Do you really need that build?
A guide to when builds work best
Slide builds: You’ve seen them, you’ve used them, and if we’re being honest, you’ve probably overused them too.
Builds can be a powerful storytelling tool. They control the pace of your story. They help keep your audience focused on the point you’re making right now. They can even add a little drama to a big reveal.
But too often, builds are used as a crutch. Instead of cleaning up a cluttered slide, presenters break it into 17 click-throughs. Instead of guiding attention, they leave the audience impatiently waiting for the “next” thing to finally appear.
So, do you really need that build?
When builds work
Step-by-step logic
Perfect for walking your audience through a funnel, a workflow, or a layered framework where sequence matters. For example, showing each stage of a customer journey helps your audience follow along without skipping ahead or losing the thread.
Reveals with impact
Builds help you create tension and drama. Think about a revenue growth chart that looks steady… until you click and the hockey stick appears. Or unveiling the final “big number” in a case study. The pacing makes the message stick harder than if everything shows up at once.
Audience control
If your slide is full of information, people will try to read ahead and tune you out. Builds let you gate the flow, spotlighting what matters in the moment while keeping people engaged with your words, not just the text on screen.
When builds don’t work
Overstuffed slides
If your slide takes 10 clicks to get through your point, the problem isn’t timing. It’s the slide. In cases like this, break the information out into multiple slides or simplify the content.
Every single bullet
Not everything deserves a dramatic entrance. Sometimes it’s okay for the whole point to show up at once. Overusing builds for routine bullet points is just annoying for everyone and it slows down the delivery. Save the pacing for the moments that really matter.
Speed bumps
Too many builds break your rhythm. If your talk turns into “click… wait… click… wait…” you risk losing momentum, frustrating your audience, and drawing attention away from your message.
Ultimately, a good build should feel invisible. It’s not there to distract but to help your story land at the right pace. Use them where they add clarity and flow. Skip them when they’re just covering up bad slide design.
