Creating PowerPoint presentations is a fantastic way to convey information to your team, but mastering this tool takes practice. While we provide tutorials on general PowerPoint usage, if you’re eager to jump right in and start crafting a slideshow, follow this guide.
Let’s get started with creating your PowerPoint presentation!
How to Create a PowerPoint Presentation
Beginning your slide-making journey starts with creating a presentation. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Ensure you have PowerPoint installed via your Microsoft 365 subscription, then launch the application.
Step 2: On the home screen, you’ll find multiple templates and ready-made presentations that can serve as excellent starting points. Select a template if it fits your needs. For additional options, click on the New tab on the left.
If you want a clean slate, simply choose Blank Presentation.
Step 3: It’s a good practice to name and save your presentation right away. Click File > Save or Save As, provide a name on the right, select a location on your computer, and hit Save.
How to Build Your First Slide
Step 1: Your first slide comes with default text boxes for a title and subtitle. To add text, click into the boxes and type your content. You can also move or resize the boxes by clicking and dragging them as needed.
To resize the boxes, hover over the white circles and drag them. If you need to rotate the box, use the circular arrows found at the corners.
If you prefer not to use the text boxes, you can select them individually and press the Delete key to remove them.
Step 2: To add additional text, click on the Insert tab and then select Text Box. Click the area of the slide where you want to place the box, and then use your mouse to shape it as needed.
Click inside the box to type your desired text. The formatting menu will adapt, giving you quick access to different font types and styles.
If you seek more specific formatting options, select the Format tab to change text color, outline, and effects.
Step 3: To insert images into your slides, navigate to the Insert tab and select Pictures from the upper left. You can choose images from your computer, existing stock images, or browse online options.
Step 4: You can also draw or annotate on your slides by using the Draw tab, or change the overall theme by selecting Design.
How to Add More Slides to a PowerPoint Presentation
To insert a new slide, click on the Insert tab at the top of the screen and choose New Slide on the left. You can opt for a blank slide to customize or select a predefined layout or duplicate a previous slide.
How to Make an Awesome Slideshow Presentation
Looking for more guidance on creating an impressive slideshow? We’ve got you covered! Check out our comprehensive guide on utilizing Microsoft PowerPoint for essential tips.
We also offer additional resources for tips and tricks on crafting engaging and visually appealing slides.
