Rules for EFFECTIVE PRESENTATIONS

by Charles Schuster

  1. When creating, think about:
    • Your audience -how much do they know?
    • The venue: How large? Shape?
    • What technology will you be using?
  1. Don’t be too Humor is OK! (depending on the topic.)
  2. Use pictures. Reduce text. Almost everyone likes and remembers pictures.
  3. Make it READABLE! Consider 54+ point font size. Think of the people sitting in the back.
  4. Limit bullet points (5± maximum) & slides (20± maximum, depending on topic).
  5. AVOID It’s usually unattractive- photos, art, charts, graphs (if clear, see #7) are better.
  6. Make sure all charts & graphs are understandable and easily readable (see #4.) Labels must be large enough.
  7. AVOID slow transitions. Don’t waste the audience’s time. This is also true for Keynote and
  8. KEEP IT Go for simple, clearly designed slides.
  9. Edit & PRACTICE! Save (in more than one place, for example ‘the cloud’) Check spelling & grammar, then edit, practice and save again. Repeat!
  10. Look at your audience, NOT the screen, and smile!
  11. Arrive early to check. Remember not all computers or projectors are the same.
  12. Dress appropriately.
  13. Make sure all phones are silent.
  14. Notes are OK but DON’T read! A tablet can work well. (See rule #11.)
  15. Think very carefully about your body language. Practice in a mirror or on video.
  16. Just in case, prepare a Plan B. What will you do if the projector bulb burns out, or there is a power cut?
  17. Pacing is important. Find a balance between fast and slow (see rule #1. Is the audience made up of native speakers?).