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It’s been a year since the pandemic hit globally. This affected everyone’s daily lives, including businesspeople and other professionals. Eventually, we learned to adapt and live in the new normal – most schools and businesses transition to work from home and online learning setups, transactions have become cashless, and food deliveries are more in-demand. Whether you are a student, a speaker, or a businessman, here are effective ways to making your online presentations look more professional:
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1. Choose a user-friendly presentation software
Preparing for presentations requires an ample amount of time. That’s why we need to choose software that is easy to use and accessible, especially for people who are not tech-savvy. This will help you finish your slides much faster and with lesser hassle. Make sure to choose one that is compatible with other software such as Keynote, Powerpoint, and Google slides and supports various file types. Suppose you are a busy individual or a marketer who wants to redesign your presentation. In that case, you can opt to invest in a slide design service that provides custom-made presentations that are sleek and professional.
2. Define your brand personality and style
Businesses must showcase their brand identity and style in their presentations. Make sure to include your logo on your slides and add touches to the colour of your brand. Stick to a palette that matches the colour of your brand. Choose the right fonts that are simple and learn how to combine different fonts without compromising their readability.
3. Simplify data illustration
Slideshows with pure texts are boring and might make your audience miss the main point as you present. Make sure to add quality images that will attract their attention and summarize data with charts, tables, and infographics. If you are illustrating numerical data, charts are the best options. You can also design custom graphs to make them look unique and present your ideas better. As much as possible, avoid adding 3D special effects and using too many contrasting colours.
4. Do dry-runs before going live
Apart from practising your presentation, doing dry-runs will allow you to check other aspects such as the audio quality, internet connection, and other software you’ll be needing during your presentation. If you have documents or materials to show on camera, make sure that it is organized and within your reach to avoid dull moments. For screen sharing, close all windows and programs that aren’t necessary to eliminate distractions and speed up your desktop or laptop’s performance.
5. Set up a soundproof and clutter-free space
Another essential thing to check when doing a presentation is your background. Most presenters have open cameras, and maintaining a clutter-free background will show your professionalism. Leave the floor space clear and if possible, set up your laptop in a place where the wall is your background. Close the door and windows of your room and keep away from children and pets. If you have roommates with you, ask them not to disturb you and lower any unnecessary noises until you are done with your presentation.
6. Make it conversational
During your presentations, there might be unexpected situations you might encounter. You might experience technical difficulties with your audio or get disconnected while presenting. To be aware of these, regularly engage with your audience and ask if they can hear and understand the word you’re saying. Create interesting points to your presentation to keep your viewers engaged and connected.
7. End your presentation with a call-to-action
Reinforcing a call-to-action will allow you to focus on the purpose of your presentation. What do you want them to do next? If you are an educator, your goal should be to provide new knowledge to your viewers. You can allot a time for Q&A for them to freely ask for clarifications. Listen intently to the question and answer it concisely. If you are promoting a product or service, you can provide them with an irresistible offer at the end of your presentation. Whatever your presentation’s purpose is, reinforcing a CTA will have your audience make an immediate response to it.
At the end of every presentation, ask for an evaluation from your audience and determine the things that need improvement. Lastly, make sure to look your best and dress to impress yourself and your audience.
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