Category: Lessons

How to Turn a Business Plan into a Great Pitch Deck for Investors

investment powerpoint

pitch deck

Jul 11, 2014

Turning a business plan into a pitch deck requires distilling key information into a clear, concise, and engaging format that appeals to investors. While a business plan covers every detail of your company, a pitch deck should highlight the most critical aspects of your strategy in a way that captures attention. Here’s how to transform your business plan into a winning pitch deck.

1. Start with Your Value Proposition

Your value proposition is one of the most important elements of your pitch deck. This slide should clearly state what your company does, the problem it solves, and why it’s unique.Why It’s Important:

  • Grabs Attention: Investors need to quickly understand what sets your business apart.
  • Sets the Tone: Starting with a strong value proposition sets the tone for the rest of your pitch.

How to Do It:

  • Summarize your business in one or two sentences that convey your value, market opportunity, and unique selling proposition.

2. Highlight the Market Opportunity

Investors want to know the size and scope of the market you’re targeting. Use data and visuals to convey the potential for growth and demand for your product or service.Why It’s Important:

  • Validates Your Business: Showing that you’re addressing a large, growing market makes your business more attractive to investors.
  • Justifies Investment: Investors need to see the opportunity for a strong return on their investment.

How to Do It:

  • Include charts or graphs to illustrate market size, growth rates, and trends. Be specific about your target market and its potential.

3. Focus on Your Business Model

Your pitch deck should clearly explain how your business makes money. Investors are looking for a sustainable and scalable business model that can generate profits over time.Why It’s Important:

  • Demonstrates Profitability: A clear, sustainable business model reassures investors that your company has long-term potential.
  • Clarifies Revenue Streams: Investors want to understand how you plan to generate revenue and the potential for growth.

How to Do It:

  • Outline your key revenue streams, pricing strategy, and customer acquisition model in a simple, easy-to-follow format.

4. Showcase Your Team

Investors invest in people as much as they invest in ideas. Highlight the key members of your team and their relevant experience and expertise.Why It’s Important:

  • Builds Credibility: A strong, experienced team can increase investor confidence in your ability to execute your plan.
  • Shows Leadership: Investors want to see that your team has the skills and knowledge to overcome challenges and grow the business.

How to Do It:

  • Include short bios with key accomplishments for each member of your leadership team. Focus on their experience, industry knowledge, and relevant skills.

5. Outline Your Financial Projections

Financial projections are essential in demonstrating your company’s growth potential and profitability. While you don’t need to provide exhaustive details, you should include key financial metrics.Why It’s Important:

  • Informs Investment Decisions: Investors need to see your projections to understand the potential return on their investment.
  • Shows Growth Potential: Strong financial forecasts indicate that your company is poised for growth.

How to Do It:

  • Present a high-level overview of your financial projections for the next 3-5 years, including revenue, expenses, and profit margins. Use clear visuals to support your numbers.

6. Present Your Funding Needs

Clearly outline how much funding you’re seeking and how you plan to use it. This section should tie back to your financial projections and business strategy.Why It’s Important:

  • Clarifies Your Ask: Investors need to know exactly how much you’re asking for and what you’ll do with the money.
  • Justifies the Investment: Showing how the funds will drive growth and profitability helps justify the investment.

How to Do It:

  • Break down your funding needs by categories such as product development, marketing, and operations. Be specific about how the funds will accelerate growth.

7. End with a Call to Action

Conclude your pitch deck with a strong call to action that invites investors to take the next step. Whether it’s setting up a meeting, scheduling a demo, or following up with more information, make it clear what you want from them.Why It’s Important:

  • Encourages Action: A strong call to action prompts investors to engage with you further.
  • Leaves a Lasting Impression: Ending with a clear ask helps ensure your pitch is memorable.

How to Do It:

  • Include contact information and suggest a next step, such as scheduling a meeting or follow-up call.

Final Thoughts

Turning your business plan into a compelling pitch deck requires distilling your company’s most important aspects into a concise, engaging format. Focus on your value proposition, market opportunity, business model, and team while backing up your claims with data and visuals. By clearly outlining your funding needs and ending with a call to action, you’ll be well-positioned to attract investor interest.

Marketing Presentation Mistakes that are Costing You Clients

Marketing

marketing presentations

presentation tips

Jul 10, 2014

Marketing keeps the cogs of your business running. That’s why marketing presentations are crucial to developing and promoting your brand.It’s one of the most effective methods to share your company story, where you have some time to make your case. Don’t waste a great opportunity to showcase the very best of your brand with presentation mistakes you can easily avoid.Here are presentation mistakes that may cost you your clients:

1.) Lack of preparation

Presentation prep should go beyond putting together PowerPoint slides. While slide design is certainly important (as we’ll discuss later on), you should also take the time to do some research, prepare your materials, and practice your delivery.Start preparing for your presentation as early as possible. This will give you enough leeway if you decide to change some things, or if you realize that you might need professional help. You should also iron out the most practical details of your presentation.Give yourself an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the venue you’re speaking at. That way, you can learn the technical requirements of the equipment you’ll be using and avoid the awkward “technical difficulties” spiel.

2.) Boring and generic PowerPoint designs

You can’t make a favorable impression if you’re repeating PowerPoint designs. Don’t settle for the generic PowerPoint templates. It’s important that your slides are designed to fit the theme of your discussion.Incorporate your brand into your PowerPoint design, and make sure that your key points are well-illustrated through interesting images and graphics.

3.) Sounding too much like a sales pitch

While you definitely want to seal the deal, your presentation should also have more than just a plea to get hired.Don’t be tempted to go down the sales pitch route. Showcase your brand by presenting how and why it’s significant to your audience. You have to appeal to their emotions and experiences. Presenting a bunch of data that supposedly shows why your services are the best in the industry won’t do anything if you can’t say why it matters to your audience.Consider these tips while preparing your presentation content, inspired by Certified Speaking Professional Terri Langhans:

  • Research about your audience
  • Identify three to four of your key attributes that you think are important to them
  • What could they benefit from these attributes and why is that important?

4.) Poor and uninspiring delivery

There are three components to an effective presentation: content, design, and delivery. Your content may be compelling. Your PowerPoint design may be breathtaking. But if you deliver your presentation by mumbling to yourself, all your effort becomes moot.Luckily, poor delivery is one of the presentation mistakes you can easily remedy. The Internet is a wonderful source of inspiration. Watch Steve Jobs introduce the first iPhone here. Observe how he makes use of an energetic performance and take note of his movements and speech patterns.

5.) Tuning out the audience

If you were in the audience, would you trust a presenter talking AT you? Don’t make the mistake of tuning out your audience. The point of your presentation is to introduce your brand and create a favorable impression.If you go through your presentation without so much as a quick glance at your audience, you won’t succeed in your mission. Make eye contact with a few individuals in the audience. Smile throughout your presentation. You can also mention that you’ll be taking inquiries at the end of the presentation.Do whatever it takes to make sure that your presentation is inviting and inclusive.Featured Image: Clover Autrey via Flickr

How the World Cup Can Help Improve Your Presentation Skills

improvement

presentation skills

soccer and presentation

world cup

Jul 08, 2014

The FIFA World Cup is more than just a global sporting event—it’s a masterclass in storytelling, strategy, and engagement. The passion, preparation, and performance demonstrated on the field mirror the elements of a successful presentation. By examining the World Cup’s structure and the techniques players use to captivate audiences, you can take away valuable lessons that will help you improve your presentation skills.Here are key takeaways from the World Cup that can enhance your ability to deliver a winning presentation:

1. Preparation is Key

Just as players train for months leading up to the World Cup, preparing for your presentation is crucial. The best teams focus on tactics, strategies, and practice to ensure they’re ready for the big stage. Similarly, a well-prepared presenter is one who has rehearsed, anticipated questions, and mastered their content.How to Apply It:

  • Practice, Practice, Practice: Rehearse your presentation multiple times to ensure smooth delivery. Familiarity with your content allows you to speak confidently and handle unexpected interruptions with ease.
  • Know Your Audience: Just as soccer teams study their opponents, you should understand your audience—what they expect, their interests, and the best way to communicate with them.

Example: Ahead of a major business pitch, conduct practice sessions, refine your slides, and gather feedback from peers to ensure your presentation is polished and effective.

2. Create Momentum Like a World Cup Match

World Cup matches are dynamic, with moments of high intensity followed by slower, more tactical plays. Similarly, a great presentation needs to build and maintain momentum to keep the audience engaged. Varying the pace, energy, and tone throughout your talk can prevent fatigue and keep your audience interested.How to Apply It:

  • Vary Your Tone: Shift between moments of enthusiasm and calmer sections to create variety. Use your voice to emphasize key points and convey emotion.
  • Engage with Transitions: Smooth transitions between topics or sections can keep your presentation flowing. Just as a soccer team builds from defense to offense, your presentation should move from one idea to the next seamlessly.

Example: Start your presentation with a bold statistic or question to grab attention, then gradually build up to your key message, using transitions to maintain flow and interest.

3. Master the Art of Storytelling

The World Cup is filled with stories—underdog victories, star performances, and dramatic turnarounds. These stories captivate global audiences and make the event more than just a sporting competition. Similarly, your presentation should tell a story that resonates with your audience and leaves a lasting impression.How to Apply It:

  • Build a Narrative: Structure your presentation like a story, with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Present challenges, solutions, and outcomes in a way that feels like a journey.
  • Use Anecdotes: Personal stories or real-world examples make your presentation relatable and memorable. Like the dramatic moments in a World Cup game, anecdotes can make your message more impactful.

Example: When presenting a business solution, frame the problem as the “underdog” challenge, describe how your solution is the “star player,” and end with the success story as the “victory” moment.

4. Keep Your Audience Engaged

The World Cup unites millions of fans who stay engaged through the ups and downs of each match. Similarly, your presentation should keep the audience’s attention throughout by actively involving them, much like how fans remain focused on every pass and goal.How to Apply It:

  • Ask Questions: Involve your audience by asking rhetorical or direct questions throughout your presentation. This prompts them to think critically about your message.
  • Use Visuals: Just as a game’s excitement is visual, your presentation should include engaging slides, images, or infographics that support your message and add visual appeal.

Example: Use a live poll during your presentation to gather feedback or thoughts from your audience, creating an interactive experience similar to a crowd reacting to a key play in a match.

5. Stay Calm Under Pressure

World Cup players must perform at their best under immense pressure. Likewise, staying calm and composed during a presentation is essential, especially when faced with challenging questions, technical issues, or time constraints.How to Apply It:

  • Prepare for the Unexpected: Have backup plans in place for technical difficulties, such as a copy of your slides on a USB drive or a printed version of key points.
  • Maintain Composure: If something goes wrong, stay calm and collected. Acknowledge the issue and move on without letting it disrupt your presentation.

Example: If a slide fails to load, rather than panicking, calmly explain the missing content or move forward with a verbal explanation. Your composure will reassure your audience.

Final Thoughts

The World Cup offers numerous lessons that can translate directly into improving your presentation skills. From the importance of preparation to the power of storytelling and the ability to stay calm under pressure, these skills can help you deliver a memorable and successful presentation. Approach your next presentation like a World Cup match—with passion, strategy, and the goal of capturing the audience’s attention.

Webinar PowerPoint Tips: Creating a Presentation that Speaks through the Screen

webinar powerpoint

webinars

Jun 30, 2014

In today’s world, distance is no longer an issue when it comes to effective communication. With web conferences or webinars, you no longer have to hop on a plane to sit in meetings with those in another time zone.But there’s more to webinars than just talking in front of a webcam, especially if you want to share crucial information or leave a lasting impression. It’s important that you enhance your audience’s experience with a webinar PowerPoint deck.When you’re presenting in front a live audience, you’re physically available to command their attention. Your PowerPoint slides serve a secondary purpose. However, when you’re presenting online, your webinar PowerPoint deck is the main attraction.With that in mind, consider these specific tips to make sure that your webinar PowerPoint speaks through the computer screen.

Sequence: What your webinar PowerPoint should contain

It’s important that your webinar PowerPoint follows a structure with a logical flow. Begin with a quick introduction, delve in the main body of your topic, and end with a concise conclusion.

  • Introduction – Include slides introducing yourself and other presenters in the webinar. Include a picture and relevant credentials so your audience can feel like they’re not just talking to a computer screen. It’s also useful if you can include a slide that explains the logistics of your webinar.
  • Body – The body of your webinar PowerPoint deck will depend on the topic you’re discussing. Whatever it is, keep your discussion clear but brief. Stick to discussing only one point at a time. There are plenty of ways to arrange the body of your webinar PowerPoint, just make sure that each point is structured into main segments.
  • Conclusion – The conclusion of your webinar PowerPoint should be short and sweet. Don’t drag it out by repeating everything you said before. Instead, create a slide that summarizes your main points. To encourage your audience to participate in a discussion, include an action plan or a call-to-action question.

Design: What your webinar PowerPoint should look like

Your webinar PowerPoint should be efficiently designed for online sharing. Lags on your presentation look unprofessional and can be frustrating for your audience.Opt for a simpler, sleeker design. As always, avoid using too much text and bullet points. Most importantly, avoid using huge picture files, videos, and animations which might cause problems for connectivity. This doesn’t mean you should go completely without graphics. Just make sure the file sizes aren’t too large or are compressed before sharing. Consider the following when designing your webinar PowerPoint deck:

  • When explaining something that requires several steps, consider making use of “build” slides. This is a type of animation that allows you to reveal a slide bit by bit as you talk.
  • Make use of PowerPoint’s SmartArt graphics to illustrate key points without having to use complicated images.
  • For your the background of your slides, opt for a solid color or gradient effect. Lower quality images might not be big enough to fill the entire background. And if you resize them, your background will look distorted and pixelated.

 

Reference

“Reduce the File Size of a Picture.” Office Support. Accessed June 30, 2014. 

Featured Image: Ministerio TIC Colombia via Flickr

4 TED Talks to Inspire Innovative Thinking in Your Company

TED talks

Jun 27, 2014

Forbes contributor Cheryl Conner recently shared five TED Talks for entrepreneurs in search of creativity and inspiration. While the presentations she chose offered practical tips for those looking for continued success in business ventures, all of them offer great advice for anyone who  wants to enhance their careers.Living up to its motto, “ideas worth sharing,” TED is never short on great presentations. We’re expecting even more when TED Global 2014 rolls around this October. While we wait for a fresh set of ideas, here are four TED Talks that can help inspire innovative thinking in your company—regardless of where you are on the corporate ladder.

Shawn Achor: ‘The happy secret to better work’

We’re often taught that happiness follows success, but psychologist Shawn Achor believes otherwise. In his TED Talk, Shawn offers that we reverse this formula. Actually, it’s happiness that inspires productivity.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLJsdqxnZb0

90 percent of your long-term happiness is predicted not by the external world, but by the way your brain processes the world. And if we change it, if we change our formula for happiness and success, what we can do is change the way that we can then affect reality. What we found is that only 25 percent of job successes are predicted by I.Q. 75 percent of job successes are predicted by your optimism levels, your social support and your ability to see stress as a challenge instead of as a threat.

Kathryn Schulz: ‘Don’t regret regret’

Kathryn Schulz is a writer that specializes on ‘Wrongology’. In this TED Talk, she discusses the all-too-familiar feeling of regret, and how we should use it as a positive source of motivation.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka8L1YMR88U

You’re going to experience more regret in that situation if you missed your flight by three minutes than if you missed it by 20. Why? Well because, if you miss your flight by three minutes, it is painfully easy to imagine that you could have made different decisions that would have led to a better outcome. “I should have taken the bridge and not the tunnel. I should have gone through that yellow light.” These are the classic conditions that create regret. We feel regret when we think we are responsible for a decision that came out badly, but almost came out well.

Stanley McChrystal: ‘Listen, learn… then lead’

Four-star general Stanley McChrystal used to be the commander of the U.S. and International forces in Afghanistan. For his TED Talk, he shares how he managed to lead people of different backgrounds, skills, and ages into working toward a common goal.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmpIMt95ndU

And as soon as I hit, the first thing I did is I’d see if I’d broken anything that I needed. I’d shake my head, and I’d ask myself the eternal question: “Why didn’t I go into banking?” (Laughter) And I’d look around, and then I’d see another paratrooper, a young guy or girl, and they’d have pulled out their M4 carbine and they’d be picking up their equipment. They’d be doing everything that we had taught them. And I realized that, if they had to go into combat, they would do what we had taught them and they would follow leaders. And I realized that, if they came out of combat, it would be because we led them well. And I was hooked again on the importance of what I did.

Nilofer Merchant: ‘Got a meeting? Take a walk’

It might seem like an odd idea to have a business meeting while taking a walk, but as corporate director Nilofer Merchant suggests, fresh air and exercise can have a huge impact on how you think.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE9HMudybyc

And if we’re going to solve problems and look at the world really differently, whether it’s in governance or business or environmental issues, job creation, maybe we can think about how to reframe those problems as having both things be true. Because it was when that happened with this walk-and-talk idea that things became doable and sustainable and viable.

Find more inspiring presentations at the TED Talks library. Featured Image: Gisela Giardino via Flickr

What Marketing PowerPoint Presentations Can Do For Your Business

marketing powerpoint

marketing presentations

Jun 25, 2014

A well-crafted marketing PowerPoint presentation can be a powerful tool for driving business success. Whether you’re presenting to potential clients, investors, or your internal team, a strong presentation can communicate your brand message, highlight your services, and ultimately close deals. Here’s how a marketing PowerPoint presentation can make a difference for your business.

1. Communicate Your Brand Story

One of the most critical roles of a marketing presentation is to tell your brand’s story. A compelling narrative helps audiences connect with your company on an emotional level and understand your mission, values, and goals.Why It’s Important:

  • Builds Emotional Connections: Storytelling engages your audience and makes your brand more relatable.
  • Enhances Brand Loyalty: When your audience understands your brand’s story, they are more likely to become loyal customers or supporters.

How to Do It:

  • Start your presentation with a brief overview of your company’s history, mission, and key values.
  • Use visuals, customer testimonials, and success stories to illustrate your journey and impact.

2. Showcase Products or Services

A marketing presentation is an excellent opportunity to highlight your products or services in a visually compelling way. Instead of just listing features, focus on the benefits and how your offerings solve specific customer pain points.Why It’s Important:

  • Highlights Solutions: By focusing on how your products or services solve problems, you show the value your business brings to the table.
  • Drives Conversions: A clear, visually appealing presentation of your offerings can help persuade potential clients to choose your business.

How to Do It:

  • Include high-quality images, videos, or demos of your products in action.
  • Highlight the key benefits of each product or service, and explain how they address customer needs.

3. Support Sales and Business Development

A well-prepared marketing presentation can serve as a powerful tool for your sales and business development teams. It provides them with a structured way to present your company’s value proposition to prospective clients or partners.Why It’s Important:

  • Provides Structure: A well-organized presentation ensures that key points are delivered consistently across different sales meetings.
  • Facilitates Conversations: The presentation can act as a conversation starter, allowing sales teams to dive deeper into specific client needs.

How to Do It:

  • Include key statistics, case studies, and testimonials that demonstrate your success.
  • Customize the presentation for different audiences, adjusting slides to meet the unique needs of each prospect.

4. Simplify Complex Information

Marketing presentations can help you explain complex concepts, processes, or data in a simple and digestible way. This is especially useful for businesses that offer technical or data-driven products and services.Why It’s Important:

  • Improves Understanding: Breaking down complex information into clear visuals and concise language makes it easier for your audience to understand.
  • Builds Trust: When your audience can grasp the details of your offerings, they’re more likely to trust you as a knowledgeable and transparent company.

How to Do It:

  • Use infographics, charts, and graphs to visually represent data and trends.
  • Break down technical processes step-by-step, using diagrams or animations to guide the audience.

5. Boost Internal Team Alignment

Marketing presentations are not just for external audiences—they can also play a key role in aligning your internal teams. Whether you’re rolling out a new campaign, launching a product, or sharing performance updates, PowerPoint presentations can help ensure that everyone is on the same page.Why It’s Important:

  • Fosters Collaboration: Clear communication of marketing goals and strategies keeps teams aligned and working toward the same objectives.
  • Increases Productivity: A well-structured presentation helps avoid confusion and clarifies next steps, making it easier for teams to execute plans efficiently.

How to Do It:

  • Use a presentation to communicate the goals, target audience, and key messages of upcoming marketing campaigns.
  • Include progress reports or performance metrics to keep teams informed about the impact of ongoing efforts.

6. Engage Investors and Stakeholders

For businesses seeking investment or stakeholder buy-in, marketing presentations offer a way to clearly articulate your value proposition, growth strategy, and market potential. A strong presentation can inspire confidence and secure the support you need to grow.Why It’s Important:

  • Secures Funding: A well-prepared pitch that highlights the company’s strengths, potential, and market opportunities can attract investors.
  • Builds Credibility: Providing data, market analysis, and growth projections in a clear, professional format boosts your credibility with stakeholders.

How to Do It:

  • Include key market insights, competitive analysis, and financial projections to demonstrate your company’s growth potential.
  • Use charts and data to back up your claims and show the market opportunity.

7. Improve Audience Engagement

PowerPoint’s multimedia capabilities allow you to create interactive and visually engaging presentations that capture your audience’s attention. By incorporating elements like animations, videos, and interactive charts, you can create a memorable experience that keeps your audience engaged throughout the presentation.Why It’s Important:

  • Keeps Audience Attention: A dynamic presentation with multimedia elements is more likely to hold the audience’s attention compared to static slides.
  • Reinforces Key Messages: Interactive elements and visual aids help emphasize important points and ensure they stick with the audience.

How to Do It:

  • Use animations and transitions to reveal information gradually and maintain a sense of flow.
  • Incorporate videos, product demos, or customer testimonials to break up text-heavy slides and add variety.

Final Thoughts

A well-designed marketing PowerPoint presentation can help your business communicate its value, simplify complex information, and engage audiences, whether they are clients, investors, or internal teams. By telling your brand story, showcasing your offerings, and using clear, engaging visuals, you can create a presentation that leaves a lasting impression and drives business success.

How to Create an Investment PowerPoint that Seals the Deal

investment pitch

investment powerpoint

Jun 19, 2014

Pitches are essential to raising capital for your company. A PowerPoint presentation showcasing your core message helps you create a favorable impression. Forgo bombarding potential investors with endless bullet points and tables of data. Your investment PowerPoint should be quick, unique, and engaging. Most importantly, it should reflect the story you’re trying to sell.Consider these 4 tips when making an investment PowerPoint:

1. Make a positive impression with the first slide

When potential investors see your PowerPoint flashed on the screen, the first slide should encourage them to say, “This looks interesting.”The usual first slide contains only the following: company name, logo, and the presenter’s information. This isn’t enough to make a positive first impression. Aside from the given, the first slide should have visuals that reflect the main characteristics of  your brand. It should also include something that represents the main concept of your presentation.

2. Short and steady wins the race

The rest of your investment PowerPoint should be brief and concise. Business guru Guy Kawasaki suggests that you limit your entire presentation to only 10 slides. While you shouldn’t take this as a hard-and-fast rule, it’s a great guide to keep in mind.By limiting yourself to roughly 10 slides, you’ll be mindful to only include the most essential parts of your business plan. According to Kawasaki, these are the ten topics you should cover in your investment PowerPoint:

  • Problem
  • Your solution
  • Business model
  • Underlying magic/technology
  • Marketing and sales
  • Competition
  • Team
  • Projections and milestones
  • Status and timeline
  • Summary and call to action

3. Show, don’t tell

Check out our portfolio to see these slides in action.Utilize the technology available to you and incorporate multimedia elements to your investment PowerPoint.Use pictures, videos, or animations to demonstrate the idea you’re pitching. Your audience will find it engaging. They’ll be able to grasp your concepts better, becoming more likely to put their money behind it.

4. Be passionate and driven about your story

Potential investors won’t believe in what you’re presenting if you’re half-hearted about it yourself. There should be a powerful story at the heart of your investment PowerPoint pitch deck.And this story is something that you should truly care about. As best-selling author Carmine Gallo said, passion is among the top factors that ultimately influences investment decisions.

Conclusion

Following these steps, your investment PowerPoint pitch deck will definitely give you leverage. But if you still feel unsure, you can consider consulting with us.Our team of professional PowerPoint experts will ensure that your slides are helping you put the best foot forward with a great PowerPoint design.

References

Gallo, Carmine. “5 Must-Have Presentation Tips For Pitching To Angel Investors.” Forbes. Accessed June 19, 2014.”The 10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint.” Guy Kawasaki. December 30, 2005. Accessed June 19, 2014.

Technology PowerPoint: Developing a Killer Presentation for Your Video Game Pitch

game industry

gameplay

technology powerpoint

video game

Jun 19, 2014

The video game industry is highly competitive, and creating a compelling pitch for your game can be the difference between success and failure. A well-structured, visually dynamic PowerPoint presentation can help you convey your game’s unique selling points and capture the attention of investors, publishers, or potential partners. Whether you’re an indie developer or a part of a larger team, your pitch should combine clear messaging, captivating visuals, and a concise narrative that showcases your game’s potential.Here’s how to develop a killer video game pitch using PowerPoint:

1. Start with a Strong Concept Introduction

The opening slide should grab attention right away by introducing your game concept with a clear and compelling hook. This is your chance to communicate what makes your game unique and exciting.How to Do It:

  • Create an attention-grabbing title and tagline that summarizes your game’s concept.
  • Include a key visual, such as the game’s logo, concept art, or an in-game screenshot.
  • Briefly explain the core gameplay, genre, and target audience.

Example: “Introducing Galactic Odyssey – A space exploration game where players can chart unknown worlds, battle alien species, and shape the future of an intergalactic empire.”

2. Highlight the Gameplay Mechanics

One of the most important parts of a video game pitch is explaining how the game will be played. This includes detailing the core mechanics, gameplay loop, and what players can expect in terms of challenges and rewards.How to Do It:

  • Use screenshots, GIFs, or short video clips to visually demonstrate key gameplay features.
  • Break down the gameplay into its core elements, such as combat, exploration, puzzle-solving, or story progression.
  • Highlight unique mechanics that set your game apart from competitors.

Example: Include a slide showing the core loop of exploration, resource gathering, and shipbuilding in your space exploration game, with each step clearly visualized.

3. Showcase Your Art and Aesthetic

Visual appeal is critical in video game pitches. Investors and publishers want to see that the game has a clear artistic direction and style. Use your presentation to showcase concept art, character designs, environments, and UI elements that define the game’s look and feel.How to Do It:

  • Include high-quality concept art, in-game visuals, or 3D models to give a sense of the game’s atmosphere.
  • Use slides that highlight character designs, world-building elements, and special visual effects.
  • Provide insight into how the art style complements the game’s mechanics and narrative.

Example: Create a slide showing different alien species and their designs, explaining how each visual style reflects their unique abilities and cultures in the game.

4. Define the Target Market and Audience

Understanding your target audience is key to selling your game. Investors want to know who will buy your game, why it appeals to them, and how you plan to reach them.How to Do It:

  • Use demographics, player personas, or market research to identify your primary audience.
  • Explain why your game will appeal to this audience—what specific needs or interests does it address?
  • Provide examples of similar successful games and how yours will stand out in the market.

Example: “Our primary audience consists of 18-35-year-olds who enjoy strategy and resource management games like Stellaris and No Man’s Sky. Our unique feature set will appeal to players looking for a deeper exploration experience.”

5. Outline the Business Model and Monetization Strategy

The financial viability of your game is a critical concern for potential investors. Be clear about how the game will generate revenue, whether through initial sales, in-game purchases, subscriptions, or other methods.How to Do It:

  • Describe the pricing model—whether it’s a one-time purchase, free-to-play with in-app purchases, or subscription-based.
  • Highlight potential revenue streams such as downloadable content (DLC), expansions, or microtransactions.
  • Provide revenue projections or a sales forecast based on market research.

Example: “Galactic Odyssey will launch as a $29.99 premium game, with future revenue generated through expansion packs and cosmetic microtransactions.”

6. Provide a Development Timeline and Milestones

Investors need to understand the project’s development roadmap. Include a timeline that outlines key milestones, such as pre-production, alpha and beta stages, and the planned release date.How to Do It:

  • Present a clear timeline showing where the game currently stands and the milestones you expect to achieve over time.
  • Identify any major dependencies or risks that could impact the timeline.
  • Include a projected release date and plans for marketing or promotional activities leading up to the launch.

Example: “We are currently in pre-production, with alpha testing scheduled for Q2 2024, beta testing by Q4 2024, and a full release in Q2 2025.”

7. End with a Call to Action

Your final slide should make it clear what you want from the audience, whether it’s investment, partnership opportunities, or another form of support. Include your contact information and be ready to answer questions.How to Do It:

  • Clearly state what you are seeking, whether it’s funding, publishing support, or marketing partnerships.
  • Provide contact information for follow-up.
  • End with a memorable, visually impactful slide that leaves a lasting impression.

Example: “Join us in bringing Galactic Odyssey to life. Contact us to learn more about investment opportunities and partnership options.”

Final Thoughts

A killer video game pitch combines compelling visuals, clear gameplay explanations, and a well-structured narrative to capture your audience’s attention. By focusing on the unique aspects of your game, its target market, and the potential for success, you can create a PowerPoint presentation that not only informs but excites investors, publishers, and partners.

Just Scroll With It: Why Convert Your Slides into a Scrolling Web Presentation

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Jun 06, 2014

In today’s fast-paced digital world, static slide presentations can feel limiting and outdated. Converting your traditional slide deck into a scrolling web presentation can offer a more dynamic, engaging, and user-friendly experience for your audience. Here’s why you should consider making the switch.

1. Improved Engagement

A scrolling web presentation allows viewers to consume content at their own pace, which can lead to increased engagement and retention. Instead of passively clicking through slides, users can actively scroll through content, interacting with it more naturally.Why It’s Important:

  • Encourages Interaction: Scrolling presentations are more interactive, keeping the audience engaged.
  • Caters to Different Viewing Speeds: Audiences can move through the presentation at their own pace, ensuring they absorb the information thoroughly.

How to Do It:

  • Use tools like Microsoft Sway, Prezi, or websites built on platforms like WordPress to convert your slide deck into a seamless, scrolling experience.

2. Flexibility Across Devices

Scrolling presentations are often easier to view on different devices, including smartphones and tablets. This format is especially useful for remote or mobile users, ensuring your content is accessible and visually appealing regardless of screen size.Why It’s Important:

  • Mobile Optimization: Scrolling presentations translate well across devices, ensuring a consistent experience for all users.
  • Increases Accessibility: By ensuring compatibility across devices, you can reach a wider audience.

How to Do It:

  • Use responsive design elements in your presentation to ensure it adapts well to both desktop and mobile screens.

3. Continuous Narrative Flow

Traditional slides often break up content, making it harder for viewers to follow a cohesive story. Scrolling presentations, on the other hand, offer a continuous narrative flow, making it easier to guide viewers through a logical progression of information.Why It’s Important:

  • Streamlines Storytelling: The continuous nature of scrolling allows you to maintain a smooth narrative flow.
  • Enhances Clarity: Viewers can easily follow the progression of your ideas without the disruption of slide transitions.

How to Do It:

  • Structure your content to flow naturally, using a clear beginning, middle, and end. Consider breaking up long blocks of text with visuals to maintain engagement.

4. Incorporates Interactive Elements

Web-based presentations allow for more interactive elements, such as clickable images, embedded videos, and dynamic infographics. These features not only make your presentation more engaging but also give your audience more control over how they interact with your content.Why It’s Important:

  • Increases Engagement: Interactive elements keep your audience actively involved with the content.
  • Enhances Understanding: Videos and infographics can help explain complex concepts more effectively than static slides.

How to Do It:

  • Embed multimedia content, such as videos and interactive graphs, to provide a richer, more engaging experience for your audience.

5. Greater Shareability

Scrolling presentations are typically easier to share via web links, making them more convenient for distribution. This format is ideal for virtual meetings, emails, and social media, ensuring that your content reaches your intended audience without needing to download large files.Why It’s Important:

  • Simplifies Sharing: A web-based format makes it easy to distribute your presentation through a simple link.
  • Increases Reach: By making your content more shareable, you increase the chances of it being viewed by a larger audience.

How to Do It:

  • Publish your presentation on a platform that provides easy-to-share URLs, and promote it across your digital channels for maximum visibility.

Final Thoughts

Converting your traditional slides into a scrolling web presentation offers a more modern, dynamic, and engaging way to present information. With improved engagement, flexibility, and shareability, this format is ideal for today’s mobile, digital-first audience. By leveraging the benefits of scrolling presentations, you can create a seamless experience that captivates your viewers from start to finish.

Adventure Time Lessons for Preparing Your Presentation

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Jun 04, 2014

Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time is one of those kid shows that have crossed generational boundaries and become a hit among adult viewers. Sure, animated shows for older viewers have been produced before (Beavis and Butthead comes to mind. And then there’s The Simpsons). Adventure Time, however, is a charming, honest-to-goodness children’s cartoon that just happens to appeal to adults.

So what is it about the show that pulls the grownups? Maybe it’s nostalgia (the old-school RPG Dungeons and Dragons was an inspiration) or the characters’ dark and witty sense of humor. Whatever it is, Adventure Time has made many of us look beyond the cartoon’s candy-colored fairy-tale exterior and appreciate the lessons in each episode. BuzzFeed has even created a post, “lessons for living a better life,” in reaction to the shows’ positive appeal.

In response, we are also creating our own list of things that we have learned from the show and how they apply to PowerPoint design.

Focus on what matters

The show follows Finn, a young boy, and his dog friend Jake, who possesses super stretching powers, as they fight candy zombies and foul gnomes in the Land of Ooo. In one episode, Finn overanlyzes a conversation he had with his ex-girlfriend, Flame Princess. The princess didn’t laugh at Finn’s joke. This prompted our hero to overthink their relationship and jump to conclusions. Thankfully, Jake the dog knocked some sense into him.

What he told the boy can also be applied to presenters who are too absorbed in unnecessary PowerPoint details. Stop being hung up on imaginary problems but rather, focus on what’s real.

In designing PowerPoint slides, many of us tend to be anxious about what elements to include in hopes of creating an impact. We forget that the message is more important than any flashy graphics or fancy animation and sound effects.

Never underestimate people  

Many characters in the show appear unassuming yet capable of surprising you in the end. Cinnamon Bun is one of them. A typical lovable oaf, this guy was always underestimated by everyone. Nobody expected him to do anything extraordinary. Until in one episode, wherein he saved the day and got the girl. Finn’s reaction was priceless. “Did I just get shown up by Cinnamon Bun?”

One of the mistakes that you can make in delivering a presentation is underestimating your audience. This may show in the poor quality of your slides and lack of interest in making proper preparation. “They are just there to listen. Why should I even prepare?” You’ll get your answer after the presentation, when the audience starts throwing questions at you.

It’s okay not get it right the first time

Novice presenters can learn so much from this line from Jake:

adventure time lesson

You can apply this to any situation but if you’re being hard on yourself because of an initial presentation failure, take heart and remember this advice.

Stay optimistic – even if you don’t have enough sleep

And after several sleepless nights of designing your slides and practicing your speech, you may feel worried that you won’t be able to pull it off. Don’t worry. Princess Bubblegum (the ruler of the Candy Kingdom and friend of Finn and Jake) has something to say about that.

Jake: Princess Bubblegum, are you okay?

Princess Bubblegum: Yeah, I’m fine. I’m good. Haven’t slept for a solid 83 hours, but… yeah, I’m good.

‘Nuff said.