Our client Feras asked us a question while we were working on their presentation: "How do we make sure our audience actually remembers what we present?"
So, our Creative Director answered, “They won’t—unless you design it to be unforgettable.”
As a presentation design agency, we work on all kinds of presentations throughout the year, and we’ve observed a common challenge: most presentations are forgettable. They drown in bullet points, lack structure, or fail to engage the audience—leaving nothing but a vague impression of “yet another slide deck.”
So, in this blog, we’ll break down the 15 PowerPoint presentation basics for a great presentation.
Why Do Presentation Basics Matter?
Let’s be honest—most presentations are a disaster. Too much text, cluttered slides, and speakers who drone on without a clear point. And yet, presentations remain one of the most powerful ways to communicate ideas, persuade stakeholders, and drive decisions. So why do so many of them fail?
Because people underestimate the basics.
A great presentation isn’t just about throwing information onto slides—it’s about clarity, structure, and engagement. It’s about making sure your audience understands, remembers, and acts on what you’re presenting.
Here’s why getting the fundamentals right is non-negotiable:
People forget fast.
Studies show that people forget up to 90% of what they hear within a week. If your presentation isn’t designed for retention, your message disappears before it even has a chance to make an impact.
Attention spans are shrinking.
You have seconds to hook your audience before their mind wanders. A well-structured, visually engaging presentation keeps them focused.
Decisions are made based on clarity.
Whether you’re pitching an idea, explaining a concept, or persuading an investor, if your presentation is messy or unclear, you’ll struggle to get buy-in.
A strong presentation builds credibility.
Poor design and a lack of structure make you seem unprepared, no matter how good your content is. A polished presentation signals professionalism and competence.
15 PowerPoint Presentation Basics You Can’t Ignore
1. One Idea Per Slide
One of the most common mistakes we see is slides overloaded with multiple ideas, making them hard to follow. Each slide should focus on a single key message. If you try to cram too much in, your audience won’t know where to look or what to focus on. Instead of listing five different insights on one slide, break them down into separate slides, each with one clear takeaway.
Remember: clarity = impact.
2. Use Visual Hierarchy
Visual hierarchy is what guides your audience’s eyes to what matters most. When every element on a slide is given the same importance, nothing stands out.
Use hierarchy to your advantage:
Make the most important text bigger and bolder.
Use contrast (colors, font weights) to highlight key points.
Position elements strategically—people naturally scan slides from top-left to bottom-right.
Your slides should be designed in a way that directs attention exactly where you want it.
3. Keep Text Minimal
Slides are not speaker notes. One of the fastest ways to lose an audience is by dumping paragraphs of text onto a slide. Your slides should support your talk, not compete with it.
A good rule of thumb:
Keep text concise (aim for 6-8 words per line).
Use short bullet points instead of long sentences.
If it’s something you’re going to say out loud, don’t write it on the slide.
A great presentation balances words and visuals to maximize impact.
4. Choose Readable Fonts
Typography plays a huge role in slide design. If your audience struggles to read your text, they’ll disengage quickly.
Follow these font rules:
Stick to clean, modern fonts (e.g., Montserrat, Open Sans, Lato).
Avoid decorative or script fonts—they’re hard to read on screens.
Font size should be at least 24pt for body text (larger for headlines).
Always test your slides on different screens to ensure readability.
5. Use High-Quality Images
Nothing cheapens a presentation faster than pixelated, stretched, or irrelevant stock images.
Good image practices:
Use high-resolution visuals.
Choose images that enhance your message (not just fill space).
Where possible, opt for custom graphics or illustrations over generic stock photos.
Your visuals should add value, not just serve as decoration.
6. Maintain Consistent Styling
A presentation should look like a cohesive story, not a mix of different styles. Consistency builds professionalism and trust.
To maintain a uniform look:
Stick to one color palette throughout.
Use consistent font sizes and styles across slides.
Align elements properly—misaligned text or images look sloppy.
A well-structured, visually harmonious presentation feels more polished and engaging.
7. Use Colors with Purpose
Color is more than just decoration—it’s a powerful tool for emphasizing key points and setting the tone of your presentation.
Use colors strategically:
Dark text on a light background (or vice versa) ensures readability.
Use bold colors for emphasis (but sparingly).
Stick to a consistent color scheme—too many colors can make slides feel chaotic.
Your color choices should complement your message, not distract from it.
8. Ditch the Bullet Point Overload
Bullet points are useful but overused. If every slide looks like a text-heavy list, your audience will tune out quickly.
Instead of relying on bullet points, try:
Icons to visually represent concepts.
Diagrams or flowcharts to simplify complex information.
Breaking text into separate slides to make it easier to digest.
When you must use bullet points, keep them short and strategic.
9. Leverage White Space
More content doesn’t equal more impact. Cluttered slides overwhelm viewers and make information harder to process.
White space (empty space around elements) is your friend. It helps:
Improve readability.
Make important elements stand out.
Give your slides a cleaner, more modern look.
Don’t feel the need to fill every inch of a slide—sometimes, less is more.
10. Use Simple, Clean Transitions
Over-the-top animations and fancy transitions don’t make a presentation better. In fact, they often do the opposite.
Stick to simple fade-ins or none at all.
Avoid excessive motion effects—they can be distracting.
Focus on smooth storytelling rather than gimmicks.
A great presentation doesn’t need flashy effects—it needs clarity and flow.
11. Align Elements Properly
Misaligned text, images, and icons make a presentation look sloppy and unprofessional.
Use alignment tools to keep everything structured.
Make sure spacing is even and consistent.
Align text to the left or center—avoid random placements.
Good alignment makes your slides look intentional and polished.
12. Keep Data Simple and Digestible
Data-heavy slides don’t have to be boring or overwhelming. The key is to present numbers in a visually engaging way.
Instead of dumping an entire table on a slide:
Highlight only the most important numbers.
Use bar graphs, pie charts, or visual comparisons for clarity.
Add icons or callouts to emphasize key takeaways.
Your audience should be able to grasp the data at a glance.
13. Reinforce Key Messages Visually
Don’t just say it—show it. If you want something to stick, use:
Bold typography for key points.
Icons and symbols to replace text where possible.
Diagrams or timelines to show relationships between ideas.
Strong visuals reinforce your message and make it more memorable.
14. Design with Mobile Viewing in Mind
Not all presentations are viewed on big screens. With remote work and mobile access, your slides need to be readable on smaller devices.
Test readability on different screen sizes.
Use larger fonts and high-contrast colors.
Avoid clutter that makes slides hard to read on mobile.
A well-designed presentation should be effective no matter where it’s viewed.
15. Test Before Presenting
Even the best-designed slides can go wrong if they’re not tested. Before presenting, check:
Readability: Can everyone see and understand the slides?
Flow: Does the presentation transition smoothly between ideas?
Timing: Are you staying within the expected time frame?
A last-minute run-through can catch mistakes and improve delivery.
Why Hire Us to Build your Presentation?
If you're reading this, you're probably working on a presentation right now. You could do it all yourself. But the reality is - that’s not going to give you the high-impact presentation you need. It’s a lot of guesswork, a lot of trial and error. And at the end of the day, you’ll be left with a presentation that’s “good enough,” not one that gets results. On the other hand, we’ve spent years crafting thousands of presentations, mastering both storytelling and design. Let us handle this for you, so you can focus on what you do best.