Screen Size. How many times have you been in a meeting when the presenter refers to the screen and says, “I know you can't see this but…”? It happens all too often. Remember that it is almost impossible to have a screen that is too big. The rule of thumb is the screen width should equal the distance from the screen to the last row divided by six.
Type Size. Here it is, the biggest mistake people make is using fonts that are too small. Generally, there should be no more than 10-12 lines of text per slide. Usually that means choosing a type size ranging between 16 to 20 points.
Fonts. Keep it simple. Avoid fonts that are too bold, too thin, or too ornate. Generally, a headline font should be bolder than body copy. Drop shadows work well on headlines but are too busy for body copy.
Colors. Using light colored text (white, yellow or light blue) on dark backgrounds is most pleasing to the eye. Light colored or white backgrounds can be too stark in a darkened room with today's brighter projectors.
Graphics and Photos. Graphics and photos can turn an ordinary presentation into something special. Just make sure the items you use are clear from copyright infringement.
Charts and Graphs. Statistics always convey a stronger message if they are converted to bar charts, pie graphs, line charts or simple tables. If you are importing these charts from your company database, they rarely look right in PowerPoint and seldom match the rest of your slides. They can also cause problems if not imported properly. If possible, try to get the plot numbers and create your own charts using the PowerPoint chart and graph packages.
Just the Facts Please. The key to effective visual support is to show your audience only the key points you want them to remember. Don't fall into the trap of scripting the entire presentation on PowerPoint and reading it off the screen to the audience.
And if you have questions, just Ask Mainstream.