Understanding exactly what to say and what not to say in your presentation takes time and practice. First, just because it can be said, doesn’t mean it should. Saying too much puts you at the risk of information overload, confusion, and overwhelm. Next, the words on each slide of your presentation should be easy to comprehend, learn, and commit to memory. Easier said than done? Using various strategies will help you achieve these three key measures. Now, chunking is a great place to start.
What is chunking?
Chunking is the process of breaking down information into smaller, bite-sized pieces of easily digestible information. The idea is that if you have a long sentence or a big paragraph, it can be broken apart to become more visually appealing. I used this strategy earlier today on a slide that had really good information, but was just a bit too lengthy to hold my attention. It looked something like this (specific verbiage has been generalized to protect sensitive information):
Original content:
“A powerful network of high-quality, data-integrated laboratories to dramatically improve the timeliness and accuracy of testing for our customers.”
Chunked content:
“A powerful network producing dramatic improvement for our customers.
Focused on:
-Quality
-Data integration
-Timeliness
-Accuracy”
Breaking it down
As you can see, there isn’t anything wrong with the original content. Enticing language and clear messaging contribute to the narrative without the sentence being too long. However, there are four important factors that, if not highlighted, could be overlooked. Also, after looking this over, I find myself re-reading it to fully absorb all it is saying. When chunking the content, there isn’t much left to ponder. This information supported by clean iconography can really enhance the messaging at each bullet point.
A novel thought
Figuring out the best way to lay out information in a powerpoint can take practice. When writing a novel, impactful sentences drive the narrative. Presentations don’t allow you the luxury of time you experience with a novel. Therefore, when writing content for powerpoint, chunking puts the important information in your face so you can’t miss it.
Need help chunking your content? Our content strategy team would love to take a look at your information and find ways to make it more easily digestible. Reaching out today for a free quote just takes a few seconds!
