If you’re shopping around for PowerPoint templates, where do you even begin? It’s not as simple as looking at a header preview slide and deciding if the entire deck is right for you. There are many different qualities that separate the worst templates from those that are functional, beautiful, and perfect for you.
From our own experience as presentation template designers, we’ve compiled four qualities that the very best templates share. If you’re just starting to browse around, look over this list to help shape your idea of what a great template can be:
1. A Common Theme
Great designers know how to create a set of distinct slides that still maintain a common theme, whether through the color palette, icons, or other visual tie-ins. Look for a PowerPoint template that feels cohesive as you click through each slide rather than one which has disparate tastes and styles throughout. Consistency is important and doesn’t have to be dull. Even if you alter the slides with custom content, the slide still needs to feel like one branch of an entire presentation tree.
2. Usability
Consider the many different computers and programs that are used by your entire team. Macs? PCs? Maybe a cloud software like PowerPoint online? The ideal template will be easily accessible no matter where it is used and no matter who is using it. Before you download anything, be sure that the template is compatible for your entire team using their current software.
3. Layouts… Lots of Layouts
When a person using a template can’t find the right slide layout, they often create Frankenstein slides that compromise design integrity. They will drag and drop background photos, grab random icons, and create text boxes that have no business floating around. The best way to protect the beauty of your design is to make sure that the template you download is packed with a variety of layouts. You need to have multiple options to accommodate text, images, charts, and more.
4. Appropriate Formatting
In the same category as usability, formatting ensures that the technical aspects of your presentation are functional and “plug and play.” Does it use fonts that you already have installed? Are the slides in the right size ratio for your needs, such as 4×3 or 16×9? Formatting also covers the functionality of layouts on your slides. Is it easy to drag and drop images? Can you quickly add in charts or edit text as needed? In order to make sure the formatting is right for you, write down a list of the way your presentation is most commonly used and what kind of content is found therein. A well-formatted deck should cover each requirement mentioned in the “features” summary on the site you want to buy it from.
The best way that you can find and buy the perfect template is to fully understand what you need. Your requirements shape these important qualities listed, and you shouldn’t have to compromise. What’s worse than downloading a PowerPoint template to find out it’s not the right size ratio, or half of your company can’t open the file? With a short technical assessment, you can avoid this problem by making sure each crucial quality aligns with your purpose.
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