PowerPoint Tips Blog

Making text stand out with text formatting techniques

A presentation style that’s sometimes called the Takahashi or Lessig method, involves putting just a word or two on a slide, usually with very large text. The text is used as a prompt, but also as a graphic. I wrote about it in a short post from 2004, You can create stunning slides using large […]

online-business-platform-online-course-1

Choosing a platform for your online course

By Ellen Finkelstein

When you’re ready to get your knowledge out to the world with an online course, you have many decisions to make! An important one is which platform you’ll use. The platform houses your course content. The platform is sometimes called a Learning Management System (LMS), but in truth, you may not even need an LMS. […]

powerpoint-tips-contrast-colors-text-pop-1

Use contrast to make your text and colors pop!

By Ellen Finkelstein

I’ve been working on some training about presentations that are accessible to people with sight and hearing challenges and have learned some techniques that I believe everyone can use. One has to do with increasing contrast between the background (of the slide or a shape) and the text. When you do this, your colors become […]

powerpoint-tips-rehearse-with-presenter-coach-1

Practice your speaking skills with PowerPoint’s Presenter Coach

By Ellen Finkelstein

I talk about presentations having 3 components: content, design, and delivery. I probably spend the least time talking about delivery, but it’s important! You can be engaging, lively, and informal. You can also appear wooden, dull, and formal. One of the best techniques to improve your delivery is to practice, but how do you get […]

Why you need a story for your presentations

By Ellen Finkelstein

How do you persuade people to implement your training, buy from you, or approve your proposal? Yes, you need a good “offer,” whether that offer is to help trainees perform better, improve client’s results, or get more done with less money. But a good offer isn’t enough. Lots of research has shown that emotion is […]

Using PowerPoint’s new illustrations

By Ellen Finkelstein

PowerPoint is adding new types of graphics and expanding existing ones. These are all available in Office 365, because they are constantly being updated. One of the most recent additions is called Illustrations. Here are two examples on a slide… They are in grayscale with a pop of yellow but you can: Easily change the […]

Communication skills for online success

By Ellen Finkelstein

This is a guest post by Steve Kosch, a former ABC and CNN anchor (that’s him on the left), and a globally recognized expert communication skills trainer. For 10 more awesome tips to help you “Nail It” in your next presentation, go to mediatrainingnetwork.com If you’re looking to lead a cause or movement, spread your […]

PowerPoint has photos again! And a lot more…

By Ellen Finkelstein

If you have Office 365 — now called Microsoft 365, confusingly — you might have noticed that after several years without photos, they’ve come back! Actually, they aren’t the same photos, but better quality ones. It’s a relief to be able to find photos right within PowerPoint without an add-in. (More about add-ins at the […]

Equipment for Speakers

By Ellen Finkelstein

I’m writing this during the Coronavirus pandemic and I just heard that webcams are on backorder. That’s because so many more people are presenting and attending meetings from home. So I thought I’d list my recommendations for equipment for speakers, including webcam, lighting, screening, mics, and much more. The links are on Amazon. (Note: They […]