Dreading your next team presentation? Not sure how to translate a virtual report into an in-person production? Or, vice-versa, struggling to transform a presentation you once gave to a room full of humans into a standout virtual performance? We\u2019ve all been there\u2014especially over the last two years when\u00a0remote and hybrid work<\/a>\u00a0became the norm and project updates had to be delivered from behind a screen.<\/p>\n Believe it or not, PowerPoint is still one of the best tools to use for presenting online. Microsoft\u2019s premier slideshow software may get a bad rap, but as a visual aide, it\u2019s still the best way to engage meeting attendees and highlight your ideas. Of course, it isn\u2019t easy\u2014and virtual presentations bring up fresh challenges.<\/p>\n According to a 2018 Microsoft study, the average human being\u2019s attention span is just eight seconds. Two decades ago, a similar study found that it was 12 seconds. That\u2019s a precipitous drop\u2014and the COVID-19 pandemic, along with all the attendant upheavals of the last four years, have probably shortened it even further.<\/p>\n In an online setting, when one person is presenting to a group of colleagues, it\u2019s safe to assume that attention spans might be even shorter. It\u2019s also harder to rely solely on body language to gauge someone\u2019s interest. Yes, they may have their cameras turned on, and yes, they may appear to be looking at you. But that doesn\u2019t always provide enough visual cues to know whether someone is engaged or bored.<\/p>\n 1. Think visually.<\/strong>\u00a0Even the most reliable colleague will lose interest if you present your ideas simply with big chunks of text. Remember that visual stimulation is important to capture your audience\u2019s attention. PowerPoint allows you to add everything from still images to video clips to dynamic charts to animations. These can transform a boring slide deck into a true multimedia experience. Focus on variety, so that different types of content are interspersed throughout your slideshow.<\/p>\n Bonus tip: Embed video clips directly into PowerPoint to avoid having to toggle back and forth between windows and counteract any Internet bandwidth or streaming issues that might arise.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n 2. Don\u2019t reinvent the wheel\u2014use built-in templates.\u00a0<\/strong>Many people start working on their PowerPoint and immediately become paralyzed by the sheer number of choices. Channel your energy from the beginning into finding a template you like with eye-pleasing background colors. Then, take advantage of that template\u2019s pre-built features like bulleted lists, image alignment instructions, and matching font types and sizes. This adds a baseline of consistency that helps your presentation get off to a good start.<\/p>\n Bonus tip: If your organization has a branded PowerPoint template, or you have a copy of a colleague\u2019s pre-existing slide deck you like, get permission to save your own copy of it\u2014then edit the content, images, and structure of those pre-built slides to retain the same visual style.<\/i><\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n 3. Practice your presentation in advance\u2014and focus on the \u201cbig reveal.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>The most effective way to make a presentation stand out\u2014in person or online\u2014is to start it from a place of confidence. That means practicing beforehand so you can smooth out any awkward transitions and build up to any important moments. Clearly state the overall objective of your PowerPoint\u2014what action do you want viewers to take when it\u2019s over? Also pay attention to any \u201cbig reveal\u201d or pivotal turning point that might draw your listeners in immediately.<\/p>\n Bonus tip: Move the climax of your presentation earlier\u2014even try to focus on it near the beginning if you can. This will help you capture your colleagues\u2019 attention quicker and keep them emotionally invested all the way to the end.\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n 4. Build in time for questions.\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>Traditional presentations are typically viewed as an event where viewers sit back and listen to an expert make a pitch. But when we\u2019re all just faces on a screen\u2014or newly returned to the physical office and still remembering what it\u2019s like to meet in person\u2014this approach can feel outdated. Break free from the standard monologue and try to build in opportunities to give your audience a chance to interact with your presentation. You can ask direct questions of specific individuals, add icebreakers at the beginning to make everyone feel more comfortable, or solicit feedback after presenting data.<\/p>\n Bonus tip: Practice and plan your presentation in advance so you can surreptitiously add some subtle structure to these otherwise spontaneous moments.\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n 5. Use Excel data to better visualize your presentation.<\/b>\u00a0This requires a bit of advanced spreadsheet knowledge, but it can also add an excellent business-friendly look and feel to your slideshow by inserting charts, graphs, and diagrams. If you already have a chart built in Excel, you can copy and paste it right into PowerPoint. If you only have data saved in Excel, click\u00a0Insert > Chart\u00a0<\/b>in PowerPoint, select the type of chart you want (column, bar, line, pie, etc.), then right-click it and choose\u00a0Select data\u00a0<\/b>to coordinate it with the specific cells where your Excel data is saved.<\/p>\n Bonus tip: Once you have your chart in PowerPoint, customize it so it matches your template. You can change everything from the color scheme of the chart to the prominence of the lines and bars to the explanation of the data and axes labels.<\/i><\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n 6. Go easy on the transitions, animations, and sounds.<\/b>\u00a0Ever sat through an endless stream of headline fly-ins or excruciating fade effects? Don\u2019t be that person when you build your next PowerPoint. Effects deployed over and over again can wear on an audience and distract them from your overarching narrative. Don\u2019t let a misguided add-on take away from your strength as a presenter.<\/p>\n Bonus tip: Only share your PowerPoint window, not your entire computer screen, if you\u2019re giving a virtual presentation. This keeps extraneous notifications and your disorganized desktop from adding distractions to your presentation.<\/i><\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n 7. Speak from the heart \u2014 not from the teleprompter.<\/b>\u00a0Entrepreneur and author Seth Godin says it best: \u201cSlides should reinforce your words, not repeat them.\u201d Think of the text written on your slides as entirely separate from the words you\u2019ll speak during your presentation. An excellent performance is composed of far more than just intro slides, a closing message, and a bunch of filler in between. Make sure each slide contributes to your overall narrative and builds toward a final goal. Try to talk like you would at a business lunch: professional and polished, of course, but with a hint of humility to keep things honest.<\/p>\n Bonus tip: Use the Notes section of your PowerPoint slideshow to contain talking points or scripts you may want to reference. Then, use Presenter Mode so you can see these notes on your screen while viewers only see your actual slides.<\/i><\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n The way we absorb information and start conversations is far different online than in a face-to-face setting. That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important to give extra attention to virtual presentations so that your message is captivating enough to hold a viewer\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n If you need help with Microsoft PowerPoint,\u00a0videoconferencing platforms<\/a>, or other important applications, CMIT Solutions can help. We help our clients enhance efficiency and boost productivity with trusted advice,\u00a0automatic software updates<\/a>,\u00a0reliable data backup<\/a>, and so much more.\u00a0Contact us today<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 we worry about IT so you don\u2019t have to.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Seven PowerPoint Tips for In-Person and Virtual Excellence Dreading your next team…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":130,"featured_media":3947,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3930","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-quick-tips"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/kenosha-wi-1018\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3930","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/kenosha-wi-1018\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/kenosha-wi-1018\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/kenosha-wi-1018\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/kenosha-wi-1018\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3930"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/kenosha-wi-1018\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3930\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/kenosha-wi-1018\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3947"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/kenosha-wi-1018\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3930"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/kenosha-wi-1018\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3930"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/kenosha-wi-1018\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3930"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}How can you elevate your presentation from so-so to excellent\u2014and how can PowerPoint help?<\/b><\/h3>\n