How to do an effective presentation
So, what prompt me to do this topic? Well, I felt inspired after viewing this video presentation of HitTail. I chance upon it while searching for a tool for keyword research. HitTail goes deeper, it delves into the longtail of your keywords and suggest new keyword topics. Anyway, that’s not the topic for today. Enjoy this first.
What does it do right?
Although, it is a video presentation, that looks like a presentation that you can do with your powerpoint. If I can do a presentation like that in my workplace, I will be getting a standing ovation when I finish. Some of the points I like:
- Uses Graphics and animations effectively to illustrate its points.
- Explain how the product is useful to you rather than how great the product is.
- Adhere to KISS principle by keeping the “slides” clean and not cramped up with bullet points
How to apply these to your presentation?
- Know your subject. It would be good if you are able to have your presentation speech ready before you do your presentation slides. This way, you will be able to cater your slides to your speech. You will have a tendency to read what is on your slides if you prepare the slides first.
- Show only critical keywords or meaningful graphics on the slides. Your audience won’t have time to listen to you and read your slides at the same time. Most will choose to read your slides.
- Cater your presentation for your audience. Show how useful your product is to them. Tell how your services will help them. Explain how your results will benefit them. It’s all about the audience.
- Have a pause or silent time in between heavy points. This gives both you and the audience a rest to prepare for the next point. Kevin explain much better in his article “The Pause That Refreshes“. Personally, I think the video presentation’s pace above is a bit fast; I could absorb more if there are some pause in between.
- Rehearse. Everyone knows this but nobody wants to do it. It not only helps to smoothen your flow of speech but you can come up with new ideas and insight while rehearsing. Darren from Problogger tells a story about rehearsing his preaching.
I am sure all of you have watched this but I still want to show it. Steve Jobs is surely one of the great speakers of our time.
Technorati Tags: presentation, steve jobs, hittail
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