How to Create a Powerful PowerPoint Presentation?

powerpointIf you have an upcoming project that needs to be delivered to someone or a group of people, consider utilizing the powerful effects a PowerPoint presentation can make in presenting this information. PowerPoint presentations can help keep the audience and you, as the speaker, honed in on the message being conveyed. When you’re explaining something to a group of people, whether they are learning something for the first time or you are persuading them to see a new view, PowerPoint presentations can support your message – if you create an effective presentation. Don’t worry; we’ve given some points to help lead you in the right direction to produce a powerful presentation.

A Clear Message

Outline

Before you begin, you must first understand the message and main points you’re trying to convey. It’s a good idea to begin with an outline that covers the main points and add facts to help support your message. Once you have your outline, make sure the order flows in a way that’s easily followed.  Just like a story, your message should have a beginning, middle and an end.

PowerPoint Message

The text you incorporate to your PowerPoint presentation should mirror your outline and be short and simple. Keep one major point with three to five supporting facts per slide. Not only will this be visually pleasing to your audience, it will also be easier for them to read and comprehend. You want the main focus to be on what you are saying to the group. The PowerPoint presentation should serve as a guide for your message as you further expand and support the message.



Design Template

Once you have your outline and the text you plan to use in your presentation, it’s time to dress the words up with design. Keep in mind you don’t want to be busy – just as too many words can be distracting, so can too much design. Decide on a simple, but attractive background and keep that throughout the presentation for consistency.

Fonts

When choosing your fonts, look for something that is clear and easy to read. Incorporate different font sizes within the same font to emphasize your points and try to stick to two or three colors that are complimentary. Each slide within your PowerPoint should have a title (your main point and largest font size and bolder color) and your supportive facts (a little smaller font size and same color– consider using bullet points as well). If you want to add something more you could incorporate a subtitle to further emphasize your point – keep this text smaller than the rest of the page so your audience knows where to focus. You could make your subtitle a different color for a pleasing pop to your audience’s eyes. As you decide a font style – keep this the same consistent throughout your presentation.  

Images


If your message can further be supported by an image incorporate it into your presentation. Be cautious when doing this however because you only want to add images if they can truly enhance your message.
Transitions
Keep your transitions with your words and between slides simple. While PowerPoint offers a wide variety of transitions, that doesn’t mean you have to use them. Over-doing transitions can be a huge distraction during a presentation.

Practice Makes Perfect

Preview PowerPoint

After you’ve written and designed your presentation, practice it! If at all possible do a run through in the room with the equipment you will be using when you give your final presentation. Depending on the equipment, it’s likely that it will look different than when you created it on your computer. Here you can decide if any tweaks need to be made visually for an easy read by your audience.

Get Feedback

Practice your entire presentation in front of someone – while this may be uncomfortable, it’s better to figure out what parts may not have been clear and need work before your final presentation. Have them evaluate you on your ability to stay on target, deliver a clear message and your timing. If you don’t have anyone to practice in front of, consider videotaping yourself for a self-critique.

By following these tips, you are well on your way to creating a powerful and effective message to share both audibly and visually.

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