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8 tips to make the best powerpoint presentations.

Want to make your PowerPoint presentations really shine? Here's how to impress and engage your audience.

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Table of contents, start with a goal, less is more, consider your typeface, make bullet points count, limit the use of transitions, skip text where possible, think in color, take a look from the top down, bonus: start with templates.

Slideshows are an intuitive way to share complex ideas with an audience, although they're dull and frustrating when poorly executed. Here are some tips to make your Microsoft PowerPoint presentations sing while avoiding common pitfalls.

It all starts with identifying what we're trying to achieve with the presentation. Is it informative, a showcase of data in an easy-to-understand medium? Or is it more of a pitch, something meant to persuade and convince an audience and lead them to a particular outcome?

It's here where the majority of these presentations go wrong with the inability to identify the talking points that best support our goal. Always start with a goal in mind: to entertain, to inform, or to share data in a way that's easy to understand. Use facts, figures, and images to support your conclusion while keeping structure in mind (Where are we now and where are we going?).

I've found that it's helpful to start with the ending. Once I know how to end a presentation, I know how best to get to that point. I start by identifying the takeaway---that one nugget that I want to implant before thanking everyone for their time---and I work in reverse to figure out how best to get there.

Your mileage, of course, may vary. But it's always going to be a good idea to put in the time in the beginning stages so that you aren't reworking large portions of the presentation later. And that starts with a defined goal.

A slideshow isn't supposed to include everything. It's an introduction to a topic, one that we can elaborate on with speech. Anything unnecessary is a distraction. It makes the presentation less visually appealing and less interesting, and it makes you look bad as a presenter.

This goes for text as well as images. There's nothing worse, in fact, than a series of slides where the presenter just reads them as they appear. Your audience is capable of reading, and chances are they'll be done with the slide, and browsing Reddit, long before you finish. Avoid putting the literal text on the screen, and your audience will thank you.

Related: How to Burn Your PowerPoint to DVD

Right off the bat, we're just going to come out and say that Papyrus and Comic Sans should be banned from all PowerPoint presentations, permanently. Beyond that, it's worth considering the typeface you're using and what it's saying about you, the presenter, and the presentation itself.

Consider choosing readability over aesthetics, and avoid fancy fonts that could prove to be more of a distraction than anything else. A good presentation needs two fonts: a serif and sans-serif. Use one for the headlines and one for body text, lists, and the like. Keep it simple. Veranda, Helvetica, Arial, and even Times New Roman are safe choices. Stick with the classics and it's hard to botch this one too badly.

There reaches a point where bullet points become less of a visual aid and more of a visual examination.

Bullet points should support the speaker, not overwhelm his audience. The best slides have little or no text at all, in fact. As a presenter, it's our job to talk through complex issues, but that doesn't mean that we need to highlight every talking point.

Instead, think about how you can break up large lists into three or four bullet points. Carefully consider whether you need to use more bullet points, or if you can combine multiple topics into a single point instead. And if you can't, remember that there's no one limiting the number of slides you can have in a presentation. It's always possible to break a list of 12 points down into three pages of four points each.

Animation, when used correctly, is a good idea. It breaks up slow-moving parts of a presentation and adds action to elements that require it. But it should be used judiciously.

Adding a transition that wipes left to right between every slide or that animates each bullet point in a list, for example, starts to grow taxing on those forced to endure the presentation. Viewers get bored quickly, and animations that are meant to highlight specific elements quickly become taxing.

That's not to say that you can't use animations and transitions, just that you need to pick your spots. Aim for no more than a handful of these transitions for each presentation. And use them in spots where they'll add to the demonstration, not detract from it.

Sometimes images tell a better story than text can. And as a presenter, your goal is to describe points in detail without making users do a lot of reading. In these cases, a well-designed visual, like a chart, might better convey the information you're trying to share.

The right image adds visual appeal and serves to break up longer, text-heavy sections of the presentation---but only if you're using the right images. A single high-quality image can make all the difference between a success and a dud when you're driving a specific point home.

When considering text, don't think solely in terms of bullet points and paragraphs. Tables, for example, are often unnecessary. Ask yourself whether you could present the same data in a bar or line chart instead.

Color is interesting. It evokes certain feelings and adds visual appeal to your presentation as a whole. Studies show that color also improves interest, comprehension, and retention. It should be a careful consideration, not an afterthought.

You don't have to be a graphic designer to use color well in a presentation. What I do is look for palettes I like, and then find ways to use them in the presentation. There are a number of tools for this, like Adobe Color , Coolors , and ColorHunt , just to name a few. After finding a palette you enjoy, consider how it works with the presentation you're about to give. Pastels, for example, evoke feelings of freedom and light, so they probably aren't the best choice when you're presenting quarterly earnings that missed the mark.

It's also worth mentioning that you don't need to use every color in the palette. Often, you can get by with just two or three, though you should really think through how they all work together and how readable they'll be when layered. A simple rule of thumb here is that contrast is your friend. Dark colors work well on light backgrounds, and light colors work best on dark backgrounds.

Spend some time in the Slide Sorter before you finish your presentation. By clicking the four squares at the bottom left of the presentation, you can take a look at multiple slides at once and consider how each works together. Alternatively, you can click "View" on the ribbon and select "Slide Sorter."

Are you presenting too much text at once? Move an image in. Could a series of slides benefit from a chart or summary before you move on to another point?

It's here that we have the opportunity to view the presentation from beyond the single-slide viewpoint and think in terms of how each slide fits, or if it fits at all. From this view, you can rearrange slides, add additional ones, or delete them entirely if you find that they don't advance the presentation.

The difference between a good presentation and a bad one is really all about preparation and execution. Those that respect the process and plan carefully---not only the presentation as a whole, but each slide within it---are the ones who will succeed.

This brings me to my last (half) point: When in doubt, just buy a template and use it. You can find these all over the web, though Creative Market and GraphicRiver are probably the two most popular marketplaces for this kind of thing. Not all of us are blessed with the skills needed to design and deliver an effective presentation. And while a pre-made PowerPoint template isn't going to make you a better presenter, it will ease the anxiety of creating a visually appealing slide deck.

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How to Prepare a Professional Presentation

Last Updated: October 4, 2023 References

This article was co-authored by Devin Jones and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising . Devin Jones is the creator of “The Soul Career," an online career incubator for women. She is certified in the CliftonStrengths assessment and works with women to clarify their purpose and create meaningful careers. Devin received her BA from Stanford University in 2013. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 214,077 times.

When you need to clearly share important information, a PowerPoint presentation makes a great way to reach your audience. Even though it’s pretty easy to throw all of your information together, you’ll leave a bigger impact if you take time to organize and prepare beforehand. We’ll start with what to include in your presentation and move on to how to design and run through your slides. With a little bit of prep, you’ll nail any presentation you have to give!

Start with a title slide.

Introduce your topic with an eye-catching first slide.

  • You can always name the presentation after the work initiative you want to start or the problem that you’re trying to solve. For example, you could name it something like, “Customer Acquisition Strategies.”

Follow the title slide with an agenda slide.

Give a list of what the audience can expect.

  • Project Overview
  • Market Research
  • Business Model

Organize the middle slides for logical flow.

Determine the presentation’s beginning, middle, and end for more clarity.

  • For example, if you’re giving a persuasive presentation, you might start with background information on an issue, move on to ways to solve the problem, and finish with steps a person in the audience can take to work toward the solution.

Include a call-to-action slide near the end of your presentation.

Tell your audience about the next steps to take when you wrap up.

  • For example, if you want to cut down costs at your business, you may ask your listeners to track all of the work resources they waste throughout a week so they can be more conscious of what they’re throwing away.

Conclude with the key takeaways.

Summarize the main points you made so your audience remembers them.

  • For example, if you’re pitching a brand or product, you could summarize the issues the product solves, its main selling points, and why you think it's a good fit in a company.

Aim to have about 10 slides.

It’s tough for people to remember more than 10 concepts at a time.

  • For example, if your presentation is about a new eco-friendly initiative, a few slides filled with statistics about climate change’s effects offers a lot of information, but a single slide with a couple of bullet points specifically about how your company is hurt by it is much more effective.

Use consistent backgrounds.

Maintain the same simple layout and theme for all of your slides.

  • For example, your slide background could simply be white with a dark blue stripe across the top and a yellow line running through it as an accent.
  • Stick with colors that contrast, but complement each other. For example, you could incorporate white, dark brown, black, and tan as a presentation theme.
  • Avoid putting full images as your background since it can be really hard to read text that’s written over them.

Choose easy-to-read fonts.

Stick with large sans-serif fonts so they’re easy to see across the room.

  • Emphasize the most significant text by bolding, italicizing, or highlighting it. [10] X Research source
  • Vary your text size throughout the slide. For example, the heading at the top of the slide should be larger than the body text.

List main ideas with short bullet points.

Quick lists on your slides make it easier to follow along.

  • For example, instead of the sentence, “We need to be more mindful about our budget for this project,” you could write the bullet point, “Be mindful of budget.”
  • Have each bullet point appear only after you click the mouse so your audience doesn’t get ahead of what you’re talking about.

Add relevant graphics.

Choose high-quality images and charts that highlight your information.

  • Include captions for charts or images that are hard to understand.
  • Try making a single image stand out on a slide by making it a contrasting color to the rest of the slide. For example, you could have pictures of old products in black-and-white with a large image of the newest product you’re introducing in color.
  • In general, avoid using clip art or animated GIFs in your presentation since it won’t look like you’re taking it seriously. However, what’s acceptable may depend on your place of work and the specific presentation.
  • If you get a chance, check your presentation on a screen similar to what you’ll be presenting on to check if your images look blurry from across the room.

Avoid flashy transitions.

Transitions and animations distract a viewer from the content.

Practice your presentation out loud.

Run through the entire slideshow to boost your confidence.

  • Try recording yourself giving the presentation so you can listen or watch your performance. That way, you can easily see what you need to change.

Rehearse in front of an audience.

Ask for some preliminary feedback to see if your presentation lands.

  • If you can, rehearse your slideshow in a space that’s similar to where you’ll actually be presenting it so you can get a feel for the room.

How Should You End a Presentation? . By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube.

Expert Q&A

Devin Jones

  • If you have a fear of public speaking, try taking a few deep breaths to help you calm down. The more you practice, the less likely you’ll be afraid of presenting it as well. [18] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • If you don’t have PowerPoint, you can always use alternatives such as Keynote, Prezi, or Google Slides for your presentation. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

how to prepare powerpoint for presentation

  • Have a backup for your presentation in case there are technical difficulties. For example, you could give the presentation off of notecards or make handouts. [19] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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Deliver Effective Presentations

  • ↑ https://virtualspeech.com/blog/designing-presentation-slides
  • ↑ https://www.business.com/articles/13-things-to-include-in-your-next-powerpoint-presentation/
  • ↑ https://writingcenter.gmu.edu/guides/writing-a-powerpoint-presentation
  • ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2016/09/22/10-smart-ways-to-make-any-powerpoint-presentation-way-more-interesting/?sh=567b2a1e2d24
  • ↑ https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/presentations-guy-kawasaki-10-20-30-rule.html
  • ↑ https://www.ncsl.org/legislators-staff/legislative-staff/legislative-staff-coordinating-committee/tips-for-making-effective-powerpoint-presentations.aspx
  • ↑ https://alum.mit.edu/powerpoint-presentations
  • ↑ https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/making-better-powerpoint-presentations/
  • ↑ https://www.gvsu.edu/speechlab/practicing-presentations-33.htm
  • ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesleadershipforum/2013/06/19/the-only-way-to-prepare-to-give-a-presentation/?sh=7d89d11b84ef
  • ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/specific-phobias/expert-answers/fear-of-public-speaking/faq-20058416

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What It Takes to Give a Great Presentation

  • Carmine Gallo

how to prepare powerpoint for presentation

Five tips to set yourself apart.

Never underestimate the power of great communication. It can help you land the job of your dreams, attract investors to back your idea, or elevate your stature within your organization. But while there are plenty of good speakers in the world, you can set yourself apart out by being the person who can deliver something great over and over. Here are a few tips for business professionals who want to move from being good speakers to great ones: be concise (the fewer words, the better); never use bullet points (photos and images paired together are more memorable); don’t underestimate the power of your voice (raise and lower it for emphasis); give your audience something extra (unexpected moments will grab their attention); rehearse (the best speakers are the best because they practice — a lot).

I was sitting across the table from a Silicon Valley CEO who had pioneered a technology that touches many of our lives — the flash memory that stores data on smartphones, digital cameras, and computers. He was a frequent guest on CNBC and had been delivering business presentations for at least 20 years before we met. And yet, the CEO wanted to sharpen his public speaking skills.

how to prepare powerpoint for presentation

  • Carmine Gallo is a Harvard University instructor, keynote speaker, and author of 10 books translated into 40 languages. Gallo is the author of The Bezos Blueprint: Communication Secrets of the World’s Greatest Salesman  (St. Martin’s Press).

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how to prepare powerpoint for presentation

Give a presentation

Give a presentation in powerpoint.

Start a presentation

On the Slide Show tab select From Beginning . Now, if you are working with PowerPoint on a single monitor and you want to display Presenter view, in Slide Show view, on the control bar at the bottom left select the three dots, and then Show Presenter View .

To move to the previous or next slide, select Previous or Next .

To view all the slides in your presentation, select See all slides .

Presenter View in PowerPoint 2016, with a circle around the Speaker Notes

During your presentation, the speaker notes are visible on your monitor, but aren't visible to the audience.

The Notes pane is a box that appears below each slide. Tap it to add notes.

If you don’t see the Notes pane or it is completely minimized, click Notes on the task bar across the bottom of the PowerPoint window

Shows the speaker Notes pane in PowerPoint

You can choose which language the caption/subtitle text should be shown to your audience. This feature requires Windows 10 and an up-to-date version of PowerPoint.

Select Slide Show > Subtitle Settings .

Set your Spoken Language .

Select Subtitle Language to see which languages PowerPoint can display on-screen as captions or subtitles, and select the one you want.

In the Subtitle Settings menu, set the desired position of the captions or subtitles.

More appearance settings are available by selecting Subtitle Settings > More Settings (Windows) .

An English speaker at a podium with live translated subtitles on-screen.

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17 PowerPoint Presentation Tips to Make More Creative Slideshows [+ Templates]

Jamie Cartwright

Published: August 16, 2023

Creating a great PowerPoint presentation is a skill that any professional can benefit from. The problem? It’s really easy to get it wrong. From poor color choices to confusing slides, a bad PowerPoint slideshow can distract from the fantastic content you’re sharing with stakeholders on your team.

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That’s why it’s so important to learn how to create a PowerPoint presentation from the ground up, starting with your slides. Even if you’re familiar with PowerPoint, a refresher will help you make a more attractive, professional slideshow. Let’s get started.

How to Make a PowerPoint Presentation

  • Presentation Tips

PowerPoint Design

I like to think of Microsoft PowerPoint as a test of basic professional skills. To create a passing presentation, I need to demonstrate design skills, technical literacy, and a sense of personal style.

If the presentation has a problem (like an unintended font, a broken link, or unreadable text), then I’ve probably failed the test. Even if my spoken presentation is well rehearsed, a bad visual experience can ruin it for the audience.

Expertise means nothing without a good PowerPoint presentation to back it up. For starters, grab your collection of free PowerPoint templates below.

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Download ten free PowerPoint templates for a better presentation.

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You're all set!

Click this link to access this resource at any time.

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No matter your topic, successful PowerPoints depend on three main factors: your command of PowerPoint's design tools, your attention to presentation processes, and your devotion to consistent style. Here are some simple tips to help you start mastering each of those factors, and don't forget to check out the additional resources at the bottom of this post.

A presentation is made up of multiple slides, let's delve deeper into PowerPoint's capabilities.

Getting Started

1. open powerpoint and click ‘new.’.

If a page with templates doesn‘t automatically open, go to the top left pane of your screen and click New. If you’ve already created a presentation, select Open then double-click the icon to open the existing file.

how to prepare powerpoint for presentation

powerpoint presentation: types of fonts

That said, you can still use fun and eccentric fonts — in moderation. Offsetting a fun font or large letters with something more professional can create an engaging presentation.

Above all, be sure you're consistent so your presentation looks the same throughout each slide. That way, your audience doesn't become distracted by too many disparate fonts. Check out this example from HubSpot’s company profile templates:

Interested in this presentation template? Download it for free here.

5. Make sure all of your objects are properly aligned.

Having properly aligned objects on your slide is the key to making it look polished and professional. You can manually try to line up your images ... but we all know how that typically works out. You're trying to make sure all of your objects hang out in the middle of your slide, but when you drag them there, it still doesn't look quite right. Get rid of your guessing game and let PowerPoint work its magic with this trick.

Here’s how to align multiple objects:

  • Select all objects by holding down Shift and clicking on all of them.
  • Select Arrange in the top options bar, then choose Align or Distribute .
  • Choose the type of alignment you'd like.

Here’s how to align objects to the slide:

  • Select Align to Slide .
  • Select Arrange in the top options bar again, then choose Align or Distribute .

6. Use "Format Object" to better control your objects' designs.

Format menus allow you to do fine adjustments that otherwise seem impossible. To do this, right-click on an object and select the Format Object option. Here, you can fine-tune shadows, adjust shape measurements, create reflections, and much more. The menu that will pop up looks like this:

powerpoint presentation: format object pane

Although the main options can be found on PowerPoint’s format toolbars, look for complete control in the format window menu. Other examples of options available include:

  • Adjusting text inside a shape.
  • Creating a natural perspective shadow behind an object.
  • Recoloring photos manually and with automatic options.

7. Take advantage of PowerPoint's shapes.

Many users don’t realize how flexible PowerPoint’s shape tools have become. In combination with the expanded format options released by Microsoft, the potential for good design with shapes is readily available. PowerPoint provides the user with a bunch of great shape options beyond the traditional rectangle, oval, and rounded rectangle patterns.

Today’s shapes include a highly functional Smart Shapes function, which enables you to create diagrams and flow charts in no time. These tools are especially valuable when you consider that PowerPoint is a visual medium. Paragraphing and bullet lists are boring — you can use shapes to help express your message more clearly.

8. Create custom shapes.

When you create a shape, right click and press Edit Points . By editing points, you can create custom shapes that fit your specific need. For instance, you can reshape arrows to fit the dimensions you like.

Another option is to combine two shapes together. To do so, select the two shapes you’d like to work with, then click Shape Format in the top ribbon. Tap Merge Shapes .

You’ll see a variety of options.

  • Combine creates a custom shape that has overlapping portions of the two previous shapes cut out.
  • Union makes one completely merged shape.
  • Intersect builds a shape of only the overlapping sections of the two previous shapes.
  • Subtract cuts out the overlapping portion of one shape from the other.
  • Fragment will split your shape into different parts depending on where they overlap.

By using these tools rather than trying to edit points precisely, you can create accurately measured custom shapes.

9. Crop images into custom shapes.

Besides creating custom shapes in your presentation, you can also use PowerPoint to crop existing images into new shapes. Here's how you do that:

  • Click on the image and select Picture Format in the options bar.
  • Choose Crop , then Crop to Shape , and then choose your desired shape. Ta-da! Custom-shaped photos.

10. Present websites within PowerPoint.

Tradition says that if you want to show a website in a PowerPoint, you should just create a link to the page and prompt a browser to open. For PC users, there’s a better option.

Third party software that integrates fully into PowerPoint’s developer tab can be used to embed a website directly into your PowerPoint using a normal HTML iframe. One of the best tools is LiveWeb , a third-party software that you can install on your PowerPoint program.

By using LiveWeb, you don’t have to interrupt your PowerPoint, and your presentation will remain fluid and natural. Whether you embed a whole webpage or just a YouTube video, this can be a high-quality third party improvement. To install the add-on, simple head to the LiveWeb website and follow the instructions.

Unfortunately, Mac users don’t have a similar option. A good second choice is to take screenshots of the website, link in through a browser, or embed media (such as a YouTube video) by downloading it directly to your computer.

11. Try Using GIFs.

GIFs are looped animated images used to communicate a mood, idea, information, and much more. Users add GIFs to PowerPoints to be funny or quickly demo a process. It's easy to add GIFs to your slides. To do so, simply follow these steps:

  • Download and save the GIF you want.
  • Go to the slide you want the GIF on.
  • Go to the Home tab, and click either Insert or Picture .
  • From the Picture drop-down menu, choose Picture from File .
  • Navigate to where you saved your GIF and select it. Then, choose Insert .
  • It will play automatically the moment you insert it.

PowerPoint Process

12. keep it simple..

PowerPoint is an excellent tool to support your presentation with visual information, graphics, and supplemental points. This means that your PowerPoint should not be your entire presentation. Your slides — no matter how creative and beautiful — shouldn't be the star of the show. Keep your text and images clear and concise, using them only to supplement your message and authority.

If your slides have dense and cluttered information, it will both distract your audience and make it much more likely that you will lose their attention. Nothing in your slides should be superfluous! Keep your presentation persuasive by keeping it clean. There are a few ways to do this:

  • Limit bullet points and text.
  • Avoid paragraphs and long quotes.
  • Maintain "white space" or "negative space".
  • Keep percentages, graphs, and data super basic.

13. Embed your font files.

One constant problem presenters have with PowerPoint is that fonts seem to change when presenters move from one computer to another. In reality, the fonts are not changing — the presentation computer just doesn’t have the same font files installed . If you’re using a PC and presenting on a PC, then there is a smooth workaround for this issue.

Here’s the trick: When you save your PowerPoint file (only on a PC), you should click File , then Options, then open up the Save tab. Then, select the Embed fonts in the file check box under Preserve fidelity when sharing this presentation . Now, your presentation will keep the font file and your fonts will not change when you move computers.

The macOS PowerPoint version has a similar function. To embed your fonts on a Mac, do the following:

  • Open up your presentation.
  • On the top bar, click PowerPoint , then click Preferences .
  • Under Output and Sharing , click Save .
  • Under Font Embedding , click Embed fonts in the file.

14. Save your slides as a PDF file for backup purposes.

If you’re still scared of your presentation showing up differently when it’s time to present, you should create a PDF version just in case. This is a good option if you’ll be presenting on a different computer. If you also run into an issue where the presenting computer doesn’t have PowerPoint installed, you can also use the system viewer to open up the PDF. No laptop will ever give you trouble with this file type.

The only caveat is that your GIFs, animations, and transitions won’t transfer over. But since the PDF will only work as a backup, not as your primary copy, this should be okay.

To save your presentation as a PDF file, take the following steps:

  • Go to File , then click Save as …
  • In the pop-up window, click File Format.
  • A drop-down menu will appear. Select PDF .
  • Click Export .

You can also go to File , then Export , then select PDF from the file format menu.

15. Embed multimedia.

PowerPoint allows you to either link to video/audio files externally or to embed the media directly in your presentation. You should embed these files if you can, but if you use a Mac, you cannot actually embed the video (see note below). For PCs, two great reasons for embedding are:

  • Embedding allows you to play media directly in your presentation. It will look much more professional than switching between windows.
  • Embedding also means that the file stays within the PowerPoint presentation, so it should play normally without extra work (except on a Mac).

Note: macOS users of PowerPoint should be extra careful about using multimedia files.

If you use PowerPoint for Mac, then you will always need to bring the video and/or audio file with you in the same folder as the PowerPoint presentation. It’s best to only insert video or audio files once the presentation and the containing folder have been saved on a portable drive in their permanent folder. Also, if the presentation will be played on a Windows computer, then Mac users need to make sure their multimedia files are in WMV format. This tip gets a bit complicated, so if you want to use PowerPoint effectively, consider using the same operating system for designing and presenting, no matter what.

16. Bring your own hardware.

Between operating systems, PowerPoint is still a bit jumpy. Even between differing PPT versions, things can change. One way to fix these problems is to make sure that you have the right hardware — so just bring along your own laptop when you're presenting.

If you’re super concerned about the different systems you might have to use, then upload your PowerPoint presentation into Google Slides as a backup option. Google Slides is a cloud-based presentation software that will show up the same way on all operating systems. The only thing you need is an internet connection and a browser.

To import your PowerPoint presentation into Google Slides, take the following steps:

  • Navigate to slides.google.com . Make sure you’re signed in to a Google account, preferably your own.
  • Under Start a new presentation , click the empty box with a plus sign. This will open up a blank presentation.
  • Go to File , then Import slides .
  • A dialog box will come up. Tap Upload , then click Select a file from your device .
  • Select your presentation and click Open .
  • Select the slides you’d like to import. If you want to import all of them, click All in the upper right-hand corner of the dialog box.
  • Click Import slides.

powerpoint presentation: importing slides into google slides

When I tested this out, Google Slides imported everything perfectly, including a shape whose points I had manipulated. This is a good backup option to have if you’ll be presenting across different operating systems.

17. Use Presenter View.

In most presentation situations, there will be both a presenter’s screen and the main projected display for your presentation. PowerPoint has a great tool called Presenter View, which can be found in the Slide Show tab of PowerPoint. Included in the Presenter View is an area for notes, a timer/clock, and a presentation display.

powerpoint presentation: using presenter view

For many presenters, this tool can help unify their spoken presentation and their visual aid. You never want to make the PowerPoint seem like a stack of notes that you’re reading off of. Use the Presenter View option to help create a more natural presentation.

Pro Tip: At the start of the presentation, you should also hit CTRL + H to make the cursor disappear. Hitting the "A" key will bring it back if you need it!

Your Next Great PowerPoint Presentation Starts Here

With style, design, and presentation processes under your belt, you can do a lot more with PowerPoint than just presentations for your clients. PowerPoint and similar slide applications are flexible tools that should not be forgotten. With a great template, you can be on your way to creating presentations that wow your audience.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in September 2013 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

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How to Make Your PowerPoint Presentations More Engaging with Interactivity

Incorporating interactive tools into your presentations is a transformative step that goes beyond the conventional approach. By doing so, you add layers of depth and engagement that resonate with your audience on a whole new level. These interactive elements encompass a wide array of features and functionalities, each of which has the potential to elevate your presentations significantly. In this article, we will embark on an exploration of these interactive PowerPoint tools, unraveling their unique capabilities, and showcasing how they can profoundly enhance your presentations, leaving a lasting impact on your audience.

What is an interactive PowerPoint?

An interactive PowerPoint presentation elevates the standard slideshow experience. Instead of being a passive observer, you become the conductor of your presentation. A mere click – be it on text, images, or any other component – and behold, it springs to life! Want to see a video? Click! And there it is. Fancy some cool animations? Click! They're dancing right before your eyes.

So, it's like you're the boss of your own presentation journey. No more sitting through endless slides in a fixed order. You're in control, exploring content your way. It's like a choose-your-own-adventure book but with PowerPoint!

Interactive presentations can be effectively employed in various scenarios:

Training: Revolutionize corporate training sessions by incorporating gamification techniques, enhancing engagement, and enriching the learning process.

Education: Elevate your teaching methodology by involving students in active participation during lectures, utilizing interactive presentations as valuable formative assessment tools.

Events: Enhance the excitement factor at events by empowering the audience to participate actively through interactive presentations.

Conferences: Boost the energy levels and provide opportunities for every participant to express their views and insights during conferences.

Benefits Of Interactive PowerPoints

Let's explore the advantages of utilizing interactive presentations for your future work-related presentations:

Enhanced Engagement: Interactive presentations act as a magnet for your audience's attention. They're like the colorful threads weaving a captivating tapestry of knowledge. When attention wanes, these presentations reignite focus, ensuring everyone is on the same page.

Fun-Fueled Learning: Remember how exciting it was to participate in games and team activities? Interactive presentations bring that same joy into learning. They break the monotony, encourage teamwork, and spark innovation. Participants step away from their seats, forming bonds that transcend the digital realm.

Information Imprinted: Distractions often sneak into any presentation. That's where interactivity works its magic. Videos, audios, and other engaging elements act as spotlight-stealers, ensuring your audience retains key information effortlessly.

Tailored Experience: Interactive presentations offer a personalized journey through knowledge. Like a skilled guide, they adapt to individual needs and preferences. It's a teaching method that respects the diverse ways we learn.

How to Create Interactive PowerPoint Presentations?

Creating interactive PowerPoint presentations can significantly enhance engagement and captivate your audience. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you make your presentation more interactive:

Step 1: Start Your Presentation

Begin by creating a presentation. You can either start from scratch or use interactive PowerPoint templates as a foundation. Customize the templates to suit your content.

Step 2: Incorporate Multimedia

Enrich your presentation with multimedia elements such as images, videos, or GIFs. In PowerPoint, go to the Insert tab and add multimedia from your device or search online. Use PowerPoint's editing tools to ensure these visuals align with your slides.

Step 3: Include Hyperlinks

To provide additional information or resources, add hyperlinks to your slides. Insert a shape, image, or text.

Select the object and then right click to open the context menu. Click on “Link” to open the Link menu.

Choose "Place in this document" and select the slide you want to link to.

Step 4: Apply Transitions and Animations

Enhance visual appeal and engage your audience by adding transitions and animations. Select a transition from the Transitions tab to see a preview, and apply it to one or all slides.

For animations, click on an object, go to the Animations tab, and choose an animation type.

You can also customize the animation order in the Animations Pane.

Step 5 : Utilize Annotations

Annotations are a powerful tool for audience engagement. Access the Draw tab to annotate your slides freely. This feature even includes advanced options like "Ink to Shape".

Remember, the key to creating a successful interactive presentation is to strike a balance between these features. While it's tempting to use all of them simultaneously, simplicity is often more effective. Ensure that your interactive elements don't overwhelm your audience, keeping the overall experience easy to follow and engaging.

An example of Interactive Presentation:

Let's explore a fantastic way to add interactivity to your slides by incorporating clickable triggers. These triggers can activate various actions, such as launching animations or revealing additional content. Here's how you can create this engaging feature:

Step 1: Begin by selecting a background image and inserting it into your PowerPoint slide. Adjust its size to cover the entire slide.

Step 2 : Next, add an object that will serve as your clickable button. This can be an image or a simple shape.

Step 3: Click on the object you've just added, then navigate to the Shape Format tab and select the Selection Pane. Double-click on the highlighted object and rename it as "Open button".

Step 4: Create two additional slide objects and rename them: one as a text box and the other as a button that will close the pop-up.

Step 5: Access the Selection Pane again and select the "Open" and "Close" buttons, along with the textbox. You can do this by holding down the Left Ctrl key and clicking on each item.

Step 6: Now, let's apply animations to these objects. Go to the Animations tab and add an Entrance and Exit animation  (e.g., Fade) to all the buttons: Open, Close and Text

Step 7: To view the complete list of animations for this slide, click on Animation Pane. Your animation sequence should resemble the desired effect.

Step 8: Let's now establish the sequence and triggers. To make our Entrance animation work as intended, we want the Close button and text to appear when we click the Open button. To achieve this, simultaneously select the text and Close button in the animation pane while holding down the Left CTRL key.

Step 9: Next, navigate to the "Trigger" option in the Animations tab and choose "On Click of" > "Open button".

Step 10: Similarly, for the Exit animation, we aim to make the Open button and text disappear upon clicking the Close button. In the animation pane, select the Open button and text, then configure the trigger accordingly.

Step 11 : This is how your setup should look:

Now let’s try viewing our interactive presentation by clicking on F5 to start the presentation.

By following these steps, you can enhance your presentation's interactivity. Feel free to combine these techniques with other features to create even more engaging presentations. Remember, the more you engage with your audience, the more effectively you can convey your message during your presentation.

Resonating Reminder:

Here are some tips to keep your presentation engaging and interactive.

Use Hyperlinks: Enhance navigation with clickable links for a seamless journey through your content.

Multimedia Integration: Enrich your presentation with images, videos, and audio to captivate and educate.

Interactive Quizzes : Engage your audience with quizzes, polls, and surveys for real-time feedback.

Consistent Design: Maintain a polished look with a cohesive design theme throughout.

Branching Scenarios: Create interactive storytelling with non-linear paths and decision-based interactions.

Free Alternative to Microsoft PowerPoint — WPS Presentation

WPS Office serves as an excellent Microsoft Office alternative, offering powerful replacements for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. In particular, its presentation tool is outstanding, featuring a vast library of downloadable templates that can elevate your presentations to an interactive level. It also offers a wide array of interactive tools, including hyperlinks, multimedia integration (audio, video, and images), quizzes, polls, and design consistency features, ensuring a dynamic and engaging presentation experience. Even if you're not ready to fully transition from Microsoft Office, WPS Office seamlessly integrates with it, allowing you to harness the strengths of both office suites.

How to Download WPS Office ?

Step 1: To download WPS Office, head over to WPS Office official website on your browser, and then click on the Download button.

Step 2: Once the file has been downloaded, load the file on your system to begin the installation process.

Step 3 : Follow the instructions to complete the installation. And done! You’re all set to use WPS Office on your system.

Steps to edit Presentation in WPS

Step 1: To initiate the editing process, the first step is to download WPS Office. Visit the official WPS Office website for the download.

Step 2: Launch the WPS Office application after it has been downloaded.

Step 3: Once you've opened WPS Office, select "Slides" from the Side Bar, and create a new Presentation, by clicking the orange “+ Blank” icon.

Step 4: Refine your presentation effortlessly by utilizing the assortment of editing tools offered in WPS Presentation!

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Q1. Can Google Slides be interactive?

Yes, Google Slides can be interactive. You can set them up to generate interactive tasks for students to carry out or to use for information learning. A more fascinating and dynamic learning experience is made feasible by this feature. Google Slides is a flexible educational tool since it allows teachers and students to construct interactive projects. Hence, Google Slides has your back, no matter if you are a teacher hoping to develop an interactive lesson plan or a student looking to present your thoughts more effectively.

Q2. What software is used to create interactive presentations and animations?

Prezi is one of the best online presentation tools available. It allows you to design animated content seamlessly incorporated with video footage, creating a dynamic and engaging presentation experience. Prezi Design lets you create all sorts of graphics, animate objects, filter images, and customize your presentation to your liking. This versatility makes Prezi an excellent option for developing interactive presentations and animations, supplying a range of features to amplify your overall presentation experience.

Revolutionizing Presentations with Interactive Features

In this article, we discovered the art of crafting interactive PowerPoint presentations and highlighted their significance in  PowerPoint. However, what sets WPS Office apart is its seamless facilitation of this process. With its extensive collection of ready-made templates and cutting-edge AI capabilities, WPS Office redefines interactivity in presentations. Don't miss out on the opportunity to elevate your presentation game – download WPS Office now!

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How to Make Your Presentations Loop in PowerPoint

You might want to make your presentations loop in PowerPoint for several reasons. Regardless of why, this guide will help.

Microsoft PowerPoint is already a useful productivity tool to deliver slideshows and presentations, but it's even more versatile than you may realize. PowerPoint offers the functionality for your presentations to loop so that the slideshow restarts right after it ends. Read on to find out how to enable this in your project and why such a feature can be immensely useful in a variety of situations.

How to Loop Your Presentations in PowerPoint

As you make your presentation the way you would like for it to be seen, setting your slideshow up to loop is relatively easy. It mainly involves changing a single setting within PowerPoint.

1. Within the Ribbon at the top of the window, click Slide Show . This will take you to a menu of options for displaying and presenting your slide show.

2. Click Set Up Slide Show in the middle Set Up section. This button will open up a pop-up window of detailed, advanced settings for your presentation.

3. In the Set Up Show window, click Loop continuously until 'Esc' in the Show options section.

4. Click OK to apply the change.

5. Preview the presentation using the From Beginning or From Current Slide buttons in the Ribbon to see that the looping works.

As you might notice when you preview the slide show, enabling the setting is only half the battle. While the presentation does return to the first slide after displaying the last one, the slides don't progress on their own. If you want your slides to loop automatically, you'll need to set up transitions between each slide.

How to Automatically Loop Your PowerPoint Slides

1. Select the slide you want to apply the transition to if you haven't already.

2. Click Transitions within the Ribbon. This opens up a variety of options for adding animations when changing from one slide to the next.

3. Choose one of the transitions in the Transition to This Slide section to use with this slide. There are a variety of transition options available, from the subtle to the flashy.

While you can play with each transition to your heart's content, it's not necessarily required; you can stick with the default None option or a simple Fade if you'd like.

4. Navigate to the Timing section on the right-hand side of the Ribbon. In order to automate your loop, you'll need to specify when each slide moves to the next one.

5. Under the Advance Slide heading, click the After: checkbox to enable it.

6. Set a time (in minutes or seconds) by entering one in the text box (currently reading "00:00.00") or the arrow buttons nearby.

7. Repeat this process for the other slides you have. Alternatively, you can click Apply To All to set the current slide's transition settings across every slide in the presentation.

8. When you've applied the transitions you want, you can preview the presentation again using the From Beginning or From Current Slide buttons in the Slide Show tab of the Ribbon.

In the preview, you'll see that the slides now transition automatically, and the loop now works without any further interaction. When you need to leave the presentation, press the Esc (escape) key to return to the normal PowerPoint window.

Why Would You Want to Loop a PowerPoint Presentation?

There are a number of reasons why you'd want to run a PowerPoint presentation in a loop, and thus multiple ways this functionality is useful.

You can create a continuous carousel of photos for gatherings with family and friends or a relaxing slideshow of beaches at the end of a stressful day. You can use it to display important information, like rules or schedules, at conferences or conventions.

The integration with the regular transition timings also allows for specialized use cases where you may need to have certain slides displayed longer than others. For example, it can be used to show menu pricing at a kiosk or on a food truck or to offer some entertainment to people waiting in a long line.

Keep Your PowerPoint Presentation Skills in the Loop

Learning how to loop PowerPoint presentations is just one of the many lesser-noticed features of the widely-used tool that can take your slideshows to a new level.

Functionality like this helps keep PowerPoint a versatile, popular program built for a variety of presenting needs. Now, it's time to put these features to work for you.

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How to Create a Training PowerPoint Presentation

how to prepare powerpoint for presentation

A well-designed PowerPoint training presentation can be a powerful tool for conveying information, fostering training skills, engaging learners, and facilitating understanding. This type of presentation can be applied in many industries and can suit different learning styles.

Whether you’re a seasoned trainer looking to enhance your presentation skills or are new to the world of instructional design, this article will guide you through the essential steps to create a training PowerPoint presentation that captivates your audience and delivers meaningful learning outcomes.

What Is a Training Presentation?

A training presentation is a visual tool designed to deliver knowledge in a structured and engaging way in different training contexts.

It is a format that allows instructors to present training materials that keep the audience responsive and motivated, promoting comprehension and retention.

Training presentations are used extensively in educational settings and in staff training. Whether you’re introducing new employees to company policies, teaching students a complex subject, or demonstrating how to use a new software tool, training presentations make learning more effective and engaging.

A good training presentation is a combination of several design and structural elements that ultimately enhance learning effectiveness. Here are some key elements of training presentations:

  • Content . The core of a training presentation is the content you deliver to your audience. It’s the information you want your trainees to absorb, memorize, and use effectively in the future.
  • Visuals . Visual elements play a crucial role in training presentations. Besides using slides with text, presenters also include graphics, images, and even interactive elements . These visuals help learners better understand and remember the training material.
  • Structure . Even with top-notch content and amazing visuals, if the presentation structure is not organized logically, the audience will have a hard time understanding it. That’s why a clear outline is needed so the learners can follow the flow of information and build their knowledge during the training session.
  • Practical exercises and assessments . It’s a good idea to include assessments or quizzes in your training presentations to determine participants’ understanding and measure the effectiveness of the training. As an instructor, you can also integrate real-life cases and scenarios to help trainees put the recently acquired knowledge into practice.

The Importance of Effective Training Presentations

In short, an effective training presentation lays the foundation for more profound training experiences. By structuring information logically and using engaging visuals and interactive elements, training presentations improve training and promote efficient retention of knowledge.

An effective training presentation can become a powerful tool for employee training and professional development because it:

  • allows the participants to visualize the training content in a logical structure;
  • can be adapted to accommodate different learning styles;
  • improves the skill development process for both new and seasoned employees;
  • provides a tangible resource that trainees can revisit when they want to refresh their knowledge. 

Types of Training Presentations

Training presentations come in many forms, depending on learning goals, target audiences, and training contexts. Understanding the different types of training presentations can help you choose the format that’s most suitable for achieving your training objectives.

Let’s take a closer look at some common types of training presentations:

1. Informative Presentation

Informative presentations are the foundation of knowledge transfer. They are designed to deliver key information, facts, or concepts to the training audience. Informative presentations often rely on an instructor with great presentation skills who leads the session.

Some examples of this type of presentation are:

  • Lecture-style presentations
  • Product knowledge training
  • Safety briefings
  • Compliance training

These presentations often include a summary slide that highlights what the trainees should take away from the session.

Example of Informative Presentation

2. Skill Development Presentation

Skill development presentations are all about hands-on learning. They provide trainees with opportunities to gain practical skills or new professional competencies. These presentations typically include: 

  • Demonstrations 
  • Guided exercises 
  • Interactive simulations and role-plays
  • Feedback and evaluations

All these elements help participants put theory into practice right away. Skill development presentations can also come in the form of pre-recorded video presentations that illustrate how the skills work in real life.

Example of Skill Development Presentation

You can use the following questions to define your training presentation’s objectives:

  • What do you want your audience to learn from the presentation?
  • What specific skills or knowledge should they acquire?
  • How will this training benefit the organization?
  • Is there a behavioral change you want to achieve?
  • How can you measure the success of your training presentation?

Step 2. Outline the structure

The next step is to define the structure of your PowerPoint presentation . Break down your content into logical sections or modules . Prioritize key information and decide on the main points you want to cover in each section.

You can divide your presentation into sections based on the main topics, the key skills, or the type of activity you’re going to include in the training. It’s up to you to choose the structure. Just make sure to follow it consistently throughout the presentation.

A table of contents in PPT presentation

Content creator:

Charuan Aguilera

A learning and training enthusiast, Charuan seeks to empower his readers with the latest insights and trends in e-learning.

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    34 English Management Communication Presentations Microsoft PowerPoint The best PowerPoint presentations shouldn't be remembered. Instead, they should fall into the background to support you and the message you're trying to get across. With our PowerPoint tips and tricks, you can be just as confident as this character in your next presentation!

  12. Create a presentation in PowerPoint for the web

    Select New blank presentation, open a Recent file, select one of the themes, or start with a presentation template. To name the presentation, select the title at the top and type a name. If you need to rename the presentation, select the title and retype the name.

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    To make your text stand out, you need to use contrasting colors. For example, you can make the background black and your text a bright shade of green to make it stand out, or vice versa. Just be sure that your text is easily readable for your audience. 22. Proofread and polish your presentation.

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    Add a slide Select the slide you want your new slide to follow. Select Home > New Slide. Select Layout and the you type want from the drop-down. Save When you save your files to the cloud, you can share and collaborate with others. Select File > Save As. Select a OneDrive folder and name the file.

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    Microsoft PowerPoint is a presentation design software that is part of Microsoft 365. This software allows you to design presentations by combining text, images, graphics, video, and animation on slides in a simple and intuitive way. Over time, PowerPoint has evolved and improved its accessibility to users.

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    1 Start with a title slide. Download Article Introduce your topic with an eye-catching first slide. Put the name of your presentation in large letters in the middle of the slide so it's easy to read from across the room. Depending on the type of presentation, you can also include your name and title on the slide if your audience doesn't know you.

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    Give a presentation in PowerPoint. On the Slide Show tab select From Beginning . Now, if you are working with PowerPoint on a single monitor and you want to display Presenter view, in Slide Show view, on the control bar at the bottom left select the three dots, and then Show Presenter View. To move to the previous or next slide, select Previous ...

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    8. Take some deep breaths. Instead of letting your nerves get the best of you, take time to yourself before your presentation. Take a few deep breaths to help you regain your composure. Even taking just a few minutes can help you feel more relaxed and give you the confidence you need to give a strong presentation.

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    Getting Started. 1. Open PowerPoint and click 'New.'. If a page with templates doesn't automatically open, go to the top left pane of your screen and click New. If you've already created a presentation, select Open then double-click the icon to open the existing file. Image Source.

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    Here's a step-by-step guide to help you make your presentation more interactive: Step 1: Start Your Presentation. Begin by creating a presentation. You can either start from scratch or use interactive PowerPoint templates as a foundation. Customize the templates to suit your content. Step 2: Incorporate Multimedia.

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    3. In the Set Up Show window, click Loop continuously until 'Esc' in the Show options section. 4. Click OK to apply the change. 5. Preview the presentation using the From Beginning or From Current Slide buttons in the Ribbon to see that the looping works.

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    Step 6. Create the slides and include multimedia elements. Once you've selected the design for your presentation, populate it with the content you have from the previous steps. Make sure to balance the different elements of a presentation to engage trainees effectively.