Steps to Giving an Informative and Unique PowerPoint Presentation

There are a few tips that you should know when constructing a PowerPoint presentation. If you use some or all of these tips, you are on the way to an effective presentation.

When presenting a 30-minute presentation, generally, 5 slides are recommended; however, your presentation may need more. You should not exceed the maximum of 10.

Your PowerPoint presentation can contain the vital information of your overall presentation. Consider the major points that you are presenting. Do not just list them in bullet points across your slide. Sometimes just one word in bold print or a picture is enough to get your point across. Basically, you are putting the main points of your speech into visual format for emphasis.

There are a few ways that you can make your PowerPoint presentation an effective asset to your entire presentation. First, you never turn your back to the audience while you are talking. If you must use a pointer to point out objects in your PowerPoint, stand sideways, facing the audience or you will lose their attention quickly while they turn their attention to the slide instead of you. Another helpful idea is to use a laser pointer so that you can remain in contact with your audience.

Lighting is also important. It is not necessary to turn off all the lights to show a PowerPoint presentation. You should just dim the lights that are closest to the screen so that people can read it easily. If all the lights are off, audience members cannot see you, and this will lead to a loss of attention. You may even find a few sleeping beauties in the bunch.

Include handouts in your presentation. This can help you provide the information to the readers that you are including in the presentation, but may not be right to add to the PowerPoint slides. Slides are the program to engage their minds and give them visual instruction; handouts what they will have when they leave the presentation. It will provide a reminder of what they just read and heard during the presentation. You should also try to practice your PowerPoint presentation before the actual day. If you truly practice your presentation with your PowerPoint slides, you will see which slides are necessary and which are not. Go through your presentation at least 5 times with your PowerPoint show and eliminate the slides that you do not need. This will eliminate any embarrassment during your presentation by not having to flip through slides trying to find the right one you want at that moment, and not repeating yourself during the presentation, thus appearing to be unprepared. Practicing will enable you to be relaxed with using your notes along with the slides. You will know what to expect with each slide, and this will help you flow through your notes better.

It is not necessary to have a slide for every sentence of your speech. When you are talking about a point that is not on a slide click the slide off and use the black screen function on your computer. This will help you to provide emphasis on only the parts of your speech that you desire.