The right visual aids. (part 1 of 2) 08/22/2009
I am a big proponent of making your entire presentation visual. The problem for me is that I can't draw, I take bad photographs, and none of my talented relatives will cooperate enough to provide me with images to use. (I have lots of artists in my family, they just don't want to do graphics for my slides for some reason...) So what's a nerdy numbers person to do? Here are some ways you can create your own visual aids for your next presentation: 1. Purchase images from a website – there are a number of websites that offer professional photographs royalty free. My favorite is www.istockphoto.com . They offer a ton of gorgeous images at a very affordable price, and they make it easy for you to try them out and download the image once you have found the right one.  IT guy from my 'Doing More With Less' presentation. Image purchased from www.Istockphoto.com Pro: Professional images Con: Other people might end up using the same images in their presentation. 2. Use clip art – the clipart library gets deeper every day. Now that you can access images online, there seems to be no end to cutesy graphics that you can insert into your slide show.  Picture of an accountant from Microsoft online clipart files Pro: Quick, easy, and cheap Con: Quick, easy, and cheap.That means everyone in your audience will know you are using the same clipart they use for their presentations. This does not set you apart as a professional. To be continued... Add Comment |  Geni Whitehouse
Countess of Communication Brotemarkle,Davis and Co. LLP Author of How to Make a Boring Subject Interesting : 52 ways even a nerd can be heard I am an accountant on a mission. I want to permanently remove the blight of BORING that has attached itself to members of my profession. But the boring blight doesn't stop there. It's everywhere. I've found it in wineries (although it's a tad more palatable when served with alcohol), in science labs, even in Art museums. And technology people carry the "B" gene too. But the condition need not be fatal. I work with CPAs through my strategic partner, Mentor Plus, an organization that has been providing CPAs with the skills their clients crave for more than 19 years. I lecture around the country to accountants and technology audiences and I have a ball. I was a partner in an Atlanta CPA firm when I realized technology was my true passion and I have been fighting the nerd versus geek battle ever since. And through some stroke of absolutely amazing luck, I now find myself in Napa -- the most gorgeous, hospitable place imaginable. Are you on Twitter? You can follow my nerdy life there : evenanerd Contact me geni@evenanerd.com I am a graduate of the Jeff Justice Comedy Workshoppe and the Persuasive Speaker course taught by Speechworks. I highly recommend both of these organizations. I am not unbiased, nor do I wish to be. I have done work for anyone and everyone in the software industry or the accounting profession. But if I am not impressed by what you do or can't find an angle that is interesting or unique, I won't work for or with you. And if you are stodgy or boring, there are not enough dollars or even euros to make me help you. See samples of my writing here: www.salestaxradar.com www.mybizcounts.com  ArchivesJanuary 2012 CategoriesAll Other websites you might enjoy: |
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