PowerPoint: The 7x7 Rule

PowerPoint can be used to create amazing presentations with animations and transitions. However, there is so much more than you can create using PowerPoint, just check out the templates when starting a new project. With all the amazing things PowerPoint can create, the number one reason it is used is for presentations. When creating presentations, there is a list of do's and don't that most people try to adhere to. There are also guidelines that can be used to make your presentation more effective. This is where the 7x7 rule comes to play. 

What is the 7x7 rule for PowerPoint?

The 7x7x rule is a guideline that helps when creating your slides for your presentation. It states that there should be:

• 7 lines or bullet points on each slide
• 7 words or fewer per line

If you've ever given a presentation or seen one given, this may seem impossible but then again there are some who have done this successfully and have also taken it a step further by reducing the number of lines and words to less than 7! There have been presentations that have one word on a slide or one image. Although these presenters may follow different guidelines and it also depends on the audience, the 7x7 rule is an effective way of making sure you do not have too much or too little on your slides, it is a great medium. But how did this rule come about? Does it even work?

How to use the 7x7 rule 

This rule works best in the editing stage of creating your slides. After you have written everything, then it is best suited to use the 7x7 rule to apply it to what you have instead to think of ways to get exactly 7 words and 7 lines on one slide. Therefore, a best practice is to write out what you normally would want to include in your slides, then look at what you have and break those into seven bullet points with no more than seven words on each line. People have found this to be easier than trying to make sure they have exactly seven of each.

Keep in mind that you can have less content, however, the 7x7 rule is the maximum amount of content you would want on each slide. Therefore, having less is an okay practice as well.

Note

As with any guideline or rule, this is not a set-in-stone way of creating your PowerPoint presentations. Always keep in mind, your audience, your content, and the best practices. This should help guide you as you create your presentations. The 7x7 rule is one of those best practices that have been found to be effective. This rule does not only work with PowerPoint presentations, but with any electronic presentation that you may use.