Getting the Most Out of Your Powerpoint Presentations

Have you ever attended a speech or other event where Powerpoint was used, but the speaker was either letting the visuals speak for him or otherwise presenting it in an unappealing fashion? Too many business people clam up when it comes to using Powerpoint presentations, and decrease the effectiveness of whatever they're trying to get across to the audience. If you have difficulty with presenting effectively with Powerpoint, use these ideas to get you through it:

First, remember that the key to success is location, location, location. You want to be situated where everyone in the audience can see you, but still be comfortable enough to present. Sitting down will not only obscure your face, it will give the impression you don't care about whatever you're presenting. When you're standing, face the audience and not the computer; this way you can still see the computer from where you are, but you can also more readily interact with the audience. A laser pointer is also a good idea if you need to refer to something on the screen rather than walking over to point with your finger (and endure the snickering when your pie chart ends up on your face.)

You can also use a remote in the place of typing to advance the slide presentation. With a remote you can stand a good distance away from the computer and still give an effective presentation. Finding an inexpensive one these days is a fairly easy task, and the options vary widely. You'll notice many motivational speakers have a remote when they give their speech, mainly because using a remote gives them a greater range of movement so they can make use of the entire stage. A radio frequency remote is usually a better option over an infrared remote, because then you don't have to worry about the consistency of your remote's signal.

Even though you're using Powerpoint, don't rule out using old-fashioned notes. You can make your own, or just print out the Powerpoint slides on paper so you have a hard copy to use. Put the notes in front of you so you can read them without reading directly from them. (Reading directly either from your notes or the Powerpoint slides gives the impression you don't understand the subject you're talking about.)

It's tempting to put all relevant information in a numbered or otherwise listed format, but many people simply view it as a trite method of conveying information. It can quickly put the audience to sleep, or make them tune you out if they realize all the relevant information is under bullets. As a presenter, you need to maintain the audience's attention at all times and get them to listen to you, not pay more attention to the slides. What's more memorable, a numbered list or an engaging speaker?

Do you find Powerpoint largely a waste of time for you, or you think you can create better presentations without it? Well then, go for it. You don't need technology to convince someone of something, you just need a credible personality. You can make an attractive presentation the old-fashioned way with a dry easel and colored markers. A lot of people actually feel more comfortable attending a presentation given this way, since it's a little less formal and usually requires more human effort. If you're afraid of forgetting something, you could always create some handouts before the meeting and give them out when you're finished presenting.

If done correctly, Powerpoint presentations can augment your topic and assist you in more accurately conveying your message to the audience. But if you're not careful, it can degenerate your lecture into a wooden, lifeless performance. Visual aides are meant to be simply that-aides-and not a replacement for a good, quality presentation.