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How to Create the Perfect Presentation Handout

One of the most often overlooked parts of a presentation is the presentation handouts. So, in this post, we’ll give you a few examples of presentation handouts that you can create very easily and add impact to your speech or business meetings.

Good speakers and lecturers usually give presentation handouts to accompany their speeches. As a result, a great presentation handout can make your speech more memorable. It gives your audience the freedom to listen to your presentation instead of frantically taking notes.

The handouts you provide also help them remember the key points and highlights from your presentation, making your talk even more valuable. People are grateful for a good handout and will remember you (and the main points of your speech) long after the talk ended. Finally, your handout can be used as an exceptional marketing piece. If it is good enough, your audience members will both keep it and share it with others.

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The Successful Speaker’s Guide to the How to Create the Perfect Presentation Handout.

The first rule of slide club is never handout your slides to slide club..

This has always been a hard and fast rule in my business presentation classes. But I have to admit, in recent years, I’ve changed my tune slightly here. When I first started teaching presentation classes, PowerPoint was still in its infancy. And the slideshows that people were creating were really awful. Folks would just create a never-ending series of bullet points on a never-ending slide deck. Since most presentations covered way too much content, it was impossible for the audience to retain most of it. In order to prevent information overload, presenters started printing off their slides and distributing the printed slide deck to their audience as a handout. As a result, the presenter ends up with a bad presentation accompanied by a bad handout.

However, if you get creative with your slides, you can actually use a printout of your slide deck to make your presentation more interactive (more on this later). The main point here is if you have a ton of content in your presentation, stuffing that content onto your slides and then just printing out your slides is not a good idea.

I sometimes make this point in class by starting to deliver a data-heavy slide deck. It typically only takes a few slides before someone in class figures out that I’m violating almost every tip that I’m giving them.

At that point, there is usually a nice laugh. I then switch to a better slideshow that is more audience-centered. The funny thing is, though, that before the class figures out that the bad PowerPoint presentation is a joke, someone in the class will often ask me if I will send them the slide deck.  So, if your audience is asking you for your slide deck, your presentation is probably not designed very well .

Three Easy Examples of Handouts for Presentations.

Presentation handout example #1: just use slide notes in powerpoint as a presentation handout..

One of the main reasons that I have always encouraged my class members to not print out their slides is that the slides, without the speaker, aren’t going to make a lot of sense. However, most people will jot a few speaker notes of important information they want to say in the presentation. If you use the techniques that I cover here, you’ll likely create an outline with a few key items. You’ll likely also use stories, examples, analogies, anecdotes, quotes, statistics, and the like. Well, if you already have that content created before you create your slide deck, you could just insert that content into the Slide Notes in PowerPoint. Viola! Instant presentation handouts.

The Second Example of a Presentation Handout: Give Main Concepts with Space for Audience to Add Notes.

A friend of mine leads three-day training boot camps where he teaches social media marketing and website development. His handout is a three-ring binder full of printed pages. Each page has a series of rules followed by a quarter page of blank space. I once asked him, since the content that he was delivering was so detailed, why didn’t he just type it up and include it in his manuals.

He laughed and told me that he used to do that very thing. But the content in his industry was changing so quickly that, the moment he printed a new manual, those additional details would already be outdated. So, now, he just prints the core message. Then, he allows his students to fill in the blanks with the most current content that he delivers from the stage. (He gets fantastic reviews, by the way.)

I love this technique. It keeps the audience involved. It also allows the audience members to write out the content that is most important to each of them at the time they attended the meeting.

The Most Effective Example: Create a Presentation Handout that Contains Extra Content Not in Your Presentation

You want to include the content from your presentation in a written format. But you also want to add additional information that you won’t cover in the presentation. This is the technique that we use in our seminars and workshops.

For instance, if you are going to use a story as a piece of evidence in your verbal presentation, use a different story in your handout. If you use an analogy in your presentation, use a quote in your handout. When you use audience participation in your presentation, use a unique photograph in your handout.

If you do this, your target audience will see you as a valued expert on the topic. By the way, it is okay to use some of the same content in your slideshows, your oral presentations, and your handouts. It is important to be consistent. However, you want your verbal presentation to cover some key ideas that aren’t in your handout. And you want your handout to cover detailed information that you don’t speak about.

This type of presentation is a great handout because it becomes a textbook for your presentation. It does take longer to create a well-prepared handout. But you will find that the value to your audience far outweighs the additional effort.

During the presentation, you’ll want to say something like, “I’ve given you additional examples in your handout,” or “If you want the full step-by-step approach, you can download the handout from my website at [your URL].”

A Few Bonus Tips to Add Impact to Your Handouts.

Add a list of reference material for further reading

Your audience members will want to pick your brain. They want to know where you went to school, what kind of work experience you have, and most of all, where they can read more about your topic.

There’s a ton of resources out there, so instead of having your audience sort through them (or risk boring them with way too much detail in the presentation), just lead them in the right direction with your recommended reading. If the book is hard to find, or only available online, remember to include the link to where it can be purchased.

Consider adding a worksheet or action sheet

Depending on the type of presentation or speech you’re giving, you will likely have a call to action at the end, where you will encourage people to change or act on something related to your talk.

If a worksheet helped you implement these changes before, include it for your audience. Even a notes section located in the back of your handout will be an effective tool in case your audience wants to jot something down.What did your last handout look like? What will you change for next time? Let us know if you end up implementing any of these tips.

For additional help, here are a few additional posts:

• How Many PowerPoint Slides Should You Have for Your Presentation .
• Make Your Handout Look Great without a Graphic Designer .
• How to Design Your Presentation in a Few Simple Steps .
• We Use the Software Canva to Create Great Presentation Handouts with a Professional Layout

Download the Free How to Create a Great Presentation Handout… Handout.

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Handouts in Powerpoint – Everything You Need to Know!

By: Author Shrot Katewa

When you go for a presentation, it is always a good feeling to have a Handout of it with you, that way it makes it easy to follow through with the presenter, even if you can’t see the screen properly.

To create handouts in PowerPoint, first, click on the “View” tab in the “Menu” ribbon. Then, click on the “Handouts Master”. Customize the handouts using the “Preview” option, and then click “Close Master View”. This will return to the normal view and the changes to your handouts will be saved.

However, this is just a quick summary on how to make handounts in PowerPoint. There are quite a few things you should know while creating handouts in PowerPoint. In this article, we shall cover all the nuances involved in creating PowerPoint handouts. So, let’s get started!

1. What are Handouts in PowerPoint and Why are They Used?

Microsoft PowerPoint slides can be printed or converted into a copy of “Handouts.” Handouts are either PDF, Word, or paper copies of a PowerPoint presentation that you can hand to the audience. 

They provide something substantial for your audience to take hand notes and to keep with themselves. Handouts can also be used for adding notes alongside each slide by the presenter.

2. How to Create Handouts in PowerPoint?

Creating handouts of a PowerPoint presentation can be helpful for both the presenter and the audience to keep track of all the slides. Besides, it allows the audience to review it even after the presentation is over. You can easily create handouts in Microsoft PowerPoint using the “Handout Master” feature.

2a. Using Handout Master on PC

On a Windows PC, you can create a PowerPoint handout. All you have to do is follow the 3 easy steps.

Step-1: Click on “Handout Master”

In the menu ribbon located at the top of the screen, click on the “View” tab. Then you have to click on the “Handout Master” option.

Step-2: Customize the handout

In the “Handout Master” view, you can preview the PowerPoint handout. The menu is divided into four main sections: “Page Setup” , “Placeholders” , “Edit Theme” and “Background” . You can use the options under each section to customize the handout according to your preference.

Step-3: Click on “Close Master View”

The final step is to click on the “Close Master View” button after customizing the handout. This will automatically save the handout and return it to “Normal View” where you can go back to editing the presentation slides.

2b. Using Handout Master in PowerPoint on Mac

To use the “Handout Master” in PowerPoint for creating handouts on Mac, follow the 3 quick steps.

Step-1: Click on “View”

In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click on the “View” tab. This will open the “View” menu right under the menu bar. Click on the “Handout Master” option in the “View” menu.

Step-2: Arrange the handout with the preferred settings

In the “Handout Master” view, you will find various options to customize the handout. Click on “Handout Orientation” to change the orientation of the handout.

You can also click on the “Slide Size” button to access the “Page Setup” dialog. You can also add or remove the “Header” , “Footer” , “Date and Time” and “Page Number” .

Step-3: Click on “Close Master”

The final step is to click on the “Close Master” option to save the preferred settings for the PowerPoint handout.

3. How to Create Multi-slide Handouts in PowerPoint?

Microsoft PowerPoint allows you to create handouts with one to nine slides per page. To create multi-slide handouts in PowerPoint, follow the 3 simple steps.

Step-1: Click on the “View” tab

The first step is to click on the “View” tab from the menu bar. In the “View” menu, click on the “Handout Master” option in the “Master Views” section.

Step-2: Click on the “Slides Per Page” option

In the “Handout Master” view, click on the “Slides Per Page” option which is in the “Page Setup” section. From the dropdown menu, click on your preferred number of slides for a single page.

Step-3: Click on the “Close Master View” option

Now all you have to do is click on the “Close Master View” option to save the multi-slide template for the handout. (shown in the image above)

4. How to Change Handout Orientation?

The handout orientation controls whether the PowerPoint handout will be in landscape or portrait mode. To change the handout orientation, follow the 3 simple steps.

Step-1: Click on the “Handout Master” option

The first step is to click on the “View” tab in the menu ribbon. Then click on the “Handout Master” option in the “Master Views” section.

Step-2: Click on “Handout Orientation”

The next step is to click on the “Handout Orientation” option which is the first option in the “Page Setup” section in the “Handout Master” view. This will open a dropdown menu. Click on “Portrait” for portrait orientation or click on the “Landscape” option for landscape orientation.

Step-3: Click on the “Close Master View” button

Now all you have to do is click on the “Close Master View” button to save the new orientation. The screen will return to “Normal View” (as shown in the image above)

5. How to Change Header and Footer of Handouts in PowerPoint?

Using the “Handout Master” in the PowerPoint presentation, you can change the header and the footer of the handouts. Follow the 5 easy steps.

The first step is to open the “Handout Master” view. You have to first click on the “View” tab in the menu ribbon. Then click on the “Handout Master” option in the “View” menu.

Step-2: Click on the “Header” and the “Footer” options /

In the “Handout Master” view, you can make both or either of the header and the footer disappear. To remove the header, click on the checked box beside the “Header” option in the “Placeholders” section of the toolbar.

Similarly, you can click on the checked box at the left side of the “Footer” option to make it disappear. To make them reappear, click on the unchecked box again and the checkmark will reappear.

Step-3: Click on the “Header” placeholder

To edit the header, click on the “Header” placeholder. It is located at the top left corner of the “Handout Master” . Then click on the “Home” tab in the menu ribbon. You can use the toolbar in the “Home” menu to edit the header of the handout.

Step-4: Click on the “Footer” placeholder

You can also edit the footer in a similar way. Click on the “Footer” placeholder located on the left side at the bottom of the “Handout Master” . Then click on the “Home” tab to access the editing toolbar. You can also drag the placeholder to resize or reposition it.

Step-5: Click on “Close Master View”

Now all you have to do is click on the “Close Master View” option in the “Handout Master” tab. This will save the edited changes of the header and the footer.

6. How to Change the Background of Handouts in PowerPoint?

Microsoft PowerPoint allows you to change the background of the handouts. This does not affect the background of the presentation slides. To change the background of the handouts, follow the 3 quick steps.

Click on the “View” tab in the menu ribbon at the top of the screen. Then click on the “Handout Master” in the “View” menu.

Step-2: Click on the tools in the “Background” section

In the “Handout Master” view, you can use the tools in the “Background” section to change the background of the handout. There are “Colors” , “Fonts” , and “Effects” options.

Click on “Background Styles” and then click on the “Format Background” option from the dropdown menu to customize the background.

To save the changes to the handout background, all you have to do is click on the “Close Master View” button at the top of the screen.

7. How to Preview Handouts in PowerPoint?

Using the “Print” option in Microsoft PowerPoint, you can preview the handouts. All you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps.

Step-1: Click on “File”

In the menu ribbon located at the top of the screen, click on the “File” tab. In the “File” menu, you have to click on the “ Print” option. Alternatively, you can press the “Ctrl+P” keys or the “Ctrl+Shift+F12” keys on your keyboard. This will open the “Print Preview” screen.

Step-2: Click on the “Print Layout” option

The next step is to click on the “Print Layout” option which is the second box under “Settings” . In the “Print Layout” menu, the default option is “Full Page Slides” . You have to instead click on the preferred handout layout from the “Handouts” section.

Step-3: Click on the “Next Page” arrow

Now you can see the handout preview of the current page. At the bottom of the screen under the preview, you can click on the “Previous Page” option which is the leftward-facing arrow to preview the previous pages.

Click on the “Next Page” option which is the rightward-facing arrow to preview the next pages of the handout. You can also use the “Zoom” option to zoom in or zoom out on the preview page.

8. How to Print Handouts in PowerPoint?

Microsoft PowerPoint allows you to print out handouts or save them as a PDF file. There are also multiple layouts available for printing handouts.

8a. How to Print Handouts in PowerPoint?

To print handouts in PowerPoint, follow the 4 easy steps.

Step-1: Click on the “File” tab

The first step is to click on the “File” tab on the left side of the menu bar. In the “File” menu, click on the “Print” option from the sidebar at the left side of the screen (shown in image below).

Step-2: Click on the “Full Page Slides” box

In the “Print Preview” screen, click on the “Full Page Slides” box under the “Settings” . It will open the “Print Layout” dropdown menu.

Step-3: Select the preferred handout layout

In the “Print Layout” menu, you will find 9 different options under the “Handouts” section. Click on your preferred handout layout. You can see a preview on the screen.

Step-4: Click on the “Print” button

In the “Printer” section, make sure that the correct printer device is connected to your computer. Now all you have to do is click on the “Print” button at the top of the screen.

8b. How to Print Handouts with Slide Number in PowerPoint?

You can easily print handouts with slide numbers in PowerPoint. All you have to do is follow the 4 simple steps.

In the menu ribbon located at the top of the screen, click on the “File” tab. In the “File” menu, click on the “Print” option.

In the “Print Preview” screen, click on the “Print Layout” option which is the second box under the “Settings” section. In the “Print Layout” menu, select your preferred handout layout under the “Handouts” section.

Step-3: Click on “Print slide numbers on handouts”

The next step is to click on the “Print slide numbers on handouts” option in the “Print Layout” menu. You will see a checkmark appear on the left side of the option. In the preview screen, slide numbers will appear under each slide.

Step-4: Click on “Print”

Now all you have to do is click on the “Print” button located at the top of the screen to print the handouts with slide numbers in PowerPoint

8c. How to Print Handouts as PDF?

To save the handouts as a PDF file, follow the 4 quick steps.

Step-1: Click on the “Print” option

The first step is to click on the “File” tab in the menu ribbon. Then click on the “Print” option from the sidebar at the left side of the screen in the “File” menu.

Step-2: Click on “Print Layout”

The next step is to click on the “Print Layout” option. It is the second box under the “Settings” section. In the “Print Layout” menu, select your preferred handout layout. There are nine different layouts available to choose from in the “Handouts” section.

Step-3: Click on the “Printer” box

Click on the “Printer” box to open a dropdown menu. Then click on the “Microsoft Print to PDF” option.

The last step is to click on the “Print” option. This will save the Microsoft PowerPoint handouts as a PDF document (as shown above).

9. How to Export Handouts to Word From PowerPoint?

In Microsoft PowerPoint, there is a feature that allows users to export handouts to Microsoft Word. Using this feature, you can edit the notes and rearrange the handout slides. To export handouts to Word from PowerPoint, follow the 3 simple steps.

In the open Microsoft PowerPoint presentation, click on the “File” tab from the menu ribbon. Then click on the “Export” option from the left sidebar in the “File” menu.

Step-2: Click on the “Create Handouts” option

The next step is to click on the “Create Handouts” option from the secondary sidebar in the “Export” screen. Then click on the “Create Handouts” button under the “Create Handouts in Microsoft Word” section. This will open a new dialog box.

Step-3: Select your preferred page layout

In the “Send to Microsoft Word” dialog box, click on your preferred layout under the “Page layout in Microsoft Word” option. Then click on the “Paste” option under the “Add slides to Microsoft document” section if you want to export the handout in its current state.

You can also click on the “Paste link” option if you want the exported handout to update when you update the PowerPoint. Finally, click on the “OK” button to export the handouts to Microsoft Word.

10. Difference Between Notes and Handouts in PowerPoint

The main difference between “Handouts” and “Notes” is that handouts are mostly designed for your audience while the notes are for you, the presenter. Notes usually contain the speaker notes and key points of a presentation. The handouts contain printed slides where the audience may add their own notes.

Credit to user18526052 on Freepik for the featured image of this article (further edited)

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How To Create Effective Presentation Handouts: A Step-by-Step Guide [+ Examples]

Do you want to learn how to create handouts that capture and motivate your audience? Discover useful, detailed tips on handout content and layout that will make your presentation inspire and leave a lasting impact!

What’s a Rich Text element?

The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.

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• Deleniti totam eius similique repellendus. 
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3 Static and dynamic content editing

4 static and dynamic content editing.

A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!

5 Static and dynamic content editing

6 static and dynamic content editing.

A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any pa ge and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!

How to customize formatting for each rich text

Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.

"Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system."

Presentation handouts can play a significant role in the process of effective presentation delivery if you know how to use them to your benefit. These supplementary means can back up your main message and make sure that your presentation creates a lasting impression.

Many people may think of handouts for a presentation as something they used to work on while in college. However, these additional materials — if they are well-thought-out and relevant — can assist business professionals, educators, and students equally well.

Today, we'd like to not only discuss the main purpose of presentation handouts but alsoshow you how to plan and design effective handout material. Moreover, we will share detailed tips and useful tools that will help you amplify the effect of your supplementary means.  

Does that sound like a plan?

What Is a Presentation Handout?

Jerry Weissman, the author of Presenting to Win: The Art of Telling Your Story , compares the notion of a presentation handout to a bridge between your presentation and your audience’s long-term memory. We want to simplify this definition a little: Presentation handouts are additional materials that you share with the audience to support the central message of your presentation and aid comprehension.

Think of it this way: Presentations are a dynamic source of information, and a viewer does not have any control over its pace. A handout, on the other hand, remains a static source of additional information that the viewer can refer to at any time.

Usually, a presentation contains multiple vital aspects for the audience to focus on and digest. The main aim of creative handouts for presentations is to enhance viewer engagement and ensure a lasting impact once the presentation is over. You can refer to the handouts at any time during or after the presentation, so the materials improve retention and help to recall specific essential details.

The handouts mustn't replicate the presentation. They should complement it.

Planning Your Handouts

A great example of a presentation handout is a well-planned one. Never treat your handouts as a last-minute task. Here’s what to keep in mind as you begin the handout-planning process.

Key information

As you consider what data to include, start with additional statistics, relevant details, and supporting facts that strengthen the core message of your presentation. Choose information that helps the audience understand some field-specific or overly complex notions.

Tip: Highlight the main aspects that you want the audience to remember in your handouts.

Audience needs

Another critical part of handout planning is the audience you will interact with. Consider their level of expertise, needs, and preferences when working on supplementary materials. There will be little use of handouts that are irrelevant, overly simplified, or too complicated.

Format and structure

Even the best types of handouts for presentations will lose their impact if they are unappealing, illogical, or unorganized. A neat structure complemented by relevant visuals will enhance user perception and trigger their productivity. That is why you may want to play around with different headings, supporting images, graphs, bullet points, colors, and fonts.

Creating Effective Handouts for Presentations: Key Steps

A quality presentation handout template relies on effective design as much as it depends on the informative component. There are a few principles to stick to when you plan how to create a handout.

Step 1: Basic design

Whitepage pitch deck design agency outlines three principles that will assist you in creating a handout for your presentation:

Use these practical tips to move in the right direction:

• Present different types of content in complementary but distinguishable fonts.
• Section information with the help of headings and subheadings.
• Outline the main aspects through bullet points.
• Ensure that all the data is easy to read, avoiding small, unclear fonts.
• Use the same color palette and theme throughout the presentation and the supplementary materials. 
• Add brand logos to stress consistency.

Step 2: Visuals

Compelling visuals make any information twice as easy to remember and digest. Whitepage professionals recommend the following:

• Use charts, tables, graphs, and other visuals to deliver complex notions concisely and more comprehensively.
• Intertwine text content with images that complement the core narrative.
• Symbols and icons aid in better understanding.

Step 3: Appeal and purpose

It is not enough to design visually appealing presentation handout templates. They should carry out an informative purpose as well. You can do the following to achieve the desired effect through your presentation handouts:

• Use different colors to highlight vital points and trigger the reader's interest.
• Use white space to define the structure of your handouts.
• Use contrast to attract user attention to critical aspects of the presentation.

Content Creation for Handouts

We may be stating the obvious, but your handout content should be clear and concise. You don't want to distract the audience from the presentation as they are trying to make out complex notions written in the supplementary materials.

A professional handout sample for presentation should:

• Deliver the main message without unnecessary details mentioned.
• Steer clear of tech-savvy language and slang and instead preserve an accessible tone.
• Present essential data through lists and bullet points.

On top of that, you can complement your handouts with appropriate relevant and appealing visuals. Different charts and images can improve information perception and enhance retention.

Lastly, presentation handouts prove to generate better results when spiced up with strategic, well-thought-out CTAs (calls to action):

• Give the audience clear instructions if any action is requested.
• Use questions and activities to promote engagement.
• Provide contact information in case someone decides to contact you later.

Utilizing Technology in Handout Creation

After you come up with your desired design and content, you will naturally start to wonder how to actually make the handout for a presentation. Luckily, there are many tools and software solutions to choose from.

Platforms like Microsoft PowerPoint, Adobe InDesign, Canva, Venngage, and Inkscape present multiple features to create and enhance handouts. Some of them are free, while others include paid options. You can work on text, visuals, and charts using these tools.

However, if you want to make your presentation handout a little more interactive, you should implement interactive elements, such as QR codes and online resource links. You can find plenty of free QR code generators online.

QR codes can serve as a linking piece between physical and digital supplements. As the audience exploits their devices during the presentation, they will find additional facts and details that intensify the primary message. The same applies to online resource links if you use digital handouts only.

We would like to stress the fact that a balance of printed information and digital additions will add dynamic to the learning process. Such an approach ensures that you cater to every user's needs and provide a better, more memorable experience.

Printing and Distribution

You can introduce your presentation handouts in one of two formats — either physical or digital. Each comes with a set of perks and downsides.

Physical handouts

The physical handout template is a good old sheet of paper that contains all the information you want to share with the audience. It is material, you can touch it, and it doesn’t require additional devices to interact with it. Keep in mind that printed paper has a negative environmental impact, which is a concern for many. You can decrease that impact, however, by using recycled paper, vegetable ink, and double-sided printing.

Digital handouts

Digital examples of handouts for presentations, which do not pose an environmental threat, can be shared within seconds through email and other online platforms. They can also be enhanced with all sorts of multimedia and interactive elements. However, digital handouts aren’t accessible without electronic devices that support the format. While that isn't much of a challenge in today's world, the use of various devices can distract the audience from the presentation.

Distribution timing

There's an ongoing debate as to whether you should plan to distribute handouts before, during, or after the presentation. Different timing can have a diverse effect on the audience.

Before: Some of the viewers may get curious and leaf through the material before you start. This means they will know what to expect from the presentation. It isn't entirely a bad thing, but it may be distracting.

During: You can share your handouts to support the presented message and help the audience understand some points or learn more about the subject.

After: If you want to ensure that the message sets in, you can share the handouts after the presentation is over. In this case, you should include your contact information in the handout to make sure that the audience can reach out to you with any questions.

Examples of Handouts for Presentations

If you still feel a bit uncertain about how to make a handout that is well structured and appealing, you can make use of downloadable templates.

Education handouts

A good teaching plan will have a positive effect on the students. You can enhance their interest and involvement using an elegant and straightforward handout template.

Business handouts

Any business plan presentation highlights a fair share of statistics and analytical information. With a template like this, you can turn complex notions into simple visuals and improve user experience, which will lead to better understanding and positive actions.

All-purpose handouts

Some templates are suitable for any purpose. Though they are subtle and nonspecific, they remain well structured and appealing.

If you need to browse more presentation handout examples for inspiration, our experts suggest you check these sources out:

• Template.net
• WPSTemplate

Common Mistakes to Avoid

As you try to keep away from making presentation design mistakes , you should try to minimize handout errors as well. Here are a few common pitfalls to stay clear of:

• Information overload. Use white space to avoid clutter and hand-pick information you want to add to the template.
• Poor readability. Choose clear and legible fonts, and don't try to overdecorate the handout.
• Color distraction. Use subtle, complementary colors so that the color palette doesn't hurt the eye and make the viewer's mind wander.
• Absent interactivity. While static content is necessary, don’t forget to combine it with interactive elements such as QR codes and links to relative resources. ‍
• Low content quality. Proofread your handouts before sharing them with the audience to avoid typos and errors that can cause the audience to question your professionalism.

Advanced Tips for Professionals

Is there any professional advice on how to make handouts that promote successful presentations? With over 12 years of experience providing professional presentation design services , our Whitepage experts have these advanced tips you can benefit from:

• You can use more than a single QR code. Place them strategically so that one complements the other and boosts user engagement.
• Make your infographics interactive if you are using digital handouts. Implement additional details that the audience can find by hovering over certain icons. Make sure you highlight those interactive parts.
• Leave blank spaces for the users to write down critical points and make notes.
• Modern design is all about minimalism, so keep this in mind when designing your template.
• Consider investing in responsive design when using digital handouts.
• Make sure that your digital handouts work across multiple devices.
• Create collaborative templates that allow different members to interact and discuss crucial points.

What is a handout for a presentation? It is a practical link between your presentation and the audience. A quality presentation handout enhances subject perception, improves understanding, and promotes the desired impact.  

If you consider your audience's needs, keep up with modern presentation trends, and create well-structured yet concise supplementary materials, you can count on delivering a lasting impression and succeeding with your project goals.

Wonder how to hire a presentation design agency to help you achieve your vision and get ahead of the competition? The Whitepage team is only a phone call away!

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Microsoft 365 Life Hacks > Presentations > How to create effective presentation handouts

How to create effective presentation handouts

Whether you create presentations for school, work, or clubs, distributing handouts makes an impression and amplifies your message. The benefits are twofold: putting together a handout prepares you for your speech and allows your audience to retain the information better.

You can put together handouts easily. Learn what to include to ace your next presentation.

Why are presentation handouts important?

Creating handouts help you prepare what you want to say . They also set expectations for your audience members and allow them to focus more on your speech because they don’t have to take such thorough notes.

Tell your story with captivating presentations

Powerpoint empowers you to develop well-designed content across all your devices

If you want to create an effective presentation handout, here’s what you should include.

1. List the key points of your presentation

To create a strong presentation handout, list the key facts from your speech. Keep it simple—you don’t need to rewrite your entire presentation. Remember, you’ll discuss a lot of the material in your slides as well. Listing out your presentation’s key points help your listeners reflect on the information later. By reading your presentation’s key points, your audience may also come up with or remember the questions they want to ask you at the end of your talk.

2. Include your sources

Effective presenters back up their information with sources, especially in science and history-related fields. Providing sources encourages your audience do more research on their own time. You can also provide further reading in your handout, like books or article links, if you aren’t able to cover everything in a single lecture.

3. Make your presentation handout professional

A professional-looking presentation handout establishes your credibility and authority with your audience. When presenting for work or an organization, include your logo on your handout.

You don’t have to be a graphic designer to create an attractive presentation handout—explore dozens of free Microsoft Word templates you can use to polish your handout.

4. Include white space

Not everyone comes prepared for a presentation. Leave white space in your handout so your audience can take notes on what you say. They can also use this space to write down questions they want to ask you, so they don’t forget them by the end of the presentation.

5. Include your contact information

Audience members may want to ask you questions about your presentation later. Include information like your name, job title, website, and email so your audience can contact you in the future.

6. Proofread your handout

Before you print out or email your presentation handouts, make sure to thoroughly proofread everything first. Are your sources spelled correctly? Are there any typos in your email address or links? Do the key points correspond with your presentation? Taking the time to review your handout before finalizing it will ensure it’s a quality handout.

Creating a presentation handout will make your presentation stronger and the information easier to digest. Are you feeling nervous about an upcoming presentation? Learn how to calm presentation anxiety .

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Home Blog Design How to Create the Perfect Handouts for a Presentation

How to Create the Perfect Handouts for a Presentation

As we presenters know, aiming for a flawless presentation experience involves not only top-notch presentation skills but also graphics, a well-thought-out presentation structure, and articulating both how to start a presentation and how to conclude a presentation. Yet, very little is said about presentation handouts and their role in large-scale meetings, or their value when securing business deals.

Seasoned presenters acknowledge the impact of a presentation handout, and today we’ll guide you in the process of creating these printed-format assets to make your presentation more memorable.

Table of Contents

What is a Presentation Handout?

The role of presentation handouts, why create handouts for large scale presentations, examples of effective handouts for presentations, how to create presentation handouts in powerpoint, how to create presentation handouts in google slides, best practices for presentation handouts, final words.

A presentation handout is a supplementary document provided to the audience by the presenter or the event’s organization during or before a presentation. The core purpose is to enhance the understanding and retention rate of the information shared or to provide contact points with the presenter via email, LinkedIn, website, or social media profiles.

Handouts in presentations allow attendees to follow along more easily, take notes on specific parts, and have a further reference – ideal in large corporation events. The talk may not fully cover information, like detailed metrics, supplementary graphs, etc.; thus, they can be featured inside the handout to provide additional background on the presentation topic. In short, think of handouts as deliverable presentation aids .

Picture yourself attending a series of presentations at a large-scale event, like a medical conference. How many research presentations can you retain in your head? 3-4 top, whereas perhaps you attended over 12 in the past 8 hours. Handouts for presentations simplify attendees’ efforts, as they have a palpable reference about the presentations they attended, who delivered the talk, the conference presentation slides , etc. 

Another interesting point of view for handouts is when we position ourselves in the shoes of an attendee with a physical impairment, like lessened hearing capacity. In this situation, we can picture a handout example, as the presenter integrates the audience, even those who cannot fully participate, by delivering information in a physical format.

When covering examples of handouts for presentations, we can position ourselves in generalistic situations as follows.

Helping people with physical impairments

Handouts don’t necessarily have to be printed in text format. Braille handouts can be used to assist people with low visual acuity to understand the missing gaps between the speech and the visuals shown in the slides. Electronic devices with screen readers can assist, as well as an audible format of the handout.

For people with hearing impairments, printed handouts summarizing the presentation’s key points are valid, but another creative method is to insert a QR code in PowerPoint and link to a PDF document with the transcript of the presentation, plus the slides. 

Illustrations and Diagrams

Think about hard-to-understand topics involving a series of charts or graphs to comprehend the disclosed information. Those same graphics can be given to the audience in the format of handouts, with callouts or visual aids that remind the attendees of the importance of those concepts.

Summarize Key Information

Suppose you attended a chef conference, where new technologies, methodologies, or recipes are shared in presentations. You can refer to the handouts for detailed instructions and focus on the training presentation in real time rather than taking notes.

Contact Data

Finally, we can consider a handout format for people who want to get in touch for business partnerships, academic collaborations, etc. Rather than delivering a business card, provide additional information about your work and deliver a handout.

Follow these steps to create handouts in PowerPoint.

Open your presentation in PowerPoint. Go to the View tab and find Handout Master .

You can customize the appearance of your handout by adding a header, date, logo, contact details, etc. This works exactly the same as Slide Master in PowerPoint , so all changes will be reflected on all pages in your handout.

Now, go to File > Export and select Create Handouts .

Click on the Create Handouts button, and you will be prompted with a context menu with the following options:

• Notes next to slides
• Blank lines next to slides
• Notes below slides
• Blank lines below slides
• Outline only

Select the option you prefer. We highly recommend selecting Paste to add a tiny version of the slides to your new handouts document.

Once that’s done, a new Microsoft Word document will open with your presentation handouts, which can also be customized from Word.

For Google Slides, the instructions are much simpler. Select your desired presentation in Google Slides and go to File > Print Preview . All options for how to print slides in Google Slides are now available.

The option we’re interested in is the menu below the top bar that says 1 slide without notes .

Open that and select Handout , with the number of slides per page you prefer.

Then click on Print, and a new PDF document will be generated. Unlike PowerPoint, you have to edit everything beforehand or opt for a PDF editor like Adobe Acrobat.

Handouts should be concise. The idea is to summarize information, not to confuse the audience with an overwhelming amount of data. Although these recommendations are valid for all handouts created with PowerPoint templates and Google Slides, the same rules apply to handouts created in Graphic Design Software (Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, etc.), as it’s tempting to keep adding unnecessary data or complex illustration effects.

Sharing your handout before the presentation starts is advisable, as it’s the moment most attendees will gather and where the expectation about what the talk will be about is at its highest. In our experience, the audience tends to grow restless toward the last 5 minutes of your presentation, with some attendees leaving if they have to attend another conference with a very limited timeframe between both. Distributing a handout during the presentation is distracting and will negatively impact your presentation’s performance.

Finally, as you would do with poster presentations , focus on readability. Avoid using heavily contrasting colors or text that looks too small to read for the sake of adding more data. The handout is a tool to complement your presentation, not to summarize countless words.

Handouts for presentations are not an optional add-in. They are a vital element of effective academic and business presentations. By providing a clear structure to your handout or using digital mediums to help people with impairments, you are taking into account accessibility, one of the best practices you can engage early on in your path to becoming a professional presenter.

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How to Create a Powerpoint Handout

Last Updated: March 19, 2023

This article was co-authored by Vikas Agrawal and by wikiHow staff writer, Nicole Levine, MFA . Vikas Agrawal is a Visual Content Marketing Expert & Entrepreneur, as well as the Founder of Full Service Creative Agency Infobrandz. With over 10 years of experience, he specializes in designing visually engaging content, such as infographics, videos, and e-books. He’s an expert in Making content marketing strategies and has contributed to and been featured in many publications including Forbes, Entrepreneur.com, and INC.com. This article has been viewed 178,809 times.

If you're giving a PowerPoint presentation and want to provide your viewers with a printed version, you can create a handout page. A handout page is a printed version of your presentation that can help viewers follow along, take notes, and keep the information for their own record. Since you can place more than one slide on a single handout, printing handouts rather than the entire presentation can save you a lot of paper and printer ink. This wikiHow teaches you how to quickly print helpful PowerPoint handouts, as well as how to design a handout master that lets you save handout customizations for future printing.

Printing Handouts the Quick Way

• Keep in mind that the more slides you print on one page, the smaller the text will be on each slide—if your slides are text-heavy, 6 slides per page should be your limit.
• If you want to encourage viewers to take notes as they watch your presentation, try the "3 slide" option—this prints three slides per page with ruled areas for note-taking next to each slide.

• To add the date and time, check the box next to "Date and time" and choose whether to update the time automatically (based on time of printing) or leave it fixed (date of your choosing).
• To add custom text to the top of each printed page, check the box next to "Header" and enter your text in the corresponding box.
• To add text to the bottom of each page, check "Footer" and add text to the corresponding box.
• If you make any changes in this window, click Apply to All to save your changes and return to the Print screen.

• If you're printing multiple sets of handouts, make sure to select Collated from the menu if it isn't already selected. F

Creating a Custom Handout Master

• You should only use royalty free fonts if you don't have a license to use a font.

• It's not usually advised to print a background color on handouts—it uses a lot of ink. Try to keep the fancy colors to your actual presentation!

• If you don't just want a basic background color, click the Background Styles menu again and select Format Background to expand the Format Background panel on the right. Here you can choose different background fills, such as images, textures, and gradients.

• For example, if you want to include an image on each printed handout page, click the Insert tab, select Pictures , choose your image and place it at the desired location.
• If you want to include custom text at the top or bottom of your handouts, click Header & Footer on the Insert tab, check the box next to "Header" or "Footer" (or both!) and type your desired text. When you click Apply to All , the handout master's header and footer will update to your new preferences.

• Now that you've customized your handout master, these settings will be in place when you're ready to print. To print, just go to File > Print , choose your printer and color options, and click Print .

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• ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/print-your-handouts-notes-or-slides-91c62c83-9032-497c-ab76-cae8f3e1a402
• ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/create-or-change-a-presentation-s-handout-c86f1231-abfd-48de-8d76-807f668512d2

About This Article

1. Go to File > Print . 2. Select how many slides to print per page. 3. Click the Full Page Slides menu. 4. Select a layout from the "Handouts" section. 5. Click Edit header and footer to customize the header and footer. 6. Choose the reset of your printing preferences. 7. Click Print . Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Creating a Handout to Support and Enhance Your Presentation!

Got a  presentation coming up and need to create a useful handout to complement it? Great idea – but how do you go about it? Many people think handouts are just used in college, but in the business world they can be really useful to reinforce the content of your presentation.

Whether it’s a business meeting or a training course, a handout will underscore your points and support your presentation when done right.  It can be tricky, though, to decide on what to include, the format, how to structure a handout and at what point of the presentation to distribute it.

Before starting to create your handout, you need to think about such things as structure, content and timing . This blog covers everything you need to know!

What is a Handout?

As the name suggests, a handout is any type of document that a speaker hands out to participants during a lecture, presentation, conference or meeting. It allows your audience to get a clear overview of the main points, or to sum up what they have heard afterwards.

A handout isn’t just a summary of slide titles; it can be much more detailed, summing up each individual topic and serving as a reference for core concepts and central insights.

What is a Handout actually for?

Your handout must provide added value . It contains information either covered or referred to in your presentation, allowing you to expand upon what might have only been touched on, and free your slides from clutter.

It can not only summarise your arguments, but can relieve pressure on your slides:  dense facts and figures can be sidelined to the handout, allowing your PowerPoint presentation to be slick and professional.

Handouts offer three main advantages to your audience, depending on when they’re given out:

• The audience can follow what is said during the presentation
• The audience can make their own notes to supplement or clarify for themselves what you have presented
• It consists of an overview of what you have presented, which can then be read by interested parties

A handout not only means that you can create a clean and uncluttered presentation, but allows your audience to understand your points better and remember them afterwards .  It’s also very useful for conveying your arguments to anyone who may have missed the actual presentation.

Tip: So why not just Start with the Handout?

There are obvious advantages both to your audience and yourself to having of a clearly structured handout. Once you know what to do, they can be relatively straightforward to produce.  Of course, this still takes time, and you need to allow for this.

Cobbling together a handout at the last moment is not only stressful, it can be counterproductive, as it undermines your professionalism and never goes unnoticed.

TIP: For a change, why not start your presentation with a handout ? By getting the essentials out of the way first, you can then develop your presentation step by step using the handout as a basis.

The great advantage here is that you not only end up with a detailed handout, but you find a s trong common thread , allowing you to  create an equally “crisp” presentation and navigate your way through it.

Creating a Handout: How to Structure it

As with most things concerning design, the motto “ less is more ” applies very effectively to handouts. In concrete terms, this means: do without whole sentences and make use of key points, abbreviations, arrows and symbols. Ideally, your handout should not consist of more than two A4 pages.

In addition to important information from your presentation, a handout needs to include the following :

• Basic information, probably in the upper left corner of the handout, such as the location of the presentation and the speaker’s name and title
• The date, probably in the upper right corner
• A concise heading – preferably the title of your presentation – centered
• Page numbers in the footer
• A clear structure, based on the individual headings of the presentation
• A consistent page layout using standard, unembellished fonts such as Arial or Times New Roman

The structure of your handout should follow the structure of your presentation, especially if you give out the handout during your presentation. It is best to limit your points to those which support your main argument. Keep the sub-items on the handout as simple as possible and don’t go into too much detail.

To make your handout visually appealing, it helps to think about the font. In addition to using clear, standard fonts , as mentioned above, try to keep the font size in the headers and footers uniform and smaller than in the main part.

TIP: Create an area for the audience to make their own notes on your handout. Either make the right margin wider or leave a few lines of space under your last point.

Handout Content – Short and to the Point

You’ve decided the layout of your handout, entered the key points and created a rough outline. Now it’s time to expand on individual points and create the main content of your handout.

Before doing so, focus on your target audience : how much background knowledge can you assume they have on the topic of your presentation?  Keeping your audience in mind means you tailor the handout to their level, avoiding technical terms where they would distract from your point, including them when you are faced with an audience knowledgeable in a particular discipline. 

It is very important to condense the core statements of your presentation into key points, rather than including a distracting stream of text. This way, you retain your audience’s full attention.

TIP: To arouse your audience’s curiosity right at the beginning of your presentation, you could include an upbeat quote, a proverb or a question. Choose a slightly provocative question to get your audience thinking from the start. You can repeat this verbatim on your presentation handout.

Although the main thing about handouts is that they should be short and concise , they should still be understandable when read outside the context of your presentation.  If this is forgotten, they can’t act as an aid to your audience’s memory afterwards.

Nice-to-have: Additional Information on Your Handout

The main elements of a handout, as covered above, can be supplemented by additional information as you choose. This can even include pictures or graphics. Depending on the topic, a visual element can really clarify and supplement your main argument and tie things together.

As a rule, however, it pays to keep pictures and graphics on your presentation slides because they take up too much space on the handout. The costs and benefits need to be weighed up in each individual case.

It is also a good idea to include contact information on the handout; an e-mail address is the minimum. Depending on the type and purpose of the presentation, you can also provide your business address and telephone number.

If your handout consists of several pages, it helps to put your contact details in the header so that they appear on every page. It can be useful to include a short bibliography in your handout if you’re using quotes or information from other sources. This way you can also link to relevant websites or further reading on your topic that may be interesting for your audience.

TIP : At the end of your handouts you can include questions or food for thought to stimulate discussion. This is particularly useful if you wish to conduct a question and answer session after your presentation.

Tutorial: Creating a Handout with PowerPoint

When time is of the essence, PowerPoint has a feature that allows you to create a handout in minutes. Using the “Create handout” function, you can transfer a PowerPoint presentation to Microsoft Word, adapt it there and optimize it for printing.

With just a few clicks you can choose which presentation slides should appear on the handout. The number of slides can also be easily adjusted and you can cut text or expand it as necessary. You can also decide whether the handout should include a note margin, a header and/or a footer.

Your PowerPoint presentation remains untouched during this whole process. In addition to the option of printing the handout, you can also save it directly in Word as a Word or PDF document – a simple way to make the handout digitally available to your audience.

• Open your presentation in PowerPoint.
• To find the handout master, open the View tab in the top taskbar.

3. In the Master Views submenu you will find, among other things, the Handout Master.

The practical thing about this is that with just a few clicks, you can choose slides from your presentation to form a basis for your handout. It’s also easy to customize headers and footers – to insert your contact details or page numbers, for example.

It’s really easy to choose the size, number and design of your pages here; and PowerPoint also offers the option of exporting the handout you have just created to Microsoft Word. This makes it simple to print out or offer to your audience as a file.

• To do this, click on “File” in the upper task bar and then on “Export” .

2. Select Create handout .

3. In the context menu that opens, you can decide whether your handout should have a margin for adding notes, for example, or other useful options.

When is the Best Time to Distribute Your Handout?

There is no such thing as the perfect time. To help you decide the timing for your particular presentation, it helps to understand how timings influence your audience:

• Handout before presentation : In this case, you have to expect at least some of your audience to have leafed through the handout and read ahead, meaning that at any point they know what’s next. This can sometimes mean that your audience’s concentration is divided, so you need to consider carefully whether this option is appropriate.
• Handout during presentation : Distribute your handout at the point when it is useful as support, either in terms of visual illustration or as a means to emphasize your argument.

Our tip: Share your handout prior to the presentation . It is often the same arguments that are used when it comes to giving out the handout before the presentation: ‘Too restless, the audience rustles with the papers and does not concentrate on the lecture’ and many more. You probably know the arguments.

Nevertheless, our 25 years of experience with PowerPoint shows that these arguments should not be believed. Experience shows that it does not negatively affect the concentration of the audience, but even has positive effects for many to know that they do not have to take notes and that a protocol is available so that they can fully concentrate on the presentation.

In addition, listeners can add other relevant notes directly to the handout. If you withhold the handout until the end of the presentation, you also run the risk of having carried out a kind of unspoken “disciplinary action.”

Conclusion: Don’t go without a handout!

Whichever timing you decide upon, a well-prepared handout can be an effective tool to support your presentation , acting as a guide and memory aid for both you and your audience. Used properly, they can increase the interest and attention of your audience, and allow you to give a clear and professional presentation.

Need help with creating a presentation and a great handout to go with it? We have years of experience in the field of PowerPoint presentations. Just get in touch, and our team can help you create exactly what you need ► presentation agency

If you have any further questions about handouts, or anything to do with PowerPoint, feel free to get in touch at [email protected] . We’re always happy to help!

You might also be interested in the following articles:

• PowerPoint Presenter View
• Insert Notes in PowerPoint

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12 Tips to Prepare Handouts in a Presentation

• By Judhajit Sen
• May 14, 2024

A presentation handout is a presentation aid given to people attending a lecture, conference presentation, or talk. It helps them understand the main points and remember what was said. It’s not just an executive summary of the slides; it can include more details about each topic. This makes it easier for the audience to grasp the essential ideas and refer back to them later. 

A good handout adds extra value to a PowerPoint presentation by expanding on what was discussed and keeping the slides tidy. It can include dense facts and figures that might clutter the slides, making the presentation look clean and professional. 

Creating a presentation handout make it easier for the audience to follow along and remember the key points. They’re also handy for people who couldn’t attend the presentation but still want to know what was discussed. So, an effective presentation handout isn’t just helpful for the presenter, it’s useful for everyone involved.

Key Takeaways

• Reinforce Memory: Creating a handout helps people remember key points from your presentation by allowing them to review the information later.
• Detailed Information:  Handouts enable you to delve deeper into topics without overwhelming your audience during the presentation, especially useful for complex subjects.
• Enhanced Calls to Action: Including contact information or action prompts in handouts can facilitate follow-up actions, particularly beneficial in sales pitches or business presentations .
• Potential Distractions:  Handouts might distract attendees, draw attention away from your verbal presentation, and potentially spoil surprises if read ahead.
• Information Security:  Distributing sensitive information via handouts carries risks of unauthorized dissemination, potentially compromising confidentiality.
• Strategic Distribution: Deciding when to distribute handouts depends on factors such as presentation style and audience dynamics, with options including before, during, or at the end of your presentation. Sharing beforehand can enhance focus and convenience for note-taking, while delaying distribution may seem punitive.

Pros and Cons of Using Presentation Handouts

Handouts in a presentation have advantages and disadvantages. Here’s a breakdown of the arguments for and against them.

Arguments for using handouts –  

Helps remember and reinforces points: Handouts are handy because they help people remember what you talked about. After your presentation, folks can take the papers home, review them again, and remember the important stuff. It keeps your presentation alive in their minds even after you’re done talking. 

Allows more details: You can’t cover every tiny detail during presentations. You want to keep it lively and engaging. Handouts come to the rescue here. They let you go into more depth without overwhelming your audience. You can explain technical stuff, timelines, and numbers better. This can be helpful, especially for internal company presentations where you must cover all bases. 

Strengthens the call to action: A good call to action make it easy for people to do what you want them to do. Handouts can make this happen. For example, in sales presentations , you can leave behind papers with all the info prospects need to contact you later. It simplifies things, especially if they need to talk it over with others first. 

Arguments against using handouts –  

Can be distracting: Some folks argue that handouts steal the show. Instead of paying attention to you, people might end up reading what’s on paper. It’s like having a side attraction that detracts from your central performance. Some even say it’s like shooting yourself in the foot because you’re giving people something else to focus on before you start.

Audience might read ahead: Presentations are all about building suspense and excitement. But if people read ahead, it spoils the surprise. Imagine you’re about to reveal a big secret, but everyone already knows what it is. It’s like the plot twist in a movie being spoiled before you even watch it. That’s not cool. 

Loses control over information: Your information is precious, especially sensitive company information. Handing out papers with essential data can be risky. What if they get copied or end up in the wrong hands? It’s like giving away the keys to the kingdom. You want to keep your information safe and sound, not let it wander off where it shouldn’t.

Tips for Creating Effective Handouts in a Presentation

Creating a presentation with handouts is as crucial as planning your speech and slides. These tangible takeaways can reinforce your message, provide additional information, and serve as a lasting reference for your audience. Here are some key considerations to keep in mind when you create effective presentation handouts – 

1. Plan Ahead: Don’t leave handout creation as a last-minute task. Allocate enough time to make your handout alongside your speech and slides. Rushing to put something together moments before your presentation can result in an ineffective and hastily made handout.

2. Avoid Printing Slides: Resist the temptation to simply  go to print option with your slides. This approach lacks effectiveness and may only make sense to readers with additional context. Instead, create your handout by typing out the content in the Notes pane of your ppt software to create more informative handouts.

3. Reflect Your Presentation: Ensure that your handout mirrors the structure and content of your presentation. This cohesion allows audience members to easily connect them with the key information presented during the talk, enhancing comprehension and retention.

4. Add Extra Information: Use handouts to provide supplementary information your presentation couldn’t cover. This additional content can inspire further exploration of the topic and cater to audiences seeking more in-depth knowledge.

5. Include References: Include citations in your handout if you reference research or external sources during your presentation. This enables interested individuals to delve deeper into the subject matter and validates your claims.

6. Create Action Sheets: Consider including action-oriented content in your handouts to encourage audience members to apply the insights gained from your presentation. Action sheets or worksheets  engage your audience  and help reinforce critical takeaways.

7. Ensure Stand-Alone Clarity: Your handout should be understandable even to those who didn’t attend your presentation or revisit it later. Provide brief background information about yourself for context, ensuring that the content can stand alone as a valuable resource.

8. Provide White Space: Leave ample white space for notes pages on your presentation handout design so attendees can take notes. This encourages active engagement during the presentation and consolidates all relevant information in one accessible document.

9. Maintain Professionalism: Your handout represents you and your presentation slides, so it should reflect professionalism. Proofread diligently, maintain a consistent brand identity, and ensure the layout is visually appealing.

10. Offer Additional Resources: Explore alternative handout templates for sharing supplementary materials, such as DVDs, websites, or online platforms. Providing diverse resources caters to different preferences and extends the conversation beyond the confines of the presentation.

11. Consider Digital Options: Consider creating digital alternatives like webpages or social media pages besides Microsoft Word printed handouts. These platforms facilitate ongoing engagement, allowing audience members to comment, ask questions, and access additional resources.

12. Communicate Limitations: If certain information discussed during the presentation is not included in the handout, clarify it to your audience. This transparency prevents confusion and encourages direct engagement for further clarification.

Adhering to these guidelines ensures that your presentation handouts serve as valuable assets that complement your verbal delivery and contribute to a memorable and informative audience experience.

The Best Time to Distribute Handouts in a Presentation

Deciding when to distribute your handout isn’t about finding a perfect moment. To help you figure out what’s best for your situation, it’s good to know how timing can affect your audience – 

Handout before the presentation: If you share your handout beforehand, some of your audience might peek ahead, which could split their attention during your talk. Think carefully if this suits your presentation style.

Handout during the presentation:  Give out handouts when they can support what you’re saying visually or emphasize your points.

Handout after the presentation: If you choose this option, your handout should include your contact information. If you’re sending it electronically, PDF works well. Adding a copyright notice might be smart, depending on who’s getting it.

Tip – Sharing the reading material before the actual presentation can be helpful. Some worry it might make the audience fidgety or distract them, but experience often shows it doesn’t hurt their focus. Many appreciate not having to jot down everything, allowing them to focus better on your words. Plus, they can make their own notes right on the handout. Waiting until the end of the presentation to give it out might make it seem like a punishment.

Crafting Effective Handouts in a Presentation

Handouts serve as invaluable presentation aids in reinforcing key messages, offering additional insights, and providing lasting references for your audience. They extend the reach of your engaging presentations beyond the confines of the spoken word, offering tangible takeaways that enhance understanding and retention.

Planning ahead is essential when preparing handouts, avoiding last-minute rushes that can result in ineffective materials. Resist the urge to simply print out your slides; instead, craft reading material that reflect the structure and content of your presentation while providing supplementary information and references for further exploration.

Consider incorporating action-oriented content to encourage audience engagement and maintain professionalism through diligent proofreading and consistent branding. Offering diverse resources and digital alternatives ensures accessibility and caters to various preferences.

Deciding when to distribute handouts depends on your presentation style and audience dynamics. While sharing them beforehand may seem counterintuitive, it enhances focus and allows for note-taking convenience. Adhering to these guidelines ensures that the distributed content effectively complement your verbal delivery, contributing to a memorable and informative audience experience.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why are handouts necessary in a presentation?

Handouts help people remember key points and provide extra details not covered in slides, making it easy for the audience to grasp information.

2. How do handouts benefit both the speaker and the audience?

Handouts reinforce the speaker’s message and serve as a lasting reference for the audience. They allow them to review the material at their own pace, even if they can’t attend the presentation.

3. What are the advantages of using handouts during a presentation?

Handouts aid in memory retention, allow for more in-depth explanations and strengthen calls to action, such as providing contact information for follow-up purposes.

4. What are the possible drawbacks of using handouts in a presentation?

Handouts may distract from the speaker, spoil surprises in the presentation, and pose risks of information leakage, especially with sensitive data.

5. How should handouts be prepared effectively?

Handouts should be planned alongside the presentation, reflect its structure and content, include supplementary information and references, and encourage audience engagement through action-oriented content.

6. When is the best time to distribute handouts during a presentation?

The timing of handout distribution depends on the entire presentation style and audience dynamics. However, sharing them beforehand can enhance focus and convenience for note-taking, while distributing them afterward ensures accessibility for further reference.

Craft Stellar Handouts with Prezentium: Your Key to Memorable Presentations!

Are you looking to make better presentations? Prezentium offers expert assistance in crafting stellar handouts that reinforce your message and captivate your audience. With our AI-powered services, we ensure that the reading material are not just summaries of slides but comprehensive documents that add value to your presentation.

Our overnight presentation service guarantees timely delivery, providing you with meticulously designed handouts by the next business day. Need help transforming ideas into exquisite presentations? Our team of specialists is here to assist, offering header design and template creation expertise.

But that’s not all – our Zenith Learning program comprising presentation trainers combine structured problem-solving with interactive communication training workshops, ensuring that your handouts engage and resonate with your audience.

Don’t settle for ordinary handouts. Elevate your presentations with Prezentium and leave a lasting impression on your clients. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you craft exceptional handouts that amplify the impact of your presentations.

Why wait? Avail a complimentary 1-on-1 session with our presentation expert. See how other enterprise leaders are creating impactful presentations with us.

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Handout Essentials: A Guide To Creating Memorable Presentation Handouts

Hrideep barot.

• Presentation

Creating effective presentation handouts is a crucial aspect of enhancing audience engagement and understanding during and after a presentation. The choice of tools plays a vital role in shaping the quality and visual appeal of these handouts. Various tools, from traditional word processors like Microsoft Word to design-focused platforms like Canva and Adobe InDesign, offer unique features and functionalities. Each tool caters to different user preferences, design needs, and collaboration requirements. In this context, exploring the pros and cons of popular tools becomes

• What Are Presentation Handouts?
• What Is The Importance Of Presentation Handouts?
• Ways To Create Memorable Presentation Handouts.

Tools One Could Use For Creating A Presentation Handout.

• Conclusion.

What Are Presentation Handouts? 

Presentation handouts serve as valuable tools to complement and reinforce information shared during a presentation. These materials are typically distributed to the audience before, during, or after the presentation , offering a more comprehensive understanding of the subject matter.

In printed form, handouts may include outlines, summaries, charts, or key visuals, providing tangible references that attendees can follow along with during the presentation and keep for future reference . By offering this supplementary material, presenters aim to enhance the learning experience and ensure that the audience retains essential information.

Whether in print or digital form, presentation handouts play a crucial role in knowledge transfer and retention. They serve as valuable reference materials, offering the audience a roadmap to navigate complex information. Additionally, well-crafted handouts can facilitate post-event reflection and encourage further exploration of the presented topic, transforming a one-time presentation into an ongoing learning experience for the audience.

What Is The Importance Of Presentation Handouts? 

The importance of presentation handouts lies in their ability to enhance the overall effectiveness of a presentation and contribute to the audience’s learning experience. Here are several key reasons why presentation handouts are valuable:

1. Comprehensive Reference:

Presentation handouts provide the audience with a tangible and comprehensive reference to the information presented . Attendees can follow along with the speaker, refer back to key points, and have a structured outline of the content, aiding in better understanding and retention.

2. Reinforcement of Key Concepts:

Handouts reinforce the key concepts and messages of the presentation. By combining visual and written elements, handouts can emphasize important information , making it more likely that the audience will grasp and remember key takeaways.

3. Post-Presentation Review:

Handouts serve as a post-presentation review tool. Attendees can revisit the material after the event, reinforcing their understanding and allowing for a deeper exploration of the topic . This supports long-term retention of the information.

4. Customization and Personalization:

Presenters can customize handouts to suit the specific needs of their audience. This might include additional resources, references, or supplemental material that can further engage participants and cater to diverse learning styles.

5. Audience Engagement:

Handouts encourage audience engagement during the presentation. Attendees can annotate, take notes, and actively participate in discussions. Interactive elements in digital handouts can further enhance engagement.

6. Accessibility:

Digital handouts, especially in formats like PDFs or PowerPoint presentations , are easily accessible. Attendees can access them on various devices, fostering convenience and ensuring that the information remains available long after the presentation concludes.

7. Sustainability:

In the context of environmental sustainability, digital handouts offer an eco-friendly alternative to printed materials . This aligns with modern trends toward reducing paper usage and promoting greener practices.

8. Continued Learning:

Well-crafted handouts can serve as a starting point for continued learning. They can include additional resources, recommended readings, or links to relevant websites , encouraging the audience to explore the topic further.

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In summary, presentation handouts play a crucial role in supporting the presenter’s message, engaging the audience, and facilitating a more thorough understanding and retention of the presented material. Whether in print or digital form, these materials extend the impact of a presentation beyond the event itself.

Ways To Create Memorable Presentation Handouts

Creating memorable presentation handouts involves thoughtful planning, visual appeal, and alignment with the presentation’s goals. Here are strategies to make handouts more memorable:

1. Visual Design:

Consistent Theme: A cohesive theme reinforces the brand and aids in recognition. Ensure that fonts, colors, and imagery align with the overall aesthetic of the presentation, creating a seamless visual experience for the audience.

Graphics and Images : Thoughtfully chosen visuals enhance understanding. Infographics, charts, and relevant images break down complex information, making it more digestible for the audience.

2. Clear Structure:

Logical Flow: Arrange information in a sequence that mirrors the presentation. A logical flow allows the audience to follow along effortlessly, enhancing comprehension.

White Space: Purposeful use of white space prevents visual overload. It provides a visual break between elements, making the content more digestible.

3. Engaging Content:

Concise Text: Brevity is key. Each point should be succinct, conveying essential information without overwhelming the audience. This facilitates better retention.

Use of Examples: Real-world examples bring concepts to life. They provide context and relevance, making the content more memorable for participants.

4. Interactivity:

Spaces for Notes: Dedicated areas for notes encourage active engagement. Participants can jot down thoughts, questions, or personal reflections, fostering a sense of involvement.

QR Codes or Links: Incorporate QR codes or links to additional resources. This not only enhances interactivity but also allows participants to delve deeper into topics of interest.

5. Incorporate Branding:

Logo and Brand Elements : Prominently display the logo and relevant branding elements. Consistent branding across materials reinforces the presenter’s identity and message.

Quality Printing (for Physical Handouts):

High-Quality Paper: Opt for a paper that feels substantial and professional. The tactile experience of quality paper can contribute to a positive perception of the handouts.

Readable Fonts: Choose fonts that are easy to read, even from a distance. The goal is to make the content accessible to all participants.

6. Digital Enhancements:

Hyperlinks and Multimedia: Hyperlink relevant sections for easy navigation in digital formats. Including multimedia elements, such as videos or interactive content, adds dynamism to the handouts.

Responsive Design: Ensure that digital handouts are responsive to various devices. A user-friendly design accommodates different screen sizes and devices.

7. Highlight Key Points:

Emphasis Techniques: Utilize formatting tools to emphasize crucial information. Whether through bolding, italics, or color, draw attention to key points for better focus.

Post-Presentation Resources:

Additional Reading: Provide a curated list of readings or resources for further exploration. This demonstrates a commitment to ongoing learning and offers participants avenues for continued engagement.

Contact Information: Include clear contact details for presenters or subject matter experts. This facilitates post-presentation communication, encouraging participants to reach out with questions or feedback.

8. Feedback Section:

Survey or Feedback Form: Design a concise survey or feedback form. Collecting participant feedback is invaluable for refining future presentations and tailoring content to the audience’s needs.

9. Call-to-Action (CTA):

Pro: End with a clear call to action for the audience to take the next steps. A well-crafted CTA guides the audience on what actions to consider after reviewing the handout.

Con: Unclear or demanding CTAs may lead to inaction . If the call-to-action is ambiguous or if it requires too much effort from the audience, it may result in a lack of follow-through. Ensure that your CTA is straightforward, feasible, and aligns with the goals of your presentation.

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By meticulously implementing these strategies , presenters can create handouts that not only serve as supportive materials but also elevate the overall presentation experience for participants.

Creating a presentation handout involves selecting tools that offer flexibility, design capabilities, and ease of use. Here are some tools you can consider for crafting effective presentation handouts:

Microsoft Word:

Pros: Familiar interface for most users, extensive font and formatting options, compatibility with various file formats, ability to track changes and collaborate through Microsoft 365.

Cons: Limited design features compared to dedicated design tools, potential formatting challenges when collaborating with users of other word processors.

Google Docs:

Pros: Excellent real-time collaboration features, cloud-based accessibility from any device, auto-save functionality, and integration with other Google Workspace apps.

Cons: Basic design options, may lack advanced formatting features needed for complex layouts.

Pros: User-friendly with a drag-and-drop interface, extensive template library for quick design, and a diverse range of visual elements and icons, suitable for both beginners and professionals.

Cons: While many features are free, some advanced elements and templates are paid, and may not be suitable for intricate designs.

Adobe InDesign:

Pros: Industry-standard design tools, precise control over layout, advanced typography options, and support for complex document structures.

Cons: Steeper learning curve, may be overwhelming for beginners, subscription cost for full access.

Microsoft PowerPoint:

Pros: Familiar interface for creating presentations, easy integration of multimedia elements, ability to convert presentations to printable handouts.

Cons: Primarily designed for presentations, not as feature-rich as design-specific tools for complex layouts.

Google Slides:

Pros: Seamless collaboration features, integration with other Google Workspace apps, cloud-based accessibility.

Cons: Limited design options compared to PowerPoint, may not support intricate formatting needs.

Lucidpress:

Pros: Online collaboration, templates available for various document types, professional-grade design tools.

Cons: Some features may require a subscription, and may not be as widely known or used as other tools.

Piktochart:

Pros: User-friendly interface, suitable for beginners, focuses on infographics and visual storytelling.

Cons: Free version limitations, may not be as versatile for general document creation.

Conclusion .

Selecting the right tool for crafting presentation handouts depends on factors such as design complexity, collaboration needs, and personal familiarity. Microsoft Word and Google Docs provide straightforward solutions with collaborative features, while design-specific tools like Canva, Adobe InDesign, and Visme offer advanced creative options. The choice between PowerPoint, Google Slides, Lucidpress, Piktochart, Venngage, and design software like Adobe Illustrator depends on the balance between user proficiency, required features, and budget considerations. By weighing the pros and cons, presenters can make a strategic choice that aligns with their presentation objectives and enhances the overall impact on their audience.

Click here to embark on an enlightening adventure. 

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