We’re all familiar with the phrase, ‘a picture is worth a thousand words.’ And we see the power of videos, animations, and photography everywhere — in newspapers, books and magazines, online campaigns, billboards, and far beyond. So why leave visual assets in your corporate PowerPoint presentations as an afterthought?
You’ll often find that a professional presentation design company — teams of specialists who understand the nuances of slide deck creation — treat visual assets as they should be treated. Instead of overburdening slides with screeds of text or throwing in visuals as if at random, they harness the full potential of the medium for powerful and striking statements.
Visual assets range from high-quality photography and custom illustrations to PowerPoint explainer videos, video infographics and demo reels.
Read on to learn about the power of high-quality, thoughtfully selected, and strategically integrated visuals in your PowerPoint presentation.
Photos Evoke Emotion
Visuals evoke a more powerful reaction than text as the area of the that’s brain responsible for emotion is triggered in response to seeing an image. In some cases, reaching your audience on an emotional level might be necessary — say, if you’re looking for funding for your not-for-profit or you’d like investors for a product or service that helps a social cause.
The next time you hope to change minds or motivate action, don’t lose text completely, but consider using the perfect photo as a reinforcement; it will be even more powerful than another explainer paragraph.
Infographics Are Easier to Digest Mentally Than Text
Bringing data to life through video infographics spices up and elevates a presentation butwill also help viewers retain information. In fact, when you use visuals, 65% of viewers are more likely to remember the concept or pitch three days later versus 10% when the data is presented as text.
Ultimately, one of the most effective ways for audience members to recall information is to see a concept paired with or reinforced by a visual illustration or aid.
Information retention is one of the crucial elements of a successful presentation; while your audience will likely have a physical or virtual takeaway of core points, having a strong, standout memory that lingers is very important.
Visuals Transcend Languages
Pictures, illustrations, and videos can present universal themes that go beyond words. If you’re pitching to a linguistically diverse audience, or you’re looking to update data on a website so that it meets accessibility standards, visuals can help relay a message that reaches all viewers.
Images Can Entertain
You may want to add a spot of levity to your PowerPoint. Photos and illustrations can help here, too, but just be careful not to lean into the world of newspaper cartoons and social memes too much. Don’t risk alienating or offending your audience (even if you find the image hilarious).
How to Incorporate Photographs
If you’d like to start including a visual aid in your next presentation, remember these high-level tips.
- First, include alt text for any imagery. This helps visually impaired audience members; the screen readers that they’ll likely use will describe the image for them.
- Only use high-quality images. A graphic that’s blurred and distorted will immediately set an unprofessional tone while being distracting for audience members.
- Ensure your photographs are from a credited source and you pay for them if you need to (and needless to say, don’t use photos with obvious watermarks).
- If you’re unsure how to integrate or choose appropriate photos for your presentations, connect with a PowerPoint design company. They generally have access to a large collection of high-quality pictures and can help source aesthetically consistent photography that reflects your brand and your presentation message.
The Bottom Line
Quality visuals that truly tell your story can help strengthen your message and empower your point. Why not spend more time integrating carefully selected images and videos in your next presentation? You and your audience will be impressed with the results!
