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20+ Effective Public Speaking Skills & Techniques to Master

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You may think effective public speakers are born that way. You'd be wrong! Public speaking skills can be learned.

Most effective public speakers have worked hard to master their craft. That includes effective speaking skills and good public speaking techniques. They may spend hours practicing, working with a coach, or taking speech courses.

The good news is that you can improve your public speaking skills and become an effective speaker. Public speaking techniques can dramatically improve your results. In this tutorial, we've listed over 20 different public speaking techniques that can help you learn how to become an effective speaker.

What Is Public Speaking?

Public speaking occurs when you give a speech before a live audience. It differs from other types of speaking, such as videos, which may be recorded. It's also different from online presentations, which are created and then uploaded to the Internet.

Public speaking gives you many opportunities. That includes improving your confidence level and giving you the opportunity to champion a cause you care about. Plus, having effective public speaking skills can help you find a job. Many jobs, such as an instructor or sales professional, require you to speak in public.

Even when a job doesn't include public speaking in the job description, employers still value  the skill. In one survey, 600 employers said that good communication skills were twice as important as managerial skills . 

At this point you may be asking "what makes a good public speaker?" The answer might seem easy: A good public speaker makes use of effective public speaking techniques. What are those effective public speaking techniques? That's what we're going to talk about in the rest of this tutorial.

Before we dive into our discussion of effective public speaking techniques , download our eBook: The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations .  It's available for FREE with the Tuts+ Business Newsletter. Learn how to write, design, and deliver the perfect presentation. 

Now, let's look at how you can deliver an awesome presentation by using effective speaking techniques.

20+ Effective Public Speaking Techniques

You can learn to become a more effective speaker by using the right techniques and practicing your public speaking skills. Here are some techniques to follow:

1. Fit the Message to the Audience

Guidelines for effective public speaking often include tips that apply to any situation. But sometimes, it pays to tailor your delivery based on your audience. Matching subject matter and delivery style helps you make the best possible impression. When you know you’re speaking successfully, you’re able to present with more confidence.

Before you speak, plan ahead by considering your target audience. If you’re presenting a research paper to academics, you can plan on a detail-heavy speech. But if you’re introducing a new idea to a casually-interested audience, it’s better to take a broader focus.

Knowledge level is also an important element. Imagine you’re speaking about astronomy to a group of young children. Your message can and should be much different than if you’re addressing a room full of seasoned scientists.

In essence, use your public speaking skills to connect with the audience in front of you. All it takes is a bit of advanced planning. You’ll be on your way to giving an inspiring speech that all can enjoy. 

Learn more about audience analysis as part of tips for effective public speaking below:

2. Be Interactive!

Tips for effective public speaking help you give the best speech possible. Remember what you’re trying to do. You’re informing, inspiring, and engaging your audience. And talking at them isn’t enough. The best public speakers build interactive elements into their speeches. You can too.

Interactivity is one of the key public speaking skills. It can take many forms. It can be as simple as a quick, personal greeting at the start of your speech. Or you can even play interactive games like a trivia quiz. 

This offers many benefits. It keeps audiences alert and engaged. It helps you gauge how well they're following your message. And it takes the heat off of you by adding engagement from others. Sometimes, after all, a break from talking is welcome. It helps you stay focused and on pace.

If you're presenting your speech with PowerPoint, check out our interactive quiz tutorial:

3. Care About Your Topic

Passion goes a long way when it comes to being an effective speaker. The audience can tell if you're apathetic. If you don't care, they won't care either. Even worse, you can come across as a fake.

But if you sincerely care about your topic the audience will pick up on that too. They'll view you as being more authentic and believable. They'll listen more closely to discover why your subject is so important to you. And they're more likely to forgive any minor mistakes you might make.

4. Remember Your Speaking Goal

We've all probably listened to at least one speaker who seemed to go on and on forever about nothing in particular. One reason why this happens is because the speech isn't focused enough. The speaker is trying to cover too much and ends up boring their listeners.

Early in the process of developing your speech, identify the reason why you're speaking. Make it a point to stick to this goal during your presentation. Don't get sidetracked or off-topic.

5. Support Your Main Points

Every point you make in your speech needs to be supported with either an example, an illustration, or facts. When you're supporting a point, it's best to be as specific as you can be.

For example, in a speech about the importance of clean water this statement is too vague:

 "Many people don't have clean water."

Stating this statistic from the U.S. Center for Disease Control is a more effective way to support your point:

"Worldwide, 780 million people do not have access to an improved water source."

6. Tell a Story

People love a good story. So, if you want to be a more effective speaker, tell a story.

Storytelling is a great way to make your material more engaging and to relate to your audience. Make sure your story is relatable and relevant.

If you're speaking is about your business, here are some examples of stories you may be able to tell:

• A customer story . The story of how your product or services met a need for a specific customer or solved a problem. Satisfied customers are often happy to share this.
• Your company story .   The story of how your company came to be. This can be especially effective if it's customer-oriented.
• A product development story . The story of how you came to offer a new product (or service).

Of course, there are many other types of stories you could tell depending on the type of speaking you're doing.

7. Use a Professional Template

While we're talking about presentation tools, let's also talk about presentation design. Your presentation design affects how your audience perceives you.

Even if you deliver your speech perfectly, your audience might still judge you if your slides are sloppy. The presentation visuals are just as important as your speaking performance.

Of course, you could use a standard template (the same ones that everyone uses) or design your own template (costly and time-consuming). But a better plan is to use a professionally designed presentation template that you can easily customize.

The presentation templates from Envato Elements and GraphicRiver are easy-to-use and professional. And there are hundreds to choose from--so you're bound to find one that meets your needs.

8. Use Presentation Tools Wisely

Slide presentations often get a reputation for being dull. That's because many speakers are unaware of what their presentation tools can do and don't make the best use of all the features. To better engage your audience, learn how to use the more advanced features of your tool.

As an example, here are just a few ways you can use PowerPoint and Google Slides (with links to related tutorials):

• Add animations ( PowerPoint , Google Slides )
• Add video ( PowerPoint ,  Google Slides )
• Add audio ( PowerPoint ,  Google Slides )
• Construct a timeline ( PowerPoint ,  Google Slides )

And these features are just the tip of the iceberg. To really elevate your public speaking techniques, it helps to know what your software can do. Our tutorial series on Google Slides  and PowerPoint  are a good place to start. 

9. Practice Your Speech

One of the most important public speaking techniques is often one of the most overlooked--practice. If you expect that you'll be an effective speaker without practicing your speech, you'd be wrong. One of the quickest ways to avoid public speaking failure is to try and give a speech you don't really know and haven't practiced.

The old saying, "practice makes perfect," really is true when it comes to developing effective speaking skills. The more you practice your speech, the more familiar it'll be to you and the more comfortable you'll be giving it. Plus, practicing your speech is the only way to discover how long the speech will take and where you need to pause.

10. Work With a Coach (optional)

If you're really serious about developing effective speaking skills, a speaking coach or teacher can take you to the next level. A coach or teacher can teach you the principles of public speaking and point out mistakes in your public speaking techniques. They give you awareness of tendencies you would otherwise miss.

Worried about cost? You may be able to find reasonably priced public speaking help through one of the following organizations:    

• Toastmasters International
• Your local community college
• Public Speaking Meetup

There may even be more resources close to you.

It's normal to be nervous about public speaking. One study from The National Center for Biotechnology Information estimates that as many as 77% of us have a fear of public speaking . It's so common there's an actual technical term for fear of public speaking--glossophobia.

I'm not telling you this to make you more anxious, but rather to let you know that having some anxiety before giving a speech is perfectly normal. Still, you should try to relax if you can. You'll be more comfortable, and the audience will relate to you better too.

If there's something that normally calms you down in stressful situations, try using it right before you're due to speak. Popular calming techniques include:

• positive affirmations
• aromatherapy

The following tutorials can also help you fight your fear of public speaking:

12. Don't Worry About Mistakes

One of the reasons so many of us fear public speaking is because we're worried that we'll make a mistake and embarrass ourselves in front of everyone. If this is your fear, let it go. Most audiences will understand if you make a mistake. And if it's a small mistake, the audience may not even notice it.

Of course, practice can dramatically reduce the likelihood of you making a mistake. The more you practice the better you'll know your speech--and mistakes will be less likely.

So, what should you do if you do happen to make a mistake? If it's a minor mistake, don't stop or apologize for your mistake as that only calls attention to it. Just continue on. If you make a big mistake, try using humor to diffuse the situation and then continue your speech. Your listeners will be impressed with how gracefully you handled things.

13. Study the Habits of Others

One of the best ways to learn effective public speaking skills is to study the habits of others. There's no reason to learn the art (and science) of public speaking all by yourself.

Consider your favorite orators, lecturers, and presenters. Think about why they're your favorites. Usually, it's their delivery, their stage presence, and their sense of style. If you can't watch them in person, it's a great idea to watch videos of them at work.

It's important to note that tips for effective public speaking vary from person to person. Don't try copying someone else's style. But learn from their habits and incorporate the best into your own method of public speaking. By doing so, you can inspire others in the same ways that have inspired you.

14. Pace Yourself

When it comes to public speaking, a common newbie error is to speak too quickly. This is usually caused by a combination of nerves and not realizing how fast you're actually speaking. But talking too fast makes it harder for your listeners to understand what you're saying.

Effective public speakers know to pace themselves. They'll speak at a natural pace and work short, natural pauses into their speech.

It also helps if you remember to breathe during your speech. A surprising number of people hold their breath without realizing it when they're nervous (I'm one of them).  But holding your breath will only increase your anxiety. So, remember to breathe deeply during the breaks in your speech. If your speech is a long one, taking a sip of water during a break can also help.

15. Add Visual Aids

Visual aids can serve as a powerful illustration of your speech. Humans use their sight more than any other sense. So, if you can make your point by showing it to your listeners rather than describing it, they're more likely to remember it.

Be careful though. To be effective, your visual aid must be of high-quality and easily visible to all members of your audience. Avoid incorporating sloppy graphics into a slide presentation. Likewise, don't hold up a visual aid that's physically too small for those listening to see.

Discover professional PowerPoint templates on Envato Elements or GraphicRiver : 

16. Avoid Awkward Fillers

"Um," "uh," "like."

We all slip these filler words into our conversations without even realizing it. But overuse of these words during a professional speech can make you sound less than confident. If you can, break the habit of using these words to become a better public speaker.

Practice can help you cut these words from your speech patterns, but you may be so used to using them that it's hard to notice when you're doing it. This is where a speech coach, teacher, or friend would come in handy. They could listen for these words and help you break the habit of using them.

17. Dress Comfortably, But Professionally

What's the right outfit to wear if you want to be an effective public speaker?

Well, there's no one answer. How you dress depends on who your listeners will be. But the general principle is that you want to dress professionally to make a good impression. Make sure to observe good grooming and hygiene rules too.

Many experts feel you should dress according to how your audience dresses. If the audience is dressed formally, you don't want to show up in shorts and a tee shirt. Likewise, if the audience is wearing shorts and a tee shirt, don't dress formally.

18. Use Gestures (But Don't Overdo)

Natural movement during a speech is a sign of an effective public speaker. Hand gestures and moving a few steps across the stage can be good public speaking techniques. Just make sure they're natural, purposeful, and not overdone.

Movement can make you appear more comfortable and help your audience relate to you. You've probably seen the stiff speaker who delivers their speech while standing stock still. Which would you rather listen to:

• that stiff speaker, awkward speaker
• or a speaker who punctuates their speech from time to time with meaningful hand gestures

19. Allow a Q&A

Question and answer sessions (Q&A) are one of the most underused public speaking techniques. Many speakers just say what they're going to say and then sit down. What a waste!

The beauty of Q&A is that you get to hear your listeners' concerns directly and address them publicly, further strengthening your case.

You can prepare for a Q&A session by creating your own list of questions and possible objections that audience members may have (with answers). Study the list carefully so that you're familiar with it.

If someone does bring up a point that you hadn't thought of, don't panic. They don't expect you to know everything. It's perfectly acceptable to take their contact information and tell them that you'll get back to them once you've got the answer.

20. Build in Silence to Stay on Track

Guidelines for effective public speaking often leave out a key ingredient: silence. That's right. You don't have to fill every second of your time with spoken words. It's critical to add pauses. This is one of those public speaking skills that doesn't get the credit it deserves.

Silence has many benefits in public speaking:

• It gives your voice a break. By adding a pause (just three to four seconds), you can catch your breath and stay focused. 
• It's equally beneficial for your audience. Rushing from point to point without a break will likely cause them to lose focus. Adding in some breathing room helps your speech flow organically.
• Silence also helps you segue from idea to idea. It offers clear breaks between ideas and adds emphasis. Adding suspense is a sure way to maintain a focused, engaged audience.  

21. Recap at the End

You've delivered your message to an engaged audience. You've presented with confidence and style, and delivered a clear, coherent message. But you may still wonder: "are they really going to remember what I said?"

This is a key thing to consider as you close out your speech. Last - but not least - on our list of public speaking skills is the recap at the end. You should wrap up your speech by quickly recapping your key points. 

This may take only a few moments. Remember, you're not repeating yourself word for word. You're revisiting your main ideas in summary form. This helps you close on a high note. Your audience will once again hear the details that you find most important. This way, they can carry those ideas with them, long after you're finished speaking. 

More Templates to Supplement Your Public Speaking Skills

This article has given you more guidelines for effective public speaking. The best resource you can use is pre-built presentation templates. Those have the blueprint for great slides that make creating a presentation as easy as filling in placeholders.

On Envato Tuts+, we're always in search of the best templates. These go hand-in-hand with our tips for effective public speaking. Check them out below, and you're sure to find great designs for you.

More Resources on Effective Public Speaking

If you're ready to learn more about developing effective speaking skills, we've got many tutorials on public speaking that can help:

Download Our Free PDF eBook on Making Great Presentations

We've got the perfect complement to this tutorial, that'll help you take your presentation know-how further. Learn how to write, design, and deliver great presentations. 

Download  The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations for FREE with a subscription to the Tuts+ Business Newsletter. Get your ideas formed into a powerful presentation that'll move your audience. 

You Just Learned Top Tips For Effective Public Speaking

Editorial Note : This content was originally published in 2018. We're sharing it again because our editors have determined that this information is still accurate and relevant. This post has been updated with contributions from Andrew Childress .

25 Tools for Creating and Delivering Amazing Presentations

Updated: August 10, 2022

Published: November 10, 2020

If you're in business, you need to know how to create captivating presentations. Whether you're trying to convince your boss to support a new campaign, talking with a prospect to close a deal, or building a new piece of marketing collateral, you need to know how craft a presentation that won't put people to sleep.

The best (and easiest) way to do that? Use the right tools to create and deliver your presentation.

If you're not sure which tools to use, look no further than this blog post. We’ve compiled our list of the top presentation tools for sales and marketing professionals. They’re listed below, in no particular order. But first ...

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Best Presentation Tools

Canva makes design easy -- even for marketers and salespeople who feel like they're design-challenged. The platform gives you a bunch of presentation templates to use right away, and it's very easy to customize them to your organization and presentation objective. Plus, a variety of apps that integrate with Google Drive, Instagram, and YouTube, to name a few.

Pricing : Free; Pro, $12.95/month for up to five people; Enterprise, $30/month per person

Often, being different is what attracts prospects, and Powtoon can help you do that in your presentations. Powtoon’s animation software lets you easily create videos with props, characters, and more -- which can help you differentiate your company when talking with prospects.

Pricing : Pro, $19/month; Pro+ $49/month; Agency, $89/month

3. PowerPoint

For years, PowerPoint has been the standard in presentation software, but it hasn’t remained static. PowerPoint is full of features to make sales and marketing presentations dynamic and engaging. ( Here are just a few ways you can do that .)

Pricing : Business Basic, $5/user/month; Business Standard, $12.50/user/month; Business Premium, $20/user/month

4. Slidesgo

Slidesgo is your creative companion in the world of presentation design. This website specializes in crafting visually stunning Google Slides and PowerPoint templates that breathe life into your ideas, making them shine on any screen. With a wide variety of templates ranging from business and marketing to medicine and education, Slidesgo empowers presenters of all backgrounds to engage, educate, and inspire their audiences.

Pricing: Free plan, $0; Premium, $4.99; Education, $2.99

A PowerPoint add-in, Oomfo helps sales and marketing pros create those oh-so-important interactive charts for presentations. Specialized charts, live charts from multiple files, data from cloud applications, interactive options, one-click conversions -- it’s all possible, and more, with Oomfo.

Pricing: Free

Apple’s Keynote allows users to work between their Mac and iOS devices, as well as with people who use Microsoft PowerPoint. With easy-to-use visual tools, drag and drop functionality, interactive charts, and more, Keynote is a popular choice among sales and marketing professionals.

Pricing : Free

7. SlideModel

SlideModel contains thousands of ready-made and 100% editable presentation templates to help any presenter save time creating engaging and aesthetically pleasing presentations. Their collection of presentation templates covers a variety of business purposes and even gets updated periodically to add new business and education templates. You can find a collection of visually appealing slides on the site including dashboards, creative infographics, editable Maps, funnels, timelines, mindmaps, and presentation slides depending on the need of your presentation. Their slides templates are easy to edit and are compatible with PowerPoint and Google Slides.

Pricing :  Free plan, $0; One-Day Access, $24.50; Annual Unlimited, $199.90/year

8. Beautiful.ai

Create beautiful slides, pitches, and proposals without a team of designers. AI applies design rules in real time, and a library of free photos and icons are at your fingertips.

Pricing : Basic, $0; Pro, $12/month; Team, $38/user/month

9. Haiku Deck

Available for the web or iPad, Haiku Deck has become a favorite of sales and marketing pros. With Haiku Deck, professionals can quickly create presentations that can be "easily projected, shared, posted, embedded on a website or blog, or viewed on any web-enabled device." Though it's another tool that helps you create presentations from scratch, its ease-of-use sets it apart from the rest.

Pricing : Pro, $9.99 - $19.99/month; Premium, $29.99/month

Vyond is an online animation software that allows you to create animated videos for marketing campaigns, sales enablement, or even human resources. Use their library of customizable templates or create your own from scratch.

Pricing : Essential, $229/year; Premium, $649/year; Professional, $999/user/year; Enterprise, contact for pricing

11. Storydoc

With templates for all the most popular business use cases, Storydoc is an interactive presentation maker built to help sales teams and marketing professionals engage more prospects and boost conversion rates. 

You can create amazing and engaging decks where you can embed video and social media content to tell your story the right way. Then, integrate your CRM into Storydoc decks, as well as calendars, sign-up forms, and other solutions that will make your presentation. Additionally, you have access to Storydoc's tracking analytics which shows who viewed your presentation and which components they interacted with the most. 

Pricing :  Free trial 14 days); Starter Plan, $40/month

Busy sales and marketing pros choose emaze because it makes creating amazing presentations quick and easy. The options abound with emaze: Choose a professionally designed template and then create a slideshow, video presentation , or 3D presentation.

Pricing : Business Plan, contact for pricing; Executive Plan, $40/month; Pro Plan, $13/month

13. Camtasia

TechSmith’s Camtasia is an amazing tool that helps you create professional videos. You can record screen movements, import HD video from another source, customize and edit the video, and then share the completed video presentation on practically any device. 

Pricing : Individual, $249.99/user/year; Business $249.99/user/year; Education, $169.99/user/year; Government and Non-Profit, $223.99/user/year

14. SlideShare

SlideShare is a popular choice for sales and marketing professionals looking for a way to share their content publicly. Because it already has a built-in audience, you can easily distribute your presentation out to lots of people -- and those people can embed your SlideShares on websites and blogs, or share them on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, etc.

15. SlideDog

Sometimes, sales and marketing professionals need to be able to move between presentation tools, but it’s not always possible because of their technical limitations. SlideDog is the solution, as it enables users to switch between PowerPoint, Prezi, PDF, web pages and others.

Pricing : Free; Pro, $99/year; Pro Event, $49 for one-time payment

16. Presentation Assistant

Presentation Assistant lives up to its name: It assists professionals by enabling them to annotate, zoom, and more during a presentation. Sales and marketing professionals can clarify and emphasize points more clearly to their audience with Presentation Assistant.

Pricing : Presentation Pointer, $29.95; Presentation Screen Master, $29.95

17. authorSTREAM

Sales and marketing pros choose authorSTREAM to make their presentations dynamic and engaging. authorSTREAM allows users to share their PowerPoint presentations publicly or privately, broadcast them, convert them to video, communicate and collaborate about them, and more.

Pricing: Free or paid plans start at $4.20/month

18. Zentation

With Zentation, salespeople and marketers combine video and slides into a simulated live experience. Presentations created with Zentation become webinars, webcasts, and virtual events for prospects and customers -- all great collateral for marketing and sales.

Pricing : Free; Premium, $10 - $45/month; White-Label, contact for pricing

Sales and marketing professionals love Prezi because it is cloud-based. Prezi makes creating, editing, and presenting from your browser, desktop, iPad, or iPhone possible anywhere, any time.

Pricing : Standard, $5/month; Plus, $15/month; Premium, $59/month

20. Brainshark

Sales reps and marketers often choose Brainshark, a cloud-based presentation tool, because it allows them to create and deliver presentations live or on-demand (even using their iPad or iPhone), use on-demand video content, polls, or surveys for increased engagement, and embed presentations in websites and blogs.

Pricing : Contact for pricing

Vcasmo is a unique presentation tool -- it's a multimedia solution that enables users to synchronize a video and slideshow, side by side. Sales and marketing pros love Vcasmo because it supports playback in three forms: browser, mobile, and iPad. 

Pricing : Free; Standard, $10.99/month; Professional, $16.99/month

22. ViewletBuilder

ViewletBuilder is a different presentation tool; it captures critical screen updates and cursor position changes so sales and marketing pros can create presentations detailing how their product or sites work. With a plethora of features, ViewletBuilder allows for editing and enhancing and includes a variety of publishing and sharing options, too.

Pricing : Pro, $399; Enterprise, $599

23. Zoho Show

Zoho Show is a top pick for sales and marketing pros because it lives online, making it possible to create, access, present, and more from anywhere, any time. The simple, intuitive interface and collaboration features are just two of its beloved benefits.

24. AhaSlides

Pricing : Free; Essential, $4.95/month; Pro, $15.95/month; Annual, Monthly & One-time plans available.

Visme is an all-in-one content creation platform with a vast library of professionally designed presentation templates, each tailored to your industry and specific proposal needs. Its beginner-friendly design platform allows you to drag and drop elements into place, use dynamic fields to update all your content in one place instantaneously and integrate your tools like Hubspot or Salesforce, and more to personalize each presentation.

Pricing: Free, Starter: $12.25/month, billed yearly, Pro: $30/month, billed yearly, Visme for Teams & Enterprises.

What are you waiting for? Pick a tool and start creating. Your prospects are waiting.

Editor's Note: This post was originally published in October 2014 and has been updated for freshness and comprehensiveness.

Don't forget to share this post!

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Home » Presentation » Top 10 Tools For Presentation To Keep Your Audience Engaged

Top 10 Tools For Presentation To Keep Your Audience Engaged

Senior Writer

Traditional presentations no longer captivate viewers in the present age. A startling 79% of participants considered most presentations boring . However, rather than just identifying past techniques as outdated, users to create presentations to make them more engaging. 

The latest presentation tools make it easier to style slides and create professional-looking slideshows without using templates. This is why we have put together a list of interactive tools for presentation. Let’s take a look.

Use presentation tools' collaboration features to gather feedback and iterate quickly. Incorporate multimedia wisely to enhance engagement and leverage templates for a polished look.

What Are Online Presentation Tools?

Online presentation tools are software apps that allow you to build presentations that include more than just text and bullet points. These technologies allow you to include graphics, animations, and other dynamic components in your material, increasing the audience’s overall engagement and interest.

Furthermore, many interactive presentation software are cross-platform, allowing you to work on your presentation from almost anywhere. Using the right digital presentation tools, you can easily create clear and effective presentations suitable for any event.

Our selection of these Presentation Tools is based on thorough research and analysis. We have listed this software based on usability and satisfaction scores that include features, ease of use, customer support, ratings, and the number of reviews from SoftwareSuggest. Our goal is to help businesses select the right software that can help them optimize their business processes.

10 Best Tools For Presentation

Users can improve presentations using interactive presentation tools to make them memorable, captivating, and capable of moving their audience to action. We’ve listed the best interactive presentation tools for you. Let’s take a look.

• Prezi - Best for conversational, non-linear presentations
• Google Slides - Best for creating, editing, and collaborating
• Canva - Best for free presentation
• MS PowerPoint - Best for personal and professional purposes
• Keynote - Best for Professional presentations with ease
• Slidebean - Best for all-in-one pitch deck software
• Haiku Deck - Best for eye-catching and focused presentations
• Visme - Best for beginners
• Zoho Show - Best for collaborate and deliver presentations from anywhere
• Beautiful.AI - Best for AI-powered design

4.2 out of 5 stars

Prezi is among the top presentation tools, and it offers a dynamic, zoomable canvas. It is among the virtual presentation tools that enable users to create compelling, non-linear presentations. Its distinct storytelling method, which incorporates fluid motion and spatial interactions, increases audience engagement . 

Prezi is ideal for creative and visually stunning presentations, and it supports multimedia integration, making it an effective tool among trainers, advertisers, and professionals trying to move away from traditional slide-based presentations.

• Offline editing
• Offline presenting
• Screen sharing
• Template management
• Training management
• Plus: starting at $15/per month
• Premium: starting at $25/per month
• Teams: starting at $39/month/per user
• 14-day-free trial

Best for: for conversational, non-linear presentations

• The tool is easy to use with intuitive design tools.
• It allows customization of the smallest details for aesthetic appeal.
• The platform integrates seamlessly with Google Meet and Zoom.
• Errors are hard to identify and correct.
• Orientation gets confusing with zooming in and out.

2. Google Slides

Google Sildes

4.6 out of 5 stars

Google Slides is among the best tools for interactive presentations. It is a cloud-based presentation tool that’s part of Google Workspace . As it enables real-time communication, it’s ideal for distant and group projects. The presenters can edit, share, and create from any device.

 It offers a variety of layouts, themes, and animation choices to improve presentations, and it smoothly connects with other Google services. It is among the popular tools for presentations that support a wide range of file formats.

• Audio file management
• Video support
• Personal: free
• Business Standard: $12 per user/month

Best for : creating, editing, and collaborating on presentations

• The tool offers seamless copying and pasting from various sources.
• It has universal accessibility across platforms.
• The platform offers detailed note tracking for team alignment.
• Poor internet may lead to data loss when logging in.
• Uploading PDFs to Google Slides can mess up the formatting.

4.7 out of 5 stars

Canva is among the best online presentation tools. It is a multipurpose design tool well-known for its enormous library of templates, graphics, and fonts, as well as ease of use. 

It enables the creation of posters, social media visuals, and more in addition to presentations. Even people without design skills can alter their designs by simply dragging and dropping items. Teams can collaborate on projects using Canva’s collaboration capabilities.

• Digital asset management
• Image editing
• Canva Pro: ₹4000/year/one person
• Canva Teams: ₹3800/year/one person
• Canva Enterprise: custom pricing
• Free trial: 30 days

Best for : free presentation

• The tool has education license benefits with all Pro features.
• It has excellent customer support for any assistance needed.
• The tool has a powerful background remover for product photo editing.
• Arabic text export causes design issues with pixelation.
• Software crashes or slows during complex graphic projects.

4. MS PowerPoint

MS PowerPoint

One of the most widely used presentation tools is Microsoft PowerPoint, which is renowned for its many features and adaptability. Powerpoint presentations provide a large selection of multimedia support, animations, transitions, and templates. 

All types of presentations, including business reports and instructional lectures, can benefit from the use of PowerPoint. Many professionals and students use these PowerPoint presentation templates because of their collaboration features and interaction with Microsoft Office.

• Media library
• Productivity tools
• Powerpoint: ₹ 11,999
• 30-day free trial

Best for : personal and professional purposes.

• The tool has easy navigation and seamless audio/video integration.
• It has simple slide customization, easy downloading, and advanced designs.
• The platform is versatile for simple or complex presentations.
• Basic and repetitive templates limit creativity.
• Compatibility issues with non-Windows systems cause file corruption.

5 out of 5 stars

One of Apple’s presentation apps, Keynote, is renowned for its robust capabilities and elegant appearance. It is among the best presentation tools that provides a selection of user-friendly themes, animations, and transitions. 

Keynote facilitates collaboration via iCloud and connects seamlessly with other Apple applications. Users who value style and smooth operation within the Apple ecosystem are drawn to this free presentation software .

• Collaboration tools
• Data import/export
• Drag & drop
• Image library
• Please connect with the vendor for pricing.

Best for: Professional presentations with ease without advanced design skills.

• The tool has beautiful templates for professional presentations.
• It has interactive slides with audio file linking.
• The platform is simple and intuitive to use.
• Poor compatibility with Windows software and complementary tools.
• Presentations take up a lot of storage.

6. Slidebean

Slidebean leverages AI to assist users in producing polished presentations in a timely manner. Slidebean creates slides for you automatically by putting content into an easy-to-use interface, guaranteeing a professional appearance. 

For professionals and companies who require visually stunning presentations without the burden of manual design, this is the perfect solution. The platform simplifies the process of creating presentations by providing a variety of templates and customization possibilities.

• All Acess: $12/month/billed yearly
• Accelerate: $99/month/billed monthly

Best for : all-in-one pitch deck software

• The tool has inspiring storytelling templates.
• It has an extensive icon library.
• The platform provides easy sharing and tracking opportunities.
• Slow element progression bore customers.
• Image upload issues, including the background turning black.

7. Haiku Deck

Haiku Deck emphasizes visual storytelling and simplicity. It promotes the use of clear text and excellent photos to make presentations that have an impact. Haiku Deck’s constrained typeface and layout selection aids users in staying clear and clutter-free. 

For presenters who wish to highlight their stories and create captivating presentations for the audience, this tool is an ideal option.

• Customizable templates
• Pro: $19.99/month
• Premium: $29.99/month
• 7-day-free trial

Best for : eye-catching and focused presentations.

• Attractive templates and graphics for beautiful presentations.
• Simple features with easy understanding and picture search.
• Great graphics, customer support, webinars, and educational discounts.
• The tool has a lack of support and technical issues.
• It also lacks in the development of offerings.

Visme is a feature-rich design tool that lets users generate social media graphics, reports, and infographics in addition to professionally designed presentation templates . It provides drag-and-drop capability, a range of templates, and interactive components like animations and connections. For professionals in marketing, education, and business who want adaptable design tools, Visme is perfect.

• Contact management
• Content delivery
• Content library
• Content management
• Course authoring
• Basic: free
• Starter: $12.25/month
• Pro: $24.75/month
• Enterprise: custom pricing

Best for : beginners who want to create professional-looking designs

• The tool is excellent for embedding graphics into infographics.
• The platform can save items to a board.
• The tool has a fair price for extensive features.
• Long-term subscriptions can lead to wasted money.
• Inconsistent usage doesn’t justify annual payments.

9.  Zoho Show

A cloud-based presentation tool included in the Zoho Office Suite is called Zoho Show. Users may work together, create, and present from any location. Zoho Show meets a variety of presenting requirements with an extensive selection of templates, themes, and customization possibilities. 

Users within the Zoho ecosystem will find it to be a useful option due to its seamless integration with other Zoho apps.

• Data visualization
• Document management
• Professional plan: Starts at₹140
• 15-day free trial

Best for : collaborate and deliver presentations from anywhere

• Many inbuilt animations for elegant presentations.
• Supports images and videos for better communication.
• Easy to create and collaborate on high-quality presentations.
• Crashes if the internet connection is lacking.
• Limited and unremarkable template choices.

10. Beautiful.AI

Beautiful.AI

Beautiful.AI makes it easier to create visually attractive presentations. When users provide content, the tool automatically modifies the layout to ensure a polished appearance. It has several modification choices and smart template options. Beautiful.AI is perfect for time-pressed professionals as it saves effort without sacrificing design quality.

• Background removal
• Color matching
• Content generation
• Pro: $12/month
• Team: $40/user/month
• 14-day free trial

Best for: AI-powered design

• The tool has fantastic templates and a futuristic AI-driven design.
• It is easy to use and has tons of useful templates.
• The tool is cost-effective and great for team collaboration.
• Limited customization and customer support.
• AI capabilities result in repetitive layouts.

Why Are Online Presentation Tools Important?

To effectively transmit information to the audience and leave a lasting impact, presentations must have captivating images and a captivating delivery. Among the main advantages of presentation tools are:

1. Enhanced Visual Communication

Presentation tools that include pictures, charts, and movies improve visual communication. This keeps the audience interested by enabling the professional and interactive delivery of difficult information.

2. Improved  Audience Engagement

Presentations become more interesting when they incorporate interactive elements like audience response systems, polls, and quizzes. It boosts audience participation and enables more effective idea communication from presenters.

3. Organized Content Delivery

Content that is compelling and well-structured with distinct titles, bullet points, and divisions can be produced with the use of presentation software. The natural information flow made possible by this structure makes it simpler for the audience to engage with the content.

4. Efficient Collaboration and Editing

Editing options in the best online presentation software make it simple to change and enhance presentations. By enabling numerous users to contribute and edit at once, they promote teamwork. These technologies improve dynamism and engagement and are, therefore, essential in the workplace.

5. Multimedia Integration

Music and video clips can be added to presentations using presentation software, which enhances the content and draws in the audience. An overall tone of professionalism guarantees a more vibrant experience.

6. Time Management

Slide transitions and timers are two examples of useful presentation tools that help presenters make the most of their time. These characteristics facilitate seamless transitions between parts, making an impact on the audience that lasts.

7. Flexibility and Accessibility

With the use of different types of presentation software, the material can be easily shared and accessed across devices, comfortably reaching a larger audience. This feature makes it possible to create interesting, educational slideshows that draw in and hold the attention of viewers.

Features To Look For In Online Presentation Tools

Here are some of the features to look out for in online presentation tools: 

1. Custom Themes & Templates

With multiple adjustable templates and themes at their disposal, customers may construct visually stunning presentations that are tailored to their requirements.

2. Collaborative Capabilities

Features in collaborative presentation tools that must provide instantaneous communication and feedback from several users are crucial for collaborative projects involving teams and distant work settings.

3. Cloud Storage And Access

Smooth work transitions and effortless sharing are made possible by cloud storage, which guarantees that presentations are viewable on any device.

4.  Multimedia Integration

The implementation of photos, videos, audio, and animations increases the efficacy and engagement of the presentation.

5. Real-Time Editing

Multiple users can make and view changes instantaneously with real-time editing capabilities, which promote effective teamwork and prompt updates.

6. Offline Access

To ensure reliability under all circumstances, offline access is essential for generating and presenting without an internet connection.

7. Analytics and Reporting

Insights about audience participation and presentation efficacy are provided by built-in analytics and reporting elements, which can be used to enhance subsequent presentations.

8. Importing and Exporting Files

The seamless importing and exporting of many file formats ensure easy sharing of presentations and connectivity with other software.

Information sharing has been transformed by different presentation platforms, which provide collaborative capabilities, interactive aspects, and logical visuals for creating powerful presentations. 

There is a tool that will work for you, regardless of whether you like simple bullet points or dynamic animations and data visualizations. 

It can be challenging to choose the best software from an extensive range of possibilities. Although this selection may be made easier with our carefully compiled list of the top 10 presenting tools, the ideal option will ultimately depend on your requirements, use cases, and preferences.

Yes, the majority of tools allow multiple users to modify and view presentations at the same time with real-time collaboration features.

Yes, security is given priority with technologies that offer encrypted connections and sharing permission management for presentations that are stored.

To improve presentations, technologies usually allow the incorporation of multimedia elements.

Yes, many programs offer mobile apps that help users create, modify, and display presentations on tablets and smartphones.

Yes, many courses provide free versions with limited functionality, while some may cost money or require a subscription for more advanced features.

Priya is a seasoned writer with expertise in the SaaS industry. With over five years of experience in the field, she deeply understands the requirement of this specific industry, its techniques, and tools. Her articles, whitepapers, and blog posts are known for their clarity, practicality, and actionable insights. Priya also possesses in-depth knowledge of SEO and content marketing, which enables her to develop effective strategies to increase website traffic and improve brand visibility.

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The 11 Best Presentation Software to Use in 2024

The ability to effectively share ideas, illustrate a concept, and convince an audience is invaluable whether you’re a student or a C-level executive. These days, the presentation software you use to create presentations is just as important as your public-speaking skills.

On top of that, most companies have transitioned to remote work recently due to the current coronavirus situation, and now need to share their stories online through a virtual conference room with their distributed teams and external audience members.

That’s why we’ve come up with a list of some of the best presentation software available right now, so you can choose a compatible and innovative presentation maker that includes the best presentation tools to suit your specific needs.

Choose the best presentation software by weighing the pros and cons

You’ll see some of the most popular presentation apps: from free to paid subscription platforms, and slideshow applications to full-blown visual design presentation software with interactive features and more.

Each presentation software has its pros and cons, so it’s up to you to figure out which suits your needs best; consider the software learning curve, whether your company is made up of Mac users or Windows users and the software compatibility, if you need an enterprise account or free account, etc.

Let’s dive in!

1. Piktochart

Piktochart is a presentation software that can create a variety of design visuals, from infographics to social media stories.

An area in which Piktochart shines is crafting unique presentations. 

On Piktochart, users can choose from a wide range of professionally-designed presentation templates .

These custom templates include everything from monthly marketing reports to employee onboarding templates.

This broad selection of customizable templates is especially useful for those who don’t have much design experience or know-how but need to create a visually stunning unique presentation in a pinch. 

Piktochart’s presentation maker also makes it easy to edit presentations and include design elements such as lists, timelines, comparisons, graphs, and different types of charts through drag-and-drop tools.

You can even make visual maps and interactive charts to keep your audience engaged throughout your presentation. 

And if your company uses a Piktochart TEAM plan , you can enjoy the platform’s ability to store brand assets , color schemes, and bespoke templates. Here, replicating company-branded visuals is a breeze. 

Piktochart comes with a free version but with certain limitations. Active visuals are capped at five per month and published visuals have a Piktochart watermark.

If you want features such as team template collaboration, project sharing, and annotated commenting, you’ll have to get a Team account. To sum it up:

• Lots of professionally-designed templates 
• Good for both design professionals and non-professionals 
• Easy to store brand assets and bespoke templates for future presentations
• Access presentation tools from anywhere via a web browser
• Free presentation app version available
• Might take some getting used to if you’re used to PowerPoint presentations

2. Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft PowerPoint is often the first presentation software that comes to mind.

Once considered the “O.G.” and best presentation software available, it is still widely used and has a familiar interface—which means most users are comfortable with it. 

This presentation app has everything you need to create a presentation: from animated transitions for interactive presentations to pre-installed fonts and graphic elements.

Users can also upload their own fonts, graphics, and images into their finished presentation.

Lastly, it’s available as part of the Microsoft Office software package; and you can work on your presentations via the web and mobile devices, for offline viewing as well as online. 

However, PowerPoint is no longer considered the best presentation software, as it has very few templates to choose from, and these tend to fall quite flat compared to modern apps and software.

It’s easy to fall back into boring slideshow PowerPoint files if you don’t know what you’re doing.

And because most people use PowerPoint, you’re likely using the same template as the next guy. 

As standalone presentation software, PowerPoint is pricey at US$139.99—and accessible through only one device unless you upgrade your package.

And while PowerPoint is primarily a slideshow application and presentation maker, its strengths are limited to this category. 

So if you’re looking for the best presentation software, and bang for your buck for a robust presentation tool, you might want to look elsewhere. 

• Market leader in slideshow applications to create slides
• Widely used and familiar interface for the presentation process
• Reliable and usable on most devices as well as being a desktop app
• Flat templates
• Limitations with its standalone-presentation software price

3. Google Slides

Google Slides is a slideshow application that is very similar to PowerPoint.  But there are three main differences: it’s fully online (while also allowing for offline viewing), collaborative, and free. 

The great thing about Google Slides (besides the fact that it’s completely free for anyone with a Google account) is that you can log on via your browser or through its official app. 

You can access all Google Slides presentations from any device (mobile, tablet, and desktop), and share them with other people so you can collaborate in real-time. 

Google Drive allows all your presentations to live on the cloud, accessible to all marketing and sales teams, with unparalleled ease of use.

And there’s no need to worry about disruptions as all changes are saved as they happen, as long as you have an active internet connection. 

Additionally, anyone familiar with PowerPoint will be comfortable using Google’s iteration and likely be delighted by Google Drive and the slide library available. 

It’s also a lot simpler, so even those new to presentation-making will find it easy to navigate. 

However, some might find Google Slides too simple as it lacks the wealth of features available on PowerPoint. 

These include embedding videos from sources other than YouTube, plus adding audio tracks and sound effects, limiting the ability to create unique interactive presentations. 

Some users also encounter issues with downloading and exporting to different formats, including PowerPoint. 

Some slides may even turn out completely different from the original version. 

All in all, Google Slides is a great option for those who are looking for a free application and only need to create simple presentations. 

• The free plan supports professional presentations
• Web-based and collaborative to create presentations
• Simple and familiar interface for an online presentation software
• Too simple for advanced presentation making
• Difficult to export to other formats
• Limited templates and customization options for interactive content

You could say Keynote is Apple’s version of PowerPoint. It’s also a slideshow application—but in typical Apple fashion, it comes with a sleek, minimalist interface and is considered one of the best presentation apps on the market. 

There are 30 different themes to choose from, which serve as templates for those who need a quick fix. And it can do most of what PowerPoint can. 

Keynote’s main perk is that it’s part of the Apple ecosystem. 

That means it has built-in iCloud and Apple Watch support so users can control their presentation from their mobile device or even their wrists with just a click. 

This presentation app comes pre-installed on most Mac devices. Otherwise, you can purchase it from the Apple store for just US$9.99 for mobile and US$19.99 for OS X. 

The big downside is that Keynote is exclusive to Mac OS. 

Non-Apple users can create, upload, and sync their own Keynote presentations through their iCloud Drive, but this presentation app is only truly helpful only for those who use multiple Apple devices. 

And if you’re used to working on PowerPoint, you might find Keynote a bit confusing in the beginning, especially when editing presentations. 

• Sleek, minimalist interface 
• Free with most Apple devices
• No access for PC and Android devices except through iCloud

5. SlideDog

Sliding away from straightforward slideshow applications and other presentation apps, SlideDog is a web-based multimedia presentation tool that lets users combine different types of media to create and edit presentations. 

This includes everything from PowerPoint decks to videos and even PDFs that can all be played side by side without any awkward transitions. 

It’s also extremely easy to customize a SlideDog presentation. 

You just need to upload the files into the SlideDog web browser application, and then drag and drop them according to the order in which you want them to play. 

You can control your presentations and playlists from another device, and audience members can view your slideshow on their devices by clicking a link. 

SlideDog has a free presentation app version that provides all of the basic features. 

However, live sharing and premium support are only available with a Pro account that costs US$99 per year, and not via the free version alone.

While SlideDog is technically considered presentation software, you can’t actually create presentations on it. 

You can simply stitch together different pre-made presentations in various formats into what is essentially a playlist. 

Lastly, SlideDog supports only Windows devices, so Apple and Linux users can’t use it. 

• Supports a lot of different media
• Provides live-sharing
• More dynamic compared to the usual slideshow presentation
• Only collates media; doesn’t create them

6. Haiku Deck 

Ever come across presentations with size-eight fonts and blocks of indecipherable paragraphs on each slide? 

You can avoid such an unfortunate scenario with Haiku Deck. 

HaikuDeck is a web and mobile application that favors images over text. 

It works by limiting the number of words users can put on each slide, and allowing them to search for images on their platform related to the slide’s main idea. 

This makes it ideal for those who want to simplify their thoughts and let the images do all the talking. 

Users have over 40 million royalty-free photos to choose from, plus dozens of simple slide layouts on the platform itself. 

While this certainly simplifies the process of creating a visually rich presentation, it can be limiting for those who need to include more information into their slides. 

It’s a great option for someone giving a TED Talk, for example.

But for others who need to pass on more facts and figures, having a built-in word limit might be too restrictive.  

• Simple and easy to use 
• Access to millions of royalty-free stock images
• May be too simple for some
• No Android support
• Limited features

7. Prezi Business

Among the other presentation software on this list, Prezi Business might be one of the most unique presentation tools. 

Rather than offering a regular slideshow format, Prezi looks more like a 3D interactive mind map where viewers jump dynamically from one idea to the next. 

You can zoom in on one “slide” and then zoom out for the next. 

Prezi has over 100 templates to choose from and comes with a very simple interface and a drag-and-drop style of editing. 

It’s compatible with both Mac and PC desktops as well as smartphones. 

It’s also similar to a regular PowerPoint deck in that you can jump back and forth from one “slide” to the next. 

And like SlideDog, you can send viewers the link to the presentation as you’re presenting. 

Also, up to 10 people can work on a Prezi presentation at the same time, one of its main selling points. 

This is great for collaboration, but having so many hands-on deck at once can get messy. 

• Dynamic and immersive presentations
• Highly visual
• Easy to use
• May not be appropriate for all types of presentations

In a world of slides and presentations, standing out is the key. Ludus brings the flair of graphic design into the world of presentations.

At its core, Ludus is the bridge between presentation tools and design software. It enables users to infuse their slides with the kind of design elements you’d typically find in advanced design platforms.

Not only can you import assets from design giants like Adobe, but its seamless integration with tools like Unsplash and Giphy makes sourcing visuals a breeze.

It’s a fairly affordable tool for all its features compared to the other paid options in this list, as users pay 12.49 euros monthly (if billed annually).

However, while Ludus’ robust design capabilities can elevate the look of your presentation, those unfamiliar with design tools might find there’s a learning curve.

• Merges presentation creation with advanced design tools.
• Seamless integration with popular design platforms and visual databases.
• Offers a unique edge in presentation aesthetics.
• Might be a tad overwhelming for non-designers
• Can have a steeper learning curve for those used to more straightforward platforms

9. Slidebean

Crafting a compelling presentation demands not only compelling content but also a design that can captivate your audience. Enter Slidebean.

Slidebean offers an intelligent design solution, using AI to transform raw content into professionally styled presentations. This platform streamlines the design process, allowing you to focus on the message rather than fretting over aesthetics.

The basic plan is free and allows you to create a presentation. But if you want to share or download your presentations, as well as unlock the full suite of features, you’ll need to sign up for the All-Access plan priced at $199 per year.

While it provides a quick and efficient method to produce polished slides, it also offers features for sharing, collaboration, and viewer analytics, adding an edge to your presentation strategy.

However, for professionals who prioritize granular design control, the automated design might feel limiting at times.

• AI-driven design ensures visually appealing presentations.
• Features for collaboration and viewer insights.
• Efficient design process reduces time and effort.
• Might not offer the detailed design customization some users desire.
• Automated choices may not always align with specific branding or style preferences.

10. ClearSlide

Having great visuals to drive your point home can be the difference between getting a sale across the line or customers walking away. ClearSlide stands out in this area as a presentation tool for businesses laser-focused on boosting their sales and marketing game.

At its core, ClearSlide is all about leveling up business presentations. Whether you’re marketing a new product or tracking client engagement, it’s got tools that cater to every need.

Whether it’s a PowerPoint, a PDF, or something from Google Drive or Dropbox, ClearSlide makes it simple to upload and work with these files.

The unique edge? ClearSlide’s virtual meeting space pops open with just a click. It’s all about seamless, professional presentations without the hassle.

Beyond just slides, the platform dives deep into metrics and analytics, ensuring every presentation is backed by data-driven insights. And the tool is available for $35 per month, which isn’t too pricey for medium-sized businesses.

However, its complexity isn’t for everyone. For some, the variety of features might seem a tad overwhelming, and its focus on metrics might be a bit much for those just wanting a basic presentation tool.

• Seamless virtual meetings and presentations
• Integrates with popular platforms
• Offers insightful analytics for sales and marketing
• Might feel complex for some users
• Limited transition and design effects
• Mobile experience could be better

Stepping into the world of animation, Vyond, once known as GoAnimate, allows users to turn their narratives into professional animated videos. For those looking to elevate their content without diving deep into animation complexities, Vyond can be the go-to tool.

This platform is more than just drag-and-drop animations. It integrates AI capabilities with Vyond Go, which transforms text prompts into rough-cut videos.

Fancy a quick draft for your upcoming project? This AI assistant is up for the task. And if perfection is your game, take it to Vyond Studio, filled with an array of characters, templates, and backgrounds.

The Essential Plan at $25 per month is suitable for individuals on a budget. However, if you want to export videos at 1080p and above, have collaboration tools, or different export options, you’ll need to sign up for the Professional Plan at $92 per month.

As robust as the tool is, there are still some kinks to iron out. AI voiceovers might still need some tweaks, and detailed color customizations can be a bit tricky, but the tool’s strengths, especially for businesses, are undeniable.

• Hassle-free video creation for beginners to experts
• Generous library of pre-made assets
• AI-powered video and script creation with Vyond Go
• AI voiceovers might feel a bit robotic
• Some customization limitations for specific props and scenes

The best presentation software is…

 …completely up to you! 

When it comes to presentation software, the world is your oyster. 

Each of these tools either has a free or trial version for you to check out, so you don’t have to commit just yet. 

When it’s time to choose, consider the following aspects to find the right presentation software for you: 

• Ease of use. Is it easy for you to understand or will it require lots of training before you can start creating presentations? 
• Accessibility. Can you access your presentation software from any device or are you limited to carrying your laptop to every presentation? 
• Real-time collaboration. Can multiple people work on the same project or do you have to keep downloading and emailing drafts? 
• Create design tools. Can you create presentations with dynamic design elements or are you stuck with the same kind of slide each time? 
• Template availability. Is this tool only accessible to a design professional or can anyone create stunning presentations through pre-designed and updated templates? 

Piktochart , for example, would be a fantastic presentation software choice among the long list of PowerPoint alternatives for teams looking for a variety of eye-catching designs without requiring much technical know-how. Meanwhile, Microsoft PowerPoint might be the best presentation software for those who are just looking to play it safe. 

Hopefully, this best presentation software list sheds some light on the tools at your disposal. Choose wisely! 

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The Best 6 Interactive Presentation Tools

Giving a presentation is hard enough without worrying about getting crickets from your audience. Whether you're presenting an idea to your colleagues, speaking at a conference, or lecturing in a classroom, making your presentation interactive is a surefire way to increase audience engagement (and enjoyment).

With years of experience, we're experts in the field of interactive presentation software. We've put together a list of the top tools you can use to get your group interacting, engaging, and having a great time during your talk.

Without further ado, here's the list:

1. Slides With Friends

What is Slides With Friends?

Slides With Friends is an interactive presentation tool that offers slide decks similarly styled to PowerPoint —but this tool is different from PowerPoint because its slide decks have interactive features to engage your audience. Those features include live polls, ratings, live word clouds, videos, gifs, live photo sharing, live trivia, live quizzes, and more. 

How does Slides With Friends work? 

After creating an account, you'll have access to hundreds of presentation templates that fall into different categories, some of which are conferences, trivia, happy hour, team building, and education. Once you pick a slide deck template, you can customize it by changing the colors, fonts, images, and backgrounds. You can also add or remove interactive features based on your preferences.

When you're ready to start your presentation, all you have to do is share your screen. Then, your audience should scan the QR code to join the fun. Participants can submit responses to your presentation questions and engage in your activities and games from anywhere using their mobile devices!

‍ Pros of using Slides With Friends:

• Live features: With live polling, word clouds, photo sharing, charts, graphs, quizzes, and trivia, your audience will stay energized during your entire presentation! 
• Real-time insights: The many live features provide real-time updates to keep your audience engaged , intrigued, and in the know!
• Easy to use: You don't have to be tech-savvy to customize a slide deck or build an interactive presentation from scratch. Slides With Friends offers an easy and clean user experience. 
• Customizable: You can choose from a plethora of design options, like changing the background, updating font pairings, creating color palettes, and much more. 
• Mobile-first: Some interactive presentation software asks audience members to download an app to submit responses. With Slides With Friends, all people have to do is scan a QR code and submit responses using their mobile devices.  

Cons of using Slides With Friends:

• Need a paid plan for larger audiences: Ten people can engage with your presentation for free, so if you have a larger group, you'll need a paid plan. The good news is that those paid tiers are affordable, so you don't have to worry about breaking the bank.  

‍ Main Takeaway

The simplicity and fun, unique features that Slides With Friends offers makes it one of the top interactive presentation software, which is why everyone from teachers to speakers to managers use it. The slide decks are straightforward, and the templates are easy to customize—and when you're ready to start your presentation, participants can join without any hassle or downloads.

2. AhaSlides

What is AhaSlides?

AhaSlides is another interactive presentation tool that makes it easy for you to engage your audience. Similar to Slides With Friends, this tool has tons of customizable presentation templates, and they fall into many different categories like work, games, meetings, surveys, and holidays. Each template comes with interactive features to entertain your audience, including word clouds, a spinner wheel, polls, Q&A, sliding scales, and quizzes. 

How does AhaSlides work?

Getting started with AhaSlides is easy. After signing up, simply build your presentation from scratch or choose one of the many templates that AhaSlides offers. Once you're ready to present, make sure everyone can see your screen and ask your audience to join the fun by using the QR code or URL link. 

Pros of AhaSlides:

• User-friendly interface: AhaSlides has a similar setup and style to many other interactive presentation tools, so the learning curve is minimal. 
• On-slide editing: This software provides more options for on-slide designs and editing. 
• Cost-effective: All of AhaSlides' plans are affordable. Its most expensive one is under $20/month.
• Good for large groups: You can interact with up to 10k participants during your presentation, making this tool great for big conferences and large events.

Cons of AhaSlides: 

• Limitations: There aren't many different types of surveys and poll questions you can ask. 
• Customizing photos: All of your images on AhaSlides must be square.
• Can't undo: If you make a mistake while building your presentation on AhaSlides, you can't undo any changes. 

Main Takeaway

AhaSlides is a great interactive presentation tool that lets you achieve the same goals and add the same interactive features as other software. You may especially enjoy this tool if you want something that's budget-friendly— but beware that the low cost comes with some serious drawbacks, like the inability to undo mistakes and add different types of images. 

3. Mentimeter

What is Mentimeter?

‍ Mentimeter is an audience engagement platform that lets you build full presentations with interactive features and slides. This tool lets you add live polling , surveys, word clouds, Q&As, and quizzes, as well as Truth or Lie, Guess the Number, and This or That slides to engage your audience. It also offers many presentation templates for you to build on and customize. 

How does Mentimeter work?

Once you sign up, Mentimeter will ask a few questions to understand how you plan to use their service. Then, the software will analyze your responses to suggest specific templates based on your needs. If you don't like their recommendations, you can access all of Mentimeter's templates to find what you want. 

After you create your presentation and are ready to launch, your audience can respond to your questions, react to your content, and ask questions using any device. All of their responses are anonymous, too—and their feedback will appear on the screen immediately after they submit them. 

Pros of using Mentimeter:

• Feedback gathering: Mentimeter is great if you want to gather insights from your audience or gauge your audience's sentiments about a particular topic. 
• Customization capabilities: You can tailor every template to fit your needs. You can even include your own branding. 
• Integrations: Mentimeter is a corporate-friendly tool that integrates with Zoom, Hopin, Microsoft Teams, and PowerPoint. 

Cons of using Mentimeter:

• Restrictive free plan: The free version doesn't offer a lot of features and comes with many restrictions. 
• Expensive paid plans: If you want to access more features, you'll need a paid plan, but Mentimeter's paid tiers are significantly higher than other interactive presentation tools. 
• Steep learning curve: Mentimeter isn't intuitive—some features are complex, so first-time users may struggle.
• Inefficient customer support: Because of the company's location, the support team and support hours will be an obstacle for users in different time zones.
• Editing restrictions: On-slide editing is not possible . Instead of editing content on the actual slides, you'll have to edit text fields on the side. 

Mentimeter has many features you need to make your presentation interactive, but accessing those features comes at a hefty cost. Also, because Mentimeter isn't intuitive, implementing certain elements can be difficult and time-consuming. However, if you're tech-savvy, Mentimeter could be a powerful and useful presentation tool. ‍

What is Slido?

Slido is a Q&A and live polling platform that lets you interact with your audience during your presentation . With this tool, you can ask poll questions and receive audience feedback in real time. Your audience can also submit questions and vote for their favorite ones. Because of these features, Slido is an interactive presentation tool that's best for Q&A sessions, Ask Me Anything, curating and brainstorming ideas, quizzes, and feedback gathering. 

How does Slido work?

Slido integrates with other presentation and video conferencing tools like Microsoft Teams, Vimeo, PowerPoint, and Google Slides. After signing up, you can access the tool and add its polling and Q&A features to your presentation slides. Once you're ready to present, your audience can join the fun by using the event link or QR code to participate. People can submit their responses using their mobile devices or laptop.

Pros of Slido: 

• Integrations: Because it has so many integrations, you can use Slido on essentially any presentation builder. 
• Good for large groups: Slido lets you add up to 5K participants, so it's good for large grounds. 

Cons of Slido: 

• Learning curve: Many users believe Slido is hard to learn and comes with too many steps for presenters. Some needed multiple explanations from other users on how to utilize the tool. 
• Limited features: All you get with Slido are polling and Q&A options, so you won't have many ways to engage your audience. 
• Limited free option: The free plan has very basic features. With this plan, engaging your audience will be challenging.
• Expensive: Slido is one of the more expensive options, with the enterprise plan reaching $200/month. 
• Delays: Some users have experienced delays in displaying participants' responses on slides. 

Main Takeaway 

Slido is a good tool with great integrations. But its features are limited, and its plans are expensive. If you add the learning curve some users complain about, you may not find many benefits in using Slido—however, it's still worth considering if you care about integrations.  

What is Vevox?

Vevox is a live polling, quiz, and Q&A platform that helps you engage your audience . This interactive presentation software integrates with multiple tools, including Powerpoint, Blackboard, and Microsoft Teams. 

With Vevox, you can gather anonymous feedback to ensure everyone has a voice, gauge your audience's views on topics, and jumpstart a fun, competitive atmosphere with a quizzing experience. Vevox also lets you showcase participants' responses with unique visuals like word clouds.

How does Vevox work? 

After signing up for Vevox, you can use its integration feature to convert slides on your presentation into Vevox polling, Q&A, or quiz slides. During your actual presentation, participants can interact with you by scanning a QR code or entering an event ID, both of which will be present on your Vevox slides. Audience members can submit their questions and responses from anywhere and on any device. 

Pros of Vevox:

• Great free plans: Vevox has two free plans—one for businesses and one for educators. Both allow up to 100 participants to interact with your presentation, and each tier provides integrations with Microsoft Teams and Powerpoint. 
• Easy to run: Most users believe Vevox is easy to use and run. 
• Integrations: With Vevox's many integrations, you can use the presentation tools you prefer. 

Cons of Vevox:

• Expensive: Vevox is one of the most costly interactive presentation tools, with plans reaching $799/month. 
• Poor design for end-users: Some presenters have expressed issues with how answer options appear on end-users' mobile devices. 
• Best for Microsoft products: While Vevox integrates with many tools, it works seamlessly with Microsoft products like Teams, PowerPoint, and Windows. With other platforms, the integration is a bit more challenging. 
• Few interactive features: Many users believe Vevox doesn't offer enough features to engage audiences, especially when compared to similar options. Users also think Vevox doesn't provide enough dynamic ways to present participants' poll answers. 
• Data Gathering: Some users report issues getting data exported to another file. 

If you want an interactive presentation tool with basic engagement features, then Vevox is a good option. You can include a lot of participants with its free plans and use various integrations, which are bonuses if you typically speak to a large audience and have preferred presentation tools.

However, if you want interactive features that go beyond polling, quizzes, and Q&As to keep your audience glued in, then Vevox may not be the best solution. It's also quite expensive for lacking so many engagement features. 

6. Poll Everywhere

What is Poll Everywhere?

Poll Everywhere is a live polling tool that helps you gather feedback, gauge your audience's thoughts, and receive questions during your presentation. With Poll Everywhere, you can ask multiple-choice questions and open-ended questions and present participants' responses with word clouds. This interactive application also integrates with many presentation tools and meeting platforms, including PowerPoint, Keynote, Google Slides, Microsoft Teams, and Slack. 

How does Poll Everywhere work?

You can access Poll Everywhere after creating an account. From there, you'll need to download Poll Everywhere on your device to enjoy the full, interactive experience. Once you download the application, you can use it when building your presentation by adding interactive poll questions to your slides. 

During your presentation, your audience can answer your poll questions using any device. Just share the activity link provided by Poll Everywhere. Then, participants can use that to see and respond to your questions. You can also dive deeper into participants' responses using the application's reporting capabilities—the tool lets you analyze audience insights using executive summaries, pivot tables, grade books, and participant response history. 

Pros of Poll Everywhere:

• Easy PowerPoint integrations: Users believe Poll Everywhere seamlessly integrates with PowerPoint. 
• Reporting capabilities: You can better understand your audience using one of the many report types that Poll Everywhere offers.
• Customer support: This application has a good tech support and customer service team. 
• Easy to use: Presenters and educators agree that Poll Everywhere is simple and straightforward.
• Consistently improving: Many users believe the company does a great job implementing feedback and enhancing features.

Cons of Poll Everywhere:

• Limited features: Like Vevox and Slido, Poll Everywhere doesn't have features beyond the basic interactive capabilities. 
• Learning Management System integration: Some users have trouble integrating Poll Everywhere with BlackBoard and other LMS platforms. 
• No enhancements: Other than word clouds, users think Poll Everywhere lacks the visual and audio enhancements that would make participants' responses fun to watch and hear. 
• Expensive: While Poll Everywhere isn't the most expensive interactive presentation tool, it's not the cheapest. To get a good amount of features, you need the "Engage" plan, which is a little less than $50/month. 

Poll Everywhere is a good live polling tool—and its reporting capabilities are especially great. However, it's like many other interactive presentation tools; it doesn't offer a lot of features, even though it's somewhat pricey. It also doesn't integrate well with platforms outside of Microsoft PowerPoint.

‍ Prevent the Glazed Eyes

With an interactive presentation tool, you'll increase your chances of building something that not only sticks but holds your audience's attention—and that's exactly what you need. In an age where people have trouble concentrating and regularly scrolling on social media is normal, you have about ten minutes to grab and keep your audience's attention. Failure to do so means you'll be another statistic people use when explaining the importance of having an interactive presentation. 

You've got 10 minutes. That's the span of time most people can stay mentally engaged with a presentation before they check out. So, unless you can create stimulating content and deliver it masterfully, you will find your audience scrolling through TikTok and checking their email. Studies have shown that 4 in 5 business professionals, regardless of age, shifted their focus away from the speaker in the most recent presentation they watched! - Jane Hanson, The 30-Point Rule, And Other Tips To Prepare A Killer Presentation That Will Keep Your Audience Off Their Phones

So, if you want to nail your presentation, don't go in with slides that only feature bulleted lists and a photo here and there. Liven things up by using a tool that'll enhance your presentation's interactivity. Then, you'll give a presentation so good that it'll prevent people from scrolling and potentially lead to a standing ovation instead. 

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9 Effective Presentation Techniques You Can Use to Master Public Speaking 6 min read

Sweat drips down the side of your face as you wait quietly backstage, fidgeting.

Your hands are cold and clammy as you fumble through cue cards one last time, trying to recall key points on each card.

Your name gets called and you face the inevitable walk up the stage to deliver what you imagine can be the worst public humiliation of your life.

We have all been there, the uneasy, nauseating feeling of public speaking.

The one thing we fear more than death, so they say.

Unless you make a living from  working remotely , speaking in public is a useful, if not an essential tool for educational and professional success .

Why are effective presentation techniques important?

Effective presentation techniques are important because they help you deliver ideas in clear, concise and interesting ways.

Being a good public speaker allows you to demonstrate your knowledge with authority and help you stand out in the workplace.

Therefore, we need to find effective presentation techniques that work for us to put our best selves forward whenever we speak in public.

With numerous resources on improving public speaking written everywhere, here are the best presentation techniques that you can master.

1. Limit your presentation to one core idea

You have so much knowledge you want to share, educate and persuade.

Why limit your speech to just one idea?

Because ideas are complicated.

It takes a pitch to build interests into a desire, a narrative to create empathy, supporting evidence to be persuasive, and a call to action to lead movements.

Instead of squeezing every ounce of your knowledge into the limited time allocated to your speech, you will be most effective by concentrating on just one core idea that your audience can resonate with.

This way, you can be sure your audience can walk away with a clear message after the presentation.

2. Remember that the audience is on your side

Whether you are delivering a business plan in a boardroom or speaking as a keynote speaker at a conference.

Whether you are speaking to a handful of colleagues, or a lecture theatre packed with college seniors.

The audience is there for one reason.

You may imagine the audience is there to watch you make a fool of yourself, but more often than not, they want to be there, be enlightened by your presence, and be inspired by your talk.

3. Gently introduce people to your accents

With all the ethnic diversity in the world, we can all learn from our differences and work towards a greater good.

Despite speaking the same languages, our diverse backgrounds would lead to little nuances in the way we enunciate words and the way we speak phrases.

Intentionally speaking slowly , in the beginning, is not only good practice but a good technique to allow your audience to get used to your accents.

After all, you need your listeners to understand your words before they can understand your ideas.

4. Use language your audience can understand to deliver your idea

Now that your audience can understand the words coming out of your mouth, we can think about how to deliver your idea.

Unless you are speaking to a family member, your audience likely has a different background to yours.

Both geographically and professionally.

This means, the technical jargon and inside jokes that you throw around among your friends and colleagues may not work in a packed conference room.

It’s best to practice explaining your ideas to friends from different backgrounds to get a feel of how effective your presentation is to the public.

5. Spark curiosity in your audience

Listening is hard.

It’s difficult to concentrate on listening to a new idea, even more so if the idea is boring.

Therefore it is your job, as a speaker, to spark curiosity in your audience to make sure both you and your audience enjoy the presentation.

A few common ways to spark interests include humor, storytelling, anecdotes, or even funny cat videos.

6. Present data visually

Not all people perceive numbers and data in the same way.

A simple statistic can mean different ideas to different people.

The best way to control the narrative in numbers and data is to create visual images that tell specific stories.

An effective image can help your audience understand both the meaning and origin of the data to keep people engaged.

7. Your slides are not the centerpiece, you are

It is tempting to use your slide deck as a crutch, and follow it slide by slide, dividing your attention between the presentation slides and your audience.

You will look like a tennis umpire looking back and forth, back and forth.

The audience is here to see you, to listen to what you have to say.

Try to bring your best presence to deliver your speech and only use the slides for images and videos to drive your point home, not to divert attention away from you.

8. Use technology only if necessary

Following the last point, your presentation slides are only used to support your talk, not to take over it.

Use presentation technology with caution, and only in situations where necessary.

To run your presentation from an iPhone like a pro, there’s always EZCast Pro to help you make wireless presentations in huddle rooms and meeting rooms at work .

9. Practice your presentation over and over again

Now you know all the most effective presentation techniques available, all that’s left for you is to master them through deliberate practice .

Whether you repeat your speech during your daily commute or annunciate key points with purpose in the shower.

Try to memorize your presentation down to every single deliberate pause to make sure you have every detail down pat.

Then you can find a friend or family member to listen to you speak and provide constructive feedback.

Once you iron out the kinks, you will become more effective in presentation and ready for the big time.

在〈 9 Effective Presentation Techniques You Can Use to Master Public Speaking 6 min read 〉中有 3 則留言

Point 3. I think the write meant to write “enunciate” NOT “annunciate”. These 2 words are very different. The 1st one mean to speak clearly and the 2nd one means to announce.

Thank you for the correction Maurice. Just changed it to the correct usage.

Really nice topic. It will helps during presentation.

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7 Creative Ways to Empower Public Speaking

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1. Customize your message for the audience

Before you choose a topic and plan your speech, you need to know your audience. Your content will vary based on who is listening to you. You may be speaking casually to a room full of peers or presenting an academic paper to an audience of professors.

For powerful public speaking, you must consider factors such as the age and knowledge level of your audience. When you speak to children, your language and presentation will differ from when you’re speaking to adults.

2. Use presentation tools wisely

It’s important not to rely on presentation tools like slideshows to the point where your speech becomes boring. You must know what the software can do and how best to use its features. To avoid such last-minute technical difficulties, check the presentation tool you plan on using in advance. 

You might use your iPhone to take photos and videos of your presentation to share on your social media. These files can clutter your iPhone and you need to clear your phone storage. You can remove duplicate photos from your iPhone using this tool. It will increase the speed of your phone and will provide storage for necessary files.

3. Make a connection

When learning how to speak in public, it’s essential to connect with the audience. You can do this through body language and eye contact. Look directly at specific audience members throughout your speech. Don’t just scan over the whole audience. Focus on those who are interacting with you instead of those who seem less engaged and you will be more confident and relaxed.  

4. Tell a good story

Public speaking examples often show how storytelling makes a speech more relatable and engaging. Business stories differ from others as they aren’t just for entertainment — they have a specific objective.

It’s important to be authentic and candid when telling any story. Here are some tips:

Speak about how a customer’s problem was solved by using your products or services. It helps to include figures such as your product reducing a customer’s supply costs by 20%.

Describe how your company came to be. Your mission and motivation can help an audience to relate to it.

Explain what motivated you to develop a new product. Perhaps you saw a need to improve safety in the workplace after witnessing an incident that injured many people.

5. Use props for effect

Using props can help to introduce humor and playfulness into a speech and drive a message home. If you’re talking about the importance of budgeting, a toy piggy bank could be an entertaining prop. It’s important to check your props and practice with them before speaking. You don’t want to rely on them to make your speech funny. Instead, they should support your humor, offer an element of surprise, or add variety to your speech.

6. Practice your speech 

You won’t be an effective speaker unless you learn that you need to practice. The more familiar you are with your speech, the easier it will be to deliver it powerfully. You will be able to identify when you need to take pauses and which points to highlight. You will learn to modify your pace and speak more slowly rather than nervously rushing through it because you’re afraid you will forget what to say.

7. Recap at the end  

Wrap up your speech by recapping key points. This doesn’t mean repeating yourself, though. Instead, remind the audience of the most important aspects of your speech so they will retain them long after your speech ends. Finish off with a thank you to the audience for taking the time to listen to you.

Incorporating these tips into public speaking will lead to a more powerful effect on your audience. You will tailor your speech to the audience, connect, interact, and tell stories. The presentation tools and props that you use will enhance what you say rather than become distractions. Practicing your speech and recapping the main points at the end will ensure that your listeners have something useful to take away.

Disclaimer: this article includes a paid product promotion.

5 Crucial Corporate Public Speaking Tips

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I Talk Too Slowly

How to Make Effective Impactful Presentations (Tips & Tools)

Learn how to make a good presentation great - step-by-step with examples. Learn the principles, guidelines & qualities needed to prepare captivating slides.

Dominika Krukowska

12 minute read

Short answer

Short answer: how to make a good presentation.

Start with a surprising statement, a bold promise, or a mystery

Provide context with a bit of background information

Structure your presentation within a story framework

Make every word count, and use as few as possible

Use visuals only to support your presentation text

Use interactive design to make your audience active participants

End by telling your audience what they can do with what they’ve learned

Boring presentations are instantly forgotten. How’s yours?

Lifeless presentations can spell doom for your message, leaving your audience disengaged and your goals unreached.

The price of a mediocre presentation is steep; missed opportunities, unimpressed prospects, and a bad rep.

In a world where everyone has grown to expect a good story, a boring presentation will be instantly forgotten. Like a drop in the ocean.

But not all is lost.

This post will teach you how presentation pros create compelling narratives and leverage the latest tech tools to command attention, drive a powerful message, and get shared like gossip.

Let’s get started!

How to prepare a presentation?

The successful presenter understands the value of small details and thorough preparation like the seasoned chef knows the importance of quality ingredients and careful technique for serving a 5 star dish

But where do you start?

Step-by-step guide for preparing a presentation:

1. Define your objective

Every presentation needs a clear goal. Are you looking to persuade, educate, or motivate? Perhaps you aim to showcase a product, or share insights about a recent project.

Defining your objective early on will guide your content creation process, helping you to focus your message and structure your presentation effectively. Think of your objective as the North Star guiding your presentation journey.

2. Analyze your audience

Next up, who are you talking to? Your audience should shape your presentation as much as your objective does. Understanding their needs, interests, and background will enable you to tailor your message to resonate with them.

Are they experts in your field, or are they novices looking for an introduction? What questions might they have? The more you know about your audience, the more compelling your presentation will be.

3. Research your topic

Once you've defined your objective and analyzed your audience, it's time to delve deep into your topic. Comprehensive research lays the groundwork for a robust, credible presentation.

Don't just scratch the surface – explore different perspectives, recent developments, and key statistics. This will not only enhance your understanding but also equip you with a wealth of information to answer any questions your audience might have.

4. Choose the right delivery format

Finally, consider the best format to deliver your message.

The right format can make all the difference in how your message is received, so choose wisely!

PowerPoint presentations are classic and easy to work with. But PowerPoint and Google slides are not so versatile in terms of their content experience. They're static, packed with information, and all look alike.

Our own presentation maker offers interactive, personalized, and multimedia content experience.

Data from our research of over 100K presentation sessions shows that audiences engage with Storydoc presentations 103% better than PowerPoint.

How to create an effective presentation?

There’s part art and part science in creating high-engagement high-impact presentations.

An effective presentation is the painstaking result of well-organized content, visuals that support and elevate your message, simplifying complex information, and personalizing wherever possible.

I wrote this post to teach you how to do all these, and a few things more.

Ready to learn? Let's dive in!

How to organize your presentation content?

Crafting a compelling presentation is like writing a page-turner.

You need to captivate your audience, maintain their interest, and guide them effortlessly through your narrative.

But how do you transform a heap of information into a well-structured presentation you can’t stop reading? There’s a structure you can follow.

3-step process for organizing a magnetic presentation:

1. Prioritize content

Your presentation should immediately capture interest and demonstrate relevance before moving on to establish understanding .

A) Build interest:

Begin with a strong hook that grabs your audience's attention. This could be an intriguing statistic, a powerful image , or an engaging question. It should stir curiosity and make your audience eager to hear more.

B) Establish relevance:

Once you have their attention it's time to establish why your presentation matters to your audience.

Address your audience's main concerns. Make sure your content directly speaks to these pain points, and address them in order of importance.

2. Build anticipation

A great presentation is like getting a new car – it builds anticipation, takes you on a thrilling ride, and ends with you wanting to share the experience with all your friends.

Start with a compelling problem your audience relates to and follow up with a promise of an amazing way they can solve it. This problem-solution dynamic creates a suspense that keeps your audience glued to your presentation.

3. Use a story framework

Finally, use a story framework to give your presentation structure and flow.

Begin with a big idea that underpins your presentation. Then delve into the problem, showcasing why it needs attention. Present your solution, painting a vision of a better future for your audience.

Weave in concrete examples of how your solution changes lives.

Tell the story of WHO you helped, WHAT the situation was before and after your solution, WHERE and WHEN it happened, WHY it worked and HOW it made them feel.

If you’re writing a business presentation you should follow this with an execution plan that outlines how the solution will be implemented.

Finally, close with clear next steps, guiding your audience on what they should do after the presentation to bring meaningful change into their lives.

Our recommended story framework:

How to design your presentation?

A good presentation is more than just making it look pretty ; it's about communicating your message effectively and creating a lasting impression.

Good presentation design grabs attention, and leads it to where it’s needed most. It takes your hand and leads you through the easiest and most pleasant path to understanding.

Good presentation design supports your message rather than steals the spotlight. Good design is narrated design.

What is narrated design (Scrollytelling)?

Scrollytelling, where "scroll" meets "storytelling", is an interactive content experience that guides readers through a narrative journey with a simple scroll. It connects text, images, videos, and animations into integrated “scenes” where content is both shown and narrated.

Scrollytelling breaks complex content into digestible chunks and gives the reader control over pace. It has been scientifically shown to enhance engagement, understandability and memorability.

Scrollytelling came up as a central thing when Itai Amoza, our Founder and CEO was building the foundations for Storydoc.

He partnered with one of the world’s leading visualization scientists , prof. Steven Franconeri , to help him bring to Storydoc the means to reduce the complexity, friction, and information overload so characteristic of business presentations.

Scrollytelling is part of the solutions that came up, which led to specialized storytelling slides like our narrator slide (in the example below).

An example of Storydoc scrollytelling:

How to design presentation visuals to support your story

Presentation visuals can be unsung heroes or sloppy distractions.

Visuals can bring your message to life, make complex concepts easy to understand, and engage your audience in ways that words alone cannot. Or… they can sit there looking all pretty and distract you from what’s really going on.

4 elements of great presentation visuals:

Support your message: Your visuals should support your text, highlight your main message, and align with your objective. They should reinforce your points and help your audience understand your message.

Represent your audience: The best visuals are relatable. They should resonate with your target audience and reflect their world of associations. Use images and graphics that your audience can identify with – this can enhance their engagement and make your presentation more memorable. Equally important is using clean images - an effective way to do this is by using tools that allow you to remove your image backgrounds . By eliminating distractions and focusing on your subject, you create images that are more impactful and, therefore, can potentially increase audience engagement.

Introduce your product, outcomes, and clients: Wherever possible, use visuals to demonstrate your product, illustrate outcomes, and represent your clients. This can remove doubt and misunderstanding by letting your audience see (and make obvious) what words sometimes struggle to describe.

Follow your branding guidelines: Your presentation is an extension of your brand, so your visuals should conform to your branding guidelines. Consistent use of colors, fonts, and styles not only enhances brand recognition but also creates a cohesive, professional look.

Here’s an example of a well-designed presentation:

How to communicate complex information?

Did you ever have to read a presentation where you felt like you're lost in a maze of jargon, data, and complex concepts?

Are you giving others this same experience?

Communicating complex information is a common challenge in presentations. But there are ways you can simplify your presentation and reengage your audience.

Here’s how you can get complex information across:

1. Use interactive content

Interactive content is your best friend when it comes to simplifying complex information and getting deeply engaged with your content.

It gets the readers more involved in your presentation by letting them play an active part; like choosing the content route they wish to take and controlling the pace.

It keeps your presentation textually lean - giving readers the choice to expand more details on demand (in tabs, live graphs, sliders, accordions, and calculators).

Beyond that, live graphs can illustrate trends, animations can demonstrate processes, and videos can bring concepts to life.

Calculators, questionnaires, and chatbots provide personalized and specific answers to readers as part of your presentation, without them having to get in touch with you or your team.

Elavating your presentations from static to interactive has been tied to increasing the number of people who read your presentation in full by 41% !

Making interactive used to be hard, but now you can just use Storydoc. Go make your first interactive presentation. It’s easy as pie.

2. Show don’t tell

A picture is worth a thousand words. Because no one will read a presentation with a thousand words, do everyone a favor and use images.

Images can be super effective at communicating complex information and save you a lot of needless text.

In fact, visual representation of data and concepts can often convey what words cannot. Use diagrams, infographics, and images to illustrate your points and simplify the complex.

The goal is to create a visual narrative that complements your verbal one.

3. Narrate your content

Storytelling is another powerful tool for communicating complex concepts.

Whether it's through text to speech AI, video bubbles, or a scrollytelling narrator slide, narrating your content can help guide your audience through the complexity.

By giving your information a narrative structure, you can make it more digestible, engaging, and memorable.

According to Sales Hacker’s data, people remember up to 10% of numbers and 25% of images they see. When you center your presentation around a story, this rises to 60-70% .

4. Use examples and allegories

Examples and allegories help unravel the complexity of ideas.

They scaffold your message with concepts we already know and understand, and can easily imagine in our mind. This makes them less new and intimidating and more familiar.

Critically, the real secret lies in selecting examples that are not just familiar but also deeply relevant—those are the ones that will truly ring with your listeners.

If you tailor the allegory to your audience's world, it is guaranteed to lead to an “aha” moment.

5. Open a line of communication

Finally, invite dialogue. This could be through a chatbot or an option to book a meeting for further discussion. This not only helps clarify any confusion but also encourages engagement and deepens understanding.

For example, finishing your presentation with an interactive calendar to book a meeting instead of a generic “Thank you” slide has proven to boost conversion rate by 27% !

How to personalize your presentation?

Imagine attending a party where the host doesn't remember your name or anything about you. Not a great experience, right? The same holds true for presentations.

In a sea of generic content, personalization can be a lifeline that connects you to your audience on a deeper level. It’s also the single most important predictor of success, getting 68% more people to read your presentation in full .

But how do you add that personal touch?

1. Address reader by name

Just as you wouldn't start a conversation without a greeting, don't start your presentation without acknowledging your audience.

Using your audience's name can make your presentation feel like a personal conversation rather than a generic monologue. It's a simple yet powerful way to engage your audience from the get-go.

2. Use their company logo

Including your audience's company logo in your presentation can make them feel seen and valued. It shows that you've taken the time to tailor your presentation to them, enhancing its relevance and appeal.

Plus, it's a subtle way to reinforce that your message is specifically designed to address their needs and challenges.

3. Add a personal message (video or text)

A personal message can go a long way in building a connection with your audience.

It could be a video message from you, expressing your enthusiasm for the opportunity to present to them, or a text message highlighting why the presentation matters to them.

This personal touch can make your audience feel special and more invested in your presentation.

4. Personalize your Call-to-Action

Finally, cap off your presentation with a call to action that speaks directly to your audience.

Swap out the generic 'Contact us' with something that gets to the heart of their needs, something like, 'Let's roll up our sleeves and tackle your [specific issue] at [their company].'

By tailoring your call to action, you show your audience you've truly got their back, that you're not just here to talk, but to make a real, positive impact on their world.

Here’s an example of a personalized slide:

How to measure the effectiveness of your presentation

Imagine if you could peek into your audience's mind, understand what resonated, what fell flat, and what drove them to action?

Presentation analytics is essential in order to guide you on how to fine-tune it for maximum impact.

But how do you get your hands on presentation analytics?

Any presentation you create with Storydoc comes with an out-of-the-box analytics suite , ready to track and provide insights.

We give you 100% visibility into how people engage with your presentations and send you real-time engagement alerts.

Here’s a video explaining how you can track performance with our analytics panel:

4 critical presentation engagement metrics to keep track of

1. Reading time

Storydoc gives you the precise time prospects spend reading your presentation so you can quickly figure out what's hitting the target and what's not.

Are they soaking up every word or just quickly skimming through? This can help you shape your content to hit the bullseye.

NOTE: Keep in mind that reading time alone might not show you a full picture. A better way is to use a smart engagement score that brings together different metrics like time spent and depth of reading. You can get this kind of total score in Storydoc.

2. Reading completion

Another basic metric we track is how many people read your content from start to finish.

This metric is a strong sign of the prospect’s interest and your content quality. It shows you if they're finding the information relevant, but also worth sticking with till the end.

3. Next step conversion rate

This one tracks how many people take the next step after they check out your presentation. This could be filling out a form, setting up a meeting, or downloading more files.

For business presentations, measuring this can show how well your presentation is pushing people further down the sales funnel.

At the top of your analytics dashboard, you can find a tab that shows you how many people clicked on your CTA divided by presentation, date, and location. If you scroll down to the list of readers, next to each person you can also see whether they clicked on the CTA or not.

Here's what it looks like:

4. Number of shares

This metric is particularly important for B2B sales teams . As more people are getting involved in buying decisions, this measure helps you see if and when your content is being passed around inside your prospect’s company.

On the analytics dashboard, under each presentation version, you can find detailed information on how many people read it. So, the higher the number, the more your presentation has been shared internally.

We'll notify you when your presentation has been shared, and who opened it, so you can time your follow-up perfectly to your buyer’s readiness to advance further.

Here's where you can find this information:

Best tool for making an effective presentation

In the realm of presentation tools, classics like Google Slides and PowerPoint offer simplicity and ease, while Canva and Pitch add a dash of design flair and collaboration.

If you're seeking to elevate your presentations to new heights you’ll need to do better than simple PowerPoints or flashy Canvas. Next-gen AI presentation tools like Storydoc are your game-changer.

They break free from the static concept of slides and offer the creation of interactive, immersive content experiences that sweep us along like a good story.

Grab a template - create your best presentation to date

Ever wished for a secret recipe to whip up a killer presentation? We've got something even better! Our interactive presentation templates are your shortcut to success.

Say goodbye to hours of formatting and hello to captivating, interactive presentations, all with a few clicks.

Grab a template and turn presentation woes into wows!

Hi, I'm Dominika, Content Specialist at Storydoc. As a creative professional with experience in fashion, I'm here to show you how to amplify your brand message through the power of storytelling and eye-catching visuals.

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Blog Graphic Design Visual Presentation: Tips, Types and Examples

Visual Presentation: Tips, Types and Examples

Written by: Krystle Wong Sep 28, 2023

So, you’re gearing up for that big presentation and you want it to be more than just another snooze-fest with slides. You want it to be engaging, memorable and downright impressive. 

Well, you’ve come to the right place — I’ve got some slick tips on how to create a visual presentation that’ll take your presentation game up a notch. 

Packed with presentation templates that are easily customizable, keep reading this blog post to learn the secret sauce behind crafting presentations that captivate, inform and remain etched in the memory of your audience.

Click to jump ahead:

What is a visual presentation

15 effective tips to make your visual presentations more engaging, 6 major types of visual presentation you should know , what are some common mistakes to avoid in visual presentations, visual presentation faqs, 5 steps to create a visual presentation with venngage.

A visual presentation is a communication method that utilizes visual elements such as images, graphics, charts, slides and other visual aids to convey information, ideas or messages to an audience. 

Visual presentations aim to enhance comprehension engagement and the overall impact of the message through the strategic use of visuals. People remember what they see, making your point last longer in their heads. 

Without further ado, let’s jump right into some great visual presentation examples that would do a great job in keeping your audience interested and getting your point across.

In today’s fast-paced world, where information is constantly bombarding our senses, creating engaging visual presentations has never been more crucial. To help you design a presentation that’ll leave a lasting impression, I’ve compiled these examples of visual presentations that will elevate your game.

1. Use the rule of thirds for layout

Ever heard of the rule of thirds? It’s a presentation layout trick that can instantly up your slide game. Imagine dividing your slide into a 3×3 grid and then placing your text and visuals at the intersection points or along the lines. This simple tweak creates a balanced and seriously pleasing layout that’ll draw everyone’s eyes.

2. Get creative with visual metaphors

Got a complex idea to explain? Skip the jargon and use visual metaphors. Throw in images that symbolize your point – for example, using a road map to show your journey towards a goal or using metaphors to represent answer choices or progress indicators in an interactive quiz or poll.

3. Engage with storytelling through data

Use storytelling magic to bring your data to life. Don’t just throw numbers at your audience—explain what they mean, why they matter and add a bit of human touch. Turn those stats into relatable tales and watch your audience’s eyes light up with understanding.

4. Visualize your data with charts and graphs

The right data visualization tools not only make content more appealing but also aid comprehension and retention. Choosing the right visual presentation for your data is all about finding a good match. 

For ordinal data, where things have a clear order, consider using ordered bar charts or dot plots. When it comes to nominal data, where categories are on an equal footing, stick with the classics like bar charts, pie charts or simple frequency tables. And for interval-ratio data, where there’s a meaningful order, go for histograms, line graphs, scatterplots or box plots to help your data shine.

In an increasingly visual world, effective visual communication is a valuable skill for conveying messages. Here’s a guide on how to use visual communication to engage your audience while avoiding information overload.

5. Employ the power of contrast

Want your important stuff to pop? That’s where contrast comes in. Mix things up with contrasting colors, fonts or shapes. It’s like highlighting your key points with a neon marker – an instant attention grabber.

6. End with a powerful visual punch

Your presentation closing should be a showstopper. Think a stunning clip art that wraps up your message with a visual bow, a killer quote that lingers in minds or a call to action that gets hearts racing.

7. Tell a visual story

Structure your slides like a storybook and create a visual narrative by arranging your slides in a way that tells a story. Each slide should flow into the next, creating a visual narrative that keeps your audience hooked till the very end.

Icons and images are essential for adding visual appeal and clarity to your presentation. Venngage provides a vast library of icons and images, allowing you to choose visuals that resonate with your audience and complement your message. 

8. Show the “before and after” magic

Want to drive home the impact of your message or solution? Whip out the “before and after” technique. Show the current state (before) and the desired state (after) in a visual way. It’s like showing a makeover transformation, but for your ideas.

9. Add fun with visual quizzes and polls

To break the monotony and see if your audience is still with you, throw in some quick image quizzes or polls. It’s like a mini-game break in your presentation — your audience gets involved and it makes your presentation way more dynamic and memorable.

10. Use visuals wisely

Your visuals are the secret sauce of a great presentation. Cherry-pick high-quality images, graphics, charts and videos that not only look good but also align with your message’s vibe. Each visual should have a purpose – they’re not just there for decoration. 

11. Utilize visual hierarchy

Employ design principles like contrast, alignment and proximity to make your key info stand out. Play around with fonts, colors and placement to make sure your audience can’t miss the important stuff.

12. Engage with multimedia

Static slides are so last year. Give your presentation some sizzle by tossing in multimedia elements. Think short video clips, animations, or a touch of sound when it makes sense, including an animated logo . But remember, these are sidekicks, not the main act, so use them smartly.

13. Interact with your audience

Turn your presentation into a two-way street. Start your presentation by encouraging your audience to join in with thought-provoking questions, quick polls or using interactive tools. Get them chatting and watch your presentation come alive.

When it comes to delivering a group presentation, it’s important to have everyone on the team on the same page. Venngage’s real-time collaboration tools enable you and your team to work together seamlessly, regardless of geographical locations. Collaborators can provide input, make edits and offer suggestions in real time. 

14. Incorporate stories and examples

Weave in relatable stories, personal anecdotes or real-life examples to illustrate your points. It’s like adding a dash of spice to your content – it becomes more memorable and relatable.

15. Nail that delivery

Don’t just stand there and recite facts like a robot — be a confident and engaging presenter. Lock eyes with your audience, mix up your tone and pace and use some gestures to drive your points home. Practice and brush up your presentation skills until you’ve got it down pat for a persuasive presentation that flows like a pro.

Venngage offers a wide selection of professionally designed presentation templates, each tailored for different purposes and styles. By choosing a template that aligns with your content and goals, you can create a visually cohesive and polished presentation that captivates your audience.

Looking for more presentation ideas ? Why not try using a presentation software that will take your presentations to the next level with a combination of user-friendly interfaces, stunning visuals, collaboration features and innovative functionalities that will take your presentations to the next level. 

Visual presentations come in various formats, each uniquely suited to convey information and engage audiences effectively. Here are six major types of visual presentations that you should be familiar with:

1. Slideshows or PowerPoint presentations

Slideshows are one of the most common forms of visual presentations. They typically consist of a series of slides containing text, images, charts, graphs and other visual elements. Slideshows are used for various purposes, including business presentations, educational lectures and conference talks.

2. Infographics

Infographics are visual representations of information, data or knowledge. They combine text, images and graphics to convey complex concepts or data in a concise and visually appealing manner. Infographics are often used in marketing, reporting and educational materials.

Don’t worry, they are also super easy to create thanks to Venngage’s fully customizable infographics templates that are professionally designed to bring your information to life. Be sure to try it out for your next visual presentation!

3. Video presentation

Videos are your dynamic storytellers. Whether it’s pre-recorded or happening in real-time, videos are the showstoppers. You can have interviews, demos, animations or even your own mini-documentary. Video presentations are highly engaging and can be shared in both in-person and virtual presentations .

4. Charts and graphs

Charts and graphs are visual representations of data that make it easier to understand and analyze numerical information. Common types include bar charts, line graphs, pie charts and scatterplots. They are commonly used in scientific research, business reports and academic presentations.

Effective data visualizations are crucial for simplifying complex information and Venngage has got you covered. Venngage’s chart templates enable you to create engaging charts, graphs,and infographics that enhance audience understanding and retention, leaving a lasting impression in your presentation.

5. Interactive presentations

Interactive presentations involve audience participation and engagement. These can include interactive polls, quizzes, games and multimedia elements that allow the audience to actively participate in the presentation. Interactive presentations are often used in workshops, training sessions and webinars.

Venngage’s interactive presentation tools enable you to create immersive experiences that leave a lasting impact and enhance audience retention. By incorporating features like clickable elements, quizzes and embedded multimedia, you can captivate your audience’s attention and encourage active participation.

6. Poster presentations

Poster presentations are the stars of the academic and research scene. They consist of a large poster that includes text, images and graphics to communicate research findings or project details and are usually used at conferences and exhibitions. For more poster ideas, browse through Venngage’s gallery of poster templates to inspire your next presentation.

Different visual presentations aside, different presentation methods also serve a unique purpose, tailored to specific objectives and audiences. Find out which type of presentation works best for the message you are sending across to better capture attention, maintain interest and leave a lasting impression. 

To make a good presentation , it’s crucial to be aware of common mistakes and how to avoid them. Without further ado, let’s explore some of these pitfalls along with valuable insights on how to sidestep them.

Overloading slides with text

Text heavy slides can be like trying to swallow a whole sandwich in one bite – overwhelming and unappetizing. Instead, opt for concise sentences and bullet points to keep your slides simple. Visuals can help convey your message in a more engaging way.

Using low-quality visuals

Grainy images and pixelated charts are the equivalent of a scratchy vinyl record at a DJ party. High-resolution visuals are your ticket to professionalism. Ensure that the images, charts and graphics you use are clear, relevant and sharp.

Choosing the right visuals for presentations is important. To find great visuals for your visual presentation, Browse Venngage’s extensive library of high-quality stock photos. These images can help you convey your message effectively, evoke emotions and create a visually pleasing narrative. 

Ignoring design consistency

Imagine a book with every chapter in a different font and color – it’s a visual mess. Consistency in fonts, colors and formatting throughout your presentation is key to a polished and professional look.

Reading directly from slides

Reading your slides word-for-word is like inviting your audience to a one-person audiobook session. Slides should complement your speech, not replace it. Use them as visual aids, offering key points and visuals to support your narrative.

Lack of visual hierarchy

Neglecting visual hierarchy is like trying to find Waldo in a crowd of clones. Coupling this with video transcription can make your presentation more comprehensive and engaging. Use size, color and positioning to emphasize what’s most important. Guide your audience’s attention to key points so they don’t miss the forest for the trees.

Ignoring accessibility

Accessibility isn’t an option these days; it’s a must. Forgetting alt text for images, color contrast and closed captions for videos can exclude individuals with disabilities from understanding your presentation. 

Relying too heavily on animation

While animations can add pizzazz and draw attention, overdoing it can overshadow your message. Use animations sparingly and with purpose to enhance, not detract from your content.

Using jargon and complex language

Keep it simple. Use plain language and explain terms when needed. You want your message to resonate, not leave people scratching their heads.

Not testing interactive elements

Interactive elements can be the life of your whole presentation, but not testing them beforehand is like jumping into a pool without checking if there’s water. Ensure that all interactive features, from live polls to multimedia content, work seamlessly. A smooth experience keeps your audience engaged and avoids those awkward technical hiccups.

Presenting complex data and information in a clear and visually appealing way has never been easier with Venngage. Build professional-looking designs with our free visual chart slide templates for your next presentation.

What is a visual presentation?

A visual presentation is a method of presenting information through visual aids such as slides, images, charts and videos. It enhances understanding and retention by illustrating key points and data visually. Visual presentations are commonly used in meetings, lectures, and conferences to engage and inform the audience effectively.

What is the role of storytelling in visual presentations?

Storytelling plays a crucial role in visual presentations by providing a narrative structure that engages the audience, helps them relate to the content and makes the information more memorable.

What software or tools can I use to create visual presentations?

You can use various software and tools to create visual presentations, including Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, Adobe Illustrator, Canva, Prezi and Venngage, among others.

What is the difference between a visual presentation and a written report?

The main difference between a visual presentation and a written report is the medium of communication. Visual presentations rely on visuals, such as slides, charts and images to convey information quickly, while written reports use text to provide detailed information in a linear format.

How do I effectively communicate data through visual presentations?

To effectively communicate data through visual presentations, simplify complex data into easily digestible charts and graphs, use clear labels and titles and ensure that your visuals support the key messages you want to convey.

Are there any accessibility considerations for visual presentations?

Accessibility considerations for visual presentations include providing alt text for images, ensuring good color contrast, using readable fonts and providing transcripts or captions for multimedia content to make the presentation inclusive.

Most design tools today make accessibility hard but Venngage’s Accessibility Design Tool comes with accessibility features baked in, including accessible-friendly and inclusive icons.

How do I choose the right visuals for my presentation?

Choose visuals that align with your content and message. Use charts for data, images for illustrating concepts, icons for emphasis and color to evoke emotions or convey themes.

How can I adapt my visual presentations for online or virtual audiences?

To adapt visual presentations for online or virtual audiences, focus on concise content, use engaging visuals, ensure clear audio, encourage audience interaction through chat or polls and rehearse for a smooth online delivery.

What is the role of data visualization in visual presentations?

Data visualization in visual presentations simplifies complex data by using charts, graphs and diagrams, making it easier for the audience to understand and interpret information.

How do I choose the right color scheme and fonts for my visual presentation?

Choose a color scheme that aligns with your content and brand and select fonts that are readable and appropriate for the message you want to convey.

How can I measure the effectiveness of my visual presentation?

Measure the effectiveness of your visual presentation by collecting feedback from the audience, tracking engagement metrics (e.g., click-through rates for online presentations) and evaluating whether the presentation achieved its intended objectives.

Follow the 5 simple steps below to make your entire presentation visually appealing and impactful:

1. Sign up and log In: Log in to your Venngage account or sign up for free and gain access to Venngage’s templates and design tools.

2. Choose a template: Browse through Venngage’s presentation template library and select one that best suits your presentation’s purpose and style. Venngage offers a variety of pre-designed templates for different types of visual presentations, including infographics, reports, posters and more.

3. Edit and customize your template: Replace the placeholder text, image and graphics with your own content and customize the colors, fonts and visual elements to align with your presentation’s theme or your organization’s branding.

4. Add visual elements: Venngage offers a wide range of visual elements, such as icons, illustrations, charts, graphs and images, that you can easily add to your presentation with the user-friendly drag-and-drop editor.

5. Save and export your presentation: Export your presentation in a format that suits your needs and then share it with your audience via email, social media or by embedding it on your website or blog .

So, as you gear up for your next presentation, whether it’s for business, education or pure creative expression, don’t forget to keep these visual presentation ideas in your back pocket.

Feel free to experiment and fine-tune your approach and let your passion and expertise shine through in your presentation. With practice, you’ll not only build presentations but also leave a lasting impact on your audience – one slide at a time.

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6 tools to captivate your audience with slick presentations

Thursday October 12, 2017 , 3 min Read

Whether you own a company or work for one, you need to know how to create captivating presentations. A great presentation can help you convince your boss to support your new initiative, or it can help you persuade a prospect to close a deal. Whatever your requirement may be, learn to craft a presentation that won't put people to sleep.

The simplest way to create killer presentations is to make use of the right tools. Apart from PowerPoint, here a few tools you can use to make fabulous presentations:

Image:  Shutterstock

A zooming presentation tool, Prezi lets you create and present your ideas on a large virtual canvas. Use this tool to easily place images and videos in a presentation format and arrange them in a natural flow to tell your story. This tool works on desktop, Cloud, and even on the iPad and iPhone.

If you feel like you are design-challenged, Canva is the tool you should use to make your PowerPoint presentations. The platform gives you a bunch of presentation templates to use and it's very easy to customize them as per your goals and objectives. In addition, Canva has a new iPad app which makes it easy for you to make presentations on the go.

Vuvox offers its users three main features – Collage, Studio and Express – to make multimedia presentations with links, feeds, audios, music, and videos . If you want to create documentary-style slideshows, this is the perfect tool for you. You can also make use of this platform to create multimedia collage presentations that require the use of rich media elements.

Apple's Keynote is extremely flexible in its use. It allows users to work between their iOS and Mac devices, as well as with people who use Microsoft PowerPoint . Interactive charts, easy-to-use visual tools, and the 'drag and drop' functionality have made Keynote a popular choice among marketing and sales professionals.

If charts are an important part of all your presentations, Oomfo should be your go-to presentation tool. The platform helps you design interactive charts like Waterfall, Pareto, Marimekko, Funnel, and Pyramid. It also allows you to connect your chart data from your Cloud application or multiple Excel files.

Available for the web and on the iPad, Haiku Deck has become a favorite for marketing and sales professionals. With this platform, marketers can quickly create presentations that can be projected, shared, posted, and embedded on a website or blog, or viewed on any web-enabled device. It is much like any other tool that lets you create presentations from scratch, but it's easier to use, and this sets it apart from the rest.

Your presentations have the power to make or break your pitch, so select your presentation tool wisely. If PowerPoint is not cutting it for you anymore, use the above-mentioned fine replacements to create presentations that will win over the crowd.

Read Also: 5 tips to deliver a winning presentation

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Tips & Presentation Technologies to Use & Tips for a Great Presentation

Table of Contents

Introduction to the use of presentation technology.

This guide is designed with a diverse array of audiences in mind — from business professionals and educators to public speakers and trainers. Our goal is to navigate you through the intricacies of available technologies you can use in your presentations, aiding you not only in choosing the right technology for your needs but also in the application of that technology to its fullest potential. We’ll explore a variety of software options like Microsoft PowerPoint, real-time essential hardware selections, and strategies for engaging your audience, ensuring clarity of your message, and much more.

Embracing the tips, tools, and techniques we cover, including the use of augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and even considering hologram technology, you’ll be ready to augment your speaking game. This will help in engaging your audience like never before and ensuring a successful presentation. Whether you’re preparing for a strategic business pitch, an educational seminar, or any other scenario where you need to shine, this guide will serve as your comprehensive resource for using technology to advance your presentations. We aim not just to make your presentation better but also to highlight the future of the presentation world.

Choosing the Right Presentation Software

In the quest for delivering a powerful presentation, the choice of software serves as your digital canvas — a crucial platform where your ideas can take shape and captivate your audience. Not all presentation tools are created equal, and selecting the best one for your needs depends on your specific objectives, context, and proficiency with technology. Below, we dive into some of the technology used in presentations, showcasing major players in the presentation software field.

Microsoft PowerPoint: The Tried-and-True Standard

Microsoft PowerPoint , the cornerstone of presentation tools, remains the perennial favorite for a vast array of users. Its robust features cater to beginners and seasoned presentation artists, offering customizable templates and seamless multimedia integration. As PowerPoint was released, it quickly became the powerhouse of traditional slide-based presentations.

Features and Benefits:

• Versatility: Easily shift between simple designs for quick presentations and elaborate layouts for more intricate projects.
• Integration: Part of the Microsoft Office Suite, it boasts smooth integration with Excel, Word, and other applications, making it a staple for business presentations.
• Widespread Use: PowerPoint’s familiarity across industries ensures compatibility and audience comfort, essential for a successful presentation.
• Advanced Features: For the detail-oriented, PowerPoint provides master slides, sophisticated animation options, and complex charting tools, enabling creators to deliver presentations that keep the audience engaged.

Google Slides: Collaboration Made Simple

Google Slides shines when collaboration and flexibility are key. It thrives on simplicity and real-time collaboration, allowing team members to work concurrently on a presentation, regardless of their location.

Collaborative Aspects:

• Accessibility: It’s accessible from any device, offering flexibility for teams distributed in different locations.
• Real-Time Editing: Adjust content on the fly with your team’s real-time feedback.
• Commenting and Suggested Edits: Facilitates a streamlined review process, enhancing the presentation flow.
• Ease of Use: Its user-friendly interface simplifies the presentation creation process, even for novices.

Prezi: A Unique Approach to Presenting

For those seeking to move beyond the conventional slide-by-slide narrative, Prezi presents an engaging alternative. Its dynamic zooming function allows for a presentation that unfolds on a single, vast canvas, offering a narrative that’s both spatial and compelling.

Unique Approach to Presenting:

• Engagement: The immersive experience of Prezi’s zooming feature can more effectively seize your audience’s attention.
• Spatial Freedom: Navigate content in a non-linear fashion, breaking free from the constraints of traditional presentations.
• Creativity: Prezi allows for a visually and conceptually unfolding presentation narrative.
• Online Format: As a cloud-based tool, Prezi ensures easy accessibility and sharing, similar to the collaborative advantages seen with Google Slides.

While these tools highlight the possibilities within the realm of presentation technology, your final choice should consider your audience, the content of your presentation, and your comfort level with technology. Exploring more than one platform allows for versatility and adaptability across different presentation scenarios. Remember, the optimal software is the one that effectively communicates your message and meets your presentation objectives. In the sections to come, we’ll explore the hardware that can augment your presentation, strategies for clear voice projection, and visual tactics to maintain and amplify audience engagement.

Essential Presentation Hardware for the Presenter

While the software forms the digital foundation of your presentation, the hardware you use underpins its actual delivery, profoundly influencing both performance and audience experience. Compatibility between your needs, budget, and presentation venue is more crucial than chasing after the most expensive or advanced technologies. Here’s an overview of some indispensable hardware selections.

Selecting a Powerful Enough Laptop

Your laptop often acts as the central command for your presentation. It’s essential to have a laptop with enough processing power to smoothly run your presentation software, particularly when using rich media like high-resolution images or videos. A laptop with robust memory (minimum 8GB RAM), a capable processor (Intel i5 or AMD equivalents), and ample storage is advisable. Furthermore, verify that your laptop has the necessary ports (HDMI or VGA) to connect easily to different display systems.

The Best Portable Projectors on the Market

In scenarios lacking a pre-existing projector, a portable projector can be invaluable. Modern projectors bring features such as high-definition resolution, compact size, and diverse connectivity options. Renowned choices include the Anker Nebula Capsule for its transportability, the Epson PowerLite 1781W Wireless WXGA 3LCD Projector for its excellent display quality, and the Apeman Mini for those on a tighter budget.

The Necessity of Reliable HDMI Cables

The HDMI cable might be a small component, but its role is significant. It’s the lifeline between your laptop and the display unit, whether that’s a projector, TV, or monitor. Always come prepared with a quality HDMI cable that is long enough for your presentation space. Cables with gold-plated connectors and thick shielding help mitigate data loss and ensure the highest possible video quality.

Selecting the correct hardware is pivotal to a smooth presentation, but remember, the equipment alone doesn’t create an impactful presentation. The subsequent sections will cover the strategies for utilizing this hardware to its fullest, ways to assure audio clarity, crafting visually engaging slides, fostering audience interaction, and staying prepared for any technical issues that may arise.

Ensuring Audio Clarity

“Sound is the vocabulary of nature,” Pierre Schaeffer once pointed out, highlighting the importance of clear audio in delivering effective presentations. Your voice paints vivid imagery in your listeners’ minds, thereby cementing your message effectively. Ensuring that your voice is audible to every attendee is critical. Let’s explore various microphone options that can enhance the clarity of your audio and provide guidelines for each.

Wired Microphones

Despite less mobility compared to wireless versions, wired microphones usually offer superior sound clarity and reliability. Due to their low susceptibility to interference, they are ideal for areas prone to signal disruption or crucial presentation settings. Remember to check the cable length and your movement range beforehand to ensure that the wire doesn’t constrain your presentation.

Wireless Microphone Setup and Troubleshooting

Wirelessness affords freedom from cables, enabling unrestrained movement — a key advantage of wireless microphones. Their utility shines when your presentation entails significant movement on the stage. Choices range from handheld to headset mics, contingent on your preferences. Because they operate on radio frequencies, interference occasionally disrupts their functionality. Ensure to test your wireless microphone before your presentation to guarantee lucid signal reception.

Lavalier Microphones and When to Use Them

Often referred to as lapel mics, lavalier microphones are miniaturized microphones that attach to your clothing. Lapel mics extend portability and provide hands-free convenience, making them optimal for presentations requiring extensive hand movements, such as demonstrations or product presentations. However, they usually capture less vocal resonance compared to handheld or headset mics. Yet, through judicious positioning and sound checks, they can produce clear and consistent audio output.

Remember that a microphone’s role goes beyond amplifying your voice — it’s about ensuring clarity. Regardless of the type you pick, always conduct sound checks well ahead to determine the ideal volume and EQ settings for the room.

With your audio now assured, the stage is set for you to enhance your presentation visually. In the upcoming section, we will delve into the principles of creating visually arresting slides to captivate your audience and underscore your spoken message.

Creating Visually Engaging Slides

Your voice sets the scene, but your slides bring it to life. Visuals can make or break your presentations, acting as powerful tools to engage, explain, and persuade your audience. The key to effective slides lies not in their complexity, but in their clarity and relevance. Here are some guiding principles for creating visually engaging slides that complement your message and leverage the use of technology to capture your audience’s attention.

Keep It Simple

The most impactful slides are often the simplest. Aim for clean, clutter-free designs that focus on your key message. Use minimal text — ideally no more than six words per line and six lines per slide. This encourages brevity and helps your audience focus on your verbal delivery. The use presentation technology wisely to keep the slide content accessible and engaging.

High-Quality Images and Videos

Incorporate high-resolution images and crisp, impressive videos to make your presentation memorable. Ensure the media you choose is directly relevant to your topic and is of high quality to avoid distractions. Technologies you can use, like VR (Virtual Reality) or AR (Augmented Reality), can augment your presentation and make abstract concepts tangible.

Leverage Color and Fonts Wisely

Choose colors and fonts that enhance readability and mood. A consistent color scheme and legible fonts can significantly impact the audience’s perception and engagement.

Effective Data Visualization

Use graphs and charts to present complex data. Visualizations should be clear and straightforward, utilizing tools like Microsoft PowerPoint or Tableau for crafting impactful graphs.

Consistency is Key

Ensure a consistent design theme across all slides, using templates for uniform colors, fonts, and layouts. This consistency aids in maintaining a professional look and enhancing the presentation flow.

Transition and Animation: Use Sparingly

Transition and animations should be used sparingly to avoid distracting the audience. They should serve to emphasize key points or smoothly move between topics.

Embracing the Future with Emerging Technologies

Understanding and integrating emerging technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and hologram technology can redefine the way we deliver presentations. These technologies that lead the future of the presentation world promise an engaging, interactive presentation experience. For instance, AR technology can be used to augment real-time data onto physical objects, making the presentation immersive.

Choosing the right technology and applying it effectively can help in creating a successful presentation. Software such as Microsoft PowerPoint , Keynote, and tools like Microsoft Teams for virtual presentations, or Radartouch and Myo armband for interacting with your slides, are technologies you can use to deliver an impactful message. Moreover, the use of smartphones, Leap Motion, and other devices enhances technology’s role in presentations, enabling presenters to control slides, animations, or data displays in real-time.

Finally, in the era where the future of the presentation world leans heavily towards virtual presentations and interactive elements, staying updated with the technologies that lead the future — from VR and AR, Leap Motion to hologram technology — is crucial. These tools not only keep the audience engaged but also allow you to share your vision in a vivid, memorable way. Whether you’re presenting online or in person, make your presentation shine by using images, videos, and data visualization smartly while choosing the right technology to truly captivate and communicate with your audience.

When you integrate these principles and technologies into your approach, you can ensure that your presentations are not just seen and heard, but experienced and remembered. Remember, the successful use of technology in presentations can transform how your message is received and understood, setting the stage for a future where presentations are more engaging, interactive, and impactful than ever before.

Preparing for Technical Difficulties

“No plan survives contact with the enemy,” Helmuth von Moltke famously stated, which translates well into the realm of presentations: no presentation survives intact after encountering technical issues… unless you’re prepared. Developing a troubleshooting mindset and equipped with a thorough checklist can dramatically reduce the chances of your presentation being derailed by technical difficulties.

Developing a Troubleshooting Mindset

Adopting a troubleshooting mindset means expecting the unexpected and knowing how to remain calm and think on your feet. Familiarity with your presentation technology is key, allowing you to quickly identify and solve common problems that might arise. Remember, your audience will take cues from you—if you handle technical issues calmly and professionally, they’re more likely to remain engaged.

Checklists for Pre-Presentation Setup

A pre-presentation checklist is your assurance against technical glitches. Here’s a basic outline you might adapt:

• Equipment Check : Verify that your laptop, projector, microphone, and any other devices you’ll use are working correctly.
• Connectivity Test : Ensure you have a stable internet connection if your presentation relies on online content. Check wi-fi signals if applicable.
• Presentation Backup : Always have a backup of your presentation on a USB drive or accessible online storage, like Dropbox or Google Drive .
• Software Check : Confirm that any software needed for your presentation is up-to-date and functioning. This includes your presentation software and any apps for audience interaction.
• Audio-Visual Check : Test audio levels and visual settings in the actual presentation environment, ideally at the same time of day your presentation is scheduled.
• Power Supply : Ensure you have easy access to power outlets and your devices are fully charged or plugged in.
• Preparation for Online Presentation : For virtual presentations, verify the functionality of key presentation tools such as webcams, microphones, and screen sharing features. Testing video conferencing software like Zoom or Microsoft Teams beforehand is crucial.

Creating a custom checklist that matches your specific needs and going through it before every presentation can mitigate the most common technical issues. This preparation ensures a smooth experience, not just for you but also for your audience, by minimizing disruptions and maintaining engagement.

Having walked through essential preparations to safeguard against technological hiccups, let’s next discuss how you can optimize your presentation environment to maximize comfort and engagement.

Advanced Technology Tips

Today, delivering a presentation can be an exhilarating experience thanks to the fusion of traditional methods and new-age technology. Understanding how to seamlessly integrate diverse tools, from classic whiteboards and flip charts to augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), allows presenters to offer a dynamic, immersive experience. Let’s explore how you can leverage this technology spectrum to its fullest potential to enhance your presentations.

Incorporating Cloud Storage into Your Workflow

Cloud storage platforms like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive provide safety nets that prevent loss of work and enhance accessibility. These platforms are indispensable for several reasons:

• Accessibility: Access your presentation anywhere, on any device, and deliver a presentation without physical constraints.
• Backup: Using cloud storage ensures your work has a reliable backup, reducing the risk of technical mishaps.
• Collaboration: They promote real-time collaboration, making it a breeze to work in tandem with colleagues regardless of geographical barriers.

Adopting cloud storage is a fundamental step that technology enables, offering a secure and flexible base for your presentation preparations.

Bridging Classic and Emerging Technologies

While it’s essential to embrace emerging tech, it’s equally important to integrate tried-and-true aids such as overhead projectors, whiteboards, and flip charts. These tools offer a tangibility that modern technology can’t replicate, providing a balance that caters to varied audience preferences.

Immersive Experiences with AR and VR

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are transforming the art of presentation by introducing a layer of immersion that simply wasn’t possible with traditional tools:

• AR for Enhanced Engagement: AR brings interactive, 3D models right into the physical space, allowing audiences to engage with the content in real-time.
• VR for Complete Immersion: VR, on the other hand, creates a fully immersive environment, perfect for simulations or walk-throughs, making complex data or environments more accessible and understandable.

Employing AR and VR requires thoughtful integration, ensuring that the technology complements rather than overpowers the core message of your presentation.

Design Tools to Enhance Visuals

High-quality graphics are essential, and tools such as Canva , Adobe Spark , or PowerPoint’s own Designer feature can help in crafting visuals that resonate with your audience. Keep in mind:

• Design Consistency: Maintain consistency with fonts, colors, and style.
• Simplicity over Clutter: Utilize visuals to underscore your message, not overshadow it.
• High-Resolution Images: Choose quality over quantity, particularly when displaying on large screens or through projectors.

Recording and Revisiting Your Presentation

Recording presentations not only helps in self-evaluation but also in extending your reach through content repurposing. Here’s how you can fully utilize this aspect:

• Self-Review: Identify areas of improvement by watching your recordings.
• Constructive Criticism: Share your recordings with a trusted circle for feedback.
• Second Life as Content: Repurpose recordings as educational content on various digital platforms.

Tools such as OBS Studio or Zoom can assist in creating both high-quality records for professional use and simple recordings for quick reviews.

When you capitalize on both the classic and futuristic tech, your presentations can transcend traditional limits and provide a more enriched and engaging experience. From the tried-and-true whiteboard explanations to transporting your audience to virtual landscapes, these advanced technology tips are designed to take your presentation skills into a new dimension, ensuring you leave a lasting impact.

Final Insights

Every presentation is an opportunity to inspire, inform, and connect. When you implement the strategies and tips outlined in this guide, you’re not just prepared to present; you’re ready to captivate and make a lasting impact.

Now is the time to put these insights into action. Start by revisiting your current presentations and identifying areas for improvement or experimentation. Dive into new technologies or platforms you haven’t yet explored. Most importantly, continue seeking feedback and refining your approach.

For further guidance, consider joining presentation skills workshops, reaching out to professional mentors, or a talent management agency like ours, and even engaging with online communities dedicated to presentation mastery. Remember, the journey to becoming an exceptional presenter is ongoing, and every step you take builds your skills and confidence.

Let’s transform how you communicate. Take the first step today!

Harnessing Your Purpose: Understanding Michael Jr.’s ‘Know Your Why’

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15 Essential Presentation Techniques for Winning Over Any Audience

• The Speaker Lab
• April 13, 2024

Table of Contents

Ever found yourself standing before an audience, your heart racing? That’s the moment when knowing effective presentation techniques can prove to be your unwavering ally. But what are presentation techniques? And what makes them so powerful? In this article, we’re going to answer those questions.

Before we can talk about presentation techniques, though, we first have to talk about good communication. The power of effective communication isn’t just in what you say. It’s how you say it; it’s in those deep breaths that steady nerves, and in maintaining eye contact. It’s about turning a room full of strangers into an engaged audience hanging onto your every word. When it comes to public speaking, real success comes from mastering non-verbal cues to punctuate our words and using visual aids not as crutches but as tools for engagement.

As you hone your communication skills, you will begin to form effective presentation techniques. Expect rough patches as you get the hang of things, but view them as mere footholds propelling you towards your ultimate triumph. Keep pushing forward.

Mastering Presentation Techniques for Impactful Delivery

Presentation techniques are more than just standing in front of a crowd and talking. They’re about making connections, telling stories that resonate, and leaving your audience with something to remember you by.

Elements of an Effective Presentation

For your presentation to resonate, ensure the visuals are straightforward and supportive, rather than distracting. Your message should be concise yet powerful enough to stick. And let’s not forget engagement; keeping your audience on their toes is key.

• Visuals: Keep them simple but impactful.
• Message: Make every word count.
• Engagement: Interact with your audience, ask questions, make them think.

We’ve all seen those slides crammed with text or charts. When you make your slides, don’t cram information, because nobody wants to squint at tiny fonts or decipher complex graphs while trying to listen to you speak. This resource suggests focusing on clarity and simplicity when designing slides—advice worth taking.

Strategies for Delivering a Successful Presentation

To deliver a knockout presentation, start strong. Grab attention from the get-go with an intriguing fact or story related directly back into the topic at hand. Maintain eye contact across the room so everyone feels included in the conversation. Finally, end on a memorable note, either with a call to action or insight gained during the time together. Leave them wanting more information and eager to learn about the subject matter discussed today.

• The opener: Hook your audience with a relevant fact or anecdote.
• Maintain connection: Eyes up, engage everyone around.
• Closing remarks : Last chance for impact–what’s your mic drop?

As author Lilly Walters once said, “The success of your presentation will be judged not by the knowledge you send but by what the listener receives.” This quote reminds us that the true goal of any speech is the understanding achieved between the speaker and the listeners.

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Engaging Your Audience with Nonverbal Communication

As the name implies, nonverbal communication denotes all of the ways you communicate without using words. This includes eye contact, body language , and facial expressions. Although nonverbal communication might not be the first presentation technique that comes to mind, it’s nevertheless a very powerful tool to have in your arsenal. Let’s take a look.

The Power of Eye Contact, Body Language, and Facial Expressions

Making eye contact isn’t just about looking someone in the eye; it’s about forging a connection. Aim for brief moments of eye contact across different sections of your audience throughout your presentation. Establishing fleeting eye connections across diverse audience segments fosters a sense of trust and keeps them hooked, all while ensuring no one feels on edge.

Body language is similarly important. Stand tall with good posture; it exudes confidence even when you feel nervous. As you grow more confident, mix up standing still with moving around subtly. This dynamic shift holds attention better than being rooted to one spot or nervous pacing. Use your hands to gesture naturally as you speak—it adds emphasis and keeps things lively.

If there’s one thing people can spot from miles away, it’s insincerity. So let those facial expressions match your words. Smile when you share something amusing, and furrow your brow when diving into serious stuff. After all, it’s not just what you say but how visually engaged and passionate you appear while saying it that counts.

Tying these elements together helps you deliver impactful, memorable talks. When done right, folks will leave feeling more connected, understood, and fired up by your presentation, all thanks to your techniques.

Designing Compelling Presentation Materials

Knowing how to design engaging presentation materials is one technique you can’t do without. Far from mere embellishments, these implements are crafted to hammer your message home. Hence, it’s vital to select these aids with great care and discernment.

Tips for Creating Effective Slides

When it comes to crafting slides, think of each as a billboard advertisement for your idea. You want it clear, impactful, and memorable.

• Keep it simple : One idea per slide keeps confusion at bay and attention locked in.
• Use bullet points : Break down your points so your audience can track.
• Pick a font size : Generally speaking, bigger is better.
• Use color : Harness colors that pop without blinding anyone; contrast is key.
• Use images with purpose : A good picture or chart can help illustrate your point, but keep it relevant and don’t overdo it.

With a few helpful visuals, your presentation can go from good to great. For more on creating slides, check out this link here .

Handling Questions and Interactions Professionally

For some speakers, it’s not the presentation itself that makes them nervous—it’s the Q&A session that follows. This is the moment where you get to shine or stumble based on how well you handle those curveballs from your audience. If you want to round off your presentation well, you’re going to want to learn a few techniques for fielding these questions. Let’s look at a few ways of doing this.

Preparing for Audience Questions and How to Address Them Effectively

Below are six techniques that will help you address audience questions effectively.

• Listen Up : The first rule of thumb is to listen like it’s a superpower. When someone throws a question at you, don’t just hear them out—really listen. Demonstrating this level of attentiveness not only conveys your respect but also affords you a brief moment to collect your ideas.
• Stay Calm : You’ve got this. Even if a question catches you off guard, take a deep breath before diving into your answer. No one expects perfection, but showing confidence matters.
• Practice Beforehand : Before presentation day arrives, think about potential questions folks might ask and prep some responses in advance. Practice makes perfect, after all.
• Vary Your Techniques : Not every question needs an essay as an answer; sometimes short and sweet does the trick. Mix up how detailed or brief your answers are depending on what’s asked.
• Show You Care : If you ever get a question that leaves you stumped, say so honestly—but add that magical line: “Let me find out more and I’ll get back to you.” Then actually do it.
• Appreciate Audience Curiosity : Remember that the reason you audience is asking questions is because they’re interested. So no matter what questions you get, keep engaging with enthusiasm.

Go forth with confidence, knowing not only can these moments boost credibility—they make connections too. So next time when facing down those queries remember to listen hard, stay calm & always engage warmly. With these techniques under your belt, answering audience questions after your presentation will feel much less daunting.

Techniques for a Memorable and Effective Presentation

No matter what topic you cover in your presentation, you can easily add in a story, and more likely than not you can add a little humor too. Together, these two presentation techniques are perfect for making your speech memorable.

Incorporating Storytelling into Your Presentation

One great technique for making your presentation stick is telling stories. Stories have the power to touch people profoundly, especially when they depict relatable experiences. So, when you’re up there presenting, kick things off with a story that ties into your main message. It could be personal, something from history, or even an anecdote that gets your point across. Stories are not just fluff; they’re the glue of your presentation. They make complex ideas digestible and memorable.

Using Humor to Connect with the Audience

Another great way of engaging your audience is by using humor. But here’s the deal—use humor wisely. Keep it tasteful and tied closely to the content at hand so it enhances rather than detracts from your message.

• Pick universal themes everyone can relate to.
• Avoid anything potentially offensive.
• Tie jokes back to your key points to make them relevant.

If humor isn’t your thing, or you’re worried about your comedic timing, it’s perfectly okay to skip the jokes. Especially if you’re new to public speaking, humor can be hard to nail immediately. But as you grow and hone your presentation techniques, consider stretching yourself a bit. By starting small, you can practice using humor to connect with your audience. That is your goal, after all—to leave a positive, memorable impression on your audience.

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Overcoming Public Speaking Anxiety

For some speakers, stepping in front of a crowd to speak causes immediate anxiety. But fear not! Conquering public speaking anxiety is entirely within your grasp.

Techniques to Manage Stage Fright and Boost Confidence

First off, feeling nervous before taking the stage is completely normal. Even Mark Twain admitted, “There are two types of speakers. Those who get nervous and those who are liars.” So take that flutter in your stomach as a sign you care deeply about delivering value to your audience. In addition, consider the following tips as you prepare to hit the stage.

• Breathe Deep: Before stepping up, take some deep breaths. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Feel every muscle relax with each exhale.
• Mind Over Matter: Visualization is key. Picture yourself nailing that presentation, because if you can see it, you can achieve it.
• Keep It Simple: Stick to what you know best; this isn’t the time for surprises or untested waters.
• Pace Yourself: Speak slowly but surely—there’s no rush here.

Believe it or not, acting relaxed often leads to actually being relaxed. Remember when we said mind over matter? Well, it applies here big time. The power pose backstage might just be what turns those nerves into excitement.

So next time you feel stage fright coming on, fight back with these techniques. With these tricks up your sleeve, you’re more than ready. So go ahead, breathe deep, and step onto that stage. You’ve got this.

Using Different Presentation Methods to Engage Your Audience

While learning styles is “ little more than urban myth ,” presenting your material in a variety of ways is a great technique for engaging your audience. By switching it up, you increase your chances of explaining something in a way that clicks with individual audience members. This is especially helpful for more complex topics that might be hard to grasp.

There are three main ways of presenting your material to your audience: through visuals, audio, and hands-on activities.

• Visuals: Use slides packed with images, graphs, and bullet points.
• Audio: Tell stories, play audio clips or engage in discussions.
• Hands-on Activities: Include activities or demonstrations that allow audience members to participate physically.

Making sure everyone gets something from your presentation means considering these techniques when planning content. Not only can incorporating various methods increase audience engagement, but it can also elevate your presentation from decent to memorable.

Essential Tips for First-Time Presenters

Stepping onto the stage or logging into that webinar platform as a first-time presenter can feel nerve-wracking. But fear not! With these tips on how to dress appropriately, arrive early, and make your presentation shine, you’ll be ready to confidently nail that presentation.

Dress Appropriately

Your outfit is your armor. Choose something professional yet comfortable. Whether it’s in-person or online, dressing one notch above what you expect your audience to wear usually hits the sweet spot. Aim for solid colors that won’t distract your audience.

Arriving Early

If possible, arrive at the venue before your audience does. This gives you time to settle in, test any tech gear like microphones or projectors, and take those deep breaths. This extra time also lets you chat with early birds. By connecting with people before taking center stage, you can ease nerves significantly.

Making Presentation Time Count

You only have the audience’s attention for so long. Keep an eye on the clock as you present, but avoid rushing through content. It especially helps to pause after key points, letting information sink in. Your end goal? Leave you’re audience wanting more. You’ll know if you succeeded based on the number of questions you get during the Q&A.

So there you have it—the techniques you need to deliver an engaging presentation. By honing nonverbal communication, like eye contact and posture, you can captivate your audience with your energy. And visual aids? They’re not just ornamental; they help bolster your point and drive it home.

We also learned that tackling audience questions is not an art reserved for the eloquent few but a skill sharpened by preparation and presence. While it takes a little work to nail good storytelling and well-timed humor, the ultimate outcome is worth it.

So while standing before an audience may set your heart racing, know that arming yourself with knowledge and technique can transform not just your presentation, but you yourself. So don’t be afraid to try your hand at these skills; in doing so, you build your own confidence and become a better speaker in the process.

• Last Updated: April 11, 2024

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• Presentation Ideas for Students: Easy and Unique Topics

Presentations at school are not just an everyday task: they are your chance to show you are a bright student and demonstrate your vision. Adding some creativity and your personal touch to your presentations will provide an extra level of interest and help your presentation remain in people’s memories.

You don’t need to be a techie, either. Software packages such as PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Canva are easy to use and provide many colorful devices to make your ideas visually striking.

To create this article, we invited experienced presentation designers and effective presenters to share tips and original ideas for presentations that will help students succeed. So, choose an interesting topic from our list and create a presentation using the tips from our experts!

List of Topic Ideas for Different Categories

As you already know, the right topic needs to appeal to you, fit the occasion, and hold the interest of your audience. Here's a more detailed checklist of the characteristics of the best presentation topics:

• Engaging: Captures and holds the audience’s interest throughout the presentation.
• Relevant: Relates to trends and topics in your field of study or work.
• Researchable: Information and resources are available to support your claims and arguments.
• Brief and Concise: Easily understood by the target audience with no convoluted ideas or overused terminology.
• Original: Offers a fresh perspective or approach, distinguishing it from common topics.
• Appropriately Scoped: Well-suited for the allotted presentation time; not too broad or too narrow.

Thus, when selecting presentation topics for students, consider these factors to create an excellent presentation. You can also explore what a good essay topic looks like to get more inspiration and ideas for your presentation.

So, check out our list of 100 PowerPoint presentation topics for students, which has been thoroughly structured to make it easier for a school or university student to choose a topic!

10-Minute Presentation Ideas

You must pick your subject carefully if you have 10 minutes to make an impression. It has to be brief and compelling. Here are ten short and memorable ideas for presentation topics:

• The Future of Renewable Energy Sources
• The Psychology Behind First Impressions
• The Rise of Artificial Intelligence in Everyday Life
• Minimalism: More Than Just Decluttering
• The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health
• Brief History of the Internet
• How to Start a Small Business
• The Basics of Personal Financial Management
• The Importance of Voting in Democratic Societies
• The Benefits of Daily Physical Activity

If you need help creating a great topic, consider consulting expert writers. The PowerPoint presentation writing service can provide engaging presentation examples for students. Moreover, experienced authors will help you with any part of your presentation if required.

Good Higher School Presentation Ideas

School presentations for high school students can be a perfect way to introduce exciting topics and help them broaden their educational horizons. Here are ten PowerPoint presentation topics for higher school students:

• The Effects of Global Warming on Our Planet
• The Evolution of Pop Music
• Understanding the Stock Market
• The Science of Habit Formation
• Exploring Career Options in Technology
• The Role of the United Nations in World Peace
• The Influence of Advertising on Consumer Behavior
• Teenage Mental Health: Understanding and Support
• The History and Impact of Comic Books
• Cybersecurity: Protecting Yourself Online

Business Topics for Presentation at University

Business presentations must be informative, explaining industry trends, strategies, and innovations. Here are the ten most impressive business slideshow ideas for students:

• The Impact of E-commerce on Traditional Retail
• The Role of Social Media in Modern Marketing Strategies
• Startup Culture: Evolution and Impact
• Corporate Social Responsibility: Examples and Outcomes
• The Future of Work: Remote vs. In-Office
• Blockchain Technology in Business
• Global Economic Trends and Their Impact on Local Businesses
• Customer Relationship Management: Best Practices
• Business Ethics in the Age of Technology
• Mergers and Acquisitions: Strategy and Outcomes

>> Find more business research paper topics  for presentation  at StateOfWriting!

Medical and Nursing Topics for Presentation

Medical and nursing presentations usually focus on today's issues, innovations, and new or best practices. This list covers ten interesting topics for presentation for healthcare professionals and students:

• The Role of Telemedicine in Modern Healthcare
• Advances in Robotic Surgery
• The Impact of Mental Health on Physical Well-being
• Ethical Dilemmas in Nursing Practice
• The Importance of Patient Education in Chronic Disease Management
• Breakthroughs in Alzheimer's Disease Research
• Handling Medical Emergencies in Remote Areas
• The Evolution of Nursing Roles in Healthcare
• Strategies to Combat Antibiotic Resistance
• Patient Safety and Quality Improvement in Hospitals

Unique Management Topics for Presentation

Good management is at the heart of a successful enterprise. The following ten creative presentation ideas explore leadership, strategy, and operational effectiveness:

• Leadership Styles and Organizational Impact
• Change Management: Strategies for Successful Implementation
• The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership
• Project Management Techniques for Efficient Workflow
• Cross-Cultural Management and Its Challenges
• Corporate Governance and Accountability
• Managing Remote Teams: Tools and Tips
• Innovation Management in Companies
• Crisis Management: Case Studies and Lessons Learned
• Performance Management and Employee Development

Interesting Psychology Topics for Presentation

Psychology is a human science that seeks to understand the mechanics of our minds and behaviour. Here are ten topics to do a presentation on psychology that are sure to captivate and educate any audience:

• The Psychology of Motivation and its Impact on Success
• Cognitive Biases and Decision-Making
• The Effects of Stress on Mental and Physical Health
• Child Development: The Role of Nature vs. Nurture
• The Influence of Personality on Lifestyle Choices
• Psychological Techniques in Pain Management
• The Impact of Social Media on Teen Self-Esteem
• Memory Formation and the Mechanisms of Forgetting
• The Role of Therapy in Treating Anxiety Disorders
• The Psychological Effects of Color on Mood and Behavior

Best Biology Topics for Presentation

Life comes in many forms, and biology is the science that explores them all. Here are ten easy topics for presentation on biology:

• The Genetic Basis of Inherited Diseases
• The Role of Microbiomes in Human Health
• Conservation Strategies for Endangered Species
• The Process and Implications of CRISPR and Gene Editing
• Plant-Animal Interactions and Their Ecological Impact
• Marine Biology: Deep Sea Ecosystems and Their Mysteries
• The Biology of Aging and Longevity
• Biotechnology in Agriculture: Innovations and Ethics
• Behavioral Ecology and Animal Communication

Good Physics Topics for Presentation

Physics helps people understand the general laws of the Universe. Here are ten unique topics for presentation in college:

• The Theory of Relativity and Its Applications
• Quantum Mechanics: Principles and Paradoxes
• The Physics of Black Holes and Neutron Stars
• Advances in Particle Physics and the Large Hadron Collider
• The Role of Physics in Renewable Energy Technologies
• Nuclear Fusion: The Future of Energy?
• The Science of Thermodynamics and Its Modern Applications
• Astrophysics: Exploring the Composition of the Universe
• The Physics of Sound and Music
• Fluid Dynamics in Nature and Technology

Chemistry-Related Topics for Presentation

Chemistry is central to many innovations around us and our daily experiences. Let’s explore ten presentation topic ideas explaining chemistry from practical applications and theoretical research:

• The Chemistry of Everyday Life: Soaps and Detergents
• Organic Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Development
• Nanotechnology in Chemistry: Materials and Applications
• The Role of Chemistry in Environmental Conservation
• Catalysis and Its Importance in Industrial Processes
• The Future of Materials Science with Polymers and Composites
• Biochemistry: Proteins and Enzymes at Work
• The Chemistry of Food and Flavor
• Electrochemistry and Its Applications in Energy Storage
• Chemical Safety and Toxicology in the Modern World

Tips for Creating Powerful Presentations

Shaping the perfect presentation is vital to persuade the audience to listen. Mastering the art of presentation can impact your success. Our experts have kindly provided basic advices for a successful presentation:

• Know your Audience: Match the content to your audience's interests, level of knowledge, and expectations.
• Lead with a Hook: The story or compelling start that helps you capture attention and achieve the tone you want for your presentation.
• Use Visuals Wisely: Relevant visuals can support and enhance your message – but must never overshadow it.
• Practise Makes Perfect: Rehearse your speech beforehand many times to deliver it more fluently and confidently.
• Make Your Presentation Interactive: Add questions, interactions, and active engagement with your audience to keep them interested.

To be effective with presentations, you must know your audience, have a killer beginning, use stage-appropriate visuals, practice, and use a strong engagement hook.

Elevate Your Presentation to Leave a Lasting Impression

To sum up, picking interesting presentation ideas for students and adding a touch of creativity to them can turn school assignments into memorable experiences. You can also use visual aids or UK writing service to make your presentation eye-catching and showcase your unique perspectives and insights. Your efforts will impress and inspire those who listen.

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15 Best Presentation Software for 2024 (Full Comparison Guide)

Written by: Orana Velarde

In this comparison guide, we’ll analyze each of these tools and many more to understand what the difference is between them so you can  choose the best presentation maker for your business.

So, if you want to stand out from run-of-the-mill PowerPoint presentations and have a reliable presentation software that will help you collaborate with team members and design stunning slide decks in a fraction of the time, you’ll need this guide. 

Let’s get started.

Table of Contents

• Google Slides
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Beautiful.ai
• Microsoft Sway

What are Presentation Tools

Presentation tools are software applications that enable users to visually present ideas or share knowledge. These presentations are delivered in a slide-show format using a combination of text, images and other graphic elements.

Presentation software is frequently used to pitch an idea to investors , present proposals to clients , introduce new products or services to customers, train staff on new policies or ideas , or teach your students new or complex concepts.

Best Presentation Software: A Visual Comparison

When choosing the right presentation programs for your projects, there are some things to consider:

• Does the price point fit your budget?
• Is it easy to use?
• Who is the program geared at: businesses, educators, bloggers or social media managers?
• Does it have lots of templates to choose from? Are they good quality and helpful?
• Is the built-in graphic asset library extensive and varied?
• Can you embed content, add videos or GIFs?
• Can you add audio to your presentations?
• Can elements be animated?
• Is it desktop or cloud-based ?
• Can you use it to create presentations on any of your devices?
• Can finished presentations be viewed offline?
• Can you have team accounts or business accounts for easy collaboration inside your company?
• Does it include a Brand Kit? Is it easy to use?
• Can the finished presentation be shared online straight from the presentation software?
• Can your presentations be uploaded to the cloud privately with password protection?
• Does the presentation software include analytics to see how your projects perform on social media?
• Can you use the finished presentation as a lead generator straight from the software?

We'll take a look at all these aspects in the following list of best presentation software so you can make your own well-informed decision.

Last updated on May 30, 2024.

Visme is a powerful presentation software and all-in-one content authoring tool. It has a user-friendly interface and an extensive set of tools that make it easy for both beginners and experienced professionals to design and deliver impactful presentations.

Presentations made with Visme go beyond the standard slide deck to incorporate interactive elements and easy, full-featured offline sharing.

Making professional presentation slides with Visme is easy and straightforward. Create slides from scratch using content blocks and the extensive slide libraries categorized by style. Browse the presentation template library to find pre-designed slide decks which you can easily customize to fit your needs.

That's not all that Visme can do, though.

You can also use Visme to create other visual content, such as digital documents, animated infographics, interactive reports and whiteboards. There are tons of customizable templates that come built-in with the app.

You can also use Visme to create other visual content, such as infographics, reports and interactive charts. There are tons of customizable templates that come built-in with the software.

Visme can be used for free to test it out for as long as you want. With a free account, you can create up to three projects.

To access all of Visme's capabilities, you can upgrade to one of the paid plans .

• Starter: $12.25/month paid annually
• Pro: $24.75/month paid annually
• Visme for Teams: Custom – learn more here

If you're a nonprofit organization, you may qualify for a discount. Visme also offers separate Education plans for students and teachers.

Ease of Use

Visme is incredibly easy to use. Switching from slide to slide is a breeze, and you can even save a slide to your content block or slide library to reuse later.

The editor comes with a handy sidebar that lets you browse media, graphics and data tools and drag and drop relevant elements onto your slides. You can also use the /shortcut feature to open a search bar and quickly find what you need.

The dynamic fields feature ensures you don’t miss out on any critical information. With single click, you can easily update content throughout your presentation.

Who Is It For

Visme is perfect for small and large businesses, enterprises, marketing teams, project managers, educators, content creators and so much more. The resources and tools available in Visme reach far beyond the ability to create presentations.

• Social media teams can create content for their company’s social channels.
• Sales agents can create branded and personalized proposals in minutes.
• Professionals can build visual CVs to find the next ideal job.
• Project managers can conduct team meetings with a collaborative whiteboard.

Template Options

The template options in Visme are extensive and varied in style. From minimalistic to photographic, there are many presentation styles to pick from.

Presentation Templates

Ecommerce Webinar Presentation

Buyer Presentation

PixelGo Marketing Plan Presentation

Technology Presentation

Product Training Interactive Presentation

Work+Biz Pitch Deck - Presentation

Create your presentation View more templates

You can choose from dozens of fully designed presentations tailor-made for specific industries and topics or mix and match hundreds of slide layouts by choosing a presentation theme.

You can also start with a blank canvas, add new blank slides to existing presentation templates, and save custom slides to use later as your own templates.

Graphic Assets Library

When selecting the best tools for presentations, the visual capabilities and creative design elements should be a top consideration. Visme’s graphic library includes thousands of free icons, illustrations, stock photos, videos , 3D graphics , audio clips, charts and graphs to include in your presentations.

The best part is that every graphic asset that comes built-in with the Visme editor is fully customizable. Resize, rotate or change colors to fit your brand, content and theme.

AI-Powered Tools

Visme comes with a wide variety of useful AI-powered tools, making it one of the best presentation software.

Let's start with the AI presentation maker . This advanced tool is engineered to make your presentation creation process as quick and efficient as possible.

To create a presentation using this tool, you only need to provide a text prompt outlining your requirements. The tool will then generate the slides, complete with text, images, illustrations and any other content you specify.

After that, you can use Visme's presentation tools to personalize the AI-generated slides and add the final touches.

Next up is the AI writer . This user-friendly tool is your key to overcoming writer's block and crafting engaging copy for your presentation. It can help you create layouts, edit and proofread text, summarize the content and much more. Explain to the AI writer what you want to generate, and it will take care of the rest.

Visme offers several AI image editing tools , including erase and replace, background remover, unblur, and upscaler. These tools can be used to edit the image content or enhance its quality. For example, you can use the Image Upscaler to resize your image without sacrificing quality, ensuring your visuals always look high-quality.

And as always, you just need to provide the right text prompts. Feel free to tweak the prompts as many times as you want until you achieve the perfect outcome.

Videos and GIFs

It's easy to insert or embed videos and GIFs inside a Visme presentation. This is another that makes Visme a powerful video presentation software .

To insert a video, upload a video from your computer or cloud storage and place it on a slide of your choosing. Once you’ve uploaded it, it’ll be in your Media library for future use.

If you don’t have videos of your own, Visme has hundreds of stock videos to choose from in lots of categories. Browse them by clicking the / shortcut on your keyboard and opening the videos tab.

Edit your videos with the integrated timeline feature. Trim video clips and customize playback settings. Resize the video on your slide easily by dragging the corner. Or you can resize any video into another shape for more flexibility.

GIFs are available through the Giphy integration, which you’ll find in the Media tab. These are a great choice when you want to make a meme-based presentation.

Take note that all presentations that have videos or GIFs in the slides must be shared as a live link or downloaded as HTML5 or MP4. If you download it as a PDF or PPTX, all the interactive elements won’t play back.

Adding audio to a presentation is easy on Visme. Either along with a video or as the audio on its own. You can also record a voice over.

Another great option is accessing our Presenter Studio to record a video of yourself presenting your content. You can turn on your camera or record audio only before sending a link to your audience. This is a great way to present asynchronously or save your presentation for people to view again and again.

Embed Third-Party Content

There is more content that can be embedded into Visme presentations, like polls, quizzes , forms , online videos and any content that can be turned into code to insert in an iframe.

You can also take advantage of several integrations to embed even more engaging and interactive content into your slides.

Some of our integrations include SurveyMonkey, Hubspot, Giphy, and many more.

Animations and Transitions

With Visme, you can animate your content and create interactive experiences such as:

• Hover effects or clickable pop-ups, link your slides or content blocks to objects
• Pre-animated assets like characters, illustrations and gestures
• Custom animation and motion effects

Features inside Visme presentations can be animated, and we also have a number of seamless slide transitions that make your content pop, like "Enter from Side" or "Staggered Fade."

If you want to make your content even more dynamic, you can access our Custom Animation feature. This is perfect for creating video presentations or making your elements look like they're floating on your slide.

Visme also comes with a 3D Character Creator that helps you elevate your storytelling and connect with your audience. You can create and customize 3D animated characters to embody your brand or message.

Tweak everything, from gender and hairstyles to outfits and skin tone, until you achieve the perfect look. You also have the ability to choose their entry, waiting and exit poses.

Desktop or Cloud

Visme is an online cloud-based app that can be easily used on your computer. We also provide a desktop app that you can download and use outside of your regular browser for seamless content creation.

And if you need to create content on the go, you can easily edit existing projects right from your mobile device or tablet using the Visme iOS app .

Data Widgets

Visme offers a wide selection of data widgets that allow you to creatively visualize statistics and figures in the form of gauges, clocks, pictographs and icon arrays.

Data visualization in Visme goes beyond widgets. Add tables, graphs, and charts to your presentation slides and connect them to a live data source . Create a data stream from Google Sheets or Google Analytics into customized data visualizations.

Offline Viewing

Finished presentations can be viewed offline in four different formats.

The best option is to download it as an HTML5 file. That way it will maintain all the animations when opened on Google Chrome, even without internet. Downloading as an HTML 5 file is a premium feature. Presentations can also be downloaded as a collection of JPG or PNG images, as a PDF or as an editable PowerPoint file.

Create a stunning presentation in less time

• Hundreds of premade slides available
• Add animation and interactivity to your slides
• Choose from various presentation options

Sign up. It’s free.

Collaboration Possibilities

Visme has a premium teams plan that lets all team members customize and complete projects together. Leave comments with edits and feedback, edit projects simultaneously and easily share with other people on your team to move the project along.

Plus, Visme's workflow management features give the project admin complete control over your team's collaboration process. You can assign tasks, manage roles, set deadlines and more, all from a centralized platform. These features are useful for streamlining communication and reducing the time between briefing and final presentation design.

Branding Capabilities

Visme's brand design tool makes it easy to keep all of your content on-brand regardless of who's creating it. It works in three easy steps:

1. Upload all of your branding assets (colors, fonts, logo) to Visme with the Brand Wizard . Input your website URL and watch as our Brand Wizard automatically pulls in all of your branding.

2. Access a bundle of 30+ automatically branded templates that have your logo, fonts and colors already ready to go.

3. Easily access thousands of other templates and input your brand fonts and colors with just a click in Visme's editor.

Then boom! All of your content will always have the same branding, helping increase brand strength and recognition.

Share to Social Media

Once a presentation is finished, it can be shared to social media seamlessly right from the editor. It can also be downloaded.

Privacy and Password Protection

Presentations on Visme can be published privately with password protection so that only the people you want can access it. It is advisable to only use strong passwords for this purpose. There are a few free password managers that could help you do that and keep your account secure .

Visme’s analytics is what makes it stand out as the best tool for presentation. When a presentation is shared via a live link, it can be analyzed for views and sharing.

Access in-depth analytics that show you how much of your presentation is typically viewed, for how long and which slides seem to be the most popular.

Lead Generation

You can add a signup form to your presentations to collect leads that could potentially become clients. Simply head over to our  Advanced Settings tab before sharing your project and turn on  Requires Registration to collect emails from each person who views your content.

The best part of using Visme is that you get access to an interactive online form builder that's proven to generate 2X more conversions than traditional forms. You can choose your preferred form type and customize every aspect, including character appearance, color, background and animations to match your design and branding requirements.

Prezi offers a great alternative to the traditional presentation format that goes slide by slide. The creative idea behind Prezi is you can create an animated, non-sequential flow with topics and subtopics that are hidden until you zoom in.

While Prezi's interface can be slightly complicated to use, it's a good option for people who need to add a creative touch to their presentations.

Prezi is free for basic capabilities and limited templates.

For the paid plans, there are three tiers.

• Standard: $5/month
• Plus: $12/month
• Premium: $16/month
• Teams: Upon Request

There are separate plans available for students and teachers.

Prezi has a slight learning curve, but once you create a couple of presentations, you get the hang of it. However, it doesn't offer too much customizability inside the templates.

Businesses and educators who are in need of a different style of presentation. Prezi offers a “conversational style” of zooming and moving around between information. So, who Prezi is for really depends on who needs this sort of presentation style.

There are plenty of templates to choose from, and you can also start from scratch. The templates are different in color and style, but the idea of zooming into topics and subtopics is the same.

AI Presentation Assistant

Prezi has an AI assistant that automatically generates presentations for users.

The assets library has some icons and shapes available, the usual ones like arrows and buttons. Premium plans get access to over 80,000 icons and 500,000 images.

Videos can be uploaded or embedded from YouTube. Embedded videos are not viewable in offline mode. GIFs aren’t supported.

Voice over can be added in premium plans.

No other content can be embedded into Prezi presentations.

Prezi is all about animations between topics and subtopics. The presentations themselves are viewed as animations.

Prezi is a cloud app but can be accessed to view offline with premium plans.

Available to Create on Multiple Devices

Prezi presentations can only be created on a computer but can be viewed on all devices.

Prezi for teams is available upon demand and has a Slack integration.

Brand Kits are only available with Prezi's team plans, but each presentation can be customized to fit your brand with color customizations and some available fonts.

Prezi presentations can be shared to social media via a special share button at the top-right of the Prezi page. They can be shared to LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Prezi presentations can only be downloaded from the Prezi app. There are two options, as an EXE file for PC and a ZIP file for Mac. Presentations can then be viewed without internet connection or the need to connect to the Prezi app.

Presentations are public unless you have a paid account.

Analytics are available with premium accounts but it only applies to Prezi presentations you share via a link to someone.

There are no lead generation capabilities with Prezi.

3 Google Slides

Google Slides is the presentation software available via your Google account. Just like you can create documents and spreadsheets with Google Docs and Sheets, you can create presentations with Google Slides.

The setup is very similar to PowerPoint and is free to use for anyone with a google account. There is a business version called G Suite, which includes the same things with more storage and management capabilities.

Google Slides is free to use for anyone with a Google account. All features are available to everyone.

There are plans for business accounts so that teams can be created and information can be managed in a more organized way. Plans start at $6/user/month and go up to $18/user/month.

Compared to other examples of presentation software, Google Slides is very easy to use. The controls are very similar to Google Docs and Sheets.

Business professionals, educators and students who need fast and easy access to a presentation software that can get things done.

There is a general collection of templates, but there are not very many. Presentations can also be started from scratch.

The graphic assets are average and simple. The shapes are classic and generic. Photographs can be uploaded from your desktop, your Google Drive, a URL or searched online.

Videos can uploaded with a YouTube link or from Google Drive. GIFs can be added just like images.

Audio and Embed Third-Party Content

Anything from your Google Drive can be added in. Also there are some available “add-ons” that can be integrated for icons, stock photography and audio.

Elements inside each slide can be animated and so can the transition between the slides.

Google Slides is a cloud-based program.

Google Slides can be used fully on any device with their respective apps for Android and iPhone. Presentations can be edited and viewed on all devices.

Collaborating with other people is easy with Google Slides

There is no brand kit feature.

Presentations can be shared via email or link.

Google Slides can be viewed offline with a Chrome Extension and the use of Backup and Sync.

Presentations can be shared privately, but there are no password capabilities, only invitations.

Analytics and Lead Generation

These features are not available.

Read either PowerPoint vs Google ,  or you can check out  Google Slides vs Visme to get a detailed overview of each tool and find the perfect presentation software for your needs.

Keynote is the native Apple presentation software — one of the original PowerPoint Alternatives. Anyone with an Apple ID can use the Keynote editor. It is the most similar to PowerPoint and also Google Slides.

Keynote is free for downloading and also accessing via the cloud with an apple ID.

If you know how to use PowerPoint or Google Slides, Keynote is a breeze. This feature makes it stand out as one of the best tools for presentation.

Keynote is good for businesses, educators and anyone who needs a practical presentation software.

The templates are limited but come in standard or wide sizes. Templates can also be found outside of Keynote and uploaded into the program.

There are plenty of classic symbols and icons available which are also customizable in terms of color and gradient. Images can only be added from your computer.

Videos are not embeddable in Keynote slides but that is sorted with a plug-in like LiveSlides. GIFs can be added as .gif images.

You can upload existing audio files in Keynote to play on specific slides. There's also an option to record your own voiceover to create a narrated presentation.

Including these is not available

Slides and objects can be animated in a number of ways, including path creation, scaling, bounce or jiggle effects, and more.

Keynote is available on both desktop and cloud.

You can create keynote presentations on any apple device and PC.

Keynote presentations can be downloaded as .pdf or as .pptx to view offline.

Keynote presentations can be collaborated on via a link or email with permission settings set to “can make changes”.

Brand Kit, Share to Social Media, Analytics and Lead Generation

None of these are available on Keynote.

Presentations are private until shared and there is no password protection capabilities.

5 Microsoft PowerPoint

This list wouldn't have been complete without the most popular presentation software in the world. Even though there are tons of more advanced presentation tools out there now, PowerPoint is still a favorite of many because of its familiarity, ease of use and availability.

The desktop-based PowerPoint program is part of Microsoft 365, which has different plans for businesses that start from $6/month and go up to $22/month. You can also buy an unbundled digital PowerPoint account for $159.99

PowerPoint Online is free on any device, including mobile.

Most, if not every, computer user knows how to work a PowerPoint. The traditional sidebar interface is easy to use simply because it's familiar. But for people who are using PowerPoint for the first time, there might be a slight learning curve.

Businesses, individuals, students, teachers and anyone who uses a Windows PC or device. PowerPoint is also a good fit for people who want to create simple, conventional presentations, and aren't looking for fancy new features or capabilities.

There are dozens of themes that come built-in with PowerPoint, and there are all customizable so you can play around with the styles.

You can browse stock images, icons, stickers and more by searching for relevant keywords in PowerPoint's graphic library.

Videos and GIFs can be uploaded from your computer. You can also embed videos from YouTube and other online sources. However, this feature is only available to Windows users.

You can upload audio files from your computer. You can also record audio directly inside PowerPoint and edit the settings for playback.

You can embed files created in other Microsoft Office applications, such as charts created in Excel, or any other programs that support Object Linking and Embedding (OLE.)

There are tons of animation and transition options available in PowerPoint, which can actually get confusing at times. However, if you know your way around these options, it gets easier to create a professional-looking slideshow.

There are both desktop and cloud versions of PowerPoint available.

You can download the PowerPoint mobile apps on both Android and iOS devices.

It's possible to share your presentation with specific people.

Brand kits are not available, but you can save custom themes.

Presentations cannot be shared to social media.

You can download your PowerPoint presentations in various formats, including PPTX and PDF. This makes it easy to access them on any device offline.

You can mark your presentations as read-only to prevent users from editing the file.

This feature is not available in PowerPoint.

Ludus is one of the best-looking presentation tools available online. The main attractions with Ludus are the clean black screen to edit on and the number of integrations that give importing capabilities for all sorts of content. From photography to .svg to code builds.

Ludus starts at $14.99/month for teams of 1-15 people. Teams that need more licenses are encouraged to contact for more pricing information. Ludus does offer a 30-day free trial.

Ludus is quite easy to use and includes lots of keyboard shortcuts. It is easy to learn how to use and pretty straightforward. It seems to be easier for designers than for non-designers to use.

This presentation software is geared more towards designers or business owners who have some design knowledge to totally be able to use the broad capabilities.

There are no templates to choose from. You have to start from scratch or use smart blocks that you can create to use over and over easily. Smart blocks are kept in their own library.

Ludus has minimal in-house graphic assets like simple shapes, but the integrations are epic. You can import .svg icons and edit them inside Ludus quite easily. Photos can also be imported via Unsplash, Instagram, Facebook or uploaded.

Videos and GIFs are easily imported via the integrations like YouTube, Vimeo, Giphy and more.

Audio can be embedded as an audio file from SoundCloud, Dropbox and other integrations.

You can pretty much embed anything into Ludus. The integrations are impressive and there are also iframe and HTML options.

Internal elements can’t be animated but there are so many integrations that animations can be done in different ways.

Ludus is a cloud-based app. No need to download anything.

Presentations can only be edited on computers. Finished presentations can be viewed on all handheld devices that have access to the internet via a URL link.

Collaborations are possible with the team plans. This includes live collaboration, workspaces and more.

With collaborations, smart blocks and the Brandfetch integration, a brand kit can be organized quite easily. But it’s not an internal feature.

Finished presentations can be easily shared to social media straight from Ludus.

Ludus presentations can be downloaded as .pdf or .html to be viewed offline.

Pro Plans have password protection.

There are no analytics or lead generation capabilities available in Ludus.

Slides is the only presentation software that promotes itself as being “pixel perfect” as the editor includes a built-in grid to help with composition. Slides has a lower cost at the highest price tag which is good for smaller businesses.

Slides is free to use, but finished presentations will be public and available. 

The paid plans start at $5/month, and the Pro plan sits at $10/month and go up to $20/month for features like unlimited collaborators, privacy, shared media library and Google Analytics.

Slides is very easy to use, the editing board is minimal but all tools are at easy reach. No need to get confused with Slides. There are no templates so presentations are built from scratch.

Small business owners or startups. Individuals that know what they want and don’t need templates to help them along. Also for developers because it has HTML and CSS building capabilities.

Slides has a very limited template library with just a handful of different options to choose from.

The available shapes and icons are common and minimal. Photos have to be uploaded or imported from a URL.

Videos and GIFs are easy to add. Videos can be uploaded or linked and GIFs can be uploaded as .gif or .mp4 as video.

Including audio is not possible with Slides.

Anything with code can be added in an iframe.

All elements and features can be animated to fade in, fade out etc. Length of duration can be customized.

Slides is a cloud-based presentation software that can only be used online.

Slides can be used on the computer and handheld devices. To edit and to view.

Paid plans have very capable collaboration possibilities. Users can leave comments with feedback for the creator to review and make edits.

There is no set section for a brand kit but branded decks can be created and then cloned to use as a template.

Yes, quite easily.

You can also share presentations via URL, email or embeddable code.

A Slides presentations can be downloaded as a ZIP file with an .html file inside that can be viewed offline on any browser.

Privacy and Analytics

Possible with paid plans.

This is not possible on Slides.

8 Slidebean

Slidebean is an easy-to-use presentation software with interesting templates and customizable content blocks.

The highlight of this presentation software is that it uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help you put together the best possible slide layouts and configurations. They also have a team of experts that can both write and design your pitch deck for you if you don't want to take the DIY route.

The free plan has limited capabilities but it's enough to see how Slidebean works. To export your presentation, you'll need to upgrade.

There are three price levels from $8/month to $19/month to $149/month. The last one is the Founder's Edition plan, which includes help from the experts on your presentations.

If you choose to get their help on your presentation design, it starts at $29 per slide or $1,999 for the full project.

Slidebean is quite easy to use. You can choose between templates or start from scratch. Adding content is simple and to the point from a popup.

Editing can be done in outline or design mode. The editing is limited to how the content blocks are set up, but there are lots of choices. There's no free size changing or moving around.

Startups, small businesses and entrepreneurs.

There are plenty of template options. They are organized in sections and niche. The template collection has presentations by known brands like Snapchat and Buzzfeed.

There are plenty of icons and images to choose from. However, there are no shapes, but icons can be used as shapes.

GIFs can be added via the Giphy integration in a content block. Video can be added in the paid plans.

There are no audio capabilities.

The code snippet content block has lots of options so a lot of different kinds of third-party content can be added in.

Content blocks and their elements can be animated with a couple features.

Slidebean is an online program on the cloud.

It can be used to edit or view on any device.

Collaboration is possible in the paid plans.

This feature is available in the paid plans.

Sharing to Social Media

Slidebean presentations can be exported to download as both .pdf and .html files to view offline.

This feature is not available.

Analytics are available in the paid plans.

9 Zoho Show

Zoho Show is a presentation software that mimics Microsoft PowerPoint in the way it is set up, with a menu up top for all the actions. However, Zoho's version is much nicer and polished.

Zoho is a complete CRM for businesses and the company offers different types of apps for teams and office use — Zoho Show is only one of their programs.

Zoho show is completely free and without ads.

Zoho Show is pretty easy to use. The content blocks can be chosen as themes but they can also be moved around freely and resized. The presentation can be viewed in three ways, with a handy grid view to see all slides next to each other.

Businesses, entrepreneurs, educators and students. Anyone who needs to make a presentation.

There aren’t exactly templates, but there are themes. These do not come with images or lorem ipsum but are more like visual canvases that can be customized in terms of color, layout and more.

The shapes are pretty good, there are quite a bit to choose from. An added bonus is the possibility to draw shapes or scribble anything yourself with the trackpad.

Videos can be added via the YouTube integration and GIFs can be added as an image.

Audio can be added via Soundcloud with an embed code.

There are a number of sites that are supported via Embed codes but not that many. Zoho Show says that you can ask your needs to be added in the permitted list.

All elements and transitions can be animated.

Zoho Show is a cloud bases program and can be broadcast from anywhere and on any device. The live broadcast includes a chat window and the audience can download the presentation if they want to.

You can only create presentations on a computer.

Teams can easily use Zoho Show, even in the free version.

Custom branding is only available in the highest paid plan.

Sharing to social media is not possible unless downloaded as a PDF file and then uploaded to something like SlideShare.

Presentations can be downloaded as .pptx or .pdf files for offline viewing.

Yes, this is possible on all plans.

Analytics are possible on the paid plans.

10 Beautiful.ai

Beautiful.ai is a presentation software that helps you create great-looking slides with the help of Artificial Intelligence. This means that your presentation will look professional every single time, regardless of who designs it.

Beautiful.ai currently offers a Pro plan at $12/month and a Team plan at $40/month, both billed annually. They offer a 14-day free trial to test out their tool.

This is probably the best thing about Beautiful.ai — it's incredibly simple to use. All you need to do is add smart slides, plug in your content, and choose from different preset layouts.

Of course, that also means that you have limited customization options. But if you're looking for a simple solution and you don't trust your design skills, this may be a good option for you.

Beautiful.ai is a great tool for absolute beginners and non-designers who are looking for a no-nonsense presentation software.

For example, startups and entrepreneurs can use this software to create a nice-looking pitch deck or proposal quickly without any design help.

There are a handful of slide themes available, but they're mostly basic in terms of design. You can play around with the layouts inside each theme to put together a unique presentation.

The graphic assets library comes with a bunch of free stock photos and icons to choose from, but the options are pretty limited.

Videos and GIFs can be uploaded from your computer. You can also import videos from YouTube and Vimeo to embed in your slides.

Audio can be uploaded from your computer.

It's not possible to embed third-party content into Beautiful.ai presentations. However, you can add interactive links to your slides.

Each slide comes with a preset animation style that you're unable to customize. However, you can change the speed, timing and triggers for the animations. 

Beautiful.ai is a cloud-based application.

The software only works on your desktop computer.

You can invite people to collaborate on your presentation by either giving them "view" or "edit" access. Collaborators must have a Beautiful.ai account to view or edit the presentation.

While there's no brand kit feature available, you can customize a theme (colors and fonts) and save it to your library to use in future presentations.

There are several options to share your presentations. Send an email invite, share a public or private link, generate an embed code or share directly to social media.

You can export your presentations to PDF or PowerPoint to view offline.

There is no password protection, but you can use the Secure Viewing option to only share your presentation with other Beautiful.ai users via an email invite.

This feature is only available in the paid plans. You can access a number of viewing and usage statistics for your presentations.

This feature is not available in Beautiful.ai.

11 Genially

The main idea behind the Genially presentation software is interactivity.

This program is good not only for presentations and video presentations but also for other visual graphics. It’s great for adding a modern, interactive feel to your presentations.

There is a free plan in Genially, which gives you unlimited creations but limited resources. The paid plans are as follow, paid yearly:

• Pro: $7.49 / month
• Master: $20.82 / month
• Team: $79.15 / month

Genially is easy to use if you are accustomed to programs with lots of choices. There is a lot that can be done with the features in Genially.

Any change can be applied to all slides with a single click of the button in the menu. When editing, there is a "design view" and a "layers view."

Professionals and educators of any field who can benefit from interactive presentations.

There are plenty of template options. Some are free and some are only available via the premium plans. Presentation templates are also available as "video presentations."

The graphic assets in Genially are quite varied; there is plenty to choose from. Images can be uploaded or found on the Pixabay integration.

Videos can be added via a YouTube link and GIFs can be imported with the Giphy integration.

Audio can be uploaded from your computer, added via SoundCloud and a couple of other integrations, or recorded directly in Genially.

Third-party content can be added to your presentations with Genially integrations. For example, you can add an interactive map via Google Maps.

All elements can be animated, as can the transitions between slides. Animation effects are quite extensive. There is a similar tab called “interactivity,” which are pop-ups and hyperlinks supplied with lots of button choices.

Genially is a cloud-based presentation program.

This program is only available to edit on computers but can be viewed on any device.

It seems that a professional plan allows 5 team members, but the pricing plan shows that all plans have collaborative capabilities. Collaborators can be added in the dashboard where  all creations are stored.

Brand kits are available in the premium plans. It is an internal feature with easy access.

Finished presentations can be shared to social media.

Finished presentations can be downloaded as a set of .jpg images, as a .pdf or as an .html5 file which will keep all animations.

Premium plans have these features.

This is not available in Genially.

Canva is not only a presentation software but also a full editing program for all visual needs. Presentation creation is only one of the possibilities with Canva. It has become a favorite with bloggers and home-based businesses.

The free version of Canva is pretty extensive. The only restrictions are the use of premium resources that can be either bought separately or through the Canva Pro plan. Canva Pro is charged at $12.99/month or $119.99/year.

Canva Teams is $14.99/month + $14.99/month for every team member after the 5th.

Canva is easy to use as all elements are easy to find and are mostly customizable. Presentations are viewed scrolling; there is no master view and you can’t change something on all slides at once.

Bloggers, small home-based businesses and startups

There are lots of customizable template options, and each slide inside the templates can be used individually.

There are plenty of options in the graphic assets library, including shapes, icons, photos, frames and stickers. Some are free, while others are paid.

Videos and GIFs can be uploaded to Canva.

You can add music to your presentations using the available options inside Canva.

Canva offers dozens of integrations and media embed options, including YouTube, Google Maps, Vimeo, Pinterest, Tumblr, Twitter and more.

There are several animation options that apply to entire slides inside Canva. You can also add animated stickers to your slides.

Canva is a cloud-based app. Presentations can be seen on any device.

Canva is available as an iPhone app and an android app for editing capabilities.

Presentations can be shared for editing with team members.

Canva Pro has a brand kit feature.

Presentations can be shared on Twitter and Facebook.

Presentations can be downloaded as a group of .png or .jpg images or as a .pdf. You can also download it as an MP4 video for offline viewing.

All designs on Canva are private unless they are made public or shared via a link. There is no password-protected sharing though.

These features are not available in Canva.

While Canva offers a wide range of features for various visual design needs, you can explore better alternatives to find solutions that may better fit your requirements. If you want to explore other options, read our article about 12 excellent Canva alternatives .

13  FlowVella

FlowVella is a downloadable presentation software that can be used offline. The main attraction of FlowVella is the Kiosk Mode, in which you can create interactive presentations like the ones used in museums or information counters at malls or hotels.

FlowVella is free to try out. You can use it free forever but the options are limited and the finished presentations has a watermark. P aid plans are as follows:

• Premium : $10/month or $60/year
• Pro : $20/month or $200/year
• Enterprise : Upon request

FlowVella is pretty easy to use, and the controls are straightforward and uncomplicated.

This presentation software is for professionals and educators that need to be able to create presentations offline. Also for those who can take advantage of the Kiosk Mode.

The template options are quite varied and well designed.

The graphic assets library is very limited. Photographs and images need to be uploaded from your computer.

Videos can be uploaded or found via YouTube, iCloud and Dropbox integrations when online. GIFs can be added as images.

Audio can be uploaded from your computer, or added via iCloud or Dropbox.

You can add PDF files.

Only the transitions are animated minimally.

This is a desktop-based application. It must be downloaded.

There are iPad and device apps available for editing on those devices as well.

Paid premium plans can work with teams.

Brand kits are not available.

Presentations can be shared on Facebook and Twitter.

Since this is a desktop application, offline viewing is not a complication.

These features are available in the paid plans. Analytics can be viewed once the presentation has been published online.

This feature is not available on FlowVella.

14  Haiku Deck

Haiku Deck is a presentation software that is straightforward with a simple interface that makes quick and practical presentations. Presentations can be created on the computer and on mobile devices.

Haiku Deck can be tried for free with one available presentation. The Public plan is USD 7.99 a month, Pro plans are USD 9.99 a month billed annually and USD 19.99 billed monthly, and Premium plans are USD 29.99 a month.

Haiku Deck is quite easy to use and menus are easy to follow. There are word size limiters and specific text placement choices for each slide. Charts are simple to create and can be customized. The editor can be connected via cloud to all devices. The new addition, Zuru, is an Artificial Intelligence system that creates creative presentations from simple PowerPoint files or outlines.

The Haiku Deck presentation software is geared mostly toward educators and classrooms. Businesses and bloggers can also use it for practical purposes.

Templates on Haiku Deck are more like an inspiring collection of photographs for a specific niche with some suggestions on where to place the text and what charts to include.

The available graphic assets library in Haiku Deck are millions of photographs, numerous font choices and charts and graphs.

YouTube videos can be embedded easily in a Haiku Deck. GIFs cannot be added to Haiku Decks but a finished presentation can be turned into a video or into a GIF.

Narrations and voice overs are easily recorded on a presentation in Haiku Deck.

Only videos can be embedded.

Features can't be animated in Haiku Deck

Desktop or Cloud / Available to Create on Multiple Devices

Haiku Deck is a cloud-based app that is available for editing and viewing on your laptop and also as an app on phones and tablets.

Haiku decks can be downloaded as .pptx files for offline viewing.

Presentations can be easily shared to social media from the editor.

Haiku Deck offers team possibilities upon request.

There is no brand kit, but you can add your logo to the finished product.

Pro and Premium plans have private and password-protected capabilities.

Premium plans have analytics for who has viewed your presentations.

Emails cannot be captured with Haiku Deck but slides and presentations can be sent with invitations to your existing email contacts.

15  Microsoft Sway

Microsoft has its own alternative to PowerPoint — Sway.

This online presentation software is completely different from PowerPoint and introduces a new concept of building "Sways" instead of "presentations."

Sway is free to use for anyone who has a Microsoft account.

It's super easy to use Sway and kind of fun too. It has a non-traditional storyline editor, which lets you add "blocks" of content that the software configures into layouts.

Sway is mostly for people who don't want to spend too much time designing a complex presentation. For example, students and nonprofit organizations.

There are several templates for different purposes, such as photo slideshows, sales trainings and even personal portfolios.

You can upload your own media or search from various sources inside Sway, including Flickr and Bing Images. There are no shapes and icons included.

You can upload videos from your device or embed from YouTube.

You can add audio to Sway by uploading or dragging and dropping the audio file onto your storyline from your computer.

You can embed images, videos, maps and other content from tons of websites, including Google Maps, Soundcloud, Twitter, Facebook and more.

Sway automatically adds animations to your slides. You cannot change or customize them; you can only increase or decrease the level of animation added to your Sway.

Sway is an online, cloud-based software.

Sway works on any device with an internet browser.

You can invite people to view or edit your Sway presentation.

Sway presentations can be shared directly to Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

You can download your Sway as a Word or PDF file to view offline.

There is no password protection available, but you can choose to share your Sway with specific people, anyone with a link or only people in your organization who have a link.

You can view reader statistics for your Sway if you have a Microsoft Office 365 subscription.

This feature is not available in Microsoft Sway.

Presentation Software FAQs

Still have questions? We've compiled answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the best presentation tools available.

Q. Which Is the Best Software for Making Presentations?

There are many presentation tools out there but Visme stands out as a top pick and a creative presentation app with a full suite of advanced features tailored to the needs of individual users and businesses. Visme offers real-time collaboration, interactive and animated elements, hyper-customization options, robust data visualization tools and a brand wizard to maintain brand consistency across your presentations.

Q. What Is Better Than PowerPoint?

Visme is often considered a top presentation software and offers several advantages as a PowerPoint alternative software. Its intuitive interface and extensive template library make creating visually stunning presentations seamless, even for beginners. Visme's collaboration features are superior, allowing teams to work seamlessly. On top of that, Visme is packed with advanced interactive and animated elements to keep your audience hooked.

Q. Is PowerPoint or Prezi Better?

PowerPoint and Prezi each have strengths and are suited for different presentation styles. PowerPoint is easy to use, has a clear structure, and is widely available, making it suitable for traditional slide decks and formal presentations. On the other hand, Prezi excels at non-linear, visually engaging presentations with its zooming and panning features, making it ideal for creative or storytelling presentations. The best choice depends on your content, audience and desired presentation style.

Q. What Is the Best App to Do a Presentation On?

Visme offers a powerful presentation app that allows you to create, edit and present your slides from anywhere. Its mobile app is designed for on-the-go editing and presenting, ensuring you always have your presentation at your fingertips.

Q. Is Canva Better Than PowerPoint?

Canva and PowerPoint are tailored to suit the diverse preferences and requirements of different users.

Generally, Canva is known for its drag-and-drop interface, extensive library of design-focused templates and emphasis on visual appeal. It is an excellent choice for those who value aesthetics and want to create content quickly. On the other hand, PowerPoint offers more traditional features and is super flexible. It is often preferred due to its integration and compatibility with other Microsoft Office tools.

Q. What Is Replacing PowerPoint?

Visme is quickly gaining popularity as a PowerPoint replacement and a free presentation software with a user-friendly interface, tons of customization options, and powerful tools that make creating presentations a breeze. With a plethora of templates, interactive elements, and powerful data visualization tools, Visme empowers you to create presentations that truly captivate your audience and leave a lasting impression

Don't just take our word for it. Hear what Kendra Bradley, Graphic Content Developer at WOW!, has to say about Visme:

“Previously we were using PowerPoint, which is fine, but the interactivity you can get with Visme is so much more robust that we’ve all steered away from PowerPoint.”

“PowerPoint templates are plain and boring, and we want to create more fun and engaging content. Visme has multiple slide templates to choose from, which makes this so much easier.”

“I just made a deck recently and it took me about 15-20 minutes. I found a template I really liked and tweaked it and put it in our brand colors. In PowerPoint, it would take anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half.”

Read the full case study to learn how they streamlined their presentation creation process and found a better alternative than PowerPoint.

Looking for a Presentation Software?

Choosing the best presentation program for your business is a great first step towards better and more effective slide deck development. In this guide, you learned about 15 different types of presentation software and we gave you a checklist to help you decide.

If you're looking for an easy-to-use presentation maker that also comes with unique features that you won't find in most other tools, Visme might be a great option.

You can look for the right pricing plan for your needs and even apply for a discount if you're a nonprofit organization. And if you just want to try out Visme to see if it's a good fit, sign up for a free account and use it for as long as you like — no strings attached.

Which of these best presentation software options fits your needs? If you have any questions or comments, we'd love to hear from you below.

Create stunning presentations in minutes with Visme

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About the Author

Orana is a multi-faceted creative. She is a content writer, artist, and designer. She travels the world with her family and is currently in Istanbul. Find out more about her work at oranavelarde.com

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5 ways to improve your presentation design with AI

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

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

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

What is presentation design?

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

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

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

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

1. Harmonize your colors for maximum impact

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

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

Design tip: Use color theory to create harmonious palettes

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

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

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

AI tip: Leverage AI-powered color palettes

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

AI-powered tools to help with color palettes

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

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

2. Make data delightful and digestible

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

Design tip: choose the right type of chart or graph

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

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

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

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

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

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

AI-driven tools for charts and graphs:

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

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

3. Craft compelling copy with a clear structure

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

Design tip: use a clear and logical structure

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

Here are some tips for crafting compelling content:

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

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

AI tip: Get content ideas from AI

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

AI copy tools:

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

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

4. Enhance your slides with high-quality visuals

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

Design tip: Use relevant and high-quality images

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

Here are some tips for using visuals effectively:

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

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

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

AI tools for visuals:

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

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

5. Make your presentation inclusive for all

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

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

Design tip: Use best practices for inclusive design

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

Here are some tips for making your presentation inclusive:

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

AI Tip: Make sure your designs are accessible with AI

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

AI-driven tools to make your presentation inclusive:

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

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

6. Understand your audience to tailor your presentation

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

General tip: Research your audience

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

Here are some tips for understanding your audience:

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

AI Tip: Analyze audience preferences

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

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

AI tools to analyze your audience:

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

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

7. Use presentation generators to speed up your workflow

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

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

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

Embrace the future of presentation design

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

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

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

More FAQs about presentation tips

1. what are some presentation design inspiration sources.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Emergence Health Network hosts substance use disorder symposium to educate El Pasoans

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Emergence Health Network (EHN) is hosting a substance use disorder community symposium. It will take place Friday, August 9th at the Starlight Event Center on 6650 Continental Dr. El Paso Texas from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Celeste Nevarez, EHN Chief of Clinical Services says "The purpose of this event is to help educate our community about the dangers of drug and alcohol misuse and more importantly about the treatment options available in our community to assist these individuals gain their life back."

Emergence Health Network says they will have a special presentation by the Drug Enforcement Agency regarding drug use trends in our community, specifically with the concern of fentanyl in El Paso. EHN said, “It’s a team effort, not just within EHN but throughout our community and local agencies. This type of collaboration is vital.” EHN states 300 people registered to attend the event.

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Impressive AI Powerpoint Builder

By: Stephen Toback

Gamma is a tool that leverages AI to help you create presentations, documents or websites. I got quite a bit of use out of their free credits to do some testing. I found their process easy and the content, both text AND images to be remarkably accurate. They also give you the ability to use AI to change photos or text after you create your document. Having a web search for images (which gave you the ability to only search images per a specific license, was pretty great. You could also generate AI images from within the app with a selection of various image engines (some were restricted to their paid subscription). At the end, you can export their content and continue editing in Powerpoint or export as a PDF.

I found the process to be pretty simple with a good selection of variables both in prompt and option choices.

I’m not sure what model they are using for AI text generation but I seemed to get a better result when I pasted in text made with ChatGPT 4o. This example uses their generation which was still good.

From that prompt, it generated an outline. The trial version limits you to 10 slides but I believe you can do up to 30 with the paid version.

Next step is to pick a theme.

There were options even in the free version to select your own fonts and create custom themes as well as add your own logo. The logo placement is limited to the bottom left corner, but I’ve already requested a feature request to be able to place it anywhere on the page.

That’s it. Here’s a link to the slides .

I wasn’t a fan of the default placement of the images as “fit” in large areas but the image selection was suprisingly good. Specifically how it picked the Karsh Center when talking about alumni. There are ways you can “fill” the image and change the “focus” which I thought was cool. Again, at anytime you can export to Powerpoint but I found you lose the ability to edit the images – they get cropped however they are in the app.

Overall, this was very impressive compared to my experience using ChatGPT to create Visual Basic scripts to create Powerpoints or using Co-Pilot 365 to create slide decks. The image searching (and ability to search for different images in the interface) was pretty extraordinary. I’d also add that their support is incredibly responsive.

This software has not been cleared to use at Duke so feel free to test, but do not use it for any protected information.

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A CIO canceled a Microsoft AI deal. The reason should worry the entire tech industry.

• A pharma company stopped using Microsoft's Copilot AI tool, with an exec citing high cost and low value.
• The company used Office 365 Copilot for 500 staff and compared it to middle-school presentations.
• Microsoft is mulling repackaging 365 licenses to better monetize AI features amid record spending.

AI models and tools look great when researchers measure success with their own wonky benchmarks. When paying customers try this technology in the real world, things can get ugly.

That's what happened when an IT executive at a pharmaceutical company tried out Microsoft's Copilot AI features, according to a recent research note from Morgan Stanley.

The chief information officer of this pharma company paid extra to have 500 employees use Office 365 Copilot in the fourth quarter of 2023 and first quarter of 2024. This is Microsoft 's much-heralded AI upgrade to its popular suite of productivity software.

After six months, the exec canceled the upgrade because the AI tools weren't good enough to be worth the extra money.

In fact, he compared the slide-generation capability of Microsoft's AI tools to "middle school presentations," according to a transcript of a call with the Morgan Stanley analysts that was included in their research note.

"The price is double," the executive, identified only as Greg, said. "And we really just do not see the value we're getting out of those tools worth double."

The E3 version of Microsoft's 365 software suite costs about $34 per user a month. Adding Copilot AI features costs another $30 per user a month. For 500 employees, that would roughly add an extra $180,000 a year.

These new Microsoft tools are considered some of the premier examples of powerful artificial intelligence in action in the real world. Investors have bid up Microsoft and other big tech shares massively, betting that this product and similar offerings will catch on with paying customers.

If a large pharma company can't see $180,000 of value in these tools, that's a problem that should worry the entire tech industry.

Legal issues with AI meeting summaries

The 365 Copilot AI feature that the IT executive found more compelling was the ability to archive and summarize video meetings on Microsoft's Teams app. But he said his legal team was wary of retaining meeting transcripts, so the pharma company didn't use that feature.

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"What you're left with are tools that are along the lines of building ChatGPT instead of Word, which I think is marginally useful at best," the exec said. "Building a generative AI slide capability, which really is at the quality of middle school presentations at this point. And then Excel, which is, again, not really something that most people who use spreadsheets would think of using it."

He added that the company would consider adopting Office 365 Copilot for a subset of employees if it cost a fraction of its current price.

Microsoft must recoup big AI investments

The comments follow internal concerns at Microsoft about whether its AI services will create enough value to persuade corporate customers to pay more.

Wall Street is also wondering how Microsoft will recoup its massive AI spending. The company is amassing 1.8 million graphics processing units to build and run AI models and related products. It also has a plan to triple data-center capacity, mainly to handle AI workloads. Its capital expenditure hit a record $14 billion in the most recent quarter. A company spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

Microsoft is considering revamping the way it packages 365 software licenses like E3 to try to make more money from AI. The outcomes could include repackaging AI features into existing licenses or creating a more expensive bundle with Copilot AI capabilities, a person with direct knowledge of the plan said.

Do you work at Microsoft or have insight to share?

Contact Ashley Stewart via the encrypted messaging app Signal (+1-425-344-8242) or email ( [email protected] ). Use a nonwork device.

Watch: Volkswagen is using AI to speed up and scale marketing, while also integrating ChatGPT into its vehicles, says CMO Susanne Franz

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