A handout is a visual aid. They are most commonly used at meetings but you may distribute handouts at large conferences. Do you give your handouts before, during, or after the presentation? The answer is: it depends.
- Before - For large conferences give them a copy of your Powerpoint presentation beforehand so they can take notes and follow along.
- During - Are you going to have a working session? You may want to distribute papers at the point in the meeting when you'll be using the working document.
- After - The rule of thumb is to give handouts at the end of the presentation if they contain a lot of information. You don't want people flipping through the pages.
Be sure to put your contact information at the bottom of every page. It's also a good idea to include resources - websites, associations, and reference materials on the handouts to add greater value.
