Category: Advertising & PR

So you want your team to be better at presentation skills. You know it will pay off in in winning new business, better reporting of projects, and better visibility for your team. But given tight budgets and limited time, what activities will give you the biggest payoff for your efforts? Consider one or more of these:

1. More rehearsals, especially dress rehearsals. Bring in a small audience to challenge presenters by asking demanding questions. Management can be present at the beginning to stress the importance and offer support, but may or may not sit in.
2. Have junior people observe rehearsals of senior presenters. They can provide feedback on what was clear and engaging or confusing. They can also ask the challenging questions. This way they are learning to evaluate effective presentations, and learning how to give and receive feedback. They are also learning the content.
3. Suggest that people record their presentations and review them by listening. This will help them maximize vocal skills and habits; a must with so many presenting virtually where voice is key. Encourage people to record their presentations and listen back. They can do this right on the computer or by recording online meetings.
4. Create or add to a business library. There are so many great books on current thinking in design and communication we can all learn from. Ask people to read and report back to (or teach back) someone else. Reading inspiring books and articles can provide inspiration while preparing for a big presentation. Alternatively: give books or credit for online books as a reward for performance.
5. Have everyone learn PowerPoint™ so that they can use it to deliver a presentation easily. While this may not always be the media of choice, everyone should know it and be comfortable using it. At a minimum, they need to be able to start, advance, click on hyperlinks and end their presentations without fumbling.
6. Have everyone use some kind of electronic delivery system that allows them to click easily through their presentations. Make sure they spend their delivery time with the audience, not dealing with the technology. This can also be done by having someone else run the technology. Also be sure they have a remote to advance slides.
7. Consider offering a series of clinics or short training units on various topics: eye contact, voice, acing your openings, power closes, responding to challenging questions, using humor, storytelling, etc. These would be a great refresher for experienced presenters and a good starting point for newer associates.
8. Advanced-level workshops. This would be a great challenge assignment for experienced presenters who need a brush-up. Select a small group (3-6) Have each person bring 10-15 minutes of a presentation to deliver. They receive practice and feedback from peers and/or a coach. Run it right before a round of new presentations, at the start of a new project, or a when working with a new client.
9. Buddy system. As people begin to present, give them a mentor—an experienced presenter they can ask questions of, practice with, etc. Both parties will benefit.
10. Coaching for specific issues. Some people will continue to struggle with building confidence, or using body language or voice effectively, targeting their content, etc. Encourage them to get one-on-one coaching to address the issues that might be holding them back. A small investment of time that will pay huge dividends in performance and confidence.

What do you do to help your team continuously improve their presentation skills?

We all want to approach conflict situations with clear, honest communication that leads to a productive solution everyone can feel good about. But old habits and norms sometimes block direct, open communication. Use these suggestions as a checklist to see if you are communicating in the best possible way at your organization. If you aren’t, an open discussion and agreement to use these practices might be just what is needed to foster healthy, open communication in conflict situations.

1. Talk directly to the person you need to talk with. Don’t go around them. Don’t talk about them. Don’t email them. Talk to them face to face if possible, or on the phone if necessary.
2. Before engaging in a discussion, stop and ask, do we have the right people in the room? If others are needed to resolve the issue or to add input, get them into the discussion right away.
3. When you are bringing up an issue or problem, be sure to also bring ideas for a solution. Don’t just bring up issues to get them off your chest or to complain, but rather come with either a request for help or possible solutions.
4. Seek to understand the other person, whether you or the other person is bringing the conflict to light. How do their personal energies and styles differ from yours? How are they emotionally or rationally engaging with you? What are their perspectives? What are their perceptions?
5. Use a simple model to help unravel the situation. Be sure you focus on the goal of the interaction, the facts leading up to the situation, the possible solutions, and the decisions you will make. Decide who will do what, and when. Enlist others as needed to complete the action plan. Follow-up to see that what you agreed on happened.

Conflict in communication is universal; being human, we have different wants and needs, and we don’t always communicate perfectly. Keep the lines of communication open, and keep an open mind.

What other suggestions would you make to help work through conflict with healthy communications?

 

On February 9, HARO —Help A Reporter Out (HARO), the free service that links journalists looking for viable sources to clients of PR companies — sponsored a four-person panel of national scribes to talk about the do’s and don’ts of the PR world in their world.

The hour-plus conference (paid) call didn’t provide any deep revelations to seasoned PR practitioners, IMHO (and you will recognize some of the topics below that they covered on this blog). But it did a good job of re-enforcing basic and not-so-basic tips on how journalists like to be pitched, among other topics. In other words, it was a refresher course for the crusty and perhaps, some practical help for those innocents just treading into the field.

On the call were HARO founder and panel moderator, Peter Shankman, the small business reporter from The Wall Street Journal, a travel writer for USA Today, a freelance journalist for Crain’s Business News in New York and other publications and a contributor to AOL — who covers the Weird News beat and also does work for other media outlets.

Here were some highlights:

• Strong Subject lines are very important: Rarely do the terms “Press Release” ring anyone’s bell. Write an intriguing headline.

 

• Know what the reporter covers and read some of their stuff before pitching.

 

• Personalize your email; mass email blasts are a turn-off that beg for the Delete button.

 

• Identify a strong news hook. See what’s happening in the news cycle and if your subject, client, product fits in. Then shape your pitch.

 

• Is it wise to qualify news release marked as Embargoed news? The WSJ reporter says they never honor embargoed releases. The others were less forceful on that front. Use discretion.

 

• All of them spoke very highly of HARO as a helpful service that some people, however, abuse on occasion by pitching off- topic — which will get you booted off HARO yesterday.

 

• Brevity is always a plus on a pitch.

 

• The panel unanimously turned thumbs down on pitches made through social media like Facebook and Twitter, Fax and the U.S. mail — for me this was the eye-opener of the hour. Use their email first. Be prudent about follow up phone calls. Know when the reporter’s deadlines are and respect them.

• Most panelists rely on press releases only for facts; rarely does a news release move any of them to write a story, so really work on your pitch.

 

• Never send attachments.

 

• Never send products (unless asked) — or gifts. Most newsrooms cannot accept gifts valued over $20.

 

• You can ask a reporter for face time over coffee or lunch but most will say no; they don’t have time. The Weird News guy however was a little more flexible and liked the idea, although he’s outside of San Diego in a small town.

 

• The panelists all described the best pitches as those that are current to news making — which means you might actually have to watch TV, listen to radio and read the newspaper and web news aggregators (believe it or not, a few people I know in this profession never do!)

 

• It’s fine to provide background to reporters for future news stories, esp. if you missed being part of something they just wrote about and you want your client on their radar.

 

Let me know what your questions and tips are and we’ll address in a future column. Happy pitching!

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For more resources, see the Library topic Public and Media Relations.

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Martin Keller runs Media Savant Communications Co., a Public Relations and Marketing Communications consulting company based in the Twin Cities. Keller has helped move client stories to media that includes The New York Times, Larry King, The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, plus many other magazines, newspapers, trade journals and other media outlets. Contact him at kelmart@aol.com, or 612-729-8585

Now that you have created your team presentation and prepared it thoroughly, it is “game on.” Time to deliver the presentation with power, punch and professionalism. These 10 tips will take you from “good enough” to “best of show.”

1. Take your marks. Decide where each person will stand during the presentation so it is easy to move to and from center. If you are using slides, be sure no on stands in the light from the projector.
2. Use a remote slide advancer. This is an easy way for the speaker to control his/her own flow through the slide presentation, and it looks smooth and professional. Hand if off to the next speaker when doing the transition.
3. Dress as a team. The general rule is to dress one level more formally than your audience, and whatever you wear must fit perfectly and be clean and pressed. Never wear your usual clothes for a group presentation. It is a special occasion and your attire should reflect that.
4. Introduce your team and topic. Even if the audience knows the presenters, it is still important as a way of kicking off the presentation. Alternatively, introduce your team and your agenda together: “Bill will be discussing the benefits of this approach.”
5. Tune in. Even when you are not presenting, you are still part of the presentation. Watch your body language, don’t chat with your co-presenters or allow a bored or disinterested look on your face. presentation. Be aware of the message you are sending your audience as you observe others in your team presenting.
6. Underscore key points. Wherever appropriate, each presenter should include brief references to the points made by the other speakers. This reinforces key messages and helps your audience retain information, an important consideration given that your listeners are receiving much more input than they would from a solo presentation.
7. Finish strong. Always end the presentation with a brief summary and recap of the next steps. This may be done by the final speaker or the team leader, but it needs to be planned, rehearsed and done with enthusiasm. Each presenter should know the close and be prepared to close if needed.
8. Close on a positive note. Try to close after an upbeat comment or question, not after a negative one. If you have a negative question toward the end of the presentation, consider asking for one more question. If that question is more positive, or you are able to turn around a negative question, end there. Remember, your audience is more likely to remember what they hear first and last, so try to make those as positive as possible.
9. Know when to quit. Decide in advance who will make the decision to end the presentation. Try to end on a positive note, for example: “clearly we need to provide you with additional information based on what has come out of this meeting. Could we arrange a follow-up meeting for early next week?” Everyone should practice this step and be prepared to do it in an emergency. However, don’t be too quick to pull the plug. Expect some resistance and be prepared to respond.
10. Debrief every team presentation. A flip chart can be prepared with space for both positive and negative feedback. Alternatively, comments can be written down, then exchanged, and read out loud by another person to maintain anonymity. In any case, capture both positives and negatives, while they are fresh so they can be put to use in the next presentation.

What challenges do you face when delivering team presentations? Do you have a favorite tip you would add? What else have you done to help your team deliver winning team presentations?

Once your team presentation is developed, you will want to begin the process of preparing everyone for delivery of the presentation. Your goal here is to make each team member as comfortable and confident as possible, so dedicate whatever time it takes to get everyone ready individually and as a team. It is also a great time to reconsider each role; is each individual capable of pulling their weight? If not, do you have time to develop them, or arrange for them to have some special training or coaching to get them ready? Here are 10 suggestions for successful preparation:

1. Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. When pulling together a team presentation, it is important that everyone become familiar with presentation content, visual aids, and transitions between presenters. Because everyone presents in a unique way, it is critical that the team practice together in order to reach a high level of comfort with the presentation and each other.

2. Request that all team members rehearse their respective parts before the team practice. Practicing out loud – at least 3 times, and saying the words differently each time will help build confidence and spontaneity. Having team members practice in their heads won’t work as well as actually saying it out loud, so encourage informal practice sessions. A great practice technique is to video practice sessions and review them for timing, content and delivery.

3. Assign a timekeeper so you can be sure that each speaker can deliver his/her content in the time allowed. It is critical that you are able to end on time and allow opportunities for questions, while still getting across all of your essential points. It might be a wise move to brainstorm ways to speed up if you fall behind, or if you get a late start.

4. Include introductions as part of your preparation and rehearsal. The team leader should be ready with a brief, succinct introduction of what’s to come and who the key presenters are. State the overall theme. Also find the most relevant things to say about each presenter other than simply their name and title.

5. Ace openings and closings. When used properly, these bind the presentation into a smooth, cohesive effort. The first and last things you say often set the stage for success, and may be the key things that are remembered, so plan and rehearse openings and closings thoroughly.

6. Plan and rehearse transitions, the bridging elements that conclude one section and start another. They can create a common thread, so when one speaker finishes, the next begins logically. Example: “So that’s an overview of the history of our firm and the work we focus on. Next Mary will show you some examples of recent projects.”

7. Design your presentation so it limits the number of transitions between team members. One transition per group member is a good rule of thumb. Going back and forth between speakers just adds to the complexity of the presentation.

8. Prepare for the no-show. One “worst case scenario” is that one of your team members is avoidably detained from attending your presentation. Have team members prepare different parts of the presentation so that each part has a “lead” and an “understudy.” You may wish to have the understudy and the key presenter prepare and rehearse together.

9. Do a final run-through. Assemble a small live audience to serve as a sounding board. Think of this as a dress rehearsal before opening night. It’s likely you’ll still find things to improve upon, so allow a few days to make final adjustments.

10. Plan ahead for Q&A. Decide beforehand who will answer certain subject areas, or which cues to use to invite other speakers to address the question. The team leader can direct questions to the appropriate team member.

Time for preparing and rehearsing a presentation is always a challenge, and it is even more so when you are working as a team. Remember what is riding on this presentation; a successful proposal, a new client, or a new project? If it is important enough to bring the team along to the presentation, it is probably well worthwhile to take the proper time and steps to prepare and rehearse thoroughly.

How does your team prepare for critical presentations?

Almost a month through the first year of the new year and at least two major crisis’s have dominated the news of late, the Tucson shootings and the upheaval in Egypt. Sorry, weather fanatics, big snow and numbing cold don’t cut it, it’s January. Of all the coverage on the tragedies and triumphs in the Congresswoman Giffords event, perhaps the most revealing — aside from NPR’s rush to pronounce her dead before all the facts were in, a crisis in itself — is how little the Safeway Grocery has played in the story.

Although it was the site of this terrible news story, you never heard from the owner or manager — at least in the coverage I’ve seen (although the Safeway organization did issue a news release January 13 setting up a fund for the victims families). Perhaps it was wise on their part. Sometimes in a crisis of this scope, not saying anything is the best course unless called on to do so. Or perhaps there was/is no crisis plan in place at this national food retailer.

Jumping to the other side of the globe, events in Cairo this past week, on the heels of the revolt in Tunisia, have been driven in part by social media tools to the point where the teetering government has tried to block Twitter feeds and Facebook pages. The crisis is being driven by and often reported on through these channels —although the real crisis is the result of 30 years of one-man rule, reported widespread corruption, huge divides bewteen haves and have nots and police state tactics.

What roles should people take in crisis situations is one reason to have an effective crisis plan in place. In November, the global PR warhorse Weber Shandwick announced it had created a “crisis simulator” called Firebell that creates “… an authentic, real-time experience of being under attack on social media channels. This proprietary application allows clients to participate in a real-time dialogue in a secure, off-the-Internet environment.”

Ring the Firebell

How well will such preparation work once a real crisis takes place for one of its clients remains to be seen. But the strategic thinking behind it is right:

According to Chris Perry, president of Digital Communications at Weber Shandwick, “Communications leaders need to understand that it’s not a matter of if an online crisis is going to happen, but when – and be prepared. How a company responds to a crisis in today’s social environment is vastly different than even the recent past; a formal statement to the press no longer suffices. It’s about a living dialogue with a company’s constituents.”

The web is alive every second and information travels almost instantaneously to all parts of the planet, whether it’s inaccurate information or dead-on facts, or the varying shades and nuances in between. How are you going to deal with that?

Here’s Firebell news release for more insights.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/weber-shandwick-launches-social-crisis-simulator-firebell-108940364.html

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For more resources, see the Library topic Public and Media Relations.

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Martin Keller runs Media Savant Communications Co., a Public Relations and Marketing Communications consulting company based in the Twin Cities. Keller has helped move client stories to media that includes The New York Times, Larry King, The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, plus many other magazines, newspapers, trade journals and other media outlets. Contact him at kelmart@aol.com, or 612-729-8585

Resources for Demographic Market Research

Looking for credible, relevant FREE data sources to research the US Latino population? It’s an important demographic, and growing. If your marketing plan targets the general population, you may want to take a few minutes to dig a bit deeper into the US Latino niche.

Link around and learn – get acquainted with this population’s size and consumer trends. It may be an eye-opener, or simply a way to reinforce or redirect your marketing expenditures.

I’ve compiled a few rich sources to direct you. Special thanks to the Pew Hispanic Center, which provided a host of resources, as noted.

US Latino Demographic Profiles

Browse and download latest data on the detailed characteristics of the Latino and foreign-born populations in the U.S.

Pew Hispanic Center’s Statistical Profile of the Latino Population

Statistical Portrait of Hispanics in the United States, 2008
“This statistical profile of the Latino population is based on Pew Hispanic Center tabulations of the Census Bureau’s 2008 American Community Survey (ACS). The ACS is the largest household survey in the United States, with a sample of about 3 million addresses. It covers virtually the same topics as those in the long form of the decennial census.” While this source is dated 2008, it is still relevant, with the highest degree of relevance and confidence.

Latino Population, Growth and Dispersion
“Color-coded interactive maps show the Latino population, growth and its dispersion across U.S. counties since 1980.”

Election 2010 State Fact Sheets

“The state fact sheets below contain data on the size and social and economic characteristics of the Hispanic and non-Hispanic eligible voter populations.”

Mapping the Latino Vote: Latino Eligible Voters by State and Congressional District

Here are just a select few states’ stats:

Arizona
There are 766,000 eligible Hispanic voters in Arizona, 18% of all eligible voters in the state.

California
There are 5.4 million eligible Hispanic voters in California, 24% of all eligible voters in the state.

Colorado
There are 434,000 eligible Hispanic voters in Colorado, 13% of all eligible voters in the state.

Florida
There are 1.8 million eligible Hispanic voters in Florida, 15% of all eligible voters in the state.

New Jersey
There are 645,000 eligible Hispanic voters in New Jersey, 11% of all eligible voters in the state.

New Mexico
There are 525,000 eligible Hispanic voters in New Mexico, 38% of all eligible voters in the state.

New York
There are 1.6 million eligible Hispanic voters in New York, 12% of all eligible voters in the state.

Ohio
There are 140,000 eligible Hispanic voters in Ohio, 2% of all eligible voters in the state.

Pennsylvania
There are 289,000 eligible Hispanic voters in Pennsylvania, 3% of all eligible voters in the state.

Texas
There are 3.8 million eligible Hispanic voters in Texas, 25% of all eligible voters in the state.

Virginia
There are 183,000 eligible Hispanic voters in Virginia, 3% of all eligible voters in the state.

Washington
There are 217,000 eligible Hispanic voters in Washington, 5% of all eligible voters in the state.

View MORE state statistics.

The next post will look at the Hispanic lifestyle information sources.

The Pew Hispanic Center is a project of the Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan “fact tank” that provides information on the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. It is supported by The Pew Charitable Trusts.

Have you found any great resources for US Hispanic market research?

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For more resources, see our Library topics Marketing and Social Networking.

.. _____ ..

ABOUT Lisa M. Chapman:

Ms. Chapman’s new book, How to Make Money Online With Social Media: A Step-by-Step Guide for Entrepreneurs will be available very soon. With offices in Nashville Tennessee, but working virtually with international clients, Lisa M. Chapman serves her clients as a business and marketing coach, business planning consultant and social media consultant. As a Founder of iBrand Masters, a social media consulting firm, Lisa Chapman helps clients to establish and enhance their online brand, attract their target market, engage them in meaningful social media conversations, and convert online traffic into revenues. Email: Lisa @ LisaChapman.com

Are you responsible for leading your team to create and deliver presentations together? Whether it is a pitch for new business or a project report, it can be a challenge to develop presentations that are cohesive, smooth and compelling. Before you develop your next team presentation, check out these reminders that may help you create solid content that allows each team member to shine.

1. Select a strong team leader. You need someone who has the leadership ability and authority to make on-the-spot decisions. Content, structure, tone, slides, presenters; the team leader needs to take full responsibility for the every aspect of the presentation.
2. Make sure everyone understands the presentation objectives. Write your overall objective in one sentence or less. What do you want your audience to know, do, or feel as a result of the presentation? This helps you maintain focus during the preparation process.
3. Begin with a good look at what you hope to accomplish. Consider the key message you want the audience to take away from the talk. This becomes the core theme and unifying elements within the presentation. Everything you say must relate to and reinforce this message. It also creates a logical and unified beginning and ending to the presentation.
4. Organize content development. Try providing each person a stack of Post-it notes, preferably oversized ones. Have each individual write only their own ideas (one per note). When it is time to build the content, go to a room with a large blank wall and use this flat surface as a storyboard. Organize presentation content on the wall; move topics as desired. Decide on the flow and sequence of the content before developing details and visuals.
5. Have a single visual style. All slides should be on one deck with one format, rather than having each person create their own slides. (Either have one person do the whole show, or develop a template which everyone uses.) Take the time to ensure that every slide has the same look and feel and that type sizes, graphics and writing style are consistent. Pay special attention to headlines being consistent.
6. Have a media champion. Choose one person to manage the visual aids – preferably someone who has a good sense of visual appeal and a good eye for detail. By assigning one team member to this task, you can ensure consistent color, style, and format. (Be sure to distribute the visuals well before the presentation, so that others have backup copies and plenty of time to review the visuals.)
7. Decide how introductions will be handled. Will each presenter do a self-introduction before they speak? Will the previous presenter announce the next one? Will the team leader perform all introductions? Or, will the host or coordinator of the meeting take on this role?
8. Know the logistics. How much time does each presenter have? How much time for the total presentation? In what order will everyone present? Will there be questions during the presentation or afterward? How can speakers link their content to that of the previous speakers? How will they pass the baton to the next speaker?
9. Pay attention to details. What’s the room setup? Will speakers be seated, behind a lectern or standing in a conference room? What’s the audience size? What equipment will the team be using? Who is providing it? Who can trouble shoot it most effectively if something needs attention? Will others be joining the meeting via phone or video hookup? If so, how can they be included in the presentation?
10. Plan the closing. Ending the presentation should be more than a thank-you. It should include a call to action or asking for the order or next steps. Plan out this critical part of the presentation and decide who will close. It may be the team leader or the final speaker, but prepare everyone to close just in case.

Developing a strong, cohesive story with a logical beginning, middle and end is crucial for team presentations. Having clarity in your purpose and your content builds confidence and helps each other contribute effectively. Next time; how to deliver effectively in a team presentation.

What do you do to develop winning team presentations?

Guest Writer: Michelle Tennant Nicholson

Press Release or Not?

I’ll tell you this as gently as I can: Press releases don’t always work. So don’t send them out thinking they’re going to get you on Oprah, The Today Show, Good Morning America or CBS Early Show. A lot of people still think press releases are the best way to get the media to notice them, but to the busy media professional, press releases say: “Here’s something everyone is going to get at the same time as you. No scoop for you!”

When Press Releases Work

Now I’m not saying they don’t work for search engine optimization purposes. Press releases are great for that. They:

• build links back to your site
• build your branding and messaging online and
• increase your credibility.

You may want to send out press releases if you’re a corporate entity and need the message to be searchable on news wire services in the future. And reporters are not likely to ignore your press release if you have true breaking news, such as a plant expansion that will add hundreds of jobs in a local coverage area.

Relationship Building

But sending out press releases is not the most effective way to score the coveted news features that you’ll want. That is done with relationship building. Nothing beats “dial and smile” phone calls, personalized emails and perfect pitches.

Organizing an online press kit with ready-to-use story ideas, quotes and background will help you get your message out and make it easier for the media to cover you. And making it easy for the media will definitely boost your odds of being chosen as a source in articles, TV segments and radio broadcasts.

Social Media

Also, with social networking sites, it’s easier than ever to build a buzz about your product or service. You can take your message direct to the audience you seek with a great website, some search engine optimization or a Facebook friends link.

To score media coverage and build credibility though, there’s still no substitute for personal contact with your target media. Get to know them and make them feel special. Read their articles and tune in to their shows. Educate yourself on the different specialty or niche areas they cover.

Your Story

Dig in. Most businesses have untold stories that are interesting. It may be something about how they got started or how they developed a new product or service. So find the compelling story about your business or product.

Then make a list of those media people you would like to cover your story and begin building relationships with them — send them the press release before everyone else gets it. Give them the scoop before you announce it to the world. Making the media feel special is a sure-fire way to have them come back and ask for more scoops from you.

Have you found a way to make the media feel special? Share your tips!

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For more resources, see our Library topics Marketing and Social Networking.

.. _____ ..
Twenty-year PR veteran Michelle Tennant Nicholson is Chief Creative Officer of Wasabi Publicity and co-founder of www.PitchRate.com, a free media tool that connects journalists, publicists, and experts. Called a five-star publicist by Good Morning America’s Mable Chan, Michelle specializes in international PR, working regularly with the likes of Oprah, Larry King, BBC, The Today Show and other major media. Contact her at PR blog http://www.StorytellerToTheMedia.com where she teaches tips from the trade.

You’ve seen them. Perhaps you have created them. Bad slides.Too much detail, ugly backgrounds, tons of bullets and text. Yes, you can do better than that.

Here are some minor changes that should make a major impact in your ability to communicate effectively using slides.

Check out your next presentation and see if you can put these tips to work.

1. Be sure to add an opening and closing slide. These can have your presentation’s title, your name, your company, the date, or an image. Don’t have data on the first slide or the last.
2. Don’t use title case on bullets. This just belongs on the title at the top of the page. Don’t use all caps on the title, and don’t underline anything unless it is a hyperlink.
3. Don’t bring in text from the bottom up; or from right to left. Instead, just the simple transitions “appear” and “fade in.” It is fine to use builds occasionally, but don’t call attention to the transitions, just the content.
4. Avoid punctuation on bullets. If you are using key words you don’t need them. If you are using complete sentences, shorten them to phrases or key words.
5. Eliminate unnecessary bullets. Everything does not have to have a bullet in front of it. Look for places where you may have only one or two items on the page. Do they really need a bullet?
6. Use photos rather than clip art whenever possible. Make photos larger, at least 1/4 to 1/3 the size of the slide. Use pictures of your company, your team, or pictures that suggest a mood or tone that might help people remember what you said.
7. Watch for typos. Better yet, ask someone to proof your presentation. (Remember if you use the wrong word but spell it correctly the spell-checker won’t notice.) You may spot these little errors if you print a hard copy of your slides or notes pages.
8. Consider hyper linking to spreadsheets, videos, websites, etc. instead of cutting and pasting them onto your slides. They should be easier to read this way, with less clutter on your slides. (Note: this works best when all the links are on your laptop; if you import your presentation to a jump drive your links will be broken. Always check to make sure the links are working.) Also notes that if you send your slides to someone the linked content won’t automatically be included.
9. Use Notes Pages for text rather than overfilling your slides. Ideally, your slideshow won’t look like a script, but rather a visual compliment to what you are saying. If you think you might need a prompt, type your “script” onto the Notes page, then print it out for practice and for the presentation if you still need it. Practice out loud several times with your slides. Don’t just read it onscreen in your head, but actually say those words out loud until you feel the flow. Chances are, if you prepare in this way you will be able to present from just the slides.
10. When delivering your presentation, place the laptop in front of you if possible. This way you can glance at your slides without turning to the screen. It looks smooth and professional.

Which of these have you tried? What other things do you do to make sure your slides add value to your presentations?