Writing Powerful

Bullet Points

A Bullet Point is NOT a Sentence

• Convey the KEY message

• Summation of the Key Point

• Rain develops this afternoon

• Slowly changes to snow

• Temperatures remain in the 30s

• Melting snow limits the amounts

Use a Consistent Style

• Bullets Start with a Verb or a Noun

• Capitalize Each Bullet the Same Way

• Weather Generally Remains Quiet

• Fog May Be Possible Each Night

• Watch out for icy spots!

Fog Possible

Observe the 6 x 6 Guidelines• Prevents your slide from looking cluttered

• No more than 6 lines and 6 words/line

• Snow develops this afternoon

• Snow may mix with rain

• Snow spreads north this afternoon

• Drifting snow due to northwest winds

• Turning colder by Sunday• Wind chills 0 to -15˚

Looking Ahead

Know When To Avoid Bullets

• Ask yourself: “Is the bulleted info critical to the graphic”

• Use visuals instead of words

Reference: http://www.thinkoutsidetheslide.com/how-to-write-powerful-bullet-points/

Snow Then Cold

• Drifting snow due to northwest winds

• Turning colder by Sunday• Wind chills 0 to -15˚

Looking Ahead

Useful Headlines

A Headline Has a Function

Gets attention

Grabs an audience

Delivers and idea

Draws the reader into the message

Avoid Using ALL CAPITAL LETTERS

Readers recognize the shape of words

All CAPS can misdirect from the message

WINTER STORM HEADED OUR WAY

Winter Storm Headed Our Way

Avoid ALL Punctuation!

Periods, commas, explanation marks, quotes can act as roadblocks

Wintry Mix Ahead

“(KISS) Principle” I.E. Keep It Simple Stupid!

Cooler Temperatures

Ahead

Avoid: Abbreviations, jargon, & hard to understand words.

Writing should be done at a 7th grade reading level

Snow Rapidly Developing

Happening Now

• Flurries South of I-90

•Snow Builds Southeast

• Prepare for Changing Conditions

Already Described Location on Visual

Don’t Get Fancy

Use typeface that people are accustomed to read

In some cases, fancy fonts can be more distracting than helpful

Cooler Temperatures Ahead

Cooler Temperatures

Ahead

Target Your AudienceIf you’re creating a graphic for travel, express travel

If you’re creating a graphic for cold, express cold

Dangerous Travel Right Now!

Consider The End Result

Warm, but Unsettled Weekend

Snow Possible Saturday Night into Sunday

Light (1-2”) Accumulations