This month has definetley been PowerPoint training month. With lots of discussion focusing around the creating of engaging presentations, I thought it time I list the top 5 features of Microsoft PowerPoint that every user should understand.
#1 Slide Layouts
The Slide Layout options provided in PowerPoint play a crucial part in the overall look and feel of a presentation. Layouts are pre-defined templates which define the different layouts of slides you can use. Each slide layout provides placeholders that will contain the content on your slide.
The slide layout you choose depends completely on the type of content you wish to include on the slide. Many organisations I work with have pre-made templates which contain slide layouts that staff must use – so having an thorough understanding of this feature is vital.
Find out more about choosing a slide layout in PowerPoint on our training blog.
#2 Placeholders
#1 leads us right into #2… Placeholders.
The term “placeholder” is used in PowerPoint to identify element containers on a slide. These containers are shown with a dotted external border and I find that many users refer to them as text boxes. Although they can contain text, they can also hold media content, tables, SmartArt and video.
Placeholders are specifically used to position different types of content on the slide and are preformatted for you to provide consistent formatting and positioning of content between each slide.
Find out the basics of using a placeholder in PowerPoint on our training blog.
#3 Slide Transitions
Slide transitions allow you apply an effect to slides as they move from one to the next during the presentation. A transition is like an animation and can provide a nice movement or flow to your presentation.
You can apply a slide transition to one slide or all if needed.
This is one of those features where sometimes a bit of restraint is needed and users want to be able to choose a slide transition which is apporpriate to the messaging of the presentation and the audience they are addressing. Sometimes less is more and understanding how transitions can be customised is a useful skill to have.
Find out more about how to add slide transitions in PowerPoint on our training blog.
#4 Links
The use of links, or hyperlinks, in a PowerPoint presentation helps to enhance navigation and interactivity, allowing you to create a more dynamic and engaging experience. There are several types of links you can incorporate:
- you can link to external websites, which is useful for referencing online resources or providing additional information.
- link to specific slides within the same presentation, facilitating seamless transitions between different sections or topics.
- link to other PowerPoint presentations, enabling you to present related content without cluttering a single file.
The use of links not only improves the flow of your presentation but also helps in organising complex information more efficiently.
Links play a vital role for users where a non-linear presentation is needed. Think of a “choose your own adventure” type presentation where the user can move through a presentation at their own pace, without a presenter, and can choose their destination.
For example the user moves from slides 1-3 and then is given the choice of the next destination. Do they go to slide 6 and slide 12? They then need to eventually be able to work their way back to slide 3 and choose their next destination.
Find out how to create links between slides in PowerPoint on our training blog.
#5 Slide Show Tools
It’s one thing to be able to run a PowerPoint presentation in slide show mode, it’s another to know how to utilise the slide show tools that you are then provided.
PowerPoint provides several slide show tools you can use during a presentation to help make your presentation smooth and professional.
The Slide Show tools give you direct access to features such as navigation using the Previous and Next buttons, pen/pointer tools, navigation, zoom options, ability to enable captions/subtitles, recording options, plus a host of other options.
Ensuring that users understanding how to utilise these tools will make for a much more professional delivery with the ability to react to audience questions or queries.
For an overview of some of the slide show tools, check out how to preview a slide show in PowerPoint on our training blog.
PowerPoint Training Courses
If you need comprehensive professional development for your staff to improve their PowerPoint skills and understanding along with learning new tips, tricks and shortcuts, contact us for an obligation free discussion.
Our PowerPoint training courses include two-training levels and are tailored to the needs of our clients. A free skills analysis is conducted prior to training to identify skills gaps and tailor the course accordingly. We will even work in conjunction with your presentation templates to show staff how to use the templates correctly.