Latest posts

Below are the most recent articles or resources I’ve published. If you are looking for help on a specific topics, it would best to look at the topics in my Articles archive as I have grouped my recent and best articles by topic there.

  • Showing trends in related series of data; Slide Makeover #78

    A line graph is easier to see trends in multiple data series than a stacked column graph Continue reading

  • 3 Tips for making column graphs even clearer; Issue #304 February 4, 2014

    In my workshops, I always recommend creating graphs in PowerPoint rather than copying them from Excel, because they are easier to edit and it avoids some of the problems of the entire spreadsheet being embedded into the PowerPoint file. Unfortunately, when you create a graph in PowerPoint, the default graph contains many distracting elements. In…… Continue reading

  • Using Amazon Storybuilder to outline a presentation; Issue #303 January 21, 2014

    Late last year Amazon Studios introduced a tool that will be helpful for presenters. Amazon Studios is a movie studio that helps produce films for film makers. How would their tools relate to presentations? Like the stories that film makers tell, our presentations should tell a story. In this article I want to share how…… Continue reading

  • 3 Steps to Lead Presentation Change in 2014; Issue #302 January 7, 2014

    When I am delivering my workshops, a common concern is raised by the participants. They think that the ideas I share are great, they really like the slide makeovers I show them, but they are concerned that the new visuals they create won’t meet with management approval. So they don’t act on the information as…… Continue reading

  • Proportional Object Collection Calculator; Issue #301 December 10 2013

    Earlier this year I created an online tool to calculate the sizes of two shapes based on values that you input. This allows you to create a diagram with two proportional shapes. I wrote about this calculator in the June 11 issue of the newsletter and gave examples of the background and other links about…… Continue reading

  • Celebrating 300 newsletter issues; November 26, 2013

    Today I am celebrating the 300th issue of my newsletter. I have been writing this newsletter every two weeks for almost 11 years. I would not be able to keep writing if it was not for the support and encouragement that my loyal readers have shown. If you are not on the list yet, click…… Continue reading

  • Treemap Diagrams; November 12, 2013

    At the Presentation Summit in September, Nolan Haims showed a diagram I had seen before, but did not know the proper name for: a treemap. A treemap is a type of visual that allows you to visually compare the size of different measured values using proportionally shaped rectangles that are arranged into an overall rectangle.…… Continue reading

  • Show steps in a process; October 29, 2013

    When you need to explain a process, whether it is a manufacturing process, process for handling expense claims, or process for installing a new system, there are steps you want to walk the audience through. The default template in PowerPoint leads many presenters to use a numbered list of steps: step one through to the…… Continue reading

  • Ideas from the 2013 Presentation Summit; October 15, 2013

    Every year when I speak at and attend the Presentation Summit conference I come back with great ideas from other presentation experts that I can adapt or use in my own presentations. Last month the conference was in Ft. Lauderdale, FL and in this article I want to share three ideas I picked up at…… Continue reading

  • Results of the 2013 Annoying PowerPoint Survey; Issue #296 October 1, 2013

    To see the results of the latest Annoying PowerPoint Survey, click here. Continue reading