Find Odd Sound Effects

Sometimes, you need a special sound effect for your PowerPoint presentation.

Earlier this year, I needed a horse whinny to help tell my story.

Really! (Don't ask.)

However, I didn't have fast access to a horse. So what to do?

Where to find an unusual sound effect for your presentation?

I found my horse whinny -- and many other odd sound effects -- at FindSounds. This website scours the internet and finds all kinds of animal and human noises, as well as vehicles, tools, mayhem, and more.

When you find your sound -- be mindful of the copyright if you choose to use it!

Labels: Presentation

¶ 5/14/2008 10:05:00 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Jott Yourself a Reminder

I love the online service called Jott. Currently in public beta, Jott is free, and oh, so useful!

With Jott, I send email to friends and colleagues - without typing. Here's how Jott works:

I call a toll-free number. The automated Jott bot asks, "Who do you want to Jott?"

I mention a name in my email address book, which I've already uploaded to Jott. Then I leave a 30 second (or under) message.

Now, get this -- Jott types up my message, and emails it to the person I mentioned -- and gives me a CC email. Hands-free is lovely!

Perfect for when I'm on the road. You can be sure that the Jott toll-free number is programmed into my computer. I use it oodles. So do quite a few of my friends...

But we use it for more than friendly emails and IMs. I use it for reminders and to-do lists. (Seems I get more ideas when I'm on the road than when I'm in front of the computer.) I also use Jott to Twitter: and some folks use Jott to post blogs or Google calendar content. You can also choose to send yourself a reminder or a to-do list: a terrific feature for project managers.

Sometimes, Jott bobbles a word or two -- especially proper names. (I've found that it absolutely massacres Polish surnames -- and offers a hilarious interpretation of the Michigan town "Saugatuck".) So while Jott's not perfect, it's incredibly useful and utterly enjoyable.

You might want to try Jott while it's still in Beta.

Labels: Presentation, social media

¶ 2/13/2008 05:11:00 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

  SnagIt 7 is Free: TechSmith is at it again!

Free SnagIt 7 Offer. You can now get a free copy of SnagIt 7. (SnagIt 8.2 is the most recent version.) Here are the "how to get it" details >>> (courtesy of Microsoft MVP Marc Liron.)

In case you missed it... Last month, TechSmith began giving away Camtasia Studio 3. Camtasia 3 is an older version of an advanced screen recorder that you can use to create online video demos, tutorials, and presentations. It may be an oldie, but like SnagIt 7, it's a goodie!

And don't forget: TechSmith is also currently offering the freely available Jing Project. With Jing, you get to capture an image of what's on your screen, record a video and share your presentation online.

That's three for free. These are three great presentation tools from TechSmith. If you haven't checked them out yet...

...whatcha waiting for?

Christmas?

Labels: Presentation

¶ 12/11/2007 03:49:00 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Funny PowerPoint - Halloween Dogs

I know the Halloween Dogs make the email rounds every October -- but for some reason, the pictures always seem to make me laugh. And I like dogs (really!)

This year, you can see and share the latest round of sadly funny dogs in a PowerPoint presentation at Slideshare. No need to email the images and choke up your friends' inboxes - just point them to Slideshare:


Personally, I would never dress up a dog in a Halloween costume. Would you?

Labels: fun, images, Presentation

¶ 10/04/2007 04:19:00 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Crazy Cocktail Party Question For August...

Boy, is it ever hot and humid! It's hard to look fresh and composed in the August heat.

So when I whimsically asked a group of drooping American audience members,


I wasn't surprised by the 100% response.

Absolutely nobody wants to smell bad. Given a choice between the two, most people opt for looking bad over smelling bad. Here's the reasoning --

"Hey, if I look bad, only the people who look at me suffer my appearance. But when I smell bad -- everyone suffers."

Of course, this could be an entirely American opinion. We may seem obsessed with appearances, but we're hyper-vigilant about odors.

But really: what's worse -- looking bad or smelling bad? Take the poll, or leave a comment. ;)

Labels: Presentation

¶ 8/24/2007 05:50:00 PM 2 Comments Links to this post

  Bag Boring Brainstorming Meetings

Ah, the corporate brainstorming meeting fantasy. An enthusiastic moderator, a blank white board, a group of experts eager to share their ideas -- what could be better for generating a host of creative problem solving ideas?

Ah, the brainstorming reality. It turns out that solitude is a better approach to creative thinking. According to a study team at Indiana University, groups come up with far fewer and much less creative problem-solving approaches. Individuals working alone have more ideas.

Instinctively, you already knew this. This is old news. Brilliant creative artists seldom offer their best newly-formed ideas for group consideration or consensus. And you've witnessed the glazed looks of bored team members in the departmental brainstorm meeting.

Consider the rule: there's no such thing as a bad idea. You've heard, "yeah, that sounds good" voiced at the mention of the most mediocre idea. The ever-positive brainstorming moderator reminds us, "There's no criticism at a brainstorm meeting. The point is to get as many ideas on the board as possible. There's no such thing as a bad idea, so let your ideas flow!"

Of course, that's a fantasy, too. We've all heard loads of bad ideas at brainstorming meetings. I am often so intrigued by the mere idea of no bad ideas, that I make a point of voicing the worst ideas possible. When people start to look uncomfortable, I have to remind the moderator to write my lousy idea on the board.

Often, I am ignored. But at least I am highly internally amused -- before I get fired.

The plus side of brainstorming meetings. Of course, some will argue that brainstorming isn't all about creativity. Socialization and team-building is important, so the brainstorm session fosters that feel-good group interaction that people crave. But without an atmosphere of honest conversation and true accomplishment, the feel-goodness factor is a brainstorm fantasy, too.

A better approach to brainstorming. Instead of group brainstorm sessions, why not try virtual brainstorming? With virtual brainstorming, you can generate more creative ideas -- and still offer your team the socialization they crave. Here's how v-brainstorming works:

1. Use email. The perky coordinator asks the brainstorm team to email him or her at least 10 ideas by a certain date. The rules: no offline collaboration with others. Team members are to come up with their own ideas, and email them by the (short) deadline.
   
   
2. Create a presentation. The coordinator collates emailed responses. He or she creates a presentation to share at a brainstorm results meeting. Categories can include "Five Most Popular Suggestions", "Four Most Unusual", "Most Expensive", "Least Effort" -- you get the idea. The coordinator creates a number of categories that stimulate thought, conversation -- and maybe even a little fun.
   
   
3. Share results. The coordinator leads the results meeting. Transformed from a chirping drone who mindlessly copies down sparse ideas, the moderator is now able to effectively lead an interesting conversation about the ideas the team generated independently.

Conversations shift from, "Yeah, that sounds good" to :

• "Wow! Ten of us had the same idea - but the most popular idea is the worst!"
  
• "Hmm. The 'least effort' idea is also the most expensive. That's a problem."
  
• "Customers will love the wackiest idea. The CEO will hate it. We should explore it further."

Better ideas. Group interaction. Conversation. Criticism. Analysis. Of course, a v-brainstorm meeting is more work for the coordinator -- but it's better for everyone else. Why not try one the next time you need ideas + interaction?

After all, the truth -- and creativity -- does not depend upon a consensus of opinion.

Labels: Presentation

¶ 8/24/2007 03:40:00 PM 2 Comments Links to this post

  Clichés, Buzzwords, and Jargon. Oh, my!

What's the difference between clichés, buzzwords, and jargon?

It doesn't matter. They're all related. They alienate your audiences. How?

Clichés bore. Buzzwords cloud the truth. And industry jargon confuses.

These three devils have become so omnipresent, all businesses need to hire outside copy editors to review their most important pieces of outbound communication. Seriously. Those who don't often inadvertently end up with what author David Meerman Scott calls "Gobbledegook".

You might have a jargon problem...and not know it. Get a third pair of very critical "outsider" eyes to review your most important copy and presentations. And be prepared for brutal honesty! I'm often surprised that many companies don't know they're using jargon and clichés -- they think they sound "smart"!

Can't afford an editor? Try this eye-opening exercise. It may tip you off that your copy has a jargon, cliché, or buzzword problem:

1. Take every instance of your company name in your suspect copy and replace it with your competitor's name. Ditto any product names. Replace 'em with a competitive product.
2. Read the copy to your CEO, board of directors, key customers, PR, or marketing people. Ask if they think your competitors are ripping off your unique benefits or sense of style.

A big problem with using "smart" sounding industry jargon is that it sounds "dumb" to customers. Companies that use jargon miss an opportunity to distinguish themselves from their competition. And of course, they confuse or bore their audiences.

Do you have a buzzword problem? Find out for sure. Visit these four (fun) links to get some insight on how you can improve communication.

The Encyclopedia of Business Cliches - Seth Godin's Squidoo lens puts light-hearted focus on the growing problem of clichés in business speech. You can vote on the most grating, or add your own. (I had fun adding jargon I heard as I sat in on a teleconference. I added Industry Standard, net-net, Best Practices, Push the Envelope, and core competencies -- in less than 9 minutes!)

Netlingo.com - What are the kids talking about? IM shortcuts and acronyms are crawling into speech. So is tech-industry jargon. I used the Netlingo site to look up quasi-familiar tech-ish terms like ladder pass, Valley Washout, Mystery House, Flypaper Meeting, and Frendor. If you know what these terms mean, you must live in California. Or be 12.

Buzzword Bingo - This is one of my favorite game sites ever. Print randomly generated buzzword cards, pass them out to meeting attendees. When you mark five buzzwords in a row, you win!

Visual Clichés - It's not just words that get clichéd. We all get sick of seeing the same boring images that represent an abstract concept. Are you using visual clichés in your PowerPoint presentations, web copy, or company literature? What image can you live without seeing ever again?

Labels: Presentation

¶ 8/15/2007 04:01:00 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Regional Presentations: Check the Facts!

If you are presenting in an unfamiliar city, please do some regional fact-checking. It's easy to find some basic city info online: demographics, key industries, sports teams, colleges -- just a few basic factoids can really help you tailor your presentation and connect with your audience.

Plus, it can prevent you from opening your mouth and saying something regionally insensitive!

Here's the latest presentation horror story: Last week, I went to a Microsoft Conference -- a traveling road show here in beautiful Grand Rapids, Michigan. The MS presenter actually said (paraphrase),

"No one really needs office furniture. With the advent of wireless networking, no one needs a desk or a workspace. How many people here have worked from home or from a cafe on their wireless devices?"

Everybody raised their hands.

His next PowerPoint slide was a desk littered with post-it notes and coffee stains.

"The office desk is simply a useless space that accumulates clutter. It isn't a real productive place. Thank goodness you don't need to waste your money on expensive office furniture any more."

And then the presenter went blithely on with his MS Productivity software pitches. He seemed unaware that we were cringing uncomfortably in our ergonomic chairs.

The problem: Grand Rapids, Michigan is the home of the office furniture industry. Just about everybody in the audience has a stake in the success of the city's key industry. I don't think the guy made any friends denigrating the importance of office furniture in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Microsoft would do well to have their employees fact-check cities before they go on the road!

But then again -- maybe MS programmers in Redmond, WA do their best work from backyard patios, noisy cafes -- and even tree houses. I wonder how a haphazardly organized approach to programming affects the quality of work.

In the interest of increasing productivity and shareholder value, do you suppose Microsoft will rid itself of desks in its cushy Redmond, Washington offices? And do they really encourage their best programmers to go work in trees? ;)

Try doing creative and inspiring work in an uncomfortable, drab, gray office. Try maintaining a professional demeanor on a cell phone in a cafe while teenagers practice their swear words in the background. Try programming cohesively when you're swinging from a tree branch!

Good luck! Let me know how that works out for you!

I know I am way more productive and creative when I work in a beautiful, quiet, well-designed office space. You?

Labels: Presentation

¶ 8/15/2007 07:39:00 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Taking the Twitter Challenge...

This month, I have made a commitment to testing Twitter. At my other blog, I am writing a series called "Take the Twitter Challenge". Now, Twitter isn't new, and by now, it may have already jumped the shark.

And I must admit that the recent net buzz about Twitter leaves me befuddled. Why would anyone be interested in reading -- or writing -- sporadic, 140 character missives? And what's the point of making these missives public?

Because that's all Twitter does! You sign up for a free account. You answer one question: "What are you doing right now?". You have to answer in 140 characters or less. Your response is instantly posted online. People decide (or not) to "follow" what you have to say. You decide who you want to "follow".

I'm not kidding. That's about all there is to it. And thousands of people, even campaigning politicians and celebrities, are twittering away. What about you?

As for me, I can't know it until I've tried it. Experience comes before knowledge. So for one month, August 2007, I will emerge myself in the Twitter culture. I will:

• Explore the PR aspect- is Twitter a viable media channel for quickly and easily letting the public know what you're up to?
  
• Contemplate the metaphysical aspect - will focusing on "what are you doing right now?" put me in the moment and help raise consciousness?
• Consider the artistic aspects - can Twitter give rise to a new, Haiku-like art form of profound simplicity?
• Wonder about educational implications - will the 140 character limit help make me a better, more concise writer?
  
• Report on my successes and failures - You can follow along -- or take the Twitter challenge yourself.
  

Now -- am I overthinking Twitter entirely? Why don't I instinctively grasp the importance of Twitter, when just about everyone else seems to? Witness these quotes that I found in my Twitter Invite:

• "Twitter is on its way to becoming the next killer app." - TIME Magazine
• "It's one of the fastest-growing phenomena on the Internet." - New York Times
• "Suddenly, it seems as though all the world's a-twitter." - Newsweek

Is Twitter a quick, easy, cheap fix that will flash & fade? Or am I a hopeless dinosaur that just doesn't get the hub-bub?

I just started my Twitter Journey, and I am amazed to find that I have four followers. I will continue my Journey, and keep interested parties updated in my "Twitter Challenge" series.

If you're an experienced Twitterer and would like to share your insights or follow along with me, please do! I'd love to hear from you.

PS - my friend Ursel points me to the above painting by Paul Klee - the Twittering Machine. At the moment, this painting looks exactly how I feel. Does engaging in Twitter make one a twit?

Labels: Presentation

¶ 8/03/2007 03:06:00 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Fear of Public Speaking is Not Real

While walking in the forest with a friend, a pretty green snake slithered across our path. I let out a yelp of surprise, which caused a number of birds to shriek and flutter, as well.

"I didn't know you were afraid of snakes," teased my friend.

"I'm not," I denied, embarrassed. "I was startled."

Hand me a snake, and I wrinkle my nose. I don't particularly care for the feel of the creatures. And I don't get much of an opportunity to interact with them on a daily basis, either.

Instead of fear, my negative reaction to snakes has more to do with that one-two punch: lack of familiarity coupled with a lack of preference.


Is it really fear? People often state that their number one fear is "speaking in public". But are people really terrorized by public speaking -- or is it simply that they prefer not to give presentations to large groups? Or that they don't speak in front of groups on a regular basis?

Or is it because it is considered socially acceptable to live in fear?

Consider the two prerequisites that make people thoughtlessly say they're afraid of public speaking when they really aren't:

1. Lack of preference: Perhaps people don't like the "feel" of public speaking. After all, speaking to friends in a conversational manner "feels" right and natural. Speaking in front of a group can "feel" forced and unnatural. Why?

2. Lack of familiarity: Many folks don't get an opportunity to practice public speaking on a daily basis. If these folks spoke in public regularly, perhaps the creepy feeling associated with presenting would dissipate.

Add some negative programming. Now, add to this one-two punch the repeated drumming of years of socially acceptable negative storytelling. My friend instantly tagged my negative reaction to the snake as "fear" -- but it only looked that way. Imagine all the times you may have been amazed or startled by the unfamiliar -- your eyes widen, your heart races, your knees buckle, you may even scream -- and your friends and family label this as "fear".

What about excitement? What about surprise? What of wonder? Amazement? Why call it fear? Why repeat the myth?

Fake fear is easy to spread. The physical manifestations associated with fear can be contagious! When I yelped at the snake, the birds fluttered and squawked in reaction to my outburst. Even my friend jumped a little when I screeched -- even though she didn't even see the snake. She wasn't "scared" of me -- she reacted to my reaction!

Preference is a harder story to sell. I still don't like snakes. And I don't care for chocolate-covered Graham crackers (yuch)! But when I wrinkle my nose and say "Ewwww!!!" at the offer of a cracker, no one labels me "afraid" of crackers! Spreading the myth of the "fear of snakes" is easy. It's a popular phobia. But spreading a story about "doesn't prefer crackers" is hard. It isn't very emotional or dramatic.

You are not afraid! Most people who claim to be afraid of public speaking -- aren't really. They don't get on stage and start screaming in terror. No, they just don't like to speak in public -- so they avoid it. And when they do, they are out of practice and nervous -- and don't know to interpret or effectively use their adrenaline. They get the shakes. Their voice quivers. This gives them the perfect excuse to parrot the socially acceptable "I'm afraid of public speaking".

Don't be a parrot! So, if you claim to be afraid of public speaking, find moments in your life when you didn't show it. For example, how scared were you in first grade, when "Show and Tell" was a regular part of your curriculum? You told an engaging story to the class using props. And you probably did it often and enthusiastically. What changed from then to now? What or who convinced you that you feel "afraid"? And why did you repeat this myth as if it were the truth?

Face the real truth. Find out what convinced you that you were afraid, and bravely face it. Make it socially unacceptable to thoughtlessly parrot "fear" as a valid label for something unfamiliar, unknown, or unlikeable.

Labels: Presentation

¶ 7/30/2007 04:17:00 PM 1 Comments Links to this post

  Are Black Backgrounds Green?

Going green. Being eco-friendly. Getting LEED certified. Saving the environment.

Many organizations are touting the latest eco-friendly buzzwords on recycled paper with acid free ink. But what can these organizations do to make their websites more earth friendly?

If your site has a predominantly white background with dark lettering (most do)... read this post about Black Google. Blog author Mark Ontkush states that if Google used a black background instead of white -- the planet would save 750 Megawatt hours a year. The idea is that light backgrounds use more energy than dark backgrounds -- and that Google gets hundreds of millions of global searches.

So why aren't more eco-friendly company websites light-on-dark?

Designers often argue that dark text on a light background is more readable -- but I found the darker palette (at ecoIron, for example) to be incredibly eye-friendly. Further, after reading at the site for a few minutes and then switching to an all-white site -- I found the contrast to be alarming.

Reading on a white background after reading on dark is actually painful. It's like staring intently at a bare light bulb that is arm's length from my face. (And I have an LCD monitor!)

Reading on a darker palette is definitely more soothing for me. Easier on the eyes.

Is the black-on-white standard a holdover from the print world? By using an eco-friendly palette for our websites -- are we possibly being even friendlier to our health?

Which do you prefer to read online? Light on dark -- or dark on light?

Labels: Presentation

¶ 7/27/2007 05:38:00 PM 1 Comments Links to this post

  Delivering Bad News: The Ultimate Template

Sometimes, there's no way around it. Sometimes, you have to be the bearer of bad news.

I'd rather be the bearer of delightful news -- but that's not always possible.

Oh, there's a core contingency of die hard Pollyannas out there -- "Always tell people what they want to hear, and you'll never go wrong."

But that approach is irresponsible. One must tell the truth.

Of course, using the infamous "Communicating Bad News" PowerPoint template isn't the answer. But the template does have one element right --

To begin communicating your bad news, just say it. No couching it with "There's no easy way to put this, but..."

No, you must lead clearly and concisely with the bad news. This is your lead story, so you must state it up front. Let's look at a classic example:

"Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan."

It's clear and precise. Who, what, where, and when.

You can use this one sentence as the only template you'll ever need for delivering the lead line of any bad news. For example:

• "Last quarter, our company lost our biggest client to a competitor."
• "Mrs. Jones, your son will be repeating the 5th grade next year."
• "I will not be serving spinach salad tonight because of E. Coli concerns."

In fact, the entire text of FDR's famous "infamy" speech could be the ultimate template for delivering bad news....in just about any situation. What do you think?

Labels: Presentation

¶ 7/25/2007 01:24:00 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

  On Emmy Nominations and Industry Awards...

Today's Emmy Nominations got me thinking... just how important are awards and award shows to industries and individuals, anyway?

Like me, you've probably got some awards littering up your office, lobby, or display case. And so do your suppliers, customers, and students. There isn't a single industry that doesn't give out an award for excellence.

And there isn't a single company that hasn't won at least one award! If you have yet to win, why, you can always scrounge for a high-profile award on eBay and often buy one for less than the contestant's original entry fee. What a bargain!

Award shows can be huge publicity events. And they bring attention to the industries they serve. But do the pieces of metal and neatly framed certificates really impress anybody? I've got to admit -- my own awards look a little dusty. I tend to set 'em and forget 'em -- choosing to focus on the work at hand instead of lovingly polishing and reminiscing about my past. And over the years, I've thrown a bunch of awards away.

Should I have done that? Or will my little pieces of gold sustain me in my old age? And will seeing them delight my clients? Do awards help convince prospects that I'm brilliant? How long do you keep awards? And do you throw the silver and bronze ones away immediately? What's the protocol?


I'm thinking -- sell the award on eBay after a year! Why? Well, the publicity hub-bub that surrounds the award is the real value of the award. After all, you can't have an award show without entries and nominations -- and the press releases that accompany them. And then there's the pre-show parade of spectacular outfits and make-up. More publicity.

Don't forget: it's all about presentation! And of course, who can forget the actual award show presentation? In this blog, I am rather fond of saying, "It's all about presentation..." and in the case of award shows, this is particularly true. There's the presentation of the nominations. The pre-show presentation of gowns and tuxes. The presentation of awards. The post-show presentation that summarizes the feelings of everyone involved...

And it doesn't stop there. The marketing maelstrom surrounding the award can live on and on. How many times have you read web copy that asks you to "see our award-winning such-and-such"? Never mind that the product won the award in 1982...

But wait -- there's more! When you win an industry award, you also get a little more post-presentation publicity when you distribute your own press release. This is where you present your own spin on how excellent you are, and how "proud and pleased" your CEO is. You reach far beyond your industry, and tout your award-winning brilliance to a broader audience.

Awards can be a horribly addictive substance. Once you have one, you might feel compelled to enter your work again and again, craving that praise and publicity! I don't know why, but lately I feel mostly embarrassed by my awards -- except for the ones I lie about. When people ask (they usually don't) "What's that award for?" -- I usually lie and say,

"Street fighting. Yep. Used to be a street fighter. Undefeated. Quit while I was ahead. I keep the trophy up to remind me of the violent life I used to lead, and to look to a more peaceful future."

Don't take me too seriously. I'm just a little burned out on award shows right now. I continue to advise them for my clients -- but the parade of award shows for the entertainment industry is getting to be a little much for me. When contestants win and don't even espouse the values of the competition -- many award shows seem to have lost their luster. And many great artists who don't have a giant publicity machine aren't included, making the award shows look scammy.

Seems celebs spend more time accolading than acting lately...

Labels: fun, Presentation

¶ 7/19/2007 02:05:00 PM 3 Comments Links to this post

  Email Signatures Your Clients Hate

Today, the Wall Street Journal weighs in on evil email signatures -- and why evil email sign-offs are poised to get worse.

For the record -- I like to see a simple, consistent approach to email signatures.

But I actually like some of the add-ons that the WSJ hates. Logos, graphics, banners, and other promotional sign-offs do not necessarily have to be overbearing or tacky bandwidth hogs. Used with discretion, some of the fancier email signature techniques can be quite useful...and have a positive promotional impact, as well.

Of course, you can always vote or comment your opinion on email sigs...and see what others think immediately.

So tell me...what do you think about promotional email sign-offs? Or in other words, what do you think about "Email Bling"??

Labels: Poll, Presentation

¶ 5/18/2007 01:00:00 PM

  Email Signatures Your Clients Love

This year, I find myself receiving emails from people in the HR, Finance, Marketing, and Sales departments of a huge corporation. But by the look of their emails, I would never guess that they all work for the same company.

• The fonts and sizes are different.
• The background colors vary.
• Even the signature formats are woefully inconsistent.

Consistency is Key! As part of my internet marketing consulting practice, I often recommend that corporate clients "get it together" with regard to presenting a consistent email image. And oddly, the humble but powerful email signature is frequently overlooked in corporate brand guides.

But what medium do organizations use more abundantly than email? And what medium is more ripe for a marketing message to "go viral"? A company with only 10 employees can easily send out over 100 emails every day -- and each email can get forwarded to dozens if not hundreds or thousands of other people.

Humble But Powerful! Even though an email sig is humble bit of corporate communication, do not dismiss its potential to make a powerful impact.

I recommend that corporations adopt at least a simple, consistent sig format...

However, some of the stuff you see in email signatures can be a bit much...

• Email address: When you send an email, your recipient already has your email address, right? So why be redundant and include it in the sig?
• A confidentiality notice: I doubt this lengthy bit of copy really has any legal teeth. But I am not a legal expert, so I could be wrong. However, it IS ugly and takes up bandwidth. And just about everyone I know ignores it entirely. If you really MUST have one, why not just link to it in your sig?
• Logo and Picture. I am on the fence about using a logo and/or picture in the signature. A Realtor I know includes his head shot in his sig, and I think it's nice to see his grinning mug from time to time. But others have told me that it creeps them out to have a face embedded in their emails. And while your logo belongs on real world letterhead, do you really need it in your email signature?

But that's just me. I like to see simplicity, consistency, and useful information in corporate email signatures.

What about you? What do you like to see in a signature file? And what items need to be tossed in the trash?

And what about your organization? Does your organization's corporate brand guide provide a standard for the email look and feel and the signature? Why or why not?

Labels: Presentation

¶ 5/18/2007 10:53:00 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Presentation Contest - Part 2

Labels: Blogging, PowerPoint, Presentation

¶ 4/19/2007 09:17:00 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Where are the women of presentation design?

I like Slideshare, the presentation-sharing Web 2.0 play.

This year, I used it to upload a short, prophetic PowerPoint presentation on New Year's Day. I even felt honored when Slideshare featured my little presentation on their front page under "most popular" on January 2.

But here is something I don't like to see:


Yup, that is an actual screenshot from a contest that Slideshare has been running at its site for a while now. It looks like Slideshare is taking the current Apple approach to marketing: you know, where only the opinions of men seem to matter.

Please note the phrase: "it looks like".

In a design contest, appearance matters!

And social responsibility matters, too. It's a key part of corporate valuation.

Or it should be.

And hey -- it's not like there aren't any women in the fashion or design industries that would make competent judges of a presentation contest. Talented and opinionated women with excellent fashion sense aren't exactly hard to find!

Now, I like the reputations of the fellas you see in the above screenshot, all right. Guy Kawasaki often provides action-provoking insight at his "How to Change the World" blog. Garr Reynolds offers his unique perspective on presentation and design at his Presentation Zen blog. Both men will likely make superb presentation judges.

But Where Are the Women?

The current state of women in technology marketing is decidedly woeful. Let's go on a brief historic journey:

Remember the Macintosh 1984 commercial? A strong, powerful, vibrant woman breaks through a grey, droning, male-dominated environment to make a striking impact on the way we all conduct business. How uplifting! How inspiring!

Now look at how low Apple has sunk. In its current TV advertising campaign, Apple initially casts two white guys to represent competing technologies. Later, the campaign features a woman as a mere peripheral device to hold hands with one of the men. Next, Apple employs a pouty supermodel -- as an example of stellar design from the male-centric, Mac-centric world view.

Exclusion, stereotyping, objectification -- what can women expect next from technology marketing?

Yech.

I don't understand why this marketing approach has yet to receive a far greater public outcry.

The plain white backdrop featured in every "I'm a MAC" ad is a chilling reminder of the pervasive grey that was pre-1984. The very lack of color in current Apple advertising is in itself regressive and highly suspect.

The Danger of Drinking Too Much Apple Juice

Slideshare is a young-ish company. I can forgive it for making rookie blunders with its first online contest. And Slideshare has already publicly apologized at its blog for excluding many people from participating.

Good for Slideshare. As youngsters, they can be forgiven for initially drinking too much apple juice! I hope those in leadership positions at Slideshare will learn that the Apple style may have been cool in the 1980's -- but that was over 20 years ago.

In the 21st century, diversity and respect should be important.

Heck, it should even be cool.

Unfortunately, if you upload a presentation at Slideshare today, your work product is automatically entered in the contest. There is no way to opt out that I can see -- other than to not upload your presentation until after the contest is over.

(Uh-oh! No easy opt-out of a contest with an all-male judging panel: oops again!)

Here's hoping Slideshare much success -- for their next contest!

Labels: Presentation

¶ 4/18/2007 03:30:00 PM 2 Comments Links to this post

  Could PowerPoint Be...Satan?

You have heard it all before. And today, a news story from the Sydney Morning Herald is making the internet rounds, trotting out the "PowerPoint is bad" theme yet again.

This time, Professor Sweller from the University of New South Wales is using "PowerPoint Bad" as a platform for promoting his old "cognitive load" theory.

Here is the Professor's spin (I paraphrased it considerably):

Your audience learns more when you speak to a compelling graphic than when you read aloud the words on a slide.

Huh. How about that.

I guess that's why people like to watch actors act instead of read from their scripts. Or why children who are too young to read like to look at pictures while listening to you read the words aloud.

Anyway, the picture attached to the story is ironic. Professor Sweller is quoted as saying that PowerPoint is a disaster and should be ditched.

The picture?

Professor Sweller is gesturing broadly in front of a projected PowerPoint slide of a bar chart.

Holy Cognitive Dissonance, Professor!

So you see, it's not that PowerPoint is bad. It's more likely that OPP (Other People's PowerPoint) is bad!

That's why other people should stop using PowerPoint.

You? You're terrific. You're good. You can keep using PowerPoint.

And you can use "PowerPoint Bad" as a platform for generating good publicity! People never seem to tire of the old "PowerPoint is Evil" theme.

Actually, PowerPoint is morality-neutral. There is no good or evil when it comes to PowerPoint.

But you know that.

Labels: Presentation

¶ 4/05/2007 10:53:00 AM 1 Comments Links to this post

  When is PowerPoint Like a Cow?

• does not trust their salespeople to communicate persuasively or professionally?
• hires obedient followers instead of thoughtful leaders?
• is not be willing to be flexible or adjust communications to client needs?

The case AGAINST the corporate PowerPoint template. Most small businesses cannot afford to model inflexible, non-creative attributes! Rather, small businesses thrive on delivering customized, personalized, thoughtful approaches. That is why tailoring each sales presentation to the specific needs of the prospect is much more important than insisting that salespeople present within a rigid corporate PowerPoint template.

With a customized, tailored presentation, customers realize they are special.

The case FOR the corporate PowerPoint template. Now, many large businesses can effectively use the "jam a logo on every slide" approach to set customer expectations. Sign with a big corporation, and you will be expected to follow their rules, fit into their mode of doing business. And customers of large businesses have come to expect the same robotic, thoughtless customer service post-sale.

With a "logo on every slide" sales presentation, prospects can rightfully expect to be treated like another cow in the company's herd of customers.

Labels: PowerPoint Templates, Presentation

¶ 3/07/2007 02:02:00 PM 4 Comments Links to this post

  How crazy does high tech make you look?

My mom and I walked together slowly through an icy mall parking lot. A well-dressed woman walked past us briskly, shouting into the frosty air.

"I see a lot more of that lately," mused mom after the woman passed. "So many mentally ill people at the mall and at the store."

I explained to mom that I did not think the woman was mentally ill. The woman most likely had a Bluetooth device on underneath her woolly hat. The woman was probably having a heated phone conversation as she strode purposefully though her day.

"I don't know about Bluetooth," said Mom. "But if you are screaming in public at people no one else can see, you have mental problems."

Good point, Mom!

When we fail to make eye contact, when are out of touch with our surroundings, when we scream at invisible people...we have problems.

And the way many people use new technologies in public, why, they do look mentally infirm!

It's not just Bluetooth. Talking loudly into a cell phone in a public place does not acknowledge or respect the presence of other people. When a man stares blankly into space or bops his head as he walks toward me on the sidewalk, I must uncomfortably assess whether he is listening to the music on his iPod earbuds...or whether he might be a dope addict.

A sub-par approach to using new technologies in public can undermine reputation. A less than civil presentation affects public perception of a person's very competence.

Labels: Presentation

¶ 2/12/2007 07:14:00 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

  When animals give presentations...

What does it mean an animal makes an appearance in your life?

Many cultures believe that spirit guides use animals to give important messages to humans. That is why it is important to notice when different animals or animal images enter your life. Paying attention to animals can give you timely, important messages.

In his book Animal Speak: The Spiritual and Magical Powers of Creatures Great and Small , Ted Andrews outlines techniques for interpreting the secret messages that animals present to you.

For example:

• For a number of months, I would hear a red hawk scream...but only when I worked on a website for a particular client. The hawk has great vision. Could it be that the hawk was telling me to extend the vision for this client, and to pay closer attention to the site's details?
  
• One summer, I was giving a presentation in a beautiful Michigan boardroom with a floor-to-glass ceiling that faced an old forest. As I spoke, a groundhog waddled out of the woods, hauled its fat body up onto the sunny patio in front of the glass, and passed out on its back. Was this a sign that I was boring my audience, to pep things up a bit?
  
• At an extremely busy time of my life, a squirrel ran between my legs as I walked. The squirrel is a hard worker, always gathering nuts; but is also a very playful animal. By running between my legs, was the spirit of the squirrel reminding me to find a better balance between work and play?

This month, the image of the groundhog will enter the public consciousness. So what does it mean when the groundhog image enters your life? I checked Ten Andrews book, and was relieved to discover that I might not having been boring my audience after all.

According to Mr. Andrews, the groundhog is known for its digging and tunneling ability. Symbolically, the groundhog might have been telling me go deeper with my topic. Groundhogs are also hibernators and can slow their heartbeats down to 4 or 5 per minute: another sign to slow down and allow the depth of dreams enter the conversation.

At the very least, animals remind us to stay present, to stay in the moment. And that's an important message when you are a presenter!

Labels: Presentation

¶ 2/01/2007 01:42:00 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

  PowerPoint and the Poddy Mouth

I signed up to be an audience member for a webconference. The presentation was a PowerPoint sales pitch for a fairly well known software product. I reckon there were about 30 of us listening on the phone while viewing the online PowerPoint presentation via WebEx.

I was rather taken aback when the saleswoman sprinkled mild profanity throughout her presentation. To her, it was no big deal. Now, the presenter wasn't upset about anything -- it was just part of her vernacular.

But her choice of language made me question how seriously and respectfully the company would treat me if I became a client.

And it wasn't that I was offended or shocked by her words -- believe me, I've heard far worse.

Rather, I made a connection between two thoughts:

1. It is highly unprofessional for a presenter who is looking to make a positive impression to use profanity to a general business audience.
   
2. Her language made me wonder about the wisdom of corporate management -- because profanity flowed so effortlessly from her lips, the company simply HAD to know that Ms. Poddy Mouth would spray her colorful comments all over new prospects, and make a less-than-stellar impression.

I didn't buy her product. I went with a competitor.

It's simply too risky to buy a product from a corporate culture that recklessly and needlessly risks offending its clients.

Now I'm not a prude. And yes, I use profanity myself.

But I save it for special occasions and audiences. A general business audience filled with people I don't know very well simply isn't one of those special occasions.

As the brilliant poet Ogden Nash wrote in his poem "Oh Shucks, Ma'am, I Mean Excuse Me"...

"...naughty words scream out like sirens
When uttered in the wrong environs."

To further quote Mr. Nash about cussing (from the same wonderful poem)

1. ...know when to leave the stuff alone.
2. ...circumstances alter cusses.

So tell me: under what business circumstances is it proper to use profanity?

Labels: Presentation

¶ 3/22/2006 11:19:00 AM 1 Comments Links to this post

  Valedictorian or Salutatorian: What's the Difference?

Labels: Presentation

¶ 6/02/2005 01:06:00 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Before your present...

...get the facts straight.

I know: it is tempting. Someone sends you a fascinating story via email, or an amazing picture... and you want to use it in your speech or PowerPoint presentation. But before you include it (or worse, email it to dozens of your friends, family, and colleagues); find out the original source. So much of what gets emailed to us by well-meaning friends and family members turns out to be in the category of urban legend, scarelore, or glurge.

One of my favorite sites to get started on the "search for the truth when something seems too strange to be true" is http://www.snopes.com . This site categorizes many of the late-breaking stories that end up in your inbox: you can easily find out what is true and what is not.

Labels: Presentation

¶ 3/06/2005 06:48:00 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

  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 0 Comments Links to this post

  How Does PowerPoint End?

How do you end your PowerPoint presentations? Many people finish simply with a black PowerPoint slide, others with a Q&A slide or corporate logo. Some simply end and show whatever distracting or embarrassing view may be available in today's wireless world (not very professional, but I've seen that a lot lately).

What image do you display at the end of your presentations, and how do you use your grand finale to drive your point home and look super-professional?

Labels: Presentation

¶ 2/23/2005 11:33:00 AM 1 Comments Links to this post