| Effective communication begins with an effective | | | | best way to connect with your audience. The way |
| presentation. From the words, to the graphics, to the | | | | these pictures are presented is equally as important as |
| materials that you use for the presentation - it all | | | | the picture itself. Consider lamination to properly |
| works together to create the most effective | | | | preserve and highlight this important aspect of your |
| communication vehicle possible. Be it the overall | | | | presentation. |
| finishing, such as the binding, folding or lamination you | | | | The Don'ts: |
| select, or the content contained inside, everything | | | | 1)Avoid Saying Too Much: |
| communicates and you should use all of the tools in | | | | While you may be wildly excited about your subject, |
| your arsenal to communicate effectively. To that end, | | | | don't assume your audience has hours of time to |
| the following are some Dos and Don'ts to keep in mind | | | | devote to reading and absorbing the information. Make |
| in the effective creation of a presentation. | | | | your points clearly and concisely and move on. There |
| The Do's: | | | | is no reason to use 5 words when one or two are just |
| 1)Know Your Stuff: | | | | as effective in helping you tell your story. |
| This may seem quite obvious, but researching and | | | | 2)Don't Forget the Devil in The Details: |
| developing a complete understanding of the | | | | From the presentation cover, to it's binding to the first |
| presentation subject is the foundation for any effective | | | | and last sentences, details count. A professional overall |
| presentation. Do your homework and it will pay off in | | | | appearance draws your readers in to the presentation |
| the end | | | | in a way that little else can. After this initial response, |
| 2)Stick To Your Story: | | | | however, everything else in the presentation must |
| Your presentation should have one purpose in mind | | | | deliver on this promise of quality. Check your spelling, |
| and stick to that purpose from beginning to end. Ask | | | | grammar and sentence structure over and over again, |
| yourself these questions at the beginning of any | | | | and not just by using your computer's spell-check or |
| presentation development process; Am I selling | | | | grammar-check program. Read the presentation out |
| something? Am I persuading someone? Am I | | | | loud to make sure you are saying exactly what you |
| educating someone? Or simply entertaining my | | | | want to say - from beginning to end. |
| audience? Create your story and don't get off track. | | | | 3)Stop Using The Wrong Images: |
| 3)"Remember that "Books" are Judged By Their | | | | There are many correct ways to use a visual in a |
| Covers: | | | | presentation, and just as many incorrect ones. Too |
| You may have been admonished to "Never judge a | | | | small, too blurry, overly-complicated, or just plain |
| book by its cover," but when creating an effective | | | | distracting images will have the opposite effect on |
| presentation, you should adhere to a different adage: | | | | your audience than you wish to create. Good, clear |
| "Don't leave anything to chance." A professional-looking | | | | and effective visuals are the best way to go - and |
| presentation can push your audience toward a positive | | | | highlighting them with the proper framing, laminating or |
| decision the moment they see it. Laminated covers | | | | other enhancement only serves to make your |
| and well-bound presentations are the best way to | | | | presentation stronger. |
| ensure your audience will be excited to open up and | | | | 4)Avoid Getting it done on the "Cheap:" |
| see what's next! | | | | Saving on overhead when preparing your presentation |
| 4)Have a Beginning, Middle, (Summary) and End: | | | | may seem like a good idea, but think again! Cutting |
| It may seem like Theme-Paper Writing 101, but "the | | | | corners by not creating a professional-looking |
| basics" are "the basics" for a reason - they work! | | | | presentation, including everything from the cutting, |
| People think, and perceive information in a similar way. | | | | folding, binding and cover creation, can cause you to |
| It is natural for them to follow this well-known pattern, | | | | lose big in the long run. If you cut corners on your |
| starting with an Opening that sets the stage for the | | | | presentation or proposal, you may cut corners on the |
| rest of the presentation, a Body in which the overall | | | | project or product you are proposing. Do it right the |
| subject is presented, a Summary to touch on major | | | | first time and get the chance to do it again - and again! |
| points, and a Closing, usually with some "call to action" | | | | 5)Don't Forget the Call to Action! |
| for your audience. | | | | Telling the story about your product or service is great |
| 5)Put it in a Picture: | | | | - but forgetting to tell the audience what you would like |
| Studies have shown that people learn more quickly | | | | them to do with this information is a big mistake! Don't |
| and retain information better when the subject is | | | | miss the opportunity to end your presentation with a |
| reinforced with visuals. Your audience will get your | | | | simple, specific call to action, usually tied to a deadline |
| point immediately with the use of the right visual, | | | | for feedback of some kind. This will give your "story" |
| making it literally "worth a thousand words." Clear and | | | | the happy ending you are looking for! |
| simple graphics or pictures used for full-effect are the | | | | |