How to Create a Table of Contents in Google Slides

A table of contents (TOC) is an essential component of presentations, especially lengthy ones. It gives your audience an overview of the topics you’ll cover and provides a clear structure for your presentation. While Google Slides doesn’t have a built-in feature to automatically create a table of contents like Google Docs, you can manually create one with a few simple steps.

In this blog post, we'll walk you through how to create a table of contents in Google Slides, along with tips to make it effective and visually appealing.

Why Add a Table of Contents?

Improves Clarity: It gives a clear roadmap of the presentation.

Organizes Information: Helps in structuring your content logically.

Facilitates Navigation: Useful for long presentations where viewers may want to jump to specific sections.

Steps to Create a Table of Contents in Google Slides

Step 1: Plan Your Slide Structure

Before creating a table of contents, decide on the key sections or topics in your presentation. For instance:

Introduction

Problem Statement

Proposed Solutions

Data Analysis

Conclusion

Write down these headings as they will form the basis of your TOC.

Step 2: Insert a Blank Slide

To create a table of contents:

Open your Google Slides presentation.

Navigate to the left-hand slide panel.

Right-click between slides and choose “New Slide.”

Ensure it is blank or formatted with a title layout.

Step 3: Add a Title

Click on the Title Box on the slide.

Type something like “Table of Contents” or “Agenda.”

This makes it clear that the slide lists the topics covered.

Step 4: List Your Topics

Add a Text Box (Insert → Text Box).

Type your list of topics or sections. For example:

Introduction

Background Information

Objectives

Methodology

Results and Discussion

Conclusion

Tip:

You can use bullet points, numbering, or a clean, minimalistic style for your list.

Step 5: Link the Table of Contents to Slides

For presentations where you want the TOC to serve as a clickable navigation tool:

Highlight a topic in the TOC.

Right-click and choose “Insert Link.”

A dialog box will appear. Select “Slides in this presentation.”

Choose the corresponding slide for that topic.

Repeat this process for all topics in the TOC.

Example:

If "Objectives" is the second item in your TOC, link it to Slide 3 (assuming that slide contains the Objectives content).

Step 6: Format Your TOC

Fonts: Use bold or larger font sizes for the section titles.

Alignment: Keep the text left-aligned for readability.

Spacing: Use adequate spacing between items for clarity.

Design Elements: Add dividers or icons to make it visually appealing.

Tips for an Effective Table of Contents

Keep It Simple: Avoid overwhelming viewers with too much information.

Use Visual Aids: Incorporate icons, graphics, or background images related to your presentation.

Maintain Consistency: Use the same font and color scheme as the rest of your slides.

Test the Links: If you’ve added clickable links, ensure they work correctly.

Using Templates for TOC in Google Slides

If you want to save time, consider using pre-designed templates that include a table of contents slide. Many websites offer free or premium Google Slides templates with built-in TOC designs.

Conclusion

Creating a table of contents in Google Slides may require a bit of manual effort, but it significantly enhances the professionalism and navigability of your presentation. By following the steps outlined above, you can craft a TOC that is both functional and visually engaging.

Whether you’re presenting in a business meeting, classroom, or conference, a well-designed TOC ensures your audience stays on track and engaged. Give it a try in your next presentation!