| Many of us use PowerPoint to convey a message to | | | | your office... doesn't always mean it will work when |
| both small and large groups. Too often we see "death | | | | your audience appears.Don't talk to your Powerpoint ... |
| by powerpoint" in the corporate environment where | | | | remember you have an audience that can read. Don't |
| people don't use it effectively. Get clever when using | | | | insult the intelligence of your audience and assume |
| your PowerPoint - this article has 20 tips for becoming | | | | they can't read your slides. Use different words to the |
| a more engaging presenter when you use this | | | | ones on your slides.Keep your slides to a minimum - |
| tool.Only use a maximum of six (6) words on each line. | | | | people want to hear your message not be distracted |
| Too many words is too much clutter and hard for your | | | | by too many slides. They have come to hear a real |
| audience to read.Only use a maximum of six (6) lines | | | | person, not an electronic presenter. Only use slides to |
| of text on each slide. If you have too many lines of | | | | enhance and reinforce your message.Don't use dark |
| text your audience will spend their time reading your | | | | coloured backgrounds - this makes it hard to read |
| slides and not listening to you speak.Keep slides clear | | | | from the back of the room. Be aware of the effects |
| and uncluttered. Avoid using many graphics or too | | | | of different background colours.Use large font only as |
| busy with information - make your message clear.Use | | | | small font is too hard to read from a distance.Change |
| animation where relevant but don't overdo it. This | | | | the font size of words on the same slide to |
| feature can really highlight a key message... or distract | | | | emphasize key words. Don't make every word the |
| your audience if not done correctly.Use sound effects | | | | same font - if you want to make words stand out, use |
| and movie clips to enhance your presentation. This is a | | | | different colours and fonts.Don't rely on your |
| great technique when it works! Be sure to test your | | | | PowerPoint - technology can sometimes fail us - know |
| presentation in the live environment before you show | | | | your content and also have a hard copy of your |
| your audience. Just because it worked at home or | | | | presentation with you at all times. |