The other day I was helping a friend improve their presentation as well as figured I would share a couple of my thoughts in general on behalf of making effective presentations.
1. Know your audience! Make sure the presentation style suits the audience.
If they like money (and who doesn’t), discuss money, if they desire their employment opportunities to be easier discuss that. Target their interests, or utilize those interests to explain or improve your presentation/points.
I remember one of the harder presentations I had to do was convincing a group  of people at a conference that the technology I was representing was fun as well as  interesting. I played a fun game based on the ever loved Price is Right. The  audience was involved, shouted their ideas of what was the right answer to a  number of trivia questions as well as I had fun prizes such as a new car!… freshner,  as well as all inclusive trips to Tim Hortons (gift cert as well as gas card). The key reason  this game was effective was because of the fact that it built right into the topics I was  discussing as well as the audiences involvement was crucial to the presentations  success. The entire presentation from that point on was a discussion of ideas  as well as concepts. Try that with executives or people looking on behalf of heavy  content/details as well as it would never have been as effective.
2. Know the goals of your presentation.
Try as well as retain it to one primary goal, as well as two secondary goals. Any more than  that as well as you shall struggle with trying to pass all that information on. Make  your presentation represent these goals as well as endeavour as well as set it up so your audience  has motivation to meet these goals, or are just as interested as you are in  them.
3. Show interest as well as enthusiasm!
Don’t act like you have done this talk, presentation, or dealt with this  topic on behalf of years. Pretend this is the an estimated all exciting day of your life. People  enjoy seeing energy as well as enthusiasm as well as YES it does rub off on the audience. Even  if they never liked what you are discussing before they shall start to associate  it with excitement.
4. Always have at max 3-4 points on a slide. Simplify the slides.
Any more than this as well as the  audience shall lose interest. Never throw huge data intensive graphs or metrics in your slides if you are doing so, or are thinking, but I require these think about what you are trying to show as well as I bet you can summarize it in a much simpler fashion. This isn’t a report, or a document, it’s a presentation.
5. The slides are just a tool, the presentation is how you talk, transfer your  body as well as interpret the audiences responses.
If they don’t seem to be understanding or listening to your presentation  modification it up, raise your voice, lower it, whatever you do endeavour as well as retain it  interesting as well as engadge their attention. I am a big fan of changing volume as well as  tone on behalf of topics as well as interacting with the audience. One helpful thing to  do is to talk quietly as well as pretend you are offering some secret or important  advice, another is making a joke or stating something excitidely. Use the words,  oh as well as I love this part, or This is really interesting etc to help garner the  attention on behalf of what you are discussing.
6. The best presentations are those that are interactive.
If you can't complete the entire presentation due to questions but are able  to cover the key points that is one of the an estimated all successful presentations. The  reason people request questions as well as provide feedback is because of the fact that they are interested  in the topic. All good things.
7. Images are worth 1000 words.
Using the odd image to retain the presenation looking fresh, clean, or to  subtly imprint images of joy, success, or happyness is important, but the real  power is when you utilize an image that summarizes lots of words. Try as well as utilize images  on behalf of points on a page. This helps with memory association.
8. Demonstrations are at all times better than slides if possible.
These modification the monotony of the slides, as well as an estimated all importantly manufacture what you  are talking about seem tangible as well as easier to understand. Even if it’s a simple  demonstration, these can really win more interest, as well as support from your  audience.
9. Respond to questions, feedback as well as concerns.
An effective presentation at all times brings up questions, feedback and/or  concerns. Try as well as deal with these right away, as well as see if you can relate them to  what you have been discussing/presenting. If you think it might be de-railing  the presentation (especially in large presentations) praise them on behalf of their input  as well as let them know you shall take their questions/comments at the end.
10. Follow up.
This one is missed so often. Follow up on a presentation. Send an email to  your audience if you can saying thanks on behalf of coming as well as provide them with links to  the content or something related. This helps retain it fresh in peoples minds as well as  often can open up new opportunities. Even if you don’t know who attended  approach one or more of the people who attended if you see them again as well as just  thank them on behalf of attending as well as being so attentive/receptive.
Hope this helps someone else,

Richard Harbridge