So What's the Point?

You can create the most visually appealing slides, but if you don't spend enough time on what you're going to say, your presentation won't be as effective.

Start by focusing on the core idea and the context. Once your message is clear, everything else—like the slides—will naturally support it.

It's hard to connect with your audience if they don't understand why you're speaking to them in the first place. If you haven't clearly linked your points to a central idea or message, your audience will struggle to follow along.

Image your presentation as a story you're telling. In any great story, the plot is what keeps the audience engaged and helps them understand the journey.

Likewise, in a presentation, your message is the plot. It ties everything together.

If you spend all your time creating visually stunning slides without focusing on the message, it's writing beautiful scenes without a plot. Your audience might admire the visuals, but they won't understand the point of your presentation.

Your slides are just tools to support the narrative you're trying to tell. So, before you start designing your slides, focus on what you want to say—your core message.