At Ethos3, we love to see a company represented well by their slide deck. Bullet points are an easy way to break apart content and make it digestable for the reader to understand. However, let’s be honest. Traditional bullet points aren’t sexy. When we approach a slide that would traditionally have bullet points, we find a way to make them interesting. Rather than using simple solid dots, open dots, or checkmarks, here are some strategies we have for bullet point alternatives that can add interest and memorability to any slide deck.
Clean, Simple Icons
One of the easiest ways to make a boring slide more interesting is to replace bullet points with clean, simple icons. Using icons helps anchor the content while making it more quickly digestible and visually appealing. By having a graphic representation of each item, the audience can make a connection to your message through both words and visuals. Thus, increasing retention of your key points–making your presentation memorable far beyond the boardroom.
Diagram-based layouts
If your points have a structured reasoning behind them or represent a linear concept, it may be helpful to take the concept one step further by using a diagram or infographic-based approach. Rather than rely on your audience to visualize how each point is connected or relates, it is far more effective to create a layout that helps guide them. Create custom artwork or use PowerPoint’s built in SmartArt options.
Graphic Layouts
This next suggestion might be a little out of your comfort zone, but can prove to be engaging if done right. By ditching the bullet point format all together, you can experiment with using graphics to help represent the points. You can even take it one step further by incorporating the content into the image. This provides something unexpected for your audience, creating a more memorable experience vs. a boring list.
Build-Up
One of the biggest drawbacks to a bulleted list is that it gives too much information at once. Often, it can be beneficial to have each key point build one at time. This allows a presenter to make sure their audience is only focused on the most current key talking point. The goal of any great presentation is to keep your audience engaged with your narrative the entire duration of a pitch. This approach allows you to control the pace and ensure no one is distracted by reading ahead.
Break Out
Lastly, we believe that most points work best as stand alone slides. Much like the build approach, this allows you to control the pace and grants each key idea its own importance. A common misconception is that more slides means a longer presentation time. This doesn’t have to be true. The break out method may actually speed up your presentation while giving each bullet it’s own focal point. This is an engaging and impactful way to showcase each idea, while helping with visual retention.
We hope you’ll give these ideas a try. We’d love to see your before-and-afters in the comments! Which style do you lean on most often? Challenge yourself to try a new strategy if there is one that feels foreign. Adding options to your arsenal helps create diverse, compelling presentations. Need a partner? We’re here to help! Get a quote today on any part of our full line of presentation and design services!
