|
Whether your audience consists of one person or a hundred,
your primary goal should always be to close each presentation
with some sort of sale. This will help you to focus your
presentation on what is important.
Of course, that sale can come in many different formats: it
may be of yourself (convincing them to do business with you in
the future), your product, your idea (perhaps gaining ground
from an investor perspective) or any other type of sale. But,
no matter what your specific situation may be, it is vital for
you provide your audience with a few things to help them make
that decision to buy.
·
Content:
This may seem obvious, but you would be amazed how easy it is
to get this wrong. Remember your audience likely knows much
less about your topic than you. By keeping the information
simple and substantiated. You not only provide just the
details, without extra fluff, but you also provide other sources
of information, lending you credibility.
·
Graphics: Finding the right images and creating the perfect charts can
often be your most time consuming task throughout the process.
Although sometimes overlooked, your graphics are the most
important factor, besides yourself, for engaging your audience.
Keep this in mind and spend the time it deserves to make it
right. You'll be amazed at how much a simple change in graphics
can boost audience attention.
·
Technique: If you are a veteran and have been giving presentations in
some form or another for quite some time, you've probably
crafted a technique that fits your style. If you are still
pretty new to giving presentations, you're probably looking for
a technique to fit your style. Either way, chances are that it
can be improved. Take a few minutes and watch some of the best
presenters out there, such as
Steve Jobs at Apple.
These types of folks are recognized as great presenters
because they know how to engage an audience and make a sale.
And, since it's always easier to do things you like, take some
notes on what they do during their presentations that you like.
Then, the next time you give a presentation, implement just a
few of the techniques you wrote down. Making changes to your
style in this manner will be much more effective than trying to
do a complete remodel right away.
Keep these tips in mind for your next presentation, and truly go
for the sale.
During the following weeks I'll be digging into each of these
topics (content, graphics and technique) more deeply. Stay
tuned to learn more about improving your presentation to improve
your business. And, if you'd like some more ideas before the
next issue, visit my blog,
http://www.presentationperfect.wordpress.com
Lindsay Lake, Presentation Perfect, lindsay.lake[at]gmail.com
|
