Secure your next pay rise with powerful design

Secure your next pay rise with powerful design

“With more and more people looking to make additional income to help in these tough times, we at THISDAY have been looking at ways you can improve your workplace skills (and also your bank balance). First in our series on Work place skills we are focusing on Designing Effective Slides. It is well known that those in the workplace who earn the most are those that can communicate effectively, especially those who have an impactful slide deck.

We have therefore teamed up with our friends at Expert Slides so you too can make a real impact at  your next presentation, and perhaps get that promotion that will change your life.

How to Design Effective Slides for Your Next Presentation: A Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

Creating effective slides is an essential component of delivering a successful presentation. However, designing engaging and informative slides can be a challenging task, especially if you don’t have experience in visual design. Fortunately, there are a few simple steps you can take to create slides that are both visually appealing and effective in conveying your message. In this article, we’ll outline a step-by-step guide to designing effective slides for your next presentation.

Top 5 Common Mistakes When Creating PowerPoint Presentations

  • Overloading slides with too much text: It can be tempting to put a lot of information on each slide, but this can quickly overwhelm your audience. Instead, aim for simple and concise points that can be easily understood.
  • Using too many animations and effects: While animations and effects can be fun, they can also be distracting and take away from the message you are trying to convey. Stick to simple and tasteful animations that enhance your content rather than overpower it.
  • Not considering your audience: It’s important to tailor your presentation to your audience. Consider their knowledge level and interests, and present the information in a way that is relevant and engaging to them.
  • Ignoring the design: The design of your PowerPoint presentation is important, as it can greatly impact how your audience perceives your message. Choose a clean and consistent design, and avoid using too many different fonts or colors.
  • Reading directly from the slides: Your PowerPoint presentation should be a visual aid, not a script. Avoid reading directly from the slides, as this can be boring for your audience. Instead, use the slides as a reference and speak to your audience in a natural and engaging way.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you can create a more engaging and effective PowerPoint presentation that effectively communicates your message to your audience.

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Perfect Preparation Prevents Poor Performance (Px5)

Step by Step Guide to Design Effective Slides

Start with a Clear Message

Starting with a clear message is a critical step in creating effective slides for your presentation. A clear message helps you stay focused on your main point and ensures that your presentation is coherent and concise. When you start with a clear message, you can build your presentation around this central idea, which helps you stay on track and avoid getting sidetracked by irrelevant information.

To start with a clear message, you need to identify the purpose of your presentation. What is the main point you want to convey to your audience? What do you want your audience to take away from your presentation? Once you have a clear idea of your main point, you can create an outline for your presentation that supports this message.

Your message should be succinct and memorable. It should be something that your audience can easily recall after your presentation. One way to ensure that your message is clear and memorable is to use a strong presentation theme. Your theme should be concise and easy to remember, and it should convey your main point in a way that resonates with your audience.

Your message should also be relevant to your audience. Consider the needs and interests of your audience when developing your message. What are their pain points points, and how can your presentation help them solve their problems? When your message is relevant to your audience, they are more likely to pay attention and engage with your presentation.

Choose the Right Layout

Choosing the right layout is crucial to designing effective slides for your presentation. A well-designed layout can help you organize your information in a way that is easy to follow and visually appealing, while a poorly designed layout can make your presentation confusing and difficult to understand. Here are some tips for choosing the right layout for your presentation:

  1. Consider Your Presentation Type: Different presentation types may require different layout designs. For example, a sales pitch may require a more visually appealing and persuasive layout, while a training presentation may require a more straightforward and informational layout. Consider the purpose and audience of your presentation to determine the appropriate layout design.
  2. Use Templates or Create Your Own: Using templates is an easy and efficient way to create a professional-looking layout for your presentation. PowerPoint and other presentation software offer a variety of templates that you can use as a starting point for your design. Alternatively, you can create your own layout design that complements your presentation theme.
  3. Keep it Simple: A cluttered or busy layout can make your presentation difficult to follow and distract from your message. Use a simple layout that highlights your key points and makes it easy for your audience to follow along. Consider using a consistent layout throughout your presentation to help your audience stay focused.
  4. Use Visuals Strategically: Visuals such as images, charts, and graphs can help reinforce your message and make your presentation more engaging. However, it’s important to use visuals strategically and avoid overloading your slides with too many graphics. Use visuals to highlight key points and make complex information easier to understand.
  5. Use Color Wisely: Color can be a powerful tool in your layout design, but it’s important to use it wisely. Choose colors that complement your presentation theme and create a sense of harmony throughout your presentation. Use color sparingly to highlight key points or create visual interest without overwhelming your audience.

Choosing the right layout is crucial to creating effective slides for your presentation. Consider your presentation type, use templates or create your own, keep it simple, use visuals strategically, and use color wisely to create a layout that supports your message and engages your audience.

Expert Slide comes with 100’s of templates that instantly gives your presentation the impact you are after.

Use High-Quality Visuals

Using high-quality visuals is a critical aspect of designing effective slides for your presentation. Visuals can help reinforce your message, add interest to your presentation, and make complex information easier to understand. Here are some tips for using high-quality visuals in your presentation:

  1. Choose Appropriate Visuals: When selecting visuals, it’s important to choose images and graphics that support your message and are relevant to your presentation. Use visuals that are appropriate for your audience and that help you convey your message more effectively. Avoid using generic or irrelevant visuals that can confuse your audience or distract from your message.
  2. Use High-Quality Images: Use high-quality images that are clear and visually appealing. Low-quality images can make your presentation look unprofessional and can be distracting to your audience. If possible, use original images that you have taken or that are relevant to your presentation.
  3. Optimize Image Size: When adding images to your presentation, it’s important to optimize their size for the presentation format. Large images can slow down your presentation and make it difficult for your audience to follow along. Use image editing software or the image compression tools available in your presentation software to optimize image size while maintaining image quality.
  4. Use Charts and Graphs: Charts and graphs can be effective in presenting complex data in a way that is easy to understand. Use high-quality charts and graphs that are clear and easy to read. Avoid using overly complex charts and graphs that can confuse your audience.
  5. Be Consistent: Use visuals that are consistent with your presentation theme and maintain a consistent style throughout your presentation. This helps your presentation look more professional and makes it easier for your audience to follow along.

Using high-quality visuals is essential to creating effective slides for your presentation. Choose appropriate visuals, use high-quality images, optimize image size, use charts and graphs, and be consistent with your presentation theme to create a visually appealing and engaging presentation.

The quality of your presentation represent your own qualities

Incorporate Text Effectively

Incorporating text effectively is an important aspect of designing effective slides for your presentation. Text can help you communicate your message clearly and concisely, but too much text or poorly formatted text can be overwhelming and distract from your message. Here are some tips for incorporating text effectively in your presentation:

  1. Keep it Simple: Use simple, easy-to-read fonts and avoid using too many different font styles in your presentation. Choose a font that is easy to read and appropriate for your presentation. Sans-serif fonts like Arial or Calibri are good choices for presentations because they are easy to read on-screen.
  2. Use Short Sentences and Bullet Points: Use short sentences and bullet points to break up long paragraphs of text. This makes it easier for your audience to follow along and helps them retain information. Limit the number of bullet points on each slide to avoid overwhelming your audience.
  3. Use Consistent Formatting: Use consistent formatting throughout your presentation to make it look more professional and easier to follow. Use the same font, font size, and color scheme throughout your presentation. Use bold or italics to emphasize important points, but avoid using all caps or underlining, which can be difficult to read.
  4. Use Contrast: Use contrast between text and background to make your text stand out. For example, use a light-colored font on a dark background or a dark-colored font on a light background. Avoid using colors that clash or make the text difficult to read.
  5. Use Visuals to Reinforce Your Message: Use visuals such as images or diagrams to reinforce your message and make your presentation more engaging. Use text sparingly in conjunction with visuals to highlight key points.

Incorporating text effectively is critical to designing effective slides for your presentation. Keep it simple, use short sentences and bullet points, use consistent formatting, use contrast to make your text stand out, and use visuals to reinforce your message. By following these tips, you can create a visually appealing and engaging presentation that effectively communicates your message to your audience.

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Engage your audience for effective communication

Use Consistent Branding

Using consistent branding is an important aspect of designing effective slides for your presentation. Branding includes your company logo, color scheme, and visual style, and helps to create a consistent and recognizable identity for your brand. Here are some tips for using consistent branding in your presentation:

  1. Use Your Company Logo: Use your company logo on the title slide and throughout your presentation to reinforce your brand identity. Your logo should be prominently displayed and easily recognizable.
  2. Use Your Company Colors: Use your company’s color scheme throughout your presentation to create a consistent visual identity. This includes the background color, text color, and accent colors used in your presentation.
  3. Use a Consistent Font: Use a consistent font throughout your presentation to maintain a consistent visual style. This includes both the font used for the main body text and any headings or titles in your presentation.
  4. Use Consistent Layouts: Use consistent layouts throughout your presentation to create a professional and cohesive look. This includes the layout of text and visuals on each slide, as well as the overall structure of your presentation.
  5. Use Your Brand Guidelines: Use your brand guidelines to ensure that your presentation is consistent with your overall brand identity. Your brand guidelines should include guidelines for font usage, color schemes, logo placement, and other visual elements that are important for maintaining a consistent brand identity.

Using consistent branding is important for creating an effective and professional presentation that reinforces your brand identity. Use your company logo, color scheme, and visual style throughout your presentation, and ensure that your presentation is consistent with your brand guidelines. By following these tips, you can create a visually appealing and effective presentation that effectively communicates your message while reinforcing your brand identity.

Share with others your presentation, after all practise makes perfect

Conclusion

In conclusion, designing effective slides requires a combination of planning, creativity, and attention to detail. By following these simple steps, you can create slides that effectively convey your message and keep your audience engaged. Remember to start with a clear message, choose the right layout, use high-quality visuals, incorporate text effectively, and maintain consistent branding throughout your presentation.

Secure your next pay rise with Expert Slide

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We also came across this video that is really great in showing you how to put together a presentation with real impact. Enjoy 🙂

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