1. Start with the master: View → Slide Master to fix titles and footers;
  2. Limit the palette: one primary, one accent, one neutral — three at most;
  3. Two fonts only: sans-serif headings, readable body text;
  4. Align and breathe: turn on guides and leave whitespace;
  5. Treat images consistently: same aspect ratio, same border or shadow;
  6. Charts beat tables for data slides;
  7. Go easy on animation: keep only a smooth transition;
  8. Rehearse in Presenter View and check timing before export.

Shortcuts

F5 starts from the beginning, Shift+F5 from the current slide, B or W blanks the screen, Ctrl+D duplicates a slide.