slide presentation speaker notes

How to Add Speaker Notes in Google Slides (Tutorial)

An excellent presentation demands an effective delivery that captivates your audience. This is where speaker notes come in, serving as an invaluable tool for staying organized, confident and ensuring a seamless delivery .

If you want to unlock your presentations' full potential, this tutorial is for you. With the help of our in-house designers , we have compiled a collection of expert tips that will transform your presentations into impactful experiences!

In this tutorial, we'll go over the following topics:

• How to add speaker notes in Google Slides - and REALLY make the most of them
• Unleash the full impact of your presentations: Learn how to view speaker notes in Google Slides while presenting
• Looking to have a quick reference during your talk? Let's see how to print Google Slides with notes

So... let's begin - or you can skip to your preferred section.

How do you add Speaker Notes to Slides?

Adding speaker notes to your Google Slides presentation is incredibly simple. You can enhance your presentation with helpful reminders and prompts in just a few easy steps. Follow these instructions to learn how to write speaker notes in google slides:

• Select a slide you'd like to add notes.
• Locate the Notes pane positioned beneath each slide.
• You'll find a blank space with the prompt "Click to add speaker notes." Enter your notes there, and you're all set.

Remember, you can always edit speaker notes on Google Slides. You only need to click inside the Notes pane to edit the content and click outside to save your changes.

Expert Advice: How to use Speaker Notes in Google Slides (Correctly)

Speaker notes can be a great tool if you know how to use them correctly . They help you sound natural while having a safety net in case you get lost. However, it's possible to fall into the trap of overcrowding your speaker notes with excessive text or not organizing them effectively, which can end up confusing rather than aiding you.

Our in-house designers have shared their expert tips to help you make the most of these valuable tools. Feronika Wulandari , design manager from 24 Slides, emphasizes the following points:

• Keep them short: Speaker notes should be brief and to the point. Avoid writing long paragraphs or entire sentences. Use bullet points or short phrases to capture the main ideas and critical issues. As Feronika advises, “Speaker notes are meant to be reminders for us, so keep them as short bullet points to trigger your memory of a specific topic."
• Use keywords: Instead of writing out every word you plan to say, use keywords and prompts as quick reminders. This can ensure a more natural and spontaneous delivery.
• Organize the content: Structure your speaker notes in a logical order that follows the flow of your presentation, and highlight important information you may need during your talk.
• Avoid reading verbatim: Speaker notes should serve as a guide rather than a script. Avoid the temptation to read directly from your notes. Feronika reminds us, "As presenters, we should have mastered the material and practiced beforehand. Do not rely on speaker notes as your primary guidance, but instead, use them as a tool to help you maintain the flow of the presentation."
• Customize for your needs: Adapt your speaker notes to your speaking style and preferences. Consider incorporating cues for intonation, strategic pauses, and audience interaction within your speaker notes to improve your delivery and foster a dynamic connection with your listeners.

Now you know how to write speaker notes in Google Slides and, most importantly, how to maximize their potential.

How to view speaker notes in Google Slides while presenting

Let's get ready for your next presentation! Check out how to have your notes easily accessible:

• Click on the dropdown arrow next to the Slideshow button in the toolbar.
• From the dropdown menu, select Presenter View .

3. Your presentation will start in the full browser window, and a new window will open alongside it.

4. In the new window, you will be able to see your speaker notes corresponding to each slide.

5. Use the main browser window to control and navigate through your slides while referring to the speaker notes in the separate window.

The Google Slides presenter view offers several advantages. Not only can you view the current slide and the next one, but you can also check the timer and easily adjust the text size of the notes within the Presenter View window.

When using the presenter view in Google Slides, remember that your audience might be able to see it too. So, be careful and make sure you only share the tab with your presentation, not your whole screen. If you want to learn more about this, check out the section on how to hide speaker notes in Google Slides while presenting.

How to print Google Slides with notes

You may want to have your notes on hand because you will deliver a live presentation. Follow these instructions to learn how to print speaker notes in Google Slides: First, open the File menu and select Print Preview .

Now, in the toolbar at the top, click 1 Slide Without Notes and choose 1 Slide With Notes .You will be able to see a preview that includes your notes. Finally, you can click Print .

Customer Frequently Asked Questions

What are speaker notes on google slides.

Speaker notes in Google Slides presentations are a valuable tool that allows presenters to include additional information beyond the slides . These notes serve as a personal guide, keeping essential points at hand and enhancing the delivery of the presentation.

With speaker notes, presenters can dive deeper into complex concepts, provide important context, and share supporting data. Speaker notes also help maintain a natural flow of speech, act as a safety net in case of distractions, and enable presenters to engage the audience effectively.

Still trying to figure out how to use speaker notes? Check these speaker notes Google Slides template :

Can the audience see speaker notes in Google Slides?

When presenting your slideshow, the default setting ensures the audience cannot see the speaker notes . However, if you're using the presenter view and that other window pops up, they will be able to see them. But don't worry! If you want to keep your speaker notes hidden from the audience's view, here's what you can do:

• Open the presentation in a new tab or window specifically for sharing with the audience.
• Share only the Google Slides presentation tab or window , not the entire screen or the separate window displaying the speaker notes.
• Close or avoid sharing other tabs or windows containing speaker notes or personal information.

This is what it would look like on Google Meet:

This is what it would look like on Zoom:

If you follow these tips and share only the tab or window with your slides, you'll be able to control what the audience sees while keeping your speaker notes private.

Can editors see speaker notes on Google Slides?

Editors or collaborators working on a Google Slides presentation can indeed see the speaker notes . Speaker notes are visible to everyone who has access to the presentation. This allows for collaborative editing, where multiple individuals can contribute to the content of the slides as well as review and provide feedback on the speaker notes.

It is essential to remember this when sharing and collaborating on Google Slides presentations to ensure that sensitive or confidential information is not included in the speaker notes if it is intended for only some collaborators to see.

How do you turn on speaker notes in Google Slides app?

You also have this feature on the app! Check out how to see speaker notes on Google Slides app:

• Open your presentation on the app.
• Double-tap the slide where you want to see the speaker notes.
• Click on the three dots in the top right corner.Activate the speaker notes .

Why are my Google Slides speaker notes not showing?

Are you experiencing trouble with your Google Slides speaker notes not showing up? It's a problem that many users encounter, but the good news is that it's easy to solve. You just need to follow these steps:

• Click View .
• Select Show speaker notes . Make sure the checkbox next to it is checked.The Notes pane should appear beneath the slide.

Reach your full potential with customized Google Slides

An excellent presentation not only relies on a confident delivery but also on visually appealing and professional design. That's where our presentation design solutions come in!

At 24Slides , we specialize in transforming ordinary presentations into extraordinary ones , allowing you to save time and effort. No more spending endless hours working on PowerPoint – let our team of design experts amaze you with their skills overnight! Elevate the impact of your presentations and captivate your audience with visually stunning slides created by our professionals.

Let us take care of the design, so you can focus on delivering an engaging and successful presentation.

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Everything you need to know about using speaker notes in PowerPoint®

Chariti Canny

Through preparing for our training , Slide Design , we realized there’s a feature that many presenters don’t realize plays a key role in slide design and speaker support: speaker notes in PowerPoint®.

To use your speaker notes in PowerPoint most effectively during your next talk, follow the tips below.

What are speaker notes in PowerPoint?

Speaker notes in PowerPoint help presenters recall important points, such as key messages or stats, as they give a presentation. The speaker note panel lives at the bottom of your screen in Normal view, although some users may have this section hidden.

Use the speaker notes to add more nuanced information about a slide’s graphics, or instructions for how to click through an animation. It can also be handy to add links to important files or just use this space as a general note taking section—like someone would use a scratch piece of paper.

What are the benefits of speaker notes in PowerPoint?

You are the storyteller, and your slides are your support, forming the atmosphere and emphasizing your key points. Because there’s a limit to how much information people can process at one time— they will either listen to you or read your slides —it’s important to show only information essential for your story.

Speaker notes in PowerPoint allow you to move nonessential text and stats off your slides so that your audience can fully absorb your message. Having the info in the speaker notes allows you to be ready should your audience ask questions about your data, or other points in your presentation that may require additional information.

Though speaker notes should be a somewhat simplified version of what you are saying, using them for the high-level points of your script will help you match your talk track to what’s happening on the slide behind you.

Spending a little time structuring speaker notes in PowerPoint can also be an easy way to turn your presentation into a dual-purpose file. Not only can you use your file to present, you can use it as a standalone document that can be effectively shared without you presenting. This more advanced feature is described below.

How do I add speaker notes in PowerPoint?

There are two ways to add speaker notes in PowerPoint.

Method One: Directly edit in slide editing mode (aka Normal View). Click the notes section of the window and begin typing. If the notes are hidden, click the Notes button found in options on the bottom right of the PowerPoint screen.

Method Two: Edit your notes in Notes View. Click on the View tab in the ribbon and click Notes Page. Here you have more room on the screen to write your notes and adjust the font size and layout.

How should you write speaker notes in PowerPoint?

We typically advise speakers not to write their script word-for-word in the speaker notes section, as this can tempt a presenter to break a connection with an audience, as well as begin to sound inauthentic.

The first bullet point of your speaker notes can convey that overarching idea, and your other points can support it. I call these speaking touchpoints, and often they are short words or phrases that will remind me of what I want to say.

If one of your supporting concepts involves telling an anecdote or story, you can trigger your memory by leaving a note to yourself in brackets. For example, you could type:

• As a company, we’ve been through difficult times before
• [Story: 2008 financial crisis]

It’s also important to keep these simple because the space to view them is limited. Though, there are times when a more elaborate note needs to be included. I’ve found that including a very important phrase in full is one of my favorite things about speaker notes. We often spend a lot of time crafting that pivotal moment, the pace of it, and the wording. Leave room to easily see it in presenter view.

Once, I sat through a presentation where the presenter stayed on one slide for quite some time. He was telling a long story that was coming back to resolve and tie together various points of information on the slide. To help himself stay on track, he wrote about six key speaking touchpoints in a list in the speaker notes, duplicated the slide (so it looked the same to the audience), then completed his next few speaking touchpoints for the slide. When he reached the bottom of the first six touchpoints he clicked the slide without missing a beat and continued the talk track. The audience had no idea that he just moved slides and he was able to use his notes, even though they were long.

The speaker notes are also an opportunity to include “stage directions.” These can be anything from reminding yourself to click and advance an animation, gesture to a co-speaker or member of the audience, or even take a breath and pause.

How do you project speaker notes in PowerPoint during a presentation?

PowerPoint is set up to show notes only to the speaker when a presentation is connected to another output, such as a monitor, a projector, a video conferencing app, etc. Just select the Slide Show tab and click Presenter View to enable a display that only you can see on your computer.

You’ll see your slides, speaker notes, and even a timer, but your audience will only see slides projected on a monitor or screen.

How else can I use my speaker notes in PowerPoint?

I mentioned that you can structure the notes pages to act as a standalone document that can be shared without you presenting. This is a more advanced way to use notes, but extremely valuable.

Let’s say your presentation wowed your audience so much that they requested copies of your slides so they can reference them later, or share with others. Because you created a presentation meant to be shown, not read, chances are that your file won’t make sense to someone who wasn’t in the room.

Unless, of course, they can read and make sense of your speaker notes. Speaker notes can be used to create beautiful presentation artifacts for your audiences. By giving people a physical reminder of your presentation content, they’ll keep thinking about your talk long after you give it, and they’ll more easily share your message with others.

David Allen, the author of the bestselling series Getting Things Done , leaves information behind after his talks to ensure that his audience remembers his key principles and methodologies.

After we created a cinematic presentation for David, we translated the rich, evocative images and layouts of his presentation into handouts that anyone could read and understand.

How can I use speaker notes in PowerPoint to create handouts?

Here’s how to do it:

1. Click on View in the ribbon and select Notes Page. You’ll see that the slide visual takes up the top half of the page and the text below the slide defaults to a bulleted list.

This basic note layout is extremely modifiable. Not only can the Notes Master be adjusted, but each Notes Page itself can have text, charts, quotes, and images added as separate and additional content to augment what’s on the surface slide.

2. ​To make changes that will impact the basic structure of all your notes pages, navigate to the Notes Master View: View tab > Master > Notes Master.

3. Make changes to the layout in the Notes Master, keeping in mind that changes here will be reflected on all the notes pages. In the image below, an example of a default Notes Master is shown at left, with a modified master page at right.

You can scale your slide thumbnail to any size and place it anywhere on the master. Headers, footers, and the note placeholder can be moved into any position you’d like. You can add objects to the Notes Master, but remember that objects added in Notes Master will appear on every slide’s notes page. Thus, you must be strategic about what you add. To that point, adding a logo or some other universal image would make sense in the Notes Master.

4. Once the Notes Master has been restructured, return to Notes View: View tab > Notes Page.

5. For each page, add any custom graphics, data, text, or other items that relate to that slide. Remember, these will not appear on the slides; they only appear in these notes.

In the layouts we created for David Allen below, we placed a small image of the slide on the top left of the page and a graphic and quote at the top right.

How do I print speaker notes in PowerPoint?

Perhaps you’d rather print out your notes instead of viewing them digitally on a monitor. Or maybe you’ve gone the extra step and customized your notes and now you’re ready to distribute them to your audience.

1. Click the File tab and select Print to open the print dialog.

2. Pull down the second menu within the Settings options. PowerPoint defaults to the Full Page Slides option, and you’ll need to switch it to Notes Pages option.

Now you can print the file in Notes View to give a hard copy to your audience.

*Note: Image resolutions may be slightly less in printed or PDF Notes View. Text and shapes will remain the same.

By putting thought into how you prepare, use, and re-use your speaker notes, you ensure that your message resonates long after you and your audience leave the room.

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How to Use Speaker Notes in PowerPoint

Speaker notes keep a presenter on track during a presentation

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What to Know

• To add a note, go to Slide pane > select slide's thumbnail > enter notes into Notes pane.
• To see notes during presentation, go to Slide Show > Use Presenter View .

Here's how to use and print PowerPoint notes, accompanied thumbnail versions of the appropriate slides, as a handy reference when making an oral presentation. Instructions in this article apply to PowerPoint 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010; PowerPoint for Microsoft 365, PowerPoint for Mac, and PowerPoint Online.

How to Add Notes in PowerPoint

Keep on track during your slideshow by adding speaker notes to each slide of your presentation. You don't need to write down everything you want to say, just add enough information to keep your speech flowing.

Go to View and select Normal . In PowerPoint Online, toggle the notes pane on and off by selecting View > Notes .

In the Slide pane, select the thumbnail of the slide you want to add a note.

Place the cursor in the Notes pane. The text in the Notes pane reads, Click to add notes .

If you don't see the Notes pane, go to View and select Notes . On a Mac, drag the bar below the slide upward to reveal the notes section.

Type or paste your notes into the Notes pane.

Save the changes to your presentation.

How to See Your Notes During a Presentation

If your computer is connected to another monitor or projector, you can enable Presenter View in PowerPoint 2016, 2013, and 2010.

Go to Slide Show and select Use Presenter View .

Select the monitor that you want to use to view your speaker notes in the Display Settings dialog box. Place a check next to This is my main monitor .

If available, select From Current Slide , Custom Slide Show , Present Online , or Broadcast Slide Show . Each of these views displays your slideshow notes during the presentation.

PowerPoint for Mac works a little differently than the Windows version. To see your notes during a presentation, go to Slide Show and select Presenter View .

PowerPoint Online is unable to open a presentation in Presenter View because it can't connect to an additional monitor.

Tips and More Information on PowerPoint Notes

Speaker notes are notes added to PowerPoint presentation slides as a reference for the presenter . Notes in a PowerPoint slide are hidden during the presentation and only visible to the one presenting the slides.

Presenter View works only if your computer is connected to another display. The purpose of Presenter View is to show something different on your screen than on the one your viewers are watching.

While in Presenter View, you'll see the current slide, the upcoming slide, and your notes. Presenter View includes a timer and a clock that shows if your presentation is running too short or too long.

To exit Presenter View, and end the presentation, select End Slide Show at the top of the screen. If you don't see that option, right-click the slideshow and select End Show .

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How to Add Speaker Notes to PowerPoint Quickly and Easily

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Are you having trouble staying on track as you give your presentation? PowerPoint speaker notes are a great way to add reminders of what you should say when giving your presentation. 

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to add speaker notes in PowerPoint. It's the key to keeping essential details nearby while presenting. When you know how to insert notes in PowerPoint, you can recall those key cues during a presentation.

Knowing how to insert notes in PowerPoint is a key skill that elevates your presentations. It makes you confident and helps you ensure that you remember key points. And it’s amazingly easy to do. Let's learn how to add speaker notes in PowerPoint - and use them to their max.

Download Our FREE eBook and Make Great Presentations Today!

Want to start building amazing slide decks in PowerPoint? We've got the perfect complement to this tutorial, to help you do exactly that. Download our FREE eBook: The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations . Grab it now before you read on.

Add Speaker Notes to PowerPoint (Quickstart Guide)

A great way to learn how to insert notes in PowerPoint is with the help of a screencast. We've recorded all the steps you need to master this skill. Check out the screencast below to learn the art of adding notes to PPT.

If you want a written guide that teaches you how to add notes on PowerPoint, we've got you covered. Read on for an illustrated tutorial to master PPT with speaker notes techniques.

Jump to content in this section:

How to Use Speaker Notes in PowerPoint

Learn more great powerpoint tips and tricks (for 2024), more powerpoint templates (for amazing slide designs in 2024), the top source for the very best speaker notes powerpoint templates (for 2024).

Knowing how to add notes on PowerPoint is a great skill to have. Why?

Because it helps you present with more confidence. You can leave helpful PowerPoint speaker notes that only you can see. This way, you can refer to a “ cheat sheet ” without the awkwardness of reading off a printed page, for example.

In today’s tutorial, we’ll use the popular Green Modern Presentation template from Envato Elements. Download it today to follow along.

Elements is an all-you-can-download service that offers great presentation templates. And it's the perfect supplement as we learn how to add speaker notes in PowerPoint.

Let’s learn how to add speaker notes in PowerPoint. Once you know how, you’ll be adding notes to PPT every time you present.

1. Open the PowerPoint Notes Panel

In PowerPoint, let's click on Notes on the bottom of the app to open the Notes Panel . These notes will show up only on your screen when presenting. Or you can have them on your slides when you print them.

A PPT with speaker notes is the perfect way to ensure you never forget what to say. Think of speaker notes in PowerPoint as cue cards that remind you what to say. 

2. Add Your Presenter Notes to Individual Slides

When you're adding notes to PPT, remember that they work on a slide-by-slide basis. In other words, every slide has its own set of speaker notes. 

You can type notes down here as a reminder of what to say when you're presenting. The notes will be added to the slide when you're finished. 

Add speaker notes when you need those important cues about what to say. I like to add my key talking points here to help me stay on message when speaking. That's how speaker notes in PowerPoint help you stay on track too. 

3. Switch to Presenter View to Use Your Notes

A PPT with speaker notes really shines when you use Presenter View. To open Presenter View click on the Slide Show option in the ribbon. Then click on the Presenter View icon.

This works anytime you’re connected to a second display, like a monitor or projector. Because of this, learning how to add notes on PowerPoint gives you more confidence!

When you use Presenter View, you’ll see a different view from your audience. They’ll see only your slides in full screen. You’ll see your current and next slide. And, most importantly, your PowerPoint speaker notes will be on display.

I love to use speaker notes in PowerPoint with Presenter View. It really keeps me focused, and I avoid forgetting key details in the moment as I share with my audience.

How to Use PPT With Speaker Notes

You can add speaker notes PowerPoint to all the slides in your presentation. That way, when you're giving your talk, you'll have handy notes to refer to if you get stuck. The audience won't see them. Instead, they're just available to help you stay on track during your presentation. 

You can also print your slides and have those presenter notes at hand. That's great if you prefer to have a paper copy of your speaker notes PowerPoint to reference. Learn how in this quick video tutorial: 

Envato Tuts+ has a vast collection of helpful PowerPoint tutorials . With them, you can elevate your presentation skills in just moments! 

You’ve learned how to add speaker notes in PowerPoint. But what slide designs will you choose? Envato Elements templates are your best bet. Here are several collections of the very best to help you choose:

Envato Elements is the top source for the best speaker notes PowerPoint presentation designs. The vast library has thousands of PPT templates to choose from , with more added every day.

You can add speaker notes in PowerPoint to any of them. It’s a surefire way to make a great impression when you present.

The Elements offer is powerful: unlimited downloads. For a flat monthly rate, you can download and use as many premium Microsoft PowerPoint templates as you want.

And that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Elements includes millions more digital assets. Among these are fonts, stock photos, music, and more. They’re the perfect companions to your next PPT presentation.

Find PowerPoint Templates

Choose a premium Elements slide deck and enjoy:

• Creative features and layouts
• Easy-to-use designs
• Drag-and-drop placeholders
• Sleek charts, infographics, and more

Envato Elements also has an AI-assisted search tool . So, you can find exactly what you're looking for quickly.

As you can see, Envato Elements is the best value for creatives in 2024. Join today  and start exploring! 

Make Great Presentations (Free PDF eBook Download)

We have the perfect complement to this tutorial, which will walk you through the complete presentation process. Learn how to write your presentation, design it like a pro, and prepare it to present powerfully. 

Download our new eBook:  The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations . It's available for free with a subscription to the Tuts+ Business Newsletter. 

Start Using Speaker Notes in PowerPoint Today

In this tutorial, you learned how to add speaker notes in PowerPoint. Think of it as the ultimate way to ensure success when presenting. Gone are worries about forgetting key details or losing your place.

Speaker notes PowerPoint are a breeze to add, and you can place them on every slide in your deck. When combined with Presenter View, they’re your helpful companion as you share slides with your audience.

So, what are you waiting for? Choose a stunning PowerPoint presentation template today. Then, build out your slides and add speaker notes. Knowing how to insert notes in PowerPoint is the best way to stay on track and master your presentation content. Try it now. 

Editor's Note: This tutorial has been completely reviewed and revised by Andrew Childress to make sure that it's accurate and relevant.

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How to Add and Work with Speaker Notes in Google Slides

Speaker notes are very useful when giving presentations. These help you highlight the key concepts that you want to talk about in each slide, and they’re not visible for your audience. In this new Slidesgo School tutorial, you’ll learn how to create speaker notes and where to place them. You’ll also find out how to present using speaker notes . 

Adding Speaker Notes

Using the presenter view.

• Open your presentation in Google Slides.
• At the bottom of the screen there’s a text field with the message “Click to add speaker notes”. The text that you enter here will be visible for you during your presentation, but not for your audience.
• If you can’t see this text field, click View → Show speaker notes.
• To display the speaker notes during your presentation, you need at least two screens: one for the presentation and another for the notes.
• Click the drop-down arrow next to the Present button.
• Select Presenter view. Your presentation will be displayed fullscreen and a new window will appear, where you can see some information and options:

- Timer : You can check how much time has passed since the beginning of your presentation. You can also pause or reset the timer by clicking the corresponding buttons. 

- Previous and Next: Click the corresponding thumbnail to go back to the previous slide or move on to the next slide. 

- Zoom: Next to the slide number you’ll find a “+” button and a “-” button. These allow you to increase or decrease the size of the speaker notes. 

- Audience Tools: This tab contains a button to allow questions from your audience, which will appear here. You must share the URL that appears above (it will also be displayed at the top of the main screen). If you don’t want to receive further questions, disable this option by clicking Off. 

Once you receive the first questions, you can click Present to display them on the main screen. To hide them again, just click Hide.

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How to Add Superscript and Subscript in Google Slides

Let’s take the most famous formula: E=mc^2, Einstein’s relativity equation. It wouldn’t be the same if it was E=mc2, right? Okay, yes, some people write it like that because it’s very famous and it won’t be misunderstood. But technically… It can! This is where the sophistication of superscript or subscript enters the room! Do you know how to write them in equations, copyright brands or even footnotes in your presentations? Let’s figure out how.

How to Show Speaker Notes in Google Slides: A Step-by-Step Guide

Showing speaker notes in Google Slides is a straightforward process that can be accomplished in a few simple steps. Once you’re in your Google Slides presentation, click on “View” in the top menu, and then select “Show speaker notes.” This will open a pane at the bottom of the screen where you can see and edit your notes for each slide.

After you complete this action, you’ll be able to see the notes that you’ve prepared for each slide at the bottom of the screen. This is helpful when practicing your presentation or during the actual presentation, as it allows you to stay on track and remember key points without cluttering your slides with too much text.

Introduction

When it comes to presenting, preparation is key. But even the best-prepared speakers can benefit from a little help on stage or in the meeting room. That’s where speaker notes come in handy. Google Slides, the popular presentation software from Google, offers a feature that allows you to add notes to each slide, visible only to you, the presenter. Why is this important? Well, imagine you’re standing in front of an audience, and you suddenly forget what to say next.

Having speaker notes can save you from an awkward silence and keep your presentation flowing smoothly. They’re like a cheat sheet that no one else can see! This feature is relevant to anyone who uses Google Slides for presentations, whether you’re a student, teacher, business professional, or just about anyone who needs to convey ideas in a visual format.

Step by Step Tutorial: How to Show Speaker Notes in Google Slides

Let’s delve into the steps that will let you take advantage of this nifty feature.

Step 1: Open your Google Slides presentation

Begin by opening the Google Slides presentation for which you want to view or add speaker notes.

Accessing your presentation is the first step in preparing to show your speaker notes. Ensure you’re logged into your Google account and navigate to the presentation within Google Drive or by visiting slides.google.com.

Step 2: Click on “View” in the top menu

Once your presentation is open, click on “View” in the top menu.

The top menu is your gateway to various features in Google Slides. By clicking on “View,” you’re one step closer to enabling your speaker notes.

Step 3: Select “Show speaker notes”

In the dropdown menu under “View,” select “Show speaker notes.”

By doing so, you’ll activate the speaker notes pane, which typically appears at the bottom of your presentation window. You can now see the notes you’ve prepared for each slide.

Additional Information

While showing speaker notes in Google Slides is a great way to keep yourself on track during a presentation, there are a few additional tips to consider. Firstly, practice with your speaker notes well before the actual presentation. This will help you become familiar with where each note fits into your talk, so you’re not scrambling to find the right note for the right slide. Also, keep your notes concise and in bullet points, if possible.

You don’t want to end up reading verbatim from your notes, as this can come across as unengaging. Instead, use them as prompts to jog your memory. Another handy feature in Google Slides is the ability to print your slides with the speaker notes included, which is perfect for rehearsals or if you prefer a physical copy as a backup. Lastly, remember that while speaker notes are a great tool, engaging with your audience and maintaining eye contact are also key aspects of a successful presentation.

• Open your Google Slides presentation
• Click on “View” in the top menu
• Select “Show speaker notes”

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i edit my speaker notes in presenter view.

Yes, you can edit your speaker notes in presenter view by simply clicking in the notes pane and making your changes.

Will the audience be able to see my speaker notes during the presentation?

No, your speaker notes are not visible to the audience. They are for the presenter’s eyes only.

Can I print my slides with the speaker notes?

Yes, you can print your slides with the speaker notes by selecting “Print settings and preview” from the File menu and adjusting the settings accordingly.

What happens to the speaker notes if I convert my Google Slides presentation to a different format?

If you convert your Google Slides presentation to another format, like PowerPoint, your speaker notes will typically be preserved in the conversion.

Are speaker notes saved automatically?

Yes, speaker notes in Google Slides are saved automatically along with your presentation.

In the world of presentations, being prepared is everything. Speaker notes in Google Slides are a game-changer for anyone looking to deliver a seamless, engaging presentation without the fear of losing their place or forgetting key points. While there are a few potential drawbacks, the advantages of using speaker notes far outweigh them.

Remember, your speaker notes are your secret weapon; they provide that extra layer of security that can make all the difference when you’re in the spotlight. So, the next time you’re gearing up for a big presentation, don’t forget to show your speaker notes in Google Slides and give yourself the peace of mind you deserve.

Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.

His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.

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Home Blog PowerPoint Tutorials How to Add Speaker Notes in PowerPoint? A Quick Guide with Video Tutorials

How to Add Speaker Notes in PowerPoint? A Quick Guide with Video Tutorials

It can be hard to remember all the information you intend to discuss during a presentation. To avoid text-heavy slides and missing out on important information, some presenters use notes or flashcards. A more elegant method of presenting your slides is to use speaker notes in PowerPoint .

What are Speaker Notes in PowerPoint?

Speaker notes in PowerPoint are hidden notes in your PowerPoint slides that can be added to help you remember bits of information. Speaker notes are only visible to the presenter and can also be printed with slides for reference. You can use the printed version of speaker notes for yourself or the audience for later reading.

Speaker notes are visible to the presenter during Presenter View, which enables viewing the slide and notes side by side. This enables the presenter to show the audience only the slides, as he/she presents with the aid of notes visible on their screen.

What are the Benefits of using Speaker Notes?

Speaker notes can have a number of benefits and can enable you to not only appear more confident as you present but to also better organize your slides.

1. Speaker Notes Help Avoid Text-Heavy Slides

One of the benefits of using speaker notes is that you can avoid adding too much text to your slides and insert related points as Speaker Notes. This can provide your audience with a clutter-free view of your slides, as you use the notes to ensure you remember all the important bits of information during the presentation.

2. Speaker Notes can Help Replace Paper Notes

Flashcards or paper notes can look inelegant and can cause confusion if they get mixed up. Many presenters end up stuttering or scrambling their notes during a presentation due to this very problem. Presenters can avoid this hassle by simply using speaker notes in PowerPoint.

3. Speaker Notes can be Helpful in Recalling Information

Speaker notes can be helpful in remembering important information when you find it difficult to recall the information. In such a case the notes can be added as a precaution so that you can quickly recall that important piece of information when you have a hard time recalling something.

4. Speaker Notes can Enable You to Stay on Point

With a presentation with a bit of text and an elaborate theme, a presenter can easily lose focus. To stay on point, you can add speaker notes to set the right sequence for you to follow as you present your slides.

5. Speaker Notes can Help you Appear More Confident

The audience appreciates a presenter when he/she has the confidence to look them in the eye and speak their heart out. Presenters who scramble for notes or keep looking at their flashcards can appear less confident.

How to Add Notes to PowerPoint?

Adding speaker notes in PowerPoint is very simple. In this short tutorial we explain how to add notes to PowerPoint depending on your preferred platform.

How to Add Speaker Notes to PowerPoint for Windows?

Step 1. Select the Slide you want to add speaker notes to.

Step 2. Select Notes in the bottom right section of your screen.

Step 3. Add the notes you want below the PowerPoint slide.

How to Add Speaker Notes to PowerPoint for macOS?

How to Add Speaker Notes to PowerPoint for web?

PowerPoint in the web version lets you create Speaker Notes but does not let you view them when you are presenting.

Which option is used to create speaker notes in the PowerPoint Slide?

On the View tab of the ribbon, in the Show group, select Notes.

The pane appears across the bottom portion of the PowerPoint window, with the cursor blinking, ready for you to begin typing.

Also, you can add speaker notes in PowerPoint by clicking the Notes option at the bottom of the slide to open the notes pane. The option can be used to open or hide the pane anytime.

Expand Notes Pane: To expand the notes pane, hover your mouse to reveal the vertical scroll bar and drag to adjust the size of the pane according to need.

How to View Speaker Notes in PowerPoint while Presenting?

How to present with speaker notes? Now that you know how to add notes to PowerPoint, you can use this feature to deliver your presentation while visualizing the speaker notes as a presenter. Here we will see how to view speaker notes in PowerPoint in Presenter View.

Enable Presenter View: You can view Speaker Notes in PowerPoint in Presenter View . To make sure this option is enabled in PowerPoint, go to the Slide Show tab, and check Use Presenter View .

Select Monitor Settings: From the Slide Show tab, you can also select which monitor you want your presentation to appear on. This can help you ensure that the monitor selected for the speaker notes does not swap with the monitor screen intended for the audience. Usually, setting the monitor settings to Automatic should automatically show speaker notes on your laptop and the view with only your slides to the audience. However, checking these settings beforehand can help you avoid swapping the screens.

Adjust Text Size for Notes: When in Presenter View, you can also expand or reduce the size of the text using the buttons on the bottom right corner of the screen.

Navigate Slides: The arrow keys enable you to move between slides in Presenter View.

Annotate Slides: You can enable the Pen tool or highlighter to annotate slides during your presentation or use the Laser Pointer to focus on parts of your slide using an onscreen laser tool. These options are available via the Pen and Laser Pointer Tools option at the bottom of the Presenter View menu.

Zoom Slides: You can zoom in to a specific slide by selecting the Zoom option and then clicking on a specific section of the slide that you intend to zoom in.

Switch to a Specific Slide: You can also jump to a specific slide via the See all slides option. This can help you instantly change your slide in a single click, without moving back and forth to find it.

Black or Unblack Slideshow: You can hide or unhide a slide by using the Black/Unblack Slideshow option.

Toggle Subtitles: In a previous post, we showed you how to enable subtitles and captions in PowerPoint . The subtitle button in Presenter View enables you to toggle the subtitles on or off.

Hide Presenter View: To turn off Presenter View anytime, you can select Hide Presenter View from the More slideshow options button.

How to print PowerPoint with Speaker Notes?

Print PowerPoint with Speaker Notes is very simple:

Printing Speaker Notes with Slide Thumbnails: You can print speaker notes directly in PowerPoint by going to File -> Print -> Settings -> Notes Pages.

Printing Speaker notes without Slide Thumbnails: If you would like to print the notes without thumbnails, go to View – > Notes Pages, delete the thumbnails for each slide, and then print your notes via File -> Print -> Settings -> Notes Pages.

Creating and Printing Handouts using Speaker Notes in PowerPoint

You can create handouts from your speaker notes by exporting them to a Microsoft Word file or printing them directly from PowerPoint.

Export Handouts to Word

To export your handouts to Word, go to File -> Export -> Create Handouts .

This will provide you with the option to select whether you would like to export notes next to slides or export blank lines next to slides, notes below slides, blank lines below slides, or the outline only.

Below is an example of handouts exported to Microsoft Word from PowerPoint. You can print these handouts from Word anytime via File -> Print.

Final Words

Speaker notes in PowerPoint can help presenters create uncluttered slides and present information without worrying about messy paper notes or missing out information because of an oversight. Speaker notes provide much needed support to cater to the needs of the modern presenter, with the added advantage of printing or providing handouts to the audience after the presentation, such as citations and links for further reading.

If it’s your first time presenting with speaker notes in PowerPoint, you should try to acquaint yourself with the necessary settings and features of speaker notes to avoid getting confused when using them for the first time. Sometimes, monitor settings can flip, especially amidst an online presentation via Zoom or other video calling apps. To prevent that from happening, you can have a mock call with a colleague to make sure speaker notes aren’t visible. To do that, you can rehearse your presentation by adjusting your screen share view while hiding speaker notes.

Discover our step-by-step guide on how to make a presentation .

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Best Practices for Using Speaker Notes in a Presentation

"The way something is presented will define the way you react to it." - Deville Brody

Delivering presentations in front of an audience is one of the most common fears shared across the world. Whether you’re presenting a proposal to a single client, a project to your peers, or you are a keynote speaker for a massive conference, the reality is that public speaking can be nerve-wracking. The good news is that there are several strategies to mitigate this fear, boost your confidence, and increase your chances of delivering an engaging presentation, guaranteed to captivate your audience.

One strategy to deliver effective presentations is utilizing the power of speaker notes. We’ve built hundreds of decks and understand just how much work goes into the preparation process. After putting in the hours to craft the narrative, build the deck, and rehearse the presentation, the audience must reap the benefit of all those efforts. Using speaker notes in your presentation is an excellent way to come prepared, engage with your audience, deliver a compelling message, and ensure that your hard work translates to value.

In this article, we’ll discuss the benefits of speaker notes and outline some best practices for you to apply when building your decks.

What are Speaker Notes? ‍

Speaker notes are quite simply what their name suggests. They’re notes to help presenters recall important speaking points when giving a presentation. Think index cards but in digital form.

Speaking notes are only visible to speakers and not the audience and are typically located beneath or to the side of the core presentation content. The notes are tied to specific slides, so as you flip through your presentation, the notes will change accordingly. Some examples of content typically included in speaker notes include key statistics, prompts for stories, clues for transitions or co-presenters, and additional context to help convey important points.

Good speaker notes provide guidance, support, and structure to ensure that the speaker can stay on track and cover all relevant information. Good speaker notes should contain a clear structure, use succinct language, and be detailed enough for the speaker to recall them easily without being overwhelmingly long.

Long notes (where you're writing out every spoken word) have the opposite effect. They detract from the speaker’s focus. They can ruin the cadence of the speaker and their connection to the audience. They should be bullet points for familiarity and really nothing more.

Some examples of speaker notes that have been effectively utilized in presentations include:

- Providing a list of key statistics or key points that need to be covered during the presentation

- Including prompts for stories , anecdotes, and other examples to illustrate your main points

- Offering cues or reminders for transitions between different parts of the presentation

- Providing additional context or background information for important points

If you are looking to deliver effective presentations, speaker notes can be an invaluable tool. By taking the time to carefully craft your speaker notes and using them as a guide during your presentation, you will be able to engage with your audience,

What are the Benefits of Using Speaker Notes? ‍

"You are not being judged, the value of what you are bringing to the audience is being judged." - Seth Godin

Your audience will either listen to you or read your slides. The goal is to get them to listen to you. This is accomplished by limiting the content on slides to only essential information.

Using speaker notes to capture the additional information helps your audience to focus on listening to you and for you to avoid coming off as inauthentic, like reading a script. ‍

Better Engage Your Audience

One of the best ways to engage your audience is through maximizing eye contact. Eye contact helps lock in listeners’ attention and helps the speaker read visual cues. By using speaking notes to capture the main ideas to touch on, speakers can avoid reading slides word for word. This frees up their attention to connect with the audience, read visual cues, and most importantly, allows the audience to focus on listening to what they have to say. ‍

Deliver a More Compelling Message

Speaking notes serve as a powerful tool to add additional value to your narrative. Graphics, metrics, videos, and other content cannot and should not convey all of the information that is important to understanding the story. By placing extra contextual information in speaking notes, you can shed more light on the real story behind the content and again, force the audience to listen to you vs. reading slides.

Stories are also a proven way to grab your audience’s attention and help them relate to your message. Speaking notes are a perfect tool to place notes for yourself on when to insert a reminder for a powerful story.

Perhaps the most obvious way to use speaking notes to deliver a great presentation is to use them to keep your place and train of thought. Too often, presenters get nervous, lose their train of thought, and go blank during the presentation. This damage to confidence and credibility can be easily avoided by having speaker notes available to fall back on.

Be Prepared

Presentations often lead to the need for questions or leave behind materials. Speaking notes can serve as an excellent reference to help answer questions that inevitably get asked about information that wasn’t visible on the slide. Coming prepared with notes to help answer these questions can help to maintain your credibility even after the presentation.

The notes can also be incredibly helpful in producing a leave-behind version of your deck. The extra information and context will go a long way in helping readers remember the narrative that was discussed that can’t be inferred from the slide content.

In more complex presentations, such as when you’re co-presenting with others, speaker notes can be an effective tool to include slide directions. You can prepare by leaving clues for yourself and others on how to transition between slides, what is coming up next, and who is speaking on what points. ‍

Best Practices for Using Speaker Notes

‍ "Grasp the subject, the words will follow." - Cato the Elder

We’ve discussed the benefits of speaker notes, but the real power is understanding how to apply them. Here are a few of our helpful tips that you can reference when creating speaker notes for your presentations. ‍

The space to view your notes will be limited so you need to use the space wisely. It’s best practice to capture no more than 1 to 2 main ideas per slide and then you can add a few supporting notes per idea. Focus on writing down keywords and phrases and avoid including full sentences. Bullet points tend to be far more effective than writing details out word for word.

Being brief forces speakers to craft the narrative in their minds and use the notes for supporting details and context. Don’t forget to practice your speech and focus your attention on the audience, not your notes.

Add Clues and Key Stats

In addition to helping outline your speaking points, speaking notes can serve as a helpful reference for key stats, transitions, instructions, and other reminders. You can best equip yourself by adding in clues such as who’s speaking next, who’s touching on which points, what’s coming on the next slide, what key stats may help in answering questions, and so on. Do your best to anticipate what questions may get asked and what challenges can be offset with information placed in the notes. ‍

Be Brief, Be Prepared, Be Remembered

The idea of speaker notes may seem overwhelmingly simple, but they’re often overlooked and misused. If used improperly, they can negatively impact your presentation. But if used correctly, you will be prepared to deliver a confident, engaging presentation to remember.

If you're working with Airtable visualizations or charts on Google Sheets data within your presentation, be sure to try Superchart for free.

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How to Add Speaker Notes in PowerPoint

4-minute read

• 31st January 2024

Adding speaker notes to your PowerPoint allows you to present with confidence while avoiding information overload in your slides. This means an engaged audience! But how do you add speaker notes? Read on for our simple step-by-step guide.

What Are Speaker Notes in PowerPoint?

There’s nothing worse than sitting through a PowerPoint presentation with slides so full of information that you miss what the speaker is saying while you try to read them. And as a presenter, you can come across as dull if you simply read the slides.

These problems can be avoided by having a separate set of prompts to keep you on track – speaker notes in PowerPoint are the on-screen version of those.

Just like hand-held notes, speaker notes in PowerPoint are visible to the speaker (hence the name), but not displayed in the slideshow.

You can also use speaker notes to jot down any issues that come up during a presentation. And if you need to ask someone else to help operate the PowerPoint, you can use speaker notes to add instructions so it all runs smoothly.

How to Add Speaker Notes to Your PowerPoint

To add speaker notes to your PowerPoint presentation, follow these steps.

1. Select the Relevant Slide

Click on the slide where you want to add the notes. 

2. Click to Add Notes

To add your speaker notes to the slide, you have two options:

• You may see a prompt at the bottom of the screen that says, “Click to add notes.” Click in that section and type away!
• If you can’t see it, click Notes in the bottom ribbon to reveal it.

View Your Speaker Notes

If your notes are long, a scroll bar will appear at the side so you can navigate through them.

You can also increase the size of the notes section. Hover your cursor along the top of the section until it looks like a horizontal line with up and down arrows. Click and drag to change the size of the notes section.

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Edit Speaker Notes While Presenting Your PowerPoint

It always happens, however well you’ve prepared: someone will ask a question you weren’t expecting, or you’ll notice something you missed. Never fear! You can still edit your speaker notes while presenting your PowerPoint. It’s simple, and your audience don’t need to know. Here’s how.

1. Select Presenter View

This should start automatically when you connect to a projector and start your slideshow. If it doesn’t, then you can select it by clicking on Presenter View in the Slideshow tab on the ribbon.

2. Add Your Notes

The notes section is on the right of the current slide. This contains any speaker notes you’ve already added. You can add and delete notes in that section while presenting.

All your audience will see is the slideshow.

Finishing Up

Congratulations! Your speaker notes are now ready for you to present your PowerPoint. You can even print them for your audience to take away, leaving them free to enjoy your presentation. Simply click on Print in the File menu and then select Notes from the dropdown list in the print dialog box.

Adding speaker notes to your PowerPoint is a simple way to keep on track during your presentation and allow your audience to take in your slides.

Of course, you’ll also need to make sure that the other elements of your presentation are on point – you don’t want your hard work derailed by spelling and grammar issues. We can help with that! Our team of expert editors and proofreaders are available 24/7 to polish your PowerPoint presentation . And you can try it for free .

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How to Add Notes in PowerPoint?

Table of Contents

Keeping track of everything you want to cover in a presentation can be tough. To avoid cramming too much text onto your slides and to make sure you don’t miss any key points, some presenters use notes or flashcards. Another polished way to present your slides is by using speaker notes in PowerPoint. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to add these notes in PowerPoint. Let’s dive in.

What are Speaker Notes in PowerPoint ?

Speaker notes in PowerPoint are like handy reminders you can attach to your slides. They’re there for you to reference during your presentation, but the audience won’t see them. Think of them as bullet points or cues to help you remember what to say, explain the visuals on the slide, or mention interesting details you don’t want to crowd the slide with. This way, you can keep your slides focused and use the notes to deliver a well-rounded presentation.

What are the Benefits of Using Speaker Notes? 

• Clear Slides : Using speaker notes has several benefits, especially in keeping slides clean by avoiding too much text. With speaker notes, presenters can ensure their slides look neat while still having all the important information handy during the presentation.
• Simplifies the Note-Taking Processes : Speaker notes offer a convenient way to take notes without the hassle of paper or flashcards. This can make presentations smoother and less stressful since presenters won’t have to worry about juggling physical notes.
• Enhances Information Retention : Sometimes, it’s hard to remember everything during a presentation. Speaker notes act as a backup, helping presenters recall key points when needed. By having these notes handy, presenters can stay on track and deliver a more organized presentation.
• Structures Presentation Flow : In complex presentations, it’s easy to lose track of the main points. Speaker notes provide a helpful roadmap, guiding presenters through their slides and ensuring they stay focused on the key message.
• Boosts Presenter Confidence : Having confidence is important when presenting, and speaker notes can help presenters feel more prepared and in control. By reducing the need to fumble with notes or rely on external aids, presenters can appear more confident and authoritative in front of their audience.

How to Add Speaker Notes to PowerPoint?

Adding notes in PowerPoint to accompany your slides is a great way to stay on track during presentations. Here’s how to add them on different platforms:

Windows & macOS

The process for adding speaker notes is very similar on both Windows and macOS:

• Open your PowerPoint presentation.
• Select the slide you want to add notes to. You can do this by clicking on the thumbnail image of the slide in the slide pane on the left.
• Windows:  By default, the Notes pane should be visible at the bottom of the PowerPoint window. If it’s hidden, click the  Notes  button on the taskbar at the bottom of the window.
• macOS:  Similar to Windows, the Notes pane is located below the slide. If it’s hidden, click on the  Notes  tab at the bottom right corner of the window.
• Add your notes: In the Notes pane, click where it says “Click to add notes” and type your information. This can include talking points, additional details you don’t want on the slide itself, or even questions you might anticipate from the audience.
• Formatting your notes (Optional): You can format your notes using the standard text formatting options available. This might include making text bold, italicized, or changing the font size.

PowerPoint for the web offers a slightly different way to add speaker notes:

• Open your presentation in PowerPoint for the web.
• Click on the slide  where you want to add notes.
• In the toolbar above the slide, click the  “Speaker Notes”  icon (it looks like a monitor with a speech bubble).
• A  text box will appear  below the slide. Type your speaker notes here.
• You can format your notes using the basic formatting options available in the text box.
• To  hide the speaker notes , click the “Speaker Notes” icon again.

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How to View Speaker Notes in PowerPoint while Presenting? 

1. Enter Presenter View:

• Go to the  Slide Show  tab on the PowerPoint ribbon.
• In the  Start Slide Show  group, click the down arrow next to  From Beginning .
• Select  Presenter View  from the dropdown menu.

Alternatively:

• You can also press the keyboard shortcut  P  (or  Fn + P  on some laptops) to enter Presenter View directly.

2. View Your Notes:

• Once in Presenter View, you will see the current slide you’re presenting on the main screen.
• Below the current slide, you’ll find a pane displaying the speaker notes you’ve added for that particular slide.
• On the right side of the Presenter View window, you’ll see a preview of the next slide in your presentation.

3. Navigate Through Slides:

• Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to navigate through your slides during your presentation.
• The  Presenter View  window will update accordingly, showing the current slide, your speaker notes, and a preview of the upcoming slide.

Additional Tips:

• You can adjust the size of the notes pane by dragging the divider between the pane and the slide preview.
• If you’re using multiple monitors, you can choose which monitor displays the Presenter View with your notes and which one shows only the slides for the audience. Look for the  “Display Settings”  button in the Presenter View window to manage this option.

How to Print Speaker Notes in PowerPoint ?

Here are the steps on how to print speaker notes in PowerPoint:

Step 1: Open your presentation and go to the “ File ” tab.

Step 2: Click on “ Print ” in the left-hand sidebar.

Step 3: Under “ Settings ,” you’ll see a dropdown menu next to “ Full Page Slides .” Click the down arrow.

Step 4: In the dropdown menu, choose “ Notes Pages .” This option will show you a preview of your slides with the accompanying speaker notes on the right side.

Step 5: Select your printer and any other printing options you want to adjust (e.g., number of copies).

Step 6 : Click “ Print ” to print your speaker notes.

How to Edit Notes in PowerPoint ?

In the world of PowerPoint, the editing of notes might seem like a minor detail, but its impact on your presentations can be significant. Here’s how you can edit the notes in your PowerPoint presentation:

• Open your presentation and select the slide with the notes you want to edit.
• Make sure you can see the notes beneath the slide. If not, click the “ Notes ” button on the toolbar at the bottom of the screen.
• Click anywhere within the notes area to start editing the content.
• After making your edits, click  outside the notes  section to save your changes.

How to Hide Notes in PowerPoint ?

Hiding notes in PowerPoint can be useful, especially when you’re showing your screen during a presentation. This way, your audience won’t see any private comments or reminders you’ve written for yourself. Here’s how to hide the notes:

• If you see the notes at the bottom of the screen, click the “Notes” button in the toolbar below. This will collapse the notes section and hide them from view on all slides in the presentation.
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Closing Thoughts

Speaker notes are a powerful tool that can transform your presentations from good to great. By using speaker notes, you can keep your slides clear and concise while ensuring you have all the information you need to deliver a confident and informative presentation. Remember to practice using your speaker notes beforehand to ensure a smooth and engaging delivery.

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Create speaker notes

Speaker notes help you remember what to say when you present. Print them, or use Presenter view to see your notes, while the audience sees only your slides.

Add speaker notes

Slides work best when you don’t cram too much information (especially too much text) onto them.

Keep the text to a minimum and put the extra stuff in the speaker notes section, out of your audience’s sight. Then, refer to your notes while you give the presentation.

Open the notes pane by clicking NOTES at the bottom of the window.

Click in the notes pane below the slide, and enter your notes.

Create and print speaker notes

Use Presenter view

View your speaker notes as you deliver your slide show

Print slides, notes, or handouts

Use speaker notes to capture your talking points and the details you want to present with each slide.

For example, on the slide itself, include only essential points to keep the information simple and easy to scan.

Reserve the finer details for your speaker notes.

You’ll engage with your audience as you present this information, and they won’t have to read a crowded slide.

One way to use your notes is to print them out in a Notes Pages format and refer to them as you present.

Another way is to use PowerPoint’s Presenter view when you present.

Presenter view lets you see the slide and your notes on your laptop, while on the projector, your audience sees only the slide.

An added benefit of speaker notes is that you can print them as a handout for your audience, so people take away all the details.

To create speaker notes, click NOTES at the bottom of the editing window.

That opens the notes pane, where you type your notes for the slide.

To adjust the space in the pane, point to the top border and drag the double-headed arrow cursor up or down.

Type what you plan to say and the key points you’ll cover.

Apply formatting just the way you do for slide text.

For example, to make a bold-face heading, select the text, and on the HOME tab, click Bold , or to create a bulleted list, select the text, and on the HOME tab, click Bullets .

For each slide, add the notes you want.

As you work, and especially if you plan to print your notes, make use of Notes page view.

To open the view, click VIEW and Notes Page .

This shows the page as it will look when you print it, with the slide image and the notes.

You can add and format text here, too.

Let’s click Zoom In to see the text better.

Click the text to display its placeholder, this dotted border.

Any text outside this border won’t fit on the page when you print.

PowerPoint will print the extra text on a separate page.

But to keep it to this page, you have a few options.

Tighten up the notes text by deleting extra paragraph lines or revising text, if you can.

This info repeats the web address, so I’ll select it, and press Delete.

I’ll click Zoom Out to see more of the page.

If you want more space and don’t mind making the slide image smaller on this page, you can click the image to select it, point to the bottom-right corner, and drag the two-headed arrow upward to reduce the image size.

Then, display the text placeholder again, point to the top sizing handle, and drag the two-headed arrow cursor upward.

That adds space at the bottom of the placeholder.

I’ll click where I had the blank paragraph lines and press Enter to add them back.

Now, it looks better.

To move to another notes page, click Next Slide , the double arrows at the bottom of the scrollbar.

To return to the normal view, click Normal .

And if you are ready to close the notes pane, click NOTES .

Up next: Print notes or use Presenter view .

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How to Use Speaker Notes in Your PowerPoint Presentations

Being a presenter, who’s also a storyteller of sorts, it’s your job to not overwhelm your audience with too much information all at once. They will either focus on what you’re saying or read the content presented in your slides — so either way, it’s important to share only the information that you deem essential for your narrative.

This is where the Speaker Notes feature in PowerPoint comes in handy for both novice and expert presenters alike. It allows you to separate graphical and bare essential text in your slides and keep the latter for your own reference, in case you need to quickly recall any high-level points from your script or any stats you would like to share with your audience. Should your audience ask you any questions about anything presented on your slide, Speaker Notes has got your back!

But how exactly do you use Speaker Notes in your presentation? As a presentation design company , we share everything you need to know about it.

As a rule of thumb, you shouldn’t be writing your script word-for-word in the slide’s Speaker Notes section, as this can make you lose touch with your audience while presenting, not to mention also make you sound a bit unauthentic. Remember: Speaker Notes are just for your own quick reference, to keep your speech flowing. This is why you should try and use short words or key phrases that will instantly remind you of what you wanted to say.

So, for example, if you want to share a story with your audience on how you managed to keep your business operational during the recent lockdown, you can type into your Speaker Notes something like: [Story: Business Continuity During Lockdown, 2020].

BONUS TIP: If you spend some time structuring your speaker notes, it can be a great way to turn your presentation into an all-inclusive document that can be shared across with your audience without you even presenting it – just in case you can’t present in front of them live, for some reason.

Now, let’s have a look at how you can add Speaker Notes in PowerPoint.

How to Add Speaker Notes in PowerPoint

Open the PowerPoint slide that you would like to add Speaker Notes to, and you will notice a box reading “Tap to Add Notes” or “Click to Add Notes”, right beneath the slide.

If you can’t see this section on your screen right away, you will need to click the Notes button, which you can find in the toolbar present at the bottom of your PowerPoint window, in order to display it.

If you’re using a Mac, you will need to drag the bar below your slides upward in order to reveal the hidden Notes section.

So, there you go! Now you can start typing in the Notes pane.

How to View Speaker Notes While Delivering Your Presentation

Speaker Notes are supposed to be visible only to you, and not the audience. For this, you will be using ‘Presenter View’ mode, which is usually selected by default when you activate the Slide Show mode. Your notes would appear automatically on your personal screen once your PC is connected to the projector (or any display which you’re using for the live presentation).

In case this doesn’t happen, go to the Slide Show tab on the top ribbon bar. Then, look under the Monitor section and make sure that the checkbox for ‘Use Presenter View’ is checked.

You can find various editing options (such as adjusting the font size of the notes) underneath the notes section, which is scrollable too. The current slide will be displayed on the left, along with a running timer and a clock right above the slide to help pace your delivery.

How to Print Your Speaker Notes

In case you’re not so familiar with using multiple screens for live presentations, want to distribute the notes as handouts to your audience, or simply want a physical version of your notes to keep with you as a handy reference or a backup for the presentation, you can print your PowerPoint notes.

The printed version of your speaker notes will comprise of a thumbnail version of the current slide along with your notes.

• Click on the ‘File’ tab and select ‘Print’. This will open the print dialog.
• In the ‘Settings’ section, select the option: ‘Full Page Slides’.
• Under ‘Print Layout’, switch to the ‘Notes Pages’ option.
• Finally, select the number of copies you’d like to print and click ‘Print’.

Final Thoughts

As a presenter, you can build a deeper connection with the audience if you don’t read out from your slides and maintain a healthy pace while delivering your live presentation – and Speaker Notes in PowerPoint help you do just that. However, just like any other tool, you need to become familiar with all the available settings to get the best results. By putting thought and practice into how you prepare your speaker notes and optimally use and re-use them, you can ensure that your message stays with your audience till long after they leave the meeting room.

For more tips and advice on how to make the best use of PowerPoint for your presentations, don’t forget to check out our future posts! Also If you think you are in need to brush up your presentation skills, Check out our Presentation Skills Training Courses .

In case you need professional help with designing your upcoming presentations or perhaps some special training to prepare you for the D-Day, feel free to reach out to our in-house team of presentation experts!

Presentation Experts also offer a wide range of services for improving your presentation skills for a wide range of situations. Please feel free to check out our Powerpoint Presentation Design and our Pitch Deck Design Services !  

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How to Add Speaker Notes in PowerPoint for Effective Presentations

Adding speaker notes in PowerPoint can be a game-changer for anyone looking to deliver a professional and well-organized presentation. Speaker notes allow us to keep our key points and context top of mind without cluttering the slides our audience sees. Imagine having a cheat sheet that only we can see, guiding us through the presentation smoothly and confidently.

To start, let’s open PowerPoint and navigate to the slide where we want to add notes. Once there, we simply click on the “Notes” section at the bottom of the screen and type in our reminders and pointers. This little feature can make a huge difference, especially when presenting complex information or when we just need that extra bit of guidance.

For those of us using Presenter View, speaker notes become even more powerful. This special mode lets us view our notes on a secondary monitor while showing the slide show to our audience. So, next time we gear up for a PowerPoint presentation, let’s tap into the brilliance of speaker notes to stay on track and engage our audience like never before.

• 1.1 Selecting an Effective Layout
• 1.2 Incorporating Visuals
• 1.3 Manage Font Size and Formatting for Clarity
• 2.1 Utilizing the Notes Pane and Speaker Notes
• 2.2 Leveraging the View Tab and Presentation Views
• 3.1 Navigating Slides with Confidence
• 3.2 Engaging the Audience and Handling Q&A
• 4.1 Printing Handouts and Speaker Notes
• 4.2 Setting Up Multiple Monitors for Presentations

Designing Your PowerPoint Presentation

Crafting a compelling PowerPoint presentation requires attention to layout, visuals, and text formatting. Each element plays a vital role in delivering a clear, engaging, and memorable message.

Selecting an Effective Layout

The layout of a slide is the backbone of any presentation. Opt for layouts that balance text and visuals effectively. We should choose templates that offer clean lines and enough white space.

A table or grid format can also help in structuring information in an organized way:

These give a strong visual hierarchy, making the content easier to digest.

Incorporating Visuals

Visuals are a game-changer. Adding images, charts, and graphics can significantly enhance your audience’s comprehension and retention of information. We should use high-quality, relevant images to support the key messages.

Strategically placing a few visuals can transform a bland slide into an engaging one. Think of it like adding the perfect seasoning to a dish—we want just enough to enhance the flavor, without overwhelming the meal.

Using shapes and illustrations can also make data more understandable. For example, incorporating pie charts or bar graphs can visually represent statistics more clearly than text alone.

Manage Font Size and Formatting for Clarity

A clear, readable font can make a world of difference in how your presentation is perceived. Opt for sans-serif fonts, which are generally easier to read on screens. Keeping the font size large enough ensures that even the people in the back of the room can read the text.

Here are a few tips:

• Titles: 36-44 pt
• Body Text: 24-32 pt
• Use Bold and Italics for Emphasis

We should also stick to a consistent color scheme to avoid overwhelming the audience. Too many colors can be distracting. The right balance of text and background color contrast ensures that the slides are easy on the eyes.

Mastering Presentation Features

Mastering presentation features in PowerPoint ensures a smooth and engaging experience for both the presenter and the audience. By effectively using speaker notes, and understanding view options, we can make our presentations stand out.

Utilizing the Notes Pane and Speaker Notes

Using speaker notes is crucial for keeping us on track during a presentation without overwhelming the audience with text.

The Notes Pane is located beneath each slide. If it’s not visible, clicking the Notes Button on the task bar will reveal it. We can type our speaker notes directly there, providing us with a private script that guides us through our key points.

In Presenter View , these notes are displayed beneath the current slide, making it easy to refer to them without disrupting the flow. Using controls like Make the Text Larger or Smaller buttons, we can ensure the notes are easily readable. This feature helps maintain eye contact and improves overall delivery.

Leveraging the View Tab and Presentation Views

The View Tab on the Ribbon offers several options to manage our presentation views efficiently.

In Normal View , we can edit our slides and add notes. The Slide Sorter View allows us to see all slides at once, making it easy to rearrange them.

Reading View offers a full-screen presentation without an external monitor, perfect for quick reviews. For actual presentations, the Slide Show View combined with Presenter View displays speaker notes, the current slide, and the next slide, providing seamless control over the presentation.

Utilizing these different presentation views helps us stay organized and enhances our ability to deliver a polished performance.

Delivering a Captivating Presentation

Successfully delivering a captivating presentation involves navigating your slides with confidence and engaging the audience effectively while handling their questions.

Navigating Slides with Confidence

Being familiar with Presenter View in PowerPoint can be a real game-changer. It allows us to view speaker notes and the next slide before anyone else sees it. This way, we keep track of our key messages without faltering.

Hot tip: Practice with the presenter view to know exactly how to seamlessly move from one slide to the next.

Imagine you’re on stage: You have a clicker in hand, and without glancing at the main screen, you flick through a few slides, all while maintaining eye contact with the audience. Confidence comes from being prepared, knowing what comes next, and understanding your flow thoroughly. It saves us from those “uh-oh” moments when flipping to the wrong slide.

Engaging the Audience and Handling Q&A

Engagement is not just about presenting; it’s about making the audience feel included. We should ask questions , make eye contact, and even tell a personal anecdote occasionally to connect with them. There’s something incredibly powerful about making our audience laugh or nod along in agreement.

Handling Q&A smoothly can be challenging but is vital. If someone has a question, we shouldn’t dive into an elaborate explanation straight away.

Me: “That’s a great question! Let me address that briefly before we move on.”

While answering, stay calm, and if you don’t know the answer, it’s okay to admit it.

An excellent Q&A session can make or break our presentation. Our credibility soars if we handle it gracefully.

Effective Methods for Printing and Sharing Presentations

Printing and sharing presentations can be streamlined by using specific methods tailored to your needs. Whether you need to print handouts with speaker notes or set up multiple monitors for a seamless presentation, these tips will help you achieve your goals efficiently.

Printing Handouts and Speaker Notes

Printing speaker notes ensures that you have all the information at hand while presenting. To print these notes, we start by clicking the File tab and selecting Print . From there, we can choose the option to print Notes Pages , which prints each slide along with its corresponding notes.

When we need to print handouts, another useful option is to select Handouts under the Print Layout settings. This allows us to print multiple slide thumbnails per page. It’s a great way to create a hard copy of your presentation for audience distribution.

For added flexibility, we can use the Full Page Slides option if we prefer a larger, more readable format. This is particularly helpful for checking detailed slides before the presentation. Remember to configure Printer Preferences to avoid wasting paper and ensure the highest print quality.

Setting Up Multiple Monitors for Presentations

Using multiple monitors or a projector can significantly enhance our presentations. Firstly, we connect the monitors or the projector to our computer. We then open the Slide Show tab in PowerPoint.

Click on Set Up Slide Show and choose Browsed at a kiosk (full screen) for continuous presentations. For more control, select Presenter View . This mode allows us to view our Notes Panel on one screen while showing the slide deck to the audience on another.

Adjusting the settings here helps us to preview upcoming slides and manage speaker notes without the audience seeing them. This setup ensures a smooth presentation flow, keeping us organized and on track.

Related posts:

• How to Curve Text in PowerPoint: Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Record a PowerPoint Presentation: Step-by-Step Guide for Professionals
• How to Crop a Picture into a Circle in PowerPoint: A Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Copy a Slide from One PowerPoint to Another: A Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Save PowerPoint as Video: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
• How to Present PowerPoint with Notes: Master Speaker Tips
• How to Create a PowerPoint Template: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
• How to Print PowerPoint with Notes: A Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Insert PDF into PowerPoint: A Step-by-Step Guide for Seamless Integration
• How to Play PowerPoint Slides Automatically Without Clicking: Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Wrap Text in PowerPoint: A Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Insert a Slide from Another PowerPoint: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Discover the hidden power of PowerPoint Speaker Notes in our blog. From enhancing confidence to engaging your audience, learn how to craft effective notes and project them seamlessly during your presentations. ... read more Discover the hidden power of PowerPoint Speaker Notes in our blog. From enhancing confidence to engaging your audience, learn how to craft effective notes and project them seamlessly during your presentations. close

Speaker notes for a PowerPoint are often an underestimated and neglected tool; they are the secret weapon for any confident presenter. They are the lifeline that keeps the presentation smooth and on track. In this blog, we will look into the benefits of using speaker notes and how to use them to their fullest potential.

The benefits of using speaker notes

Speaker notes are the behind-the-scenes ally of any presenter. Easily a confidence booster, speaker notes discreetly display your notes and numbers to keep you on track and articulate.

Enhancing speaker confidence

The advantage of speaker notes is that, first and foremost, they offer a safety net for presenters to fall back on so they don’t miss a point. Knowing that they have a boost ready for them when they need it instills confidence in presenters, so they feel well-prepared. Using speaker notes you can have a reference point to return to, which helps you focus on engaging your audience rather than worrying about forgetting details you need to mention.

Streamlining the presentation flow

Speaker notes guide you as you move through your presentation, offering a clear roadmap for you to follow. When the narrative flows seamlessly, it’s easier for the audience to pay attention and follow along. You can avoid potential obstacles or lags by mapping out the narrative within the speaker notes beforehand, as you would with storyboarding . With speaker notes, presenters can also outline their presentations to have a logical structure and a natural flow of ideas, which helps you avoid stumbling over your words or losing track of where you are. That way, the audience is treated to a truly enriching presentation experience.

Facilitating audience engagement

Engagement connects the audience and presenter, turning one-sided monologues into captivating dialogues. Speaker notes can be used to provide cues to help the presenter remember what to say, including discussion prompts and strategic signals for when to use audience interaction.

By incorporating purposeful notes, you can easily incorporate interactive segments into your presentation for a two-way discussion.

Crafting effective speaker notes

Creating effective speaker notes is an essential, yet underrated, skill for any presenter. As you present, these notes will be your lifeline, which is why it’s so important for them to be a useful guide for delivering a seamless presentation.

Balancing detail and brevity

When creating your notes, balancing detail and brevity is necessary to avoid any confusion when you present. These notes should have enough information to keep you on track, but not so much that you need a minute to read them all. This rule also applies when trying to achieve balance; you must consider what you can afford to leave out of your notes. By maintaining brief and straightforward notes, you can make the most of your script.

Ensuring readability

When creating helpful speaker notes, it goes without saying that readability should be at the forefront of your concerns. Your notes should be simple and digestible enough that you should be able to understand them at a glance as you speak, so avoid complicated language and complex terms that require rereading. Also, consider using a readable sans-serif and sizing your content large enough to read. After all, your speaker notes should enable you to present better; they shouldn’t be an obstacle.

Handling Q&A sessions efficiently

Speaker notes are your best ally when you present, so it’s important to use them to their fullest potential. Especially when faced with a Q&A session, your notes serve as your backup information for the more unexpected questions. By purposefully preparing your speaker notes with answers to anticipated questions, you can boost your confidence and navigate the session with ease.

How do you add speaker notes in PowerPoint?

Luckily, adding speaker notes to PowerPoint is incredibly simple and requires no fuss. All you need to do is go to the slide you want to add your notes to, select Notes at the bottom of your screen, and type out the notes under the slide.

How do you project speaker notes in PowerPoint during a presentation?

When the presentation is connected to another output (like a monitor or projector), PowerPoint is built to display the speaker’s notes only to the presenter. Once you have added your notes, you can go to the Slide Show tab and click on Presenter View to put the slides up on display. With Presenter View, you will still be able to see your speaker notes and slides, while the audience will only see your slides.

Speaker notes are a powerful sidekick for creating dynamic and fluent presentations. They allow presenters to be more prepared, confident, and fluent by helping facilitate a smooth flow of ideas and ensure an engaging experience for the audience. Every word counts when you present, and speaker notes offer a solid base to bounce off of.

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Speaker Notes are an important part of every PowerPoint presentation. Notes during a presentation can help you to stay on track and often times when presenting you even get to see the Presenter View in PowerPoint which shows you the next few slides alongside your individual Notes in PowerPoint. If you add speaker notes with AI to your existing presentation you can save yourself a lot of time. It’s a fairly straightforward process and there’s a couple of ways how to generate the speaker notes automatically and add them to your PowerPoint.

In this blog post we will discuss a few ways on how you can add speaker notes with AI to PowerPoint. You can obviously use AI tools like ChatGPT or Google Gemini directly to generate the notes for you. This has the small downside that you have to copy all the speaker notes back into PowerPoint. This can be quite a time consuming task. We’ve recently added a few feature to SlideSpeak which also allows you to directly add Speaker Notes to your existing PowerPoint presentations. Read more here about the release .

If you’re using Google Slides, then you might be in luck: Google recently announced that they will add AI support to Google Slides through their AI tool “Gemini”. That being said the solutions on how to AI generate Speaker Notes discussed in this article can be used for Google Slides as well as Microsoft PowerPoint.

But let’s get started 🚀

We will look at two options on how to add speaker notes to a PowerPoint file:

• Method 1: Use SlideSpeak to generate speaker notes with AI
• Method 2: Generate presentation notes with ChatGPT 3.5 and ChatGPT 4

By the way if you’re looking to create entire PowerPoint presentations with AI, check out SlideSpeak AI Presentation Maker .

Method 1: Add Speaker Notes with AI using SlideSpeak

In order to add Speaker Notes with AI to an existing PowerPoint slide simply head over to SlideSpeak and upload your presentation file (PPT or PPTX). Please note this requires a paid subscription for SlideSpeak. If you want a free option, see Method 2 on how to add Speaker Notes with AI using ChatGPT.

Step 1: Go to SlideSpeak Website

Go to https://slidespeak.co and click on “Try Now” in the top right corner.

Afterwards you’ll see the upload interface of SlideSpeak AI.

Step 2: Upload your PowerPoint PPTX file

Once you’ve uploaded your PowerPoint presentation you will see a preview with all your presentation slides on the left hand side.

In the top right corner right next to the “Generate Presentation” button you will see a button called “Add AI Speaker Notes”. This is the magic button that will analyze all the content of your existing PowerPoint and automatically with the help of AI generate notes for each slide.

Step 3: Let the AI generate Speaker Notes for your PowerPoint

The process of generating Speaker Notes with AI might take a few minutes depending on how big your overall PowerPoint presentation is. The reason for this is that the AI needs to analyze all your content and generate the notes on a slide by slide basis. If you have a presentation with over 30 or 40 slides this might take some time. Patience grasshopper 😆

Step 4: Download your new Presentation

After SlideSpeak has added the speaker notes to your presentation the download will automatically start. Save the PPTX file locally and open it to have a look at the new speaker notes.

As you can see in the bottom “Notes” section, SlideSpeak has AI generated presentation notes for each slide. This will help you to present with more confidence. The speaker notes are also based on the content of each slide, so you can rest assured that the content is highly relevant.

By the way: If you’re interested in this process for Google Slides, then simply download a PowerPoint file from Google Slides and follow the same process. Simply select “File” -> “Download” and “Microsoft PowerPoint (.pptx)”.

Method 2: Generate Speaker Notes with ChatGPT

Another way to create AI-generated speaker notes for your PowerPoint presentation is by using ChatGPT by OpenAI. While this method requires a bit more manual work compared to using SlideSpeak, it’s a great free alternative if you don’t have a SlideSpeak subscription.

To generate speaker notes with ChatGPT, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open ChatGPT and Upload PPT

Go to https://chat.openai.com and sign in or create an account if you don’t already have one.

Click on the paperclip icon next to the chat interface and select the PowerPoint (PPTX/PPT) file you want to upload in order to AI generate speaker note for it.

After you’ve selected your file it will upload it to ChatGPT and then you will see the presentation listed above the chat input field.

Step 2: Provide context and instructions to ChatGPT

In the ChatGPT interface, provide a clear and concise prompt that includes the context of your presentation and the specific slide content for which you need speaker notes. For example:

You are very good at writing speaker notes for PowerPoint presentations. For the attached PowerPoint presentation can you write me speaker notes for each presentation slide.

“I’m creating a presentation. For the slide with the title [slide title], please generate detailed speaker notes that I can use during my presentation.”

Step 3: Review your Speaker Notes

ChatGPT will generate speaker notes based on your prompt. Review the generated content to ensure it aligns with your presentation’s goals and tone. If needed, you can ask ChatGPT to refine or expand on certain parts of the notes.

The results look very promising.

Step 4: Copy and paste the notes into PowerPoint

Once you’re satisfied with the AI-generated speaker notes, copy them from the ChatGPT interface and paste them into the “Notes” section of the corresponding slide in your PowerPoint presentation.

Simply right click on the speaker notes for each slide and select “Copy”.

Then open up the same PowerPoint presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint and insert the speaker notes there.

Repeat steps 4 for each slide that requires speaker notes.

While this method involves more manual work, it allows you to generate speaker notes for free using ChatGPT’s powerful language model. The key to success with this approach is providing clear and detailed prompts to ensure the generated notes meet your specific needs.

Adding speaker notes to your PowerPoint presentation can greatly enhance your delivery and keep you on track during your talk. By leveraging AI tools like SlideSpeak or ChatGPT, you can save time and effort in creating detailed and relevant speaker notes.

SlideSpeak offers a convenient, all-in-one solution for generating AI-powered speaker notes directly within your PowerPoint file. This method is ideal if you have a SlideSpeak subscription and want to streamline the process of adding notes to your presentation.

On the other hand, ChatGPT provides a free alternative for those who don’t mind a bit of manual work. By crafting clear prompts and iterating with the AI, you can create tailored speaker notes that align with your presentation’s content and goals.

Regardless of which method you choose, AI-generated speaker notes can be a game-changer for your presentations. They can help you deliver your message with confidence, stay organized, and effectively engage your audience. So, the next time you’re preparing for a presentation, consider using AI to create speaker notes that will take your delivery to the next level.

To wrap up here are a few FAQs that you might wonder after reading this blog post:

Q: Can I AI generate speaker notes for Google Slides presentations?

A: Yes! While the examples in this post focus on PowerPoint, you can easily adapt these methods for Google Slides. Simply download your Google Slides presentation as a PowerPoint file (.pptx) and follow the same steps outlined above. Once you have the AI-generated speaker notes, you can copy and paste them back into the “Speaker notes” section of your Google Slides presentation.

Q: Is it possible to generate AI speaker notes for Word documents or PDFs?

A: While the methods described in this post are specifically tailored for PowerPoint and Google Slides presentations, you can still use AI to generate content for Word documents and PDFs. Simply copy the text from your document or extract the text from your PDF and use it as a prompt in ChatGPT. The AI can then generate related content or notes based on the provided text, which you can incorporate back into your document or PDF.

Q: Can AI help me create entire presentations from scratch?

A: Yes! In addition to generating speaker notes, AI tools like SlideSpeak and ChatGPT can assist you in creating entire presentations from scratch. With SlideSpeak’s AI Presentation Maker, you can input your topic, key points, and desired tone, and the AI will generate a complete PowerPoint presentation with slides, content, and speaker notes. Similarly, you can use ChatGPT to generate outlines, slide titles, and content for your presentations.

Q: Can I use AI to translate my speaker notes into different languages?

A: Yes, AI-powered translation tools like Google Translate or DeepL can help you quickly translate your speaker notes into various languages. This can be particularly useful if you’re presenting to a multilingual audience or need to share your presentation with colleagues who speak different languages. Simply copy and paste your AI-generated speaker notes into the translation tool of your choice and select the target language.

AI-powered tools like SlideSpeak and ChatGPT offer exciting possibilities for enhancing your presentations with automatically generated speaker notes. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to us at any time!

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Speaker Notes in PowerPoint and How to Use Them

Last updated on June 27th, 2023

Speaker notes are a powerful feature in Microsoft PowerPoint that allow presenters to add additional information, reminders, and cues to their presentation. These notes are not visible to the audience and are intended solely for the presenter’s reference. In this article, we will explore the importance of speaker notes, what they are, and five possible use cases for speaker notes. Speaker notes is a concept used in presentations and Microsoft PowerPoint has a special section in the slide that you can use for speaker notes.

What are Speaker Notes?

Speaker notes are a feature in Microsoft PowerPoint that allow presenters to add notes to each slide of their presentation. These notes are intended to help the presenter remember key points, provide additional information, and keep the presentation on track. Speaker notes can be added to a slide by selecting the “Notes” pane at the bottom of the PowerPoint window.

Speaker notes are also known as Notes Pages in recent versions of PowerPoint. The speaker notes or notes pages are a reserved space for each slide in your presentation that is intended to be used by the presenter for many different purpose.

Why are Speaker Notes Important? 3 Reasons

Speaker notes are important for a number of reasons.

Reason #1: Speaker Notes help the presenter to stay on track and remember key points

First, they can help the presenter stay on track and remember key points. This is especially important for longer presentations or presentations that cover complex topics.

Reason #2: Speaker Notes provide additional information

Second, speaker notes can help the presenter provide additional information that may not be included on the slide itself. This can help the audience better understand the content being presented.

Reason #3: Speaker Notes help presenters feel more confident

Finally, speaker notes can help the presenter feel more confident and prepared, which can lead to a more successful presentation.

The presenter can add some key points that he want to cover during a PowerPoint presentation or meeting, and don’t want to miss. The following figure shows a sample PowerPoint presentation with speaker notes in the slide.

The speaker notes can be printed separately or there is additional software that you can use to display the notes in a separate screen for example in front of the presenter, while the audience is watching the presentation at the background of the presenter. You can also learn how to print notes in PowerPoint here.

Entering speaker notes for each slide is easy, just need to locate the bottom area of the slide and start entering text there.

How to view Speaker Notes in PowerPoint

In order to view your speaker notes or notes pages in a better view or prepare it for printing you can change the view in your PowerPoint presentation.

• Open your PowerPoint file or start a new presentation
• Click on View tab and then choose Notes Page

You can click on the notes area and start typing or changing your existing notes.

So here you learned how to use the Speaker Notes and how to add the key points that you want to remember during your presentation. You can download free sample PowerPoint templates and free PowerPoint slides for Microsoft PowerPoint presentations.

BONUS: Possible Use Cases of Speaker Notes

Here are some possible use cases for speaker notes:

• Reminders: Speaker notes can be used to remind the presenter of key points or to-do items during the presentation. For example, if the presenter needs to remember to ask for questions at the end of the presentation, they can add a reminder to their speaker notes.
• Additional Information: Speaker notes can be used to provide additional information that may not be included on the slide itself. For example, if the presenter is discussing a graph or chart, they can use the speaker notes to explain the data in more detail.
• Timing: Speaker notes can be used to help the presenter keep track of time during the presentation. For example, if the presenter has a limited amount of time to present, they can use the speaker notes to remind themselves to move on to the next slide at a specific time. With the help of Presenter View, Speaker notes can boost your productivity.
• Script: Speaker notes can be used to create a script for the presentation. This can be especially helpful for presenters who are new to presenting or who are presenting in a language that is not their first language.
• Cues: Speaker notes can be used to provide cues to the presenter during the presentation. For example, if the presenter needs to change the tone of their voice or emphasize a certain point, they can add a cue to their speaker notes to remind themselves to do so.

Final Words

In conclusion, speaker notes are an important feature in Microsoft PowerPoint that can help presenters stay on track, provide additional information, and feel more confident during their presentation. By using speaker notes effectively, presenters can create more successful and engaging presentations.

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60 Effective PowerPoint Presentation Tips & Tricks (Giant List)

Here's a PowerPoint presentation tips and tricks guide that takes you through how to make a good PowerPoint presentation.

The best PowerPoint presentations shouldn’t be remembered. Instead, they should fall into the background to support you and the message you’re trying to get across.

Unlike good PowerPoint presentations , bad PowerPoint presentations are a distraction. You may remember them, but not in a good way.

You’ve seen them before. They might have millions of lines of text. Or a disjointed flow to the slides. Even worse, some slides feature ugly photos and poor design that detract from the message you’re trying to get across. That can even hurt your credibility as a professional or speaker.

This article will take you from finding your initial topic to learning how to make a great PowerPoint presentation. Our guide covers everything in between so that you learn how to present a PowerPoint like a pro.

These Microsoft PowerPoint presentation tips and guidelines are organized into sections. So cut straight to the advice you need and come back when you’re ready for the next steps.

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.

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:

To learn even more about how to make a PowerPoint look good, review the huge list of tips below.

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 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 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 mistakes like reading directly from your slides.

Consider this your all-inclusive guide to how to make a good presentation. We’ll look at preparing your presentation and explore how to design it in PowerPoint. Plus, we’ll cover 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. 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.

2. Write It Out

Start in a Word or Google doc, and 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 led 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 you include 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 rewrite 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?

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:

Minimalist slide templates like Nook can help you resist the urge to clutter your slides.

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 most 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 .

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.

The best PowerPoint tips and tricks can hardly compare to the value of using a template while building your presentation.

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.

Templates like Galaxi are impressively designed and waiting for your slide specifics.

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.

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:

The Popsicle PowerPoint template highlights how harmonized color palettes can create beautiful slides.

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 and 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!

Limit your text formatting, including reducing the use of bullets, underline, and other effects. Compare the before example on the left to the revised version on the right.

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.

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. The 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 your main points to be emphasized and gives time 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 of raising and lowering 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 you’re having a normal conversation, and allow your hands to move with your speech to emphasize 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 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 this article . 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. It’s simple, and it’ll help you remain calm and in the moment, 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 are more productive. 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 affected by the actions, you’ve got to consider the morale of the workforce.

Skilled speakers have a knack for reading the energy of the room and adjusting their presentation on the fly.

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).

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 them. Add audio or music to 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.

Here’s a tip from expert Sandra Zimmer, who leads The Self-Expression Center on conquering your fears before you take the 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 forget that PowerPoint templates are infinitely customizable. Think of them as guides with built-in presentation design tips.

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

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

These PowerPoint tips will help you get the most out of the application to level up your next presentation. 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.

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 our tutorial 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 this article to track changes made by others.

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. MIDTEST is a  good PowerPoint presentation  with quiz slides.

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.

The Burte template is full of  PowerPoint tricks , including custom image masks. 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.

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.

The  Flowcharts in Infographics  template seamlessly illustrates ideas and processes. 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.

A template like Soffee helps you learn how to present a PowerPoint easily with a pre-built design.

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.

The Medical and Health template is a good PowerPoint presentation with a set theme.

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.

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.

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.

One of the best PowerPoint tricks is to start by selecting slides you wish to use from your template.

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.

One of our top presentation tips when working with a PPT is to lean on the pre-built text boxes for your content.

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.

Another of our top tips for presentation tricks is to use a custom font setting in your template.

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.

Add images to your PPTX template for more visually interesting slides.

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 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.

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.

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How i use copilot to easily create powerpoint presentations in minutes.

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You first need to add copilot to powerpoint, generate an entire presentation with a single prompt, asking copilot to add a slide, add images to the presentation using copilot, organizing the presentation with copilot’s help, key takeaways.

• Ensure you have a Microsoft 365 and Copilot Pro subscription in order to use Copilot in PowerPoint.
• You can generate a full presentation, with text, images, and summaries, by providing a single prompt to Copilot.
• You can also request Copilot to add slides and images or organize the presentation.

When I have trouble creating a presentation in PowerPoint, I use something in my creative arsenal that can help me do it in minutes: Copilot. Here's how I use it to generate entire presentations, add slides, and more.

To use Copilot in PowerPoint, you need two subscriptions. Since PowerPoint is a Microsoft 365 app , you’ll need a Microsoft 365 subscription, which costs $6.99 a month. You will also need a Copilot Pro subscription, which costs $20 per month.

After purchasing those subscriptions, you should see the "Copilot" button on the ribbon of the Home tab in PowerPoint.

If you don't see Copilot, you'll need to add it by updating your Microsoft 365 license. To do that, head to File > Account and click “Update License” in the Product Information section.

Then, follow the instructions to sign in to your Microsoft account. Ensure it’s the one with the Microsoft 365 and Copilot Pro subscriptions. Then, close PowerPoint and relaunch it—you should be able to see Copilot now.

If you want to create an entire presentation, you have to tell Copilot the topic of the presentation, and it will generate it for you. To do that, use the following syntax: Create a presentation about [Topic] . In the prompt, replace Topic with what you want Copilot to write about.

If you want it to include additional slides based on the topic, you can expand your prompt further. You could, for instance, add the following to the prompt: Include slides about [Sub Topic 1], [Sub Topic 2], [Sub Topic 3] . Replace Sub Topic 1, Sub Topic 2, Sub Topic 3, and so on in the prompt with the topics of the slides.

For instance, I created a presentation about doomscrolling using this prompt: Create a presentation about doomscrolling. Include slides about what it is, its origin, why we do it, and how to stop it .

Once you press Enter on your keyboard, Copilot will generate an entire presentation, complete with text and images. Also, it will include notes at the bottom of each slide, giving you a quick summary. Take time to go through it and correct any errors—AI-generated content might consist of incorrect information.

One thing to remember is that Copilot might not have created the exact number of slides you stated. It might add more or miss some (it's not perfect).

After Copilot creates the presentation, you can ask it to add more slides. The syntax is: Add a slide about [Topic] . In a presentation about the steps to mindful meditation, I wanted to add a slide about remembering to notice thoughts. I typed the following in Copilot: Add a slide about noticing thoughts without passing judgment .

If I wanted to animate a slide, I would select it from the list of slides on the left panel, and type: Animate this slide . I can even add an agenda to the entire presentation by typing: Add an agenda slide .

You can add images to a slide by using the following syntax: Add an image of [Image Description] . Ensure it's short and sweet while being adequately descriptive so that Copilot understands what you mean.

I decided to include an image of a dog doing yoga in one of my presentations by typing: Add an image of a dog doing yoga .

If you feel the presentation could be better organized, Copilot can help. It can suggest the best structure based on what it knows about it. To do that, type the following in Copilot: Organize this presentation .

After you see Copilot's suggested slide order for the presentation, it's up to you to accept or reject the changes.

Remember, you can use Copilot in other Microsoft 365 apps as well. You can, for example, use it to write documents in Word or do calculations in Excel in minutes. Being able to use it in Microsoft 365 apps like this can significantly boost your productivity.

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Galaxy Tab S9, S9+, S9 Ultra, S9 FE: Which is right for your business?

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10 tips for getting more out of your galaxy tab s9.

The  Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Series  is designed to help you achieve higher business productivity. The decision to invest in the tablets, however, may have you looking for some tips to make the most of the line’s many features.

The Tab S9 family, including Galaxy Tab S9, Tab S9+ and Tab S9 Ultra, is outfitted to let you work from anywhere, whether you’re in the field or back at the home office. All three feature the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, giving you the power and speed to multitask. With Wi-Fi 6E and 5G connectivity, you can eliminate the need for separate desktop or laptop PCs. Paired with the optional keyboard cases, the tablets transform into laptops, with  Samsung DeX  providing a  PC-like experience  to access your mobile apps. You can also connect Galaxy Tab S9 to a monitor or TV, and run DeX on that larger screen while continuing to use your tablet at the same time.

The Galaxy Tab S9 lineup packs plenty of other features that can help you turbocharge your work. This includes the addition of Galaxy AI 1 , which brings productivity, communication and creative capabilities based on artificial intelligence. With Galaxy AI, you can get instant help with everything from live translation to organizing and summarizing your most important business materials.

What can you do on a tablet like Tab S9? Here are some tips and tricks for using them to their fullest potential:

1. How to multitask on a Samsung tablet? Take advantage of the large display

Power users, like those creating and presenting content to customers, used to rely on their laptops for their screen size. Tab S9 Ultra gives them a more portable alternative with a 14.6-inch display that rivals most laptops. That makes it ideal for those in financial services, for example, who want to explain their products and services to clients, retail associates who want to create a mood board for customers, or those in healthcare who want to share treatment information safely.

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All Tab S9 devices have the same  Dynamic AMOLED 2X  display technology and a new Vision Booster feature that automatically adjusts brightness when used outdoors.

Having a larger display comes in particularly handy when you want to use Circle to Search with Google. It’s a feature that lets you draw around words, objects and other elements and instantly get more details from Google. Whether you spot your next keynote speaker in a video or need to define a term you’re reading in an industry guide, use Circle to Search with Google on your Tab S9 to find what you need on the spot.

2. Mark up documents and control your tablet with the S Pen

All devices in the Tab S9 line include the  powerful S Pen  in the box at no extra cost. When you detach the S Pen from the back of your tablet, the Air Command menu makes itself visible, allowing you to jump into quick actions. You can automatically  convert handwriting to text  with an experience that feels more like writing on paper than ever before, and take advantage of pro-level apps like Goodnotes.

Sketch out your next masterpiece, whether you’re illustrating a concept for your team or bringing an abstract idea to life for your client.

Whatever you jot down with your S Pen, Note Assist can ensure you avoid information overload by automatically creating a simple summary. The same Galaxy AI feature can work with typewritten notes to format and even translate your notes, so you can keep the ideas flowing.

Need to control a slideshow from afar? Air Actions allow you to make gestures with your S Pen to control apps, such as advancing slides in a presentation or zooming in on the camera. You can customize these commands in the Settings app under Air Actions. If your S Pen runs low on battery, just attach it magnetically to the back of your tablet to charge it.

3. See it all at a glance with Multi-View Windows

Multitasking on a tablet has never been this productive, thanks to Multi-View Window layouts. With this feature, you can display up to four different layouts on your screen at any time. You can also adjust the height or width rather than being limited by fixed layouts. This makes it easier to work across multiple apps at once or take notes while you’re on a video call. Meanwhile, use split-screen on your Tab S9 devices to show current content on one page and new content in a split view.

Of course, it’s easy to get overwhelmed when you’re browsing several comprehensive websites at once. That’s why Galaxy AI features Browsing Assist, which can capture the facts, insights and takeaways of what you’re seeing on screen and offer a summary you can peruse at a glance.

If you’re using a multi-view display to manage photos you’ve taken at an industry event or product shoot, Generative Edit can suggest the best tweaks to turn every shot into a post-worthy masterpiece. Instant Slow-Mo, meanwhile, is just as helpful when you’re trying to quickly edit video explainers, testimonials or event footage and turn them into epic replays.

4. Add the 2-in-1 Book Cover for laptop-like productivity

The Tab S9 Series offers lightweight computing solutions and interactive touchscreen displays. However, if you want a full-sized tactile keyboard, consider the advanced 2-in-1  Book Cover . It offers the keyboard functionality of a PC with fully backlit keys and shortcuts for accessing your favorite apps, or discover how using DeX on a tablet makes computing even more flexible. You can even wirelessly share your keyboard between your Tab S9 Ultra and your phone.

The Book Cover also has multiple standing modes, so you can adjust it based on the kind of work you’re doing — and your screen can turn on and off based on whether it’s open or closed.

Of course, most of us use our keyboards to communicate with coworkers, clients and partners. Chat Assist uses Galaxy AI to help you tailor what you write in apps like Google Messenger to sound as professional or as casual as you need to be.

5. Use Samsung DeX, wired or wirelessly, on an external display

The  power of Samsung DeX  means you don’t need to stay tethered to your S9 tablet. Using either a USB-C to HDMI cable or a wireless Miracast-enabled display, you can put your work on the big screen. Share slideshows with others in the room, or increase your productivity by opting for a larger monitor where you can view all of your mobile apps. It’s never been easier to ditch the laptop when you’re using DeX on a tablet.

6. Ensure you’ve got the connectivity you and your team need

The connectivity business users need may vary by department or employee. For those working at home or in the office, all three Tab S9 devices offer Wi-Fi 6E speeds of up to 2.4Gbps, which is almost double the speed of what they might have experienced in previous models.

In other cases, employees may have to ensure they have flexible connectivity to stay productive wherever they are, including the car or a remote site. That’s where you can take advantage of Tab S9+  5G connectivity , which is also faster and more secure than ever.

7. Connect to higher-quality video calls more quickly

We’ve all joked about video calls that glitch or are difficult to hear, but the truth is that every team needs a simple, effective way to communicate and collaborate online.

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Samsung has formed partnerships with leading platforms such as Cisco Webex to offer seamless integrated calling on Tab S9 devices. Talking to someone on a call who speaks in a foreign language? No problem. Live Translate offers real-time voice translations, so you can keep the conversation going.

Once your video calls are complete, Galaxy AI allows you to synthesize what you talked about with Transcript Assist. You’ll get detailed and organized notes without writing a thing, so you can stay focused on the conversation.

8. Keep everything safe with Samsung Knox

When it’s time to store sensitive information, such as financial data or personal records, the Tab S9 Series offers robust security through  Samsung Knox , a platform that protects data at both the hardware and software levels.  Knox Vault , for example, keeps data safe from physical attacks, fault injection and side panel attacks by keeping it in tamper-resistant storage and using a proprietary secure channel between the processor and memory.

Use the  Secure Folder  feature, meanwhile, to add an extra layer of security by saving private information with a custom pin or pattern.  Samsung Message Guard  adds further protection against vulnerabilities that stem from multiple permissions in messaging apps, and you can unlock your Tab S9 screen with bio authentication using a simple and intuitive on-screen fingerprint scanner. The tablets are also protected and supported by four generations of One UI and Android OS upgrades and by five years of security updates.

9. Effortlessly share information across connected devices

The Tab S9 portfolio offers the Galaxy Connected Experience. In other words, you’ll be able to use tools like Quick Share to send files or images from your tablet to your smartphone or other device. Additional capabilities in this area include Multi-Control, which lets you control your mobile device with your tablet — if you want to reply to a text message using your tablet keyboard, for instance. Auto Share lets you capture video on your phone and then edit it directly on your tablet.

Buds Auto Switch means you can switch from listening to a podcast on your phone to Tab S9 without disconnecting and reconnecting. You can also use the larger display on Tab S9 Ultra as a second screen with your phone.

10. Get more done with pro-level and B2B-specific apps

Besides the support for Goodnotes mentioned earlier, Tab S9 also works with ArcSite, which allows for quick and easy CAD drawings for those working in sectors like manufacturing. Your Tab S9 is also a great device for managing projects with tools like Wrike, analyzing email marketing efforts with Zoho Campaigns, or organizing your digital workspace with Notion. And don’t forget to check out Folia, which is great for capturing insights with S Pen annotations, collaborating with colleagues and sharing across platforms.

What can you do on a tablet? Here’s a tab tip — almost anything a modern business user would want or need to do.

Does the Tab S9 Series offer the right devices for your business needs? Read on with this  overview of Samsung’s tablet offerings . And see how you can get the most out of  Samsung DeX  on your Galaxy tablet.

1 Galaxy AI features by Samsung will be provided for free until the end of 2025 on supported Samsung Galaxy devices.

Shane Schick

Shane Schick tells stories that help people innovate, and to manage the change that innovation brings. He has written extensively for CIOs, CMOs and other senior enterprise decision makers as a journalist. As a content marketer, he has worked with some of the largest brands to the most disruptive startups.

• Galaxy Tab S9
• Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
• Galaxy Tab S9+
• Samsung Knox
• Secure Folder

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Should your business opt for Galaxy Tab S9, S9+, S9 Ultra, or S9 FE? Here's what to consider, including Galaxy AI features.

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