How to Add Invisible Links in Slides: A Comprehensive Guide

Creating engaging and informative slideshows is essential for presentations, whether for business, education, or personal use. One effective way to enhance your slides is by adding invisible links. These links can direct viewers to additional resources or external websites without disrupting the flow of your presentation. In this guide, we will explore various methods to add invisible links in slides, ensuring your audience remains engaged and informed.

Understanding Invisible Links

Invisible links, also known as “hotspots” or “clickable areas,” are areas on your slides that, when clicked, take the viewer to a different page or resource. The key to an invisible link is that it remains unobtrusive, blending seamlessly with the rest of the slide content. This guide will help you achieve that seamless integration.

Using PowerPoint for Invisible Links

Microsoft PowerPoint is a popular choice for creating slideshows. Here’s how you can add invisible links in PowerPoint:

1. Open your PowerPoint presentation.
2. Select the slide where you want to add an invisible link.
3. Click on the “Insert” tab in the ribbon.
4. Select “Shape” and choose the shape you want to use as the invisible link. This could be a rectangle, circle, or any other shape that fits your design.
5. Draw the shape on your slide, ensuring it is positioned where you want the link to be clickable.
6. Right-click on the shape and select “Hyperlink.”
7. In the “Insert Hyperlink” dialog box, choose “Place in This Document” or “This Document” to link to another slide within your presentation, or “Existing File or Web Page” to link to an external website.
8. Select the desired destination and click “OK.”

Remember to remove the shape or make it transparent once the link is added, ensuring it remains invisible to your audience.

Creating Invisible Links in Google Slides

Google Slides is another popular choice for creating slideshows. Here’s how to add invisible links in Google Slides:

1. Open your Google Slides presentation.
2. Select the slide where you want to add an invisible link.
3. Click on the “Insert” menu and select “Drawing.”
4. In the drawing editor, draw the shape you want to use as the invisible link. This could be a rectangle, circle, or any other shape that fits your design.
5. Click “Save and Close” to return to your slide.
6. Click on the shape you drew and select “Format” from the menu.
7. Under “Shape Options,” click “No Fill” to make the shape transparent.
8. Right-click on the shape and select “Add Link.”
9. In the “Insert Hyperlink” dialog box, choose “Place in This Document” or “This Document” to link to another slide within your presentation, or “Existing File or Web Page” to link to an external website.
10. Select the desired destination and click “OK.”

As with PowerPoint, make sure to remove the shape or make it transparent once the link is added.

Adding Invisible Links in Keynote

Keynote is a popular choice for Mac users. Here’s how to add invisible links in Keynote:

1. Open your Keynote presentation.
2. Select the slide where you want to add an invisible link.
3. Click on the “Insert” menu and select “Shape.”
4. Choose the shape you want to use as the invisible link. This could be a rectangle, circle, or any other shape that fits your design.
5. Draw the shape on your slide, ensuring it is positioned where you want the link to be clickable.
6. Right-click on the shape and select “Link.”
7. In the “Link” dialog box, choose “This Slide” to link to another slide within your presentation, or “Other” to link to an external website.
8. Select the desired destination and click “OK.”

As with the other software options, make sure to remove the shape or make it transparent once the link is added.

Best Practices for Adding Invisible Links