How to Make a Good PPT: Layout, Fonts and Slides

A good PPT is not about fancy designs. It is about one clear message, a few slides that support it, and text people can read from the back of the room. Here is a method that works for college seminars, office reviews and business pitches.

Step 1: plan on paper first

Write down who is listening, what you want them to do at the end, and three to five points that lead there. These points become your sections. A 10-minute talk needs about 6 to 10 slides. If you have 25, you are reading, not presenting.

A story that fits most talks: situation → problem → solution → proof → ask. For a project: what we studied, what we found, what it means, what we recommend.

Step 2: write headline titles

Each slide's title should be a full sentence that states the point.

• Instead of *Results*, write *Delivery cut customer complaints by half*.
• Instead of *Market*, write *Most buyers are 25 to 40 and order on their phones*.

Read only the titles from start to end. If they tell the story, your structure is right.

Step 3: layout and fonts

• Use the built-in layouts (Home → New Slide) so titles and text sit in the same place on every slide.
• Set fonts once in the Slide Master (View → Slide Master). One font family, such as Calibri or Arial.
• Sizes: titles 32 to 40 pt, body 20 to 28 pt. If you need smaller text, split the slide.
• Six lines or fewer per slide, no paragraphs.
• Contrast: dark text on a light background or white text on dark navy.

Step 4: charts and pictures

Use one colour for all bars and a second colour only for the bar you are talking about. Delete gridlines and extra decimals. Pictures should explain something, not decorate. Align boxes and icons (Shape Format → Align) so nothing looks slightly off.

Step 5: animations, lightly

One transition for the whole deck, such as Fade. Use animation only to reveal points one at a time as you speak. No spinning text, no sound effects.

Step 6: rehearse once out loud

Write notes under each slide and run the deck in Presenter View with a timer. Most people find they are two minutes over and cut a slide. That is a good thing.

Mistakes that make PPTs boring

Reading the slides aloud, too many bullet points, tiny fonts, different designs on every slide, and ending on "Thank you" without saying what you want next. End with your ask and contact.

To save time, our PowerPoint Course + 25 Slide Templates gives you 12 short lessons and 25 ready layouts for seminars, interviews and pitches.