Cosmopolitan PowerPoint

The next time you are at the grocery store, take a critical look at the magazines that assault your senses as you stand in the check out line. Which one did you pick up, and why?

You might have been critically interested in the topics the magazine covers. But most of the time, something else drew you in and made you rifle through it for a few moments. Chances are, it was either a compelling headline or a stunning visual -- or a combination of both.

Magazines are masters of direct response headline writing. In particular, take a look at Cosmopolitan, Reader's Digest, and Prevention. What words or phrases did they use to arrest your interest? Here are four time-tested eye and mind-catchers:

• "How To...."
• "The Top 5 Reasons Why...."
• "Amazing...."
• "Exclusive...."

What other headline techniques grab attention? Take a tip from magazines -- even if you are giving a presentation to your church members or school children, think about re-writing your the headlines of your PowerPoint slides as if they were on the cover of Cosmopolitan (minus the saucy pictures, of course!). But think about it:

• How to Feed 500 with 1 Loaf, 1 Fish
• The 5 Most Relevant Advent Adverbs
• Amazing Joy -- How Sweet the Sound of Laughter

Pick ONE relevant picture to accompany each new headline. This creative exercise can lead to a presentation that more readily engages audience imagination. Give it a try!

Labels: Presentation

¶ 2/28/2005 05:28:00 PM