Powerpoint Do’s

and Don’ts
DO: Stay Concise

 The biggest rookie PowerPoint mistake is to copy and paste all your
information verbatim into the slides.

 Not only is this incredibly boring, but no one is going to have the time
or inclination to read a wall of text. Don’t turn a presentation into a
book.
DON’T: Overdo the Special Effects

 Avoid overusing animations, flashy transitions, jarring sound effects,

busy backgrounds, unnecessary drop shadows, ornate fonts, or any
other effect that doesn’t make your information clearer.
DON’T: Just Read the Slides

 Your audience, presumably, can already read. They don’t want to have
the words on the screen read back to them word for word. Your slides
should support an oral presentation, not just reiterate it.

 Know the material well enough that your bullet points will jog your
memory of the finer details that need to be addressed.
DO: Look Up!

 Even if you aren’t just reading from the slides and are just referring to
them, you should still look up now and then to maintain eye contact
with the audience– how else will you know if they are still awake?
DON’T: Rush

 Give your audience ample time to read each slide, but don’t delay so
long as to lose their attention.

 Likewise, don’t hit the next slide as soon as you finish discussing the
current one. Give readers time to digest the information, and check
out the room to see if they look ready to move on.
DO: Be Bold and Direct

 Use bold colors and sharp contrasts, not only because it will enhance
legibility but because it imparts emotion and energy into your
presentation.

 Similarly, when it comes to fonts for presentations, bigger is almost

always better. A point size of 18 is just about the bare minimum.
Shoot for something closer to the mid to upper 20s. Also, bear in
mind, sans serif fonts are considered more legible at big sizes.
DO: Save Handouts for the End

 Attendees already have the constant threat of smartphones to distract

them. Don’t give them anything else that might overshadow the main
event.

 Be the center of attention at all times. Make your case and make it
well, and then provide supplementary materials for people to look
over at their leisure.
DON’T: Overuse Statistics

 No one needs to see all the raw data that went into your presentation.
They want you to synthesize that information for them.
 If you have a stat you think is vital to the story you are telling, try to
at least format it in a visually interesting way like a simple chart or
graph.
DO: Use Bullets and Numbered Lists

 Humans process information better when it’s organized in discrete

chunks. Take out information and break it down into major sections,
and then break those down into subsections.
 Progressively released bullet points (that pop up one at a time) can
also be useful for helping the audience keep track of where you are in
the presentation.
DON’T: Be Afraid to Take a Pause

 You don’t have to run through your slides unceasingly. Some

presenters prefer to leave questions to the end, but others allow
questions at any time.

 But, if a question arises that causes a digression, consider hitting the

letter “B” on the keyboard. This will pause the presentation and clear
the screen.