It’s not uncommon for corporate PowerPoint presentations to include lots of statistics and data. For this reason, the most important thing to ensure is that all your stats and data are easily digestible and presented in creative ways. If they are visually appealing, they will be more memorable. There is nothing worse than being presented with slide after slide of boring figures in bland or mediocre formats.
Different ways to present data
There are many ways to present data, but it’s important to choose the best way to communicate your data clearly, after all, the purpose of presenting them is to make them understandable.
Below are 6 options for you to consider next time you need to present your figures.
1. Bar and Column Charts
Bar and column charts display your data in the format of rectangular bars. The longer the bar is, the larger the value is. The purpose of them is to allow the audience to easily compare the values. The bar chart displays values horizontally, while the column chart displays them vertically.
Both charts are frequently used and very common in PowerPoint presentations. It’s best to use a bar chart when your values are long, and a column chart when you want to show change over a period of time.
2. Line Charts
Line charts are best used if you want to show the value of something over a period of time. You will see points that are connected by lines to display changes over a particular timeframe, and they run from left to right.
An important rule of thumb is to not use too many lines, as the intended information will become harder to digest.
3. Pie Charts
Pie charts are most commonly used when you want to show a comparison of individual amounts that add up to a whole. Each individual amount is represented as a slice in the pie chart (as illustrated in our image sample).
It’s best not to use a pie chart if you have too many slices to show, which makes it harder to understand, particularly if many of the slices have similar values. Visually, the slices will look all the same, making them harder to compare.
4. Donut Charts
A donut chart is very close to a pie chart, in look and use. The visual difference of a donut chart is that the centre is cut out, hence its name. Donut charts are also used to display data comparisons that all add up to a whole.
However, it’s best to use a donut chart if you only have a small number of categories to compare – no more than five. If your purpose is to show your audience comparisons at a glance, then a donut chart is a great way of doing so.
5. Customer Journey Maps
A customer journey map is used to visually show the engagement your customer has with either your product, service or company brand.
The journey map shows all the touchpoints of a customer, from how they first heard of your business, how they contacted you, all their interactions with you and everything that happens in between that leads to the end objective.
Using a customer journey in a presentation is a fantastic way of putting your audience in the customer’s shoes. The journey map will also help you identify what you are doing well and where you need to improve.
6. Infographics
Infographics show information and data in graphic format (ie. information + graphics = infographics).
They are modern and fantastic to use in PowerPoint presentations, and because they are more visually appealing than text and numbers, your audience is more likely to remember your intended message.
Use an infographic whenever you want to communicate information in a memorable way and make an impact with your message.
The Takeaway
Just because you may have a lot of data to include in your next presentation does not mean your presentation needs to lack appeal. The simple rule is to show more visuals and graphics, remember, 90% of communication to the brain is visual.
Here’s an example:
THIS?
Over 58% of Australians intend to take a holiday this year, with the remainder staying home.
OR THIS?
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