How to Design PowerPoint Presentations

I've always had something of a love-hate thing with PowerPoint presentations. Despite their effectiveness, many people still perceive them to be cumbersome and old fashioned. I have just read a book by Cliff Atkinson, author of 'Beyond Bullet Points', who believes PowerPoint to be the software tool associated more with boredom than brilliance. Nevertheless, PowerPoint remains a cornerstone of contemporary education delivery. Thus, if you wish to avoid inflicting death by PowerPoint, let's look at what you can do to keep your presentations slick, informative and alive!Consider each presentation as a series of small details, just as if it was a WebsiteDesign the layout of your PowerPoint presentation just like a website. Everyone pays extraordinary attention to detail with every aspect of the branding on their website - your presentation should follow this same rule. Aesthetic concerns are paramount, and your presentation should look polished and well-designed. Use a theme going throughout and avoid the use of bright contrasting colours, as they will distract your audience from what you're trying to convey.Stay away from the ClipArt!Utilise high grade graphics from stylish stock image sites to add a vibrant quality to your slides. There are lots of sites where you can purchase photos for as little as $1 each - a great investment! Some personal favourites of mine include Stockxpert, Shutterstock and iStockPhoto, however there are lots more out there, so if you are curious, do a search on Google for "Royalty Free Stock Photography".Less is MoreDon't fill up your slides with non relevant text - make them simple and straightforward. Sometimes actions speak louder than words. With PowerPoint, your primary goals is to convey these actions through your images. Your presentation is a visual representation of what you are talking about - not an alternative to the presenter. Even if it's a simple line or quote, less is often more.Use 3DGive your diagrams added interest by making them 3D, and they will visually hold the viewers attention far more than flat, uninteresting diagrams. This works really well with pyramids, and it will make your objects leap off the page, instead of being static and boring.And Finally... Don't Over AnimateGoing animation crazy and overdoing the movement on your presentation is definitely not a good idea. Having items popping in and out from all over, moving side to side and bouncing around everywhere - will only confuse people. Should you wish to employ animation in your presentations, stick to simple and stylish fading in and out. Leave the flying about to your favourite cartoon characters!Follow these simple steps and your presentation should be a pleasure to watch, rather than an uncomfortable coffee break, and if you decide that all of this sounds like too much hassle - hire a virtual assistant to do it for you!Michelle Dale is The Managing Director of Virtual Miss Friday, an Executive Virtual Assistant who assists businesses and individuals with achieving their professional goals. Want to find out more about online business building success strategies? Support the Campaign for FREE Virtual Assistance today!

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