🔨 10 Specific Things To Check Your Slide Deck Against [Checklist with Tactics]

Based on 10 Simple Slide Tips to Crush Your Next Presentation [Save The Checklist]

I wrote about this in the 95th edition of the newsletter.

Checklist for Slide Deck Review

1. One Idea Per Slide

• Check Method: Read the slide title and content. If you can't summarize the slide's main point in a single sentence without using conjunctions like 'and,' 'or,' the slide likely has multiple ideas.

• Solution: Split the slide into multiple slides, each focusing on a single point.

2. Script-Free

• Check Method: Ask yourself, "Could the audience understand the slide without my verbal input?" If yes, the slide is too script-like.

• Solution: Remove textual explanations that you intend to speak out loud and replace with visual aids that complement your speech.

3. No Redundancy

• Check Method: After finishing your deck, go through each slide and check for any repeated information or images.

• Solution: Remove or merge slides that reiterate the same point unless repetition is a deliberate strategy for emphasis.

4. Font Size

• Check Method: Use the software's font size indicator to ensure no font is smaller than 30 points.

• Solution: Increase font size where needed, even if it means reducing text.

5. No Bullet Points

• Check Method: Scan each slide for bullet-point lists.

• Solution: Convert bullet points to individual slides or use smart art/infographics to display the information.

6. Word Limit

• Check Method: Count the words on each slide. Alternatively, use word count features if your software provides it.

• Solution: Trim down text to meet the 20-word limit. Use visual aids to supplement information.

7. Imagery

• Check Method: Confirm that there is one, and only one, image per slide.

• Solution: Add or remove images as needed. Make sure the image directly relates to the slide's main point.

8. Editing

• Check Method: Review each slide multiple times focusing on different elements: content, design, and flow. Consider using a third-party tool like Grammarly for textual elements.

• Solution: Edit iteratively. Focus on one element at a time for best results.

9. Slide-to-Time Ratio

• Check Method: Divide your total presentation time (in minutes) by the number of slides. The result should be greater than 1.

• Solution: Either reduce the number of slides or extend your speaking time for each slide.

10. No Exception

• Check Method: Perform a rule violation audit. Go through each slide and check if it violates any of the above rules while believing that the rules don't apply to you.

• Solution: Adjust any slides that violate the rules. You aren't an exception.

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