Understanding the difference between features and benefits will help you to create presentations that audiences will really respond to. The difference between features and benefits Simply stated, "features" are the components that make up a product or service: ingredients, parts, equipment used, … [Read more...] about Persuading with PowerPoint: Features vs. benefits
PowerPoint tables: How to simplify your presentations
In January 2014 I wrote about the top 5 top PowerPoint resolutions you should make for the new year. One of these was to avoid complex tables because they make the audience work too hard to understand what's on the slide. Because tables contain mostly text and numbers, not only do people need to … [Read more...] about PowerPoint tables: How to simplify your presentations
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?
How do you reward loyal customers? Not like this, I hope.
Marketing can be a tricky game. Everybody knows that advertising is designed to get people to spend money on products and services, so savvy companies supplement their advertising with relationship marketing. When a company works to establish good relationships, people are perfectly willing to … [Read more...] about How do you reward loyal customers? Not like this, I hope.
A sales presentation all about yourself misses the point
How much time do you spend talking about yourself or your company during a sales presentation? Shouldn't you be addressing customer needs instead? Time and time again I see presenters taking a "me-centric" approach to sales presentations. They tell the audience all about themselves and their … [Read more...] about A sales presentation all about yourself misses the point
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.