11 Tips to Deliver an Effective Presentation

Marilyn Smith & Nicole White

April 7, 2021

In our last article, we provided “8 Tips for Designing a Stunning Presentation." Now that you have created beautiful slides, how can you prepare an effective presentation environment?

Make it Interactive

It can be tough to keep your audience engaged when you’re not interacting with them face-to-face. So, why not do the next best thing? Make your slides interactive. Utilize polling questions throughout the presentation to keep viewers involved.

Rehearse Before the Presentation

Never walk into a presentation unprepared. This is especially important for Zoom presentations, as it can be even more difficult to “wing it” when you’re not interacting in person.

Strategically place your notes

You need to be careful about where your notes are located. It can look very unprofessional and awkward if your eyes keep moving away from the camera while everyone is staring at your face.

Check your Equipment

Make sure to check all your technological equipment to ensure everything is working properly. This will help minimize issues such as awkward camera angles or malfunctioning microphones.

Minimize Potential Interruptions

Find a quiet area and lock the door so no one comes in unexpectedly. It’s a good idea to inform your family members or roommates that you’re going to be busy prior to the presentation.

Tidy Up your Background

A messy background can make you look unprofessional and distract people from focusing on your presentation. Ideally, your background should be a plain wall. If you don’t have a plain wall, you can also utilize virtual backgrounds.

Draw Attention to Your Face

Make sure you’re presenting in a well-lit room, where the source of light is in front of you. If the light source is directly behind you, or above your head, you might end up looking like a dark blob.

Ditch the Pajamas

We get it. Nobody wants to get dressed when they’re at home. But really, if you’re giving a professional presentation, it’s a good idea to ditch your PJs and wear something appropriate.

Start with a Bang

Figuring out how to begin is one of the most important parts of your Zoom presentation. It can either prime your audience to sit up in their seats or prepare them to doze off.

Make Eye Contact with the Audience

While you’re speaking, it’s just as important to make eye contact with your audience as it is during a face-to-face presentation. Periodically look into the camera to establish eye contact.

Regularly Pause to Engage

If you want to ensure your message hits home, take regular breaks throughout your Zoom presentation and engage your audience in conversation.

Now that we have given you our insider secrets on how to design and deliver an effective presentation, try it out in your classroom!

For an additional resource, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNqQYnggprE

About the Authors:

Marilyn Smith is a Graphic Designer/Videography with over 30 years of experience in the field.

Nicole White is an Iowa State University graduate with a degree in Graphic Design.

11 Tips to Deliver an Effective Presentation

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