QuickBites: How to Use Slides to Engage Your Audience — Part 2.

Welcome to QuickBites, public speaking tips and techniques you can digest in five minutes or less. I'm Peter George, author of The Captivating Public Speaker.

Last week I said this would be a two-part series, but the response to Part 1 was so strong that I've expanded it to three parts. Here's Part 2, built around one guiding principle: KISS — Keep It Simple, Speaker.

Readability

Slides exist for one reason: to support your presentation. For that to happen, your audience must be able to process each slide quickly, digest it, and understand how it connects to your topic. Start with readability. Choose an easy-to-read typeface, use high-contrast colors, and make sure text sizes can be read without difficulty from the seats furthest from the screen.

Where to Look

Have you ever seen a slide that displays a full spreadsheet of data? Did you know immediately where to look, or did it take some effort? When you present a slide, you want your audience to look directly at the relevant information — no confusion, no frustration. Isolate the key content by circling it, adding an arrow, changing its color, or enlarging it. Use these techniques sparingly, and whenever possible, use only one at a time.

Logos

Everything on a slide competes for attention. When you include a logo on every slide — whether it's the association that hired you or your own brand — it competes with everything else on that slide. Salespeople often include the prospect's logo on every slide when presenting, which can read as pandering. And placing your own logo on every slide in hopes that audiences will remember you? Deliver a tremendous talk instead. They'll remember you for the right reasons.

Less Is More

Avoid the multitude of visual effects available in programs like PowerPoint. They may be fun and easy to use, but they're detrimental to your slides and your talk. The more you pile on, the more you distract from your message.

First Slide and Last Slide

Using too many slides before getting to the core of your presentation looks like filler. Instead, create a quality opening slide featuring your headshot, the title of your talk, your URL, and your social media information if space allows. Take it down and put up a black slide as your introduction begins — that signals something is happening and makes your introduction the one thing to concentrate on.

Your final slide should look similar to your opening slide, but without the title of your talk. Bring it up directly after you say thank you, and leave it there as you walk off stage — longer if possible. Include a QR code on both your opening and closing slides so audience members can go directly to your website, social media, or a special offer right from their phones.

That's it for Part 2. Next week, you'll hear more tips on using your slides to engage your audience. Thank you for devouring another episode of QuickBites. Are you ready to be calm, confident, and credible every time you speak in public? Then visit petergeorgepublicspeaking.com and let's make it happen. I'll see you next time.