How to create a PowerPoint presentation – tips and tricks

Even the best-prepared speech needs an aesthetic visual design. PowerPoint gives you countless options for presenting content, data, and information. This allows you to attract your audience’s attention effectively and prepare slides quickly and creatively. Read the expert advice from re-present.me and discover the best PowerPoint tricks!

GOOD PRESENTATION DESIGN – THE KEY TO SUCCESS

The rule is simple – good design and spending time polishing the visual layer of a presentation completely change how your slides are perceived by your audience. Some design tips for PowerPoint slides were already discussed in our corporate presentations article. Here are the basic rules you shouldn’t forget:

1. A title slide and a clear table of contents are essential elements of every presentation.
2. A single slide should not contain too much content – the average modern audience is used to processing information in small portions.
3. Ready-made PowerPoint templates can be better than creating slides from scratch without experience – there’s nothing wrong with using professional support if you lack design skills.

Once you know the basic slide design rules, you can focus on refining the details – the seemingly minor elements that distinguish a professional presentation from an amateur one.

COLORS AND FONTS IN PRESENTATION

Think color and font choices are the last thing to consider? If you don’t have time to create a color palette for your slides, use professional templates instead, but avoid the basic, bland PowerPoint templates. Colors and fonts are crucial in a presentation. Consistency and readability are key – use contrasting, but not glaring, colors. Limit your palette to a maximum of five colors and build your slides around them. Color selection can be challenging even for professional designers, but tools like Adobe Color CC, Coolors, or Paletton can help. You can also use the 60-30-10 rule (dominant color, secondary color, accent).

Chcesz, żeby kolory korespondowały z barwami zdjęć w prezentacji? Skorzystaj z narzędzia pipety lub kroplomierza w Power Point na karcie Formatowanie, zaznacz kolor ze zdjęcia i zastosuj go do tekstu. Masz pytania na temat doboru czcionek w prezentacji? Sprawdź nasz wpis o fontach biznesowych. Liczbę zastosowanych czcionek warto ograniczyć do dwóch, maksymalnie trzech fontów.

PHOTOS, GRAPHICS, ADDING IMAGES IN POWERPOINT

Including a few graphics on a slide alongside text is a good idea! Graphical representation, high-quality images, and other visual elements make information easier to understand and attract attention. To use graphics effectively:

• Only use high-quality images – choose sharp, aesthetically pleasing images related to your presentation topic. Avoid Clipart. Free stock images are available on Pexels, Pixabay, Unsplash, or PowerPoint’s own image bank (Insert – Pictures – Stock Images).
• Explore additional PowerPoint features – in the stock image bank, you can use “Cutout People” for added impact, remove image backgrounds, or add icons, stickers, and 3D objects. Use Zoom for PowerPoint (Magnify) or Morph (Transitions – Morph), or try the Designer mode.
• Balance and readability – knowing PowerPoint’s tools is useful, but consistency, readability, and restraint are most important. Too many graphics, animations, or transitions can reduce the effectiveness of your presentation.

A wall of text on a slide is never a good idea. Use visual elements, complementary images, and sometimes humorous elements to make your story more engaging and keep your audience interested.

CONTENT AND TEXT ON SLIDES

How much text should be on slides? How many lines max? The answer – as little as possible. A slide should support your speech, not replace it. Use keywords instead of full sentences, and convert bullet points or lists into separate slides. Follow the rule: one slide = one idea.

• Limit text
• Turn sentences into keywords
• Avoid multi-point lists
• Highlight key elements visually – underline, bold, etc.
• Visualize content – turn text into infographics, diagrams, or charts
• Use infographics instead of many charts and tables

The goal of any presentation, whether in PowerPoint or other software, is to support your speech and capture audience attention. Create slides wisely for webinars, training sessions, and lessons. Too much text, unnecessary information, and unattractive formatting are enough to disengage even the most motivated viewers.

POWERPOINT – TECHNICAL TIPS FOR PRESENTING TO AN AUDIENCE

The PowerPoint presentation is ready, and the day of your speech arrives. Do you know how to navigate the software so the show runs smoothly? Audience attention is fragile – don’t waste it struggling with technical issues.

PowerPoint has many features to make your presentation easier:

• Presenter view (Slide Show – Use Presenter View) – display content for the audience on one screen and your notes plus next slide previews on the other. This also works in Microsoft Teams, which is helpful for webinars.
• “Hide Slide” function – hide any slide you don’t want to show during the presentation.
• Tools to highlight content on slides – laser pointer, pen, highlighter, magnifier.
• Office Remote – use your smartphone as a remote control for slides.

What else can you do to ensure that the presentation and use of PowerPoint run smoothly?

PRACTICAL POWERPOINT TRICKS – WHAT TO REMEMBER

Ensure your file is compatible with the computer and software you will use during the presentation. Check compatibility with older versions if using a different device. You can also convert PPT files to video or PDF to guarantee the presentation works correctly.

Before you start your presentation in front of an audience, it is best to make sure that all fonts are displayed correctly. If you have used non-standard fonts or are presenting your slides on different equipment, there is a risk that the fonts will not be displayed correctly. How can you prevent this? Use the “Embed fonts in file” option (File – Options – Save) or save your presentation in video format. In PowerPoint, you will find this option in File – Export – Create Video. This way, you can always be sure that your presentation looks exactly as it should – from start to finish.

Stress-free PowerPoint presentations – preparing the content

Content preparation is most important. Slide creation, formatting, and image selection support your speech – so plan your presentation carefully. Time flies faster than you think, so prepare less content than you think you need to leave room for questions and discussion.
Use Presenter Notes, and plan for contingencies if your presentation fails, or devices malfunction. Review slides thoroughly and focus on your message.

If you don’t want to spend time making the perfect presentation, hand it over to professionals. It’s better to prepare a strong speech and let experts create your slides. At re-present.me, we create professional presentations – contact us and see how impressive your presentation can be.