Microsoft PowerPoint - What Makes a Successful Presentation?

Planning is probably the most important step in creating a successful presentation of any kind. Planning helps you decide on the content and the order in which the information will be presented. Use the following steps as a guide in planning your PowerPoint presentation.

1. Determine the Purpose of the Presentation

    • Is this presentation about a product for a client?
    • Is it a business presentation about the latest sales figures?
    • Is it about a new idea you are introducing?

2.  Determine the Presentation’s Audience

     • Your staff
     • New prospective client
     • Group of small children
     • Convention for people in the same line of work -- for example; a
       group of dentists

3.  Gather Your Information

     • Remember the KISS principle (Keep It Silly Simple) when
       designing your presentation
     • Focus on three or four main points only
     • Know everything about the topic so you are ready for questions
       after the presentation

4.  Sketch Out the Slides on Paper

     • Make sure the slides emphasize the main points to be made in
       the presentation
     • Try to have only one main idea on each slide
     • List no more than four points per slide

5.  Determine the Order Of Your Slides

     • Although this can be changed later, having a rough idea of the
       order of your topic points, will help you plan the order of your
       slides

6.  Create the Presentation

     • When creating the slides, be consistent in your choice of
       background colors, fonts, transitions, and animations

Your Computer Lady has extensive experience in helping creating powerful presentations. Give us a call the next time you need an effective PowerPoint presentation.