12 Tips for Building a Better PowerPoint Presentation

A great presentation is more than just attractive slides—it’s about communicating your message clearly and keeping your audience engaged. Whether you’re presenting in a conference room, ballroom, or on a large LED video wall, these tips will help your PowerPoint look polished and professional.

1. Start with the Right Format

Always build your presentation in 16:9 widescreen. This is the standard format for today’s displays, projectors, and LED walls, helping your slides fill the screen without unwanted black bars or cropping.

2. Keep It Simple

Resist the urge to overload your slides with information. Focus on one main idea per slide and let the presenter provide the details.

3. Make Your Text Easy to Read

Use large, legible fonts that can be seen from the back of the room.

• Headings: 32–44 pt
• Body text: 24–32 pt
• Avoid fonts smaller than 20 pt

If attendees have to squint, your message is getting lost.

4. Choose High-Contrast Colors

Good contrast improves readability in every environment. Dark text on a light background—or light text on a dark background—works best. Avoid light gray text and overly busy backgrounds.

5. Use High-Quality Images

Large screens reveal every flaw. Choose high-resolution images that remain sharp when projected or displayed on an LED wall.

6. Stick to One or Two Fonts

Too many fonts create visual clutter. Select one or two professional sans-serif fonts, such as Arial, Aptos, Calibri, Helvetica, or Avenir, and use them consistently throughout the presentation.

7. Keep Important Content Away from the Edges

Leave generous margins around text, logos, and graphics. Different display systems may crop the outer edges of a presentation, so a little breathing room helps ensure nothing important is lost.

8. Use Animations Sparingly

Simple transitions can add polish, but excessive animations often distract from your message. When in doubt, less is more.

9. Maintain Consistent Branding

Use the same fonts, colors, and logo placement throughout the presentation. Consistency creates a professional appearance and reinforces your brand.

10. Optimize Videos

If your presentation includes video, leave a placeholder slide and provide MP4 files whenever possible. Test them before your event. Bringing a backup copy of important videos is always a smart idea.

11. Don’t Overcrowd Your Slides

White space is your friend. A clean, uncluttered slide is easier to read and keeps your audience focused on your message rather than unnecessary graphics or text.

12. Save a Backup

Technology doesn’t always cooperate. Save your presentation in multiple formats, including PowerPoint (.pptx) and PDF, and bring a backup copy on a USB drive or cloud storage.

Design for the Last Row

One of the best pieces of presentation advice is to design for the person sitting in the last row—not the person sitting at your laptop. If your slides are easy to read from the back of a ballroom, they’ll look great everywhere.

Need help preparing your presentation for a conference or corporate event? Revelation can help ensure your content looks exceptional on projection screens, LED video walls, confidence monitors, and every display in between.