1. This is not a presentation

2. Overview Here at Abacus Consulting, we pride ourselves on our experience and the fact we have an eye for detail, quality and a good understanding of the importance of communication. The use of PowerPoint presentations is still widespread. In fact, we like a good slideshow every now and then – it has its place out there in the boardroom. And we’ve delivered hundreds of presentations, to many different groups in many different situations and locations. We have also seen many presentations. Many, many long and tedious slideshows; slide after slide of monotonous nonsense. We like to think we’re fairly well versed in this field, and so we have designed a slide pack which tries to make sure you avoid all the pitfalls we’ve seen so many fall into over the years. Please take this slide set and use it at your discretion. It’s our gift to you. You’re welcome!

3. Do not read this slide

4. You’ve gone too far – learn how to go “back”

5. These slides should be yours If you inherit somebody else’s slides, delete and re-write them To avoid surprises like this And whilst we’re on the subject, no pictures of cats either.

6. Always try and avoid having a lengthy title which does not relate to the text Be careful of using horrific colours Do not write overly-lengthy sentences which people will be reading rather than listening to your voice as this will cause far too much distraction. Although people can concentrate on two things at once, I am sure they’d prefer not to. Make sure you spel everything proper and use goodish grammer Presentation is everything! So don’t space things all over the place. Or use full stops at the end of sentences if you haven’t used them consistently…..

7. Stop showing off Animation should be used Sparingly Its great you have PowerPoint 2013, but stop trying to impress with too much movement. No one likes it. And when we say no one, we mean NO ONE.

8. There are fonts which you should never, ever use.

10. No. Just, no.

11. Thank you Don’t say “thank you” – why are you thanking people?

12. Abacus IT Consulting www.abacusconsulting.org.uk @ITinEducation www.abacusconsulting.org.uk