Phil Gerbyshak - Customer Service and Public Speaker

I do many presentations, some with PowerPoint, some without. Most corporations request that I use PowerPoint so folks can have something to follow along with, and to “leave behind” after my presentation is complete. I find that thought corporate folks ask me to create a slide deck, they aren’t that good at using the tools they have. Many have asked me for help, and I’ve shared my tips with many.

Now hopefully you get it, and you make great slide decks that engage your audience. If you do, then this article is NOT for you.

Read it anyway, and feel free to share it with a friend who doesn’t get it.

Graphics tips

• Find pictures that show the point you’re trying to make. A picture really does say 1000 words or more, especially if you couple it with 2 or 3 really well placed words.
• Use http://flickr.com, searching for photos that have the appropriate Creative Commons license on your search. You can search within your search by clicking on advanced options or (all the way at the bottom after you search)
• http://sxc.hu offers free stock photos you might be able to use. Check the licensing for specifics.
• http://istockphotos.com is another great resource. It might cost you a few bucks, but it has some really great stock photos.
• Take your own pictures of things, and start creating your own digital library. I’ve taken quite a few photos I use in presentations, of people, places, and a few things. You could even make your own stock photos using things around your house.

Background tips

• The background on every slide does NOT have to be the same. Pick a few colors that are easy on the eyes (I avoid red, but Tom Peters loves it and uses it VERY well) and mix them in to draw attention to different visuals in your presentation. Don’t be afraid to throw in a black slide from time time.
• Put quotes on separate slides with a solid background. Let them stand alone. This is one case where you can read the slide, but then tell a story about the quote, why it fits into your presentation, and maybe even background on who said it if it’s not immediately obvious.
• Let pictures fill up the whole slide, and put them on a white background.
• Gradients can be great…be careful of the font color. I’ve used a nice gray gradient in some of my presentations, and by default, I get a nice clean white font with it. Just be careful of how it looks, as if you add a bunch of text, the color may get too dark (or too light) for your font color. Test it out and see what it really looks like on the big screen, which is far more important than what you see on your little laptop.

Text tips

• Big text is GREAT for audiences. Think about the person all the way in the back of the room. How does 8 point font look to them? Like crap, that’s how! So make your font BIG and BOLD, and pick a font that people are used to. Georgia, Times New Roman, Arial, Helvetica and Garamond are all good. Script is not!
• Remove most of the text, if for no other reason than so you don’t get tempted to read off your slides. Reading off your slides is insulting to your audience, and to you as a presenter. I can read slides. You can read slides. Why are you doing a presentation then? Send me an e-mail with the information instead.
• Color text is okay, just be careful of the contrast. Make sure your projector shows the same color on screen that you see on your monitor. I’ve had plenty of presentations where what I saw on screen was completely washed out, and I didn’t notice it in time. Take some time before your presentation to test out what’s on the screen. You’ll be glad you did!

Additional resources

• Download Seth Godin’s Really Bad PowerPoint. It’s a free PDF that will help you know what sucks, so you can know what’s great.
  Guy Kawasaki’s 10/20/30 rule of presentations. Watch the video here, or just words here. And use it!
  Garr Reynolds’ Presentation Zen blog - if you have time to really dive in and create a great presentation, I’d recommend his book of the same name too.
  Cliff Atkinson’s Beyond Bullet Points blog - Cliff is a Microsoft guy, and he has a really great blog about better PowerPoint presentations.

Conclusion

3 points to always keep in mind

• Stories SELL
• Pictures TELL
• Reading your slides SMELLS!

So what are your best presentation tips?

It’s the smile from the woman behind the counter at Starbucks that makes you feel welcome…

It’s the greeter at the door at Wal-Mart that reminds you why you’re braving the crowds and the packed parking lot…

It’s the chocolate chip cookies on every flight after 9 AM that reminds you why you love Midwest Airlines…

It’s the wine recommendation from the sommelier at a new restaurant that turns you from a one-time to a forever customer…

Tom Peters said it best: Nothing is irrelevant.

Do you get it?

What are you doing to create these little, memorable moments?

Does your team get it?

What little things is your team doing to provide great customer service?

Flickr photo credit to World of Oddy