We Respect Your Privacy

We Hate Spammers Too!

We will never share your email address or any other personal details with anyone!

Our motivation is only to create the best public speaking resource that we can, and to continue to grow the number of readers and subscribers.

What Information Do We Collect?

Compared with many other websites, Six Minutes collects relatively little data about you, the reader.

Here’s what we capture and how we use it.

1. Page Views

Like practically every website on the planet, Six Minutes records each time a page is viewed on this website.

What is collected?
Anonymous data is collected about which page was viewed at what time and what day. No attempt is ever made to trace backwards to determine exactly who viewed a page when.
What does this data tell us?
This data fuels reports such as: “Which articles were read 1000 times this week?” or “How many people have read How to Improve Your Slides with the Rule of Thirds since it was published?”
Why does this help us?
Knowing which articles are popular helps us improve Six Minutes by writing articles which people want to read.
What is Shared?
None of this data is shared with anyone.

2. Article Comments

Like most blogs, Six Minutes encourages feedback from readers in the form of comments.

What is collected?
When you leave a comment on an article, you must provide your name and email address. You can optionally provide your website.
What does this tell us?
It allows us to follow-up on your comment (if appropriate) by emailing you.
Why does this help us?
Comments improve Six Minutes by offering more diverse opinions on public speaking topics.
What is Shared?
Your name and (if you included it) website are shown to anyone viewing the article.
Your email address is never shared with anyone.

3. Subscribers by Email

Six Minutes provides a convenient way to have new articles emailed directly to you.

What is collected?
To sign up for this service, you must obviously provide your email address.
Why does this help us?
It allows us to send you an email when new articles are published. That’s it!
What is Shared?
Your email address is never shared with anyone.

4. Subscribers by RSS

Six Minutes can also be subscribed to via an RSS feed.

What is collected?
No personal information is collected. Only an aggregate total of how many people are subscribed through an RSS Reader is available.
Why does this help us?
Knowing we have thousands of subscribers is good for our ego, but that’s about it.
What is Shared?
The total number of subscribers is shared on the blog.

Comments are closed.

Featured Articles

Speech Critiques

Majora Carter (TED, 2006)
Energy, Passion, Speaking Rate
Hans Rosling (TED, 2006)
6 Techniques to Present Data
J.A. Gamache (Toastmasters, 2007)
Gestures, Prop, Writing
Steve Jobs (Stanford, 2005)
Figures of speech, rule of three
Al Gore (TED, 2006)
Humor, audience interaction
Dick Hardt (OSCON, 2005)
Lessig Method of Presentation

Recommended Books

Title: Multimedia Learning
Author: Richard E. Mayer
What is it About: An academic review of cognitive research which provides guidelines for the design of visual presentation aids.
Who Should Read It: Teachers, trainers, instructors, and speaking coaches who want to understand the cognitive theory behind modern slide design.
Book Review: Read the Six Minutes Review of this book

Title: Better Beginnings: How to Capture Your Audience in 30 Seconds
Author: Carmen Taran
What is it About: One-of-a-kind! An engaging and thorough treatment for one of the most essential public speaking skills -- how to open your speech.
Who Should Read It: Every speaker will benefit from this book, whether you speak with visuals or off the cuff, to investors or children.
Book Review: Read the Six Minutes Review of this book

Title: Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures
Author: Dan Roam
What is it About: Insightful and essential lessons for all communicators. Everyone can benefit by improving their visual thinking skills with the help of this book.
Who Should Read It: Smart people who want to improve their visual thinking skills.
Book Review: Read the Six Minutes Review of this book

Title: Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die
Author: Chip Heath and Dan Heath
What is it About: Best-selling business book delivers on its promise to show how to communicate your ideas so that they will be remembered.
Who Should Read It: All speakers with a message that they want the audience to remember. In short, everyone.
Book Review: Read the Six Minutes Review of this book

Title: Thank You For Arguing
Author: Jay Heinrichs
What is it About: Reveals a collection of time-tested tools which will make you a better speechwriter and a better speaker.
Who Should Read It: All speakers will benefit from understanding the simple, yet not-so-obvious techniques for persuasion and persuasive speechwriting.
Book Review: Read the Six Minutes Review of this book

Title: The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking
Author: Dale Carnegie
What is it About: Practical and plain public speaking advice. Covers a wide breadth of topics. This book contains the foundation for the Dale Carnegie speaking courses which have been completed by millions of people.
Who Should Read It: Novice speakers or anyone whose fear of speaking leads them to believe that they cannot excel as a speaker.
Book Review: Read the Six Minutes Review of this book

Title: Boring to Bravo
Author: Kristin Arnold
What is it About: Non-stop gems for engaging your audience and keeping your presentations alive.
Who Should Read It: Speakers, trainers, facilitators, coaches, and managers.
Book Review: Read the Six Minutes Review of this book

Title: Universal Principles of Design
Author: William Lidwell, Kritina Holden, and Jill Butler
What is it About: Elegantly written and thought-provoking. Packed with creative ideas for improving your presentations. A classic reference!
Who Should Read It: Speakers who want to learn from related disciplines of design, psychology, and usability, and anyone fascinated to understand the world around them.
Book Review: Read the Six Minutes Review of this book

Title: Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery
Author: Garr Reynolds
What is it About: Bestseller which teaches presentation design. Emphasizes designing around the message rather than designing around the slides. Includes numerous full-color examples of slides, both good and bad.
Who Should Read It: Every speaker, particularly those who want to break free from the "Death by Powerpoint" mold.
Book Review: Read the Six Minutes Review of this book

Title: Confessions of a Public Speaker
Author: Scott Berkun
What is it About: An irreverent insider's view of public speaking. You'll be both entertained and educated.
Who Should Read It: Any aspiring speaker who seeks honest insights about public speaking.
Book Review: Read the Six Minutes Review of this book

Title: The Story Factor: Inspiration, Influence, and Persuasion Through the Art of Storytelling
Author: Annette Simmons
What is it About: Makes a strong case of the power of storytelling to influence and inspire, in both public speaking and business communications.
Discusses the different types of stories that every speaker must be able to tell. Weaves numerous stories through the book.
Who Should Read It: (1) Anyone who is not yet convinced how powerful storytelling can be.
(2) Speakers looking to enhance their story repertoire.
Book Review: Read the Six Minutes Review of this book

Title: slide:ology: The Art and Science of Creating Great Presentations
Author: Nancy Duarte
What is it About: The book on effective visual presentations from the expert whose design firm created the graphics for Al Gore's Oscar-winning film, An Inconvenient Truth.
Who Should Read It: Everyone who wants a classic reference text for presentation design. You'll read this again and again.
Book Review: Read the Six Minutes Review of this book

Title: Advanced Presentations by Design: Creating Communication that Drives Action
Author: Andrew Abela
What is it About: A comprehensive approach to planning and designing presentations focused on selling ideas and persuading your audience.
Who Should Read It: All presenters, particularly those who present in a business or scientific context. You will love this book if you like an interactive, workshop-style format.
Book Review: Read the Six Minutes Review of this book

Title: The Wealthy Speaker: The Proven Formula for Building Your Successful Speaking Business
Author: Jane Atkinson
What is it About: An insider's view of professional speaking with loads of tips and insights for positioning yourself in the industry.
Who Should Read It: Established speakers ready to take the next step professionally and new speakers who are curious about the possibilities.
Book Review: Read the Six Minutes Review of this book

Title: Speak Like Churchill, Stand Like Lincoln: 21 Powerful Secrets of History's Greatest Speakers
Author: James Humes
What is it About: 21 chapters averaging about 10 pages each. Each chapter introduces one simple speaking technique. Historical and contemporary examples are used throughout.
Who Should Read It: Speakers looking to elevate their speechwriting and delivery from good to great.
Book Review: Read the Six Minutes Review of this book

Title: Clear and to The Point: 8 Psychological Principles for Compelling PowerPoint Presentations
Author: Stephen Kosslyn
What is it About: Well-written book full of practical tips and techniques that can be applied immediately to design your slides more effectively.
Who Should Read It: All speakers who want their visuals to complement and reinforce their message.
Book Review: Read the Six Minutes Review of this book

Speechwriting Speech Critique: Dan Pink (TED 2009) Bookending Your Speech: A Master Technique How to Ace the Short, Impromptu Speech [view all...]	Public Speaking Book Reviews Boring to Bravo Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures Thank You For Arguing [view all...]	Public Speaking Weekend Reviews 2012-01-05 2011-12-01 2011-11-18 [view all...]
Delivery Techniques How to Ace the Short, Impromptu Speech How to Thrive When Speaking Outside How to Weave Statistics Into Your Speech [view all...]	Speech Critiques Speech Critique: Dan Pink (TED 2009) Speech Analysis: Gettysburg Address – Abraham Lincoln Speech Critique: Elizabeth Gilbert @ TED (Author of Eat, Pray, Love) [view all...]	Resources for Speakers Gifts for Every Speaker… from Zero to Eighty Dollars You are Invited to the Outstanding Presentations Workshop Speeches that Changed the World [view all...]
Visual Aids How Many Slides Should You Have? How Many Slides Do You Need? Stop, Prepare, THEN PowerPoint The 10-20-30 Rule: Guy Kawasaki on PowerPoint [view all...]	Interviews Interview with Kristin Arnold, National Speakers Association President What Does Your Personal Brand Say About You as a Speaker? Interview with LaShunda Rundles: 2008 World Champion of Public Speaking [view all...]	Speaker Habits 5 Speaking Resolutions to Wow Your Audience in 2012 Why You Must Relish Every Opportunity to Speak 3 Common Ways Speakers Sabotage Themselves [view all...]