Slide Content Resources

Instead of creating a slide, start with a slide that has already been created and then all you have to do is modify it. If you don’t have a library of slides already available, here are some pre-made slides and sources where you can buy or download more pre-made slides.

Calendar Diagrams

A calendar diagram is a great way to show chronological information in a visual way. Right-click here to download pre-made calendar diagrams already in PowerPoint format. And watch this video to learn how to make your own calendar diagrams.

Equation Diagrams

An equation diagram is a powerful way to end a persuasive presentation where you summarize why the arguments you have presented lead to the conclusion you want the audience to come to and action you want them to take. Right-click here to download pre-made equation diagrams already in PowerPoint format.

Linear Process Diagrams

Instead of listing the steps in a process in a numbered or bulleted list on a slide, use a linear process diagram. Right-click here to download pre-made linear process diagrams already in PowerPoint format.

Venn Diagrams

Venn diagrams come from set theory in mathematics, but you don’t need to remember your high school math class to use them. A Venn diagram shows an overlapping relationship visually. Right-click here to download pre-made Venn diagrams already in PowerPoint format.

Sources of pre-made slides

At the following websites, you can download or purchase pre-made slides. Even if you don’t purchase a slide, you can use the sites as inspiration when creating your own ideas for slides. Click on the links below to open each site in a new browser window.
www.GetMyGraphic.com (also download this “cheat sheet” that shows categories of visuals and examples)

www.Diagrammer.com

www.Charteo.com

www.Office.com (Microsoft Office template site that contains some pre-made slides

Create your own slide visual ideas file

As you come across effective graphics, save the ideas to a file so you have inspiration for slides when you need it. Copywriters call this a “swipe file”. I suggest you create a PowerPoint file for this purpose. Any time you come across a good graphic online, take a screen capture and insert that on a new slide in this PowerPoint swipe file. Add a description of why you thought the graphic worked and when you could apply this idea in your own presentations. If you see a good graphic in a newspaper or magazine, take a photo with your smartphone and email the photo to yourself. When you are back at your desk, insert that photo on a new slide in your PowerPoint swipe file. You won’t have to try to remember all the good graphics you have seen, you will have them easily accessible in your PowerPoint swipe file.

Sources for images

If you are looking for an image for your slide, don’t think that you need to hire a professional photographer, models, etc. Stock photos are the best way to go. There are a lot of stock photography sites out there, so what should you do? Here are the sources I use:

The Office.com image library – I always start with the images that come free with Microsoft Office. They have over 150,000 images to choose from and you can easily search the online collection from within PowerPoint. If you are using an image in a product you will sell, check the usage guidelines.

Wikimedia Commons (commons.wikimedia.org) – This is the media side of the huge online encyclopedia Wikipedia. People have uploaded over 18 million images you can use. For each image, check the usage guidelines. Many only require you to add attribution to your slide, and some allow usage without any attribution required.

Micro-stock sites (istockphoto.com, shutterstock.com, etc.) – These sites provide you with professionally taken photos that have all been judged before they are allowed on the site. You can purchase the right to use an image for as little as a few dollars. The license allows you to use the image in many ways, but if you are going outside of a typical usage, make sure to check the usage license.