In our tech-savvy world, it’s likely that you’ll be called on occasionally to make or participate in presentations. These can range from end-of-the-year data reports to video clips at retirement parties.
If you’re an employee, chances are your employer will already own or rent the audiovisual equipment you need. What if you’re a small business owner or self-employed? What if you travel a lot and need something of your own to rely on?
No matter what kind of presentation you’re preparing for, there are a few key tools you’ll need on hand. Most likely, you’ll need some type of projector, a screen, and some speakers.
You’ll want your presentation prepared in a software program that suits you, and you’ll want to consider how portable you need to be.
How To Start a Presentation
Interesting enough for most of us we get the task of doing a presentation or with planning one so immediately we get a sense of anxiety because we have the question “How do I Start?”
Think about this like you were going to be the one seeing the presentation & not giving it, prep as if you were watching it then it will come through so much better. This will help you step outside of the task & allow you to step inside your creative nature.
Picking the Best Projector System
If your boss already has a projector, you won’t have to worry about getting one, but you’ll still need to make sure it works ahead of time. Set up the projector and screen for a trial run at least a day ahead of time.
If you’re preparing for a presentation with your own audiovisual equipment, think about the type of resolution you need. If your presentation is full of charts and data, you can probably get by with an SGVA projector that has 800 x 600 pixels.
For presentations that include video clips or close-up photos, you’ll probably want to bump that up to around 1920 x 1080 pixels or more.
Thankfully, there are small, portable projectors like the AAXA P450 Pico Projector that are great for business presentations. Many of the portable projectors cost less than $500, as well, so they’re relatively budget-friendly.
Remember to pair your projector with a set of speakers that will meet the needs of the area you’re presenting in.
Set Up Your Presentation
Most people are familiar with Microsoft PowerPoint, but that’s not the only option out there. Some presentation software programs like Haiku Deck come with themes and the ability to use more than 40 million images from Creative Commons.
There are other presentation software programs developed specifically for brand managers, for sales and marketing personnel, and for emphasizing the interaction between the ideas that you’re presenting. A few are very basic, and some are complicated to use.
In order to find the best fit for your presentation, read about as many as you can and pick two or three that have free trial periods. Create a page or two of your presentation in each of the programs to get a feel for what you like best.
When you know what you want, make your purchase and finish your presentation.
Is Portability Important?
How often do you plan to give your presentation? If you’re going to be traveling a lot, you might need to consider how to pack and carry your projector and other essentials. A hard-shell carrying case can protect your projector from damage.
A pull-down screen that stands alone and packs up easily is another must-have for on-the-go presenters.
On the other hand, if you’re going to stay put most of the time, you might want to invest in a ceiling-mount or wall-mount for your projector. Built-in speakers would be a nice touch for the room you present in most.
