Conversational Photos

While working with a client recently I realized a new benefit of using photos that have a personal message. The benefit is to stimulate conversation.

Use the photos on your slides to stimulate conversation with your audience. Do not use the photos on your slides as a creative form of lecturing.

For example, when you visit Paris, take photos of the Eiffel tower. If the situation comes up where you present a message that is related to towers, Paris, or overseas travel, put up your photo of the Eiffel tower. Then quickly mention that you were recently in Paris and took this photo. Don't dwell on your trip to Paris. While the slide is up, continue to make your point about towers and use the Eiffel tower as an example to prove your point.

This photo connects with audience members who have visited the Eiffel tower or are interested in the Eiffel Tower. It frees you up from having to read any data to the audience, which then allows you the flexibility to create eye-contact and engage in conversation about your point.

Also, audience members are more likely to converse with you afterwards and discuss visiting the Eiffel tower, which opens the door for you to create a personal relationship and generate business.

Wherever you can, use photos to stimulate conversation in your presentations.

Remember - "Photos beat formulas by far".

Red Flags in your slideshow

When you are presenting with PowerPoint, monitor what you say. If you find yourself using any of these terms, then you need to review your slides and make changes. Why do you have these slides on the screen if you make excuses with these phrases?

- I am just flipping through this slide quickly
- We already covered this slide in previous discussions
- You can't read this slide, but the text says ...
- You can't really see this picture, but this is really a picture of ...

And the ultimate excuse - This slide is a continuation of the list from the previous slide. What !! Not only do you have a list of bullet points, you are even continuing your list onto multiple slides.

From today commit to listening what you say when you present with PowerPoint. Are you making excuses for your slideshows? If so, then fix your slides and stop making excuses. Your audience deserves it.

How much fun can you have with your clothes on?

Today's mail delivered my copy of Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds. My first impression was that it looks thinner than the 230 Pages.

I have just paged through the book. WOW!!!!. This is one awesome book, and much better than I could have imagined.

Guy Kawasaki shows the foreword as an hilarious slide presentation. These 15 slides capture exactly what followers of the Pow'rFul Philosophy and Dodging the Bullet Points readers believe. Over 90% of presentations SUCK.

I wish I could show you some of the fabulous slides in Presentation Zen. You will have to just take my word for it, until your copy arrives - if you are a presenter you need Presentation Zen. Don't leave home for your next presentation without Garr's book.
(Disclaimer - I don't make anything if you purchase Presentation Zen. I just want you to know that you should own this book)

Great deal on images

The book "Presentation Zen", includes a fantastic deal on credits for images from iStockphoto. Click here to read the details, and Purchase the book.