******************************************************************* Dave Paradi's PowerPoint Tip     Issue #162 June 24, 2008 Published & Copyright by Dave Paradi of ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com Circulation over 8,400 ******************************************************************* Please forward this newsletter to executives and professionals who want to create PowerPoint presentations that sell their ideas, products or services more effectively.  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: Reminder: New Slide Makeover Video Podcast available New $1.99 "How-To" Videos now available Will you join The Visual Slide Revolution? PowerPoint Tip - Playing Quicktime videos in PowerPoint Best of the Blog - Making numbers easy to understand Dave's Travel Schedule ******************************************************************* Reminder: New Slide Makeover Video Podcast available A new Slide Makeover Video Podcast based on the ideas in "The Visual Slide Revolution" is available for your viewing through the iTunes Store or online. This video podcast shows the transformation of a simple text-only slide overloaded from Toastmasters. The "after" slide connects better with the audience.  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 or watch online, go to http://www.ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com/podcasts/index.htm .  Forward the link to others who could benefit by seeing this slide makeover. ------------------------------------------------------------------- New $1.99 "How-To" Videos now available I've been adding to the short "how-to" videos at http://www.thinkoutsidetheslide.com/ppthowtovideos.htm : - How to insert a screen capture from a web site or other application on a slide - How to create a Venn diagram to show overlapping relationships Don't see the one you need? E-mail me and I'll see if it can be added.  More are added regularly, so check back every week. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Will you join The Visual Slide Revolution? Are you a presenter who wants to transform the overloaded text slides you are using into persuasive visuals?  Don't know how to start?  The solution you have been waiting for is here.  I've just released my latest book, The Visual Slide Revolution, and it explains my five-step KWICK method that I use to create persuasive presentations for my clients.  Read chapter 2 and order your copy at http://www.ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com/vsr.htm . ------------------------------------------------------------------- PowerPoint Tip: Playing Quicktime videos in PowerPoint When you start incorporating video in to your PowerPoint presentations, you will likely hit one of the roadblocks that many presenters find frustrating.  It has to do with video file formats. There are many video file formats.  Some of the most popular ones you will see are AVI, WMV, and MOV.  The problem is with the last file format, the MOV format.  It is the Quicktime format created by Apple.  It is a good format for quality and size of file, but it unfortunately does not work well in PowerPoint on Windows. The reason the MOV file format is so common is that it is the default format on Apple computers.  But if you are working on a Windows machine, why should that matter?  Because almost every video editing or production company uses Apple computers for video work. They are usually much better at that task.  And your video company is likely going to give you an MOV file as the final output. If you try to insert it like any other video in PowerPoint, it won't recognize the format because there is no Quicktime player built in to PowerPoint on Windows.  So what can you do?  You have two options. Option 1 is to convert the MOV file to a format like WMV or AVI that PowerPoint can recognize.  This requires a video conversion package. The simplest is Apple's Quicktime Pro, which you can purchase from their web site.  It allows you to export the video to the AVI format.  I have found that the results aren't always high quality depending on the input video.  You can search for other video conversion software, but it adds another step to your production process. Option 2 is to link to the MOV video file from a PowerPoint slide using the built-in ability of PowerPoint to link to outside content. You create a hyperlink from some text, shape or picture to the MOV file on your computer.  When you activate that link during the presentation, it automatically runs the movie in the Quicktime player (a free download from Apple).  When the movie is playing, you can expand it to full screen by pressing Ctrl+F.  When it is done, exit the Quicktime player and you are back to your presentation. If you want to see Option 2 in a step-by-step video, check out the video on this specific topic at http://www.ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com/ppthowtovideos.htm .  Video of all types is a hot topic and I have posted four other how-to videos at the above link that walk you through capturing, editing, inserting and e-mailing a video in a presentation.  Don't let video file formats stop you from including video in your next presentation. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Best of the Blog - Making numbers easy to understand In chapter five of my book "The Visual Slide Revolution", I emphasize how important it is to create a visual that has context for your audience. Context for your audience means stated in a way that is familiar to their world. What if you have a really large number that most people would have trouble understanding because it is so much bigger than what they normally consider? Last week's newsletter by Daphne Gray-Grant gave excellent examples of how to do this. She has graciously posted the newsletter on her web site (she doesn't always do this and did it as a result of my request) at http://www.publicationcoach.com/free-articles/numbers.php. I encourage you to use the link to go read her comments. And while you are there, sign up for her weekly newsletter. I often find valuable writing tips in her newsletters. You can see how I apply this sort of an approach in the first of my slide makeover video podcasts. In showing how the organization could not possibly adequately manage the risk across 140 data centres, I broke it down to a weekly number and talked about how it would be impossible to conduct that many audits every week. And then I used a visual of a calendar to emphasize the point. You can watch the podcast video at http://www.ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com/podcasts . Other recent blog posts at http://pptideas.blogspot.com : New source of speaking blogs: Alltop The importance of finding the benefit for your audience ------------------------------------------------------------------- Dave's Travel Schedule I work with business presenters who want to transform their overloaded text slides into persuasive presentations that effectively sell ideas, products and services to decision-makers. My research based PowerPoint Presentation Effectiveness System helps my clients achieve greater productivity and deliver presentations that close more sales.  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: June 24 - Vaughan, ON July 15 - Vaughan, ON & Toronto, ON July 18-20 - Chicago, IL July 21 - Windsor, ON July 23 - Toronto, ON (tentative) July 26-27 - Phoenix, AZ (tentative) July 28 - August 5 - New York, NY (NSA Convention Aug 2-5) August 22 - Toronto, ON September 5-6 - Kansas City, MO September 15-16 - Edmonton, AB (tentative) September 17-18 - Vancouver, BC (tentative) September 19 - San Diego, CA (tentative) September 21-24 - San Diego, CA September 26 - Cincinnati, OH 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. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Privacy Policy: I will never sell or distribute your e-mail or information to anyone. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Need articles for your newsletter?  Check out my many articles at: http://www.ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Check out the books, e-books and other learning tools at: http://www.ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com/resources.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you want to read back issues of this newsletter, click on the following link to go to the Archives: http://www.ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com/archives.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------- Microsoft, PowerPoint, Windows and other terms are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.  Microsoft product screen shot(s) reprinted with permission from Microsoft Corporation.  All books, products and seminars are independent publications and are not affiliated with, nor have they been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation.