Author: Joel Heffner

How easy is it to find your handout?

- Joel Heffner

Digital handouts are a great way to be remembered…if they can be found easily. A virtual handout that you provide for Zoom presentation has to be easily found on the person’s computer. Let’s say you want to provide this as a handout.

The name of the file counts…a lot! If I named it MR4839.jpg, you’d never find it on your computer. If I named it handout.jpg, you might be able to find it…if you looked. If, however, I named it Joel_Heffner_Handout.jpg the chances of finding it on your computer would increase dramatically.

Name your handouts carefully.

Handouts for Zoom

- Joel Heffner

Unfortunately, Zoom is like all other forms of public speaking. As you are talking, the audience is forgetting what you are saying. In some ways, talking on Zoom is ever worse because there are many more distractions. It’s particularly important to provide…handouts. Speaking on Zoom requires handouts that are appropriate for the medium. Here are five answers to questions that are frequently raised.

  1. Should I provide my slides as a handout? No. If your slides make sense without you, you weren’t needed. If your slides don’t make sense without you, they won’t make sense later on.
  2. Should I provide a handout in advance? Maybe. It depends on the purpose of your handout. If you want the audience to follow along, they may need your handout. If you want your handout to serve as a reminder, they can wait until the end of your talk. Providing the handout at the end also can encourage the audience to stay with you until you are finished.
  3. What is the best way to provide a handout? The best way to provide handouts is to encourage the viewer to take a screenshot of a particular slide or slides. Unfortunately, she or he may not know how to take a screenshot. Here are ways to do it, depending on the device you are using.
  4. What other ways are there to create a handout? There are two primary ways to create a handout for Zoom users. First, create a webpage that can be printed out. Make it look like a paper page so that the viewer will be encouraged to print it, or create a PDF from it (using Print –> Save as PDF). Second, create a PDF that can be downloaded. Your PDF should summarize your content, not repeat it. A dedicated webpage with a URL that is easy to remember is essential, to make it easy for your audience to find it or be able to jot it down accurately. Adding it to the footer of some slides is very helpful.
  5. What should my handout include, aside from my content? Any handout you create should include your contact information on it, in addition to your content. If you are creating a PDF, add your contact info to the “footer” of the page so that it appears on every page that you are providing. The last page of your handout can include a bit of your own advertising, perhaps suggesting additional topics that you speak about or where to find your latest book.

You and the best speakers in the world have something in common. As you are speaking, members of your audience are starting to forget what you are saying! It doesn’t matter how good or bad you are. People forget. When speaking on Zoom the problems are magnified. When your Zoom talk is over, you need to help the audience both remember what you said, and also remember you.

Help your viewers remember you…with a handout.

Taking Notes on Zoom

- Joel Heffner

The best way to take notes on Zoom is by creating your own screenshots. If you don’t know how to create a screenshot (don’t worry it’s really easy), these links will take you to online tutorials that will explain how to create a screenshot using the device that you will be using during the talk.

If you use an iPhone go here.

If you use an Android go here.

If you use a Mac go here.

If you use Windows go here. 

If you use an iPad go here.

You might also want to see this article in PC Magazine on making screenshots using any device.

Essentials of an effective handout…

- Joel Heffner

In order to be effective, a handout needs four qualities.

First, all handouts should include your contact information. If someone wants to contact you, make it as easy as possible.

Second, handouts should summarize, not repeat your presentation. If you give away your PowerPoint slides and they make sense, you weren’t needed.

Third, include your picture with your handout. You want to associate your face with your words.

Fourth, take the time to create handouts that look good. Make them colorful. Add interesting graphics. Use quotes. Jazz ’em up.

Remember, you and the best speakers in the world have something in common. The audience is forgetting what you say…as you are saying it. Handouts help them remember you and your message.

The ideal handout for your next Zoom presentation…

- Joel Heffner

It is actually more important to use handouts when you use Zoom than when you are speaking in front of a live audience. The people who are watching you on Zoom have more ways to be distracted than they do in a live audience. While on one Zoom event, I saw one person eating spaghetti! And she was the moderator!

The ideal handout for a Zoom presentation should be your last PowerPoint or Keynote screen. It should have a summary of what you said. You should encourage the audience to take a screen shot of it. That way, they get your handout instantly. No need for providing their email address for you to send them a PDF. No need for them to go to another website.

For those who don’t know how to create a screen shot, you can give them alternative ways of getting it.

In upcoming blog posts I’ll show you some ways to create the ideal PowerPoint or Keynote slide to end your presentation.

Enjoy!

How to create a unique speaker handout…

- Joel Heffner

Most handouts look similar. Nice paper. Colorful graphics. Nifty fonts.

Not very creative, however.

So, can you really make a truly unique handout? Yes, I think so.

How?

Take out a piece of paper, lined or unlined. Write out … with a real pen or pencil … what you think the members of your audience should remember about your presentation. Make copies of it to give away.

You probably have never gotten a handout that was actually handwritten, have you? Your audience will think it’s very creative and … unique.

Your best speaker handout is…

- Joel Heffner

There are many different kinds of speaker handouts. Most are directly related to your speaking topic. One is directly related to getting gigs. Your best speaker handout is your…business card. It’s the one handout that you always have with you. It should be an effective way to explain what you speak about. Do you have a business card with you…now?