Google Exec: 10 Tips to Write Great Slides!

Jeff -

There's no art to slide-writing.

It's not an art and a science.

It's just science.

Crafting visually appealing and informative presentations isn't guesswork. There's a clear methodology to delivering presentations that stick with your audience.

Herng Lee, Strategy & Operations Manager at Google, offers tried-and-tested strategies for slide design and presentation structure.

Watch it in action

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10 Powerful Tactics to Improve Your Presentation Slides

Headlines matter

Great headlines are assertive ("The iFold will capture 47% of the foldable market by 2030") or action-led ("5 billion dollar investment needed to make the iFold market leader").

For help, use AI tools like ChatGPT to generate variations.

Stress test your flow

Do your headline-only slides tell a logical story? If not, identify gaps or redundancies.

Set the tone

Choose language that evokes optimism, confidence, or a need for caution depending on your aims and audience.

The Pyramid Principle is key

Start presentations with the key takeaway, followed by supporting points, and finally the underlying data. This aligns with how audiences want to consume information.

Ditch the animations

Maintain control over your presentation flow by avoiding complex animations that hinder efficient navigation.

Make slides standalone

Opt for clarity over flashiness to ensure your message is understood even if your deck is circulated without you present.

Always be selling

Every slide needs a CTA for the audience. Restructure neutral data points into messages with clear implications.

Avoid complex charts

Bar charts, scatter plots, and other easily understood visuals are best. Limit the use of intricate charts that might be misinterpreted.

Callouts boost clarity

Numbered callout boxes guide the audience's eyes to the most crucial information and establish clear connections between your points and the supporting data.

Prioritize key messages

Don't try to say everything. Highlight the insights that make the strongest case for your main argument.

Numbers need context

Always put numbers in perspective. Is 10% growth amazing or alarming? The comparison determines the impact.