Content is the Achilles’ heel for most professional presenters. The time and effort it takes to formulate a cohesive narrative structure usually becomes taxing – eventually cut short and compromised for the worse. Although a speaker may generally spend 1 to 3 minutes presenting each slide of a presentation, he or she should expect to allocate 5X that amount to the construction of the presentation content. I could tell you to structure your ideas before opening up PowerPoint, Keynote, or Prezi. But you already know that. Let’s focus on the subtle, yet impactful ways you can create quality presentation content.
1. Strategic use of clichés
It’s only a matter of time when clichés will be deemed unnecessary; however, some phrases are a sort of diamond in the rough. My play on words is almost too much for me to handle. But, in all seriousness, clichés are the cayenne pepper of writing. If you put too much of the ingredient in the recipe, no one will want to consume the dish. If a particular cliché sums up an important theme or idea related to your topic, then it may be worth using in your presentation. Make sure that a cliché is always adding meaning and providing context. In other words, never use it simply to elicit a giggle or two from listeners.
2. Implement expressive verbs
Many presenters fail to wield the descriptive powers of the expressive verb in their efforts to create quality presentation content. They’ll say “Get your free trial now” instead of “Secure your free trial now” or “Obtain your free trial now.” They’ll say “Our Q3 results decreased” instead of “Our Q3 results plunged.” When a presenter opts for expressive verbs over weak ones, he or she lends the appropriate emphasis to the idea or main point.
3. Acquaint yourself with analogies
Effective presentation content writing can illustrate the gravity of a statistic, factual number, or data point. The presenter who is adept at administering analogies doesn’t just tell the audience that upwards of 1 billion people reside digitally on Facebook. He or she will choose to say that 12X the attendance of a Bonnaroo music festival lives on the social media platform. When a piece of data won’t be immediately comprehensible for your audience, give them a reference point and enhance digestion of the message.
4. Conclude on another’s quote
In your presentation content, you might want to try ending on a quote from an influential and credible source. For example, if your presentation content causes conflicts amongst attendees, delivering evidence from someone with a similar viewpoint could alleviate friction. It may also allow audience members to adopt a more open mindset and look at your information in a wholly different way. On the other hand, don’t overly rely on the input of others to tell your personal presentation story and subject matter perspective.
While the above tactics may seem like small revisions, their use could prove successful for the presenter struggling with their presentation content. Paying closer attention to your language and wording can transform a dull deck into a dynamic demonstration.
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