I often help modify my clients’ presentation decks, and the question about the number of words always arises. How many words should be on a slide? Ideally, zero. Seriously. All words should come from you, the presenter, and the deck should offer visuals to emphasize your stories and help your audience retain your message. Unless you’re the boss, in today’s corporate environment zero words on a slide might be a bit ambitious and unrealistic. Below are some rules of thumb on creating a very good presentation deck that is more realistic …
- Do not have sentences in your deck, unless it’s one statement to make a point. In that case, the words act like a visual.
- When using words as visuals to drive home a point, let the audience read them silently. Just show the slide and be quiet. After they’ve all read the statement and the pause has had its effect on the audience, then you can repeat it.
- Don’t be afraid to fill your screen with a photo or image to fill the background.
- If you have to send your presentation for future review, then you should either create a modified version with more words or include short bullet points to spark their memories.
Always, always, always remember: you’re the presenter, the deck is there to support you.
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