When you think of PowerPoint presentations, you may think of them as being presented using a projector or large screen display. But when you can't connect in person to give your presentation, posting your PowerPoint online may be the next best alternative.
Maybe your audience doesn't have PowerPoint installed on their device. In that case, it makes sense to use Microsoft PowerPoint Online to share and collaborate. Or, you might have a major message you want to share online with anyone who clicks the link using SlideShare.
In this tutorial, discover a few ways to upload and share a PowerPoint presentation using best practices.
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How to Quickly Share PowerPoint Presentations Online (Watch & Learn)
In this quick two-minute screencast video, I'll walk you through using PowerPoint Online and SlideShare to upload your presentation for sharing. I'll show you tips and tricks for each platform to get the most from them.
Both of these services are free when you make an account. You don't need anything other than a PowerPoint file and an account to quickly share your presentation online.
Now, let's dive into some written tips on using these services. I'll show you best practices on getting your PowerPoint online for an audience to see.
Microsoft PowerPoint Online
Do you have a PowerPoint and are you wondering "how to share my PowerPoint online?"
My preferred way to share PowerPoint presentations is to use PowerPoint Online, Microsoft's browser-based version of PowerPoint. If you've used Google Drive and their collaborative apps that live inside your web browser, you can think of this as Microsoft's alternative. Best of all, it's free!
To use PowerPoint Online, you'll need a Microsoft account, which is free to create. Jump over to this link to log in or create a Microsoft account and get started with PowerPoint Online.
1. Upload Your PowerPoint Presentation
Now, you'll need to upload your PowerPoint presentation to make it available online.
There are two ways you can do this:
- Save it to your OneDrive account that's associated with your email address. OneDrive Microsoft's cloud storage app will automatically be available in PowerPoint Online when you log in.
- Log into PowerPoint Online, and click on Upload a Presentation to upload your file from your computer.
2. Invite Viewers to Your Online Presentation
Once your presentation is online, you're ready to invite others to view it. Using PowerPoint Online, click on Share in the right corner above the presentation.
Now, you can add email addresses for anyone to invite to the presentation. Add some email addresses in the To field, along with a message below it to add collaborators.
There are some other key options that you'll want to set each time you add viewers to a presentation:
- On the dropdown options, you can choose between Anyone with the link and Specific people to control who has access to the presentation.
- You can also choose between the permissions Can edit and Can view. If you select the Can edit option, your invitee can make changes to the presentation.
- You can set an expiration date for the share. Or, set a password so that the invitee has to log in to view the presentation.
- You can also copy the link to share it online or through email. (See the steps below.)
3. Optional: Make an Online PowerPoint Presentation Link
Another option is to make the presentation public so that anyone with the URL to your presentation can view it. If you're distributing your PowerPoint presentation to a team online, it's easier to create a link instead of inviting each user's email address.
Here's how to create a link for a PowerPoint:
Click on Copy link on the same sharing window I showed you above. PowerPoint Online creates a URL that you can send to others to collaborate on the presentation with you.
To invite others to make edits using the URL, click on the Anyone with the link can view option. Choose Allow editing from the Other settings section.
Post Your Presentations Online With SlideShare
Besides PowerPoint online, SlideShare is one of the best-known services for posting a PowerPoint online. When Netflix uploaded a slide deck on their culture in 2009, they likely had no idea that it would be viewed 17 million times in the following years.
Just as YouTube is a discovery platform for video, SlideShare is a network where users can discover your slide deck.
SlideShare is now owned by Scribd. You can upload a PowerPoint to SlideShare simply by hopping over to their website and log in (or create) your Scribd account. Or you can still log in through LinkedIn.
SlideShare supports a variety of formats, but it's tailor-made to drop your PowerPoint (PPTX) files into. You can drag and drop a file onto the window or click on a cloud service to quickly add your presentation online.
After you begin uploading your presentation, SlideShare has you add some basic metadata. Add a Title, Category, and Tags to help users discover your content.
Maybe the most important setting on this screen is to choose the Privacy settings for your presentation. A Public presentation appears to anyone who comes across it via search or social, just like the Netflix culture slide deck. You could also choose Limited to make it visible, but not in SlideShare search.
Once you've set the privacy, press Publish. Your presentation will go online, ready to share!
SlideShare is a great choice for when you want to publicize your PowerPoint. But the privacy settings are essential when you're sharing your presentation online.
Learn how to make a great online presentations with SlideShare and PowerPoint in our multi-part tutorial series. Or get started with one of these Envato Tuts+ tutorials:
18+ Best PowerPoint SlideShare Presentation Examples (For 2022)
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How to Create Top SlideShare Presentations With PowerPoint
Send and Share Your PowerPoint Presentations
If your presentation contains sensitive information or you just don't want to publish it online, I still have tips for how to share your presentation effectively.
If you're going to use email or a service like Dropbox to upload your PowerPoint presentation, you might want to reduce the file size of your presentation before you send it. Let's look at two key tips to reduce the file size so that you don't waste someone's inbox space.
1. Compress Images
Images are usually the single largest part of a PowerPoint presentation. Everything else in a presentation is some combination of text and shapes, which don't consume much storage space at all.
Compressing images is the best way I've found to save space. Select a picture and click Picture Format. Choose Compress Pictures.
On the Compress Pictures menu, choose a lower resolution setting from the list of options. I recommend choosing a lower resolution like 150 or 96 PPI. This reduces the space occupied by your images and creates a smaller PowerPoint file.
2. Save a Lower Resolution Copy
Beyond the images in your presentation, you can also save the entire presentation at a lower resolution.
On the File > Save As menu, this time choose the Tools > Save Options menu.
For high-resolution presentations that use premium PowerPoint themes, this step is a must to reduce the file size before you send it to your audience. Find top PowerPoint presentation themes on Envato Elements:
Both of these tricks save some serious storage space when you share your presentation. Even if you're considering uploading it to PowerPoint Online, this is an ideal step to maintain PowerPoint performance.
Five PowerPoint Presentation Templates from Envato Elements for 2022
You've just learned how to share PowerPoint online. But the first step to sharing a presentation is to find the right template.
As you're looking for a PowerPoint template, keep in mind these top template options. Each of these has been selected to give you a stylish presentation template:
1. Permanent
Permanent template has 32 master slides, so there's plenty of room to add all your information. Plus, this template comes with charts, diagrams, tables, and more. Picture placeholders make it easy to add an image by dragging and dropping the image into it.
2. Everlux PowerPoint Template
Everlux is a professional template that comes with a portfolio where you can showcase your previous work. This template comes with over 40 unique slides in total. The minimal design makes it easy to use the template for any purpose. It comes with maps, graphs, icons, and more.
3. Hexas PowerPoint Template
Hexas has a modern design with geometric patterns. It comes with over 120 total slides that you can add information to. Also, this template comes with five premade color schemes making it easily customizable. Quickly add an image by dragging and dropping the image into an image placeholder.
4. Diminished PowerPoint Template
Diminished is a multipurpose PowerPoint template that comes with five color variations. It comes with over 150 total slides. This template comes with graphics, illustrations, and infographics. It also comes with portfolio galley slides to showcase any previous work.
5. Kiran Template
Kiran template has a minimal design that's good for a marketing presentation. This template comes with over 46 unique slides. It also comes with a lookbook where you can showcase your products. Easily drag and drop the image of your choice into the picture placeholder to add it to your slide.
Recap & Keep Learning More Great PowerPoint Presentation Tools
This tutorial showcased three key methods to share your PowerPoint presentation. The decision should come down to whether you're trying to attract a public audience (SlideShare) or collaborate with other PowerPoint users with PowerPoint Online.
If you aren't sold on using PowerPoint Online, check out some of the PowerPoint tutorials below. I'll show you how to use PowerPoint to work together online, and Laura Spencer offers a compelling look at using Google Slides instead.
How to Collaborate as a Team on PowerPoint (PPT) Presentations (+Video)
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How to Create Top SlideShare Presentations With PowerPoint
Should Google Slides Replace PowerPoint in Your Workflow?
Need Help? Grab Our Making Great Presentations eBook (Free)
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It'll help you master the presentation process, from: initial creative ideas, through to writing, design, and delivering with impact.
Create and Share Your PowerPoint Online Today!
It can be helpful to share your presentation in many ways. Now that you know how to share a PowerPoint presentation as a link, try it for your next presentation. To save time creating your PowerPoint presentation, consider signing up for Envato Elements.
Editorial Note: This tutorial was originally published in November of 2017. It's been updated by Sarah Joy to make the information relevant and current. Sarah is a freelance instructor for Envato Tuts+.
