7 Simple Tips to Get That Deck Right!

1.  Pick the right template

A presentation template design needs to be truly worth using. Sometimes the standard ones are poorly designed, or too commonly used, or just not versatile enough to create a captivating presentation. It's better to make your own unique template with a simple background or texture and use consistent fonts. 

Ideally, the design should speak to the content of your presentation. If you are creating a presentation for employee engagement, then you may want to use a more vibrant and bold template. However, if you are creating a presentation for a new client who is old school, you may want to get a more professional, yet interesting, template from a free website.

In case you're not experienced at designing your own slides though, here are some online power point templates for inspiration and use:

·     https://www.slidescarnival.com/

·     https://www.beautiful.ai/

2.  Get creative with slide headings

The most under utilised part of a slide is the heading. Many presenters use headings which are boring and say exactly what they show. For. E.g; ‘Q3 Results’… when they can actually make the headings insightful, catchy and memorable. Imagine using a heading for Q3 results slide which announces "A Shocking Dip!" if the performance hasn’t been great, or "Breaking Benchmarks!" in case the performance has been the best ever.

Let's take another example; while creating a contract presentation for a client, you may have a slide titled "Opportunities." Now, imagine replacing this heading with something like... "Money is still left on the table." Which one do you think will interest your client more?

Here's another one... I did go a little crazy with the metaphor though! :)

3.  Put one idea per slide

Choose the most important idea – either detailed or complex – to display on your slide through a great heading and a powerful high-resolution image and notice how your audience pays attention and listens carefully while you build up your narrative, helping them make sense of what they are seeing. This reinforces comprehension and keeps your audience’s attention from wandering.

 If you need or want to talk about a new idea, create another slide. If the idea is not worthy of a new slide, then perhaps you should reconsider whether it is necessary to even include it in your presentation. Don’t hesitate to become an editor with a critical eye.

4.  Use your imagination while choosing an image

Choosing the right visuals to support an idea is as important as the choice of words on the slide. Imagine a slide heading that announces boldly, ‘3 steps to get our strategy right’ and using a visual of a lock with one key, or a long winding stairway leading up to heaven. Wouldn’t it be better to choose an image that has a set of 3 keys, 3 open doors/ windows, 3 steps in a stairway, 3 air balloons etc?

Vary the visuals by using a mix of photographs, illustrations, and text to sustain your audience's interest. Your deck shouldn't have 100% of one type of graphic or background, slide after slide after slide. It gets boring, even more so when you are presenting virtually.

Use a large, high resolution image to dominate an entire slide if you wish. Use large text in a font that's legible, and text colour that's high in contrast against the background. In case you have to write on top of an image, ensure the writing is done on the non-cluttered part of the image.

Do remember to source images from websites that offer them free and there wouldn't be a copyright issue. You can give this one a shot - https://unsplash.com/

5.  Avoid bullet points

Try and trade-off the list format for a more interesting photograph, illustration or infographic that demonstrates the same idea.

If you cannot avoid lists completely, limit yourself to three bullets, which will be easier to digest than five or ten. Also, use short catchy phrases rather than complete long sentences. Place an attractive meaningful image to go with the central idea of the slide and you should be able to make your slide fairly pleasing to the eye.

6.  Go easy on transitions

Avoid slide transitions entirely, especially the ones that are too radical and put up a huge show. They are more annoying than attractive. Simple and subtle transitions do the trick of getting from one slide to the next without distracting from important content. Transitions on their own are not all that important to a slide deck, but implemented carefully, they can add that final, professional touch. Use transitions in case you want to introduce listed items one at a time, or in case a top up information must land on a slide as a surprise for the audience.

7.  Ration your words

You want your audience to be paying attention to you while they are looking at the slides. Your audience will always be tempted to read first and then listen. Hence, the more words you put on your slides will keep the audience’s attention away from you that much longer.

Display less than 15 words per slide, preferably less than 10. The faster someone can read what's on your slide, the quicker they will return to your face/voice to concentrate on what you are saying. However uncomfortable this idea may make you; it is this engagement that you need in order to captivate your audience and deliver an effective presentation.

I hope you will use these tips to make a good presentation look great!

?After all, "Great stories happen to those who can tell them." Ira Glass