How can you create effective slides?

1 Know your purpose

Before you start creating slides, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your presentation. What is your main message, your goal, and your call to action? How do you want your audience to feel, think, and act after listening to you? Your slides should align with your purpose and help you deliver it in a concise and compelling way. Avoid adding unnecessary or irrelevant information that might dilute your impact.

2 Follow the rule of three

One of the most effective ways to structure your slides is to follow the rule of three, which states that people can only remember three things at a time. This means that you should limit each slide to one main idea, supported by up to three subpoints, examples, or data. You can also group your slides into three sections: introduction, body, and conclusion. This will help you organize your content, create a logical flow, and make it easier for your audience to follow and remember.

3 Use visuals wisely

Visuals can enhance your slides by adding interest, clarity, and emotion. However, they can also backfire if they are too complex, cluttered, or irrelevant. To use visuals wisely, you need to choose them carefully, make them simple and clear, and align them with your message. For example, you can use charts, graphs, or icons to illustrate data, trends, or concepts. You can use photos, videos, or stories to evoke emotions, show examples, or create connections. You can also use colors, fonts, and layouts to create contrast, hierarchy, and harmony.

4 Practice and refine

Creating effective slides is not a one-time task. You need to practice and refine your slides until they are polished and ready to go. This means that you need to test your slides on different devices, check for errors, and adjust them as needed. You also need to rehearse your presentation with your slides, and get feedback from others. This will help you improve your timing, delivery, and confidence. Remember that your slides are not the star of the show, you are. They are there to support you, not to replace you.

5 Engage your audience

The ultimate goal of your slides is to engage your audience and make them care about your message. To do this, you need to design your slides with your audience in mind. Who are they, what do they need, and what do they expect from you? How can you hook their attention, address their questions, and overcome their objections? How can you make your slides interactive, relevant, and memorable? You can use techniques such as asking questions, telling stories, using humor, or adding surprises to make your slides more engaging and effective.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?