How to Create Better PowerPoint Presentations

Despite all of the incredible new technologies that are available for businesses, PowerPoint is still the industry standard when it comes to making a point. Knowledge of the ins and outs of the PowerPoint system will never become irrelevant; your next move should be directed toward making your presentation better. Here are a few tips that everyone can take home regardless of the audience to which you present.

Keep your slides simple

You can make a PowerPoint presentation as long as you want (but as a general rule, try to keep it brief), so spread the love among your slides! There is no need to overload a single slide with so much information that you find yourself scrolling. Depending on the projection medium, an overloaded slide can be awkward and visually unappealing. Keep the bullet points to a minimum, and try not to make your viewer scroll.

Some of the best marketers and corporate salespeople in the world, including Microsoft employees, have tried to implement a six-word-per-slide rule. This may be a bit of overkill, but you get the point.

There is a reason they call them “talking points”

You can keep your slides brief if you remember that YOU are the real presentation, not your slides. The information on the slides should accentuate what you are saying. Details should come out of your mouth, not off of the slides.
At the same time, you must be sure that the information on the slides can stand alone if you are not around for the presentation. Many interested parties will request a copy of the presentation after the meeting, so make sure that slides contain the main components of your information.

Invest in professional images

Do not use low-quality images that you find for free on the Internet. Invest in a Shutterstock account or other service that offers high-resolution pictures intended specifically for business presentations.