A Picture is Worth a 1,000 Words
Consider incorporating more pictures into your presentation. Aided with the web and digital cameras there really isn’t a reason why you can’t have current and impactful pictures to prove your points. I’m not talking about your company’s template, that’s not a
picture. Seek out and or create pictures for your slideshows and let them do the talking.
Clipped Art
In terms of your professional presentations I recommend that you stop using Clip Art as a source of graphics. You are verging on being condescending at best and simply demeaning at most by using Clip Art. They are not ‘pictures’ and they do not offer ‘proof’ to your audience. If you are struggling to find pictures and photo then using Google Image search but please respect the copyright of others. If you are making an internal presentation to junior personnel about the staff social club then clip art the slideshow to death, it’s not that important. But never in a professional presentation.
Start with a Picture
A great way to start a presentation is with a picture or photo. This could be your impact opening designed to grab the attention of the audience and I’ve seen it work very well. The ‘picture’ should be the full screen, no writing, no template. You simply walk up with the screen initially blacked out and with one click of the remote… ‘Ta-da’. Then take your time, walk off to the side (so as not to impede the audience’s ability to see the picture) and then state, “What you are looking at is…”. The time between exposing the picture and you starting to speak should be around 5-7 seconds, which will maximise the effect. One small note… the picture has to be relevant to what you are about to say!