Top 15 Amazing Google Slides Hacks, Tips & Tricks 2024

Imagine if your professor simply read out massive pieces of information without any visual help and then compared it to the fun presentations you may have witnessed in some of your favourite classes. Which one would you prefer? The presentation, right? In this article, we will explore 15 amazing Google Slides hacks that will take your presentations to the next level. From designing visually stunning slides to leveraging advanced features and collaboration tools, these Google presentation hacks will help you create impactful and memorable presentations that captivate your audience.

Top 15 Google Slides Tips and Tricks 2023

This presentation software offered by Google is sure to leave your best friends and teachers in awe with its ability to make visually appealing presentations. Don't forget to brush up on PowerPoint presentation tips to make good presentations with another amazing creative tool! 

These Google Slides hacks are sure to elevate your presentations to new heights. Get ready to unleash your creativity and create presentations that leave a lasting impression!

Here are the top 15 Google Slides tips and tricks 2023

1. Choose the Perfect Theme

First up on our list of Google Slides hacks are themes. Themes on Google Slides are basically pre-made visual frameworks for your presentation’s slides. This can be a great tool for people who believe they are creatively inept at creating gorgeous-looking presentations. A well-chosen theme will not only make your presentation visually appealing but also create a cohesive and professional look throughout.

2. Design with Consistency

Consistency is key to creating a polished and professional presentation. Ensure that fonts, colours, and slide layouts remain consistent throughout your slides. Stick to a limited colour palette that compliments your theme, and use fonts that are easy to read. Consistency in design will help your audience focus on your content without distractions. This is one of the Google Slides hacks that will make your presentation stand out amongst your competitors. 

3. Use High-Quality Images and Graphics

Another on the list of Google Slides hacks is images and graphics. Using HD images and graphics that are relevant to your content will be key in taking your PPT to the next level! Google Slides provides access to a vast library of stock images, or you can upload your own. Ensure that images are properly sized and positioned, and use graphics and icons to illustrate key points or data.

4. Incorporate Captivating Transitions and Animations

Transitions and animations can add a touch of dynamism to your presentation and make it more engaging. Use slide transitions to smoothly transition between slides, and employ animations to bring elements on your slides to life. However, use them sparingly and purposefully, as excessive or distracting animations can take away from your message. This is one of the powerful Google Slides hacks that can do wonders for you. 

5. Master Slide Layouts

Google Slides offers a range of slide layout options to choose from, including title slides, content slides, and section breaks. This is one of the Google Slides hacks that can make a lot of impact on your presentations. Take advantage of these layout options to structure your presentation effectively. Use title slides to introduce new topics or sections, content slides to present information, and section breaks to divide your presentation into distinct parts visually. A well-organised slide layout will make your presentation flow seamlessly. It can be daunting to present to a large group. Learn How to Give a Presentation in Class as a College Student.

6. Utilize Speaker Notes

Another one of the important Google Slides hacks is Speaker notes. If you find yourself drifting or forgetting important portions of your presentation, Speaker notes can be of great help. They usually contain additional information or reminders that are not visible to the audience. To add speaker notes in Google Slides, go to the "View" menu and select "Speaker notes." Use these notes to jot down key points, talking cues, or references to ensure a smooth and confident delivery.

7. Collaborate in Real-Time

One of the standout features of Google Slides is its real-time collaboration capabilities. No more inviting all 15 of you to sit and work on a single presentation or maybe hand the entire responsibility to one individual. Now, all of you can collaborate on the same presentation together. To collaborate in real-time, click on the "Share" button in the top-right corner, enter the email addresses of your collaborators, and assign their permissions (view, comment, or edit). This is one of the most seamless features by Google. This is one of the best Google Slides hacks that can help you make a lot of impact in your presentation. 

8. Embed Videos and Audio

Embed videos and audio directly into your Google Slides and stand out amongst the rest. This is one of the Google Slides hacks that allow you to incorporate multimedia elements such as YouTube videos or audio recordings to enhance your content. To embed a video or audio, click on the "Insert" menu, select "Video" or "Audio," and choose the source of the media. This addition can help illustrate concepts, demonstrate processes, or provide additional context to your audience.

9. Utilize Smart Guides and Alignment Tools

To ensure a polished and visually appealing presentation, take advantage of Google Slides' smart guides and alignment tools. One of the best Google Slides hacks that will help you create powerful presentations. These features help you align objects and elements on your slides precisely. When you move an object or resize it, the smart guides will automatically appear to assist you in aligning it with other objects or the slide itself. You can also use the alignment tools to align objects horizontally and vertically or distribute them evenly across the slide. 

10. Practice with Presenter View

When delivering your presentation, Google Slides offers a useful feature called Presenter View. This view allows you to see your speaker notes, the current slide, and upcoming slides while your audience sees only the slideshow. To access Presenter View, click on the "Present" button and select "Presenter View" from the options. This is one of the easiest Google Slides hacks that can make a whole lot of impact on your entire presentation. 

11. Create a Table of Contents that links to other slides

Navigating through Slides can get quite tricky, which is why having a table of contents at the start of your presentation can be quite useful. This also helps the viewers get a better feel of what they’re in for the next few minutes. And that’s exactly what makes it one of the best Google presentation hacks. This is one of the visual cool Google Slides tricks.

12. Use Shapes to customise your slide

Legos, Tetris, and Minecraft - these are all identified by their close connection to shapes. If, like Ed Sheeran, you find yourself in love with shapes, this Google Slides hack is sure to become your go-to! Of course, shapes can help you give a creative look to your presentation. But by cropping your images into different shapes, you can further personalise the appearance of your presentation. 

13. Download aesthetic slide templates from Canva

Spent hours trying to perfect your presentation’s layout, but the pieces just don’t seem to fit. Well, it’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s Canva, your design superhero! Here, you’ll find enough ready-made templates to last you a lifetime. To import a Canva template, follow these steps: Click ‘Share’, followed by ‘More’. Then, select the Google Drive icon. Now, all you need to do is open the template in Google Slides, and you’re done! One can use applications like Canva to make their presentation look more aesthetically appealing. Understand the 15 Canva Tips and Tricks to Enhance Your Designing Skills.

14. Use GIFs to get animated slide backgrounds

If using moving elements helps wow your audience, why stop at animations and transitions? Chuck out basic backgrounds and make way for GIFs! These can help keep your audience engaged. However, they can also steal the spotlight. But don’t worry, there’s an easy fix! Simply lower the transparency of the GIF through the ‘Format Options’ menu, and you have yourself one of the cool Google Slides tricks.

15. Add some music to the mix!

Unfortunately, Google Slides doesn’t allow users to add background music to their slides. But we’ve got the perfect Google Slides hack to fix this! All you have to do is find the desired sound effect or song on YouTube and copy its URL. Next, insert the video into your presentation and change the format option. You can simply reduce the size of the video and hide it away in a corner so it doesn’t take up a lot of space on the slide.

With these 15 amazing Google Slides hacks, you can elevate your presentations and create impactful and memorable experiences for your audience. From choosing the perfect theme to incorporating captivating transitions and animations, each hack enhances the visual appeal and effectiveness of your slides. Since we are on the topic of the Google Suite anyway, you can explore some amazing tips and tricks on Microsoft Word to upskill your Word game.
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