5 ways to prepare better PowerPoint presentations

1.  Layout and initial planning
Think about the overall goal of the presentation before you even begin planning the content of your slides.  You want to convey a message that the listener will remember, so it is important to plan out the flow of ideas in advance.  A good way to plan that out is by laying out an initial agenda  first and by linking back to your original objective at the end of the presentation. 

2.  Make it clean and simple
Nobody likes to read slides that are cluttered, inconsistent, or crammed with text.   It makes your presentation seem jumbled and confusing.  The best way to avoid making these mistakes is by thinking about the best presentations that you've seen and what qualities set them apart.  Usually, people will agree that the best presentations have a minimalistic approach.  Put your most important data on the slides, but not every word you plan on saying over the course of the presentation.  You want to engage your audience, not just read to them. 
        Here are a few points about slide content-
            •Don't clutter your slides
            •Use bulleted lists
            •Keep a consistent look and feel
            •Limit transitions and builds (animation) since it's distracting
            •Make sure your graphics are high quality
            •Bonus tip: use the Slide Sorter feature to check your flow of ideas

3.  Shortcuts to save you time
Stop searching through your menu bar for different functions.  Shortcuts were created to enhance efficiency, so don't be afraid to use them. Especially when you're on the road or following up on a lead - time is always of the essence.
        Here are a few tricks that could save you time-
            •Create copyright symbols, ©, by typing (c). Same for (tm) and (r).
            •Capitalize by hitting Shift +F3.
            •Bold: Ctl+B, Italic: Ctl+I, Underline: Ctl+U
            •Nudge objects with the arrow keys
            •Undo an action: Ctl +Z
            •Redo: F4
            •Print current slide: Ctl +Alt +P

4.  Add some extras
Show your audience, your clients or your leads that you know what you are doing by taking a risk with some features that you haven't tried before.  However, don't use them at the expense of the clarity or flow of your presentations. 
        Here are just a few ideas:
            Incorporating video: PowerPoint 2010, PowerPoint 2007
            Narration and slide timing: PowerPoint 2010, PowerPoint 2007
            Working with audio: PowerPoint 2010, PowerPoint 2007
*These enhancements are great only when they work - so be sure to test your presentation thoroughly. If you're concerned - it's better to leave them out.

5.    Planning optimizes control
The best piece of advice for maintaining and optimizing control of your presentation is by practicing!  Don't just plan talking points, but, rather, physically take a few attempts at what you are going to say.  Then time yourself to make sure it's not taking too long to convey your message.  Your audience will appreciate the effort and you will sound more credible.  And of course, a presentation is a sales pitch - so be rehearsed but not overly scripted.

Remember, PowerPoint is supposed to be a visual supplement to your spoken content, not the inverse.  Less really is more, except when it comes to preparing.  As the presenter - or in this case the salesperson -  you are in control, so the more you prepare in advance, the stronger your overall presentation will be. 

Good luck and happy PowerPointing!