Posted by Barbara Welvaarts on 06/02/2012.

"A picture says more than a thousand words". A very visual way to convey your message is by including a SmartArt diagram in your PowerPoint presentation.
But how can you make sure that each item gets the focus it deserves without getting lost in the general overview?

Start by selecting the SmartArt object and adding an animation effect. I prefer to use one of the ‘entrance’ effects, as to have my information appear only when I’m covering the relevant topic. Like with this example:

In the Animation Pane, click the arrow next to the animation effect and select ‘Effect Options’:

On the ‘SmartArt Animation’ tab, select the order you would like your SmartArt components to be animated, eg. One by One.

When presenting your slideshow, you can now really build up your diagram, item by item, ensuring your audience follows each individual step.