Basic Guide for an Effective PowerPoint Presentation
Conducting a PowerPoint presentation is not as easy as it looks, a lot of time and effort had been done by the speaker just to present the topic to the audience. However, to make the PowerPoint presentation effective, it is essential for the speaker to use great visual aids that can be provided by the PowerPoint to make an impact on their audience. In line with this, below are some basic guides on how you can conduct an effective PowerPoint presentation:
Fonts:
• In a PowerPoint presentation, it is recommended for you to use fonts such as Helvetica or Arial; it is easier on the eyes because it is more readable. Try to avoid fonts such as Palatino or Times New Roman in a PowerPoint presentation.
• Don't use fonts that are smaller than 24 because this will make the fonts too small for the audience at the back to read.
• Label each screen clearly. You need to use larger fonts for this to stress your point.
• You can use different colors and styles (bold, italic, etc.) for more impact.
• Remember not to use italicized fonts for all the text because they are difficult for the audience to read quickly.
• Don't use more than 8 words at every line.
• Never use all caps except on the title or the subheading.
• Use dark fonts on light background or light fonts on dark background.
Before you proceed with the presentation though, try to proofread your work and check if the slides are working properly. If possible, you should also try to run the PowerPoint slides on the place of the conference itself to test whether it looks professional.
Design and graphics:
• Try to keep the background consistent except for long presentations
• When you are using charts and graphs, you need to use minimal texts to enable the audience to concentrate on the graphics.
• Keep the design simple and clean, you can leave the areas around the graphics blank.
• Enhance the topic of the slide by using pictures or clipart. Remember that these graphics should be related to the discussion at hand though.
• Use the same style of graphics throughout the PowerPoint presentation. For example, if you are using cartoons, stick to it.
• Try to limit the number of graphics or pictures on each slide
• Avoid the flashy graphics and noisy effects unless they directly relate to the topic.
• Limit the number of PowerPoint transitions, it is recommended for you to use only one.
• Check all the graphics before the presentation.
Colors:
• Try to limit the number of colors used on one screen.
• Avoid overly bright colors because they are difficult to read.
• Don't use more than four colors on a chart.
• Remember to check the colors on the projection screen before the presentation because it may appear different compared to what is seen on the monitor.
However, you should always remember that no matter how good the presentation or your graphics are, still the most important thing in the presentation is the content. Your audience should have learned something from you during the course of the presentation and they should be more willing to support your opinion once the presentation is over.
