As a business owner, you will have to give presentations explaining your work, ideas and projects. In such presentations, you will want to wow the audience and give them the right first impression to get instant prospect attention and build a positive brand image. Creating an effective presentation is crucial because a presentation can make or break a business deal.
Designing a professional business presentation and capturing the audience’s full attention is not the easiest task, so we had a couple of professional presentation designers from Presentation Geeks give us 8 tips that will help you put together an effective corporate presentation:
1. Planning is essential
The key to a successful corporate presentation is planning. First, you should decide on the purpose of your presentation and the message you would like to convey. Second, focus on the audience’s needs and what they should get from your presentation. Then, organize and outline your ideas. After that, decide which presentation software you want to use, Power Point, Keynote, Prezi or others. You should also choose a good slide layout to make the presentation easy to follow.
2. Tell a story
Human beings are programmed to respond to stories, especially if the stories are interesting. So instead of presenting facts and numbers that would definitely bore the audience, grab their attention with a creative story. Think of the message you want to convey and incorporate it into a story. You can also tell funny personal stories connected to your business, which would make you more likeable and memorable.
3. Use visual aid
Using photos, charts, graphs or even GIFs that illustrate your point, will keep your audience entertained. Visual aid will add power to your spoken words and captivate your listeners. Be creative in your choices to appeal to your audience’s imagination. This will help you transform your presentation and use it to leave a lasting impact.
4. Keep it simple
Avoid overloading information in your slides; instead concentrate on your core message. Too much information can confuse the audience and bore them, so you should keep it simple. To make sure the audience is paying attention, you can organize your presentation into three clear points to avoid confusion and overlapping. Also, avoid overusing visual aid and keep a balance between pictures with words.
5. Make it interactive
A good presentation is one that provokes the audience to react to it. So you should make your presentation interesting and engaging, while keeping it easy to follow. You should also be ready and prepared to answer any questions you might be asked.
6. Seek the experts
If you want the best professionally designed corporate presentation for your business, you can hire presentation experts specialized in custom business presentations to help you prepare a memorable presentation.
7. Check the technical aspects
Always check the technical aspects before you start the presentation. Make sure your presentation works smoothly on any computer or better yet bring your own laptop. Make sure the right cables are connected beforehand. Test the lighting and the sound system, if they are important to your presentation.
8. Body language
When it is show time, you should be conscious of your body language because non-verbal communication is as important as the verbal one, if not more. Make your gestures open, confident and natural to convey your message. Your voice can also play a role in catching the attention of your audience when you use it in your favor. Speak with confidence and employ the right speed, intonation and emphasis. Also, do not forget to smile and make eye contact to gain the trust of your audience.