How to Create an Awesome Slide Presentation (for Keynote or Powerpoint)

Summary

In this episode of SPI TV, Pat Flynn shares expert tips on crafting an engaging slidedeck for presentations. He emphasizes avoiding bullet points, using slides as visual guides rather than script readers, and ensuring readability with large fonts and clear images. Flynn also advises on choosing the right slide size, customizing a personal style, keeping text visible to all, using roadmaps for structure, simplifying data presentation, employing the 'lightbox' effect to focus attention, and 'going dark' during storytelling for an impactful delivery.

Takeaways

• 🎨 Presentation Slides Matter: Poorly designed slides can bore the audience and make the presenter appear unprepared.
• 📝 Avoid Bullet Points: Bullet points can distract the audience and lead to a lack of engagement; instead, use images or other visual elements to convey information.
• 📐 Get the Right Slide Size: Ensure the slide dimensions match the event requirements to avoid last-minute adjustments.
• 🛑 No Templates: Customize your slides to fit your content rather than using generic templates provided by conferences.
• 🖼️ Use Visuals Wisely: Each slide should have a clear topic with one supporting image to maintain audience focus on the presenter.
• 🎨 Choose Your Style: Find a presentation style that resonates with you by looking at other presentations and adapt it to your own.
• 🔝 Keep Text High: Position important text at the top of the slide to ensure visibility for all audience members.
• 🗺️ Utilize Roadmaps: Use a roadmap to guide both the audience and yourself through the presentation structure.
• 📊 Simplify Graphs and Tables: Only include necessary data to support your points and avoid overwhelming the audience with information.
• 💡 Lightbox Trick: Use the lightbox effect to highlight important parts of the slide and direct the audience's attention.
• 🌑 Go Dark for Impact: Turn off the slides during storytelling to focus the audience's attention solely on the narrative being shared.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the SPI TV episode 17?

The main purpose of the episode is to teach viewers how to create an engaging and visually appealing slidedeck for presentations, avoiding the common pitfalls that lead to uninteresting and 'boring' presentations.

What does Pat Flynn refer to as 'death by PowerPoint'?

'Death by PowerPoint' is a term used to describe presentations that are so dull and filled with excessive bullet points that they put the audience to sleep or cause them to lose interest entirely.

What is the guiding principle for creating slides according to Pat Flynn?

The guiding principle is that slides should act as a 'trail guide', triggering stories and supporting the speaker's narrative without the speaker having to read directly from them.

Why does Pat Flynn suggest avoiding bullet points in presentations?

Bullet points can lead to audience disengagement as they tend to read ahead and stop listening to the presenter. They also make the presentation sound unprepared and boring if the presenter is simply reading from them.

What are the two common slide sizes or ratios mentioned in the script?

The two common slide sizes or ratios are widescreen (16 by 9) and standard (4 by 3).

Why should presenters check the slide size or ratio before starting their presentation?

Checking the slide size or ratio ensures that the presentation will be correctly formatted for the event's requirements, avoiding last-minute changes and ensuring a smooth presentation experience.

What is the recommended slide design according to Pat Flynn's general rule?

The recommended slide design consists of a few words about the topic and one supporting image to visually reinforce the point being made.

How can presenters find a slide style that works for them?

Presenters can find a style by observing other presentations, visiting sites like slideshare.net, and adopting a style they like without copying it directly, to make their presentations unique and interesting.

Why is it important to keep text high on slides?

Keeping text high on slides ensures that all audience members, even those in the back, can see and read the information without straining, which helps maintain the flow of the presentation.

What is the purpose of showing a roadmap during a presentation?

A roadmap helps the audience understand the structure of the presentation, where the speaker is in the content, and what topics will be covered, making it easier for them to follow along.

How can graphs and tables be effectively used in presentations according to the script?

Graphs and tables should be simplified to show only the data necessary to prove the point being made. This avoids overwhelming the audience with too much information and keeps the focus on the key message.

What is the 'lightbox trick' mentioned in the script?

The 'lightbox trick' is a presentation effect that highlights a specific part of the slide, drawing the audience's attention to that area. It can be used to emphasize a call to action or a key piece of information.

Why is turning the slides off during certain parts of the presentation recommended?

Turning the slides off, or going dark, helps to eliminate distractions and focuses the audience's attention solely on the presenter, which is especially effective when telling a story and aiming to create a memorable impact.

How can viewers get the slides from the SPI TV episode 17 presentation?

Viewers can download the slides by visiting watchspi.tv/episode17 or by texting 'SLIDETIPS' to 33444 and providing their email address to receive the slides directly.