Time management

Managing time is important and you can achieve time management during presenting by rehearsing again and again before your presentation. It is a part of contract between you and your audience. 

movement during presenting

Move from the lectern area while explaining the points from the slides. It adds energy and variety to your presentation. It shows that the presenter has confidence and a nervous presenter will stick to one place as a result loosing audience attention.

Don't move too much because as a result audience is feeling difficulty while looking at the slides and distracting them too much. Sometimes overconfidence is also bad while presenting. Movements should me made lightly without disturbing audience.

Excess of everything is bad and same is the case with movements while presenting. So, be comfortable and move accordingly without blocking anyone.

For more ways to use space visit:http://www.speakingaboutpresenting.com/delivery/9-ways-space-presentation/

For more information on movements during presentation : http://speak2all.wordpress.com/2009/04/20/presentation-body-language-movement/

Samples/ Gimmicks

Using samples and gimmicks is an effective presentation tool. It is helpful if you are promoting a product.Samples are an invariable aid to peak the prospects interest in your product during your presentation, or after a discussion on the product.

You can do this by bringing samples and passing product around the audience so that audience can feel the product which will make the audience know more about the product and they can believe in what is being presented.

The old adage “ a picture is worth a thousand words' is compounded twenty times that when a prospect not only sees the product but also feels it and touches it. Hearing about something is good, seeing it is better, but handling it is the most beneficial. Simply put when the customer's senses are involved with the product to a greater degree it is more beneficial to the customer and the presenter.

To get the best results while using samples during your presentation try this:

1- It goes without saying only use samples that are clean, in good condition,and are able to do what they are intended to do. Never use or give out a sample unless you checked it out and are sure it functions properly.

2- Never leave a sample unless you have shown the customer how to use it.

3- Make sure the samples you choose fits the customer's needs. Using any other samples is confusing and a waste of time.

4- Never show too many samples at once. (two at the most). More than two is overwhelming and confusing. In this case too much of a good thing is not a good thing.

5- Maintain control of the presentation and the handling of samples. It is best not to let the customer handle them during the presentation, it detracts from their concentration. If the customer reaches for them, stop talking, smile, pause, let them handle it momentarily, then judiciously and politely take it out of their hands. Pause a moment; smile; and continue.

6-Leave literature pertaining to the product with as much pertinent information as possible. It should contain size, colors, dimensions, ordering information. Anything that can be used for quick customer referral.

Source: http://basicsofsales.com/JoesBlog/blog1.php/2009/09/09/how-to-use-product-samples-during-your-p

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gtMDX3dIKE

Visuals

Visuals play a very important role in presentation. Presenter should  put some visuals in his presentation . Visuals help the audience to understand the topic easily. The main aim of Visual aids is to reinforce the major points and stimulate the audience. A variety of visuals should be used to clear the concepts.
Visual aids and audio-visuals include a wide variety of communication products, including flip charts, overhead transparencies, slides, audio-slide shows, and video tapes etc. Demonstrating a process or simply passing around a sample of some equipment or model are also effective way to clarify messages visually. If visual aids are poorly selected or inadequately done, they will distract from what you are saying.

Tips on Preparing Visual Aids

• Start with at least a rough outline of the goal and major points of the presentation before selecting the visual aid(s). For example, a particular scene or slides may trigger ideas for the presentation, providing the power of images. Do not proceed too far without first determining what you want to accomplish, what your audience wants to gain, and what the physical setting requires.
• Each element of an audio-visual product - a single slide or a page of a flip chart presentation, for example, - must be simple and contain only one message. Placing more than one message on a single image confuses the audience and diminishes the potential impact of visual media. Keep visual aids BRIEF.
• Determine the difference between what you will say and what the visual aid will show. Do not read straight from your visuals.
• Ask the audience to read or listen, not both; visual aids should not provide reading material while you talk. Rather, use them to illustrate or highlight your points.
• Give participants paper copies of various graphic aids used in your presentation. They will be able to write on the paper copies and have them for future reference.
• Assess your cost constraints. An overhead transparency presentation can always be used in a formal environment if 35 mm slides are too expensive.
• Account for production time in your planning and selection process. Slides must be developed, videotape edited - you do not want to back yourself against a wall because the visuals are not ready. You can often get production work done in 24-48 hours, but it is much more expensive than work that is done on an extended schedule.
• Use local photographs and examples when discussing general problems and issues. While a general problem concerning welding safety, for example, may elude someone, illustrating with a system in use at the site can bring the issue home.
• Use charts and graphs to support the presentation of numerical information.
• Develop sketches and drawings to convey various designs and plans.
• When preparing graphics, make sure they are not too crowded in detail. Do no over-use color. See that line detail, letters, and symbols are bold enough to be seen from the back of the room.
• Do not use visual aids for persuasive statements, qualifying remarks, emotional appeals, or any type of rhetorical statement.
• If you have handouts, don't let them become a distraction during the presentation. They should provide reinforcement following your address. Consider giving them out after the presentation, unless the audience will use them during the presentation or will need to review them in advance of the presentation.
• Practice presenting the full program using graphic materials so you are familiar with their use and order. If you use audio-visual materials, practice working with them and the equipment to get the timing down right.
• Seek feedback on the clarity of your visuals and do so early enough to allow yourself time to make needed adjustments.

Source: http://www.osha.gov/doc/outreachtraining/htmlfiles/traintec.html

Be confident and have knowledge about subject be confident and have knowledge about subject

You must be confident what you are presenting and have a proper knowledge about the subject what you are going to present.


Presenting content without understanding show your lack of  knowledge  about the subject. Presenter should explain  the things properly and accuratly without looking at the slides again and again. Looking at the slides prove that presenter don't have enough knowledge about the subject and is not fully sure and confident . By doing this you will surely loose your audience's attention.

Knowledge about  the subject reflects the presenter's ability to understand the things. If you are confident about what you are talking about then audience will believe and pay attention in your presentation .For getting good knowledge about the subject presenter should read about the topic thoroughly and prepare well how he is going to present in the front of the public.

In many cases presenters just read their slides which doesn't show any interest in the topic and as a result no audience will listen to the slides. This also shows that the presenter is not at all prepared or he or she hasn't research properly about what their key point is. So, start preparing ahead of time and have knowledge about the subject.

Source: http://money.howstuffworks.com/look-confident-during-presentation.htm

Asking and encouraging questions

Asking questions while presenting makes the audience engaged and it is also a rest or relieving time for the presenter which is important as well. Asking questions makes the not listening audience listen to the presenter's contents so that they can answers other questions. By doing this you can gain audience attention and this will make your presentation more interesting. While some keen listener may want to ask some questions.

Let your audience know you would like questions and when to ask them. This will make the audience understand and take part in knowing all the topics being discussed. Don't tell the audience to ask questions at the end. By doing this they will forget some questions and don't feel satisfied at the end of presentation. The best way is to tell them that raise your hand if you have any questions. If they’re uncertain about something they can get that clarified at the time. Although give the opportunity at the end of every part to ask questions.

Answer the questions precisely and accurately. If you answer every question with a long-winded and incoherent ramble, people are going to be reluctant to ask you another one. They’ll conclude they’re unlikely to get a useful answer from you. Nor do they want to subject the rest of the audience to another ramble.
So, this is a good way to encourage your audience to get involved with the presentation and clarify any doubts by asking questions as soon as they have one. This question session also makes the presentation interesting as a result reducing the risk of bored audience.  


Source: http://www.speakingaboutpresenting.com/audience/presentation-question-time/

Eye contact

The most important thing in presenting is eye contact without which the amazing contents in the presentation become useless. Take few seconds to make eye contact balance before you start.  By employing some of good strategies for good eye contact, you will make your listeners feel more connected and increase the likelihood that you will feel more comfortable when speaking to a group of people.

There are some strategies of maintaining eye contact during the presentation. First, While you have a group choose a person and pretend that you are talking to that person in the group. And complete your thought looking at him. While starting a new thought choose another person in that group and do the same. Make sure that you include all the persons eventually. This will make the audience feel that the presenter is interested in knowing how they are feeling about the contents in the presentation.

There are some shy and social anxious people who can not make eye contact at all. So this second strategy is for them. While presenting choose a spot slightly above the listener's eyes. By doing so, the presenter can feel comfortable while making indirect eye contact.

Making eye contact is one of the difficult task while presenting but following some strategies can make this task done easily. Choose a strategy that best suits you and enjoy while presenting.

Source: http://www.speakingaboutpresenting.com/delivery/tips-eye-contact/