Powerpoint Presentation Tips

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PowerPoint slideshows should enhance your presentation. Here are a few simple tips to start you on the right track.

1. INTRODUCION SLIDE

• Title of presentation, date, presenter name

2. OUTLINE SLIDE

1. Main points of what you will talk about
2. Then follow the structure you’ve laid out
3. Start broad, finish specific
4. Rank Information (What NEEDS to go on the slide)
5. Simplify

3. CONTENT SLIDES

1. Cover detailed information based on your outline
2. As many slides as you need, as many as 1-2 per minute
3. Remember Powerpoint is more visual than verbal: “a picture is worth a thousand words”

4. FINAL SLIDE

1. Audience will likely take away the last thing you say
2. So make a point to have the last slide be meaningful
   • provide contact information for followup?
   • pose a question for discussion?
   • finish with a joke/or light hearted conclusion?

5. Slide types  (TEXT)

1. Highlight your presentation, don’t create a substitute for it
2. Bullet points, not complete sentences
3. 4-6 points per page
4. No large blocks of text, audience stops listening, and reads
5. Consider showing one point at a time, using animation
   • helps the audience focus on what you are saying

6. IMAGES

1. Avoid clip art… everyone has seen it before, lacks emphasis
2. Images should be good: not pixilated, out of focus, too dark
3. Cropped to remove distractions

7. GRAPHS / DIAGRAMS

1. Make them as simple as possible
2. To be grasped in just a few moments, not studied at length

8. Design issues: (TEMPLATES)

1. Use a consistent background and layout for all slides
2. The template sets the tone of your presentation
3. choose it carefully
4. Avoid really bright backgrounds, or cluttered layouts

9. FONTS

1. Choose two at most, nothing cursive or ornamental
2. Stick to sans-serif fonts, for legibility
3. Minimum of 18 point, 20 to 24 is better
4. Main points/titles bigger than subpoints/content

10. COLOR

1. High contrast dark on light, or light on dark
2. Use color with care, to emphasize your talk
3. Avoid extremely bright colors, hot pink, neon orange, acid green
4. Do not combine red/green, yellow/purple, or blue/orange

11. ANIMATION

1. Use sparingly, and be consistent
2. Avoid distracting or annoying sound effects

12. Check your work carefully

1. 1. Check for spelling mistakes and grammatical errors
   2. Check for logic and the flow of information
   3. Try to test your presentation in the room before your talk
      • you may need to adjust the colors/templates/font size for the room/equipment
   4. Be prepared to give your talk without a PowerPoint slideshow
      • technical glitches do happen

Presentation hints

1. 1. Practice your presentation
   2. Make eye contact with your audience
   3. Do not read the slides to your audience
   4. Leave time for Q&A at the end
   5. Don’t forget to summarize your main points
   6. Use Powerpoint to enhance your talk
   7. (NEVER the reverse)