definition of a presentation in business

• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

Business Jargons

A Business Encyclopedia

Presentation

Definition : A presentation is a form of communication in which the speaker conveys information to the audience. In an organization presentations are used in various scenarios like talking to a group, addressing a meeting, demonstrating or introducing a new product, or briefing a team. It involves presenting a particular subject or issue or new ideas/thoughts to a group of people.

It is considered as the most effective form of communication because of two main reasons:

• Use of non-verbal cues.
• Facilitates instant feedback.

Business Presentations are a tool to influence people toward an intended thought or action.

Parts of Presentation

• Introduction : It is meant to make the listeners ready to receive the message and draw their interest. For that, the speaker can narrate some story or a humorous piece of joke, an interesting fact, a question, stating a problem, and so forth. They can also use some surprising statistics.
• Body : It is the essence of the presentation. It requires the sequencing of facts in a logical order. This is the part where the speaker explains the topic and relevant information. It has to be critically arranged, as the audience must be able to grasp what the speaker presents.
• Conclusion : It needs to be short and precise. It should sum up or outline the key points that you have presented. It could also contain what the audience should have gained out of the presentation.

Purpose of Presentation

• To inform : Organizations can use presentations to inform the audience about new schemes, products or proposals. The aim is to inform the new entrant about the policies and procedures of the organization.
• To persuade : Presentations are also given to persuade the audience to take the intended action.
• To build goodwill : They can also help in building a good reputation

Factors Affecting Presentation

Audience Analysis

Communication environment, personal appearance, use of visuals, opening and closing presentation, organization of presentation, language and words, voice quality, body language, answering questions, a word from business jargons.

Presentation is a mode of conveying information to a selected group of people live. An ideal presentation is one that identifies and matches the needs, interests and understanding level of the audience. It also represents the facts, and figures in the form of tables, charts, and graphs and uses multiple colours.

Related terms:

• Verbal Communication
• Visual Communication
• Non-Verbal Communication
• Communication
• 7 C’s of Communication

Reader Interactions

Abbas khan says

October 2, 2022 at 11:33 pm

Thank you so much for providing us with brief info related to the presentation.

Farhan says

February 23, 2023 at 9:45 am

yusra shah says

July 3, 2023 at 2:04 am

it was helpful👍

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Business Presentation: Definition, Steps to Create & Tips to Remember!

At some point in your life, you must have given a presentation or at least done some sort of public speaking. If you haven’t, then at some point you will have to, especially if you’re an entrepreneur.

When it comes to giving presentations, it doesn’t matter that you are a seasoned speaker or an amateur as long as you are able to convey your message or achieve your goal in the most engaging way.

And truth be told, even though each presentation has its own subtle differences, there are a few universal guidelines or steps that make it effective.

But the fact of the matter is that giving presentations, especially business presentations, is not exactly a walk in the park and not everyone can easily pull it off.

But don’t worry, that’s why we have got your back! In this blog, we will provide you with the steps involved in creating a killer business presentation and making it stand out!

Before we get to the steps involved, let’s understand what a business presentation is and why it is important to create one!

Ready? Let’s go!

What is a Business Presentation? (Definition)

A presentation is simply an introduction, demonstration, or speech given by an individual or group of individuals to an audience in order to inform, inspire, convince, or motivate them.

So a business presentation can be defined as a formal introduction or information about new business products, ideas, or practices. It is usually carried out using audio-visual materials, such as projectors, documents, presentation software, whiteboards, charts, and more.

Business presentations are often done with the aim to educate or train the audience, sell a product or an idea to them or simply convey or share your vision with them.

Now that we have explained what business presentations are, let’s help you understand the importance of creating one!

Importance of Creating a Business Presentation

More often than not, a business presentation is the first document or introduction about your organization or your organization’s products and services that your clients get to see.

So when somebody sits through such a presentation, they expect to get gain some information from it without dozing off halfway through it. That’s why it is important that you have a well-crafted, visually appealing, and engaging business presentation .

A good business presentation offers many benefits, such as:

1. Helps Create Connections

A business presentation focuses on communication, interaction, and bonding between you and your audience. It allows you to build a good impression and brand image. This not only helps you convey messages and convince your audience but also establishes relationships and creates better connections.

2. Provides Information

A good presentation is highly informative and eye-opening. It’s a great opportunity to give out nuggets of details, facts, trivia, and statistics-backed data. It provides the listener with information in the most engaging way, which means that they walk out a better-informed and educated person.

Read more:  6 Awesome Video Presentation Software & Tips to Follow!

3. Offers Inspiration

The impact a good business presentation can have on an individual is far more than you can imagine. Since most business presentations involve the use of audio-visual materials, stories or anecdotes, handouts/pamphlets, or demonstrations, it tends to stick in the minds of the listeners. It keeps them engaged, offers inspiration, and helps influence their decisions.

Clearly, business presentations are an effective way to get across your message and build your brand. They are definitely rewarding and crucial for your business.

And since we don’t want to keep you waiting, let’s jump straight into the nitty-gritty of creating a business presentation!

How to Create a Business Presentation in 6 steps?

Public speaking got you sweating? Don’t worry, creating a business presentation doesn’t have to be a nightmare. It’s actually your chance to shine and get your ideas across, landing you that new project or winning over new clients.

Today, we’ll break down some easy-to-follow steps to build a powerful presentation. We’ll talk about what content to include, how to make your slides pop, and most importantly, how to feel confident while delivering it. By the end, you’ll be ready to give a presentation that informs, inspires, and lands you exactly where you want to be.

Step 1. Create a Plan

Every journey needs a destination. What do you want to achieve with your presentation? Are you trying to inform your audience about a new product, persuade them to invest in your company, or simply update them on a project’s progress? Having a clear goal will guide the entire presentation.

Next, consider your audience. Who are you presenting to? Understanding their background, interests, and level of knowledge will help you tailor your message and choose the right language. Imagine explaining a new marketing strategy to your team versus presenting the same strategy to potential investors – the approach would be quite different!

Planning Your Stops: Filling in the Details

Now that you have your overall route planned, it’s time to fill in the details – the specific content for each section.

• Gather your Evidence: Back up your claims with facts, figures, and real-world examples. Credible data makes your presentation more persuasive.
• Craft Your Story: Think of your presentation as a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Weave your information into a compelling narrative that keeps your audience engaged.
• Estimate Your Time: How long do you have to present? Allocate time for each section of your presentation, keeping in mind time for questions.

Step 2. Spend Some Time on Your Presentation Slides

Now that you’ve got your presentation planned out (from step 1!), it’s time to translate those ideas into slides that will grab your audience’s attention and keep them engaged. Here’s how to make your slides shine:

Keep it Simple:

• Less is more: Avoid text overload. Limit yourself to a few key points per slide, ideally no more than 3-5 bullet points or short sentences.
• Design matters: Choose a professional and consistent theme for your slides. Many presentation tools offer pre-designed themes to get you started.
• Readability is key: Use a clear and easy-to-read font with a large enough size to be visible from the back of the room. Avoid too many flashy colors or distracting animations.

Structure for Clarity:

• Start strong: Your first slide should introduce your topic, company, or yourself.
• Follow a logical flow: Organize your slides in a way that guides your audience through your presentation. Think of it as a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
• Signpost your points: Use clear headings and subheadings to help your audience follow your train of thought.

Pro Tips for Slide Power:

• Leave room for you: Don’t crowd your slides with information. Leave enough space for you to speak and engage with your audience.
• Practice with your slides: Get familiar with navigating your slides beforehand to avoid technical fumbles during the presentation.
• Tell a story: Use visuals and narration to create a narrative that connects with your audience on an emotional level.
• Proofread meticulously: Double-check your slides for typos, grammatical errors, and formatting inconsistencies.

Remember: Your slides are there to support your presentation, not replace it. Focus on delivering a clear, concise, and engaging message with your voice and enthusiasm. By investing time in crafting well-designed slides, you’ll leave a lasting impression on your audience.

Step 3. Establish Your Credibility with a Story

You’re pitching a fantastic new product to a room full of potential investors. You can drone on about features and specs, but what if you could hook them right from the start? That’s the power of storytelling in a business presentation.

Here’s how to use a story to establish your credibility and grab your audience’s attention:

• Find the Right Story:
• Relevance: Your story should connect directly to the message of your presentation. Is it about overcoming a challenge, achieving success, or solving a problem? Choose a story that showcases the value you bring.
• Relatable: Think about your audience. Did a customer face a challenge you solved? Did your company overcome an obstacle to achieve something great? Real-life stories resonate more than generic ones.
• Craft Your Narrative:
• Simple & Clear: Avoid complex plots or excessive details. Focus on a clear beginning, middle, and end that highlights your point.
• Emotional Connection: People connect with stories that evoke emotions. Show the struggle, the triumph, or the human element at the heart of your story.
• Deliver with Impact:
• Enthusiasm is Key: Be passionate about your story! Your energy will draw the audience in and make them believe in what you’re saying.
• Painting a Picture: Use vivid language and descriptive details to create a mental image for your audience. Make them feel like they’re experiencing the story with you.

Bonus Tip: Data is Your Friend:

Weave data and statistics into your story to solidify your points. Numbers add weight to your narrative and demonstrate the impact of your solution.

Instead of saying, “Our marketing strategy is effective,” tell a story:

“A client came to us with stagnant sales. We analyzed their audience and crafted a targeted social media campaign. Within three months, they saw a 20% increase in website traffic and a 15% boost in sales!” (Data + relatable story)

Step 4: Spice Up Your Slides! Use Visuals Like a Pro

Ever sat through a presentation where your eyes glazed over after five minutes of text slides? Yeah, us too. Here’s the truth: people learn and remember better with visuals. That’s the power of visual elements in your business presentation.

Here’s how to use them to make your slides pop:

• Images: Photos, illustrations, and infographics can break up text and grab attention. Use high-quality images that relate to your message. Think charts and graphs to show trends, pictures of happy customers using your product, or diagrams to explain complex ideas.
• Videos: Short, impactful videos can be a great way to demonstrate a product, show a real-world example, or add a touch of humor. Keep them brief and relevant to your presentation.
• Icons and Shapes: Simple icons can highlight key points, and shapes can visually organize information. Use them sparingly to avoid clutter, but they can be a neat way to add visual interest.

Pro Tip: Don’t Go Overboard!

Visuals are fantastic, but don’t overdo it. Your slides should still be easy to read and navigate. Here are some quick guidelines:

• One main idea per slide: Don’t try to cram too much information on a single slide. Bullet points are your friend!
• Color coordination: Choose a color scheme that’s professional and easy on the eyes. Avoid too many bright or clashing colors.

Step 5: Be Prepared for Q&A

You’ve delivered a killer presentation, your slides are sharp, and your message is clear. But wait, there’s more! The Q&A session is your chance to truly shine, address audience concerns, and leave a lasting impression. Here’s how to be a Q&A master:

• Anticipate the Hits: Think about what questions your audience might have based on your presentation and even their background. Prepare clear and concise answers for common topics or potential objections.
• Practice Makes Perfect: Rehearse your answers out loud, ideally with a friend or colleague who can play devil’s advocate. This helps you refine your responses and feel more comfortable under pressure.
• Don’t Fear the “I Don’t Know” : If a question catches you off guard, it’s okay to admit you don’t have the answer on hand. Offer to follow up with them after the presentation or point them towards a colleague who can help.
• Be the Master of Your Domain: Even if a question falls outside your direct area of expertise, you can still control the conversation. Briefly acknowledge the question and then rephrase it to connect back to your main points or areas of strength.
• Embrace the Spotlight: The Q&A isn’t just about answering questions, it’s about engagement. Use the opportunity to clarify points, elaborate on details, and even add a touch of humor to keep things lively.

Bonus Tip: Turn the Tables!

Want to take control and keep the audience engaged? After answering a question, politely ask them one in return. This keeps them involved and allows you to steer the conversation back towards your key messages.

Step 6: Stick the Landing! Craft a Powerful Closing Statement

You’ve delivered a fantastic presentation, packed with valuable information. But before you high-five yourself and pack up your laptop, there’s one crucial step left: the closing statement. This is your final chance to leave a lasting impression and remind the audience of your key message.

Here’s how to craft a closing statement that packs a punch:

• Summarize Your Main Points: Don’t assume everyone remembers everything you said. Briefly recap your 2-3 most important points to jog their memory.
• End with a Bang!: Leave them with a thought-provoking question, a powerful quote, or an inspiring story that reinforces your message.
• Call to Action: Tell the audience exactly what you want them to do next. Do you want them to visit your website, contact you for a demo, or simply remember your key takeaway? Make it clear and concise.

Here’s an example:

“In conclusion, we’ve explored how our new software can streamline your workflow and boost productivity by 20%. We’re confident that [Company Name] can be a valuable partner in achieving your business goals. If you’d like to learn more about a free trial, please don’t hesitate to visit our website or connect with me after the presentation.”

Bonus Tip: Practice Makes Perfect!

Don’t wing your closing statement. Practice it out loud a few times to ensure it’s clear, concise, and delivered with confidence.

What you need are some simple tips to make your killer presentation even better . And for that, we have compiled for you a list that you can follow! Scroll down to find out!

Tips for Creating An Awesome Business Presentation

Here are some simple tips that you must follow during your business presentation:

• Keep your presentation crisp and try not to include too many slides for your presentation.
• Avoid using too many colors and fonts. Instead, stick to a color palette and font that matches your attire and your brand image.
• Do not hesitate to seek the help of presentation tools and software
• Focus on your narration and story-telling style.
• Ask rhetorical questions to reinforce your key points and primary message.
• Prepare some business-appropriate jokes, one-liners, and puns to make your presentation fun and engaging.
• Dress in formal business attire and groom yourself to look appealing and presentable.
• Maintain a defining tone and style for your presentation – be it formal, casual, or humorous – and try to be consistent with it throughout.
• Be enthusiastic, and expressive, focus on your body language, and most importantly, maintain eye contact throughout.

With that, we can guarantee that you will put on one heck of a presentation and give your audience a memorable and enriching experience!

Our team at  bit.ai  has created a few awesome business templates to make your business processes more efficient. Make sure to check them out before you go, y our team might need them!

• SWOT Analysis Template
• Business Proposal Template
• Business Plan Template
• Competitor Research Template
• Project Proposal Template
• Company Fact Sheet
• Executive Summary Template
• Operational Plan Template
• Pitch Deck Template

Presentations are all about communication. So it doesn’t matter if it is your first presentation or your hundredth one, if you’re not able to communicate information in an engaging way, then you end up wasting your time and your listeners’ time.

Whether you are trying to sell something to an audience or simply sharing your vision with them, create a business presentation that will not only educate your listeners but also squeeze a laugh out of them.

We only hope that the steps and tips we have provided you will help you along the way in creating a killer business presentation for your audience!

Adios and Happy presenting!

Further reads: 

9 Most Successful Business Models You Should Know About! (With Examples)

10 Business Drivers to Grow Your Business!

Business Markets: Definition, 5 Types (with Examples) & Characteristics!

13 Types of Plans Your Business Must Have!

9 Best Presentation Ideas and Tips You Must Explore!

Brand Voice: What is it & How to Define it for your Business!

Company Profile: What is it & How to Create it?

Sponsorship Proposal: What is it & How to Create it?

3 Project Proposal Examples You Must Check Out!

Related posts

Growth hacking: what is it & 21 tools that can help, how to create a checklist the right way (template included), 11 best focus apps to eliminate distractions, software design principles: solid, kiss, yagni, pola & dry, best content creation software: attract your target audience with ease, what is soft selling & what are the techniques (soft vs hard selling).

About Bit.ai

Bit.ai is the essential next-gen workplace and document collaboration platform. that helps teams share knowledge by connecting any type of digital content. With this intuitive, cloud-based solution, anyone can work visually and collaborate in real-time while creating internal notes, team projects, knowledge bases, client-facing content, and more.

The smartest online Google Docs and Word alternative, Bit.ai is used in over 100 countries by professionals everywhere, from IT teams creating internal documentation and knowledge bases, to sales and marketing teams sharing client materials and client portals.

👉👉Click Here to Check out Bit.ai.

Recent Posts

Essential legal documents for every businesses: a comprehensive guide, top 20 management documents every business team needs, essential hr documents for every business: a comprehensive guide, the ultimate guide to creating sales documents [examples included], 20 most popular construction document templates (editable), 2024’s ultimate document template guide for modern educators.

Home Blog Business Business Presentation: The Ultimate Guide to Making Powerful Presentations (+ Examples)

Business Presentation: The Ultimate Guide to Making Powerful Presentations (+ Examples)

A business presentation is a purpose-led summary of key information about your company’s plans, products, or practices, designed for either internal or external audiences. Project proposals, HR policy presentations, investors briefings are among the few common types of presentations. 

Compelling business presentations are key to communicating important ideas, persuading others, and introducing new offerings to the world. Hence, why business presentation design is one of the most universal skills for any professional. 

This guide teaches you how to design and deliver excellent business presentations. Plus, breaks down some best practices from business presentation examples by popular companies like Google, Pinterest, and Amazon among others! 

3 General Types of Business Presentations

A business presentation can be given for a number of reasons. Respectively, they differ a lot in terms of content and purpose. 

But overall, all types of business presentations can be classified as:

• Informative
• Persuasive 
• Supporting 

Informative Business Presentation 

As the name suggests, the purpose of an informative presentation is to discern the knowledge you have — explain what you know. It’s the most common type of business presentation out there. So you have probably prepared such at least several times. 

Examples of informative presentations:

• Team briefings presentation 
• Annual stakeholder report 
• Quarterly business reviews
• Business portfolio presentation
• Business plan presentation
• Project presentation

Helpful templates from SlideModel:

• Business plan PowerPoint template
• Business review PowerPoint template
• Project proposal PowerPoint template
• Corporate annual report template

Persuasive Business Presentation 

The goal of this type of presentation is to persuade your audience of your point of view — convince them of what you believe is right. Developing business presentations of this caliber requires a bit more copywriting mastery, as well as expertise in public speaking . Unlike an informative business presentation, your goal here is to sway the audience’s opinions and prompt them towards the desired action. 

Examples of persuasive presentations:

• Pitch deck/investor presentations
• Sales presentation  
• Business case presentation 
• Free business proposal presentation
• Business proposal PowerPoint template
• Pitch deck PowerPoint template
• Account Plan PowerPoint template

Supporting Business Presentation 

This category of business PowerPoint presentations is meant to facilitate decision-making — explain how we can get something done. The underlying purpose here is to communicate the general “action plan”. Then break down the necessary next steps for bringing it to life. 

Examples of supporting presentations:

• Roadmap presentation
• Project vision presentation 
• After Action Review presentation 
• Standard operating procedure (SOP) PowerPoint template 
• Strategy map PowerPoint template 
• After action review (ARR) PowerPoint template 

What Should Be Included in a Business Presentation?

Overall, the content of your business presentation will differ depending on its purpose and type. However, at the very minimum, all business presentations should include:

• Introductory slide 
• Agenda/purpose slide
• Main information or Content slides
• Key Takeaways slides
• Call-to-action/next steps slides

We further distill business presentation design and writing best practices in the next section (plus, provide several actionable business PowerPoint presentation examples !). 

How to Make a Business Presentation: Actionable Tips

A business presentation consists of two parts — a slide deck and a verbal speech. In this section, we provide tips and strategies for nailing your deck design. 

1. Get Your Presentation Opening Right 

The first slides of your presentation make or break your success. Why? By failing to frame the narrative and set the scene for the audience from the very beginning, you will struggle to keep their interest throughout the presentation. 

You have several ways of how to start a business presentation:

• Use a general informative opening — a summative slide, sharing the agenda and main points of the discussion. 
• Go for a story opening — a more creative, personal opening, aimed at pulling the audience into your story. 
• Try a dramatic opening — a less apparent and attention-grabbing opening technique, meant to pique the audience’s interest. 

Standard Informative Opening 

Most business presentation examples you see start with a general, informative slide such as an Agenda, Problem Statement, or Company Introduction. That’s the “classic” approach. 

To manage the audience’s expectations and prepare them for what’s coming next, you can open your presentation with one or two slides stating:

• The topic of your presentation — a one-sentence overview is enough. 
• Persuasive hook, suggesting what’s in it for the audience and why they should pay attention. 
• Your authority — the best technique to establish your credibility in a business presentation is to share your qualifications and experience upfront to highlight why you are worth listening to. 

Opening best suited for: Formal business presentations such as annual reports and supporting presentations to your team/business stakeholders. 

Story Opening 

Did you ever notice that most TED talks start with a quick personal story? The benefit of this presenting technique is that it enables speakers to establish quick rapport and hold the listener’s attention. 

Here’s how Nancy Duarte, author of “Slide:ology: The Art and Science of Creating Great Presentations” book and TED presenter, recommends opening a presentation: 

You know, here’s the status quo, here’s what’s going on. And then you need to compare that to what could be. You need to make that gap as big as possible, because there is this commonplace of the status quo, and you need to contrast that with the loftiness of your idea. 

Storytelling , like no other tool, helps transpose the audience into the right mindset and get concentrated on the subject you are about to discuss. A story also elicits emotions, which can be a powerful ally when giving persuasive presentations. In the article how to start a presentation , we explore this in more detail.

Opening best suited for: Personal and business pitches, sales presentations, other types of persuasive presentations. 

Dramatic Opening 

Another common technique is opening your presentation with a major statement, sometimes of controversial nature. This can be a shocking statistic, complex rhetoric question, or even a provocative, contrarian statement, challenging the audience’s beliefs. 

Using a dramatic opening helps secure the people’s attention and capture their interest. You can then use storytelling to further drill down your main ideas. 

If you are an experienced public speaker, you can also strengthen your speech with some unexpected actions. That’s what Bill Gates does when giving presentations. In a now-iconic 2009 TED talk about malaria, mid-presentation Gates suddenly reveals that he actually brought a bunch of mosquitoes with him. He cracks open a jar with non-malaria-infected critters to the audience’s surprise. His dramatic actions, paired with a passionate speech made a mighty impression. 

Opening best suited for: Marketing presentations, customer demos, training presentations, public speeches. 

Further reading: How to start a presentation: tips and examples. 

2. Get Your PowerPoint Design Right

Surely, using professional business PowerPoint templates already helps immensely with presentation deck design since you don’t need to fuss over slide layout, font selection, or iconography. 

Even so, you’ll still need to customize your template(s) to make them on brand and better suited to the presentation you’re about to deliver. Below are our best presentation design tips to give your deck an extra oomph. 

Use Images, Instead of Bullet Points 

If you have ever watched Steve Jobs’s presentations, you may have noticed that he never used bullet-point lists. Weird right? Because using bullet points is the most universal advice in presentation design. 

But there’s a valid scientific reason why Jobs favored images over bullet-point texts. Researchers found that information delivered in visuals is better retained than words alone. This is called the “ pictorial superiority effect ”. As John Medina, a molecular biologist, further explains :

“Hear a piece of information, and three days later you’ll remember 10% of it. Add a picture and you’ll remember 65%.”

So if your goal is to improve the memorability of your presentation, always replace texts with images and visualizations when it makes sense. 

Fewer Slides is Better

No matter the value, a long PowerPoint presentation becomes tiring at some point. People lose focus and stop retaining the information. Thus, always take some extra time to trim the fluff and consolidate some repetitive ideas within your presentation. 

For instance, at McKinsey new management consultants are trained to cut down the number of slides in client presentations. In fact, one senior partner insists on replacing every 20 slides with only two slides . Doing so prompts you to focus on the gist — the main business presentation ideas you need to communicate and drop filler statements. 

Here are several quick tips to shorten your slides:

• Use a three-arc structure featuring a clear beginning (setup), main narrative (confrontation), ending (resolution). Drop the ideas that don’t fit into either of these. 
• Write as you tweet. Create short, on-point text blurbs of under 156 symbols, similar to what you’d share on Twitter. 
• Contextualize your numbers. Present any relevant statistics in a context, relevant to the listeners. Turn longer stats into data visualizations for easier cognition. 

Consistency is Key 

In a solid business presentation, each slide feels like part of the connecting story. To achieve such consistency apply the same visual style and retain the same underlying message throughout your entire presentation.

Use the same typography, color scheme, and visual styles across the deck. But when you need to accentuate a transition to a new topic (e.g. move from a setup to articulating the main ideas), add some new visual element to signify the slight change in the narrative. 

Further reading: 23 PowerPoint Presentation Tips for Creating Engaging and Interactive Presentations

3. Make Your Closure Memorable 

We best remember the information shared last. So make those business presentation takeaways stick in the audience’s memory. We have three strategies for that. 

Use the Rule of Three 

The Rule of Three is a literary concept, suggesting that we best remember and like ideas and concepts when they are presented in threes. 

Many famous authors and speakers use this technique:

• “Duty – Honor – Country. Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, and what you will be” . Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
• “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” are the unalienable rights of all humans that governments are meant to protect.” Thomas Jefferson 

The Rule of Three works because three is the maximum number of items most people can remember on their first attempt. Likewise, such pairings create a short, familiar structure that is easy to remember for our brains. 

Try the Title Close Technique

Another popular presentation closing technique is “Title Close” — going back to the beginning of your narrative and reiterating your main idea (title) in a form of a takeaway. Doing so helps the audience better retain your core message since it’s repeated at least two times. Plus, it brings a sense of closure — a feel-good state our brains love. Also, a brief one-line closure is more memorable than a lengthy summary and thus better retained. 

Ask a Question 

If you want to keep the conversation going once you are done presenting, you can conclude your presentation with a general question you’d like the audience to answer.

Alternatively, you can also encourage the members to pose questions to you. The latter is better suited for informational presentations where you’d like to further discuss some of the matters and secure immediate feedback. 

Try adding an interactive element like a QR code closing your presentation with a QR code and having a clear CTA helps you leverage the power of sharing anything you would like to share with your clients. QR codes can be customized to look alike your brand.

If you are looking for a smoother experience creating presentations on the fly, check out the AI PowerPoint maker —it offers everything you can ask forfrom presentation design in a couple of clicks.

12 Business Presentation Examples and What Makes Them Great 

Now that we equipped you with the general knowledge on how to make a presentation for business, let’s take a look at how other presenters are coping with this job and what lessons you can take away from them. 

1. N26 Digital Bank Pitch Deck 

This is a fine business pitch presentation example, hitting all the best practices. The deck opens with a big shocking statement that most Millennials would rather go to the dentist than step into a bank branch. 

Then it proceeds to discuss the company’s solution to the above — a fully digital bank with a paperless account opening process, done in 8 minutes. After communicating the main product features and value proposition, the deck further conceptualizes what traction the product got so far using data visualizations. The only thing it lacks is a solid call-to-action for closing slides as the current ending feels a bit abrupt. 

2. WeWork Pitch Deck

For a Series D round, WeWork went with a more formal business presentation. It starts with laying down the general company information and then transitions to explaining their business model, current market conditions, and the company’s position on the market.

The good thing about this deck is that they quantify their business growth prospects and value proposition. The likely gains for investors are shown in concrete numbers. However, those charts go one after another in a row, so it gets a bit challenging to retain all data points. 

The last part of their presentation is focused on a new offering, “We Live”. It explains why the team seeks funds to bring it to life. Likewise, they back their reasoning with market size statistics, sample projects, and a five-year revenue forecast. 

3. Redfin Investor Presentation 

If you are looking for a “text-light” business presentation example, Redfin’s investor deck is up to your alley. This simple deck expertly uses iconography, charts, and graphs to break down the company’s business model, value proposition, market share, and competitive advantages over similar startups. For number-oriented investors, this is a great deck design to use. 

4. Google Ready Together Presentation 

This isn’t quite the standard business presentation example per se. But rather an innovative way to create engaging, interactive presentations of customer case studies .

The short deck features a short video clip from a Google client, 7-11, explaining how they used the company’s marketing technology to digitally transform their operations and introduce a greater degree of marketing automation . The narrated video parts are interrupted by slides featuring catchy stats, contextualizing issues other businesses are facing. Then transitions to explaining through the words of 7-11 CMO, how Google’s technology is helping them overcome the stated shortcomings.

5. Salesforce Business Presentation Example 

This is a great example of an informational presentation, made by the Salesforce team to share their research on customer experience (CX) with prospects and existing customers.

The slide deck errs on the lengthier side with 58 slides total. But bigger topics are broken down and reinforced through bite-sized statistics and quotes from the company leadership. They are also packaging the main tips into memorable formulas, itemized lists, and tables. Overall, this deck is a great example of how you can build a compelling narrative using different statistics. 

6. Mastercard Business Presentation

This slide deck from Mastercard instantly captures the audience’s attention with unusual background images and major data points on the growth of populations, POS systems, and payment methods used in the upcoming decade.

Perhaps to offset the complexity of the subject, Mastercard chose to sprinkle in some humor in presentation texts and used comic-style visuals to supplement that. However, all their animations are made in a similar style, creating a good sense of continuity in design. They are also using colors to signify the transition from one part of the presentation to another. 

In the second part, the slide deck focuses on distilling the core message of what businesses need to do to remain competitive in the new payments landscape. The team presents what they have been working on to expand the payment ecosystem. Then concludes with a “title close” styled call-to-action, mirroring the presentation title.

7. McKinsey Diversity & Inclusion Presentation 

This fresh business slide deck from McKinsey is a great reference point for making persuasive business presentations on complex topics such as D&I. First, it recaps the main definitions of the discussed concepts — diversity, equity, and inclusion — to ensure alignment with the audience members. 

Next, the business presentation deck focuses on the severity and importance of the issue for businesses, represented through a series of graphs and charts. After articulating the “why”, the narrative switches to “how” — how leaders can benefit from investment in D&I. The main points are further backed with data and illustrated via examples. 

8. Accenture Presentation for the Energy Sector

Similar to McKinsey, Accenture keeps its slide deck on a short. Yet the team packs a punch within each slide through using a mix of fonts, graphical elements, and color for highlighting the core information. The presentation copy is on a longer side, prompting the audience to dwell on reading the slides. But perhaps this was meant by design as the presentation was also distributed online — via the company blog and social media. 

The last several slides of the presentation deck focus on articulating the value Accenture can deliver for their clients in the Energy sector. They expertly break down their main value proposition and key service lines, plus quantify the benefits. 

9. Amazon Web Services (AWS) Technical Presentation 

Giving an engaging technical presentation isn’t an easy task. You have to balance the number of details you reveal on your slides to prevent overwhelm, while also making sure that you don’t leave out any crucial deets. This technical presentation from AWS does great in both departments. 

First, you get entertained with a quick overview of Amazon’s progress in machine learning (ML) forecasting capabilities over the last decade. Then introduced to the main tech offering. The deck further explains what you need to get started with Amazon Forecast — e.g. dataset requirements, supported forecasting scenarios, available forecasting models, etc. 

The second half of the presentation provides a quick training snippet on configuring Amazon SageMaker to start your first project. The step-by-step instructions are coherent and well-organized, making the reader excited to test-drive the product. 

10. Snapchat Company Presentation

Snapchat’s business model presentation is on a funkier, more casual side, reflective of the company’s overall brand and positioning. After briefly recapping what they do, the slide deck switches to discussing the company’s financials and revenue streams.

This business slide deck by Snap Inc. itself is rather simplistic and lacks fancy design elements. But it has a strong unified theme of showing the audience Snapchat’s position on the market and projected vector of business development. 

11. Visa Business Acquisition Presentation 

If you are working on a business plan or M&A presentation for stakeholders of your own, this example from Visa will be helpful. The presentation deck expertly breaks down the company’s rationale for purchasing Plaid and subsequent plans for integrating the startup into their business ecosystem. 

The business deck recaps why the Plaid acquisition is a solid strategic decision by highlighting the total addressable market they could dive into post-deal. Then it details Plaid’s competitive strengths. The slide deck then sums up all the monetary and indirect gains Visa could reap as an acquirer. 

12. Pinterest Earnings Report Presentation 

Annual reports and especially earnings presentations might not be the most exciting types of documents to work on, but they have immense strategic value. Hence, there’s little room for ambiguities or mistakes. 

In twelve slides, this business presentation from Pinterest clearly communicates the big picture of the company’s finance in 2021. All the key numbers are represented as featured quotes in the sidebar with diagrams further showcasing the earning and spending dynamics. Overall, the data is easy to interpret even for non-finance folks. 

To Conclude 

With these business presentation design tips, presentation templates , and examples, you can go from overwhelmed to confident about your next presentation design in a matter of hours. Focus on creating a rough draft first using a template. Then work on nailing your opening slide sequence and shortening the texts in the main part of your presentation when needed. Make sure that each slide serves a clear purpose and communicates important details. To make your business presentation deck more concise, remove anything that does not pertain to the topic. 

Finally, once you are done, share your business presentation with other team members to get their feedback and reiterate the final design.

Like this article? Please share

Business Presentations, Corporate Presentations, Design, Design Inspiration, Examples, Executive Reports, Inspiration, Presentation Ideas Filed under Business

Related Articles

Filed under Design • August 14th, 2024

Creating Custom Themes for PowerPoint and Google Slides

Do you want your slides to go beyond the average result from a template? If so, learn how to create custom themes for presentations with this guide.

Filed under Google Slides Tutorials • August 13th, 2024

How to Curve Text in Google Slides

Despite Google Slides not offering a native tool for this, there are multiple ways to curve text in Google Slides. Check them out here!

Filed under Business • August 8th, 2024

How to Create Engaging and Persuasive Proposal Presentations

Secure your business deals and build your brand’s reputation by mastering the art of proposal presentations. Tips and recommended PPT templates included.

Leave a Reply

• SUGGESTED TOPICS
• The Magazine
• Newsletters
• Managing Yourself
• Managing Teams
• Work-life Balance
• The Big Idea
• Data & Visuals
• Reading Lists
• Case Selections
• HBR Learning
• Topic Feeds
• Account Settings
• Email Preferences

What It Takes to Give a Great Presentation

• Carmine Gallo

Five tips to set yourself apart.

Never underestimate the power of great communication. It can help you land the job of your dreams, attract investors to back your idea, or elevate your stature within your organization. But while there are plenty of good speakers in the world, you can set yourself apart out by being the person who can deliver something great over and over. Here are a few tips for business professionals who want to move from being good speakers to great ones: be concise (the fewer words, the better); never use bullet points (photos and images paired together are more memorable); don’t underestimate the power of your voice (raise and lower it for emphasis); give your audience something extra (unexpected moments will grab their attention); rehearse (the best speakers are the best because they practice — a lot).

I was sitting across the table from a Silicon Valley CEO who had pioneered a technology that touches many of our lives — the flash memory that stores data on smartphones, digital cameras, and computers. He was a frequent guest on CNBC and had been delivering business presentations for at least 20 years before we met. And yet, the CEO wanted to sharpen his public speaking skills.

• Carmine Gallo is a Harvard University instructor, keynote speaker, and author of 10 books translated into 40 languages. Gallo is the author of The Bezos Blueprint: Communication Secrets of the World’s Greatest Salesman  (St. Martin’s Press).

Partner Center

• PRESENTATION SKILLS

What is a Presentation?

Search SkillsYouNeed:

Presentation Skills:

• A - Z List of Presentation Skills
• Top Tips for Effective Presentations
• General Presentation Skills
• Preparing for a Presentation
• Organising the Material
• Writing Your Presentation
• Deciding the Presentation Method
• Managing your Presentation Notes
• Working with Visual Aids
• Presenting Data
• Managing the Event
• Coping with Presentation Nerves
• Dealing with Questions
• How to Build Presentations Like a Consultant
• 7 Qualities of Good Speakers That Can Help You Be More Successful
• Self-Presentation in Presentations
• Specific Presentation Events
• Remote Meetings and Presentations
• Giving a Speech
• Presentations in Interviews
• Presenting to Large Groups and Conferences
• Giving Lectures and Seminars
• Managing a Press Conference
• Attending Public Consultation Meetings
• Managing a Public Consultation Meeting
• Crisis Communications
• Elsewhere on Skills You Need:
• Communication Skills
• Facilitation Skills
• Teams, Groups and Meetings
• Effective Speaking
• Question Types

Subscribe to our FREE newsletter and start improving your life in just 5 minutes a day.

You'll get our 5 free 'One Minute Life Skills' and our weekly newsletter.

We'll never share your email address and you can unsubscribe at any time.

The formal presentation of information is divided into two broad categories: Presentation Skills and Personal Presentation .

These two aspects are interwoven and can be described as the preparation, presentation and practice of verbal and non-verbal communication. 

This article describes what a presentation is and defines some of the key terms associated with presentation skills.

Many people feel terrified when asked to make their first public talk.  Some of these initial fears can be reduced by good preparation that also lays the groundwork for making an effective presentation.

A Presentation Is...

A presentation is a means of communication that can be adapted to various speaking situations, such as talking to a group, addressing a meeting or briefing a team.

A presentation can also be used as a broad term that encompasses other ‘speaking engagements’ such as making a speech at a wedding, or getting a point across in a video conference.

To be effective, step-by-step preparation and the method and means of presenting the information should be carefully considered. 

A presentation requires you to get a message across to the listeners and will often contain a ' persuasive ' element. It may, for example, be a talk about the positive work of your organisation, what you could offer an employer, or why you should receive additional funding for a project.

The Key Elements of a Presentation

Making a presentation is a way of communicating your thoughts and ideas to an audience and many of our articles on communication are also relevant here, see: What is Communication? for more.

Consider the following key components of a presentation:

Ask yourself the following questions to develop a full understanding of the context of the presentation.

When and where will you deliver your presentation?

There is a world of difference between a small room with natural light and an informal setting, and a huge lecture room, lit with stage lights. The two require quite different presentations, and different techniques.

Will it be in a setting you are familiar with, or somewhere new?

If somewhere new, it would be worth trying to visit it in advance, or at least arriving early, to familiarise yourself with the room.

Will the presentation be within a formal or less formal setting?

A work setting will, more or less by definition, be more formal, but there are also various degrees of formality within that.

Will the presentation be to a small group or a large crowd?

Are you already familiar with the audience?

With a new audience, you will have to build rapport quickly and effectively, to get them on your side.

What equipment and technology will be available to you, and what will you be expected to use?

In particular, you will need to ask about microphones and whether you will be expected to stand in one place, or move around.

What is the audience expecting to learn from you and your presentation?

Check how you will be ‘billed’ to give you clues as to what information needs to be included in your presentation.

All these aspects will change the presentation. For more on this, see our page on Deciding the Presentation Method .

The role of the presenter is to communicate with the audience and control the presentation.

Remember, though, that this may also include handing over the control to your audience, especially if you want some kind of interaction.

You may wish to have a look at our page on Facilitation Skills for more.

The audience receives the presenter’s message(s).

However, this reception will be filtered through and affected by such things as the listener’s own experience, knowledge and personal sense of values.

See our page: Barriers to Effective Communication to learn why communication can fail.

The message or messages are delivered by the presenter to the audience.

The message is delivered not just by the spoken word ( verbal communication ) but can be augmented by techniques such as voice projection, body language, gestures, eye contact ( non-verbal communication ), and visual aids.

The message will also be affected by the audience’s expectations. For example, if you have been billed as speaking on one particular topic, and you choose to speak on another, the audience is unlikely to take your message on board even if you present very well . They will judge your presentation a failure, because you have not met their expectations.

The audience’s reaction and therefore the success of the presentation will largely depend upon whether you, as presenter, effectively communicated your message, and whether it met their expectations.

As a presenter, you don’t control the audience’s expectations. What you can do is find out what they have been told about you by the conference organisers, and what they are expecting to hear. Only if you know that can you be confident of delivering something that will meet expectations.

See our page: Effective Speaking for more information.

How will the presentation be delivered?

Presentations are usually delivered direct to an audience.  However, there may be occasions where they are delivered from a distance over the Internet using video conferencing systems, such as Skype.

It is also important to remember that if your talk is recorded and posted on the internet, then people may be able to access it for several years. This will mean that your contemporaneous references should be kept to a minimum.

Impediments

Many factors can influence the effectiveness of how your message is communicated to the audience.

For example background noise or other distractions, an overly warm or cool room, or the time of day and state of audience alertness can all influence your audience’s level of concentration.

As presenter, you have to be prepared to cope with any such problems and try to keep your audience focussed on your message.   

Our page: Barriers to Communication explains these factors in more depth.

Continue to read through our Presentation Skills articles for an overview of how to prepare and structure a presentation, and how to manage notes and/or illustrations at any speaking event.

Continue to: Preparing for a Presentation Deciding the Presentation Method

See also: Writing Your Presentation | Working with Visual Aids Coping with Presentation Nerves | Dealing with Questions Learn Better Presentation Skills with TED Talks

Presentation

• Written By Gregg Rosenzweig
• Updated: June 4, 2024

We’re here to help you choose the most appropriate content types to fulfill your content strategy. In this series, we’re breaking down the most popular content types to their basic fundamentals so you can start with a solid foundation — simple definitions, clarity on formats, and plenty of examples.

What is a Presentation?

A communication device that relays a topic to an audience in the form of a slide show, demonstration, lecture, or speech, where words and pictures complement each other.

Why should you think of presentations as content?

The beauty of content creation is that almost anything can become a compelling piece of content . It just depends on the creativity used to convert it and the story that brings it to life.

The long and short of it

Although the length of a presentation in terms of time can depend on the overall approach (Are you talking a lot? Are you referring to the screen in detail or not?), consider the number of informational content slides when tallying the overall presentation length. For instance, don’t include title slides in your tally when conveying length to a content creator.

A general guide to presentation length:

• Short Form (5 content slides)
• Standard Form (10 content slides)
• Long Form (20+ content slides)

Popular use cases for presentations…

Let’s consider TED Talks for a minute: one of the best examples (bar none) of how words, pictures, and a narrative can make people care about something they otherwise might not.

These “talks” pre-date podcasts and blend a compelling use of language and imagery in presentation format to spread ideas in unique ways.

TED Talks have been viewed a billion-plus times worldwide (and counting) and are worth considering when it comes to how you might use video-presentation content to connect with your customers in creative, cool, new ways.

Business types:

Any company that has a pitch deck, executive summary, sales presentation, or any kind of internal document can repurpose them into external-facing content pieces — without pain.

Presentation Examples – Short Form

Here are some short-form examples with curated to help inspire you.

Presentation Examples – Standard Form

Presentation Examples – Long Form

Understanding Content Quality in Examples

Our team has rated content type examples in three degrees of quality ( Good, Better, Best ) to help you better gauge resources needed for your content plan.

In general, the degrees of content quality correspond to our three content levels ( General, Qualified, Expert ) based on the criteria below. Remember though, multiple variables determine the cost, completion time, or content level for any content piece with a perceived degree of quality.

How to Get Exceptional Content That Elevates

If you want to impress your clients, co-workers, or leadership team with your next presentation or product demonstration, to might want to consider working with proven content creators.

At ClearVoice, we have a Talent Network of 4000+ professionals across 200+ industries. That means we can find creators with the exact skill sets and expertise you need to create content that gets results.

Talk to a content specialist today to start the conversation.

Stay in the know.

We will keep you up-to-date with all the content marketing news and resources. You will be a content expert in no time. Sign up for our free newsletter.

Elevate Your Content Game

Transform your marketing with a consistent stream of high-quality content for your brand.

You May Also Like...

ClearVoice Team Spotlight: Roxi Durant

Jenna Lee-Kelland: Behind the Byline

Jordana Weiss: Behind the Byline

• Content Production
• Build Your SEO
• Amplify Your Content
• For Agencies

Why ClearVoice

• Talent Network
• How It Works
• Freelance For Us
• Statement on AI
• Talk to a Specialist

Get Insights In Your Inbox

• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Service
• Intellectual Property Claims
• Data Collection Preferences

• The Complete Guide to Mastering Business Presentations
• Introduction to Business Presentations

What is a Business Presentation?

Aayush Jain

Definition and components of a business presentation, unpacking the core: the what and why of business presentations.

Business presentations are pivotal in the corporate landscape, acting as a bridge between a company and its audience—be it clients, investors, or internal teams. This opening paragraph sets the stage for our exploration, highlighting the essence of a business presentation. It's not merely about presenting a company; it's about crafting a narrative that engages, informs, and compels action. Here, we delve into what makes up a business presentation, emphasizing its importance in achieving business objectives and how it fits into the broader context of corporate communication.

Building Blocks: Anatomy of an Effective Presentation

Diving deeper, we explore the structural components that constitute a business presentation. From the opening slide that sets the tone, through the compelling core where ideas and data intermingle, to the concluding call to action, every element plays a crucial role. This section breaks down the anatomy of a presentation, including the significance of a visually appealing design, the strategic use of visual representations like charts and graphs, and the art of balancing information density to maintain the attention spans of audience. The goal is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the components that, when combined, create a compelling business presentation.

From Theory to Practice: Stories of Impact

Here, we transition from the theoretical framework to the tangible impact of business presentations in the real world. By presenting examples from various industries, we illustrate how presenting a company effectively can pivot its market position, attract potential customers, or secure funding from potential investors. This narrative brings to life the power of a well-crafted presentation, showcasing real success stories and current trends that underline the importance of design, storytelling, and audience engagement.

Expert Insights and Quantitative Backing

In this part, we lean on expert opinions and quantitative data to underscore the value of professional presentation design. Highlighting insights from industry leaders like Aayush Jain of INK PPT , we discuss the undeniable impact of aesthetics and narrative in making a presentation not just seen but felt. This exploration is reinforced with statistics and research findings, validating the strategic importance of most presentations in business success and decision-making processes.

Vision for the Future: Evolving Presentation Landscapes

Concluding, we look forward to the evolving dynamics of business presentations, especially in the context of digital transformation and virtual engagement. This future outlook article is complemented by a YouTube video link that offers viewers a deeper dive into innovative presentation techniques and the emerging tools reshaping how we convey business narratives. This segment aims to leave readers with a sense of anticipation and readiness for the advancements in presentation strategies, encouraging them to think beyond traditional formats towards more interactive, engaging approaches.

[Explore Innovative Presentation Techniques]

Historical Evolution of Business Presentations

Business presentations have come a long way from the days of overhead professional company presentation has transformed into a sophisticated process that leverages advanced technology like PowerPoint to deliver powerful messages.

Imagine the evolution of business presentations as a journey from the simplicity of a hand-drawn road map to the complexity of a GPS system. For instance, in the 1980s, a company presentation might have been limited to paper handouts and verbal explanations, while today, it involves dynamic PowerPoint slides, videos, and interactive elements.

Research indicates that the use of visual aids in presentations has increased retention rates by up to 65%, highlighting the shift towards more visually oriented communication strategies.

"In the early days, we relied on our words and basic slides to convey our ideas. Now, we use a rich tapestry of visuals, animations, and interactive elements to tell our story," reflects Aayush Jain on the evolution of presentation techniques.

Common Types of Business Presentations

There are several types of business presentations , each designed to fulfill specific objectives. From informational to persuasive, and decision-making presentations, the goal is always to present the company in the best light possible.

Consider the difference between a documentary and a feature film. Both tell stories, but while the documentary aims to inform and educate, the feature film seeks to entertain and perhaps persuade. Similarly, an informational presentation aims to educate the audience about the company profile, while a sales pitch seeks to persuade potential clients to invest.

Statistics show that over 70% of businesses consider presentation skills crucial for career success, underscoring the variety and importance of these presentations in the professional landscape.

"Each type of business presentation requires a unique approach to storytelling and design. Understanding your audience's needs and expectations is key to delivering a successful presentation," advises Aayush Jain.

Purposes and Objectives of Business Presentations

The primary purpose of an organizational presentation varies from presenting a company's achievements to potential investors, to educating new employees about company policies. Each presentation is designed with specific objectives in mind, such as persuading clients or facilitating decision-making processes.

The purpose of a business presentation can be compared to a compass in a ship's navigation. Just as a compass guides the ship towards its destination, the objectives of a presentation guide the content and delivery to achieve the desired outcome. An example of this is using a company presentation to secure new clients by effectively communicating the value proposition.

Data from LinkedIn shows that presentations with clear objectives are 50% more likely to achieve their desired outcomes, highlighting the importance of having a focused message.

"Setting clear objectives at the inception of the presentation design process ensures that every separate slide, every visual element, and every word spoken is aligned with the goal of showcasing the company in the most effective manner," says Aayush Jain.

Understanding the purposes behind business presentations paves the way for exploring the role they play in decision-making, further demonstrating their importance in the corporate world.

The Role of Business Presentations in Decision-Making

Business presentations are pivotal in the decision-making process, providing a structured opportunity for presenting complex information and recommendations. They serve as a crucial touchpoint, influencing the opinions and actions of stakeholders, from internal team members to external partners and clients.

Imagine the idea of a company presentation as a compass guiding a ship through the treacherous waters of corporate decision-making. Just as a captain relies on a compass to navigate, so do leaders rely on presentations to guide their decisions.

For instance, a well-executed presentation that showcases a comprehensive market analysis and competitive advantages can significantly influence the strategic direction of a company.

Research from the Decision Management Association highlights that decks that effectively present relevant data and analysis can improve decision-making speed and accuracy by up to 40%. A study by the International Business Communication Council found that decision-makers cite clarity, conciseness, and relevance as the top three factors that make presentations impactful in their decision-making process. These insights underscore the importance of strategic focus and data-driven content in business decks.

Key Elements of a Successful Business Presentation in showcasing a company

A successful business presentation hinges on several key elements: clear objectives, audience understanding, powerful storytelling, effective visual aids, and confident delivery. These components work in concert to engage the audience, convey the message effectively, and achieve the presentation's intended outcomes.

For example, incorporating visual aids such as bar graphs and slides can help illustrate complex ideas, much like how a vivid solo can highlight a particular emotion in a musical piece.

A study by the Presentation Institute of America found that presentation decks incorporating visual aids are 67% more effective at maintaining the attention. Additionally, Gallup research indicates that presentations that include storytelling elements are twice as likely to result in a positive outcome.

These findings highlight the critical role of integrating multiple elements to craft a driving and successful presentation.

Company Presentation vs. Public Speech: Understanding the Distinctions

While often intertwined, company presentations and public speech serve distinct purposes and require different skill sets. A business presentation is typically more focused on delivering specific information or persuading an audience regarding an organization-related topic, utilizing visuals and structured content.

Public speech, on the other hand, might focus more broadly on inspiring, informing, or entertaining an audience, often without the support of graphics.

Imagine a business presentation as a guided tour through a museum, where the guide (presenter) points out and explains various artifacts (points of discussion) with the help of visual cues and structured narrative.

Public speech, in contrast, is like a storyteller weaving tales under the moonlight, where the power of voice and story alone captures the audience's imagination. For instance, while showcasing an organization to investors, the focus is on persuading through data and strategic insights, distinct from the broader motivational approach of speaking publicly.

According to a study by the Public Speaking Association, 80% of professionals believe that presentation skills are crucial to achieving business success, yet only 40% distinguish these from public speaking abilities.

A survey by Presentation Magazine found that incorporating elements of public speech into business presentations, such as storytelling and audience engagement techniques, can enhance the effectiveness of the presentation by up to 35%. These statistics highlight the importance of understanding and integrating the strengths of both disciplines to enhance communication impact.

Cultural Considerations in Business or Company Presentations

The global organizational environment demands sensitivity to cultural differences in business presentations. Factors such as communication styles, power distance, individualism versus collectivism, and uncertainty avoidance play significant roles in how decks are crafted and delivered.

Consider the analogy of a chef preparing a meal for an international audience. Just as the chef must understand and respect the dietary preferences and restrictions of their guests, so must a talk show presenter be cognizant of the cultural nuances of their audience.

For example, a company presentation in Japan might require a more formal approach and the use of subtle persuasion, in contrast to the more direct and assertive style preferred in the United States.

Research by Hofstede Insights reveals that decks tailored to the cultural expectations of the audience are up to 70% more effective in achieving their objectives. A study by the International Journal of Business Communication supports this, finding that presentation decks that acknowledge and adapt to cultural differences improve comprehension and engagement among international audiences.

These insights underscore the critical role of cultural awareness in the success of business presentations on a global scale.

Adapting Company Presentations for Virtual Platforms

The shift towards virtual meetings and conferences necessitates adaptations in how company presentations are designed and delivered. Virtual platforms offer unique opportunities and challenges, from technical considerations to maintaining audience engagement in a digital format.

Think of transitioning from a live concert to a virtual performance. While the essence of the performance remains, the dynamics change significantly. The artist must engage the audience without the immediate feedback of live interaction, relying more on the quality of the content and presentation. Similarly, when showcasing a company virtually, the presenter must leverage technology to maintain the attention, using visual and interactive elements effectively.

A survey by Zoom Video Communications indicates that 58% of professionals find virtual presentation decks more challenging to engage the audience than in-person events. However, a report by Microsoft found that presentations that are specifically designed for virtual delivery, incorporating interactive elements like polls and Q&A sessions, see a 40% increase in audience engagement.

These findings highlight the importance of adapting presentation strategies to suit the virtual environment, ensuring that the message is not only delivered but also received and acted upon effectively.

Incorporating Storytelling Techniques while presenting a company

Storytelling in business presentations is a powerful tool to engage and connect with the audience, making complex information more relatable and memorable. It involves weaving a narrative through the presentation, using real-life examples, anecdotes, and metaphors to illustrate points and evoke emotions.

Imagine a business presentation as a novel, where instead of chapters, you have sections of your presentation, each contributing to the overall narrative. Just like a compelling novel hooks the reader from the very start, a great presentation uses storytelling to capture the attention of target audience and keep them engaged throughout.

For instance, starting a presentation with a customer success story sets the stage for a narrative that the audience can follow and relate to, making the subsequent data and analysis more impactful.

According to a study by the Stanford Graduate School of Business, stories are 22 times more memorable than facts alone. Additionally, research by the Narrative Institute shows that decks using stories can increase audience persuasion by up to 30%.

These statistics validate the effectiveness of storytelling as a technique to enhance the communicative power of business presentations, making them not just informative but also transformative experiences for the audience.

Conclusion on how company presentation can be a game changer

A business presentation is more than just an act of presentation to an audience; it is a carefully crafted communication tool designed to inform, persuade, and connect. Through a combination of historical evolution, cultural sensitivity, storytelling, and adaptation to digital platforms, business presentations have become an essential component of professional success.

By understanding and implementing the key elements of effective decks, individuals and organizations can significantly enhance their ability to communicate ideas, influence decisions, and achieve their objectives.

Frequently asked questions

How do you introduce a company in a presentation.

To introduce a company in a presentation effectively, start with a compelling opening that grabs the audience's attention from the beginning. Provide a first impression and a brief overview of your company, emphasizing the uniqueness of your brand and the value you bring to clients.

Showcasing milestones can illustrate your company's growth and success, thereby building credibility. When presenting products or services to a client, think on how they address the needs and challenges of your target audience, supported by visuals and concise descriptions.

Incorporating a testimonial can lend authenticity and demonstrate real-world impact. Lastly, introducing your team personalizes your presentation, showing the faces behind the success. Throughout, ensure your presentation is visually appealing and avoid overwhelming your audience with too much information or industry jargon.

What should be in a company presentation?

A company presentation must include a clear visual representation of your company's name, brand identity, and the core products or services you offer, designed to convey feelings of trust and reliability to your client. It should give a brief overview of your company's history, mission, and vision, helping the audience understand who you are and what you stand for. Highlighting key milestones and achievements can demonstrate your company's growth and expertise.

Testimonials or case studies provide social proof and build confidence in your potential customers. Visual elements such as your company logo, color scheme, and visuals like bar graphs or slides should be used to make the presentation more engaging and to help convey complex ideas more effectively.

Remember, the goal is to create a lasting and positive first impression on your audience, making your presentation short and to the point, and ensuring it is visually appealing from start to creating a compelling narrative.

How do I present my company in a presentation?

To present your company effectively in a presentation, begin with a strong and engaging introduction that clearly states what your business is about and why it matters. Be concise throughout, focusing on your bullet points and delivering a clear and impactful message about your company's vision, mission, and what sets you apart from the competition. Use high-quality graphics to support your points, making your presentation more memorable and easier to understand.

Highlight your main products or services, emphasizing their benefits to your target or even test audience. Avoid industry slang and ensure that your presentation progresses smoothly without rushing, allowing your audience to fully absorb the information.

Engaging your audience with relevant examples and compelling storytelling can further enhance the impact of your presentation, making it a powerful tool for presenting your company.

What are the three general types of business presentations?

The three general types of business presentations are:

• Pitch Deck Presentation: This type focuses on showcasing to investors or partners, highlighting the business model, market opportunity, and financial projections to secure funding or strategic alliances.
• Sales Deck Presentation: Aimed at potential clients or customers, this type showcases the company's products or services, demonstrating their value proposition and how they solve specific problems or meet specific needs.
• Product Market Slide Deck: This presentation type is used to introduce a new product or service to the market, detailing its features, benefits, and competitive advantages to generate interest and drive adoption.

What are the three parts of a professional company presentation?

A professional business presentation is structured into three main parts:

• Introduction (10-15%): Start by capturing the audience's attention with an engaging opening, set the context, and briefly outline what the presentation will cover. This sets the tone and expectations from the very beginning.
• Body (75-80%): The core of your presentation, where you delve into the details of your company presentation, highlighting the company profile, showcasing your products or services, and discussing key points in further detail. Use this section to convey your main message, supported by visuals, examples, and data to enhance understanding and retention.
• Conclusion (10-15%): Summarize the key points made throughout the presentation, reinforce the main message, and provide a clear call to action or outline the next steps. The conclusion should leave a lasting impression, ensuring your company and its offerings remain top of mind for your audience.

What is the most important element in a powerpoint company presentation?

The most important element in a business presentation is clarity of message. Showing the company's goals, values, and objectives in a clear, concise manner ensures that the audience understands the company profile core message. Visuals, storytelling, and engaging content support this clarity by reinforcing the message and keeping the audience's attention focused.

How has technology impacted business presentations?

Technology has revolutionized business presentations by enabling more dynamic, interactive, and visually appealing presentation desks. Tools like PowerPoint, video conferencing software, and interactive polls have made it easier to engage with the audience, whether in-person or virtually. Technology also allows for broader reach, enabling slide decks to speak to global audiences through webinars and online meetings.

What are the key differences between business presentations and public speech?

Business presentations often focus on numerous aspects of a company, its products, or services to a specific audience with a clear objective, such as persuading, informing, or decision-making. Public speech, while it can share these goals, is broader and may not always involve creating a business context. It focuses more on the delivery, rhetoric, and engagement with the audience on various topics.

How can storytelling be incorporated into business presentations?

Storytelling can be incorporated by framing the presentation around a compelling narrative point that relates to the audience's experiences or challenges. Using real-life examples, customer testimonials, and a clear narrative arc can make the business presentation more engaging and memorable. Storytelling helps to humanize the company and makes complex information more relatable.

What are the best practices for designing a business presentation?

Best practices include keeping the design simple and professional, using a consistent color scheme and font, minimizing text on slides, and making good use of visuals and graphs. It's also important to tailor the presentation to the audience, focus on key messages, and practice delivery to ensure smooth flow and timing.

How can one adapt a business presentation for an international audience?

To adapt a presentation for an international audience, consider cultural sensitivities, use clear and simple language, avoid local jargon, and incorporate relevant global examples or case studies. It's also helpful to be mindful of time zone differences for live decks and to provide translations or subtitles if necessary.

What are the benefits of practicing a presentation before delivering it?

Practicing a presentation helps in refining the delivery, timing, and transitions between topics. It builds confidence, reduces anxiety, and allows the presenter to adjust pacing and emphasis based on the flow of the presentation. Practice also helps in identifying and correcting any potential issues with the content or delivery.

How can visuals enhance the effectiveness of a presentation?

Visuals, such as charts, graphs, images, and videos, can help illustrate and reinforce key aspects, making complex information easier to understand. They capture and retain the audience's attention, add interest to the presentation, and can evoke emotional responses that enhance persuasion and recall.

What role does the audience play in shaping the content of a presentation?

The audience's needs, interests, and level of knowledge significantly shape the content and delivery of a presentation. Understanding the audience allows the presenter to tailor the content to address their specific questions, concerns, and expectations, making the presentation more relevant, engaging, and effective.

How can feedback be used to improve future presentations?

Feedback provides valuable insights into what worked well and what could be improved in terms of content, delivery, and engagement strategies. Constructive criticism helps identify areas for improvement, while positive feedback can reinforce effective practices. Incorporating feedback into future decks ensures continuous improvement and better audience engagement.

Discover how we can create magic in your communication

Improving Business Presentation Skills through Technology

Final Thoughts: Mastering the Business Presentation for Lasting Impact

Recap of Key Insights from the Entire Guide Introduction to the Recap In the journey toward mastering business presentations, we've traversed through varied landscapes of skills, strategies, and insights. This recapitulation serves not just as a reminder but as a cornerstone for those aspiring to leave a lasting

The Top 10 Business Presentation Apps for Smartphone-Enhanced Presentations

Overview of Smartphone-Enhanced Presentation Apps Engaging Audiences Anytime, Anywhere: The Rise of Smartphone-Enhanced Presentation Apps In today's fast-paced world, the ability to deliver compelling presentations on the go has become indispensable for professionals across all industries. Smartphone-enhanced presentation apps have emerged as a revolutionary tool, transforming how we

Elevating Your Business Presentation: A Guide to Advancing Your Skills

Densifying areas for Personal Improvement in Presentation Skills Unlocking Potential: A Deep Dive into Creative Presentation ideas The journey to elevating your business presentation begins with a critical self-assessment, pinpointing areas ripe for enhancement. This introspection is pivotal for anyone aiming to leave a lasting impact through their presentations. By

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to footer

How to Make Killer Business Presentations

Last Updated – Feb 15, 2022 @ 7:49 am

If you are serious about your business , at some point, you need to make a business presentation. Whether you are looking for new investors, training new staff, or selling to an audience, acing your business presentation skills is a must. 

Unfortunately, starting a solid business presentation is a huge undertaking for a lot of entrepreneurs. To help you with this important task, we’ve compiled this guide.

What is a Business Presentation?

A business presentation is a great tool that will help you attract new investors and customers, or let people know about your business. 

This slideshow or demonstration showcases your services, products, and even history. This is usually carried out through audio/visual material such as televisions, laptops, projectors, and statistical documents.   

Business presentations are usually made using a presentation software such as Microsoft PowerPoint but they can also be created using material such as flip charts. 

Types of Business Presentations

Not all business presentations are the same. We’ve gathered its most common types to make it easier for you to assess which one you should make.

Informative presentations

The goal of this business presentation is to provide information and educate the audience. It may cover the following topics:

• Marketing plan
• Status reports
• Monthly reports

The main characteristic of this type of business presentation is it begins with a goal, and it is followed by specific action plans.

Persuasive presentations

This type of business presentation is commonly presented in the middle and upper management of companies. The goal of this presentation is to convince people to support a side.

Usually, this presentation begins with a problem and a proposed solution. Then, it is followed by a situation analysis.

If you plan on presenting a persuasive business presentation, you must highlight the advantages of your viewpoint, as well as present facts and examples. This way, you can persuade your audience to favor your solution. 

Group presentations

The purpose of this type of presentation is to communicate the findings of a team or group. This presentation may be informal, but as with other types of presentations, it seeks to convince people to accept new business strategies and findings.

These presentations are commonly used in corporate meetings where senior executives present their desired corporate direction, followed by team members discussing the topic in detail. 

Presentation aids

Giving presentations made with programs such as PowerPoint has become the new norm in business.

However, you can still use blackboards, whiteboards, and other channels to capture the attention of your audience.

You can even use both to ensure that your audience remembers the details of your presentation more. 

Importance of Business Presentations

Every business owner should know how to make business presentations. Here’s why these types of presentations are vital to the success of your brand .

You’ll be seen as an authority figure

When you make great presentations, you will encourage more people to trust your brand.

Whether the presentation is for a sales campaign or a simple meeting for your company, presentations have the power to influence how people see you. In turn, this can affect their decision-making process.

Another reason why a presentation makes you an authority figure is that it promotes consistency. When you have a standard for presentations, everyone in your company can communicate information more consistently. 

It increases engagement

One of the major upsides of presentations is it makes it easier for the audience to engage. Through a solid presentation, you can hold people’s attention, and make them understand concepts visually.

Presentations are also theatrical in nature so it creates a lasting impact compared to when you simply talk without visual aids. When your audience’s engagement is increased, you’re sure that they get your message. 

It is effective in reaching various audience groups

At its core, presentations are a communication tool. You can use them in face-to-face meetings, Zoom calls, and many more. The same presentation you used for your meeting can even be made available to download for your staff so they can study it more even after the presentation has concluded. 

It gives you flexibility

Another importance of presentation is it allows presenters like you to be more flexible.

When you have a presentation, you don’t need to spend hours editing or changing your content to make way for new information. You can easily modify it depending on its audience.

For instance, if you are making a business presentation in various market sectors, you can incorporate specific content for each audience group. 

Tips on How to Make a Killer Business Presentation

Here are some effective and surprisingly easy tips to follow to ensure to make the best business presentation.

1. Write it down first

When making a business presentation, you don’t immediately open your favorite presentation software the moment you decide to make it.

The goal of your business presentation is to convey a message. But first, you need to define what that message is. 

Considering this, stay away from your computer during the first stage of developing your presentation. Keep in mind that PowerPoint or Keynote, along with other presentation software, are not designed to write presentations. They are only designed to deliver them.

Get your pen and paper out, or open MS Word or any notes app, then create the headlines you want on your presentation.

Once done, assess of everything is cohesive. Your business presentation should tell a story that has a beginning, middle, and end. 

2. Steer clear from black & white presentations

Standard black and white presentations should have no room in your company. This will only bore your audience. 

Leverage beginner-friendly software to design your presentation. There are tons of templates to choose from to make your business presentation more professional-looking.

If you want to take the extra mile, hire someone to do a presentation template for your company. This one-time investment will definitely pay off in the long run. 

3. Use images & visuals

Reading presentations that contain huge blocks of texts is never fun. Effective presenters know the importance of leveraging images and other visual aids in their presentation.

This could be charts, diagrams, or graphs. When you present data this way, your audience will understand it better.

4. Don’t use stock photography

This is one of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make when making presentations. Nobody likes to see stock photos with annoying watermarks.

Similarly, if you are presenting to a Filipino audience and the stock photos you have on your presentation only use Caucasian models, these people would not relate to your presentation much. 

5. Inject a little humor

We’re not asking you to play Kabulastugan Instagram videos on your business presentation. However, try to inject a few funny anecdotes without making fun of anyone.

Business presentations are notorious for being boring so if you want to prevent your audience from dozing off, lighten up the mood.

6. Don’t overload your business presentation with information

When you make business presentations, your goal is not to make your audiences read, but to make them listen. Do not put all information in slides because this will only decrease the interest of your audience. 

Instead of treating your business presentation like a transcript, use it to guide you when telling the story of the presentation. Here’s an order you can use for your slides:

• Introduction
• Visual data 
• Questions (directed to you by your audience)
• Other backup information to answer possible questions 

7. Use large fonts

The last thing you want is to have people at the back squinting because they can’t see the text in your presentation. As a rule, the text and images in your slides should be clear even for those at the back of the room.

It is also recommended to use simple fonts. Here are some fonts that look professional:

• Didas 
• Josefin Sans
• Times new roman 
• Libre-Baskerville

8. Keep it short

Nobody wants to listen to an hour-long presentation without breaks. As much as possible, cut your business presentation to 20 minutes or less.

This way, you get to arrest the attention span of your audience from beginning to end.

9. Always end on a positive note

When it comes to a business presentation, you should end on a high note by answering the question “what should we do next?”

This call to action will encourage your audience to think beyond your presentation and find ways to apply what they learned.

10. Check the set-up

Whether you are making a business presentation to 10 people or 1,000, you should always check the set-up beforehand, or ask someone to do it for you.

This way, you will minimize the risk of running into technical issues that could affect your presentation’s success. 

11. Don’t forget to practice

An aesthetically-pleasing presentation will only get you so far. At the end of the day, the success of your business presentation solely depends on your presentation skills.

If you haven’t practiced this skill yet, don’t worry. After all, nobody is born a great speaker. This is something you develop over time.

What may help you is to practice in front of a mirror, or do a mock presentation with two people in your team. Ask them for feedback on areas you can improve on, and make adjustments as needed. 

12. Prepare for a Q&A

At the end of your presentation, you must ask your audience for questions or input. When taking note of possible questions, do not leave out the simplest ones.

It is also recommended to the answer by heart instead of simply reading them from your slide. 

You can also prepare some questions at the end if in case your audience is too shy to ask questions. This way, there would be no uncomfortable and awkward silence.

About MJ de Castro

MJ de Castro is the lead personal finance columnist at Grit PH.

MJ started her career as a writer for her local government’s City Information Office. Later on, she became a news anchor on PTV Davao del Norte.

Wanting to break free from the shackles of her 9-to-5 career to live by the beach, she pursued remote work. Over the years, she has developed a wide specialization on health, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, branding, and travel.

Now, she juggles writing professionally, her business centering on women’s menstrual health, and surfing.

Education: Ateneo de Davao University (AB Mass Communication) Focus: Personal Finance, Personal Development, Entrepreneurship, & Marketing

Reader Interactions

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

We need your help!

Our team is currently conducting research for an upcoming guide focusing on starting a business in the Philippines . We would greatly appreciate your contribution, which should only require a few seconds of your time. 

Thank you in advance!

• Digital Marketing
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• Digital PR & Link Building
• Social Media Marketing
• Digital Advertising (PPC & Social)
• Content Marketing
• Copywriting
• Email Marketing
• Conversion Optimization
• Web/App Development
• Ecommerce Development

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. Name * Location of Business * Number of Employees * 1 - 10 11 -50 51 - 100 100 - 500 500+ Phone Number * Email * Insurance Company Standard Insurance AXA Philippines BDO AIG Submit

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. Full Name * Company Name * Mobile Number * Email Address * Submit

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. Name * Contact Number * Email Address * Target Location Preferred Developer * Ayala Land SM Prime Megaworld Alveo Land DMCI Homes Federal Land Robinsons Land Corp Vista Land and Lifescapes Filinvest Land Shang Properties Century Properties Empire East Rockwell Land Comment Submit

Disclosure: Your personal details will not be shared with any third-party companies. We’ll just need your contact details so our resident real estate agents can reach you to provide you with the details for any of the listed property developments you’re interested to invest in.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. Name * Age * Location* Phone Number * Email Address * Insurance Company Sun Life Financial Pru Life U.K. AXA Philippines AIA Philippines Manulife Insular Life BPI-AIA BDO Life Etiqa FWD Insurance Allianz PNB Life Comment Get a Quote

Disclosure: Your personal details will not be shared with any third-party companies. We’ll just need your contact details so our resident financial advisors can reach you to provide you with the details for any of the listed insurance company you’re interested in.

Ideas and insights from Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning

Powerful and Effective Presentation Skills: More in Demand Now Than Ever

When we talk with our L&D colleagues from around the globe, we often hear that presentation skills training is one of the top opportunities they’re looking to provide their learners. And this holds true whether their learners are individual contributors, people managers, or senior leaders. This is not surprising.

Effective communications skills are a powerful career activator, and most of us are called upon to communicate in some type of formal presentation mode at some point along the way.

For instance, you might be asked to brief management on market research results, walk your team through a new process, lay out the new budget, or explain a new product to a client or prospect. Or you may want to build support for a new idea, bring a new employee into the fold, or even just present your achievements to your manager during your performance review.

And now, with so many employees working from home or in hybrid mode, and business travel in decline, there’s a growing need to find new ways to make effective presentations when the audience may be fully virtual or a combination of in person and remote attendees.

Whether you’re making a standup presentation to a large live audience, or a sit-down one-on-one, whether you’re delivering your presentation face to face or virtually, solid presentation skills matter.

Even the most seasoned and accomplished presenters may need to fine-tune or update their skills. Expectations have changed over the last decade or so. Yesterday’s PowerPoint which primarily relied on bulleted points, broken up by the occasional clip-art image, won’t cut it with today’s audience.

The digital revolution has revolutionized the way people want to receive information. People expect presentations that are more visually interesting. They expect to see data, metrics that support assertions. And now, with so many previously in-person meetings occurring virtually, there’s an entirely new level of technical preparedness required.

The leadership development tools and the individual learning opportunities you’re providing should include presentation skills training that covers both the evergreen fundamentals and the up-to-date capabilities that can make or break a presentation.

So, just what should be included in solid presentation skills training? Here’s what I think.

The fundamentals will always apply When it comes to making a powerful and effective presentation, the fundamentals will always apply. You need to understand your objective. Is it strictly to convey information, so that your audience’s knowledge is increased? Is it to persuade your audience to take some action? Is it to convince people to support your idea? Once you understand what your objective is, you need to define your central message. There may be a lot of things you want to share with your audience during your presentation, but find – and stick with – the core, the most important point you want them to walk away with. And make sure that your message is clear and compelling.

You also need to tailor your presentation to your audience. Who are they and what might they be expecting? Say you’re giving a product pitch to a client. A technical team may be interested in a lot of nitty-gritty product detail. The business side will no doubt be more interested in what returns they can expect on their investment.

Another consideration is the setting: is this a formal presentation to a large audience with questions reserved for the end, or a presentation in a smaller setting where there’s the possibility for conversation throughout? Is your presentation virtual or in-person? To be delivered individually or as a group? What time of the day will you be speaking? Will there be others speaking before you and might that impact how your message will be received?

Once these fundamentals are established, you’re in building mode. What are the specific points you want to share that will help you best meet your objective and get across your core message? Now figure out how to convey those points in the clearest, most straightforward, and succinct way. This doesn’t mean that your presentation has to be a series of clipped bullet points. No one wants to sit through a presentation in which the presenter reads through what’s on the slide. You can get your points across using stories, fact, diagrams, videos, props, and other types of media.

Visual design matters While you don’t want to clutter up your presentation with too many visual elements that don’t serve your objective and can be distracting, using a variety of visual formats to convey your core message will make your presentation more memorable than slides filled with text. A couple of tips: avoid images that are cliched and overdone. Be careful not to mix up too many different types of images. If you’re using photos, stick with photos. If you’re using drawn images, keep the style consistent. When data are presented, stay consistent with colors and fonts from one type of chart to the next. Keep things clear and simple, using data to support key points without overwhelming your audience with too much information. And don’t assume that your audience is composed of statisticians (unless, of course, it is).

When presenting qualitative data, brief videos provide a way to engage your audience and create emotional connection and impact. Word clouds are another way to get qualitative data across.

Practice makes perfect You’ve pulled together a perfect presentation. But it likely won’t be perfect unless it’s well delivered. So don’t forget to practice your presentation ahead of time. Pro tip: record yourself as you practice out loud. This will force you to think through what you’re going to say for each element of your presentation. And watching your recording will help you identify your mistakes—such as fidgeting, using too many fillers (such as “umm,” or “like”), or speaking too fast.

A key element of your preparation should involve anticipating any technical difficulties. If you’ve embedded videos, make sure they work. If you’re presenting virtually, make sure that the lighting is good, and that your speaker and camera are working. Whether presenting in person or virtually, get there early enough to work out any technical glitches before your presentation is scheduled to begin. Few things are a bigger audience turn-off than sitting there watching the presenter struggle with the delivery mechanisms!

Finally, be kind to yourself. Despite thorough preparation and practice, sometimes, things go wrong, and you need to recover in the moment, adapt, and carry on. It’s unlikely that you’ll have caused any lasting damage and the important thing is to learn from your experience, so your next presentation is stronger.

How are you providing presentation skills training for your learners?

Manika Gandhi is Senior Learning Design Manager at Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning. Email her at [email protected] .

Let’s talk

Change isn’t easy, but we can help. Together we’ll create informed and inspired leaders ready to shape the future of your business.

© 2024 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School.

• Privacy Policy
• Copyright Information
• Terms of Use
• About Harvard Business Publishing
• Higher Education
• Harvard Business Review
• Harvard Business School

We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies and revised Privacy Policy .

Cookie and Privacy Settings

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.

We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.

We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Google reCaptcha Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.

How to Give a Business Presentation: Guide, Tips and Examples

Consistently nailing business presentations can be challenging, with recurring obstacles often popping up to scupper your chances. While some factors are beyond our control, many are not. Discover here how to consistently excel in preparation, creation, and delivery to boost your chances of ongoing success.

James Moffatt

April 23, 2024

It is inevitable that at one point in your professional life, you will be tasked with giving a business presentation. Making this presentation powerful and effective is something someone in this scenario would aspire for, and therefore the ability to deliver a business presentation well is an invaluable skill. Today, we will master this skill by honing in on the art and science behind crafting and delivering outstanding presentations, backed up by examples and tips that have proven effective in the corporate world from some of the most reputable businesspeople.

What are Business Presentations?

A professional’s tool for communicating new ideas and inspiring, persuading audiences or investors, and kicking off discussions, the business presentation is a collection of information that is prepared and shared in a business setting. Traditionally occurring solely within a boardroom or in-person workplace, recent developments in working styles and setups have meant that more business presentations than ever are being carried out remotely.

Common within both formats is a range of supporting content such as data visualizations, text, images, and other multimedia, that can be shown on slides, different tabs, or a pitch deck. To give a good presentation, the vocal and visual aspects have to be faultless individually, but must also intertwine seamlessly. Achieving this often poses challenges, whether presenting in-person or online, but the root of this challenge is poor preparation, or ineffective use of presentation software. By following the advice within this guide, you will unearth this root, replacing it with a new and improved seed containing invaluable information on top-tier business presentations and how to consistently deliver them.

On the note of ineffective presentation software use, and before we get stuck into our full guide for creating great business presentations, this seems like an apt place to give our first tip. 

Tip 1: Use Bubbles for Online Presentations

If you are in a position where you need to give a presentation remotely, you don’t want to fall into that trap of misusing or entirely neglecting software that can elevate your presentation and its aftermath. By using Bubbles, you are able to either present using just video recording software if a PowerPoint presentation isn't necessary, or present using screen recording and video recording, to get the best of both worlds.

This is the view you will see before starting your presentation. Working within an asynchronous team, there have been countless times where I have had to record a presentation to share with my teammates. Often, my presentations involve going through and sharing various sets of data, all recorded in different areas. The beauty of Bubbles is that the transition between tabs, pitch deck slides, or PowerPoint slides is super slick and easy, meaning no focus is taken away from the content or the verbal element of the presentation. Try using Bubbles for free, and start to drive some positive change into your online presentations.

Now, let's get our teeth into the presentation itself, and how you can set yourself up for success.

Crafting an Effective Business Presentation

1. planning and preparation.

• What are the Objectives: You don't want to meander along without a clear central idea for your business presentation, so begin the whole process by clearly defining the purpose of this presentation. What do you want to achieve by doing it? Who is the audience and how can you cater to them? Without realizing, you will go a long way towards shaping the future content and delivery of the presentation here. 
• Research: You want to be seen as reputable! Even if you find it boring, you need to research thoroughly to make sure every claim in your presentation is backed up by accurate, up-to-date data, stats or information. This can be especially useful for persuasion in a pitch or presentation where the audience are highly experienced and knowledgeable.

2. Structuring Your Presentation

• Create an Outline: As I said, your objectives will mostly ghost-write this for you, at least mentally. The next stage is to jot the outline of your presentation down and draft it into a blueprint. Get an introduction down in a brief but attention-grabbing format, then bulk out the presentation's main body and arguments, before drafting how you want to conclude. By outlining, you will make any necessary PowerPoint slide design a quicker and easier process, and your presentation slides will be more coherent from start to finish by establishing a structure.
• Develop a Script: When it comes to the business presentation itself, you won't want to be sticking to this verbatim, and you wouldn’t see that in the presentation examples we will look at later, but it helps elsewhere. Having a script will help you practice and will help you to create a presentation template at a later stage, with prompts that you can use to prompt yourself in the presentation.

Read on for the final 3 stages in our guide, more tips, and interesting examples of great business presentations.

Make your meetings matter

Use AI to record, transcribe, and summarize meetings into actions. Bubbles is your home for after-meeting collaboration.

3. Designing Your Slides (Where Applicable) ‍

• Choose the Right Template:  As we know at this stage, the spoken element of the presentation is not the only important element. A good PowerPoint template or Google Slides template can, and will set the tone for your entire presentation. Unless you’re a lone wolf, make sure your slide design aligns with your company’s branding.
• Effective Use of Visuals: Visuals should always be quality over quantity, as you don't want presentation design to be too busy. Incorporate some charts, graphs, and infographics if they are needed to explain complex data or add context. Also, throw in images and videos where it makes sense, to break up the monotony of text and to give yourself a break from speaking.
• Consistent Style: Match the style you choose throughout for your presentation to be as professional as possible, whether that be fonts, color schemes, or the frequency of non-text elements like videos.

4. Delivering the Presentation

• Practice Makes Perfect: Rehearse until you can't handle more rehearsing. A good presentation doesn't just happen overnight, and you need to practice to find areas that should be improved before the big moment. If you struggle with presentation anxiety, you will be doing yourself a favor by committing to rehearsing. Bubbles is great for practicing presentations, as you can record yourself presenting, before watching it back and analyzing the areas that need more work.
• Engage with Your Audience: Eye contact, natural hand gestures, varied voice tones... all of the above with help the maintain interest in your presentation. Try to involve the audience by putting questions within your presentation template and inviting guest participation.
• Handle Questions Intelligently: Questioning comes with a territory. Make sure you are prepared to answer the questions that you anticipate being asked.

5. Using Technology and Tools

• Presentation Software: You don't want to look like a rookie when it comes to handling your PowerPoint presentation, for example, so familiarize yourself with your chosen tool and make sure you know how to troubleshoot any common issues (slide transitions etc).
• Remote Presentation Tools: It's more common than ever before to present virtually, so pay equal attention to your virtual meeting platform, and make sure you know how to record a Zoom meeting, for example. Luckily for you, this is quick, easy, and free with Bubbles Notetaker.
• Asynchronous Presentation Tools:  It might also be required for you to present asynchronously before sending it to whoever needs to hear. You can use the same tactic as you did for practicing here, and record your presentation with Bubbles. By doing so, you will allow yourself to invite the audience to comment and offer their input.

Examples of Effective Business Presentations

1. steve jobs' iphone launch (2007).

Overview: In 2007, Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone in a landmark presentation that would set the standard for product launches in the technology industry. The presentation was not only about revealing a new product but about introducing a revolutionary idea. Below, you can see how Bubbles can be used to record presentations, and you can also watch Steve Jobs' presentation in the bubble!

Why It Was Great: Steve Jobs excelled in creating a narrative that was both simple and compelling. He used clear, concise language and presented the iPhone as a revolutionary combination of three devices: a widescreen iPod with touch controls, a revolutionary mobile phone, and a breakthrough internet communicator. This approach helped the audience easily grasp the uniqueness and value of the iPhone without overwhelming technical details.

Key Elements: Jobs' presentation was highly effective due to his impeccable timing, use of suspense, and the staged reveal of each iPhone feature. He connected with the audience on an emotional level, making them feel they were witnessing the start of a new era. His minimalist slide design and charismatic delivery focused attention on the message, making the technology both relatable and desirable.

2. Mary Barra at CES 2021 (General Motors)

Overview: Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, delivered a pivotal presentation at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in 2021, where she outlined GM's vision to transition to an all-electric future. The presentation marked a significant shift for the automotive giant, traditionally known for gas-powered vehicles.

Why It Was Great: Barra’s presentation was notable for its clear commitment to sustainability, a critical issue that resonated well with contemporary global concerns. She effectively communicated GM's long-term goals, including launching 30 new electric vehicles globally by 2025 and aspiring for carbon neutrality by 2040.

Key Elements: The use of high-quality visuals and futuristic video demonstrations helped illustrate GM’s forward-thinking approach. Barra presented complex technological and environmental plans in an accessible manner, which helped stakeholders understand and align with GM's strategic direction. The presentation was also successful in reinforcing GM’s image as a leader in innovation and environmental responsibility.

3. Simon Sinek’s “How Great Leaders Inspire Action” (TED Talk 2009)

Overview: Simon Sinek’s TED Talk, where he introduced his concept of the "Golden Circle" and explained why "people don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it," remains one of the most viewed TED Talks. It's effectively a presentation on how to present.

Why It Was Great: Sinek’s presentation stands out due to its insightful analysis of successful leaders and organizations. His core idea—that people are inspired by a sense of purpose or 'why' behind actions—helped many viewers rethink their business strategies and leadership approaches.

Key Elements: The simplicity of Sinek’s Golden Circle model, which starts with 'Why,' then moves to 'How,' and finally 'What,' made a complex concept easy to understand and apply. His engaging storytelling and use of real-world examples like Apple and Martin Luther King Jr. helped illustrate his points vividly. The talk’s clear, thought-provoking message combined with Sinek’s passionate delivery made it a transformative experience for many leaders and entrepreneurs.

These examples showcase not just the content of the presentations but also the strategies and delivery methods that made them stand out. Each presentation was tailored to its specific audience and designed to drive home a compelling message in a memorable way.

Tips for Giving Presentations Well

Storytelling.

Weave your data and statistics into a narrative that relates to your audience's experiences or challenges.

Interactive Elements

‍ Use polls, live demos, or interactive slides to involve your audience actively.

Psychological Engagement

‍ Techniques like the 'rule of three' or strategic pauses can enhance understanding and retention.

Delivering compelling business presentations requires careful preparation, thoughtful content organization, effective slide design, and engaging delivery. By integrating these elements, and staying on top of the latest technology that can help with presentations, such as Bubbles, presenters can captivate their audiences and achieve their communication objectives. Remember, the key to success lies in your ability to connect with your audience and convey your message powerfully and persuasively.

⚡️ Supercharge your meeting productivity Learn how in under 2 mins:

Collaborate better with your team.

Get your point across using screen, video, and audio messages. Bubbles is free, and offers unlimited recordings with a click of a button.

More from Bubbles

How to Transcribe Meeting Minutes (4 Step Guide)

Great meeting minutes are key for clarity and accountability. If your team struggles with capturing and organizing discussions, this article is for you. Learn how to transcribe your meeting minutes efficiently, and ensure every detail is recorded, keeping you on track.

Secure Meetings: Ensuring Data Privacy and Confidentiality in Online Meetings

No matter what you and your colleagues discuss in your meetings, it should stay between you and them. Confidentiality can be a concern online, but by following these security standards, you can keep your meeting room as secure as Fort Knox.

How to give feedback on a presentation

Knowing how to give feedback on a presentation helps people become better presenters, sharpens their message, and gauges audience engagement ahead of time.

How to Video Record Yourself Presenting a PowerPoint

Clear and effective presentations are critical to collaborative success. Here we learn how to consistently achieve this, with techniques for recording high-quality PowerPoint presentations with video and audio.

Encouraging Greater Collaboration: Top 10 Inspirational Stories of Teamwork Success

From Michael Jordan's slam-dunk success with the Chicago Bulls to Sir Alex Ferguson's dominant reign in English football, these stories underscore the power of teamwork. Look to kick your team's collaboration into the next league with these inspiring team stories and invaluable lessons!

How to Run a Great Brainstorming Session That Generates Ideas

A great brainstorming session can go a long way towards unlocking creativity and innovation within your team. If your team struggles with unproductive cycles, this article is for you. Learn how to run sessions that spark create ideas and drive team success.

AI Notetaker tools

Jumpshare vs Clip

Explore an in-depth comparison of Jumpshare and Clip, examining their functionalities, strengths, and weaknesses, and uncover a superior solution through our detailed evaluation.

FocuSee vs Arcade

Evaluate the strengths and shortcomings of FocuSee and Arcade, and discover a superior alternative in our detailed analysis.

Clip vs Screencastify

Explore the features, strengths, and weaknesses of Clip and Screencastify and discover a more powerful alternative in our detailed analysis.

Hey, before you continue...

With Bubbles you can turn conversations into actions:

• Use AI to record and summarize meetings with action items
• Eliminate live meetings with quick videos and screen recordings

What is a Presentation? Definition and examples

A presentation involves talking in front of a group of people to explain an idea, system, process, recent performance, forecast, or other topic. The person who does the explaining is the presenter and may use visual aids to help convey his or her message more effectively.

Moscow State Technical University has the following definition of the term:

“A presentation is a formal talk to one or more persons that “presents” ideas or information in a clear, structured way. All presentations have a common objective: they are given in order to inform, train, persuade or sell”

An event with prizes or awards

The term may also refer to an event in which qualifications, prizes, or awards are formally given to people who have achieved or won them. Somebody in an office might say, for example: “Harold is retiring next week. There will be a small presentation tomorrow.”

This means that Harold’s colleagues and bosses will be there to celebrate his retirement, thank him for his good work, and possibly give him a goodbye present. Typically, in this kind of event, there are drinks and food.

Presentation of a product

In the retail business , the term refers to how a product is presented to customers, consumers, and prospects. A prospect is somebody who might well turn into a paying customer.

For example, in supermarkets, donuts and croissants are typically presented in attractive boxes to make them more desirable and enticing. Marketing and merchandising professionals often say : “When selling something, presentation is everything.”

If you are selling your home, you need to make it as attractive as possible for possible buyers. Perhaps you will paint the walls, get a gardener, and maybe redecorate the hall. A good presentation can help speed up the sale.

This article focuses on the meaning of the term when it refers to presenting information to an audience.

An effective presentation

To be effective, presenters must make the best use of their relationship with their audience. It is crucial to know the audience members well, including their needs, if you want to capture their interest and develop their understanding and cooperation.

The University of Leicester says the following about effective presenters:

“An effective presentation makes the best use of the relationship between the presenter and the audience . It takes full consideration of the audience’s needs in order to capture their interest, develop their understanding, inspire their confidence and achieve the presenter’s objectives.”

Here are some suggestions that will help you deliver effective presentations:

If you are passionate about your topic, your audience will notice and are much more likely to feel a connection with you.

The world’s best presenters all say that it is crucial to connect with members of the audience. The best way to do this is with passion.

What are their needs?

People have come to watch and listen to you to satisfy their needs, rather than to find out how much you know. Before you even start preparing your presentation, you must find out what their needs are.

SKILLSYOUNEED says the following regarding what you know and your audience’s needs :

“As you prepare the presentation, you always need to bear in mind what the audience needs and wants to know, not what you can tell them.”

Preparation

The best presenters in the world make sure they have prepared thoroughly for each event. Just like a good play requires rehearsals, so does presenting information or ideas to a group of people.

If you can, practice on somebody or a small group of people. Perhaps the only volunteers you can find are members of your household. That’s fine; practice on them and ask for feedback.

If you talk too fast or keep scratching your head, you will probably not be aware, but other people will. It is best to find that out beforehand.

There are literally dozens of other components of a good presentation, such as:

• Having a strong opening.
• Editing your script ruthlessly.
• Using visual aids appropriately.
• Being yourself.
• Creating a structure that is easy to follow.
• Making eye contact.
• Distributing your eye contact equally.
• Keeping it simple.
• Projecting your voice effectively.
• Body language.
• Breathing properly.

Above all, make sure you enjoy it. If you don’t, your audience will soon realize, which is the kiss of death as far as presentations are concerned.

If you are ambitious regarding your career, eventually you will have to present to audiences. C-level executives, for example, have to do it all the time . A C-level executive is a top corporate officer in a business, such as a CEO, CIO, CFO, i.e., an executive whose job title begins with the letter ‘C’.

Share this:

• Renewable Energy
• Artificial Intelligence
• 3D Printing
• Financial Glossary

What is a Presentation? Objectives, Elements, Important skills, Four Ps

• Post last modified: 4 June 2023
• Reading time: 19 mins read
• Post category: Business Communication

What is a Presentation?

A presentation communicates a message, an idea or information to a group. It is similar to a report, but with a key difference–the human element. A presentation conveys the speaker’s personality and enables immediate interaction among all participants.

Table of Content

• 1 What is a Presentation?
• 2.1 To Inform
• 2.2 To Train
• 2.3 To Persuade
• 2.4 To Motivate
• 2.5 To Entertain
• 3 Main Elements of Presentation
• 4.1 Analytical ability
• 4.2 Effective communication ability
• 4.3 Creative ability
• 4.4 Good interpersonal skill
• 4.5 Sound time management
• 4.6 Problem-solving ability
• 4.7 A sense of humour
• 5 Evaluation Wheel
• 6.1 Prepare
• 6.2 Practice
• 6.3 Present
• 7.1 Know Yourself
• 7.2 Know Your Material
• 7.3 Know Your Purpose
• 7.4 Know Your Audience

Objectives of Presentation

The main objectives of a presentation are:

To Persuade

To motivate, to entertain.

A presentation is created to convey some information to a group of people. For example, a presentation may display an organisation’s quarterly performance.

Most training programmes in organisations are done through the presentation mode. Such instructional presentations convey a lot of information and are created with instructional design principles to keep the audience engaged for a long period.

Some presentations are used to convince a group of people to accept a particular idea and/or make a certain choice.

The growing popularity of TED Talks indicates how a presentation can be a powerful motivation tool. These presentations trigger emotions and inspire people to act.

Presentations can also be used to celebrate an event. For example, a farewell presentation of a colleague can be used to narrate the story of his/her overall tenure, experiences and achievement in the organisation.

Main Elements of Presentation

A presentation is said to be effective if it has three main elements, which are as follows:

• Specific content : This refers to the information that a presentation will comprise. The information must be conveyed effectively so that it is absorbed by the audience in one sitting. It should be relevant and meaningful to them.
• Audience : A presentation should be targeted for a specific group of audience who share the same purpose and have a similar level of pre-knowledge.
• Presenter: The presenter should act as the advocate of the information. If his/her conviction and passion in the message are clearly articulated, the audience will also pay attention to the subject.

Important Presentation Skills

In today’s business environment, presentation skills are requisite in almost every professional arena. Employees are often required to give presentations on the targets achieved by them. A presentation can be effective if it is carefully planned and prepared.

However, delivering presentations is not always easy for every individual. Some people take presenting as a probable opportunity to showcase skills, while others find it a challenging task. To provide an effective presentation, a presenter must possess some abilities.

Some of them are explained as follows:

Analytical ability

Effective communication ability, creative ability, good interpersonal skill, sound time management, problem-solving ability, a sense of humour.

It refers to a calibre which empowers an individual to collect, organise, visualise and comprehend data. Such skills enable a person to look at related patterns, draw conclusions and find solutions to problems. In addition, sound analytical skills also enable an individual to forecast future trends using various techniques such as brainstorming, forecasting, data mining and metrics interpretation.

Communication entails much more than mere talking to the audience. To communicate effectively during a presentation, one ought to showcase information lucidly. During a presentation, a person should not just have a good set of slides together; rather he needs to engage and strike a chord with the audience to transmit the intended message.

It refers to the ability to present things in a creative way that have not been explored earlier. Creative skills in presentation enable an individual to invent or develop something path-breaking, such as a new concept, unique way out from a problem, a method, a work of art or new machinery, etc.

It encompasses how an individual portrays or presents himself to the audience and builds a rapport with the audience. During a presentation, sound interpersonal skills empower a speaker to interact, communicate and collaborate with the audience effectively.

Interpersonal skills are prevalent across all personal and professional interactions between people. Interpersonal skills entail empathy, active listening and emotional intelligence.

While delivering a presentation, a person should manage time effectively, set a presentation schedule and end a presentation within a stipulated time. If a presentation is long, there are chances the audience may lose interest and the message may not be delivered.

A speaker cannot expect audience to actively listen to the presentation for hours. At the start of presentation, a speaker should aim to grab audience’s attention and allocate time for questions and answers at the end.

Problem-solving is a requisite skill for a presentation. During a presentation, the audience may ask the speaker any kind of questions. On the other hand, it is important for the speaker to provide an appropriate answer to the audience to make the presentation successful.

A sense of humour is crucial to deliver a quality presentation to make the environment light and engaging. Appropriate usage of light jokes relieves stress and holds the attention of an audience, which makes the presentation a memorable experience for both the speaker and the audience.

Evaluation Wheel

Evaluation wheel is a creative and effective tool that accumulates information on outcomes in a simple and accessible manner. A presenter can opt for the evaluation wheel tool to show the outcomes of the research or reports. This tool is used to provide various types of information and journeys of change within the organisation.

It offers a visual representation of progression and results in the form of a spider diagram. The evaluation wheel measures the exact outcomes for a programme at the start and end. It also helps educators, designers to comprehend information systematically. Figure shows an example of evaluation wheel:

Figure states the scale questionnaire in a circle form wherein respondents will analyse the instances from their discretion and experience and give rating on a scale of 1 to 5.

For instance, service users are appropriately involved. In this case, if the respondent strongly agrees, he/she will give 5 rating and if he/she does not agree, he/she will give 1 rating. The centre of the circle is for 1 and as the respondent agrees, they reach out to edge for 5 rating.

Ps of Presentation

Even the most powerful presentation may fail if the presenter comes unprepared. A presentation is both a mental and a physical effort. There are Ps of presentation that provide a checklist to the presenter for ensuring that the presentation is well-constructed and clear so that the audience gets the message. These four Ps are explained as follows:

A thoroughly prepared presentation captivates the interests of the audience. The topic or content of the presentation must be thoroughly researched. No one would develop interest in a vague or equivocal presentation. A speaker can make use of stories or relatable examples and quote references to give more depth to the presentation and make it intriguing.

Apart from that, it should be ensured that only important points are highlighted in bullets or using other graphical elements. Providing too much of theory or full sentences can create boredom for the audience.

While preparing for a presentation, the presenter should include the following sections:

• Introduction : This section includes the name of the topic and the purpose of the presentation.
• Body : This section contains the main content of the presentation; thus, it must be prepared in a well-organised manner.
• Summary : It provides a recap of the content of the presentation. It outlines the most important points of the presentation to ensure the key message is retained by the audience.

Practice will make a man perfect is an adage that is appropriate across all spheres of life. It helps a speaker become familiar with his/her own voice, words and phrases and adjust accordingly. By practising thoroughly, a speaker can explore how to fit different pieces of information together and practise transition.

Also, a speaker should make notes wherever required as a part of presentation support. Using an index card is a common form of note-taking that provides a quick glimpse of important points.

While delivering a presentation, the speaker needs to demonstrate confidence in front of the audience. The speaker must be polite, but not apologetic in situations, such as if the session is running overtime or the microphone has stopped working.

Instead he/she should expect and ask for discipline and attention. It is important for a speaker to engage with the audience during the presentation in order to assure them that he/she is genuinely interested in talking to them. 4. Pace, pitch and pause: A presenter should deliver the presentation in an easy-to-follow pace and try changing the pace to enliven the presentation.

For example, pauses can be taken intentionally between main points to reinforce them. Along with pace, pitch is equally important. Just as pace varies in normal conversations, it should be used effectively during presentations too. For example, when asking a question, the presenter can raise the pitch and can lower it down when explaining a point.

Four Cornerstones of Making Memorable Presentations

The most crucial aspect of delivering an effective presentation is that the speaker should appear confident and the speech should look effortless. Presentations are a source of anxiety for many individuals. However, getting well-prepared before delivering a presentation can reduce this feeling considerably and ease apprehension.

There are a number of ways to overcome feelings of anxiety, stress and stage fright before the presentation in order to appear confident in front of the audience. The four cornerstones of making a memorable presentation are provided in the upcoming sections.

Know Yourself

Know your material, know your purpose, know your audience.

A presenter should acknowledge his/her strengths and weaknesses. Accordingly, he/she should decide the style of delivering a presentation. For instance, if a presenter has a great sense of humour and can use it comfortably in the speech, he/she can make the presentation more engaging and interesting.

On the other hand, if the speaker who is an introvert and prefers to talk or engage less, he/she can add visuals in the presentation. Therefore, the trick is whosoever is delivering the presentation should feel comfortable.

Knowing the topic thoroughly is the most important step in preparing and delivering a presentation. A presenter with well-versed knowledge of the topic is bound to feel more confident. One should perform extensive research of the topic using credible websites and surveys.

A presenter with minimal information about the topic will not be able to deliver a memorable presentation; rather, it would create a negative image in front of the audience. A good presentation is one that is centred around the main theme, presents relevant information and stimulates thought.

It is crucial to know the purpose of the presentation. A presenter should be aware of whether the purpose is to create awareness or to build new skills or to change attitudes. For instance, professional firms or businesses use presentations for various purposes such as to create awareness, educate, motivate and persuade internal and external audiences.

Therefore, to prepare a presentation, identify its objective/purpose, determine the method of delivery, formulate a structure, include visual aids and rehearse.

One should know the type of audience and what is their purpose of attending the presentation. For instance, whether they are there for gaining knowledge or learning new skills, etc. The age, culture and knowledge base of the audience help a presenter in designing and delivering his/her presentation effectively and in a manner in which audience can easily understand and relate to.

A well-designed presentation uses visual aids effectively to reinforce the main points and enhance the audience’s level of understanding.

Business Communication Notes

( Click on Topic to Read )

• What is Business Communication?
• What is Communication?
• Types of Communication

7 C of Communication

• Barriers To Business Communication
• Oral Communication
• Types Of Non Verbal Communication
• What is Written Communication?
• What are Soft Skills?
• Interpersonal vs Intrapersonal communication
• Barriers to Communication
• Importance of Communication Skills
• Listening in Communication

Causes of Miscommunication

• What is Johari Window?
• What is Presentation?

Communication Styles

• Channels of Communication
• Hofstede’s Dimensions of Cultural Differences and Benett’s Stages of Intercultural Sensitivity
• Organisational Communication
• Horizontal C ommunication
• Grapevine Communication
• Downward Communication
• Verbal Communication Skills
• Upward Communication
• Flow of Communication
• What is Emotional Intelligence?
• What is Public Speaking?
• Upward vs Downward Communication
• Internal vs External Communication
• What is Group Discussion?
• What is Interview?
• What is Negotiation?
• What is Digital Communication?
• What is Letter Writing?
• Resume and Covering Letter
• What is Report Writing?
• What is Business Meeting?
• What is Public Relations?
• What Is Market Segmentation?
• What Is Marketing Mix?
• Marketing Concept
• Marketing Management Process
• What Is Marketing Environment?
• What Is Consumer Behaviour?
• Business Buyer Behaviour
• Demand Forecasting
• 7 Stages Of New Product Development
• Methods Of Pricing
• What Is Public Relations?
• What Is Marketing Management?
• What Is Sales Promotion?
• Types Of Sales Promotion
• Techniques Of Sales Promotion
• What Is Personal Selling?
• What Is Advertising?
• Market Entry Strategy
• What Is Marketing Planning?
• Segmentation Targeting And Positioning
• Brand Building Process
• Kotler Five Product Level Model
• Classification Of Products
• Types Of Logistics
• What Is Consumer Research?
• What Is DAGMAR?
• Consumer Behaviour Models
• What Is Green Marketing?
• What Is Electronic Commerce?
• Agricultural Cooperative Marketing
• What Is Marketing Control?
• What Is Marketing Communication?
• What Is Pricing?
• Models Of Communication
• What is Sales Management?
• Objectives of Sales Management
• Responsibilities and Skills of Sales Manager
• Theories of Personal Selling
• What is Sales Forecasting?
• Methods of Sales Forecasting
• Purpose of Sales Budgeting
• Methods of Sales Budgeting
• Types of Sales Budgeting
• Sales Budgeting Process
• What is Sales Quotas?
• What is Selling by Objectives (SBO) ?
• What is Sales Organisation?
• Types of Sales Force Structure
• Recruiting and Selecting Sales Personnel
• Training and Development of Salesforce
• Compensating the Sales Force
• Time and Territory Management
• What Is Logistics?
• What Is Logistics System?
• Technologies in Logistics
• What Is Distribution Management?
• What Is Marketing Intermediaries?
• Conventional Distribution System
• Functions of Distribution Channels
• What is Channel Design?
• Types of Wholesalers and Retailers
• What is Vertical Marketing Systems?
• What i s Marketing?
• What i s A BCG Matrix?
• 5 M’S Of Advertising
• What i s Direct Marketing?
• Marketing Mix For Services
• What Market Intelligence System?
• What i s Trade Union?
• What Is International Marketing?
• World Trade Organization (WTO)
• What i s International Marketing Research?
• What is Exporting?
• What is Licensing?
• What is Franchising?
• What is Joint Venture?
• What is Turnkey Projects?
• What is Management Contracts?
• What is Foreign Direct Investment?
• Factors That Influence Entry Mode Choice In Foreign Markets
• What is Price Escalations?
• What is Transfer Pricing?
• Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC)
• What is Promotion Mix?
• Factors Affecting Promotion Mix
• Functions & Role Of Advertising
• What is Database Marketing?
• What is Advertising Budget?
• What is Advertising Agency?
• What is Market Intelligence?
• What is Industrial Marketing?
• What is Customer Value
• What is Consumer Behaviour?
• What Is Personality?
• What Is Perception?
• What Is Learning?
• What Is Attitude?
• What Is Motivation?
• Consumer Imagery
• Consumer Attitude Formation
• What Is Culture?
• Consumer Decision Making Process
• Applications of Consumer Behaviour in Marketing
• Motivational Research
• Theoretical Approaches to Study of Consumer Behaviour
• Consumer Involvement
• Consumer Lifestyle
• Theories of Personality
• Outlet Selection
• Organizational Buying Behaviour
• Reference Groups
• Consumer Protection Act, 1986
• Diffusion of Innovation
• Opinion Leaders
• What is Business Law?
• Indian Contract Act 1872
• Essential Elements of a Valid Contract
• Types of Contract
• What is Discharge of Contract?
• Performance of Contract
• Sales of Goods Act 1930
• Goods & Price: Contract of Sale
• Conditions and Warranties
• Doctrine of Caveat Emptor
• Transfer of Property
• Rights of Unpaid Seller
• Negotiable Instruments Act 1881
• Types of Negotiable Instruments
• Types of Endorsement
• What is Promissory Note?
• What is Cheque?
• What is Crossing of Cheque?
• What is Bill of Exchange?
• What is Offer?
• Limited Liability Partnership Act 2008
• Memorandum of Association
• Articles of Association
• What is Director?
• Trade Unions Act, 1926
• Industrial Disputes Act 1947
• Employee State Insurance Act 1948
• Payment of Wages Act 1936
• Payment of Bonus Act 1965
• Labour Law in India
• What is Brand Management?
• 4 Steps of Strategic Brand Management Process
• Customer Based Brand Equity
• What is Brand Equity?

You Might Also Like

Emotional Intelligence

What is Report Writing? Parts, Types, Structure, Process

Barriers to Communication: Types, How to Overcome

What are Soft Skills? Types, Importance, How to Develop

What is Negotiation? Importance, Process, Strategic Model, Learning Skills

Difference between internal and external communication, what is digital communication website, social media, blogging as tool of communication.

What is Group Discussion? (GD), Objectives, Types, Prerequisites, Steps

What is Public Relations? Definition, Tools, Function, Advantages, Process

Leave a reply cancel reply.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

World's Best Online Courses at One Place

We’ve spent the time in finding, so you can spend your time in learning

Digital Marketing

Personal Growth

Development

• Business Loans

Does The SBA Consider Your Company A Small Business?

Updated: Mar 14, 2023, 2:53pm

Whether the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) considers your company a small business impacts your eligibility for various federal loans and other business tools. Without this designation, you won’t qualify for SBA loans, certain government contracts, grants and other government-backed financing tools.

Featured Partner Offers

$5,000 to $250,000

Varies by loan

Via Ondeck's Website

National Funding

$10,000 to $500,000

Buy rates start at 1.11%

On National Funding's Website

American Express Business Blueprint™

$2,000 to $250,000

Varies by loan term

of at least 660 FICO at the time of application

Via American Express's Website

What Is Considered a Small Business by the SBA?

Generally speaking, a small business is one with 500 or fewer employees. However, the SBA also defines small businesses differently based on the number of employees a company has or their average annual receipts, which varies by industry. What’s more, there are several footnotes to the SBA size table—for example, the size of a financial institution is designated based on the value of its assets.

• Employee calculations. The SBA calculates a business’s employees by taking the company’s average number of employees for each pay period over the business’s latest 24 calendar months. An employee is anyone who’s on the payroll—even if they work part-time or have temporary status.
• Annual receipt calculations. Annual receipts are a company’s gross income minus the cost of goods sold, but calculations ultimately depend on their purpose. For example, annual receipts for purposes of federal contracting are based on an average of the business’s latest five full fiscal years. For SBA loans, calculations may be based on three or five years of average receipts. Companies that haven’t been in business for five years can multiply their average weekly revenues by 52 to calculate average annual receipts.

Note: If a business has affiliate businesses that are economically dependent on each other, it must consider the average annual receipts or the number of employees for all of these other businesses when calculating size.

In addition to business size, the SBA also considers several other factors when determining if a company qualifies as a small business, including whether the business is:

• Based in the U.S.
• Operates primarily in the U.S.
• Independently owned and operated
• A minority company in its larger industry

Definition of a Small Business by Industry

For purposes of SBA size designation, industries are defined by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes. This six-digit code determines the NAICS size standard that applies to businesses—whether based on number of employees or average annual receipts.

Here are the SBA’s size standards for some major industries:

• Offices of lawyers. $15.5 million
• Offices of Certified Public Accountants. $26.5 million
• Advertising agencies. $25.5 million
• Offices of real estate agents and brokers. $15 million
• Bed and breakfast inns. $9 million
• Full-service restaurants. $11.5 million
• General automotive repair. $9 million
• Pet care services (except veterinary). $9 million
• Independent artists, writers and performers. $9 million
• New car dealers. 200 employees
• Used car dealers. $30.5 million
• New housing for-sale builders. $45 million
• Land subdivision. $34 million
• Wheat farming. $2.25 million
• Logging. 500 employees
• Sawmills. 500 employees
• Natural gas extraction. 1,250 employees
• Solar electric power generation. 250 employees
• Electric power distribution. 1,000

These aren’t all of the industries defined by the SBA, so check out the SBA’s complete Table of Small Business Size Standards for a complete list. Because the standard is industry-specific, some companies that seem like large organizations are still designated small businesses by the SBA.

For example, a company engaged in the pipeline transportation of crude oil with 1,500 or fewer employees meets the SBA’s size requirements for a small business. On the other hand, a fuel dealer can only have a maximum of 100 employees to be considered a small business.

Why Does the SBA’s Size Definition Matter?

The goal of the SBA is to protect and promote the success of small businesses in the U.S. By defining what constitutes a small business in each industry, the SBA identifies which businesses should benefit from the services and financing opportunities the SBA provides to help small businesses thrive.

For example, being a small business means a company is eligible for SBA-backed business loans in addition to other small business loans . The designation can also help small businesses win government contracts and gain access to tools that make it easier to compete against larger businesses in the economy as a whole—not just at the community level.

Being designated a small business can also help socially and economically disadvantaged business owners succeed. The SBA provides entrepreneurs with counseling and workshops and helps them connect with federal buyers.

4 Advantages of Being Classified as a Small Business

Being classified as a small business by the SBA opens the door to a range of financial benefits and tools that aren’t available to larger companies. In addition to being eligible for SBA and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) loans, small businesses are more likely to get government contracts and grants. Eligible business owners can also take advantage of additional tax incentives and business resources that are reserved for small businesses.

These are some of the main advantages of being classified as a small business:

1. Government-backed Loans

A business must meet the requirements for a small business to qualify for SBA loans and certain USDA loan programs. SBA loans, including the flagship 7(a) loan program, popular 504 loans, CAPLines and Microloans, are only available to small businesses. Likewise, loans that are part of the USDA’s OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative are reserved for rural small businesses, agricultural producers and tribes.

2. Government Contracts and Grants

When awarding contracts, the U.S. government often favors businesses that qualify as small businesses. Many government contracting programs even set aside a certain number of contracts for small businesses. According to the SBA, 23% of all prime government contract dollars are awarded to small businesses.

Likewise, several federal grant programs are reserved for small businesses or are more likely to be awarded to small businesses. Grants like the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs are intended to help small firms conduct scientific research that can contribute to federal research and development objectives.

Other programs are aimed at encouraging entrepreneurs. For example, the 7(j) Management and Technical Assistance Program provides management and technical assistance and guidance to eligible small businesses.

3. Tax Incentives

Small business owners can take advantage of several tax incentives, including tax credits and standard business deductions. For example, the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit lets eligible small businesses save as much as 50% on health insurance premiums. State and local tax incentives may also be available for small businesses—though eligibility requirements may differ from those the SBA imposes.

4. Business Resources

In addition to financial benefits, companies that meet the SBA’s definition of a small business can take advantage of several resources to help them compete against larger organizations. This includes access to one of more than 75 SBA district offices and more than 900 small business development centers that offer local business assistance. Small business owners can also benefit from the SBA Office of Advocacy, certification programs, business plan guidance and other entrepreneurial resources.

Find the Best Small Business Loans of 2024

• Best Small Business Loans
• Best No Credit Check Business Loans
• Best Business Lines Of Credit
• Best Startup Business Loans
• Best Business Loans For Bad Credit
• Best Startup Business Loans For Bad Credit
• Best Fast Business Loans
• Best LLC Loans
• Best Same-Day Business Loans
• Best Business Loans For Low-Revenue Companies
• National Funding Business Loans Review
• OnDeck Business Loans Review
• Bluevine Business Loan Review
• American Express Business Blueprint Review
• Fundbox Business Loans Review
• Lendio Business Loans Review
• Funding Circle Business Loans Review
• Rapid Finance Business Loans Review
• QuickBridge Business Loans Review
• Business Loan Calculator
• SBA Loan Calculator
• How To Get A Business Loan
• How Do Business Loans Work?
• How To Get A Startup Business Loan
• How To Get A Business Line Of Credit
• Guide To No-Doc Business Loans
• How To Get A Business Loan With No Money
• How To Get A Loan To Buy A Business
• How To Get a Small Business Grant
• 13 Business Grants For Women
• How Do I Find My EIN Online?
• Small Business Loan Terms

Next Up In Business Loans

• Best Business Lines Of Credit Of August 2024
• Business Loan Calculator: Estimate Your Payments
• Business Loan Requirements: How to Qualify For A Business Loan
• Best Unsecured Business Loans Of August 2024

FundThrough Review 2024

How Hard Is It To Get A Business Loan?

Pros And Cons Of Business Loans

Balboa Capital Business Loans Review 2024

TD Bank Business Loans Review 2024

What Credit Score Do I Need For A Business Loan?

Kiah Treece is a small business owner and personal finance expert with experience in loans, business and personal finance, insurance and real estate. Her focus is on demystifying debt to help individuals and business owners take control of their finances. She has also been featured by Investopedia, Los Angeles Times, Money.com and other financial publications.