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Not too long ago, I was creating a webinar when I ran into a minor problem. I had to choose a new background because the one I had been using had a number of issues. It made me think about the problems involved when choosing your slide backgrounds.

In this article, I’m going to share five rules to help you select a background for your presentation slides when you deliver a webinar.

1. Keep it simple. I’m not referring to visually simple (at least not here) but rather physically simple. One of the most powerful techniques for creating backgrounds consists of layering flat colors, photographs and effects. This can create very flexible and visually stunning backgrounds. Unfortunately, some of the webinar hosting companies are unable to properly process these backgrounds. Remember that none of the hosting companies have access to the actual software used to create presentation slides. They are attempting to emulate it. That means that some effects at the edge of capability may not reproduce properly.

2. When creating your background go for high contrast colors without being garish about it. Colors which are opposite each other on the color wheel are considered high contrast. Black on white, white on black, red on green, orange on blue are all high contrast. As a result words are easy to read because lines stand out on them. Effectively, your audience won’t have to expend as much energy to read your slide. However, watch the colors and the intensity as some combinations may be too vibrant. The result will be just as exhausting.

3. Don’t let the writing overlay any pictures you use. To a certain extent you can overcome this by tinting the picture. This hints at a picture by using different shades of the main color as shadows or highlights. Unfortunately, this means that lettering may become lost in the shadow or highlight. Very few colors for the lettering will display clearly over multiple shades of a base color. If you are going to use a picture — and there are many reasons to do so — keep the picture to the corners where they will not have to have lettering placed on them. This applies equally to logos as well!

4. Don’t be too strong with your background color. Light shades and low intensity colors are more forgiving than high intensity or dark colors. Use the dark, high intensity colors for the lettering. That way your words will be much easier to read.

5. Remember that you don’t control the actual colors seen. The actual color seen will be interpreted by the hardware on the viewer’s desk. There is a great deal of variation in the colors displayed by different makes and models of terminal. Even one make and model may vary from unit to unit. So be careful when picking colors where precision is required. It won’t happen and your slide may be unviewable.

By giving the best presentation of your life you will expand your skills and abilities in public speaking. The expectations you have of yourself will be increased. Your progress towards greater confidence, a broader network base and a widened field of potential clients will be realized. Winners stand out from the pack. They are looked up to and people who are looked up to become leaders. You will be viewed as a leader. People follow leaders.

If you are reading this article then obviously you want to improve your presentation skills. You realize that these skills are important not only in business but in other walks of life as well. You’re not content with your present status quo; you seek improvement, growth and positive change. You are to be congratulated. Just be prepared to work for that improvement – hard work, and lots of it. Paradigms are not broken and reset by slackers.

Do you need to excel? To continually improve and develop? Would you relish change or do you harbor a certain uneasiness about it? Improvement means growth. Growth means change. Approaching change often triggers apprehension. Apprehension though, is not necessarily a bad thing. It can cause us to pause, think and reflect on a course of action we’re about to embark on. Jesus Christ himself said, “Who of you that wants to build a tower does not first sit down and calculate the expense, to see if he has enough to complete it?” (Luke 14: 28) That is, consider in advance the outcome(s) of what you’re planning. Embrace the positives. Minimize the negatives, if there are any. Then proceed.

America’s 16th president, Abraham Lincoln said, “Whatever you are, be a good one.” You should be proud that you aspire to be the best. But giving the best presentation of your life goes far beyond that. You want to exceed all now established limits – to break the mold so completely that a whole new standard is set. Your paradigms will be forever changed to a new and higher level. Be proud that you want to be skilled at such an important level. “Have you beheld a man skillful in his work? Before kings is where he will station himself, he will not station himself before common-place men.” (Proverbs 22:29) You’re now headed for higher ground. It’s time to get “gussied up”.

The challenge of giving the best presentation of your life will involve work and preparation on your part. How to speak in public and presenting well requires attention to aspects such as:

o Poise and grooming

o Natural use of relevant language

o Application of quotes, anecdotes and humor

o Overcoming any fear of public speaking

o Knowledge of presentation programs and techniques

o Mastery of your presentation topic material

With proper preparation and perseverance there is little you cannot accomplish in time. If you genuinely think you’ll succeed, you will. It’s up to you and you alone. In upcoming articles we will discuss things you can do and techniques you can apply to ultimately give the best presentation of your life – again and again and again. You have my backing and support.

If you go on a vacation to someplace exotic there is a good possibility that you will be lured into a timeshare presentation. They will give you a lot of good reasons to sit through their speech and often they will offer you something that sounds good enough for you to bite. I know that for my wife and I we have sat through our fair share of timeshare presentations and we have even ended up buying a few, but what can you do to make sure that you don’t buy, especially if you aren’t in a position to buy?

Sometimes when we go on vacation we are able to get a great rate on our room or vacation package because we are willing to sit through the timeshare presentation. This is completely understandable. They are in a position to make a lot of money with your timeshare purchase and you are able to save a lot of money on your vacation by being willing to sit through the presentation. The danger comes in because they are in a position to win the struggle of averages. A considerable number of people that are willing to sit through the presentation and do not want to buy will end up buying because they are very good at presenting their side of the argument. That is how they make their money, so you need to be prepared not to purchase from the start. Make sure that you even tell them (although they have heard it before) that you are just there to get the discount, and when they get to the sales part you will be ready to tell them no right away.

Of course once you get beyond that hurdle you are not really done. Another sales person, usually in a higher position will come out to give you an offer that you can’t refuse. This is a dangerous place for you to be in because they will give you a good offer and you will recognize it. But add it up in your head and realize that you will be making those monthly payments for years, perhaps even after your circumstances change and you aren’t able to take advantage of the timeshare vacation.

So before you take them up on the vacation discount make sure you have resolved in your mind exactly what the outcome will be and stick to it. Even if the pressure gets heavy you need to stick to your word and let it be no. If, of course, you find that it is something that you really want then you should go for it, but make sure to think about it first.