PowerPoint and Presenting Stuff

Running Color Blind Tests in PowerPoint for the Web

Not everyone sees colors the same way! If your slides rely only on color to show meaning, some people might miss the message entirely! On this page, we will explore how you can check your existing slides for color-blindness issues. We use Microsoft Edge’s built-in color simulation filters to perform these tests.

Test your slides for color blindness in PowerPoint for the Web.

Filed Under: PowerPoint for the Web
Tagged as: Color, Color Blindness, Mac OS, Microsoft Windows, Office, Office for the Web, OneDrive, PowerPoint, PowerPoint for the Web, Tutorials

PowerPoint and Presenting News: February 25, 2025

We first bring you an interview with Sam Schreim of StoryTelling Charts, who provides insights on how you can effectively use storytelling in charts. We then explore the file types that can be opened and edited within the browser-based PowerPoint for the Web. This version can open a surprising number of file types.

Clare Norman from Toastmasters helps discover the common pitfalls that lead to ineffective business coaching. She shares strategies to ensure your coaching initiatives yield the desired results. Additionally, we’ve curated an array of inspiring quotes and practical templates to keep you informed and prepared.

Stay up to date with the latest tutorials, tips, and news on PowerPoint and presentation techniques.

Filed Under: Ezine
Tagged as: Ezine, Indezine, News, PowerPoint

Confronting Our Fears – Overcoming the Fear of Public Speaking

By Bridget Badoe McQuick

What scares you?

How confident are you when it comes to speaking in public? Take a moment to reflect. On a scale of 1 to 10, where would you place yourself?

• 1 – “You have to drag me kicking and screaming onto the stage! I avoid public speaking at all costs.”
• 10 – “I love speaking in public! I have no fear and am always ready.”

If you scored 5 or less, you are not alone. In fact, you are in the majority. Studies estimate that 75% of people experience some degree of glossophobia, the fear of public speaking. This fear often ranks higher than the fear of death itself. Symptoms can range from mild nervousness to paralyzing anxiety, including a rapid heartbeat, sweating, trembling and even memory loss.

But here’s the thing, avoiding public speaking can have long term consequences. It can limit your career growth and prevent you from seizing opportunities that could help you thrive.

Image: Unsplash

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Filed Under: Guest Posts
Tagged as: Guest Post, Presentation Skills, Public Speaking, Speaking

File Types That Can be Opened in PowerPoint for the Web

PowerPoint isn’t just a handy tool—it’s a powerhouse in your workflow! Not only does it come packed with tons of features, but it also plays nice with a bunch of different file formats. You can open and save files in many formats, making it super versatile. But here’s the kicker—PowerPoint can even open some file types that it can’t save as, expanding its file-handling superpowers even more!

Learn about various file types that can open and work in PowerPoint for the Web.

Filed Under: PowerPoint for the Web
Tagged as: Interface, Mac OS, Microsoft Windows, Office, Office for the Web, OneDrive, PowerPoint, PowerPoint for the Web, Tutorials

StoryTelling Charts: Conversation with Sam Schreim

    Sam Schreim is the entrepreneur behind StoryTelling Charts, a free PowerPoint plugin that empowers professionals with top-tier data visuals. Over two decades in strategy and management consulting, plus five years in corporate America, Sam recognized the need for clarity and polish in data presentations. He holds an MBA from Columbia University and a MS in Computer Engineering from the University of Connecticut. Sam trademarked his Storytelling with Charts framework, authored a 2022 book of the same name, and now dedicates himself to democratizing professional-grade data storytelling for audiences worldwide.

In this conversation, Sam discusses StoryTelling Charts.

Geetesh: What inspired the creation of StoryTelling Charts?

Sam: StoryTelling Charts was born out of a frustration familiar to many a professional: default PowerPoint charts don’t tend to excite an audience nor do they effectively communicate complex insights. In my early corporate days, I’d spend tens of hours poring over data, looking for trends in patterns or numbers, and analyzing metrics—but the potential impact of my findings often fizzled off in passably mediocre slide design. All my time and effort went to waste because I messed up in the presentation and the visualization of my analysis.

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Filed Under: Interviews
Tagged as: Add-in, Charting, Interviews, Sam Schreim, Stories