Eight Tips for an Effective Presentation

1. Keep It Simple

The most effective slides are the simplest ones.  Remember, you're asking the audience to listen to your speech, read the copy on your slide, and register a memorable conclusion about your message.

2. No More Than Seven Lines of Copy per Slide

An Audience has a short attention span.  Slides work best as a visual way to emphasize your key points.

3. Build Complex Visuals

You can use several slides to communicate complex concepts.  For example, explain a schematic diagram by revealing the process in a series of slide builds.

4. Highlight the Bottom Line

Some charts and graphs contain masses of information.  Help your audience remember your main point by highlighting the benefits or bottom-line results.  Color text, italics, boxed data, and arrows are effective for highlighting key points.  Yellow is a good highlighting color.

5. Allow One Minute for Each Visual

If you take longer than a minute for each slide, you risk losing your audience's attention.  For a one-hour presentation, keep your visuals to 20-30 slides.  Allow time for questions and discussions.

6. Don't Read Your Slides

Limit your slide copy to your key points and use speaker notes for your speech.  Watching a speaker read an entire speech from a slide is uninteresting!

7. Turn Down the Lights

Use dark backgrounds with reverse-color text.  A black background allows all colors to be used in charts and graphics, and provides the high contrast needed for ambient light projection.

You can not give your speech in a pitch black room, but you can usually control room lighting so that it doesn't compete with light from the projector.  If possible, dim all room lights.  Often, the light that escapes from window blinds or drapes is enough for safety and note-taking visibility.  At least dim or turn off the lights nearest and surrounding the slide screens.

8. Maintain Eye Contact with Your Audience

Practice your presentation until you are comfortable with it.  You should be able to discuss your subject without reading your slides.

Deliver the presentation from a place where you can have direct eye contact with all or most of the people in the room.

Smile! If you look like you're enjoying the opportunity to speak to your audience, your audience is more likely to agree with what you say and will enjoy listening to your speech.