How to Create a Timeline in Google Slides

Telling the story of how you built up your brand is simpler if you insert a timeline. Rather than shifting between your company’s many achievements and its future plans, offering a visual representation to your audience can go a long way.

Google Slides offers an easy way of drawing your timeline. We will show you how to go about creating a timeline with Google Slides. However, we have a recommendation. Put down on paper all the information you would like to add. Make sure you have all the important information. Add only the salient points to avoid overcrowding the timeline.

Google Slides offers you two ways to create timelines:

  • Using templates
  • Using shapes, callouts, and text boxes.

We will show you both methods in simple instructions.

Let us begin.


Method #1: Timeline Using Templates

This method is a quick solution if you do not want to spend much time creating your timeline. Use one of the available templates and customize it to your requirements.

Step #1: Open Google Slides

Fire up your favorite browser.

Go to the Google home page.

In the top right corner, Sign in to your Google accounts using your credentials.

Click the nine dots to open Google apps.

Scroll to and click the Slides icon.

Google Slides will open.

Step #2: Open a New Presentation

Hover the mouse pointer over the + button in the bottom right corner.

The button will change to two new buttons.

Click the button Create new presentation.

A new presentation will open.

Click to select the Simple light theme.

Note: You can select any other suitable theme from the menu.

Step #3: Create a New Title

Click the text box, Click to add subtitle and delete it.

Click the text box, Click to add title to select it.

Move the text box to a suitable position above the template.

Type in a suitable title.

Step #4: Select a Template

Click the Insert tab in the top menu bar.

This opens a menu.

Hover the mouse pointer over the Diagram icon.

This opens another menu.

Click the Timeline tab.

A list of templates opens in the right panel.

Click to select a suitable template.

The template appears inside the new slide.

Step #5: Change the First Date and Text

Double-click the first date.

Change the date suitably.

Double-click the text.

Change the text suitably.

Drag the handles to position the date and text suitably

Step #6: Change all the Dates and Texts

Repeat Step #5 for the rest of the dates and texts.

Step #7: Change the Timeline Colors

Double-click the date or text you want to change.

To change the font color, click the Text color icon in the ribbon.

A color menu will open.

Click a suitable color.

The font color will change.

To change the background color, click the Fill color icon in the ribbon.

A color menu will open.

Click a suitable color.

The background color will change.

Change colors for all the date and text in the timeline if necessary.


Method #2: Timeline using Shapes and Callouts

You can also create a timeline by using the built-in shapes, callouts, and text boxes in Google Slides. While this may take longer than using a template, you can tailor the timeline to match your style and requirements.

Step #1: Open Google Slides

Fire up your favorite browser.

Go to the Google home page.

In the top right corner, Sign in to your Google accounts using your credentials.

Click the nine dots to open Google apps.

Scroll to and click the Slides icon.

Google Slides will open.

Step #2: Open a New Presentation

Hover the mouse pointer over the + button in the bottom right corner.

The button will change to two new buttons.

Click the button Create new presentation.

A new presentation will open.

Click to select the Simple light theme.

Note: You can select any other suitable theme from the menu.

Step #3: Create a New Title

Click the text box, Click to add subtitle and delete it.

Click the text box, Click to add title to select it.

Move the text box to a suitable position above the template.

Type in a suitable title.

Step #4: Insert a Timeline Axis

In the ribbon, click the Line icon.

The cursor will change to a cross.

Position the cross suitably in the slide.

Press Shift, and drag the cross to form a horizontal line.

Step #5: Change the Timeline Axis Color

Click the timeline axis.

In the ribbon, click the Line color icon.

A color menu will open.

Click a suitable color.

The timeline color will change.

Step #6: Change the Timeline Axis Weight

Click and select the timeline axis.

In the ribbon, click the Line weight icon.

A menu will open.

Click a suitable weight.

The timeline weight will change.

Step #7: Add Shapes

In the ribbon, click the Shape icon.

A menu will open.

Hover the mouse pointer over the Shapes icon.

A number of shapes will appear.

Click the Oval shape.

Note: You can select any other shape as well.

The cursor will change to a cross.

Position the cross suitably.

Drag the cross horizontally to place an oval shape.

Drag the handles to position the oval suitably.

Click the oval shape to select it.

Press CTRL+C to copy it to clipboard.

Press CTRL+V to paste a copy.

Press CTRL+V several times to paste as many copies as necessary.

Drag the handles on each oval shape to position it suitably.

Step #8: Add Callouts

In the ribbon, click the Shape icon.

A menu will open.

Hover the mouse pointer over the Callouts icon.

A number of callouts will appear.

Click the Cloud callout shape.

Note: You can select any other callout shape as well.

The cursor will change to a cross.

Position the cross suitably.

Drag the cross horizontally to place a cloud shape.

Drag the handles to position the cloud suitably.

Click the cloud shape to select it.

Press CTRL+C to copy it to clipboard.

Press CTRL+V to paste a copy.

Press CTRL+V several times to paste as many copies as necessary.

Drag the handles on each cloud shape to position it suitably.

Step #9: Add Dates

Double-click the first oval on the left.

Enter a suitable date.

Double-click the next oval.

Enter a suitable date.

Repeat for all the ovals.

Step #10: Add Text

Double-click the first callout on the left.

Enter a suitable text.

Double-click the next callout.

Enter a suitable text.

Repeat for all the callouts.

Step #11: Change the Timeline Colors

Double-click the date or text you want to change.

To change the text color, click the Text color icon in the ribbon.

A color menu will open.

Click a suitable color.

The text color will change.

To change the background color, click the Fill color icon in the ribbon.

A color menu will open.

Click a suitable color.

The background color will change.

Change colors for all the date and text in the timeline if necessary.


Conclusion

We have shown you two methods of creating a timeline in Google Slides. Use the method most suitable to your application. If you have any questions, let us know in the comments section below.

Leave a Comment