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This task management tool is the best i've found for actually getting things done, 5 reasons why rpgs are my favorite game genre.
There's a reason that PowerPoint is a household name: it's the best software for creating presentations for work and home.
If you find yourself creating lots of presentations, you might be wondering if there's something you can do to speed up the process. The answer is yes, you just need to make use of all the handy shortcuts that PowerPoint offers.
We've put together a list of all the best PowerPoint keyboard shortcuts so that you can navigate, create, and present your presentations with ease.
FREE DOWNLOAD: This cheat sheet is available as a downloadable PDF from our distribution partner, TradePub. You will have to complete a short form to access it for the first time only. Download the Microsoft PowerPoint Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows Cheat Sheet .
| Action |
---|---|
| |
Ctrl + N | New presentation |
Ctrl + M | New slide |
Ctrl + S | Save presentation |
Alt + N, P | Insert picture |
Alt + N, S, H | Insert shape |
Alt + H, L | Slide layout |
Page down | Next slide |
Page up | Previous slide |
Ctrl + Up | Move selected slide up |
Ctrl + Down | Move selected slide down |
Ctrl + Shift + Up | Move selected slide to the beginning |
Ctrl + Shift + Down | Move selected slide to the end |
Alt + H | Home tab |
Alt + N | Insert tab |
Ctrl + N | Add comment |
Ctrl + R | Reply to comment |
Ctrl + Q | Close PowerPoint |
| |
Alt + F | File |
Alt + H | Home |
Alt + N | Insert |
Alt + G | Design |
Alt + K | Transitions |
Alt + A | Animations |
Alt + S | Slide Show |
Alt + R | Review |
Alt + W | View |
Alt + Y | Help |
| |
F5 | Start presentation from beginning |
Shift + F5 | Start presentation from current slide |
Alt + F5 | Start the presentation in Presenter View |
N | Next animation/slide |
P | Previous animation/slide |
B | Display black slide |
W | Display white slide |
S | Stop/restart an automatic presentation |
Number, then Enter | Go to the slide number specified |
Home | To the first slide |
End | To the last slide |
T | Set timings |
R | Record narration and timing |
Alt + P | Play/pause media |
Alt + Q | Stop media |
Alt + Up | Increase volume |
Alt + Down | Decrease volume |
Alt + U | Mute |
Tab | Cycle hotspot |
Shift + F10 | Context menu |
Ctrl + T | Show taskbar |
Esc | End presentation |
Now you know all the shortcuts for creating and navigating in PowerPoint, it's time to make your presentation as professional as possible. That's why we've collated all the tips you need for keeping your audience engaged when using PowerPoint.
Microsoft PowerPoint is a complex program with a vast number of features, so it's worth your time to learn all its secrets. Some of these secrets include keyboard shortcuts, which can seriously speed up your workflow.
Not only can keyboard shortcuts save you a lot of time, but knowing important shortcuts when delivering a presentation can help everything run more smoothly.
Here's a guide to the most useful keyboard shortcuts in the Windows 10 version of Microsoft PowerPoint .
Windows 10 (from $139.99 at best buy), acer chromebook 15 (from $179.99 at walmart), microsoft office (from $149.99 at best buy), how to use powerpoint's access key shortcuts.
The ribbon at the top of PowerPoint gives you access to virtually all the program's countless features, and you don't need to use your mouse to use it – every ribbon command has its own keyboard shortcut.
To use the ribbon entirely using your keyboard, do this:
1. Press and release Alt. You should see an overlay called Access Keys appear.
2. Press the Access Key indicated to switch to the Ribbon tab you want to use.
3. Press the Access Key for the command you want to use. Some Access Keys are more than one key press – just press the keys in sequence. If there is yet another layer of choices, continue to press the appropriate keys. For example, if you wanted to rehearse the timing of a presentation, you would press Alt and release it, then press S, and then press T.
You can use the ribbon shortcuts to perform virtually any task in PowerPoint, but you might often find the more traditional keyboard shortcuts more convenient to use.
Here are the most important keyboard shortcuts in PowerPoint.
Start a presentation from the beginning: Press F5 to start playing a presentation from the first slide.
Start a presentation from the current slide: Press Shift + F5 to start playing a presentation from whatever slide is currently on screen.
Start a presentation in Presenter View: Press Alt + F5 to start a presentation in Presenter View, which lets you see your notes on the main computer screen while the audience sees only the slides on a separate screen.
Go to the next slide or start the next animation: To advance to the next slide, you have several options. You can press any of these keys: N, Enter, Spacebar, Right Arrow, or Down Arrow.
Go back to the previous slide or animation: To go back to the previous slide, you also have several options. You can press any of these keys: P, Page Up, Left Arrow, or Up Arrow.
Go to the first slide: Press Home to restart the presentation at the first slide.
Go to the last slide: Press End to go directly to the final slide.
Stop or start an automatic presentation: Press S to toggle an automatic, timed presentation between start and stop.
Go to a specific slide: To go to a specific slide within the presentation, enter the slide number followed by Enter, such as 15 + Enter to go to slide number 15.
Open the All Slides dialog box: To see a list of all the slides in your presentation, press Ctrl + S.
End a presentation: Press Esc to exit a presentation.
Toggle between presentation and a blank screen: To temporarily display a blank screen in the middle of a presentation, press B to see a black screen or W to see a white screen.
Start the laser pointer: Press Ctrl + L to change the pointer into a virtual laser dot.
Draw on the presentation with a pen: Press Ctrl + P to change the pointer into a pen that you can use to annotate the screen.
Hide the pointer and navigation controls: Press Ctrl + H to hide the pointer (or laser dot or pen) and the navigation controls.
Erase annotations: Press E to erase any annotations you've made with the pen.
Open a presentation: Press Ctrl + O to open an existing PowerPoint presentation.
Create a new presentation: Press Ctrl + N to create a new presentation.
Add a new slide: Press Ctrl + M to add a new slide to a presentation in progress.
Save the presentation: Press Ctrl + S to immediately save a presentation with its current file name.
Save a presentation with a new filename: Press F12 to open the Save As dialog box and save your presentation.
Close a presentation: Press Ctrl + W to close the current presentation. If it hasn't been saved, PowerPoint will give you the opportunity to save it first.
Copy a slide, text, or other object: Press Ctrl + C to copy the selected item, which can be text, a graphic, or even an entire slide.
Cut a slide, text, or other object: Press Ctrl + X to cut the selected item, which can be text, a graphic, or even an entire slide.
Paste a slide, text, or other object: Press Ctrl + V to paste the content of the clipboard at the cursor location.
Delete a selected slide, text, or other object: Select the item you want to remove and then press Delete.
Insert a hyperlink: Select text or object in a slide and then press Ctrl + K to open the Insert Hyperlink dialog box to turn it into a link. If you press Ctrl + K without selecting anything first, then you will need to specify the link text as well.
Go to the next or previous slide: Press Page Down to advance to the next slide; press Page Up to go back to the previous slide.
Change the order of a slide: Press Ctrl + Up Arrow to move the selected slide one position earlier in the presentation; press Ctrl + Down Arrow to move it one later in the presentation.
Move a slide to the start of the presentation: Press Ctrl + Shift + Up Arrow to move the selected slide to the start of the presentation.
Move a slide to the end of the presentation: Press Ctrl + Shift + Down Arrow to move the selected slide to the end of the presentation.
Bold: Press Ctrl + B to bold the selected text.
Italics: Press Ctrl + I to italics the selected text.
Underline: Press Ctrl + U to underline the selected text.
Make the font bigger: Press Ctrl + Shift + Right Arrow to increase the size of the selected text a little at a time.
Make the font smaller: Press Ctrl + Shift + Left Arrow to decrease the size of the selected text a little at a time.
Center text: Press Ctrl + E to center the selected paragraph.
Left align text: Press Ctrl + L to left-align the selected paragraph.
Right align text: Press Ctrl + R to right-align the selected paragraph.
Justify text: Press Ctrl + J to justify the selected paragraph. This causes the text to auto-fit to the left and right margins of the slide.
Superscript: Press Ctrl and the Plus sign to turn the selected text into superscript.
Subscript: Press Ctrl + = to turn the selected text into subscript.
Check spelling: Press F7 to run PowerPoint's built-in spell checker.
Search within a presentation: Press Ctrl + F to open the Find dialog box, where you can search for specific text within the presentation. You can also search and replace text using this dialog box.
Undo: Press Ctrl + Z to undo your last action.
Redo: Press Ctrl + Y to redo the last action, if possible. If it's not possible for PowerPoint to redo the action, nothing will happen.
Help: Press F1 to open the Help and Support pane.
Cancel: Press Esc to abort any task you don't want to complete. In some cases, you may also need to click "Cancel."
How to do a voiceover on a powerpoint presentation and add pre-recorded audio to your slides, how to add a border to slides in powerpoint, and give your slideshow a sleek design, how to change and format the background of your powerpoint slides to custom designs, how to change your language settings in microsoft powerpoint in 3 different ways, how to copy or duplicate a powerpoint slide and put it anywhere in your slideshow.
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Your visual presentation can be improved with these 13 tips and tricks.
When putting together a presentation or deck for a big meeting, including a visual component is key. Creating and sharing a PowerPoint presentation can help you drive home key concepts with the support of text, images, graphs and tables and other multimedia elements. Having a tangible and concrete slide deck can also anchor you while also keeping your audience engaged, which can help increase your confidence as a presenter, especially if you aren’t the most extroverted person in the room.
Of course, developing an effective PowerPoint requires plenty of consideration, from determining the structure and design to navigating the technical aspects. To help, here are 13 things to include in your next PowerPoint as well as key dos and don’ts to ensure your presentation goes off without a hitch.
>> Learn More: 5 Types of Presentations Every CEO Needs to Have
A strong PowerPoint presentation should include the following components.
When presenting to an unfamiliar audience — for example, if you’re speaking at an academic conference or giving a pitch to investors — it’s crucial to introduce yourself. Establish credibility and trust by briefly discussing your line of work, past accomplishments or related projects you have worked on.
While you may have included your logo in your introduction, you can also put it on each slide of the presentation. This helps your brand “stick” and can be particularly effective when speaking about or on behalf of your company. [Read more about creating a small business marketing plan .]
Next, write an agenda slide. Not only does this set expectations for your audience and maintain the flow of the presentation, but it can also keep you on track in both drafting and presenting your information.
In addition to establishing an agenda early on, you can also break down that agenda further with a clear roadmap for your presentation, which is especially helpful for longer PowerPoints with multiple sections. Don’t be afraid to return to the roadmap as needed to allow your audience to follow along better.
Your PowerPoint slide deck is designed to supplement and enhance your oral presentation, not replace it. Ensure your verbally-presented information adds value by including information that is not on your slides. Keep written text to a minimum, focusing on key words and main ideas. You can expand on these concepts in greater detail as you present.
The primary benefit of a PowerPoint is the ability to add visuals. In addition to any text on-slide and your verbal presentation content, enhance your message with engaging visual elements, such as graphs and infographics. Relying less on text helps ensure the focus remains on you, the presenter, while also illustrating your key takeaways effectively.
There’s nothing wrong with reusing or repurposing a slide deck you’ve already created — as long as you keep everything current. If your PowerPoint includes statistics, industry trends , information on your business or other data, check every number and update as necessary before presenting.
Even if you include the most compelling and clear information in your presentation, it won’t make an impact if your audience doesn’t understand the bigger picture. Aim to answer the unspoken question of “so what?” by clarifying why the message is important and why it is relevant to your listeners.
Your key takeaways are arguably the most important part of your presentation. Highlight these main points at the end of your PowerPoint ― or, for longer presentations, at the end of each section ― to help your audience remember them. Generating your key takeaways in the outlining stage can also help you structure your slide content.
Because a presentation is designed to be clear and concise, you may not always have the time or opportunity to go in-depth on certain topics or audience questions. Having backup slides with additional information can encourage further audience understanding — without letting the presentation veer off-track or run over time.
Depending on your presentation topic, your audience may have objections. Get ahead of these objections by dedicating a section to it in your PowerPoint. Give people the opportunity to raise any concerns and address known or anticipated issues directly.
Consider what you want your audience to do after listening to your presentation. Are there specific actions to take, ideas to consider or a person to contact? Lay this out for your audience in a call-to-action slide.
Display your contact information on the last slide to encourage your audience to reach out to you. They will likely appreciate the opportunity to reach out to you should they wish to discuss further and you may also make a valuable connection in the process. [Read more about how to improve customer service for e-commerce sites .]
If you’re planning to use PowerPoint as a business tool, here are some key dos and don’ts to keep in mind:
Scott Gerber contributed to this article.
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In business meetings, you can use Microsoft PowerPoint slideshows to highlight important information and capture audiences’ attention. During a slideshow , clicking through various options with the mouse can throw off your timing. Plus, the audience can see you perform these actions.
A better approach is to use keyboard shortcuts . Besides being faster, you will look like a more experienced presenter. Here are 10 keyboard shortcuts that you can use when presenting slideshows using PowerPoint 2016, 2013, 2010, or 2007. You can also Google some other keyboard shortcuts!
Pressing the F5 key begins the slideshow from the first slide.
To begin the slideshow from the current slide , press Shift+F5. In other words, press the Shift and F5 keys at the same time.
When you are ready to advance to the next slide or perform the next animation, you can press any of the following: the Spacebar , the N key, or the right arrow key.
If you need to backtrack , press the Backspace, P, or left arrow key to go back to the previous slide or animation.
Pressing Ctrl+P changes the mouse pointer from an arrow to a pen. You can then use the pen to add a note to a slide or call attention to an item.
During a presentation , you might want to pause the slideshow so that you can discuss a certain point. Pressing the W or comma key pauses it and displays a white screen. Pressing the W or comma key again resumes the slideshow. When the slideshow is paused, you can use the pen to write on the white screen. If you do not already have the pen activated, though, you will need to do so with the mouse (Pressing Ctrl+P to activate the pen does not work – it simply prompts the slideshow to resume.) Anything you write on the white screen will not be saved when you resume the slideshow .
Pressing the B key or period key pauses the slideshow and displays a black screen, which you can write on. Press the B or period key again to resume the slideshow.
If you need to erase a mark you made with a pen on a slide, you can change the pointer to an eraser by pressing Ctrl+E. You can erase all the marks you made to a slide at once by pressing the E key. (The pointer will not change in the latter case.) You cannot use Ctrl+E or E to erase marks on a white or black screen created when pausing a slideshow.
Pressing Ctrl+A changes the pointer to the default arrow.
Another way to change the pointer to the default arrow is pressing the Esc key. If the pointer is already an arrow, pressing Esc exits the slideshow.
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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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Are you struggling with PowerPoint? You need a quick design in PowerPoint but don't know where to start? Don't worry, you have nothing to be ashamed of.
In this article, we're going to refresh the most important PowerPoint basics so you can take advantage of this Microsoft software and create high-impact presentations at any time!
Millions of users worldwide use Microsoft 365 services , making PowerPoint the presentation design software with the highest market share. And with good reason! PowerPoint's features stand out for its usability and originality . We can tell you that PowerPoint is pretty intuitive software, and it's a great option to choose when working with presentations on a daily basis. So, are you ready for a quick PowerPoint 101 class?
Let ' s see what you ' re going to learn today with this PowerPoint Guide :
What are the best uses of powerpoint, powerpoint basics: what are the components of powerpoint workspace, mastering powerpoint: what are the main features of powerpoint, what are powerpoint templates and where to find them, time to practice how to make a presentation in powerpoint.
Microsoft PowerPoint is a presentation design software that is part of Microsoft 365 . This software allows you to design presentations by combining text, images, graphics, video, and animation on slides in a simple and intuitive way.
Over time, PowerPoint has evolved and improved its accessibility to users. For this reason, it has been adapted to the main operating systems and modalities:
Additionally, you can use Word and Excel in this online version. That way, you'll be able to make real-time changes in the cloud without fearing losing your files. Sounds great, right?
PowerPoint has a versatile range of uses. Here's a list of the different tasks you can complete with this presentation design software:
These are just a few examples of the multiple possibilities this Microsoft software offers. Your imagination is the only limit!
Stay tuned as we continue with this PowerPoint 101 Guide...
In order to deeply understand this presentation design software, you need to recognize its main components. Now it's time to learn about the PowerPoint basics!
A quick note before going any further: when opening PowerPoint, some of the commands in the ribbons will look grayish and won't be highlighted when you hover the mouse over them.
This happens since some commands need to be selected in order to function. For example, if you want to change the color of a text, you first need to select it.
That being said, let's start with this Guide for PowerPoint beginners:
The first aspect to learn is PowerPoint Main Window. To facilitate the explanation, we've organized its main elements with numbers from 1 to 10:
Based on that, the main components of PowerPoint window are the following:
1. Quick Access Toolbar: allows you to customize commands to have them at hand. You only have to select it and go to "More commands."
2. Title Bar: shows you the name of your file and other "Suggested options" like Slide Master View . These options will vary depending on the use you give to the commands.
3. File Tab: you will see the Home Menu (PowerPoint backstage) by selecting it. There, you can create a new presentation, save it, print it, export it, and many other options.
4. The Ribbon: it's where PowerPoint tabs and tools are. These tools can also be called "commands" or “features.”
5. More Button or Down Arrow: these arrows allow you to view more tools or layout options in PowerPoint.
6. Slides Pane: shows your slides in thumbnail size. By right-clicking, you can access additional options for customizing each slide. Perfect for PowerPoint beginners!
7. Slide: PowerPoint's blank canvas and the frame to be seen when presenting the file.
8. Placeholders: they are dotted boxes that will store your content.
9. Status Bar: allows you to view the slide number, grammatical errors, speaker notes, and the comments on your file.
10. Zoom: allows you to enlarge or minimize your PowerPoint workspace. The range goes from 10 to 400%.
The PowerPoint tabs are the control desk of your presentation . Since PowerPoint's features are too many, they're organized in tabs.
You can come and go between tabs as you need. Once you click on a tab, it will open its ribbon, and there, you'll be able to see all the tools related to that particular category.
This PowerPoint tutorial for beginners will give you an overview of all PowerPoint tabs . Pay attention to the following list:
The Home tab is the most common tab of PowerPoint. This is the tab you'll probably use the most if you're designing a presentation deck from scratch.
It allows you to add new slides and change the text characteristics : font, size, boldness, underlining, alignment, etc. If you've ever used Microsoft Word, these features will be familiar to you.
Also, you will find commands to edit the characteristics of the geometric shapes you insert. This includes: fill color, line color, sharpe effects, among others.
The Insert tab is exactly what its name says it is. In this ribbon, you'll find all the options concerning adding a new element to your PowerPoint presentation .
You can insert a picture, some geometric shapes, icons, WordArt graphics, among others. We can tell you that this tab is really helpful for PowerPoint beginners!
For example, if you have a lot of data in PowerPoint , you could add a chart or diagram to show your information in a more visual way. Also, you can embed videos or music into PowerPoint really easily.
If you are one of those people who enjoy choosing the design of a PowerPoint presentation, this tab will be your favorite.
The Design tab offers a wide range of premade designs , allowing you to get more polished slides. Even better, if you explore its ribbon, you can adjust the color palette and change the overall style of your PowerPoint deck.
The PowerPoint interface, as this basic PowerPoint Tutorial, is really intuitive. We believe that you won't have any problem with this tab!
Using transitions in PowerPoint is a dynamic way to move from one slide to the next during a presentation. This feature is PowerPoint's stamp, so don ' t miss it!
Some PowerPoint transitions are really classic, like wiping the old slide to present the new one. Others are somewhat over the top, like the “Vortex” or the “Airplane” effect.
If you click on each kind of transition, you'll see a preview on how it would look when presenting. Really cool, right?
In case you want to add special effects for certain elements in your slides , the Animations tab in PowerPoint will interest you.
Like the Transitions tab, you will find various animation effects in this ribbon. It's a matter of trying and choosing the best one according to your needs!
As its name says, the Slide Show tab is about presenting your slides . We really like that it gives you several options to show up your presentation!
Considering that you're a PowerPoint beginner, you're not likely to use the Slide Show tab very much.
But if you're curious about this command, you must read our article: How to Make a PowerPoint Slideshow that Runs Automatically?
The Review tab is not often used by PowerPoint beginners either.
However, if your job is related to writing or if you work at an international company, this tool can be extremely useful!
With this tab, you can check the slide's spelling, translate the text in real-time, and add comments to your slides . This last function can be helpful to give feedback to a colleague.
This View tab allows you to change the view of your PowerPoint slides and make handouts from them, among other things.
As you can see, the majority of its commands are really specific. So you won't have any issues while designing, test and see!
In this section, our favorite command for PowerPoint beginners is Slide Master . Explore more about this tool in our guide!
In the last versions of this design presentation software, PowerPoint added the Recording tab. As its name says, it allows you to record all your presentation slides .
This ribbon has advanced commands, so the most common action for a PowerPoint beginner is to take a screenshot or record the screen sequentially .
Finally, there is the Help tab. If you have any problem or question concerning how to use PowerPoint, you may go here to look for a solution.
In the latest versions, Windows has added a “Show Training” option. You can click this command to practice the PowerPoint basics since it will download training templates.
As a beginner in PowerPoint, you must recognize the objective of each PowerPoint tab to be able to master the software . But, in order to conduct an outstanding presentation deck, you also need to dominate its most important features. Let's see some of them in the next section!
If you feel ready to delve deeper into PowerPoint's tools, this section is for you.
As you may know , 24Slides specializes in creating outstanding presentations for any Design Project . So, we asked one of our experts about her favorite PowerPoint features, and we want to share them all with you!
Carmen Navarrete , Graphic Designer at 24Slides, highlighted the following features that will make your presentations stand out from the crowd:
This first PowerPoint feature is simple but effective!
Let's see how to use it:
If you don't like any figure enough, you can create one from scratch!
This is possible thanks to the "Merge Shapes" option. Follow these steps to unleash your creativity:
This PowerPoint feature is quite easy to follow for PowerPoint beginners!
Just follow these steps:
PowerPoint's SmartArt is one of the most popular and accessible tools to dominate while learning about PowerPoint basics.
To use it in your slide deck, you must:
We want to give you some ideas to master this SmartArt tool in PowerPoint: you can make timelines , flowcharts , and even a Venn diagram in just a few seconds. Try and see!
If you don't know how to use Photoshop and want to remove the background from an image, in this PowerPoint 101 Guide, we show you how:
The latest PowerPoint feature is a command you can use to prepare your speech before presenting to an audience.
Learning how to add speaker notes in PowerPoint is simple:
If you've ever wondered how to translate your PowerPoint Slides, we'll explain the step by step here:
The process of recording your screen in PowerPoint is straightforward and intuitive. Let's see:
As you may have noticed, this software has endless PowerPoint design options for beginners. We encourage you to try and test each functionality!
However, we're clear that PowerPoint has different features, so it can be hard to know where to start. That's why understanding PowerPoint basics is crucial if you truly want to master this software!
Our PowerPoint 101 Guide continues; stay tuned to discover more great stuff about this Microsoft software. Keep reading!
A PowerPoint template is a pre-made design that you can use for your own means, and that will save you a lot of time!
Templates in PowerPoint are a great resource for designing since all the structure is already done, and you only have to update the content . We can tell you they're the perfect resource for PowerPoint beginners!
They can be incredibly specific. For example, there are templates for a SWOT analysis or a complete Marketing report. Otherwise, templates can also be very general, with several slides with a similar design.
If you struggle with the artistic part of designing presentations, downloading PowerPoint templates will be a life changer!
If you didn't know, 24Slides has an extensive repository of PowerPoint templates. But how to obtain them? It's really simple:
24Slides Designers specialize in business and corporate PowerPoints, but you'll also find other types of templates on our website: Data templates, Timelines, Roadmaps, Matrixes, Diagrams, and more.
Keep in mind that a well-designed PowerPoint deck helps you communicate stronger messages to your audience . Don't waste this opportunity to make your presentation shine!
If you want to learn more about how to master PowerPoint, do not miss the last section. We'll show you some PowerPoint basics from the software itself!
A PowerPoint 101 Guide wouldn't be that useful with no examples. So, if you enjoy the step-by-step guides, this section is for you.
Below, we'll show you how to make a simple PowerPoint presentation. But first, here are some tips to be more efficient in the process:
As we said before, writing a draft or script of your content will be vital to start on the right foot as a PowerPoint beginner.
This advice is so important that we choose it as the first step to learning how to make a PowerPoint presentation. Remember: Planning is key!
Regarding the process of planning, we share some good practices:
Once you check that all the functions are working fine with the software, please open it and go to the File tab. If you've ever used Word or Excel, you'll probably find this Home Menu familiar.
In short, this is the main page of PowerPoint, where you can create a new presentation or open an older one. Let's see:
In order to follow this part of our PowerPoint Tutorial correctly, take into consideration the following points:
With your information ready in a draft, it's time to choose the design of your PowerPoint slide deck. You must imagine that the available design options are endless!
For practical reasons, you have three options regarding the design:
Don't worry if you don't know how to continue! In this PowerPoint 101 class, we're going to explain step by step the second option:
If you want to explore more PowerPoint designs, there is a way to research online. For that, you only need to:
In this PowerPoint 101 Guide, you will also learn how to configure the layout of each slide.
Keep in mind that to have a high-impact presentation, you must adapt your slides' design to the type of content you'll add. And using layouts is perfect for this purpose.
To change the layout type in PowerPoint, follow these steps:
The design process in this PowerPoint 101 Guide doesn't stop there.
You also can customize your presentation's color palette , font style, background format , and graphics effects .
Just go to:
Now, it's time to add all your information to your slides. If your script is long, take your time to copy each part of it.
In this PowerPoint Tutorial, we're going to show how our design is going so far. We design at your side!
The stamp of PowerPoint is its transitions and animations! Naturally, our PowerPoint 101 has considered these essential commands.
If you want to add them to your presentation and make your speech more fluid, follow these steps:
When choosing one Animation, you can eliminate it if you aren't 100% convinced. You only need to:
This “PowerPoint for dummies” is full of tips and tricks! So here is one more: Don't overuse transitions or animations in PowerPoint ; they can make your presentation slower and unprofessional . Use this tool in a subtle way!
As always, every final product must be reviewed. Especially if you're learning the PowerPoint fundamentals with us.
We recommend reviewing each slide of your PowerPoint presentation one final time. In this process, you will be able to:
When your presentation is finished, it's essential to know how to make a PowerPoint slideshow. This way, you can see your slides from the exact same perspective your audience will see them.
To slideshow your presentation in PowerPoint, follow these simple steps for PowerPoint beginners:
Now you can present your slides like an expert!
When you master this presentation design software, you'll be able to create amazing things in PowerPoint : infographics, diagrams, charts, pitch decks, business cards, calendars, you name it!
This was our PowerPoint Guide for beginners. We hope that our compilation today will be useful for conducting more professional presentations in the future and, why not, achieve all your goals!
Don't forget to share this PowerPoint 101 Guide with your co-workers or whoever you want!
Want to boost your beginner PowerPoint skills? Check out this content:
Create professional presentations online
8 tips to make the best powerpoint presentations.
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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.
PowerPoint is like your best friend when it comes to sharing ideas, presenting projects, and keeping your audience engaged. But did you know there’s something super cool hidden in there? It’s called keyboard shortcuts. Think of them as your magic wand—they help you move smoothly between slides, make your designs look perfect, and make creating presentations a breeze, just like a conductor leads an orchestra.
PowerPoint keyboard shortcuts are like cheat codes for making your PowerPoint experience faster and smoother. Instead of clicking around with your mouse, you can press certain keys on your keyboard to do things like copying, pasting, formatting text, or moving between slides. They’re like shortcuts that help you get things done quicker and easier, making you a PowerPoint pro in no time!
We have also compiled all the essential computer shortcut keys , which include shortcuts for popular software like Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Gmail, as well as special characters and shortcuts relevant to competitive exams.
Keyboard Shortcuts | Action |
---|---|
Ctrl + N | Create a new presentation. |
Ctrl + T | Open the Font dialog box. |
Ctrl + M | Add a new slide. |
Ctrl + X | Cut selected text, object, or slide. |
Ctrl + K | Insert a hyperlink. |
Ctrl + Z | Undo the last action. |
Ctrl + Y | Redo the last action. |
Ctrl + B | Apply bold formatting to selected text. |
Ctrl + Alt + M | Insert a new comment. |
Page down | Go to the next slide. |
Page up | Go to the previous slide. |
F5 | Start the slide show. |
Some keyboard shortcuts for working with the ribbon in Microsoft Office applications
These shortcuts allow you to perform tasks quickly without using the mouse
Shortcuts | Actions |
---|---|
Alt + F | Open the File page |
Alt+H | Open the Home tab |
Alt+N | Open the insert tab |
Alt+G | Open the design tab |
Features | Shotcuts | Action |
---|---|---|
Change Focus | Alt | Move between main regions in the ribbon |
Alt + Tab Key | Cycle through open ribbons or task panes | |
Area Navigation | Alt | Activates the Ribbon (Area A) |
Arrow Keys | Navigate between tabs and buttons in the Ribbon (Area A) and controls in the lower ribbon (Area B) | |
F10 | Activates the Header (Area C) | |
Arrow Keys | Navigate between elements in the Header (Area C) | |
Essential Navigation | F5 | Start presentation from the first slide |
Shift + F5 | Start presentation from the current slide | |
N, Enter, Spacebar, Right Arrow | Move to the next slideMove to the previous slide | |
P, Backspace, Left Arrow | Move to the previous slide | |
Ctrl + Home | Go to the first slide | |
Ctrl + End | Go to the last slide | |
PgUp | Go to the previous section | |
PgDn | Go to the next section | |
Slide # + Enter | Jump to a specific slide (e.g., 10 + Enter) | |
Zoom In | Ctrl + Plus (+) | |
Zoom Out | Ctrl + Minus (-) | |
100% | Ctrl + 0 | |
Design & Styling | Ctrl + Shift + B | Bold selected text |
Ctrl + Shift + I | Italicize selected text | |
Ctrl + Shift + U | Underline selected text | |
Ctrl + Shift + > | Increase font size | |
Ctrl + Shift + < | Decrease font size | |
Ctrl + X | Cut selected text or object | |
Ctrl + C | Copy selected text or object | |
Ctrl + V | Paste copied text or object | |
Ctrl + D | Duplicate the current slide |
As we wrap up our exploration of PowerPoint keyboard shortcuts, I want to encourage you to put them into practice. Start incorporating these handy tricks into your work routine today and witness firsthand how much time they can save you. Embrace their simplicity and efficiency, and watch as your presentations become even more impressive. By integrating these shortcuts into your workflow, you’ll streamline your tasks, allowing you to achieve more with less effort. You’ll be amazed at the difference they can make in enhancing your productivity and taking your presentations to the next level.
What are the shortcut keys for powerpoint.
Add a new slide: Use CTRL + SHIFT + M. Duplicate the current slide: Press CTRL + SHIFT + D. Select text: Simply use CTRL + A. Center text in a box: Press CTRL + E. Align text to the right in a box: Use CTRL + R. Align text to the left in a box: Press CTRL + L. Decrease text size: Use CTRL + SHIFT + the less than sign (<). Increase text size: Press CTRL + SHIFT + the greater than sign (>).
In MS PowerPoint, if you press Ctrl + W, it simply closes the window of the presentation you’re using at that moment. This shortcut is handy because it lets you close one presentation without having to close all of PowerPoint. It’s a simple way to handle multiple presentations more easily.
When you’re working on a PowerPoint presentation, pressing Ctrl + H is like summoning a magical helper. When you want to swap certain words in your presentation, instead of hunting for them yourself, you just instruct the genie to locate every occurrence of one word and swap it with another. The genie, aka the Replace dialog box, does all the work, swiftly updating your slides without manual effort. Abracadabra! Your presentation is transformed in an instant.
When you press the F12 key in PowerPoint, it opens a window where you can save your presentation with a new name or in a different place. This helps you save your work quickly without having to search through the menu.
F12: When you’re in editing mode, pressing F12 opens the Save As window. It’s like summoning a mystical portal to save your presentation under a new name or location. Shift + F12: This combination is your trusty spell for saving your current presentation. No need to wave a wand—just press Shift + F12, and your work is preserved. Ctrl + F12: Behold, the Open window appears! Use this shortcut to explore other magical presentations or open a new one. It’s like stepping into different realms of knowledge. Ctrl + Shift + F12: The Print window materializes. Here, you can preview your creation before sending it off to the enchanted printer.
In PowerPoint, you can move slides or objects around easily by clicking on them, holding the mouse button, moving them to where you want, and then letting go of the mouse button. This helps you organize and customize your presentation without having to use lots of menus.
Instead of navigating menu, you can format with keystrokes. Use Ctrl+B to bold text, Ctrl+I to italicize, and Ctrl+U to underline. Change font size with Ctrl+Shift+> to increase or Ctrl+Shift+< to decrease. These shortcuts streamline formatting, saving time and effort.
Shortcut keys for inserting and managing layouts in PowerPoint can greatly speed up the creation and editing of your presentations
Ctrl + M: Insert a new slide. Ctrl + D: Duplicate the selected slide. Ctrl + Enter: Insert a new slide with the same layout as the current slide. Ctrl + Shift + D: Insert a new slide with the same layout as the selected slide. Ctrl + Shift + M: Insert a new slide with a blank layout. Ctrl + Shift + N: Insert a new slide with a title layout. Ctrl + Shift + H: Insert a new slide with a title and content layout. Ctrl + Shift + L: Insert a new slide with a section header layout. Ctrl + Shift + O: Insert a new slide with a two-content layout. Ctrl + Shift + T: Insert a new slide with a title-only layout.
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Microsoft Office
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We’ve all seen our fair share of bad PowerPoint presentations . We can all agree that for a PowerPoint presentation to impress, it needs time and attention to detail.
So how can you ramp up your PowerPoint productivity in the shortest time possible?
That’s where we come in. For starters, follow our proven PowerPoint tips and tricks for business presentations , which are sure to make an impact.
Step up your PowerPoint game
Download our print-ready shortcut cheatsheet for PowerPoint.
Keep your slides simple. It’s the visual backdrop to what you are going to say.
The most recommended PowerPoint tip for your productivity is called simplicity . You may be tempted by the graphical razzmatazz of beautiful images, background, and charts. At the end of the day, PowerPoint is a background visual aid for your talk. It is not the talk.
PowerPoint has lots of bells and whistles. But you don’t have to use them all. For instance, your content may not need the much-maligned bullet points - you can just use one key point per slide instead.
That’s why…
Less is more when it is about the text on your slides.
The average reading speed on a screen is around 100 - 150 words per minute. Too much information on the slide is a distraction and an inattentive audience will lose the message you are trying to convey.
Don’t give them too much to read. Use high-quality pictures and eye-catching graphics instead.
To make information digestible, expert slide designers recommend you write one key idea per slide that is summarized by a clear headline.
Tip: Exploit white space. Create more space between your text, paragraphs, and graphics on your slide.
Think about the message you want to convey and use it to write an outline.
As PowerPoint is such a visual medium, it is easy to get sidetracked with the visuals. So it’s important to chalk out what you want to say and in what order even before you open PowerPoint.
Your slides will come together quickly with the help of PowerPoint design options and you can even choose the right templates if you know your stuff inside out.
Tip: Use brainstorming tools like mind maps, flowcharts, and even storyboards to sketch your content flow.
PowerPoint makes an intelligent guess by looking at the words on your slide and suggests high-quality artwork to complement it. You can pick one of the creative layouts or go back to your own design.
Tip: PowerPoint Designer can also turn lists, processes, or timelines into beautiful graphics too.
Start with a template to break through any creative blocks.
PowerPoint templates are meant to be the starter plugs when inspiration deserts you or you are design-challenged. PowerPoint ships with a set of readymade templates and there are more available online. Pick one to begin.
Tip: Manpreet Kaur, the head of Corporate Communications at Mercer also suggests you use templates for mining ideas for your own presentation.
Whenever you receive any PowerPoint presentation from any of your clients, business partners, or sellers, make it a point to add them to any folder as a stock for templates for future reference. You can leverage these templates to find inspiration for any icon idea, layout, idea presentation, and number representation on the slides.
To open the Slide Master view, go to the View tab on the Ribbon and select Slide Master .
The first slide on the top is the Slide Master. Any changes to the Slide Master will be applied to all the slides in the presentation.
The Slide Master view also shows all the slide layouts used in PowerPoint. You can also use these Layout Master slides to control the appearance of any group of slides that share a common layout.
Tip: Make changes to the Slide Master before you start filling a presentation with the content.
PowerPoint Shapes is the most powerful graphical tool in your control.
The multifaceted Shapes feature on the Ribbon gives you infinite ways to use PowerPoint like an illustration program. Look beyond the commonplace rectangle, oval, and rounded rectangle patterns.
Every shape is editable. You can customize any PowerPoint shape and create your own custom designs. They can be formatted with colors, 3-D effects and shadows too.
Tip: Most default shapes are overused. So, you can use your own custom shapes to add interest to a key point or a slide. For instance, you can turn a chevron into a more interesting arrow to illustrate the flow of a process.
Choose the right fonts that are modern and pleasing.
It’s well established that fonts have a cognitive impact on how your audience will take in the information.
Sans-serif fonts are preferred for their smooth typefaces. But your typography choices will be influenced by the theme of the content. An artsy presentation can be more liberal with fonts that are decorative.
Also, to create contrast, you can use a technique called font-pairing where two complementary fonts are combined. For instance, use a serif font for titles and pair it with a sans-serif font in the body.
Tip: Want a free font library? Head over to Google Fonts and the collection of 916 free licensed fonts.
Visuals help everyone get the context behind data at a faster rate.
Business executives are used to spreadsheets . But that doesn’t mean they will like it in a presentation. Arresting illustrations are far better than bullet points and shoddy SmartArt.
We have talked about shapes and using high-quality photos before. But what if you have to analyze dry data?
Use visual metaphors or analogies to bring out the scale and relationships in the data. Executives can look up numbers, but the right use of an analogy can bring out the context behind it.
For instance, the evolution of man can be used to show the growth of a startup over time.
Tip: When stuck for ideas take inspiration from the best infographics on Slideshare and Pinterest. Infographics are designed to pack a lot of information in a small space.
Save yourself a lot of time by reusing your slides for different audiences.
This somewhat lesser-known PowerPoint tip uses a feature called Custom Slideshow to filter what you want your audience to see. Maybe, you want to hide some sensitive information for a lower level of executives while revealing it to those higher up. You do not have to create different slideshows for these two groups.
Create a custom show in five steps.
Tip: You can also create hyperlinked custom shows that you can jump to from your primary PowerPoint show.
Prepare your presentation according to the time allotted.
No PowerPoint tip is useful if you cannot fit the number of slides and the time you take to present them in the schedule. PowerPoint helps you rehearse your presentation before you do it. With the Rehearse Timing feature, you can tweak your delivery according to the time on hand.
A helpful Microsoft Support video walks you through the process.
Tip: Use the timer to check if you're spending too much or too little time on one particular slide. Maybe, explaining the data in a better way can shorten the time.
Go to File > Info > Check for Issues > Check Accessibility
Sharon Rosenblatt, Director of Communications at Accessibility Partners stresses the importance of making presentations more inclusive.
Always use the accessibility checker, and not just if your slideshow is being shared with someone you know has a disability, but you never know where files get sent to.
PowerPoint is all about visuals so it’s more important to finetune the little things that can help make the message easily understood by people who have accessibility challenges.
Tip: Microsoft details the best practices for making all PowerPoint presentations accessible .
When you are presenting to busy people, you have to cut the clutter but not lose the message. A successful presentation is about brevity and speed.
A business presentation is also a decision-making tool. So make sure you are presenting the information your audience wants to know. And nothing more.
Yes, they do take some work. But with the help of these PowerPoint tips and tricks, you can start and finish any presentation without losing your sleep.
Want more PowerPoint tips? Then check out these other PowerPoint features that will level up your presentations. Or try taking GoSkills top-rated PowerPoint certification course .
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Saikat is a writer with over 20 years of experience writing and editing technology tutorials for brands such as MakeUseOf, Online-tech-tips.com, Lifewire, Lifehacker, and GuidingTech. His expertise is in topics such as apps, software, artificial intelligence, productivity, and operating systems like Windows and iOS. He hunts for the latest tricks in Microsoft Office and web apps. He has spent more than a decade in marketing and has a background in web development. He doesn't want to get off the learning curve, so a camera and a harmonica claim an equal share of his free time. Find him on LInkedin here.
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In this article.
Creating an effective presentation
Delivering an effective presentation
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Choose a font style that your audience can read from a distance. | Choosing a simple font style, such as Arial or Calibri, helps to get your message across. Avoid very thin or decorative fonts that might impair readability, especially at small sizes. |
Choose a font size that your audience can read from a distance. | Try to avoid using font sizes smaller than 18 pt, and you may need to go larger for a large room where the audience is far away. |
Keep your text simple and minimize the amount of text on your slides | Use bullets or short sentences, and try to keep each to one line; that is, without text wrapping. You want your audience to listen to you present your information, rather than read the screen. Some projectors crop slides at the edges, so long sentences may be cropped. You can remove articles such as "a" and "the" to help reduce the word count on a line. |
Use art to help convey your message. | Use graphics to help tell your story. Don't overwhelm your audience by adding too many graphics to a slide, however. |
Make labels for charts and graphs understandable. | Use only enough text to make label elements in a chart or graph comprehensible. |
Make slide backgrounds subtle and keep them consistent. | Choose an appealing, consistent template or theme that is not too eye-catching. You don't want the background or design to detract from your message. See . For information about using themes, see . |
Use high contrast between background color and text color. | Themes automatically set the contrast between a light background with dark colored text or dark background with light colored text. See . |
Check the spelling and grammar. | To earn and maintain the respect of your audience, always check the spelling and grammar in your presentation. |
Top of Page
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Show up early and verify that your equipment works properly. | Make sure that all equipment is connected and running. |
Don't assume that your presentation will work fine on another computer. | Disk failures, software version mismatches, lack of disk space, low memory, and many other factors can ruin a presentation. Turn off screen savers, and ensure you have the appropriate files and versions of software that you need, including PowerPoint. To ensure all files are accounted for when you copy them to a USB drive and carry them to your presentation location, see Consider storing your presentation on OneDrive so it can be accessible to you from any device with an internet connection. |
Verify that the projector's resolution is the same as the computer on which you created your presentation. | If the resolutions don't match, your slides may be cropped, or other display problems can occur. |
Turn your screen saver off. | Keep your audience focused on the content of your presentation. |
Check all colors on a projection screen before giving the actual presentation. | The colors may project differently than what appears on your monitor. |
Ask your audience to hold questions until the end. | Questions are an excellent indicator that people are engaged by your subject matter and presentation skills. But if you save questions until the end of the presentation, you will get through your material uninterrupted. Also, early questions are often answered by ensuing slides and commentary. |
Avoid moving the pointer unconsciously. | When you are not using the pointer, remove your hand from the mouse. This helps to stop you from moving the pointer unconsciously, which can be distracting. |
Don't read the presentation. | Practice the presentation so that you can speak from bullet points. The text should be a cue for the presenter rather than the full message for the audience. |
Stay on time. | If you plan a certain amount of time for your presentation, do not go over. If there is no time limit, take less time rather than more to ensure that people stay engaged. |
Monitor your audience's behavior. | Each time that you deliver a presentation, monitor your audience's behavior. If you observe people focusing on your slides, the slides may contain too much data or be confusing or distracting in some other way. Use the information you learn each time to improve your future presentations. |
Practice makes perfect. | Consider rehearsing your presentation with . |
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Introducing Key Metrics Free, a versatile PowerPoint presentation template designed to elevate your data-driven presentations with ease and style. This fully editable and customizable template allows users to seamlessly integrate key performance indicators, financial metrics, and other essential data points into their presentations, ensuring that your audience grasps the core insights at a glance. With a user-friendly interface, you can effortlessly modify colors, fonts, and layouts to align with your brand identity or personal preferences.Key Metrics Free is perfect for a variety of use cases, including business meetings, investor pitches, project updates, and academic presentations. Whether you're a startup showcasing your growth metrics, a corporate team analyzing quarterly performance, or a researcher presenting statistical findings, this template provides the ideal framework to communicate your data effectively. Its clean design and intuitive structure not only enhance visual appeal but also facilitate better understanding and retention of information. With Key Metrics Free, you can create impactful presentations that resonate with your audience, making complex data accessible and engaging. Unlock the potential of your presentations today and convey your key metrics with clarity and professionalism!
This slide focuses on the comparative assessment with the help of product metrics with key competitors such as product uniqueness, technical performance, timely launch, reasonable costs, etc. Present the topic in a bit more detail with this Best Practices Improve Product Development Comparing Product Metrics Key. Use it as a tool for discussion and navigation on Product Uniqueness, Technical Performance, Met Quality Guidelines, Timely Launch. This template is free to edit as deemed fit for your organization. Therefore download it now.
This slide focuses on the comparative assessment with the help of product metrics with key competitors such as product uniqueness, technical performance, timely launch, reasonable costs, etc.
This slide outlines the critical energy efficiency metrics to measure the industrial process performance, such as energy intensity, specific energy consumption, etc. Present the topic in a bit more detail with this Key Energy Efficiency Metrics For Process Performance. Use it as a tool for discussion and navigation on Energy Intensity, Specific Energy Consumption, Energy Utilization Index. This template is free to edit as deemed fit for your organization. Therefore download it now.
This slide outlines the critical energy efficiency metrics to measure the industrial process performance, such as energy intensity, specific energy consumption, etc.
The following dashboard displays the key business metrics such as new customers, profit, revenue per customer, and weekly revenue. Present the topic in a bit more detail with this Key Business Metrics Dashboard Business Process Management And Optimization Playbook. Use it as a tool for discussion and navigation on Average Revenue, Key Business, Metrics Dashboard. This template is free to edit as deemed fit for your organization. Therefore download it now.
The following dashboard displays the key business metrics such as new customers, profit, revenue per customer, and weekly revenue.
The following dashboard displays the key business metrics such as new customers, profit, revenue per customer, and weekly revenue. Present the topic in a bit more detail with this Key Business Metrics Dashboard Snapshot Corporate Business Playbook. Use it as a tool for discussion and navigation on Key Business Metrics Dashboard. This template is free to edit as deemed fit for your organization. Therefore download it now.
This slide shows the various performance assessment parameters of the consultancy company which includes availability, performance, maintenance, delivery adherence and trends.Present the topic in a bit more detail with this Dashboards Key Metrics Of Performance Assessment Inefficient Business. Use it as a tool for discussion and navigation on Dashboards Key Metrics Of Performance Assessment. This template is free to edit as deemed fit for your organization. Therefore download it now.
This slide shows the various performance assessment parameters of the consultancy company which includes availability, performance, maintenance, delivery adherence and trends.
This slide highlights KPIs for measuring success of B2B SaaS onboarding. The purpose of this template is to help businesses in monitoring and assessing the success of onboarding efforts. It includes elements such as retention rate, completion rate, free trial conversion rate, etc. Introducing our Key Metrics For Tracking B2B Saas Onboarding Success set of slides. The topics discussed in these slides are Adoption Rate Of New Features, Free Trial Conversion Rate, Monthly Active Users. This is an immediately available PowerPoint presentation that can be conveniently customized. Download it and convince your audience.
This slide highlights KPIs for measuring success of B2B SaaS onboarding. The purpose of this template is to help businesses in monitoring and assessing the success of onboarding efforts. It includes elements such as retention rate, completion rate, free trial conversion rate, etc.
This slide focuses on the comparative assessment with the help of product metrics with key competitors such as product uniqueness, technical performance, timely launch, reasonable costs, etc. Present the topic in a bit more detail with this Comparing Product Metrics With Key Competitors Strategic Product Planning. Use it as a tool for discussion and navigation on Product Uniqueness, Technical Performance, Met Quality Guidelines, Timely Launch, Delivers Customer Needs. This template is free to edit as deemed fit for your organization. Therefore download it now.
The following slide depicts the key metrics to evaluate campaign performance to track planned and actual results. It also includes elements such as click through and bounce rate, cost per click, quality score, paid and organic social media etc. Present the topic in a bit more detail with this Measure Campaign Results With Key Metrics Paid Advertising Campaign Management. Use it as a tool for discussion and navigation on Email Metrics, Paid Social Media Metrics. This template is free to edit as deemed fit for your organization. Therefore download it now.
The following slide depicts the key metrics to evaluate campaign performance to track planned and actual results. It also includes elements such as click through and bounce rate, cost per click, quality score, paid and organic social media etc.
This slide shows the dashboard that depicts the metrics for measuring employee performance which includes talent satisfaction, talent turnover rate, rating, etc. Present the topic in a bit more detail with this Automating Key Tasks Resource Manager Dashboard Showing Employee Measurement Metrics. Use it as a tool for discussion and navigation on Dashboard Showing Employee Measurement Metrics. This template is free to edit as deemed fit for your organization. Therefore download it now.
This slide shows the dashboard that depicts the metrics for measuring employee performance which includes talent satisfaction, talent turnover rate, rating, etc.
This slide represents the key performance indicators to track and monitor the performance of ecommerce website to draw effective strategies to tackle the problems. It includes key metrics for ecommerce website performance measurement such as average order value and shopping cart abandonment rate. Present the topic in a bit more detail with this Key Metrics To Measure Current Performance Implementing Ecommerce Management. Use it as a tool for discussion and navigation on Metrics, Current Performance, Ecommerce Website. This template is free to edit as deemed fit for your organization. Therefore download it now.
This slide represents the key performance indicators to track and monitor the performance of ecommerce website to draw effective strategies to tackle the problems. It includes key metrics for ecommerce website performance measurement such as average order value and shopping cart abandonment rate.
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To do this. Press. Start a presentation from the beginning. F5. Start a presentation from the current slide. Shift+F5. Start the presentation in Presenter View. Alt+F5. Perform the next animation or advance to the next slide.
Frequently used shortcuts. The following table itemizes the most frequently used shortcuts in PowerPoint. To do this. Press. Create new presentation. Ctrl+N. Add a new slide. Ctrl+M. Apply bold formatting to the selected text.
On the other hand, "Alt+N,P" means you should hold the Alt key down, press the N key, release the N key, press the P key, and then release all keys. General Program Shortcuts First, let's review some general keyboard shortcuts for opening, closing, and switching between presentations, as well as navigating the Ribbon.
Press Shift+F5. 3. Start the presentation in Presenter View using a function key. Press Alt + F5. 4. Start a presentation from the beginning using key tips. Press Alt > S > B (press Alt, then S, then B). 5. Start a presentation from the current slide using key tips.
If this happens to you often, these are the PowerPoint shortcuts you need for a quick text alignment before starting your slide show: Use "Ctrl + J" to justify your text. Press "Ctrl+E" to center the text. Use "Ctrl+L" for left alignment. Press "Ctrl+R" to right-align your text.
PowerPoint Shortcuts. Highlight and Promote the paragraph. Alt + Shift + Left Arrow key. Highlight and Demote the paragraph. Alt + Shift + Right Arrow key. Move up paragraph. Alt + Shift + Up Arrow key. Move down paragraph. Alt + Shift + Down Arrow key.
Ctrl + L: Left align text.\. Ctrl + R: Right align text.\. Ctrl + M: Insert a new slide.\. Ctrl + D: Duplicate currently selected slide.\. Ctrl + H: Show or hide the Ribbon. These shortcuts can save you a lot of time and effort, especially if you're working on a large presentation. To view a full list of keyboard shortcuts for PowerPoint, you ...
The answer is yes, you just need to make use of all the handy shortcuts that PowerPoint offers. We've put together a list of all the best PowerPoint keyboard shortcuts so that you can navigate, create, and present your presentations with ease. FREE DOWNLOAD: This cheat sheet is available as a downloadable PDF from our distribution partner ...
Step up your PowerPoint game. Download our print-ready shortcut cheatsheet for PowerPoint. For those of you unfamiliar with the term, keyboard shortcuts are a combination of two or more keys that trigger a specific action. You probably use your mouse for a lot of these actions, which is time-consuming when compared to the alternative.
SeventyFour/Getty Images Open a presentation: Press Ctrl + O to open an existing PowerPoint presentation. Create a new presentation: Press Ctrl + N to create a new presentation.
Your key takeaways are arguably the most important part of your presentation. Highlight these main points at the end of your PowerPoint ― or, for longer presentations, at the end of each section ― to help your audience remember them. Generating your key takeaways in the outlining stage can also help you structure your slide content. 10.
Share and collaborate. Start with Microsoft Copilot. Generate a presentation outline instantly with Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365. Expand your ideas. Ask for more information or a new slide on your topic directly through Copilot in PowerPoint. Use a free template. Choose from thousands of customizable templates to kickstart your slideshow.
Shift+F5. To begin the slideshow from the current slide, press Shift+F5. In other words, press the Shift and F5 keys at the same time. 3. Spacebar, N, or Right Arrow. When you are ready to advance to the next slide or perform the next animation, you can press any of the following: the Spacebar, the N key, or the right arrow key. 4.
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.
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!
Microsoft PowerPoint is a presentation design software that is part of Microsoft 365. This software allows you to design presentations by combining text, images, graphics, video, and animation on slides in a simple and intuitive way. Over time, PowerPoint has evolved and improved its accessibility to users.
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.
Select the text. Under Drawing Tools, choose Format. Do one of the following: To change the color of your text, choose Text Fill, and then choose a color. To change the outline color of your text, choose Text Outline, and then choose a color. To apply a shadow, reflection, glow, bevel, 3-D rotation, a transform, choose Text Effects, and then ...
Shortcut keys for inserting and managing layouts in PowerPoint can greatly speed up the creation and editing of your presentations. Ctrl + M: Insert a new slide. Ctrl + D: Duplicate the selected slide. Ctrl + Enter: Insert a new slide with the same layout as the current slide.
1. Keep it simple. Keep your slides simple. It's the visual backdrop to what you are going to say. The most recommended PowerPoint tip for your productivity is called simplicity. You may be tempted by the graphical razzmatazz of beautiful images, background, and charts. At the end of the day, PowerPoint is a background visual aid for your talk.
Tips for creating an effective presentation. Tip. Details. Choose a font style that your audience can read from a distance. Choosing a simple font style, such as Arial or Calibri, helps to get your message across. Avoid very thin or decorative fonts that might impair readability, especially at small sizes. Choose a font size that your audience ...
Introducing Key Metrics Free, a versatile PowerPoint presentation template designed to elevate your data-driven presentations with ease and style. This fully editable and customizable template allows users to seamlessly integrate key performance indicators, financial metrics, and other essential data points into their presentations, ensuring ...