The Dos and Don’ts of PowerPoint

1. The Dos and Don’ts of PowerPoint

2. DO use the Rule of Sevens • SEVEN WORDS PER LINE MAXIMUM • SEVEN LINES PER SLIDE MAXIMUM

3. Don’t fill the screen • Do not put absolutely everything on the screen that you plan on saying. Use the PowerPoint as a guide to what you will say. If everything you are saying is up on the screen then half your audience will not be paying attention to you they will be reading your screen. Also, if you put too much text on the screen it will get smaller and smaller to the point where some people further away may not be able to read it all. It does not make you look smarter by having lots of information on the screen, it just makes it obvious that you are not used to following the rules of PowerPoint presentations. Keep it to point form notes on the screen and then you can elaborate on that information when you are talking. If speaking in front of a group of people makes you nervous and you want to plan out exactly what you are going to say then take a look at the notes feature within PowerPoint. This feature will allow you to make notes that will print out nicely, and you will be the only person to see them. This is a much nicer option for those watching your presentation because then they won’t be squinting to read everything that you have put up on the screen in front of them.

4. Do rehearse your timings • Plan for approximately 1-2 minutes for every slide • Rehearse what you will say at least once so you know how long it takes

5. Do use contrasting colours • Light colours on a dark background or vice versa • Never rely on the PC screen contrast; always view the slides on the data projector and make colour changes if necessary

6. Don’tuse colours you can’t see • Don’t use dark colours on a dark background or light colours on light background • Don’t use Blue and Red or Red and Green • Use colours on opposite sides of the colour wheel

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8. Do use appropriate fonts • Do not use Comic Sans when making a professional presentation • Ensure that the font is clear and easy to read • Keep the font to size 20-24, no smaller than that

9. Don’t use unusual fonts • Fonts are not saved with the PowerPoint • They can be harder to read • They can be harder to read

10. Douse appropriate images • Use them judiciously • Graphics and charts must be readable from the back of the room • Resize the image before putting it in your presentation

11. Don’tuse detailed images / charts

12. Domaintain uniformity • Use the same style or format on your slides. • Some variance is fine • Professional presentations should have only one theme

13. Don’toveruse transitions • Do not use random transitions • Do not use a different transition for every slide • Don’t allow your effects to distract from the presentation

14. Do check your file size • If you are working from floppy disk the biggest file you can have is approximately 700kb • Video and sound clips will increase the file size drastically • Save often and in more than one place

15. Dorehearse with afriend • Before presenting (and not the 5 minutes before presenting) have a friend sit through your presentation • Check to make sure that everything is visible from the furthest location in the room