What is the Purpose of a PowerPoint Template and Why is it Useful? (Insights & Benefits)

Whether youre presenting to a large group of people or simply wanting to add a bit of flair to your next presentation, PowerPoint templates can be a great way to make a lasting impression.

But what is a PowerPoint template? What are the benefits of using one? In this article, we will explore the purpose of a PowerPoint template, the benefits of using one, how to create and use one, and the pros and cons of using a PowerPoint template.

By the end, youll know everything you need to create an engaging and professional presentation.

Short Answer

It includes items such as slide layouts, backgrounds, fonts, colors, and graphics.

Using a template helps to ensure that all slides in the presentation have a consistent design, which helps to keep the audience focused on the message.

It also makes it easier to create a presentation, as much of the design work has already been done for you.

What is a PowerPoint Template?

It includes a variety of features that make it easier to create a visually appealing presentation, such as title slides, background images, fonts, text boxes, colors, tables, and more.

Templates also come with built-in themes and designs that can be used to quickly customize a presentation.

This can be especially helpful when presenting to large audiences or making last-minute changes.

Benefits of Using a PowerPoint Template

Using a PowerPoint template offers several benefits that make it an invaluable asset for any presentation. Here are some of the advantages of using a PowerPoint template:

1. Consistency: A PowerPoint template ensures that all slides have a consistent look and feel. This means that the fonts, colors, images, and tables used throughout the presentation are consistent. This makes it easier for the audience to follow and understand the content of the presentation, as they are used to a certain look.

4. Flexibility: A PowerPoint template allows you to make changes quickly and easily, which is beneficial when presenting to a large audience or when making last-minute adjustments. This makes it easier to keep up with the latest trends and make sure the presentation is always up-to-date and relevant.

It also makes the design and editing process simpler and more efficient, allowing you to create engaging and visually appealing presentations quickly and easily.

How to Create a PowerPoint Template

Creating a PowerPoint template is a great way to streamline the design process and ensure that all of your presentations look professional and organized. Here’s how to create a PowerPoint template that will give your presentations a consistent look and feel:

1. Select a theme: Choose an overall theme for your presentation. This could be a color scheme, font style, or other design element. Consider using a template or theme that is already available in PowerPoint.

3. Set up the layout: Decide how you want your slides to look. This includes deciding on the size and orientation of the slides, as well as the placement of text, images, and other elements. You may also want to set up a template for a master slide that can be used as the starting point for all of your slides.

How to Use a PowerPoint Template

Using a PowerPoint template is a great way to make sure your presentation looks professional and organized.

It can also help streamline the design process, allowing you to quickly create uniform and visually appealing slides.

Once the template opens, you can start customizing it to fit your presentation needs.

You can change the background, add images, adjust font sizes, add text boxes, and more.

This will help ensure that all of your slides look the same and that your presentation looks professional.

Customizing a PowerPoint Template

For example, you can choose from various color schemes, fonts, and images.

When customizing a PowerPoint template, you should consider the audience and the goal of the presentation.

By customizing the template to fit your needs, you can create a professional and organized presentation quickly and easily.

Examples of Different PowerPoint Templates

Different templates serve different purposes and are designed to meet the specific needs of the presenter.

2. Creative templates These templates feature bold, vibrant colors and unique layouts that are perfect for presentations with a creative flair.

5. Timeline templates These templates are great for visualizing data points or events over a period of time.

They can also help streamline the design process and make it easier to make quick changes when necessary.

Pros and Cons of PowerPoint Templates

Using a PowerPoint template can be beneficial for a number of reasons.

It also streamlines the design process, allowing you to quickly and easily create uniform slides.

Additionally, using a template can limit your creativity in designing slides, as you may be stuck with a predefined layout or design that doesnt truly reflect your message.

However, it is important to consider the pros and cons before deciding if a template is right for you.

Final Thoughts

They provide a structure to organize information and design elements to ensure presentations look consistent and visually appealing.

James Wilson has extensive knowledge in the information technology industry.His second love, besides dealing with computers, is smart home technology. He is continually updating information to better comprehend this problem and has a deep understanding of the apartment’s support system.

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6 signs your organization needs a better presentation template

6 signs your organization needs a better presentation template header

Josh Storie

A good presentation template can work wonders. It can save your people time. It can boost your brand. It can help everyday presentations look clean and professional. It can also make it easy to convey an idea clearly and memorably.

But a bad template? It can do exactly the opposite. It can take up valuable employee time. It can dilute and harm your brand. It can make your presentations look, as the kids say, “cringe.” And it can harm the clarity of your message .

At Duarte, we’ve made thousands of presentations over our 35+ year history for some of the world’s biggest brands. From internal corporate decks, investor pitches , walking decks , sales enablement decks, conference keynote presentations … the list goes on.

Today we’re going to dive into the use cases of a presentation template, and when a company might need or want one.

"Never deliver a presentation you wouldn't want to sit through" Duarte's Golden Rule

What is a presentation template?

A presentation template is a set of pre-designed slides already made with a branded, professional look that can be lightly customized for a specific purpose. They typically are made for the purpose of scaling efforts, and in a corporate setting, are used for sales enablement , sales pitches, corporate internal decks, branding and marketing decks, and more.

These templates usually include on-brand design elements like backgrounds, effects, color palettes, layouts, fonts, icon libraries, asset libraries, chart libraries, boilerplate messaging and sample slides for different use cases. They save an organization an immense amount of time as individuals won’t need to design every presentation they make from scratch. They can just select from their pre-determined template the slides and options they want to use for their individual use case.

The best presentation templates are also audience-first . Meaning, they’re designed with the end user in mind so that they are engaging, relatable, and even accessible so all can feel included and welcome during any presentation.

6 signs to know if your organization needs a presentation template

1. people don’t use the template you already have..

If you hear people in your organization say that using your current template is “too hard” or that “it doesn’t have what I need,” you need a better template. Or maybe people use it, but only halfway. If you see people Frankenstein-ing presentations together by inserting their own icons and pictures, using all kinds of different fonts, or pulling slides from a variety of other decks because the current template doesn’t give them the slide layouts or assets they need, it’s time for a better deck.

Why this matters: This is a huge time waster. One example, if your sales team is constantly reinventing the wheel and making a new sales pitch deck for every other sales demo, this is costing you and them valuable time. It’s less time on the phone, and more time working on something that could’ve been handed to them already done, and in a clean, professional, and scalable way, like what we did with Veeam .

2. You need consistency that scales.

Think about if you were running a big conference or event with lots of breakouts, like Dreamforce . It would take an internal design team hundreds of hours to make all those presentations. But the flipside is if your speakers are in charge of making their own slides, it’s tough to ensure consistency across every breakout, as well.

Why this matters: If you had a great slide template that can scale, it would ensure every audience in every room is receiving the same level of quality and user experience with your brand and event.

3. It’s clear your sales team isn’t comfortable with graphic design.

Great salespeople adapt their sales pitch to the needs of the customers. But adapting the pitch oftentimes means adapting the slides. And since your sales team wasn’t hired for their graphic design skills, the new slides can detract from the pitch itself (and probably make their marketing counterparts cringe in disbelief.)

Why this matters: Meeting with potential clients is another touchpoint with your brand. Sales meetings (and the decks within them) should match the professional look of your website, the first-class feeling they’ll receive from your product and service, and the professional experience they’ll receive from your sales team by being a part of your sales funnel. A professional sales deck that doesn’t look like a default PowerPoint template is imperative to not just stand out, but get the point across that your companies cares about details.

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4. New technology is limiting technical abilities.

Let’s say you’re making the switch to or from a new slide software like PowerPoint, Google Slides, Apple Keynote , or Canva. There’s always a learning curve when a new technology is introduced. And if there’s not a template that helps users produce quality presentations regardless of their familiarity with the new software, it won’t take long to realize you’re in need of a better template.

Why this matters: Our world-class presentation designers make slide templates in whatever presentation software tool your company prefers. Trust us; we know a thing or two about converting fonts, colors, aspect ratios, and more when it comes to slide presentations built on different platforms. Let us save you the headache and time.

5. Your unique brand needs to stand out.

Whether you sell chocolate or medical devices , your presentation template systems need to be the perfect combination of consistent, business-specific design and ease of use. This means it needs to be on-brand, in your color palette, catered to your audience, and it should include simple rules to follow and easily adaptable templates. One way we help with this is by including icon and asset libraries.

Asset libraries

Great presentations use a variety of visual elements to support content. Our presentation designers will make, and stock your asset library with beautiful, clever, and effective illustrations and images. This way, everyone who will make presentations with your slide template can easily access approved visual elements.

Icon libraries

Our presentation designers are artists. And they often make custom icons for our clients, including custom icon libraries. We take the time to understand the needs of your presentation deck, your business, and your customers, and we tailor everything we do accordingly.

Why this matters: Never send your employees to hunt for a perfect icon or image again, especially when they don’t exist! Equip them with everything they need for all business use cases in advance.

6. Your employees need template training.

You can arm your company with a wonderful presentation template, but that is half the battle. Now, you need to make sure they are oriented on where to find everything they need and how to use it. This will ensure faster adoption.

We provide presentation guidelines, walkthroughs, and mini-tutorials when we hand over our presentation templates to our clients. Sometimes we’ll even do a quick sales enablement training live .

Why this matters: We ensure that our template systems are fool-proof. They can stand up to the worst of conditions, like bad lighting, meeting accessibility standards , projection system variations, and inexperienced users.

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How to make perfect presentations every time

Your unique industry requires a presentation ecosystem. This usually includes:

  • Audience needs
  • Calls to action

Presentation templates system example

We are the experts in presentation structure and have a highly-rated workshop designed to help you become a persuasive communicator . At the conclusion of the workshop, you’ll know how to check that all your presentations have the ingredients needed to be successful. If you want to train a marketing or graphic design team on our presentation expertise, we recommend a learning journey that includes:

  • Slide:ology ®

But what if you don’t have time to train yourself or your team to be presentation masters? Well, we have an Agency team for that. Whether you need a quick audit of your template , or a full presentation system complete with icon libraries, image libraries, chart examples, and built-in user instruction, Duarte can help.

Talk to a Solution Architect today to discover what hundreds of clients have already: Our presentations are world-class, and we’ve tested them across every type of delivery channel you can think of. Try the Duarte white-glove experience for yourself.

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Presentation Templates: The pros and cons

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Presentation Templates: The pros and cons

Presentation templates are widely used for their ease and polished look. While they offer time-saving benefits and consistent branding, they can lack originality and customization. To maximize the benefits of templates, it's recommended to infuse… ... read more Presentation templates are widely used for their ease and polished look. While they offer time-saving benefits and consistent branding, they can lack originality and customization. To maximize the benefits of templates, it's recommended to infuse personal touches and perhaps seek expertise from professionals like those at Prezlab. close

Presentation templates are a standard resource for many presenters, especially in our fast-paced digital world where time is of the essence. They have become an indispensable tool for many as they save valuable time and still provide polished results. But are they truly the answer we want for creating memorable presentations, or are there drawbacks? In this blog, we will look into the advantages and disadvantages of using templates for your presentations.

What is a presentation template?

A presentation template isn’t just a background for your ideas; rather, it is a tool meant to visually enhance and structure your message. At its core, a template is a tool made of pre-designed slides meant to give you a unified, clean look and also help you outline your content thoughtfully and effectively. Templates are often used in professional settings; they come pre-made with their own specific fonts, color schemes, layouts, and icons. Plus, they typically include placeholders for text and images, making it easier for the user to insert and customize their own material.

Advantages of using presentation templates

Presentation templates offer many benefits to those who use them; among the most common are:

They save time

As deadlines loom, upcoming presenters might feel the pressure start to set in. This is why templates seem like the perfect hero in a time crunch; they offer a headstart. Rather than coming up with a complete presentation design and layout from scratch, templates offer a blueprint where all you need to do is fill in the blanks, reducing what would be hours of design time. Simply put, when it comes to saving time, templates are a valuable resource.

They have consistent branding

Conveying a brand’s message clearly requires consistency across all visual elements, from logos to slides, to effectively demonstrate the reliability of a company. When slides feel disjointed and not connected, it comes across as quite jarring. Templates provide a uniform presentation design that remains uniform and recognizable throughout the entire deck. With their centralized appearance, templates establish a brand’s visual identity, ensuring that the audience gains a clear understanding of your brand.

They are easy for beginners

We get it; not everyone has the same eye and expertise as a professional presentation designer. Templates offer an easy way out of the thorny task of designing a clean and appealing slide deck. Since they are tailored for those outside of the design world, templates are a quick solution for beginners to create polished slides without needing advanced design skills.

They are versatile

With the extensive array of options available, you can find a template related to any field or topic. Whether you need real estate or business-related slides, you can find a suitable and engaging template for them. This offers a lot of adaptability for presenters, who can now switch between styles that are appropriate for their audience and theme instead of starting from scratch each time. Templates then provide a backbone to build on, allowing presenters to prepare stylish and relevant slides.

Disadvantages of using presentation templates

Although there are many benefits to using presentation templates, there are also many obstacles to be cautious of. Here are some of the most common:

They lack originality

With presentations, there’s always the looming anxiety of looking generic. Yes, templates are convenient, but their popularity also means your audience will recognize your slides. The overuse of templates has led to a lack of originality that will risk having your content lose its unique identity and blend in with the dozens of other presentations. Using a template that is too common will lead to you just being another face in the crowd.

They have limited customization

After becoming accustomed to templates, you quickly realize that they aren’t necessarily a one-size-fits-all solution. Not every template will be able to evoke the feeling you truly want your slides and brand to convey. Though they are adaptable, they also have inherent limitations regarding their design elements. You will find that customization features for templates are limited when you are working within a brand guideline, meaning that though they can speed up the design process, you will not necessarily have the result you wish for.

There are potential quality issues

While there are sleek and dazzling templates, many fall short due to quality issues. Behind the appeal of some templates are the risks of poor or low-resolution graphics. When using a low-quality template , you could then risk finding pixelated visuals or layouts that don’t suit a professional presentation. Keeping a discerning eye open is necessary when scoping out a template to ensure that your presentation reflects the quality and professionalism you’re aspiring for.

Over-reliance can hinder skill development

When you rely on templates, you get used to convenience and may miss out on the opportunity to build your own presentation design skills. By constantly using templates, you will never learn the necessary skills to craft a slide deck from scratch when needed. These are the skills needed to truly be adaptable and flexible in your process and save yourself from the stress involved. An over-reliance on templates could leave you unprepared for whipping up a satisfactory presentation on short notice.

Using a template

If you find yourself in a bind and need a shortcut, here is how we suggest using a template. Use the template as the guiding foundation for your presentation, and infuse it with your deep knowledge and insights. Instead of relying on the default structure of the template, add your own original images, graphs, and icons that are more relevant to your brand.

You can also use the template as a narrative tool by rearranging slides to relay a more productive plot. Be creative with how you customize the template; reimagine the color palette, the font pairings, and even the slide transitions into ones that align more accurately with your presentation’s goals.

Wrapping up, it’s vital to consider the advantages and disadvantages of presentation templates for your unique presentation needs. Templates are certainly a helpful tool that offers an accessible and mostly painless way to create presentations in a pinch. Yet, the effectiveness of templates comes down to being frugal with your use; otherwise, relying on them can harm the essence of your presentation and make it forgettable. And of course, you could always outsource your presentation needs to a group of experts, such as our team at Prezlab.

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why use presentation template

Microsoft 365 Life Hacks > Presentations > Five tips for choosing the right PowerPoint template

Five tips for choosing the right PowerPoint template

The design or template you choose can greatly influence the success of your presentation, either capturing your audience’s attention or leaving them disengaged. To make a lasting impression on your audience, utilize these five tips when selecting your PowerPoint presentation template.

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How do you choose a template in PowerPoint?

The initial step in creating your PowerPoint presentation is choosing the appropriate design. To effectively select the best PowerPoint template for your presentation, there are several components you should consider. These components include the following:

1. Consider your audience

The first component you should consider is your audience. Is the presentation intended for a formal setting, such as in a business context, or will it be delivered in a more informal gathering? Are the viewers going to review the slides virtually , in-person, or will they be viewing the presentation independently? What are the demographics of your audience? It’s crucial to contemplate your audience before outlining your presentation, as they significantly influence your design choices. For example, if you are delivering a business-oriented presentation, you might choose a more conservative design, while a more informal presentation may call for a bolder and more captivating template.

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Tell your story with captivating presentations

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2. Select a template with appropriate layout options

The layout plays a crucial role in determining how your content is delivered, read, and ultimately comprehended by your audience. When you assess presentation templates, ensure that the layout options align with the nature of your content. Ask yourself, ‘Will this format enhance the readability and comprehension of my content for my audience? Is it the most efficient way to convey my information?

3. Choose a design that fits your style

You’ll feel most comfortable presenting when your presentation feels like yourself. Make you presentation an extension of your personal style and brand, that effectively complements your aesthetic preferences. Whether you prefer minimalism and clean lines or a striking, vibrant presentation filled with animation, select a design that aligns with your style and creates cohesive visuals.

4. Find a template that reflects your message

Outside of aesthetics, your template should reflect the core message of your presentation. If your content is data-heavy, opt for a template with clear charts and graphs. For a storytelling presentation, choose a template that incorporates visuals and storytelling elements. Ensuring your template and message aligns strengthens your presentation’s storytelling .

5. Consider the length of your presentation

The duration of your presentation should be incorporated in your template decision making. Longer presentations may benefit from a clean and organized template that aids in maintaining audience attention. Shorter presentations, on the other hand, provide room for more creative and visually striking templates. Consider the pacing and structure of your content in relation to the template to optimize your audience’s engagement.

The key to an effective PowerPoint presentation template is extensively considering the context of your presentation. Know who your audience is, what your message is, the length of your message, and how the content should be presented. When you consider these elements, you can ensure your presentation will resonate with your audience, with your intended impact. For more ways to improve your next presentation, learn more presentation tips .

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5 Pros and Cons of Using PowerPoint Templates for Presentations

by Daniel Raymond · April 16, 2024

why use presentation template

Imagine you have been responsible for creating a presentation, and as you search for ways to streamline the process, you stumble upon the concept of pre-designed PowerPoint templates. Intrigued by the idea, you are drawn to the convenience they offer but are uncertain whether they are the right choice.

Table of Contents

This article aims to delve deeply into the pros and cons of using PowerPoint templates, providing a comprehensive understanding of their implications. So, let’s get going!

What are PowerPoint Templates?

PowerPoint templates are pre-designed layouts or frameworks that users can utilize as a foundation for creating presentations. These templates typically encompass a variety of design elements, including slide themes, color schemes, fonts, icons, background images, etc.

They serve as ready-made blueprints that enable users to quickly and efficiently put up professional-looking presentations without requiring extensive design skills or manual formatting.

PowerPoint templates come in various styles and themes, catering to diverse presentation needs, from corporate pitches and academic lectures to creative portfolios and marketing materials.

By providing users with a structured framework and visually appealing designs, PowerPoint templates ease the creation process and help presenters effectively convey their messages to the audience.

5 Pros or Advantages of Using PowerPoint Templates

#1. time-saving.

Designing slides from scratch can be daunting, but with templates, you can bypass all that hassle and get straight to work. Templates not only accelerate your workflow but also remove the stress of last-minute preparations, allowing you to focus your energy on perfecting the content of your presentation. Thus, templates are a game-changer for presenters who want to deliver their message with confidence and ease.

#2. Consistency in Design

Visual consistency plays a crucial role in enhancing comprehension and retention. By adhering to a unified design across all slides, templates help guide the audience’s focus and minimize distractions.

This harmonious visual flow allows viewers to navigate the presentation effortlessly, ensuring they remain engaged with the content without being thrown off by unpleasant design discrepancies.

Furthermore, consistent branding elements, such as logos and color palettes, reinforce brand recognition and leave a positive impression on viewers. The cohesive visual identity established by templates also conveys credibility to the audience.

#3. Professional Appearance

The expertise of professional designers in the meticulous attention to detail shines through PowerPoint templates. These templates are not merely collections of random design elements but thoughtfully curated compositions that adhere to established principles of visual communication .

By leveraging concepts such as visual hierarchy and balance, designers ensure that every aspect of the template enhances the overall presentation experience. From the

arrangement of content to select colors and fonts, every element is carefully considered to maximize clarity, impact, and aesthetic appeal.

Presentations created using professionally crafted templates benefit from this expertise, radiating a sense of sophistication that initially captivates audiences.

#4. Guidance for Novice Users

Templates serve as invaluable guides for individuals less familiar with presentation design principles. They typically come with pre-defined placeholders for titles, text, images, and other content, providing users with a layout to organize their information. Templates facilitate the creation process and help inexperienced users understand the fundamentals of practical slide layout and composition.

#5. Variety of Designs

PowerPoint templates cater to diverse presentation styles , themes, and purposes. This abundance of options allows presenters to select templates that align with their content, audience, and personal preferences, enhancing their presentations’ overall effectiveness.

For instance, templates designed for business presentations often feature professional layouts optimized for showcasing data, charts, and graphs, facilitating precise and concise communication of crucial information. Similarly, educational templates may incorporate interactive elements like quizzes or diagrams to engage learners and promote knowledge retention.

This adaptability ensures that presenters can find templates that match their visual preferences and enhance their presentations’ effectiveness by addressing their specific needs and audience expectations.

4 Cons or Disadvantages of Using PowerPoint Templates

#1. lack of originality.

The most significant drawback of using templates is the risk of sacrificing originality. Since templates are accessible to anyone, there is a possibility that multiple presenters may use the same template for their presentations.

As a result, presentations created using popular templates may appear generic and need to distinguish themselves from others.

Presentations that utilize these templates may suffer from audience fatigue, as viewers may have encountered similar designs multiple times before. Overused templates can diminish the presentation’s impact, making it difficult for the presenters to capture and maintain audience attention.

#2. Limited Customization Options

While templates offer convenience, they often come with limitations in terms of customization. Users may be constrained by the template’s design elements, making it challenging to tailor the presentation to their specific preferences or branding guidelines. Customizing templates to align with corporate branding or personal style may require advanced design skills or extensive modifications, negating some time-saving benefits.

#3. Difficulty in Finding the Right Fit

The abundance of PowerPoint templates available online offers users unparalleled choices, but it also presents a challenge: navigating through the vast sea of options to find the ideal template. With countless designs, themes, and variations, users can instantly feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of choices. Each template offers unique features, making the selection process like searching for a needle in a haystack.

As users embark on the quest to find the perfect template, they often find themselves immersed in exploration and experimentation.

#4. Risk of Cluttered Layouts

Presenters must not overlook the importance of clarity and readability in their presentations. Templates that prioritize visual flair at the expense of functionality risk overwhelming viewers with graphics, animations, and text.

Instead of enhancing the presentation, these cluttered layouts can create cognitive overload, making it challenging for the audience to digest and retain the presented information.

Therefore, presenters must select templates wisely.

To sum it up, choosing to use PowerPoint templates for presentations involves a detailed evaluation of their benefits and drawbacks. While templates offer many advantages, they also pose several challenges.

To maximize the benefits of templates while mitigating their drawbacks, presenters should carefully select templates that align with their content, audience, and presentation goals and be mindful of maintaining a balance between visual appeal and clarity of information.

Ultimately, whether opting for templates or custom designs, the key lies in crafting presentations that effectively communicate the intended message while engaging and resonating with the audience.

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Daniel Raymond

Daniel Raymond, a project manager with over 20 years of experience, is the former CEO of a successful software company called Websystems. With a strong background in managing complex projects, he applied his expertise to develop AceProject.com and Bridge24.com , innovative project management tools designed to streamline processes and improve productivity. Throughout his career, Daniel has consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence and a passion for empowering teams to achieve their goals.

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4 Reasons Why you Need a Corporate PowerPoint Template

4-Reasons-Why-you-Need-a-Corporate-PowerPoint-Template

Imagine what if every member of your team is given free rein for each of their presentations for the next big client meeting? What would you get? A dizzy mish-mash of colors, fonts, styles, and images. Whatever happened to the company brand , style, and consistency? Took a trek to Timbuktoo probably!

Here is a deal that is a win-win between following a brand guideline and unleashing one’s creativity. Build your very own Corporate PowerPoint Template! Let your teams be at their creative best and yet exude your company’s brand value.

For the creatively challenged, Microsoft has inbuilt PowerPoint templates you could choose from. However, the best part is you can build your own…to be in sync with your company’s website, logo, and style guidelines .

Templates to your rescue

Having a PowerPoint template makes your life a tad bit, okay…a lot more, easy (whoever said “there are no short cuts to success” probably didn’t know about PowerPoint Templates). Here is why you should start using it:

  • Consistency: This is one point that presentation experts across the globe would agree upon. Having a PowerPoint Template makes sure presentations from anyone in your company is consistent in terms of font, style, layout, and colors.
  • Saves Time: a lot of it in fact! The slides are pre-designed and every possible piece of content is laid out neatly. Be it a bar chart, quote or an image, the design is already there. All you have to do is type in the content, add data or insert the image!
  • Branding:  When it comes to  branding , a corporate PowerPoint Template ranks up there along with your website, logo or letterhead. With PowerPoint presentations being a powerful mode of communication within and outside a company, it is imperative that they talk about your brand.
  • Ease of formatting: aah…yes. Just say that and you can hear a sigh of relief from those non-design oriented teammates. You just saved their day. With a template, formatting  the slides becomes a breeze!

The title slide, main body slide, image layout, chart layout, fonts, and style….all the basic components of a presentation are set in the template itself. No messier, hurriedly put together presentations from your team.

Go on, create and share a template with your design team. Download this sample  Corporate PowerPoint Template  to get started.

Business PowerPoint Template

Related posts:

  • Signs your Corporate PowerPoint Template Needs a Revamp
  • 4 Ways to Deliver Branding Using a Corporate PowerPoint Template
  • Easy, Effortless Ways of Maintaining Your Corporate PowerPoint Template
  • 6 Must-Have Layout Slides For Your Business PowerPoint Templates

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About Sunitha Anupkumar

Sunitha Anupkumar was the Sales and Marketing manager at Chillibreeze. She loves juggling her duties of working with prospective customers and strategizing marketing initiatives for Chillibreeze’s presentation design services. 

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  • Presentations

How to Create a PowerPoint Presentation From a PPT Template

Sarah Joy

  • Bahasa Indonesia

Creating a presentation from scratch can be time-consuming and complicated. Even when you try your best, the presentation design may not turn out how you want. This is why using a premium template is beneficial. 

This article covers how to create a PowerPoint presentation from a quality PPT template. In addition, we’ll also look at some top premium PowerPoint presentation templates.

Download Our Free PDF eBook on Making Great Presentations

We also have the perfect complement to use alongside a professional presentation template.  Download our Free eBook:  The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations , which will help you write, design, and deliver the perfect presentation.

why use presentation template

What Is a PowerPoint Template?

PowerPoint is a popular presentation software by Microsoft. You can use PowerPoint for business and personal purposes. Presentations are a great way to use words to create an impact. For example, if you show the benefits of a product or service or present data, a presentation can make it more memorable.

A PowerPoint template is like a blueprint for your presentation. Templates typically contain slide layouts, colors, fonts, effects, and background styles. In addition, some templates come with illustrations and infographics. These tools make your presentation more visually interesting and can help you explain an important topic.

Your Preparation

Most of the work while creating a business presentation occurs before you fire up PowerPoint. 

When creating a presentation, you want to achieve an objective. For example, you might need to present the results of your department for the last quarter in the form of a presentation to your colleagues. Or, you could be seeking funding and looking to impress potential investors with your  business pitch presentation . Know what your presentation is aiming to communicate and accomplish.

Getting the Content Right

Everything begins with the content you'll put in the presentation to achieve your objective. Ideally, it's brief and crystal-clear. Typically, the less content (by sticking to key facts and figures), the more digestible your presentation is.

Key Presentation Facts

To save time, revising content while you're still preparing it (such as in Word or any other text processor) is much smarter than making content changes while designing.

Once you feel confident about your content preparation, it's time to design your presentation in PowerPoint.

Designing Your Presentation

For our tutorial, we'll be using the  Business PPT template . Then, we'll show you how to use the template to customize slides for your business presentation. 

The Business PowerPoint Presentation is from Envato Elements.

Before starting any template you download, look at the initial requirements in an accompanying text file or their online description. For example, not having the correct font installed might mess up the layout of the template slides.

Getting Started

First, let's duplicate the theme. You can achieve this by right-clicking on the .pptx file and clicking  Copy in the menu. You can copy and paste the file and rename the new document.

Instead of directly editing the template, we'll be copying slides that we'll use in our new document from the original theme file. This way, we're not editing the template source in which you would need to delete or hide slides you don't use.

Now let's review how to edit this PowerPoint template for your presentation:

How to Create a PowerPoint Presentation from a PPT Template

Are you ready to start creating your presentation?

 Let's get started:

1. Choose a Template

https://elements.envato.com/business-powerpoint-presentation-VQZNT6

The first step in how to create a PowerPoint presentation is to choose a template. The template featured in this section is the  Business PowerPoint Presentation . This template comes with 50 unique PowerPoint slides. Easily add an image to the template by dragging and dropping an image of your choice into the picture placeholder.

2. Create an Outline

Creating an outline before working on your presentation is a great way to organize your thoughts. When creating a presentation, you want the audience to be clear, consistent, and organized.

Also, when you create an outline, it can help you make sure that you've got the best message. You can also use an outline to choose where you want your images or other multimedia. Also, they can help you see if you missed a topic or point.

3. The Basics

Slide 7 Business PowerPoint Template.

To learn the basics, let's start with slide seven. As you can see, there are a few components on the slide that we can change according to our needs. At first sight, we notice the following components available to us:

  • footer text

I'd advise you to always look at the available components in a slide design as you're glancing over the different slides within a theme. This has a few benefits:

  • You can identify how your content can fit the deck's structure.
  • You can decide on the components you like (or dislike).
  • You'll notice a pattern in the slide designs.

Now that we understand the components we can change to suit our needs, let's move ahead and start designing.

4.   Removing Slide Components

Removing text from your slide can be easily done.

For this example, I'll be making a simple slide to introduce the topic of this presentation. I've decided I don't need a footer or paragraph text underneath the title.

To remove the text, simply click on each  Text Box  and use the  Delete key to remove the components from the slide.

To delete multiple words, highlight the words and then press Delete on your keyboard. If you want to add them again, you can use the top toolbar to insert text boxes, images, and other assets such as shapes and graphs.

5. Use the Slide Master

Use Slide Master

But wait! You might notice that you can't click on certain components within the slide. For example, you can't change the footer. This is because it's set in a Master Slide . 

The easiest way to explain a Master Slide is to think of a boilerplate which forms the foundation for your slide designs.

The slide master tool lets you edit the layout from a single slide. This makes it easy to edit the layout of multiple slides at once. To access the slide master tool, click on the  View  tab.

Next, click on the  Slide Master  icon. This opens up the tool. The large slide is the slide that you make edits to. The small slides under the large slide is the group that'll be edited when you edit the large slide.

This is normal, as a master slide can have a  Master Layout . Master slides use a master layout used in a group of master slides.

Let's access the master layout by looking at our master slide overview in the left panel and scrolling all the way up until we see the slide on top of the group. This is the slide that contains the master layout. 

In this slide, you can change the footer. You'll also notice the child master slides updating as you change this. Click the Close Master  button in the top toolbar to save your changes.

You'll notice that the elements you couldn't edit have been updated and changed in the deck design.

For more information about the Slide Master tool, read this in-depth article:

why use presentation template

6. How to Add Animation

How to add animation

If you want to add something fun to your presentation, you can add animation. First, however, you need to know how to edit PowerPoint templates to add animation. For this illustration, we'll switch to slide two.

First, click on the  Animations  tab above the toolbar. When you click on this tab, you’ll see the different effects, such as:

  • the green Entrance Effects
  • the yellow Emphasis Effects
  • the red Exit Effects

Next, click on the object that you want to animate. Then, choose the animations from the effects options that you want to use.

For more information about PowerPoint animation, read these articles:

why use presentation template

7. Add an Image

You can use two methods to add an image to a presentation template.

The first method is using picture placeholders. A good premium template has picture placeholders in the template.

For example, slide one of the Business PowerPoint Presentation templates has a picture placeholder in the middle of the slide.

The Business PowerPoint Presentation comes with picture placeholders which makes it easy to add an image.

For example, you can find unlimited stock photos on Envato Elements. Download them to your device quickly and easily.

Download  a photo you'd like to use and  drag the image into the slide. Of course, essential to notice is that the picture is high enough in resolution (as a general rule, never aim for an image that's got less than 1600 pixels in width, or the quality might be poor).

You may need to adjust the image size and position.

The second method is to click on the  Insert tab  above the toolbar.

Next, click on the  Pictures  button in the toolbar. When you click on this button, a menu appears. Choose the correct option depending on where your image file is located. Your image appears on your slide. Adjust the image as needed.

Insert an image. (Image Source: Envato Elements)

8. Image Transparency

You can easily change the transparency of an image to increase the legibility of text which appears on top of the image.

First, click on the image. Next, click on the  Picture Format  tab above the toolbar. You'll see a Transparency button in the toolbar. When you click on this button, a Transparency menu appears. Choose the option that you want.

You can easily change the transparency of an image to increase the legibility of the text on top of the picture.

Let's add some finishing touches. Click on the title to change its text, remove the placeholder logo using backspace, and drag in your company's logo. Should you have any issues with the formatting, double-click on the image.

9. Fitting Images

When you have issues with an image placeholder, using either the fit or fill feature can often help you

In the top toolbar under the  Picture Format  tab, there's a  Crop  button with a dropdown next to it. When you click on the dropdown menu, there's a  Fit option and a Fill option. The fit option helps you fit an image within a constrained box. The Fill  option is useful to cover a constrained box (for example, when using a background image).

10.  Images Within Shapes

Images in shapes add visual interest to your slide.

The final tricky part is updating images within a shape. Let's look at slide 23.

When you click on the graphic on the right, you'll notice it's a shape that's got multiple areas. You can double-click  on the  image placeholders  within the shape to open a menu to select the image you'd like to add to the shape.

With that, we're all set to complete this slide!

11.  Final Tips

As you notice, navigating through a theme design is very easy. 

It would be best if you remembered that there's a distinction between your  slide design,  which uses placeholders, and  recurring components , which you can't edit directly in the slide but can change in the corresponding  Master Slide . If you can't access an item in the original master slide, a parent Master Slide  uses a  Master Layout . Multiple slides use the master layout. This allows for a consistent design across multiple presentation files. 

As a quick overview, the ideal process to edit a template is the following:

  • Copy and the original template into a new working document you'll save separately.
  • Make edits to each slide you work with. Start with placeholders, then change the corresponding Master Slide if needed. Of course, you can add and remove text, images, and charts.
  • You might notice that your changes to the Master Slide affects your other slides, which is good as you only need to update the placeholders, saving time.
  • Do a final check if everything looks solid, and you're all set!

The Top Source for Premium PowerPoint Templates (With Unlimited Use)

Envato Elements is a great place to find the top premium PowerPoint templates. To gain access to premium templates, you must pay a low monthly fee to become a subscriber. Once you become a subscriber, you’ll gain access to more than just  premium PowerPoint templates . You’ll have access to images, fonts, audio, and more.

Explore Premium Presentation Templates

why use presentation template

Using a  premium PowerPoint template  saves you time because you aren’t creating a presentation from scratch when you use a premium template. In addition, if you use a premium template, you start with a great base. This means that all you need to do is add images and text.

Every template is made by a professional to look impressive and stylish. As a result, you’ll stand out among your peers who created their own or used a free template.

If you’re creative and like to customize your presentation with a premium template, you can still make as many customizations as much as you want. A good premium template is entirely editable.

Best Five PowerPoint Presentation Templates from Envato Elements

Here are some of the top PowerPoint templates from Envato Elements:

1. Creature PowerPoint

Creature

Creature is a multipurpose presentation with a versatile design. There are over fifty unique slides that you can use to create a PowerPoint for any topic you have.

This template also comes with charts, graphs, and icons. These elements add visual interest to your presentation.

2. Everlux PowerPoint Presentation

Everlux PowerPoint

This presentation template is a professional presentation with a portfolio to showcase your work if you’re a creator. For example, you’ll have over 40 unique total slides when you create a PowerPoint with this template.

Easily add an image to this template by dragging and dropping an image of your choice by dragging and dropping it into the picture placeholder.

3. Kanal PowerPoint Template

Kanal PowerPoint

This template has a minimal design that can work for any presentation topic. With this template, you’ll have 68 custom slides to use when creating a PowerPoint presentation. Plus, it's got animation and transitions, adding some interest to your presentation.

4. VERA PowerPoint Template

VERA PowerPoint Template

When creating a PowerPoint, you must consider what kind of presentation you want. This template is excellent for Creatives. This template comes with 55 creatives slides. It also comes with 50 premade color schemes.

5. Style Multipurpose PowerPoint Template

Style Multipurpose PowerPoint

Style Multipurpose PowerPoint Template is a multipurpose presentation template. It comes with 4000 total slides making it easy to create a PowerPoint presentation. Easily add an image of your choice to this template by dragging and dropping the image into a picture placeholder.

Grab This eBook on Making Great Presentations (Free Download)

We've got just the right complement to a professional PowerPoint template that'll help you learn the complete process of how to write, design, and deliver great presentations.

Download  The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations  now for FREE with a subscription to the Tuts+ Business Newsletter. Get your ideas formed into a powerful presentation that'll move your audience. 

why use presentation template

More Top PowerPoint Templates

Haven’t found a template that suits your needs? Check these articles out for more templates.

why use presentation template

Download a Premium PowerPoint Template Today!

You've just learned how to edit a PowerPoint template and how to create a PowerPoint presentation using a template.

Once you start with a premium template , it isn’t hard to create a presentation. Next time you need to create a presentation, try using a premium template. Gain access to thousands of premium PowerPoint templates and digital assets by signing up for Envato Elements today!

Editor's Note: This tutorial was originally published in 2016 by Sven Lenaerts . It's been completely redone to make it accurate and up to date.

Sarah Joy

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10 PowerPoint Template Tips and Tricks (Plus Common Mistakes to Avoid)

  • PowerPoint Tutorials
  • August 5, 2018

Because PowerPoint templates can be tricky to get right, I’ve pulled together my top 10 PowerPoint template tips and tricks to help you out.

As you will see, there are a lot of little details you need to get right that most people overlook or ignore. That’s why most of the templates you’ll encounter are difficult to work with.

Instead of helping you save time, they are instead full of formatting landmines that waste your time.

Time Saving Tip:  If you are building a template, you can save yourself a TON of time by first buying a professional template online, and then tweaking it to meet your needs.

To see the 4 best places I recommend finding professional PowerPoint templates  (and why I like them),  read my template guide here .

Table of Contents

[watch] powerpoint template tips and tricks.

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Save your template as a .POTX file

Save your PowerPoint template as a .potx file so that it functions properly

This is the first tip because NOT a lot of people know this, even sellers of templates themselves!

A PowerPoint template is only a template if it’s saved as a “.potx” file.

Otherwise, it is a fake template. To learn how to recognize if your template is fake or not,  see our guide here .

A real PowerPoint template is a blueprint that sets the basic framework for the slide you build. That way people can easily use it to build a professional looking presentation.

That’s why if you are building a template, you need to save it in the proper .POTX format. That way, when someone opens the file ti starts a blank presentation with all of your customized layouts and formats.

To save a PowerPoint presentation in the .POTX format, simply:

  • Hit  F12  for Save As
  • For  Save As Type , select  PowerPoint template
  • Choose a  L ocation  to save your Template
  • Give your template a meaningful  File name
  • Click  Save

Add guides around placeholders in the Slide Master to maintain consistency

When creating a template in PowerPoint, add guides around your placeholders on the parent slide layout.

Below is an image of how this might look in the Slide Master view of your presentation.

That way if you (or your  team members) aren’t sure where things are supposed to be, they can simply turn on the  Guides .

To turn your  Guides  on in the Normal view in PowerPoint, simply:

  • Navigate to the  View  tab
  • Select  Guides

If your Guides are well placed, everyone will know where things are supposed to be laid out. That saves you from having misaligned content between your slides.

Include the PowerPoint theme files

A PowerPoint template is more than a blueprint or layout, it also includes a Theme.

A PowerPoint Theme is composed of the fonts, colors, effects, etc. and influences the look and feel of your PowerPoint template.

If you don’t properly set your theme up, you won’t be able to control the look and feel of your presentation.

To learn more about how to setup your PowerPoint theme,  see our guide here .

Note:  While it is not necessary to send the font and color files along with your template, it is a best practice because it ensures that when the end user opens the template, your custom formatting settings are available.

Add specialized placeholders where needed

If you build a slide layout specifically for a photo or video, add a placeholder to specifically match that type of content.

Doing this will make your slides easier to fill in and manipulate.

For example, a  Picture Placeholder  will automatically crop and resize itself better than the regular multi-content placeholder.

To learn how to crop pictures in PowerPoint (outside of these content placeholders),  read our guide here .

Edit the prompt text to help instruct the users on how to use your template

One of the best ways to help your template user is to give them clear directions.

Did you know that you can edit your prompt texts for your placeholders? Yes, you can type anything you in there.

Example of prompt text in a PowerPoint template

Two suggestions for things to add in your prompt text:

  • Formatting instructions
  • Types of situations the slide should be used in

Adding this level of detail helps your user know how to properly use your slide layouts. This decrease the chance that they will misuse the slide layout.

Do not remove the bullet points from the text placeholders

While it is extremely tempting to remove bullet points from text placeholders so that your users are not tempted to use them, this is actually a little landmine for you down the road.

Let’s say that despite your clear instructions, someone types text into the placeholder and then decides to add bullet points. Now you have bullet points that don’t match your template’s formatting.

This is why I recommended formatting all the elements someone might use, and then providing instructions to not use those elements.

It’s not foolproof and it might sound counterintuitive but it is important to make sure that the bullet points being used are consistent across the entire presentation

Do not delete the title placeholder

Don't delete the title placeholder on your slide master for your PowerPoint templates because it will break your slide layouts

This is another common mistake many PowerPoint designers make.

When you build a template, you may decide that you want your slides to look totally different from what PowerPoint gives so you may be tempted to delete the title placeholder. This is not recommended.

Why? Because this will likely create issues when you’re copy-pasting slides to and from presentations that are based on your template.

And when you go and reset your layout, you end up having to reset your entire Slide Master!

Do not embed PowerPoint fonts

In the PowerPoint options you do not want to select Embed fonts in the file as they will mess up your PowerPoint templates

Using custom fonts can be a great way to add personality and style to a presentation. However, if you use a custom font, you want to make sure it displays on every computer that will be opening that presentation.

One way to do this is to embed the font into the presentation.  But don’t do it!

This is a terrible idea because it almost never works and there’s more likely to lead to serious problems down the road. All PowerPoint experts will say to not embed fonts.

If you want to use custom fonts and have them display properly in your slides, can save your presentation in the PDF file format. For help with this,  see our article here .

Otherwise you’ll need to install your custom fonts on every computer that will be opening your specific presentation.

If you find that your custom fonts aren’t properly displaying, you can quickly replace all your fonts using the  Replace Fonts  commands. To see how to do this,  read our article here .

Add user instructions and sample slides to your templates

Most tools come with a manual or some kind of set of instructions. Your template should be no different.

You should never assume that end user knows how to use it. In fact, you should assume that your end users will have no idea how the template works and what you designed it to do.

So make sure to always include user instructions and sample slides and to make it as detailed and clear as possible.

In fact, some great designers even go so far as to create a short video tutorial or webinar to walk their users through their template.

Here’s an example of user instructions and sample slides:

Examples of the sample slides to leave in your PowerPoint template so that people know how to properly use it

Make sure you envision the type of content your users will be creating, the roadblocks they will encounter and the mistakes they are likely to make – that way, you help them avoid them.

Do not delete layouts in the Slide Master

Don't delete the child slide layouts on your slide master if you are saving your presentation as a template

This is my most important PowerPoint template tip and trick. That’s because it’s a mistake that even the most advanced users commonly make.

If you don’t like the default slides PowerPoint gives you, you may be tempted to delete the slides you won’t be using.

But chances are that you’re using your template with a bunch of other people and you’re likely going to be copying and pasting slides from other presentations into this one…right?

Well what happens if a layout gets deleted from the Slide Master and you paste in slides from other presentation?

In shortcut, PowerPoint gets confused and doesn’t know what to do. This is how you can end up with a clogged  Slide Master  that could have hundreds of orphaned child layouts from other presentations.

In PowerPoint 2016 (the Office 365 subscription), PowerPoint is better at recognizing and removing duplicate child layouts. But it’s still not fool-proof.

So those are my top 10 PowerPoint template tips and tricks to make sure that the templates you build work the way you expect them to.

Most of these have been done even by the expert creators or designers, so surely beginners make the same mistakes. Keep these in mind and you’ll be creating templates that are easier to use and are less riddled with landmines.

If you enjoyed this PowerPoint tutorial and want to learn more about our training courses and other free tutorials and resources,  visit us here .

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This Post Has 7 Comments

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Hi there! I have a unique situation where my team is using a powerpoint deck as a “fake template” to enter in the status of their clients each month. Mostly they are filling in tables with their info. Some free text in pre-made bullets. We need an instructional guide for how they should be filling this out. My question is, without creating a whole separate deck with thumbnails and callouts, is there an easy way to do this in the same deck? The notes section won’t allow me to place an image there (without going into view>notes… but then the user is in a completely uneditable stage of the slide they are working in. Is it common to use the sidebar for something like this? Are other suggestions? Thank you for your time!

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Hi there! And good question. I don’t think there is an easy solution for you that doesn’t involve creating a separate deck. The only thing I can think about is to create callouts on the side of the slide space. That way it displays when they’re editing the presentation, but not when printing or presenting it. If the instructional information is the same for each type of layout, I would highly consider placing it on the Slide Master (again, in the areas around the slide space). Hope that’s clear and helpful! Let me know what you end up doing. Cheers, Camille

That’s a great idea too! I ended up doing something with the Notes section… the image of the slide is sizable and moveable. The Notes section is too, so I move the repeatable instructions in that box to the bottom, and added more text boxes as callouts to the image. And it auto-updates if you edit the slide, (which is eliminating the issue of making new screenshots each time an edit happens!) When you switch back to NORMAL view, the only note that shows are the instructions, so it’s serving its purpose. Thank you again – I like the Slide Master idea!

Ah, okay great! Glad you found a solution that worked for you.

Comments are closed.

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why use presentation template

Apply a template to an existing presentation

When you want to apply a template, either to a new or existing presentation, start fresh with a blank presentation.

If you need help knowing where to put a template file so you can apply it as described here, see Where template files belong below. 

Select a template

Select File > New .

Under New , you can navigate to a personal or workgroup template, Search for a template, or choose a featured template or theme from the gallery.

To navigate to a personal or workgroup template, select the tab next to Featured , which may be named Personal , Shared , or Custom (depending on the circumstance) and then open the folder that contains the template you want.

Tabs appear under the Search box if custom locations have been defined for storing templates

If you don't have two tabs to select from under the Search box , you can change that. See Where template files belong below.

Select the template to see a preview of it, then click Create .

The template is applied to the blank presentation.

If you don't have existing slides to import, simply begin creating slides in your new file.

If you have existing slides that you want to apply the template to, see the next section.

Apply the template to existing slides, if any

If you have existing slides, import them into the new file you created above:

Open the file that contains the existing slides.

Click the thumbnail pane and then select the slides you want: 

To select this

Do this

All slides

Press Ctrl+A

A subset of the slides

Press and hold Ctrl while you click the individual slides you want to select

Copy the selected slides (Ctrl+C).

Switch to the new file, right-click the thumbnail pane, and under Paste Options select Use Destination Theme :

Under Paste Options, select the first option, Use Destination Theme

All the copied slides are inserted in the new presentation.  

Where template files belong

To be used easily, store a personal template that you've created or a workgroup template for your organization in a standard folder location that Office knows about. 

Doing so makes the template available from File > New in PowerPoint from the tab next to the Featured tab.

Personal templates: see or change the default location

In PowerPoint, go to File > Options > Save .

Under Save presentations , see the box named Default personal templates location .

There may or may not already be a folder location specified in this box. If a folder is specified, we recommend that you continue using it. Place your personal template in this folder. 

If no folder is specified in that box, we recommend that you use File Explorer to create the following default personal template folder: 

C:\Users\ YourUserName \Documents\Custom Office Templates

YourUserName isn't a literal folder name. Use the above folder path name in the Default personal templates location box, but replace YourUserName with whatever your user name is on this computer.

Workgroup templates: see or change the default location

Organizations often have a standard network or cloud location where templates are stored for everyone to have access to. Office calls them workgroup templates .

In some cases, no location is specified for Workgroup templates . Continue with the next steps to establish a default location.

Open any .docx file in Word.

Select  File > Options > Advanced > File Locations .

(Scroll down towards the bottom to the General section to find the File Locations button.) 

In the File Locations dialog box, note the location specified for Workgroup templates .

If a location name is cut off, select it and click Modify to open a dialog box that will show the full location.  

To change the default location, select it, and then click Modify .

In the dialog box that opens, navigate to the folder you want to specify as the default location, and then click OK .

In the case of workgroup templates for a large organization, they are typically stored in a network location that all users have access to. For example, the Contoso Consulting company might have a server named "Contoso" with a folder structure like this for templates: \\Contoso\Files\OfficeTemplates.

Start from a custom template

To create a new presentation from a custom template, follow the procedures below.

Select File > Open .

Navigate to the folder where the template file is stored.

Select the template file and then click Open .

Select File > Save As .

In the dialog box, type a name for your new presentation in the Save As box.

In the File Format box, choose PowerPoint Presentation (.pptx) .

In the Where box, select the folder you want to save the presentation in.

If you have some existing slides that you want to apply the template to, see the section Apply the new template to existing slides below.

Start from a standard Microsoft template

To create a new presentation from a standard PowerPoint template

Select File > New from Template .

Choose a template from the Gallery, then click Create .

If you don't have existing slides to add to the new presentation, simply begin creating slides in your new file.

If you don't have existing slides to add to the new presentation, see the next section.

Apply the new template to existing slides, if any

Click the thumbnail pane and then select the slides you want:

To select this

Do this

All slides

Press

+A

A subset of the slides

Press and hold

while you click the individual slides you want to select

All the copied slides are inserted in the new presentation, and they adopt the design of its template.  

Save the file and then continue creating slides as you see fit.

Why it's best to start fresh when applying a template

Even if you have existing slides, we recommend that you apply a template to it by starting fresh with the template and then importing the existing slides into the new, fresh template. This process helps to ensure that everything in your presentation (especially things you haven't created yet) adopts the look and formatting prescribed by the template.

Create and save a PowerPoint template

Download free, pre-built templates

Create your own theme in PowerPoint

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Top 10 Why What How Templates with Examples and Samples

Top 10 Why What How Templates with Examples and Samples

Lakshya Khurana

author-user

Change is hard, but necessary. When you make changes to your business, you need the support of employees who can adapt, and at speed. A significant part of nurturing employees who are good with change is to know how to answer their questions, specifically the 5Ws and 1H: Why, What, Who, Where, When, and How. Fair is fair. As the business owner or stakeholder, you deserve to see the necessary change, and the employees deserve answers. To help you streamline this bumpy and somewhat uncomfortable interaction and process, SlideTeam presents the 10 best Why What How Templates .

The 5W and 1H PowerPoint Presentations

As a barrage of questions assaults you, our curated PPT Designs will help you assuage the employees’ worries without getting overwhelmed. These presentation slides are content-ready and 100% editable and customizable. This gives you a solid framework on which you can base your answers, and it also allows you to change the presentation as per the demands of the change, and the employees’ temperament.

Let us dive in and find the best slide(s) that suit your needs.

Template 1: Who What Why How Related to Change Management

Nothing represents questions quite like a question mark. With this PPT Slide, you can present your answer to these six questions, placed in an easy-to-follow format. Beginning with ‘Who,’ the shape takes the audience through the what, when, where, why, and how, with how placed neatly at the final dot. Download this template to make this discussion easy for everyone, with the icons adding to the clarity of the answers on offer.

Who what why how related to change management

DOWNLOAD NOW

Template 2: 5W, 1H Approach of Problem Solving in 6 Steps

Deliver your solution in six pertinent questions using this PPT Layout. Insert important points below each question to explain the reasons and processes for the upcoming change in business operations. This six-step layout presents a comprehensive view of the problems and their solutions. Download this from the link below.

5w 1H Approach Of Problem Solving In 6 Steps

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Template 3: What Where When Why How Strategy Markets Plan Sales

Manage the ever-changing market landscape and evolve your sales alongside this change with this PPT Preset. For each question, deliver the parameters that answer it, in part or in whole, such as strategy, markets, plans, etc. Download it now to keep up with the mercurial market environment and create room for your answers to make an impact!

What where when why how strategy markets plan sales

GET IT HERE

Template 4: What Where When Why How to Assess Issue Identify Opportunity

Use this PPT Set to solve an issue and find opportunities with a five-step process of: What is the issue? Where does an opportunity present itself? When is the right time to set a strategy? Why does this issue/opporunity need resolution, and How do we develop a plan? Get this template right away to prevent problems and expand your business.

What where when why how assess issue identify opportunity

Template 5: Who What Why How Related to Company Objectives

Give perspective to company objectives with this PPT Set. Allow employees to feel a part of the company's vision and mission, with answers to questions on what the objectives are, why have they been selected, how the company aims to achieve them, who will be tasked with each responsibility, and what is the timeline for this project/objective. Download now to improve communication between employees and management.

Who what why how related to company objectives

Template 6: Who What Why How Related to Problem Solution

This six-step process is meant to resolve problems. Ask important questions like what revenue the solution provides, why focus on this problem and who is impacted by the solution. Looking at the problem from these vantage points help you find an effective and efficient solution. Download this template right away!

Who what why how related to problem solution

Template 7: Six Who What Where When Why & How Questions

Use this PPT Template to gain a deeper perspective on things. The slide presents readymade questions to help you get started on your question, no matter what issue you’re trying to solve. This common set of six question types will help you better understand things around you. Download now.

6 who what where when why and how questions

Template 8: Why What How Vision Clear Goals Roles and Responsibilities

You can achieve your goals when you have a clear vision and have delegated the roles and responsibilities after a study of your team’s 5Ws and 1H. Use this PPT Slide to showcase your ‘what’ (goals, measures, and roles & responsibilities), ‘how’ (reward & recognition, feedback, etc.), and ‘why’ (vision and purpose). With these ideals clearly defined your productivity will go through the roof!

Why what how vision clear goals roles and responsibilities

Template 9: Who What Why How Related to New Venture

There is no margin of error allowed when starting a new business venture. Use this PPT Layout to ensure you have your path clearly laid out and you are ready for all issues that might arise. Ask the 5Ws to understand your motivation and goals behind this new venture, so you can discuss them with potential investors and stakeholders. Download now from the link below.

Who what why how related to new venture

Template 10: Who What Why How Related to Product Building

What product do you sell? And why? And How?... All these questions must be answered if you wish to move your product to the market. If you don’t know your product inside and out, it’ll be harder to build it and sell it, as people presume that you do not have enough faith in it. Become a master of your product line with a download of this PPT Slide.

Who what why how related to product building

Template 11: Who What Why How Related to Content Marketing

Content marketing works only if the content reaches its target audience. Using 4Ws and 1H, you can ensure you implement strategies to ensure proper advertising and ask questions regarding who the content is for, where it will be seen, what it will showcase, and for who. Download now to gain spectacular traffic and revenue through your content.

Who what why how related to content marketing

Download this template

Template 12: Who What Why How Related to Risk Management

Prevention is better than cure, and to implement prevention, you must zen-like mastery of your business operations, from top to bottom. The inquiry to do so is made easy with this PPT Slide, which helps you ask the relevant questions, the answers to these questions help you find the possible issues that can arise, which enables you to implement necessary strategies. Download this template now.

Who what why how related to risk management

Grab this template

The Only Constant is Change

When your workforce is satisfied with your answers, they will be better prepared to adapt to the change and, more importantly, help you implement it. Change management requires a respectful give and take in information and calls for good communication. You can achieve this with our Why What How Templates .

Access these slides with a single click and streamline your onboarding process more. You can choose one of our subscription services: monthly, semi-annual, annual, annual+ with a click here .

PS Find even more PPT Templates to answer the who, what, when, where, and why from your audience in our blog here .

“But why?” is probably the most asked question during changes. If you wish to focus on that, access the relevant PPT Designs from this blog here !

FAQs on 5W and 1H

What are the 5w and 1h questions.

The 5 W and 1H questions are fundamental interrogative words used to gather information: Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How. They serve as a framework for comprehensive inquiry when the aim is to anaylze and improve the process across varied scenarios of human enterprise or business.

Who created the 5Ws?

The origin of the 5Ws can be traced back to Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, who emphasized the importance of asking questions to understand the world around us. He was known to a master philosopher with a keen eye for detail.

Why are the 5 Ws important in life?

The 5Ws aid in problem-solving, decision-making, and communication. They enable us to gather essential information, uncover details, and make informed choices. In personal and professional contexts, they facilitate clarity, understanding, and effective interaction, enhancing our ability to navigate the complexities of life.

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why use presentation template

Top 11 PowerPoint Templates to Facilitate Question and Answer Sessions [Free PDF Attached]

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COMMENTS

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