PowerPoint is a very popular and widely used software for presentations. Sometimes PowerPoint slides can be the most powerful tool in your arsenal. It’s easy to create, edit, and share presentations as well. However, there are some pitfalls you might encounter when using PowerPoint for business or personal use. These are 10 tips that will help you to become a PowerPoint wizard.
Table of Contents
1. Create an engaging presentation
The first tip would be to make sure your presentation is engaging. Be as creative as possible and find any way you can to engage your audience. If you’re not interesting, no one will be interested in what you have to say. Be creative in your presentation. Find new ways to engage your audience. There’s nothing worse than a mediocre presentation that goes on forever with no worthwhile information provided at the end. Make sure you’ve got something exciting to show when people first arrive and then wrap up nicely at the end so that people are left feeling like they want to be a part of your community.
2. Be interactive
Another important thing is to make it interactive. Put the words on the screen so people are paying attention, but also give them something to do. This could include putting up a slide in the middle of your presentation and having people answer questions or participate in a poll. We should use PowerPoint to add more interactivity to our presentations. Adding these elements will make the presentation more engaging for the audience which will, in turn, help them retain the information better.
3. Readable fonts
Yet another tip would be to make sure your fonts are legible and not sloppy. There are many different fonts available in PowerPoint, but some fonts are easier to read than others. Some fonts are not very readable at all, which can make it difficult for people to understand what they’re reading on their slides. You don’t want people having to squint at your presentation just to read it!
4. Use slides for storytelling
For years, presentations have been a staple of the corporate world. They are used to communicate ideas in a way that is both entertaining and memorable. One of the most powerful features of PowerPoint is the ability to use slides as storytelling devices. Slides should be stories that engage your audience and convey a message. Each slide should not just be a list or a series of words, but rather it should tell an actual story.
5. Choose the right templates
The first step of not only using PowerPoint well but also becoming a PowerPoint wizard is to choose the right templates. There are many different templates, some of which will be more suitable for your needs than others. The key is to choose the right template for your presentation. This will make it easier for you when creating and editing presentations because everything will already be set up for you with the correct font sizes, colors, layouts, etc.
6. Add visuals
PowerPoint is a tool that allows you to share your ideas and stories with others. Adding visuals to your presentation is one way to make the experience more engaging for those who are listening. People love images. You can use a website like Unsplash to find high-quality, royalty-free photos that you can use in your presentation slides. You can also add photos from your collection as well.
7. Add videos
You can also incorporate videos into PowerPoint presentations. Videos are great because they help break up the monotony of reading through slides for long periods. They also provide audio and visual stimulation for the viewer which makes it easier for them to understand what you’re trying to say on a particular slide.
8. Use animations
One of the ways you can make your PowerPoint presentation more dynamic is by creatively using animations. Animations are great for highlighting certain points or giving the viewer a sense of movement. The best part? You can use animations to create beautiful presentations without having to hire any designers. The only downside is that it’s more time-consuming than standard methods, but if you have the time, it’s worth it.
9. Spice up your text
Adding a little bit of spice to your text will keep your presentation from being boring. There are many ways to do this like adding humor, new material, and/or playing with storytelling. All of these things will keep your presentation from being boring, and will help you to win your audience. Like, when you introduce your talk with a quote, it will grab the audience and they will be more open to what you have to say.
10. Keep it short and sweet
It’s important to keep your presentation short, sweet, and to the point while meeting your audience’s expectations. The best length for presentations is between 15 to 20 slides. It happens more often than you might think that people go too long in their presentations. It’s very easy to go over time limits on a presentation and lose your audience.
11. Be consistent
One of the most important aspects to consider when creating a PowerPoint presentation is consistency. One of the best ways to do this is by using slides with uniform fonts and colors. You should also be consistent with your imagery. This will make it easier for someone watching your presentation to follow along without getting distracted or confused.
Conclusion
Create an engaging presentation with slides as storytelling devices, add visual content, use animations creatively and keep it short and sweet. If you want your presentations to look great, use the right templates, fonts, colors, and imagery. If you want your presentations to be effective, add different audience members in mind, edit for different audience members, and spice up your text. With these 11 secrets in mind, you’ll be well on your way to mastering the art of PowerPoint!
