When delivering any presentation, the golden rules are:
* know your audience
* know your message.

PowerPoint will only help you follow these rules, but here are some simple guidelines that will help you use the software in such a way as to make your presentation more effective:

- 1 Structure the order of your slides.
First, write out the headings of your presentation slides, for example: the Cover page, Introduction, and Conclusion slides should be in every presentation. The introduction answers the question: "why am I giving this presentation?". The conclusion answers the question: "what am I telling my audience?" What goes between the introduction and conclusion is up to you, but your argument should follow a logical flow, following a timeline for example, quoting the past, the present, and the future situation.

- 2 Use as few slides as possible, (and don't clutter your slides with text!)
It is better to be concise than to ramble, so don't just use powerpoint as a 'brain dump'. Think of your slides as a summary of your argument.. less is more. Use the points on your slides as prompts, or triggers for you to expand on.. without the suppport of large chunks of text on screen! Also, the audience will read your slides while you speak, so there is no need for you read the slides out loud.

- 3 Avoid flashy animations and sound effects
Sound effects and elaborate animations will detract from your message, and time spent adding these to your slides is time you could otherwise spend honing your delivery. Cartoons can be effective as a means of delivering information, but if you are using cartoons, ensure they are appropriate to your audience and your message.

- 4 Work within your allotted time constraint.
Delivering your slides should take 80% of your allotted time, with the remaining time used for questions and answers. For example, if you are told to give a ten minute presentation, time your presentation so that you are speaking for eight minutes. Then, once you have delivered your conclusion, ask your audience if they have any questions.

Remember, with PowerPoint, less is more. Be prepared, and allow the audience time to ask questions, and your message will be clearer and more memorable.

Learn more about this author, Paddy C.
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