How to make a presentation

Have you ever attended a boring presentation, where the speaker had too many slides, and they all looked horrible? Have you ever wondered how to make a presentation that doesn’t bore people?

Even if you aren’t a designer, knowing how to make a presentation is an incredibly useful skill.

Believe it or not, it’s not all that complicated. In fact, with a little practice, I firmly believe that just about anyone can make a presentation that wows their colleagues.

Recently, I made a presentation that compiled loads of behavioral data, and it was no small task. But I managed, and I found some interesting things that I want to share.

So with that said, here are some important things to remember when learning how to make a presentation.

Understand the content

Visual communication is very important for a presentation. In order to deliver a clear and understandable message, you have to familiarize yourself with the subject.

Since behavioral data wasn’t a familiar subject for me, some slides didn’t exactly express the main idea. After I consulted with my team and did some research on the subject, and once I became more familiar with the subject, the slides turned out much better.

Knowing more and understanding more will help you design better. If you ever have the opportunity to ask someone with experience how to make a presentation, don’t hesitate.

Create visual hierarchy

Make your slides easy to read by using typographic hierarchy. Make the most important information popout.

How do you do that? By simply applying the same principles used in designing a magazine layout. The headline has to get all the attention.

To be honest, there’s a lot to know when it comes to typography. But, if you know the basics of type, you should get the hang of it quickly.

Use icons and images

Having visuals in your presentation is a big plus. Images can say more than words, and people remember them.

If you want to use icons, I recommend using only one. This way your presentation will have a cleaner, more modern look.

Use high-resolution images to have a professional look. Don’t use overrated stock photography. Use something cool that matches your color palette.

Play with colors

When talking about how to make a presentation, we simply must discuss colors.

When I created the behavioral presentation, color gradients were very popular. They aren’t so hot anymore, but I was really trying to make it interesting for that specific presentation at the time.

When you choose the color palette, take into consideration which color best represents the content. For 2020, color gradients aren’t really a trend. You might want to go for darker, simpler colors instead.

You can use one or more colors that go well together, but don’t go overboard. Use colors for background or text, and have fun designing the layout!

One main idea per slide

Keep your slides simple. Present only one main idea per slide. This way listeners will remember the main idea and will focus on the speaker. It’s easier to grasp the idea and listen if there isn’t so much to focus on at once.

Add videos

When talking about how to make a presentation, a little interactivity can go a long way. Adding a video or two will break up the normal blueprint of a presentation, and grab people’s attention in a whole new way.

It will help your audience understand some concepts even better. Powerpoint and keynote presentations both support in-slide videos.

Don’t forget that Flipsnack also supports video, audio, forms and more. It’s incredibly easy to put together a stunning presentation.

Now it’s your turn to design a presentation. It doesn’t have to be complicated. As I explained (from my experience) you have to be aware of how you communicate through texts, colors, icons and hierarchy. If you don’t want to start from scratch, you can use presentation templates that are pre-made and easy to customize. Enjoy designing!

Closing thoughts

One of the most important things to remember when making a presentation is to keep the ingredients of your brand story intact. Even though customers probably won’t see this presentation, brand image is still very important.

Knowing how to make a presentation in 2020 and in the years to come is vital. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but if you follow the few tips above, and toss in a splash of your creativity, I’m sure you’ll do just fine.