how to make an appealing powerpoint presentation

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How to Make a Beautiful PowerPoint Presentation: A Simple Guide

Ready to craft a beautiful and attention-grabbing powerpoint presentation we’ll walk you through slideshow design tips, show you some tricks to maximize your powerpoint skills, and give you everything you need to look really good next time you’re up in front of a crowd..

In this post, we’ll cover:

Key Elements of Winning PowerPoints

Illustrative, not generic, supportive, not distracting, inspiring and engaging, other considerations when creating a slideshow.

How many times have you sat through a poorly designed business presentation that was dull, cluttered, and distracting? Probably way too many. Even though we all loathe a boring presentation, when it comes time to make our own, do we really do any better?

The good news is you don’t have to be a professional designer to make professional presentations. We’ve put together a few simple guidelines you can follow to create a beautifully assembled deck.

We’ll walk you through some slide design tips, show you tricks to maximize your PowerPoint skills, and give you everything you need to look really good next time you’re up in front of a crowd.

And, while PowerPoint remains one of the biggest names in presentation software, many of these design elements and principles work in Google Slides, as well.

Let’s dive right in.

1. Use Layout to Your Advantage

Layout is one of the most powerful visual elements in design, and it’s a simple, effective way to control the flow and visual hierarchy of information. It’s also one of the most important elements to consider when thinking about how to make your PowerPoint look better.

For example, most Western languages read left to right, top to bottom. Knowing this natural reading order, you can direct people’s eyes in a deliberate way to certain key parts of a slide that you want to emphasize.

You can also guide your audience with simple tweaks to the layout. Use text size and alternating fonts or colors to distinguish headlines from body text.

Placement also matters. There are many unorthodox ways to structure a slide, but most audience members will have to take a few beats to organize the information in their head—that’s precious time better spent listening to your delivery and retaining information.

Try to structure your slides more like this:

And not like this:

Layout is one of the trickier PowerPoint design concepts to master, which is why we have these free PowerPoint templates already laid out for you. Use them as a jumping off point for your own presentation, or use them wholesale!

Presentation templates can give you a huge leg up as you start working on your design.

2. No Sentences

This is one of the most critical slide design tips. Slides are simplified, visual notecards that capture and reinforce main ideas, not complete thoughts.

As the speaker, you should be delivering most of the content and information, not putting it all on the slides for everyone to read (and probably ignore). If your audience is reading your presentation instead of listening to you deliver it, your message has lost its effectiveness.

Pare down your core message and use keywords to convey it. Try to avoid complete sentences unless you’re quoting someone or something.

Stick with this:

And avoid this:

3. Follow the 6×6 Rule

One of the cardinal sins of a bad PowerPoint is cramming too many details and ideas on one slide, which makes it difficult for people to retain information. Leaving lots of “white space” on a slide helps people focus on your key points.

Try using the 6×6 rule to keep your content concise and clean looking. The 6×6 rule means a maximum of six bullet points per slide and six words per bullet. In fact, some people even say you should never have more than six words per slide!

Just watch out for “orphans” (when the last word of a sentence/phrase spills over to the next line). This looks cluttered. Either fit it onto one line or add another word to the second line.

Slides should never have this much information:

4. Keep the Colors Simple

Stick to simple light and dark colors and a defined color palette for visual consistency. Exceptionally bright text can cause eye fatigue, so use those colors sparingly. Dark text on a light background or light text on a dark background will work well. Also avoid intense gradients, which can make text hard to read.

If you’re presenting on behalf of your brand, check what your company’s brand guidelines are. Companies often have a primary brand color and a secondary brand color , and it’s a good idea to use them in your presentation to align with your company’s brand identity and style.

If you’re looking for color inspiration for your next presentation, check out our 101 Color Combinations , where you can browse tons of eye-catching color palettes curated by a pro. When you find the one you like, just type the corresponding color code into your presentation formatting tools.

Here are more of our favorite free color palettes for presentations:

• 10 Color Palettes to Nail Your Next Presentation
• 10 Energizing Sports Color Palettes for Branding and Marketing
• 10 Vintage Color Palettes Inspired by the Decades

No matter what color palette or combination you choose, you want to keep the colors of your PowerPoint presentation simple and easy to read, like this:

Stay away from color combinations like this:

5. Use Sans-Serif Fonts

Traditionally, serif fonts (Times New Roman, Garamond, Bookman) are best for printed pages, and sans-serif fonts (Helvetica, Tahoma, Verdana) are easier to read on screens.

These are always safe choices, but if you’d like to add some more typographic personality , try exploring our roundup of the internet’s best free fonts . You’ll find everything from classic serifs and sans serifs to sophisticated modern fonts and splashy display fonts. Just keep legibility top of mind when you’re making your pick.

Try to stick with one font, or choose two at the most. Fonts have very different personalities and emotional impacts, so make sure your font matches the tone, purpose, and content of your presentation.

6. Stick to 30pt Font or Larger

Many experts agree that your font size for a PowerPoint presentation should be at least 30pt. Sticking to this guideline ensures your text is readable. It also forces you, due to space limitations, to explain your message efficiently and include only the most important points. .

7. Avoid Overstyling the Text

Three of the easiest and most effective ways to draw attention to text are:

• A change in color

Our eyes are naturally drawn to things that stand out, but use these changes sparingly. Overstyling can make the slide look busy and distracting.

8. Choose the Right Images

The images you choose for your presentation are perhaps as important as the message. You want images that not only support the message, but also elevate it—a rare accomplishment in the often dry world of PowerPoint.

But, what is the right image? We’ll be honest. There’s no direct answer to this conceptual, almost mystical subject, but we can break down some strategies for approaching image selection that will help you curate your next presentation.

The ideal presentation images are:

• Inspirational

These may seem like vague qualities, but the general idea is to go beyond the literal. Think about the symbols in an image and the story they tell. Think about the colors and composition in an image and the distinct mood they set for your presentation.

With this approach, you can get creative in your hunt for relatable, authentic, and inspirational images. Here are some more handy guidelines for choosing great images.

Tips on Making Beautiful PowerPoint Presentations

So, the slide in question is about collaborating as a team. Naturally, you look for images of people meeting in a boardroom, right?

While it’s perfectly fine to go super literal, sometimes these images fall flat—what’s literal doesn’t necessarily connect to your audience emotionally. Will they really respond to generic images of people who aren’t them meeting in a boardroom?

In the absence of a photo of your actual team—or any other image that directly illustrates the subject at hand—look for images of convincing realism and humanity that capture the idea of your message.

Doing so connects with viewers, allowing them to connect with your message. This is one way to learn how to make your PowerPoint stand out and ensure a dynamic presentation PowerPoint.

The image above can be interpreted in many ways. But, when we apply it to slide layout ideas about collaboration, the meaning is clear.

It doesn’t hurt that there’s a nice setting and good photography, to boot.

Now that we’ve told you to get creative with your image selection, the next lesson is to rein that in. While there are infinite choices of imagery out there, there’s a limit to what makes sense in your presentation.

Let’s say you’re giving an IT presentation to new employees. You might think that image of two dogs snuggling by a fire is relatable, authentic, and inspirational, but does it really say “data management” to your audience?

To find the best supporting images, try searching terms on the periphery of your actual message. You’ll find images that complement your message rather than distract from it.

In the IT presentation example, instead of “data connections” or another literal term, try the closely related “traffic” or “connectivity.” This will bring up images outside of tech, but relative to the idea of how things move.

There’s a widespread misconception that business presentations are just about delivering information. Well, they’re not. In fact, a great presentation is inspirational. We don’t mean that your audience should be itching to paint a masterpiece when they’re done. In this case, inspiration is about engagement.

Is your audience asking themselves questions? Are they coming up with new ideas? Are they remembering key information to tap into later? You’ll drive a lot of this engagement with your actual delivery, but unexpected images can play a role, as well.

When you use more abstract or aspirational images, your audience will have room to make their own connections. This not only means they’re paying attention, but they’re also engaging with and retaining your message.

To find the right abstract or unconventional imagery, search terms related to the tone of the presentation. This may include images with different perspectives like overhead shots and aerials, long exposures taken over a period of time, nature photos , colorful markets , and so on.

The big idea here is akin to including an image of your adorable dog making a goofy face at the end of an earnings meeting. It leaves an audience with a good, human feeling after you just packed their brains with data.

Use that concept of pleasant surprise when you’re selecting images for your presentation.

Setting Appropriate Image Resolution in PowerPoint

Want to learn how to make a PowerPoint look good? Though you can drag-and-drop images into PowerPoint, you can control the resolution displayed within the file.

All of your PowerPoint slide layout ideas should get the same treatment to be equal in size.

Simply click File > Compress Pictures in the main application menu.

If your presentation file is big and will only be viewed online, you can take it down to On-screen , then check the Apply to: All pictures in this file , and rest assured the quality will be uniform.

This resolution is probably fine for proofing over email, but too low for your presentation layout ideas. For higher res in printed form, try the Print setting, which at 220 PPI is extremely good quality.

For large-screens such as projection, use the HD setting, since enlarging to that scale will show any deficiencies in resolution. Low resolution can not only distract from the message, but it looks low-quality and that reflects on the presenter.

If size is no issue for you, use High Fidelity (maximum PPI), and only reduce if the file size gives your computer problems.

The image quality really begins when you add the images to the presentation file. Use the highest quality images you can, then let PowerPoint scale the resolution down for you, reducing the excess when set to HD or lower.

Resizing, Editing, and Adding Effects to Images in PowerPoint

PowerPoint comes with an arsenal of tools to work with your images. When a picture is selected, the confusingly named Picture Format menu is activated in the top menu bar, and Format Picture is opened on the right side of the app window.

In the Format Picture menu (on the right) are four sections, and each of these sections expand to show their options by clicking the arrows by the name:

• Fill & Line (paint bucket icon): Contains options for the box’s colors, patterns, gradients, and background fills, along with options for its outline.
• Effects (pentagon icon): Contains Shadow, Reflection, Glow, Soft Edges, 3-D Format and Rotation, and Artistic Effects.
• Size & Properties (dimensional icon): Size, Position, and Text Box allow you to control the physical size and placement of the picture or text boxes.
• Picture (mountain icon): Picture Corrections, Colors, and Transparency give you control over how the image looks. Under Crop, you can change the size of the box containing the picture, instead of the entire picture itself as in Size & Properties above.

The menu at the top is more expansive, containing menu presets for Corrections, Color, Effects, Animation, and a lot more. This section is where you can crop more precisely than just choosing the dimensions from the Picture pane on the right.

Cropping Images in PowerPoint

The simple way to crop an image is to use the Picture pane under the Format Picture menu on the right side of the window. Use the Picture Position controls to move the picture inside its box, or use the Crop position controls to manipulate the box’s dimensions.

To exert more advanced control, or use special shapes, select the picture you want to crop, then click the Picture Format in the top menu to activate it.

Hit the Crop button, then use the controls on the picture’s box to size by eye. Or, click the arrow to show more options, including changing the shape of the box (for more creative looks) and using preset aspect ratios for a more uniform presentation of images.

The next time you design a PowerPoint presentation, remember that simplicity is key and less is more. By adopting these simple slide design tips, you’ll deliver a clear, powerful visual message to your audience.

If you want to go with a PowerPoint alternative instead, you can use Shutterstock Create to easily craft convincing, engaging, and informative presentations.

With many presentation template designs, you’ll be sure to find something that is a perfect fit for your next corporate presentation. You can download your designs as a .pdf file and import them into both PowerPoint and Google Slides presentation decks.

PowerPoint Presentations FAQs

What is the 5 5 5 rule in powerpoint.

The 5 5 5 rule in PowerPoint is fairly simple: 5 lines per slide, each line with no more than 5 words, and make sure your presentation is no longer than 5 minutes.

How long should your PowerPoint be?

A PowerPoint can be as long as it needs to be, but some people—and the 5 5 5 rule—advise you to keep five minutes or shorter.

What is the easiest way to make a PowerPoint prettier?

Beyond using eye-catching imagery and colors, a pretty PowerPoint should also follow good design principles. You want the information to be organized, balanced, and easy to digest. It doesn’t matter how many appealing images you include are if the information is hard to internalize. Use appropriate fonts and shorts sentences to make sure the words are legible and don’t crowd the slides with too many elements.

License this cover image via F8 studio and Ryan DeBerardinis .

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HUGH CULVER

Author, speaker, coach, 10 easy ways to make any powerpoint presentation awesome.

Updated to Speaking on May 3, 2023.

This post was updated in 2023.

It was 20 minutes before lunch, my client was frantically looking at the clock, and the audience was squirming. We had suffered through endless forgettable PowerPoint slides and were all hoping for a merciful end. That’s when the presenter announced, “I see I’m running out of time, so I’ll just hurry through my last 30 slides.”

We’ve all suffered through slide shows with long lists of unreadable bullets, unnecessary YouTube clips, and overuse of graphics. Instead of holding our attention and making their point even stronger, each slide distracts the audience with more content they don’t need. Bad slides are agnostic. You can use PowerPoint, Keynote, Prezi, Google Slides, or hold up a piece of paper – it’s all a distraction if you don’t do it well.

Done well, a thoughtfully prepared slide deck can be the perfect slide dish for your full meal presentation. Done poorly and your audience will feel like they made one too many trips to the buffet table. This post will help you do it well.

For the first years of my speaking career, I presented with 35mm slides. You know, the photographs framed by cardboard that got jammed in the projector? That was me – hauling out the projector, clicking in the carousel, and praying that tonight it would all work. I soon learned that the more slides I showed the less the audience listened to me. So I cut back on the slides. I also noticed that when I switched to a black screen (see #9) the audience turned all their attention to me. So I practiced fading to black whenever I told a story or had an important point to make.

How I started

When I switched to PowerPoint I suddenly had a candy shop full of treats to sweeten my presentations with. And I started making all the same mistakes again: too many slides, too much content on each slide, and too distracting. After every presentation I always do a quick debrief – what worked, what needs to change? And slowly I developed a checklist for slide presentations.

I have shared with checklist with hundreds of speakers to help put the spotlight on them. Some were designing a new speech, some were preparing for a webinar and others needed slides to back up a video presentation. In every case, this checklist made their presentation better. They sold more products, got more referrals, and, in most cases, spent a lot less time working on their slide deck.

If you’ve ever struggled to create interesting slides or worry your slides are too wordy or you have too many of them, this will help.

Here are my 10 easy ways to make any PowerPoint presentation awesome.

1. Build your slides last

This might be the most important rule on the list. Don’t build your slide deck until you build your presentation.

You could be tempted to start monkeying with slides early in your speech writing process – after all, it’s a fun way to procrastinate from all that hard thinking – don’t. Building your slide deck before you build your presentation is like building a road before you know where it’s going.

Your slides are there to ADD to a well-designed speech, not to replace it.

2. Don’t try to replace you

People come to hear you. If you are launching your service on a webinar, they want to know how this solution has helped you and whether is it right for them. If you are delivering a keynote speech or workshop, they want a glimpse into your solutions that can help move them forward in their work or in life.

Fancy transitions, superfluous video clips, and endless bullet points will get your audience’s attention, but take their attention off of you. Every time you hit the clicker the audience leaves you and goes to the screen.

Your goal for every presentation is to deliver the goods, not the slides.

3. Use a consistent theme

We are easily distracted and confused. That’s why brands always anchor advertising on their unique colors, fonts, slogan, or a jingle. They know that consistency in their brand theme builds recognition and puts more attention on the message. You should do that with your slides.

Start with a simple, white background and san serif fonts.

A consistent, simple theme helps your audience focus on the content of each slide. Watch TED talks that have gone viral to see how simple a slide theme can be, like the ones by Dan Pink The puzzle of motivation (30M views), and Shawn Achor The happy secret to better work (25M views).

4. More images, less text

Want to quickly reenergize a tired slide deck? Make your images larger ( in this post I share where to get free images ) and reduce the text size. Remember, the theme in this post is that you are the presentation, not your slides.

Your brain can process images 60,000 times faster than text. When you use images (and less text) you allow your audience to process the image without distracting them away from your powerful story, or making a critical point. Like subtle mood music in the background of a dramatic movie scene, images can augment and enhance what you are saying without stealing the show.

5. One story per slide

When I started using PowerPoint I would have 60 to 80 slides for a 60-minute speech. It was a lot of work to prepare each deck and when I was deep into the speech I would sometimes forget where I was and have to jump forward a couple of slides.

Then it became 30-35 slides and I could breathe easier, knowing that fewer clicks meant less to worry about. As my confidence grew it became 10-12 slides and each slide became a key part of storytelling or point-making—they had to earn their place.

I might use a slide as a backdrop to a story or for a short list that supports a lesson I’m delivering. Either way, it’s always on ‘story’ per slide. If I don’t need a slide, I fade to black (#9).

But, I always stick to one story per slide.

6. Reveal one bullet at a time

This is an easy one – reveal one bullet at a time. The function of bullets is to reinforce (not replace) what you are delivering. That’s why they need to be short (see the 2/4/8 rule, below). A good bullet point is complete on it’s own, but much better when combined with a live presentation of it. Here’s an example from a list of (very wordy) time management strategies:

• Infrequent visits to your Inbox give you more time for deep work
• time blocking allows you to protect time for important work
• the Pomodoro technique can help you focus with fewer distractions

A better list – like one you might use on a PowerPoint slide – would be:

• visit your Inbox less often
• block time for important work
• the Pomodoro technique helps you focus

To reveal one bullet at a time in PowerPoint, right-click on your text box, select Custom Animation > Add Entrance Effect and then choose the effect you want. In Keynote, click Animate > Build in and choose the effect you want.

7. Leave the fireworks to Disney

It’s great that you know how to turn text into flames and make images spin with the click of your mouse – but leave those fireworks to Disney. Your job is to make your content the star of the show. Every time you haul the audience’s attention away to some animation you lose a truckload of opportunity to help them.

Your slides can still be amazing and helpful, but that should always be secondary to your primary purpose of helping people. Simple transitions, clean, san serif fonts, and large, attractive graphics trump PowerPoint tricks, every time.

8. The 2/4/8 rule

When I am advising other speakers I often don’t know their topic—certainly not as well as they do. So I rely on certain rules I have developed over many years. For slide decks, I use my 2/4/8 rule. Here’s how it goes…

• about every 2 minutes I have a new slide (that’s 30 slides for a 60-minute speech),
• no more than 4 bullets per slide, and
• no more than 8 words per bullet.

Just like any recipe, you can mess with the ingredient a bit. If your content is more technical, you might need more slides. Sometimes I need 5 or 6 bullets. I use the 2/4/8 rule to remind me that slides are there to support what I have to say, not replace me.

9. Fade to black

The last time I was shopping for a car, I noticed the salesperson had a clever technique. While he asked how I liked the car and if I had any questions, he kept his sales offer face-down on the table. Because there were no other distractions, he had my full attention. And when it was time to reveal his offer, it was much more dramatic (so was the price!) Use the same technique with your slides.

When you fade to black you regain your audience’s attention. For example, after I present a solution, I’ll fade to black while I expound on how to apply that solution in my audience’s work/life. When I’m finished, I turn black off and go to the next point. Or if I’m halfway through a story I’ll fade to back before the punchline so I know I have everyone’s attention.

It’s no different than a close-up scene in a movie—the director wants you to focus only on the speaker. Note that if you are shopping for a slide remote, be sure that yours has the black screen feature.

10. When in doubt, delete

This might be the most advice I can leave you with. When in doubt, delete it.

There is a weird attraction to more. Authors add more pages thinking it makes the book more valuable. Sales people who talk too much miss the opportunity to ask for the sale. And presenters add more slides thinking it will make them look better. Wrong.

When you are doing the final edits on your slide deck, the ultimate question you should be asking about each slide is, “Will it make my speech better?” If not, dump it.

Remember, nobody will miss what isn’t there. Also fewer slides allows you more time for side stories, spontaneous thoughts or even time for Q&A.

Remember this…

I’ve said it numerous times in this post, but it’s worth repeating. You are the show, not your slides. More slides means more time your audience is not paying attention to you. Fewer (and better) slides means you have more time to build rapport, share memorable stories, explain your solutions and motivate your audience to action. You are there for a reason. Now go and deliver.

One last thing. Spend the $80 and pack a remote (with spare batteries.) Nothing’s worse than watching a speaker repeatedly lean over, hunt for the right key, and then peck away to advance the slides.

If you enjoyed this article, here is more about presentation skills:

How the experts create world-class PowerPoint Slides (and you can too) PowerPoint Primer – the only 3 slides you’ll ever need How to add video to PowerPoint and Keynote like a pro

Slide by  Nathan Anderson  on  Unsplash

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17 PowerPoint Presentation Tips From Pro Presenters [+ Templates]

Published: April 26, 2024

PowerPoint presentations can be professional, attractive, and really help your audience remember your message.

If you don’t have much experience, that’s okay — I’m going to arm you with PowerPoint design tips from pro presenters, the steps you need to build an engaging deck, and templates to help you nail great slide design.

Download Now

Buckle up for a variety of step-by-step explanations as well as tips and tricks to help you start mastering this program. There are additional resources woven in, and you’ll find expert perspectives from other HubSpotters along the way.

Table of Contents

How to Make a PowerPoint Presentation

Powerpoint presentation tips.

Microsoft PowerPoint is like a test of basic professional skills, and each PowerPoint is basically a presentation made of multiple slides.

Successful PowerPoints depend on three main factors: your command of PowerPoint's design tools, your attention to presentation processes, and being consistent with your style.

Keep those in mind as we jump into PowerPoint's capabilities.

Getting Started

1. open powerpoint and click ‘new.’.

A page with templates will usually open automatically, but if not, go to the top left pane of your screen and click New . If you’ve already created a presentation, select Open and then double-click the icon to open the existing file.

10 Free PowerPoint Templates

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• Creative templates.
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Creating PowerPoint Slides

3. insert a slide..

Insert a new slide by clicking on the Home tab and then the New Slide button. Consider what content you want to put on the slide, including heading, text, and imagery.

• Finally, PowerPoint Live is a new tool that enables you to do more seamless presentations during video calls and may be a better overall match for doing presentations remotely. Check out this video:

11. Try Using GIFs.

12 Free Customizable Resume Templates

Fill out this form to access your free professionally-designed templates, available on:

• Microsoft Word
• Google Docs
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Google Slides

15. Embed multimedia.

PowerPoint allows you to either link to video/audio files externally or to embed the media directly in your presentation. For PCs, two great reasons for embedding are:

• Embedding allows you to play media directly in your presentation. It will look much more professional than switching between windows.
• Embedding also means that the file stays within the PowerPoint presentation, so it should play normally without extra work (except on a Mac).

If you use PowerPoint for Mac it gets a bit complicated, but it can be done:

• Always bring the video and/or audio file with you in the same folder as the PowerPoint presentation.
• Only insert video or audio files once the presentation and the containing folder have been saved on a portable drive in their permanent folder.
• If the presentation will be played on a Windows computer, then Mac users need to make sure their multimedia files are in WMV format.
• Consider using the same operating system for designing and presenting, no matter what.

16. Bring your own hardware.

Between operating systems, PowerPoint is still a bit jumpy. Even between differing PPT versions, things can change. The easiest fix? Just bring along your own laptop when you're presenting.

The next easiest fix is to upload your PowerPoint presentation into Google Slides as a backup option — just make sure there is a good internet connection and a browser available where you plan to present.

Google Slides is a cloud-based presentation software that will show up the same way on all operating systems.

To import your PowerPoint presentation into Google Slides:

• Navigate to slides.google.com . Make sure you’re signed in to a Google account (preferably your own).
• Under Start a new presentation , click the empty box with a plus sign. This will open up a blank presentation.
• Go to File , then Import slides .
• A dialog box will come up. Tap Upload.
• Click Select a file from your device .
• Select your presentation and click Open .
• Select the slides you’d like to import. If you want to import all of them, click All in the upper right-hand corner of the dialog box.
• Click Import slides.

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’ll be presenting across different operating systems.

17. Use Presenter View.

In most presentation situations, there will be both a presenter’s 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 tab of PowerPoint. Included in the Presenter View is an area for notes, a timer/clock, and a presentation display.

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’re reading off of.

Use the Presenter View option to help create a more natural presentation.

Pro Tip: 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.

Your Next Great PowerPoint Presentation Starts Here

Now that you have these style, design, and presentation tips under your belt, you should feel confident to create your PowerPoint presentation.

But if you can explore other resources to make sure your content hits the mark. After all, you need a strong presentation to land your point and make an impression.

With several templates to choose from — both in PowerPoint and available for free download — you can swiftly be on your way to creating presentations that wow your audiences.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in September 2013 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

Don't forget to share this post!

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A step-by-step guide to captivating PowerPoint presentation design

november 20, 2023

by Corporate PowerPoint Girl

Do you often find yourself stuck with a lackluster PowerPoint presentation, desperately seeking ways to make it more engaging and visually appealing? If your boss has ever told you to "please fix" a presentation and you didn't know where to start, you're not alone. In this article, we'll walk you through a straightforward method to transform your PowerPoint slides into a visually captivating masterpiece. 

Let's dive right in! 

Clean up your slides 

The first step in this journey to presentation excellence is all about decluttering your slides and elevating their impact. Say goodbye to those uninspiring bullet points that often dominate presentations. Instead, focus on what truly matters – the key call-out numbers. By increasing the font size of these numbers, you ensure they take center stage, immediately drawing your audience's attention. 

To make those numbers pop, consider breaking the text after the numbers into the next line and adding a touch of color. The contrast created by pairing a dark color with a lighter shade, like dark teal and light teal or burnt orange with peach, can work wonders. This simple adjustment makes your data more engaging , enhancing the overall impact of your presentation. 

Add dimension with boxes 

Now, let's introduce an element of depth and organization to your slides. By adding boxes, you'll create a visually pleasing structure that guides your audience through the content. In the "Insert" menu, select "Table" and opt for a one-by-one table. Change the table color to a light gray shade, elongate it, and position it neatly to the left of your text. 

To improve readability and aesthetics, increase the spacing between text phrases. A small adjustment in the before spacing setting (setting it to 48) significantly enhances the visual appeal of your slides. 

Insert circles 

To further enhance the visual appeal and engagement of your slides, let's introduce circles. In the Insert menu, navigate to Shapes and choose the circle. Adjust the circle's height and width to 1.2, ensuring it complements your content seamlessly. Match the circle's shape fill color with the corresponding text color for a harmonious look. 

Avoid using colored outlines for the circles, as they may distract from the overall aesthetic. This simple addition of circles adds an element of visual interest to your presentation, making it more captivating. 

Choose icons 

Now, it's time for a touch of creativity. Selecting icons to complement your text can elevate the clarity and appeal of your slides. In the "Insert" menu, you can search for relevant keywords to find the perfect icon from PowerPoint's extensive library . 

For instance, if your text discusses investment portfolio yield, search for "growth" and choose an upward arrow growth icon. These icons add an extra layer of visual appeal and clarity to your content, making it more engaging and informative. 

Final touches 

To wrap up the transformation process, we come to the final touches that give your presentation a polished, professional finish. Align your icons with their corresponding circles and change the shape fill color to white. This simple adjustment creates a crisp, cohesive look that ties everything together seamlessly. 

In conclusion, by following these steps, you've embarked on a journey to enhance your PowerPoint presentation . These initial steps are just the beginning of your exploration into the world of design elements and styles that can cater to your specific presentation needs. The key to a stunning PowerPoint presentation lies in the details. By following these steps, you can turn a lackluster set of slides into a visually engaging and dynamic presentation that will captivate your audience. So, the next time your boss says, "Please fix," you'll know exactly where to start. Happy presenting! 

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8 tips to make the best powerpoint presentations.

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My Setup for a Better File Browsing Experience on Windows

Could intel be the next nokia, running out of disk space reclaim it from your linux virtualbox vm, quick links, table of contents, start with a goal, less is more, consider your typeface, make bullet points count, limit the use of transitions, skip text where possible, think in color, take a look from the top down, bonus: start with templates.

Slideshows are an intuitive way to share complex ideas with an audience, although they're dull and frustrating when poorly executed. Here are some tips to make your Microsoft PowerPoint presentations sing while avoiding common pitfalls.

It all starts with identifying what we're trying to achieve with the presentation. Is it informative, a showcase of data in an easy-to-understand medium? Or is it more of a pitch, something meant to persuade and convince an audience and lead them to a particular outcome?

It's here where the majority of these presentations go wrong with the inability to identify the talking points that best support our goal. Always start with a goal in mind: to entertain, to inform, or to share data in a way that's easy to understand. Use facts, figures, and images to support your conclusion while keeping structure in mind (Where are we now and where are we going?).

I've found that it's helpful to start with the ending. Once I know how to end a presentation, I know how best to get to that point. I start by identifying the takeaway---that one nugget that I want to implant before thanking everyone for their time---and I work in reverse to figure out how best to get there.

Your mileage, of course, may vary. But it's always going to be a good idea to put in the time in the beginning stages so that you aren't reworking large portions of the presentation later. And that starts with a defined goal.

A slideshow isn't supposed to include everything. It's an introduction to a topic, one that we can elaborate on with speech. Anything unnecessary is a distraction. It makes the presentation less visually appealing and less interesting, and it makes you look bad as a presenter.

This goes for text as well as images. There's nothing worse, in fact, than a series of slides where the presenter just reads them as they appear. Your audience is capable of reading, and chances are they'll be done with the slide, and browsing Reddit, long before you finish. Avoid putting the literal text on the screen, and your audience will thank you.

Related: How to Burn Your PowerPoint to DVD

Right off the bat, we're just going to come out and say that Papyrus and Comic Sans should be banned from all PowerPoint presentations, permanently. Beyond that, it's worth considering the typeface you're using and what it's saying about you, the presenter, and the presentation itself.

Consider choosing readability over aesthetics, and avoid fancy fonts that could prove to be more of a distraction than anything else. A good presentation needs two fonts: a serif and sans-serif. Use one for the headlines and one for body text, lists, and the like. Keep it simple. Veranda, Helvetica, Arial, and even Times New Roman are safe choices. Stick with the classics and it's hard to botch this one too badly.

There reaches a point where bullet points become less of a visual aid and more of a visual examination.

Bullet points should support the speaker, not overwhelm his audience. The best slides have little or no text at all, in fact. As a presenter, it's our job to talk through complex issues, but that doesn't mean that we need to highlight every talking point.

Instead, think about how you can break up large lists into three or four bullet points. Carefully consider whether you need to use more bullet points, or if you can combine multiple topics into a single point instead. And if you can't, remember that there's no one limiting the number of slides you can have in a presentation. It's always possible to break a list of 12 points down into three pages of four points each.

Animation, when used correctly, is a good idea. It breaks up slow-moving parts of a presentation and adds action to elements that require it. But it should be used judiciously.

Adding a transition that wipes left to right between every slide or that animates each bullet point in a list, for example, starts to grow taxing on those forced to endure the presentation. Viewers get bored quickly, and animations that are meant to highlight specific elements quickly become taxing.

That's not to say that you can't use animations and transitions, just that you need to pick your spots. Aim for no more than a handful of these transitions for each presentation. And use them in spots where they'll add to the demonstration, not detract from it.

Sometimes images tell a better story than text can. And as a presenter, your goal is to describe points in detail without making users do a lot of reading. In these cases, a well-designed visual, like a chart, might better convey the information you're trying to share.

The right image adds visual appeal and serves to break up longer, text-heavy sections of the presentation---but only if you're using the right images. A single high-quality image can make all the difference between a success and a dud when you're driving a specific point home.

When considering text, don't think solely in terms of bullet points and paragraphs. Tables, for example, are often unnecessary. Ask yourself whether you could present the same data in a bar or line chart instead.

Color is interesting. It evokes certain feelings and adds visual appeal to your presentation as a whole. Studies show that color also improves interest, comprehension, and retention. It should be a careful consideration, not an afterthought.

You don't have to be a graphic designer to use color well in a presentation. What I do is look for palettes I like, and then find ways to use them in the presentation. There are a number of tools for this, like Adobe Color , Coolors , and ColorHunt , just to name a few. After finding a palette you enjoy, consider how it works with the presentation you're about to give. Pastels, for example, evoke feelings of freedom and light, so they probably aren't the best choice when you're presenting quarterly earnings that missed the mark.

It's also worth mentioning that you don't need to use every color in the palette. Often, you can get by with just two or three, though you should really think through how they all work together and how readable they'll be when layered. A simple rule of thumb here is that contrast is your friend. Dark colors work well on light backgrounds, and light colors work best on dark backgrounds.

Spend some time in the Slide Sorter before you finish your presentation. By clicking the four squares at the bottom left of the presentation, you can take a look at multiple slides at once and consider how each works together. Alternatively, you can click "View" on the ribbon and select "Slide Sorter."

Are you presenting too much text at once? Move an image in. Could a series of slides benefit from a chart or summary before you move on to another point?

It's here that we have the opportunity to view the presentation from beyond the single-slide viewpoint and think in terms of how each slide fits, or if it fits at all. From this view, you can rearrange slides, add additional ones, or delete them entirely if you find that they don't advance the presentation.

The difference between a good presentation and a bad one is really all about preparation and execution. Those that respect the process and plan carefully---not only the presentation as a whole, but each slide within it---are the ones who will succeed.

This brings me to my last (half) point: When in doubt, just buy a template and use it. You can find these all over the web, though Creative Market and GraphicRiver are probably the two most popular marketplaces for this kind of thing. Not all of us are blessed with the skills needed to design and deliver an effective presentation. And while a pre-made PowerPoint template isn't going to make you a better presenter, it will ease the anxiety of creating a visually appealing slide deck.

• Microsoft Office

7 EASY tips that ALWAYS make your PPT presentation attractive (even for beginners)

By: Author Shrot Katewa

Designing a presentation can take a lot of effort, especially if you are a beginner. All the options that software like PowerPoint presents can be overwhelming. Add to that the design skills needed to create a presentation. Not everyone is blessed with the aptitude and the skills to design. Despite this, anyone (including a beginner) can create attractive presentations almost every single time!

We strongly believe that anyone can create a beautiful presentation; even if you are a beginner. In today’s article, we share our mantra for creating absolutely beautiful and attractive presentations almost every single time!

You don’t need to know all the advanced features of PowerPoint. Just keep in mind the steps that we have mentioned below, and you will have a much better-looking presentation than you imagined it to be.

Tip 1 – Create an awesome Title Slide for an awesome first impression

We extensively covered a few methods using which you can easily create an awesome title slide for you PPT (link – https://owlscape.in/how-to-easily-make-an-awesome-first-slide-in-powerpoint )

A title slide is the first slide of your presentation. It mostly contains the title of your presentation and also showcases the topic on which your presentation is based. The title slide is also often the slide that is displayed even before the start of your presentation. Thus, it is important to have an awesome title slide as it can create a good first impression which can lead a subtle positive bias in the mindset of your audience. This can set the tone for the rest of your presentation.

However, creating a title slide can be challenging for some. This can be difficult especially if you are at a beginner level. In one of our previous post, we extensively covered a few methods using which you can easily create an awesome title slide for your PPT (link – https://owlscape.in/how-to-easily-make-an-awesome-first-slide-in-powerpoint )

Tip 2 – When using color, stick to the basics

If you think that simply adding text on a blank PowerPoint file means that you haven’t chosen a color scheme, then you can not be any more wrong! By simply adding text that is black on a default white background of a PPT file in itself creates a contrast and thereby a black and white color scheme! Obviously, that is not enough as that is the most basic color form which helps us read the content.

Colors are an important part of our life. Same is the case with a presentation. Every presentation needs to have colors on it. Using colors on a presentation can bring life to an otherwise lifeless looking presentation. Colors can help differentiate an important piece of information in an overcrowded content mix.

Consider the above image. Do you notice the colors used for the slide? Also, do you notice any issue with the slide? That’s correct! Grey and white text is difficult to read on a similar background in the above image.

Adding colors to your slides can often grab your audiences’ attention. However, this holds true only if the colors are used appropriately! Not knowing or not using the right color choice can equally easily distract or thwart your audiences’ attention. It may also make your presentation a bit distasteful. Not to mention the difficulty that can be caused in reading the text.

Choosing a color scheme can depend on a lot of factors. If you don’t have experience in design, choosing a color scheme can be a daunting task! There are primary colors, secondary colors, tertiary colors. Then there is a hue, tint, tone, shade and other similar terminologies to deal with. Add to that the color combinations such as complementary, split complementary, triads, tetrads etc.. This can all be very confusing!

As a beginner, the easiest way to choose a color combination is to go for a monochromatic color scheme. You CAN NOT go wrong with a monochromatic color scheme.

So what is a monochromatic color scheme? A monochromatic color scheme is a set of colors which are essentially shades of a single color (technically, they can be shades, tints or tones which give multiple variations of a single color).

So how does one use a monochromatic color scheme in PowerPoint? Well, it’s pretty simple! When you choose the color of a particular element on the slide through the “Shape Fill” option, simply choose colors from a single set. For example – in the above image, you may want to select a color of your choice such as blue, and then use variations of just blue throughout your presentation. However, be sure to maintain contrast between the text and the background color. This means, if the background is dark blue, be sure to make the color of the text as white or light shade of blue and vice-versa.

Remember, choosing a color scheme is important, however, maintaining consistency throughout can set your presentation apart and make it look professional. For instance, if you choose a color scheme for the heading of a slide, be sure to stick with it throughout the presentation.

Tip 3 – Introduce Contrast

So now that you have chosen a color scheme, it is important to use the color scheme to create a visual appeal. Using the same colors on every single slide with the same white background can also sometimes create monotony. This is especially true if we are using a monochromatic color scheme. One such way to combat this is to introduce contrast.

Introduce contrast by reversing font color on a slide

In the previous point, we touched upon the importance of maintaining contrast between the text and the background. This not only makes the slide visually appealing, but also makes the text easy to read. Let’s look at an example –

In the above slide design, the designer has very judiciously created contrast on the slide. Use of white fonts on a darker background makes the text stand out. Likewise, using the dark colored font on a white background creates a great balance and an interesting contrast. Introducing such contrast can enhance the visual appeal of the slides.

Also note the consistency in the color of the icons. While having white colored icons on a blue background wouldn’t be wrong, ensuring that the icons look consistent makes the presentation design very professional.

There are multiple ways to create a contrast on a single slide. Using 2 or 3 variations of the same color for different elements can be another method. However, the aforementioned method is the simplest and easiest to follow for beginners while creating a stunning visual appeal.

Introduce contrast using a contrasting slide

Another method of introducing contrast in your presentation is to use a contrasting slide. While, introducing contrast on a slide by reversing font color is important. Even so, having the same background throughout the presentation can make the PPT monotonous. In such a scenario, we can have a complete slide with a contrasting color to that of the other slides in the presentation. Let’s look at an example –

The above slide added in an array of slides with white background can help break the monotony and break the contrast on our presentation. However, choosing the right slide for such a contrast is important. A general rule of thumb could be to pick the slide with just a few words or a single sentence. Such a contrast can also be introduced if we intend to have a quotation in our presentation.

One important point to note here would be to ensure that we use the primary dark color that we chose while selecting our monochromatic color scheme.

Tip 4 – Choose these fonts

One of the most important aspects of your PPT is the content of your presentation. The content that you would like to communicate can be presented using one of thousands of font choices! (Yes, you read it right! There are literally thousands of fonts out there!). So, how do you choose a font?

A simple rule of thumb is to pick fonts that are clear and legible; fonts that won’t tire the eyes of the reader even with extended looks at your slides. This is especially important when we can’t avoid a few content heavy slides.

Font Styles –

There are various font styles. However, the two most common font styles that we should most definitely consider are Serif and Sans Serif.

Serif fonts have little strokes called “serif” attached at the end of each letter. Serif fonts give a more traditional feel. They are classy, literary and high-end. Serif fonts have been used in books and literature for decades. They are highly legible and our eyes are accustomed to it. These fonts are a great choice if you intend to have too much of text on the slides (note – we generally do not recommend having too much of content on the slides)

Sans Serif fonts don’t carry the strokes at the end of each letter. “Sans” has been derived from the French word “Sanz” which literally means “without”. Thus, the name itself means without Serif. These font types are more modern, and give a clean and a sleek look to your slide designs.

So, which font to choose?

If you wish to go with Serif font type , we recommend Times New Roman . If you think your preference is to go with Sans Serif fonts , we would recommend choosing Calibri or Arial . However, there is no right or wrong. At OwlScape, we do not prefer having too much text on the slides which give our presentations a much more modern feel. Therefore, our default font preference ends up being a Sans Serif font.

A common school of thought is to consider these fonts very boring. However, the reason we not just recommend these to others but in fact also use these fonts in our own presentations is because these fonts work. Times New Roman is a serious and a reliable font, and Arial is a professional font. You simply can’t go wrong with these. They are not boring. Rather, they are safe.

However, if you wish to go beyond these fonts, my next best recommendations would be to use Merriweather (Serif), Roboto (Sans Serif) , Montserrat (Sans Serif) or Source Sans Pro (Sans Serif). Each font has its own characteristic, pros and cons. Use of fonts is an art in itself. Thus, for beginners, we always recommend using Times New Roman, Calibri or Arial.

Keep these things in mind while choosing the fonts

It is important to remember a few things while working with the content on your presentation. They are as follows –

• Choose one font – As a beginner, it is easy to fall into the temptation of using multiple fonts. Using multiple fonts is not a crime. But, it does require a good bit of understanding of the science behind it and the complementary layout in which it can be used. Thus, until you’ve mastered the use of one font, I wouldn’t recommend using multiple fonts in your presentation.
• Alignment – A common problem across presentations is the alignment of the text. My recommendation is to keep the text left aligned. Why? Because the most natural way our eyes read text is from left to right, and top to bottom. Thus, text which is left aligned is easier on the eyes.
• Use Bold font selectively – When we use bold version of the fonts, we are simply increasing the weight of the fonts. The purpose of making the fonts bold is often to guide the attention of the audience. Thus, if the words to be made bold are not chosen wisely, it can defeat the very purpose of using bold fonts. As a rule of thumb, using headings and/or sub-headings, features, important words, and numbers are a good choice to be made bold.
•   Font size – Choosing the right font size can be challenging. This may vary significantly based on your audience size, and the manner in which the presentation is delivered (large audience or small screen through email).  A general rule of thumb would be to go no less than a 30 point font size.
• Choose standard fonts – If you choose to go beyond the three fonts that we have recommended above, ensure that the fonts you choose are standard fonts. This means, they are either part of the Google fonts (for online presentations) or the Microsoft Office font family. You can still choose other fonts, however, do remember to share the fonts that you have used when sharing the presentation file with your colleagues or client. Otherwise, in the absence of the fonts you used, PowerPoint will substitute the presentation with alternative fonts and this can greatly alter the design of your presentation.

Tip 5 – Use images in your presentation

Almost everyone will tell you that using images for your presentation is important. Heck, I’m sure you would have seen at least one of those many TEDx presentations that only have pictures on their PPT.

So why is that? Why is using images in your PPT presentation important? Using images in your presentation is important because it enhances the look and feel of your presentation. Images also increase the retention capability of your audience as our human mind can better retain content when it is related with an image. Moreover, using images judiciously helps break the monotony of the presentation. Sometimes, use of images in your presentation also help to explain the concept better.

Images can make a good presentation great. The importance of using images can not be stressed more. But, when should you be using the images on a slide? Should you use an image on every single slide? While some events like the TEDx format may demand that, but obviously, using images on every single slide may not be the right way to go about making a presentation.

When to use images?

You don’t need an image on every single slide. But there are a few areas where you may want to consider using an image. Let’s look at a few of these –

1. Title slide –

In general, title slides don’t have a lot of text. In such a scenario, simply having plain text in an otherwise blank slide can make it boring. This makes it a perfect slide to have an image on.

2. Product slide –

When talking about your product or a feature of your product, it can make a significant impact when your audience sees the product that you are talking about. Again, a great slide to use images on.

3. Team slide –

There are two ways you could use an image on this slide. If you are introducing an individual member of your team, then having small profile pictures of your team members can be a good idea. Alternatively, you could also use a group photo on your presentation for a team slide.

4. Events & exhibitions –

If you want to talk about the events that your company did, then one of the best ways to do that is to showcase a couple of photos from each event.

5. Office/ site locations –

Some organisations have fantastic offices. If you are an employee of one such organisation and want to talk about features of your office or manufacturing site that offer great benefits for the employees, use pictures!

6. Clients/Partners –

When people talk about using images on their PPT, they often forget that using logos of companies that they have worked with also constitute as images. This can be a great way of using images to enhance visuals of your presentation as opposed to just writing a list of client names.

7. Explaining a concept –

(Image source ) Drag the divider to the left or the right to see the complete image

Sometimes, concepts are better explained visually. Simply having a powerful image can easily and quickly convey the concept to your audience.

The above list is not exhaustive. It is only indicative in nature. There are several other ways and slides on which you can use images. Again, there is no right or wrong, and it is not necessary that you use images for each one of the points mentioned above.

How to find images for your presentation?

There are multiple ways to find an image for your presentation. Here are the top 3 methods that I recommend –

• Using Online Images in PowerPoint – Microsoft has this inbuilt feature within PowerPoint that allows you to get royalty free images from the web directly in your presentation . To use this tool, simply click on “Insert”, then click “Pictures” and select the “Online Pictures” option. You can then simply search for the image that you are looking for.
• Using free image websites – While you can buy images from several different websites, there are a few sites that allow you to get high resolution royalty free images for free. My favourite website is Unsplash . It has got some really cool images, many of which I have used in the actual presentations created for clients.
• Using free, legal Google Images –  Is it really free and legal? Our recommendation is to always stick to the paid websites if possible. If that may be difficult, as much as possible, refrain from using Google Images even though some might be license free to use.

Finding the perfect image for your presentation can be time consuming. In one of our earlier posts, we shared detailed insights on where you can find images for your presentation. Be sure to read more on this topic from this link – https://owlscape.in/can-i-use-google-images-for-my-presentation/

Do’s and don’ts when using images for your PPT

Now that we’ve understood why to use images and which slides to use the images in our presentation, it is important for us to remember a few things when we work with images. Let’s have a look at these points –

Do’s –

• Use legal images – We can’t stress this enough. When you use images for your presentation, please ensure you have legal rights to use the images. Ensure that you give credit wherever it is due.
• Use relevant images – Okay, I agree. This is a bit obvious. But, I’ve seen a lot of people making this mistake. Images that are not relevant can simply fail to make an impact on your audience. If you are struggling to identify what image would be relevant, a simple Google search on the topic name can help you understand what kind of image should be used.

Don’ts –

• Don’t use images that are pixelated – Often, in search of that perfect picture, you may come across images that don’t have a good resolution. As a result, they get pixelated as soon as you put the presentation on a big screen. Ensure that the pixel density is at least 150 dpi for on screen output (ppt viewed on small screen when shared through email) and 300 dpi for a projector output.
• Don’t change the aspect ratio – Don’t change the aspect ratio of the original image. This makes subjects in the image look all weird. The easiest way to avoid this problem would be to lock the aspect ratio. You can do this by selecting the image, and right click, then select “Format Object”. On the format options, click on “Size & Properties” and ensure that there is a check mark for “Lock aspect ratio” option.

Tip 6 – Replace bullets points in your PPT with these

This is a cool tip! I assure you, just by following THIS ONE TIP, your presentation design will  take a jump ahead of a vast majority of the presentations out there. Trust me, this will set you apart.

The problem is that over 65% of the world’s population falls in the age group of 15 – 64 years ( source ). You might be wondering what’s that got to do with bullet points? The thing is that about 90% of this population is responsible for creating presentations, and most of them learned making presentations about 5-10 years ago. This is the period when making bullet points was considered the best way to present the content. So, while the software itself has evolved during this course of time, the skills to present the content hasn’t. While, this is a problem, the cool thing is that just by overcoming this one little challenge, you are ahead of at least a good 50-55% of the presentations that are created every single day!

So what can you do instead of using bullet points? There are broadly 3 ways in which you could get rid of your bullet points. Let’s have a look at them –

Option 1 – Use PowerPoint’s built-in SmartArt function

This is by far the easiest way to replace your bullet points. Microsoft PowerPoint created the SmartArt function with this particular objective in mind. All you need to do is open a blank slide, click on “Insert” tab, then click “SmartArt”, and choose the type of SmartArt that you would like to insert depending on the type of content you have on your slide.

There are a ton of varieties of SmartArt that you would be able pick and choose. You will almost always find an option for the type of content you are having on the slide.

SmartArt is easy and fast. However, while this is great if you are starting out in the world of presentation design, we do not use SmartArt in the designs that we create for our clients at OwlScape. If you have a bit of time at hand, and have a fair idea of working with shapes on PowerPoint, we would strongly recommend using the following methods.

Option 2 – Use Icons as an alternative to bullet points

Icons can easily serve as an alternative to bullet points on PowerPoint. Using icons can be a great way to make your presentation slides visually appealing. The objective of using icons on a PowerPoint slide is really to communicate the point quickly and visually. Thus, it is important to use an icon which is relatable to content.

If you have multiple bullet points, simply identify the key message from each bullet point. Then, identify and search for an icon applicable for that key message. Next, find a simple way to represent it on a slide. The easiest way to do this is to insert a shape, could be rectangle, square, curved square or a circle, and put the icon over the shape. Make sure that the icon is not the same color as that of the shape. I usually recommend using white color icons and changing the color of the shape.

You obviously don’t have to create the icon. You can easily find it in a few quick steps. Simply go to the “Insert” tab, click on “Icons”, and search for the icon you are looking for from the bar that opens up on the right side of the screen.

Option 3 – Use Infographics as an alternative to bullet points

A slightly more advanced method is to use infographics to replace bullet points from your content. Just like icons, infographics add a significant visual appeal to your presentation design. If you have a decent understanding of how to work with shapes, you can easily create infographics for your PPT presentation as well.

In case you are struggling to create your own infographics, you can also buy templates online for a few dollars. There are several websites that can help you find paid infographics.

Tip 7 – Follow the rule of thirds for slide design

This is another great tip that is often missed by most people who create a PowerPoint presentation. The rule of thirds is a concept which has been derived from Photography. Thus, it is obvious that most presentations tend to lack this basic design principle.

Consider the below images –

( Image source ) Drag the divider to the left or the right to see the complete image

Which one looks better? Most of us would find that the content laid out in the image on the left is better of the two. Why? The answer is simple. It is because the design on the slide follows the rule of thirds.

So what is the rule of thirds in PowerPoint? The rule of thirds is a design principle where content is designed and laid out in a way that it follows any combination of a 3 by 3 grid system. Using the rule of thirds in slide design ensures balance to the design of the slide.

To follow the rule of thirds in PowerPoint slide designs, you need to work with guides. Simply open a blank slide, and right click anywhere on the white section of the slide, click on “Grid and Guides”, by clicking the guides option, it will bring up two thin dotted grey lines on your slide. By adding guides, you can create a 3 by 3 grid system.

To help our users understand this important concept, we intend to write a detailed article on how to work with grids and guides on PowerPoint, and we will update the link in this section soon. Be sure to come back to this article and check this section out.

Now that we’ve seen how the 3 by 3 grid looks, let’s go back to the image on the left.

Notice how the image has taken the top ⅔ rd of the slide horizontally. Also note the manner in which the 3 points are laid out in the three grids horizontally. Just by arranging the various elements in the grid system gives a well balanced design to the slide.

We highly recommend learning the grid system using the guides and following the rule of third even if you are a beginner. This will vastly improve your slide designs. The best part is – working with guides is very easy to learn and it only takes a few minutes.

I hope the aforementioned tips will greatly improve the designs of your PowerPoint slides, and help you impress your managers, colleagues and audience. Follow these design tips and you will almost always be able to create an effective presentation.

Our goal on this blog is to create content that helps YOU create fantastic presentations; especially if you have never been a designer. We’ve started our blog with non-designers in mind, and we have got some amazing content on our site to help you design better.

If you have any topics in mind that you would want us to write about, be sure to drop us a comment below. In case you need us to work with you and improve the design of your presentation, write to us on [email protected] . Our team will be happy to help you with your requirements.

Lastly, your contribution can make this world a better place with better presentations. All you have to do is simply share this blog in your network and help other fellow non-designers with their designs!

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How to make the best Powerpoint presentation + real examples!

July 1, 2023

Ever sat through a PowerPoint presentation and thought, "Wow, that was mind-blowing"? Yeah, us either. But, let's face it, we've all been there—either on the giving or receiving end of a less-than-stellar presentation. It's high time we changed that narrative. Creating your best PowerPoint presentation isn't just about throwing together a bunch of slides – it's an art. It’s about telling a story that captivates, informs, and even entertains your audience. 

A new age is upon us, and it’s time to explore the ins and outs of what makes a PowerPoint presentation not just good, but great. From nailing your content and story flow to the nuances of design and delivery, we've got you covered. So, whether you're gearing up for that crucial sales pitch or prepping for an all-important investor meeting, buckle up! Your presentation skills are about to go from mundane to magnificent.

Your Presentation Should Tell a Story

When it comes to creating a killer PowerPoint presentation, it all starts with the story. You heard that right! Not the fancy animations or the snazzy graphics (though they do have their place), but the story. It’s the backbone, the foundation, the heartbeat of your presentation.

Think about how you feel when you watch your favorite TV show or read a book you can’t put down. Good storytelling takes us to another place, where the rest of the world slips away and the story steps into the forefront. Great presentations can do the same thing if the presenter can harness the power of storytelling. 

There are also plenty of science-backed reasons to prioritize good storytelling. One article by Lani Peterson for Harvard Business Corporate Learning says, “Scientists are discovering that chemicals like cortisol and dopamine are released in the brain when we’re told a story. Why does that matter? If we are trying to make a point stick, cortisol assists with our formulating memories. Dopamine, which helps regulate our emotional responses, keeps us engaged.“ More engagement; more impactful presentations.

So, how do you nail down a storytelling strategy that sticks? Let’s break it down.

Craft Your Narrative

First, identify your core message. What’s the one thing you want your audience to remember when they walk out of the room? This is your North Star, guiding every aspect of your presentation. If you’re having trouble with this step, ask yourself, “Why am I giving this presentation?”

Understand Your Audience

Who is your audience? Tailor your story to resonate with them. Are they tech-savvy millennials or industry veterans? Your story should speak their language. Presentations that skip this step will miss out on a crucial opportunity to connect with the audience. And if you can’t connect with them, then what’s the point? One solution is to focus on understanding the needs, challenges, and aspirations of your audience. That way, you’ll be able to address their specific pain points and interests.

Create a Structured Flow

Like any good story, your presentation needs a beginning, middle, and end. Start with an introduction that hooks, follow with content that informs and engages, and conclude with a memorable takeaway. If you need ideas on how to start your presentation, see this guide with 12 ideas for hooking your audience from the very start .

Find Inspiration

Look to the pros! Ever read an article by Andy Raskin or April Dunford ? These folks know their stuff when it comes to strategic narratives. Dive into their work for some inspiration on how to weave a compelling story in your presentation. Just like we’ve all been through our fair share of boring presentations, most likely you’ve experienced a presentation that left an impression. Ask yourself why it was so impactful–you might be able to draw from their expertise!

Change the Narrative

Say you’re working on a sales deck. Instead of going with the typical problem-solution story structure, Andy Raskin has a different take on it:

Start with a big, relevant shift in the world. “We are living in a new era” type of statement. This will grab the attention, but also create some urgency for the prospect.

Then you move on to show that there will be winners and losers in this new era. The ones who act on this shift will have more probability of winning. In other words, “what I am about to offer you is crucial for winning in this new era.”

Now that you have set the stage, you can “tease the promise land” as Andy calls it. This is not where you show your product features. This is simply a teaser about this new future state and what to expect if you react to this shift in the market.

Then, you highlight the “Old world vs New world” to show the contrast, and how old methods do not work in this new era.

And finally, you provide real-life stories to support your claims. These could client case studies, article snippets, industry updates - anything that adds credibility to everything you just said.

Voilà, you’ve got yourself a story arc! This is a simple and straightforward way to craft a story that connects.

Nail Your Story First

Remember, at the end of the day, your presentation is more than just a collection of slides, but rather a vessel for storytelling. It’s not just about what you say, but how you say it. A well-crafted story can transform your presentation from a mere transfer of information to an impactful, memorable experience. So, take the time to nail your story, and you’re already halfway to creating your best PowerPoint presentation. Your audience will thank you!

Embracing Professional Design for Impactful Presentations

When you've nailed your narrative, the next crucial step in crafting your best PowerPoint presentation is design. This stage is where your story gets visually translated, elevating it from a mere script to an engaging, compelling experience.

The Role of a Presentation Agency

Not everyone possesses an innate talent for design, and that's perfectly fine. This is where a presentation design agency can become an invaluable asset. These presentation experts act as the alchemists of your PowerPoint, transforming basic slides into visually stunning and strategically aligned pieces of art. However, be selective when you choose who to work with. There is a big difference between a "meh" designer vs a “wow” designer when it comes to preparing well-crafted presentations.

Simplifying Complexity

One of the critical talents of a presentation design agency is their ability to distill complex concepts into simple, digestible visuals. An overcrowded slide can quickly lose your audience's attention, but a well-designed one can convey your message succinctly and effectively. Not only that, presentation experts can remove the complexity of creating great slides by designing the best presentation templates for your needs, making the process easier for you in the end.

"We have been using SLIDES™ services for our corporate PowerPoint template, and the PPT template is so well done and easy to use that we all feel like we now have PowerPoint superpowers creating new presentations in no time with stunning look!"

Jérôme neuvéglise, product owner qoqa, creating visual harmony.

Consistency in your presentation’s visual elements - such as color schemes, typography, and imagery - is essential. A presentation design agency ensures that these elements work in harmony, creating a unified and professional look that enhances your overall narrative. The best presentation layouts are those created by experts who know how to make your brand stand out.

Visualizing Ideas Effectively

Presentation agencies excel in translating your ideas into impactful visuals. They ensure that your graphics, charts, and images aren't just visually appealing but also contribute significantly to the telling of your story. After all, why spend so much time honing your story if your visuals fall flat?

When to Opt for Professional Presentation Design

We know that deciding to outsource is a tough call, and you want to make sure your resources are well spent. Here are a few things to consider before seeking out help from a presentation agency:

High-Stakes Presentations

For presentations that can have a significant impact on your business - such as those in sales, partnerships, or investment pitches - professional design isn't just a luxury, but a necessity. These are the scenarios where the expertise of a presentation design agency can make a substantial difference. 

Stripe’s CEO Patrick Collison said in a recent podcast:

 “My intuition is that more of Stripe's success than one would think is down to the fact that people like beautiful things and for rational reasons. Because, what does a beautiful thing tell you? It tells you the person who made it really cared, and you can observe some superficial details, but probably they didn’t only care about those and did everything else in a slapdash way. So, if you care about the infrastructure being holistically good, indexing on the superficial characteristics is not an irrational thing to do.“

Oftentimes in presentations, we ignore how we are making people feel with our slides. Think about this quote next time you’re preparing your slides.

Overcoming Skill and Time Constraints

If you're not well-versed in design or if time constraints are tight, opting for professional help is a wise decision. This not only ensures quality but also frees you up to concentrate on refining and rehearsing your presentation. This guide shows 18 of the most common presentation mistakes people make, and gives tips on how to avoid them.

In essence, professional design is about giving your presentation the visual edge it needs to not just capture but also maintain your audience's attention. By considering the services of a presentation design agency, you're ensuring that your presentation is not just seen, but also remembered and appreciated.

Mastering the Art of Delivery

Alright, you’ve got a gripping story and a set of stunning slides. But wait! There’s still a crucial piece of the puzzle left – your delivery. This is where the rubber meets the road. Remember, no matter how dazzling your slides are, they can’t rescue a lackluster delivery. 

More Than Just Slides

First things first, let’s get one thing straight: people aren’t just buying into your PowerPoint. They’re buying into you – your ideas, your enthusiasm, your conviction. Your slides are merely a tool to complement your narrative, not the other way around. Your slides are never the star of the show. It's you. It sure is harder to improve your delivery compared to your slides. But it will be the best investment of your life.

The Human Connection

At its core, a great presentation is about making a connection with your audience. It’s about storytelling, not just through words on a slide, but through the way you present them. Your tone, your body language, your ability to engage – all these elements combine to create a compelling delivery.

Know Your Story Inside Out

Your first step should be to know your story like the back of your hand. This doesn’t mean memorizing your script word for word but being familiar enough with your content to speak confidently and fluidly about it.

Rehearse, Then Rehearse Some More

Practice might not always make perfect, but it sure does make confidence. Rehearse your presentation multiple times. This will help you iron out any kinks in your delivery and help you manage those pesky nerves.

When our founder Damon gave his first keynote presentation, he experienced some technical issues that would throw off any professional speaker. But since he had rehearsed his speech so well, he knew it inside out. And he could handle the mishap with calm, make some jokes about it, and then get back to his talk when the tech decided to work again.

Engage With Your Audience

Remember, a presentation is a two-way street. Engage with your audience, ask questions, and encourage participation. This interaction makes your presentation more memorable and impactful. The former product manager at Netflix , Gibson Biddle, shared this great example:

“In a virtual setting you need to double-down on engagement tactics. Today, I use Google Slides plus Slido to do real-time polling, word clouds and to answer questions. It makes the experience incredibly interactive to the extent that I now have an equal NPS for virtual and in-person presentations.”

Body Language Matters

Your body language speaks volumes. Maintain eye contact, use gestures to emphasize points, and move around if possible. This non-verbal communication can significantly enhance the impact of your delivery.

In today’s increasingly digital world, we also have to think about virtual presentations and how to put our best foot forward through a screen. An awkward camera angle or a weird background can be a distraction to your audience, so shift your focus to a flattering camera angle, solid camera quality, and a neutral background. 

Authenticity is Key

Be yourself. Your audience can tell when you’re putting on a façade. Authenticity breeds trust and connection, which in turn makes your message more persuasive.

Investing in Yourself

Finally, investing in your delivery skills is investing in yourself. Whether it’s through public speaking courses, professional coaching, or simply seeking feedback from peers, improving your delivery skills is invaluable. Remember, a great delivery can elevate a good presentation to a great one. So, give your delivery the attention it deserves, and watch as you transform from a presenter to a storyteller, captivating your audience one slide at a time.

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it – the roadmap to creating a PowerPoint presentation that’s not just good, but outstanding. It all starts with crafting a compelling story, enhanced by visually striking and well-thought-out design, and brought to life through engaging and authentic delivery. Remember, your best PowerPoint presentation will feel like more than just a collection of slides to your audience. This is a powerful storytelling tool, and you are the storyteller.

The key takeaway? Invest time and effort into each aspect of your presentation. Understand your narrative, collaborate with design professionals if needed, and hone your delivery skills. It’s this combination of content, design, and delivery that transforms a standard presentation into an unforgettable experience.

In the end, what sets a great PowerPoint presentation apart is the ability to not just share information but to tell a story that resonates, inspires, and persuades. Whether you’re pitching to potential clients, investors, or sharing insights with your team, remember that the most impactful presentations are those that connect with the audience on a deeper level. So go ahead, create, deliver, and captivate.

Your audience is waiting.

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10 Tips to Make Your PowerPoint Presentation Effective

You may have heard of the famous 10/20/30 rule , devised by Guy Kawasaki , for designing presentations. This rule states that using 10 slides in 20 minutes at a 30 point minimum font size is the most effective presentation strategy—but what does this really mean?

The most important thing to remember, particularly if you’re using PowerPoint to convey your message, is to keep your audience in mind when preparing your presentation. Your audience wants a relevant presentation, not just something that is visually appealing .

A common mistake speakers make when designing PowerPoint presentations is being too passionate about it that they put everything they know into it. In trying to get their point across, presenters tend to use complex jargon and impart too much information, leaving the audience confused about the actual purpose of the presentation.

So how can you simplify your information but still convey a powerful message to your audience?

Here are 10 suggestions:

1) Cut out the wordiness

Ironic as it may seem, an essential part of proving a point is to use a minimal amount of words per slide so that the audience is focused on you, not on the screen. It’s rather difficult for any kind of audience to read texts and listen to you at the same time. If you have longer statements, break them down into multiple slides and highlight the key words. This doesn’t mean you limit your content to dull, boring facts. Feel free to incorporate anecdotes or quotes as long as they’re relevant and support your message.

2) Add pictures

Instead of more words, supplement your ideas with vivid imagery. Again, the key is not overusing photos to the point that it makes your presentations look unprofessional. Photos should only be used if they promote or emphasize the main idea of your slide.

3) Use appropriate animation

Like pictures, use animation only when appropriate and only if you’ve completely rehearsed your presentation with the animation flow. Otherwise, they will be distracting and will make it appear that you’ve designed your presentation in poor taste.

4) Don’t overuse numbers

As with words, minimize the amount of numbers you present in each slide. If you have charts that summarize the total figures toward the end, then you no longer need to fill up your entire chart with the little numbers on the scale.

5) Use large fonts

Aside from the obvious reason that larger fonts are more readable, size dictates the impact of your message and a larger one makes it easier for your audience to clearly grasp what you’re saying or want to highlight. Aside from font size, pay attention to the spacing between paragraphs, rows, and columns; you don’t want your text to appear jumbled.

6) Maintain consistency

The whole objective of your presentation is to drive home a point, not to make your presentation look cheesy. Keep your font sizes and the size and format of a box on one page consistent throughout your slides.

7) Limit bullet points

Keep your bullet points to a maximum of 5-6 per slide. In addition, the words per bullet point should also be limited to 5-6 words. It’s also wise to vary what you present in each slide, such as alternating between bullet points, graphics, and graph slides, in order to sustain the interest and focus of your audience.

8) Choose colors and contrast effectively .

Use bold colors and high contrast. A color may look completely different on your monitor than it will when projected on a large screen.

9) Tell a story

Everyone loves a good story , especially if it’s something that they can easily relate to. A good story begins with a problem and the more irritating the problem is for the audience, the more effective your presentation will be once you’ve provided a possible solution for them.

10) Be flexible

In order to develop a strong connection with your audience, you need to be flexible with your slides. During your speech, you may feel that some slides have become unnecessary; therefore you want to prepare your presentation in such a way that you can easily interchange or eliminate them. Conversely, prepare some optional slides in anticipation of questions or ideas you expect from your audience. This will give your presentation the “wow” factor.

When using PowerPoint to deliver a PowerFUL point, your goal isn’t to design the best presentation but the most effective one. This means creating a presentation that your audience can connect with through interest, participation, memory recall, and ideally, learning something useful.

Create professional presentations online

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25 Pretty PPT Templates for an Attractive PowerPoint Presentation (2024)

Beautiful PowerPoint templates are the way to stand out in 2024. Whether you’re presenting to a crowd or sharing your beautiful slides online, it’s time to think differently. The focus is on you to create compelling and beautiful PowerPoint PPT slides .

But you don’t have to do all the hard work! Add style with stunning presentation templates, and watch your content come to life.

In this article, you'll learn how to make a PowerPoint presentation attractive . We'll also check out templates and nice PowerPoint slides from Envato Elements.

25 Beautiful PowerPoint Templates From Envato Elements

Let’s explore some of 2024’s most beautiful PowerPoint templates from Envato Elements. These are 25 of the most gorgeous PowerPoint templates, and you can find many more right here:

1. Classy PPT Template

This beautiful PPT background for PowerPoint is very Classy. It's an attractive PowerPoint presentation designed for all things beauty. I love the included color scheme. Even though it's customizable, you can't go wrong with the forest green shown here. The cute PPT background comes with:

• 30 nice PowerPoint slides to choose from
• based on Master Slides
• resizable and editable graphics

2. Makeit: Beautiful PowerPoint Presentation Template

Bold flashes of color and inspired use of contrast are the hallmarks of this beautiful PowerPoint presentation template. It’s designed to promote any products and services that you offer. But marketing isn’t the only mission of this beautiful presentation. It includes:

• 40+ nice PowerPoint slides
• full HD resolution
• 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio
• drag-and-drop editing

3. Anerio: Fashionable, Attractive Presentation Slides

These beautiful slides project confidence. One of the most elegant PowerPoint templates available for 2024, it embraces the theory of “less is more.” Text and images fly off the slides, offset against pale backdrops. Download it to get:

• more than 30 beautiful PowerPoint slides
• modern layouts
• fully editable elements

4. Advance: Beautiful PowerPoint Themes Lookbook

Sometimes, you need to wow an audience with vibrant color. Try out these beautiful PowerPoint slides to do just that. Whether you’re making your personal portfolio or pitching a new business, Advance Lookbook is ready to help. These flashy features usually aren't available in free PowerPoint templates:

• PPTX and PPT pretty slide templates
• 35 unique slides
• easy customization options

5. Simphony: Attractive PowerPoint Presentation Template

You don’t have to change beautiful PowerPoint presentation templates to mix up the look and feel. Instead, turn to one like Simphony. This beautiful PowerPoint theme has:

• more than 5.6k pretty slide templates
• 124 Master Slide Layouts
• over 20 color themes built in

All it takes is a few clicks to swap one for another. Instantly, you can alter the entire mood of your attractive PPT slides. Best of all: you won’t have to move a single piece of content!

6. WHITE BEAUTY: Beautiful Slides for PowerPoint

This is an easy choice for a list of the most beautiful PowerPoint templates. Its beautiful slides are minimalist but full of gorgeous shapes and graphics at the same time. Pair this beauty with your inspiring message and create a stunning and beautiful presentation for 2024. Check out its features:

• 30 slides with cute PowerPoint designs
• 50 pre-made color files
• 30 icon slides

7. Chantella PowerPoint Template

The earthy and quiet color palette of Chantella adds to its beauty. This makes it the perfect option for creating a pretty PowerPoint presentation. Not only is the template beautiful, but it also has all the features to fit your design needs:

• 30 unique beautiful PowerPoint slides
• picture placeholders

Don't feel limited, and build whatever you want to with these attractive slides for PPT.

8. Nayyara PowerPoint Template for Beauty Services

If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then we can all agree that this soft PowerPoint template is beautiful. The classic and ornate font, coupled with the lovely color palette, will help you put together a dreamy PowerPoint presentation. It features:

• 25 great-looking PowerPoint presentation slides
• easy drag-and-drop editing
• fully customizable elements
• professional and cute PowerPoint design

Grab this attractive template to elevate your presentation.

9. ROSE BEAUTY: Attractive Slides for PPT

Talk about stunning graphics! The pops of color against a white background make this template an eye-catcher. This makes it the ultimate presentation template for marketing endeavors or any other line of work that requires sleek content blocks and unique, attractive slides for PPT. As for its features:

• 30 pretty PPT template slides
• thousands of ready-to-use icons

10. Qoreo: Beautiful PowerPoint Slides for Businesses

Creating a stunning presentation from the ground up can be an uphill task. But with the Qoreo beautiful presentation template, you'll have a leg up on the process! Just look at the colors, typography, visual elements, and features:

• 60 gorgeous PowerPoint template slides
• RGB color mode
• two color theme variations
• vector shape illustrations

They are a gorgeous combination to use for your presentations.

11. Beauty Flowy Slides for a Beautiful PowerPoint Presentation

Let's start with the features:

• 150+ cute PPT background slides
• pre-made colors
• handcrafted design
• pixel-perfect illustrations

These are only a fraction of the features you'll get if you download this beautiful PowerPoint presentation template. Astonish the crowd with how functional and beautiful your design is with Beauty Flow.

12. Karina PowerPoint Template

Neutral colors can be beautiful, and there's no greater testament to that than the Karina PowerPoint template. But it's more than meets the eye. It has:

• 30 unique pretty PowerPoint template slides
• drag-and-drop features
• documentation

13. Freshness Modern PowerPoint Template

This beautiful PowerPoint template is the true representation of fresh. Show your outdoorsy and green side with its attractive PPT slides. You can customize them easily to breathe life and visual interest into your presentation. Download it today and work with one of the most beautiful PowerPoint templates on the market with the best features:

• 35 unique pretty slide templates

14. Yolanda Attractive PPT Slides

Beautiful can mean dainty and sweet. Explore this side of the aesthetic spectrum with the Yolanda PowerPoint Template. The best part is that it can be very versatile. Use its attractive PPT slides for your creative agencies, personal portfolios, product showcases, or other related areas. The features are worth it:

• PPT and PPTX files
• 36 cute PowerPoint design slides
• easy editing
• full customization options

15. Aizel Beautiful PPT Template

Wonder no more about how to make a pretty PowerPoint presentation. Meet Aizel. It has a sophisticated and ethereal beauty both inside and out. Just take a look at the features:

• more than 30 great-looking PowerPoint presentation slides
• image placeholders
• quick to customize

Its clean design and minimalist look make it the perfect blank canvas for all your projects. Impress your clients, audience, investors, and whomever else with this nice PPT template.

16. Luminate PPT Template for Fashion and Beauty

You'll illuminate the room if you bring out this attractive PPT template in your presentation. Customize it to your liking to make a stunning presentation. You can showcase your finances, company, fashion blog, top-quality products, technology business, and more, thanks to its incredible features:

• 12 cute PPT background files
• 3 pre-made color schemes
• widescreen and standard aspect ratios

17. WindWard PowerPoint Template

Do you like black-and-white presentations? If you do and you're searching for a good-looking option, go for WindWard: hands down the most beautiful PowerPoint template in black and white. It comes with:

• PowerPoint and Keynote files
• more than 80 pretty PowerPoint template slides
• beautiful project galleries
• stunning timelines

Who wouldn't want this pretty slide template?

18. Mirage: Attractive Presentation Slides

No, you're not looking at an optical illusion. It is that beautiful. This is Mirage. It's clean and elegant, and the black, gray, and golden tones give it an Art Deco look. Give an extra oomph to your presentation with its features:

• 100 unique beautiful PowerPoint theme slides
• 10 pre-made color variations
• creative infographics and mind maps
• awesome icons

19. Minimal Maska: Beautiful Slides for Beautiful Presentations

This is a minimalist, attractive PowerPoint template in grayscale. This means you can do absolutely anything with it. Its versatility is what makes it beautiful. Get ready to make an impactful presentation with help from this awesome template and its features:

• more than 35 pretty PPT template slides
• easily editable data charts

20. Arsanty Attractive Slides for PPT

Subtle color blocking? Yes! Elegant and modern? Yes! Versatile and interesting? Yes! You can turn this amazing PowerPoint template into whatever you want. But whatever you need it for, you can bet that the result will be beautiful with these attractive slides for PPT. Download this gorgeous PowerPoint template to get:

21. ARTILA Attractive Presentation Slides

Even though its design is fairly simple, it's unforgettable. Artila has a sophisticated look and feel. It's easy on the eyes and ready to spread your message accurately. Download these attractive presentation slides and experience the full power of its features:

• 30 beautiful PowerPoint theme slides
• 5 pre-made color schemes
• professional, modern, and pretty design

It's the definitive answer to the question of how to make a PowerPoint presentation attractive.

22. Fashion: Beautiful Slides for PowerPoint

Are you starting a high-fashion business, brand, or product? If you are, pair your message with these fashionable slides for PowerPoint. You'll create a striking presentation. Its professional design, eye-catching fonts, and avant-garde styling will make the statement you need. It also features:

• 60 great-looking PowerPoint presentation slides
• print-ready format

23. Bohement Attractive Slides for PPT

It's the details on this one. Take a look at the borders, text arrangement, and smart use of color. Bohement pays attention to the small things that make a PowerPoint template great. Better yet, you don't need any special skills or software knowledge to make these attractive slides for PPT your own. The template offers:

• more than 150 pretty PPT template slides
• 5 pre-made color variations

24. Princess Beautiful PowerPoint Slides

A quick look, and you'll see why this is one of the most beautiful PowerPoint template designs for 2024. You'll get a sleek and thoughtful design on every slide. Plus:

• 25 pretty PowerPoint template slides

You can also edit the beautiful PowerPoint slides to include your own photos, text, brand, and message.

25. Arcobaleno PPT Template for a Beautiful Presentation

A gorgeous combination of watercolors comes in to end this list of the most beautiful PowerPoint templates with a bang! Arcobaleno perfectly mixes an explosion of colors with an ethereal feel. Take advantage of this attractive PPT template and its features to create a beautiful presentation:

• 6 PPTX files
• 20 cute PowerPoint design slides
• 3 color themes

How to Make Beautiful PowerPoint Presentations Quickly

Templates are a major advance when you're building a nice PPT. Make no mistake, either. They're flexible to  your  content and style. 

In this section, you'll learn how to make a beautiful PowerPoint presentation with customizations. We'll work with the premium Makeit PowerPoint template to create attractive PPT slides.

Three slides, three steps. That's all it takes to learn how to make a beautiful PPT presentation. Let's learn more:

1. The Mobile App Slide

Building an app? It helps to show it in action so that potential users can imagine using it. Let's customize slide 30 to do that in three steps:

• Add a device screenshot . Grab an image of your app in action on your device, then transfer it to your computer. Click on the image placeholder icon and browse to the file.
• Add a title . Type over "App Project Sample" with a quick summary that suits your slide.
• Add slide details . There are four text boxes that you can use to describe the unique value of your app. Use each one to describe what you bring to the table.

2. The Chart Slide

Charts and graphs tell a story. Our template includes several beautiful slides that tell data stories. Let's customize slide 35 with three tweaks:

• Update data . Right-click on the chart and choose  Edit Data.  You'll see an embedded Excel window pop up. 
• Add your title and text . Type over Chart Sample and the text box below it. Then, resize the text to make good use of the slide space.
• Customize the icon boxes . I love the icons in this beautiful presentation template. Use them to your advantage by typing over the three boxes with icon-driven values.

3. The Contact Slide

In any tutorial about how to make a PowerPoint presentation attractive, you'll find that contact details matter! They're the best way to show the audience that you're interested in continuing the conversation. Slide 44 is perfect for the purpose:

• Add an image . Add a friendly photo of a founder or customer service rep. Click on the image icon, and then browse to a photo to update the slide.
• Slide title . Type over it with a personalized greeting for your company.
• Add contact details . Make sure to type over the phone number, address, and email with  your  details.

5 Design & Style Tips for Beautiful PowerPoint Presentations

Once you’ve chosen your beautiful PowerPoint presentation template, there are a few tips to keep in mind when building your slides. By using these tips, you can stand out from the crowd and ensure audiences engage with your content.

1. Be Bright and Bold

People's eyes are drawn to bright, bold designs. Use contrast to offset individual content blocks. Designs like this are also very readable, which helps when you’re presenting in a large room.

2. Be Brief in Your Beautiful PPT Templates

When designing and styling your slides, don’t forget to consider audience attention spans. Presentations that go on too long aren’t favorably received. Brevity is key if you want to keep viewers focused and interested in your main points.

Edit your slide designs to include fewer elements using the template below:

3. Illustrate Your Data to Create an Attractive PowerPoint Presentation

Nothing is duller than talking over numbers. Instead, bring them to life with charts and infographics. Beautiful presentations don’t just include words and images. They also deliver stunning data visualizations that make tough concepts understandable.

Want to learn more about using charts and graphs to show your data? Use the tutorial below to learn how to make a pretty PowerPoint with the right information:

4. Add Even More Imagery in Your Attractive Templates for PPT

I'll make a bold statement: the best way to create nice PPT slides is to add more images. Audiences love visuals, and Envato Elements gives you unlimited stock photo access .

If you're learning how to make a beautiful PowerPoint presentation, don't forget this tip! A good image can tie a slide together and illustrate points visually.

Learn to master the art of working with images and how to make a PowerPoint presentation attractive with this tutorial:

5. Incorporate Your Branding in All Your Nice PPT Templates

Branding includes your color scheme, logo, and more. When you start with an attractive template for PPT, you'll need to take a few steps to match the pre-made design to your color scheme.

To recolor a PPT template, click on a shape. Then, choose the Format  option on the ribbon. Choose a new color on the  Shape Fill  drop-down to change the active shape's color. Take this step a few times, and your PowerPoint will match your brand.

5 Beautiful PowerPoint PPT Slide Design Trends for 2024

Want to know how to make a PowerPoint presentation attractive? Want to create stunning presentations and add only the most up-to-date PowerPoint design trends for 2024? I've collected a list of five of the most impactful designs for an attractive PowerPoint presentation:

1. Minimalist Approach

One of the most popular trends for beautiful PowerPoint slides is taking the minimalist approach. Having a few well-defined elements on each slide creates a modern and fresh look. The spacing of the elements also plays a role in the minimalist style. Each element is comfortably spaced and gives the design a polished look.

2. Classic Black & White

The classic black and white theme is timeless. If you're looking to make a statement with your PowerPoint presentation, a black and white color scheme can really help. Also, including a touch of color in your images can help your beautiful presentation pop. 

3. Overlaid Colors

Overlaying a solid color on your slide and turning down the opacity works wonders. It adds a more polished look and lets you show off your brand's colors. Using one or two colors per slide works well. 

4. Include Skill Bars

One common trend that's become very popular is the use of skill bars. These skill bars can show an employee's expertise in a specific field. Or use them to show the progress of a particular project. Regardless of what role they play in your beautiful presentation, they'll make for a visually appealing element that your audience will love. 

5. Visually Appealing Charts & Graphs

Charts and graphs are another design trend that's stood the test of time. Include a wide range of colored charts and graphs to make any presentation more interesting. Charts also give you a chance to give a more detailed explanation to your audience to help them better understand what your project is about. 

Common PowerPoint Template Questions Answered (FAQ)

Are you still learning how to make a beautiful PowerPoint presentation? Have no fear, we've got you covered. Let's help you tackle five questions I bet you're asking as a beginner:

1. What's the Best Way to Show Data in PowerPoint?

If you want to build nice slides, don't clutter them with too much data shown in tables.

Instead, opt to build charts and graphs. They show data but make it easy to read. Learn how to use those features and use the templates below: 

2. How Do You Create Backgrounds for PowerPoint?

Many users want to learn how to make a beautiful PowerPoint presentation with great graphics. And if you already know an app like Photoshop, you can bring the two tools together with a few settings.

Learn how to pair Photoshop and PowerPoint to create perfectly sized backgrounds below:

3. What's a Good Way to End Your Presentation?

Rookie presenters too often default to saying "thank you" to wrap up a presentation. Simple slides like this aren't a step to take to make a beautiful PowerPoint presentation.

If you want more ideas to conclude your presentation, we've got you covered:

4. How Can You Track Changes by Others in PowerPoint?

Want to make your slides nicer? You need to ask for a bit of collaboration. That's much easier when you keep good track of the changes they've made to your presentation.

Using PowerPoint's built-in  track changes  feature makes it much easier. Learn how to do just that with the help of this article:

5. Does PowerPoint Support 3D Designs?

Maybe you want to see some design depth in your presentation. Flat graphics just don't do your content justice. Luckily, with the help of templates, PowerPoint allows for pseudo-3D designs.

Want to learn how to make a beautiful PowerPoint presentation with 3D pyramids and shapes? Check out our tutorial:

Learn More About PowerPoint

Do you still need to know how to make a PowerPoint presentation attractive? The templates and tips above are more than enough to help you create a professional PowerPoint presentation. But you'll still need to know the basics of how to use the PowerPoint software. 

For starters, check out this in-depth guide on how to use the software. You can check out our other tutorials on learning the basics of Microsoft PowerPoint: 

Build Beautiful PowerPoint Presentations in 2024

We’ve looked at 25 beautiful template options, learned some fundamental design tips, and discovered how to make a pretty PowerPoint. Now it’s time for you to get started building amazing PowerPoint presentations with these stunning templates. 

Be sure to check out Envato Elements to find your very own stunning PowerPoint templates . And then, it’s as easy as dropping in your own content. Beautiful presentations win any time—go build one today!

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Blog Beginner Guides How To Make a Good Presentation [A Complete Guide]

How To Make a Good Presentation [A Complete Guide]

Written by: Krystle Wong Jul 20, 2023

A top-notch presentation possesses the power to drive action. From winning stakeholders over and conveying a powerful message to securing funding — your secret weapon lies within the realm of creating an effective presentation .  

Being an excellent presenter isn’t confined to the boardroom. Whether you’re delivering a presentation at work, pursuing an academic career, involved in a non-profit organization or even a student, nailing the presentation game is a game-changer.

In this article, I’ll cover the top qualities of compelling presentations and walk you through a step-by-step guide on how to give a good presentation. Here’s a little tip to kick things off: for a headstart, check out Venngage’s collection of free presentation templates . They are fully customizable, and the best part is you don’t need professional design skills to make them shine!

These valuable presentation tips cater to individuals from diverse professional backgrounds, encompassing business professionals, sales and marketing teams, educators, trainers, students, researchers, non-profit organizations, public speakers and presenters. 

No matter your field or role, these tips for presenting will equip you with the skills to deliver effective presentations that leave a lasting impression on any audience.

Click to jump ahead:

What are the 10 qualities of a good presentation?

Step-by-step guide on how to prepare an effective presentation, 9 effective techniques to deliver a memorable presentation, faqs on making a good presentation, how to create a presentation with venngage in 5 steps.

When it comes to giving an engaging presentation that leaves a lasting impression, it’s not just about the content — it’s also about how you deliver it. Wondering what makes a good presentation? Well, the best presentations I’ve seen consistently exhibit these 10 qualities:

1. Clear structure

No one likes to get lost in a maze of information. Organize your thoughts into a logical flow, complete with an introduction, main points and a solid conclusion. A structured presentation helps your audience follow along effortlessly, leaving them with a sense of satisfaction at the end.

Regardless of your presentation style , a quality presentation starts with a clear roadmap. Browse through Venngage’s template library and select a presentation template that aligns with your content and presentation goals. Here’s a good presentation example template with a logical layout that includes sections for the introduction, main points, supporting information and a conclusion: 

2. Engaging opening

Hook your audience right from the start with an attention-grabbing statement, a fascinating question or maybe even a captivating anecdote. Set the stage for a killer presentation!

The opening moments of your presentation hold immense power – check out these 15 ways to start a presentation to set the stage and captivate your audience.

3. Relevant content

Make sure your content aligns with their interests and needs. Your audience is there for a reason, and that’s to get valuable insights. Avoid fluff and get straight to the point, your audience will be genuinely excited.

4. Effective visual aids

Picture this: a slide with walls of text and tiny charts, yawn! Visual aids should be just that—aiding your presentation. Opt for clear and visually appealing slides, engaging images and informative charts that add value and help reinforce your message.

With Venngage, visualizing data takes no effort at all. You can import data from CSV or Google Sheets seamlessly and create stunning charts, graphs and icon stories effortlessly to showcase your data in a captivating and impactful way.

5. Clear and concise communication

Keep your language simple, and avoid jargon or complicated terms. Communicate your ideas clearly, so your audience can easily grasp and retain the information being conveyed. This can prevent confusion and enhance the overall effectiveness of the message. 

6. Engaging delivery

Spice up your presentation with a sprinkle of enthusiasm! Maintain eye contact, use expressive gestures and vary your tone of voice to keep your audience glued to the edge of their seats. A touch of charisma goes a long way!

7. Interaction and audience engagement

Turn your presentation into an interactive experience — encourage questions, foster discussions and maybe even throw in a fun activity. Engaged audiences are more likely to remember and embrace your message.

Transform your slides into an interactive presentation with Venngage’s dynamic features like pop-ups, clickable icons and animated elements. Engage your audience with interactive content that lets them explore and interact with your presentation for a truly immersive experience.

8. Effective storytelling

Who doesn’t love a good story? Weaving relevant anecdotes, case studies or even a personal story into your presentation can captivate your audience and create a lasting impact. Stories build connections and make your message memorable.

A great presentation background is also essential as it sets the tone, creates visual interest and reinforces your message. Enhance the overall aesthetics of your presentation with these 15 presentation background examples and captivate your audience’s attention.

9. Well-timed pacing

Pace your presentation thoughtfully with well-designed presentation slides, neither rushing through nor dragging it out. Respect your audience’s time and ensure you cover all the essential points without losing their interest.

10. Strong conclusion

Last impressions linger! Summarize your main points and leave your audience with a clear takeaway. End your presentation with a bang , a call to action or an inspiring thought that resonates long after the conclusion.

In-person presentations aside, acing a virtual presentation is of paramount importance in today’s digital world. Check out this guide to learn how you can adapt your in-person presentations into virtual presentations . 

Preparing an effective presentation starts with laying a strong foundation that goes beyond just creating slides and notes. One of the quickest and best ways to make a presentation would be with the help of a good presentation software . 

Otherwise, let me walk you to how to prepare for a presentation step by step and unlock the secrets of crafting a professional presentation that sets you apart.

1. Understand the audience and their needs

Before you dive into preparing your masterpiece, take a moment to get to know your target audience. Tailor your presentation to meet their needs and expectations , and you’ll have them hooked from the start!

2. Conduct thorough research on the topic

Time to hit the books (or the internet)! Don’t skimp on the research with your presentation materials — dive deep into the subject matter and gather valuable insights . The more you know, the more confident you’ll feel in delivering your presentation.

3. Organize the content with a clear structure

No one wants to stumble through a chaotic mess of information. Outline your presentation with a clear and logical flow. Start with a captivating introduction, follow up with main points that build on each other and wrap it up with a powerful conclusion that leaves a lasting impression.

Delivering an effective business presentation hinges on captivating your audience, and Venngage’s professionally designed business presentation templates are tailor-made for this purpose. With thoughtfully structured layouts, these templates enhance your message’s clarity and coherence, ensuring a memorable and engaging experience for your audience members.

Don’t want to build your presentation layout from scratch? pick from these 5 foolproof presentation layout ideas that won’t go wrong. 

4. Develop visually appealing and supportive visual aids

Spice up your presentation with eye-catching visuals! Create slides that complement your message, not overshadow it. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words, but that doesn’t mean you need to overload your slides with text.

Well-chosen designs create a cohesive and professional look, capturing your audience’s attention and enhancing the overall effectiveness of your message. Here’s a list of carefully curated PowerPoint presentation templates and great background graphics that will significantly influence the visual appeal and engagement of your presentation.

5. Practice, practice and practice

Practice makes perfect — rehearse your presentation and arrive early to your presentation to help overcome stage fright. Familiarity with your material will boost your presentation skills and help you handle curveballs with ease.

6. Seek feedback and make necessary adjustments

Don’t be afraid to ask for help and seek feedback from friends and colleagues. Constructive criticism can help you identify blind spots and fine-tune your presentation to perfection.

With Venngage’s real-time collaboration feature , receiving feedback and editing your presentation is a seamless process. Group members can access and work on the presentation simultaneously and edit content side by side in real-time. Changes will be reflected immediately to the entire team, promoting seamless teamwork.

7. Prepare for potential technical or logistical issues

Prepare for the unexpected by checking your equipment, internet connection and any other potential hiccups. If you’re worried that you’ll miss out on any important points, you could always have note cards prepared. Remember to remain focused and rehearse potential answers to anticipated questions.

8. Fine-tune and polish your presentation

As the big day approaches, give your presentation one last shine. Review your talking points, practice how to present a presentation and make any final tweaks. Deep breaths — you’re on the brink of delivering a successful presentation!

In competitive environments, persuasive presentations set individuals and organizations apart. To brush up on your presentation skills, read these guides on how to make a persuasive presentation and tips to presenting effectively . 

Whether you’re an experienced presenter or a novice, the right techniques will let your presentation skills soar to new heights!

From public speaking hacks to interactive elements and storytelling prowess, these 9 effective presentation techniques will empower you to leave a lasting impression on your audience and make your presentations unforgettable.

1. Confidence and positive body language

Positive body language instantly captivates your audience, making them believe in your message as much as you do. Strengthen your stage presence and own that stage like it’s your second home! Stand tall, shoulders back and exude confidence. 

2. Eye contact with the audience

Break down that invisible barrier and connect with your audience through their eyes. Maintaining eye contact when giving a presentation builds trust and shows that you’re present and engaged with them.

3. Effective use of hand gestures and movement

A little movement goes a long way! Emphasize key points with purposeful gestures and don’t be afraid to walk around the stage. Your energy will be contagious!

4. Utilize storytelling techniques

Weave the magic of storytelling into your presentation. Share relatable anecdotes, inspiring success stories or even personal experiences that tug at the heartstrings of your audience. Adjust your pitch, pace and volume to match the emotions and intensity of the story. Varying your speaking voice adds depth and enhances your stage presence.

5. Incorporate multimedia elements

Spice up your presentation with a dash of visual pizzazz! Use slides, images and video clips to add depth and clarity to your message. Just remember, less is more—don’t overwhelm them with information overload. 

Turn your presentations into an interactive party! Involve your audience with questions, polls or group activities. When they actively participate, they become invested in your presentation’s success. Bring your design to life with animated elements. Venngage allows you to apply animations to icons, images and text to create dynamic and engaging visual content.

6. Utilize humor strategically

Laughter is the best medicine—and a fantastic presentation enhancer! A well-placed joke or lighthearted moment can break the ice and create a warm atmosphere , making your audience more receptive to your message.

7. Practice active listening and respond to feedback

Be attentive to your audience’s reactions and feedback. If they have questions or concerns, address them with genuine interest and respect. Your responsiveness builds rapport and shows that you genuinely care about their experience.

8. Apply the 10-20-30 rule

Apply the 10-20-30 presentation rule and keep it short, sweet and impactful! Stick to ten slides, deliver your presentation within 20 minutes and use a 30-point font to ensure clarity and focus. Less is more, and your audience will thank you for it!

9. Implement the 5-5-5 rule

Simplicity is key. Limit each slide to five bullet points, with only five words per bullet point and allow each slide to remain visible for about five seconds. This rule keeps your presentation concise and prevents information overload.

Simple presentations are more engaging because they are easier to follow. Summarize your presentations and keep them simple with Venngage’s gallery of simple presentation templates and ensure that your message is delivered effectively across your audience.

1. How to start a presentation?

To kick off your presentation effectively, begin with an attention-grabbing statement or a powerful quote. Introduce yourself, establish credibility and clearly state the purpose and relevance of your presentation.

2. How to end a presentation?

For a strong conclusion, summarize your talking points and key takeaways. End with a compelling call to action or a thought-provoking question and remember to thank your audience and invite any final questions or interactions.

3. How to make a presentation interactive?

To make your presentation interactive, encourage questions and discussion throughout your talk. Utilize multimedia elements like videos or images and consider including polls, quizzes or group activities to actively involve your audience.

In need of inspiration for your next presentation? I’ve got your back! Pick from these 120+ presentation ideas, topics and examples to get started. 

Creating a stunning presentation with Venngage is a breeze with our user-friendly drag-and-drop editor and professionally designed templates for all your communication needs. 

Here’s how to make a presentation in just 5 simple steps with the help of Venngage:

Step 1: Sign up for Venngage for free using your email, Gmail or Facebook account or simply log in to access your account. 

Step 2: Pick a design from our selection of free presentation templates (they’re all created by our expert in-house designers).

Step 3: Make the template your own by customizing it to fit your content and branding. With Venngage’s intuitive drag-and-drop editor, you can easily modify text, change colors and adjust the layout to create a unique and eye-catching design.

Step 4: Elevate your presentation by incorporating captivating visuals. You can upload your images or choose from Venngage’s vast library of high-quality photos, icons and illustrations. 

Step 5: Upgrade to a premium or business account to export your presentation in PDF and print it for in-person presentations or share it digitally for free!

By following these five simple steps, you’ll have a professionally designed and visually engaging presentation ready in no time. With Venngage’s user-friendly platform, your presentation is sure to make a lasting impression. So, let your creativity flow and get ready to shine in your next presentation!

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10 Expert Tips to Make Your PowerPoint Presentations More Engaging and Effective!

• Sathish Shanmugam
• January 8, 2023
• No Comments

PowerPoint presentations are an essential part of many business meetings, conferences, and even online classes. However, while PowerPoint can be a great tool to get your message across, it can also easily become boring and unengaging if not done right. Luckily, you can use plenty of tips and tricks to make your presentations more effective and engaging. 

Here are ten expert tips to help you create powerful and engaging PowerPoint presentations.

Table of Contents

1. Organize your content for maximum impact

Use 10-20-30 rule, use colors, shapes, and images effectively to draw attention, ensure design consistency, use visuals to support the narrative, benefits of using animation, things to consider when using animation, incorporate audio, video, and interactive elements, balance multimedia content with other elements, use charts and graphs to illustrate data points, understand the audience, utilize a logical structure, incorporate design templates and slideshows, prepare a script to help you stay on track, 8. consider using presentation platforms, 9. encourage audience participation, ask for feedback, review the notes, check the presentation, follow up with the audience.

Organizing content for PowerPoint presentations is important as it helps to keep the presentation focused and engaging. When organizing content, it is important to create an introduction, body, and conclusion that flow logically. Additionally, it is important to use visual cues such as headings and images to help the audience follow the presentation. Finally, it is important to use a consistent color palette, font, and style to help create a cohesive presentation that is visually appealing and easy to understand.

2. Choose an engaging visual design

When it comes to making a PowerPoint presentation engaging, visuals are key. Visual designs can help set the tone of your presentation and get your message across. Here are some tips on choosing an engaging visual design for your PowerPoint presentations .

The 10-20-30 rule for slideshows suggests that you should have no more than ten slides, 20 minutes of content, and 30-point font size. This is important because too many words or slides can be overwhelming and distracting. Instead, focus on the most important points and let visual elements do the work.

Consider using abstract shapes, large-high-quality photos, and vibrant colors to ensure that the visuals you choose are appealing and draw attention. Additionally, make sure that the visuals you choose are relevant to your message. For example, use visuals to show off its features if you’re discussing a product. You can also embed attractive QR codes with logos to provide more information on that product by linking to external resources.

To ensure that you keep your design consistent throughout the presentation, you must use similar colors and font sizes throughout. To make this easier, you can use dynamic presentation software or a template with hundreds of example slides that all follow the same design theme.

Visual design is an incredibly powerful tool for enhancing the narrative of a PowerPoint presentation. With the right elements, visuals can help to make a presentation more interesting and memorable for the audience. Visuals should be used strategically to support the narrative. Using visuals that reflect the presentation’s theme will help create a cohesive story that resonates with the audience.

Check out the video to learn about the core prinicple of visual design:

3. Enhance the presentation with animation

Animation can enhance a PowerPoint presentation by making it more visually engaging and helping control information flow.

•   Animation can add energy to static images and text and can also be used to add surprise elements that help make the content more memorable.
• Animations can help to draw your audience’s attention, making it easier for them to stay focused and remember the key points of your presentation. 
• It is important to use animations sparingly, as too many animations can detract from the main message of your presentation. So, make sure to use animation to control the presentation’s pace and keep the audience engaged.
• When adding animations, wait until you have added all the information and objects to the slides.
• Ensure that animations are visible and clear in a PowerPoint presentation to help the audience follow the content.
• Animations should also be used to keep the audience on track and help them to jump back into the topic at any time.

How to make animated powerpoint slide?

4. Include multimedia components

Including multimedia components in PowerPoint presentations is an effective way to make them more engaging. Multimedia combines different types of media, such as audio, video, animation, and images, which can help capture and maintain your audience’s attention.

Including multimedia components in Powerpoint presentations is quite easy. For example, you can crop images to fit shapes, play music in the background, embed YouTube videos , insert screenshots or screen clippings, remove background from pictures, combine shapes to create a custom shape, add sound effects to animations, etc.

Multimedia content can be a great way to bring your presentation to life, but it should not be the only element you use. While multimedia content can be eye-catching, too much of it can distract from the message you are trying to convey.

 Instead, try to use a mix of multimedia content, text, images, and diagrams that will help ensure that your presentation is visually appealing and informative. For example, if you have a video clip, don’t just rely on it to convey the message, but rather provide some additional information in the form of a text block or image that summarises the key points of the clip. This will provide context and help support the message you are trying to get across.

 Additionally, consider using multimedia content and other elements such as text, images, and diagrams to create a more interactive presentation. This will help keep the audience engaged and allow them to better understand the message you are trying to communicate.

5. Utilize data visualization and infographics

Utilizing data visualization and infographics in PowerPoint presentations can be beneficial for a few reasons. First, data visualization and infographics can help to illustrate complex concepts in an easy-to-understand way. Additionally, data visualization and infographics can help to make the content more engaging and visually appealing. Furthermore, data visualization and infographics can help ensure the audience can retain the information presented. Finally, data visualization and infographics can help to add a professional look to the presentation.

Charts and graphs are powerful tools to make your PowerPoint presentations more engaging and effective. Not only do they help to break up the presentation to make it easier for the viewers to digest, but they also allow you to provide a visual representation of complex data that is easy to understand.

Here are some tips on how to use charts and graphs effectively in your PowerPoint presentations:

• Choose the right type of chart or graph: You have to choose the right charts or graphs depending on your data. For example, bar graphs are better suited for categorical data, while pie charts are better for numerical data.
• Keep it simple: Avoid overloading your charts and graphs with too much information, as this can make them difficult to read. Stick to just one or two key points you want to illustrate, and choose colors and fonts that are easy to read.
• Label your axes: Make sure your x and y axes are clearly labeled so audiences can easily follow the data points.
• Make sure your data is accurate: Before you present it, double-check to ensure it is accurate and up-to-date. This will ensure that your conclusions are reliable.
• Use the right scale: When creating your chart or graph, make sure that the scale is appropriate. If the scale is too large or small, it can be difficult to interpret the data.

How to make good infographic?

 6. Create an effective structure and flow

Creating an effective structure and flow to make your PowerPoint presentation more engaging is key to captivating your audience. Here are a few ways to create a flow and structure for your PowerPoint presentation .

The first step is understanding your audience and what their needs are. Knowing your audience’s interests can help you tailor your presentation to be more engaging and interactive. Once you have a good idea of who you’re speaking to, create an outline that will focus on the important points of your presentation. You can use the best AI presentation maker to help you with this.

A logical structure helps to organize the information clearly and logically, making it easier for the audience to follow and understand. It also helps to keep the presentation focused and on track, preventing it from becoming disorganized or tangential. A logical structure can be achieved through the use of clear headings and subheadings and visual aids such as charts and diagrams to illustrate key points.

Use design templates and slideshows to keep the look of your presentation consistent and visually appealing. Ensure to align all objects with the grid to ensure your visuals are perfectly in line.

7. Rehearse and practice

Preparing and rehearsing your presentation allows you to get comfortable with the material and will help you convey your message in a more confident and engaging way.

Having a script for your PowerPoint presentation can be an invaluable tool to ensure that you stay on track and keep to the main points you want to make. In addition, by preparing a script, you can ensure that your presentation runs smoothly and is more engaging and effective.

Here are some tips to help you write an effective script:

• Start with an outline of your presentation. This will help you organize your thoughts and ensure you don’t forget any important points.
• Write down the main points you want to make. Think about what information you want to convey in each section and decide how to present it.
• Include visuals. Think about how visuals or diagrams can help illustrate your points.
• Make sure your language is clear and concise. Avoid jargon and long sentences.
• Keep it conversational. Speak to your audience as if you are having a conversation with them.
• Become familiar with it and make sure you don’t forget any important points
• Timing yourself is an important factor in creating a good PowerPoint presentation. It is important to allocate enough time to cover all the necessary information but not so much time that the presentation becomes tedious for the audience. When practicing, note how long it takes to go through each slide. This will allow you to adjust the length of the presentation as needed and ensure that it flows smoothly.

Presentation platforms offer a wide range of features to help you create an interactive, visually appealing experience for your viewers. Many of these platforms have built-in templates and tools that make it easy to customize the look and feel of your slides. They also provide interactive elements such as quizzes, videos, audio clips, and animations that can add life to your presentation and keep your viewers engaged.

Encouraging audience participation is key to making a PowerPoint presentation more engaging. There are several techniques that can be used to foster engagement with the audience during a PowerPoint presentation.

• Firstly, maintaining eye contact, smiling, and using dynamic gestures and facial expressions will help make your message more memorable and engaging.
• Secondly, hosting an expert discussion panel or inviting guest appearances on stage can add an extra layer of engagement for the audience.
• Thirdly, you can use props or tangible objects to demonstrate ideas and allow the audience to engage with them.
• You can ask questions to keep your audience engaged with your PowerPoint presentations. Questions help to build suspense for the next slide, engage the audience in real time, and make people pay closer attention. It also causes people to reflect rather than merely take in the information one way.
• You can use live polling tools to get real-time feedback.

Effective methods to engage an audience in a presentation

10. Follow-up and review

Following up and reviewing a PowerPoint presentation is important in ensuring that the presentation is effective and that the audience understands the main points. There are several ways to follow up and review a presentation:

Ask the audience for feedback on the presentation, including what they found most useful or interesting and what they would like to see more of in the future.

Go over the notes you made during the presentation to see if there are any areas you may have missed or could have explained more clearly.

Review the presentation and make any necessary edits or updates based on the feedback you received.

Follow up with the audience after the presentation to see if they have any additional questions or concerns and to address any issues that may have come up during the presentation.

Creating engaging and powerful presentations with PowerPoint doesn’t have to be daunting. With the right tips and tricks, you can create presentations that will grab and hold your audience’s attention. Try out some expert tips to take your PowerPoint presentations from boring to brilliant! You can also take the help of professional designers to help you out with the visual aspect of  your presentation.

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Top 10 Hacks On How To Make PowerPoint Presentation Attractive

Per experts, the audience gets hooked and pays more attention to the visual content of your PowerPoint slides than drab-looking, text-heavy content. This article answers the well to know question – ‘how to make PowerPoint presentation attractive’ and offers an array of creative PowerPoint slides and google slide templates that will win you accolades. They will help you think beyond bullet points and unlock the unique visual story waiting to be released from your message.

PowerPoint presentations are essential in business communication, but creating a practical and visually appealing presentation can be challenging. However, here are some tips on how to make good PowerPoint presentation that will engage your audience and effectively convey your message.

How To Make ppt More Attractive Using Visual Bullets?

To separate the content, use an optical element to create business PowerPoint slides with lines, shapes, and spacing. This trick comes in handy if you have a lot of content to be organized.

How To Make An PowerPoint Interesting Using Double-sided text?

With alternate key points on the left and right side of the page, this attractive PowerPoint presentation slide visually separates a lot of text on the presentation slide and is accessible to the target audience’s eye.

As you can see in the PowerPoint slide example above , each piece of text has plenty of white space to breathe. Having adequate white space is key to beautiful presentations.

How To Create Amazing PowerPoint Presentations Using The Chunking Method?

You can also create professional PowerPoint slides based on the chunking method. Chunking refers to organizing your content in groups and showing those chunks horizontally or vertically, depending on how much content you have. To create useful visual chunks, you should group the related elements on the presentation background and contrast the unrelated elements. When the grouping and the contrast are clear, the target audience finds it easy to understand and process the information on your presentation slides.

Tip : Use PowerPoint shapes to separate the text and add numbers, headlines, or PowerPoint icons to each chunk of text depending on the type of content you have on your PowerPoint Slides .

Chunking works brilliantly to showcase how to make presentation more attractive with different ideas on the same PowerPoint slide, as our mind is wired to search for patterns to make sense of the information we find around us.

How To Make A Presentation Attractive Using Picturization?

Another way to build an attractive PowerPoint presentation is to represent your content by using photos and isometrics. Use images for PowerPoint presentations relevant to your content which aids in communicating your business story. 

Images also allow your target audience to immediately associate an idea with the text, increasing the comprehension of your content. Check out the below timeline PowerPoint slides that use pictures to explain each timeline stage clearly.

How To Make PowerPoint Interesting With Icons?

PowerPoint Icons have become another popular option for creating compelling and engaging PowerPoint slides. They occupy less space, visually separate the clutter, and are best for emphasizing certain content. Below are a few examples of PowerPoint Icons presentation slides .

An abundance of free PowerPoint icons libraries is available online to choose icons for your PowerPoint slides.

How To Make A Beautiful ppt With Backgrounding?

Background PowerPoint slides are a great way to set the context of the content; therefore, many professional PowerPoint templates are designed using an image as a background. Below are a few PowerPoint slide designs with a background image that liven up the entire presentation slide.

You can insert a gradient, semi-transparent layer between the text and the photo so that the reader will always be visible whichever image you use.

How To Make A Presentation Attractive Using 3D Designs In PowerPoint?

The chief aim of lining up your elements in 3D format is to create a clean and organized space. Structure and symmetry are naturally pleasing to the eye. Another great benefit of a 3D PowerPoint template is that you can easily integrate pictures, numbers, and text into beautiful PowerPoint Slides . 

You can also alternate the colors in the grid to make them visually appealing. Choose rotating colors wisely to avoid color riots on the PowerPoint slides .

How To Make A Good PowerPoint Presentation Using Central Figures?

Add one visual element that summarizes the main idea of the PowerPoint slide. You can divide the PowerPoint slide into title and text sections with a solid contrast. You may choose any image; however, we recommend using PowerPoint icons due to the simplicity of the illustration and its neat, transparent look.

As you can see in the above templates, we have used different PowerPoint shapes and icons to summarize the slide content neatly.

How To Make A PowerPoint Presentation Interesting With Graphics?

A PowerPoint graphic is another excellent tool for building a PowerPoint slide, especially if the content forms parts of a whole idea or works together cyclically.

This PowerPoint slide layout allows for plenty of active white space on PowerPoint Slides, which increases its consistency and readability.

If there are many parts of a whole and you want to talk about each component separately, you may want to animate all the details so that they appear one at a time and can help your target audience follow along as you talk about each part.

Please ensure consistency of alignment and size in your PowerPoint Slides if you insert PowerPoint images .

How To Make Attractive ppt Using Roadmapping?

Use of PowerPoint roadmap template or path layout to show direction and flow on your Powerpoint Slides.

Consider displaying things on a journey layout if you want to show content in sequential order.  A clear path or roadmap will visually help your target audience to form associations and inferences from direction and flow.

These are some of the ways to build effective PowerPoint slide designs. If all this sounds too much, simply check-out our page and purchase a pre-built professional PowerPoint template (like any slide examples in this article). It will save you tons of time, and your PowerPoint slides will look great. You will also get to know even more diverse PowerPoint backgrounds and formats that could be used to create engaging business presentations.

These PowerPoint templates are instantly downloadable, 100% editable, and easy to use. Using the SlideUpLift library, you can start with templates, make edits, and create presentations in minutes.

Happy Presenting!!

Now you don’t have to scour the web to find out the right templates. Download our PowerPoint Templates from within PowerPoint. See how ?

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Home Blog Business How to Create Engaging and Persuasive Proposal Presentations

How to Create Engaging and Persuasive Proposal Presentations

Whether you’re pitching a new project to stakeholders, seeking investment from potential backers, or presenting a solution to a client, the success of your proposal hinges on your ability to convey your ideas clearly and convincingly. It’s not enough to count on flashy graphics: the presenter must understand how to communicate ideas in the same business language as their target audience. 

This article explores the critical components of a successful proposal presentation, providing you with practical insights and strategies to craft and deliver a compelling pitch. From understanding the core elements and structuring your presentation to delivery techniques, this comprehensive guide will equip you with the tools you need to make your proposal stand out and achieve your business objectives.

Table of Contents

What is a Proposal Presentation?

What makes a great proposal presentation, elements of a proposal presentation, how to start a proposal presentation, tips for delivering the proposal presentation, how to end a proposal presentation, recommended ppt templates for proposal presentations, final words.

A proposal presentation is a communication framework aimed at convincing an audience to adopt a certain idea, plan, or project. It serves as a persuasive tool to pitch products, services, or concepts to potential clients, investors, or stakeholders. A business proposal presentation often incorporates data, case studies , and visuals to build a compelling argument, making it an essential aspect of business development and strategic planning .

A great proposal presentation is clear, concise, and compelling. It captures the audience’s attention, holds their interest, and convincingly presents the proposed solution’s benefits. The following attributes contribute to a successful presentation:

Avoid jargon and overpopulated sentences that might confuse your audience. Use straightforward language to ensure your message is easily understood. If you need to introduce a complex concept in your presentation, work your way through graphics and try to simplify ideas as much as possible.

A well-thought presentation structure guides the audience through the proposal logically. It should start with an introduction that outlines the purpose, followed by a detailed discussion of the problem, proposed solution, implementation plan, and expected benefits.

Visual Appeal

Visual elements such as charts or graphs , images, and videos can enhance understanding and retention. To maintain a polished look, use a consistent and professional design for your slides.

Tailor your content to the audience’s needs and interests. Address their pain points and demonstrate how your proposal provides a solution. Use relevant examples and case studies to support your arguments.

Engage your audience with questions, interactive presentation elements, and storytelling . Personal anecdotes or client testimonials can make your presentation more relatable and persuasive.

In order to create a winning proposal presentation, we must count with the following elements.

Title Slide

This is the audience’s first impression. It sets the context and tone for the entire presentation and must feature a professional and polished look.

Clearly state the presentation title, your name, and the company’s name. If relevant, add a date, but it’s not absolutely required. Branding presentation elements like logo, colors, and fonts need to remain consistent to reinforce your company’s identity. You can use a pertinent image or graphic to the presentation topic (i.e., if it’s a product presentation , a product photo highlighting your product) to make the slide more visually appealing.

Avoid cluttering the slide with too much text. Any secondary information, like what the presentation is about, belongs on the introduction slide. Complex animation effects may deter the audience’s focus and render your slide deck amateurish. 

Another common mistake is to use poor font pairing choices, e.g., script fonts with poor readability or low-sized texts.

Introduction Slide

Here, we provide the audience with an overview and context for the proposal, outlining the problem or opportunity. Factual information like financial data , surveys, or any kind of data presentation that can back up your problem statement is relevant. Remember to deliver a teaser of the full problem or opportunity, as that information is bound to be expanded in the next slide.

Explain the purpose of your proposal and what you aim to achieve. This will give the audience a clear understanding of the presentation’s objective from the outset. However, you should avoid ambiguous statements that can confuse the audience. 

Problem Statement Slide

Clearly defining the problem or opportunity is essential for establishing the need for your proposal. It helps the audience understand the context and significance of your proposal. A well-articulated problem statement sets the stage for your proposed solution and underscores the urgency or importance of addressing the issue.

Support your statement with data, statistics, and real-world examples to illustrate the problem’s impact. Data adds credibility and helps quantify the issue. Additionally, we can make the problem relevant to the audience by linking some of its key points to their experiences or interests. This is a social proof of how the problem affects them directly or indirectly.

Compare the current situation with industry benchmarks or best practices to highlight the gap or deficiency. On this behalf, there are excellent presentation tools like gap analysis templates and comparison chart templates .

Proposed Solution Slide

The proposed solution is the core of your presentation, outlining how you plan to address the problem or seize the opportunity. This section is crucial for convincing the audience of your proposal’s feasibility and effectiveness. A coherently conveyed solution can demonstrate your expertise, innovation, and ability to deliver results.

Provide a detailed explanation of your proposed solution. Break it down into clear, actionable steps to help the audience understand how it works. Emphasize the solution’s benefits and competitive advantages . Explain how it will address the problem or capitalize on the opportunity. Diagrams, charts, and infographics are powerful tools to visually represent your solution without requiring lengthy walls of text in your slides. We invite you to check our article on how to present a project proposal for more strategies.

Don’t overlook possible challenges or limitations of your solution, as they are likely to come up in a Q&A session. Address them proactively and explain how you plan to mitigate them.

A good practice is to conduct a cost-benefit analysis to show the financial feasibility of your solution. Compare the costs involved with the expected benefits to demonstrate value for money. 

Implementation Plan Slide

The implementation plan outlines the steps necessary to execute your solution, demonstrating feasibility and practicality. This section is key for convincing the audience that your proposal is not just theoretical but actionable and achievable. A detailed and realistic implementation plan can build confidence in your ability to deliver the proposed solution.

Outline the key steps, timelines, and resources needed to implement your solution. A detailed plan helps the audience understand what is required to bring your proposal to fruition. Identify major milestones and deliverables, as they provide a sense of progress and achievement, helping to keep the project on track. 

Finally, develop a risk management plan to identify, assess, and mitigate potential risks. A robust risk management plan can enhance the audience’s confidence in your proposal.

Financials Slide

The financial section demonstrates the economic viability of your proposal. This section provides a detailed analysis of the costs involved, potential revenue, return on investment (ROI), and overall financial impact.

Don’t underestimate costs or overestimate revenues. Be realistic in your financial projections to maintain credibility. A break-even analysis is excellent for showing when the project will start generating profit, which boosts the perception of the proposal’s financial viability.

Conclusion Slide

The conclusion summarizes your presentation’s key points and reinforces your proposal’s value. It provides a final opportunity to persuade the audience and leave a lasting impression. A strong conclusion can help seal the deal and gain the support or approval needed for your proposal.

Recap the main points of your presentation, including the problem, proposed solution, implementation plan, and financials. Emphasize the benefits and value of your proposal and highlight the positive outcomes and advantages of your solution.

End with a clear call to action, specifying what you want the audience to do next. A call to action can include approval, funding, support, or any other desired outcome.

There are numerous ways on how to start a presentation , especially for proposals, but in our experience, it’s best to stick with a strong, attention-grabbing opening statement. You can pick from a surprising fact related to your problem statement, a compelling statistic, or even a thought-provoking question linked to your proposed solution.

An icebreaker can help relax the audience and make them more receptive to your presentation. For instance, you could share a relevant and engaging story or anecdote that ties into the theme of your proposal. A personal story can humanize you and make the presentation more relatable.

Another approach is to ask the audience a simple question that requires a show of hands or a quick verbal response. This encourages participation and makes the audience feel involved from the start.

Acknowledge the audience’s role or contributions with a personal touch. For in-company presentations, you can use a line similar to: “I know that many of you have been working tirelessly to improve our company’s performance, and I believe this proposal can help us achieve even greater success.” This creates a common ground with the audience, increasing their interest in what you have to say next.

Tip #1 – Voice Tone

Use pitch, tone, and volume variations to emphasize key points and maintain audience interest. Speak at a moderate pace, as speaking too fast can confuse the audience, whereas speaking too slow can lead to boredom.

Tip #2 – Use Silence Effectively

Working with pauses in your speech can help important points sink in. Silence in a presentation is a powerful tool for emphasis, and as a speaker, you can moderate it by introducing a 30-to-50-second pause after a mind-blowing fact about your proposal.

Tip #3 – Be Adaptable

Not all proposal presentations work alike. Be prepared to adapt your presentation if the situation calls for it, such as if you need to move forward with a Q&A session much sooner than you expected. Flexibility shows professionalism and command of your topic.

Tip #4 – Body Language

If space allows, move around the stage or presentation area with purpose. Avoid pacing or fidgeting, which is distracting and causes unease, lack of preparation, and lack of professionalism. Appropriate hand gestures can help emphasize points and convey enthusiasm as long as you don’t overdo it.

Try to stay relaxed and calm. Deep breathing techniques before and during the presentation can help manage anxiety.

Now it’s time to acknowledge how to end a presentation when working with business proposal presentations or any kind of professional-ranged proposal.

As we mentioned before, you need to clearly state what you want the audience to do next. This could be approving the proposal, providing funding, supporting the initiative, or any other specific action. Outline the steps required to move forward. Make it easy for the audience to understand what is needed from them.

Emotions are a persuasive factor in a conclusion. If you feel the proposal is likely to be accepted, paint a vivid picture of the future. Describe the positive outcomes and improvements that will result. Thank the audience for their time, attention, and consideration. Acknowledging their participation helps to build a positive relationship.

In this section, we selected some of our best Project Proposal PowerPoint templates to speed up your slide design process. Keep in mind you can test the Free Business Proposal PowerPoint Template and adapt it to your requirements.

1. Project Proposal Planning PPT Template

A compendium of tools to meticulously present any kind of project proposal is at one click of distance. It features an intro slide with relevant KPIs, objectives, scope, implementation timeline, resource allocation, risk assessment, and much more. Check it out!

Use This Template

2. Construction Painting Proposal PowerPoint Template

Ideal for contractors, architects, interior designers, or any construction professional who needs to deliver a construction proposal to a prospective client, A slide deck listing 15 easy-to-edit slides in a clean layout.

3. Sponsorship Proposal PowerPoint Template

This minimalistic slide deck is intended for companies seeking to seal sponsorship deals. It contains all the required tools to discuss sponsorship tiers, benefits, target audience, deliver past experience testimonials, etc.

4. Legal Services Proposal PowerPoint Template

For any law firm that wants to power up its game, this proposal presentation slide deck reduces the need for lengthy text paragraphs in slides in favor of easy-to-remember icons with placeholder text areas next to them.

5. SEO Proposal Slide Deck for PowerPoint

Digital marketing professionals can learn how to present a proposal by using this creative slide deck. In a sleek blue-to-green gradient and white color scheme, the 18 slides available in this proposal PPT template offer a broad range of tools to create a winning proposal presentation.

Crafting an effective proposal presentation requires meticulous planning and strategic execution. Each element must be well-organized and clearly articulated, from a compelling opening to a persuasive conclusion. By following the methodology shown in this article, you can enhance your proposal’s impact, build credibility for your brand, and increase the likelihood of securing support from your audience, whether they are investors, clients, or internal stakeholders.

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How to Make a Photo Album in PowerPoint

Last updated on August 13th, 2024

Creating a photo album in PowerPoint is a fantastic way to preserve and present your cherished memories. Whether it’s a family gathering, a vacation, a wedding, or any other special event, a photo album in PowerPoint allows you to create a visually appealing and engaging presentation. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of creating a photo album in PowerPoint, highlighting the benefits and real-life applications of using this versatile tool.

Why Creating a Photo Album in PowerPoint?

Creating a photo album in PowerPoint offers numerous benefits, from easy customization to professional-looking presentations. This guide will walk you through the steps to create your own photo album using PowerPoint, providing tips and best practices along the way.

How to Make a Photo Album in PowerPoint? (Step by Step Guide)

First, open PowerPoint and set up a new presentation. You can either choose a suitable template from the available free PowerPoint templates or start with a blank presentation. Using a template can save you time and provide a cohesive look to your photo album. You can also apply a theme (.thmx) file to the photo album and change the layout, as we will see later in this article.

Inserting Photos into the PowerPoint Photo Album

PowerPoint’s Photo Album feature makes it easy to insert multiple photos into your presentation. Follow these steps:

• Go to the Insert tab and click on Photo Album .
• Select New Photo Album .
• Click File/Disk to browse and select the photos you want to include.
• Arrange the sequence of the photos by using the Up and Down buttons.

When you browse for photos for your photo album, you can choose from a variety of photo formats, including popular image formats like .emf, .png, .jpg, etc.

For the sake of this demonstration, we have selected photos for a demo photo album we are creating. In the following screenshot we can see how the selected files are listed in the Pictures in album list. As you can see, these photos are listed in a specific order.

From here, you can re-arrange the order of the photos by selecting the photo and moving it down or up. You can also remove the photo from the gallery if you added one by mistake.

Customizing the Photo Album

After inserting your photos, you can customize your photo album to enhance its appearance:

• Choose photo layouts and themes that suit your style.
• Add captions to your photos by selecting the Captions below ALL pictures option.
• Apply different styles and effects to your photos by using the options available in the Photo Album dialog box.

You can choose the Picture layout to use. Typically, you’d insert one photo per slide (Fit the photo to the slide), but you’d also have the option to customize this and include 1 picture, 2 pictures, 4 pictures, or variants with titles. The Fit to Slide option will be enough if you are thinking of inserting multiple pictures into PowerPoint on separate slides .

You can also insert text boxes into the photo album. This is great for example if you need to have different sections and chapters. Perhaps you are creating a travel photo album and want to separate your photos by regions visited, or if you are creating an Anniversary photo album in PowerPoint you may be interested in adding a title slide first.

Enhancing Your Photo Album

To make your photo album more engaging, consider adding the following elements:

• Text Boxes and Shapes : Add text boxes for additional information or shapes to highlight specific photos.
• Transitions and Animations : Use transitions and animations to create a dynamic slideshow. Go to the Transitions tab to select and apply various transition effects between slides.
• Background Music or Audio Narration : Insert background music or record audio narration to add an auditory element to your photo album. Go to the Insert tab and select Audio .

Before sharing your photo album, review and edit it to ensure everything is in order. Here are some tips that will help you to keep everything on flow.

• Check for consistency in design and layout.
• Make any necessary adjustments to photo placement or captions.
• Save your photo album as a PowerPoint file or export it as a PDF for easy sharing.

Examples and Use Cases:

• Family Gatherings : Create a photo album to share memories from family reunions, holidays, and special occasions.
• Travel Diaries : Document your travels with a photo album that includes pictures, captions, and maps of the places you’ve visited.
• Wedding Albums : Compile wedding photos into a beautiful album to share with friends and family.
• Business Portfolios : Use photo albums to showcase your work or portfolio in a professional manner, perfect for presentations and client meetings.

Tips and Best Practices

To create an effective and visually appealing photo album in PowerPoint, consider the following tips:

• Select and Organize Photos : Choose high-quality photos and organize them in a logical sequence.
• Design Consistency : Maintain a consistent design throughout the photo album for a cohesive look. For this purpose, you may use slide templates from FPPT.
• Less is More : Avoid overcrowding slides with too many photos or text. Apply the KISS Principle in presentation design and keep it simple and focused.

Creating a photo album in PowerPoint is a fun and creative way to present your memories. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create a personalized and professional-looking photo album. Experiment with different features and designs to make your photo album unique.

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5 ways to improve your presentation design with AI

Creating a presentation that grabs attention and effectively communicates your message can be challenging. A well-designed presentation is key to engaging your audience and ensuring your message sticks.

This is where AI comes in, offering great solutions to streamline the presentation design process.

Using AI in your presentation design can save you tons of time. From generating fresh ideas to perfecting visuals, AI tools are your secret weapon. Let's dive into how AI can elevate your presentation design.

What is presentation design?

Presentation design involves organizing your content in a visually appealing way that makes it easy for your audience to follow along.

Presentation design is about enhancing communication, ensuring your message is clear, and keeping your audience engaged.

A well-designed presentation can make or break your pitch deck, social media marketing, or any form of communication where you need to persuade or inform.

Great presentation design blends content and visuals seamlessly, making complex ideas easy to understand and engaging. Let's explore some practical design tips and AI tools to help you create compelling presentations.

1. Harmonize your colors for maximum impact

A cohesive color scheme ties your presentation together and makes it look professional. Choosing the right colors can be daunting, but it’s crucial for a polished look.

When your colors are in harmony, your audience can focus on your message without being distracted by clashing hues.

Design tip: Use color theory to create harmonious palettes

Color theory can help you understand which colors work well together. Complementary colors (opposites on the color wheel) create vibrant looks, while analogous colors (next to each other on the color wheel) provide a more relaxed and cohesive appearance.

A consistent color scheme not only reinforces your branding but also makes your presentation more memorable. So remember:

• Stick to a limited color palette : Choose 2-3 main colors and 1-2 accent colors.
• Use contrast wisely : Ensure there’s enough contrast between text and background for readability.
• Test your colors : Check how your colors look on different screens and projectors.

AI tip: Leverage AI-powered color palettes

Tools like Coolors and Adobe Color use AI to generate harmonious color palettes. Simply input your primary color or a theme, and these tools will suggest the best combinations. This eliminates guesswork and ensures your presentation looks cohesive and polished.

AI-powered tools to help with color palettes

• Khroma : It uses AI to learn which colors you like and creates limitless palettes for you
• Palettemaker: It uses AI to create unique color schemes ‍
• Muzli Color Combination Generator : Helps create palettes that are visually appealing and suitable for various themes.

Using these tools can also inspire your overall design. Sometimes, seeing a new color combination can spark presentation design ideas you hadn't considered before, leading to a more creative and engaging presentation slide.

2. Make data delightful and digestible

Presenting data in a clear and understandable way is crucial. Overwhelming your audience with complicated charts and graphs can detract from your message. AI can help make your data look clean and professional, transforming numbers into visual stories that resonate.

Design tip: choose the right type of chart or graph

The type of chart or graph you use can significantly impact how your data is understood. Bar charts are great for comparisons in real time, line charts for trends over time, and pie charts for proportions. Ensure your data is simple and focused on the key points you want to convey.

Here's how you can easily present your data effectively:

• Use clear labels and legends : Make sure every element is clearly labeled.
• Avoid clutter : Simplify your charts and graphs to focus on the most important data.
• Highlight key data points : Use color or bold fonts to emphasize important informa

AI tip: Use AI-driven tools for charts and graphs

AI-powered tools can transform complex data into visually appealing charts and graphs. They automatically select the best type for your data, making it easy for your audience to grasp key insights.

Simplifying data helps your audience stay focused and engaged, allowing them to quickly understand the important points you're making.

AI-driven tools for charts and graphs:

• ChartMaster AI : Transforms complex data into clear, impactful visuals.
• Julias AI : Makes beautiful graphs instantly with AI.
• Venngage : Effortlessly prompt, create, and tailor charts that turn raw data into clear, compelling visuals.

Instead of manually creating charts and graphs, you can focus on crafting your narrative and refining your presentation skills. This makes the overall process of creating a PowerPoint presentation more efficient and enjoyable.

3. Craft compelling copy with a clear structure

Crafting engaging content can be challenging, especially when you're staring at a blank slide. AI tools can help spark your creativity and ensure your content is compelling and concise. Your slides should tell a story, guiding your audience through your message effortlessly.

Design tip: use a clear and logical structure

Organize your content in a way that flows naturally. Start with an introduction that outlines what you will cover, follow with the main content divided into clear sections, and end with a strong conclusion. Use bullet points, numbered lists, and headers to break up text and make it easier to follow.

Here are some tips for crafting compelling content:

• Keep it simple : Focus on one main idea per slide.
• Use bullet points : Break down information into digestible chunks.
• Tell a story : Frame your content in a narrative that guides your audience.

Have to hand it to @figma , some of the coolest stock templates I've seen ✨ pic.twitter.com/OhcqdfZju9 — andy (@aalimbuyuguen) July 30, 2024

AI tip: Get content ideas from AI

Creatives have no shortage of AI tools for quickly creating quality copy for your presentation. Even better, you can test all of them to see which creates the best content the quickest.

AI copy tools:

• Copy.ai : Free resource for turning your ideas into presentation points.
• Jasper AI : A library of writing tools that can help improve your presentation copy.
• Claude AI : Provides AI-driven content suggestions for various needs.

These tools can also help you refine your message by suggesting alternative phrasing or highlighting key points you might have missed.

4. Enhance your slides with high-quality visuals

Visuals are a powerful way to enhance your slides. But finding the right images can be time-consuming. AI can generate unique visuals tailored to your content, making your slides stand out. Imagine having a custom image that perfectly complements your message without spending hours searching for it.

Design tip: Use relevant and high-quality images

Choose images that complement your content and enhance your message. Avoid generic stock photos that don't add value. Instead, select images that are relevant and high-quality. This ensures your slides are visually engaging and relevant.

Here are some tips for using visuals effectively:

• Use high-resolution images : Ensure your images are clear and not pixelated.
• Keep it relevant : Choose images that directly relate to your content.
• Avoid clutter : Don’t overload slides with too many visuals.

AI-tip: Use AI stock photos and AI-generated images

Once again, you have a buffet of options for either generating or finding quality AI-generated images. The beauty of these tools is that you have the choice of creating unique content, or finding exactly what you need in a curated AI stock image library.

AI tools for visuals:

• Lummi : Tens of thousands of free AI-generated stock photos.
• DALL-E : Generates images from textual descriptions.
• Midjourney : Creates detailed visuals based on your inputs.

AI-generated images can make your presentation more memorable and impactful. Instead of using generic stock photos, you can have custom visuals that perfectly match your content.

5. Make your presentation inclusive for all

Ensuring your presentation is inclusive and user-friendly is important. AI tools can help you identify and fix issues, making your content accessible to all.

This is about making sure everyone in your audience can engage with your presentation.

Design tip: Use best practices for inclusive design

Ensure your presentation is accessible by using clear fonts, sufficient contrast, and descriptive text for images. This makes your content easier to read and understand for everyone.

Here are some tips for making your presentation inclusive:

• Use large, readable fonts : Ensure text is legible from a distance.
• Provide captions for videos : Make sure video content is accessible.
• Make sure to optimize colors : Follow WCAG and APCA guidelines.

AI Tip: Make sure your designs are accessible with AI

Leverage tools to make sure that everyone has a chance to participate with your presentation. These tools identify issues with color contrast, font size, and screen reader compatibility.

AI-driven tools to make your presentation inclusive:

• Design.ai color checker : Ensures that your colors are optimized for inclusive design.
• accessiBe : A variety of tools for accessibilty testing.

Making your presentation inclusive ensures that all audience members, regardless of their abilities, can engage with your content.

6. Understand your audience to tailor your presentation

Understanding your audience is key to creating a presentation that resonates. Knowing who you're talking to allows you to tailor your content to their preferences and needs, ensuring maximum engagement. This leads to higher engagement and better outcomes, whether you're delivering a pitch deck, a marketing strategy, or a social media update.

General tip: Research your audience

Take the time to learn about your audience's demographics, interests, and needs. This will help you tailor your presentation design to their expectations.

Here are some tips for understanding your audience:

• Conduct surveys : Gather information about your audience before the presentation.
• Analyze past presentations : Look at feedback from previous presentations to identify what worked and what didn’t.
• Engage with your audience : Ask questions and interact with your audience during the presentation.

AI Tip: Analyze audience preferences

Tools like Crystal Knows or Acrolinx use AI to analyze your audience's communication style and preferences. They provide insights into what types of content and tone will be most effective for your specific audience.

This ensures your presentation is tailored to engage your audience effectively, making your message more impactful.

AI tools to analyze your audience:

• ChatGPT : It can give you quick insights and ideas for your designs.
• Fillout survey maker : Import or create surveys in seconds with the first AI Survey Maker.

By understanding your audience better, you can create presentations that speak directly to them.

7. Use presentation generators to speed up your workflow

Creating a presentation involves many repetitive tasks, from formatting slides to updating data. Automating these tasks can save you time and allow you to focus on the creative aspects of your presentation design.

To make creating your presentations as seamless as possible, here are a list of a few of our favorite AI-powered presentation makers:

• Canva presentation maker
• Pitch presentation software
• Visme slide generator

Embrace the future of presentation design

By using AI in your presentation design process, you can transform your slides from a good presentation to a great one.

Plus, with these presentation design tips will help you create presentations or slide decks that captivate your audience and communicate your message effectively.

Next time you're working on a presentation, try out these AI-powered presentation design ideas. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, these tools can help you take your presentations to the next level.

More FAQs about presentation tips

1. what are some presentation design inspiration sources.

You can find presentation design inspiration from various sources like design blogs, Pinterest, Behance, and Dribbble. Additionally, looking at TED Talks and popular keynote presentations can provide ideas on how to structure and design your slides.

2. How can AI improve my marketing strategy with presentations?

AI can help streamline the creation of marketing presentations by suggesting design elements, creating visuals, and optimizing content for audience engagement.

This ensures your marketing strategy is effectively communicated and visually appealing.

3. What is the importance of white space in presentation design?

White space, or negative space, is crucial in presentation design as it prevents your slides from looking cluttered. It helps guide the audience’s focus on the main design elements that matter most.

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