Presentation 101

College is drawing to a close. By now shouldn’t we know how to create stand-out PowerPoint and Key Note presentations?

Effective presentations spice up the black-suit-n’-tie professional world. What elements help craft creative presentations that won’t have people snoozing?

Kelli Matthews, PR professor at the University of Oregon and co-owner of Verve, has the following tips how to schnazzify presentations:
1. The presentation is about your client, not about you.
2. Make your point in 3-7 words, starting with a verb. Ex. “Improve Blog Posts.”
3. Try an anecdote to draw attention. Creativity counts!
4. Consider your purpose (convey good ideas, showcase solid planning, analyze research).
5. Know your audience.
6. Think about what the client already knows, and give them something they need.
7. No Jargon or whacky slides. Keep it simple.
8. So what and why? Remember your objectives when concluding.

SlideShare, the Youtube of presentations, supplies inspiration if you’re at a standstill. Not everything makes the A list, but the Spotlight and Featured links are hits. A favorite? “Meet Henry.” Very fast-paced, simple and creative. Kelli has tagged her fave’s, too.

One of the most powerful I’ve seen: miniature-earth. This animated snapshot of our world with a population of 100 people will move you. (Make sure you watch it with sound; the music is chilling!) A great example of just how dramatic a basic presentation can be with the right techniques.