Slide 1: Effective PowerPoint Presentations It is easy to make a PowerPoint slide show; however, harder to make an effective presentation
Slide 2: Why Use PowerPoint  Overhead Transparencies will not work anymore in large auditoriums.  Imagine if your church or other organization used an overhead to make their points instead of PowerPoint.  PowerPoint allows you to interact with your audience, the Rocky Mountain Travel Association.
Slide 3: Effective PowerPoint Presentations  If your presentation is meaningful it will determine if your subjects will go to sleep or be involved in what you are saying.  I will look around the room to see how involved your travel agents are in this presentation
Slide 4: Color Scheme  Light text on a dark background is most effective.  As long as you stick to this just make sure that your colors are pleasing.  Only change the scheme on certain slides that you want to emphasize. Such as a green background when you are referencing money.  In a business setting you would probably want to use the colors that the business has adopted, such as Coca-Cola Red.
Slide 5: Too Much Information!  Your PowerPoint presentation is an aid not the presentation in itself.  If you have a slide with more than five bullets include them in a new slide.  Make just major points with bullets your audience cannot read too much information from a slide, consider using handouts!  Never read from your presentation.
Slide 6: Clip Art  Use clip art to help make your points without having to explain them!  Be careful with animated gifs that might take away from what you are saying!  Try not to use the same clips several times in your presentation.  This does not apply to your logos--put these on the master slides to help reinforce your company’s image.
Slide 7: Backgrounds  Try to customize your presentations by changing the color schemes, and making custom backgrounds.  If your audience sees a generic brand presentation they are less likely to pay attention to what you are saying.  You can purchase from an Office Supply store both new backgrounds and clip art.
Slide 8: Technology  When you use transitions, sounds, and custom animation use it sparingly.  Remember sound from your laptop may not have enough volume for everyone to hear it.  Remember some animation makes text harder to read.  There is nothing better than a presentation that is done professionally with only limited effects
Slide 9: Empty Space Use it! Empty Space adds impact!
Slide 10: Why are you doing this presentation?  Start with the end in mind.  Why are you speaking to this group of travel agents, what are you trying to accomplish!  Your reward in this class is a good grade, your reward in the world of work is to keep your job.
Slide 11: Hints For A Successful Presentation  Plan carefully  Do your research  Know your audience  Time your presentation  Practice your presentation  Speak comfortably and clearly
Slide 12: Effective PowerPoint Slides  Standardize position, colors and styles  Include only necessary information.  Use colors that contrast  Too many slides can lose your audience
Slide 13: Text Guidelines  Generally no more than 6 words a line  Avoid long sentences  Larger fonts indicate more important information  Be sure text contrast with background  Fancy fonts can be hard to read  WORDS IN ALL CAPITAL LETTER ARE HARD TO READ
Slide 14: Clip Art and Graphics  Should balance the slide  Should enhance and complement the text not overwhelm or take away from it.  No more than two graphics per slide.