******************************************************************* Dave Paradi's PowerPoint Tip     Issue #169 September 30, 2008 Published & Copyright by Dave Paradi of ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com Circulation over 8,300 ******************************************************************* 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: Transform your text slides into persuasive visuals New YouTube channel for Slide Makeover Video Podcasts PowerPoint Tip - Using photos when telling stories Best of the Blog - Presenting when you are not allowed to use a handout  Dave's Travel Schedule ******************************************************************* Transform your text slides into persuasive visuals Don't know how to start transforming your overloaded text slides into persuasive visuals?  The solution you have been waiting for is here.  My latest book, The Visual Slide Revolution, explains my five-step KWICK method that I use to create persuasive presentations for my clients.  The Globe & Mail said, "This is a very strong book in an area where most of us are very weak."  Read chapter 2 and order your copy at http://www.ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com/vsr.htm . ------------------------------------------------------------------- New YouTube channel for Slide Makeover Video Podcasts The latest Slide Makeover Video Podcast was released last Tuesday and it covers how to transform a comparison of two ideas on two separate slides into a clear visual so people understand and can apply the ideas you are sharing. It is available through iTunes and on the web site in the normal spots, but it is also viewable in a new way.  To assist those who can't view QuickTime format videos, I have now created my own YouTube channel with all of the slide makeover video podcasts and two free "how-to" videos as well.  It is at: http://www.youtube.com/ThinkOutsideTheSlide . ------------------------------------------------------------------- PowerPoint Tip: Using photos when telling stories Last week at the PowerPoint Live conference, more than one speaker emphasized how important it is that we tell stories when we are presenting instead of reading slides full of text or data.  I agree with them and this issue I want to talk about how we can enhance our stories by using photos. What a photo can do is transport your audience right into the story with you.  Photos work at an emotional level, which is where stories work as well.  With the detail of your stories, you help the audience form an image in their own mind and feel what you felt when the story happened to you.  A photo helps take the audience there more rapidly and makes it more real. Here are some examples of photos that can transport your audience. If you are talking about a location, such as a field of flowers or a busy city, a photo can take them there.  If you are talking about a time of day, like sunrise or late afternoon, photos take you to that time on the clock instantly.  If the story takes place in a particular season, a photo of a snowy winter day or a hot summer day will make people feel like they are there with you.  And if your story involves a recognizable city or place, show a photo of the city skyline or famous building. I suggest you use photos to help set the scene of the story and not use photos to try to illustrate people in the story.  People are best explained using your own words and facial expressions.  Photos of people are also harder to use because they require permission of the person in the photo.  One use of a person in a photo would be to use a stock photo to show an emotion if you feel you won't be able to adequately portray the emotion yourself. When you use photos to help your story have an impact, be careful not to leave them on the screen too long.  You should place the photo on a black slide and make it as large as you can so it is easy to see for everyone in the audience.  Show it only for the sentence or two that you need to say, then go to a black slide so the focus of the audience comes back to you moving the story along. Stories are powerful and I am convinced that they can help any presentation have greater impact.  If you use photos you have taken with your digital camera and your PowerPoint file gets too large to e-mail, check out the video I have at http://www.PPtHowToVideos.com for an explanation of how to reduce the file size without having to redo your slides. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Best of the Blog - Presenting when you are not allowed to use a handout A participant in one of my workshops recently presented me with a new challenge.  In his position as a sales professional, he has now encountered two large organizations who have stated that when he presents to them, he is forbidden from bringing handouts for the audience.  This ban is part of their environmental efforts. Research has shown that people remember better when they can concentrate on what the speaker is saying and take down key points relevant to their situation instead of madly writing notes of what is being said.  The challenge is how to deal with the potential downside of this policy - decisions being made on poorly recalled ideas and facts. Let me suggest an approach to designing and delivering your presentation that has a high potential to get the key messages remembered and acted upon in this no-handout scenario.  It involves planning in a slightly different way and delivering your presentation in a somewhat more direct manner. Read the rest of the article at http://www.ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com/articles/nohandout.htm . Other recent blog posts at http://pptideas.blogspot.com : ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: October 1 - Toronto, ON October 16 - Toronto, ON October 23 - Chicago, IL October 29 - Vaughan, ON November 5-7 - Savannah, GA November 21 - Toronto, ON November 26 - London, ON November 30-December 2 - CAPS Convention in Toronto, ON February 21-23, 2009 - Chicago, IL March 2-3, 2009 - Cincinnati, OH April 23, 2009 - Toronto, ON IAPA post-conference workshop open to the public, details coming in the fall May 8-9, 2009 - Chicago, IL 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, videos 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.