The organizers have told you: You only have 10 minutes to pitch. You need to make a brilliant presentation. How many slides should there be? Which is better with many or few slides?
The Wonderslide team researched presentations for speeches and concluded that the quality of the presentation was not dependent on the number of slides.
Slides for a 10-minute presentation
However, is there a golden number, and how do you calculate it?
A 10-minute presentation at average speaking speed usually consists of 1.5 thousand words.
You show one slide for 30 seconds to 1 minute. In a speech, this amounts to about 100-150 words.
You don’t read the slide like a book out loud. If there is a lot of information on a slide, divide it into two or three. Keep in mind the total time.
The longer you show one slide, the faster the attention span of the audience decreases. 3-4 slides for 10 minutes is too short.
Most often, speakers use 10-12 slides. But there can be more if the slides are not overloaded with information, show examples, and contain 1-2 photos.
Also, we noticed that in excellent presentations the authors do not indicate the number of the slide, but always put a title for each slide.
Immediately refuse video and slides with a lot of digits in such a short speech. Highlight the main point, and reveal the main idea of the first slides. If you don’t have time to show the whole presentation, you’d rather skip the less important details. Do not sacrifice the slide with contacts. Keep in mind that it will translate into a series of “Q&As,” if there are any.
Before the presentation, don’t forget to rehearse and measure the time. That way you’ll know which slides you can drop or, on the contrary, add. Invite colleagues or friends to listen to you and give you feedback.
Use Wonderslide.com if you need to design a slideshow quickly.
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As a seasoned presentation expert with years of experience in both crafting and delivering impactful pitches, I can confidently assert that the dynamics of a successful presentation extend far beyond the mere number of slides. My expertise is grounded in extensive research, practical application, and a nuanced understanding of effective communication in various contexts.
The article you've presented delves into the intricacies of creating a compelling presentation within a limited time frame of 10 minutes. Allow me to dissect the key concepts and provide additional insights:
1. Slide Quantity and Quality:
The Wonderslide team's research is in line with the widely accepted notion that the quality of a presentation is not solely determined by the number of slides. While it is true that there isn't a magic number, the emphasis should be on maintaining a balance between depth and brevity.
2. Content Density and Speaking Speed:
The article rightly highlights the correlation between speaking speed and content density. A 10-minute presentation typically involves 1.5 thousand words, suggesting that each slide, shown for 30 seconds to 1 minute, should contain around 100-150 words. This underlines the importance of concise, impactful content.
3. Slide Design and Information Overload:
To combat attention span issues, the advice to divide information across multiple slides is valuable. Overloading a slide with information can diminish audience engagement, emphasizing the need for well-structured, visually appealing slides.
4. Optimal Slide Number:
While the article mentions that 10-12 slides are commonly used, the key lies in ensuring that each slide serves a purpose and isn't overloaded. Additional slides may be warranted for examples or visuals, provided they enhance rather than detract from the message.
5. Title vs. Slide Number:
The article suggests omitting slide numbers but always including a title for each slide. This aligns with the principle of guiding the audience through a narrative rather than simply progressing through numbered slides.
6. Avoiding Video and Complex Slides:
The caution against using videos and slides with excessive data in a short presentation is pragmatic. Focusing on key points and the main idea in the initial slides ensures a clear and impactful message.
7. Preparation and Rehearsal:
The importance of rehearsal cannot be overstated. Knowing the content well allows for adjustments based on timing constraints, ensuring a smooth delivery. Feedback from colleagues or friends adds an extra layer of refinement.
8. Wonderslide.com:
The mention of Wonderslide.com underscores the significance of using efficient tools for designing presentations quickly. In a time-sensitive scenario, such resources can be invaluable.
In conclusion, the art of presentation is a blend of strategic content creation, thoughtful design, and dynamic delivery. By embracing these principles, presenters can maximize the impact of their message within the constraints of a 10-minute pitch. Remember, it's not just about the slides; it's about creating an immersive and memorable experience for the audience.
For a 10-minute presentation, it's generally advisable to aim for approximately 10-15 slides. Here's the rationale behind this recommendation: In a 10-minute presentation, you have a limited amount of time to convey your ideas, provide context, and engage with your audience.
If you have a piece of information that was covered by multiple works, only refer to the most relevant works in your speech. More than three references is unnecessary and excessive.
Give yourself at least ten days ahead of time to devote one practice session a day. If your pitch is 10 minutes or less, then you have no excuse. Ten rehearsals should be easy. You'll be amazed at the results.
And ten (10) minutes is really short when you want to explain all you know (and as an expert you know a lot!). Ten minutes for an expert with broad knowledge on the topic is like 30 seconds – only enough to cast an "advertisem*nt" (a sort of an "elevator pitch").
How Many Slides for a 15-Minute Presentation? The short answer: Anywhere between 10 slides to up to 30 slides of 30 seconds each are perfect. We recommend an average of 20-25 slides if you have a lot to cover.
Speech and publication coach Daphne Gray-Grant found that, on average, people speak at a rate of 125 to 150 wpm so a 10 minutes long speech uses between 1,250 to 1,500 words.
The 10-minute rule encourages individuals to start working immediately, and if they can wind up the task in 10 minutes, they should immediately start working on it. If the task is easier for you, don't set it aside or add it to your to-do list; you should focus on completing it in the 10 minutes.
Embrace the 10-20-30 rule for presentations, which recommends keeping them under 10 slides, delivering them within 20 minutes, and using a font size no smaller than 30 points. By applying this rule, you can make your presentations more direct, memorable, and compelling.
I've done it in one sitting, but it's much less taxing if I take a few days to do it. Likewise, I can memorize a 10-minute talk in a week if I have to, but I prefer to give myself two to four weeks.
To keep your audience from feeling overwhelmed, you should keep the text on each slide short and to the point. Some experts suggest using the 5/5/5 rule: no more than five words per line of text, five lines of text per slide, or five text-heavy slides in a row.
People want to have time to look at the photos. That means 3-4 seconds per image minimum, which translates to only 10 to 15 images per minute! Depending on the setting and reason for your slide show, 2 – 8 minutes are what most people will sit and watch.
Perhaps the best known and most commonly used method is the 10/20/30 rule by Guy Kawasaki. It specifies that ten slides be used in a 20-minute presentation. A font size of at least 30 should be used for text. This equals to about two minutes per slide – a standard rule for presentations.
Tips for keeping the interview presentation simple
Keep it short - As previously mentioned, try to keep each slide short and aim for no more than 10 slides in total. One idea per slide - To make sure your presentation is clear and concise, each slide should represent a different point/idea you want to make.
There's no right or wrong answer answer as to how many references you need – it depends on how many you've cited in your writing! The most important thing is that you don't plagiarise. Make sure you include references for everything that you've cited in the text, so that it's clear where your information has come from.
As a general rule of thumb, you should aim for one source for your paper's reference list per 150 words. Here's a breakdown by essay size: 1500-word essay: Aim for at least 10 sources in the reference list. 2000-word essay: Aim for at least 13 sources in the reference list.
My "rule of thumb" has always been to use a maximum of three references to support a particular statement. The role of a literature review is to provide a targeted review of the literature. In my view, there are several reasons why it is wise not to use too many references: It really disturbs the flow of the paper.
Usually 3-4 reliable sources should be sufficient. This should be enough external information to complement your original thoughts/ideas. With too many sources, the essay becomes a compilation of opinions from other writers instead of your own.
Introduction: My name is Arielle Torp, I am a comfortable, kind, zealous, lovely, jolly, colorful, adventurous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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