Presentation Mistakes You May Want To Avoid
As anyone who’s done it will tell you, pitching to clients can too often be all miss and no hit. Here, CEO of The Presentation Studio, Emma Bannister (pictured below), offers her tips to ensure your next preso has “winner” and not “snoozer” written all over it…
Ever sat through a presentation bored? Ever presented to an audience who has sat through your presentation bored?
Nothing sends people to sleep faster than screens of text, bullet points or numbers. Yet, unfortunately, that’s the case more times than not.
A powerful presentation is your most valuable business tool. When you create something memorable and meaningful, it inspires your audience to consider the difference between what is their current reality and what it could be with your help.
So you need to learn how to share what you know in way that takes them on the journey with you.
There are three stages to create a powerful presentation: writing, designing and delivering. More importantly, there are three main mistakes that you must avoid.
- WRITING A REPORT
There is a big difference between a presentation and a report – don’t try to present a report. A presentation supports a speaker and what they are saying. The slides are designed to help the audience understand and remember important messages. It uses visuals to evoke emotion, infographics to simplify data or diagrams to explain a process.
A report is a standalone document that has lots of information – facts, stats, data and graphs. This document can be read on its own (like a magazine or brochure). If you present this kind of report on screen, your audience will be confused with the small text and lack of focus. It is a distraction while you are speaking.
Keep it simple, short and only present critical messages on slides, so they support what you are saying not dictate it.
- DESIGNING WITH NO SPACE
Effective design involves much more than making your slides ‘look pretty’. Design carries a professional impression, supports the delivery of your message and makes it easier for your audience to understand your main points.
You need to use white space (negative space) to draw your audience’s eyes to important information. Keeping margins and blocks of white space around text makes it much easier to read.
White space does not actually have to be white! It refers more to the area of design that is empty or not filled with text or images.
Give thought to every element of the presentation to make sure each is contributing to the overall objective. Highlight the most significant bit of information on each slide and remove everything else.
Then think about how you can best visually represent this. Is it a large word, simple icon or a diagram you can use?
- DELIVERING AND NOT SHARING
Your presentation lives on long after the lights go down. Sites like SlideShare, YouTube, Vimeo and LinkedIn offer a range of ways to connect with an audience far more significant than those in the original room.
Presentations created in PowerPoint can be saved as a video file, uploaded and set to either private or public viewing. The highest resolution possible is 1920 x 1080 with file type options as either .MP4 or .WMV. Adding a voice over is ideal, or download a soundtrack to make it more professional.
PowerPoint can now export videos in 4K resolution, too. Some of our clients love this because it means they can present their looping presentation in higher quality for their 4K displays.
If you don’t share your presentation afterwards, then you’re missing out on a critical opportunity to have more impact with more people.
If, on the other hand, you follow these tips to write, design and deliver your presentation next time, then you are well on your way to a powerful presentation, not a boring one.
Please login with linkedin to comment
Emma BannisterLatest News
Study: 81% Of Creatives Say COVID’s Hit Their Earnings, 40% Saying It’s More Than Halved
A new survey released today from global creative platform Genero shares first-hand findings from creative talent around the world about the impact COVID-19 has had on their work life, and what the future holds for the creative production industry. The report, The Impact of COVID-19 on the Global Creative Industry, finds that COVID-19 has accelerated […]
Priceline Pharmacy Celebrates Every Day Being A Festival of You, Via Whippet
From the head lice that’s got the kids itching for relief to your husband’s chainsaw-style snoring that has you yawning all day long, little health issues can have a big effect on your family’s day-to-day happiness.
Foxtel Media Unveils Four New Digitally-Enabled Cient Offerings
Foxtel Media has announced four new offerings to provide advertisers expertise in more targeted, dynamic media delivery as part of a realignment towards digital. The new offerings are Foxtel Xplore Audience targeting on Kayo, addressable audience targeting on Foxtel Go, the ability to target in-venue viewers on Fox Venues, and a new Dynamic Trading Platform. […]
“The Free And Open Internet Is A Force For Good”: Quantcast Reveals New Intelligent Audience Platform
On Thursday, Quantcast held their Virtual NOVA event, discussing the current state of the advertising industry, the end of third-party cookies, the open internet vs walled gardens, and data privacy and consent. The event coincided with the launch of their new Quantcast Platform. It is an intelligent audience platform powered by the company’s patented AI […]
New Research Reveals Men Unsure How To support Gender Equality
Global marketing agency LEWIS today revealed findings from its new global research on gender inequality, conducted in support of the global HeForShe movement. You can read the report in full here. The report shows the impact and perceptions of gender inequities during the pandemic across 13 countries. The findings reveal an alarming trend: 98 per […]
Haystac Wins Dairy Australia’s PR
Social relations agency, Haystac, part of the BWM Dentsu Group, has been appointed PR agency for Dairy Australia following a competitive pitch. As the national services body for the dairy industry, Dairy Australia supports the profitability and sustainability of dairy farming and its role in producing quality, nutritious food, while committing to the care of […]
Marketing Heavyweights Join ADMA Advisory Committee
ADMA advisory committee now offering some real marketing muscle. Plus, a cleaner oven after the Mr Muscle.
Hamish Blake & Zoe Foster-Blake Return For Tourism Australia’s Latest Marketing Push
Hamish Blake and Zoe Foster-Blake officially replace Celeste Barber for feeling like they're in every bloody ad on TV.
Integral Ad Science Releases “Power Of Context” Report Surveying APAC Market
B&T's taken this Integral Ad Science report & delicately sliced it into sashimi-like morsels for your delectation.
Amazon Changes ‘Hitler-Esque’ Logo
Despite attempts to come back into fashion, it remains an ongoing and uphill battle for the toothbrush moustache.
Paper Moose Announces Graham van der Westhuizen As General Manager
Paper Moose announces Graham van der Westhuizen as new GM. Yet, no confirmation of whether he's Dutch or German.
10 Secures Rights To Oprah’s Meghan And Harry Interview
Typically, when a Royal does a "tell-all" interview they tend to go horribly badly. Here's hoping history continues.
“Leaves A Nazi Aftertaste!” Sydney Westfield Forced To Apologise For Swastika Face Masks
Shoppers fume at unsavoury mannequin display at a suburban Westfield. And this time it wasn't even Honey Birdette.
Channel 10 Unveils New Bachelor, Pilot Jimmy Nicholson
Bachelor Jimmy Nicholson all set to find love! But, in reality, he'll be pursued, roasted & pilloried by the tabloids.
Wednesday TV Wrap: A Night Of New Releases
There was some enticing new programming from the networks last night. That said, everyone just watched MAFS.
Dentsu Report: COVID Has Accelerated Consumer Behaviour Change & Brands Risk Being Left Behind
Dentsu's 'Age of Inclusive Intelligence' report includes added dietary fibre for those who like to read on the toilet.
JCDecaux Wigs Up For Mardi Gras In Oxford Street Installation
Everyone is gay come Mardi Gras! Well, maybe not Tony Abbott or Mark Latham, but everyone else is momentarily gay.
What The FLoC? Google Vows To Stop Tracking Users For Ads
B&T's tech writer debunks industry reputation for being humourless by sneaking slightly lame gag into headline.
WPP’s Wunderman Thompson Acquires Mobile Tech Provider NN4M
WPP acquires tech provider NN4M; a name that makes you sound like you've burned the roof of your mouth with hot cheese.
Thinkerbell, BINGE And Grill’d Unveils The Brain Burger To Celebrate Return Of ‘The Walking Dead’
Yes, this burger contains an actual lamb's brain, making it the perfect way to get the kids NOT to nag for fast food.
Simone Gupta Promoted To CEO Of Havas PR Australia
Havas sweeps in a new era of PR. Arguably bad news for the Champagne swilling, coke snorters left in the industry.
Pinterest Presents The Currency Of Predictive Trends And Unveils New Advertiser Tools
If you're not on the Pinterest bandwagon you will be after this. Or, there's the 'free Britney' bandwagon if you prefer.
WINR Launches First-Party Data Hub For Publishers
WINR unveils first-party data hub for publishers which apparently can't air fry cheesy beef empanadas.
Havas Media Group Promotes Danni Dimitri To Head of Strategy, Sydney
Havas has promoted Danni Dimitri to head of strategy. Confirms she is no relation to Happy Days' Chachi Arcola.
EatFirst Put Women At Centre Of Plate For International Women’s Day
Catering marketplace EatFirst to hero their female businesses during this year’s celebrations
Our Revolution Appointed By Drinks Brand Bickford’s
B&T adores the traditional taste of the Bickford's cordial range. We just like to modernise it by putting tequila in it.
Rexona Clinical’s Unique ‘Pitvertising’ Won The Summer, Via Clemenger BBDO Sydney
While the Sydney Sixers won the BBL season ten trophy, Rexona Clinica won the summer sports marketing battle with a game-changing sponsorship idea. BBL 2020-21 series will go down as the ‘Year of the Pit’ after Rexona Clinical owned the summer after unveiling its new form of advertising sponsorship – ‘Pitvertising’. The concept, devised by […]
Air Wick Launches The Rare Bloom Project To Save 120 Native Wildflowers
B&T's sad to report that even the mighty Air Wick's no match for the power of our editor's colon and lower intestine.
Cushelle Launches Charity Partnership With WWF In Bid To Save Koalas
Essity, the company behind the Cushelle brand, today announces a special partnership with WWF, pledging £150,000 to support the recovery of koalas impacted by the 2020 Australian bushfires.
Ex-Kantar Head Of Advertising Research Joins Cubery As General Manager
Cubery, a tech-based market research agency headquartered out of Melbourne, Australia, today announces the appointment of former Kantar Head of Advertising Research, Sam Walters, as General Manager, Consulting.
