how to make a google presentation interactive

How to make an interactive presentation in Google Slides

• Written by: Ian Wicks
• Categories: Google Slides
• Comments: 46

When you’re giving a presentation, you want to impress your audience and make sure they see you as credible. Whether you want to win the next big contract or simply inform, a well-designed presentation can make all the difference. One way to make your presentation stand out is by making it interactive. Interactive presentations are a great way to present information while keeping your audience engaged.

Before we dive in, it’s important to define what we mean by ‘interactive presentation’. ‘Interactive’ is sometimes used to describe presentations that include quiz questions or audience participation – that’s not what we’re talking about here. When we say ‘interactive’ we’re talking about a clickable presentation that uses hyperlinks to help users navigate to different sections. A presentation with hyperlinks is ‘interactive’ because it allows the user to choose what information they view, and in what order. As a general rule of thumb, an interactive presentation works well when your audience needs to engage directly with what’s on the screen, putting them in control of how they digest the information. In this blog post, we’ll walk through how to make an interactive presentation in Google slides.

Technical aspects, step-by-step

Now that we’re on the same page, let’s delve into how to actually create an effective interactive presentation in Google Slides. It’s easier than you might think.

Start by opening a new presentation! From the Google Slides homepage , look to the top left and click the Blank button to open a new presentation. This is your blank slate from which to create an outstanding interactive presentation!

Google Slides automatically inserts a title slide when you open a new presentation, so all you need to do is click on the title text box and type in a title. Make the title something clear and catchy, that your audience can easily understand.

Now, let’s move on to the all-important menu slide. We’re going to create something that looks like a button, so that your audience knows it’s clickable. Later on, we’ll add in hyperlinks. You can use any shape for your button, but rectangular shapes with rounded corners often look the most ‘button-like’. First, locate the Shape button on the toolbar in slides, and select a shape. Then, double click on the slide and that shape will appear. Click and drag using the nodes along the edges of the shape to change its size.

You can add labels either by typing directly on to the shape, or by clicking the text box button (also on the toolbar) and positioning a text box on top of the shape. You might also want to add a small arrow shape on top of your button, to help show that the button is clickable.  

If you’ve got a more artistic temperament, this is an opportunity to be creative! Your button doesn’t have to be made from shapes. The buttons on the menu slide in our example presentation are actually images. Feel free to get those artistic juices flowing, but keep in mind that your buttons need to look clickable. One way of doing this is by adding a drop shadow or border. To add a border, use the border color and border weight buttons, found on the toolbar.

To insert a drop shadow just right click , then select Format options , and check the box for Drop shadow .

You could also make your buttons a contrasting color from the background and other text – however, avoid colors that are too bright, as this can be distracting.

This first button you have created is the basis for your menu. When you’re happy with how it looks, replicate it so that the number of buttons corresponds to the number of sections in your presentation. You can do this by copying and pasting. Simply select the entire button – click with your mouse and drag over the button so all elements are highlighted – then copy and paste it by right clicking , selecting Copy and then Paste however many times you need. Edit the text of each button to correspond to the section of the presentation it will link to. Next, ensure that the buttons are aligned in some sort of order. You can select various buttons and then align or distribute them as you like using the alignment tools found under the Arrange tab.

Note: If you decide to use icons or imagery, it’s a good idea to make sure the meaning is clear. For example, we all know that the house symbol mean ‘go to the home page’. There’s no point using a zebra icon to return to the homepage, because people will get confused. Stick to what people find familiar, good navigation is about ease of use!

Tip: To use icons in your interactive presentation in Google Slides, click the Add – ons tab, select Get add-ons , and then select the Insert icons add-on.

Then, under the Add – ons tab, a new option will appear which is Insert icons for Slides . Hover over this, and select Open sidebar to select icons .

Then, once the sidebar appears, ensure that the icon set selected on the drop-down menu is ‘Material Design.’

Create section header slides for each section in your presentation. Do this by navigating to the top of the page, and clicking New slide on the top left of the tool bar. Repeat this step as many times as necessary. Next, build as many buttons as you need for the subsection using the steps outlined above. You can also simply copy and paste the buttons you’ve already created, and just edit the text.

Add the information you want to include in each section. If this is images, like in our example presentation, then insert images using the Insert tab.

If this is text, type on the slide using a text box. However, it’s best to use visuals instead of long paragraphs of text. Keep your message clear and succinct.

Repeat steps 4 and 5 for each section. Make sure each section has a header slide, with buttons if necessary. Look through your presentation up to this point – make sure all the sections are ordered correctly, and that there is a header slide at the beginning of each.

Return to your initial menu slide. Make transparent shapes to cover each ‘button’ you have created. We will turn these transparent shapes into hyperlinks that allow users to navigate through your deck. First, click the Shape button on the toolbar, and then create a shape that covers the button that you have created, but not any white space outside them. Then, select the shape and click the Fill color button on the toolbar, select Transparent from the dropdown menu.

Place these transparent shapes over the top of every button in your deck. Using transparent shapes in this way makes it much easier to edit the hyperlinks if needed, and also makes it less likely that a user will miss a clickable area!

Now we are ready to hyperlink each button! Select the first transparent box on your menu slide, right click, then select Link and choose Slides in this presentation . From here, choose the slide you want your button to navigate to when clicked.

Tip: If your slide has a title, it will have the same title in the link section, making it easier to find. After you have linked these two slides the link will stay connected to the specific slide, not the slide number – so it doesn’t matter if you move things around.

Repeat this process for all buttons, so that each one links to the correct slide.

Create buttons to return to the main menu. To do this, follow the steps outlined previously and use a transparent box that links back to the main menu slide. If you have different subsections within a section, you can also create a button linking back to the section title slide from each subsection.

Interactive presentations in Google Slides: Beyond the basics

Following these steps will give you a fully interactive presentation in Google Slides. But if you want to go beyond the basics, here are some tips and tricks that will help your interactive deck be even more intuitive and user friendly.

An effective menu slide is key

The centerpiece of a good interactive presentation is an effective menu slide that is clearly navigable, has a deliberate spatial layout, and is visually appealing. For example, the buttons on this menu slide clearly indicate the separate sections in our presentation . The arrangement of your buttons helps the user understand your presentation’s structure, so make sure they are arranged logically.

Your presentation needs to be visually  engaging

We at BrightCarbon are particularly passionate about this point – far too often slides look dull and drab – and we think it’s important to be the change you want to see in the presentation world! It would be impossible to cover all the ways you can make your deck visually appealing in a short blog post – the important point is to consider the overall aesthetics of each slide and the presentation as a whole. If you’re looking for some design inspiration, check out this article about making slides look great using images.

Make navigation as simple as possible

Your menu slide is the jumping-off point to the different sections of your presentation – but constantly exiting present mode to return to your menu slide can break the flow. In a normal presentation there isn’t an effective way of returning to the main slide without clicking back through all the content you’ve already shown. As you want to be able to go through your presentation in a non-linear fashion you need an easy way to return to your jumping-off point. Place a button at the end of each section that links to the original menu slide, so you don’t have to exit the presentation once you start.

Provide your audience with signposts 

You want your audience to understand where they are within the presentation, providing them with signposts is an easy way to achieve this. A signpost can be a header slide at the beginning of the section or small indicator icons throughout a given section. It can also be a slide or button at the end of each that clearly includes options to either return to the main menu or go straight into the next section. Make it easy for your audience to follow the flow of your deck.

Be strategic when positioning buttons

Consider the location of buttons on the slide. If a button is at the end of a section and returns the user to the main menu, it’s probably best to put it at the bottom right, as in the West we tend to read from left to right, top to bottom. Think about where best to position buttons so the placement is consistently, and so they don’t get in the way of your main content. Take a look at the above screenshot – we’ve positioned our section buttons so they are clearly visible, but don’t dominate the slide.

Make sure you keep the best practices in mind, as they will help you make a clear roadmap that runs throughout your slides. You’re well on your way to creating a great interactive presentation in Google Slides, just one last thing to do – get started!

Senior consultant; Group messaging lead

Related articles, moving to google slides here’s what to consider..

• Google Slides

If your organization is considering using Google Workspace it will impact the way you create presentations. Microsoft PowerPoint will no longer be your default and you’ll need to count on Google Slides. Before you make a change like this, it can be hard to know what to expect. How might your business benefit? What are the potential downsides? How can you make the transition as smooth as possible? Let's find out!

Google Slides Themes and Layouts

• Comments: 8

In Google Slides, editing the Theme and Layouts is an easy way to ensure that your presentations have a set style that stays true to your brand. Getting to grips with the Google Slides Theme builder and Layouts can also speed up your content creation, providing a firm jumping off point for all your future presentations.  

6 ways to get the most out of online collaboration with Google Slides

When preparing a presentation, it’s often the case that multiple people need to contribute content. However, when you’re not working in the same office, this can be difficult. We explore how Google Slides collaboration features can help you create brilliant presentations online.

Is there a way to send an interactive slideshow with hyperlinks to students that allows them to click outside to YouTube and click to other slides, but does NOT allow them to edit the presentation? Thanks!!

Hi Adam, There’s an easy fix for this problem. All you need to do is share the presentation as “view only” with your students. To do this, click the share button as you normally would, then click the pencil icon that is to the right of the “People” bar, and select “can view” from the drop down menu. This will still let your students use the links within the presentation as well as any external links, but won’t let them make any edits to the presentation itself. Hope this helps!

Mabey make them a commenter on the slideshow?

Yeah true that problem could be fixed and they should be able to!

When I share my presentations in present mode the presentation bar that shows up interferes with any buttons I have added. Is there a way to remove that so that only the arrow keys or buttons can be used, or is there a way to change it’s size? I makes the buttons almost useless.

Hi Kera, unfortunately there’s no way to move the presentation bar once in present mode, it’s very frustrating! The best solution is to move the buttons so that they aren’t on the bottom left of the slide. Hope this helps!

Actually there is a way to share without the presentation box there. After you click share to copy the link “choose anyone can view” paste into the task bar and change “edit” to “present” and add @rm=minimal to the end then copy and paste that link to where you are sharing.

Hi kera, this is really helpfull tutorial. I’ve a question….is possible to create a final quiz? I need a presentation with final valutation quiz….is it possible?

Hi Antonio, yes you can use the same method in this post to make a quiz. All you would need to do is create a menu slide with buttons named “Question 1” “Question 2” etc. (or “Round 1” “Round 2” if you wanted to divide questions by round), and link those buttons to slides later in the presentation that included your quiz questions. Then, include a button on your question slides that link back to the main menu slide. Of course, you would still need to keep score outside of slides, as there’s no way for slides to track correct answers to your questions. Hope this helps! 🙂

I have made a 20 slide presentation. I have also made an interactive quiz that has 4 questions with a correct and incorrect slide for each question. That makes 12 slides in the quiz. I want to know if I can put the quiz interactive into a specific slide on the 20 slide presentation?

Hi Kelly, if you want to add your quiz slides into another presentation, you should be able to copy the slides over and the hyperlinks should still link to he correct slides, maintaining all interactivity. Then just continue with your presentation once you reach the final quiz slide, instead of returning to the menu slide. If this isn’t what you’re asking, please clarify what exactly you need help with and I’m happy to help. Thanks!

Hi Ian, Thank you for this tutorial. it is great! I made an interactive quiz, published it and sent the link to someone to test. The tester said all of the buttons and links worked correctly and that he could not advance to the next slide unless he clicked on the “next” or “back” buttons. All good. BUT he COULD mouse scroll through the entire quiz and see all of the questions, correct and inocorrect prompt slides. Is there a way to publish or share without being able to scroll through with the mouse? Thank you again!

Hi Lisa, I’m so glad to hear that you found it helpful! Unfortunately, there’s no way that we are aware of to keep people from scrolling through the deck once it’s been shared. I think the best solution is to just ask the person you share the interactive presentation with to be sure and review in present mode. Thanks!

I used interactive slides to create a classroom scene. There are several slides that are accessed by clicking on hyperlinks in the first slide, and every slide has a link back to slide one.

When I try to publish it to the web, the only options include automatically playing through all the slides, which I don’t want to do. I want them only to go to the slides that they click on.

Hi Julie, unfortunately there’s no way we know of to get around this – when publishing to the web, Slides only allows you to automatically play through all the slides, as you say. If you only need to share with a few people, we would recommend simply sharing directly with them as “view only.”

this is awesome !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i had no idea on how to get full marks on a project i am doing…. but now my chances have increases by 50% !!! how i love this article….!!!!!! amazing

Hi Bhavya, I’m so glad to hear you found this article helpful!! Good luck on your project!

I found this very useful when producing an interactive display for our art club. However I want to call this display from another programme which deals with several clubs. This I have managed OK but how does the viewer leave the slides presentation and return to the calling programme? I need a QUIT button. I also want to ensure that it all works on tablets and desktops.

Hi Royston, I’m not sure I fully understand your question – you should be able to exit present mode simply by clicking the Escape key. An interactive presentation should work on both tablets and desktops, according to Google Slides. Please clarify and let me know if I can help any more, thanks!

I have the same question as Royston. I know users can press the esc key to exit, however that does not go along with the flow of the presentation. Also, when you press esc, it brings you to the slide show creation view. I want the show to just close on their browser with the click of a “button” on the last slide of the slide show.

On the flip side, when I send users the link to the slide show, and they click on the link, it also brings them to the creation view, so they have to click “present” to see it as intended. Is there a way for me to send a link that will open right to the first slide at full screen, already in “present” view?

I have now found a simple solution to my problem. The slide show contains several menu pages. On each of these I have a Quit button and I link this with the web address of the programme that calls the slide show. This does not send the user to the place on the calling programme which initiated the slide show but in my case this was OK.

I have since modified this so that the Quit buttons lead to the first slide in the slideshow which makes it clear that the button it presents there quits back to the presenting programme but otherwise leaves the user the option of running through the slideshow again.

Is there a way of adding an already interactive PDF to slides and it retain its functionality?

Unfortunately, once you import an interactive PDF into Slides it loses it’s functionality (as it sounds like you’ve already discovered). There’s no easy workaround here, I’m afraid.

Hi! This is really amazing. Thanks for share. I’d like to know if there is anyway to disable navigation through mouseclick, arrow keys or any other way instead of clicking the button links? Because I’m not secure that the viewers will follow the path we create if they can jump slide by slide. Thanks a lot for your attention. =)

Hi Ces, thanks for your question. Unfortunately there’s no easy way that we know of to disable navigating through the presentation but keep the mouse’s other clicking functionality. There’s a way to disable clicking the mouse but still keep keyboard functionality, but this of course doesn’t solve your problem. Sorry about that!

I made a game for students like Jeopardy with columns for each topic area and buttons that show point values fr each question. Students can select the topic and # of points, and a hyperlink will take them to the specific question. I put in back buttons on each question page so they go back to main page. Is there any way to indicate on the main page when a “button” has been opened? Can a hyperlink and animation be embedded so once that button has been clicked it has a different appearance on the main page?

Oh, I really wish that this question had been answered. I’ve been struggling with this for a long time. As far as I can tell, there is no way to do this. It’s a shame that something so easy in PowerPoint is seemingly impossible in Slides.

If I’m wrong, PLEASE correct me. I’d love to have this solved.

I have a question….so we created an interactive slide show for the students with a slide correct-great job slide and a sorry, try again slide. We were able to link each answer to the correct slide or the try again slide, but once it goes there, how do we go back to the previous slide we were at?

Also, if we are presenting our screen to during a google meet are the children able to interact with it if allow anyone with the link to be editors?

Hi Heather,

You might try adding a ‘back’ button on the bottom right of both the ‘correct’ and ‘try again’ slides, and then link these to the previous slide you were at.

As for your second question, yes that’s right – though it might be better to share the presentation with your students as ‘view only’ as if they are editors they can change the content, but if they are viewers they can’t and still have access to the interactive functionality.

Hope this helps!

I tryed it and wow when i looked it was like wow so i shred it to my teacher ms eunick in bellmere junior public school shes like oh wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Would you be concerned about exchanging links?

Switching out links shouldn’t cause any problem – all you need to do is follow the same process for adding a new link, but instead just remove the original and add a new one. Hope this helps!

This is super helpful and I really appreciate all of the time and effort that went into it. From the knowledge shared here, I am hoping you might be able to help me with this question. I want to know if there is a way to stay in Present mode and move things around on the slide. I present google slide shows on my Dell board and it would be so much better if students could come up and manipulate icons etc. while still being in present mode, instead of having to exit out and be in edit mode. Is this even possible, or should I give up trying to figure it out? Thank you so much!

Hi Jo, unfortunately there’s not a way to make any changes from present mode. Slides doesn’t have that type of functionality available. Sorry about that!

Hey! Is there a shorter way to do this?

Hi there, unfortunately there’s no quicker way that we know of!

Is there a way to prevent users from clicking on a slide in present mode and have it advance? This way the user can only advance when clicking on a button with internal links?

Hi Frank, as far as we know there’s no way to do this. Sorry about that!

You guys are the BEST!!!!!! Usually, other websites just don’t help you but you guys helped me a lot.

So glad to hear you found it helpful!

Hey, is there a way to put it to when you click on the image it takes you to the next slide?

Hi there, yes all you would need to do in that case is link the image on the slide to the next slide you want to advance to. Hope this helps!

Is there a way to publish these slides onto sites so the audience can click around on all the links but NOT move automatically forward or backward through the deck? I want people to have to click the “go back” button, and when I click it goes through every slide. (It’s an escape room for my students).

Hi Ali, unfortunately Google Slides doesn’t have the functionality to lock slides. Sorry about that!

Hi! I just created interactive slides for my students that includes slides that go back and forth between “good job!” and “try again!” so that students can go through and self-correct. It works fine when in presentation or slideshow mode and they use a mouse to click the answers. However, I have touch screen laptops and if my students touch the screen instead of the mouse (fine motor issues), the file copies itself and goes out of the slideshow mode. What am I doing wrong or can I not use links between slides without a mouse?

Thanks in advance!

As far as I can tell, that sounds like it might be a hardware issue – is there a way for you to disable the touchscreen feature on the devices themselves? As far as I know there’s nothing that can be done from within Slides.

Sorry about that!

Join the BrightCarbon mailing list for monthly invites and resources

I absolutely love this, thank you so much. I have shared your fabulous resources with many folks. Thanks for all the brilliant work you do! Michaela Butterworth State of Kansas

How to make interactive Google Slides

Revolutionize your presentations with this guide on crafting interactive Google Slides, captivating your audience effortlessly.

Sanskar Tiwari

Step 1: Open Google Slides

Step 2: Insert Hyperlinks

Step 3: Add Actionable Buttons/ images/ videos

Step 4: Embed Multimedia/ Google forms

Step 5: Utilize Transitions

Step 6: Incorporate Interactive Quizzes

Step 7: Create Navigation Slides

Step 8: test interactivity.

Step 9: Save and Share

Conclusion:, frequently asked questions:, can i add interactive elements to google slides on mobile devices, or is it limited to desktop, can i track user interaction or responses to interactive elements within google slides, are there limitations to the types of multimedia i can embed in google slides, can i collaborate with others on interactive google slides presentations, or is it a solo endeavor, related blogs, how to convert classic novels into immersive powerpoint book talks, how to transform vintage maps into navigational powerpoint journeys, how to convert scientific journals into dynamic lecture slides, how to turn pdf catalogs into powerpoint presentations: art edition, how to revive family archives: transforming ancestral letters into powerpoint narratives, how to convert wildlife research papers to engaging powerpoint presentations, how to create memorable powerpoint lectures from philosophy texts, how to insert equations in google slides, how to move an image to the back in google slides, stunning presentations in seconds with ai.

Install MagicSlides app now and start creating beautiful presentations. It's free!

~1M Installs, rated 4.5/5 ⭐️ by 424 reviews

Cloud Storage

Custom Business Email

Video and voice conferencing

Shared Calendars

Word Processing

Spreadsheets

Presentation Builder

Survey builder

Google Workspace

An integrated suit of secure, cloud-native collaboration and productivity apps powered by Google AI.

Tell impactful stories, with Google Slides

Create, present, and collaborate on online presentations in real-time and from any device.

• For my personal use
• For work or my business

Jeffery Clark

T h i s   c h a r t   h e l p s   b r i d g i n g   t h e   s t o r y !

E s t i m a t e d   b u d g e t

Make beautiful presentations, together

Stay in sync in your slides, with easy sharing and real-time editing. Use comments and assign action items to build your ideas together.

Present slideshows with confidence

With easy-to-use presenter view, speaker notes, and live captions, Slides makes presenting your ideas a breeze. You can even present to Google Meet video calls directly from Slides.

Seamlessly connect to your other Google apps

Slides is thoughtfully connected to other Google apps you love, saving you time. Embed charts from Google Sheets or reply to comments directly from Gmail. You can even search the web and Google Drive for relevant content and images directly from Slides.

Extend collaboration and intelligence to PowerPoint files

Easily edit Microsoft PowerPoint presentations online without converting them, and layer on Slides’ enhanced collaborative and assistive features like comments, action items, and Smart Compose.

Work on fresh content

With Slides, everyone’s working on the latest version of a presentation. And with edits automatically saved in version history, it’s easy to track or undo changes.

Make slides faster, with built-in intelligence

Assistive features like Smart Compose and autocorrect help you build slides faster with fewer errors.

Stay productive, even offline

You can access, create, and edit Slides even without an internet connection, helping you stay productive from anywhere.

Security, compliance, and privacy

Secure by default

We use industry-leading security measures to keep your data safe, including advanced malware protections. Slides is also cloud-native, eliminating the need for local files and minimizing risk to your devices.

Encryption in transit and at rest

All files uploaded to Google Drive or created in Slides are encrypted in transit and at rest.

Compliance to support regulatory requirements

Our products, including Slides, regularly undergo independent verification of their security, privacy, and compliance controls .

Private by design

Slides adheres to the same robust privacy commitments and data protections as the rest of Google Cloud’s enterprise services .

You control your data.

We never use your slides content for ad purposes., we never sell your personal information to third parties., find the plan that’s right for you, google slides is a part of google workspace.

Every plan includes

Collaborate from anywhere, on any device

Access, create, and edit your presentations wherever you are — from any mobile device, tablet, or computer — even when offline.

Get a head start with templates

Choose from a variety of presentations, reports, and other professionally-designed templates to kick things off quickly..

Photo Album

Book Report

Visit the Slides Template Gallery for more.

Ready to get started?

How to Make Your Presentation More Interactive With Google Slides' Presenter View

Want to make sure your presentation goes smoothly? Here's how Google Slides' Presenter view can help you in presenting more effectively.

When making a presentation, it would be helpful to have notes and other information readily available on the screen. However, if you add notes to your slideshow directly, your audience will see it.

So, how can you add notes that only you can see on Google Slides? Let’s explore the Speaker Notes feature in the browser and mobile apps.

1. How to Add Speaker Notes in Google Slides

Adding notes to each slide will help you have a smoother presentation. This feature ensures that you don’t have to use an external app, sticky notes, or a physical notebook, thus reducing distractions. But how do you add notes when you’re creating a presentation in Google Slides ? Find out below.

Using Google Slides for the Web

When using the browser version on your PC, you can add notes by clicking on the Click to add speaker notes subwindow at the bottom of the screen. After clicking on it, you’re free to type and add notes for that slide. Once you’re done, you only need to click away, and your notes are automatically saved.

When you move to another slide, you’ll notice that the speaker notes field is empty. You can click on this again to fill it with notes for this specific slide.

Using the Google Slides iOS and Android App

Adding speaker notes on the app version is a bit more complicated. First, open the Slides app and the presentation you want to work on. Tap on the slide you want to add notes to, then choose Edit slide .

Once the slide loads into the edit view, tap on the menu in the upper-right corner, then choose Show speaker notes . You’ll then see a Tap to add speaker notes subwindow appear at the bottom of the screen. Tap on it, and it will fill your screen. You are then free to type the notes you need.

Once you’ve finished adding your notes, tap on the Check Mark on the upper-left corner of the screen. You will return to the edit view with your notes shown at the bottom. To add notes to other slides, you need to swipe to the slide you want to edit, then repeat the process noted above.

2. Viewing Speaker Notes While Presenting

When you’re launching your presentation, you have to launch it under Presenter view to see the notes you added earlier. Here’s how you can open your presentation in the said view.

Opening Presenter View on Your Browser

When you’re ready to show your presentation, don’t click on the Slideshow button. Instead, click on the down-pointing arrow beside it to show a dropdown menu, then choose Presenter view .

Once the slideshow starts, you’ll see your presentation appear on the main tab; then, you’ll see a Presenter view window open. In the small window, you should see your notes appear under the Speaker Notes tab on the right side. You can also control your slideshow by clicking on the Next and Previous slide previews on the left side of the Presenter view window .

Opening Presenter View on the Mobile App

If you’re using the mobile app, you can only see your notes if you present at a Google Meet meeting. To do so, tap on the Play icon at the top menu. In the options that appear, choose Present to a meeting . You then have to input the Meeting ID of the Google Meet you’re presenting to. Once you have typed the correct code, tap on Done .

You’ll then join the Google Meet room in presentation mode. Your slide will appear as the main window, but you’ll see your notes on the lower part of your mobile device’s screen.

3. Asking Your Audience

One way you can interact with your audience is to answer their questions. However, this isn’t easy if you’re presenting to a large crowd. You may not be able to get to all the participants, or some might be too intimidated to ask a question publicly. So, to help you interact with your audience, you can launch Audience Tools .

How to Ask for Questions With the Browser

In the presenter view, click on the Audience Tools tab. Under it, you’ll see a Start New button. Click on it, and this flag will appear on top of your presentation:​​​​​

Ask a question at slides.app.goo.gl/[code] .

All your audience needs to do is type the link on their browser, and they’ll be redirected to a new tab where they can type their questions. There, they can type in their questions and submit them to you. They can even ask anonymous questions by clicking on the Ask anonymously check box .

When your audience sends their questions, you’ll receive them under the Audience Tools tab. If you find a particular question interesting, you can click on the Present button under the question, so you can flash it on your presentation. You’ll also see audience reactions to the question, with the number of positive or negative reactions the audience has to it.

If you want to move on and want to stop receiving questions, click on the On slider to switch it off.

How to Ask for Questions With a Mobile App

When you’re in the presenter view, tap on the Audience Q&A icon. It’s in the upper-right corner of your screen, the one before the right-most speaker notes icon. You must then tap Start New in the next view.

Once you’ve turned on Audience Q&A, your audience will see the Ask a question flag on top of your presentation. They then need to type that address on a browser to see the questions page.

You will see the questions they typed on your mobile device, and you can then tap on it to flash it on your presentation. If you want to move to the next slide, you must press the back button in the upper-left corner of the screen. Once you’re done answering questions, you can slide the toggle at the upper-right corner of the Audience Q&A view.

4. Draw on the Screen in Your Google Slides

One other nifty feature of Google Slides is that it allows you to draw on the presentation screen. However, you can only do it from a tablet, like an iPad. To use this feature, you must again launch your presentation under Present to a meeting .

Once you’re in the presenter view, tap on the pen icon in the upper-right corner of the screen, beside the Q&A icon. After it’s activated, you’re free to scribble on the active slide. However, once you change slides, all your on-screen annotations will disappear. To turn off the feature, you just need to tap on the pen icon again.

Create an Interactive Presentation With Google Slides

Google Slides provides many features that let you have an interactive presentation. You can become an effective speaker and pass your knowledge to others more efficiently with these tools. And if you’re having difficulty creating a design, why not check out these sources for Google Slides themes.

How to Make an Interactive Google Slides Presentation

When you give a presentation, you want to impress your audience by making them consider you competent, whether to win the next big project, contract, or inform. A well-design presentation can have an impact on your presentations.

One way to do this is to make your presentation stand out by making it interactive. An interactive presentation is an effective technique to provide information while keeping your audience’s attention.

What is an interactive presentation?

Before we go any further, we must define the term ‘Interactive Presentation’. ‘Interactive’ describes presentations that include quiz sections or audience engagement. However, it’s not the same as what we are talking about here.

But, the term ‘interactive’ here refers to a clickable presentation with hyperlinks to help users move to different sections. A hyperlink presentation allows users to select and order the information they want to view.

On the other hand, an interactive presentation works effectively when your audience needs to interact directly with what’s on the screen and give them control over how they digest information.

This article will show you how to make an interactive presentation in Google Slides. So keep an eye on things!

How to create an interactive presentation

1. Start with a blank document from the Google Slides homepage. This is your blank slate for making an outstanding interactive presentation! 

When you start a new presentation on Google Slides, it automatically inserts a title slide; you only have to click on the title text box and write a title. When making the title, make it straightforward and appealing so that your audience can quickly grasp it.

2. Let’s jump to the main menu slide. We’ll make something that resembles a button so your audience understands it’s clickable. Then, we’ll include hyperlinks. You can use any shape for your button in this section. 

First, locate the shape button on the toolbar and choose a shape in the slides. Second, double-click on the slide to bring up that shape. Lastly, to adjust the size of the form, use the nodes along its edges to click and drag . 

Furthermore, you can add labels by typing on the shape or clicking the text box button and putting a text box on top of the shape to help the button be clickable.

3. To add a drop shadow, just right-click it > select Format Options > check the Drop Shadow box .

In addition, you can make your buttons a contrasting color from the background and other text. However, if you don’t want your interaction to be distracting, you can avoid the colors that are too bright.

4. Return to the previous menu slides. Make it clear shapes to cover the ‘ Button ’ you’ve made. These transparent shapes will be converted into hyperlinks allowing people to move across your presentation. 

First, click on the shape button in the toolbar and then draw a shape that covers the newly created controller. Then, choose the shape and click the Fill color option on the toolbar > choose transparent from the dropdown menu.

5. Now we’re ready to link the button!

Nowadays, interactive presentations are popular in both formal and informal events. Whether for a meeting, seminar, or other events, you can create your interactive simply and quickly using Google Slides. Good luck!

About The Author

Kezia marcellova, related posts.

Easy Way to Add Animation to Google Slides

How to Make a Google Slide Presentation Loop Endlessly

How to: Image Masking on Google Slides

How to Group Objects in Google Slides

How to Make Interactive Google Slides

Join me on Instagram

Privacy Overview

• Slidesgo School
• Presentation Tips

How to make a presentation interactive

There are several challenges to overcome in order to make a perfect presentation. The first challenge is to collect and structure the right information and then generate a visually appealing presentation. And once you have reached this point, you still have to go one step further: finding the most appropriate way to capture people's attention.

Even the most original content you have ever created can go unnoticed if you don't take a moment to plan what elements you can add to make your presentation more interactive and dynamic. 

You have to ensure that they keep their eyes glued to the screen. As you may know, this is a difficult challenge, as we are barely capable of spending more than 10 minutes paying full attention to a presentation. 

Give rhythm to your content. As if it were a symphony, add moments of calm, in which information reigns, and others of contrast, in which you add different techniques and tools to regain lost attention.

Learn with the following tips how to make an interactive presentation. Mix and match the ones that best suit the type of audience you are going to meet! 

10 tips for creating an interactive and fun presentation

Here are 10 tips on how you can make a great interactive and fun presentation to better connect with your audience:

1. Break the ice with the introduction

Do you want to get off to a good start? Prepare your introduction in advance! The first sentences you formulate should provoke a surprise effect on your audience. 

Roommates Presentation Night

Some effective ideas for capturing interest from the first minute are:

• Give a statistic or historical fact that is shocking.
• Ask an introductory thought-provoking or debate-provoking question.
• Explain a personal anecdote that you can connect with the theme of your content and that resonates with your audience.

If you need a good dose of ideas to get your introduction off to a great start, you can read more tips in our post on tips to start an incredible presentation.

2. Ask debating questions 

Avoid at all costs giving a linear presentation, i.e. getting on stage and giving a half-hour or hour-long colloquium. If you do, you will see a few sleepy faces in the audience or someone checking their mobile phone notifications.

In order to fuel interest, generate discussion questions that invite reflection or defend different points of view. Formulas such as "what if?", although they have been used for years, are still very effective in creating expectation. 

As well as inviting them to intervene in a loud voice, ask questions with several closed alternatives to encourage them to choose and vote by a show of hands on the different proposals. 

Extra tip: At all times, make it clear that you are open to questions. 

3. Incorporate visual effects such as animations 

Spice up your design! A good dose of animations and transitions will help you to keep people's eyes on the screen because you generate so much curiosity that they are waiting to see what the next slide has to offer.

Interactive Education Pack for Teachers

At Slidesgo, we are firm believers that the visual aspect of a presentation is one of the pillars on which successful presentations are built (otherwise we wouldn't put so much love into our templates!).

Be concise, organize your content well, and if you want to bring it to life, we recommend you also use 

our exclusive PowerPoint templates , which include just the right amount of animations to stand out with unique PPT designs.

4. Prepare surveys or quizzes

We all love to play games and taste victory - why not set up a quiz game? 

Reward the quickest, the most original, the most realistic answer... Depending on the topic of your content and the age of your audience, you can choose one or the other. What is essential is that they feel challenged and want to make an effort to listen, learn and respond. 

Trivial games are also ideal for groups, so divide your audience into small teams to discuss and debate the questions you ask them!

5. Share the stage with others

A great way to make your presentation more interactive is to share the spotlight with another person. Having a second perspective makes the topic more entertaining.

Happy Piano Day!

How can you implement this dynamic? Prepare in advance the intervention of someone who can expand on your content or, directly, set up a session with two speakers to maintain an active conversation.

6. Add videos

A few minutes into the session, incorporate a video that matches the content you are explaining. What types of videos can you use?

• A real example of the content you are presenting.
• An inspirational video in line with the mood you are portraying.
• An audiovisual piece that repeats and therefore reinforces the concept explained.
• One that generates a subsequent reflection or debate to link with what has been explained previously or with what you are going to introduce next.

7. Incorporate props in line with the topic

Are you teaching a history or music class? Perhaps you have an object at hand to help visualize the concepts or connect the dots in your story. Or imagine the huge surprise you would cause by holding in your hands the prototype of your company's new product or displaying the printed poster for your next advertising campaign. 

Any element that makes your story more visual serves the dual function of entertaining and informing. Therefore, remember that not any object will work. It must be one that is directly related to the information given.

8. Bring social media into the equation 

Hashtag #themostinteractivepresentation! Social networks are your allies. If you are at a conference, you will see how more than one person is dedicated to immortalizing it with photographs that they later upload to their social media accounts. 

Take advantage of the power of Twitter or Instagram and create a hashtag that brings together the posts of the day. Or, for example, create small challenges, raffles, and competitions that encourage the audience to take a more active role during the presentation. 

Here is a website where you can create a live, fully interactive online competition: https://kahoot.com/

9. Give it a personal touch 

Personal stories have the power to connect us with others. If you are able to find a link between the information presented and your day-to-day life or experiences, take advantage of the pull that this resource can generate.

Depending on the situation, opt for a fun tone if you want to lighten the mood, an emotional one if you want to strike a chord or a more serious one if you want to tell a story that changed your life. Play with different emotions and get your story on the right track by learning how to use storytelling in presentations.

10. Use clear visual schemes such as infographics

No shortage of graphs and infographics ! Many concepts are best understood through visual diagrams or numerical graphs. The more intuitive the information you present, the easier it will be for your audience to follow the thread.

By breaking down different ideas into a visual outline or organizing a sequence of events in one line, you allow everyone to quickly internalize what you are explaining by being able to see, in a single slide, a short and to-the-point summary.  

From now on, we expect you to fearlessly apply these tricks. With these aces up your sleeve, you will make an impression on your audience. 

Do you find this article useful?

Related tutorials.

7 tips to create a positive classroom culture

No matter if it's been ages since you last stepped into a classroom or just a long time ago―there’s probably a particular learning experience you often find yourself thinking about. Maybe it was a passionate teacher who kept the whole class engaged, or perhaps a classmate who lent you a hand with a tricky topic. Positive classroom experiences do leave a lasting mark on us, so it makes perfect sense that people leading a classroom aim to create the finest possible learning setting. In this article, we’ll share some tips to help you turn a regular classroom into a positive space.

How to create a word cloud in Google Slides

There are many ways to improve your Google Slides presentation. From choosing the right font to finding the right template, good presentations keep an audience engaged and convey a message in a clear way.Knowing how to visualize data in a slideshow is one of those actions that have a huge impact on the success of a presentation. At the end of the day, plain data fails to motivate decisions as effectively as clear insights do. This is when powerful visual tools like word clouds step in. Let us tell you all about them. 

How to create a word cloud in PowerPoint

In the age of information, showing data has become as important as collecting it. Those who are able to turn big amounts of data into easy-to-understand ideas, are the ones pushing the game forward.At the end of the day, plain data fails to motivate decisions as much as clear insights do. That’s where powerful visual tools such as word clouds step in. We’re here to tell you all about them.

Top 10 tips and tricks for creating a business presentation!

Slidesgo is back with a new post! We want your presentations and oral expositions to never be the same again, but to go to the next level of presentations. Success comes from a combination of two main ingredients: a presentation template suitable for the topic and a correct development of the spoken part. For templates, just take a look at the Slidesgo website, where you are sure to find your ideal design. For tips and tricks on how to make a presentation, our blog contains a lot of information, for example, this post. We have focused these tips on business presentations, so that, no matter what type of company or...

Interactive Google Slides Presentation | Set Up with AhaSlides in 3 Steps | 2024 Reveals

Anh Vu • 28 Mar 2024 • 10 min read

So, how to make interactive slides? A bored audience is one of our biggest fears as presenters. Whether it’s live participants in front of you or virtual ones behind a screen, we’re always looking for ways to entice, engage and excite the onlooking crowd. So, let’s try to make an Interactive Google Slides .

Google Slides is a fantastic tool for this, but it also has its deficiencies. If you want to host a poll , quiz or an informative Q&A , you must integrate your presentation with AhaSlides .

Here are three easy steps to making an interactive Google Slides presentation with AhaSlides’ free software. Read on for how to make it happen and the four reasons you should.

Table of Contents

• Step #1: Copying your Google Slides Presentation to AhaSlides
• Step #2: Personalising the Display Settings
• Step #3: Making it Interactive
• Why Bring Your Interactive Google Slides Presentation to AhaSlides?
• Add New Dimension to Your Interactive Google Slides

Frequently Asked Questions

Start in seconds.

Make your Creative Powerpoint Presentation even better with AhaSlides Templates! Sign up for free and take what you want from the template library!

Creating Interactive Google Slides Presentation in 3 Simple Steps

Let’s take a look at the 3 easy steps for bringing your interactive Google Slides presentation to AhaSlides. We’ll talk you through how to import, how to personalise and how to up the interactivity of your presentation.

• Best 10 Powerpoint add-in in 2024
• Host a PowerPoint party in 2024

Be sure to click on the images and GIFs for a zoomed-in version .

Step #1 | Copying Google Slides Presentation to AhaSlides

• On your Google Slides presentation, click on ‘File’.
• Then, click on ‘Publish to the web’.
• Under the ‘Link’ tab, click on ‘Publish (don’t worry about the checkboxes as you can change your settings in AhaSlides later).
• Copy the link.
• Come to AhaSlides and create a Google Slides slide.
• Paste the link into the box labelled ‘Google Slides’ Published link’.

Your presentation will be embedded into your slide. Now, you can set about making your Google Slides presentation interactive!

Step #2 | Personalising the Display Settings

Many of the presentation display settings on Google Slides are possible on AhaSlides. Let’s take a look at what you can do to show your presentation off in its best light.

Full Screen and Laser Pointer

When presenting, choose the ‘full screen’ option on the toolbar at the bottom of the slide.

After that, select the laser pointer feature to give a more real-time feel to your presentation.

Auto-Advancing Slides

You can auto-advance your slides with the ‘play’ icon in the bottom left corner of your slide.

To change the speed at which the slides advance, click on the ‘settings’ icon, select ‘Auto-advance (when played)’ and choose the speed you want each slide to appear for.

Setting up Speaker Notes

If you want to set up speaker notes, be sure to do this before you publish your Google Slides presentation .

Write your speaker notes into the speaker note box of individual slides on Google Slides. Then, publish your presentation as laid out in step 1 .

You can view your speaker notes on AhaSlides by coming to your Google Slides slide, clicking on the ‘settings’ icon and selecting ‘Open speaker notes’.

If you want to keep these notes for yourself only, be sure to share only one window (the one containing your presentation) when presenting. Your speaker notes will come up in another window, meaning your audience won’t be able to see them.

Step #3 | Making It Interactive

There are a few ways to maximise the impact of an interactive Google Slides presentation. By adding in AhaSlides’ two-way technology, you can create dialogue via quizzes, polls and Q&As around the subject matter of your presentation.

Option #1: Make a Quiz

Quizzes are a fantastic way to test your audience’s understanding of the subject matter. Putting one at the end of your presentation can really help to consolidate new knowledge in a fun and memorable way.

1. Create a new slide on AhaSlides after your Google Slides slide.

2. Select a type of quiz slide.

3. Fill out the content of the slide. This will be the question title, the options and right answer, the time to answer and the points system for answering.

4. Change the elements of the background. This includes text colour, base colour, background image and its visibility on the slide.

5. If you want to include more quiz slides before revealing the overall leaderboard, click on ‘Remove leaderboard’ in the ‘Content’ tab.

6. Create your other quiz slides and click ‘Remove leaderboard’ for all of them except for the final slide .

Option #2: Make a Poll

A poll in the middle of your interactive Google Slides presentation works wonders for creating a dialogue with your audience. It also helps to illustrate your point in a setting that directly involves your audience , leading to more engagement.

First , we’ll show you how to create a poll:

1. Create a new slide either before or after your Google Slides slide. (Scroll down to find out how to put a poll in the middle of your Google Slides presentation).

🎊 Top online quiz creator in 2024!

2. Select the question type. A multiple-choice slide works well for a poll, as does an open-ended slide or a word cloud.

3. Pose your question, add the options and uncheck the box that states ‘This question has correct answer(s)’

4. You can customise the background in the same way we explained in the ‘ make a quiz ‘ option.

🎊 Best Online Poll Maker in 2024

If you want to insert a quiz in the middle of your Google Slides presentation, you can do so in the following way :

1. Create a poll slide in the way we just mentioned and place it after your Google Slides slide.

2. Create a new Google Slides slide after your poll.

3. Paste the same published link of your Google Slides presentation in the box of this new Google Slides slide.

4. At the end of the published link, add the code: &slide= + the number of the slide you want to resume your presentation with . For example, if I want to resume my presentation on slide 15, I would write &slide=15 at the end of the published link.

This method is great for if you want to reach a certain slide in your Google Slides presentation, have a poll, then resume the rest of your presentation afterwards.

If you’re looking for more help on how to make a poll on AhaSlides, check out our article and video tutorial here .

Option #3: Make a Q&A

A great feature of any interactive Google Slides presentation is the live Q&A . This function allows your audience to pose questions and even answer ones that you’ve posed to them .

Once you import your Google Slides presentation to AhaSlides, you won’t be able to use Google Slides’ in-built Q&A function. However , you can use AhaSlides’ function just as easily!

1. Create a new slide before your Google Slides slide.

2. Select Q&A in the question type.

3. Choose whether or not to change the heading, whether to allow the audience to see each other’s questions and whether to allow anonymous questions.

4. Make sure that the audience can send you questions on all slides .

Using the presentation code, your audience can pose you questions throughout your presentation. You can come back to these questions at any time , whether it’s in the middle of your presentation or after it.

Here are a few features of the Q&A function on AhaSlides:

• Sort questions into categories in order to keep them organised. You can pin important questions to come back to later or you can mark questions as answered to keep track of what you’ve responded to.
• Upvoting questions allows other audience members to make the presenter aware that they would also like another person’s question answered.
• Asking at any time means that the flow of the presentation is never interrupted by questions. Only the presenter is in control of where and when to answer questions.

If you’re after more tips on how to utilise Q&A for the ultimate interactive Google Slides presentation, check out our video tutorial here .

Why Bring Interactive Google Slides to AhaSlides?

If you’re in any doubt about why you would want to embed a Google Slides presentation into AhaSlides, let us give you 4 reasons .

#1. More Ways to Interact

While Google Slides has a nice Q&A feature, it lacks a lot of other features that foster interaction between presenter and audience.

If a presenter wants to gather information via a poll, for example, they would have to poll their audience before the presentation began. Then, they would have to quickly arrange that information into a self-made bar chart, all while their audience sits silently on Zoom. Far from ideal, for sure.

Well, AhaSlides lets you do this on the fly .

Simply pose a question on a multiple choice slide and wait for your audience to answer. Their results appear attractively and instantaneously in a bar, donut or pie chart for all to see.

You can also use a word cloud slide to gather opinions about a certain topic either before, during or after you present it. The most common words will appear larger and more centrally, giving you and your audience a good idea of everyone’s viewpoints.

🎉 Live Word Cloud Generator | #1 Free Word Cluster Creator in 2024

#2. Higher Engagement

One of the key ways that higher interaction benefits your presentation is in the rate of engagement .

Put simply, your audience pays much more attention when they’re directly involved in the presentation. When they can voice their own opinions, ask their own questions and see their own data manifested in charts, they connect with your presentation on a more personal level.

Including audience data in your presentation is also a sublime way to help frame facts and figures in a more meaningful way. It helps the audience to see the bigger picture and gives them something to relate to.

#3. More Fun and Memorable Presentations

Fun plays a pivotal role in learning. We’ve known this for years, but it’s not so easy to implement fun into lessons and presentations.

One study found that fun in the workplace is conducive to better and more daring ideas. Countless others have found a distinctive positive link between fun lessons and students’ ability to remember facts within them.

AhaSlides’ quiz function is so perfect for this. It’s a simple tool that fosters fun and encourages competition within an audience, not to mention raising the engagement levels and providing an avenue for creativity.

Find out how to make the perfect quiz on AhaSlides with this tutorial .

#4. More Design Features

There are many ways that users of AhaSlides can benefit from Google Slides’ premium features. The main one being that it’s possible to personalise your slides on Google Slides before integrating your presentation with AhaSlides.

The great depth of font, image, colour and layout options on Google Slides can help bring an AhaSlides presentation to life. These features let you build your presentation in a style that connects your audience with your topic.

Add a New Dimension to Your Interactive Google Slides?

Then try out AhaSlides for free .

Our free plan gives you full access to our interactive features, including the ability to import Google Slides presentations. Make them interactive with any of the methods we’ve discussed here and start enjoying a more positive response to your presentations.

Is Google Slides and Powerpoint the same?

Yes and No. Google Slides are online, as users can co-edit anywhere. However, you will always need the Internet to edit your Google Slides Presentation.

What is the weakness of Google Slides?

Security concern. Even though Google had tried to improve the security problems for ages, it’s quite difficult always to keep your Google Workspace private, especially when users are likely to log in on multiple devices.

Limitation of Google Slides?

Less animation and effects on slides, timeline playback and animated gifs

How to change slide speed in Google Slides?

In the top right corner, click ‘Slideshow’, then select ‘Auto advance options’, then click on ‘Choose how quickly to advance your slides’.

More from AhaSlides

We use essential cookies to make Venngage work. By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.

Manage Cookies

Cookies and similar technologies collect certain information about how you’re using our website. Some of them are essential, and without them you wouldn’t be able to use Venngage. But others are optional, and you get to choose whether we use them or not.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are always on, as they’re essential for making Venngage work, and making it safe. Without these cookies, services you’ve asked for can’t be provided.

Show cookie providers

• Google Login

Functionality Cookies

These cookies help us provide enhanced functionality and personalisation, and remember your settings. They may be set by us or by third party providers.

Performance Cookies

These cookies help us analyze how many people are using Venngage, where they come from and how they're using it. If you opt out of these cookies, we can’t get feedback to make Venngage better for you and all our users.

• Google Analytics

Targeting Cookies

These cookies are set by our advertising partners to track your activity and show you relevant Venngage ads on other sites as you browse the internet.

• Google Tag Manager
• Infographics
• Daily Infographics
• Graphic Design
• Graphs and Charts
• Data Visualization
• Human Resources
• Training and Development
• Beginner Guides

Blog Marketing

15 Interactive Presentation Ideas to Elevate Engagement

By Krystle Wong , Aug 04, 2023

As attention spans continue to shrink, the challenge of engaging audiences in a short timeframe has never been more significant. Let’s face it — grabbing and keeping your audience’s attention can be quite the challenge, especially when time is ticking away. But fear not, I’ve got the perfect solution: interactive presentations!

Believe it or not, creating an interactive presentation is easier than you might think. In this guide, I’ll show you how to effortlessly turn ordinary slides into captivating experiences with 15 interactive presentation ideas that will leave your audience begging for more. From quirky polls and fun games to storytelling adventures and multimedia magic, these ideas will take your presentation game to the next level.

Venngage is a game-changer when it comes to empowering interactive presentations. With just a few clicks, users can customize their favorite presentation templates , add multimedia content and create immersive experiences that leave a lasting impact. Whether you’re a seasoned presenter or a newcomer, get started with Venngage to elevate your presentation game to new heights of engagement and creativity.

Click to jump ahead:

What is an interactive presentation?

15 ways to make a presentation interactive, 7 best interactive presentation software, what are some common mistakes to avoid when creating interactive presentations, interactive presentation faqs, how to create an interactive presentation with venngage.

An interactive presentation is a dynamic and engaging communication format that involves active participation and collaboration between the presenter and the audience. Unlike traditional presentations where information is delivered in a one-way manner, interactive presentations invite the audience to interact, respond and contribute throughout the session.

Think of it as a two-way street where you and your audience have a friendly chat. It’s like playing a fun game where you ask questions, get live feedback and encourage people to share their thoughts. 

To make a good presentation , you can utilize various tools and techniques such as clickable buttons, polls, quizzes, discussions and multimedia elements to transform your slides into an interactive presentation. Whether you’re presenting in-person or giving a virtual presentation — when people are actively participating, they’re more likely to remember the stuff you’re talking about.

Interactive presentations leave a lasting impression on the audience. By encouraging active participation and feedback, interactive presentations facilitate better understanding and knowledge retention. Here are 15 innovative 5-minute interactive presentation ideas to captivate your audience from start to finish:

1. Ice-breaker questions

Start your presentation with intriguing and thought-provoking questions or a fun icebreaker game. These questions should be designed to pique the audience’s curiosity and encourage them to think about the topic you’ll be covering. By doing so, you create an immediate connection with your audience and set the stage for a more engaged and attentive audience.

For example, if you’re giving a business presentation about management and leadership training, you could ask audience questions such as “What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received, and how has it impacted your career?”

2. Live polling

Incorporate live polls during your presentation using audience response systems or polling apps. This allows you to collect real-time feedback, opinions and insights from active participants. Live polling encourages active participation and involvement, making your presentation feel like a collaborative and interactive experience.

3. Q&A sessions

Encourage the audience to ask questions throughout your presentation, especially for pitch deck presentations . Address these questions in real-time, which fosters a more interactive and dynamic atmosphere. This approach shows that you value the audience’s input and promotes a two-way communication flow.

4. Clickable buttons

Add clickable buttons to your slides, allowing the audience to navigate to specific sections or external resources at their own pace. For example, you could include links to your social media accounts or extra reading materials in your education presentation to give further information about the topic and get your students engaged. By providing this autonomy, you empower the audience to explore areas of particular interest, creating a more personalized and engaging experience through your interactive slideshow.

5. Storytelling

Incorporate anecdotes or personal stories related to your topic. Storytelling is a powerful way to emotionally connect with your audience, making your presentation more relatable and memorable. A little storytelling along with a set of creative slides draws the audience in and keeps them engaged as they follow the narrative.

6. Interactive charts and graphs

Use interactive charts and graphs that respond to user input to make your presentation interactive. For instance, allow the audience to click on data points to view more detailed information or to change the displayed data series. Creating charts with interactive visuals help the audience interact with the data, fostering better understanding and engagement.

7. Animated infographics

Add animations to your infographics, making them visually dynamic and progressive. Animated infographics reveal information gradually, keeping the audience curious and attentive. This transforms complex data into an easily digestible and engaging format.

Venngage’s extensive library of infographic templates is a powerful tool to visualize data and elevate the interactivity of your presentations. Personalizing the visuals ensures a cohesive and professional look throughout your interactive presentation. The templates are highly customizable, allowing you to adjust colors, fonts, and styles to match your presentation’s theme and branding. 

8. Gamification

Introduce an interactive quiz, puzzles, or challenges related to your presentation content. Gamification adds an element of fun and competition, motivating the audience to participate actively and boosting their learning experience. Here are some gaming presentation templates you could use. 

9. Virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR)

If applicable, leverage VR or AR technologies to provide immersive experiences. These interactive presentation tools transport the audience into a virtual or augmented environment, making your presentation more captivating and memorable.

10. Collaborative whiteboarding

Get your audience involved in your presentation by utilizing digital whiteboards or collaborative tools to brainstorm ideas collectively. This fosters teamwork and creativity, enabling the audience to actively contribute and feel a sense of involvement in the presentation.

11. Hyperlinked text

Keep the information in your slides minimal with a simple presentation and incorporate hyperlinks to direct viewers to relevant websites or blogs , resources, or additional information. This encourages self-exploration and gives the audience the opportunity to delve deeper into topics of interest.

12. Role-playing

Engage the audience in role-playing scenarios to explore different perspectives. Role-playing promotes active learning and helps the audience relate the content to real-life situations, enhancing their understanding and retention.

13. Embedded videos

Include video clips in your slides to provide visual explanations, demonstrations, or interviews. Videos add a dynamic element to your presentation, enriching the content and keeping the audience engaged.

14. Audience-generated content

Encourage the audience to contribute ideas, stories or examples related to your professional presentation . Audience-generated content fosters a sense of ownership and involvement, making the presentation more interactive and personalized.

15. Slide transitions

Use slide transitions to create smooth animations between slides. Well-planned transitions maintain the audience’s interest and keep the presentation slides flowing seamlessly.

Interactive elements aside, enhance your presentation with these guides on how to summarize information for a captivating presentation and how to make a persuasive presentation to captivate your audience. 

If you’re looking to create engaging and interactive presentation slides that captivate your audience, these presentation software options are sure to elevate your game:

Prezi is renowned for its dynamic and non-linear presentation style, enabling users to craft visually stunning and interactive presentations. With an array of templates and animation effects, Prezi enhances audience engagement, making your presentations more captivating and memorable.

2. Mentimeter

Mentimeter serves as an audience response system, empowering real-time interaction during presentations. Users can create interactive polls, quizzes, word clouds and more, allowing the audience to respond using their smartphones or other devices. This fosters active participation and provides valuable feedback instantly.

3. Google Slides

Google Slides is a free cloud-based presentation software that not only offers collaboration features but also enables real-time interactions. It includes add-ons and third-party integrations to further enhance interactivity, making it an excellent choice for collaborative and engaging presentations.

4. Microsoft PowerPoint

PowerPoint, a classic presentation software, has evolved to incorporate more interactive features like live captions, real-time collaboration and interactive elements such as quizzes and forms. With its familiar interface and versatile functionalities, PowerPoint remains a reliable choice for interactive presentations.

5. Prezentor

Prezentor caters to sales-oriented presentations focusing on interactive storytelling and data-driven content. It offers analytics to track audience engagement and behavior during presentations, allowing you to fine-tune your approach and keep your audience hooked.

6. Opinion Stage

Opinion Stage is a visual and interactive data collection tool designed to engage and excite audiences whether sitting in a lecture hall, participating in a live Zoom, or watching an on-demand webinar. The Opinion Stage tools are simple and intuitive, making it easy to create attention-grabbing quizzes, surveys, and polls in minutes. A great way to spice up any presentation, encourage audience participation, and collect authentic feedback.

7 . Venngage

Venngage stands out as a versatile design tool that facilitates the creation of interactive infographics, data visualizations and presentations with ease. Offering various interactive elements and animations, Venngage empowers you to craft visually appealing and engaging presentations effortlessly.

With these interactive presentation software options at your disposal, you can unleash your creativity and deliver presentations that leave a lasting impact on your audience. So, go ahead and make your presentations interactive, captivating and memorable!

For more presentation software options, check out this blog on the 12 best presentation software for 2023.

Creating interactive presentations can be a game-changer for engaging your audience and enhancing your presentation skills, but steering clear of common pitfalls is essential. Here are some key mistakes to avoid when crafting your interactive presentations:

1. Overloading with interactivity

While interactivity is fantastic, bombarding your audience with too many interactive elements can backfire. Strive for a balanced approach that enhances engagement without overwhelming your listeners.

2. Ignoring audience relevance

Failing to tailor interactive elements to your audience’s interests and preferences can lead to disconnection. Make sure your interactions resonate with your specific audience for a more meaningful experience.

3. Not testing interactive elements

Skipping thorough testing of interactive features before showtime can spell disaster. Avoid technical glitches by diligently testing all interactive components in advance.

4. Poor timing and pace

Timing is everything, especially with interactive activities. Ensure seamless integration by planning your key points and the timing of your interactive elements carefully.

5. Lack of clear purpose

Every interactive element should serve a purpose and contribute to your presentation’s objectives. Don’t add interactions just for the sake of it — ensure they add value and align with your message.

6. Failing to engage beyond interactivity

While interactive elements are powerful tools, remember that content is king. Combine your interactive features with compelling storytelling and valuable insights to create an immersive and impactful presentation.

Incorporating animated slides into your interactive presentations enhances the overall appeal and interaction, turning an ordinary presentation into an engaging experience. Try it out with one of our animated presentation templates to get started. 

How do you start an interactive presentation?

Begin by grabbing the audience’s attention with an intriguing question or a surprising fact, setting the tone for a dynamic and engaging session.

Which type of presentation is the most interactive?

Workshops and seminars are often the most interactive types of presentations as they encourage active participation, discussions and hands-on activities.

How can interactive presentations enhance audience engagement?

Interactive presentations foster a two-way communication flow, involving the audience through polls, quizzes, discussions and multimedia elements, leading to increased interest, attentiveness and better retention of information.

What are some common interactive elements to include in a presentation?

Common interactive elements include clickable buttons, hyperlinked text, polls, quizzes, interactive charts, multimedia content and audience participation activities.

Can interactive presentations be used for educational purposes?

Absolutely! Interactive presentations are highly effective for educational purposes as they promote active learning, encourage critical thinking, and provide real-time feedback and knowledge exchange opportunities.

Need inspiration on how to give an engaging presentation ? Here are 120+ presentation ideas you could use. 

Venngage makes it easy for anyone to infuse interactivity into their presentations. From clickable buttons and hyperlinked text to interactive infographics and dynamic charts, Venngage offers a diverse range of interactive elements to captivate and engage the audience. Here’s how you can make your presentation more fun and interesting with Venngage:

• Sign up or log in to Venngage to access the platform.
• Choose a presentation template or start with a blank canvas to begin designing your interactive presentation.
• Add and edit slides in the Venngage editor to structure your presentation content effectively.
• Customize the design by selecting themes, fonts, colors and backgrounds to match your style and branding.
• Use interactive elements like buttons, links, pop-ups and hover effects to engage the audience during the presentation.
• Enhance engagement by incorporating interactive media such as videos and audio clips.
• Preview and test your entire presentation to ensure everything works smoothly before presenting it to your audience.
• Save your interactive presentation on Venngage and share it online or download it in various formats for presenting purposes.

Well, I hope these 15 5-minute interactive presentation examples can help unlock a new level of audience engagement for your next presentation. From fun quizzes and interactive storytelling to multimedia magic and gamified challenges, the possibilities are endless. So, don’t be afraid to experiment, tailor the ideas to suit your audience members and let your creativity shine.  

That said, remember to strike a balance and keep the interactivity purposeful and relevant. Some common mistakes to avoid when creating interactive slides include overloading the presentation with too many interactive elements and failing to align the interactive elements with the overall presentation goals and content. 

Got it? Great. Now let’s turn that boring presentation around!

How-To Geek

How to create an interactive story in google slides.

Slideshows can be for more than business presentations. Try something fun!

Quick Links

Set up the slides, insert a text box, add decision boxes, disable click to advance, duplicate the slides, link the decision boxes.

Interactive stories are popular for both kids and adults these days. Whether a game or a book, you determine the journey and the outcome with the choices you make. With Google Slides, you can make your own interactive story.

You may want to create an educational story for your elementary school students , a fun adventure for your group of friends, or even as a teaching tool for training new employees. There are so many possibilities. If you want to explore your creative side, you can create your story in Google Slides and then share it easily .

Depending on the type of story you plan to create, you may want to include images or illustrations . But the foundation of a good story starts with the words.

Related: How to Edit Images in Google Slides

You might begin with a title slide that includes instructions. Then each slide after that is part of the story.

Depending on the number of decisions you plan to give the reader, you'll need a slide for each one that takes the story in that direction. You can have some slides intersect or have completely separate "chapters" for each decision.

You can use one of the layouts provided or use blank slides and insert text boxes for the words. To add a text box, select Insert > Text Box from the menu or click the Text Box button in the toolbar.

Draw your text box when your cursor changes to a crosshair.

Then, enter your text. You can move and resize the text box as needed to fit your slide and words .

Related: How to Wrap Text Around Images in Google Slides

The biggest part of the interaction takes place when your reader must make a decision. So, you can add text boxes or shapes that you'll fill with text. Whether you want to give two, three, or more choices, insert a text box or shape for each.

To set the decision boxes apart from one another, you might add a fill color, different colored font, or unique borders.

Select the box or shape, then use the Fill Color, Text Color, or Border Color buttons in the toolbar. You can do this before or after you add the decision text.

If you use Google Slides regularly then you know that you advance through the slides by clicking each one. But this isn't something you'll want with an interactive story. You want the reader to select the slide they go to next by picking a decision box.

There is no option to disable the click-to-advance feature. However, there is a workaround you can use.

Insert a shape on your slide using the Shape button in the toolbar or Insert > Shape from the menu. Pick the rectangle shape.

Draw the rectangle so that it covers the entire slide. You can use the Zoom button in the toolbar to zoom out so that you have more room to work.

After you draw the rectangle, select it and click the Insert Link button in the toolbar. Choose "Slides in This Presentation" and pick the current slide number. This links the shape to the same slide you're viewing.

With the rectangle shape still selected, click the Fill Color button in the toolbar, and pick "Transparent."

Then, choose Arrange > Order > Send to Back.

Link the other elements on your slide except for the decision boxes just like the rectangle shape, to the current slide. This can include the text box for the story or images.

Once you complete this process, if the reader clicks anywhere on the slide except for a decision box, they won't advance to the next slide. They'll simply stay on the current slide.

You might set Auto-Play to the longest time available so that slides don't automatically advance without clicking as well.

If you plan to use the same layout, colors, and style for each slide in your story, you can duplicate a slide rather than make each slide from scratch. Open filmstrip view to display the thumbnails on the left by selecting View > Show Filmstrip from the menu.

Then, right-click a slide and pick "Duplicate Slide."

You can do this to create as many slides as you need and then simply swap out the text for the story, the decision boxes, and even images without the need to recreate each slide.

Another great thing about duplicating the slides is that the process you go through to disable automatically advancing with a click carries over to the duplicated slides too. So, you only have to do that part once rather than on each slide.

Related: How to Duplicate Slides in Microsoft PowerPoint

In order for your reader to interact with your story, you'll link the decision boxes. For instance, you may have three choices, A, B, and C. You'll link decision A to the slide that takes the story in that direction and then do the same for choices B and C.

Go to the first slide where a choice is made and select the first decision box. Open the insert link option one of these ways:

• Click the Insert Link button in the toolbar.
• Select Insert > Link from the menu.
• Right-click and pick "Link" in the shortcut menu.

When the Insert Link box appears, choose "Slides in This Presentation" at the bottom.

Then, choose the slide that goes with that choice.

Do the same for the remaining decision boxes on that slide as well as your remaining slides.

These steps give you the basics for setting up an interactive story in Google Slides. But remember, you can add animations and insert slide transitions to make your story even more dynamic if you like.

Lauren Laird

Graphic Designer

How to Create Interactive Google Slides Games with Templates

Are you looking for experiences that can foster communication and social bonding? A fun and engaging Google Slides game could be the answer. 

In this easy-to-follow tutorial you’ll learn how to make a game on Google Slides. 

A Google Slides game can work for entertainment, education or even team building.

According to some researchers , fun and laughter can reduce stress in the workplace. It is also a significant booster of workplace productivity. It enhances mood, concentration and can potentially increase productivity by up to 12%.

Why not lift the spirits of your colleagues at work? How about creative meetings become more fun? Would you like to generate social bonding between strangers at a party? These are all good reasons to learn how to make a game in Google Slides. 

How Interactive Google Slides Games Work

Before learning how to make a game on Google Slides, let’s start with the basics.

An interactive game presentation is designed to create a participatory activity for social, learning or professional purposes.

Google Slides is a great tool to create interactive quizzes, puzzles, board games, and more. You can use features like hyperlinks, animations, and slide transitions to make it interactive.

Before you make a game in Google Slides, you must decide what kind of game you want. Need inspiration on the interactive Google Slides games that you could create?

Here are some ideas:

• board and memory games
• adventure games 
• time-based quizzes 
• digital scape-rooms 

Creating personalized google slides games can be used for the following purposes: 

• business training
• events and conferences
• public speaking
• family and friends gatherings
• remote learning
• virtual events

Working with a template can make this job way easier for you. You can download ready-made Google Slides templates from Envato Elements to create your game. 

Not sure how to make interactive Google Slides presentations? Learn more with this tutorial:

How to Create Interactive Google Slides Games with Ready-to-Use Templates

Follow this quick and easy step by step tutorial to create your first Google Slides game.

1. Sketch Out Your Game

There’s one step before learning how to make interactive with Google Slides. Let’s start sketching out the game we want to create.

Before creating your Google Slides game, ask yourself these questions:

• What kind of Google Slides Game would you like to create?
• What’s the goal of this game? 
• Who’s going to play it? 

Once you know the kind of Google Slides game you want to create, we’ll move to the next step. This will help you to choose the right Google Slides game templates to work with. 

I want to create a quiz game for my work colleagues at Envato Tuts+. This will include a set of questions with multiple-choice answers to choose from.

I asked ChatGPT to come up with a list of five questions. They include fun facts, pop culture references, and debunking myths about AI:

• Question 1: Which movie features an AI named Skynet?
• Question 2: True or False: AI can experience feelings just like humans.
• Question 3: Which famous scientist warned that AI could spell the end of the human race?
• Question 4: In what year did IBM’s AI, Deep Blue, beat the world chess champion?
• Question 5: True or False: AI has the ability to write award-winning novels.

This is good enough to start working on my Google Slides game.

2. Choose Your Google Slides Game Templates

To make a game in Google Slides it’s best to start with the right template. The good news is Envato Elements has a huge library of creative assets. You’ll find some of the best Google Slides game templates to choose from. 

This download also includes a PDF basic help guide you can follow along. 

Now let’s go to Google Slides to start customizing our template. 

3. Open Your Template on Google Slides

Let’s go to Google Slides and create a new “blank” presentation. 

Then, to import your premium template go to File and click on Import Slides . Then upload your Google Slides game template. Click on Select all slides and finally on Import Slides . 

Take a look at all the slides to find the ones that work to make a game in Google Slides.

4. Delete Unwanted Slides  

Premium Google Slides game templates include plenty of useful slide designs.

Probably you won’t be using all the slides to make a game in Google Slides.

In this case, I’ll be working with ten slides from this template. So, I’ll delete all the slides that I don’t want to feature in my Google Slides game.

To delete a slide, click on it in the left sidebar. Then click the Delete button on your keyboard.

5. Start Creating Your Game Slides

Let’s start creating our Google Slides game.

I asked ChatGPT for a creative name and this is the option I liked the most: “The Ultimate AI Trivia Challenge”. 

I’ll start by adding a title slide to my presentation.

You can learn more about adding text to Google Slides in this tutorial:

Moving on to the question slides. 

Step 1. Create Slides For Each of Your Questions 

In this case, I’m going to choose the slide design that best suits the multiple answer quiz format. 

Then, I’ll add the different questions I created with its possible answers. You can create different shapes to frame your answers.

I’ll use the elements from premium Google Slides game templates like this one.

You could add images for visual impact. To learn more about images on Google Slides study this tutorial:

In this case, I’ll keep the answers with no image so players can focus. Here’s what my slide looks like with the actual question and possible answers: 

You can also illustrate questions with cool stock images. This will elevate engagement and can create visual relations easier than with only text.

In this case I used a photo from Envato Elements huge stock to illustrate my Question 2 slide. 

Step 2. Create Feedback Slides

Every answer leads to a specific slide. Whether the answer is correct or not, each feedback slide can include fun facts or complementary information.

Create separate slides that participants will be taken to after choosing an answer. You can add more information of fun facts to complement the answer.

For example, this is how my feedback slide would look if the answer is right . 

As you can notice, I also added an artificial intelligence image from Envato Elements for visual impact.

Don’t forget to add a Next button to each of your answer slides. 

And this is how it would look if it’s wrong . I removed the bounding boxes from the other answers to highlight the selected one. I also added a small explanation text on why this isn’t the correct answer. 

You could also add a  Try again button to take participants back to the corresponding question slide.  

Step 3. Link Answers To Feedback Slides

This is where the magic happens. Let’s link our question slide to the slides created for each possible answer.

Let’s start with the first possible answer from our Question 1 slide. In this case is “The Matrix”. 

Click on the image and go to Insert>Link . 

Choose the slide you want to link to. In this case is Slide 4.

Don’t forget to also link the Try again button back to Question 1 slide. 

Now let’s do our right answer link. Select the image for the right answer, in this case “Terminator”.

Click on the image and go to Insert > Link . Once again, choose the slide you want to link to. In this case is Slide 3.

I’ll also add a link to the Next button in my right answer slide. This should take players to Question 2 slide.

Step 4. Create a Results Slide

It’s a nice touch to create a final slide where all contestants can compare their results. 

Here’s an idea of how that slide could look. You could add extra questions, an additional fun fact or a topic that could spark a conversation. 

In this quiz game the winner is the one who had the most correct answers on the first try.

6. Share Your Interactive Google Slides Game 

The moment of truth has arrived. Invite some friends over or create a virtual reunion to test your game. You can also plan a fun after-work gathering for you and your colleagues. The goal is to get people together and play.

Have fun, engage with your game, and notice the following aspects: 

• Are the rules clear and easy to follow? 
• Is it an intuitive and interactive Google Slides game? 
• What can be improved or adjusted? 
• Did any new game ideas sparked from this test? 

Run the quiz and encourage participants to give extra commentary. Enjoy the educational fun and collective interaction that this kind of games bring!

An interactive quiz game is a great way to bond with your colleagues while learning more about AI. Imagine all the fun conversations that can happen from this simple yet effective interaction. 

Now you know how to make a game on Google Slides! Let the fun begin! 

The Benefits of Creating Google Slides Games

As I mentioned before, has positive and scientifically backed effects on the adult brain.

Multiple studies prove how endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even improve brain function.

Here are some specific benefits you can find from your Google Slides games:

• Less stress by generating endorphins. Plus, less stress levels contribute to improved mental health.
• Brains work better with cognitive play. Keep the brain sharp and stimulated with new activities.
• Boost creativity. Play and exploration are the key to a healthy creative life. You can also break away from routines to start thinking outside of the box.
• Playful communication for better social connections. Improve social skills and foster empathy through play. It also creates a sense of belonging and community.

Google Slides is one of the many tools you can use to create interactive experiences. Since it’s an online platform, you can share your game with colleagues around the world.

You can play virtually or IRL and take your presentation with you anywhere. 

Try Out High-Quality Google Slides Themes (With Unlimited Use)

Learning how to make interactive Google Slides is the first step. Once you master that trick, it’s time to put it into practice.

Experiment with different Google Slides game templates to create new interactive experiences. Envato Elements has just what you need to create your next Google Slides game. 

Slides Game Themes

For a low monthly fee, you get unlimited downloads of creative assets. Find Google Slides themes, PowerPoint templates, photos, fonts, and more. 

With Elements, you can unlock all creative assets for a flat rate. Try out different presentation templates, graphics, stock photos and more. It’s the best way to design Google Slides games in no time!

More Google Slides Tutorials

With this tutorial you have the basics on how to make interactive Google Slides. You also know how to make a game on Google Slides. Continue your learning experience!

Check out these helpful tutorials on Google Slides:

Plus, we’ve created a comprehensive guide: How to Use Google Slides (Ultimate Tutorial Guide) . Find everything you need to master the app.

Let the Fun Begin!

Now you have all you need to start creating fun interactive Google Slides games. It could be a great conversation started with friends. Also use this as a great way to relax or brainstorm with your colleagues at work. 

Explore different Google Slides game templates from Envato Elements. Try them out while creating new interactive experiences. 

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Recent posts.

• 50+ Dog Logo Designs For Your Inspiration Graphic Design Junction
• How to Quickly Increase the Volume in Audacity to Make Your Audio Louder
• Inspiring Hand Lettering Typography Graphic Design Junction
• How to Create a Layered Text Effect in Affinity Designer
• 7 Lessons Web Designers Can Learn from Mobile App Developers

Recent Comments

• February 2024
• January 2024
• December 2023
• November 2023
• October 2023
• September 2023
• August 2023
• February 2023
• January 2023
• November 2022
• October 2022
• Entries feed
• Comments feed
• WordPress.org

Home Blog Presentation Ideas How To Make a Presentation Interactive

How To Make a Presentation Interactive

This article provides a short list of proven techniques for adding interactivity to your presentations. Based on our experience and available research, we know applying them will enhance your presentation experience.

Table of Contents

Definition of Interactive Presentation

Benefits of interactive presentation, interactive presentation techniques, recommended templates for interactive presentations.

An interactive presentation actively engages the audience, transforming them from passive listeners into active participants. It incorporates various elements that invite audience interaction, encourage learning and discussion.

• Interactive presentations generate connection, bringing audiences and presenters closer. 
• They enhance comprehension, simplifying complex concepts. 
• They boost engagement, keeping audiences active and interested. 
• They encourage cooperation, promoting collaborative learning and problem-solving.

The following list is a suggestion of audience interaction techniques that, in our experience, helped presenters make their presentations interactive. They all present an actionable example that can be easily implemented in your next PowerPoint presentation .

Use of Icebreakers

In recent years, researchers have theorized that Icebreakers help establish a conducive communication environment, favoring participation. Effective icebreakers can range from simple questions to fun activities to break down barriers and encourage interaction. The key is to choose an icebreaker that aligns with the audience and the topic of the presentation.

Icebreaker examples

We present two examples of the same technique based on the context of the presentation delivery method.

Scenario 1 – Physical Audience (in the Context of a Summit)

In summits, the audience is gathered for a shared interest. So, the hypothesis is that the people in the room, ready to listen to the presentation, have some interests in common. The presenter can break the ice with a simple “know the people around you.” Each participant should present themselves to the person at the right and the left and ask them the purpose of their assistance.

The presenter will then share the 3 “possible answers,” introducing how the presentation will cover those interests. If time is well measured, it can even do a “rise the hands” round to roughly estimate the answers.

This technique requires good control of the room, so it is important to constantly gauge the possible distraction generated vs the communication effect that wants to be reached. We suggest our subscribers present quickly, clear the icebreaker exercise, and invest time in the wrap-up (post-exercise) activity.

Scenario 2 – Virtual Audience (in the context of a course)

During virtual presentations (like in Google Meet or Zoom ), the interaction between participants requires separate meeting rooms or moderated chat, which incurs complexity and additional effort. So, our experience in virtual presentations shows that a single round of attendee introductions is a good icebreaker for the audience-presenter pair. 

The main task the presenter needs to prepare is to define beforehand the number of people that will introduce themselves and the 3 questions they should answer about them.

For example:

• What’s your name? (or any demographic that might fit the audience)
• What do you expect from the presentation?
• Do you have a specific question or topic you would like the presenter to address?

This technique of micro-interactions increases the audience’s affinity with its remote peers and triggers curiosity. For the presenter, it sets a standard of expectations to focus on during the speech. [3]

Incorporation of Multimedia Elements & Other Interactive Presentation Ideas

According to audience studies , incorporating multimedia elements into presentations significantly enhances audience engagement . This technique uses videos, reels, TikTok, audio clips, animations, memes, and images to convey information more effectively. These elements can simplify complex concepts, stimulate discussion, and maintain audience interest. They also cater to different learning styles, ensuring a more comprehensive understanding of the presented material.

Use of Non-linear Flow

Non-linear flow in interactive presentations allows for a flexible, audience-driven progression. It consists of allowing the listener to decide the path of the presentation. This technique enhances engagement by adapting to audience responses. Two studies ([1],[2]) conclude that the use of a non-linear presentation reinforces learning and improves understanding of concepts and results.

Storytelling Approach

The storytelling approach involves weaving a narrative around your topic, connecting facts and figures with characters and plots. This method engages the audience emotionally, stimulating their imagination, making it more relatable and memorable, and enhancing their understanding of the subject matter. The interaction materializes between the message and the emotions of the receiver. 

Do not misunderstand the usage of storytelling presentations as merely fictional creative plots. The presenter needs to create a story that delivers the message and also, is backed up with arguments or data.

Storytelling Example

For instance, imagine a mid-manager working on customer trends and behavior analysis in a retail company. In the previous quarter, numbers show a decrease in the sales of brewed coffee. The trends and survey analysis show that consumers prefer to brew at home.

So, instead of just showcasing numbers, the presenter elaborates on a customer persona (“Emily”) and creates a story about Emily’s regular day and decision-making process.

“Emily is a hard-working mom of 2 boys. She has a white-collar job, 9 to 5, in a big city. She is a conscious mom about their children’s nutrition and makes her grocery every morning in our stores. She values our quality and freshness. As part of her daily routine, she picks a fresh coffee from our store barista and quickly covers her shopping list., ready to deliver the goods at home and run to her job.

Her morning routine has recently been affected since Emily’s budget has seen an increase in groceries, and a detailed analysis of cost benefits has replaced the almost automatic process of selecting top-of-the-line healthy products. Prices have seen alterations due to inflation and have hit the shelves. Emily’s routine has changed so that she does not even take her “to go coffee”; she decided to brew at home.”

This story is more relatable and can trigger the audience’s experience about the topic. This is no bidirectional communication but generates an internal action in the audience.

Use of Q&A and Discussion Sessions

Question and Answer (Q&A) sessions and discussions complement interactive presentations. They provide a platform for the audience to drill down into concepts and exchange ideas. This methodology promotes dynamic involvement, inviting passive spectators to become active participants. Moreover, the presenter can extract invaluable insights from these sessions, transforming the presentation into a reciprocal learning experience. For further reading and techniques of Q&A sessions, please check our post on how to moderate questions and answers .

Quizzes and Polls

In interactive presentations, quizzes and polls are frequently employed to receive input from the audience at scale. Using technology, you can get quick answers to a grid of questions predefined or even built during the presentation itself. The audience input is received and quickly processed to share in a summary. Results can then be discussed during the presentation. 

Quizzes and Polls Examples

As technology for this technique, we suggest using Microsoft Forms or Google Forms. Booths are proven technologies that can be accessed from almost every network and guarantee you will not fail during your presentation. This tool reduces the risk of having a glitch failure.

If you have an Office 365 subscription, you can use Microsoft Forms, which integrates with PowerPoint to show the results of a poll or quiz.

If you use Google Forms, even though you do not have direct interaction, you can use the web viewer add-in of PowerPoint and, after some time, edit the presentation, refresh the preview, and show the examples.

Here is a list of interactive presentation ideas & templates that you can use in PowerPoint or Google Slides.

1. Interactive Jeopardy Game Template for PowerPoint & Google Slides

Welcome to Jeopardy! If you intend to make a memorable presentation and evaluate your attendees’ knowledge of the topics you disclose, this is the ideal resource to make a presentation interactive.

Use This Template

2. Quiz Maker for Interactive Presentations Template

When looking for how to make presentations interactive, this slide deck with a quiz theme can bring light to training sessions or even inspirational presentations. Easy to edit, you can build expectation with multiple-choice format, or work with true/false statements.

3. Six Thinking Hats PowerPoint Template for Interactive Presentations

Induce interactive activities for presentations by implementing this creative thinking template featuring the Six Thinking Hats model. It is ideal for teams to discuss a problem from different points of view.

4. Futuristic Concept Roadmap for Interactive Presentation Ideas

When looking for how to create an interactive PowerPoint presentation, this roadmap template stands out by its highly detailed graphic aesthetic, which makes facts easier to remember. Participants can add their insights to collectively build a roadmap for the organization, highlighting 3 key milestones.

We presented several methods to make your presentation interactive. You can navigate our presentations gallery and choose professional PowerPoint templates to apply these new techniques.

• Das, Anup & Dutta, Bidyarthi. (2002). Presentation of Results of Research: Linear and Non-Linear Forms.
• Rumpa, Lantana & Sampelawang, Petrus & Lolang, Enos & Tangkeallo, Daud & Rubianus,. (2018). NON-LINEAR PRESENTATION ON STUDENT PERFORMANCE: APPLYING PREZI ON ENGINEERING EDUCATION.
• In-person vs. virtual conferences: Lessons learned and how to take advantage of the best of both worlds

Like this article? Please share

Presentation Approaches, Presentation Ideas Filed under Presentation Ideas

Related Articles

Filed under Design • March 27th, 2024

How to Make a Presentation Graph

Detailed step-by-step instructions to master the art of how to make a presentation graph in PowerPoint and Google Slides. Check it out!

Filed under Presentation Ideas • February 29th, 2024

How to Make a Fundraising Presentation (with Thermometer Templates & Slides)

Meet a new framework to design fundraising presentations by harnessing the power of fundraising thermometer templates. Detailed guide with examples.

Filed under Presentation Ideas • February 15th, 2024

How to Create a 5 Minutes Presentation

Master the art of short-format speeches like the 5 minutes presentation with this article. Insights on content structure, audience engagement and more.

Leave a Reply

• Search Search Search …

Marketing Campaign free Powerpoint template and Google Slides theme.

Unleash the power of your marketing vision with this free presentation template for both, Google Slides and Powerpoint.

Eye-catching colors and a dynamic blend of photos and illustrations will grab your audience’s attention and leave a lasting impression. 

This template is perfect for anyone who wants to create a bold and impactful presentation that gets their message across loud and clear.

You may also like

Ardall Free Presentation Template for Google Slides or PowerPoint

Free Template for PowerPoint and Google Slides Presentations Ardall Ardall is a simple template in black and yellow and it features an image of keyboard and […]

My Journey, interactive and animated fun timeline.

Free PowerPoint template and Google Slides theme. Cool animated timeline, life is like a roller coaster! This interactive template works as an […]

Mosby marketing presentation slides.

Free PowerPoint template and Google Slides theme. Agency presentation template. Mosby is a simple, yet very effective template. Simple shapes, two accent […]

Introduce yourself. A Back to School Template.

A template for teachers. As a mom, I would love to know more about my daughter’s teachers. So why not create a […]