PowerPoint › Public Relations Matters

Develop a list of 10 Things We Should Know About _____ (your Fortune 500 company of choice)

The list can include anything that you found to be particularly interesting about your company.
At least one item on your list should revolve around career opportunities in corporate PR with the company.
Feel free to be creative with your title.

Create a PowerPoint presentation.

For the title slide, include the company logo and your name.
Rather than making bullet points of your things we should know, instead use photos to represent the ideas. (Please use some key words as titles on your slides, to help provide some context.)
One of the best places to find photos is in Flickr.
If you use photos that are not your own, include a photo credit at the bottom of the slide (like I did on this slide).
On the final slide, provide your contact information (name, blog URL, and perhaps your LinkedIn profile URL — please don’t show your phone number or e-mail address)

Embed your PowerPoint presentation in your blog (for 10 pts extra credit)

Save your presentation in PowerPoint 2003. (SlideShare does not yet support the newest release of PowerPoint.)
Go to SlideShare; join SlideShare if you haven’t already done so.
Upload your presentation to SlideShare.
Find the embed code at SlideShare, and embed your SlideShare into a blog post.
Publish your blog post.
NOTE: You should add this blog post to your “table of contents” page for your final project.

Prepare and deliver your 4-6 minute presentation, using these tips.

Never let your audience see you navigate to your file. Have the projector’s picture muted until you are ready to show your slides.
Speak to your audience, never to the screen or monitor.
When you’re not using your presentation, press B to blacken (or W to whiten) the screen. This helps the audience to focus on you, not the screen.
Additionally, here are some general tips I share in my public speaking classes.

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: presentations speaking)

Creating Your Presentation

Always create an opening slide with the title of your presentation, and perhaps a relevant graphic, along with your full name.
Use a template that complements your subject.
SmartArt adds to the presentation when you want to show your words graphically.
As with any presentation, use the three-pronged rule
- tell ’em what you’re going to tell ’em
- tell ’em
- then tell ’em what you told ’em.
Always use an objectives or agenda slide (for a preview) and a summary or conclusion slide.
Remember the 6×6 Rule. . . six words per line, six lines per slide, never more than that.
Don’t use sounds in your presentation. They may sound cute when you are rehearsing it, but they are distracting to your audience.
Be consistent with the types of animation you use to introduce your bullet points. Or better yet, don’t use animation or fancy transitions.
Stick to one graphic style throughout your presentation.
Use Flickr as a source for photos to include. Look for ones with Creative Commons licenses.
Want to see the World’s Worst PowerPoint?

Delivering Your Presentation

Never let your audience see you navigate to your file. Have the projector’s picture muted until you are ready to show your slides.
Speak to your audience, not the screen or monitor.
Practice using the laser pointer (if you’re using one).
When you’re not using your presentation, press B to blacken (or W to whiten) the screen. This helps the audience to focus on you, not the screen.
If using YouTube video clips, pre-load them so that they are ready to go. Or use Tooble to download the videos, so there’s not a fear of the Internet lag.

Additionally, here are some general tips I share in my public speaking classes.

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: presentations speaking)

Tag: PowerPoint