Tips & Tricks Archives

Closing a Deal Without Assuming a Salesperson’s Role

business

custom powerpoint

Marketing

pitch deck

presentation science

Rick Enrico

sales

Salesperson

SlideGenius

May 29, 2017

Closing a deal can feel intimidating, especially if you don’t consider yourself a traditional salesperson. However, closing a deal doesn’t have to involve high-pressure tactics or aggressive sales pitches. In fact, you can successfully close deals by focusing on building relationships, understanding your clients’ needs, and offering genuine solutions. This approach allows you to be persuasive and professional without coming off as overly salesy.Here’s how you can close deals effectively without assuming a stereotypical salesperson’s role:

1. Focus on Relationship Building

The foundation of any successful deal lies in building a strong, authentic relationship with your potential client. Instead of jumping straight into the sales pitch, take time to connect on a personal level and understand the client’s needs and challenges. Building trust is key, and clients are more likely to engage with someone they see as a partner rather than just a salesperson.

How to Do It:

Listen Actively: Show genuine interest in your client’s goals, challenges, and pain points. Ask open-ended questions that encourage dialogue, and listen carefully to their responses.
Be Empathetic: Put yourself in the client’s shoes. Empathy helps build rapport and shows that you care about their success, not just closing a deal.
Maintain Regular Communication: Keep in touch with your clients through consistent, meaningful communication. Even outside of sales conversations, share relevant articles, insights, or updates that demonstrate your ongoing support.

Example:

If you’re working with a client on a marketing project, instead of diving straight into what your service offers, ask questions about their current strategies, what’s working, and where they need help. This shows you’re interested in solving their problems, not just making a sale.

2. Position Yourself as a Problem Solver

Rather than pushing a product or service, position yourself as someone who offers valuable solutions. Focus on how you can help the client achieve their goals or overcome their challenges. When you demonstrate that you understand their needs and can provide tailored solutions, you naturally become a trusted advisor.

How to Do It:

Understand the Client’s Pain Points: Ask questions that uncover their core challenges. Once you’ve identified the problem, offer specific solutions that directly address these issues.
Customize Your Offering: Avoid a one-size-fits-all approach. Tailor your pitch to highlight how your product or service can meet the client’s unique needs.
Provide Real-World Examples: Share success stories or case studies that demonstrate how your solution has helped others in similar situations.

Example:

Instead of saying, “Here’s our software, and it does X, Y, and Z,” focus on their specific pain points: “I understand you’re struggling with managing remote teams. Our software can help streamline communication and ensure everyone stays on track, just like it did for one of our clients in a similar situation.”

3. Educate and Empower the Client

Many clients appreciate an educational approach, where you provide them with valuable information and insights rather than simply pitching your product. By educating the client, you empower them to make informed decisions and position yourself as a knowledgeable resource they can rely on.

How to Do It:

Share Industry Insights: Offer helpful industry trends, data, and knowledge that are relevant to their business. This shows you are not just focused on the sale but genuinely care about their broader success.
Offer Guidance: Help your clients understand how different solutions might impact their business. Offer pros and cons, helping them weigh options—even if it means your product or service isn’t the best fit.
Present a Clear Value Proposition: Provide a clear explanation of how your solution adds value in the long term, ensuring the client feels empowered to make the best decision.

Example:

Rather than just offering a product demo, take the time to explain why certain features will be beneficial to the client, how they solve specific problems, and the overall ROI they can expect. For instance, “This automation tool can save you 10 hours of manual work per week, allowing your team to focus on more strategic tasks.”

4. Create a Collaborative Decision-Making Process

Closing a deal doesn’t have to be one-sided. Involve the client in the decision-making process, making it feel more like a partnership rather than a traditional buyer-seller relationship. Collaboration fosters a sense of ownership and trust, which naturally leads to smoother deals.

How to Do It:

Encourage Dialogue: Ask for the client’s input and feedback throughout the process. Frame your discussions around how you can work together to find the best solution.
Present Options: Offer multiple options for how you can work together, allowing the client to feel in control of the process. This could include different pricing models, project scopes, or timelines.
Be Flexible: Show that you’re willing to accommodate the client’s needs, whether through customizations, pricing adjustments, or flexible terms. Collaboration means working together to find the right fit.

Example:

Say something like, “Let’s discuss what works best for you in terms of budget and timeline, and we’ll figure out how we can adapt the project to meet those needs.”

5. Gently Guide the Deal to a Close

When it’s time to close the deal, you don’t need to apply high-pressure tactics. Instead, gently guide the conversation toward a conclusion by recapping the key benefits, addressing any final concerns, and providing a clear path forward. A natural close often comes when the client feels informed, comfortable, and confident in the solution.

How to Do It:

Summarize the Value: Recap how your solution addresses the client’s needs and why it’s the best fit. Reinforce the key points discussed earlier in the conversation.
Address Objections: If the client hesitates, gently ask about their concerns and address them calmly. Sometimes, a simple reassurance is all they need to move forward.
Provide Next Steps: Clearly outline the next steps in the process—whether that’s signing a contract, scheduling a follow-up meeting, or starting the implementation process.

Example:

After a thorough discussion, you could say, “Based on everything we’ve talked about, it seems like this solution fits your needs well. Would you like to move forward with the next step?”

Final Thoughts

Closing a deal without assuming a salesperson’s role is about being authentic, helpful, and collaborative. By focusing on building relationships, solving problems, educating your client, and creating a comfortable decision-making environment, you can successfully close deals without relying on aggressive sales tactics. Remember, your role is to provide value and support, guiding the client toward the best solution for their needs. This approach not only leads to successful deals but also fosters long-term client relationships based on trust and respect.

7 Ways to Recapture a Bored Audience

audience

audience attention

presentation tips

public speaking

May 29, 2017

As a presenter taking the limelight, you shouldn’t expect the audience to give you their full attention outright. You have to understand that they have other stuff going on in their lives. You can’t force them to listen, but you can try to win their time and attention. One way to earn your place in the spotlight is to prepare for your presentation beforehand. Polish your content and decide on the best style of delivery. Make sure the method you choose is good enough to intrigue the audience and keep them hooked until the last slide.Preparation is key to every presentation, but it’d be foolish to suppose even for a second that it’s enough to cover all the variables. No matter how much you prepare, you can’t predict what will happen onstage. You may have a brilliant content and a killer pitch deck but still have no one paying attention to you. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re a bad presenter, and it surely doesn’t mean that the people in front of you are rude. Sometimes, it simply means that your efforts and methods are not enough to draw the audience away from their other more important priorities.So, what do you do? Should you just ignore your listeners’ indifference and rush through the presentation to get it all over with? No. The worst thing that can happen in a presentation is not for the audience to lose interest. The worst thing is for the presenter to give up trying to bring the audience back into the moment.A responsible presenter reads the warning signs that may indicate that the audience is falling behind. The signs can be subtle or obvious: yawning, chattering, slouching, standing to leave the room, staring blankly into space, refusing to return eye contact, and fiddling with gadgets, among others. A seasoned presenter can detect these tell-tale signs spot on.

Pulling the Audience Back into the Moment

When you see the abovementioned signs, you can’t just go on with whatever you’re doing. The fact that nobody’s paying attention to you anymore should nudge you into doing something different. Otherwise, you’ll just be wasting everybody’s time. When you’re about to lose your audience’s attention, hit the reset button and start over again. Here are some of the things you can do:

1. Pause, reflect, and regroup

When everything seems to crash and burn, stop where you are. Obviously, nothing of what you’re planning to say or do next can make the audience care about your presentation. So, before you make any more mistakes, just stop and reflect on when and how you lost them. What did you do wrong? Why did they remain impassive when you said something that was supposed to intrigue them? Think of how you can shake things up, and figure out the best way to go from there. Sometimes, it’s better to improvise than go with something that is evidently not working out.

2. Inject stories into your presentation

Maybe the reason they are shutting you down is that you’re shoving hard data down their throats. Even technical professionals can get tired of numbers and figures when they’re presented blandly. Instead of sticking to one type of content that is sure to bore the crowd, share personal stories and anecdotes that shine a new light into your topic. People are hardwired to listen to stories because they’re engaging and undemanding. If you can share an interesting story that is relevant to the subject, you can pull the audience out of their trance and draw them back into your presentation.

3. Use humor to liven up the mood

This isn’t to say that you have to make the room shake with laughter. A small chuckle or a subtle smile should do the trick. Use humor to get into your audience’s good side and lighten the mood in the room. Just remember to keep your relevant to the presentation.

4. Break the pattern you’re in

People pay attention to any kind of change, so make sure to make your presentation as diverse and sundry as possible. Use transitional devices to prompt the audience that you’re shifting to another type of content. This will help them refocus and gradually get back on track.

5. Shift the limelight to the audience

A presentation should ideally be a dialogue rather than a monologue. It should be a two-way conversation that the audience can participate in. So, when you get the chance, turn the tables and give the audience an opportunity to talk. You can do this by engaging them in a Q & A session where you can take feedback and gauge how interested they are. It’s also an opportunity for your listeners to clarify things they might have missed.

6. Take small breaks after sections

People can only take in too much information. That’s why you need to give your audience a break every now and then. Microbreaks can leave them reinvigorated as they take refreshments and relieve themselves in the restroom. When they return to their seats, they will have enough energy to refocus into your presentation.

7. Check your body language

Maybe your stage presence (or lack of) is what leaves the audience inert. Maybe you’re not connecting with them enough through body language. Check your stance, gestures, and facial expressions. Make sure that you convey authority and confidence without coming off as arrogant and overbearing. Projecting the right body language can help you bring back their attention and save your presentation.One thing you have to remember to avoid losing your audience is to make the presentation less about you and more about them. Everything you do should cater to their interests so that they will not be tempted to attend to other things while you’re up there onstage presenting valuable information.

Resources:

Biesenbach, Rob. “What You Can Do When Your Audience Tunes Out.” Fripp. n.d. www.fripp.com/what-you-can-do-when-your-audience-tunes-outDavis, Keith. “How to Use Humor in Your Speeches and Presentations.” Easy Public Speaking. May 20, 2010. easypublicspeaking.co.uk/public-speaking-humourFrenzel, Leif. “How to Avoid Losing the Audience in a Technical Talk.” Code Affine. February 26, 2015. www.codeaffine.com/2015/02/26/how-to-keep-audience-attention-during-presentationMac, Dave. “Do You Recognize the Five Early Warning Signs of a Bored Audience?” n.d. www.presentationblogger.com/do-you-recognize-the-5-early-warnings-signs-of-a-bored-audienceMitchell, Olivia. “What to Do When You’re Losing Your Audience.” Speaking About Presenting. n.d. www.speakingaboutpresenting.com/audience/losing-audienceSomlai, Fisher. “The Deck Is a Dialogue: Three Steps to Conversational Presenting.” Business. February 22, 2017. www.business.com/articles/the-deck-is-a-dialogue-3-steps-to-conversational-presenting“What to Do When You’re Losing Your Audience.” The Total Communicator. n.d. totalcommunicator.com/vol2_2/losingaudience.html

5 Ways PowerPoint Presentations Can Improve Business Leads

business

Business Tips

presentation design

May 24, 2017

5 Ways PowerPoint Presentations Can Improve Business Leads

Business Tips | Presentation Design | May 24, 2017

When most people hear the word “marketing,” they think of sales calls, advertising, customer service, or social media. And while those are all valid channels, marketing runs much deeper than simply convincing someone to open their wallet.

Savvy business leaders have shifted their focus to customer experience — the full arc of interactions a person has with your brand. Under this lens, a completed sale isn’t the finish line; it’s actually the starting point of a longer relationship. What follows — post-sale support, trust-building, loyalty — matters just as much as the transaction itself. It’s less about the destination and more about the journey.

So the real question becomes: how do you get people interested in the first place?

Traditional marketing does a lot of the heavy lifting, but there’s one underutilized channel worth considering — PowerPoint presentations. Not the dry, bullet-point-laden decks of years past, but thoughtfully designed presentations used as a genuine sales and relationship-building tool.

Think beyond the product demo. A well-crafted deck used in a speaking engagement or pitch meeting opens the door to real conversation — and conversation, as many top salespeople will tell you, is the most effective sales pitch there is. Your audience shifts from passive recipients to active participants, and that changes everything.

So what specific advantages can PowerPoint presentations offer when it comes to generating leads?

Resources:

Barr, Corbett. “The Best Sales Pitch Ever.” Fizzle. November 16, 2016. www.fizzle.co/sparkline/the-best-sales-pitch-everZwilling, Martin. “‘Customer Experience’ Is Today’s Business Benchmark.” Forbes. March 10, 2014. www.forbes.com/sites/martinzwilling/2014/03/10/customer-experience-is-todays-business-benchmark/#50113f125011

Body Language Mistakes to Avoid During Presentations

body language

presentation tips

public speaking tips

May 17, 2017

When you’re conversing with someone, which of the following do you do: look at that person in the eye or look away? focus or check your watch every few seconds? listen or play with your fingers, seemingly absentminded?

There are many negative connotations when you answer the latter for every pair. That’s because arbitrary cognition affects how people perceive your actions. In short, body language. The more negative those perceptions are, the more badly it reflects upon you, especially when you’re onstage and speaking in front of a large crowd.

But what specific “negative body language” indicators do you have to avoid during a presentation? Below are a few.

Body Language Mistake to Avoid During a Presentation: Crossing Arms

Poor Posture

If anything, this will be the most glaring and most obvious presentation blunder you can make. Slumped shoulders and slouching are its two biggest indicators, and they already tell much: nervousness, little to no confidence, a feeling of discomfort and inferiority, and that hint of the “I don’t really want to be here” idea. Poor posture reflects as much on your audience as it does to your own body.

Instead, practice proper posture in front of a mirror. A straight body not only improves bodily functions, like blood circulation, breathing, and the like, but also exudes an air of confidence and self-worth. Then, when you’re in front of your audience, do the same and think of it as your power pose. They will perceive you as a professional with the right things in mind to be worth their time.

Crossing Arms

Defensiveness is not a new concept. Humans survived basically because of it. But when talking about body language, it’s not a good thing; it gives off the message that you aren’t receptive to anything, are resistant to everything except yourself, and would rather stay in your comfort zone—three things you wouldn’t want your audience to emulate because, by then, your words will fall on deaf ears.

What do you do with your hands then? A good trick is incorporating hand movements to your spiel. If you’re about to introduce a point, motion to the audience. If you want a word or phrase emphasized, you can point to your presentation. You can also address to your viewers with a welcoming wave using both hands.

Body Language Mistake to Avoid During a Presentation: Turning Your Back

Exaggerated Gestures

Moving around the stage is good. It makes your speech lively with movements and can even draw attention to you and/or to what you’re pointing to, especially when emphasizing points (see above). But there is such a thing as “over the top.”

There should be a limit. If you use exaggerated gestures, like doing a sweeping wave when a small movement of the hand is enough, you can be seen as trying too hard or being too theatrical; the latter isn’t necessarily bad, per se, but if what you’re doing diverts your audience’s attention away from your words, then it’s time to keep your actions in check or, at least, dial it down a notch.

Turning Your Back

There’s a reason live TV strictly discourages showing its stars’ back to the camera: it’s to show the faces of the actors and actresses, the best tools they can use to portray the emotions the scene evokes.

It’s the same with public speaking. What would you rather your audience see: your back or your face? Choosing the former can denote that you’re not really interested in seeing them—much more talk to them. The worst perception is that you don’t trust and respect your viewers. Soon, they’ll reciprocate that feeling and think they just wasted their time.

Make Eye Contact

Have you ever had a conversation with an individual where your eyes just don’t meet, and you feel more awkward with each passing moment? Not having eye contact gives off the air and sentiment that much of what happens isn’t worth the time and could be just safely ignored. Thus, trust isn’t formed.

Looking at your audience members eye to eye fosters better understanding of each other because of the sincerity and trust that comes with it. You feel there’s a deeper connection steadily forming from that connection. The more it develops, the more your audience sees what makes you stand and speak in front of them: “confidence, leadership, strength, and intelligence,” as Dr. Travis Bradberry, author of Emotional Intelligence 2.0, writes.

When it comes right down to it, when hundreds of pairs of eyes are on you, there’s no greater fear than making a mistake and humiliating yourself. With the wrong kinds of body language, you’re just digging your grave deeper. When you’re rehearsing, take extra care and effort to eliminate these habits, no matter how much of a mannerism they have become. It’ll serve you better in the long run.

Resources:

Babar, Tayab. “8 Fatal Body Language Mistakes to Avoid During Presentations.” Lifehack. n.d. www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/8-fatal-body-language-mistakes-avoid-during-presentations.html

Bradberry, Travis. “13 Body Language Blunders that Make You Look Bad.” Huffington Post. March 4, 2017. www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/13-body-language-blunders-that-make-you-look-bad_us_58b88c2fe4b02eac8876cc70

Chernoff, Marc. “25 Acts of Body Language to Avoid.” Marc & Angel Hack Life. July 7, 2008. www.marcandangel.com/2008/07/07/25-acts-of-body-language-to-avoid

Economy, Peter. “9 Body Language Habits That Make You Look Really Unprofessional.” Inc. May 13, 2016. www.inc.com/peter-economy/9-body-language-habits-that-make-you-look-really-unprofessional.html

Grickej, Peter. “5 Negative Effects of Bad Posture on Your Body and Mind.” Posturebly. June 20, 2014. www.posturebly.com/5-negative-effects-of-bad-posture-on-your-body-and-mind

Herold, Cameron. “5 Absolute Worst Body Language Mistakes Made at Work.” COO Alliance. November 16, 2016. www.cooalliance.com/blog/communication/5-absolute-worst-body-language-mistakes-made-at-work

Navarro, Joe. “The Psychology of Body Language.” Psychology Today. November 29, 2009. www.psychologytoday.com/blog/spycatcher/200911/the-psychology-body-language

Smith, Jacquelyn. “The 11 Worst Body Language Mistakes Professionals Make.” Business Insider. April 17, 2014. www.businessinsider.com/common-body-language-mistakes-employees-make-2014-4

Videos: How Can They Improve Your Presentation?

audience engagement

PowerPoint Design

presentation tips

video

May 15, 2017

We can no longer ignore the growing hype around videos. These electronic media are gaining traction, and it wouldn’t be surprising if they soon become the most popular type of content, since more social media channels are popping up to underline their importance. Today, the effectiveness of videos in capturing people’s attention is apparent. In YouTube, for example, 400 hours of videos are uploaded every minute and almost 5 billion are viewed every day. These staggering statistics show that we create and consume video content in a rapidly increasing rate.

Still, while all this hype around videos is nice, we can’t really claim that it’s something new. Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple Inc., included this medium in his presentations as early as 1984. The potential of videos as the trendiest type of content will continue to grow, so if you haven’t explored the possibilities of video marketing, now is the time.

Incorporating videos into your presentation can take it to the next level by adding dynamic, engaging, and informative content that enhances the audience’s experience. Videos help break up long stretches of text or talking, provide visual demonstrations, and keep your audience engaged. Whether it’s a product demo, customer testimonial, or instructional video, videos are a powerful tool in any presentation.

Here’s how videos can improve your presentation:

1. Engage and Maintain Audience Attention

Videos are inherently more engaging than static slides or walls of text. They grab attention and hold it, helping prevent audience fatigue during long presentations.

How It Helps:

Breaks Monotony: By incorporating video, you give your audience a break from listening to just your voice or looking at text-heavy slides.
Stimulates Multiple Senses: Videos stimulate both visual and auditory senses, which keeps the audience more alert and engaged.

Example: A corporate presentation can include a short, visually appealing video that demonstrates the company’s new product features rather than explaining them in words.

2. Simplify Complex Information

Some ideas or concepts are better explained visually, and videos are perfect for simplifying complex or technical content. A video can show step-by-step processes, offer visual demonstrations, or present complicated data in an easily digestible format.

How It Helps:

Visual Representation of Data: Instead of using complicated charts or graphs, a video can animate data in a way that makes it easy to understand.
Demonstrates Processes: Videos can show processes in action, such as how a product works or how a service is performed, helping your audience understand more quickly.

Example: Instead of presenting detailed technical specifications of a product, you could include a short video showing the product in action, highlighting its key features.

3. Elicit Emotional Responses

Videos are effective at generating emotional responses from the audience, which can strengthen the connection to your message. Whether it’s a testimonial, an inspirational story, or an emotional appeal, videos can evoke feelings that resonate with viewers on a deeper level.

How It Helps:

Create an Emotional Connection: Videos can use music, visuals, and storytelling to elicit emotions that text alone cannot.
Enhance Persuasiveness: An emotional connection can make your message more persuasive, especially in presentations aimed at selling a product, service, or idea.

Example: A nonprofit organization might include a video with testimonials from individuals who have benefited from its services, making a stronger emotional appeal for donations.

4. Provide Credibility and Authority

Videos from experts, customer testimonials, or case studies lend credibility to your presentation. A well-crafted video can serve as authoritative evidence that reinforces your key points and builds trust with the audience.

How It Helps:

Builds Trust: Customer testimonials or expert endorsements shown through videos can be more impactful than written testimonials.
Shows Real-World Application: Case studies and demo videos show real-world applications of your product or service, adding legitimacy to your claims.

Example: Including a customer testimonial video in a sales presentation can show potential clients how your product or service has helped others in similar situations, making your pitch more convincing.

5. Add Variety and Break Up Lengthy Content

Long presentations can quickly become overwhelming if every slide follows the same format. Videos add variety and break up long blocks of talking or static slides, giving your audience a refreshing change of pace.

How It Helps:

Improves Retention: Breaking up long sections of your presentation with videos keeps your audience from zoning out.
Enhances Engagement: By varying the format, you keep your audience more engaged and interested in the content.

Example: In a long training session, you could include short video clips that demonstrate key concepts, ensuring that your trainees stay engaged throughout the presentation.

Final Thoughts

Using videos in your presentation is a powerful way to increase engagement, clarify complex information, and make a lasting impact. Whether through demonstrations, testimonials, or emotional stories, videos enhance the overall quality and effectiveness of your presentation. Just be sure to choose videos that align with your message and complement your content, not detract from it.

Isn’t it ironic that although most marketers recognize video content as a powerful tool, only four percent use it religiously in presentations? That leaves a glaring 96 percent in the dark, stuck in traditional methods that are only half as effective as video marketing. This isn’t to say that you should add a video in every presentation—of course, if it isn’t appropriate, do away with it. But if you find an opportunity to use this type of content to support or highlight your message, why not grab it?

Here are the four main purposes of adding videos in your presentation:

To explain a complex idea. It’s hard to explain a technical idea to a group of people who know nothing about it. Sure, you can put that idea into words, but you can’t guarantee that your equally perplexing explanation will translate into something cohesive in the audience’s mind. If it’s too complicated to grasp, why not find another means of expressing it? Perhaps a video could render it more comprehensible?

To engage the audience in discussion. Videos have a certain pull that makes them effective in grabbing people’s attention. A relevant video presented at the right moment can keep the audience bolted to the screen. Make sure that the video you use can establish an emotional connection with your audience and can generate a meaningful discussion that will fire up their energy.
To break the monotony. You can’t expect the audience to listen to you for hours on end. Their attention is bound to wane at some point, and one way to recapture their interest is by giving them a break in the form of a video to watch. If possible, inject humor in your presentation to lighten up the mood and make room for a seamless transition.
To help in memory retention. An experiment conducted by Dr. Richard Mayer from the University of California, Santa Barbara revealed that people immersed in “multi-sensory environments” had better recall even years after a presentation. This is because when the human brain builds two mental representations of something (i.e. a verbal and a visual model), it typically results to better memory retention.

Things to Remember When Adding Videos to Your Slides

You’d think that adding a video to a presentation is a piece of cake, but some people still seem to miss the basics. To make sure that you do things right, take these pointers:

1. Embed the video in the presentation itself

Think of how unprofessional it would look to show the audience a video separate from the original presentation. You’d look like an amateur who didn’t bother to assemble your knowledgebase in one place. Plus, it would be inconvenient on your part when switching from one to the other, so it’s only practical and professional to insert the video in the presentation itself. In PowerPoint, you can embed a video directly in the slides to make for a smoother transition.

2. Keep it short and simple

Videos are meant to enhance your presentation, not replace it. That’s why you should only designate a short chunk of time for this type of content. Otherwise, you’ll lose your connection with the audience and destroy your momentum. An effective video presentation shouldn’t make the audience forget that you’re the main source and “relayer” of information.

3. Lean towards the authentic

People are more interested in realistic videos that reflect genuine experiences than in corporate ones that are too alien to relate with. To add a dab of authenticity in your videos, you can use testimonials that feature real customers who truly value and uphold your brand. Testimonials, especially when unsolicited, are a persuasive tool for inviting more people to consider your message.

4. Check its relevance to the topic

Relevance is the number one criteria when adding video clips in a presentation. You can’t just throw in anything that doesn’t relate to the points you’re trying to make. Every video clip must have a purpose—and that purpose should have something to do with underlining your core message.

5. Use narratives to draw emotional responses

Everyone responds to narratives. Stories have a certain quality that evokes emotional responses from people. A video content structure that follows a narrative can make for a more compelling presentation that will allow the audience to make sense of abstract ideas that would otherwise be lost in translation.

Now you know the secret to making your next pitch stand out. Use videos more wisely in your next presentation, and see the difference in your audience’s level of energy and engagement.

Resources:

Bell, Steven J. “Using Video in Your Next Presentation: A Baker’s Dozen of Ideas and Tips.” Info Today. n.d. www.infotoday.com/cilmag/jul10/Bell.shtml

Blodget, Henry. “The Lost 1984 Video: Steve Jobs Introduces the Mac.” Business Insider. August 25, 2011. www.businessinsider.com/video-steve-jobs-introduces-mac-2011-8

Boone, Rob. “How and Why You Should Use Video in Your Next Presentation.” Live Slides. January 22, 2016. www.liveslides.com/blog/how-to-use-video-in-presentations

Gallo, Carmine. “Four Easy Tips on Using Video to Make Your Presentation Stand Out.” Forbes. January 31, 2017. www.forbes.com/sites/carminegallo/2017/01/31/four-easy-tips-on-using-video-to-make-your-presentation-stand-out/#2ed99f26e3a0

Marshall, Lisa B. “How to Use Video in a Presentation.” Quick and Dirty Tips. August 9, 2012. www.quickanddirtytips.com/business-career/public-speaking/how-to-use-video-in-a-presentation

“3 Reasons to Add Video to Your Presentation.” Meetings Imagined. n.d. www.meetingsimagined.com/tips-trends/3-reasons-add-video-your-presentation

“36 Mind-blowing YouTube Facts, Figures, and Statistics 2017.” Fortunelords. March 23, 2017.

Using Humor During a Pitch

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humor

Humor During Presentation

pitch

pitch deck

presentation

presentation tips

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

May 08, 2017

Using humor during a pitch can be an effective way to engage your audience, lighten the mood, and make your presentation memorable. However, humor must be used carefully—it needs to be relevant, appropriate, and well-timed to avoid detracting from the professionalism of your pitch. When used correctly, humor can build rapport, ease tension, and make your message more relatable.Here’s how to use humor effectively during a pitch:

1. Break the Ice and Build Rapport

Humor can be a great way to start your pitch by breaking the ice and creating an immediate connection with your audience. A light, non-controversial joke or humorous observation can set the tone and make your audience more receptive.How It Helps:

Eases Tension: A little humor at the beginning of your pitch helps calm nerves (yours and the audience’s) and makes the environment more relaxed.
Builds a Connection: A well-placed joke or witty comment can establish a connection with the audience and make you appear more relatable.

Example: Starting a sales pitch with a humorous comment like, “I promise I’ll keep this short—shorter than my grocery list, anyway,” can set a friendly tone and make the audience more comfortable.

2. Use Humor to Illustrate a Point

Humor can be used to highlight an important point or concept, making it more memorable. A funny story or metaphor can simplify complex ideas and help your audience better understand your message.How It Helps:

Makes Points Memorable: Humor sticks in people’s minds. If you tie a joke to a key message, your audience is more likely to remember that point.
Simplifies Complex Ideas: Humor can turn a complicated idea into something more digestible by using relatable, funny examples or analogies.

Example: If you’re explaining a technical solution, you could use a humorous analogy like, “Our software is like a GPS for your data—it tells you where you’re going, and it never asks for directions.”

3. Keep It Relevant and Audience-Appropriate

When using humor in a pitch, it’s important that it aligns with your message and is appropriate for your audience. Misjudging the audience’s humor preferences or making inappropriate jokes can backfire, damaging your credibility.How to Do It:

Know Your Audience: Consider the demographics, background, and context of your audience. Tailor your humor to suit their sensibilities.
Keep It Professional: Avoid controversial, inappropriate, or offensive humor. Keep your jokes light, non-political, and non-offensive.

Example: In a business pitch, stick to industry-related humor, like, “This is the kind of solution that even your IT guy will love—and they never love anything.”

4. Time Your Humor Wisely

Humor is most effective when it’s well-timed and delivered naturally. Don’t force it into your presentation at random moments—use humor strategically to add emphasis or lighten the mood when necessary.How to Do It:

Use Humor as a Break: After presenting a series of complex or dense points, a well-placed joke can give your audience a mental break and re-engage their attention.
Practice Delivery: Practice your timing and delivery to make the humor feel natural. The more naturally it flows, the more effective it will be.

Example: If your pitch covers a complex financial model, you could insert a light-hearted comment afterward like, “I know that’s a lot of numbers—don’t worry, there’s no pop quiz at the end.”

5. Use Self-Deprecating Humor Sparingly

Self-deprecating humor can make you appear humble and approachable, but it needs to be used sparingly and strategically. It’s important not to undermine your own expertise or the seriousness of your pitch.How to Do It:

Keep It Light: If using self-deprecating humor, focus on small, harmless jokes that make you seem relatable without damaging your credibility.
Balance with Confidence: Make sure your humor doesn’t overshadow your message or make you seem unprepared.

Example: A gentle self-deprecating joke, such as “I’m no mathematician, but I promise these numbers add up,” can make you seem more approachable without undermining your competence.

Final Thoughts

Humor can be a valuable tool during a pitch, helping to break the ice, engage your audience, and make your message more memorable. When used effectively, humor can ease tension, simplify complex ideas, and build rapport with your audience. Just remember to keep your humor appropriate, relevant, and well-timed to ensure it enhances your pitch rather than distracts from it.

Fighting Off Sleepiness Before a Presentation

Know Yourself

presentation tips

public speaking tips

May 03, 2017

You beat the deadline and made sure that everything in your deck looks right. But one look at the clock and you realize it’s already deep into the night. Deeper than you expected. And you’ve got to wake up on time the next day. To make sure you’re not late for your presentation (which is why you crammed in the first place), you sleep less hours. This trade-off might not be that great since you’ve compromised your delivery—exhausted, sleepy, and all that.When you’re not in the best shape to deliver your speech, your slides can’t build rapport with the audience for you. Here are ways to energize yourself so that you don’t fall asleep before—and during—your presentation.

1. Warm Up

Get your blood rushing to reinvigorate your body. Liken it to hyping yourself up or getting yourself excited—or anything as long as you feel the blood pumping. You might think that exercising will use up your remaining energy reserves, but the body is a lot smarter about conserving energy than we give it credit for.You can get more energy by moving around. This will trigger the release of hormones in your body and will put you on alert. Do simple activities like stretching and doing breathing exercises. The latter will also help you relax before your presentation.

2. Cool Down

Shock yourself awake with something cold if any attempt to warm up didn’t work. An ice-cold shower is guaranteed to wake you up first thing in the morning, but it’s not something you should do often since too much of it could lead to medical complications.You can splash some cold water on your face during the day of your presentation to repeat the effect without getting your entire body shivering. A blast of cold air from outside can also wake you up. Just don’t sit down in a cold room for too long or you’ll be tempted to doze off.

3. Power Nap

Taking a quick nap for ten minutes can help you recharge when prodding yourself awake just doesn’t cut it. Or you’re too tired to begin with. Getting a few minutes of sleep might give you just enough energy to present. If you love caffeine, you can also try the “coffee nap.” It works by drinking a cup of coffee and taking a short nap afterward. Both helps get rid of adenosine, a byproduct of the brain that makes you feel tired and sleepy. Several researchers have already proven the effectiveness of this study.Sleep deprivation also gives you a distracting headache. A short shuteye can help alleviate the pain when there’s no paracetamol around. The trick is to keep it within twenty minutes to avoid feeling groggy afterward.

4. Talk

We tend to be on our best behavior when we’re around other people. You’ll perk up by talking to somebody instead of sulking in a corner, slumped down and obvious that you’re sleep-deprived.Talking to your peers might give you the encouragement you need to pull off your presentation. You can also ask your friends for more tips on how they fight off sleepiness. Focus your attention on something else to help you be alert.

Recap

It’s best to consider different options and discover what works and doesn’t for you. For some of those who only end up getting sleepier after taking a power nap, moving around might work better than getting a few minutes of rest. Others might find that relaxing with a cup of coffee or tea is more helpful than shocking themselves with a cold shower in the morning.Do what works for you to keep awake during the day.

Resources:

Bratskeir, Kate. “10 Ways to Wake Up Without a Cup of Coffee.” The Huffington Post. December 3, 2015. www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/09/16/wake-up-without-coffee-its-possible_n_6096518.htmlDaum, Kevin. “12 Non-Caffeinated Ways to Wake Up at Work.” Inc. May 28, 2013. www.inc.com/kevin-daum/12-non-caffeinated-ways-to-wake-up-at-work.htmlKnowlton, Susan. “How to Fight Sleepiness.” Health Guidance. n.d. www.healthguidance.org/entry/15792/1/How-to-Fight-Sleepiness.htmlPinola, Melanie. “How Long to Nap for the Biggest Brain Benefits.” Lifehacker. September 4, 2013. www.lifehacker.com/how-long-to-nap-for-the-biggest-brain-benefits-1251546669Stromberg, Joseph. “Scientists Agree: Coffee Naps Are Better Than Coffee or Naps Alone.” Vox. April 23, 2015. www.vox.com/2014/8/28/6074177/coffee-naps-caffeine-science

How Stage Presence Can Boost Your Presentation

custom powerpoint

pitch deck

presentation

public speaking

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

stage presence

May 01, 2017

Stage presence is the combination of confidence, energy, and control that a speaker exhibits during a presentation. It’s not just about what you say—it’s about how you say it, how you move, and how you connect with your audience. Great stage presence can captivate and energize your audience, making your message more impactful and your delivery more memorable.Here’s how stage presence can boost your presentation:

1. Builds Confidence and Credibility

When you present yourself with confidence, your audience is more likely to trust your message. A strong stage presence conveys that you are in control and knowledgeable about your subject matter, enhancing your credibility as a speaker.Why It’s Effective:

Increases Trust: Confident speakers are seen as more trustworthy and authoritative.
Sets a Positive Tone: A speaker who appears confident sets a positive, professional tone for the presentation.

How to Do It:

Maintain good posture by standing tall with your shoulders back.
Use a calm, steady voice and make deliberate movements to exude confidence.
Rehearse your presentation multiple times to feel more in control of your material.

2. Engages the Audience

A presenter with strong stage presence is more likely to capture and maintain the audience’s attention. By using purposeful gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact, you can create a more engaging and dynamic presentation.Why It’s Effective:

Captures Attention: Body language and facial expressions can make your message more interesting and engaging.
Creates Connection: Eye contact helps you build a connection with individual audience members, making your message feel more personal.

How to Do It:

Make regular eye contact with different sections of the audience to engage them.
Use hand gestures to emphasize key points and add energy to your delivery.
Smile or use facial expressions that match the tone of your message to convey enthusiasm or seriousness.

3. Conveys Energy and Enthusiasm

Your energy level on stage directly influences how engaged and excited your audience feels. If you appear passionate and enthusiastic about your topic, your audience is more likely to share that enthusiasm.Why It’s Effective:

Increases Audience Excitement: Enthusiastic speakers can make even mundane topics feel more exciting and important.
Keeps Attention: High energy helps maintain the audience’s focus and prevents them from losing interest.

How to Do It:

Vary your tone of voice to keep your delivery dynamic and engaging.
Move around the stage with purpose—use the space to interact with the audience and convey energy.
Show passion for your topic by smiling, using animated gestures, and expressing genuine excitement in your voice.

4. Enhances Persuasiveness

Stage presence helps you deliver a persuasive message by making you appear more confident, credible, and passionate. These elements combine to make your arguments more convincing.Why It’s Effective:

Strengthens Arguments: A confident, passionate speaker is more likely to persuade the audience to agree with their point of view.
Inspires Action: When you appear fully committed to your message, your audience is more likely to follow your lead.

How to Do It:

Use strong, assertive language to reinforce your points and show conviction.
Incorporate powerful gestures and movements to emphasize your most persuasive arguments.
Maintain an open, approachable posture to invite the audience to engage with your message.

5. Maintains Control of the Room

Speakers with good stage presence have the ability to command the room, keeping the audience focused and managing any distractions or disruptions that may arise. When you’re in control, you can steer the presentation back on track even if things don’t go as planned.Why It’s Effective:

Reduces Distractions: A strong stage presence helps minimize audience distractions and keeps their attention on you.
Improves Flow: Speakers who remain calm and composed, even during interruptions, can smoothly navigate challenges and keep the presentation moving forward.

How to Do It:

If disruptions occur, address them calmly and professionally without losing your composure.
Use pauses effectively to regain control of the audience’s attention.
Stand firmly on the stage and project your voice to maintain authority over the room.

6. Makes the Message More Memorable

Stage presence enhances the delivery of your message, making it more memorable for the audience. Dynamic speakers who use expressive body language, varied vocal tones, and purposeful movement create a lasting impression that helps their message stick.Why It’s Effective:

Leaves a Lasting Impact: Strong stage presence makes your presentation more engaging and memorable.
Amplifies Key Points: Using body language and voice modulation can help emphasize and reinforce the most important parts of your message.

How to Do It:

Use pauses, gestures, and movement to highlight key points in your presentation.
Incorporate storytelling, humor, or personal anecdotes to make your message more relatable and memorable.
End your presentation with a confident, memorable conclusion that leaves a strong final impression.

Final Thoughts

Stage presence is a vital element in delivering an impactful presentation. It boosts your confidence, engages your audience, and makes your message more persuasive and memorable. By mastering body language, voice modulation, and purposeful movement, you can elevate your stage presence and take your presentation skills to the next level.

Understanding Color Contrast in Graphic Design

Color Contrast

designs tips

presentation design

Apr 24, 2017

Whether you’re proficient in design or not, you ought to possess at least a single grain of knowledge about color contrast. It’s a principle that can be seen everywhere, although it’s mostly prominent in graphic design and other art-related fields. Color contrast refers to the stark visual differences that make an object distinct from others. The polarity of black and white, two colors known to be the ultimate opposites, is a classic example that illustrates this design principle. As a designer, however, you need to learn to work on a more diverse palette that transcends these two so that you can explore other ways of achieving color contrast.

The Importance of Contrast in Design

A circle of twelve colorful crayons radiates outward from the center like spokes on a wheel. The gradient shifts from red to yellow, green, blue, and purple, on a wooden surface. "SLIDESTORE by Designs" branding text is visible in the bottom right corner, perfect for adding charm to your next presentation or slide template.

A simple way to weed out amateur designers from the cream of the crop is by judging the way they apply contrast in their work. Contrast—whether it be of shapes, typography, or color—is the foundation of every artistic masterpiece. You have to be conscious of how you use it since it can be the single most important element that can make or break your design. Color is one of the first things that register in our subconscious when we look at a work of art. A design piece that fails to employ color contrast effectively can result to a jarring spectacle that can strain the audience’s eyes and cause them to withdraw their gaze. As all designers can agree on, there’s no thought worse than knowing that nobody wants to see the fruits of their labor.

Color contrast is important for three reasons:

It attracts the eye. People are subconsciously drawn to artworks that use contrast seamlessly. This principle is attractive to the eye because it creates visual interest. When done correctly, color contrast shouldn’t be noticed. When done the wrong way, however, it glares like a flagrant sin.
It reinforces an idea. Colors carry a certain weight, so when they’re used effectively, they can impact viewers manifold. Use color contrast to strengthen your message.
It shows hierarchy. Color contrast can create a focal point and establish a hierarchy of importance in your design. With this design principle, you can draw people to a certain area of a page without telling them outright that it’s what they should focus on.

Make sure to strike a balance when applying color contrast. Using this design principle excessively is just as bad as not applying it at all.

Johannes Itten’s Seven Kinds of Color Contrast

A pair of hands is seen painting a landscape on a spiral-bound notebook. The landscape features mountains and greenery, depicted in a low-poly art style. The table holds watercolor paints, brushes, a palette, and paint tubes, evoking the creative energy of an art session in progress for a presentation.

Mastering color contrast is just like mastering any other skill—it takes practice. There are no hard and fast rules, no shortcuts, and no magic formulas that you can count on. Cultivate your eye for design and work hard on finetuning it. To better understand color contrast, you need to learn its different aspects and forms. Johannes Itten, a Swiss expressionist painter, was among the first to make a theory about the possible types of color contrast. Here are seven of them:

1. Contrast of hue

Hue refers to the name of a specific color that is typically found on the color wheel. You don’t have to apply hues in their purest forms since they might clash. You can lighten or darken them to resemble real-life contexts. When used right, the contrast of hue can create a vivid effect on your design.

2. Contrast of saturation

Saturation refers to the purity of a color; that’s why this type of contrast is also known as the contrast of pure colors. A color in its brightest form is 100% saturated, but by diluting its intensity, you can abate its impact to create a better effect. You can desaturate a color by mixing it with white (tints), black (shades), or gray (tones). When used well, the contrast of saturation can be a unifying factor that leads to a harmonious composition in your design.

3. Contrast of temperature

A top-down view of a wooden table with art supplies scattered around, including paintbrushes, paint tubes, a watercolor palette, and a paint palette. In the center, a person is preparing a presentation slide showcasing their painting of a mountain landscape in a notebook.

Mixing warm (red, orange, yellow) and cold (blue, violet, green) colors in a design is also another form of color contrast. This type of contrast can create a dramatic effect, especially when one side is dominant and the other is subservient.

4. Contrast of simultaneity

This refers to the effect colors have on each other. It is derived from the law of complementary colors, in which colors cancel each other out to produce an achromatic light mixture (white, gray, or black). This means that if a certain color is absent, the eye will produce its complement.

5. Contrast of extension

Also known as the contrast of proportion, the contrast of extension refers to the effect of amplifying the impact of a certain color by placing it in a dominant spot. This type of contrast underlines the fact that colors can appear weaker or more dominant depending on their arrangement or placement in a design. When using this, keep in mind that the dominant color shouldn’t overpower the surrounding hues but rather unify them.

6. Contrast of dark and light colors

This type of contrast refers to the brightness of colors—how light or dark they are. Playing light and dark hues off of each other will make your design more powerful and dramatic. Using a high light/dark contrast will allow you to determine which parts of your design are the most important.

7. Contrast of complements

This refers to color pairings that tend to intensify both colors. As you know, complementary colors occupy opposite positions in the color wheel. When adjacent, they intensify each other’s power, but when mixed, they nullify each other by producing a grayish black hue. Exploring color contrast can take your design to the next level. Use it to its optimum and watch your masterpieces soar into new heights, making you worthy of the title, “designer.”

Resources:

Aaberg, Kasper. “Color Contrast: All About the Difference.” Love of Graphics. n.d. www.loveofgraphics.com/graphicdesign/color/colorcontrast Farley, Jennifer. “Principles of Design: Contrast.” SitePoint. December 3, 2009. www.sitepoint.com/principles-of-design-contrast

Jones, Henry. “The Principle of Contrast in Web Design.” Web Design Ledger. February 3, 2010. webdesignledger.com/the-principle-of-contrast-in-web-design

Kliever, Jane. “Designing with Contrast: 20 Tips from a Designer (with Case Studies).” Canva. September 22, 2015. designschool.canva.com/blog/contrasting-colors

O’Nolan, John. “Fully Understanding Contrast in Design.” Web Designer Depot. September 17, 2010. www.webdesignerdepot.com/2010/09/fully-understanding-contrast-in-design

Roach, Nick. “Four Quick Tips for Improving Color Harmony in Your Theme Customizations.” Elegant Themes. August 26, 2013. www.elegantthemes.com/blog/resources/four-quick-tips-for-improving-color-harmony-in-your-theme-customizations

“It’s Not Just Black and White: Understanding the Importance of Contrast in Graphic Design.” Pluralsight. March 9, 2014. www.pluralsight.com/blog/creative-professional/just-black-white-using-contrast-get-attention-graphic-designs

Corrigan, Dennis & Hoffer, Peter. “The Seven Color Contrasts: Based on the Work of Johannes Itten.” Marywood. n.d. www.marywood.edu/dotAsset/45ee9b19-5c3a-47bc-974b-47436488e792.pdf

Marketing Through LinkedIn: Tips and Tricks

custom powerpoint

digital marketing

Marketing

online marketing

pitch deck

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

Apr 24, 2017

LinkedIn has become an indispensable tool for professionals and businesses alike. Whether you’re looking to network, promote your brand, or generate leads, marketing through LinkedIn offers unique opportunities to connect with decision-makers and grow your business. Here are some tips and tricks to help you make the most of LinkedIn’s marketing potential.

1. Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile

Your LinkedIn profile is often the first impression you make on potential clients, partners, or employers. Ensuring your profile is professional, complete, and optimized for LinkedIn’s search algorithm is crucial for effective marketing.Why It’s Important:

Builds Credibility: A well-optimized profile establishes you as a credible and trustworthy professional or brand.
Improves Visibility: Optimizing your profile increases the likelihood of being found by people searching for your expertise or services.

How to Do It:

Use a professional profile picture and a custom banner that reflects your brand.
Optimize your headline with keywords related to your industry or services, and fill out the summary section with a concise description of what you offer.

2. Leverage LinkedIn Groups

LinkedIn Groups provide an opportunity to engage with professionals in your industry, share knowledge, and demonstrate your expertise. Participating in groups can help you build relationships, share valuable content, and promote your services in a less promotional and more organic way.Why It’s Important:

Increases Engagement: Active participation in groups helps you connect with potential clients or partners.
Showcases Expertise: Sharing your knowledge and insights positions you as an authority in your field.

How to Do It:

Join groups relevant to your industry and participate in discussions by answering questions, sharing articles, or offering advice.
Avoid overtly promotional content—focus on adding value to the conversation and building relationships.

3. Use LinkedIn Ads

LinkedIn Ads allow you to reach a highly targeted audience based on job title, industry, company size, and other professional criteria. This makes LinkedIn Ads an effective tool for B2B marketing, lead generation, and brand awareness.Why It’s Important:

Targets Decision-Makers: LinkedIn’s ad platform allows you to reach key decision-makers in specific industries or companies.
Increases Lead Generation: LinkedIn Ads can drive high-quality leads to your website, product, or services.

How to Do It:

Use Sponsored Content to promote blog posts, whitepapers, or webinars to engage your target audience.
Create Sponsored InMail campaigns to send personalized messages directly to prospects’ LinkedIn inboxes.

4. Share High-Quality Content

Consistently sharing high-quality, relevant content is one of the most effective ways to engage your LinkedIn audience and establish your brand as a thought leader. Posting insightful articles, industry news, and company updates keeps your network engaged and positions you as a go-to resource.Why It’s Important:

Builds Authority: Regularly sharing valuable content helps establish your brand’s authority in your industry.
Engages Your Audience: High-quality content encourages likes, comments, and shares, increasing your reach and visibility.

How to Do It:

Post industry-relevant articles, how-to guides, and thought leadership pieces regularly.
Use LinkedIn’s Publishing Platform to write longer articles or blog posts directly on LinkedIn, showcasing your expertise to a broader audience.

5. Network with Decision-Makers

LinkedIn’s advanced search filters allow you to find and connect with decision-makers at specific companies, industries, or locations. Building relationships with these individuals can open doors to new business opportunities.Why It’s Important:

Drives Business Opportunities: Connecting with decision-makers increases your chances of securing partnerships, clients, or job offers.
Expands Your Network: The more relevant connections you make, the more opportunities you’ll have to grow your network and business.

How to Do It:

Use LinkedIn’s advanced search to filter for professionals by job title, company, or industry.
Send personalized connection requests and follow up with a message introducing yourself and explaining how you can help.

6. Post Consistently

Consistency is key when marketing on LinkedIn. Posting regularly keeps you top of mind with your connections and increases the chances that your content will be seen by more people.Why It’s Important:

Builds Visibility: Regular posting ensures that your profile and content remain visible in your connections’ feeds.
Increases Engagement: The more often you post, the more opportunities you have to engage with your audience and grow your influence.

How to Do It:

Aim to post at least once or twice a week, sharing a mix of content such as articles, videos, and company updates.
Use LinkedIn’s Analytics to track which posts perform best and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Final Thoughts

LinkedIn is a powerful platform for building professional relationships, promoting your brand, and generating leads. By optimizing your profile, sharing high-quality content, and engaging with your network through groups and ads, you can leverage LinkedIn’s full potential to enhance your marketing strategy. Consistency and authenticity are key—focus on adding value to your network, and the results will follow.