Timelines serve as a guide for success, leading initiatives from start to end. They serve as a shared reference point in a fast-paced business world, facilitating teamwork and allowing for successful decision-making.
Timelines are essential instruments in business communication because they provide clarity and efficiency. They illustrate project milestones, deadlines, and work sequences, assisting team members to align to project goals. This increases productivity, eliminates misunderstandings, and allows for better time management. Timelines are better executed, if mapped out correctly. Let’s understand how to make a timeline in Google Slides easily.
What is a Timeline?
A timeline is a graphical representation of events or activities arranged chronologically. It graphically illustrates a series of events, durations, and linkages. Timelines are an excellent tool for communicating complex information, historical data, or project timelines concisely. They are essential for tracking progress, defining goals, and assuring clarity in various sectors ranging from history and business to project management and education.
How to Make a Timeline in Google Slides?
You have two options to make a timeline in Google Slides:
- Utilize a pre-made template
- Create your own timeline from scratch
How to Make a Timeline in Google Slides Using a Timeline Template?
You can easily create timelines with the help of Google Slides templates. Follow the steps below:
- Select the slide where you want to add the timeline.
- Go to “Insert” > “Diagram” > choose the “Timeline” template.
- Customize your timeline using the “Dates” and “Color” dropdown options. As you modify the number of dates and colors, Google Slides will show you live previews to help design your timeline.
- Click on any part of the timeline to edit it, depending on your chosen template. Simply double-click these fields to input your information.
- To represent progress over time, you can use various colors. Select an element and click on “Fill color” in the toolbar to change its color.
- If you want to duplicate this timeline to another slide, select the entire diagram, copy it using “Ctrl+C”, navigate to another slide, and paste it there using the “Ctrl + V” command.
These timeline templates can be used to showcase roadmap, project milestones, business roadmap, company timelines, product roadmaps, etc.
ALSO READ: How to Make a RoadMap Presentation?
How to Make Timeline in Google Slides from Scratch?
A timeline made in Google Slides from scratch gives you a lot of freedom to add data, visuals and update the layout as you need. To create an impactful timeline presentation, follow the steps below:
- Choose the slide where you wish to add the timeline diagram.
- Click “Line” and draw a horizontal line. You can customize the line’s color and thickness using the toolbar.
- Go to the Shapes icon in the toolbar > “Shapes” and select the circle shape to create circles on the line. (You can use oval, rounded rectangles, hexagons, or other shapes.)
- Select “Shape” > “Shapes” > “Callouts” from the toolbar and place it at the top of the first circle. This completes the outline of your timeline. Duplicate the circles and callout shapes using “Ctrl + C” and “Ctrl + V” in Windows or “Cmd + C” and “Cmd + V” on Mac.
- Create four additional copies to have a timeline diagram with five milestones. Position all the circles evenly along the line, maintaining equal spacing between them.
- Modify the circle’s appearance by adjusting the “Fill color” and the “Border weight” from your toolbar.
- To enhance the visual appeal, match the circle’s color palette with the line, and make the circle’s border invisible by selecting the “Transparent” option under “Fill color”.
- Select “Text Boxes” from the toolbar to enter text. Click and drag the text box into the callout box, then insert your concise text.
- Customize the text using the options in the toolbar while staying consistent with your presentation’s design. Copy and paste the text boxes into all callouts and insert the necessary text.
- Position each callout box above each circle, maintaining a uniform design and size in alignment with the template. To add a dynamic touch and create more space on the slide, position one callout box above the circle and another below it.
- Select the callout shape and use “Arrange” > “Rotate” > “Flip Vertically” to direct the callout box towards the circle. Alternatively, you can rotate the object by selecting the callout and dragging the farthest dot while holding the ‘Shift’ key in 15-degree increments.
READ MORE: How to Make an Image Transparent in Google Slides?
If you opt for personalized callout shapes, select the entire callout area and group the elements by going to “Arrange” > “Group”. You can use pre-formatted callouts with tails from Google Slides’ library or create customized boxes by inserting square or rectangular shapes from the toolbar. And that’s how you make a Timeline in Google Slides from scratch!
ALSO READ: How to group elements in Google Slides?
How to Make a Good Timeline in Google Slides?
A well-drafted timeline presentation helps to streamline communication between the stakeholders. Follow the tips below to create an easy-to-understand timeline in Google Slides:
- Choose a timeline template that matches your presentation’s tone and purpose, keeping it simple and uncluttered.
- Use descriptive titles for timelines, specifying time frames, project names, or topics. Follow a format like “Date – Event Description.”
- Arrange events in a linear, clockwise, or anticlockwise order, and create a visual hierarchy using font attributes for emphasis.
- Provide background information for key events to aid the audience’s understanding.
- Use colors to distinguish event groups, highlight milestones, and make essential accomplishments stand out.
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Pre-designed templates streamline the process of creating a timeline in Google Slides. They save you time by eliminating setting up from scratch, enabling users to input project or event details swiftly. Additionally, pre-made timeline Google Slides templates enhance the overall quality and audience appeal with visually appealing elements, thoughtfully chosen color schemes, and typography.
Top Timeline Templates from SlideUpLift:
Animated Vertical Timeline Google Slides Template
Effortlessly present your journey or project timeline with this Vertical Timeline Google Slides Template. A user-friendly tool designed for professionals seeking a fresh, engaging way to tell their stories.
Timeline Google Slides Template
Transform your timelines and history into engaging journeys (along with images) with Timeline Google Slides Template. It’s an ideal choice for professionals seeking to convey their data and information with clarity and impact.
Progress Timeline Google Slides Template
Achieve your goals and showcase your journey towards success with Progress Timeline Google Slides Template. A dynamic and intuitive tool to visually track your accomplishments and milestones with finesse.
Animated Timeline Google Slides Template
Create stunning visual timelines effortlessly with this Animated Timeline. It’s the go-to choice for professionals looking to enhance their presentations with a clear and engaging chronological narrative.
Pipeline Timeline Google Slides Template
Streamline your project tracking and showcase different stages with our Pipeline Timeline Google Slides Template. It’s designed for professionals seeking to convey complex workflows and timelines clearly and engagingly.
MUST READ: 5 Best Websites for PowerPoint Templates
Timelines help with efficiency, communication, and making decisions with consensus. Whether you use a pre-made design or craft your narrative, using a Timeline template in Google Slides simplifies the process.
Now that you know, you can either create a timeline in Google Slides from scratch, or use our timeline Google Slides templates. Go ahead and impress your audience with an effective timeline presentation. Download Now!
FAQ's
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What is the significance of a business timeline?
A timeline lays out your business milestones – the number of workers, locations, sales targets, net revenue forecast, and other targets – and specifies when they are expected to be met.
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How can I make a timeline in Google Slides quickly?
Using a premade timeline template is the quickest method. Look for “timeline” in the template gallery, select an appropriate timeline template, and customize it to your specifications.
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How do I precisely match events on my timeline?
To ensure that events are appropriately spaced, utilize alignment guides in Google Slides. Enable them by navigating to “View” > “Grid and Guides” and checking the box next to “Snap to guides.”
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How to insert a timeline in Google Slides to present a complicated chronology with several events?
Consider utilizing an overview slide that links to various slides for complex timeframes. This assists your viewers in navigating to the appropriate sections of the chronology.
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How to add a timeline in Google Slides to an existing presentation?
Open your presentation, navigate to the slide where you want to place the timeline, and then follow the steps above to construct a timeline from scratch or use a template as needed.