This summer, I went on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the American Southwest with my son's Boy Scout troop. I didn't think I'd be learning anything about PowerPoint and presenting on that trip, but as it turned I learned a valuable lesson on the very first day. Scheduled breaks are very … [Read more...] about Want your audience to love you? Give ’em a break.
Punch Up Your PowerPoint Proficiency
Late last month, I recorded a podcast with Creative Boost founder Colleen Gratzer. The segment, "Punch Up Your PowerPoint Proficiency," is geared towards designers who believe that "PowerPoint is the devil!" Hating PowerPoint is like hating a hammer. Until you learn how to use any tool, it will be … [Read more...] about Punch Up Your PowerPoint Proficiency
ToolsToo an inexpensive, extremely useful PPT add-in
PowerPoint has a lot of functionality, but sometimes you need a tool that isn't there. That's when add-ins come into play. An add-in is a program that runs in PowerPoint. Often, an add-in will provide a completely new service, such as a photo library or a multiple-choice quiz. The add-in I want to … [Read more...] about ToolsToo an inexpensive, extremely useful PPT add-in
PowerPoint presentations for trade show booths
Exhibiting at trade shows and conferences is a great way to reach a targeted audience for your products and services. Booth space can be expensive, so it's important to get the most out of your investment. That's why you should be thinking about providing a quality user experience when you're … [Read more...] about PowerPoint presentations for trade show booths
How to fake PowerPoint’s Morph transition
As a PowerPoint professional, I keep up with the latest versions of the software with an Office 365 subscription and by being an Office Insider. It's pretty sweet, because I get to use all kinds of cool new toys that make presentations look awesome...but only on my computer. Here's how I got … [Read more...] about How to fake PowerPoint’s Morph transition
Lawyer vs. Lawyer: A study in public speaking
Public speaking takes many forms, from TED talks to client presentations to teaching and beyond. I recently served on a jury, exposing me to another kind of public speaking: lawyering. A trial lawyer has to be a very good presenter. No matter how skilled he is in matters of the law, no matter how … [Read more...] about Lawyer vs. Lawyer: A study in public speaking
How to create a fun PowerPoint game
PowerPoint is often viewed as an instrument of destruction. True, in the hands of an uncaring person a PowerPoint presentation can ruin any idea. However, I recently came across the use of PowerPoint as a force for good that I'd like to share with you. Not only did the presenter use PowerPoint in an … [Read more...] about How to create a fun PowerPoint game
Nobody likes busywork and pointless tasks
Have you ever been assigned a task only to find out afterwards that there was no point to completing it? If you're a marketer or public speaker, you have to avoid the temptation to give your audience busywork disguised as something they need to do. Because when they find out what you've done, … [Read more...] about Nobody likes busywork and pointless tasks