We’ve discussed in the past how important it is to practice and get feedback on your sales pitches and presentations. When it comes to sales, practice really does make perfect. Once you’ve got your pitch down, however, you should start working on fine-tuning–it’s often as not the little things that can make or break a sale. Here are four helpful tips to help you ace your next presentation.
#1 Appearance Matters
Look, many businesses may have gotten more casual over the years, but that doesn’t mean you can walk into your presentation in jeans and a t-shirt. You don’t necessarily need to wear a three piece suit though–a good rule of thumb is to dress one level more formal than whoever you’re presenting to. And remember—appearances don’t just mean how you dress. Show up early, be polite, and be enthusiastic. The little things can go a long way. [Read: How to Dress for Success, 7/17/14]
#2 Listen Before You Speak
Don’t just walk into the conference room and start spouting about your product. Take some time to ask questions and get to know the client—and figure out what your product can specifically do for them. This will allow you to tailor your presentation and hit the most important points. Remember, your client doesn’t care about how great your product is, they care about what it can specifically do for them.
#3 Don’t Overstuff the PowerPoint
Visual aids are meant to be just that—aids. Too much information is distracting and PowerPoints and brochures don’t close sales, people do.
#4 Get to the Next Step
However the presentation goes, don’t leave that room without having the next steps set in stone. If you can’t close the sale then and there, set a specific time to reconnect. “Next week” and “soon” are likely to get lost under everything else the client has to do. Set a specific time and date, and send a reminder email beforehand.[/fusion_text][imageframe lightbox=”no” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”dropshadow” hover_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”center” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] 
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