A persuasive presentation starts with the argument, not the slides. Decide what you want the audience to think or do, build a short story that leads there, and then design each slide to carry one point. Templates, type and colour should come from your brand rules so the deck looks like it belongs to the company, and basic accessibility checks make sure everyone in the room can read it.
Start with the story, then the slides
Before opening any software, write these on a page:
- The audience: who they are and what they already believe.
- The decision: what you want them to do at the end.
- The three reasons: the main arguments, in order.
- The proof: one piece of evidence for each reason.
Then outline the deck as a sequence: the situation, the problem or opportunity, your proposal, the evidence and the next step. If a slide does not move that sequence forward, it is probably a candidate for an appendix.
Slide hierarchy: one point per slide
The slide title should state the point as a sentence, not a topic label. “Response times fell after the process change” says more than “Results”. Beneath it, give the viewer one visual or a few short lines that prove the title.
A simple hierarchy:
- Level 1: the title, the claim.
- Level 2: the main visual, chart or short statement.
- Level 3: supporting detail, kept small and sparse.
Use size, weight and position to create that order, rather than decoration. If everything is emphasised, nothing is.
Text and detail
Decks that will be read without a presenter (sent by email, for instance) can carry more words than decks presented live. Decide which you are making. For live use, put the detail in speaker notes or a handout. For reading, write complete sentences and keep a clear structure.
Use a template with rules
A template removes repeated decisions and keeps the deck consistent. Set up a master with:
- Title, section, content, two-column, image and closing layouts.
- Brand colours, fonts and a logo placement defined once. Take these from your brand guidelines, and see typography for brands for font choices that travel well to systems without your fonts installed.
- Placeholder styles for charts and tables.
- A short “how to use” slide for colleagues.
Microsoft’s accessibility guidance recommends starting from built-in or accessible templates, since they are designed with reading order, colours and fonts that work for accessibility (Microsoft Support). Whatever template you build, test it against the same checks.
Consistency across every format is the wider theme of building a consistent visual identity across digital channels.
Legibility checks that matter
- Contrast: WCAG success criterion 1.4.3 sets a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5 to 1 for text, and 3 to 1 for large text, defined as at least 18 point or 14 point bold (W3C). Check brand colours on both light and dark backgrounds, including projectors, which wash colours out.
- Type size: Microsoft’s guidance suggests at least 18 point where possible, plain sans serif fonts, and avoiding all caps and heavy italics.
- Colour alone: do not rely on colour alone to carry meaning, for example in charts. Add labels or patterns.
- Images: give visuals short alt text, or mark decorative ones as decorative.
- Links: use descriptive link text, not “click here”.
- Video: add captions to any video you embed.
Microsoft also advises giving every slide a unique, descriptive title and checking reading order, which helps screen reader users navigate and also forces you to write a title for every slide.
Charts and data
Show one comparison per chart. Label the key point directly on the chart and remove gridlines and legends that do not help. State the source and date. If the chart supports a claim you are making, make sure the claim is accurate and can be backed up.
Rehearse the deck, not just edit it
- Run the first and last slides cold. If the opening and the ask are not clear, fix those first.
- Read only the slide titles in order. They should tell the story on their own.
- View on the actual screen or projector if you can.
- Cut one third of the words and one slide you love. See what you miss.
- Check the file on a different computer, with embedded or fallback fonts.
Trade-offs to accept
- Template rigidity versus freedom: strict templates keep decks consistent but can frustrate presenters who need a special layout. Offer a few approved variants.
- Visual polish versus time: a clean, simple slide beats an elaborate one that was rushed.
- Reading deck versus presenting deck: one file rarely serves both well. Make the second version if both uses matter.
Where Radiance Impact fits
Radiance Impact’s Studio supports brand-consistent creative work, including motion and visual assets that can lift a presentation, and can help you set up brand rules your slides can follow. To discuss a deck or template system, see /studio or start a conversation at /contact.
