A presentation program is a software program that helps create a slideshow that addresses a topic. Presentation programs can be used in businesses and schools for discussing a topic or for teaching. Many times, the presenter uses a projector to project the slideshow up on to screen that everyone can see. Below is an example of Microsoft PowerPoint, a commonly used program that creates presentations.

Once created, a person or group of people stand in front of other people and present the presentation. Presentations are shown one slide at a time, to explain the slides topic and then moving to the next slide until all are shown. For example, in a business presentation a co-worker may go through slides that illustrate how well the company is doing, its profits, sales, and other important information.

Examples of presentation programs

Below is a short list of popular presentation programs available today.

  • Google Slides
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • iWork Keynote on the Apple
  • OpenOffice Impress.

Tips on presentations

  • Follow the Guy Kawasaki “10-20-30 rule.” Presentations should be no more than 10 slides, last no longer than 20 minutes, and have text no smaller than 30-point font.
  • Keep text simple with the “6 by 6 rule,” which is six lines of text with six words per line.
  • Keep the text sparse and include pictures. There is a reason people say a picture is worth a thousand words.
  • Don’t read the slides. Your slides should remind you of your talk and allow your audience to see only the important facts.
  • Prepare and arrive early to set up so your audience does not have to wait or watch you troubleshoot problems.
  • Always look into the audience and not only the slides, keep a steady pace when speaking, and speak loud and clearly so everyone in the room can hear you.
  • Do not use bright or flashy colors in an attempt to keep peoples attention. Use pastel colors as the backgrounds with a dark font.
  • Enjoy yourself. If you are not having fun or making the slide show entertaining, no one else is going to enjoy your presentation.

Business terms, Google Slides, Office, Office 365, Office Online, OpenOffice, Projector, Slide show, Software terms

  • Creating a presentation slide show online.
  • How to create or add a slide in Microsoft PowerPoint.