How to create and give PowerPoint presentations that work

“When Microsoft Windows crashes, it pops up what techies call "the blue screen of death." But there's another deadly blue screen that businesspeople are even more familiar with. You know the one: The royal blue rectangle that contains bright yellow lines of bulleted text, a pie chart, or sometimes just brightly colored logos. You've already seen enough dull PowerPoint slides to last yourself a lifetime. So why, when it's your turn behind the lectern, do you boot up the same old speech?”

DEATH BY POWERPOINT
Angela R. Garber
http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/biztools/article.php/684871

How does your organisation use PowerPoint to present itself? Are they clear, entertaining and consistent — or dull, scruffy, uninspiring and unprofessional?

Does your team use the same template for a consistent look — or do they all use their own without supervision?

If you're not sure — don't worry — you're far from alone. Just take a look at some of the presentation you and your team use and look out for these cardinal sins:

• Low resolution and distorted images
• The wrong logos — poorly reproduced
• Garish colour schemes
• Massive text right to the edge of the slide
• Huge amounts of text on each slide
• Excessive use of clipart
• Overly flashy transitions

If your team's presentations fall into any of these traps, what can you do about it?

Get a template

A good template can help make sure your PowerPoint presentations deliver the same consistency and professionalism the rest of your marketing and presentation communications.

The right template will help your people make sure they use type carefully, and that your logo is always correct. It will also save a lot of time and stress when your people are forced to 'reinvent the wheel' by putting together a new look for every presentation.

At the very least, make sure your team use one of the templates supplied with PowerPoint. This will give you the consistency — but remember these are generic templates and therefore may have been used by the last person that presented to your audience!

There are plenty of places where you can download free or low-cost 'after-market' templates, and these are much better — but they are, of course, still generic.

Ideally you need a custom-designed template that is unique to your organisation, is in-keeping with your brand or corporate identity, and which can be used for all your presentations or even distributed throughout your organisation.

These can be produced from as little as £280. Take a look at some samples of templates we have produced for our clients.

Get advice

There are many web pages and books to help you use PowerPoint more effectively, but remember that creating a good PowerPoint is about much more than just knowing the program. Think about the whole experience and plan the event properly.

'How to create and give PowerPoint presentations that work' is a booklet produced in conjunction with one of the leading personal coaching companies, and is packed with useful tips to help you plan every aspect of your presentation. DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE COPY HERE.

Get help

If you're still not sure how best to proceed just give Jay a call on 01509 22 44 66, or email creative@hullabaloo.co.uk. We will be more than happy to discuss your requirements without obligation.