When the question is, “How many slides are sufficient for my Powerpoint presentation?” my mind irresistible chants: “….he would chuck what a woodchuck could, if a woodchuck could chuck wood.”

That’s not really off point: You need as many slides as you need, but not more than that nor less.

In some situations presenters are told how many slides they must use, or can’t use. In fact, participants at Ignite! presentations get five minutes on stage to speak through 20 slides, each of which gets 15 seconds of display.  Tough parameters indeed, but I bring this up mostly so I can brag about what an amusing job my brother did with his five minutes (Becoming 0.0002 Cyborg). However, Ignite! shows are a species of performance art, not business presentations.

When you’re preparing slides for business, the question is germane: What’s the rule for number of slides?

There is no rule about number. The rule is about message. If you can explain yourself using three slides, use three slides. If it takes 67 slides to get your point across, use them.

That said, I must assume you are using your time wisely. If you’re speaking for  30 minutes, three slides does seem thin. But 67 slides, in a half hour, averages to 27 seconds per slides; some slides you might show for barely 5 seconds, some for a minute or two.

The bottom line is: If your slides help you get your message across, simply and memorable, you’re using the right number.

If you’re not sure your message is being remembered (or if you are sure it’s not), or you’re wondering how to build slides that have impact, we can help!

Scott Stiefvater and I will be teaching  “Avoid Causing Death by Powerpoint” on September 23 & 30 in Walnut Creek. Contact either of us to learn more!