Welcome to the November/December edition of PowerPresentations, The Presentation Team's monthly e-newsletter featuring tips and pointers of importance to today's busy business presenter.

With the holiday season upon us and year-end presentation deadlines looming, it's critical to have your presentations looking great for Santa.   And that’s why this newsletter of tips and pointers on how to organize, develop and present more effectively can be so helpful.  We welcome your comments and suggestions, and encourage you to share this newsletter with your friends or colleagues.

In this Issue

Company News: Strategic Partnership with All Pro Duplication… Record sales and new templates from Studio F
Specials and Promotions:  Free PowerPoint facelifts and custom Template Design packages
PowerPointers:  7 Key Tips to Using PowerPoint

Speaking Tips:  In the Beginning…Know Your Location
Success Stories:  Dynamic Presentation is highlight of American General Contractors’ Awards Show

Company News
Strategic Partnership with All Pro Duplication… Record sales and new templates from Studio F

Creative Multimedia Corporation, parent company of The Presentation Team, recently forged a strategic partnership with All Pro Duplication.  The alliance will provide clients of Creative Multimedia/ The Presentation Team with low-cost pricing, rapid turnaround and superior quality on media duplication.  Conversely, All Pro Duplication’s clients will now have the powerful resources of The Presentation Team to aid in CD-ROM and presentation development.  Based in Hallandale, Florida, All Pro Duplication has long been a leader in Audio, Video, and CD-ROM duplication.  The two companies plan joint marketing campaigns and other strategies to help capitalize on their complementary services.

Studio F's strategic relationship with The Presentation Team remains strong, as the stock-image firm releases several new template products. Designed to help presenters quickly and cost-effectively enhance their presentations, Studio F's PowerFinish Templates offer strong, dramatic backgrounds to reinforce a powerful message or soft, moody designs to complement a subtle concept. Color choices range from rich jewel tones to conservative corporate palettes, exiting primaries, textured neutrals or muted organics. The templates are available for Mac and PC for download through the Presentation Team's web site.

Back to Top

Specials and Promotions
Free PowerPoint Facelifts...and the $695 Custom Template Design Package

With the increased prevalence of amateur PowerPoint presentations throughout the corporate market,  The Presentation Team has launched a unique marketing strategy: send them your best- or worst- presentation (at least 20 pages) and they'll pick one slide to enhance and improve... absolutely free. The Free Facelift Service is aimed at companies which have existing PowerPoint presentations but are considering an enhancement. "We want to showcase our value, efficiency, creativity and customer service with this challenge that we can improve any standard PowerPoint presentation," explained executive director Kevin Lerner. <Details>

Want your presentation to sizzle without spending a lot?  The Presentation Team’s Custom Template Design Package may be the solution. For just $695, clients get 3 uniquely original variations of Title Masters and Body Masters for PowerPoint. The service also includes up to two hours of presentation consultation. Often incorporating existing photography and branding elements, the service is touted as a cost-effective way for companies- especially startups- to quickly and professionally transform their existing presentations. <Details>

Back to Top

PowerPointers
7 Key Tips to Using PowerPoint

By Kevin Lerner, Executive Director of The Presentation Team

It may be the leading presentation program on the market, but PowerPoint is rarely used to its most complete functionality.  Here are seven tips to help make your next PowerPoint experience a bit fulfilling and simpler:

#1 Content First…Then Visuals:  When starting a new presentation, try not to become distracted by the desire to make it look good.  Rather, focus on creating the content first.  Use the outline view to get your bullets and main points in place.  Also, the auto content wizard in newer versions of PowerPoint are helpful in getting the key messages in place.

#2  Use Keyboard Shortcuts and Right Mouse:  To improve efficiency and shave hours off your presentation development time, it’s helpful to learn the keyboard shortcuts.  Copy=Control+C, Paste=Control+V.  A list of these shortcuts can be found in the help menu.  Also, the right mouse button will present an array of additional options, depending on where it’s clicked. 

#3  Make Alternate and Hidden Versions of Slides:  Not sure how an effect will look?  Want to have some extra detail on a slide that you may or may not use?  By making duplicate versions (copy and paste your slides in the slide sorter) you can experiment with alternative versions.  Select “hide slide” so it doesn’t show when you’re presenting.

#4  Align and Grid are Your Friends:  Graphics that are misaligned can subconsciously send the message of disorganization, and detract from your presentation.  By using Guides and Grids (view menu or right click), you can get your text and graphics perfectly straight.

#5  Tame Your Transitions:  Just because PowerPoint has some really cool transitions, doesn’t mean they should be used.  Too much can detract from your presentation.  And most of the time, a simple wipe or dissolve will suffice.  Also, it’s good to make the transitions consistent throughout your entire presentation.

#6  Save Often, Locally, and With Backups:  By saving every 30 minutes and with different versions (draft1.ppt, draft 2.ppt, etc.) you can save yourself headaches when the inevitable computer crash comes.  Also, don’t trust the networks.  Save your presentation to your local PC and copy it later to the network.

#7  Allow Enough Time for Output and Practice:  Don’t get caught by the clock!  By stopping even 20 minutes before your actually deadline- or showtime- you can significantly enhance your message by taking time to practice and rehearse.  Also, consider the time needed to print/copy/email the file.

Back to Top

Speaking Tips
In the Beginning…Know Your Location
By Beverly Cohen, Communications Specialist of The Presentation Team

Many people underestimate the importance of location when planning their event.  Working out the details of where you will be speaking deserves careful consideration and thoughtful planning.   Here are some thoughts to keep in mind that will help to assure a successful environment for your presentation.

Accessibility: Is the site accessible to the target audience? Is it near major roads and airports? Include the phone number and easy to follow directions to the selected site.

Physical set-up: What is the shape of room?  Is it well ventilated? Are the air ducts aimed away from the audience?  How are the acoustics? Are there permanent, unmovable objects such as chairs, walls or pillars that might block the view? Is it handicapped accessible? Some things cannot be changed.  Be prepared to adapt the seating arrangement if necessary.

Size of the Room: Will it comfortably hold the anticipated number of participants? Will it comfortably accommodate your presentation style? Is there room for expansion? Can the space be reduced if necessary?

Comfort Areas:  Are there sufficient restrooms close by? You can’t keep to a time frame if your audience is spending time walking to a far off restroom or standing on line to use the facilities.

Each of these things may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how often they are overlooked during the planning stages. Failure to consider any one of them can negatively impact your presentation, whether on a conscious or subconscious level.  It pays to prepare…don’t leave anything to chance.  Anticipate, and avoid potential problems to guarantee the success of your presentation.

Back to Top

Success Stories
Dynamic Presentation is highlight of American General Contractors’ Awards Show

When Washington, D.C. based American General Contactors (AGC) decided to host an awards show to salute its members’ outstanding construction projects throughout the past year, they selected The Presentation Team to create a multimedia presentation ala the Oscar Awards.  The CD-ROM-based “production” consisted of text, graphics, video, and audio, all integrated into a Macromedia Director exe file.  Projected onto a huge screen at the Ritz Carlton hotel, the presentation was a hit, and as AGC Executive Vice President Cherie Pleasant shared, “All of our members, nominees and award winners were extremely impressed with the quality and professionalism of the final product…I know how much behind the scenes work went into this production.  I really appreciate your patience and dedication to getting this project in on time and on budget.  That means a lot.”

Back to Top