how i got 2.5 million views on slideshare (by @nickdemey @boardofinno)

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2.5 Millionviews on slideshare

How I got

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:

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!

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.

2.5M views = long term strategy

Example: This deck has 870K views since 2011.

2.5M views = long term strategy

Last year: 1M views

we add another Slideshare every 2-3 months.

2.5M views = long term strategy

Last year: 1M views

Let’s aim for another 200K views! Thanks for sharing this deck ;)

This deck has 150K views so far. Why?

Let me start with an example:

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

1 topic

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.

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!

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!

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!

First things first: A great cover!

TextText

d. Keep your cover simple. (rule of thirds, few colours,…)

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!

First things first: A great cover!

f. Add a call-2-action already on the first page!

example: follow @boardofinno - @nickdemey

visit boardofinnovation.com

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

Building your storyline & call-2-actions

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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.

Building your storyline & call-2-actionsLook at the build up of this deck:

How to prevent people will ignore your slides (& call2action buttons)

Building your storyline & call-2-actionsThe first slides:

Often I try to start with a remarkable image/ quote.

Building your storyline & call-2-actionsThe first slides:

Call to action already on slide 4.

Building your storyline & call-2-actionsThe first slides:

An overview of what to expect in this slide deck.

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!

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

Building your storyline & call-2-actions

Insert full page, but relevant content linked to a product we sell. (e.g. Innovation Bootcamps)

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/…

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)

Create decks that are made to share

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Create decks that are made to shareUse 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:

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. :)

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.

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

Create decks that are made to share

Another exampleupdated version

I removed ‘2010’ so it looks less outdated.

I changed our call-2-actions to updated product pages.

+

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.

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.

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)

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!

Create decks that are made to share

Option B: design your cover,!so it can handle some cropping.

Create decks that are made to shareIt’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

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? !!!!!

Launching & Seeding your slide deck

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1 2 3

Launch in 3 waves!

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.

Launching & Seeding your slide deck

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!

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?) - ….

Launching & Seeding your slide deck

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!

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”

What if you fail?

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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!…

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.

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