DO
Start with the problem. Always begin a presentation by by explaining how your product or service addresses the audience’s pain points.
Edit yourself. Presentations are meant to educate and intrigue, not to bore.
Minimize word count. Minimizing text on the slide also minimizes distractions, allowing your audience to focus on your speech and your message.
Relate to the audience. Use personal stories, examples and custom demos to help your audience relate to you.
Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse.
Follow up, stand out. Once the presentation has ended, don’t let your communication skills fall flat.
DON’T
Try to be funny if you’re not.
Focus on a big stunt. Rather than waste time trying to execute a stunt that has nothing to do with your product or company, spend those precious minutes talking about what you actually have to offer.
Leave your personality backstage. People want to feel a personal connection to your brand. They want to feel like they are doing business with an actual person rather than a company.
Read your slides.
Waste their time. People attend presentations with a specific objective in mind: to learn. Don’t waste their time by talking about irrelevant information or showcasing unnecessary “flair.”
Forget to prepare for questions.
Source: The Do’s and Don’ts of Giving a Killer Presentation by Bill Burnett, www.entrepreneur.com