When it comes to delivering a successful demo, having a clean and organized environment is crucial. A clutter-free and visually appealing setup can enhance your presentation and improve your efficiency during the demo. In this post, we will explore five essential tips for creating a distraction-free demo. Additionally, we will discuss a bonus tip that can add a unique touch to your presentation. Let’s dive in!
1. No Clutter on the Desktop
Start by keeping your desktop clean and organized to ensure a distraction-free environment. Avoid scattering too many icons, files, and folders all over it. Instead, group your files into relevant folders, eliminate unnecessary items, and only keep essential shortcuts and demo-related files on your desktop. Strive to have as few icons on your desktop as possible. A neat desktop creates a visually appealing and focused atmosphere.
2. Wallpaper
Choosing the wrong wallpaper for your demo environment can be a major distraction for your audience. Although it may be tempting to showcase personal photos, it could be distracting for some viewers. To ensure a professional look, it’s recommended to collaborate with your Marketing team and request a wallpaper featuring your company logo. Simple solid colors or subtle patterns are often the most effective, providing a visually appealing backdrop without overwhelming your audience. Remember, the focus of your demo should be on the content, not the wallpaper.
3. Multiple Desktops
For a more organized demo environment, consider utilizing multiple desktops. Both Windows and Mac OS can support creating virtual desktops. Assign different tasks or applications to each desktop for easy access and switching between them. For example, you could have one desktop dedicated to your PowerPoint presentation in presentation mode and another for a live product demo. Memorizing your Windows or Mac shortcuts will help you transition between desktops seamlessly. This allows smooth switching between your slides and live demo, making it ideal for “Tell, Show, Tell” type demonstrations.
4. Tab Groups/Multiple Tabs
It’s common to have multiple tabs open in your browser during demos. However, having too many accounts can lead to confusion and disorganization. To stay on top of things, consider using tab groups or browser extensions to group related bills together. This keeps your browser clean and makes it easy to switch between different topics. Not only does this help with organization, but it also speeds up your navigation, resulting in a smoother and more efficient demo experience. Remember to keep your browser clean and tidy, and set your default home page to your company page or Google. If you need to access another website for your demo, open a new tab. Another useful tip is to use the bookmark bar to access all your demo URLs and clearly label them quickly.
5. Shortcuts
Mastering keyboard shortcuts can improve your productivity and streamline your demo workflow. By reducing the need for mouse movements and clicks, shortcuts can help you execute tasks quickly and efficiently, allowing you to focus on your content and deliver a professional demo. Start by identifying repetitive tasks or actions you frequently perform during your demos and check if keyboard shortcuts exist for those actions. To avoid fumbling around and looking up usernames and passwords during your demo, have your browsers save all your usernames and passwords. Another tip is to use notes or a notepad with pre-typed content and take advantage of shortcuts such as “Shortcuts” on Mac OS to make automation smoother. For example, I used shortcuts in a dialer app to auto-dial numbers to generate telephone calls.
Bonus: Crazy Mouse
Have you ever watched a video where a cat chases a laser pointer? You can achieve a similar effect in a presentation by rapidly moving the mouse around your screen. However, this can be detrimental to your audience’s attention span and distract them from the content of your demo. Additionally, excessive movement on the screen can cause motion sickness for some viewers. It’s called crazy mouse syndrome. To avoid crazy mouse syndrome, moving the mouse slowly and deliberately in the direction you want it to go is recommended. Furthermore, if you are discussing specific features on the screen, removing your hand from the mouse is best to prevent any unintentional movement.
Conclusion
To create a successful and engaging demonstration, follow these five tips and try using a selective crazy mouse. A clutter-free setup, an organized desktop, appropriate wallpaper, multiple desktops, efficient tab management, and shortcuts are all important factors that can greatly enhance your demo experience. Keep your focus on providing a visually appealing and distraction-free environment that showcases your content and captivates your audience. Have a great demo!
It’s your turn now. Do you have any tips for conducting distraction-free demos?