Effective Electronic Presentations M. Pero Business Communications for Employment

Advantages Easy data manipulation Easy data manipulation Add Animation, video, sound, hypertext Add Animation, video, sound, hypertext Run slides automatically Run slides automatically Easy to store, transport, customize Easy to store, transport, customize Easier to create handouts Easier to create handouts

Disadvantages Requires expensive equipment Requires expensive equipment Not available in all situations Not available in all situations Can be too technical Can be too technical Can be too busy Can be too busy

Writing Readable Content Limit slide to one concept Limit slide to one concept Limit word content – 6/6-7 Limit word content – 6/6-7 Use bullets Use bullets Use short informative titles Use short informative titles Use active voice Use active voice

Modify Graphics Reduce Detail Reduce Detail Avoid Repeating Avoid Repeating Shorten Numbers Shorten Numbers Limit Data Limit Data Highlight Key Points Highlight Key Points Adjust size and design Adjust size and design

Color Schemes Grabs viewer’s attention Grabs viewer’s attention Emphasizes important ideas Emphasizes important ideas Creates contrast Creates contrast Isolates slide elements Isolates slide elements Creates attractive, lively, professional slides Creates attractive, lively, professional slides Plays key role in presentation acceptance or rejection Plays key role in presentation acceptance or rejection Stimulates emotional responses Stimulates emotional responses

Background Designs Persuade audience to pay attention Persuade audience to pay attention Simple Simple Appropriate for subject Appropriate for subject Appeals to audience Appeals to audience AVOID BUSY PATTERNS, HEAVY COLORS, & STRONG GRAPHICS

Clip Art Appropriate size to slide Appropriate size to slide Animation to minimum Animation to minimum Logos, borders, backgrounds should repeat Logos, borders, backgrounds should repeat

Font Type and Style Avoid script & decorative fonts Avoid script & decorative fonts One – two fonts per slide One – two fonts per slide Bold face Bold face Avoid Italics Avoid Italics Upper & Lowercase letters Upper & Lowercase letters Extra space between lines Extra space between lines

Transitions & Builds  Controls how one slide replaces another  Controls the release of text and graphics STAY CONSISTANT WITH SHIFTS FOR SMOOTH FLOW

Completing Effective Slides Readable Readable Consistent Consistent Simple Simple Audience Centered Audience Centered Mechanically Correct Mechanically Correct Focused Focused

The information in this presentation was taken from: Boveé. Courtland, et al. “Enhancing Your Oral Presentations with Electronic Slide Shows and Overhead Transparencies.” Business Communications Today. 7 th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall,