PPT Background

The PPT background that you choose for your presentation can tell a lot about your approach. It is one way that you can demonstrate that you care about your audience.

Hang on - are you saying that the background on my PowerPoint presentations can actually make a difference? The answer is "yes" - but a qualified yes.

PowerPoint Backgrounds

Let me ask you a question - how are people going to make up their mind about you when you give a presentation? (On other pages on this site you will have discovered that they are continually looking for indications that you can be taken seriously).

"If a speaker haven't given his or her presentation much thought it will be obvious from the lack of visual impact projected onto the big screen."

On of the key indicators of that preparation - or lack of it - is the PPT background that you use.

To give you some support we've developed free PPT backgrounds that you can use for your next presentation. The link is on this page. Scroll down and download the three PowerPoint PPT backgrounds and use them for any of your presentations - but first a few hints to use them properly.

PowerPoint templates

You can change the layout of the text on the templates but I would strongly recommend that you stick to one headline and three points for each page. If you have additional points then simply duplicate the page and start again.

Limit your words

Limit the number of words you use in each line and never use multiple lines for a single point. For example, suppose you want to talk about the quality of your backup service. You might be tempted to use something like: "Our backup service has been given three significant awards over the past five years." The problem is that PowerPoint will either force you onto a second line or will change the size of the text. Instead consider using something like: "Outstanding service awards".That's too long.

The default font

These PowerPoint templates are suitable for PowerPoint 2000 onwards. When you open them you'll find that the heading and the individual points are in the default font - usually Times New Roman. This is a nice-looking font and is particularly suitable for small text. However, you may want to consider using a sans-serf font for the headings.

Background

Use the background that suits your message best. If possible you should try to come up with a metaphor to link the graphic to one or more of your key points. That will help the audience remember your message later.

Positioning

Each of these PowerPoint backgrounds uses a slightly different approach and you must decide which is best for your presentation. For example, you might want to center all the text - but is that the best approach?

Unless your key points are all exactly the same length the final result will not look good. Instead, consider lining up the left-hand side of the text with the heading or, for something a little more unusual, line up the right-hand sides of both.

An alternative to PowerPoint

Here are three software packages that are an alternative to PowerPoint. These don't need PPT backgrounds because all the graphics are built in.

Download the PowerPoint Backgrounds

You can download the three PPT backgrounds by clicking on the button below: