Prezi is the latest presentation tool that can transform content into an amazing, adventurous trip. Or it can literally make people nauseous and looking for a “sick-sack.” Here’s how to plan a Prezi presentation and use it well.

Fly Through Your Ideas

Prezi is an online presentation tool that helps you create dynamic presentations. Instead of organizing information in a series of “slides,” it let’s you position your information on a large visual canvas. Then you move from place to place and zoom in to show the details. The best analogy I’ve seen compared it to Google Maps. You fly over a city, hover over something of interest, zoom into a street and then fly back out to a wide-angle view.

Compared to PowerPoint it looks very 21^st century – flashy, colorful, active and engaging. But all the things that make it seem so cool and interesting are the same things that can make it uncomfortable for an audience.

Prezi vs. PowerPoint

So many presenters and producers are pondering Prezi that I decided to clear up some of the confusion about when to use it. Even though there are several presentation tools on the market, the main issue right now is when to use Prezi versus PowerPoint.

Prezi and PowerPoint are really designed to do different things. Of course, there are overlaps and you can force one to function a little like the other. But what’s the point in that? Use the system that best matches your content and objectives for the presentation:

Your objective it to make it easy for the audience to follow along and understand the content. The audience isn’t there because they are aching for a presentation. They want good ideas, explained well – especially the ideas that motivated them to be there in the first place.

How To Plan a Prezi Presentation

Okay, you’ve decided to use Prezi. The first thing to realize is that it isn’t your good old PowerPoint. You can’t jump in, do all the slides first and then figure out what you’re going to say last. (Be honest – that’s what we all do!)

To make the most of Prezi, you need to change how you think and organize information. You have to break away from the slide-by-slide organization and think of focusing in on a sequence of spots on a big “canvas.” Think in terms of ideas, concepts and visuals.

1. Start with the Big Picture.

The first thing you MUST do is choose a clear, engaging graphic image or picture that will give the presentation a structure and a format. In Prezi, the big picture is what holds everything together. Prezi works by moving over and into images and text.

Next, establish a place or an image on the canvas for each main point that people can associate with your content. As you zoom in on these spots during the actual presentation, the audience can see what section you’re covering. This makes the whole thing easier to follow and understand.

2. Have a story or a path.

As you organize your ideas, show how they relate and fit together. It’s best to work from one strong, compelling message that you have trimmed to the bone. Identify your key points and then add the details. Focus, Focus, Focus. Remember content isn’t what’s on the screen. Your content is what you are saying.

Prezi’s big advantage is that you can keep ideas and information in context. Everything is shown in relationship to each other. Folks, this is a very powerful benefit – IF you have a clear, simple path. The goal is to help the audience complete the journey and enjoy the experience. It isn’t to see how many amazing twists, turns and detours you can take along the way.

3. Make the journey simple and easy to follow.

In my article 3 Big Ways to Make Your Content More Relevant, Engaging and Actionable, I shared a format that helps make content more understandable and impactful. You should use the same strategy with Prezi.

•  In the big picture introduce your three key points, ideas, concepts, goals or objectives.

•  Then move into the first point and give three reasons why it’s important to the audience.

•  Move and target three big benefits, gains or advantages the key point provides.

•  Pull back to the big picture for a quick recap and then move or fly to the next key point.

4. Chose your “Wow” moments.

What attracts presenters is the novelty and impact of a Prezi presentation. It’s really high on the cool factor. But every point and piece of information doesn’t need to be a “Wow” experience. Look at the overall flow of information and save the animation and action for the ones that you really want the audience to remember. Save the surprises for the “Ah-ha” moments.

5. Bullets just don’t work in Prezi.

Remember, you can’t use the same organization you have used in PowerPoint. I’m going to make a stand here. Give up the old comfortable format of introducing a header and then building a list of bullets below it.

You don’t want to fill the screen with words. A successful Prezi presentation depends on images that are effective, revealing and memorable. Find great images and let them do the work instead of text and bullets.

6. Don’t use too much movement.

There seems to be almost universal agreement on this point. Movement and animation are the big features of Prezi, and that’s what attracts most presenters. But use caution! Just because something looks good on your 15-inch laptop doesn’t mean it will look great on a 15-foot screen. All the movement and action will be exaggerated when they’re projected.

Presentations should not require air sickness bags. When in doubt, make things a little smaller and a little slower. You are moving between ideas and not making the leap into hyperspace.

Present Smart

I’m not saying which presentation tool to use. Each one has major advantages, and a skillful professional designer can make both do tricks, fly through hoops and cook your breakfast. The key point here is: If your presentation is important, rely on a professional.

•  PowerPoint is standard operating procedure for most companies. Hey, it comes installed on everyone’s computer. People accept it and use it. That means that audiences see it every day. It’s reliable but not exciting. Everyone expects the “same old, same old” and that’s what they get about 99% of the time.

•  Keynote is like PowerPoint’s younger brother. It’s more elegant and does many things better. That’s because it wants to do everything its brother does – with more sophistication. Keynote is fantastic and an audience can instantly see the difference. The snag with many users is Keynote is a Macintosh program.

•  Prezi rethinks the entire process. It changes the way speakers organize and present their ideas. And it changes the way the audience experiences learning and understanding data and information. It’s the “new shiny thing” that’s promises to transform presentations. But – you have to be willing to slow down, plan carefully, learn the program and use it well.

Are You Ready for Prezi?

Prezi is the newest tool in the toolbox. It’s cool and flexible, but the reality is it won’t make you a better presenter. It won’t replace having powerful, compelling content. What Prezi will do is make you different. In a day filled with traditional PowerPoints, you will stand out. You will take the audience on an adventure where they can discover and explore your key ideas and concepts.

Of course, that puts the pressure on you to think things through, focus your information and use visuals to communicate instead of text and bullets. If you ready for that, then you are ready for Prezi.

Let’s spend 15 minutes talking about your next project or challenge. It’s a free consultation so we can get to know each other. Just click on CONTACT US or send an email to andy@ideagroupatlanta.com and get in touch.

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