The best presentations take a lot of time to create.
First, you need a great idea to share. (That can take years!) Then, you have to write the content, design the visuals, edit, and practice. That is a hefty load of tasks.
At Ethos3, it is our mission to make presentations easier. That is why we have condensed some of the best presentations tips into 140 character, bit-size chunks of wisdom.
You can enjoy the tips in the visual format below.
Also, below the design you will find the ready-to-tweet text versions, including shortened URLs for sources.
We give you two options because we want to make presentations a breeze for you! Enjoy!
1. “Over 80% of Millenials gave a financial contribution to a non-profit in 2012.” Show young audiences that you care. http://ethr.ee/1nQuvVk
2. Build your presentations around carefully crafted stories. The human brain prefers stories instead of abstract ideas. http://ethr.ee/1ktUJHr
3. Before you create your presentation, edit your ideas until you can express your core message in one sentence. http://ethr.ee/1pKtKN1
4. Present meaning, not just data. “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” – Aristotle http://ethr.ee/1pKAV7N
5. Use the Rule of 3 for Presentations. Include no more than 3 main takeaways so that your message is easy to remember. http://ethr.ee/1kWYwla
6. Embrace the possibility of failure. Presenters who have the confidence to take risks, most often reap the reward. http://ethr.ee/1pKwzOb
7. Be a self-reliant presenter. Bring backup versions of your deck, and even prepare to present without technology. http://ethr.ee/1pKxE8o
8. End your presentation with a call to action. (Even offer a next step for people who did not agree with your message.) http://ethr.ee/T5jWSY
9. Venture capital pitches are a “no-spin” zone. Gimmicks don’t work on investors. Be thorough, succinct, and clear. http://ethr.ee/T5933J
10. Be simply brilliant. “To write well, express yourself like the common people, but think like a wise man.” – Aristolte http://ethr.ee/1pKAV7N
11. Plan the last slide of your presentation first. Your entire deck should lead your audience towards the final slide. http://ethr.ee/1okKMAl
12. During presentations most people think “What’s in it for me?” so deliver the answer. How are you making life better? http://ethr.ee/1okSmuE
13. Before you present, take a nap. A NASA study revealed that short naps improve pilots’ performance by 34%. http://ethr.ee/1nVZKyn
14. To create great presentations for any audience, let Dan Pink’s words be your guide: Brevity, levity and repetition. http://ethr.ee/1nGHfjK
15. Be a bold presenter. Ferret out unspoken doubts during Q&A. Your credibility will skyrocket. http://ethr.ee/1nGIxez
16. Presenters, never turn your back to your audience. Remember, a great presentation is a conversation. Stay connected! http://ethr.ee/1pNzyW1
17. Presenters, open your presentation by clearly previewing your message, and close by reviewing your main points. http://ethr.ee/1pNAny2
18. When pitching, deliver a cohesive vision by dressing in accordance with your brand identity. http://ethr.ee/T5mBfi
19. If in doubt about font size, go big. It is easy on the eyes, and it is a natural deterrent to text heavy slides. http://ethr.ee/T8KBhI
20. Before your presentation, learn about your audience. Tailor your content specifically for them. http://ethr.ee/T8J0Zd
21. Avoid using all capital letters in a presentation. IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE SCREAMING AT THE AUDIENCE. http://ethr.ee/T8KBhI
22. If you use quotes in your presentation, share unexpected words of wisdom. Avoid clichés. Be original and be epic. http://ethr.ee/T8LQxy
23. After a Q&A session, summarize the core message of your presentation, thank the audience, and smile genuinely. http://ethr.ee/T8MhI2
24. Skip bullet points; stretch a list into multiple slides. Share only one idea per slide to keep your audience engaged. http://ethr.ee/1pNGp1N
25. Exercise within 12 hours of your presentation. You will be more calm, confident, and happy. http://ethr.ee/1pNGNgK
26. If your audience needs a dictionary to comprehend your presentation, tone it down a bit. Use everyday language. http://ethr.ee/1pNH0Ai
27. Use both text and images on your presentation slides. Studies show that this style increases retention by up to 42%. http://ethr.ee/1pNHqGS
28. The more slides, the better. Instead of lingering on one slide for 5-minutes, utilize 5 one-minute slides. http://ethr.ee/1pNHqGS
29. Balance presentation designs that use 3 colors by following the 60-30-10 rule. 60% of space for one color, and so on. http://ethr.ee/1n6Sgaw
30. The perfect elevator pitch starts by answering the question: Why? Why are you in business? Why are you passionate? http://ethr.ee/1kbAj5U
31. Have stage fright? Think of one person that loves you. Imagine that person is populating the entire audience. http://ethr.ee/U8f3t2
32. Practice, and practice again, and again. “Only the prepared speaker deserves to be confident.” – Dale Carnegie http://ethr.ee/1j2vr3I
33. Don’t procrastinate. “It takes one hour of preparation for each minute of presentation time.” – Wayne Burgraff http://ethr.ee/UfdIAI
