How Not To Make A PowerPoint Presentation

No bullshit PowerPoint guide for dummies

| This image is used in Fair Use |

You probably already know how to make a PowerPoint Presentation. This it not that. This is a no bullshit guide about what to avoid while making a presentation. PowerPoint for Dummies if you like. Let’s get to the point, shall we?

#1 Don’t Scream, Don’t Whisper!

Example Slide 1

Okay, not literally (although you absolutely shouldn’t yell while delivering a presentation), by scream I mean do not over size your text!

The title should be larger than your body. Your content should not so big that it becomes long and tedious to go through. Remember, people aren’t as excited as you are about your presentation.

• DO NOT USE ALL CAPS!!! IT GIVES THE IMPRESSION THAT YOU’RE YELLING AT THE AUDIENCE! (yes, just like this)
• It also makes it very difficult to read the text, our brains are used to reading in sentence case and using ALL CAPS is just testing your audience’s patience.
• It’s astounding how many people will actually do it regardless of how simple it may seem. All caps should only be used when using an acronym like WHO, NATO, WTF etc.

That being said, doing the opposite is just not okay either. Don’t Whisper!

Example Slide 2

• Don’t make the text so small that your audience is forced to squint their eyes just to read what’s on the screen.
• Your audience didn’t register for an eye exam, don’t give them a reason to think otherwise.

#2 No Text Walls, Please!

Example Slide 1

Some people are very generous, they like to share whatever they’ve learned and educate their audience by…

BOMBARDING THEM WITH WALLS OF TEXT!

• Don’t fill your entire slide with walls of information. You are not educating them, this is a sadistic practice. Last thing they want is having to read what you’re supposed to be simplifying and explaining.
• Our attentions spans are short enough. Don’t make your audience choose between paying attention to you and your slide.

Actual Representation of the same slide through your audience’s eyes

#3 Be Consistent with your format

It’s important to be consistent with your format. Following a particular theme or a text format brings a sense of professionalism and refinement to the presentation.

• PowerPoint (and its alternatives) offer a myriad of themes and templates to choose from but it’s important to keep it uniform and orderly across the slides.

So for instance, if your first slide looks something like this:

The second slide shouldn’t look like this:

Actually your second slide shouldn’t look like this anyway.

• Jokes apart, it’s also important to be consistent with your text and punctuation.
• People tend to get overwhelmed, rather distracted, by too fancy graphics and images.

#4 Choose Fonts and Colors that compliment each other

This is self explanatory, your aim should be to make the audience understand your idea or content in the simplest way possible.

• Some colors don’t go together, not all fonts will be relevant to your presentation. Which of the following slides do you think is more likely to maintain the viewer’s attention?

Keep in mind the Power of Fonts and Colors

• Notice how the same text can be perceived differently when paired with different font and colors:

#5 Transitions are for Noobs

Yes they look “cool”, I’ll give you that but presentations aren’t supposed to be cool. They are supposed to be professional and educational, unless of course, you’re presenting for a bunch of kiddos.

• The good old fashioned “fade” and “push” seem fine but most of everything else is just screaming “LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT ME”
• While this might sound like something you’d want from your audience, it certainly isn’t. Your main message shouldn’t get pushed away by unnecessary frills.
• Check out some of this poppycock:

Does anything about it say “professional”? I think not.

# Bonus for sticking around!

• No emojis.
• No low resolution/distorted images.
• Be sure to proof-read before presenting. People tend to get distracted and hyper-focused on errors.
• The “design” feature from MS Office is your friend.
• Your slides should compliment you, they are not a substitute for you.
• Show them, don’t tell! Be generous with images and graphic representations.
• Don’t use red or similar eye-squinting colors for the text.
• Often do something out of the box, something that’ll separate your PPT from all the others they’ve been watching all day.
• Thanks for reading! 😉