PowerPoint
Tips
For Presentations
Tip #1: Presentation Slides:
1. Are different than slides used in informational
presentation, viewed without a narrator.
2. Should be used as visual aids for the speech, not the
speech itself.
3. If you hand out your slides for notes, they shouldn’t
make much sense without the speaker.
Tip #2: Less is More
For a presentation, the fewer the slides and the less text
on each slide, the more impact your words will have.
Tip #3: 6X6
Limit your number of words per line to six, and limit
your lines to six per slide. This will make your slides
much easier to read, and will help you avoid long
pauses while your audience reads your text (or worse
– talking while your audience is reading.)
Tip #4: Avoid Animation
Slides for a presentation should contain little or no
animation. The animation could cause your audience
to become distracted from your message. For instance,
if the animation is very short, some audience members
may miss it (they’ll either become annoyed and not say
anything, or they will ask the people around them
what they missed.) If the animation is longer, it will
cause a continued distraction.
Tip #5: Avoid Pictures
- Unless they clarify the
point you are making.
Tip #6: Use BIG Text
Use 24 point text or bigger. Smaller text will be harder for the people in the back to see.
Tip #7:
Use Simple Fonts
Use simple fonts such as Times New Roman or
Arial. These fonts are easier on the eye.
For Gosh sake, please call me at 1-800-872-7830… PLEASE!
•Presentation Slides
•Less is More
•6X6
•Avoid Animation
•Avoid Pictures
•Big Text
•Simple Fonts
•Logos/Cheat Notes
•Colors
•Light Background
•Dark Text
•Simple Backgrounds
•Bullet Points
•Reveal One at a Time
•Stories
•Analogies
•Posters
•Questions
Tip #8: Make Logos, Borders, and
Contact Information Small
1.
Your logo is not a visual aid.
2.
Make the logo and contact information appear
as if it were an afterthought.
3.
A final slide with your contact information in
bigger text is okay though.
4.
Avoid elaborate borders and toolbars because
you’ll lose valuable space.
Tip #9: Limit your Colors to Three
Use no more than three colors per slide if at all possible.
Many different colors may make your slide appear
cluttered and harder to read.
Tip #10: Use a Dark Background
The best background color is black. It makes the text
easiest to read. Other dark colors can also be effective.
Tip #11: Use a Light Text Color
The lighter the text color, the easier it will be to read.
Tip #12: Use White to Convey Information
White is the best color for the majority of your text.
Tip #13: Use Light Red for IMPACT
Red text adds impact, but can also provide a negative
connotation. Red is best used for bad news.
Tip #14: Use Green or Lighter Blue for more
Positive Impact
Use these colors for positive accolades or praise.
Tip #15: Keep Borders and Background Simple
Solid colors and simple designs work best as borders and
backgrounds. Darker borders add more contrast to lighter
backgrounds.
Tip #16: Use Main Bullet Points
Narrow your talk down to just three (or a maximum of
five) main points. Use clear and concise bullets instead
of long sentences. Remember, your audience came to
hear you speak, not read to your PowerPoint. So don’t
put too much information on the slide and don’t read it
word for word or you will be very very boring!
Tip #17: Reveal your Key Points One at a Time
Don’t give your audience too much information at once.
Use the PowerPoint slides to reveal each key point as
you discuss the point.
Tip #18: Don’t List ALL of your Support
Key support items for each point can be helpful to your
audience, but if you can offer more support of your
points from memory, you’ll impress the audience more.
Tip #19: Use other Visual Aids with your PPT
1. Don’t let your slides be your only visuals
2. This tip will help you become an even more
interesting speaker
3. It can also keep you out of trouble if you have a
technical glitch.
Tip #20: Use Verbal Descriptions when Possible
Help your audience paint vivid pictures in their minds
instead of just putting the picture on a slide. This
technique will help you interact and connect more with
your audience.
Tip #21: Tell Personal Stories and Anecdotes
Personal stories and anecdotes will help you connect
with and relate better to your audience.
Tip #22: Use Posters
1. When referring to a single visual repeatedly
2. A poster made of the visual will be more captivating
3. These can be fairly inexpensive
Tip #23: Bring Props
1. Don’t just show a picture of your product (Boring!)
2. Bring a sample.
Tip #24: Use Analogies to Explain Difficult Points
1. Helps your audience understand your point better
2. Relate your point to something they are more familiar
with.
3. If you are delivering a technical talk, make sure you
have at least one analogy in it somewhere.
Tip #25: Offer Printed Material
1. Keep printed material to yourself until you refer to it
in your presentation.
2. Otherwise, some of your audience will look through
the material instead of paying attention to your talk.
3. Sometimes, it may actually be best to offer the printed
material at the end of your presentation.
BONUS Tip #26: Get a Good Coach
1. Hire someone who is successful at designing and
delivering great presentations to coach you.
2. Public speaking is actually a very easy skill once you
overcome the fear associated with the process. A
good coach can help.
3. You can e-mail me your slides and any questions for a
free consultation at doug@LeadersInstitute.com.
This is what the previous slides might look like if they
were being used as visual aids for a presentation.
PowerPoint
Tips
For Presentations
Power Point Tips
Tip #1: Less is More
Tip #2: Main Points
Tip #3: Other Visuals
Tip #1: Less is More
•6X6
•Animation/Pictures
•Colors
Tip #2: Main Points
•Use Bullets
•Reveal One at a Time
•Give them More
Tip #3: Other Visuals
• Verbal
Descriptions
• Stories/
Anecdotes
• Posters
• Props/Sample
• Analogies