Support: Presentation Scenarios

Pitching a New Account

Solution:

In the limited time you have to make a good first impression on a new business prospect, a PowerPoint or Flash presentation can help to focus your message, organize your main points, provide justification to support your objective, and be an effective leave-behind.

Explanation:

Typically pitching an account means that you’d better have your thoughts organized, which is why a PowerPoint and/or Flash presentation is so vital for a desired outcome. Plus these visual tools let you rehearse the same pitch over and over without deviation, since they are scripted rather than presented extemporaneously. In addition, the visual images let your prospects focus on your message, since he or she is able to read it. And since many sales require the approval of others, having a PowerPoint or Flash as a leave-behind insures that there will be continuity in your messaging, even though you may not be there to present it to other decision makers.

Presenting to Fellow Employees

Solution:

Whether it’s a training session, an update on a current project, or a new idea being put forth, nothing holds the attention of your audience like a well done animated presentation that explains a procedure, a process, or a new policy.

Explanation:

A PowerPoint presentation isn’t hard to create; however an effective PowerPoint can be a chore. The difference is that one holds the attention of the audience and makes sense; whereas the other can be long-winded and off-message. Depending upon your position in the company, other employees may simply appear interested because you hold a more senior title, but in the end, a weak presentation means message focus and retention will suffer.

Meeting with Investors

Solution:

When you’re looking for fresh capital or the acceptance of a business plan, investors like to see charts, graphs, workflows, and other visuals, in addition to projections and number crunching.

Explanation:

Pitching investors often means communicating more than a written plan, and animated images intended to support key points are effective for their informational, as well as promotional value.  Admittedly, you want every advantage working for you (even when you’re presenting to an internal committee), so it makes sense to “show them” what you’ve got.