Want your presentation to be memorable? PowerPoint gives you the ability to create visual aids that can help you give the best presentation possible. Digging through all of PowerPoint's features may take some time, but with a little experimentation, you can create unique and effective presentations. See the following steps to get started.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Making Presentations
Step 1. Choose between a blank presentation or a template (aka template)
When you create a new PowerPoint file, you can create a blank presentation or use a template. Blank presentations allow you to apply your own presentation style, but creating them can take a long time. Templates give your presentation a uniform style, but may not suit your needs.
- You can change any aspect of a template, so you can choose the one that best fits your vision and set it up however you like.
- You can apply a theme to your project after you add content. Click the Design tab and choose a theme. The theme will be applied to your project immediately. You can undo it by pressing Ctrl+Z, or go back to the blank theme if you don't like it.
- You can access the template from the File tab. Click New, then browse the available templates. You can also download new templates from various online sources.
Step 2. Make a slide (aka slide) for the title
The title is the first thing the audience will see. The title should be easy to read and give an idea of the topic of the presentation. Most presenters also include group names on their title slides.br>
Step 3. Add a new slide for the presentation body
Press Ctrl+M to insert a new slide. A blank slide will be added below the slide you are currently working on. The slide will contain a title box and a text box. You can use them, or insert objects yourself using the Insert tab.
- When you add a text box, you can click and drag to resize it however you like. You can then adjust it later by dragging a corner with your cursor and clicking and dragging again.
- You can click on any text box and start typing to start entering text in your presentation. You can format text just like Word, with the formatting options available on the Home tab.
Step 4. Explore your presentation
You can use the frame on the left side of the window to quickly slide through the slides. Clicking on any slide will open it, so you can edit it. You can click the Outline tab to view the outline tree of your presentation. Each slide will be labeled according to the slide title.
Step 5. Preview your presentation
You can see the basic flow of your presentation here by pressing F5 to start the slide show. Click your mouse to advance to the next slide. Use the slide preview to calculate how long the presentation will take and how well information flows from one slide to another.
Part 2 of 3: Dressing Up the Presentation
Step 1. Add transitions between slides
Once you have some content on your slide, you can start adding effects to make it a little more eye-catching. Select a slide and click the Transitions tab. You will see a list of the most common transitions. You can also click the arrow at the end of the list to open a list of available transitions.
- When you select a transition, it affects how the slide is displayed. For example, adding a transition to the 2nd slide will change how the 1st slide moves to the 2nd slide. You can preview it in the slideshow editing window as you select each transition.
- Avoid including too many transitions. This can distract readers from focusing on what matters most, which is your content.
Step 2. Add background
The white background is certainly boring. If your presentation is plain text on a plain white background, the audience will fall asleep before you enter the third slide. Use a soft background to add visual interest to your project.
- Right-click on an empty part of your slide and select Format Background, or click the Design tab and click the arrow icon after Background at the far right.
- Select a background type. You can choose a solid color, gradient fill, image background, or pattern fill. Selecting any option will display various options options, such as color, image location, gradient settings, and so on. Try different settings until you find one that suits you.
- In most cases, the background will only be applied to the active slide. Click the Apply to All button to apply the background selection to the entire slide.
- Make sure your text is still easy to read against the background of your choice.
Step 3. Add images
Adding pictures, diagrams, and other visual guides will help your audience capture your presentation idea. Images break up monotonous text and keep the viewer focused.
- Click the Insert tab. There are various options when you will insert objects. Click the Picture button to insert an image from the file on your computer. You can also click the Photo Album button to add the entire photo album to the slide.
- Use the Charts buttons to enter charts that are easy to read and make it easier for viewers to understand your data. After you select a chart type, Excel will open and allow you to enter data or copy from an existing table.
- Use the Shapes button to insert predefined shapes or create your own. You can use it to emphasize important parts of text or create arrows and other graphic indicators.
- Avoid including too many images in the presentation. If the presentation looks too crowded, the audience will have a hard time understanding the written information.
Step 4. Add the link
You can add a link to your slide that will allow you to quickly access a web address or email. This will be useful if you are distributing your presentation and want users to be able to view the related web page or send you an email.
To add a link, place your cursor in a text box and click the Hyperlink button on the Insert tab. You can link files on your computer, web pages, email addresses, or even other slides in your presentation
Step 5. Embed the video
You can add video files to your slides. This will be useful for reports or other types of videos that may be related to your presentation. The video file will play when the slide appears.
- Click the Video button on the Insert tab. You will be able to browse your computer to select videos.
- Although not directly, you can also embed YouTube videos. Read this guide to find out how.
Part 3 of 3: Making Memorable Presentations
Step 1. Decrease the number of slides
A very long presentation will be boring for your audience, even if they are obsessed with your subject. Excessive slides with little content will also prolong the presentation and tire the audience. Try to keep your presentation short and audience-friendly, and make sure you use the free space on each slide as much as possible.
Step 2. Choose a good font size (aka font)
Presentations are designed to be read, without them, you're just lecturing. Make sure your audience can easily read what you write. A 10-size font might look fine when you're sitting at the computer, but when it's projected onto a screen, the viewer will come forward and have a hard time reading.
Another note, make sure the font of your choice is easy to read. Wavy and redundant fonts may look good, but viewers won't care if they can't read them
Step 3. Apply a consistent, soft style
The best presentations are those that have a consistent and firm style. Use as few colors and stylish accents as possible to make your presentation interesting without looking overwhelming. When in doubt, take a look at the templates for guidance.
Step 4. Check for spelling and grammatical errors
If you misspell a word, you may not notice it, but one of your viewers will. Spelling or grammar mistakes will lower your credibility, even subconsciously, so you may want to work harder to make sure your presentation is written clearly and correctly.
Have someone edit your presentation before you present it. Others will be more likely to find fault than you are yourself
Step 5. Practice
PowerPoint is only part of your presentation, and the rest is you! Take your time to practice your points and move slides. Practice timing and make sure each slide accurately reflects the point you're talking about. Take your notes or memorize your presentation; reading slides while you are giving a presentation is taboo.
