Do you have a big upcoming presentation at work? Are you looking for the right presentation tool that will allow you to create a visual demonstration that will impress your entire office team?
Google Slides is a great way to create presentations for your business or school. It's free, easy to use, and can be shared with others in real time.
But before you get started with Google Slides there are some things you should know about the platform that can help make it more effective for your needs. In this blog post, we'll discuss the pros and cons of using Google Slides so that you have all the information needed to decide if it's right for you!
Pros of Google Slides
1. Price
The price is a definite pro of Google Slides. For Personal and business use, Google Slides is free to use. There are other business standard plans that includes the Google Workplace suite, but those prices are reasonable as well as noted in the image below:
2. User-Friendly Interface
Have you ever used Google Docs or Google Sheet? Do you have experience using MS Powerpoint? If so, you will not have any issues using Google Slides. It's easy to learn how to use and navigate.
- Current slides is right in the center
- Other slides are on the left pane
- Format/Edit/Insert are on the top ribbon
Sound familiar? Yes, that is just like Powerpoint.
3. Features (As a Pro)
Google Slides has many bells and whistles that you would expect in any presentation tool. Here are some of the highlights:
- Collaboration with others in real-time makes it easy for multiple people to work on a single document at once. Up to 100 users can make changes at the same time!
- Templates are available to help get you started quickly.
- There are a variety of add-ons and extensions you can use to enhance your slides.
- You can export your presentations to other formats for use offline or on other devices.
- You can embed videos and photos in your slides.
- Seamless connectivity to other Google Apps like Google Sheets, Gmail, and more.
Cons of Google Slides
1. Features (As a Con)
- Google Slides is not as powerful as some of the other presentation software options available like MS Powerpoint, Canva, Visme, and Beautiful.ai.
- Animations and transitions can be tricky to master.
- Less support in the Online Community vs MS Powerpoint.
2. Google Only
- Your presentations will be hosted on Google's servers, which could be a concern for some people
- You can only access Google Slides with a Google Account
- Not "Information Security Office" Friendly- Many organizations prohibit the use of personal email accounts. So access to Google Slides in many work settings will be a non-starter.
Final Analysis of the Pros and Cons of Google Slides
Despite the few cons, Google Slides is a great way to quickly create presentations without having to learn complex software for free. It's perfect for those who need to share their work in real time or don't have access to other software options. If you're looking for something that is simple to use with a wide range of templates available, Google Slides is a great choice!
For resources to develop your presentation skills while you are in the comforts of your own home, take advantage of the many online resources. Please check out the article ‘Online Resources for Public Speaking‘ for a detailed review of some online resources for public speaking and please leave a comment below to share your thoughts.
