The marriage of great content and compelling design can result in a truly successful PowerPoint presentation. Unfortunately, too often we witness couplings that someone should have objected to at the start.
Think twice before you match your captivating text with predictable, uninspiring, dull graphics and design (even though your mother likes it). Finding the ideal PowerPoint template design match will maximize your message and leave a lasting impression on your audience.
Check out these important, basic qualities to embrace and (some to avoid) when choosing your PowerPoint design template:
Instant message—What are you trying to say?
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Is your PowerPoint presentation the BIG PITCH for that new client you’ve been courting?
Don’t let them be the ones that got away.
When mulling over the qualities of PowerPoint slide templates, think about your brand. Is it corporate or casual? Suits or sweats? Progressive or conservative? What should your PowerPoint presentation design communicate about you and your brand message?
For example, a business-themed PowerPoint presentation should be clean, crisp and straightforward.
Uncluttered and uncomplicated, with a consistent layout and design, the colors and simple imagery in these PowerPoint templates communicate structure, consistency and organization.
On the other hand, if your organization or brand isn’t quite so corporate, then a more dynamic PowerPoint template design works to engage and excite your audience.
Bold, colorful design is exhilarating and energetic, and especially effective at being an audience magnet. (Who doesn’t like bright colors and shiny things?!)
Hey, good lookin’—visual appeal
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There are plenty of stock templates out there that are reasonably attractive. They’re functional. They serve your purpose. But are they memorable?
Generic is okay, but not particularly sexy. Instead, seek out designs that are visually appealing, that you haven’t seen a million times at a thousand other meetings. Choose designs that work for you, complimenting your brand and your message. Don’t settle for designs that just sit there like a lump, while you do all the talking.
Visually appealing templates offer PowerPoint slides that allow you to balance imagery with text in ways that are interesting, polished and attractive. In the above presentation, simple graphics, photos and text are used sparingly so as not to overwhelm the audience with too much information. At the same time, colors are vibrant, images are appealing and branding carries through from start to finish.
Endless possibilities—Layout options
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Don’t get tied down to a template that only offers you a title page and text page. Instead, search for templates with a master slide and multiple layout options.
Something that will support not only text and images, but graphs, tables and charts as well.
Most importantly, choose a template that is editable, with the ability to change to suit your needs. (Unlike your ex.)
Either one of these design templates would be a good catch for your PowerPoint presentation. Both allow for customization of layout and design on interior pages, while still maintaining common colors and themes throughout.
Other considerations—where will you put your images? How are the slides designed to support both graphics and text? (Don’t fall in love with potential. Make sure it actually works for you.)
Multiple layout options make this a great match that supports a variety of graphical, photographic and text elements.
Compatibility—Color choices that match your message
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Set the mood with color. A good template shouldn’t box you in with boring color choices.
Look for PowerPoint templates that offer a wide palette of options. For example, ones that match your brand colors.
Consider colors that are saturated enough to provide contrast so that your text pops, and that communicate the emotion behind your message—excitement, success, warmth, fun.
Colors that match your eyes? Okay, that’s optional.
Not only does this work as a template that communicates business, but the use of white letters on a deep, rich indigo background make the slides pop.
You should also think about accent colors.
Red and yellow accents make a stand-out statement on this presentation.
However, be wary of templates with too much color. A lot of it might seem enchanting at first…until it wears out your audience and they text a friend for an escape call from your presentation.
The perfect couple—Typography and your message
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Make sure your template offers the font options that couple up well with your message. Which fonts are available? Classic? Professional? Fun? Elegant?
Professional-looking sans serif type is bold, no-nonsense and very business-like.
Edgy and creative, these fonts complement the message perfectly.
A fun font exudes charm and personality.
Smooth move
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If you follow these basics when evaluating and choosing your perfect PowerPoint template, you could produce something like this:
Clean-cut, engaging, and bright, with a successful visual balance between text, design, color and imagery—the kind of PowerPoint presentation you’d be happy to bring home to mother.
Now that you know how to pick ‘em, you can download our free PowerPoint templates and see if it just might be the match you’ve been searching for all along.