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How Printed Handouts Benefit Your Business Pitch

While most presenters focus on making effective pitch deck presentations, handouts are also essential tools for clearly understanding topics.

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Handouts aren’t suited for all situations like inspirational talks, for example. Business pitches, however, require more complex information and data. In this case, provide your audience with hard copies that summarize your message.

What’s Inside?

Handouts should reflect your overall business pitch, but don’t print out all your slides. Include only what is relevant—plan what your handouts should contain and only include keywords which drive your main points.

Explaining everything in one sitting might lose your audience’s interest because they’re burdened with too much information.

At the same time, presentation trainer Olivia Mitchell encourages the use of white space in handouts to let audience members write down any important questions or ideas they have while you deliver.

Instead of separating you from them, it actually helps you engage them more.

How Is It Important?

Handouts are great for business pitch decks that demand detailed explanations, especially when you’re maximizing your time while presenting your ideas.

While this isn’t a prerequisite when you do a pitch, it’s one way of making it more memorable for your audience.

Though practice and preparation prevent you from forgetting some of your key points, it’s still significant to give time for making your handout to avoid leaving your audience hanging.

When Should You Give Handouts?

Give them out before, during, or after your pitches. Each time period has its pros and cons.

Providing handouts beforehand might make them think they don’t need to listen to your pitch since they already have the information. They can also be distracted reading your handouts instead of paying attention to your speech.

But if you do choose to distribute before the pitch, let your handouts serve as a guide, not a distraction.

On the other hand, giving handouts during the pitch lets you interact with your audience and makes them feel involved. People can write down their ideas and notes on these interactive handouts, making them feel more invested in what you have to say.

If you choose to distribute handouts after the pitch, advise your audience before you begin. Inform them that you’ll provide a summary, so they won’t be distracted by listing down complex data or facts.

It’s not an issue at what point in your pitches you distribute your handouts. What’s important is that you engage and capture your audience’s attention.

Knowing your handouts’ benefits makes your pitch more memorable. They can be kept for future reference since they’re printed materials, helping your audiences remember your company after your pitch.

Giving your audience something to review lets them recall your pitch deck’s key message. pitchdeck.com can help you craft printed materials containing stand-out texts and visuals.

Take a look at our portfolio, or contact us. All it takes is fifteen minutes.

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References

13 Best Practice Tips for Effective Presentation Handouts.” Speaking about Presenting. Accessed June 5, 2015.
A Quick Guide to Pitch Deck Handouts.” pitchdeck.com Pitch Deck Design & Presentation Experts. 2014. Accessed June 5, 2015.
Using Handouts.” Total Communication. Accessed June 5, 2015.

4 Components for Planning Speeches Like Pitch Experts

According to communicologist Eugene White (1960), there are four interrelated components for presentations: speaker, speech, audience, and occasion. These help pitch experts plan their pitch deck content and assist speakers with their actual discussion.

It’s hard to talk about these principles in the order you should tackle them. That’s why the concepts speak for interrelationship or connecting one to another.

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Determine as much as you can from each factor to focus your speech and make you sound more credible and convincing.

The Speaker

Think of yourself as a speaker. Do you talk fast or slow? Do you use a lot of technical terms? Do you find it easy to get along with people you’ve just met?

Before preparing a deck outline or storyboard, examine yourself. Familiarize yourself with your strengths and weaknesses; focus on finding your comfort zone to decide which parts should be best highlighted or discussed in a more in-depth manner.

Knowing yourself lets you set your pitch deck’s direction. If you’re more outgoing, start with a good joke. If you’re more to the point, begin with a poignant statistic.

The Speech

The language you use should fit your audience and the occasion. Imagine speaking about the common cold to a group composed only of children. Would you use terms lifted straight from a medical textbook? Your choice of words in slides and speech decides if you’ll be seen as boring and uninspired or interesting and rousing.

Once you have information on the other factors, adjust the amount of time you spend per slide. This affects your flow greatly, and also relies on what you can learn regarding the two remaining factors.

The Audience

Check up on your audience to identify important details you’ll need in your pitch deck.

These can include age, gender, number, educational background, group affiliation, nationality, and culture. These factors let you determine your approach’s formality and technicality.

You can determine a lot of things from simply checking up on your audience. Finding out audience size also lets you decide how intimate you should be with your pitch.

A larger audience will have to need a broader approach. Be aware of local cultural norms to avoid embarrassing situations that ruin your credibility.

The Occasion

Knowing the occasion narrows down your speech’s objectives. Know the event’s basic nature, time, and venue.  The event’s nature clues you in on the goals you’ll set for yourself.

The engagement’s actual starting and allotted time decides your speech and deck length. Be conscious of recent events, use good news, and avoid referencing recent tragedies.

Knowing the venue also clues you in on how formal your speech should be. How you dress up in a hotel function room is different from how you would in a smaller auditorium.

Interrelatedness may seem difficult, but simply writing plans on a piece of paper sets you on the right track. Getting everything down sets your pitch’s tone, purpose, formality, and its overall message.

It’s easy to understand and even easier to get right. If you’re looking for people who can get it done right away, then our pitch deck experts are ready to help.

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References

Public Speaking: The Basics.” Speaking in the Disciplines. Accessed June 3, 2015.
White, Eugene. Practical Speech Fundamentals. New York: The McMillan Co, 1960.

How Lecterns Help or Hinder Your Marketing Pitch

Presenters have been trained to eliminate all personal anxieties in order to engage the audience. However, they rarely notice physical nonverbal speech barriers such as lecterns. These are traditionally used as stands to place your notes on. However, it can keep you from grabbing your audience’s attention and building a connection with them.

Why do most effective public speakers never use it? Can it be used effectively?

The answer is, lecterns can help or hinder your marketing pitches, depending on how and when you use it.

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Pros and Cons

Most politicians use lecterns in formal settings because it lets them project authority.

Even pastors use lecterns to hold their notes, bibles, and other sermon materials. But they don’t stay there all the time. For example, Joel Osteen, the Houston’s Lakewood Church’s famous pastor, never stays behind the lectern. He maintains eye contact and interacts with the audience, walking around the stage without looking at his notes.

For some public speakers, lecterns block them off from their viewers, preventing full engagement. This physical barrier keeps the crowd from seeing the presenter’s body language, non-verbal cues, posture and gestures.

Proper Use of Lecterns

Staying behind a lectern is different from standing behind it occasionally. Sometimes, you have to stand behind it due to its built-in mic and limited stage space. Other times, lecterns are unnecessary in venues such as conference rooms. Whether you can freely move around or are stuck in one place, involve your listeners by keeping eye contact no matter where you go.

Conclusion

Staying away from the lectern increases your chances of connecting with your audience. They’re also more likely to listen because they see you standing openly in front of them.

No matter where you deliver your marketing pitches, practice and prepare your speech so you can deliver your message without looking at your notes back at the lectern.

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References

Donovan, J. “How To Speak Behind A Lectern.” SpeakingSherpa. 2012. Accessed July 3, 2015.
Public Speaking.” Atlantic International University. Accessed June 3, 2015.

Add Rhythm to Your Pitch with Hand Gestures

Gesturing comes naturally in pitches. Hand gestures are nonverbal cues that convey your enthusiasm while communicating a hidden story.

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Let’s look at four common hand movements—palm up, palm down, precision grip, and power grip.

Palm Up

Uplifted palms connote humility and sincerity. As Brad Phillips writes in Mr. Media Training, Allan and Barbara Pease’s The Definitive Book of Body Language features the positive reception of the palm-up position compared to other gestures.

Speaking with your palms up is not only useful during actual discussion but also when reaching out to your audience. This works better than pointing your finger at them for questions and opinions. Use this gesture to look appealing and friendly.

Palm Down

The palm-down cues a more domineering and assertive tone. This position is ideal in situations where something is being denied and negated. You can also use this when making a stand. To bring your audience closer to your point of view, just place your hands down, facing towards your chest. This move communicates your desire to persuade your listeners.

Precision Grip

According to body language research pioneer, Desmond Morris, the role of the precision grip is to “mark the points of emphasis in a speech.” Put the thumb and forefinger together to emphasize the points being discussed.

Use grips when stating facts, describing your argument’s delicate points, and highlighting important details.

Power Grip

A grasp or a power grip is similar to the precision grip, but it uses the whole hand, with fingers firmly spread and bent either facing to your audience or onto yourself.

The power grip is the nonverbal way of saying, “I’m holding on to something and I want you to understand it.” Use this to give your audience a better grip on a problem you’re explaining.

Your hand gestures dramatically alter how your audience listens to you. These body movements imply authority, sincerity, humility, and other emotions required to command attention.

Use these to sound confident and conversational during your pitch. With enough practice, you’ll be landing big sales with simple gestures in no time.

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References

Can You Become 56 Percent Better At Presenting–Instantly?Mr Media Training. Accessed June 2, 2015.
Morris, Desmond. “Baton Signals.” Peoplewatching. London: Vintage, 2002.

How to Use Body Language Like a Pitch Expert

People communicate not only with words but with small actions like smiling, raising eyebrows, hand gestures, and other non-verbal cues.

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Words aren’t enough to effectively convey your intended message. Use body language like a pitch expert to deliver a successful pitch deck.

Defining Body Language

Non-verbal gestures are quiet, but they add impact to sales pitches. Posture, gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact contribute greatly to expressing and complementing your main idea.

In your next corporate meeting, use these non-verbal cues to reinforce your pitch skills.

Why It’s Important

Body language speaks louder than words. In fact, Albert Mehrabian’s 7%-38%-55% rule states that non-verbal communication covers about 90% of overall messages’ impact. Spoken words influence your audience the least.

Your audience judges your physical behavior because it reveals your character and signifies your intent. Align your body language with your message to display authority and influence.

How It Helps You

Here’s how each of the typical signals affects your viewers:

Eye Contact

Never discount the value of looking into your listeners’ eyes to connect with them. This makes your audience feel that they’re involved and also shows that you trust them and have nothing to hide. This is useful when giving and receiving feedback or prompting others to speak.

Posture

Good posture indicates competence and confidence. Stand up straight yet relaxed, and avoid slouching or hunching over. This shows that you’re in control while also expressing friendliness, positivity, and even detachment when needed.

Hand Gestures

Your palm has the power to persuade your audience. Use an open palm together with fingers toward the audience to express sincerity. Face your palm backwards with fingers upward for persuading. Use a precision grip with your index finger and thumb together for emphasizing key points, or a power fist for grasping an issue.

Go above and beyond the spoken or written language with nonverbal communication. Even the simplest body movements, such as glancing at your audience, gesturing with your hand, or standing up straight, give your pitch implicit meanings.

Be cautious about your body language and use only those actions that’ll support your content and delivery. With enough practice, you’ll be able to land those sales with one word and one gesture.

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References

Mehrabian’s Communication Research.” Business Balls. Accessed June 2, 2015.

Canons of Rhetoric: Applying Arrangement to Pitch Decks

We’ve discussed the canons of rhetoric and examined invention’s importance in public speaking.

This post focuses on the second canon—arrangement.

In Classical Roman oration, arrangement is organizing a speech to maximize persuasiveness. This process of forming a coherent speech structure can be applied to any pitch deck presentation.

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If you’ve survived the invention phase, then this canon won’t give you trouble. Let’s talk about how to organize your argument the rhetoricians’ way.

Exordium: Introducing Your Speech

All speeches begin with introductions—stating your purpose and establishing your credibility. Tell your audience what your message is about and why it’s important. Your introduction may sometimes require storytelling to make your material more convincing while reinforcing an element of fun.

Narratio: Stating the Facts

Follow up your introduction by stating supporting facts, or further information on your topic. Narrating fact-based examples back up your argument, making it more persuasive. If you hook your audiences with your introduction, this is where you reel them in.

Partitio: Dividing Your Topic

According to the Roman rhetorician Quintilian, this is where you streamline your key points. This is your argument’s outline—the trail that your audience follows. This gives them an idea on how long your speech will take. Listeners always look for clues to find out if you’re worth their time.

Confirmatio: Proving Your Argument

The proof stage is the life of your pitch deck. Have you ever read a good story and expected a great ending, only to be let down because the ending doesn’t make sense? The elements for a good story were there; they just weren’t properly connected. That’s why you present and construct arguments that stem directly from your earlier stated facts.

Refutatio: Refuting Yourself

There will always be ideas that contradict yours. This is where you refute these counterarguments. Admit your argument’s flaws while assuring that they’re solvable or relatively insignificant. This shows that you’re human and lets you gain your audience’s sympathy and trust.

Peroratio: Concluding Your Speech

End your discussion with a potent conclusion. Don’t simply restate what you’ve already said. Make your ending meaningful by leaving a call to action that encapsulates your narrative, reasons, and explanations. This is your last and most important chance to leave a lasting impact.

The rhetorical canon of arrangement gives your speech good structure. If you’ve arranged your ideas in the right order, your audience will easily follow and understand your message.

Master this canon and the rest of your business pitch decks will not only make more sense but will also land you more sales and approvals.

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References

McKay, Brett, and Kate McKay. “Five Canons of Rhetoric: Arrangement.” The Art of Manliness. 2011. Accessed June 2, 2015.

Overcome Anxiety Like These Famous Pitch Deck Experts

Warren Buffett isn’t the only person to suffer from stage fright. Famous people like Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, and Joel Osteen all experienced the jitters while presenting to a crowd.

Their pitch anxiety didn’t stop them from reaching the peaks of their careers. Instead, they used it to motivate themselves to keep improving.

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If these famous figures overcame their fear of public speaking, so can you. Stop anxiety by inspiring yourself with their stories.

Why were they afraid?

The reality is that many people struggle with performance anxiety. First, understand why you’re getting goosebumps before you can tame it. Let’s see if you share the roots of your fears with these famous pitch deck experts.

Winston Churchill is notable for his tenure as head of the British parliament. He’s admitted one flaw in his momentous career—he got frightened each time he delivered a speech. This stems from a particular speech impediment that makes him mispronounce the letter ‘s.’

The great American orator, Abraham Lincoln, had also experienced speech anxiety. This occurred when he was invited by the Republican political committee to deliver a keynote speech in New Jersey. Afraid of criticism, he abruptly declined the request.

Joel Osteen was famed for his devotional preaching in the United States. His evangelical mission started when his father died, leaving him no choice but to take over. This frightened him the week before his first sermon in 1999. He feared being negative compared to this father.

How did they overcome it?

Let’s look at how these prominent people conquered their public speaking anxiety:

Winston Churchill refused to see his speech impediment as a hindrance. He believed that there was nothing to fear but fear itself. He consulted a speech specialist and was advised to improve his speech with practice and perseverance. Afterwards, Churchill finally had the urge to overcome his anxiety. His unbridled enthusiasm helped immensely. He spent hours researching and rehearsing to ensure his best speech delivery.

“You are what you think,” Abraham Lincoln said. He reassured that his negative imagination towards himself was wrong and simply alienated him from effectively delivering his speech. Have you also felt this even once? Do not fear public speaking.

When Joel Osteen overheard negative comments about himself, he thought that he wasn’t good enough. He described himself as a horrible public speaker. He eventually used these labels as words of encouragement and empowerment, and eventually grew confident in speaking. “Wrong labels can keep you from your destiny,” he said.

Everybody gets stage fright, even reputable historical speakers. The next time you’re scared of being shamed, think of these public speakers’ horror stories. Let them guide you in curing your pitch anxiety and become a public speaking expert.

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References:

Lampton, Bill. “How Professional Speakers Control Their Stage Fright.” Business Know-How. Accessed June 1, 2015.
Presentation Skill: Using Nervousness to Your Advantage.” pitchdeck.com, July 3, 2015. Accessed June 1, 2015.

Save Time and Effort: 3 Reasons to Use Pitch Deck Templates

A personalized pitch deck always gets the job done, but what if you suddenly need a brand new deck ASAP? There’s a secret weapon to finish your slides before the deadline: custom pitch deck templates.

Don’t let the term fool you, as they don’t need to look bare-as-bones, uninspired, and boring.

They still come in variations that are tailored to different needs.

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According to LogoYes founder, John Williams, creating a recognizable company brand requires you to project the image you want clients to associate with your company in all customer touchpoints. This includes your company logo, tagline, and yes—even pitch deck templates.

Making use of templates allows you to reflect your company brand on the slide, and are available for repurposing when unpredictable deadlines strike.

They save time.

Pre-designed slide sets save you hours by not needing to worry about what goes into them.

After deciding on your content, you can plug it into a ready-made deck and run with it, giving you more time to polish your writing. Just make sure not to put too much text on your slides.

They offer consistency.

Speedy pitch deck creation isn’t the only advantage of using templates.

These also ensure visual consistency, making your slides look professional. With quality in mind, every detail exists to speak best to an audience, keeping unnecessary fluff out.

However, don’t equate consistency with dullness.

There are many existing custom slides to fill different communication and storytelling niches. Pick one that best matches your general need.

Afterwards, change small details such as the colors and arrangement to better reflect your branding and intended message.

They can be repurposed.

Templates are well-made with flexibility in mind, making them applicable to varying values and visions, as well as differing purposes and assignments.

One won’t suit all occasions, but can be repurposed for future emergencies.

Anyone can finish a pitch deck within a few hours, but truly polished decks take more time. Well-customized templates are investments that ensure better results. Always prepare for emergency situations with custom pitch deck templates.

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References:

Williams, John. “The Basics of Branding.” Entrepreneur. 2005. Accessed June 1, 2015.

Make Your Sales Pitch Deck a Spreadsheet-Free Zone

We’ve previously discussed how to include numbers in your sales pitch deck. Now, let’s concentrate on one of the points we made then: that spreadsheets shouldn’t be in your pitch deck.

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Spreadsheets don’t belong in your slides because they show information without communicating meaningfully. According to keynote speaker, Dave Paradi, spreadsheets are inefficient and confusing communication tools, but these are great for analyzing numbers, doing calculations, and comparing numerical information.

Here are convincing reasons to never paste spreadsheets into your slides again:

Unnecessary Numbers

It’s easy to feel that you have to include all the numbers and statistics, especially given the amount of effort it takes to gather and interpret data.

Adding more than you need will always distract instead of inform.

Don’t saturate your slides with numbers. Keep it limited to the ones that directly contribute to the story or message you’re trying to tell.

You can remove 75% of all numbers in your pitch deck, and your overall message’s efficiency and appeal won’t suffer, meaning you can completely do away with a spreadsheet.

Replace the Sheets

Spreadsheets are an analytical tool, not a communication tool. They are the means to the end, not the other way around.

A farmer wouldn’t open selling his crops by bragging about his tractor.

A presenter shouldn’t rely on spreadsheets to tell his story.

Don’t show them the method. Show them the results and your interpretation of the data.

Use graphs to show trends and patterns over a period of time, charts to compare different numbers, and diagrams to illustrate processes and flows.

Conclusion

There’s little reason to use spreadsheets in your deck. Given there are alternatives to portraying and explaining numbers, turn your sales pitch decks into a spreadsheet-free zone.

Spreadsheets are a means to collect and interpret your data, not to organize and present your message. The next time you’re up to design a sales deck, avoid putting in an inappropriate tool that confuses instead of informs.

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References

“Eliminate 75% of the Numbers.” Think Outside The Slide. 2013. Accessed May 28, 2015.
How to Illustrate Data in Financial Pitch Deck Presentations.” pitchdeck.com. 2014. Accessed May 28, 2015.
Spreadsheets Don’t Belong on Slides.” Think Outside The Slide. 2011. Accessed May 28, 2015.

Consistency: The Key to an Effective Sales Pitch

Consistency is one of the foundations of success. This principle’s importance, however, is often neglected, with people barely realizing the positive effects of being and staying consistent.

But what is consistency in a sales pitch?

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In today’s business scene, inconsistent pitch deck presentations often overlook the little details. This leads to sales pitches that end up falling flat.

If you want to sell your product or service, an effective sales pitch calls for a consistently convincing deck in terms of visuals and content.

Why is Consistency Important?

Your pitch deck is a visual aid, but that doesn’t mean it’s just there to look aesthetically pleasing. It’s your partner in getting your message across, so it’s important to dress it up in a way that complements your pitch. Pitch deck is your tool to emphasize and enhance certain points.

Ensure your deck’s overall content isn’t confusing by considering the texts and visual designs that you’ll be placing.

Consistency in Content

Maintain a single and uniform structure in your main points to show unity in your overall pitch deck.

Keep your writing style the same from the beginning to end, especially when enumerating important ideas. Watch out for spelling and grammatical errors in your content. Avoid typos to make your pitch deck look professional and credible.

Keeping an eye on tiny details like these indicate that you value your company’s image and integrity.

Consistency in Design

LogoYes founder, John Williams, enumerates the effects your choice of color has on your business. Make sure you use a consistent color palette so that everybody retains your company’s image.

That’s why companies like Coca-Cola only use specific colors instead of all the colors of the rainbow—it makes it easier to connect your product to a certain look. Incorporate images and backgrounds that have the same subset of colors. Select relevant and appropriate visuals that support your text and highlight your product’s important points.

You can repeat certain elements to help keep your deck consistent. For example, don’t jump from wavy lines in one slide to straight lines in another slide. When each slide looks like it came from the same company, your pitch decks looks well-crafted and well-designed.

Inconsistency negatively affects your overall pitch deck because your audience won’t know what you stand for. Who wants to invest in somebody who doesn’t even know what they really want to say? Staying consistent, not just in text but in visuals, helps keep your audience on the same page.

It keeps them from guessing whether you’re one company or another, especially since consistent visuals repeat certain elements, stamping them more effectively in clients’ minds. Know what you want to say and how you want to be perceived. Use consistent visuals for a more efficient and clear pitch deck presentation.

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References

“Structuring a Presentation.” University of Leicester. Accessed May 26, 2015. http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/ld/resources/presentations/structuring-presentation
Williams, John. “Your Brand’s True Colors.” Entrepreneur. March 06, 2007. Accessed May 26, 2015. www.entrepreneur.com/article/175428