Comments on: Are Your Presentations Boring? How About Slides with Fewer Words and More Pictures? http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2008/05/14/are-your-presentations-boring-how-about-slides-with-fewer-words-and-more-pictures/ The thoughts and experiences of Merrill Dubrow Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:13:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Merrill Dubrow http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2008/05/14/are-your-presentations-boring-how-about-slides-with-fewer-words-and-more-pictures/#comment-66325 Merrill Dubrow Wed, 21 May 2008 14:46:11 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2008/05/14/are-your-presentations-boring-how-about-slides-with-fewer-words-and-more-pictures/#comment-66325 Connie, Your point is very valid. They do want interaction. I recently spoke to a MBA class and used a few video's they seemed to go over very well and drive home a few points. Thanks for your comments. Merrill Connie,

Your point is very valid. They do want interaction. I recently spoke to a MBA class and used a few video’s they seemed to go over very well and drive home a few points.

Thanks for your comments.

Merrill

]]> By: Connie Ruben http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2008/05/14/are-your-presentations-boring-how-about-slides-with-fewer-words-and-more-pictures/#comment-66289 Connie Ruben Tue, 20 May 2008 00:08:40 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2008/05/14/are-your-presentations-boring-how-about-slides-with-fewer-words-and-more-pictures/#comment-66289 Merrill, I think a lot has to do with your audience. I'm learning the younger generation do not like power point presentations, even with pictures. They want interaction. They need to be engaged in the process. If they feel they are being lectured to, in any way - they just shut down. On the other hand, us "old forks" like and maybe even crave the comedy we receive in the funny pictures or using graphics that allow us not to think too much about the message we are receiving. Connie Merrill,

I think a lot has to do with your audience. I’m learning the younger generation do not like power point presentations, even with pictures. They want interaction. They need to be engaged in the process. If they feel they are being lectured to, in any way – they just shut down. On the other hand, us “old forks” like and maybe even crave the comedy we receive in the funny pictures or using graphics that allow us not to think too much about the message we are receiving.

Connie

]]> By: Merrill Dubrow http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2008/05/14/are-your-presentations-boring-how-about-slides-with-fewer-words-and-more-pictures/#comment-66280 Merrill Dubrow Mon, 19 May 2008 18:26:24 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2008/05/14/are-your-presentations-boring-how-about-slides-with-fewer-words-and-more-pictures/#comment-66280 Michael, Good question. I use a few things: Google images is really good I also work with someone who is very creative (thanks KW) and can take pictures and with Photoshop make them look awesome. I would be curious what others use. Thanks. Merrill Michael,

Good question. I use a few things:

Google images is really good

I also work with someone who is very creative (thanks KW) and can take pictures and with Photoshop make them look awesome.

I would be curious what others use.

Thanks.

Merrill

]]> By: Michael Mitrano http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2008/05/14/are-your-presentations-boring-how-about-slides-with-fewer-words-and-more-pictures/#comment-66277 Michael Mitrano Mon, 19 May 2008 17:36:05 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2008/05/14/are-your-presentations-boring-how-about-slides-with-fewer-words-and-more-pictures/#comment-66277 Hi, Merrill. I could not agree more. I notice that you make similar use of images in your blog, and have a question for you (and others). Can you suggest good sources of these kinds of pictures? With kindest regards, Michael Hi, Merrill. I could not agree more. I notice that you make similar use of images in your blog, and have a question for you (and others). Can you suggest good sources of these kinds of pictures?

With kindest regards,

Michael

]]> By: kath http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2008/05/14/are-your-presentations-boring-how-about-slides-with-fewer-words-and-more-pictures/#comment-66160 kath Thu, 15 May 2008 18:40:32 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2008/05/14/are-your-presentations-boring-how-about-slides-with-fewer-words-and-more-pictures/#comment-66160 Merrill, Love this topic. As we do corporate events, we see a lot of PPT presentations. No matter how mad your PowerPoint skillz may be, remember that no one attends an event to see PPT presentations - they want to see and hear the presenter. You could have the most expert and informative PowerPoint deck ever created but, if you can't be interesting and engaging in your delivery, you might as well have Carrot Top give it for you :-) Could not agree more with Stephanie - please do not read your presentation to the audience. Less is always more... thanks! kath Merrill,

Love this topic. As we do corporate events, we see a lot of PPT presentations.

No matter how mad your PowerPoint skillz may be, remember that no one attends an event to see PPT presentations – they want to see and hear the presenter. You could have the most expert and informative PowerPoint deck ever created but, if you can’t be interesting and engaging in your delivery, you might as well have Carrot Top give it for you :-)

Could not agree more with Stephanie – please do not read your presentation to the audience. Less is always more…

thanks!
kath

]]> By: Paul Kirch http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2008/05/14/are-your-presentations-boring-how-about-slides-with-fewer-words-and-more-pictures/#comment-66059 Paul Kirch Wed, 14 May 2008 16:02:29 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2008/05/14/are-your-presentations-boring-how-about-slides-with-fewer-words-and-more-pictures/#comment-66059 One of the best lessons I ever learned was the 6x6 rule which is essentially no more than 6 words per line and no more than 6 lines per slide. Some times you have to break the rule a little, but it's a great guideline. Yes Merrill, I do remember some of the things you taught me. :) In reality, this really helps keep the slides focused, as Stephanie suggested, on a summary. It also makes you avoid using complex charts and other such information. If I include anything complex like that in a PowerPoint I'm leaving behind, I often will add them to an Appendix for their reference and not use them during the presentation. The use of pictures is really powerful and helps keep the audience engaged. I also really like to try and use engaging questions as well. If done properly, you can really get people engaged without getting the presentation off track. It's very easy to lose an audience, so anything you can do to keep their attention on you and your presentation is well worth the effort and planning. And at the end of the day, it's all about the preparation. One of the best lessons I ever learned was the 6×6 rule which is essentially no more than 6 words per line and no more than 6 lines per slide. Some times you have to break the rule a little, but it’s a great guideline. Yes Merrill, I do remember some of the things you taught me. :) In reality, this really helps keep the slides focused, as Stephanie suggested, on a summary. It also makes you avoid using complex charts and other such information. If I include anything complex like that in a PowerPoint I’m leaving behind, I often will add them to an Appendix for their reference and not use them during the presentation.

The use of pictures is really powerful and helps keep the audience engaged. I also really like to try and use engaging questions as well. If done properly, you can really get people engaged without getting the presentation off track. It’s very easy to lose an audience, so anything you can do to keep their attention on you and your presentation is well worth the effort and planning. And at the end of the day, it’s all about the preparation.

]]> By: Merrill Dubrow http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2008/05/14/are-your-presentations-boring-how-about-slides-with-fewer-words-and-more-pictures/#comment-66053 Merrill Dubrow Wed, 14 May 2008 15:29:34 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2008/05/14/are-your-presentations-boring-how-about-slides-with-fewer-words-and-more-pictures/#comment-66053 Stephenie, I couldn't agree with you more. Recently I actually went to a conference where the person apologized for having too many words and charts on the slides - if you are going to say and do that.... Don't bother to present! You have lost at least 1/2 the audience. Thanks for your comments. Merrill Stephenie,

I couldn’t agree with you more. Recently I actually went to a conference where the person apologized for having too many words and charts on the slides – if you are going to say and do that…. Don’t bother to present! You have lost at least 1/2 the audience.

Thanks for your comments.

Merrill

]]> By: Stephenie Gordon http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2008/05/14/are-your-presentations-boring-how-about-slides-with-fewer-words-and-more-pictures/#comment-66050 Stephenie Gordon Wed, 14 May 2008 15:13:45 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2008/05/14/are-your-presentations-boring-how-about-slides-with-fewer-words-and-more-pictures/#comment-66050 I give an end of the year presentation every year to our staff. Because our staff doesn't meet people from the other offices; i always try to include pictures of other offices and from conferences to help them feel connected! Also, i just want to mention the one thing; Presenters out there, don't read your presentation word for word! the slide show should be a summary, not the entire presentation! I give an end of the year presentation every year to our staff. Because our staff doesn’t meet people from the other offices; i always try to include pictures of other offices and from conferences to help them feel connected!
Also, i just want to mention the one thing; Presenters out there, don’t read your presentation word for word! the slide show should be a summary, not the entire presentation!

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