1. How To: Make a PowerPoint
COB Communications Center
Spring 2017

2. Did you know? Bottom Line: Effective PowerPoints stand out in a crowd
PowerPoint has 500 million users worldwide
30 million presentations created daily
6 million+ teachers use PowerPoint for class lessons
120 million+ business persons use PowerPoint
Avg PowerPoint slide has 40 words
Source:
Bottom Line: Effective PowerPoints stand out in a crowd

3. Step 1: Theme Pick an interesting background Use color – limit of 3
Make sure colors work together
Contrasting colors work better
Theme should add to presentation, not distract!

4. Step 2: Title of Presentation
Be accurate – should encomposs what the presentation is about
Be interesting – excite your audience
CATCH
THEIR
ATTENTION

5. Arial Helvetica Calibri Step 3: Font
Pick an interesting font – make sure it's still readable!
Rule for text size: no text below 18 point!
Good fonts:
Arial
Helvetica
Calibri

6. Step 4: Information Be concise – short, sweet, & to the point
Write key points, phrases/words, and numbers
Key points will jog your memory
But will still ensure your audience stays engaged
AVOID THIS

8. Step 5: Bullets Not meant to display every word
Key words
Phrases
Numbers
Stick to one bullet type throughout
Bullets become distracting
When they’re all different

9. Step 6: Pictures Add interest to your slides by using pictures
Make sure they’re relevant
Make sure your audience will be able to see them
It's okay to put only a picture on a slide!

11. Step 7: Graphs/Tables vs.
Check that your graph/table is readable for the audience
Use white backgrounds, black fonts
Different graph lines/bars should be contrastly colored:
vs.

12. Step 8: SmartArt SmartArt Use SmartArt for different visualizations
SmartArt can be used for:
Lists
Relationships
Cycles
Hierarchy
And more
Disclaimer: SmartArt only available on PowerPoint
Easy to use
SmartArt
Looks like an image
A different way to display info
Engages audience
Interesting graphic

13. Step 8: Consistency Be consistent All headers should be the same size
Body text should be relatively the same size throughout
Bullets should be consistent
Use the same theme throughout

14. Extra Information
BusinessInsider Tips: powerpoint-presentations #-38
Shutterstock: effective-beautiful-powerpoint-presentations

15. Challenge the Status-Quo
Be Creative
Challenge the Status-Quo