| If you're getting started with webinars, or even if you're | | | | needed to accomplish a task, you are giving excellent |
| an experienced practitioner of them, you might think | | | | value to people on a webinar, particularly in they are |
| that you need to use Microsoft PowerPoint for every | | | | the type of people who do not enjoy reading manuals. |
| webinar. After all, a webinar is just like a taught class | | | | So, always consider doing a live demonstration as a |
| or seminar, right? The only difference is that it's | | | | method for reducing the amount of pre-webinar |
| transmitted over the Internet, instead of involving all the | | | | preparation that you need to endure. |
| class takers attending in person. And, most live classes | | | | The final method is one that is commonly used on |
| uses PowerPoint. But, the fact of the matter is that | | | | webinars. That's to use mind mapping software to |
| there are some key differences between an in-person | | | | make your presentation. The most common piece of |
| class and a webinar class, and so PowerPoint might | | | | software for this is called Free Mind, and this piece of |
| not just be the most suitable mechanism for your | | | | software is excellent as it is open source and available |
| webinars. This article explores some of the main | | | | for nothing. In this case, you prepare a mind map and |
| PowerPoint alternatives. | | | | talk around the items on it. This gives you flexibility to |
| The first option is not to prepare a presentation at all, | | | | move around your presentation much more easily than |
| and instead to just concentrate on answering | | | | a PowerPoint presentation. FreeMind is also excellent |
| questions from the audience. Although this might seem | | | | for presenting whilst conserving bandwidth, as |
| like a more ad-hoc approach, it can be very valuable, | | | | everything can be done with a simple black and white |
| as you know that you are addressing exactly the | | | | presentation style. |
| areas that your audience have concerns about. In this | | | | Make sure that you don't automatically move to |
| case, your delivery method will depend entirely on the | | | | Microsoft PowerPoint for your next presentation, as |
| questions that you are asked, but your voice will be | | | | there are many other alternatives, some of which |
| more important to you than any prepared slides. | | | | might suit you far better. Look for an ad-hoc question |
| The second option is for you to give a visual | | | | and answer webinar, give a virtual demonstration, or |
| demonstration. This might be of a piece of software. It | | | | use mind maps. All of these can be quick to prepare |
| might be a demonstration of a web site, or a number | | | | and will allow you run more webinars without being |
| of web sites. By showing the exact steps that are | | | | overburdened by preparation. |