How to make a business presentation like a pro
Have you ever thought about how to make a business presentation? Or perhaps, you’ve made one before and you’re just not a big fan. That sounds like a pretty daunting task, doesn’t it? There’s a lot of data to not only keep track of, but record. And then to top it all off, you have to put it into a format that is both easy to read and somewhat stylish.
At some point in your career, odds are that you’re going to make a business presentation. But as scary as they may sound, I can assure you that it doesn’t have to be so bad.
With that said, today we’re going to be talking about how to make a business presentation like a pro. Trust me, it’s not as difficult as you might be thinking. If you already have a good idea of what you want to accomplish, just click the banner below to get started right now.
Keep it simple
I think that one of the most important things to keep in mind when talking about how to make a business presentation is keeping it simple. Don’t get me wrong, details are great. But, for the sake of efficiency, it’s probably best that you don’t get lost in the details.
Simplicity will help keep everyone focused and engaged. If you add too many details, some presentation meeting attendees might lose interest.
Think of it this way: How would you explain what’s going on to someone who has no experience? Keeping that in mind can save you a lot of work up front and a lot of headaches later in the meeting.
Use visuals
I’ll be honest with you, I think that visuals make everything better, including a business presentation. True, you need to use images that help drive your points and bring real value to the presentation as a whole, but you shouldn’t be scared to use them.
Any visual that you use in your presentation will help your audience retain the information. These visuals could be graphs, examples, or even something funny that plays along with the presentation.
Inject some business-friendly humor
Not everyone enjoys meetings. Although they are necessary, it can be hard to stay focused. For that reason, it would probably be a good idea to inject a little humor. Afterall, there’s nothing wrong with a little laugh.
You don’t have to be a stand-up comedian in order to pull this off. A harmless joke here or there will only help lighten the mood, and grab everyone’s focus. But, remember that this is still a business meeting. Keep it short, entertaining, and professional.
Do your research
As much as we’d all like to think we know it all, the reality is that we simply don’t. That’s why on this list of how to make a business presentation, doing your research is one of the key ingredients.
!ny piece of homework you’ve ever turned in, article you’ve written, or product you’ve purchased, you’ve done research on it first. A business presentation shouldn’t be any different. It is absolutely vital that you not only put down all the information you need, but make sure it’s all accurate, too.
Unfortunately, there really isn’t anything you can do to make this process faster. You could enlist some help from colleagues, but that would require extra effort and time. The best thing to do is to buckle down, get the research done, and focus on the presentation.
How to make a business presentation – Examples
I’m a firm believer in examples. If you’ve read any of my other articles, you’ll notice that I’ve mentioned multiple times that I’m a very visual learner. I believe, just like adding visuals to a business presentation helps people retain information, adding visuals to an article such as this one does, too.
What we’re going to do next is take a look at a couple of expertly designed templates for a few different fields. I’ll point out what makes them a good fit for the specific industry they’re in, and you’ll even have a chance to snag them and use them for yourself.
With that said, if you see any templates that you like, just click the images and it’ll take you right to them. Or, you can click the banner below to be taken to our templates page.
Tech business presentation
(If you like this template, give it a click)
This is a good example of how to make a business presentation in tech. What I like about it, of course, are the vibrant colors. But the reason this is a good fit for tech in particular is because of its simplicity. Although tech is generally regarded as a more complicated field, the business presentations need to be short and to the point. There really isn’t any room for error.
In addition, tech companies nowadays are usually kind of hip and upbeat. I definitely get that same feeling from this template.
Freelance business presentation
(If you like this template, give it a click)
Although freelancers typically work alone, there is still a need for a business presentation. Think about it, they have to present to clients.
This is a good fit for freelancers because of the minimalistic design. It has a very personal feel, and that’s exactly what you want when you’re selling your personal ideas, or presenting your personal numbers.
SaaS business presentation
(If you like this template, give it a click)
Although some might consider SaaS to be tech, I really believe that this business presentation template really fits the bill. SaaS companies are usually all about the numbers, which means that this template is perfect.
The way it’s laid out allows you to post your numbers quickly. But, that being said, it does it in a very stylish way. The yellow accents pop on the black background, and the graphs are the main focus on every page.
If you’re one of those people that like to be verbal in a presentation, then this one is a good choice. Instead of having to focus on reading the text on the page, and having to avoid eye contact with your audience, you can let the numbers speak for themselves. That way, your presentation will seem more natural and conversational.
How to present a business presentation
Now that you have all of your details ironed out, it’s time to talk about the delivery. If this is your first time presenting to an audience, even if they are your close colleagues, I can imagine that you’re a little nervous. Not everyone is a public speaker, but I can assure you that with a little confidence and the following tips, you’re going to nail it.
Keep eye contact
I mentioned this above, but I wanted to add it down here as a focus point, too.
Eye contact is extremely important in a business presentation. No, you don’t have to stare them down, but you definitely should speak as if you’re addressing everyone in attendance. The best and easiest way to do that is to carry eye contact from person to person as you look out into the audience, however big or small it may be.
Keep your body language in mind.
Body language is very important. Simple things like standing straight, smiling, and using your hands to dramatize points are great ways to promote your confidence, and keep the audience interested in what you have to say.
Smiling makes you come off as friendly. In turn, this could make people more willing to hear your presentation. But, most of all, there’s a study that suggests that smiling helps you relax by releasing neurotransmitters. It’s really a win-win for everyone.
Speak with confidence
If you’re presenting your work or suggesting a new project, confidence is key. In fact, it’s probably the biggest ingredient for making a business presentation.
Speaking confidently means speaking in a firm but friendly voice, keeping the same volume throughout, and having faith in the words that are coming out of your mouth. This may take some practice, but you’ll get it.
You’re ready
If you take all the information above into consideration, the question of how to make a business presentation is fairly cut and dry. True, according to the industry and the data, each business presentation will be different. But the key takeaway here is to use all the tools at your disposal.
Flipsnack offers a variety of presentation templates for you to use for free. If you can’t find one that you like, don’t worry, you can design your own with ease in the drag-and-drop editor. We want you to succeed, so we’re providing all the tools you could possibly need to climb that ladder of success.
