Presentation software, also known as graphics presentation applications or presentation graphics programs, is a category of software used to create content where information is often represented in a graphical or visual way. A variety of presentation software is available to help tell a story or support written information using pictures, charts, graphs and other visual elements.
There are two main types of presentation software: business presentation software and general multimedia authoring tools.
Business presentation software products generally emphasize ease of learning and use, particularly for nontechnical and business users. However, they can include more advanced functions for experienced users. Most business presentation applications let users include visual elements like images , and sometimes audio and video.
General multimedia authoring software lets users create sophisticated presentations that might include photos, icons , audio narrations, transitions, animations and video sequences. Some presentations products combine ease of use and sophisticated features.
Presentation software often includes templates to create visually rich presentations and slide decks. Templates can be easily edited to match user requirements or company brand guidelines. The software usually includes a search feature to discover these templates, as well as approved layouts and previous presentations.
Cloud-based presentation applications generally include shared workspaces and team folders that let multiple people securely collaborate , provide inputs, set status updates, and add comments and reactions. Users can also share presentations, project plans, conference keynotes, sales decks and more in real time. Versioning capabilities might be included so authorized users can manage version history, recover previous versions and view current progress.
Many vendors offer a centralized library of images, photos, icons and animations, and regularly update these libraries so customers can access the visual elements for their presentations. Some applications also integrate with external image sources like Unsplash, Giphy and Brandfetch, so business users can find additional digital assets such as images, logos , fonts and colors.
Other vendors' presentation software integrates with external video sites like YouTube or Vimeo, enabling users to embed video to support the deck's story or main message. Still other graphics applications include audio and data capabilities so users can add narrations to content and integrate data from Google Analytics , Google Sheets and other sources to accompany and strengthen the text.
Some applications include a built-in designer that implements predefined design rules and guardrails. Once content is added to the software, the designer converts notes, data and more into visually rich slides. The slides automatically adapt to the rules, so users don't have to make manual adjustments to change text font and resize images, for example. In addition, the software might include intuitive editing options and smart formatting capabilities to let users make quick edits and finalize a presentation.
The best presentation software includes support for brand esthetics. The application updates every slide and deck with the brand's specific fonts, colors, logos, themes and templates to create consistent brand presentations with the approved brand style. In most cases, style themes are customizable so company logos, colors, fonts and icon styles can be added to the presentation theme and updated as needed.
Presentation software products have evolved with more advanced capabilities and intuitive options for edits, sharing and collaboration. Sophisticated applications also include conversational AI engines so users can automatically generate new presentations quickly.
Depending on the software's capabilities, the AI engine may create the first draft of the presentation based on a user's description and needs.
Some AI-powered presentation products include smart templates that can quickly edit the autogenerated software and adapt the content to a user's or brand's story. The application might also include a designer bot that takes design inputs from the (human) user in natural language and generates unique images.
Presentation software is especially useful to create presentations and decks that include some combination of text, animations, images, video, audio and transitions. These might include creative briefs, pitch decks, moodboards , competitor analyses, proposals, bulletins, project reports, annual reviews, marketing plans and meeting discussions.
All these presentations can be displayed in a slideshow format. Built-in templates, content libraries and editing tools accelerate the design process, regardless of the presentation's purpose or intended audience.
Microsoft PowerPoint is one of the most popular presentation software applications available today. It includes numerous user-friendly features for design, sharing and collaboration, object insertion, slideshows, text formatting, audio and video.
Other popular products include Lotus Freelance Graphics, Google Slides , Prezi, Slidebean, Canva and Keynote. Most of these products offer PC and Mac versions. In addition, many are free to download and use, while others come in free, paid or freemium versions.
Presentation software might include different features and capabilities. Organizations and users must assess their requirements, technical stack, audience type and budget before making a purchase.
For example, a geographically dispersed team might be better suited to a cloud-based application that supports borderless collaboration than a desktop application that can't be accessed from outside the enterprise network . Similarly, a marketing plan might require more visual elements while an investor update might require more graphs or charts. The software that is ultimately selected should satisfy these specific requirements.
For more on this topic, learn how to create a successful presentation .
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Deliver professional-looking presentations for business or classroom
Where to find powerpoint, how to use powerpoint, collaborating with powerpoint, powerpoint competitors, what to know.
Microsoft PowerPoint creates slideshows suitable for projectors or big-screen TVs. Usually, a presenter speaks to the audience and uses the PowerPoint presentation to hold the listeners' attention and add visual information. However, some presentations are created and recorded to provide a digital-only experience. This article addresses PowerPoint 2019 and 2016, PowerPoint for Microsoft 365, PowerPoint 2016, and PowerPoint Online.
PowerPoint presentations output to photo albums—complete with music or narrations—shareable on CDs, DVDs, or flash drives. The software supports charts, images, and org charts. Make your presentation into a web page for emailing purposes or as a promotion displayed on your company's website.
It is easy to customize presentations with your company logo and dazzle your audience by using one of the many design templates that come with the program. Many more free add-ins and templates are available online from Microsoft and other websites. In addition to an on-screen slideshow, PowerPoint features printing options that allow the presenter to provide handouts and outlines for the audience and notes pages for the speaker to refer to during the presentation.
PowerPoint is part of the Microsoft Office package and is also available as:
PowerPoint comes with many templates that set the tone of a presentation—from casual to formal to off-the-wall.
Select a template and replace the placeholder text and images with your own to customize the presentation. Add additional slides in the same template format as you need them and add text, images, and graphics. As you learn, add special effects, transitions between slides, music, charts, and animations —all these features are built into the software—to enrich the experience for the audience.
A group can use PowerPoint to collaborate on a presentation.
In this case, the presentation is saved online on Microsoft OneDrive , OneDrive for Business, or SharePoint. Send your collaborators or co-workers a link to the PowerPoint file and assign them either viewing or editing permissions when you're ready to share. Comments on the presentation are visible to all the collaborators.
If you use the free PowerPoint Online, work and collaborate using your favorite desktop browser. You and your team can work on the same presentation at the same time from anywhere. You need a Microsoft account.
PowerPoint is by far the most popular presentation software program available. Approximately 30 million presentations are created daily in the software. Although it has several competitors, they lack the familiarity and global reach of PowerPoint. Apple's Keynote software is similar, and ships free on all Macs, but it has only a small share of the presentation software user base.
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According to Glassdoor , a PowerPoint designer's average salary in the UK is about £37,811 annually. Who knew there was big money in presentations alone? In this blog, you will learn What PowerPoint is, its key features, its benefits, and how to use it, as well as learn some tips for creating effective presentations.
Table of contents
1) What is PowerPoint?
2) Understanding the PowerPoint interface
3) Key features of PowerPoint
4) How to use PowerPoint to create a presentation?
5) Benefits of PowerPoint
6) Tips for creating effective PowerPoint Presentations
7) Alternatives to PowerPoint
PowerPoint is an essential multifunctional tool for making presentations which had been created by MS. As a part of the Microsoft Office Suite, it offers a toolbox to organise the presentation by using different tools and features to make it visually pleasant and attractive. MS PowerPoint gives the opportunity for the text, graphics, multimedia objects, and animation elements to be combined in one place to allow the users to present information in a more effective way.
In the course of time, PowerPoint has become a very functional tool to produce high-quality presentations Moreover, a secure system would be established to manage risks of data leakage or theft. First released in 1987 for Apple computers, it defies to the competition with its easy Graphical User Interface (GUIGUI)) and its large range of functions. With every new release, MS PowerPoint offered new functionality and boasted significant improvements, staying the wonder of the world of presentations.
The PowerPoint Program provides the presenter with an easy-to-use interface for designing and updating the presentation. It is important to master its main functions in order to conduct operations using this software with a level of proficiency.Here's a breakdown of the MS PowerPoint interface:
1) Ribbon: The Ribbon is located at the top of the MS PowerPoint window and has several tabs which include Home, Insert, Design, Transitions, etc.
2) Slides pane: Slide pane which is positioned to the far left of the window, is the PowerPoint window. You will see there a collection of your slides examples (thumbnails) which enables you to adjust and customize them with greater ease. The floating pane of the editor lets you not only add, delete, duplicate, but also hide slides from there.
3) Notes pane : The Notes pane is located below the Slides pane. It provides space for adding speaker notes or additional information related to each slide.
4) Slide area : The Slide area occupies the central part of the PowerPoint window. It displays the selected slide, where you can add and arrange content such as text, images, charts, and multimedia elements .
5) Task panes : Task panes are additional panels on the PowerPoint window's right side. They offer various functionalities such as formatting options, slide layouts, animations, etc. Task panes can be opened or closed based on your specific needs.
Understanding the MS PowerPoint interface will help you navigate the software effectively and make the most of its features. Whether you are creating slides, adding content, or applying formatting, having a good grasp of the interface ensures a smooth and productive experience .
When it comes to creating captivating and professional presentations, MS PowerPoint stands out as versatile and feature-rich software. Its array of tools and functionalities enables users to bring their imagination and ideas to life. Moreover, it also helps engage their audience effectively .
From slide templates to multimedia integration, there are various Features of PowerPoint ; let's discuss some of them below.
1) Slide Templates : PowerPoint provides a collection of pre-designed templates that make it easy to create visually appealing slides.
2) Slide Master : The Slide Master feature allows users to define the overall layout, font styles, and colour scheme for the entire presentation .
3) Animations and transitions : PowerPoint offers various animation effects and slide transitions to add visual interest and captivate the audience .
4) Multimedia integration : Users can embed images, videos, and audio files directly into their presentations, enhancing the overall impact .
5) Collaboration tools : MS PowerPoint allows multiple users to work on a presentation simultaneously, making it ideal for team projects and remote collaboration .
6) Presenter View : The Presenter View feature gives presenters access to speaker notes, a timer, and a preview of upcoming slides, enabling a seamless presentation experience .
These features collectively contribute to PowerPoint's versatility and make it a powerful tool for developing engaging and impactful presentations.
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Creating a presentation in PowerPoint is a straightforward process. Whether it's simple animations or explainer videos learning H ow to use PowerPoint is an extremely valuable skill. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to create a presentation:
1) Launch PowerPoint and choose a template or start with a blank slide.
2) Add slides by clicking "New Slide" or using the shortcut key (Ctrl + M).
3) Customise slide content by entering text and inserting visuals.
4) Rearrange slides for a logical flow by dragging them in the slide navigation pane.
5) Apply slide transitions for visual effects in the "Transitions" tab.
6) Add animations to objects in the "Animations" tab.
7) Preview your presentation by clicking "Slide Show".
8) Save your presentation and choose a format (.pptx or .pdf).
9) Share your presentation via email, cloud storage, or collaboration tools.
By following these steps, you can create a well-structured and visually appealing presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint. Remember to keep your content concise, use engaging visuals, and practice your presentation skills to deliver an impactful presentation .
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PowerPoint is a very popular presentation software and for a good reason. It offers numerous benefits for users, from easy collaboration to ease of use. These are some of the key benefits of PowerPoint.
1) Visual appeal : Microsoft PowerPoint allows you to create visually appealing presentations with its wide range of design tools and features. You can use templates, themes, and customisable layouts to make your slides visually engaging and professional .
2) Easy to use : PowerPoint has a user-friendly interface, making it accessible to users of all levels. The intuitive tools and straightforward navigation make it easy to create, edit, and deliver presentations efficiently .
3) Flexibility : PowerPoint provides flexibility in terms of content creation. You can include various types of content, such as text, images, charts, graphs, videos, and audio files, to enhance your message and engage your audience effectively.
4) Organisation and structure : PowerPoint offers features to help you organise and structure your content. You can create multiple slides, use slide masters for consistent formatting, and arrange the sequence of slides to create a logical flow .
5) Presenter tools : PowerPoint includes built-in presenter tools that aid in delivering presentations smoothly. You can use presenter view to see your notes and upcoming slides while your audience sees only the presentation. Additionally, features like slide transitions and animations add visual interest and help you control the flow of information .
6) Collaboration and sharing : PowerPoint allows for easy collaboration and sharing of presentations. Several users can simultaneously work on the same presentation, making it convenient for team projects. You can also share your presentations via email, cloud storage, or online platforms, ensuring easy access for viewers .
7) Integration with other tools : PowerPoint can seamlessly integrate with other Microsoft Office applications, such as Word and Excel. You can import data and charts from Excel or copy and paste content between different Office applications, saving time and effort .
8) Presenter-audience interaction : PowerPoint provides features that facilitate interaction between the presenter and the audience. You can include interactive elements like hyperlinks, buttons, and quizzes to engage your audience and make your presentations more dynamic.
9) Portable and accessible : PowerPoint presentations can be saved in various formats, such as .pptx or .pdf, making them easily accessible on different devices. This portability allows you to deliver presentations on laptops, tablets, or even projectors without compatibility issues .
10) Time and effort savings : PowerPoint simplifies the process of creating presentations, saving you time and effort. The pre-designed templates, slide layouts, and formatting options enable you to create professional-looking presentations efficiently .
PowerPoint presentations can be powerful tools for communicating information and engaging an audience. Consider the following PowerPoint Tips to create effective presentations .
1) Simplicity is key : Keep your slides clean and uncluttered. Use concise bullet points and simple visuals to convey your message effectively .
2) Visuals matter : Incorporate relevant, high-quality visuals such as images, charts, and diagrams to enhance understanding and engagement .
3) Limit text : Avoid overwhelming your audience with excessive text on slides. Use brief phrases or keywords to communicate key points .
4) Choose legible fonts : Opt for clear and readable fonts that are easy to read, even from a distance. Maintain consistency in font styles throughout your presentation .
5) Consistent design : Maintain a consistent design theme, including colours, fonts, and layout, to create a visually appealing and professional presentation.
6) Emphasise important points : Use visual hierarchy techniques, such as font size, colour, and formatting, to draw attention to essential information .
7) Use transitions and animations sparingly : Incorporate slide transitions and animations thoughtfully, focusing on enhancing content and transitions without distracting the audience .
8) S lide notes for guidance : Utilise the slide notes feature to include additional details, explanations, or reminders for a well-prepared and confident presentation.
9) Practice and time yourself : Rehearse your presentation to ensure smooth delivery and stay within the allocated time. Practice helps you refine your content and delivery.
10) Engage the audience : Encourage audience participation through interactive elements, questions, or discussions to foster engagement and make your presentation more memorable.
By implementing these tips, you can create effective MS PowerPoint presentations that capture attention, communicate information clearly, and engage your audience effectively.
Most of you are used to using PowerPoint for your presentation needs since it was the first option available to us through our academics. However, if you wish to check out alternative options to Powerpoint know if they work better for you, here are ten options that is worth a short:
5) Slidebean
6) Zoho Show
7) Google Slide
9) Beautiful.ai
10) Microsoft Sway
This blog walked you through What is PowerPoint and how it can aid you in curating compelling visual representations of the message you wish to get across. We discussed it features and the process of how you can create presentations on PowerPoint. Now take what you know and run with it explore your options with your templates and building new ones, let your creativity take its course.
Learn how to create customised slide shows in MS PowerPoint with our Microsoft PowerPoint MO300 Training .
Well, making a presentation can be tricky business. Here are some of the common mistakes people make:
1) Adding too much text! The presentation needs to have brief and simple points you elaborate on in person.
2) Bad colour schemes for template and font colour. Sometimes the clash of colour may make the text illegible.
3) Too many elements! Crowding of elements may lose your audience’s attention.
Yes, you most definitely can! You can use PowerPoint online with a Microsoft Office 360 plug in that allows you to use all Microsoft applications on your browser.
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Any experienced salesperson knows that words can only get you so far. You can articulate the features and benefits of your product or service to perfection. But eventually, the prospect will want to see it for themselves.
This is especially true in the world of software. Where users spend hours navigating apps, sites, and programs as part of their daily responsibilities.
According to research gathered by 3M (known for their invention of the Post-It Note) visuals are processed by the human brain 60,000 times faster than text.
Presentations can truly make or break a prospect’s experience with your brand. A great presentation is engaging and conveys value through visuals. And it helps prospects visualize themselves as beneficiaries of your product or service.
A presentation software (sometimes called a presentation program) is a digital tool. It utilizes sequences of graphics, text, audio, and video to accompany a spoken presentation. These sequences, often called slides, are consolidated in virtual files called “slide decks.”
Some presentation programs, like Microsoft PowerPoint, must be downloaded onto a computer’s hard drive before they can be used. Others, like Google Slides and Prezi, can be accessed from an internet browser.
Oftentimes, if a prospect agrees to view a presentation, you’ve at least piqued their interest.
You’ve likely spent some time on the phone or exchanged a few emails. Perhaps the prospect has visited your website a couple times. They’re likely not sold on you and actively forming their opinion of your brand.
This is why it’s imperative that your first presentation is a slam dunk. When a prospect sees you, your brand, and your product on display, you want them to leave excited for the benefits you can offer them.
A great presentation software gives you the tools and functionality you need to create a winning presentation. And create it quickly and easily.
In addition to usability, below are more benefits a good presentation software can bring to your organization.
A great slide deck combined with quality content is often one of the best single sources of sales information in your company.
Most sales decks contain a complete pitch all the way from pain point identification to feature/benefit pairings. Testimonials, best practices, and case studies are often scattered throughout.
This means you have a single file you can hand off to new sales reps for training. Or, if you need to pull a testimonial from a happy customer, you can find it in the slide deck. This one-stop shop for valuable sales information is made possible by a good presentation software.
If your sales reps are doing a lot of physical site visits, having a mobile sales presentation that they can carry around in their pockets is a whole lot easier than lugging around a laptop. Almost every modern presentation software offers robust mobile functionality.
Having the consolidated information mentioned in the last point available at all times is a powerful asset for the rep doing on-site visits or demos.
For an example of how impactful a mobile presentation can be, check The Real Problem of Humanity as it pertains to technology by Tristan Harris.
Most presentation solutions allow for the creation of custom templates. This, combined with a “master slide deck” means that you can ensure greater alignment across your sales reps. This, with a content management platform , means your content is version-controlled and up-to-date. Which is important as its being presented to prospects.
Let’s say you’re about to hop on a presentation call with a prospect. Right before the call, you receive an email from him letting you know his boss will be on the call as well. As it turns out, she’s particularly interested in one specific feature of your product.
With a great presentation tool, you can edit slides immediately (often from your mobile device, if needed). You can also delete, append, or customize information. This allows you to quickly tailor your messaging and visuals to fit the needs of a particular prospect or market segment.
There are a lot of advantages of making sales presentations a two-way conversation as opposed to a monologue. Even if you can’t meet in person, real-time verbal feedback from prospects is incredibly valuable information.
A good sales rep will listen closely for clues that certain slides are holding the attention of the audience. These are moments that likely deserve to be highlighted or more deeply articulated.
A great presentation software will allow you to add slides, write copy, and format visuals immediately after the prospect hangs up. All while the information is fresh in the presenter’s mind. That way you can elevate their points of interest.
Thus, an easy-to-use presentation software is key to a sales team’s ability to quickly iterate on and improve effective content.
Vastly more important than your tool of choice is how you use it. Modern presentation software can produce razor-sharp, engaging presentations that convert prospects to sales. But they’re also capable of producing abominations that no prospect should ever see.
Abide by the following guidelines and you’ll be on the right track. Not only to avoid common presentation pitfalls, but also to help your message stick.
While a more conversational tone is obviously the goal, hitting all the important beats of a sales presentation from memory can be tough. This is where presentation notes come in handy.
Whether it’s a word-for-word script or bullet points, every presentation software offers the ability to write formatted notes associated with your slide decks.
When you present, these notes will be visible to you alone. This is especially useful when delivering presentations remotely over the web. If you’re going to read a word-for-word script, be sure to add some inflection and natural pauses to avoid sounding robotic.
Pixelated graphics and misaligned visuals in slide decks can make you look like an amateur. Which is not the message you want to send to your audience.
It’s safe to say that most sales reps are not also trained graphic designers. It’s all the more important that we rely on grids to line up our images in an aesthetically-pleasing way.
All modern presentation tools offer some sort of grid for optimal image placement. Cross-referencing your visuals against the grid takes mere minutes. But it could potentially save you embarrassment and help build credibility with your prospect.
Real-life stories are what captivate and unite humans. It’s been neurologically proven that stories engage more areas of the brain than the parts that store and recall facts. In fact, science shows us that our brains don’t distinguish between hearing a story and actually experiencing it.
That means your prospect will tune out if you’re reciting a laundry list of features and benefits. They’re more likely to stay engaged if you tell a real story of how your product helped a real person.
This also means that when you describe a real-life pain point of someone in a similar position, the odds are high that your prospect will feel that pain. It follows that they’ll also feel a greater urgency for whatever you’re offering.
The Hero’s Journey is a popular storytelling framework that’s been used ever since humans could communicate with drawings on cave walls. Using this template is one of the most effective ways to integrate storytelling into your presentations. So, try making them the hero, not your product.
Keep the amount of information you give the prospect down to a few important things. Don’t burry the resources they need to see with lots of little insignificant things. Don’t get bogged down in feature explanations. Keep things brief and high-level. If you have to ask yourself if you should cut a section, the answer is yes.
As a general rule, when animations in presentations are good, they’re really good. When they’re bad, though, they’re really bad. I have seen some beautiful animations done in PowerPoint for large-scale conference presentations. Important note: they were created by a trained graphic designer with weeks of prep time and years of experience.
If you don’t have time or expertise to make your animations great, keep them simple and minimal. Or avoid them altogether. The animation presets in modern presentation tools are guaranteed to make your content look cheap.
The occasional fade-in can be tasteful. But beyond that, it’s probably wise to stay away from any distracting spins, swipes, or bounces.
This tip is more about technology than technique. I can’t count how many times I’ve been in the audience of a presentation where the presenter advances to a broken or unformatted slide. “Whoa,” they say. “That’s so weird. That worked on my computer.”
Perhaps you’ve experienced the same thing. It’s definitely not something you want your prospect experiencing as they’re forming their opinion of your brand.
So, if you’re building a presentation on your home PC to transfer to your work laptop, make sure you test it on your work laptop before unveiling to the world. It seems obvious, but it takes mere minutes to troubleshoot and could save you a sale and a stressful situation.
A great way to ensure aesthetic consistency and alignment is a custom template. One that’s designed with your organization’s branding. If you don’t have an in-house designer, there will be an initial investment. But it’s well worth it considering it may be the first impression a prospect gets of your brand. As well as, how many eyeballs will be on your slides over time.
This will help you avoid the distraction of mismatched fonts and colors. But this will also help you ensure that every prospect gets a consistent experience, regardless of the presenter. Nothing is left up to chance.
Almost every modern presentation software has a “New from Template” or equivalent option. These save time during the start of each slide deck as well. Branded templates mean you’re never left wondering if your team has the right content.
Speaking of saving time, Accent Connect keeps all of your presentation decks neatly organized and updated. Your sales reps can access them from any device, anywhere, at any time.
To learn more about how we can help you optimize your presentation workflow and sell more effectively, reach out to our team today for a live demo .
12th june 2020.
Keep reading..
Hrideep barot.
Presentations are a common component of every business, whether you’re getting ready to sell potential clients or trying to hire new staff.
You may present with poise and assurance. But a strong digital presentation can help you improve your public speaking abilities in general.
Given their potential to have a significant effect on the audience, presentations need to be carefully planned. They can give your words more force and better represent you and your business. This can assist you in getting good results.
Have you ever questioned why presentations play such a significant role in our lives? It is simple to become confused about what all these individuals are generating these presentations about when there are more than 50,000 new presentations created every day. Who exactly came up with the idea? The question “Why would anyone want to incorporate their ideas into these things called slides when you can just have a straightforward speech written on a piece of paper?” may be running through your mind if you dislike presentations in general. We recognise your point. We are also here to explain why, though.
1. involvement of students at the centre of learning.
Presentations provide variety and difficulties in contrast to an academic lecturer’s routine delivery. Sometimes, students are more willing to learn from their peers’ successes and failures than from their teachers.
Presentations might be used as well as a productive method of peer education. You participate actively in your learning experience when you take charge of creating and delivering a presentation.
Presentations provide chances for skill and knowledge development in concert. Through this process, learning and a desire for learning more can be strengthened. The audience should have learned something new and developed a greater interest in the subject of the presentation was successful. When we hear information from a unique or distinct source, we occasionally remember it. Tutors can gain new insights from the viewpoints of their students, which they can then use to improve their instruction.
Students have the chance to practise performing during presentations in a relatively safe setting. You will start to gain the necessary abilities and be able to apply them from presentation to presentation when you have to prepare multiple presentations for a course.
It makes you undoubtedly accustomed to the academic setting. You might give presentations in spaces where you also take part in lectures and other events, which might assist to ease your anxiety. People in the audience who are also in your cohort may be sympathetic if they can relate to your feelings.
Academic courses that include well-run presentations can be utilised to boost students’ skills and confidence. You might be able to express your personality in a way that is impossible when sitting through a lecture as a passive listener.
You may stand out from the crowd and get noticed by using presentations. They provide you with the chance to express your uniqueness. You can develop a good coping strategy for anxiety that will help you feel less fearful and anxious. With consistent practice, you may boost your self-assurance and gain some of the interpersonal and communication abilities that employers respect.
You may occasionally have the chance to receive a greater percentage of marks for presentations than for written work alone. Students who prefer to speak to write may be more effective presenters and communicators when speaking or using visual aids rather than writing. This is so because, in addition to the verbal intelligence required for essays and reports, presentations also make use of other types of intelligence.
Some pupils are very self-assured when giving presentations and perform better in groups than they do alone. These students might receive a higher overall grade for the module if the presentation and written report are assessed jointly, particularly if the presentation accounts for up to 40% of the module grade.
You might need to consider your personal communication preferences and talents. Do you favour mind maps, lists, diagrams, or charts & graphs?
You can use presentations to communicate in a variety of media types. Additionally, they provide you with the chance to practise performing in front of others and improve your breathing, voice, and hand-eye coordination. Students in the audience will also observe and pick up knowledge from the presenters’ abilities, especially if they are given the chance to offer feedback.
In fact, students frequently give themselves and their fellow classmates the harshest reviews possible. These observations and comments can help students reflect on and recognise the factors that contribute to presentations being an effective learning environment. This analysis can help future performances and be used for more job interviews and evaluations.
Many organisations look for candidates who are self-assured and include presentations in their selection processes. For progress reports, staff evaluations, and professional development, several organisations regularly use staff presentations. As a student, practising presentation preparation and delivery can make you a more capable and assured interview applicant.
They present chances for you to hone your project management and teamwork abilities. You’ll need to meet deadlines and be accountable for producing the intended result of your effort. Your research, design and communication abilities will all increase along with your overall presentation abilities.
1. inform, educate, and inspire the staff.
Presentations aren’t solely for external use, despite popular notions. They are extensively used within organisations as well. They can be a useful tool for inspiring and addressing workers.
In order to provide effective results, office productivity and efficiency are essential. This is only possible if the staff members are regularly motivated to increase their productivity and are made aware of the objectives and goals they are expected to meet.
There are two kinds of presentations: those that keep the audience engaged right up until the very end, and those that they are eager to be over. Making sure of the first one will ensure that your staff is informed and motivated.
Business pitches heavily rely on presentations. You might be shocked to learn how presentations affect potential clients. They support your public speaking and give the audience a sense of your firm.
You must create the correct initial impression if you want to accomplish your company objectives. Presentations serve as a visual representation of the mission and strategy of your business.
For instance, you identify yourself in the pitch as a business that provides your clients with cutting-edge branding solutions. The audience can see the evidence in your presentation slides, which will help your presentation have a greater effect.
The audience will perceive your presentation as more serious and positive the more ordered it appears.
Having it developed by a presentation designer may assist guarantee that everything is in the right location and that the overall presentation is consistent with the values and image of your firm.
Presentations are easily accessed and seen on your phone, tablet, or laptop and can be used anywhere.
To ensure optimal readability, it would be a good idea to have your presentation developed by a professional.
During a meeting, you can project the presentation using your laptop or a projector, and you can quickly keep them online for quick access. This improves the general effectiveness of your company’s operations and enables you to produce results more successfully and effectively.
If the presentation is well designed and well-aligned with your audience and business culture, its effect can be increased.
The audience’s involvement is greatly influenced by presentations. Humans naturally grow weary after listening to someone speak repeatedly.
Maintaining your audience’s interest might be significantly easier if you use professionally created presentations to break up your public speaking. They will continue to be actively engaged if they can connect your speech to the presentation’s content and images.
Making a presentation with the help of a creative digital agency might help you make a lasting impression on the audience. The audience clearly interprets your message when they are actively participating in the process and paying attention to what you are saying.
Go through this article for more information: Interactive presentations: 7 foolproof ways to engage the audience
The best way to spread information at a reasonable cost is through presentations. They give you the freedom to change the content to suit your demands and specifications.
You may quickly add or remove content to suit your needs and alter the presentation for various audiences.
When trying to make an internal announcement or going for an external assignment like a sales pitch or BTL marketing, presentations are simpler and more practical options to pursue than other printed media.
You can continue using the presentation after having it created by a creative digital agency by adding industry-specific content in accordance with each client’s needs.
Using presentations will save you more time and money while enabling you to communicate your intended message more effectively and clearly.
You are presenting your business idea in a pitch. Without the organisation and visual support that a pitch deck will provide, your message may get lost in translation. Your message will be much more powerful if it is accompanied by a complimentary design that effectively arranges your ideas. It may also make your concept appear in a more favourable light. Having a presentation might assist your speech to reflect even more forcefully on company values, business image, and goals.
Being confident and at ease are difficult to do while you’re anxious.
The best method to connect with your audience, though, is to show your enthusiasm for the subject, which is something that outstanding presenters emphasise again and time again.
Tell the audience what matters to you and why it does so openly. The audience will respond if you are eager and genuine.
What your audience will learn from your presentation should be the foundation of your presentation. Always consider what the audience needs and wants to know when preparing your presentation, not what you can say to them.
You must pay attention to your audience’s reaction while you deliver the presentation and adjust as necessary. Make it simple for your audience to comprehend and respond.
You should always ask yourself this question while you prepare your presentation. “What are the main points—two or three—that I want my audience to remember?” You should be able to express that main idea succinctly.
Some experts advise creating an “elevator summary” of no more than 30 seconds, while others advise writing it on the back of a business card or saying it in no more than 15 words.
Whatever rule you decide to follow, it’s crucial to maintain your main point concisely and focused. And if what you’re going to say won’t help convey that main idea, don’t say it.
Although it seems relatively simple, a surprising amount of speakers fail to accomplish it.
You can establish rapport with your audience by smiling and maintaining eye contact. This makes it easier for them to relate to you and your subject. Additionally, the fact that you are speaking to specific individuals rather than an enormous group of strangers makes you feel less anxious.
Make sure you don’t dim all the lights to the point where only the slide screen is visible to aid you in this. Both you and your slides must be visible to your audience.
Your presentation’s opening section is vital. You must be able to capture and keep the interest of your audience.
If you’re boring, they will give you a few minutes of grace before they start to lose interest in you. Don’t use that time to introduce yourself. Begin by amusing them.
Consider telling a tale or using an eye-catching but helpful graphic on a slide.
Humans have a built-in tendency to react to stories.
We learn to pay attention and remember information by using stories. Your audience is more likely to pay attention and remember your points if you can incorporate stories into your presentation. Starting with a tale is a fantastic approach, but there is also a bigger point: your presentation needs to act like a story.
Consider the narrative you want to tell your audience and design your presentation accordingly.
The spoken word actually uses just one of your audience’s five senses, making it a somewhat ineffective form of communication. Presenters frequently employ visual aids as a result. However, you can improve spoken language by making good use of your voice.
You may make your voice more engaging and keep your audience’s attention by varying your speaking pace and emphasising changes in pitch and tone.
Communication more than three-quarters is thought to be nonverbal.
This means that in addition to your speech tone, your body language is very important in conveying your message. Moreover, make sure you are sending the proper information; bad body language includes crossing your arms, keeping your hands in your pockets or behind your back, and pacing the stage.
Furthermore, move freely around the stage and, if you can, among the audience. Make your gestures open and assured.
Read this article for more useful insights: 6 most effective presentation styles
The bottom line is that yes, presentations are important because they enable you to better organise and express your objectives, build connections with your audience, and more. Moreover, you will notice the difference if you deliver your speech as a presentation!
Presentations significantly affect the audience. Hence, they need to be carefully planned. In addition, they can give your statements more force and enhance the perception that people have of you and your business. You may be able to get good results by doing this.
Schedule a call with our expert communication coach to know if this program would be the right fit for you
Copyright © 2023 Frantically Speaking All rights reserved
Presentations
Written by: Orana Velarde
In this comparison guide, we’ll analyze each of these tools and many more to understand what the difference is between them so you can choose the best presentation maker for your business.
So, if you want to stand out from run-of-the-mill PowerPoint presentations and have a reliable presentation software that will help you collaborate with team members and design stunning slide decks in a fraction of the time, you’ll need this guide.
Let’s get started.
Presentation tools are software applications that enable users to visually present ideas or share knowledge. These presentations are delivered in a slide-show format using a combination of text, images and other graphic elements.
Presentation software is frequently used to pitch an idea to investors , present proposals to clients , introduce new products or services to customers, train staff on new policies or ideas , or teach your students new or complex concepts.
When choosing the right presentation programs for your projects, there are some things to consider:
We'll take a look at all these aspects in the following list of best presentation software so you can make your own well-informed decision.
Last updated on May 30, 2024.
Visme is a powerful presentation software and all-in-one content authoring tool. It has a user-friendly interface and an extensive set of tools that make it easy for both beginners and experienced professionals to design and deliver impactful presentations.
Presentations made with Visme go beyond the standard slide deck to incorporate interactive elements and easy, full-featured offline sharing.
Making professional presentation slides with Visme is easy and straightforward. Create slides from scratch using content blocks and the extensive slide libraries categorized by style. Browse the presentation template library to find pre-designed slide decks which you can easily customize to fit your needs.
That's not all that Visme can do, though.
You can also use Visme to create other visual content, such as digital documents, animated infographics, interactive reports and whiteboards. There are tons of customizable templates that come built-in with the app.
You can also use Visme to create other visual content, such as infographics, reports and interactive charts. There are tons of customizable templates that come built-in with the software.
Visme can be used for free to test it out for as long as you want. With a free account, you can create up to three projects.
To access all of Visme's capabilities, you can upgrade to one of the paid plans .
If you're a nonprofit organization, you may qualify for a discount. Visme also offers separate Education plans for students and teachers.
Visme is incredibly easy to use. Switching from slide to slide is a breeze, and you can even save a slide to your content block or slide library to reuse later.
The editor comes with a handy sidebar that lets you browse media, graphics and data tools and drag and drop relevant elements onto your slides. You can also use the /shortcut feature to open a search bar and quickly find what you need.
The dynamic fields feature ensures you don’t miss out on any critical information. With single click, you can easily update content throughout your presentation.
Visme is perfect for small and large businesses, enterprises, marketing teams, project managers, educators, content creators and so much more. The resources and tools available in Visme reach far beyond the ability to create presentations.
The template options in Visme are extensive and varied in style. From minimalistic to photographic, there are many presentation styles to pick from.
Create your presentation View more templates
You can choose from dozens of fully designed presentations tailor-made for specific industries and topics or mix and match hundreds of slide layouts by choosing a presentation theme.
You can also start with a blank canvas, add new blank slides to existing presentation templates, and save custom slides to use later as your own templates.
When selecting the best tools for presentations, the visual capabilities and creative design elements should be a top consideration. Visme’s graphic library includes thousands of free icons, illustrations, stock photos, videos , 3D graphics , audio clips, charts and graphs to include in your presentations.
The best part is that every graphic asset that comes built-in with the Visme editor is fully customizable. Resize, rotate or change colors to fit your brand, content and theme.
Visme comes with a wide variety of useful AI-powered tools, making it one of the best presentation software.
Let's start with the AI presentation maker . This advanced tool is engineered to make your presentation creation process as quick and efficient as possible.
To create a presentation using this tool, you only need to provide a text prompt outlining your requirements. The tool will then generate the slides, complete with text, images, illustrations and any other content you specify.
After that, you can use Visme's presentation tools to personalize the AI-generated slides and add the final touches.
Next up is the AI writer . This user-friendly tool is your key to overcoming writer's block and crafting engaging copy for your presentation. It can help you create layouts, edit and proofread text, summarize the content and much more. Explain to the AI writer what you want to generate, and it will take care of the rest.
Visme offers several AI image editing tools , including erase and replace, background remover, unblur, and upscaler. These tools can be used to edit the image content or enhance its quality. For example, you can use the Image Upscaler to resize your image without sacrificing quality, ensuring your visuals always look high-quality.
And as always, you just need to provide the right text prompts. Feel free to tweak the prompts as many times as you want until you achieve the perfect outcome.
It's easy to insert or embed videos and GIFs inside a Visme presentation. This is another that makes Visme a powerful video presentation software .
To insert a video, upload a video from your computer or cloud storage and place it on a slide of your choosing. Once you’ve uploaded it, it’ll be in your Media library for future use.
If you don’t have videos of your own, Visme has hundreds of stock videos to choose from in lots of categories. Browse them by clicking the / shortcut on your keyboard and opening the videos tab.
Edit your videos with the integrated timeline feature. Trim video clips and customize playback settings. Resize the video on your slide easily by dragging the corner. Or you can resize any video into another shape for more flexibility.
GIFs are available through the Giphy integration, which you’ll find in the Media tab. These are a great choice when you want to make a meme-based presentation.
Take note that all presentations that have videos or GIFs in the slides must be shared as a live link or downloaded as HTML5 or MP4. If you download it as a PDF or PPTX, all the interactive elements won’t play back.
Adding audio to a presentation is easy on Visme. Either along with a video or as the audio on its own. You can also record a voice over.
Another great option is accessing our Presenter Studio to record a video of yourself presenting your content. You can turn on your camera or record audio only before sending a link to your audience. This is a great way to present asynchronously or save your presentation for people to view again and again.
There is more content that can be embedded into Visme presentations, like polls, quizzes , forms , online videos and any content that can be turned into code to insert in an iframe.
You can also take advantage of several integrations to embed even more engaging and interactive content into your slides.
Some of our integrations include SurveyMonkey, Hubspot, Giphy, and many more.
With Visme, you can animate your content and create interactive experiences such as:
Features inside Visme presentations can be animated, and we also have a number of seamless slide transitions that make your content pop, like "Enter from Side" or "Staggered Fade."
If you want to make your content even more dynamic, you can access our Custom Animation feature. This is perfect for creating video presentations or making your elements look like they're floating on your slide.
Visme also comes with a 3D Character Creator that helps you elevate your storytelling and connect with your audience. You can create and customize 3D animated characters to embody your brand or message.
Tweak everything, from gender and hairstyles to outfits and skin tone, until you achieve the perfect look. You also have the ability to choose their entry, waiting and exit poses.
Visme is an online cloud-based app that can be easily used on your computer. We also provide a desktop app that you can download and use outside of your regular browser for seamless content creation.
And if you need to create content on the go, you can easily edit existing projects right from your mobile device or tablet using the Visme iOS app .
Visme offers a wide selection of data widgets that allow you to creatively visualize statistics and figures in the form of gauges, clocks, pictographs and icon arrays.
Data visualization in Visme goes beyond widgets. Add tables, graphs, and charts to your presentation slides and connect them to a live data source . Create a data stream from Google Sheets or Google Analytics into customized data visualizations.
Finished presentations can be viewed offline in four different formats.
The best option is to download it as an HTML5 file. That way it will maintain all the animations when opened on Google Chrome, even without internet. Downloading as an HTML 5 file is a premium feature. Presentations can also be downloaded as a collection of JPG or PNG images, as a PDF or as an editable PowerPoint file.
Sign up. It’s free.
Visme has a premium teams plan that lets all team members customize and complete projects together. Leave comments with edits and feedback, edit projects simultaneously and easily share with other people on your team to move the project along.
Plus, Visme's workflow management features give the project admin complete control over your team's collaboration process. You can assign tasks, manage roles, set deadlines and more, all from a centralized platform. These features are useful for streamlining communication and reducing the time between briefing and final presentation design.
Visme's brand design tool makes it easy to keep all of your content on-brand regardless of who's creating it. It works in three easy steps:
1. Upload all of your branding assets (colors, fonts, logo) to Visme with the Brand Wizard . Input your website URL and watch as our Brand Wizard automatically pulls in all of your branding.
2. Access a bundle of 30+ automatically branded templates that have your logo, fonts and colors already ready to go.
3. Easily access thousands of other templates and input your brand fonts and colors with just a click in Visme's editor.
Then boom! All of your content will always have the same branding, helping increase brand strength and recognition.
Once a presentation is finished, it can be shared to social media seamlessly right from the editor. It can also be downloaded.
Presentations on Visme can be published privately with password protection so that only the people you want can access it. It is advisable to only use strong passwords for this purpose. There are a few free password managers that could help you do that and keep your account secure .
Visme’s analytics is what makes it stand out as the best tool for presentation. When a presentation is shared via a live link, it can be analyzed for views and sharing.
Access in-depth analytics that show you how much of your presentation is typically viewed, for how long and which slides seem to be the most popular.
You can add a signup form to your presentations to collect leads that could potentially become clients. Simply head over to our Advanced Settings tab before sharing your project and turn on Requires Registration to collect emails from each person who views your content.
The best part of using Visme is that you get access to an interactive online form builder that's proven to generate 2X more conversions than traditional forms. You can choose your preferred form type and customize every aspect, including character appearance, color, background and animations to match your design and branding requirements.
Prezi offers a great alternative to the traditional presentation format that goes slide by slide. The creative idea behind Prezi is you can create an animated, non-sequential flow with topics and subtopics that are hidden until you zoom in.
While Prezi's interface can be slightly complicated to use, it's a good option for people who need to add a creative touch to their presentations.
Prezi is free for basic capabilities and limited templates.
For the paid plans, there are three tiers.
There are separate plans available for students and teachers.
Prezi has a slight learning curve, but once you create a couple of presentations, you get the hang of it. However, it doesn't offer too much customizability inside the templates.
Businesses and educators who are in need of a different style of presentation. Prezi offers a “conversational style” of zooming and moving around between information. So, who Prezi is for really depends on who needs this sort of presentation style.
There are plenty of templates to choose from, and you can also start from scratch. The templates are different in color and style, but the idea of zooming into topics and subtopics is the same.
Prezi has an AI assistant that automatically generates presentations for users.
The assets library has some icons and shapes available, the usual ones like arrows and buttons. Premium plans get access to over 80,000 icons and 500,000 images.
Videos can be uploaded or embedded from YouTube. Embedded videos are not viewable in offline mode. GIFs aren’t supported.
Voice over can be added in premium plans.
No other content can be embedded into Prezi presentations.
Prezi is all about animations between topics and subtopics. The presentations themselves are viewed as animations.
Prezi is a cloud app but can be accessed to view offline with premium plans.
Prezi presentations can only be created on a computer but can be viewed on all devices.
Prezi for teams is available upon demand and has a Slack integration.
Brand Kits are only available with Prezi's team plans, but each presentation can be customized to fit your brand with color customizations and some available fonts.
Prezi presentations can be shared to social media via a special share button at the top-right of the Prezi page. They can be shared to LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
Prezi presentations can only be downloaded from the Prezi app. There are two options, as an EXE file for PC and a ZIP file for Mac. Presentations can then be viewed without internet connection or the need to connect to the Prezi app.
Presentations are public unless you have a paid account.
Analytics are available with premium accounts but it only applies to Prezi presentations you share via a link to someone.
There are no lead generation capabilities with Prezi.
Google Slides is the presentation software available via your Google account. Just like you can create documents and spreadsheets with Google Docs and Sheets, you can create presentations with Google Slides.
The setup is very similar to PowerPoint and is free to use for anyone with a google account. There is a business version called G Suite, which includes the same things with more storage and management capabilities.
Google Slides is free to use for anyone with a Google account. All features are available to everyone.
There are plans for business accounts so that teams can be created and information can be managed in a more organized way. Plans start at $6/user/month and go up to $18/user/month.
Compared to other examples of presentation software, Google Slides is very easy to use. The controls are very similar to Google Docs and Sheets.
Business professionals, educators and students who need fast and easy access to a presentation software that can get things done.
There is a general collection of templates, but there are not very many. Presentations can also be started from scratch.
The graphic assets are average and simple. The shapes are classic and generic. Photographs can be uploaded from your desktop, your Google Drive, a URL or searched online.
Videos can uploaded with a YouTube link or from Google Drive. GIFs can be added just like images.
Anything from your Google Drive can be added in. Also there are some available “add-ons” that can be integrated for icons, stock photography and audio.
Elements inside each slide can be animated and so can the transition between the slides.
Google Slides is a cloud-based program.
Google Slides can be used fully on any device with their respective apps for Android and iPhone. Presentations can be edited and viewed on all devices.
Collaborating with other people is easy with Google Slides
There is no brand kit feature.
Presentations can be shared via email or link.
Google Slides can be viewed offline with a Chrome Extension and the use of Backup and Sync.
Presentations can be shared privately, but there are no password capabilities, only invitations.
These features are not available.
Read either PowerPoint vs Google , or you can check out Google Slides vs Visme to get a detailed overview of each tool and find the perfect presentation software for your needs.
Keynote is the native Apple presentation software — one of the original PowerPoint Alternatives. Anyone with an Apple ID can use the Keynote editor. It is the most similar to PowerPoint and also Google Slides.
Keynote is free for downloading and also accessing via the cloud with an apple ID.
If you know how to use PowerPoint or Google Slides, Keynote is a breeze. This feature makes it stand out as one of the best tools for presentation.
Keynote is good for businesses, educators and anyone who needs a practical presentation software.
The templates are limited but come in standard or wide sizes. Templates can also be found outside of Keynote and uploaded into the program.
There are plenty of classic symbols and icons available which are also customizable in terms of color and gradient. Images can only be added from your computer.
Videos are not embeddable in Keynote slides but that is sorted with a plug-in like LiveSlides. GIFs can be added as .gif images.
You can upload existing audio files in Keynote to play on specific slides. There's also an option to record your own voiceover to create a narrated presentation.
Including these is not available
Slides and objects can be animated in a number of ways, including path creation, scaling, bounce or jiggle effects, and more.
Keynote is available on both desktop and cloud.
You can create keynote presentations on any apple device and PC.
Keynote presentations can be downloaded as .pdf or as .pptx to view offline.
Keynote presentations can be collaborated on via a link or email with permission settings set to “can make changes”.
None of these are available on Keynote.
Presentations are private until shared and there is no password protection capabilities.
This list wouldn't have been complete without the most popular presentation software in the world. Even though there are tons of more advanced presentation tools out there now, PowerPoint is still a favorite of many because of its familiarity, ease of use and availability.
The desktop-based PowerPoint program is part of Microsoft 365, which has different plans for businesses that start from $6/month and go up to $22/month. You can also buy an unbundled digital PowerPoint account for $159.99
PowerPoint Online is free on any device, including mobile.
Most, if not every, computer user knows how to work a PowerPoint. The traditional sidebar interface is easy to use simply because it's familiar. But for people who are using PowerPoint for the first time, there might be a slight learning curve.
Businesses, individuals, students, teachers and anyone who uses a Windows PC or device. PowerPoint is also a good fit for people who want to create simple, conventional presentations, and aren't looking for fancy new features or capabilities.
There are dozens of themes that come built-in with PowerPoint, and there are all customizable so you can play around with the styles.
You can browse stock images, icons, stickers and more by searching for relevant keywords in PowerPoint's graphic library.
Videos and GIFs can be uploaded from your computer. You can also embed videos from YouTube and other online sources. However, this feature is only available to Windows users.
You can upload audio files from your computer. You can also record audio directly inside PowerPoint and edit the settings for playback.
You can embed files created in other Microsoft Office applications, such as charts created in Excel, or any other programs that support Object Linking and Embedding (OLE.)
There are tons of animation and transition options available in PowerPoint, which can actually get confusing at times. However, if you know your way around these options, it gets easier to create a professional-looking slideshow.
There are both desktop and cloud versions of PowerPoint available.
You can download the PowerPoint mobile apps on both Android and iOS devices.
It's possible to share your presentation with specific people.
Brand kits are not available, but you can save custom themes.
Presentations cannot be shared to social media.
You can download your PowerPoint presentations in various formats, including PPTX and PDF. This makes it easy to access them on any device offline.
You can mark your presentations as read-only to prevent users from editing the file.
This feature is not available in PowerPoint.
Ludus is one of the best-looking presentation tools available online. The main attractions with Ludus are the clean black screen to edit on and the number of integrations that give importing capabilities for all sorts of content. From photography to .svg to code builds.
Ludus starts at $14.99/month for teams of 1-15 people. Teams that need more licenses are encouraged to contact for more pricing information. Ludus does offer a 30-day free trial.
Ludus is quite easy to use and includes lots of keyboard shortcuts. It is easy to learn how to use and pretty straightforward. It seems to be easier for designers than for non-designers to use.
This presentation software is geared more towards designers or business owners who have some design knowledge to totally be able to use the broad capabilities.
There are no templates to choose from. You have to start from scratch or use smart blocks that you can create to use over and over easily. Smart blocks are kept in their own library.
Ludus has minimal in-house graphic assets like simple shapes, but the integrations are epic. You can import .svg icons and edit them inside Ludus quite easily. Photos can also be imported via Unsplash, Instagram, Facebook or uploaded.
Videos and GIFs are easily imported via the integrations like YouTube, Vimeo, Giphy and more.
Audio can be embedded as an audio file from SoundCloud, Dropbox and other integrations.
You can pretty much embed anything into Ludus. The integrations are impressive and there are also iframe and HTML options.
Internal elements can’t be animated but there are so many integrations that animations can be done in different ways.
Ludus is a cloud-based app. No need to download anything.
Presentations can only be edited on computers. Finished presentations can be viewed on all handheld devices that have access to the internet via a URL link.
Collaborations are possible with the team plans. This includes live collaboration, workspaces and more.
With collaborations, smart blocks and the Brandfetch integration, a brand kit can be organized quite easily. But it’s not an internal feature.
Finished presentations can be easily shared to social media straight from Ludus.
Ludus presentations can be downloaded as .pdf or .html to be viewed offline.
Pro Plans have password protection.
There are no analytics or lead generation capabilities available in Ludus.
Slides is the only presentation software that promotes itself as being “pixel perfect” as the editor includes a built-in grid to help with composition. Slides has a lower cost at the highest price tag which is good for smaller businesses.
Slides is free to use, but finished presentations will be public and available.
The paid plans start at $5/month, and the Pro plan sits at $10/month and go up to $20/month for features like unlimited collaborators, privacy, shared media library and Google Analytics.
Slides is very easy to use, the editing board is minimal but all tools are at easy reach. No need to get confused with Slides. There are no templates so presentations are built from scratch.
Small business owners or startups. Individuals that know what they want and don’t need templates to help them along. Also for developers because it has HTML and CSS building capabilities.
Slides has a very limited template library with just a handful of different options to choose from.
The available shapes and icons are common and minimal. Photos have to be uploaded or imported from a URL.
Videos and GIFs are easy to add. Videos can be uploaded or linked and GIFs can be uploaded as .gif or .mp4 as video.
Including audio is not possible with Slides.
Anything with code can be added in an iframe.
All elements and features can be animated to fade in, fade out etc. Length of duration can be customized.
Slides is a cloud-based presentation software that can only be used online.
Slides can be used on the computer and handheld devices. To edit and to view.
Paid plans have very capable collaboration possibilities. Users can leave comments with feedback for the creator to review and make edits.
There is no set section for a brand kit but branded decks can be created and then cloned to use as a template.
Yes, quite easily.
You can also share presentations via URL, email or embeddable code.
A Slides presentations can be downloaded as a ZIP file with an .html file inside that can be viewed offline on any browser.
Possible with paid plans.
This is not possible on Slides.
Slidebean is an easy-to-use presentation software with interesting templates and customizable content blocks.
The highlight of this presentation software is that it uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help you put together the best possible slide layouts and configurations. They also have a team of experts that can both write and design your pitch deck for you if you don't want to take the DIY route.
The free plan has limited capabilities but it's enough to see how Slidebean works. To export your presentation, you'll need to upgrade.
There are three price levels from $8/month to $19/month to $149/month. The last one is the Founder's Edition plan, which includes help from the experts on your presentations.
If you choose to get their help on your presentation design, it starts at $29 per slide or $1,999 for the full project.
Slidebean is quite easy to use. You can choose between templates or start from scratch. Adding content is simple and to the point from a popup.
Editing can be done in outline or design mode. The editing is limited to how the content blocks are set up, but there are lots of choices. There's no free size changing or moving around.
Startups, small businesses and entrepreneurs.
There are plenty of template options. They are organized in sections and niche. The template collection has presentations by known brands like Snapchat and Buzzfeed.
There are plenty of icons and images to choose from. However, there are no shapes, but icons can be used as shapes.
GIFs can be added via the Giphy integration in a content block. Video can be added in the paid plans.
There are no audio capabilities.
The code snippet content block has lots of options so a lot of different kinds of third-party content can be added in.
Content blocks and their elements can be animated with a couple features.
Slidebean is an online program on the cloud.
It can be used to edit or view on any device.
Collaboration is possible in the paid plans.
This feature is available in the paid plans.
Slidebean presentations can be exported to download as both .pdf and .html files to view offline.
This feature is not available.
Analytics are available in the paid plans.
Zoho Show is a presentation software that mimics Microsoft PowerPoint in the way it is set up, with a menu up top for all the actions. However, Zoho's version is much nicer and polished.
Zoho is a complete CRM for businesses and the company offers different types of apps for teams and office use — Zoho Show is only one of their programs.
Zoho show is completely free and without ads.
Zoho Show is pretty easy to use. The content blocks can be chosen as themes but they can also be moved around freely and resized. The presentation can be viewed in three ways, with a handy grid view to see all slides next to each other.
Businesses, entrepreneurs, educators and students. Anyone who needs to make a presentation.
There aren’t exactly templates, but there are themes. These do not come with images or lorem ipsum but are more like visual canvases that can be customized in terms of color, layout and more.
The shapes are pretty good, there are quite a bit to choose from. An added bonus is the possibility to draw shapes or scribble anything yourself with the trackpad.
Videos can be added via the YouTube integration and GIFs can be added as an image.
Audio can be added via Soundcloud with an embed code.
There are a number of sites that are supported via Embed codes but not that many. Zoho Show says that you can ask your needs to be added in the permitted list.
All elements and transitions can be animated.
Zoho Show is a cloud bases program and can be broadcast from anywhere and on any device. The live broadcast includes a chat window and the audience can download the presentation if they want to.
You can only create presentations on a computer.
Teams can easily use Zoho Show, even in the free version.
Custom branding is only available in the highest paid plan.
Sharing to social media is not possible unless downloaded as a PDF file and then uploaded to something like SlideShare.
Presentations can be downloaded as .pptx or .pdf files for offline viewing.
Yes, this is possible on all plans.
Analytics are possible on the paid plans.
Beautiful.ai is a presentation software that helps you create great-looking slides with the help of Artificial Intelligence. This means that your presentation will look professional every single time, regardless of who designs it.
Beautiful.ai currently offers a Pro plan at $12/month and a Team plan at $40/month, both billed annually. They offer a 14-day free trial to test out their tool.
This is probably the best thing about Beautiful.ai — it's incredibly simple to use. All you need to do is add smart slides, plug in your content, and choose from different preset layouts.
Of course, that also means that you have limited customization options. But if you're looking for a simple solution and you don't trust your design skills, this may be a good option for you.
Beautiful.ai is a great tool for absolute beginners and non-designers who are looking for a no-nonsense presentation software.
For example, startups and entrepreneurs can use this software to create a nice-looking pitch deck or proposal quickly without any design help.
There are a handful of slide themes available, but they're mostly basic in terms of design. You can play around with the layouts inside each theme to put together a unique presentation.
The graphic assets library comes with a bunch of free stock photos and icons to choose from, but the options are pretty limited.
Videos and GIFs can be uploaded from your computer. You can also import videos from YouTube and Vimeo to embed in your slides.
Audio can be uploaded from your computer.
It's not possible to embed third-party content into Beautiful.ai presentations. However, you can add interactive links to your slides.
Each slide comes with a preset animation style that you're unable to customize. However, you can change the speed, timing and triggers for the animations.
Beautiful.ai is a cloud-based application.
The software only works on your desktop computer.
You can invite people to collaborate on your presentation by either giving them "view" or "edit" access. Collaborators must have a Beautiful.ai account to view or edit the presentation.
While there's no brand kit feature available, you can customize a theme (colors and fonts) and save it to your library to use in future presentations.
There are several options to share your presentations. Send an email invite, share a public or private link, generate an embed code or share directly to social media.
You can export your presentations to PDF or PowerPoint to view offline.
There is no password protection, but you can use the Secure Viewing option to only share your presentation with other Beautiful.ai users via an email invite.
This feature is only available in the paid plans. You can access a number of viewing and usage statistics for your presentations.
This feature is not available in Beautiful.ai.
The main idea behind the Genially presentation software is interactivity.
This program is good not only for presentations and video presentations but also for other visual graphics. It’s great for adding a modern, interactive feel to your presentations.
There is a free plan in Genially, which gives you unlimited creations but limited resources. The paid plans are as follow, paid yearly:
Genially is easy to use if you are accustomed to programs with lots of choices. There is a lot that can be done with the features in Genially.
Any change can be applied to all slides with a single click of the button in the menu. When editing, there is a "design view" and a "layers view."
Professionals and educators of any field who can benefit from interactive presentations.
There are plenty of template options. Some are free and some are only available via the premium plans. Presentation templates are also available as "video presentations."
The graphic assets in Genially are quite varied; there is plenty to choose from. Images can be uploaded or found on the Pixabay integration.
Videos can be added via a YouTube link and GIFs can be imported with the Giphy integration.
Audio can be uploaded from your computer, added via SoundCloud and a couple of other integrations, or recorded directly in Genially.
Third-party content can be added to your presentations with Genially integrations. For example, you can add an interactive map via Google Maps.
All elements can be animated, as can the transitions between slides. Animation effects are quite extensive. There is a similar tab called “interactivity,” which are pop-ups and hyperlinks supplied with lots of button choices.
Genially is a cloud-based presentation program.
This program is only available to edit on computers but can be viewed on any device.
It seems that a professional plan allows 5 team members, but the pricing plan shows that all plans have collaborative capabilities. Collaborators can be added in the dashboard where all creations are stored.
Brand kits are available in the premium plans. It is an internal feature with easy access.
Finished presentations can be shared to social media.
Finished presentations can be downloaded as a set of .jpg images, as a .pdf or as an .html5 file which will keep all animations.
Premium plans have these features.
This is not available in Genially.
Canva is not only a presentation software but also a full editing program for all visual needs. Presentation creation is only one of the possibilities with Canva. It has become a favorite with bloggers and home-based businesses.
The free version of Canva is pretty extensive. The only restrictions are the use of premium resources that can be either bought separately or through the Canva Pro plan. Canva Pro is charged at $12.99/month or $119.99/year.
Canva Teams is $14.99/month + $14.99/month for every team member after the 5th.
Canva is easy to use as all elements are easy to find and are mostly customizable. Presentations are viewed scrolling; there is no master view and you can’t change something on all slides at once.
Bloggers, small home-based businesses and startups
There are lots of customizable template options, and each slide inside the templates can be used individually.
There are plenty of options in the graphic assets library, including shapes, icons, photos, frames and stickers. Some are free, while others are paid.
Videos and GIFs can be uploaded to Canva.
You can add music to your presentations using the available options inside Canva.
Canva offers dozens of integrations and media embed options, including YouTube, Google Maps, Vimeo, Pinterest, Tumblr, Twitter and more.
There are several animation options that apply to entire slides inside Canva. You can also add animated stickers to your slides.
Canva is a cloud-based app. Presentations can be seen on any device.
Canva is available as an iPhone app and an android app for editing capabilities.
Presentations can be shared for editing with team members.
Canva Pro has a brand kit feature.
Presentations can be shared on Twitter and Facebook.
Presentations can be downloaded as a group of .png or .jpg images or as a .pdf. You can also download it as an MP4 video for offline viewing.
All designs on Canva are private unless they are made public or shared via a link. There is no password-protected sharing though.
These features are not available in Canva.
While Canva offers a wide range of features for various visual design needs, you can explore better alternatives to find solutions that may better fit your requirements. If you want to explore other options, read our article about 12 excellent Canva alternatives .
FlowVella is a downloadable presentation software that can be used offline. The main attraction of FlowVella is the Kiosk Mode, in which you can create interactive presentations like the ones used in museums or information counters at malls or hotels.
FlowVella is free to try out. You can use it free forever but the options are limited and the finished presentations has a watermark. P aid plans are as follows:
FlowVella is pretty easy to use, and the controls are straightforward and uncomplicated.
This presentation software is for professionals and educators that need to be able to create presentations offline. Also for those who can take advantage of the Kiosk Mode.
The template options are quite varied and well designed.
The graphic assets library is very limited. Photographs and images need to be uploaded from your computer.
Videos can be uploaded or found via YouTube, iCloud and Dropbox integrations when online. GIFs can be added as images.
Audio can be uploaded from your computer, or added via iCloud or Dropbox.
You can add PDF files.
Only the transitions are animated minimally.
This is a desktop-based application. It must be downloaded.
There are iPad and device apps available for editing on those devices as well.
Paid premium plans can work with teams.
Brand kits are not available.
Presentations can be shared on Facebook and Twitter.
Since this is a desktop application, offline viewing is not a complication.
These features are available in the paid plans. Analytics can be viewed once the presentation has been published online.
This feature is not available on FlowVella.
Haiku Deck is a presentation software that is straightforward with a simple interface that makes quick and practical presentations. Presentations can be created on the computer and on mobile devices.
Haiku Deck can be tried for free with one available presentation. The Public plan is USD 7.99 a month, Pro plans are USD 9.99 a month billed annually and USD 19.99 billed monthly, and Premium plans are USD 29.99 a month.
Haiku Deck is quite easy to use and menus are easy to follow. There are word size limiters and specific text placement choices for each slide. Charts are simple to create and can be customized. The editor can be connected via cloud to all devices. The new addition, Zuru, is an Artificial Intelligence system that creates creative presentations from simple PowerPoint files or outlines.
The Haiku Deck presentation software is geared mostly toward educators and classrooms. Businesses and bloggers can also use it for practical purposes.
Templates on Haiku Deck are more like an inspiring collection of photographs for a specific niche with some suggestions on where to place the text and what charts to include.
The available graphic assets library in Haiku Deck are millions of photographs, numerous font choices and charts and graphs.
YouTube videos can be embedded easily in a Haiku Deck. GIFs cannot be added to Haiku Decks but a finished presentation can be turned into a video or into a GIF.
Narrations and voice overs are easily recorded on a presentation in Haiku Deck.
Only videos can be embedded.
Features can't be animated in Haiku Deck
Haiku Deck is a cloud-based app that is available for editing and viewing on your laptop and also as an app on phones and tablets.
Haiku decks can be downloaded as .pptx files for offline viewing.
Presentations can be easily shared to social media from the editor.
Haiku Deck offers team possibilities upon request.
There is no brand kit, but you can add your logo to the finished product.
Pro and Premium plans have private and password-protected capabilities.
Premium plans have analytics for who has viewed your presentations.
Emails cannot be captured with Haiku Deck but slides and presentations can be sent with invitations to your existing email contacts.
Microsoft has its own alternative to PowerPoint — Sway.
This online presentation software is completely different from PowerPoint and introduces a new concept of building "Sways" instead of "presentations."
Sway is free to use for anyone who has a Microsoft account.
It's super easy to use Sway and kind of fun too. It has a non-traditional storyline editor, which lets you add "blocks" of content that the software configures into layouts.
Sway is mostly for people who don't want to spend too much time designing a complex presentation. For example, students and nonprofit organizations.
There are several templates for different purposes, such as photo slideshows, sales trainings and even personal portfolios.
You can upload your own media or search from various sources inside Sway, including Flickr and Bing Images. There are no shapes and icons included.
You can upload videos from your device or embed from YouTube.
You can add audio to Sway by uploading or dragging and dropping the audio file onto your storyline from your computer.
You can embed images, videos, maps and other content from tons of websites, including Google Maps, Soundcloud, Twitter, Facebook and more.
Sway automatically adds animations to your slides. You cannot change or customize them; you can only increase or decrease the level of animation added to your Sway.
Sway is an online, cloud-based software.
Sway works on any device with an internet browser.
You can invite people to view or edit your Sway presentation.
Sway presentations can be shared directly to Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
You can download your Sway as a Word or PDF file to view offline.
There is no password protection available, but you can choose to share your Sway with specific people, anyone with a link or only people in your organization who have a link.
You can view reader statistics for your Sway if you have a Microsoft Office 365 subscription.
This feature is not available in Microsoft Sway.
Still have questions? We've compiled answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the best presentation tools available.
There are many presentation tools out there but Visme stands out as a top pick and a creative presentation app with a full suite of advanced features tailored to the needs of individual users and businesses. Visme offers real-time collaboration, interactive and animated elements, hyper-customization options, robust data visualization tools and a brand wizard to maintain brand consistency across your presentations.
Visme is often considered a top presentation software and offers several advantages as a PowerPoint alternative software. Its intuitive interface and extensive template library make creating visually stunning presentations seamless, even for beginners. Visme's collaboration features are superior, allowing teams to work seamlessly. On top of that, Visme is packed with advanced interactive and animated elements to keep your audience hooked.
PowerPoint and Prezi each have strengths and are suited for different presentation styles. PowerPoint is easy to use, has a clear structure, and is widely available, making it suitable for traditional slide decks and formal presentations. On the other hand, Prezi excels at non-linear, visually engaging presentations with its zooming and panning features, making it ideal for creative or storytelling presentations. The best choice depends on your content, audience and desired presentation style.
Visme offers a powerful presentation app that allows you to create, edit and present your slides from anywhere. Its mobile app is designed for on-the-go editing and presenting, ensuring you always have your presentation at your fingertips.
Canva and PowerPoint are tailored to suit the diverse preferences and requirements of different users.
Generally, Canva is known for its drag-and-drop interface, extensive library of design-focused templates and emphasis on visual appeal. It is an excellent choice for those who value aesthetics and want to create content quickly. On the other hand, PowerPoint offers more traditional features and is super flexible. It is often preferred due to its integration and compatibility with other Microsoft Office tools.
Visme is quickly gaining popularity as a PowerPoint replacement and a free presentation software with a user-friendly interface, tons of customization options, and powerful tools that make creating presentations a breeze. With a plethora of templates, interactive elements, and powerful data visualization tools, Visme empowers you to create presentations that truly captivate your audience and leave a lasting impression
Don't just take our word for it. Hear what Kendra Bradley, Graphic Content Developer at WOW!, has to say about Visme:
“Previously we were using PowerPoint, which is fine, but the interactivity you can get with Visme is so much more robust that we’ve all steered away from PowerPoint.”
“PowerPoint templates are plain and boring, and we want to create more fun and engaging content. Visme has multiple slide templates to choose from, which makes this so much easier.”
“I just made a deck recently and it took me about 15-20 minutes. I found a template I really liked and tweaked it and put it in our brand colors. In PowerPoint, it would take anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half.”
Read the full case study to learn how they streamlined their presentation creation process and found a better alternative than PowerPoint.
Choosing the best presentation program for your business is a great first step towards better and more effective slide deck development. In this guide, you learned about 15 different types of presentation software and we gave you a checklist to help you decide.
If you're looking for an easy-to-use presentation maker that also comes with unique features that you won't find in most other tools, Visme might be a great option.
You can look for the right pricing plan for your needs and even apply for a discount if you're a nonprofit organization. And if you just want to try out Visme to see if it's a good fit, sign up for a free account and use it for as long as you like — no strings attached.
Which of these best presentation software options fits your needs? If you have any questions or comments, we'd love to hear from you below.
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What are the benefits of Presentation Software ? What is presentation software? Finding someone who hasn't presented at school or work is scarce. Whether a sales pitch, a TED Talk or a chemistry project, slides and exhibitions have always been a significant part of our academic and professional growth.
As with most things, the way we do presentations has undergone a significant facelift. No matter what type of presentation you're doing, whether in a remote or hybrid environment, the importance and benefits of presentation software are undeniable.
If you’re looking for uses, challenges and features of presentation software , this article is for you!
3 cons of presentation software.
Besides the benefits of presentation software, let's check out the following:
Get free templates for your next interactive presentation. Sign up for free and take what you want from the template library!
PowerPoint and presentations have been synonymous for decades now. This is not to say that indications didn’t exist before PowerPoint; there were chalkboards, whiteboards, hand-drawn posters, flip charts, and slide decks for all purposes.
However, the rise of technology gradually helped companies replace hand-drawn slide decks with computer-generated slides, which finally led to PowerPoint – one of the most popular pieces of presentation software of all time. It's been years since PowerPoint revolutionised the game, and now there are plenty of alternatives evolving the industry in their own way.
PowerPoint and similar software allow the presenter to create a digitised slide deck with editable text and graphics. The presenter can then present that slide deck to the audience, either directly in front of them or virtually through Zoom and other screen-sharing software.
So, are you ready to take the step to modern presentation software? Don't worry; it's nowhere near as intimidating as you think!
Start by checking out some benefits of presentation software has been a real game-changer for presenters and presentations all over the world.
Did you know that 60% of people prefer a presentation full of visuals , while 40% of people say it's an absolute must they're included? Text-heavy slides are relics of presentation dinosaurs; the new way is graphics.
Presentation software gives you so many opportunities to illustrate your topic with the help of visual cues, such as...
This choice of elements is a treasure trove for traditional presenters. They can really help you grab your audience’s attention when you're giving your presentation, and are great aids when it comes to telling an effective story in your presentation.
Most presentation software is relatively easy to learn and use. The tools were originally designed to mimic how a traditional presenter presents their slides; over time, they've become more and more intuitive.
Of course, with the vast customisation options they offer, there's a chance that newbie presenters can get overwhelmed. Still, each tool usually has a plentiful help section and contactable customer service team to combat that, as well as communities of other presenters who are ready to help with any problems.
It's a standard nowadays for presentation tools to come with several ready-to-use templates. Usually, these templates are a few very well-designed slides that look fantastic; your only job is to replace the text and maybe add your images!
These eliminate the need to create your presentation templates from scratch and can save you entire evenings agonising over every element within your presentation.
Some established presentation software has got over 10,000 templates to choose from, all based on slightly different topics. You can be fairly assured that if you're looking for a template in your niche, you'll find it in the template library of some of the big names in presentation software .
Well, not all of them, but the best ones are!
An interactive presentation creates a two-way dialogue between the presenter and their audience by allowing the presenter to create questions in their presentation and allowing the audience actually to answer them.
Usually, the audience will join the presentation and answer the questions directly from their phones. These questions can be in the form of a poll , word cloud , live Q&A and more, and will display the audience's answers visually for everyone to see.
Interactivity is definitely one of the biggest benefits of presentation software, and one of the biggest free tools in the interactive presentation game is AhaSlides . AhaSlides lets you create a presentation full of interactive slides; your audience simply joins, contributes their ideas and stays engaged throughout the show!
Imagine trying to present something to an audience around the world if you didn't use presentation software. The only thing you could do is hold up your A4 slides to the camera and hope that everyone could read it.
Presentation software makes the whole process of broadcasting your slides to your online audience so much easier. You simply share your screen and present your presentation through the software. While you're talking, your audience will be able to see both you and your presentation fully, making it just like real life!
Some presentation tools let the audience take the lead, meaning anyone can read and progress through the slides themselves without the need for the presenter. This is a great way to make the traditional 'presentation handouts' available for audiences wherever they are.
As well as being visually appealing, the ability to add multimedia to our presentations makes them super exciting for both you and your audience.
3 things can elevate your presentation to no end...
Each of these are directly embeddable as slides within the presentation and doesn't require you to jump between platforms while you're trying to get into your flow. They help stimulate your audience's senses and keep them involved and in tune with the presenter.
There are several types of presentation software that allow you to access large GIF, video and sound libraries and drop them straight into your presentation. Nowadays, you don't have to download anything at all!
The more advanced presentation software is collaborative for a smooth remote work environment.
They allow multiple people to work on a presentation simultaneously and allow individual members to send the representations to each other for editing in their own time.
Not only that, but some of the interactive presentation platforms even let you collaborate with your moderator, who can ensure that the questions you're getting in a Q&A are savoury enough.
Collaborative features were developed to help create and present team presentations more effectively.
For all the benefits of presentation software, they do have their drawbacks. You also need to be aware of a few challenges when you use presentation software for your next presentation.
Now that you know the pros and cons of presentation software, it will be infinitely accessible to create a compelling presentation for your next audience. Until you do so, check out the variety of interactive templates available at AhaSlides and use them for free to create your next power-packed presentation.
Tips to Engage with Polls & Trivia
This year's banquet will be held on Monday, September 30, 2024 , at McCrory Gardens in Brookings.
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Presentation 1: 8:15-9:15 a.m..
Speaker: Molly Brown, EVP of Corporate Strategy, GenPro Energy Solution, Piedmont, SD
Lunch Break: 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m.
5:30 p.m. - Social 6 p.m. - Banquet
Welcome and Invocation Dr. Steven Hietpas Professor of Electrical Engineering | CPSS Coordinator 6:45 p.m. - Presentation of the CPSS Scholarship Awards - Presentation of Wayne E. Knabach Excellence in Power Award 7 p.m. - Keynote Presentation
Kalen George Meyer is a senior electrical engineering student at South Dakota State University, set to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in May 2025. During the summer of 2024, Kalen interned for the fourth time at DGR Engineering in their electrical department. His responsibilities included creating protection and control drawing packages and overseeing substation station service and transformer fan modifications. At SDSU, Kalen has been actively involved in Eta Kappa Nu, serving as president during his senior year. He is also a member of Tau Beta Pi, IEEE, and the SDSU Wrestling team. After graduation, Kalen plans to pursue a career in the power industry.
Luke Alan Rasmussen is a senior electrical engineering student at South Dakota State University anticipating earning his Bachelor of Science Degree in May of 2025. Luke spent the summer of 2024 interning at DGR Engineering in their electrical department, primarily working on protection and controls design for substations. This was his third summer interning at DGR. While at SDSU, Luke has been part of the South Dakota Beta chapter of Tau Beta Pi, serving as the Joint Engineering Council representative. Other organizations include Eta Kappa Nu, IEEE and Robotics Club. After completing his degree, Luke plans to pursue an engineering career in the power industry.
Michael W. Sydow NorthWestern Energy, Huron, SD General Manager of Operations for South Dakota and Nebraska (retired)
Mike Sydow has 38 years of experience with NorthWestern Energy (NWE), serving as an Operations leader with the utility and as an officer in Energy Solutions. He holds a BSEE from SDSU. During his assignments at NorthWestern Energy, he was responsible for the design and implementation of substation additions as well as voltage conversion projects in the Aberdeen Division. For many years, Mike was responsible for successful labor relations, contract negotiations, and grievance resolutions with the IBEW for SD/NE at NorthWestern Energy. Turning SD/NE’s lost-time incident rate from a high of twenty-three incidents in 2003 to zero in 2012-2016, is an accomplishment Mike and SD/NE employees have been very proud of. Mike assumed lead roles in large-scale Operations events including, the 2005 ice storm, 115kv transmission line collapse west of Groton, tornado Tuesday wind damage, Midwest Mutual Assistance Group nation-wide resource assistance and coordination, and resource/material oversight for several tornado/straight-line wind events across NorthWestern Energy’s territory. During Mike’s tenure, South Dakota NorthWestern Energy attained and retained a reliability rating that was in the first quartile of the first quartile, in overall CAIDI, SAIDI and SAIFI indices. Mike enjoyed working with Engineering and Legal co-workers to create opportunities for NorthWestern Energy to electrically serve large-scale industry prospects such as Dakota Access Pipeline and SD Soybean Processors Inc. He enjoyed working with Lake Area Technical Institute and Mitchell Technical Institute as an industry program advisor in the Powerline and Control Systems programs, where Mike encouraged and participated in the development of new options, including substation technician and electric control system operator.
Mike was the Southern Region Manager in Energy Solutions (a NorthWestern subsidiary that assisted large-scale companies with energy utilization technologies), and went on to become the VP of Engineering and Delivery. While in this capacity, he worked with large-scale electric customers to develop power factor correction solutions, HVAC solutions, and sought out emerging technology applications.
Mike and his wife Tammy live at Pickerel Lake in northeastern South Dakota. His son John (Brooke) Sydow is a SDSU Project Management graduate and is employed at East River Electric Coop as their Project Services Manager. Mike’s son Kyle (Jenny) Sydow is a SDSU Mass Marketing and Communications graduate and is employed by Daktronics as the High School/Parks and Recreation Market Manager. Mike’s daughter Allie is an SDSU Graphics Design graduate working as a professional baker in Sioux Falls.
Richard McComish -- President, ECI Billings, MT
Engineering and Construction Support of HV Power System Reliability
Richard L. (Dick) McComish started his engineering career in January 1976 with SSR, a small, regional consultant located in Montana. He gained exposure in the electrical power industry as a design and field engineer, project engineer, commissioning engineer, project manager and engineering manager on a range of engineering needs for rural electric cooperatives. In 1990, Dick had the opportunity to acquire a majority ownership in a four-person consulting firm, Electrical Consultants, Inc. (ECI), becoming president of the firm in 1993. His love for engineering and business led to forming EPC Services, a professionally led design-construct firm serving the needs of utilities and the energy industry across the nation. He has overseen the growth of ECI and EPC Services to rank among the top ten T&D power delivery and EPC firms. Today, the firms have over 1,000 employees and 30 regional offices nationwide with revenues exceeding $700 million annually.
Mr. McComish is a licensed professional engineer in over thirty states. He holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Power Emphasis, from South Dakota State University, where he graduated in December of 1975. Throughout his decades-long career, he has been recognized by his peers with the Young Engineer of the Year Award and later, the Distinguished Service Award by the Montana Society of Engineers. He was also recognized by his alma mater as the 2015 recipient of the Wayne E. Knabach Award for Excellence in Power.
Dick and his wife Karen live in Billings, Montana. They have three children and five grandchildren. In addition to his passion for engineering, Dick enjoys professional tennis, classic cars, good rum and fishing with friends, along with the musical musings of Jimmy Buffet.
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By Nichaela Shaheen | 3:12 PM Aug 6, 2024 CDT Updated 5:21 PM Aug 6, 2024 CDT
Tomball City Council approved the Tomball Centenarian Program, which will honor residents who turn 100 years old. (Lizzy Spangler/Community Impact)
Government Reporter
Nichaela joined Community Impact in June 2024 as a government reporter for the northern Greater Houston area. Before CI, she worked as the news editor and managing editor of Texas State’s student run newspaper, The University Star . When not at your local council meeting, Nichaela enjoys live music, exploring and spending time with family.
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A presentation program is a program that helps create a slideshow that addresses a topic. Presentation programs can be used in businesses and schools for discussing a topic or for teaching. Often, the presenter uses a projector to project the slideshow up on to screen that everyone can see. Below is an example of Microsoft PowerPoint, a ...
A presentation program is supposed to help both the speaker with an easier access to his ideas and the participants with visual information which complements the talk. There are many different types of presentations including professional (work-related), education, entertainment, and for general communication.
What's the purpose of a presentation? It's not as simple as you might at first think. Because the purpose of your presentation depends on you.
What It Takes to Give a Great Presentation. Summary. Never underestimate the power of great communication. It can help you land the job of your dreams, attract investors to back your idea, or ...
A presentation is a slide-based visual storytelling aid. It's used for transferring information and emotion to an audience with visual, vocal, and textual communication. The purpose of a presentation is to help the audience understand a subject matter. Presentations are used in business, academics, and entertainment.
Figuring out key features of presentation software before purchasing? Check out the five features users rate as the most important and the top products that offer them.
For many people the thought of delivering a presentation is a daunting task and brings about a great deal of nerves. However, if you take some time to understand how effective presentations are structured and then apply this structure to your own presentation, you'll appear much more confident and relaxed.
Multimedia integration A presentation without visual assets is a lot more likely to lose the audience. Presentation softwares will offer multimedia integration with images, videos, icons, and gifs. Every presentation software allows you to upload your own multimedia to your deck, but only select programs offer a free stock library to choose from.
Presentation software, also commonly known as presentation programs, can help users create and design unique presentations that are easy for viewers to comprehend. These types of software applications typically have text, audio, video, and image features to enable users to present their work through a story or timeline.
Discover 15 powerful techniques to captivate your audience from the outset in our comprehensive guide on how to start a presentation.
Presentation software is a category of application software that is specifically designed to allow users to create a presentation of ideas by stringing together text, images and audio/video. The presentation tells a story or supports speech or the presentation of information. Presentation software can be divided into business presentation ...
What is a Presentation? A presentation communicates a message, an idea or information to a group. It is similar to a report, but with a key difference-the human element. A presentation conveys the speaker's personality and enables immediate interaction among all participants. Table of Content
presentation software (presentation graphics): Presentation software (sometimes called "presentation graphics") is a category of application program used to create sequences of words and pictures that tell a story or help support a speech or public presentation of information. Presentation software can be divided into business presentation ...
What to Know PowerPoint is a standalone program, a subscription service, a website, and a mobile app. Use PowerPoint by creating and customizing presentations with text, images, and other graphics. PowerPoint is the most popular presentation software, but Google Slides and Apple Keynote are popular, too.
Learn some elements of a successful presentation, including an effective hook, story-like structure, audience engagement, delivery techniques and more.
PowerPoint is a presentation software developed by Microsoft, which allows users to create, edit, and deliver visually engaging slideshows, whether you're a student, professional, or simply curious, explore the power of Microsoft PowerPoint and learn how you can create impactful presentations effortlessly. Home Resources Office Applications ...
A presentation software (sometimes called a presentation program) is a digital tool. It utilizes sequences of graphics, text, audio, and video to accompany a spoken presentation. These sequences, often called slides, are consolidated in virtual files called "slide decks.".
Microsoft PowerPoint is a presentation program, [8] created by Robert Gaskins, Tom Rudkin and Dennis Austin [8] at a software company named Forethought, Inc. [8] It was released on April 20, 1987, [9] initially for Macintosh computers only. [8] Microsoft acquired PowerPoint for about $14 million three months after it appeared. [10] This was Microsoft's first significant acquisition, [11] and ...
They will continue to be actively engaged if they can connect your speech to the presentation's content and images. Making a presentation with the help of a creative digital agency might help you make a lasting impression on the audience.
Choosing the best presentation program for your business is a great first step towards better and more effective slide deck development. In this guide, you learned about 15 different types of presentation software and we gave you a checklist to help you decide.
Interactivity is definitely one of the biggest benefits of presentation software, and one of the biggest free tools in the interactive presentation game is AhaSlides. AhaSlides lets you create a presentation full of interactive slides; your audience simply joins, contributes their ideas and stays engaged throughout the show!
The purpose of this presentation is to cover the rapid expansion of inverter-based DER interconnections and their impact on the electric power system. Topics will include the current state of DER, System Impact Study and Hosting Capacity, PV & BESS Installations, Inverter Controls, Capabilities and settings. ... Conference Program. Presentation ...
Its purpose is to highlight residents' contributions to the community and learn from their experiences, according to the city's presentation.