Presentations That Pop

"The amount of technology on the market is dizzying," he says. Presenters should be careful of overusing technology because they just learned it or found out about it. "Many times presenters use a feature just because they discovered how to use it, regardless of how appropriate it is," says Altman. Unnecessary use of audio, flashy visuals, or other distracting features take away from the core message of the presentation. "It just annoys the heck out of the audience," he adds.

Even before any new technology is employed, presenters need to know their subject matter and have the confidence to deliver it. "When you are presenting in front of an audience, you must have a certain skill set," says Anthony Romano III, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Sacremento, Calif.-based CoreLogic, a mortgage solutions company, whose sales force gives frequent presentations throughout the year. "Using power gestures and walking towards your audience when you are making a point shows great mastery of oral presentation skills," he adds.

After training many other presenters on sales and presentation skills, Dunn is aware of common mistakes made during important presentations by overusing technology. "It is very easy to get caught in the 'Hollywood' effect," Dunn says. "With so much technology available, you have to make sure the technology you use visually supports the message you want to give."

SIDEBAR: Being a Great Presenter

According to the Advanced Public Speaking Institute, a Virginia Beach, Va.-based public speaking organization, other key tactics presenters can use include:

• Movement - When making an important point during a speaking engagement, move toward the audience. Three steps forward from center stage would be a very powerful position that would command attention
• Slow Down - Do specific practice sessions concentrating on varying the speed of your delivery so that you get a better control over this aspect of your presentations. Also, varying the speed makes you more interesting automatically.
• Energy - The greatest asset any public speaking expert can have is ENERGY. Energy comes in many colors and hues, from a whisper to a shout. Some will define energy as passion, enthusiasm or 'fire in the belly.' With this fire, even a trivial message becomes compelling; without it, the most powerful message will fall unheard.
• Intensity - Public speaking audiences expect intensity. They like it. They arrive wanting an 'experience.' To develop the speaking flow and energy that delivers that to them, use variation in pace while using technology to supplement, not overwhelm the point.