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5 Ways Television Helps Deliver Strong Sales Pitches

Posted on by Rick E

Why do television commercials capture viewers’ attention in thirty seconds or less?

They turn complex ideas into simple concepts, conveying information quickly and concisely using powerful visuals.

TV advertisers know how to maximize restricted time limits, compressing jam-packed details to interpret the message through simplified texts and appropriate visuals.

When it comes to presenters, they focus on how to get their audience’s attention during introductions.

This is where the first three minutes of your performance become crucial.

It’s where your audience judges you as an individual and as a speaker.

To make a good impression, ensure that you capture their interest before you go any further into your sales pitch.

To adapt TV techniques, apply these five stages to become a more powerful and effective presenter:

1. Determine Your Objective

TV commercials become engaging and powerful especially when it comes to convincing viewers.

By using shortened ideas to convey its message, they become effective in generating interest in their audiences.

Before you craft your sales pitch or speech, don’t forget to know its purpose.

Your audience asks themselves how they can benefit from your idea. Thus, base your script on what you can offer them.

2. Develop a Catchy Opening

It’s been said that “the beginning is always the hardest.”

TV commercials are always aiming to generate interest.

As a presenter, it’s important to connect with your audience, keep them engaged, and convince them to take actions.

3. Specify Both the Problem and Its Solution

If you’ll be presenting a problem, don’t forget to provide the solution.

Like TV commercials, use visuals to illustrate something that could appeal to your audience’s emotions.

4. Use Words to Draw a Picture

Your pitch deck slides serve only as your visual aid, not your actual script.

However, you can use words to paint a picture of a scene to your audience, allowing them to imagine what you’re describing.

Visualizing your story helps your listeners better remember the details of your pitch.

5. Incorporate a Story

This technique never gets old.

Telling a story shows human connection, allowing you to relate your story or other person’s experiences to your audience and making them feel involved as you appeal to their emotions.

Conclusion

Applying these techniques help you to develop a more effective pitch.

It allows you to capture your audience’s attention and leave lasting impact on them.

This increases your chances of becoming a better and more powerful presenter the next time you deliver your sales pitch.

To help you craft a more effective pitch deck, let pitchdeck.com experts assist you!

References

Genard, Gary. “Speak with Impact: How to Make Your Case in 30 Seconds or Less.” The Genard Method, January 2, 2013. Accessed June 5, 2015. http://www.genardmethod.com/blog-detail/view/83/speak-with-impact-how-to-make-your-case-in-30-seconds-or-less#.VXIUfM9Viko

Featured Image: “Watch TV Camera Interview TV Human Media Man” by Broadmark on Pixabay

4 Tips on Speaking like a Professional Pitch Deck Presenter

Posted on by Rick E

A well-crafted and rehearsed speech is crucial for an effective professional pitch deck presenter. Once you’ve made your deck, sync up your words with your slides.

Use these four tips to get effective presentation ideas for your speech:

1. Begin with Your Basic Argument

Start with your idea, then build it up. One effective way to give a sales or business presentation is to craft it into a story. From introducing new product clients to reporting your company’s latest market shares to your superiors, narratives are a great way to close a sale or get your recommendations approved.

Once you’ve achieved this, add supporting points to solidify your argument. According to creativity mentor, Luke Sullivan, it’s more effective to put it in a sequence from your first to last points. This will make your pitch easier to follow.

2. Get to the Point

The first three minutes of your presentation are often the most crucial. It may depend on the crowd you’re facing, but for business presentations, once you start talking, get your introductions over and done with, and start your pitch. As speech coach Joey Asher suggests, today’s busy work schedules pull people’s attentions away from your pitch and back towards their own lives and work desks.

Throw in your main point and the reasons why your clients should be invested. If you can be interesting or persuasive from your first lines, do so. Even with ten to fifteen minutes at your disposal, you need to get your audiences hooked from the start. It saves time if a host or emcee will do the introductions for you.

3. Write the Way You Talk

If a conversational tone works best for presentations, then writing the way you talk gives you a more persuasive speech. A smooth and easy rhythm makes you sound more natural and easier to understand.

Stick with the rules of grammar to sound professional and use your adjectives wisely. Be clear about the features and points you’ll be talking about. Remember: you’re selling something.

4. Add Your Brand’s Personality

As a presenter, you are the representative of your company and your brand. One trick to bring in your brand’s voice is to find out its own distinct personality. Try to describe it in one adjective or in one word if you can.

This allows you to put your proposal on a different level away from the competition, making it stick long enough in your client’s minds for a possible second look. If you want people to invest in you, give off a presentable image and follow through with convincing reasons. The first step is to make your sales presentation different and effective.

To get your presentation speech and presentation to the level of the pros, take a few minutes to get in touch with us for free!

References

Asher, Joey. “For Presentations, Half As Long Is Twice As Good.” Fast Company. December 20, 2012. Accessed August 17, 2015.
“Craft Your Corporate Presentations into a Great Story.” pitchdeck.com, May 15, 2015. Accessed August 17, 2015.
Sullivan, Luke. Hey, Whipple, Squeeze This: A Guide to Creating Great Ads. 3rd ed. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons, 2008.

3 Ad Agency Tips for Better Pitch Deck Visual Designs

Posted on by Rick E

There are three elements to consider in pitch deck visual designs: a slide title, an image, and a caption (or body text). Using any of the elements is the key to making an effective sales pitch. To make a proper combination of these, here are three tips to follow:

1. Something Needs to Be the Star

Effective pitch deck slides, like print ads, use what creativity mentor Luke Sullivan calls one dominant element. It can be a large piece of text, a big visual, or even white space. Regardless of the combination you choose, make one of these the first thing that your audiences see once the slide comes up on screen. Will your slide need a dominant picture? Will you highlight one big word?

Pick one tactic, and make the rest of the elements work in tandem with it to get your point across faster to your audience.

2. Establish Your Own Look

Sullivan suggests that every brand has its own look, a distinct personality. Macs are simplistic. BMW’s are cool. Nike products are sporty, and Volkswagens are practical. To establish your own image, look to your own company’s brand.

Can you tag an encompassing description for it? How would you like your clients and customers to see it?

Being different in terms of pitch deck design means making a unique slide and presentation style. This makes your pitch more memorable, letting clients associate your product with your own company. Once this happens, your competitors will have a hard time trying to outsell you without looking like you.

3. Try to Be Cute or Funny (Only If the Idea Calls for It)

There are times when your pitch idea gives you room to be adorable (if you’re pitching for pet or baby products, for example). This was an approach used by the print ads of Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and Hansaplast Anti-Sweat Foot Spray.

Always try to take a backward spin on such opportunities. This makes your proposed product more noticeable and, possibly, more appealing to clients. As a word of caution, doing this relies on very specific “ifs”:

If your pitch idea calls for it, as with the case of the SPCA and Hansaplast foot spray ads, or if you have time for it, similar to how Steve Jobs showed a gag iPhone image before showing the actual iPhone in 2007.

Summing It Up

Mastering all three tips is something that happens over the course of several pitches. Emphasize one thing in your slide so that your audience has something to focus on. Create a unique look for your brand so that you won’t be mistaken for anybody else.

Lastly, you can try to add a humorous or cute spin, but only if you can justify this tactic. Once you’ve gotten the hang of these, people will start remembering your pitch, enough for you to start seeing an increase in sales.

To help you get a grasp of them faster, get in touch with a pitch deck design specialist for free!

References

Coloribus.com. Accessed August 14, 2015.
Sullivan, Luke. Hey, Whipple, Squeeze This: A Guide to Creating Great Ads. 3rd ed. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons, 2008.

3 Title Slide Tips for Great Pitch Decks

Posted on by Rick E

Though we’re told not to, our basic instinct is still to judge a book by its cover. First impressions last, and bad ones are harder to shake off. Even if you want to assume the best in your audience, it pays to make your slides leave lasting impact from the get-go.

Here are three ways to spice up your introductory slides:

1. Come Up With a Memorable Title

Like with books and movies, your success rests heavily on your deck’s title. A good title is short but memorable, while embodying your pitch deck’s main theme and core message.

Creative use of analogy or metaphor can further complement your message. It’s also important to have a variety of choices. Instead of tinkering with one title and changing the words around, write down many different ideas to give yourself more to choose from. Your title tells your audience what your pitch deck is about, allowing them to better prepare themselves to receive your message, and to respond well to your pitch.

2. Use a Visually Arresting Image

When you’re expected to keep the amount of text down to a minimum, you can’t afford to go all out with descriptions in your very first slide, can you? A single photograph, illustration, or graphic will do.

You don’t have to fill the whole space with one image. Applying the rule of thirds and leaving white space to relax the audience’s gaze will make your title slide look more refined and tasteful. With the help of your title, the image can easily connect with your audience.

3. Put Your Logo in There

It’s important to have your logo as one of the first things your audience will see. After all, the logo is the ideal visual representation of your company story. This is especially true if you have some solid brand equity in your sleeves.

If you wish, you can use it in place of your name and company, further lessening the amount of text in your opening slide. There’ll be multiple chances for you to be properly introduced throughout your speech. You can even animate your logo to increase the impact.

Summing It Up

The best works of literature can transcend lazy design and still deliver despite an appalling cover. When too much rests on the line, however, make sure you’ve got it perfectly from the very beginning. Make your title appropriate for your pitch, but unique enough that people will remember what it was called even months after it’s over.

When you don’t have the luxury of a high word count, use strong visuals to make your point instead. Lastly, your pitch is all about what you company can offer, so don’t forget to put your company logo in your title slide so that your audiences will instantly see it as soon as you begin presenting.

With a great start, you’ll definitely get excellent results. The more your audience remembers your great pitch decks, the more likely they’ll call you up and seal a business deal with you.

References

Evele, Nathalie. “Is It Human Nature to Judge?” Centre for Journalism. May 7, 2013. Accessed August 14, 2015.
“PowerPoint Lesson: The Rule of Thirds in Slide Design.” pitchdeck.com. November 10, 2014. Accessed August 14, 2015.

4 Phrases to Avoid Saying in Your Business Pitch

Posted on by Rick E

While most presenters focus more on the content’s message, they neglect things like repetitive phrases and audience distractions during their business pitch. As a presenter, you might have heard that these practices indicate a lack of practice and preparation. Every presenter’s desire is to engage his audience when delivering his business pitch.

As a speaker, your goal is to capture and keep their attention to convince them to listen throughout the pitch and learn from your topic. To achieve this, avoid these four phrases when addressing your audience:

1. “You probably can’t read this, but…”

Saying this phrase shows that you lack preparation and priority. Your job is to double check your pitch deck slides prior to your pitch date. Leadership trainer Kevin Eikenberry suggests that you prevent this from happening since it gives your audience a negative impression of you and your pitch.

The next time you present, make sure that your slide texts are readable so that you don’t end up mumbling an excuse like this.

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2. “As you can clearly see…”

This is the opposite of the first statement, but it’s just as off-putting. Though your audience can view what you project on-screen, it’ll be much better to explain it in your own words. Since your pitch deck acts as your visual aid, make them understand what you’re trying to visualize and point out important details so they can clearly see your ideas.

3. “I didn’t really have time to prepare, but…”

Saying this to your audience convinces them that they shouldn’t be interested in your pitch. While it’s true that there are times you’ll appear unprepared, it’s still better not to mention this during your actual performance.

Your last resort is to give your best in conveying your subject matter’s main idea. This also teaches you to be ready the next time you conduct your pitch.

4. “I have a lot of information to cover, so…”

Saying this runs the risk of making your audience want to sleep. All this gets across is that you’ll be bombarding them with too much information. To avoid this, include only the most significant points that you want your audience to recall and provide them with a clear and concise pitch. Don’t place text-heavy slides on your deck to avoid losing their interest.

This also prevents you from going beyond your allotted time which shows that you respect them and their time.

Conclusion

You might be well-prepared for your pitch, but you could still commit some mistakes during your performance. However, it’s better to fail, knowing that you’ve done your best rather than failing without doing your part. An effective presenter is someone who sees even the little things that can affect or influence their pitch at some point.

This is the kind of speaker who values his audience and focuses on achieving his desired goal – to deliver his message that’s beneficial to them. To achieve a more effective pitch deck, let pitchdeck.com experts help you out!

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References

http://blog.kevineikenberry.com/leadership-supervisory-skills/eight-things-not-to-say-during-a-presentation/
http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/10-things-speakers-should-never-say-th.html

Featured Image: “Phrases Magnified Dictionary Text Lookup Search” by PDPics on Pixabay

Professional Pitch Deck Designers and Cost-Effective Results

Posted on by Rick E

PowerPoint has become a standard in today’s business communications. It’s used in any type of industry, from startups to big-scale. Although it helps convey messages, professionals tend to use this tool by following a standardized format: stagnation.

A stagnant medium means everything looks the same. Everyone starts to rely on templates, and no one stands out. While PowerPoint’s user-friendliness makes it easy to create slides for any type of pitch deck, that also makes it more susceptible to uninspired decks.

However, there are some experts in the field who are equipped with the proper skills and knowledge to pull off a stunning deck for their clients. Availing the services of these professional PowerPoint designers can help you rise above the rest. Here’s why:

Professional Slides Make You Look Good

A team of dedicated and experienced designers, copywriters, and marketing consultants give you the best pitch deck possible, ensuring you always look your best. Designs are custom-made to suit your company’s needs, while still being in line with your image and branding.

With this important responsibility off your shoulders, you can breathe easily and concentrate on your responsibilities as the presenter.

Save Time and Money

Having a professional team means you can get your slides whenever you need them.

If you’re usually in charge of making your own slides, you can instead put your efforts into something more productive. If you’re in charge of a team, you won’t have to disrupt the process or wait for a member to be free to start your deck.

Having to occasionally design pitch decks in-house disrupts an employee’s regular workflow. According to Demand Media’s George Root III well-planned task delegation is necessary for more efficient work output. This means that you need experts in the specific fields for faster, optimized work.

Outsourcing a team of professionals on standby means your people can concentrate on what they do best: working to further improve your product or service. With disturbances gone, office efficiency is boosted, saving both time and money.

Increase Returns

Nothing beats output done by experts. When you hire professional pitch deck designers, your deck’s quality will always match that of your company’s, allowing you to convert more opportunities into revenue and making your business grow.

Amazingly well-made decks ensure consistent positive feedback, maximizing returns for you and your company.

Conclusion

No matter how good of a presenter you are, you’ll always need a pitch deck that reflects your skill and talent, as well as those of your team and your company’s brand message.

Though they have become too standard for their own good, pitch decks are still your gateway to effective business communication. Hire a professional pitch deck designer now and make your business stand out.

Still unconvinced? Contact us now, and let our team of professional pitch deck designers change your mind.

References

Root, George. “Importance of Teamwork at Work.” Chron. Accessed July 24, 2015.

How Much is a Professional Pitch Deck Design Worth?

Posted on by Rick E

“How much will a professional pitch deck design set me back?”

We hear this question a lot. Because of the program’s user-friendliness and the misconception that substance trumps design, presenters often misuse PowerPoint and come up with slides that bore their audience to death. The presentation tool has been constantly evolving and coming up with new features to make creating a more engaging deck easier even for the most unversed users.

At the same time, the cost of investing in one expertly-made deck can reap plenty of returns. Let’s talk about what you can get for three different pricing selections, from low to high.

Budget-Friendly (USD 1,000 to USD 5,000)

A budget-friendly pitch deck design is ideal for businesses with limited funds. This affordable package fall into two categories—a simple redesign of an existing deck, or a completely new yet bare-bones deck.

You won’t get subpar quality despite its low price range. You’ll still get the best out of your content, and a fleshed out deck states your purpose and speaks for your brand. However, don’t expect a lot of flourishes, animations, or additional branding advice

A professional pitch deck design is an investment. Don’t settle for less.

If you’re ready to go to the next level, the next price point might be more appropriate for your needs.

Fine-Tuned (USD 5,000 to USD 15,000)

As most clients’ choice, it’s a versatile service that meets most business needs, big or small.

More slides cost more time and effort. The wider price range has a bigger chance of optimally meeting your pitch deck needs. Costs in this price range depend on the amount of copywriting, design, and multimedia efforts you’ll request. If you need more, you’ll get more.

Have a bigger budget than this? Let’s go above and beyond the usual pitch decks and dive into the best of the best.

All-In (USD 15,000 to USD 50,000)

This range includes multi-deck projects and large decks with more than a hundred slides. You get a lot of value with expertly-designed slides that don’t pull any creative punches while maximizing both graphical and written content.

If you’re a start-up looking to break the mold, this package provides a complete branding overhaul that exceeds a standard pitch deck’s limitations. You can also get a library of custom-designed ready-to-use slides. Get your money’s worth and more with this great investment. All it takes is one big push to get the ball rolling.

You need to spend money to make money. Talk to a pitch deck specialist and find out what best fits your need for a professional pitch deck design. Contact us now for a free quote!

References

“How to Avoid ‘death by PowerPoint‘.” BBC News. December 18, 2015. Accessed July 27, 2015.

2 Ad Agency Tips to Address Sales Pitch Risks

Posted on by Rick E

Every business activity has its risks. Marketing campaigns may not get needed profits, and clients reject proposals for advertisements.

Each pitch is an investment and a risk. You spend time putting together information, buying market data prominent research agencies, or hiring a professional pitch deck designer to put it together for you. There’ll always be resources to invest in, all to get your client’s approval.

How do you convince clients to risk investing in you?

In his book Cutting Edge Advertising, Jim Aitchison writes about how ad agencies tackle this problem by taking a fresh idea and a different way of selling products from the competition. To challenge the risks of giving a sales pitch, listen to your consumers, then propose a new message that uses what you learned.

1. Listen to Your Clients

Everyone has a story to tell, even consumers.

Effective advertising and marketing strategies are based on how a brand’s consumer base behaves. Getting to know how the consumers feel, what their stories are and how to respond to them are all crucial parts of crafting relevant messages that sell.

Clients are no different. Consulting them before planning your pitch deck lets you know what your clients need from you. What are the business objectives they need to fulfill? What are their cost concerns, implementation and estimated profits?

2. Take the Creative Step

Take that information, match it with your most relevant offer and present it in a fresh and interesting manner. Guide presentation techniques about time and slide limits with your data.

As Aitchison writes: “Present something the audience will recognize as themselves, their lives, their dreams, but with a twist, so they are actually startled by it, or will get an extra insight from it”. Great examples of this technique he cited include the Nike Shox TV ad and Steve Jobs’ introduction of the iPod Nano in 2005.

What to Take From This

Everything will have risks, especially with your business and sales presentation.

Identifying these risks gives you time to plan in advance. Knowing what to expect, how to talk to your clients and how to pitch your products in an interesting pitch deck makes all the difference. A small moment of your time saves you from the usual headaches of making a winning sales pitch.

It’s an investment worth making, and a risk worth taking. Talk to the right people to get you started.

References

Apple Music Special Event 2005-The iPod Nano Introduction. Apple History Channel. Accessed July 27, 2015.
2000 Vince Carter Nike SHOX Commercial/Jumping Over Gary Payton. YouTube. Accessed July 27, 2015. 
Aitchison, J. Cutting Edge Advertising: How to Create the World’s Best Print for Brands in the 21st Century. Singapore; New York: Prentice Hall, 2004.

3 Crucial Pointers for Making Effective Sales Pitches

Posted on by Rick E

In every sales pitch, offering new products changes how clients see three things: their problem, your company and your pitch. According to Cutting Edge Advertising author, Jim Aitchison, “Disruption” is an advertising method which involves presenting your idea as the solution to dismantle the status quo and replace it with something new.

Clients have objections relating to costs, time and your proposals’ reliability. Break these barriers to change their perceptions. Every business presentation’s goal is to convince clients to take the risk of investing in your idea.

1. Prove That You can Change the Status Quo

Change how your clients see their problem by presenting an opportunity to solve it. Apple iPhone users relied on wall sockets to charge their phones. The Samsung Galaxy S5’s commercial challenged this with its improved power-saving mode and interchangeable batteries. It dismantled the status quo despite directly attacking the iPhone.

Make a strong statement by studying your current industry and competition for any weaknesses you can exploit.

2. Change How Clients See Your Company

With several other companies pitching ideas, show what makes you unique. Offer your best advantage over the competition. Back up your claims with numbers.

Have you made notable profits? Are your solutions more cost-efficient than others? Prove that your idea’s worth investing in. Brand communications expert Carmine Gallo suggests that entrepreneurs show investors that you can compete with major market players. Explain what the numbers mean for them.

3. Change How Clients See Your Pitch

Because clients look for proof that you deliver, make your pitch convincing with past cases of your success. Have you made any notable achievements? Are there other companies that can testify that you deliver your promise?

Your pitch has a higher approval rate if you offer proof, if your promises are consistent with what your company does, and if you show that other clients are satisfied. These address any objections you’ll face.

The Bottom Line

Changing perceptions involves showing proof that you can spark said changes.

In business and sales pitches, point out how to solve the problem and how you plan to do it. Then, convince your clients that your company can consistently deliver. This proves that clients can trust your company to get the most out of their investment.

To learn more about making sales presentation strong enough to convince clients, talk to the right people.

References

“Ad Agency Tricks: Outsell Competitors in Sales Presentations.” pitchdeck.com, 2015. Accessed July 23, 2015.
Aitchison, J. Cutting Edge Advertising: How to Create the World’s Best Print for Brands in the 21st Century. Singapore; New York: Prentice Hall, 2004.
Gallo, C. The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010.
Samsung Galaxy S5. Samsung Mobile. Accessed July 23, 2015.

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