The Working Smarter with SmartDraw Series

Working Smarter with

Mind Maps in Presentations
What you’ll learn:

1. The benefits of using mind maps to 2. How to create a mind map

present ideas

This article describes how to create and use a mind map graphic to replace bulleted lists in your
presentations. Using a mind map makes it much easier for everyone—analyst, presenter and audience—
to see how ideas and concepts relate and cluster.

1. The Benefits of Using Mind Maps to Present Ideas

Mind maps are usually used dynamically, when brainstorming, note-taking, and planning, to record
and organize ideas as part of a creative process (We recommend you use mind maps as the first step
to creating your presentations). Find out how here [link to ppt planning PDF].

They also make a great visual for communicating the results.

Often, you will have to present ideas, tasks, and initiatives supporting a central project or concept.
Mind maps are an excellent way to visualize and communicate such relationships. A mind map, or a
series of mind maps that drill down on major topics, helps you present details while keeping the
complete context or structure in view. This aids audience comprehension and increases interaction
compared to a text or bullet list.

2. How to Create a Mind Map

Creating a mind map is simple. Just start with a central topic or idea. Let’s use the example of
presenting a marketing communications plan.

Place a box in the center of your page and label it with the idea. Then add the main topics connected
around the central idea. These are the next level of hierarchy or outline.
 Then, refine each major topic with specific subtopics. Again, radiate out from each major topic.

For presentation slides, you can create more detailed maps of each subtopic on additional slides in
order to drill down. Trying to put more than three layers on one slide can make it hard to read.

Compare using this visual in a presentation over the following list:

SmartDraw is a trademark of SmartDraw.com • 9909 Mira Mesa Blvd., San Diego, CA 92131, USA • www.smartdraw.com
Phone: (858) 225-3300 • Toll Free (800) 768-3729 • Fax: (858) 225-3390 • E-mail: sales@smartdraw.com • ©2008 SmartDraw.com all rights reserved.
2
 • PR
o Press Releases
o Media Kits
o Media Tour
• Lead Generation
o Direct Mail
o Print Ads
• Product Collaterals
o Data sheet
o Web site
o E-mails
o Print-ads
• Sales Training
o Reseller kit
o Video
• Recruit Resellers
o E-mail
o Call leads

See how this form uses much more space, is not easy to remember, and makes it harder to see the
‘big picture’?

To watch a video on how to create mind maps with SmartDraw click here.

This document is part of the Working Smarter Series—a collection of publications describing proven
tactics for improving business operations, provided free by SmartDraw.com. To download a free
trial of SmartDraw, visit www.smartdraw.com

SmartDraw is a trademark of SmartDraw.com • 9909 Mira Mesa Blvd., San Diego, CA 92131, USA • www.smartdraw.com
Phone: (858) 225-3300 • Toll Free (800) 768-3729 • Fax: (858) 225-3390 • E-mail: sales@smartdraw.com • ©2008 SmartDraw.com all rights reserved.
3