Adding bullet points to your Google Slides presentations can make them more organized, easier to follow, and visually appealing. Bullet points help break up blocks of text, highlight key information, and guide the audience through your main points.
In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about adding bullet points in Google Slides, including:
- Benefits of using bullet points
- How to add bullet points on desktop and mobile
- Customizing the look of bullet points
- Tips for using bullet points effectively
Follow along to learn how to take your Google Slides presentations to the next level with bullet points.
Benefits of Bullet Points in Presentations
Here are some of the top reasons to use bullet points in your next presentation:
1. Improve Scannability
Bullet points make it easier for your audience to quickly scan slides and absorb information. Research shows slide text is often read in an “F pattern”, so bullet points match this natural path[1].
2. Highlight Key Points
Use bullet points to call attention to your most important takeaways. They help the audience focus on what matters most.
3. Break Up Text
Large blocks of text can be difficult to digest. Bullet points add white space and visual breaks, improving readability.
4. Organize Information
Bullet points impose structure, categorizing information into neat lists that are easy to follow. This builds understanding.
How to Add Bullet Points in Google Slides
Adding bullet points in Google Slides is quick and easy. Here are step-by-step instructions:
On Desktop
- Open your presentation and select the text box where you want to add bullets.
- Click the “Bulleted list” icon in the toolbar. It looks like a bullet point.
- Type your text and press Enter to add more bullet points.
- When finished, click outside the text box.
You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + 8 to start a bulleted list.
On Mobile
The process is very similar on mobile:
- In the Google Slides app, tap the text box where you want to add bullets.
- Tap the “Bulleted list” icon at the top of the screen. It looks like a bullet point.
- Type your text and tap Return on the keyboard to add more bullets.
- When finished, tap the checkmark icon to apply changes.
Customizing Bullet Points
You can customize the appearance of bullet points in Google Slides to match your brand style:
Change Bullet Style
To change the bullet style:
- Click an existing bullet point.
- Select “Format” > “Bullets & Numbering” > “Bulleted list options”.
- Choose a style like circles, squares, arrows, etc.
Change Bullet Color
To change bullet color:
- Click an existing bullet.
- Click the “Text Color” toolbar icon.
- Choose your desired color.
You can match your bullets to theme colors for a cohesive look.
Indent Bullet Points
To indent bullets:
- Highlight bullet text.
- Select “Format” > “Align & Indent” > “Indentation Options”.
- Choose left indent value.
Use indents and sub-bullets to convey hierarchy.
Tips for Using Bullet Points Effectively
Follow these best practices when adding bullet points:
Be Concise
Keep bullets short, ideally 2-5 words. Sentence fragments work best. Verbose points lose impact.
Use Parallel Structure
Use consistent grammar and structure for all bullets in a list. Start each with a verb or noun.
Limit per Slide
Aim for 3-5 bullets per slide max. Too many bullets overwhelms audiences. Spread out over multiple slides if needed.
Use Images
Consider pairing bullets with complementary visuals. Images and icons reinforce messaging.
Conclusion
Adding bullet points is an easy way to organize information and make your Google Slides presentations more scannable and impactful. Use concise phrases, consistent structure, and supporting visuals to get the most out of bullets.
With these simple tips, you can add polish to your presentations and better connect with your audience. So start bulleting your way to better slides today!
References
[1] https://www.simpleslides.co/blog/how-to-add-bullet-points-in-google-slides
