How to Make a PowerPoint Presentation

Go light on the bullet points. Bullet lists should summarise—in one, two or three words per bullet—each of the points you want to make in your presentation. Because, when you fill each bullet point with words, you can exhaust your audience. This Coats PowerPoint presentation makes this exhausting point. So, all you need are a few bullet points.

Go easy on the data. Yes, you have to show how you reach a conclusion or a recommendation. But you don’t need to show all the data. That’s because a deluge of data projected on to the back wall of the meeting room is just not going to be read. Your presentation audience wants to scan for trends. And since they seek anomalies, they want to know causes.

Use only one word where two might do. Thus you can keep your presentation material succinct, readable and indicative of your main points. That’s so your audience can take it all in. PowerPoint supports superb graphics, image display and video. So use them instead of words on the screen. This AO World financial results presentation meshed its images and text quite well.

Don’t read the slides. If you do, then it shows that you are using the slides as a crutch. Also, if you read from the screen, then you miss eye contact with your audience. Plus, you run the risk of blocking the audience’s view. Worst of all, reading your slides suggests that you don’t know your own presentation material. As a final point, audiences respect expertise and authority in their presenters. Because, when you read your slides, then you suggest neither.