Tips for Better Presentations with PowerPoint

"The Art, Science, and Story of PowerPoint Presentation Design" was a sold-out standing-room-only presentation by top writer and business consultant Adele Sommers at a recent STC meeting. She demonstrated the "10 types of design and delivery dilemmas, related mistakes, and a set of corresponding remedies. They can easily apply to any presentations you create with slide software, such as Microsoft® PowerPoint®, Apple® Keynote, or the free Google® Presentations software."

Below are Adele's TOP TIPS:

• Tip #1: Text - Display only one basic idea per slide. Place your talking points (your narration script) in your handouts and speaker notes.
• Tip #2: Graphics - Let relevant and symbolic photos; drawings; screen captures; and simple maps, charts, graphs, and diagrams do most of the visual "heavy lifting."
• Tip #3: Details - Put the intricate image details in the handouts instead of on the slides to avoid overloading your audience's visual processing abilities. Avoid "branding" your slides with your logo, which can be distracting.
• Tip #4: Special effects - Use relevant sounds, videos, animations, transitions, and physical props -- in moderation -- to highlight or demonstrate key points.
• Tip #5: Focus - Begin by framing your audience's role, perspective, and needs. Then introduce the challenge the audience faces and your solution, and explain the actions that the audience members can take.
• Tip #6: Structure - Create a logical sequence and flow based on a scalable hierarchy of detail, starting with an audience orientation.
• Tip #7: Scope - "Chunk" all of your material into just 3-4 main topics. Include reviews along the way to summarize your information. Practice extensively beforehand while timing yourself, so you can then "scope" your talk using the scalable 5-, 15- and 45-minute detail hierarchy from your outline.
• Tip #8: Remember to face your audience. If you break eye contact with your attendees to read from projected slides, it interrupts the flow and further splits the audience's attention.

• Tip #9: Remember to converse with your audience. Not engaging the audience enough during your presentation invites their attention to wander elsewhere.

• Tip #10: Remember to respect your audience's time. Running way overtime trying to cover too much information in the time available dilutes your impact and can even cause resentment.

For additional tips, downloads, and resources, please visit Adele's page at http://learnshareprosper.com/newsletter/062509_issue.html

Adele's newsletter, "Learn, Share, & Prosper" is brimming with helpful resources. Sign up today!

Adele Sommers, Ph.D. is the 2002-09 president of the San Luis Obispo STC chapter, and has been an independent business and technical communication consultant for twelve years following a career in the aerospace industry. Adele is president of Business Performance Inc. (LearnShareProsper.com) which specializes in business publications, tools, consulting, workshop facilitation, training, and e-learning. Adele has helped companies of all sizes enhance their results in project and process management, technical communication and information design, instructional design, quality assurance, performance support, and leadership. Contact Adele at Adele@LearnShareProsper.com.

Regina P. Brown
Broker, Realtor®, e-Pro
Author of eBook "Stop Foreclosure Fast: Solutions to Save your House"
Author of forthcoming book, "Virtual Office Guide for Business Professionals: Work & Profit from Home"
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Text copyright © 2009 R.P. Brown, All Rights Reserved