Perhaps it’s just more noticeable right now with so many online meetings, but one thing that’s struck me is how some things in the marketing toolkit get left to the last minute, or forgotten about completely.
Take presentations for example.
A good presentation can be the make or break of selling an idea or getting your team on board with your pitch.
There’s no mistaking that you will be judged on how you present your information. So make it count. Now let’s assume you’re okay with public speaking. (After all, half the battle with convincing your audience is making sure you know your subject matter inside out – and your audience.)
However, like most communication principles, try to keep things simple. Let the content speak for itself so it can enhances your audience’s experience. Take them on a journey.
15 tips on how to create a winning presentation
1. Know your audience – Who’s going to be in the room? Who are the key stakeholders? What matters most to them? (…and what doesn’t matter so much?)
2. Keep it memorable – Do you have an icebreaker to start with? Maybe begin with a compelling fact, something really interesting about your business. But be careful with humour – relevance is always the key
3. Like a good story, have a beginning, a middle and an end (sounds obvious I know), but it can really help, so consider mapping out your storyline beforehand
4. Everyone likes pictures, so use them to help support your message
5. Make sure your presentation is on brand. If you have visual guidelines, stick to them!
6. Is it legible and clear? Think about colour choice, font size and good design – if people can’t read your message, it’ll be hard to understand
7. What format works best? Shape your content around the format needed
8. Don’t try and fill it with copy. It’s not meant to be death by PowerPoint – fewer words on the screen is rarely a bad idea
9. Make sure your content and links such as videos, images or animation all work well in advance. Don’t just check a couple of minutes before!
10. Keep it simple. Most of the time, less is more so ensure your audience focusses more on you, not just the screen
11. Ensure your sales proposition is clear and succinct
12. Check for typos – get someone to proofread. No matter how many times you read it, it’s always the obvious one that gets missed
13. Have a longer version with more content for the audience to read later (more work, but your audience will appreciate it)
14. What’s your call to action? Does your audience need to do anything next? Make sure it’s clear – and easy
15. Remember it is about your audience, not you. What problem are you going to solve for them and why should they buy your idea?
How effective are your presentations?
Like everything in business, some people are more comfortable at presentations than others. If communicating your story to customers and prospects isn’t your strong point – whether it be through your presentations, website or even printed sales collateral – drop us a line and we can show you how it can be simpler and more successful.
