Create Business Presentations That Win Over Your Audience

For thousands of years, stories have been used to captivate people's attention. Good storytelling is passed down through generations and now available in audiobooks. Compare that to your last business presentation. Did you find yourself captivated by the presentation style or were you more likely to be overwhelmed by the text-heavy slides and logo slides?

Although humans are naturally storytellers, it is rare that this skill can be applied to business and tasks such as giving presentations. Storytelling is the best way to engage your audience and get them to sign a contract.

Don't be afraid to take your audience on a trip, and ditch the boring slides. Here's how to make business presentations that will win over your audience.

The importance of the story

Our time is spent creating business presentations to communicate information to business audiences. We want our audience to take away information that they can remember and use in the future.

Business presentations tend to do the opposite. Because we have been told that this is what makes a persuasive argument, we stuff them with facts and figures. It doesn't work. The human brain isn't built to store information in this format.

Nick Morgan, author of Power Cues, argues that stories are what create'sticky memories'. Stories help your audience remember key messages and prepare them to take the correct information away.

What is the best way to tell a story? These are some tips that will help you tell the story.

Five keys to creating a memorable business presentation

1. The opening

You can tell whether you will enjoy a novel by the first page. Good introductions can grab you and keep you reading from the very beginning. When creating business presentations, we want the same effect.

People have short attention spans and limited time. You don't need to convince them that your presentation is worth their time.

People make the big mistake of jumping too quickly with all that information about ''who are we''. There is evidence that you will turn off your audience before you even get started. Instead, start with a story and then, after building up some tension, introduce your brand/product as a character in the story.

It's not about you. Make your audience a part of the story. Your story should be set and told so that your audience can picture themselves falling into massive losses, falling into unskilled labor, or not being aware of the change in the future. This is a better way to tell your story than listing your international offices and sharing a quote by your new CEO.

After you have chosen your story and nailed the opening, it is important to maintain that momentum throughout the presentation. Don't let all the hard work go to waste.

It can be viewed as a series of episodes. One slide or episode could be about how to save paper records and switch to digital solutions. The other slide (or series) could be about data protection and how to keep records safe and efficient.

2. Style and substance are key

Good writers possess a unique flair that makes them stand out and adds drama to events. However, it is always supported by solid substance. It's always true; the content is just enhanced with engaging elements and extra touches.

This can be used in your presentations in one of two ways:

How you present what you are saying. Engaging the audience and using the correct body language, including pausing to take breaks. Nobody is trying to appear hostile or lazy. No one wants to be overfamiliar, or timid. It is easy to fall for these traps. Don't forget that body language is only one way to deliver the message. The message, the content, language, and technology are all important priorities.

Design is the second option. Animations that aid understanding, rather than confuse it. These animations bring your audience along with you and not just give you a quick clicker. These animations can reinforce your presentation's content by engaging your audience in a way that keeps them coming back for more. PowerPoint is often misunderstood for flashing text and crazy animations, but there are many ways to do this well.

3. Get the data you need to complete the job

Statistics, bar charts, line graphs, percentages--presentations are rarely short of cold, hard numbers. As we said, it can be difficult for people to understand this information and place it in context.

Data can be used to achieve four main purposes. Before you can incorporate data into your larger story, it is important to identify which one it is.

After you have done this, you can figure out how to use numbers to support your story. If you have a number that can dissuade your audience from using paper records, you can use it in the slide you discuss data breaches.

Similar to charts and graphs, you can use them as mini-stories. You can bring in data at different points. Then think about the story that the audience should hear as they look at the graph.

4. Make sure you understand the call to action

A good story leaves you with a little hole in your heart when it ends. Your imagination was drawn to different worlds filled with heroes and villains, good or bad. Although you are left wanting more, there isn't a hand to pull you in from the pages.

This is where presentations and books differ. You end a presentation by inviting your audience members to join you in the next chapter. Your prospect will be more likely to engage with a business presentation that tells an engaging story.

Let's end with a reminder about the call to action itself: Keep it simple. Keep it short and sweet. Keep it short and sweet. Keep it short and sweet.

5. Practice, practice and practice

Delivering what appears to be a simple business presentation takes effort.

While you may think you are prepared and have all the content covered, your delivery might still be in need of some improvement. You can improve your delivery skills and confidence by practicing rehearsing.

Rehearse and practice your presentation in the exact location where you will be giving it, as well as in front of a mirror and friends to receive their feedback.

It is important to be able to read and comprehend your content and be ready for any eventuality. Technology fails? You can still give a compelling presentation. Are there difficult questions? You know the slide they are referring to?