Home Blog Business Business Presentation: The Ultimate Guide to Making Powerful Presentations (+ Examples)
Business Presentation: The Ultimate Guide to Making Powerful Presentations (+ Examples)
A business presentation is a purpose-led summary of key information about your company’s plans, products, or practices, designed for either internal or external audiences. Project proposals, HR policy presentations, investors briefings are among the few common types of presentations.
Compelling business presentations are key to communicating important ideas, persuading others, and introducing new offerings to the world. Hence, why business presentation design is one of the most universal skills for any professional.
This guide teaches you how to design and deliver excellent business presentations. Plus, breaks down some best practices from business presentation examples by popular companies like Google, Pinterest, and Amazon among others!
3 General Types of Business Presentations
A business presentation can be given for a number of reasons. Respectively, they differ a lot in terms of content and purpose.
But overall, all types of business presentations can be classified as:
- Informative
- Persuasive
- Supporting
Informative Business Presentation
As the name suggests, the purpose of an informative presentation is to discern the knowledge you have — explain what you know. It’s the most common type of business presentation out there. So you have probably prepared such at least several times.
Examples of informative presentations:
- Team briefings presentation
- Annual stakeholder report
- Quarterly business reviews
- Business portfolio presentation
- Business plan presentation
- Project presentation
Helpful templates from SlideModel:
- Business plan PowerPoint template
- Business review PowerPoint template
- Project proposal PowerPoint template
- Corporate annual report template
Persuasive Business Presentation
The goal of this type of presentation is to persuade your audience of your point of view — convince them of what you believe is right. Developing business presentations of this caliber requires a bit more copywriting mastery, as well as expertise in public speaking . Unlike an informative business presentation, your goal here is to sway the audience’s opinions and prompt them towards the desired action.
Examples of persuasive presentations:
- Pitch deck/investor presentations
- Sales presentation
- Business case presentation
- Free business proposal presentation
- Business proposal PowerPoint template
- Pitch deck PowerPoint template
- Account Plan PowerPoint template
Supporting Business Presentation
This category of business PowerPoint presentations is meant to facilitate decision-making — explain how we can get something done. The underlying purpose here is to communicate the general “action plan”. Then break down the necessary next steps for bringing it to life.
Examples of supporting presentations:
- Roadmap presentation
- Project vision presentation
- After Action Review presentation
- Standard operating procedure (SOP) PowerPoint template
- Strategy map PowerPoint template
- After action review (ARR) PowerPoint template
What Should Be Included in a Business Presentation?
Overall, the content of your business presentation will differ depending on its purpose and type. However, at the very minimum, all business presentations should include:
- Introductory slide
- Agenda/purpose slide
- Main information or Content slides
- Key Takeaways slides
- Call-to-action/next steps slides
We further distill business presentation design and writing best practices in the next section (plus, provide several actionable business PowerPoint presentation examples !).
How to Make a Business Presentation: Actionable Tips
A business presentation consists of two parts — a slide deck and a verbal speech. In this section, we provide tips and strategies for nailing your deck design.
1. Get Your Presentation Opening Right
The first slides of your presentation make or break your success. Why? By failing to frame the narrative and set the scene for the audience from the very beginning, you will struggle to keep their interest throughout the presentation.
You have several ways of how to start a business presentation:
- Use a general informative opening — a summative slide, sharing the agenda and main points of the discussion.
- Go for a story opening — a more creative, personal opening, aimed at pulling the audience into your story.
- Try a dramatic opening — a less apparent and attention-grabbing opening technique, meant to pique the audience’s interest.
Standard Informative Opening
Most business presentation examples you see start with a general, informative slide such as an Agenda, Problem Statement, or Company Introduction. That’s the “classic” approach.
To manage the audience’s expectations and prepare them for what’s coming next, you can open your presentation with one or two slides stating:
- The topic of your presentation — a one-sentence overview is enough.
- Persuasive hook, suggesting what’s in it for the audience and why they should pay attention.
- Your authority — the best technique to establish your credibility in a business presentation is to share your qualifications and experience upfront to highlight why you are worth listening to.
Opening best suited for: Formal business presentations such as annual reports and supporting presentations to your team/business stakeholders.
Story Opening
Did you ever notice that most TED talks start with a quick personal story? The benefit of this presenting technique is that it enables speakers to establish quick rapport and hold the listener’s attention.
Here’s how Nancy Duarte, author of “Slide:ology: The Art and Science of Creating Great Presentations” book and TED presenter, recommends opening a presentation:
You know, here’s the status quo, here’s what’s going on. And then you need to compare that to what could be. You need to make that gap as big as possible, because there is this commonplace of the status quo, and you need to contrast that with the loftiness of your idea.
Storytelling , like no other tool, helps transpose the audience into the right mindset and get concentrated on the subject you are about to discuss. A story also elicits emotions, which can be a powerful ally when giving persuasive presentations. In the article how to start a presentation , we explore this in more detail.
Opening best suited for: Personal and business pitches, sales presentations, other types of persuasive presentations.
Dramatic Opening
Another common technique is opening your presentation with a major statement, sometimes of controversial nature. This can be a shocking statistic, complex rhetoric question, or even a provocative, contrarian statement, challenging the audience’s beliefs.
Using a dramatic opening helps secure the people’s attention and capture their interest. You can then use storytelling to further drill down your main ideas.
If you are an experienced public speaker, you can also strengthen your speech with some unexpected actions. That’s what Bill Gates does when giving presentations. In a now-iconic 2009 TED talk about malaria, mid-presentation Gates suddenly reveals that he actually brought a bunch of mosquitoes with him. He cracks open a jar with non-malaria-infected critters to the audience’s surprise. His dramatic actions, paired with a passionate speech made a mighty impression.
Opening best suited for: Marketing presentations, customer demos, training presentations, public speeches.
Further reading: How to start a presentation: tips and examples.
2. Get Your PowerPoint Design Right
Surely, using professional business PowerPoint templates already helps immensely with presentation deck design since you don’t need to fuss over slide layout, font selection, or iconography.
Even so, you’ll still need to customize your template(s) to make them on brand and better suited to the presentation you’re about to deliver. Below are our best presentation design tips to give your deck an extra oomph.
Use Images, Instead of Bullet Points
If you have ever watched Steve Jobs’s presentations, you may have noticed that he never used bullet-point lists. Weird right? Because using bullet points is the most universal advice in presentation design.
But there’s a valid scientific reason why Jobs favored images over bullet-point texts. Researchers found that information delivered in visuals is better retained than words alone. This is called the “ pictorial superiority effect ”. As John Medina, a molecular biologist, further explains :
“Hear a piece of information, and three days later you’ll remember 10% of it. Add a picture and you’ll remember 65%.”
So if your goal is to improve the memorability of your presentation, always replace texts with images and visualizations when it makes sense.
Fewer Slides is Better
No matter the value, a long PowerPoint presentation becomes tiring at some point. People lose focus and stop retaining the information. Thus, always take some extra time to trim the fluff and consolidate some repetitive ideas within your presentation.
For instance, at McKinsey new management consultants are trained to cut down the number of slides in client presentations. In fact, one senior partner insists on replacing every 20 slides with only two slides . Doing so prompts you to focus on the gist — the main business presentation ideas you need to communicate and drop filler statements.
Here are several quick tips to shorten your slides:
- Use a three-arc structure featuring a clear beginning (setup), main narrative (confrontation), ending (resolution). Drop the ideas that don’t fit into either of these.
- Write as you tweet. Create short, on-point text blurbs of under 156 symbols, similar to what you’d share on Twitter.
- Contextualize your numbers. Present any relevant statistics in a context, relevant to the listeners. Turn longer stats into data visualizations for easier cognition.
Consistency is Key
In a solid business presentation, each slide feels like part of the connecting story. To achieve such consistency apply the same visual style and retain the same underlying message throughout your entire presentation.
Use the same typography, color scheme, and visual styles across the deck. But when you need to accentuate a transition to a new topic (e.g. move from a setup to articulating the main ideas), add some new visual element to signify the slight change in the narrative.
Further reading: 23 PowerPoint Presentation Tips for Creating Engaging and Interactive Presentations
3. Make Your Closure Memorable
We best remember the information shared last. So make those business presentation takeaways stick in the audience’s memory. We have three strategies for that.
Use the Rule of Three
The Rule of Three is a literary concept, suggesting that we best remember and like ideas and concepts when they are presented in threes.
Many famous authors and speakers use this technique:
- “Duty – Honor – Country. Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, and what you will be” . Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
- “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” are the unalienable rights of all humans that governments are meant to protect.” Thomas Jefferson
The Rule of Three works because three is the maximum number of items most people can remember on their first attempt. Likewise, such pairings create a short, familiar structure that is easy to remember for our brains.
Try the Title Close Technique
Another popular presentation closing technique is “Title Close” — going back to the beginning of your narrative and reiterating your main idea (title) in a form of a takeaway. Doing so helps the audience better retain your core message since it’s repeated at least two times. Plus, it brings a sense of closure — a feel-good state our brains love. Also, a brief one-line closure is more memorable than a lengthy summary and thus better retained.
Ask a Question
If you want to keep the conversation going once you are done presenting, you can conclude your presentation with a general question you’d like the audience to answer.
Alternatively, you can also encourage the members to pose questions to you. The latter is better suited for informational presentations where you’d like to further discuss some of the matters and secure immediate feedback.
Try adding an interactive element like a QR code closing your presentation with a QR code and having a clear CTA helps you leverage the power of sharing anything you would like to share with your clients. QR codes can be customized to look alike your brand.
If you are looking for a smoother experience creating presentations on the fly, check out the AI PowerPoint maker —it offers everything you can ask forfrom presentation design in a couple of clicks.
12 Business Presentation Examples and What Makes Them Great
Now that we equipped you with the general knowledge on how to make a presentation for business, let’s take a look at how other presenters are coping with this job and what lessons you can take away from them.
1. N26 Digital Bank Pitch Deck
This is a fine business pitch presentation example, hitting all the best practices. The deck opens with a big shocking statement that most Millennials would rather go to the dentist than step into a bank branch.
Then it proceeds to discuss the company’s solution to the above — a fully digital bank with a paperless account opening process, done in 8 minutes. After communicating the main product features and value proposition, the deck further conceptualizes what traction the product got so far using data visualizations. The only thing it lacks is a solid call-to-action for closing slides as the current ending feels a bit abrupt.
2. WeWork Pitch Deck
For a Series D round, WeWork went with a more formal business presentation. It starts with laying down the general company information and then transitions to explaining their business model, current market conditions, and the company’s position on the market.
The good thing about this deck is that they quantify their business growth prospects and value proposition. The likely gains for investors are shown in concrete numbers. However, those charts go one after another in a row, so it gets a bit challenging to retain all data points.
The last part of their presentation is focused on a new offering, “We Live”. It explains why the team seeks funds to bring it to life. Likewise, they back their reasoning with market size statistics, sample projects, and a five-year revenue forecast.
3. Redfin Investor Presentation
If you are looking for a “text-light” business presentation example, Redfin’s investor deck is up to your alley. This simple deck expertly uses iconography, charts, and graphs to break down the company’s business model, value proposition, market share, and competitive advantages over similar startups. For number-oriented investors, this is a great deck design to use.
4. Google Ready Together Presentation
This isn’t quite the standard business presentation example per se. But rather an innovative way to create engaging, interactive presentations of customer case studies .
The short deck features a short video clip from a Google client, 7-11, explaining how they used the company’s marketing technology to digitally transform their operations and introduce a greater degree of marketing automation . The narrated video parts are interrupted by slides featuring catchy stats, contextualizing issues other businesses are facing. Then transitions to explaining through the words of 7-11 CMO, how Google’s technology is helping them overcome the stated shortcomings.
5. Salesforce Business Presentation Example
This is a great example of an informational presentation, made by the Salesforce team to share their research on customer experience (CX) with prospects and existing customers.
The slide deck errs on the lengthier side with 58 slides total. But bigger topics are broken down and reinforced through bite-sized statistics and quotes from the company leadership. They are also packaging the main tips into memorable formulas, itemized lists, and tables. Overall, this deck is a great example of how you can build a compelling narrative using different statistics.
6. Mastercard Business Presentation
This slide deck from Mastercard instantly captures the audience’s attention with unusual background images and major data points on the growth of populations, POS systems, and payment methods used in the upcoming decade.
Perhaps to offset the complexity of the subject, Mastercard chose to sprinkle in some humor in presentation texts and used comic-style visuals to supplement that. However, all their animations are made in a similar style, creating a good sense of continuity in design. They are also using colors to signify the transition from one part of the presentation to another.
In the second part, the slide deck focuses on distilling the core message of what businesses need to do to remain competitive in the new payments landscape. The team presents what they have been working on to expand the payment ecosystem. Then concludes with a “title close” styled call-to-action, mirroring the presentation title.
7. McKinsey Diversity & Inclusion Presentation
This fresh business slide deck from McKinsey is a great reference point for making persuasive business presentations on complex topics such as D&I. First, it recaps the main definitions of the discussed concepts — diversity, equity, and inclusion — to ensure alignment with the audience members.
Next, the business presentation deck focuses on the severity and importance of the issue for businesses, represented through a series of graphs and charts. After articulating the “why”, the narrative switches to “how” — how leaders can benefit from investment in D&I. The main points are further backed with data and illustrated via examples.
8. Accenture Presentation for the Energy Sector
Similar to McKinsey, Accenture keeps its slide deck on a short. Yet the team packs a punch within each slide through using a mix of fonts, graphical elements, and color for highlighting the core information. The presentation copy is on a longer side, prompting the audience to dwell on reading the slides. But perhaps this was meant by design as the presentation was also distributed online — via the company blog and social media.
The last several slides of the presentation deck focus on articulating the value Accenture can deliver for their clients in the Energy sector. They expertly break down their main value proposition and key service lines, plus quantify the benefits.
9. Amazon Web Services (AWS) Technical Presentation
Giving an engaging technical presentation isn’t an easy task. You have to balance the number of details you reveal on your slides to prevent overwhelm, while also making sure that you don’t leave out any crucial deets. This technical presentation from AWS does great in both departments.
First, you get entertained with a quick overview of Amazon’s progress in machine learning (ML) forecasting capabilities over the last decade. Then introduced to the main tech offering. The deck further explains what you need to get started with Amazon Forecast — e.g. dataset requirements, supported forecasting scenarios, available forecasting models, etc.
The second half of the presentation provides a quick training snippet on configuring Amazon SageMaker to start your first project. The step-by-step instructions are coherent and well-organized, making the reader excited to test-drive the product.
10. Snapchat Company Presentation
Snapchat’s business model presentation is on a funkier, more casual side, reflective of the company’s overall brand and positioning. After briefly recapping what they do, the slide deck switches to discussing the company’s financials and revenue streams.
This business slide deck by Snap Inc. itself is rather simplistic and lacks fancy design elements. But it has a strong unified theme of showing the audience Snapchat’s position on the market and projected vector of business development.
11. Visa Business Acquisition Presentation
If you are working on a business plan or M&A presentation for stakeholders of your own, this example from Visa will be helpful. The presentation deck expertly breaks down the company’s rationale for purchasing Plaid and subsequent plans for integrating the startup into their business ecosystem.
The business deck recaps why the Plaid acquisition is a solid strategic decision by highlighting the total addressable market they could dive into post-deal. Then it details Plaid’s competitive strengths. The slide deck then sums up all the monetary and indirect gains Visa could reap as an acquirer.
12. Pinterest Earnings Report Presentation
Annual reports and especially earnings presentations might not be the most exciting types of documents to work on, but they have immense strategic value. Hence, there’s little room for ambiguities or mistakes.
In twelve slides, this business presentation from Pinterest clearly communicates the big picture of the company’s finance in 2021. All the key numbers are represented as featured quotes in the sidebar with diagrams further showcasing the earning and spending dynamics. Overall, the data is easy to interpret even for non-finance folks.
To Conclude
With these business presentation design tips, presentation templates , and examples, you can go from overwhelmed to confident about your next presentation design in a matter of hours. Focus on creating a rough draft first using a template. Then work on nailing your opening slide sequence and shortening the texts in the main part of your presentation when needed. Make sure that each slide serves a clear purpose and communicates important details. To make your business presentation deck more concise, remove anything that does not pertain to the topic.
Finally, once you are done, share your business presentation with other team members to get their feedback and reiterate the final design.
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Business Presentations, Corporate Presentations, Design, Design Inspiration, Examples, Executive Reports, Inspiration, Presentation Ideas Filed under Business
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- Presentations
- Public Speaking
The Complete Guide to Making Great Business Presentations in 2024
Introduction
Are you ready to consume a comprehensive treasure trove of the best presentation ideas and techniques for 2024?
This ultimate guide is over 16 thousand words with nine full chapters of helpful and up-to-date information.
It takes you through the complete presentation process from start to end. It includes good PowerPoint presentation examples you can easily follow.
It's packed with comprehensive easy-to-implement steps on making powerful business presentations quickly. It includes expert tips, great presentation design examples, actionable takeaways, and more.
Download a FREE PDF Copy of Our New eBook on Making Great Business Presentations in 2024
Be sure to bookmark this page now, so you can quickly return to this epic business presentation guide. Or download this FREE guide as a convenient 69 page eBook PDF with quick-action checklist (for easy offline use).
Table of Contents
Jump ahead to any part of this tutorial guide from this Table of Contents. Start learning the specifics on how to make a great business presentation in 2024:
- How to Make a Great (Highly Effective) Business Presentation
- How to Prevent 18 Common Business Presentation Mistakes (Fails)
- 25+ Best Business Presentation Tips From the Experts (For Great Results in 2024)
- How to Plan (+Write) a Powerful Business Presentation Quickly
- How to Choose the Best Business Presentation Software for 2024 (+Quick Start Tips)
- How to Design a Killer Business Presentation Like a Creative Professional
- Get Maximum Audience Impact: Give (Deliver) Great Business Presentations
- 7 Creative Ideas That’ll Add Extra Oomph to Any Business Presentation
- 2024 Business Presentation Checklist: To Prepare for Your Next Business Presentation (Step by Step)
Conclusion: Take Action & Make a Great Presentation (Start Now!)
Chapter 1. how to make a great (highly effective) business presentation.
Your business presentation represents an investment. You've invested time in creating it, and you'll invest even more time in giving it. That's why you want to get it right.
In this guide, you'll learn tips and techniques that'll help you give a successful business presentation—a presentation that people remember and that changes minds.
We've gathered together a comprehensive set of business presentation tips and techniques you can really use. Learn from the experts how to make a great presentation. Study these good PowerPoint presentation examples. Follow the step-by-step instructions and you can put together an effective presentation fast.
In this guide, you'll learn how to:
- Prevent Common Presentation Mistakes. Learn how to avoid common mistakes that could derail your presentation. If you're new to giving presentations, or if you haven't given a presentation in a while, you'll want to review this section carefully before you start working on your next presentation.
- Plan and Write an Effective Presentation . If you're one of those people who struggle to write the content for your presentation, this is for you. We'll take you through the writing process from finding the right topic to creating a written presentation. All you need to do is follow these seven simple steps.
- Design a Presentation With Impact. Discover the techniques that creative professionals use to build truly eye-catching slides that your audience will remember long after your presentation. Learn how layout, font choice, and color impact how your presentation is received. We'll also discuss how to properly use graphics, media, and other special effects in a business presentation.
- Deliver Your Business Presentation Powerfully . If giving a business presentation is the part you dread the most, you're not alone. We've got you covered. The public speaking hacks you'll learn will help you give your next presentation ( and future business presentations too ) with confidence.
- Add Those Creative Presentation Extras ( Oomph ) . Don't miss this special section that's chock full of interesting ways to help your presentation stand out. The information here is especially useful if your audience will be listening to more than one presentation, such as at a business conference.
This guide is designed so that you can work throughout from Chapter 1 to Chapter 9 for complete business presentation training. Or, use the jump links in the Table of Contents to go directly to an area you're struggling with.
Download this FREE guide now as a convenient 69 page eBook PDF with quick-action checklist. You can use this handy PDF set even when you're not connected to the internet.
Chapter 2. How to Prevent 18 Common Business Presentation Mistakes (Fails)
Nothing’s worse than a presentation that fails. It’s embarrassing and, even worse, it can undermine your message and damage your business brand.
The question is: How can you prevent your business presentation from failing?
We’ll show you exactly what to do to sidestep the most common presentation mistakes. Read this chapter to learn what to do ( and not do ) to avoid a hard fail:
1. No Research
For a successful presentation, you’ve got to do your homework. Planning and research make the difference between a great business presentation and a bad one.
Your audience can tell if you’re not current on the relevant facts. Not being familiar with your topic undermines your credibility.
Try This: Before you start writing your business presentation, study for it as you would a test. Identify two to three key sources of information. Read each and take notes. Highlight key facts and points.
2. Reading Your Speech
Too many speakers read their presentation directly from their speaker notes or, even worse, from index cards. Reading a presentation leads to an unnatural speaking style and interferes with your audience rapport.
Try This: Practice your speech so you can say it without looking at your speaker notes. That way you can recall it from memory and deliver naturally. ( It’s okay to have your speaker notes on hand in case you get stuck though .)
3. Not Enough Practice
Practice makes the difference between a so-so business presentation and a great business presentation. Too many business professionals are tempted to skip the practice because they're too busy. Don't make this mistake!
Fortunately, there are ways to work practice into your busy schedule.
Try This : A week before your business presentation, start practicing your speech three times a day. Practice first thing in the morning, once at lunch, and again in the evening. Give at least one of those speeches in front of a friend or family member who can provide constructive criticism.
We'll share more techniques about how to do a good job presenting your presentation later. In the meantime, learn more about how to effectively practice your speech in this tutorial:
4. Going Over Your Time
For most presentations, you’ve got a set amount of time to give your speech. Going over your assigned time is annoying for your audience. It’s also upsetting for the speaker who comes after you and doesn’t have enough time to finish.
One of the most common causes of going over your allotted time is trying to cover material that’s not really related to your core message.
Try This : Unleash your inner editor. Read through your presentation with a critical eye. Delete anything that’s not part of your core message.
5. Bad Body Language
When you give your presentation, you’re speaking with your words. But there’s another way you’re communicating to your audience that you may not even be aware of.
A UCLA study shows that what you say through your body language is as important as the actual words you say. Research shows that over half of your message is conveyed through non-verbal communication.
A stiff, nervous posture or awkward, nervous gestures can signal that you’re not confident about what you’re saying.
Try This : Smile during your speech. Smiling does more than just make you look friendly. According to Psychology Today , smiling releases neurotransmitters that’ll help you relax. The more relaxed you are, the more natural your body language will be.
6. Failure to Make Eye Contact
Speakers who make regular eye contact with audience members are perceived as being more trustworthy.
Unfortunately, many speakers are too nervous and forget to make eye contact . Or they’re too shy.
Try This : Does the idea of looking at someone in the audience make you nervous? No worries. This trick will get you through. Choose three points on the wall behind the audience. Take turns looking briefly at each point as you speak.
7. Lack of Conviction
If you don’t believe or care about what you’re talking about, how do you expect to convince your audience that it’s important?
When it comes to credibility, sincerity and conviction are important. Make sure that you're confident about the truth and importance of your information.
Try This: It’s time to get honest. Review your presentation carefully and ask yourself: " Do I really care about this?" If your answer is “ no ,” you’re presenting the wrong message.
8. Bad Design
A poor presentation design is just as distracting as poor delivery. You don't want your audience spending so much time focusing on how awful, cluttered, or sloppy your presentation looks that they don't hear what you’ve got to say.
How your presentation looks is important. It should appear polished and professional—a look you can’t easily get from free presentation templates.
Try This : Check out the great professional presentation templates available on Envato Elements and GraphicRiver . Each template is carefully created by a professional designer to take advantage of the latest presentation design tools and trends.
9. Not Enough Visuals
According to BrainRules by John Medina, you’re far more likely to remember information presented with a graphic or photo. After three days, most listeners only retain about 10% of what they’ve heard. But when a visual is added, the percentage of information retained increases dramatically—to 65%.
Try This : When you can use an image (such as a graph, chart, or photo), do it. If you’re short on professional images, Envato Elements is a good source for professional photos and other types of high-quality graphics .
10. Too Much Text on a Slide
The fewer words you use, the better. Your audience isn’t going to read (or remember) long blocks of text. So, keep it brief.
What's even worse: presenters often make their text smaller to get more on a slide—making the slide even less readable. You want to avoid this in your presentation slides.
For a problem example of what I mean, take a look at this slide below:
Note: This presentation slide example uses The X Note – PowerPoint Template from Envato Elements. (You can readily cut the text down in this slide.)
Try This: Keep the total number of words per slide to under 25. If there are more than 25 words, edit the text until you get the number of words on the slide down below 25.
11. Slide Text Too Small to Read
How small is too small? Most experts agree that body text of less than a 24-point font for a business presentation is too small to read.
Look at the difference in readability in the two PowerPoint presentation examples below. Now imagine looking at those slides from across a crowded room.
Take a look at the problem presentation slide above. The headings are done in a 24-point font, and the body text is in a 14-point font. That's hard to read.
In contrast, the headings below use a 48-point font, and the body text uses a 24-point font. It's quite a bit larger and easier to read.
Note: These presentation slide examples use The X Note – PowerPoint Template from Envato Elements.
Try This : Choose a 28- to 32-point font for your body text, and 32 to 48 points for your headings and subheadings. That way, your audience can read your slides from across a large room.
12. Not Using a Legible Font
The most readable fonts for presentations are sans serif, such as these:
Avoid script and novelty fonts at all costs as they're extremely hard to read. Look at the PowerPoint presentation example below. Which example is easier to read?
Script Font Example
Readable (Sans Serif) Font
Note : These presentation slide examples use The X Note – PowerPoint Template from Envato Elements.
A sans serif font appears simpler and easier to read on projection screens. It lacks the extra serifs (small lines at the ends of characters) that are typically added to print font designs.
Try This : Replace novelty fonts in your business presentation with more readable sans serif font types. If you’re not sure whether the fonts on your slides are readable, ask a friend or colleague for their opinion.
13. Too Many Lists
Many presentations have too many lists: both bulleted and numbered. Yet studies show that lists don’t work well.
In a 2014 study on visualization versus text from The International Journal of Business Communication , subjects who were shown a graphic recalled concepts more easily than those shown a bulleted list.
Try This : Use lists sparingly. Shorten lists or create a single slide for each list item. Better yet, use a graphic to explain a presentation idea instead of words.
14. Technical Problems
If your equipment fails, you'll have a tough time giving your presentation.
The best time to find out that your equipment isn’t working isn’t the day of the presentation. You won’t have adequate time to make alternate arrangements.
Try This: Go to your speaking venue the day before your presentation. Hook up your laptop (or other device) to the presentation system. Notice anything that doesn’t work and arrange to get backup equipment. Also, test any equipment you’ll be using during your speech.
15. Not Relating to Your Audience
A huge presentation mistake many speakers make is addressing their business presentation to the wrong audience. The only way to really be sure that your presentation is geared to your audience is to find out as much as you can about them.
You can't engage your audience or hold their attention if you don't really know who you're going to be speaking to.
Try This : If the presentation is for an organization you don’t normally attend, arrange to attend a meeting before the one in which you’ll give your presentation. Get to know your audience as well as possible before presenting.
16. No Next Steps
You’ve finished your presentation, but your audience is left hanging. What should they do next?
The next step may seem obvious to you, but your audience hasn’t made the connection—so they do nothing.
Try This: Be blunt. Tell the audience exactly what action to do next and how to go about doing it. Provide any details they need to take the next step.
17. Poor Choice of Content
Another common presentation mistake is including content that isn’t right for a presentation. The topic may be too broad to cover in the time that’s allowed, or your audience may not have the background needed to understand the topic.
Or you may be using terms your audience doesn’t understand.
Try This : Review your business presentation text carefully. Explain abbreviations or technical terms you plan to use.
18. Unrealistic Expectations
Having the right expectations is important. To start, you should have a clear and attainable goal. What do you expect to achieve with your presentation?
If you don't know what to expect from your presentation, it's already in trouble. Another unrealistic expectation is thinking that your listeners will remember all, or nearly all, of the material you present.
Try This : Decide on the purpose of your speech. Is your purpose to convince investors to take a chance on your startup? Or is it to persuade customers to buy your product? Include what you need to achieve your goal and leave out the rest.
3 Newsworthy Public Business Presentation Mistakes (With Real Examples)
You’ve just learned how to avoid the most common presentation mistakes. And in case you’re thinking that these types of presentation mistakes don’t happen often—think again.
Business presentation failure is much more common than you might imagine. Here are three common (and even famous) business presentation mistakes:
1 Unexpected Equipment Failure
This famous presentation example just goes to show that equipment failure can happen to anyone.
Former Microsoft executive Steven Sinofsky was giving a speech to launch the new Surface tablet—when suddenly the equipment stopped working.
Sinofsky did try to get through the situation gracefully, quickly swapping the non-working device for another. You can see the presentation here:
2 Too Much, Too Small
It looks as if this presenter had a lot of great data to share. It’s too bad that they felt compelled to put 14 bullet points (in a small font) on a single page.
Hopefully, the audience was interested enough in the topic to stay engaged:
3 Forgetting What to Say
You’ve seen this common presentation mistake on television a dozen times. A celebrity or public figure is giving a speech, and suddenly they stop.
What happens next makes all the difference in the world. A good tactic when you forget part of your speech is to simply admit it to the audience and take a minute or two to recover.
Even experienced speakers sometimes forget what to say. Watch the news clip below as a news reporter forgets their lines, and notice how they handle it:
Admitting you made a presentation mistake makes you seem relatable to the audience. So, what’s the worst thing you can do when you forget what to say next? According to most experts, your audience will see right through it if you try to pretend nothing is wrong.
What's Next?
You've just learned about 18 common business presentation mistakes and how to avoid them. Learn even more here:
You might be wondering:
Are there other presentation tips I can use to make my business presentation more effective?
That’s what I’m going to cover next in this guide. You’ll learn more presentation tips and techniques to help you create a great business presentation. We’ll also explain how to avoid business presentation mistakes in more depth.
Chapter 3. 25+ Best Business Presentation Tips From the Experts (For Great Results in 2024)
You want to learn how to give an effective presentation, and you want to learn fast!
The best way to learn something is from someone who’s already doing it successfully. That’s why we’ve gathered over 25 great presentation tips from public-speaking experts from around the world. Look no further for winning presentation ideas.
Get unique insights from the business presentation tips for public speaking that we’ve gathered here. Discover presentation tips on how to prepare yourself and presentation skills tips for what to do on the day of your presentation and beyond.
I’ve divided these presentation tips into:
- Tips for Before Your Presentation
- Tips for During Your Presentation
- Tips for After Your Presentation
Are you ready to start learning from these effective presentation (skills) tips?
Let’s get started…
Effective Business Presentation Tips for Before Your Speech
Get started quickly with these expert tips for a good presentation:
1. Pay Attention to Your Introduction & Closing
Pay extra attention to how you begin and end your business presentation. Your beginning and ending make the biggest impact on your audience.
Textbook author and speaking instructor Mark Powell points out the importance of the opening and close as follows:
“Research shows that audiences remember the first and last few minutes of a presentation long after they’ve forgotten most of what was said in the middle.”
For Powell’s whole lesson on how to effectively open and close a presentation, view the video (including business presentation examples):
Find even more effective presentation tips about starting and closing a presentation here:
2. Stand Up When You Practice
If you're practicing your presentation from the comfort of your armchair, you're doing it wrong. Jennefer Witter , the CEO/Founder of the Boreland Group Inc., explains:
"Most of us are seated when rehearsing. However, I strongly suggest you do at least one rehearsal standing up. Most speaking engagements require you to stand. Get comfortable talking on your feet."
Read the rest of Witter’s advice on how to prepare for a presentation in this article on the Ellevate Network .
This Envato Tuts+ tutorial provides more excellent presentation skills tips for rehearsing your business presentation:
3. Don’t Underestimate the Importance of Public Speaking
To succeed in business, communication skills—speaking and writing—are key. Don’t make the mistake of overlooking these vital areas.
Indra Nooyi, board member at Amazon and former PepsiCo executive, said:
“You cannot over-invest in communication skills—written and oral communication skills...”
Read more about what Nooyi had to say about the importance of investing in communication skills in this Forbes article.
4. Write a Presentation That Sounds Good
You may be used to writing business papers and reports that are meant to be read. But what works for a written report won’t work for a live audience .
Senior communications executive Karen Addis puts it like this:
“Write for the ear, not for the eye. What reads fine on paper may be a mouthful when spoken.”
You’ll find more effective business presentation tips from Addis on the GuideStar blog . We'll also share exactly how to write an effective presentation later in this guide.
5. Use an Outline
An outline is a key element to help you get started. A good outline helps you organize your speech. It also helps ensure that you don't leave any presentation ideas out.
2001 Toastmasters world champion speaker Darren LaCroix calls an outline:
"The second most important step in the process of creating a great speech."
Today, LaCroix trains others on how to speak successfully through the Stage Time University training program . For more on what LaCroix has to say about outlines, watch the YouTube video here:
6. Your Presentation Is About Your Audience
Too many speakers focus their presentation on themselves. They make the speech about what they’re trying to say or how they feel.
Your presentation isn't about you. Author and blogger Seth Godin points this out:
“The members of the audience are interested in themselves. The audience wants to know what they can use, what they can learn, or at the very least, how they can be entertained.”
Read Godin’s entire blog post to discover more about speaking in public.
7. Know Your Message
Your audience won’t get your message unless you’ve focused in on it. Figure out what your message is before you give your presentation.
Speech and message coach Michelle Mazur explains:
"My one piece of advice is to get clear on the ONE and only one message that you want your audience to remember. Research shows that most audiences forget 80%-90% of what they hear a speaker say within 24-hours of hearing that speaker. If you want to be memorable, get clear on that one core message and drive that point home in your speech."
Mazur is the author of several books on speaking and thought leadership. Mazur also founded a company that helps speakers and businesspeople become thought leaders.
8. Don’t Underestimate the Power of a Story
Storytelling is a powerful way to get your audience’s attention—and keep it. Learn how to tell a good story, and your presentation will be better for it.
Lisa Bloom is a consultant, trainer , and author of Cinderella and the Coach - the Power of Storytelling for Coaching Success! Bloom also has an extensive background in training and development in large, multinational organizations.
Here’s what Bloom’s got to say about the importance of storytelling:
"Using story in your presentation awakens your creativity while providing a refreshing perspective to re-energize and engage your audience and move them to action. If you want your presentation to have impact, you need to tell powerful stories."
"Let’s say you have a high-stake opportunity; you need to make a very specific impression—to close a deal or secure funding. You may not get a second chance. By using the right story at the right time, you can access your authentic, inspired self while learning to creatively articulate your vision & ideas. This means you get to connect deeply, contribute widely and inspire the people that matter."
9. Know What You’re Selling
If you're giving a business presentation, you're likely selling something. Do you know what it is? If not, your presentation is already in trouble.
Marissa Mayer, CEO of Lumi Labs (formerly CEO of Yahoo) puts it this way:
“Our theory is, if you need the user to tell you what you're selling, then you don't know what you're selling, and it's probably not going to be a good experience."
Find more inspiring Marissa Mayer quotes at Inc.
10. Your Purpose as a Speaker
You may think you know the purpose of your business presentation. But there’s one purpose to your business presentation that’s the same no matter who's giving it.
Chris Anderson is the curator of TED (the organization that gives us TED Talks) and also a TED speaker. Here’s Anderson’s insight on what all great speeches have in common:
“Your number one task as a speaker is to transfer into your listeners’ minds an extraordinary gift, a strange and beautiful object that we call an idea.”
Watch Anderson explain the importance of sharing ideas and other TED Talk presentation tips below:
11. Tell Your Audience What to Do Next
You've almost finished your speech, but you're not done yet. Don’t assume your audience knows what to do after your presentation. You’ve got to tell them what to do next.
Digital Content Strategist and international speaker Donna Moritz helps businesses leverage the power of visual storytelling and content strategy. Moritz advises that speakers provide the audience with actionable takeaways:
"Ensure that you focus on key, actionable takeaways that your audience will remember and can easily implement. This means one key point per slide - even eliminate dot points altogether - and use stories to bring home those key points. We remember well-told stories way beyond any slide or speaker, so match the power of storytelling with powerful, visual slides. It will make you a more memorable speaker. And more importantly it will make your message so memorable that your audience will take action!"
Excellent Presentation Skills Tips to Use During Your Speech
When it’s time to make your presentation, turn to these excellent presentation skills tips for public speaking.
12. It's Okay to Be Silent
You don't have to talk all the time. Being quiet connects you with your audience.
Here's what veteran speaker Dan Pallotta has to say about the value of silence:
"Be silent and look at the audience. Five seconds. Seven seconds. Just taking them in. Connecting with them. But never do it for effect. Do it to get intimate with your audience."
You’ll find more of Pallotta's effective presentation tips in this Harvard Business Review article .
13. Care About Your Topic
If you don’t care about your topic, your audience will pick up on that. And if you don’t care, they’re likely to wonder why they should care.
Author and motivational speaker Simon Sinek discusses the importance of caring about your topic:
"I’m often asked, “How did you become such a good presenter?” and I like to joke that I cheat. I only talk about things that I care about, and I only talk about things that I understand. You can’t manufacture passion. You can manufacture energy. You can bounce on the stage and scream and yell. That’s not passion; that’s too much caffeine." (Source: YouTube )
Sinek’s TED Talk , “How Great Leaders Inspire Action,” is one of the most popular talks of all time.
14. Be Authentic
In a recent interview with the Rotarian , award-winning speaker Dananjaya Hettiarachchi addressed the need for speakers to be authentic during their presentations:
“One of the most important elements is to be authentic. Your voice is as unique as your fingerprint. Your voice, tone, rate, pitch, and volume tell who you are. People need to buy in to you before they buy in to what you’re saying or selling.”
Most audiences can spot it if you’re being insincere. And you’ll lose their interest.
Hettiarachchi is the CEO and founder of an HR company. He’s also the 2014 Toastmasters World Speaking Champion. Read the complete interview transcript on Hettiarachchi’s blog, I See Something In You .
15. It’s Normal to be Nervous
If you’re nervous about giving your presentation, know that you’re not alone. Even the rich and successful get nervous about public speaking.
According to The Times , British Royal Prince Harry suffers from stage fright. Here’s what that feels like in the prince’s own words:
"My secret is -- believe it or not -- I get incredibly nervous before public speaking, no matter how big the crowd or the audience and, um, despite the fact that I laugh and joke all the time I get incredibly nervous, if not anxious, actually, before going into rooms full of people when I'm wearing a suit... And now that I've confessed that, I'll probably be even more worried that people are looking at me."
16. Let Your Nerves Empower You
Are you nervous about your business presentation? You’re in good company. Even celebrities and public figures get nervous in front of crowds.
A former NFL player for the Houston Oilers, Bo Eason today coaches people to become better presenters and storytellers. Eason describes how nerves can actually be helpful:
"Back when I was performing my play, “Runt of the Litter”, my hands would shake like crazy every time I stepped on stage. My coach at the time would say, “That’s not nerves, it’s love. You want to be good. You love and honor the audience. That’s called love, not nerves. It’s okay." "Eventually… my nerves became fuel and the shaking did stop. But sometimes, even now, they’ll still shake. It’s just how it is; I care. I like when people care. Nerves are your jet fuel. Don’t try to pretend you don’t have them." ( YouTube )
17. Avoid Dry Mouth
Here’s a very real challenge many speakers face, but seldom talk about. Dry mouth.
Dry mouth happens when your mouth doesn’t produce enough saliva. And it can be triggered by stress.
John Zimmer, attorney and accomplished public speaker, has ten effective presentation tips to help you avoid dry mouth. Here’s our favorite from the list:
“Chew citrus-flavoured gum or a lozenge before speaking, but don’t forget to spit it out before going on stage!”
I like this tip because of how practical it is. You might not always have access to water, but it's easy to slip a pack of gum into your pocket before giving a presentation.
Explore the complete list of Zimmer’s great presentation tips for dealing with dry mouth on the blog, Manner of Speaking.
18. Lean on Your Slides
Every speaker dreads forgetting what they’re talking about. But Rand Fishkin offers an effective business presentation tip for just that situation:
“Lean on your slides. If you have trouble remembering a story perfectly and telling it well, lean on your slides to help guide you through with visuals to convey each part of the story. “
Fishkin is best known as the founder and former CEO of the popular Moz site and more recently the host of Whiteboard Friday . Fishkin is also an accomplished public speaker.
Read the complete interview with Fishkin at the Wistia for Marketing blog .
Later in the guide, you'll learn how to create eye-catching slides that'll capture your listener's attention.
19. Your Voice Is Important
You may not think about your voice, but your voice is an important tool for your presentation. Learning how to use it properly will make you a more effective speaker.
Vocal coach to celebrities and one of the world’s leading authorities on voice, Roger Love talks about the importance of your voice:
"Start thinking about what you SOUND LIKE. Your voice is the most powerful communication tool you possess. A 2017 Yale study proved that we have learned to lie with our words and our body language, but the sounds of your voice reveal authenticity and truth.
Learn how to use melody, volume, pitch, and pace to create sounds that move people emotionally. When you find your voice, you find your self-confidence, your storytelling ability, your charisma, and your influence. Only then can you create effective and outstanding business presentations."
20. Move Wisely
When you give your presentation, make your movements count . If you look aimless or awkward, it’ll make your audience uncomfortable.
The 2018 winner of the Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking agrees. Ramona Smith explains how paying attention to movement helped:
"I used to pace for no reason," Smith told Business Insider. "My movements weren't on purpose. I didn't have intentional movement. But I learned that you need to move with each point. So plant your feet, say what you have to say, move on to your next point."
You can find more of Smith’s public speaking advice on Business Insider .
21. Relax and Be Natural
Too many business speakers stand stiffly, making unnatural gestures. Or they fill their speech with flowery words they’d never use in real life.
Famed entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson favors a different approach. Here’s the public speaking advice Branson gave (via Inc .).
"Picture yourself in a living room having a chat with your friends. You would be relaxed and comfortable talking to them, the same applies when public speaking."
Effective Presentation Tips for After Your Speech
The tips below help you make the most of something most business presenters forget to think about. What happens after a presentation?
Here are some business presentation tips for what you should do when you're done speaking.
22. Ask for Feedback
One of the biggest questions most speakers have after their business presentation is whether it went well. Author and speech coach Suzannah Baum shares one presentation idea to find that out:
“When my presentation was done, I sought out the event planner immediately to get her feedback, put in terms of 'Did the content meet your objectives?'"
You’ll find more of Baum’s insights on the blog, Bring Power to Your Words .
23. Don’t Skip the Q&A Session
At the end of your presentation, give your listeners a chance to ask questions . A question and answer session lets you address any concerns members of your audience have. The right answers to an important question may even close the deal.
Professional communicator and author Stacey Hanke regularly gives keynote speeches and conducts workshops. Hanke highlights the importance of having a Q&A session as follows:
“Answering a question provides an opportunity for you to bond with those asking, even if the question is challenging. Questions allow you to clarify misunderstandings and set the record straight.”
Discover more of Stacey Hanke’s effective presentation tips in this article, The Best Way to Respond to Questions After a Presentation or Meeting .
24. Questions Are Good
If you think of questions after your presentations as a negative, think again. If the audience is asking questions, that's actually positive, according to former executive and presentation coach Theodore May .
May puts it this way:
“But questions are not only good, they are essential. The successful presenter wants to be asked questions. …good and even difficult on-topic questions are what you want as a presenter.”
May offers even more tips for creating a great presentation in this article in the CIO digital magazine .
25. Reconnect With Prospects
You’re not done when your business presentation ends. This is especially true if you made a sales presentation.
Following up with key prospects after a presentation is the important step many business professionals skip. Follow-up may feel awkward, but it doesn't have to be that way.
Author and sales coach Jill Konrath provides this presentation tip for connecting with prospects:
“Your prospects want to work with someone who's constantly thinking about how they can improve their business. Be that person.”
Read more of Konrath’s presentation follow-up advice in the article, 3 Sales Follow-Up Strategies to Replace “Touching Base” .
You’ll also find follow-up is easier if you’ve got something your prospect is interested in to talk about.
26. Get Feedback
To improve your presentation skills, ask for feedback. Then listen to it.
Feedback lets you know how you did with your presentation. It also tells you what you should do differently the next time.
Founder of Global Public Speaking and Harvard lecturer Allison Shapira provides some practical presentation skills tips on how to get feedback. Here’s one of the most useful tips:
“You’ll be tempted to respond with, “yes, but…” and be defensive when receiving the feedback. Simply listen and learn from someone else’s interpretation of your speech.”
If you’re open to it, feedback will help you improve your presentation skills.
Get Started on Your Presentation
You've just gotten business tips for making effective presentations from over 25 experts. Now it's time to start creating your own great business presentation.
For more business presentation tips that work and inspiring presentation quotes, study these Tuts+ tutorials:
Next, we’ll share what you need to know about planning and writing great presentations.
Stay tuned to learn more about how to make (plan and write) a great presentation...
Chapter 4. How to Plan (+Write) a Powerful Presentation Quickly in 7 Simple Steps
Preparation equals success. Planning and writing are your secret weapons for giving a powerful presentation.
Let’s dive into the presentation writing process.
7 Simple Steps to Plan & Write Your Presentation
The presentation planning/writing process isn’t hard. It can be summed up in seven easy-to-follow presentation writing steps.
Many presenters skip important steps and pay for it when they give a poor presentation. Don’t be one of those underprepared presenters.
Here are the seven steps to follow to plan and write a great presentation:
- Discover Your Purpose
- Study Your Business Presentation Topic
- List Your Main Ideas
- Create a Presentation Outline
- Plan a Presentation Format
- Focus on the Opening & Closing
- Create the Written Presentation
These seven presentation writing steps will help you write a killer business presentation. Let’s look at each one:
Step 1. 5 Easy Questions to Discover Your Presentation’s Purpose
Your presentation’s purpose is what you want to get from your presentation when you’re done. Determining this is the first step in how to give a good presentation. Skip this and you might as well not give a presentation at all.
There are tools you can use to help you pinpoint your purpose. To start, ask yourself these questions:
- Why am I giving this talk?
- What does my business want from this presentation?
- Is the presentation informative?
- Is it a sales presentation?
- Do I want to rally people to my cause?
Once you’ve answered these questions, set a goal. It needs to be specific, and it needs to be measurable. If you’re unsure how to set effective goals, review this Envato Tuts+ tutorial:
The presentation writing process for setting goals for your speech is similar.
Now that you’ve set your goal, focus on it. It’s the reason you’re giving this presentation, after all. Everything in your presentation should advance your goal—especially your business presentation topic.
So how do you choose a presentation topic?
Here’s a Common Scenario
You’re invited to give a presentation at a conference. Your company, a public relations agency, wants five new clients as a result of your presentation. You choose the business presentation topic: How PR Will Help You Find a Winning Brand Identity .
In the example above, you could have chosen to cover all the benefits your PR company offers. But having a topic that broad would mean:
- You don’t cover any one point with enough detail.
- Your presentation runs too long.
- You lose your audience’s attention.
Try This: You should be able to cover your topic in 18 minutes or less. Why is this important? Attention span research from TED Talks shows that audiences can’t pay attention past 18 minutes. More on presentation length later.
Once you’ve discovered your presentation’s purpose, you’re ready to do your research.
Step 2. Be the Expert: Study Your Topic
Not understanding your topic or not getting to know your audience well is a recipe for presentation failure. Even worse—it’ll make you look foolish. Effective speakers study their topic and their audience.
Business Presentation Topic Research Questions
- Is the content accurate?
- Is the information current?
- Are there other sources for the information?
Audience Research Questions:
- What do they already know?
- What will be new information for them?
- What terms do they understand?
If you’ve been asked to speak for an external organization, ask that organization who your audience is and what they already know. Your company should also have some information on prospective customers.
Try This : Use demographic and psychographic studies to learn more about your audience. Facebook Audience Insights and Google Trends can provide helpful information. Learn more about how to target an audience in these Envato Tuts+ tutorials:
Once you’ve finished your research, it’s time to choose your speaking points.
Step 3. Choose Your Main Points
During your research, you’ve gathered a lot of information. You’ve likely got more than you need.
Narrow it down to the main points that you want to present. Choose the information that’s most important to your audience and to meeting your goal.
List the information you've gathered. Now, review it. Cut anything:
- your audience already knows
- your audience doesn’t need to know
- that doesn’t advance your goal
Think of this presentation writing process as a funnel. You pour information into one end. Only the information that advances your goal comes out the other end. This keeps you from bogging your audience down with too much information.
Now, divide all the information into similar categories. You should start to see a natural grouping.
In the PR agency example above, the speaker finds that statistics on the importance of brand identity are important. They also find a case study where a redesigned brand identity led to increased customer awareness.
How many points should your presentation have? Many speech experts recommend having three main points (the so-called Rule of Three). The Rule of Three isn't a hard and fast rule. It depends on how much you say about each point.
It’s better to have fewer points that are well supported than a lot of barely supported points that your audience won’t remember anyway.
Remember: The ideal presentation length for most listeners is 15 to 20 minutes.
Try This: If you’re scheduled to speak for more than 18 minutes, break your presentation into sections. Each section should be 18 minutes long or less. Use extra time to answer questions.
Example : Break a 45-minute presentation into two 18-minute speeches. Put a four-minute break in the middle and a five-minute question and answer session at the end.
Pro Secret: Get around the 18-minute attention span limit by planning a series of shorter presentations. ( Just make sure they’re not scheduled back to back .) This strategy works best if you’ve got more than one goal.
Step 4. Get Organized: How to Write a Presentation Outline
Once you know what your main points are, create an outline. You may wonder: how do you write an outline for a presentation?
Here’s what to do:
A presentation outline is like the outline for any other document. It sets the order of the information you’ll present.
At its most basic, a short presentation outline includes:
- introduction
- first point
- second point
- third point
Fill out these general headings with titles specific to your own presentation.
That basic outline works for a short presentation. Your presentation outline will vary with your audience and subject matter. A longer presentation outline could look like this:
- first main point
- support for point
- second main point
- third main point
- questions and answers
You've just created the outline for your presentation. Now you’re ready to plan a presentation format.
Step 5. Looks Count—Plan Your Presentation Format
Once you’ve selected your topic and main points, it’s time to plan your presentation format. For most business situations, a slideshow is the most effective presentation format you can use.
There are some significant advantages to using a slideshow format:
- It adds a visual component.
- You can easily integrate other media, such as audio or video.
- There are plenty of tools to help you create a slideshow.
- There are thousands of professionally designed templates to make your slideshow look good. ( We’ll take a closer look at how to use a professional presentation template later. )
- You control the pace of the presentation.
- You can leave a copy of the presentation with your audience when it’s over.
While there’s plenty of negative chatter about slideshows in general, and PowerPoint specifically, the truth is that they’re wildly popular. According to the BBC , there are more than 500 million PowerPoint users worldwide, and over 30 million presentations are given each day.
There’s a reason slideshows are so popular. They’re effective.
If you look closely at the complaints people make about slideshows, they’re really about the way the presentation software is used. Common complaints include:
- The presentation was poorly organized.
- The slides were poorly designed.
- The text was too small to read.
- The presentation went too long.
But these aren’t problems with the slideshow presentation format or any specific slideshow tool. There are two words for these problems: USER ERROR . And user error is exactly what you’ll avoid by following the advice in this guide.
Step 6. Write the Start and Finish of Your Presentation
The opening and conclusion of your presentation are important. The opening is where your listeners get their first impression of you. The closing is your last chance to get your message across.
For an effective presentation, take the time to get your start and finish right.
9 Presentation Writing Tips for a Successful Opening
The opening sets the tone for your presentation. Use the presentation writing tips below to grab your listeners' attention right from the start:
- Make a bold claim. This could be an astounding or even a shocking statement.
- Contradict expectations. Say the opposite of what the listener expects here.
- Stimulate curiosity. Start by presenting something curious or unusual that you’ll proceed to explain.
- Ask questions. Involving the audience right from the beginning is an effective way to engage them.
- Spin a surprising story. Storytelling is an effective presentation technique.
- Quote a well-known personality or a famous proverb. Starting with a quote is overused, but if done right can pull your audience in.
- Tell a joke. If you know your audience well enough to know what they’ll find funny, a joke can be a good opening.
- Show a video. A short but powerful video can make a huge impact on your audience.
- Reference a current event. If something momentous is happening, don’t try to compete. Instead, begin your presentation by briefly talking about what’s going on.
Towards the end of your intro, tell your audience what to expect from the presentation. Share your presentation structure. For example, if there’s a break in the middle of the presentation or if you'd like them to save all their questions until the end, tell them so in your opening.
Conclude Powerfully
Your presentation conclusion is your last chance to point out what you want your audience to take with them when they leave.
If you’re giving a sales presentation , appeal to your audience with a call to action . Many presentations omit this vital piece, yet it can mean the difference between success and failure. A call to action tells the audience what to do next.
Other options for closing your presentation include:
- a vision of the future
- a contrarian example
- a question and answer segment
Learn more about how to start and close a presentation:
Step 7. How to Write a Great Presentation
You've completed a presentation outline. You’ve worked on your introduction and conclusion. You’re now ready to create your written presentation.
You don't need presentation software for this stage. We'll add that in the next step. For now, a good writing tool will do. Follow this presentation writing process :
- Start with your presentation outline.
- Create presentation slide text for the introduction, each main point, and the conclusion.
- Write about your most compelling points in the first few slides.
To be effective, use short sentences and phrases to write your presentation. Review your content more than once to cut out wordiness and reduce unnecessary information.
Don’t put too much information on each individual slide. If a slide contains too much information, your audience won't grasp everything you’re sharing. Divide slides with too much material into several slides.
Learn more about writing a business presentation here:
Try This: Use planned pauses and transitions such as audience participation, videos, or other devices to divide a long presentation into smaller segments.
Caution : Humor can affect how your presentation is received. Humor lightens the mood and breaks up your material. But not everyone finds the same things funny. If you're not sure how a particular joke will be received, leave it out.
Want to access to this comprehensive guide for offline use. Download this guide now (for FREE) as a convenient 69 page eBook PDF with quick-action checklist.
Keep reading to learn how to choose your presentation software…
Chapter 5. How to Choose the Best Business Presentation Software for 2024 (+Quick Start Tips)
You’ve planned and written your presentation. Now, it's time to build it. Before you can do that, you've got to choose the best business presentation software for you to use.
We’ll help you make the right choice for your presentation. We’ll give you the information you need. Let’s take a close look at the best (and most popular) presentation software options:
Take the Quiz! What Business Presentation Software Is Right for You?
It helps to know as much about your presentation needs as possible. That’s why we’re including this presentation software quiz:
- What presentation software (if any) do you use now?
- What software requirements (if any) does your business have?
- What hardware and operating system do you use?
- What presentation tools do you have experience with?
- What's your budget for presentation software?
- How often will you work on the presentation with a team?
- Do you need to use special effects like animation?
- Do you need to import audio or video files?
- Will you be exporting your presentation to another file type?
- Do you often forget to save your files?
- Do you use a Mac or a PC?
- Do you ever need to work offline?
Remember your answers to these questions. We’ll revisit this quiz at the end of the chapter to help you find the right software tool for you.
Now let’s compare three of the most popular business presentation software packages. Let’s examine PowerPoint vs. Google Slides vs. Keynote .
Take a look at this Google Trends chart for a quick look at how these three tools compare. The chart measures how many searches there were for each of the three major tools worldwide:
Let’s explore the differences between Keynote, PowerPoint, and Google Slides. Let’s look at each software tool independently.
1. Microsoft PowerPoint (Popular With Companies)
Estimates place the number of Microsoft PowerPoint users at over 500 million (via BBC News ). PowerPoint is, without question, the most popular business presentation software.
If you work for a company, your business likely uses PowerPoint. If you’re required to use PowerPoint, your decision is already made.
You may already be somewhat familiar with PowerPoint. Maybe you’ve even already created a business PowerPoint presentation. That familiarity means you’ll be able to learn to use this powerful presentation tool fast.
Are you new to PowerPoint? Learn more about what PowerPoint is and how to get started quickly here:
Study the Envato PowerPoint Ultimate Tutorial Guide to learn even more about using PowerPoint.
Try This: If you created your outline in Microsoft Word and saved it on your PC, you can import it directly into PowerPoint. With PowerPoint open, click Open > Browse . Go to the file where your outline is stored. To the right of the File name field, switch from All PowerPoint Presentations to All Files . Click on your outline file and then click Open . PowerPoint creates a new presentation, with each paragraph of your outline in the title field of a new slide.
Advantages of Microsoft PowerPoint
Now, let’s look at the advantages of Microsoft PowerPoint and its disadvantages .
Even though it’s popular, its popularity isn't all there is to PowerPoint. Here are some of the many advantages of Microsoft PowerPoint:
- It's part of Microsoft Office 365 (works with Office productivity tools like Word, Excel, and more).
- It can export PowerPoint files to over a dozen different file types, ranging from .pdf to .rtf.
- It can import (embed) audio and video files .
- It includes 50 animations and special effects.
- Collaboration is possible through OneDrive.
- Offline access is possible in PowerPoint.
- It's got free iOS and Android mobile apps.
Disadvantages of Microsoft PowerPoint
Now that we’ve looked at the advantages of Microsoft PowerPoint, it’s time to look at the disadvantages. One disadvantage is that it can be difficult to collaborate with others.
Recently, PowerPoint has improved the ability to collaborate in real-time. But there are still more steps than with Google Slides. To work with another user, you must save the presentation to OneDrive and invite the people you want to collaborate with.
Professional Microsoft PowerPoint Templates
One final advantage of Microsoft PowerPoint is the number of professionally designed presentation templates available. Here are some great business PowerPoint templates to help you create great presentations, as well as info on how to customize them quickly:
2. Google Slides (Great Collaboration & Great Price)
Do you need professional productivity tools? Is real-time collaboration part of your job? Is your budget limited?
Consider using Google Slides. It’s a readily available presentation software tool that’s part of Google’s productivity suite, which includes Sheets and Google Docs. Best of all, it’s free when you create a Google account.
Are you new to Google Slides? Learn more about what Google Slides is and how to get started quickly here:
Study the Envato Google Slides Ultimate Tutorial Guide to learn even more about Google Slides.
Try This: Did you know that you could copy a Google Slides slide from one presentation to another? To do this, open the Google Slides business presentation with the slide design you want. Click the desired slide and click Control-C to copy the slide to your clipboard. Open a second business presentation that you want to copy the slide to. Click the slide before where you want to insert the copied slide. Click Control-V to paste the copied slide into the second presentation.
Now, let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of Google Slides .
Advantages of Google Slides
- It's free with a Google account.
- Share online for real-time editing and collaboration.
- Your work is saved automatically in Google Slides.
- It keeps a revision history, making it possible to go back to an earlier version.
- It's part of Google Drive (works with Google Drive’s productivity tools like Google Docs, Sheets, and more).
- Export Google Slides files to several different file types (although not as many as with PowerPoint).
- You can insert audio or video files.
- Includes animation and special effects (although not as many as PowerPoint).
- Free iOS mobile app.
Disadvantages of Google Slides
One of the disadvantages of Google Slides is that you must have a Google account to use it. And there are also fewer choices for effects and themes.
Professional Google Sides Templates
Discover professionally designed Google Slides templates and learn how to quickly create a great business presentation with them:
3. Apple Keynote (Great for Mac Users)
You may be wondering: what is Keynote? Keynote is Apple’s presentation software tool. It’s part of Apple’s iWork productivity suite that includes Pages and Numbers.
To choose between Keynote and PowerPoint, read on to learn the difference between them.
If you’ve got a Mac, remember that Keynote already comes with your computer. Learn what Keynote is and how to get started quickly here:
Study the Envato Apple Keynote Ultimate Tutorial Guide to learn how to use Keynote.
Try This: Did you know you can stream a Keynote presentation using Keynote Live? Click the Keynote Live button on the menu at the top of the screen. You’ll be prompted to save your presentation to your iCloud account. Then, click the Continue button. Send the URL to the viewers you want to share your presentation with. Press Play to start streaming your presentation.
Now, let’s look at Apple Keynote advantages and disadvantages .
Keynote Advantages
- It comes with your Mac computer.
- Keynote is part of the iWork productivity suite (works with productivity tools like Pages, Numbers, and more).
- Export Keynote files to several different file types (including Apple-specific file types like QuickTime).
- Insert audio or video files.
- Share and collaborate through your iCloud drive.
- Includes about 30 animation and 40 special effects (although not as many as PowerPoint).
- Work on the files offline.
Keynote Disadvantages
Keynote also has some disadvantages, the main one being that it’s for the Mac only. PC users can’t work on Keynote files.
Professional Keynote Templates
Create great presentations using Keynote with these great business Keynote templates and helpful tutorial:
Your Final Decision—Choose the Right Presentation Software for You
Let’s revisit the Business Presentations Software Quiz. Your answers to the questions on the quiz reveal which presentation software you’ll like.
PowerPoint May Be the Right Business Presentation Software for You If:
- You answered “PowerPoint” to questions 1, 2, and 4.
- You answered “PC” and “Windows” to question 3.
- For question 5, you had over $150 in the budget for a single user.
- For question 6, you answered “occasionally” or “rarely”.
- For questions 7, 8, 9, or 12, you answered “yes”.
PowerPoint is ideal for businesses that use the Microsoft Office productivity suite. It's also great for companies whose workers create business presentations independently.
Google Slides May Be the Right Business Presentation Software for You If:
- You answered “Google Slides” to questions 1, 2, and 4.
- For question 5, you had little to nothing in the budget.
- For question 6, you answered “often”.
- For questions 7, 8, and 10, you answered “yes”.
Google Slides is ideal for businesses that use the Google Drive productivity suite. It's also great for companies whose workers rely on real-time collaboration.
Keynote May Be the Right Business Presentation Software for You If:
- You answered “Keynote” to questions 1, 2, and 4.
- You answered “Mac,” “Apple,” “macOS,” or “iOS” to question 3.
- For question 11, you answered “Mac”.
Keynote is ideal for businesses that work on Macs and use the iWork productivity suite.
For a more in-depth comparison of these three software presentation tools, look at:
For even more software presentation tools, look here:
Now that you’ve selected a presentation software tool, read on to learn how to design your business presentation.
Chapter 6. How to Design a Killer Business Presentation Like a Creative Professional
You know your message. You’ve researched your topic and your audience. You’ve created your outline. And you’ve chosen a presentation software tool.
But for an effective business slideshow that moves people to action, you need a visually appealing presentation. Want a presentation your audience will remember? A good presentation design makes the difference.
The presentation slide design tips here will show you what to do (complete with PowerPoint presentation examples).
Get the Right Kind of Attention With These 6 Presentation Design Basics
Pay attention to these six presentation design basics as you design your presentation:
- Slide Layout
- Font Choice
- Special Effects
Let’s look at each element individually:
1. Slide Layout
A slide's layout is the organization of your content and the visual elements on each slide. Think about your presentation content as you design the layout of each slide of your presentation.
Look at what you've written. Imagine what type of slide design would be effective for each point. Some points may fit naturally on a slide with text alongside an image. Other points may be best shown through a slide with a chart or graph.
Keep each slide design as simple as possible. A cluttered design will draw attention away from your content. Also, for complicated points, you may need more than one slide. And that’s okay.
Try This: Draw thumbnails or create a storyboard to show a visual picture of the type of slide designs you need. ( Don't confuse these thumbnails with the Thumbnail view in many software presentation tools. ) These thumbnails are simply rough sketches of what various slides in your presentation will look like. You don't have to be an artist. A simple drawing will do.
2. Font Choice
When choosing a font , think about both font type and font size .
Font type refers to the look of the font. Some fonts work for casual use, but not for a professional presentation. Choose a font that’s easy to read. San serif fonts like Tahoma or Gil Sans work well, especially for headings.
Font size is also important when creating a presentation. The font needs to be large enough for an audience to read from across the room. Use at least a 24-point font.
Don’t use too many different fonts in your presentation. Fonts should coordinate with each other and not be distracting.
Learn more about fonts here:
Try This : Pull out your branded business materials such as stationery, brochures, and business cards. List the fonts used. (If you’re not sure, ask your marketing department.) Replace the current fonts in your slide presentation with these fonts if they work well on screen.
Learn how to change your presentation fonts here:
3. Color Choice
Color plays a big part in any presentation. Colors send powerful visual messages. Choose the colors for your slide background, fonts, and accent text carefully.
The wrong colors will give listeners the wrong idea about your brand or message. Too many colors or clashing colors make your presentation appear garish and amateurish.
Color also lets you brand your presentations. When designing your presentation, think about your business color and design scheme.
Re-examine your branded materials (your website, stationery, and business cards). Compare them with the colors you plan to use for your presentation. It should all work together.
Learn all about color in the Envato Tuts+ tutorial:
4. Graphics
To help your listeners remember your main points, make wise use of graphics. Remember that the right visuals can help your listeners retain up to 65% of what you say (according to Brain Rules ).
Consider using these types of graphics to give your business presentation a visual edge:
- illustrations
- infographics
It's important to use graphics wisely, though. Putting too many images on a slide or using unprofessional graphics will actually leave listeners with a negative impression.
Try This: If you've got an Envato Elements subscription, you've got unlimited access to various design resources. Browse through the photos , illustrations , infographics , and icons to find professionally designed visuals that meet your needs.
5. Media Choice
Embed a short video or audio into your presentation to provide some variety for your audience.
But be careful. Too many videos or audio messages will overpower your presentation and distract your audience. Limit your use of embedded media.
The media you choose should be professionally produced. Don’t embed sloppy, amateurish video or audio into your presentation.
Also, keep the embedded video or audio short. Under a minute is best, but don’t let it go longer than two minutes.
Find the best media to enhance your business presentation by asking these questions:
- Is this media related to my goal?
- Is the media professional?
- Does the media fit our company’s image?
- How long is it?
Try This : Play a royalty-free soundtrack on a loop before your presentation starts. Download professionally produced royalty-free music files with your Envato Elements subscription or for a single low fee from AudioJungle .
6. Special Effects
Use the special effects that come with most presentation software to add extra interest to your presentation design.
The two types of special effects are:
- transitions
Animations are used to move the elements of your slide. Animations can move the slide body text, images, and other objects of your slide design.
Transitions are a specialized type of animation that are used between slides.
Don't overuse special effects. Too many special effects distract from your main message. But sprinkling in a few special effects can add interest to your presentation.
Learn how to use animations in your presentation here:
How to Use a Presentation Template: 3 Easy Steps to Follow
A professionally designed business presentation template gives you a head start at making visually appealing presentations. Some of the other advantages of using a professional presentation template include:
- makes the most of your presentation software
- includes a ton of presentation design options
- updated often to current standards and trends
Are you wondering how to use a template? Here are three easy steps to get you started:
1. Search for a Pro Presentation Template Design
Find a professionally designed template at Envato Elements, which has thousands of presentation templates available. Use the Search bar and filters to find the right template for you, whether that's for PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Keynote.
If you're having trouble finding the right presentation template, there are some great PowerPoint presentation template choices in these articles:
No matter what presentation software you're using, you'll find visually appealing presentation choices in these curated lists.
2. Download a Great Presentation Template Design
When you’ve found the right presentation design template for you, download it.
In this example, we’re using The X Note PowerPoint Template . This template has a dark and light version. It also has 43 unique presentation slide designs included.
3. Customize Your Template
You’ll receive a zip file containing a presentation folder. Extract the files. Use your presentation software to open the template.
You’re now ready to customize the presentation slide design template with your own details. You can quickly add your presentation content, photos, and graphics, change the colors, and fully customize it to your needs.
Learn more about customizing a PowerPoint template:
5 Top Business Presentation Examples (With Powerful Visual Designs)
Let’s look at how using a professional template design can quickly transform your presentation material from dull to interesting. Here are five before and after business PowerPoint presentation examples:
1. The Our Story Slide
In most business presentations, there’s a slide that tells the audience what a company is about. Here’s a before example of this type of slide using one of the standard basic templates included in PowerPoint:
As you can see, it’s very basic. It tells the story, but it’s not a visually appealing design.
Now let’s look at the same information, but this time we’ve used slide #4 from The X Note PowerPoint Template (dark version) . We’ve also added an image from Envato Elements to grab the viewer’s attention.
Try This : Make your company story come to life. Add a photo of your product or service in action to your slide design.
2. The Our Services Slide
Businesses use the Our Services Slide (or Our Products Slide) to explain what they've got to offer. Here’s a before example of this type of slide using the same standard template as before:
This time, we’ve used the light version of The X Note PowerPoint Template , slide #16, to redo the slide design. Look at what a difference the template makes in this after example:
The icons we added here to the professionally designed slide came with the template. They dramatically transformed our presentation content!
3. The Timeline Slide
Many default presentation slide templates lack a timeline graphic. Without a graphic, a bulleted list is often the best you can do.
But premium templates give you the option to display your timeline data visually. Here’s a look at the same timeline using slide #14 from the dark version of The X Note PowerPoint Template :
4. The Awards Slide
If your business has received awards, you’ll want to show those off in your presentation. Without many graphic options for showing your data, you may be forced to resort to bullets again. Here’s a before example using a default PPT template:
Look at the difference that a creative slide design can make (based on slide #15 of the light version of The X Note PowerPoint Template ) :
5. The Pie Chart
Reading a list of statistics is dull. But if your slideshow template design is limited, a list may be all you’ve got to show your listeners. Here’s a before example of some key data using a standard template design:
A chart, like a pie chart, brings boring data to life. (Based on slide template #25 from the dark version of The X Note PowerPoint Template .) :
For more PowerPoint presentation design techniques, review:
Should You Hire a Designer? (Handy Checklist)
You've just learned the key design elements for creating an effective presentation.
Professional presentation templates make it easy for nearly anyone to create an attractive and impactful presentation. But there are times when hiring a designer to create your presentation might be best.
Use the list below to decide whether you need to hire a professional designer to create your presentation:
- You’re too busy to create a presentation.
- You’re in the middle of branding. You want the designer to create a unique presentation look you’ll use again and again.
- You’ve got a generous budget for presentations.
- You don’t know how to use presentation software (and don’t have time to learn).
- The stakes for this presentation are high.
- You’re not confident in your ability to communicate your message to your audience.
- You need someone to provide professional input on what you’ve done so far.
A professional designer can create a unique presentation theme that fits well with your branding. A presentation designer also has experience and graphic design training to draw upon. They can present you with great design options.
Chapter 7. Get Maximum Audience Impact: Give (Deliver) Great Business Presentations
You want your business presentation to make a difference. You want your audience to remember it. You want them to act on what they hear.
You may think you can’t control this aspect of your speech. But you can. Stay tuned to learn how to give a great presentation with the most audience impact.
Let’s start with a look at the art of giving a good presentation.
6 Top Tips for Giving a Good Presentation
Use these powerful public speaking techniques to deliver a presentation that makes a difference . In this chapter’s tips for giving a presentation, you’ll learn how to:
- Project confidence through body language.
- Manage your speaking voice.
- Captivate your audience by telling a story.
- Have a good start (and killer close).
- Use strategic pauses for effect.
- Win your audience over with a smile.
Let’s examine each tip separately:
1. Project Confidence Through Body Language
Your body language (also known as non-verbal communication) tells your audience as much as your words. What your audience sees needs to match what you’re saying.
Most experts agree that non-verbal communication is as important as ( if not more important than ) the words you say (Source: The Nonverbal Group ).
The body language you use as you give your presentation includes your:
- expressions
- eye contact
Standing stiffly before your audience, reading from cards or a computer screen—as so many speakers do—doesn’t inspire confidence in your message.
Instead, stand naturally. Don’t be afraid to move. It’s okay to make hand gestures or move across the stage. Don’t overdo it, though. Keep your movements natural and relaxed.
Your expressions also play a big role in your non-verbal communication. If your expression makes you look uncomfortable, your audience will feel uncomfortable too.
A quick fix for an uncomfortable expression is a smile. Try a friendly smile just before you start your speech and after you pause. We’ll talk more about the importance of a smile later.
For more detailed information on body language, study this Envato Tuts+ tutorial:
Try This : Once you’ve learned your speech, practice presenting a “dry run” in front of a friend or colleague. Ask them to notice the impression your body language leaves rather than the actual words you’re saying. Also, ask whether you’re slouching or standing stiffly. They can also tell you whether your movements are distracting or effective.
2. Manage Your Speaking Voice
How you sound also makes a huge impact on your audience. If you’re going to deliver a presentation that makes an impact, you need to pay attention to the way you speak.
Common speaking mistakes include:
- speaking too quickly
- speaking too softly
- speaking in a monotone voice
- mumbling or otherwise not speaking clearly
- overusing unnecessary interjections like “um,” “like,” and “you know”
Your voice leaves a big impression on your listener. It also determines whether they can understand what you’re saying . If your listener must work too hard to understand you, they’ll give up. You’ve lost their attention.
Managing your voice improves with practice. But first you’ve got to know what to work on.
Try This : Use a webcam, smartphone, or other device to record you practicing your presentation. As you play it back, look for problem areas where you need to improve. Take notes on the tone of your voice, how fast you’re speaking, and the volume of your voice. Also, notice how often you use interjections. These are all details you can work on improving.
3. Captivate Your Audience: By Telling a Story
It’s a scientific fact that people love stories. Studies show that messages with a story are 35% more effective than messages without a story. (Source: Inc. ) The same source indicates that the most popular TED Talks are over half narrative.
According to a study from neuroeconomist Paul Zak , we love stories because they cause our brains to produce:
- oxytocin, a neurochemical associated with empathy
- cortisol, a neurochemical that helps us focus
This is particularly true for stories with a dramatic arc. Learn more about Zak’s work and about how stories affect behavior in this YouTube video:
If your product or service has dramatically changed someone’s life, tell that story. Your presentation will be more effective because of it.
4. For a Presentation That Sticks: Have a Good Start (And Killer Close)
How you begin and how you end your presentation means the difference between a talk that sticks with your audience and one they forget.
The opening of your business presentation sets the tone for the rest of the presentation . Like it or not, the audience decides within seconds whether they want to pay attention or not. This Time magazine article puts the human attention span at less than ten seconds.
And once you’ve lost your audience’s interest, you’ll have to work twice as hard to capture it. In fact, you may never get their interest. Here are five effective ways to start a business presentation:
- Be bold. A bold statement, spoken with confidence, will capture your listener’s attention.
- Be contrary. Get people to pay attention by saying the opposite of what most people expect.
- Make them wonder. Curiosity is a powerful way to get your audience to focus on what you say.
- Ask questions. Questions are a great way to engage your listeners.
- Use storytelling. You just learned about how effective stories are. A good story makes a good opening.
Just as the beginning of your presentation is important, so is the end. If your audience is still listening at the end of your speech, that means they’re interested. Don’t blow it with a weak ending!
Three great ways to end your business presentation powerfully include:
- A call to action. Tell your audience what to do next.
- A vision of the future . Leave them with a dream of what could be.
- Close loops. While your presentation opens with a story or sparking imagination, your conclusion is where to pull all those open threads together into a killer ending.
For a detailed lesson on how to start and end a presentation powerfully, turn to this Envato tutorial:
5. How to Use Strategic Pauses for Effect
Using pauses to give a presentation may seem illogical. After all, you’ve got a limited amount of time to talk, and you want to say everything you need to say.
Yet, used correctly, pauses work. Some of the most effective bits of your speech are when you’re not talking. If you want to know how to give a killer presentation, learn when and how to pause.
Some of the advantages of strategically placed pauses:
- Audience connection . Remember what Dan Pallotta said about the power of silence and audience intimacy in Chapter 3 .
- Refocus listeners . Pauses give listeners a chance to gather their thoughts and refocus on your presentation.
- Better pace . A pause helps you control the pace of your presentation.
- Human needs . It’s good to give your audience a chance to stand up, stretch, and so on.
So, when should you pause? Here are some great times to pause:
- You’ve just made a major point.
- You’ve just asked a question.
- Your audience is laughing or otherwise making noise.
- For dramatic effect when telling a story.
Most pauses don’t need to be long. A few seconds to a minute is often all it takes to be effective.
A longer pause can serve as a transition to break a long speech into chunks your viewers can appreciate and are more likely to retain.
6. Win Your Audience Over With a Smile
Facial expressions are a specific type of body language. And one facial expression is more important than the rest. Enter the smile.
Smiling during your presentation makes a difference for you and for your audience.
Smiling can help improve your mood and relieve stress (Source: Psychology Today ). If you start your presentation with a smile, you’re less likely to be anxious.
A sincere smile is also catchy. If you smile, your audience is more likely to smile back. Also, a genuine smile is perceived as positive. People who smile are seen as friendly and more trustworthy.
Learn more about the power and benefits of smiling in this YouTube video from Ron Gutman.
Another secret to delivering an effective presentation is learning to deal with your nerves.
Get Comfortable: Deliver a Presentation With Confidence (And Without Anxiety)
It’s no secret that many people hate giving presentations. Even experienced speakers get presentation anxiety.
If you’re one of the many, many people who struggle with a fear of public speaking (also known as glossophobia), you’re not alone. You can still give an effective presentation.
Occasionally, your speaking anxiety will be so obvious that it distracts from your message. But most of the time your listeners will understand that you’re nervous. They’ve likely given speeches themselves, so they know what it feels like.
Your listeners will forgive you if you make a few mistakes. They know that you’re only human and that humans make mistakes.
In fact, you’re probably more critical of your speaking ability than your audience is.
Here’s your go-to list of tips for giving a presentation with confidence :
- An hour or so before the presentation, imagine that your speech is already over, and you nailed it. Repeat the visualization of a successful outcome several times.
- A half hour or so before, plan on doing some light exercise. A brisk walk fits the bill perfectly.
- As you begin speaking, focus on various audience members. But don’t stare at any one person for too long. (If looking at people makes you uncomfortable, look at various spots on the wall directly behind your audience.)
- If you do happen to make a mistake, pause. Take a deep breath and collect your thoughts. Sip some water if you’ve got some. Then, keep going. Don’t make a big deal about the mistake.
- Some public speakers find that glancing at a friendly face in the audience helps. If this is you, make a mental note of where your friendly face is located before you begin speaking.
For more information on how to overcome the fear of public speaking and how to speak confidently, study these Envato tutorials:
One Final Tip : Practice works! The more you practice, the easier giving a presentation will be for you. Organizations like Toastmasters International and professional meetups can help you to practice and improve your speaking skills.
Not only is speaking confidently to your audience important, but so too is choosing the right venue to present in and getting familiar with it.
Use This Checklist to Find the Perfect Venue for Your Business Presentation Quickly
Where you give your presentation does make a difference. Choosing the right speaking venue means a better experience for both you and your audience.
As soon as possible, learn everything you can about the facility where you’ll give your presentation. If you can, pay a pre-presentation visit. Find out what’s available at the speaking location and what you need to bring with you.
To choose a good speaking venue, use the following bullets as a checklist:
- The facility is easy for audience members to find.
- There are enough chairs for all the members of your expected audience.
- Audience members can hear (and see) your presentation regardless of where they’re seated.
- There are restrooms convenient to the main speaking area.
- Get a specific list of provided equipment.*
- Make sure there are enough electrical outlets.
- The room has a place for you to project your slideshow (either a screen or a blank wall).
- The room will be heated (or cooled) to a comfortable temperature.
* Provided equipment can include cables, computer with keyboard and mouse, microphone and other sound equipment, a remote, a video adapter, and a working projector.
If you’ve got any questions about the facility before the date of your presentation, ask. Most venues are happy to work with you.
On the day of your presentation, bring any equipment that won’t be provided by your venue. Also, bring a laptop or phone charger.
You’ve just learned the best way to deliver a presentation with the most impact. Next, we’ll discuss those extras that can add something special to your presentation.
Chapter 8. 7 Creative Ideas That’ll Add Extra Oomph to Any Business Presentation
For a truly impactful presentation, you need to go above and beyond the expectations of your audience. Here are seven creative presentation ideas you can put to good use right away to make your presentation more memorable.
1. Give Away Some Swag
People love getting free stuff. A swag bag full of branded items means they’ll remember your organization each time they pick up that branded pen or pencil, keychain, folder, or other branded item.
Here’s a list of easily branded items, perfect for a swag bag:
- pens and pencils
- coffee mugs
Make sure that each swag bag item displays your company name and phone number. If you’re wondering how your logo would look on a promotional item, you can create mockups using Placeit .
Try This : Put together a book or pamphlet of tips related to your product or service. Give it away to audience members as part of your swag bag, or by itself.
2. Use an Infographic in Your Slides
Infographics present facts, figures, and other concepts in an attractive, visual way. Keep your listeners interested while you present data that might otherwise seem boring.
Notice how the colorful infographic below catches your eye:
Learn more about infographics in these Envato Tuts+ articles:
3. Add a Human Element to Your Presentation
Adding a human element is another creative presentation idea for extra oomph. People love stories, and they’re especially drawn to stories about people.
We’ve already talked about how effective storytelling can be. Learn more about storytelling in these Envato Tuts+ articles:
Try This : Poll your top 20 customers. Ask each one whether your product or service has made a difference in their life. Also ask whether they’d be willing to share their story. Contact the customers who said “yes.” Use their responses to create a powerful human impact story for your presentation.
4. Involve the Audience: Try a Q&A
Many presentation software packages include a question and answer tool. For example, with Google Slides you can let audience members ask questions online. This can be helpful for large audiences or if some of your audience members are remote.
Here’s a peek at how the Google Slides Q&A tool works. First, the audience is provided with a URL where they can ask questions:
If an audience member clicks on the link, they’re prompted to ask their question:
Learn more about the Google Slides Q&A feature in this article:
Here are more ways to involve your audience:
- Ask for a show of hands if the audience agrees or can relate to your question.
- Ask for an audience volunteer for a visual representation.
5. Show a Compelling Image
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. The right image can speak volumes.
Images are powerful when they:
- Stir an emotion.
- Stimulate the imagination.
- Capture an important moment.
The most effective images are those that tell a story. Look at the image below:
When you see this image, you realize this person has run out of gas for their car. You may wonder:
- How long have they been walking?
- How far do they have to go?
- Why are they alone?
The image can also be used symbolically to illustrate concepts like:
- the need to be prepared
- hitting a road bump in a journey
- dealing with the unexpected
Try This : When you use a compelling image in your presentation, pause for a moment to let your audience absorb the image. Then, move on to your point.
6. Add a Video or Animation
An animation or video can add interest to a presentation. Be sure to add an animation or video that’s professionally done and relevant to your presentation.
Be careful about letting your video take over your presentation. The video you choose should enhance your message, but not overpower your presentation.
To learn more about using videos and animations, study these Envato Tuts+ articles:
7. Be Available
A valuable extra you can add to your business presentation is to be available after it’s over.
If the speaking venue permits, stick around for at least 30 minutes. Use the time to network with audience members and answer questions that didn’t come up during the question and answer session.
Those who approach you after the presentation are more likely to be serious prospects for your product or service.
Remember This: Don’t Add Too Much Oomph!
Adding one or two of these creative elements to your presentation will help capture your listener’s attention. Yet using an 'oomph' element on every slide in your presentation will most likely just overwhelm your audience. Apply these enticing elements judiciously.
You’ll find even more creative presentation ideas in these Envato Tuts+ articles:
Remember, one of the best ways to add 'oomph' to your business presentation is to be prepared. And being better prepared is what this guide is all about.
Chapter 9. 2024 Business Presentation Checklist: To Prepare for Your Next Business Presentation (Step by Step)
To help put all these presentation tips and techniques into practice, we've created a handy PDF checklist attachment that'll walk through everything you've learned.
You can download this checklist as part of a FREE PDF set . This free download includes the 69 page Making Great Presentations eBook and quick-action Checklist.
Download it now, then simply use it to check off each item as you prepare your next presentation.
You've just learned about all about business presentations. You've discovered how to make great presentations and how to avoid common business presentation mistakes. It's time to act on what you've learned. The next step is up to you.
Do you want to learn more about presentations? You'll find many more helpful tutorials about making great presentations and using top presentation tools at Envato Tuts+ .
Also, be sure to grab a copy of The Complete Guide to Making Great Business Presentations in 2021. Download this FREE guide now as a convenient 69 page eBook PDF with quick-action checklist.
For a truly effective presentation, you'll want to use a professionally designed business presentation template . Download the templates you need from Envato Elements or Envato Market .
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What It Takes to Give a Great Presentation
- Carmine Gallo
Five tips to set yourself apart.
Never underestimate the power of great communication. It can help you land the job of your dreams, attract investors to back your idea, or elevate your stature within your organization. But while there are plenty of good speakers in the world, you can set yourself apart out by being the person who can deliver something great over and over. Here are a few tips for business professionals who want to move from being good speakers to great ones: be concise (the fewer words, the better); never use bullet points (photos and images paired together are more memorable); don’t underestimate the power of your voice (raise and lower it for emphasis); give your audience something extra (unexpected moments will grab their attention); rehearse (the best speakers are the best because they practice — a lot).
I was sitting across the table from a Silicon Valley CEO who had pioneered a technology that touches many of our lives — the flash memory that stores data on smartphones, digital cameras, and computers. He was a frequent guest on CNBC and had been delivering business presentations for at least 20 years before we met. And yet, the CEO wanted to sharpen his public speaking skills.
- Carmine Gallo is a Harvard University instructor, keynote speaker, and author of 10 books translated into 40 languages. Gallo is the author of The Bezos Blueprint: Communication Secrets of the World’s Greatest Salesman (St. Martin’s Press).
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Business presentation templates
Create engaging business presentations in minutes with these flexible templates — they are free to use and extremely easy to customize.
Top 20 Free Templates For Corporate And Business Presentations
When you hear the words ‘corporate presentation’ or ‘business presentation,’ what’s the first thing that comes to your mind? Serious ? Informative ? Or are you thinking more like boring and yawn-inducing ? Whichever adjective comes to your mind, know that you can break away from the corporate presentation stereotype. How? By using modern-looking PowerPoint templates. In this article, I’ve compiled a list of the top 20 free templates for corporate and business presentations.
But before I give you the list, here are some common reasons you may want to use these templates for your next presentation:
- You don’t have time to design your slides from scratch
Even if you know your way around presentations and graphic design, you don’t have the time to create your presentation slides from scratch. Now, most business templates you’ll find on the web look like amateurs made them. But fret no more. This article will give you the links to all the best free corporate and business presentation templates you’ll ever find online.
- You’re not a design expert
If creativity and design are your weak points, then worry no more. These 20 templates will be literal life-savers! You no longer need to take a few days off from work just to finish your presentation. You’ll simply need to devote a few hours to customize these templates and you’ll have your slides ready in a few!
- You don’t want to spend $$$ on a premium business template
While there are advantages to using premium templates, they can easily set you back by $50 or so. While it may not sound like much in the grand scheme of things, a price tag of $0 is a very attractive alternative. Why spend money when you can download a professionally-designed template for free, right?
So, without further ado, here are the top 20 free templates for corporate and business presentations you can download right now!
- 26 Slide Corporate Template Pack by 24Slides
No matter how long or short your presentation is, you’ll find something useful in this 26-slide template pack. It doesn’t even matter what industry you’re in. If you need a quick and professional template, look no further than this!
You can use this template to outline your organizational chart. You can also use it to simplify your complex business processes. If you’re doing a business proposal, you can use some of the slides to explain how your plan will work and how it’s going to materialize.
- Corporate Free Presentation Template by SlideForest
This template pack from SlideForest comes with 8 slides. It may not sound like much, but if you’re an avid Apple Keynote or Google Slides user, then you’ll be happy to know that this pack comes in 3 different file formats. There’s (1) PPTX for PowerPoint, (2) KEY file for Apple Keynote, and (3) GS file for Google Slides.
You can use this pack to give a little background about your company, your social media statistics, and your business process. You can even share a bit about your team’s travel adventures!
- Light Themed Corporate Presentation Template by 24Slides
If you need a light-themed PPT template for your presentation, then you need to check this 14-slide template pack right away. With shades of violet, pink and green, this template is bound to capture people’s attention. The icons, graphics and diagrams included in the slides are all on point, and will look good in any business or corporate presentation!
- Regulus by Jun Akizaki
If you want a stylish and elegant-looking template, then make sure to check out Regulus. This template may have been published in 2014, but this is still as relevant today as it was 5 years ago. It includes 22 slides and uses 4 different color themes – pink, blue, green, and yellow. The dark wood background provides a nice contrast to the various elements on the foreground.
- Corporate PowerPoint Template Pack by 24Slides
With fuchsia and dark blue highlights, this 14-slide template pack will fit right in in most boardroom meetings and presentations. Use the agenda slide to outline your plan for your meeting and let everyone know what to expect. The process delivery slide can showcase every step of your process – whatever it may be. The product comparison slide is perfect for weighing the pros and cons of your products.
- Trine by Gabriele Romagnoli
As you can see on the screenshot above, this template pack is quite the looker. It has over 50 slides included and comes in two color schemes: aqua and dark wood. Each slide comes in two variants (dark/light), so if you’re a fan of dark backgrounds, you’ll love this pack. Best of all, you can use these for all kinds of presentations too – not just corporate ones!
- Corporate Package of 20 Slides by 24Slides
If you intend to cover a bit of everything in your presentation, then you may want to download this 20-slide template pack. It’s got a lot of graphics and charts included. So, if you intend to use a pie chart, line chart, SWOT analysis, gear process, before and after comparisons, calendars, and more, then this may be the perfect template for you.
- Nowco Free Corporate Template by Kata Ragasits
You don’t need to go over the top to get your audience to pay attention to your presentation. You just need to download the Nowco template. It is a perfect example of a template that strikes a nice balance between minimalism, functionality and design. The author has labeled what each slide is for. So, you can go through the different slides and pick out what’s most relevant to your needs.
- Corporate Data Presentation Template Pack by 24Slides
If you need to give a presentation with lots of graphs and charts, then this is the right template for you. This 9-slide template is all about visualizing data. We’ve included a bar chart, several pie charts, stacked bar chart, and stacked line chart. There’s also a dashboard slide to give your audience a bird’s eye view of your corporate data sets.
- Corporate Sales Management PowerPoint Template by PowerPointify
As you can see in the screenshot above, this 10-slide template pack comes in a blue background. The smartly-dressed human icons that are present on every slide will add a nice corporate touch to your presentation. You can use the slides to introduce your team, outline your goals, direction and progress. There’s also a couple of slides dedicated to presenting the challenges you’ve faced, your growth and ultimately, your success.
- Business Clean Presentation by Aleksandr Babin
There are 15 slides included in this free template pack. If you find this a bit lacking, then the good news is that the author also sells a much more comprehensive premium version (150+ unique slides) on Graphic River. However, for most quick corporate presentations, the free version is good enough to use as a starting point. You can simply duplicate some of the slides and edit the elements as you see fit. To download, simply type $0 on the field, “Name a fair price,” and click the Purchase button.
- Competitor PowerPoint Template by 24Slides
If you have done no competitor research at all, then you’re potentially leaving a lot of money on the table. It’s important to know your competitor’s strengths and weaknesses, and why customers flock to them. Study the competition and find out how you can fill a specific gap in the market. Then use this PPT template pack to present your findings to your stakeholders.
- Free SWOT Diagram PowerPoint Templates by SlideForest
You need to invest some time to do a thorough SWOT analysis. You don’t want to leave any stone unturned, or else your decision-making skills may be adversely affected. With that said, if you don’t want to settle for plain, old bullet points to present your SWOT analysis, then this template pack will surely help you out. You can choose from 8 different SWOT diagrams. Choose the ones that appeal most to you, and replace the placeholder text with the results of your SWOT analysis.
- Exclusive Free PowerPoint Template by Slidesmash
If you’re looking for an exclusive template, something that’s only unique to you, well, you need to keep looking. But if you don’t mind using something other people have downloaded as well, then the so-called ‘Exclusive’ Free Template may be perfect for your presentation! This template pack includes 25 slides in 16:9 widescreen layout. From the introduction to the ‘meat’ of your discussion, this pack has all the slides you need.
- Business Presentation Template by 24Slides
This 20-slide template is perfect for any kind of business presentation. You don’t want to bore your audience off with plenty of text-based slides. Instead, you want to use something like this template pack. It’s packed with graphs and charts that you can use in your presentation. From organizational charts to Gantt charts, mind maps and timelines, and everything in between, this template has got you covered. You can even use this to share your social media statistics or describe your marketing funnel. Check this template out today and add it to your personal template library!
- Business Pitch by RRGraph Design
This is one of the most helpful free templates I’ve downloaded on the web so far. In addition to the PPT file, the author also includes a help guide in PDF format. The guide will show you how you can change the logo, header, footer, color theme, images, adjust the layouts, and edit the placeholders. To download this 10-slide template pack, just hit the social media like or share buttons. The download link will then appear on your screen.
- Business PowerPoint Template by Slide Fabric
This free 15-slide PowerPoint template distinguishes itself from all the other templates in this list. How? Well, the authors have added slide transitions and animations, so that’s one less thing you need to worry about.
As you can see in the screenshot above, the template pack already looks great on its own. You don’t need to do a whole lot of changes to make your very own corporate or business presentation slides. All you need to do really is just replace the placeholder content with your own, delete any unnecessary slides, and call it a day!
- Business Roadmap PowerPoint Template by 24Slides
You don’t want to leave your business’ success to pure luck. Instead, you need to spend considerable time and effort planning every aspect of your business. As in, plan everything from A to Z. If you’re trying to persuade potential investors and/or your stakeholders to invest a considerable sum of money on your business, then you should spend most of your time learning how to become a better presenter .
It’s nerve-wracking enough presenting in front of others. So, you should download this 10-slide template pack to make your life less complicated. It’s got all the slides you need to present your business roadmap. It’s got charts and diagrams to give your audience a nice, colorful visual aid during your presentation.
- Vega by ThePopp
This template pack is best used by brands that embody the meaning of fun and youthfulness. It’s vibrant and colorful, and a younger audience may be better appreciative of the slide design.
The author has been generous enough to include 89 slides in this template pack. So, you need not be afraid of running out of presentation slides anytime soon. They’ve also bundled free icons as well as two PPT versions in the zip file. One has built-in animations and transitions while the other has none. Pick which one you like best and start customizing it!
- Aemelia Presentation Template by Slides Carnival
Sometimes, you don’t need to use something flashy to make your corporate or business presentation stand out. A simple, but well-designed template pack like Aemelia may be enough to do the job for you. This 25-slide template pack uses transparent icons as a pattern. This is a great design choice because it looks great no matter what background color you choose. You can download the file as a PowerPoint file or use it as a Google Slides theme.
Have You Downloaded Your Favorite Templates Yet?
If you have, then good for you! Otherwise, you better get cracking. I’ve handpicked these 100% free templates for corporate and business presentations especially for you. If you’ve done all the hard work, but you’re not 100% satisfied with it, then why don’t you let our in-house designers fix your slides for you? Click here to know more about our presentation design services.
You might also find this interesting:
- 10 Ways To Repurpose Your Presentation Slides
- How to improve your business presentations in 2021
- Top Alternatives To SlidesCarnival Templates
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- Inspiration
23 presentation examples that really work (plus templates!)
- 30 Mar 2023
To help you in your quest for presentation greatness, we’ve gathered 23 of the best business presentation examples out there. These hand-picked ideas range from business PowerPoint presentations, to recruitment presentations, and everything in between.
As a bonus, several of our examples include editable video presentation templates from Biteable .
Biteable allows anyone to create great video presentations — no previous video-making skills required. The easy-to-use platform has hundreds of brandable templates and video scenes designed with a business audience in mind. A video made with Biteable is just what you need to add that wow factor and make an impact on your audience.
Create videos that drive action
Activate your audience with impactful, on-brand videos. Create them simply and collaboratively with Biteable.
Video presentation examples
Video presentations are our specialty at Biteable. We love them because they’re the most visually appealing and memorable way to communicate.
1. Animated characters
Our first presentation example is a business explainer video from Biteable that uses animated characters. The friendly and modern style makes this the perfect presentation for engaging your audience.
Bonus template: Need a business video presentation that reflects the beautiful diversity of your customers or team? Use Biteable’s workplace scenes . You can change the skin tone and hair color for any of the animated characters.
2. Conference video
Videos are also ideal solutions for events (e.g. trade shows) where they can be looped to play constantly while you attend to more important things like talking to people and handing out free cheese samples.
For this event presentation sample below, we used bright colours, stock footage, and messaging that reflects the brand and values of the company. All these elements work together to draw the attention of passers-by.
For a huge selection of video presentation templates, take a look at our template gallery .
Business PowerPoint presentation examples
Striking fear into the hearts of the workplace since 1987, PowerPoint is synonymous with bland, boring presentations that feel more like an endurance test than a learning opportunity. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Check out these anything-but-boring business PowerPoint presentation examples.
3. Design pointers
This PowerPoint presentation takes a tongue-in-cheek look at how the speakers and users of PowerPoint are the problem, not the software itself.
Even at a hefty 61 slides, the vintage theme, appealing colors, and engaging content keep the viewer interested. It delivers useful and actionable tips on creating a better experience for your audience.
Pixar, as you’d expect, redefines the meaning of PowerPoint in their “22 Rules for Phenomenal Storytelling”. The character silhouettes are instantly recognizable and tie firmly to the Pixar brand. The bright colour palettes are carefully chosen to highlight the content of each slide.
This presentation is a good length, delivering one message per slide, making it easy for an audience to take notes and retain the information.
Google slides examples
If you’re in business, chances are you’ll have come across slide decks . Much like a deck of cards, each slide plays a key part in the overall ‘deck’, creating a well-rounded presentation.
If you need to inform your team, present findings, or outline a new strategy, slides are one of the most effective ways to do this.
Google Slides is one of the best ways to create a slide deck right now. It’s easy to use and has built-in design tools that integrate with Adobe, Lucidchart, and more. The best part — it’s free!
5. Teacher education
Here’s a slide deck that was created to educate teachers on how to use Google Slides effectively in a classroom. At first glance it seems stuffy and businessy, but if you look closer it’s apparent the creator knows his audience well, throwing in some teacher-friendly content that’s bound to get a smile.
The slides give walkthrough screenshots and practical advice on the different ways teachers can use the software to make their lives that little bit easier and educate their students at the same time.
6. Charity awareness raiser
This next Google slide deck is designed to raise awareness for an animal shelter. It has simple, clear messaging, and makes use of the furry friends it rescues to tug on heartstrings and encourage donations and adoptions from its audience.
Pro tip: Creating a presentation is exciting but also a little daunting. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed — especially if the success of your business or nonprofit depends on it.
Prezi presentation examples
If you haven’t come across Prezi , it’s a great alternative to using static slides. Sitting somewhere between slides and a video presentation, it allows you to import other content and add motion to create a more engaging viewer experience.
7. Red Bull event recap
This Prezi was created to document the Red Bull stratosphere freefall stunt a few years ago. It neatly captures all the things that Prezi is capable of, including video inserts and the zoom effect, which gives an animated, almost 3D effect to what would otherwise be still images.
Prezi has annual awards for the best examples of presentations over the year. This next example is one of the 2018 winners. It was made to highlight a new Logitech tool.
8. Logitech Spotlight launch
What stands out here are the juicy colors, bold imagery, and the way the designer has used Prezi to its full extent, including rotations, panning, fades, and a full zoom out to finish the presentation.
Sales presentation examples
If you’re stuck for ideas for your sales presentation, step right this way and check out this video template we made for you.
9. Sales enablement video presentation
In today’s fast-paced sales environment, you need a way to make your sales enablement presentations memorable and engaging for busy reps. Sales enablement videos are just the ticket. Use this video presentation template the next time you need to present on your metrics.
10. Zuroa sales deck
If you’re after a sales deck, you can’t go past this example from Zuora. What makes it great? It begins by introducing the worldwide shift in the way consumers are shopping. It’s a global phenomenon, and something we can all relate to.
It then weaves a compelling story about how the subscription model is changing the face of daily life for everyone. Metrics and testimonials from well-known CEOs and executives are included for some slamming social proof to boost the sales message.
Pitch presentation examples
Pitch decks are used to give an overview of business plans, and are usually presented during meetings with customers, investors, or potential partners.
11. Uber pitch deck
This is Uber’s original pitch deck, which (apart from looking a teensy bit dated) gives an excellent overview of their business model and clearly shows how they intended to disrupt a traditional industry and provide a better service to people. Right now, you’re probably very grateful that this pitch presentation was a winner.
You can make your own pitch deck with Biteable, or start with one of our video templates to make something a little more memorable.
12. Video pitch template
This video pitch presentation clearly speaks to the pains of everyone who needs to commute and find parking. It then provides the solution with its app that makes parking a breeze.
The video also introduces the key team members, their business strategy, and what they’re hoping to raise in funding. It’s a simple, clear pitch that positions the company as a key solution to a growing, worldwide problem. It’s compelling and convincing, as a good presentation should be.
13. Fyre Festival pitch deck
The most epic example of a recent pitch deck is this one for Fyre Festival – the greatest event that never happened. Marvel at its persuasion, gasp at the opportunity of being part of the cultural experience of the decade, cringe as everything goes from bad to worse.
Despite the very public outcome, this is a masterclass in how to create hype and get funding with your pitch deck using beautiful imagery, beautiful people, and beautiful promises of riches and fame.
Business presentation examples
Need to get the right message out to the right people? Business presentations can do a lot of the heavy lifting for you.
Simply press play and let your video do the talking. No fumbling your words and sweating buckets in front of those potential clients, just you being cool as a cucumber while your presentation does the talking.
Check out two of our popular templates that you can use as a starting point for your own presentations. While they’re business-minded, they’re definitely not boring.
14. Business intro template
Modern graphics, animations, and upbeat soundtracks keep your prospects engaged as they learn about your business, your team, your values, and how you can help them.
15. Business explainer template
Research presentation examples.
When you’re giving a more technical presentation such as research findings, you need to strike the perfect balance between informing your audience and making sure they stay awake.
As a rule, slides are more effective for research presentations, as they are used to support the speaker’s knowledge rather can capture every small detail on screen.
With often dry, complex, and technical subject matter, there can be a temptation for presentations to follow suit. Use images instead of walls of text, and keep things as easy to follow as possible.
16. TrackMaven research deck
TrackMaven uses their endearing mascot to lighten up this data-heavy slide deck. The graphs help to bring life to their findings, and they ensure to only have one bite-size takeaway per slide so that viewers can easily take notes.
17. Wearable tech research report
Obviously, research can get very researchy and there’s not a lot to be done about it. This slide deck below lays out a ton of in-depth information but breaks it up well with quotes, diagrams, and interesting facts to keep viewers engaged while it delivers its findings on wearable technology.
Team presentation examples
Motivating your team can be a challenge at the best of times, especially when you need to gather them together for….another presentation!
18. Team update template
We created this presentation template as an example of how to engage your team. In this case, it’s for an internal product launch. Using colorful animation and engaging pacing, this video presentation is much better than a static PowerPoint, right?
19. Officevibe collaboration explainer
This short slide deck is a presentation designed to increase awareness of the problems of a disengaged team. Bright colors and relevant images combine with facts and figures that compel viewers to click through to a download to learn more about helping their teams succeed.
Recruitment presentation examples
Recruiting the right people can be a challenge. Presentations can help display your team and your business by painting a dynamic picture of what it’s like to work with you.
Videos and animated slides let you capture the essence of your brand and workplace so the right employees can find you.
20. Company culture explainer
If you’re a recruitment agency, your challenge is to stand out from the hundreds of other agencies in the marketplace.
21. Kaizen culture
Showcasing your agency using a slide deck can give employers and employees a feel for doing business with you. Kaizen clearly displays its credentials and highlights its brand values and personality here (and also its appreciation of the coffee bean).
Explainer presentation examples
Got some explaining to do? Using an explainer video is the ideal way to showcase products that are technical, digital, or otherwise too difficult to explain with still images and text.
Explainer videos help you present the features and values of your product in an engaging way that speaks to your ideal audience and promotes your brand at the same time.
22. Product explainer template
23. lucidchart explainer.
Lucidchart does a stellar job of using explainer videos for their software. Their series of explainers-within-explainers entertains the viewer with cute imagery and an endearing brand voice. At the same time, the video is educating its audience on how to use the actual product. We (almost) guarantee you’ll have more love for spiders after watching this one.
Make a winning video presentation with Biteable
Creating a winning presentation doesn’t need to be difficult or expensive. Modern slide decks and video software make it easy for you to give compelling presentations that sell, explain, and educate without sending your audience to snooze town.
For the best online video presentation software around, check out Biteable. The intuitive platform does all the heavy lifting for you, so making a video presentation is as easy as making a PowerPoint.
Use Biteable’s brand builder to automatically fetch your company colors and logo from your website and apply them to your entire video with the click of a button. Even add a clickable call-to-action button to your video.
Share your business presentation anywhere with a single, trackable URL and watch your message turn into gold.
Make stunning videos with ease.
Take the struggle out of team communication.
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How to Create a Business Plan Presentation [Plus Templates]
Written by: Masooma Memon
You know your business idea is strong, but presenting it in a way that captivates your audience and inspires them to take the desired action? That’s a different story.
But don’t worry. With the right approach and resources, you can create a business plan presentation that not only conveys your idea in the best possible way but also wins over potential investors, partners and clients.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you have in mind like how many slides does your business idea presentation need, what goes into those slides, and how to create, design and present an impressive business plan presentation.
Along the way, we’ll also show you a series of ready-to-use business plan presentation templates that you can customize to use as your own. See? We did say creating a presentation isn’t rocket science.
Ready to learn how to create a business presentation?
Let’s get started already.
Here's a short selection of 8 easy-to-edit business plan presentation templates you can edit, share and download with Visme
Tired of creating boring slides? Check out Visme's presentation software for free. Browse through our extensive collection of ready-made templates , millions of design assets, data visualization, AI-powered tools, branding, animation, interactivity and more.
Don't worry if you're pressed for time; Visme's AI Presentation Maker can help you create stunning slide decks for your business idea.
Table of Contents
- What Is a Business Plan Presentation?
- What Should Be In a Business Plan Presentation?
How to Create a Business Plan Presentation
- How to Design a Business Plan Presentation With Visme
Business Plan Presentation Best Practices
How to present a business plan presentation, business plan presentation faqs.
- A business plan presentation is a formal slide deck that includes your goals, mission, strategy, pricing model, financial projections, teams and other information about your new business.
- Typically, a business plan presentation includes a title slide, problem, solution, pricing plan, business operations information, marketing plan, industry overview, financial projections, team and a concluding slide with your contact details.
- To create a business plan presentation, identify your goals, conduct research, create an outline, develop the content, design your slides, prepare supporting material, and finalize and polish.
- Design a business plan presentation easily in Visme by picking a template, adjusting the slides, customizing the template, and then downloading and sharing your presentation.
- Some tips for creating impressive business plan presentations include drawing attention to your core message, making your slides easy to read and understand, sticking to one or two fonts, picking a nice color scheme, using minimal text and paying attention to the visuals.
- To effectively present a business plan presentation, keep your presentation concise, add interactivity, pay attention to the design and incorporate data visualization.
- Visme makes it easy to create a professional business plan presentation that leaves a solid impression on your audience. Use features like ready-made templates, built-in graphics, animations, branding and AI-powered tools to create stunning presentations.
What is a Business Plan Presentation?
We know a business plan as a formal document that includes your business goals, mission, strategy and the rest of the starting-a-business shebang.
A business plan presentation is all that with added pressure since you’ve to convey the entire information in slides – clearly and concisely.
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Put another way, you don’t have wordy documents to convey your ideas. Instead, you’ll need to be clear about selling your idea to investors by sharing all the important details in an engaging and succinct manner.
What Should Be in a Business Presentation?
Now that you know how your slides need to look, let’s talk about another important point—your presentation’s slides and what they need to talk about.
The bare minimum slides you need are 10. Remember, cover only one business aspect per slide. Here’s what your slides should be about.
Slide 1: The Title Slide
This needs no explanation — it’s your introductory page that should include your business’s name, any slogan that you may have, and a logo as well (if it’s ready). Don’t forget to add your name to the slide.
Since this is the first slide, it needs to be an impression maker. One way to create such a slide is to rely on a powerful image that showcases your business idea.
Take, for example, this presentation template by Visme. It pretty much speaks for itself, narrating the business idea is related to social media scheduling.
Looking for the perfect image for your presentation? Grab one from a pool of 700+ free presentation images .
Slide 2: The Problem Your Business Solves
Dedicate your second slide to diving into the pain point your business solves. You can use facts to make things convincing. But, there’s nothing that beats a good story.
Here is an amazing business plan presentation example that does just that.
Additionally, make sure you let your design do the talking. For instance, this presentation template uses a few words and pairs them with icons that explain facts.
Slide 3: Your Business’s Solution
Now that you’ve introduced the problem, give the solution.
This is the part where your story comes to its happy ending. And what’s the happy ending? Your business idea.
Again, make sure your solution-offering slide isn’t wordy, but digestible. Try a diagram or sketch to explain your idea like here.
Slide 4: Your Pricing Plan
Okay, so investors know you’ve a great idea that you’ve delivered in an even greater story format. They’re impressed. What’s next? Your pricing structure.
In your business model slide, go on to tell who your customers are, what your revenue sources are going to be, and how much you expect customers to pay for your product/service?
But, instead of writing it all, present your pricing plans in a simple-to-grasp chart.
Here’s what I mean.
Slide 5: Business Operations Information
Now is the time you give your audience an inside peep into the operating nuts and bolts of your business.
Where will your business headquarters be located? What about the staff that runs the show in the background. What equipment will you need? Answer all that in this slide.
Just make sure you offer all this info in a chart or diagram.
Slide 6: Your Marketing Plan
Next, tell your audience how you plan to market your business.
Nope, "TV and ads" is not the right answer. Instead, share your marketing plan including the channels you’ll use and how you plan to do so.
Planning to make a separate marketing presentation? Dig into this guide to create one with free templates.
Slide 7: Industry Overview
In other words, this slide is for competitor analysis. Make sure you keep it clipped and use a positive approach.
Defaming or bad-mouthing competitors won’t help. What’ll make a difference in your favor though is how well you explain your unique selling proposition (USP) or what makes your business a winner.
Share this information in a chart or outline the key pointers like this template below does.
Slide 8: Financial Projections
Time to pull out the crystal ball that shows the future!
Answer the following in this slide: what financial projections do you’ve for the next 3 years and 5 years to come. Then, explain how you reached those numbers.
Here’s a template that does that well:
Slide 9: Your Team
Here’s the part when you talk about the key players who’ll help you build your business.
See how this template intros teammates.
Slide 10: Concluding Slide
This is your last slide. It’s best to close your presentation with your contact details (check out the slide below for an idea) and a sense of urgency.
But why the urgency, you ask? Because you want to tell your audience that now is the right time for your business to enter the market.
1. Identify Your Goals
Before diving into your presentation, take a step back and clarify your purpose.
Are you seeking investment, looking for partners or pitching to potential clients. Knowing your aim helps shape your entire approach.
Then, set clear goals for your presentation. Maybe you want to secure a certain amount of funding or land a specific partnership. Having these objectives in mind keeps you focused and helps you measure success later on.
2. Research and Gather Information
Now it's time to roll up your sleeves and dig into the nitty-gritty.
Start with thorough market research—understand your industry inside out and know your competitors like the back of your hand.
Also, get a solid grasp on your target audience. Research their backgrounds, interests and what they're looking for. This insight is gold when tailoring your content.
Don't just skim the surface; dive deep. Collect hard data, compelling statistics and solid financial information that backs up your claims.
As you gather all this information, keep it organized. Use spreadsheets, mind maps or whatever system works for you. The point is to have this valuable intel at your fingertips when you need it.
For example, you can use Visme’s whiteboard tool for this purpose. Or design an engaging mind map that you can easily share with your team.
3. Outline Your Presentation Structure
Think of your presentation as a story—it needs a beginning, middle and end. And all of these parts need to flow seamlessly.
Start by mapping out the key points and sections you want to cover. Then, arrange them in a logical order that builds momentum. Make sure each section naturally leads into the next, creating a compelling narrative.
As you plan, consider how much time and emphasis each part deserves. Your game-changing product might warrant more time than your office location, for instance. A well-structured presentation keeps your audience engaged and helps them follow your vision effortlessly.
Want to learn more? Here’s a detailed guide on the different types of presentation structures you might want to use for your business plan presentation.
4. Develop Your Content
Here's where you breathe life into your presentation.
Craft content that's not just informative, but captivating. Think about what makes your business unique and exciting— that's the story you want to tell.
Develop a clear, punchy value proposition that instantly communicates your worth. As you write, keep your audience in mind. What matters to them? Align your content with their interests and needs. If you need help with crafting the perfect words, use Visme’s AI Writer for assistance.
For each slide, aim for concise, impactful statements. Back up your claims with solid data and facts—investors love numbers. And while it's good to show you know your stuff with industry jargon, remember to explain complex terms. You want to impress, not confuse.
5. Design Your Slides
Now it's time to make your presentation visually appealing. If you’re using a template, choose a design theme that's professional and aligns with your business idea.
Ideally, your presentation design should be clean, modern and easy on the eyes. Use high-quality visuals, charts and graphics to illustrate your points. We’ll discuss more about how to design a business plan presentation in the next section.
Be careful not to go overboard. Keep your slides uncluttered and easy to read. A good rule of thumb is no more than six bullet points per slide. Use them to highlight key points and provide visual interest, not to display every word you're going to say.
6. Prepare Supporting Materials
Your presentation is just one part of the package. Create handouts or leave-behind documents that reinforce your key points and provide additional details. These could include executive summaries, product specifications or financial projections.
Also, develop a one-page business plan or a more detailed one for those who want to dive deeper. These materials show you're thorough and prepared, and they give interested parties something concrete to review after your presentation.
Visme offers a bunch of business plan templates to help you in that area. Here’s a business plan template you can use right away:
The best part about using Visme is you can ensure your document design is consistent with your presentation. Simply upload your brand elements like fonts, colors and logo, and our Brand Kit will apply your unique style across any project you create.
In fact, you don’t even have to manually upload anything if you’re short on time and have a website. Input your site URL into our Brand Design Tool and let the AI pull the brand elements automatically and apply them to your designs.
7. Finalize and Polish
You're almost done! But before you call it a day, revisit and fine-tune your presentation so it’s free from any potential issues. Proofread everything meticulously and check for spelling errors, consistency in formatting and accuracy in your data and projections.
Make sure all your information is up-to-date and relevant. Also, pay attention to any animations and transitions between your slides—they should be smooth and logical.
This is also a great time to get some outside perspective. Present to trusted advisors, mentors or colleagues who can give you honest, constructive feedback. They might catch things you've missed or have ideas to make your presentation even stronger.
If you’re creating your business plan presentation in Visme, you can invite team members to review your slides, leave feedback by commenting or annotating and even work on the content with you using our collaboration and workflow features.
How to Design a Business Plan Presentation with Visme
So far, you’ve learned a lot of theory on making a business plan presentation. It’s time to put all that and more into practice.
Start off with writing your content. And, go on to design your slides next.
With Visme, you’ve two ways to go about creating your presentation: either start with a template or work from the scratch.
Have you already started making your presentation in PowerPoint, but only just discovered Visme? No worries! Nobody’s going to ask you to start over.
Instead, simply follow the steps in here to import your PowerPoint presentation in Visme . Or, watch this video to understand how do so.
Now, let’s start designing.
1. Pick a Template
Visme offers templates in various categories, so you’ll be sure to find a template that fits your business idea.
For instance, here’s a business presentation template.
Here’s something for those of you with an idea in the finance sector.
Plus, a template for a product idea.
Each of the available templates are editable, which means if there’s something you want to change about it, you can easily do so.
Looking for something that takes creativity to a whole new level? Pick from one of our animated presentation templates. And if you’re short on time, you can use Visme’s AI Presentation Maker to whip up a custom design tailored to your business idea and vision.
2. Adjust the Slides
Once you’ve picked your template, click Add New Slide to bring other slides from the template into your presentation. Pick and choose any and all of the slides you need to use in your business plan presentation.
You can also bring in slides that you've previously saved to your slide library to help customize your presentation even further.
3. Customize the Template
Lastly, customize your template’s font and color.
If you already haven’t settled on your brand colors, dive into color psychology to pick colors for your presentation that inspire trust.
If you plan to power your first slide with images, you can either select images from Visme’s stock photo library or upload your own image. You can also add icons , shapes, animated graphics, illustrations, 3D characters , gestures and more to spruce up your slides.
And if you can’t find the perfect image, whip one up using the AI Image Generator or edit existing images using the AI Image Editing tool . It can unblur, upscale and remove unwanted backgrounds in seconds.
Pro Tip : Take advantage of Dynamic Fields to always keep important data like names, dates and contact information accurate. Once you've customized the fields and assigned values , your data will be pulled in throughout your project.
Alternatively, you can create your presentation from the ground up using a blank canvas or by starting with a presentation theme .
4. Download and Share
Finally, it’s time to share your business plan presentation.
You have several options to do that in Visme. Here they are:
- Download: Save your presentation in PDF or PPTX (PowerPoint) format. You can also download in HTML5 (offline web) format to preserve animation and interactivity,
- Share online: Publish and share your presentation online using a public or private link. No need to download any files—your presentation will be hosted on Visme.
- Embed: Generate an embed code for your presentation to add it to a website or portal.
Also, fun fact: when you share your presentation online with Visme, you can track built-in analytics to understand how people are interacting with your slide deck.
With the recap out of the way, let’s talk about the fundamentals of preparing a business presentation that you need to keep front and center as you plan.
1. Draw attention to your core message.
This is the heart of any successful presentation — one that makes it a winner. To ensure your message comes off coherently, explain your business idea to yourself.
The stronger your grip on your idea, the better you’d be able to explain it in a few sentences, or paragraphs at most.
In other words, make sure you can summarize your plans into an elevator pitch. Also, don’t forget, use simple language — can a child understand your business idea? If so, you’re in the right direction.
2. Make your slides easy to read and understand.
If a clear message is the heart of a prizewinning (read: investor winning) presentation, good readability and ease in understanding are the lungs, working to keep your presentation alive and breathing.
The question now is, how do you go about creating digestible slides? Here are a couple of things that can help.
3. Stick to one or two fonts.
Garamond, Helvetica and Gill Sans are some of the best fonts to use in a presentation .
And while you’re at it, select a readable font size. 30 points is a good benchmark size to keep in mind like we discussed above.
Take a look at how well the font size is adjusted in this template. The changing font size also creates a visual flow that navigates viewers’ attention.
4. Pick a nice color scheme.
Know those bright colors that hurt the eye and are hard to look at? Steer away from them. A subtle color combination works best like in the Visme presentation template below.
5. Use minimal text.
To do so, read each word carefully and ask yourself: can I do just fine without this word? If you find yourself replying in the affirmative to this question, remove the word. In short, make each word earn its keep.
Here’s a template using only as many words as needed to get the message across.
6. Pay attention to the visual elements in each slide.
The goal is simple: you’ve got to use design elements smartly without overdoing them. Sure, you’ve heard a picture is worth a thousand words, but nailing visual components in your presentation can take some effort.
Put another way, it isn’t about throwing in a bunch of thumbnail images and icons to each slide and calling it a day. Instead, it’s about adding them thoughtfully so they’re impactful rather than extra baggage.
Check out this template from Visme to get an idea of what we’re talking about here.
On the whole, aim to create a business plan presentation that’s readable, comprehensible and clutter-free.
Before we wrap this up, here are some tips to help you deliver more memorable presentations:
Keep Your Presentation Concise
Short, powerful messages leave a far deeper impression than long, rambling presentations.
Follow the 9-minute rule —originally for salespeople but equally valuable for presenters—to deliver more impactful presentations.
Aim to deliver 2-3 slides per minute, keeping your key points within about 9 minutes. This helps maintain your audience’s attention and ensures your core message is communicated without overwhelming the listeners with excessive information.
Add Interactivity to Your Presentation
Breathe life into your business presentations and stand out by incorporating interactive elements, such as animated icons, popups, clickable buttons, embedded videos and more.
Interested in creating an interactive business presentation? Here are 20 tips to get you started.
You can also take a look at how to create an interactive quiz within your presentation below.
Create engaging interactive content with Visme.
- Add interactive pop-ups and hover effects
- Increase interest and engagement on your design
- Lead your audience to specific content with interactivity
Pay Attention to Your Presentation’s Design
Not only is visual design an important component of any presentation , but it’s also what hooks your audience. It takes about 50 milliseconds for your audience to assess a design’s visual appeal so aim to leave a strong visual impression.
Use a powerful image as this template does.
Or try a color-based design with a modern layout like the one in this business presentation template:
Incorporate Data Visualization
Wherever possible, use any of the various chart types at your disposal to present your data. These could be line or bar graphs, pie charts, Gantt charts, Venn diagrams, pictograms, population pyramids and much more.
But why should you use charts to share your data? Simple: data visualization makes complex numbers easy to understand at a glance and more interesting to look at.
Check out this funnel chart template by Visme that you can add to your business plan presentation:
Or this cool gauge chart to track the achievements of your sales staff:
With a few clicks of a button, add creative infographics to your Visme presentations and take them to a whole new level.
Q. How Many Slides Does Your Business Presentation Need?
Aim for 10-12 slides in your business presentation. This aligns with Guy Kawasaki's 10-20-30 rule: 10 slides max, presented in 20 minutes, using at least 30-point font. This approach helps you stay focused and keep your audience hooked to your presentation till the end.
Made with Visme Infographic Maker
If absolutely necessary, you can stretch to 13 slides, but try not to go beyond this to prevent overwhelming your audience. Remember, a concise presentation often has more impact than a lengthy one.
Create a Business Plan Presentation That Wins Investors
Creating a business plan presentation really isn’t much of a tough nut to crack. Consider half your work done if you’re cent percent clear about your business idea. This way your presentation’s content will come easy to you.
As for the design? Leave that to Visme. Our online presentation software makes it easy to create a beautiful and professional business plan presentation that leaves a solid impression on your audience.
Use features like built-in graphics, custom 3D characters, animations, branding and AI-powered tools to create the best business plan presentation you could envision.
Create beautiful presentations faster with Visme.
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About the Author
Masooma Memon is a pizza-loving freelance writer by day and a novel nerd by night. She crafts research-backed, actionable blog posts for SaaS and marketing brands who aim to employ quality content to educate and engage with their audience.
11 Critical Types of Business Presentations (+ Templates)
Learn about the different types of business presentations with examples that drive results. Discover how to choose the right type of presentation for your use case.
Dominika Krukowska
8 minute read
Short answer
What are the main types of business presentations?
There are 11 main types of business presentations:
- Pitch deck presentations
- Sales deck presentations
- Product marketing presentations
- White papers
- Case studies
- Report presentations
- Education & academic presentations
- Business proposal presentations
- Sports sponsorship proposals
- Business plan presentations
You need the right collateral for every aspect of your business in order to succeed.
In today's business world, delivering a compelling presentation isn't just a nice skill - it's a vital one. But if you're not familiar with all the types of presentations your business might need, it's like trying to build a house without all the necessary tools.
Some parts of your business might not get the support they need to stand strong. This can lead to unclear messages, disengaged audiences, and missed opportunities.
That's where this post comes in. Consider it your blueprint for building a solid presentation foundation. You'll learn about all the different types of business presentations, when to use them, and how to make them work wonders for you. In just a few minutes, you'll be ready to turn every presentation into a sturdy pillar for your business success.
Let’s get started!
What are the main business presentation types?
Business presentations come in various forms, each serving a unique purpose and fitting into a specific stage of the sales funnel.
There is a basic set of presentations that no business can flourish without. You should become familiar with these critical presentation types.
11 essential types of business presentations:
1. Pitch deck presentations
Pitch deck presentations are designed to showcase a product, startup, or idea to potential investors. They are typically used during fundraising rounds and are crucial for securing the necessary capital for your business.
Here’s an example of a pitch deck presentation:
Cannasoft - Investment pitch deck
A hard-hitting investment deck of a publicly traded tech company dedicated to medical cannabis manufacturers.
If you want to learn more about pitch decks and how to create one, check out our guides:
What Is a Pitch Deck? A Beginner's Guide to Greatness
What to Include in a Pitch Deck (Slides 99% of Investors Want)
Create a Winning Pitch Deck Investors Love (Examples & Tips)
2. Sales deck presentations
Sales deck presentations are aimed at convincing prospects to buy your product or service. They highlight the unique selling points and benefits of your offering, and explain why you’re the perfect solution provider for your prospects’ specific pain points.
Here’s an example of a sales deck presentation:
Orbiit - Visually narrated sales deck
Visually narrated sales deck of a virtual networking platform telling AND showing readers what's in it for them.
To find out more, read our article on how to make a sales pitch deck that turns ‘Maybe’ to ‘Yes!’ .
3. Product marketing presentations
Product marketing presentations are used in the awareness stage to introduce a new product or feature to the market. They focus on the benefits of the product and how it meets the needs of the target audience.
Here’s an example of a product marketing presentation:
Mayku - Physical product deck
A welcoming physical product deck for immersive introduction to a revolutionary vacuum-forming solution.
4. White papers
A white paper is an in-depth analysis of a problem and its solution. It's a way to establish your expertise and thought leadership in a particular area. White papers are often used in the consideration stage of the funnel to educate potential customers about a complex issue related to your industry or product.
Here’s an example of a white paper:
Drive - Automotive research white-paper
A white-paper showing high-level research on electric vehicle charging wrapped in a stunning interactive experience.
5. Case studies
Case studies showcase a customer success story or outcome. They provide real-world examples of how your product or service has helped a customer, making them a powerful tool for building trust and credibility.
Here’s an example of a case study:
Boom25 - Interactive case study deck
Fun, engaging, and interactive case study of a UK cashback service: mixing business with entertainment.
If you want to learn more, check out our guides:
What Is a Case Study & Customer Success Story?
5 Steps for Writing a Case Study for Business (+Templates)
12 Steps to Create a Business Case Study That Converts
Case Study Format Types: Match Format with Business Goals
6. Report presentations
Report presentations are used to share data-driven insights and findings in the consideration stage. They make complex data accessible and engaging, helping your audience understand and remember the information.
Here’s an example of a report presentation:
Meta - Interactive corporate report
Insights and trends from Israel's thriving consumer-facing industry. A comprehensive review of the B2C ecosystem's performance and future prospects.
7. One-pagers
A one-pager is a brief, informative overview of your solution sent to potential customers in the awareness stage. It's a quick way to communicate the key features and benefits of your product or service, meant to pique the prospects’ curiosity enough to move them down the sales funnel.
Here’s an example of a one-pager presentation:
Octopai - Outbound sales one-pager
An outbound one-pager identifying a problem in modern-day analytics and offering an easy-to-grasp solution.
To find out more about one-pagers, read these guides:
What Is a One-Pager: Types, Benefits & Main Use Cases
Make One-Pagers That Grab Attention, Engage & Convert
Create a Sales One-Pager (Examples, Writing Tips, Templates)
Create a Business Plan One-Pager (+ Proven Templates)
How to Create a Startup One-Pager That Wows Investors
How to Create a Product One-Pager (That Gets People Excited)
8. Education and academic presentations
Education and academic presentations are used for teaching or presenting research findings. They are designed to simplify complex concepts and foster deep understanding.
Here’s an example of an academic presentation:
Research proposal
This school research presentation template is perfect for students who need to present their findings from a research project. The template includes space for a title, introduction, main body, conclusion, and bibliography.
If you need more guidance, we have a blog post on how to write a research proposal , including tips and templates.
9. Business proposal presentations
Business proposal presentations are used to close deals at the end of a sales cycle. They summarize your offering and why it's the best choice for the prospect.
Here’s an example of a business proposal presentation:
RFKeeper - Retail proposal deck
A dynamic, highly visual proposal deck for a retail software provider, designed to grab and keep attention.
For tips on how to create your own, check out our posts:
How to Write a Business Proposal (Examples & Templates)
Make a Winning Business Proposal Presentation in 12 Steps
10. Sports sponsorship proposals
Sports sponsorship proposals are used to secure funding and support for a sports team. They highlight the benefits that the sponsor will receive in return for their investment.
Here’s an example of a sports sponsorship proposal presentation:
Football sponsorship proposal
This bright and energetic template reflects the dynamic nature of sports. With a combination of text-based and interactive slides, you'll easily convey the history of your organization, as well as the team's main drivers and objectives, to make sponsors instantly realize the value for their money.
11. Business plan presentations
Business plan presentations detail a company's strategy and objectives. They are often used to secure funding from investors or to align team members around a common vision and plan.
Here’s an example of a business plan presentation:
General Business Plan
This template has everything you need to create a visual summary of your business idea. Thanks to a range of interactive slides, you'll be able to convey your vision in a way that impresses investors and gets you the necessary buy-in.
If you want to see real-life examples of each presentation type, check out our master post containing 52 perfect presentation examples to set you apart .
What are the main types of presentation use cases?
Presentations are a versatile tool that can be used in a variety of scenarios, both within and outside an organization. Here are some of the key use cases for presentations:
External use cases
Sales: Persuading potential customers to purchase your product or service through compelling storytelling and showcasing benefits.
Funding : Convincing investors to provide capital for your business by demonstrating potential for growth and profitability.
Thought leadership: Establishing your expertise and authority in a specific field by sharing unique insights and perspectives.
Investor relations: Communicating important company information to investors to maintain trust and transparency.
Donor communication: Engaging and updating donors on the impact of their contributions to maintain their support and involvement.
Conference or event presentations: Sharing insights or research findings at a public event to engage the audience and build your reputation.
Partnership presentations: Proposing a collaboration or partnership to another business by highlighting mutual benefits.
Product launch presentations: Introducing a new product to the market with a compelling narrative that highlights its unique features.
Client presentations: Updating clients on progress or delivering project results to maintain their satisfaction and trust.
Training and education presentations: Teaching a new skill or concept to an external audience to enhance their knowledge and skills.
Public relations presentations: Managing the public image of your company by addressing public concerns and highlighting positive actions.
Government or regulatory presentations: Communicating with government agencies or regulatory bodies to ensure compliance and maintain good relations.
Social responsibility presentations: Showcasing your company's efforts to give back to the community to enhance your company's reputation and public image.
Internal use cases
Team meetings: Discussing project updates or new initiatives with your team to ensure everyone is aligned and informed.
Training and onboarding: Introducing new employees to company policies and procedures through employee onboarding software to ensure they are well-equipped to perform their roles.
Strategic planning: Outlining your company's strategic goals and plans to ensure all employees are working toward the same objectives.
Performance reviews: Providing feedback on an employee's performance to help them improve and grow in their role.
Internal reporting: Sharing company performance data with internal stakeholders to keep them informed and make data-driven decisions.
Town hall meetings: Addressing the entire company on key updates or changes to ensure transparency and maintain employee trust.
Change management: Guiding employees through a period of significant change to ensure smooth transition and maintain morale.
Employee engagement and recognition: Celebrating employee achievements and fostering a positive company culture to boost morale and productivity.
Training workshops and seminars: Providing in-depth training on specific topics to employees to enhance their skills and knowledge.
Internal marketing and branding: Promoting company values and culture to employees to foster a sense of belonging and commitment.
How do I choose the right type of presentation for my business?
Choosing the right type of presentation for your business is like picking the right tool for a job. It's all about understanding your needs and resources.
Here's a simple guide to help you make the right choice:
1) Presentation objectives
Start by defining what you want to achieve. Are you aiming to educate, persuade, or inspire? Your objective will shape the type of presentation you need. For instance, if you're looking to secure funding, a compelling pitch deck is your ticket.
2) Target audience
Your audience is your compass. Their needs and expectations will guide your presentation's content and style. For example, a sales deck might resonate with potential customers, while a thought leadership white paper could be more suitable for industry peers.
3) The message
What key message do you want to convey? Ensure your presentation type allows for this message to be communicated effectively. For example, if you're eager to share your company's green thumb, a social responsibility white paper can beautifully showcase your eco-friendly initiatives and their positive effects.
4) Resources
Finally, always take stock of your resources. Time constraints and available data can influence your choice. A one-pager could be more practical than an extensive sales deck when you’re short on time or manpower.
What are the best types of tools to create and improve my presentation?
Creating a compelling presentation is not just about the content, but also about the delivery.
Here are some tools that can help you elevate your presentation game:
Storydoc: This tool allows you to transform static slides into highly-engaging and converting interactive web presentations. It's perfect for creating memorable narratives that captivate your audience from start to finish and gets them to take action.
Think-Cell: If your presentation involves data, Think-Cell is a must-have. It simplifies the creation of complex charts and enhances data visualization, making your insights more digestible and impactful.
VideoScribe: Want to add a touch of animation to your presentation? VideoScribe allows you to create high-quality whiteboard-style animation videos, adding a dynamic element to your content.
Mentimeter: This gamified presentation software allows you to engage your audience with live polls, quizzes, and Q&A sessions, making your presentation a two-way conversation.
Pitcherific: Pitcherific helps you create and practice your pitch speech, making it a great tool for preparing investor presentations.
Create your presentation from a template
Your digital presentation is your passport to powerful communication. Why settle for static, lifeless slides when you can turn your presentation into a dynamic, interactive adventure?
Think of your key messages as stepping stones on an exciting journey, one that keeps your audience engaged from the opening slide to the grand finale. Interactive presentation templates are the perfect vehicle for this journey.
Each template is a canvas waiting for your unique touch.
Grab a template and use it to create your best presentation yet.
Hi, I'm Dominika, Content Specialist at Storydoc. As a creative professional with experience in fashion, I'm here to show you how to amplify your brand message through the power of storytelling and eye-catching visuals.
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10 must-have slides in a business presentation
Nearly every professional, regardless of their role and field, will create and deliver a business presentation at some point in their career. Creating a slide deck takes a lot of preparation, including planning the content, structuring the slides, designing with appealing visuals and rehearsing the pitch.
The 10-20-30 rule is a commonly used and much-praised structure for creating a business presentation. Following the 10-20-30 rule, the presenter should not present more than 10 slides, should not exceed 20 minutes, and should not use font sizes less than 30 point. Created by Guy Kawasaki , this method is for presenters to create and deliver impactful presentation.
For a business deck, presenting your content in 10 slides can be a challenging task, as your messaging needs to be concise yet persuasive. Here are 10 slides that you should include in your business presentation to make your slide deck a success.
1. Title slide
This is the introduction slide that gives your audience an overview of what your presentation is about. Include important details like your topic, company name, logo, date of presentation, presenter name, and designation.
What makes a good title slide?
If you’re promoting a product or a service to your audience, then use a picture of it in the title slide instead of stock images. Provide crucial details that help your audience understand what they can expect from the session. Use a clean, simple font style in an appropriate size with a contrasting background to make the title easy to read.
2. Problem statement
The objective of a business presentation should be to offer a solution to a business problem. Use this slide to define the problem for which you’re proposing a solution. Make your points clear, concise, and persuasive by highlighting the impact it has on the business.
What makes a good problem statement slide?
State the business problem you’ve set out to solve. Involve your audience by asking them if they have a solution to the above problem and then explain how your idea can impact the business. Make your content precise and easy to read without overwhelming your audience with too much information.
Define the goals you’re aiming to achieve through this presentation and list them as stages in your plan. Demonstrate your goals as points with a realistic timeline for each milestone.
What makes a good goals slide?
Goals help set the direction for your business plan. Let’s say you’re launching a new product in the market and need to list the various milestones you’re aiming to accomplish to get the product to your audience. Instead of showcasing them as plain bullet points, break them down into milestones with timelines. Explain them in a few words and emphasize key points with animation effects and icons to make it visually appealing.
4. Solution or Strategy
Now that you have mentioned the problem and set goals for your business, use this slide to talk about how you’re planning to achieve them. Write an overview of your strategy and plan of action and highlight the key points.
What makes a good solution slide?
Introduce your strategy with an impressive title and emphasize important content using text effects. Make your content compelling by highlighting the benefits of your strategy and presenting your solution as a narrative with eye-catching visuals and icons.
5. Analysis
Your market, SWOT, and competitor analysis form an essential component in laying out your business plan in detail. Use supporting data in your business presentation to walk your audience through the analysis.
What makes a good analysis slide?
If your slide deck is for a product launch, then validate your strategy by including your analysis of the market, competitors, and your target customers to understand your position in the business. Instead of plain text, use charts and tables to explain your insights for these numbers. Bring your data to life with animation and text effects.
6. Financial plan and revenue
Your business presentation should include your financial plan, revenue projections, and other relevant metrics necessary to measure the success of your business strategy.
What makes a good finance slide?
Present the budget required for different business stages like research, development, execution, marketing, etc. Use charts to break down your finances in planned stages. Add visuals and bring your charts to life with animation and effects.
Every business deck needs supporting data to validate your analysis and plan. Use charts and tables to help your audience understand your business position better.
What makes a good data slide?
For business presentations like project management, add data to compare and analyze your plan and identify areas of improvement. Determine the best chart style to showcase your numbers and highlight the compelling data points, then add a line or two of your own conclusions from these numbers and explain them in detail during the presentation.
8. Timeline
Setting up a timeline for your business is crucial as it establishes the direction, priorities, and roadmap for achieving your business goals. You can also use a timeline to showcase your company’s journey by featuring various milestones, starting with its inception and highlighting some of your prominent projects to date.
What makes a good timeline slide?
Make your timeline slide less text-heavy and more visual with a timeline chart to take your audience through the various milestones. Add visuals, icons, and path animations to make your timeline visually engaging.
Introducing your team members forms an integral part of your business presentation as its sends a strong message of your company’s expertise. For a small business, you can introduce all your employees, while bigger companies should introduce members crucial for the operation of your company.
What makes a good team slide?
For presentations like a project report or sales pitch, it’s necessary to include your team slide as the audience needs to know the members involved in the project. Include headshots of your team members with their title/designation, along with a short description of their role in the business.
10. Q&A or End Slide
This will be the closing slide of your business presentation and must leave a lasting impact on your audience. If you want to answer audience questions, schedule your Q&A session at the end of your presentation.
What makes a good end slide?
A good end slide recaps your overall presentation and contains your company’s important details. Close your presentation with a rhetorical question to make a thought-provoking impact on your audience.
For nearly every type of business presentation or pitch, these ten slides will help you create a strong framework for your slide deck. However, don’t forget that different sorts of business presentations have their styles and needs based on the objective, industry, and the target audience. To learn more about some best practices for creating a presentation template for every industry, take a look at our previous blog post .
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The Easy Guide to Making a Business Plan Presentation
Failing to plan is planning to fail.
That’s why a business plan is crucial to your business. If you want to make sure that the promising business idea in your head is feasible, you have to start with a business plan .
Visuals make anything easier to understand. That’s why including them in your business plan presentation is a foolproof way to ensure that it’s readily welcomed by your audience and digested without confusion.
By no means is this business plan template limited to presentations; you can also include these diagrams in your business plan documents to make them more readable.
Following are downloadable Simple Business Plan Templates
- Business Plan Template PDF
- Business Plan Template Word
- Business Plan Template PowerPoint
What is a Business Plan?
Benefits of using a business plan presentation, executive summary, company profile, customer profiles.
- Perpetual Map
- Porter’s Five Forces
SWOT Analysis
Pest analysis, competitor profile.
- Competitive Intelligence
Marketing and Sales Strategies
Organizational structure and management, product canvas, value proposition canvas.
- Financial plan
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Creating a Business Plan Presentation
Faqs about business plan presentations, want to extend the guide to creating a business plan presentation.
Let’s start by clarifying the business plan definition.
A business plan is a document that describes your business in terms of what it does, the products and services it offers, your business strategy and business goals, and your action plan outlining how you plan to achieve your goals and earn money.
The main purposes of a business plan are to
- Show the future financial performance of the company and its economic situation for the owners and investors.
- Help identify risks that may affect the growth of the company and provide strategies to overcome them.
- Help make predictions about market trends, competitor behavior, customer requirements and define and prioritize key business objectives .
- Serve as a key resource for developing budgets
Clarity and Communication
A business plan presentation helps you communicate your business idea, goals, and strategies with clarity. It allows you to distill complex information into concise and visually appealing slides, making it easier for your audience to understand and grasp the key points. Presenting your business plan in a structured and organized manner enhances clarity and ensures that your message is effectively communicated.
Engaging and Persuasive
A well-designed and well-delivered business plan presentation can be highly engaging and persuasive. By using visual aids, such as graphs, charts, and images, you can capture the attention of your audience and create a memorable impact. Effective storytelling and compelling visuals can help you convey the value proposition of your business, showcase market opportunities, and convince investors, stakeholders, or potential partners to support your venture.
Feedback and Interaction
Presenting your business plan allows you to receive immediate feedback and engage in discussions with your audience. This feedback can be invaluable in refining your business strategy , identifying potential gaps or weaknesses, and addressing questions or concerns. The interactive nature of a presentation enables you to have a dialogue, gather insights, and build relationships with key stakeholders. It also provides an opportunity to demonstrate your expertise, passion, and confidence, which can further strengthen your credibility and increase the likelihood of securing support or funding for your business.
The Key Elements of a Business Plan
A business plan should contain the following key components.
- Executive summary
- Company profile
- Market analysis
- Marketing and sales strategies
- Organizational structure and management
- Services and products
Although this comes first, it’s smarter to write it at the end. The executive summary of your business plan should explain what is great about your business model and its products or services.
It should be concise and appealing to the reader. And it’s easier to write a meaningful summary once you have filled in the rest of your plan.
Your company profile should provide details on,
- Company history
- Overview of the company
- Mission Statement
- Key resources
- Business contact information
- Products or services
- Location details
- The market you serve
- Your key customers
- The customer issue you seek to solve
All these details can be presented in a much nicer way with an infographic like the one below. It’s easier to read and understand and more compact and clearer than paragraphs of detail.
Market Analysis
Through a market analysis , you can find enough detail to define your target market, its size, customer segments, and their needs.
Your market analysis should also include a competitor analysis, where you will research your key competitors in terms of their influence in the market, their strengths and weaknesses, the threats they pose to you, their products and services, their pricing plans, their marketing strategies etc.
Some visual techniques you can use in this section to present your data are
These aptly summarize all your findings on your customers such as their demographic details, jobs, responsibilities, needs, challenges etc.
Perceptual Map
This tool helps you depict and analyze how your (potential) target customer perceives the brands or products of your competitors. It helps you make sense of your product or service’s competitive positioning through the survey data at your hand.
Porter’s Five Forces
This tool is used to assess your business competitive strength and position against your competitors. Using it you can understand whether your new product or service is profitable.
SWOT analysis is a great way to determine the strengths and weaknesses of your competitors and the opportunities and threats they bring to you within the industry. You can also use it to assess the capabilities of your own company.
More on SWOT Analysis: What, Why and How to Use Them Effectively
PEST stands for Political, Economic, Socio-Cultural and Technological factors. It’s a great way to examine how the external forces in your market can impact your company. It will also help you shape your marketing strategy and develop your risk management plan.
View More More on SWOT Analysis: PEST Analysis Tools
All the details you have gathered on your competitors, such as their sales numbers, strategies, partners, suppliers etc. can be organized here. It’s a great way to prepare your competitor analysis data to be added to your business plan presentation.
View More Competitor Analysis Tools
Competitive Intelligence Mind Map
Or you can convey these data in a mind map. You can use Creately Viewer to add this to your online documents, websites, intranet, Wiki, or business plan presentations. This way you can view any links included in the mind map and navigate through it easily.
You can learn how to use these tools along with other useful techniques in more detail in;
View More Market Strategy Planning Tools
This is where you outline how you plan to market and sell your product. It’s easier to do now as you have extensive knowledge about your market, target customer and your competitors.
With your marketing strategy, you have to consider factors like your marketing or communication channels, marketing goals, marketing budgets, resources etc.
With your sales plan , pay attention to your sales targets, sales tools, resources etc.
You can use mind maps to visualize all this data to your audience. You can either use two mind maps to outline your sales and marketing strategies separately or a single mind map to showcase both.
Marketing and Sales Plan Template
If you want separate a marketing plan and sales plan, check out the templates below,
- Marketing Plan Template for Business Plan Presentation
- Sales Plan Template for Business Plan Presentation
Who are the key personnel involved in your organization? List them down in this section along with their expertise.
Use an organizational chart to represent your team, their roles and skills. It can help you highlight the hierarchy of your organizational structure as well.
Services and Products
This section explains your services or products and how they can benefit the customers. Here are some visualizations you can use to make this section more interesting to your audience.
Product canvas is a tool used to map, design and describe your product strategy. It takes into consideration your target audience, the important features of your product decided by storyboards , epics, design sketches, mockups , and the tasks you need to carry out to build the product.
Learn about this in more detail here .
It’s a tool you can use to ensure that your product or service fits the requirements of your customer. It helps you look into
- The value you can deliver to the customer via your product or service
- Which customer problems/s that you are trying to solve
- Which is the job that your product helps the customer to finish
- Which customer needs you are satisfying
- What are the different products you are offering to each customer segment
Financial Plan
This is the section where you provide all financial information related to your business. This section is required if you are presenting your business plan to investors.
It will include both historical data such as cash flow statements,profit and loss statements, income statements etc. and financial projections based on the impact of your new product.
If you are pitching a new product to your investors, you may also want to include your funding requirements.
For a business plan presentation, you can use a digital database of your financial information with a simple Creately mind map. You can link up all your financial statements on your mind map.
This way anyone who refers to the mind map can easily access the linked resources from one single place.
Overloading with Information
One of the most common mistakes is including too much information on each slide. This overwhelms the audience and makes it difficult for them to follow along. Keep your slides concise and focused on key points. Use bullet points or visuals to convey information effectively.
Lack of Visual Appeal
A presentation that lacks visual appeal can fail to engage the audience. Avoid using too much text and opt for visually appealing elements such as images, graphs, and charts. Use a consistent color scheme and fonts that are easy to read. Make sure your visuals support your message rather than distract from it.
Ignoring the Audience’s Needs
It’s essential to consider the needs and interests of your audience when creating a presentation. Tailor your content to address their concerns and provide relevant information. Avoid using jargon or technical terms that your audience may not understand. Focus on presenting the most compelling aspects of your business plan that align with their interests.
Lack of Practice and Rehearsal
Presenting a business plan without sufficient practice and rehearsal can lead to a lack of confidence and a disjointed delivery. Practice your presentation multiple times to become familiar with the content, timing, and transitions. Rehearse in front of a mirror or a small audience to receive feedback and improve your delivery.
By avoiding these common mistakes, you can create a compelling and effective presentation that effectively communicates your business plan to your audience.
In this post we have explained how to create a business plan presentation step-by-step. Make use of the templates that are provided to make your presentation more eye-catching and easy-to-understand.
Here are some more tips on making your presentation a hit.
Join over thousands of organizations that use Creately to brainstorm, plan, analyze, and execute their projects successfully.
How long should a business plan presentation be?
Should i include all the details of my business plan in the presentation, more related articles.
Amanda Athuraliya is the communication specialist/content writer at Creately, online diagramming and collaboration tool. She is an avid reader, a budding writer and a passionate researcher who loves to write about all kinds of topics.
How to Make a Business Presentation in 7 Easy Steps [Free Business Presentation Templates]
Updated: May 02, 2022
Published: April 16, 2014
There’s a reason many people despise public speaking. Defining your presentation style , putting together engaging slides, getting your point across clearly, handling unexpected questions, and squeezing a laugh out of the audience is a lot to consider.
Still, nearly all of us have to give business presentations every so often — especially salespeople . And the most daunting part of preparing for any presentation is that there’s always room to improve.
Even the most seasoned speakers headlining at conferences or reps who top the leaderboard every month can improve their storytelling, deliver their message more clearly, and perfect their physicality. And so can you.
There are an infinite number of presentation tips out there, so we’ve distilled the vast pool of tips down to what will make the biggest impact on your presentation — and we’ve left you with actionable takeaways you can apply to your presentations today.
How to Make a Business Presentation
1. make a plan.
Things won’t go according to plan if you don’t even have a plan in the first place. Before building your slide deck , create an outline that includes the main points and pieces of evidence you want to get across.
This outline will act as your anchor while you build a slide deck and give your presentation, pointing you toward the key arguments you know you need to touch on.
I like to start with the bare bones: introductory remarks , the three points I hope my audience remembers from my talk, and concluding remarks. Then, I add sub-points to each of those three points that comprise the meat of my presentation.
These bullet points become helpful later, too, when I’m putting together my slides. They show me how much material I have on each takeaway, which allows me to split my content into the appropriate number of slides.
A well-delivered, memorable introduction and conclusion are essential ingredients of a presentation. Don’t overlook them in your outline.
Even a couple of quick bullet points on exactly what you plan to cover in each will help you set an engaging, confident tone at the start and wrap up in a way that helps your material stick in your audience’s mind.
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2. Choose a slide deck
Select a slide deck that matches the tone of your presentation. There are three primary factors that can influence your deck style:
- The formality of your workplace . A good litmus test is your company’s dress code. For example, if you wear business formal attire to work, stick with a slide deck with neutral colors like navy, white, grey, and black, and keep your fonts sharp. If your workplace is more casual or prizes creativity over ceremony, consider a more colorful deck, but keep it to two to three complementary colors to avoid creating slides that are too busy.If you’re looking for a slide deck that’s creative but not overwhelming, consider something like this ( you can download this slide deck template for free here ):
- The content you’re presenting. Serious research and financial data, for example, are suited for more professional decks. Informal recaps, brainstorms, and planning sessions may give you more bandwidth to use brighter colors.Here’s an example of a slide that would be well-suited for data:
Download the Slide Deck Template for Free
- Your personal brand . If you’re known at work for your sense of humor or your GIF reaction time on Slack, you’ll be able to get away with a more friendly font and colorful template. If you lean into professionalism and want to express rigor in your analysis or ideas, select a deck with few distractions — keep the colors neutral.
We had our designers here put together a set of free business presentation templates that you can start using today.
3. Lead with a story and a laugh
One of the reasons it’s so easy to get wrapped up in TED Talks for hours on end is that nearly every presenter begins with a compelling story.
Whether it’s the harrowing tale of a near-death experience or a heartwarming recap of the speaker’s daughter’s first day of preschool, a great story engages the audience’s attention. It should also allow the speaker to build a personal connection with listeners and serve as a memorable cornerstone of the presentation.
When possible, begin your presentations with a story. The key, once you’ve shared your story, is to succinctly tie its main point back to the focus of your presentation.
Don’t feel you must tell a story that’s groundbreaking or unique — in fact, relatable stories will be most effective at breaking through to your audience.
For example, a marketing director at HubSpot recently began a presentation about her team’s redesign project by sharing a personal anecdote about her struggles clearing weeds in her garden.
Finally, add humor where it feels natural. Getting a laugh out of your audience within the first minute will put them at ease and set a positive tone for the information they’re about to take in.
4. Add verbal signposts
One of the best pieces of presentation advice I’ve ever gotten came from a college professor who believed our brains needed what he called “signposts”: verbal cues that could stick in an audience’s mind even as the details slipped away.
He challenged us to distill our presentations down to three key takeaways and come up with one-to-three-word phrases that represented each point. Then, we were to reference those three cues or signposts in our introduction — just before diving into their details — and once again at the end.
If there were slides involved, he also had us select a simple image for each signpost that would be repeated throughout the deck.
Here’s an example: if you were giving a presentation pitching a website redesign, you might talk about all of the benefits a redesign would bring. Your website would be more visually consistent with your brand, the user experience would vastly improve, and you’d improve loading time to boost your search rankings.
The signposts for this presentation might be:
- Brand Consistency
- Improved UX
Even if the audience forgot the mechanics of how each of these areas would improve with the redesign, they would walk away with three easy-to-remember phrases that summarized the value of your proposed project.
Since taking that professor’s class, I’ve watched and created presentations completely differently. I always look for a speaker’s signposts and incorporate my own into every presentation I build. Signposts help me retain more material and communicate my points more directly.
5. Rely on images and charts rather than text and tables
Humans process images faster than text. And, as a speaker, it’s a disconcerting experience to see your audience squinting their eyes as they try to make out a hundred tiny words or numbers on your slides, scribbling down as much information as they can before you skip to the next section.
To avoid this issue, rely on images whenever possible. Keep the attention on you, the expert, by selecting an image or two to drive home your point. Don’t try to squeeze all of your information on a single slide.
6. Incorporate audience interaction
We all dread sitting through boring presentations. And no matter how experienced a speaker you are, there’s inevitably going to be a low-energy point of your talk during your first dry run.
To keep the energy up, add in a quick moment of audience interaction. There are many different ways to re-engage listeners with participation:
- Quiz them and have them raise their hands to vote on options.
- Ask a question.
- Have them turn to a neighbor and share one reaction to what they just heard.
- Have people stand up momentarily if they agree with a given statement.
Movement will engage attention in a new way and refresh the energy of the room, carrying you through to the end of the presentation.
7. Hold a couple of non-essential data points until the Q&A at the end
You will always want to use adequate data to make a business case and provide a meaningful, truthful presentation. However, it’s okay if you’re not able to fit every detail into your presentation.
In fact, if you intend to hold a question and answer session at the end of the presentation , leaving a couple of interesting but non-essential data points out during the presentation can give you impressive material to work with during the Q&A.
Anticipate several questions you’re likely to get or have a colleague watch a practice run-through and come up with three questions for you. Then, choose a couple of pieces of evidence not included on the slides themselves and have them in your mental back pocket to support your answers.
Data always speaks more loudly than statements that don’t have a specific piece of evidence behind them. Remember, you’re an expert on your presentation topic — and additional, specific points can only help you when it comes to demonstrating your expertise.
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FAQs About Corporate & Business Presentation Templates
What are corporate and business presentation templates.
Corporate and Business Presentation Templates are professionally designed presentations that can be used to communicate your corporate or business ideas. These templates come equipped with specific slides to present business models, financials, analysis, marketing strategies, and more.
They are user-friendly and customizable enabling you to present your business information in an organized and aesthetically pleasing way. Depending on your business industry and needs, you can choose from a variety of different styles, designs and formats.
Why should I use Corporate and Business Presentation Templates?
Templates save time and effort as they are pre-designed and pre-formatted. Not everyone has the skills or time to design from scratch. Corporate and Business Presentation Templates are professional, consistent, and visually pleasing. They help in conveying your business message effectively.
They ensure your presentations are standardized and brand aligned too. Plus, customizable templates allow you to add your unique touch to fit your brand identity which leaves a lasting impression on your audience.
What should a quality Business Presentation Template include?
A good business presentation template should consist of various essential elements. These could include a cover slide, company introduction slide, mission and vision slides, team slides, project description, timeline, charts and graphs for data visualization, future plans, and contact details.
Depending on the nature of the presentation, it may also include product slides, competitive analysis, marketing and sales data, financial forecasts, case studies, customer testimonials, and Q&A slides, etc. A high-quality template will be flexible and versatile allowing you to customise the content as per your needs.
How customizable are Corporate and Business Presentation Templates?
Most Corporate and Business Presentation Templates are highly customizable. They're designed to allow users to change various elements, including but not limited to, colors, fonts, images, backgrounds and layouts. You can add or remove slides, adjust design elements, and integrate multimedia if desired.
The degree of customization may vary depending on the platform or software you're using. Certain templates might be more rigid in design, while others off a high degree of flexibility. It's essential to select a template that fits your needs, brand identity, and the message you wish to convey.
Where can I find Corporate and Business Presentation Templates?
There are numerous online platforms that offer a wide variety of Corporate and Business Presentation Templates. Sites like PowerPoint, Google Slides, Canva, GraphicRiver, SlideModel, and many more provide templates for different industries, themes, and business purposes.
Apart from these, there are also specialized platforms like Prezi, Slidebean or Visme, that not only offer templates but also tools and plugins to enhance your presentation. However, availability may depend on what software you are using and might require a certain subscription plan.
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10 Business Presentation Examples | Say Goodbye to PowerPoint!
Renderforest Staff
11 Apr 2023
13 min read
Have you ever found yourself delivering a presentation to a disengaged audience, wondering where you went wrong? If the struggle to make your business presentation stand out and leave a lasting impression is real, don’t worry – there’s a way out!
In today’s fast-paced business world, traditional slideshows may no longer cut it. Audiences expect more creative and interactive presentations beyond bullet points and stock images. But here’s a dilemma. How do you adopt contemporary trends while staying authentic to your business?
While skimming through dozens of business presentation examples , we found that adjusting one according to your communication goals requires a certain approach and a little technical support. To help you solve the riddle, we’ve compiled 10 outstanding presentations that will surely spark ideas for your business.
If you are ready to embrace a revolution, keep reading, as we’ll give you editable templates as a starting point for your next presentation!
Revamp Your Business Presentations With These 10 Engaging Examples
Informative, motivational, entertaining – presentations come in all shapes. The following business presentation examples can offer insightful solutions, whether you go for an entirely new approach or just tweak an existing template.
Without further ado, let’s dig deeper to see how famous companies meet today’s demand.
Adidas Annual Report 2021
Image source: Adidas Annual Report 2021
The Adidas annual report for 2021 is a comprehensive and detailed report providing an overview of the company’s performance and financial results over the year. Presented as a combined publication for investors, stakeholders, and everyone interested in the company’s activity, it’s a business presentation example focusing on:
- Professionalism
- Clean manner
One of the key peculiarities of this report is its abstract style. The way it uses visuals and infographics to present complex financial information and data in an easy-to-understand format tells about its business-oriented approach.
Starting with a letter from the CEO, the presentation goes further with a strategic overview, financial highlights, yearly highlights, sales outlines, and more.
Here is a sneak peek at its visuals!
A six-slide presentation has two times as many pages organically integrated as internal resources. For instance, by clicking on the green box entitled “Letter from the CEO,” you’ll be taken to the page where Kasper Rorsted expresses his gratitude toward each team member and business-related aspirations for the future.
A map depicting the company’s sales by segment has a neat yet bold aesthetic that adds to an overall business feel.
The company’s commitment to environmental sustainability and social responsibility is highlighted throughout the report, with sections dedicated to topics such as sustainable sourcing, supply chain transparency, and diversity and inclusion. This business presentation example showcases the power of design in business communication, proving that a combination of text and visuals is key to making an impact.
Create Yours With Renderforest
Embracing a minimalistic yet professional approach business presentation ideas is no longer a challenge for those using Renderforest for design-related tasks. The platform has hundreds, if not thousands, of editable slideshow templates for every business purpose.
Here’s your editable business presentation template to create your next annual report. Start by customizing business presentation examples according to your company’s style guide and feel the difference.
Porsche Company Presentation 2022
Image source: Porsche Company Presentation 2022 The Porsche company presentation is a sleek and polished business presentation example of the company’s current company heads, key statistics for the past year of 2021, brand philosophy, and more. The presentation is presented in a professional and sophisticated manner, with a focus on high-quality visuals and concise, impactful text. We see striking images and graphics as a business presentation example for a luxury brand. Intending to convey the Porsche brand’s essence and identity, presentation makers have included a range of visual elements, from illustrations to car photographs and graphs demonstrating the business growth.
The strategic focus on highlighting Porsche’s commitment to sustainability and social responsibility allows the business to stand out against its competitors and speak for itself. As a proof, the following slide depicts the company’s objectives for the future of environmental protection.
Image source: Porsche Company Presentation 2022
Overall, the presentation’s clean aesthetics, consistent color palette, and use of appropriate corporate visuals make it a great business presentation example for other businesses to follow.
Whether you are more into strict or creative presentations, we have yet other business presentation ideas for you. Staying true to your business values is essential, so take the time to personalize the following template and set yourself apart. And if you’re planning on rebranding, the AI business name generator can come in handy.
Pixar’s 22 Rules to Phenomenal Storytelling
Image source: Pixar’s 22 Rules to Phenomenal Storytelling
This extra vivid yet minimalistic presentation provides guidelines for creating compelling and memorable stories. The presentation is demonstrated in a simple and clear manner, with a focus on concise text and playful, colorful visuals.
With its simple design, this guide provides clear and actionable steps for creating stories that engage, inspire, and resonate with audiences. The well-known character outlines evoke a solid connection to the visual content of Pixar’s films.
Here we may also see the constant use of large fonts and bold colors that deliver a powerful and emotional impact on the viewers.
How Google Works by Eric Schmidt
Image source: How Google Works by Eric Schmidt & Jonathan Rosenberg with Alan Eagle
The “How Google Works” presentation is highly informative and visually engaging. It’s a comprehensive overview of the company’s operations and the little secrets behind its success. Presented as illustrated storytelling, the presentation is an excellent example of incorporating relevant facts and figures without overwhelming the audience.
One of the key peculiarities of this business presentation example is the focus on Google’s unique corporate culture and management philosophy. The presentation highlights the corporate emphasis on innovation, collaboration, and open communication and how these values have contributed to the company’s success.
Overall, its clear and appealing design doesn’t bore but works effectively, helping the audience quickly grasp the business model.
Whether for education, corporate identity outline, or simply presenting yourself in a fun and creative way, Renderforest’s business presentation templates stand out from the crowd. Hit the Edit button to customize the following template and fit your brand, style, and message accordingly.
Let’s make a lasting impression with your speech!
HupSpot’s Quarterly Investor Presentation Q4’22
Image source: HubSpot Quarterly Investor Presentation Q4’22
As a polished and professional document, The HubSpot Quarterly Investor Presentation provides an in-depth overview of the company’s financial performance and strategic priorities. The presentation features metrics demonstrating HubSpot’s business progress, including growth in revenue and customer retention.
Through simple visualizations in corporate colors, the presentation has a clear and concise manner of presenting business performance. The key data points are easily identified through charts and graphs, appealing to the business-minded audience.
Infographics work best for such pitch decks as they help deliver relevant information visually attractively. Also, the use of icons makes the document more readable.
Indeed, this is a great example of creating a visually appealing slide deck that investors and executives can easily understand.
Graphs, charts, tables, and infographics are some of the most effective ways to help you clearly communicate your business performance and strategies. For instance, you can incorporate the following slides into your next presentation and emphasize the company’s priorities in a captivating way.
Renderforest’s corporate presentation templates provide creative and eye-catching design elements that will surely leave an impression on the viewers.
HupSpot’s 2022 Analyst Day
Image source: HubSpot’s 2022 Analyst Day Presentation
Consistency is the key, and HubSpot’s second presentation proves that. The presentation features the corporate style and has the same icons, clear visualizations, and simple yet informative text blocks that provide a comprehensive overview of business metrics.
It’s an extended 75-page presentation with two constituent presentations covering specific business topics, such as defining the company’s commerce vision, highlighting the best-working practices toward customer acquisition, predicting future performance, etc.
The way these presentations provide valuable insights into the company’s business strategy, corporate integrity, product offerings, and market positions speaks much about professionalism. That said, a well-designed and unified corporate presentation will become your ace in the hole for pitching business ideas and strategies and positioning yourself as a reliable niche representative.
Netflix Culture Deck
Image source: Netflix Culture Deck
Concise and impactful corporate presentations help with new employee onboarding and business development, and Netflix’s Culture Deck is a good example. Through minimal use of visuals, it provides detailed information on how the company fosters a culture of innovation, encourages risk-taking, and empowers employees to make decisions and take ownership of their work.
Although this presentation mainly features plain text blocks on a white background, it is a well-structured, logically organized, and easy-to-follow corporate manual.
Sometimes less is more! That’s the core idea behind Netflix Culture Deck.
Renderforest’s business presentation templates allow you to craft a captivating employee handbook and leave a good first impression on new employees. Select the template that best fits your corporate mindset and message, spice it up with visuals, and you’ll be ready to present your company most effectively.
Coca-Cola | Investor Overview – Updated for Third Quarter 2022
Image source: Coca-Cola | Investor Overview – Updated for Third Quarter 2022
Here’s another case where a company presents a detailed financial performance analysis, strategic initiatives, and market position through easy-to-digest infographics. The colorful and fresh design style leaves viewers with an informative and creative impression.
The presentation contains concise business updates and insights that help business partners comprehend the company’s state and further development opportunities.
Coca-Cola’s Investor Overview is a good example of how a business presentation should look regarding design, usability, and niche-oriented content.
Disney’s Q1 FY23 Earnings
Image source: Disney’s Q1 FY23 Earnings
Disney’s presentation highlights business performance in the context of industry trends and features detailed graphs and diagrams that help business partners efficiently identify recent business updates. It’s a clearly designed overview of the company’s current and future development plans.
Media and entertainment distribution results come in simple bar charts, as shown below.
Performance highlights include updates from parks, experiences, products, and more. Although there is statistics overload, infographics present it in a well-structured way.
Renderforest’s engaging templates can help you get that business presentation ready in no time. Whether you’re creating a business overview, getting ready for a new product launch, or need to send a financial report to your stakeholders, Renderforest provides you with sophisticated editing tools for business presentation ideas .
You’ll get access to all content customization elements, from infographics to maps, charts, graphs, and beyond.
Get everything you need in one place!
Albrecht Solutions | Company Presentation
Image source: Albrecht Solutions | Company Presentation
Last but not least is a company presentation from Albrecht Solutions. Focused on highlighting the company’s history, customer value, and corporate culture ideology, this example features formal visuals, discreet color pallets, and data charts.
It’s a valuable resource for future partners and potential customers interested in learning more about Albrecht Solutions.
Business Presentation Hacks for a Captivating Pitch
Going through each example has advantages, as now you have a certain degree of knowledge regarding the best practices. However, aspects like the delivery manner, laconic speech, and visual storytelling play a crucial role in all business presentation examples discussed above.
Let’s quickly skim through several tips and tricks to help you polish your slides and boost your confidence:
Choose the Right Opening
Start by introducing the presentation topic and yourself. Explain your intent for giving this talk in a few words and get people hooked on your words.
Remain Laconic: Avoid Text Overload
The fewer words, the better! Your audience will thank you for clear, concise presentations that are easy to follow. You can always go into more detail and answer questions afterward.
Tell a Story with Visuals
People fall for stories, so why not use visuals to support your points and illustrate the message you want to convey? Use color schemes and graphics that complement your narrative, as well as charts and diagrams to present data.
Create Visual Consistency with Templates
While looking for consistency and clarity, templates can help. Templates keep the background uniform, give you a range of options to choose from, and create professional-grade presentations in no time.
The best part about Renderforest’s business presentation templates is they are fully customizable, so you can make them your own by adding your text, images, and branding. With a ready-made business presentation kit , even non-designers can make stunning presentations for their audience.
Use Videos to Stand Out
Video content rules almost every industry, and business communication is no exception. Audiences today require visual aids for better engagement and understanding. Incorporating videos into your presentation can be a powerful tool to grab attention and keep your audience interested.
Renderforest’s presentation videos are a fantastic way to create engaging and professional-looking presentations that captivate your audience. Our video presentation templates are designed to be user-friendly and easy to customize, even if you have no prior video editing experience.
From 3D animations to corporate overviews, these business presentation examples with videos are sure to leave a lasting impression.
Incorporate Data Visualizations (Infographics)
The examples analyzed above clearly outline the importance of having visually appealing data. While numbers can be dry and dull, video infographics and animations can water down complex data and make it easier for your audience to digest. Renderforest offers a perfect solution to this.
The Bottom Lines
In conclusion, effective business presentations are essential for any organization to succeed in today’s competitive world. By reviewing 10 outstanding examples from world-known companies, we have seen that there are various ways to make your presentations stand out and leave a lasting impression.
However, creating a professional presentation from scratch can be time-consuming and challenging, especially for those who are not design-savvy.
That’s where Renderforest comes in, offering a wide range of editable presentation templates, infographics, and video presentations that are easy to customize and can elevate your business communication game to the next level.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to impress your audience and achieve your business goals with Renderforest’s user-friendly presentation and logo animation maker tools.
Try them out today!
Recommended Reading
- A Guide to Presentation Outline [Infographic]
- How to Make a Pitch Deck for Your Business Idea
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Free Business Templates for PowerPoint and Google Slides
Make your business presentations stand out with these free templates. Perfect for your next pitch, data analysis and ideas.
Download them to use with PowerPoint or edit them in Google Slides and start creating!
Formal B&W free PowerPoint Template and Google Slides Theme Ever feel like you just need a clean slate to get your ideas down? This simple black and white presentation template is perfect for those times. With its classic look, it won’t distract from your content, allowing you to focus on structuring your thoughts […]
Simple and Formal Black & White free presentation template.
Looking to create a modern and engaging marketing presentation? Check out this free flat design marketing template for PowerPoint and Google Slides! This template utilizes a flat and clean aesthetic with geometric shapes and an orange and purple color scheme. It’s perfect for grabbing your audience’s attention and presenting your […]
Flat design Marketing Analysis template, free for PPT and Google Slides.
Launching a new business is exciting! But crafting the perfect introduction to potential customers can take time. This pre-designed template can help you quickly showcase your new venture. This template is easy to customize with your information, logos and images, allowing you to create a professional brochure in no time. […]
Business Brochure / School Newsletter free template for Google Slides and PPT.
Make a lasting impression on your audience with this free and professional PowerPoint template and Google Slides theme. This template has a clean and modern design and features a peach color accent that you can modify easily to match your brand colors or preferences. Whether you’re preparing for a captivating […]
Formal peach free ppt template and Google Slides theme.
Nail your next business pitch without the design fuss! Grab attention with this sleek, minimalist theme for PowerPoint and Google Slides. Let your content shine with clean layouts and minimal distractions. With this free template you can focus on the message: Highlight key points, data, and visuals without overwhelming your audience. A […]
Pitch with Confidence: Free minimalist theme for a powerful business presentation.
Elevate Your Presentations with Earthy Elegance and Sophistication with this free PowerPoint Template and Google Slides Theme. Beth is a stunning free template for Google Slides and PowerPoint, featuring a soothing palette of earthy tones, organic shapes, and leaves. The template is designed to exude a sense of natural elegance […]
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10 Types Of Presentation Styles You Should Know
Have you ever felt like engaging your colleagues during a presentation is a bit of a daunting task? Well, it can be quite challenging, and even more so if you do not have the right strategy and presentation skills . But what if I tell you that finding the right approach is incredibly rewarding?
There are various presentation styles , each designed to inform and entertain in its own way. It’s essential to consider your audience and the topic to determine which style will resonate best. When you tailor your presentation to meet its goals and connect with your colleagues, it becomes more captivating and memorable.
A well-crafted presentation always grabs attention, keeps the interest alive, and leaves a lasting impression. Whether you’re delivering a persuasive pitch or a hands-on demonstration, choosing the right format can make all the difference.
In this blog, we will discover different types of presentation styles and learn how to prepare for a presentation in the workplace.
What are presentation styles?
If you’re gearing up for a presentation, one key element to keep in mind is the different techniques and methods you can use. Presentation style is all about the techniques you use to deliver your speech as a business professional. The ideal style often depends on several factors, including your subject matter, your coworkers, and your approach to explaining concepts.
Sometimes, you might stick to one main style for the entire presentation, while other times, blending different styles can help convey your topic more effectively.
Now let us walk you through over 10 different presentation formats, along with their pros and cons, to help you find the one that fits you best.
10 Types Of Presentation Styles In The Workplace
1. storyteller.
Many presenters choose the storytelling style when they have enough time to dive into their topic. This approach is great for presentations that don’t rely heavily on numbers or statistics.
Storytelling is all about using personal anecdotes and emotions to grab your coworkers’ attention and connect with them. It usually kicks off with a personal story that ties back to the main topic. This style works especially well if you know your audience isn’t as engaged by charts or data.
- Pros : Engaging and relatable; creates an emotional connection.
- Cons : Needs a strong narrative to keep the audience's interest.
2. Visual
This style is all about using visuals to enhance your topic and make your points clearer. Presenters often incorporate charts, images, graphs, and other visual aids to help the audience better grasp the subject. It’s key to strike a good balance between text and visuals to create a well-rounded presentation.
This approach works particularly well if you’re dealing with complex or detailed information that you want your colleagues to understand easily.
- Pros : Captivating and helping clarify complex ideas; aids memory retention .
- Cons : Over-reliance on visuals can overshadow the message.
3. Informative
This presentation style focuses on sharing knowledge and helping your employees understand a specific topic better. Whether you’re tackling something as complex as quantum physics or breaking down the latest social media trends, the goal is to make the information accessible.
When you’re delivering an informative presentation, it’s helpful to simplify tricky concepts using clear visuals and relatable examples. Organize your content in a logical way—start with the basics and gradually dive deeper. And don’t forget to keep jargon to a minimum! Encouraging questions along the way can really help clarify things for everyone.
- Pros : Clear and straightforward; great for sharing essential information.
- Cons : Can be dry if not engaging enough.
4. Persuasive
A persuasive presentation is like a verbal tug-of-war, where the goal is to get your audience to see things from your perspective. You’ll want to back up your points with solid evidence, logical reasoning, and a bit of emotional appeal to really connect.
To make this style effective, it’s crucial to know your audience well and tailor your message to their interests and concerns . Start with a strong opening to grab attention, build a solid argument, and finish with a memorable closing. Plus, using visuals wisely can really help drive your points home!
- Pros : Powerful for influencing opinions and motivating action.
- Cons : Might come off as pushy if not done thoughtfully.
5. Demonstrative
A demonstrative presentation style is all about showing your audience how to do something step by step . It’s a great way to provide clear instructions, helping them replicate the action you’re demonstrating.
This style is especially useful for teaching practical skills or explaining processes in a hands-on way. You’ll often see it used in educational workshops, training sessions , cooking classes, DIY tutorials, tech demos, and more.
- Pros : Hands-on and easy to follow; perfect for teaching skills.
- Cons : Can be time-consuming and requires proper materials.
6. Interactive
This presentation style focuses on engaging the employees right from the start. The speaker often hands out outlines or notes before diving in, which helps everyone follow along. They might also use whiteboards or other visuals to keep things interactive and make the points clearer.
By involving the audience in key talking points throughout the presentation, speakers help them feel connected to the discussion. Plus, having printouts allows attendees to jot down notes or questions, making it easier for them to understand the topic and participate in the conversation. It creates a more collaborative and enjoyable experience for everyone!
- Pros : Keeps the audience involved and alert; encourages participation.
- Cons : Can be challenging to manage if there are too many questions.
7. Instructional
Training presentations are all about teaching practical skills , procedures, or concepts—think of them as the more focused version of demonstration presentations. Whether you’re showing new employees how to use software or guiding aspiring chefs through the art of making a souffle, training presentations aim to turn beginners into experts.
To make your training or instructional presentation as impactful as possible, try breaking down complex concepts into bite-sized pieces. Using real-life examples can really help illustrate your points and make them relatable.
Another great way to engage your audience is by adding interactive elements , like quizzes or group activities . This not only reinforces understanding but also keeps everyone involved and active in the learning process!
- Pros : Ideal for specialized audiences; shows expertise.
- Cons : Can be too complex for general audiences, leading to confusion.
8. Motivational
A motivational presentation is all about inspiring your audience to take action. The speaker often shares stories, analogies, and personal experiences to spark enthusiasm and encourage people to pursue their goals. When done well, these presentations can really lift morale, strengthen team spirit, and drive positive change.
However, it’s crucial to tailor the content to your employees and deliver it in a dynamic, engaging way. If the presentation misses the mark, it might not have the impact you’re hoping for.
- Pros : Boosts morale and can create a sense of unity and purpose.
- Cons : If not tailored to the employees, the message may not resonate and can feel irrelevant.
9. Progress Reports
Using infographics, charts, and diagrams can help present your data visually, making complex information easier to digest. By visualizing your data, it becomes simpler to spot trends, make predictions, and strategize effectively based on solid evidence.
- Pros : Ensures that all team members are on the same page regarding goals and future plans.
- Cons : Focusing too much on challenges can create a negative atmosphere if not balanced with positive updates.
A sales presentation is basically a meeting where a seller showcases their product or service to a potential buyer with the goal of making a sale. These presentations can vary widely, ranging from carefully scripted pitches to more casual, conversational discussions. The main aim is to connect with the buyer and highlight how the product or service can meet their needs.
- Pros : Allows for face-to-face interaction, building rapport and trust with the buyer.
- Cons : There's always the chance that the buyer won't be interested, which can be disheartening.
How to prepare for a presentation?
Once you've identified the type of presentation you're giving, it’s time to explore the methods and techniques for delivering it effectively.
Here are some of the most effective presentation techniques to deliver lively and engaging presentations to the audience.
There are various methods for how you approach a specific task or a problem. These methods cover:
- How do you structure your speech?
- How do you deliver it to the audience?
So here is how you prepare for a presentation once you have analyzed your own presentation style in the workplace:
1. Know Your Audience
Start by thinking about who you’ll be presenting to. What are their interests and concerns? Understanding your audience will help you tailor your message and make it more relevant.
2. Define Your Purpose
What do you want to achieve with your presentation? Are you informing, persuading, or training? Having a clear goal will guide your content and structure.
3. Organize Your Content
Outline the main points you want to cover. A simple structure like an introduction, body, and conclusion works well. Make sure each section flows logically into the next.
4. Use Visual Aids
Consider incorporating visuals like slides, charts, or videos to make your points clearer and keep your audience engaged. Just be sure they complement your message, not distract from it.
5. Practice, Practice, Practice
Rehearse your presentation several times. You can do this in front of a mirror, record yourself, or practice with a friend. Familiarity with your material will boost your confidence.
6. Prepare for Questions
Think about potential questions your audience might have and prepare your answers. This will help you feel more at ease during the Q&A session.
7. Check Your Tech
If you’re using technology, make sure everything works smoothly ahead of time. Test your slides, any equipment, and the room setup to avoid surprises on the day of the presentation.
8. Stay Calm and Confident
On the day of the presentation, take a few deep breaths to calm your nerves. Remember, it’s okay to be a bit nervous—just focus on sharing your knowledge with the audience.
9. Engage with Your Audience
During the presentation, make eye contact, ask questions, and encourage participation. This creates a more interactive experience and keeps everyone involved.
10. Follow Up
After your presentation, consider sending a follow-up email with key takeaways or additional resources. It shows you care about the audience’s understanding and keeps the conversation going.
In Conclusion
Now that you’ve explored the different presentation styles , it’s time to pick one that fits your needs. Which style do you think will resonate best with your audience and achieve your goals?
Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. It really depends on what you want to accomplish, the context of your presentation, and who you’ll be speaking to. If it feels right, consider using visual aids, like PowerPoint, to help convey your message effectively.
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1. What is the best presentation style to use?
The best presentation style depends on your audience and your goals. Consider whether you want to inform, persuade, or engage your colleagues, and choose a style that aligns with that objective. Experimenting with different styles can also help you find what resonates best with your audience.
2. How can I make my presentation more engaging?
To make your presentation engaging, use a mix of storytelling, visuals, and interactive elements. Ask questions, encourage participation, and use relatable examples to connect with your audience. Keeping your energy up and being passionate about your topic also makes a big difference!
3. How do I handle questions during my presentation?
Prepare for questions by anticipating what your audience might ask and having answers ready. During the presentation, encourage questions and create a welcoming atmosphere for discussion. If you don’t know the answer, it’s okay to admit it and offer to follow up later.
4. What are some common mistakes to avoid in presentations?
Common mistakes include overloading slides with text, speaking too fast, or failing to engage the audience. Avoid jargon that your audience may not understand, and ensure your technology works properly before you start. Practicing your delivery can help you feel more confident and polished.
5. How can I improve my public speaking skills?
Improving your public speaking skills takes practice! Rehearse your presentations regularly, and seek feedback from peers. Watching skilled speakers can also provide inspiration and techniques you can incorporate into your own style .
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As an enthusiastic English literature graduate, Chandni enjoys writing as much as a toddler enjoys animation. She discovered her passion for writing and expressing thoughts through this form amidst the nail-biting months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ever since then, she has volunteered in various anthology books that have been published on Amazon. Her experience working on a diverse range of verticals has enabled her to excel in this domain and face new challenges as they come. With a contagious thrill and excitement at the workplace, Chandni embraces wearing different hats and soaks up information like a sponge.
COMMENTS
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