Press Releases

Let’s connect with communications to write a press release announcing your blog to the world. Keep it factual and submit the release to the free press release directories. “make a smart quote” This will provide incoming links to your new blog and get it started – make an em dash on its way to popularity. Another side-benefit to these listings is increased link popularity, which helps with search engine ranking. A list of sites that allow for press release posting can be found at http://www.softwaremarketingresource.com/pressreleases.html ok, this one is definitlely w/ auto-select in compose mode keeps formatting, just like rich-text in typepad

Press Releases
Let’s connect with communications to write a press release announcing your blog to the world. Keep it factual and submit the release to the free press release directories. “make a smart quote” This will provide incoming links to your new blog and get it started – make an em dash on its way to popularity. Another side-benefit to these listings is increased link popularity, which helps with search engine ranking. A list of sites that allow for press release posting can be found at http://www.softwaremarketingresource.com/pressreleases.html same result w/o auto-select in compose mode

Press Releases
Let’s connect with communications to write a press release announcing your blog to the world. Keep it factual and submit the release to the free press release directories. “make a smart quote” This will provide incoming links to your new blog and get it started – make an em dash on its way to popularity. Another side-benefit to these listings is increased link popularity, which helps with search engine ranking. A list of sites that allow for press release posting can be found at http://www.softwaremarketingresource.com/pressreleases.html w/auto-select, appears to lose bold and italic yet keeps quotes and links

Visual Display of In

     Visual Display of Information


Problems with Presenting Data

1.     Data is multivariant (multidimensional), but is shown on paper, a two-dimensional means.
2.     The resolution of presentation mediums have low rates of transfer of information to the
human mind which transfers information at a high rate.


General Comments about Data

Data should be signed and sourced for recognition of the designer.  (I don=t agree with this
thought as it relates to organizations.  I feel the organization should be credited, rather than
individuals within the organization, as the product is often the result of collaboration.)

In general, data should provoke substantive questions as opposed to data retrieval questions.  The
following are recommended.

Label graphs and charts directly as opposed to a legend. If a legend is used, define it once
and be consistent throughout the presentation.

If comparing, then show the comparison.  If cause and effect, then show cause and effect,
and if necessary the absence of cause and effect.

Break down segregation of words, numbers and images.

Details provide credibility for the presenter and integrity of the data, use details that give
the smallest effective difference.


Design Considerations     

Add data and dimensions not animation nor drop shadows, forget the glitz and glamour.

The more contrast between the colors the more vibration on the page.  Do not use the full range
of colors in the rainbow, instead use graduated color, use typography or bathymetric charts as
guides.

Clutter is a failure of design not the data



Concepts

Use sidenotes rather than footnotes.  The note should be next to the comment it explains, the
reader should not have to go to the bottom of page and then back to the place where they stopped
reading.  This presentation is in two-column format, with the sidenote column smaller in width.

Use small multiples, which are adjacent in space, rather than large multiples stacked in time.  This
point calls into question the use of computer presentations versus paper presentations.


Computer Versus Paper

Paper leaves evidence, provides proof for the audience, and has permanence.  Also, due to the
high resolution of paper, it promotes credibility and integrity.  Whereas the computer, due to its
low resolution, masks and hides information and is often associated with corruption.  The
challenge is to combine the data gathering ability of the computer with the qualities of paper.


Computer

If the computer is the chosen, or only,  means of presenting, then create thumbnail images of the
past (maybe 4 or 5) images, as a reference for the audience to associate the current image with the
past images.

Another challenge is to combine the computational benefits of spreadsheet software with the
design benefits of a graphics package.  There is a difference between a package that counts and a
package that sees.


Financial Data

The following eight points apply to the display of financial information.

1.     If assessing change, show the change.

2.     In the past data has been characterized by averages, but is now characterized by
variability.

3.     Show a richness of data, use data and dimensions.

4.     Display information accurately.   Footnote, or sidenote, with facts, omissions, and  
adjustments for inflation.

5.     Explain and annotate data.

6.     Quantify errors.

7.     Follow the examples of the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, build a portfolio
of examples.  (According to Tufte, ATalent immitates, genius steals.@)

8.     Read Chapter 9 of Edward Tufte=s, AThe Visual Display of Quantitative Information.@


Presentation Points

Now that quality of the content, relevance to the audience, and integrity of the data have been
established, you are ready to give your presentation to an audience.  The following sixteen points
may be useful.

1.     Show up early, something good is bound to happen.

2.     Tell the problem, tell who cares (relevance), tell the solution.

3.     Never attract attention to yourself, never apologize, and stay on point.

4.     Explain a complicated concept by making a point, a generalization, and again the point.

5.     Give everyone in the room a piece of paper.

6.     Do not use overheads or a computer

7.     Audiences are precious, treat them with respect, do not demean them or talk down to
them, they are just as smart as you are.

8.     Humor makes you speech memorable, but use carefully, make sure it is on point and not in
poor taste

9.     Do not use masculine pronouns as general, use plurals, in speech (not in writing) it is okay
to mix singular with plural.

10.     Ask questions from the audience, however be careful because you will be judged on how
you answer.  If the answer is detailed tell them you can talk afterwards, if you don=t know
the answer, say so.  When asking for questions count to ten while waiting for a reply,
show patience.  If not taking questions until the end, say so in the beginning if you wish to
prevent interruptions.

11.     If you are enthusiastic about your presentation show the audience by moving round and
through use of gestures, do not stand behind the podium clenching you fists, your
audience will appreciate your enthusiasm

12.     Finish early, something good is bound to happen.

13.     Practice, practice, practice, work harder, audio, and video, tape yourself, these mediums
will reveal mannerisms, placeholders and inflections in speech.

14.     Master the material, you will be more effective in the meeting, concentrating on the
audiences reactions and questions rather than the material

15.     The 2 most dehydrating things are airplane travel and public speaking, drink plenty of
water, you will feel 30% better, avoid alcohol.

16.     Read Classroom and Platform Performance handout.

Testing 123

Testing 123

Testing

National Wildlife Week (w autoselect)

National Wildlife Week is an annual celebration of nature and the environment started by NWF in 1938. Students, teachers and families across the country learn about nature and wildlife in their community though fun interactive games, activities and exploration. Published annually, the National Wildlife Week Fun Book contains hands-on activities designed to introduce kids to the wildlife that might live in their neighborhood. The National Wildlife Week online Educator’s Guide has additional activities for students based on the National Science Education Standards. These activities can be accessed through the National Wildlife Federation’s Web site at www.nwf.org/nationalwildlifeweek.

National Wildlife Week
National Wildlife Week is an annual celebration of nature and the environment started by NWF in 1938. Students, teachers and families across the country learn about nature and wildlife in their community though fun interactive games, activities and exploration. Published annually, the National Wildlife Week Fun Book contains hands-on activities designed to introduce kids to the wildlife that might live in their neighborhood. The National Wildlife Week online Educator’s Guide has additional activities for students based on the National Science Education Standards. These activities can be accessed through the National Wildlife Federation’s Web site at www.nwf.org/nationalwildlifeweek.