Tag: sales pitch

How to Maximize Quick Presentations

effective presentation

sales pitch

Mar 03, 2020

You don’t always have enough time to sell your ideas. Ideally, you’d want 15-20 minutes to go through the finer details of what makes your business special. However, given your client’s (or perspective client’s) busy schedule, you don’t always get that. When you come across those cases, you should know how to maximize the time you have to make a winning sales presentation.

At the end of the day, it will always come down to making every slide—and second—count. At SlideGenius, it’s our business as presentation experts to create pitch decks that help our clients sell their business in the boardroom.

Prospects will have their eyes and ears open to presentations that are unique. These are our tips on how to carefully create a presentation that can successfully sell your business:

Open Strong

When time is short, the audience’s attention is your most valuable resource. You need to take control of it wisely. This makes your opening slide the most crucial, as this will set the tone of your presentation. Failure to grasp your audience’s interest from the get-go could be a telltale sign of a failed pitch attempt.

Having a strong hook is an effective strategy to catching your audience’s attention. This can be done in several ways:

Make a Provocative Statement

These are meant to challenge your audience’s ideas. It entices them to listen in to what you have to say. After all, it’s only natural to want to hear someone back up their statements after hearing bold claims that catch them off guard.

Additionally, highlight shocking numbers to drive the impact of your statement.

Ask “What If?”

Engage the imagination of your audience byproposing a unique and beneficial scenario. This simple trick subconsciouslypushes audience members to put themselves into the scenario you propose. It’s agreat foundation to the narrative you’re trying to build throughout yourpresentation.

Engage Visually

Complement your opening statement with an image that’s relevant and impactful. It will draw in your audience’s eyes and improve their comprehension of your message. This one-two punch of content creates a clear message that your audience can easily latch on to.

Stick to Your Core Message  

You can afford to meander through every minutedetail about your company. A good sales pitch delivers a clear message, not along one.

Knowing that you don’t have much time on your handsmeans you don’t have many slides to work with either. Treat each slide like acrucial chapter to your story, presenting new and thought-provoking informationwith every click. But remember that they all should contribute to your coremessage. The last thing you want is for them to feel like their precious timewas wasted by slides that ultimately served very little purpose.

Tailor Your Content

Being prepared will save you time. Before you step into to the boardroom, beware of who exactly you are presenting to. Is it the CEO? Or a specific department within a company? Put yourself into the shoes of your audience and consider the content you want to see from a presentation.

Audiences will feel a deeper connection with your pitch when it feels like the content was made for their needs specifically. Having a unique presentation for each one will reduce the feeling of repetition for yourself as a presenter.

SlideGenius Is Your Presentation Expert

Need help for your next big meeting? Contact us and we can create a winning presentation! From PowerPoint presentations to animated marketing videos, we are capable of crafting a variety of pitch materials designed to boost communication and drive better business.

We’ve worked on over 1 million slides for +3,000 global clients. Every presentation has the potential to be a unique and effective sales tool.

Our team of presentation designers, writers andanimators collaborate diligently to ensure every element of a presentation is treatedexcellently. We’ve worked with clients from every industry, creating presentationsthat sell regardless of topic or scale. The refined skills of our team consistentlyprovide world-class design standards that boost the image of our partners. Letus help you inject new life into your presentations and raise your businesstowards new heights.

We have helped spark million-dollar growth forbusinesses around the world. The growth of our clients is our biggest measureof success. Together, let’s achieve greatness through the unlimitedcapabilities within PowerPoint! Reach out now to get a quote free of charge.

Contact us today!

The Hows of Concise Presentations

presentation tips

sales pitch

slide design

May 08, 2019

Technology gives easy access to information and a more convenient way of living.

These benefits, however, have disadvantages, including impatience, shorter attention spans.

As the average attention span gets shorter, you should capture and hold their focus. One way is to ensure that those blocks of text are condensed and concise.

Let’s look at the following principles according to the Writing Center of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Writing Center of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill:

Make It Action-Packed

Make your PowerPoint slide design more engaging by transforming your sentences from having a passive voice to a more active voice. This minimizes the confusion and frustrations.

Trim the Fat

Delete unnecessary words. And start with phrases.

Instead of “we are able to” change it to “we can.” Remove length and keep its meaning.

Positivity Is Key

According to Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style, another tip to make your language more precise is by changing a negative sentence into an affirmative one. Inserting positivity in your sentence makes it assertive and shows the speaker knows what they are talking about.

Quoting The Elements of Style, “…the reader is dissatisfied with being told what is not; he wishes to be told what is.”

Keep It Simple

Another way for people to keep their attention to what you’re saying and showing is by using simple vocabulary to convey your point.

The best practice is to make sure that you keep things as simple as possible for your target audience. Don’t confuse them. For example, you can substitute “use” for “utilize” or “help” for “facilitate.” Be direct and avoid fluff.

Be Clear

Avoid using vague ideas in your paragraphs. It’s better to go straight to the point since you’re trying to give your point before the audience’s attention wanders.

“Sugar is an important factor to consider when losing weight.”

“To lose weight, cut back on sugar.”

The first sentence meanders while the second one is compact and straight to the point.

Once you have your content pat down, you may now format your slides for a cleaner look.

Make Your Presentation the Best

You may even get in touch with businesses that build custom PowerPoint slides. At SlideGenius, we’ve been helping people create captivating presentations since 2012. We’ve helped our clients raise more than $500 million dollars over the years.

For thousands of clients, we have proven to be the masters of storytelling and vivid imagery. If you’re eager to make sure your PowerPoint presentation is the best, reach out to us and find out how we can help you make sure you are showing the world your value.

Should You Distribute Handouts on Your Next Presentation?

handouts

information overload

Powerpoint

powerpoint presentations

presentation experts

presentation handouts

print collateral

print services

sales pitch

Sep 05, 2018

After each sales pitch, speakers can only hope their audience had taken something from their presentation—to have engaged the audience enough for the speaker to be remembered.Distributing handouts is a great way to remind your audience of your topic’s key points. This is especially helpful if you have more information that you would like to relay, but can’t include in the presentation because of time constraint or layout/design reasonsThese are especially useful for presentations with tons of details because it is impossible for your audience to take in that much information.

What does it contain?

While your PowerPoint is customized to contain the key points of your presentation, your handout provides an extensive explanation of the details bulleted in your deck and your contact information.Usually just a page or two—enough to thumb through, the handout’s content shouldn’t only cover the topics discussed in your presentation. You can also include related information, such as case studies and other print collateral, that supports and further explains your pitch.

Should you distribute them?

Presentations shouldn’t exhaust the audience, instead, this is where you deliver your core message in an engaging way.Adding the element of handouts strengthens your call-to-action, as these provide the resources they need to get in touch when they need to discuss purchasing decisions.The advantages of handouts, however, come with downsides, including the possibility of creating a disconnect between you and the audience—serving as a distraction because the audience will be reading rather than listening.In the end, it is up to you to whether to use print collateral during your presentation or not. After all, handouts only reinforce what you’ve already mentioned in your presentation. If you’re confident in your PowerPoint and you think it’s effective on its own, then there’s no need for them.–People can only take in so much before they experience information overload and by the time they do, they will be unable to retain half of what you’ve said.Handing out print collateral for the first time? No need to worry. Apart from being PowerPoint experts, we also provide print services that attend to these specific needs.References:“Understanding Information Overload.” infoengineering. n.d. www.infogineering.net/understanding-information-overload.htmLampton, Bill. “Using Handouts to Reinforce Your Training Presentations.” Business Know-How. March 26, 2015. www.businessknowhow.com/growth/handouts.htm

The Good & the Bad: Presenting to a Generation X Audience

baby boomers

digital transformation

Gen Xers

Generation X

millennials

multigenerational

Powerpoint

presentation experts

sales pitch

Aug 22, 2018

The Pew Research Center released a study saying that millennials are dominating the U.S. labor force. That’s more than one in three people or 56 million millennials working or looking for work.However, it’s those who were born between 1965 and 1981 (Generation X) that are changing the nature of work. Gen Xers are dominating the playing field, having founded more than half of all new businesses.These are the people you should be presenting and marketing to.

America’s Neglected Middle Child

Despite the nickname, the appeal of Generation X has significantly risen due to their growing influence. People don’t hear much about them because all eyes are on the continuous rise of millennials and the slow retirement of baby boomers.In a recent report provided by CNBC, however, it revealed that this generation is thriving, playing a critical—somewhat underappreciated—role in leadership while markets continue to grapple with digital transformation.The Global Leadership Forecast 2018 showed that out of 25,000 leaders across 54 countries and 26 major industry sectors, Gen Xers account for 51% of leadership roles. And because they have an average of 20 years in the workforce, they are primed to quickly assume most executive roles.

The Advantages

Gen Xers have more money to spend than any other age group. Why? Because they are at the peak of their careers and income, which is why it’s no surprise that they have more cash to burn compared to the generations that preceded and succeeded them.Apart from this, those who belong to this age group make up the majority of startup founders. This characterizes them as big thinkers who are unafraid to explore uncharted territory—always ready to absorb and try new ideas.Lastly, they value authenticity. Be transparent with your presentation—be forward with your intentions. This age group holds strong family values, fueling their desire for safety and security. If your message reflects those values, then you’ll surely engage them.

The Drawbacks

Deemed as the “latch-key” generation, this age group doesn’t like being told what to do. They grew up in a time where they were left to their own devices while their parents were struggling to get new jobs because of a surge in nationwide layoffs.Also, they’re not known to be the most tech-savvy, which is why you may want to keep it clean and simple on your customized PowerPoint presentation and focus on the execution of your delivery.–When marketing to a multigenerational crowd, not only will you have to tailor your topic to the appropriate audience, but your PowerPoint presentation has to be customized to suit their tastes, too.Consider catering to Gen Xers. They may not be millennials, which make up the majority of the labor force, but they are at the peak of their careers and income. If you want to deliver an effective presentation to this age group, then make sure to look over this list of pros and cons to sell, compel, and inspire.References:“Survey Report: 2015 State of the Startup.” Sage. 2015. www.sage.com/na/~/media/site/sagena/responsive/docs/startup/reportAnovick, Paul and Merrill, Theresa. “Eight Effective Elements for Engaging a Multigenerational Audience.” American Management Association. October 18, 2011. www.amanet.org/training/articles/eight-effective-elements-for-engaging-a-multi-generational-audience.aspxNeal, Stephanie and Wellins, Richard. “Generation X—Not Millennials—Is Changing the Nature of Work.” CNBC. April 11, 2018. www.cnbc.com/2018/04/11/generation-x–not-millennials–is-changing-the-nature-of-work.htmlFry, Richard. “Millennials Are the Largest Generation in the U.S. Labor Force.” Pew Research Center. April 11, 2018. www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/04/11/millennials-largest-generation-us-labor-force/

Should You Memorize Your Presentation?

bad speech habits

enhancing presentation performance

overcoming presentation anxiety

Professional Speakers

public speaking

sales pitch

speech practice

Jun 27, 2018

If there’s one thing people fear worse than death itself, it’s public speaking.Professional speakers and experienced executives will often hire PowerPoint design services to focus on the visual aspect of their presentation. This way, they can maximize their time for speech preparation.Sure, it can be nerve-wracking, but if done right, it will always feel fulfilling in the end.Once you address your anxiety, it might make you a bit paranoid, but don’t worry about it—many people deal with this, too, and everyone has their own way of dealing with it.While there are those who consider memorization as a means to reduce anxiety, others may find it difficult, consequently adding to their stress.Dr. Genard, author of Fearless Speaking, thinks memorizing speeches is a terrible idea. To him, reciting from memory detaches the speaker from the audience. In addition, it makes them sound stiff and mechanical.When stress and anxiety kick in, all the information you’ve memorized will disappear. These hijack the brain and reduce fluid intelligence—or the ability to solve problems. This was observed by Sian Beilock, an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Chicago.Instead of memorizing your presentation, rehearse as much as you can. Ask your peers to critique and give their feedback so you can apply these to the way you present.Knowing the pitch like the back of your hand results in you delivering your pitch conversationally. This makes it easier for your audience to pick up on the emotions and reactions you’re trying to coax from them.Break your ideas into bite-sized chunks and get to know the gist of each one, so you can describe them on your own later on. By then, it will become easy for you to play around with concepts to compare and contrast them with. This allows for a more authentic, on-the-spot performance, as you’re telling it with your own voice—making your expertise on the subject shine.Darlene Price, a communications coach and the president of Well Said, Inc., stated in an article with Business Insider, that memorizing your opening is fine and recommended since the beginning of the pitch often carries a rush of adrenaline, empowering you to start strong and make a confident first impression.–The way you deliver your speech matters more than the content. No matter how interesting the information is, if you’re lacking confidence, it’s not going to come out right. Why sell your presentation short when you could be convincing people to trust you.Above all, reciting a memorized pitch takes the authenticity and fun out of presenting. Custom PowerPoint presentations can provide the key points of your discussion, but it’s still up to you to carry the flow of conversation with confidence.Presentation anxiety is normal and you shouldn’t make a big deal out of it. The only way to lessen it is to make sure that you’re prepared for it. Accept their feedback gracefully, so you can improve and deliver your next presentation with more confidence and conviction.

Typography, Is It Really Important?

information retention

PowerPoint Experts

powerpoint presentation design

powerpoint presentation fonts

sales pitch

typography

May 23, 2018

Typography is one of the most overlooked aspects of presentation design, yet it plays a critical role in how your message is received. The typefaces you choose, the spacing, and the overall presentation of your text can make a significant difference in readability, professionalism, and the effectiveness of your slides. Good typography ensures that your content is both legible and visually appealing, while poor typography can distract from your message.Here’s why typography is important in presentations and how to use it effectively:

1. Enhances Readability

The most fundamental role of typography is to make your text easy to read. If your audience can’t read your slides easily, they’ll miss out on key information. The right choice of font, size, and spacing ensures that your message is accessible and clear.How It Helps:

  • Font Choice: Use fonts that are easy to read at a distance. Sans-serif fonts like Arial, Calibri, and Helvetica are generally more readable on screens than serif fonts.
  • Font Size: Ensure your font size is large enough to be legible for everyone in the room. A minimum size of 24pt is recommended for most presentation text.
  • Line Spacing: Adjust the spacing between lines to avoid overcrowded text. Proper spacing makes your slides easier to read and digest.

Example: A corporate presentation on a large screen should use a sans-serif font like Calibri, with text size at least 28pt for body text and 36pt for headings.

2. Conveys Tone and Personality

Typography can communicate more than just words—it can also convey the tone and personality of your presentation. Different fonts and styles evoke different emotions and set the tone for your message.How It Helps:

  • Formal vs. Informal: Serif fonts like Times New Roman or Georgia convey a more traditional, formal tone, while sans-serif fonts like Arial or Helvetica feel more modern and casual.
  • Consistency: Using consistent typography throughout your presentation creates a cohesive look, which enhances the professional feel of your presentation.

Example: If you’re giving a formal financial report, using a classic serif font for headings paired with a clean sans-serif font for body text can strike the right balance between professionalism and readability.

3. Draws Attention to Key Points

Typography can be used strategically to emphasize important points or guide the viewer’s attention to critical elements of your presentation. Bold fonts, contrasting colors, or larger text sizes can highlight key messages.How It Helps:

  • Hierarchy: Use different font sizes and styles to create a hierarchy on your slides. Titles should be the largest, followed by subtitles, and then body text. This structure helps guide the audience’s eyes to the most important information.
  • Contrast: Use contrasting font styles or weights (bold vs. regular) to differentiate between points and draw attention to critical information.

Example: In a marketing pitch, bold the key takeaway in a larger font size to make it stand out from the rest of the slide.

4. Improves Aesthetic Appeal

Well-chosen typography can make your presentation look polished and professional, while poor typography can make it look cluttered or amateurish. A clean, visually appealing layout helps engage your audience and makes your presentation more enjoyable to follow.How It Helps:

  • Visual Harmony: Consistent fonts, spacing, and alignment create visual harmony in your slides. Avoid mixing too many font styles, which can make your presentation feel chaotic.
  • White Space: Good typography often goes hand-in-hand with the effective use of white space. Plenty of space around text improves readability and gives your slides a cleaner, more modern look.

Example: Choose one or two fonts to use throughout your presentation—one for headings and another for body text—and make sure they complement each other for a unified look.

5. Supports Branding

Typography plays a crucial role in reinforcing your brand’s identity. Consistent use of brand fonts helps your presentation align with your company’s overall visual style, making it more memorable and professional.How It Helps:

  • Brand Consistency: If your company has specific fonts for branding, use them in your presentations to maintain consistency with other marketing materials.
  • Builds Recognition: Over time, using the same typography across all company presentations helps reinforce brand recognition and trust.

Example: If your company’s website and marketing materials use a specific font, ensure that same font is used in your presentations to create a consistent brand experience.

6. Reduces Cognitive Load

When typography is used effectively, it reduces cognitive load for your audience. Clear, well-structured text helps the brain process information more efficiently, allowing your audience to focus on the content rather than struggling to decipher the text.How It Helps:

  • Minimizes Distraction: Poor typography, such as overly decorative fonts or inconsistent text alignment, distracts the audience. Well-chosen typography ensures the focus stays on the message.
  • Enhances Focus: Clear, clean typography helps your audience process and retain the information more easily, enhancing the overall impact of your presentation.

Example: Avoid using overly decorative or script fonts for body text, as these can be hard to read and may distract from your core message.

Final Thoughts

Typography is a powerful yet often underestimated tool in presentations. It not only enhances readability but also sets the tone, emphasizes key points, and supports your brand. By using clean, consistent typography, you can improve the aesthetic appeal and effectiveness of your presentation, ensuring that your audience stays engaged and understands your message.

Winning Your Audience Over: The Keys to an Influencing Pitch

building credibility

establishing presentation credibility

PowerPoint Experts

public speaking

sales pitch

Social Media Marketing

speech

Apr 12, 2018

One of the most difficult things a presenter does is instill certain beliefs or convince the audience that their product or service is the best choice.Apart from this, whether you hire PowerPoint presentation design services or create it yourself, you have to make sure that whatever shows up on the screen coincides with what you’re saying. Flow is important, as it contributes to how easy it will be to understand your pitch.Winning the audience over may not be an easy feat, but it is, however, doable. Here are factors that make an influencing pitch:

Give & Take: Reciprocity

When you are pitching a fresh idea to an investor, provide a sample because not only would this make your presentation more memorable, but it will also help them understand your pitch better. In a way, it instills a sense of indebtedness, increasing their chances of complying to your request.Reciprocity is useful in the world of sales, as this helps establish trust between you and your prospects.

What the Public Says: Social Proof

What makes you decide whether to watch a movie or not? Or if you should try the new restaurant in town? Usually, people take to Google and search for reviews before they try something new.Most of the time, these influence decision-making and this is proof you should use social media to win your audience over.Testimonials from previous clients give you an edge, as these showcase unique experiences provided by your product. In a way, these help your clients make informed decisions.

The 3 Cs: Commitment, Consistency & Credibility

The hardest part during a sales pitch is getting your audience to say yes. Gaining their approval contributes to the success or failure of your presentation, which is where learning the art of persuasion comes in handy.Once you get your audience to comply with small requests, it will be easier for you to make larger requests, as they will be more likely to be receptive of these. Given that these are similar in nature to the original inquiry.This was proven in a study conducted in the 1980s, where the “foot-in-the-door” technique was used. Martin Sherman called residents in Indiana and inquired about hypothetically volunteering and spending three hours collecting for the American Cancer Society. His associates called the same people three days later and actually requested help for the ACS. Thirty-one percent of those who responded to the earlier request agreed to help and this number is much higher than the 4% of people who volunteered when approached directly.Your confidence and the trustworthiness of the content you are presenting invoke authority, reflecting your expertise on the subject, hence, making you credible. This convinces the audience that you are the right person to discuss a certain topic.Moving forward, your custom PowerPoint presentation should coincide with your speech and vice versa. Not only do these factors apply to your speech, but these should also resonate with your visual aid, that way, your audience will be able to follow the discussion with their eyes and ears.References:Swanson, Elizabeth; Sherman, Martin & Sherman, Nancy. “Anxiety and the Foot-in-the-Door Technique.” The Journal of Social Psychology. June 30, 2010. doi.org/10.1080/00224545.1982.9922806McLeod, Saul. “The Psychology of Compliance.” SimplyPsychology. 2014. www.simplypsychology.org/compliance.html

Sparking Your Imagination for a Great Sales Pitch

creativity

imagination

presentation tips

sales pitch

May 01, 2017

It’s hard to start a project that isn’t particularly inspiring to do. Much more if you’ve somehow gotten yourself in a creative rut, self-brought or otherwise.If you find it difficult to come up with a sales pitch, then it’s time to start doing it differently, specifically the planning.Working on a new project that doesn’t interest you actually feels like it’s taking so much mental energy and focus. Even forcing yourself to do it leaves you feeling tired. When you’re not up to the task of delivering a sales pitch, your lack of enthusiasm will show and affect your performance. Try some of these tips to get your creative juices flowing.

Claim Creativity

Sparking Your Imagination for a Great Sales Pitch: Claim CreativityStop thinking you’re not imaginative or artistic. This is self-defeating and counterproductive and will prevent you from performing at your best. People who confidently call themselves creative helps them be more creative. Sound familiar? How about a different—and quite literal—interpretation of “I think, therefore I am” or “You are what you eat”?Bill Seidel, inventor and CEO of America Invents, starts his class by making sure all his students raise their hands when he asks them if they’re creative.Negativity and doubt are obstacles you need to get rid of. Gain a new perspective by thinking creatively and believing in yourself.

Take a Break

Sparking Your Imagination for a Great Sales Pitch: Take a BreakFamiliarity breeds contempt. For a sales pitch, you might be getting burned out from thinking up of ways—and failing—to make one. Remember the mental tiredness from forcing yourself to create? If you feel that happening, stop for a while. Give yourself a break and move away from everything that reminds you of work. Not only are you resting your body but also your mind. A bit of fresh air or a stroll around the block can do the trick. As long as you distract and detract yourself away from the task, you’ll get that “second wind,” so to speak.Put yourself in a good mood and focus on feeling positive and relaxed instead. A cool head might be all you need to get back in the game.

Daydream

Sparking Your Imagination for a Great Sales Pitch: DaydreamIf you need to imagine yourself having an awesome deck, why not? Staring into space and having your mind wonder and wander about not only serve as mental breaks but are also exercises into alternate realities. Oxymoronic, you say, break and exercise? It’s that paradoxical nature that will get you thinking more and more yet not find yourself stressing out… if you’ll think about it.There’s a wondrous surprise of liberation when you get your head up in the clouds, conjuring in your mind anything that doesn’t tire you out or pressure you to work or even be an adult. Once that pressure is lifted, who knows, maybe the key you need for that pitch will just come to you. Or you will just suddenly think of something that will make your deck perfect. All because you didn’t force yourself to think of it.

Experience New Things

Sparking Your Imagination for a Great Sales Pitch: Experience New ThingsTry new stuff. That’s basically it. Experience something you haven’t before. Haven’t traveled yet? Go ahead. Never tried skiing? Try it for the first time. The point is expanding your horizons. Quite the cliché, right? But the lesson is still there: when you have a wider base of knowledge, you can draw much from your experiences. Insights, parallelisms, and even comparisons that you can use as leverage.Challenge and go beyond your limits and comfort zone. There’s much to learn beyond what you already know, and depending on your stock knowledge for everything will eventually be unhealthy. You could even discover new loves and passions to add to your schedule and skills to your repertoire. Don’t be afraid.

Allow Room for Mistakes

Sparking Your Imagination for a Great Sales Pitch: Allow Room for MistakesThe need to be original is your biggest obstacle to being creative. This is too much to consider, when all you really have to do is deliver a sales pitch.Frame your experience to the present moment, and your anxieties will look much smaller. Overwhelming pressure and fear of the uncertain leads to self-doubt, but no one’s perfect. Cut yourself some slack. There’s no need to bring all those to the table. And no need to bite off more than you could chew. You’ve got your task enough as it is. Never mind the Pygmalion effect. Just go out there and be great.

The Takeaway

Swap the negative thinking with positive thinking to set yourself up for success. Another option is to daydream, imagine different things that can only happen in your head. Once you’ve cleared your mind, come back to making your sales presentation. Or try new things you’ve yet to do. Lastly, don’t force yourself; don’t be the obstacle you’re looking to overcome. Once you’ve got those creative juices flowing, try again. And see the results.

Resources:

Efti, Steli. “10 Steps For Giving A Convincing Sales Pitch.” Forbes. April 18, 2014. www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2014/04/18/10-steps-for-giving-a-convincing-sales-pitchFalconer, Joel. “30 Tips to Rejuvenate Your Creativity.” Lifehack. n.d. www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/30-tips-to-rejuvenate-your-creativity.htmlIrwin, Menar. “Creativity Hacks: 9 Ways to Find Inspiration.” Marketing Insider Group. December 16, 2016. www.marketinginsidergroup.com/content-marketing/creativity-hacks-9-ways-find-inspirationKotler, Steven. “Hacking Creativity.” The Creativity Post. July 31, 2012. www.creativitypost.com/pop-culture/hacking_creativityTartakovsky, MS, Margarita. “One of the Biggest Obstacles to Creativity.” Psych Central. October 1, 2014. blogs.psychcentral.com/everyday-creativity/2015/10/one-of-the-biggest-obstacles-to-creativityZetlin, Minda. “9 Seriously Easy Ways to Spark Your Creative Energy.” Inc.com. January 16, 2015. www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/9-seriously-easy-ways-to-spark-your-creative-energy.html“How to Be Creative: 6 Secrets Backed by Research.” Bakadesuyo.com. December 2015. www.bakadesuyo.com/2015/12/how-to-be-creative

Making It Big: Great Ideas and Good Plans Don’t Cost Much

content marketing

marketing strategy

marketing success

Rick Enrico

sales pitch

SlideGenius

viral marketing

Sep 07, 2016

Some of the grandest marketing successes are elaborate enterprises that looked like they required a lot of manpower and money. For example, as cited by AdAge contributor and Creativity editor, Ann-Christine Diaz, these experiential moves appear to have specific budgets for their productions.We’ve attributed such innovation to large companies that could afford to bring their creative strategies to life. However, you don’t have to spend a lot of money for a good idea. Most of the time, the best ideas won’t cost you anything. Here are three ways you can execute your plan under a budget:

In an office setting, a group of professionally dressed individuals applauds as a man in a suit and a woman in a dress stand at the front, presenting a client experience slide for consulting firms. The large windows behind them reveal towering city buildings.

1. Prioritize the Customer

Don’t put your brand directly in your output. Focus on building content first. To get yourself noticed, go with a strategy that impacts your customers emotionally. For this purpose, content marketing exists to cater to people’s different preferences. Companies now focus on creating relevant content for their target audience before endorsing themselves. This is because they know clients want to see information related to their interests, be it cooking, car mechanics, or even electronics. Similarly, knowing what the audience wants and relating your content to commonly shared values are the first steps to mapping out your plan of attack. Tug at basic human emotions and observe actions to draw your next inspiration. For example, Coca-Cola, which has always been well-known for its impressive campaigns, launched Share-a-Coke in 2011, which continues up to the present. As its name suggests, Coca-Cola’s campaign banked on forming and strengthening human connections, which most people naturally relate to .Similarly, tap into your audience’s preferences to relate to them better and convince them to invest their time and money on you.

2. Go Viral

One of the most cost-effective ways to attract many customers without overstepping your budget is to go digital. Today, social media plays a dominant part of everyone’s lives, allowing everyone to share content from all over the world with the simple click of a button. With something as connective as the Internet, it would be a loss not to take advantage of the opportunity to reach out to a greater number of people. Viral marketing, as cited on Web Marketing Today, by internet marketing pioneer Dr. Ralph Wilson, explains the nuances and principles behind the viral marketing trend, including providing effortless transfer to others and utilizing existing communication networks to reach more people. Once you have your great ideas in place, put them together as catchy content like a blog post, infographic, or better yet, a video. Upload your content online. If the audience takes the bait, it will only take you a minimal promotion to turn it into a widespread Internet sensation for a couple of days.

3. Keep it Going

Viral marketing can only last for so long before the next interesting thing replaces it. Don’t let your name die out with the hype. Formulate a strategy to keep your brand up in the market for as long as you can. Take advantage of the publicity by introducing your product or service to your target market. Offering promos and sales discounts to potential customers will attract people to your brand. Attending trade fairs can also get you noticed. This expands your network with peers in the industry as well as with clients. Having an established identity in the market can take time, especially if it’s a saturated one. It often takes more than one successful campaign to become a famous business. That’s why after your first idea comes to fruition and you’ve gotten the most out of the publicity, you’ve got to go back to square one. Think of a new idea, find another strategy to make it go viral, and maximize the attention you’re given.

Go Big or Go Home

Creativity is a never-ending process. You need to constantly look for inspiration to benefit from it. Before you even draft up your plan, consider your audience. If you’re on a very tight budget, using available resources instead of trying to match up to those used by major brands can reduce cost. Tap into viral content online to reach out to more people, but don’t stop there. Strike while the iron is hot and show off your brand offerings. Who knows – they might even invite you for a live sales pitch! For those presentation needs, our SlideGenius experts have your back. Contact us today for a free quote!

References

Diaz, Ann-Christine. “Here Are 15 of Marketing’s Most Memorable Experiential Moves.” Advertising Age Agency News. March 11, 2014. Accessed December 7, 2015. http://adage.com/article/agency-news/15-marketing-s-memorable-experiential-moves/291975 “Social Culture: The Digital Key to Connecting with Audiences.” Digital Information World. Accessed January 14, 2016. www.digitalinformationworld.com/2015/10/social-culture-digital-key-to-connecting-with-audiences.html “What Is Content Marketing?” Content Marketing Institute. Accessed December 7, 2015. http://contentmarketinginstitute.com/what-is-content-marketing Wilson, Ralph. “The Six Simple Principles of Viral Marketing.” Web Marketing Today. Accessed December 7, 2015. http://webmarketingtoday.com/articles/viral-principles

The Most Important Slides Your Pitch Deck Needs in a Sales Pitch

important slides

presentation guide

Rick Enrico

sales pitch

sales presentation

slide deck

SlideGenius

Jul 04, 2016

The number of slides in your presentation depends on two things: your audience and the type of presentation you’re delivering. For sales pitches, there are some things you need to keep standard, like your company background, what you’re selling, etc.Want to know the information you need for your slide deck? We’ve taken advice from renowned entrepreneur Guy Kawasaki and listed down the most important slide content of a sales pitch.

Company Background

Before anything else, let your audience know who you are. Prospects will be less likely to listen or invest in you if you don’t provide your background information. Give them an overview of your job description, and company. This should include its name and a brief of its history.

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This part of your pitch doesn’t have to be lengthy at all. It shouldn’t take more than one introductory slide. Use this as an opportunity to squeeze in your company contact details. Your goal is for potential customers to call you up after your pitch.

Value Proposition

Once you’ve gotten introductions out of the way, it’s time to go into your business plan. Describe the problem or opportunity and present your product as its solution. Don’t be vague about your descriptions. Discuss how your product solves the problem and highlight what sets you apart from others who offer similar services. Avoid wordy slides and lengthy speeches too. Diagrams and flowcharts will drive home your point faster. Also, take this as an opportunity to present a demo or a sample to give them an idea of what they’ll invest in.People don’t just want to hear about how good you are. They want to see how effective your offer really is. Showing them your product at work can convince them of what you’re capable of doing.

Financial Projections and Current Status

While you’ll want to impress investors during your pitch, you should also stay factual and realistic. Run your audience through a feasible timeline of your project. Build up your journey from your current status to what you hope to accomplish, both in the long-term and the short-term. Prepare a financial forecast, possibly for the next three to five years. Include an outlook of what the near future looks like for other key metrics as well. Tell people how far you are in your timeline. Some updates you can include are how much funds you have and how you plan to allocate them to achieve your objectives.

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Once you have this information, explain the actions you’re taking to fulfill your forecast. Enumerate your present accomplishments, and expound on how they contribute to your business goals.Assuring your listeners that you’re on your way increases the likelihood of them investing in you.

Seal the Deal

Your PowerPoint’s content should reflect all the key points to discuss with your audience. An introductory slide establishes who you are and where you stand. After establishing rapport, explain your product or service to people. Without being too technical, describe its value and how it differs from any competitors. Have diagrams and flowcharts replace complex data. If available, give a demo or a sample to concretize your point. Give a three-to-five-year forecast of your product’s progress, and keep the audience on track of where you currently are in your timeline. Cover all these points, to give investors a better perspective of your business.Once you’re done fleshing out your presentation content, it’s time to figure out your design. Consult with our SlideGenius experts today for a free quote!

References:

Kawasaki, Guy. “The Only 10 Slides You Need in Your Pitch.” Guy Kawasaki. March 5, 2015. www.guykawasaki.com/the-only-10-slides-you-need-in-your-pitchMarkowitz, Eric. “7 Deadly Sins of Sales Pitching.” Inc. April 18, 2011. www.inc.com/ss/7-deadly-sins-sales-pitchingOkyle, Carly. “The Only 10 Slides Needed When Pitching Your Business (Infographic).” Entrepreneur. March 18 2015. www.entrepreneur.com/article/244098“Key Performance Indicators.” Klipfolio. n.d. www.klipfolio.com/resources/kpi-examplesFeatured Image: “Encore Event Planning Seminar-38” by SpokaneFocus on Flickr.com