******************************************************************* Dave Paradi's PowerPoint Tip Issue #126 January 23, 2007 Published & Copyright by Dave Paradi of ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com Circulation 8,492 *******************************************************************
Please forward this newsletter to anyone you know who wants to strategically use PowerPoint visuals to enhance their presentations. If this newsletter has been sent to you by a friend, sign up to get your own copy at http://www.ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com/newsletter.htm .
******************************************************************* In this issue: Create Your Own PowerPoint Template ebook Transforming Text Slides into Visual Slides ebook PowerPoint Tip: Using Hyper-links Best of the Blog - Finding commands in PowerPoint 2007 Dave's Travel Schedule *******************************************************************
Create Your Own PowerPoint Template ebook Why spend hours searching for a background template for your slides just to find out others are using it and you won't be unique? Why not create your own custom template? Think you need a degree in design and expensive software? No way! All you need is my new e- book with expert advice on what colors, fonts and design work best along with the detailed step-by-step instructions on how you can create your own custom PowerPoint background template. Get your copy today at http://www.ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com/customtemplate.htm
------------------------------------------------------------------- Transforming Text Slides into Visual Slides ebook
Many people have moved from sentences to bullet points on their slides, but are looking for ways to make their slides more visual. In this ebook, I apply dual-coding theory ideas to the design of PowerPoint slides. I have taken 15 common business topics and I show how you can use a visual slide instead of a text slide. There are 39 slide examples in all. And I also share what the best practices are in designing each of the visuals. Get your copy at http://www.ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com/transformtext.htm
------------------------------------------------------------------- PowerPoint Tip - Using Hyper-links
One of the topics I discussed in a presentation on future trends in presentations last month was the use of hyper-links to create non- linear presentations and include other content in our presentations. The ability of PowerPoint to link to content within or outside the current set of slides allows you to create and deliver a more flexible presentation customized to what your audience needs at that moment. Let's look at some of the options hyper-linking gives you.
1. Link to a slide in your presentation By linking to another slide in the existing presentation, you are able to jump between topics in the order that the audience wants to hear them. This is usually done by creating a menu slide and then giving the audience a choice of where they want to go from there. It can also be used when an audience member asks a question that you have anticipated and you jump to a prepared slide for the answer to that question. Then you can jump back to where you were in the presentation.
2.Link to another presentation If you have multiple presenters, each with their own presentation, it is annoying to see the switch between presentations by exiting one presentation and loading the next. It is far easier and more professional to set up a quick menu of the presentations and use hyper-links to start each presentation. When a presentation is done, you press Esc to exit the presentation and it drops to the menu to start the next presentation.
3. Link to other content If you have a spreadsheet, document or PDF file that you want to show during the presentation, you can create a hyper-link to open that document during your presentation seamlessly. No more exiting slide show mode, switch to the other application and then switching back. Simply set up a hyper-link to the file that you want to include and from within PowerPoint the application will open, you show the document and then when you close the application you are back at your slide. I have used this to take survey results and create an instant graph in Excel or to capture audience best ideas in a Word document during the presentation.
4. Link to a web site While switching to a web site live during a presentation is more risky due to connection problems in many conference venues, if you have a good connection, this can really add to your presentation. You can create a hyper-link to a specific web site or page and at that point in your presentation, jump to the site, show what you want and when you exit the browser you will be back at your slide.
You can create a hyper-link from text, a shape or an image, so by considering the four ways you can use hyper-links above, you can enhance your presentation in many new ways. Hyper-linking is just one of the advanced presentation techniques I shared in my webinar on "Non-Linear and Advanced Presentation Techniques". You can get your copy at http://www.thinkoutsidetheslide.com/wtnonlinear.htm .
------------------------------------------------------------------- Best of the blog - Finding commands in PowerPoint 2007
On January 30th, the new version of Microsoft Office goes on sale to the public and will be the version that you get pre-installed on a new computer. As I have mentioned before, the user interface is quite different from the drop down list of commands under menus that we are all familiar with. The new interface relies on ribbons of commands instead. When you first start using the new version, you will have to learn where the commands you want to use are now located.
What if you can't find that favourite command? Well, there is a solution. Microsoft has created a web based tool to help users find PowerPoint 2003 commands in the new PowerPoint 2007 ribbon interface. Go to http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/powerpoint/HA101490761033.aspx and you can start this Flash based tool that will help you find that command in the new interface. You navigate in this tool to the command using the existing PowerPoint 2003 menus, then they show you where to find that command in the PowerPoint 2007 ribbon interface. And since this is a web based tool, you will be able to have it open while working in PowerPoint and switch between the two while you get used to where your favourite commands are now located. This is sure to save you time and frustration in getting used to the new interface.
------------------------------------------------------------------- Dave's Travel Schedule
If you have been sitting through too many presentations that did not relay the key information needed to make critical decisions, you should schedule an in-house or web based seminar or workshop. You can save money by booking me to speak to your organization or conference when I am close to your area for other clients. Here's where I will be in the next few months:
January 29-30 Cincinnati, OH February 13 Webinar for http://www.speakernetnews.com February 19-23 St. John's, NF February 27 Lexington, KY March 22 Toronto, ON March 29 Huntsville, ON March 30 Toronto, ON April 10 Toronto, ON April 16 Toronto, ON April 19 Toronto, ON April 20 Toronto, ON (1 day Think Outside The Slide(tm) workshop that you can register for at http://www.iapa.com/conference ) May 25-26 London, ON July 6-12 San Diego, CA July 13-16 Los Angeles, CA September 7-9 Winnipeg, MB E-mail me at Dave@ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com to discuss how my Think Outside The Slide(tm) sessions can help your organization be more productive and improve communication throughout the organization.
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