7 Ways to Make Your PowerPoint Presentation Stand Out

Think about this: You're attempting to maintain your alertness in a poorly lit conference room as the presenter continues to drone on and on, reciting word for word from a disorganized set of slides. I think we can all relate. Imagine instead if I informed you that PowerPoint shows need not be dull affairs. If you know what you're doing, you can make presentations that are both interesting and convincing, and your audience will be asking for more.

I've seen PowerPoint presentations, both brilliant and terrible, and some that were just cringe-worthy. But I've also seen firsthand how an effective presentation can motivate people to take action by educating them and inspiring them. Allow me to go into seven tried-and-true methods for consistently delivering jaw-dropping Powerpoint presentations.

University of Stanford researchers found that anecdotes are up to 22 times more remembered than cold, hard facts (Stanford Graduate School of Business). Reason being, when given knowledge in the form of a story, our brains are hardwired to establish connections and retain more of that material.

So, plan on how you may construct an engaging storyline throughout your presentation rather than only dumping information onto your slides. Hook your readers in the beginning, develop suspense and anticipation throughout the story, and then bring everything together with a great ending.

When viewing a PowerPoint presentation, have you ever been overwhelmed by the sheer volume of content? Don't you think it's too much? In most cases, while designing a PowerPoint, less is more.

Strive for a minimalist style with plenty of white space. Refrain from using lengthy paragraphs in favor of concise ones, and provide no more than one major concept each presentation. Select appropriate, high-quality photographs to bolster your message when it comes to graphics. And don't be scared to keep things simple; sometimes all it takes is one striking picture to convey a thousand words.

Remember the research that looked at how memorable stories are? Here's something else intriguing: As stated in Chip and Dan Heath's "Made to Stick" book, research has shown that narrative delivery of information may be 35% more convincing than factual delivery.

So, as you're making your PowerPoint, consider how you may make your arguments more interesting by using narrative tactics. To make your readers envision what you're trying to convey, use colorful language and specific descriptions.

Give instances from your own life or just plain experiences from your life to back up your claims. And don't be shy about bringing some heart to your delivery; after all, listeners may forget your exact words, but the impact you had on their emotions will last a lifetime.

There is a certain method to ensure that your audience remains alert during your presentation. Involve them! You can keep your audience's attention and participation high by adding interactive features to your PowerPoint.

If you want to discover what the audience knows and thinks, try making a quiz or poll. Asking rhetorical questions or requesting comments are great ways to get people involved. To take it to the next level, think about including some gamification features, such as a scoreboard or a reward for the people who are the most engaged.

Even if your slides are beautifully crafted, your presentation will fail if you fail to deliver. This is why you must prepare well before performing in front of a live audience.

Listen to yourself practice your presentation aloud so you can see how your body language, tone, and pace come across. Make a video of yourself and review it later to see where you can make changes. Additionally, it is highly recommended to do a dress rehearsal in front of an audience, even if it's only a small group of colleagues, in order to get feedback and adjust as needed.

According to studies, the average number of repetitions needed for knowledge to be retained is seven (Pam Neely, "The Rule of 7"). That being said, there's no need to paraphrase your whole lecture. Rather, you should seek for chances to emphasize your main points in various ways.

As an example, you may start by explaining the idea orally, then use a picture to help hammer the point home, and then end with a real-life example. An alternative would be to develop a memorable term or catchphrase that you can utilize as a foundation for your presentation.

The most crucial aspect of any presentation is the call to action, which should not be overlooked. In light of the knowledge you have imparted, what are you hoping they will do? Make sure you know exactly what to do next, whether that's downloading a white paper, signing up for a demo, or just thinking about the subject in a fresh way.

Additionally, your call to action should not be an afterthought tacked onto the conclusion of your presentation. Make it a central part of your story to drive home the point that you need to act now. Your audience will be prepared to answer when you make that request at the end of the process.

Those are the seven effective strategies for making compelling PowerPoint presentations that move audiences. It takes time and effort to become a great presenter. But if you have these tactics at your disposal, you can wow your audience every time you address them. Excuse me, but I need to revamp these slides.