May 6, 2023 | SlideUpLift

PowerPoint Presentation Tips: How to Make a Good PowerPoint Presentation

A well-crafted PowerPoint presentation can have a lasting impact on your audience. However, creating an effective presentation can be daunting, especially if you are unsure how to make it engaging and visually appealing.

This blog post will discuss the critical elements of how to make a good PowerPoint presentation. From the use of images and colors to fonts, we will explore the techniques that can help you create a professional-looking presentation that captivates your audience.

Whether you are a student, a business professional, or simply looking to improve your presentation skills, this post is for you. By the end of it, you will have the tools and knowledge necessary to create a presentation that looks great and effectively conveys your message to your audience.

So, let’s start and learn how to make an effective PowerPoint that leaves a lasting impression on your audience.

Why is Presentation Design Important?

A robust Presentation design combines your ideas, narrative, graphics, facts, and statistics into one unified storyline that leads your audience to the conclusion you want them to reach.

When you create a presentation with good design, you have the potential to convey your point of view, grow the adoption of your ideas, and get your audience to see and hear your vision loud and clear.

How to Create a Good Powerpoint Presentation?

Giving a PowerPoint presentation can be a daunting task, but with the right preparation and design, you can create a presentation that will engage and impress your audience.

Here are the steps to help you make your powerpoint look nice:

  1. Start with a clear outline
  2. Choose a Clear and Concise Title
  3. Use High-Quality Images
  4. Add Video and Audio Elements
  5. Use Icons and Symbols
  6. Use a Consistent Design Theme
  7. Use White Space Effectively
  8. Use Contrasting Colors for Text and Background
  9. Practice Your Delivery
  10. End with a Clear Call-to-Action
    • Start with a Clear Outline

      Before you dive into designing your presentation, take the time to create an outline. Determine the main points you want to cover and organize them in a logical order. This will help you to stay on track and ensure that your presentation has a clear structure and purpose.

    • Choose a Clear and Concise Title

      Your title slide is the first thing your audience sees, so it’s essential to make it count. Choose a clear and concise title that summarizes the main point of your presentation.

    • Use High-Quality Images

      Images are an effective way to convey your message and add visual interest to your presentation. Choose high-quality PowerPoint images that are relevant to your content and don’t overwhelm the slide. Using too many images or low-quality images can distract your audience and take away from your message.

    • Add Video and Audio Elements

      Video and audio elements can be effective when demonstrating a process or showcasing a product. However, it’s important to use them sparingly and ensure that they are relevant to the topic. If you use too many videos or audio elements, it can become distracting and detract from your message.

    • Use Icons and Symbols

      Icons and symbols are useful when you need to convey data or statistics. Choose icons that are easy to understand and use them consistently throughout your presentation. This will help your audience to follow your message more easily.

    • Use a Consistent Design Theme

      Choose a design theme that is consistent with your brand or message. Use the same color scheme, fonts, and design elements throughout your presentation. This will create a cohesive and visually appealing presentation.

PowerPoint themes

  • Use White Space Effectively

    By using white space effectively, you can create a clean and polished presentation that is easy to read and understand. Remember, less is often more when it comes to PowerPoint presentations, and using white space can help you to simplify your message and focus on the most important information.

  • Use Contrasting Colors for Text and Background

    Choosing colors that provide a strong contrast between the text and background is crucial to making your text easy to read and preventing eye strain.
    Dark text on a light background or vice versa is the best practice. Avoid using too many bright colors that can be distracting.

  • Practice Your Delivery

    Rehearsing your presentation several times is crucial for a confident and engaging delivery. Practice delivering your presentation to friends or family to get feedback on your pacing and presentation style.
    Practicing also helps you to identify any areas of the presentation where you need to improve or elaborate.

  • End with a Clear Call-to-Action

    The conclusion of your presentation should leave a lasting impression on your audience. End with a clear call-to-action that encourages your audience to take action or think differently.
    The call-to-action should be relevant to your topic and motivate your audience to act.

10 PowerPoint Design Tips A Compelling Presentation

To ease you into the art of presentation design, we’ve got ten tips for PPT presentations that you can start implementing right away:

  1. Don’t flood your slide with a lot of content
  2. Stick to 2-3 Fonts and Colors
  3. Make Your Text Clearly Readable
  4. Pay Attention to Visual Hierarchy
  5. Use Graphic Elements
  6. Use Animations Sparingly
  7. Highlight The Key Points
  8. Incorporate Data Visualization
  9. Maintain Consistency Throughout
  10. Keep Your Presentation Notes Separate
    • Don’t Flood Your Slide With A Lot Of Content

      You will not likely read directly from your slides as an effective presenter. Include your essential points and must-know data on your slides. Your speech fills up the rest.

    • Always Stick to 2-3 Fonts and Colors

      To create a visually appealing PowerPoint presentation, limit yourself to two or three fonts and colors. For headers, use a bolder version of the font used for the body content. For example, if the body content uses Arial, use Arial Bold for headers. When selecting colors, consider the message you want to convey. A complementary color scheme is always a safe choice. Use one or two primary colors throughout, with an accent color for effect. Make sure your colors complement each other and convey the right message.
      Avoid using too many font styles and colors, as it can make your presentation look cluttered and distract from your main message. Stick to a simple and consistent design to help your audience focus on your content.

      MUST READ: Best Presentation Fonts

    • Make Your Text Clearly Readable

      While staying within the limits of a color palette is a good idea, you should use contrasting backgrounds and font colors to make your text stand out to the reader for a better and clear understanding.

    • Pay Attention to Visual Hierarchy

      When adding text to your next presentation, keep visual hierarchy in mind. This essentially implies that the sequence in which the content is read on your slide should be clear based on font size, color, or weight.
      If the visual hierarchy of your slides is messed up, then it will leave your audience confused throughout the presentation.

    • Use Graphic Elements To Make Your Presentation More Appealing

      Visual elements can enhance the impact of your presentation. Consider stock images, iconography, illustrations, videos, and even charts and graphs. All of these elements can help you improve the design of your presentation.
      You should also ensure that your images accurately portray the content of your presentations. Alternatively, if you don’t have any words on the slide, make sure the visuals accurately represent what you’re saying in your presentation.
      Visuals should always complement rather than distract from your presentation. Therefore, incorporating engaging and high-quality visuals in your presentation helps your audience visualize the words on the slide.

    • Use Animations Sparingly

      Sometimes we see presentations that employ animations extensively – to the point it appears gimmicky and takes focus away from the main message. We recommend using animations sparingly and, when used, sticking to one animation style throughout the presentation.
      Too much animation or too many different animation styles can confuse your audience.

    • Make Sure You Highlight The Key Points

      Using PowerPoint shapes, accents, and characters to highlight the key point or content fragments is a great way to showcase your core messages.
      This helps to hold the reader’s focus on the page and makes your presentation design look more attractive by carrying visual variety in the deck.

  • Incorporate Data Visualization

    Another presentation design tip when displaying figures and statistics in your slides is to use proper data visualization techniques. This can range from a bar graph or pie chart representing different data forms in a chart or graph to a percentage radial or pictogram that brings numbers to life. Which graph you use depends on the nature of the information you are trying to present.
    For example, line graphs are often used to showcase trends. Scatterplots are used to show how two things may be related. Pie charts are a great way to show compositions within a larger topic.

    READ MORE: How to tell a story with data?

  • Maintain Consistency Throughout

    Each slide in your presentation should have a consistent design and effect. You need to keep the design consistent so that your audience understands your slides go together and that you’re still discussing the same topic.
    Maintain a consistent design to create a coherent, cohesive presentation.

  • Keep Your Presentation Notes Separate

    Your presentation notes should not be written directly on the slide for anyone to view. This will make your slides very busy. You should save your presentation notes in the notes section to be confident that all the information you need for each slide is properly saved and easily accessible.
    As previously stated, your main presentation should only include your main idea, a few supporting statements, and visuals.

Wrapping It Up

Creating an attractive PowerPoint presentation requires effort, but it’s called-for. A visually appealing presentation can effectively communicate your message, promote your brand, and attract new clients or investors.

To achieve this, focus on simple and readable text, high-quality images, and consistent design. Incorporate visual aids, such as graphs and charts, to enhance understanding. Practice beforehand to ensure a smooth delivery. Following these tips to make your PowerPoint presentation attractive can help you captivate your audience and leave a lasting impression.

Use the PowerPoint presentation tips mentioned above the next time you make a presentation to provide your audience with a clear, visually stunning message. If you are looking forward to a presentation design to wow your audience, use easy-to-edit PowerPoint presentation templates by SlideUpLift!

FAQs

  • What is the 10 20 30 rule of PowerPoint?

    The 10-20-30 rule of PowerPoint was coined by Guy Kawasaki, a venture capitalist and author. It states that a PowerPoint presentation should:

    • Have no more than 10 slides
    • Last no more than 20 minutes
    • Use a font size of at least 30 points

    The 10-20-30 rule is designed to keep presentations short, simple, and focused on the most important information.

  • How to do a good presentation on PowerPoint?

    To do a good presentation on PowerPoint, consider the following PowerPoint presentation tips:

    • Start by planning and outlining your presentation.
    • Use a clear and concise structure that follows a logical order.
    • Use high-quality images and graphics to support your message.
    • Keep your text simple and easy to read, using no more than two fonts and three colors.
  • What are the 4 P’s for a successful PowerPoint presentation?

    The 4 P’s for a successful PowerPoint presentation are:

    • Purpose: Determine the purpose of your presentation and what you want to achieve.
    • Plan: Plan and organize your presentation to ensure a clear and concise flow.
    • Practice:Practice your presentation to build confidence and ensure you can deliver it within the allotted time.
    • Polish: Polish your presentation by reviewing and editing your slides, using high-quality visuals, and rehearsing your delivery.

    By following the 4 P’s, you can create a successful PowerPoint presentation that engages your audience and effectively communicates your message.

  • What are the top 5 tips for a good PowerPoint presentation?

    Here are our 5 tips and recommendations for a good PowerPoint presentation:

    • Start with a clear and concise message that you want to communicate.
    • Use high-quality images and graphics that support your message.
    • Keep your text simple and easy to read by using no more than two fonts and three colors.
    • Use bullet points to break up your content and make it easier to follow.
    • Practice your presentation beforehand and time yourself to ensure it fits within the allotted time.

    By following these tips for PowerPoint presentations, you can create professional and effective PowerPoint presentations that engage your audience and leave a lasting impression.

Subscribe to Slideuplift now!