I usually make three to four major presentations a month. In January, for example, I made presentations at our Quarterly Business Review Meeting, our All Employee Meeting, and The Thomas Nelson Way session. In February, I will make four presentations.
I often get asked what tools I use to create my presentations. Currently, I am using eight:
- OmniOutliner. This is where it all begins. I start with the content. Personally, I think the worst thing you can do is start with your presentation software. This is letting the tail wag the dog. You need to start with great content and then decide how to best illustrate it or enhance it. In this regard, I highly recommend two books: Beyond Bullet Points [affiliate link] by Cliff Atkinson and Made to Stick [affiliate link] by Chip and Dan Heath.
- Keynote. It’s not that I dislike Microsoft PowerPoint. My feelings are much stronger than that: I actually hate it. I started using Apple Keynote a few years ago and have never looked back. Occasionally, I am forced to use PowerPoint (yes, I have version 2008), but it’s never a pleasant experience. I find Keynote gives presentations a professional, finished look with the minimum amount of effort. The results are always great. I just used the most recent version, Keynote 09, in my last presentation. It worked flawlessly and is well-worth the upgrade.
- iStockPhoto. I have a theory about presentations: the presenter should be the show not the slides. In other words, the message I am delivering is the main thing. The slides are simply there to illustrate or enhance that message, not be the message. As a result, I use very, very few bullet slides. (This methodology is best laid out in three must-read books: Beyond Bullet Points by Cliff Atkinson, already referenced above, Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds, and Slide:ology by Nancy Duarte.) Instead, I usually use charts, graphs, a single word, or a photo. I get nearly all of my photos from iStockPhoto. They are amazingly inexpensive and the library of images is ginormous—and growing. I also use them for all my blog photos.
- Handbrake. I also embed quite a bit of video in my presentations. If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video clip is worth ten thousand. I used to use a hardware switcher that switched between my presentation software and a DVD player. Not any more. I simply “rip” the video clip and embed it right in Keynote. It creates a seamless transition. I use Handbrake, a free software program, that will rip a DVD chapter and convert it to an MPEG-4 video.
- QuickTime Pro. Once I have ripped the chapter I want, I often need to edit just a clip from the chapter. There are lots of ways to do this including iMovie and Final Cut Studio or Express. But in my view, these are overkill. I can do the same thing in QuickTime Pro. I simply select the clip I want, “trim” off the beginning and end of the clip, and save it to my hard disk.
- Box Shot 3D. This program does one thing extremely well. It creates 3D covers of books that look very realistic, including reflections and shadows. You can control almost every aspect of the lighting. Since I work for a publishing company, most of my presentations have slides of book covers. I use this program to show them in 3D (like the blog photo example above).
- Snapz Pro X. Occasionally, I need to include a screenshot in a presentation. Macs come with this capability built-in, but I wanted more control. There are several programs that provide enhanced screenshot capabilities, including Skitch and LittleSnapper. I have tried them all and keep coming back to Snapz Pro X. The interface needs an update, but I still find that it gives me the most control. (I used this program to take the screenshot I used in the blog photo above.)
- KeySpan Remote. There are several programs that will turn your iPhone into a Keynote remote controller, including Apple’s own Keynote Remote. However, an iPhone is just too big for me. I want to use a remote that is inconspicuous and fits in the palm of my hand. Enter KeySpan Remote [affiliate link]. I have had this remote for a couple of years and have not found anything else that is smaller or easier to use.
I intentionally didn’t talk about projectors. I don’t even think about this any more. I use whatever the venue has, and they are usually sufficient. (I can’t even rememberthe last time this was a problem.) I set my Mac to dual display mode, so that I can see Presenter Notes on my laptop and display the slides to the audience.
Finally, if you are really serious about making great presentations, get a Mac. I switched four years ago and have never looked back. In my humble opinion, the presentation options are just much better. I personally prefer the 15″ MacBook Pro.
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Way cool list. I’ve never heard of Box Shot 3D, but I gave it a try and it’s pretty awesome.
Mike, you mention only video tools (and this is an impressive summary). Perhaps it’s politically incorrect to mention killing trees, but I’m curious about how you use handouts—or do you utterly shun them?
What a great list. I have been a trainer for 2 different wireless companies over the last 5 years and I can’t tell you how many times I wish I could have used a mac. A lot of training programs are stuck in the windows world and it shows…with the massive amount of bullet points up on the screen. No Passion, No Profit is what I always say. Even when it comes to teaching people about feature trees and how a cell phone network works.
Great post, Michael! You made me laugh out loud with your “feelings” about PowerPoint. I use all the tools you mentioned, but hadn’t heard of Box 3D – will definitely check it out. I used the Keyspan remote for years and loved it – now love the Logitech even more – has a built in timer, etc. But I still keep the Keyspan as a trusty backup.
You might want to check out TubeSock, if you’re into using videos. Great piece of software ($15) that allows you to download videos off of YouTube.
Thanks for sharing!
A useful list and informative post. How about a ‘how to’ video . Show me, how you build,craft, one of those February presentations!
I use the Apple Remote (the tiny white one) with Keynote. It is SO tiny and doesn’t require a USB – you can even pair it with your mac so you don’t accidentally start controlling someone else’s computer or vice versa.
Hi Michael
istockphoto is great for quickly finding good quality photos. But the photos of people in istockphoto are starting to look a little cliched (they’re not real people with real emotions). But now there are search engines that make searching flickr quicker and with more accurate results. Try http://www.compfight.com. You’ll get more quirky interesting photos.
Phenomenal. Thanks. This is gold.
@All, I just fixed the link to Box Shot 3D.
@Anne, I don’t usually use handouts. I don’t like people reading ahead. I want them to be “in the moment.” If I use them at all, it is usually as a “leave behind.”
Also, the way I do my presentations, my slides don’t make a lot of sense without my oral presentation.
@Michele, I probably should have mentioned TubeSock. I use it whenever I need a YouTube video. However, I use those infrequently, because I am suck a stickler for high-resolution video. Usually, if I find a video on YouTube that I like, I try to contact the creator and get a higher-resolution version.
Thanks to everyone else for your tips!
Great post, Michael! I know most of it applies more toward business presentations, but I’m a minister and I feel like it’s applicable to teaching/preaching situations as well. For my context, I always use Logos Bible Software (AKA Libronix) Gold Edition to do my Bible study and to copy and past Scriptures into my slides/handouts. It’s a lifesaver!
Side note, it kind of ironic that Microsoft Press released Beyond Bullet Points even though their product, PowerPoint, is generally hated by most presenters. The company needs to step it up soon.
Michael,
Great post! Thanks again for sharing some real life insight from such an accomplished Man!
Gald to hear your combination of Handbrake and QT Pro… For years my video friends have thought I was crazy for all the things I used QT for… But it just makes sense! I use it most for 2 things, recording live audio, and recording live video… Instead of shooting a short segment on a video camera, Importing it, then editing, I just use QT to do the whole thing… Has saved me days out of my life!
Great post, Mike.
You are in the top 3 speakers I have ever seen in the CEO/President/Corporate Honcho realm. You and the CEO of Bayer Pharmaceuticals are Neck N Neck! Believe me, I have seen a lot of them because they always seem to speak right after me or before me.
Your comment about “the speaker should be the show…not the slides” is right on target. I am amazed at how many speakers allow the audience to ignore them because there is so much going on with the screen.
Thanks for continuing to teach. I learn a lot from your posts and this one was no exception!
Andy
Excellent list! Some I knew and some I didn’t.
I’m a Mac convert from about seven years ago, and I use these presentation recommendations even as I perform Instructor-Led Training design work. It’s a strange place to apply minimalism, but it’s so necessary.
For those stuck in a PC-centric environment, you might want to take a look at SnagIt for screen captures. It’s very feature-rich. But don’t let it keep you addicted to the PCs.
Right now I’m stuck with PowerPoint and drooling over the equipment and software you recommended.
I dread it when speakers for my writers’ group say, “I have a PowerPoint,” because Murphy’s Law always seems to win: If anything can go wrong, it will.
So, I researched tips from some of the recommendations you mentioned and wrote a blog “Creating a PowerPoint: The ABC’s” [http://thewritingroad.blogspot.com/2008/03/creating-powerpoint-abcs.html] to help speakers who lead workshops.
My last two tips are:
Yadda-Yadda: PowerPoint is not a teleprompter. Don’t read the PowerPoint slide word for word. Spend 45 seconds to 5 minutes per slide to reinforce your points. Plan your talk to correspond with—not repeat—the information on the slides.
Zombie Proofing: The mind only tolerates what the derrière can bear.
Great post.
I also do a ton of presenting (and I am on PC). I have found a couple of tools indispensable.
1. Logitech Presenter – it is, without question, the best presenter I have used (and I have used them all). It has an amazing range and a great feel, but there’s nothing better than the digital timer it has which also gives you a silent vibrate when you have 5 minutes left and one when your pre-defined time is up. Clients love it when you stick to their schedule.
2. Reshade – a cool little photo application that magically makes low-res photos look amazingly crisp on slides.
3. Count Down Timer – when I do seminars, this handy on-screen timer lets people in the audience know how long the break will be and when we are starting back.
4. M-Audio Microtrack – I use this to audio record my presentations. Listening back to them is one of the best ways to identify areas that need improvement, and it also enables me to capture moments that are more “off the cuff.”
Once we’re discussing presentations, I’d also recommend picking up two books: Garr Reynolds’ Presentation Zen and Nick Morgan’s Give Your Speech, Change The World.
Enjoy!
Great list Michael.
I’m one of those in favor of going analog before I go digital. Using paper and pen before I go to software really helps with processing and flow (for me).
You can also use Safari to download YouTube videos for your presentations. Tools > Activity > find large file size > save it
PowerPoint 08 is a big improvement from past years but I agree with the ease of use of Keynote.
Does using safari to download YouTube videos still work? I couldn't find the menu you mentioned, but TubeSock doesn't work anymore, mostly because YouTube has started protecting things. Any updates would be aprreciated
Great post Michael,
Keynote was one of the reasons I switched to a Mac.
It’s not only that Keynote is easier to use, it’s the fact that the presentations done in Keynote look stunning out of the box. You don’t have to be a designer to create beautiful presentations in Keynote.
Powerpoint is a different story with the default settings set to create slides with small-font bullet points and white background.
About the remote – Mike – what’s wrong with the Apple remote? I find your remote with USB stick a little overhaul compared to the slick Apple remote that works with every Mac?
I’m still not convinced to upgrade to iWork ‘09 – is it really worth it?
BTW, I’m using Macbook Air 1st gen SSD. It is underpowered but it’s light, portable and beautiful… and it works well enough for my needs.
GREAT post!
I am delighted to see OmniOutliner at the top. I’m a huge fan. It helps keep me on top of all my projects and it’s the ‘loading dock’ for my content. If my presentation lacks substance there, there’s no point moving on to all the bells-and-whistles.
Mike, Great post and thanks for sharing all of this valuable information.
Great post. I especially want to second your book recommendations.
One minor item: Please be sure to knock on wood when you tempt fate like this:
“I intentionally didn’t talk about projectors. I don’t even think about this any more. I use whatever the venue has, and they are usually sufficient. (I can’t even remember the last time this was a problem.)”
Excellent post!
One addition from my perspective:in stead of using OmniOutliner (I have almost all Omnigroup apps) I like to use Mindmanager for this first step in making a presentation.
Kind regards,
Fokke
This is a delightful, informative, and quite useful posting, thanks! I appreciate the tech tips as I do love tech where it will enhance my presentations.
In my many years of doing corporate trainings, I’ve experimented with zero technology used, and trainings that were practically all tech, and blends in-between. My personal experience is that what works best for the group (emphasis: the group, not me) is a blend of me talking, putting their nose into printed matter, and videos for them to watch.
This seems to break up the training routine for them and provide an assortment of experience and since some people receive info better by watching listening or doing, the combination of reading, lecture and video covers all those bases quite well.
Best,
David Portney
Hi Michael,
Sorry for the late comment – I just stumbled across your great post. Have you tried SlideRocket (http://www.sliderocket.com) yet? We are often called "Keynote for PC," as we provide a Keynote-like experience, but with 0 compatibility issues, as we are a web app. We also have a built in marketplace for searching for and purchasing stock photos, graphics, cartoons, etc., and a full integration with Flickr. SlideRocket also supports full HD video, and the playback is awesome – even in a web meeting. We'd certainly love for you to give it a try and let us know what you think!
Your post has given us some great ideas for future marketplace partners…
Please let me know if you have any questions, and I hope to see you in SlideRocket soon!
Take care,
Tracy
Senior Director of Community and Product Marketing
http://www.sliderocket.com
Great post Michael and great site! I tried out handbrake and it works very well.
Question. Do you have any copyright issues with using movie clips from commercial dvd's? I have a couple of clips we would like to use but not sure if this is something I need to be concerned with.
Thanks,
Brent
It depends. If it is just a clip. It falls under "fair use."
Have you ever tried http://www.prezi.com
We put together our first presentation for a latin american directors meeting in panama of Lutheran Hour Ministries……thanks for sharing what you use…..just started working on a macbook.
Yes, I have tried Prezi. I was impressed. However, I didn't see using that for everyday use. Thanks.
I think of most importance (other than content, which is always king) is a good sense of aesthetics and design. Whatever presentation program I use, I rely heavily on Photoshop to actually design the slides. I love modern, clean, minimalist designs, and that's what I try to create.
I'm a fellow MacBook Pro 15" user, but I also have Windows machines. And like I said before, I believe it's less about the tool and more about how you use it.
Michael,
I love what you wrote and you are right on target. Ihave found evernote incredibly useful when gathering information for a presentation and collecting notes so that I can start an outline or to fill in my outline.
Would be interested in your preferences on writing software?
It depends on what I am writing. For all purpose writing, I use iWork Pages. For outlining, I used OmniOutliner. For blogging, I use ecto. For writing books, I use Scrivener.
Michael,
Thank you for sharing your workflow and tools. It is very helpful.
I was wondering if you have created any useful templates in OmniOutliner that you wouldn't mind sharing?
Nice Post! Can't wait to start using some of these presentation tools.
Michael do you use any screen video capture siftware? Im struggling to find one.
Thanks,
Todd
I use Snapz Pro for Mac. Jing is another one I have used for quick screen capture and annotation. SnagIt for PC and now for Mac (Beta) is awesome. However, I am not sure the Mac version yet has video. Thanks.
Michael, great recommendations. I agree that the presenter should take center stage and should keep their attention focused on the audience. This is relatively easy if you have your laptop in presenter mode and have it in a location that you can see it while focusing on the audience. Unfortunately this is often not the case.
I always print out a sheet of screen shots (usually 9 per page) and put it on the table or lectern before me. This way I know what is coming and I can stay focused on the audience. This technique requires a good remote control that you can trust, but I have had good luck with the radio frequency units.
As you mentioned, the whole secret to this style of presentation is to use pictures or graphs and very limited text, but it is so effective. Compare this to the usual bullet points with the presenter reading them and it's not even a contest.
My greatest speech secret is to practice my presentation at a Toastmasters meeting before giving it to the intended audience and get written feedback from everyone. This has been so helpful and has saved me from unintended embarrassment many times.
While I really like Keynote and using a MacBook, it's nice to have a backup copy in an older version of Powerpoint saved on a memory stick just in case you have to use the site computer. My greatest fear (and it has happened numerous times) is that my laptop will not sync with the location's projector and I have to use their computer with an old version of MS Powerpoint. Old Powerpoint is not great but it beats nothing at all…
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Michael,
Thanks for this great list. I started using http://www.sprixi.com as an image search engine with built-in credit options. It may not cover all iStockPhoto covers, but as a free alternative – what do you think of it?