| First a disclaimer. No matter how great your | | | | hand. Do a thorough research on them. What is |
| PowerPoint slides are, your presentation will fail if | | | | their demographic make-up, what information do |
| you do not have good preparation. In all my | | | | they need, why are they listening to my |
| articles, I keep stressing the fact that | | | | presentation, what do they want to get out of it |
| PREPARATION is the key to all great | | | | and what do I want them to do after hearing my |
| presentations. The trouble with all professionals | | | | presentation. Thinking through these questions will |
| (me included) is that they are so pressed for time | | | | allow you to sharpen you message and hit the |
| that they leave preparing for their presentations | | | | "Bull's Eye"! |
| to the last minute. This is detrimental and will | | | | 2. Picture Speaks A Thousand Words |
| often jeopardize your effectiveness. Always leave | | | | Having dynamic graphics is the second pillar of a |
| enough time to prepare for your presentation. | | | | great PowerPoint presentation. Unless you are a |
| Consider it as an investment of your time, rather | | | | polished graphic artist, the next best alternative is |
| than a waste. So make sure you have put in | | | | to hire one. It could be your wisest investment, |
| some hours to prepare for that presentation. Ok | | | | when you consider the financial stakes of success |
| back to PowerPoint Slides. Great PowerPoint | | | | or failure. But if your budget is tight, there are |
| presentations incorporate three immutable pillars. | | | | numerous template companies that offer |
| 1. A "Bull's Eye" Message. | | | | attractive backgrounds for your slide design. Just |
| The first pillar is that of a "Bull's Eye" message. A | | | | do a Goggle search and you will find lots of good |
| "Bull's Eyes" message is a compelling message | | | | ones around. But remember, stay away from the |
| that is targeted and straight to the point. Many a | | | | designs with rich graphics that might overpower |
| times what happen is that a presenter would | | | | your message. Look for simple backgrounds that |
| open up a PowerPoint template and start typing | | | | communicate professionalism. Another suggestion |
| furiously, churning out random information and | | | | is to use professional images or photographs that |
| knowledge. This is called information dump and | | | | you can purchase inexpensively via the Web |
| rarely grabs your audience or produces a | | | | (Getty Images and IstockPhoto are good |
| successful result. To avoid the disastrous | | | | resources to look at) that will compliment your |
| presentation results from an information dump | | | | slides. |
| you must know the audience at the back of your | | | | 3. |