People take Microsoft PowerPoint training to learn how to use the software, but using PowerPoint is not the same as making a good presentation. You need skills beyond what you learn in Microsoft PowerPoint training. There are three elements in a good PowerPoint talk: the speech, the report, and the slides.
The Most Important Component - Your Presentation
This doesn't mean the PowerPoint slides; it means your speech. "Speech" may not the best word since that brings to mind a speaker who drones monotonously while listeners daydream. The goal of your presentation is communication. The best communication imparts information through emotion.
We have two sides to our brains, one concerned with facts and figures and one with creativity and emotion. A speaker who appeals to both sides communicates the most effectively. Think about the last time you heard a speaker who really held your attention. It was probably someone animated and engaging.
To deliver a great presentation, you don't need to be overly animated or attempt to tell lots of jokes. Giving a great presentation is about connecting with your audience, speaking to them rather than at them, and holding their attention. It's about interacting with your audience more than you interact with your PowerPoint slides.
The Second Most Important Component - Your Document
At the beginning of the presentation, DO tell the audience you will be handing out a document containing all the details of the presentation. This way, they won't need to take notes and can pay attention to the presentation. There are two absolute "don'ts" regarding this document. DON'T hand it out at the beginning or people will tend to ignore you as they read it. DON'T just make copies of your PowerPoint slides.
The report can be as detailed as you like. Unlike your talk, people can skim through it and focus on the areas important to them. Putting details in here keeps you from losing your audience due to information overload.
The Least Important (But Still Important) Component - Your PowerPoint
Perhaps the least important element in your PowerPoint presentation is the actual PowerPoint! It's still significant, but it shouldn't be the core of your presentation. It should reinforce your speech, not replace it. It should contain some information, but nowhere near the level of detail of your report.
Keep your slides simple so they don't distract from the message. You will be tempted to use all the cool techniques from your Microsoft PowerPoint training; resist the urge. Clip art and slide transitions don't enhance your presentation; they obscure it.
Graphics are effective tools, probably more effective than words on PowerPoint slides. Not the graphs and charts you learned about in Microsoft PowerPoint training, but pictures that evoke emotion and drive your point home.
A good presentation has these three elements. If you show PowerPoint slides, read from the slides, and hand out copies of the slides, you haven't incorporated three elements. You've used one element three times. The components should be distinct and complementary, each building on the other two to create a harmonious whole.
Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information on Microsoft Powerpoint training, visit http://www.MicrosoftTraining.net/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christine_Harrell
Dec 3, 2008
PowerPoint Tip - Successfully Print Presentations
Presentations are printed more often than we realize, but we rarely design for printing in mind. Although, I've had two clients who created presentations only for print: one was creating a brochure for sales reps and the other was presenting to potential investors at a meeting around a table.
Even if you don't plan to print the presentation, you may send it to others who will print it. You certainly want to make sure that the results will be satisfactory.
* Grayscale printing
Often, the presentation is printed in grayscale, not in color. You presentation may look entirely different when printed in grayscale. To test out the result, click the Color/Grayscale button on the Standard toolbar. In 2007, go to View tab> Color/Grayscale group> Grayscale. You may be surprised at the results! To return to color, click the button again; it changes based on the color state you're viewing.
* Converting to PDF
One of the important considerations is that many people convert a presentation to Adobe PDF format before printing. For example, conference organizers do this for the book they give attendees. Therefore you need to consider how the presentation will translate to PDF format. And not all PDF converters get the same results. If your presentation may end up as a PDF file, you should test the results. The PDF format especially has problems with semi-transparent objects, which may become solid or hatched.
* Embed fonts
If you use fonts that are not universally available, you should embed them. If you send the presentation to someone else for printing, your fonts will not appear properly. To embed fonts, choose Tools> Options and click the Save tab. (In 2007, choose Office button> PowerPoint Options and click the Save category.) Check the Embed TrueType Fonts check box. Then choose the first option, which embeds only characters in use. This options reduces the size of the file.
* Printing
If you'll be printing, the procedure is simple. Choose File> Print. (In 2007, choose Office button> Print.) The display in the Print What drop-down list determines what will print; the default is Slides. For handouts, better options are Handouts and Notes Pages. You can also choose File>Send To >Microsoft Office Word to import the presentation into Word. (In 2007, choose Office button> Publish> Create Handouts in Microsoft Office Word.) This gives you more flexibility with your format.
Ellen Finkelstein, is the best-selling author of How to Do Everything with PowerPoint 2007 (and previous editions for PowerPoint 2002 and PowerPoint 2003) Her award-winning Web site features loads of free tips on PowerPoint, the monthly PowerPoint Tips Newsletter, and the PowerPoint Tips Blog - http://www.ellenfinkelstein.com
--- This article may contain images. To see the original article, go to: http://www.ellenfinkelstein.com/powerpointtips/powerpoint_tip_print_presentations.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ellen_Finkelstein
Even if you don't plan to print the presentation, you may send it to others who will print it. You certainly want to make sure that the results will be satisfactory.
* Grayscale printing
Often, the presentation is printed in grayscale, not in color. You presentation may look entirely different when printed in grayscale. To test out the result, click the Color/Grayscale button on the Standard toolbar. In 2007, go to View tab> Color/Grayscale group> Grayscale. You may be surprised at the results! To return to color, click the button again; it changes based on the color state you're viewing.
* Converting to PDF
One of the important considerations is that many people convert a presentation to Adobe PDF format before printing. For example, conference organizers do this for the book they give attendees. Therefore you need to consider how the presentation will translate to PDF format. And not all PDF converters get the same results. If your presentation may end up as a PDF file, you should test the results. The PDF format especially has problems with semi-transparent objects, which may become solid or hatched.
* Embed fonts
If you use fonts that are not universally available, you should embed them. If you send the presentation to someone else for printing, your fonts will not appear properly. To embed fonts, choose Tools> Options and click the Save tab. (In 2007, choose Office button> PowerPoint Options and click the Save category.) Check the Embed TrueType Fonts check box. Then choose the first option, which embeds only characters in use. This options reduces the size of the file.
* Printing
If you'll be printing, the procedure is simple. Choose File> Print. (In 2007, choose Office button> Print.) The display in the Print What drop-down list determines what will print; the default is Slides. For handouts, better options are Handouts and Notes Pages. You can also choose File>Send To >Microsoft Office Word to import the presentation into Word. (In 2007, choose Office button> Publish> Create Handouts in Microsoft Office Word.) This gives you more flexibility with your format.
Ellen Finkelstein, is the best-selling author of How to Do Everything with PowerPoint 2007 (and previous editions for PowerPoint 2002 and PowerPoint 2003) Her award-winning Web site features loads of free tips on PowerPoint, the monthly PowerPoint Tips Newsletter, and the PowerPoint Tips Blog - http://www.ellenfinkelstein.com
--- This article may contain images. To see the original article, go to: http://www.ellenfinkelstein.com/powerpointtips/powerpoint_tip_print_presentations.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ellen_Finkelstein
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