Change Your Bullet Points to More Visual and Compelling Slides
Why can’t people give up their bullet points in PowerPoint presentations? One reason is they don’t know what to replace them with or what to do differently. Here’s a slide makeover that may give you some ideas.
The first slide below is not as cluttered and data heavy as many I’ve seen, but it still has too many words on it to be easily understood by the audience.
One guideline that can help improve a type-filled slide is to put most of the words in your notes (either on your screen or on paper) to remind you what you want to say. Also, include only one key point per slide.
Here the presenter is trying to do too much at once. She’s talking about the importance of a “meaningful difference,” and then also adds five examples. She’ll probably read them to the audience.
I think it can be more visual and therefore more understandable by spreading the info out on more slides. The presenter can also easily include the audience in the discussion.
The first new slide introduces the concept. On her notes page, the presenter can have the info she wants to say, the stuff that used to be on the slide.
“Strong brands stand out because they have something that differentiates them — what’s called a meaningful difference. They convey this difference consistently and constantly in everything they do.”
“Let’s look at some brands that stand out in this way and see if you can name their meaningful difference.”
“When we think of Maytag, what do we think of?”
“Yes, reliability. How about Michelin?
“Safety. All of their ads and communications to consumers convey their emphasis on safety.”
“What stands out when we think of Disney? What’s their differentiator?”
“Yes, Disney is known for providing wholesome family entertainment. Parents know that if they send their kids to a Disney movie, it won’t have sex and violence.”
And she can continue on with the other brands. This way of presenting keeps the audience from texting, twitting, or checking email. And it’s more interesting for the presenter too.
