PowerPoint and Presenting Stuff

Zapps Pro: Conversation with Richard Michaels

Richard Michaels is an expert at applying critical thinking to address large-scale business challenges and has been responsible for the implementation of training initiatives for organizations including Bristol-Myers Squibb, IBM, Novartis, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Schering-Plough, Sanofi-Aventis, FDA, U.S. Army Training Command, and the Singapore Institute of Management. In addition to expertise in instructional design, writing, and education, Richard is also an expert software developer and a Microsoft Office for the Mac MVP.

In this conversation, Richard discusses Zapps Pro, his add-in for Microsoft Word that also integrates with PowerPoint.

Geetesh: Richard, tell us more about your Zapps Pro add-in for Microsoft Word, and also how PowerPoint users can benefit from this add-in?

Richard: Zapps Pro is targeted to Word users who want to build media-rich documents, and to writers and copy editors who work with manuscripts that need editing and some level of media manipulation within the confines of Word. Earlier this year, a client who specializes in teaching people how to run and build materials for webinars asked about a better way to script PowerPoint notes from Word. He also wanted to script separate notes for the Presenter and the Producer. After brainstorming with him, I came up with Script PPT, a new function and added it to our Zapps Pro product.

For people who are more PowerPoint-centric, we have our George product. George started out just as a product for producing Handouts and Presenter Notes, but has evolved into a more robust product that includes other features such as the ability to add batches of images, control their insertion method (linked, embedded, or linked and embedded), an accessibility feature for making sure all images and shapes on the PowerPoint slides contain Alternative Text so that screen readers can accessing them for the visually impaired users, and finally, we totally revised the handout creation routine so that users can pick their handouts orientation and then choose from 18 different layouts to put their handout into.

The really cool thing though, is they can mix the layout among the slides… they are not locked into only one layout. As part of this effort, we also built in the ability to look at the slide deck and determine if Zapps Pro was used to create the notes. If it was, then we can use the data Zapps Pro added and decide if the notes are targeted to the Presenter or the Participant, and build the handout or speaker notes document using the correct set of notes.

Zapps Pro and George are two separate programs, targeted to audiences with different interests for application use. The products do however, complement each other, and for some users, having both products is essential.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog post or content are those of the authors or the interviewees and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other agency, organization, employer, or company.

Filed Under: Interviews
Tagged as: Add-in, Interviews, PowerPoint, Richard Michaels, Zapps Pro

PowerPoint and Presenting News: May 3, 2016

We start with an exclusive interview with Mark Schwartz of Articulate, and he talks about the amazing Articulate Studio ’13 product that lets you use PowerPoint as a platform to create e-Learning content. Renowned author and presenter Jim Endicott then speaks about Standing Out in a Sea of Voices, his ebook that’s being given away gratis. Microsoft Office MVP, Heather Ackmann has also authored a new ebook called Conversational Office 2016. Find out more about her book, and get a free copy. Heather explains everything in this exclusive interview. Has another attendee monopolised your time at an event? How do you move on? Fred Miller shares his amazing tips in this guest column. Do you also use Photoshop or do some image editing? Then you will want to read our review on AKVIS ArtWork 9.

PowerPoint 2016 for Windows users can learn more about resizing text boxes accurately. You will also learn about repositioning objects on a slide, and about Slide Background Styles, Formatting Slide Backgrounds, and Solid Fills. Finally, do not miss the new templates of this week!

Read Indezine’s PowerPoint and Presenting News.

Filed Under: Ezine
Tagged as: Ezine, Indezine, News, PowerPoint

No Shape Outline in PowerPoint 2016 for Windows

Whenever you insert a new shape into a PowerPoint slide, you can see that it is filled with a solid color and has an outline by default (this may differ depending on the Theme applied to your presentation). You can remove the fill of the shape as well as the outline. In this tutorial, we’ll learn how to remove an outline from a shape so that it only includes a fill without any outline. Whatever you do, make sure that you either remove the fill or the outline because if you remove both, then your shape will no longer be visible.

Learn how you can eliminate an outline from a shape in PowerPoint 2016 for Windows.

Filed Under: PowerPoint 2016
Tagged as: Microsoft Windows, Office 2016, Outline, PowerPoint 2016, Shapes, Tutorials

Gradient Fills for Slide Backgrounds in PowerPoint 2016 for Windows

Gradient fills are typically blended fills between two or more colors that graduate and merge from one color to another — they are sometimes also called fountain fills or blended fills in other programs. Other than applying gradients as shape fill, you can also apply Gradient fills to your Slide Background. However, make sure that the two or more colors that you use for your Gradient work well with text and other foreground elements on all your slides.

Learn how to apply gradient fills as Slide Backgrounds in PowerPoint 2016 for Windows.

Filed Under: PowerPoint 2016
Tagged as: Background, Fills, Gradients, Microsoft Windows, Office 2016, PowerPoint 2016, Templates, Themes, Tutorials

12 Engaging Presenter Behaviors to Keep Your Audience Awake

By Claudyne Wilder

I want to engage my audience, is what over half of the presenters I coach tell me. Here’s what I tell them. First, many people in your audience are tired—probably at least a third of them just don’t get enough sleep. They’re sitting there hoping they won’t embarrass themselves by nodding off. Part of your job is to help them stay awake, to actually pay attention and consider what you are saying.

Image: Pixabay

Next time you practice a presentation, note how many of the following strategies you actually use. Then add a couple more. You don’t want your audience to look like this.

1. Start by telling your audience what they will take away from your talk

What are three things worth paying attention to and remembering? One of my talks starts with: “When you leave after the two-hour workshop, you will know how to (1) organize a talk and save hours of time; (2) use my professionally designed slides to categorize information on your slides and keep your audience engaged; and (3) feel more confident and excited about giving a presentation.

2. Speak less than the time allotted

When you begin, say, “I know I have 30 minutes. I will only talk for 15, and then let’s discuss what I’ve said.” Your audience will think to themselves, “OK, I can listen for 15 minutes.” Plus, they will be happy not to have to listen as long as they expected.

3. Use silence effectively

When you are playing catch and you throw the ball to someone, you find yourself waiting—will the other player catch it, and how? You don’t throw ball after ball without looking to see if the person caught one of them. When you make a statement, it’s like playing ball—you have to wait in silence to see how people receive it. Don’t keep throwing more and more words without giving your audience the chance to catch each sentence.

4. Pause periodically

Silence not only gives your audience a chance to digest your information—it also gives them permission to participate. When you pause, you non-verbally tell your audience that they can interrupt you. Your pause makes people feel comfortable—that you are encouraging them to jump in and speak. If you talk nonstop, you will never engage your audience.

5. Emphasize key words

If you speak in the same voice tone throughout the entire presentation, no one knows what is really important. Make it obvious to your audience what they really need to pay attention to.

6. Use numbers, and emphasize them

A person can pay attention better when you say, “There are three strategies to solve this situation. Number 1 is… Number 2 is… Number 3 is…” Every time you say a number, it re-engages your audience’s attention and helps their brains to listen.

7. Remind your audience of the benefits of what you just told them

I frequently say something like, “By using these professionally designed slides you will feel more confident when speaking, and you’ll be able to make eye contact with your audience because you won’t be reading the slides.”

8. Add some emotion or humor to your talk

People can only sit and listen to someone spouting facts at them for so long. You have to engage the “child” part of your audience by using emotional words. “I’m excited today to be here to tell you some good news.” Or “The TEAM did some hard grueling work and came up with this amazing new way to visualize the product.”

9. Tell a story that interests your audience

We all love stories—especially ones that have some emotion connected to them. Tell a story within 5 to 8 minutes of starting your talk.

10. Say these words: “You, Your”

When starting say, “I am delighted to see all of you here.” Later on say, “As you know, we have this situation. First, you will hear some ideas and then please give your opinions about how we can change this situation.”

11. Do something unexpected

One of my clients stopped talking in the middle of his presentation, blanked out the screen, and said, “OK, you’ve heard enough of the possibilities of using this new program, let’s discuss your views so far.” The energy changed in the room. People started talking and came to some understanding before he went on. Another presenter passed out several products and asked people to talk about them.

12. Give people “brain food”

Literally, give them food, and I don’t mean donuts. Here are some ideas: almonds, walnuts, cashews, small cups of bananas and blueberries, dark chocolate, small turkey sandwiches, yogurt (without sugar), and green tea. These foods will help them concentrate, which means they will be more engaged with you.

One last word: If you yourself aren’t engaged, then you might as well forget it. Find some way to motivate yourself to be excited about your talk—you can’t expect your audience to carry you or motivate you. You are the one in front of the group, so it’s up to you to bring interest and curiosity into the room. You don’t have to be an over-the-top enthused presenter. By using these strategies, you can exude quiet engagement.
Which ones will you start with?

PS: You may think you do these things already, but until you record yourself and watch, or ask someone else to critique you, you may just be fooling yourself.

    Claudyne Wilder coaches executives, managers, and salespeople on how to deliver presentations that get to the message. Her clients give compelling, passionate presentations. Her company has an ongoing contract to give her Get to the Message: Present with a Purpose workshop at a Fortune 100 Global Pharmaceutical Company. Claudyne brings a unique and invigorating perspective to her work from her years of studying the Argentine Tango. Do visit Claudyne’s site at Wilder Presentations to sign up for her blog, her tweets or to download some free presenting tools.

Try for free TorchMetrics, your customized speaking coach. TorchMetrics is an innovative online presentation coaching feedback system. Now you can find out what your audience is thinking.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog post or content are those of the authors or the interviewees and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other agency, organization, employer, or company.

Filed Under: Guest Posts
Tagged as: Claudyne Wilder, Guest Post, Opinion, Presentation Skills