Charts and graphs are a great way to visualize data and make it easier for your audience to understand key information. When created well, charts grab attention and highlight trends and relationships in your data clearly and effectively.

In this article, we’ll walk through the step-by-step process for creating stunning charts in Google Slides that will wow your audience.

Choose the Right Chart Type

The first step is deciding which type of chart best represents your data. The major chart types available in Google Slides include:

Bar charts – Good for comparing quantities across different categories
Column charts – Also good for comparisons across categories
Line charts – Ideal for showing trends and changes over time

Pie charts – Useful for showing proportions and percentages

Consider what you want your audience to learn from the chart and choose the option that will communicate it most clearly. For example, if you’re showing revenue growth over several years, a line chart is likely the best fit.

Import Data from Google Sheets

The easiest way to build a chart in Google Slides is to import data from Google Sheets.

Here’s how:

Open the Google Sheet with your data and create the chart you want
Open your Google Slides presentation

Click Insert > Chart, then select Sheets chart
Choose the chart you created in Sheets to add it to your slide

Now the chart will stay synced with your Sheets data, updating automatically when the source data changes.

Customize the Design

Once your chart is created, it’s time to make it look amazing with customizations.

Here are some key things you can customize:

Colors – Change colors of bars, lines, pie slices and more

Data labels – Show or hide labels on data points
Axes and legends – Format axis scale, labels and chart legend
Chart and slide backgrounds – For visual flair and branding

Spend time playing around with options to highlight key data and make the chart aesthetically pleasing.

Animate Your Chart

Animations can make your chart presentation more dynamic and engaging. Some options to consider:

Build animations – Have chart elements appear one by one

Trigger animations – Set animations to start on click
Transition animations – Animate when transitioning between slides

Animations draw the audience’s eyes to important parts of the chart and help tell a story. But don’t overdo it, as too much movement can be distracting.

Tips for Amazing Google Slides Charts

Here are a few more tips to take your Google Slides charts to the next level:

Include explanatory captions for context
Maintain clean and simple design

Ensure fonts/colors have enough contrast
Check for accessibility issues
Use chart templates for a head start

With the right setup, your charts will enhance your presentations and keep your audiences interested as you present data-driven insights.

Now that you know how to build eye-catching charts in Google Slides, it’s time to put this info to use in your next presentation. Import your data, choose the perfect chart type and style, add animations, and more. Your audiences will be wowed as you present beautiful charts that transform data into impactful visual stories.