how do i make a powerpoint presentation for beginners

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How to Make a PowerPoint Presentation (Step-by-Step)

• PowerPoint Tutorials
• Presentation Design
• January 22, 2024

In this beginner’s guide, you will learn step-by-step how to make a PowerPoint presentation from scratch.

While PowerPoint is designed to be intuitive and accessible, it can be overwhelming if you’ve never gotten any training on it before. As you progress through this guide, you’ll will learn how to move from blank slides to PowerPoint slides that look like these.

Table of Contents

Additionally, as you create your presentation, you’ll also learn tricks for working more efficiently in PowerPoint, including how to:

• Change the slide order
• Reset your layout
• Change the slide dimensions
• Use PowerPoint Designer
• Format text
• Format objects
• Play a presentation (slide show)

With this knowledge under your belt, you’ll be ready to start creating PowerPoint presentations. Moreover, you’ll have taken your skills from beginner to proficient in no time at all. I will also include links to more advanced PowerPoint topics.

Ready to start learning how to make a PowerPoint presentation?

Take your PPT skills to the next level

Start with a blank presentation.

Note: Before you open PowerPoint and start creating your presentation, make sure you’ve collected your thoughts. If you’re going to make your slides compelling, you need to spend some time brainstorming.

For help with this, see our article with tips for nailing your business presentation  here .

The first thing you’ll need to do is to open PowerPoint. When you do, you are shown the Start Menu , with the Home tab open.

This is where you can choose either a blank theme (1) or a pre-built theme (2). You can also choose to open an existing presentation (3).

For now, go ahead and click on the  Blank Presentation (1)  thumbnail.

Doing so launches a brand new and blank presentation for you to work with. Before you start adding content to your presentation, let’s first familiarize ourselves with the PowerPoint interface.

The PowerPoint interface

Here is how the program is laid out:

• The Application Header
• The Ribbon (including the Ribbon tabs)
• The Quick Access Toolbar (either above or below the Ribbon)
• The Slides Pane (slide thumbnails)

The Slide Area

The notes pane.

• The Status Bar (including the View Buttons)

Each one of these areas has options for viewing certain parts of the PowerPoint environment and formatting your presentation.

Below are the important things to know about certain elements of the PowerPoint interface.

The PowerPoint Ribbon

The Ribbon is contextual. That means that it will adapt to what you’re doing in the program.

For example, the Font, Paragraph and Drawing options are greyed out until you select something that has text in it, as in the example below (A).

Furthermore, if you start manipulating certain objects, the Ribbon will display additional tabs, as seen above (B), with more commands and features to help you work with those objects. The following objects have their own additional tabs in the Ribbon which are hidden until you select them:

• Online Pictures
• Screenshots
• Screen Recording

The Slides Pane

This is where you can preview and rearrange all the slides in your presentation.

Right-clicking on a slide  in the pane gives you additional options on the slide level that you won’t find on the Ribbon, such as  Duplicate Slide ,  Delete Slide , and  Hide Slide .

In addition, you can add sections to your presentation by  right-clicking anywhere in this Pane  and selecting  Add Section . Sections are extremely helpful in large presentations, as they allow you to organize your slides into chunks that you can then rearrange, print or display differently from other slides.

The Slide Area (A) is where you will build out your slides. Anything within the bounds of this area will be visible when you present or print your presentation.

Anything outside of this area (B) will be hidden from view. This means that you can place things here, such as instructions for each slide, without worrying about them being shown to your audience.

The  Notes Pane  is the space beneath the Slide Area where you can type in the speaker notes for each slide. It’s designed as a fast way to add and edit your slides’ talking points.

To expand your knowledge and learn more about adding, printing, and exporting your PowerPoint speaker notes, read our guide here .

Your speaker notes are visible when you print your slides using the Notes Pages option and when you use the Presenter View . To expand your knowledge and learn the ins and outs of using the Presenter View , read our guide here .

You can resize the  Notes Pane  by clicking on its edge and dragging it up or down (A). You can also minimize or reopen it by clicking on the Notes button in the Status Bar (B).

Note:  Not all text formatting displays in the Notes Pane, even though it will show up when printing your speaker notes. To learn more about printing PowerPoint with notes, read our guide here .

Now that you have a basic grasp of the PowerPoint interface at your disposal, it’s time to make your presentation.

Adding Content to Your PowerPoint Presentation

Notice that in the Slide Area , there are two rectangles with dotted outlines. These are called  Placeholders  and they’re set on the template in the Slide Master View .

To expand your knowledge and learn how to create a PowerPoint template of your own (which is no small task), read our guide here .

As the prompt text suggests, you can click into each placeholder and start typing text. These types of placeholder prompts are customizable too. That means that if you are using a company template, it might say something different, but the functionality is the same.

Note:  For the purposes of this example, I will create a presentation based on the content in the Starbucks 2018 Global Social Impact Report, which is available to the public on their website.

If you type in more text than there is room for, PowerPoint will automatically reduce its font size. You can stop this behavior by clicking on the  Autofit Options  icon to the left of the placeholder and selecting  Stop Fitting Text to this Placeholder .

Next, you can make formatting adjustments to your text by selecting the commands in the Font area and the  Paragraph area  of the  Home  tab of the Ribbon.

The Reset Command:  If you make any changes to your title and decide you want to go back to how it was originally, you can use the Reset button up in the Home tab .

Insert More Slides into Your Presentation

Now that you have your title slide filled in, it’s time to add more slides. To do that, simply go up to the  Home tab  and click on  New Slide . This inserts a new slide in your presentation right after the one you were on.

You can alternatively hit Ctrl+M on your keyboard to insert a new blank slide in PowerPoint. To learn more about this shortcut, see my guide on using Ctrl+M in PowerPoint .

Instead of clicking the New Slide command, you can also open the New Slide dropdown to see all the slide layouts in your PowerPoint template. Depending on who created your template, your layouts in this dropdown can be radically different.

If you insert a layout and later want to change it to a different layout, you can use the Layout dropdown instead of the New Slide dropdown.

After inserting a few different slide layouts, your presentation might look like the following picture. Don’t worry that it looks blank, next we will start adding content to your presentation.

If you want to follow along exactly with me, your five slides should be as follows:

• Title Slide
• Title and Content
• Section Header
• Two Content
• Picture with Caption

Adding Content to Your Slides

Now let’s go into each slide and start adding our content. You’ll notice some new types of placeholders.

On slide 2 we have a  Content Placeholder , which allows you to add any kind of content. That includes:

• A SmartArt graphic,
• A 3D object,
• A picture from the web,
• Or an icon.

To insert text, simply type it in or hit  Ctrl+C to Copy  and Ctrl+V to Paste  from elsewhere. To insert any of the other objects, click on the appropriate icon and follow the steps to insert it.

For my example, I’ll simply type in some text as you can see in the picture below.

Slides 3 and 4 only have text placeholders, so I’ll go ahead and add in my text into each one.

On slide 5 we have a Picture Placeholder . That means that the only elements that can go into it are:

• A picture from the web

To insert a picture into the picture placeholder, simply:

• Click on the  Picture  icon
• Find  a picture on your computer and select it
• Click on  Insert

Alternatively, if you already have a picture open somewhere else, you can select the placeholder and paste in (shortcut: Ctrl+V ) the picture. You can also drag the picture in from a file explorer window.

If you do not like the background of the picture you inserted onto your slide, you can remove the background here in PowerPoint. To see how to do this, read my guide here .

Placeholders aren’t the only way to add content to your slides. At any point, you can use the Insert tab to add elements to your slides.

You can use either the Title Only  or the  Blank  slide layout to create slides for content that’s different. For example, a three-layout content slide, or a single picture divider slide, as shown below.

In the first example above, I’ve inserted 6 text boxes, 3 icons, and 3 circles to create this layout. In the second example, I’ve inserted a full-sized picture and then 2 shapes and 2 text boxes.

The Reset Command:  Because these slides are built with shapes and text boxes (and not placeholders), hitting the  Reset button up in the  Home tab  won’t do anything.

That is a good thing if you don’t want your layouts to adjust. However, it does mean that it falls on you to make sure everything is aligned and positioned correctly.

For more on how to add and manipulate the different objects in PowerPoint, check out our step-by-step articles here:

• Using graphics in PowerPoint
• Inserting icons onto slides
• Adding pictures to your PowerPoint
• How to embed a video in PowerPoint
• How to add music to your presentation

Using Designer to generate more layouts ideas

If you have Office 365, your version of PowerPoint comes with a new feature called Designer (or Design Ideas). This is a feature that generates slide layout ideas for you. The coolest thing about this feature is that it uses the content you already have.

To use Designer , simply navigate to the  Design tab  in your Ribbon, and click on  Design Ideas .

NOTE: If the PowerPoint Designer is not working for you (it is grey out), see my troubleshooting guide for Designer .

Change the Overall Design (optional)

When you make a PowerPoint presentation, you’ll want to think about the overall design. Now that you have some content in your presentation, you can use the Design tab to change the look and feel of your slides.

For additional help thinking through the design of your presentation,  read my guide here .

A. Picking your PowerPoint slide size

If you have PowerPoint 2013 or later, when you create a blank document in PowerPoint, you automatically start with a widescreen layout with a 16:9 ratio. These dimensions are suitable for most presentations as they match the screens of most computers and projectors.

However, you do have the option to change the dimensions.

For example, your presentation might not be presented, but instead converted into a PDF or printed and distributed. In that case, you can easily switch to the standard dimensions with a 4:3 ratio by selecting from the dropdown (A).

You can also choose a custom slide size or change the slide orientation from landscape to portrait in the Custom Slide Size dialog box (B).

To learn all about the different PowerPoint slide sizes, and some of the issues you will face when changing the slide size of a non-blank presentation,  read my guide here .

 B. Selecting a PowerPoint theme

The next thing you can do is change the theme of your presentation to a pre-built one. For a detailed explanation of what a PowerPoint theme is, and how to best use it,  read my article here .

In the beginning of this tutorial, we started with a blank presentation, which uses the default Office theme as you can see in the picture below.

That gives you the most flexibility because it has a blank background and quite simple layouts that work for most presentations. However, it also means that it’s your responsibility to enhance the design.

If you’re comfortable with this, you can stay with the default theme or create your own custom theme ( read my guide here ). But if you would rather not have to think about design, then you can choose a pre-designed theme.

Microsoft provides 46 other pre-built themes, which include slide layouts, color variants and palettes, and fonts. Each one varies quite significantly, so make sure you look through them carefully.

To select a different theme, go to the  Design tab  in the Ribbon, and click on the  dropdown arrow  in the  Themes section .

For this tutorial, let’s select the  Frame  theme and then choose the third Variant in the theme. Doing so changes the layout, colors, and fonts of your presentation.

Note: The theme dropdown area is also where you can import or save custom themes. To see my favorite places to find professional PowerPoint templates and themes (and recommendations for why I like them), read my guide here .

C. How to change a slide background in PowerPoint

The next thing to decide is how you want your background to look for the entire presentation. In the  Variants area, you can see four background options.

For this example, we want our presentation to have a dark background, so let’s select Style 3. When you do so, you’ll notice that:

• The background color automatically changes across all slides
• The color of the text on most of the slides automatically changes to white so that it’s visible on the dark background
• The colors of the objects on slides #6 and #7 also adjust, in a way we may not want (we’ll likely have to make some manual adjustments to these slides)

Note: If you want to change the slide background for just that one slide, don’t left-click the style. Instead, right-click it and select Apply to Selected Slides .

After you change the background for your entire presentation, you can easily adjust the background for an individual slide.

Inside the Format Background pane, you can see you have the following options:

• Gradient fill
• Picture or texture fill
• Pattern fill
• Hide background

You can explore these options to find the PowerPoint background that best fits your presentation.

D. How to change your color palette in PowerPoint

Another thing you may want to adjust in your presentation, is the color scheme. In the picture below you can see the Theme Colors we are currently using for this presentation.

Each PowerPoint theme comes with its own color palette. By default, the Office theme includes the Office color palette. This affects the colors you are presented with when you format any element within your presentation (text, shapes, SmartArt, etc.).

The good news is that the colors here are easy to change. To switch color palettes, simply:

• Go to the  Design tab in the Ribbon
• In the Variants area, click on the  dropdown arrow  and select  Colors
• Select  the color palette (or theme colors) you want

You can choose among the pre-built color palettes from Office, or you can customize them to create your own.

As you build your presentation, make sure you use the colors from your theme to format objects. That way, changing the color palette adjusts all the colors in your presentation automatically.

E. How to change your fonts in PowerPoint

Just as we changed the color palette, you can do the same for the fonts.

Each PowerPoint theme comes with its own font combination. By default, the Office theme includes the Office font pairing. This affects the fonts that are automatically assigned to all text in your presentation.

The good news is that the font pairings are easy to change. To switch your Theme Fonts, simply:

• Go to the  Design tab  in the Ribbon
• Click on the  dropdown arrow  in the  Variants  area
• Select  Fonts
• Select  the font pairing you want

You can choose among the pre-built fonts from Office, or you can customize them to create your own.

If you are working with PowerPoint presentations on both Mac and PC computers, make sure you choose a safe PowerPoint font. To see a list of the safest PowerPoint fonts, read our guide here .

If you receive a PowerPoint presentation and the wrong fonts were used, you can use the Replace Fonts dialog box to change the fonts across your entire presentation. For details, read our guide here .

Adding Animations & Transitions (optional)

The final step to make a PowerPoint presentation compelling, is to consider using animations and transitions. These are by no means necessary to a good presentation, but they may be helpful in your situation.

A. Adding PowerPoint animations

PowerPoint has an incredibly robust animations engine designed to power your creativity. That being said, it’s also easy to get started with basic animations.

Animations are movements that you can apply to individual objects on your slide.

To add a PowerPoint animation to an element of your slide, simply:

• Select the  element
• Go to the  Animations tab in the Ribbon
• Click on the  dropdown arrow  to view your options
• Select the  animation  you want

You can add animations to multiple objects at one time by selecting them all first and then applying the animation.

B. How to preview a PowerPoint animation

There are three ways to preview a PowerPoint animation:

• Click on the Preview button in the Animations tab
• Click on the little star  next to the slide
• Play the slide in Slide Show Mode

To learn other ways to run your slide show, see our guide on presenting a PowerPoint slide show with shortcuts .

To adjust the settings of your animations, explore the options in the  Effect Options ,  Advanced Animation  and the  Timing  areas of the  Animation tab .

Note:  To see how to make objects appear and disappear in your slides by clicking a button,  read our guide here .

C. How to manage your animations in PowerPoint

The best way to manage lots of animations on your slide is with the Animation Pane . To open it, simply:

• Navigate to the  Animations tab
• Select the  Animation Pane

Inside the Animation Pane, you’ll see all of the different animations that have been applied to objects on your slide, with their numbers marked as pictured above.

Note: To see examples of PowerPoint animations that can use in PowerPoint, see our list of PowerPoint animation tutorials here .

D. How to add transitions to your PowerPoint presentation

PowerPoint has an incredibly robust transition engine so that you can dictate how your slides change from one to the other. It is also extremely easy to add transitions to your slides.

In PowerPoint, transitions are the movements (or effects) you see as you move between two slides.

To add a transition to a PowerPoint slide, simply:

• Select the  slide
• Go to the  Transitions tab in the Ribbon
• In the Transitions to This Slide area, click on the  dropdown arrow  to view your options
• Select the  transition  you want

To adjust the settings of the transition, explore the options in the  Timing  area of the Transitions tab.

You can also add the same transition to multiple slides. To do that, select them in the  Slides Pane  and apply the transition.

E. How to preview a transition in PowerPoint

There are three ways to preview your PowerPoint transitions (just like your animations):

• Click on the Preview  button in the Transitions tab
• Click on the little star  beneath the slide number in the thumbnail view

Note:  In 2016, PowerPoint added a cool new transition, called Morph. It operates a bit differently from other transitions. For a detailed tutorial on how to use the cool Morph transition,  see our step-by-step article here .

Save Your PowerPoint Presentation

After you’ve built your presentation and made all the adjustments to your slides, you’ll want to save your presentation. YOu can do this several different ways.

To save a PowerPoint presentation using your Ribbon, simply:

• Navigate to the  File tab
•  Select  Save As  on the left
• Choose  where you want to save your presentation
• Name  your presentation and/or adjust your file type settings
• Click  Save

You can alternatively use the  Ctrl+S keyboard shortcut to save your presentation. I recommend using this shortcut frequently as you build your presentation to make sure you don’t lose any of your work.

This is the standard way to save a presentation. However, there may be a situation where you want to save your presentation as a different file type.

To learn how to save your presentation as a PDF, see our guide on converting PowerPoint to a PDF .

How to save your PowerPoint presentation as a template

Once you’ve created a presentation that you like, you may want to turn it into a template. The easiest – but not technically correct – way, is to simply create a copy of your current presentation and then change the content.

But be careful! A PowerPoint template is a special type of document and it has its own parameters and behaviors.

If you’re interested in learning about how to create your own PowerPoint template from scratch, see our guide on how to create a PowerPoint template .

Printing Your PowerPoint Presentation

After finishing your PowerPoint presentation, you may want to print it out on paper. Printing your slides is relatively easy.

To open the Print dialog box, you can either:

• Hit Ctrl+P on your keyboard
• Or go to the Ribbon and click on File and then Print

Inside the Print dialog box, you can choose from the various printing settings:

• Printer: Select a printer to use (or print to PDF or OneNote)
• Slides: Choose which slides you want to print
• Layout: Determine how many slides you want per page (this is where you can print the notes, outline, and handouts)
• Collated or uncollated (learn what collated printing means here )
• Color: Choose to print in color, grayscale or black & white

There are many more options for printing your PowerPoint presentations. Here are links to more in-depth articles:

• How to print multiple slides per page
• How to print your speaker notes in PowerPoint
• How to save PowerPoint as a picture presentation

So that’s how to create a PowerPoint presentation if you are brand new to it. We’ve also included a ton of links to helpful resources to boost your PowerPoint skills further.

When you are creating your presentation, it is critical to first focus on the content (what you are trying to say) before getting lost inserting and playing with elements. The clearer you are on what you want to present, the easier it will be to build it out in PowerPoint.

If you enjoyed this article, you can learn more about our PowerPoint training courses and other presentation resources by  visiting us here .

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Open PowerPoint.

Select one of the Blank Presentation and start typing. 

Note:  Microsoft 365 subscribers will find Design Ideas based on the words you type. You can browse and select a new look.

Create a presentation from a theme

Select File > New .

Double-click a theme in the gallery to create a presentation in that theme. Or search for more templates.

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How to Use Microsoft Office PowerPoint

Last Updated: August 24, 2023 Approved

This article was co-authored by Mitch Harris . Mitch Harris is a Consumer Technology Expert based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mitch runs his own IT Consulting company called Mitch the Geek, helping individuals and businesses with home office technology, data security, remote support, and cybersecurity compliance. Mitch earned a BS in Psychology, English, and Physics and graduated Cum Laude from Northern Arizona University. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 21 testimonials and 100% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 711,865 times.

PowerPoint gives you the ability to create a powerful visual aid that can help make your presentation the best it can be. See Step 1 below to get started.

Creating a Presentation

• You can edit any aspect of a template, so feel free to choose one that mostly matches your vision and tweak it as you see fit.
• You can apply themes to your project at a later time after you've added content. Click the Design tab and select a theme. It will be immediately applied to your project. You can either undo it (Ctrl + Z) or revert to a blank theme if you don't like it.
• You can access templates from the File tab. Click New and then browse the available templates. You can also download additional templates from a variety of resources online.

• When adding a text box, you can click and drag to make it whatever size you'd like. You can then adjust this later by grabbing one of the corners with your cursor and then clicking and dragging again.
• You can click on any text box and start typing to begin adding text to your presentation. You can format text just as you would in Word, with formatting options available in the Home tab.

Jazzing It Up

• When you pick a transition, it will affect how that slide appears. For example, adding a transition to Slide 2 will affect how Slide 1 transitions into Slide 2. You will be able to see a preview in the slide editing window when you click each transition.
• Don't add too much transitions to your presentation. This can be distracting to the audience and keeps them from focusing on your what is the most important which is your content.

• Right-click on a blank section of your slide and select "Format Background", or click the Design tab and the click the arrow icon next to "Background" on the far right.
• Choose your fill type. You can choose a solid color, a gradient fill, a picture background, or a pattern fill. Selecting each choice will display several options for it, such as fill color, picture location, gradient settings, and more. Experiment until you find the background that fits your presentation.
• By default, the background will only be applied to your active slide. Click the "Apply to All" button to apply your background choices to every slide.
• Make sure that your text is still easily readable with the background you choose.

• Click the Insert tab. There will be a large number of options when it comes to inserting objects. Click the Picture button to insert a picture from a file on your computer. You can click the Photo Album button to insert an entire album of photos into the slide as well.
• Use the Charts button to insert easy-to-read charts that will help the audience understand your data. Once you choose your Chart type, Excel will open, allowing you to enter in your data or copy it from an existing spreadsheet.
• Use the Shapes button to insert pre-made shapes or dray your own. You can use the shapes to outline important text or create arrows and other visual indicators.
• Avoid drowning your presentation with pictures. If it looks too busy, the audience will have a hard time parsing your written information.

• To add a link, place your cursor in a text box and then click the Hyperlink button on the Insert tab. You can choose to link to a file on your computer, a webpage, an email address, or even another slide in your presentation.

• You can drag the video from the PC file or use the Insert menu to add the video. If using the menu, click the Video button in the Insert tab. You will be able to browse your computer for video files. Just make sure the video is in the right format first. PowerPoint will then put it in place in the PowerPoint.
• While it's not as straightforward, you can embed YouTube videos as well. See this guide to learn how.

Making It Memorable

• On a related note, make sure that your font choice is readable as well. Curvy and extravagant fonts may look cool, but they'll make your audience just stop caring if they can't read it.

• Get someone to help you proofread your presentation before you give it. A fresh set of eyes are much more likely to catch mistakes that you gloss over.

• See this guide for more information on giving a successful presentation, either in class or at the office.

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• ↑ http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-20104882-285/how-to-use-powerpoint-effectively/
• ↑ http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/powerpoint-help/basic-tasks-in-powerpoint-2010-HA101824346.aspx#_Toc255815788

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1. Create slideshows from templates or start from scratch. 2. Add transitions between slides. 3. Create solid or gradient backgrounds. 4. Insert images and graphics. 5. Embed video. Did this summary help you? Yes No

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20 Tutorials for Getting Started with PowerPoint

PowerPoint is a powerful application that can help you create stunning slide decks for your presentations. However, with so many features available, it can be overwhelming for first-time users to get started.

That’s why we’ve compiled a collection of the best PowerPoint tutorials to help you quickly learn how to use this program and create professional presentations. Whether you’re new or an experienced user looking to enhance your skills, these resources can help you get the most out of PowerPoint.

Starting with PowerPoint for the first time can be intimidating, but with the help of these tutorials, you’ll become a PowerPoint pro in no time. Use them to create engaging slide decks and deliver your presentations with confidence and style.

With the help of PowerPoint, you can design visually appealing and easy-to-understand slides, making your presentations more effective and memorable. So why not try these tutorials and see how they can help you take your presentation game to the next level?

You might also like our collection of free PowerPoint templates .

The Best Tutorials for Learning PowerPoint

How to learn powerpoint quickly.

In this PowerPoint tutorial, you will learn the basics of working with PowerPoint and go over the main steps of creating a presentation quickly. In the end, the tutorial also covers PowerPoint best practices.

Microsoft PowerPoint Beginners Level 1

This is another beginner-friendly tutorial that will help you learn the ropes quickly. The tutorial covers everything from mastering the ribbon and using various PowerPoint tools to selecting slides and customizing backgrounds.

How to Animate Slide Backgrounds in PowerPoint

Animating a slide background in PowerPoint is not as complex as it sounds, and it can produce exciting results that will capture your audience’s attention. Use this tutorial to learn how it’s done.

How to Make a Funnel Diagram in PowerPoint

It’s a well-known fact that your slides should have minimal text . Learn how to effectively reduce the amount of text you have with infographic elements and how to create them with PowerPoint templates.

How To Make a Venn Diagram in PowerPoint

PowerPoint makes it easy to create a Venn diagram, but the default designs leave a lot to be desired. This tutorial shows you how to create a Venn diagram from scratch.

How to Create Puzzle Pieces in PowerPoint

Use this tutorial to learn how to make puzzle pieces in PowerPoint. It’s a creative way to tell your story and can help engage your audience better.

How to Create a Timeline in PowerPoint

A timeline is a great way to share the story about your company or even your personal accomplishments. Use this tutorial to learn how to make a timeline in PowerPoint from scratch.

How to Make a SWOT Analysis Slide in PowerPoint

A SWOT analysis can be helpful to show how your company stacks up against the competition and works excellent in pitch decks. Learn how to make a crisp-looking SWOT analysis slide with this tutorial.

How to Quickly Make a Decision Tree in PowerPoint

Use a decision tree to show your audience how a specific process works in your company. Use this tutorial to make decision trees that will wow your audience.

How to Create an Animated Instagram Story in PowerPoint

Instagram stories are a great way to connect with your audience, and in this tutorial, you will learn how to make an animated Instagram Story. Use it to get more views on your story and your profile.

How to Quickly Make a Poster In PowerPoint

While PowerPoint is mainly used for presentations, there are several other uses. One such example is using PowerPoint to make a poster, and thanks to this tutorial, you’ll know how to do it quickly.

How to Create Animated Text Typography in PowerPoint

In this PowerPoint animation tutorial, you will learn how to make animated typography and use the gradient fill color. The tutorial also covers converting text into a shape and using the gradient fill option properly.

How To Add a Draft Watermark to PowerPoint Slides

Adding a watermark to your PowerPoint slide design is a nice way to update your team members on the status of your presentation while you wait for approval. This tutorial will show you how to correctly add a ‘DRAFT’ watermark to your slides.

How to Change the Slide Size in PowerPoint

You’ve worked hard on your presentation only to realize it doesn’t look good on the screen once you arrive at the venue. Fix that problem by learning how to properly change the PowerPoint slide size and aspect ratio.

How to Add, Duplicate, Move, Delete or Hide Slides in PowerPoint

If you’ve downloaded a PowerPoint template online to save time making your presentation, you will likely need to rearrange slides and remove those you don’t need. This tutorial walks you through those steps.

How to Export High-Resolution Images from PowerPoint

If you’ve ever tried to export your images from PowerPoint, you’ve probably been disappointed with the result. This tutorial will show you the trick to exporting high-resolution images from your presentations every time.

How to Quickly Change Layouts in PowerPoint

Learn how to quickly change layouts in PowerPoint so you can create a beautiful and visually appealing presentation. Applying a layout also helps ensure everything is aligned correctly, so do check out this tutorial.

How to Link to a Specific Slides in PowerPoint

There are times when you need to quickly move between slides. Instead of scrolling through each slide to reach the one you need, why not create a hyperlink to that specific slide? Learn how in this tutorial.

How to Convert & Insert a PDF to PowerPoint

This tutorial will come in handy for those situations where coworkers insist you add their PDF to your PowerPoint presentation. It covers more than five ways to insert a PDF into PowerPoint.

PowerPoint Tips and Tricks

This quick tutorial will cover the most common PowerPoint tips and tricks that many people forget yet are helpful when it comes to presentations. These tips will help you become a better presenter.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Can I Learn PowerPoint on My Own with These Tutorials? Absolutely! These tutorials are designed to be user-friendly, allowing beginners to learn at their own pace and gain confidence in creating presentations.
• What Basic Skills Will These Tutorials Cover? Basic skills covered include creating slides, adding text and images, formatting slides, using templates, and basic animations and transitions.
• How Long Does It Take to Learn PowerPoint Through Tutorials? The time varies depending on the individual, but with practice, you can learn the basics in a few hours and continue to improve over time.
• Are These Tutorials Suitable for Creating Professional Presentations? Yes, these tutorials provide the foundational skills needed to create professional-looking presentations for various settings like business, education, or personal use.
• Do I Need Any Special Software to Follow These Tutorials? Of course, you’ll need Microsoft PowerPoint, but no additional special software is required to follow along with these tutorials.
• Can These Tutorials Help Me with Design and Layout Tips? Yes, many tutorials offer tips on effective slide design and layout, helping you create visually appealing presentations.
• Will I Learn How to Add Multimedia Elements in My Presentations? Definitely. Tutorials often cover adding and editing multimedia elements like images, audio, and video in your PowerPoint slides.
• Are There Tutorials That Focus on Advanced PowerPoint Features? While most beginner tutorials cover the basics, there are also tutorials that delve into more advanced features as you progress.
• How Can I Make My Presentations More Interactive Using PowerPoint? Tutorials can show you how to add interactive elements like hyperlinks, action buttons, and custom animations to engage your audience.

More Presentation Templates & Tutorials

Related topics.

How to Start PowerPoint: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Starting PowerPoint is as easy as opening the program and selecting a template or a blank presentation. Once you’ve got the program open, you’ll be greeted with various options to create your perfect presentation, whether it’s for a business meeting, a school project, or just for fun. Just be sure you have PowerPoint installed on your computer or you have access to it online through Microsoft 365.

After you’ve opened PowerPoint and selected your template, you’ll be able to add text, images, videos, and other elements to your slides to make your presentation unique and engaging.

Introduction

PowerPoint is a versatile tool used by millions to create engaging and dynamic presentations. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or someone who just wants to make a fun slideshow for friends and family, knowing how to start PowerPoint is a must-have skill in today’s digital world. This program has been around for decades, evolving with technology to offer a wide range of features that can make any presentation go from bland to brilliant.

But why is it so important to know how to start PowerPoint? Well, think about it. Presentations are a key part of communication in various settings. They can make or break a business pitch, help or hinder a teacher’s lesson, and add a lot of fun to personal projects. PowerPoint is relevant to just about anyone who needs to convey information in a visual and organized way. So let’s dive in and get started on mastering the basics of opening and using PowerPoint.

Step by Step Tutorial: Starting PowerPoint

Before we begin, make sure you have PowerPoint installed on your computer. If you do, fantastic! If not, you can download it from the Microsoft website or access it online through Microsoft 365. Ready? Let’s go!

Step 1: Open PowerPoint

Launch PowerPoint by clicking on the program icon on your computer.

Once you’ve found the PowerPoint icon, either on your desktop, start menu, or taskbar, give it a click, and the program will open. You may see a loading screen briefly before the main window appears.

Step 2: Choose a Template

Select a template or a blank presentation to start creating your slides.

PowerPoint offers a variety of templates to fit every need and occasion. Whether you want something simple and professional or colorful and creative, there’s a template for you. If you prefer to start from scratch, you can choose a blank presentation.

Step 3: Customize Your Slides

Add text, images, videos, and other elements to your slides.

Once you’ve picked your template or opened a blank slide, it’s time to make it your own. You can add title text, bullet points, images, and even videos. PowerPoint has a range of tools for customizing each slide to fit your content perfectly.

Additional Information

When starting PowerPoint, it’s essential to keep your audience in mind. Who will be viewing your presentation? What is the main message you want to convey? Answering these questions can help you choose the right template and design elements. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different fonts, colors, and layouts to find what works best for your content.

Remember, a well-organized and visually appealing presentation can significantly impact your audience’s engagement and retention of information. Also, consider using PowerPoint’s various features like transitions and animations sparingly – while they can add a dynamic touch, overuse can be distracting. And always save your work regularly!

• Open PowerPoint by clicking on the program icon.
• Select a template or a blank presentation.
• Customize your slides by adding text, images, videos, and other elements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do i need a microsoft account to use powerpoint.

Yes, to download and use PowerPoint, you’ll need a Microsoft account.

Can I access PowerPoint online?

Absolutely, PowerPoint is available online through Microsoft 365, which allows you to work on presentations from any browser.

Is PowerPoint free?

PowerPoint is not free, but it is included in the Microsoft Office Suite, which is available for purchase. However, you can use the online version with a Microsoft 365 subscription.

Can I collaborate with others on a PowerPoint presentation?

Yes, PowerPoint supports collaboration, allowing multiple users to work on the same presentation simultaneously.

Can I convert a PowerPoint presentation to a video?

Indeed, PowerPoint has a feature that lets you save your presentation as a video file.

Starting PowerPoint is just the beginning of creating compelling and memorable presentations. Whether you use a template or start from a blank canvas, the key to a great PowerPoint presentation is creativity, clarity, and audience engagement. Remember, practice makes perfect!

So go ahead and play around with all the tools and features PowerPoint offers. The more you use it, the more proficient you’ll become. And if you ever get stuck, there’s a vast community of PowerPoint users and an array of online resources to help you out. Now that you know how to start PowerPoint, where will your presentations take you?

Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.

After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.

His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.

Read his full bio here.

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Beginners Guide to PowerPoint: PowerPoint Basics

• PowerPoint Basics
• Design and Content
• Presentation Skills
• Teaching, Learning and Research Symposium
• How to Learn PowerPoint Quickly (Complete Beginner's Guide) This guide is packed with information that helps you learn how to use PowerPoint to build a presentation.
• Basic tasks for creating a PowerPoint presentation Microsoft's step by step guide to creating a PowerPoint.
• The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Microsoft PowerPoint: From Newbie to Master For beginners who are using PowerPoint for the first time, haven’t used it in a while, or just want a simple reference for the basics.

Suggested Books

• Next: Design and Content >>
• Last Updated: Nov 14, 2023 9:10 AM
• URL: https://libguides.vcc.ca/powerpoint

Free All-in-One Office Suite with PDF Editor

Edit Word, Excel, and PPT for FREE.

Read, edit, and convert PDFs with the powerful PDF toolkit.

Microsoft-like interface, easy to use.

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• Articles of PPT

How to Start a PowerPoint Presentation: Guide for Beginners

The introduction to your PowerPoint presentation is your chance to make a great first impression and hook your audience's attention. That's why it's important to adopt a user-centric approach. What do your audience members need to know? What are they interested in? This guide will teach you how to start a PowerPoint presentation in a way that will grab your audience's attention and set the stage for a successful presentation.

Part 1：How to Start a PowerPoint Presentation (In Simple Steps)

Step-by-step tutorial with image:

Step 1 : Choose a theme.

A theme will give your presentation a consistent look and feel. To choose a theme, click on the Design tab and then click on the Themes button. Browse through the available themes and select one that you like.

Step 2 : Create a title slide.

Your title slide should include the title of your presentation, your name, and your affiliation. You may also want to include an image or graphic to make your slide more visually appealing.

To create a title slide, click on the Home tab and then click on the New Slide button. Select the Title layout. Then, enter your presentation title, your name, and your affiliation.

You can also add an image or graphic by clicking on the Insert tab and then clicking on the Pictures button or the Shapes button.

Step 3 : Add content slides.

Your content slides should include the main points of your presentation.

To add a content slide, click on the Home tab and then click on the New Slide button. Select a layout that includes the type of content you want to add, such as text, images, or charts.

Step 4 : Add transitions and animations.

Transitions and animations can make your presentation more visually appealing and engaging.

To add a transition, click on the Transitions tab and then click on the transition you want to use.

To add an animation, click on the Animations tab and then click on the animation you want to use.

Step 5 : Proofread your presentation.

Before you deliver your presentation, be sure to proofread it carefully for any errors in grammar or spelling. You may also want to ask a friend or colleague to proofread your presentation for you.

Tip on how to start a slideshow more engagingly:

Start with a strong hook. This could be a question, a surprising fact, or a relevant story. For example, you could start your presentation with a question like, "What's the one thing you need to know about [your topic]?" or "Have you ever wondered why [something happens]?"

Tell a story. People love stories, so why not start your presentation with one? A story can help you to connect with your audience on an emotional level and make them more interested in your topic.

Use humor. A well-placed joke can help to lighten the mood and make your audience more receptive to your message. Just be sure to avoid anything that could be considered offensive or inappropriate.

My experience:

I have used the above steps to create many PowerPoint presentations over the years. I have found that following these steps helps me to create presentations that are engaging and informative.

One problem that I have encountered is that it can be difficult to choose the right theme and layout for my presentations. However, by browsing through the available themes and layouts, I have been able to find ones that work well for my topics.

I have also found that it is important to proofread my presentations carefully before delivering them. By proofreading my presentations, I have been able to catch errors in grammar and spelling.

Overall, I have found that the above steps are a helpful guide for creating effective PowerPoint presentations.

Part 2 : How to Structure a PowerPoint Presentation

Please follow step-by-step below:

Step 1 : Define Your Presentation Purpose

Begin by clarifying the main purpose of your presentation. Are you informing, persuading, or entertaining your audience? This will help determine your content structure

Step 2 : Identify Key Points

List the key points or messages you want to convey. These should be the main takeaways for your audience.

Step 3 : Add supporting content to each section.

This could include text, images, charts, or videos. Be sure to use visuals to support your main points and make your presentation more engaging.

Step 4 : Review your presentation structure.

Make sure that your presentation is well-organized and that your main points are clear. You may also want to ask a friend or colleague to review your presentation structure for you.

Step 5 : Practice your presentation.

This will help you to deliver your presentation smoothly and confidently.

Tip on the best way to organize the main content:

The best way to organize the main content of your PowerPoint presentation will depend on your specific topic and audience. However, there are a few general tips that can help you to create a well-structured presentation:

Start with a clear introduction. Your introduction should introduce your topic and state your main points.

Organize your main content into logical sections. Each section should focus on a single main point.

Use transitions and animations to help your audience follow along as you move through your presentation.

Conclude your presentation by summarizing your main points and leaving your audience with a call to action.

I have found that the best way to organize the main content of a PowerPoint presentation is to use a logical structure. For example, if I am giving a presentation on a new product, I might use the following structure:

Introduction

This structure allows me to introduce the problem that the product solves, explain how the product solves the problem, and then highlight the benefits of using the product.

Part 3: How to Edit PowerPoint Presentations for Free with WPS Office

1.why choose wps office.

Microsoft Office has been the market leader in office productivity software for decades, offering robust applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. However, with the rise of cloud-based solutions and the increasing demand for cost-effective options, free alternatives like WPS Office have gained popularity.

Why should you choose WPS Office as an alternative to Microsoft Office?

Here are the answer:

● Free to use Word, Excel, and PPT. Powerful PDF toolkit

● Rich template store, which contains various free and paid templates for Word, PPT, and Excel

●  Rich functions

● The light weight of the product is only 200M, and it occupies a small amount of computer memory. It is suitable for Win7, 10, and 11

● The MAC version of WPS Office is very powerful. Microsoft office ignores the experience of mac users, which can be made up by wps office

● Support online documents (WPS AirPage), multi-person collaborative editing

● WPS office also supports Linux systems, Android, and ios systems. To use WPS office products on different systems, you only need to log in to the same account, and all files can be synchronized

2. Start a PowerPoint Presentation in WPS Presentation

Step 1 : Open WPS Presentation

You can create a new blank or choose from the Template library

Step 2 : To create a new slide, go to the left sidebar and click the "+" (plus) button or use the shortcut Ctrl+M.

Step 3 : You can add content to your slide by clicking on the placeholders for title and content. Start typing to add your text.

Step 4 : To insert images, charts, shapes, or other objects, go to the "Insert" tab on the top menu and choose the type of content you want to add.

Step 5 : After you've added all your slides and content, you can save your presentation by clicking on the floppy disk icon or using Ctrl+S.

Congratulations! Now you can create your own presentation and use it for your requirements.

1.What are some tools for designing engaging slides?

Here are some tools for designing engaging slides:

● Canva: Canva is a free online design platform that offers a variety of templates and tools for creating presentations, social media graphics, and other visual content.

● Visme: Visme is another online design platform that offers a variety of templates and tools for creating presentations, infographics, and other visual content.

● SlideModel: SlideModel is a website that offers a variety of premium PowerPoint templates and slide designs.

● Prezi: Prezi is a presentation software that allows you to create non-linear presentations that zoom and pan from one slide to the next.

● Powtoon: Powtoon is an online animation software that allows you to create animated presentations.

2.How do I deal with a difficult audience member during Q&A?

Here are some tips for dealing with a difficult audience member during Q&A:

● Stay calm and professional. It is important to remain calm and professional, even if the audience member is being rude or disruptive.

● Acknowledge the question. Let the audience member know that you have heard their question and that you will address it.

● Restate the question. This will help to ensure that you understand the question correctly and that you are giving the audience member an accurate answer.

● Be brief and to the point. Try to answer the question in a concise and informative way. Avoid going off on tangents or giving long-winded answers.

● If you don't know the answer, it's okay to say so. You can tell the audience member that you will get back to them with an answer after the presentation.

● If the audience member is disruptive, you can politely ask them to stop. You can also say that you will be happy to answer their question after the presentation, but that you need to continue with the Q&A session for the rest of the audience.

The article "How to Start a PowerPoint Presentation: Guide for Beginners" provides a step-by-step guide on initiating a PowerPoint presentation, with an emphasis on using WPS Office. It offers clear instructions for opening the software, creating and editing slides, and initiating a slideshow. The guide also highlights WPS Office's cost-effectiveness, compatibility with Microsoft Office, and user-friendly interface, making it a suitable alternative for various users' needs. Download WPS Office now.

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