PowerPoint
What to do.
What not to do.
Background or Slide Design
The easy choice is: select a slide design
Dark background: Makes it easy on
people’s eyes in a dark presentation room
– Use a light background if the room is
not dark.
Font: Choose a complementary color
The slide design defaults usually work well
Background or Slide Design
• The easy choice is: select a slide
design
• Dark background: Makes it easy on
people’s eyes in a dark presentation
room – Use a light background if the
room is not dark.
• Font: Choose a complementary color
• The slide design defaults usually
work well
Background or Slide Design
Not all slide designs work well
Avoid picture background or cute things
on the border – they distract the audience
Plane backgrounds, complementary
colored font.
Color Wheel
Background or Slide Design
Not all slide designs work well
Avoid picture background or
cute things on the border – they
distract the audience
Plane backgrounds,
complementary colored font.
Color Wheel
Font Size
Can the people in the
back of the room read Put the information onto
your slides multiple slides
Link to a URL containing
Don’t change font
the information
size, use the defaults.
Link to another resource
Don’t try to fit too to present the information
much on a slide. Word
Excel
…
Transitions
Avoid all transition noises
they are cute once, after that, they are
distracting.
They are the sign of an amateur.
Some transitions are used well if they fit
with your presentation style
What’s on the slides?
Use the slides as an outline of your
presentation
For your audience – so they can follow your
presentation
For you – to keep you on track
Don’t just read the slides, add to what’s
on them.
What’s on the slides?
More than an outline
Some slides may contain detailed information
If the details are too much, use a hyperlink to
Google or other network links
Or use a hyperlink to files a Word doc or
other local file
Slide One
Title – Don’t be too clever
Introduce yourself
Don’t assume everyone knows who you are
Slide Layouts
Use different layouts
when appropriate
Experiment with
graphics
Pictures
Cartoons
Graphs
Other artwork
How Many Slides
A good start is about one per minute.
Learn to time your presentation, people
tend to vary between 1 slide every 30
seconds to 1 slide every two minutes.
Observations
These are guidelines, Practice your
not commandments presentation
Use what works for you Know your timing
But be certain it works Build in some flex,
for your audience especially into the end
of your presentation
Where’s your presentation
USB stick Email
Know where the USB Attach it to an email
port is located Send to Royal Mail
On-line Bring up royal mail
Put it on your website presto
if you have the space