How to Write an Ignite Talk - CareerEnlightenment.com

Step 3: Build Your Slide DeckI’m a Mac user. And I struggle in admitting this (sigh), but most people in the world are not. If you furnish your slides to the Ignite committee, you should turn in a Powerpoint, because chances are, they won’t be using Keynote.Save yourself the hassle of exporting from Keynote to PP and then fixing all the font and design errors that will invariably occur â€" just build your slides in PP in the first place.Ok, rant over.Looking at your audio file, remember that the slide showing relates to the segment of script that is being read. So where there is a marker, there is a new slide. And that new slide has to relate to the segment of script the follows the marker. Make sense?Remember that your first slide is going to be the title slide. So the whole thing will look like this:Title slide (15 sec): the first segment of your scriptSlide 2 (15 sec): the second segment of your scriptSlide 3: the third segment and continue to the end of slide 15So design you r slides knowing that your title slide may not be very interesting, just the title of the talk and your name. The creative, fun, slide design work starts on slide 2, segment 2 of your script.As you go through your audio script and begin putting slides together, remember that the slides are there merely to back you up and reinforce the main point of that 15-second segment.Here are some slide design rules I’ve found useful:Remember the rule of thirds. The most important elements of the slide should appear in one of the four intersections created when you divide the slide into thirds both horizontally and vertically.Use 30 point font or larger, and use nice fonts. Choose fonts for readability, and avoid over-used fonts such as Comic Sans or Papyrus. Decorative fonts are not well suited for a presentation â€" keep it simple. You don’t need to be a graphic designer to have professional-looking slides. The large font forces you to use one point per slide, and to get to the essence of that point.Images paint better pictures than words. You might need words to clarify or reinforce a point, but don’t be afraid to use a slide that is just one big picture.For more slide design resources check these out:Presentation ZenHow to Be a Presentation GodSix Minutes: The Rule of ThirdsGet Feedback and Practice A LOTI got so wrapped up in telling my story, at first, that I totally forgot that the talk needs to have a clear point or two. It wasn’t until I practiced the talk in front of some fellow speakers that this became clear. Get feedback from people before you deliver your talk. And don’t let them see your slides. You want them to really pay attention to your material.After I got initial feedback, I realized that I needed more educational elements in the piece. I also needed to take out some details that were confusing and insert other details to clarify. Be sure you really listen to this feedback. It’s not personal, it’s a key to help you make your Ignite talk R OCK!When you are on stage, and there are hundreds of people there, you will be scared. Trust me. Even if you are experienced. The restrictions imposed by Ignite are uncomfortable, to say the least. If you are freaked out, you’ll make mistakes.You need to be really present.But you can’t be present if you haven’t practiced your materials!You can set up Powerpoint so that it moves automatically to the next slide every 15 seconds. Just go to Transitions, and pick Advance Slide Every 15 seconds.With your Powerpoint set up, there is no excuse for you to NOT practice every day for five minutes. Right?What I Got from this ExperienceThe story that emerged from the feedback, the design of the slides, the crafting of the script, and the refining of the telling was much different from what I started with. And way more valuable for me as an author and presenter.I now have the basis for a keynote talk, with lots of great details and learning points â€" something I struggled for months to cr eate.If you are looking for some clarity in your message, and a professional challenge, I would highly encourage you to sign up for an Ignite style talk in your area.