How to Make Slides on a MacBook? Let's Find Out!

Do you want to know how to make slides on MacBook? Well, it is a rather easy thing to do because Apple has launched its own presentation maker that can create slides with just a few clicks only.

It's Keynote.

In this guide, I am exploring what Keynote is, what are its features/advantages, and how you can use it. As a bonus, I am also discussing how you can make the presentation of these slides impactful and memorable. So, stay till the end.

Part 1: What is a Keynote App?

Keynote is Apple's own App that people can use to make high-quality presentations. It is exactly like Microsoft PowerPoint but many have called it the best.

You will find out why when you read about its features and advantages!

Features Available with Keynote:

The top features Apple users can enjoy when they use Keynote to make slides on their Mac are:

What is the Advantage of Apple Keynote?

The key advantages of Keynote are:

Part 2: How to Make A Slideshow on Your Mac with Keynote?

Here’s the step-by-step guide on how to make a slideshow with a Keynote Mac App:

Step 1: First, open the App Store and type Keynote there. Open it and click on “Get” to download it.

Step 2: Launch Keynote on your Mac and then click on "File" from the bar. Then, click on “New Document” and choose a theme. Each theme has its own layout and style. Choose the one that fits the topic of your presentation. If you want to change the slide layout, go to “Format” on the menu bar and then click on “Slide Layout.” Choose the one which you think will look best.

Step 3: Next, type the text or add images to the slides.

• To add text to the Keynote slide, just double-click on it.
• To add pictures/videos/audio, drag them to the slide.
• To add a new slide, click on the Plus icon (+) on the toolbar.

Step 4: When you are done, save the presentation slides. To do this, click on “File” on the bar and then choose "Save" or “Export To.” Next, type the name of the presentation and select where you want it to save. That's how to use a MacBook Air Keynote to make slides.

It's now time for some tips!

Part 3: Useful Tips For Creating Your Slide Deck on Mac

Slide Deck or Presentation Deck should be captivating if you want to impress the audience. For this, I have gathered some useful tips that will work for every type of slide deck:

First, Think about What You Will Write

It is better you first write the whole ideas and information on a separate page or document about what you should include in a slide deck. You should also think about which mind-blowing information or story you should add in the beginning to grab the audience’s attention.

Doing this will not only save you time but also help you in making a top-class presentation.

Customize Themes a Bit

Keynote themes are indeed impressive, but to make them more amazing, you should edit them a bit. You should change the color contrast, add motion effects, and change the overall layout a little.

In addition, if you plan on using Dark toned text, then go for a light background. If you want to go with the light-toned text, then go for a dark background.

Another reason to customize themes is that a lot of people use a theme as it is. So, there is a higher chance that your audience has already seen the template and might find it boring.

So, to stand out; do some customization!

Choose Fonts Wisely

A good slide deck is all about how well things appear. As words or letters are the predominant part of them, you should choose the fonts with care. Don't go for Times New Roman, Comic Sans, and other regular-looking fonts. Choose those that look elegant and are not used much, like Helvetica.

In addition, I suggest you keep the font size at 30 px so that the words appear visible to all.

Add Top-Notch Media

One of the best ways to create a top slide deck is by adding high-quality media like Images, gifs, charts, videos, etc. Use them wisely, and it will surely make the whole presentation fun.

Be Concise

People used to add too much data and information on the slide to make it more informative. This trend has ended. You now have to be precise and use as fewer words as you can. The reason?

To engage better with the audience, as people usually skip the paragraphs of the information.

Now, let me tell you the ultimate way to make slide deck presentations impactful.

Part 4: Use An Auxiliary Software to Make Your Slide Deck Presentations Better

Presentations only look nice and worth seeing when they are displayed on a big screen like a TV. Therefore, if you also want to make an impact with the information you have added on the slides, I say you mirror it on a TV screen.

For this, there is no better software to use than AirDroid Cast.

AirDroid Cast & AirDroid Cast Web

AirDroid Cast is a screen mirroring app that lets you share screens of different devices. But since presentations look better on a big TV screen, I will be discussing how you can mirror the presentation saved on your Mac to the TV screen effortlessly.

To share the screen with a TV, AirDroid Cast has launched the AirDroid Cast web. You can choose to do both local and remote casting with this app easily. Both have their own set of features.

Both local and remote casting has let you utilize unlimited data under the same Wi-Fi or under different network. Furthermore, they don’t show any watermark on the TV. Plus, the audio is one-way as well.

So, if the audience is physically there or remotely viewing it, AirDroid Cast will still “wow” them. Let's see more details.

When do you need to use AirDroid Cast when making a presentation?

You will need AirDroid Cast when it is time to deliver your presentation. Presentations are delivered on different screens with the help of different tools, but they have a habit of facing interruptions., And let's face it; no one wants their device to be disconnected while they are giving a presentation.

This is where AirDroid Cast comes in.

This screen mirroring app is so powerful that you can easily share the screen with a TV without any trouble or hassle. The connection will stay strong, and you will be able to finish your presentations (and might also get a standing ovation).

How to Cast Your Slide Deck from Mac to TV with AirDroid Cast？

There are two ways to cast your slide deck from Mac to the TV when you use AirDroid Cast. These are:

Using the Local Network

To screen mirror using local network, follow these steps:

Step 1: First, make sure your Mac and TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi/internet. Then open browsers on both. If you can't find a browser on your TV, you can go to the Channel store by pressing the home button and downloading it from there. When you do this, go to the AirDroid Cast official website on your Mac and download the screen mirroring app.

Step 2: On your TV browser, open AirDroid Web Cast. When you open it, you will see a QR code and a nine-digit code in the middle.

Step 3: Open the AirDroid Cast app on your Mac and click on the “Cast to Now” option. Next, type the nine-digit code to form a connection with the TV. That's it.

The Mac's screen will then be live telecasted on your TV. You can then open the slide deck on your Mac, and it will be displayed on the big TV screen.

Using the Remote Casting

Remote casting is the second way to mirror Mac's screen with a TV.

Step 1: Download AirDroid Cast on your Mac first. After downloading, install the screen mirroring app and then open it. On the top, you will see a Profile/Account icon. Click on it. AirDroid Cast will ask you to sign up. Input your email and password there, and make sure you remember both.

AirDroid will send you a confirmation email. Enter the verification code and then signing up will be completed.

Step 2: After signing up, you will have to update to remote access.When you update it, go back to the main interface on your Mac.

Step 3: On your TV, open the AirDroid Cast Web. Then, input the code shown on the TV and start the broadcasting.

You can then open your presentation file and it will be shown on the TV’s screen. I'm sure people will love it because AirDroid supports high resolution too. Plus, who wouldn't want to see a presentation on a TV screen?

So, use AirDroid Cast.

When you use this screen mirroring app, you will be amazed at how powerful it really is. It will form a strong connection between both of the devices that won’t be interrupted or disturbed. There won’t also be no AirDroid watermark on the TV’s screen, too, and you will be able to give the presentation without any trouble or hassle.

That’s not it.

AirDroid Cast also provides the best video and audio quality (unlike other screen mirroring apps). No matter how long the presentation is, AirDroid Cast will keep its quality to the highest. Remote Casting, AirPlay service compatibility, and device control will also help you with the presentation.

When the slides have ended, you can end the connection with just one click. It’s that simple. So, go for AirDroid Cast and enjoy the best presentation of your life!

Part 5: Is There Keynote Alternative Presentation Software to Make a Slide Deck?

Keynote is usually the go-to app of Apple users whenever they have to make presentations. But there are several alternatives as well which they can opt for.

You can try the following:

• Prezi
• Google Slides
• Visme
• Powtoon

But the best Keynote alternative is Microsoft PowerPoint. Millions of people are
already using it because of how easy it is to use with top-notch templates.

Let me now compare Keynote with PowerPoint.

Part 6: Keynote vs PowerPoint: Which One Is Right For You?

Keynote and PowerPoint may be the same for some, but they have 4 notable differences. These are in the:

1. Features

Keynote has some extra features like advanced transparency effects, Magic Move, Apple device syncing, etc. However, PowerPoint has advanced master sliding editing and a better graphic library.

2. Template & Themes

Both presentation makers have great templates and themes, but Keynote has a slight edge over PowerPoint because of more diverse designs that are better looking too.

More than 700 design shapes are listed on Keynote. Plus, they are categorized better and use cases as well.

3. Storage

Exporting slides/presentation files is easier when you use Keynote. The app supports iCloud storage, Google Drive, and many other storage platforms.

4. Price

Keynote is free for every iOS device and Mac, while Microsoft charges a fee of 6.99$ per month to use PowerPoint. However, you can still use a free trial version too (but with limited features).

So, it is clear from the above points that Keynote is slightly better than PowerPoint.

Part 7: Final Thoughts

So, how to make slides on MacBook?

Well, you can use Keynote for Mac. It is the first choice of Apple users because of its top-notch features and great advantages. But even if you make impressive presentation slides, they won't be impactful if you don't use a big TV screen to display them.

To do this, you should use top-quality software and that is AirDroid Cast .

It is a screen mirroring app that you can choose to display your presentation slides on a TV smoothly. It is super easy to use as you can share your Mac's screen by following three simple steps that won't take more than three minutes in total.

So, download AirDroid Cast and make your presentation memorable!