A Practical Software Directory for Solo Builders
by Paul Benedict Scelsi
This book will help you create and deliver powerful presentations to your target audience start to finish – whether it’s a video, seminar, speech, business meeting, etc. Your delivered message will be useful, memorable and move your audience to action.Paul Scelsi, a public speaker in the residential building materials industry since 1998, shares his insights to successful presentations, from a razor-sharp outlining of topics during the writing process to collecting and evaluating audience feedback for future improvement long after you walked off the stage. And everything in between.• Backstage Prep: Pretend you are literally in one of the seats in the crowd about to sit through YOUR presentation. What would quickly grab your attention? And what would keep your attention for the duration? Your answers to those questions form the foundation of a successful presentation’s content and delivery
LEARN MORE →Building clear slides for your audience
A presentation can explain an idea, share findings or support a decision. Start with what your audience needs to understand.
Tools in this category will help you to...
Organise your ideas into slides, combine text with visuals and present information clearly. Start from a template, build your own layout or use AI to prepare a first draft. Some tools create complete presentations, while others supply graphics and animations to use in your existing software. Consider whether you will present live, record your explanation or share the slides for people to read. Check which download formats are included, particularly if you need PowerPoint files or an offline copy.
New to making presentations? Read our short planning guide →
The directory is developing incrementally. We’ll add research and first-hand testing as we carry them out, while keeping straightforward listings useful for discovery.
Canva helps you create and deliver presentations using editable slide templates, charts, images, video and animations. Build a pitch, training session or webinar presentation, then use presenter notes to support your delivery. Collaborate through shared designs, present directly from Canva or export to PowerPoint, PDF or video. The ongoing free plan includes core presentation tools and a selection of templates and design assets. Designs using your own uploads or free content can be downloaded without watermarks. Premium assets require payment or a suitable subscription, while AI features have plan-dependent usage limits.
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Piktochart helps you turn a topic, outline, notes or uploaded document into an editable presentation. Its AI presentation maker prepares a first draft, which you can revise with your own wording, images, charts and layouts. Present online or share a link when a downloaded file is unnecessary. The ongoing free plan includes 60 AI credits each month and two PNG downloads per account; the download allowance does not renew. Pro adds unlimited PNG downloads, while PDF and PowerPoint exports require Business. Check the export requirements before choosing a plan for regular presentation work.
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PresenterMedia provides downloadable slide templates, animated graphics, clipart and video backgrounds for presentations and other business content. Customise colours, text and images, then use suitable files in PowerPoint, Google Slides, Keynote or Canva. Its online tools also include an AI presentation maker. Selected samples are free, while paid memberships unlock the full library and download access. Memberships are available for one month, one year or two years, with no automatic renewal. Downloaded assets remain licensed for permitted uses after membership ends, including projects for your business or clients.
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Visme is an online presentation tool with templates, charts, diagrams and interactive elements for explaining ideas and information. Build slides from scratch or use its AI Designer to prepare a starting point, then add your own text, images, audio and animations. Presenter Studio lets you record yourself explaining the slides. The free Basic plan supports creating and sharing projects online with Visme branding. Downloads require payment: Starter includes JPG, PNG and PDF, while Business adds PowerPoint, video and HTML5 exports alongside privacy controls. Choose a plan around how you intend to share the finished presentation.
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WPS Presentation is the slide-making part of WPS Office, with desktop, mobile and browser options. Create slides from a template or blank presentation, add charts, images and transitions, and open or save common PowerPoint formats. Presenter tools and speaker notes support delivery, while sharing, comments and collaborative editing help with joint projects. Core presentation editing is available through the free WPS Standard plan. Premium templates and AI features have separate paid access or usage allowances. AI tools can generate slides from a topic or document, refine wording and prepare notes for your presentation.
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Start with what you want your audience to understand or do. Sketch out the main points before choosing a template. A simple sequence — introduce the subject, explain the important points and finish with a clear conclusion — gives you a useful starting structure.
Slides supporting a live talk can use brief prompts and visuals, with more detail in your speaker notes. A presentation shared for people to read independently needs enough explanation to make sense on its own. For a recorded presentation, allow time to prepare and check the spoken explanation as well.
Give each slide a clear purpose. Use readable text, consistent layouts and enough contrast between the words and background. A relevant photograph, diagram or chart can explain something more clearly than a large block of text. Add movement or animation where it helps people follow the explanation.
Before investing time in a tool, check what its free plan lets you finish and share:
Read through the slides and practise your delivery aloud. Check your timing, facts, links and any AI-generated material. Open the exported file or shared link as your audience will receive it, and check that text, images and any audio or video work as intended.