Giving presentations can be nerve-wracking, but they are also an essential part of connecting with clients, promoting your business, and forming valuable partnerships. Whether you are a seasoned pro or a nervous newbie, here are our top tips for making sure that your presentation is genuinely memorable—for all the right reasons!
Plan, Plan, Plan
The key behind an effective presentation is proper planning and research. Make sure you know exactly what you want to talk about, and the essential information you need to impart to the audience. If you are promoting a new brand or product, it’s your job to understand this inside out, allowing you to answer any questions or queries with total confidence. Being prepared will help you to appear calm and in control with complete faith and confidence in your product—an attitude which will be infectious to your audience!
Read The Room
If you are lucky, you may get a chance to meet the audience beforehand allowing you to gauge their reception to the mood and tone of your presentation. If this is not the case, it is necessary to always keep in mind the reactions you are receiving. Perhaps it quickly becomes clear that your approach is too formal, and you need to loosen up the atmosphere and make a more light-hearted appeal.
Alternatively, you could have come in with an approach which is far too casual, and you need to act in a more formal, business-like way. Being able to read the room will help you make these realisations and adjustments quickly, and could save the pitch.
Be Prepared
Presentations can take an unexpected turn very quickly, so it is best to try and be ready for anything. Have a copy of all the key points which can be distributed if requested, and make sure figures, statistics, and other essentials are close to hand for immediate reference.
Try to pre-empt possible questions to give you a chance to come up with suitable answers, and make sure you are fully clued-up on the topic of the presentation. If an unexpected question blindsides you, it is okay to take your time to answer—better a slower but accurate response than a nervously gabbled misconception!
Take The Chance To Market
A presentation is a chance to market your brand and promote your product, so take every opportunity to do this. Subtle hunts such as personalised presentation folders or notepads ensure that your brand is always in sight and mind, and it is a good idea to make sure the logo or name is included throughout the presentation.
Familiarity is useful. It helps your audience to establish a genuine connection with your brand, making them more likely to enquire further or agree to a relationship. Make sure your brand is always presented clearly, legibly, and regularly to connect the presentation and the ideas with your company. Even the smallest details can make a big difference here, so be prepared to be creative with your branding!