Creating a great PowerPoint presentation is a skill that any professional can benefit from. The problem? It\u2019s really easy to get it wrong. From poor color choices to confusing slides, a bad PowerPoint slideshow can distract from the fantastic content you\u2019re sharing with stakeholders on your team.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n Download Now<\/a><\/p>\n That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important to learn how to create a PowerPoint presentation from the ground up, starting with your slides. Even if you\u2019re familiar with PowerPoint, a refresher will help you make a more attractive, professional slideshow. Let\u2019s get started.<\/p>\n I like to think of Microsoft PowerPoint<\/a> as a test of basic professional skills. To create a passing presentation, I need to demonstrate design skills, technical literacy, and a sense of personal style.<\/p>\n If the presentation has a problem (like an unintended font, a broken link, or unreadable text), then I\u2019ve probably failed the test. Even if my spoken presentation is well rehearsed, a bad visual experience can ruin it for the audience.<\/p>\n Expertise means nothing without a good PowerPoint presentation<\/a> to back it up. For starters, grab your collection of free PowerPoint templates below.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n No matter your topic, successful PowerPoints<\/a> depend on three main factors: your command of PowerPoint’s design tools, your attention to presentation processes, and your devotion to consistent style. Here are some simple tips to help you start mastering each of those factors, and don’t forget to check out the additional resources at the bottom of this post.<\/p>\n A presentation is made up of multiple slides, and now that you know how to make one, you can delve deeper into PowerPoint’s capabilities.<\/p>\n If you’ve already created a presentation, double-click the icon to open the existing file. Otherwise, open Microsoft PowerPoint, click File<\/strong> in the top left corner, and click New Presentation<\/strong>. From there, you can follow the prompts to set up a new presentation.<\/p>\n Microsoft offers built-in themes and color variations to help you design your slides with a cohesive look. To choose from these pre-built themes, choose the File<\/strong> tab again, select New<\/strong>, choose one of the options, and click Create<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Otherwise, you can use PowerPoint elements, your design sense, and your brand’s color palette to make your own “theme.”<\/p>\n You don’t want to present the same exact slide, only with different content on it. This would bore your audience. Ensure that you create multiple variations, accommodating some of the common uses for slides. At minimum, you’ll need:<\/p>\n A title slide There’s no reason to create these designs over and over again. Now that you have a few to draw from, you can simply duplicate them before inputting your content. Here’s how to do that:<\/p>\n On the left pane, right-click the thumbnail of the slide you want to duplicate. This will automatically add a copy of this slide to the presentation. From there, you can customize it for your needs.<\/p>\n Done well, transitions can add a little bit of movement and showmanship to your presentation. PowerPoint has several transitions built in for you to choose from.<\/p>\n To access them, select the Transitions<\/strong> tab from the top ribbon. From there, you can select a transition for it to preview on your screen. To customize it further, click Effect Options <\/strong>and play with the features to find something that suits your liking. To remove a transition, select Transitions<\/strong> and click None<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Like transitions, animations can add movement, reveal information, and help you underscore the points you want to hit during your speech. To animate an element, follow these steps:<\/p>\n Select the element you want animated by clicking on it. Some of the ways to customize animations include:<\/p>\n On Click These describe how you want the effect to behave, so play around with them until you find an effect that suits your liking.<\/p>\n You’ll also have the option to move animations around as you edit your slides by clicking on the Animation Pane <\/strong>button, then reordering the animations in the list that pops up.<\/p>\n Click File<\/strong> and Save<\/strong>, making sure to specify which folder or destination you want your PowerPoint to be stored.<\/p>\n It’s always good to do a trial run to ensure that your slides are set up properly and your animations fire the way you expect them to.<\/p>\n To present your PowerPoint, go to the Slide Show<\/strong> tab and click Play from Start.<\/strong> The slide will cover your whole screen, blocking out your desktop and PowerPoint software. This is so your audience (in this case, you for the trial run) is solely focused on the visual elements of your presentation.<\/p>\n When you’re done with one slide and want to show the next in your sequence, click your mouse in presentation mode. This will advance the slide.<\/p>\n Microsoft wanted to provide PowerPoint users with a lot of tools. But this does not mean you should use them all. Here are some key things to look out for:<\/p>\n Make sure that the preset PPT themes complement your needs before you adopt them. While you usually can get away with the default slide size for most presentations, you may need to adjust it for larger presentations on weirdly sized displays. If you need to do that, here’s how.<\/p>\n In the top-left corner, choose File<\/strong>. Tip<\/strong>: You can avoid a headache with the last step if you resize your slides before you add any objects to them. Otherwise, the dimensions of your objects will become skewed.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Often, it’s much easier to edit your PowerPoint template before you start \u2014 this way, you don’t have to design each slide by hand. Here’s how you do that.<\/p>\n Select View<\/strong> in the top navigation. A significant part of a PowerPoint’s content is text. Great copy can make or break your presentation, so evaluating your written work from a few different angles could make you seem more persuasive. Thinking about how your text is received differentiates good presenters from the best.<\/p>\n Many people underestimate the influence of typeface, but choosing the right font is important \u2014 the perception of your font type could influence your audience’s impression of you. The right font is an opportunity to convey consistent brand personality and professionalism.<\/p>\n Some fonts are seen as clean and professional, but this doesn’t mean they’re boring. A common mistake is thinking your font isn’t “exciting” enough, which could lead you to choose a font that distracts from your overall message. We recommend sticking to simple serif and sans-serif fonts<\/a>. Avoid script fonts because of potential readability issues.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n That said, you can still use fun and eccentric fonts \u2014 in moderation. Offsetting a fun font or large letters with something more professional can create an engaging presentation.<\/p>\n Above all, be sure you’re consistent so your presentation looks the same throughout each slide. That way, your audience doesn’t become distracted by too many disparate fonts. Check out this example from HubSpot\u2019s company profile templates:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Interested in this presentation template? Download it for free here.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Having properly aligned objects on your slide is the key to making it look polished and professional. You can manually try to line up your images … but we all know how that typically works out. You’re trying to make sure all of your objects hang out in the middle of your slide, but when you drag them there, it still doesn’t look quite right. Get rid of your guessing game and let PowerPoint work its magic with this trick.<\/p>\n Select all objects by holding down Shift<\/strong> and clicking on all of them. Select all objects by holding down Shift<\/strong> and clicking on all of them. Format menus allow you to do fine adjustments that otherwise seem impossible. To do this, right-click on an object and select the Format Object<\/strong> option. Here, you can fine-tune shadows, adjust shape measurements, create reflections, and much more. The menu that will pop up looks like this:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Although the main options can be found on PowerPoint\u2019s format toolbars, look for complete control in the format window menu. Other examples of options available include:<\/p>\n Adjusting text inside a shape. Many users don\u2019t realize how flexible PowerPoint\u2019s shape tools have become. In combination with the expanded format options released by Microsoft, the potential for good design with shapes is readily available. PowerPoint provides the user with a bunch of great shape options beyond the traditional rectangle, oval, and rounded rectangle patterns.<\/p>\n Today\u2019s shapes include a highly functional Smart Shapes function, which enables you to create diagrams and flow charts in no time. These tools are especially valuable when you consider that PowerPoint is a visual medium. Paragraphing and bullet lists are boring \u2014 you can use shapes to help express your message more clearly.<\/p>\n When you create a shape, right click and press Edit Points<\/strong>. By editing points, you can create custom shapes that fit your specific need. For instance, you can reshape arrows to fit the dimensions you like.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Another option is to combine two shapes together. To do so, select the two shapes you\u2019d like to work with, then click Shape Format<\/strong> in the top ribbon. Tap Merge Shapes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll see a variety of options.<\/p>\n Combine<\/strong> creates a custom shape that has overlapping portions of the two previous shapes cut out. By using these tools rather than trying to edit points precisely, you can create accurately measured custom shapes.<\/p>\n Besides creating custom shapes in your presentation, you can also use PowerPoint to crop existing images into new shapes. Here’s how you do that:<\/p>\n Click on the image and select Picture Format<\/strong> in the options bar. Tradition says that if you want to show a website in a PowerPoint, you should just create a link to the page and prompt a browser to open. For PC users, there\u2019s a better option.<\/p>\n Third party software that integrates fully into PowerPoint\u2019s developer tab can be used to embed a website directly into your PowerPoint using a normal HTML iframe. One of the best tools is LiveWeb<\/a>, a third-party software that you can install on your PowerPoint program.<\/p>\n By using LiveWeb, you don\u2019t have to interrupt your PowerPoint, and your presentation will remain fluid and natural. Whether you embed a whole webpage or just a YouTube video, this can be a high-quality third party improvement. To install the add-on, simple head to the LiveWeb website<\/a> and follow the instructions.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, Mac users don\u2019t have a similar option. A good second choice is to take screenshots of the website, link in through a browser, or embed media (such as a YouTube video) by downloading it directly to your computer.<\/p>\n GIFs are looped animated images used to communicate a mood, idea, information, and much more. Users add GIFs to PowerPoints<\/a> to be funny or quickly demo a process. It’s easy to add GIFs to your slides. To do so, simply follow these steps:<\/p>\n Download and save the GIF you want. PowerPoint is an excellent tool to support your presentation with visual information, graphics, and supplemental points. This means that your PowerPoint should not be your entire presentation. Your slides \u2014 no matter how creative and beautiful \u2014 shouldn’t be the star of the show. Keep your text and images clear and concise, using them only to supplement your message and authority.<\/p>\n If your slides have dense and cluttered information, it will both distract your audience and make it much more likely that you will lose their attention. Nothing in your slides should be superfluous! Keep your presentation persuasive by keeping it clean. There are a few ways to do this:<\/p>\n Limit bullet points and text. One constant problem presenters have with PowerPoint is that fonts seem to change when presenters move from one computer to another. In reality, the fonts are not changing \u2014 the presentation computer just doesn\u2019t have the same font files installed<\/a>. If you\u2019re using a PC and presenting on a PC, then there is a smooth workaround for this issue.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the trick: When you save your PowerPoint file (only on a PC), you should click File<\/strong>, then Options, <\/strong>then open up the Save <\/strong>tab. Then, select the Embed fonts in the file<\/strong> check box under Preserve fidelity when sharing this presentation<\/strong>. Now, your presentation will keep the font file and your fonts will not change when you move computers.<\/p>\n The macOS PowerPoint version has a similar function. To embed your fonts on a Mac, do the following:<\/p>\n Open up your presentation. If you\u2019re still scared of your presentation showing up differently when it\u2019s time to present, you should create a PDF version just in case. This is a good option if you\u2019ll be presenting on a different computer. If you also run into an issue where the presenting computer doesn\u2019t have PowerPoint installed, you can also use the system viewer to open up the PDF. No laptop will ever give you trouble with this file type.<\/p>\n The only caveat is that your GIFs, animations, and transitions won\u2019t transfer over. But since the PDF will only work as a backup, not as your primary copy, this should be okay.<\/p>\n To save your presentation as a PDF file, take the following steps:<\/p>\n Go to File<\/strong>, then click Save as \u2026<\/strong> You can also go to File<\/strong>, then Export<\/strong>, then select PDF<\/strong> from the file format menu.<\/p>\n PowerPoint allows you to either link to video\/audio files externally or to embed the media directly in your presentation. You should embed these files if you can, but if you use a Mac, you cannot actually embed the video (see note below). For PCs, two great reasons for embedding are:<\/p>\n Embedding allows you to play media directly in your presentation. It will look much more professional than switching between windows. Note: macOS users of PowerPoint should be extra careful about using multimedia files.<\/p>\n If you use PowerPoint for Mac, then you will always need to bring the video and\/or audio file with you in the same folder as the PowerPoint presentation. It\u2019s best to only insert video or audio files once the presentation and the containing folder have been saved on a portable drive in their permanent folder. Also, if the presentation will be played on a Windows computer, then Mac users need to make sure their multimedia files are in WMV format. This tip gets a bit complicated, so if you want to use PowerPoint effectively, consider using the same operating system for designing and presenting, no matter what.<\/p>\n Between operating systems, PowerPoint is still a bit jumpy. Even between differing PPT versions, things can change. One way to fix these problems is to make sure that you have the right hardware \u2014 so just bring along your own laptop when you’re presenting.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re super concerned about the different systems you might have to use, then upload your PowerPoint presentation into Google Slides<\/a> as a backup option. Google Slides is a cloud-based presentation software that will show up the same way on all operating systems. The only thing you need is an internet connection and a browser.<\/p>\n To import your PowerPoint presentation into Google Slides, take the following steps:<\/p>\n Navigate to slides.google.com<\/strong>. Make sure you\u2019re signed in to a Google account, preferably your own. When I tested this out, Google Slides imported everything perfectly, including a shape whose points I had manipulated. This is a good backup option to have if you\u2019ll be presenting across different operating systems.<\/p>\n In most presentation situations, there will be both a presenter\u2019s screen and the main projected display for your presentation. PowerPoint has a great tool called Presenter View, which can be found in the Slide Show<\/strong> tab of PowerPoint. Included in the Presenter View is an area for notes, a timer\/clock, and a presentation display.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n For many presenters, this tool can help unify their spoken presentation and their visual aid. You never want to make the PowerPoint seem like a stack of notes that you\u2019re reading off of. Use the Presenter View option to help create a more natural presentation.<\/p>\n Pro Tip:<\/strong> At the start of the presentation, you should also hit CTRL + H to make the cursor disappear. Hitting the “A” key will bring it back if you need it!<\/p>\n With style, design, and presentation processes under your belt, you can do a lot more with PowerPoint than just presentations for your clients. PowerPoint and similar slide applications are flexible tools that should not be forgotten. With a great template, you can be on your way to creating presentations that wow your audience.<\/p>\n Editor’s note: This post was originally published in September 2013 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Creating a great PowerPoint presentation is a skill that any professional can benefit from. The problem? It\u2019s really easy to get it wrong. From poor color choices to confusing slides, a bad PowerPoint slideshow can distract from the fantastic content you\u2019re sharing with stakeholders on your team. Download Now That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":3774,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3773","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-noticias-marketing"],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":6}},"yoast_head":"\nHow to Make a PowerPoint Presentation<\/h2>\n
1. Open a blank presentation again or start from one you’ve already created.<\/h3>\n
2. Choose a theme or create your own.<\/h3>\n
3. Create a variety of slides for different purposes.<\/h3>\n
\n An agenda or table of contents slide
\n A slide that introduces the speaker
\n Various content slides (create different layouts considering what kind of multimedia you’ll use) <\/p>\n4. Use the Duplicate Slides feature to save you time.<\/h3>\n
\n Choose Duplicate Slide <\/strong>from the pop-up menu. <\/p>\n5. Add transitions to your slides (optional).<\/h3>\n
6. Add animations to your slides (optional).<\/h3>\n
\n Choose Animations<\/strong> from the top ribbon.
\n You’ll have the option to choose from several effects displayed in the ribbon.
\n Clicking on one will give you a preview.
\n To customize the animation, select Effect Options.<\/strong>
\n To remove an animation, click None<\/strong> in the ribbon. <\/p>\n
\n With Previous
\n After Previous
\n Duration
\n Delay <\/p>\n7. Save your presentation.<\/h3>\n
8. Run your presentation.<\/h3>\n
9. Advance the slides.<\/h3>\n
PowerPoint Style<\/h3>\n
1. Don\u2019t let PowerPoint decide how you use PowerPoint.<\/h4>\n
\n Try to get away from using Microsoft Office\u2019s default fonts, Calibri and Cambria. Using these two typefaces can make the presentation seem underwhelming.
\n Professionals should never use PPT\u2019s action sounds. (Please consider your audience above personal preference).
\n PowerPoint makes bulleting automatic, but ask yourself: Are bullets actually appropriate for what you need to do? Sometimes they are, but not always.
\n Recent PPT defaults include a small shadow on all shapes. Remove this shadow if it’s not actually needed. Also, don\u2019t leave shapes in their default blue. <\/p>\n2. Create custom slide sizes.<\/h4>\n
\n Select Page Setup<\/strong>.
\n Type the height and width of the background you’d like, and click OK<\/strong>.
\n A dialogue box will appear. Click Scale<\/strong> if you want to also resize your content, or Don\u2019t Scale<\/strong> if you don\u2019t. We recommend clicking Don\u2019t Scale<\/strong>, then manually adjusting minor layout issues. <\/p>\n3. Edit your slide template design.<\/h4>\n
\n Click Master<\/strong>.
\n In the drop-down, click Slide Master<\/strong>.
\n Make any changes you like, then click Close Master<\/strong> in the top ribbon. All current and future slides in that presentation will use that template. <\/p>\n4. Write text with your audience in mind.<\/h4>\n
Typography:<\/h5>\n
5. Make sure all of your objects are properly aligned.<\/h4>\n
Here\u2019s how to align multiple objects:<\/h5>\n
\n Select Arrange<\/strong> in the top options bar, then choose Align or Distribute<\/strong>.
\n Choose the type of alignment you’d like. <\/p>\nHere\u2019s how to align objects to the slide:<\/h5>\n
\n Select Arrange<\/strong> in the top options bar, then choose Align or Distribute<\/strong>.
\n Select Align to Slide<\/strong>.
\n Select Arrange<\/strong> in the top options bar again, then choose Align or Distribute<\/strong>.
\n Choose the type of alignment you’d like. <\/p>\nPowerPoint Design<\/h3>\n
6. Use “Format Object” to better control your objects’ designs.<\/h4>\n
\n Creating a natural perspective shadow behind an object.
\n Recoloring photos manually and with automatic options. <\/p>\n7. Take advantage of PowerPoint’s shapes.<\/h4>\n
8. Create custom shapes.<\/h4>\n
\n Union<\/strong> makes one completely merged shape.
\n Intersect<\/strong> builds a shape of only the overlapping sections of the two previous shapes.
\n Subtract<\/strong> cuts out the overlapping portion of one shape from the other.
\n Fragment<\/strong> will split your shape into different parts depending on where they overlap. <\/p>\n9. Crop images into custom shapes.<\/h4>\n
\n Choose Crop<\/strong>, then Crop to Shape<\/strong>, and then choose your desired shape. Ta-da! Custom-shaped photos. <\/p>\n10. Present websites within PowerPoint.<\/h4>\n
11. Try Using GIFs.<\/h4>\n
\n Go to the slide you want the GIF on.
\n Go to the Home<\/strong> tab, and click either Insert<\/strong> or Picture<\/strong>.
\n From the Picture<\/strong> drop-down menu, choose Picture from File<\/strong>.
\n Navigate to where you saved your GIF and select it. Then, choose Insert<\/strong>.
\n It will play automatically the moment you insert it. <\/p>\nPowerPoint Process<\/h3>\n
12. Keep it simple.<\/h4>\n
\n Avoid paragraphs and long quotes.
\n Maintain “white space” or “negative space”.
\n Keep percentages, graphs, and data super basic. <\/p>\n13. Embed your font files.<\/h4>\n
\n On the top bar, click PowerPoint<\/strong>, then click Preferences<\/strong>.
\n Under Output and Sharing<\/strong>, click Save<\/strong>.
\n Under Font Embedding<\/strong>, click Embed fonts in the file.<\/strong> <\/p>\n14. Save your slides as a PDF file for backup purposes.<\/h4>\n
\n In the pop-up window, click File Format.<\/strong>
\n A drop-down menu will appear. Select PDF<\/strong>.
\n Click Export<\/strong>. <\/p>\n15. Embed multimedia.<\/h4>\n
\n Embedding also means that the file stays within the PowerPoint presentation, so it should play normally without extra work (except on a Mac). <\/p>\n16. Bring your own hardware.<\/h4>\n
\n Under Start a new presentation<\/strong>, click the empty box with a plus sign. This will open up a blank presentation.
\n Go to File<\/strong>, then Import slides<\/strong>.
\n A dialog box will come up. Tap Upload<\/strong>, then click Select a file from your device<\/strong>.
\n Select your presentation and click Open<\/strong>.
\n Select the slides you\u2019d like to import. If you want to import all of them, click All<\/strong> in the upper right-hand corner of the dialog box.
\n Click Import slides.<\/strong> <\/p>\n17. Use Presenter View.<\/h4>\n
Your Next Great PowerPoint Presentation Starts Here<\/h2>\n
\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"