How to Publish a PowerPoint Presentation to the Web

Publishing a PowerPoint presentation online allows you to easily share your slides with a wider audience. Whether you want to display your presentation on a website, embed it in a blog post, or simply let viewers access it with a link, putting your PowerPoint on the web is straightforward. This guide covers several methods to publish your presentation online.

Save and Upload the Presentation File

The simplest way to publish your PowerPoint online is to save the presentation file and upload it to a file hosting service:

  • Finish editing your presentation and save the final .PPTX file to your computer.
  • Sign up for a file hosting service like Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, or Dropbox. These services give you free cloud storage space to upload files.
  • Upload the PowerPoint file to the cloud storage service. Make sure the file is set to public or viewable by anyone with the link.
  • Share the file link with anyone you want to be able to view the presentation.

The main downside of this method is that viewers have to manually download the file to their device instead of viewing it directly in their browser.

Convert to HTML

To allow viewers to see your presentation directly in their browser without downloading it, you can convert the file to HTML format:

  • In PowerPoint on your computer, go to File > Export > Create HTML File.
  • Choose a save location on your device or cloud storage.
  • In the PowerPoint export settings, pick Web Page under Publish As and adjust any other options.
  • Click Publish to convert the file and create associated HTML, CSS, JS, and image files.
  • Upload the HTML files and related assets to web hosting or cloud storage.
  • Share the link to the primary HTML file with your audience.

Converting to HTML preserves slide animations, transitions, and basic formatting. However, some more complex elements may not display correctly across all browsers.

Embed in a Web Page

Embedding your presentation in an existing web page or blog provides the most customization options:

  • Upload your PowerPoint file to OneDrive or another cloud storage service that provides embed codes.
  • Copy the sharing link or embed code provided.
  • Paste the embed code on your web page where you want the presentation to display.
  • Customize the height, width, and other parameters as needed.
  • As you update the cloud-hosted presentation file, the embedded version auto-updates.

With this method, you can seamlessly integrate your presentation into any website without viewers needing to open another tab or download anything extra.

Use a Presentation Sharing Service

Specialized presentation and document sharing platforms like SlideShare, Scribd, and Issuu are designed for easily publishing and distributing files online:

  • Upload your PowerPoint to one of these services to get a shareable link and embed code.
  • Customize the privacy settings if you only want certain people to access it.
  • Embed the presentation into any website using the provided iframe code.
  • View presentation analytics on how many people accessed your slides and what they viewed.

The benefit of these services is that they optimize presentations specifically for web viewing. However, the free accounts often have limits on private presentations, number of views, and analytics.

Best Practices for Web Publishing

To ensure your PowerPoint looks professional and displays properly when viewed online, keep these tips in mind:

  • Use high quality images and multimedia at their optimal resolutions to prevent pixelation or blurriness.
  • Limit animations and slide transitions since they may not display smoothly in all browsers.
  • Simplify the slide templates and formatting with easy-to-read fonts, minimal text, and sufficient white space.
  • Check compatibility on multiple devices and browsers, especially on mobile screens.
  • Provide links to download the original PowerPoint file in case someone wants to view it directly in the desktop application.

Conclusion

Whether you want to share a presentation with colleagues or display it as part of a website, putting your PowerPoint slides on the web is easy with the right tools. Convert the file to HTML, embed it online, or use a dedicated presentation sharing platform to expand your reach and give more viewers access. Following web publishing best practices will take your slides from the conference room to any device.