Product Slide Done Right [What to Show, Say & Simplify]
- Ink Narrates | The Presentation Design Agency
- 24 hours ago
- 6 min read
One of our clients, Michael, asked us an interesting question while we were working on their product slide:
"How do you decide what to include on a product slide without overwhelming the audience?"
Our Creative Director answered simply,
“A product slide is done right when it shows exactly what matters and nothing else.”
As a presentation design agency, we work on many product slides throughout the year, and in the process, we’ve observed one common challenge: people tend to either cram every detail onto the slide or over-simplify it to the point of losing meaning.
So, in this blog, we’ll talk about how to craft a product slide that strikes the right balance — showing what matters, saying it clearly, and simplifying for impact.
In case you didn't know, we specialize in only one thing: making presentations. We can help you by designing your slides and writing your content too.
Why Product Slides Often Fail
Everyone knows what a product slide is. But almost nobody gets it right.
We see the same mistake over and over: people either overload the slide with every possible detail or strip it down so much it becomes vague and forgettable. Neither works.
A product slide isn’t about showing everything your product can do. It’s about showing what your audience needs to know to care. It’s about being ruthless with what stays and what goes.
From working with dozens of clients, we’ve learned that the hardest part isn’t designing the slide. It’s deciding what to show and how to say it without drowning your message in noise or boring your audience to death.
That’s why the right product slide strikes a balance — it’s clear, focused, and meaningful. It tells the story of your product in a way that clicks fast and sticks.
How to Make the Product Slide
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: a product slide isn’t a product manual. It’s a communication tool. The goal is to connect, convince, and clarify — fast. So, what does “done right” actually look like? How do you decide what to show, what to say, and how to simplify without losing the essence?
We’ll break it down step-by-step, drawing from years of experience designing high-stakes presentations for clients who demand results.
What to Show: Focus on the Core Value, Not the Catalog
The first trap many fall into is trying to show everything. Every feature, every spec, every button and setting. The result? A slide that looks like an encyclopedia page — dense, intimidating, and ignored.
Instead, start by asking: What is the core value this product delivers? What problem does it solve or need does it fulfill?
Your product slide should answer that question visually and succinctly. Here are some ways we approach it:
Highlight 1-3 key features that directly relate to the value or benefit
Instead of listing ten features, pick the few that matter most to your audience. If you’re selling to busy executives, show what saves time or money. If it’s a technical audience, pick features that demonstrate superiority or innovation. Example: For a SaaS platform, instead of showing every dashboard metric, focus on the one or two that prove ROI or simplify decision-making.
Use clear, intuitive visuals
People don’t want to read paragraphs on a product slide. Use images, icons, or diagrams that reinforce your point without distracting. For example, a clean product shot with callouts pointing to the highlighted features works better than a dense spreadsheet of specs.
Avoid jargon and technical overload
Unless you’re sure your audience is composed of engineers or specialists, keep the language accessible. Nobody remembers “asynchronous RESTful API with OAuth2 compliance” unless it’s relevant to them. Translate tech features into benefits: “Secure data access anytime, anywhere.”
Show context or use cases
Sometimes, the best way to show a product’s value is not the product itself but how it fits into the user’s world. A small scenario or a visual showing the product in action can quickly connect the dots.
Remember, the slide should visually and mentally prepare your audience to say, “Ah, I get it. This is useful.”
What to Say: Speak Like a Human, Not a Marketing Bot
Your verbal message during the product slide is just as critical. The words on the slide support what you say — not the other way around.
We’ve sat through countless presentations where the presenter reads a dense bullet list verbatim. Snooze.
Instead, use your spoken words to add clarity, context, and enthusiasm. Here’s how we coach clients on what to say:
Keep it conversational and concise
Imagine explaining your product to a friend over coffee, not giving a sales pitch to a boardroom full of skeptics. Use simple, direct language and avoid buzzwords that cloud meaning.
Tell a story or paint a picture
People remember stories far better than facts. If your product slide shows a key feature that simplifies a process, talk about the typical struggle without your product and how that feature changes the game.For example: “Before our tool, the team spent hours manually compiling reports. Now, with one click, they get real-time insights that save days each month.”
Focus on benefits, not specs
Features tell, benefits sell. Don’t just say what the product does. Say why it matters to the user. Translate technical details into practical outcomes. Instead of “Our app supports multi-factor authentication,” say “Your data stays secure with an extra layer of protection that’s quick and easy.”
Use pauses and emphasis wisely
Don’t rush through the slide. Give the audience time to absorb key points. Use your voice to highlight the parts that matter most — slow down when emphasizing benefits, and pause after a key sentence for impact.
Anticipate questions and objections
When preparing your script, think about what your audience might wonder or challenge. Address those points preemptively. For instance, if your product’s pricing is a concern, briefly justify the value before questions come up.
How to Simplify: Ruthlessly Edit for Maximum Impact
Simplification is not about dumbing down. It’s about stripping away everything that isn’t necessary to get your message across clearly and powerfully.
We’ve learned that simplicity requires discipline and sometimes courage — because it means saying no to “nice-to-haves” and even some “must-haves” that clutter the slide.
Here are our best practices for simplifying product slides:
One message per slide
Don’t cram multiple ideas into one slide. Focus on a single core message or value point. If you have more to say, break it into multiple slides rather than stuffing everything into one.
Limit text to essentials
A product slide should never feel like reading a report. Use short headlines, keywords, and phrases instead of full sentences. If you must use sentences, keep them punchy and active.
Use white space and clean layouts
Don’t fill every inch of the slide. White space guides the eye and reduces cognitive load. A clean layout with balanced visuals and text lets your audience focus on what matters.
Avoid multiple fonts, colors, and clutter
Stick to your brand’s visual guidelines but don’t overdo it. Too many fonts or colors distract. Keep the design consistent and subtle to keep attention on the content.
Use progressive disclosure
If you’re presenting live, use animations or builds to reveal information step-by-step. This keeps the audience focused and prevents them from reading ahead or getting overwhelmed.
Replace complex data with visuals
Instead of tables or spreadsheets, use charts, icons, or infographics that translate data into understandable visuals. This helps the audience grasp insights quickly without mental gymnastics.
Practice the “so what?” test
For every element on the slide, ask yourself, “Why is this here? What does it add to the story?” If you can’t answer that clearly, it probably doesn’t belong.
Putting It All Together: An Example from Our Work
To make this less abstract, here’s an example from a recent project. Our client, a tech startup launching a new app, originally had a product slide packed with ten bullet points listing every feature. It looked like a dense specs dump and didn’t communicate the product’s unique value.
We worked with them to identify the top three features that directly solved the users’ biggest pain points: ease of use, automation, and real-time alerts.
We designed a clean slide with a central image of the app interface and three icons with short headlines highlighting those features. The presenter script was rewritten to tell a simple story: how these features save users time, reduce errors, and keep them informed instantly.
The result? The product slide became a memorable moment in the pitch, sparking questions and engagement rather than glaze-over looks.
This approach is the blueprint we follow whenever we create or overhaul product slides. It’s not about adding bells and whistles. It’s about cutting through the noise and making sure what you show, what you say, and how you simplify all work together to deliver a clear, compelling message.
Why Hire Us to Build your Presentation?
If you're reading this, you're probably working on a presentation right now. You could do it all yourself. But the reality is - that’s not going to give you the high-impact presentation you need. It’s a lot of guesswork, a lot of trial and error. And at the end of the day, you’ll be left with a presentation that’s “good enough,” not one that gets results. On the other hand, we’ve spent years crafting thousands of presentations, mastering both storytelling and design. Let us handle this for you, so you can focus on what you do best.