What I Wish I Knew Before My First Data Presentation
Preparing for a presentation can feel very overwhelming and intimidating… especially when we’re talking numbers. There’s a lot of pressure to be accurate, insightful, and engaging all at once. So, after going through the process, here’s the advice that I would have wanted while getting navigating it for the first time.
Get to know your audience
Before you even start thinking about the numbers and the charts, etc. you need to be able to understand who you’re speaking to. Are they familiar with data terminology? Are they the decision makers? Always make sure to tailor you content to what matters most to your audience. Relevance drives engagement!
Double and triple check all of your data
Once you have all of your data ready, make sure to double check it! Even the smallest error can distract from your credibility!
Be clear and concise
Avoid cramming too much information into your slides. Make sure to choose visuals that are easy to understand and will clarify and support your data rather than confuse. Try sticking to one idea per slide and use labels, titles, and colors throughout the presentation in order to highlight the takeaways.
Tell a story with your data
Simply creating a presentation with the numbers is not enough. You need to think about the “so what” behind your finding. What trends or what patterns matter in this case? What actions do you think need to be taken based on the numbers? A clear narrative is key for your audience to be able to follow your logic and remember the message you are trying to send them.
Practice practice practice
Run through your presentation over and over and over again until you feel confident with the information. This will help with pacing and allow you to hear yourself and fix anything that may sound unclear out loud.
Whether you are presenting to a class, a team, or a client, remember that presenting data isn’t just about showing your audience the numbers, its about turning insights into action! Creating a clear and focused presentation will help your audience better understand what matters and what their next steps should be.
As I mentioned Beyond Guesswork: How Marketing Experiments Drive Smarter Strategies, smarter marketing starts with smarter decisions!
