How to effectively use visual aids

This past week, I was out at a local Toastmasters club. The members of the club were very warm and welcoming.
 
During the meeting, two of the members stood up to deliver their speeches using visual aids (specifically PowerPoint). It just happened that I was there to present a speech using a visual aid; in my case I used 2 books and an iPad.
 
The PowerPoint, book and iPad reminded me about the importance of using a visual aid. Visual aids add an extra oomph to your presentation that will help you enhance the experience for the audience.
 
The opposite can also be true if a visual aid is used incorrectly, it can take away from the experience. Here are 5 tips to using visual aids effectively:
 
Keep the material in front of you. When using PowerPoint, keep your laptop screen or a printed version of your PowerPoint slides in front of you for quick reference. This will deter you from having to look back at the screen for information.
 
Use the 10-20-30 rule when preparing your slides. This is one I learned from Guy Kawasaki, a former Apple Marketing Evangelist.  His rule is simple, use 10 slides in 20 minutes at a 30-point font.  Using this format, especially the 30-point font, ensures you are not using excess text. The slides only highlight key points that you will use as speaking point.
 
Pictures are always better than words. As a professional photographer, I know that if you have the right image it can tell a better story than your words.  Use an image to get your point across, the 10-20-30 rule still applies (1 slide every 2 minutes).
 
Use bright color objects. If you planning on using a book to explain your points make sure it stands out. In one of my speeches, I used the book “The four-hour work week” by Tim Ferris. This book is bright orange and yellow,  the book colour and stood out when I held it up in my hand.
 
“You are your greatest visual aid”. A while back, I attended a presentation by Mark Bowden, a body language expert, and he mentioned that using your words and your body is powerful. It’s true, when I listen to speeches by some of the greats, Anthony Robbins, John Maxwell and Dr. Martin Luther King you seldom see them using a visual aid. As a speaker, you are always the focus and you owe it to your audience and yourself to always be the center of attention.
 
Weekly Exercise: Try the first tip when you are presenting your next speech. You'll find that you'll never have to look back again.
 
Thank you for reading this week’s top 5 speaking tips. If you would like to receive weekly Speaking tips in your inbox, click here just sign up my Weekly Top 5 mailing list.