If you’ve given a presentation lately, you’ve probably spent some time digging through stock photography websites to dress up your words. Presentation Zen counsels that images should largely replace words due to the picture superiority effect, and increasingly in presentations these days, they do.

This makes sense in our current age of inattention and info-overload, where we’re often reminded that short-term memory holds only 7 chunks of information, and these fade from your brain in 20 seconds. If this is really the case, however,  it’s worth questioning whether slides of orange slices and sunsets are as effective as we think at reinforcing our ideas. A few problems with the stock photo approach include:

#1: Inauthenticity

Projecting an authentic voice is an essential component of social media success. People have turned away from advertisements and corporate messaging and toward personal perspectives, user reviews, and other signs of human life online. Stock photos don’t show the world through your eyes, and are hard to distinguish from ads.

Read more…

Forget about slides. In today’s hyperlink world, a classic presentation feels like being inside of a corridor without the option to enter any of the side doors.

If you’re still stuck on PowerPoint presentations, it may be time to try out more dynamic alternatives, like Prezi, which has the financial and advisory back of TED and Twitter founder Jack Dorsey.

TechCrunch contributor Robin Wauters called Prezi “the coolest online presentation tool I’ve ever seen.” And Garr Reynolds, who coined the phrase ‘Presentation Zen,’ earlier this year declared Prezi a presentation tool more suitable for the digital natives than its competitors.

Read more…

For the inexperienced producer, film or video production can easily become a laborious and frustration-filled undertaking. You’ve got a great story to tell or an excellent message to share, but you have no idea where to begin.  Several questions are running through your head: Is my script good? Do I have the right performers? Am I using the right audio and video equipment? Am I shooting enough material?

You’re soon facing mounting expenses and much more work than you could have prepared for. And your hair is fast becoming gray! But, that’s the nature of production. Whether you’re working alone or in a group, producing something substantial can often stretch you beyond your limitations. Regardless, you’ve still got an amazing story or message to share. So, what’s the best way to communicate it effectively with limited resources, time and money? A powerful video slideshow may be the way to go.

Read more…

I just ran across a new slideshare app that makes it really easy to add sound or music to your slide shows. John Boutelle, Slideshare founder, gives a cool tutorial – with his voice recorded – maybe he’s not really there? Maybe you could dial it in!

Slidecasting 101
View more presentations from Jonathan Boutelle. (tags: propaganda slideshare)