An overview of the techniques I used to create nice looking

1. img flickrcc
2.5 Million
views on slideshare
How I got

2. Hi,I’m @nickdemey
co-founder of BoardofInnovation.com
Here are some of
the techniques I used to get 2.5M views
on our Slideshare Channel:

3. by @jessedee by @holman
Not in this slide deck:
- Work visually
- 1 slide = 1 idea
- yada yada …
Others made far better decks
on this topic already!

4. What to expect:
- Practical tips to create decks for Slideshare
- Find & Create remarkable content
- Experiment with Call-2-Actions
- Make slides that can be shared.
- Extra tools we use.

5. 2.5M views = long term strategy
Example:
This deck has 870K views
since 2011.

6. 2.5M views = long term strategy
Last year: 1M views
we add another Slideshare every 2-3 months.

7. 2.5M views = long term strategy
Last year: 1M views
Let’s aim for another 200K views!
Thanks for sharing this deck ;)

8. This deck has 150K views so far. Why?
Let me start with an example:

9. I invest time.
Never ever make something quick & dirty. (= wasted time)
1 topic

10. I invest time.
Never ever make something quick & dirty. (= wasted time)
1 topic with 17 sub-topics with 2 examples
for each!
It takes days, weeks to collect all this info.
While working on business model projects for clients,
I already make notes to create decks later on.

11. a. I write 10-15 headlines.
I keep a list with +100 ‘interesting’ keywords to make more compelling headlines.
(e.g. “secrets”, “should know”, “amazing”, “what would x do”,…)
It’s a difficult balance between between boring & “… what happened next” phrases.
First things first: A great cover!

12. b. Check if your design works for small thumbnails.
This is what most people will see first!
Slideshare previews, Facebook wall, social media shares ….
Your main keywords should still be readable (e.g. “Money Making”)
First things first: A great cover!

13. c. Find interesting teaser
image & give credit to
owner.
I work most of the time with Creative Commons images on Flickr.
other sources: unsplash.com (free) or I buy images via stocksy.com
First things first: A great cover!

14. First things first: A great cover!
Text
Text
d. Keep your cover simple.
(rule of thirds, few colours,…)

15. Your background should not grab the attention.
I blur backgrounds, make them darker, greyed out,…. to make the text more readable.
e. Desaturate your background.
First things first: A great cover!

16. First things first: A great cover!
f. Add a call-2-action already on the first page!
example:
follow @boardofinno - @nickdemey
visit boardofinnovation.com

17. First things first: A great cover!
g. Don’t put links in these areas!
previous
slide
You can activate a Get in touch button.
but this will hide content below.
next
slide

18. Building your storyline & call-2-actions
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19. Building your storyline & call-2-actions
# Slides
% of Viewers
90% of people will not click beyond slide 10.
I don’t have hard data, but that is what I assume.

20. Building your storyline & call-2-actions
Look at the build up of this deck:
How to prevent people will ignore your slides
(& call2action buttons)

21. Building your storyline & call-2-actions
The first slides:
Often I try to start with a remarkable
image/ quote.

22. Building your storyline & call-2-actions
The first slides:
Call to action already on slide 4.

23. Building your storyline & call-2-actions
The first slides:
An overview of what to expect in
this slide deck.

24. Building your storyline & call-2-actions
I apply the principle of
“Give, Give, Give - Take.”
I talk 3 times as much about others.
All slides packed with links to other cases,
people & sources to follow, let other people shine!

25. Building your storyline & call-2-actions
e.g. Resources for Paper Prototyping
but insert smaller links to other content we have:
e.g. Free innovation posters to download

26. Building your storyline & call-2-actions
Insert full page, but relevant content linked to
a product we sell. (e.g. Innovation Bootcamps)

27. Building your storyline & call-2-actions
59 slides:
Slides with relevant, hopefully inspiring content.
Slides with links to other content of us (on blog, other decks,…)
Slides with Call 2 actions to our commercial offering.
Slides with general Call 2 actions to our twitter/website/…

28. Building your storyline & call-2-actions
59 slides:
Slides with relevant, hopefully inspiring content.
Slides with links to other content of us (on blog, other decks,…)
Slides with Call 2 actions to our commercial offering.
Slides with general Call 2 actions to our twitter/website/…
Slides to encourage sharing (e.g. via Pay-with-a-tweet)

29. Create decks that are made to share
img flickrcc

30. Create decks that are made to share
Use Pay-with-a-tweet + embed on our own blog
When people want a PDF version of the
deck, they are asked to share the deck
on social media.
A link refers back to our blogpost.
Result:

31. Create decks that are made to share
Do you hate pay-with-a-tweet tools?
This is not a perfect tool, I agree.
But people can always see the full deck,
for free (without sharing) online.
In the end this just motivates me to
create even more valuable decks later
on. Share more to get more!
I hope that one day Slideshare would
offer an improved alternative. :)

32. Don’t forget to add
your twitter name in the title.
Create decks that are made to share
This will makes it easier to
track shares (@mentions) online.

33. Create decks that are made to share
Often, I re-upload my presentation 10 times!
People will spot better cases, typo’s,…
They will help to spread your presentation if you take their
feedback into account.
updated version

34. Create decks that are made to share
Another example updated version
I removed ‘2010’
so it looks less outdated.
I changed our call-2-actions
to updated product pages.
+

35. Create decks that are made to share
Recommended Plugin that I use to A/B test effective headlines
Kingsumo Wordpress Headlines plugin (via @appsumo)
I embed our slideshare in our own blogpost & experiment with 4-5 headlines.
If a specific headline works better, I’ll update my slideshare later on with a new cover.

36. Create decks that are made to share
I try to make custom preview images that will show on Social media.
A good Facebook thumbnail shows the full headline.
On your own website (wordpress) you can set specific images that will be shown
on Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter,… but I don’t have good solution here. Most
plugins to help you out are cr*p.

37. Create decks that are made to share
Slideshare has no option (yet) to select preview images for social media.
As a result, Facebook cuts of 30% of your cover image
(if shared on your company facebook page)

38. Create decks that are made to share
Slideshare has no option (yet) to select preview images for social media.
Option A:
upload a alternative
preview img, when you
share on your wall.
But other people that share
your deck will not do this!

39. Create decks that are made to share
Option B: design your cover,
so it can handle some cropping.

40. Create decks that are made to share
It’s very hard to control what images will be shown on Facebook, twitter,
Linkedin, other social media…
Quick fix?
Check the Facebook Debug tool
& look for the image:og tag.
Quick fix 2?
Keep an eye on Optlook
by @ozguralaz. Their tool
looks promising to help you out

41. Create decks that are made to share
At last, you need content worth sharing!
Sounds obvious, but too many people just talk about
Apple, Google & Amazon to make a point.
Look for new cases & examples:
Some of my sources for ‘niche’ content I follow via
@feedly & @hootsuite
www.producthunt.com - www.nextbigwhat.com
www.techinasia.com - www.digitalintelligencetoday.com
www.cdixon.org - tiltthewindmill.com
www.dcurt.is - @bellebcooper
@tijs, @baekdal, @ServiceSphere
Anything to add?

42. Launching & Seeding your slide deck
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1 2 3
Launch in 3 waves!

43. Launching & Seeding your slide deck
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Share your deck with your own channels
- We have a 13K linkedin community
- different twitter handles
- our blog at boardofinnovaton.com
- …
Learn from the first feedback to improve
your deck.

44. Launching & Seeding your slide deck
img flickrcc
Notify the people mentioned in your slides.
- Often I refer to startups & other experts
- They have their own channels to push
your deck to the next level
- Make sure people @slideshare are aware
of your new deck. (Slideshare of the day?)
- ….

45. Launching & Seeding your slide deck
img flickrcc
Try to grab the attention of the big blogs
- but… only when there is traction already I
will try to mail/alert authors at bigger
platforms.
- “25K views in 1 week!” is better than
“look, I’ve just uploaded a slide deck 2 sec
ago”

46. What if you fail?
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47. Failed?
after 2y only 15K views
not a big success…
Talking about the fact that we are hiring is just boring.
This will only be relevant to a very small audience.
after 2y only 11K views
…

48. Failed?
If your slide deck doesn’t fly,
don’t cry :)
It’s always valuable to talk to people
outside of your own team for honest feedback.
“I got lost after slide 3”
“There was nothing new in this deck…”
“too many numbers!”
…
You quickly learn why this specific deck might have failed
so you can improve your next presentation.

49. Avoid your Kodak or Nokia moment…
hire our team
info@boardofinnovation.com

50. Hungry for more?
- Keep an eye on our blog
- www.boardofinnovation.com/blog
- Follow our twitter channels
- @boardofinno - @nickdemey
@philderidder - @arnevbalen - @manuvollens
- connect via linkedin
Linkedin Page: board-of-innovation