Is there such a thing as the Perfect Presentation? With Microsoft PowerPoint there certainly can be, but if not 100% perfect (we are human, after all) then definitely very close to it. A PowerPoint presentation is there as a tool to complement your speech, lecture or sales pitch, and a compliment it should be. The point of PowerPoint is to help you get a point across with the help of images, diagrams, content, and charts. It is seen as the industry standard for delivering interactive multimedia presentations. The difference between a good presentation and an outstanding presentation can come down to something as simple as how you make use of Microsoft PowerPoint, and how you make it work for you.

PowerPoint is included with Microsoft's Office Suite and is available for anyone to use. It is ideal for any sort of presentation, from a sales pitch to an academic lecture. The basic functions are easily navigated, and so an average-to-good presentation is possible to create for just about anyone with a desire or need to do so. But - there is always a 'but', isn't there? - to be able use all of the features effectively, including the more advanced ones, would definitely require some professional advanced training on the product.

Whether you regularly prepare presentations with PowerPoint or you are only an occasional user of it, it will be in your interests to be confident in the use thereof when you require it. By receiving advanced training you will be well equipped to create eye-catching presentations that make use of animated charts, presentations which run by themselves, and even a single presentation that can be customised for different audiences by skipping pages that are not required.

PowerPoint is not only a tool to be used in the corporate environment. It has many advantageous uses in the classroom too. It can add a new dimension to learning, allowing teachers to explain abstract concepts, while accommodating all learning styles. Used properly, PowerPoint can be a very powerful tool for the dissemination of information.

Here are some additional tips to consider when preparing a PowerPoint presentation:
- Start your preparation for your presentation with a clear objective of the message that you want to impart
- Know your audience: what is their level of knowledge about your subject?
- Prepare the outline of your presentation and, once you are happy with it, add the 'bulk' to it
- The visuals you include should enhance and add value to what you are saying. They should be easy to interpret at a glance
- Your presentation should have clear and defined transitions between the introduction, the main body, and the end
- Spelling and grammar errors are to be avoided at all costs. It is a good idea to have someone check over you presentation as a fresh eye will pick up errors that you have not seen
- Keep your presentation relevant and concise