Calling all Powerpoint presentation experts
Discussion
Morning
I'm currently preparing a presentation for a job interview next week and have been advised to use powerpoint. I do a fair amount of verbal presenting in my current job but refer mainly to written documents, data etc that is circulated in hard copy beforehand.
I'm happy with the practicalities, how it works etc. but what is an appropriate number of slides? How many bullets per slide? Length of phrases? When I've been on the receiving end (ooer) of powerpoints I've often found them distracting - silly animation, too much detail, brash colours etc.
My presentation will need to be about 10 minutes long and will focus on a fairly complex issue with 5 cross-cutting themes.
Any thoughts folks?
I'm currently preparing a presentation for a job interview next week and have been advised to use powerpoint. I do a fair amount of verbal presenting in my current job but refer mainly to written documents, data etc that is circulated in hard copy beforehand.
I'm happy with the practicalities, how it works etc. but what is an appropriate number of slides? How many bullets per slide? Length of phrases? When I've been on the receiving end (ooer) of powerpoints I've often found them distracting - silly animation, too much detail, brash colours etc.
My presentation will need to be about 10 minutes long and will focus on a fairly complex issue with 5 cross-cutting themes.
Any thoughts folks?
Edited by adycav on Thursday 4th December 07:11
7 x 7 rule works for me.
No more than 7 lines and no more than 7 words on each line (roughly obviously). Enough to prompt you without making you read from the slides.
10 minutes flies - I did one yesterday with 11 slides (that someone else had done for me - bad idea) and got through 2!! Didn't matter in the end, but don't go mad with the number.
No more than 7 lines and no more than 7 words on each line (roughly obviously). Enough to prompt you without making you read from the slides.
10 minutes flies - I did one yesterday with 11 slides (that someone else had done for me - bad idea) and got through 2!! Didn't matter in the end, but don't go mad with the number.
Ugh. If you can avoid using PowerPunt, do so.
One word, or maybe a sentence, per slide. Maybe a graph if you have to present stats.
Let your talking do the, um, talking.
Hand out notes if there's more complex stuff, but don't just read out bullet points from PP slides - that's naff squared. No, it's naff cubed.
One word, or maybe a sentence, per slide. Maybe a graph if you have to present stats.
Let your talking do the, um, talking.
Hand out notes if there's more complex stuff, but don't just read out bullet points from PP slides - that's naff squared. No, it's naff cubed.
CommanderJameson said:
Ugh. If you can avoid using PowerPunt, do so.
One word, or maybe a sentence, per slide. Maybe a graph if you have to present stats.
Let your talking do the, um, talking.
Hand out notes if there's more complex stuff, but don't just read out bullet points from PP slides - that's naff squared. No, it's naff cubed.
Agreed on reading the bullet points.One word, or maybe a sentence, per slide. Maybe a graph if you have to present stats.
Let your talking do the, um, talking.
Hand out notes if there's more complex stuff, but don't just read out bullet points from PP slides - that's naff squared. No, it's naff cubed.
I would say you need 8 at most.
1. Title slide
2. Synopsis of your themes
One slide for each of your 5 themes
Final slide with 3-5 points that emphise your ideas etc, as a reinforcer.
When you present "introduce the content" of each slide then give your audience time to read it.
Can feel a bit odd standing or sitting in silence. But they need time to take it in and digest.
If you throw it up and just start talking they will be trying to absorb 2 information sources and will probably focus on the screen and not hear what you are saying.
Try to keep text in either red, blue or black on a white background.
Practice as much as you can to GF or wife.
Good luck and hope you get the job.
possibly take a note from Steve Jobs keynote from Apple.
OK i know he's launching a product (usually) but his slides are always very simple and straight to the point.
Most peoples presentations are over stuffed with useless lines of text with the print so small you cant see it on a 14ft screen and the speaker just babbling on reading word for word on the screen.. watch people nod off.....
So keep it simple!! and have a good speech to rely on rather than just reading from the slides.
OK i know he's launching a product (usually) but his slides are always very simple and straight to the point.
Most peoples presentations are over stuffed with useless lines of text with the print so small you cant see it on a 14ft screen and the speaker just babbling on reading word for word on the screen.. watch people nod off.....
So keep it simple!! and have a good speech to rely on rather than just reading from the slides.
I agree.
I present for a living, and my rule of thumb is no more than 6 words per slide. That 7x7 rule would have me slitting my wrists within 3 slides...
Please understand that slides are just a visual aid to your presentation, just as a whiteboard, film, photos or real props might be.
People can either read, or listen, they can't do both simultaneously and effectively retain information - this has been proven in test.
Pick 3-5 points that you want your audience to remember from your presentation, they won't remember more.
Start with a slide for each of those points that gets that point across in 6 words or less, preferably a picture or diagram instead. Any diagram which you have to explain has failed before you have started.
Write slides or handouts or both. Never write slides that are handouts and never hand out copies of your slides to the audience before you start.
Add more slides only if it helps tell your story.
Garr Reynolds is a god - www.presentationzen.com
I present for a living, and my rule of thumb is no more than 6 words per slide. That 7x7 rule would have me slitting my wrists within 3 slides...
Please understand that slides are just a visual aid to your presentation, just as a whiteboard, film, photos or real props might be.
People can either read, or listen, they can't do both simultaneously and effectively retain information - this has been proven in test.
Pick 3-5 points that you want your audience to remember from your presentation, they won't remember more.
Start with a slide for each of those points that gets that point across in 6 words or less, preferably a picture or diagram instead. Any diagram which you have to explain has failed before you have started.
Write slides or handouts or both. Never write slides that are handouts and never hand out copies of your slides to the audience before you start.
Add more slides only if it helps tell your story.
Garr Reynolds is a god - www.presentationzen.com
edited to say that overhaulin can type faster than me and beat me to it!
Edited by Bee_Jay on Thursday 4th December 07:59
on me.
Think its the first time evvva.sagt550 said:
Do you think the 7x7 is too much then ? I've only just started doing the presentation thing myself, so I'm also open to suggestion. It seems to work for me, but if it is going to have the audience "slitting their wrists" maybe I need to revise my approach too!!
I do. 7x7 means you are essentially going to be reading out the slides, or more importantly having the audience not listen to you when you put the slide up for as long as it takes them to read each slide, so you either stand there saying nothing or plough on. If you stand there saying nothing you may as well come in the room and hand out a leaflet saying 'read that, I'll start in 10 minutes'.There are great resources on the web on communicating effectively in presentations and some great examples on youtube. Garr Reynolds is very well respected, and people that come to me to ask how to present better are always told to read that first.
For a cool presentation have a look at this: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RrpajcAgR1E though it has been copied a little too much now in big conference circles...
Seth Godin is also very good: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=AZnYRaQfjK4 his blog is very interesting if your job involves selling a product or service to anyone in any way (which covers 99% of people, including public servants) - sethgodin.typepad.com
Be different have a nice holding slide to start with your name and date etc etc then just use really good quality pictures (relevant to what your taking about) with no text at all .
Like someones already said people don't listen and read at the same time... It will be the presentation they will remember.
Like someones already said people don't listen and read at the same time... It will be the presentation they will remember.I tend to aim for 3 'points' per slide, written as concisely as possible. Remember politicians, speechwriters etc always go for the rule of three.
Four is OK, five the maximum I think.
I always put an "appear on click" animation on points, so people can't read ahead. They should be listening to you, not reading what you're going to say in the next 3 minutes.
Also - using the "lozenges" in smartart can make a very dreary list of bullets into something that looks a little bit smarter, without going into the realms of "god my eyes make it stop"
Write in bullets if you prefer, then use "convert to smart art" and choose something like "vertical block list"
Finally - a picture says a thousand words (but clipart makes you look like an idiot)
Four is OK, five the maximum I think.
I always put an "appear on click" animation on points, so people can't read ahead. They should be listening to you, not reading what you're going to say in the next 3 minutes.
Also - using the "lozenges" in smartart can make a very dreary list of bullets into something that looks a little bit smarter, without going into the realms of "god my eyes make it stop"
Write in bullets if you prefer, then use "convert to smart art" and choose something like "vertical block list"
Finally - a picture says a thousand words (but clipart makes you look like an idiot)
Bee_Jay said:
For a cool presentation have a look at this: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RrpajcAgR1E though it has been copied a little too much now in big conference circles...
LOL Identity 2.0 by "Dick Hardt"Poor b*stard.
TheCaseAce said:
Bee_Jay said:
For a cool presentation have a look at this: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RrpajcAgR1E though it has been copied a little too much now in big conference circles...
LOL Identity 2.0 by "Dick Hardt"Poor b*stard.
Edited by Bee_Jay on Thursday 4th December 08:35
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