Tips for Killer PowerPoint Presentations Nika Plevnik

GUIDES How not to use the PPT: Life after Death by PowerPoint (Don McMillian) Extreme Makeover: PowerPoint edition (Dean Shareski) related Killer PowerPoint: Enhancing your presentation skills (J. Doug Jefferys, MCP)

Less is more One idea per slide. No more than 5 lines a slide not more than 6 words a line. Use key words. Give handouts of your slides. IMPORTANT: not at the beginning of the presentation.

The form is important

Background Use darker bgds: contrast (lighter bgd looks cheap, amateur and tire your eyes). Get rid of the templates (start with a blank slide). Insert logo in the master page or at least let all the slides have the same bgd, font and format (gives the identity to the presentation).

No textures…

… or big images in the background – make it simple.

Text Use standard fonts (SansSerif fonts), but no more than 2 different fonts. Not more than 2 to 3 font colors 28 pt for text, 36–40 pts for titles

“Many people do not run spell cheek before their presentation – BIG MISTAK! Nothing makes you stupider than spelling errrs.” (D.M) Make sure that your text is grammatically perfect (spell checker, proof reader).

- Create Impact eye Zoom Images, animations Visual – not auditory Show me what you mean!

No cheesy images (clipart). Use professional stock photo images – more compelling; images that arouse emotions or humorous images. Copyright free image sources: Google image search, Flickr, Morgue file

No dissolves, spins or other transitions, if used let they be quick. Use animation and sound minimally (can be effective), but never use the sound effects that are built in to the program.

Animate your body and not your slides talk effectively, passionately, using both speech and body language

Add schemes & diagrams rather than tables; but let they be simplified. -hard to read (slides of longer duration) +better overall picture and better comprehension of ideas and statistics

Mastering PowerPoint and the computer Learn to navigate in PPT. Make a rehearsal.

Have a reserve plan B Presentation on USB key, CD-rom, printed- out version.

Do not EVER read text directly from the slide. Eye Contact Use remote mouse 3 on 1 Rule (3 slides per 1 page (A4)) 15 Word Summary summarize your idea in fifteen words. If not, rewrite it and try again. 10–20–30 Rule (by Guy Kawasaki) PowerPoint slide show should have no more than 10 slides, last no longer than 20 minutes and have no text less than 30 point font.

Speed Not talk too quickly/not too slowly (1 slide/1 minute) Slow Down - Consciously slow your speech down and add pauses for emphasis. 20–20 Rule – should have 20 slides, each lasting exactly 20 seconds. be concise and do not bore people.

Additional 10 guidelines for performing a speech Be Entertaining –Dry facts without any passion or humor will make people less likely to pay attention. Speeches are About Stories –explain your points through short stories, quips and anecdotes. Project Your Voice – Nothing is worse than a speaker you can’t hear. Don’t Plan Gestures Breathe In Not Out – Feeling the urge to use presentation killers like ‘um,’ ‘ah,’ or ‘you know’? Replace those with a pause taking a short breath in. Come Early, Really Early – Preparation can do a lot to remove your speaking anxiety. Get Practice – practice speech regularly to be more competent and confident when you need to approach the podium. Don’t Apologize – Most audience members can’t detect your anxiety, so don’t draw attention to it. But do apologize if you’re wrong. Put Yourself in the Audience – When writing a speech, see it from the audiences perspective. Use WIIFM (What’s In It For Me) to guide you. Have Fun – Enthusiasm is contagious.