Any presentation template a business, brand, or organization reviews will have its own look and feel. It will project its own unique tone. And it will have its own method of organizing data and information.
When choosing the best template for your company to use, always keep in mind these 10 core sections of sales pitch presentations:
1. The Company
2. The Vision
3. The Problem
4. The Opportunity
5. Product/Service
6. Team
7. Business Model
8. Competition
9. Financials
10. The Ask
Although any sales presentation can be illustrated through just these 10 slides. However, I recommend incorporating these narrative standards as well:
Intro Story
Main Points
Details of Main Points
Review of Main Points
Circle Back to Intro Story
Call to Action
So, now that we’ve outlined the sections and elements that comprise a well-structured presentation, here are ways you can ensure that the template you select complements the content you’ve developed:
1. Select a tone
The first question a brand, company, or individual should always ask themselves about their presentation is the tone they want to portray throughout their performance. The template of your choice will cultivate a tone, so you want to be absolutely certain that it aligns with your pre-existing ideas.
2. Test the elements
Before settling on the template you will utilize, experiment with the iconic and graphical display and components. Input sample graphs and charts into a template slide. Next, put the template in Slide Show view by navigating to the tab titled “View” and selecting “Slide Show” from the options. From a design and content clarity standpoint, determine if that particular template visualizes your data and information in the way you envisioned. A sales presentation will require highlighting key statistics and numbers such as financials and details about the business model. Test the elements to be certain of their integration with your content.
3. Proceed with caution
No matter what template you decide upon, tread lightly when importing your content. Avoid haphazardly dropping graphs and charts into slides. Don’t view the bullet point option as a necessary evil or strict standard. Remember: big imagery and bold text. This is the mixture that will produce a successful audience reaction.
Most sales presentations hover around 20-30 slides. Use the 3 tips listed above to guarantee the selection of an appropriate template for your sales deck. Need more tricks to capitalizing on the benefits of a template and negating the negatives? Check out the resources below:
How to Develop an Outline Within a PowerPoint Template
4 Common PowerPoint Template Mistakes
