Think about all the PowerPoint presentations you are going to create this year. Chances are, each time a new one is needed, you probably grab an old PPT, copy some slides, and update your content.
But what if you need a new type of slide that you haven’t used before? Or if you are just too busy to keep track of what old presentation the right version of each type of slide was in? Or maybe your company had a brand refresh and no one created new PowerPoint slides.
If any of those things happen, you’re stuck building from scratch.
Seems complicated, right? Well there’s a better way.
They’re called templates, and they are going to make your life a lot easier this year. Here’s how you can use them to create a year’s worth of presentations with a single deck.
What is a template?
A PowerPoint template is the foundation on which all your slides are built. Templates allow you to set certain elements in place in order to
Save you time and
Create consistency
When you create a PowerPoint template, or Master Slide layout, you can set the elements, colors, and placement of everything that appears when you create a new slide from that template.
That means you can create a different template for the types of slides you use most often – introduction, section dividers, text-focused, image-focused, infographic, etc – and each time you need to use that slide type, you’ll have everything set just how you want it.
Here’s why that’s important:
A good slide template puts your best brand forward
Presentations are a powerful tool for your brand. When you’re talking to potential clients, investors, or any decision maker, you need every element of your slide helping to tell your story. Having the right colors and logos in the right place means your bases are covered from the start.
Slide templates are foundational
Many presentations require unique slides. With a good slide template, you have the flexibility to create something that stands out, but still fits with the rest of your presentation.
And a good slide template lets you create new slides on the fly. You never need to waste time making sure things are placed correctly or the right font is selected.
Templates keep you balanced
If you start building a slide from scratch, it’s easy to overcrowd it. That’s because you aren’t seeing all the elements together.
If you start with a template, you’ll always know how much space you have for each type of content. This helps you to make sure that your slides are focused, easy to scan, and balanced.
PowerPoint templates help you think like a presenter
A good presentation isn’t just about content, or design, or slide layout: it’s about how all of those things come together to create something bigger than each of the individual elements.
If you are a presentation expert, this is the way you approach all of the slides you create. But if you are an everyday PowerPoint user, you might only be able to do one of these things really well, particularly when time is short (as it often is when presentations are involved).
But with a varied and thoughtful set of templates, it’s easier to think about how all of your elements will add up, because you can see them working together from the start.
Creating templates prepares you for anything
From an unexpected new biz opportunity to filling in for a coworker and countless other scenarios, you never know what type of presentation you will have to make.
With that in mind, there’s no better way to set yourself up for success all year long than to take some time at the beginning of the year to develop a set of templates that address your most commonly used slides, as well as a few less commonly used templates, you’ll be ready for every ask that comes through the door.
A PowerPoint slide template is one of the most basic yet most effective tools you can have in your presentation toolbox. If you want to learn more about how a template fits into your workflow, read this blog about what a template can (and can’t) do for you.
Or if you need help building templates for your brand, you can’t go wrong by partnering with a presentation design agency. Read this blog to learn more about what a presentation design partner can do for your business.