“SlideShare is the world’s largest community for sharing presentations.” Pretty bold claim but clearly they have the statistics to back up that claim. SlideShare currently enjoys over 17 million visitors each month, and those visitors are viewing over 50 million pages. Each month! Wouldn’t you want to make sure your message is visible to that many potential viewers? Why not?
One of the traits that I have come to enjoy about SlideShare is that it is clearly focused on the business customer. By providing a WebTool that allows the sharing of presentations, documents and pdf’s in a business environment, SlideShare has captured the minds and presentations of its intended customers. Users that are typically found on SlideShare regularly leave comments on your work, creating a more connected, personal feeling amongst its most active participants. You will regularly find contests that allow SlideShare members to vote for their favorite. Currently, they are running a contest titled “World’s Best Presentation Contest 2009. Now wouldn’t that would be worth striving for?
Once you have uploaded your content into your account, you can share it with others through their easy links to LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and other social sites. Or if you prefer a private viewing, send a URL link directly to the specific presentation that you would like to share with your client, prospect or colleague.
SlideShare is also another one of the LinkedIn Applications that I have mentioned before. By selecting the Applications Tab on the left
side-bottom of your LinkedIn Home page, then selecting SlideShare from the listed applications, you will have the choice to upload and show one or more of your presentation masterpieces directly from your Public Profile.
If you would like to see how this capability can be used effectively, view the SlideShare presentation on Michael Damphousse’s LinkedIn Profile titled “Are You Shocked By What Sales Really Wants?” Here is the link to his profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/damphoux. Make sure you click and select the “View Full Profile” button and wait for it to load. One of the features that I have enjoyed taking advantage of is a link just under Michael’s presentation titled “Most viewed presentations on LinkedIn”. You will always find something interesting.
I wrote a post this past August titled “Impactful Video in LinkedIn Profiles” that highlighted another effective use of SlideShare within a LinkedIn Profile, this time by sharing a Google Docs slide presentation that was all video. Click on the link above to see how effective this technique can be.
Here are some other ideas of how to use SlideShare:
- Embed a YouTube video into one of the slides in your presentation, allowing the video to be seen on SlideShare.
- Embed slideshows into your own blog or website.
- Share slideshows publicly or privately. There are several ways to share privately.
- Synch audio to your slides by combining an mp3 file synchronized to your slide show. Can be very effective
- Market your own event on SlideShare.
- Join groups to connect with SlideShare members who share your interests.
- Download the original file.
SlideShare is the best way to get your slides visible to your prospects, customers or potential customers.
Allow your ideas to be discovered by someone who is searching for your exact message or perhaps a client that you have provided a link to a private area within your account. Do you want your slides and message to get the word out about your product or service? Do you want your slides to be seen by those that were not able to attend your event?
Whether you make them available to the public or in a private area accessible only by your invitation, SlideShare is a WebTool to register for and start using soon.