Ahhh, the almighty PowerPoint…it seems to be a requirement these days when making a presentation, but are we using it effectively? Here are a few tips to help make your presentation polished and compelling when using PowerPoint.

At MCG, working collaboratively with our clients and creative partners inspires us to reach for new heights of communications excellence every day. On Saturday evening we joined a dynamic group of Northwest Arkansas advertising and marketing professionals to celebrate the best of 2008 at the Northwest Arkansas Ad Fed annual dinner. 

MCG was honored to accept four Addy awards on behalf of our client partners including:

• Southwestern Energy Company- Silver Addy for Real Arkansans, Real Stories; Newspaper, Campaign, Color
• Southwestern Energy Company- Silver Addy for Ambassador’s Brochure; Collateral Material, Brochure
• Arkansans For Better Schools- Gold Addy for ACT 35 Brochure; Public Service, Collateral, Brochure
• Wal-Mart Corporate Communications- Gold Addy for HE5 Grand Opening Invitation; Collateral Material, Special Event, Invitation

Congratulations to our clients, creative vendors, team members at MCG and to the fellow Northwest Arkansas Addy honorees for hitting the high note in 2008.

Elise and the Mitchell Communications team share the celebration with fellow communications entrepreneurs and Addy Award winners Kenny Tomlin and Rockfish Interactive.

A friend who is an occupational therapist works with children who are on the autism spectrum. One of the things she teaches them is to think in terms of “thought” bubbles and “word” bubbles, just like they would see in a cartoon. “Apply the filter,” she says, meaning, stop and think about the impact and effect of your words before you say them.

This technique is not just for children who are struggling to improve their social interaction skills. The same principles apply in public relations. We counsel our clients to think strategically through the following points before their words shift from thought bubble to word bubble, whether written or spoken:

• Consider the message. What are you trying to communicate?
• Consider the audience. Who are you trying to reach with this message?
• Consider the delivery. How are you going to say or write it?

 The goal of “applying the filter” for the children my friend teaches is to help them respond appropriately to people and situations around them. For communicators, the goal is to be truthful and transparent while the same time being mindful of the message and how it is delivered.