Do you want to create a memorable presentation? PowerPoint is a powerful tool for making great presentations. It will take some time to learn all the PowerPoint functionality, but you can experiment and create a unique and effective presentation.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Creating a presentation
Step 1. Choose between a blank presentation and a template
You can design a blank presentation of your choice, but it will take a long time. The template already has its own design, but it may not match your needs.
- You can change any element of the template design, so you can choose a template that more or less suits your needs and edit it.
- You can apply themes to your project even after you've added content to your presentation. Go to the Design tab and select a theme. If you don't like the applied theme, press Ctrl + Z.
- You can access templates from the File tab. Click New and then browse the available templates. You can also download templates from the internet.
Step 2. Create a Title Slide - This is the first slide shown to the audience
He should give a general idea of the topic of the presentation. Most presenters include their name or department name (divisions, groups, etc.) on the title page.
Step 3. Press Ctrl + M to insert a new slide
A new blank slide will be inserted after the slide you are currently in. The new slide contains a title box and a text box. You can use these fields or insert other elements using the Insert tab.
- You can resize the text box by grabbing one of its corners and dragging the grabbed corner.
- To enter text, click in an empty space in the text box (or title box). You can format text in the same way as you do in Word; formatting options are available on the Home tab.
Step 4. To quickly navigate through the presentation, use the panel on the left side of the window
Clicking on any slide in the left pane will open that slide and you can edit it. In the left pane, click the Outline tab to view the outline of your presentation.
Step 5. Press F5 to preview the presentation as a slideshow
Click to scroll through the slides. Use the preview to get an idea of the quality of the presentation and the total time it will run.
Part 2 of 3: Adding Effects
Step 1. Transitions
You can add some effects to make your presentation more interesting. Select a slide and open the Animation tab. In the Transition To This Slide group, select the type of transition to the selected slide. You can also click the arrow to the right of the transition icons to open a complete list of available transition types.
- A transition affects how a particular slide opens. For example, adding a transition to slide 2 affects how slide 1 transitions to slide 2. You can preview each transition by clicking the appropriate transition icon (in the Transition To This Slide group).
- Don't use different types of transitions. This will only distract the audience's attention from your presentation (from its essence).
Step 2. Background
If you want to change the background from white (such a background is very boring, especially if your presentation includes only text) to any other, then follow these steps:
- Right-click on a blank space on the slide and select Format Background from the menu; or go to the Design tab and click the arrow in the Background group.
- Select the type of fill. You can choose from a solid fill, a gradient fill, a pattern, or a texture. Selecting one of the options will display sub-options, such as fill color, picture position, and more. Experiment with the settings to create a background that works for you.
- By default, the background will only be changed on the active slide. Click Apply To All to change the background for all slides.
- Make sure the text is easy to read against the new background.
Step 3. Adding images
Photos, diagrams, and other images help the audience understand the meaning of the presentation. What's more, images break the monotony of a text presentation and help keep the audience's attention.
- Click on the "Insert" tab. Click "Picture" to insert an image from a file on your computer. You can click "Photo Album" to insert multiple images at once.
- Click Chart to insert a graph or chart that helps you analyze the data in your presentation. Select the chart type and an Excel spreadsheet will open where you can enter data to build a chart (or you can copy data from an existing table).
- Click Shapes to insert predefined shapes or to create (draw) your own shapes. For example, insert an arrow to indicate important information.
- Do not include too many images, as the audience will have difficulty reading the text of the presentation.
Step 4. Adding links
You can add links that give you quick access to websites or email addresses. This can be especially useful if you are sharing your presentation with other people and you want them to be able to view related web pages or send information by email.
To add a link, place your cursor in the text box and then click Hyperlink (on the Insert tab). You can add a link to a file on your computer, to a web page, to an email address, or even to another slide in your presentation
Step 5. Insert video
You can embed video files into your presentation. The video file will start when you open the slide.
- Click Movie (on the Insert tab). You can select a video file stored on your computer or external storage medium.
- You can also embed a YouTube video into your presentation.
Part 3 of 3: Creating a Catchy Presentation
Step 1. Reduce the number of slides to a minimum
A very long presentation will tire the audience, even if they are obsessed with the topic of the presentation. Excessive slides that do not contain important information contribute to the fading of the audience's interest in the entire presentation. Try to keep your presentation short and effective. Make the most of the space on each slide.
Step 2. Choose a suitable font size
The presentation is meant to be read - otherwise it will be just a presentation (oral). Make sure your audience can read your presentation with ease. 10 font size is fine for reading text from a computer screen, but not from a projection screen.
Moreover, choose the appropriate font type. Don't go for fancy fonts (italics, curls, curls, etc.) - they look good on screen, but they are very difficult to read
Step 3. Stick to the same style throughout your presentation
Use the same formatting (text, images) and a minimum amount of colors and stylistic accents on all slides; this will create a memorable but not colorful presentation. If you're unsure how to do this, use one of the presentation templates.
Step 4. Check spelling and punctuation three times
Mistakes will reduce the audience's confidence in the information presented (even on a subconscious level), so spend time checking spelling and punctuation.
Ask someone to check your presentation, as a “fresh look” on your work is more likely to find mistakes
Step 5. Practice giving your presentation
Memorize the points and get comfortable with the transitions between the slides. Learn to keep within the allotted time and make sure each slide accurately summarizes the information you are presenting. Take notes or memorize the text of the presentation; reading text from a screen during a presentation is bad form.