Words Per Minute | The Company Rocks

Danny November 18, 2011 Leave a Comment

20 Tips for Delivering a Successful Presentation

Presenting to Group

Have you been asked to speak or deliver a presentation at an upcoming event? Once you have accepted the invitation to speak or present, you need to start preparing. Where do you begin?

Successful presenters follow a process. They have a system which they have developed over the years. They use a checklist of Best Practices to help ensure that they deliver successful presentations every time!

So, you may be asking … “Where do I get a list of tips? Has someone created a checklist that I can use?”

Fortunately, you have come to the right location! I have created a checklist of “20 Tips for a Successful Presentation” that you can download – for free!

Click on this link to download my 20 Tips for a Successful Presentation as an Adobe PDF.

Here is my list of the 20 Tips that I use whenever I speak or deliver a presentation. These are also the tips that I share with my clients when I coach them to deliver successful presentations. You will learn about:

How to discover your “Words-per-Minute” (WPM) Count
The “B-L-O-T” (Bottom Line On Top) Technique
The “Power of the Pause”

And 17 additional tips. Be sure to download the complete checklist of “20 Tips for a Successful Presentation” to get more information about each tip:

Tips While Preparing Your Presentation

Tip #1 – Prepare with your audience in mind
Tip #2 – Begin your presentation with “The End in Mind”
Tip #3 – Use the classic model to structure your presentation
Tip #4 – Prepare by writing out your presentation

Click on this link to download your copy of my 20 Tips for a Successful Presentation

Tips for Delivering Your Presentation

Tip #5 – Memorize two sections of your presentation
Tip #6 – Communicate and confirm your equipment needs in advance
Tip #7 – Get comfortable with the physical setting
Tip #8 – Your audience will “Tune-in / Tune out” during your presentation
Tip #9 – Remember the “Power of the Pause!”
Tip #10 – Maintain Eye-contact with your audience
Tip #11 – Pace your presentation

Follow this link to download a PDF of my 20 Tips for a Successful Presentation

PowerPoint Tips

Tips for Creating PowerPoint Slides

Tip #12 – You are the Presentation!
Tip #13 – Do not write complete sentences on your slides!
Tip #14 – Take advantage of the “White Space” on your slides
Tip #15 – Choose appropriate visual images

Want to get a copy of this checklist – complete with details for each of these tips? Click here to download 20 Tips for a Successful Presentation as a PDF.

Do you want to learn how to use PowerPoint effectively? Click on this link to learn more about my DVD-ROM, “The 50 Best Tips for PowerPoint 2007”

Tips for Engaging Your Audience

Tip #16 – Phrases to avoid
Tip #17 – Phrases to substitute
Tip #18 Encourage audience questions
Tip #19 – Audiences remember stories

Get your free copy of this checklist. Click on this link to download 20 Tips for a Successful Presentation

Tip for Delivering a Successful Presentation

Tip #20 – Visualize your Successful Presentation!

So, there is the checklist that I use. Be sure to download your copy to learn more about each of these “20 Tips for a Successful Presentation.”

Do you have a favorite tip? What works for you? Add your comment in the area below this article. Or you can send it to me via email: danny@thecompanyrocks.com

Read or Forward this Article from Ezine Articles Website

A variation of this article is purclished on the Ezine Articles Website – www.ezinearticles.com where you can read it or forward it to your friends and colleagues. Click here for the direct link to the article.

Invitation to Visit My New Online Shopping Website

I have just opened my new, secure online shopping website. I invite you to visit http://shop.thecompanyrocks.com to see all of the products and resources that I offer.

Share and Enjoy:

Filed Under: Ezine Articles, Powerpoint Techniques, PowerPoint Video Training, Speaking, Words per Minute, Words per Minute Tagged: Bottom Line on Top, Power of the Pause, PowerPoint Presentations, PowerPoint Training Videos, Presentations, Public Speaking, Words per Minute, WPM

Danny February 28, 2009

Statistics Do Not Tell Complete Story

Recently, I was asked to contribute an article on persuasion to another blog. It is a text article. And, I like the way that it turned out.

Here, is a video presentation of that article. Increasingly, I am inclined to contribute video blogs – in addition to traditional text blogging. Both forms of blogging are attractive and each attracts its own audience.

I am interested in hearing your thoughts on both: the topic of video vs. text blogging and on the content of this blog on persuasion.

Here are the Words per Minute Statistics for this article.

@475 words.
Length is 3:27 minutes
WPM Count = 136 – This is slower than my “normal” WPM count of 160.

Share and Enjoy:

Filed Under: Business Communications, Communications, Persuasion, Presentations, Public Speaking, Words per Minute Tagged: Persuasion, Public Speaking, telling stories, Using Statistics, Video Blogging, Words per Minute

Danny September 16, 2008 Leave a Comment

Tracking my WPM Count

For my video blog entry yesterday – “Which Presentation Will You Deliver?” – I used a script. I am actually enjoying the discipline of writing and reading the script for these blog entries. My preferred style is to use an outline to guide me as I deliver my presentations. However, I find the “permanence” of an Internet blog demands a more disciplined approach.

I am not a perfectionist. When recording my video blogs, I do a “straight take” – no pauses and no editing. Of course, I abandon a recording that contains obvious “flubs” or false starts. But, I am content to publish a video blog entry that is less than perfect. I really don’t have the time to go back an re-record the occasional “vocal blemish.”

How long?

My biggest concern is the length of a video blog post. I do not want to condense my posts to fit some arbitrary time limit. My feeling is that if I have something to say, I should post what I want to say – adapting my delivery to fit the chosen media. If my message is compelling, a viewer will stay engaged. And, hopefully, return for more. If not … well, that is my problem. Only time, tracking and feedback from my viewers will help me to find the correct balance between content and time limit.

Since I have been using a script for my recent videos, I have been able to track my Words-per-minute (WPM) count. For my “Which Presentation Will You Give” entry, the script contains 1,130 words. The video is 7 minutes and 17 seconds. This gives me a wpm count of @ 160. This is my normal speaking rate. This feels like a comfortable rate – to me. How does it feel it you?

“Eye-Opening” Experience

Recording my presentations has been “eye-opening” for me. Yes, I deliberately used the description “eye-opening.” I am paying more attention to the graphics and text that I choose for each slide in the PowerPoint presentation. I want to ensure that each slide serves a specific purpose. Reinforcing my speech and not replacing it. Guiding my audience and not distracting them from my content.

When I do a “live” presentation I never get to see how my slides interact with my speech. Recording these short video blog posts allows me to see and analyze the presentation. Of course, there is a missing ingredient – the audience. You.

So please give me your feedback. What do you think? Do I speak too fast or too slow for you to understand? Do I talk too much or for too long? Is the video blog format useful – for you? What topics would you like to see?

You can email me – danny@thecompanyrocks.com – or add your comments below. I welcome your thoughts.

News! My new DVD, “The 50 Best Tips for PowerPoint 2007” is available for purchase. Visit my online store for details.

Share and Enjoy:

Filed Under: Powerpoint Techniques, Presentations, Words per Minute Tagged: feedback, PowerPoint Presentations, Scripts, speaking rate, Video Blog, WPM

Danny September 9, 2008 Leave a Comment

An experiment – do you prefer the written article or the spoken PowerPoint?

The Written Word

Yesterday, I published an article – “How Many Words per Minute (WPM) Do You Speak?”

The Spoken Word

Today, I recorded a PowerPoint presentation based on that article – “Did I Get My WPM Count Just Right?

Both postings discuss the same topic – How fast or slow do you speak? What is your spoken words-per-minute (WPM) count. Each posting offers a different experience.

I had a different experience while creating and recording the PowerPoint presentation. I needed to add extra words to assist the viewer. Both the video and the article are designed to “stand alone.” However, I felt that the video “needed more explanation.” I had to remember that the viewer could hit the “back button control” on their web browser at any moment!

Write Your Presentations / Practice Speaking Your Words

Perhaps it was just the experience of speaking my written words aloud. A practice that I recommend that all writers and editors try at least occasionally. Perhaps it was just me “wishing that I had taken more time in editing yesterday’s article.” A case of “writer’s remorse?

I hope that you will take some time to read the article AND to view the PowerPoint presentation. I welcome your feedback. Which medium did you prefer – and why? What would you like to see more of? Less of?

Please add your comments below. Or you can email your comments to me – danny@thecompanyrocks.com

Share and Enjoy:

Filed Under: Business Communications, Presentations, Public Speaking, Words per Minute Tagged: Mixed Media, Power of the Pause, PowerPoint Training, Presentations, the power of the pause, Words per munute, WPM

Danny September 9, 2008 10 Comments

Did I get My WPM Count Just Right?

As a follow-up to yesterday’s article, I produced a PowerPoint Presentation on the topic of “words-per-minute( WPM) when speaking. Watch – and Listen – this video recording. Am I speaking “too fast”- for you? “Too slow” – for you? Or, is my WPM count “Just right” – for you?

Yesterday’s written article is 515 words in length. At a normal WPM count of 150, that would make it @ 3 minutes and 45 seconds long. That is a good length for broadcast via the Internet in my experience.

As I was creating the PowerPoint slide presentation, I realized that I would have to add a few words to the narration. I wanted to ensure that it would make sense to viewers watching the presentation- even with the added visual aids and the graphics on the slides. And, of course, I did deviate from the script occasionally. As best I can determine, this presentation contains 600 words and the video lasts 5 minutes. So my WPM is 120.

This is much slower than my normal speaking rate (close to 160 WPM.) I wasn’t trying to purposely slow down. After three practice runs, this is the pace that felt natural to me.

What do you think? Is my WPM “Just right” – for you?

Please share your comments with our readers and viewers below.

News! My new DVD, “The 50 Best Tips for PowerPoint 2007” is available for purchase. Visit my online store for details.

Share and Enjoy:

Filed Under: Powerpoint Techniques, Words per Minute Tagged: Power of the Pause, PowerPoint, speaking rate, Words per minute PowerPoint, WPM

Danny September 8, 2008 4 Comments

How Many Words per Minute (WPM) Do You Speak?

Most people discover my website by putting these “keywords:” “How Many Words-per-Minute(WPM)?” into their search-engine.

In preparing this article, I thought of the children’s bedtime story, “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.”

“Not too fast”
“Not too slow”
“Just Right”

“Just the right speaking rate” – so that your audience understands your subject, your words, and your message.

What is My Speaking Rate? / What is My WPM Count?

Here is a link to a video demonstration of my WPM count.

This is faster than the normal range of 120 – 150 wpm. According to professional speech coach Joan Detz:

“President John F. Kennedy was a notoriously fast talker – often topping 200 words per minute. You certainly don’t want to be that extreme. But, in general, talking a bit fast is better than talking too slow. Why? Speed projects charisma. Slowness projects lethargy and can frustrate listeners.”

– “It’s Not What You Say, It’s How You Say It.”

President Kennedy gave memorable speeches. Nearly 50 years later, I am still moved whenever I hear a recording of his most famous speeches. JFK projected “vigor!” He also used short sentences. And he used powerful “action” words. He wrote and spoke using an “active voice.” He had a focused message. And, he certainly projected “charisma!”

JFK’s WPM count was “Just Right.”

So, it is not simply your word count – the number of words-per-minute that you speak – that matters. Your topic matters. And so does your choice of words, and your manner of delivery. Take all factors together and you will determine what WPM count is “just right.”

Just look to your audience. They will tell you:

Is your audience nodding in agreement? Paying attention? Maintaining eye contact with you as you speak? Your WPM is “Just Right.”
Is your audience falling asleep, yawning or looking at the clock? Your WPM is probably “too slow.” And you and your subject may be boring – to them.
Is your audience straining to hear your words? Are they trying, too hard, to concentrate? Your WPM is probably “too fast.”

In “Secrets of Successful Speakers,” best-selling author, Lilly Walters has this to say:

“The listener thinks much faster than you talk. People generally speak at 150 words per minute, but think at 600 to 700. So your listeners are able to jump ahead and around the topic. They start adding in all kinds of factors from their own lives and experiences that have very little to do with what you’re talking about. It makes the pieces of information they are juggling in their brains monumental to consider!”

One proven technique that memorable speakers employ is “The Power of the Pause.”

“That impressive, eloquent, progressive silence which often achieves a desired effect where no combination of words howsoever felicitous could accomplish it.”

– Mark Twain

Recall the words that (fast-talking) President Kennedy delivered in his 1961 Inaugural Address:

“Ask not what your country can do for you. (Pause, Pause) Ask (Pause, Pause) what you can do for your country.”

As you play those words back in your mind you realize that that is an ideal example of “The Power of the Pause.”

Choose your words carefully. Practice your delivery. Check-in with your audience. That is how many words-per-minute you should speak!

Then, you will be “Just Right!”

Danny Rocks “Training You to Excel”