Don’t Just Present. Tell a Good Story with Prezi.

When we think of presentations, we think of slide after slide of text and images. 10 years ago, slide transitions and effects made these slides attention-grabbing but, presently, they’re not much source of “power” for Powerpoints.

So how do we come up with the right presentation aid for today’s distracted and ever pre-occupied audiences?

Let’s begin with the basics. According to Carmine Gallo of Forbes magazine, presentations should be understandable, memorable and emotional. There is little room for jargon and buzzwords in presentations, if at all. Content needs to be organized so they flow logically, and delivered so they affect the audience in some way. Think “rule of three” - things that come in threes make more impact: they’re funnier, more effective, and easier to grasp. And if you really want your audience to remember what you say, tell a good story. People remember good stories.

How? Convert your presentation outline into a story, and instead of using a Powerpoint, use a Prezi.

Prezi is a cloud-based presentation software that uses a zoomable canvass to help you organize your ideas. Launched in 2009, Prezi has built a large following of loyal customers swearing by the revolutionary way the software has transformed visual presentations.

Here is a list of the most notable features of Prezi:

1. Prezi is cloud-based. Because of this, everyone is provided easy access to both the software and the resources to learn to use it. You do not need to purchase a license to build, use or share Prezi presentations. And StraightArrow Graphic Designer and Aspiring Prezi Expert Ryan Regencia says that “Even if you do not know Powerpoint, you can learn to use Prezi.”
2. It lets you move around a single canvas. This can be a challenge at first as you’ll really need to think about how to organize your ideas. But, being forced to organize your ideas within a defined space also forces you to draw a mental map of your ideas and present them in a more creative, more memorable way. Zooming in and out of objects helps you tap into your audience’s spatial intelligence, in turn helping them remember your presentation.
3. It lets you add a variety of content and media: sound clips, gifs, and videos, for example.
4. It helps you “journey” with your audience. By following a path through the presentation, you are able to create a memorable experience with them.
5. If you are just learning to use Prezi, you can start with any of their free themes or template. They come in different categories: professional, inspirational and photographic. As you get better, you can start experimenting with your own themes. Your imagination is the limit!

For an example of a Prezi presentation, click here.

Design successful presentations that are understandable, memorable and emotional. Create powerful Prezi presentations with us!

About the Author
Xenia-Chloe H. Villanueva is a Communications Specialist at StraightArrow Corporation. When not writing copy or developing concepts, she reviews movies for a Webbie-award nominated blog. She also jogs, cooks and contributes to independent poetry projects.

References:

Gallo, Carmine. "The Three Basic Secrets of All Successful Presentations." Forbes Magazine 22 Feb. 2013. Web. 28 June 2013.

Why Move to the Cloud? 10 Benefits of Cloud Computing. Salesforce. Salesforce.com, Inc. n.d. Web. 28 June 2013.

Prezi - Ideas matter. Prezi Inc. n.d. Web. 26 June 2013.

GoAnimate. "The 6 Best Business Presentation Software Alternatives To PowerPoint." 13 March 2013. Web. 28 June 2013.

"Prezi: Creating Presentations." Berks College, Pennsylania State University.n.d. Web. 24 June 2013.

Martin and Morris. "Neural Basis of Spatial Memory." MRC Centre for Synaptic Plasticity. University of Bristol. 2002. Web. 24 June 2013.

William, Alex. "Prezi Adds Audio To Presentation Platform And Surpasses 20 Million User Mark." TechCrunch., 12 March 2013. Web. 28 June 2013.

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