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How to Nail Your Next PowerPoint

Trevor Ambrose Public Speaking Sales Training Blog How To Powerpoint

Giving effective PowerPoint presentations isn’t easy. Read this quick article to learn how you can give an impactful presentation.

PowerPoint has become a ubiquitous tool for presentations in various settings, from boardrooms to classrooms. However, even the most well-intentioned presenters can make mistakes that hinder the effectiveness of their slides. To help you deliver a powerful and engaging presentation, we have compiled a list of the top mistakes to avoid when using PowerPoint. By steering clear of these pitfalls, you can create impactful slides that captivate your audience and enhance your message.

1. Overwhelming Slides with Text

One of the most common mistakes in PowerPoint presentations is cramming too much text onto a single slide. Long paragraphs and extensive bullet points can overwhelm your audience and divert their attention away from your key points. Instead, focus on conveying concise and impactful messages. Use short phrases, keywords, or bullet points to highlight key ideas, and elaborate on them verbally. Remember, your slides should support your presentation, not replace it. My favourite rule of thumb for overcoming all of these mistakes is the ‘5×5 rule’. Don’t put any more than 5 words in a line and no more than 5 bullet points to a slide.

2. Excessive Use of Visual Effects

While visual effects can add interest to your slides, using them excessively can be distracting and reduce the professionalism of your presentation. Avoid flashy transitions, animated text, and unnecessary sound effects. Instead, opt for subtle and consistent animations that enhance the flow of your content. Use visuals sparingly and purposefully to emphasise important concepts and engage your audience effectively.

3. Lack of Visual Cohesion

Maintaining a consistent visual theme throughout your presentation is crucial for a polished and professional look. Inconsistent fonts, colours, and layouts can create a jarring experience for your audience. Choose a colour scheme that aligns with your content and stick to it. Select fonts that are easy to read and maintain consistency in their usage. Ensure that your slides have a clean and organised layout, allowing your audience to focus on your message without distraction.

4. Neglecting Visual Hierarchy

A common mistake is not prioritising information on your slides effectively. Visual hierarchy is crucial for guiding your audience’s attention and ensuring they grasp the most important points. Use font size, colour, and placement to establish a clear visual hierarchy. Important headings and key ideas should be prominent, while supporting details can be presented with smaller fonts or different colours. By employing effective visual hierarchy, you can make your content more accessible and memorable.

5. Lack of Engaging Media

A slide filled only with text can quickly become monotonous and fail to engage your audience. Incorporating visual and multimedia elements, such as images, videos, and charts, can make your presentation more dynamic and memorable. Use relevant visuals that complement your content and help illustrate your points. However, be cautious not to overload your slides with excessive media, as it may become distracting and take away from your message.

6. Ignoring Accessibility Considerations

Accessibility is a crucial aspect to consider when creating PowerPoint presentations. Neglecting accessibility features can alienate individuals with visual or hearing impairments, limiting their understanding and engagement. Ensure your slides have sufficient colour contrast, use alt text for images, and provide closed captions for videos or audio elements. By embracing accessibility, you make your presentation inclusive and accessible to a broader audience.

PowerPoint can be a powerful tool when used effectively, but it’s essential to avoid common mistakes that can hinder the impact of your presentation. By steering clear of overwhelming text, excessive visual effects, inconsistent visuals, neglecting visual hierarchy, lack of engaging media, and ignoring accessibility considerations, you can create compelling slides that enhance your message and captivate your audience. Remember, the true power of PowerPoint lies in its ability to support your presentation and help you deliver your message with clarity and impact.

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Roy Walley
Roy Walley
20:56 21 Nov 23
Boyd S
Boyd S
12:05 21 Nov 23
Best sales psychologist in the World!
Alex Portelli
Alex Portelli
03:26 17 Nov 23
Tony Ewing
Tony Ewing
21:00 15 Nov 23
Great Telesales training from Trevor!! Thank you!
Mohammad Burhan Al Rashid
Mohammad Burhan Al Rashid
05:29 01 Nov 23
Trevor is an exceptional public speaking trainer, and I can't recommend him enough. I have had the opportunity to attend his training and his expertise, guidance and practical techniques were invaluable in helping me overcome my fear of public speaking and significantly improving my communication skills.
Shaun Manne
Shaun Manne
04:41 27 Sep 23
Trevor, your Psychology of Sales online training was fantastic! Id give 10 stars if i could. You definetly did your homework on everyone that was involved and included everybody and their business on a personal level throughout the 4 hours. I would 100% recommend everyone do this course if you'd like an edge over the competition. Thanks for a great day. PS I forgot to ask how much the microphone was! 😉
The Butels
The Butels
22:30 11 Sep 23
I attended Trevor's Telesales training yesterday and was Very happy with the course. Trevor was very knowledgeable, extremely well spoken, did not lose the group for a minute and went out of his way to help everyone on the course. I would not hesitate to recommend Trevor to anyone.#epicpublicspeaker
Bendpro
Bendpro
05:17 17 Aug 23
Trevor Ambrose was the keynote speaker for our 2023 Bendpro Team Day. His insights on teamwork and adopting a “green mindset” & staying “above the line” were eye-opening. This has transformed the team’s perspective for the better. Trevor’s presentation was thought-provoking and relevant to our needs. His stories are relatable, meaningful, and really show you that you can achieve anything you set your mind to. He kept our team engaged both in the presentation and in the activities. His training is priceless and as a company we would use his services again. Thank you for inspiring us to become a stronger unit. We look forward to applying what we learned in our daily work.
Nadine Freitag
Nadine Freitag
23:45 30 May 23
BGL has worked with Trevor a few times over the years and we highly recommend his workshop and online training for groups or individuals.The feedback was very positive and he has helped our employees feel more confident with public speaking and presentations.Thanks Trevor!
Fergus Pocock
Fergus Pocock
22:43 10 Mar 23
It was great to have the opportunity to join Trevor for one of his training courses in Belfast today 2023/03/10, I can fully recommend his training programs.Many thanks Trevor, regards Fergus.
Michael Taylor
Michael Taylor
16:28 10 Mar 23
Great content. Really practical advice and content that we can bring directly into our business. Trevor delivers a fun and practical classroom. Highly recommended
Gillies
Gillies
11:35 22 Feb 23
Trevor, thanks so much for yesterday's session, I must admit I am always a little skeptical of training in sales, there are so many different opinions about various methods and theories but your content was different, it was a real breath of fresh air. Thanks again.
Antonio Alegre
Antonio Alegre
04:00 07 Feb 23
Thank you Trevor Ambrose for such a great session last week at Hidrive. We thoroughly enjoyed your Sales Psychology training. Fantastic tips and lots of fun...We all got a lot out of it. Thoroughly Recomended your work. Cheers Antonio
Paul Lombard
Paul Lombard
18:34 15 Oct 22
I thoroughly enjoyed the session and can see how relevant the skills Trevor explains are for business, as well as everyday life. There are some simple changes to implement immediately, but otherwise a concerted effort is necessary, with much to work on. Working on these skills will improve oneself immensely. Trevor is truly a master and has a very relatable demeanor. I definitely recommend Trevor's course for marketing and sales, and will jump at another opportunity to learn more from him!
W H
W H
10:30 16 Sep 22
Completed Psychology of Sales course with Trevor yesterday, still processing the volume of great content. Excellent presenter, very engaging and informative, highly recommend to anyone looking to enhance their business and/or personal development. Thank you Trevor!
Janelle Doberstein
Janelle Doberstein
21:22 11 Aug 22
Super training. Trevor you were so captivating and have so much knowledge. I loved every second and look forward to what your training will bring to our companies in the future, once we put in place what we have learnt.
Tyler Barnes
Tyler Barnes
12:16 10 Aug 22
Cracking sales coach! Worked with Trevor for four hours and he has hugely helped build up the confidence of the sales team at our business. Working on soft skills and the psychology of selling has been massively helpful for us as a company, I can see us coming back for more.
Joel
Joel
21:28 14 Jul 22
Trevor was a fantastic speaker and teacher. I learned more in 4 hours with him then I have in hours and days of training with others.He is very positive and interacts with the people listening by getting them to answer questions , or get them to actually to the activity , not just have everyone watch. Highly recommend. Would love to do more courses with Trevor.
Ken Fooks
Ken Fooks
09:14 12 Jun 22
The Psychology of Sales Course was very instructive, enlightening, I found it confirmed what I am experiencing in a Sales role ,Dealing with customers on a daily basis.I will certainly look forward to more excellent content from Trevor.Trevor is an inspiration to all ,understanding the needs and feelings of a Person in a Sales role.Many Thanks Trevor and Team.Ken - SCVA.
Oz Donk
Oz Donk
07:26 05 Apr 22
Trevor is a very inspirational trainer in sales, and well worth attending any of his classes, or getting him into your business if you can. It's certainly not just "head knowledge" with Trevor.
Cameron Cavey
Cameron Cavey
00:45 25 Mar 22
Trevor's course was well presented and taught me alot about structure and presentation.Well worth doing his courses
Victoria Houen
Victoria Houen
05:47 08 Mar 22
Excellent, simple and clear information.Loved it. Learned so much.So many spice jars in my rack now 😉☺️
Jethro Buchner
Jethro Buchner
14:25 23 Sep 21
Very engaging and so many golden nuggets to take away and implement.
Jennae Evans
Jennae Evans
22:04 04 Aug 21
absolutely amazing coaching! super motivational and interesting to hear some new tactics... thanks trevor!
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