how to memorize presentation slides

• Presentations
• Most Recent
• Infographics
• Data Visualizations
• Forms and Surveys
• Video & Animation
• Case Studies
• Design for Business
• Digital Marketing
• Design Inspiration
• Visual Thinking
• Product Updates
• Visme Webinars
• Artificial Intelligence

How to Memorize a Presentation: 12 Ways Only Pros Use

Written by: Mahnoor Sheikh

Memorizing a presentation can sound like a daunting task, but if you do it right, it can help you deliver a powerful and effective talk.

For most people, public speaking doesn’t come easy. Research suggests that as many as 75% of adults have a fear of public speaking.

To overcome this fear and anxiety, presenters often resort to stuffing their PowerPoint slides with text and bullet points. But being dependent on your slides can prevent you from making sufficient eye contact, interacting with the audience, and speaking confidently and fluently.

This is why professional presenters utilize memory techniques and exercises to remember presentation points and speak without relying on their slides.

In this article, we’ll show you 12 ways to memorize a presentation that only pros use.

Create a professional presentation using Visme's presentation maker . Use hundreds of pre-made templates, mix-and-match slides and customize everything with a few clicks.

12 Ways to Memorize Your Next Presentation

Way #1: build a memory palace, way #2: create a mind map.

Way #3: Read Out Loud

Way #4: Practice With a Friend

Way #5: break up the information, way #6: record yourself, way #7: make written notes, way #8: take a nap, way #9: use the 20-20-20 rule, way #10: avoid multitasking, way #11: exercise before memorizing, way #12: practice during the afternoon.

Did you ever wonder how the Greeks and Romans managed to give long, elaborate speeches full of decorative language, facts and data?

They used an ancient memory technique called the Method of Loci, also known as the memory palace method. This technique involves associating words and ideas with spaces.

Our brains are hardwired to remember spatial information more effectively. When you associate ideas with specific locations, they become easier to memorize.

One reason for this could be that forming spatial relationships gives the information context, which helps us make sense of it based on our existing knowledge and beliefs.

Let’s look at an example to help you understand better.

Joe works for a smartphone company, and he wants to memorize a presentation about the latest smartphone his company has launched.

To remember the main points of the presentation, Joe builds a memory palace of his house, where each room is associated with a section of the presentation.

• Bedroom: Associated with “Battery” because he recharges his energy when he sleeps.
• Work Area: Associated with “Camera” because his remote work involves video conferencing.
• Bathroom: Associated with “Storage” because he uses it to relieve the contents stored in his bladder.
• Kitchen: Associated with “Speed” because this is the back-end where things are “cooking” up.
• Living Room: Associated with “Display” because this is where his family watches TV.

A memory palace doesn’t need to be a real place. It can be a series of fictional spaces linked together in your mind where you go to retrieve stored information.

In BBC’s Sherlock, the famous detective uses the memory palace technique to remember crucial information needed to solve cases.

Watch the snippet from the show below where Sherlock’s friend and assistant, John Watson, explains how this works.

How to build your own memory palace.

To build your own memory palace for a presentation, follow the five simple steps below:

• Step 1: Think of a location. This could be a real place, like your home, or a fictional location, such as an exotic palace.
• Step 2: Set a route to walk through in your mind. Establish the beginning, middle and the end of the route you’ll take as you mentally walk through the location. For example, which rooms will you visit and in which order?
• Step 3: Identify the features of each space. Visualize the items, furniture, colors and other features of each room or space.
• Step 4: Make associations between the features and your presentation. Relate specific parts of your presentation with the items and features identified in the previous step to build visual associations.
• Step 5: Practice walking through the route several times. This will help you familiarize yourself with your memory palace and enable you to retrieve memorized information faster during your actual presentation.

Hey marketers! Need to create scroll-stopping visual content fast?

• Transform your visual content with Visme’s easy-to-use content creation platform
• Produce beautiful, effective marketing content quickly even without an extensive design skillset
• Inspire your sales team to create their own content with branded templates for easy customization

Sign up. It’s free.

Creating a mind map is a great way for visual learners to memorize a presentation.

A mind map helps you lay out the main points of your presentation in the form of a diagram rather than a list of words.

You can use colors, images, shapes, lines, arrows and other elements to make your diagram look more interesting and easier to scan through.

Climate Change Concept Map

Harry Potter Concept Map

Writers Concept Map

Food Groups Concept Map

Brand Exploratory Concept Map

Coffee Concept Map

Create your mind map View more templates

Mind maps help you better understand the connections and transitions between points, as our brains are able to form associations between ideas and a mind map’s visual elements.

Mind mapping also imprints the shape of the mind map in your brain — shapes are much easier to remember than traditional notes or a long list of words.

Mind maps are especially useful for memorizing boring or dry information by transforming it into colorful shapes and drawings.

Way #3: Speak Out Loud

Studies show that reading information out loud can help you remember it better.

This happens because the reader is engaging in two personal acts; using their motor speech skills and self-referential information (“I” said it.)

When information gets personal, it automatically becomes easier to remember.

Rehearsing out loud is also a great way to make sense of your presentation content.

Oftentimes, things may seem logical and clear in our minds, but when we say them out loud, the concepts are all over the place.

Speaking out loud can help put all the pieces in places and aid the logical reasoning behind going from one point to the next. It can also help you think of better transition words and phrases along the way.

Practicing in front of trusted friends or colleagues can be extremely beneficial for two reasons.

Not only can it help you memorize the content more effectively, it can also get you honest, insightful feedback to improve your presentation.

Plus, when you’re rehearsing in front of an actual audience, you’ll be more conscious of what you’re saying, which can be a memory booster in itself.

You should also consider sharing your presentation slides with your friend.

Here’s why this can be helpful:

• They can give you suggestions for improving the content and design of your presentation.
• They can raise questions or concerns you may not have thought through, which can help prepare you for the Q&As during the actual presentation.
• Presenting in front of a live audience will boost your confidence.

TED speaker Nancy Duarte also endorses practicing your presentation with a friend, especially if they’re solid presenters and can give you helpful feedback.

In her article, she says:

"When I did my TEDx Talk, I repeated this step four times, twice with my ExComm Manager and twice with my company President. After they added their insights, I was ready to have the slides designed."

Ready to create your own presentation in minutes?

• Add your own text, images and more
• Customize colors, fonts and everything else
• Choose from hundreds of slide designs and templates
• Add interactive buttons and animations

Breaking up information can help you organize it better. Start by creating a rough outline of your presentation.

You don’t need to write everything down. Focus on jotting down the headings of the different sections, and short bullets of what you’re going to talk about under each section.

Next, prioritize the points by importance.

This will help you focus on memorizing the important information first. You’ll also be able to allocate the right amount of time to each point.

Another effective way to break up information is chunking. Chunking is the process of dividing information into smaller parts, or groups, to make it easier to memorize and recall.

For example, you can break your presentation down into sections like introduction, features, challenges and conclusion.

Here’s a visual to help you better understand what chunking is.

Notice how the string of letters have been broken down in two steps.

The first step organizes the letters into 6 three-letter groups. The second step further organizes the groups by theme, such as Animals, Companies and Alphabet.

Memorizing six words that have meaning is much easier than memorizing 18 random letters. And that’s exactly how chunking works.

According to the National Association for Music Education , listening to a performance not only improves future practice sessions, but also boosts overnight retention.

You can apply the same principle when trying to memorize a presentation.

Once you’ve finalized your presentation, make an audio and/or video recording of yourself.

Listen to the audio while you take the bus to work or while you're in the gym, and even before sleeping — the more you listen to the presentation, the faster you’ll memorize it.

You should also make a video of yourself presenting. Not only can this be used for memorization, but can also help you improve the your body language during the presentation.

Studies show that writing down information by hand can help you learn concepts and remember them more effectively.

When you’re preparing for your presentation, jot down the main points on a notepad or a piece of paper. Underline important headings and make bulleted lists to organize your notes.

You can also sketch visuals like diagrams or pictures where possible to aid your memory.

For example, if you’re talking about the sales process of your company, you can create a rough flowchart diagram with circles and arrows.

Drawing a process by hand can help you better remember the details.

Practice sketching the same diagram several times to familiarize yourself with the concept and make sure you’re not leaving out anything important.

This might seem counterintuitive or maybe even like a waste of time when you’re under pressure, but napping has been proven to improve your memory function.

That’s right — a study recently conducted in China found that taking naps can lead to better cognitive function and memory skills.

They took two groups of people; those who took power naps during the day and those who did not. After performing cognitive tests on the two groups, they found that the napping group showed much better results when it came to cognitive function and memorization.

Not only should you consider adding a power nap to your routine while studying to memorize your presentation, but you also need to consider how much sleep you’re getting in the time leading up to your presentation.

According to Dr. Mayank Shukla, a well-rested brain is more effective at recalling information than a sleep-deprived brain. “Not only will you be able to recall information more easily due to sleeping and being well-rested, but it is consolidation, the middle phase of the memory process, that occurs during sleep.” says Dr. Mayank.

Even though you might think you need to just push through and memorize despite being exhausted, consider taking a nap and viewing it as a memorization technique for your next presentation.

Last but not least, a proven way to memorize your presentation is to use the 20-20-20 rule of rehearsal.

According to memory experts, reviewing your presentation material for 20 minutes, and then repeating it twice for 20 minutes each can help you remember the content better.

The rule also says that if the material is not repeated within 30 minutes, it’s not encoded into the long-term memory.

This method is a good way to stop yourself from spending too much time on the individual bits and pieces of your presentation.

Instead, you’ll be able to focus on the important parts to memorize as you’re restricted by the 20-minute time limit.

You might think that multitasking lets you be more productive than if you were to focus on a single task at a time.

But did you know that when it comes to studying, the opposite can be true?

According to a study conducted by the Journal of Experimental Psychology , you actually impair memorization by multitasking.

The study reveals that when you become distracted with other “important” tasks during a time when your brain is learning something new or practicing something unfamiliar, you undermine your efficiency significantly.

This is largely due to the fact that your brain needs time to shift between different tasks. So, when you check a notification on your phone and then go back to studying, it takes your brain some time to get into gear and start memorizing again.

Here's an interesting video from BBC that explains how multitasking can make you inefficient.

In order to see the best results for memorization, set aside a designated time in a quiet, relaxing place and focus solely on studying with no interruptions.

Not only is exercise a great way to improve your physical health, but it’s incredibly game-changing for your mental health and memorization capabilities.

According to this study conducted by Pub Med , there are direct and immediate benefits from exercise that affect cognition for both younger and older adults.

By simply exercising before sitting down to memorize your presentation, you will experience enhanced cognitive processing.

Now, this doesn’t mean that you have to go to the gym and do an intense cardio workout to get your creative juices flowing. You can simply go for a walk, practice mindful yoga or do anything that gets your heart pumping.

Exercise not only enhances memory function and cognitive processing, but it also rids your mind of stress by releasing endorphins immediately after some physical activity.

So, if you’re experiencing brain fog and an inability to memorize efficiently, try going on a brisk jog with your furry friend, and then come back inside for a second round of memorization.

Many of you may be early risers and like to get things done in the morning so you can have the afternoon free. On the flip side, you might be a night owl who likes to pull all-nighters to get their work done.

But according to a study conducted by the Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research , studying early in the morning or late at night can actually be counterintuitive.

In fact, the research shows that the best time of the day to study and memorize is in the afternoon. Surprising, right?

This study examined the “time-of-day” effect and performance of various people doing different memory tasks, and found that those who studied in the afternoon had much higher recollection and effective long-term memorization than those who studied in the morning or evening.

And according to PSB Academy, studying in the afternoon is best for integrating new information into something you already know.

This is great news because once you know the basic structure of your presentation, you can then begin to add minute details into your memorization process and have your presentation memorized by the evening.

So, if you can fester up the energy and discipline to focus during what many might consider the “hump” part of the day, you might actually get some of your best memorizing done.

Memorize and Deliver a Powerful Presentation

Memorizing your presentation is one of the best ways to appear confident on stage and deliver a powerful speech or presentation without reading off the slides.

Learn more about how to deliver a powerful business presentation , or check out Visme's presentation software to create a unique, engaging presentation that looks extremely professional.

Remember, when you design a presentation that looks as good as the content inside, you’ll be more confident when presenting in front of a large audience.

Create beautiful presentations faster with Visme.

Trusted by leading brands

Recommended content for you:

Create Stunning Content!

Design visual brand experiences for your business whether you are a seasoned designer or a total novice.

About the Author

Mahnoor Sheikh is the content marketing manager at Visme. She has years of experience in content strategy and execution, SEO copywriting and graphic design. She is also the founder of MASH Content and is passionate about tea, kittens and traveling with her husband. Get in touch with her on LinkedIn .

How do you memorize a presentation? 13 effective ways to memorize your presentation material

Learn effective ways to memorize a presentation & deliver your next presentation with confidence.

Bharti Jain

Delivering presentations

So, you've got a big presentation coming up, and you want to nail it. But there's one thing standing in your way: memorization. Memorizing your presentation can seem like a daunting task, but fear not!

With the right techniques and presentation creation tools , you can commit your material to memory with ease and deal with the fear of public speaking.

Why should you memorize your presentation material?

Before looking into the how, let's first understand the why. Rehearse your presentation for several benefits:

Common mistakes during memorization of presentation

Now that we understand the importance of memorization, let's address some common pitfalls to avoid:

• Rote memorization : Simply repeating your presentation verbatim can lead to robotic delivery and hinder genuine connection with your audience.
• Over-reliance on slides : Relying too heavily on slides can impede memorization and cause you to lose your place if technical issues arise.
• Ignoring body language : Forgetting to incorporate body language cues into your memorization can make your delivery feel stiff and unnatural.

13 effective ways to help you remember your next presentation

Here are some effective techniques to ensure you deliver the speech or presentation with confidence and poise. Whether you're a seasoned professional or preparing for your first public speaking engagement, these strategies will enhance your preparation process and performance.

1. Understand your material

Before you even begin to memorize your presentation, it's crucial to have a deep understanding of your material. Break down your content into key concepts and frame it like a story with a good flow. This isn't just about remembering words but grasping the essence of what you're going to talk about. Relate these concepts to stories or experiences for easier recall.

After breaking down the content and relating it to personal experiences, map out a narrative arc for your presentation. What are the key points? How does one idea flow into the next? This will not only help you remember the order of your content, but it will also make your presentation more engaging.

2. Employ the memory palace technique

The loci method, or memory palace technique, involves associating parts of your presentation with specific physical locations. By visualizing a familiar place and 'placing' elements of your talk in different locations within this space, you can walk through the area in your mind to help recall information.

Example: For a presentation on the impact of regular exercise, assign each key point to a room in your house using the mind palace technique:

• Front door (Introduction) : Envision stepping over a jump rope to enter, setting the stage for discussing the importance of physical activity.
• Kitchen (Benefits) : Picture a basket of fresh fruits on the counter, symbolizing the health benefits of exercise, like improved heart health and energy levels.
• Living room (Strategies) : Imagine a treadmill and yoga mat, representing strategies to incorporate exercise into daily life.

This concise setup creates a mental journey through your presentation, helping you recall each part clearly during delivery.

3. Create mind maps

It is a powerful tool for organizing your thoughts and ideas visually. By creating a mind map of your presentation, you can see the relationships between different sections and points. This visual representation makes it easier to memorize the flow of your presentation and recall details during your delivery.

Not only does a mind map provide a clear picture of your content structure, but it also encourages creativity. Essentially, it's brainstorming amplified. By the end, you are left with a rich tree of thoughts and ideas - your complete presentation, written out in an easy-to-follow map. So, next time you are preparing for a presentation, take a moment. Create a mind map.

4. 20-20-20 rule

The 20-20-20 rule of rehearsal is simple and very effective. Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet away to prevent eye strain and maintain focus. This technique helps not only to rest your eyes but also to refocus your mind. It's a moment to breathe, to recalibrate, to reassess.

You'll find that when you return to your task, quite often you’ll approach it with a renewed sense of clarity. And guess what? It won't derail your productivity, it will enhance it. So, set your timer, practice the 20-20-20 rule, and see the difference it makes.

5. Practice... a lot!

There's no substitute for practice. The power to influence, inspire, and inform an audience lies in your ability to confidently present your material. Rehearsing your presentation multiple times is an absolute necessity. Each rehearsal should focus on refining different aspects - from your tone of voice to your body language.

Try practicing in front of a mirror. Watch your facial expressions and movements - do they align with the message you're trying to convey?

Don’t shy away from presenting to a friend or colleague. They can offer valuable feedback that you might overlook. Their perspective can help you pinpoint areas for improvement - from your content clarity to your engagement skills.

6. Use mnemonic devices

Mnemonic devices are shortcuts to help you remember information more easily. Create acronyms, phrases, or even songs that are related to the content of your presentation. These tools are particularly useful for memorizing lists or complex information. Example -

• Acronyms : Suppose your deck is about the critical components of a successful team. You could use the acronym "G.R.I.T." to help remember and convey these components: G oal-oriented, R esilient, I nterpersonal skills, and T enacity. Each letter prompts you to recall and discuss each characteristic in detail.
• Phrases : For a deck on the stages of project management, you might use a catchy phrase like "Dogs Prefer Running Through Water" to memorize the stages: D efine, P lan, R un, T rack, and W rap-up. This phrase creates a visual and auditory mnemonic that makes the stages easier to remember and recite.

7. Chunk your information

Rather than attempting to engulf the entirety at once, take it bit by bit. Start with the introduction. Then the first key point. Followed by the next. Revisit each segment, solidifying your grasp before proceeding. This piecemeal approach fosters understanding and retention.

Now apply this tactic in a broader context. Imagine the potential improvement in processing complex instructions, studying for a crucial exam, or even mastering a new skill. Chunking is not just for presentations. It's a powerful tool in our cognitive arsenal to improve productivity and efficiency, providing an antidote to the overwhelm of big tasks. Take it step-by-step.

8. Incorporate physical movement

Our bodies and minds are interconnected. Using gestures or physical movements while assembling your presentation could be your game-changer. The theory is simple: associate different elements of your speech with specific movements. This technique is rooted in the idea of muscle memory - your body remembers.

For example , try pointing up when discussing quarterly growth, or stride across the room when talking about overcoming challenges. The physical act of moving can help reinforce your material, making it easier to recall during the presentation.

9. Take advantage of technology

Use apps and tools designed to improve memorization and practice. From presentation software with storybuilder features to flashcard apps that help you drill main points, technology can be a valuable ally in your preparation. You can even record your presentation to check how it looks.

10. Teach someone else

Teaching someone else about your presentation content is not just a rehearsal; it's a powerful learning technique known as the "Protégé Effect." This strategy is grounded in the principle that teaching information to another person improves the teacher's own understanding and retention of the material. When you explain concepts to someone else, you are forced to clarify your thoughts, identify any gaps in your own knowledge, and think about the material in new and different ways.

11. Stay healthy

The adage "a healthy body houses a healthy mind" is more than just a saying; it's backed by extensive scientific research. The interconnection between physical health and mental acuity cannot be overstated. A good night's sleep, proper nutrition, and regular exercise are foundational elements that support cognitive functions, including memory, attention, and problem-solving skills.

Did you know - A study from the University of British Columbia found that regular aerobic exercise, the kind that gets your heart and your sweat glands pumping, appears to boost the size of the hippocampus, the brain area involved in verbal memory and learning.

12. Visualize success

Visualizing success, particularly in the context of preparing for a presentation, is a powerful technique rooted in cognitive psychology. This practice involves creating a detailed mental image of achieving a desired outcome, including feeling confident and engaging your audience effectively during a presentation.

The science behind visualization is based on the principle that the brain and nervous system respond similarly to imagined experiences as they do to real experiences. This means that by visualizing success, you can condition your mind and body to perform more effectively in the actual situation.

13. Reflect and adjust

Reflecting on and adjusting your approach after each practice session is a critical part of mastering any skill, including memorization and presentation delivery. This iterative process is grounded in the principles of deliberate practice and reflective learning, which are key to achieving expertise in any field.

An example of the reflect and adjust method in action can be seen in medical education, where students often engage in simulated patient interactions. After each simulation, students reflect on their performance, receive feedback from instructors, and identify specific areas for improvement. This process has been shown to significantly improve students' diagnostic accuracy and patient communication skills over time.

What to do if you forget a main point midway?

Even with thorough preparation, forgetting a part of your presentation can happen. If you find yourself drawing a blank mid-speech, take a deep breath, and try one of these strategies to remember your presentation:

1. How long does it take to memorize a presentation?

Memorization time varies depending on the length and complexity of the presentation, but consistent practice can significantly reduce the time required.

2. Is it okay to use cue cards during a presentation?

While cue cards can be helpful for reference, relying too heavily on them can hinder your connection with the audience. Aim to minimize their use through thorough memorization and practice.

3. Should I memorize every word of my presentation?

While it's essential to have a thorough understanding of your material, aiming for word-for-word memorization can lead to robotic delivery. Focus on memorizing key points and transitions for a more natural presentation.

4. What if I make a mistake during my presentation?

Mistakes are natural and happen to everyone. Take a deep breath, acknowledge the error gracefully, and continue with your presentation. Your ability to recover smoothly can even enhance your credibility with the audience.

5. How can I calm my nerves before a presentation?

Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, visualization, and positive affirmations to calm pre-presentation nerves and boost your confidence.

Ways in which Prezent can help you memorize!

Prezent is a comprehensive AI-powered platform designed to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of your presentations, making it easier for you to memorize and deliver them with confidence.

Simplification of complex information:

Generative AI : Converts complex sentences into clear, concise presentations. This feature helps in breaking down intricate ideas into simpler, more memorable pieces.

Executive summary synthesis : Converts detailed decks into a one-page summary, focusing on the essence of the presentation. This aids in grasping and remembering the core message.

Engaging storytelling:

Structured storylines : Utilizes AI to help structure presentations in a narrative format, making the information more engaging and easier to remember.

Access to 35,000+ brand-approved slides : Offers a vast library that can be used to create visually appealing and narrative-driven presentations, enhancing the storytelling aspect.

Efficiency in presentation creation:

Personalized on-brand presentations in seconds : Quickly generates presentations that align with brand guidelines, saving time and allowing presenters to focus more on the content's delivery and memorization.

Story-builder tool : Streamlines the creation process by providing a structured framework for presentations, reducing the time spent on design and layout.

Visual aids for enhanced recall:

Redesign to brand-new look : Instantly transforms slides into visually appealing formats that are consistent with brand identity, making the visual aids more memorable.

Library of curated best-practice presentations : Offers access to high-quality visual and content templates that enhance the visual appeal and recallability of presentations.

Adaptive training and learning modules:

On-demand learning modules : Provides modules on the art and science of business communication, including effective use of visual aids and storytelling, which can improve presentation skills.

Communication fingerprints : A unique feature that helps understand personal or audience preferences, enabling the creation of more personalized and impactful presentations that are easier to remember.

Remember, creating a presentation that is as visually compelling as the information it contains will elevate your confidence, making your delivery in front of a large audience seamless and powerful.

Explore Prezent with a free trial to create such stunning presentations. Schedule a demo to experience all the product features and how it can elevate your presentations.

More zenpedia articles

Speak to their minds: Understand the psychology of the audience

The ultimate and effective presentation checklist: From planning to applause!

Best practices to create and deliver effective presentations

Get the latest from Prezent community

Join thousands of subscribers who receive our best practices on communication, storytelling, presentation design, and more. New tips weekly. (No spam, we promise!)

Like what you're reading?

How to Memorize Your Presentation—In 60 Minutes or Less

Get your team on prezi – watch this on demand video.

Chelsi Nakano April 29, 2016

Learn the simple trick that will help you memorize anything—and that will make your presentations more memorable to your audience.

Originally published on the  SlideGenius blog .

When presenting, it’s never a good idea to read from your slides or note cards. A few quick glances are usually acceptable. And if you read everything word for word, you will seem disengaged from the audience. Even though most presenters know this, the situation still seems unavoidable. What if you experience a mental block and forget an entire section of your presentation? You can’t be expected to memorize an hour-long speech that’s packed with crucial data. Is that even possible? If we were to ask the ancient Greeks and Romans, we would find that the answer is a loud “yes.” How did Cicero remember all of his famous orations? He used a technique called “the memory palace.”

While the term might be new to you, I’m sure you’ve seen this technique portrayed in popular media. The latest incarnation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic character, Sherlock Holmes, uses it to solve the most complex mysteries. In BBC’s Sherlock , we watch Holmes sweep through imagined mental spaces to find crucial information that could help his investigation. In real life, the technique was used by the greatest Greek and Roman orators to memorize their speeches . Currently, “ memory athletes ” use it to memorize a deck of cards or a long list of random names in seconds.

HOW DOES THE “MEMORY PALACE” WORK?

The memory palace technique is formally known as the “method of Loci,” and this name gives us some insight on how the whole thing actually works. Loci is the plural form of the Latin word for location. Our spatial memory is much stronger than our memory for words or ideas, because our hunter-gatherer ancestors evolved to be able to navigate their world and remember their surroundings. When associated with spatial relationships, ideas become much more memorable—that’s why tools like Prezi, which allow you to show your ideas within context and lead your audience on a visual journey, can help make your presentation more memorable.

To practice the technique, imagine yourself walking through a specific location. You then associate each item you want to commit to memory to things you come across en route. Here’s an example from Chloe Cornish of The Independent :

So does the memory palace technique really work? I tried revisiting my secondary school, to help memorise the names of the U.S. Presidents in order (there are 44). To get into the car park, I jumped over a washing line (George Washington), where Adam and Eve (John Adams) were playing cricket with Geoffrey Boycott (Thomas Jefferson). Marilyn Manson (James Madison) was in the IT block getting off with Marilyn Monroe (James Monroe) etc. It took me about 40 minutes to come up with the lurid tale, and apart from occasionally getting their first names wrong (so many Jameses and Adams), it worked a treat.

To see this memory palace visualized, take a look at the prezi below:

SO HOW CAN I USE IT FOR MY PRESENTATION?

While creating a memory palace seems pretty straightforward, it actually takes a bit of practice and preparation. To start, create an outline of your presentation. List down all of your talking points and make note of the most prominent words for each one. You will use these words to make visual associations in your imagined scene. Following that, you can start with your mental construction:

1. CHOOSE ANY LOCATION YOU’D LIKE TO USE FOR YOUR MEMORY PALACE.

It’s better if you go with a place you’re completely familiar with, like your childhood home or the walk you take to the office.

2. SET A ROUTE THAT YOU WILL MENTALLY WALK THROUGH.

For example, if you’re using your childhood home as your memory palace, it can be the walk from the front door to your bedroom.

3. WHEN YOU’VE DECIDED ON A ROUTE, IMAGINE WALKING THROUGH IT AND FOCUS ON THE ITEMS AND FEATURES YOU “SEE.”

From the front door, you enter the hallway and climb the stairs to your right. You go up to the landing where a portrait of your grandfather hangs, and so on.

4. REFER BACK TO THE OUTLINE OF YOUR PRESENTATION.

Take the most important words you took note of and make visual associations you can insert to your memory palace. Place these associations in the specific features you’ve identified in your route. Try to place associations that are extraordinary, like in the example by Cornish.

5. FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH YOUR MEMORY PALACE BY WALKING THROUGH IT A COUPLE OF TIMES.

Take note and memorize all the associations you’ve made. After some time, you will find that you’ve memorized your speech completely. Simply revisit your memory palace if you find yourself stumped during the presentation.

After building your memory palace, you won’t have to worry about forgetting what comes next in your presentation. Take a cue from some of the greatest minds in fiction and history, and you can save your note cards for another occasion.

You might also like

5 prezi next templates for your next business review, 5 prezi next templates for the workplace, celebrate international women’s day with #betterbalance, give your team the tools they need to engage, like what you’re reading join the mailing list..

• Prezi for Teams
• Top Presentations

• EXPLORE Random Article

How to Memorize a Presentation Fast and Deliver It Without Notes

Last Updated: April 22, 2024 References

This article was co-authored by Patrick Muñoz . Patrick is an internationally recognized Voice & Speech Coach, focusing on public speaking, vocal power, accent and dialects, accent reduction, voiceover, acting and speech therapy. He has worked with clients such as Penelope Cruz, Eva Longoria, and Roselyn Sanchez. He was voted LA's Favorite Voice and Dialect Coach by BACKSTAGE, is the voice and speech coach for Disney and Turner Classic Movies, and is a member of Voice and Speech Trainers Association. This article has been viewed 72,662 times.

Memorizing a presentation can seem overwhelming but with practice and determination it can be done. All you have to do is be confident in your ability to deliver information to your audience, and you can accomplish this by using some proven memory techniques. Using some great techniques will help you to memorize the information quickly and present it to an audience without needing notes.

Organizing Your Information

• Think about your main topic first—what is the main idea that you're trying to get across? Then, break it down into 3 specific ideas—this is a great way to focus your discussion.

Imagining Pictures as Reminders

• If your point is about a particular animal such as a tiger, visualize a tiger for that point. If your sub point to that main idea is about how a tiger finds prey, visualize a tiger running towards its prey in the wild.
• If you main idea is about how education is changing, visualize a caterpillar turning into a butterfly or a person changing their shoes. If your sub point to that main idea is how different classrooms look, visualize a classroom or visualize two contrasting things like oil and water.

• A trigger word for a sub point about how a tiger finds prey could be “yum” to stimulate you to think about food.
• Trigger words should be short and clear.
• Sometimes using unique trigger words works best.
• Your trigger words or phrases only have to make sense to you.
• Choose words or phrases that quickly jog your memory about the point you’re trying to recall.

• You may want to assign main points to larger body parts such as your feet, stomach, arms, hands, and head.
• You may want to assign details or less important points to smaller body parts such as your toes, knees, hips, fingers, and ears.

• Lets say you have 10 points, you can begin at your feet, move to your knees, then your thighs, next to your hips, ribs, shoulders, neck, ears, head, and finally eyes.

• It is vital that you remember how many points to deliver in your speech. Be sure to memorize this number and count as you go so you don’t go over or fall short.

Memorizing the Information

• Consider your learning style, too. For example, if you're an auditory learner, then play an audio recording of your speech. If you're a visual learner, then highlight important passages that you want to emphasize. Or, you might be kinesthetic—if so, rehearse the body language you'll use.

• Besides just recalling how many points to hit, be sure you know the correct order. You must not be reluctant about where to go next when moving from body part to body part or your presentation will lack fluidity.

• Take some time to simply practice the order you plan on moving around your body. Make sure to do this without actually stopping to present the main ideas at these stopping points. You’ll want to be able to move very swiftly and be certain about where to go next.

• Transition sentences are phrases that link one thought to another. It is so very important that you incorporate these into your presentation.
• If you do not shift from one idea to the next in a proper way using transition sentences you run the risk of sounding robotic and rehearsed. Make certain your thoughts flow so that you are not stopping abruptly or jumping suddenly from one point to another.
• Examples of good transition words or phrases between similar ideas include "Similarly," "Likewise," etc.
• Examples of good transition words or phrases between contrasting ideas include "On the contrary," "Contradictory to," etc.

What Are Tips For Memorizing a Speech?

Community Q&A

• Practice makes perfect, so spend a good amount of time reviewing your information and rehearsing. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Use physical gestures to enhance your storytelling! If you're discussing the qualities of a good leader, you might stand up nice and tall; if you're talking about a time you felt nervous, you might physically feel that experience by hunching over, shaking, widening your eyes, and wrinkling your forehead. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Rote memorization is not the best way to retain information but is a good way to quickly remember and deliver information about a particular topic. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 1

You Might Also Like

Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about memorizing a presentation, check out our in-depth interview with Patrick Muñoz .

• ↑ https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/openforum/articles/business-by-the-book-remembering-presentation-material/
• ↑ https://blog.udemy.com/how-to-memorize-a-speech/
• ↑ http://westsidetoastmasters.com/resources/powerspeak/lib0208.html
• ↑ http://www.productivity501.com/how-to-memorize-verbatim-text/294/

About this article

Reader Success Stories

Moeen Al Bakri

Feb 16, 2022

Did this article help you?

• About wikiHow
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info

Microsoft 365 Life Hacks > Presentations > Tips for memorizing presentations

Tips for memorizing presentations

If you’re looking to deliver an engaging and interesting presentation , it’s best to memorize it as much as possible. Robotically reading off of your slides won’t captivate your audience. Follow these tips for memorizing your presentation.

If you have an important presentation coming up, you’ll want to impress your audience by proving you know what you’re talking about. Memorizing the ins and outs of your presentation will demonstrate that you’re an expert on the presentation topic. If you struggle with memorizing your presentation, these memorization tips and tricks can help.

Tell your story with captivating presentations

Powerpoint empowers you to develop well-designed content across all your devices

Memorization tip #1: Use repetition

Repetition is an excellent trick for memorization. Make sure to repeat the key points of your presentation. Using repetition will make it easier to reinforce the information in your memory and make it easier to recall once it’s time to present. Repeat the key points of your presentation out loud, handwrite them , or try both.

Memorization tip #2: Use visual aids

Adding visual aids like images, diagrams, or charts to your PowerPoint can help make it easier to remember the key points of your presentation. Visual aids are especially helpful if you’re a visual learner . Visual aids won’t just benefit you—they can make your presentation much more enjoyable to the audience. Audience members who are also visual learners will benefit from images, diagrams, and charts in your presentation. It can be tempting to overload your presentation with graphics and images. Try to keep it down to one visual aid per slide. Otherwise, your presentation could become overwhelming to the audience, and you may confuse yourself by adding too many visuals.

Memorization tip #3: Break it down

A simple memorization trick is to break down your presentation into smaller chunks or sections. Breaking down your presentation into smaller pieces will make it easier to memorize and can help prevent you from becoming overwhelmed. It can also add more structure to your presentation.

Memorization tip #4: Practice makes perfect

This is probably the most obvious tip for memorization, but practice your presentation as much as possible. Practice running through your presentation alone first to build your confidence, then run through it with a friend, family member, or colleague to get their feedback. Practicing your presentation in front of other people can also help calm presentation anxiety .

Memorization tip #5: Record yourself talking

Record yourself going through your presentation. Then, you can listen to your presentation while doing other mundane tasks, like while you wash the dishes or commute to work. Listening to your presentation will help you memorize it. This memorization technique is especially helpful for auditory learners.

Memorization tip #6: Take breaks

While practicing your presentation is an excellent way to memorize it, don’t overdo it. Take short breaks to avoid burnout and refresh your mind so that it’s easier to focus when you get back to rehearsing your presentation.

Memorization tip #7: Use stories

Adding stories or anecdotes to your presentation can help you remember the key points of your presentation. Stories are also engaging for an audience. Stick to simple and/or authentic stories. If you make up a story just for the sake of your presentation, then it’ll be just another thing for you to memorize. Choosing a story from your actual life won’t require much recall. Additionally, stories with too many components will be harder to remember. Make your life easier by choosing an uncomplicated anecdote.

Memorization tip #8: Create a script

Create a script that follows your presentation. Having a detailed script to go off of will help you memorize and be more prepared for your presentation. Your script doesn’t have to be dense—you can create a bulleted list to read off of.

Memorization tip #9: Give yourself time to prepare

If you have a big presentation coming up, don’t procrastinate. There’s a reason why cramming isn’t recommended—crammed information is stored in your short-term memory, meaning you can only recall that information for a smaller amount of time. Devote a few days of practice leading up to your presentation to build long-term memory. Long-term memory lasts much longer.

Memorization tip #10: Get a good night’s sleep

Don’t stay up late the night before your presentation trying to memorize it. Getting a good night’s sleep will help you strengthen and retain the information that you learned throughout the day. Waking up with a clear and refreshed mind will help you perform your best when it’s time to present.

Creating and delivering a presentation is a lot of work, but with the right preparation, it’ll be a breeze. Explore more presentation tips with Microsoft 365.

Get started with Microsoft 365

It’s the Office you know, plus the tools to help you work better together, so you can get more done—anytime, anywhere.

Topics in this article

More articles like this one.

How to create an inspirational PowerPoint presentation

Boost your presentation skills by learning how to inspire and captivate your audience.

How to create an educational presentation

Use PowerPoint to create dynamic and engaging presentations that foster effective learning.

Five tips for choosing the right PowerPoint template

Choose an appropriate PowerPoint template to elevate your presentation’s storytelling. Consider time length, audience and other presentation elements when selecting a template.

How you can use AI to help you make the perfect presentation handouts

Learn how AI can help you organize and create handouts for your next presentation.

Everything you need to achieve more in less time

Get powerful productivity and security apps with Microsoft 365

Explore Other Categories

How To Memorize a Presentation For a Better Flow

Many presentation veterans and TEDxTalkers will tell you that you should dedicate one hour of preparation for every minute of the presentation. That seems like a lot, right? If your presentation is 15 minutes long, that’s 15 hours of preparation. Who has time for that? However, when you actually sit down and consider the brainstorming and story mining, the physical deck design, and practicing the presentation— 15 hours might not seem so astronomical. After all, you don’t want to spend hours creating a deck just to forget everything you’re supposed to say when you step up to the podium. 

It might not seem important, but how your presentation flows is critical to its overall success. In fact, 90% of people believe that a strong narrative and story in a presentation is critical for engagement. Similarly, 35% of millennials say they will only engage with content they feel has a great story or theme. It just goes to show that presentations are two-fold: the deck, and the delivery. Your presentation could have a great story, but if your flow and delivery misses the mark it’s all for naught. It’s no wonder so many people stress about public speaking, they don’t want to get choked up in front of an audience and embarrass themselves. Practice and memorization are just as important as the physical presentation deck, and vice versa. 

If you’re a last-minute warrior (no judgement), and are wondering how to memorize a presentation in one night, we’ve got you covered. Consider these tips to help you memorize your next presentation for a better flow and overall experience. 

Structure your story in an obvious way

If you structure your story in an obvious way— with a beginning, middle, and end— it will help keep you on track. Become familiar with the character (your product, service, or idea), the villain (the problem you’re solving for), and the narrative. Better yet, think of it as a novel you’ve read again and again, or a funny story you’re sharing with your friends. When you know the flow, positioning, and progression of your story, it will be easier to pick up where you left off if you get lost or distracted mid-thought. 

Beautiful.ai can help you structure your story more effectively with our Smart Slide templates . The guardrails put in place by our design AI force you to format your story more efficiently, but it also allows you to structure it in new, creative ways you might not have thought of otherwise. 

Keep it short and sweet

It’s not rocket science: the shorter your presentation, the easier it is to remember. (The same goes for your audience, too). In order to memorize your presentation, and make sure you’re not leaving out any key points, keep your deck to a minimum. We always recommend Guy Kawasaki’s 10/20/30 rule, which says no PowerPoint presentation should be more than ten slides, longer than 20 minutes, and use fonts smaller than 30 point size. If you stick to this method, you’ll have less to memorize and more to gain. 

Practice, practice, practice

Obviously, practice makes perfect. The more you practice and rehearse the narrative, in your head or in front of your mirror, the more prepared you will be on game day. Here are some easy ways to practice, and better memorize your presentation.

The 20-20-20 rule

The 20-20-20 rule, which was created by memory experts, encourages you to go over the material (in this case, your presentation) for 20 minutes, and then repeat that twice for another 20 minutes each. According to research, if the information is not repeated or revisited within 30 minutes, it’s not encoded into the long-term memory side of the brain, and therefore would be harder to remember on presentation day. 

Record yourself

When you sit down to practice, you should do at least one dry run in front of the mirror or a friend. And you should record yourself doing it. When you record yourself presenting, you can watch it back to 1) review and memorize the information, and 2) tweak your narrative where necessary. It’s also a great way to manage and tweak your facial expressions and body language. 

There’s just something about hand-written notes that really engrains the information in your brain. No, really. It’s scientifically proven that physically writing down information by hand helps you retain it more effectively. So, take notes. Take notes as you’re story mining, designing your deck, and practicing your speech and refer back to them before your presentation. 

Have a cheat sheet handy

Okay, normally we wouldn’t encourage note cards. Why? Simply because people tend to read directly from the note cards instead of speaking to their audience. But in our new norm of remote work— and virtual conferences, meetings, events, etc.— a cheat sheet can be your friend.

Check out this hot tip. Make a cheat sheet of the absolute highest level key points you need to touch on and tape the note card to the top of your computer near the camera. Even if you need to read from the card (in the case of a mental lapse), it will look like you’re staring into the camera and making eye contact with your virtual audience. You’re welcome. 

Jordan Turner

Jordan is a Bay Area writer, social media manager, and content strategist.

Recommended Articles

How to do presentations that will keep your board meetings on track and on time, team building presentation tips that inspire instead of bore, video for sales: how teams can use multimedia to supercharge sales assets across the organization, customer success presentations: how to create decks that will wow your customers and drive upsell and retention.

How I Memorized a Presentation for TEDx (Word Perfect)

Anthony metivier.

• February 17, 2024
• Learning , Memory

Podcast: Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Beyond that presentation from the stage, what qualifies me to offer you tips for memorizing a speech of any length?

Well, I also spent a decade as a professor at three universities in three different countries. I delivered dozens of lectures during those years. In more than one language.

I’ve also spent over a decade as an online “professor of memory.” My expertise in memory has taken me around the world. I’ve given presentations in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, England, China, Canada, Australia and the USA.

In fact, in the feature image for this post, you see me discussing memory as a part of language learning at a 2016 Polyglot Conference in Berlin. You can also watch hundreds of hours of my presentations on YouTube from several years of live streaming.

And on this page, I’m going to share the best of my experiences with multiple kinds of presentation.

If you want to memorize a speech verbatim, I’ll show you how.

Or, if you prefer to work from mental bullet points, I’ll help you do that too.

When it comes to memory aids for speakers, this is the real deal from someone who practices these techniques week in and week out.

Let’s get started!

So You Need to Memorize a Presentation… Here’s Where to Start

Getting started… this is the tricky bit.

So here’s a story using the Polyglot conference speech I gave to help dimensionalize the starting point I usually use.

Determine Who Your Presentation Is For… And Who It Isn’t For

Before I wrote a single word, I asked myself a very simple set of questions:

Who can I help and who am I unable to help?

And what’s the one thing that will help the listeners above all?

I went through this same process with my TEDx Talk and many other presentations.

Make no mistake, this step can be tricky. It’s a discipline to whittle things down to the biggest and most important point.

But it is possible and often the success of the talks we enjoy most come down to knowing that the audience you’re addressing is defined as closely as possible.

It was hard for me, but I believe focusing on just one kind of person and one message for that person helped my TEDx Talk reach so many viewers.

Of course, some presentations need more details and more nuance, but even then, the principle is the same. If you think about who each principle is for and how to focus on the biggest and most impactful part, it’s going to be easier to digest. And easier for you to remember successfully.

Script The Presentation

When it comes to helping yourself remember your presentation, writing is key. If you write a bunch of mush with endless long sentences, you’re setting yourself up for a struggle.

So when you’re putting the presentation together, ask yourself:

• Do I want to memorize the speech verbatim ?
• Or can I memorize keywords and let my expertise fill in the blanks while speaking?

Both ways work very well. It just comes down to your goal. In the case of my TEDx Talk, I wrote the speech and memorized it verbatim.

In my Polyglot Conference talk, I prepared slides and memorized the key points, which involved speaking some Chinese based on how I’ve studied that language .

Either way, scripting or preparing slides can help you decide how you’re going to memorize the presentation.

Review The Presentation

As a final preparation step, it’s great if you can take a moment to review what you’ve prepared. Ideally, you’ll also get at least one other person to review it as well.

For my TEDx Talk, Thomas Krafft reviewed the script itself and a recording of me delivering it from memory. Before presenting the script of my live-action “Memory Detective” game attached to a memory improvement novel I wrote, I had a test audience go through the entire sequence.

Reviewing the speech, slides and related materials with others helps add an extra layer of understanding that helps with the memorization process. I highly recommend making time for review.

How to Memorize a Presentation from Start to Finish in 7 Easy Steps

As Hanna Pishwa points out in Language and Memory , Aristotle was one of the first to intensively describe the rhetorical strategies used for persuasion in speeches.

But we can go a step further: Aristotle also closed his treatise on memory by explaining that we are moved most by people who speak from memory.

He says reciting from memory is impressive because the person who has memorized their speech doesn’t have to “hunt” for their ideas. They use a “process” that brings those ideas to them automatically.

How can you do that too? Just follow these steps:

One: Learn To Use The Memory Palace Technique

Since long before Aristotle, people have been using the ancient art of memory to commit speeches to memory using Memory Palaces .

A Memory Palace is simply a mental copy of a location you know well, like you home, office, school, church or any place with walls, paths and other environment features.

This is a graphic representation of the Memory Palace I used to memorize my TEDx Talk:

It’s a neighborhood in Brisbane and the numbers represent individual stations.

I teach people who take the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass to number their stations to help them rapidly create these simple journeys .

To do this, it’s helpful to draw your Memory Palaces first. Like this:

Two: Add Interesting Associations To The Words & Ideas In Your Presentation

The best memory techniques all rely on mnemonic imagery .

When it comes to how to memorize lines for a presentation, you can do this very quickly by tapping into a pegword list .

For example, in a speech that starts with, “How would you like…?” my pegword list suggests Howie Mandel for “how” and Elijah Wood for “would.”

Those figures are laid out in the Memory Palace at the beginning of its journey.

This leads us to the next step.

Three: Make Your Associations Zany

Let me make a preemptive strike here:

A lot of people have protested to me over the years:

I’m not creative. I can’t get myself to see Howie Mandel and Elijah Wood to kick a like button on a platform like YouTube.

Stop right there.

I’m not creative either.

All I’m doing is taking too people who already exist and having them do something strange. There are only so many actions in the world. They could kiss the like button, put it in a rocket ship and send it to the moon, or bury it with thumbs-up shaped shovels.

Seriously. There’s nothing “creative” about this. It’s just borrowing from real possible actions and animating them in the Memory Palace. Please don’t overthink this process and make sure of the exercises I’m going to share with you in step four.

If you’re memorizing your presentation verbatim, you’ll need more associations than you would for a speech delivered based on bullet-points.

Either way, the process is the same.

Four: Make Your Associations Multisensory

Once you’ve decided what your characters are going to do with one another, add some multisensory elements. For example, you can hear the voices of your celebrity associations, or imagine that you’re feeling them interacting with the like button in our example.

We do this because scientific research makes it clear that elaboration helps form memories faster.

To get better at making your associations weird and multisensory within seconds, these elaborative encoding exercises will help, as will these visualization exercises .

Five: Use The Memory Palace To Memorize Your Speech

When the ancient Romans delivered their speeches, they often would start a persuasive passage with a set of points.

“In the first place,” an orator would say before diving into the point. Then the orator would say, “In the second place,” etc.

This convention in speeches remains with us today, and those orators were literally using their Memory Palaces in real time to recall their points.

But you can be sure that they had practiced in private before delivering them. We know that Rhetorica Ad Herennium , originally attributed to Cicero , gives many suggestions around how best to practice for both public speaking and reciting poetry.

And you need to practice as well.

You do it by starting at the “first place” of the Memory Palace and then triggering those images to help you recall the words.

Personally, I practice my speeches by following several patterns. For example, instead of always starting at the beginning, I will practice reciting a few lines from the end, then switch to the beginning, then go to a spot in the middle.

This is helpful in ushering the speech into long term memory quickly because it harnesses the primacy effect, recency effect and serial-positioning effect.

Six: Practice Delivering The Speech

Now, this point is a subtly that I personally find important.

I do not go through my Memory Palace while delivering my presentations unless I absolutely have to do so.

See, when you follow the process I’ve described above, the presentation will be in your long term memory .

However, unexpected things can happen. During my TEDx Talk, people laughed at a spot I hadn’t placed a joke. It surprised me for a second and I briefly popped into the Memory Palace I’d made to help me get back on track (instead of standing there like a deer caught in headlights).

But ideally, you want to just have the speech memorized and not have to rely on any mnemonic strategies while in the moment. With optimal setup and execution, the memory techniques will have already done their job and you can do what Aristotle described: speak without looking like you’re hunting for the ideas.

And that means you can connect with that audience you identified during the preparation stage. The more you connect with them, the more successful you’ll be during and after your presentation because people remember connection.

Seven: Analyze Your Performance

Want to be a pro speaker?

Then you’ll want to spend some time reflecting on your presentation.

This step is important because it gives you the opportunity to identify areas to improve the next time.

And it will help you congratulate yourself where credit is due. Please make sure to do so. Giving a speech is a huge accomplishment and you deserve recognition merely for making it happen.

But the real gold is some objective and subjective reasoning about the entire process. It will also reveal new ideas for other presentations you might not have thought about otherwise.

In a Pinch? Here’s How to Memorize a Speech Fast

I know that some people don’t have time for all of the steps above.

To be clear: I do all that I can to make sure I have enough time.

But when I don’t, here’s what I do instead.

The Acronym Method

I’m often invited to speak in the community at the last minute. I literally don’t have time to mindmap more than a few ideas.

But I can take those ideas and arrange them into a keyword.

For example, when I was invited to speak at a “Masters of Marketing” event, I arranged my ideas into the acronym F.R.E.E.

• Frequent messaging to a…
• Relevant audience…
• Entertains, Educates and…
• Engages in the direction of a response

I placed that acronym in a simple Memory Palace and talked about what each concept mean for two minutes each.

The great thing about the acronym approach is that you don’t have to practice as much, if at all. The logic of the acronym itself guides you through the parts of your presentation because you’re mentally checking them off by spelling the acronym.

Give this presentation technique a try and you will have no problem committing presentations to memory fast.

Memorize Your Speech in No Time With the Steps Above

Let’s recap:

Presentations are so much easier to remember when you’re clear about who you’re addressing  and  who you’re not.

Once you’ve decided on whether you’ll be speaking verbatim or working from bullet points, the Memory Palace technique is a tried and true technique with thousands of years of success stories .

To make information “stick,” you need a process of elaborating associations. A bit of prep will take you a long way if you complete the exercises I shared on this page.

Finally, it’s worth repeating that reviewing your talk in any way possible is tremendously valuable. Even if you get a last minute invite to speak, you can probably squeeze in a few minutes to record yourself on your phone and tweak a few things.

Even if you don’t have time to change anything, just seeing yourself once will give you ideas about how to make what you’re about to say in front of an audience better.

Just make sure to avoid perfectionism. Relax and if you make a mistake, just call a spade a spade and find your way back to where you got lost.

And if you want more on the memorization process so you always recover quickly when things happen during live presentations (as they inevitably will), check out my FREE Memory Improvement Kit:

So what do you say?

Are you ready to get out there and give the best presentation of your career?

Let me now if you have any questions and I’ll be happy to share with you more granular details from my long career of presenting around the world.

Related Posts

Wondering how to memorize things fast? Read this post for 5 solid steps you can…

Learning how to memorize the books of the bible is easy. You just need these…

This detailed guide helps you learn how to memorize the Quran. Learn to commit the…

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

I accept the Privacy Policy

WANT TO LEARN SIMPLE EVERYDAY THINGS WITHOUT FORGETTING?

Enter your email below to get instant access to my FREE course that gives you a proven step-by-step process for remembering anything you want . You'll discover how to:

• Speak any language fluently
• Recall complicated formulas, math equations, or numbers.
• Master the technical terms for your field of work or study.
• Recite poetry, jokes, and even long speeches word-for-word
• Quickly absorb the most important ideas from books, textbooks, or lectures...

Unlock your natural ability to learn and remember anything 3x faster now!

ABOUT ANTHONY METIVIER

Anthony Metivier is the founder of the Magnetic Memory Method, a systematic, 21st century approach to memorizing foreign language vocabulary, names, music, poetry and more in ways that are easy, elegant, effective and fun.

Dr. Metivier holds a Ph.D. in Humanities from York University and has been featured in Forbes, Viva Magazine, Fluent in 3 Months, Daily Stoic, Learning How to Learn and he has delivered one of the most popular TEDx Talks on memory improvement.

His most popular books include, The Victorious Mind and… Read More

Anthony Metivier taught as a professor at:

POPULAR POSTS

Recent posts, how to keep your brain sharp as you age: 9 strategies i’m using, how to use the memory palace technique for math in 8 steps, the ultimate guide to using mnemonics in your everyday life, how to remember what you read: 11 proven steps, 10 intellectual activities to mix with mnemonics for personal growth, pay with confidence.

P.O. Box 933 Mooloolaba, QLD 4557 Australia

MEMORY COURSES

Quick links, memory boosting tips & tutorials.

Copyright © 2012 – 2024 Anthony Metivier · Advanced Education Methodologies Pty Ltd

COOL MEMORY TECHNIQUES!

Unsupported browser

This site was designed for modern browsers and tested with Internet Explorer version 10 and later.

It may not look or work correctly on your browser.

• Communication

Guide to Making Great Presentations (Free eBook Download)

Also, download our Free eBook: The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations . It's the deepest resource for learning effective presentation skills for a PPT.

This eBook covers the complete presentation process. It takes the PowerPoint tips and tricks you learn in this article further. Learn how to write your presentation, design it like a pro, and prepare it to present powerfully. It's another great source for presentation design tips.

Jump to content in this tip:

• Know Your Stuff
• Write It Out
• Highlight What’s Most Important
• Know Your Audience
• Rehearse! (Yes, Already)
• Rewrite After You Rehearse
• Share With a Friend
• Keep Your Slides Simple
• Limit Words on Your Slides
• Use High-Quality Photos and Graphics
• Use Accurate and Relevant Charts and Graphs
• Use High-Quality, Fresh Templates
• Choose Appropriate Fonts
• Choose Color Well
• Clean + Simple Formatting Makes All the Difference!
• Make Sure All Objects Are Aligned
• Limit Punctuation
• Avoid Over-Formatting Your Points
• Combine Information With Graphics in PowerPoint
• I’ll Say It Again - Rehearse
• Practice With a Timer
• Slow It Down
• Pause More Often
• Record Yourself
• Choose Three Focal Points in the Room
• Vary Your Sentence Length
• Practice in Front of a Mirror
• Use “Present Mode” When Rehearsing
• Practice With New Audiences!
• Engage the Audience by Asking Questions
• Take a Deep Breath
• Lighten Up Your Mood
• Remind Yourself to Take It Slow
• Read the Room
• Fake It ‘Til You Make It!
• Stop With the Sound Effects
• Don’t Use Flashy Slide Transitions
• Beware of Clip Art
• Don't Be Afraid to Be Afraid
• Don't Read Directly During Your PowerPoint Presentation
• Don't Miss Out on PowerPoint Customizations
• Use the Visual Guides
• Use a Few Animations (Tastefully)
• Stage Key Content With Animations
• Add a Video to Your PowerPoint
• Add Charts & Graphs
• Build Your Own Infographics With SmartArt
• Use Presenter View
• Track Your PowerPoint Changes
• Engage With an Interactive Quiz
• Illustrate With Custom Image Masks
• Print Handouts With Extra Notes
• Make Bulk Edits With Master Slides
• Shrink File Sizes for Sharing
• Map Processes With Flowcharts
• Use Brand-Specific Colors
• Build Social Media Posts in PPT
• Be Industry-Specific
• Design for Online (Virtual) Sharing

Master PowerPoint (Free Course): 15 Essential Tips 

This article is full of helpful tips so you can build a powerful presentation. You can also find more PowerPoint tips in this video lesson:

What Makes a PowerPoint Presentation Effective?

Knowing how to use PowerPoint and work within it quickly is helpful. But more important is making a good presentation that hits all your presentation goals. A great PowerPoint presentation is:

• Prepared to Win . Research, plan and prepare your presentation professionally. It helps you deliver an effective message to your target audience.
• Designed Correctly . Your visual points should stand out without overwhelming your audience. A good PowerPoint presentation visual shouldn't complicate your message.
• Practiced to Perfection . Rehearse your timing and delivery so that your points land as practiced with a live audience.
• Delivered with Poise . Present with a relaxed inner-calm and confident outward projection. Give your audience warmth, excitement, and energy.
• Free from Mistakes . Avoid typos, cheesy clip art, and miscues like reading directly from your slides.

Consider this your all-inclusive guide of how to make a good presentation PPT. We’ll look at preparing your presentation, how to design it in PowerPoint. Plus, we'll explore how to practice and nail your delivery successfully come presentation time. 

We’ll also address what not to do in these tips for PowerPoint presentations—so you can sidestep any big mistakes. Effective presentation skills PPT tips are all you need to become a great presenter.

If you're struggling with making a well-designed presentation, then a  great PPT theme  can help you achieve the creative and  professional results you're looking for . 

Now let's dig into these tips for effective PowerPoint presentations.

Killer Presentation Preparation Tips - To Get Started Right

Before even opening PowerPoint, start by addressing these things. These Microsoft PowerPoint tips and tricks will ensure that you're prepared for your presentation:

1. Know Your Stuff

Your presentation isn’t about your slides alone. It’s about the message you want to get across. Before filling in stats, facts and figures, think about the narrative that'll be discussed, why and in what order. It's a must as you learn how to give a good presentation PPT.

2. Write It Out

Start on a Word or Google doc. Storyboard or script the entire presentation. This will give you an idea of how the information presented will flow, and how viewers will see it in sequence. Learn the complete writing process: 

3. Highlight What’s Most Important

A presentation covers the most crucial pieces only. Whatever you’ve been working on that lead to this—a paper, a work project, a new product design—doesn’t need to be shared in its entirety. Pick key points and put the rest in an “Appendix” to refer to during the Q&A session at the end.

4. Know Your Audience

How you talk to a room full of medical professionals should be different from the way you address a room full of young entrepreneurs. Everything, in fact, is different. Your topic selection, the language you use, the examples you give to illustrate points. The little bits of humor included should be tailored specifically with your target audience in mind. 

Understand your audience's needs to create a successful PowerPoint presentation. Customize your content to meet their specific requirements : 

5. Rehearse! (Yes, Already)

It’s never too early to get used to the rhythm of your presentation and take note of points you want to emphasize. While saying it out loud, you’ll start to develop a “feel” for the material. You'll notice that some things work well, while others don’t and might need to be worked around.

6. Rewrite After You Rehearse

As you're rehearsing your presentation, you're bound to stumble over sections that don't quite flow naturally. Instead of reworking your delivery, it might be time to consider the content and rewriting the areas that served as stumbling blocks.

"Editing is hard. 'It's good enough,' is a phrase wannabes use. Leaders take editing seriously." - Anthony Trendl

The most important part of creating a great presentation is the writing stage. The second most important stage is  rewriting.

7. Share With a Friend

If the stakes are high for your presentation, it's never too early to get feedback from those that you trust.

Here's an article that helps you collaborate as a team on a PowerPoint presentation. Get PowerPoint design tips from those that you trust when you collaborate.

Simple Tips to Design Your PowerPoint Presentation Better

Second only to you (the information you bring and how you present it) is your PowerPoint slides. If not designed well, a PowerPoint can be disengaging or distracting (regardless of the content quality). Here are some presentation design tips to make sure this doesn’t happen to you:

8.  Keep Your Slides Simple

This is one of the most important PowerPoint presentation tips to follow when designing your slides. Keep in mind that less is more (effective.) A cluttered slide is distracting. It causes confusion for an audience: Which part of the slide should I focus on? Should I read the slide or pay attention to the presenter? 

But, a simple, visually appealing slide will engage your audience, keeping them on track with your main points. Here's an example of a simple slide that serves its purpose perfectly:

9. Limit Words on Your Slides

Piggybacking on the last point—less is more effective. If possible, avoid bullets altogether. Otherwise cut them to just a few simple words. The audience should be listening, not reading.

10. Use High-Quality Photos and Graphics

One of the more important tips for quality PowerPoint presentations is to use high-quality photos and graphics.

Earlier in this tutorial, you saw Envato Elements, an all-you-can-download service with PPT tips inside of templates. Those pre-built designs are a beginner's best friend. They're even better when paired with Elements' unlimited library of stock photos .

People are more likely to take you seriously if your presentation is visually appealing. Users view attractive design as more usable. Similarly, they'll view a more attractive PowerPoint as more effective. 

11. Use Accurate and Relevant Charts and Graphs

Charts and graphs can also be distracting if they’re not used right. Make sure your information design is simple and clean so that the audience doesn’t spend the entire time trying to decipher what your X axis says. Learn more about PPT data presentation in the following article:

12. Use High-Quality, Fresh Templates

Have you seen the old PowerPoint template that looks like worn paper and uses ink splashes? Yeah, so has your audience. Templates can be distracting if they're too basic or if the design feels dated. You need one with great design options. 

Costs are always a concern. But when you use Envato Elements, you've got everything you need to create a great PowerPoint presentation . That's thanks to the incredible all-you-can-download subscription package.

On Envato Elements, there are thousands of PowerPoint design templates that are ready to use. Instead of designing a presentation from scratch, start with a template! Just add your specifics to the placeholders.

The best PowerPoint design tips save you time. And there's no tip more powerful than this one: use a pre-built template . It helps you master how to present a PowerPoint without spending all your time in the app.

Learn how to make a good PowerPoint presentation attractive with the help of the best templates below. You'll see PowerPoint tips packaged inside of templates by talented designers.

13. Choose Appropriate Fonts

Fonts are an important part of engaging your audience. Fonts and typography choices have a subconscious effect on viewers. They can characterize your company's presentation and brand either positively or negatively. Make sure that you're choosing fonts that are professional and modern!

14. Choose Color Well

Like font choice, colors cause specific subconscious reactions from viewers. Choosing an outdated color combination for your presentation will render it ineffective. 

Below is an example of the Popsicle PowerPoint template , which has a modern presentation color choice:

15. Clean + Simple Formatting Makes All the Difference!

We've got a full tutorial on how to make a good presentation slide . Give it a read through and review the accompanying video. Just remember less is more. The focus is you and  your message , not your slides.

16. Make Sure All Objects Are Aligned

A simple way to create a well-designed presentation is to make sure all items on a slide are intentionally aligned. To do this hold down Shift + select all the objects you want to include. Then choose Arrange in the options bar and apply  Alignment Type .

17. Limit Punctuation

This isn't the place for exclamation points. Emphasize your points (while speaking). Don’t enlist punctuation to do this for you. (Leave these at home!!!)

18. Avoid Over-Formatting Your Points

This PowerPoint presentation tip is simple. There’s no need to have every word of every bullet point capitalized, or to have all your bullet points in title case. If possible, drop bullets altogether. Again, the simpler the better!

19. Combine Information With Graphics in PowerPoint

One of the most powerful presentation skills for PPT is using infographics. With the right type of visuals, slides come to life and reduce the text in favor of graphics.

Infographics  help combine information with graphics. It's easier to explain complex ideas when you use visual formats that are intuitive. Learn how with the help of 30 templates in the article below:

Practice Presentation Tips: Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse!

Delivery is probably more important than the actual content. Here's how to become more aware of your own unique ticks, and how to present like a polished pro:

20. I’ll Say It Again - Rehearse

Just do it. Again and again. Experiment with pauses, gestures, and body language. Practice around one hour for every minute of your speech.

21. Practice With a Timer

Consistency is key to an effective PowerPoint presentation. Timing should be similar (ideally the same) each time you rehearse. This one will especially pay off when it’s time to present in front of your audience!

22. Slow It Down

Many of the best speakers today intentionally speak slowly. You’ll have the chance to emphasize, appear more thoughtful, and make your information easier to digest.

23. Pause More Often

Like the prior tip. Pausing more often, allows main points to be emphasized and for information to sink in. You need to let key points breathe a little before rushing into the next section.

24. Record Yourself

Use your phone’s voice recorder. Assess and critique yourself. Consider: 

• Are your pauses too short or too long? 
• Are you speaking slowly enough? Too slow? 
• When you’re nervous does your voice get high like the mice in Cinderella? 

It’s always weird to hear your own voice recorded; don’t stress it. Use this as a time to adjust.

25. Choose Three Focal Points in the Room

If you stare at the same spot (or even creepier, the same person) the entire time, your presentation will be ineffective (and awkward.) People will be distracted by you, wondering what you're staring at. 

Try this: pick three points in the room (typically: left, center, right). Take time to direct your delivery toward each physical focal point in the room. Also, focus on the center when making your primary points.

26. Vary Your Sentence Length

This makes you sound more interesting and it's easier for your audience to follow. Think short and punchy. Or go long and complex for dramatic effect.

27. Modulate!

Don't speak in monotone for your whole presentation. Be conscious to raise and lower your voice tone. Otherwise, people will tune you out, and you'll come across like the teacher in Charlie Brown.

28. Practice in Front of a Mirror

What you look like is as important as how you sound. Pretend as though you're having a normal conversation and allow your hands to move with your speech—emphasizing your points. Just don’t get carried away! (I’m thinking Brene Brown or President Obama , not your Aunt Jamie after a few gin and tonics.)

29. Use “Present Mode” When Rehearsing

When you finally are ready to hit the Present button in PowerPoint, make sure you use the Present Mode option. This allows for you (and only you) to view extra notes about each slide—just in case you forget something!

30. Practice With New Audiences!

If possible, try doing a few real live test runs as a webinar or even at a local Toastmasters organization to get some feedback from a live audience.

31. Engage the Audience by Asking Questions

There's no reason that a presentation should be one-sided. Why not invert the format and ask your audience a question?

To learn how to create a slide that kicks off a Q&A, use our article below. These PowerPoint design tips help you create an engaging and exciting discussion.

Helpful Tips to Step Up and Deliver Come Presentation Time

When the actual day arrives, there are only a few last PowerPoint presentation tips and guidelines to keep in mind:

32. Take a Deep Breath

Deep breathing is  proven to relieve stress. (Source: the NHS Website) It’s simple and it'll help you remain calm, and in the moment, as well. Even up to the last minute before starting.

33. Lighten Up Your Mood

Tell yourself a joke or watch a funny video clip. Do this before the presentation, of course. Research concludes that happy people were more productive. (Source: Fast Company) More productive is more focused and able to perform better.

34. Remind Yourself to Take It Slow

When we're stressed or nervous (or both), we tend to speak faster. Consciously, take yet another deep breath and remind yourself to take it slow!

35. Read the Room

Every presentation room has a temperature. It's your job as a speaker to gauge it and tailor your presentation to it.

Here's a great example. Layoffs are coming at a company, and you're asked to speak to an audience. Even if the audience isn't personally impacted by the actions, you've got to consider the morale of the workforce.

The  last  thing that group will want to hear is how strong the economy is and why the company is the best place to work. That doesn't mean that you've got to align to their uncertainty, but don't go too far against the grain while presenting.

Robert Kennedy III is a master of bringing energy and aligning a speech to the audience. Here's his advice for adjusting:

"It can be hard to wake up a "dead" crowd but go for it. Most of all, don't take their energy personally. Focus on serving them with every bit of your fiber then leave empty."

36. Fake It ‘Til You Make It!

Go forward with confidence. If you act confident, you'll start to feel more confident. Move slowly with grace, speak clearly, smile, wear something nice. You’ll appear confident to all attendees (no matter how you feel internally). 

Learn more about how to overcome your fears, reduce your anxiety, and become a more confident speaker in these Envato Tuts+ tutorials: 

PowerPoint Presentation Tips and Tricks to Help Avoid Mistakes (What Not to Do)

Most importantly, focus on what you can do to make your presentation better. There are a few important things not to do that we've got to address. Here are a handful of PowerPoint presentation tips and tricks to help you avoid missteps.

37. Stop With the Sound Effects

Sound effects are distracting and outdated. In most cases avoid it.

Add audio or music  into your presentation to inject interest or highlight an important point, but it's something to take extra care with. If you insert audio, then make sure your use really connects with your audience and has a fresh approach. Otherwise, it's best to leave it out.

38. Don’t Use Flashy Slide Transitions

Again, this is distracting and outdated. Use transitions and subtle animations in your PowerPoint presentation. But you need to take care and do it right: 

39. Beware of Clip Art

This PowerPoint presentation tip shouldn’t even have to be said. But please, please don't use clip art. Use professional graphics instead.

40. Don't Be Afraid to Be Afraid

The fear of public speaking is a real one. Many beginners think that if they're feeling nervous that a presentation won't go well or succeed. That might lead them to cancel the presentation.

Many of the best PowerPoint tricks don't use the app at all! Here's a tip from expert Sandra Zimmer who leads The Self-Expression Center on conquering your fears before you take stage:

"Get out of your head and into your body. I do this through a grounding exercise that really works to calm nerves and bring you present in the moment."

If you think that public speaking fears aren't normal, you might never give your award-winning presentation. So, don't be afraid to be afraid and acknowledge it's part of the process!

41. Don't Read Directly During Your PowerPoint Presentation

If you spend your entire presentation looking at the screen or your note cards, you're sure to lose your audience's attention. They'll disengage from what you're saying, and your presentation will fall flat.

Reading from your paper or screen also makes it look like you’re not prepared. Many people do it, but no one should. As a general rule, only present something you know well and have, at least mostly, memorized the main points of.

42. Don't Miss Out on PowerPoint Customizations

Many new PowerPoint users often make significant mistakes when using Envato Elements designs.

The best way to see how to make a good presentation PPT is to start with designs from others. That means using a template, but that doesn't mean you can't customize them!

Don't skip PowerPoint templates as you learn how to use PowerPoint effectively. Think of those templates as guides with built-in presentation design tips.

Be careful with the visuals you insert, or with adding flashy effects. Here are some great uses of creative ideas that you can pack your PowerPoint presentation with to be more effective: 

To see more presentation tips that show you what  not  to do, make sure to check out our guide below.

Work in PowerPoint More Effectively (Tips & Tricks to Level-Up Your PPT Skills)

These PowerPoint tips will take you directly inside of PowerPoint. They'll help you level up your next PowerPoint presentation. Discover useful tips to enhance the success of your Microsoft PowerPoint presentations . Let's dive in.

43. Use the Visual Guides

When you're designing your next PowerPoint presentation, it helps to create a sense of visual rhythm . Slides that have objects aligned and centered are more likely to resonate with an audience .

44. Use a Few Animations (Tastefully)

Animations in effective PowerPoint presentations are a slippery slope. We've all sat through presentations where there were so many objects in motion that it was easy to lose focus on the key ideas in the presentation.

But that's why animations get an unfairly bad reputation. Use animations to create motion and hold an audience's attention. Use them sparingly and on key elements on your slide and you'll capture that attention properly. 

45. Stage Key Content With Animations

You just learned that animations should avoid being distracting. But there's an important principle to using animations properly. It's called staging content.

Staging content means that the content appears step-by-step. There's nothing worse than overwhelming an audience with all your content at once. But when you stage content, bring it on step-by-step.

Take it from presentation pro Suzannah Baum :

"If you’re sharing a slide with lots of different points on it, using the animation to reveal those points one at a time is a way to keep the presenter’s content flowing smoothly."

For more animation presentation tips and tricks, follow our guide:

46. Add a Video to Your PowerPoint

When you're sharing a big idea in your presentation, it helps to share your perspective from a few different angles. Adding a video to supplement your content can do just that. Luckily, it's easy to add and embed a YouTube video in your next PowerPoint presentation.

Learn how to add a video to your presentation in the quick tutorial below:

47. Add Charts & Graphs

Charts and graphs can help you tell stories with data. It's easy for an audience to zone out when you throw a big data table or set of statistics at them. 

instead, convert those to charts and graphs. Try out the tutorial below to learn how to edit those graphs.

48. Build Your Own Infographics With SmartArt

Earlier in this tutorial, we gave you one of my favorite PowerPoint design tips: use infographic templates.

Here's another. One of my favorite PowerPoint features is SmartArt, which allows you to build infographics right inside the app.

You don't have to use another graphic design app like Photoshop or Illustrator to add visuals. Instead, try out SmartArt to help you build graphics that are easy to update. 

49. Use Presenter View

Remember that when you use the PowerPoint,  you' re the presentation. The slides are just there to reinforce what you've got to say and support your speaking points.

That's why I always recommend using Presenter view. More often than not, you're going to have several displays. Presenter view shows your content on your screen while your presentation is displayed on another screen .

50. Track Your PowerPoint Changes

One of my favorite PowerPoint design tips is to collaborate. Those who know you best will suggest compelling changes that are sure to help you succeed.

As you start collaborating on your presentation, it helps to keep track of proposed and included PowerPoint changes. Use the article to track changes made by others with the help of this tutorial:

10 More Advanced PowerPoint Tips & Tricks

Really need to wow an audience with a good PowerPoint presentation? Give these tips a try to make an unforgettable impression:

51. Engage With an Interactive Quiz

A good PowerPoint presentation gets your audience involved. One of the best PowerPoint tricks is to do that with a quiz. By engaging audiences, a quiz makes your slides memorable.

By adding trivia, you'll see how to present a PowerPoint in a way that people will love. Channel your inner game-show host today.

52. Illustrate With Custom Image Masks

One of the top PowerPoint tips is to illustrate your slides. But you can go beyond simple, rectangular images on each slide.

Image masks shape photos into unique works of art. And thanks to premium templates, you can style photos just like this. Masks overlay your photos onto geometric shapes, instantly elevating your style.

53. Print Handouts With Extra Notes

Wonder how to give a good presentation PPT that audiences will remember? Give them a piece of it to take home.

PowerPoint makes it easy to print handouts with room for notes on the page. This way, audiences can keep copies of your slides, along with their own notes. This is the perfect way to ensure everyone engages with and retains your content.

54. Make Bulk Edits With Master Slides

When you think about how to present a PowerPoint, consider your branding. That means keeping your logo front and center in the eyes of an audience. But if you’re working with a lengthy slide deck, this could seem daunting.

That’s where master slides come in. They’re common in premium layouts, and they’re a leading example of presentation skills for PPT. Master slides let you make bulk edits fast. You can make a change to a master slide, and see it reflected throughout your slide deck. Learn how with our full tutorial:

55. Shrink File Sizes for Sharing

Many of the top presentation tips involve making your slides more accessible. Often, that involves sharing them with audiences online. 

You’ll often find that email clients and cloud services limit the size of files that you share. This can be a problem with large PPT slide decks. But there are a few quick steps you can take to reduce PPT file size. Cut graphics, scale down photos, and more.

56. Map Processes With Flowcharts

As you consider how to do a good PowerPoint presentation, think of ease of understanding. After all, you’re trying to explain something to your audience.

A flowchart maps out a process in a visual way. Instead of resorting to endless narration, try a quick illustration like this. It saves you time and effort, and your audience is sure to thank you.

57. Use Brand-Specific Colors

Using presentation skills for PPT helps form an association between your message and branding. There’s no better way to do that than with your brand colors.

PowerPoint makes it easy to change color themes, adding your brand colors and logo to each slide. This is one of the top PowerPoint tricks for marketing presentations.

58. Build Social Media Posts in PPT

A good PowerPoint presentation doesn’t have to be shared through a projector. Use the app and templates to build amazing illustrations to use anywhere.

Try using PowerPoint to create social media posts. It helps you engage with your audience, with no need to design custom layouts from scratch.

59. Be Industry-Specific

One of the top presentation tips in 2024 is to be industry-specific. That means avoiding generic layouts and choosing something more customized.

This offers two key advantages. First, you save time by having layouts built for you. Second, you gain design inspiration for your specific topic. Themed templates are truly the best of both worlds.

60. Design for Online (Virtual) Sharing

Last but not least in our list of PowerPoint tips comes virtual presenting. More and more often, slides will be shared with online audiences around the globe.

Why not design your slides for that very purpose? And then learn how to share flawlessly with a global team? It’s one of the top presentation tips for 2024. Embrace it today.

Where Can You Find the Best PowerPoint PPT Templates for 2024?

Want to make a good PowerPoint presentation? This article has so many PowerPoint presentation tips and tricks that you're sure to succeed. Before we dive into our massive list of presentation tips, we want to share our favorite resource. They show you how to do a good PowerPoint presentation with less work.

On Envato Elements, you'll find thousands of designs that show you how to present a PowerPoint . That's because they're built with the best designs that already have the work done for you. They're sure to show you how to use PowerPoint effectively.

Find Presentation Templates

If you're a rookie presenter learning effective presentation skills for PPT, a template is the best resource. They give you ideas for how to present your content with pre-built designs. Build a good PowerPoint presentation with less work than ever before.

Best of all, Envato Elements gives you more resources for good PowerPoint presentations with stock photos, graphics, and more. These help you use our top PowerPoint tricks at no extra cost. Effective presentation skills PPT designs help you race up the learning curve. Learn how to create with Envato Elements .

More Great PowerPoint Tutorial Resources

We've built a resource for Microsoft PowerPoint that you're sure to want to try. It includes countless PowerPoint tips and tricks. It's called  How to Use PowerPoint (Ultimate Tutorial Guide)   and has all the PowerPoint design tips you need.

These tutorials will help you get started quickly. Start mastering PowerPoint's powerful presentation design tools today: 

Discover More Top PowerPoint Template Designs From Envato Elements for 2024

You've just seen our favorite powerful PowerPoint presentation tips and guidelines to help you improve your speaking. We've also mentioned Envato Elements, an incredible all-you-can-download source for top PowerPoint designs .

Here are five of the best PowerPoint templates that you can use to create your best presentation yet:

1. Galaxi PowerPoint Template

Blast off to success with the help of this PowerPoint template! Think of the pre-built slide designs as pro PowerPoint design tips. They're built by professional graphic designers. All the popular and modern slide styles that are perfect for your next presentation. Use Galaxi's five styles and 30 designs to create a great presentation.

2. Masmax PowerPoint Template

We selected templates for this article that match the PowerPoint tips and tricks provided . Masmax fits the bill perfectly across its 234 unique slide designs. These slide designs are sure to align with the latest in design expectations.

3.   STYLE - Multipurpose PowerPoint Template V50

Style is subjective, but we can all agree that this template is stunning! The light and airy slide designs are built with fashion-focused designs in mind. But that doesn't mean that it's not perfect for most presentations. When learning to present a PowerPoint, remember that templates can be customized to suit your purpose .

4.  Peachme Creative PowerPoint Template

Peachme has image-focused slides with splashy designs. The slides are colorful and perfect for a modern presentation. Don't worry about remembering all the PowerPoint design tips because they're included in the pre-built slides. Use Peachme's designs for your presentation today.

5. Buizi - Office Building Rent PowerPoint Template

Buizi markets itself as a real estate focused template. It's ideal for that purpose because of the minimal, image-focused slide designs. But that also makes it a perfect choice for presentations in many fields.

We've just scratched the surface of PowerPoint design tips with these five options. Here are many more, bundled inside of the best roundups on Envato Tuts+: 

How to Build a Good PowerPoint Presentation Quickly (In 2024)

You’ve already seen effective presentation skills PPT techniques. But you may be wondering exactly how to do a good PowerPoint presentation. It only takes a few clicks. Let’s learn how in just five steps.

For this mini-tutorial, we’ll use the Enjoy PowerPoint Template from Envato Elements. You'll see that it's a beautiful template that helps you learn how to present a PowerPoint by giving you every object and layout you need.

Let's get started:

1. Choose Your Slides

As you can see, a template like Enjoy has dozens of unique slides inside. The key to how to give a good presentation PPT is to choose only the slides that you need.

In PowerPoint, scroll through the sidebar on the left to view different slide layouts. Right-click and choose Delete to remove unwanted designs. Plus, you can click and drag slide thumbnails to reorder them in the deck.

2. Add Text

Consider how to do a good PowerPoint presentation without investing a ton of time. That’s where premium templates come in.

To add custom text, simply click and select the contents of any text box on your slide. Then, type in your own words. Repeat as needed throughout your slide deck.

3. Customize Fonts

With text selected, it’s easy to customize fonts on each slide. Find the Font section on PowerPoint’s Home tab. From there, you've got a variety of dropdown options.

Click to change the font, font size, and more. You can also use the buttons on the left to add bolds, italics, and more.

Need more custom font styles? As an Envato Elements subscriber, you've got instant access to thousands of custom fonts . Use them in your presentation with ease.

4. Insert Images

Slides like this one contain an image placeholder. That’s another advantage found only with premium templates. These make adding images a breeze.

To get started, find an image file stored on your computer. Then, drag and drop it over the placeholder. PowerPoint will import it, sized and scaled for a perfect fit.

5. Change Colors

One of the top effective presentation skills PPT ideas is changing shape colors. This helps you control the look and feel of each slide.

With a shape selected, find the Shape Format tab on PowerPoint’s ribbon. Then, click on the Shape Fill dropdown. You’ll see a color chooser menu appear. Click on any thumbnail to apply it to the shape or browse through the Gradient and Texture options.

Learn How to Make Great Presentations (Download This Free eBook)

Take the PowerPoint tips you learned in this article further with our eBook: The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations ( grab it now for FREE ) . 

It'll help walk you through the complete presentation process. Learn how to write your presentation, design it like a pro, and prepare it to present powerfully.

Start Putting These PowerPoint Presentation Tips & Tricks Into Use Today!

Learning to write, design, and present a PowerPoint presentation is an invaluable skill, no matter where you use it. If you’re a good communicator of important messages, you’ll never go hungry.

Luckily, improving PowerPoint presentations isn't as hard as it seems. Follow these tips for PowerPoint presentations to design and deliver with greater confidence.

Remember: Less is more (effective) . Use  PowerPoint Presentation Templates  for better design and more effective visual impact. And you can customize a PPT template quickly , with the right workflow. 

Here's a showcase of simple, modern PowerPoint templates to start with:

Again, one of the most important tips for using PowerPoint is to focus your time on the content.   To do that, you'll want to outsource the work of designing your PowerPoint slides to the talented designers at Envato Elements. Go check out  top templates from Envato Elements  to explore options.

Editorial Note:  This post was originally published in December of 2015. It's been comprehensively revised to make it current, accurate, and up to date by our staff-- with special help from Andrew Childress and Sarah Joy .

We use essential cookies to make Venngage work. By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.

Manage Cookies

Cookies and similar technologies collect certain information about how you’re using our website. Some of them are essential, and without them you wouldn’t be able to use Venngage. But others are optional, and you get to choose whether we use them or not.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are always on, as they’re essential for making Venngage work, and making it safe. Without these cookies, services you’ve asked for can’t be provided.

Show cookie providers

• Google Login

Functionality Cookies

These cookies help us provide enhanced functionality and personalisation, and remember your settings. They may be set by us or by third party providers.

Performance Cookies

These cookies help us analyze how many people are using Venngage, where they come from and how they're using it. If you opt out of these cookies, we can’t get feedback to make Venngage better for you and all our users.

• Google Analytics

Targeting Cookies

These cookies are set by our advertising partners to track your activity and show you relevant Venngage ads on other sites as you browse the internet.

• Google Tag Manager
• Infographics
• Daily Infographics
• Popular Templates
• Accessibility
• Graphic Design
• Graphs and Charts
• Data Visualization
• Human Resources
• Beginner Guides

Blog Beginner Guides How To Make a Good Presentation [A Complete Guide]

How To Make a Good Presentation [A Complete Guide]

Written by: Krystle Wong Jul 20, 2023

A top-notch presentation possesses the power to drive action. From winning stakeholders over and conveying a powerful message to securing funding — your secret weapon lies within the realm of creating an effective presentation .  

Being an excellent presenter isn’t confined to the boardroom. Whether you’re delivering a presentation at work, pursuing an academic career, involved in a non-profit organization or even a student, nailing the presentation game is a game-changer.

In this article, I’ll cover the top qualities of compelling presentations and walk you through a step-by-step guide on how to give a good presentation. Here’s a little tip to kick things off: for a headstart, check out Venngage’s collection of free presentation templates . They are fully customizable, and the best part is you don’t need professional design skills to make them shine!

These valuable presentation tips cater to individuals from diverse professional backgrounds, encompassing business professionals, sales and marketing teams, educators, trainers, students, researchers, non-profit organizations, public speakers and presenters. 

No matter your field or role, these tips for presenting will equip you with the skills to deliver effective presentations that leave a lasting impression on any audience.

Click to jump ahead:

What are the 10 qualities of a good presentation?

Step-by-step guide on how to prepare an effective presentation, 9 effective techniques to deliver a memorable presentation, faqs on making a good presentation, how to create a presentation with venngage in 5 steps.

When it comes to giving an engaging presentation that leaves a lasting impression, it’s not just about the content — it’s also about how you deliver it. Wondering what makes a good presentation? Well, the best presentations I’ve seen consistently exhibit these 10 qualities:

1. Clear structure

No one likes to get lost in a maze of information. Organize your thoughts into a logical flow, complete with an introduction, main points and a solid conclusion. A structured presentation helps your audience follow along effortlessly, leaving them with a sense of satisfaction at the end.

Regardless of your presentation style , a quality presentation starts with a clear roadmap. Browse through Venngage’s template library and select a presentation template that aligns with your content and presentation goals. Here’s a good presentation example template with a logical layout that includes sections for the introduction, main points, supporting information and a conclusion: 

2. Engaging opening

Hook your audience right from the start with an attention-grabbing statement, a fascinating question or maybe even a captivating anecdote. Set the stage for a killer presentation!

The opening moments of your presentation hold immense power – check out these 15 ways to start a presentation to set the stage and captivate your audience.

3. Relevant content

Make sure your content aligns with their interests and needs. Your audience is there for a reason, and that’s to get valuable insights. Avoid fluff and get straight to the point, your audience will be genuinely excited.

4. Effective visual aids

Picture this: a slide with walls of text and tiny charts, yawn! Visual aids should be just that—aiding your presentation. Opt for clear and visually appealing slides, engaging images and informative charts that add value and help reinforce your message.

With Venngage, visualizing data takes no effort at all. You can import data from CSV or Google Sheets seamlessly and create stunning charts, graphs and icon stories effortlessly to showcase your data in a captivating and impactful way.

5. Clear and concise communication

Keep your language simple, and avoid jargon or complicated terms. Communicate your ideas clearly, so your audience can easily grasp and retain the information being conveyed. This can prevent confusion and enhance the overall effectiveness of the message. 

6. Engaging delivery

Spice up your presentation with a sprinkle of enthusiasm! Maintain eye contact, use expressive gestures and vary your tone of voice to keep your audience glued to the edge of their seats. A touch of charisma goes a long way!

7. Interaction and audience engagement

Turn your presentation into an interactive experience — encourage questions, foster discussions and maybe even throw in a fun activity. Engaged audiences are more likely to remember and embrace your message.

Transform your slides into an interactive presentation with Venngage’s dynamic features like pop-ups, clickable icons and animated elements. Engage your audience with interactive content that lets them explore and interact with your presentation for a truly immersive experience.

8. Effective storytelling

Who doesn’t love a good story? Weaving relevant anecdotes, case studies or even a personal story into your presentation can captivate your audience and create a lasting impact. Stories build connections and make your message memorable.

A great presentation background is also essential as it sets the tone, creates visual interest and reinforces your message. Enhance the overall aesthetics of your presentation with these 15 presentation background examples and captivate your audience’s attention.

9. Well-timed pacing

Pace your presentation thoughtfully with well-designed presentation slides, neither rushing through nor dragging it out. Respect your audience’s time and ensure you cover all the essential points without losing their interest.

10. Strong conclusion

Last impressions linger! Summarize your main points and leave your audience with a clear takeaway. End your presentation with a bang , a call to action or an inspiring thought that resonates long after the conclusion.

In-person presentations aside, acing a virtual presentation is of paramount importance in today’s digital world. Check out this guide to learn how you can adapt your in-person presentations into virtual presentations . 

Preparing an effective presentation starts with laying a strong foundation that goes beyond just creating slides and notes. One of the quickest and best ways to make a presentation would be with the help of a good presentation software . 

Otherwise, let me walk you to how to prepare for a presentation step by step and unlock the secrets of crafting a professional presentation that sets you apart.

1. Understand the audience and their needs

Before you dive into preparing your masterpiece, take a moment to get to know your target audience. Tailor your presentation to meet their needs and expectations , and you’ll have them hooked from the start!

2. Conduct thorough research on the topic

Time to hit the books (or the internet)! Don’t skimp on the research with your presentation materials — dive deep into the subject matter and gather valuable insights . The more you know, the more confident you’ll feel in delivering your presentation.

3. Organize the content with a clear structure

No one wants to stumble through a chaotic mess of information. Outline your presentation with a clear and logical flow. Start with a captivating introduction, follow up with main points that build on each other and wrap it up with a powerful conclusion that leaves a lasting impression.

Delivering an effective business presentation hinges on captivating your audience, and Venngage’s professionally designed business presentation templates are tailor-made for this purpose. With thoughtfully structured layouts, these templates enhance your message’s clarity and coherence, ensuring a memorable and engaging experience for your audience members.

Don’t want to build your presentation layout from scratch? pick from these 5 foolproof presentation layout ideas that won’t go wrong. 

4. Develop visually appealing and supportive visual aids

Spice up your presentation with eye-catching visuals! Create slides that complement your message, not overshadow it. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words, but that doesn’t mean you need to overload your slides with text.

Well-chosen designs create a cohesive and professional look, capturing your audience’s attention and enhancing the overall effectiveness of your message. Here’s a list of carefully curated PowerPoint presentation templates and great background graphics that will significantly influence the visual appeal and engagement of your presentation.

5. Practice, practice and practice

Practice makes perfect — rehearse your presentation and arrive early to your presentation to help overcome stage fright. Familiarity with your material will boost your presentation skills and help you handle curveballs with ease.

6. Seek feedback and make necessary adjustments

Don’t be afraid to ask for help and seek feedback from friends and colleagues. Constructive criticism can help you identify blind spots and fine-tune your presentation to perfection.

With Venngage’s real-time collaboration feature , receiving feedback and editing your presentation is a seamless process. Group members can access and work on the presentation simultaneously and edit content side by side in real-time. Changes will be reflected immediately to the entire team, promoting seamless teamwork.

7. Prepare for potential technical or logistical issues

Prepare for the unexpected by checking your equipment, internet connection and any other potential hiccups. If you’re worried that you’ll miss out on any important points, you could always have note cards prepared. Remember to remain focused and rehearse potential answers to anticipated questions.

8. Fine-tune and polish your presentation

As the big day approaches, give your presentation one last shine. Review your talking points, practice how to present a presentation and make any final tweaks. Deep breaths — you’re on the brink of delivering a successful presentation!

In competitive environments, persuasive presentations set individuals and organizations apart. To brush up on your presentation skills, read these guides on how to make a persuasive presentation and tips to presenting effectively . 

Whether you’re an experienced presenter or a novice, the right techniques will let your presentation skills soar to new heights!

From public speaking hacks to interactive elements and storytelling prowess, these 9 effective presentation techniques will empower you to leave a lasting impression on your audience and make your presentations unforgettable.

1. Confidence and positive body language

Positive body language instantly captivates your audience, making them believe in your message as much as you do. Strengthen your stage presence and own that stage like it’s your second home! Stand tall, shoulders back and exude confidence. 

2. Eye contact with the audience

Break down that invisible barrier and connect with your audience through their eyes. Maintaining eye contact when giving a presentation builds trust and shows that you’re present and engaged with them.

3. Effective use of hand gestures and movement

A little movement goes a long way! Emphasize key points with purposeful gestures and don’t be afraid to walk around the stage. Your energy will be contagious!

4. Utilize storytelling techniques

Weave the magic of storytelling into your presentation. Share relatable anecdotes, inspiring success stories or even personal experiences that tug at the heartstrings of your audience. Adjust your pitch, pace and volume to match the emotions and intensity of the story. Varying your speaking voice adds depth and enhances your stage presence.

5. Incorporate multimedia elements

Spice up your presentation with a dash of visual pizzazz! Use slides, images and video clips to add depth and clarity to your message. Just remember, less is more—don’t overwhelm them with information overload. 

Turn your presentations into an interactive party! Involve your audience with questions, polls or group activities. When they actively participate, they become invested in your presentation’s success. Bring your design to life with animated elements. Venngage allows you to apply animations to icons, images and text to create dynamic and engaging visual content.

6. Utilize humor strategically

Laughter is the best medicine—and a fantastic presentation enhancer! A well-placed joke or lighthearted moment can break the ice and create a warm atmosphere , making your audience more receptive to your message.

7. Practice active listening and respond to feedback

Be attentive to your audience’s reactions and feedback. If they have questions or concerns, address them with genuine interest and respect. Your responsiveness builds rapport and shows that you genuinely care about their experience.

8. Apply the 10-20-30 rule

Apply the 10-20-30 presentation rule and keep it short, sweet and impactful! Stick to ten slides, deliver your presentation within 20 minutes and use a 30-point font to ensure clarity and focus. Less is more, and your audience will thank you for it!

9. Implement the 5-5-5 rule

Simplicity is key. Limit each slide to five bullet points, with only five words per bullet point and allow each slide to remain visible for about five seconds. This rule keeps your presentation concise and prevents information overload.

Simple presentations are more engaging because they are easier to follow. Summarize your presentations and keep them simple with Venngage’s gallery of simple presentation templates and ensure that your message is delivered effectively across your audience.

1. How to start a presentation?

To kick off your presentation effectively, begin with an attention-grabbing statement or a powerful quote. Introduce yourself, establish credibility and clearly state the purpose and relevance of your presentation.

2. How to end a presentation?

For a strong conclusion, summarize your talking points and key takeaways. End with a compelling call to action or a thought-provoking question and remember to thank your audience and invite any final questions or interactions.

3. How to make a presentation interactive?

To make your presentation interactive, encourage questions and discussion throughout your talk. Utilize multimedia elements like videos or images and consider including polls, quizzes or group activities to actively involve your audience.

In need of inspiration for your next presentation? I’ve got your back! Pick from these 120+ presentation ideas, topics and examples to get started. 

Creating a stunning presentation with Venngage is a breeze with our user-friendly drag-and-drop editor and professionally designed templates for all your communication needs. 

Here’s how to make a presentation in just 5 simple steps with the help of Venngage:

Step 1: Sign up for Venngage for free using your email, Gmail or Facebook account or simply log in to access your account. 

Step 2: Pick a design from our selection of free presentation templates (they’re all created by our expert in-house designers).

Step 3: Make the template your own by customizing it to fit your content and branding. With Venngage’s intuitive drag-and-drop editor, you can easily modify text, change colors and adjust the layout to create a unique and eye-catching design.

Step 4: Elevate your presentation by incorporating captivating visuals. You can upload your images or choose from Venngage’s vast library of high-quality photos, icons and illustrations. 

Step 5: Upgrade to a premium or business account to export your presentation in PDF and print it for in-person presentations or share it digitally for free!

By following these five simple steps, you’ll have a professionally designed and visually engaging presentation ready in no time. With Venngage’s user-friendly platform, your presentation is sure to make a lasting impression. So, let your creativity flow and get ready to shine in your next presentation!

Discover popular designs

Infographic maker

Brochure maker

White paper online

Newsletter creator

Flyer maker

Timeline maker

Letterhead maker

Mind map maker

Ebook maker

• SUGGESTED TOPICS
• The Magazine
• Newsletters
• Managing Yourself
• Managing Teams
• Work-life Balance
• The Big Idea
• Data & Visuals
• Reading Lists
• Case Selections
• HBR Learning
• Topic Feeds
• Account Settings
• Email Preferences

Getting an Audience to Remember Your Presentation

• Art Markman

Designing better presentations with cognitive science.

Lots of articles about giving good presentations focus on structure and style. Tips focus on the role of stories to get people interested in the material, the value of summaries at the end of talk, and the many facets of presentation performance – things like how you should stand and ways to use your hands and arms as you speak.

• Art Markman , PhD, is the Annabel Irion Worsham Centennial Professor of Psychology and Marketing at the University of Texas at Austin and founding director of the program in the  Human Dimensions of Organizations . He has written over 150 scholarly papers on topics including reasoning, decision-making, and motivation. His most recent book is Bring Your Brain to Work: Using Cognitive Science to Get a Job, Do it Well, and Advance Your Career (HBR Press).

Partner Center

Easy Ways to Remember Your Presentation Material

Remembering an entire presentation is no easy task. It is very easy to forget details, and this can lead you to fumble and make mistakes in front of your audience. If you’re someone who struggles with remembering the content of your presentations, this article will discuss some easy ways to help you remember your presentation material. 

Preparation and Organization:  

To begin with, understand the material. Thoroughly research and understand your topic to build a strong foundation for retaining information. This also helps you become more confident during your presentation, which can help you memorise the presentation material as well. 

Next, organize your presentation material. Create a presentation outline or mind map outlining the key points and flow of your presentation. This serves as a roadmap for your memory during delivery. 

You should also consider practicing with visual aids. Use cue cards, images, or diagrams to represent key information. Engaging visual aids can trigger memory recall and reinforce concepts. Here is an article on creating cue cards for your presentations. 

Using Mnemonics:  

Always rehearse your presentations out loud. Practice delivering your presentation verbally, either alone or in front of a trusted friend or colleague. Verbalization helps solidify information in your memory. If you have nobody to practice with, then use a camera to record yourself. Watch your recordings after you’re done to assess your presentation delivery and to note areas of improvement. 

Consider using mnemonic devices. Create acronyms, rhymes, or stories to link information together. Mnemonics provide a unique way to encode and recall information. 

Mnemonics are memory aids that can help you remember your presentation material more easily. It can be useful for remembering complex information. To get started, here are some common types of mnemonics.

You can choose or create a word/phrase where each letter represents the first letter of the items you need to remember.

Form a sentence/phrase where the first letter of each word represents the information you want to remember. For example, the strings of a guitar, EBGDAE can be remembered using the phrase Every Bad Guy, Deserves An Egg.

This involves breaking down large amounts of information into smaller chunks. This can help with with memory recall, since you’re organizing information into meaningful groups.

Visualization and Relaxation Techniques:  

Visualization is a powerful tool, when it comes to memorizing things, as well as boosting confidence. Visualize your presentation. Imagine yourself confidently delivering the presentation, focusing on key points and visuals.  

Don’t forget to get proper sleep before your presentation. A well-rested mind is better equipped to retain information and handle performance anxiety. Also, practice simple breathing exercises or meditation to manage pre-presentation jitters. Relaxation can improve focus and memory recall. 

Keep the above tips in mind when you work on your next presentation, and you will be able to remember your presentation material. You should believe in yourself and your ability to deliver a successful presentation. Confidence can enhance memory recall and overall presentation effectiveness.  

At SlideBazaar, we help you create engaging and memorable presentations. Choose from our collection of professional templates or opt for our custom design services for a personalized touch. Your presentations deserve to be elevated to new heights, and we’re here to help you achieve just that!

BROWSE BY CATEGORY

• PowerPoint Templates
• Keynote Presentations
• Infographic
• Free slides

QUICK LINKS

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Terms & Conditions
• Privacy Policy
• DMCA Policy

EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get updates of our PowerPoint templates and slide designs before anyone else.

• PRESENTATION SKILLS

Top Tips for Effective Presentations

Search SkillsYouNeed:

Presentation Skills:

• A - Z List of Presentation Skills
• General Presentation Skills
• What is a Presentation?
• Preparing for a Presentation
• Organising the Material
• Writing Your Presentation
• Deciding the Presentation Method
• Managing your Presentation Notes
• Working with Visual Aids
• Presenting Data
• Managing the Event
• Coping with Presentation Nerves
• Dealing with Questions
• How to Build Presentations Like a Consultant
• 7 Qualities of Good Speakers That Can Help You Be More Successful
• Self-Presentation in Presentations
• Specific Presentation Events
• Remote Meetings and Presentations
• Giving a Speech
• Presentations in Interviews
• Presenting to Large Groups and Conferences
• Giving Lectures and Seminars
• Managing a Press Conference
• Attending Public Consultation Meetings
• Managing a Public Consultation Meeting
• Crisis Communications
• Elsewhere on Skills You Need:
• Communication Skills
• Facilitation Skills
• Teams, Groups and Meetings
• Effective Speaking
• Question Types

Subscribe to our FREE newsletter and start improving your life in just 5 minutes a day.

You'll get our 5 free 'One Minute Life Skills' and our weekly newsletter.

We'll never share your email address and you can unsubscribe at any time.

How can you make a good presentation even more effective?

This page draws on published advice from expert presenters around the world, which will help to take your presentations from merely ‘good’ to ‘great’.

By bringing together advice from a wide range of people, the aim is to cover a whole range of areas.

Whether you are an experienced presenter, or just starting out, there should be ideas here to help you to improve.

1. Show your Passion and Connect with your Audience

It’s hard to be relaxed and be yourself when you’re nervous.

But time and again, the great presenters say that the most important thing is to connect with your audience, and the best way to do that is to let your passion for the subject shine through.

Be honest with the audience about what is important to you and why it matters.

Be enthusiastic and honest, and the audience will respond.

2. Focus on your Audience’s Needs

Your presentation needs to be built around what your audience is going to get out of the presentation.

As you prepare the presentation, you always need to bear in mind what the audience needs and wants to know, not what you can tell them.

While you’re giving the presentation, you also need to remain focused on your audience’s response, and react to that.

You need to make it easy for your audience to understand and respond.

3. Keep it Simple: Concentrate on your Core Message

When planning your presentation, you should always keep in mind the question:

What is the key message (or three key points) for my audience to take away?

You should be able to communicate that key message very briefly.

Some experts recommend a 30-second ‘elevator summary’, others that you can write it on the back of a business card, or say it in no more than 15 words.

Whichever rule you choose, the important thing is to keep your core message focused and brief.

And if what you are planning to say doesn’t contribute to that core message, don’t say it.

4. Smile and Make Eye Contact with your Audience

This sounds very easy, but a surprisingly large number of presenters fail to do it.

If you smile and make eye contact, you are building rapport , which helps the audience to connect with you and your subject. It also helps you to feel less nervous, because you are talking to individuals, not to a great mass of unknown people.

To help you with this, make sure that you don’t turn down all the lights so that only the slide screen is visible. Your audience needs to see you as well as your slides.

5. Start Strongly

The beginning of your presentation is crucial. You need to grab your audience’s attention and hold it.

They will give you a few minutes’ grace in which to entertain them, before they start to switch off if you’re dull. So don’t waste that on explaining who you are. Start by entertaining them.

Try a story (see tip 7 below), or an attention-grabbing (but useful) image on a slide.

6. Remember the 10-20-30 Rule for Slideshows

This is a tip from Guy Kawasaki of Apple. He suggests that slideshows should:

• Contain no more than 10 slides;
• Last no more than 20 minutes; and
• Use a font size of no less than 30 point.

This last is particularly important as it stops you trying to put too much information on any one slide. This whole approach avoids the dreaded ‘Death by PowerPoint’.

As a general rule, slides should be the sideshow to you, the presenter. A good set of slides should be no use without the presenter, and they should definitely contain less, rather than more, information, expressed simply.

If you need to provide more information, create a bespoke handout and give it out after your presentation.

7. Tell Stories

Human beings are programmed to respond to stories.

Stories help us to pay attention, and also to remember things. If you can use stories in your presentation, your audience is more likely to engage and to remember your points afterwards. It is a good idea to start with a story, but there is a wider point too: you need your presentation to act like a story.

Think about what story you are trying to tell your audience, and create your presentation to tell it.

Finding The Story Behind Your Presentation

To effectively tell a story, focus on using at least one of the two most basic storytelling mechanics in your presentation:

Focusing On Characters – People have stories; things, data, and objects do not. So ask yourself “who” is directly involved in your topic that you can use as the focal point of your story.

For example, instead of talking about cars (your company’s products), you could focus on specific characters like:

• The drivers the car is intended for – people looking for speed and adventure
• The engineers who went out of their way to design the most cost-effective car imaginable

A Changing Dynamic – A story needs something to change along the way. So ask yourself “What is not as it should be?” and answer with what you are going to do about it (or what you did about it).

For example…

• Did hazardous road conditions inspire you to build a rugged, all-terrain jeep that any family could afford?
• Did a complicated and confusing food labelling system lead you to establish a colour-coded nutritional index so that anybody could easily understand it?

To see 15 more actionable storytelling tips, see Nuts & Bolts Speed Training’s post on Storytelling Tips .

8. Use your Voice Effectively

The spoken word is actually a pretty inefficient means of communication, because it uses only one of your audience’s five senses. That’s why presenters tend to use visual aids, too. But you can help to make the spoken word better by using your voice effectively.

Varying the speed at which you talk, and emphasising changes in pitch and tone all help to make your voice more interesting and hold your audience’s attention.

For more about this, see our page on Effective Speaking .

9. Use your Body Too

It has been estimated that more than three quarters of communication is non-verbal.

That means that as well as your tone of voice, your body language is crucial to getting your message across. Make sure that you are giving the right messages: body language to avoid includes crossed arms, hands held behind your back or in your pockets, and pacing the stage.

Make your gestures open and confident, and move naturally around the stage, and among the audience too, if possible.

10. Relax, Breathe and Enjoy

If you find presenting difficult, it can be hard to be calm and relaxed about doing it.

One option is to start by concentrating on your breathing. Slow it down, and make sure that you’re breathing fully. Make sure that you continue to pause for breath occasionally during your presentation too.

For more ideas, see our page on Coping with Presentation Nerves .

If you can bring yourself to relax, you will almost certainly present better. If you can actually start to enjoy yourself, your audience will respond to that, and engage better. Your presentations will improve exponentially, and so will your confidence. It’s well worth a try.

Improve your Presentation Skills

Follow our guide to boost your presentation skills learning about preparation, delivery, questions and all other aspects of giving effective presentations.

Start with: What is a Presentation?

Continue to: How to Give a Speech Self Presentation

See also: Five Ways You Can Do Visual Marketing on a Budget Can Presentation Science Improve Your Presentation? Typography – It’s All About the Message in Your Slides

How to Study Powerpoints (4 Quick Tips)

Powerpoint presentations. They’re long, they’re (sometimes) complicated and they’re not usually fun.

How to study powerpoints best?

Pre-study them first. Ask active questions about the information on the slides. Make quick (but short) flashcards from the key concepts.

Med school leans on powerpoint presentations a lot!

For students wondering how best to deal with them, this article is for you.

You’ll learn:

• Useful ways to make passive slide reading more active
• How can you save time having to cover the material in multiple passes
• The tips I used to survive heavy powerpoint content

Having spent the last four years in powerpoint hell, I’ve come up with a few ideas!

Let’s get started.

How To Study Powerpoints

1. pre-study powerpoints.

One of the most effective ways to prepare for lectures and increase your chances of staying awake is to pre-study them beforehand.

Doing this helps you contextualize information better. As you’ve already seen the start and end points, you know exactly where the presentation is going.

Here’s how you can best do this:

• Skim over the slides for a quick first pass (don’t worry about understanding at this stage)
• Why is this information relevant to X?
• What is meant by X or Y terms?
• Why is understanding this beneficial?
• Listen actively in the lecture and try to pick out the answers to these questions
• If anything remains unanswered ask for clarifications at the end

Of course you don’t have to only do this in lectures either.

If you choose not to go to lectures (don’t worry, many med students don’t) , you can switch point three (listening) to reading instead.

The main point is that you try and answer the questions during a deeper second pass. 

This is similar to a couple of tips shared by med student redditors in my article; How To Study In Med School: Reddit’s 26 Best Tips .

2. Actively Review Slides: Ask Questions

Reading or listening to powerpoint presentations is very passive. I know when I first started med school I was surprised by just how dull and ineffective this mode of learning could be.

That’s why I’m a big champion of evidence-based study strategies like active recall! 

You can apply active recall to powerpoints by writing questions instead of notes on the slides. Then you can finish up by collecting these questions and putting them into a spreadsheet or something similar. And finally periodically quiz yourself on the answers.

This is probably best done with note-taking apps like Notability or OneNote.

If you use a tablet or iPad in med school , you can import the slides and write these questions directly beneath them. 

Janice Studies has a really good guide on digital note taking in this video…

I did a lot of this in the preclinical years of study!

3. Turn Lecture Slides Directly Into Flashcards

Another great way to get more active when studying powerpoints or slides is to convert them directly into flashcards. 

There are lots of ways to do this but my preferred method is using digital flashcard apps like anki . 

A few things to be aware of:

• Set a target number of flashcards per lecture (don’t turn every bullet point into a flashcard – that’s just overkill – aim for something like 2 cards per slide)
• Check if there are any pre-made decks that cover the major points already (helps if you’ve pre-studied the slides first)
• Use cloze (fill-in-the-gap) formats or the image occlusion add-on to make your cards faster to recall (don’t jam a load of endless facts on them)

This last point is why I love zanki so much. Check out my article: What Is The Best Anki Deck For Step 1 to learn more about that.

This video from Prerak Juthani is very similar to how I’d recommend doing it…

Having your powerpoints converted this way will ensure you memorize them effectively.

Just remember to keep up with the reviews !

4. Summarize In Your Own Words

Summarizing the information on slides into your own words is a powerful technique that can help you understand and recall the information better. 

Here are a few ways of doing this effectively:

• Condense the information : force yourself to select the most high yield information that’s worth memorizing.
• Once put into your own words, try recalling it without help : you could use concept maps on whiteboards to help here. Whenever you get stuck go back to your summary, review and repeat the process.
• Teach someone else the concept : explain it to a friend, colleague or say aloud without a reference guide to prove you’ve really understood it. 

Each of these are strong active recall strategies that can help turn passive powerpoint learning into something great.

Bonus: Forget The Powerpoints

This last tip is something a little extra.

Perhaps it’s best to forget the powerpoints completely.

Why not pick up a high-yield review book instead?

I decided to do this after my first year in med school and I never looked back. Using UFAPS and resources like Boards and Beyond to learn the material during the first pass, I saved a lot of time and effort and my grades weren’t impacted either. 

Note : If you’re not a med student, just Google “best review books for X”. X being your topic of study!

Just remember to skim the lectures before major exams though to make sure you cover the details your school’s internal exams love to test on.

Powerpoints are many professor’s best friend. Instead of getting bogged down with them, work out how to use them to your advantage.

Hopefully the tips above can help show you how.

If you liked this article, you might find the following articles useful:

• How To Study Medicine Effectively (Quick Hints & Tips)

Image Credit: @xteemu at Unsplash

Born and raised in the UK, Will went into medicine late (31) after a career in journalism. He’s into football (soccer), learned Spanish after 5 years in Spain, and has had his work published all over the web. Read more .

• My Account My Account
• Cards Cards
• Banking Banking
• Travel Travel
• Rewards & Benefits Rewards & Benefits
• Business Business

Advertisement

Related Content

9 easy ways to remember your presentation material.

Published: June 30, 2023

Updated: July 05, 2023

Overcome your anxiety with these methods that help teach you how to memorize a presentation and remember your slides before you get to them.

A common reason we experience presentation anxiety is the fear that we will forget what we have to say and risk losing credibility. A method many use to address this fear is to create presentation slides as a memory aid. However, this can be short-sighted because nothing erodes your credibility as a speaker faster than signaling to the audience that you depend on your slides.

Seasoned presenters are able to announce a slide before showing it. At a minimum, they know their material so well that they only need to briefly glance at the slide to know what's coming next. You can achieve this by doing simple memory-boosting practices to remember your presentation material and, in turn, reduce your anxiety.

Here are nine tips for memorizing a speech or presentation:

1. Use the Palace Method

Among the most effective tips for memorizing lines is The Palace Method or Mind Palace. The Palace Method is based on research into brain science that has proven a very deep connection between how we remember an event and the space in which it occurred. The brain system important for memory is lso important for space; in other words, we remember things based on spatial locations or "spatial scaffolds."

In a nutshell, The Palace Method is a memory technique that involves transforming what you want to remember into images and placing the images in a familiar mental location. In other words, you're giving your memories something to hang on to, a spatial anchor. You can then mentally tour your Memory Palace looking at your memories through these spatial anchors to help you recall each memory.

Seasoned presenters are able to announce a slide before showing it. At a minimum, they know their material so well that they only need to briefly glance at the slide to know what's coming next. 

Have you ever wondered how do you memorize a last-minute presentation? The Memory Palace Method is an ancient memory technique for how to memorize a presentation, and it's worth knowing. 

For further reading, you might consider Joshua Foer's book, Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything (or watch Foer's popular video,  To Remember Better, Build a Mansion in Your Mind, which illustrates a specific memory-building technique.) 

So, How do You Create Your Own Memory Palace?

• First, create a mental image for every item you want to remember. You will mentally place these images in a location you're familiar with, possibly the place where you grew up or your current residence. 
• Next, visualize arriving at that location and placing, on the front door, the mental image you created of the first item you want to remember. 
• Next, step inside the house and turn to your left. What's the first thing you see? For this example, let's pretend it's a fireplace. Now mentally place by the fireplace the image you created of the second item you want to remember.
• Continue your mental tour, seeing the other things in the room. Place each image you created for what you want to remember on different things in the room. Do this for the entire list of items you want to memorize. You may move from one room to the other until you have exhausted all the items on your list that you need to remember. 
• Rehearse walking through the route as many times as you can. This will aid in familiarizing yourself with your mental palace and help you recall the memorized information faster during the actual presentation.

You might need more than one memory palace, depending on what you're trying to remember.

2. Use Mind Maps

A mindmap is a diagram that allows you to lay out all of your presentation material in a visual shape rather than in list form. A mindmap can be a powerful memory aid as the visual shape or image is imprinted on your brain, making it easier to recall the information than a linear list of items. 

Drawing a mindmap is also an effective way to memorize a last-minute presentation. Try practicing your presentation from a mindmap rather than traditional notes and see what happens.

So, How do You Create a Mindmap?

Here are the basic steps to build a mindmap:

First step : Write down your main topic. For example, your main topic could be the importance of pausing when delivering a presentation.

Second step : Once you've established your main topic for the mindmap, add branches listing the topics you want to remember. In the case of this example, you would have a branch titled: "When it's important to pause." (You can simply write "When?")

Under this branch, you would insert subtopic branches listing the various reasons for pausing. Subtopics for our example might include:

• Pause before displaying a complex visual.
• Pause between different topics.
• Pause before and after explaining a critical or complex concept.

Short phrases and even keywords should suffice to jog your memory when rehearsing from your mindmap. For example, instead of "Pause before displaying a complex visual," you only need to write "complex visual." 

Third step:  Explore another topic by adding another branch to the main topic in your mindmap, such as "The benefits of pausing."    (You can simply write "Why?") To continue with this example, your sub-topics branches would include: 

• To appear unrushed and confident.
• To replace filler words.
• To engage the audience.

You can draw images and use different colors to help you visualize and recall information more quickly than words. You can draw a mindmap manually or purchase mind-mapping software such as  Matchware,   MindGenius ,  Scapple  or  Xmind , to name a few.

3. Know the Value of Focusing for Eight Seconds

Memory experts tell us that it takes an uninterrupted eight seconds for a piece of information to be processed through the hippocampus and into memory – this is how information is encoded in our brain.

Examine how you go about preparing for a presentation. Are you concentrating fully on the task of transferring the information from your notes into memory? Or are you in the habit of interrupting yourself by checking e-mail, reacting to each social media notification, or answering the phone? Remember the crucial eight seconds rule and carve out dedicated time when you can be laser-focused on rehearing the information without any interruptions. This will prevent you from overthinking your material and considerably shorten your preparation time.

4. Practice the 20-20-20 Rule of Rehearsal

How long should you be rehearsing your presentation? Memory experts recommend the 20-20-20 rule, which prescribes going over the details of a presentation for 20 minutes, then repeating the same material twice more. If material is not repeated within 30 minutes, it is not encoded into long-term memory.

This method can help you from overthinking and spending too much time memorizing your material.

5. Rehearse Out Loud

Rehearse your entire presentation out loud at least five to six times. Do this and watch your confidence in the material grow as you not only boost your memory of the material but also end up turning the presentation from a mere recital of facts to something that you have truly internalized—it changes the presentation from a thespian activity to a message that you deliver from the inside out.

What's more, rehearsing out loud can help you practice your pre-planned pauses to avoid  speaking too fast  when you deliver your presentation.

6. Practice to Music

When you explore tips for memorizing your presentation, don't forget music. Music is an effective tool to help us retain information. Dr. Georgi Lozanov, a psychologist, developed a methodology for teaching foreign languages which involved using baroque music with about 60 beats per minute. This type of music activates the left and right brain; the simultaneous action of both hemispheres maximizes the retention of information.

Students learned in a fraction of the usual time and had an average of 92 percent retention. The same applies to retaining your presentation material. Consider listening to music while rehearsing your presentation to help you absorb and retain large amounts of information.

7. Record Your Presentation

A simple, yet surprisingly not widely-known, feature is the record narration function. This allows you to record yourself delivering your presentation and then replaying it. Hearing yourself narrating your presentation from slide to slide will boost your ability to remember your material, as you now use a visual and auditory memory aid. This is a highly effective way to memorize a presentation or a speech.

8. Rehearse Before Bedtime

Neuroscientists uncovered a link between sleep and learning and memory. The findings showed that sleep enhances the consolidation of recently-acquired information in our memory system. Therefore, if you rehearse your presentation just before bedtime, you are more likely to remember the material more easily in the morning. Try doing this for your next presentation.

What's more, a quick run-through of the material before bedtime can help you calm your mind and get a good night's sleep. Consider doing a "brain dump" before bedtime by jotting down thoughts circling in your mind of any last-minute arrangements you must make the following day so they don't run through your head while you try to sleep. 

9. Improve Your Working Memory

Let's start by defining what working memory is. Working memory, also referred to as our "mental chalkboard," is a system in our brain that allows us to temporarily retain small amounts of information, such as  remembering  a phone number, a grocery list or a set of directions. It's our capacity to retain and control information for brief periods.

Working memory is for things that matter to you now but won't matter in 20 years. Long-term memory, in contrast, refers to all the information stored in our brains throughout our life.

Improving our working memory can help control our ability to pay attention and remember things.

• You might consider using some memorization apps, such as Cogmed, Mindsparke or Elevate, to name a few.
• Rehearsal of information can also help. According to researchers, if information is practiced enough,  it can become more permanent.
• Dividing big chunks of information into manageable bite-size pieces and rehearsing these small chunks will also help you  remember  your material. Concentrate and rehearse one or two of the small chunks before moving on to the next pieces of the presentation. 

What if You Forget Your Presentation?

Keep in mind that only  you  know the ideas you want to present. You are not delivering an opera where the audience has a libretto to follow your script.

If you forget something, move on, and the audience will likely not notice. If you remember something later, say: "There is one other item I would like to add," or "Let me digress for a moment to mention another point."

Stay sharp by using some of these memory improvement techniques.

Preparing for a Presentation Should be Quick and Effective With these 9 Tips

• Use the memory palace method to encode the information in your long-term memory for easy retrieval.
• Draw a mind map to outline all your presentation material and rehearse from the mind map.
• Practice deep focusing and rehearse your information without interruptions.
• Use the rehearsal rule of 20-20-20 to shorten your practice time.
• Practice your presentation material aloud.
• Create a low-stress environment and listen to music while rehearsing.
• Record your presentation and watch a replay several times. 
• Rehearse before going to bed and write down a checklist of what's on your mind as a brain dump to relax your mind and get a good night's sleep.
• Improve your working memory by using memorization apps and breaking your rehearsal material into bite-size, manageable chunks. 

A version of this article was originally published on April 11, 2012. 

Photo: Getty Images

Trending Content

PowerPoint Charts, Graphs, & Tables Made Easy | Tips & Tricks

In today's digital world, effective communication is key, especially in presentations. After all, in a world saturated with information, the power to express your message clearly and impactfully can make all the difference.

We know that conveying complex information can be challenging, but guess what? It doesn't have to be! After discussing this with our 200+ expert presentation designers , I've gathered their best practices and strategies to create this comprehensive guide.

Below, you will find expert tips and tricks for making, customizing, and presenting PowerPoint charts, graphs, and tables. Stay with us!

Today, we'll explore the following topics:

• PowerPoint Charts and Graphs 

Tables in PowerPoint

Free powerpoint charts, graphs, and tables templates, ready to enhance your presentations our team at 24slides is here to help, powerpoint charts and graphs.

If you are thinking of adding tables to your PowerPoint presentation, let me first show you two other great options: charts and graphs.

Charts and graphs stand out for making complex information easy to read at a glance. They’re ideal for identifying trends, representing patterns, and making decisions easier. In addition, charts and graphs capture the audience's attention.

You have many types to choose from, and we'll go over the most important ones later. In the meantime, here are some examples:

Undoubtedly, one of the best ways to take your presentations to the next level.

But you may have a question in mind: What is the difference between a chart and a graph in PowerPoint? Charts refer to any visual representation of data, whether graphical or non-graphical (such as tables). Graphs, on the other hand, refer specifically to the graphical representation of data (such as bar charts).

In other words, all graphs are charts, but not all charts are graphs.

People often confuse these terms in PowerPoint, but they actually refer to different visual elements.

How to Make a Chart in PowerPoint?

First, go to the Insert tab. Then, click on Chart and select your favorite chart type. Finally, enter your data or copy it from somewhere else. Simple!

Here you have the detailed step-by-step instructions:

• Select the slide where you want to add the chart. Choose the Insert tab, then select the Illustrations group's Chart option.

• A dialog box for inserting charts will appear. Choose a category on the left, then double-click the chart you want on the right.

• When inserted, the chart appears alongside a spreadsheet. Here, you have to replace the placeholder data with your own details. 

To edit your chart's content, use the selection handles in the spreadsheet to add or remove data.

• When inserting a chart, you will see small buttons on the upper right side of the chart. 

Format using the Chart Elements button. Click on “+” to tweak the chart title, data labels, and more. Use the Chart Styles button (brush) to change the chart's color or style. Finally, the Chart Filters button (funnel) will show or hide data from your chart.

Customizing Charts in PowerPoint

We already know about the power of PowerPoint charts, but we still have one more step to take: customizing them.

• Edit data: You can modify data directly in PowerPoint. Just double-click on the chart to open the associated Excel spreadsheet. Here, you can add, delete, or edit data. If you want to do it like a pro, check out how to Link or Embed an Excel File in PowerPoint. 
• Change the design: Go to the design tab. Here, you can add or remove elements such as titles, captions, labels, etc.
• Change color and style: Select the format tab. In this section, you will find options to change the chart's color and style. You can even make individual changes.
• Add shape effects: Go to the format tab and unleash your creativity. You can add shadows, reflections, and 3D effects.

And there you have it; now you know how to customize your PowerPoint Chart. If you are looking for more inspiration, take a look at our detailed Flowchart and Gantt Chart articles.

Chart vs table

Is a chart better than a table?

We already know the importance of using tables in PowerPoint presentations. However, you may have a question in mind: are charts better than tables? The short answer is: it depends.

First off, think about what type of data you are dealing with and, most importantly, what message you are trying to get across.

Charts are great for showing trends, making comparisons, and connecting data points. They’re also visually appealing. Conversely, tables could be your perfect selection for numerical data and comprehensive details.

The most important types of charts in PPT and which one is best for you

We have checked out why adding visuals is a game-changer for your presentations. However, which one is best for your needs? 

Based on our more than 10 years of expertise and creating around 17,500 slides per month, these are the charts most requested by our customers. Let's explore each one!

“Columns, bars, lines, and pie charts are top picks for clients because they're more descriptive and easier to get for the audience.” Briana/ Design Manager

Column Chart

Ideal for making comparisons. You can represent data in an attractive and clear way. It’s also a great option for showing changes over time. Here, you can emphasize the difference in quantities.

Imagine you're tracking sales for a store. If you have many categories of sales data and need to compare them, a column chart could be just what you need.

Download our Free Column Chart Template here.

Like the column chart, the bar chart can simplify complex information quickly , especially when comparing data. But, the horizontal layout might influence how people see things, potentially altering how they understand your data. Keep this in mind!

When you have long category labels or many categories, choose a bar chart instead of a column chart. Horizontal bars are easier to read and take up less space in the presentation.

Download our Free Bar Chart Template here.

The top choice for showing trends over time. You can even combine it with other charts. For example, you can add them to a column chart to display different data at a glance. This makes it easier for viewers to understand complex information.

But how to make a line graph in PowerPoint? First, click on the Insert tab. Then, click on Graph and select Line Graph. That's it—it's as simple as that.

Download our Free Line Chart Template here .

The best for showing proportions. Not only is it easy to understand, but you will also be able to illustrate percentages or parts of a whole.

Pie charts are easy to create, you need to figure out the percentages or proportions of each data category. But remember, keep the chart to six or fewer sections. This maintains data impact, avoiding confusion.

Download our Free Pie Chart Template here .

How to Use Charts and Graphs Effectively?

We already know how to use PowerPoint charts, graphs, and tables, but we want to go one step further. Here are the best tips for making effective PowerPoint presentations.

• Choose the right type of chart. Choose graphics that best suit your data. For example, use column or bar charts to compare categories, line charts to show trends over time, and pie charts to display parts of a whole.
• Be selective. Avoid using too much information, eliminate irrelevant details, and keep it simple. By focusing on the most important data points, you enhance the clarity of the information for your audience.
• Pay attention to color. When presenting data , keep in mind the consistency of the colors and make sure essential information stands out. Avoid using too many colors here, as this can be distracting.
• Add context. Make your titles clear and descriptive. Labels should also serve as a guide for viewers to understand everything easily. This could mean explaining trends, defining terms, or just describing where the data comes from.
• Consistency. Use the same style and format for your graphics and data. Ensure brand consistency in a presentation is key. This creates a professional and polished visual presentation.
• Be creative. Try unique ways to showcase your data, like infographics or custom graphics. For example, you can use a bar chart to compare categories and a line chart to show the trend over time.

Pro Tip: Creating a PowerPoint infographic is one of the most creative ways to present data. They provide a visually engaging and easy-to-follow format for presenting complex information. Briana/ Design Manager

PowerPoint tables help organize and display data in a structured way for presentations. They’re made up of rows and columns containing text, numerical data, or other information.

Tables are awesome for showing comparisons, summarizing information, sharing research findings, and planning. Because of all that, they are a top choice for visualizing financial or statistical data. They’re incredibly versatile and practical!

All you need to do is put the right labels on, and reading should be a breeze. Believe us, your audience will appreciate it. Do you want to present data in detail and make comparisons? Then, this is your best option.

People have been using PowerPoint tables for a long time. Why? That's simple: they’re easy to read.

Here's an example:

Download our Free Table Template here .

How to Make a Table in PowerPoint?

Inserting tables in PowerPoint is quite simple. Just click on Insert and then on Table . Next, just drag the mouse down to choose the number of rows and columns you need.

Should you require a bigger table? You can manually select the values for the columns and rows. 

Customizing tables in PowerPoint

Now that we know how to create a table in PowerPoint, let's customize it. But first, let's learn how to add rows and columns in PowerPoint.

• How to add a row to a table in PowerPoint?

Click on a cell in the existing table. Go to the Layout tab in the ribbon and select Insert . Select Insert Rows Above or Insert Rows Below , depending on where you want to add the new row.

• How to add a column to a table in PowerPoint?

Click on an adjacent cell in the table. Go to the Layout tab in the ribbon and then select Insert . Choose either Insert Columns Left or Insert Columns Right , depending on where you want to add the new column.

Now that you have the structure of your table ready, let's give it some styling:

• Applying style in your table presentation

To edit your tables, first select a cell. Then, click on the Design tab to pick the style you like best. Finally, click on the drop-down arrow to see the complete Table Styles gallery .

That's it. Now you know how to use tables in PowerPoint.

How to Use Tables Effectively?

Tables are powerful tools for presenting data in a structured format. They can enhance clarity, facilitate comparisons, and convey complex information.

However, when you don't use them correctly, they can have the opposite effect, making the information flat and boring. So here are golden rules to help you:

Keep it simple

Don't overload your table with too much information. Focus on the most important information to keep it clear and easy to read. Remember, the powerful presentation of data is in simplicity.

Consider whether gridlines are necessary for your table. Removing them can make your board look cleaner and more professional.

Although many don't mention it, choosing the right words is vital. The more you can say of the same idea in fewer words, the better. Avoid using words or connectors that add nothing to the message.

Highlight key data points

Make your table pop using bold, italics, or fun colors to highlight important data or headings. This will make the table easier to read.

Consider adding shades for alternate rows to make your table easier to read. Make the shadow subtle, to avoid distraction from the data itself.

You can use color to emphasize backgrounds or text. No matter which method you opt for to add contrast, remember that “less is more” when creating an effective table.

Consistency

Consistency is crucial in tables, as it is in graphics. Ensure that the font style, size, and color are the same across the entire table. This helps maintain visual harmony.

Align your text and numbers properly so they're easier to read and give your table a polished look. If you will use decimals, think about aligning them to facilitate comparisons.

In this article, we have explored the benefits of incorporating visuals like charts, graphs, and presentation tables in PowerPoint. We also know how to add them and ensure they look good. 

Just remember to pick the right chart and keep your presentations consistent.

And as I said at the beginning, conveying complex information doesn't have to be challenging! Our Templates by 24Slides platform has hundreds of free PowerPoint charts, graphs, and table templates. 

You can download and combine different templates to create a shiny PowerPoint Presentation. All the examples in this article are fully customizable, allowing you to insert your data without worrying about design. Enjoy them!

Knowing how to use PowerPoint charts, graphs, and tables can make the difference between a successful presentation and a failed one. However, mastering the art of presenting data takes more time and effort. 

The good news? You can always trust professionals to do the heavy work, allowing you to focus on improving your product or service — what really matters to your business.

With an average satisfaction score of 4.8 out of 5 from over 1.3 million redesigned slides, it's safe to say we're incredibly proud of the product we deliver.

We're the world's largest presentation design company.

Not only will you receive an attractive presentation, but we will create one that fits your brand's visual guidelines. Most importantly, it will help emphasize your message and engage your audience.

Ready to elevate your PowerPoint presentations? Explore this content!

• PowerPoint 101: The Ultimate Guide for Beginners
• Mastering the Art of Presenting Data in PowerPoint
• The Ultimate Brand Identity Presentation Guide [FREE PPT Template]
• 7 Essential Storytelling Techniques for your Business Presentation
• The Cost of PowerPoint Presentations: Discover the hidden expenses you might overlook!

Create professional presentations online

Other people also read

How To Write Effective Emails That Will Improve Your Communi...

How to Make a Marketing Plan Presentation in PowerPoint

Alternative presentation styles: Takahashi

• INNOVATION FESTIVAL
• Capital One

06-10-2024 TECH

Gamma’s AI can make your presentations more interesting

The AI will learn from any document you import, or you can use a text prompt to create a strong deck or site instantly.

[Photo: gorodenkoff/Getty Images]

BY  Jeremy Caplan 4 minute read

This article is republished with permission from  Wonder Tools , a newsletter that helps you discover the most useful sites and apps.  Subscribe here .

Gamma  has become one of my favorite new creativity tools. You can use it like Powerpoint or Google Slides, adding text and images to make impactful presentations. It lets you create vertical, square or horizontal slides. You can embed online content to make your deck stand out with videos, data or graphics. You can even use it to make quick websites.

Its best feature, though, is an easy-to-use application of AI. The AI will learn from any document you import, or you can use a text prompt to create a strong deck or site instantly. Read on for ideas for making the most of Gamma, along with a few limitations and alternatives.

Change the shape of your creation

• Set your canvas to landscape, portrait, square or fluid.
• Landscape  works well for traditional presentations.
• Switch into  vertical mode  to make something great for social sharing.
• Make  square  visuals for Instagram or LinkedIn.
• Use  fluid  mode to adapt the presentation dimensions to the content you’re sharing so that you can mix and match.
• Present your deck from Gamma’s site or  send a link . Or  export  a PDF or Powerpoint file.

Turn your deck into a site

Gamma makes it easy to build a site by creating a series of simple content cards. As easily as you’d create a short slide deck, you can craft a batch of individual cards that add up to a new site for a project, event, team or topic. You can then move the cards around to adjust the look. Here’s a  one-minute video  for a sense of the creation process.

Example For a personal site you can put a brief bio on a card, a headshot on another, a few portfolio elements on a third card, and contact info on a fourth. Add other elements as you see fit. You’ve soon got the core elements of a site. The process is much easier and quicker than building a site with Squarespace or Wix. (Here’s  why I like Tilda  for building more complicated sites).

Use AI to jump-start a new deck

Pick from three options to prompt Gamma’s AI

• Paste in text  from an outline or notes you’ve made. This is great if you’ve already written out your ideas.
• Write a detailed prompt  specifying the kind of deck draft you’re aiming for. Try this if you don’t have prior notes or documents but have a clear presentation idea you can summarize concisely.
• Import a file  if you are building on an existing Google or Word Doc or a presentation made with Powerpoint or Google Slides. Opt for this to give the AI model extensive guidance it will apply in making your new deck.

Gamma’s free plan lets you create an unlimited number of presentations but limits your AI credits and puts a Gamma watermark on your exports. The  $96 annual plan  gives you unlimited AI credits and removes the Gamma watermark. A $180 annual plan gives you access to a better image engine and lets you generate up to 30 cards with AI for a given deck, rather than 15 for the cheaper plan.

Limitations and caveats

• Gamma presentations can’t yet be edited on a mobile device, and there aren’t any iOS or Android apps yet, as there for  Pitch , for example.
• Gamma’s AI only pulls text from documents and presentations you upload, not images. So the AI-generated images may not match your prior style.
• The images the AI adds to draft decks are of mixed quality, in my experience. I generally update many if not most of the AI-selected or generated images in my Gamma decks, as in this AI-assisted deck Gamma helped me create about  the future of kites .
• Because Gamma is so flexible, it can be tricky to decide what shape or size to use for a particular slide. Having freedom and flexibility is great, but it also means you have more decisions to make if you’re a perfectionist.

Examples: persuasive presentations made with Gamma

• Pitch deck  for  Folk —cool use of multiple content types and slide sizes
• How to  monetize a freemium business—creative document design
• Meet the team  that makes Gamma—interesting use of the platform
• Case study : How Disney designs magical experiences—slide storytelling

Gamma’s gargantuan growth

For a recent  interview , I spoke with Gamma CEO Grant Lee about the goals the former Stanford mechanical engineer has for his team of 16.

• Gamma’s $12 million in new funding came from investors including Accel, which was an early backer of Facebook, Dropbox and Slack. With more than $22 million in total funding, Gamma is adopting Notion’s international growth approach, Lee told me, drawing users from around the world.
• 17 million people have now used Gamma to create 60 million decks. It recently ranked 16th among the most visited AI tool sites, according to SimilarWeb traffic data as of January, 2024, as noted in this  Andreessen Horowitz post .

Alternatives

• Beautiful.ai   remains an excellent option, with a terrific set of slide templates that are especially good for charts. The best feature, which Gamma lacks: anytime you change an element in a Beautiful.ai slide, the rest of the slide automatically redesigns itself to adapt to the adjustment you made.
• Pitch.com   stands out for its collaboration features and the breadth and quality of its professional templates.
• Typeset  has a great interface for focusing on the text you’re including on slides and gives you flexibility to design not just slides but ebooks, reports, social media posts—even elements of an online course.
• Canva  has neat special effects for delivering presentations online and a vast, valuable library of visual elements you can add to slides. It also has a growing array of useful AI features. Check out my  past posts about Canva .
• iA Presenter  is superb for turning your script into slides.  How it’s unique .

Recognize your brand’s excellence by applying to this year’s Brands That Matter Awards before the final deadline, June 7. Sign up for Brands That Matter notifications here .

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeremy Caplan is the director of teaching and learning at CUNY’s Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and the creator of the Wonder Tools newsletter.   More

Explore Topics

• Artificial Intelligence
• Tech Gamma’s AI can make your presentations more interesting
• Tech For AI to really succeed, we need to protect private data
• Tech Get in shape for the summer with these AI-infused fitness apps
• News Housing inventory is growing fast in Florida. Here’s why builders say they aren’t worried
• News Housing market inventory in Texas is back above pre-pandemic levels. These states could be next
• News This Harvard dropout thinks AI recruiters are the future of college admissions
• Co.Design Why ‘Girls5eva’ star Busy Philipps chose QVC to make her return to late-night TV
• Co.Design How Black Music Month has evolved since the 1970s
• Co.Design How Elvis Presley’s Graceland is a mood board of 1950s Americana that bridges cultural divides
• Work Life How to organize every part of your life
• Work Life Gen Z’s growing credit card debt problem, and how to fix it
• Work Life Beyond Seinfeld’s ‘Unfrosted,’ the Pop-Tarts story teaches entrepreneurs an important lesson

• How to Login
• Use Teams on the web
• Join a meeting in Teams
• Join without a Teams account
• Join on a second device
• Join as a view-only attendee
• Join a breakout room
• Join from Google
• Schedule a meeting in Teams
• Schedule from Outlook
• Schedule from Google
• Schedule with registration
• Instant meeting
• Add a dial-in number
• See all your meetings
• Invite people
• Meeting roles
• Add co-organizers
• Hide attendee names
• Tips for large Teams meeting
• Lock a meeting
• End a meeting
• Manage your calendar
• Meeting controls
• Prepare in a green room
• Share content
• Share slides
• Share sound
• Apply video filters
• Mute and unmute
• Spotlight a video
• Multitasking
• Raise your hand
• Live reactions
• Take meeting notes
• Customize your view
• Laser pointer
• Cast from a desktop
• Use a green screen
• Join as an avatar
• Customize your avatar
• Use emotes, gestures, and more
• Get started with immersive spaces
• Use in-meeting controls
• Spatial audio
• Overview of Microsoft Teams Premium
• Intelligent productivity
• Advanced meeting protection
• Engaging event experiences
• Change your background
• Meeting themes
• Audio settings
• Manage attendee audio and video
• Reduce background noise
• Voice isolation in Teams
• Mute notifications
• Use breakout rooms
• Live transcription
• Language interpretation
• Live captions
• End-to-end encryption
• Presenter modes
• Call and meeting quality
• Meeting attendance reports
• Using the lobby
• Meeting options
• Record a meeting
• Meeting recap
• Play and share a meeting recording
• Delete a recording
• Edit or delete a transcript
• Switch to town halls
• Get started
• Schedule a live event
• Invite attendees
• organizer checklist
• For tier 1 events
• Produce a live event
• Produce a live event with Teams Encoder
• Best practices
• Moderate a Q&A
• Allow anonymous presenters
• Attendee engagement report
• Recording and reports
• Attend a live event in Teams
• Participate in a Q&A
• Use live captions
• Schedule a webinar
• Customize a webinar
• Publicize a webinar
• Manage webinar registration
• Manage what attendees see
• Change webinar details
• Manage webinar emails
• Cancel a webinar
• Manage webinar recordings
• Webinar attendance report
• Get started with town hall
• Attend a town hall
• Schedule a town hall
• Customize a town hall
• Host a town hall
• Use RTMP-In
• Town hall insights
• Manage town hall recordings
• Cancel a town hall
• Can't join a meeting
• Camera isn't working
• Microphone isn't working
• My speaker isn’t working
• Breakout rooms issues
• Immersive spaces issues
• Meetings keep dropping

Laser point or draw on PowerPoint slides in Microsoft Teams meetings

When using PowerPoint Live to share content in a Teams meeting, emphasize your points and engage viewers with the colorful laser pointer and drawing tools. Your “ink” will be visible to everyone in the meeting.

Only the presenter can point and draw on the slides.

Focus viewer attention with the laser pointer

To create a short line simply move the mouse around. To create a longer line, press and hold the mouse button as you draw.

Tip:  If you quickly make several marks, they will all be visible at the same time and then fade away together.

Highlight and connect ideas with the drawing tools

These markings will last throughout the meeting.

Press and hold the mouse button as you draw.

Erase your ink marks

Stop drawing

Need more help?

Want more options.

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

Microsoft 365 subscription benefits

Microsoft 365 training

Microsoft security

Accessibility center

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.

Ask the Microsoft Community

Microsoft Tech Community

Windows Insiders

Microsoft 365 Insiders

Was this information helpful?

Thank you for your feedback.