Whispering, yawning, and a complete lack of interest from the audience, apart from checking their smartphones… Does this scenario sound familiar? Mistakes happen to everyone during a presentation, but there are certain situations that can definitely be avoided.

Below you will find a list of the 10 most common presentation mistakes, which can happen quickly but are also easily avoided. Which of these mistakes might you make? Check yourself to spare your audience a yawn-inducing presentation.

1. Too many company logos?
   Including your company logo in the presentation is great, but you should place it discreetly in the header or footer; otherwise, it quickly becomes an annoying attention-grabber. Sponsor logos should only be shown once, either at the very beginning or on the last slide.
2. No pictures?
   Did you know that 90% of the information transmitted to the brain is visual? Make sure to keep the amount of text on your slides to a minimum and include images and photos. Use visual elements to reinforce your points.
3. An infinite number of outline points?
   Don't focus on an endless list of outline points, but rather try to visually highlight the key points of your speech. Your slides should be clear and easy to understand at a glance. Your task is to illustrate the big picture and emphasize interesting details!
4. Boring title?
   Craft a short and engaging title that piques the audience's interest in the topic (maximum 70 characters). Try to include keywords; this will give your audience a comprehensive overview of the subject. While writing a good title takes time and practice, it's ultimately worth the effort.
5. Read aloud from a presentation?!
   Surely you've been in a presentation before and someone was constantly staring at their notes. Can you remember how bored they were? Or can you remember anything at all? Avoid this disastrous presentation mistake yourself by doing one thing – practice. Rehearse your speech so that you can speak freely in front of your audience. This will give you a more authentic presence and allow you to connect with the audience through eye contact.
6. Is a single slide too cluttered with content?
   Design your slides according to the motto "One idea per slide." Arrange your slides consistently and simply—but effectively. Take Steve Jobs' presentation style as an example.
7. Tiny, illegible text?
   Use a font size that is easy to read – a good size is no smaller than 36pt for titles and 18pt for body text.
8. Speaking too quietly and unintelligibly?
   The opposite would obviously be to speak loudly and clearly, but this advice isn't particularly helpful. Especially not if this behavior stems from a deeper fear or from being naturally introverted. The best approach is to practice in front of a mirror or with someone standing across the room. Expressing yourself clearly is simply a matter of practice and boosts self-confidence. A good solution is to choose a hobby where you learn this skill—like singing, for example. This way, you learn how to project your own voice.
9. An impersonal expression?
   Be expressive by addressing your audience directly, just as you would in a one-on-one conversation. Present your thesis, for example, by relating it to a story, and also try to be humorous.
10. Was the presentation time allotted too short?
    Practice your speech with a stopwatch to rehearse and optimize your presentation. This will help you internalize your topic so that you can speak freely afterwards, but still within your time limit.

We hope these tips help you address your weaknesses effectively. Keep at it and pay attention to the insights you gain after applying our tips. We would love to read your comments.