University Researchers: Prezi is More Engaging, Persuasive, and Effective Than PowerPoint

We’ve heard from customers that Prezi is better than traditional presentation methods in big ways. Crunch Fitness saw a 30% increase in sales when they switched to Prezi, and Fujitsu credited our platform for bringing in more leads than previous years at Dreamforce 2016— just to list a couple examples. It was feedback like this that inspired us to get definitive confirmation, and with the help of Harvard University’s researchers, we did. According to their study, Prezi presentations are more effective than PowerPoint slides.

Dive into the study

Designed to better understand the roles of “message” and “medium” in communication, the double-blind study split participants into two different groups. The first group was asked to create a presentation based on a real-world business scenario and deliver it to the second group (posing as high-stakes board members), in three different formats: Prezi, PowerPoint, and verbal presentations with no visual aid.

In the end, it was Prezi’s focus on meaningful movement that stole the show. The audience reported that compared to the sequential, linear transitions in slideware (and oral presentations’ total lack of visual aids), zooming in and out of a virtual canvas was a more favorable experience overall. As the research states, “… the observed effects are not biased, but instead reflect a true and specific benefit of Prezi over PowerPoint or, more generally, zooming user interfaces over slideware.”

Here’s how Prezi, PowerPoint, and verbal presentations without visual aid measured up against each other:

Source: Does a Presentation’s Medium Affect Its Message? 

According to these numbers, PowerPoint was rated no better than verbal presentations with no visuals at all.

Presentations are often responsible for closing deals, sparking partnerships, and helping sustain connections with clients. The edge Prezi gives can’t possibly be ignored by businesses that want to stand out and succeed.

Presentations that make you look good

As if that’s not enough good news already, Harvard researchers also learned that those using Prezi were seen as “more knowledgeable and professional” than when they used other methods. In today’s professional landscape, where competition is high and time is short, we’re thrilled to be the proven method for improved presentations and improved presenters alike.

If you’re just getting started with Prezi, check out the different packages we offer, or browse our knowledge base for the ins and outs. If you’re as excited as we are about today’s announcement, feel free to share our infographic below!