Creating an effective PowerPoint presentation requires careful planning and execution. Even experienced presenters can fall into common traps that detract from the purpose and impact of their slides. Avoid these mistakes to create professional, polished presentations that properly showcase your ideas:
Using Too Much Text
One of the most common PowerPoint pitfalls is placing large blocks of text on slides. Reading paragraphs of text distracts your audience from listening and shifts the focus away from you.
- Limit text to 6-8 words per line and 6 lines per slide. Any more becomes difficult to read.
- Use concise phrase headlines and bullet points instead of full sentences.
Choosing Unsuitable Design Themes
PowerPoint includes numerous built-in themes that seem like an easy way to decorate your slides. However, overused templates make presentations look generic.
- Stick to simple background colors and limit other decorative elements. Allow your content to shine.
- If using a theme, customize it to suit your specific presentation.
Using Distracting Transitions and Animations
It’s tempting to use flashy transitions and animations to spice up PowerPoint slides, but this often backfires.
- Use subtle, consistent slide transitions. Avoid jarring effects.
- Use animations sparingly to emphasize specific points.
Failing to Engage Your Audience
You easily lose audience interest with slides packed with mind-numbing bullet points. Actively engage them to make content more impactful.
- Ask questions and interact to focus attention.
- Share stories and use visuals to illustrate key points.
Including Too Many Slides
Presenters often overload PowerPoint decks with way too much information condensed onto lots of slides. This overwhelms audiences instead of spotlighting key messages.
- Limit presentations to 10 slides or fewer.
- Cover only essential information aligned to key takeaways.
Using Hard-to-Read Fonts and Colors
Illegible text sabotages great presentations. Be mindful of font choices and color combinations.
- Stick to highly readable fonts like Arial and Verdana.
- Use font sizes of at least 30 point for headlines and 24 point for text.
- Limit dark text on dark backgrounds that strain viewer eyes.
Failing to Practice Beforehand
Even if you know your content, practicing your PowerPoint presentation is essential.
- Thoroughly plan slide order and flow.
- Time yourself to fine-tune pacing.
- Practice with slides and equipment to troubleshoot issues.
Not Checking for Errors
Typos and incorrect information plague unattended presentations and reflect poorly on you as the presenter.
- Carefully proofread slides for mistakes.
- Fact-check statistics and data.
- Ask others to review for errors.
Relying Too Heavily on Slides
Slides reinforce your presentation but should not serve as teleprompters or include too much detail.
- Use bullet points as reminders – do not read paragraphs aloud.
- Elaborate on points verbally instead of overloading slides.
- Maintain eye contact instead of turning your back to read slides.
Failing to Prepare Handouts
Many presenters send PowerPoint decks afterward so audiences can review details. However, slides often lack context when reviewed later without your narrative.
- Create concise supplemental handouts covering key takeaways.
- Include slide thumbnails to reference visuals.
- Share links and resources for more information.
