Heather Lambert

Presentation skills play an important role in business today and if you use some of the key 7 skills taught on presentation skills training courses there is no doubt that you can develop the skills necessary to carry out effective presentation

So what are these 7 skills and tips necessary to improve your presentation skills

1. Know your purpose, what are you trying to achieve? The clearer you are in your objective of your presentation the easier it will be to pick the right material to help you achieve your goal. One question I always ask myself is, what do I want my audience to do after the presentation?

Once I am clear on this it helps me to then set out the presentation with this in mind

2. Structure your presentation so as there is a clear beginning middle and end. I know on many presentation skills training courses presenters are taught to use the basic principle that is often used on news channels:

Tell them what you are going to tell them
Tell them
Tell them what you told them

This structure will ensure you have a beginning, middle and end

3. Use visual aids effectively, remember the word visual. A visual aid is not words, words words. Always remember if you can use a visual image in a presentation as opposed to words it is far more effective. It all goes back to the old story ‘a picture can paint 1000 words'

4. In the event that you do have to use words on a visual aid there is a golden rule that you must always keep in mind. It is called the rule of 6 which means a maximum of 6 words per line and 6 lines per slide

5. Use and remove, we all recall the old days when we presented with an overhead projector. If you recall, we used to cover the acetate with a piece of paper and only reveal the acetate line by line. The same principle should be applied using power point.

6. Always remember no matter how good or indeed how bad your visuals are, you will always be the main visual aid in any presentation, and as such must always convey confidence and dress appropriate to the business you work in.

7. Always use an ‘in conclusion' or ‘to conclude' slide, this is vitally important as your audience will always wake up when you use these magic words.

So anyway to conclude the key messages that I hope this makes you think about are that presentation skills can be improved by attending an effective presentation skills training courses.

What is a Virtual Professional you may be asking?

A Virtual Professional (VP) is a suitably qualified professional who works from the comfort of his or her own home office (in most cases), but services clients business needs worldwide. Many VPs never meet their clients, but deliver clients services by either email, fax, snail mail, courier or by whatever method suits the delivery mode.

What are the benefits of working with a VP?

VPs reduce the cost of overheads for small business as there is no need for employee insurance, benefits, superannuation, workers comp, taxation, sick leave, holiday leave or any other cost which is incurred with employing staff full-time or part-time. With engaging the services of a VP, you only pay for the time it takes to complete a task or specified assignment.

What professionals are coming under the Virtual Professional umbrella?

Designer, Developers, Engineers, Event Planners, Graphic Designers, Health Consultants and Services, Legal Practitioners, Medical Practitioners, PR Consulting, Proofreading and Editing, Software Specialists, Web Designers, Internet Researchers, Non-profit Administration Support, Traditional and e-Commerce Marketing Consultants, Writers and many other 'in demand' services.

A Virtual Professional can offer businesses, corporations or individuals a very affordable alternative to the standard onsite employee, consultant of onsite service provider. Virtual Professionals generally have their own equipment which includes their own computer, Internet connection, fax, dedicated telephone lines, printers, and software and hardware to undertake their clients assignment.

Many businesses worldwide know the advantages and benefits of engaging the services of a Virtual Professional to become part of their business operations. In fact it is similar to having a consultant working for them but at quite a considerable saving. It also allows businesses to concentrate on running a profitable business without the stress of employing specialised staff for short periods.

Virtual Professionals are normally hired through their online websites, advertising or by word of mouth referrals. In most cases, a Virtual Professional will advertise their services on their websites detailing what they are able to offer you as the potential client.

Many Virtual Professionals are listed under specific services they offer in Search Engine listings, or you may locate them on Association Membership Directories.

It is also important to ask a VP about their qualifications, experience or resume` to ascertain that they indeed fit your business needs.

Hiring a VP could be the best investment a business could make, not just $ wise, but in cementing excellent client/customer working relationships and profitable results.

E-VirtualSolutions.com is an outsourcing alternative for professionals who want to focus more on business and less on administrative details and staff management. E-VirtualSolutions.com provides time-saving administrative support services because you utilize our services only when you need them.

E-VirtualSolutions.com will save you money and lower your overhead-

• -Services are tax deductible
• -No recruitment or training costs
• -No worker's compensation or health insurance cost
• -No vacation, sick days or maternity leave
• -No payroll taxes
• -No extra office space needed

Visit me on the web at E-VirtualSolutions.com

Many would-be home sellers are concerned about reduced housing prices, and those who are highly motivated are pulling out all the stops to make their homes more appealing than the competition.

If you're preparing to sell this spring but aren't in a position to invest in ambitious renovations, such as a kitchen remodel or new hardwood floors, the best advice is to look to the "bonus" spaces in and around your home and maximize their appeal.

Decks, patios, sunrooms and porches have always been popular with home buyers, but real estate agents say that too often those spaces are neglected or not used to their best advantage.

"Anything that adds living space adds value, and the least expensive way to gain space is to build a deck or turn the one you have into an outdoor room by staging it so that it flows seamlessly with the rest of the house," says Mary Beth Harrison of The Harrison Group, a Dallas-based real estate agency. "A great deck can set your home apart from others with the same interior floor plan or square footage, and deck additions typically add value when it comes time to sell."

A bonus space - for example, a tiny deck or rarely used balcony off a master bedroom - can be transformed into a romantic getaway by staging it with cozy, cushioned seating and a raised fire pit. You can safeguard your deck and add designer style with deck stones, 16-inch interlocking square tiles made of natural slate or granite. Deck stones can provide an effective fire barrier that's an asset under fire pits or grills, or when used to create an outdoor kitchen.

"More than ever before, people look at their decks as outdoor rooms," says Chris Fox of Universal Forest Products, an American company that's focused on easy-to-install, low-maintenance decking material and deck add-ons. "For some, it's a kitchen; for others, a living room. Decks can be party spaces or quiet retreats. With so many different types of deck materials, lighting, rail systems and decorative accents, it is possible to turn a nondescript deck into a great outdoor space."

Universal's Latitudes line features low-maintenance, top-quality composite decking and accessories. Their Capricorn line gives the exotic look of rich tropical hardwoods which are a current design trend that will instantly update a home.

Whether working with an old deck or a brand-new one, details count when it comes to staging. Outdoor lighting on a deck or patio provides ambience and adds versatility to the space, showing buyers endless possibilities for evening entertainment.

If you want to open up the view on a bonus space, consider replacing wooden deck balusters with contoured glass balusters from Deckorators, or update the rails with distinctive aluminum balusters. New rails will add a dramatic difference to your deck. Deckorators aluminum rail systems come in kits that allow easy installation and give old decks a fresh look at a fraction of the price of a total deck replacement or addition.

"Buyers always react positively to nice decks that look like a great place to hang out," says Harrison. "From a buyer's perspective, if all else is equal, it's true that the home with the best deck wins."

Courtesy of ARAcontent

With more Americans downsizing their household budgets, larger-scale renovation projects are out and frugal remodeling is in. And when it comes to saving money, experts say home improvement projects that increase energy efficiency are among the best investments to deliver paybacks -- now and in the future.

The average return on investment for midrange home improvement projects focused on aesthetic appeal, such as kitchen or bathroom remodels, is down since 2007, according to "Remodeling" magazine.

"Energy efficiency upgrades provide homeowners with the rare opportunity to see a return on their investment almost immediately and at resale," says Kateri Callahan, president of the Alliance to Save Energy, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit dedicated to promoting energy efficiency. "We can't always predict how the market will impact home prices over the long term, but all homeowners can improve their home's energy efficiency to increase its value."

Heating and cooling can account for nearly half of a home's energy bill, according to the Alliance to Save Energy, and with temperatures dropping, it's the right time for homeowners to focus on ways they can trim costs and energy consumption.

"The reality of the new economy is that homeowners want to save money while maintaining the value and comfort of their homes," says Mike Lawrence, vice president and general manager of Insulation Systems for Johns Manville, a manufacturer of building products. "There are economical and smart steps homeowners can take that will positively impact their monthly energy bills today and their home's value tomorrow."

Homeowners can tackle projects that are low in cost and high in value and return on investment, either as do-it-yourself projects or by hiring a professional contractor.

To get started, homeowners should first estimate the current performance of their home by using an online energy efficiency assessment tool, such as the Home Energy Analysis test available at JMHomeowner.com. Online assessments help gauge the savings that could be realized by making efficiency upgrades.

"After evaluating their home, most homeowners will find that adding insulation to their attic is a smart and cost-effective first step, since most homes are under-insulated," Lawrence says. "When adding insulation, homeowners should also consider weatherizing their attic to help eliminate any holes or gaps that may exist in the floor or walls. By using caulk, spray foam or weather stripping to close such gaps, homeowners can further decrease wasted energy."

A programmable thermostat is another cost-effective option that helps boost home energy efficiency. Programmable thermostats let homeowners regulate the temperature of their home to deliver savings without sacrificing comfort. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, homeowners can save about $180 a year by properly setting their programmable thermostats and maintaining those settings.

A triple return on your remodeling investment

Compared to other home improvement projects, energy efficiency upgrades typically come with a considerably smaller price tag, compared to aesthetic-focused renovations like kitchen and bathroom remodels. In addition, there's a triple return on these remodeling investments over the course of home ownership:

* Save on your energy bill today: According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), with a properly air sealed and insulated home, homeowners can reduce their heating and cooling costs by as much as 30 percent. The average U.S. home needs 19 inches of attic insulation for maximum energy efficiency.

* Save up to $1,500 with a tax credit: Through 2010, insulation purchases qualify for a 30 percent federal tax credit for energy-efficiency improvements, which reimburses homeowners up to $1,500 for the cost of materials. Additional incentives from adding insulation or making other energy efficiency improvements may be available from state and local governments and utilities.

* Save for the long term: Investments made in home energy efficiency pay dividends for the lifetime of a home and improve the home's resale value. According to the Appraisal Institute, for every dollar saved in annual utility costs, homeowners can expect to add $20 to their home's market value.

For more information on energy efficient home improvement projects and to take advantage of local incentives, visit www.jmhomeowner.com/insulation/energytaxcredit.asp.

Courtesy of ARAcontent