by Maxwell Payne

Created on: March 30, 2009

How to use Microsoft Powerpoint with your presentations.

Using Microsoft Powerpoint during your presentations can be a great aid to your presentation. When used properly, Powerpoint can truly enhance any presentation whether it be for a boardroom or a classroom.

The problem is that many people use Powerpoint in an ineffective way, the slides should accent and support your speaking points, not be your speaking points.

As a graduate student, I've done and continue to do countless presentations. I prefer to use Powerpoint whenever possible because to me it really rounds out a presentation.

Consider these following things when designing and presenting your slides to get the most out of Powerpoint.

Use the slides as an aid.

Many people get nervous when making a presentation. Powerpoint slides can help structure your presentation so that if you lose your speaking place or need to repeat key facts, the slides are there to back you up.

A lot of people will speak and then turn to their slide to point out the facts presented or to reiterate their point. This can be effective when used in moderation.

Don't read off the slides.

So many students tend to read directly off their Powerpoint slides. Not only can this be incredibly boring, but it can also present the image that the student just threw facts and statements on a slide.

You'll appear ill prepared and without adding anything of speaking value to the presentation, you are basically just saying what everyone in the room just read to themselves.

Use designs and images sparingly.

Choose your Powerpoint slide background and layout carefully. Professional presentations shouldn't include cheesy animations or images and the color schemes should in a way match the tone of the content.

More importantly, the color schemes and design shouldn't make the slides difficult to read. Distracting images, colors, or hard to read fonts take away from your presentation.

Graphs and photos in moderation are alright.

If you have relevant photos or graphs that accent what you are speaking about, by all means place them in the slides. Don't overdo it though and make sure what you include in terms of visual aids are actually something you'll be discussing while presenting.
Relevance is key here. Somehow dancing bunny rabbits or giant gleaming smiley faces don't strike most audiences as being relevant or professional when say presenting on business proposals or medical research.

Pre-load all links.

Many people put links to YouTube videos and websites in their

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