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How to Make a PowerPoint Presentation (Step-by-Step)
- PowerPoint Tutorials
- Presentation Design
- January 22, 2024
In this beginnerās guide, you will learn step-by-step how to make a PowerPoint presentation from scratch.
While PowerPoint is designed to be intuitive and accessible, it can be overwhelming if youāve never gotten any training on it before. As you progress through this guide, you’ll will learn how to move from blank slides to PowerPoint slides that look like these.
Table of Contents
Additionally, as you create your presentation, you’ll also learn tricks for working more efficiently in PowerPoint, including how to:
- Change the slide order
- Reset your layout
- Change the slide dimensions
- Use PowerPoint Designer
- Format text
- Format objects
- Play a presentation (slide show)
With this knowledge under your belt, youāll be ready to start creating PowerPoint presentations. Moreover, youāll have taken your skills from beginner to proficient in no time at all. I will also include links to more advanced PowerPoint topics.
Ready to start learning how to make a PowerPoint presentation?
Take your PPT skills to the next level
Start with a blank presentation.
Note: Before you open PowerPoint and start creating your presentation, make sure youāve collected your thoughts. If youāre going to make your slides compelling, you need to spend some time brainstorming.
For help with this, see our article with tips for nailing your business presentationĀ here .
The first thing youāll need to do is to open PowerPoint. When you do, you are shown the Start Menu , with the Home tab open.
This is where you can choose either a blank theme (1) or a pre-built theme (2). You can also choose to open an existing presentation (3).
For now, go ahead and click on theĀ Blank Presentation (1) Ā thumbnail.
Doing so launches a brand new and blank presentation for you to work with. Before you start adding content to your presentation, let’s first familiarize ourselves with the PowerPoint interface.
The PowerPoint interface
Here is how the program is laid out:
- The Application Header
- The Ribbon (including the Ribbon tabs)
- The Quick Access Toolbar (either above or below the Ribbon)
- The Slides Pane (slide thumbnails)
The Slide Area
The notes pane.
- The Status Bar (including the View Buttons)
Each one of these areas has options for viewing certain parts of the PowerPoint environment and formatting your presentation.
Below are the important things to know about certain elements of the PowerPoint interface.
The PowerPoint Ribbon
The Ribbon is contextual. That means that it will adapt to what youāre doing in the program.
For example, the Font, Paragraph and Drawing options are greyed out until you select something that has text in it, as in the example below (A).
Furthermore, if you start manipulating certain objects, the Ribbon will display additional tabs, as seen above (B), with more commands and features to help you work with those objects. The following objects have their own additional tabs in the Ribbon which are hidden until you select them:
- Online Pictures
- Screenshots
- Screen Recording
The Slides Pane
This is where you can preview and rearrange all the slides in your presentation.
Right-clicking on a slide Ā in the pane gives you additional options on the slide level that you wonāt find on the Ribbon, such asĀ Duplicate Slide ,Ā Delete Slide , andĀ Hide Slide .
In addition, you can add sections to your presentation byĀ right-clicking anywhere in this Pane Ā and selectingĀ Add Section . Sections are extremely helpful in large presentations, as they allow you to organize your slides into chunks that you can then rearrange, print or display differently from other slides.
The Slide Area (A) is where you will build out your slides. Anything within the bounds of this area will be visible when you present or print your presentation.
Anything outside of this area (B) will be hidden from view. This means that you can place things here, such as instructions for each slide, without worrying about them being shown to your audience.
The Ā Notes Pane Ā is the space beneath the Slide Area where you can type in the speaker notes for each slide. Itās designed as a fast way to add and edit your slidesā talking points.
To expand your knowledge and learn more about adding, printing, and exporting your PowerPoint speaker notes, read our guide here .
Your speaker notes are visible when you print your slides using the Notes Pages option and when you use the Presenter View . To expand your knowledge and learn the ins and outs of using the Presenter View , read our guide here .
You can resize theĀ Notes Pane Ā by clicking on its edge and dragging it up or down (A). You can also minimize or reopen it by clicking on the Notes button in the Status Bar (B).
Note: Ā Not all text formatting displays in the Notes Pane, even though it will show up when printing your speaker notes. To learn more about printing PowerPoint with notes, read our guide here .
Now that you have a basic grasp of the PowerPoint interface at your disposal, itās time to make your presentation.
Adding Content to Your PowerPoint Presentation
Notice that in the Slide Area , there are two rectangles with dotted outlines. These are called Placeholders and theyāre set on the template in the Slide Master View .
To expand your knowledge and learn how to create a PowerPoint template of your own (which is no small task), read our guide here .
As the prompt text suggests, you can click into each placeholder and start typing text. These types of placeholder prompts are customizable too. That means that if you are using a company template, it might say something different, but the functionality is the same.
Note: Ā For the purposes of this example, I will create a presentation based on the content in the Starbucks 2018 Global Social Impact Report, which is available to the public on their website.
If you type in more text than there is room for, PowerPoint will automatically reduce its font size. You can stop this behavior by clicking on theĀ Autofit Options Ā icon to the left of the placeholder and selectingĀ Stop Fitting Text to this Placeholder .
Next, you can make formatting adjustments to your text by selecting the commands in the Font area and theĀ Paragraph area Ā of theĀ HomeĀ tabĀ of the Ribbon.
The Reset Command: Ā If you make any changes to your title and decide you want to go back to how it was originally, you can use the Reset button up in the Home tab .
Insert More Slides into Your Presentation
Now that you have your title slide filled in, itās time to add more slides. To do that, simply go up to theĀ Home tab Ā and click onĀ New Slide . This inserts a new slide in your presentation right after the one you were on.
You can alternatively hit Ctrl+M on your keyboard to insert a new blank slide in PowerPoint. To learn more about this shortcut, see my guide on using Ctrl+M in PowerPoint .
Instead of clicking the New Slide command, you can also open the New Slide dropdown to see all the slide layouts in your PowerPoint template. Depending on who created your template, your layouts in this dropdown can be radically different.
If you insert a layout and later want to change it to a different layout, you can use the Layout dropdown instead of the New Slide dropdown.
After inserting a few different slide layouts, your presentation might look like the following picture. Don’t worry that it looks blank, next we will start adding content to your presentation.
If you want to follow along exactly with me, your five slides should be as follows:
- Title Slide
- Title and Content
- Section Header
- Two Content
- Picture with Caption
Adding Content to Your Slides
Now letās go into each slide and start adding our content. Youāll notice some new types of placeholders.
On slide 2 we have aĀ Content Placeholder , which allows you to add any kind of content. That includes:
- A SmartArt graphic,
- A 3D object,
- A picture from the web,
- Or an icon.
To insert text, simply type it in or hitĀ Ctrl+C to Copy Ā and Ctrl+V to Paste Ā from elsewhere. To insert any of the other objects, click on the appropriate icon and follow the steps to insert it.
For my example, Iāll simply type in some text as you can see in the picture below.
Slides 3 and 4 only have text placeholders, so Iāll go ahead and add in my text into each one.
On slide 5 we have a Picture Placeholder . That means that the only elements that can go into it are:
- A picture from the web
To insert a picture into the picture placeholder, simply:
- Click on theĀ PictureĀ icon
- FindĀ a picture on your computer and select it
- Click onĀ Insert
Alternatively, if you already have a picture open somewhere else, you can select the placeholder and paste in (shortcut: Ctrl+V ) the picture. You can also drag the picture in from a file explorer window.
If you do not like the background of the picture you inserted onto your slide, you can remove the background here in PowerPoint. To see how to do this, read my guide here .
Placeholders arenāt the only way to add content to your slides. At any point, you can use the Insert tab to add elements to your slides.
You can use either the Title Only Ā or theĀ BlankĀ slide layout to create slides for content that’s different. For example, a three-layout content slide, or a single picture divider slide, as shown below.
In the first example above, Iāve inserted 6 text boxes, 3 icons, and 3 circles to create this layout. In the second example, Iāve inserted a full-sized picture and then 2 shapes and 2 text boxes.
The Reset Command: Ā Because these slides are built with shapes and text boxes (and not placeholders), hitting theĀ Reset button up in theĀ HomeĀ tab Ā wonāt do anything.
That is a good thing if you donāt want your layouts to adjust. However, it does mean that it falls on you to make sure everything is aligned and positioned correctly.
For more on how to add and manipulate the different objects in PowerPoint, check out our step-by-step articles here:
- Using graphics in PowerPoint
- Inserting icons onto slides
- Adding pictures to your PowerPoint
- How to embed a video in PowerPoint
- How to add music to your presentation
Using Designer to generate more layouts ideas
If you have Office 365, your version of PowerPoint comes with a new feature called Designer (or Design Ideas). This is a feature that generates slide layout ideas for you. The coolest thing about this feature is that it uses the content you already have.
To use Designer , simply navigate to theĀ Design tab Ā in your Ribbon, and click onĀ Design Ideas .
NOTE: If the PowerPoint Designer is not working for you (it is grey out), see my troubleshooting guide for Designer .
Change the Overall Design (optional)
When you make a PowerPoint presentation, you’ll want to think about the overall design. Now that you have some content in your presentation, you can use the Design tab to change the look and feel of your slides.
For additional help thinking through the design of your presentation,Ā read my guide here .
A. Picking your PowerPoint slide size
If you have PowerPoint 2013 or later, when you create a blank document in PowerPoint, you automatically start with a widescreen layout with a 16:9 ratio. These dimensions are suitable for most presentations as they match the screens of most computers and projectors.
However, you do have the option to change the dimensions.
For example, your presentation might not be presented, but instead converted into a PDF or printed and distributed. In that case, you can easily switch to the standard dimensions with a 4:3 ratio by selecting from the dropdown (A).
You can also choose a custom slide size or change the slide orientation from landscape to portrait in the Custom Slide Size dialog box (B).
To learn all about the different PowerPoint slide sizes, and some of the issues you will face when changing the slide size of a non-blank presentation,Ā read my guide here .
B. Selecting a PowerPoint theme
The next thing you can do is change the theme of your presentation to a pre-built one. For a detailed explanation of what a PowerPoint theme is, and how to best use it,Ā read my article here .
In the beginning of this tutorial, we started with a blank presentation, which uses the default Office theme as you can see in the picture below.
That gives you the most flexibility because it has a blank background and quite simple layouts that work for most presentations. However, it also means that itās your responsibility to enhance the design.
If youāre comfortable with this, you can stay with the default theme or create your own custom theme ( read my guide here ). But if you would rather not have to think about design, then you can choose a pre-designed theme.
Microsoft provides 46 other pre-built themes, which include slide layouts, color variants and palettes, and fonts. Each one varies quite significantly, so make sure you look through them carefully.
To select a different theme, go to theĀ Design tabĀ in the Ribbon, and click on theĀ dropdown arrow Ā in theĀ Themes section .
For this tutorial, letās select theĀ FrameĀ theme and then choose the third Variant in the theme. Doing so changes the layout, colors, and fonts of your presentation.
Note: The theme dropdown area is also where you can import or save custom themes. To see my favorite places to find professional PowerPoint templates and themes (and recommendations for why I like them), read my guide here .
C. How to change a slide background in PowerPoint
The next thing to decide is how you want your background to look for the entire presentation. In theĀ Variants area, you can see four background options.
For this example, we want our presentation to have a dark background, so letās select Style 3. When you do so, youāll notice that:
- The background color automatically changes across all slides
- The color of the text on most of the slides automatically changes to white so that itās visible on the dark background
- The colors of the objects on slides #6 and #7 also adjust, in a way we may not want (weāll likely have to make some manual adjustments to these slides)
Note: If you want to change the slide background for just that one slide, donāt left-click the style. Instead, right-click it and select Apply to Selected Slides .
After you change the background for your entire presentation, you can easily adjust the background for an individual slide.
Inside the Format Background pane, you can see you have the following options:
- Gradient fill
- Picture or texture fill
- Pattern fill
- Hide background
You can explore these options to find the PowerPoint background that best fits your presentation.
D. How to change your color palette in PowerPoint
Another thing you may want to adjust in your presentation, is the color scheme. In the picture below you can see the Theme Colors we are currently using for this presentation.
Each PowerPoint theme comes with its own color palette. By default, the Office theme includes the Office color palette. This affects the colors you are presented with when you format any element within your presentation (text, shapes, SmartArt, etc.).
The good news is that the colors here are easy to change. To switch color palettes, simply:
- Go to theĀ Design tab in the Ribbon
- In the Variants area, click on theĀ dropdown arrow Ā and selectĀ Colors
- SelectĀ the color palette (or theme colors) you want
You can choose among the pre-built color palettes from Office, or you can customize them to create your own.
As you build your presentation, make sure you use the colors from your theme to format objects. That way, changing the color palette adjusts all the colors in your presentation automatically.
E. How to change your fonts in PowerPoint
Just as we changed the color palette, you can do the same for the fonts.
Each PowerPoint theme comes with its own font combination. By default, the Office theme includes the Office font pairing. This affects the fonts that are automatically assigned to all text in your presentation.
The good news is that the font pairings are easy to change. To switch your Theme Fonts, simply:
- Go to theĀ Design tab Ā in the Ribbon
- Click on theĀ dropdown arrow Ā in theĀ VariantsĀ area
- SelectĀ Fonts
- SelectĀ the font pairing you want
You can choose among the pre-built fonts from Office, or you can customize them to create your own.
If you are working with PowerPoint presentations on both Mac and PC computers, make sure you choose a safe PowerPoint font. To see a list of the safest PowerPoint fonts, read our guide here .
If you receive a PowerPoint presentation and the wrong fonts were used, you can use the Replace Fonts dialog box to change the fonts across your entire presentation. For details, read our guide here .
Adding Animations & Transitions (optional)
The final step to make a PowerPoint presentation compelling, is to consider using animations and transitions. These are by no means necessary to a good presentation, but they may be helpful in your situation.
A. Adding PowerPoint animations
PowerPoint has an incredibly robust animations engine designed to power your creativity. That being said, itās also easy to get started with basic animations.
Animations are movements that you can apply to individual objects on your slide.
To add a PowerPoint animation to an element of your slide, simply:
- Select theĀ element
- Go to theĀ AnimationsĀ tab in the Ribbon
- Click on theĀ dropdown arrow Ā to view your options
- Select theĀ animationĀ you want
You can add animations to multiple objects at one time by selecting them all first and then applying the animation.
B. How to preview a PowerPoint animation
There are three ways to preview a PowerPoint animation:
- Click on the Preview button in the Animations tab
- Click on the little starĀ next to the slide
- Play the slide in Slide Show Mode
To learn other ways to run your slide show, see our guide on presenting a PowerPoint slide show with shortcuts .
To adjust the settings of your animations, explore the options in theĀ Effect Options ,Ā Advanced Animation Ā and theĀ TimingĀ areas of theĀ Animation tab .
Note: Ā To see how to make objects appear and disappear in your slides by clicking a button,Ā read our guide here .
C. How to manage your animations in PowerPoint
The best way to manage lots of animations on your slide is with the Animation Pane . To open it, simply:
- Navigate to theĀ Animations tab
- Select theĀ Animation Pane
Inside the Animation Pane, you’ll see all of the different animations that have been applied to objects on your slide, with their numbers marked as pictured above.
Note: To see examples of PowerPoint animations that can use in PowerPoint, see our list of PowerPoint animation tutorials here .
D. How to add transitions to your PowerPoint presentation
PowerPoint has an incredibly robust transition engine so that you can dictate how your slides change from one to the other. It is also extremely easy to add transitions to your slides.
In PowerPoint, transitions are the movements (or effects) you see as you move between two slides.
To add a transition to a PowerPoint slide, simply:
- Select theĀ slide
- Go to theĀ TransitionsĀ tab in the Ribbon
- In the Transitions to This Slide area, click on theĀ dropdown arrow Ā to view your options
- Select theĀ transitionĀ you want
To adjust the settings of the transition, explore the options in theĀ TimingĀ area of the Transitions tab.
You can also add the same transition to multiple slides. To do that, select them in theĀ Slides Pane Ā and apply the transition.
E. How to preview a transition in PowerPoint
There are three ways to preview your PowerPoint transitions (just like your animations):
- Click on the PreviewĀ button in the Transitions tab
- Click on the little starĀ beneath the slide number in the thumbnail view
Note: Ā In 2016, PowerPoint added a cool new transition, called Morph. It operates a bit differently from other transitions. For a detailed tutorial on how to use the cool Morph transition,Ā see our step-by-step article here .
Save Your PowerPoint Presentation
After you’ve built your presentation and made all the adjustments to your slides, you’ll want to save your presentation. YOu can do this several different ways.
To save a PowerPoint presentation using your Ribbon, simply:
- Navigate to theĀ FileĀ tab
- Ā SelectĀ Save As Ā on the left
- ChooseĀ where you want to save your presentation
- NameĀ your presentation and/or adjust your file type settings
- ClickĀ Save
You can alternatively use theĀ Ctrl+S keyboard shortcut to save your presentation. I recommend using this shortcut frequently as you build your presentation to make sure you don’t lose any of your work.
This is the standard way to save a presentation. However, there may be a situation where you want to save your presentation as a different file type.
To learn how to save your presentation as a PDF, see our guide on converting PowerPoint to a PDF .
How to save your PowerPoint presentation as a template
Once youāve created a presentation that you like, you may want to turn it into a template. The easiest – but not technically correct – way, is to simply create a copy of your current presentation and then change the content.
But be careful! A PowerPoint template is a special type of document and it has its own parameters and behaviors.
If youāre interested in learning about how to create your own PowerPoint template from scratch, see our guide on how to create a PowerPoint template .
Printing Your PowerPoint Presentation
After finishing your PowerPoint presentation, you may want to print it out on paper. Printing your slides is relatively easy.
To open the Print dialog box, you can either:
- Hit Ctrl+P on your keyboard
- Or go to the Ribbon and click on File and then Print
Inside the Print dialog box, you can choose from the various printing settings:
- Printer: Select a printer to use (or print to PDF or OneNote)
- Slides: Choose which slides you want to print
- Layout: Determine how many slides you want per page (this is where you can print the notes, outline, and handouts)
- Collated or uncollated (learn what collated printing means here )
- Color: Choose to print in color, grayscale or black & white
There are many more options for printing your PowerPoint presentations. Here are links to more in-depth articles:
- How to print multiple slides per page
- How to print your speaker notes in PowerPoint
- How to save PowerPoint as a picture presentation
So that’s how to create a PowerPoint presentation if you are brand new to it. We’ve also included a ton of links to helpful resources to boost your PowerPoint skills further.
When you are creating your presentation, it is critical to first focus on the content (what you are trying to say) before getting lost inserting and playing with elements.Ā The clearer you are on what you want to present, the easier it will be to build it out in PowerPoint.
If you enjoyed this article, you can learn more about our PowerPoint training courses and other presentation resources byĀ visiting us here .
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Simple Steps to Make a PowerPoint Presentation
Last Updated: July 23, 2024 Fact Checked
Creating a New PowerPoint
Creating the title slide, adding a new slide, adding content to slides, adding transitions, testing and saving your presentation.
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Darlene Antonelli, MA . Darlene Antonelli is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. Darlene has experience teaching college courses, writing technology-related articles, and working hands-on in the technology field. She earned an MA in Writing from Rowan University in 2012 and wrote her thesis on online communities and the personalities curated in such communities. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 4,348,889 times. Learn more...
Do you want to have your data in a slide show? If you have Microsoft 365, you can use PowerPoint! PowerPoint is a program that's part of the Microsoft Office suite (which you have to pay for) and is available for both Windows and Mac computers. This wikiHow teaches you how to create your own Microsoft PowerPoint presentation on a computer.
How to Make a PowerPoint Presentation
- Open the PowerPoint app, select a template and theme, then like āCreate.ā
- Click the text box to add your title and subtitle to create your title slide.
- Click the āInsertā tab, then āNew Slideā to add another slide.
- Choose the type of slide you want to add, then add text and pictures.
- Rearrange slides by dragging them up or down in the preview box.
Things You Should Know
- Templates make it easy to create vibrant presentations no matter your skill level.
- When adding photos, you can adjust their sizes by clicking and dragging in or out from their corners.
- You can add animated transitions between slides or to individual elements like bullet points and blocks of text.
- If you don't have a Microsoft Office 365 subscription, you can use the website instead of the desktop app. Go to https://powerpoint.office.com/ to use the website version.
- You can also use the mobile app to make presentations, though it's easier to do this on a computer, which has a larger screen, a mouse, and a keyboard.
- If you don't want to use a template, just click the Blank option in the upper-left side of the page and skip to the next part.
- Skip this step if your selected template has no themes available.
- If you're creating a PowerPoint presentation for which an elaborate title slide has been requested, ignore this step.
- You can change the font and size of text used from the Home tab that's in the orange ribbon at the top of the window.
- You can also just leave this box blank if you like.
- You can also click and drag in or out one of a text box's corners to shrink or enlarge the text box.
- On a Mac, you'll click the Home tab instead. [1] X Research source
- Clicking the white slide-shaped box above this option will result in a new text slide being inserted.
- Title Slide
- Title and Content
- Section Header
- Two Content
- Content with Caption
- Picture with Caption
- Naturally, the title slide should be the first slide in your presentation, meaning that it should be the top slide in the left-hand column.
- Skip this step and the next two steps if your selected slide uses a template that doesn't have text boxes in it.
- Text boxes in PowerPoint will automatically format the bulk of your text for you (e.g., adding bullet points) based on the context of the content itself.
- You can add notes that the Presentation will not include (but you'll still be able to see them on your screen) by clicking Notes at the bottom of the slide.
- You can change the font of the selected text by clicking the current font's name and then clicking your preferred font.
- If you want to change the size of the text, click the numbered drop-down box and then click a larger or smaller number based on whether you want to enlarge or shrink the text.
- You can also change the color, bolding, italicization, underlining, and so on from here.
- Photos in particular can be enlarged or shrunk by clicking and dragging out or in one of their corners.
- Remember to keep slides uncluttered and relatively free of distractions. It's best to keep the amount of text per slide to around 33 words or less. [2] X Research source
- Slide content will animate in the order in which you assign transitions. For example, if you animate a photo on the slide and then animate the title, the photo will appear before the title.
- Make your slideshow progress automatically by setting the speed of every transition to align with your speech as well as setting each slide to Advance . [3] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source
- If you need to exit the presentation, press Esc .
- Windows - Click File , click Save , double-click This PC , select a save location, enter a name for your presentation, and click Save .
- Mac - Click File , click Save As... , enter the presentation's name in the "Save As" field, select a save location by clicking the "Where" box and clicking a folder, and click Save .
Community Q&A
- If you save your PowerPoint presentation in .pps format instead of the default .ppt format, double-clicking your PowerPoint presentation file will prompt the presentation to open directly into the slideshow view. Thanks Helpful 6 Not Helpful 0
- If you don't have Microsoft Office, you can still use Apple's Keynote program or Google Slides to create a PowerPoint presentation. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
- Your PowerPoint presentation (or some features in it) may not open in significantly older versions of PowerPoint. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 2
- Great PowerPoint presentations avoid placing too much text on one slide. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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7 Steps to Create a Presentation in PowerPoint (+ Templates)
Learn essential steps and tips to move beyond data slides. Discover why PowerPoint falls flat and unveil next-gen tools for impactful presentations.
Hadar Peretz
6 minute read
Short answer
7 steps to create a presentation in PowerPoint
Begin with a surprise or bold statement.
Provide necessary background information.
Frame your presentation as a story.
Keep the text concise and meaningful.
Use visuals to complement the text.
Incorporate interactive design.
Conclude with actionable insights.
Effective data and visual presentation requires specific knowledge
Displaying complex data and project visuals via multimedia elements demands substantial knowledge.
It's not merely about presenting data but doing so in a manner that's intuitive and engaging for the audience.
Utilizing graphs, charts, videos, and interactive animations effectively necessitates a good grasp of design principles, storytelling, and data visualization.
Moreover, familiarity with the technology and platforms for creating and sharing these multimedia presentations is crucial.
This blend of design acumen, technological expertise, and succinct communication is key to ensuring the data and project visuals are comprehended well by the audience.
5 benefits of mastering PowerPoint presentations
PowerPoint presentations come with a variety of benefits that make them a popular choice for both professional and educational settings. Here are some of the advantages:
Visual Engagement: Utilize visuals to keep audiences engaged and convey ideas effectively.
Organization: Structured slides ensure a clear, linear flow of content.
Customization: Modify designs to suit different topics or branding needs.
Compatibility and Reusability: Easily share across platforms, and update or reuse presentations.
Supports Multimedia: PowerPoint supports the integration of videos, hyperlinks, and other multimedia elements.
How to make a presentation in PowerPoint? (7 steps)
Creating a compelling presentation in PowerPoint is a blend of artistry and storytelling, combined with a clear understanding of the material at hand.
Let’s break down this process into seven detailed steps to craft a presentation that not only captivates your audience but leaves a lasting impact.
1. Start with a surprising statement, a bold promise, or a mystery
Kicking off with something unexpected grabs your audience's attention right from the outset.
It might be a shocking fact related to your topic, a bold promise of what they'll learn, or a mystery that piques their curiosity.
For instance, if your presentation is about time management , you might start with a surprising statistic about the average amount of time people waste on trivial tasks.
learn how to avoid these presentation starters : overloading facts, over-explaining initially, generic content, relying solely on PowerPoint norms, revealing key benefits early, and focusing on self over audience engagement.
Aim for curiosity-sparking, audience-tailored narratives.
2. Provide context with a bit of background information
Before diving deep, give your audience a clear understanding of the topic at hand. Offer a brief background to set the stage.
Going with the time management example, you could provide some insights into how modern distractions have made managing time more challenging.
3. Structure your presentation within a story framework
Stories are a powerful medium to convey messages. Structuring your presentation as a story keeps your audience engaged.
Introduce a protagonist, which could be an individual, a group, or even your audience, facing a problem that your presentation will help solve.
For instance, narrate a day in the life of a person struggling to manage time and how the techniques you’re about to share turn things around.
4 steps to structuring your presentation within a story framework:
Introduce Setting and Characters: Kickstart by presenting the backdrop and the entities involved, making them relevant to your audience.
Highlight a Conflict or Challenge: Unveil a significant problem or hurdle that the audience can relate to, setting the stage for your solutions.
Propose the Resolution: Unfold your solutions to the earlier stated problem, walking your audience through each resolving step.
Recap and Look Ahead: Conclude by recapping the narrative and offering actionable steps or insights for the audience to ponder upon or implement.
4. Make every word count, and use as few as possible
Conciseness is key. Make sure each word on your slide adds value to your presentation. This approach keeps your slides uncluttered and easy to follow.
For instance, instead of writing a long sentence about the importance of prioritizing tasks, use a brief statement like “Prioritize to Monetize.”
5. Use visuals only to support your presentation text
Utilizing visuals judiciously within your presentation is crucial. Visuals should complement your narrative, not overshadow it.
Explore the steps to make a presentation creative , apply these methods, and see your skills enhance, leading to captivating presentations.
The essence is to employ images, graphs, and charts to enhance understanding or convey a message more efficiently.
For instance, a simple pie chart can swiftly illustrate how much time is saved by effective prioritization.
By adhering to this guideline, you ensure that your audience remains focused on the key messages being delivered, with visuals serving as a supportive tool rather than a distraction.
6. Use interactive design to make your audience active participants
Engage your audience with interactive elements. Incorporating clickable links, embedded videos, or live polls can make your presentation more interactive and engaging.
For instance, a live poll could be used to understand the audience’s prior knowledge about time management.
7. End by telling your audience what they can do with what they’ve learned
Your conclusion should empower your audience to apply the learnings in their lives. Recap the key points and provide actionable steps they can take post-presentation.
For instance, share a list of time-management tools or a 30-day challenge to improve productivity.
By following these seven steps, you’re on the path to mastering the art of creating impactful PowerPoint presentations.
Each step is geared towards making your content more engaging, understandable, and memorable, ensuring that your message not only resonates with your audience but prompts action long after your presentation concludes.
Browse basic examples about how to end a presentation and discover what should be on the last slide of the presentation.
8 pro tips for crafting effective PowerPoint presentations
Crafting an effective PowerPoint presentation demands a blend of clear objectives, engaging narrative, visual creativity, and audience-centric communication.
Here are key tips to guide you in this endeavor:
Know Your Audience: Tailor your message to match audience expectations.
Clear Objective: Define the primary goal of your presentation.
Engaging Storyline: Employ a compelling narrative to convey your message.
Simplicity is Key: Keep content concise and language simple.
Visual Aids: Use visuals like images and charts to support text.
Practice and Prepare: Familiarize yourself with your content and anticipate questions.
Interactive Elements: Incorporate polls or Q&A to engage the audience.
C all to Action: End with a clear call to action guiding the audience on the next steps.
Why it's time to move to the next-gen presentation tools
Making a memorable presentation requires more than just PowerPoint slides. In fact, making a PowerPoint presentation interesting is impossible .
In today's digital era, engaging your audience demands innovative tools and a narrative approach.
Let’s explore a game-changing tool for impactful presentations.
Embrace interactivity
Interactive presentations foster real-time engagement, turning monologues into dialogues.
Tools like Storydoc offer a fresh, engaging approach to sharing your message.
With the right tools, creating lasting impressions is a breeze. It’s time to change the narrative and make your presentations both informative and inspiring.
Here’s our CEO, Itai Amoza, discussing the key elements that make a presentation engaging:
Best tool for making an effective presentation
Traditionally, PowerPoint or Google Slides were the go-to platforms for crafting presentations, offering simplicity.
However, to truly engage modern audiences, stepping up your game is essential. This is where next-gen AI-driven tools like Storydoc come into play.
Unlike static slides, Storydoc enables the creation of interactive, immersive content experiences. It’s not merely about showcasing data, but weaving a compelling narrative that resonates with your audience.
Creative presentation templates
Ever faced the daunting blank slide with a blinking cursor urging creativity? It's like having a stage awaiting your script.
Overcoming this initial challenge can be hefty, but there's a savior - creative presentation templates.
These templates act like a structured canvas, guiding your narrative while leaving room for your unique flair.
Grab a template and witness the simplicity it brings to narrating your distinct tale.
I am a Marketing Specialist at Storydoc, I research, analyze and write on our core topics of business presentations, sales, and fundraising. I love talking to clients about their successes and failures so I can get a rounded understanding of their world.
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A step-by-step guide to captivating PowerPoint presentation design
november 20, 2023
by Corporate PowerPoint Girl
Do you often find yourself stuck with a lackluster PowerPoint presentation, desperately seeking ways to make it more engaging and visually appealing? If your boss has ever told you to "please fix" a presentation and you didn't know where to start, you're not alone. In this article, we'll walk you through a straightforward method to transform your PowerPoint slides into a visually captivating masterpiece.Ā
Let's dive right in!Ā
Clean up your slidesĀ
The first step in this journey to presentation excellence is all about decluttering your slides and elevating their impact. Say goodbye to those uninspiring bullet points that often dominate presentations. Instead, focus on what truly matters ā the key call-out numbers. By increasing the font size of these numbers, you ensure they take center stage, immediately drawing your audience's attention.Ā
To make those numbers pop, consider breaking the text after the numbers into the next line and adding a touch of color. The contrast created by pairing a dark color with a lighter shade, like dark teal and light teal or burnt orange with peach, can work wonders. This simple adjustment makes your data more engaging , enhancing the overall impact of your presentation.Ā
Add dimension with boxesĀ
Now, let's introduce an element of depth and organization to your slides. By adding boxes, you'll create a visually pleasing structure that guides your audience through the content. In the "Insert" menu, select "Table" and opt for a one-by-one table. Change the table color to a light gray shade, elongate it, and position it neatly to the left of your text.Ā
To improve readability and aesthetics, increase the spacing between text phrases. A small adjustment in the before spacing setting (setting it to 48) significantly enhances the visual appeal of your slides.Ā
Insert circlesĀ
To further enhance the visual appeal and engagement of your slides, let's introduce circles. In the Insert menu, navigate to Shapes and choose the circle. Adjust the circle's height and width to 1.2, ensuring it complements your content seamlessly. Match the circle's shape fill color with the corresponding text color for a harmonious look.Ā
Avoid using colored outlines for the circles, as they may distract from the overall aesthetic. This simple addition of circles adds an element of visual interest to your presentation, making it more captivating.Ā
Choose iconsĀ
Now, it's time for a touch of creativity. Selecting icons to complement your text can elevate the clarity and appeal of your slides. In the "Insert" menu, you can search for relevant keywords to find the perfect icon from PowerPoint's extensive library .Ā
For instance, if your text discusses investment portfolio yield, search for "growth" and choose an upward arrow growth icon. These icons add an extra layer of visual appeal and clarity to your content, making it more engaging and informative.Ā
Final touchesĀ
To wrap up the transformation process, we come to the final touches that give your presentation a polished, professional finish. Align your icons with their corresponding circles and change the shape fill color to white. This simple adjustment creates a crisp, cohesive look that ties everything together seamlessly.Ā
In conclusion, by following these steps, you've embarked on a journey to enhance your PowerPoint presentation . These initial steps are just the beginning of your exploration into the world of design elements and styles that can cater to your specific presentation needs.Ā The key to a stunning PowerPoint presentation lies in the details. By following these steps, you can turn a lackluster set of slides into a visually engaging and dynamic presentation that will captivate your audience. So, the next time your boss says, "Please fix," you'll know exactly where to start. Happy presenting!Ā
Related topics
- What is PowerPoint? Video
- Create a presentation Video
- Choose the right view for the task Video
- Add and format text Video
Create a presentation
Create a presentation from scratch, or from a theme.Ā All themes have a palate of colors and fonts designed to work together.Ā
Create a blank presentation
Open PowerPoint.
Select one of the Blank Presentation and start typing.Ā
Note:Ā Microsoft 365 subscribers will find Design Ideas based on the words you type. You can browse and select a new look.
Create a presentation from a theme
Select File > New .
Double-click a theme in the gallery to create a presentation in that theme. Or search for more templates.
Apply or change a slide layout
Apply a template to your presentation
Create and save a PowerPoint template
Get Microsoft presentation templates
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How-To Geek
8 tips to make the best powerpoint presentations.
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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.Ā 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.
- Microsoft Office
10 Tips to Make Your PowerPoint Presentation Effective
You may have heard of the famous 10/20/30 rule , devised by Guy Kawasaki , for designing presentations. This rule states that using 10 slides in 20 minutes at a 30 point minimum font size is the most effective presentation strategyābut what does this really mean?
The most important thing to remember, particularly if youāre using PowerPoint to convey your message, is to keep your audience in mind when preparing your presentation. Your audience wants a relevant presentation, not just something that is visually appealing .
A common mistake speakers make when designing PowerPoint presentations is being too passionate about it that they put everything they know into it. In trying to get their point across, presenters tend to use complex jargon and impart too much information, leaving the audience confused about the actual purpose of the presentation.
So how can you simplify your information but still convey a powerful message to your audience?
Here are 10 suggestions:
1) Cut out the wordiness
Ironic as it may seem, an essential part of proving a point is to use a minimal amount of words per slide so that the audience is focused on you, not on the screen. Itās rather difficult for any kind of audience to read texts and listen to you at the same time. If you have longer statements, break them down into multiple slides and highlight the key words. This doesnāt mean you limit your content to dull, boring facts. Feel free to incorporate anecdotes or quotes as long as theyāre relevant and support your message.
2) Add pictures
Instead of more words, supplement your ideas with vivid imagery. Again, the key is not overusing photos to the point that it makes your presentations look unprofessional. Photos should only be used if they promote or emphasize the main idea of your slide.
3) Use appropriate animation
Like pictures, use animation only when appropriate and only if youāve completely rehearsed your presentation with the animation flow. Otherwise, they will be distracting and will make it appear that youāve designed your presentation in poor taste.
4) Donāt overuse numbers
As with words, minimize the amount of numbers you present in each slide. If you have charts that summarize the total figures toward the end, then you no longer need to fill up your entire chart with the little numbers on the scale.
5) Use large fonts
Aside from the obvious reason that larger fonts are more readable, size dictates the impact of your message and a larger one makes it easier for your audience to clearly grasp what youāre saying or want to highlight. Aside from font size, pay attention to the spacing between paragraphs, rows, and columns; you donāt want your text to appear jumbled.
6) Maintain consistency
The whole objective of your presentation is to drive home a point, not to make your presentation look cheesy. Keep your font sizes and the size and format of a box on one page consistent throughout your slides.
7) Limit bullet points
Keep your bullet points to a maximum of 5-6 per slide. In addition, the words per bullet point should also be limited to 5-6 words. Itās also wise to vary what you present in each slide, such as alternating between bullet points, graphics, and graph slides, in order to sustain the interest and focus of your audience.
8) Choose colors and contrast effectively .
Use bold colors and high contrast. A color may look completely different on your monitor than it will when projected on a large screen.
9) Tell a story
Everyone loves a good story , especially if itās something that they can easily relate to. A good story begins with a problem and the more irritating the problem is for the audience, the more effective your presentation will be once youāve provided a possible solution for them.
10) Be flexible
In order to develop a strong connection with your audience, you need to be flexible with your slides. During your speech, you may feel that some slides have become unnecessary; therefore you want to prepare your presentation in such a way that you can easily interchange or eliminate them. Conversely, prepare some optional slides in anticipation of questions or ideas you expect from your audience. This will give your presentation the āwowā factor.
When using PowerPoint to deliver a PowerFUL point, your goal isnāt to design the best presentation but the most effective one. This means creating a presentation that your audience can connect with through interest, participation, memory recall, and ideally, learning something useful.
Create professional presentations online
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How to Create a PowerPoint Presentation
Introduction: How to Create a PowerPoint Presentation
Step 1: Launch the PowerPoint Program
Step 2: choosing a design.
The next thing you want to do is decide what design you want for the presentation. To do this, go to the 'Design' tab at the top of the page. Scroll through all the options and decide which one looks best for the presentation you want. To get a preview of what the design will look like before applying it to the presentation, hover over the design you want to preview. This design will be automatically continued throughout the rest of your presentation. Once you have more than one slide, you can add a different design for just one slide. To do this, select the slide you want to change the design on by clicking on it. It will pop-up as the big slide in the screen. Then you can right-click the design you want for this slide and select 'Apply to Selected Slide'. It will appear on that slide, but will not change the design of the other slides.
Step 3: Create Title Page
Step 4: add more slides, step 5: add charts, pictures, graphs, etc., step 6: add transitions, step 7: changing the order, step 8: play the presentation.
How to Embed an Excel File in PowerPoint: Quick & Easy!
Trish Dixon
Embedding an Excel file in PowerPoint can make your presentation more dynamic by including data directly from your spreadsheet. Whether you need to showcase charts, tables, or raw data, embedding Excel allows you to maintain the connection between your presentation and the original Excel data.
In this article, we will guide you step-by-step through the process of embedding an Excel spreadsheet into a PowerPoint slide, ensuring your data remains up-to-date and easily editable.
Why Embed Excel Files in PowerPoint?
Embedding Excel files in PowerPoint offers numerous advantages. By embedding your Excel worksheet directly into PowerPoint, you can ensure that your data remains interactive, with all formulas and calculations intact. Additionally, when you update your Excel data , these changes can reflect in your PowerPoint presentation, making it more efficient for presentations that require real-time data updates.
Here are the key benefits of embedding an Excel file into PowerPoint:
- Data Accuracy : You avoid errors from manual data entry.
- Dynamic Updates : Any change in the original Excel sheet automatically updates the embedded file in PowerPoint.
- Ease of Access : Presenters can showcase charts, graphs, and tables directly within the presentation.
- Professional Appeal : It presents clean, interactive data without switching between applications.
Steps to Embed an Excel File in PowerPoint
Step 1: open your powerpoint presentation.
Begin by opening the PowerPoint presentation where you want to embed the Excel file . You can create a new slide or select an existing slide where the embedded Excel file will be placed.
- Open PowerPoint .
- Navigate to the slide where you want the Excel file to appear.
- Click on the desired slide to start the embedding process.
Step 2: Insert the Excel File
Once your PowerPoint slide is open, you’ll need to insert the Excel file into your presentation. PowerPoint provides two primary methods for embedding an Excel file : linking the file and embedding it as an object.
Method 1: Embed as a Static Object
Embedding an Excel file as an object allows you to embed the entire spreadsheet directly into PowerPoint. The data becomes part of the PowerPoint file, meaning no external link is maintained, and the data does not update when the original file is changed.
- Go to the Insert tab in the PowerPoint ribbon.
- Click on Object .
- In the dialog box, select Create from File .
- Click on Browse and navigate to the Excel file you wish to embed.
- Select the file and click OK .
The embedded Excel file will now appear as an object on your slide. You can resize and move it as needed.
Method 2: Link to the Excel File
Linking the Excel file allows you to maintain a connection between the PowerPoint slide and the original Excel spreadsheet. Any updates made to the Excel worksheet will reflect in your PowerPoint presentation.
- Go to the Insert tab.
- Click Object .
- In the dialog box, check the Link box.
- Click Browse and choose the Excel file to link.
- Click OK to embed the linked Excel file.
Now, your PowerPoint slide is linked to the Excel file. Whenever the Excel file is updated, these changes will automatically appear in the embedded object.
Step 3: Edit the Embedded Excel File
Once the Excel file is embedded, you can edit the data directly from PowerPoint without needing to open Excel separately. Here’s how to do it:
- Double-click on the embedded Excel object .
- The embedded file will open within PowerPoint, allowing you to make changes.
- After editing, click outside the embedded object to return to PowerPoint.
This method is especially useful when you want to make small adjustments to the data during a presentation.
Step 4: Display Specific Data from Excel
Sometimes, you don’t need to embed the entire Excel worksheet . Instead, you might want to show only a specific chart or table. Here’s how you can do that:
- In Excel , select the data or chart you want to embed.
- Press Ctrl + C to copy the selection.
- Switch back to PowerPoint and navigate to the slide where you want to place the data.
- Go to the Home tab and click on Paste Special under the Paste dropdown.
- Select Microsoft Excel Worksheet Object to embed the selected data as an object.
This process embeds only the selected data, giving you control over what appears on your slide.
Using Excel Charts in PowerPoint
A significant advantage of embedding Excel files in PowerPoint is that you can display Excel charts directly within your presentation. This maintains the integrity of your data while allowing you to present it visually.
Step 1: Create a Chart in Excel
To begin, create your chart in Excel. This could be a bar chart, line graph, or pie chart, depending on your data.
- Open your Excel file .
- Select the data you want to visualize.
- Click on the Insert tab and select your desired chart type.
- Once your chart is ready, select it and copy it using Ctrl + C .
Step 2: Paste the Chart in PowerPoint
Now that you have your chart ready in Excel , you can paste it into PowerPoint.
- Open your PowerPoint presentation.
- Navigate to the slide where you want to place the chart.
- Paste the chart using Ctrl + V .
You can choose to link the chart to Excel, meaning any changes made in the Excel file will update the chart in PowerPoint .
Step 3: Format the Chart in PowerPoint
After pasting the chart into PowerPoint, you can format it to fit the overall design of your presentation. Use the Chart Tools in PowerPoint to adjust the colors, fonts, and other visual elements of your chart.
Best Practices for Embedding Excel Files in PowerPoint
Here are a few best practices to keep in mind when embedding Excel files into your PowerPoint slides :
- File Size Considerations : Embedding large Excel files can significantly increase the size of your PowerPoint presentation. If possible, try embedding only the specific data or chart you need rather than the entire workbook.
- Update Links : If you choose to link your Excel file to PowerPoint, ensure the Excel file remains in its original location. Moving the Excel file could break the link, resulting in errors during your presentation.
- Maintain Formatting : When embedding Excel data, take care to maintain formatting consistency. PowerPoint may alter some of the Excel formatting, so double-check before presenting.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Problem 1: excel object not displaying correctly.
Sometimes, the embedded Excel object might not display correctly in PowerPoint. This can happen due to compatibility issues between Excel and PowerPoint. To fix this, try embedding the Excel file as an image instead of an editable object.
- Copy the Excel table or chart.
- Go to PowerPoint and paste it as an image by selecting Paste Special and choosing Picture .
Problem 2: Linked Excel File Not Updating
If the linked Excel file is not updating in PowerPoint, ensure the Excel file is still in the same location it was originally linked from. If the file has been moved or renamed, PowerPoint will not be able to update the data.
Problem 3: PowerPoint File Size Too Large
Embedding large Excel files can inflate the size of your PowerPoint presentation. To reduce file size, consider embedding only specific parts of the Excel worksheet or using a linked file instead of embedding the entire workbook.
Final Thoughts
Embedding an Excel file in PowerPoint is a powerful way to integrate dynamic data into your presentations. Whether you’re showcasing detailed financial reports, displaying interactive charts, or embedding raw data, using Excel files within PowerPoint can make your presentation more professional and efficient. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily embed Excel worksheets , charts, or data tables in your PowerPoint slides, ensuring a seamless integration between the two Microsoft applications.
How do I embed an Excel file into PowerPoint?
To embed an Excel file into PowerPoint, go to the Insert tab, select Object, and choose Create from File. Browse and select your Excel file, then click OK.
Can I link an Excel file to PowerPoint for automatic updates?
Yes, you can link an Excel file to PowerPoint by checking the Link box when embedding the file. Any updates made to the Excel file will reflect in PowerPoint.
How do I edit the embedded Excel file in PowerPoint?
Double-click the embedded Excel object in PowerPoint. This will open the Excel file within PowerPoint, allowing you to edit it directly.
Why is my linked Excel file not updating in PowerPoint?
If your linked Excel file is not updating, ensure that the file remains in its original location. Moving or renaming the file may break the link, preventing updates.
Can I embed only a part of an Excel file, like a chart, into PowerPoint?
Yes, you can embed specific parts of an Excel file, such as a chart or table, by selecting and copying it from Excel, then pasting it into PowerPoint.
Will embedding an Excel file increase my PowerPoint file size?
Yes, embedding an entire Excel file can increase your PowerPoint file size. Consider embedding only the necessary data or using a linked file to reduce size.
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Learn how to embed an Excel file in PowerPoint with this comprehensive guide. Step-by-step instructions for embedding, linking, and troubleshooting Excel data.
How to Turn a PowerPoint into a Video: Expert Tips!
Learn how to turn a PowerPoint into a video step-by-step. Convert presentations to video, add narration, and choose the best quality for seamless sharing.
How to Superscript in PowerPoint? (5 Easy Methods)
Learn how to apply superscript in PowerPoint with this easy-to-follow guide. Use keyboard shortcuts, font adjustments, and more to enhance your slides.
How to Make PowerPoint Slides Advance Automatically
Making PowerPoint slides advance automatically ensures smooth, hands-free transitions for your presentations
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Step 2: Select the Slide You Want to Advance Automatically
Step 3: Open the "Transitions" Tab
Step 4: Set the Slide Timing
Step 5: Apply to All Slides (Optional)
Step 6: Test Your Slideshow
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- Presentations
How to Create Great PowerPoint Presentations (With Top 2024 Examples)
If you're in business, odds are great that you're going to have to create a presentation at some point during your career. And when you do, odds are also good that you'll use Microsoft PowerPoint to do it. According to statistics from iDatalabs over 150,000 companies use PowerPoint .
There's a real need for people who can create relevant, engaging PowerPoint presentations. But creating a good presentation is more than just throwing together a bunch of slides. Not everyone knows how to make a good presentation.
In this tutorial, you'll learn the steps to making good PowerPoint presentations. The steps can be used for any presentation, of course, but they're especially relevant to Microsoft PowerPoint. I'll provide some tips on how to use a PowerPoint template. You'll also see how to make a good slide presentation with Slideshare examples.
For even more information about how to make a presentation, Ā be sure to download our free eBook:Ā The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations . It'llĀ help you master the complete presentation process.
How to Make Great PowerPoint Presentations (Plan, Design, & Deliver)
Whether you're going to give your PowerPoint presentation as a speech or share it online, you'll want to make sure you create a good presentation that stands out. Here are seven steps you can follow to help you learn how to make a good PPT presentation:
Note : While these techniques specifically reference PowerPoint , most of them work well with other presentation author tools as well such as Keynote and Google Slides .
1. Know Your Target Audience
The target audience for your presentation is the group of people who you want to listen to or view your presentation. Not all audiences are the same. Audiences vary depending on your company's goals. A presentation that works well with one audience may not work well (or at all) with another.
Researching your target audience is a very important first step for creating any kind of marketing or informational material āthat includes PowerPoint presentations. If you really want your presentation to be successful, learn all that you can about your audience.
For some guidance on how to define a target audience, study the following tutorial:
2. Target Your Presentation to Your Audience
Once you know who you're creating your PowerPoint presentation for, you can begin to customize it for them. Start by choosing a topic that you know will be relevant to your audience. Ideally, your topic will be something that interests your audience or solves a problem for them.
You also need to consider your audience's existing knowledge when writing your presentation. How will they take in and understand your presentation?Ā
Obviously, it won't be helpful to create a presentation filled with industry-specific jargon if your listeners don't know what those words mean. At the same time, if you're targeting a group of experts for your presentation basic information may bore them.
3. Start With an Outline
Once you've researched your target audience and chosen a topic that's relevant to them it's time to start writing your PowerPoint presentation . The quickest, most efficient way to do that is to use an outline. Plus, an outline can easily be converted to individual slides when the time comes.
Be sure to use language that's geared to your target audience. For most audiences, a conversational style works best. Also, limit the amount of material you put on each PowerPoint presentation slide. Cluttered slides are hard for audience members to follow.
To learn more about how to write a presentation, study these tutorials on how to write a speech:
4. Use a Professional PowerPoint Template
One way to make sure that you've got a great, visually appealing PowerPoint presentation is to use a premium PowerPoint template such as those available through Envato Elements orĀ GraphicRiver .
In fact, there are hundreds of creative PowerPoint presentations examples available on Envato Elements .Ā
All you need to do is pay one low monthly price and you can download as many templates as you want. You'll have access to other creative assets as well such as WordPress themes, stock photos, and even courses and eBooks.
Check out some of our best PowerPoint templates with creative ideas from Envato Elements in this quick video. Also, discover a handful of helpful PowerPoint presentation slide design tips.
You can find some more great creative PowerPoint presentation template examples in this article:
5.Ā Keep Slides Short
When it comes to making great PowerPoint presentations, itās important to remember that your slide deck is a helpful tool that highlights the main points of your presentation and serves as a visual representation of the data and facts youāre sharing.Ā
To make a really great PowerPoint presentation, keep the slides short to avoid boring your audience and losing their interest.
6. Practice Your PowerPoint Presentation (For Live Presentations)
Great PowerPoint presentations don't happen without practice. So, if you'll be presenting your PowerPoint personally, set aside some time to practice it after you've created it. If you can, practice with a friend or family member. But if no one's available you may still be able to practice giving it alone.
For a helpful checklist for practicing a speech, study this tutorial:
If your job requires you to give a lot of PowerPoint presentations, you may benefit from improving your public speaking skills. Consider joining Toastmasters International Ā to become a better speaker. Or you can attend a Public Speaking Meetup .
7. Stay Focused
While you're giving your presentation, stay focused on your topic. If you're making the presentation in person, it's easy to lose track of what you're talking about.
Focus is another reason why practice is so important. If you've practiced your presentation, you're less likely to get off track. Also, if people have questions, ask them to wait until the end. That way you can stay focused on your topic.
If you're creating a presentation to be shared online, focus is still important if you want your PowerPoint presentation to be a great one. Review the copy you've written carefully to make sure that it fits with your target audience and goals. Be careful not to include irrelevant information.
8. Study Great PowerPoint Presentation Examples
One great way to learn how to make a great PowerPoint presentation is by example. Studying great PowerPoint examples can serve as inspiration for your own PowerPoint slideshow.Ā By studying great PowerPoint examples, you'll be able to pick up common design elements that they use, notice how the slides are laid out, and how the whole PowerPoint presentation is structured. You can use that knowledge to your advantage, and it'll serve you well when it comes time to make your own great PowerPoint presentations.
5 SlideShare Examples of Great Presentations
In this section, I'm going to share five great presentations examples from SlideShare to help inspire you to create your own great PowerPoint Presentations.Ā
Each of these great presentation examples currently has over a million views on SlideShare, so you know that they must have done something right. For each example, I'll explain what works.
Now let's look at some great presentation examples:
1. Work Rules - Great Visual PowerPoint Presentation Example
This presentation from Laszlo Bock , former Senior Vice President of People Operations at Google, Inc., clearly explains the importance of culture at tech giant Google. He does it with engaging illustrations and a nicely coordinated yellow and blue color theme. Notice how each slide contains enough information to make his point, but none are too cluttered.
2. Pixar's 22 Rules to Phenomenal Storytelling
Consultant Gavin McMahon brings us this engaging slideshow on the importance of storytelling. Drawing inspiration from filmmaker giant and master storyteller, Pixar, was a great idea for this presentation. It gives the audience something they can relate to. Notice the use of bold colors throughout.
3. 25 Mission Statements From the World's Most Valuable Brands
Does your business have a mission statement? If it doesn't, it needs one. Palo Alto Software solves a problem for their target audience by using the mission statements of some of the most successful corporations as examples (good and bad). The presentation also links to a companion article from company founder, Tim Berry, with more details on the same subject.
4. Congratulations Graduate! Eleven Reasons Why I Will Never Hire You
With the shocking opening statement, PR Managing Director Mark O'Toole is sure to capture the attention of his intended audience of young graduates. Add to that a bold red and black color scheme and plenty of engaging graphics and you've got a slideshow that's gotten over two million views. Incidentally, viewers who read to the end will gain some valuable job-hunting tips.
5. Thirst - Good PowerPoint PPT Presentation Design Example
The one word in the center of the compelling graphic on the cover of this slideshow from Jeff Brenman of Apollo Ideas draws the viewer in. As you begin to scroll through the slides, arresting images combine with startling quick facts to convey an urgent message: the world is facing a serious water shortage. This compelling presentation is sure to stick in the viewer's mind for a long time.
For even more great examples of good presentations, look at these articles:
5 Tips for Working With PowerPoint Presentation Design Templates
We've already mentioned some of the advantages of using a PowerPoint template to create your presentation. Here are three tips to make sure you get the most from the PowerPoint templates you select:
1. Don't Fall Into the Free Templates Trap
If you've decided to use a PowerPoint template, you may be tempted to download a free PPT template . However, downloading a PowerPoint template for free is usually not the bargain you might think it is. Here are some disadvantages to free PowerPoint templates:
- Little to No Support . Often free templates don't have support or aren't updated. If you run into problems, you're on your own.
- Lack of Uniqueness . Since free templates are available to everyone, it's more likely your audience will have seen the template before.
- Limited Slide Designs . Free templates are often limited to only a few simple slide designs that you may or may not be able to use.
2. Look for a Reputable Template Provider
Your best bet for selecting great PowerPoint templates is to choose a reputable provider, such as Envato Elements or GraphicRiver . These services have thousands of creative assets available (including PowerPoint presentation templates)āall created by professional designers.Ā
Each template offers the flexibility and design options you need to make your presentation really unique.
Whatās more, when you sign up for Envato Elements low monthly plan, you'll get access to thousands of other creative design assets such as fonts, images, and more. Each asset, whether itās a PowerPoint presentation or a font, can be used in an unlimited number of projects and you can download as many items as you need.
You can then use these elements in your PowerPoint presentations and take them to the next level.
3. Do Incorporate Creative Elements
If you're creating a presentation, you might hesitate before adding a truly creative element such as an infographic or timeline to your presentation. After all, designing a creative element can add a lot of extra time and work to your project.
This is exactly where pre-built templates can help. Many templates include pre-designed creative elements that you can simply adapt to your own needs. Here are a few creative PowerPoint presentation examples:
Even if you can't find a template specifically tailored to your field, it's easy to customize these templates to suit your need.
4. Choose a PowerPoint Template That Matches Your Topic
When youāre going through the process of choosing a PowerPoint template, be sure to keep your presentation topic in mind. This will make it a lot easier to customize the template as you wonāt have to spend time looking for extra elements such as the right icons or the right presentation elements.
For example, check out this great PowerPoint example that was tailored made with the architecture industry and topic in mind:
5. Experiment With Slide Layouts
When youāre creating a PowerPoint presentation, take advantage of all the different layout options that the template offers. You'll make your presentation more visually engaging and interesting. Take a look at this professional PowerPoint example that offers a number of different layout designs for each slide type:
How to Make Great PowerPoint Presentations Quickly (With PPT Templates)
It's easier to learn how to make a good PPT presentation when you start with a template. You'll find the pre-built slide designs that are sure to spark ideas and creative designs. But, how can you make them your own?
Have no fear: templates help you master how to make a great PowerPoint presentation . They're flexible enough to adapt to your presentation purpose.
Let's work with The X Note Ā in this section. We'll customize two slides in five steps. This section will show you how to make a good PowerPoint presentation with the help of a template.
1. The Team Slide - Update Images
One tip I advise every presenter learning how to make a good presentation PPT: remember your team! You've got to credit and showcase the key members that contribute to your project. Let's use slide 7 to do that.
As a first step, let's update the images on this slide. We need to add the members of our team in the image placeholders.Ā
To do that, start by right-clicking and choosingĀ Group > UngroupĀ on the circle graphics. This helps us select just the shape that we can fill with an image.
Now, right-click an image and chooseĀ Format Pictures.Ā You'll see a new menu open. on theĀ FillĀ settings, chooseĀ Picture or texture fill,Ā then browse to your replacement profile image.
Just repeat this process with the other image placeholders. Soon, you'll have a totally personalized and people-focused PowerPoint slide.
2. The Team Slide - Update Text
Now that you've added your team's photos, there's another crucial step: updating the text! As you'll see in templates that help you master how to make a good PPT presentation, the included text boxes tell the story.
To update text, all you need to do is type over the placeholders. Use the pre-built text boxes to help you avoid the hard work of selecting fonts, sizing, and colors each time.
You can also delete any text boxes that you don't need. Just click and select them, then press Delete on your keyboard. That removes text boxes. Less is often more, according to pros that know how to make a great PowerPoint presentation.
3. The Team Slide - Update Branding
You might have noticed while working with this slide that there are a few objects that don't seem to be selectable. That includes the logo in the upper corner and text in the lower-left corner.
That's because this text lives on theĀ Slide Master.Ā To adjust it, we'll need to edit the lower-level slide design. Go to theĀ View > Slide MasterĀ menu. Now, you'll find that you can select and edit elements that were previously locked.
Consider replacing the logo with one of your own, plus adjust the text reading Presentation name goes here.Ā That makes your slide totally customized. Let's move onto editing another slide.
4. The Data Slide - Update Data
Let's switch gears and work on a second slide. Slide 27 includes a pre-built chart. This is a great example of easing the learning curve of creating a good PowerPoint presentation. Use the starter chart template with your data.
Right-click on the chart and chooseĀ Edit Data.Ā You'll see an embedded Excel window. This table controls the data that shapes the chart. Just type over the start data to update it.
When you're finished, close the embedded Excel window. The chart will automatically update with your new data. You can always update data by returning to this same menu.
5. The Data Slide - Update Text
This last tweak is an easy one. Just like our prior slide, typing over the text boxes is all that it takes to finish rounding out the slide.
As you can see in the example above, reducing the text helps too. I deleted the sub-headline so that there's more focus on the data.
As you saw, templates are like the answer key to a test of how to make a good presentation PPT. Use templates like The X Note to tap into the secrets of great PowerPoint presentation design.
5 Great PowerPoint PPT Templates for 2024
If you're learning how to make a good PowerPoint presentation, don't forget that templates are a major advantage. They're the antidote to creating designs on a totally blank canvas. They help you leverage the learning and design work of others.
With the help of Envato Elements , you unlock unlimited downloads. That includes PowerPoint presentations plus stock photos and graphics that really complement your content.
You don't have to learn how to make a good PowerPoint presentation design on your own. Instead, see what makes a great PowerPoint presentation when you use templates.
Let's look at five of the best PowerPoint presentations included with Envato Elements:
1. The X Note - PowerPoint Template
Time and time again, presenters learning how to make a great PowerPoint presentation choose The X Note. It's easy to see why. The slides feel like a professionally designed presentation that a seasoned executive would trust. A PowerPoint presentation design like this instantly gives your content credibility.
2.Ā Fashioned Stylist PowerPoint
Here's a tip while learning how to make a good presentation PPT: use on-trend designs. When your presentation matches trendy and modern designs, your audience knows that you stay up-to-date. That's why a template like Fashioned Stylist is so powerful. It instantly builds credibility and trust so that you command attention from the audience.
3. SINDE -Ā Business PowerPoint Template
Templates like Sinde hold the secret of how to make a good slide presentation. With 30 slides and five color schemes mean that you've got all of the combinations you need to create a polished and professional presentation. You'll find slides like portfolio layouts that help you put your best foot forward.Ā Ā
4.Ā Oceania - Sea & Ocean PowerPoint Template
Isak Dinesen once said, "theĀ cureĀ for anything is saltwater: sweat, tears or theĀ sea." The last of those options is the inspiration for this template. Oceania evokes feelings of relaxing on the beach with the sea in sight. As you learn how to make a good presentation PPT, keep this in mind: templates are only the starting point. Use the ocean-inspired view to start your design, but remember that it works with any content.
5. Galaxi PowerPoint Presentation Template
Blast off to success with a PowerPoint presentation like this one. It's got infographics that help you master how to create a good PowerPoint presentation, easily. The graphics serve to explain complex ideas with easy-to-follow visuals.
Still want to learn how to make a good presentation slide? Try out even more templates. Jump to our articles below for more PowerPoint presentations:
Make Great PowerPoint Presentations ( Free PDF eBook Download )
Our free eBook makes a perfect complement to this tutorial. It'll take you through the complete presentation processāfrom start to finish.Ā Learn how toĀ make a good PowerPoint presentation from writing it, designing it like a pro, and preparing it to present powerfully.
Download our new eBook:Ā The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations . I t's available for free with a subscription to the Tuts+ Business Newsletter.
Learn More: How to Make the Best PowerPoint Presentations Fast
We also have a number of helpful PowerPoint tutorial resources on Envato Tuts+. Learn more about working creatively with PowerPoint to make great presentations quickly :Ā
Start Making Your Own Great PowerPoint Presentations Today
You've just learned the steps for making great PowerPoint presentations. I've also shared some good presentation examples with creative ideas that could apply to your PowerPoint presentation design. You now have the information you need to begin making your own great presentation.
As we discussed earlier, one way to give your PowerPoint presentations a head start is to use a premium template designed by professionals. We've even shared some tipsĀ on how to design a PowerPoint presentation byĀ working with top PowerPoint presentation templates .Ā
Why not download a presentation template from Envato ElementsĀ or GraphicRiverĀ and begin creating your own great PowerPoint presentations today?
Editorial Note: This tutorial was originally published in October of 2018. I t's been comprehensively revised to include new informationāwith special assistance from Brenda Barron Ā and Andrew Childress .
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How to Create a Funnel Chart in PowerPoint and Alternative
One of the greatest methods for graphically representing a variety of facts and details is the funnel diagram, often known as a funnel chart. This medium is useful. They can be a great help for your business presentations and are unquestionably a big upgrade over text-heavy slides. In line with that, following our simple instructions, you will quickly learn how to create a funnel diagram in PowerPoint . As an addition, we will give you an extra way to make it an easier version. Alright, for that let us get started!
Part 1. How to Create a Funnel Chart in PowerPoint
Part 2. pros and cons of using powerpoint to make funnel chart.
- Part 3. Alternative Way to Create How to Create a Funnel Chart in PowerPoint
- Part 4. FAQs about How to Create a Funnel Chart in PowerPoint
It's quite simple to create a funnel chart with PowerPoint! They can be made in a variety of methods. But now, observe the typical methods for creating one: The Shape Features and The SmartArt Feature.
Method 1: Add Shape
The first method we can use in PowerPoint to create a Funnel Chart is to add shapes. This section outlines the steps we need to take to create a Funnel Diagram. These methods show PowerPointās uniqueness in terms of creating funnel charts compared to other tools like Google Sheets or Microsoft 260. Please follow these steps now.
Open PowerPoint on your device and create a new presentation. Then, select Shapes from the Insert tab to insert a trapezoid shape.
Now, it must be rotated so that the narrower part faces downhill. Next, we need to select Rotate from the Shape Format Tab and then click Flip Vertical .
Following that, we ought to be able to see an inverted trapeze at this stage. Check the shape now.
After that, kindly pick the shape you made and hit Ctrl+D to make as many copies of the shape as there are levels. From here, please choose the color you want for them, then reposition and adjust them to form a funnel-like shape. This is what the outcome will resemble. Please see the photo below.
Adding shapes to PowerPoint presentations is a great way to make a funnel diagram in your PPT. We only need to remember that we need to ensure the proper alignment of the shapes to have a great diagram. If you think this might require an effort, then see the second method.
Method 2: Use SmartArt Feature
In the next method, we have a great feature called SmartArt. This is a common feature that users use to create visual presentations such as Funnel Charts. Let's see how we can use it. Please follow the steps below.
On our PowerPoint presentation, please select SmartArt by clicking on the Insert Tab .
Now, we need to select the section on relationships. Then, to include the funnel diagram in your presentation, pick it and click OK .
Your presentation will now have a funnel graphic added to it and a bulleted text box with text next to it. The first three bullet points represent the objects inside the funnel, and the fourth bullet point represents the summary notion. Edit the text box to enter your stuff.
Lastly, adjust the image to reflect your logo. Under the SmartArt Design option, choose Change hues to alter the hues.
Indeed, SmartArt is much more professional to use and easy to create a funnel chart in PPT. This is a much easier and time-saving process compared to the first method.
- The tool provides a range of forms, hues, and designs.
- Easily works with displays and visuals.
- There are ready-to-use funnel templates available.
- Simple editing and sharing with co-workers.
- The toolās extremely intricate designs are less suitable.
Part 3. Alternative Way to Create a Funnel Chart in PowerPoint
We can see above that PowerPoint is a great tool for creating a Funnel Chart. However, it might need some effort to use, especially with non-tech users. With that being said, if you need an alternative, then MindOnMap is the one you are looking for. This tool helps users to create different diagrams and charts simply. This tool offers every element you need in presenting the details you want to convey in a Funner Chart.
In addition, MindOnMap can provide high-quality results with clear visuals, similar to PowerPoint. Therefore, MindOnMap is a great alternative to PowerPoint because it offers every feature we need in a much easier way. Get it now and see how we can use it.
Open the incredible MindOnMap on your computer and choose Flowchart under new portions.
We can now add Shapes to build the funnel chart we need. It is recommended to use a Trapezioid and a Triangle at the top for symbolism. Arrange them from the highest percentage to the lowest percentage. After that, add label each shape via text.
Now, finalize the Funnel Chart by changing the them and styles. Then, please click the Save button to finish the process.
We can see the simplicity of making a chart using MindOnMap.In addition, this tool offers high-quality outputs, which is no doubt why it is recorded by many users. As we conclude this process, allow us to give you permission to edit this Funnel Chart template. You can use this and edit it in accordance with your preferences.
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Speaker 1: Okay, so first of all, I'm going to be showing you how to make an academic poster in PowerPoint. Step one is to choose the size of your poster. So check the website of the conference where you're going to be presenting the poster and find out what poster size they want you to have and also whether you need to have it landscape or portrait. So in my case, I need to have it size a zero and for it to be portrait. Then open up a blank PowerPoint presentation, delete everything on the slide, go to design, slide size, custom slide size. Then here is a diagram to help you choose what width and height you need. In my case, I need it to be 84.1 centimeters wide and 118.9 centimeters high. Then select okay. It will ask you whether you want to maximize or ensure fit. As the slide is blank, it doesn't make any difference. Once you have chosen the size of your poster, step two is to choose the content and the layout. When making a poster for an academic conference, you have to submit the poster title in advanced and you also have to write a poster abstract. You can use these as your starting off point by copying and pasting them into the PowerPoint presentation and then increasing their font size and rearranging them on the poster. After you have these, you need to add to the abstract and edit it to put it into a poster format. Posters need lots of sub-sections, everything needs to be written in short sentences and everything also needs to be in bullet points. As you are adding the content to your poster, you also need to decide what the layout is going to be. For portrait posters, they are usually split into two sections. For landscape posters, you have more options, but they are usually in three or four sections. Also, as you are deciding the layout, make sure the order of the sections goes from top to bottom and from left to right. Once you have decided on the content and the layout of your poster, step three is to add in all of the extra content. The first piece of extra content that you need are logos, the university logo, the conference logo, and the logos of any organisations funding your research. You can usually get these off of the internet. When choosing the file formats for your logos, it's best to choose a vector image. Some examples of vector file formats are any files ending in .eps, .svg or .pdf. If you can't find a vector image, use a raster image and choose as high a resolution as possible. Some examples of raster file formats are any files ending in .jpg, .png, .bitmap or .tiff. Once you have downloaded your logos, you can import them as pictures, put them at the bottom of your poster, make them all the same size and line them up. The next piece of additional content that you need is a photo of yourself. You're going to want a head and shoulders photo, similar to the sort of thing you would have on a LinkedIn profile. Put this at the bottom of your poster and put your name and your university email address right next to it. The next piece of additional content that you need is a list of co-authors. When you submitted a poster abstract for the conference, you should have included a list of co-authors, so you can just copy and paste this. The list of co-authors should go at the top of the poster, just underneath the title. This is a list of anybody who made major contributions to the research of the poster. After every author's name, there should be a superscript number, then below the list, the same superscript number and the organization that that person is from. The next piece of additional content that you need is an acknowledgements section. This should go at the bottom of the poster and should start, this poster was possible because of the work of... or this work was funded by... or words to that effect. And should include anybody who made minor contributions to the research in the poster or any organizations that funded the research. The final additional piece of content that you need is a references section. In-text references should be superscript numbers because they take up the least amount of space. Then the references list should go at the bottom of the poster and you should make your references as short as possible. So the first author's name, et al., the year it was published, the abbreviated name of the journal it was published in and then its DOI number, its unique digital object identifier. Once you have added in all your extra content, step four is to add in images. The same rules apply as for logos. Use vector or high-resolution raster images. There are lots of places where you can get images from. If you are presenting your own research, you'll have made your own charts and graphs. You can also take images out of journal articles and there are lots of free online resources available. I recommend creating your own resource of images which you can draw on for future posters. If you are using an image which doesn't belong to you, make sure you say where it came from. A small URL right next to the image is usually sufficient. If you are worried about the quality of your images, zoom into them to 100%. That will be the size it is when it's printed so you can see if it is blurry or pixelated. Once you have chosen your images, step five is to choose the font. It's best to stick to just two or three fonts and there are two main types of fonts. There are serif fonts which are the fonts that have little feet at the end of the letters. Then there are non-serif fonts or sans-serif fonts which are the fonts that don't have feet at the end of their letters. It's best to choose a non-serif font for titles and subheadings. Here's some examples of some popular non-serif fonts. And then use a serif font for the main body of the text because those sorts of fonts are easier to read at smaller font sizes. Just whatever you do, don't use Comic Sans. When it comes to font sizes, here is a helpful diagram to guide you. It's just important to remember that the font sizes and font types in the graphs and charts should also match the rest of the poster. Some other pieces of advice for making your text more readable is to have the title in a sentence case so only the first letter of the first word is a capital letter because we are more used to reading sentence case. Also make the line spacing 1.5 so there are nice big gaps in between each of the lines. Some people also like to justify their text so making it both right and left aligned. This does look nicer but because it makes the spaces in between each word variable it makes it harder for people to read. Also make the titles and the headings bold but leave the rest of the text as normal. Once you have chosen the fonts for your poster, step 6 is to choose the colours. It's best to stick to a light background with a darker text because that is what people are most used to reading. You can however do the reverse for the titles and the subheadings and have a darker background and a white text. PowerPoint has inbuilt colour schemes. If you go to design and then variants and colours there are a range of colour schemes to choose from. Then if you select an object and go back to formats the fill colours now have different colour options. It's best to stick to colours that are all from the same theme. And remember if you have graphs or diagrams those also need to have colours that match the rest of the poster. If you want to add in extra colour a couple of good ways of doing that are to add colour to the bullet points and also to increase the size of the bullet points or you can also add in a coloured border and make that border thicker. After you have chosen the colours of your poster, step 7 is to line everything up. First of all you're going to need to make sure everything is the right size so I'm going to extend the summary text box until it is 38.5 centimetres wide. Then I am going to select all of the other text boxes below it and make sure their size is also 38.5 centimetres so they're all exactly the same length. I can then hold down control and select the summary box again then go to align and align centre so now they are all perfectly lined up. Useful features for lining up everything on the poster are the grid lines which will put little dots all over the poster which you can then use to make sure the text boxes are all lined up correctly. You can also change the size of the grid lines by opening up the show box and changing the spacing. Then there is also the guides which are completely straight lines which can be moved around the poster and these can also be used to make sure everything is lining up correctly. If I zoom out you can see that there is also a horizontal version of this and the grid lines and the guides won't appear on the poster when it's printed. Once you have lined everything up correctly the final step, step 8, is to convert it to a PDF. If your PowerPoint presentation is opened in a slightly different version of PowerPoint this can change the way it looks, converting it to a PDF will avoid this problem. To convert it go to file and print and select Microsoft print to PDF, then print, then save the poster and now you have the poster as a PDF. And that is everything.
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To do that, simply go up to the Home tab and click on New Slide. This inserts a new slide in your presentation right after the one you were on. You can alternatively hit Ctrl+M on your keyboard to insert a new blank slide in PowerPoint. To learn more about this shortcut, see my guide on using Ctrl+M in PowerPoint.
Open the PowerPoint app, select a template and theme, then like "Create.". Click the text box to add your title and subtitle to create your title slide. Click the "Insert" tab, then "New Slide" to add another slide. Choose the type of slide you want to add, then add text and pictures. Rearrange slides by dragging them up or down in ...
Open PowerPoint. In the left pane, select New. Select an option: To create a presentation from scratch, select Blank Presentation. To use a prepared design, select one of the templates. To see tips for using PowerPoint, select Take a Tour, and then select Create, . Add a slide.
Select the text. Under Drawing Tools, choose Format. Do one of the following: To change the color of your text, choose Text Fill, and then choose a color. To change the outline color of your text, choose Text Outline, and then choose a color. To apply a shadow, reflection, glow, bevel, 3-D rotation, a transform, choose Text Effects, and then ...
Step 1: Make a draft to structure your presentation. As we said before, writing a draft or script of your content will be vital to start on the right foot as a PowerPoint beginner. This advice is so important that we choose it as the first step to learning how to make a PowerPoint presentation.
7 steps to create a presentation in PowerPoint. Begin with a surprise or bold statement. Provide necessary background information. Frame your presentation as a story. Keep the text concise and meaningful. Use visuals to complement the text. Incorporate interactive design. Conclude with actionable insights.
In PowerPoint, you can create a presentation from scratch, or from a theme with built-in graphics, fonts, and placeholders for your text, images, and content...
On the Home tab, click New Slide. To choose a different slide layout, click the arrow next to New Slide and then click the slide layout you want. On the Transitions tab, click the transition you want. To see more transitions, expand the Transition gallery . On the Transitions tab, click Apply To All. Now you've set up a presentation with a ...
Learn everything you need to know to get started using Microsoft PowerPoint! You'll learn all the basics plus more, including: how to choose a design theme...
Get started with PowerPoint for Beginners. Follow this 20-Minute step by step PowerPoint tutorial to start creating presentations smoothly.Contents of this v...
These initial steps are just the beginning of your exploration into the world of design elements and styles that can cater to your specific presentation needs. The key to a stunning PowerPoint presentation lies in the details. By following these steps, you can turn a lackluster set of slides into a visually engaging and dynamic presentation ...
Create an Outline. Organize your brainstormed ideas into a logical structure. Typically, a presentation will have an introduction, body, and conclusion. Introduction: Set the stage with an attention-grabbing opening, introduce your topic, and outline what you'll cover. Body: Break your main topic into subtopics.
To change your PowerPoint theme, navigate to the Design tab on PowerPoint's ribbon. Click the drop-down arrow. Choose one of the thumbnails to change your PowerPoint theme to the best one for your presentation. Change theme designs in PowerPoint. Using themes and adding your content goes hand-in-hand.
Get your main point into the presentation as early as possible (this avoids any risk of audience fatigue or attention span waning), then substantiate your point with facts, figures etc and then reiterate your point at the end in a 'Summary'. 2. Practice Makes Perfect. Also, don't forget to practice your presentation.
To customize the text in this template, you can work with the built-in text placeholders. To start, click into any text box. Then, press Ctrl + A (Cmd + A on Mac) to select all the text inside. Type over the text placeholders in a premium professional presentation so that the slides tell your story.
First, open the presentation file you saved to your computer. Once the presentation file is open, select "Slide Show" from the top toolbar. You can start the presentation from the beginning or at the current slide. Select "From the beginning," and the display fills the entire computer screen.
Create a presentation from a theme. Select File > New. Double-click a theme in the gallery to create a presentation in that theme. Or search for more templates.
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.
7) Limit bullet points. Keep your bullet points to a maximum of 5-6 per slide. In addition, the words per bullet point should also be limited to 5-6 words. It's also wise to vary what you present in each slide, such as alternating between bullet points, graphics, and graph slides, in order to sustain the interest and focus of your audience.
Step 3: Create Title Page. Click the first box that says 'Click to add title' and add the title of your presentation. Click the bottom box to add your name, or any other subtitle that you choose. Once you have your text in the boxes, you can change their font, size, color, etc. with the toolbar options at the top.
How to make a PowerPoint animation and a PowerPoint presentation with this 12-mins PowerPoint tutorial for beginners! Full Guide here: https://bit.ly/office...
Steps to Embed an Excel File in PowerPoint Step 1: Open Your PowerPoint Presentation. Begin by opening the PowerPoint presentation where you want to embed the Excel file. You can create a new slide or select an existing slide where the embedded Excel file will be placed. Open PowerPoint. Navigate to the slide where you want the Excel file to ...
In this guide, I'll walk you through the simple steps to make your PowerPoint slides advance automatically. Step 1: Open Your PowerPoint Presentation Begin by opening the PowerPoint presentation where you want to set automatic slide transitions.
4. Use a Professional PowerPoint Template. One way to make sure that you've got a great, visually appealing PowerPoint presentation is to use a premium PowerPoint template such as those available through Envato Elements or GraphicRiver. Here are some great PowerPoint examples from Envato Elements of templates that can be useful in creating your presentation.
Step 1: Open Your PowerPoint Presentation. Open the PowerPoint file where you want to change the slide size. Step 2: Access the Design Tab. Click on the "Design" tab in the ribbon at the top of the PowerPoint window.
It's quite simple to create a funnel chart with PowerPoint! They can be made in a variety of methods. But now, observe the typical methods for creating one: The Shape Features and The SmartArt Feature. Method 1: Add Shape. The first method we can use in PowerPoint to create a Funnel Chart is to add shapes. This section outlines the steps we ...
So in my case, I need to have it size a zero and for it to be portrait. Then open up a blank PowerPoint presentation, delete everything on the slide, go to design, slide size, custom slide size. Then here is a diagram to help you choose what width and height you need. In my case, I need it to be 84.1 centimeters wide and 118.9 centimeters high.
[FREE DOWNLOAD LINK BELOW]: In today's tutorial, I've provided a detailed guide on how to create 4 steps PPT design slide in PowerPoint(š«Please note that th...