Apart from being a good orator, the content of an academic presentation matters a lot. Every student desires to amuse their audience during presentations. But, before I go further, it is imperative to point out that speeches and presentations vary in many ways.
Whereas speeches are formal talks to address people, presentations contain visual aids. PowerPoint is one of the most common application used for presentations, but how do you prepare an engaging PowerPoint presentation?
The trick is to keep your content clean and concise. Always avoid the mistakes associated with ‘Death by PowerPoint.’ If you didn’t know, Death by PowerPoint is a common phrase describing a presentation full of bullets, complex diagrams, animations, etc. The more you clutter the slides with graphics, the more you may fail to deliver your message.
How to Prepare Catchy PowerPoint Presentations
- Stick to a single background for the entire presentation.
- Use simple fonts to express your ideas.
- Write your points in bullets, but do not overdo it.
- Use visible fonts that the audience can view from the back of a room.
- Maintain concise language.
- You can use text, images, graphs, and tables in moderation.
Finally, avoid the following, and for sure your presentation will win.
- Do not use complicated fonts or calligraphy.
- Avoid images where that may distract the audience.
- Avoid low-contrast color combinations like red and black.
Parting Shot
The rule of thumb is ‘know your audience before presentation.’ A good presenter will identify a topic, do research, and package the content with the best information. To deliver an impressive presentation, be concise. If you want help in writing your next presentation, please feel free to reach us today. Cheers!