Death by PowerPoint
Sitting in front of the bright computer screen, I realized the presentation waiting to be created was like a heavy weight, slowing down my mind. And that phrase “death by PowerPoint” kept taunting me.
I desperately wanted to create a memorable and fun presentation. But as I thought about the slides I would create—filled with bullet points, facts and a few visuals—it was boring from every angle. (No presentation should be boring—for the audience or the presenter!)
So, here's what I did about it. I found my way to an archived email from a friend who had shared a link to a free online presentation software. She said it would change my presentations forever.
I didn't know how true that prediction would be.
Introducing Prezi
Prezi is a zooming presentation software that defies the linear model of slides and limited transitions in slide presentations.
Here's how Prezi explains it:
Presentations have not evolved much in the 50 years since the slide was invented, but [we are] changing that. Prezi lets you bring your ideas into one space and see how they relate, helping you and your audience connect. Zoom out to see the big picture and zoom in to see details — a bit like web-based maps that have changed how we navigate through map books.
So, what does a Prezi presentation look like? Press play on the video below.
Not fully convinced?
Let's talk about my last presentation. Let's just say I have natural speaking ability, and I remembered to insert humorous anecdotes into my speech. I am passionate about my subject. I researched and gathered strong content and visuals. And yes, the subject is relevant to my audience.
That sounds like a textbook checklist for a successful presentation, right?
What if I have all of those in place, but the audience chooses to tune me out because my slide show contains too many bullet points? They don't really listen to my speech because they're reading my bullet points; they stop reading my bullet points because it's boring to read slide after slide.
My presentation is doomed to fail.
That's why I chose Prezi instead. I registered on Prezi.com, watched the easy tutorials, started using the zebra; and before I knew it, I was excited about my presentation!
B to B presenter, don't be afraid of this nonlinear presentation software. Keep your audience enraptured so they can understand your content, see your visuals and hear your passion… and ultimately, take action!
Start exploring the free online tool from Prezi, and promise yourself to never again create a boring presentation.