How do you use visuals to make your message stick?

I disagree that visuals cannot be for decoration. In fact, I think a pretty template, cool cover slide image, and other imagery can help make the presentation more pleasant to view. Obviously, most imagery should have an impactful purpose, including showcasing data, highlighting trends, or to illustrate something surprising. Jokes go a long way to making a speech memorable, and stock images are very helpful for surprise reveals, especially if it's for a bit. The most important recommendation I could make with visuals is: Don't skip the visuals. A presentation with unreadable tables (called "eye charts") is not going to hold attention as well as a deck with some pretty pictures and a few select easy to see and understand slides.

Clarity of visuals is key for any speaker! People need to be able to see what you're talking about. You can have the best data and ideas in the world, but if people can't see them, what's the point? Clear images, large fonts, bold text, and very few words per slide is important. Protip: No font is too big if you're speaking to a large group in a big venue. One warning: Use presentation bullets sparingly! Some presenters include lists and lists and lists. Be careful about this, especially for large venue speeches. A few bullet lists makes sense, but don't go overboard if you can avoid it. If you have to use lots of lists, include imagery to break up a deck with a lot of bullets.

I love using visuals because they have a way of communicating to the participants. It grasps their attention and it helps the trainer communicate more with the visuals and save on having to many wordings

There's a saying "show them, don't tell them." But when it comes to speeches, make sure that you "show and tell" them. Not everyone may grasp what's going on, because of the topic, their distance from the screen, or they've been texting during your talk. The way to remedy these issues is to repeat your key points and explain what people are looking at when you share visuals. Make visuals crystal clear and make your verbiage equally as clear for any member of the audience to grasp.

This recommendation should have been at the very top. You always bait your hook to catch the fish. This means that you need to adapt your message, style, use of imagery, jargon, sophistication, and speaking cadence to the specific group you are speaking to. The way I speak to a finance group is very different from how I might speak to a government entity. The jargon, jokes, imagery, data, and frame of reference are all different.

You can never practice enough with your visuals. Proofread your text and read your slides out loud. But know that no matter how hard you try, sometimes there may still be issues with your visuals. It happens. The most important thing is to make sure the font is readable and the text is both large and bold. Checking other parts of the deck is also important, but readable text is most critical.

Feedback is an important part of becoming a better speaker. The feedback usually comes from 1) critically watching videos of my talks and 2) giving low-risk talks locally. While I've been a professional speaker for 2 decades, I still need to test out new material. This is where local groups I'm involved in can be helpful. Every talk and speech I give is customized and unique, but I am loathe to give a talk to a large group that includes high-risk talking points that I haven't tested with a lower-risk audience first. Whether you want it or not, feedback usually comes in the form of applause, laughs, questions, frustrations, or bombed jokes. I usually ask for LinkedIn testimonials, which I can also use on my speaker site.

Some last thoughts… Select relevant images, create infographics, and use charts and graphs to present data in an easy-to-understand manner. Integrate videos to add variety and engage the audience emotionally. Design visually appealing slides with ample white space to maintain focus. Utilize storytelling techniques with visuals to convey a narrative that resonates with the audience. Consider using props for a tactile element and incorporate memorable quotes. Use animations sparingly to guide focus without distractions. Strive for a balance between engaging visuals and spoken content to ensure the visuals enhance your message effectively.

Keep your visuals consistent throughout your entire presentation. Establish a color scheme and stay faithful to it. Don't get too carried away; aim to use no more than three colors unless it's absolutely essential. Pay attention to the contrast on your slides. Ensure that your text and images stand out from the background by choosing contrasting colors for them. Steer clear of overwhelming your audience with text-heavy or cluttered slides. As a rule of thumb, limit yourself to no more than five words per slide. When incorporating images, consider removing the background to seamlessly integrate them into your slides for an elegant touch.