Create a Word Cloud in PowerPoint
6 minutes read
Are you trying to teach vocabulary? Want to show off the relative power of search terms? You need a visual like a word cloud PowerPoint design.
Word cloud PowerPoint designs have many advantages. They help you explain new ideas in creative ways, keep presentations interesting, and assist viewers in honing in on the terms and ideas that matter most.
In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to make a word cloud in PowerPoint using two methods:
- You’ll see how to use a free PowerPoint add-in to create your word cloud right inside the app.
- You’ll learn to make a word cloud with an online, web-based tool.
Let’s jump in!
What Is a Word Cloud?
A word cloud PowerPoint is a visual featuring many words in fonts of different sizes or colors. The size of each word indicates its relative importance.
This importance can take on various meanings. For instance, if you’re teaching a new concept supported by several ideas, the main concept might be in a larger font while the supporting words might be in smaller fonts.
In the context of a search engine optimization (SEO) study, larger words in your word cloud represent more popular search terms.
Word clouds are powerful visuals that utilize a series of words. Alone, they can serve as stylish illustrations, but they also offer a tool for analytics to measure the relative importance of words. At a glance, you can introduce many new terms, keeping your audience engaged and focused on the message you’re delivering.
Complex topics can become tough to follow, especially for an unfamiliar audience. Here, a visual illustration is necessary to bring those concepts to life, and word clouds are the perfect companion for your PowerPoint presentations.
How to Create a Word Cloud in PowerPoint
As we learn how to create a word cloud in PowerPoint, it’s important to be efficient. You could manually type all your words and arrange them visually, but we’ll explore two methods that save you time.
Both methods of building word clouds in PowerPoint offer their own advantages:
- Using PowerPoint add-in apps allows you to work within the app itself.
- Online word cloud generator tools can be used from anywhere, without needing PowerPoint installed.
Let’s look at how to make a word cloud in PowerPoint using both options. Before you start typing your own word cloud, check these tools out as they automate most of the work of scanning your text, analyzing it, and putting it into a visual format.
For both examples, we’ll use the beautiful Zeiss PowerPoint Template from Envato Elements. With 150 slides inside, it’s a flexible and stylish option for all your PowerPoint needs.
The tips in this section were written using Windows and Office 365. If you have a different operating system or a different version of PowerPoint, your steps may vary slightly.
How to Add a Word Cloud to PowerPoint With a PowerPoint Add-In
PowerPoint add-ins are tools that enhance the functionality of PowerPoint itself, allowing you to create designs without leaving the app. Several word cloud PowerPoint add-ins are available, such as Bjorn’s Word Clouds and Pro Word Cloud.
For this quick tutorial, we’ll use the Pro Word Cloud add-in from Microsoft AppSource.
To find PowerPoint add-ins, go to the Insert tab on PowerPoint’s ribbon. Click on the Get Add-ins button, search for Pro Word Cloud, and click Add.
Once installed, you can access Pro Word Cloud by navigating to the Insert tab and selecting My Add-ins. Here you’ll find Pro Word Cloud listed; click on it to launch the add-in.
With Pro Word Cloud open, you need to add words to the app. The best method is to place them in a text box on a slide. Highlight the text to form the basis of your word cloud.
Pro Word Cloud allows for various stylistic choices. You can change the text style in the Font dropdown, adjust the color palette in the Colors pane, and explore additional options by scrolling through the list.
You can also change the layout to be horizontal, vertical, or a mix. All these choices, including a half-and-half design, help the word cloud blend seamlessly with your PowerPoint slide.
Additionally, you can modify the case, size, and specify a maximum word count. Once you’ve adjusted the settings, click on Create Word Cloud. This will generate your word cloud design as an image.
Note that the add-in creates an image file, so individual words cannot be repositioned. If the result isn’t satisfactory, tweak the settings and use Re-generate Word Cloud.
By default, the image is copied to your clipboard. To place it on your slide, simply press Ctrl + V. The word cloud now acts like any other image in PowerPoint; you can click and drag it to move it or resize it by pulling on the edges.
As you can see, it’s easy to use a word cloud generator in PowerPoint. In just a few quick steps, you can create your own word cloud right inside the app.
How to Add a Word Cloud With an Online Generator
If you need to create a word cloud in PowerPoint and don’t have an add-in, an online word cloud generator is a fantastic alternative. The tool will do the heavy lifting for you, delivering a finished word cloud.
There are many options available today, including Word Cloud Generator, Free Word Cloud Generator, and MonkeyLearn Generator.
For this example, let’s use the MonkeyLearn tool.
To get started, launch the MonkeyLearn Word Cloud Generator in your web browser. You’ll see a text input box where you can enter the words you want to feature. You can paste a large block of text; the tool will automatically emphasize the relevant terms.
You can also upload words from a text file saved on your computer, which is useful for larger amounts of text. Once you’ve inputted your words, click the blue Generate Cloud button in the lower right corner. The tool will generate a word cloud in seconds, ready for your PowerPoint slide.
Across the top of the screen, you can adjust style elements like fonts and color themes. You can also use the slider to adjust the word layout in real-time.
When you’re finished, click Download. The best file format option is Download Cloud .PNG.
After downloading, you can paste or import the image into PowerPoint and place it on your desired slide. Remember, since this creates a flat image file, any adjustments will need to be made using the online tool.
As you can see, building a word cloud in PowerPoint is straightforward. Whether you choose the add-in or web-based option, both methods are effective, eliminating the need for endless text boxes and transformations.
Now You Know How to Make a Word Cloud in PowerPoint
You’ve just learned a great technique for creating engaging word visuals. With the tools provided, you can create free word cloud templates for PowerPoint and relate words based on size.
Now it’s your turn! Try one of the two methods covered to create your own word cloud. Think of a topic to emphasize with words, and get started with your word cloud in PowerPoint!