Amplifying your next presentation

The world of slide decks has come a long way from when I first used “desktop publishing” 20 years ago with its primitive fonts and image limitations. The ability to dazzle with powerful images, clever infographics and even video can bring your ideas to life for an online seminar or face to face event. Yet many clients I work with struggle to do the right kind of groundwork to make those Google Slides, Prezi or PowerPoint truly shine.

Here’s how to make yours work better for you and most importantly, the target audience – the ones who matter most!

Script that copy... before you open PowerPoint

There is often a large degree of resistance to this idea.

I believe this because so many of us think if we bang out the slide deck first, then because we are subject matter experts, the words will flow, and it will be presentation happy days.

In my experience, this rarely is the best way to nail your presentation quickly and create something you can be confident in showing the world.

Instead, save yourself the time-sapping headache of retrospectively culling a 40-page slide deck to meet a 40-minute keynote, for example, by writing down your ideas in your own words first.

An anchoring script is what we use in corporate videos or MCing big events.

It starts with what we call a ‘hook’ – a powerful, punchy opening (and not started off by “I am Amber Daines, and I am a founder of PR consultancy Grace & Grit). Think about these types of hooks:

-??????A question such as “How many of us have had Covid 19 in the last two years?” that forces engagement such an online poll or show of hands.

-??????A fact that is unusual or lesser known as “Research shows less than half of adults over 50 have written a Last Will & Testament.”

-??????Or a poignant statement that sets up the topic for your presentation – akin to Martin Luther King’s well know “I have a dream…” speech.

Write like you talk

The speaker notes section of your slide deck can include these script-like notes – these have you speaking like a human and not just reading or memorising words from the main slide.

That said, I write my script in Word doc next to a say Slide 1, Slide 2 etc, until I reach the end of the slide deck count. Then I time it, and cull that way. I ditch any slides that are not “burning platform” relevant and take away from the flow of my ideas. No more than 15 slides for an hour of speaking tends to be plenty.

Scripts are fluid and conversational. They need pauses. Breathes. Light and shade in your voice. Movement of your body to make a point, even on a video conference with its limited space. Always create a series of chances for the audience to digest any fresh information or ponder a call to action.

And if the words are jargonistic or too lofty, they need a rethink. We only retain around 30% of what anyone says an hour after they present. Make it simple but engaging.

Channel your inner Barack Obama

Or if you are not an Obama fan, that can be John F Kennedy or Ronald Reagan. The point here is you need to be so comfortable and across your presentation that if there was no slide deck for whatever reason (tech fail or something else), you could deliver it well. Exceptional and accomplished orators like these former US presidents are examples of that.

Remember: Slide decks are the tools; they are not your presentation.

Finally, practice well ahead of time and keep to time allocated. Managing nerves is about knowing what you want to say, how you want to say it and understanding that the time you have is precious and that is your one shot. Make it memorable.