What is the 7 by 7 Rule for PowerPoint?
It is the best way to keep your audience interested in the presentation. All it means is, there must be no more than 7 lines per slide and no more than 7 words per line.
Why 7 Lines Per Slide?
It is to reduce clutter in each of your slides so that when your audience scans the slide, they can easily navigate each point you are trying to make.
Why 7 Words Per Line?
Using the 7-word guideline will help you be specific. You do not even have to structure your sentences, in fact, why not just get rid of sentences altogether?
How to Create the 7 by 7 Rule in PowerPoint
Use the rule to structure the content on the slides in a clean a clutterless fashion. Use each line as a bullet point and the words per line should be mini statements instead of sentences.
Tip 1 – Treat Each Line as a Reference for the Overall Point
Think of it this way – the slides that you are creating are like your personal short-hand notes.
Tip 2 – Don’t make it Obvious, use the Text for a Brain-tease
Instead of using the text on the slides to merely laying out what point of a research study, you can perhaps pose a question or an interesting fact!