Marketing Guru Seth Godin has this insightful post on the right and the wrong way to make powerpoint presentations. The basic idea he espouses is that the powerpoint slides should be used to sell your idea emotionally. Don’t put facts and figures and numbers – that can go in the document that you leave behind.
Talking about pollution in Houston? Instead of giving me four bullet points of EPA data, why not read me the stats but show me a photo of a bunch of dead birds, some smog and even a diseased lung? This is cheating! It’s unfair! It works.
He goes on to give a bunch of DOs and DONTs which are worth thinking about. For example
Sound effects can be used a few times per presentation, but never use the sound effects that are built in to the program. Instead, rip sounds and music from CDs and leverage the Proustian effect this can have. If people start bouncing up and down to the Grateful Dead, you’ve kept them from falling asleep, and you’ve reminded them that this isn’t a typical meeting you’re running.
Read the whole post.