The 7 Things You Should Avoid on Your Powerpoint Presentation

PowerPoint or slideshows have become the norm for visuals in most business presentations. The slideshows give many benefits such as quick to produce, easy to update and effective to inject visual interest into the presentation. The key to success is to make certain your slide show is a visual aid and not a visual distraction. Here are several things that you should avoid.

1.Slide Transitions And Sound Effects.

Transitions and sound effects can become the focus of attention, which can turn to distracts the audience. Besides, when a presentation containing several effects and motion it might make the computer runs much slower than before and comical when viewed. Such gimmicks rarely enhance the message you’re trying to communicate. . Even lines of text appearing each time you click the mouse can be distracting. Focus on your message, not the technology.

2.Standard Clipart. PowerPoint is now so widely used the clipart included with it has become a visual cliché. It shows a lack of creativity and a tired adherence to a standard form. First, make certain that you need graphical images to enhance your message . Remember , the more you used the clipart ,it will make it look messy and hard to read.

3.Presentation Templates. Templates force you to fit your original ideas into someone else’s pre-packaged mold. The templates often contain distracting backgrounds and poor color combinations. For a good look find the plain  backgrounds rather than  backgrounds that consist of graphics on its. Create your own distinctive look or use your company logo in a corner of the screen.

4.Text-Heavy Slides.

Projected slides are a good medium for an idea graphically or providing an overview. Slides are a poor medium for detail and reading. Avoid paragraphs, quotations and even complete sentences. Limit your slides to five lines of text and use words and phrases to make your points. The audience will be able to digest and retain key points more easily. Don’t use your slides as speaker’s notes or to simply project an outline of your presentation.

5.The “Me” Paradigm.

Presenters often scan a table or graphical image directly from their existing print corporate material and include it in their slide show presentations. The results are almost always sub-optimal. Typically, these images are too small, too detailed and too textual for an effective visual presentation. The same is true for font size; 12 point font is adequate when the text is in front of you. In a slideshow, aim for a minimum of 40 point font. Remember the audience and move the circle from “me” to “we.” Make certain all elements of any particular slide are large enough to be seen easily. Size really does matter.

6.Reading.A verbal presentation should focus on interactive speaking and listening, not reading by the speaker or the audience. Spoken language is shorter, less formal and more direct. Reading text ruins a presentation. A related point has to do with handouts for the audience. One of your goals as a presenter is to capture and hold the audience’s attention. If you distribute materials before your presentation, your audience will be reading the handouts rather than listening to you.

7.Faith in Technology.You never know when an equipment malfunction or incompatible interfaces will force you to give your presentation on another computer. Be prepared by having a back-up of your presentation on a CD-ROM or in your pen drive which you can still make a changes on it . Always familiarize yourself with the presentation, practice it and be ready to engage the audience regardless of the technology that is available.