Some of the worst sights you can witness when you are standing in front of an audience and running through your presentation are to see people fidgeting in their seats and attempting to check their phone without being noticed, all because they are not engaged with what you are saying and showing to them.
If that happens to you, it is a clear sign that you need to adopt some new presentation strategies and find ways to wow your audience so they stay engaged right until the end.
Here are some tips to help you raise your game and create a presentation that holds everyone’s attention.
Do your research and know your audience
Every audience is different and one of the worst things you can do is to offer a generic presentation that hasn’t been adapted for the people who are currently in the room and giving you their attention, for now, at least.
Make sure you do some background research and work on raising a series of points and questions that you know your audience will care and worry about.
Presenting a key question that you know will be on your audience’s agenda and then providing a knowledgeable answer in response to that question will grab their attention and give you a far greater chance of ensuring they stay focused on everything else you have to say.
Keep it simple with your visuals
Using an overhead projector and a series of slides is a proven way of creating a professional presentation but you don’t want to ruin the impact by giving them information overload.
If you are going to print some of your own transparencies, using ones supplied by Filmsourceinc.net, for instance, make sure you don’t put too much information on each one.
Keep in mind that when it comes to creating a powerful visual presentation, less is more.
Paint a picture with a visual clue or present some key points, but keep it short and to the point so that you can talk about what’s on the screen rather than trying to get each slide to do the job for you.
Practice makes perfect
You really can’t expect to turn up and do a professional presentation without plenty of practice and preparation beforehand.
Give yourself plenty of time to put all of the components of your presentation together and then practice and rehearse the material as many times as you can.
They say practice makes perfect and it is true, as any lack of preparation will show and you can quickly lose your audience if your delivery is not absolutely spot on.
Use a format that works
It is no coincidence that many of the memorable presentations you have witnessed will have followed a tried and tested pattern, as this is the framework that holds everything together and ensures that your delivery is well received.
Basically, you need to work on creating an impressive opening line or story that grabs your audience’s attention and then break your presentation into manageable segments before delivering a phenomenal closing line or visual that creates an impact and allows you to finish on a high.
If you can inject a bit of appropriate humor into your presentation that is also a great way of winning over a tough crowd.
Make sure you define exactly what your presentation is all about
It really pays to think hard about what sort of impact your presentation is intended to create as it helps you create the sort of content and visuals that will allow you to deliver that message to your audience.
Ultimately, it should be at the forefront of your mind when you are putting your presentation together what it is that you want your audience to take away with them.
Having that message as your blueprint will make it easier to create a slick show that delivers what you want it to do.
Get with the program
Another important point to consider is that you need to update your presentation material and tools on a regular basis if you are going to keep it current and relevant.
Even if you have managed to create some killer content that has the potential to win over even the toughest crowd you could still be up against it if your method of presentation or materials used are deemed to be outdated or tired.
There is a definite shelf life attached to your material and even if you are wanting to say the same things as before, especially if you know it works, at least make sure you pick a new presentation template on a regular basis so that everything stays fresh and modern.
Stick to the 10-20-30 rule
A slideshow rule that is always worth keeping in mind is one that encourages you to follow a format that tends to work well in terms of keeping an audience engaged from start to finish.
The idea is that you should use a maximum of 10 slides, keep the length of your presentation to a total of 20 minutes and use a text size that is a minimum of 30 point font.
Guy Kawasaki is the man that came up with this format and his 10-20-30 rule could help instil the right discipline to your format and help you get your message across in the most dynamic and effective way.
Enjoy yourself
It can be a bit stressful when you are the focus of attention and all eyes are on you and what you have got to say, but if you try and have fun and enjoy the experience that enthusiasm will also be transferred to your audience, hopefully.
If you rehearse your script and can do the presentation without referring to your notes this will allow you to relax and enjoy yourself a bit more.
When you are talking about a subject that you are really passionate about this should be evident to your audience, so practice what you want to say and then focus on enjoying the experience and delivering the sort of presentation that everyone will remember for all the right reasons.