Adding slide notes, also known as speaker notes, in Google Slides is a simple process designed to help you remember key points during your presentation. These notes are visible only to you, the presenter, and not your audience.
Steps to Add Speaker Notes in Google Slides
You can easily add private notes to each slide in your presentation. Here’s how:
- Open Your Presentation: Begin by opening the specific Google Slides presentation where you want to add notes.
- Find the Speaker Notes Area: Look at the bottom of the screen below your current slide. You should see a text box. This area is typically labeled with text like "Click to add speaker notes."
- Show Notes if Hidden: If you don't see the speaker notes box, it might be hidden. There's an option, often in the View menu, to show or hide the speaker notes area. Ensure it is visible.
- Start Typing: Click inside the speaker notes text box and begin typing your notes for that specific slide. You can add reminders, statistics, cues, or anything else that will help you deliver your presentation effectively.
- Understand Visibility: Remember that only you will see these notes when you are in presenter view. Your audience will only see the slides themselves.
- Save Your Notes: Google Slides automatically saves your work as you type. Simply click away from the text box or move to another slide, and your notes for that slide are saved.
- Tip: Use speaker notes to keep bullet points for discussion, detailed explanations, or things you want to remember to mention that aren't explicitly on the slide itself.
Why Use Speaker Notes?
Speaker notes are an invaluable tool for presenters:
- Memory Aid: They help you recall important facts, figures, or anecdotes without having to put too much text on your slides.
- Structured Delivery: They can guide you through your presentation, ensuring you cover all the key points in the desired order.
- Audience Focus: By keeping your slide content minimal and putting details in notes, you encourage the audience to focus on you and what you are saying, rather than reading dense text on the screen.
Adding speaker notes is a quick way to enhance your preparation and delivery, ensuring a smoother and more professional presentation.
