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What is a business model canvas?

The business model canvas is like a roadmap for your business’s or product’s success. It’s a visual way to break down all the key elements that make your company tick, like your value proposition, target customer, and channels. The business model canvas is the perfect tool for analyzing and updating your strategy, getting everyone on the same page, and planning out new business models. Think of it as a one-stop shop for organizing all the important information you need to develop and launch your product. You can create a business model canvas for your existing business to gain more insight or for a business you are planning to launch. 

Elements of a business model canvas

Although there are some variations depending on the type of business, the classic business model canvas comprises eight core areas that, together, give shape to your business model: 

Elements of a business model canvas

Customer Segments

Customers are essential for a business to be able to turn a profit. To learn more about your customers, consider their current and future needs, as well as their demographics, likes, and dislikes. It is also helpful to consider other factors regarding their relationships with similar businesses. Think about any additional segments that could benefit from your product or service to highlight the future direction of the business. 

Value Proposition

In a business model canvas, you must clearly outline the company’s unique products and services, otherwise known as the value proposition. A company should offer something original that stands out from the competition. It should highlight benefits that distinguish the company, such as quicker service, more efficiency, or better quality for a cheaper price. There are two ways to categorize these values: quantitative or qualitative. Quantitative values refer to the types of benefits that are quantifiable for the consumer, such as speed or price. Meanwhile, qualitative values are more abstract and cannot be counted, like a great experience with customer service.

Customer Relationships

In this section, your canvas covers the different types of relationships you have with your customers. Here you describe how your customers can find your business, how you maintain relationships with them, and where the business will grow its audience from there. Think about all the different touch points between your business and your customers, whether in-person interactions, email, social media, etc. Customer relationships include personal assistance, self-service, and communities. Personal assistance refers to customer service or any other way of providing tailored service to specific customers. And while self-service or automation does not include interaction with the customer, you can still personalize the experience with tailored recommendations based on browsing history. Finally, when operating within a certain niche, establishing a community of like-minded people brings customers together based on their shared interests. The type of relationship a business has with its customers will depend on the services provided and the customer’s needs. 

Revenue Streams

Revenue streams are the diverse channels that generate income for a company. In a business model canvas, a company’s income should be represented and detailed through its revenue streams. Commonly, the different streams of income a business could have included asset sales, subscriptions, leasing or lending, white labeling, licensing, or advertising. Although these revenue streams can change, a business should be able to regularly keep up with, review, and optimize them as the market evolves. 

Key Resources

Resources are essential assets needed to run a business and provide the customer with value. And like many of the other elements, your resources can come in many forms. Pinpoint key resources to lay out in your business model, whether they are human resources, financial resources, physical assets (such as offices or warehouse space), or intellectual property. Your business model should be able to identify what is available and what will be needed for your business to be successful. You can refer to previous channels through which the business operated to decide what elements would benefit from creating a sustainable business model.

Key Activities

Similar to the key resources, you should consider what is needed to develop the value proposition and ensure its success. The key activities are the actions needed to guarantee that the business model is effective. For example, the key activities can include sourcing a development company or marketing and advertising to raise awareness. 

Key Partnerships

It is very unlikely for a company to manage on its own; partnerships are needed to sustain a business for the long term. The primary partnerships your business should consider are with distributors, suppliers, your existing customers, and “coopetition,” i.e., competing businesses that you can collaborate with to gain mutual benefits. Of course, these partnerships may change over time as a business grows. You and your partners may grow closer or farther apart. Either way, be sure to make a note of it in the business model. 

Cost Structure 

Understanding the costs of a business and how these costs are important for a business to be able to generate profit. The cost structure is divided into two parts: fixed costs, which are easy to determine, and variable costs, which can change depending on different factors. Likewise, economies of scale and scope can decrease costs as the business expands, and the importance of understanding these variables is to provide a realistic overview of costs for the company both now and in the future. 

Why should I use a business model canvas to develop a product roadmap?

A business model canvas serves as your product roadmap; it is a helpful reference for your business plan, covering everything from the main mission statement to the detailed outline. 

Brainstorming aid  

The model canvas approach helps you map out your ideas; the format allows you to brainstorm freely and get out all the main ideas, making it easier to focus on the highlights when creating the project roadmap.

You can update them as you go along 

In the world of business, things change fast. Cost estimates, key partnerships, and customer relationships are all factors that can evolve and change over time. A business model canvas is a way to showcase your strategy, and is not as reliant on minuscule details; its brevity allows you to be flexible and update the document as changes arise. 

Visual representation of your business

Business model canvases are an inherently visual representation of your business plans. Mapping out your ideas on one sheet helps you visualize all your ideas, make connections, and find gaps more quickly.

Benefits of a business model canvas

They are focused 

Businesses need a blueprint that can describe how to get their services and products to their customers. By mapping out an effective and clear outline, a business can transform itself into a profitable enterprise that can sustain itself through thoughtful and intentional planning. 

They are concise 

The business model canvas is the straightforward and succinct sheet that defines your business. And even though you could certainly expand on it going forward, it is a practical tool for communicating your main elements and research to your team members, investors, and any other stakeholders involved in making your vision come to life. 

They are an effective scientific framework

The model canvas template uses a reliable methodology that all kinds of enterprises benefit from, from small startups to expansions in bigger companies. It relies on a functional and pragmatic framework that considers all the necessary factors for a successful undertaking. 

What are some tools and resources that can help you create a business model canvas?

Strategyzer

Strategyzer has a variety of business model canvas templates to choose from to begin planning your business. Also, if you decide to try their paid membership, you gain access to classes and modules that teach you about building business models and testing value propositions and business ideas. In addition to the classes, there is also a cost estimator feature that evaluates your business idea’s financial viability and identifies areas of weakness in your business model worth addressing. 

Canvanizer

This tool is a free website that lets you create shared links between your team members working on a business model canvas together. Using the many model canvas templates, you can have a strong start with your model and simultaneously brainstorm with your team on the same page.

Business Model Canvas Tool

Created by an alumnus of ThePowerMBA, this tool allows users to easily create a business model canvas with convenient and practical features that are easy to use. Plus, after you’re done, you can download the model canvas as a PDF for quick sharing. 

The business model canvas is a great tool for entrepreneurs to better map out and implement their business goals. It offers a visual representation of a company’s vision and strategy and includes all the critical components needed to develop and release a product or service. Using a model canvas, a business has a thoughtful approach to attracting clients and establishing itself in the competitive business world. You can download our own business model canvas template to get started!

Download the business model canvas template! 

A guide to building customer trust using design

In today’s digital marketing landscape, trust is vital for delivering a successful product or service online. So, let’s face it: customers these days know a lot. They won’t just fall for any fancy sales pitch or flashy gimmicks. Nope! Instead, they now place a high value on transparency, authenticity, and honesty when it comes to brands. The perception and judgment of the customer can make or break a business, and that’s where the power of design swoops in! Design is a powerful tool, we must use it to bake key trust-building elements into our business DNA to earn customer loyalty.

What is customer trust?

Think of it as the golden ticket to customer love and loyalty. These days, consumers are more informed and, therefore, more selective. More businesses are vying for customer attention than ever before, yet many consumers no longer take what these companies offer at face value. Earning their trust has become a prerequisite for earning their business, which is why a stellar customer experience is essential. If you can give your customers an enjoyable experience, word-of-mouth becomes your best friend.

Why does customer trust matter?

Consumers now have more options than ever, and with a million options out there, you’ve got to stand out from the crowd. There are lots of options to choose from for pretty much any product or service out there; so it’s crucial to gain your potential consumer’s trust for them to stick around.

Increases customer retention

If your customers trust you, they will come back for more. Acquiring new customers is far more difficult than retaining the ones you already have, which is why it is important to build a relationship with them and maintain their trust with good customer service.

Building customer loyalty

Customer loyalty turns an average customer into an advocate; if they are spreading the word about your business within their network, your customer base will grow. It is through customer feedback that a brand’s true identity begins to form in people’s minds. Refocus all aspects of your business on reinforcing trust.

Increased conversions

A business with a good reputation can convert passersby and website visitors into active leads. Being a trustworthy company sets you apart from your competitors and inspires consumers to try you out. This especially applies to online businesses that cannot directly interact with customers, continuing to gain their trust through several factors leading up to the sale.

How can you use design to inspire customer trust?

When it comes to building customer trust, design is your secret weapon. Have people fall in trust with your brand by sharing valuable and purposeful content to establish your business as an authority on the material. Here, design is essential for validating your business’ credibility as a professional organization, so how can you use design to inspire customer trust?

Ensure that your design is user-friendly

Have you ever felt the satisfaction of stepping into a beautiful and organized supermarket with rows and rows of identifiable lanes? Your website should feel the same way. User-friendly web design helps your customers have an easy and enjoyable user experience when navigating your site. There is no need for your customers to play hide-and-seek with the products or services your business offers. Make sure to incorporate a simple, graceful design, a search bar, and a homepage with clear-cut navigation when developing your website design for a smooth user experience.

Show that you care

Give your customers a VIP experience with an effortless, user-friendly site that makes them feel seen. Prioritizing their needs and developing a seamless customer experience are necessary factors for making them feel like you’ve got their back. A resources section, a comprehensive menu, or a knowledge base all help the user navigate the website, find key information, and use the site’s features to their fullest.

Highlight your humanity

Consumers are curious about the brand and those behind it, they love authentic brands with a story. Add an “Our Story” page to invite users into your world and share your brand’s background, journey, and values, as well as details about who is doing the work behind the scenes. All of these add a personable element that makes your brand more approachable and trustworthy. Another detail to add is a physical address for a store or office with its contact information; it gives credibility and makes the customer feel at ease knowing that you are a real company.

Be honest and transparent

Customer trust is earned, not won. Consumers seek honesty and transparency about what they are buying. Dedicate space on your website to highlight all the details a consumer would need to make informed decisions regarding your product or service. What can they expect from you? Any exaggerated claims are bound to fall apart quickly if they are not backed up with facts. Be straightforward with your customers, and they will be more likely to return.

Know your target audience

Here’s a tip: when you know your audience, they’ll think you can read their minds! Market research is the essential first step for any marketer; understanding your buyer and their buyer persona helps you tailor branding materials to target your consumers. Consumers tend to prefer more personalized experiences that address their specific needs. By understanding who your buyers are, you can demonstrate your understanding of their problems, offer them value, and otherwise accommodate them.

Offer exceptional customer service

Customer contact is your chance to directly connect with the consumer, whether through a chatroom, email, or phone call. The customer service experience impacts how a consumer perceives a company. A fixed framework for common customer problems facilitates smooth contact, but consider treating each case individually for a personalized experience. Have a customer service agent that carries out professional problem-solving for your business, or even a self-service section on a website where the consumer can refer to an FAQ to resolve their issues independently.

Build a reputation

Your reputation is the armor that protects you from doubt. The public’s perception of a company is heavily influenced by its reputation. Building trust as a brand starts with basic good practices, such as delivering quality products and services, maintaining high standards, and being honest and transparent on your website. These efforts can help establish your business as a reliable and trustworthy company.

Maintain consistency

Consistent branding and consumer experiences, particularly online, contribute to building a solid reputation. Maintaining this consistency across social media platforms and the website leads consumers to flock back to familiarity. Breaking this consistency by using off-brand marketing material may give the impression that you’ve been hacked and turn people away. So, maintaining a cohesive color scheme and unified logos presents a clear brand identity that the consumer can trust and return to.

Create and share video testimonials

Typically, customers are more likely to trust unbiased word-of-mouth recommendations than a corporate message. Sit back and let the customers do the talking! Using video testimonials can elaborate on the benefits of your services or product through an external endorsement. Video testimonials are also more organic in their approach, especially from a brand ambassador who could enthusiastically offer a compelling recommendation that draws in new customers.

Be reachable

The business contact page is often one of the most visited pages on a website and is a crucial point of interaction with customers. Be reachable to your customers by having an open-door policy implemented on your website. And don’t leave them hanging! Providing customers with multiple avenues to find you, such as phone numbers, email, social media, and live chat, improves the conversion rate and adds a personal touch. To optimize the contact page, use behavioral analytics tools to understand how visitors interact with the site.

Rely on the power of testimonials & social media

Leaning into the potential of testimonials by utilizing third-party testimonials, such as customer reviews or quotes, video recordings, and user ratings, can help build trust with customers. Show off your awards or seals of approval and showcase the logos of prominent clients, including media mentions, like badges of honor. These tactics can create a sense of legitimacy and reputation and demonstrate the ability to handle different clients.

Highlight security features

Privacy concerns are a touchy subject for many consumers, so websites should appear professional and credible to instill trust and encourage purchasing. It is helpful to display security enhancements to establish trust with customers, such as a security seal, and make the privacy policy crystal clear. This can help prevent potential customers from being dissuaded by concerns about security and privacy, which can impact revenue.

Respond to customer feedback

When the customer speaks, you listen! Building trust with customers involves actively listening to and responding positively to their feedback. Showcase your professionalism and expertise by responding to feedback like an expert. Additionally, following up with customers to ensure that their issues have been resolved can further demonstrate that commitment to their satisfaction and build loyalty and respect.

The power of design in building customer trust

Design isn’t just about pretty pictures and aesthetics. Using design effectively for a brand’s website and social media plays a vital role in gaining customer trust; it establishes the company as reputable and reliable. It communicates your brand’s values, builds credibility, and shows that you care.

Design communicates your brand’s values

Design speaks louder than words! Through color, typography, imagery, and other design elements, a brand can visually tell its story. A well-designed website, for example, can showcase a brand’s aesthetic and create an engaging user experience that aligns with its values. Additionally, the tone and language in website copy and social media content reinforce the brand’s values and personality.

Good design builds credibility and authority 

A professional and well-designed website is a fortress of credibility. It demonstrates to the customer that you’re a pro who means business. Additionally, a cohesive and visually appealing brand identity, including elements such as logo design, can help establish the business as a leader in its industry and convey a sense of expertise. In today’s digital age, where customers often research products and services online before purchasing, good design can be a key factor in convincing potential customers to choose a particular brand.

Design shows that you care about your customers

Good design can demonstrate to customers that the business cares about their needs and experience. A well-designed website that is easy to navigate shows that the business has put thought into creating a positive user experience. Additionally, incorporating customer feedback and preferences into the design process can show that the business values its customers and is committed to meeting their needs. By consistently demonstrating a focus on customer satisfaction through good design, a business can establish a strong reputation and build long-term customer loyalty.

In the digital marketing world, trust is your superhero sidekick. Customers place a high value on transparency, authenticity, and honesty when it comes to brands, and their perception of a business can make or break it. Businesses can build customer trust by creating a user-friendly website design, showing that they care about the customer experience, highlighting their humanity, and demonstrating their credibility and expertise.

How to start a presentation

The first few moments of a PowerPoint presentation are crucial; they set the tone for the rest of the talk and determine whether or not your audience will remain engaged. Learning how to start a presentation effectively is equally as important as the message you’re trying to convey. Without a strong start, even the best topics can fall flat. Our presentation tips offer different strategies for capturing your audience’s attention from the very beginning and will ensure your message sticks, making your presentation a success.

Introduction to the Presentation

Needless to say, first impressions matter. As you step forward and introduce yourself, the first few minutes can make or break your presentation. You can capture your audience’s attention right away and maintain it until the very end, or you could dull them right from the get-go. In this article, we will explore what techniques ensure a successful presentation in the first 30 seconds, the first minute, and the first five minutes.

The First 30 Seconds

The first thirty seconds of your presentation are essential because they are what your audience will base their initial impression on. If you don’t capture their attention right from the start, they could dismiss your presentation as dull or needless. Thorough preparation is needed to guarantee success in those first few seconds, from rehearsal to research. You cannot expect your audience to eventually become interested in your topic within the next twenty minutes. The first few sentences should be enough to rope in your listeners.

Establish a personal connection

When you begin a presentation, introduce yourself as a person, not just as a presenter. You want to establish a connection with your audience rather than dive straight into the cold, hard details before they get the chance to understand who you are. This could hurt your chances of getting them to care about what you’re here to say. Begin by highlighting similar interests and experiences you share with your audience; introducing who you are is far more interesting than introducing what you do.

Know your audience

To be able to relate to your audience, you need to understand a few things about them beforehand. What do they already know about your topic? Why would it matter to them? Learning about their expectations and their level of knowledge of the material allows you to tailor your presentation to address them correctly.

Set the tone

The way you deliver your presentation matters. Apply your public speaking skills to match your tone to the content of your presentation. For example, you wouldn’t share exciting progress somberly or discuss a dip in sales with a smile. Your presentation is enhanced by little things such as the pitch of your voice and your facial expressions. The tone in which you introduce yourself and your topic should be friendly, professional, and confident, and it should carry throughout the rest of your presentation.

Be confident

Your tone and body language communicate a lot more than you think. Confidence is an attractive trait in all cases, but especially in presentations. It gives the impression that the speaker knows what they are talking about. Redirect any nervousness into excitement. It also helps to rehearse well beforehand and to know your material through and through. You will feel more confident knowing that you’ve done the work.

The First Minute

Once you’ve introduced yourself in the first thirty seconds, the other thirty are necessary to lock in a positive first impression. After you’ve established yourself as the speaker, it is time to dive in and establish yourself as an expert.

Establish credibility

When introducing your topic, your audience needs to perceive you as a knowledgeable figure in the field. Support your arguments with data, statistics, and research to add to your credibility as a speaker. However, in the beginning, your resources and your confidence should imply that this topic will enrich the audience’s lives and that you are the person who can deliver on their promise.

Keep it simple

Your goal in a presentation is to communicate an idea effectively. Therefore, focus on that idea. Your PowerPoint presentation should have a minimal design and data that does not overwhelm the audience. Keep it simple by utilizing white space in your slides and only sharing information that is relevant to what you are discussing.

Make a connection

Public speaking is an art form where a speaker can cleverly establish a connection through the clever use of body language, tone, and facial expressions. A smile, a strong posture, and eye contact are all ways to draw the listener in. Other techniques for audience engagement include discussion prompts or relating to particular situations that they are familiar with. Building a connection with the audience generates further interest in your presentation.

Tell a story or joke, or reference a historical event

Before going into your topic, you could introduce it more skillfully. You could share a relevant anecdote, tell a joke that can lighten the mood, or share a surprising or unusual fact that most people don’t know. These methods grab attention and alleviate any stressful formalities. However, note that overdoing these techniques could overshadow your presentation, steer people away, and appear as poor professionalism.

The Next 5 Minutes

After the first five minutes of a presentation, the audience begins to tune out. If you cannot win them over right away, it will become harder and harder to do so later on. The central benefit of your presentation is essential. Think: What does the audience get out of it? If the listener cannot see how they could benefit from what you say, they will start to drift away.

Outline your main points

Revisit the main message you want to share. How do you get there? Using an outline helps you determine the structure and goals of your presentation. Ideally, you would begin your presentation with your key idea and spend the rest of your time going into detail and explaining the main points you want the audience to walk away with. Establishing a connection between the beginning and conclusion of your presentation is also an effective method for sharing the message with your audience.

Use visual aids effectively

Visual aids are a foolproof way to make a presentation more effective by appealing to a different part of the brain. Most people are visual learners, which makes visual PowerPoint presentations more persuasive. Using visual aids such as images, maps, and infographics helps simplify complex data and makes concepts easier to understand. And creating an emotional connection by using images and art makes your presentation more relatable and convincing.

Reinforce your message with data

Using data is an effective way to establish credibility and reinforce your message. Referencing reliable sources for your data makes you appear more trustworthy and your arguments more convincing. However, make sure to share data relevant to your topic; otherwise, you risk going off on a tangent that loses the audience. Also, share data with simple language (avoiding jargon) and engaging visual elements that further clarify your ideas.

Be passionate about your topic

One thing that is always appealing to watch about a presenter is how passionate they are about their topic. The audience can tell if the speaker cares about the material, which makes them more curious to learn about it. Let your passion come through during your presentation; dedication and care will captivate your audience on a deeper level.

Additional Tips for a Strong Opener

There are many ways to create a more memorable presentation for your audience. Once you start with an attention-grabbing introduction, the challenge now is maintaining that attention. Here are some additional tips to retain the interest of your audience throughout your presentation:

Get factual

One surefire way of grabbing attention is with a fact that catches your listeners off guard. Share a fact they wouldn’t have considered, such as an unlikely statistic or a surprising anecdote about the subject’s background. Ensure that the facts are relevant to the material in some way to offer a smooth segue within the presentation. Using a fact gives the audience something to walk away with and ponder, and it also acts as a primer for the denser, more abstract ideas that will be shared in the presentation.

Maintaining eye contact

Maintaining eye contact with the audience could feel intimidating, but it is a crucial technique for building a connection with them. An easy way to maintain eye contact during a presentation is to choose an audience member to address as you speak and switch to a different person every few minutes or so. Focusing on one person at a time helps ease your nerves and allows you to speak to individuals directly. And by shifting around, you can take the time to build up that relationship with several people in the crowd.

Use thought-provoking questions

Encourage audience participation by asking thought-provoking questions. Use words or phrases like “imagine,” “think of,” or “what if” to stimulate the audience to think of their own answers. This approach allows them to consider a different point of view or reality. It also allows you, as a presenter, to give the audience something concrete that you can refer back to later in your presentation.

For a successful presentation, a strong start makes all the difference. Your best bet lies in exceeding your audience’s expectations. Introducing yourself as a person, not just as a presenter, instantly establishes a connection and sets a friendly and confident tone. Maintaining that connection relies on audience engagement, interesting visual aids, and a contagious interest in the topic.

Infographic Design Guide: A picture worth a thousand words

With the abundance of data available online, there has been a rise in infographic design and information technology as communication tools. The way content is presented and created has transformed, people seek structured content that presents information efficiently and attractively.

What are infographics?

The word “infographics” itself sums it up pretty well; it is a medium that combines graphic design, information, and/or stats. They are the visually compelling communication medium that allows marketers specifically to present complex information that comes initially as ‘raw data’, and transforms it into captivating graphics that not only convey the right message but also tell a story while doing so. As a visual medium, infographics explain dense and complicated facts and figures for simple and transparent understanding.

Now, what makes a good story great? Emotion.

Infographics have an emotional power that presents an idea, or a relationship, or explains how something works more quickly and effectively.

5 Reasons to use infographics Reasons you need infographics

They are appealing 

Infographics share information in an engaging and interactive visual format. The motion and colors in an infographic make it an attractive and compelling vision that draws the eye.

They present ideas more clearly

Many people are visual learners, so infographics are perfect for condensing complex ideas into simpler terms for all types of audiences to understand.

They create interest 

When you present information through an eye-catching and fluid design, viewers are more likely to be interested in what a visual is trying to say.

They are accessible

They make big chunks of data less intimidating and overwhelming so that all kinds of people can learn from them.

They are persuasive and memorable 

Data and information are made more interesting with creative and narrative visuals, which make them more memorable in people’s minds.

Who can use infographics?

Infographics simplify and explain complex concepts for audiences of different ages and backgrounds, which makes them ideal for individuals and businesses across all fields. Marketers and consultants use infographics to build brand awareness and connect with clients by explaining industry-related concepts. While government agencies, nonprofits, and educators use infographics for purposes related to educating students or the general public on certain initiatives or to create awareness.

How does infographic design grab attention?

Infographics are a compelling format; they are sleek and informative, and they work for a variety of audiences and niches. When done well, infographic design can communicate valuable information in a purely visual manner. Of course, when it is created thoughtfully, it commits to a tone, provides a concise summary, and ensures a clear statement that is tailored to its target audience.

In short, infographics can:

1 – Grab the attention effortlessly

2 – Deliver the idea easily

3 – Make the concept more interesting

“If you invest in high-quality infographics, the traffic and links they generate may help you achieve bigger and better results as compared to other forms of content.”

Besides their ability to quickly get people’s attention, infographics are also highly effective in getting people to learn and retain what they know. Studies have shown that a lot of people learn better visually and have a hard time understanding concepts without seeing images. Businesses can leverage the power of infographics to communicate complex marketing messages, show product benefits, and visually show stats and other data to really drive a message home. Almost all businesses, regardless of their industry or size, can find creative ways to make infographics work for them.

How to use infographic design effectively in business

Infographics help simplify complex concepts easily and quickly. An infographic is effective when you think through what the underlying message is and how it could be best conveyed via an infographic. The idea is to just not use infographics for their own sake.

Here are some keys when designing infographics:

Outline your goals

Decide on your infographic’s main objectives. Think of the narrative you want the infographic design to depict. Depending on the purpose or goal you want to achieve, you can narrow down and choose the information you want to include. Afterward, you begin developing an outline for your infographic design that features the headers, data, and any design elements you intend to use.

Collect data

Once you’ve decided on your infographic’s goals, you should begin collecting all the relevant information about the details of your topic. That includes information about your target audience, their interests, hobbies, ages, or other demographic information and reliable sources that authenticate your research. Once you have all your research, you can decide how to arrange and highlight the data in the infographic, as well as what information is worth disposing of.

Create visuals

Making infographics uses compelling graphics that attract and engage the target audience while simultaneously communicating your message. The information’s layout is an essential component of infographic design, so it’s important to be thoughtful of the style used in showcasing your information. Again, depending on the goals of your infographic, your layout will determine how the data is perceived. The layout will differ based on the infographic’s goals. It could explore a concept, compare information, share information, visualize trends, or depict data.

Develop a template

A template is super helpful for deciding how you want to arrange and present your data and the elements you want to incorporate. Focus on the structure of your outline: how does it flow? Are there enough elements included or is it too crowded? Once you have a template, you can then customize it and manipulate it to serve your goals.

Incorporate style and design

When making infographics, there are several design elements to include, such as icons, shapes, lines, and others. The common elements used in infographic design include text, color, white space, and alignment. Design elements are used to provide context, highlight certain points, bring consistency, or make the design more readable. Your template might give you an idea of where and how to use elements, but the elements you decide on, however, must remain consistent throughout.

Share your infographic

Decide on the platform that can help you best reach your target audience. Then share it on the channels where your audience is most likely to find them.

What are the important things to consider when designing infographics?

Be simple

The point is to condense a lot of data and design a visual solution to interpret it in smaller pieces of content. The concept of ‘less is more’ could not be more vital. The design itself should allow the user to navigate the information easily and without being confused or overwhelmed.

Be universal

“Infographics can take on a language of their own by delivering information in an accessible way.” Creating designs that adapt to a universal language allows your message to resonate more with everyone.

Be original

Today, people, businesses, and ideas have reached the high potential of digital maturity and are still on the rise. Wanting to be a big fish in a small pond is the goal, but many question their ability to achieve it.

So, from a business standpoint, each infographic design should be original, whether you choose to create a sales report or marketing strategy. But how can you do that if you’re in a big pond? The answer is through your brand.

Your brand is your voice. It’s original. Through the creative use of color, proportion, fonts, images, and text, the design will speak for itself as you maintain a cohesive aesthetic with the subject matter and brand image of your organization.

Types of Infographics: Importance & Effectiveness

There are several types of infographic design styles, depending on the nature of the displayed information and the intended platform. The most common infographic designs are:

Static Infographics

The typical static infographic includes images and text that don’t necessarily require user input, so they serve as fixed resources. An emphasis on illustration is another common characteristic. Static infographics are appropriate for professional settings since you can use them in many different ways and across many platforms. They can be used in blogs, articles, advertising, brochures, etc.

Prezlab: Static Infographic Work Sample

Infographic work sample

Animated Infographics

With the popularity of video content online, animated infographics are effective for gaining views on social media and presenting complex data in a refreshing and entertaining way. But what was once a mostly static form of content has evolved dramatically to include animation and animated elements that help make ideas more easily interpretable and engaging. Using moving illustrations or motion graphics is ideal for articles and tutorials online to give a more visual aid. Whether they’re GIFs or videos, animated infographics are intense visual pieces of content that are easy to consume and easily linked to.

Prezlab: Animated Infographic Work Sample

Interactive Infographics

Interactive infographics invite the viewer to participate and learn about the data. The data-rich visuals allow for more innovative data visualization, greater dynamism, and greater user engagement with the presented information. This infographic design style lets the viewer explore the information at their own pace by allowing them to scroll, click, unfold, pan, and zoom over the infographic. In turn, these movements trigger the function within the design to display additional content. It is ideal for handling large data sets.

Prezlab: Interactive Infographic Work Sample

Statistical Infographics

Since statistics are based on studies, evidence, and experiments. They are great for reinforcing an argument. In a statistical infographic design, the charts and numbers are the main stars, with much less focus on text and narrative.

Tiktok statistic infographic
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Informational Infographics

The topic is deeply explored in an informational infographic, using images and heavy text. These infographics thoroughly simplify the main ideas by making specific or niche subjects understandable.

Informational infographic about strokes
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Timeline Infographics

Timeline infographics use a linear structure to portray information chronologically. Often this structure is used to present topics related to historical events, project milestones or timelines, the evolution of a product or business, plans, or biographical information regarding an influential person.

Graphic Design timeline infographic
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Process Infographics

In a process infographic design, instructions or strategies are outlined in steps. A process infographic applies a balance of images and text to make it accessible to all types of learners. Usually used to convey information related to topics like product guides or digital marketing strategies.

Design process infographic
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Geographic Infographics

A geographical infographic handles regional data such as weather patterns, global trade patterns, population growth, or mapping the physical locations of a target market audience.

Literary map infographic
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Hierarchical Infographics

Hierarchal infographic designs separate information based on categories or levels, creating a hierarchy. Typically, this type of infographic uses flow charts or pyramids to portray the information and uses elements such as lines and arrows to highlight connections. Hierarchical infographics are often used in showing family trees and management hierarchies.

Hierarchical infographic
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List Infographics

List infographics summarize information and highlight the important takeaways through clever design. They are used to help remember information and use elements such as icons to list bullet points and summarize textual information.

Presentation checklist infographic
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Conclusion:

When developing an infographic, you are making the bundles of data more accessible to an audience. We highly recommend that you make use of infographics to uplift your content marketing efforts and boost your business ROI. You’re able to create customized designs that tailor to your business objectives and you’ll notice their effectiveness and importance instantly.

If you are looking for a custom infographic design that drives the message home for your business then hit us up at PrezLab. We have done some great infographics for our clients and are more than happy to put our creative prowess to work for you as well which covers the subject of presentation design.

If you liked this blog, you might also like these:

5 Presentation Lessons You Can Learn from Steve Jobs

Presentation Designs: How To Give Power To Your Point

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The ultimate guide to brochure design

In the fast-paced world of online marketing, captivating brochure design is still a timeless strategy. Surely, you’ve pocketed many brochures in your time, so you know how effective they can be as a tactile ally for a business. They not only serve as a reference for a business’s services, but they are also a powerful marketing tool. An eye-catching brochure can help a business stand out, which is not an easy task in the current landscape. Let us guide you through the checklist of what is needed for an effective and memorable brochure design. 

What is the difference between a pamphlet and a brochure design?

In the world of marketing, you might have already noticed that “brochures” and “pamphlets” are used interchangeably, but note that they represent two distinct documents with different forms and purposes. A pamphlet is a single page that shares information about a subject. On the other hand, brochures often consist of multiple pages, depending on the amount of information being shared, and are specifically created to promote a service or business. Although both pamphlets and brochures are helpful marketing tools, deciding which format is better suited for your business is essential for planning a successful marketing strategy.   

How to design an effective brochure

We know it can be overwhelming, which is why we’re breaking down the process into manageable steps to help you create engaging and impactful designs. The purpose or aim of your brochure will define the content, format, and images you choose. By following these steps, you can create a compelling brochure that keeps your reader engaged and motivated to take action.  

Define your purpose

The initial step in creating an interesting brochure is to define your purpose: Is your brochure part of a direct marketing campaign? Is it promoting a service or a product? Does the brochure aim to attract new clients? By identifying your core purpose, you’re able to structure the rest of your brochure design to fit your objectives. The strategy moving forward would be to consider how the content, graphics, and call to action of your brochure will align with your goals.

Identify your target audience

As you would with any design project, you need to consider the intended audience that it’s aimed at. You will need to tailor your brochure’s design taking into account your audience’s demographics, interests, and preferences. For example, a brochure for a children’s art class would be targeted at parents of school-age children. 

You also need to ask yourself where these brochures will be distributed. Depending on where it will be displayed, there might be ways to make the design stand out in those locations, and understanding the audiences that frequent them helps inform your design to communicate your objectives better. So the art class brochures could be displayed at a community center, school libraries, or any other place where students or parents could find them. 

Decide on the content of your brochure

Keeping in mind the brochure’s objective and audience, create an outline with all the sections the brochure should address. Considering the brochure’s foldable format, you could split sections page by page. Here is the space to present your value proposition, speak plainly and clearly about your service or product, and include a call to action that lets the reader find you easily. Every brochure must include brand assets, sections with their own titles and subtitles, contact details, and relevant, eye-catching visuals.

Include specific messaging

With your outline and purpose ready, the next step is concerned with actually writing the copy. A brochure’s copy should address the customers directly to persuade them of your service or product’s benefits. Keep in mind the copy’s position within the brochure’s structure, and keep the copy short, simple, and to the point. Remember, a brochure is presenting a quick sample of your brand’s identity, so it needs to be straightforward and engaging. 

Choose your brochure type

Once you’ve decided on the content you want to share, now comes the time to choose a layout that appropriately showcases it since the brochure’s format will affect how readers interact with the content. There are several options for how to print and fold your brochure, so opt for one that suits your content best. Common brochure folds include the tri-fold, the z-fold, two-fold, gate-fold, and the multi-page that is either bound or stapled. Depending on the brochure’s design, you can organize the material effectively for maximum impact. 

Plan the layout

In this step, plan the layout by focusing on the content organization; begin adjusting and resizing images, fixing the colors, and aligning the content to create a layout that has a neat flow that is easy for readers to follow.  

Think back to your brochure types to decide on the appropriate layouts for your brochure. A brochure with a folded design, such as a tri-fold or z-fold, is usually the standard fold for brochures and is most common for promoting a business or service. Larger brochures with multi-page designs that can be stapled or bound together are used to showcase a large selection of products or services, almost like a tactile website. Or if you’re feeling adventurous, you can opt for a unique cut, like opening the brochure like a box, which is a creative way to stand out.

Design on-brand marketing material

Since you are creating a tangible piece of branding, the piece in question needs to make that branding clear. Maintain consistency across your brochure design by adhering to your brand’s guidelines in terms of color, font, and imagery. And not to mention the brand’s logo! You want those who pick up your brochure to start recognizing your brand.

Print your brochure

Before sending out your design for printing, test it out first. Print a copy to check how the colors appear, and more importantly, make sure that the folds are on the right lines and the brochure’s content is sectioned out properly. This step helps ensure that the brochure is polished and decreases the room for error in the final copy. Once you’re satisfied, you can now send out your design to get it printed by a professional printer. 

Tips for designing an effective brochure

There are many factors to consider when designing a successful brochure. Here are some valuable tips to keep in mind during the design process:

Keep it simple

As always, simplicity is key. Avoid overwhelming the reader and discouraging them from reading. Avoid too much text, too many images, and distracting design elements. A clean and effortless design is ideal for a brochure; it keeps readers focused and involved. 

Use strong and relevant images

When it comes to selecting images and visuals for a brochure, you need to think about which visuals will actually help tell the story. Usually, people notice the images first, so go for relevant and illustrative images that complement that content and elaborate further. 

Use headlines and subheadings 

You need to acknowledge that not everyone will read through your entire brochure, which is why it is important to use headers and subheadings to their full potential. The headers need to be catchy and informative to guide the reader so that they can skim the text and still understand what the main points are. 

Be strategic with fonts and colors

Be mindful of user readability and use legible fonts. Also, consider the contrast between the font and background colors to enhance readability and avoid straining the reader’s eyes.

Use color wisely

When it comes to selecting colors for your brochure, choose a harmonious color scheme that is in line with your brand identity. Avoid clashing colors and inconsistent color pairings that hurt the eyes and turn readers away. 

Pay attention to hierarchy, balance, and flow

With your content and images organized and on brand, you can start getting picky with the finer details of the design. Although you might start with a defined hierarchy, the modifications throughout the design process could alter the initial vision, so a review is needed to realign with the original goal. Hierarchy, balance, and flow are three essential elements for a readable brochure, and this step is to make all the necessary changes to ensure a practical and effective brochure. 

To determine if you’re on the right track, there are points you need to consider. Think about the size and spacing between the titles and subtitles, the placements, and the balance between the text and graphic elements. Scrutinize the flow; it should convey a clear hierarchy of the content. Make sure the font is legible and the visual isn’t too busy or harsh. Remember, different brochures and content have different formats, but it is a good exercise to double-check how readable and understandable your brochure is. 

A memorable brochure is expected to have all the answers, it is laser-focused on its purpose and gets to its main idea fast. Layout, branding, design, and content are all means to an end, and together they all contribute to a powerful tool that lands your business’s message directly in your audience’s hands. With a thoughtful showcase of your brand, you can inform and activate your audience into involved consumers. 

7 Presentation trends to watch out for in 2023

Who said that presentations can’t be on trend? Believe it or not, the world of presentation design is not immune to the styles and fads of the design world. You can prove that your brand is fresh and contemporary through the presentation design of your slides. But tastes change, and as we approach the new year, the trend cycle will change and bring new ideas to the forefront of graphic design.

However, there are presentation trends that will always be timeless. These elements will always make a presentation appeal to the audience, no matter what. They grab the audience’s attention right away and hold onto it throughout. So regardless of the trend cycle, these points consistently boost any presentation and are important to keep in mind.

Timeless presentation features:

Engaging and interactive content

The core of any presentation is the material and how it is shared. It is not enough to list facts; there needs to be room to breathe. By including icebreakers, games, polls, and activities, the listener can directly interact with the information and ideas shared. It bridges the gap between them and gives the audience a chance to connect with the content.

Use of data and visualizations

When data is visualized in charts, graphs, or infographics, is easier to understand. It is helpful for your audience to have a visual medium that they can follow that simplifies your data for them to understand. With the sheer volume of information available, data visualization helps guide the audience through your ideas and data in a way that doesn’t overwhelm them.

Storytelling

Stories have a universal appeal. People relate to them and they can never fail you. Spinning together a story draws the audience into your world, evokes empathy, and establishes a level of trust. Learning how to tell a story is more effective than learning how to persuade. A story can simplify a complex idea while moving your audience to action.

Creative and unique designs

A good presentation design relies on its creative use of design elements, colors, and images. Creative slide design maintains its impact the same way it maintains the audience’s attention. Using engaging design trends can also help explain your ideas more effectively and support your presentation’s flow.

7 Presentation Trends in 2023

The presentation trend cycle is similar to the regular design trend cycle, which makes it easier for our presentation experts to predict what presentation design trends will take over in 2023. There is an emphasis on connecting with your audience in a new way inspired by the Internet age and social media.

01 Dark mode

In interface design, the increasing preference for dark mode for mobile users has translated to incorporating the dark style into web design. For a long and extensive presentation, it is wise to go for a sleek and dim aesthetic that is easier on the eyes and can maintain focus for longer.

Dark mode UX/UI
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02 3D graphics

The rise of VR technology, the metaverse, and the love of all things Y2K have revived a strong interest in 3D graphics. Creating a visual experience that draws the viewer into the image has a powerful appeal across several mediums that could continue to rise. 3D backgrounds go beyond the clever use of shadows and now use texture and motion for a touch of attention-grabbing realism.

3D design
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03 Experimental typography

Fun and experimental typography are having a moment this year, becoming more popular for film and TV posters. Playing around with different typefaces is a fun approach for your slides to illustrate your brand identity and mission. Serif fonts, in particular, are making a comeback as they are legible, bold, and graceful, achieving both a practical and aesthetic function.

Typography
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04 Monochrome

Monochrome color palettes are made by selecting a single color and its various hues. Following the idea of a more comfortable aesthetic, the monochrome trend is simple, practical, and elegant. On another note, a simple color scheme helps brand recognition when creating a presentation design built around the brand’s primary color.

Monochrome design
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05 Inclusive visuals

Beyond the world of graphic design, there has been a surge in efforts to include individuals of different cultures, backgrounds, ages, disabilities, locations, and classes. In presentation design, this translates into an effort to showcase a variety of people in the illustrations and visuals used to celebrate diversity.

Inclusive design
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06 Branded memes

Memes are an essential part of the fabric of social media; they’re perfect for adding a touch of humor to your presentation. Adapting memes to fit your brand makes your slides more relatable, and adding humor to your presentation helps build a connection with your audience. The art of a tastefully utilized meme can be tricky, but all in all, the main rule is to avoid a controversial meme and stick to a lighthearted approach.

Design Meme
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07 Bold and vibrant colors

In previous years, we’ve seen a rise in minimalist and muted styles. But now, designers and viewers alike yearn for a return to brighter and bolder colors. Vibrant colors create attractive and energetic designs, especially when contrasting the trend of geometric and clean shapes. This style doesn’t use these hues as an accent or emphasis, rather they are the design itself.

Bold design
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What should you do for a rich and trendy presentation?

Note that presentation trends go beyond quirky graphics and thoughtful color palettes. As technology evolves and progresses, we expect presentation design and graphic design to evolve alongside it. Slide design is an essential component of your presentation, but they are in no way the core, rather they are the starting point. These are factors to consider that will make your presentation stand out from your slides:

Going beyond PowerPoint

As we mentioned, PowerPoint is merely the starting point. But what comes after it? Earlier, we mentioned how interactive games and icebreakers allow your audience to connect with the material. They can also switch up the pace with a diverse approach. Another way to branch out of the typical presentation format is to add videos that can further simplify and explain your point. Hand out brochures as tactile souvenirs that summarize your presentation to leave your listeners with. Have a questions and answers session afterward to open up room for any further inquiries.

Making it mobile-compatible 

It is not uncommon for presentation slides to become resources that are reused and revisited. When designing your presentation, make sure that whatever design trend you opt for can be adapted to different formats. The key to a mobile-friendly presentation is simplicity. Increasing the font size, creating cleaner visuals and charts, using mobile-friendly resolutions, and exporting the final product as a PDF.

Utilizing new technology 

If you’re ready to truly go above and beyond for a presentation, utilizing new technologies is a surefire way to stand apart from the competition. New technologies now grant new ways for presenters and audiences to interact with and visualize the material. From holograms to augmented reality to real-time data visualization, these technologies offer exciting opportunities to explore ideas and concepts through an original and stimulating channel.

Incorporating presentation design trends into your slides ensures that your brand is as relevant as ever. As graphic design evolves as a field, there will be a trickle-down effect that reaches presentation design. Presenters and designers alike are constantly thinking of new and innovative ways to share ideas, so why not ride the wave?

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How to end a presentation effectively

The end is an inevitable part of any good thing, and that includes your presentation. Leaving a final impression with a strong conclusion cannot be an afterthought; it is the spark needed to set your goals in motion. An anticlimactic conclusion leaves your audience uninspired at best, if not outright indifferent. Ending on a high note will fire them up, encouraging them to remain engaged and inspired to take action.

Why is it important to have a good conclusion?

Striving for an effective conclusion is a reliable way to ensure you fulfill the presentation’s purpose. To really recognize a presentation’s success, one must note its efficiency in yielding the desired outcomes from the audience. A powerful and inspiring ending contributes to enhancing a brand or business and has a positive impact within the presenter’s context. Whether the aim was to secure funding, showcase important data, or gain support for an initiative, a strong conclusion is a necessary component to confirm that the message is delivered and received effectively.

Effective strategies to conclude your presentation

A powerful conclusion leaves your audience feeling energized long after you wrap up your presentation. This is why it’s important to use effective tactics to create an impactful finale. How you decide to conclude your presentation impacts how your message will resonate with your listeners. Consider the following strategies to leave a lasting impression:

Bring back your main idea

Repetition is the key to retention. In the world of presentations, there is no surer way to make your message stick than to repeat it. Although you may feel like this approach is redundant, recapping the main points after each section emphasizes the message and improves audience learning. By consistently repeating the core concepts throughout your presentation, you let them become ingrained in the audience’s mind. And revisiting the same ideas several times allows for a renewed understanding, and the space to notice details and patterns. So you can conclude your presentation by reinforcing and ensuring that your main message is remembered by reiterating it one last time. 

Include a call to action

If the main purpose of your presentation is to inspire action, you need to move the audience towards it. You cannot assume that the audience will simply know what the next steps are without any guidance. Sum up your presentation by leaving them with an instructive call to action that lets them know what to do next.

Close the loop

The “loop technique” is when a speaker concludes their speech by referring back to the beginning of the presentation. This technique offers a sense of closure that is satisfying and concrete. You would use your allotted time to build audience anticipation and keep them engaged until the end, where you finally come full circle to the beginning of the presentation. This is a common structure for talks, and for good reason; it reminds the audience of your main idea and why they were there in the first place. 

End with an inspirational quote or surprising statistic

Occasionally, there will be times when you do not have the right words to express how you feel, so don’t hesitate to use someone else’s. You can use the final slide of your presentation to share a quote that appropriately sums up your message and leaves the audience with a strong impression.

3 Additional tips for a memorable conclusion

Tell a story

Although this is a common technique for opening a presentation, it also makes for a meaningful conclusion. People are social creatures that long for connection, and stories are an emotional tether that creates empathy, which allows the audience to sympathize with your message. If you have been weaving your story with a narrative all throughout, the conclusion is the time to wrap it all up with a purposeful ending.

Use the rule of threes

Using the rule of threes is a super simple and effective way to communicate your main ideas. The idea is that the audience can remember concepts better when they are shared in a pattern of three. This could look like dividing your main idea into three sections or offering the audience the takeaway in a list of three action points, areas for improvement, or any other prompt you want to elicit.

Ask a rhetorical question

For a memorable conclusion, consider leaving your audience with a thought-provoking question for them to chew on. By posing a rhetorical question, you encourage the audience to contemplate and reflect on their answers long after you finish presenting. This leaves your presentation lingering in their minds, but it can also be a conversation starter for them later on. 

Common mistakes to avoid when ending a presentation

There are a few missteps that you should steer clear of when planning your conclusion. A presentation is meant to persuade, and these mistakes can leave your audience apathetic or uninterested in the next steps. 

Failing to announce your conclusion

You want to avoid an abrupt ending to your presentation that confuses the audience by announcing that you are nearing the end before wrapping up. Once you let the audience know that the conclusion is near, it makes them pay attention. You can simply say, “As I conclude my presentation,” for a clear signal before moving into your closing remarks.

Failing to tie up loose ends

In the world of creative writing, Chekov’s Gun refers to the principle by which writers are encouraged to resolve any element they introduce in the story. Similarly, in presentations, this is called the “tie-back principle.” Any time an interesting element is introduced in the beginning, whether a fact, a quote, or a photo, it should eventually be addressed again in the conclusion. It provides a satisfying conclusion and ensures you tie all loose ends together. 

Not offering a summary

With several factors contributing to disordered attention spans, it is crucial to consistently remind the audience of your key ideas. As you conclude your presentation, you can reiterate your points by posing a thoughtful question and using the space to answer it as a way to recap the ideas you covered. As you restate your message, you ensure your audience retains the most important takeaways. 

Concluding with a Q&A

A common mistake made by presenters is concluding with a Q&A session. Of course, audience interaction is encouraged, but it is best to dedicate time for questions during the presentation and not to end on it. Your final words are what are most likely to stay with your audience, so rather than leaving the audience to have the last word, dedicate the final moments to delivering a strong, comprehensive summary and a powerful closing statement.

Not providing a call to action

The main goal of a presentation is to persuade. And while your content may be informative and engaging, you still need to guide your audience toward the direct response you want to receive from them. If your presentation aims to get budget approval, ask for it at the end. Or if your presentation requests support or funding, then tailor your call to action to address this need.

With effective communication strategies, you can end your presentation on a high note and leave your audience with a lasting impression in their hearts and minds. A powerful and well-crafted conclusion not only affirms your message but also contributes to the overall advancement of your desired outcomes. To learn more about presentation tricks and techniques, visit Prezlab’s blog page for insightful and informative articles on all things related to presentation and presentation design.

 

 

Your blueprint to business planning success!

You have a vision for your business one year from now: success, growth, and investor interest. But how do you turn this vision into reality? The answer lies in creating a well-crafted business plan that outlines your goals, strategies, and steps toward success. By dedicating time and effort to planning, you can ensure that your hard work pays off and your business thrives.

A business plan is a document that outlines all your company’s goals and the roadmap to achieving them. It’s a valuable resource for every entrepreneur to have in their toolbox, as it helps you evaluate your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This plan should be a strategic summary of what you want to do in the next year and how you are going to do it. It is a helpful tool to refer back to when pitching ideas to investors or even touching base with your team members. 

A business plan can be used to:

  • To get funding
  • To convince investors of the viability of your idea
  • To get employees on board with your vision
  • To attract customers

In this guide, we will look into the key elements and purpose of a business plan and offer practical tips for presenting it compellingly. Dedicate time and effort to planning, and watch your hard work pay off as your business thrives.

Developing Your Business Plan

Define your business objectives 

The first step in developing an annual business plan is to set objectives. Establish clear and measurable goals that you aim to achieve within a specific time frame, and outline the methods you will use to achieve them. Articulating your business objectives helps to align your team members and investors with the company’s mission for the coming year. This clarity of purpose is crucial for success.

Cover the basics 

Include critical information about your business in your plans, such as the mission statement, products and services offered, location, assets, budget, market analysis, and team members. The goal is to provide all the key information needed to understand your business and its direction. This section forms the foundation of your plan and sets the stage for the more detailed strategy sections that will follow.

Check out the competition

Conduct market analysis research to define your target audience and competition. Look closely at your competitors and include a section about what your business can learn from them, your edge, and what strategies and tactics your business would be using to get ahead. It’s important to look at both bigger and smaller competitors so that you get both perspectives.

Defining your competitive advantage

Imagine your business as a product that’s available on the market, among many other options for potential investors to choose from. Consider what makes your business appealing from that perspective, what distinguishes it from others, and what drawbacks could discourage potential investors or buyers. Many business managers get trapped in a narrow-minded view of their business, and incorporating this exercise into their yearly business plan can help them broaden their perspective and look at their business objectively.

Develop a business strategy 

After gathering your findings and determining your unique selling points, you can then outline a plan for systematic growth. Use comprehensive research and sound decision-making to make the necessary preparations to move forward, from allocating resources to relevant departments to developing tactics to reach your goals. 

Outline financial projections

This section is all about the specifics of your company’s finances. It should include a budget, sales forecast, balance sheet, cash flow statement, and any other relevant factors that give insight into your business’s financial position. Accurate and comprehensive financial projections are essential for securing investments and measuring the success of your business in the future.

Determine a timeline

Finally, to bring your business plan to fruition, you must create a timeline that outlines all the major milestones to be achieved. Anticipate potential obstacles that may arise and have contingency plans in place. Establish specific metrics or benchmarks to measure the plan’s success and evaluate its effectiveness in meeting its objectives at the end of the year.

Your blueprint to business planning success!

Additional ideas to give your business plan presentation an extra edge: 

Elaborate on the company culture 

Include a slide about “what makes the business a great place to work at.” Though this is something that most business plans do not have, needless to say, it’s important to look at the business from the point of view of employees and what areas could be improved so that the very best talent (the rockstars) can be encouraged to work with you. Great businesses can attract great talent.

Accompanying your business plan with a compelling PowerPoint presentation can be a great way to share it with potential investors. By summarizing the details of your business plan in a concise and visually appealing manner, you can enhance its content and make a stronger impression.

Pro tip: Do not underestimate the importance of presentation design when crafting your business plan. A well-designed presentation can make all the difference in convincing potential investors of your business’s viability.

Tips for creating a winning business plan on PowerPoint: 

Use simple graphics

Too much visual clutter can be distracting. A general rule of thumb is to stick to clean and simple graphics to convey professionalism and expertise.

Use charts and graphs to illustrate data points

Most people are visual learners, visual aids such as graphs, charts, maps, and infographics all help simplify complex subjects.

Make sure that the slides are easily readable

Slides with a large block of text can be overwhelming for the viewer. Only share the information that you want the viewer to remember, otherwise it might get lost within the dense text.

Add images, videos, or other multimedia content

Visual elements such as images and videos strengthen your message and make a presentation more relatable, effective, and engaging. 

End on a high note with a call to action

Conclude your presentation by summarizing all the key ideas and follow it with a call to action that motivates your audience to react. 

In conclusion, a well-crafted business plan is the cornerstone of a successful company. It assists you in evaluating your current situation and outlining your future goals. Your business plan should encompass all crucial elements to define your business and present your future projections. Presenting it in a visually appealing PowerPoint presentation can attract the attention of key stakeholders and create a lasting impression.

Check out some of our other blogs, such as this one in which we talk about the 7 Presentation Trends to Watch Out for in 2023 and this one in which we talk about the 5 Foolproof Presentation Design Styles That Always Impress if you found this one of value. 

 

11 Video marketing trends for brands in 2023

As a marketer or business owner, you’re probably already considering incorporating video marketing into your marketing strategy. Digital spheres are fast-paced and visual; the right video concepts are your key to customer engagement in the attention economy. The future is video content, your online content marketing strategy should be optimized and relevant to current consumers and require awareness of trend cycles. Unsure where to begin? Keep reading for an idea of what marketers should consider for their video marketing strategies.

What is Video Marketing?

Video marketing is using videos as a way to promote and share your brand with potential consumers. Videos are an emotionally engaging medium that connects with a brand’s target audience. In a digital world, it is more important than ever to use attention-grabbing videos and concepts to stand out in a data-heavy online sphere.

Video Marketing Trends for 2023

Every year, video is evolving, and with it, the marketing strategy for video marketing and content. The way consumers use and perceive online video is continuously evolving, and naturally, the style and format of these videos will evolve alongside it. Understanding consumers shifting preferences helps guide you in the next stage of creating video content. With the current state of online video, the predicted video marketing trends for the next year are as follows:

Streaming, Over-the-Top (OTT), or Video Ads

Despite popular belief, people do still watch a lot of television, except that now it is viewed on streaming platforms rather than cable. For advertisers, this presents an opportunity to insert your video content into the ad slots of an online platform. In OTT (over-the-top) streaming services, you can insert video ads between programs and decide whether to set them as skippable or not. In these types of platforms, it’s smarter to allot a bigger budget for a snappier, well-produced video and leave the humbler video content for social media.

Silent Videos and Using Captions

The origin of all moving images began as silent films in the 1920s, and despite the advances in filmmaking technology since then, there has been a return to silent videos. Since many videos are consumed on a user’s phone, many watch their videos with their sound off. It could be because they are in public and don’t want to draw attention to themselves with an obnoxious autoplay video. This means that it is strategic and necessary to include on-screen captions, it caters to your viewers and helps them benefit from the video whether or not they decide to turn on the sound.

Short-Form Videos

One of the downsides of social media is that it has led to people’s attention spans becoming shorter. It’s now more important and more challenging to grab and maintain a viewer’s attention. Video platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and Youtube Shorts all use short-form videos that are usually no longer than a minute long. Creating short-form videos with eye-catching motion graphics is a practical and attractive way to educate and inspire your viewers.

User-Generated Content

Consumers on social media prefer content created by other people more than traditional marketing material. This is especially true on social media platforms. User-generated content is created by customers and reused (with permission) by the brand; it is also the best form of organic content. Examples of UGC that can be reposted include videos of product reviews or tutorials, or if you have the budget for it, sponsored content by a loyal influencer. When customers see others enjoying and using your product or service, they are more likely to be interested in your brand.

Social Media Stories

Several social media platforms, like Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, and even WhatsApp, have a stories option that lets you post images or videos for only 24 hours before they disappear. Although that might sound like it defeats the purpose of a post, the limited shelf life instead motivates viewers to watch them. It gives a small snippet into whatever it is you want to share, whether it’s a video, event, or product. The simplicity of stories also allows for a great way to test out new content before committing to it.

Educational Videos

Businesses rarely create educational videos relating to their products; it almost feels like an unfamiliar concept, even though it can definitely benefit the consumer. Informing customers about the benefits and how-to of using their product or service encourages them to consider it. Education or tutorial videos answer any questions and address any concerns a user may have. It effectively builds trust by shifting the focus to informing rather than selling, and it generates leads by presenting your company as an authority on the material.

Vlogging for Brands

With the density of online videos, you need to stand out and be creative. Vlogs offer a flexible, personal medium that gives you space to experiment with your brand’s voice and personality. They might not be typical as a marketing strategy, but vlogs are a great way to build a connection with your customers; you can explore your offices, the day-to-day tasks, and the general atmosphere of the workplace to showcase the people behind the brand.

Interactive Videos

Interactive videos are characterized by buttons and options that allow the viewer to engage with and participate in the video. These types of videos let the viewer play a role in the video instead of passively receiving it and making them part of the experience. Interactive videos can use quizzes, 360-degree videos, branches that lead to different points of the video, turn a video into a game, or even use Augmented Reality features (think filters on Snapchat and Instagram!) to add immersive and interactive qualities that are guaranteed to convert views.

360-Degree Video Experiences

With the advance of video-making technologies, 360-degree videos are now easier to make and a great addition to your brand’s video library. Capturing a product or a space with a 360-degree video gives it an immersive and inviting feel. 360-degree videos also allow you to experiment with VR. Attaching a phone to a VR device can let the viewer experience and explore the space. They are especially helpful in the case of real estate since potential customers can scope out a property without needing to be there.

Live Videos, Real-Time Selling, and Buying

On platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and even TikTok, users spend a lot of time on live videos and streams. Live content receives better engagement because it lets the audience directly interact with the brand. Live videos let brands share their events live, showcase the journey of a product, have interviews with employees or experts, receive questions from the viewer, and have a Q&A session. This form of customer engagement strengthens the relationship, making the brand appear more approachable and unique.

Using AI Tools for Video Marketing

The presence of AI nowadays means that you can get more done with the assistance of artificial intelligence software that caters to your needs. AI tools can help you create videos, identify ideal posting times, and offer detailed reports for video feedback and engagement. With marketing becoming more data-reliant, AI tools can help you react quicker to fast-paced marketing campaigns while retaining your personal and professional identities.

Video marketing is quickly evolving, and unless you know what you’re doing, it’s hard to keep up. Well-crafted, creative videos don’t need to be intimidating. By understanding the tools at your disposal and your audience’s viewing patterns, you can identify the ideal video format for your content marketing strategy. Learning about the current video marketing trend cycles is a good starting point for crafting a relevant and effective marketing strategy. You could also contact us for more information about our video production services, we are always ready to help.

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What is a presentation storyboard?

All of our favorite cartoons and movies start the same way, with a few sketches on a storyboard. It helps to create a visual narrative that guides the development of the story and enables effective presentation. Storytelling is a vital aspect of any presentation, and storyboarding is an essential storytelling tool that ensures your presentation is engaging and coherent. It helps you craft a compelling narrative in graphic form. By creating a storyboard, you lay the foundation for your PowerPoint, making it easier to design and communicate your ideas effectively.

What is the history of storyboarding?

Storyboards are a blueprint for visualizing and representing your story and are meant to guide you as you create it. The concept of storyboarding was introduced by Walt Disney and his team in the 1920s. When creating his classic Mickey Mouse cartoons, they would sketch out individual scenes and pin them onto bulletin boards, allowing for easier review and revision of the storyline.  

And although preparing a PowerPoint is unlike animating Mickey Mouse, the need for planning and conceptualizing remains the same. Storyboarding can help you identify what kind of story you want to tell and how to incorporate visuals to enhance your message. With storyboarding, you can map out the structure and flow of your presentation, saving you time when designing your slides.

Think of a storyboard as a sketchpad where you can write down all your ideas in one place. This “brain dump” allows you to explore different approaches and identify what works and what doesn’t. By listing everything, you can edit, replace, or remove elements that don’t add value to your presentation, and refine your story until it’s clear, concise, and compelling.

How do you storyboard your presentation?

Storyboarding is commonly associated with film and animation, but it can also be a powerful tool for planning presentations. When creating a presentation, you’re essentially telling a story using visual aids. Storyboarding can help you organize your thoughts and plan out the structure of your presentation, ensuring that your visual aids enhance your message and engage your audience. Here’s how you can storyboard your presentation:

Storyboard idea

Set up your storyboard

Start with a new PowerPoint document and insert enough slides to cover all the headlines and ideas you want to cover. Don’t worry about length right at this stage; you will later cut any irrelevant or tedious slides.

Decide on your arc

Define the main message or idea you want to share, and think about the stages it takes to reach that idea. The arc of the narrative becomes easier to understand when you split it into chapters. Split your narrative into chapters and use the Notes feature to add more ideas and notes that can help you.

Add a frame for each idea

Typically, one idea should be presented per slide. As you storyboard, add frames for each of your ideas and flesh them out so you can see the entire storyline laid out. Label them to keep track of them.

Rearrange the slides

Once all your ideas are down, step back and look at the timeline you’ve created. This will help you understand the story’s flow better and rearrange it accordingly. Should the presentation reach the key ideas sooner? Does the narrative make sense? Should certain points be shifted to be more logical? 

Get rid of the weak parts

With the entire presentation outline in front of you, you can gain some perspective on what should or shouldn’t make the final cut. Identify the weak sections and start removing any useless parts. Anything that doesn’t serve the main message is unnecessary baggage. Cut down the presentation to the essential elements that best support your message.

Why should you create presentation storyboards with PowerPoint?

Presentation design involves a blend of creativity, planning, and effective storytelling. To optimize your presentation development process and achieve your goals, utilizing a PowerPoint storyboard can advance and optimize your process. Here is why:

Easy to use

If you regularly make PowerPoints, you are well-versed in the basic features, so making a storyboard should not be too far out of your scope. A presentation storyboard acts as a rough draft for the final product. Using a process similar to making a PowerPoint, you can easily develop a storyboard by creating slides to lay down all your ideas. Then, you can begin experimenting with their structure and flow.

Variety of features

PowerPoint offers many features that can be handy when creating a presentation storyboard.  From incorporating eye-catching shapes like icons and banners to integrating media elements such as videos, GIFs, and audio, PowerPoint empowers you to infuse life into your mockups. By incorporating these elements into the storyboard, you can get a clear sense of how and where to leverage them effectively.

Easy to customize

Once you’ve added slides to your storyboard, PowerPoint provides effortless customization options. You can edit, rearrange, add, or remove slides with ease. Additionally, PowerPoint enables you to tailor your storyboard by incorporating personalized text, themes, and visual elements, ensuring alignment with your desired content and tone.

You can collaborate with your team

Collaboration is made seamless with PowerPoint’s team-friendly features. If you’re working with a team, you can develop the storyboard collectively using PowerPoint online. can create and share a collaborative link with appropriate editing permissions. This accessibility allows everyone to contribute suggestions, offer feedback, and provide input throughout the presentation storyboard creation process.

Tips for creating a presentation storyboard

A presentation storyboard

Focus on the headlines 

Begin by identifying the theme of your presentation. List all the key points and main ideas you want to convey. At this stage, the specific structure doesn’t matter; you can connect them later. Dedicate a slide to each headline and expand upon your ideas across multiple slides, allowing for a cohesive flow.

Call to action 

Review the pieces of your story and determine the core message you want your audience to take away. Rearrange your sections to ensure the most captivating ideas are positioned at the beginning to immediately engage your audience. Ensure that your presentation builds towards a meaningful conclusion, and conclude your storyboard with a compelling call to action that encourages your listeners to take action after the presentation.

Don’t be afraid of non-linear structures

Don’t be afraid to experiment with non-linear storytelling structures. While it may seem unconventional to start with surprising points, it can captivate your audience’s attention. Remember that there are multiple paths to a destination, and sometimes starting backward or taking an unconventional approach can be more effective in explaining complex concepts or capturing interest.

A presentation storyboard serves as the perfect planning tool to develop an engaging narrative. By laying out all your ideas, you gain a fresh perspective on your story. Think of a storyboard as your first draft, allowing you to craft a visually impactful narrative using your slides. It simplifies the presentation design process by enabling you to build a coherent story first and then adapt it to fit your narrative structure. If you’re seeking assistance in preparing an upcoming presentation, our presentation design agency specializes in creating engaging and effective presentations for all types of audiences.

Check out our presentation design services!

How did memes make their way into presentations?

When you think of memes, chances are you think of a teary-eyed cat or Kermit the Frog drinking tea, so what does this have to do with presentations? Since the dawn of the Internet, memes have gradually grown in popularity until they reached the mainstream and offline arenas. Now memes can be found in ads, merchandise, cultural references, and even political commentary. They are a familiar element that adds lightness and humor to modern life, so incorporating them into presentations is welcomed as a natural progression. Their format allows for a simple image to communicate an idea, which makes them a perfect and fitting addition to your presentation, especially when used cleverly.

What are memes?

Memes are a bit hard to define. Think of them as inside jokes between large communities of people on social media. They are relatable images or phrases (or a phrase over a certain image) that are shared widely for humorous purposes. Memes are often ironic, self-deprecating, or sarcastic. They are reproduced frequently for different purposes and contexts. Sometimes, memes could be references to pop culture, such as TV series, films, music, or current events.

How did memes become popular?

The subject of what is the first-ever meme is up for debate, but early online platforms such as 9Gag played a large role in making memes popular. And considering the vast reach of social media, memes are now inseparable from pop culture. Although they used to be confined to specific forums, they’ve grown in influence and popularity and have crept into group chats, business accounts, and even presentations. They have become a tool for engagement across different communication mediums since they are relatable, familiar, and playful.

Are memes an effective way to communicate?

Memes have grown so much in influence that they can, in fact, now even be found communicating information and opinions. The availability of meme templates allows people to create their own memes to express anything from political views to mundane observations. In recent years, memes have become a way to communicate information relating to public service announcements or for businesses to inform customers of new services, products, events, or updates. They can lighten the mood and appear more personable, especially from more professional bodies.

What are the features of a successful meme?

Ultimately, whether a meme is successful comes down to its audience. The overall purpose of a  meme is to make the viewer laugh, and the factors that contribute to that can vary depending on who it’s aimed at. But important qualities of a good meme are its relevance to the audience, its simplicity or how easy it is to understand, and, of course, humor. A good meme is also one that is “remixable,” meaning that it can be suited to different situations and references. 

Considering that memes are a visual medium at their core, it’s also important for them to have a simple format that is clean and adaptable. They are used to humorously convey an idea concisely and effectively. To be sure that you choose (or make!) a meme that is right for your presentation, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Tips for using memes in a presentation

Using humor is a great way to connect with your audience. At Prezlab, we are always recommending adding unconventional elements to a presentation to stand out. A meme is a relevant and funny way for a presenter to add humor and lighten the mood. Here are some things to consider when considering the meme you wish to include in your presentation:

It should be relatable

When thinking about the meme you intend to use in your presentation consider who your audience is. Is the meme’s humor relatable to your audience? Is it related to your field or topic? Think about what your audience might find interesting or funny, and work from there.

It should be relevant

A meme in a presentation is not an opportunity to show off how funny you are. Rather, it offers a change of pace by injecting humor. Stay on topic and do not stray from the subject at hand. You will waste time and lose your audience’s attention. A meme should be used to engage your audience by giving them a laugh.

Think about your audience

Be considerate of your audience and avoid memes that are offensive, disrespectful, or inappropriate. A tasteless or objectionable meme can discredit you as a speaker, so remain approachable with a wholesome meme.

Focus on value

Memes are an accessory for your presentation, not the topic. They are used to sprinkle humor into your speech and keep your audience engaged, but they should not take over. Use your memes sparingly and do not overdo them, otherwise, it will come off as unprofessional.

Be confident

Memes operate as punchlines; they need to be included as an element of surprise. And to be effective, they need to be presented naturally to make them a fun, unexpected addition. If you doubt yourself, it can downplay the humor and disrupt the presentation’s flow. So maximize the meme’s impact, time it right, and be casual.  

What are some examples of popular presentation memes?

As part of the ever-changing trend cycles, memes can become popular for a while and die out. There are, however, meme formats that are timeless and are constantly used and revived.

Memes example

Presentation meme

Tools for finding memes

Memes are part of the fabric of social media, so they’re easy to find. Any online platform or forum has a wealth of memes for every occasion, field, scenario, industry, or niche. To find a meme appropriate for your presentation there are several options to search from

Reddit

Reddit is a platform for several forums discussing all kinds of subjects from professional advice to personal anecdotes. Reddit is also a popular place to share and find memes, particularly through subreddits related to memes or related to your topic where more casual and humorous threads are taking place.

Social media 

Various social media platforms (such as Instagram and Pinterest) have pages dedicated to memes around different topics. Since memes are a language of their own on these platforms, they are really easy to find. Not to mention the algorithm will surely lead you to more based on the memes you interact with.

Tumblr

Tumblr is a blogging platform where users posts about all kinds of interests from music, events, sports, TV, etc. You can find all types of posts on Tumblr such as videos, quotes, images, and text posts. It is also a very popular platform for memes and many memes are originally reposted from Tumblr. You can follow blogs related to your topic and find memes for all types of humor.

Imgur 

Imgur is an image-sharing website where many memes and funny posts are shared and hosted. Many viral memes and images originated, which makes it a favored resource for Reddit and social media users. Regardless of your niche, Imgur will surely come in clutch and supply.

Create your own

If you have a specific idea in mind, instead of using a meme that doesn’t quite capture your intent, why not create your own? You can Google the template or format that you have in mind, download it, and customize it yourself. Or you could use Imgflip, a website that offers many, many meme templates you can choose from and lets you customize the text.

Memes can offer a welcome break of pace during a presentation. This is why the choice of meme should be thoughtful and relevant. They help get your point across as well as keep your listeners interested and engaged. You can choose a simple, relatable meme from a social media platform, or you can create your own using a template. After all, laughter is the best medicine.

Why do people hate PowerPoint and how to fix it?

Being a presentation design agency, we can get pretty defensive upon learning that PowerPoints tend to have a bad rep. We get it, they can be tedious, but they’re also a medium that platforms ideas and creativity. So, why do people dislike them so much? We’d like to address the PowerPoint cynics and convert them into fans.

Why do we still need PowerPoint?

You might be thinking, do we actually still need PowerPoint presentations? And why not? Several reasons made them an essential tool in our world, and those reasons haven’t disappeared.

They help co-facilitate   

PowerPoints are the ultimate wingman. They bolster you during your presentations and support your ideas with visual aids. Simple slides can summarize your main points alongside straightforward, engaging images or GIFs. Your slides can speak for you. If you’re dealing with a dry audience, you can have your slides pose questions that you can bounce off of and answer to keep the presentation running smoothly. Sometimes, you can even use a silly image or text to take your audience by surprise and keep them engaged.

They respect visual learners

You might be familiar with the various types of learners: those who learn by seeing, doing, or listening. Otherwise known as visual, kinesthetic, and auditory learners. Presentations are often speeches, which can be great for auditory learners but can risk losing visual learners. PowerPoint slides allow the visual learners in your audience to process the information you are presenting by aligning images and texts. The visual elements in PowerPoints can also act as visual cues that help keep everyone on the same page.

The advanced features

One of the ways to keep your PowerPoint presentations relevant is to take advantage of the many hidden or not-so-hidden features. Using game templates, for example, for games such as Jeopardy or Family Feud can shake things up and offer a change of pace for your audience members. There are also action buttons that use hyperlinks to encourage the audience to participate in a presentation and challenge the typical linear structure of a PowerPoint. Other features, such as creating a custom slide show or keyboard shortcuts, make it a convenient and helpful tool for simplifying presentations. 

Why don’t people like PowerPoint?

Still, PowerPoints can be unpopular. This is why we dedicate our services to ending the so-called Death by PowerPoint by providing alternatives to the many presentation pet peeves. And we agree, presentations are often misunderstood and misused. Let us look at where most people get them wrong, and how to readjust these common mishaps.

Dependence on PowerPoint slides

PowerPoint slides are made to showcase points the presenters want to make, from data to summaries to images. However, presentations become dull very quickly when the presenter only reads the slides aloud and entirely relies on them. Although presenters will spend a lot of time preparing their slides, in the end, it really comes down to what they know about the material. But even if the information is valuable, the audience will have a hard time connecting if there isn’t an effort to really address them. Eye contact and body language become essential for presenters to communicate their interests and passions. When a presenter prepares well and knows their material, they can loosen up and speak freely without constantly relying on their notes. If the speaker isn’t compelling enough on their own, PowerPoint can only do so much.

Slides are not enough on their own  

When a presenter relies too much on their slides, they tend to skip over information, assuming that the audience is reading everything on screen. Just because a point was included in a slide does not mean that the presenter shouldn’t address it. Otherwise, it will very likely be forgotten. There are ways to combat this; of course, we suggest including points in your presentations that you plan to elaborate on. You could also distribute handouts or display a flipchart that has all the main information that the audience could refer to throughout the presentation.

Generic templates and clipart 

It goes without saying that much of the clipart and templates in PowerPoint have become outdated and tacky. Using them could turn off your audience from your presentation. A little creativity in your presentation design can do wonders for your audience’s attention. Luckily, there are hundreds of innovative and stylish presentation templates available online, or you could consult a presentation design agency (such as ourselves) for original and captivating PowerPoint design. Visual consistency also influences how your audience perceives your presentation and overall brand, establishing the presenter as a trustworthy source on the subject matter.

Common PowerPoint mistakes and how to fix them 

Be the change you want to see in the world. There is no reason to give people any more reasons to dislike PowerPoint. If you catch yourself falling into these common PowerPoint mistakes, it’s not too late to change course and fix it.

It’s not interactive

Audiences are more involved when they can interact with the material, and they can retain the information better. Many presenters tend to overlook this point in favor of getting through the presentation slides. But when there’s no incentive for the audience to participate, they lose interest. Presenters can be hesitant to include interactive segments in their presentations for fear that things will fall out of their control. But when you learn to cultivate the confidence to lead an audience, managing a room of people becomes less daunting. Set aside allotted time for your audience to speak their minds, and don’t be afraid to respectfully remind them of their time limit. For a Q and A session, you can have the audience write down their questions throughout the presentation to make that portion smoother.

Exceeding the time limit 

The most exhausting kind of presentation is one that goes on for too long. When a presenter goes over the time limit, not only does it tire out and bore your listeners, but you also risk coming off as disrespectful of their time. Remember that a PowerPoint presentation is used for an overview, not a report. Take your suggested time slot seriously. One way to ensure sticking to the time limit is by practicing your presentation beforehand and timing yourself. That way, you can decide which points to include that serve your main idea.

Reading the slides aloud

A super common mistake we touched on earlier is relying a little too much on your PowerPoint by reading out the text on your slides or notes. Even if your information is valuable, the audience will have a hard time connecting if there isn’t effort on your side. Address your audience by making eye contact and using your body language to communicate your interest and passion. Much of this comes down to preparation. When you prepare well and know your material, you can loosen up and speak freely without constantly relying on your notes to talk.

Too much text

Another common side effect of relying too heavily on your PowerPoint is cramming your slides with far too much text. Your audience should not have to split their attention between your slides and your speech. If the audience has to divide their attention to different areas, you will lose it entirely. Only list your key points in your slides, highlighting the most important information and limiting your text to a few lines. You could ask yourself what main ideas you want your audience to walk away with, and summarize them in your slides.

Lack of emotional engagement

Being in a business setting, you might feel the need to present a pragmatic and objective version of yourself, but being emotionless doesn’t serve your presentation. Finding ways to emotionally engage with your audience, whether by telling a story or using relatable analogies, can build a connection. A good way to highlight the emotional perspective of your presentation is framing it around “why” questions. Why did you start your project? Why was it important? Why was it challenging? Why did it need to be accomplished? The answers would almost always bring out a more humane element of your material.

Ineffective visuals

Less-than-ideal slide design can distract from the content of the presentation. Flashy and contrasting colors, obnoxious fonts, too many images, and showy transitions are all unnecessary additions that make your presentation appear unprofessional and gaudy. PowerPoint indeed has many convenient and valuable features, but there is no need to include them all at once. It is best to opt for a clean, simple design with a pleasing color palette and unique structure rather than overdone, crowded slides with far too much going on.

Despite the less-than-flattering sides of PowerPoint presentations, they remain a valuable tool for sharing world-changing ideas. The key is finding ways to harness the common presentation setbacks and turn them into effective communication methods that win over your audience. The world of presentations is constantly changing and growing, which offers opportunities for more creativity and flexibility. Learning how to adapt to the audience’s needs is a skill set that is never done evolving.

What can we learn from the World Cup 2022 opening ceremony?

Chances are, you’ve been hit with World Cup fever. This Sunday, the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 stunned the audience with surprising cameos, nostalgic throwbacks, and beautiful visuals. It got us thinking. There is a lot to learn from the opening ceremony that we can apply to presentation storytelling.

Focus on what we have in common

The ceremony highlighted the importance of coming together over a shared passion. Presentations can be tedious when the content might not necessarily be relevant to your audience, which is why it’s important to bring attention to the common factors. Emphasize all the ways your material and data are related to your listeners and build bridges to reach them. Presentations are the perfect opportunity to make connections with an audience.

What can we learn from the World Cup 2022 opening ceremony?
(1)

Credit those who came before you

To get to where you are, there is a team that helped you, pioneers in your field who set the standard, and experts who provided a base you were able to work with. In any area you might be discussing, your efforts contribute to a larger scheme of development and innovation. Take the time to share the insights and successes that preceded you, and use them to build your data.

World Cup Mascots
(2)

Celebrate your roots 

Nothing says humility like remembering your roots. Origin stories are moving and audiences love being a part of your journey. This also gives you the space to elaborate on your process and progress. Start strong by setting the scene and discussing your beginnings; this grabs the audience’s attention and can be used to indicate what will follow. You can then end by circling back to the start to give the presentation a neat, thematic conclusion.

Traditional Performers at the World Cup
(3)

A little theatrics never hurt anyone 

Of course, it wouldn’t be a World Cup ceremony if there wasn’t a little drama. From the powerful performances and stunning choreography, it was a memorable event. Storytelling takes you on a journey, and the visuals, sounds, and performances all add up to a powerful show. Sharing your ideas using several different mediums throughout the presentation keeps it interesting. The audience is constantly wondering what will happen next. Using emotional speech that varies in its inflection and emphasis helps establish the mood the speaker wants to convey.

World Cup 2022 Mascot
(4)

There is no one way to present an idea. We can always find inspiration in unlikely places, and since the 2022 World Cup amasses a large global audience, there are elements of their displays that we can implement in our presentations. We can learn from understanding the enthusiasm and drama that captures us, and adopt what works to make our presentations stand out.

Sources:

  • Images (1), (2), (3), and (4): https://www.thesundaily.my/home/opening-ceremony-qatar-2022-world-cup-MH10245810

 

How to add an animated GIF to a presentation

When you think of animated GIFs, you’re probably thinking of the silly loops in your group chats. But what if we told you that they also make a riveting addition to your presentations? Used in social media and increasingly on new sites, GIFs can give your presentation a compelling, lively personality. Their popularity inevitably worked its way into the world of PowerPoint presentations since they can also be used for educational purposes, and now we can’t get enough of them. 

What is an animated GIF?

GIF is actually an acronym for graphics interchange format. They are animated image files that loop on repeat, first popularized by the blogging website Tumblr. The GIF format can support nearly 8 bits per pixel and large color palettes, which makes it smaller than JPEGs and therefore faster to load.

Animated GIF
(1)

Why use GIFs in presentations?

Animated GIFs are a middle ground between images and videos. They add a touch of humor and lightness and can spark up a presentation with their vitality. Their short, looping format is convenient and won’t interrupt or take time. And they often have such a small file size that there isn’t any concern about crashing your PowerPoint or lagging. Using GIFs is ideal as it adds an interactive element to your presentation, such as an animated logo, graph, or even an infographic.

How to find GIFs for presentations?

If you’re interested in using an animated GIF for your presentation but don’t have one ready, you don’t have to worry. You can easily find hundreds, if not thousands, of GIFs online. Googling your keywords plus “GIF” is a great starting point. Websites like GIPHY and Tenor have thousands of GIFs you can browse and search through.

You can also use this search method in PowerPoint. On the slide where you want to add your GIF, find the Insert tab and go to Pictures. Click on Online Photos to find a pop-up webpage that lets you search for Creative Commons images on Bing.

Inserting Online Media in PowerPoint
Searching Online GIF in PowerPoint

How to insert a GIF in PowerPoint

Once you have a GIF you want to use in your presentation design, you can easily insert it into a PowerPoint. The process is similar to adding regular images but with a couple more steps. 

Starting at the slide where you want to add your GIF file, go to the Insert tab and select Pictures. Find the GIF in your File Explorer and insert it.

Inserting Media in PowerPoint
Selecting GIF file in PowerPoint

To animate it, jump to the Slide Show tab above and select the From Current Slide in the Start Slide Show to have it play.

Playing GIF in PowerPoint

How to insert a GIF in Google Slides

Similarly, if you want to embed a GIF in Google Slides, you would start by going to the slide you want. Go to Insert and select Images. Click on Upload from computer.

Inserting Media in Google Slides

In the pop-up File Explorer, find the GIF you want to add and click on Open.

Selecting GIF file in Google Slides

Adjust and format your GIF accordingly.

How to insert a GIF in Keynote

If you’re using Keynote on a Mac device, you could still add a GIF by dragging a dropping the gif file from your computer into a slide. You could drag and adjust the GIF the way you would an image.

Inserting GIF in Keynote

Find the Format button above and switch to the Movie tab.

You can untick Start movie on click to play the GIF as you go on the slide automatically. And in the Repeat menu, you can choose to turn off the loop, so the GIF can only play once and stop.

Playing GIF in Keynote

How to insert a GIF using URLs

Typically, you might find a GIF you like online but not a direct download link. Or maybe you prefer to add it directly to your presentation without downloading. In that case, on PowerPoint, you could add a GIF using its URL. You right-click and select Copy Image Address.

Copying Video Address to Insert in PowerPoint

On the slide where you want to insert your GIF, go to Insert, click Pictures, and select This Device.

Inserting Media in PowerPoint

In the File Explorer, find the Tools menu and select Link to File.

Linking Online File in PowerPoint

Paste the address into the File name and press Insert.

Adding GIF Link in PowerPoint

How to play animated GIFs

Once you insert a GIF in PowerPoint, you will notice a small play icon directly on the GIF itself. You could click on that to play and pause the GIF as you please. Or if you want to guarantee that the GIF plays automatically during your presentation, then you go to the Slide Show tab, find the Start Slide Show section, and select From Current Slide to have the GIF play on a loop as you present.

How to stop a GIF from looping

If an animated GIF keeps replaying, it can distract you and your audience. This is especially true if you are going to stay on a particular slide for a while. You can, however, fix the number of loops a GIF plays so it doesn’t detract from your presentation.

Using the website ezgif.com, you can edit and create GIFs to suit your needs. First, go to the Split page, where you can then select your GIF by either uploading it or linking it. After you upload it, find the Split to frames button below the displayed GIF to divide it into a set of frames.

At the very bottom of the page, below all the frames of the GIF, you will find the Edit animations button. Find the GIF Options box and in the Loop Count box, add the number of loops you would like your GIF to have. Once you’re done, click on Make a GIF! to produce your new GIF. Click on the floppy disk icon to Save. After you’ve checked your GIF, you can add it to your PowerPoint.

Editing a GIF in PowerPoint

Sometimes, you might want to adjust the size or position of a GIF to make it work within a certain layout or perhaps maintain consistency across different slides. Similar to images in PowerPoint, you can adjust, resize, drag, and rotate a GIF to your liking. In the Format tab, you will find a variety of effects, borders, shadows, reflections, or other options to add to the GIF. Note that although formatting options will not affect a GIF’s animation, some effects might cancel it and render it a still image.

Editing a GIF in Google Slides

Google Slides offers several options and tools for you to edit your GIF. These tools allow you to modify everything from the transparency, color, brightness, contrast, shadows, reflections, and transitions of the GIF to adapt it to your presentation’s theme.

Refrain from using too many effects on your GIFs, as it will overwhelm them and come off as unprofessional. 

How to create a GIF?

Do you have an idea for a GIF you’d like to bring to life and hopefully use for your presentation? Luckily, there are ways to create GIFs that don’t require an extensive animation background.

Create a GIF directly in PowerPoint

To create a GIF in PowerPoint, you will need to create a base of several frames first.

To start, insert the intended image which, in this case, could be an icon from the Insert tab Illustrations section.

Inserting Shapes to Create a GIF

Then duplicate the slide, and make any changes to your icons in the new slide. It could be a change to its position, color, and size (or aspect ratio). You could continue this process until you have the number of frames you need to create the animation you want.

Shapes for GIF

Next, go to the Transitions tab, find the Transition to This Slide group, and select the Morph transition for each slide. Still in the Transitions tab, you can also go to Effects Options and add additional effects to your work.

Adding Transitions to Shapes

You can check how your animation looks by clicking on the Preview option in Transitions.

Once you’re satisfied, go to File and then Export.

Exporting PowerPoint File

From there, you’ll find Create an Animated GIF. In that window, you can select the gif file size you want and how many seconds you want to spend on each slide. Lastly, click on Create GIF. Wait for the loading bar to complete its progress and congratulations! You’ve made a GIF!

Creating a GIF in PowerPoint

Create a GIF in Photoshop

To create a GIF in Photoshop, you will need a bit more experience and a grasp of the basics of the program. Photoshop can let you turn your own images into animated GIF files. 

To begin, you will need a series of photos that can constitute an animation, think stop motion. Note that all the images should be taken from the same angle and have the same number of pixels. Start by modifying the images to appear as they should in the GIF.

Import images into the Photoshop program through File, then Scripts, then Load Files into Stack. Browse to find your photos, select all, and click Open. They should now appear in a single-layer file, and on the right, you will find several layers, which will become the frames of your GIF.

Then go to the bottom, find Window, and select Timeline. Click on the arrow in the center of the panel and click on Create Frame Animation. This should move the first photo into the timeline. 

Now to turn the layers into animation frames, go to the menu at the top-right corner of the Timeline panel and select Make Frames From Layers. In case your photos are not in order, you can go back to the Timeline menu and click on Reverse Frames.

Under each frame, insert how long each should appear, between 1 and 5 seconds is ideal. You can also adjust the loop, flip, and copy and paste the images. 

However, when you want to copy and paste, make sure to set the playback time beforehand instead of resetting it for every copy. You can copy the images by selecting all the images and clicking Copy Frames in the righthand menu, and then paste them by clicking Paste Frames. In the Paste Frames window, select Paste After Selection so you can reverse the frames. 

Back in the main righthand menu, select Reverse Frames as we did earlier, and once two identical frames appear, delete one to prevent the GIF from lagging. You can now preview what you’ve made by clicking on the play button. 

Check that the infinite loop is set to Forever in the bottom left corner, then save the file as a GIF. Now save it by selecting File, Export, then Save for Web.

Uses for GIFs in PowerPoint presentations

It’s tempting to use GIFs in your presentation; they add a dynamic quality that certainly grabs attention. Fortunately, there are loads of creative and practical ways to incorporate them. For example, you could have animated icons, have them add subtle background motion or a GIF that flips through several images.

You can also use them to clarify or illustrate ideas like showing data changes, explaining metaphors, changing colors to show progress or even showing a mini-tutorial on how to use a feature in an app or website.

Whichever way you choose to use GIFs, it guarantees added value to your presentation by amplifying your ideas and infusing your PowerPoint with energy.

Animated GIFs are a refreshing addition to break away from the typical presentation formula. Easy, fun, and eye-catching, they are a unique format that gives life to your slides and will ensure that you stand out. Cut to the chase and liven up your presentations with movement that strings your audience along.

References:

  • GIF (1): https://techcrunch.com/2015/06/04/tumblr-debuts-its-own-gif-search-engine/

How to add sound and music to a presentation

Music can give a presentation a certain ambiance that makes your audience sit up straighter. Of all the ways you can spice up a presentation, rarely do we consider sound. The immersive quality of music, or even a voiceover, can elevate your speech, leaving a memorable impression on your audience. Learn how to add sound and music to give your presentation the little extra kick it needs to inspire listeners.

Adding audio from your computer

To add an audio file to a PowerPoint presentation, use a compatible file such as .wav, .wma, or .mp3. On the slide you wish to add the audio to, go to the Insert tab and find the Media cluster. In the Audio menu, you’ll find an option to add media from your PC or record your own audio.

Insert audio in PowerPoint

Click on Audio on my PC and select the file you want to use.

Adding audio in PowerPoint

Selecting audio file

Recording audio from PowerPoint

In your PowerPoint presentation, go to the slide where you wish to add the audio. And again, click on the Insert tab, find the Media group, and select Record Audio from the Audio drop menu.

Inserting recorded audio

Once you click on Record Audio, a small pop-up window called Record Sound appears. Change the name of the audio file and press Record to start and Stop to end the recording. You could replay what you’ve recorded by clicking on Play, and once you’re satisfied with the result, click OK to insert the audio clip.

Recording audio

How to edit audio on PowerPoint

You can alter and edit the audio clips in your presentation by selecting the audio and finding the Audio Tools on the toolbar. Under the Playback tab, there are several tools you can use to adjust the audio to your liking.

Playback tab on PowerPoint

With Bookmarks, you can bookmark certain parts of the audio that you can spot on the timeline, which helps find specific points in an audio track.

In the Editing section, you can trim the audio or play around with the fade-in or fade-out options.

In the Audio Options, there are multiple options for adjusting the audio’s performance by managing the volume and Start options. There you find features such as Loop Until Stopped to keep replaying the audio, Play Across Slides, Hide During Show to hide the audio icon, and Rewind After Playing to restart the track once it’s done.

The features in the Audio Format tab are related to the image or icon you want the audio to be represented in and editing its visual characteristics.

Adding audio from an online link

Sometimes, you might want to add a music track you found online, such as a SoundCloud link. To do so, Insert an image or icon, which you will use to link your online audio.

Inserting shape or icon

Right-click on the image and go to Hyperlink, then copy and paste the link into the pop-up page.

Insert hyperlink in icon
Pasting a hyperlink

To play the audio, tap the CTRL key on your keyboard and click on the audio/icon to open it in a new window where you would need to play it and pause it manually.

Adding music from YouTube

To add music from a YouTube link, you would insert a video. If you’re unsure how to do so, you can refer to our blog about embedding and inserting videos in a presentation. You go to the slide you want to add the audio to and go to Insert. Select Video to bring out the drop menu, click on Online Videos, and copy and paste the video you want to use.

Inserting YouTube video

After that, decrease the video’s size and move it beyond the visible part of the slide.

Moving video to the side

Then go to the Playback tab. In the Video Options, adjust the Start option to Automatically to have the audio play instantly. Note that the audio stops when you move to the next slide.

Edit Playback options

Setting audio playback timing in PowerPoint

To have a smooth-running presentation, you should set the audio tracks to play right when you need them to. In the Audio Options under the Playback Tab, you can preset the audio files to play In Click Sequence, Automatically, or When Clicked On to set the right pace.

Playback in PowerPoint presentation

In Click Sequence

The In Click Sequence option plays in sequence with other effects you’ve added to the slide. For example, you would have the text, image, and music appear in a specific order. To play the audio, you would have to click on the screen (or even use a clicker) to activate the actions on the slide.

Automatically

When you choose to click on Automatically, you are opting to have the music play the moment the slide appears. The Automatically option takes your mind off any manual details while you’re presenting.

When Clicked On

The When Clicked On option means that you will have to click on the audio icon to start the sound manually. If you want to control the pace of your presentation, then this feature is helpful.

Playing several clips in succession during your presentation

If you are telling a story, there will be ups and downs that need to be synced with the soundtrack. The most practical way to add several pieces of audio to a presentation is to create a playlist with all the audio clips you want to use. You will need to use audio-editing software like Audacity and Audio Mass to join the clips together and have them play in succession. After that, export the file as one and set the Audio Options to Play Across Slides.

How to replay music throughout your entire presentation?

Let’s say you would like to have a single piece of music play throughout your presentation. To automatically replay an audio track, find the Audio Options and select Loop until Stopped.

How to trim music in a PowerPoint presentation?

There might be an audio clip that you would like to use. However, there might be a section that does not suit your presentation. It could feature an introduction that is too long, have an outro that becomes too noisy, or clash with your presentation design. Whatever the reason, you could amend it by trimming the audio. Once again, find the Playback tab under Audio Tools, go to Editing, and click on Trim Audio. The pop-up page will show you the track, and you can adjust the arrows on each side to carve out a clip that covers what you need. Replay to double-check that you’re happy with what you’ve made, and click OK.

Common audio file issues and how to fix them 

On occasion, your PowerPoint presentation might get stuck and slow down due to issues regarding audio and playback. There are many reasons this could happen; they are typically the result of a faulty or incompatible audio file. Depending on the cause, several solutions can refresh and fix your presentation. We’ll discuss four things you should consider when facing any file issues in PowerPoint, what might be causing the complication, and how to solve it.

Make sure your audio files are compatible with your presentation software

Now and then, you might run into trouble with the file’s compatibility with PowerPoint. In that case, you go to the File tab and select Info. Typically, .wav, .mp3, and .wma files are compatible with PowerPoint. If you’re facing an issue, find the Optimize Compatibility section; this section details the media files in the presentation and playback issues you’re facing. If any file is facing a compatibility issue, then you will find the Optimize Compatibility option, which will fix the file for you. 

Optimize Compatibility section

Check the file size of your audio files

One of the reasons your PowerPoint presentation is crashing could be that you are using a large file, which you then need to compress. To check your file’s size, go to the File tab and find Info. In the Media Size and Performance section, select Compress Media and choose the quality. The Full HD and HD options preserve video and audio quality while compressing the file’s size and saving space. The Standard 480p size saves the most space and is convenient for presentations sent over email. 

Select the compression quality, and PowerPoint will begin compressing the file. The process will take a while, depending on the size and quality of the media. When the compression is complete, click Close.

Convert your audio files to the correct format

If you cannot play the audio, it could be because the audio format is not supported by PowerPoint. The formats supported by PowerPoint include .wav, .wma, .midi, .au, .aiff, and .mp3. If the file you’re using is not in any of these formats, you can convert it with a conversion website or software such as Convertio or Online Audio Converter.

Restart your computer

Sometimes, the solution to presentation troubles is not related to the files you are using. Solving slowness and performance issues could simply be a matter of restarting your computer.

How to remove all music files from your presentation?

In case you change your mind (and you might!), you can always remove all audio files from your presentation. If you decide that the idea in your head doesn’t line up with reality, removing the audio files is as easy as selecting the audio icons and clicking on Delete

Often underutilized, audio can add a transformative quality to your presentation, taking it from good to great! By embracing music and sound, you command attention, enhance your narrative, and create an unforgettable experience for your audience. With these PowerPoint tips, you can now spice up your slides with sound and music and experiment with all sorts of audio features. Remember, your presentation is not just a collection of slides; it is an audio-visual journey you can create for your audience. 

How to create and use 3D pyramid diagrams in presentations

From the base to the apex, a pyramid diagram explains concepts for an audience to absorb quickly. In this blog, we will discuss how you can create your own 3D pyramids in Microsoft PowerPoint to help illustrate ideas clearly and creatively. There will also be a free, customizable template for you to use in all sorts of data visualization for a variety of purposes. In presentations, a 3D pyramid adds an element of realism and movement to your slides without compromising on formality or aesthetics. And in information design, they are a simple means to portray ideas visually.

What is the 3D pyramid?

A pyramid structure is formed when a polygon base is surfaced by triangles that meet at the tip. In documents and presentations, typically two-dimensional mediums, a 2D pyramid’s form is enhanced to display it in a 3D perspective.

What are 3D pyramid templates?

A 3D pyramid template is a placeholder with customizable features used to help create a 3D pyramid for presentations. Since the placeholder is predesigned to give the illusion of a 3D figure, all the user needs to do is make the alterations necessary to display the idea the pyramid is meant to represent and not worry about the shape.

How can 3D pyramids be used in presentations?

Thanks to its adaptable form, a 3D pyramid provides a channel to showcase a simple metaphor around flow or hierarchy. Common in information design, its vertical structure also allows it to portray lists with a dimensional view to make them more visually interesting. Usually, pyramids demonstrate ideas around management, process, needs, or organizational lineup.

Presenting business strategies and plans

A pyramid diagram can simplify information related to a company’s vision by cleaning up its goals and strategies into an easy-to-follow flow. A common example of this use is the Carroll CSR Pyramid, which establishes the four kinds of social responsibility of a company, summing them all up on a single page.

Carroll's pyramid

Presenting data

All types of data from charts and graphs can be systematized and arranged into a pyramid diagram. Presenting the numbers and percentages this way is straightforward and user-friendly for an audience.

Sales Funnel

Problem-solving – the Barbara Minto Way 

The Barbara Minto Way, or the Pyramid Principle, is a format for presenting problems, arguments, and solutions. The core message is at the apex, while the supporting arguments and data form the foundation below. The Pyramid Principle is a method to structure presentations as well, where the speaker begins with the main idea and spends the rest of the presentation arguing for it. The focus of the pyramid is to lead you to the outcome by organizing the ideas to move toward it.

Barbara Minto Pyramid

Presenting hierarchy 

A pyramid is perhaps most commonly associated with presenting hierarchy and hierarchical structures. In a presentation, a concept relating to a team’s setup or strategy is best communicated through a triangular diagram. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a common example of a pyramid presenting information in this format; it represents a human being’s psychological needs.

Maslow's hierarchy of needs

Create a simple 3D pyramid in PowerPoint using shapes

Considering the positive addition a 3D pyramid diagram brings to PowerPoint presentation design, you could learn how to create this simple addition on your own. Starting with a drawing of a 2D pyramid diagram, you can add dimensions to give it a 3D effect that makes it more engaging and immersive.

Step 1: Create the pyramid base 

To start, create a square shape to act as your base. Go to the ‘Insert’ tab and select ‘Shapes.’ Since there is no square shape in PowerPoint, you will need to select a rectangle and shape it into a square.

Add square shape

Step 2: Change the 3D options

Now, right-click on the square to find the ‘Shapes Effect’ menu. Find the ‘3-D Rotation’ section and select ‘Off-Axis 1: Top.’ This will flatten out your square.

Add shape effects

Step 3: Add a Bevel Effect to the square

To begin expanding your shape into a pyramid, right-click, select the ‘Bevel’ feature, and choose the ‘Angle’ option.

Add Bevel effect

Step 4: Add dimension and shadow 

Then go to ‘3D options’ and adjust the Top Bevel’s width and height to 100 pt and 200 pt, respectively. Then find the Lighting option and play around with the Angle to give shadow and dimension to your pyramid. And now you have a 3D pyramid!

Finally, once you have the base of the pyramid diagram, you can add lines to create tiers and get creative with the levels and text boxes you want to add based on your data.

Adjust dimensions to form a pyramid

For a more in-depth example, check out the video below to see the process in more detail.

Tips for using a 3D pyramid diagram in presentations

Keep it simple

Simplicity is key. Adding too many sections and details will overwhelm and obscure the diagram. The simpler it is, the easier it is for the audience to remember and understand the information it shares.

Use high-quality visuals

This applies to any visual addition to a PowerPoint presentation, really. High-quality visuals bring a quality of professionalism and cleanness to your slides that leave viewers with a positive impression.

Be consistent with your use of color and branding

When a presentation is consistent with its branding throughout, it conveys trustworthiness from the presenter. This extends to any shapes included in presentations, such as diagrams and information pyramids.

3D Pyramid Template for Presentations 

Using a pyramid diagram gives your presentation slides an edge. By showcasing data with style and dimension, learning how to create a 3D pyramid paves the path for more opportunities to present information more creatively.

Other than creating your pyramid, an alternative is using a template like the one we’ve created below! The pyramid template is a ready-made diagram for you to use. Just edit the text you want to add that relates to the content of your presentation.

Download 3D Pyramid Template

Prezlab empowers presentations with visually captivating 3D pyramid diagrams, enhancing clarity and creativity in conveying concepts effectively through presentation design. Get in touch for the best presentation design services in Abu Dhabi and Dubai!

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