10 best PowerPoint tips (from decades in the corporate trenches)

If you’ve lived in PowerPoint as long as I have, you know it’s not just software—it’s a survival skill. Over three decades of events, last-minute revisions, and “Can you just make this pop?” requests, I’ve learned more than a few tricks. And whether you’re presenting to a room full of execs or sharing decks with your team across time zones, these tips will make your slides sharper, smarter, and more professional.

Here are the 10 best PowerPoint tips I’ve learned in my decades in corporate life.

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1. 🧠 Start with a story, not a slide

PowerPoint isn’t your message—it’s your medium. Before you even touch a template, ask:

“What’s the story I’m trying to tell?”

Think of your slides as visual support for your narrative, not the narrative itself. Craft the arc (problem, solution, impact), then build the deck to match.

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2. 🎯 Keep one point per slide

This one rule has saved me thousands of hours—and helped win deals.
More content ≠ more clarity. Aim for one idea per slide.

If you’re cramming three charts, a quote, and bullet points onto one slide… split it. You’ll thank yourself (and your audience will too).

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3. 🧰 Use Slide Master – every time

I didn’t use Slide Master for the first 10 years of my career. Big mistake.

Using Slide Master lets you:

• Create a consistent look across your deck
• Easily update fonts, logos, colors in one place
• Save serious time when editing

💡 Pro tip: Build a few branded slide masters for common use cases: proposals, reports, pitches.

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4. 🚫 Ditch the bullet points

Yes, I said it. Bullet points are the “white bread” of communication: overused and flavorless.

Instead:

• Use bold text highlights
• Break ideas into multiple slides
• Pair statements with icons or visuals

When you must use bullets, stick to 3–4 max, and keep each line under 10 words.

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5. 🎞️ Use Morph and Zoom like a pro

These animations aren’t just for flair—they’re for flow.

• Morph creates seamless movement between slides (perfect for showing progress, evolution, or process)
• Zoom lets you create non-linear, dynamic presentations—great for complex topics or interactive briefings

They add polish and storytelling power—without looking gimmicky.

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6. 📐 Use the rule of thirds (yes, it applies)

Don’t slap everything in the center. Use PowerPoint’s grid and align features to place text/images using the rule of thirds—the same principle photographers use.

It makes your slides feel cleaner, more balanced, and easier to read.

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7. 📄 Save as PDF before sending

Always. Send your final deck as a PDF unless someone needs to edit it.

Why?

• Fonts won’t break
• Layouts won’t shift
• It looks clean and professional on any device

🧠 Bonus: Save a high-res PDF with bleed margins for printing decks or handouts.

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8. ♿ Use alt text for every image

Accessibility matters—and it’s now expected in most organizations.

Right-click on an image → “Edit alt text” → Add a short, meaningful description. This also improves searchability and readability for screen readers.

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9. ⌨️ Keyboard shortcuts are your secret weapon

Some favorites from my personal arsenal:

• Ctrl + D: Duplicate slide or object
• Ctrl + Shift + G: Ungroup
• Ctrl + Shift + C / V: Copy/paste formatting
• Shift + Drag: Constrains movement perfectly straight
• Alt + Shift + Left/Right arrow: Indent bullets faster

These save hours if you work in slides daily.

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10. 📢 Your final slide should always be a call to action

Never end on “Thanks!” That’s the default, and it’s forgettable.

Instead:

• Ask a question
• Reframe the goal
• Give your audience something to do next

Even in internal decks, this reinforces momentum and purpose.

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🎯 PowerPoint is a powerful tool—if you use it with purpose.

I’ve built decks for sales, marketing, events, customers, and everything in between. PowerPoint is still a powerful tool—if you use it with purpose.

These tips weren’t learned from tutorials. They were forged in the fires of late-night deadlines, rebrands, exec reviews, and last-minute “Can we move the logo 5 pixels?” crises.

If you’re spending hours in PowerPoint each week, make it count.
Present smart. Design sharp. And always tell a story.