If you're selecting visuals for your presentation, make sure you don't choose tired, old and over-used images. Take the time to find fresh, powerful images. This best practices presentation provides a list of examples and tips to help you avoid visual clichés in your presentation.

1. Pr es en ta n!
tio !
C li ch és
How to avoid presentation
embarrassments.

2. Business
C l ic h és
are plentiful

3. Thinking Outside the box
turn-key solution Win-Win Paradigm
No Brainer Core Competencies
C li c hé s low hanging fruit
Bottom Line Get all our ducks in a row
Value Added Giving 110%
Push the
envelope Anything 2.0

4. Your presentation can fall
into the same cliché trap by
making the wrong stock
photo choice.

5. If you don’t want your
presentation to lay
an egg, avoid the
following image clichés.

6. Can you guess what the number
one cliché image is?
1
#

7. The winner is...
The most over-used presentation image.
As tired as the terms “partnership, win-win
and teamwork.”

8. This one is a close second
to the handshake.

9. Eyyy!
Thumbs up, thumbs
down, high fives, fist
bumps… they’re all the
same. If you want to be
cool like “The Fonz,”
keep using this one.

10. Also in the
thumbs-up
family.

11. If you have to use “team” in your presentation,
avoid images like this.

12. “You complete me.”
But if you use this slide,
you won’t impress anyone.

13. They even have
images for “Thinking
outside the box.”
A double whammy
business cliché.

14. Using
Stop
Signs

16. Is he watching football or
practicing virtual Yoga?

17. I used to like this
image. I even put in
a “yelling” sound
effect. Now I see it
everywhere.

18. Unless your message is spiritual,
leave out the ripples and waterfalls

19. If you use an image like this, make sure you
also play “Kumbaya” or “We are the World.”

20. This image is timeless.
Meaning it’s been used for 15+
years. Find something else.

21. There are hundreds of stock images of stick-people
to choose from. Which only means they are over-
used by others. Avoid using them if you can.
.

22. Avoid taking screen shots
of other people’s graphs
and charts. Especially if
they’re grainy and blurry.
Take a few more minutes
and build your own.

23. An over-used image
for “new ideas.”
Just create a slide
for your new idea
and leave it at that.

24. The long road ahead...
Don’t take it.

25. Do you know anyone that
still uses a stylus pen with
their phone?
If you’re going to use a
technology image, make
sure it’s current.

26. I retired this one last year. Using a target image
is an obvious choice. Everyone knows what it
means. Be creative and use some imagination.

27. If this image ever had any
value for communicating
“winning the race,” Charlie
Sheen blew it up with his over-
use of the term “winning.”

28. If you DON’T want your audience to
see you as a new, inexperienced
PowerPoint designer, then go easy
on the transitions, flips and fly-ins.

29. Clip Art
+ + =
You’re old and still use
an E-XATO knife

30. Can you say
“Old School” or “Tacky?”
Bu rsts
Banners

31. I will not fill my presentation slides full of clutter.
I will not fill my presentation slides full of clutter.
I will not fill my presentation slides full of clutter.
I will not fill my presentation slides full of clutter.
I will not fill my presentation slides full of clutter.
I will not fill my presentation slides full of clutter.
I will not fill my presentation slides full of clutter.
I will not fill my presentation slides full of clutter.
I will not fill my presentation slides full of clutter.
I will not fill my presentation slides full of clut.
I will not fill my presentation slides full of clu.
I will not fill my presentation slides full of clu
I will not fill my presentation slides full of clut
I will not fill my presentation slides full of clut
I will not fill my presentation slides full of clut

32. When in doubt,
leave it out.

33. Do you have any cliché
image nominees?
Add yours to the list by
posting a comment.

34. Thank You
Al
Bonner
785-­‐856-­‐0421
al.bonner@presenta9ontransforma9ons.com