A slide deck can make or break your presentation. It can help you communicate your message clearly, engage your audience, and reinforce your credibility. But how do you design a slide deck that stands out and sticks in people's minds? Here are some tips to help you create a memorable slide deck for your next major presentation.
Before you start creating your slide deck, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your presentation. What is the main point you want to convey? What action do you want your audience to take? How do you want them to feel? Having a clear purpose will help you focus your slide deck on the most relevant and impactful information, and avoid unnecessary or distracting details.
I use almost no text in my slides other than a title and a couple of main bullet points. Nobody needs to read and hear you read. They respond to great photos, stories, etc. Visual cues, etc are the things that feel more entertaining and are thus WAY more memorable. No more black and white bullet points!
Keep in mind, the PPT supports the presenter, not the reverse. Avoid Death-By-PowerPoint. Good tips from Dale Carnegie's High Impact Presentations (the course that helped me in my career): The 10 second rule...show the slide for 10 seconds, shut it down, and the audience should be able to describe the message. Don't puke onto the slide. Prevent putting everything on one slide all at once. 6 words per line. 6 lines per slide. A picture tell a 1000 words. Make data visual. Prevent the "Where's Waldo" effect. Especially with Excel sheets and complex graphs. Highlight data points most relevant and blur the rest. Never read your slides. The audience knows how to read. You are the message, not your slides.
Stories not stats. Images and/or video and not words. Less is more. Overall, people will zone out if you are reading from slides or expect them to do so.
Use a picture as the opening slide. One that evokes strong emotion, instantly. Connect the picture to your main point. The connection should be made in a 15 - 20 second story. The story should be the first words out of your mouth. Do this before you introduce yourself, your company, or your solution if you're selling something. Don't start with a title slide. Don't start with an agenda slide. Or a logo slide. When closing, repeat your main point. (But don't show the image again).
Lo mejor? Olvidarse de las diapositivas y pasar de la presentación. Si no te atreves a dar un salto tan radical, al menos, elimina el texto de las slides. Usa solo fotografías que ocupen toda la diapositiva y que sean impactantes JAMáS uses una presentación como guía para ir leyendo.
A good slide deck should be easy to follow and pleasing to the eye. That means using a simple and consistent design throughout your slides. Choose a font, color scheme, and layout that match your topic, tone, and brand. Avoid cluttering your slides with too much text, images, or animations. Use white space, contrast, and alignment to create visual hierarchy and balance. And make sure your slides are readable and visible from any distance or angle.
Avoiding clutter is key when creating slides. Remember that they are there to support you, not tell your story for you. Minimize the amount of words (I shoot for no more than 6 bullets per slide with no more than 6 words per bullet). Simplify tables and graphs, and use color and contrast to make the important data stand out. If your slides are too busy or cluttered, your audience will either read them (too many words) or try to make sense of what they are seeing (busy tables or figures). If that’s the case, guess what? They’re no longer listening to you, or your story.
What is the purpose of the slide? If you're just reading the words on it, what's the point of it? Think about different communication processing styles: Visual - a strong image that shows what you're talking about Headline - for those who do not like detail Words - for those who like more detail, but not too many Use large font size and contrasting colours
To ensure your slide deck is memorable, employ a simple and consistent design throughout. Opt for a clean layout, cohesive color scheme, and easy-to-read fonts. For example, maintain a consistent background color or theme across all slides. Use a limited number of fonts and font sizes to enhance readability. Incorporate visually appealing graphics and images that complement your content without overwhelming the slides. Align text and elements consistently to create a professional look. This uniformity not only improves the visual appeal but also helps the audience focus on the key message, making your presentation more memorable and impactful.
I used to cramp my slides with context. However, I found out when my slides are "too complicated", it overwhelms, not captivates. From then, I embrace simplicity. Clean layouts, uncluttered text, and a consistent visual theme – these are the hallmarks of a slide deck that breathes. I think of each slide as a canvas for a single, powerful idea. Furthermore, I let white space be my friend, guiding the audiences' eyes to what truly matters. I use consistent fonts, colors, and graphic styles – a visual melody that hums throughout your presentation. Remember, less is often more. All the best!
One of the best techniques I have learned is to use the slide to remind myself of the critical points to be covered. People attend the presentation to hear you speak. Not to see your slides. Your slides are meant to complement your words.
One of the best ways to make your slide deck memorable is to tell a story with it. A story can help you connect with your audience, capture their attention, and make your message more memorable. To tell a story with your slide deck, you need to have a clear structure, a compelling plot, and engaging characters. A simple structure is to follow the classic three-act format: introduce the problem, present the solution, and show the results. A compelling plot is to use conflict, tension, and resolution to create interest and suspense. And engaging characters are to use examples, anecdotes, and testimonials to show the human side of your message.
You are the presentation. The slides are your best support actor. They amplify you. Too often slides take over and steal the show. Or trip you up. You - the speaker are the show. People buy from people. Data and information is important but the person to person connection is what gives the data power. No matter how technical something is at the root of the data point is the action of person. Tell this story when you present. What did they need to do? Why did they do something? What problem did they solve? Sharing this “need” is the story. Never loose the emotion.
Telling a story and not reading text is key. The most boring presentation hands down is the presenter reading the text on the screen that everyone else has read faster and gone on the what they are doing after the presenration.
Since 2014 I do regular public speaking to groups of up to 300 people - so far more than 75 talks. My experience over time is = the more engaging stories I use during my talks - the better feedback I receive from the audience
Facts tell, stories sell. For me, I don't just present data, I weave it into a narrative that tugs at emotions. To help with that, I use evocative images, and videos to help me amplify my narrative. I infuse my words with passion, conviction, and a touch of humor. I like to make my audience laugh, and most importantly, lean in, eager for my next part of the story.
Time for the presenter to shine! The presenter creates and tells the story, with verbal and non-verbal communication. The presentation only frames it! ???
Another way to make your slide deck memorable is to use data and visuals to support your message. Data and visuals can help you show evidence, illustrate concepts, and highlight trends. But you need to use them wisely and sparingly. Don't overwhelm your audience with too many numbers, charts, or graphs. Choose the most relevant and meaningful data and visuals for your message. And use simple and clear labels, captions, and explanations to make them easy to understand.
Step 1: Find 5 people who will listen to your presentation. Step 2: Ask them to write down any time they have a question or are intrigued. They need to note where in the presentation you are. (Loom is a great option for this if you want to do it virtually) Step 3: Give your presentation with NO slides. No notes. If you're a professional, you should be able to do this. Step 4: Build slides around their questions or highlight what intrigued them. Why - people read 9x faster than you can speak. Slides should augment, clarify, and amplify the ideas you're sharing, not copy them. Think of them like a visual soundtrack and not a script. Good luck!
McKinsey & Company, Global Head of Marketing and Communications, Technology Practice
The title of a slide should be the answer to the slide. Use charts, graphs, data only when absolutely necessary to support the answer you gave them in the title. Then use that answer as a headline to tell the story of the data below.
More Data and Visuals on the screen. As in, have less words on the slides. You're going to do majority of the speaking anyways. So in this case, have the important information either: 1. Highlighted, bold 2. In HUGE letter 3. Visuall repsented aka a drawing or video playing on screen. This helps your audience understand what you are conveying and also helps the main information stand out.
Data is powerful, but raw numbers can be as dry. For me, I like to transform data using charts, graphs, and infographics that are clear, concise, and aesthetically pleasing. My goal is to illuminate, not overwhelm. Therefore, I use them strategically to illustrate your points and connect with your audience on a deeper level. So do use them to create a presentation that's not just informative, but visually appetizing, leaving your audience wanting more. All the best!
Charts are great! Especially if they are slightly complex and you as presenter get to do data story telling! But as mentioned above, you have to up your story telling skills or else you risk death by data. ??
A slide deck that appeals to the emotions of your audience can also make your presentation more memorable. Emotions can help you trigger interest, curiosity, surprise, or empathy in your audience. They can also help you influence their attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors. To add some emotion to your slide deck, you can use words, images, colors, or sounds that evoke certain feelings. You can also use rhetorical devices, such as questions, metaphors, or anecdotes, to create emotional impact.
Emotions are key to engagement. The recipe for effectiveness is to be at the same time professional, authoritative ... but human. As humans we should tell stories - and/or personal anedocts - to support our data and thesis. And we can also smile (you can believe me :-) without losing our professional mood.
Presentations are often bogged down in the realm of logic. But we humans are creatures of emotion, and neglecting that side of the equation will leave us feeling strangely disconnected. For me, I love to inject a touch of personality into your slides. Humor, well-placed, can disarm seriousness and foster connection. A heartfelt anecdote can personalize my message and make it resonate on a deeper level to the audience. I also find passion is contagious. When we speak from the heart, it will shine through our presentations and ignites a spark in our audience. All the best!
Craft a slide deck that resonates with the emotions of your audience & enhances memorability. Focus on adding emotionally compelling visuals & relatable storytelling. For instance, if you're presenting a project's success, include images of the team celebrating achievements or satisfied customers expressing happiness. Integrate anecdotes or personal stories that evoke emotions related to your message, creating a more profound connection with your audience. Use color schemes & design elements that evoke the desired emotional response, such as warm tones for positivity or cool tones for calmness. By tapping into the emotional aspect, your audience is more likely to connect with your content & remember the key messages from your presentation.
Including emotions in a presentation can be beneficial as they help engage your audience, making your content more relatable and memorable. Use emotions strategically to enhance your message and connect with your audience on a personal level- that is the key!
To create a memorable slide deck for a major presentation, focus on visual appeal, storytelling, and audience engagement. Use striking visuals, concise text, and meaningful graphics to enhance understanding and retention. Incorporate storytelling elements like anecdotes, case studies, or examples to make key points resonate with the audience. Include interactive elements such as polls, QR-based experiences, or immersive activities to captivate and involve the audience. Offer small digital gifts or freebies to add excitement and leave a lasting impression. Gamification brings out emotions from any age group!
Finally, the best way to make your slide deck memorable is to practice and rehearse your presentation. No matter how good your slide deck is, it won't matter if you don't deliver it well. Practicing and rehearsing your presentation will help you improve your confidence, clarity, and timing. It will also help you anticipate and address any questions, feedback, or technical issues that may arise. And it will help you make your slide deck and your presentation work together seamlessly and effectively.
If I'm giving a 45 minute talk, I will sit at my desk and run through that talk, in real-time, at a natural pace, at least five times before the real presentation. It is excruciating. So why do it? 1 - If I have 45 minutes to talk, I want my talk to last 45 minutes +/- 2-3 minutes. I don't want to run 10 minutes over, or finish 15 minutes short. Only real-time rehearsals will avoid that. 2 - I'm always amazed at how many flaws are revealed by this process: flaws in logic, misspellings, faulty animation, etc. 3 - The audience can tell if you've put in the practice time.
Don't have more than three bullets per slide. Make the slides easy to follow. Try to memorize each slide so you are not solely reading from them. Have a good opening to get the audience's attention by telling them a story. In my business, I lobby and there are many examples I can share of how I led an initiative and the result that was achieved. Make it so the audience can relate and share credit for your efforts, particularly if you are speaking to an industry you represent. Show the results of collaboration. Demonstrate how you approached the problem and the comprehensive way you dealt with the challenge. Emphasize what it takes to get the result and why it's hard, i.e., only 3 percent of bill introduced in Congress become law.
This is so important. If you are giving a talk as an expert or leader then you need to know your info inside and out. My worst case scenario happened when I went to give a talk and they were having A/V problems. I had to give the talk without any notes or visuals, but it wasn't an issue because I was prepared. There were times I would say, "Now just close your eyes and imagine..." whatever visual would have supported my story or point. It was one of my best received talks ever.
When rehearsing your speech try not to sit at a desk and do it. Movement is key. Why? Because you want to be dynamic, engaging and able to fill the space with ease. 'Fill the space' is a term we performers use to describe the impression someone gives that they are confident taking up as much space as they need to take up to convey story and emotions effectively whilst they are on stage. For most performers it is not a way of being that we carry around in everyday life - it's quite tiring after a while if done right. So it's not for when you're sitting at your desk in the office. But when presenting to an audience you don't want to come across as quietly as that. It's necessary to be a little larger and more emotionally engaged than that.
Pause often. Give your audience time to reflect on your message. Silence is not your enemy it is a valuable tool. Emphasise points by staying silent a couple of times. The audience will reflect on what you just said and hopefully connect the dots. The audience don't know your script unless you write it in your deck. If you veer of on a different tangent because you felt it necessary to prove a point, your audience will follow you, but if you show them the script (in your presentation) they will most likely be frustrated and impatient. If you are speaking to a large audience remember that most of them are not willing to expose them selves to the same scrutiny as you are willing to do. Play on that feeling to get them on your side.
When using PowerPoint - or any visual aid - remember that LESS IS MORE. Use more graphics. Use less text. Say the things that you want the audience to remember. Do not have it all typed up on the screen. Do not read your slides (fastest way to lose the audience!). When you have great supportive graphics, it's easy to engage the audience, especially if they are learners, in this multidimensional space. They see you, they hear you, they see the graphics, and they learn from everything.
Do not have a Powerpoint for sake of having a Powerpoint. If you don't need it, don't use it. A corollary to this principle is that it should only be visible when you are using it. You can put a black slide between your content slides, or you can just hit B on the keyboard for Powerpoint or Google Slides to black it out. Audiences can teeter on the edge of being overstimulated by all the content they consume, and if you give them a few seconds of a human talking to them with no visual stimulus, you'd be surprised how often that's downright soothing, and gives them extra brain capacity to think about your message instead of juggling distractions.
Incorporate new technology, like animation, into your presentation. It peaks interest, engagement and supports your credibility.
If you actually want your slide deck to be memorable, you need to rethink your approach. Of all the things you would like your audience to remember from your talk, the last thing on the list should be your slide deck.
I have found adding quizzes with applications like kahoot will keep adult’s attention and help review comprehension or application of new material.