PPT - Powerful Presentation Techniques

PowerPoint Nibblets - PPT to Flash, Keynote vs. PPT

PPT to Flash
PowerFlashPoint has introduced a "free" tool to convert PowerPoint 2002, 2003 or 2007 presentations to Flash.  The free version adds a PowerFlashPoint logo to each of your slides according to their recent press release.  The paid version is available for download for $199. 

According to the company one advantage of the software is that it keeps all your special effects while reducing your file size by 98%.

PPT vs. Keynote
PCWorld contributore and expert Franklin Tessler writes about a match-up between PPT 2008 and Keynote 2008.  In the comparison, the author states "PowerPoint has caught up to Keynote in many areas and surpassed it in some".  He also took a look at the Presentation development tools in Open Office, NeoOffice and Google Docs.

AuthorSTREAM joins the online presentation party

Joining the online slide sharing game is AuthorSTREAM.  The service allows you to upload your PowerPoint presentations and share them on blogs, YouTube or your iPod.  Here's one of the presentations on the site that I found with some striking images.

Private Beta Launch - SlideRocket, web-based presentations

Tech Crunch reported on the private beta launch of SlideRocket "a presentation app that wants to recreate PowerPoint in the browser and take advantage of the web's sharing and mashup capabilities."  SlideRocket is scheduled to launch this summer. 

I took a look at their online demonstration and capability descriptin to see that they are touting a wide range of features and benefits across a wide range of presentation phases including creation, delivery, managment, analysis and community.  In the demo show they reference the following:

• online libraries for styles and presentation assets
• effects, builds, transitions and animations (including several not available in PowerPoint)
• presentation asset tagging, searching and sorting
• hyperlinks within presentations
• stylizeable charts & graphs
• ability to share presentations online

I've submitted a request to be invited to test out the application and once I have more to report I'll do so here at PPT - Powerful Presentation Techniques.

Paul Gibler

PPT - Powerful Presentation Techniques Service Offerings

ConnectingDots, Principal Consultant Paul Gibler offers your organization a range of services to improve presentation development, delivery or overall management.  Among the services that are offered are the following:

• Professional Development - presentation and/or PowerPoint skills coaching or training
• Presentation Strategy Assessment & Development - evaluation of presentation templates, slide databases, slide preparation tools, photo libraries and other slide assets.
• Presentation Delivery Assessment - evaluation of individual presenter delivery
• Presentation Guideline Development - creation or enhancement of guidelines for internal and external presenters
• Presentation Skills Keynotes - online or live presentations on best practices in presentation skills or the effective use of PowerPoint.

These services can be customized to meet your organization's needs.  Please review the service offerings description (Download PPT-PowerfulPresentationTechniquesDescriptionRev2.pdf) and contact Paul Gibler for further information.

PowerPoint Nibblets - tools & techniques

Periodically I like to scan the news to see what is new in PowerPoint add-ons, presentation accessories or tools to enhance your presentations.  Here are some that I've discovered recently.

• SlipperyBrick reports on a laser pointer with a built-in advantage - slide advance and backward buttons for use with PowerPoint.  The tool sounds like it could be a useful multi-function presentation tool.
• PlanetPDF reports that DocGuruz has released a PowerPoint to PDF conversion package that allows you to convert your PowerPoint presentations without having Adobe Acrobat installed.  The product is available for $19.95 at the company website.
• The Mobile Gadgeteer reports the availability of Softmaker Office 2008 beta for use with Pocket PC Devices.  According to their report the tool gives you "Softmaker Presentations 2008 that gives you full editing and creation capability for PowerPoint presentations."
• Cognitive Scientist Stephen Kosslyn, author of Clear and to the Point presented at the American Association for the Advancement of Science on the best way to present PowerPoint information according to iO9.  He presented his "four rules of PowerPoint: the Goldilocks Rule, the Rudolph Rule, the Rule of Four and the Birds of a Feather Rule".  He has some good ideas although I found his book to be less than sophisticated in its use of PowerPoint as compared to others like Presentationzen.

NJ Governor needs some PPT help

The New York Times reported earlier this week:

"...Governor Jon S. Corzine, relying on a PowerPoint slide show several fonts too small..." "Al Gore he was not.  Sometimes it was hard to see the charts because the words and figures were too small.  Sometimes he blocked the view." 

Given the picture they showed of the Governor pointing to one of his busy slides, it is clear he needs some help. 

If you or your organization would like to avoid the governors problems, give me a call (608) 255 4092 or drop me a line for help with improving your presentation strategy through PowerPoint and Presentation skills assessments and training or through help in developing your presentation assets strategy.   

Paul Gibler

UPDATED - PowerPoint & Presentation Resource Listing (REV 7)

I've updated the PPT - Powerful Presentation Techniques Resource Listing to include several new books, web sites and article links that I've come across or have been submitted to me.  The Resource Listing is now in its seventh revision. 
Download PPT-PowerfulPresentationTechniquesResourceGuideRev7.pdf

If you have additions or changes that should be made to the listing, please send me an e-mail. 

If I can be of any help in assessing your team's current level of presentation or PowerPoint skills or assist you with your training needs, please let me know.

Paul Gibler
(608) 255 4092

Book Reviews - Most PPT Presentations Suck, Relational Presentation and Clear and to the Point

I've been reading three books of interest to presenters:

Clear and to the Point by Stephen Kosslyn

Relational Presentation by Robert Lane and Chantal Bosse

1. and Why Most PowerPoint Presentations Suck by Rick Altman

So far I've finished Why Most PowerPoint Presentations Suck, am about 1/2 way through Clear and to the Point and 1/4 of the way through Relational Presentation.  I always judge a book by whether I've learned something or not.  So far each has provided some value.  I do however want to go through each of these with PowerPoint open so that I can test some of their premises and include them in my reviews.

I'll be reporting on my perspectives on each of these resources in the next couple of weeks.  If you've read any of these three and would like to join the conversation, send me an e-mail with your perspectives and I'll be sure to incorporate it into my book reviews.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Paul Gibler

An offer from Mimeo - on demand printing

I was at PPTLive 07 last week and happened to sit next to the VP of Marketing, Jeff Grill  and National Account Manager, Chris Ilardi from Mimeo, the largest on demand printer.  They were one of the sponsors of the Conference and received kudos from Rick Altman, the Conference organizer, for their service and attention to detail in printing the Conference books for a number of years. 

Mimeo offers next day delivery of printed documents that can be ordered over the Internet.  Their printing facility is in Memphis near the FedEx hub.  They are set up with Kodak Nexpress printers for 4 color work and Docutechs for black & white work.  They explained and demonstrated the service as one where you simply upload your documents, add them to your library and order the components including binding you want for a given job.  You have a chance to proof your job with a WYSIWYG interface and can ship copies to as many locations as you like.  The online interface will show you the order size, printing costs and delivery fees in the shopping cart.

Special Offer for New Buyers
Mimeo has allowed me to extend an offer to new customers of $100 off your first print job.  To take advantage of this offer, you can visit Mimeo and enter the Promotion Code 123print or else call them at 1 866 389 0480 and use the Promotion Code TryUsOut.

PPTLive Next Week and PPT Book Reviews

I'll be attending Rick Altman's PPT Live Conference starting this Sunday in New Orleans.  I'm looking forward to picking up some good tips, ideas and to networking with other PPT and presentation professionals.  As I learn new things that are worth sharing, I'll be sure to post them here on PPT. 

In addition, I've given myself a couple of reading assignments while I'm planebound this weekend and next week to read and comment on two new PPT books I just received from Amazon - "CLEAR and to THE POINT" by Stephen Kosslyn and "Why Most PowerPoint Presentations SUCK" by Rick Altman of above mentioned PPT Live fame.  My initial scan of both tells me that I'll be able to pick up some good tips and techniques to add to my repertoire.