Choosing a Background

Every piece of presentation software comes with it's own set of templates and backgrounds.  The completed templates and backgrounds are a great option when you're short on time and need to create a presentation quickly.  However, I have a better idea, instead of spending valuable time choosing the perfect template, use a BLACK or WHITE background.

There are 3 reasons why I recommend sticking to BLACK and WHITE.

1.  You will avoid creating busy and visually confusing slides, many backgrounds take up space on your slide and don't leave you enough room for what really counts, your content and message.  Your slides will appear clean, simple, and professional.

2.  It's much easier to tell what you can or can't see on a black or white background.  Busy backgrounds are much more difficult to work with.  If you have a hard time reading the slide on your screen, so will your audience.

3.  Using a black or white background is a great compliment to the other elements on your slide.  The two background colors allow your pictures, charts, graphics, and text to present themselves to your audience without any unnecessary clutter and visual distractions.

BONUS CONTENT
If you'd like to use something other than black or white, follow the two rules below.

When using a dark background, use a light color for your text.  When using a light background, use a dark color for your text.  In other words...
Dark Background = Light-Colored Text          Light Background = Dark-Colored Text

Take a look at the sample slides below and judge for yourself.  Which slides would you use in a presentation?  Which slides hurt your brain?

In case you're wondering, I would use slides 1, 3, 4, 6 and 10.
Slides 2, 5, 7, 8, and 9 all made my brain hurt.

Picking an Image

Images serve as strong links to your content.  Your ability to choose and use the correct image can mean the difference between audience comprehension or audience confusion.  Aligned images allow your participants to walk away with a visual mnemonic, providing them with a much needed memory boost.   

RULES to REMEMBER

Use high quality images

Go BIG or go home

Clip Art is for the BIRDS

They should MATCH your talk

Follow the link below to read Garr Reynolds great post on Inexpensive and Free images.  

I'm the link you should click on.

Use Your Time Wisely!

Attempting to rush through your presentation during the last 10-15 minutes can make your audience feel empty and confused.  You want them leaving your session feeling fulfilled.  They should be walking away ready to take action and ready to share with others what they’ve just learned.  The end of the session is your chance to summarize and reframe your content for your audience; it’s not the time to pile on new content at the speed of light.  “We’ve got 10 minutes left, I still have 50 slides to show you so I’m going to move through these really quickly, I apologize, if you have any questions please send me an email.” 

If you find yourself rushing to close your presentations, I recommend you practice the tips below.

Rehearse and get comfortable with the amount of time you may spend on a particular section.  Don’t walk into a presentation assuming you’ll be able to finish on time without rehearsing your work.  If you are using slides during your presentation, print a copy of your slides, 6 to a page, and write the number of minutes you may spend on each slide.  Rehearse the content and adjust the time as you go.  If you find your self running over your time, start to delete what isn’t necessary.  I know deleting is hard, you have so much to cover, and it’s all important, but I promise, it’s going to be okay. 

If you happen to be under your time, add a Q&A session, find areas where you can extend the learning, provide time for the participants to share what they’ve learned with each other. 

Content covered does not equal content learned.  Be purposeful about what you choose to cover, you’ll feel more successful and your audience will too.  

You Will Fail!

You will fail to have a successful presentation if you don’t take the time to learn about the needs of your audience.

Presentations take time. They take time out of the busy lives of the participants. They take time out of the busy life of the presenter. With our time being such a sacred commodity, it is crucial that every presenter have a good understanding of not only what they are presenting, but who they are presenting to. It isn’t necessary to know the detail of everyone in your audience, but it is crucial to process and reflect on why your audience has chosen to listen to you.

Why should your audience bother with putting away their iPhones or Blackberries? How will you change their life? How will they think differently after your presentation? Do you have a solution to their problem? If not, don’t bother presenting, send an email, a memo, a link to a web page, whatever you do don’t waste their time with a presentation.

Before creating your next presentation, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Who are they?


2. Why are they here?


3. What is their background?


4. What’s their problem/issue?


5. How can I help?


6. What’s my central point?

Taking the time to analyze the needs of your audience will immediately make you a better presenter. Most presenters don’t take the time to answer the kinds of questions listed above. They are failing to realize that their audience will drive their approach to their presentation, not their content. Every great teacher & presenter knows that content covered, does not equal content learned.

Be purposeful with your design and don’t be afraid to let your audience guide you.