Desember 2010

The Top 5 PowerPoint Slide Makeover videos of 2010

Every two weeks I record another PowerPoint slide makeover video showing lessons presenters can learn to improve the effectiveness of the slides they use. I publish my videos on iTunes, YouTube and Brainshark. If you subscribe via iTunes, you get every new video automatically downloaded to your iPod, iPhone or iPad. The viewers on YouTube and Brainshark have to make a more conscious decision to click and watch the videos, since there is less of an automatic viewing opportunity.

So at the end of the year I decided to look at the past year�s videos and see which ones were the most popular with the YouTube and Brainshark viewers.

#1: Slide Makeover #45: Transforming speaker notes into a visual

Description: Far too many slides are, in reality, notes for the speaker to remember what they are supposed to say. The slides end up being read to the audience. This makeover takes a wordy slide and the accompanying speaking notes and shows how the clues hidden in the text can lead to a more effective visual.
Watch on Brainshark here (more corporate friendly). Watch on YouTube here (more home friendly).

I have to admit that I was not all that surprised that this makeover proved to be the most popular this year. I still see far too many slides that are really speaker notes instead of visuals that promote a conversation with the audience. Yes, it takes a little more time to create simple visuals instead of just writing out what you want to say on your slides, but your presentation will be so much more effective and your audience will take action on your message.

#2: Slide Makeover #53: Using a full screen photo to enhance a story

Description: Stories and analogies are important to increasing the impact of your message. Don't just type out the key parts of the story on a slide as bullet points. Use the ideas in this makeover to show a full screen photo that increases the impact of your story or analogy.
Watch on Brainshark here (more corporate friendly). Watch on YouTube here (more home friendly).

Using photos is a great way to illustrate what you are talking about and increase the impact of your point. Just remember to get permission to use that great photo. You don�t need to cause yourself or your organization legal trouble by using a photo that you don�t have permission for.

#3: Slide Makeover #46: Creating a simple visual to replace text

Description: When replacing text with a visual, don't make the mistake of thinking that you need a fancy or complex visual. This makeover shows that a simple visual combined with a good headline is much easier to create than trying to design a more complex visual; and it is more effective.
Watch on Brainshark here (more corporate friendly). Watch on YouTube here (more home friendly).

This makeover dealt with a subject area outside the traditional business context, but is a great example of how we can use a simple visual instead of thinking we have to create a complex graphic or even a full-scale animation to get our message across.

#4: Slide Makeover #44: Making definitions interesting

Description: In too many training and teaching presentations, the definitions of key terms are read verbatim from text on the slides. This makeover shows that definitions can be interesting if you connect with the audience and leave them with a definition they will remember.
Watch on Brainshark here (more corporate friendly). Watch on YouTube here (more home friendly).

I wasn�t sure if this makeover would be very popular, as it deals with what can be a boring topic, definitions. But with the need to explain more complex issues to a broader audience, you are regularly going to have to include definitions in your presentations, and this makeover gives some good ideas.

#5: Slide Makeover #57: Revealing infographics one portion at a time

Description: Infographics are a popular way to illustrate information, especially for print publications. When used in presentations, they can sometimes be overwhelming. Use the ideas in this makeover to reveal the portions of the infographic one at a time to keep the focus of your audience.
Watch on Brainshark here (more corporate friendly). Watch on YouTube here (more home friendly).

Infographics gained popularity this year. Most of us will never create one ourselves because we are not graphic designers, but we may want to use one that someone else has created in our presentation. While they are visually appealing, they can be confusing unless you use the ideas in this makeover to present them piece by piece to the audience.

Almost every slide makeover that I do is based on a slide that has been sent to me for one of my in-house or public workshops (learn more about my workshops here), one I�ve helped one of my consulting clients create or sent in by one of my newsletter subscribers (sign up for free here). They are real slides being delivered to audiences by presenters who want to improve. I hope you�ll join this movement by signing up for my newsletter, adding my blog to your RSS feeds, and attending a workshop in the future, either live or via the web.

Thanks for a great year of learning and sharing.

Dave

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A few quick New Years resolutions!

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This will be short and sweet.

I don't usually make , or keep, New Years resolutions but this year will be different!
So hear goes.

This year I will pull back from working in schools. Over the years, beginning in the sixties, I have worked with countless people, influenced some but only really worked with a dozen or so like minds - and most of these people a number of years ago. I will just keep up with my reading ,blogging and writing. I still have one major presentation to make late in January and will pick my presentations in the future.

I am going to put my energy into my garden which is becoming my latest enthusiasm - I have built several bridges and walkways and planted lots of new plants. I intend to spend an hour a day in my garden.

I am going to take up painting again -well I never really took it up but this year I will make a real effort.

That should be enough to keep me busy.

All the best to every one for the New Year!

Hell I turn 70 this month - others can hold up the creative teaching flag from now on!

Jan 1 2011

PS I said 'pulling back' not giving up - putting my energy where it counts most with those inspirational creative teachers; the future leaders.

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Another Holiday Gift For The Practitioner

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We hope your holiday season is going well, and you're full of good cheer and data driven egg nog (which doesn't really exist unless you love web analytics and have imbibed too much egg nog).

For those of you who really do dig web analytics and use Google Analytics specifically - you're going to really like our next gift. It's from the Santa Claus of the web analytics industry, Avinash Kaushik, the analytics evangelist here at Google. Avinash has written a must-read post that you should curl up with next to a roaring fire while you have time to relax over the holidays. In the post, he's basically done a ton of work for you. It's called 3 Awesome, Downloadable, Custom Web Analytics Reports and it showcases the power of Google Analytics and custom reports. In Avinash's words,

I love custom reports. They allow us to step away from the oppression of standard reports (/data pukes) and bring an increased amount of relevancy, calm and focus to our day-to-day work and to our beloved data consumers.

As you may know, you can create your own reports within Google Analytics. Here's a help article from our blog explaining how. In Avinash's typical style, he makes powerful analysis techniques accessible and understandable, and the best part is that he's created the reports for you allowing you to take action right away. You can click on a link that populates the report template right within your Google Analytics profile. Thanks for the holiday gift Avinash.

To give you a sneak peak and get you salivating to read Avinash's post, the three reports are:

Page Efficiency Analysis Report
Visitor Acquisition Efficiency Analysis Report.
Paid Search Performance Analysis Micro-Ecosystem!

If you're doing web analytics, these reports will be of use both educationally, and practically. Enjoy, and stay tuned for one more gift from Avinash.

Posted by Jeff Gillis, Google Analytics Team

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