For years, we have heard how bad it was to use the dreaded bullets in PowerPoint. And now…we have a new way to present…virtually.

Do the old “rules” apply to this new form of presentation?

I’ve seen several online presentations where the speaker has used bullets. Some even read the bullets as they appear on the screen.

Although I don’t like bullets when speaking with real people in front of me, I must admit that I’m tempted to use them more often now that we are online. Bulleted text alone does not look very good. However, when you put an interesting graphic next to it (like Camille) it looks pretty good…at least in my silly opinion.

How about you?

If you are going to be speaking online, please consider these basic tips…to make you LOOK better.

1. Before you speak, look at yourself. You may not like what you see. [Sorry.]
2. NEVER sit with your back to a window during the day. As you can see, the camera in your computer will not show your face clearly.
3. Find a plain background, or create one.
4. Even though you can speak with or without your pants on (I suggest that you do have them on), your shirt/blouse is important and should not be a distraction. Solid colors, except white, are best. Keep your pockets empty and avoid jewelry (unless you’re known for your glitz).
5. Before you speak, look at yourself. [It deserves to be said twice.]

Just because you are home doesn’t mean that you should look like you just rolled out of bed. First impressions online mean as much as they do in person.

You either use them or have seen them holding a picture or paper on a wall. Pushpins are all over…including in your PowerPoint Presentation. Thanks to Indezine. Using their pushpin template you can add pushpins to your pictures. They come in different colors and take seconds to add to your own photos. Your images will have a subtle boost with pushpins.

Try it.

Some people are experts at using Powerpoint. Some people think they are experts at using PowerPoint. It’s silly to think you are an expert because you use PowerPoint frequently.

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of features of PowerPoint that you probably don’t even know about. Although you should NOT try to incorporate as many features as possible in your next presentation, you might want to include one…that you don’t know exists right now.

Learn to use PowerPoint. Start with indezign.com and go through some of the tutorials. There are also plenty of books to look at.

The more you know…the better a speaker you will be.

If you have a fear of public speaking, try the One, Two, Three, Four, One Plan to help you.

One … volunteer to speak. Yes, I know it’s uncomfortable. The best way to face your fear is to FACE your fear.

Two … plan what you are going to say carefully. Practice. Ask someone you trust give you feedback.

Three … Speak. Record yourself. Video if possible.

Four … Review what you said. How could you have improved it?

Go back to One!

Practicing is a waste of time, right?

Who needs to practice? You know your stuff. You know what you want to say. You are definitely ready.

As ready as professional baseball players. The work out all winter. They go to spring training in February or March. The have trainers help them exercise. The play practice games to tune up.

Imagine if a baseball player showed up for the first game of the season. What are the chances he would be in the starting line-up? What are the chances he’d still be on the team.

Don’t practice if you don’t want to be in the game.

Speaking requires practice…plenty of it.

As a follow-up to a recent doctor’s visit, the doctor’s office called for some information. The problem was that the person who called could not pronounce the doctor’s name or just about everything else. I could barely make out what she wanted. That shouldn’t happen.

If you hire someone to make a call, especially a serious medical call, you should know how he or she will sound. The doctor should have hired someone else or had some one help her with her English. It wasn’t her fault, it was his.

Speaking on the telephone is just as important as getting up in front of an audience.