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Loading...By Barrera Alcova
PowerPoint Never Really Dies
Most people think their old presentations disappear after a pitch or school project. They don’t. Many are still floating around online—on Prezi, SlideShare, Scribd, speaker profiles, or in cached Google results.
Search your name and “filetype:ppt” or “filetype:pdf.” You might find that slideshow you made in 2012 with clip art, Comic Sans, and a bad joke about cloud computing. It’s still out there. And it’s not helping you.
Why This Actually Matters
Presentations Age Fast
A good presentation should make you look sharp. But old decks can be misleading. They show outdated data, expired job titles, and opinions you’ve long since moved past.
One marketing director found an old deck titled “Top 10 Social Media Trends of 2016” ranking Vine as #1. It had her name on it. A new client brought it up during a call. Not ideal.
Cached Slides Can Hurt Your Brand
You might have uploaded something to SlideShare or Prezi ten years ago and forgot about it. But Google didn’t. If someone searches your name, that deck might show up before your current website does.
Recruiters and clients often Google people before meetings. Old, messy content can be confusing—or worse, embarrassing.
Where Old Slides Live Online
SlideShare
Once owned by LinkedIn, SlideShare hosted millions of decks. Even if you deleted your account, your slides could still be indexed or reposted by third parties.
Prezi
Prezi presentations are often public by default. Many students and conference speakers shared them without thinking long-term. Today, they’re still searchable—and most can’t be edited without logging in.
Google Drive and Dropbox Links
If you shared a presentation link with “anyone can view” permissions, it may still be visible if it was posted on a forum or blog. Even unlisted files can end up indexed.
Company Websites and Bios
A lot of team pages link to past talks, speaker decks, or embedded slideshows. When people leave companies, the old content sometimes stays. Years later, those pages still rank for their name.
How to Clean Up Old Presentations
Step 1: Google Yourself
Use these search terms:
- “Your Name” filetype:ppt
- “Your Name” filetype:pdf
- site:slideshare.net “Your Name”
- site:prezi.com “Your Name”
Check image search too—screenshots from decks often get picked up and shared.
Step 2: Delete or Make Private
Log into old accounts on SlideShare, Prezi, or Scribd. If you still have access, delete or make the files private. If you don’t, use the site’s contact form and request removal.
Step 3: Request Index Removal
Use Google’s Remove Outdated Content tool to submit links you’ve deleted. This stops them from showing up in search results.
It doesn’t always work, especially if a third-party copied or reposted your slides. In those cases, professional online content removal services can help get the files taken down or de-indexed.
Step 4: Replace with Better Content
Post new, high-quality work that actually reflects who you are now. A simple PDF or updated bio page can outrank old material. Give Google something fresh to show off.
What to Keep vs. What to Trash
Keep It If:
- It still shows off your skills or thought process
- The content is evergreen (example: design principles)
- You’ve updated the data or visuals
Delete It If:
- It has outdated opinions or wrong info
- You’re embarrassed by the format or tone
- You no longer work in that industry or role
One consultant found a deck online titled “10 Secrets of Crushing Cold Calls.” He now works in UX design. He took it down the same day.
Tips for Preventing Future Slideshame
Label Files Clearly
Don’t call your file “Final_v9_REAL_THIS_ONE.ppt.” If someone stumbles on it, they won’t know what it is or how current it is.
Use the year or version in the title. Example: “Customer_Experience_Summit_2023.ppt”
Don’t Upload to Public Platforms Without a Reason
If it’s not meant for public sharing, don’t post it. Use private sharing links. Keep control over who sees your slides.
Include a Contact Note in the File
Some slides get passed around. Add a note: “For updated info, contact [your name] at [your site].” That helps limit confusion if someone finds an older version.
Why People Still Find Old Slides Funny—or Concerning
People Remember Bad Slides
Bad visuals live in memory. One HR manager said, “I found a slide from a job candidate with a stock photo of a handshake and the word synergy. I couldn’t unsee it.”
A good deck adds credibility. A sloppy one takes it away.
They’re Easy to Screenshot and Share
Once it’s public, it’s not just your file anymore. Someone might tweet a bad slide, post it in a Slack group, or use it in a workshop about what not to do.
Keep in mind, even if you delete a file, someone might already have a copy.
Control Your Slide Story
If you’re Googling yourself and seeing old decks before your new work, that’s a problem. You don’t want a pitch from 2014 showing up higher than your current site.
Treat old slides like old tweets. Check them. Clean them. Control the story they tell.
And if you’re stuck dealing with content you can’t delete, get help. Companies offering online content removal services can clean up what Google won’t forget on its own.
Your PowerPoint past doesn’t have to haunt your present. But only if you bother to look.
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