I've conducted webinars, meetings and presentations -- including listing presentations -- online before.
So my interest piqued when I saw Google's rollout of the Presentations feature set for Google Docs. It was announced back in April but it was bantered about much earlier than that.
In case you're just tuning in to this, Google Docs is the new and improved version of what was previously "Google Docs & Spreadsheets." The addition of the Presentation feature allows users to collaborate on the creation of a PowerPoint-type presentations, pick themes, upload existing presentations, create new ones, and so on.
My interest in it was in the Publishing feature and how it might enhance presentations to/with more technology savvy prospects and clients. (An increased number of my customers today are accustomed to the use of online tools like Webex, GoToMeeting and corporate versions of NetMeeting as they use these tools themselves in meetings at companies they work for. Besides, who wants to be subjected to the abuse of airline customer service anyways?)
Having seen it, I don't think it would be my presentation tool of choice for conducting live online presentations with a client. (So called, synchronous presentations.) But, I can see some rich applicability for agents and staging professionals, say, to publish (asynchronous) presentations to which they can provide links that can easily be placed on a web site, blog, e-mails, signature lines, etc.
In an earlier post, I talked about SlideShare.net as a medium for getting presentations online and then placing a smaller view of the presentation itself as an embedded object on a web site or blog. I haven't yet seen a similar feature on Google Doc's Presentation feature. (If any of you have, please post a comment and let us know where or how.) But, as mentioned above, it does have the ability publish a link back to the presentation.
To be sure I'm still big on GoToMeeting for the richness of the control I can have in a live online presentation. But, I can see practical applications for Google Doc's Presentation feature as another way of getting the word out about our products, services, testimonials.
I'd love to hear comments from you about your experience with online presentations and some of the tools you find effective.
In the meantime, if you're new to GoogleDocs, here's a video overview.
2 Comments on Google's new Presentation feature - another tool for client presentations
Mel,
I have used presentation tools with clients since about 2000 ... You make a great point to elaborate upon.
Make sure your client is ready for this type of presentation. I have found that once I have established a relationship that using online presentation is received much more easily. I have used Web-Ex to go through potential properties with my clients prior to driving them around, saves a large amount of time.
Hi Allen. I agree, the client has to be equipped to do these kinds of presentations. And not just from a technology perspective. Hardware, software and bandwidth considerations aside, there's also a personality type and aptitude that go along with a successful presentation as well. And, that's not just from the customer's end. I've been on enough webcasts -- as a participant -- where the host and/or or presenter wasn't familiar-enough with the tool to have a smooth presentation. I also have to tip my hat to the service providers. I believe they recognize this and have continued to try and improve their offerings to make it as seamless as possible for both presenters and participants.
Mel Aclaro
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Mel,
I have used presentation tools with clients since about 2000 ... You make a great point to elaborate upon.
Make sure your client is ready for this type of presentation. I have found that once I have established a relationship that using online presentation is received much more easily. I have used Web-Ex to go through potential properties with my clients prior to driving them around, saves a large amount of time.