Note the word ‘tool’. A piece of software does not make a presentation; it only provides a tool for you to deliver your message. You can choose to use it as you will. And probably, you’ll want to avoid the top mistakes made in making PowerPoint presentations.
We’ve all seen it. Animation for non-epileptics; bullet-points for detail addicts; 200 word quotes that fill the slide; charts with hundreds of numbers, requiring binoculars from the second row back; and the 57 slide presentation for a 15 minute slot that has the presenter saying after 30 minutes, “Time is tight, I’ll skip this one.” (Hmm, why is it there if you could skip it...?)
For those who have a strong aversion to PowerPoint, or are looking to make an especially creative presentation, you can choose some clever alternatives. A series of handwritten flip-charts can be a very powerful way of communicating, especially if you hang them up around the room before everyone arrives. This enables the audience to see the whole story and refer backwards and forwards to your logic, as well as the conclusion.
If you’re really adventurous, simply pinning a few pictures on the wall and talking through the issue based on the images can leave a long lasting impression.
Another method to try out is Prezi.com. It’s a creative online tool that helps you get more of an overview- oriented message across. If your area is sales, try Clearslide.com, which is especially good for sales pitches.