How to Make Your Presentations Stand Out

In a world where we are constantly bombarded with information, making sure your presentations stand out is more important than ever.

So how can you make your presentations stand out? Here are a few tips:

1. Start with a bang: Grab your audience's attention from the beginning with an interesting statistic, image or question.
2. Use visuals: People are more likely to remember information if it is presented in a visually appealing way. Use charts, graphs, and infographics to help make your points more memorable. And
3. Be passionate and prepared: If you're passionate and prepared, it will come across in your presentation and make it more engaging and memorable for your audience.
4. Don’t clutter slides with too much text.  It will make your audience snooze.
   

As Don Draper said, “Success comes from standing out, not fitting in.”

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Brainstorming ideas for your presentation

When brainstorming ideas for your presentation, think outside the box. Instead of simply regurgitating information and using cliches, come up with bold and creative ways to engage your audience. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. Use striking images to help tell your story.
   
2. Incorporate interactive elements into your presentation, such as polls or quizzes.
3. Utilise multimedia content to add an engaging element (e.g., videos, infographics).
4. Tell personal stories or anecdotes that relate to your presentation topic.

Crafting a unique and attention-grabbing presentation that will leave a lasting impression on your audience and greatly assist you in achieving your business goals.  

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Developing a theme for your presentation

The first step to making your presentation stand out is to develop a theme. Your theme should tie all of your key messages together and give your audience a compelling reason to act whether that means buying your product, service or shares or getting colleagues and stakeholders onboard with your strategic goals. To create a theme:

1. Start by brainstorming themes around your key messages and value proposition that you think are appropriate for your audience.
   
2. Once you have a few themes, narrow them down to one that would work best for the specific context and audience you are presenting to.  Different themes resonate with different audiences.
   

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Using visuals in your presentation

To make your presentations resonate, you need to understand your audience and what they want to see and hear. Be clear, concise, and direct. Text heavy presentations often fail to impress. A balanced presentation with big headlines, short bullet points and key numbers intermixed with a range of images and easy to understand charts will keep your audience engaged. Visuals are especially useful in establishing emotional connections with your audience.

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The importance of being creative with your presentation

When it comes to presentations, being creative can make all the difference. A boring, unimaginative presentation will likely put your audience to sleep, while a creative one will engage them and leave a lasting impression.
So how can you make your presentations more creative?
First, think outside the PowerPoint. Yes, PowerPoint is a staple of most presentations, but that doesn't mean you have to use it like everyone else does. Get creative with your slideshows by using images, infographics, animations and videos to tell your story.
Second, don't be afraid to ditch the formalities. A presentation doesn't have to be a stuffy, formal affair. Be casual and relaxed in your delivery. Use humour and personal stories to connect with your audience on a deeper level.

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There is value in taking the time to make your presentation stand out

When it comes to presentations, first impressions matter. You want your audience to be engaged from the start.  Here are a few tips on how to make your presentations pop:

1. Words are important.  Be clear and concise with your message.  Don’t use cliches.  Use words that quickly and easily let your audience know “Why” you are presenting to them and the outcomes that are possible.
2. Use high-quality images. This includes creating precise, uncluttered, slides with high-resolution images and videos along with simple charts that people can actually read and understand.
3. Keep it simple. An easy to follow narrative and storyline will keep your audience engaged and get you to your desired outcome faster.
4. Be prepared. Rehearse your simple key messages. Know your facts and numbers.  Know what you want the outcome of the presentation to be. 
   

Need help with your next presentation?

Click here to see how Digital Dorado can help.