Keep your design simple; fancy backgrounds make it difficult for the audience to focus on what’s important http://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/how-to-fix-your-presentations-21-tips.html
Make sure the font you use is legible; anything smaller than 32 point is too small. Avoid using all caps.http://www.sc.edu/cte/guide/powerpoint/
While we are taught that serif fonts, the fonts that have feet at the bottom, are beneficial for reading – when it comes to looking at them on a big screen these fonts can appear blurred. The sans serif fonts like arial and calibri appear cleaner, less cluttered, and easier to read. http://aaude.org/system/files/documents/public/air2010.pdf
You shouldn’t use bullet points in your slides; each idea and message should have its own slide. Your presentation should be for the benefit of the audience. Bullet points only bore the audience.
While at first special effects like transitions, text fly-ins, animations, and sounds may seem impressive they only detract from your message and reduce the professionalism you should be exemplifying. These effects should be used sparingly so as to impact the presentation but not take away from it.http://www.sc.edu/cte/guide/powerpoint/
Studies show that the use of visual images increases retention of the information. So rather than conveying your message with text, use an image.http://aaude.org/system/files/documents/public/air2010.pdf
The images you use should reinforce and complement your message and should be high quality images. Test the images to make sure they retain quality on larger screens. http://www.sc.edu/cte/guide/powerpoint/
Don’t make paragraphs on your presentation; your presentation should not be able to stand-alone. Slides should be illustrations for your presentation, not the entire presentation. http://www.lifehack.org/articles/technology/10-tips-for-more-effective-powerpoint-presentations.html
In order to capture your audience’s interest from the beginning, start your presentation by revealing a shocking fact, surprising insight, or unique perspective that leads into your message.http://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/how-to-fix-your-presentations-21-tips.html
When you’re presenting you should be talking to the audience. Therefore don’t look at the slides. Focusing your attention on the audience also encourages them to focus on your and your message. http://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/how-to-fix-your-presentations-21-tips.html
When you’re delivering your presentation, express your passion about the topic. If you are passionate and interested, your audience will pick up on your enthusiasm.
While you feel that an in depth background description of you, your message, and all that you represent to get to the current topic, these antics will only serve to bore your audience. Your introduction shouldn’t be more than a sentence or two no matter the length of your presentation.http://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/how-to-fix-your-presentations-21-tips.html
In order to ease tension you can use natural humor; make fun of yourself or something you said or not. Do not, though, poke fun at the audience. Humor, though, should not be used liberally.http://www.ljlseminars.com/elements.htm
Stay relaxed during your presentation; focus on your message, not the audience. You can use gestures or walking. Within the first 30 seconds of seeing you, the audience will judge you so keep your cool.http://www.ljlseminars.com/elements.htm
For effective delivery of a presentation, you have to practice. For every hour of presentation, you should spend 30 hours preparing. In order to understand how you look and sound speaking you should video tape yourself or record your voice.http://www.ljlseminars.com/elements.htm
As people can only hold a few pieces of information in their short-term memory it is the presenter’s job is to deliver clear, memorable, and entertaining messages. http://aaude.org/system/files/documents/public/air2010.pdf
All of the information you give to support your argument/presentation should be facts that are quantifiable, verifiable, memorable, and dramatic. Vague concepts reflect poorly on yourself and will not convince your audience. http://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/how-to-fix-your-presentations-21-tips.html
To keep your audience interested you should ask questions which will pique their curiosity and engage the audience. Build tension by posing a question and allow your audience to contemplate it before moving to the next slide that holds the answer. http://www.lifehack.org/articles/technology/10-tips-for-more-effective-powerpoint-presentations.html
