How Do I Make a Presentation?

Making a presentation isn’t just about throwing text onto slides—it’s about building a story that connects with your audience. Whether you’re preparing for a team meeting, sales pitch, or budget proposal, the process becomes easier when you follow clear, actionable steps.

Step 1: Open your presentation tool

Start by choosing a platform: PowerPoint, Google Slides, or an AI-driven tool like Beautiful.ai. Create a blank deck or open a template that fits the tone of your talk (professional, creative, or minimal).

Step 2: Create a title slide

Your first slide should introduce your presentation clearly. Include:

• Presentation title
• Subtitle or tagline (optional)
• Your name and role
• Date or event

Keep it simple—this sets the stage, not the story.

Step 3: Outline your main points

Before adding content, decide on 3–5 key points you want your audience to remember. Create a slide for each point. For example:

• Problem or challenge
• Solution or idea
• Benefits or impact
• Next steps

This becomes the backbone of your deck.

Step 4: Add supporting slides

For each key point, build supporting slides:

• Use visuals: Insert charts, diagrams, or icons instead of long text.
• Keep text minimal: Aim for 5–7 words per line, no more than 5–6 lines per slide.
• Highlight data: Use bold numbers or callouts to make stats pop.

If your point is complex, split it into two slides instead of cramming everything onto one.

Step 5: Apply consistent design

Good design makes your presentation look more professional. To keep things consistent:

• Pick 2–3 colors and stick with them.
• Use one or two fonts (e.g., a bold font for headings, a clean sans-serif for body text).
• Align elements—don’t scatter text boxes randomly.
• Leave white space for readability.

If design isn’t your strength, lean on tools like Beautiful.ai that automatically adjust slide layouts as you add in content. 

Step 6: Add transitions and visual flow

Keep transitions simple—fade or slide. Overly flashy animations distract. Instead, focus on guiding the audience:

• Use section divider slides to signal a shift in topic.
• Number your steps or add progress indicators so people know where you are in the journey.

Step 7: Insert a conclusion slide

End with a strong summary slide. This should include:

• The key takeaway or main message
• A call to action (e.g., “Approve the proposal,” “Adopt this new process”)
• Optional: Contact info or next steps
  

Step 8: Rehearse with the slides

Run through your deck at least twice:

• Time yourself to make sure it fits the slot.
• Click through each slide and practice what you’ll say (don’t just read the text).
• Adjust any slides that feel too heavy or confusing.
  
  

Step 9: Save and share

Export your presentation to PDF or share it via a link if using a cloud tool. Always have a backup version in case of tech issues.