Not everything needs to make it onto the slide—but how do you decide what to cut when everything feels important? This week, we're tackling the struggle of figuring out what stays, what goes, and how to make your message hit without overload.

You’ve been there. You stare at your slides, and deep down, you know it—there’s too much text. But you can’t decide what to cut. It’s all so important!

Your bullet points? Morphing into paragraphs. Your slides? Overflowing with every detail you can think of. You tell yourself you’re just being thorough—“better to include everything, right?”

Wrong.

Here’s the reality: when you overload your slides with text, you force your audience to make a choice—read your slides or listen to you. They can’t do both. And guess what happens when they try? Retention drops by up to 50%.

Half. Of. It. Gone.

And even if they do read it, long paragraphs aren’t what leave a lasting impact in presentations. People remember short and simple copy that get straight to the point.

So what's the fix? Cut your copy. ✂️

We’re going to run your slides through the DELETE Filter—a simple, intuitive process to decide what stays and what goes. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to strip out the fluff while keeping the impact.

The D.E.L.E.T.E Method in Action

This process breaks editing your copy down into manageable steps, helping you decide what to keep, what to cut, and how to focus your slides for maximum clarity and impact.

No more second-guessing or agonizing over what’s “too important” to cut. With this method, you’ll trim your slides down to their essentials—without losing their power.

Let’s dive into the steps:

Step 1: D – Does it directly support the main point?

Action: Identify the single main idea of the slide.

KEEP: Only the copy that strengthens or clarifies the main point.

DELETE: Anything extra, unrelated, or better suited for another slide.

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Step 2: E – Eliminate duplicates or overlapping ideas.

Action: Identify ideas with similar goals or content and combine them into one concise point.

Example, Original Slide:

• Highlight our commitment to sustainability with eco-friendly packaging.
• Emphasize sustainable practices in product manufacturing.
• Focus on green initiatives to build our brand reputation.

KEEP: "Demonstrate our commitment to sustainability through eco-friendly packaging and manufacturing practices."

DELETE: "Emphasize sustainable practices in product manufacturing" and "Focus on green initiatives to build our brand reputation."

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Step 3: L – Look for what’s better said out loud.

Action: Read each line and ask, “Would this work better if I just say it?”

DELETE: Details or explanations you can narrate instead.

KEEP: Keywords that guide your verbal explanation.

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Step 4: E – Edit for keywords, not full sentences.

Action: Rewrite long sentences into punchy phrases.

Example:

• Before: “We must improve team communication to ensure better project outcomes.”
• After: “Team communication → Better outcomes.”

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Step 5: T – Trim filler words and fluff.

Action: Highlight filler words like “very,” “basically,” “in order to.”

DELETE: Replace with concise alternatives.

Example: “Due to the fact that” → “Because.”

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Step 6: E – Evaluate each word’s value.

Action: Review the slide with fresh eyes.

KEEP: Words that are absolutely essential.

DELETE: Words that don’t add new information or clarity.

Wrap Up

Your audience’s attention is a precious resource—and it’s limited. Every unnecessary word or redundant detail on your slide pulls focus away from your core message. When slides are overloaded, your message doesn’t just get lost—it gets ignored.

By cutting your slide copy to the essentials, you ensure that:

• Your message is clear and memorable. Your audience leaves with the key takeaways you want them to remember.
• You stay in control. Instead of competing with your slides, you let them support what you’re saying.
• You build connection. Clear, focused slides help you engage with your audience, not overwhelm them.

Cutting isn’t about losing content—it’s about making your message stronger. A streamlined slide deck amplifies your impact, boosts retention, and keeps your audience focused on what matters most: you and your ideas.

Try It

Here’s a quick exercise to put the D.E.L.E.T.E. Method into action:

1. Pick one slide from your deck with a lot of text.
2. Set a timer for 15 minutes. In that time:
   • Highlight the main point the slide is trying to communicate.
   • Cross out anything that doesn’t directly support that point.
   • Rewrite any long sentences into short phrases or keywords.
3. Read the slide aloud. If you can summarize it in under 10 seconds, you’re good to go. If not, trim it down further!

Bonus Tip: Ask yourself, “What’s better said out loud?” Move those details to your speaking notes and let the slide work as a visual cue.

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Until next week,
Meghan
Founder, The Good Deck

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