Executive Tips

A Formula for Dynamite PowerPoint Presentations

PowerPoint has a lot of bells and whistles to help you design presentations like a pro, but you must first master the basics. Here are some tips.



1. Know Your Audience


It’s imperative that your audience connects with your presentation, so relevance and timeliness are important. If the content of your slides matches the context of the presentation, you have a greater chance of making an impact.



2. Give It a Modern Makeover


Update your slides with bold, modern themes, related graphics and easy-to-read copy. Avoid clip art and stylistic elements that don’t match your company’s brand.



3. Keep It Short and Sweet

Say what you need to say, but don’t over-say it. Limit your slides to include only the essential words, graphs or charts. Let them walk away with key messages rather than a novel. 



4. Gauge Your Audience

If they are actively listening by taking notes, asking questions and nodding along, you’re golden. If not, it may be time to kick it up a notch. Consider breaking up a long presentation with entertaining trivia slides. Be prepared to get everyone involved or offer a seventh-inning stretch break.



For more information, check out the Presentation Zen blog.

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