A picture is worth a thousand words; however, when it comes to business, killing presentation is what speaks volumes.
Presentations are essential for every business sector. Whether you are a freelancer who needs to impress future investors with a new product or a manager who needs to put forward an idea, you will need one excellent presentation.
Good presentation is not just a story with critical points. It is much more than that. It is an artwork that does magic. When done right, it highlights essential details, clarifies things, focuses attention on key elements, and brings home the right message. Although you can address this issue to Slidepeak, whose team provides professional help with presentation design, you still need to know the basics to get the right result.
So, what does make up a killing presentation? Is it the breathtaking images? Is it impressive numbers? Is it a clever organization? Let’s consider four crucial aspects that turn the regular presentation into the killing one.
Well-thought-out Information Hierarchy
The first important thing that stands behind a killing presentation is a well-thought-out information hierarchy.
Information hierarchy is what breaks overwhelming walls of text and confusing numbers into easily digestible content. It transforms the insipid display into an exciting exhibition with an unforgettable experience. Follow these tips to nail it:
- Choose short phrases that are straight-to-the-point.
- Choose words that resonate with the audience.
- Do not be overly descriptive.
- Use headings of various levels to organize content and visually convey levels of importance.
- Add focal points to guide readers smoothly.
- Play with typography. Each type family has a soul. It can create a particular mood and give the design a unique zest. Therefore, use them to support the statement and strengthen the emotional side of the slide.
- Capitalize on font size. Font size is important for two reasons. First and foremost, it ensures the letters are legible, and the text is quickly scannable. Second, it emphasizes things and sets priorities. The bigger size of the word, the more important it does feel. Therefore, use font size to reinforce the structure.
- Make the most out of whitespace. The right amount of whitespace secures excellent readability. It can be used to create structure and separate essential things from the reading flow.
Meaningful and Attention-Grabbing Visual Aid
Good information hierarchy can do wonders; however, what does take your presentation to the next level is a visual aid.
Images, icons, graphics, animated gifs, dynamic effects, and of course, charts and graphs make the content a king again. They help support the statement, provide an enjoyable reading experience, strengthen the message, and efficiently deliver the point. They transform boring statistics into impressive artwork. When used right, they are increasingly powerful.
However, with great power comes great responsibility. When applying images or animations, always remember the balance between the visuals and text. It is a fragile equilibrium. If it is upset, it does more harm than good. Therefore, bear in mind these important things:
- Never rely only on images to make the point.
- Use whitespace to avoid visual overload.
- Do not use too many bright images since they can be annoying.
- Do not use low-quality images since they scream incompetence.
- Do no use too many gloomy or monochromatic images since they can upset the audience.
- Use charts and graphs with contrasting colors.
- Do not capitalize on pie charts because people are much better at comparing lengths and heights. Therefore, use line charts instead.
- Use images that are meaningful and self-explanatory.
- Stick to conventions by using graphics that everyone understands.
Color Psychology
Let’s play some tricks. Shall we? After all, presentation is an art that requires some crafty work behind the scene. One of the most popular yet surprisingly viable and reliable tricks that happened offstage is the use of color psychology.
Do you know that color has a significant impact on how we think and behave? It affects our day to day decisions. It is incredibly powerful and impactful. Get it wrong, and you will fail to bring home the right message.
Color psychology underlies the success of various ventures. It is widely used in branding, website design, print media, email marketing, and obviously presentation. The right color palette does many things, such as
- ensure excellent readability that is vital to avoid confusion and misunderstanding;
- set the focal points making essential elements stand out from the crowd;
- establish the proper mood;
- guide users from point to point;
- ignite interest.
To nail it, bear in mind what power each color has.
- Red is for getting attention right away. It stimulates our nervous system and even gives an edge to appetite. Though, note it is associated with danger and fear; therefore, do not overdo.
- Blue is a color of business and startups. It feels reliable and trustworthy. Unlike red, it has a calming effect.
- Green is the color of everything friendly. It associates with harmony and balance. It is one of the most positive tones; therefore, it is quite often used for call-to-actions.
- Orange is a color of motivation.
- Yellow screams happiness, cheerfulness, and optimism on all fronts.
- Purple is for adding a hint of luxury, loyalty, mystery, and imagination.
- Pink is a romantic color with a strong sense of compassion and hope.
- Brown feels secure and reliable. Although it is rarely used in advertising or marketing campaigns, nevertheless it goes well with other tones bringing its flair.
Last but not least, although you can capitalize on color psychology still you should never sacrifice good readability. Try to reach a high contrast ratio (preferable 21:1 that is black text on white background) to ensure easily scannable copy. Also, remember that blue and red, as well as red and green, are the worst color combinations not only because they overpower each other but because colorblind people can’t see them.
Professional Instruments
Truth be told, killing presentation is a sort of masterpiece that requires a designer’s skills. If you are not an artist, it won’t be easy to pull off everything. However, there is a way out – use Slidepeak, a professional service that knows how to make a stunning presentation
With its experienced team and high-end tools made with all the modern trends in mind, Slidepeak can increase information perception by 100%. It can work with your material or create everything from scratch within 24 hours. How great is that? Add to this that it is applicable for all fields – businesses, freelancers, teachers, and students – and you will have a real lifesaver at your fingertips.
Conclusion
Whatever idea you need to put forward, bear in mind three main aspects of a spectacular presentation that should be tied together with the help of professional service. This way you will reach your goals and win over any audience.
