Your research is finished, and you can't wait to present your latest discovery at an upcoming conference. Unfortunately, organizing your findings has been a nightmare. It's tough deciding how to best present a project to people who know little about it—especially when you know every single angle. 

That's why you need to invest in the right tools to present your findings… starting with a conference binder. If you think that sounds like a simple solution to a big issue, you're right. Here's how conference binders can solve your presentation problems: 

Engage listeners' imaginations

"Engaging" may not be your first thought when you imagine a binder, but that's only because you're used to the generic store-bought variety. Conference binders come in more than 70 styles, which all have different features and advantages. These unique styles—and the custom designs you print on them—will provide a great visual aid to draw the audience into your presentation.

Designs with lots of imagery work exceptionally well. You can print hi-res photos related to your research on the outside of the binder. When your audience sees an interesting photo—especially one that uses a cool angle or leaves part of its subject to the viewer's imagination—they're going to be curious as to what's behind that image. They're also more likely to associate that image with your findings, according to a study on memory and imagery by Georgia State University.

Give your audience a takeaway

No matter how intelligent or educated people are, there's still a little child-likeness in all of us that loves getting a good gift. While you probably shouldn't give binders full of your precious findings to everybody in the auditorium, it may be appropriate to create take-home packets for key audience members.

For instance, if you're presenting at a conference that's geared toward bringing teens and young adults into science-related careers, it may good to have packets of helpful resources that will encourage them to look more closely at your specific field. Or you may want to have a packet of information handy to give to another researcher with whom you'd like to collaborate with in the future. 

One great idea to try: choose different types of conference binders for yourself and for your audience members to take home. You may want to use a full-size binder for your presentation, then distribute mini 7" x 9" binders that bear the same design. This way, your audience doesn’t have to carry around a huge packet, and you've given them a memorable design to help them connect their binder to your presentation.

Occupy your hands

Too many conference speakers take the stage without any tools. They might have a PowerPoint presentation running in the background or a bottle of water to wet their whistle, nothing else. Unfortunately, presenters who do this are now stranded in front of a large crowd, without any way to release their nervous energy.

According to a recent study on what Americans fear most, 26% are afraid of public speaking (compared to 19% who fear dying). While you may not be totally terrified, it's natural to be nervous when speaking to a crowd—especially if you're used to having a more behind-the-scenes role in the lab.

Taking classes from a public speaking trainer is one way to beat your fears. Another is to bring tools onstage to build your confidence, such as your binder. You can hold onto it to keep your hands steady and place notes inside it that remind you what to say next. This will help you behave more naturally. Even if you're a confident speaker, having a prop will make you seem more accessible to your audience—and give them something to look at besides your lips moving.

Keep you organized

There are lots of sounds, lights, and other people that can catch your attention and distract you from the presentation you're giving. These distractions can also be more intense for those who struggle with public speaking, because they're already prone to pausing, eye darting, and other anxiety-induced stumbles. What's worse, bad speaking habits like these could actually prevent your audience from paying attention.

When you use a presentation binder, you've got an outline of your presentation right there with you. Plus your notes are guaranteed to stay in order, unlike loose index cards that you can accidentally mix up. Even if you drop your binder, the contents will still be in order when you pick it up. You can also include images or notes to jog your memory and help your presentation flow seamlessly. Speaking to a crowd will be much easier when you have confidence that all your information is going to be there, right when you need it.

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