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Have a Plan B in the event of technical difficulties.

Text and graphic images should be large enough to read but not so large as to appear “loud.” Make sure the slides are readable from the back row seats.

If possible, view your slides on the screen you’ll be using for your presentation.

Audiences often ask to see a previous screen again.

Know how to and practice moving forward and backward within your presentation.

PowerPoint allows the presenter to jump ahead or back without having to page through all the interim slides.

Learn to navigate your presentation in a nonlinear fashion.

A good rule of thumb is one slide per minute. Presenters who constantly “flip” to the next slide are likely to lose their audience. Use the feature only when necessary to make your point, because builds can slow your presentation.

If you use builds (lines of text appearing each time you click the mouse), have content appear on the screen in a consistent, simple manner from the top or left is best.

Ensure that your image maintains its impact and resolution when projected on a larger screen.

Use good-quality images that reinforce and complement your message.

Overuse of special effects such as animation and sounds may make your presentation “cutesy” and could negatively affect your credibility.

These features may seem impressive at first but are distracting and get old quickly. Avoid the use of flashy transitions such as text fly-ins.Patterned backgrounds can reduce readability. Use contrasting colors for text and background.

Empty space on the slide will enhance readability.

Limit punctuation and avoid putting words in all-capital letters.

Use key phrases and include only essential information.

Simplify and limit the number of words on each screen.

It is fine to vary the content presentation (bulleted list, two-column text, text and image, etc.), but be consistent with other elements such as font, colors and background.

Use the slide master feature to create a consistent and simple design template.

Tips for Making Effective PowerPoint Presentations The key to success is to make certain your slideshow is a visual aid and not a visual distraction. However, slideshows can also spell disaster even for experienced presenters. Slideshows are quick to produce, easy to update and an effective way to inject visual interest into almost any presentation.

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