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How To Ignite Conferences: Fed Up With Boring PowerPoints?
| Guest post by: Milly Sonneman |
Article Overview: Are you planning a conference, meeting or presentation…but want to steer clear of boring, same-old, same-old PowerPoints? Find out 7 hot trends for sparking fresh ideas and lively interaction in conferences.
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Free Download - 7 Insider Secrets For Killer Sales Presenting By Milly Sonneman |
How To Ignite Conferences: Fed Up With Boring PowerPoints?
Are you
planning a conference, meeting or presentation…but want to steer clear of
boring, same-old, same-old PowerPoints? Find out 7 hot trends for
sparking fresh ideas and lively interaction in conferences.
In these
times, more organizations are looking for value and return on investment for
meetings. That’s why…
More and more
people are ditching data-dumps and heading for interaction. As attention spans
grow shorter, and budgets grow smaller, businesses are doing more with less.
Instead of wasting time on presentations that could be shared virtually, people
are asking a different caliber of questions.
These smart
questions include:
How can we get
edgy?
How can we
create collaboration?
How can we
inspire conversation around transferrable learning?
How can we ignite practical application of what we learn?
If your
organization is pitching in for meeting in person, make sure that what you do
really counts. Look for opportunities to discuss, provoke, and ask difficult
questions. Use these 7 tips to ignite powerful meetings and ROI.
1. Tell One
Powerful Story
In a lot of
conferences, meetings and gatherings, subject matter experts give
presentations. Often these data-dense dissertations lead to one result:
bug-eyed and overwhelmed participants.
While there is
much valuable research being shown, little of it is digested. What can you do?
Frame the presentations within one segment as parts of a whole. Show and tell
one cohesive story to be highly memorable.
This is a
recipe for success, especially for a multi-day conference, with presentations
from many experts.
2. Ask More
Than Answer
Meeting face
to face is a powerful opportunity to ask questions. As challenging as it may
be, keep the questions coming. Encourage participants to ask questions…rather
than doggedly answering each one in turn.
In a lively,
dynamic exchange, more questions may be asked than can be answered. The result?
A highly stimulating environment for cutting edge thinking.
3.
Encourage Small And Large Group Discussion
People think
differently and communicate differently depending on the size of the group. For
robust conversations, mix things up frequently. Encourage people to meet in
small and large groups. Provide opportunity for formal and informal meetings.
Mix up leaders, managers and staff.
When people
meet in diverse settings, they are more able to gravitate to the people and
topics that are most relevant. This kind of open field encourages people to
meet and talk with others who they normally would not have face-to-face contact
with.
4. Capture
Discussion On The Spot
While experts
are presenting their findings via PowerPoint, a graphic facilitator captures
discussion at the wall. This is often depicted with a wall chart, whiteboard or
visual projection. Using a colorful combination of pictures and words,
audiences are instantly engaged. Plus, this wall chart provides a reference
point for further conversations.
After a visual
display or whiteboard presentation,
encourage participants to read the wall chart and discuss key ideas. This kind
of informal discussion and reflection is a powerful addition to any conference.
5. Ask The
Leaders
Provide time
to ask leaders pointed and challenging questions. Use an open Q & A format
so anyone is free to ask directly. If tension is high or this poses challenges,
provide a way to submit questions anonymously. This creates a safe environment
to air difficult questions.
6. Ignite
Conversation
Look at your
conference or meeting from the perspective of conversation. How else can you
get people talking? Options range from informal groups, after session
activities, and environmental adjustments.
By focusing on
conversation as a primary goal, you’ll invent new options…and your conference
evaluations will not read, “Another boring talking-heads meeting.”
7. Provide
Learning Tools
A primary goal
of in-person meetings is to turbo-charge thinking and provide momentum back at
the locations. Whether your locations are regional, national or global…
learning tools help you achieve traction.
Consider your
audience when designing learning tools. Select a familiar technology to
minimize learning obstacles. Wrap up learning in an attractive package and
people will be naturally curious to find out what’s inside.
Hey…there’s a
whole lot more to conference success than a few slides. Plan communication and presentation impact
to achieve top results for your conference. With these 7 tips, you can create
ongoing impact. It all starts from one well-planned meeting.
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|
About the Author: Milly Sonneman RSS for Milly's articles - Visit Milly's website Click here to visit Milly's website   5 Positive Affirmations For Fearless Presenting Business Presentation Tips Focus Attention and Get Results Pro Presenting 6 Action Tips For Top Sales Communication 4 Easy Steps To High Impact Presenting How to Grow Your Business Presentation Skills Fast |
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Re: Character Design - using it effectively in marketing
- Hi Russel,
I like your conclusion on when a good character is needed:
Children related
Boring products and services
I do often find myself looking at a site and saying, "I don't know what it is but it just looking boring." I also liked that case study when the answered why did Mario have a mustache....because they couldn't draw a mouth with 8bits....pretty funny.
Thanks for the good info.
Jeff
Internet Marketing Conference on SLife
- I've been trying to log in but it keeps crashing.. anyways..
a friend of mine in BC plans on holding Internet Marketing Conferences on SecondLife and have the same top internet marketers that would normally be in Live Internet Marketing conference speak.
Income will be generated from admission charges, product sales during breaks, sponsor tables, etc etc..
Just to get the ideas flowing in your head that anything you can do in the real world can be replicated in SL.
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Re: Character Design - using it effectively in marketing
- [quote:2ke8zsp4]It''s all about testing.
The same is about pop ups, and fly-in ads - I didn't like them, but I do have one on my home page. Why? because it works, and I get 75% sign ups from this form.[/quote:2ke8zsp4]
Thanks for the reminder on that Tanny... I need to get this going too.
Another thought on the character design. This approach would be ideal for products that have no sizzle and need some kind boost because they are downright boring. Car insurance and the Geiko brand come to mind... using those cavemen guys then recently switching over to an animated Gecko. And eSurance fit's that mold as well.
OK we have discovered two criteria for character design:
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It's a start?
Re: Marketing a company
- [quote="WhyNot":38rs6257]Jeff,
I know who my target market is: Defense contractor doing business with the Federal Government
My product is: Providing security consulting services for companies that must abide the National Security requirements.
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Thanks
Diane[/quote:38rs6257]
Whynot,
I'm going to ask this question because it came up to me as "obvious" but I could be wrong. If you know the workings of this industry do you not already know a few companies within the industry?
I would start there and ask them a few questions. Two of the questions you can ask them (companies you already know exist) are:
1. Who are your competitors?
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These would be the starting point I would take. This will allow you to become a "niche" provider to one industry before you begin to plan another. It's also a great way to become established within complementary industries.
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