Does this scenario sound familiar?
You’ve nearly finished with creating an important PowerPoint presentation for a big client. It has all the right elements: The content is tight. The template is solid. The typography is clean and consistent.
And yet, the presentation feels, well, a little flat.
This is the moment when you should take a step back, look at your presentation as a whole and ask yourself the following questions:
How do my slides flow?
When transition from one idea to another, your presentation needs to move fluidly — much like a song moves through chord changes or a movie transitions between scenes. If your presentation lacks flow, it won’t be easy for your audience to follow it.
Does my visual design have variety?
If all of your slides look the same, your audience will quickly lose interest in them. Use different background colors, typography and photography to set visual pacing and keep your audience engaged.
Have I given my audience the right visual cues?
Identify key moments in your presentation and use visuals to communicate them. For example, when you shift to a new “chapter” in your “story,” considering using a splash of color or a striking photo to help your audience recognize those transitions.
Are there clear takeaways?
Don’t be afraid to make your takeaways obvious. Create callout boxes or use large text to draw attention to key points in the presentation. Not only will this make it easier for your audience to remember takeaways, but it’ll keep them interested in what’s on your screen.
Am I using the right color palette?
If you have a large presentation, using different colors to “code” or segment your content is one of the easiest ways to keep it looking fresh. However, don’t overdo it. A presentation that showcases a rainbow of colors won’t look polished or professional.
After you’ve gone through this checklist, cue all your slides at once and give your presentation another gut check. If it still feels flat, go back through the questions again and refine the slides accordingly.
Remember: Your audience will experience your presentation as a single event or interpret it as a single object. To make it effective, you should, too.