Nowadays everyone out there has an opinion on how a perfect presentation should look like. Some people champion speaking loudly and some believe in speaking softly. Some believe in using visual aids, some just steer away from it.
The thing is there is no right way to make a PowerPoint presentation design. There are actually several presentation styles, each of them different from the other. Let’s look at a few to understand them better.
Freeform Style
This presentation style works usually without slides. Here, each point is illustrated with the help of strong influential stories. The presentation method works for people who know their talking points in and out and the ones who have a very short time to present. This style also works for impromptu meetings, networking events and elevator pitches. It appears more conversational and less rehearsed.
Visual Style
The visual PowerPoint presentation style is when you believe that slides exist only to complement the points you’re talking about. This style requires a lot of focus on speech which is why you need to strive hard to get audience engagement. If you’re a storyteller, public speaker or a visionary, this style is for you.
Coach Style
Speakers who are charismatic and energetic gravitate towards the coach style of presentation. This kind of presentation allows them to engage and connect with their audience using listener interaction and role play. It’s a great style to put the audience at ease- say a group of investors who need to get sold on what the company does instead of how it does it.
Instructor Style
This style is all about delivering really complex messages using metaphors and figures of speech along with a lot of content. Here, the slides are in a logical order and they use impactful visuals to keep the audience engaged. This is a great presentation design to use when you’re not familiar with the subject matter or you’re not a confident presenter.
The Storytelling Style
This presentation style is propelled by examples and anecdotes for you to connect with your audience. The storytelling style is all about letting out your emotions to tell your story in the most honest possible way. This style is best used for sales presentations, conference speaking and networking events where you have time to elaborate.
Connector Style
In this style, the presenter tries to connect with the audience by showing them that they’re similar to them. It consists of free-flowing conversations where the connectors use question, answers and gestures while speaking. This method also encourages audience feedback and reaction, making it more of a dialogue than just a one-way conversation.