How do you prioritize information on your slides?

1 Know your purpose

Before you start designing your slides, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your presentation. What is the main message you want to convey? What is the desired outcome or action you want your audience to take? How do you want them to feel or think after your presentation? Having a clear purpose will help you focus on the essential information, and eliminate the irrelevant or redundant details.

2 Know your audience

Another key factor to consider when prioritizing information on your slides is your audience. Who are they, and what are their needs, interests, expectations, and level of knowledge? How much information do they already know, and how much do they need to know? How will they benefit from your presentation, and what are their possible objections or questions? Knowing your audience will help you tailor your slides to their level of understanding, and address their concerns or motivations.

3 Use the BLUF principle

BLUF stands for Bottom Line Up Front, and it is a useful principle to follow when prioritizing information on your slides. It means that you should start with the most important or relevant information, and then provide the supporting details or evidence. This way, you capture your audience's attention, and make your main point clear from the beginning. You also avoid burying your key message under too much information, or losing your audience's interest or patience.

4 Apply the 10/20/30 rule

The 10/20/30 rule is a guideline proposed by Guy Kawasaki, a renowned entrepreneur and speaker, to help you design effective slides. It states that you should use no more than 10 slides, speak for no more than 20 minutes, and use a font size of no less than 30 points. The idea behind this rule is to keep your presentation simple, concise, and readable. You don't want to overload your slides with too much information, or make your audience strain their eyes to read your text. You also don't want to bore your audience with a long or monotonous presentation. By following this rule, you can prioritize the most essential information on your slides, and deliver it in a clear and engaging way.

5 Use the rule of three

The rule of three is a principle that states that people tend to remember and process information better when it is presented in groups of three. This is because three is the smallest number that can create a pattern, and our brains are wired to look for patterns. You can use the rule of three to prioritize information on your slides by grouping your main points, subpoints, or examples into threes. For example, you can use three bullet points per slide, three key benefits of your product or service, or three steps to solve a problem. By using the rule of three, you can make your slides more memorable, and easier to follow.

6 Use visual aids

Visual aids are a great way to prioritize information on your slides, and enhance your presentation. Visual aids can include images, graphs, charts, diagrams, icons, or videos that illustrate or support your message. Visual aids can help you attract and retain your audience's attention, simplify complex or abstract concepts, emphasize important points, or evoke emotions. However, you should use visual aids wisely, and avoid cluttering your slides with too many or irrelevant visuals. You should also make sure that your visual aids are clear, consistent, and aligned with your purpose and audience.

7 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?