Visual aids can enrich and enliven your speech in many ways: They can make your ideas clear and understandable; make your speech more interesting and memorable; help an audience remember facts and details; make long, complicated explanations unnecessary; help prove a point; add to your credibility; and enhance communication with people who speak English as a second language.

The major types of visual aids include graphs, charts, drawings, photographs, videotape and DVD, computer and Internet multimedia, objects, models, yourself, and volunteers. They can be conveyed to the audience via various media: electronic presentations, boards, posters, flip charts, handouts, visual presenters, overhead transparencies, slides, television, and video projectors. Presenters using PowerPoint should make their visuals crisp and appealing, and they should avoid overwhelming their audience with a torrent of slides. Using advanced features such as text animation can be effective.

Guidelines for using visual aids: (1) Choose visual aids that truly support your speech. (2) Appeal to as many senses as possible. (3) Prepare and practice far in advance. (4) Don't use too many visuals. (5) Make your aids as simple and clear as possible. (6) Aim for comprehension by everyone, including the people in the back row. (7) Never circulate a visual aid among the audience. (8) Remove physical barriers so that everyone has an unimpeded view. (9) Explain each aid, regardless of how simple it is. (10) Decide on the best time to show visuals. (11) Make sure the aids don't distract from your message: Show just one visual at a time, beware of using animals or children, and watch for misspelled words. (12) Don't talk to your aids. (13) Use progressive revelation. (14) Plan how you would handle equipment failure and other emergencies.