Slidegenius, Inc.

Save Your Deck: Methods to Recover an Unsaved PowerPoint File

Sheer panic—that’s probably your first reaction when you realize that you couldn’t save the PowerPoint file you were working on. Maybe the power went out, or your computer unexpectedly crashed. Perhaps you were too preoccupied that you didn’t think to hit “Save.” Whatever the reason, you’ve suddenly lost hours of hard work and have no clue how to get it all back.
Luckily, there’s no reason to stress over losing an unsaved PowerPoint file. Using the latest versions of PowerPoint, you can easily retrieve and recover all your hard work. Follow these steps to recover a PowerPoint file you accidentally lost:

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Method One: Recover Unsaved Presentations

If you were interrupted before saving your PowerPoint file, you could simply look for it in the Microsoft Unsaved Files folder. Go to the File tab, make sure you’re on Recent, and click on Recover Unsaved Presentations. The icon is right below the list of folders under Recent Places.

Recover-Unsaved-Presentations

Everything in the Unsaved folder is a temporary file. Make sure you recover and save everything you need because you might lose it after a few days.

Method Two: AutoRecover

If you’ve been periodically saving your work but was interrupted before you could save specific changes, you can retrieve your PowerPoint file using the AutoRecover function. First, check if you have it enabled. Go to the File tab, click on Options and go to Save. Make sure your options are similar to those in this picture:
PowerPoint-Files-AutoRecover
If you don’t have AutoRecover enabled, there’s no other way to retrieve the changes you made to your PowerPoint file. You will have to redo your work from the last save. But if everything looks good, you can then follow these steps:
1.) Copy the file destination path in the same dialogue box.
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2.) Open Windows Explorer, paste the path on the address bar, and hit Enter.
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To avoid losing crucial information, ensure AutoRecover is enabled every time you create a PowerPoint deck.

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ConclusionSGBlog_SaveYourDeck_Supporting image_SG01_JE-01

Retrieving an unsaved PowerPoint file is a no-brainer as long as you know these basic recovery methods.
You can either open the “Recover Unsaved Presentations” found in the “Recent Places” or use the AutoRecover function to check where that unsaved document must be hiding.
Learn these tricks by heart so you don’t have to worry about getting your presentation back!

Twitter: Lessons from Social Media

If there is one social media platform that has changed the way we connect with the world around us, in only 140 characters or less, only one network comes to mind.

Twitter was founded all the way back in 2006, when social media started to take the tech world by storm. Like many young startups, Twitter’s popularity didn’t start growing until a few years later. It’s now one of the ten most visited sites on the Internet.

With over 500 million users and with over 400 million tweets sent daily, the platform has been noted as the “SMS” of the Internet. The application is simply designed to engage and connect users with hashtags and trending topics that spike during notable world events such as The Olympics
twitter follow me logo

Social media strategists now use Twitter to reinforce their client’s (or own brands) marketing efforts. They take advantage of the platform to boost their presence on the Internet. To successfully use Twitter there are a few rules and regulations one must follow. Some of these guidelines are also applicable in creating an effective PowerPoint presentation

If you pay attention, there are a few similarities between creating a well-rounded “tweet” and a successful presentation.

Step 1: Simplify Your Thoughts

A tweet can only be 140 characters or less. This means your information has to be condensed and minimized to fit this requirement. A great presentation is one that is simplified. It only has minimal bullets, text, images, and animation.

Overloading your audience with too much of these will distract them from understanding your content. Before you go ahead and add extreme fonts or a fancy template, think about how less is more and how this can positively affect your presentation.

Step 2: Get With What’s Trending

Twitter is known for staying on top of prominent world topics with phrases or words that are “trending” or being tweeted by many users. Try to apply this concept to your presentation ideas. Utilize culturally in tune twitter trendsgraphics, stories or videos within your presentation to better speak to your audience. Stay on top of the news and understand what’s going on in your audience’s culture. What do they know? What do they believe in? Knowing this ahead of time will allow you to connect with your audience at a higher level.

Step 3: Get Your Audience to Follow

Within the Twitter world, your “followers” are the equivalent to your friends on Facebook or connections on LinkedIn. You have to constantly engage and entertain your audience or followers if you want them to keep following. The same can be said for presentations.

You want to be constantly interacting with your audience the entire time. Ask them questions. Pause at the end of presentations to get feedback from them. You have to appeal to your audience over everything, if not you are basically speaking to an empty room.

 

References

“Keeping Your Audience in Mind : The 4 Essential Questions.” SlideGenius, Inc. December 11, 2013. Accessed January 23, 2014.
“Study Shows Simplicity Is Key When Creating a PowerPoint Presentation.” SlideGenius, Inc. July 24, 2013. Accessed January 23, 2014.
Twitter. Accessed January 23, 2014.

Oscar Speech Sounds A Lot Like…..

Cue the famed actresses in overly expensive ball gowns. Cue the undeniably sarcastic and quirky host. Cue the applauses. It’s awards season in Hollywood.

The most prestigious, of the film awards, is of course the much anticipated Oscars. Every year The Academy nominates a few fortunate actors and actresses who are praised for their works in major motion pictures. It is a special award that every actor dreams of receiving. Only a few, however, are lucky enough to actually walk on stage and accept the gold statue themselves. After the nerve-wracking tearing of the envelope the winners are then presented on stage to deliver a speech. This speech defines their Oscar moments even as it is only done in less than two minutes.

So what can we compare an Oscar speech to?

 

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An Elevator Pitch

Short. Simple. Sweet. And most of all, straight to the point. An elevator pitch presents a product or service in as less time as possible – usually under two minutes.

An Oscar speech follows the similar concept. It delivered quickly, with the winner wrapping up his speech of gratitude and thanks in a very small amount of time. There are a few similar adjectives that we can use to compare a successful elevator pitch (which is usually paired with a PowerPoint presentation and a well rounded Oscar speech:

1. Short

An elevator pitch, just like an Oscar speech, should be between 30 seconds to two minutes. You should impose a strict time limit to your pitches. Drawing out your pitch will make your audience become disinterested in your points and, worse, stop paying attention.

As much as possible, get your points across swiftly and avoid using fillers. Condense your content into the simplest form possible within your pitch. Your goal is to allow audience to understand and learn.

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2. Memorable

Like many elevator pitches that investors and or potential clients hear daily, there are dozens of Oscar speeches going on throughout the night of the Academy Awards. A good pitch is one that is unique and becomes memorable over the other various pitches, one that stands out.

If your idea gets lost in a blur with the rest, it wasn’t a very successful one. You always remember the most unique speech of the night when you watch The Academy Awards. The same can be said for the most unique and successful pitch.

 85th Annual Academy Awards - Show

3. Passionate

An effective acceptance speech is one that is delivered with passion and pride. It simply draws you in. You can apply the same principles to an elevator pitch.

While a well-rounded Oscar speech ends with a riveting and memorable closing line, your pitch should end with a passionate power statement. When delivering a pitch, you want to present yourself to your audience as being as credible as possible. You can earn your credibility by pitching with plenty of passion.

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References

Argetsinger, Amy. “Nine Oscar Speeches That Changed the World.” Washington Post. February 22, 2013. Accessed January 20, 2014.
Ums, Likes and You Knows: Avoiding Fillers in Your Presentation.” SlideGenius, Inc. August 21, 2013. Accessed January 20, 2014.

Olympians Can Teach Presenters a Thing or Two

Olympians are no ordinary athletes. They embody the qualities of an essential role model; an individual who represents their country and values in a positive and inspirational light. Not only are these characters unbelievably talented, but they are also a true description of a genuine champion.

With Sochi 2014 quickly approaching, Olympians from all corners of the globe will join together in Russia competing in various winter sports such as skiing, figure skating, snowboarding, and hockey. These athletes have devoted their months, and even years, to rigorous training and practice. Their hard work and dedication will soon pay off as the XXII Olympic Winter Games becomes their time to present.
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Embracing the qualities that are associated with hardworking, well-respected Olympians will allow you to become a more effective presenter in the long run. Whether you’re speaking in front of a board of investors or pitching a sale to potential clients, perseverance and dedication will set you apart from the rest and allow your presentation to become effective and memorable.

There are a few questions to ask yourself before you step out on the ice or snow and present. These are the vital traits and questions Olympians from all backgrounds share in order to become gold medalists. Prior to your next PowerPoint presentation give yourself a few minutes to ask yourself these winning questions.

Have you trained adequately?

Olympians dedicate their entire lives in preparation for the big games. Long hours of training, dieting and exercise become their daily routine. A question to always ask yourself prior to your presentation is: How well prepared are you? Here are a few other guiding questions:

  • Will my audience be able to understand my main points?
  • Is this presentation marketable?
  • Does my pitch flow accordingly with my slides?

Do you have a strong will to win?

Olympians must have a passionate desire to go for the gold and win; take this mentality and apply it to your presentations. Though you may not necessarily, “win”, a gold medal you should have an aspiration to be the best, and be

Though you may not necessarily, “win”, a gold medal you should have an aspiration to be the best, and be your best. Your competition may not be visible at the time, but the audience will surely be comparing your presentation to other’s they’ve witnessed in the past.

Are you willing to accept the challenge?

Just as Olympic medalists overcome challenges during training and during the actual games, be prepared to accept any faults that may arise during your presentation. You might have a difficult question from an audience member or just a hard subject to tackle, in general, but going into the presentation with the mindset that things could, and may, go wrong will allow you to be better prepared.

You might have a difficult question from an audience member or just a hard subject to tackle, in general. But going into the presentation with the mindset that things could, and may, go wrong will allow you to be better prepared.

Are you Inspirational?

We’ve all be inspired by Olympic medalists such as, Gabby Douglas or Apolo Ohno, who’ve fearlessly decorated themselves with gold medals over the past years.

Learn from athletes like these, how can you inspire your audience? What makes your message different? What can you teach your audience? These concepts can push you in the right direction to be memorable, a concept that is crucial in presentation giving.

 

References

Sochi 2014.” Olympic.org. Accessed January 15, 2014.
Why Your Presentation Needs to Be These 3 Words.SlideGenius, Inc. January 5, 2014. Accessed January 15, 2014.

Overcoming a Public Speaking Disaster: A Lesson from Michael Bay

If you have been paying attention to recent pop culture news feeds lately, you may have heard of the phenomenon known as, “The Michael Bay Meltdown.”

During a Samsung CES press event that introduced their new 150-inch model television, the famed director was supposed to describe the product in detail. He started out great. When the teleprompter failed, however, he decided to just give up and casually walk off stage. If you haven’t had a chance to see the viral video, you can check it out here.


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The fear of speaking in front of many people is a fear that most of us share. Whether it’s in front of an audience of one or a few hundred, public speaking can be intensely nerve-wracking. It causes any normal human being to experience moments of sheer panic. The best ways to learn from your presentation mistakes are to actually make them and adhere to these changes later down the road.

Though Michael Bay blamed the teleprompter failing for his public speaking woes, being the presentation specialists that we are, there are various lessons to take away from his blunder that could have, and will happen, to any presenter at any time.

1. Don’t Memorize a Script

Memorizing a script isn’t always good when it comes to public speaking. Talking points are far different than following an actual script or prompt, and focusing on memorizing your verbiage will allow for more opportunities to slip up and freeze. Though you should always be prepared with a script, don’t focus on remembering your content word for word.

Try to focus on describing and elaborating your information with your slides. If you slip up or get lost, your slides are there to highlight your talking points and act as an outline — which is crafted in your storyboard. Improvisation is always a great alternative if you slip up!

The mistake that Michael Bay made was that he was so focused on doing a word for word delivery. Unfortunately, it only caused him to freeze up. If he had just improvised his speech, this would’ve helped him get past the situation.

2. Being Honest Will Help You in The Long Run

Everyone is bound to slip up and make mistakes, especially with public speaking. Apologizing to your audience and throwing in some laughter will show how honest and sincere you are – and this is key to being a credible presenter.

If you can’t remember what to say, or mess up your words, just laugh it off to ease the situation then apologize and move forward. Chances are your audience wouldn’t have even noticed! If you get frustrated, just take a deep breath and continue to speak. Just giving up and walking off stage like Michael Bay did shows a lack of maturity and preparation.

3. Own Up to Your Mistakes

Michael Bay made a monumental mistake by announcing to his audience that the teleprompter failed. Never let your audience become aware of your faults. This not only takes away your credibility but shows them that you are not responsible enough to fix the errors yourself.

If technical difficulties occur with the PowerPoint presentation, a public speaking professional will step up and engage with the audience until the problem is solved.

Conclusion

All in all, there is no way you can prevent a presentation or a public speaking disaster from happening. Things will go wrong, you’ll get nervous and forget your words sometimes. But giving up entirely is never the proper, or professional, solution.

 

Reference

Watch: Director Michael Bay’s CES Fail.” Bloomberg.com. Accessed January 13, 2014.

The Similarities Between Presentations and Advertisments : Super Bowl Edition

With Super Bowl XLVIII in the near future, this brings the excitement millions of Americans will come to share on February 2, 2014, as two national football teams will go head to head in one of the most highly televised programs of the year.

Apart from the notoriety of the game itself, between the AFC and NFC champions battling it out for the esteemed title, the Super Bowl is also known for creative, humorous advertisements that air during game breaks. We can expect to see some of the most well-known brands putting their best foot forward in their most ingenious and creative commercial installments of the year.

These infamous advertisements share various similarities to what can be described as successful and effective PowerPoint presentations. Compiling a presentation that speaks to your audiences and engages them is a similar concept that should be applied to distinguishing an innovative commercial that markets and intrigues viewers. Below are a few shared examples that both successful Super Bowl commercials and presentations have in common.

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Emotion Plays a Part

A good presentation is one that is memorable, and a memorable presentation is one that evokes emotion. Audience members are always captivated by content that is presented with emotion, which can be done by sharing a story or moving visuals. The same concept is applicable to an effective commercial as the brand’s focus is to connect with the audience on an emotional level. After all, the purpose of an advertisement is to sell. Appealing to the consumer’s emotion can make them feel connected to your product or message and in turn, generate sales.

Convey a Message

Every presentation should have a definitive message and this should be clearly repeated throughout your PowerPoint presentation. Having too many themes or conflicting ideas will leave your audience confused: you should attempt to actually teach them something. It’s important to stay on the same page with your audience throughout the entire presentation. The same can be said for a successful commercial, a good Super Bowl advertisement conveys a great message that not only covers what product or service it’s selling but the story behind it.

Become Memorable

Everyone’s favorite Super Bowl commercials are the ones they remember. Your PowerPoint presentation is a compilation of several different components, including graphics, statistics, bullets and talking points. As the presenter, it’s your job to carefully select these in order to project the purposes and themes you want your audience to remember overall. The most memorable Super Bowl commercial of all time was the Apple 1984 Introduction of the Mac Computer. You can watch the commercial here

What’s your favorite Super Bowl commercial? Comment below and tell us why!

 

References

Apple 1984 Super Bowl Commercial Introducing Macintosh ComputerYouTube. Accessed January 10, 2014.
Met Life StadiumAccessed January 10, 2014.

Maintain Audience Attention With This One Technique

Catching someone’s attention is one thing. Keeping them interested is another.

So here’s your challenge: What can you do to maintain audience attention? It’s almost an unmanageable task due to different factors. For one, every audience member analyzes and processes information differently. This makes appealing to all types of thinkers quite a daunting task.

Another issue is that people have this aversion to sales talks, even if you are simply selling them a particular idea, not a product. So above everything, it’s imperative that your audience learns something interesting about your message instead. There is one rule of thumb that can help you make sure your presentation is above all, understandable….

Put Yourself in Their Shoes

 

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When drafting up a presentation ask yourself this very simple question throughout the preparation of your PowerPoint. Will my points and train of thought be able to hold audience attention and keep them interested? Is this information useful to them? Is there too much content on this slide? Will they comprehend my message?

But placing yourself in the role of your audience will help guide you to think outside the box. Putting everything in their perspective, when you are outlining and creating your presentation, will not only help you cut down excess (and useless) information but also allow you to design a better PowerPoint.

Selfishness Hinders Audience Connections

While most of us subconsciously create our work in the mindset of thinking about us – think about them instead. Take this theory and apply this to your next presentation, you can practice it by going over your finished presentation and jot down notes at places you may think could use some editing and re-designing.

See if you are wholly interested throughout your PowerPoint presentation, and if your mind seems to wander at moments where information isn’t digestible or understandable. Take that into account because it is likely that your audience’s mind would wander at those exact same moments.

Conclusion

To maintain audience attention for a designated period of time does seem almost impossible. With breakthrough statistics categorizing the average adult attention span at a mere 5-12 minutes long, it makes sense for any professional presenter to panic. Sure, there are a few steps that you can take to enhance  your professional PowerPoint presentations. However, they don’t offer a real guarantee that you will be able to capture audience attention or make them comprehend your ideas completely.

Being able to communicate effectively is the single most important factor in presentation science, regardless of your topic or message, your audience needs to be on the same page as you.

References:

4 Types of Audience Members You Need to Present For.SlideGenius, Inc. November 13, 2013.
Vidyarthi, Neil. “Attention Spans Have Dropped from 12 Minutes to 5 Minutes — How Social Media Is Ruining Our Minds [Infographic].SocialTimes. December 14, 2011.

Why Your Presentation Needs to be These 3 Words

Regardless the topic of your presentation, regardless the audience in front of you, regardless time allotted to you, and regardless the goal you have in mind; every single one of your presentations should be about these three words: Understandable, Memorable & Emotional.

Shape your presentation to concurrently fit these three categories, and you will be able to make millions! Not really, but you will definitely have a very effective presentation, which will lead to more sales.

Here is a Forbes’ breakdown of these three categories and the significance of each one:

Understandable.

Without clear and understandable slides, your professional PowerPoint presentation is practically useless. Simplicity is key when it comes to design. In aims to make your content and CTA’s clear to your audience, aim to keep your deck to ten slides and at a very maximum of 4 points per slide.

Bullet points are probably the most widely used form of delivery, but they aren’t necessarily the best. “In 2001 the iPod was “1,000 songs in your pocket.” In 2008, the MacBook Air was “The world’s thinnest notebook.” Steve Jobs always described his products in one sentence.” Bullet points can be effective because they are simple and quick, which makes them easy to understand, but nothing beats delivering your point in a conversational, one-sentence structure. Saying your point as if you were telling it to your mom, friend, or a random stranger is a great way to think of your delivery during your presentation.

Another useful way of thinking of understandability is the “Twitter Test.” If you can express your point in 140 characters or less, you’ll make your point in its simplest form, which is always the best form.

Memorable.

Memory’s magic number is 3! “Neuroscientists generally agree that the human mind can only consume anywhere from three to seven points in short-term, or “working memory” (This is why the phone number is only seven digits. Long ago scientists discovered if you ask people to remember eight digits, they forget just about the entire sequence of numbers). Incorporate this concept of 3 in your presentations. This can be done in a handful of creative ways: describe concepts in three words, divide your whole presentation into three parts (and say that you’re doing that), give the “three next steps,” or use the idea however you see fit. Rule-3 packaging makes things easier to understand, which in turn is more memorable.

Emotional.

Not all people are logical, but I can assure you that everyone is emotional. An emotional story will be more likely to reel in sales than a scientific finding. Ethical, unethical, right or wrong, it seems hearts and guts prove to be better salesmen than brains! Emotion can be presented in a multitude of useful venues. These include, but are not limited to photographs, videos, songs, colors schemes, the way you dress, the way you talk, and even the lighting in the room you present in. Everything around us can sway the way we feel in some way; large and small.  Knowing your audience well enough to the point that you can identify what will make them cry, laugh, scream, or sing can be the single most useful tool at your disposal. Be emotional in the way you talk; if you want your audience to be excited, talk as if you were excited!

To sum up, when you’re designing your next corporate presentation, or investor pitch, or just any PowerPoint presentation, make sure you can describe the deck as understandable, memorable, and emotional, and you will find yourself accomplishing whatever the deck was created to accomplish.

 

Reference:

Gallo, Carmine. “The Three Basic Secrets of All Successful Presentations.” Forbes. February 22, 2013.

7 Apps Every Presenter Should Use


“With all the apps out there, it’s easy to get stuck with the same icons on your home screen — and never so much as click on the newer ones that would benefit your business most.” – Mashable

Each of these apps have the capability to make your presentations more effective, organize your time to complete those PowerPoint presentations more efficiently, or just make your life easier in general.

1.  Lift

Lift helps you achieve your goals, big or small. With your busy schedule, traveling, and running from conference to conference, it is important to stay organized, and keep the important goals you have in check. Lift will force you to keep consistently working on your important goals or tasks at whatever frequency you want.

2. CloudMagic

CloudMagic is a universal and indispensable search engine for all your data. CloudMagic lets you search across Gmail, Yahoo, Dropbox, Evernote, etc., through one simple search box. Very useful when putting together data for any investor pitch, corporate presentation, or sales pitch!

3. TripIt

Tripit is most useful for our “always traveling” presenters. TripIt gives you the ability to organize your travels just by forwarding your booking confirmations to an email address. This app will reduce your stress five times over and will allow you to relax and focus on your presentation instead of the flight.

4. Refresh

Refresh digs through social networks to provide users with a bio on anyone before meeting them; a great way to get some research on your audience prior to delivering your PowerPoint! Knowing the dirty “deets” on specific audiences will allow you to relate  to them, which will in turn keep them interested.

5. Audible

As a speaker, you should always be learning and reading books. It’s a great way to keep a steady stream of personal stories, quotes, or news that will come in handy to keep your data unique, interesting, and relevant. I’ve found Audible extremely helpful to listen to books while on the go.

6. LIA

With LIA you can access sales content in the field on a tablet and it works. When you only have 5 minutes with your prospect – trust LIA

7. Corkulous

Corkulous is an easy-to-use idea board only for iPads in which you can collect, organize, and share your ideas in a completely natural and organic way.

8. Sadun’s Whiteboard

This app lets you transform your IPad into a presentation screen and connect to any projection system using an Apple VGA connection or composite/component video-out cable and draw directly to an external screen using standard whiteboard markers and erasers. Really creative way to do live examples of anything you’re presenting on.

If you know any other useful apps for presenters or work related to presentations, feel free to comment them below to be added to this post!

 

References:

Gerber, Scott. “15 Underrated Apps Every Entrepreneur Should Use.” Mashable. October 26, 2013.

Tan, Kay. “30 Useful IPad Apps for Business & Presentation.Hongkiatcom.

A Lesson from A Christmas Story: How to Build Your Credibility

Effectively gaining your audience’s trust is imperative in any presentation setting.  Building that sense of reliability can be fairly tricky but there are a few lessons we can takeaway from one of the greatest holiday movies and a certain little boy named Ralphie.

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If you aren’t familiar with Jean Shepard’s, A Christmas Story, it’s the classic story of a boy who will do anything to get what he wants for Christmas. In Ralphie’s case, he fantasizes about the, “official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model BB rifle with a compass in the stock “, the one and only thing he wants for Christmas. Throughout the entire film, Ralphie is set on a determined quest to convince his “Old Man”, mother, teacher and Santa himself that he absolutely needs this gift, even though he could potentially “shoot his eye out with that thing”.

So what can we learn about a hopeful little boy who desperately wants a gun for Christmas? It’s simple, Ralphie was able to build credibility with his parents because in the end he got what he wanted when they surprised him with his beloved BB gun. Though his parents were well aware of the possible danger of shooting his eye out, Ralphie constantly assured them that he “would be careful”-  enabling their trust.

Here are a few suggestions to help you establish that credibility and trust from your audience when giving a PowerPoint presentation:

Ensure Strong Verbal Delivery and Body Language

Speak loud and clear: the more understandable you are to your audience, the more they can trust what you’re saying. Use effective body language as well: stand tall and don’t fidget nervously to assure them that you’re cool, calm and confident.

Teach More, Sell Less

The purpose of your presentation is to teach your audience your content- selling them goes simultaneously with this. The more your audience learns, the more they remember.

Engage Constantly

Ask questions and listen to their ideas. Effective communication goes along way with trust building: your audience can believe your ideas when you believe in their concerns.

Share Beneficial Content

Skip the fluff, even if your content is simplified—another important PowerPoint tip. Only provide your audience with information that is useful and relatable. Don’t project a ton of text and statistics that they will soon forget, less is more!

Design, Write and Look Professional

This is a three step process. You want your PowerPoint to look neat, clean and presentable so skip the over abundance of animation and bordered backgrounds. Grammar and spell check multiple times before presenting, even ask for a second pair of eyes for extra edits. And most importantly, look presentable! It’s better to be overdressed than under dressed.

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These four tips will help you build trustworthiness with any audience  base. Whether you are presenting to a conference room full of people, or even just one person, you are building a reputation for yourself within that time period. From start to finish your audience is meticulously judging your words, content and overall appearance of your professional presentation. Capture their attention in a good way and establish that trust from beginning to end.

Though Ralphie may not be a great example in this case, because in the end his parents ended up being right when he almost shot his eye out, he successfully built his own credibility by convincing his parents that they could trust him.  In your next professional presentation consider these tips in order to effectively gain your audience’s trust, I double dog dare you.

How to Be the Best : Lessons from Brands that Changed the World

Netflix. GoPro. The iPod. 

What do all of them have in common? These are all original products and concepts that uniquely redefined their industries. They revolutionized the way we watch movies, listened to music and recorded the world around us.
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It was pure originality that allowed these ideas to become the most popular name brand names of the era. Simplistic and innovative ideas combining together to create a one of the kind solution to certain problems. 10,000 songs in your pocket, a portable video camera, and a virtual Blockbuster.

So what can we learn from these very different products? Their ingenuity enabled them to become the most successful products and concepts in their markets and it is originality that allows you to create the most impactful PowerPoint presentation. There are a few concepts to utilize in your next presentation to create an innovative and unique PowerPoint.
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Branded Templates: Market your way through every slide. Include customized branding and logos throughout your presentation, which gives each slide it’s own unique flair.

Simplicity: This concept goes hand in hand with originality. Minimalize your key points and make sure your content is easily understandable and memorable.

Creative Graphics, Visuals, and Animation: The most creatively designed PowerPoints are the most memorable presentations. Utilize impactful images, sensible animation, and visuals that will excite your audience.

In essence, creating an original PowerPoint doesn’t mean to go out of the standard boundaries of presentation etiquette. You should always have an organized outline with a beginning, middle and end that keeps your story flowing. Being unique is utilizing creativity as a supplementary component of something that is already structured.
An original presentation is not only an impressive one, but one that also shows your creative marketing strategy. Think of ways to use innovation and apply this to your content throughout your presentation. Tell a story, throw in some humor and ask questions throughout your presentations to engage your audience. Do what it takes to be different.

 

Reference:

Putting Your Presentation before Your PowerPoint.SlideGenius. December 9, 2013.

Lessons from Social Media: Instagram

Whether it be taking picture of plane wings, an appetizing dinner or an artsy photo of your latte, Instagram has become one of the most prominent forms of social media to date. The application became so popular that it  was acquired by Facebook this past year in a hefty billion dollar deal. It may be the pure simplicity of photo sharing that draws so many users to the app, but there are certain steps one must partake in to get the perfect “Insta”. We’ve created a comparison between the steps of taking the perfect picture and creating the perfect powerpoint presentation. 

Step 1 : Picking the Perfect Angle 

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The first step of taking any Instagram is getting a unique angle, just like picking a perfect (and direct) angle for your audience when creating a presentation idea. Your ideas and thoughts presented (simply) within your powerpoint should be original and one of a kind, the better the ideas the more these will resonate with your audience.

 

Step 2: Picking the Perfect Filter

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No Instagram is complete without a perfect filter to give it a spruce of color and the same is said for sparking up your presentation. You can add character to any powerpoint slides with eye-opening graphics, videos and images, the more colorful and put together- the better!

Step 3: Picking the Appropriate Hashtag

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After you’ve snapped your picture and added the perfect filer, tagging hashtags is necessary to make the Instagram complete.  The same step should be used in your final completion of your PowerPoints you should always review your finished slides to make sure all your ideas connect with each other and most importantly- make sense!

Avoiding a PowerPoint Penalty Flag

You can really use PowerPoint for just about anything…..

This past week’s story in the world of sports came from a man who submitted a PowerPoint presentation as his resume for an open coaching position for the University of North Dakota’s football team. Turns out he doesn’t quite have the standard credentials we were expecting to see. Christopher McComas, who currently works as an technician at Marshall University, made headlines this week as his application for the position went viral on the Internet. He listed out many his esteemed qualifications which included his many years of experience playing Madden and NCAA Football on his beloved Playstation.

The story of Christopher’s application became an Internet sensation. Between the lack of actual qualifications that are appropriate for a collegiate athletic position and his horribly put together powerpoint design, there are a few take aways we can learn from his errors.

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Here are a few mistakes we noticed in Christopher’s presentation:

  • Formatting : Avoid using Comic Sans and boring templates, this shows a lack of effort and preparation.

  • Grammar/Spelling:  With bullet points people tend to think run on sentences are acceptable, but try to avoid this and utilize appropriate and professional language

  • Lack of Content: There is no significant or persuasive content within his presentations that supports his claim.

  • Organization:  There is no real structure – a presentation should have all three components: a title, a body and a takeaway.

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Though we wish Christopher the best of luck in his attempts to coach football at the University of North Dakota, one thing we can guarantee is that this PowerPoint is less than impressive and maybe next time he should just stick to the normal resume format for his next  job application.

Full Story: http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2013/12/11/5202166/sb-nation-endorses-chris-mccomas-for-north-dakota-head-coach

The Top 5 Major PowerPoint Mistakes

Save yourself from a PowerPoint disaster with SlideGenius’s top five list of major PowerPoint presentation no’s of the year. Avoiding these common mistakes will have you going from PowerPoint amateur to professional in a matter of minutes – creating your most impressive presentation yet.

5. Paragraphs on Slides

Having giant paragraphs on your slide will guarantee you two things: a disinterested audience that won’t remember your content. We tell stories with words and images, having a ton of paragraphs up on your slides will distract your audience from listening to your points. Too much text  also provides you with more of an opportunity to read directly off of your slides, which of course is another major presentation no. You can avoid this by using bullet points as your primary text formatting- this allows you to broadcast important information without causing your audience to fall asleep.

4. Sound Effects per Animation

Sound effects cause too much chaos during any presentation and will divert your audience’s attention,  prevent this mistake by eliminating sound with your transitions. You can easily do this by making sure you’ve clicked “none” in the sound options in the animation box.

3 Using Elementary Fonts

While we all we’ll admit to using our longtime favorites Comic Sans or Garamond Script (yes they are pretty and cute) avoid using these types of fonts within a professional presentation. Stick with the most basic and easily legible fonts available so your audience can actually read your text without wondering if that letter is a g…or maybe a y?

2. Unusual Color Choices and Palettes

Skip choosing awkward color schemes that don’t match well and could possibly distract your audience by let’s say, blinding them. Avoid unusual color combinations such as red and green that are bright and disruptive. Keep your color scheme consistent throughout your entire presentation utilizing the same two or three colors. Also, avoid using those tempting patterned or textured powerpoint themes that will cause your font to be lost in the midst of an chaotic background.

1. Avoiding T.M.I.

T.M.I or Too Much Information is the ultimate general mistake when drafting up any PowerPoint presentation. Too much text, too many slides, and too much content will backfire on transcribing your ideas to your audience. Remember that the average adult thinking span is only five to seven minutes long, so keep all information simple and short -less is more! Tips to avoid this are having time limits and slide maximums (this should be around 15 slides) so you aren’t going overboard with your presentation.
Works Cited: http://presentationsoft.about.com/od/presentationmistakes/tp/080722_presentation_mistakes.htm

Keeping Your Audience in Mind : The 4 Essential Questions to Ask Yourself

“A good teacher, like a good entertainer who first must hold his audience’s attention, then he can teach his lesson” – John Henrik Clarke

If you ask any author what questions they ask themselves before drafting up their next bestseller, chances are they’ll tell you the first and most foremost step is targeting a specific audience. Presentations are all universally based around an audience because they are the reason why presenters, present. Before you start gathering content or building an outline for your next PowerPoint presentation, you should ask yourself these essential questions first.

Who Are They?

Your first step is knowing the basic knowledge and understanding of who your audience is. These include aspects such as their size, prior knowledge, and expectations. Are you presenting to a small or large group? What kind of production are they expecting? What kind of company culture do they share? Reaching out and personally connecting with them will make all the difference.

What Do They Know?

You don’t want to be going over concepts that the audience is already aware of. Understand what they have prior knowledge of and exclude sounding redundant in your presentation by not utilizing this information. This may require a substantial amount of research, but knowing this background information will put you a step ahead in the game.

What Interests Them?

Losing your audience’s interest is the ultimate presentation backfire, keep them entertained with personalized facts and ideas that are tailored to them exclusively. Do a substantial amount of research on their current projects and incorporate this knowledge within your powerpoint slides.

What Do You Want Them To Learn?

Your takeaway is the most essential feature of your entire presentation. The most vital question (before starting any presentation) is what do you want your audience to remember most? You are the teacher giving your audience a lesson- they should learn from you and your ideas. When crafting your presentation make sure to emphasize these themes or points regularly so your audience can remember the key points first.

 

Reference:

Sieber, Tina. “10 PowerPoint Tips for Preparing a Professional Presentation.Makeuseof.com. May 23, 2009.

Our Best PowerPoint Recommendations of 2013

The developing art of PowerPoint changes year by year; bringing forth new ideas that create all around better presentations. We’ve compiled our list of the most effective and beneficial tips from 2013.

Stay Consistent.

Consistency is key when it comes to your companies branding – the basic marketing should be universal throughout your entire presentation. This uniformity should include your companies logos, color, background, theme and graphic styling. The consistency will help reflect your company’s mission and philosophy by remaining constant on all platforms and this will create a recognizable brand to customers and audience members alike- which builds trust and loyalty.

Back to Basics.

You tell a story with your presentation slides,  so think of your PowerPoint as a high school essay that starts with an outline; organizing your introduction, your main points, counterpoints and conclusion. Your presentation should include all of these concepts and flow through accordingly.

Outline Smart.

Every substantial project starts somewhere and your powerpoint presentation should always start with a storyboard. This tool keeps your slides on point and helps you follow your persuasive argument throughout the entire presentation. A storyboard efficiently allows you to write all your points and ideas down prior to starting your powerpoint, which organizes your ideas effectively.

Images Speak Louder than Words.

A picture is worth a thousand words. The images that you place within your slides should be carefully chosen to fit your presentation. Another tip to consider is  to chose high quality images, look for HD or downloadable high-res images when searched on the Internet for your content, these will look much more polished on a large projector.

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Applying the Right Tools.

Utilizing effective outside tools can be used to enhance many components of your presentation slides. Touching back on a few we’ve covered in the past include beneficial support sites including, The PowerPoint FAQ that answers all your common day PowerPoint questions.

Putting Your Presentation Before Your PowerPoint

When drafting up any big presentation it’s easy to get caught up and forget about the vital questions that you should be asking yourself. With everything that is contributed to a PowerPoint presentation remember the key points you really want your audience to focus on.

A common misconception when giving any PowerPoint presentation is making your slides the focus, rather than your message- or actual verbiage. This is done by reading directly off your slides and reciting the text word for word. What most people don’t understand is that your PowerPoint is there as a supplementary piece that is used to solely enhance and elaborate your message.

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While most of us have the urge to initially focus on getting all of our main points physically written onto a presentation- keep in mind that the PowerPoint slides are suppose to highlight takeaways and provide the content which is used accompany your story. The worst mistake you can make as a presenter is reading your slides word by word, which results in your audience completely losing interest and attention. Remember that, “communication is a transfer of emotion” and this becomes vital in getting your audience to understand your points and ideas.

Before you become caught up in dedicating your time to sprucing up your PowerPoint with tons of facts and fancy themed templates, understand that your speech is equally as important. Your story and words are just as significant as any statistic or graphics you have on your slides, so don’t forget to adequately prepare for your verbal content.

Your presentation is your message. It is the sole reason you even stand up in front of an audience and give PowerPoint in the first place. Be careful not to lose sight of the most significant details in any presentation preparation and make sure your message is portrayed in the most clear and effective way possible.

Works Cited: http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2007/01/really_bad_powe.html

Remapping the Self: A TEDx Talk with Erika Casriel

How does one define themselves? Why is it that we tend to think our judgements and ideas surpass those around us; and why do our emotions play a part in this? Psychology journalist Erika Casriel discusses new developments within the neuroscience field in a describing a new concept titled, “conciocenterism”, an idea she presented with TED, an organization that broadcasts “ideas worth sharing”.

SlideGenius developed her TEDx Presentation which you can watch here.

Some of Erika’s presentation ideas about this revolutionary notion of “conciocenterism” included concepts such as, instead of thinking of ourselves as the center of the universe we must challenge ourselves and see the more rational sides of our emotions and actions. Her theory challenges us to step outside ourselves and silence the illusion of the “little man inside our mind”. She provides a great analogy stating that instead of seeing ourselves as the lead actor in our life we should place ourselves within the audience position as well; therefore not letting irrational emotions and single minded judgments get the best of ourselves but to look at the bigger picture.

This idea of drifting away from egocentrism can also be tied back into giving a presentation, as you as the presenter must see both sides of the picture in order to connect with your audience by allowing them to see your inner thoughts as well.

References:

Casriel, Erika. “Remapping the Self: Neuroscience Gets Personal.” Lecture, Navesink, January 1, 2013

Why Your Presentation Needs to Be These 3 Words.SlideGenius. January 5, 2014.

What Breaking Bad Can Teach Us about Closing a Presentation *No Spoilers!*

Breaking Bad, AMC’s hit crime drama we’ve all come to know, love, and mournfully wave goodbye too, ended two weeks ago in a (without giving too much away) justified, epic climax after five seasons of watching Walter White (A.K.A. Heisenberg) turn from sheepish high school chemistry teacher to roaring meth kingpin.

For those of you who haven’t seen BrBa to its bitter-sweet end, I won’t go into details. What I will say of it is that I was thoroughly pleased with its conclusion, but not altogether satisfied, which is exactly what a great ending should be.

Ending our presentations requires the same careful planning. The show’s infamously meticulous Executive Producer Vince Gilligan put a great amount of thought and effort into the show’s final chapter, and that’s because he knows what his audience is going to remember.

There’s a famous saying in the sports world: “You’re only as good as your last game.” From this, we can take away that we’ll be remembered for our most recent victory and defeat. Our significance is who we are today. For a TV show–and for a presentation–the finale, or the closing, will be what is most remembered.

Even if the first 90 percent of your presentation is brilliant, but the last 10 percent is a total wash, guess what they’ll remember from the presentation? The horrific ending. Fair? maybe not, but definitely the reality.

So how to make sure your audience is left with the perfect ending? Here’s a few things Breaking Bad executed flawlessly that we can work into our presentations.

Leave Your Audience Wanting More

I previously stated that Breaking Bad’s ending was fantastic, yet not entirely satisfying. This is because, to me, the show ended at its peak, which I believe is precisely what Gillian planned. The series had a great story arc that resolved all issues, but we all still wanted the show to go on.

You don’t want your audience counting the minutes until you stop talking by the time you’re on the later half of your presentation. In fact, you should end the presentation saying everything you need to say, but your audience wants to keep listening. This will not only have them leaving with a favorable impression of you, but it will keep you and your presentation on their minds, ultimately leading to your information being better retained.

Don’t leave loose ends

There’s a big difference between a show ending at its peak and one that ends open-ended and often confusingly (I’m looking at you, Lost).

Just like this confusing promotional poster, Lost's conclusion left watchers scratching their heads.
Just like this confusing promotional poster, Lost’s conclusion left watchers scratching their heads.

Make sure everything in your presentation is adequately addressed and all questions answered. Many presentations leave their audience almost more confused that when the presentation started. A great way of ensuring your audience understood what you had to say is to leave time at the end for a Q&A session. At SlideGenius, we recommend to allot an equal amount of time for your Q&A session as for your presentation.

Hammer home your message

Just like Bogdan's eyebrows, our endings
Just like Bogdan’s eyebrows, our presentation’s message in our conclusion should be apparent and unavoidable.

Breaking Bad brought it all back out of the wood works for the finale. Characters we hadn’t seen in a couple seasons come back to life to be part of this modern-day western, and the episode even opens with Walter White back in his early meth-cooking days, where he still lies to his wife about having to work late at the car wash for its egotistical owner Bogdan. Don’t just end, recap. Remind them of your key points and overall message. Ending on your last point will likely reinforce the idea that the last point is the oly thing to take away, when it’s usually just one of many that you made.

What Professional Athletes Can Teach Us about Preparing for a Winning Presentation

There’s a saying in the sports world that 90 percent of performance is mental.

This isn’t to say that all the intense physical preparation, practice, and training for the big game won’t have a huge effect on an athlete’s performance, but none of that hard work will matter without being mentally prepared for the pressures of high-level competition.

Similarly, while it’s obviously vital to practice, obtain the best professional PowerPoint possible and plan all aspects of your presentation carefully, to avoid stress and pressure affecting you at the moment of your presentation. If you’re not mentally prepared then that presentation you worked so hard to perfect might never come to fruition. Look at some of today’s top athletes, like Peyton Manning and Lebron James, prepare themselves physically and mentally before any big game and have this down to an exact science.

Visualize Success

There was a study conducted by Dr. Judd Blaslotto at the University of Chicago in which the subjects were divided into three groups. At the beginning of the study, he tested each group on how many free throws they could make.

After this, he had the first group practice free throws every day for an hour, the second group just visualized making free throws successfully for an hour, and the third group didn’t do diddly squat.

After 30 days, the groups were retested. The third group didn’t improve. The first group improved by 24 percent and the second—the ones who did nothing but sit around all day thinking about shooting free throws—they improved by 23 percent.

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Success can look as easy as this. Simply imagining the success of your presentation can help ensure it.

Visualizing success is imperative to that success manifesting itself. If you are continually thinking about all the terrible things that could go wrong during a speech, this negative reinforcement may result in a poor performance. However, if you make it a point in your preparation to picture yourself giving a winning presentation, studies show that this will have a discernible positive impact.

Golfing and Grace Under Pressure

When pro female golfer Inbee Park won the U.S. Female Open earlier this summer, she credited her success to two things: her experience and her mental health coach.

This reiterates the two-part recipe for success in both sports and presenting to an audience. Preparation, practice, and experience are the foundation for success, but mental toughness is the final ingredient to a winning presentation.

Champion golfer Inbee Park employs a mental health coach to help keep her cool on the course.
Champion golfer Inbee Park employs a mental health coach to help keep her cool on the course.

Many golfers now use a mental coach to learn how to embrace anxiety before a tournament in order to use it to their advantage. The right amount of anxiety can heighten our awareness and sharpen our senses. The trick is to stay on top of your anxieties, controlling them rather than letting them control you.

While obviously this post can’t do what a mental coach can, some important lessons a mental coach often provides are:

Don’t carry mistakes from the previous hole through the rest of the round. When giving a presentation, don’t let past flubs haunt you. View each presentation as a unique opportunity to prove yourself.

Deep breaths can go a long way. It will lower your heart rate and allow you to think clearly and rationally about the situation.

Enjoy yourself. When you’re having fun, you won’t be weighed down by the pressure of the situation. Realize that people just want to enjoy your speech and have fun with it.

Maintain a Positive Outlook

Psychology today analyzed endurance sports such as marathon running and found that a key part of enduring these grueling races is mental outlook. While there isn’t as much crossover between presentation and endurance sports, there is a good lesson to learn about maintaining a positive attitude in the face of unexpected challenges, which is important when things don’t go as planned during our presentations.

“The key is how people respond to the stressful conditions,” writes psychologist Jim Taylor, Ph.D. “If you have two athletes of equal ability and one sees, for example, rain and wind as a threat that scares and intimidates them and the other as a challenge that they know they can overcome, the latter athlete will be more successful.”

This guy might be enjoying the rain a little too much, but he's certainly a good example of not letting misfortunes bog you down.
This guy might be enjoying the rain a little too much, but he’s certainly a good example of not letting misfortunes bog you down.

So if there’s a technology malfunction, an unruly crowd , or any of the unforeseeable flubs that tend to arise, remember to view them not as a death sentence to your presentation, but as another challenge to overcome and prove yourself with.

Check out our Webinar for ON24 :Teaching the Importance of Simplicity

 

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SlideGenius Founder and CEO Rick Enrico spoke last Thursday on the importance of simplicity in presentation design as a part of ON24’s very first installment of its Webinar Academy.

To view the webinar, titled, “Avoiding Information Overload: The Importance of Simplicity in Presentation Design,” do the quick, 1-minute registration here and view the entire webinar series created by ON24, a leading virtual communications company. Along with Rick’s, you’ll find several other Webinars that have a lot to teach about presenting in the digital age.

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While most presentations designed by SildeGenius are given in person, the attention ON24 is giving to Webinars is indicative of a growing trend toward Internet-based presenting and how this is expanding our scope of how we can reach an audience. By viewing our webinar, you’ll see that all the key elements of an effective PowerPoint presentation are still there, but coupled with it is the ability to reach millions of people at the click of a button by creating your presentation online.

How to Think Like $5.99 and Not Like $6.00

Imagine you own a clothing store. Now you decide to begin a sale for that store. Let’s say a particular type of shorts usually costs $20 per short, but for the purposes of the sale you’re going to mark them down to $15 a piece.

There are two ways you could present that discount. The first would be as a percentage. Going from $20 to $15 would be 25% off. The second would be as an absolute number with $5 off. Which way is better?

Both discounts amount to the same final price. 25% off $20 and $5 off $20 both result in the customer paying $15 for the shorts. So both representations of the discount should have the same effect, right?

Wrong. Jonah Berger, author of Contagion, explains to us that the consumers find the 25% discount more attractive than the 5$ off. While the two discounts are the same economically, they don’t trigger the same psychological effect. One feels like a larger discount than the other.

Accordingly, the next time you’re reporting numerical information, pay attention to how you are presenting it. The way changes are represented can have a big impact on how they’re perceived.

Focus on the final number.

Like the story above, most people seemed to be more enticed by the offer when the discount number was larger. Rule of thumb would be whenever you are offering a discount under $100 display it as a percentage, and when the offer is greater than $100 display it as an absolute number. This will make sure you are always maximizing your psychological impact. Simpler is better. No one cares about a page of numbers and figures that look like the green screen display from the matrix. You need to simplify your results, and then simplify them again. Think of your raw data as a pile of freshly picked vegetables. People don’t want to eat them when they still have dirt and leave stems on them. People want a quick and painless way to stay healthy, so what do you do? You take those vegetables, clean them, cut them, put them in a blender and make a smoothie. Then you take that smoothie and turn it into a wheatgrass shot. Quick and to the point. So yes, your data should be reduced to the size of a wheatgrass shot! After all, the simpler your can represent your findings, the easier it will be for your audience to understand you, which will in turn make your call-to-action more successful.

Tell a story.

Everyone knows the best stories are the ones told with pictures, so use them. Portraying data graphically reveals patterns in the data that are hard to notice otherwise Visual depictions of data are almost universally understood without requiring knowledge of a language. It is also useful to alter your tone and speed as you approach the finding of any given graph. Much like when telling a story, the storyteller tends to get really excited toward the climax or “best part” of the story; it is not only useful but critical to draw attention to the most important features of the data.

I’ll leave you with Hans Rosling’s fascinating TED talk revolved around displaying data effectively, which you can watch here

 

References:

Berger, Jonah. “Fuzzy Math: What Makes Something Seem Like A Good Deal?linkedin. August 28, 2013.

Kakutani, Michiko. “Mapping Out the Path to Viral Fame.The New York Times. February 25, 2013.

Rosling, Hans. “The Best Stats You’ve Ever Seen.ted.com. February 2006.

Limitations of an In-House Presentation Design Team

Across business sizes and industries, PowerPoint presentations have become—and continuously remain to be—a powerful tool for communicating ideas, concepts, and information. More and more companies invest in in-house presentation design teams to ensure their message is delivered effectively and efficiently. However, while having an in-house design team can have advantages, it also has limitations.

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Let’s explore the limitations when companies rely solely on an in-house presentation design team.

Limited creativity and diversity

In-house design teams can become complacent or stagnant, leading to a lack of exposure to new and diverse trends and ideas. Moreover, team members may develop tunnel vision and narrow thinking, resulting in designs that may not resonate with a broader audience.

Outsourcing presentation design to an external agency can provide fresh and diverse perspectives and a wide range of design options.

Cost and scalability

Maintaining an in-house presentation design team can be expensive, and scaling it up or down can be challenging. If the team is not fully utilized, there is also the potential for idle time and wasted resources.

Outsourcing presentation design to external agencies can be a more cost-effective solution. External agencies have a larger pool of resources and expertise that can be scaled up or down, as needed, to meet a company’s presentation design requirements.

Limited expertise and resources

An in-house presentation design team may have limited expertise required to design effective presentations for different business sectors. Moreover, having a small team with limited resources can hinder the quality of work.

Limitations in expertise and resources can lead to team burnout and turnover, causing more challenges for other team members and ultimately, the company. 

Design agencies have the expertise and resources needed to create compelling presentations. Therefore, outsourcing presentation design to an external agency with proven expertise in handling projects for companies from different industries is a strategic move.

Inability to meet varying demands

In-house teams may struggle to meet varying demands for different types of presentations, leading to delays or subpar results. More so, they may be overwhelmed by sudden or unexpected demands that require additional resources or expertise.

Presentation design agencies have more extensive resources and expertise that can be tapped into to meet varying requirements. They can also provide a wider range of design and creative services, including content development, training, and PowerPoint support.

Hiring a presentation design agency

When considering outsourcing presentation design, you should choose the suitable one for your business. The agency should have a proven track record of producing high-quality, high-impact presentations and be able to work within your budget and timeline.

Also, consider the agency’s experience working with companies in your industry. Furthermore, a reputable presentation design agency should offer a range of creative services to meet other design requirements you may have.

In-house presentation design teams may have several limitations that can hinder them from producing high-quality, impactful presentations. Thus, partnering with a presentation design company can provide fresh and diverse perspectives, access to a pool of creatives and the latest design tools, and ensure high-quality output.

SlideGenius is a leading presentation design agency with partners across business industries, including fast-growing startups and Fortune 500 companies. With thousands of completed projects, SlideGenius has the expertise, resources, and a proven track record of producing high-quality presentations.

SlideGenius also offers a range of design services, including animations and graphic design.

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Partner with SlideGenius so you can focus on your core business, leaving the presentation design to the experts.

The Power of Storytelling: Using Narrative to Make Your RFP Stand Out

Request for Proposals (RFPs) are tools for soliciting bids from vendors and contractors for a specific project or service. However, no matter how informative RFPs are, it can be challenging to stand out and capture your readers’ attention in a sea of proposals. This is where storytelling comes in. You can use storytelling to make your RFPs more engaging and memorable.

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In this blog, we’ll explore the role of storytelling in RFPs and the stages of using storytelling to create a compelling proposal.

The science of storytelling

Stories have been an integral part of human communication since the beginning. They are a powerful tool for conveying information, evoking emotions, and connecting with others. Here are some of the key principles that underpin the effectiveness of storytelling:

The psychology of storytelling

The human brain responds to stories in unique ways that make them more memorable and engaging than other forms of communication. Here are some key points about the psychology of storytelling:

  • Stories activate multiple areas of the brain, including the sensory and motor cortex, leading to deeper processing and greater engagement.
  • The human brain is hardwired to respond to stories, as it has been a primary means of transmitting information and culture throughout history.
  • Storytelling can create a sense of empathy and connection between the storyteller and the listener, leading to increased understanding and social bonding.

The elements of a great story

While many factors contribute to a story’s success, a few key elements are essential to creating a compelling narrative. Here are the elements of a great story:

  • A great story has a clear structure: beginning, middle, and end. A logical structure helps create a sense of anticipation and tension.
  • The story should have well-defined characters, a conflict or challenge, and a resolution that ties everything together.
  • Descriptive language and sensory details can help readers and listeners fully immerse themselves in the story and feel emotionally connected to the characters.

The power of emotions in storytelling

Emotions are critical storytelling components, as they are more likely to be remembered and have a lasting impact. Here are some ways emotions play a role in storytelling:

  • Emotions can help create a sense of urgency and make a story relatable to the listener’s experiences.
  • Storytelling taps into the listener’s emotions, helping inspire action or change in behavior.
  • Storytelling is a powerful tool for communicating complex ideas and abstract concepts in a way that is easily understood and remembered—thanks to the emotional connections created through the narrative.

Using storytelling in RFPs

Storytelling in RFPs makes proposals stand out and captures the reader’s attention. Here are some tips for incorporating it into RFPs:

Identify the purpose and audience of the RFP.

Knowing your audience and the purpose of the RFP is critical when selecting a story to include. The story should resonate with the reader to communicate your message effectively.

Select the appropriate story.

The type of story depends on the purpose of your RFP. It doesn’t have to be a success story; it just needs to be relevant and compelling, a story that will amplify your message and capture the audience’s attention. 

Craft the story in a compelling way.

Once you have selected the appropriate story, tell it in a captivating way to engage your audience. Use sensory language, create tension, and keep the story concise and focused, engaging the reader’s senses and emotions.

Keep the story concise and focused.

While the story should be engaging, don’t lose sight of the RFP’s purpose. The story should support and enhance the information contained in the proposal, not distract from it.

Integrate the story into the RFP seamlessly.

Integrate the story in a way that supports the overall purpose of the RFP document. Avoid distracting from the RFP’s core information. Instead, use the story to enhance the information or message you want your readers to remember. Ensure the story is clear and concise, helping the readers understand its connection with the RFP’s purpose.

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Incorporating storytelling into your RFPs can capture your reader’s attention and make your proposal stand out. Therefore, when creating an RFP, consider using storytelling to your advantage.

High-Value Sales Enablement Content Your Sales Team Needs

Sales enablement involves equipping your sales team with vital tools, resources, and information to engage prospects and close deals. A key component of sales enablement is creating high-value content your sales team can use to educate, inform, and persuade prospects.

Whether you have a small startup or a large enterprise, with the right sales enablement content, you can build credibility, overcome objections, highlight unique selling points, and close deals, among other advantages.

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Let’s explore the types of sales enablement content your sales team needs to succeed.

Types of High-Value Sales Enablement Content and Their Benefits

In sales, the right tools and resources make a significant difference. The following types of high-value, high-impact sales enablement content are beneficial whether you are a seasoned professional or just starting:

PowerPoint Presentations

Sales representatives can use visually engaging PowerPoint presentations to communicate complex information to prospects. PowerPoint presentations can use graphics, charts, and other visual aids to help potential clients understand a product or service better.

PowerPoint presentations can be used as a leave-behind after a sales call, providing prospects with a visual reminder of your product’s or service’s value proposition.

Additionally, using PowerPoint presentations can help sales professionals improve their presentation skills, making them more effective communicators and ambassadors of your company.

Product Demonstrations and Tutorials

Product demonstrations and tutorials enable salespeople to showcase the features and benefits of their products to prospects. With this type of content, sales representatives can provide prospective customers with a better understanding of how their products work and how the products solve specific pain points.

Moreover, by demonstrating the product’s capabilities and functionality, sales representatives can provide an engaging experience for clients, building trust in the process.

Case Studies and Success Stories

Provide social proof of a product’s or service’s effectiveness through case studies and success stories. You can build credibility and trust by sharing real-life stories of how your product or service has helped customers.

Case studies and success stories emphasize that your product or service delivers results and can help prospects overcome any objections they have. In doing so, you establish your brand as a trusted and reliable solution provider.

Competitive Comparisons and Analysis

Competitive comparisons and analysis is a sales enablement content that compares your product to your competitors. This type of content highlights your product’s unique selling proposition, differentiates it from your competitors, and offers in-depth data that tells prospective customers it is the best option for their needs.

By showing prospects how your product compares to other solutions in the market, you can help them make informed decisions. 

In addition, competitive comparisons and analysis can help sales teams address concerns and questions about product features or pricing.

Sales Scripts and Email Templates

Sales teams can save time using pre-written scripts and email templates, allowing them to focus on building relationships with prospects. Scripts and email templates also ensure consistency in messaging, which can help build trust with prospects. By using a consistent messaging approach, sales teams can ensure they deliver the right message to the right person at the right time.

In addition to consistency and time-saving benefits, sales scripts and email templates allow for easy tracking and analysis of sales performance. Tracking the usage and effectiveness of different scripts and templates aids sales managers in identifying patterns and optimizing messaging for better results.

Creating high-quality sales enablement content may require a significant investment of a company’s time and resources, but the potential return on investment is well worth it.

The types of sales enablement content above are just some of the popular and effective options available to sales teams today. Depending on your business needs and target audience, you can explore and experiment with many other types of sales enablement content, such as industry reports and whitepapers.

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SlideGenius has the experience, expertise, and resources to produce digital content for businesses of all sizes across all industries. They can help you create a wide range of sales enablement content tailored to your business’s needs and goals, with high-level attention to delivering your message.

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Illustrating Your Business’s Potential to Investors Using Case Studies

As a business owner or startup founder, you’re always looking for ways to convince potential investors that your business has potential. One way to show your company’s potential to investors is through case studies.

A case study is an in-depth analysis of a specific situation or problem your business has faced and how you overcame it. It provides an opportunity to prove your company’s strengths, innovative solutions, and the positive impact you may have made on your industry.

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In this blog, let’s discuss ways case studies can illustrate your company’s potential to investors.

Demonstrating the company’s unique selling point

Use case studies to showcase your business’s unique selling points, highlighting your innovative solutions to address and fix problems or challenges. Help potential investors understand what sets you apart from your competitors and why your business has the potential to be successful.

For example, a case study could show how your business has developed a new technology that solves a problem uniquely. You can also show how you have developed and implemented a unique strategy that led to significant growth.

Providing evidence of the business’s effectiveness

Case studies can provide data, metrics, or other evidence to demonstrate the impact and effectiveness of your business’s solutions. 

Evidence can help investors understand the benefits of investing in your business and can be a powerful tool to convince them to invest.

For example, a case study could provide data about how your business solution has boosted sales or productivity or reduced costs or errors.

Building credibility with investors

Case studies help build credibility with investors through feedback or testimonials from satisfied customers. This approach can help prove the effectiveness of your company’s solutions and build trust and confidence.

For example, a case study could include direct quotes from past and current customers or clients who have used your business’s solution and seen significant benefits.

Differentiating the business from competitors

Businesses that can differentiate themselves from competitors stand out. Convince potential investors to choose your company over competitors using case studies that highlight your business’s unique selling points.

For example, a case study could demonstrate how your business’s solution is superior to its competitors in terms of cost, value, and ease of use.

Using case studies in marketing materials

Incorporating case studies into marketing materials, such as brochures or websites, can help build credibility and showcase your business’s unique selling points. Attract investors by adding case studies to your marketing materials, as they can provide evidence of past successes and show potential for future growth.

Ensure to approach the creation of marketing materials with a customer-centric mindset, tailoring your case studies to your target audience. In doing so, you show investors that you understand that customers are the lifeblood of your business and that you are focused on delivering value to them.

Adding case studies in PowerPoint presentations

Including case studies in PowerPoint presentations can help illustrate a business’s potential to investors clearly and concisely.

PowerPoint presentations are practical tools for conveying information—no matter how complex it is—in a visually engaging way. Therefore, adding case studies to your presentation can help investors understand the real-world applications of your product or service and the benefits it provides to customers.

For example, a case study could be used in a pitch deck to demonstrate how a business’s solution has solved a problem for a client and has the potential for further growth. This way, investors will be able to see a tangible example of how a business operates and the value it provides.

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Case studies are a valuable tool for businesses to showcase their strengths and potential. Position your business for success and growth by carefully using case studies that highlight unique selling points and effectiveness.

Tips to Recover from a Memory Lapse Like a Pro During a Presentation

Imagine this scenario:

You’re doing a high-stakes presentation. So far, it’s well-received. As you move from slide to slide, your listeners are on the edge of their seats, waiting for your next words. Then suddenly, your mind goes blank. You forget what to say next.

You feel like there’s no way you can recover from this memory lapse. You might need to end your presentation prematurely and on a low note.

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Mind-blanking is every public speaker’s worst nightmare, but it can happen to any of us. It occurs when our body triggers our evolutionary flight-or-fight response. As a result, a part of our brain—the pre-frontal lobe—that organizes memory shuts down, making it hard to access memories.

Some of the causes of a memory lapse include the following:

  • Anxiety-triggering activities — Talking in front of people, such as public speaking or presiding over a meeting, is a common stress-prompting activity that causes our brains to go blank. Moreover, being nervous when doing a presentation can affect the way we deliver our message and engage our audience.
  • Medication — Taking medications before your presentation can result in temporary brain fog and reduced reaction time.
  • Lack of sleep —  Our brains can’t function properly without a healthy night’s sleep. Studies show that people with sleep deprivation experience mind-blanking, mind-wandering, and sluggish response time.

Since even the most prepared speakers can still lose their train of thought or draw a complete blank during a presentation, we’ve created a list of ways to recover from a memory lapse like a pro.

Talk about anything to break the silence

A few seconds to several minutes of silence during a presentation suggests that we have forgotten what to say next. And when we forget our talking points, fear can take over us. Out of fear, we panic and freeze up, worsening our situation.

Don’t let fear debilitate you. When you stay silent, your anxiety won’t pass; It will continue to grow. Talk to your listeners about anything related to your topic just to break the silence.

Ask questions to provoke critical thinking

You can buy time to recall your next talking point by asking your audience questions.

Ask rhetorical questions that would cause them to introspect or thought-provoking questions that require answers. As you gather your thoughts, let your audience think. Make sure the question is about your previous talking point to avoid breaking your flow and straying from your topic.

Asking questions engage your audience and establish yourself as a figure of authority.

Lock eyes with members of the audience

As you gather your thoughts, maintain eye contact with your audience. Even when you forget your lines, looking directly at your audience helps keep your position of authority. You would look like you’re reinforcing your statements, letting them sink in.

Focus on a few people for a few seconds as you recall your next point. Don’t fidget, scan the room aimlessly, or look at a distant corner, as doing so would make you look nervous.

Summarize your previous talking point

When you can’t remember what to say next, take the time to summarize your previous point. Reiterate or paraphrase key ideas. Let your audience figure out that you’re summarizing and emphasizing your talking points.

Summarizing your previous point can help you remember the direction you were heading. It also seems as if you’re building toward a new point.

Drink water 

To stay hydrated during presentations, speakers need to drink.

Drinking is also a subtle way to recall what you need to say next when you’ve gone blank.

While drinking, take the time to recall your talking points. Since your listeners can’t hold your thirst against you—they won’t mind you drinking—this opportunity is a great way to recollect your thoughts.

Refer to your notes

A wise speaker keeps his notes handy.

You can conduct your talk without referring to your notes. However, when the need arises, they prove to be beneficial. Thus, when presenting, you should always have your notes accessible.

Create an outline of the segments of your talk; write all the main points under each one. Don’t write everything. Doing so could confuse you and cause more problems when you are looking for specific information.

Interpret your presentation slides

If you’re the one who prepared your presentation deck, it’s easier to interpret all the information it has to remember what to say next.

If you didn’t prepare the slides, it’s crucial that you comprehensively review each one before your presentation. Know your deck inside out. Moreover, ensure that the flow of the presentation is according to your style.

Knowing your presentation deck through and through can help you interpret all of its elements and discern the parts of your talk.

Acknowledge the situation

When you’ve exhausted all means to remember what you need to say after a memory lapse but still failed, the most reasonable response is to be honest with your audience. Acknowledge the situation and apologize for it. Admit what happened and move forward.

Regain your confidence knowing that your audience is on your side and wants to learn from you; therefore, continue your presentation with a renewed spirit and assurance that your audience wants you to succeed. Make sure to end your talk with a high-impact core message and actionable steps to apply what they’ve learned.

Why you should not memorize your presentation

Some speakers resort to memorizing their speeches to reduce anxiety. They craft their scripts and plan sequences meticulously. While memorizing your presentation might be the most logical-sounding technique to deliver your talk, it has its downsides, including being susceptible to a memory lapse.

When you memorize your script, you set one way to communicate your message. If you stray from your script, your brain will identify it as an error, resulting in panic, haywire thoughts, or memory lapse.

Memorizing also disconnects you from your audience, making your presentation sound rehearsed. It also reduces your bandwidth to adjust to and accommodate the needs of your audience. Keep in mind that the goal of your presentation is to be engaging and to influence your audience to take action.

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Remember the scenario above?

Now that you know how to recover from a memory lapse during a presentation, you no longer have to end your talk abruptly. Apply the ways above and finish your presentation with flying colors.

Evaluating Your Fundraising Pitch from the Investor’s Perspective

Raising capital is an essential part of starting and growing a business. Whether you’re a startup founder or a seasoned entrepreneur, mastering the art of pitching your business to investors is critical to securing the needed funding. But how do you know if your fundraising pitch is hitting the mark? How can you evaluate your pitch from the investor’s perspective to ensure it resonates with potential investors and sets you up for success?

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In this blog, we’ll discuss the key elements investors look for when evaluating a fundraising pitch, their questions, and the strategies you could use to craft a compelling pitch that stands out from the competition.

Understanding the investor’s mindset

Evaluating your fundraising pitch from an investor’s perspective is critical to understanding their mindset. Here are some key points to keep in mind:

  • Investors are motivated by the potential for a high return on their investment. However, they also evaluate pitches based on factors such as the team’s experience, the market opportunity, and the competitive landscape.
  • Different types of investors have unique priorities and evaluation criteria. For example, angel investors may invest in early-stage startups and look for high-growth potential and a strong team. Capitalists may focus on startups with more established products and a proven track record of growth.
  • Strategic investors, such as corporations or industry-specific funds, may prioritize startups to help them achieve their strategic goals. For instance, a healthcare company may invest in a startup developing a new medical device that could complement their existing product line.

Crafting a compelling pitch

A compelling pitch attracts investors. Thus, it requires careful planning and execution. Here are some key elements to include in your pitch:

Clear problem statement

Start your pitch by clearly outlining the problem your business solves.

Ensure your problem statement is concise and easy to understand. The investor needs to understand the problem you are solving before they can evaluate your solution. Moreover, explain why the problem matters and its impact on your target market.

Unique solution

After identifying the problem, explain how your business solves it uniquely.

Clearly articulate your value proposition and how it differs from existing solutions in the market. Describe how your product or service is different and better than competitors’ solutions. Doing so will help you stand out in the crowded market and show investors have a strong competitive advantage.

Market opportunity

Investors want to see that there is a significant market opportunity for your product or service.

Use data and research to demonstrate your target market’s size and growth potential. This approach will help investors understand the potential return on their investment. Be sure to provide a clear picture of the market landscape, including trends, challenges, and opportunities.

Strong team

Investors invest in people as much as they do in products.

Highlight the experience and expertise of your team and explain how they are uniquely qualified to execute your plan. Describe each team member’s relevant experience and how it relates to the business. By sharing your team members’ backgrounds, you help investors evaluate their ability to execute and manage the business effectively.

Financial plan

Investors want to see a clear financial plan to know how you will use the investment to drive growth.

Be transparent about your expected return on investment and explain any potential risks or challenges. Investors will want to understand how you will use the funds, what milestones you plan to achieve, and when you plan to achieve them. Provide a clear picture of your revenue model, sales strategy, and projected growth trajectory.

Evaluating the pitch from an investor’s perspective

The most common questions investors have when evaluating a pitch are:

Is there a significant market opportunity for the product or service?

Investors want to know whether your business has identified a significant market opportunity for your product or service. Therefore, you must clearly understand your target customers, the size of the market, and the potential demand for your offering.

Moreover, investors want to see that your business has a unique value proposition that sets it apart from competitors and offers a compelling solution to a customer problem.

Is the team experienced and capable of executing the plan?

Investors will evaluate the team behind your business to assess if they have the necessary experience, skills, and capabilities to execute the plan.

Your team’s track record of success and the ability of teammates to work well together are essential factors in determining if your business can achieve its goals.

What is the competitive landscape, and how does your business differentiate itself?

Investors will analyze the competitive landscape to determine if your business can effectively differentiate itself from competitors.

They will look at the strengths and weaknesses of the competition and assess if your business has a sustainable competitive advantage that will allow it to succeed.

How will the investment be used, and what is the expected return on investment?

Investors want to understand how your business plans to use the raised investment. They also want to know the expected ROI. Thus, you should be transparent and realistic about your financial projections, growth strategy, and exit plan.

Pitching to different types of investors

You should tailor your pitch to different types of investors. The following are some key factors you should consider when pitching to different types of investors:

Angel investors

  • Focus on your team and the potential for growth
  • Highlight the vision, passion, and potential for disruption

Venture capitalists

  • Focus on financial metrics such as revenue growth and customer acquisition
  • Demonstrate traction, scalability, and a clear path to profitability

Strategic investors

  • Demonstrate how the business can provide strategic value to the investor
  • Show how the business aligns with the investor’s goals and objectives

A fundraising pitch is a crucial component in securing funding for a business. Therefore, it is vital to remember the perspective of the investors evaluating the pitch. By presenting a clear and compelling narrative that showcases their startup’s strengths and potential, entrepreneurs can increase their chances of securing funding and achieving success.

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SlideGenius is a professional design agency that specializes in creating pitch decks that grab investors’ attention and communicate your startup’s value proposition effectively.

Ensure an optimized pitch deck that addresses the key questions investors may have when evaluating a startup by partnering with SlideGenius.

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Knowing Your Numbers: Using Financial Metrics to Make a Strong Case for Investors

Investors play a critical role in the growth and development of businesses. As an entrepreneur or business owner seeking investment, one of your most critical responsibilities is knowing your numbers and understanding the financial metrics that matter to investors.

Financial metrics are essential for demonstrating the potential success of your business. By understanding and utilizing these metrics, you can make a strong case for investors to support your venture.

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Let’s discuss the key financial metrics you should know and how to use them to build a compelling investment case.

There are several financial metrics investors will want to know before investing in your business:

  • Revenue: The total amount of money your business generates in sales over a specific period.
  • Gross Profit Margin: The percentage of revenue after deducting all expenses, including taxes and interest.
  • Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA): The amount of money your business generates before factoring in interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization.
  • Return on Investment (ROI): The percentage of return on investment in your business.
  • Cash Flow: The money your business generates or uses in its operations.
  • Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC): The cost of acquiring a new customer.
  • Lifetime Value (LTV): The total amount of revenue a customer will generate over their lifetime.
  • Burn Rate: The rate at which a company is spending its cash reserves or funding.

Building a Strong Investment Case Using Financial Metrics

Here are factors to consider when using financial metrics for building a strong investment case:

Understanding the investor’s perspective

Understanding what investors are looking for requires effective use of financial metrics.

Investors look for businesses with high growth potential, a clear path to profitability, and a competitive edge in the market. Therefore, when selecting financial metrics to include in an investment pitch, choosing the ones that align with these criteria is critical.

Since investors are often pressed with numerous investment opportunities, it can be challenging to differentiate one business from another. Thus, selecting metrics that showcase your business’s performance can help you stand out in a crowded investment market.

You can make a stronger investment case using financial metrics that demonstrate how your business aligns with the potential investors’ perspectives.

Choosing metrics that align with business goals

The business metrics you will showcase should align with your goals.

If your goal is to increase revenue, revenue growth rates and market share may be most relevant. If your goal is to increase profitability, profit margin or return on investment may be more appropriate.

The key is choosing metrics that demonstrate how your business is performing in critical areas of success. This doesn’t only help investors understand your business but also shows you have a clear understanding of what matters most for your business growth.

Providing context and analysis

When you provide context and analysis, you help investors understand the significance of the metrics you are presenting, and how they relate to your business goals.

Providing context and analysis is vital as investors may not be familiar with your business or industry. Therefore, they might not immediately understand the relevance of certain financial metrics.

To provide context, explain how you calculated each metric. For example, if you are presenting revenue growth rates, explain how the growth rate was calculated, which revenue streams were included, and any factors that may have influenced the growth rate.

In addition to explaining how the metrics were calculated, you should discuss any assumptions made. For example, if you are presenting a metric like a customer’s lifetime value, you may have assumptions about customer retention rates or the average purchase frequency. Discussing assumptions can help investors understand the basis for your calculations and any potential limitations.

Make a strong case for investment and demonstrate the potential success of your business to investors by following the strategic approaches of using financial metrics outlined in this blog.

SlideGenius is a leading go-to presentation design agency among many businesses, including Fortune 500 companies. We specialize in building well-designed and engaging pitch decks investors love and approve of.

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Strategies for Following Up After a Sales Presentation

Following up after the sales presentation is critical in closing or breaking the deal. An effective follow-up strategy shows your potential client you are committed to their needs. It also keeps your business top of mind.

However, not all follow-up approaches yield positive results. Some can even be counterproductive. Thus, they require a delicate balance of persistence and professionalism, showing your potential clients you are committed to their needs while avoiding being pushy or intrusive.

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Here are some effective after-sales follow-up tips you must remember:

Be timely and prompt

Following up promptly after a sales presentation is critical for keeping conversations with prospects fresh.

Ideally, you should follow up within 24 to 48 hours after the presentation. Any delay may cause a prospect to lose interest or forget your proposal. Moreover, following up promptly shows you are committed and efficient and take their needs seriously. Furthermore, it demonstrates you respect their time and are eager to move forward.

Personalize the follow-up

Personalization is crucial to building a relationship with potential clients.

Address them by their names, reference specific aspects of the conversations, and tailor your message to their specific needs and interests. In doing so, you show you are invested in their success and not just interested in closing the deal.

Personalizing your follow-up message can make the prospect feel valued and appreciated, increasing their likelihood of responding positively. More so, it shows you have taken the time to understand their unique situation, making them more likely to consider you as a potential solution.

Be persistent, but not pushy

Persistence is critical in following up after a sales presentation; however, there is a fine line between being persistent and being pushy.

Bombarding the prospect with too many messages or calls may come across as aggressive or desperate, leading them to lose interest in your proposal. On the other hand, giving up too easily can result in missed opportunities.

A polite and professional approach that shows genuine interest can help you stay on top of prospects’ minds without being overbearing.

Listen to the client’s feedback

Listening to prospective clients’ feedback can provide valuable insights into their needs and concerns.

Ask for their opinion on your proposal and address any questions or concerns they may have. This approach shows you are interested in their perspective and willing to work with them to find the best solution.

In addition, demonstrate you value their input and are open to feedback to gain their trust and consider your proposal.

Keep the conversation going

Following up after the sales presentation is not a one-time event.

Keep the conversation going by providing additional information, answering questions, and offering more support. Even when the deal doesn’t close immediately, keeping in touch with prospective clients can build long-term relationships with them.

You can send them relevant articles, case studies, and industry reports that may interest them. Moreover, you can invite them to events or webinars related to their industry or share success stories of other clients you have worked with.

Keeping the conversation going lets you stay on their radar and be top of mind when they are ready to move forward.

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Follow these after-sales, follow-up strategies to build strong relationships with potential clients, continuously adding value to them and increasing your chances of closing the deal.

Building an Irresistible Pitch Deck for Investors

To raise capital, entrepreneurs need to build an irresistible pitch deck for investors. Whether for seed funding, Series A funding, or beyond, a pitch deck is critical for convincing investors to take a chance on a business venture. However, creating a successful pitch deck can be difficult.

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This blog will cover tips for creating a pitch deck that investors cannot resist.

Tips for creating an irresistible pitch deck for investors

Securing investment for any business—no matter its size and industry—requires creating a pitch deck that grabs the attention of investors and delivers the message clearly and convincingly.

Here are some valuable insights on creating a pitch deck for investors that accomplishes its goals:

Keep it concise and visually appealing

Length and visual appeal are critical factors in creating a winning pitch deck for investors, as investors have limited time to review multiple pitch decks. Therefore, in one glance, your pitch deck should already convey the message you need them to remember. Aim for conciseness, visual appeal, and easy navigation.

Structure your pitch deck clearly and logically. Start with an attention-grabbing introduction that clearly explains your business and the problem it solves. Then, give an overview of your business model, target market, and competition. The rest of the slides should be for essential information the potential investors must know.

When presenting data, use visuals such as charts, graphs, and infographics to present information engagingly and understandably. Avoid using long paragraphs of text that can overwhelm the reader. Instead, format your presentation’s content carefully, using bullet points or turning text into visual content to highlight your key messages.

Focus on the problem and solution

Investors want to see your product or service at work, how it solves a specific problem in the market, and if there is a clear need for it.

To effectively communicate your solution, define the problem your business addresses. Be succinct with the problem statement, ensuring that it captures the pain points of your target market. Use statistics and real-world examples to back up your claims and emphasize the problem’s urgency.

Once you have established the problem, showcase your solution as the best available choice in your market by articulating your unique value proposition. Use data and testimonials to support your claims and build credibility.

Investors also want to understand the potential market size and opportunity for growth. Define your target market and demonstrate how your product or service can reach a significant portion of that. Use market research and data to support your projections and show potential for revenue, growth, and scalability.

Highlight your traction and milestones

Investors want to see that your business is on an upward trajectory, and there is evidence to support your claims of growth and potential success.

Identify significant milestones your business has achieved to date to persuade investors your business is a wise investment opportunity. Use data and concrete examples to show investors your business is succeeding.

Moreover, provide context for your milestones. Explain the ways the achievements have impacted your business. Furthermore, demonstrate the potential for future growth. You can include data on revenue growth, user engagement, and market share. Providing social proof can also reinforce the credibility of your business.

Use compelling storytelling

Using compelling storytelling is a critical aspect of an attractive pitch deck, as investors also want to be engaged and emotionally connected to your product or service.

Craft a narrative that highlights the problem your business addresses. Use anecdotes or real-life examples to create a sense of urgency and demonstrate the need for your solution. Assist investors in understanding the human impact of the problem and how your business can make a difference.

Then, present your solution clearly and compellingly. Use visual aids when applicable to illustrate how your product or service works to solve the problem. Finally, paint a vision for the future using your pitch deck—how can your solution change lives, impact society positively, and change the world?

Use powerful imagery or persuasive language to help investors envision what the world will look like once your business has succeeded.

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SlideGenius is a professional presentation design agency specializing in creating pitch decks for investors, no matter their sizes and industries. With years of experience creating visually stunning and persuasive presentations, it has become a go-to and leading design agency for companies, including Fortune 500 businesses.

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Applying Psychology-Proven Techniques to Create Compelling Presentations

Not all presentations are created equal—some captivate audiences while others leave listeners counting the seconds until the end. Moreover, today’s fast-paced world requires creating engaging and compelling PowerPoint presentations to capture the audience and deliver a message.

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With so much information competing for our attention, applying psychology-proven techniques to build a compelling presentation is more crucial than ever. Let’s explore some psychology-backed strategies to create a PowerPoint that stands out.

Knowing the Audience

Audience engagement affects the success of a presentation. Therefore, knowing your audience is crucial to building effective PowerPoint presentations.

Understand your audience’s demographics, interests, and knowledge levels to tailor your presentation to meet their needs and keep them engaged.

How to gather your audience’s information? Before the presentation, you can conduct a survey or poll to help you understand your audience’s expectations, knowledge levels, and concerns. You can also use social media or online forums to gather information about your audience.

Storytelling

Cognitive psychologist Jerome Bruner claimed that stories are 22 times more memorable than facts alone.

As a powerful technique for engaging your audience and making your presentation more memorable, storytelling helps emotionally connect the audience with your message, making them remember it long after the presentation.

How to create engaging stories for your presentation? Use the classic storytelling structure of beginning, middle, and end. Introduce your topic, present the challenge or conflict to solve, and provide a resolution for a satisfying conclusion.

You can share a personal anecdote, a case study, or a customer success story to illustrate the benefits of your message in a way that resonates with your audience.

Using visual content

According to 3M, visual aids improve learning by up to 400%.

Visual content helps reinforce your message and makes your presentation more engaging for maximum learning and retention. However, it’s critical to use visual aids optimally.

Choose the right fonts, colors, and images, as they can significantly impact the effectiveness of your presentation.

Use high-quality images, as poor-quality ones can detract from your message. Limit the amount of text, as too much text on a slide overwhelms your audience. Use colors appropriately to emphasize key points and create a cohesive look and feel.

Reducing cognitive load

Cognitive load refers to the amount of mental effort required to process information. When an audience is overloaded with information, retention can become a challenge.

Reduce the cognitive load to make your presentation more interesting, engaging, and enjoyable for your audience.

Simplify your message by focusing on the key message you want to convey, avoiding unnecessary information. Use simple, easy-to-comprehend language to make it easier for the audience to follow your message. Break up information into digestible chunks for easier processing.

Using persuasive techniques

Persuading your audience to take action or adopt your point of view requires inspiring and motivating them.

Use social proof to be persuasive. Customer testimonials or success stories help deliver your message with impact and drive your point home. Moreover, you can create a sense of urgency to emphasize the importance of your message and highlight the consequences of inaction.

Build a strong argument that addresses your audience’s concerns and objectives to increase the audience’s motivation to take action.

Using psychology-proven techniques can help presenters build a compelling PowerPoint presentation. With these strategies, you can take your presentations to the next level and achieve your goals.

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SlideGenius is a presentation design agency that helps companies create compelling, high-impact presentations. They apply psychology-proven techniques to build presentations that resonate with their clients’ target markets. Moreover, they serve businesses and organizations across different industries, including Fortune 500 companies.

If you want to build professional, informative, and visually appealing presentations, you can partner with SlideGenius.

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