling , but they do not relate to the power of storytelling. However a photo of people telling stories around a campfire demonstrates the bonding that occurs as a result of storytelling.  You need to be this nit-picky when selecting visual elements. Every detail matters when it comes to slide design .

Before you declare your presentation design complete, show your slides to a few unbiased friends who are similar in demographic to your target audience. Take their feedback seriously. If your slides don’t resonate with them, you need to make changes until the feedback is positive.

Summary : To stay on track during the design process, revisit your mood board and storyboard as you create every slide. Check to make sure you are using the correct content, fonts, colors, as well as visual elements that match your intended look and feel. Every detail matters.

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9. Practice with purpose.

Congratulations! If you’ve reached the practice stage, that means you have successfully written and designed your presentation.

Since there are many ways to practice for a talk, you should experiment with the different suggestions below. Find one that works for you and stick with it, or mix and match techniques to create your own unique approach. Whatever you do, don’t try to wing it. Some speakers worry that practice will decrease their authenticity on stage, however the opposite is true. A prepared speaker can focus on the audience, walk around the stage, and enjoy the moment, instead of focusing all of their attention on developing and delivering a structured and meaningful presentation on the fly.

The more you practice, the more authentic you can be on stage.  

For example, if you notice that audience members are falling asleep, you can spontaneously add an interactive element to your talk, and then get back on course, because you know your material that well.   If you do not know your material, being present in the moment will be nearly impossible.

As you practice your talk, don’t rehearse your content verbatim.  By practicing repeatedly in a conversational style, you will naturally learn your presentation in its entirety, however you will not feel pressured to recite your talk word-for-word when you present.

If you are only practicing in front of a mirror at home, or reading your slides from the comfort of your couch, your efforts are not going to yield impressive results. Don’t hide away when you practice your presentation.  Bring your presentation into the real world by practicing in front of real people, not the audience in your mind.   Try to make your practice feel like the real thing, as much as possible. Do not be offended by any of the given to you during the practice sessions. Remember, you are rehearsing to work out any kinks in your talk, not to collect compliments.

To prepare for presenting in front of a mentor, colleagues, or friends and family members, first  record videos of some of your private practice sessions.  Remember to stand up, use your slides, and take your practice seriously.

Try to make your practice sessions feel as much like the real thing as possible. By watching recordings of your talk you can eliminate any glaring problems with your content, slide design , or delivery.

Also, take advantage of all of the benefits of your recordings by listening to some of your practice sessions when you commute to work, or walk around your neighborhood. Listening to your presentation, instead of only reading or speaking it, will give you a fresh perspective on your material.

In order to see positive results,  studies have also shown  that your brain must engage in “mindful” practice. This means avoiding doing the same thing over and over on autopilot without actively trying different techniques and slowly working through problems.

Summary : Practice, and then practice again and again. If you know your material inside and out, you will be able to improvise to respond to unexpected occurrences or to add a conversational tone to your presentation.

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10. Own the stage.

To be a great public speaker, you need to be present in the moment during your presentation. You should be tuned into the reactions and cues from the audience, as well as focused on your material.  

To be present in the moment, prepare for worst-case scenarios such as spilling coffee on your shirt before your presentation, or your laptop malfunctioning during your talk.  Think through a plan for your worst fears, and bring supplies to help you survive any technical or logistical emergencies. Once you have addressed your greatest fears, let them go, and focus on being happy, confident, and focused on the present moment.

Before you take the stage, practice some power poses to raise your testosterone and lower your cortisol.  

For example, stand like superman with your fists on your hips, and your chest expanded. Hold this pose for a few minutes to get the maximum effect. Power poses are proven to help you reduce stress, and increase confidence.

When you’re on stage, loosen up. Let your hands gesture naturally during your presentation. Research has shown that presenters are judged as more effective and competent when they make hand gestures compared with when they keep their hands still , according to  The 4 Ways You Can Use Body Language To Influence Success  by Christian Jarrett.

While gesturing, be especially aware of how you use your palms.  In his TEDx talk,  Body Language, the power is in the palm of your hands ,  Allan Pease uses humor, stories, case studies, and audience interaction to deliver a compelling case for the importance of using your palms wisely when speaking.  There are more connections between your brain and the palm of your hands than any other body part , according to Pease.  So clearly, the palms have evolved as an important part of human brains,  Pease concludes. In one of the case studies mentioned by Pease, palm orientation was tested; the study concluded  the palm up speaker had up to 40% more retention of the deal than the palm down speaker . Speaking with your palms up will make you more likable and persuasive. If you speak with your palms down, you will be perceived as threatening and controlling.

In addition, remember to smile.  A recent study at Penn State University found that when you smile, you don’t only appear to be more likable and courteous, but you actually appear to be more competent ,  according to the TED talk,  The Hidden Power of Smiling , by Ron Gutman.

Also, since you should never read from you slides, your body should be open to the audience, and your eyes should be scanning the audience. When you make eye contact with someone in the crowd, hold their gaze for a few seconds to let them know you see them, and want to connect with them. Don’t overdo it though. Keep eye contact as long as it feels natural, and then move on.

If your presentation is being filmed, look into the camera. A study between the University of Wolverhampton and Stirling discovered that viewers remembered a speaker better if they looked into the directly into the camera  at least 30% of the time  during a speech.

Lastly, move and pause during your presentation. Own the stage, and never stand frozen behind a podium. Adding movement to your presentation will help you keep the attention of your audience, and will also help you shake off any nerves.  

Summary: Prepare for the worst-case scenarios, and then let go of your fears. When you’re on stage, be happy, enthusiastic, and connect to the audience with your eyes and body language. Whatever you do – don’t just stand there . You’re presentation matters. This is YOUR time to shine.

What To Do With Your Hands During Presentations

The 3 Best Body Language Tips For Presentations

Fight Your Fear of Public Speaking – 4 Proven Methods

How An Improv Class Can Improve Your Public Speaking

How To Introduce Yourself Before A Presentation

Final Thoughts: 33 Presentation Tips

If, after reviewing the information above you still have questions or concerns about your presentation, don’t fret – we are here to help you!  Send us your questions on Twitter , or contact us via email or phone .

And if you want us to come teach your team how to create and deliver captivating presentations , we would be honored to schedule a training workshop for you and your staff.

The bottom line:   We are here to help you create amazing presentations!

Leslie Belknap

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Complete Guide for Effective Presentations, with Examples

July 9, 2018 - Dom Barnard

During a presentation you aim to look confident, enthusiastic and natural. You’ll need more than good words and content to achieve this – your delivery plays a significant part. In this article, we discuss various techniques that can be used to deliver an effective presentation.

Effective presentations

Think about if you were in the audience, what would:

• Get you to focus and listen
• Make you understand
• Activate your imagination
• Persuade you

Providing the audience with interesting information is not enough to achieve these aims – you need to ensure that the way you present is stimulating and engaging. If it’s not, you’ll lose the audience’s interest and they’ll stop listening.

Tips for an Effective Presentation

Professional public speakers spend hours creating and practicing presentations. These are the delivery techniques they consider:

Keep it simple

You shouldn’t overwhelm your audience with information – ensure that you’re clear, concise and that you get to the point so they can understand your message.

Have a maximum of  three main points  and state them at the beginning, before you explain them in more depth, and then state them at the end so the audience will at least remember these points.

If some of your content doesn’t contribute to your key message then cut it out. Also avoid using too many statistics and technical terminology.

Connect with your audience

One of the greatest difficulties when delivering a presentation is connecting with the audience. If you don’t  connect with them  it will seem as though you’re talking to an empty room.

Trying to make contact with the audience makes them feel like they’re part of the presentation which encourages them to listen and it shows that you want to speak to them.

Eye contact and smile

Avoiding eye contact is uncomfortable because it make you look insecure. When you  maintain eye contact  the audience feels like you’re speaking to them personally. If this is something you struggle with, try looking at people’s foreheads as it gives the impression of making eye contact.

Try to cover all sections of the audience and don’t move on to the next person too quickly as you will look nervous.

Smiling also helps with rapport and it reduces your nerves because you’ll feel less like you’re talking to group of faceless people. Make sure you don’t turn the lights down too much before your presentation so you can all clearly see each other.

Body language

Be aware of your body language and use it to connect:

• Keep your arms uncrossed so your  body language is more open .
• Match your facial expressions with what you’re saying.
• Avoid fidgeting and displaying nervous habits, such as, rocking on your feet.
• You may need to glance at the computer slide or a visual aid but make sure you predominantly face the audience.
• Emphasise points by using hand gestures but use them sparingly – too little and they’ll awkwardly sit at your side, too much and you’ll be distracting and look nervous.
• Vary your gestures so you don’t look robotic.
• Maintain a straight posture.
• Be aware of  cultural differences .

Move around

Avoid standing behind the lectern or computer because you need to reduce the distance and barriers between yourself and the audience.  Use movement  to increase the audience’s interest and make it easier to follow your presentation.

A common technique for incorporating movement into your presentation is to:

• Start your introduction by standing in the centre of the stage.
• For your first point you stand on the left side of the stage.
• You discuss your second point from the centre again.
• You stand on the right side of the stage for your third point.
• The conclusion occurs in the centre.

Watch 3 examples of good and bad movement while presenting

Example: Movement while presenting

Your movement at the front of the class and amongst the listeners can help with engagement. Think about which of these three speakers maintains the attention of their audience for longer, and what they are doing differently to each other.

Speak with the audience

You can conduct polls using your audience or ask questions to make them think and feel invested in your presentation. There are three different types of questions:

Direct questions require an answer: “What would you do in this situation?” These are mentally stimulating for the audience. You can pass a microphone around and let the audience come to your desired solution.

Rhetorical questions  do not require answers, they are often used to emphasises an idea or point: “Is the Pope catholic?

Loaded questions contain an unjustified assumption made to prompt the audience into providing a particular answer which you can then correct to support your point: You may ask “Why does your wonderful company have such a low incidence of mental health problems?” The audience will generally answer that they’re happy.

After receiving the answers you could then say “Actually it’s because people are still unwilling and too embarrassed to seek help for mental health issues at work etc.”

Be specific with your language

Make the audience feel as though you are speaking to each member individually by using “you” and “your.”

For example: asking “Do you want to lose weight without feeling hungry?” would be more effective than asking “Does anyone here want to lost weight without feeling hungry?” when delivering your presentation. You can also increase solidarity by using “we”, “us” etc – it makes the audience think “we’re in this together”.

Be flexible

Be prepared to adapt to the situation at the time, for example, if the audience seems bored you can omit details and go through the material faster, if they are confused then you will need to come up with more examples on the spot for clarification. This doesn’t mean that you weren’t prepared because you can’t predict everything.

Vocal variety

How you say something is just as is important as the content of your speech – arguably, more so.

For example, if an individual presented on a topic very enthusiastically the audience would probably enjoy this compared to someone who covered more points but mumbled into their notes.

• Adapt your voice  depending on what are you’re saying – if you want to highlight something then raise your voice or lower it for intensity. Communicate emotion by using your voice.
• Avoid speaking in monotone as you will look uninterested and the audience will lose interest.
• Take time to pronounce every word carefully.
• Raise your pitch when asking questions and lower it when you want to sound severe.
• Sound enthusiastic – the more you sound like you care about the topic, the more the audience will listen. Smiling and pace can help with this.
• Speak loudly and clearly – think about projecting your voice to the back of the room.
• Speak at a  pace that’s easy to follow . If you’re too fast or too slow it will be difficult for the audience to understand what you’re saying and it’s also frustrating. Subtly fasten the pace to show enthusiasm and slow down for emphasis, thoughtfulness or caution.

Prior to the presentation, ensure that you  prepare your vocal chords :

• You could read aloud a book that requires vocal variety, such as, a children’s book.
• Avoid dairy and eating or drinking anything too sugary beforehand as mucus can build-up leading to frequent throat clearing.
• Don’t drink anything too cold before you present as this can constrict your throat which affects vocal quality.
• Some people suggest a warm cup of tea beforehand to relax the throat.

Practice Presentation Skills

Improve your public speaking and presentation skills by practicing them in realistic environments, with automated feedback on performance. Learn More

Pause to breathe

When you’re anxious your breathing will become quick and shallow which will affect the control you have on your voice. This can consequently make you feel more nervous. You want to breathe steadily and deeply so before you start speaking take some deep breaths or implement controlled breathing.

Controlled breathing is a common technique that helps slow down your breathing to normal thus reducing your anxiety. If you think this may be useful practice with these steps:

• Sit down in an upright position as it easier for your lungs to fill with air
• Breathe in through your nose and into your abdomen for four seconds
• Hold this breathe for two seconds
• Breathe out through your nose for six seconds
• Wait a few seconds before inhaling and repeating the cycle

It takes practice to master this technique but once you get used to it you may want to implement it directly before your presentation.

Completely filling your lungs during a pause will ensure you reach a greater vocal range.

During the presentation delivery, if you notice that you’re speaking too quickly then pause and breathe. This won’t look strange – it will appear as though you’re giving thought to what you’re saying. You can also strategically plan some of your pauses, such as after questions and at the end of sections, because this will give you a chance to calm down and it will also give the audience an opportunity to think and reflect.

Pausing will also help you  avoid filler words , such as, “um” as well which can make you sound unsure.

• 10 Effective Ways to use Pauses in your Speech

Strong opening

The first five minutes are  vital to engage the audience  and get them listening to you. You could start with a story to highlight why your topic is significant.

For example, if the topic is on the benefits of pets on physical and psychological health, you could present a story or a study about an individual whose quality of life significantly improved after being given a dog. The audience is more likely to respond better to this and remember this story than a list of facts.

Example: Which presentation intro keeps you engaged?

Watch 5 different presentation introductions, from both virtual and in-person events. Notice how it can only take a few seconds to decide if you want to keep listening or switch off. For the good introductions, what about them keeps you engaged?

More experienced and confident public speakers use humour in their presentations. The audience will be incredibly engaged if you make them laugh but caution must be exercised when using humour because a joke can be misinterpreted and even offend the audience.

Only use jokes if you’re confident with this technique, it has been successful in the past and it’s suitable for the situation.

Stories and anecdotes

Use stories whenever you can and judge whether you can tell a story about yourself because the audience are even more interested in seeing the human side of you.

Consider telling a story about a mistake you made, for example, perhaps you froze up during an important presentation when you were 25, or maybe life wasn’t going well for you in the past – if relevant to your presentation’s aim. People will relate to this as we have all experienced mistakes and failures. The more the audience relates to you, the more likely they will remain engaged.

These stories can also be  told in a humorous way  if it makes you feel more comfortable and because you’re disclosing a personal story there is less chance of misinterpretation compared to telling a joke.

Anecdotes are especially valuable for your introduction and between different sections of the presentation because they engage the audience. Ensure that you plan the stories thoroughly beforehand and that they are not too long.

Focus on the audience’s needs

Even though your aim is to persuade the audience, they must also get something helpful from the presentation. Provide the audience with value by giving them useful information, tactics, tips etc. They’re more likely to warm to you and trust you if you’re sharing valuable information with them.

You could also highlight their pain point. For example, you might ask “Have you found it difficult to stick to a healthy diet?” The audience will now want to remain engaged because they want to know the solution and the opportunities that you’re offering.

Use visual aids

Visual aids are items of a visual manner, such as graphs, photographs, video clips etc used in addition to spoken information. Visual aids are chosen depending on their purpose, for example, you may want to:

• Summarise information.
• Reduce the amount of spoken words, for example, you may show a graph of your results rather than reading them out.
• Clarify and show examples.
• Create more of an impact. You must consider what type of impact you want to make beforehand – do you want the audience to be sad, happy, angry etc?
• Emphasise what you’re saying.
• Make a point memorable.
• Enhance your credibility.
• Engage the audience and maintain their interest.
• Make something easier for the audience to understand.

Some general tips for  using visual aids :

• Think about how can a visual aid can support your message. What do you want the audience to do?
• Ensure that your visual aid follows what you’re saying or this will confuse the audience.
• Avoid cluttering the image as it may look messy and unclear.
• Visual aids must be clear, concise and of a high quality.
• Keep the style consistent, such as, the same font, colours, positions etc
• Use graphs and charts to present data.
• The audience should not be trying to read and listen at the same time – use visual aids to highlight your points.
• One message per visual aid, for example, on a slide there should only be one key point.
• Use visual aids in moderation – they are additions meant to emphasise and support main points.
• Ensure that your presentation still works without your visual aids in case of technical problems.

10-20-30 slideshow rule

Slideshows are widely used for presentations because it’s easy to create attractive and professional presentations using them. Guy Kawasaki, an entrepreneur and author, suggests that slideshows should  follow a 10-20-30 rule :

• There should be a maximum of 10 slides – people rarely remember more than one concept afterwards so there’s no point overwhelming them with unnecessary information.
• The presentation should last no longer than 20 minutes as this will leave time for questions and discussion.
• The font size should be a minimum of 30pt because the audience reads faster than you talk so less information on the slides means that there is less chance of the audience being distracted.

If you want to give the audience more information you can provide them with partially completed handouts or give them the handouts after you’ve delivered the presentation.

Keep a drink nearby

Have something to drink when you’re on stage, preferably water at room temperature. This will help maintain your vocal quality and having a sip is a subtle way of introducing pauses.

Practice, practice, practice

If you are very familiar with the content of your presentation, your audience will perceive you as confident and you’ll be more persuasive.

• Don’t just read the presentation through – practice everything,  including your transitions  and using your visual aids.
• Stand up and speak it aloud, in an engaging manner, as though you were presenting to an audience.
• Ensure that you practice your body language and gesturing.
• Use VR to  practice in a realistic environment .
• Practice in front of others and get their feedback.
• Freely improvise so you’ll sound more natural on the day. Don’t learn your presentation verbatim because you will sound uninterested and if you lose focus then you may forget everything.
• Create cards to use as cues – one card should be used for one key idea. Write down brief notes or key words and ensure that the cards are physically connected so the order cannot be lost. Visual prompts can also be used as cues.

This video shows how you can practice presentations in virtual reality. See our  VR training courses .

Two courses where you can practice your presentations in interactive exercises:

• Essential Public Speaking
• How to Present over Video

Try these different presentation delivery methods to see which ones you prefer and which need to be improved. The most important factor is to feel comfortable during the presentation as the delivery is likely to be better.

Remember that the audience are generally on your side – they want you to do well so present with confidence.

• Presentation Skills

Effective Presentation Skills for Professionals

Search SkillsYouNeed:

Rhubarb The blog at SkillsYouNeed

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• Enhancing Creativity: A Guide to Harnessing Mid-Journey Prompts for Image Creation
• Strategic Planning for Conference Success - A Step-by-Step Guide for Teams
• Presentation Skills: Using AI To Help You Thrive in Your Presentations
• Mastering Soft Skills to Deliver Impactful Presentations
• How to Present Statistics and Analytics in an Effective Manner?
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• Five Reasons Why Singing Lessons Will Be a Game Changer for Your Public Speaking Efforts
• Captivating Presentations: Techniques to Engage and Retain Your Audience
• How Can AI Help in Creating Winning Presentations?
• How to Dress to Impress During an Important Presentation
• How to Present Effectively to your Colleagues
• How to Become a Better Public Speaker
• How You Can Improve Your Video Editing Skills
• What is Your Story? How to Identify Your Story from Raw Data
• Why Public Speaking and Communication Are So Important to Your Career
• Preparing for Oral Presentations
• Learn Better Presentation Skills with TED Talks
• How to Get People to Actually Listen to What You’re Saying
• Can Presentation Science Improve Your Presentation?
• 7 Public Speaking Tips For Introverts
• Psychological Secrets for Effective Presentations

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In today's highly competitive professional landscape, effective presentation skills have become crucial for individuals across industries.

This article will discuss the importance of mastering the art of presentations and provide valuable insights into developing and enhancing practical presentation skills for professionals.

Whether delivering a compelling pitch, conducting an engaging training session, or presenting innovative ideas to colleagues and clients, the ability to deliver impactful presentations is a vital skill set. Alongside technical proficiency, connecting with the audience on a deeper level and delivering resonant presentations is essential.

Understanding the Power of Effective Communication

Effective presentation skills rely on the power to articulate with absolute clarity, unwavering confidence, and resounding impact.

Effective communication goes beyond words; it encompasses delivery, body language, and overall presentation style. Professionals must understand the importance of delivering clear messages, employing engaging storytelling techniques, and establishing an emotional connection with the audience. Through emotional intelligence training , professionals can understand and address the emotional needs of their audience. By honing their communication skills, professionals can ensure that their presentations leave a lasting impression.

Structuring the Presentation for Maximum Impact

An essential aspect of effective presentations is structuring the content logically and engagingly.

Professionals must learn how to organize their ideas , outline key points, and develop a cohesive flow that captures the audience's attention from beginning to end. Professionals can deliver presentations that resonate with their audience and leave a lasting impact by creating a clear structure with a compelling introduction, a well-organized body, and a powerful conclusion.

Mastering Visual Aids and Multimedia Tools

In today's digital age, visual aids and multimedia tools enhance presentations. Professionals should learn to effectively use visual aids , such as slides or graphics, to support their messages and engage the audience visually. Understanding how to create visually appealing and impactful presentations, utilizing multimedia tools effectively, and striking a balance between visuals and spoken content are key skills that professionals need to master.

Engaging the Audience through Delivery and Body Language

The delivery of a presentation and the effective use of body language greatly influence its impact. Professionals should focus on developing confident and engaging delivery styles that captivate the audience. This includes using appropriate gestures, maintaining eye contact, and employing vocal variety to convey emotions and emphasize key points. By harnessing the power of non-verbal communication, professionals can establish a solid connection with their audience and ensure that their message is received and understood.

Overcoming Nervousness and Building Confidence

Nervousness and stage fright are common challenges when it comes to presenting. Professionals must develop strategies to manage their nerves and build confidence in their presentation skills. Techniques such as thorough preparation, practicing in front of a mirror or with colleagues, and employing relaxation exercises can help professionals overcome anxiety and deliver presentations with poise and self-assurance.

Adapting to Different Audiences and Situations

Effective presenters understand the importance of adapting their style and content to different audiences and situations. Professionals should be able to tailor their presentations to suit their audience's needs, knowledge levels, and preferences. Whether presenting to a small group of colleagues or addressing a large conference, professionals must be flexible and adaptable in their approach, ensuring their message resonates with the specific audience they are addressing.

Enhancing Connection and Impact

Emotional intelligence plays a crucial role in effective presentations. Professionals who have undergone emotional intelligence training are better equipped to know and manage their own emotions and perceive and respond to the feelings of their audience. By recognizing and addressing their listeners' emotional needs and concerns, professionals can create a deeper connection, establish rapport, and deliver presentations that have a lasting impact on the audience.

Using Technology and Interactive Elements

In today's digital world, professionals can enhance their presentation skills by leveraging technology and incorporating interactive elements. This includes using presentation software with advanced features, such as interactive polls, quizzes, or multimedia integrations, to engage the audience actively. By embracing technological tools and interactive elements, professionals can create dynamic and immersive presentations that capture their audience's attention and promote active participation.

Storytelling for Impactful Presentations

Storytelling is a great tool that can elevate presentations to a new level of impact and memorability. Professionals can learn to weave compelling narratives into their presentations, using storytelling techniques to connect with their audience on an emotional level. By sharing genuine anecdotes, real-world case studies, or personal journeys, they can craft presentations that not only inform but also deeply resonate and inspire. Storytelling helps to create a narrative arc, build empathy, and effectively convey key messages, making the presentation more engaging and unique for the audience.

Harnessing Feedback for Continuous Improvement

One of the most effective ways to refine presentation skills is by actively seeking and using feedback . Post-presentation feedback from colleagues, peers, or audience members provides invaluable insights into areas of strength and potential improvement. By understanding the audience's perspective, professionals can identify gaps in their presentations, adjust their approach, and continuously refine their style. Constructive criticism can shed light on unnoticed habits or areas that might need more focus, such as pacing, clarity, or tone.

Another avenue for gathering feedback is self-assessment. Recording one's presentations and reviewing them can provide a personal perspective on areas of improvement. Watching oneself can reveal nuances in body language, tone, and content delivery that might go unnoticed in real-time.

Incorporating Diverse Presentation Formats

In a rapidly evolving professional landscape, the traditional PowerPoint presentation isn't the only way to convey information. Embracing diverse presentation formats, such as webinars, interactive workshops, panel discussions, or even podcast-style sessions, can help professionals cater to varied audiences and maintain engagement. Each format offers a unique way to interact with the audience, and by mastering multiple formats, professionals can ensure they are equipped to present in any situation.

Emphasis on Continuous Learning and Upgradation

The art of presenting, like any other skill, benefits from continuous learning. Attending workshops, reading relevant books, or enrolling in online courses can provide professionals with fresh perspectives, techniques, and tools to enhance their presentation skills. The world of communication is ever-evolving, and staying updated with the latest trends and methods ensures that professionals remain at the forefront of effective presentations.

The ability to convey ideas and information effectively through presentations is more important than ever in the current professional landscape. Beyond mastering the basic elements of presentation, professionals should emphasize feedback-driven improvement, diversify their presentation formats, and commit to continuous learning.

By embracing a holistic approach to presentation skills, professionals can ensure they remain effective, engaging, and impactful, irrespective of the setting or audience. Coupled with emotional intelligence and a deep understanding of content, this commitment to growth will pave the way for presentation excellence.

Continue to: Top Tips for Effective Presentations Self-Presentation in Presentations

See also: Key Presentation Skills and How Leaders Can Develop Them Upgrading Your Presentation Skills and How You Can Turn a No into a Yes 7 Tools to Improve Your Presentation Skills

10 PowerPoint Tips for Preparing a Professional Presentation

Use these Microsoft PowerPoint tips to avoid common mistakes, keep your audience engaged, and create a professional presentation.

Professional presentations are all about making an impact. Your slides should look the part. Once you know what makes a presentation look professional, you can customize any half-decent PowerPoint template or create your own custom slides.

Our PowerPoint tips will help you avoid common mistakes, keep your audience engaged, and create a professional presentation, in form and content.

PowerPoint Slide Design

The design can leave a first and lasting impression. Give it a professional touch to win your audience's trust and attention.

1. Carefully Compose Your Slides

Don't copy and paste slides from different sources. You don't want your presentation to look like a rag rug. What you're aiming for is a consistent look. This will help your audience focus on the essential; your speech and the key facts you're highlighting on your slides.

To that end, use a basic template or make your own . PowerPoint comes with a wide selection of professional PowerPoint presentation templates , but you can also find free ones online.

PowerPoint Tip: When you open PowerPoint, note the search field at the top. One of the suggested searches is "presentations". Click it to see all of PowerPoint's default presentation templates. Choose a category on the right to narrow down your search.

Pick an easy to read font face . It's hard to get this right, but these professional-looking Google fonts are a safe bet. Unless you're a designer, stick to a single font face and limit yourself to playing with safe colors and font sizes.

If you're unsure about fonts, refer to "The 10 Commandments of Typography" shown below for orientation.

Carefully select font sizes for headers and text. While you don't want to create a wall of text and lose your audience's attention, you do want them to be able to read what you've highlighted. So make your fonts large enough.

PowerPoint Tip: PowerPoint offers several different slide layouts. When you add a new slide, choose the right layout under Home > New Slide . To switch the layout of an existing slide, use Home > Layout . By using the default layouts, you can make coherent design changes across your presentation anytime you want.

Leave room for highlights, such as images or take home messages. Some elements should stand out. So try not to bury them in background noise but give them the space they need. This could be a single quote or a single image per page with nothing but a simple header and a plain background.

Decorate scarcely but well. If you have good content, you won't need decoration. Your template will be decoratively enough.

Note: Restrict the room your design takes up, and don't ever let the design restrict your message.

2. Use Consistency

Consistently use font face and sizes on all slides. This one goes back to using a template. If you chose a professional presentation template, the designer would have taken care of this aspect. Stick to it!

Match colors. This is where so many presentations fail. You might have chosen a funky template and stuck to the designer's color profile, then you ruin it all with ugly Excel charts .

Take the time to match your visuals to your presentation design.

Text and Background Colors

A poor choice of colors can ruin your presentation.

3. Use Contrast

Black text on a white background will always be the best, but also the most boring choice . You're allowed to use colors! But use them responsibly.

Keep it easy on the eyes and always keep good contrast in mind. If you're color-challenged, use one of the many online tools to select a good looking color palette. Or just use a template and stick to its default colors.

PowerPoint Tip: Use PowerPoint's Design menu to quickly change the font and color palette of your entire presentation using preset design layouts.

4. Apply Brilliance

Carefully use color to highlight your message! Colors are your friends. They can make numbers stand out or your Take Home Message pop.

Don't weaken the color effect by using too many colors in too many instances . The special effect only works if used scarcely. Try to limit pop colors to one per slide.

Make a brilliant choice: match colors for design and good contrast to highlight your message . Use a professional color palette, to find which color will work best with your theme. Use The 10 Commandments of Color Theory shown below to learn more about colors:

Text on PowerPoint Slides

K eep I t S traight and S imple. That means...

• Keywords only on your slides.
• Absolutely no full sentences!
• And never read your slides , talk freely.

Remember that your slides are only there to support, not to replace your talk! You want to tell a story, visualize your data, and demonstrate key points. If you read your slides, you risk losing your audience's respect and attention.

PowerPoint Tip: Afraid you'll lose your train of thoughts? Add notes to your slides. Go to View and under Show click Notes to make them show up under your slides while editing. When starting your presentation, use PowerPoint's presentation mode (go to Slide Show and under Monitors , check Use Presenter View ), so you can glance at your notes when needed.

6. Take Home Message

Always summarize your key point in a Take Home Message. Ask yourself, if your audience learned or remembered one single thing from your presentation, what would you like it to be? That's your Take Home Message.

The Take Home Message is your key message, a summary of your data or story. If you're giving an hour-long presentation, you might have several Take Home Messages. That's OK. Just make sure that what you think is key, really matters to your audience.

Make your Take Home Message memorable. It's your responsibility that your audience takes home something valuable. Help them "get it" by making your Take Home Message stand out, either visually or through how you frame it verbally.

Presentation Visuals

Images are key elements of every presentation. Your audience has ears and eyes, they want to see what you're talking about, and a good visual cue will help them understand your message much better.

7. Add Images

Have more images in your slides than text. Visuals are your friends. They can illustrate your points and support your message.

But do not use images to decorate! That's a poor use of visuals because it's just a distraction.

Images can reinforce or complement your message. So use images to visualize or explain your story.

Use a sufficient image resolution. Your visuals might look good on your desktop, but once blown up by a projector, low-resolution images will make your presentation look anything but professional. So choose a resolution that matches the projector's resolution. If in doubt, don't go below a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels (XGA) and aim for 1920 x 1080 pixels (FullHD).

Always maintain your image's aspect ratio. Nothing looks more awkward than a distorted image. Whatever you do, don't stretch images. If you have to resize them, do so with the aspect ratio intact, even if that means dropping slightly above or below your target resolution.

PowerPoint Tip: Need a visual, but don't have one at hand? PowerPoint is connected to Bing's library of online images you can use for your presentations. Go to Insert and under Images select Online Images . You can browse by category or search the library. Be sure to set a checkmark for Creative Commons only , so you don't accidentally violate copyrights.

Note: Yes, a picture is worth a thousand words. In other words, if you don't have time for a thousand words, use a picture!

PowerPoint Animations and Media

In animations, there is a fine line between a comic and a professional impression. But animations can be powerful tools to visualize and explain complicated matters. A good animation can not only improve understanding, it can also make the message stick with your audience.

8. Don't Be Silly

Sparingly use animations and media. You should only use them in one of two cases:

• To draw attention, for example, to your Take Home Message.
• To clarify a model or emphasize an effect.

Embed the media in your presentation and make sure it works in presentation mode. Testing your presentation at home will save you time and avoid embarrassment.

Target Your Presentation Content

Your target, i.e. your audience, defines the content of your presentation. For example, you cannot teach school kids about the complicated matters of the economy, but you may be able to explain to them what the economy is in the first place and why it is important.

9. Keep Your Audience in Mind

When you compile your PowerPoint presentation, ask yourself these questions:

• What does my audience know?
• What do I need to tell them?
• What do they expect?
• What will be interesting to them?
• What can I teach them?
• What will keep them focused?

Answer these questions and boil your slides down to the very essentials. In your talk, describe the essentials colorfully and use your weapons, i.e. text, images, and animations wisely (see above).

Note: If you fail to hit the target, it won't matter how ingenious your design is or how brilliantly you picked colors and keywords. Nothing matters more than your audience's attention.

10. Practice Your Presentation Like a Professional

A well-practiced and enthusiastic talk will help you convince your audience and keep their attention. Here are some key points that define a good talk:

• Know your slides inside out.
• Speak freely.
• Speak with confidence, loud and clear.
• Speak at a steady pace, better too slow than too fast.
• Keep eye contact with your audience.

Bonus: Implement the 10/20/30 Rule

The 10/20/30 rule is a concept brought forward by Guy Kawasaki:

It’s quite simple: a PowerPoint presentation should have ten slides, last no more than twenty minutes, and contain no font smaller than thirty points.

A similar concept is PechaKucha , a storytelling format limited to 20 slides and 20 seconds per slide, i.e. less than seven minutes to conclude the presentation.

Now there's a challenge! Telling your story succinctly, might help you get through to some of the busiest and most distracted people on the planet.

One Final PowerPoint Presentation Tip

I've shown you how to think through your entire presentation, from choosing a design to speaking to your audience. Here's a mind trick: never try to interpret the looks on your listeners' faces. Chances are, you're wrong. Just assume they're focused and taking notes.

You've done your best to create a professional PowerPoint presentation that will help your audience focus on the content and learn new things. The looks on their faces aren't doubt or confusion. It's focus! Well, d'oh! Obviously, you're the expert, and they're the learners. If you can get into this mindset, you can relax and perform at your best.

17 PowerPoint Presentation Examples That Show Style and Professionalism

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By Iveta Pavlova

in Inspiration

6 years ago

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There are way too many bad PowerPoint presentation examples that can bore you to death. Well, today’s post is not about them. We believe that it’s always important to show the good examples out there and follow their lead. We admit it, it was pretty hard to dig out the good PowerPoint presentation examples from the mass. We’ve added our opinion on each piece and why we believe it’s worthy of being included in this collection. Let’s begin!

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1. The Sketchnote Mini-Workshop by Mike Rohde

An eye-catchy PowerPoint presentation example whose content is fully hand-written. What we love about this design, is the high personalization level that is achieved via handwriting. It almost feels like the author is drawing and writing in front of the viewers’ eyes. A digital presentation that conveys a physical feeling.

2. 10 Ways to Spread The Love in The Office by Elodie A.

The following presentation is a real eye candy. We can’t help it, the cartoon style lives in our hearts. An incredibly appealing PowerPoint presentation that brings positive vibes and a good mood through vibrant cartoon illustrations. It gets bonus points for the usage of bullet points and little text.

3. The Great State of Design with CSS Grid Layout and Friends by Stacy Kvernmo

A presentation that tells a story is always a good example that everyone should follow. This PowerPoint presentation has a lot of slides that tell different mini-stories. The way they are depicted is really engaging – they almost look like a sequence of frames that make up a video. This technique really nails the viewers’ attention.

4. We live in a VUCA world by Little Dragon Films

A classy design of a PowerPoint presentation example – a dark theme and white font on top with just a single color accent – red. Such designs are really suitable for serious topics like this one. To soften the contrast between the black background and white font, the author has used a gradient on the background which gives the illusion of soft light in the middle of the design.

5. 2017 Marketing Predictions—Marketo by Marketo

A design that was made over a year ago but it’s still really trendy. In the following PowerPoint presentation example, we can see the combination of 3D shapes, beautiful hand-written fonts, negative space techniques, and more. The overall feeling is of futuristic design. Moreover, they used the color of 2018 – Ultra Violet for their color scheme. Maybe, they did predict the future after all.

6. 10 Ways Your Boss Kills Employee Motivation by Officevibe

Who doesn’t like to see a familiar face? We know your audience does! It’s proven that if you show a familiar face to your viewers, you nail their attention and boost their engagement level. This is the technique used in the following PowePoint presentation. Moreover, the inner slides of the presentation are also cartoons with big conceptual illustrations and little text. The formula for a really good presentation.

7. How to Successfully Run a Remote Team from Weekdone.com

We haven’t really seen many PowerPoint presentation examples with top-view illustrations. The following presentation really reminded us that when presenting to an audience, you should always think: How to make your design stand out from the rest? Well, this one really caught our eye. In addition, we love the bright colors, geometric shapes, and overall flat feeling, all of which are among the graphic design trends for 2022 .

8. SXSW 2018 – Top Trends by Matteo Sarzana

People love visuals and this is an undeniable fact. The whole PowerPoint presentation is built on high-quality photos, each including a little tagline in the middle. We love the consistency, we love the factor of surprise, and we love the high engagement level this presentation creates. Just make sure to back up such presentation type with a good speech!

9. How to study effectively? by sadraus

Semi-transparent overlays, geometric shapes, a video inside… Everything about this PowerPoint presentation screams “modern”. The grayscale coloring is accompanied by a fresh green color accent. The choice of images clearly suggests that the target audience is young people. The overall feeling that we get from this PowerPoint presentation – is youthful and modern.

10. Study: The Future of VR, AR, and Self-Driving Cars by LinkedIn

A presentation about the future should look futuristic, right? The following PowerPoint presentation example is proof that you should always connect the subject of your presentation to its design. Everything in this presentation speaks of futuristic: the choice of fonts, colors, effects, and even some elements look like holograms from the future.

11. 9 things I’ve learned about SaaS by Christoph Janz

A PowerPoint presentation example created in a consistent style by using a blue theme. Why did we include this presentation? We love the fact that the author has shown an alternation of text and visuals (from slides 7 to 22). This technique is proven to hold the attention of the viewer. Moreover, the way the graphics are presented (on a napkin) draws the interest even more.

12. How To Achieve Something Extraordinary In Life by Sultan Suleman Chaudhry

A PowerPoint presentation example that shows consistency and style by using a strict color scheme: orange, beige, and deep blue. Orange and blue are one of the most popular contrasting combinations widely used in all kinds of designs. If you are not sure what colors to go with, simply choose a tested color scheme.

13. New trends to look out for 2018 winter season by FemmeConnection

Geometric shapes and negative space techniques are among the  graphic design trends for 2018  which is why we see them often in PowerPoint presentation examples and other designs. In the following presentation, we can see a collection of women’s clothes presented in a very engaging way with the help of rounded geometric shapes, negative space technique, and the color pink.

14. Fear of Failure by Sultan Suleman Chaudhry

Speaking of the usage of geometric elements in the presentation’s design, let’s see another example. An elegant design decorated with circles, triangles, and more geometric details. What else we love about this presentation is that it only has one color accent – light yellow which looks classy and pleasant for the eye.

15. The Three Lies About Your Age by Sean Si

A great choice of fonts, beautiful semi-transparent geometric elements, and trendy futuristic colors. This is one of the PowerPoint presentation examples that we absolutely love. The story is engaging and the design is extremely appealing – a combination that keeps the viewers’ eyes on the screen from the beginning till the end.

16. Secrets to a Great Team by Elodie A.

Bright, fun, using lots of illustrations and cartoon characters – definitely our kind of PowerPoint presentation. Why do we love it so much? Well, cartoons are real ice-breakers between you and your audience. Moreover, cartoon characters are easier to relate to than a real human face. If you need to connect on a deeper level with your audience, this is your kind of presentation!

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17. How to Build a Dynamic Social Media Plan by Post Planner

A great presentation PowerPoint example with watercolor illustrations and backgrounds that look hand-drawn. We also see semi-transparent colorful overlays, high-quality conceptual photos, and great, useful content. What more would you want from a presentation, right?

We always love to hear your opinion about stuff. So, what do you think of these PowerPoint presentation examples? Do you think that you’ve created a presentation better than these? We’d love to see your own creations in the comments below if you want to share them with us.

You may also be interested to read these related articles:

• 7 Most Popular Software for Presentations
• 4 Invaluable Presentation Design Tips You Wish You Knew Earlier
• 70 Inspiring Presentation Slides with Cartoon Designs
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Iveta Pavlova

Iveta is a passionate writer at GraphicMama who has been writing for the brand ever since the blog was launched. She keeps her focus on inspiring people and giving insight on topics like graphic design, illustrations, education, business, marketing, and more.

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20 Really Good PowerPoint Examples to Inspire Your Next Presentation

By Sandra Boicheva

2 years ago

You may also like Show related articles Hide

You might have the most amazing idea that you wish to share with the world, but you might not get the results you want if the delivery isn’t good. Although as a tool, PowerPoint is pretty easy to use and intuitive, creating a good PowerPoint presentation is not a simple task. There is a lot of things to consider when designing your slides from the words you use, to the copy structure, data visualization, and overall design. This is why today we gathered 20 really good PowerPoint examples of presentations that flawlessly deliver their messages. These creative ideas will surely inspire you to make your next presentation your best one, as they all share good design and engaging storytelling.

“If you don’t know what you want to achieve in your presentation your audience never will.” – Harvey Diamond

1. Idea to Identify: The Design of Brand

This is a long one. Here we have a 242 slides presentation that exposes the myriad facets of design and how they impact the brand identity. The presentation has a lot of data to show and spreads it throughout more than 200 slides to make it easy to read and follow. In all, this is the best way to present a lot of information: instead of overwhelming the viewers with text walls, the presenter simply adds more slides.

• Author:   Sudio Sudarsan

2. Jeunesse Opportunity Presentation 2021

This is a great example of brand presentation with company profile, product system, plan, and reward. It gives a similar experience to browsing a website.

• Author:   DASH2 – Jeunesse Global

3. Accenture Tech Vision 2020

A short and sweet presentation about how companies prepare for data regulation and how this impacts the customer experience. 

• Author:   Accenture

4. APIs as Digital Factories’ New Machines

A comparison presentation of how companies capture most of the market value. It explains well how to view the economy from a different perspective and adopt customer-centric thinking. The presentation has a lot of value, it’s well structured and it’s a good read in only 28 slides.

• Author:  Apidays

5. 24 Books You’ve Never Heard Of – But Will Change Your Life

This is a great example of how repeating slides design for the same type of content isn’t a synonym for being unimaginative. It’s pretty straightforward: it promises 24 titles, an inspirational introduction, and a slide for each book that will change your life.

• Author:   Ryan Holiday

6. 10 Memorable David Bowie Quotes

Not always presentations must have a specific educational or conventional goal. Sometimes, it could be a cool personal project meant to inspire your audience. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t love David Bowie? A presentation with 10 memorable quotes by him is worth watching. 

• Author: Stinson

7. Creative Mornings San Diego 

• Author:   Anne McColl

8. Digital 2020 Global Digital Overview

A report heavy-data presentation about everything you need to know about mobile, internet, social media, and e-commerce use around the world in 2020. It’s a long read but comprehensive and well-illustrated with data visualization.

• Author:   DataReportal

9. Blitzscaling: Book Trailer

One of the most well-made presentations about informative topics such as startup’s life-cycle and where the most value is created. It’s designed as a book, consistent, with lesser text as possible, and imitates animation by adding new content on copies of the same slide. 

• Author:  Reid Hoffman

10. Poor Self-Esteem: Just Beat It!

A very valuable presentation that takes on the reasons for low self-esteem and how to overcome it. The design is very simple and comprehensive and even suitable for social media carousel posts.

• Author:   SlideShop.com

11. You Suck At PowerPoint!

This presentation is more than a decade old and still checks out. After all, you could expect great presentation design from someone who talks about design mistakes and how to overcome them.  61 slides of a fun experience and a great read.

• Author:  Jesse Desjardins

12. Pixar’s 22 Rules to Phenomenal Storytelling

Pixar’s 22 Rules to Phenomenal Storytelling, originally tweeted by Emma Coats, in a 24-slides presentation with a custom design. 

• Author:   Gavin McMahon

13. A Complete Guide To The Best Times To Post On Social Media

A fun little presentation with great value. It takes on the most effective times to post on social media, send an email, or publish a blog.

• Author:   TrackMaven

14. Fix Your Really Bad PowerPoint

The next presentation honors Seth Godin and his wisdom. It uses his book’s insights to visualize all the tips in 45 engaging slides.

• Author:   HighSpark

15. 10 Lessons from the World’s Most Captivating Presenters

This presentation is for presenters who wish to become better. And what better way than getting inspired by the world’s greatest presenters and accessing some of their secrets. 

• Author:   HubSpot

16. Crap. The Content Marketing Deluge

For starters, this presentation has a very captivating title and opening. Winning the attention from the very start, it continues with consistent clean design and great content. It delivers exactly what it promised. 

• Author: Velocity Partners

17. Displaying Data

More insightful advice and tips from professional presenters that check out to this very day. It’s a great presentation about visualizing your data in the best way possible and it also delivers it with design.

• Author:   Bipul Deb Nath

18. 5 Storytelling Lessons From Superhero Stories

Custom-made presentation with illustrations made specifically for the occasion, and brilliant execution. It shows it’s definitely worth it to spend time making your presentation more personal and from scratch. 

19. 10 Things your Audience Hates About your Presentation

Another custom presentation with icons-style illustrations about how to avoid cringe when making presentations. 

• Author:   Stinson

20. The Designer’s Guide to Startup Weekend

You will work hard all weekend long but you will also find new friends, mentors, and the chance to promote yourself. A pretty wholesome presentation with a custom design where the presenter shares her own experience in the world of startups.

• Author:  Iryna Nezhynska

That’s It!

These 20 presentations prove that PowerPoint is never out of date and it’s a great tool to deliver your message across. We hope you got inspired for your next presentation and make your audience fall in love with your concepts.

In the meantime, why not take a look at the related articles to get some more inspiration or grab a couple of freebies:

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80+ Modern Professional PowerPoint Templates 2024

In today’s collection, we’re bringing you a set of fresh new modern, professional PowerPoint templates for creating presentations that stand out from the crowd. Give your presentation a modern edge, and convey your message in a professional way.

We handpicked a collection of unique and modern PowerPoint templates that you can use for crafting slideshows for all kinds of presentations, including startup pitch decks to business projections, photography, marketing, design, and more.

We’re also sharing our tips for creating a modern presentation , to help you get started fast.

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Download thousands of PowerPoint templates, and many other design elements, with a monthly Envato Elements membership. It starts at $16 per month, and gives you unlimited access to a growing library of over 2,000,000 presentation templates, fonts, photos, graphics, and more.

Maximus Template

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Clean & clear.

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Bore – Minimal Modern PowerPoint Template

This modern and creative PowerPoint template includes all the right elements of professional presentation design. It has a beautifully minimalist design, an attractive color palette, and a stylish content layout.

The template itself includes more than 30 unique slide designs you can easily customize to change colors and the fonts however you like. It also includes lots of editable vector graphics and shapes as well.

Why This Is A Top Pick

Since this template features a modern and universal design, you’ll be able to use it to design slideshows for all kinds of business, agency, and creative presentations.

Akbar – Modern Business PowerPoint Template

This PowerPoint template is perfect for diverse presentation needs including corporate and business profiles, creative agencies, portfolios, start-ups, pitch decks, and personal portfolios. It features 39 editable and resizable slides designed with free web fonts, based on master slides.

Osmar – Modern Business PowerPoint Template

Osmar is a business PowerPoint template that is perfect for crafting professional business presentations. Whether you’re a creative agency, startup, or looking to present a company profile, this template can be tailored to suit a variety of needs. With 39 editable and resizable slides, you can drag-and-drop content in an easily editable 16:9 widescreen ratio format.

Malaiz – Professional Business PowerPoint Template

A modern, dynamic PowerPoint template for all your professional presentations. Perfect for a range of contexts from startup pitches to photography portfolios, this easily editable 39-slide template incorporates free web fonts and resizable graphics based on master slides.

Meerotie – Professional PowerPoint Template

Meerotie is a dynamic, modern PowerPoint template perfect for both business and personal use. Features include 120 clean and creative slides with a bold design, a handmade infographic, a 16:9 ratio and easily editable images, fonts, and layouts. This fully adaptable template makes presenting your next project hassle-free and effective.

Enativing – Creative Agency PowerPoint Template

This is a versatile and modern tool for a multitude of fields, from advertising to startups. It features 30 unique slides that are fully editable and resizable, complete with over 500 icons and a drag-and-drop interface.

Black White – Professional Agency PowerPoint Template

A contemporary PowerPoint template perfect for enhancing your agency presentations. It features 20 unique, easily customizable slides with bold and elegant designs. The template offers drag-and-drop picture placeholders with auto-adjustment and comes complete with device mockups as well.

Professional Consulting PowerPoint Presentation

This is a modern, engaging template perfect for business presentations, project pitches, and lookbooks. Offering a variety of editable graphics and drag-and-drop picture placeholders in a widescreen format, the package includes PowerPoint and XML files along with fully editable layouts.

Hermoso – Modern Business PowerPoint Template

The Hermoso is a versatile PowerPoint template with a modern design. Ideal for contemporary businesses, this template can be used to present a variety of content including company profiles, portfolios, and startup pitches. With over 30 editable slides featuring resizable graphics, it provides convenience and flexibility.

Amin – Modern Business PowerPoint Template

A modern, easy-to-edit PowerPoint template ideal for various purposes, such as business presentations, corporate profiles, start-ups, creative agencies, or personal portfolios. It includes 39 slides, editable graphics, recommended free web fonts, and a 16:9 widescreen ratio.

Professional Portfolio PowerPoint Template

This is a modern, multipurpose PowerPoint Template ideal for presentations related to business, creative agencies, brand guidelines, and more. Offering 30 high-resolution slides in a 16:9 aspect ratio, this template is carefully designed for easy customization.

Alpha – Business PowerPoint Template

This PowerPoint template is made with modern businesses in mind. It’s ideal for crafting professional presentations for business meetings, company profiles, and pitch deck slideshows. The template includes 39 unique slides for you to choose from.

Stanbiz – Startup Business Plan PowerPoint Template

Design the perfect slideshow to showcase your startup and business plans with this professional PowerPoint template. There are 36 different slide layouts included in this template with fully customizable designs.

Gray Gold Company Profile Presentation Template

The dark gray and gold design of this PowerPoint template gives it a very stylish look and feel. The template is ideal for making slideshows for various marketing and product showcase presentations. It includes 26 unique slides.

Minimal Portfolio PowerPoint Presentation Template

The modern and minimal design of this PowerPoint template offers a beautiful canvas for crafting bold and beautiful presentations for your professional projects. There are 24 slides in the template that are especially suitable for portfolio presentations.

Aqua – Free Marketing Plan PowerPoint Template

This free PowerPoint template comes with a colorful watercolor-themed design. It’s perfect for professional marketing presentations and slideshows. The template has 32 unique slide layouts.

Minimal PowerPoint Presentation Template

Craft minimal presentations with an aesthetic feel using this PowerPoint template. It’s made with various business and agency portfolio presentations in mind. There are 21 different slide layouts to choose from.

Cell – Creative Professional PowerPoint Template

The bold and dark design of this PowerPoint template will allow you to make professional slideshows for presenting your projects and portfolio in style. The template includes fully customizable slides with image placeholders, device mockups, and much more.

Media-Press Kit – Professional PowerPoint Template

Just as the name suggests, this PowerPoint template is designed to help you craft a professional-looking media kit or a press kit for a brand. It includes 16 carefully crafted slides with all the important sections for promoting your brand and business.

Crowdfunding – PowerPoint Infographics Slides

If you’re planning on launching a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for your business or product launch, this PowerPoint template will come in handy. It includes 17 different crowdfunding-themed infographic slides in 12 different color variations.

Photographer Portfolio – Free Professional PowerPoint Template

This free PowerPoint template is a great choice for crafting a simple portfolio slideshow for a photographer. There are 29 unique slides in the template with different styles of layouts for showcasing your work more effectively.

Gosamp – Urban Professional PowerPoint Template

Gosamp is a modern PowerPoint template that features a trendy and attractive design. It comes with more than 30 unique slide layouts you can use to create presentations for digital marketing and fashion brands. Each slide in the template also includes image placeholders, editable graphics, and much more.

Logica – IT Consultant PowerPoint Template

This template is designed with consulting agencies in mind. The template includes 30 different slide layouts with clean and professional designs. You can also customize it using PowerPoint, Keynote, and Google Slides.

Business Plan – Professional PowerPoint Template

If you’re looking for a PowerPoint template to create a killer business plan slide deck, this template is perfect for you. It includes 25 carefully crafted slides that can be used to make a professional presentation to showcase your business and company plans.

Tradents – Brand Guidelines Presentation Template

Use this PowerPoint template to make attractive brand guideline slide decks. You can choose from 30 unique slides, which include slides for detailing everything from font choices to color schemes and everything in between. You can easily edit and customize each slide to your preference as well.

Free Growth Business Plan PowerPoint Template

This free PowerPoint template is ideal for making simple and professional presentations for describing your business growth plans. There are 39 different slide layouts included in the template. Along with editable graphs, charts, and vector graphics.

Roline – Professional PowerPoint Template

This PowerPoint template combines elements from both professional and modern worlds to offer a set of beautiful slide layouts. It’s perfect for creating everything from business presentations to pitch decks and more. The template includes 50 unique slides with editable designs.

Koman – Modern Business PowerPoint Template

Presentations with dark designs are great for highlighting content more effectively. This PowerPoint template is designed to help achieve that goal. It includes a total of 39 slides with fully customizable layouts. And it features editable shapes and graphics as well.

Marketing Pitch – Modern PowerPoint Template

This PowerPoint template includes many different infographic slides you can use to visualize data in your marketing meetings. It features a clean and professional design. The template comes with 30 unique slides.

Wicka – Business PowerPoint Template

You can use this PPT to create professional presentations to promote creative brands and agencies. The template lets you choose from 39 different slides. It includes master slide layouts, editable vector graphics, image placeholders, and much more as well.

Free Business Profile PowerPoint Template

This is a free PowerPoint template for designing business presentations with professional slides. It comes with 23 unique slides. Each slide can be easily customized to change colors, fonts, and images to your preference.

Social Humanity – Modern PowerPoint Template

This professional PowerPoint template features a minimalist slide design. It’s perfect for making presentations for non-profit organizations and many other businesses. The template includes 30 unique slides.

Business & Corporate PowerPoint Template

Use this template to design a modern and creative presentation for your corporate business. It includes a total of 420 slides featuring 40 unique slides in 8 pre-made color schemes. The template also has transition animations as well.

Lonux – Professional PowerPoint Template

Lonux is a PowerPoint template you can use to design presentations to showcase your professional services. The template includes 39 unique slides filled with editable shapes, master slide layouts, image placeholders, and more.

Aserlla – Clean Business PowerPoint Template

Looking for a PowerPoint template with a clean and professional layout? Then this template is for you. It includes slides in both dark and light color themes as well as in 3 pre-made color schemes.

Business & Consulting Toolkit Free PPT

This creative PowerPoint template not only comes with a set of modern slides but also features multipurpose designs you can use to create many different types of presentations. It includes 50 unique slides with graphs, maps, infographics, and more.

Reendinguz – Modern PowerPoint Template

If you’re looking for a minimal PowerPoint template with a modern design to create clean and effective presentations, this template is perfect for you. It includes 30 unique slide designs featuring 5 different color schemes to choose from. The layouts made with vector shapes are easily editable as well.

Galerino – Professional PowerPoint Template

Galerino is another modern PowerPoint template that comes with a total of 150 slides. It features image placeholders for easily placing your images in the slides as well as master slide layouts, illustrations, and editable vector graphics.

Best Business – Modern PowerPoint Template

This is a great PowerPoint template you can use to design an elegant and attractive slideshow for a professional presentation. It includes 30 slides that you can choose from 5 different color schemes. It also comes with an infographic, gallery slide, illustrations, and much more.

Browney – Contemporary PowerPoint Template

If you are looking for an elegantly designed, professional PowerPoint template for modern businesses, Browney is an ideal choice. This collection of five templates, each having 30 slides, is a great option for making an impression on potential investors or clients.

Sparrow – Creative Agency PowerPoint Template

Exclusively designed for creative industries, Sparrow features a modern, uncluttered design with a splash of bright colors that instantly draws the attention of your audience. There is a smorgasbord of slides for you to customize to your heart’s content, and easy-to-use features that make the dreadful task of making a presentation look like a piece of cake.

Poolest – Simple PowerPoint Template

The best presentations are often the ones without any bells and whistles. Poolest is a minimal yet eye-catching option, making it one of the best professional PowerPoint templates on our list. We wholeheartedly recommend you try out Poolest for your upcoming presentation.

Modela – Free Creative PowerPoint Template

With a stylish, modern, and striking design, Modela is an effective presentation template with multi-purpose slides, data infographics, and a 16:9 widescreen ratio. It’s one of the best free modern PowerPoint templates available on the web and can be fully customized to reflect your own branding.

Arina – Free Business PowerPoint Template

Arina, a modern and sophisticated PowerPoint template is a great choice for businesses looking to make an impact. It features an elegant layout, easy-to-edit slides, and a range of amazing features that really should be seen to be fully appreciated.

Round – Clean Business PowerPoint Template

Round also comes with a set of modern and professional slide designs. Each slide in this PowerPoint template is available in 5 different colors. It also includes master slide layouts, image placeholders, editable vector graphics, and more.

Voodoo – Free Professional PowerPoint Template

VooDoo is a free PowerPoint template that features a set of highly professional slides, including ones with infographics. The free version of the template includes 5 free presentation slides and 5 infographic slides.

Kirkland – Business PowerPoint Template

This PowerPoint template is a great choice for making all types of professional and business presentations. It comes with a set of beautiful slides made with a minimal content layout full of colorful shapes and images. The template includes 30 unique slides with 5 different colors to choose from.

Twenty Five – Modern Professional PowerPoint Template

Minimalism takes a key role in every modern and professional presentation design. This template will allow you to leverage both those factors to your advantage by crafting a set of slides full of clarity and creativity. It includes 25 unique slides for you to choose from. And comes in Google Slides version as well.

Quizy – Quiz Themed Powerpoint Template

A very unique PowerPoint template designed specifically for quiz and questionnaire-based presentations. This template comes with 30 slides featuring colorful quiz-themed designs and layouts. It’s perfect for making your presentations more entertaining for events and conferences.

Rexse – Pitch Deck Powerpoint Template

Rexse is a pitch deck PowerPoint template you can use for all sorts of business and startup investor presentations. The template comes with 40 unique master slide layouts with modern designs. Each slide features editable graphics, icons, shapes, and image placeholders for easy customization.

Original – Free Modern PowerPoint Template

This beautiful PowerPoint template is completely free to download and use with your personal projects. It’s ideal for making a simple slideshow for design and lifestyle-themed presentations.

LEARN – Education Powerpoint Template

Just as the name suggests, this PowerPoint template is designed for all sorts of educational presentations. It’s ideal for making presentations for educating the audiences of your products and services. The template includes 30 unique slides.

Atea – Clean Professional Presentation Template

The clean and creative design of this presentation template gives it a truly unique look and feel. This PowerPoint template features 30 unique slides that are available in 5 different pre-made color schemes. It also comes in Keynote and Google Slides versions as well.

Accasia – Creative Business PowerPoint Template

This PowerPoint template comes with a slide design filled with creative and abstract shapes. This gives the entire presentation a very uncommon look and feel. The template includes 30 unique slides. You can easily customize the design using its pre-made color schemes and image placeholders.

Aquos – Minimal Professional PowerPoint Template

If you’re working on a presentation for a corporate brand or a modern business, this PowerPoint template will come in handy. It comes with 30 minimalist slides that feature plenty of visuals and shapes. The template includes gallery slides, portfolio slides, history slides, and lots more.

Hexxos – Free Modern PowerPoint Template

The vivid and colorful slides in this template give it a truly modern and trendy look. This PowerPoint template is perfect for making a presentation for modern fashion and lifestyle brands. It’s free to use with your personal projects.

Classy – Modern PowerPoint Template

Classy is a modern PowerPoint template that features a set of 30 unique slides that are available in 5 different color schemes, making it a total of 150 slides. It also includes image placeholders, editable vector graphics, and free fonts as well.

Sneaky – Fashion PowerPoint Template

Sneaky is a modern PowerPoint template that comes with a stylish visual slide design, which makes it perfect for creating fashion and apparel related presentations. The template includes 45 unique slides with drag and drop customization features.

Visionare – Modern PowerPoint Presentation

Visionare is a beautiful PowerPoint template you can use to design professional presentations for business and agency meetings and events. The template comes with 50 unique slides in HD resolution and features image placeholders, world maps, icons, and much more.

Zero – Creative PowerPoint Template

Zero is a modern and creative PowerPoint template featuring a colorful design. This template is most suitable for making marketing and sales related presentations. It includes 30 unique slides in 5 different color schemes, making a total of over 150 slides.

Yoon – Business PowerPoint Template

Yoon comes with a simple and clean design which allows you to effectively highlight your images and content. The template is perfect for making business profile and product showcase presentation slideshows.

Ashtray – Professional PowerPoint Template

Ashtray PowerPoint template features a creative slide design filled with lots of shapes, colors, and images. The template lets you choose from a total of 150 slides to craft unique business and professional presentations that stand out from the crowd.

Free Portfolio PowerPoint Template

This modern free PowerPoint template is designed specifically for creating professional portfolio presentations. It includes 12 unique slides filled with lots of icons and shapes.

Free Minimal PowerPoint Presentation

If you’re looking for a minimal PowerPoint template for making a portfolio showcase or an agency presentation, this free template is for you. It features 20 unique slides with image placeholders and icons.

Chroma – Modern PowerPoint Template

Chroma features a design unlike any other PowerPoint template in this collection. The template has a modern design featuring vibrant gradient colors. It includes 50 unique slides that are most suitable for modern startup and small businesses.

Molex – Dark PowerPoint Template

Molex is a stylish PowerPoint template that comes with a dark color theme, which effectively highlights text and other content in the design. The template is also available in 5 different color schemes and comes with 30 unique slides.

PRADIC – Creative PowerPoint Template

Pradic is a creative PowerPoint template you can use to design business and corporate presentations. It comes with slides full of colorful shapes, charts, graphs, image placeholders, and much more.

Gholem – Minimal PowerPoint Template

Gholem PowerPoint template features 30 unique slides that can be easily customized to your preference. The slides are also available in 5 different color variations and include a handcrafted infographic and gallery slides as well as image placeholders.

Rekxa – Clean PowerPoint Template

Rekxa is a clean and minimalist PowerPoint template most suitable for designing startup and business-related presentations. The template includes 150 slides with editable designs and 5 color schemes to choose from.

Pop – Free Colorful PowerPoint Template

This is a free demo of a premium PowerPoint template. It features a set of modern and colorful slide designs you can use to create a stylish slideshow to showcase your personal designs, artworks, and portfolios.

GMTRY – Free Geometric Presentation Template

This modern PowerPoint template features a unique style of design filled with creative geometric shapes. You can use it for free with personal projects.

Hanobi – Modern Professional PowerPoint Template

Hanobi is a modern and elegant PowerPoint template that features a professional design for making slideshows for business and creative presentations. It includes a total of 150 slide designs that are also available in 5 different color schemes.

Anada – Agency Modern Professional PowerPoint Template

Anada is a PowerPoint template most suitable for making marketing and sales related presentations. It comes with 30 unique slides featuring infographics, charts, graphs, and icons. The template s also available in 3 different colors as well as light and dark themes.

Space – Modern Professional PowerPoint Template

Space is a minimalist and professional PowerPoint template that includes a set of gorgeously designed slides featuring portfolio slides, infographics, vector graphics, image placeholders, and much more.

Laforest – Modern Professional PowerPoint Template

Laforest PowerPoint template comes with 12 different files featuring the slideshow in 3 premade color schemes and in light and dark themes. It includes 30 professionally designed slides featuring timelines, mockups, image placeholders, and more.

Pastel – Free PowerPoint Template

Pastel is another great free PowerPoint template you can use to design a colorful and attractive presentation to showcase your portfolio. It’s free to use with personal projects.

Free Corporate Powerpoint Template

This free PowerPoint template comes with 15 unique slide designs you can use to design various business and corporate presentations. It includes lots of shapes, infographics, and illustrations as well.

Mochica – Modern Professional PowerPoint Template

Mochica features a minimalist design with lots of clean and white space. The PowerPoint template lets you choose from 5 color schemes and a total of 150 slides to design professional presentations.

Project Proposal – Modern Professional PowerPoint Template

With this professional PowerPoint template, you’ll be able to create attractive presentations for project proposals and meetings. The template is available in 4 different color themes and it features lots of unique slides for describing pricing, project scope, budget, and more.

Cella PitchDeck Modern Professional PowerPoint Template

This PowerPoint template will definitely come in handy for startups and businesses for making powerful pitch decks to promote and present their ideas and startups to investors. The template includes a total of 120 slides.

MINIMAL PROPOSAL – Modern Professional PowerPoint Template

Another modern and professionally designed PowerPoint template for making attractive proposal presentations. This template comes with 50 unique slides that feature 3D infographics, icons, vector illustrations, and more.

Yellow Bussiness – Modern Professional PowerPoint Template

Create unique and persuasive marketing and sales presentations using this PowerPoint template. It features 50 unique slides you can easily edit to change colors, text, images, and shapes.

Free Fashion PowerPoint Presentation Template

Another great free PowerPoint template for crafting slideshows related to photography and fashion design. The template includes 10 unique slides you can customize to your preference.

Motagua – Free Multipurpose PowerPoint Template

Motagua is a modern and attractive free PowerPoint template that can be used to design all kinds of design, business, and creative presentations. It comes with 12 unique slides based on master slide layouts.

Latte PowerPoint Presentation Template

Latte is a professional PowerPoint template that comes with a minimal and a modern design. The template features lots of space for showing off images with a beautiful color scheme. It includes over 50 unique slides based on master slides with vector graphics and portfolio slides.

Marketing Plan 2.0 PowerPoint Template

This is a PowerPoint template designed specifically for creating marketing-related presentations. It includes 30 unique slides that come in 10 different color schemes. The slides are also available in white and dark background versions. The slideshow is also fully animated and print-ready as well.

Modev Professional PowerPoint Template

This professional PowerPoint template is most suitable for creating slideshows for design agency and freelancer presentations. It features an elegant color design, which is available in Green, Blue, and Pink versions. Each template consists of 30 unique slides.

Minimal Presentation PowerPoint Template

Just as the title suggests, this is a minimalist PowerPoint template that comes with a total of over 300 slides. The template features a modern design that makes it ideal for SaaS and small business related presentations. It’s also available in 10 different color schemes as well.

Visionary – Attractive PowerPoint Design

Visionary is a professionally designed PowerPoint template that includes 80 unique multipurpose slides with vibrant colors. The template is available in 30 different color schemes and it comes with 98 master slide layouts for creating your own unique slides.

MUNINE PowerPoint Template

Munine is a PowerPoint slideshow template with a feminine design. It’s perfect for designing slideshows for fashion and clothing brand related presentations. The template features 60 unique slides in 50 different premade color schemes. Each template is also available in dark and light color versions as well.

iDea – Creative Company PowerPoint Template

Idea is a PowerPoint template designed specifically for marketing related presentations. It’s also perfect for making presentations for creative and design agencies as well. It includes 30 unique slides in 3 different color schemes.

Kalium Corporate PowerPoint Presentation

Featuring a professional design, Kalium PowerPoint template is most suitable for creating presentations for corporate businesses, brands, and agencies. It includes 50 unique slides that are easily customizable and featuring lots of vector graphics and elements. The slides also come equipped with animations as well.

SPLASH – PowerPoint Template

This PowerPoint template is ideal for design agencies and other creative businesses. It features slides with a modern design for easily highlighting your portfolio, case studies, team, and galleries. The template includes 32 unique slides that are available in 5 premade color schemes.

SIMPLY – PowerPoint Template

Simply is a creatively designed PowerPoint presentation template that includes 32 unique slides. It’s also available in 5 different color variations and features plenty of vector elements, such as infographics, charts, graphs, and more. You can easily edit it to customize the slides to your preference.

Oxygen PowerPoint Presentation

Oxygen is the perfect PowerPoint template for creating marketing and creative presentations. It comes with an attractive slide design and a drag and drop editing environment. The template includes 50 unique slides featuring infographics, maps, charts, and graphs.

SKETCH 1 PowerPoint Template

This creative template includes 40 unique slides that feature lots of sketch-based illustrations and icons. The template is also available in 50 different color variations and with hundreds of vector graphics, icons, and shapes.

Exotic Project Presentation Template

Featuring a minimal and a modern design, this PowerPoint template is best for showcasing your projects and products in your presentations. It’s also great for making presentations for corporate and small business presentations as well. The template includes 62 multipurpose slides in 20 different color schemes.

NEXT PowerPoint Template

Next is a highly visual PowerPoint template that comes with a set of slides with a modern design. It includes 20 unique slides in 50 different color styles, including dark and light themes. The slides are also filled with lots of vector graphics and icons as well.

Rising Sun PowerPoint Template

If you’re working on a presentation for a creative agency or a small business, this PowerPoint template will come in handy. This template includes 20 master slides featuring lots of vector elements, gradient colors, and icons.

Real Estate PowerPoint Template

This is a PowerPoint template designed specifically for making presentations related to real-estate agencies. The template features 20 unique slides with plenty of space for highlighting properties with large images. It also includes charts, diagrams, graphs, and vector icons as well.

Lean PowerPoint Template

Lean is a professionally designed PowerPoint template that’s ideal for creating business and corporate presentation slideshows. The template includes 20 master slides featuring lots of vector graphics, icons, and shapes.

Add Color PowerPoint Template

This colorful PowerPoint template is perfect for creating presentation slideshows for all types of occasions, including schools, colleges, marketing, fashion, and more. The template comes packed with vector charts and graphs as well.

Mapped PowerPoint Template

Mapped is a PowerPoint template with a modern design. It’s best for making slideshows for eCommerce businesses and startups. The template includes slides based on 20 master slides and animations.

Ruby PowerPoint Template

Featuring a set of 50 unique slides, this PowerPoint template is made specifically for creating presentations for business and corporate projects. It includes resizable vector graphics and gallery slides as well.

Express – Freestyle PowerPoint Template

Express is a unique PowerPoint template with a modern and a creative design that will certainly make your presentations stand out. It includes 30 slides featuring attractive brush-strokes, vectors, icons, and graphics. The template is also available in 3 different color schemes.

Modern Real Estate PowerPoint Template

Another PowerPoint slideshow template for creating presentations for real-estate businesses. The template includes 30 clean and modern slides that are available in 5 premade color schemes. It comes with resizable graphics, vector illustrations, portfolio slides, and lots more.

Timeline 2.0 for PowerPoint

This is a massive bundle of PowerPoint templates that includes 50 unique templates of timeline slides. You can use them to create business projections charts, product-related graphs, and more. The templates are also available in 10 different premade color schemes.

Tidama – Modern Business PowerPoint Template

This is one of the most elegant PowerPoint templates in this collection. If you’re looking for a theme to design a presentation for a luxury brand or high-end product, this template is perfect for you. It includes 39 slide layouts with fully editable designs.

Bakooh PowerPoint Template

With a confident look and clean, creative slides, this is a versatile, flat design PowerPoint template. It’s got a modern style that blends plenty of colorful graphics, powerful charts, and minimal design elements.

Doros PowerPoint Template

Need a PowerPoint presentation design template with a modern style? One that’s easy to customize? And comes packed with the right slide designs to communicate your message effectively? Look no further than Doros.

Mokka PowerPoint Template

If you like minimal PowerPoint design templates, check this out. This is a minimal PowerPoint presentation design with plenty of template options built-in. If you’ve got important information to present, this set delivers. It’s perfect for personal or corporate use. And comes with a ton of easy-to-edit features that are 100% customizable.

Rising PowerPoint Template

Think big and get ready to go bold with this modern PowerPoint design theme. It’s got a powerful set of unique PPT slide designs that’ll help your message stand out. It mixes striking images with compelling layouts and a confident type. It also includes quick to work with components that pack a creative punch.

5 Tips for Creating a Modern PowerPoint Presentation

If you’re new to designing PowerPoint presentations, these tips will help you create a more professional looking slideshow to win your audience.

1. Use Minimal and Professional Slide Designs

Let’s face it, all of the default templates included in PowerPoint are terrible and have outdated designs. They’ll never help make your presentation stand out from the crowd.

So start your process by finding a better and professionally designed PowerPoint template to make your slideshow look more creative and original. You’d be surprised to see the amazing designs on some of the templates you can download from third-party websites. They’ll make your old presentations look like something from the 1980s.

2. Find and Use Better Custom Fonts

Fonts take a major role in presentation slideshows as they help attract attention to each of your slides. Consider using custom fonts in your presentations.

With the right combination of a big bold title font and a body font with an easy to read design, you can create presentations to deliver a great user experience that shows off professionalism.

3. Write Shorter Sentences

In most cases, a PowerPoint presentation should focus on highlighting the key points of a speech and to visualize data. And you should keep it that way and avoid making your presentation look like a novel filled with long paragraphs.

You can achieve this goal by creating a content layout for including shorter sentences and paragraphs. Use bullet points and icons as well.

4. Add Shapes, Images, Charts, and Graphs

Modern PowerPoint presentations are usually very visually appealing and it’s beautiful to look at. You can make similar presentations by including lots of shapes and large images to make each slide look more creative.

You can also use charts and infographics to visualize data from studies, show projections, summarize reports, and even make strong statements.

5. Use a Modern Color Palette

While using minimal designs is always a great approach to designing professional PowerPoint slideshows, many modern presentations feature colorful designs as well.

Create a color palette that matches your brand and your industry. Use it to add a stylish look to each of the slides in your presentations while maintaining a persistent design.

TechBullion

Creating impactful presentations: tips from mckinsey experts.

In the world of business, presentations can make or break your success. Whether you’re pitching a new idea, presenting a project update, or seeking stakeholder approval, your ability to create and deliver a powerful presentation can be the deciding factor. McKinsey, one of the world’s leading management consulting firms, is renowned for its expertise in crafting high-impact presentations. In this article, we’ll delve into the secrets behind McKinsey’s success and reveal how you can apply their strategies, including McKinsey slide templates, to elevate your presentations and captivate your audience.

The Importance of a Compelling Presentation

Presentations are an essential communication tool in the business world, serving to inform, persuade, and inspire your audience. An impactful presentation can:

Engage your audience, capturing their attention and maintaining their interest throughout.

Clearly and concisely convey complex ideas and data.

Persuade stakeholders to support your proposal or project.

Foster collaboration and generate momentum for new initiatives.

By mastering the art of presentation, you can enhance your professional reputation and improve your overall effectiveness as a business professional.

The McKinsey Approach to Presentation Design

McKinsey is renowned for its ability to create visually appealing and persuasive presentations. At the core of their approach are several key principles:

Prioritize clarity and simplicity: Focus on conveying your main points in a clear and concise manner, avoiding unnecessary details and jargon.

Leverage a consistent visual style: Establish a uniform visual language, using consistent colors, fonts, and design elements throughout your presentation.

Use visuals to support your message: Incorporate charts, graphs, and images to illustrate your points and enhance your presentation’s visual appeal.

By following these principles, you can create presentations that are both visually engaging and highly effective at communicating your message.

McKinsey Slide Templates: A Secret Weapon for Impactful Presentations

One of the keys to McKinsey’s success in presentation design is its use of slide templates. Mckinsey slide templates provide a standardized format for presenting information, ensuring that your presentation remains consistent and polished. By leveraging McKinsey slide templates, you can:

Save time and effort: With a pre-designed format, you can focus on crafting a compelling narrative rather than grappling with design elements.

Maintain consistency: A standardized template ensures that your presentation remains visually cohesive, enhancing its overall professionalism and impact.

Adapt to your needs: Many McKinsey slide templates are customizable, allowing you to tailor them to your specific requirements and preferences.

Subheading 4: Tips for Effective Storytelling in Presentations

A powerful presentation is built on a foundation of compelling storytelling. To create a persuasive narrative, consider these tips from McKinsey experts:

Start with a strong opening: Capture your audience’s attention from the outset with a bold statement, a provocative question, or an intriguing fact.

Establish a clear structure: Organize your presentation into a logical sequence, with a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Focus on the “so what”: Emphasize the relevance and implications of your message, making it clear why your audience should care.

Use anecdotes and examples: Illustrate your points with real-life stories and case studies to make them more relatable and memorable.

By incorporating these storytelling techniques, you can create a presentation that resonates with your audience and leaves a lasting impression.

Mastering Data Visualization

Presenting data effectively is a crucial skill for business professionals. To create impactful data visualizations, follow these tips from McKinsey experts:

Choose the right chart type: Select a chart format that best communicates your message, considering options such as bar charts, line charts, pie charts, or scatter plots.

Simplify your visuals: Focus on the most important data points, eliminating extraneous information that may detract from your message.

Use color strategically: Employ color to highlight key points, trends, or comparisons, guiding your audience’s attention to what matters most.

Provide context: Offer context for your data, including timeframes, units, and benchmarks, to help your audience fully understand the significance of your findings.

By mastering data visualization techniques, you can present complex information in a clear and engaging manner, enhancing the overall impact of your presentation.

Delivering Your Presentation with Confidence

The delivery of your presentation is just as important as its content and design. To ensure a confident and engaging delivery, consider these tips from McKinsey experts:

Practice, practice, practice: Rehearse your presentation multiple times, refining your delivery and familiarizing yourself with the content.

Know your audience: Tailor your delivery to the needs and interests of your audience, emphasizing the aspects of your presentation that are most relevant to them.

Maintain eye contact: Engage with your audience by looking at them directly, demonstrating confidence and sincerity.

Use body language effectively: Employ gestures, posture, and facial expressions to reinforce your message and convey enthusiasm.

By focusing on your delivery, you can further enhance the impact of your presentation and create a lasting impression on your audience.

Continuous Improvement: Learning from the Best

To continually hone your presentation skills, seek out high-quality resources and examples from industry leaders like McKinsey. By studying their strategies and techniques, you can gain valuable insights and inspiration to elevate your own presentations. Some resources to consider include:

McKinsey Quarterly: An online publication featuring in-depth articles and presentations on a wide range of business topics.

TED Talks: A collection of inspiring and informative talks from experts across various fields, offering valuable lessons in presentation design and delivery.

SlideShare: A platform for sharing professional presentations, including many examples from McKinsey and other leading firms.

By leveraging these resources, you can stay informed about best practices in presentation design and continually refine your skills.

Conclusion:

Creating impactful presentations is a critical skill for business professionals seeking to persuade, inform, and inspire their audience. By applying the strategies and techniques used by McKinsey experts, including leveraging McKinsey slide templates, focusing on effective storytelling, mastering data visualization, and delivering your presentation with confidence, you can elevate your presentations to new heights. Remember, a powerful presentation can be the key to unlocking opportunities, securing stakeholder support, and driving business success. So, invest in developing your presentation skills and watch your impact soar. 

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Four Tips to Make Your Sales Presentation a Winner

Being prepared and not being boring can go a long way toward persuading a potential customer to buy into what you’re offering.

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“I am CEO of an educational sales organization, and we need to transform our telemarketing staff into salespeople who go out into the field, make presentations and do lunch-and-learn new product seminars with potential customers. May I legally change their job duties? Would I be required to provide training for them, and if so, what type? Thanks, ‘Walter.’”

“Yes to both questions,” says Southern California labor lawyer Daniel Klingenberger . “If employers prefer sales presentations face-to-face with existing or prospective customers, they can establish those job requirements. They would be well advised to provide appropriate sales or presentation skills training to these employees.”

I also consulted on this topic with Terri Sjodin , principal and founder of Sjodin Communications in Newport Beach, Calif. “Dennis,” she says, “you would be surprised at how often these same issues come up as employees have gone from home-based to virtual and now are sent out into the field.”

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Sjodin, a New York Times bestselling author and a frequent guest on radio and television talk shows, has dedicated her professional life to helping people become effective speakers. Her most recent book is Presentation Ready: Improve Your Sales Presentation Outcomes and Avoid the Twelve Most Common Mistakes .

How to build presentation skills

“Most people want to improve their presentations,” she says, “but don’t know where to start. Understanding the most common mistakes — and figuring out how to avoid them — is critical because you can’t course-correct what you don’t recognize as a problem.”

She provided some confidence-boosting insights to help Walter’s sales professionals get started on learning good presentation skills.

Don’t wing it. Failing to prepare reveals a lack of product knowledge.

Winging it is improvising, ad-libbing or generally conducting a presentation without much preparation. It is among the top mistakes salespeople reported making that had likely ruined transactions.

Goal-oriented, persuasive presentations that need a customer’s buy-in risk failure if you are not well prepared, if you haven’t done your homework and if you don’t know your company’s product or service well. Listeners easily sense a lack of preparation where the speaker appears disorganized, unskilled and distracted.

This can have a greater cost than one lost sale; it puts the employer’s reputation at risk.

Don’t be boring. Being informative has its limits.

The 2023 State of Sales Presentations Research Study from Sjodin’s company revealed that being boring is the most common mistake presenters recognized in others. This can happen for a host of reasons, including sharing too many facts and figures.

A good presentation is much more than just delivering information; you need your message to land, to create a connection with the listener.

This is accomplished by crafting a message that is engaging, interesting and amplified by stories listeners will tune in to emotionally, making the product or service relevant — something they can visualize owning or using. “Your enthusiasm is vital!” Sjodin says.

While it is important to provide a factual basis for why someone should purchase your product, you don’t want customers to feel as if they are being asked to drink from a fire hydrant. “Buying decisions are seldom based on a massive amount of detail but are strongly linked to positive feelings the audience has about the speaker,” Sjodin points out.

Do be the first person in the room and know who your audience is.

“Audience analysis refers to knowing who will be in the audience,” Sjodin notes. “This intelligence is golden, as the more you know about your listeners, the better able you should be to fine-tune the presentation. But sometimes you will have no idea who will be present, and they might have no idea who you are.”

The solution is to be the first person in the room. By greeting listeners as they come in, you can exchange a few words and, time permitting, ask them what they might like to know about your product or service. “In so doing, your presentation has already begun, and you have likely won a friend,” Sjodin says.

Keep in mind that for a lunch-and-learn seminar, the food is important.

Lunch-and-learn seminars are popular in the investment world. “A common mistake,” Sjodin says, “is for the financial adviser to lecture while guests are eating. Few will pay attention!”

Sjodin recommends that, prior to lunch, open the session with a few welcoming remarks, advising that lunch will be served in a moment and that afterward the presentation will begin.

“In summary,” Sjodin notes, “providing your team with presentation skills training will

boost their comfort with the new job responsibilities and help them to succeed.”

In Presentation Ready , Sjodin puts her all into helping readers become more effective in the world of sales. It is a shot of confidence-building Vitamin B-12 and the ideal gift for employees preparing for a required change in performance skills.

Dennis Beaver practices law in Bakersfield, Calif., and welcomes comments and questions from readers, which may be faxed to (661) 323-7993, or e-mailed to [email protected] . And be sure to visit dennisbeaver.com .

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This article was written by and presents the views of our contributing adviser, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA .

After attending Loyola University School of Law, H. Dennis Beaver joined California's Kern County District Attorney's Office, where he established a Consumer Fraud section. He is in the general practice of law and writes a syndicated newspaper column, " You and the Law ." Through his column he offers readers in need of down-to-earth advice his help free of charge. "I know it sounds corny, but I just love to be able to use my education and experience to help, simply to help. When a reader contacts me, it is a gift." 

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To maximize what you can collect, it’s crucial to know when you can file, how delaying filing affects your checks and the income limit if you’re still working.

By Jason “JB” Beckett Published 18 April 24

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