How to use Mind Map Tool for making Great Presentations

In the current globalized world of business, Presentations have become an intrinsic part. Not a day goes without making a Presentation to the CEO or the Chairman, or the Angel Investor, or banker, or any one else for that matter, for clinching a deal, or for raising a fund or a loan, or what have you. Presentations need not be such an awesome task if you learn to apply the basics.

The main elements of a Presentation are preparation and practice. In order to make the right preparation you have to first define the purpose of your Presentation. You have to be clear about the objective of your exercise at every point of your Presentation. You will then have to decide the main message you wish to convey, the kind of audience and the best and appropriate mode to reach the audience. The duration of your Presentation, the settings and facilities available at the venue are other factors that play a definite role for make a scintillating Presentation.

By far the most important aspect of Presentation is maintaining eye contact throughout your Presentation, for only then you will be able to strike a rapport and keep them riveted on what you say. Having a positive and genial approach, keeping your content simple, concise and informative and spicing up with humor and questions to prevent them from losing their interest are other elementary aspects of a Good Presentation.

Equally important to know is that you should capture your audience’s attention in the crucial first 7 minutes, which is the maximum span of attention before your audience’s attention begin to sag. The vital message and objective of the Presentation must come through clearly within those first few moments so audience are aware where you are leading them.

It must be obvious by now that preparation is absolutely vital for making meaningful Presentation. This is where Mind Mapping as a Mind Tool will be of immense aid. In writing the purpose, content, speech and in fact the entire course of Presentation can all be effectively dovetailed into a Presentation Mind Map. You can sequence every step of your Presentation using Mind Map. As Mind Mapping involves giving our full attention, you can be thorough and plan your Presentation well.

Beginning with writing the content of your speech, text for the visual display, the allotment of time for each aspect, being prepared with probable questions to field your audience, quoting anecdotes, humor and so on, Mind Maps serve a simple and yet effective tool. They are not at all obstructive as you will be able to capture the entire sequence of your Presentation, step by step, within just one page. That speaks for the simplicity and power of the Mind Maps. You really have got to learn the technique to understand its true value.

Audiovisual Techniques Make a Huge Impact on Public Speaking and Presentations

Recently, there has been a rise in the popularity of public speaking as a career choice. Only a few years ago, the idea of earning a living by speaking to groups of people would’ve seemed laughable to most people. These days, the opportunity to make great money in public speaking is no joke. With an endless variety of topics to speak about, the possibilities of finding your niche in this seemingly impossible industry are quickly growing.

There have been several things to spark this recent trend in the pursuit of a public speaking career. Movies such as “The Secret” have inspired many people to look into the Law of Attraction as a creative force in their life. Books in the self-improvement genre are gaining popularity, and everyday, more people are finding out the benefits of reading such books. Motivational and inspirational speakers such as Tony Robbins have convinced countless followers that life can be everything they can imagine.

These movies, books, and speakers have convinced many of their fans that the best way to achieve the life of their dreams, is to tell others how to achieve it. It is not uncommon for someone to begin learning about self-improvement, and eventually decide that they would like to teach others the same principles they have learned. Often times, these people will build great careers in public speaking.

With the increase in public speakers, comes an increase in competition. More and more people are competing to get a speaking engagement. There may be an unlimited number of topics to speak on, but there is a limited number of people willing to pay you to talk about it. Like anything else that involves competition, the key here is to set yourself apart from all the other public speakers. If you are able to find a great niche for your presentation, you have made the first step in being a successful public speaker.

There is another way to stand out in the crowd of aspiring public speakers. One of the often overlooked elements of presentations is the audiovisual aspect of it. Most presentation, no matter what the topic, will include things like sound, video, and lighting. Equipment like microphones, projectors, and screens are typically thought of as just a minor part of the whole presentation. In reality, you can use audiovisual equipment to enhance your message and create an huge impact on your audience. You don’t have to bore people to sleep with endless powerpoint slides. You can liven up your presentation and leave your audience wanting more.

When it comes to formal training for those seeking a future in public speaking, there is no lack of products and services trying to meet that need. The interesting thing is that with all of these opportunities for training, there is a limited number of people teaching the audiovisual skills. Most training courses teach the essentials of making eye contact, conquering a fear of public speaking, and organizing your presentation materials. Unfortunately, once these areas are mastered, the budding public speaker finds himself or herself without further guidance. For the most part, at this point, they’re on their own.

There is a “next step” to furthering a career in public speaking. Learning important techniques of the audiovisual part of a presentation will help move that career to the next level. It’s the forgotten step that can give a public speaker the edge needed to succeed amongst all the competition. It’s possible for speakers at any level, speaking in front of any size group, to benefit from learning the audiovisual equipment involved in a presentation.

The next time you are in the position to put together a presentation of any kind, think about what you can do with the audiovisual elements to make it more interesting. How can you pull in your audiences attention and keep them on the edge of their seats? It’s not all about making eye contact, knowledge of the topic, or even the way you present yourself. Much of the importance lies in evoking an emotional reaction from your audience. There’s no better way to do this than with the aid of audiovisual equipment.

Pocket Wedding Invitations – It’s All About Presentation, and These Babies Don’t Disappoint

In real estate it’s called curb appeal; in retail it’s called staging; in people it’s called a first impression. When it comes to your wedding invitations, presentation is no less important. And that’s where pocket wedding invitations really shine.

Pocket invitations offer a complete wedding stationary package with one unified theme and a lot of texture with multiple layers. While the design varies, most pocket invitations have at least one thing in common: an outer card that encloses the whole package, and multiple layers on the invitation.

Some pocket wedding invitation lines offer almost 90 color/design options for your outer pocket. The invitation is usually printed on a light, neutral colored card (so the text shows up), and often times there is a third card between the two. That gives you a lot of options to mix and match various colors into a multi-layered package that takes your invitation to a whole new level.

The outer pocket can come in a variety of designs, including enveloppers and pochette folders. These are outer pockets where the four corners fold in on each other to enclose your invitation. These are often closed with a printed seal or a matching band, either of which can also be customized from a selection of colors. Other great designs include gatefold, jackets and tags.

In addition to the main invitation package, the pocket often includes supplemental ensemble items like direction cards, reception cards and RSVP cards with matching return envelopes.

The whole set is delivered in a matching outer envelope with a liner that is — you guessed it — customizable from many of the same color/design options.

Pocket invitations make a beautiful presentation, but they don’t come cheap. Often they can cost anywhere from $4 each up to about $7 each. And, like anything, there are some very extravagant designs that can be found for as much at $20 per invitation! But these are few and far between (for good reason).

So if you want to really wow your guests with a beautiful invitation pockets are the way to go!