Slide Titles on Every Slide (Including Hidden Titles)

Why it matters

Titles act like navigation landmarks for screen reader users and make the slide deck easier to skim. Each slide should have a unique, descriptive title—even if it isn't visibly shown.

Slide titles serve multiple critical accessibility functions:

  • Navigation landmarks: Screen reader users can jump between slides by title
  • Content preview: Titles give users a sense of what each slide contains before diving into details
  • Slide identification: Helps users track their location within the presentation
  • Quick browsing: Users can skip slides that aren't relevant to their needs

Real-world impact

Consider a presentation with 20 slides. Without proper titles, a screen reader user would need to:

  • Listen to content on each slide to understand its purpose
  • Remember which slide contained specific information
  • Navigate sequentially through all slides to find relevant content

With proper titles, the same user can quickly scan all slide titles and jump directly to relevant content.

Practical tips

Ensure every slide has a title placeholder

  • Use layouts that include a Title placeholder (most built-in layouts do)
  • If using a custom layout, always include a title placeholder via Slide Master
  • Avoid layouts without title areas unless absolutely necessary

Make titles unique and descriptive

  • Avoid repetitive titles like "Overview" or "Continuing" across multiple slides
  • Be specific: Instead of "Results," use "Q3 Sales Results by Region"
  • Include key context: "Project Timeline (Q3–Q4)" rather than just "Timeline"
  • Use action-oriented language: "How to Set Up Your Account" vs. "Account Setup"

Keep titles concise but informative

  • Aim for 5-10 words when possible
  • Include the most important keywords first
  • Reflect the slide's main purpose or takeaway

Creating meaningful titles

❌ Poor titles

  • Slide 1
  • Overview
  • Continuing...
  • Data
  • Questions?
  • Next Steps

✅ Better titles

  • Welcome to Digital Transformation Workshop
  • Project Goals and Success Metrics
  • Phase 2: Implementation Strategy
  • Customer Satisfaction Survey Results
  • Q&A: Implementation Timeline
  • Action Items and Deadlines

Title writing techniques

Use parallel structure
If one slide is titled "Planning Phase," make the next "Implementation Phase" not "How We'll Implement"
Include numbers or time periods
"Q1 Revenue Growth" or "Step 3: Validation Process"
Indicate the slide's function
"Introduction to APIs" (learning), "API Implementation Checklist" (reference), "API Troubleshooting" (problem-solving)
Use audience-focused language
"Your Next Actions" instead of "What Needs to Happen"

Hidden titles for design-heavy slides

For design-heavy slides where visible titles would interfere with the visual layout, you can hide titles while keeping them accessible to screen readers.

Method 1: Hide via Reading Order Pane

  1. Add meaningful text to the Title placeholder
  2. Open Home → Arrange → Selection Pane
  3. Find the title object in the list
  4. Click the eye icon next to the title to hide it visually
  5. The title remains accessible to screen readers

Method 2: Move title off-slide

  1. Add meaningful text to the Title placeholder
  2. Drag the title placeholder outside the visible slide area
  3. Ensure the title text is still accessible to assistive technologies

Method 3: Make title transparent

  1. Add meaningful text to the Title placeholder
  2. Select the title text
  3. Set font color to match background exactly
  4. Note: This method may not work well with all screen readers

⚠️ Important considerations for hidden titles

  • Test with screen readers: Verify that hidden titles are still announced
  • Consider your audience: Hidden titles may confuse sighted users who expect visible headings
  • Use sparingly: Most slides benefit from visible titles
  • Maintain consistency: If hiding titles, apply the same method throughout the presentation

Good and bad examples

Example 1: Training presentation

❌ Before (Poor titles)

  1. Introduction
  2. Overview
  3. Module 1
  4. Module 2
  5. Module 3
  6. Summary
  7. Questions

✅ After (Good titles)

  1. Welcome to Customer Service Excellence
  2. Learning Objectives and Agenda
  3. Module 1: Active Listening Techniques
  4. Module 2: Conflict Resolution Strategies
  5. Module 3: Follow-up Best Practices
  6. Key Takeaways and Resources
  7. Q&A and Next Steps

Example 2: Business presentation

❌ Before (Vague titles)

  1. Quarterly Update
  2. Numbers
  3. Challenges
  4. Solutions
  5. Moving Forward

✅ After (Specific titles)

  1. Q4 Performance: Meeting Revenue Goals
  2. Key Metrics: 15% Growth in New Customers
  3. Supply Chain Challenges and Impact
  4. Three-Point Recovery Strategy
  5. Q1 Priorities and Success Metrics

Quick checklist

Before finalizing your presentation:

  • ☐ Every slide has a Title placeholder filled with meaningful text
  • ☐ No duplicate titles across the deck (unless truly intended)
  • ☐ Titles are descriptive and reflect the slide's main purpose
  • ☐ Hidden titles (if used) are still accessible to screen readers
  • ☐ Titles use parallel structure where appropriate
  • ☐ Titles are concise but informative (5-10 words when possible)