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
5 top PowerPoint New Year’s resolutions for 2014
Happy New Year! It's the time of year when we reflect upon what we've done with ourselves personally and professionally over the past year and resolve to become better people. Maybe there's a new habit you want to develop (Exercise more! Drink less soda! Stop wearing fleece pants and slippers to the … [Read more...] about 5 top PowerPoint New Year’s resolutions for 2014
Presenting at trade shows: problems and solutions
The Small Business Expo—a business networking event, trade show, and conference for business professionals—was held in mid-October in Boston, Massachusetts. Among the many offerings at the SBE were numerous workshops designed to provide valuable business skills. The workshop I attended was being … [Read more...] about Presenting at trade shows: problems and solutions
I hate working in PowerPoint. Here’s a PDF instead.
It seems that the majority of graphic designers would rather have root canals than design a deck. Overall, they think PowerPoint sucks and that it's not possible to do great design using that software. So it came as no surprise that a graphic designer recently posted a way to avoid using PowerPoint … [Read more...] about I hate working in PowerPoint. Here’s a PDF instead.
How to make portraits look great in PowerPoint
To look their best, portraits (also known as "head shots") should all be about the same size on a slide. Usually, though, they're positioned and sized haphazardly, like this: Here we have huge Bob, followed by tiny Jill, then medium Gina. There's even someone lurking in the background behind … [Read more...] about How to make portraits look great in PowerPoint
How do I learn PowerPoint?
When I offer PowerPoint training, most of the time it's for people who already know how to use the software but who want to know more. What is good design? Where do I get photos to use in my presentations? Why do some colors go well together and others don't? How do I tell a story? These are the … [Read more...] about How do I learn PowerPoint?
Some people will always cause Death by PowerPoint. Let them.
[box style="quote"]How can we convince the 80% of presenters who are not effectively using PowerPoint to stop using it?[/box] This question was posed to me recently by a Design Dispatch subscriber. We've all seen presenters who just don't get it. No matter what they might have heard about Death by … [Read more...] about Some people will always cause Death by PowerPoint. Let them.
How to show YouTube videos in PowerPoint
Whether it's to explain difficult concepts, provide an entertaining and informative break, or demonstrate processes, videos are a great way to add content and variety to a PowerPoint presentation. But showing videos isn't without risk. One of the readers of this blog told me about a pet peeve of … [Read more...] about How to show YouTube videos in PowerPoint