A successful presentation is measured through its impact on the audience. If you can persuade others to consider new ideas, you’re doing your job right.
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Whether you’re selling a product or pitching to investors, the main goal is always to convince others that your viewpoint is valid. As the presenter, you need to move your audience into action. Positive outcomes are a result of ideas that sparked the interest of audience members. To get the best results, practice the art of persuasive presentations.
These are the three essential things you need to remember when delivering persuasive presentations:
1. Create an immediate impression
To deliver persuasive presentations, you need to capture the attention of your audience immediately. It’s often said that you have 60 seconds to make a good first impression. Whether or not you have longer than that, the only way to ensure your audience listens is to catch their interest as soon as you start presenting.
Let the audience see how they place in the overall picture you’re painting for them. In other words, show them why your presentation is relevant to them. A story is a great way to appeal to their emotions. Show that your presentation is more than just faceless numbers and research. If you’re trying to make a sale, you can vividly describe a story that highlights the problems your product can solve.
2. Offer a promise you can keep
Persuasive presentations are all about selling ideas to an audience. Think about your own experience as a consumer. Why do you choose to buy a certain product or service? Probably because it promises to offer something you need, want, or are interested in.
Apply the same thought in your presentations. In order to persuade your audience to action, you have to make a promise that will catch their attention. As an example, think back to when Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone in 2007. He said it was going to be a revolutionary product that’s unlike any other smartphone in the market. About 1.4 million units were sold within the first 3 months of its release.
However, learn to practice caution. Make promises that you know you can keep. Offer your audience evidence that you can keep your word. Provide them with data from research. You can also share some testimonials, or offer a quick demonstration. Let them see that your claims are truthful and reliable.
3. Encourage concrete action
When you reach the end of your presentation, leave your audience with a specific Call-to-Action. After having shared your ideas, it’s time to give the audience an objective they can act on.
Be brief and straight to the point. Don’t beat around the bush with phrases like “maybe you can consider” or “if it interests you”. Show confidence in your presentation and it’s likely that your audience will feel confident in your ideas as well.
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Persuading your audience shouldn’t be hard. Learning the right offers to make will draw them closer to you and your brand. Create a good first impression on your listeners by telling an engaging story everyone can relate to, but which is also relevant to your brand.
Be grand with your gestures, but make sure to promise only what you can deliver. Don’t give people false hope that will fall short of their expectation.
End with a solid CTA that will move people to action. Need a deck to go with your pitch? Contact our SlideGenius experts today for a free quote!
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Featured Image: Emilio Küffer via Flickr
