13 Things to Include in Your Next PowerPoint Presentation

What to include in your PowerPoint presentation

A strong, effective PowerPoint presentation should include the following components.

1. Who you are

When you’re presenting to an unfamiliar audience — for example, if you’re speaking at an academic conference or presenting your idea to investors — it’s vital to introduce yourself. Establish credibility and trust by briefly discussing your line of work, past accomplishments or related projects.

2. Your logo

Although you may have included your logo on the introductory slide, you should also place it on each slide to reinforce brand recognition. This repetition helps your brand “stick” in the audience’s mind and is particularly effective when you’re presenting on behalf of your company.

3. An agenda

Next, write an agenda slide. This helps to set the audience’s expectations, guide the flow of the presentation, and keep you on track while drafting and presenting your information.

4. A clear road map

Include a clear road map for your presentation. This is especially important for longer PowerPoints with multiple sections. A presentation outline helps to break down complex content and allows you to return to the road map as needed to help your audience follow along more easily.

5. Information not on your slides

Your PowerPoint slide deck is designed to supplement and enhance your oral presentation, not to replace it. Ensure that your verbally presented information adds value by including information that is not on your slides. Minimize written text; focus on key phrases and main ideas. You can expand on these concepts in greater detail as you present.

6. Engaging visuals

The primary benefit of using PowerPoint for presentations is the ability to add engaging visuals, such as graphs and infographics. Relying less on text keeps the focus on the presenter while effectively illustrating your key takeaways.

“Images, infographics and charts should drive home key points, not overwhelm your audience,” said Smita D Jain, a personal empowerment life coach and TEDx speaker. “For complex data or statistics, keep it simple by using clear, easy-to-read charts. Focus on the most impactful data that supports your narrative, and avoid cluttering slides with excessive figures.”

7. Updated data

There’s nothing wrong with reusing or repurposing a slide deck you’ve already created, as long as you keep it current. If your PowerPoint includes statistics, industry trends, information on your business or other data, check the numbers and update them as necessary before you present.

8. The answer to “So what?”

Even if the information in your presentation is clear and compelling, it won’t make an impact if your audience doesn’t understand the bigger picture. Aim to become a business storyteller by answering the unspoken question, “So what?” Clearly explain why your message is crucial and relevant to your listeners.

Jain said preparing your presentation as a story with a clear arc can naturally lead to your “So what?” answer. “Build your presentation around a narrative,” Jain advised. “Start with an engaging hook, build momentum with well-organized points, and finish with a strong call to action. The story should guide the visuals, not the other way around.”

Ashwin Ramesh, a TEDx speaker and CEO of branding and customer acquisition company Synup, advises presenters to use slides to create a story arc with a beginning, challenges, and a conclusion leading to a solution. “Storytelling leaves the listener remembering your message long after you have finished speaking,” Ramesh said. “Using facts and figures is great, but it’s always the stories that resonate most with people.”

9. Key takeaways

Highlight your main points at the end of your PowerPoint ― or, for longer presentations, at the end of each section ― to help your audience remember them. Generating key takeaways in the outlining stage can also help you structure your slide content.

10. Backup slides

Because a presentation is designed to be clear and concise, you may not always have the time to discuss specific topics or audience questions in depth. Having backup slides with additional information can encourage further audience understanding without letting the presentation veer off track or run too long.

11. An objection slide

Depending on your presentation topic, your audience may have objections. Address these objections head-on by dedicating a slide to potential concerns. Give people the opportunity to ask questions, raise concerns, and address known or anticipated issues directly. This tactic is also a great way to demonstrate business transparency.

12. A call-to-action slide

Consider what you want your audience to do after listening to your presentation. Are there specific actions to take, ideas to consider or a person to contact? Use a call-to-action slide to present this request.

13. Contact information

Display your contact information on the last slide to encourage your audience to reach out. They will likely appreciate the opportunity to discuss the presentation’s topics further. Additionally, you may make valuable business connections and strategic partnerships by keeping the lines of communication open post-presentation. 

Do’s and don’ts of PowerPoint presentations

If you’re planning to use PowerPoint as a business tool, here are some key do’s and don’ts to keep in mind.

Do tell a story and be relatable.

As Jain and Ramesh explained, an excellent PowerPoint presentation includes a narrative arc, which makes the experience compelling and helps presenters connect with their audience. A personal story can also accomplish this goal. “Including a brief story or experience that connects with your audience will make your presentation more engaging and humanize the content,” Jain said.

Ramesh noted that the words presenters use can enhance this connection. “I [have] found that using personal and relatable language — like ‘you,’ ‘we,’ ‘imagine’ and ‘picture this’ — can be a great way to engage your audience,” Ramesh said. “In terms of connecting with emotions, I prefer using words like ‘overwhelming,’ ‘terrific’ and ‘excited,’ to name a few.”

Do use speaker notes to your advantage.

Although your slides should be clean and light on text, you can include speaker notes that are visible only to you. Use this section at the bottom of the page to include facts, examples or questions you want to highlight in the presentation.

Do keep your slide backgrounds subtle and consistent.

Selecting a background or color scheme that’s too bold or busy can strain the eyes and detract from your presentation. Ensure sufficient visual contrast between the background and text colors so your audience can easily follow along. Microsoft has developed several built-in themes with this visual contrast in mind, but you can also create your own template.

Jain stressed that consistency is key when you’re designing custom templates. “Maintain consistency in your design elements — fonts, color schemes and slide layouts,” Jain said. “It creates a professional, polished look and allows the audience to focus on the message rather than distractions.”

Do have a backup plan.

Technology can fail at the most inopportune times, so it’s wise to have a backup of your presentation on a memory stick or in the cloud. In the worst-case scenario, if the tech doesn’t work and you’re without visuals, take a deep breath and deliver your presentation with a focus on the core message.

Don’t read your PowerPoint word for word.

Your goal is to engage your audience and maintain their attention throughout the presentation. Reciting information verbatim from your slides can limit your connection with the audience and hurt your ability to “read the room.” Use the PowerPoint to guide and illustrate as needed, but let your verbal presentation be the focus. 

Don’t go too fast.

It’s understandable to feel like there’s a lot of content in your PowerPoint and that you must go through it as quickly as possible to cover everything. Resist the urge to speed up; it leads to rushed presentations that don’t give your audience enough time to absorb what you’re saying. Instead, speak at an average pace, especially if you often speak fast. Slowing down may feel unnatural at first, but it’s worth the effort because it will be easier for your audience to follow along.

Additionally, pause briefly between each slide. This gives your audience an extra moment to absorb your key takeaways before you move on to your next slide. The more space you provide for viewers to process your presentation, the more likely your points are to stick. 

Don’t go overboard on transitions and effects.

It can be tempting to add slide transitions and sound effects for some visual excitement. However, these special effects rarely enhance your message and can be distracting or gimmicky. Additionally, PowerPoint presentations with effects tend to run more slowly than those without them, particularly if you’re presenting on a different computer than the one used to create the slide deck.

Don’t include too many slides or too much information.

Your audience should not spend the entire presentation reading. If you include too much information, your audience will become overwhelmed and tune out. Limit the number of slides and the amount of text on each slide. Use your oral presentation to expand on key points and engage with your audience.

Ready, set, present

A PowerPoint presentation becomes impactful when you combine high-quality slides with effective public speaking tactics. A story, rather than just a set of facts, can truly take your presentation to the next level. Need inspiration for your own narrative? Watch some TEDx talks. If you master the art of presentation in the business world, you might be on the big stage before you know it.

Max Freedman contributed to this article.