We all know that presentations are an integral part of the business world. Whether they are delivering presentations to clients, employees, or industry peers, the majority of businesses will require excellent presentation skills in order to thrive in this competitive climate. However, many presentations rely on the same structure: a PowerPoint presentation, simple bullet points, basic handouts, and perhaps an open floor to questions. Whilst this can, at times, be an effective way to convey your message, it can also result in an audience switching off. Even if you are talking about a hugely exciting project, sometimes the familiar formula is enough to undermine your enthusiasm. Therefore, when delivering a presentation, it is important to mix things up! Below are a few ways to get started.
Switch PowerPoint for Prezi
Sometimes even the simplest change can make a huge difference. If you are looking to inject some excitement into your presentations, but you don’t want to do anything too drastic, Prezi will do the work for you. This online presentation software helps to create dynamic and visually stimulating presentations. Due to its range of ready-made templates, Prezi is easy to use but incredibly effective. Instead of moving from one slide to the next, a Prezi presentation will use impressive graphics and special effects to convey your message. Not only this, but it is free to set up an account!
Be Bold
One of the best ways to engage your audience is by shocking them to pay attention. Why not try to be really bold with your approach to delivering presentations? A good place to start would be Pechakucha. This is a type of presentation that is taking the world by storm and has even been featured by Forbes. Pechakucha is an excellent way to demonstrate just how daring you are willing to be, as your audience will be shown 20 slides for just 20 seconds. The strict guidelines of this Japanese technique will ensure that your presentation doesn’t drag and your points are as concise as possible.
Invest in your handouts
A simple A4 handout can result in a very underwhelming end to a presentation. If you are really looking to impress, why not showcase your documents in quality presentation folders. This way you can make sure to establish your business’s brand and give your audience something of quality to keep hold of. Not only is this approach effective, it is also surprisingly easy and affordable. At folderprinting.co.uk you are able to select the perfect presentation folder for your document, and you will be able to find the type of quality product that shows your mean business.
Interact with your audience
At the end of a presentation, it is very common to ask the audience for any questions. However, it is important to remember that there is more than one way to interact with your audience. Why not try shaking things up by asking them some questions? Maybe even add a competitive element to the questions, with rewards for whoever engages most effectively. Alternatively, you could try moving around the audience area to avoid standing statically at the front of the room. You could also try taking and questions at select moments throughout the presentation if you are aiming for a more collaborative environment.
