43 Folders tips on doing Powerpoint Presentations

Doing Powerpoint presentations. When I was teaching at the KHMechelen, I always gave my courses with Powerpoint presentations. Especially when teaching in an auditorium for more than 200 people, Powerpoint was for me the gun that kept them interested. But I admit, I still need to work on this one, because a good Powerpoint makes the difference between being heard and bein remembered. 43 Folders, the cultblog on personal productivity, life hacks and other ways to make life more efficient, has an interesting post and a long following comment-thread on tips to doing a powerpoint presentation. Definitely worth reading. Some of the tips and suggestions I have to remember:

Links: Open Thread: Your best tip on doing presentations | 43 Folders.

"Never, ever, put up a slide and then read verbatim from it. I would go so far as to say that the slide and the commentary should each carry information not found in the other."

"Seth Godin wrote the book on effective powerpoint presentations: http://www.sethgodin.com/freeprize/reallybad-1.pdf"
Note: i browsed through this pdf and Godins core message is that you have to transfer emotion through Powerpoint, not ratio. So instead of using a chart with numbers, use a picture that makes people curious for the story behind the picture)

"Tell them what you’re going to say.Tell them.Tell them what you told them".

"http://presentationzen.blogs.com/presentationzen/
a great blog on presentation style. There's an inspiring post in which Bill Gates is compared with Steve Jobs on the level of giving a keynote speech.

This is a very good comment: "Powerpoint/keynote/slides/etc. work best if they are background brain candy. I try to think of them as the rhythm section for my solo. You are the font man, tey are the band/orchestra/cast. The slides carry the pace and provide texture; you tell the story. The slides need to contain the “hook,” but the audience should remember how great the solo was."

"Jeff Veen, one of the managing partners of Web2.0 darlings Adaptive Path has a post with seven steps to better presentations

1. Tell stories. Seriously. People could care less about the five ways some XML vocabulary will enable enterprise whatever. Rather, put a screenshot of your project up, tell people what you learned while doing it, then give them a slide that reiterates those ideas in easy to digest bullets. That'sdo not go from bullet-point slide to bullet-point slide trying to tell people what to think.
2. Show pictures. Got a good metaphor? Use it. "The Web is like a school of fish." But go to images.google.com and type in "sardines" or "school of fish" or whatever. Make it a slide. Then say the Web is like that. Much more powerful and memorable.
3. Don't apologize.
   Ever. If something is out of order, or if something occurs to you as a
   mistake during the presentation, keep it to yourself. They'll never
   know. Besides, nobody cares about the presentation itself. This is
   really hard, because you know the whole backstory, and you'll
   be tempted to explain why something isn't quite perfect. Skip it. Also,
   you don't need to apologize about the color on the projector, or the
   fact that your mic just popped off your lapel, or that a staff person
   spilled a pitcher of water. Commiserating is fine, however. "If it gets
   another 5 degrees colder in here, I'll be able to see my breath!"
4. Start strong.
   I can't believe how many presenters forget this. Do not get up there
   and say, "Um, well, I guess we should probably get started." Instead,
   say, "Hi, I'm Jeff. It's really great to be here, and thank you so much
   for coming to my session. Today, we're going to talk about...." Make
   sure those are the absolute first words you say out loud. No need for a
   joke or an opening or any of that. Just start strong and confident.
5. End strong too.
   "...so that's why I like social software. I appreciate your attention
   today. Thank you." Then stand there and wait. Everyone will clap,
   because you just told them you were done. When they've finished, ask
   them if they have any questions. If nobody asks anything, break the
   uncomfortable silence with "Well, I guess I told you everything you
   need to know then. [heh heh] I'll be around after if you think of
   anything. Thanks again!" and start packing up your stuff.
6. Stand.
   Away from the podium. Out from behind the presenter table. Keep your
   hands out of your pockets. Take off your conference badge (the lights
   will catch it and be distracting). I pace a little bit around the
   stage, timed with my points, saying one thing from over here, and
   another from over there. But don't move too much.
7. Pause.
   When you say something important, leave a gap after it. Let it hang
   there for a few seconds. Try it when talking to your friends. "You know
   what I think? (pause...two...three...four...) I think Bush is
   bankrupting this country for the next twenty years.
   (pause...two...three...four...) Here's why..."