In the past week, I’ve seen three different people tell their readers that you can make a better presentation with “their” help in making PowerPoint slides. Bad News: If you think that slides are the way to make a better presentation…you are wrong. The best way to create a better presentation is to try to avoid PowerPoint completely! Assume that the projector won’t work the day you plan to speak. Once you create a slide-less presentation, then you can see if slides can really help get your points across. Remember that PowerPoint, like a hammer, is just a tool. Use it only when necessary.
You may love using Windows. However, there is a clear advantage in using a Mac when it comes to preparing handouts. With a Mac you can easily create a PDF file. All you do is go to File -> Print and click on “Save As PDF.” That’s it. You don’t need Adobe Acrobat. It’s built right into the Apple Mac operating system. Whether you want to give out paper handouts or create downloadable files, creating a PDF with a Mac is really easy and fast.
Taking a walk in the country is always nice. Folks in Brooklyn do not have to go far. This lovely scene is in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. A really cool place to visit.
Some handouts are great if they are on paper. However, you don’t always have to actually hand your handout to the audience members. Downloadable files are great. Some folks who don’t have their own websites have a problem in providing a downloadable file. Here’s a plan to create a handout that can be downloaded even if you don’t have your own website.
Step 1: Create your handout. You can create a Word file or a PDF if you prefer.
Step 2: Create a Google account or sign in if you already have one.
Step 3: Click on Documents.
Step 4: Upload your handout to your Google Docs.
Step 5: Here’s the touchy part. The address for the document will be rather long. However, you can shorten the address at places like: http://bit.ly or http://tiny.cc. You can now use this shorter address for your audience to find your document.
Creating your handout on Google Docs and adding a short URL makes a nifty handout without the paper or the need for your own website.
Your handouts should be like Mother’s Day Cards…
1. Simple is good.
2. Memorable is great.
3. Worthy of keeping is essential.
You can’t say everything when you are speaking. However, you can include whatever you want in your handouts. Highlight your most important points when you speak. Provide details in the handout. If your handouts are memorable, members of the audience will want to keep them. With your contact information on each page, your audience becomes much more important than your business card.
Your handouts should provide more for your audience and you.
When I do my One Sentence Creativity Workshop, this is the only handout I need. 
Should I give away my speech as a handout? That’s always an interesting question. Usually, my automatic answer is, “No!!!!!” However, there are exceptions. The most noteworthy exception was on November 19, 1863 at Gettysburg. Abraham Lincoln spoke for about two minutes. His speech became the most famous in American history. Newspapers carried it throughout the country. Lincoln handwrote the speech and gave away copies that were slightly different. We’re not sure of exactly which copy was the one he used but all are very similar. Incidentally, Lincoln actually wrote the speech, unlike modern presidents who have others do the writing. I wonder how many contemporary presidents could have come up with a gem like Lincoln’s. Here’s what one version looks like.
This is the "Hay copy" of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.
Handouts should provide useful information. However, speakers also like to include some kind of self-promotion in their handouts. Some go too far and use the handout strictly as an ad. The best way to help promote yourself using a handout is to include your contact information at the bottom of each page you give out. If you use a word processor, put the contact info in the page’s footer so it will automatically be included in each page. Even if only one page is kept, your information will be there.
PowerPoint slides are good to help your audience understand what you are saying. If your slides can stand on their own, why bother making a presentation. Why not just give ‘em away? Slides are visual aides, not a substitute for your presentation.
