Ready to create your first presentation with Prezi? We have outlined the key steps you can take to make a great presentation so that you can follow along with your own ideas. Then, learn even more with the rest of our help articles or follow how to import PowerPoint slides into a Prezi presentation.
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Quick steps:
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Step 1: Outlining your ideas
Start by deciding on the main message and story for your presentation. This is the most important step, as it guides the rest of the process. It’s worthwhile to invest extra time here to get your idea buttoned up and well-understood.
If you’re creating the presentation for a class or work, you likely have a rubric or clear goal in mind already. It’s a good idea to review these so you know what to include. Then, format your ideas into a simple story: establish context, rise into challenges and highlights, peak with the main point, and bring your audience home with something to look forward to. Let’s use an example:
Katherine is creating a presentation on her companies’ recent sales goals and performance. She knows that she wants to show the goals first, explain some of the challenges and highlights of the last quarter, and end with the good news that they exceeded their sales goals. The tone and design should feel professional, but she’s not tied to any specifics yet.
This is a great place to start. Katherine has a clear goal in mind while allowing room for the presentation to grow and change while she creates it. She’s also formatted her outline to follow a story structure so her audience can follow along easily.
Step 2: Bring your idea to life in Prezi
With your outline ready to go, it’s time to bring the work into Prezi. Prezi AI, included in your Prezi license, is a great way to get a draft of your presentation ready in just a few minutes. You can even take the outline you created and put it directly into Prezi AI for great results.
To get started, click the Create with AI button from your dashboard. If you have a specific template you’d like to use with Prezi AI, you can also select it from the template chooser and click Use with AI.
When you’ve entered Prezi AI, you’ll be asked to give your presentation a title and a description. Prezi AI will use this to create a first draft of your presentation, so provide as much information as you can. If you created an outline or have your idea ready, you can input this in the description area.
Remember that it’s OK if you change your mind or don’t have any specifics yet. Prezi AI does the design work for you, so your presentation will look and feel great even if you change your mind.
Alternatively, upload a PDF and Prezi AI will extract the most important information from your file and create a presentation for you.
Once you’ve entered your prompt, outline or file, click the Create button. Prezi AI will create the first draft of your presentation and then it’s time to refine it.
Step 3: Tweak your presentation
Now that Prezi AI has made your presentation, you can explore it before moving into the full Prezi Present editor. You can tweak major parts of your presentation like the background, colors, and design easily, as well as explore each frame of your presentation.
You’ll start at the Overview of your presentation. Here, you can see the entire presentation and each frame. In the sidebar, you can change things like the Color palette, Background, and Design. You can revert any changes you make easily, so test out new ideas!
Once the design looks good, you can check your content and make sure it fits your goals for this presentation. Navigate through the frames of your presentation using the arrow buttons in the bottom middle of the screen or click next to it on the Home button to go back to the Overview.
Aim to get as close as possible to your desired content and once in the editor, you’ll have full control to adjust visuals, text, order and content.
Step 4: Finalize your presentation
When you’re happy with the design and feel, click on Go to editor to move to the full Prezi Present experience for total control of your editing flow. This is where you can really get into the details and make sure you’re telling the story you want to tell.
We recommend going through your presentation again using the arrow buttons in the bottom middle of your screen. This way, you’ll revisit every frame and be able to edit as much as you want. If you're new to Prezi, learn how to navigate the Prezi Present Editor.
While reviewing your presentation, consider the following:
- Does this frame have enough visual support?
- Can I add an image, storyblock, chart, or visual to help prove this point?
- Is this content easy to understand and read? Can I make it shorter?
- Do I need to add or remove a frame?
Prezi AI can help with altering any content you want to change at this point, too. With text selected, click the Ask AI button in the context menu that appears. From here, you can get great help with changing the format of your text, expanding or shortening it, or even turning a paragraph into a full visual story that works with Prezi’s frames.
Any other edits you need to make can easily be done using the tools in the Top bar or Context menu that appears when you select an object in Prezi Present. Just left-click anything on the canvas to select it so you can begin editing or moving things around.
To learn more about specific editing actions you can take in Prezi Present, check out our guide on Getting to know the Prezi Present editor.
Step 5: Present and refine
When you’re done editing your presentation and all your content looks good, it’s time to practice presenting. Click the Present button in the top right of your screen to open your presentation. From here, you’ll see your presentation as your audience will see it. Go through and make sure it flows well, covers your main message, and is tailored to your audience.
This is a great opportunity to make sure that your presentation looks the way you want it to. Note down any areas that you stumble over or think could be improved; you’ll be able to change them when you get back to the editor.
With any Prezi subscription, you can use Presenter view for a detailed look at your presentation. Add speaker notes, track time, and more. When using multiple screens, keep Presenter view on one and the main presentation on another to keep your audience focused.
After you’ve test-driven your presentation, you’re all set to go for the real thing! Follow these links to learn about all the ways you can present your Prezi presentation and how to share your Prezi presentation.
Happy presenting! We know that you're going to wow your audience.
Try Prezi AI free for the top AI presentation maker experience.
FAQ
What are the steps to create a Prezi presentation for the first time?
To create your first Prezi presentation:
- Outline your main message (clear beginning, middle, end)
- Use Prezi AI with “Create with AI” (type a prompt or upload a file)
- Tweak the AI draft (colors, background, design)
- Finalize in the Prezi editor (edit text, visuals, layout; use Ask AI)
- Practice with Present and Presenter view (rehearse and refine)
How do I start a presentation in Prezi if I don’t know what to write yet?
Start by writing a simple outline: your goal, 3–5 key points, and how you want to end. If details are still fuzzy, a short title + a basic description is enough to generate a strong first draft with Prezi AI, then refine it as you go.
How do I use Prezi AI to create a presentation from a prompt?
From your Prezi dashboard, click “Create with AI,” then enter a title and a detailed description (your topic, audience, and key points). Prezi AI uses that input to generate a draft you can customize before moving into the editor.
Can Prezi AI make a presentation from a PowerPoint, Word doc, or PDF?
Yes. In “Create with AI,” you can upload a .pptx, .docx, or .pdf file. Prezi AI extracts the important content and generates a presentation draft you can adjust.
What should I include in my Prezi AI prompt for the best results?
For best results with Prezi AI, include in your prompt:
- Topic and audience (e.g., “Q1 sales update for leadership”)
- Purpose (inform, persuade, train, pitch)
- Key points or sections (3–7 bullets is plenty)
- Tone (professional, friendly, academic)
This gives Prezi AI enough direction to build a draft that needs fewer edits.
What if the Prezi AI presentation draft isn’t what I want?
Use “Recreate your presentation” and adjust your prompt (add missing points, clarify audience, or change tone). This is often faster than manually rebuilding, especially early in the process.
How do I change the design (colors/background) in an AI-generated Prezi?
In the Overview screen of the AI-generated draft, use the right sidebar to adjust the color palette, background, and overall design. You can try options freely and revert if something doesn’t fit. Later you can also customize as much as you’d like in the Prezi Editor.
What do I do in the Prezi editor after AI creates the draft?
Click “Go to editor” to fine-tune everything: reorder frames, rewrite text, swap visuals, adjust layout, and polish the flow. This is where you make the presentation feel fully “yours.”
What is “Ask AI” in Prezi and when should I use it?
“Ask AI” is a built-in assistant in the Prezi editor that helps you quickly improve or transform selected content while you’re editing. Use it when you want to polish your wording (shorten text, expand an explanation, or adjust tone) or when you want to turn plain text into a visual story that’s easier to follow and more engaging.
How do I practice my Prezi presentation before presenting live?
Click “Present” to run through the presentation the way your audience will see it. Use Presenter view for speaker notes and timing. As you rehearse, note any spots that feel unclear or slow, then return to the editor to refine.
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