Public Speaking Lab

How Many Bullet Points Should You Have On A Slide?

Let’s tackle the classic question: How many bullet points should you have on a slide? Instead of serving up a fixed number, I’ve got a revolutionary strategy up my sleeve. Think about how you scroll through Instagram or TikTok, processing a whirlwind of information. Now, imagine applying that concept to your slides.

Ask yourself: can I craft individual slides for each of these bullets? Then consider whether each one can shine on its own slide. 

That’s it! These slides can then be swiftly navigated, akin to the way we glide through our smartphones.

Scroll-Worthy Slide Design

Should you bulk up one slide with a barrage of bullets or streamline the content into multiple slides? The answer lies in understanding your audience’s attention span and how they absorb information. We’ll unlock the secrets to creating scroll-worthy slides.

Before you go bullet-point-crazy, it’s essential to understand the psychology behind how we consume content. Our brains are wired to process information in bite-sized chunks, making it vital to cater to this preference in your presentation design. By mirroring this behavior in your slides, you can keep your audience engaged and informed.

Transforming Clutter into Clarity

Let’s face it; bullet points have a bad rap for causing visual clutter. But there’s a way to turn that chaos into clarity, making your message crystal clear. We’ll explore practical techniques to declutter your slides and make your content stand out. 

First, make a slide. Put as many bullets as you want on it. Then, ask yourself, how many slides can I make from these bullets? So if you have six bullets and they’re all like two sentences long, ask yourself, can each one of these bullets be their own slide? Then once you do that, maybe you have 1 or 2 bullets on one slide, one bullet on the other two, three bullets on the other slide, and you go through them very quickly as if you were looking through your phone. The result of this strategy is clear: more engaging presentations that captivate your audience and leave a lasting impression. 

In conclusion, the age-old question of “How many bullet points should I use?” takes a back seat to a more dynamic approach. By emulating the scrolling experience, you can make your presentations more engaging and effective. So, the next time you’re crafting slides, think Instagram, think TikTok, and let your message flow seamlessly.

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