Effective Presentation Techniques

What is an effective presentation?

 Effective presentation is the process of communicating

a specific topic to an audience in a clear,
understandable and impressive way.

 In addition to conveying the target information in an

effective presentation,
o Attract the attention of the audience
o Clarify the message you want to deliver
o Ensure that your ideas are accepted
o Increase memorability
Preparing an effective presentation

 Presentation content and design should be appropriate

for the purpose of the presentation.

 The presentation is for the audience.

 Important and interesting information should be

selected and organized considering the audience.
Key features of a good presentation

 Well-prepared and structured content that appeals to the audience

 A clear presentation message
 Visual aids and good design on slides
 Engaging presentation, effective use of sound and body language
 Efficient use of time
 Strong opening and closing
 Interaction and participation with the audience
 Pre-presentation preparation and rehearsal
Audience

§ The presentation is for the audience.

§ The audience should be well known and their level of

knowledge on the subject should be understood.

§ The speaker should get out of his/her own frame and

explain the topic from the perspective of the audience.
Knowing the target audience

§ Before preparing content, the target audience should

be well analyzed, presentation objectives should be
determined and the presentation content should be
shaped accordingly.

§ The following questions must be answered:

o Who is your audience?
o Why are they here?
o What is their level of knowledge on the subject?
o What is your purpose and message you want to convey?
o How long will it take you to deliver it?
Audience-relevant content

§ What we say is limited to what the audience can

understand.

 The content should be tailored to the level of

knowledge of the audience.
o If you are presenting to an audience that is not familiar with
the subject, technical terms and abbreviations that are not
explained will distract the audience.

o However, if you are presenting to an audience of academics

who are experts on the subject, such content will strengthen
the presentation.
Main message of the presentation

 The goal of the presentation, the main message it

wants to convey, should be clearly determined at the
beginning.

 All the information provided in the content should

support this message.

 To inform? to persuade? to inspire? to change attitudes

and behaviors? ...etc.
o For example, the purpose of this presentation is to inform you,
but for an entrepreneur making an investor presentation, the
purpose is to persuade.
Basic structure of the presentation

§ The presentation consists of introduction, development

and conclusion sections.

o The introduction section discusses what the audience will gain

from the presentation and shows the presentation plan.

o The development section discusses main topics such as the

current status of the topic or problem, and your contribution to
the situation.

o The conclusion section emphasizes the main message and

answers questions from the audience about the topic. The
speaker shares contact information.
Planning the presentation agenda

§ The time to be allocated for each section is planned.

§ The introduction and conclusion sections should be relatively

short, and the development section should be long enough to
explain the topic.

§ After the entire message is delivered in the conclusio section,

a certain amount of time is allocated for questions and
answers.

§ A strong opening at the beginning increases interest and an

effective closing at the end increases memorability.
Basic rules for presentation content and design

 Simple and clear language should be used.

 There should be no spelling or grammar errors in the
content.
 The design should be simple and attractive.
 Visuals and graphics that support the message should
be used.
 Colors and typography should be carefully chosen.
 The design of all slides should be harmonious and
consistent.
Simple and understandable language

 Long and complicated sentences should be avoided.

 Complex topics should be explained in simple

language.

 Technical terms, abbreviations, words in foreign

languages should not be used if not necessary.

 Spelling and grammar errors should be avoided, as

they create an unprofessional image.
Slide layout and design

 A simple and clean design enhances clarity.

 Slide content should not be crowded.

 Each slide should have a maximum of 6 - 7 lines, and

each line should have 6 - 7 words per line.

 Each slide should focus on a single topic, have a main

idea and a appropriate title.
 Headings, subheadings and content should be
balanced.
Typography selection

 Typography is the style or appearance of a text.

 It includes elements such as font type, size, width, line
spaces, font color.
 Typography should be consistent on all slides throughout
the presentation.
 Typography should also be proportionate and consistent for
headings, subheadings, and text.
 Line spacing is also important for readability.
Font type and size

 The font type appropriate for the presentation purpose

should be determined (official, creative, academic,
etc.).
 Easy-to-read and plain fonts such as sans-serif should
be preferred over script or serif fonts.
o Serif fonts are classic and traditional fonts with small
protrusions (serifs) at the ends of the letters.
o Sans-serif fonts do not include these protrusions and have a
more modern, simple look.

 The content should be easy to read, at least 24pt font

size should be preferred, and the size of the headings
should be larger and more eye-catching.
Font types look

Sans-serif Serif

Arial Z Times New Roman Z

Script

Brush script Z
Font size

 This is Arial 12
 This is Arial 18
Not very readable
 This is Arial 24
 This is Arial 32
This is Arial 36
This is Arial 44
Highlighting with different styles

 Striking features such as underlining, using different

colors, bold and italics can be used to emphasize
important points on a slide.

 The entire text should not be in all caps, italics or

different colors, as this can cause the audience to miss
the focus.
 Statements that need to be seen first should stand out.
 Too many striking elements on the same slide should be
avoided.
Highlighting with different styles

§ IT IS DIFFICULT TO READ ALL CAPITAL

TEXTS

§ Easier to read uppercase and lowercase letters

Highlighting with different styles

§ Serif fonts are hard to read on screen

§ Sanserif fonts are clearer

§ Italics are hard to read on screen

§ Normal or bold fonts are clearer

§ Underlines can be perceived as links

§ Use colors instead to emphasize

Use of bullets
 Bullet points are used very often in presentations.

 Instead of long paragraphs, texts should be simplified

with bullets to increase readability.

 Bullet points are used to show a list without priority, order

or hierarchy.

 If order is important, a numbered list should be preferred.

1. Log in to the book sales site
2. Search for suitable books
3. Buy it

 Hierarchy and subtexts are created with multi-level

bullets
Color selection

 Dark text on a light background and light text on a dark

background should be preferred.
 Very low contrast makes readability difficult.

 A certain color palette should be used throughout the

presentation.

 Using too many colors can be tiring for the eyes, a

maximum of 3 main colors are recommended.

 The meanings and feelings of colors can be investigated

and colors can be chosen according to the message to
be delivered.
Meaning and emotions of colors

 Blue: Creates a sense of trust and calm. May be suitable for

corporate presentations.
 Red: Draws attention and gives a sense of urgency. Can be
used for warnings.
 Yellow: Attracts attention but can be tiring in long-term use.
 Orange: Creates a sense of energy, creativity and
enthusiasm. Can be used for attention-grabbing and
motivating purposes.
 Purple: Represents luxury, mystery and creativity. May be
suitable for art, design and prestigious presentations.
A slide design example

In the next slide we see a slide design example.

 What do you think about this design?

 What would you do differently for an effective slide

design?
Basic rules for presentation content and design

Simple and understandable language should be used. There should be

no spelling or grammar errors in the content. The design should be simple
and attractive. Visuals and graphics that support the message to be
conveyed should be used. Colors and typography should be chosen
carefully. The design of all slides should be harmonious and consistent.
Long and complicated sentences should be avoided. Complex
topics should be conveyed in simple language. Technical terms,
abbreviations, words in different languages should be avoided,
especially if not necessary. Be careful about spelling and
grammatical errors, they create an unprofessional image.
A simple and plain design increases clarity. Slide
content should not be crowded. Each slide should have a
maximum of 6-7 lines, and each line should have 6-7
words. Each slide should focus on a single topic, have
a main idea and a title that fits it. Titles, subtitles
and content should be balanced.
Use of transitions and animations

 Slide transitions should be simple and consistent.

 Too many transition effects can make a presentation

look unprofessional.

 Natural and fluid animations that support the

narrative can be used to highlight the main points.

 Too much movement can distract the audience.

 Animations and transitions should follow the flow of

the presentation.
Use of visuals

 Visuals, i.e. photographs, pictures, tables, icons,

should be used carefully in accordance with the
purpose of the slides.

 Visuals are much more effective than text in

remembering messages.

 The messages to be conveyed in the slides should be

supported and strengthened with visuals.

 Visuals should not be excessive. Using visuals for

decorative purposes distracts audience.
Use of charts

 Charts should also be used carefully in accordance

with the purpose of the slides.
 Charts should explain themselves, not just show data.

 When the audience sees the chart, they should be able

to understand it without needing your explanation.
 Charts should be free of unnecessary details.

 Charts should be at a size that all audience can see

and understand.
Chart types

 The type of chart changes depending on the data set you

want to show in the slides and the message you want to
deliver. For example

o Line charts are ideal for visualizing trends over time.

o Column charts are used to compare different indicators at a

given point in time.
o Pie charts are effective for showing ratios and distributions.

o Area charts are suitable for highlighting trends.

o Scatter charts are used to analyze relationships between two

variables.
Preparation before the presentation - Rehearsals

 Rehearse your presentation a lot to master the topic

and flow.
 Speak in your own words, do not memorize, focus on
fluent and natural speech.
 Control your time during rehearsals, set the time for
each section and even slides, and proceed with a plan.
Rehearsals

 Rehearse in front of a mirror or by recording, observe

your body language and tone of voice and identify
areas for improvement.
 Rehearse with your friends, ask for feedback: Is it
understandable? Is it interesting? Is it too technical or
boring?
 The better the rehearsal, the more successful the
presentation.
Preparation before the presentation - Presentation day

 The presentation venue, the computer, projector,

microphone, and speakers should be checked before
the presentation.
 The presentation should be tested on the computer
and projector at the venue and if necessary, checked
briefly with the sound system.
 If possible, a backup of the hardware for the
presentation should be kept with you (Laptop,
presentation file, speakers, etc.).
Presentation anxiety

 Presentation anxiety is a completely natural, it is one of

the most common anxieties.
 According to research, approximately 70% of people are
afraid of speaking in front of a crowd.
 If your anxiety is not too high, it can have a positive
impact on your presentation.
 Dealing with presentation anxiety is much more difficult
for some people.
 This anxiety needs to be controlled for effective
presentation.
Dealing with presentation anxiety

 Rehearse a lot before the presentation to strengthen

your command of the subject.

 Remember that you are the person who knows the

topic best.

 Remember that the audience is not a jury evaluating

your presentation skills, but a group of interested
people who want to learn from you.

 Remind yourself that this is natural, that everyone

experiences some level of anxiety, and that the
audience will notice very little of it.
Presentation moment

 A presentation that is rich in content and enhanced with

suitable visuals will be as successful as its delivery to the
audience.
 Therefore, your body language, tone of voice and
communication with the audience play a crucial role
during the presentation.
 The audience's interest tends to decline after the first 5-
10 minutes, you can plan engaging content to recapture
and sustain their attention.
 Body language is one of the key elements that reinforce
your message in a presentation.
The ways to keep attention

§ Slides designed with simple, appropriate visuals

§ The speaker's strong command of the topic and a

natural, fluent delivery

§ Effective use of body language, gestures and facial

expressions, and tone of voice

§ Enhancing the topic with engaging stories and

compelling examples

§ Active interaction with the audience

Body language and communication

 A confident and natural stance is effective on the

audience.

 Stand tall, steady and balanced, keeping your

shoulders straight and relaxed.

 Avoid putting your hands in your pockets or resting on

your waist, or folding your arms.

 Avoid standing still throughout the presentation.

 Move smoothly and purposefully, using the stage in a

controlled manner.
Gestures and facial expressions

§ Avoid exaggerated and unnatural movements.

§ Align your facial expressions and hand gestures with

the content of your speech.

§ Use hand gestures to enhance your message, but

avoid excessive movement that may distract the
audience.

§ Keep your facial expressions natural and reflective of

the emotions, but do not overdo it, accompany with
light expressions.
Making eye contact

 Establish a strong connection with your audience

through eye contact.

 Distribute your gaze evenly across the entire audience,

rather than focusing on a single point.

 Maintain a natural and confident look.

 Keep your gaze steady, but avoid prolonged staring.

 Observe audience reactions and adjust your

presentation accordingly.
Tone and speed of voice

 Use your voice to prevent monotony and create

meaningful emphasis.
 Enhance your delivery with well-timed pauses when
needed.
 Maintain a balanced speaking pace—neither too fast
nor too slow.
 Regulate your speed by breathing comfortably.
Interaction with the audience

 Keep the audience engaged by asking intriguing

questions throughout the presentation.

 You can get instant feedback through live polls or

surveys using mobile devices.

 You can encourage discussion by dividing the audience

into small groups and having them share their
thoughts.

 Shape your presentation based on audience feedback.

Question and answer sections

 Allocate time for questions and answers at regular intervals

throughout the presentation.
 Encourage audience participation by holding a brief Q&A
session after each main topic.
 Allow questions from the beginning and throughout the
presentation, rather than saving them all for the end.

 Conclude with a dedicated Q&A session to address all

remaining audience questions.
Answering difficult questions

 it is important to maintain a calm and confident and

professional attitude when faced with difficult questions.

 Prepare in advance by considering potential challenging

questions.

 If you don’t know the answer, be honest and say, "I can
look into this and get back to you."

 Whenever possible, find the answer and follow up at the

earliest opportunity.
Using storytelling in your presentation

 Capture your audience’s attention by incorporating stories

into your presentation.

 Add emotion and relatability by sharing personal

experiences and success stories.

 Clearly convey the key message or solution at the

conclusion of your story.

 Enhance the impact of your story with relevant visuals

and graphics whenever possible.
Time management in presentation

§ It is important that the presentation is completed within

the planned time, it is not preferred to last shorter or
longer than planned.

§ Plan the time you for each section from the start and
monitor it during rehearsals.

§ Ensure a dedicated time for the Q&A session at the end,

and stay within that limit.

§ Proper time management is key to delivering a

professional presentation.
Post-presentation evaluation

 Sending short surveys to your audience after the

presentation is an effective way to to gather feedback on
your strengths and areas for improvement.

 Through surveys, you can collect open-ended comments

that provide deeper insights into the impact of your
presentation. Sample questions could include:
o What was the most helpful part of the presentation?
o What could be improved in the presentation?
o Was there anything you found difficult about the presentation?
o What new ideas did the presentation give you?
o ….