‘Tech 4’ sharing presentations: SlideShare

The time allocated for presentations in academic conferences is usually short. Besides that, some conferences have several parallel sessions and we usually feel like we are missing lots of interesting presentations. If you have been in any of these situations, you probably wished your work had more exposure or to have access to some of the presentations you missed.

Around ten months ago I presented a paper in a conference in US. I remember very clearly telling my supervisors I wish there was more time, and their answer was:

Find a way of sharing this presentation with a network that shares your interests. What cannot be discussed in the conference, can be discussed later.

So I found a way, I found SlideShare.

This social network is a great tool for sharing our presentations, here are some reasons:

• It makes your presentations ‘alive’ for a longer time than a conference or a lecture.
• It is very easy to upload content to SlideShare and then share on your other social networks.
• The content uploaded on SlideShare can also be easily embedded in other websites. This is how I make my presentations available here.
• Showcase your work. SlideShare gives you exposure and enhances your online presence. You will be able to see how many views your presentation has had, both on the hosting website and on the ones where the presentation is embedded in.
• As all other networks it allows the search for related content, making easy to connect to speakers, lecturers and researchers from similar areas as yours.
• It is also possible to share documents, infographics and videos.

Despite all these benefits there are some things to be aware of:

• It makes easier for people to copy your work, so make sure the work you are sharing is not going to be used in further presentations, or won’t compromise current or future work.
• Be careful about the shared images. The best images to share are your own ones, otherwise make sure you have the right of using it and follow the copyright requirements.
• SlideShare has great content, but as it is a social network, it also has lots of uninteresting and even low quality presentations. Make sure to make the right connections and find your audience.

Balancing pros and cons I think it is a great tool if used for the right purpose.

Have you tried SlideShare? What is your opinion about it?