Tuesday, July 27, 2010

PowerPoint Tip: Using quotes effectively on your slides

You want to use a quote to illustrate your point, so you type it out on a PowerPoint slide. Like most presenters, you show the slide and immediately start talking about how this quote illustrates your point. Unfortunately, the audience is still reading the quote while you are speaking, so they don't hear your insights. They come up with their own interpretation when they are reading the quote, which may not match what you wanted them to get out of it.

When you are using a quote, you need to give the audience context before you show the quote. They need to know the background, such as when it was said, under what circumstances, where was it said, who is saying it, why is this person important, what happened just before it was said, or why the person said it. Giving context prepares the audience to interpret the quote in the right way.

When you show the slide with the quote, pause, turn towards the screen and stay silent for the few seconds that it takes to read the quote. I usually read the quote to myself to approximate how long it would take someone to read the quote. Then, turn back to face the audience and start your interpretation. If it is a short quote, you may read it to the audience, but it is not always necessary. Always give the audience time to read the quote when it appears on the screen. They naturally want to read it, so allow them to do so without interrupting them with your speaking. The reason for turning to face the screen is that people will look where you look, so if you look at the screen, they will look there as well and read the quote. When you turn back to face the audience, they have finished reading the quote and are ready to hear your insight.

If there are a few words or a phrase that you consider to be the key part of the quote, highlight those words so they stand out for the audience. You can do this when the quote first appears, but it is usually more effective if you highlight the key phrase as you are explaining why the audience should focus on those words. This way, they reconsider the key words as you explain their significance. I have found the most effective technique to emphasize words is to use a highlighter effect so it looks like you are actually using a highlighter over the words on the screen. I’ve got a quick video on this at www.PPTHowToVideos.com if you don’t already know how to create this effect, or if you want to see that technique along with many other effective tips, you can see it as part of the recording of my PowerPoint How-To Webinar at www.PPtHowToWebinar.com.

Quotes can be wonderful additions to your presentation if you use them effectively so that the audience sees the clear connection to your point and why the quote reinforces what you are saying.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

PowerPoint Slide Makeover #56: Emphasis in a diagram image by shading out a portion

Just a quick note to let you know that a new Slide Makeover Video Podcast based on the ideas in "The Visual Slide Revolution" is available for your viewing through the iTunes Store, online or through my YouTube channel. When a diagram comes to us as an image, it is more difficult to focus the audience's attention because they can see the entire image. Use the techniques in this makeover to emphasize a portion by shading out the areas you don't want the audience to focus on.

This slide is similar to those submitted by the participants in my workshops - someone just like you who is looking for a way to make their presentations more effective. If you want to submit some of your slides to be considered for a future slide makeover, e-mail them to me at Dave@ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com.

If you have already subscribed through iTunes or another podcatcher, the new podcast should be automatically downloaded when you next run the program.

To subscribe via the iTunes Store, click here.
To view online or get the RSS file for other podcatchers, click here.
You can also watch all the podcasts on my YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/ThinkOutsideTheSlide

If you have subscribed via iTunes or YouTube, please provide your positive feedback on the videos in the Comments and Ratings areas of the service so others know the value you get from the videos.



To get your own copy of "The Visual Slide Revolution", click here.
To access quick "how-to" videos for only $1.99 each, click here.

Tuesday, July 06, 2010

PowerPoint Slide Makeover #55: Using a table to organize information

Just a quick note to let you know that a new Slide Makeover Video Podcast based on the ideas in "The Visual Slide Revolution" is available for your viewing through the iTunes Store, online or through my YouTube channel. If you want the audience to understand results or numeric information, don't use text on your slides that reads like your speaker notes. Use the ideas in this makeover to create a table that makes it easy for the audience to understand what the numbers mean to them.

This slide is similar to those submitted by the participants in my workshops - someone just like you who is looking for a way to make their presentations more effective. If you want to submit some of your slides to be considered for a future slide makeover, e-mail them to me at Dave@ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com.

If you have already subscribed through iTunes or another podcatcher, the new podcast should be automatically downloaded when you next run the program.

To subscribe via the iTunes Store, click here.
To view online or get the RSS file for other podcatchers, click here.
You can also watch all the podcasts on my YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/ThinkOutsideTheSlide

If you have subscribed via iTunes or YouTube, please provide your positive feedback on the videos in the Comments and Ratings areas of the service so others know the value you get from the videos.



To get your own copy of "The Visual Slide Revolution", click here.
To access quick "how-to" videos for only $1.99 each, click here.