| 1. Bullets and phrases: When I conduct public | | | | lower case lettering. It is much easier to read, and |
| speaking training, I always remind my audience to | | | | doesn't look like you're shouting. |
| keep their PowerPoint slides easy to read. Pretend | | | | 3.Color and contrast: Take into consideration the |
| you're on the interstate where someone could | | | | size of the room in which you'll be speaking. Will |
| read the information driving 55 miles per hour. | | | | everyone in that last row be able to read the |
| Bullets work best as they are easier to read than | | | | information on your PowerPoint slides? In order to |
| sentences. Also, you are less likely to read the | | | | assist them in reading what's on screen, choose |
| slides this way. The biggest rule with PowerPoint | | | | soft "easy-on-the-eyes" background colors such |
| slides is to keep them big, bold, and simple. Your | | | | as light blue or turquoise blue. For lettering, choose |
| slides should resemble a billboard. No more than 6 | | | | a contrasting color differing from your background |
| bullets per slide and 6 to 8 words per line. Stick to | | | | such as white, black or navy. For example, use |
| three colors per PowerPoint slide, otherwise your | | | | light lettering on a dark background, or dark |
| audience will start focusing more on color and less | | | | lettering against a light background. Never use all |
| on your content. | | | | sentences in black print against a plain white |
| 2. Font choices: Often, people come up to me | | | | background. It is boring and no one will read it. |
| privately in my public speaking training seminars | | | | Public speaking and the cardinal rule: you never |
| and confide that many of their colleagues use | | | | want to read what's on the screen. After all, you |
| "print that is too small for anyone to read." They | | | | are the presenter. Your audience assumes you're |
| secretly urge me to tell everyone attending that | | | | the expert. Also, when you read what's on your |
| the print must be large enough to read the | | | | slides, mostly likely your back is to the audience. |
| PowerPoint slide. In addition, I'm often told by the | | | | They won't focus on you. They'll just lose focus |
| person who hires me that many of their | | | | and start thinking about other things. Therefore, |
| employees put too much information on their | | | | use bullets and phrases as opposed to sentences |
| slides. With public speaking and visual aids, less is | | | | on your slides and in handouts. Think of what's on |
| more. | | | | your slides only as "fast food for the eyes." |
| Pick simple fonts, but make certain they're large | | | | In my public speaking training, I frequentlly see |
| enough to read for people in the back rows. The | | | | highly educated, knowledgeable people trying to |
| print size should be at least a 28 font for titles | | | | cram too much information on a single slide. This |
| and at least 22 point for other text. Simple fonts | | | | is especially true when presenting technical |
| with clean lines are much easier to read. For | | | | material.Technical people have a propensity to put |
| instance, Times New Roman, Gothic and Verdana | | | | too many words, charts, colors and graphs on a |
| are good choices. Within those font families you | | | | single slide. Know your material, yet keep it simple. |
| have the ability to enhance a page using italics and | | | | Practice. Rehearse with your PowerPoint slides. |
| bold, just go easy on the underlines. And never | | | | Get honest feedback from your friends, family |
| put letters in all capitals. Instead, use upper and | | | | members and colleagues. You can do it. Good luck! |