6 Tips to Design Better PowerPoints
Lots of things can go wrong when designing PowerPoints. Let’s talk about how to make PowerPoints right.
Communications
Re-imagining the Press Release Through Data
Admit it, press releases rarely work. King County, Wash., is now tracking data to learn which reporters are interested in specific subjects.
Communication Tips From Actors, Production Crews, and 4-Year Olds
Utilizing three ideas – the emotional check-in, the creation of a safe environment for truth, and utilizing a series of what’s good/what needs work questions (and waiting for the team to answer, not me) – might be an approach worth trying in the workplace.
The Best and Worst at Plain Language in Government
Which federal agencies should you look to as models of plain language? Which ones are getting it wrong and why?
Lessons Learned from the Big Bang Theory
We are all different and sometimes we don’t understand why what is second nature to us, doesn’t make sense to someone else.
Stop the Bickering: Create a Style Sheet
Language is not always black and white. In fact, 50 shades is probably an underestimate of all the grey! Still, the situation is not hopeless. We can communicate clearly and consistently without all the bickering. Here’s how.
To Shame or Not to Shame
As public employees, we may find ourselves in the public eye even when our jobs are behind the scenes. Like it or not, we are held to a higher standard than the general public. We have more to lose if we make a mistake on social media.
Social Media Metrics: Don’t Be a ‘Like’ Counter
I challenge you to look beyond simple metrics and start listening to your audience. Ask them real questions you want real answers to. Often times, you can learn first-hand what people in our communities really do want and need from us.
On the Nature of Styleguides
Styleguides are useful because consistency is the only editorial virtue. There’s nothing foolish about consistency. But styleguides don’t produce plain language that answers users’ needs. They won’t fix everything–they’ll just make publishing a little easier.
Elevating the Citizen Experience with Digital Government
Amidst the enticing aroma of bagels, government and industry employees gathered at GovDelivery on Tuesday morning for a panel on elevating the citizen experience in digital government. The foundation of the panel was a report that GovDelivery published recently on trends in digital government engagement. The panel consisted of three current and former government employeesRead… Read more »