Recording with PowerPoint

PowerPoint is a very versatile tool when it comes to presenting information and trying to get a message across to a large group of people. However, PowerPoint has many other applications; Training slides for corporations, information guides for potential investors, Sales presentations for potential clients, etc. are many ways PowerPoint can be utilized without actually being in a presentation. When these applications are used, being able to effectively record narration is imperative. PowerPoint slides should be bulleted items that only express topics a presenter wishes to elaborate on. So when a PowerPoint presentation is available without the presenter, the information in the PowerPoint is virtually useless. When recording is used with PowerPoint, It gives the presenter the ability to have his/her presentation viewed without actually being there to give the presentation. This is very useful for training employees, posting it on a corporate websites for potential clients and investors to view at their leisure, and will save a lot of time and money by not expending resources to give the presentation over and over again. Ellen Finkelstein, best-selling author of How to do everything with PowerPoint 2007, states "Such a presentation is great for sending to potential customers on a CD, posting on your website or a presentation-sharing site, or displaying at a trade show or in your company's lobby." The presentations can be modified if need be, and saved for use over and over again. Also, by having a recorded PowerPoint presentation it guarantees the quality of the presentation every time it is viewed. There will be no variation as there is with physical appearances and oration. Recording with PowerPoint is an extremely versatile tool that has the potential to save businesses much time, energy, and resources by having these presentations available in electronic form so the people that want, or need, to see it are able to.

Source- Finkelstein, Ellen "PowePoint tip: Secrets for Successfully Narrating a Presentation" retrieved Nov 15 from http://ezinearticles.com/?PowerPoint-Tip---Secrets-For-Successfully-Narrating-a-Presentation&id=3040337

Ten Corporate Blogs

After searching some of the most popular companies I've heard of and personally like, I've found ten blogs that meet all the criteria that makes a blog great. These blogs are:

1. Dell http://en.community.dell.com/blogs/

2. Best Buy http://remixblog.info/

3. Walmart http://www.checkoutblog.com/

4. Nike http://inside.nike.com/blogs/nikebasketball

5. Yahoo http://ycorpblog.com/

6. Afterbang http://www.afterbang.co.uk/

7. Google http://googleblog.blogspot.com/

8. Ebay http://www.ebaychatter.com/

9. GM http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/

10. Cisco Systems http://blogs.cisco.com/news

Each of these blogs excel in presentation and style. They cater to each target market and prove to guide a reader the way they feel they need to be lead to invest more time reading. These blogs have excellent content that is pertinent to the type of reader each is seeking to reach. Eight of these ten blogs were also listed on many research sites top ten blogging sites that judge on style, content, ease of use, and professionalism. After reviewing each blog in many of these research sites, I chose the ones I felt were the best as well as a couple of my own and ranked them accordingly. I also judged on the criteria described above but with my own discretion and opinion.

http://mariosundar.wordpress.com/2006/07/16/top-10-corporate-blogs-technorati-powered/

http://www.blogtrepreneur.com/2009/02/19/ten-corporate-blogs-worth-reading/

http://blog.tangenceinc.com/2009/08/10-most-popular-corporate-blog-designs-that-blend-simplicity-and-sophistication/

Blogging Surpassing Websites?

The evolution of blogging tends to mirror the evolution of websites. Blogging, in the form of discussion groups and forums, began around the same time as the World Wide Web. Only recently, as many websites have, blogs and information sharing has been technologically enhanced. As websites have more and more been including video presentations, real time updates, consumer/business interaction, as well as versatility in usage, and more aesthetic presences; blogs have been including these as well. With real time updates available from most any cell phone, video and photo updates directly in the same fashion, and streamlined search engines integrated into many professional blogs as with Technorati; it seems many corporations and blogging sites are taking many of the technologies designed for websites and implementing them into their blogs. I feel in some ways blogging has surpassed websites in their ability to keep the consumer informed.

Corporate and professional blogs are becoming more complex. In order to satisfy the need for organization and data mining capabilities, as well as aesthetic value and ease of use, blogs are constantly being modified to satisfy users needs in much the same way websites are. According to NPR's "Timeline: The Life of the Blog" Andy Carvin details milestone years that seem to directly coordinate with events and technologies that began to be implemented in websites at much the same time. With blog sites, such as twitter, and complex search capabilities available with Technorati, blogging has become much more than information sharing; for many people blogging is a way of life. I agree and disagree with the statement that blogging is evolving much the same way websites have. I feel many blog sites have not only evolved in much the same way websites have but have in fact surpassed websites in capability, and versatility.