A well-designed presentation can win deals, persuade investors, and inspire audiences—but even the best ideas can get lost if your slides or delivery fall flat. Unfortunately, many presenters make avoidable mistakes that weaken their message and bore their audience.

The good news? With a few adjustments, you can turn a weak presentation into a powerful one. Here are the 10 most common mistakes and how to fix them.

1. Too Much Text on Slides

The Problem:

Long paragraphs and excessive bullet points make your slides hard to read and dull to watch. Your audience should listen to you—not read a wall of text.

🔴 Example of a Bad Slide:

• Entire paragraphs copied from your script

• Every bullet point shown at once, making the slide cluttered

  
  

The Fix:

✅ Keep text brief—use keywords, not sentences.

✅ Follow the 5x5 rule (max 5 words per line, 5 bullet points per slide).

✅ Reveal bullet points one at a time to keep attention focused.

🔹 Real-World Example: Apple’s keynote slides use minimal text and bold visuals to highlight key ideas without overwhelming the audience.

→ Need help simplifying your slides? Check out Pitch Perfect Design’s projects for inspiration.

2. Boring, Generic Design

The Problem:

Default PowerPoint templates and generic stock images make your presentation look outdated and uninspired.

🔴 Example of a Bad Slide:

• Basic PowerPoint templates everyone has seen before

• Unrelated, overused stock photos (e.g., smiling businesspeople shaking hands)

  
  

The Fix:

✅ Use a custom design that matches your brand’s identity.

✅ Choose modern, high-quality images that reinforce your message.

✅ Maintain a consistent color palette and typography.

🔹 Real-World Example: Successful pitch decks, like Airbnb’s, use branded colors, clean layouts, and relevant visuals to tell their story.

→ Looking for a sleek, professional design? See how Pitch Perfect Design transforms presentations.

3. Poor Use of Visual Hierarchy

The Problem:

When all text looks the same, the audience doesn’t know where to focus.

🔴 Example of a Bad Slide:

• Every element is the same size and color

• No clear separation between key points and supporting details

  
  

The Fix:

✅ Use bold fonts, size variations, and color contrast to highlight important points.

✅ Space out content to improve readability and clarity.

✅ Guide the viewer’s eye using arrows, icons, or emphasis techniques.

🔹 Real-World Example: Pitch decks from successful startups like Uber use clear visual hierarchy to keep slides structured and easy to scan.

4. Overloading Slides with Data

The Problem:

Presenting too many numbers, tables, or charts at once overwhelms the audience.

🔴 Example of a Bad Slide:

• A complex Excel spreadsheet pasted onto a slide

• A chart with multiple lines, labels, and colors that’s hard to interpret

  
  

The Fix:

✅ Summarize key data points—less is more.

✅ Use clean charts, infographics, or bold callout numbers.

✅ Highlight insights, not just numbers (e.g., “Revenue grew by 150%” instead of a raw data table).

🔹 Real-World Example: Tesla’s investor presentations use simple graphs with one key takeaway per slide.

5. Lack of Storytelling

The Problem:

Listing facts without context makes your presentation forgettable. People remember stories, not stats.

🔴 Example of a Bad Slide:

• Data-heavy slides with no real-world examples

• A dry, corporate tone that doesn’t engage the audience

  
  

The Fix:

✅ Structure your presentation like a story (problem → solution → impact).

✅ Use case studies, anecdotes, or customer testimonials.

✅ Connect emotionally—why should the audience care?

🔹 Real-World Example: Nike’s marketing presentations focus on storytelling and human experiences, not just product specs.

6. Inconsistent Design

The Problem:

Mismatched fonts, colors, and slide layouts make your presentation look unprofessional and distracting.

🔴 Example of a Bad Slide:

• Random font and color choices on every slide

• No alignment or spacing consistency

  
  

The Fix:

✅ Stick to one or two fonts and a set color scheme.

✅ Use a slide master or template to keep design elements aligned.

✅ Ensure images, icons, and text sizes are consistent across slides.

🔹 Real-World Example: Well-designed investor decks, like Slack’s, use cohesive branding throughout.

→ Get a polished, on-brand design with Pitch Perfect Design.

7. Reading Directly from Slides

The Problem:

If you’re reading word-for-word, your audience tunes out—they can read faster than you can speak.

🔴 Example of a Bad Presentation Style:

• Monotone reading with no engagement

• No eye contact or interaction with the audience

  
  

The Fix:

✅ Use slides as visual cues, not a script.

✅ Engage with your audience—ask questions, make eye contact, and vary your tone.

✅ Practice delivering your talk naturally, so you’re not reliant on the slides.

8. Using Too Many Animations & Transitions

The Problem:

Over-the-top animations make your presentation feel unprofessional and distracting.

🔴 Example of a Bad Slide:

• Text spinning onto the screen

• Overuse of fades, slides, and bounces

  
  

The Fix:

✅ Keep animations subtle and purposeful (e.g., fade-ins for emphasis).

✅ Avoid using different transitions on every slide.

✅ Focus on content, not gimmicks.

9. Poorly Chosen Fonts & Colors

The Problem:

Bad typography and poor color contrast make slides hard to read.

🔴 Example of a Bad Slide:

• Small, light gray text on a white background

• Script or decorative fonts that reduce readability

  
  

The Fix:

✅ Use legible fonts (sans-serif like Helvetica, Arial, or Montserrat).

✅ Ensure high contrast (dark text on light backgrounds, or vice versa).

✅ Use color strategically to highlight key points.

10. No Clear Call to Action (CTA)

The Problem:

Your presentation ends, but your audience doesn’t know what to do next.

🔴 Example of a Bad Ending:

• No clear next steps

• No contact information or action prompt

  
  

The Fix:

✅ End with a strong CTA (e.g., “Sign up today,” “Schedule a demo,” “Contact us for a free consultation”).

✅ Display your website, email, or social handles clearly.

Final Thoughts

Avoiding these 10 common presentation mistakes will help you deliver a more engaging, professional, and effective talk. By focusing on design, storytelling, and audience engagement, your presentations will stand out for all the right reasons.

Need a pitch deck or corporate presentation that wows? Let’s chat!