How to Select Presentation Software

There are several popular versions of presentation software that are on the market, including Microsoft PowerPoint, Apple's Keynote and OpenOffice Impress. Each has its fans. Microsoft PowerPoint has millions of users. Apple Keynote is less expensive than Microsoft Office. OpenOffice Impress is free and can be downloaded from the Internet but has fewer templates or wizards than PowerPoint or Keynote. Whichever you choose to work with, the good news is the essentials of creating a professional presentation are the same.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Choose Your Software

1. Select the software that most of your colleagues use, especially if you will be collaborating frequently. You can choose your favorite presentation software and simply import slides and charts from other software brands, but it's worth comparing the pros and cons of always having to take the extra time to do so.

2. Select a software brand that has lots of high-quality templates if you rely heavily on pre-formatted slides. Apple has many styles of presentations from which to choose, which the company calls "Masters." PowerPoint also has a decent number of pre-created presentations that the company calls "Wizards" and allows users to download from the Internet.

Learn Your Software

3. Use free tutorials, often bundled with software, to learn how to spice up your presentations. Most people who have used presentation software can create slides and import graphs, but not everyone can import movie footage and soundtracks.

4. Select presentation software according to your budget if price is an issue with you. OpenOffice Impress is free while Keynote is a mid-range program and is a natural choice for die-hard Apple fans. Microsoft PowerPoint, one facet of the Microsoft Office suite of work software applications, is the most expensive.

5. Take online classes offered by the top presentation software manufacturers. You can take these online via the company websites. This will give you some idea of what the slides look like, how the controls are set up and what possibilities are inherent in the programs.

Tips & Warnings

• Take advantage of free demos and software trials. Both allow you to see what a program can do before you invest your money in it.
• Take time to play with whatever program you choose. The more familiar you become with each tab and all of your options, the more comfortable you will be creating presentations and impressing your peers.