how to make your google slides presentation better

30+ tips and tricks to make Google Slides presentation look good

Home 30+ tips and tricks to make Google Slides presentation look good

Let’s face it, it’s no fun to look at a slide with heavy texts and overcrowded images. It leaves the audience bored and disinterested. It’s very important for your Google Slides presentation to look good in order to have your audience on board. You don’t need to be a designer to learn how to make aesthetic google slides. You can make some basic editing and formatting easily in Google Slides presentation to take it to the next level. In this article, we present some amazing hacks to have a killer presentation that leaves the audience in awe.

Be prepared for a bonus at the end!

Use Google Slides layouts wisely

1. customize slide layouts.

Every presentation needs to follow a basic layout which is regular throughout. Google Slides have a set of layout and theme options to choose from. But in case you wish to edit certain elements, you are free to do it. This will make the presentation truly yours. Click here for a complete guide on using layouts any fresher can use.

2. Use pretty backgrounds for Google Slides

Most of the professional presentations contain a lot of jargon-heavy information written in plain texts on plain backgrounds. Instead, include a transparent or mild background to support your text. The background can either be related to the story or just a plain color wall that goes with the text font and the context.

3. Draw attention with dark background

Audience gets tired of looking at bright colors all day. So, using a dark background not only catches their attention, but is also pleasant for the eyes. But remember to use the matte finish or mild colors for text with the dark background.

4. Try black and white theme to look professional

Often, a black and white theme stands out both because of the professionalism it conveys. This keeps your presentation minimal in appearance and adds to the authenticity of your delivery. But you should be careful not to make it look boring.

5. Use the Master Slides tool

Any change you make in the master slide will automatically reflect on all other slides. Customize the master slide first so that you can save time. You can modify backgrounds, rearrange placeholders, or change theme for the whole presentation with Master slides tool.

6. Keep it minimal

Don’t go fancy with the designs and fonts, keep it minimal. Overcrowding the slides with bulky texts and images or vibrant colors is not a good idea. It will distract the audience and make the presentation look unprofessional.

How to make Google Slides look good with Images

1. use shape masks to make creative images.

Using regular shapes like square and rectangle for images can get boring. To make it interesting, give different shapes to the images.

How to use shape masks in Google Slides:

Select the image you want to apply a shape mask on. Crop the image to the size you want. In crop tool, go to Shapes and choose a shape from the drop-down menu.

2. How to import images from the web

Adding relevant and catchy images make your google slides aesthetic. But you may not have the perfect image to go with the slide. In that case, you can directly download the picture from Google without leaving the tab.

How to import Google images into Google Slides:

Go to Insert >> Image >> Search the web >> Type in the name of the image you want. Or, go to Explore section and Google directly from the Slides tab.

3. Reflect your images if it suits the context

This will be a really cool effect, especially for slides with a single important image. Reflecting your images is a creative way to grab the attention with a single slide. But, this is a bit outdated feature, so it’s better to avoid for professional presentations.

How to reflect an image in Google Slides:

Select an image. Go to Format options and tick the box next to Reflection. Use the slider to adjust the size and transparency.

4. Make the image transparent

Another tip is to adjust the transparency of your image rather than adding a plain image. Plus, you can write relevant text on top of a transparent image.

How to make an image transparent in Google Slides:

Right-click on the picture and go to Formats option. Go to Adjustments >> Transparency. Adjust the transparency as per your requirements.

5. Resize and rotate shapes and images

When you import an image from the web, it might not be the right size for your slides. Google Slides allows you to resize and rotate the images and shapes.

To resize a picture, simply select the picture and move the cursor to bring to the desired size. To rotate an image, click the picture and choose Arrange. Then, click Rotate and select the preferred orientation. Avoid these while using images in Google Slides presentation: Though there are a hundred things you can do to your image, overdoing it will beat the point of making your Google Slides presentation look good. Following are some of the things you should avoid so that the slides look professional.

Using blurry or irrelevant pictures. Stretching or cropping the image more than necessary Low resolution images Watermarked images Not adding citations while using a picture you don’t own Crowding the slides with pictures Using reflection or transparency settings in all the images

Make your Google Slides presentation interactive

1. use the interactive q&a tool.

Having a Q&A section at the end helps you clear any doubts your audience might have. You can make it more interesting by using the Q&A tool. The audience don’t have to wait till the end of the presentation, they can type in the question whenever they want.

How to use the Q&A tool:

During your presentation, activate the Q&A feature by clicking on the Q&A tool. Audience sees a weblink where they can submit their questions. You can answer them at the end of the presentation. You can check the past questions by going to Tools >> Q&A history

2. Create a timeline

In many business presentations, you might need to present the progress of a project and timeline is an important part of it. It is easy to understand and remember. This can be used for interactions and discussions with the audience.

How to create timeline in Google Slides:

Go to Insert >> Diagram This shows a list of different types of timeline templates in built with Google Slides. Choose the one you like and edit it for your data.

Color schemes for your Google Slides presentation

1. edit theme colors.

Every Google Slide theme you choose comes with a pre-set color scheme. However, you can customize the theme according to the color you prefer.

Go to Slide >> Edit Theme Choose a color from the drop-down menu. Here’s a guide on choosing the right color for your Google Slides presentation.

2. Use color split

Using two different colors on the same slide is visually appealing. Make sure you use complementary colors like yellow and blue. For example, if you are using a blue background, use orange color for the texts.

3. Create a color overlay

Color overlay is a technique to make transparent shapes appear on your images or text. You can either apply it to the whole slide or a part of it.

Go to Insert >> Shape Choose a shape if you want to overlay only a part of your slide. Place the selected shape on the slide. Click on the shape and go to Fill colors and choose the color you want. Avoid these while choosing colors for your Google Slides presentation: While adding colors in a smart way can grab the audience’s attention, there are certain rules you should stick to while using them. Here is a small list of things to avoid in order to make your Google Slides look good.

Using multiple bold colors in a single slide Using same color for theme and texts Not sticking to your brand colors Using bright colors for reflection of images or texts. Overusing color gradient

Tips for text in Google Slides presentation

1. try different font attributes.

No one is going to read all the text in your presentation. So, you can highlight the parts which you want to stress on. You can make the text bold, italics, or underlined.

2. Research the top text fonts to use in Google Slides

There are a number of text fonts available in Google Slides, but not all of them make it to a professional presentation deck. So, it’s very important to know the most preferred text fonts to use in Google Slides.

Here are the 5 top text fonts:

Open sans Montserrat Cabin Ubuntu Lato

3. Use text box to have neat texts

Texts randomly strewn across the slides can be distracting for your audience. So, use a text box to have the texts placed in a neat way. You can also align your texts to left, right or centered to make it look professional.

4. Add a drop shadow to the text

Another way to make your texts look interesting is to use a drop shadow effect for Google Slides. However, if you lack experience in designing, we suggest you not to use this effect.

How to add drop shadow:

Select the text you want to use drop shadow on. Go to Format and check the box near Drop Shadow. Use the slider to adjust blur, transparency, and angle.

5. Add the technical terms to your personal dictionary

There might be terminologies or names that are specific to your topic, which may come off as spelling errors. In slides, they may appear in red and you may lose your credibility. To remove this, you can add those terms to the personal dictionary.

Go to Tools >> Personal dictionary Add the technical terms. They will no longer be shown as spelling errors. Common mistakes people make in Google Slides text: While the above features can make your text professional and easy to read, most people miss out on the basics.

Omitting indentation Wrong alignment of text on the slide Using very large or very small texts Not proofreading for typos Inadequate spacing between texts or lines.

Include infographics in Google Slides presentation

1. experiment with different types of diagrams.

If you have a lot of data to present, it’s better to present as graphs or charts instead of pulling off large sheets of data. There are different types of graphs you can use like line graph, bar graph, histogram, pie chart, etc. So, use them in your presentation. This adds credibility to your work and presentation.

2. Let your graph speak for itself

This means you must label, highlight or add everything in the graph such that anyone can analyze it. A single graph with right labels and arrows to show the trend can convey the meaning much better than large amount of texts or spreadsheets.

Add animation to make Google Slides presentation attractive

1. add subtle animation effects on texts.

If you have a lot of information to share on a single slide, use animations to delay some texts instead of displaying everything at a time. This works well for bullet points where you can display one point after another.

2. Add a GIF or a meme

One of the main reasons why presentations are boring is the lack of fun element. Adding a GIF or a relatable meme is not only funny, but helps you put the message across easily. It is an effortless attention grabber.

But you have to make sure it gets added as an animated GIF rather than a still image. For this, the following steps will help:

Find the GIF in Google and copy the image address. Go to Google Slides >> Image >> by URL Paste the URL and click Insert. Remember you have to insert the image by URL for it to play.

3. Add trimmed videos in Google Slides

People recollect visuals better than written text. So, if there is a video on YouTube which can explain what you want to convey, use it. But instead of including the full video, you can add only the relevant part by using the embed option.

4. Use transitions for slides

Adding smooth transition effects for individual slides helps in keeping the flow. The most recommended transition effects to use in a professional presentation are dissolve, fade in, slide from the left, fly in from bottom and fly in from left to right.

Go to Insert >> Animation Select a transition from the available options. Apply to a single slide or all slides, as you wish.

Are you terrified by the amount of effort you have to put in researching about fonts, choosing best colors and get the formatting perfect? This can be time-consuming if you designing is not your biggest flex.

Don’t worry! Here’s the good news!!

You can skip all these steps and still have an amazing presentation deck if you use professional templates!

Use Google Slides presentation templates

Making a presentation from the scratch is wasted time and energy which could be spent on crafting the story you want to convey. That’s why we bring to you the best presentation templates to help you tell your story in your unique way. SlideKit has professional templates designed by experts and you can customize it according to your needs. This can be installed as an add-on in Google Slides for free. It ensures consistency of aspects like font, theme, color scheme and layout used throughout the deck.

SlideKit has slides in the business and other professional domains which you can download, edit and use for free. Premium membership gives you access to 3500+ templates over 35+ niches. Using these templates will make your Google Slides presentation stand out. Here are a few tips to make the most out of SlideKit’s professional google slides templates .

1. Customize the templates

The presentation deck you choose will have all the design and infographic elements you need; but you need to customize them according to your data and your preferred color and font. In SlideKit, you can add images, videos, or hyperlinks, and place them wherever you want on the slide. Additionally, you can acquire hyperlinks from other websites to your own which is referred as niche edits .

2. Use niche-specific templates

There are templates available for different domains, so choose the one that fits your industry. Templates are perfect for branding since they come with placeholders for logo, letterhead, contact details and website address. But it’s important to choose the one that is aligned with the industry. SlideKit makes it easier for you by giving you a variety of industry-specific options to choose from. Moreover, incorporating effective SEO strategies , such as optimizing presentation titles, using relevant keywords, and providing quality content, can significantly enhance the online visibility of your Google Slides presentations, making them more accessible to your target audience and boosting overall engagement.

3. Plug in your data to relevant infographics

As mentioned before, including graphs and charts is beneficial for both you and your audience. Depending on the domain, SlideKit offers relevant infographics which can be customized according to your data. You can change the labels, legends, scale and figures, among many other features.

Now you have the best resources and tools to make your Google Slides presentation look compelling.

Happy presenting!

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How To Make Google Slides Look Good [Complete 2024 Guide]

• Last updated January 2, 2024

Making a standard presentation is easy, but knowing how to make Google Slides look good is an entirely different challenge. In my guide, I will show you how to make your Google Slides better , both functionally and aesthetically.

Keep reading to learn how to take your Google Slides presentation from good to great !

Table of Contents

1. Choose a Google Slides Theme

Themes ensure your presentation has visually consistent colors, fonts, sizes, and layouts. This goes a long way toward providing a professional and polished appearance, and it’s much easier for the audience to follow along.

• Choose a theme that aligns with the tone and purpose of your presentation.
• Ensure slides have a consistent set of colors, fonts, and layouts.
• Select a visually appealing color scheme and legible font combination.

While you can handpick background color palettes, typefaces, and slide layouts, many of the best Google Slides templates are built into the program! In a blank presentation, you’ll find them on the right-hand side.

Creating Your Own Google Slides Theme

It’s fairly straightforward to create your theme in Slides. Add whatever background color, images, shapes, and page formatting you prefer. Right-click your chosen slide and select “ Add to theme .”

Related : Don’t want to make one from scratch? I’ve got you covered with some of my favorite Google Slides templates  at the bottom of this article.

How To Import a Theme to Google Slides

• Create a new presentation or open an existing one.

Note : Importing a theme into your presentation will impact all of your slides.  To revert to the previous version, use the “ Undo ” button by pressing the keyboard shortcut  Ctrl + Z  (on Windows) or use  Command + Z  (on Mac).

2. Choosing Color Schemes in Slides

A color scheme is one of the first things your audience will see, so it’s one of the most critical elements. Google Slides offers plenty of color options, including gradients  (which can be used for almost all the elements, including background, font, and shapes).

Use color theory principles  (like complementary colors) to create combinations that stand out for the right reason. Color psychology is also a great way to express emotions or convey messages purposefully:

• Warm colors (e.g., red, orange, yellow) can express warmth, energy, or even a warning.
• Cool colors (e.g., blue, green, purple) can represent relaxation, sophistication, or security.

Use Color to Make Sections Stand Out

Strategically use color to highlight essential elements (e.g., headings, critical data). To guide the audience’s attention:

• Use vibrant shades that contrast the color scheme.
• Assign specific colors to categories, sections, and team members.

Be Mindful of Contrast

Check that the text and background colors have enough contrast for better reading. The most readable combination is dark text on a light backdrop (or vice versa). In charts and graphs, use color to improve focus and understanding.

Note :  Avoid colors that can blend together or present difficulties for people with color blindness .

3. Choosing Text and Fonts

Your chosen font portrays information and dramatically improves your presentation’s overall aesthetic. If you’re trying to make a cool presentation on Google Slides, you’ve got a lot to consider!

Use Clear, Legible, and Easy-to-Read Fonts

Avoid overly decorative or ornate fonts because they can hinder readability (especially when projected on a larger screen). Stick to widely available and compatible fonts across devices like Arial, Georgia, or Open Sans.

Ensure Font Sizes, Weights, and Styles Stand out

Headings should stand out; supporting text should be smaller (or less emphasized). This is done to guide the audience’s attention and improve readability.

Note : While they can add visual interest, excessive use of font styles can be distracting and more challenging to read.

Complement Font Pairings

Select a combination of fonts  that contrast each other and create visual interest. Consider using online resources or font pairing tools for inspiration. We recommend sticking to a maximum of two to three fonts to prevent visual chaos.

Use Fonts That Align with Branding Guidelines

If your website uses a specific font and color scheme, incorporate them into your presentations to support the organization’s visual identity.

Align Text and Spacing

Align text and leave enough white space for a clean, organized look.

4. How to Add Word Art to Google Slides:

• Select “ Insert ” > “ Word Art ” from the drop-down menu.

• Type your text, then press the “ Enter ” key on your keyboard.

There you have it! Your Word Art will now appear on your selected slide.

Note: If you want to edit the font or color, click the Word Art, and a formatting box will pop up.

5. How To Add Google Slides Transitions

You can ensure seamless transitions from slide to slide with a couple of clicks:

• If you want to apply the selected transition to all slides in your presentation, click “ Apply to All Slides .”
• Any transitions applied to skipped slides won’t play during the preview.
• Click the “ Stop ” button when you’re finished.

Tip : You can configure your presentation to play automatically  using Google Slides’ automatic transitions. This removes the need to press the spacebar or click on the screen to trigger the next slide.

How Many Transitions Are Available in Google Slides?

At the time of writing, Google Slides offers seven built-in transitions . There is currently no option to add or download additional transitions.

6. How To Add Animations on Google Slides

Enhance the visual appeal of your slideshow by incorporating animations (i.e., effects that make elements move). They can be applied to almost every object, from images to tables to bullet points. Follow the steps below to add animations to your slides:

• You’ll notice that your selected object’s “ Animation Type ” is set to “ Appear .”

• Fade in : This transition introduces the object by gradually fading it in.

• Fly in from left/right or top/bottom : The object flies into the slide from one side.

• Zoom in : The object starts small and slowly increases in size.

Under “ Animation Type ,” you’ll see the “ Start Condition ” drop-down. Open it to select whether the animation should play upon clicking a slide, with the previous animation, or after the previous animation.

Note: The start conditions “With Previous” and “After Previous”  will only work if there is another animated object immediately before your selected object .

• Click on the “ Play ” button to preview your animation(s).
• Click the “ Stop ” button to end the preview and continue working on your slideshow.

Related : Google Slides vs. PowerPoint: Which Program Is Better?

Tips for Using Transitions & Animations

We recommend using these effects sparingly to emphasize essential elements or facilitate the flow of information. Avoid using them solely for decorative purposes.

Pick Subtle and Smooth Transitions

Flashy or distracting effects can overshadow your content. Your goal is to provide a seamless flow between slides. Try a simple fade or slide transition.

Adjust the Timing and Duration

Transitions shouldn’t be too fast or slow. Aim for a natural pace that allows the audience to follow along comfortably.

Highlight Specific Elements Within a Slide

Selectively animating text, images, or charts can emphasize critical points (or reveal information) in a controlled manner. Avoid excessive animation that appears gimmicky or distracting.

Be Consistent

Choose a specific transition style or animation effect — then stick to it. This will help you avoid distractions and inconsistencies.

7. Using Images and Videos

Adding images and videos to slides can greatly enhance visual appeal and engage your audience. Here are some points to consider when choosing an image:

• Choose images that are relevant to your content.
• Use high-quality images that are clear, crisp, and well-composed.
• Use images that evoke emotions or illustrate concepts.
• Strike a balance between text and images on your slides.
• Consider using images as slide backgrounds.
• Adjust transparency or apply overlays to maintain readability.
• Experiment with image formatting options (e.g., cropping, resizing, transparency, brightness).

8. How To Include Infographics in Google Slides

Infographics in a presentation can communicate complex information effectively. Use the drawing feature in Google Slides to make attractive and informative infographics. Keep these points in mind when using infographics:

• Keep your infographics clean and basic.
• Choose from bar charts, pie charts, line graphs, timelines, flowcharts, maps, and diagrams.
• Avoid overwhelming your audience: Use limited details, succinct labeling, and clear graphics.
• Use custom colors, typefaces, and visual styles to reflect your presentation or company identity.
• Highlight the most significant facts or data.
• Make sure infographic details are simple to read and understand.

How Can Poor Design Affect A Presentation?

Your presentation could be significantly impacted if you haven’t learned how to make Google Slides look professional. Here’s why:

Lack of Clarity

Poor aesthetics often make it more difficult for the audience to grasp — or focus on — details. Avoid cluttered or crowded presentations, imprecise typefaces, and insufficient color contrast. Key points might be missed, or the audience may get distracted.

Unprofessionalism

A disorganized presentation might give the appearance of being unprofessional, affecting the presenter’s credibility.

Poor Readability

Small fonts, poor contrast, and ornamental typefaces can strain the eyes and make it difficult to follow a presentation.

Lack of Visual Appeal

A presentation with a dull or unappealing design may fail to catch attention (and make the material less memorable).

9. A Few of My Favorite Google Slides Templates

If you’re not interested in using stock templates (let alone creating your own), I’ve got you covered with these slick presentations:

Ganymede Template

The Ganymede template offers a modern style with bold text for extra impact. Whether you aim to make a lasting impression with your pitch deck — or simply want to use colors that align with your brand — this template suits your needs.

Access Template

Dynamic Business Template

An effective project management report is characterized by clarity, and your color scheme plays a significant role. I love the streamlined theme of this Google Slides template and appreciate that a blank timeline chart, roadmap diagram, and funnel are included for incredible customization.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you make google slides vertical.

You can make Google Slides vertical  by following simple steps:

• Open a new or existing presentation.
• Click the “ File ” button to open a drop-down menu.
• Click the “ Page setup ” option.
• Select the “ Custom ” option and set your desired size (width and height)
• Hit “ Apply ” to save the changes.

Can You Do Hanging Indent in Google Slides?

Yes. There are three methods to do hanging indent in Google Slides:

• The ruler (blur triangle) along the top to position your hanging indent.
• The keyboard Tab key for quick indentation adjustments.
• Select “ Text Fitting ”> “ Indention ” > “ Hanging ” > “ First line indent ” > “ Hanging indent ” to the desired amount.

Are There More Google Slides Templates?

Yes. There are many free Google Slides templates out there. Here are ten additional templates  for you to use.

Bottom Line

Any presentation’s goal is to keep the audience’s attention, and you can do that with a balance between aesthetics and practicality.

I hope I’ve helped you learn how to make your Google Slides look good, express your message, and captivate your audience. If you need more assistance, Spreadsheet Point’s premium Google Slides templates  can take the pressure off you. When you use the code SSP, you’ll get 50% off !

Get Premium Templates

• How To Download Google Slides [Step-by-Step Guide]
• How To Add Bitmoji to Google Slides
• How To Make Google Slides Play Automatically

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8 Tips on How to Make Google Slides Look Good

Expect your audience to not be very impressed if you have a generic Google Slides presentation. They’re used to seeing similar information online, and this makes it difficult for you to get through to them. Deliver your point effectively by learning how to make Google Slides more pleasing to the eye in this guide.

Tip: already have a great-looking presentation? Learn how to extract images from Google Slides or PowerPoint .

How to Make Google Slides Look Good

1. choose the right slide layout, 2. use an appropriate color scheme, 3. choose a font based on application, 4. insert infographics, 5. embed videos and gifs, 6. add animations and transitions, 7. interact with audience using the q&a tool, 8. use google slides templates.

While the definition of a “good-looking presentation” is very subjective, there are some benchmarks that you can refer to. The following eight tips can improve the appearance of your Google Slides presentation:

Position your photos and text at optimal locations on a slide so that your audience can read and consume the details you’re presenting without hassle. But where are these “optimal locations”? That’s where slide layouts come into play.

When you add a new slide to a Google Slides presentation, you have an option to choose a layout. The layouts are preset with image placeholders, text boxes, title boxes, and similar elements. You just need to insert your content.

Find the slide layouts by clicking the downward arrow beside the “New slide” button in the toolbar. Choose one of these common (but effective) slide layouts:

• Section header: use this layout to separate your content into different sections. It also helps your audience understand when you’re transitioning to another topic.

• Title and body: this is likely to be the layout you use most often in your presentation. Use it to present an idea with supporting bullet points.

• One column text: this layout is good to use when you want to insert a supporting photo beside a text box.

• Caption: Sometimes a picture can convey more meaning than a slide filled with text. For full-screen photos, the caption slide is the best option.

• Big number: when presenting important figures and statistics, this layout will help deliver a better impact among your audiences.

Good to know: learn how to add a chart to your Google Slides presentation .

Colors play a vital role in setting the mood of your presentation. If you choose the wrong color scheme, you may not be able to deliver your point clearly. Worse, your audience could get distracted if you choose tacky colors.

Consider the context and audience of your presentation when choosing a color scheme:

• Monochrome for formal scenarios: when delivering keynote presentations, pitch decks, and other business reports, use colors that look more formal. Consider black and white themes or incorporate varying shades of blue to add visual interest to your slides.

• Vibrant themes for the creatives: if you’re running a creative studio or making a presentation related to marketing, consider using more vibrant colors. Make sure you find the right blend to showcase your own creative abilities.

• Utilize your brand colors: if you want to showcase your products or services in your Google Slides, why not use your brand’s colors? This would give more emphasis to your products and increase brand awareness.

Aside from the appropriate slide colors, remember to apply your chosen color scheme to other elements as well. Ensure that the color of your text contrasts nicely with the background for optimal readability. Simply put, use light-colored fonts for dark backgrounds and vice versa.

When selecting fonts, consider looking up font psychology on the Web. Basically, it shows how different styles of fonts can evoke emotion or tone among people. The following are the three major font categories:

• Serif: use this when delivering formal presentations, especially in academic and corporate applications. Examples include EB Garamond, Lora, and Roboto Serif.

• Sans serif: for more casual applications, use a sans serif font, such as Arial, Lexend, and Work Sans.

• Script: if you want to showcase your creativity, such as for art presentations and marketing pitches, a script font may be more appropriate. Examples are Caveat, and Lobster. You can also opt for a “hand-drawn” font, such as Amatic.

Whichever you choose, use only two to three fonts in your Google Slides presentation. This way, you provide enough visual interest to your slides and avoid making them look tacky. Pairing serif and sans-serif fonts for the title and body text is a great way to start.

Remember to experiment with the font sizes, too. Establish a visual hierarchy using bigger fonts for headers and smaller fonts for the details.

Good to know: use these tools to identify fonts in images .

Infographics provide a more interesting and meaningful way to present your data compared to plain text. Since there are graphics and visual cues involved, your audience can consume the content more intuitively (like in a process flow diagram).

Google Slides offers numerous kinds of diagrams, from grids to cycle charts. Whichever you choose, ensure that it matches the set of information that you’re presenting. For example, you can use a timeline chart when presenting the milestone years of your brand.

To add an infographic in Google Slides, go to “Insert -> Diagram.” Select your preferred chart, and edit as needed.

Videos are great supporting materials in your presentation, especially when you’re discussing complex topics. You have two source options here: YouTube and Google Drive.

Inserting a Video From YouTube:

• Go to YouTube and find the video that you want to insert.
• Click the “Share” button.

• Choose “Copy.”

• Return to your Google Slides presentation.
• Go to “Insert -> Video.”

• Click the search bar at the top, and paste the link that you copied.
• Select the result that appears.
• Click the “Insert” button.

Inserting a Video From Google Drive:

If you want to use videos that you have previously recorded or ones you downloaded from Facebook, upload them to your Google Drive account first, then insert them into your slides as instructed below:

• Go to your account on Google Drive , and select your video.
• Right-click on the video, then choose “Share -> Copy link.”

• Return to your presentation.
• Choose “Insert -> Video.”

• Switch to the “Google Drive” tab, then paste the link you copied to the search bar at the top.

• Click “Insert” to finish.

When using a video in your presentation , remember that it’s only supporting material. Ensure that it lasts no more than two minutes on a slide. Keep the number of video clips to a maximum of three in your entire presentation, too.

For short clips that span only a few seconds, we recommend using GIFs instead. They’re much lighter in storage than videos and would be just as effective. You can add one by choosing “Insert -> Image” in the menu bar.

Whichever source you prefer to use is up to you. You can search for photos online in an app, upload them from your drive or local storage, or copy and paste the URL of your image.

Tip: running out of space on Drive? Learn how to delete files from Google Drive to gain more room .

Using animations and transitions can make your Google Slides more attractive and enjoyable. They make your presentation appear less static and can also help with the pacing of your discussion.

When adding them to your slides, ensure that they are uniform throughout. For animations, it’s good to use up to two styles. For transitions, apply a single effect to every slide to not risk distracting your audience. Follow the steps below to add animations and transitions:

• Go to “Slide,” and select “Transition.”

• Select your preferred effect in the side panel under “Slide Transition.”
• Adjust its speed as necessary.
• Click “Apply to all slides.”

• Under “Object Animations,” select the effect you want to apply to your text or object.

• Preview your transition and/or animation using the “Play” button.

Note: we recommend that you avoid using the “Spin” animation for normal text, as it can be distracting. This also applies to the “Flip,” “Cube,” and “Gallery” transitions.

Related: want to whiz along more quickly when creating your presentation? Check out these Google Slides keyboard shortcuts .

After attracting your audience’s attention, go a step further to keep them engaged. One of the best features that you can use in Google Slides is the Q&A tool. Follow these steps to implement it:

• Click the “Slideshow” button in the top-right corner of your screen.

• Choose the More icon (vertical three dots) in the lower-left corner.
• Select “Q & A” from the list.
• Alternatively, press the “A” key on your keyboard.

• Click “Start new.”

You can enable this tool from the very start of your presentation. There will be a link displayed on top of the presenter screen where your audience can send their questions and concerns. This link works until you disable it or your presentation ends.

The questions will pool in the Q&A tool as your presentation progresses. Ensure that you allot time to address them. You can find the questions in the same tab as the steps above.

Given our tips, you probably realize that creating a visually appealing presentation consumes much time and effort. You may want to use a Google Slides template to save time for other tasks.

Templates already follow a structured format, from the design elements to the layout. Just insert your content, and customize the template to your needs.

FYI: make it educational for your kids by creating a simple flash card game in Google Slides .

Final Thoughts

A good-looking presentation doesn’t just impress your audience – it also ensures that your point comes across. To create an effective Google Slides presentation, consider using preset layouts and templates, and select the right colors and font styles to properly set the mood of your presentation.

Infographics, videos, and other visual cues would also be beneficial. And to top it off, consider using the Q&A tool to keep your audience engaged.

Want to learn more? Take a look at these 10 Google Slides tips to save you time .

Image credit: Unsplash . All screenshots by Princess Angolluan.

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Princess is a freelance writer based in Croatia. She used to work as an English teacher in Hokkaido, Japan before she finally changed careers and focused on content writing & copywriting, while running their own digital marketing company in Europe. For 5 years, she has written many articles and web pages on various niches like technology, finance, digital marketing, etc. Princess loves playing FPS games, watching anime, and singing.

How to Make Google Slides Look Good And Add a Touch of Finesse?

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By Nikolay Kaloyanov

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From ancient times to today, people have been obsessed with beauty. People have adored art, whether we talk about cave drawings or Renaissance art. Our nature has remained the same – only the means have changed.

Regardless of the presentation software you use, a top-notch performance is about three key details: a confident speaker, helpful content, and great design. And while many people aim to add tons of information and become exceptional orators, many presenters overlook visual elements for some reason.

In this article, we will see how to make Google Slides look good and what is the benefit of adding design elements.

Article overview:

1. Why should you make your Google Slides visually appealing 2. What are the benefits of stunning Google Slides presentations? 3. How to Make Google Slides Look Good?

1. How can poor design affect your presentation?

Your audience is exposed to a lot of information daily – news, social media feeds, videos, chats, etc. A brain has been so used to receiving lots of info daily that it filters out most of it. At the end of each day, you remember the brightest moments.

The same thing applies to presentations. If you have spent much effort delivering your presentation, you win points, and your idea might get “sold.” However, it would help if you had that extra bit of something – like a pinch of salt, to make the difference between a good presentation and an outstanding one.

Visually appearing presentations can have a profound effect on your audience. Imagine seeing the same person in the subway – on day one they wear an old jacket and dirty jeans, and they are dressed up a day later. If they come to you, asking for a small favor – when will you trust them more?

2. What are the benefits of stunning Google Slides presentations?

Whether you are a teacher, student, or business person, you want valid reasons to add graphic elements to your presentation. Modifying the themes in Google Slides , inserting shapes, and creating animations are all time-consuming. A couple of minutes here and there, and you have already spent hours on the presentation. But how do you compensate for this time? Let’s see what is the added value from making your Google Slides presentation more attractive.

✅ A better understanding of your concept  – Google Slides presentations have a main topic and sub-topics. If you organize your slides and make them more appealing, it will be easier for your audience to understand what you’re saying.

✅ Data visualization  – in most presentations, the main focus is on 2-3 slides that contain data. Proper data visualization can convince your audience and sell your ideas.

✅ More confidence – just like formal clothes, good-looking presentations give that extra confidence in speakers required to perform more assertively.

✅ Improved conversions  – while the term “conversion” might create associations with sales, it doesn’t have that purpose only. While for salespeople good presentation design could result in more products/services sold – students might convince their teachers they deserve an A+, and professors could keep their students hooked during the whole lecture.

3. How to Make Google Slides Look Good?

Google Slides offers a lot of functions that could be utilized to make your presentation look better. Below, you can find eight tips and tricks to improve your design and grab the audience.

3.1. Use presentation templates

Time is money. While you can optimize your presentation design every single time you create a new presentation, it is extremely time-wasting. Doing the same thing over and over again is not a viable strategy. This is where templates come into place. Instead of doing everything from scratch, you have a ready-made backbone, and your task is to enter your content and tweak the template a little bit, depending on the presentation.

Google Slides comes with 20+ default templates to choose from. You can then edit the colors from the Theme builder but that’s about it. You also have the option to customize each slide individually but remember – you should keep the consistency with the colors and the structure of the slide.

The last option is preferred by many. Instead of using a generic template, you can download a pre-made template mixed with some tweaks. There are plenty of free Google Slides templates. Of course, you can also buy paid templates which can be extremely useful if you carry out presentations frequently.

But no matter which ones you download – the paid or the free templates, you should know that they have been created by designers, so you should only change minor details. There’s no need to worry about font compatibility, color contrast, and other details which would otherwise be hard to manage.

3.2. Choose the right colors

The Color Theory is applicable in any area of our lives. Your Google Slides presentation makes no difference. Depending on the topic you are presenting, you need to select your colors carefully. If you offer a banking product, you might want to use light blue background combined with red and white. For presentations about nature and biology, using green and brown as more earthy colors will be a good idea.

Don’t forget to play with the font colors, too. For presentations with darker backgrounds, fonts have to be light and have bright accents. If you have a very light background, you have to make your text darker and bolder.

Colors are a substantial part of branding. If you have a Google Slides presentation and you want to showcase your branded goods, you might want to use the brand colors, as to highlight your product and add more value to it.

3.3. Pay attention to fonts

The fonts you pick will set the tone of your presentation. There are many things to consider when adding fonts. Make sure your topic matches the seriousness of the fonts – for more formal presentations (like medical presentations), you have to use more formal fonts – like Roboto, Arial, Helvetica Neue, and Garamond. You can easily add some of the best free fonts to your Google Slides presentation .

You need to focus on one critical detail, though – it’s not a good idea to use more than 2-3 fonts in your presentation. If you break this rule, you risk distracting your audience. Also, you need to be consistent with your choice of fonts – picking fonts that are either too similar (lack of visual hierarchy) or too different is a big blunder.

A quick tip : If you don’t know which fonts to choose, you can select fonts from the same family or combine one serif for the title text and a sans-serif for the standard text.

3.4. Add transitions

Knowing how to make Google Slides look good is important. So are the transitions. Finding the right balance between adding too much and having none is fundamental. Also, try to use a maximum of 1 transition per slide. It’s a good practice to set the same effect on all slides, as to keep consistency.

It will not be a bad idea if you avoid using Cube and Gallery transitions. They are a bit too overwhelming. You can also use object animations. They are quite useful if you have an important chart to show, as they can attract your audience’s attention.

3.5. Use infographics

Infographics (a combination of information + graphics) are a great way to make data more accessible to your audience. They are visual representations of necessary facts you would like to share with your audience and are a much-preferred way to present information more clearly.

Instead of explaining the details and having a slide with two long paragraphs where people get lost, creating a simple radial chart in Google Slides and displaying it in front of the others, for example,  might better convey your message.

But infographics are not limited to charts. You can display all types of data – process steps, historical values, etc. Ensure you have the right infographic for your information. If you discuss the project scope, you might want to visualize it with a Gantt chart or step-by-step infographic. A pie helps show a percentage of the whole. And be careful – even if you come up with a good infographic design, you need to create a legend so that people can understand it.

If you need infographics, you can check our collection of 500+ infographics compatible with Google Slides (including freebies).

3.6 Embed videos

In one of our previous guides, we showed you how to embed videos in Google Slides . Both Millennial and Gen Z audiences consume a lot of video content. As a result, you can create a lasting impression on them by adding useful videos to your topic. The good news is you can edit the videos, so they can watch the part which is most relevant to the slide topic. It’s not a good idea to stream more than 2 minutes per slide, as you will lose your impact as a speaker. Also, don’t show more than 3 videos per presentation, as videos aim to support you, rather than be the main source of content.

As both YouTube and Slides are part of Google, it’s elementary to add videos from the video streaming platform directly. If, however, your want to add videos that aren’t uploaded on YouTube, you simply have to download them (Vimeo has such an option) and implement them through Google Drive.

3.7. Add GIFs

GIFs are the perfect mix between single-frame images and videos. With them, you can catch your audience’s attention on particular details from your presentation. GIFs are one of the cool things you can do with Google Slides. Since a GIF is practically an image, you can add them easily – by URL or from your computer. You can check one of our articles about free GIFs for presentations .

GIFs find great application in pinpointing certain phrases or infographics that readers should pay attention to. You can also create a GIF to make a demo of how something works, so it can be utilized in tutorials. But GIFs should be used moderately. Abusing these visuals will result in diminishing returns – the audience will get distracted and the GIFs won’t be able to fulfill their goal.

Regarding memes, you’d better not use them. While a positive impact is possible, the chances are that you will most probably make your presentation less serious and change the topic of the whole presentation.

3.8. Add 3D shapes

Design is design – whether we speak about presentation design or UX design. Making your Google slides aesthetic brings a lot of added value but you should know that trends are changing, and coming up with dated designs will not make a good impression. And speaking of trends – 3D shapes are an inevitable part of modern design, a 3D image might be more relevant and easily understood than a simple 2D drawing, especially if the presentation is about architecture and engineering.

Currently, Google Slides doesn’t have its own 3D shapes and charts, but you can easily add one from external sources – you can use your computer (if you have it there), a URL address, or if the image is shared with you in Google Drive.

You should learn how to make Google Slides look good, as your audience is demanding – people want to hear someone who is confident in presenting something which is visually attractive. If you manage to use Google Slides to your advantage, you can come up with outstanding presentation designs and enjoy the deserved applause at the end.

If you found our post useful, you can also take a look at our collection of Google Slides tutorials , or browse some of these:

• How to Calm Down Before a Presentation: 10 Practical Tips and Techniques
• How to Start and End a Presentation: 10 Practical Tips to Grab Attention and Make an Impact
• 20 Google Slides Tips to spice up your Presentations

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Nikolay Kaloyanov

Nikolay is a copywriter with vast experience in Technology, Marketing, and Design. When he isn't playing with words and crafting texts, he watches sports and asks questions. He is a funny person...until you put him on a diet.

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15 Tips to Make an Amazing Google Slides Presentation Design!

By: Author Shrot Katewa

There are many reasons that people like to use Google Slides. It could be for a school project, work presentation or just to share information with friends and family.

Whatever the reason, one thing is certain: you want your design to look amazing! If you want an easy way to create a great-looking design for your next presentation then this blog post is for you.

In this article, we will go over 15 tips on how to make an amazing design using Google Slides. Whether it’s your first time creating a presentation on Google Slides or if you’re an experienced professional, these tips are sure to help guide you in the right direction!

So, let’s get started!

Note – if you are strapped for time , simply considering outsourcing the presentation design process to a professional! I’d recommend using Fiverr . It is completely hassle-free to set up and start using. Plus, you don’t need to pay anything to hire a professional. You only pay for the slide design! And, you can start with as little as $5 to $10 per slide!

Tips to Make an Amazing Google Slide Presentation Design!

Since this is going to be an action-packed article with a ton of suggestions, let’s just dive right in with the tips!

1. Create a Compeling Narrative Through a Story Arc

A presentation is only as good as the narrative it holds!

If your presentation doesn’t leave “ food for thought ” for your audience, they are less likely to remember your presentation, and even less likely to take any action afterward (which is mostly bad news especially if you are trying to convince your investors to give you more money!)

Presentation design goes hand-in-hand with the content that is going to be used for the presentation. Thus, start with a compelling story.

The best way to create a convincing story for your presentation is to use the “ Story Arc “.

A “ Story Arc ” or a “Narrative Arc” is something that has been successfully used by storytellers and writers for ages. The keyword here is “successfully”!

A powerful narrative can not only help your audience understand the intricacies of the subject of the presentation, but it also makes the presentation engaging and entertaining.

The best way to start working on a story arc is to either look at what is the most important aspect of your presentation and how can it be emphasized in a manner that takes the role of a protagonist?

Another way that I’ve used the story arc in my presentations successfully is to work backward. Think of what is the end outcome that you expect, and try to track things backward in order to achieve the end outcome.

No matter what approach you take, if you are able to fit a story arc in your presentation, you’d be golden!

Finally use stories from your life, or what you experienced while working on a project! I’ve seen this works really well and resonates with the audience. Here’s a quick video on tips for using storytelling in your presentation.

2. One Topic Per Slide

Now that you’ve identified the larger part of what you going to cover in your presentation – in other words, the content, you now need to lay it out on your presentation such that it can be consumed by your audience comfortably!

One of the simplest tips to design a better presentation is to make sure that you don’t cramp all the information in a single slide or 4-5 slides! Make sure that you spread out the presentation on multiple slides so that the audience can absorb all the information, but in short bursts, and then move on to the next topic!

A good rule of thumb for a good design is to try and cover just 1 topic on a slide.

I’ve seen this work plenty of times, and I personally also use this technique for my presentations. Simply divide the content of your presentations first into multiple key sections. Then, divide the sections further into key topics that should be covered within that section.

You can do this activity on a sheet of paper or just on the first slide of the presentation. Once you’re done with this activity, you’ll realize that the outline that you’ve just created also serves as the “Agenda” or the “Table of Contents” slide.

Now, all you’re left to do is fill in the information that needs to go under each topic.

You may be wondering how is this a design tip. Well, when you have just one concept present on a slide, it is not only easier for your audience to consume, but also easier to design. You’ll realize this when designing the presentation and thank me later!

Remember, there will be times when you will not have much to say about a particular topic, your slide will look empty, and you will be tempted to add another topic on the same slide. Don’t fall for that. Instead, use images that accentuate the text or the topic of the slide.

3. Start with a Template (Don’t Design from Scratch!)

This next tip might seem a bit obvious to some.

But, the reality is that quite a lot of people tend to miss out on the fact that you can use presentations that already look good, and just customize the slides for your content!

Google Slides already provides you with a number of free templates. Here’s how you can access them –

• First, visit your Google Slides dashboard page.
• Login to your Google Account (if prompted)
• Choose a template from “Start a new presentation” section
• You can also click on “Template Gallery” to view more templates.

The one template that I end up using over and over again is the file name “ Consulting Proposal “. It has got a sleek modern design, a good mix of image slides as well as different text placeholder slide layouts for you to easily edit your presentation.

But, feel free to check out other templates and see which one fits your need the best.

The point here is that if you are not great at designing a presentation, you’d perhaps be better off using a template rather than starting from scratch!

4. Use Fonts the Right Way

When it comes to designing a good presentation on Google Slides (or any application for that matter), fonts do play a key role in how your presentation looks!

Thus, it is important to make sure that you use the fonts correctly when creating your presentation.

Here’s what you need to remember when using fonts for your presentation –

• Use Just One or Two Fonts – Don’t use too many fonts in your presentation. Your presentation design will not look good. Plus, using too many fonts in a presentation shows lack of consistency and professionalism in design.
• Combine Fonts – Ideally, just use one font if you are unsure of which fonts work great together. But, you can also combine fonts to make the content of your presentation standout!

If you do want to go with a two-font option, use the Google Fonts tool to identify the font combination.

Here’s how you can find a good font combination for your presentation –

Step 1 – Visit Googe Fonts and Search for a Font

Google Fonts site provides free fonts that are compatible with most modern internet sites and web browsers. Google Fonts are considered the gold standard for sites as these look very modern and are light.

The best thing is – most of them are already available in your Google Slides presentation by default.

So, the first step is to visit the Google Fonts website . Then, search for a font, to begin with. My favorite font is Montserrat . But, you can also go with Lato, Roboto, or Source Sans Pro if you are looking for a Sans Serif Font .

If you are looking for a Serif font , I would recommend using Merriweather .

Step 2 – Choose the Font and click “Pairings”

The next step is to choose a font. You can either type one of the fonts that I mentioned in the search bar and click on it once it appears OR you can also simply choose from the list provided below.

Just make sure that you click on the font that you like to open it.

Once the font is open, click on the “Pairings” tab on the top (as shown in the image).

Step 3 – Choose a Font Pair

Now simply choose one of the font pairs provided by Google Fonts. You can also click on a font pair to see how it looks on the section on the right.

Play with the options provided and choose the font combination that you like.

Now, simply go back to your Google Slides presentation and change the fonts according to your selection.

5. Choose the Right Color Combination

Just the way fonts are an important part of your Google Slides presentation design, choosing a good color combination can make your presentation look visually appealing, consistent, and professional.

Unfortunately, a lot of struggle with choosing a good color combination. Thus, I highly advise going with a monochromatic color scheme.

A monochromatic color scheme in a presentation provides a variety of color combinations of the same color. This makes your presentation look consistent and professional.

Moreover, using a monochromatic color scheme is a perfect way option for a beginner as it requires the least amount of time and effort to set up!

Check out my other article on using a monochromatic color scheme for presentations to understand the topic in-depth.

Then, also check out how to use the eyedropper tool in Google Slides to implement the color scheme that you end up choosing.

Make sure that you change the color at the theme level in Google Slides instead of changing it on every single slide. This will save you quite a bit of time!

6. Use the Expore Tool to Generate Slide Designs

Once you’ve decided the fonts, color scheme, and theme, and you have the content structured out, you’ve done most of the hard work!

All you are now left to do is create the slide designs. And, to help you with that, make sure that you use the “ Explore Tool ” in Google Slides.

The “Explore” feature in Google Slides generates slide designs based on the content that is already present on the slide. It is a great way to get a slide designed almost instantaneously!

The “Explore” feature in Google Slides works much as the design ideas feature in PowerPoint.

Based on the content on the slide, it will throw a few suggestions on how the content can be laid out on the slide. You can choose the design you like. If not, you can still design your own slide. But, it is definitely worth trying out first. Pretty cool, isn’t it!

I wrote a detailed article on the Explore Feature in Google Slides . Make sure you check out that article to learn where to find this tool and know how to use it!

That said, one thing to keep in mind is that this feature is still an experimental tool . And, while it is getting better with time, I wouldn’t recommend using it with every single slide.

In my experience, I’ve noticed that using the “Explore” feature in Google Slides works best when you want to create a title slide, a section break slide, or just want to get a few ideas on how the slide can be designed.

7. Apply the 3 by 3 Design Rule

The 3 by 3 design rule, otherwise also known as “ the rule of thirds “, is a principle that has been borrowed from photography. But, it is every bit applicable even for slide designs and other design elements!

As per the 3 by 3 design principle, you basically need to divide the visual canvas into 3 equal-sized vertical and horizontal grids with the help of 2 vertical grid lines and 2 horizontal grid lines.

Here’s a video that explains the concept of the rule of thirds for presentations –

Using these grids helps place the content correctly in the grids such that the key message usually aligns with the way our eyes like to see them visually!

The 3 by 3 design principle may seem confusing at first, but once you’ve understood how to use it, you can literally take your presentation design skills a few notches above the rest!

Using 3X3 Grids to Properly Layout Content on your Slides

The interesting thing is, you can take the same principle to make it work with elements apart from the images that are present on your slide. And, the results are just amazing!

The picture above shows how most people design their slides (on the left). However, you can literally transform the way your slides look by applying the concept of 3×3 grids to any existing content on the slides! (as shown on the right part of the picture above)

Here’s another video that explains how this concept of 3 by 3 grids can be used to take any existing slides and make them better (if they aren’t properly organized).

8. Use Powerful Images

They say – “An image speaks a thousand words!”. This absolutely holds true when it comes to big impact presentation!

If you recollect any one of the top presentations from Steve Jobs. His presentation was almost always using powerful images with very few words on them.

Using images, as opposed to a lot of text, on your presentation has a few advantages of its own –

• Visual Appeal – Using images makes the slide visually appealing. Think about it – if there aren’t too many objects placed on the slide, the chances of making design related mistakes are also far lower!
• Emotional Connect – Using images creates a subtle emotional connect in the minds of the audience with the topic of the presentation and/or the presenter.
• Audience Focus – When you use text on a presentation, often the audience just reads the text and doens’t want to listen to the presenter. Instead, when using the images, you control the focus of the attention of your audience. Once you have their attention, making a presentation impactful is a lot easier!
• Faster Design Process – In most cases, it is faster to find an image and add it to the presentation rather than think of a way to design a slide to communicate a concept. This is especially true if you have only basic design skills.

If you watch some of the most famous TED or TEDx presentations ( know the difference between TED and TEDx presentations here ), it is quite common to see presenters using high-impact images with text. Ever wonder why is it so?

Well, one of the most important reasons is that you are able to control the attention of the audience!

Now, if you are wondering how to find images for your presentation, keep reading as I’ve got some great recommendations for add-ons later in the article!

9. Keep the Text on the Slide Readable

If using images for most slides is not the way for you, then this section is going to be quite important!

In fact, even if you do plan to use just images on your slides, there may still be a few slides where you will need to have some text. If so, make sure that the text on the slide is readable!

Make sure that you don’t use text that is too small to read.

As a general rule – the further the audience is going to be away from the screen, the larger the size of the text!

Here’s what to remember for the size of the text on the slides –

• Presentation seen on a computer screen – If the presentation that you are designing is going to be seen on a computer screen (either over an email or a zoom call), then make sure that the font size used for the presentation is not less than 16 points .
• Presentation seen on a large screen – If the presentation is going to be delivered in an auditorium, then it is recommended to use a font size no less than 30 points . For the rest of the situations, anything in between should be fine!

Also, make sure that you don’t use too much text on the same slide. Remember – you only need to cover one key topic on one slide.

It is totally okay to just use one word in the middle of the slide, and talk about that topic rather than using text from a complete word document on a slide!

If your audience will have to squint to read what is written, it just creates a bad user experience and they quickly lose interest.

Also, for the above reason, don’t include everything on the slide that you plan to say! If you do so, you may come across as a person who is just reading from the slide! Most importantly, the audience is going to end up reading the text from the slide faster than you speak, and end up losing interest in the presentation!

10. Ditch the Bullet Points (Use Infographics Instead!)

Using bullet points on a presentation is so 1990s! It’s just not the way good presentations are given anymore!

If you want your presentation design to look good, make sure that you get rid of bullet points. Instead, you can either use images, icons, or even infographics!

I’ve written an entire article on how to use infographics in Google Slides where I also talk about SmartArt and charts in Google Slides. Make sure you check out that article!

There are a ton of different ways in which you get infographics for Google Slides. I’ve talked about that also in the same article that I’ve linked above.

Likewise, you can also use icons instead of bullet points. Although adding icons to Google Slides is not an option that is available by default, there are a few ways you can work around this problem. For instance, you can use an add-on like “Flaticon” that provides free icons for Google Slides!

If you are wondering how to create a slide with bullet points and use icons or other methods, here’s a good example of an actual client slide that I redesigned –

As you can see on the image, simply using icons and structuring the text to give proper hierarchy to the information can make all the difference to the design of the slide!

In case you don’t want to use icons, you can also use numbers with circles, and use a similar design instead of just adding bullets to your presentation. If you do so, your presentation will still look good!

11. Avoid Using Just Table or a Graph

The next tip to remember is to avoid using just a table or a graph on a slide. Make sure that you also include a few points that act as key takeaways from the information that you provide.

Using just a table will present a lot of information on a single slide. This will definitely cause an information overload. And, even though your audience may be able to assess what is being presented to them, it is important to either highlight key pieces of information in the table or a graph.

Alternatively, you can also add a couple of lines of text indicating the key learnings from the data set.

Don’t get me wrong, it is important to have data sets on a presentation if you have one! But, just make sure that you also highlight key pieces of information that your audience should pay attention to.

12. Keep Animations and Transitions Subtle

Another design tip that you should keep in mind is the use of animations and transitions in Google Slides.

You want to make sure when using animations in Google Slides , you don’t add any funny movements. Think old school when using animations and transitions in your presentation.

Any additional movement or sudden transitions can distract the attention of the audience from the core topic and the messaging of the presentation.

So, make sure that you keep the use of such animations or transitions to the minimal!

13. Use Professional Google Slides Templates

If you find that the free template doesn’t have enough slide layouts for your presentation or doesn’t really fit the topic of your presentation, you may want to consider using professional templates!

There are a ton of different ways you can get templates for Google Slides. Unfortunately, most of the free options (and even most paid options) have outdated designs!

My personal favorite method for getting amazing Google Slides presentation templates is using Envato Elements .

The best part about using Envato Elements is that not only does it provide you with the best-in-class designs for your templates, but it also provides you with an option to download an unlimited number of presentations! (yes, you hear that right!)

Moreover, the pricing of Envato Elements is also really affordable! All you need to do is click on Envato Elements to visit the website, view the templates, and click on the “ Get Unlimited Downloads ” button on the top.

You will be prompted to sign up and pay a subscription. Just go for a monthly subscription and pay for one month (You can easily remove the payment method and cancel your subscription anytime).

Once you’ve logged in, simply cancel your subscription. Your subscription will be valid until the next date of renewal even if you cancel it.

Now, for the one month that you’ve paid, feel free to download all the templates that you like including templates for Google Slides, and PowerPoint!

14. Use Add-ons for Faster and Better Designs

One of the challenges with Google Slides, as opposed to some of the most reliable presentation design software, is the limited number of features it offers.

I suppose we should not really be complaining about it given that we do get a great presentation design application for free along with several additional advantages with Google Slides ! That said, you do feel the need for a few pro-features that PowerPoint has to offer.

However, one way to fix this problem is to use add-ons with Google Slides!

Using add-ons allows you to use third-party tools and bring additional functionalities to your Google Slides presentation!

Add-ons on Google Slides are easy to add. Simply go to the Google Marketplace, and search for the add-on that you would like to add. Install it, and you are done!

Check out my complete guide on using Add-ons on Google Slides where I not only talk about how to use add-ons in Google Slides, but I also provide you with my personal favorite top 5 recommendations of add-ons that you should be using in Google Slides!

15. Hire a Professional

Well, the last tip is not so much as a tool that you can use on Google Slides. But, it is a great hack to ensure that you create great presentation designs!

Simply hire a professional to do the design work for you! You may be wondering that hiring a presentation professional might be difficult. However, that is not the case.

You can easily find some really good presentation designers on Fiverr , and you can start at as little as $5 to $10 dollars per slide! I’ve personally used freelancers from the site, and although finding a good freelancer may take you 15-20 minutes, you can easily outsource your work and let the designer worry about the rest!

The best part is – you don’t have to pay a single penny to hire a professional. You only pay to get the work done!

There are a ton of other platforms to hire professionals that can design a good presentation for you. However, I have found Fiverr (especially for presentation design work) and Upwork to be the most effective.

A Few Things to Remember When Delivering the Presentation

Once you have created an amazing Google Slides presentation, you are perhaps ready to deliver the presentation. However, I’d like to also share a couple of tips that can be helpful when you plan to give the presentation!

So, here they are –

1. Use a Presentation Remote

It doesn’t matter whether you are giving a presentation in an auditorium or online through Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

Using a presentation remote helps you keep your hands free and allows for free movement and hand gestures. This does help engage with your audience.

Check out my other article on using presentation clickers with Google Slides where I provide you with a few tips and recommendations on which remote you should go with.

2. Use the Q&A Tool in Google Slides

A unique feature that Google Slides provides is the Q&A tool. This is great especially if you are delivering a webinar-style presentation or if you are simply addressing a large gathering.

This tool allows your audience to send questions during the course of your presentation. Then, at the end, you can simply view the questions in the Q&A session and answer them one by one!

It is a great way to deliver an engaging presentation using Google Slides!

Credit to cookie_studio (on Freepik) for the featured image of this article (further edited).

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Taking Your Google Slides Presentation to the Next Level (15 Tips)

Learn how to captivate your audience with Google Slides using 15 proven tips that make your presentations unforgettable.

Let’s recall all the meetings, conferences, seminars, webinars, and events that you have attended to date. Now, choose the one that you would like to re-attend. It’s likely the one that added value to your business, enhanced your existing knowledge, and provided you with the right solution, isn’t it? Also, consider what made you spellbound and fall in love with that particular event or conference. We are sure it was the speaker and the presentation.

Presentations are crucial to the success of any business. Whether you are a student, educator, business expert, or healthcare professional, you will need to present at some point in your career. To ease your presentation woes, Google Slides has emerged as a fantastic tool. It is one of the best alternatives to PowerPoint , and it is both easily accessible and user-friendly.

Since its inception until now, Google Slides has undergone many innovative updates. By tapping into the potential of Google Slides and leveraging its mind-blowing features to the fullest, you can create engaging and memorable presentations. In this context, we’ve provided a few hacks in this article to help you make your next Google Slides presentation top-notch.

Table of Content:

• Create Cohesiveness with the Perfect Theme
• Use High-Quality Images to Engage Your Audience
• Explore the Option to Reshape Images
• Add Links to Make Your Presentation More Informative
• Easily Make Changes to All Slides Using the Slide Master
• Easily Add Diagrams
• Add Movement with Animations and Transitions
• Add YouTube Videos to Enhance Your Content
• Use Speaker Notes to Write Key Discussion Points
• Keep Up with Presenter View
• Dictate Your Speaker Notes
• Engage with Audience Questions
• Keep the Audience Engaged with Appropriate Audio
• Collaborate in Real Time
• Put Your Google Slides Presentation on a Website

1. Create Cohesiveness with the Perfect Theme

Google Slides offers a plethora of themes that you can use to give your presentation a harmonious and unified look. With these pre-designed themes , you’re not required to expend effort or devote time to format your slides manually. You simply need to consider your audience, topic, and core message when choosing the right theme. However, if you want to create your own customized theme, Google Slides provides options for that too.

You can choose a pre-designed theme by clicking on the ‘Theme’ option in the menu bar.

Upon clicking ‘Theme ,’ you will see this option with a scroll bar. Select the theme that best fits your presentation’s content and objective, and click on it. The changes will be reflected in real-time. You can also experiment with different theme options until you find the most relevant one.

Click on the ‘ Import theme ‘ button if you want to import pre-designed Google Slides themes saved in your drive or shared folder.

2. Use High-Quality Images to Engage Your Audience

Images can communicate your message more clearly than text. However, be sure to use relevant and high-definition images, as the wrong ones might ruin your entire presentation.

With Google Slides, you have various ways to insert images. You can upload them from your computer or Google Drive.

You can also search for images directly through Google Images . To do this, click on Insert > Image > Search the Web. A panel will open on the right side of your screen. Just type the keyword for the image you want, then click on it to add it to your slide. This way, you won’t need to download and reupload images to your slide.

3. Explore the Option to Reshape Images

Tired of the same old square or rectangular images? Get creative with Google Slides by reshaping your images into various callouts, arrows, shapes, or equations.

First, select the image you want to change. Then, click the ‘ Mask image ‘ option, which you’ll find as a small triangle button on the right side of the Crop icon (as shown in the accompanying screenshot).

You’ll be presented with many reshaping options like Shapes , Arrows , Callouts, and Equations .

For instance, if you choose the Oval shape, you can transform the image into a beautiful new form.

Feel free to explore and experiment with different shapes until you find the one you like. Google Slides lets you undo your changes, so don’t hesitate to try different things.

4. Add Links to Make Your Presentation More Informative

You don’t want to overwhelm your audience by cramming too much text into your slides. So how can you make your presentation richer and more insightful?

Google Slides offers a solution: you can add links to images, websites, other slides in the presentation, or even to files on Google Slides.

To add a link, simply select the text you want to link, then right-click on it or press Ctrl + K (Mac: Cmd + K ) on your keyboard. Next, click on the ‘Link’ option.

Now, type the text you want to display, add the relevant link, and click on ‘Apply .’

5. Easily Make Changes to All Slides Using the Slide Master

Imagine you have a 15-slide presentation and want to make the same adjustments to every slide. Editing each one separately would be time-consuming, wouldn’t it?

Google Slides offers a quicker solution through the ‘ Theme Builder ‘ option found in the View menu and the ‘ Edit Theme ‘ option in the Slide menu.

You can access these options by clicking on either one of them.

Then, simply click on the elements you want to change. Whether you need to modify the font style of titles and subtitles, add your company’s logo to the header or footer, or make other adjustments, these changes will automatically apply to all the slides.

6. Easily Add Diagrams

Diagrams make it simpler for presenters to link different pieces of information and data. This helps the audience understand concepts without difficulty. Plus, diagrams are widely recognized and used in presentations.

To insert a diagram, follow these steps:

• Go to ‘ Insert ‘ and then select ‘ Diagram ‘.
• Depending on your content, choose a diagram type such as Grid , Hierarchy , Timeline , Process , Relationship , Cycle , or others.

Here, we are inserting a Hierarchy diagram.

You’ll find many design options to choose from. You can select the number of levels and colors that suit your needs, and you can also modify the text.

7. Add Movement with Animations and Transitions

Make your presentation more engaging and lively by incorporating animations and transition effects. Use these effects to enhance the visualization of processes, concepts, or stories. Be mindful to use them thoughtfully and not too much, as overuse can distract your audience.

Apply transition effects as you move from one slide to another. Animation effects can be applied to individual elements on a slide, such as images, shapes, or text.

To add an animation, go to the ‘ Insert ‘ tab and click on ‘ Animation ‘.

A panel will then open:

Applying Transition

• To add a slide transition, click the arrow under the ‘ Slide Transition ‘ option. Initially, there will be no transition selected (marked as ‘ None ‘).
• By clicking the drop-down arrow, you can select the effect you want. You can also set the speed of the transition to slow, medium, or fast. After choosing your settings, click ‘ Apply to all slides ‘.

Applying Animation

Choose an object on the slide, such as a video, text, or image, that you want to animate. Then select from the available animation options.

For example, you might want to apply animation to a video.

In Google Slides, you have two ways to animate videos: either play it when you click ‘ Play on click ‘ or have it play automatically. Select the option that fits your needs and click on ‘ Play ‘.

In this case, we’ve chosen the ‘ Play on click ‘ option.

8. Add YouTube Videos to Enhance Your Content

People often prefer visual content, so adding videos can make your content more appealing and engaging. Videos breathe life into your presentation, making it more convincing.

With Google Slides, you can easily include videos from Google Drive or YouTube. Simply click on Insert > Video , and a screen will appear.

From this screen, you can either insert videos saved on your Google Drive or paste a YouTube video URL. You even have the option to search for YouTube videos by entering relevant keywords.

Choose the video you’d like to include and click on ‘ Insert ‘.

Once the video is embedded in the slide, the Format options should automatically appear. If they don’t, just click on Format > Format options.

In this section, you have the ability to customize the video’s start and end time, size, position, and more. Options to mute the audio and alter drop shadow settings are also available.

9. Use Speaker Notes to Write Key Discussion Points

When giving a presentation, it’s often better to avoid paper notes or cue cards for reminding yourself of the important points you want to share with your audience. Instead, Google Slides offers a feature called Speaker Notes . These notes are hidden from the audience but can be seen by the presenter.

Speaker Notes can be found at the bottom of each slide. If you don’t see them, you can make them appear by going to View and clicking on ‘ Show speaker notes ‘. A checkmark symbol (✓) will appear next to this option when you click on it.

To add the text you want, simply click on the speaker notes area and type it in.

Remember, you can view these speaker notes in the Presenter View .

10. Keep Up with Presenter View

With Presenter View in Google Slides, you can see your current slide, speaker notes, and upcoming slides. What’s great about this feature is that only you, the presenter, can see this view, while the audience only sees the slideshow.

To use Presenter View, click the drop-down arrow next to the ‘ Slideshow ‘ button and choose ‘ Presenter View ‘.

When you do this, your presentation will fill the entire screen, and a new window will open where you can view speaker notes and other details. This window won’t be visible to your audience.

11. Dictate Your Speaker Notes

Using Google Slides, you have the ability to dictate the notes for your presentation if your computer is equipped with a microphone. Here’s how you can do it:

• Turn on your microphone.
• Click on the Speaker Notes , located below the slide.
• Then, navigate to Tools > Voice type speaker notes.

A microphone icon will then appear on the slide, as illustrated in a screenshot below.

Click on the microphone icon and begin speaking. Your spoken words will be automatically added to the speaker notes.

When you’re finished, click the microphone icon again to turn off voice typing. To remove the icon, click the ‘ X ‘ in the upper right corner.

12. Engage with Audience Questions

Google Slides enables interactive presentations by allowing you to take real-time questions from your audience.

Select the drop-down arrow next to the ‘ Slideshow ‘ button and pick ‘ Presenter View ‘.

Then, select ‘ Audience Tools ‘. Here, you’ll find the ‘ Audience Q&A ‘ option. Click ‘Start new ‘.

Google Slides will provide a link to your presentation. Share this with your audience.

As questions come in, they’ll show up in a designated box, ready for you to address them individually.

13. Keep the Audience Engaged with Appropriate Audio

Adding audio to your presentation can help connect with your audience and make your content more engaging. However, don’t use audio just to fill space, as it can distract the audience. Only include sound or audio if it complements the flow of the presentation and adds meaning.

Go to Insert > Audio .

A panel will open, allowing you to add audio from your Google Drive or shared files. You can also paste the URL of the specific audio you want to insert.

14. Collaborate in Real Time

ou can share your presentation with your audience and work together in real-time. It’s also possible to create a link that can be used on your website or sent through email.

Click the Share button next to the Slideshow button.

Then, select the people or groups you want to share the presentation with and click Done .

With Google Slides, you can set the access level for each person. This means you can decide if a particular person can view, edit, or comment on the presentation.

You can also choose if only specific people can access the presentation or if anyone with the link can view it.

15. Put Your Google Slides Presentation on a Website

You can place your Google Slides presentation on a website, allowing people to view it without needing to log into their Google accounts. However, they won’t be able to comment or make changes to the presentation.

Follow these steps: Go to File > Share > Publish to Web .

A panel will appear where you can set when the slideshow starts, how quickly the slides advance automatically, and adjust other settings.

Google Slides may have been late to join the presentation scene, but it quickly became a favorite for millions of people who make presentations. Its excellent features like easy sharing, unlimited history of revisions, and real-time collaboration make it a user-friendly tool for crafting engaging presentations on any subject.

If you haven’t tried out the amazing features of Google Slides yet, don’t wait any longer. Start using them to make your next presentations truly memorable for your audience.

Google Slides Tips and Tricks 2024: How to Make Google Slides Look Good?

Google Slides is a go-to tool for making outstanding presentations, thanks to its user-friendly interface, accessibility from anywhere, and easy collaborative options. It improves presentation skills regardless of whether you’re a working professional or a student. In addition, it is a great choice for teams that work remotely. Hence, you should consider learning how to make Google Slides look good.

Learning some quick and easy tips and tricks for Google Slides presentations can help you create, edit, and present more effectively. In this blog, you will discover how to make a good Google Slides presentation by incorporating tips and tricks to enhance the overall visual appeal of your presentations. So, let’s get started. 

What Are The Benefits Of Good Looking Google Slides? 

Several good reasons explain why making your Google Slides look good is crucial:

Increased engagement

Beautifully crafted to not only spark interest but retain a focus that will have your audience stay hooked right through your presentation. Well-designed slides can engage interest and maintain focus, which ensures increased information retention.

Enhances Professionalism

It shows professionalism. Well-prepared, this presentation points out your professionalism. It is proof of investing time and effort into producing a sleek, visually appealing deliverable, a factor speaking to the credibility and authority of your presentation.

Better Communication

Clear, visually attractive slides help you communicate your message to the audience. These may be pictures, graphs, or charts that draw the audience’s attention to certain points or explain difficult ideas.

Brand Representation

Google Slides ensures that your brand is consistently represented through common design elements like color schemes, fonts, or logos. That way, with the consistency in the Google Slides presentation and that of your brand’s visual guideline, an image of cohesion is portrayed, signaling professionalism. Hence, you should consider how to make Google Slides look good.

More Persuasive

Presenting your slides visually and aesthetically increases the perception and persuasiveness of your target audience. Research has shown that individuals are more likely to be persuaded by information that is presented with visual appeal. You can make slides attractive so that you have more persuasive power in presenting your ideas.

Competitive Advantage

Presentations are mostly used in academic, professional, and corporate worlds to display concepts, projects, or proposals being made, whether orally or in writing. When your presentation is visually compelling, you have a competitive advantage, and the decision-maker or stakeholder will remember you.

Create Your Presentation Outline First

The first and foremost step to making a good-looking Google Slides presentation is to plan it out. You should create an outline before actually creating your Google Slides presentation. How can you effectively design a presentation without thinking about what your slide will present? That’s why before discussing how to make Google Slides look good, we will see how to create an outline.

An outline of the presentation ensures that you include all the crucial elements and meeting agenda in your slides. It helps you clarify the goal of the meeting. It also saves time and makes the whole process more effective, as you already know what items to add to the presentation.

You need to think clearly about your discussion topic and meeting agenda to create an outline. A few things to consider while making the outline are as follows :

• What are the objectives you want to achieve from this presentation?
• Who is your audience?
• What are the frequently asked questions?
• How will you structure the content?

After you have listed all the required elements, you are ready to create the Google Slides presentation. Now, let’s discuss how to make your Google slides look cool.

How To Make Google Slides Look Good? 

Making good-looking presentations is crucial for effective presentation and to captivate your audience’s attention. Google Slides has various features that can be used to improve the appearance of your presentation. Here are a few Google Slides design tips and tricks to help you improve your visual elements and capture audience attention:

Choose Better Slides Layout

• Add well-structured quality content
• Pay attention to fonts
• Select the right color

Mask Your Images Into Different Fun Shapes

• Include animations and transitions
• Use Infographics to present data 

Add a Q&A section to make your presentation interactive

Let’s look deep into each of these tips on how to make Google slide look good:

The most crucial aspect of making a good-looking presentation is its layout. Google Slides offers multiple layout options so you can better present your content. It provides placeholders for texts, images, and other elements where you can easily add your content. Choose a layout that best suits your presentation style and customize it according to your needs.

You can utilize the master slides tool. All you have to do is customize the master slide, and all the settings of your master slide will reflect in all the other slides. This master slide can help you change the backgrounds, themes, and placeholders of all your slides. It will save you time; you won’t have to edit each slide separately. Using the master Slides tool also ensures consistency throughout your Google Slides presentation.

Add well-structured & quality content

We all know content is the king. You can try all the hacks to make your Google slides look good, but they will not attract your audience unless the content is of good quality. Your content should have a clear hierarchy with headings and texts. Your audience should clearly understand what you are talking about. Keep your font size consistent. Well-structured content with a good flow of information always works.

Your slides should contain well-structured and formatted content. This means you have to present your content in a flow—start with the basics and then gradually discuss each section. This keeps your audience aligned with the presentation, and it’s easier for them to comprehend your point. 

How to make Google Slides look good using proper fonts?

• Choose fonts that are easy to read, legible, and clear. You can also choose to add fonts to your presentation to improve your text.
• Create a visual hierarchy by using various font sizes, weights, and styles. 
• Make sure that essential headings and titles are more noticeable, and supporting material should be less stressed or smaller.
• Predefine the font size based on the headers and in a single slide. To maintain consistency and avoid visual clutter, limit the number of typefaces you use to two or three.

READ MORE: How to Embed Fonts in PowerPoint?  

Select The Right Colors

• Choose a consistent color scheme that goes well with your presentation. 
• Apply the principles of color theory and vision sciences to produce pleasing pairings and recognize the psychological effects of various hues to use them to communicate messages.
• Use colors to highlight crucial components, such as headlines, titles, critical information, or call-to-action options. 
• Ensure sufficient contrast between the text and backdrop colors for reading. Dark text on a light background or vice versa makes for the best readable combination.

Add Images 

A presentation with only text is dull, especially if it is lengthy. Too much text makes your presentation boring, and your audience might lose interest. The best way to keep your audience hooked is by using Images. Add Images that align with your content piece. The added images will enhance your presentation, and it will become easy for your audience to grasp the concept.

Your image should clearly portray the theme you are talking about. Even if users don’t read the text, they will still understand the topic just by looking at your images. You should add images at regular intervals to make your Google slides visually appealing. Ensure your images have a consistent visual style across your slides.

Reflect the Images

You can also use this feature for some of your images in Google Slides to make your presentation more creative and grab your audience’s attention. 

To apply this feature, select the image you want to reflect, go to the “Format” option, and choose the desired reflection. Click “Flip horizontally” or “Flip vertically” to reflect the image along the horizontal or vertical axis. You may adjust the size and transparency of your image.

Now we will discuss how to make Google Slides look good using shapes. Break free from the confines of square or rectangular images. Unleash your creativity by transforming your images into various PowerPoint shapes , arrows, callouts, or equations using Google Slides. Here’s how:

• To access the hidden photo masking choices, click the image you wish to cover up on your Google Slides presentation.
• Locate the ‘Mask picture’ option near the Crop symbol. It’s the tiny triangle button that you need to toggle. To reshape your image, choose the shape, arrow, callout, or equation you want to use. There are numerous shapes to choose from.
• Using shapes, arrows, callouts, and inserting equations , you may alter images in Google Slides.

Feel free to try new things and explore your alternatives. Remember that you can permanently erase changes you make to Google Slides.

READ MORE: How to Make An Image Transparent in Google Slides?

Use Infographics to present data

Infpgraphcos combines information and graphics to help you present complex data easily. Infographics are suitable for showcasing diverse data, like process steps or historical values, not just paragraphs or charts. Even Google Slides offers a built-in feature to create infographics. 

You can create infographics by navigating to the Insert menu and selecting diagrams. From there, you can choose multiple templates, such as hierarchical charts or flowcharts . You can customize the infographic and add content and colors to suit your preferences.

 Use infographics templates , or make one yourself using graphical tools. Convert two long paragraphs into visually engaging bullet points in Google Slides presentation using infographics. 

How to make Google slides look good with Animations & Transitions?

Now, we will discuss how to make slides look good. Transitions and animations are some of the visual effects offered in Google Slides. These effects increase how the slides change from one to another and how elements in the slides either appear or move while making a presentation. These attributes make them livelier and more attractive.

Transitions

These assist in controlling how slides change from one to the other during the presentations. The transitions are the movements and effects to and from slides that set the stage for its movement from slide to slide. Some common effects include fades, slides, flips, and dissolves.

Google Slides offers different transition options that may be assigned to individual slides or even the whole presentation. Animations:

Slide animations help in adding movement and effects to text, pictures, shapes, and other elements of an individual slide. They can appear, disappear, or move from place to place on the slide. The users are able to add animations to individual elements and set the timing, duration, and effect details for those elements. Among those are entrance animations, exit animations, emphasis animations, and motion paths. Users may add animations to specific elements and set up their timing, duration, and effect by applying custom emphasis, exit, or entrance animation to the object.

Follow the below tips to learn how to make your Google slides look better by adding animations and transitions:

• Choose smooth, unobtrusive slide animations and transitions. Avoid using distracting or flashy effects that might obscure your text.
• Create visual links between slides for seamless flow using one transition. 
• Adjust timing for a smooth pace of transition, enabling the audience to follow the progression of your slides smoothly.
• Employ animations judiciously to emphasize essential points or reveal information by selecting animating text, photos, or charts.

Let’s discuss how to make Google Slides look good by adding a Q&A section at the end. The best presentations are interactive in nature, where both parties engage—the presentation host and the audience. To fully engage your audience, you should add an O&A section at the end of your presentation. It will allow you to address and resolve your audience’s queries during the presentation. Allow your audience to ask questions and provide them with clear answers.

Google Slides Tips And Tricks

Getting well-versed with some of the most essential Google Slides tutorials and hacks is vital to making your presentation unique and appealing. Below are some of the most used Google Slide hacks and tricks:

• Maintain consistency across slides
• Insert images directly from Google Images
• Add various Google Slides diagrams
• Modify the slide master to make extensive changes
• Embedding YouTube videos to Google Slides
• Use Google Slides Templates

How to make Google Slides look good by Maintaining Consistency Across Slides?

Are you thinking about how to make your Google slides look cool? One of the easiest options is to maintain consistency in your slides. Consistency in Google Slides maintains professionalism, brand identity, and audience appeal. 

The consistency of design elements like font, color, or layout retains a professional outlook. At the same time, this is good for the audience because it does not put extra pressure on them, avoiding cognitive loads that enable better understanding and retention of information. Consistent branding elements might further help in branding identity and sometimes even help improve the visibility of the brand. 

At the same time, templates and master slides foster the process of presentation creation in general since visual inconsistencies and lack of polished looks across the slides are already taken care of. This, in other words, showed that consistency in design conformed to the better professional, cohesive, and engaging presentation experience of the audience in general.

Insert Images Directly From Google Images

One of the most useful Google slide tips is to insert images directly from Google. There are billions of images indexed in Google Image Search. To add pictures directly from Google Images:

• Open your Google Slides Presentation
• Select “Insert” > “Image” > “Search the web” from the drop-down menu.
• The “Search for Google Images” side panel will display on the right side of your screen.
• Just enter the keyword(s) for your image in the search box below to see the results. 
• The final step would be to click on the photo(s) you want to utilize in your slide.

Add Various Google Slides Diagrams

Follow the below steps to learn how to make Google Slides look good:

• Select “Insert” > “Diagram” to add a diagram to your slides. The diagrams side panel will show up on the right side of your screen.
• The six types of diagrams available are Grid, Hierarchy, Timeline, Process, Relationship, and Cycle diagrams.
• Please choose the most appropriate options and make changes until you discover your presentation’s ideal diagram.

One of the most helpful Google Slides tips and tricks has to be adding hyperlinks in your presentation to make it more engaging. Google Slides allows you to add hyperlinks to websites, images, texts in Google Slides presentation. You can link your files on Google Drive and even to other slides in your presentation! Here is how:

• Open Google Slides presentation.
• To insert a hyperlink, click on the text or image you wish to connect to.
• Next, press “CTRL+K” or right-click your mouse and select “Link” from the menu that appears.
• Enter or paste the web URL to add a link.
• Finally, press the “Apply” button.

You can also choose to link slides in the same Google Slides presentation. Google also will show relevant Google Drive files to link to your Google Slides presentation.

Modify The Slide Master To Make Extensive Changes

Instead of editing each slide, you may go to the slide master, and all of the slides in your presentation will be updated immediately:

• Select “Slide” > “Edit Master” to edit your slide master. 
• Click or select the elements you want to alter. For example, you can add your company’s logo to the header or footer, and it will automatically appear on all your slides.

Embedding YouTube Videos To Google Slides

You can embed YouTube videos in your presentation, one of the finest methods to make it more engaging. Follow the below steps to learn how to make Google Slides look good:

• Open your Google Slides presentation. Select “Insert” > “Video”.
• You can search for videos in your Google Drive account, add a direct link (URL) to a video that is already online, or search on “YouTube.”
• Clicking on the video will cause the “Format Choices” button to appear on the menu bar, allowing you to edit and format your video.
• The “Format options” side panel will appear on your screen when you click this button.
• You are free to change the drop shadow settings, drop shadow size and position, and the video playback parameters.

Using the above Google slides tips, you can deliver interesting and memorable presentations. Remember that the foundations of an effective presentation are simplicity, compelling imagery, and understanding your audience. 

Since you have learned these Google Slides tips and tricks, it is time to apply them using our top Google Slides templates. 

Make Use Of Google Slides Presentation Templates

• Optimizing your presentation design with each new presentation is time-consuming. This is where Google Slides templates help. 
• Instead of starting from zero, you have pre-made Google Slides themes, in which you can insert your content and alter the template based on the presentation. 
• Google Slides includes over twenty preset templates. You can use the theme builder to make changes to each slide individually.

Top 5 Templates for Google Slides Presentations

We discussed how to make Google Slides look good. But, it might be time-consuming for you to create Google Slides presentations from scratch. That’s why we have created numerous Google Slides templates for you to start with. We have compiled a list of the top 5 Google Slides templates:

Project Status Review Deck Google Slides Template

• 30-60-90-Day Plan Google Slides Template

Milestone Google Slides Template

• Startup Pitch Google Slides Template
• Business Review Google Slides Template
• The purpose of the Project Status Review Deck is to discuss and contrast project progress over a given time frame with the project plan. 
• They are used In project management. Any project’s success depends on the project status review process. 
• The Project Status Review deck provides crucial information in a compact format, helping with effective decision-making and informing all parties.

30 60 90 Day Plan Google Slides Template

• This 30-60-90-Day Plan template is a visual presentation demonstrating thorough planning for the first 90 days of employment. 
• The template is divided into three panes that are horizontally spaced apart so that new managers, new hires, team leaders, sales managers, and other users can express their aims and objectives simply. 
• 30-60-90-Day Plan Templates can be used as a goal-setting framework to show off your diverse priorities and track your efforts toward various goals.
• This Template gives your presentation a polished, expertly designed elegance. It has five customizable steps that deal with immersion, design, creation, operation, and measurement.
• Professionals use milestone templates when discussing the project’s objectives, activities, and results. 
• This template is also available in animation, giving presentations to stakeholders, investors, and clients with a professional image.

Startup Pitch Google Slides Deck  

• The Startup Pitch Deck is a valuable pre-made template for companies preparing to introduce a new service or product. 
• It is more geared toward companies looking to introduce their fresh product concepts to clients or investors. 
• The pitch deck templates are useful for marketers and young entrepreneurs to make presentations on competitive analysis, revenue models, roadmaps, financial needs, etc.

Business Review Dashboard Google Slides Template      

• Professionals can display and analyze business data more effectively with the help of this Business Review Dashboard template. 
• Its comprehensive dashboard architecture allows users to understandably present performance measurements, financial statistics, and other relevant data.

Google Slides is a flexible platform that enables users to produce engaging presentation material. By adhering to design principles, using its features, and adopting effective presentation techniques, you can create captivating Google Slides presentations that charm your audience and effectively communicate your message.

Using the above tips and tricks for Google Slides, you can deliver interesting and memorable presentations. Remember that the foundations of an effective presentation are simplicity, compelling imagery, and understanding your audience. 

You can make aesthetically stunning slides that successfully communicate your message by taking inspiration from several presentation themes and customizing them to your topic. Now that you have learned how to make Google Slides look good, it’s time to put your skills to the test and boast in front of your peers by exploring our vast gallery of Google Slides templates . If you wish to learn more of such tips and hacks to master the art of Google Slides presentation, check out our Google Slides tutorials .

How to make google slides more visually appealing?

Follow the steps below to make your presentation look good on Google Slides:

• Use a suitable Google Slides theme .
• Use consistent fonts.3
• Make use of high-quality photos.
• Layouts should be basic and aligned.
• Use subtle transitions.

How can I choose the best color scheme for my Google Slides presentation?

Keep these Google Slides tips in mind to choose the best color scheme for your presentation:

• Colors should complement the tone and purpose of your text.
• Avoid extremely bright or conflicting pairings.
• Always choose complementary colors.

How can I add visual effects to my slides in the best way?

 Here are a few points to add visuals to your slides in the best possible way:

• Ensure a unified design
• Time your animations and transitions carefully. Animations should coincide with your speech and flow naturally.
• Set Master Slide as the default for all fonts, colors, and background components.

How can text and images on a slide be balanced most effectively?

Keep these things in mind to make text and images on a slide look equally balanced:

• Add images to your post to help it along. 
• Use visuals, charts, or icons to convey difficult ideas.
• Avoid using only text to highlight crucial aspects.

How can I keep the audience engaged with slides effectively using transitions?

Follow the below steps on how to improve your Google slides:

• Utilize subtle transitions.
• Create seamless visual links between slides for a smooth flow.
• Adjust timing for a natural transition pace.
• Enhance key points with strategic animations.
• Avoid excessive animations that may distract or overwhelm your audience.

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How-To Geek

7 google slides features for eye-catching presentations.

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• Apply Image Effects
• Crop an Image to a Shape
• Place Text in Front of an Image
• Shorten Lengthy Videos
• Insert a Chart or Graph
• Position Slide Items With Guides
• Use Subtle Slide Transitions

Assembling a professional slideshow can be intimidating if you don't feel creative or artistic. But that doesn't mean you can't make an appealing and successful presentation. Google Slides provides features to help you design an attractive slideshow.

1. Apply Image Effects

You may have an image or two that could use a little pizzazz. Google Slides offers shadow and reflection features that may give your picture or photo just the right touch.

Related: How to Make an Image Transparent in Google Slides

Select your image and choose "Format Options" in the toolbar. When the sidebar opens, check the box for Drop Shadow or Reflection. Then, expand that section to adjust the transparency , distance, angle, or size.

This lets you take ordinary images up a notch.

2. Crop an Image to a Shape

Another way to make an image stand out is by cropping it to a shape . This is referred to as using a mask in Google Slides.

Select your image and click the Mask Image arrow attached to the Crop Image button in the toolbar. Move to Shapes, Arrows, Callouts, or Equation to see the available shapes in the pop-out menu.

Then simply click the shape you want to use. You'll see your image cropped to fit the shape.

To make additional adjustments to the image, select "Format Options" in the toolbar. You can change the size, rotation, position, brightness, or contrast.

3. Place Text in Front of an Image

For things like a title slide, section divider, or conclusion, you may want a unique look. You can place text in front of (or even behind) an image.

Related: How to Place Images Behind or in Front of Text in Google Slides

With your image and text on the slide, move the text box on top of the image. If the text displays behind the image, select the box and head to the Arrange tab.

Choose Order and pick either "Bring to Front" to place the text box on top of all slide elements or "Bring Forward" to place the text box one level up.

This lets you create a different look or save space, and it works well for welcome, transitional, or wrap-up slides.

4. Shorten Lengthy Videos

If you want to include a video in your slideshow but trim it to only show a certain part of the clip, you can do so right in Google Slides.

Select your video and click "Format Options" in the toolbar. When the sidebar opens, expand Video Playback.

If you have the exact times you want to use, enter those in the Start At and End At boxes. You'll then only see that part of the video when you play it in the presentation.

If you aren't certain of the times, press Play in the preview of the video in the sidebar. When you reach the spot where you want to start the video, pause the playback and click "Use Current Time" below the Start At box. Then, do the same for the end time to the right.

You can then play the video on your slide to make sure you've got the timing correct or adjust it further in the sidebar. Optionally, you can check the box for Mute Audio if needed.

Related: How to Add Videos and Customize Playback in Google Slides

5. Insert a Chart or Graph

Slideshows are all about visuals. So, if you have data you want to present, using a chart or graph is a good way to do it. If you have a chart in Google Sheets you want to use, you can simply insert it. Alternatively, you can create a graph from scratch.

Select the slide where you want the chart. Go to Insert > Chart and choose a chart type to create one or "From Sheets" to import one.

If you make your own graph, you'll see sample data when you insert the chart. Use the arrow on the top right to pick "Open Source."

Google Sheets will open with the sample data in a new tab. Then just add your own data.

Return to the Google Slides tab and update the chart using the Update button. You'll then see your updated visual.

From there, you can do things like resize the chart to add some text or a title or apply a border. For a full tutorial on creating a chart in Google Slides , check out our how-to.

Related: How to Create a Graph in Google Slides

6. Position Slide Items With Guides

To make sure that your images, videos, text, shapes, and other items are placed neatly on the slide, you can use the built-in guides.

Go to View, move to Guides, and pick "Show Guides." You'll see horizontal and vertical lines appear which help you to line up your items perfectly.

To make aligning items to the guides even better, you can add a snap. Head back to View, move to Snap To, and pick "Guides."

Once you enable the second feature, you'll see red horizontal and vertical lines appear as you drag your item on the slide. You can then release the item once it's lined up with those indicators.

For additional details on using guides in Google Slides , take a look at our tutorial.

Related: How to Use Guides to Position Items in Google Slides

7. Use Subtle Slide Transitions

Rather than a sudden jolt from slide to slide, consider using subtle slide transitions. You can apply a fade, dissolve, or other effect for a nicer transition from one slide to the next .

Select a slide to start with; you can easily apply the transition to all slides later. Click "Transition" in the toolbar. When the sidebar opens, expand the section below Slide Transition.

Use the drop-down box to choose an effect. You'll see dissolve, fade, slide, flip, and more.

After you pick an effect, press "Play" at the bottom of the sidebar to see a preview. You can also adjust the speed of the transition using the slider.

To use the transition throughout your presentation, click "Apply to All Slides." When you finish, simply close the sidebar. When you play your slideshow, you'll see that attractive transition between slides.

With tools for sprucing up images , removing unnecessary video content, and replacing data with visuals, consider these Google Slides features for your next presentation.

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Get a jump start with templates

Whether you're creating a template that your team can reuse or keeping your external branding consistent, use templates to help your presentations look sharp and professional.

Use a template from the Template Gallery

• On your computer, go to Google Docs , Sheets , Slides ,  Forms , or Sites .
• At the top right , click Template Gallery .
• Click the template you want to use.
• A copy of the template opens.

Tip: If the template you choose has "Add-on" next to it, you may have to install an add-on to use it. Learn more about add-ons .

Learn more at the Google Docs Editors Help Center

Use a template with your organization's branding

• On your computer, open a presentation in Google Slides .

• At right, click the template you want to use.

Note: The Templates option appears only if your administrator makes organization-branded slides available.

Use Theme builder to create template slides

Want to keep a consistent theme throughout your presentation? Use the Theme builder editor in Google Slides to create templates slides. You can change the background, theme, layout, and more for all your slides.

• Add your company logo or other branding to each slide.
• Keep text size and color consistent.
• Create unique layouts that you can reuse.
• Go to Slides .
• Open an existing presentation.

• (Optional) To rename your presentation, click Untitled presentation and enter a new name.

• (Optional) To choose an existing theme, on the right, select a theme.
• From the toolbar, choose options to customize the template.

Import themes from other presentations

See a presentation with a theme you like? Need consistent styles and branding across all your team's presentations? Instead of creating your slides or themes from scratch, import them using Google Slides.

• Train new employees remotely.
• Get clients up to speed with project ideas.
• Hold virtual conferences and present your ideas.
• Share your meeting notes, projects, roadmaps, and research with international stakeholders.
• Brainstorm and edit proposals with remote team members.

Import a theme from another presentation

Important:  Your imported theme must be from an existing Google Slides or PowerPoint presentation. You can also use your own image as the background for the entire presentation . 

• On your computer, open a presentation in Google Slides. 

• In the bottom right, click  Import theme.
• Double-click the presentation you want to use. 
• Click the theme you want. 
• Click  Import theme.

Import slides from another presentation

• Open a presentation.
• Choose a presentation from Drive or choose a presentation to upload from your computer.
• Click Select .
• Click the slides in the presentation you’d like to import. Use the Select Slides: All option to quickly select all slides.
• Check the Keep original theme box if you want to import the slides unmodified. Uncheck the box if you want the slides to fit into the look of your new presentation.
• Click Import slides .

Do more with add-ons and scripts

Use ready-made add-ons to do more with Gmail and Google Docs , Sheets , Slides , and Forms . You can also create your own scripts in any of the Docs editors with Google Apps Script .

• Add Google Analytics to your spreadsheet.
• Add a thesaurus to your document.
• Add form responses in Docs to create a poll.
• Add interactive questions to your presentation.
• Manage sales and customer relationships directly in Gmail.
• Add custom menus and windows with Google Apps Script.

Install an add-on

• On your computer, open a document , spreadsheet , or presentation .

• Point to an add-on to find a short description. To find a full description, click the add-on.
• For most add-ons, a message will appear requesting access to data that the add-on needs to work. Read the message, then click Allow .
• After the add-on installs, click Done .

Create a script

• In Docs , Sheets , Slides , or Forms , open a document, spreadsheet, presentation, or form.

• Create your script.

For help, see Overview of Google Apps Script .

Analyze presentation data with charts

If your Slides presentation has a lot of data, help your audience easily visualize it by turning your information into charts. Just create a chart in Sheets and add it to your presentation. Your chart is linked to your Sheets data, so any changes you make to your data automatically update in your presentation.

Add a chart from Google Sheets to a presentation

• On your computer, open a document or presentation in Google Docs or Google Slides .

• Click the spreadsheet with the chart you want to add, then click Select .
• If you don't want the chart linked to the spreadsheet, uncheck "Link to spreadsheet."
• Click Import .

Edit chart data from a slide

• Click a chart or table to select it.

• You can now change the original file.

Update your chart to the latest data

If you make a change in your spreadsheet, you might want to make sure your chart gets updated in your presentation

• In the top right corner of the chart, table, or slide click Update .

Enhance your presentation with images

If you’re discussing complex processes in your presentation, use images to make your content easier to understand.

Add an image to a presentation

• On your computer, open a document or presentation in Google  Docs  or  Slides .
• Upload from computer : Insert an image saved on your device.
• Search the web : Search the web for an image.
• GIFs and stickers: Insert a GIF or a sticker to your slide.
• Drive : Use an image saved to your Google Drive.
• Photos : Use an image from your Google Photos library.
• By URL : Insert a link to your image or insert a .gif.
• Click Insert or Open .

Learn how to add images in Sheets.

Add transitions and animations

Transitions make moving from one slide to the next a little more interesting, by fading or sliding into the next slide. Animations make shapes, images, or text boxes dynamic—they can fade in or out, appear and disappear, or fly in and out with the click of a button.

Animate text or images

• Click the text or image you want to animate.

Add slide transitions

• On the left, click the slide you want to transition to.

Change animations and transitions

• Click the animation you want to change.
• To change the speed of the animation, drag the slider.
• To animate lists one line at a time, check the box next to "By paragraph."

Add flowcharts and diagrams

Flowcharts and diagrams make difficult concepts easy to understand. Create them right in your browser with Google Drawings , no software needed.

Create a flowchart, diagram, or other type of drawing

• On your computer, open a document.
• Click the drawing you want to insert. 
• Click  Select .

Add your drawing to a presentation

The inserted drawing is linked to the original drawing.

• To update the drawing— Click the drawing. In the top right, click Update .

Add a diagram to your presentation

Important:  You can insert a diagram in any language that uses the Latin alphabet.

• Go to the slide where you want to add the diagram.
• Choose your style, number of levels, and template.
• The diagram will get added to the slide. You can change it how you want.

Space table rows & columns evenly in Slides

In Google Slides, you can resize table rows and columns so that each one is evenly spaced.

Evenly space table rows & columns in Slides

• On your computer, open a document or presentation.
• Right-click a table.
• Click Distribute rows or Distribute columns .

Add text with your voice

Chrome Browser only, microphones required

You can type and edit by speaking in Google Docs or in Google Slides speaker notes. Anything you say turns into text.

• On the go? Speak your notes, edits, and feedback to add them to documents.
• Use voice commands to change font styles, add tables, insert links, and more.

Start voice typing in a document

• Check that your microphone works.
• Open a document in Google Docs in a supported browser.
• When you're ready to speak, click the microphone.
• Speak clearly, at a normal volume and pace (check below for more information on using punctuation).
• When you're done, click the microphone again.

Start voice typing in Slides speaker notes

• In a Chrome browser, open a presentation in Google Slides.
• The speaker notes open and a microphone box shows.
• When you're ready to speak, click the  Microphone .
• For more information on how to use punctuation, check below.
• When you're done, click the  Microphone .

Change how text fits in placeholders and text boxes

When you’re entering text in a presentation, you can customize how text fits in placeholders and text boxes. For example, you can resize a placeholder to fit the amount of text you need. Or, size your text based on the size of a text box.

Customize how text fits in placeholders and text boxes

• Select the placeholder or text box.
• To allow text to exceed the placeholder or box, select Do not autofit .
• To resize text based on the size of the placeholder or box, select Shrink text on overflow .
• To resize the placeholder or box to fit the text, select Resize shape to fit text .

Customize default setting for new text boxes

You can change the setting for any new text boxes you create. Changing the setting will not affect any placeholders or boxes in templates.

• Check the Use custom autofit preferences box.
• Under Theme text placeholders and New text boxes , select Do not autofit , Shrink text on overflow , or Resize shape to fit text .

Update presentations on the go

Edit presentations on your mobile device with the Slides app . Whether you’re on the way to the airport or visiting a customer, it’s easy to update training modules, pitch decks, and more. Any changes you make automatically sync to all your devices, so you’re always up to date.

Use the Google Slides app

• Open the Play Store .
• In the top search bar, enter Google Slides .
• Tap Install . The Google Slides app will appear on your Home screen.

Present to remote audiences

You can use Google Meet to show a Slides presentation and share links to reference materials using the built-in chat. If you're presenting in an office meeting room, use Companion mode when presenting from your laptop to avoid echo.

Control Slides presentations in Google Meet

If you’re using Google Meet on an eligible work or school account, you can control Google Slides presentations from within a Google Meet video meeting. You can also make other people in the video meeting co-presenters.

Important : To control a Google Slides presentation from a Google Meet video meeting, you must use a computer with a Chrome browser.

• In a Chrome tab or window, open the Slides file you want to present.
• In a different Chrome window, open Google Meet and join a video meeting.
• You can either present from the Google Meet tab, or present directly from the Slides tab .
• Select the tab with the Slides presentation, then click Share .
• Important: You can only control a presentation in Google Meet when you're in slideshow mode.
• Click to the next or previous slide with the arrow buttons.
• Jump to a specific slide by clicking the slide number, and choosing from the list of slides.

Remember key points with speaker notes

Presentations can be long, detailed, and complex. Make your talking points easier to recall by using speaker notes in Slides. If you have a lot of ground to cover, use the timer feature to make sure you keep your presentation on track.

View a presentation with speaker notes

• Open a presentation in Google Slides .

• Click Presenter view .
• Click Speaker notes .

Focus your audience's attention with a built-in laser pointer

Have a lot of detailed information in your presentation? Focus your audience’s attention on specific parts of your slides by using your mouse as a laser pointer. Help your audience know where to look and when.

Use other options when you're presenting

When you present, you can choose more options from the toolbar at the bottom of the presentation window:

• Select slides to present from a list
• Open "Presenter" view
• Turn on laser pointer
• Print the presentation
• Download the presentation in PDF or PPTX format

Skip slides you don't want to show

You can skip slides you don't want to show to others when you're presenting. People you've shared the slide with will still be able to see the slide.

• At the left, right-click the slide or slides you want to skip.
• Click Skip Slide .
• Optional: To show a skipped slide, click Skip Slide  again.

Turn on closed captions

You can use automatic captions during your presentation to display your words in real time at the bottom of the screen.

Your computer microphone needs to be on and working and you need to be using Chrome. This feature is only available in U.S. English.

Learn how at the Google Docs Editors Help Center

Engage your audience with interactive Q&A sessions

Instead of giving a one-sided talk, get your audience involved by conducting a Q&A session right from Slides. Audience members can submit questions in real time and vote on them during the presentation. 

• If you can’t get through everyone’s questions, just answer the questions with the highest audience votes.
• Want to know what people are interested in before your presentation? Send your audience the presentation link first so they can submit questions before you present.
• Encourage shy people to interact by submitting questions in real time, anonymously.

You can start a live Q&A session in your Google Slides presentation and present questions at any time. Viewers can ask questions from any device.

Start your Q&A and get questions from viewers

• Open a Google Slides presentation.

• Click Presenter View .
• To start a new session, click Start new .
• To resume a recent session, click Continue recent .
• Tip : Even if you don't turn off Q&A, the Q&A view closes shortly after you end your Google Slide presentation.

When you start the session, a short URL for the presentation shows up at the top of the slides as you're presenting. Viewers can enter the URL in their browser to submit a question. You'll see questions in the Presenter view window.

Display a question to viewers

Presenters can display audience questions in a presentation:

• Under "Audience Tools," find a question to display.
• To change the question, find a different question and click Present .
• To hide the question, click Hide .

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🌶️ 7 ways to spice up Google Slides

Wonder tools | easy new ways to strengthen your presentations 🪩.

Summary : Strengthen your Google Slides with new templates that make presentations look better, plug-ins that add interactivity, and AI to help draft decks quickly. For even more polished presentations, pick from six of the best alternatives to GSlides. 🪩

1. Turn your notes or writing into slides with AI 🤖

SlidesAI can turn text into a Google Slides presentation draft. Paste in text, select a template style, then edit the generated presentation. Pricing: free for 3 presentations/month or $10/month for 10 monthly presentations.

Compare : I converted a draft of a Medium post I’m working on into a presentations with Gamma , Beautiful.ai and SlidesAI . Bottom line: For higher-quality AI generation, use Gamma or Beautiful.ai .

2. Add cool visuals with AI images 🌠

Join Google's Workspace Labs to generate free images with Gemini AI inside Google Slides. Write a prompt and get four image options. Then pick your preferred style, such as photograph or sketch. See a gif of this.

3. Make your slides interactive with polls + activities ❤️‍🔥

Slido for Google Slides lets you insert live questions into a presentation. (See a video demo). Respondents can use a QR code to answer on their phone, or they can visit slido.com and use a code you show on your slide. When I present or teach online, I paste the poll link into the chat. My favorite poll type: word clouds for ice-breakers. (e.g. “What’s one word that describes your view on X”). Poll results update live on your slides. Here’s why Slido is my pick for polling.

Poll Everywhere for Google Slides is another good interaction option. One of its cool features: people can respond to questions on your slides via SMS. Poll Everywhere also has a wider range of poll questions. You can ask people to annotate an image, for example.

Nearpod for Google Slides is also useful for live interaction, and has a useful variety of activities for classes and workshops. It was designed for K-12 educators, but can work well in other settings as well.

Pear Deck is a free add-on that’s great for teaching or leading workshops or meetings. People watching your presentation can answer questions on your slides or add annotations on their own screens. Here’s how and why to use it .

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4. Explore new designs with template galleries 👩‍💻

Google Slides ’s biggest limitations: a clunky editing interface and weak templates. Many feature small fonts and overemphasize bullet points. These lead novices to draft death-by-Powerpoint presentations overflowing with bullets and tiny text. Fortunately, there’s a vibrant ecosystem for well-designed free templates.

Slides Carnival Try this timeline template or a good yellow-and-black explanatory theme , or this customizable Jeopardy game .

Slidesgo Use a dark, minimalist marketing template

Slidecore has a nice game show template , ala Who Wants to Be a Millionaire .

Slidesmania Start with a colorful, clean template or make a simple resume

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5. Jazz up your slides with apps 🎺

Slides add-on apps in the Google Workspace Marketplace. Try these:

Creator Studio Export a gif or a video of your slide deck. Simple and free.

Unsplash Search for pro photos you can add free to your slides.

Noun Project Find icons that accentuate your message.

Slides Toolbox Add new features to Google Slides. e.g. Turn a collection of photos into slides, or convert a Google Doc into a slide deck.

6. Try these advanced tricks ♠️

🎛️ Blend your slide decks While working on a slide deck, you can import slides from any deck you’ve ever created in Google Slides. Copy over an entire deck or individual slides. Mix and match as you would playlist songs. 🎶

🔗 Link slides Create master slides for oft-used company stats, quotes, team members or metrics. Insert those master slides as linked slides into other presentations. Then, whenever you update one of these linked master slides, it’s updated everywhere. So you don’t have to update the same information in every single slide deck separately. Here’s how . Most other slide tools don't enable this.

🤳 Present from your phone. Android & iOS versions of Google Slides let you present online or with a projector via AirPlay or Chromecast. Alternatively share a link to your slides or download a PDF.

↕️ Go vertical Change the slide canvas dimensions to make a handout or poster.

7. Check out these public Google Slides presentations 👀

Heystack curates notable public Google Slides decks, including:

Mr. Beast, a Creator Breakdown — Not a pretty deck, but informative

Remote Work Starter Kit — Well-designed, with useful frameworks

Data & Narratives — 101 slides with insights about data visualization

The ChatGPT Prompt Book — A guide with examples for mastering ChatGPT

Out of Office — Explaining the origins and impacts of Internet memes

Jason’s Machine Learning 101 — a now-classic explanatory resource

Got a Google Slides trick, tip or tool? Leave a comment 👇

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The 6 best alternatives to Google Slides

Gamma is the best new presentation tool. I’m writing a full post on it soon.

Pitch has a terrific array of professional templates. Why I use it so much .

Beautiful.ai is excellent for visual slides and charts. I like these features .

Typeset is fun to use and gives you flexibility to focus on slides’ design.

Canva has the richest library of visual elements for sprucing up slides. Check out my collection of Canva posts .

iA Presenter is superb for converting scripts into slides. Why it’s unique.

Share Wonder Tools

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10 quick tips to spice up your Google Slides presentations

Presentations can be tough. We’re here to help. Gain expertise with these 10 essential Google Slides tips

PowerPoint may be the most popular presentation software out there, but not everyone can afford to pay for it. This is why many people consider Google Slides as one of the best alternatives to PowerPoint. It’s free, easy to use, and easily accessible. All you need is a Google account and Internet access, and you’re ready to roll!

So, how do you actually make the most of Google Slides and get your presentation looking top notch?

Well today we’ve reached out to our friends over at 24Slides for some Google Slides tips. As leading experts in custom presentation design, they know a thing (or ten) about how to make any slideshow more impactful, and your audience hooked.

So, here are ten quick Google Slides tips from 24Slides that will help make presentation wow your audience.

More of a Microsoft fan? Check out our pro- PowerPoint tips , or get some general presentation pointers here .

1) Insert images directly from Google Images

Google Image Search has billions of images indexed. When you use Google Slides, you don’t need to download images and then upload them again to your slide. Nope, you don’t even need to leave your browser tab to look for suitable images for your presentation.

All you have to do is click on Insert > Image. Then select ‘Search the web’ from the dropdown list. The side panel ‘Search for Google Images’ will appear on the right side of your screen (see screenshot below):

Simply type in the keyword(s) for your image and the results will appear below the search box. The last step would be for you to click on the photo(s) you want to use in your slide. And that’s it! The entire process will only take you anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes!

2) Themes for Google Slides

You can do this by clicking on any slide thumbnail on the left side panel. You’ll then see these options in the menu bar:

Click on Theme to access the Themes side panel. You will see something like this on your screen:

Note that there’s no preview button. You simply need to click on the Theme you like and the changes will be applied in real time. Also, if you want to import a theme from an existing presentation, you can click on the yellow Import Theme button. Play around with the different theme options until you find one that works best for your presentation!

3) Mask your images into different fun shapes

Your photos need not be in the usual rectangular or square shape all the time. With Google Slides, you can change your image into various shapes, arrows, callouts, or equations. Here’s how:

• Click on the image you want to mask to access the hidden photo masking options. For this example, I used this image I found on Google Images.

• Click on Mask image (it’s the small triangular button beside the Crop icon)

• Select the shape, arrow, callout or equation you want to reshape your image to. As you can see below, there are a lot of different shapes you can choose from:

• For this example, I chose the lightning shape. By clicking on the lightning shape, I effectively transformed my boring, rectangular photo into this fun and exciting shape!

Feel free to experiment and explore the many different options. Remember, you can always undo your changes on Google Slides.

4) Insert different types of Google Slides diagrams

To insert a diagram on your slides, click on Insert > Diagram. The Diagrams side panel will appear on the right side of your screen. As you can see below, you can choose from 6 different types of diagrams: Grid, Hierarchy, Timeline, Process, Relationship and Cycle diagrams.

For this example, I clicked on the box for Timeline diagram. In the screenshot below, you’ll notice that I was able to customize my Timeline diagram. I changed the number of timeline dates from 4 to 6; I was also able to change the timeline’s color to green.

Play around with the different options until you find the perfect diagram(s) for your presentation.

5) Got links?

With Google Slides, you’re not limited to adding just links to websites, you can also link to images, your files on Google Drive, and even to other slides in your presentation!

Here’s what you need to do:

• Click on the text you want to add the hyperlink to. Then either hit CTRL+K or right-click on your mouse and look for the Link option.

• To add a web link, type in or paste the web address. Then hit the Apply button.

• To link to slides in the same presentation, select from available slides like you see below:

• For even more link options, click on Find More and the Explore side panel will appear on your screen. You can then type your query in the Title box and Google will then search for relevant websites, images, and even your files saved on Google Drive.

6) Make global changes by editing the slide master

If you’re only working with a few slides, then you may not have much need for a slide master. However, once you get to double figures (say from 10 slides onwards), then you’ll see just how much of a timesaver a slide master is. You don’t need to edit each individual slide, instead you can just go directly to the slide master and all slides in your presentation will automatically be updated.

To edit your slide master, simply go to Slide > Edit Master. This is how it looks like:

Click on the elements you want to change. For example, if you want all titles and subtitles to use Monserrat font, then you can change that here. There’s a lot of things you can do with the master slide. You can add your company logo in the footer section or the header, and it will automatically appear on all your slides.

The main thing to remember is if you want something to appear on all your slides, the best way to go about this is by editing the slide master itself.

7) How to embed YouTube videos in Google Slides

One of the best ways to make your presentation come alive is by adding videos to it. To do so, click on Insert > Video and you’ll see this on your screen:

As you can see, you can search YouTube videos directly from your slides (no need to open up another tab and type YouTube ). You can also add a direct link (URL) to a video online, or you can search for videos stored in your Google Drive account.

To edit and format your video, click on the video itself so the Format options button will appear on the menu bar. Click on this button and the Format options side panel will appear on your screen.

Feel free to adjust the video playback options, size and position, and drop shadow settings.

8) How to do transitions on Google Slides

Google Slides transitions are easy to set. To add them, you’ll need to click on the slide thumbnails so you can see the hidden Transition button on the menu.

As you can see in the screenshot above, there aren’t a ton of options on Google Slides (unlike PowerPoint). It’s not necessarily a bad thing though. Most experts recommend keeping transitions to a minimum because it can distract the audience and can even cause motion sickness in some cases.

So, take your pick from the 7 transition options and focus on making your message heard loud and clear. For best results, I recommend you use the same transition effect throughout your presentation.

9) Accept questions from your audience

An interactive presentation is bound to get more attention than, say, a one-sided one. Since Google Slides is cloud-based, it’s easier to get your audience to interact and ask you questions in real time. Here’s how:

• Click on Present > Presenter View (Present with audience Q&A and view speaker notes).

• You’ll then see this pop-up on your screen. Click on Audience Tools then hit the Start new button at the bottom.

• Google Slides will now generate a link to your online presentation. Simply copy the link and send it to your audience.

• When people start sending you questions, they’ll appear in the box. You can then answer the questions one by one.

The really cool thing about this feature is you can use it whether you’re in the same room as your audience or they’re halfway across the globe!

10) Collaborate with teammates in real time

Google products stand out with their top-notch online collaboration features. Google Slides is no different. If you’re working with a team of designers and content makers, then the yellow Share button is your friend.

Once you click on Share, you’ll see this pop up on your screen:

You can either get a shareable link and send it to people via email or chat. Or you can type in people’s name and/or email addresses, then hit the blue Done button to send out your invite. Now, you’ll have an extra pair of eyes to look over your presentation and make sure it’s the best it can possibly be!

Bonus tip: use vector drawings

If you’re looking to wow with your presentation, you are probably using a lot of visuals. This means adding in a lot of JPEGs, videos perhaps even the occasional PDF. These files can be heavy, and quickly stack up, which runs the risk of your Google Slides presentation lagging and testing the patience of your audience.

But, there’s another way. If you have a designer at hand, open up Adobe Illustrator and give vector graphics a try. Creating something unique, custom and exporting as a PNG is likely to keep your slides looking stylish and functioning effectively.

Huge thanks to Guillaume Proux, co-founder of Oomnis Limited for the bonus pro tip!

Loving Google Slides Already?

Did we miss any pro-Google Slides tips? Let us know your favorite!

It’s really no wonder why Google Slides is touted as the best PowerPoint alternative by many experts in the presentation industry. It’s user-friendly, it’s highly customizable, it’s cloud-based, and it’s free.

On the other hand, if you’re pressed for time or simply want to focus on more important things, you can leave the design work to 24Slides. It costs as little as $7 per slide for a custom design and we can turnaround presentations in 24 hours.

Even better, we’re offering Airtame customers and readers a 20% discount off their first order. Simply visit  24slides.com and use the coupon code AIRTAME at checkout.

If you would like to know how to present from your mobile or computer devices to your TV screen or projector wirelessly, watch this short video:

Interested? Let’s talk.

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5 ways to make the most of Google Slides animation features

• Written by: Cecilia Croasdell
• Categories: Google Slides
• Comments: 47

How can you bring your Google Slides presentation to life and engross your audience further? The answer is simple: animation! When used well, animation is a great tool, helping to capture your audience’s attention and consequently strengthening your message. Though Google Slides animation features aren’t incredibly wide ranging, we’re going to show you how to make the most of what’s there to work with.

Animation can build up processes step by step, keeping the audience connected throughout.  It can compare before and afters and also show movement. That’s why animation – when used to communicate meaning – is so important. You wouldn’t want to pose a question and reveal the answer at the same time. It is crucial to time these elements to the presenter’s talk track, allowing the audience to interact with information in a more meaningful way.

With Google Slides animation can be applied to text, shapes, objects, and slides. Sometimes a simple transition or fade in can make a world of difference – allowing you to pace the flow of information or communicate processes and changes more effectively. It is also important to remember to not overpower your message with too many animations, make sure they are consistent and keep it to a minimum. Remember less is more.

If you’re looking for ways to enhance your Google Slides presentation and have been following our blog posts, you will know that compelling visuals are the most effective way to inform and persuade your audience. If you are new to our philosophy, here is a great place to start. To access Google Slides, click here .

We’re going to explain how to add animation to Google Slides and show you five ways to make the most of its animation features. Now, let’s get to it!

Google Slides Transitions

Transitions are animations added in between slides to help move smoothly between different pieces of content. Just like in PowerPoint, Google Slides allows you to add animations when you transition from one slide to another. Unlike in PowerPoint, these transitions are stored alongside the animations.

How to add a transition: Open a presentation in Google Slides. Click the slide you want to add a transition to. Then click Insert > Animation . Select a transition from the scroll down. If you want to apply the transition to every slide, just click on the Apply to all slides button.

If you change your mind and decide you want to remove the transition, here is how you do it: Go to Insert on the menu, then scroll down to Animation . The animation pane will open on the right of the slide. Click T ransition and then N o transition .

With this in mind, let’s look at two ways you can use transitions in Google Slides.

1. Dissolve

As seen on the slide below, a Dissolve transition in between slides gives your presentation better flow and to allow your audience a second to breathe and take the information in, before moving on to the next topic.

2. Slide from the left

You can also transition from slide to slide using a Slide from the left transition. In the example below we present important stats – by using the transition we can move along as if using the motion path animation found in PowerPoint . It’s a simple and effective way of showing progression.

Google Slides Animations

Right, now that we’ve covered transitions, let’s talk about the more traditional animations in Google Slides. These apply to individual shapes, text, or objects on the slide.

How to add an animation: Open a presentation in Google Slides. Click the text or image you want to animate. Then click Insert > Animation . Click on Select an object to animate , scroll down and choose the animation you want to use. Then on the scroll underneath select whether you want your object to animate On click , After previous or With previous. 

There’s three animation features that we really like to use, and we’ll show you how to use them.

3. Fly in from Left to Right

This Google Slides animation allows you to bring in objects or text boxes one by one, automatically or with clicks. By setting objects to animate on clicks, you can to reveal each object as you discuss it, maintaining your audience’s focus on the topic. Without animations to pace the flow, your audience will likely read all of the content in one go, ignoring what you’re saying as the presenter and reaching the conclusion ahead of time.

Fade in is a very popular Google Slides animation as it can serve many different purposes. By bringing objects in with a fade, you can direct the audience’s attention to the item being discussed and you avoid overwhelming them with too many visuals all at once. It is very effective with bullet points, process items, or any shapes you want to present in a particular order.

In the example below we show the background photo of the Christ the Redeemer. It is both a beautiful and a relevant landscape that will engage the audience, in this case the travel industry. Having it take up the entire slide is an effective way to draw the audience in. After setting the scene we can then fade in the text content for the presenter to discuss.

5. Fly in from bottom

This Google Slides animation is very useful if your presentation includes technical information, as it allows you to break up the data with eye catching motions, particularly in graphs. In our example below, we used it to add some movement to our chart, bringing one value at a time, helping the audience study the numbers one at a time. We’ve also used a white rectangle to mask the fly in below the X axis. For a tutorial of how to do that, check out our guide to animating with masks : it focuses on PowerPoint but the principle of masking and animation on a graph are identical in Google Slides.

So those are our five ways to use animation in Google Slides: two awesome transitions, and three useful animations! As you can see, it’s not difficult to use the Google Slides animation features to make your presentation more compelling and engaging. Be sure to consider the purpose and timing of your animations: use them to pace the flow of information and keep your audience following your narrative. Now that you know how to add animation to Google Slides and have seen some creative animation ideas, go and get started! If you are new to Google Slides and want to learn more about how to use the tool from scratch, here is our ultimate guide .

Cecilia Croasdell

Principal consultant (interim), related articles, best google slides accessibility tools.

• Google Slides

We've rounded up some key Google Slides accessibility tools and features to help more people access your content more fully.

Adding and editing GIFs in Google Slides

• Comments: 4

Is your Google Slides deck looking a little drab and dull? GIFs could be the answer, adding movement and life to your presentations in the place of complex animations. Learn how to add GIFs to Google Slides and more!

How to insert video and audio into Google Slides

• Comments: 39

Although Google Slides is an incredibly simple and intuitive tool for building presentations, its animation limitations mean that slides can lack oomph. An easy way to bring movement and dynamism to your slides is by adding audio or video. In this blog post, we’re going to show you how to…

Appreciated! It’s one of the finest and concise articles on the animations in Google Slides. I would appreciate it if you could share the Google Slide-deck to my Gmail address.

Hi Gelli. Yes, we are happy to share this deck with you. If you could please email me on [email protected] I will share it with you. Many thanks!

how do i animations on google sides ?

I agree these are very good and very helpful! #OMGLlovethese

#OMG!Llovethese

nice work , keep up the good work. excellent

Thank you, Qdot! I am so glad you are finding our posts useful.

They are kinda useful.

4. how did you make the white area?

Hello. If you mean the white gradient box, on the 4th slide, this is how you can do it: 1. Create a box shape 2. Click the paint bucket tool and go to Gradient 3. Within Gradient click Custom 4. Make the left hand slider white and the right hand slider transparent

Many thanks!

Wow – thats cool! Thank you very much!

there is no dissolve

Hi Noah. We are referring to the dissolve transition, not animation. Many thanks!

thanks a lot

are there any add-ons for Google slides that allows you to use some of the animation effects that are in powerpoint?

Hi Marc I’m afraid not, the only animations effects you can use within Google slides are the ones that are in the original program. It’s a real shame that even some of the more simple effects featured in PowerPoint aren’t able to be performed in slides. Wipe in being a good example of this.

There is one fairly long winded work around. If you have a newer PowerPoint version e.g. Microsoft 365 there’s now the ability to export out your slides as a GIF. This means you could animate your slides in PowerPoint the way you’d like them to work in Google slides, export to GIF format and then pull the GIF into the Slides deck (the same way you can drag in an image)

Hope this helps!

Thank you! Do you know how to put a curtain up on a slide that I can drag down as I reveal the steps to a math problem? I want to have it already finished and then just pull it down so students can check if each step is correct, one step at a time.

Hi Kasie, You can just add a white box over the section you wish to hide and then you can add a fly out animation to reveal. In order to do that, just follow the same steps as #5 on the blog post, but instead of ‘fly in from bottom”, select ‘fly out from bottom’. I hope this is helpful!

Thank you very much! Very useful for me!

How can you make bullets come in in the reverse order? For instance I have a list of 5 things, and want to start at number 5 and build up to number 1. Thanks!

Hi Gregory. In order for the bullet points to come in in reverse order you would have to have each point in a separate box and animate them one by one. I hope this was helpful.

Thank you for this!

My question: I have a .png of a bird (it’s cut out and has a transparent background). When I have the bird enter from the left of the screen and fly out to the right, the bird is almost see-through as it begins its “flight” across the screen. By the time it’s leaving on the right side, it’s solid colors. I have no fade set. Can you advise?

Hi Charley, I am afraid that if that’s how the animation is set then there’s no tool to alter it on Slides. Sorry we couldn’t be more helpful.

I would like to make an object exit “fly out” diagonally from left to right.

It is a common animation on Ppt but this possible in Google slides?

Hi Vera. Unfortunately on Google Slides you can only Fly out vertically or horizontally. Google Slides animations are a bit more limited than PPT. Sorry we couldn’t be more helpful.

This is rather late, but you can achieve this effect I believe. If you do “fly out right” and pair it with “fly out up (or down)” the image will appear to fly out diagonally. You must be sure to choose the option “With Previous” for this to work!

When you are trying to do the animations, how do you make 1 object do 2 or more. My friend, Jade, made that happen and I am trying to make an arrow do 2 things at the same time. I am trying to do SPIN & FADE IN, and it won’t work.

Hi Ashlyn, just select the object, go to Insert>Animations and then add the animations to it. You can add as many as you need. I hope this is helpful. Many thanks.

I tried that many times

Hi Ashlyn. To apply two animations to the same object at the same time, you have to ensure that the lower of the two animations is set to ‘with previous’ instead of ‘on click’. Also make sure the timings of the animations are the same. To adjust the timings simply adjust the slider underneath. Hope this s helpful!

Thank you so much! Very helpful!

Thanks Cecilia Croasdell, words are too small for the value you add through your content, This is the best guide I have seen so far on the internet. 5 ways to make the most of Google Slides animation features was easy to understand with comprehensive and easy explanation. Really hard work, thanks for it.

I am so happy you found this helpful! Thank you! 🙂

Thank you for sharing these tips! VERY helpful for me and my students! Much appreciated! 🙂

Thanks for the info

Hey do you know how to make an animation like on tv? in google slides me and my friends are bored.

Hello. I’m afraid animations are limited on Slides and won’t allow for that level of movement. You’d need an animation specific software. Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful.

its a amazing information Thank you! Do you know how to put a curtain up on a slide that I can drag down as I reveal the steps to a math problem? I want to have it already finished and then just pull it down so students can check if each step is correct, one step at a time

Hello. If you cover each step with a rectangle you can have each fly out on a click, revealing each step. Just follow the same steps as we did with “Fly in from bottom” in the article above. Hope this is helpful!

if you could emil this slide to me pl and thank you

Hi Naod. Happy to – please email me at [email protected] and I can share it with you!

very informative guide

Hi, I love the animation! Can you provide me the link to how to make the slides?

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10 tips on how to make slides that communicate your idea, from TED’s in-house expert

When your slides rock, your whole presentation pops to life. At TED2014, David Epstein created a clean, informative slide deck to support his talk on the changing bodies of athletes . Photo: James Duncan Davidson/TED

Aaron Weyenberg is the master of slide decks. Our UX Lead creates Keynote presentations that are both slick and charming—the kind that pull you in and keep you captivated, but in an understated way that helps you focus on what’s actually being said. He does this for his own presentations and for lots of other folks in the office. Yes, his coworkers ask him to design their slides, because he’s just that good.

We asked Aaron to bottle his Keynote mojo so that others could benefit from it. Here, 10 tips for making an effective slide deck, split into two parts: the big, overarching goals, and the little tips and tricks that make your presentation sing.

Aaron used this image of a New Zealand disaster to kick off a slide deck from TED’s tech team — all about how they prepares for worst-case scenarios. He asked for permission to use the image, and credited the photographer, Blair Harkness. View the whole slidedeck from this presentation.

The big picture…

• Think about your slides last . Building your slides should be the tail end of developing your presentation. Think about your main message, structure its supporting points, practice it and time it—and then start thinking about your slides. The presentation needs to stand on its own; the slides are just something you layer over it to enhance the listener experience. Too often, I see slide decks that feel more like presenter notes, but I think it’s far more effective when the slides are for the audience to give them a visual experience that adds to the words. .
• Create a consistent look and feel . In a good slide deck, each slide feels like part of the same story. That means using the same or related typography, colors and imagery across all your slides. Using pre-built master slides can be a good way to do that, but it can feel restrictive and lead to me-too decks. I like to create a few slides to hold sample graphic elements and type, then copy what I need from those slides as I go. .
• Think about topic transitions . It can be easy to go too far in the direction of consistency, though. You don’t want each slide to look exactly the same. I like to create one style for the slides that are the meat of what I’m saying, and then another style for the transitions between topics. For example, if my general slides have a dark background with light text, I’ll try transition slides that have a light background with dark text. That way they feel like part of the same family, but the presentation has texture—and the audience gets a visual cue that we’re moving onto a new topic. .
• With text, less is almost always more . One thing to avoid—slides with a lot of text, especially if it’s a repeat of what you’re saying out loud. It’s like if you give a paper handout in a meeting—everyone’s head goes down and they read, rather than staying heads-up and listening. If there are a lot of words on your slide, you’re asking your audience to split their attention between what they’re reading and what they’re hearing. That’s really hard for a brain to do, and it compromises the effectiveness of both your slide text and your spoken words. If you can’t avoid having text-y slides, try to progressively reveal text (like unveiling bullet points one by one) as you need it. .
• Use photos that enhance meaning . I love using simple, punchy photos in presentations, because they help what you’re saying resonate in your audience’s mind without pulling their attention from your spoken words. Look for photos that (1) speak strongly to the concept you’re talking about and (2) aren’t compositionally complex. Your photo could be a metaphor or something more literal, but it should be clear why the audience is looking at it, and why it’s paired with what you’re saying. For example, I recently used the image above—a photo of a container ship about to tip over (it eventually sank)—to lead off a co-worker’s deck about failure preparation. And below is another example of a photo I used in a deck to talk about the launch of the new TED.com . The point I was making was that a launch isn’t the end of a project—it’s the beginning of something new. We’ll learn, adapt, change and grow.

Here, a lovely image from a slidedeck Aaron created about the redesign of TED.com . View the whole deck from this presentation .

And now some tactical tips…

• Go easy on the effects and transitions . Keynote and Powerpoint come with a lot of effects and transitions. In my opinion, most of these don’t do much to enhance the audience experience. At worst, they subtly suggest that the content of your slides is so uninteresting that a page flip or droplet transition will snap the audience out of their lethargy. If you must use them, use the most subtle ones, and keep it consistent. .

• Try panning large images . Often, I want to show screen shot of an entire web page in my presentations. There’s a great Chrome extension to capture these—but these images are oftentimes much longer than the canvas size of the presentation. Rather than scaling the image to an illegible size, or cropping it, you can pan it vertically as you talk about it. In Keynote, this is done with a Move effect, which you can apply from an object’s action panel. .
• For video, don’t use autoplay . It’s super easy to insert video in Keynote and Powerpoint—you just drag a Quicktime file onto the slide. And when you advance the deck to the slide with the video that autoplays, sometimes it can take a moment for the machine to actually start playing it. So often I’ve seen presenters click again in an attempt to start the video during this delay, causing the deck to go to the next slide. Instead, set the video to click to play. That way you have more predictable control over the video start time, and even select a poster frame to show before starting. .

Lastly, I’d love to leave you with a couple book recommendations. The first is Resonate , by Nancy Duarte. It’s not so much about slides, but about public speaking in general – which is the foundation for any presentation, regardless of how great your slides are. In it, she breaks down the anatomy of what makes a great presentation, how to establish a central message and structure your talk, and more. (One of her case studies comes from Benjamin Zander’s charming TED Talk about classical music, a talk that captivated the audience from start to finish.) Think of this as prerequisite reading for my second recommendation, also by Duarte: Slide:ology . This is more focused on presentation visuals and slides.

Happy slide-making.

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• Presentations
• Presentation Techniques

The 12 Best Google Slides Extensions. Do More With Your Presentations in 2024

Do you want to do more with Google Slides? Wondering what the best Google Slides extensions are?

Google Slides add-ins and extensions are small software programs. They extend the functionality of Google Slides. They're designed to enhance the user's ability to generate and revise presentations, by incorporating extra features and tools into the software.

Google Slides offers a plethora of add-ins and extensions, but not all are equally valuable or efficient. To help you maximize your presentation capabilities, we've curated a list of the top 12 Google Slides add-ins and extensions for 2024.

From grammar correction and design assistance to animation and video production, these tools cater to everyone. Whether you're a seasoned Google Slides user or a beginner seeking to enhance your presentations for school or work, these add-ins and extensions will elevate your skills to the next level.

Should You Use Google Slides Extensions?

Anyone seeking to create exceptional presentations should consider utilizing Google Slides add-ons. These powerful tools provide a range of extra features and functionalities that are unavailable in the standard version of Google Slides, enhancing productivity and enabling you to create more compelling presentations.

Here are some of the top reasons why you would want to use Google Slides Add-Ins and extensions. 

• Save Time. Google Slides add-ins and extensions can help you to save time. Focus on the content and design of your presentations instead of on routine tasks. Use them to automate repetitive tasks and provide quick access to templates and design elements.
• Improve functionality. Add-ins and extensions let you use new tools like advanced charting and data visualization capabilities, interactive elements, and more.
• Better presentation quality. Build presentations that do a better job of reaching your audience. With add-ins your presentation can be more engaging and interactive.
• Get more done.  Using add-ins, you can get more done. Use extensions and tools to be more productive.

What are the best Google Slides extensions? Read the article below to find out!

Where to Find Google Slides Extensions

When looking for the right Google Slides extension, be sure to check out the ones available in the Google Store.

You can also find reviews from users who have tried these extensions so that you know what they're all about before making a purchase. With an array of options available, there's sure to be something that fits your needs perfectly!

Now let’s look at the top twelve Google Slides Extensions that you can download today. 

12 Best Google Slides Extensions for 2024

Here are twelve of this year's top Google Slides extensions (including Google store extensions): 

1. Pear Deck

Pear Deck is a Google Slides extension that allows you to add interactive questions and formative assessments to your presentations. You can easily add interactive questions right from a sidebar. This includes bell ringers, checks for understanding, exit tickets, and more. This is a powerful tool for engaging students and increasing their understanding of class material.

Here are the main features for this Google Slides extension:

• integration with Google tools
• ability to add interactive questions from sidebar
• formative assessments
• customizable templates for quick lesson creation

2. Insert Icons for Slides

This Google Slides extension is a simple yet powerful tool. It provides access to over 1800 free icons from Font Awesome and Google Material Design. With a choice of any color and the ability to import the icons into slides with a transparent background, this extension allows for easy and quick customization of presentations.

This extension is a great resource for anyone looking to enhance their presentation designs.

• 1800+ free icons from Font Awesome
• customize icon color and import with transparent background
• advanced formatting options including shadow and reflection 
• more add-ons: Mergo, Folgo, and Publigo

3. CloudApp

Cloud app allows you to create engaging visual presentations that your audience will be excited to watch. With the CloudApp you can add screen and webcam recordings, GIFs, and add image annotations. 

Here are the main features for this Google Slides extension: 

• easy to use screen captures
• simple interface
• upload your own images and edit them

4. Slides Creator

The Slides Creator Google Slides add-on is a fantastic and easy-to-use resource for making personalized Google Slides presentations. By connecting Google Sheets info and updating content automatically, it simplifies your work and saves time. The user-friendly setup, helpful guides, and attentive support team makes this a great Google Slides extension.

Here are a few of the main features for this Google Slides add-on:

• Create personalized and custom templates.
• Automatically merge individual customer or employee data into presentations.
• Generate marketing slides with dynamic images, links, and charts.
• Automatically insert monthly KPI or reporting charts into slides.

5. Unsplash Instant

Unsplash is a high-definition photography site. With the Unsplash Intent Google Slides extension, you can access this library from Google Slides and insert images. All the images are free and can be used in personal and commercial presentations. 

Here are a few main features for the Google Store extension:

• easily search for photos
• 250,000+ high resolution images
• copyright free images

6. Slides Toolbox

This Google Slides add on offers an extensive list of features and tools to make everyday tasks smoother and faster. Users can easily remove any selected object or modify the text and object formatting with the smart sidebar. Other features include arranging objects, importing slides and media, managing charts and images, and making custom slideshows.

Here are the key features for this Google Slides extension:

• efficient removal tools for objects like charts, tables, and videos
• text formatting and management tools
• arrangement tools for resizing, scaling, and arranging objects
• export and import tools for sharing slideshows and organizing media files

Nearpod is a student engagement platform for K-12 teachers, which offers interactive learning experiences for better engagement. With Nearpod, students can participate in lessons containing virtual reality and 3D objects. Students can voice their knowledge and opinions through open-ended questions, polls, quizzes, and collaborative boards, making learning fun for students. The Google Slides extension enables you to add all the features of Nearpod to Google Slides.

You'll need a Nearpod subscription to use the Google Slides extension.

catalog of 7,000+ lessons

• interactive learning experiences
• assessment and feedback features
• collaborative learning boards

8. Icons for Slides & Docs

Flaticon is a fantastic Google Slides extension that provides quick and easy access to a wide range of icons. With the largest icon database, Flaticon offers a massive collection of icons not only for Google Slides, but for docs, spreadsheets, and forms. This Google Slides extension makes it easy to add icons to your slides.

• millions of free customizable icons
• choose similar style icons
• customize any icon

9. Noun Project

Noun Project is a quick and lightweight Google Slides extension that allows you to add icons to your slides. A sidebar appears that gives you access to their icon library. Easily change the icon color to get the perfect hue and specific size. 

• free version gives you access to 100 icons
• paid version gives you access to millions more
• change color of all icons

10. Lucidchart

Lucidchart is a cloud-based diagramming application that allows teams to visualize complex ideas. The Google Slides extension allows you to add these diagrams to your Google Slides. Collaborate in real-time, generate organizational charts from spreadsheet data, and visualize databases. You can easily import files while monitoring processes, systems, and goals through data linking and conditional formatting. 

• enterprise grade security
• real time collaboration
• cloud-based
• intelligent diagraming

11. Easy Accents

Have a presentation in another language other than English? Easy Accents allows you to add accent marks for twenty-three different languages. Like other Google Slides extensions, a sidebar gives you access to plenty of accent marks. A drop-down language menu is at the bottom of the Google Slides add on. 

Here are the main features for the Google Slides extension:

• 23+ different languages supported
• easy to use interface
• currency symbols included

12. Slides Randomizer

Slide Randomizer is a simple Google Slides extension that enables you to randomly reorder any slide deck on Google Slides efficiently. It's got automatic randomization methods and doesn't collect personal information from the user, ensuring privacy. This is a great tool for studying or for teaching with. 

Let's now look at how you can improve your Google Slides presentations. 

Learn More About Making Google Slides Presentations

Once you've got your Google Slides extensions, you can start on your presentation. Here's a list of some top Tuts+ Google Slides resources to help you build a better Google Slides presentation: 

Get Access to High-Quality Creative Assets (With Unlimited Use)

With any business, you need creative assets to help your presentations look creative. These assets can be anything from documents, images, fonts, and more. It's a smart choice to use professional creative assets  t o save time and deliver a high-quality product. Envato Elements has just what you need. 

Envato Elements gives you access to all types of  creative tools . Included are unlimited downloads of:

• Google Slides templates
• and much more for a low monthly fee

Sign up now to use all these resources in your next project.

Explore Creative Assets Now

One of the best values for creatives today is Envato Elements. With unlimited downloads, you can try out all types of options in your upcoming projects.

Here's how you benefit from using Envato Elements:

• You save money. There's no need to hire professional graphic designers.
• You save time. Start with an already professional design.
• You find inspiration. Generate new ideas with all the fresh creative assets.
• You focus on your message. Our templates have the creativity you need to make it look good.

Download Google Slides Extensions Today!

By integrating Google Slides extensions into your Google Slides presentations, you can vastly improve your ability to tell compelling stories visually, simplify your workflow, and increase productivity.

In this article, we showcased the top twelve Google Slides extensions for 2024. With these tools at your disposal, you can elevate your presentation skills, captivate your audience, and make a lasting impression.

If you need access to even more creative resources, explore Envato Elements. Their comprehensive collection includes Google Slides templates, fonts, WordPress plugins, and plenty of other assets.

Home Blog Google Slides Tutorials How to Convert Canva to Google Slides

How to Convert Canva to Google Slides

Presenters working with Canva often struggle to showcase their presentation slides in a format that is easy to share or edit on the go. Rather than converting Canva to PDF, in today’s article, we’ll show you how to convert your Canva presentations to Google Slides, allowing you to enjoy all the benefits of an editable presentation and collaboration features.

Step 1 – Accessing your presentation file in Canva

In order to properly convert Canva to Google Slides, we first need to log into Canva and retrieve the presentation file.

Click on the Projects folder or browse for your presentation in Recent Designs . Once you click on the right file, it will open inside Canva’s interface.

Step 2 – Sharing on Canvas

Next, click on Share at the top menu, and go to the bottom section of that contextual menu to find the option More . This will allow us to export Canva to Google Slides.

Scroll through the new sharing options available until you find the section labeled Save. In there, click on Google Drive.

Step 3 – Linking Canva and Google Drive

Depending on the method you used to sign up for Canva, you may be prompted to link your account to Google Drive.

Grant the required permissions so Canva can create and edit files retrieved from Google Slides, and then a new dialogue box will open.

You can export the presentation to multiple formats and select which slides from your deck you want to export. To ensure maximum compatibility, we’ll select PPTX as the export format.

Click on Save and the process will start.

Once the process is completed, the dialog box shown in the image below will be displayed on your computer, with a direct link to Google Drive.

Step 4 – From Google Drive to Google Slides

Click on the View in Google Drive link to open your presentation in Google Slides.

Although Canva originally flags the file as PPTX, Google Slides may open it as a PPT file, which will be later updated to PPTX once you edit the presentation.

From this point onwards, you can apply any change you want to your newly generated Google Slides presentation. We highly recommend moving the file to an easy-to-retrieve location, which can be done via File > Move .

No, animations and transitions from Canva won’t transfer over to Google Slides. You will need to reapply them in Google Slides.

Most fonts and styles will be preserved, but if the font isn’t available in Google Slides, it may be substituted with a similar one.

Ensure to download your Canva design in high resolution, preferably as a PPT or PDF, to maintain image quality.

Add the links in Canva using the “Link” option (CTRL+K) before exporting. These links should still function in Google Slides after conversion.

Yes, export your Canva design as PNG or JPG images, then insert each image as a slide background in Google Slides.

Canva videos won’t be embedded directly. You’ll need to re-add the video links or upload videos manually to Google Slides.

While colors should transfer, it’s a good idea to note your color hex codes in Canva so you can manually apply them in Google Slides if needed.

Other visual mediums, like social media posts, cards, banners, etc., can be converted to Google Slides format. Download the design as images or PDFs, then insert them as backgrounds or images in Google Slides.

Canva’s static charts and graphs will transfer, but they won’t be editable in Google Slides. You’ll need to recreate dynamic charts in Google Slides.

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Google Slides, Presentation Tips Filed under Google Slides Tutorials

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• Google Slides Tutorials

How to Wrap Text in Google Slides – Easy Steps

Ever found yourself frustrated because your text and images just won’t align the way you want them to in Google Slides? Many users struggle with this because, unlike some other software, Google Slides doesn’t offer a straightforward text-wrapping feature. But don’t worry. There are several clever techniques you can use to achieve the same effect. In this guide, we’ll explore some simple and effective workarounds to help you achieve that polished look you’re aiming for.

Why Wrap Text?

Wrapping text around images or other elements can:

• Enhance Visual Appeal: It makes your slides look more polished and professional.
• Improve Readability: Properly aligned text is easier for your audience to follow.
• Efficient Use of Space: Maximizes the use of space on your slides, making them look less cluttered.

Solution 1: Using Text Boxes

One of the simplest methods to wrap text around an image is by using multiple text boxes.

• Insert an Image: Go to “Insert” > “Image” and add the image you want.
• Position the Image: Resize and move the image to where you want the text to wrap around it.
• Add Text Boxes: Click “Insert” > “Text box” and create multiple text boxes around the image to fit your text.
• Align Text Boxes: Adjust the text boxes to make the text flow around the image naturally.

Solution 2: Using Shapes

It can be tedious to manually adjust each text box and shape. You might think, “Is there a quicker way to do this?” 

Shapes can be a great alternative to create a text-wrapping effect without spending too much time.

• Insert a Shape: Click on “Insert” > “Shape” and choose the shape that best fits your layout.
• Add Text to Shape: Click inside the shape and type your text.
• Position and Resize: Move and resize the shape around the image to make the text fit snugly.

Solution 3: Using Tables

Even if you manage to wrap text, making it look professional is another challenge. You might ask, “What are the best ways to ensure my slides look polished?”

Tables can help you neatly organize text and images, giving a clean, professional look.

• Insert a Table: Click on “Insert” > “Table” and select the number of rows and columns.
• Distribute Content: Place your text and images in the table cells.
• Adjust Table Dimensions: Resize the cells to make the text wrap around the images effectively.

Solution 4: Layering

Layering elements can also create a visually appealing text-wrapping effect.

• Add Your Elements: Insert both text and image onto the slide.
• Arrange Layers: Click on the image, then select “Arrange” > “Order” to layer it in front of or behind the text as needed.
• Adjust Position: Move the text and image around to achieve the desired wrapping effect.

Tips for Better Presentation Design

• Consistent Fonts: Use easy-to-read fonts that align with your brand.
• Visual Hierarchy: Utilize headings, subheadings, and bullet points to structure your content.
• White Space: Avoid overcrowding your slides. Use white space to highlight key points.

Time-Saving Tip: Use Premade Google Slides Themes

If you’re short on time or design skills, consider using premade Google Slides themes available at SlideEgg. We offer a variety of free professionally designed themes . These can save you a lot of time and ensure your presentation looks cohesive and polished. Simply download a theme that suits your content, and customize it to fit your needs.

Further Learning

Want more tips on creating stunning presentations? Check out our Tips & Tricks page for a wealth of information. If you’re also working with PowerPoint, you’ll find our guide on How to Wrap Text in PowerPoint extremely helpful.

Wrapping text in Google Slides doesn’t have to be a headache. With these simple techniques and a bit of creativity, you can achieve a professional look that enhances your presentations. Try these methods, explore free themes, and make your next presentation stand out!

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Arockia Mary Amutha

Arockia Mary Amutha is a seasoned senior content writer at SlideEgg, bringing over four years of dedicated experience to the field. Her expertise in presentation tools like PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Canva shines through in her clear, concise, and professional writing style. With a passion for crafting engaging and insightful content, she specializes in creating detailed how-to guides, tutorials, and tips on presentation design that resonate with and empower readers.

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