How does one make a good presentation?

To succeed with your business plan, you have to match it with an excellent presentation. Given a brief period of 10-15 minutes, your presentation should capture the listeners’ ears and eyes. Verbose and lengthy presentation will make them lose interest and cause your business plan to fail. Be focused, crisp and audible.

Follow the under given tips:

Never use visuals as a substitute for words

An ideal slide should not have more than 10 words in it. Your slides and overheads should simply provide a framework for your message, not tell the whole story. Remember that you are making the presentation, not the slides.

Use phrases not sentences

Limit your slides to keywords. This forces you to develop and explain your ideas in your own words.

Number your overheads

This helps you quickly put them back in order if you drop them on the way into your presentation.

Introduce yourself to members of the audience before you begin your presentation

This personalizes your presentation and also gives you something to do instead of standing around looking nervous.

Be calm and composed. Smile

No one wants to hear a dull and boring presentation. An occasional smile acts as an acknowledgement that the audience deserves. Remember that the audience wants you to do well and they are all in the presentation, with you.

Look at the audience, scan the entire room

Don’t keep your eyes focused at a stationary point.  Focus on those who are taking notes, nodding, or smiling.

Always provide audience handouts

Handouts containing reduced-size copies of your visuals plus lines to take notes permit your audience to review your presentation and share it with others unable to attend.

Watch the time

You don’t have the whole day. Keep a track of the time your presentation takes. Avoid wasting any with long, unnecessary pauses.

Never bluff

You don’t want to be caught up in a uncomfortable position. If you don't know the answer to a question, offer to follow-up after the presentation.

Always rehearse

Never go for a presentation without a satisfactory rehearsal. Use your friends or the mirror as the audience and make the entire presentation. This will make you more confident during the actual presentation.

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