how to make a powerpoint presentation using google slides

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Google Slides

How to Import a PowerPoint Presentation into Google Slides

Brady Gavin has been immersed in technology for 15 years and has written over 150 detailed tutorials and explainers. He's covered everything from Windows 10 registry hacks to Chrome browser tips. Brady has a diploma in Computer Science from Camosun College in Victoria, BC. Read more...

how to make a powerpoint presentation using google slides

Did you receive a PowerPoint presentation, but you don’t have PowerPoint? Giving up on Microsoft Office and making the change to Google Slides? No problem; Google Slides lets you easily import PowerPoint presentations. And while it might not support some of the same features and effects of a PowerPoint presentation, it works pretty well.

To view a PowerPoint presentation on Google Slides, you must first upload the file to your Google Drive. Open Google Drive , click “New,” and then click “File Upload” to get started.

Navigate to your file(s) and then click “Open.”

Alternatively, you can drag and drop a file from your computer directly into the web browser for an easy upload.

Once your file uploads, right-click it, point to “Open With” on the context menu, and then select “Google Slides.”

Google then converts your presentation into a Google Slides file on your Drive account.

After you’ve finished editing your file, you can either share it with others or download and export your presentation back into a Microsoft PowerPoint format by going to File > Download As and then clicking the “Microsoft PowerPoint” option.

If you’d rather download your presentation in PDF, ODP, JPEG, TXT, or other formats, you can do that too.

The file is then downloaded to the browser’s default download folder.

How to use Google Slides

Google Slides is an online presentation app that lets you create and format presentations and work with other people.

Step 1: Create a presentation

To create a new presentation:

Open the Slides home screen at Google Slides .

You can also create new presentations from the URL https://slides.google.com/create .

Step 2: Edit and format a presentation

You can add, edit, or format text, images, or videos in a presentation.

Step 3: Share & work with others

You can share files and folders with people and choose whether they can view, edit, or comment on them.

Need more help?

Try these next steps:.

Using Google products, like Google Docs, at work or school? Try powerful tips, tutorials, and templates. Learn to work on Office files without installing Office, create dynamic project plans and team calendars, auto-organize your inbox, and more.

How to Create a Presentation Using Google Slides

Last Updated: February 10, 2022

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 15 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 193,297 times. Learn more...

This tutorial will show you how to make a PowerPoint-like presentation using Google Slides. Presentations can be used for school, business, and so much more.

Image titled Create a Presentation Using Google Slides Step 1

Image titled Create a Presentation Using Google Slides Step 2

For more options, hover over the arrow on the right edge of the Google Slides option, where a smaller drop-down menu will appear. From here you can select to create a presentation from a template or a blank slide.

Image titled Create a Presentation Using Google Slides Step 3

Be sure to add a title and subtitle by clicking where you are prompted to add text.

Image titled Create a Presentation Using Google Slides Step 5

You can also change a pre-existing slide's layout by clicking the layout option on the upper editing bar.

Image titled Create a Presentation Using Google Slides Step 6

Image titled Create a Presentation Using Google Slides Step 9

Community Q&A

wikiHow Video: How to Create a Presentation Using Google Slides

About This Article

To create a new Google Slides presentation, open a web browser and go to Slides.Google.com. If you want to start from a template, you can choose one from the template gallery. Otherwise, click "Blank" to create a new blank presentation. Your blank presentation starts with a single simple slide with space to enter a title and subtitle. You can personalize this slide, as well as other slides you add, by editing the placeholder text, as well as choosing a slide theme from the panel to the right. To insert another slide, click the "Insert" menu and select "New Slide," or press "Control M" for a quick keyboard shortcut. You'll also find other things you can add to your slide on the Insert menu, including the option to add an image, a text box for typing, videos, shapes, charts, and other features. After adding a new slide, click the "Layout" menu to choose a slide layout—you can give each slide its own layout or reuse the same layout as much as necessary. Edit the placeholder text, and then insert objects from the Insert menu. To move an object, click the arrow in the toolbar, hover the mouse cursor around the object's border line until it turns to a 4-point arrow, and then click and drag it. Each slide you add will have a thumbnail in the left panel—click a slide's thumbnail to open that slide for editing. To see your presentation as a viewer would, click your first slide in the left panel, and then click "Present" at the top corner. Click the Escape key to go back to editing. Google Slides also has some built-in effects you can access from the "Transition" menu—here you can animate a slide's transition into the next slide, as well as animate individual objects. To apply an effect, background, theme, layout, or any other setting to more than one slide at once, select the slides in the left panel by holding down the Control key as you click each thumbnail. Your presentation will automatically save to your Google Drive as you work—type a name for the presentation in the top-left corner so you can easily find the file when you need it. Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to convert a PowerPoint to Google Slides in 2 different ways

Google Drive has revolutionized group work, providing tools that multiple people can create and edit simultaneously.

However, many people still prefer to use the Microsoft suite of products when working alone. This can be problematic if you're using Microsoft PowerPoint to create a presentation, but then want to share it with others to provide feedback or make changes.

Luckily, converting PowerPoint presentations to Google Slides — the PowerPoint equivalent — can be accomplished in a few ways, and the process is easy and simple.

Here's how to do it.

How to convert a PowerPoint to Google Slides

1. Open Google Drive.

2. Select "New" in the upper left-hand corner of the screen.

3. Select "Upload File."

4. Select the desired PowerPoint presentation.

5 . After uploading, right click and select "Open with," then select "Google Slides."

6. Select "File."

7. Select "Save as Google Slides."

How to convert a PowerPoint to Google Slides by importing slides

1. Go to Google Drive.

2. Select Slides.

3. Open a "Blank" presentation.

4. In a new Presentation, select "File," then "Import Slides."

5. Upload the PowerPoint file.

6. Select the newly-converted Slides.

If you want to go the other way, and convert Google Slides to PowerPoint, read our article, " How to convert Google Slides to a PowerPoint presentation in 4 easy steps. "

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech :

How to convert google slides to a powerpoint presentation in 4 easy steps, how to add music or other audio to a google slides presentation, how to embed a youtube video into a powerpoint presentation, depending on the version of your powerpoint, how to embed a youtube video in google slides in 4 simple steps to make your slideshow presentations more engaging, now watch: 45 ways to eat eggs.

How to convert a PPT to Google Slides.

A man converts a PowerPoint to Google Slides on a desktop computer.

Want to swap your PowerPoint presentation to a different file type? Learn how to convert a PPT to Google Slides to edit online and reduce compatibility issues.

You might want to convert PowerPoint to Google Slides so you can access your presentation from any device, as long as you have access to your Google account online. With Google Slides, you can work on a presentation with your team remotely in real time, while multiple people edit at once and watch each other’s edits. Convert PPT to Google Slides to collaborate on your presentation and give it anywhere, as long as you have an internet connection.

Upload your PPT to Google Slides.

The easiest way to convert a PPT to Google Slides is to simply open your PowerPoint presentation in Google Slides. Just follow these easy steps:

You can revisit, edit , and share your new Google Slides presentation right from your Google Drive on any device.

Use Google Drive to convert your PPT.

Another way to convert PPT to Google Slides is to use Google Drive. This method will save your presentation as both a PowerPoint and a Google Slides, so you can choose which file type to use in the future.

First, upload your PPT presentation to your Google Drive. Then, to convert the PPT to Google Slides, follow these steps:

Your presentation will open in a new window and automatically save in your Google Drive as a Google Slides file. Next time you visit your Google Drive, you should see both the Google Slides and PowerPoint files in the folder.

Converting PowerPoint to Google Slides without losing formatting.

Because PowerPoint is a more powerful presentation creation tool, you might lose some of your formatting or features when you convert PowerPoint to Google Slides. Google Slides, for example, does not automatically convert audio files that you have attached to your PowerPoint. Google Slides also doesn’t support vector graphics. You may need to use audio and vector graphics but also need to access your presentation online. In this case, your best bet is to upload your PPT to Google Drive without converting it to Google Slides.

If you just want to make sure that your theme carries over when you convert PPT to Google Slides, upload your PowerPoint right into an empty Google Slides file and check the option labeled, “Keep original theme.” If you don’t check that option, Google Slides will adapt the content of your PowerPoint into its own theme.

But just because your PPT is now a Google Slides presentation doesn’t mean it’s immune from formatting issues if you want to share it. If you want to put your presentation in a format that is immune to formatting issues, you should convert your PPT to a PDF online before sharing it to make it easy for anyone to view your slideshow.

Is Google Slides the same as PowerPoint?

Google Slides and PowerPoint are both popular presentation creation tools. They are offered by completely different companies, however, and have different sets of features to offer. The main differences are that Google Slides is primarily cloud-based and PowerPoint has more features offline.

Google Slides has become increasingly popular because it began as the first cloud-based presentation creator. Google Slides makes working remotely with your team very easy and intuitive, and it has all the basic features you need to create a professional presentation. For Google Slides users, collaboration is often the priority. It is also completely free. Although it is cloud-based, you can activate an option to work on Google Slides offline if you use Google Chrome.

PowerPoint is ultimately more powerful than Google Slides. PowerPoint offers more advanced photo editing and enough features to really show off your creativity and customize your presentations. PowerPoint also has countless free templates that you can use for presentations for all sorts of settings. All of this comes with the Microsoft Office Suite. PowerPoint has also created a cloud-based platform, but it doesn’t have as many features as PowerPoint offline.

Because of how easy it is to access Google Slides and use it to collaborate, it can be handy to convert PowerPoint to Google Slides. You have a couple of options for how to convert your slides, and you can keep the original theme from the PowerPoint. If you want to send your slideshow presentation to someone in a format that you can trust to stay stable across all platforms, consider converting it to PDF through Acrobat online.

Discover what more you can do with Adobe Acrobat online services to make it easy to create , convert, and share your PowerPoint presentations.

A Beginner’s Guide To Google Slides In The Classroom

By Kathleen Morris

You’re probably familiar with the range of free, web-based tools offered by Google within its Google Drive service?

These tools include Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Forms, and Google Slides. They’ve become staples in classrooms, homes, and businesses around the world.

For teachers and students, Google Slides is one of the most exciting and versatile tools on offer.

Maybe you’ve heard of Google Slides and you’re wondering how you can use it in the classroom?

Or perhaps, you’ve dabbled with Google Slides but you’re not sure exactly how it can be used beyond presentations?

Or are you a blogger wondering how Google Slides can complement your blog posts?

This post explains:

What is google slides.

How to create a Google Slides presentation

How teachers and students can use Google Slides in the classroom (7 creative examples)

How to embed Google Slides into your blog posts (PDF and video tutorial included)

Using Google Slides in Remote Learning

You’re probably familiar with Microsoft PowerPoint — the software used to create and present slideshows?

Google Slides is similar except it’s hosted online and allows for multiple people to collaborate on the same presentation in real time.

Quick facts about Google Slides:

Here’s a graphic summary of the above. Feel free to share it with colleagues who want to learn more about Google Slides.

What is Google Slides A Summary For Teachers And Students The Edublogger

How To Start A Google Slides Presentation

You’ll need a Google Account to access Google Slides. There’s a high chance you already have one! This is the same username/password you use for Gmail and other Google Products. You might also have a school Google account.

If you haven’t got a Google account yet, you can sign up here:

Google Drive is the place where your Google Slides presentations are stored. It’s also one of the ways you can start a new Google Slides presentation.

You access your Google Drive on the web through this URL:

Click on New in the top left-hand corner. Then click on Google Slides and either Blank Presentation or From a template .

Other Ways To Start A New Google Slides Presentation

Using Google Slides Offline

Rolling out from late April 2019 , there’s a new way to access Google Slides when you’re offline or have poor internet connection.

The first step is to enable offline access in your Drive settings.

How to enable offline access for Google Slides:

Check out the full instructions to access Google Slides offline on any device here .

How To Make A Google Slides Presentation

You’ll notice when you start a new Google Slides presentation, using the methods described above, you have the option to build a blank presentation or work from a pre-designed template.

Whatever option you choose, creating your presentation is straightforward.

Here are the basics of creating a Google Slides presentation.

This diagram shows the basic functions you will use most with Google Slides. Feel free to share it with your students or colleagues.

Click on the image to enlarge it.

Screenshot of Google Slides showing basic buttons

Learn More About Google Slides

Learn more about getting started with Slides with the G Suite Learning Centre.

“ Get started with Slides ” is an easy to follow tutorial that’s suitable for both teachers and students.

Video Tutorials: Google Slides Overview

This two-minute video tutorial provides a simple overview of Google Slides basics.

After a more detailed video? Check out David Lee’s 12-minute introduction to Google Slides.

New Feature: Add Audio To Google Slides

In April 2019, Google began rolling out the ability to add audio to Google Slides presentations. This long-requested function could be very handy for teachers and students.

Audio can be great for reflection, narration, feedback, and all sorts of creative projects.

Want more examples of how audio can enhance Google Slides for teachers and students? Kasey Bell has written a blog post that shares 25 Ways to Use Audio in Google Slides Projects .

Although the ability to add audio is a great new feature, you can’t record audio directly into your Slides presentation.

As Eric Curts explains,

You see, even though we can now add audio to a Google slideshow, there isn’t a simple built-in recording button. Instead you need to record the audio separately with another program, then save it to Drive, and then add it to a slide.

Thankfully, Eric has put together a helpful collection of 4 Free and Easy Audio Recording Tools for Google Slides .

The tools Eric recommends to make audio recordings are:

You can find out all about this process and how exactly you insert audio into Google Slides in Eric’s blog post , podcast , or video .

Using Google Slides In The Classroom: The Basics

The simplest and most obvious way to use Google Slides is to create a slide deck. That is, a collection of slides put together to form a presentation.

A slide deck is used to support an oral presentation.

There are many times when teachers or students might need a basic slide deck:

Apart from these basic uses, there is so much more you can do with Google Slides.

Let’s take a look…

7 Creative Ways To Use Google Slides In The Classroom

Kasey Bell isn’t wrong when she calls Google Slides the Swiss Army knife of G Suite. Let’s take a look at some creative ways you could use Google Slides in the classroom.

1) Introduce Your Class

Alethea Vazquez is a teacher who participated in the Student Blogging Challenge with her students a number of times. Her students collaborated on a great Google Slides presentation to introduce themselves on their class blog.

In this post , Alethea explains how she carried out this process. It involved giving students a Slides template that they could edit.

Take a look at the end result. This is perfect for an About page on a class blog.

2) Make Choose Your Own Adventure Stories

Remember those Choose Your Own Adventure books that were popular in past decades?

Screenshot of handwritten story map by student

Here’s an example of interactive fiction using Google Slides by Kevin Hodgson. He shared this on his class blog as an example for students.

Tutorials For Choose Your Own Adventure Stories

As Kevin Hodgson says,

Most of my students really enjoy this writing, as it is very different from traditional pieces we do, but a few do struggle with the unconventionality of it. That’s OK, too, for what I am trying to show them is that writing is not one form, but many forms and always adaptable.

3) Try Collaborative Storytelling And Research

Two students in Linda Yollis’ third grade class collaborated together on a Google Slides presentation for the Student Blogging Challenge .

They shared their experiences of traveling to London with their own families and included some great research.

They embedded their presentation on their personal blogs — check out “Jodie Bloom’s blog and “Sarah Gold’s” blog . These are pen names.

4) Compile Individual Slides Into One: Poetry Example

Sometimes you might want students to all contribute one slide to a group presentation.

There are two ways to do this:

Here’s an example I made with students where they wrote their own Haiku poem. The students could write a few examples in their own Slides presentation and share their favorite one with me for the class compilation.

5) Share Photos Of Work That’s Not Digital

Google Slides doesn’t have to just be used to share digital work. It can be used to share and present any work students complete in the classroom.

Here’s an example where my students created their own Wacky Wednesday rhyme and illustration after studying the Dr. Seuss book.

I took photographs of all the students’ work and put them in a Google Slides presentation.

Readers were invited to guess the ‘wacky’ things they found in the students’ pictures.

Tip: Make A Photo Slideshow With PowerPoint

I found the easiest way to do this was to add the album of images to a PowerPoint presentation. You just need to go to Insert > Photo Album > New Photo Album. PowerPoint can position one image per slide automatically.

You then save your PowerPoint and import it into Google Slides ( these instructions show you how).

6) Flip Your Classroom: Create A Self Guided Lesson

Google Slides is a great way to help someone work through a lesson, either in a live classroom setting, or in their own time.

You’ve probably heard of the term “flipped classroom”? This is where students can learn content outside of the classroom freeing up face-to-face class time for rich discussions, projects, collaborations and so on.

Teachers can prepare Google Slides presentations that walk students through lessons. Students can work through these presentations at their own pace and in their own time. A similar model can be used for staff professional development.

Here is an example from instructional technology coach, Noah King. Noah used a blog post I wrote about how to teach students to research online to create a Slides presentation to use with 5th graders.

7) Make Images

Google Slides offers a blank canvas where creations can be download into image formats like JPEG and PNG.

For those reasons, it’s a great way for students and teachers to make images that they can print or use digitally.

Examples of images you could create in Google Slides:

Note : Another option for making images is Google Drawings. In this Venn diagram, Tony Vincent shows us how Google Drawings and Google Slides are the same and different.

Be sure to follow Tony on Twitter or Instagram as he often shares tips for using Google Slides and other tech tools.

Venn diagram comparing Google Slides and Drawings

How To Make A Graphic Or Image Using Google Slides

#1 open google slides.

You can work with a blank presentation or a template.

#2 Change your image size (optional)

If you want your image to be a certain size (e.g. the size of your blog header), you can change this in File > Page Setup > Custom . You can enter the dimensions you’re after in inches, centimeters, points, or pixels.

Tip : If you’re making a blog header, you’ll find the required dimensions in Customizer as demonstrated here .

Screenshot showing header image size in customizer

#3 Make your background transparent (or another color)

If you want your image to ha ve a transparent background, cli ck on File > Change background .

Then choose Transparent (or another color).

If you select a transparent background, there will be no background when you download your image as PNG or JPEG.

Google slides screenshot -- go to file change background

#4 Create your design

Add the text, images, and shapes that you’d like on your design.

Tip : If you want to experiment with a design element but you’re not sure if you’ll like it, duplicate your slide before making your changes. Then you can choose the one you like best.

Right-click on the slide in the navigation panel and select “Duplicate slide”.

#5 Save your design as an image

Screenshot showing how to save Google slides as an image

You’ll then have an image file that you can print or use in your digital creations.

Here is a simple blog header image I made with Google Slides by modifying a template.

Mrs Morris class blog header Google Slides

These 7 examples are only the tip of the iceberg of ways you could use Google Slides in the classroom.

We’d love you to share your own examples in a comment. Scroll down to find the comment box.

How To Embed Google Slides In Your Blog Post Or Page

As you’ve seen, Google Slides can be used in so many different ways. You can amplify this learning even more by sharing your work with an authentic audience on your blog.

Google Slides presentations can be easily embedded in blog posts or pages using HTML code (don’t worry if you’ve never done this before — it’s easy).

Note : If you’re using Edublogs, you’ll need Edublogs Pro or CampusPress in order to embed HTML code. This is to prevent misuse by spammers.

Let’s take a look at how to embed a Google Slides presentation into a blog post or page. You’ll find the written instructions below and then a video and PDF version.

This is a two-step process. First, you need to get the embed code from your Slides presentation then add it to your blog.

Step One: Get the embed code for your Slides presentation

1) open your slides presentation.

You can go to your Drive or directly to your Slides collection to find your presentation. Double click on the presentation to open it.

2) Publish to the web

Go to File > Publish to the web

You’ll find File in the top left-hand corner of your page.

Click on Embed . There are a few options to control the size and speed of the slides. Changing these options isn’t essential (medium is usually a good size).

Click on Publish .

Click on embed and then publish (screenshot)

You’ll receive a warning that you’re about to publish to the web. Press OK .

3) Copy the embed code

After you press OK, your HTML embed code will appear in a box. You need to copy this code to add to your blog post or page.

How to copy:

Note : If you ever want to unpublish your Slides presentation so it’s not available on the web, repeat these steps and click on the small arrow at the bottom of the box that says Published content and settings . Select Stop publishing .

Publish to the web embed code (screenshot)

Step Two: Add the embed code to your blog post or page

These instructions show how to add your Slides presentation to a blog post. The same process applies to pages.

1) Open your post

Go to your blog dashboard and open the post you’re working on. Or, go to Posts > Add New .

2) Add Media

Place your cursor where you want the Slides presentation to appear and then click on the Add Media button.

3) Insert Embed Code

In the Add Media window, click on the Insert Embed Code tab on the left.

4) Paste Embed Code

Paste the embed code into the Insert Embed code box.

How to paste:

When you’ve finished writing your post, click Publish .

You should now see your embedded Slides presentation when you view the published post. You can also preview your post to see what it looks like before publishing.

Here’s an example of an embedded Google Slides presentation.

Video: How To Embed A Google Slides Presentation

This 3 minute video takes you through the process described above.

PDF: How To Embed A Google Slides Presentation

You’re welcome to print this 2 page PDF to show your students or colleagues how to embed their Google Slides presentation into a blog post or page.

>> Click here to download a copy of the PDF

Using google slides in remote learning.

If you’re teaching remotely, you’ll need to offer your students a planner or lesson descriptions.

Some teachers put their planners in a Google Slides presentation.

Don’t forget to add these Slides presentations to a blog, LMS, or website so they don’t get lost).

Here’s an example from US kindergarten teacher Megan Peschke @MeganPeschke ). Don’t be put off by the age group. This idea could be adapted for any age!

Click here to view the Google Slides presentation in a new tab .

Instructions for Editing and Using Megan’s Google Slides

1. Click on this link:

2. You will be prompted to make a copy (screenshot below).

3. The Slides will be saved in your Google Drive.

4. You can edit the Google Slides to suit.

SlidesMania have also published a fantastic free weekly planner template that can be used in Google Slides or PowerPoint. Find it here.

Google Slides is a versatile way for teachers and students to create, collaborate, and present. There’s a lot you can do with Google Slides beyond a standard oral presentation.

Many teachers and students enjoy embedding their Google Slides presentations into a blog post or page. Sharing work with an authentic audience yields many benefits!

How are you using Google Slides?

Do you have any tips or examples to share?

Do you have any questions about Google Slides?

Leave a comment below. We’d love to hear from you.

Share This Post:

15 thoughts on “ a beginner’s guide to google slides in the classroom ”.

I love using Slides. I sent a Google slide presentation last week to my students via Google classroom and a few students couldn’t open it. It verified I had shared. Have you heard about this issue before?

Hi! I sent out several google slides for my student to do, alphabet work. When I go in as him, I can see that he did the activity, but there is no turn in button.

Hi Andrea, I assume this is a Google Classroom issue? I haven’t used Google Classroom before so I’m sorry I can’t help!

Is there a way to present Google Slides on individual student chromebooks through Google so that I am controlling the pace of the presentation?

Good question, I’m unsure about that, however, there are lots of users on Twitter who might know. If you use Twitter you could try reaching out to someone like @JakeMillerTech @EricCurts. They’re great with things like this. Good luck!

Once you learn how to use Google Slides, I have a whole section about the other useful features of Google Suites – Work smarter not harder

http://asoundmind.edublogs.org/2019/04/03/ingenuitys-arts-education-conference-resources-4519/

Good Source to learn Google Slides!

Great for students trying to learn google slides, simplifies the entire process and just makes it so much easier to understand.

this is such a great source to help with google docs lots of descriptions and videos.

What an awesome resource! Is it ok if I share the link this information with my staff during a tutorial on Google Slides? Please and thank you!

Hi Jean, We appreciate any sharing. Thanks!

This is a great introduction to google slides! I can definitely use the directions for adding google slides to a blog! This should make it much easier. Thanks!

Thank you for this great insight. I am currently studying technology and how to effectively implement it in the classroom.

This is very helpful and informative especially since I am currently taking a computer class.

So glad it helps!

10 quick tips to spice up your Google Slides presentations

Presentations can be tough. We’re here to help. Gain expertise with these 10 essential Google Slides tips

PowerPoint may be the most popular presentation software out there, but not everyone can afford to pay for it. This is why many people consider Google Slides as one of the best alternatives to PowerPoint. It’s free, easy to use, and easily accessible. All you need is a Google account and Internet access, and you’re ready to roll!

So, how do you actually make the most of Google Slides and get your presentation looking top notch?

Well today we’ve reached out to our friends over at 24Slides for some Google Slides tips. As leading experts in custom presentation design, they know a thing (or ten) about how to make any slideshow more impactful, and your audience hooked.

So, here are ten quick Google Slides tips from 24Slides that will help make presentation wow your audience.

More of a Microsoft fan? Check out our pro- PowerPoint tips , or get some general presentation pointers here .

1) Insert images directly from Google Images

Google Image Search has billions of images indexed. When you use Google Slides, you don’t need to download images and then upload them again to your slide. Nope, you don’t even need to leave your browser tab to look for suitable images for your presentation.

All you have to do is click on Insert > Image. Then select ‘Search the web’ from the dropdown list. The side panel ‘Search for Google Images’ will appear on the right side of your screen (see screenshot below):

Screenshot from Google Slides showing how to insert images directly from Google Images to your presentation

Simply type in the keyword(s) for your image and the results will appear below the search box. The last step would be for you to click on the photo(s) you want to use in your slide. And that’s it! The entire process will only take you anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes!

2) Themes for Google Slides

You can do this by clicking on any slide thumbnail on the left side panel. You’ll then see these options in the menu bar:

Screenshot from Google Slides showing how to add themes on your presentations

Click on Theme to access the Themes side panel. You will see something like this on your screen:

Screenshot from Google Slides showing the Themes side panel

Note that there’s no preview button. You simply need to click on the Theme you like and the changes will be applied in real time. Also, if you want to import a theme from an existing presentation, you can click on the yellow Import Theme button. Play around with the different theme options until you find one that works best for your presentation!

3) Mask your images into different fun shapes

Your photos need not be in the usual rectangular or square shape all the time. With Google Slides, you can change your image into various shapes, arrows, callouts, or equations. Here’s how:

Click on the image you want to mask to access the hidden photo masking options. For this example, I used this image I found on Google Images.

Screenshot from Google Slides showing an image of a pink birthday cake and flowers in the background

Click on Mask image (it’s the small triangular button beside the Crop icon)

Screenshot from Google Slides showing how to mask images

Select the shape, arrow, callout or equation you want to reshape your image to. As you can see below, there are a lot of different shapes you can choose from:

Screenshot from Google Slides showing how to reshape images using shapes, arrows, callouts and equations

For this example, I chose the lightning shape. By clicking on the lightning shape, I effectively transformed my boring, rectangular photo into this fun and exciting shape!

Screenshot from Google Slides showing a lightning shape image of a pink birthday cake

Feel free to experiment and explore the many different options. Remember, you can always undo your changes on Google Slides.

4) Insert different types of Google Slides diagrams

To insert a diagram on your slides, click on Insert > Diagram. The Diagrams side panel will appear on the right side of your screen. As you can see below, you can choose from 6 different types of diagrams: Grid, Hierarchy, Timeline, Process, Relationship and Cycle diagrams.

Screenshot from Google Slides showing grid, hierarchy, timeline and process diagrams

For this example, I clicked on the box for Timeline diagram. In the screenshot below, you’ll notice that I was able to customize my Timeline diagram. I changed the number of timeline dates from 4 to 6; I was also able to change the timeline’s color to green.

Screenshot from Google Slides showing how to insert and edit a timeline diagram

Play around with the different options until you find the perfect diagram(s) for your presentation.

5) Got links?

With Google Slides, you’re not limited to adding just links to websites, you can also link to images, your files on Google Drive, and even to other slides in your presentation!

Here’s what you need to do:

Click on the text you want to add the hyperlink to. Then either hit CTRL+K or right-click on your mouse and look for the Link option.

Screenshot from Google Slides showing how to insert links to your presentations

To add a web link, type in or paste the web address. Then hit the Apply button.

Screenshot from Google Slides showing how to insert a website link to your presentation

To link to slides in the same presentation, select from available slides like you see below:

Screenshot from Google Slides showing how to link slides from the same presentation

For even more link options, click on Find More and the Explore side panel will appear on your screen. You can then type your query in the Title box and Google will then search for relevant websites, images, and even your files saved on Google Drive.

Screenshot from Google Slides showing how to find more links for your presentation using the Explore Side Panel

6) Make global changes by editing the slide master

If you’re only working with a few slides, then you may not have much need for a slide master. However, once you get to double figures (say from 10 slides onwards), then you’ll see just how much of a timesaver a slide master is. You don’t need to edit each individual slide, instead you can just go directly to the slide master and all slides in your presentation will automatically be updated.

To edit your slide master, simply go to Slide > Edit Master. This is how it looks like:

Screenshot from Google Slides showing how to edit slides for your presentation using the Slide Master

Click on the elements you want to change. For example, if you want all titles and subtitles to use Monserrat font, then you can change that here. There’s a lot of things you can do with the master slide. You can add your company logo in the footer section or the header, and it will automatically appear on all your slides.

The main thing to remember is if you want something to appear on all your slides, the best way to go about this is by editing the slide master itself.

7) How to embed YouTube videos in Google Slides

One of the best ways to make your presentation come alive is by adding videos to it. To do so, click on Insert > Video and you’ll see this on your screen:

Screenshot from Google Slides showing how to embed YouTube videos in your presentations

As you can see, you can search YouTube videos directly from your slides (no need to open up another tab and type YouTube ). You can also add a direct link (URL) to a video online, or you can search for videos stored in your Google Drive account.

To edit and format your video, click on the video itself so the Format options button will appear on the menu bar. Click on this button and the Format options side panel will appear on your screen.

Screenshot from Google Slides showing how to edit and format YouTube videos in your presentation

Feel free to adjust the video playback options, size and position, and drop shadow settings.

8) How to do transitions on Google Slides

Google Slides transitions are easy to set. To add them, you’ll need to click on the slide thumbnails so you can see the hidden Transition button on the menu.

Screenshot from Google Slides showing how to do transitions in your presentations

As you can see in the screenshot above, there aren’t a ton of options on Google Slides (unlike PowerPoint). It’s not necessarily a bad thing though. Most experts recommend keeping transitions to a minimum because it can distract the audience and can even cause motion sickness in some cases.

So, take your pick from the 7 transition options and focus on making your message heard loud and clear. For best results, I recommend you use the same transition effect throughout your presentation.

9) Accept questions from your audience

An interactive presentation is bound to get more attention than, say, a one-sided one. Since Google Slides is cloud-based, it’s easier to get your audience to interact and ask you questions in real time. Here’s how:

Click on Present > Presenter View (Present with audience Q&A and view speaker notes).

Screenshot from Google Slides showing how to present with audience Q&A and view speaker notes

You’ll then see this pop-up on your screen. Click on Audience Tools then hit the Start new button at the bottom.

Screenshot from Google Slides showing how to accept questions from your audience using audience tools

Google Slides will now generate a link to your online presentation. Simply copy the link and send it to your audience.

Screenshot from Google Slides showing how to generate a link to your online presentation and send the link to your audience

When people start sending you questions, they’ll appear in the box. You can then answer the questions one by one.

The really cool thing about this feature is you can use it whether you’re in the same room as your audience or they’re halfway across the globe!

10) Collaborate with teammates in real time

Google products stand out with their top-notch online collaboration features. Google Slides is no different. If you’re working with a team of designers and content makers, then the yellow Share button is your friend.

Screenshot from Google Slides showing how to collaborate with teammates in real time using the share button

Once you click on Share, you’ll see this pop up on your screen:

Screenshot from Google Slides showing how to collaborate with teammates and share with others in real time

You can either get a shareable link and send it to people via email or chat. Or you can type in people’s name and/or email addresses, then hit the blue Done button to send out your invite. Now, you’ll have an extra pair of eyes to look over your presentation and make sure it’s the best it can possibly be!

Bonus tip: use vector drawings

If you’re looking to wow with your presentation, you are probably using a lot of visuals. This means adding in a lot of JPEGs, videos perhaps even the occasional PDF. These files can be heavy, and quickly stack up, which runs the risk of your Google Slides presentation lagging and testing the patience of your audience.

But, there’s another way. If you have a designer at hand, open up Adobe Illustrator and give vector graphics a try. Creating something unique, custom and exporting as a PNG is likely to keep your slides looking stylish and functioning effectively.

Huge thanks to Guillaume Proux, co-founder of Oomnis Limited for the bonus pro tip!

Loving Google Slides Already?

Did we miss any pro-Google Slides tips? Let us know your favorite!

It’s really no wonder why Google Slides is touted as the best PowerPoint alternative by many experts in the presentation industry. It’s user-friendly, it’s highly customizable, it’s cloud-based, and it’s free.

On the other hand, if you’re pressed for time or simply want to focus on more important things, you can leave the design work to 24Slides. It costs as little as $7 per slide for a custom design and we can turnaround presentations in 24 hours.

Even better, we’re offering Airtame customers and readers a 20% discount off their first order. Simply visit 24slides.com and use the coupon code AIRTAME at checkout.

If you would like to know how to present from your mobile or computer devices to your TV screen or projector wirelessly, watch this short video:

Interested? Let’s talk.

See airtame in action.

IMAGES

How To Create Professional Presentations Using Free PowerPoint Templates?
How To Convert PowerPoint Files To Google Slides Format
How to Edit PowerPoint Templates in Google Slides
Vincent's Reviews: Powerpoint Alternatives: The Best Presentation Software in 2017
10 PowerPoint Hacks To Make Your Presentations Look More Professional
Creative

VIDEO

How to Convert Powerpoint Presentations to Google Slides
Slidesgo
Using Google slides
Create slides I Google Slides Tutorial I Part 2
How to make a Professional PowerPoint Slides Design Creative PowerPoint Slides Pro Powerpoint
google slide to ppt

COMMENTS

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