I hate bullet points, but here’s a bulleted list of important points in developing a presentation.
- Capture their imaginations and their wallets will follow!
- One thought or point per slide!
- Know your audience! Can be good to start with a relevant question like “how many of you use iPads?”
- Don’t waste time introducing yourself – get to the presentation ASAP
- Take questions as they are asked; audience engagement and dialog are important
- With related points, such as data, use builds, don’t use multiple bullet points on a single slide
- Don’t hand out copies of your presentation in advance, it will only encourage audience to read ahead
- Let the audience know that copies will be made available afterwards via email, web site, etc
- Avoid business jargon and buzzwords – aim for 9th grade reading level – plain English words
- Graphics should illustrate and enhance what you are saying NOT reiterate it
- People can only remember 7 items, thus the original 7 digit phone number
- Focus on what the 3 takeaways from the presentation are; one of which should be a call to action
- It’s not the number of slides that is important it’s the amount of time you have to present
- Allow enough time for Q and A, if permitted
- Number the sides for reference
- Include your contact info!
- Include date and audience
- Video your presentation if possible
- Practice so you can deliver it from memory without having to refer to notes
- Avoid bullet points
- Minimize text
- BE CONCRETE AND SPECIFIC, NOT ABSTRACT AND GENERIC
- provide examples
- tell stories
- present data
- illustrate points with charts and graphs, photos & video
- credit third part sources
- provide evidence, not just assertions
- Most important slides are the first and last!
- Leave the last slide with call to action and contact info up on the screen
- Nothing wrong with hand drawn diagrams
- Test your presentation on people who are totally unfamiliar with your business
Mentorphile 