The upsides of Google Slides and the basic steps to use it

Presentation software, such as Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides, allows you to create professional slide presentations. A slide presentation allows the presenter to share information using words and images. Many current presentation software products also include audio and animation features. Initially, slide presentations were geared towards live audiences. Now, slide presentations are just as likely to be delivered to a web audience and published online.

The main differences between PowerPoint vs Google Slides will be broken down in the following chart. The upside of Google Slides over Microsoft PowerPoint will be marked with bold type and underlines.

	PowerPoint	Google Slides
Related Software	Part of Microsoft Office365	Part of Google Drive’s office suite
Software type	Desktop executables or mobile applications	Web applications that can run on any modern browser
Export File Types	In addition to various PowerPoint and Office formats, export formats include .pdf, .xps, .mp4, .wmv, .odp, .gif, .jpg, .png, .gif, .bmp, .tif, .wmf, .emf, and .rtf	Includes .pptx, .pdf, .txt, .jpg, png, .svg
Audio Import	Yes	Not at this time, but YouTube videos can be embedded.
Animation and Effects	About 50 effects (Entrance, emphasis, and exit).	About 15 effects. More effects are to be imported from various sources of Internet.
Collaboration	PowerPoint 365 files can be shared if saved to OneDrive.	Files are easily shared with online collaborators. Google Slides are capable of interacting seamlessly with other Google online services like Gmail, Google Drive or YouTube.
Offline Access	Yes	Files can be accessed offline using the Google Slides app (link to Chrome web store).
Cost	Must purchase through Microsoft.	Free as a part of Google Office
Available for Mobile	Yes, but a separate purchase is needed if the user is not using Office 365 subscription but buy off suites like Office 2016 or 2019.	Yes. It is free of charge on Android, iOS, iPadOS and Google Chromebook.
Available for Mac	Yes, although some users claim the Mac version is not as robust as the PC version.	Yes, Google Slides can run smoothly on Safari or any other browsers on MacOS.
Available for PC	Yes	Yes, Google Slides resides in the cloud.

 

Let us see the basic steps to start up and set up a Google Slide presentation. It is quick and easy!

·         Step 1 - Create a New Google Slides Presentation

Once you are ready to start creating your presentation, it is easy to get started. Start by opening your Google Drive. Click the New button in the upper left corner. Then, click the Google Slides option from the drop-down menu.

Use the New > Google Slides > Blank Presentation option to start your new presentation.

·         Step 2 - A new presentation opens:

Google Slides will launch a new presentation that is ready for you to design.

·         Step 3 - Add Your Text

Adding text is an important part of the process of creating a professional Google slide show presentation. Your words help tell your story. They can also serve to remind you of what you intend to say during a live presentation.

Here is a look at how to add text to a new Google Slides presentation with the Text box tool.

Add a text box to your slides by grabbing the text tool, then clicking on the slide.

Once the text box is open all you need to do is type your text. You can also format the text after you have typed it in. For a more detailed tutorial on adding text to your presentation, explore:

·         Step 4. Insert Powerful Images

Once you have added the text content of your presentation, you'll want to take the slideshow to the next level. One way to do that is with graphic images and photos.

It is not difficult to add graphic images and photos to a presentation. Start by clicking Insert > Image from the main menu. The drop-down menu appears:

Click Image on the drop-down menu to insert an image.

Choose the respective option to add an image to your slide. Upload one from your computer or search the web using the built-in box.

Reference

·         Business Envato Tuts+. 2020. PowerPoint vs. Keynote vs. Google Slides: What Is the Best Presentation Software?. [ONLINE] Available at: https://business.tutsplus.com/articles/powerpoint-vs-keynote-vs-google-slides-what-is-the-best-presentation-software--cms-26831. [Accessed 25 July 2020].

·         Business Envato Tuts+. 2020. How to Create Professional Google Slideshows for Business Presentations. [ONLINE] Available at: https://business.tutsplus.com/tutorials/create-google-slideshow--cms-29374. [Accessed 25 July 2020].