A couple of years ago I created 8 free videos for Microsoft's User Group Support Services on the subject of How To Give Great Presentations. These videos became unavailable when the UGSS site was replaced with Microsoft's Technical Communities. Well now they're back. You can download them from here. The 8 videos are:-

1. Introduction (6 minutes 23 seconds)
2. Choosing The Right Presentation (8 minutes 30 seconds)
3. How To Explain Absolutely Anything (8 minutes 51 seconds)
4. Planning Your Presentation (22 minutes 52 seconds)
5. Nervousness And How To Overcome It (13 minutes 7 seconds)
6. How To Give Great Demos (26 minutes 9 seconds)
7. Preparing Your Laptop (19 minutes 21 seconds)
8. Presenting Your Presentation (35 minutes 39 seconds)

In addition you can read the paper upon which the videos are based.

Back by popular demand is the DDD Speaker Training Day on Friday 27th May 2011 at UWE in Bristol. This is a free day of training on giving presentations and improving your public speaking skills. Topics covered will include:-

• How To Explain Absolutely Anything
• Planning Your Presentation
• How To Give Great Demos
• Getting Your Laptop Ready For Your Presentation
• Presenting Your Presentation

To apply for a place on the day email speakertrainingday@dddsouthwest.com. Places are very limited. Priority will be given to DDD South West 3 speakers and new speakers. Attendees must prepare a short presentation on any subject (technical or otherwise) that will be presented to other attendees and a group leader once at the beginning of the day and once again at the end of the day. If your presentation requires anything other than PowerPoint you should bring your own laptop. We are delighted to have the following group leaders:

• Dave McMahon (speaker and co-founder of the NxtGen empire)
• Steve Sanderson (MVC guru and best speaker of DDD South West 1 by knowledge of subject)
• Ross Scott (speaker and co-organiser of DDD South West)
• Chris Myhill (speaker, co-founder of The .NET Developer Network and co-organiser of DDD South West)

The day doesn't cost anything but you do need to either bring your lunch or buy it on the premises (there are several cafes). Also it goes without saying that you do need to actually turn up - places are limited and it would be unfair on other speakers to reserve a place and not use it.

UGSS (Microsoft's User Group Support Services) have just published a video series that I recorded last year on How To Give Great Presentations. This free series of 8 videos covers the following subjects:-

1. Introduction (6 minutes 23 seconds)
2. Choosing The Right Presentation (8 minutes 30 seconds)
3. How To Explain Absolutely Anything (8 minutes 51 seconds)
4. Planning Your Presentation (22 minutes 52 seconds)
5. Nervousness And How To Overcome It (13 minutes 7 seconds)
6. How To Give Great Demos (26 minutes 9 seconds)
7. Preparing Your Laptop (19 minutes 21 seconds)
8. Presenting Your Presentation (35 minutes 39 seconds)

If you're new to presenting and feel that the leap is a bit daunting this video series will help you. It is aimed at first timers but experienced presenters will also find tips and tricks to help hone existing presentation skills. The series is also accompanied by a paper that you can download at http://www.guysmithferrier.com/Downloads/HowToGiveGreatPresentations.pdf.