Whether you’re preparing for a big sales pitch or speaking at an industry conference, PowerPoint remains one of the most ubiquitous tools for creating sleek, professional presentations. But simply throwing some bullet points on a slide doesn’t always make for an engaging talk.
To really make an impact on your audience, you need to go beyond basic slides and text to implement some advanced formatting, design, and multimedia features. Using the right techniques can transform an average PowerPoint into a polished, visually-compelling presentation that captures attention and drives your message home.
In this article, I’ll share some of my top advanced PowerPoint tips and tricks to take your decks up a notch. From animated charts to cinemagraphs and more – read on to become a PowerPoint pro!
Section 1: Enhance Visuals for Maximum Impact
Compelling visuals make presentations more memorable and impactful. Here are some ways to make your PowerPoint visuals pop:
Animated Charts and Graphs
Rather than static charts, use PowerPoint’s animation tools to make data come alive:
- Build charts in Excel, then copy and paste to automatically inherit animations
- Animate pie slices, bar graphs, plot points, and more flying onto the slide
- Emphasize key data points by drawing attention with animations
Animations make trends and insights more engaging!
High-Quality Photography
Stock photography can feel generic. Use high-quality, custom images instead:
- Show real products, locations, or emotions relevant to your talk
- Maintain consistency in filters, color grading, and style
- Overlay text and graphics onto photos to create visual interest
Great images make presentations feel polished and purposeful.
Cinemagraphs
Cinemagraphs add subtle motion to mostly static scenes. They look sharp yet have an elegant, modern style.
- Animate parts of a photo like flowing hair or rippling water
- Use for title slides, section transitions, and attention-grabbing moments
- Online tools like Flixel make cinemagraph creation easy
Cinemagraphs breathe life into key visuals.
Section 2: Creative Layouts and Smart Transitions
Careful slide arrangement along with smooth transitions improves flow:
Custom Layouts
Beyond basic slide templates, create custom layouts adapted to your content:
- Craft multi-column layouts to present complementary information
- Use a “picture-in-picture” setup with a small inset image
- Dedicate areas for logos, imagery, text, charts etc.
Custom layouts tailor slides to your narrative.
Interesting Transitions
Do more than simply “appear” or “dissolve” between slides:
- Uncover bullet points line-by-line to direct attention
- Push slides on and off screen for emphasis
- Zoom in on a related detail before pulling out to the next slide
Thoughtful transitions guide the audience’s gaze.
Section 3: Interactive Elements to Engage
Interactive elements encourage participation, promoting engagement:
Hyperlinks
Link out to other slides, docs, or web pages:
- Reference detailed appendix slides without derailing your talk
- Link charts to underlying data sources
- Provide links to research reports, product pages, or other resources
Hyperlinks give instant access to supporting materials.
Embedded Video
Videos can demonstrate products or show behind-the-scenes footage:
- Embed videos directly into slides rather than switching apps or windows
- Overlay text introductions/commentary without blocking footage
- Use picture-in-picture to show slides and video simultaneously
Video embeds make presentations multi-sensory.
Animated GIFs
GIFs can also illustrate processes or react to key messages:
- Demonstrate a workflow step-by-step
- Use an animated meme or GIF to respond to an audience joke
- Apply animated effects like text highlighting in response to voice
Animated GIFs boost engagement through interactivity.
Conclusion
Implementing advanced PowerPoint techniques takes presentations to the next level. A few small tweaks like animated charts, custom layouts, and embedded media can leave a lasting impact on audiences.
Hopefully this gives you inspiration for creating sleek, modern, and professional presentations. Now you’re ready to make high-quality decks that captivate attention and clearly communicate key messages!
The most important thing is crafting slides tailored to your goals, brand, and audience. Don’t be afraid to push boundaries with creative formats and multimedia – as long as they enhance (rather than distract from) your content.
