Keep it Simple: Using Animations in Business Presentations

Reading Time: 2 minutes
| Author: Tom Becker

Animated elements are fundamental to PowerPoint and can visually enrich a business presentation. Unfortunately, presenters often get carried away. Read on for our tips on how to incorporate animations into your PowerPoint business presentation without going overboard.

As the saying goes, “less is more.” This can also apply to animations in a presentation. Experts recommend using only a few specific effects, if at all. The question is, which ones are considered appropriate for business presentations and how should they be used? Here are our recommendations:

What is the purpose for the animation?

Animation is often used to gradually display a slide’s content. This is not only a common practice, but also syncs the displayed content with the speaker. It is easier for the audience to follow along if the speaker doesn’t get ahead of the content, or vice versa. But remember, “less is more.” If you can’t justify why you have an animation, leave it out.

When should your animation be displayed?

First, you should decide at what point an animation should be activated on the slide. There are three types of animation effects: entrance effect (e.g. appearing text or graphics), emphasis effect (highlighting content), and exit effect (e.g. fading or disappearing content). These animations can give your content a clearer structure.

Get inspired by our video, which combines different zoom and animation effects:

Which types of animations are most appropriate?

Presenters run the risk of overloading their slides with too much movement on the screen. Motion effects (fly in, swivel, bounce, etc.) should be used sparingly. Try to stick with more subtle options, such as appear, transparency, object color, or fade.