Crafting a PowerPoint presentation that resonates with your topic and audience is important. Here are some essential tips to create a compelling presentation, along with key slides that should always be included.
I’ll share the key slides you should include in your presentation.
The first slide in your presentation needs to be the title slide. It should show your company or organization name, logo, and important details about you as the presenter. You might also include a picture of yourself or someone relevant to the presentation.
2. Table of Contents SlideÂ
A table of contents is important in a presentation because it helps the audience know what will be discussed. It also makes it easier for the audience to follow along since they know what’s coming up next.
Include topics you’ll discuss and links to other slides or points in your table of contents. Keep the roadmap brief: three section names such as Problem, Options, and Recommendation are easier to scan than every slide title. For a very short talk, you can explain the route aloud and combine this slide with the introduction. These ten slide types are a planning guide; they do not all need a separate slide in every presentation.
3. Introduction SlideÂ
This slide introduces your presentation topic and gives context for your audience. Be clear and concise to set the tone for the rest of your talk.
A good introduction slide answers two questions for the audience straight away: what is this talk about, and why should I keep listening? You can do this with a short headline that names the subject in plain language, plus a single sentence underneath that hints at the payoff, such as a result you will share, a question you will answer, or a problem you will solve by the end. Keep visuals simple here; a clean background and one supporting image are usually enough so the wording does the work.
If your audience does not know you yet, the introduction slide is also a natural place to say one short line about your background, but only the part that explains why you are qualified to speak on this topic. Avoid a long credentials dump. A common pitfall is cramming every section heading from later in the deck onto this slide; that is the job of the table of contents slide, so leave the roadmap for there and let this slide do one thing well.
4. Information Slide
I provide my audience with key knowledge about the topic before continuing the presentation. It’s important to keep it engaging and highlight that this information is essential for understanding what follows. I always ensure the details are factual and accurate. Give each figure enough context to be understood: include its unit, the period it covers, and the source. For example, a change from 40 to 55 support requests per week says more than an unexplained percentage. Put supporting calculations in your notes or an appendix if they would crowd the slide.
5. Problem SlideÂ
This slide should highlight the issue your audience faces. Be clear about the problem, its cause, who it impacts, its severity, and the consequences of inaction. Save the detailed solution for the next slide.
This slide, known as the “why” slide, explains the motivation behind your solution. It’s important to describe the problem in your own words. Avoid technical jargon or acronyms unless they are widely known or clearly explained.
6. Solution SlideÂ
This is where you present a solution to the problem identified earlier. Make sure your solution is clear and concise, and provide a way for people to implement it.
A good solution slide should:Â Â
Present a simple way to solve the problem while making it something achievable
Make sure the solution has a simple and easy to follow step-by-step guide
Have visuals that show that the solution works and why it works
Use text that is easy to read and understand
Make sure the solution slide has a few bullet points
Keep the font size big so that it can be seen from a distance
7. Visual Slide
A Visual Slide features engaging graphics or diagrams to capture the audience’s attention and explain concepts visually. As the name suggests, Visual Slides should be “visual.” If there’s too much text, it ceases to be a visual slide. Choose the visual to match the explanation: a line chart for change over time, a bar chart for comparing categories, or a diagram for a process. Label the point you want people to notice, and explain it aloud. When sharing the deck, add useful alt text so readers who cannot see the visual can still understand its purpose.
8. Conclusion Slide
This slide sums up your presentation’s key points and provides an overview. Include a call to action to guide your audience on what to do next.
9. Q&A or Feedback Slide
Invite the audience to ask questions or give feedback. Put a specific prompt on the slide, such as “Which part of this proposal would be hardest to implement?” Let people know how much time is available and include your contact information for questions that need a follow-up. If nobody speaks immediately, return to a decision or example from your talk and ask what needs clarification.
10. Thank You Slide
I want to thank my audience for their time and attention, and my colleagues who helped make this presentation successful.
These are the most important slides that should be in your presentation. Depending on your topic, you might need to add other slides like:
A slide with your contact information,
A slide with your company or organization’s website URL
A slide that contains any other relevant information about you as the presenter
