Tag: powerpoint presentation

Guy Kawasaki’s 10-20-30 Rule of Presentation: Is It Still Relevant?

10-20-30 Rules

Guy Kawasaki

powerpoint presentation

Slide Deck Design

Apr 18, 2020

PowerPoint is a superb presentation tool that can be an effective visual aid for professional speakers when appropriately used. However, at the hands of inexperienced presenters who have no eye for design, it can pave the way for jarring and unattractive slides. Sad to say, the business world is teeming with mediocre pitch decks that just don’t do justice to the ability of PowerPoint as an excellent design tool. Luckily, there are people like Canva Chief Evangelist Guy Kawasaki, who can show the noobs how it should be done.

Kawasaki advocated the 10-20-30 Rule of PowerPoint, which banks on the idea that a presentation “should have ten slides, last no more than twenty minutes, and contain no font smaller than thirty points.” Although Kawasaki originally meant it for entrepreneurs and startup business owners, this principle applies to all presentations. Following this guide can avoid basic design mistakes and ultimately stand out from the vast sea of lackluster presentations.

Array of 7 angled pitch deck slides showcasing SlideGenius's presentation design portfolio

Why the 10-20-30 Rule Is Still Relevant Today

Kawasaki’s 10-20-30 Rule is now more than a decade old—which, we can all agree, is a long time for any virtual rule to last, with the constant and almost abrupt changes that technology makes. Although PowerPoint is still the most recognizable presentation design software in recent history, it’s no longer the only one in the book. Several competitors have emerged, and they all have something relevant to offer. Apart from that, how people use PowerPoint has changed over time. What was invaluable ten years ago may not be as significant today.

This begs the question, “Does the 10-20-30 Rule still apply?” The answer to this is short and clear: YES. Here’s why.

1. Presenters still cram several ideas into one pitch deck

You’d think a lot would have changed in a decade. Well, in the case of slide design, nothing much has improved. Don’t get this wrong—agencies specializing in presentation design have emerged over the years and elevated the landscape. The individual presenters who have not fully maximized the use of PowerPoint still make the same mistakes. Despite professionals strongly advising against it, some presenters still cram multiple ideas into one pitch deck. They don’t even bother to filter out the unnecessary stuff and keep only the crucial points.

When Kawasaki first proposed the 10-20-30 Rule, he also suggested ten topics for the ten slides: the problem, the solution, the business model, the underlying technology, sales and marketing, the competition, the team, projections and milestones, status and timeline, and summary and call to action.

So, instead of filling each slide with unnecessary text, why not try to identify your salient points first and then make an outline based on them? Use as little text as possible to avoid overwhelming your audience with a barrage of ideas. If a slide isn’t necessary, do away with it. Remember, you are the star of your presentation, not the pitch deck or anything else. Make sure that all focus remains on you.

Are You Looking for a Pitch Deck?
View Our Amazing Pitch Deck Examples!

2. People’s attention span is getting shorter

We’re in the age of social media, where the best content is short and fast, and people appreciate things that don’t take much time. Attention spans have become relatively more straightforward, so people are growing more impatient and expectant—a combination that is hard to satisfy. This is why when delivering a presentation, you should always be considerate of your audience’s time and level of interest. Even if you’re given an hour to present, prepare for a speech that doesn’t last longer than twenty minutes. You can use the extra time to set up your equipment or hold a Q&A session.

“But I have something significant to say!” you may argue. That doesn’t give you any reason to go beyond the suggested time frame. Look at the universally-renowned TED talks, for example. Speakers are expected to deliver their speeches in eighteen minutes or less, which doesn’t stop them from communicating brilliant ideas worth sharing. If you have an imposed time constraint, you’ll be forced to edit your speech meticulously until it’s down to the bare necessities. Trim down all the unnecessary stuff to put the essentials in the spotlight.

3. Readability is a crucial factor that’s still being sidelined

The number one rule of presentations is simple: The audience is the boss. Wherever you are in the presentation, you should always put the audience at the forefront of your mind. For instance, what the people in the front row see should also be seen clearly by those in the back row. Optimize the font size of your text to accommodate all of your viewers. When you see people squinting at your slide, take the hint that something’s not right.

Another reason why the thirty-point font rule should still be reinforced today is that it encourages you to limit the number of words you can put in each slide. As much as possible, don’t overload your slides with information. Remember that your goal is not to bombard your audience with ideas but to present them with a few that can improve their lives.

Is the 10-20-30 Rule Absolute?

Kawasaki didn’t mean for the 10-20-30 Rule to be followed religiously by all business presenters. Instead, he set it as a guideline for people who want to improve their pitch decks and, consequently, their presentations. The fact remains that each situation is unique, so there’s no hard-and-fast rule that applies to all.

Instead of asking how many slides you should have, ask how many you need. Also, instead of going with the twenty-minute rule, why not apply the one-third rule, which suggests that the length of your speech should be one-third of the time you’re given? That is, after all, the original idea that Kawasaki proposed. Lastly, you can bend the thirty-point-font rule without breaking it. It’s only the minimum font size recommended, so you can go higher as the number of words you use per slide decreases. Ultimately, you should consider the needs of your audience instead of mindlessly jumping on the bandwagon. What works for one may not always work for you.

Twelve years later, Kawasaki’s 10-20-30 rule is still as effective as ever. If every presenter applies these three timeless guidelines, the landscape of presentation design will be infinitely better.

Resources:

Dlugan, Andrew. “The 10-20-30 Rule: Guy Kawasaki on PowerPoint.” Six Minutes. June 10, 2010. sixminutes.dlugan.com/10-20-30-rule-guy-kawasaki-powerpoint

Jonson, Laura. “The 10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint: Does It Still Work?” SlideShare. January 13, 2016. blog.slideshare.net/2016/01/13/the-102030-rule-of-powerpoint-does-it-still-work

Kawasaki, Guy. “The 10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint.” Guy Kawasaki. December 30, 2005. guykawasaki.com/the_102030_rule

“Follow the 10-20-30 Rule for a Perfect PowerPoint Presentation.” Presentation Load. October 17, 2013. blog.presentationload.com/follow-10-20-30-rule-perfect-powerpoint-presentation

3 Ways to Live Stream Your PowerPoint Presentation

live stream

powerpoint presentation

PowerPoint tip

powerpoint tutorial

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

Sep 25, 2017

Distance shouldn’t be a barrier between you and your audience. Bring your pitch out of the boardroom and into the Web. Reach out to a wider audience with your deck without sacrificing your presence.

Live-stream your PowerPoint in three ways:

1. Share as a Link

In his article on digital video hub Field59, Michael Worringer gives his readers a run-through on how to broadcast your presentation from PowerPoint 2010 and 2013 by sharing it as a link.

For the purpose of this tutorial, we’ll be using PowerPoint 2013.

Unlike its 2010 version, whose Broadcast Slide Show option is found in the Slide Show tab, PowerPoint 2013 lets you live-stream your presentation through the Share option in the File tab.

A dialog box will appear with your presentation’s custom URL once you click Present Online. Copy the link or send it via email to your audience.

After they’ve received the link, click Start Presentation. Now you’ll be able to guide your viewers through each slide in real time at your own pace.

Below, you’ll find how Presenter View will appear on your screen. However, your audience will only see your slide show as you present it.

Once you’re done, exit the slide show mode and select End Online Presentation in the Present Online tab.

The slight downside to this broadcast method is that while you’re free to share your PowerPoint, some of your original deck’s features may be compromised. All transitions will be set to ‘fade’ from the audience’s view, and a file size may be imposed on your upload, depending on your broadcast service.

A compact and concise deck is more advisable for this PowerPoint live-stream technique to minimize the lag in your loading times.

2. Use Office Mix

If you’re using PowerPoint 2013 and are subscribed to Office 365, live streaming becomes even easier with the downloadable free add-in Office Mix.

Unlike the previous method, Office Mix is more accommodating with your slide contents. You’re free to add audio, video, polls, and quizzes to your slides. This is especially helpful for educators who want to track their students’ progress outside the classroom and for presenters who want to maximize audience engagement using their deck.

These are all available in the Quizzes Video Apps found in the Mix tab that will appear once you’ve downloaded it.

Source:

There’s also live digital inking, a more hands-on approach to presentation that lets you guide students through your slides in real time using video, audio, and illustration.

Source:

Office Mix has its own site dedicated to help users navigate through this handy feature. First-timers can benefit from its tutorials that show Mix at work.

Similar to the Broadcast Slide Show in PowerPoint 2010, Office Mix requires an Internet connection to share your presentation to a selected audience. However, another unique option of this add-in lets your audience review and play back your slides to their own pace even after you’ve exited your slide show.

True to its name, Mix crosses the boundaries between the Microsoft Office programs. Import viewers’ data and feedback on your deck for a more in-depth analysis.

3. Upload to Online Platforms

The third route to live-streaming your PowerPoint doesn’t let you interact with your audience as much, but it may be the easiest yet.

If you don’t have the last two PowerPoint features, you can upload and design your presentation using a private account to online platforms made for deck hosting, such as SlideShare.

Publishing your slides on online platforms is meant to improve reaching out to a wider audience. Although you can configure your uploaded deck’s settings to selected viewers, following default settings leaves your deck open for public viewing. You can add tags to make your PowerPoint easily searchable online, further reinforcing its inclination towards mass sharing.

At the same time, this technique can be considered a combination of the previous two PowerPoint live-streaming methods. It has a file size limitation like PowerPoint 2010, but it lets your audience enjoy your presentation at their pace, like Office Mix. Making use of online platforms requires compressing your slide contents into a file size that you can manually upload to the website.

Conclusion

Your deck is an important part of your presentation. Don’t let the distance between you and your audience deter you.

Broadcast your slide deck using three different methods, depending on the type of program available to you and on your intended audience. Share your PowerPoint with a link and broadcast it live with PowerPoint 2010 and 2013. Interact with your viewers in real time with Office Mix. However, if neither of these are available to you, you can always upload your presentation to an online platform like SlideShare.

There are a number of ways to make your presentation accessible. Just reach out to the one that works best for you.

[sg-blog-modules module=three]

References

Worringer, Michael. “How to Broadcast a PowerPoint Presentation with a Live Stream.” Field59 Inc. April 21, 2015. www.field59.com/broadcast-powerpoint-presentation-live-stream
“What Is Office Mix.” Office Mix for Teachers. www.mixforteachers.com/what-is-office-mix.html

Featured Image: “Man Holding Laptop Computer Typing While Dog Watches” by Image Catalog on flickr.com

Key Lessons from Cliff Atkinson’s First Five Slides

Cliff Atkinson

custom powerpoint

pitch deck

powerpoint presentation

presentation tips

Rick Enrico

slide design

SlideGenius

slides

Jun 05, 2017

In 2005, presentation pitch deck consultant Cliff Atkinson published his bestselling book, Beyond Bullet Points, which revolutionized the way people used PowerPoint. Atkinson was one of the first presentation gurus to displace the bulleted list by introducing a more viable alternative. It’s a principle called “the first five slides.”

Atkinson claimed that a presenter only needs the first five slides of a pitch deck to hook the audience. But the real question is, “What exactly do these slides contain, and what effects do they have on potential clients?” Let’s find out.

The Only Five Slides You Need in Your Pitch Deck | Cliff Atkinson

A Story Only Slides Can Tell

The premise of Atkinson’s book is the ability of the first five slides of a deck to tell a good story. Stories are easily relatable, and they’re more effective in evoking emotions compared to plain facts. A good narrative can help you create an emotional bond that will get your audience to empathize with you and see things from your perspective.

[sg-blog-modules module=three]

To lay out your deck in a narrative form, make sure that the order of your slides fall within a good story arc. You can do this by establishing the setting and the protagonist in the first two slides of your presentation. The setting should clearly define the business environment you find yourself in, and the protagonist, naturally, should point to your audience.

In the third slide, establish the imbalance that your protagonist encounters in the setting. What problem is your audience experiencing? What incident is weighing them down? You may outline an existing dilemma that your business aims to solve. Before you can present the solution, however, you need to establish a sense of balance in your fourth slide. What’s the ideal situation that your audience should aspire for? How good should the state of affairs be for them to achieve a sense of fulfillment?

The Only Five Slides You Need in Your Pitch Deck | Cliff Atkinson: Solution

Once you’ve successfully presented these four elements, it’s time for the most important part: the solution. The fifth and last slide should contain your proposal to the audience. What can you do to alleviate their discomfort? How can your business help in addressing their concerns?

Your business pitch should always focus on your audience. Customers are interested in what you can do for them, so bank on that.

The Supplemental Nature of Slides

A common misconception presenters have about PowerPoint is that it can replace their presence during a live pitch. However, because your deck’s main purpose is to serve as a visual aid, loading each slide with too much information can burn out your viewers. People aren’t wired to process information in bulk, so break things down into bite-sized pieces to help them remember your points better.

Divide your hook into five brief statements focusing on your pitch’s specific aspects. Establish your credibility by forming a personal connection with your audience. Each slide should have one topic that you can expound on. In terms of design, place only keywords and powerful images related to your message, and leave the rest for your verbal explanation. After all, your audience went to hear your pitch, and not to see your deck.

Cliff Atkinson: Supplemental Slides

The Ultimate Investment

Although the first five slides might be the most important in attracting your audience’s attention, they only serve as the first act of an elaborate performance, as your fifth slide acts as the end of your opening credits. The next step is to convince your listeners to invest in you.

[sg-blog-modules module=two]

After drawing people in, give them a good reason to stay. Walk your audience through the succeeding chapters of your pitch. Refer to your earlier slides, particularly the existing conflict to which you have a unique solution. This is your opportunity to present your products and services, your business strategy, and your current standing in the market. While emotional appeal hooks your listeners, giving facts and data will help strengthen your pitch.

The Power of Five Slides

Every good presentation has a clear structure with an effective hook, line, and sinker. Take inspiration from Cliff Atkinson’s best-selling book and drop the bullet points. Focus on your first five slides to draw in prospects.

Your pitch deck is a story waiting to be told. Make sure it’s worth every minute of your audience’s time. Keep in mind that your job doesn’t end in hooking your audience—it’s still a long stretch from there. Your first five slides are only the beginning of your winning pitch deck.

Top Problems Presenters Face (And How to Avoid them)

custom powerpoint

pitch deck

powerpoint presentation

Powerpoint tips

presentation design

presentation problems

presentation tips

Presenter Problems

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

Mar 27, 2017

Presenting can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially when faced with common challenges that can disrupt the flow of your presentation. From technical difficulties to audience engagement issues, these problems can derail even the most well-prepared presenter. Fortunately, with a little preparation and foresight, many of these issues can be avoided.

Here are the top problems presenters face and how to avoid them:

1. Technical Difficulties

One of the most common problems presenters face is technical issues, such as malfunctioning equipment, incompatible file formats, or connection problems. These can cause delays, stress, and a loss of audience attention.

How to Avoid It:

  • Test Equipment Ahead of Time: Arrive early to test the projector, microphone, and any other equipment. Ensure your laptop connects properly to external displays and that sound and video work as expected.
  • Have Backups: Always have a backup of your presentation on a USB drive and email a copy to yourself. This ensures that you have access to your presentation even if your primary device fails.
  • Bring Necessary Cables/Adapters: If you’re presenting in a location with different equipment, bring any necessary adapters (HDMI, VGA, etc.) to ensure compatibility.

Example: Before presenting at a conference, test your laptop’s connection to the projector and sound system, and have a backup copy of your slides saved in multiple locations.

2. Losing Audience Attention

Another common challenge is losing the attention of your audience, especially during longer presentations. People tend to zone out if a presentation becomes monotonous or lacks engagement.

How to Avoid It:

  • Engage with the Audience: Ask questions, invite participation, or incorporate live polls to keep the audience engaged and make them feel involved in the presentation.
  • Use Visuals: Incorporate images, videos, and infographics to break up long stretches of text and keep the presentation visually stimulating.
  • Keep It Dynamic: Change your tone, pace, and energy levels throughout the presentation to maintain interest.

Example: During a 30-minute sales pitch, ask the audience for their thoughts on a key point, or incorporate an engaging video that illustrates your message.

3. Running Over or Under Time

Presenters often struggle with managing their time, either running over and having to rush through the final points, or finishing too quickly, leaving awkward gaps.

How to Avoid It:

  • Time Your Rehearsals: Practice your presentation multiple times and time yourself to ensure you stay within the allotted time. Adjust your content accordingly if necessary.
  • Use a Timer: Use a timer or a clock (such as the one available in Presenter View in PowerPoint) to keep track of time as you present. This helps you stay on pace.
  • Prioritize Key Points: If time starts to run out, make sure you know which points are the most important and focus on them, skipping or shortening less crucial sections.

Example: If you’re scheduled for a 15-minute presentation, time yourself during rehearsal and trim content to ensure you can comfortably cover everything within that time frame.

4. Nervousness and Stage Fright

Many presenters experience anxiety, stage fright, or nervousness, which can negatively impact their performance. Nervousness may lead to filler words, shaky hands, or a quavering voice.

How to Avoid It:

  • Practice Relaxation Techniques: Practice deep breathing exercises before your presentation to calm your nerves. Visualization and positive affirmations can also help reduce anxiety.
  • Practice Your Presentation: The more familiar you are with your material, the less nervous you’ll feel. Practice in front of friends, family, or a mirror until you feel confident.
  • Start with a Smile: Smiling at the beginning of your presentation can help you feel more relaxed and confident, and it sets a positive tone with your audience.

Example: Before stepping on stage, take a few deep breaths and visualize yourself successfully delivering the presentation. Smile as you begin to set a confident tone.

5. Overloading Slides with Information

Some presenters try to cram too much information into their slides, resulting in cluttered, text-heavy slides that are difficult to follow. This can overwhelm the audience and make it hard for them to focus on key points.

How to Avoid It:

  • Stick to Key Points: Use bullet points or short phrases to highlight the key takeaways on each slide. Avoid adding large paragraphs of text.
  • Use White Space: Ensure your slides have enough white space to avoid looking cluttered. This makes your presentation look cleaner and more professional.
  • Explain, Don’t Read: Your slides should act as visual aids, not scripts. Avoid reading directly from your slides, and instead use them to supplement your spoken words.

Example: Instead of a slide with a long paragraph of text, break it into three concise bullet points and explain the details verbally while using the slide as a visual cue.

6. Handling Difficult Questions

Presenters may face difficult or unexpected questions from the audience, which can throw them off if they aren’t prepared. Mishandling questions can diminish your credibility.

How to Avoid It:

  • Prepare for Common Questions: Anticipate possible questions the audience might have and prepare answers for them in advance. This will make you feel more confident during the Q&A session.
  • Take Your Time: If you’re unsure of how to answer a question, it’s okay to take a moment to think. If you don’t know the answer, offer to follow up after the presentation.
  • Stay Calm and Polite: Even if faced with tough or critical questions, maintain a calm and polite demeanor. This helps you maintain control of the room and preserves your professionalism.

Example: After presenting a new product, you might be asked about a feature that hasn’t been fully developed yet. Acknowledge the question, and offer a general timeline for when more information will be available.

Final Thoughts

Presenters face a range of challenges, from technical difficulties to managing time and nerves. However, with proper preparation, practice, and foresight, you can avoid these common pitfalls and deliver a smooth, confident presentation. By focusing on audience engagement, using technology effectively, and preparing for potential obstacles, you’ll set yourself up for success.

Exporting PowerPoint to Paper: Tips for Enticing Printout Content

business

handouts

Powerpoint

powerpoint designer

powerpoint presentation

presentation

presentation design

printout

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

Feb 19, 2017

While PowerPoint is typically used for digital presentations, there are times when you’ll need to export your slides for physical printouts. Whether it’s for a meeting, a workshop, or a leave-behind document, ensuring that your PowerPoint slides translate well to paper requires some special considerations. Simply printing slides as-is can lead to poor readability or formatting issues, so here are some tips to make your PowerPoint content enticing and effective when printed.

1. Adjust Slide Layout for Printing

When designing for print, the layout that looks great on a screen may not always translate well to paper. It’s important to adjust your slide layout to ensure that all content remains clear and legible.

How to Adjust the Layout:

  • Use a 4:3 Aspect Ratio: For most printed documents, a 4:3 aspect ratio is preferable over the typical 16:9 widescreen layout. Go to Design > Slide Size > Standard (4:3) to switch your slide dimensions.
  • Increase Margins: Leave wider margins on each side of the slide to avoid text or images getting cut off during printing.
  • Optimize for Page Size: Before printing, check the Print Preview to ensure the slides fit properly on the selected paper size (e.g., letter or A4).

2. Focus on Readability

Printouts need to be easily readable, even from a distance. If your slides are text-heavy, consider breaking them into smaller sections or making adjustments to improve legibility.

How to Ensure Readability:

  • Increase Font Size: Use a minimum of 24pt font for titles and 18pt for body text to ensure the text is legible on paper.
  • Choose Readable Fonts: Stick to simple, sans-serif fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica that print well. Avoid overly stylized or light fonts that may become difficult to read.
  • High Contrast Colors: Make sure your text and background have sufficient contrast. Light text on a dark background might not print well, so stick to dark text on a light background for printed slides.

3. Use Handout Formatting

PowerPoint offers handout formatting options that let you print multiple slides per page, helping you save paper and create a cleaner, more concise printout.

How to Use Handout Formatting:

  1. Go to File > Print: In the Print menu, choose Handouts under the Print Layout section.
  2. Select Slides per Page: You can print 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, or 9 slides per page. For professional printouts, 3 or 4 slides per page strike a good balance between space and readability.
  3. Include Lines for Notes: Select the option to print slides with lines for note-taking. This is useful for meetings and presentations where participants may want to jot down thoughts or feedback.

4. Optimize Visuals for Printing

Images and graphics often look different in print compared to on-screen. Before printing, ensure that all visuals are optimized for high-quality printing.

How to Optimize Visuals:

  • Use High-Resolution Images: Make sure your images are at least 300 DPI (dots per inch) for sharp, clear printouts.
  • Simplify Charts and Graphs: Complex charts that look fine on-screen may become unreadable in print. Simplify your data visualizations by using fewer elements and larger fonts for labels.
  • Avoid Overuse of Color: Bright, bold colors that look vibrant on-screen can become overwhelming or too dark in print. Stick to a more muted color palette when printing.

5. Test Print in Grayscale

Not all printers can produce high-quality color printouts, so it’s a good idea to test how your PowerPoint slides look when printed in grayscale.

How to Test Grayscale Printing:

  1. Go to File > Print: In the Print menu, choose Grayscale under the Settings menu.
  2. Check for Contrast Issues: Ensure that your slides maintain sufficient contrast between text, images, and backgrounds when printed without color.
  3. Test Before Large Print Runs: Always do a test print to see how your slides look in grayscale before printing large quantities.

6. Add Headers, Footers, and Page Numbers

Adding headers, footers, and page numbers to your printed slides makes them look more professional and easier to navigate, especially in longer documents.

How to Add Headers and Footers:

  1. Go to Insert > Header & Footer: Check the boxes for Date, Footer Text, and Page Numbers to include them in your printouts.
  2. Customize the Footer: Add your company’s name, the presentation title, or any other relevant information to the footer to create a cohesive, branded printout.
  3. Align the Page Numbers: Ensure that page numbers are placed consistently across all slides for easy reference.

7. Use the “Save as PDF” Option for Digital Printouts

If you’re sharing the slides electronically for participants to print themselves, consider saving the PowerPoint as a PDF. This ensures that the formatting remains consistent and looks professional across devices.

How to Save as PDF:

  1. Go to File > Save As: Choose PDF from the file format options.
  2. Choose Handouts or Full Slides: You can either save the full slides or opt for the handout view to include multiple slides per page.
  3. Distribute Electronically: Share the PDF via email or cloud storage for easy access and printing by your audience.

Final Thoughts

Exporting PowerPoint presentations for print requires careful consideration of layout, readability, and visual quality. By optimizing your slide designs for paper, adjusting fonts and colors, and using PowerPoint’s handout options, you can create enticing, professional printouts that maintain the impact of your digital presentations. Whether you’re distributing printed slides at a conference or sending out PDF handouts after a meeting, following these tips will help you create high-quality, readable, and visually appealing content.

How to Group, Ungroup, and Regroup Objects in PowerPoint 2013

group

Powerpoint

powerpoint presentation

regroup

Rick Enrico

slide objects

SlideGenius

ungroup

Dec 13, 2016

Grouping objects in PowerPoint is a useful feature that helps you organize your slides, align elements, and move multiple objects simultaneously. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to group, ungroup, and regroup objects in PowerPoint 2013.

1. Grouping Objects

Grouping allows you to combine multiple objects into one, so you can move or resize them together as a single unit. This is especially helpful when working with complex slide designs that contain several elements.

Why It’s Important:

  • Simplifies Layouts: Grouping simplifies your workflow by allowing you to manipulate several objects at once.
  • Maintains Alignment: It ensures that all grouped objects stay in the correct position relative to each other.

How to Do It:

  • Select the objects you want to group by holding down Shift and clicking each object.
  • Right-click on one of the selected objects and choose Group > Group from the menu.
  • The objects will now move, resize, and rotate as a single unit.

2. Ungrouping Objects

If you need to edit individual elements within a group, you can ungroup the objects. This breaks the group into separate objects, allowing you to make adjustments.

Why It’s Important:

  • Allows for Individual Edits: Ungrouping lets you modify specific objects without affecting the rest of the group.
  • Flexibility: You can regroup the objects later if needed after making your changes.

How to Do It:

  • Select the grouped object.
  • Right-click and choose Group > Ungroup from the menu.
  • The objects will be ungrouped, and you can now edit them individually.

3. Regrouping Objects

If you’ve ungrouped objects and want to group them again without manually selecting them, you can use the Regroup function. This is useful if you’ve temporarily ungrouped objects to make quick edits.

Why It’s Important:

  • Saves Time: Regrouping saves you from having to reselect all objects individually.
  • Restores Original Grouping: It preserves the original alignment and layout of the objects as they were before ungrouping.

How to Do It:

  • Click on any one of the objects that were part of the original group.
  • Right-click and choose Group > Regroup from the menu.
  • The objects will regroup into their original configuration.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to group, ungroup, and regroup objects in PowerPoint 2013 is essential for maintaining an organized and efficient workflow, especially when designing slides with multiple elements. Grouping objects saves time, ensures alignment, and allows for greater control over your slide layouts. Incorporating these techniques will help you manage your designs more effectively.

3 Business PowerPoint Building Lessons from IKEA Furniture

powerpoint presentation

Powerpoint tips

presentation

presentation techniques

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

Nov 20, 2016

IKEA furniture can be one of the most stressful things to assemble, especially when collaborating with others. In fact, California State University professor and therapist Dr. Ramani Durvasula observed that couples end up arguing during two phases.

The first is while picking which items to buy, the second, while they assemble the items. Strangely enough, even presenters can learn a few things from building them. After all, Dr. Durvasula even said that the assembly process is about communication, collaboration, and respect.

It just so happens that these three are important components for building a convincing business PowerPoint presentation.

Let’s take a look at how these three presentation techniques can help you with your next pitch:

1. Communication Clarifies Confusing Instructions

Manuals are there for a reason.

After all, furniture needs to be assembled in a certain way to be useable. There will be times when IKEA’s instructions aren’t understandable.

This is no different from building a business PowerPoint presentation. Every presentation needs a solid idea, supporting points, and a call to action. To complicate things, clients will always want your pitch presented in a certain way. Some may want you to focus on the benefits of your proposal, others may prefer you emphasize costs.

Communicating with them in a clear and proper manner will clarify what they expect from your pitch. That way, you learn to filter the most relevant content to include in your business presentation and give clients exactly what they want.

2. Collaboration Gives Better Ideas

There are some pieces of IKEA furniture that need two people to assemble, similar to how business presentations often require a team effort.

Your market share info could come from your researchers, the slide templates from your creative team, and product information from your sales managers. This is where most of the arguments take place.

If someone simply gives orders to the team without understanding what the client expects, this can come off as unprofessional and disrespectful. Try to be more open to ideas that other members of your sales team could pitch in. It could be just the right fit for your presentation and give you what you need to outsell the competition.

3. Respect Helps Reduce Stress

It’s no secret that couples end up fighting whenever they build an IKEA piece. Some would just give instructions and leave the assembly to the other person, others would end up insulting each other.

These are all indicative of a lack of respect, which severely affects teamwork and builds stress. In building a PowerPoint, a certain amount of respect is needed, especially when a team is making it.

By understanding what each person can do, you enjoy a better team dynamic in building your pitch.

With respect, ideas flow faster from one person to another, making the collaboration more fun, especially if you are familiar with what your team can do. The most confident person could be assigned as the main speaker. A tech-savvy person could take care of getting the information your pitch needs. Meanwhile, a design-oriented person can take charge of assembling the slide deck.

Collaborating with each other and understanding what your client needs will keep your PowerPoint simple and effective without unneeded distractions.

Bonus Tip: Know When to Ask For Help

Stress will always be a part of assembling anything, from a piece of IKEA furniture to a business PowerPoint presentation.

Communicating with your clients and team members can clarify exactly what your pitch needs. The extra legwork even has the potential to make your ideas more relevant and convincing.

Collaborating with your team defines what each one will need to do, from getting information, to making the deck and presenting it. Respecting each other’s capabilities will make the whole process faster and less stressful. Of course, there will also be times when you need to ask for help.

When it comes to taking your PowerPoint to a professional level, consulting with a professional presentation designer will always be a wise investment.

References

Potkewitz, Hilary. “Can Your Relationship Handle a Trip to IKEA?” WSJ. April 22, 2015. Accessed August 13, 2015. www.wsj.com/articles/can-your-relationship-handle-a-trip-to-ikea-1429724227

Willett, Megan. “Assembling IKEA Furniture Is Apparently a Unique Form of Couples Therapy.” Business Insider. May 4, 2015. Accessed August 13, 2015. www.businessinsider.com/ikea-furniture-relationship-problems-2015-5

Featured Image: “tool chest DSC_0558” by el cajon yacht club on flickr.com

Let’s Get Visual: 3 Reasons Why You Should Use Infographics

audience engagement

infographics

PowerPoint Design

powerpoint presentation

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

Aug 24, 2016

Infographics are a popular medium of data presentation. While they don’t necessarily replace research, it’s become a go-to medium for quick information sharing.

In her article on Piktochart, digital strategist Nevyana Karakasheva explains how infographics compress your content into easily digestible visuals that can go viral online, depending on how much social shares you generate. The potential for sharing makes it an effective marketing tool, both for sharing relevant content to your prospects and subtly promoting yourself.

What exactly influences the infographic’s overall appeal? When reading infographics, people ask these three common questions:

Why are infographics the current trend?

What’s an infographic’s selling point?

Will using these visual aids attract your target audience?

Here are some answers that could help:

Q: Why are infographics the current trend?

Visual learning is in. With 65% of the population identifying as visual learners, according to professor Patricia Vakos of Pearson Prentice Hall, it’s no wonder why infographics are an attractive option to the majority.

An infographic’s strategic use of color, layout, image, and text appeal to the visual learner’s desire for creative knowledge. Even for the not-so visually-inclined, infographics help break down the data overload many of us experience in today’s world.

In a world bogged down by too much information, having something to summarize data into appealing and easily digestible points is like a breath of fresh air. Because of its all-around charm, an infographic can attract the interest of most audiences, making it perfect for presenting facts and statistics.

Q: What’s an infographic’s selling point?

It helps explore your creativity when planning its design and layout. You can opt to place content to an existing infographic template or play around with design elements.

Challenge your creativity while dishing out valuable information. After all, the sky’s the limit when it comes to creating an infographic.

You can make use visuals to point and connect to facts or illustrate them. This makes your material engaging and more attractive than plain textual overload.

Q: How will using these attract your target audience?

It’s accessible to users, mostly online. Because they are being shared over social media, infographics are more appealing and accessible. Their various layouts and visual designs also make plain data more interesting to look at.

An infographic turns difficult statistics into discernible information. It also makes your brand easier to share and understand. The added exposure and clarification help expand your network, boost your page views, and introduce you to prospective clients.

Although nothing beats a face-to-face presentation, having infographics on your site or your slide deck saves you time explaining facts.

Conclusion

Infographics are striking sources of information.

Contrary to popular belief, they don’t just cater to visual learners; they also attract all types of people. The visual aspect leaves you free to explore the infographic’s creative possibilities.

At the same time, they also break down difficult data into easily readable information. This lets viewers easily process them and share it with their friends. If you want to get yourself out there, consider putting up your own infographic.

Need advice for your infographic design? Let our SlideGenius experts assist you. Contact us today for a free quote!

References:

Karakasheva, Nevyana. “Why Infographics Are An Inseparable Part of a Successful SEO Campaign.” Piktochart Infographics. June 1, 2015. www.piktochart.com/why-infographics-are-an-inseparable-part-of-a-successful-seo-campaign
Vakos, Patricia. “Why the Blank Stare? Strategies for Visual Learners.” Pearson Education, Inc. 2003. www.phschool.com/eteach/social_studies/2003_05/essay.html
“The Visual (Spatial) Learning Style.” Learning Styles Online. n.d. www.learning-styles-online.com/style/visual-spatial

Featured Image: “Visual Acuity” by Elizabeth Hann on flickr.com

Why You Should Improve Your PowerPoint with Animation

animation

PowerPoint animation

PowerPoint Morph

powerpoint presentation

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

Aug 15, 2016

Improving your PowerPoint with animation can significantly enhance audience engagement, clarify complex concepts, and provide a polished and professional touch to your presentation. Here’s why you should consider incorporating animations into your PowerPoint:

1. Grabbing and Sustaining Attention

  • Why it matters: Animations can help capture and maintain your audience’s attention. In today’s fast-paced environment, people’s attention spans are short, and subtle animations provide visual stimuli that can keep the audience engaged.
  • How to apply: Use animations to highlight key points, emphasize transitions between sections, or introduce a new idea without overwhelming the audience. For example, having bullet points appear one at a time can guide focus and prevent information overload.

2. Enhancing Information Flow and Clarity

  • Why it matters: Animations can aid in structuring your presentation and clarifying complex processes. Instead of overwhelming the audience with too much information at once, animations allow you to control the flow of information, revealing it in digestible steps.
  • How to apply: For complex topics, use animations to break down processes step by step. For example, animated diagrams can show how different components of a system interact over time, helping the audience better grasp the material.

3. Fostering Audience Engagement

  • Why it matters: Audience engagement increases when animations are used effectively. Dynamic transitions, movements, and subtle motion can add energy to your presentation, keeping the audience interested and interactive.
  • How to apply: Incorporate motion paths or entrance effects for key data or visuals to direct attention where you need it. Make sure the animation is purposeful and not overly flashy—animations should support, not distract from, your message.

4. Highlighting Key Information

  • Why it matters: Animations are a great tool for emphasizing important information. By controlling what the audience sees and when they see it, you ensure that critical points are not missed.
  • How to apply: Use highlighting animations, such as zooming in on a key statistic or fading in a critical point, to ensure that the audience focuses on the information you want to emphasize at the right time.

5. Creating a Professional and Polished Look

  • Why it matters: Well-designed animations can give your presentation a professional and polished look, signaling that you’ve put extra effort into your preparation. This reflects well on you and your brand.
  • How to apply: Keep animations subtle and consistent. Stick to one or two types of animations to maintain a clean and cohesive aesthetic. For instance, use a simple fade or appear animation for text and images, rather than over-the-top effects.

Conclusion

Animations in PowerPoint can enhance audience engagement, clarify information, and add a professional touch when used strategically. The key is to ensure that animations are relevant, purposeful, and don’t overshadow the content. When done right, they make your presentation more impactful, memorable, and engaging.

How to Align Slide Objects in PowerPoint 2013

powerpoint presentation

Powerpoint tips

PowerPoint Tutorials

Rick Enrico

slide objects

SlideGenius

Jul 13, 2016

Aligning objects in PowerPoint can make your slides look more organized and professional. Whether you’re working with text boxes, images, shapes, or charts, aligning these elements ensures consistency and clarity in your presentation. PowerPoint 2013 offers several tools to help you align objects quickly and precisely. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of aligning slide objects to improve the overall layout and flow of your presentation.

Step 1: Select the Objects You Want to Align

Before aligning, you’ll need to select the objects you wish to align. PowerPoint allows you to align multiple objects at once.

  1. Click on an Object: Select one object by clicking on it.
  2. Select Multiple Objects: To select more than one object, hold down the Ctrl key and click on each object you want to align.

Alternatively, you can use the Shift key to select multiple objects, or click and drag your mouse around the objects you want to select.

Step 2: Open the Alignment Tools

Once you’ve selected the objects, it’s time to access the alignment tools. These are located in the Drawing Tools section.

  1. Go to the Format Tab: At the top of the screen, the Drawing Tools will appear as a new section whenever an object is selected. Click on the Format tab under the Drawing Tools section.
  2. Click the Align Button: In the Arrange group of the Format tab, click on the Align button. This will open a drop-down menu with several alignment options.

Step 3: Choose an Alignment Option

PowerPoint offers several ways to align objects. You can align objects horizontally or vertically, or distribute them evenly across the slide. Here are the alignment options available:

Horizontal Alignment Options:

  • Align Left: Aligns the selected objects to the leftmost object.
  • Align Center: Aligns the selected objects to the center of the slide or relative to each other.
  • Align Right: Aligns the selected objects to the rightmost object.

Vertical Alignment Options:

  • Align Top: Aligns the top of the selected objects with the topmost object.
  • Align Middle: Aligns the objects vertically through their centers.
  • Align Bottom: Aligns the bottom of the selected objects with the bottommost object.

Distribute Options:

  • Distribute Horizontally: Spreads the selected objects evenly across the horizontal axis.
  • Distribute Vertically: Spreads the selected objects evenly across the vertical axis.

Example of Horizontal Alignment:

If you select three objects and choose Align Left, all of the selected objects will align to the leftmost point of the first object selected.

Example of Vertical Alignment:

Choosing Align Middle will center the objects along the vertical axis, making sure they are equally spaced along that line.

Step 4: Align Objects to the Slide

In addition to aligning objects relative to each other, you can also align them relative to the slide itself.

  1. Select the Objects: Highlight the objects you want to align as you did earlier.
  2. Click the Align Button: Go back to the Align button in the Format tab.
  3. Choose Align to Slide: In the drop-down menu, select Align to Slide. This will ensure that the objects are aligned based on the entire slide’s dimensions.
  4. Select an Alignment Option: After selecting Align to Slide, choose an alignment option like Align Left, Align Right, or Align Center to position the objects relative to the slide.

Step 5: Use Smart Guides for Automatic Alignment

PowerPoint 2013 includes a helpful feature called Smart Guides that automatically displays alignment guides as you move objects around the slide.

  1. Move an Object: Click and drag any object on the slide.
  2. Watch for Smart Guides: As you move the object, Smart Guides (dotted red lines) will appear when the object is aligned with other objects or centered on the slide.
  3. Release the Object: Once the guides appear, release the object, and it will snap into alignment with the other elements on the slide.

Step 6: Align Objects Using the Grid and Guides

If you prefer precise manual alignment, you can enable Gridlines and Guides to assist with placing objects accurately on the slide.

Enabling Gridlines:

  1. Go to the View Tab: Click the View tab on the ribbon.
  2. Check Gridlines: Under the Show group, check the Gridlines option. Gridlines will appear on your slide to help you align objects.

Enabling Guides:

  1. Go to the View Tab: Click the View tab on the ribbon.
  2. Check Guides: Under the Show group, check the Guides option. Vertical and horizontal guide lines will appear, which you can use to align objects.

You can move the guides by clicking and dragging them to different positions on the slide, creating a custom grid for object placement.

Snapping Objects to Grid:

PowerPoint allows objects to snap to gridlines for perfect alignment. To enable snapping:

  1. Go to the View Tab: Click on the View tab.
  2. Click the Dialog Launcher: In the Show group, click the small arrow at the bottom-right corner of the section to open the Grid and Guides settings.
  3. Check the Snap Objects to Grid Option: Ensure that the Snap objects to grid option is checked. This will allow objects to automatically snap into place along the grid as you move them.

Step 7: Grouping Aligned Objects (Optional)

Once you’ve aligned your objects, you can group them to ensure they stay aligned as you move or resize them.

  1. Select All Objects: Hold down the Ctrl key and click on each object you want to group.
  2. Right-click and Select Group: After selecting the objects, right-click on any of them and choose Group → Group. This combines the objects into a single unit.
  3. Move or Resize as One: Now that the objects are grouped, you can move or resize them as a single element without losing their alignment.

Final Thoughts

Aligning objects in PowerPoint 2013 is essential for creating clean, professional presentations. Whether you’re working with multiple text boxes, images, or charts, using PowerPoint’s alignment tools helps ensure consistency and visual harmony. By following these simple steps and making use of features like Smart Guides, Gridlines, and Alignment options, you can easily align your slide objects and deliver polished, engaging presentations.