PowerPoint Guidelines For WAC Employees

Watershed Agricultural CouncilWalton, NY

Last Updated April 23, 2010Outreach & Communications Department

Introduction• When applicable, use a slide to take care of

housekeeping business at beginning of presentation. (i.e., location of bathrooms, surveys to be collected, etc.)

• Acknowledge and thank your partners/host for the opportunity to present .

• Introduce yourself, your qualifications and the program/topic to be discussed.

• Outline your key presentation points to come.• Let’s get started!

EXAMPLE

Housekeeping• Thanks to Andy Hubbard and the Watershed

Agricultural Council for this opportunity to share tips, tricks and guidelines to PowerPoint presentations with our staff.

• Feel free to ask questions at any time.• Provide feedback or improvements to this

presentation by emailing taracollins@nycwatershed.org.

• These are simply “guidelines” to PowerPoint presentations; ask for help if you need it.

EXAMPLE

Speaker: Tara Collins*• WAC Communications Director • Walton, NY office• Outreach & Communications Department

here to help you with your visual, electronic , print and media needs

• B.A. - Communications Mass Media (Professional Writing minor)College of New Jersey

• Freelance writer for more than 25 years* Use this slide to reinforce your credibility by providing background about yourself. You may also provide background on the WAC program/topic you’re presenting. EXAMPLE

Key PointsPowerPoint Guidelines For WAC Employees • The organization’s suggested approach to

PowerPoint presentations• Discussion of presentation layouto Logo useo Slide titleso Slide formatso Presentation examples and templates

EXAMPLE

Slide TitlesMinimum of 8 Slides:1. Title2. Housekeeping3. Program/Speaker Introduction4. Key Points5. Content Slides (1-45)6. Recap Key Points7. Funder Acknowledgement8. Final Slide with Contact Information

Presentation TitleGroup Being AddressedPresentation LocationDateYour Name & TitleWAC Program (if applicable)

Slide Formats – Title Page

PowerPoint Guidelines For WAC Employees

Watershed Agricultural CouncilWalton, NY

April 15, 2009Tara Collins, Communications DirectorOutreach & Communications Department

EXAMPLE

Slide Formats – Logos• The WAC logo should appear on every page,

where possible, either in the upper right or lower right corner of slide.

• A logo on every other slide is also appropriate.• Keep logo consistently in same spot from slide

to slide.

EXAMPLE

Slide Formats – General• Use 3-5 bullets per page.

• Keep font size large.

• A slide represents 1-5 minutesof talking time.

• Presentations may run 5-50 slides.

EXAMPLE

Slide Formats – Backgrounds

If you use images behind your text, make text standout by bolding,

outlining or coloring…

Use images to attract and keep people’s attention, but not distract from your message.

Slide Formats – BackgroundsPlace an image in a background mode by right clicking Format Picture > left click Recolor > left click Color Modes > Make your selection.

Images should enhance what you are saying, not compete for the audience’s attention.

EXAMPLE

Slide Formats – Text• Use fonts appropriate to your program. Calibri (sans serif) and Adobe Garamond Pro (serif) are options. For a program example:

Pure Catskills uses Broadwayand Century Gothic fonts.

• Use no more than two fonts.• Use no more than three font sizes such as o Headlines in 44 pointo Body text in 32 pointo Footnotes and sources in 12 point*

* In total, you will have six possible type styles to access (3 Calibri, 3 Garamond).

Slide Formats – Text• Provide adequate contrast. Use dark

lettering/text on light backgrounds (black print on yellow)

• Or light lettering on dark backgrounds (white lettering on navy).

• Consider how the color and text look within the frame and on the slide. • Keep slides visually interesting but consistent .• View your slide on the Big Screen!

Slide Presentation – Content• Multiple slides fill the bulk of your

PowerPoint presentation.• Cluster key points and supporting facts.• Don’t put too much on a page.• Use slide content

to keep yourpresentation on track.

Slide Presentation – Summarize Key Presentation Points

• People have a short attention span and usually remember three key points.

• Use one slide to reiterate those points; this is your “Call to Action.”

• Keep it simple .

Key Point Summary• Use background, text, color and

images to enhance your presentation ~ but not overrun it!

• Keep it visually consistent, simple, clean and easy to read.

• ALWAYS have someoneproofread your PowerPoint –Mistakes are BIGGER on screen.

• Don’t be bashful ~ Ask for help!EXAMPLE

The Watershed Agricultural Council is funded in part by:

along with other federal, foundation and private sources. The WAC is an equal opportunity employer and provider.

EXAMPLE

The mission of the Watershed Agricultural Council is to support the economic viability of agriculture

and forestry through the protection of water quality and the promotion of land conservation

in the New York City Watershed region.

Our Mission

For more information:Andy Hubbard, Watershed Forester

East of Hudson Program (914) 962-6335, ext. 12

ahubbard@nycwatershed.org

Or visit our website:

EXAMPLE

PowerPoint Slide OrderYour topic and audience will dictate how you arrange and order

the slides. Here is a suggested presentation order:

• Title• Housekeeping• WAC Program Introduction/Speaker qualifications• Key Points to Cover• Content Slides/Bulk of Presentation• Key Point Summary• Funder Acknowledgement• Final Slide with Your Contact Information • Optional: Mission statement

Checklist for WAC PowerPoints

• View on the Big Screen• Ask someone else to proof• Get final approval of Program Manager• Email final approved version to

Communications Director for inclusion on the WAC intranet for others to access

• Thank You!

Additional Logos