1. Best Practices for PowerPoint!
Welcome!
Presentations
Welcome to my conversation on “Best Practices for Presentations.”
The main message of this presentation is to show you how to use PowerPoint as a visual tool, a visual aid, a visual support of the information you are presenting to your audience. It should NOT be used as a documentation tool. Documentation should be provided via Word or PDF format so your audience can view it at a later time.

2. Best Practices for PowerPoint!
Presentations
Simplify, simplify, simplify! One main idea per slide.
We may need to re-think the intent of our message.
Ask yourself,
What are the most important ideas you want your audience to remember from this presentation?
What is the main point of each slide? Why does this information matter? Why do I need this slide?
If you do not have a good answer for these questions, delete the slide.
So, how do we re-design the presentation to match our new intended message?
Simp
LIFY

3. If it can be designed with fewer elements then use NO MORE!!!
Best Practices for PowerPoint!
Presentations
If it can be designed with fewer elements
then use
NO MORE!!!
Always keep in mind….
If it can be designed with fewer elements, <advance slide> then use <advance slide> NO MORE!!!!!
Notice the use of text color changes to emphasize the main intended message. But be aware of accessibility issues such as color blindness.
Your audience will find it easier to remember your main points with less “stuff” to focus on.

4. Best Practices for PowerPoint!
Key Elements 1 2 3 4 5
Best Practices for PowerPoint!
Presentations
Let’s highlight 5 key elements to help us focus on the intended message and the re-design of the content.
You will notice that the 5 key elements correlate with each other.
Repetition of concepts, visuals, and audio means better retention by your audience! 5

5. Images Symbols Key Elements Starting with key element number 1:2 3 4 5 1
Images
Symbols
Starting with key element number 1:
Replace boring text and bullet points with symbols and images to convey a concept.
Do not use clipart. Use only high quality graphics. Use vector art for concepts and photos when you want to say more or invoke emotion.
Let’s look at “before” and “after” examples.
Best Practices
for Presentations

6. Blogs are like sharks Key Elements A shark must keep moving or die1 2 3 4 5 1
Blogs are like sharks
A shark must keep moving or die
A blog must be regularly updated or it too will die
How often should you update your blog?
Some successful blogs are updated once a week, others several times a day.
The key is to be consistent.
This is our “before” PowerPoint slide with multiple bullet points.
Not much visual stimulation at all is there? Nothing too memorable.
The presenter reads each bullet point. Were you reading the bullet points along with me?
Were you reading ahead of me….not really listening to my narration?
Best Practices
for Presentations

7. Blogs are like sharks Key Elements1 2 3 4 5 1
Blogs are like sharks
This is our “after” slide - a more powerful visual. Does this invoke emotion? Will you remember this visual?
Now the presenter can discuss the bulleted points with less distraction getting in the way of the message.
This is called “Picture Superiority Effect”. Concepts are more easily recognized and better remembered if they are presented as pictures rather than as words.
Best Practices
for Presentations

8. Text effects Easy to read fonts Large typeface Key Elements1 2 3 4 5 2
Easy to read fonts
Text effects
Key element number 2:
Use large typeface, 30 and up is good, choose easy to read fonts, and use text effects.
Let’s look at an example.
Large typeface
Best Practices
for Presentations

9. Or something cutsie! You can make it BIG Or make it…… small
Key Elements 1 2 3 4 5 2
Or something cutsie!
Simple changes in color, size or location of text creates a nice contrast.
Watch out for “cutsie” fonts, although sometimes they make an impact.
If you absolutely want to ensure that you’re “cutsie font” is maintained for all online users, you could create the text and save it as a graphic.
Best Practices
for Presentations

10. Transitions Limit bullets Text
Key Elements 1 2 3 4 5 3
Transitions
Limit bullets
Text
Key element number 3:
Limit bullets, text and transitions. Too much can be distracting.
Let’s look at “before” and “after” examples.
Best Practices
for Presentations

11. Hara hachi bu Key Elements1 2 3 4 5 3
Hara hachi bu
Okinawans have the highest life
expectancy with a large population
living to 100 or longer.
Eat only 80% full.
Helps you to live longer.
Reduces free radicals reducing the risk of various illnesses.
Give you more energy and productivity.
Helps you to lose weight or avoid gaining it.
May save you money.
This is our “before” example - a typical slide we are used to seeing.
Re-think the content and decide what is the main idea you want to convey.
Now re-design the message.
Best Practices
for Presentations

12. 80% full Hara hachi bu Eat only until Key Elements1 2 3 4 5 3
Hara hachi bu
Eat only until
80% full
Here’s the “after” example highlighting the single most important message to the audience.
Don’t let empty white space scare you into filling it up with “stuff.”
Eliminate that noise and use asymmetrical balance for effect.
Best Practices
for Presentations

13. Storytelling Strong narrative Key Elements Key element number 4:1 2 3 4 5 4
Strong narrative
Storytelling
Key element number 4:
If possible, include a strong narrative or storytelling.
Humans have communicated with stories from the very beginning. Tell the story by words, music or art.
Best Practices
for Presentations

14. you have to get out there!
Key Elements 1 2 3 4 5 4
Nothing comes to you –
you have to get out there!
“You have to sit by the side of a river a very long time before a roast duck will fly into your mouth.”
-- Guy Kawasaki
Our intended message is: Nothing comes to you, you have to get out there!
Although this slide is okay, can we change the design slightly to give it a more storytelling feel?
Best Practices
for Presentations

15. Key Elements 1 2 3 4 5 4
“You have to sit by the side of a river a very long time before a roast duck will fly into your mouth.”
-- Guy Kawasaki
This is a story of a man sitting by the river pondering something or waiting for something. I’m pretty sure all of us can relate to this theme. We’ve all been there, right?
Same basic content, but more visually appealing. When you use quotes, use large images.
We have removed our intended message text, “Nothing comes to you – you have to get out there!”
Instead, tell the story and let the audience discern the intended message on their own.
Best Practices
for Presentations

16. Audio Embed Video Key Elements Key element number 5:1 2 3 4 5 5
Audio
Embed Video
Key element number 5:
Embed video or audio to add more interest for your audience.
Let’s look at an example.
Best Practices
for Presentations

17. Our official fight song is Down the Field
Key Elements 1 2 3 4 5 5
Our official fight song is Down the Field
<wait until video is done playing to record>
Yes, as popular as Rocky Top is, “Down the Field” is actually UT’s official fight song.
Best Practices
for Presentations

18. Best Practices for PowerPoint!
Presentations
Be present.
YOU are it!
Above all, remember that your slides should only enhance your presentation.
They should NOT stand on their own without narration.
The audience needs to hear YOUR knowledge, YOUR experience, YOUR energy, YOUR passion when conveying the intended message.
Otherwise, why bother?

19. Best Practices for PowerPoint!
Presentations
The
End
We’ve reached the end of this conversation.
Hope you enjoyed the ride!