How to make a presentation: the best tools and tips

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

This guide will help you structure information and convey it to your audience.

What tools to use

1. Microsoft PowerPoint

Platforms: Windows, macOS, web, Android and iOS.

Price: free trial or subscription from 269 rubles per month.

The most popular presentation program has a fairly simple interface and is supported on different devices. Multiplatformity is perhaps the main advantage of Microsoft's program. When it comes to visuals, templates don't always follow design trends.

PowerPoint allows you to edit slide backgrounds and templates, use different fonts and fonts (many of them in Russian), and embed media.

You can save the finished presentation in different formats, including PPTX, PPT and PDF.

2. Google Slides

• Platforms: web, Chrome, Android and iOS.
• Price: is free.

The service is suitable if you need to quickly assemble a standard presentation with a modern design, but without a lot of creativity. The designs are divided into three groups: "Personal", "Education", "Business". In total, there are about 20 different templates available - it's optimal to choose the right one and not get stuck looking through the options. For those who prefer their own design, there is the option to create slides from scratch.

You can add charts, graphs and videos (only with Google Drive and YouTube). Conveniently, you can edit the presentation both online and offline: when the Internet is connected, the content is automatically synchronized. The finished presentation can be downloaded in popular formats: PDF, PPT,-j.webp

3. Canva

• Platforms: web, iOS.
• Price: free or from $ 12.95 per month.

One of the most popular online presentation services offers many slide templates. There are both free and paid ones (it's not clear why, because you can almost always find a free analogue). Conveniently, each of them is easy to customize, changing beyond recognition. You can customize everything: add or remove objects, choose colors, icons and fonts. You can change the size of slides in the paid version of the subscription.

Canva supports Russian fonts, but there are not many of them. The finished presentation can be downloaded in PDF,-p.webp

4. Crello

• Platforms: web.
• Price: is free.

An analogue of Canva with an even more user-friendly interface and full support for Russian fonts.

There are many design multi-page templates available, each of which can be customized in its own way: change colors, add or remove elements, labels, images. The gallery is constantly being updated, so you can always find something new.

You can search for images directly in Crello: there is a search for paid and free photos and the ability to upload your own.

By default, the service supports many Russian fonts. It is also possible to add your own. You just need to load it once, and the font will appear in the drop-down list.

The finished presentation can be saved in JPG,-p.webp

5. Tilda

• Platforms: web.
• Price: free of charge or from 500 rubles per month.

Initially, the service is designed for quick and easy layout of websites and landing pages, but it can also be used for presentations.

The main feature is an intuitive Russian-language interface and the ability to work without knowing the code. All actions are performed in the visual editor by adding new blocks. All templates were developed by professionals taking into account design trends.

Tilda supports beautiful Russian fonts, so there will be no problem with that.

When the presentation in the form of a one-page site is ready, you need to make it page by page and make edits in any PDF editor on your computer (if necessary).

6. Visme

• Platforms: web.
• Price: free or from $ 12 per month.

A pleasant English-language interface still takes a little time to figure it out. However, after that, it will be possible to collect presentations quickly.

The service is suitable for creating presentations with beautiful infographics - you can do it right here. At your disposal - more than 100 free fonts (not very many Russian), many free images and icons. You can also add video and audio.

There are not many slide templates in the free version, but this is enough for ordinary tasks.

A feature of Visme is the ability to animate content. The finished presentation can be saved in JPG, PNG, PDF or HTML5 format.

7. Prezi

• Platforms: Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.
• Price: from $ 5 per month.

This service allows you to abandon the standard slide format and make a presentation in the form of a large map. You can just switch between topics, rather than flip pages.

The map is rendered in high resolution, so the content is easy to read when zooming in. Available templates from designers, you can download and use your multimedia materials (audio, video, animation, slides from PowerPoint). Conveniently, several people can edit the presentation at once. It is also possible to edit offline.

There are few Russian fonts, but all the basic ones are there.

Prezi is a paid program, but you can test it for free. The finished presentation can be stored in the cloud or saved to your computer in the desired format.

8. Keynote

• Platforms: web, macOS, iOS.
• Price: is free.

One of the most popular services among Apple device owners. When there is such a standard tool, you don't have to look for anything else. Many users agree that Keynote has a simpler interface than the legendary PowerPoint.

The web version of Keynote is available for owners of any device (you will need to enter or register an Apple ID by opening the site in a browser).

The library has many beautiful and concise templates that can be optimized for content and tasks. ICloud sync allows multiple users to simultaneously edit a presentation in real time.

Conveniently, you can download a presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint format (PPTX and PPT), make changes, and then save it in the desired format, which is readable not only on Apple gadgets (PDF).

What to include in your presentation

1. Tell a story

History is much more interesting to listen to than dry listing of facts, excerpts from books and statistics. Turn your presentation into engaging imaginative storytelling. This is how the necessary information will be remembered by the listeners.

2. Think over the structure

You need to understand what your presentation will be about and how you will convey the information to the audience even before you start collecting the document in one of the services. As attractive as the design may be, if the structure is lame and the facts are presented randomly, this is unlikely to work.

3. Give preference to images

Today, not everyone likes to read. If the text can be replaced with images, do so. Use icons, beautiful photographs, quality diagrams and diagrams. Looking at them is more interesting than reading a large amount of text.

4. Remove all unnecessary

If something can be abandoned without sacrificing meaning, feel free to do it. By cutting out everything unnecessary, shortening the text, removing distracting effects, you more accurately articulate your thoughts. The clearer your message, the easier it is for your audience to perceive it.

How to design a presentation

1. Forget about outdated PowerPoint templates

While a PowerPoint presentation used to look normal, it looks outdated with more winning templates. If you plan to use and edit the presentation in the future, it is better to assemble a "skeleton" from templates in one of the above services once or create your own. Then it will only be necessary to change the content in them - it will not take much time, but it will allow you to present the material beautifully.

2. Use 3-5 colors

This is a rule that avoids overly colorful design that distracts from the content of the presentation.

There are three base colors and two complementary (shades of the primary colors, they are used as needed). The first color is used for the background, the second and third for the text. The colors used for the text should be contrasting so the content will be easy to read.

Typically, your company's corporate colors are among the primary colors. If there are none, you can use the color matching.

3. Add line and flat icons

Voluminous low-quality icons seem to say: "The person who made this presentation was stuck in the 2000s."

Flat, minimalistic icons will make your presentation more modern and concise, allowing you to clearly present information. There are thousands of options for stylish icons that you can download for free.

4. Use sans serif fonts

If you're not a professional designer, it's best to choose simple, readable sans-serif fonts. This is a versatile option for any presentation. Here are some examples to consider:

• Arial;
• Arial Narrow;
• Arial Black (for titles);
• Calibri;
• Bebas (for titles);
• Roboto;
• Helvetica;
• Open Sans.

In one presentation, it is better to use one group of fonts and change only the style.

5. Choose only high quality images

People will judge your taste by what images you choose for your presentation. Today, when there are so many open sources, it is not always possible to properly dispose of them. This is best avoided:

• pictures from search engines;
• images with strained smiles of people and a white background from the drains;
• low resolution pictures (less than 1000 pixels on the long side).

Look for photos on free photo stocks. There are many of them, there you can find the desired picture in most cases.

6. Insert beautiful tables and charts

All the rules described above apply to this point as well. When making a chart, choose the right colors, get rid of unnecessary content and save the result in high resolution. Any table or chart in your presentation should be simple, straightforward, and concise. It is better to leave the background white.

How to give a presentation

1. Rehearse

Rehearsal is a good way to deal with anxiety and once again organize the information for yourself. Speaking in front of a mirror or colleagues will help you to be more confident. If possible, use Presenter View (such as Keynote). In this mode, during the presentation, slide notes, timing, next slide and other useful information will be displayed on your computer screen.

2. Talk to your audience

A successful presentation is a dialogue, not a monologue. Ask participants what they think about this or that matter, whether they agree with you, or whether they have a different opinion. Interactive will make the presentation not only more memorable, but also more productive - both for the speaker and for the audience.

3. Remember the timing

As a rule, the time required for a presentation is calculated from the ratio of 1 minute = 1 slide. So, if you have 20 slides, the presentation will take at least 20 minutes. Keep track of the time, because too fast presentation of material will not be effective, and the audience will not like a protracted presentation.