Creating an Impression - A Strong Conclusion Slide
Thursday, August 14th, 2008Far too often, I see online PowerPoint presentations that just come to an end after an important issue has been discussed. The presenter might finish by saying “well, that’s all I have” or a similarly pathetic statement that just feels awkward. Every online PowerPoint presentation needs a strong concluding slide.
Your conclusion slide should have 3-5 key messages that have already been introduced throughout the presentation, and reiterated on this final slide. Repetition is a key element in any PowerPoint presentation to keep your audience engaged, and for them to walk away remembering your message. The conclusion slide isn’t just to tidy up your presentation, but it’s you last chance to drive home the messages you just spent the rest of the presentation explaining.
The conclusion slide may also have a few bullet points on calls to action that are required either by individuals, or concepts in general. Keep your conclusion slide clean and simple and spend most of your time speaking to it, not reading from it. Use large fonts that have a good contrast with your background, so that everyone can read the messages and let them sink in. Save your most prominent message for last, and emphasize it in your presentation. Finally, be sure to thank the audience for their time and attendance, and if possible and appropriate, field any questions they may have.
