Page 66 - AV Presentations - Student Textbook

4. Build better bullets

If you have to use bullets to get your message across, proceed with caution.

Any time your audience sees text (like this blog post) they’ll start to read. But they’ll quit just as quickly
if bullets seem redundant, too long, or too hard to read.

This is such a common problem it’s worth looking at why it happens in the first place.

When we create a presentation (webinar, slide deck, SlideShare, screen capture video or infographic),
we’re sharing information. And a common assumption is more is better.

In fact, less is almost always best (see below).

The purpose of your visuals is to pull your audience in to pay attention and because we remember
visuals more than text, your visual is there to anchor your message and make it memorable.

Anything more than that is too much.

If you are flipping through your latest slide deck, here’s a quick rule:

• limit bullets to four on a slide,
• each bullet no longer than eight words and
• use at least 32-point font.

BAD GOOD

Start by limiting your bullets to 4 on a slide.

“Please use a font WAY larger than you think you’ll need, for the people in the back of the room and for
those looking at your webinar or course on their phone.” Phil Gerbyshak

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