Tag: Rick Enrico

Question and Answer: How to Respond to Sales Inquiries

answering questions

customer interest

feedback

presentation guide

Rick Enrico

sales presentations

SlideGenius

Sep 14, 2016

How you respond to inquiries is key to increasing sales in any business. This measures how interested people are in your business.The more relevant your product or service seems to them, the more feedback you get.In turn, this gives you the opportunity to reel in new customers. But this will depend on how effective your replies are.Don’t miss your chance. Know how to make a sale with the right response.

Reply Fast for Prompt Responses

When you take a sales inquiry, answering the client’s question is only the means to an end.This objective is to get people to avail your services.You can determine a customer’s interest in you by correspondence.In this case, the transaction shouldn’t end with your reply.How customer responds can also test how engaged they are.To do that, you need to address their concerns immediately.Putting off a potential client for too long can lead them to look for other options.Customers want to know whether you value their time or not.Timely replies make them feel important, increasing your chances of gaining their trust.

Get Straight to the Point

Assume that your prospect doesn’t have time to read through an entire block of text. They want to get to the gist as quickly as they can.In this case, it’s more efficient to cut down words and address the customer’s concerns as early as possible.Adding headings to your response can also help people navigate through it. However, just make sure these headings capture your main points based on the customer’s express needs.Your response to a sales inquiry already says a lot about your company. Analyze the initial query, and pick up hints on what the customer wants from you.By offering a solution to every point they raise, you assure them you have what they’re looking for.

Create a Follow-up System

Not every sales inquiry you reply to will yield a trusted customer.You’ll want to know if you’re investing in the right people.Qualifying your leads prevents you from wasting time and money. The only problem is, without replying to every inquiry, you can’t identify the best prospects.You can get around this by putting your existing leads on a follow-up system. It can save you the trouble of giving everyone the same amount of effort.In this system, you divide your prospects into those who you can consistently follow-up on, and those who you don’t have to check on as much.People with whom you frequently exchange messages are probably closer to buying your product.Prioritize these customers, but remember to respond to the other inquiries later on.

Conclusion

The way you answer sales inquiries determines how well you handle your prospects.Give them the right response and your sales inquiry can be converted into a sale.Respond quickly, but make sure that your message has everything the client is looking for.Address their concerns and offer your services as the best alternative to other problems they may hint at.Be as direct as possible in your reply. Don’t delay your core message with too many filler words.With current leads, you can create a follow-up system that highlights more urgent sales over others.Once a client invites you to present your sales pitch in real time, you have to prepare your speech and your deck quickly.Need help preparing your presentation? Contact our SlideGenius experts today for a free quote!

References

Bly, Robert. “The Key to Great Inquiry Fulfillment.” National Mail Order Association. Accessed October 30, 2015. www.nmoa.org/articles/dmnews/KeytoInquiryFulfillmentBB.htmDonnelly, Tim. “How to Qualify a Sales Lead.” Inc. August 19, 2011. Accessed October 30, 2015. www.inc.com/guides/201108/how-to-qualify-a-sales-lead.htmlHainge, Allen. “How to Respond to Online Listing Inquiries.” Realty Times. May 28, 2002. Accessed October 30, 2015. http://realtytimes.com/agentnews/technologyadvice1/item/16274-20020529_inquiriesWormley, David. “6 ways to be more effective when responding to inbound sales inquiries.” Healy Consultants. March 31, 2015. Accessed October 30, 2015. www.healyconsultants.com/blog/6-ways-to-be-more-effective-when-responding-to-inbound-sales-inquiries/Featured Image: “Mail” by Bogdan Suditu on flickr.com

Psychological Biases: Loss Aversion in Sales Presentations

cognitive bias

presentation lessons

presentation tips

psychology

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

Sep 12, 2016

A negative response from defeat isn’t limited to real-life choices. They can also be present in business situations, including sales presentations.If you’re stuck between the pain of losing and the fear of risking, then you’ll miss out bigger and greater opportunities ahead of you, like a new business venture, or a better career offer.Never miss the boat on that new deal and business partnership. Let the psychological bias of loss aversion help you out in accepting losses to continually grow as a professional and achieve greater sales.

Defining ‘Loss Aversion’

People are reluctant to lose or give up something, even if it means gaining something better. Some play safe and avoid changes to protect their business from market loss or any disaster.This phenomenon of escaping a losing position is known as loss aversion. First coined by researchers Amos Tversky and Daniel Kahneman, it suggests that the desire of having something suddenly increases when someone takes it away. This means we tend to feel the pain of loss more than the pleasure of a comparable gain.Even if losses are unforeseen, you shouldn’t let your fear of taking risks stop you from tasting the sweetness of success.

Why Use This in Presentations?

Marketing campaigns and promos are two examples that explain this cognitive bias. For example, people are more likely to go shopping when they see ads like “For limited time only” or “Sale ends soon.”In this case, the fear of losing promotions make people act on their impulse and can influence their buying decisions.Using this technique builds up your product’s worth, helping you achieve company gain.

How to Make Loss Aversion Your Ally

Losses translated into gains attract more sales conversions. To persuade your audience to invest in your idea, focus more on highlighting the benefits.Position your offer as if ignoring it means a great loss for investors. Explain what it does and how it differs from your competitors—from its uses, to cost, and new experience it might bring.If you’re selling an advanced cooking equipment, try saying something like: “You won’t save up to 3 hours of cooking time if you skip this offer, and stick with normal ovens.”No matter what you sell, it’s always important to put earns on top of the losses. Frame your product benefits well for them to make decisions quickly.

Conclusion

Often times, the fear of loss impedes the desire to gain. It misleads you from reaching the road of growth and success.But losses turned into gains are a different thing. Present in a way that customers will feel like they can’t afford to lose you.Practice the power of loss aversion to create a sense of urgency and make your sales pitch sound more persuasive!

References

Kay, Magda. “How to Use Cognitive Biases for Effective Marketing.” Psychology for Marketers. n.d. Accessed November 26, 2015. http://psychologyformarketers.com/use-cognitive-biases-effective-marketing“Loss Aversion.” Behavioural Finance. n.d. Accessed November 26, 2015. http://loss-aversion.behaviouralfinance.netPammi, C. & Srinivasan N. (2013). Decision Making: Neural and Behavioural Approaches. Elsevier.Popolskis, Alon. “How to Persuasively Leverage Loss Aversion for Your Company’s Gain.” Business to Community. December 30, 2015. Accessed November 26, 2015. www.business2community.com/strategy/persuasively-leverage-loss-aversion-companys-gain-0725284#uxhqSgb1Gx3YmeDf.97Snider, Emma. “How to Use Psychological Biases to Sell Better and Faster.” Hubspot Blogs. January 31, 2015. Accessed November 26, 2015. http://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/psychological-biases-salesFeatured Image: “Losses” by GotCredit on flickr.com

Making It Big: Great Ideas and Good Plans Don’t Cost Much

content marketing

marketing strategy

marketing success

Rick Enrico

sales pitch

SlideGenius

viral marketing

Sep 07, 2016

Some of the grandest marketing successes are elaborate enterprises that looked like they required a lot of manpower and money. For example, as cited by AdAge contributor and Creativity editor, Ann-Christine Diaz, these experiential moves appear to have specific budgets for their productions.We’ve attributed such innovation to large companies that could afford to bring their creative strategies to life. However, you don’t have to spend a lot of money for a good idea. Most of the time, the best ideas won’t cost you anything. Here are three ways you can execute your plan under a budget:

In an office setting, a group of professionally dressed individuals applauds as a man in a suit and a woman in a dress stand at the front, presenting a client experience slide for consulting firms. The large windows behind them reveal towering city buildings.

1. Prioritize the Customer

Don’t put your brand directly in your output. Focus on building content first. To get yourself noticed, go with a strategy that impacts your customers emotionally. For this purpose, content marketing exists to cater to people’s different preferences. Companies now focus on creating relevant content for their target audience before endorsing themselves. This is because they know clients want to see information related to their interests, be it cooking, car mechanics, or even electronics. Similarly, knowing what the audience wants and relating your content to commonly shared values are the first steps to mapping out your plan of attack. Tug at basic human emotions and observe actions to draw your next inspiration. For example, Coca-Cola, which has always been well-known for its impressive campaigns, launched Share-a-Coke in 2011, which continues up to the present. As its name suggests, Coca-Cola’s campaign banked on forming and strengthening human connections, which most people naturally relate to .Similarly, tap into your audience’s preferences to relate to them better and convince them to invest their time and money on you.

2. Go Viral

One of the most cost-effective ways to attract many customers without overstepping your budget is to go digital. Today, social media plays a dominant part of everyone’s lives, allowing everyone to share content from all over the world with the simple click of a button. With something as connective as the Internet, it would be a loss not to take advantage of the opportunity to reach out to a greater number of people. Viral marketing, as cited on Web Marketing Today, by internet marketing pioneer Dr. Ralph Wilson, explains the nuances and principles behind the viral marketing trend, including providing effortless transfer to others and utilizing existing communication networks to reach more people. Once you have your great ideas in place, put them together as catchy content like a blog post, infographic, or better yet, a video. Upload your content online. If the audience takes the bait, it will only take you a minimal promotion to turn it into a widespread Internet sensation for a couple of days.

3. Keep it Going

Viral marketing can only last for so long before the next interesting thing replaces it. Don’t let your name die out with the hype. Formulate a strategy to keep your brand up in the market for as long as you can. Take advantage of the publicity by introducing your product or service to your target market. Offering promos and sales discounts to potential customers will attract people to your brand. Attending trade fairs can also get you noticed. This expands your network with peers in the industry as well as with clients. Having an established identity in the market can take time, especially if it’s a saturated one. It often takes more than one successful campaign to become a famous business. That’s why after your first idea comes to fruition and you’ve gotten the most out of the publicity, you’ve got to go back to square one. Think of a new idea, find another strategy to make it go viral, and maximize the attention you’re given.

Go Big or Go Home

Creativity is a never-ending process. You need to constantly look for inspiration to benefit from it. Before you even draft up your plan, consider your audience. If you’re on a very tight budget, using available resources instead of trying to match up to those used by major brands can reduce cost. Tap into viral content online to reach out to more people, but don’t stop there. Strike while the iron is hot and show off your brand offerings. Who knows – they might even invite you for a live sales pitch! For those presentation needs, our SlideGenius experts have your back. Contact us today for a free quote!

References

Diaz, Ann-Christine. “Here Are 15 of Marketing’s Most Memorable Experiential Moves.” Advertising Age Agency News. March 11, 2014. Accessed December 7, 2015. http://adage.com/article/agency-news/15-marketing-s-memorable-experiential-moves/291975 “Social Culture: The Digital Key to Connecting with Audiences.” Digital Information World. Accessed January 14, 2016. www.digitalinformationworld.com/2015/10/social-culture-digital-key-to-connecting-with-audiences.html “What Is Content Marketing?” Content Marketing Institute. Accessed December 7, 2015. http://contentmarketinginstitute.com/what-is-content-marketing Wilson, Ralph. “The Six Simple Principles of Viral Marketing.” Web Marketing Today. Accessed December 7, 2015. http://webmarketingtoday.com/articles/viral-principles

5 Design Tips to Avoid Becoming a Presentation Killer

design tips

killer

Powerpoint

presentation

presentation tips

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

Sep 05, 2016

Let the verdict decide whether a presenter is guilty of Death by PowerPoint, otherwise known as the presentation killer, or the never-ending boring bullet point marathon.We’ll be here to help and guide you to make the right design choices so that your deck won’t be next in trial.It all begins with the first impression. Take a look at the first slide on your deck right now and evaluate whether the design looks consistent with your brand.If it fails to meet the criteria, it might be time to take some design pointers to keep your deck moving on the right track.Between 65-85% of people describe themselves as visual learners. You could be tuning out a lot of people during your presentation if your slides don’t have images that support your message.We’ll briefly touch on Guy Kawasaki’s 10-20-30 rule and how they can keep you from becoming a presentation killer.

1. Consistent Design

Consistency helps build your brand’s identity.What’s your brand known for, and how can you translate this concept through design? Being consistent means building your reputation over time by staying true to the company’s values.But a company changing hands or shifting in direction happens and can be a challenge to handle.For example, Logitech’s rebranding came about from CEO Bracken Darrell changing their offerings beyond selling computer mice. So they changed the logo to reflect their change in direction.Update your company’s image to stay consistent with your brand’s values and identity.

2. High-Quality Images

In your first slide, feature your brand front and center.Have a clear, high-quality image of your logo so that your audience can immediately identify your brand.Don’t use low-quality images that look pixelated on screen. Not only does it look distracting and unprofessional, but it puts your brand’s image in a negative light as a result.Avoid filling your deck with too many images, as it can inflate your PowerPoint file’s size. Resize images that don’t need to be emphasized to avoid this problem.

3. Strategic Color Choice

Colors have a strong psychological impact that can influence the way we feel and think, so craft a strong image for your brand’s identity.Image plays a major part in social media, and image-building should take priority especially when you want your brand to stand out.This infographic from DesignMantic is a handy guide to profile your business and match it with a suitable color combination.For example, businesses in the healthcare industry commonly use the colors red and green because of the psychological effect of these colors. The color red denotes attentiveness and determination while green represents hope, endurance, and safety. You can use these colors and other combinations to create a color profile that inspires trust in your brand.

4. Complementary Images

Take caution when you choose an inspirational image for your slide. It can detract from your message if it’s too striking. This means choosing a beautiful yet abstract image fails to support your message because it becomes a source of distraction.The audience could become too absorbed with your image that they fail to see your point.The images you pick should support your message and help the audience make a meaningful decision about your presentation.Choose your supporting images carefully and make sure that it’s connected to the product or service that you’re offering.

5. The 10-20-30 Rule

Be careful how much content you pump into your slides.Guy Kawasaki, former chief evangelist of Apple, is a proponent of the 10-20-30 rule. His guidelines will give your pitch precision and maximize engagement with your audience. Deliver your presentation in ten slides, for twenty minutes, in a font no smaller than thirty points: that’s the 10-20-30 rule.It compels the presenter to reduce slide clutter in favor of a concise pitch.The time constraints are in place because when you’re pitching to a VC, you can’t afford to waste anybody’s time. And the large font size is there so that the presenter won’t read off the slides and focus on their delivery instead.Imagine pitching to Guy Kawasaki himself and the 10-20-30 rules starts to make sense. Create an impressive pitch by taking heed of his rules.

Make Killer Presentations

You should always make a good first impression, so build a good image by following design choices that will support your brand and your message.Build trust by selecting colors that communicate your brand’s values. Your pitch should include images that support your message, but be aware that having too much in your deck can increase your file size dramatically.The use of overly inspirational images can backfire on you if it fails to support your message, so exercise some restraint when you think about placing one in your deck.Guy Kawasaki is a VC himself, so he understands and knows the pitch that gets attention. His popular 10-20-30 rule should key you in on the template that can win an investor.Get a free quote from our SlideGenius experts to effectively get your message across in your deck and pitch.

References

“[INFOGRAPHIC]: Color Your Brand Industry-wisely!” DesignMantic. March 18, 2014. Accessed December 21, 2015. www.designmantic.com/blog/color-your-brand-industry-wisely”Guy Kawasaki – The 10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint.” Guy Kawasaki. December 30, 2005. Accessed December 21, 2015. http://guykawasaki.com/the_102030_rule”How to Evaluate PowerPoint Presentation Slides?” Presentation Process. N.d. Accessed December 21, 2015. www.presentation-process.com/evaluate-powerpoint-presentation.html”New Logo and Identity for Logitech by DesignStudio.” Brand New. July 8, 2015. Accessed December 21, 2015. www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/new_logo_and_identity_for_logitech_by_designstudio.php#.VneM-_krKUkVong, Katherine. “Image Is Everything: Why People Are Hooked on Image-Based Social Media.” TrendReports. August 13, 2012. Accessed December 21, 2015. www.trendreports.com/article/imagebased-social-mediaFeatured Image: “Just the tip of the iceberg” by Myxion flickr.com

4 Types of Charts You Should Use for Business Presentations

bar graph

business pitch

business presentation

charts

flowchart

line graph

organizational chart

presentation tips

Presentations

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

types of charts

Aug 31, 2016

Using charts is tricky for business presentations. More often than not, they tend to overload your slides with numbers and distract your audience from your main findings.Similar to using spreadsheets, these are tools used to analyze data before presenting them. However, charts have one advantage over spreadsheets: They can visually compare and show relationships between numbers and information, making them more understandable for the audience. This also lets you hold their interest long enough to get your point across.If you absolutely need to use charts, these are the four basic types that can help simplify an otherwise long and boring topic.

1. The Organizational Chart

This chart is used to explain relationships between members of a group.Here, information is displayed in a top-to-bottom format, with the executive or manager at the top. The chart branches out to show direct and indirect relationships between staff, managers, and executives.This gives everyone a clear picture of who reports to whom and who is responsible for what.While the organizational chart explains structures, it doesn’t show how a company operates. You can use flowcharts to explain how your company does business with others. You can also use these to talk about any other type of business procedure.

2. The Flowchart

The flowchart is more linear, sometimes circular, in nature.It’s best for explaining processes, especially during business presentations. The flowchart builds a clear picture of where something begins, what happens in between, and where it ends.When using this chart, start with the first step. When an order comes in, what step follows next? Is there a step where the request is evaluated? Arrange them sequentially, and add if-and-then statements if something goes wrong with that step.The more complicated a process is, the harder it is to illustrate with a flowchart. Stick to the basics and keep your illustration simple to avoid confusing your audience with too many numbers.

3. The Line Graph

One of the simplest to create and the easiest to understand, line graphs show progressions and can also forecast results.If you were to track, for example, the increase and decrease of your company’s earnings per year, simply plot the period of time you need to measure on the horizontal X-axis. The vertical Y-axis will be used to measure the amount gained or lost.After plotting the data, simply connect the points with a line to show their progression. You can even use it to compare similar types of data by using different colored lines.Line graphs are great at comparing progressions, but if you want to accurately show increases and decreases in value, bar graphs are perfect for the job.

4. The Bar Graph

While they can also show comparisons over time like line graphs, bar graphs are used for measuring larger changes.The two main variants for bar graphs are horizontal and vertical graphs. Both rely on rectangles to show how much one thing is worth against another. For example, if you were to measure the net worth of similar companies with a vertical bar graph, you could arrange the company names in the horizontal X-axis, and set the values in the vertical Y-axis. The higher the rectangle displayed, the more valuable the company is. For horizontal graphs, these are more appropriate for data with longer labels. The usage is the same with a vertical graph, except that the X and Y axes are reversed.

Which Chart Should You Use?

Instead of you simply talking about information with a slide full of text, these charts can conveniently illustrate your data.It can be about procedures, your organizational structure, or even the progressions and comparisons between information.While these four graphs can illustrate and compare several things at once, they can overload your slides if they contain too much information. Keep only the most essential processes and state only the most important individuals in any organizational structure.It’s best to limit your comparisons to at least three things to make your presentation easier to understand.

Check out and share our infographic!

References:

“Types of Graphs – Bar Graphs.” Types of Graphs. n.d. www.typesofgraphs.com/bar.html”Types of Graphs – FlowCharts.” Types of Graphs. n.d. www.typesofgraphs.com/flow.html”Types of Graphs – Line Graphs.” Types of Graphs. n.d. www.typesofgraphs.com/line.html”Types of Graphs – Organizational Chart.” Types of Graphs. n.d. www.typesofgraphs.com/organizational.html

Display a Live Twitter Feed in PowerPoint 2016

Infographic

live feed

Powerpoint

PowerPoint Design

Powerpoint tips

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

Tutorial

Twitter

twitter feed

Aug 29, 2016

Adding a live Twitter feed in your PowerPoint is one of the many ways to make your presentation more engaging. Fortunately, only a few presenters know how to insert a website in their presentation, which is why using this feature gives you the opportunity to take advantage of your listeners’ curiosity and make a good, lasting impression.Apart from spicing up your presentation by making it interesting and more interactive, having a live Twitter feed lets you expand your ideas as you deliver your speech. You can show it during the first part of your presentation to encourage the audience to tweet about your talk, or with the help of a hashtag, put it at the end of your speech to show them the live tweets of the event.To get a clear picture of how to successfully add a live Twitter feed in your presentation, here’s an infographic that will give you a step-by-step tutorial using PowerPoint 2016.https://www.slideshare.net/SlideGenius/display-a-live-twitter-feed-in-powerpoint

Let’s Get Visual: 3 Reasons Why You Should Use Infographics

audience engagement

infographics

PowerPoint Design

powerpoint presentation

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

Aug 24, 2016

Infographics are a popular medium of data presentation. While they don’t necessarily replace research, it’s become a go-to medium for quick information sharing.In her article on Piktochart, digital strategist Nevyana Karakasheva explains how infographics compress your content into easily digestible visuals that can go viral online, depending on how much social shares you generate. The potential for sharing makes it an effective marketing tool, both for sharing relevant content to your prospects and subtly promoting yourself.What exactly influences the infographic’s overall appeal? When reading infographics, people ask these three common questions:Why are infographics the current trend? What’s an infographic’s selling point?Will using these visual aids attract your target audience? Here are some answers that could help:

Q: Why are infographics the current trend?

Visual learning is in. With 65% of the population identifying as visual learners, according to professor Patricia Vakos of Pearson Prentice Hall, it’s no wonder why infographics are an attractive option to the majority.An infographic’s strategic use of color, layout, image, and text appeal to the visual learner’s desire for creative knowledge. Even for the not-so visually-inclined, infographics help break down the data overload many of us experience in today’s world.In a world bogged down by too much information, having something to summarize data into appealing and easily digestible points is like a breath of fresh air. Because of its all-around charm, an infographic can attract the interest of most audiences, making it perfect for presenting facts and statistics.

Q: What’s an infographic’s selling point?

It helps explore your creativity when planning its design and layout. You can opt to place content to an existing infographic template or play around with design elements.Challenge your creativity while dishing out valuable information. After all, the sky’s the limit when it comes to creating an infographic.You can make use visuals to point and connect to facts or illustrate them. This makes your material engaging and more attractive than plain textual overload.

Q: How will using these attract your target audience?

It’s accessible to users, mostly online. Because they are being shared over social media, infographics are more appealing and accessible. Their various layouts and visual designs also make plain data more interesting to look at.An infographic turns difficult statistics into discernible information. It also makes your brand easier to share and understand. The added exposure and clarification help expand your network, boost your page views, and introduce you to prospective clients.Although nothing beats a face-to-face presentation, having infographics on your site or your slide deck saves you time explaining facts.

Conclusion

Infographics are striking sources of information.Contrary to popular belief, they don’t just cater to visual learners; they also attract all types of people. The visual aspect leaves you free to explore the infographic’s creative possibilities.At the same time, they also break down difficult data into easily readable information. This lets viewers easily process them and share it with their friends. If you want to get yourself out there, consider putting up your own infographic.Need advice for your infographic design? Let our SlideGenius experts assist you. Contact us today for a free quote!

References:

Karakasheva, Nevyana. “Why Infographics Are An Inseparable Part of a Successful SEO Campaign.” Piktochart Infographics. June 1, 2015. www.piktochart.com/why-infographics-are-an-inseparable-part-of-a-successful-seo-campaignVakos, Patricia. “Why the Blank Stare? Strategies for Visual Learners.” Pearson Education, Inc. 2003. www.phschool.com/eteach/social_studies/2003_05/essay.html“The Visual (Spatial) Learning Style.” Learning Styles Online. n.d. www.learning-styles-online.com/style/visual-spatialFeatured Image: “Visual Acuity” by Elizabeth Hann on flickr.com

Canons of Rhetoric: The Power of Memory in Presentations

canons of rhetoric

memorable presentations

power of memory

presentation tip

rhetorical canon of memory

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

Aug 22, 2016

Missing out an important part of a presentation sometimes causes fear. Those speech pauses, stutters, and eye twitches can prove a sudden feeling of emotional tension and mental block.In this post, we’ll highlight the importance of rhetorical memory in recalling a presentation material for maximum impact. Let’s see how it can save you from sabotaging your pitch’s success.

What about Memory?

The art of rhetoric in the form of oration has become existential in political debates, legal proceedings, and philosophical inquiries in ancient Greece and Roman times.In Renaissance period, memory or memoria played a significant role in the educational system. According to Paul Gehl, print historian and custodian of the Wing Foundation, texts were learned by repetitive memorization and then reread for meaning.

What is Memory?

The fourth canon of memory is defined as the “firm retention in the mind of the matter, words, and arrangement.” The Latin manuscript Ad Herrenium considers this principle as the “treasury of things invented,” linking to the topics of invention or, rather, the process of refining your arguments.It’s not only about memorizing a speech but also embodying innate knowledge of one’s topic for better delivery.Here, we’ve listed the three elements of the rhetoric memory and how they can guide you throughout your presentation:

Memorizing Your Speech

Ancient orators memorize their speeches to speak with confidence. The Classical Age believed that memorization should take place to absorb the material and deliver it naturally. This improves total recall of a presentation idea and flow and establishes maximum speaking credibility.A good command of memory allows for on-the-spot improvisation of key points, response to questions, and refutation on opposing arguments. To improve memory retention, read the speech out loud and do it repeatedly. A 2010 study by psychologist Dr. Art Markman from the University of Texas found that spoken words were remembered better than those read silently.Break the speech into parts to have designated feel and purpose. Represent your main points with images to remember it easily.

Making it Memorable

“Thinking memorable thoughts is the primary means of retaining and retrieving carefully articulated thought,” said Walter Ong, a cultural and religious historian and philosopher. This implies that memorizing your pitch alone isn’t enough for your audience to absorb your speech.Avoid depending too much on your script. It may only distance you from the crowd.Learn your speech by heart by focusing on your key points. Think of some ways to keep them stuck on you and your topic by associating them with images or events you can easily recall.Limit your main points to no more than three for easier retention. Arrange your speech in the classic structure—beginning, middle, and end to emphasize points. In effect, tell a story instead of simply verbalizing facts to guarantee attention.

Keeping a Treasury of Rhetorical Fodder

Roman rhetoricians like Cicero and Quintilian encouraged their students to keep a commonplace book, a simple notebook for jotting down anything that catches your interest for future references. These include ideas, quotes, anecdotes, and general information.In today’s presentation world, keeping a treasury of rhetorical fodder like in the ancient times is also a good practice. After all, there’s always a chance you will have to cite current events or the occasional pop culture reference for your audience to relate more to your speech.Coming in prepared with useful data in mind and on hand not only cures your stage fright, but also bolsters your presenting image. Store up relevant quotes, facts, observations, and stories to your core message. Incorporate supporting visuals like images, videos, and infographics to add a fun element. Translate numerical figures in the form of graphs, charts, and tables to make hard data easier to understand.

Improve Your Working Memory

The rhetorical canon of memory eases the fear of public speaking.With combined memorization and full grasp on your topic, you’ll be able to deliver memorable presentations. Memorize a speech to absorb the material and deliver it naturally. Make it memorable to increase your audience retention. Keep a treasury of rhetorical fodder to boost your presenting image. Incorporate the three elements of memory to communicate your message more effectively.

References:

Gehl, Paul. A moral art: grammar, society, and culture in Trecento Florence. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2015.The Canons of Rhetoric. Pearson: Higher Education.Holiday, Ryan. “How And Why To Keep A ‘Commonplace Book’.” Thought Catalog. August 28, 2013. www.thoughtcatalog.com/ryan-holiday/2013/08/how-and-why-to-keep-a-commonplace-bookMarkman, Art. “Say it loud: I’m creating a distinctive memory.” Psychology Today. May 11, 2010. www.psychologytoday.com/blog/ulterior-motives/201005/say-it-loud-i-m-creating-distinctive-memoryMcKay, Brett and Kate McKay. “Classical Rhetoric 101: The Five Canons of Rhetoric – Memory.” The Art of Manliness. June 10, 2015. www.artofmanliness.com/2011/04/15/classical-rhetoric-101-the-five-canons-of-rhetoric-memoryFeatured Image: “Now” by new 1lluminati on flickr.com

How to Rehearse Timings in PowerPoint 2013

powerpoint 2013

powerpoint tutorial

presentation

Rick Enrico

slide transitions

SlideGenius

Aug 17, 2016

One of the most important aspects of delivering a presentation is managing your time effectively. PowerPoint 2013 offers a handy tool that allows you to rehearse the timings of your slides, helping you stay on track during your actual presentation. Here’s how to use the Rehearse Timings feature in PowerPoint 2013.

1. Open Rehearse Timings

PowerPoint 2013 has a built-in feature that allows you to practice your presentation and record the time spent on each slide.Why It’s Important:

  • Keeps You on Track: Rehearsing timings ensures that you stay within your allotted time without rushing or dragging out certain sections.
  • Improves Delivery: Practicing with real-time feedback helps you pace your delivery more effectively.

How to Do It:

  • Go to the Slide Show tab and click Rehearse Timings.
  • PowerPoint will automatically begin timing each slide as you rehearse your presentation.

2. Record Your Timing

As you progress through your presentation, PowerPoint will record the amount of time you spend on each slide. This allows you to review your timing and make adjustments where necessary.Why It’s Important:

  • Helps with Pacing: Recording timings lets you see where you may be spending too much or too little time.
  • Prepares You for the Real Presentation: Rehearsing under real-time conditions helps simulate the actual presentation experience.

How to Do It:

  • Move through your slides at your normal speaking pace. When you reach the end, PowerPoint will display the total time spent on each slide.

3. Review and Adjust Timings

Once you’ve completed your rehearsal, PowerPoint allows you to review your slide timings. You can adjust the timings if you need to spend more or less time on certain slides.Why It’s Important:

  • Allows for Adjustments: Reviewing your timings gives you the opportunity to refine your pacing and adjust the presentation’s flow.
  • Ensures Timing Accuracy: Fine-tuning your slide timings helps you hit your time limit with precision.

How to Do It:

  • PowerPoint will display the total rehearsal time once you complete your practice session.
  • Adjust your slides based on where you spent too much or too little time.

4. Save Your Timings

After rehearsing, PowerPoint will ask if you want to save your timings. If you plan to use these timings during your actual presentation, make sure to save them.Why It’s Important:

  • Automates Slide Transitions: Saving your rehearsed timings allows PowerPoint to automatically advance slides based on the time you practiced.
  • Keeps You On Track: Automated timings ensure that your presentation moves at the right pace without you manually advancing the slides.

How to Do It:

  • After completing your rehearsal, click Yes when prompted to save your timings.
  • Your presentation will now use the rehearsed timings when played in Slide Show mode.

Final Thoughts

Rehearsing slide timings in PowerPoint 2013 is a valuable tool for ensuring that your presentation flows smoothly and stays within your allotted time. By using the Rehearse Timings feature, you can practice your delivery, refine your pacing, and feel confident that your presentation will be perfectly timed. Incorporate this step into your preparation to improve the overall delivery of your presentation.

Why You Should Improve Your PowerPoint with Animation

animation

PowerPoint animation

PowerPoint Morph

powerpoint presentation

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

Aug 15, 2016

Improving your PowerPoint with animation can significantly enhance audience engagement, clarify complex concepts, and provide a polished and professional touch to your presentation. Here’s why you should consider incorporating animations into your PowerPoint:

1. Grabbing and Sustaining Attention

  • Why it matters: Animations can help capture and maintain your audience’s attention. In today’s fast-paced environment, people’s attention spans are short, and subtle animations provide visual stimuli that can keep the audience engaged.
  • How to apply: Use animations to highlight key points, emphasize transitions between sections, or introduce a new idea without overwhelming the audience. For example, having bullet points appear one at a time can guide focus and prevent information overload.

2. Enhancing Information Flow and Clarity

  • Why it matters: Animations can aid in structuring your presentation and clarifying complex processes. Instead of overwhelming the audience with too much information at once, animations allow you to control the flow of information, revealing it in digestible steps.
  • How to apply: For complex topics, use animations to break down processes step by step. For example, animated diagrams can show how different components of a system interact over time, helping the audience better grasp the material.

3. Fostering Audience Engagement

  • Why it matters: Audience engagement increases when animations are used effectively. Dynamic transitions, movements, and subtle motion can add energy to your presentation, keeping the audience interested and interactive.
  • How to apply: Incorporate motion paths or entrance effects for key data or visuals to direct attention where you need it. Make sure the animation is purposeful and not overly flashy—animations should support, not distract from, your message.

4. Highlighting Key Information

  • Why it matters: Animations are a great tool for emphasizing important information. By controlling what the audience sees and when they see it, you ensure that critical points are not missed.
  • How to apply: Use highlighting animations, such as zooming in on a key statistic or fading in a critical point, to ensure that the audience focuses on the information you want to emphasize at the right time.

5. Creating a Professional and Polished Look

  • Why it matters: Well-designed animations can give your presentation a professional and polished look, signaling that you’ve put extra effort into your preparation. This reflects well on you and your brand.
  • How to apply: Keep animations subtle and consistent. Stick to one or two types of animations to maintain a clean and cohesive aesthetic. For instance, use a simple fade or appear animation for text and images, rather than over-the-top effects.

Conclusion

Animations in PowerPoint can enhance audience engagement, clarify information, and add a professional touch when used strategically. The key is to ensure that animations are relevant, purposeful, and don’t overshadow the content. When done right, they make your presentation more impactful, memorable, and engaging.