PowerPoint Presentation Prerequisites (Part - 1)

Making an attractive power point presentation is an art as well as a learnt skill! 

Having groomed batches of Management students over a decade in PowerPoint making (as presentations form an integral part of their marking pattern), it feels nice to see these young and enthusiastic minds transform and master the art of beautiful slide making! Watching them present it with confidence and overcoming their stage fear is truly commendable! At the end of their three year degree journey, when they come and thank us all for these and being so strict with them, we take pleasure in giving a contented smile! 😊 

Representative Image: Pexels

1. Attractive Slides: As you know, first impression is the last impression, so invest some time in searching for an attractive template for your slides based on the theme of your presentation. Before you do that ensure that your MS office is updated with the latest version. Ample of themes are available that matches every presentation type. Once you choose the template, you can change the colour of the template as well as select the desired font style that goes best with your presentation type.
2. Avoid Cluttering of Content: As it is a 'PowerPoint', restrict the content only to the 'key points' or 'pointers' and avoid putting endless theoretical content in form of lengthy paragraphs. Paragraphs are a strict No -No in a PowerPoint.
3. Use Smart Art Graphics / Images / Animations: Wherever possible, try to put your content in appropriate Smart Art graphics by going in insert menu. Incase Smart Art graphics doesn't go well with your content then use content relevant images. Avoid picking up images directing through Google Images due to copyright issues. You can hunt for appropriate free images on www.pexels.com and similar websites.  Don't forget to use animations for your Smart Art graphics, images and content by going to Animation menu at the top. Explore the 'Effect Options' menu in animation for some amazing 'Effect Options'.
4. Site Sources: Siting of sources of your secondary data in the PowerPoint is of utmost important. Incase of data is in form of facts & figures or statistical data, mention it below the content. Alternatively, you can also collectively mention all the references at the end by having a Bibliography / Webliography slide towards the end of the PowerPoint.
5. Appropriate Images for 'Thankyou' Slide and 'Q&A' slide: Let there be a formal  Thankyou slide after Bibliography/Webliography followed by a 'Question & Answer' (Q&A) slide. Select professional images for the same from pexels.com or alike and avoid the informal jazzy and glittery images for the same.