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title: PowerPoint Guidelines for Effective Presentations date: 2024-01-01 cover: 10.jpg author: tutsplus.com tags:

Presentation Tips

If you want to put together a powerful presentation design, we’ve compiled some basic PowerPoint guidelines that remove the guesswork.

Use these guidelines in making your next PowerPoint presentation.

No matter what kind of presentation you’re working on, ensure it’s engaging and well-designed. Otherwise, you run the risk of encountering “death by PowerPoint,” and nobody wants to see their presentation flop.

The Top PowerPoint Guidelines to Design Effective Presentations for 2024 (Video)

Do you want to get started with the best PowerPoint design guidelines quickly? Review the quickstart video:

For even more PowerPoint design guidelines, study the complete tutorial below.

Guidelines for Planning Your PowerPoint Presentation

Before you start with the design part of your presentation, planning is essential. Here are a few important PowerPoint presentation design guidelines to follow:

1. Decide on the Presentation Goal

First, determine the goal of your presentation. Are you sharing an annual report or creating a pitch deck? Is the aim to increase sales or to gain support from higher-ups for a new marketing tactic?

Whatever the case may be, the presentation goal will help you decide what to include and how to present that information. It will guide you through all the steps involved in creating an effective and engaging presentation.

2. Create an Outline

With your presentation goal in mind, create an outline. This will save you time and ensure your presentation covers everything necessary for your idea or data to be understood.

3. Think About the Slides You Need to Include

Next, consider which slides to include. For example, if you’re creating a pitch deck for potential investors, including an About or Team slide is essential. Conversely, if you’re presenting an internal sales report, focus on numbers and data relevant to product performance.

4. Decide on Visuals

Your planning stage should include visuals that support your narrative. This can encompass photos, icons, charts, graphs, and other elements to enhance your data’s visual appeal. Gather all visuals in one location for easy access, including any necessary Excel spreadsheets.

5. Establish Your Call to Action

Finally, decide on the next steps for your audience after your presentation ends. Should they email or call you? Include a clear call to action on your last slide, along with specific instructions.

PowerPoint Presentation Design Guidelines

Once you have your presentation planned, it’s time to focus on the design. Keep the following guidelines in mind:

1. Keep the Text to a Minimum

PowerPoint should assist in delivering your message, not serve as the main source of information. Aim for one main idea per slide and limit yourself to three bullet points to keep your audience engaged.

2. Use Large Font Sizes

Not everyone in your audience will be close to the screen. Use larger font sizes, such as 40 pts for headings and at least 28 pts for body text.

3. Make Sure Fonts Are Readable

Avoid script or decorative fonts, which can be difficult to read. Opt for sans-serif fonts for body text, and choose a readable serif font for headings.

4. Use Color Sparingly

Color can enhance your presentation’s visual appeal, but avoid overwhelming your audience with too many colors. If presenting in a dark room, opt for a dark background with light text for better readability.

5. Enhance the Data With Charts and Graphs

Using charts and graphs is an effective way to simplify complex data. Don’t hesitate to incorporate them into your presentation.

6. Design for Wide Screen Formats

Most projector screens are optimized for a widescreen 16:9 ratio. Designing for this format ensures your slides display correctly without getting cut off.

7. Be Consistent With Style Settings

Maintain a consistent design style across all slides to reinforce your brand and ensure visual coherence.

8. Use Animations Sparingly

Subtle animations and transitions can add interest, but avoid overwhelming your audience with excessive effects that can detract from your message.

9. Proofread Everything

Ensure each slide is free of typos and errors, especially names of colleagues or associates, to avoid awkward moments. Having someone else review your presentation is also beneficial.

10. Consider Using a Template

Utilizing a premade PowerPoint template can save time and provide a professional design. These templates come equipped with essential slides, ensuring your presentation looks polished.

Presentation Guidelines for Delivering Your PowerPoint

Now that your presentation is designed, focus on the delivery. Here are key guidelines for presenting:

1. Do a Practice Run

Before the actual presentation, practice to familiarize yourself with the content and boost your confidence.

2. Test the Equipment

Arrive early to check the equipment and avoid technical difficulties that may delay your presentation.

3. Maintain Eye Contact

Engage your audience by maintaining eye contact, which helps keep their interest and makes them feel connected.

4. Ask Questions During Your Presentation

Encourage audience participation by asking questions throughout your presentation. This creates a more engaging atmosphere.

5. Don’t Read the Slides

Avoid reading directly from your slides, as it can bore your audience and make you appear disinterested. Instead, use your slides as a guide to enhance your presentation.

Best PowerPoint Presentation Template Examples

Following the PowerPoint guidelines outlined above helps create engaging presentations. Instead of starting from scratch, consider using a premade PowerPoint presentation template.

You can find thousands of beautifully designed PowerPoint templates on Envato Elements. If you frequently need design templates, Envato Elements offers unlimited access for a low monthly price.

1. Galaxi PowerPoint Presentation Template

The Galaxi PowerPoint template features a clean, modern design, suitable for various presentations. It includes five color schemes and 30 premade slides.

2. Buizi PowerPoint Presentation

Buizi is a minimal presentation template ideal for portfolios, featuring 30 slides based on master slides and custom vector icons.

3. Aiony Creative PowerPoint Template

Aiony is perfect for image-heavy presentations with 50 slides and easy drag-and-drop editing.

4. Agio PowerPoint Presentation Template

The Agio template offers an elegant design for corporate presentations, featuring customizable colors and fonts across 630 slides in full HD resolution.

5. Over PowerPoint Presentation Template

The Over template is multipurpose, suitable for corporate presentations, pitch decks, and webinars, with 32 slides designed in both standard and HD resolution.

Find More PowerPoint Templates

Explore additional beautiful PowerPoint templates on Envato Elements:

Envato Elements: Design Without Limits

Envato Elements offers a compelling service. For a low monthly price, you gain access to thousands of unlimited use PowerPoint templates, web templates, stock photos, fonts, and more.

You can download as many templates as you want and customize them as needed. Sign up for Envato Elements and start enhancing your presentations today.

Design a Stellar Presentation With the Help of PowerPoint Presentation Guidelines

Designing a stellar presentation may seem daunting at first, but familiarizing yourself with the basic PowerPoint guidelines makes the process easier.

To save time while designing your presentation, consider using one of the top PowerPoint presentation templates from Envato Elements. Why not get started today?