It's so easy to download photos for free off the Internet that a child can do it. In fact, mine often do for their classroom PowerPoint presentations. Hopefully the fact that they're minors and that the inclusion of these images in their assignments constitutes fair use will keep them immune from … [Read more...] about Does free to download mean cost-free?
How to name your files the RIGHT way
A huge problem exists that anybody who has ever put out a call for file submissions has experienced at least once in their career. I've seen it from my early days as a newspaper layout production artist to my current position as a presentation coach and Cheater of Death by PowerPoint. And it has … [Read more...] about How to name your files the RIGHT way
Do your pictures speak the RIGHT thousand words?
You've probably heard that "a picture speaks a thousand words." This means that rather than spend time trying to describe something, you can communicate more quickly and efficiently with an image. This instant communication occurs whether you want it to or not, so choosing the right images for your … [Read more...] about Do your pictures speak the RIGHT thousand words?
How to fix a boring presentation
Do boring presenters set out to be that way? Do they wake up in the morning and say to themselves, "Gee, I hope I can get someone in the room to fall asleep during my presentation today!" or "I want to over-complicate my presentation so the investors don't know whether or not to fund me." Of course … [Read more...] about How to fix a boring presentation
Smart public speakers show up early
Today I am teaching a group of people how to create dynamic PowerPoint presentations. So I arrived at my client's office at 8:15 and went to the conference room to set up. With the help of the IT guy, I made sure that my Macbook would play nicely with the projector. I set handouts and business cards … [Read more...] about Smart public speakers show up early
Create an awesome Ignite in 6 steps
What if you only had 5 minutes and 20 slides to wow a roomful of people? That's the premise of an Ignite talk. Your slides auto-advance every 15 seconds. That means that you have to choose your words carefully, create slides with a lot of visual impact and be very entertaining. Think of it as an … [Read more...] about Create an awesome Ignite in 6 steps
5 ways to amp up your presentations
A forgettable presentation is delivered by a low-energy guy. He may fidget or fumble. He reads from his slides in a monotone and expects you to just sit there and listen. He's boring. But some presenters are exciting! What they say sticks with you for years to come. An exciting presenter moves … [Read more...] about 5 ways to amp up your presentations
The BLUF Statement: Your secret PowerPoint weapon
How many presentations have you attended where the presenter took forever to get to the point? I'm betting it's probably quite a few. The problem is that presenters can often be so close to their material that they can clearly see the benefits of what they're talking about and they forget to tell … [Read more...] about The BLUF Statement: Your secret PowerPoint weapon