Monday, June 27, 2005
Effective PowerPoint Techniques...
I saw a wonderful PowerPoint presentation earlier this month...the presenter pulled off the interactive, conversational approach with style and grace. Here's how she did it:
I was in a (small) audience of four. Since the group was so intimate, the presenter had us pull our chairs in a circle around her.
She had her "PowerPoint" slides in her lap - a short stack of 11x17-inch cards. White foam board.
"I only have these boards to make sure I cover everything I'm supposed to cover in the next 20 minutes," she began.
Nice, I thought. I know how long this is going to last. And it's cozy. She gave us coffee and sweets, too!
The presenter continued:
"I'm just going to talk with you about what our organization is all about, and I'll hold the slides out for you to see, but I can't see them myself, 'cause they're on my lap. If I forgot to cover something on the slide or if you have any questions, just ask."
Sweet. She's going to look at us, not her slides. That means she knows her material. And she's got us looking at her, and briefly glancing at the slides to see if she forgot anything. She's got the interactive, conversational thing going on!
Our presentater presented flawlessly. She was nice, but not particularly polished.
Didn't matter. She more than made up for it with a warm, friendly personality. Her "slides" were not flashy -- they were a simple two color affair with some graphics and a few scant words and quotes on each page. Short, relevant: benefits, features, about us, call to action. That was it.
We asked lots of questions along the way. We felt so comfortable and at ease, that two of us hung out for coffee and conversation and signed up for her organization's program afterward.
You know it's true: a conversation-packed coffee klatsch can be way more effective than a cold, impersonal delivery with flashy animation and sound effects.
A 50% conversion rate can't be wrong! ¶ 6/27/2005 09:14:00 AM
I saw a wonderful PowerPoint presentation earlier this month...the presenter pulled off the interactive, conversational approach with style and grace. Here's how she did it:
I was in a (small) audience of four. Since the group was so intimate, the presenter had us pull our chairs in a circle around her.
She had her "PowerPoint" slides in her lap - a short stack of 11x17-inch cards. White foam board.
"I only have these boards to make sure I cover everything I'm supposed to cover in the next 20 minutes," she began.
Nice, I thought. I know how long this is going to last. And it's cozy. She gave us coffee and sweets, too!
The presenter continued:
"I'm just going to talk with you about what our organization is all about, and I'll hold the slides out for you to see, but I can't see them myself, 'cause they're on my lap. If I forgot to cover something on the slide or if you have any questions, just ask."
Sweet. She's going to look at us, not her slides. That means she knows her material. And she's got us looking at her, and briefly glancing at the slides to see if she forgot anything. She's got the interactive, conversational thing going on!
Our presentater presented flawlessly. She was nice, but not particularly polished.
Didn't matter. She more than made up for it with a warm, friendly personality. Her "slides" were not flashy -- they were a simple two color affair with some graphics and a few scant words and quotes on each page. Short, relevant: benefits, features, about us, call to action. That was it.
We asked lots of questions along the way. We felt so comfortable and at ease, that two of us hung out for coffee and conversation and signed up for her organization's program afterward.
You know it's true: a conversation-packed coffee klatsch can be way more effective than a cold, impersonal delivery with flashy animation and sound effects.
A 50% conversion rate can't be wrong! ¶ 6/27/2005 09:14:00 AM
