A good business presentation could be all that stands in the way of winning a lucrative contract with a client or a large sum of money from an investor. That is why it is crucial to create a compelling business presentation that is factual and easy to follow. However, if you are short on time or do not have the skills to create a visually appealing presentation, hire an experienced presentation company to create one for you.
Four Tips for a Great Presentation
Keep it short and simple
The goal of your presentation is to communicate your ideas to your audience. As a result, it can be tempting to include as much information as possible. However, this will ruin your presentation. Too much information will make it hard to follow, resulting in audience inattention. Keep it short and simple, preferably no more than five slides.
Connect with your audience
One of the most important aspects of a great presentation is the presenter’s ability to connect with their audience. To do this, you should let your passion for your business or industry shine through by speaking clearly and confidently about your topic of choice.
Make eye contact
You would be surprised how many people don’t make eye contact with their audience when presenting. Often, it comes from nerves but has the potential to derail your presentation completely, and you do not want that. Some presenters don’t even realise that they aren’t making eye contact until they’ve finished. Making eye contact with your audience and smiling will make it hard for them to look away and disengage.
Make a strong starting statement
The average human attention span can be as short as eight seconds. That is why it is vital that you grab your audience’s attention instantly. Start your presentation with a strong statement that will capture their attention—something inoffensive that they cannot ignore.
How to Structure a Business Presentation
Preparing a business presentation can feel like a minefield at times. You want to ensure that you include the most relevant information without boring your audience.
Introduce yourself
First things first, introduce yourself to your audience. A friendly introduction done with a smile will create a connection between you and the audience, which is essential if you want to hold their attention for the duration of the presentation. Start with a warm welcome, say your name and your job title. Additionally, you might briefly explain how you ended up in your role, but only if you have time.
Introduce the presentation subject
Once you have introduced yourself to your audience, you should explain the challenges or issues you will explore in your presentation. Explain how you will approach the topic and outline the outcome. You may want to include a table of contents at the start of the presentation to show the audience the journey your presentation will take.
The main body
In the main body of your business presentation, you should clearly separate the different topics you will explore. For example, if you’re a marketing agency pitching to a potential new client, split your presentation into sections, including an executive summary, goals and challenges, strategies and tactics to reach goals, work scope, metrics, and more. Make sure to put each section on a new slide, as it will make it easier for your audience to follow the presentation. This is where the work of a reputable presentation design agency comes in particularly beneficial, as a clear, visually appealing presentation will make it easier for your audience to follow the points you’re making. In addition, if you have the time and the space, include examples of past projects to demonstrate your point.
Conclusion
Once you’ve presented your main points, you should summarise your presentation in a few sentences to reinforce your message. Plus, you need to include a call to action so your audience knows what they should do next. For example, suppose you’re a marketing agency pitching to a potential client. In that case, you should provide your contact details and explain that you’re looking forward to hearing their thoughts on working together. A good presentation also allows time for questions, as your audience may want to know more about your message or purpose.
The Importance of an Effective Presentation
A good business presentation thoughtfully divided up into key points will increase the likelihood that you win more contracts or funding from clients and investors. That is precisely why a clear, visually appealing presentation is essential. If you do not have the time or resources to create one yourself, hiring a presentation agency to create an effective presentation is recommended. So if you find yourself struggling to communicate your message clearly in your script, many presentation designers will help you fine-tune your message and create the presentation visuals.