Stop using bullet points! 5 simple alternatives to try ✅
Bullet points are overused, dull, and forgettable.
There, I said it!
Whether you’re delivering a presentation or sharing a report in PowerPoint, too many bullet points make it harder for your audience to stay engaged and retain key information.
Too much text makes it tempting for your audience to read ahead rather than listening to your insight.
Great slides, whether for a live presentation or a self-led report, should enhance your message, not overshadow it.
Ditch the bullets and try these five simple, visual alternatives to make your presentations more impactful.
1. Don’t read all about it 🗞️
Think of text on your slide like a newspaper headline, short, sharp, and attention-grabbing.
Make sure it conveys the key message without overwhelming your audience with too much detail.
Use a concise phrase or statement to keep your slides clean and ensure your audience stays focused on listening rather than reading.
2. Break free from the boring format 🥱
Experiment with layouts that create a natural flow and guide your audience’s attention.
Use grids to organise key points, vertical blocks to compare ideas, or asymmetrical designs to add visual interest.
By structuring content differently, you make your slides more engaging and ensure the focus stays on your message.
For example, go from this:
to this:
3. A picture is worth a thousand words 🖼️
The human brain processes images much faster than text, requiring less cognitive effort to understand. Visuals help your audience grasp key points quickly and retain them for longer.
Replace long descriptions with icons, illustrations, or meaningful images that support your message. The right visuals will reinforce your points without distracting from your delivery.
4. Start with SmartArt ➡️
SmartArt in PowerPoint is a great tool to quickly turn ideas into engaging visuals. While these templates simplify complex information, their real power lies in customisation.
Convert SmartArt into individual shapes to fully customise the design, adjusting colours, sizes, and layouts to match your message.
5. Look around for inspiration ✨
Not sure where to start? Look around for inspiration to find fresh ideas.
Canva is an easy-to-use tool that offers pre-made templates and design elements to create professional slides quickly.
SlideShare is another great resource where professionals share presentations, giving you access to real-world examples and fresh ideas.
Or you can just take a look through colleagues' presentations, seeing what works well in their slides and adapting ideas to suit your style.
You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Learn from great designs, borrow what works, and tweak it to fit your style and message.
Bring It All Together
The way you design your slides has a direct impact on how your audience engages with your message.
By moving away from bullet points and embracing more visual, structured, and engaging formats, you create a more dynamic and memorable experience.
Next time you're putting together a presentation or report, challenge yourself to ditch the bullets and try something new.
We have some tools that can help:
Presenting & storytelling is one of the topics we cover in our Category Bootcamp, we have spaces in our next session kicking off in September 2025.
Check out more presentation & PowerPoint tips from the blog.
If there’s anything else we can help with, just get in touch!
May 2025