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Client management

How to run the perfect client presentation

Pitching your agency as the perfect fit during a client presentation is daunting.

You have to remember product positioning, messaging, client goals, and most importantly, selling your service. Most of all, a client presentation must add value.

The aim is for clients to envision what it’ll look like if they work with you and how you’ll help them reach their goals. The failure of most client presentations is how they land.

Some are full of text-heavy slide decks.

Others are all about the agency – not the client and their specific goals.

Finding the sweet spot with a client presentation is possible if you stick to the basics and put the client first by answering their biggest needs, uncovering any issues, and confidently explaining why they're worse off without your services.

Let's dive in a little deeper and help you get ready for the big presentation:

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Step 1: Do your research and carefully plan your pitch

Any client presentation starts with a who: who is it for?

The answer is your client.

You should know everything about them before you step into the meeting with them. Go into the room with a good understanding of their business, their industry, and how your services fit into the picture. 

Prepare by researching their past projects, understanding their goals, and even studying business presentation examples to ensure your communication is effective.

Start by researching the basics:

What industry are they in?

How big is their company and how big is their team?

What are the main goals they want to hit?

What roadblocks are stopping them?

How can product/service help them?

Look at their website and LinkedIn pages to see what services or products they’re selling. If you’ve done work for similar clients in their industry, check back at past projects and pitches, and see the pain points were you spent the most time. 

Then you need to understand the company’s size and more importantly, how they plan to grow and scale their business.

Your client should have plenty of information about them online and a simple about us – like our video below – can help direct your presentation topics and tone of voice.

If you're stuck when making your presentation you can even use prompts to easily generate an AI presentation , which will streamline the process and save you valuable time that would otherwise be spent on slide creation.

Teamwork.com Overview

Once you know a little bit about the company, focus on why your solution is right for them.

How you sell your why depends on who you are selling to. A CEO with 200 employees has different challenges to a scrappy startup owner with a couple of employees on the books. Either way, explain your why by: 

Acknowledging their pain points. Talk about the client's problems and what they need to do to reach their goals. Show them that you understand their issues and build trust from the start of the presentation.

Asking questions. Presentations shouldn't be a one-sided affair. Asking the client questions makes them feel comfortable and helps you understand their needs.

Introducing your brand as the solution. Tie the client's problems to your product/service. If they need a new website , talk about how you can make that happen and what the process looks like. If they have hit a brick wall with their marketing, explain why they may be struggling and what they can do to change it.

Pro-tip: Researching potential clients can take a lot of energy. You need to ensure that they're a good fit before stepping into a presentation. Get a headstart with presentation research and start using detailed intake forms. Use a tool like Teamwork.com to build customized intake forms and get as much information as possible about a client before sitting down for a meeting. 

Step 2: Take care of some housekeeping

Your clients are busy—that’s a given.

But so are you. 

Make sure you set some ground rules before the presentation starts so that it runs smoothly. These can be basic rules like: 

Always get to the meeting first. Whether the meeting is in the client's office or on Zoom – get there first and early. Give yourself enough time to organize your slide deck and get comfortable with the pitch before the client arrives (or logs in.)

Test your tech. Open your presentation, check that it's working, and test each slide. If you're using a laptop or projector, have it open to the first slide at the start of your presentation, ready for when the client arrives.

Practice your pitch. Is it just you presenting to the client? Do you have a team joining you? Don’t show up to the meeting without a game plan. Rehearse what you’re going to say and how you’ll answer client questions before the presentation.  

Cut to the chase. Your client isn’t your friend. Don’t waste too much time with small talk. If the pitch goes well – they'll move forward – not always on your small talk skills.

These steps are so basic that it almost seems like they don't need to be mentioned. But walking into a presentation with a poorly prepared pitch or a slide deck that takes 15 minutes to fix is the fastest way for it to fall flat.

Step 3: Turn the presentation into a marketing funnel

Your presentation should have one goal—getting the client to agree to the next steps or sign a contract.

So, why not design your slide deck like a marketing funnel—with a beginning, middle, and end?

You must tread a fine line between a lecture and a negotiation with client presentations. If the slide deck is too information-heavy, clients can feel like you're speaking at them instead of talking to them.

And if you don't take charge of the meeting, it can go off track and makes it harder to get your client focused on the next steps.

Aim for somewhere in the middle and tell a story where your slides convince the client that your solution is a good fit. Your presentation deck should include these sections:

Beginning: Set the stage and tell the client what the presentation is about, why you’re there, and how you plan on working together.

Middle: The meat of the presentation. Don’t overload the slides with text. They should be a visual background to back up what you’re saying.

End: Use this as your call to action and outlines the next steps. Here, you give the client a reason to book another meeting or sign a contract with you.

Here’s a great example of LeadCrunch turning a presentation into a compelling story. The presentation kicks off by talking about common problems that B2B sales companies experience: 

This helps hook the audience.

The presenter understands their frustrations with trying to get more leads. Next, LeadCrunch takes the three frustrations and turns them into opportunities for the client: 

The text on the slide mirrors the issues in the industry so the client can connect the dots between the problems and LeadCrunch's solution.

Finally, the presentation winds up by using a pricing chart as its CTA. Don't overthink how you tie in your CTA to the client – you know your value and what you can bring to the table – so just clearly say it.

Step 4: Use visuals to tell and sell the story

Visuals are your friend during a client presentation. 

They have obvious benefits—they grab your client’s attention, break up text-heavy slides and make complex data easier to digest. 

But there are other reasons why adding visuals to your presentation is a good move.

The SEO software company SEMRush asked over 200 agency and brand reps what made their presentations successful and found 74% of brands said it was tailoring the proposal to the client. They recommended using images to help clients understand concepts that usually end up on a spreadsheet or hidden under a mountain of text. This is easy to do.

Don’t explain how your agency’s complex strategic marketing will work — show the client instead.

Step 5: Open the pitch up into a two-way conversation

Once the presentation is done, don’t just pack up and leave—start a conversation with the client instead. 

Getting feedback as soon as the pitch is over is crucial. You need to know if your presentation resonated with them and iron out any concerns or questions they have.

Kickstart the feedback process by asking the client:

Did you have any questions about anything we mentioned in the presentation? 

Do you see our solution solving your problems?

What can we do to move this forward and start working together?

Now, the client may give you some feedback you don’t like. Or ask more pressing questions around project cost estimations , deadline management , or how you handle scope creep .

Make your value clear. But also show how you'll promote a straight road to client collaboration , so you make their values your own. Want more insights into collaboration tips? Download our guide to creating a collaborative culture with your clients.

5 tips for fostering collaboration with your clients: CTA

Download our guide to get essential communication tips and insights into how to foster collaboration with your clients.

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Step 6: Close strongly with clear next steps

Don’t leave the meeting in limbo.

Be clear about what you want to do next with the client moving forward. Don’t say that you’ll follow up in a couple of days—it’s too vague. Be more direct. 

Make sure you and your client agree on a defined deadline for when the deal should move forward. If the follow-up call goes well and the client wants to go ahead, send a contract over to seal the deal. 

Pro-tip: If you want to build a strong relationship with your client, be transparent from the beginning. Invite clients to the project to keep them updated on progress. Using a tool like Teamwork.com makes this part easy.

And they’ll get access to visual project timelines , Kanban board views , and Gantt charts as well as ways to simply reply to messages, so you can both speed up feedback loops.

If you're worried about the client getting too involved, there's a solution – and it's permissions. Simply add permissions to client accounts so they can only access the things that move projects forward – not backward.

Ready to deliver a pitch-perfect client presentation?

A pitch that wows your clients begins way before walking into the meeting room. 

Successful presentations hinge on knowing your client's pain points. The more research you do, the more you'll be able to identify the barriers they face and how you can help. 

From there, it’s just a matter of showing up, targeting your messaging to their problems, and starting a conversation. 

See how Teamwork.com helps teams manage client work more successfully to impress everyone beyond the initial conversation. Get a 30-day trial for free to get in the driver's seat.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

6 steps to build the ultimate client presentation

• Do your research and carefully plan your pitch
• Take care of some housekeeping
• Turn the presentation into a marketing funnel
• Use visuals to tell and sell the story
• Open the pitch up into a two-way conversation
• Close strongly with clear next steps

Síle is a Senior Content Marketing Manager at Teamwork.com. She has been working in the project management software space for over 7 years, exclusively serving the agency sector. She loves providing agencies with actionable insights and captivating content to help navigate the ever-evolving landscape of project management.

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Create a Winning Client Presentation: Tips, Tricks, & Strategies

February 14, 2024

Pitching client presentations can be a daunting experience.

You have to convince clients that you’d be a good fit for their brand and have the best solution to their problem. That your product or service can help them achieve their goals.

With multiple elements in the mix, driving engaging and relevant presentations becomes challenging.

Learn how to deliver a successful client presentation using the strategies in this guide.

The Importance of a Client Presentation

Step 1. research and plan the pitch, step 2. create a marketing funnel out of your presentation, step 3. use visually engaging content to communicate your story, step 4. encourage two-way conversations, step 5. establish clear next steps to close your presentation, 1. detailed client research, 2. client pain points, 3. proof points, 4. call to action, 5. expected investment and timeline, 1. not setting the stage properly, 2. getting defensive, 3. mentioning irrelevant information, 4. not guiding the feedback loop, pitch perfectly with clickup, common faqs.

A client presentation is meant to give prospective clients a good idea of your specialized expertise. It helps them see what working with you might be like and how you can add value to them.

If planned and delivered well, an informative customer presentation can help you:

• Talk about your work in the format of a compelling story
• Articulate your value to potential clients
• Communicate the progress you’ve made to an existing client
• Wrap up projects and dissect what went well and what didn’t

Effective client communication is one of the most critical skills for a sales or business professional today.

5 Essential Steps for a Successful Client Presentation

Creating engaging client presentations is tough work, whether you’re about to deliver a sales pitch or a creative slideshow.

Use this five-step checklist when creating presentations and add value to your client’s time:

You may understand your work inside out, but your potential client has yet to warm up to partnering with you.

This is why the most essential part of an effective client presentation starts with research and planning.

• Who your target audience is (for the presentation) and what their goals look like
• Everything about your prospective client, including their problems, inspirations, interests, and more
• How to answer your client’s biggest goals, roadblocks, and issues
• Their business, team size, and industry (and how your product/services will support their vision)

Now the question is, where do you find this data?

Make sure to look up the following:

• The client’s LinkedIn page and website for information on their current offerings
• Your past pitches for inspiration—especially if you’ve catered to clients in the same industry
• The client’s ‘About Us’ page and videos online for a better understanding of your presentation’s ideal tone of voice and topics

Once you have all the information about what makes your clients tick, help them make sense of the data—structure and format the key points you plan to deliver using ClickUp AI.

Utilize this smart assistant to generate a presentation to help you reach your prospective client goals faster.

Next, you’ll want to use the client meeting to talk about why your brand is right for them:

• Start by acknowledging their pain points, showing them that you understand them, and building trust in the process
• Move on to asking questions and see if they have any pressing issues that need to be solved
• Introduce your offering as the ultimate solution to your client’s problems and tie your product to their immediate needs

Your presentation needs a tangible end goal to ensure focus and direction. Do you want the client to sign the contract? Or maybe you want them to register for a demo.

Either way, you must clearly know what action you’d like to inspire them to take.

Here are a few tips on how to convert your presentation into a marketing funnel:

• Build your narrative using a compelling story to hook the audience
• Don’t overload the prospect with tons of information
• Ensure your presentation is to the point, and avoid beating around the bush
• Take charge of your meeting and get your clients to focus on the conversation at hand
• Beginning: Introduce what is being presented, why you’re presenting, and what the client should expect when working together
• Middle: Add visuals to your story and create aesthetic value
• End: Tell the customer about the next steps and add a relevant call to action

Use the premade ClickUp Presentation template and customize it according to your liking.

This template enables you to:

• Organize sections of your presentation easily, with a clear structure from beginning to end
• Gather feedback from key stakeholders before the final presentation
• Keep track of all tasks related to the presentation in one place

Too much text on your slides makes them dull and will overwhelm your audience.

So, when presenting, consider visual aids like infographics, pie charts, bar graphs, images, hand-drawn illustrations, etc., as your trusted friend.

These visuals offer advantages such as:

• Catching and keeping your client’s attention
• Aligning the client’s needs to the brand’s product/service—visually
• Breaking up text-heavy slides for better focus
• Converting complex information into easy-to-digest data

Use ClickUp Whiteboards as a canvas to create a visual presentation for your meeting and show your clients your value.

Whether it’s a sales pitch or an onboarding meeting, it is necessary to keep your audience engaged. In other words, your presentation cannot be a monologue.

So, when the presentation is done, it is vital to encourage two-way interaction.

Here’s how you can do this:

• Avoid small talk and instead iterate why the client’s account is important to you
• Do you have any questions for us?
• Do you see our product/service as a satisfactory solution for your needs?
• How do we work together as partners and move this project forward?
• Motivate your audience to ask questions and provide support for their queries—whether it’s related to scope, costs, timelines, and so on

Effective client management is about establishing clear next steps at the end of the meeting.

If you leave the meeting open-ended, you might not hear back from your audience.

Here’s how to set the right expectations for your client while closing the presentation:

• Outline what you want them to do next
• Be upfront and direct about how and when you’ll be making follow-up calls
• Give the client a defined deadline and keep them in the loop always

Key Elements to Include in a Client Presentation

Brush up your client presentation skills and set your presentation up for success with these must-have elements:

Use primary and secondary research methods to gather information about your client’s pain points.

Get answers to these questions during your research:

• What are the client’s short-term and long-term goals?
• What problems are they currently facing within their industry?
• How does the client measure success?

Pro tip: Leverage sources like company websites, annual reports, industry publications, and social media platforms to get granular details.

Invest in client onboarding software to efficiently organize and present your research.

Addressing your client’s current challenges demonstrates your understanding of their immediate needs and, by extension, establishes your relevance.

Do your homework about your client’s recent activities to identify current challenges they might be grappling with. Also, engage in discussions with your key stakeholders to get their opinions. In addition, you can use project kickoff templates to capture information about your clients from the get-go.

Your proof points validate your claims and build credibility by highlighting your track record and success stories. To showcase them:

• Gather case studies, testimonials, and performance data that demonstrate the effectiveness of your solutions within the industry
• Structure your presentation to strategically incorporate these proof points, highlighting them at key moments to reinforce credibility
• Use visuals, such as charts or graphs, to represent your proof points and make them more impactful

A clear call to action directs your client to the next steps they should take after the presentation and guides them toward a decision.

To make this process easier for them:

• Clearly outline the desired outcome, whether it’s scheduling a meeting, signing a contract, or starting a trial
• Provide multiple channels for the client to take the desired action and make it as convenient as possible for them to move forward
• Connect with them promptly afterward to reinforce the call to action and provide additional support as needed

Present a detailed breakdown of the investment required for your solutions, including costs, payment terms , and potential ROI.

To get an accurate estimate of your client’s budgetary and timeline requirements, ask these questions:

• What’s the maximum budget for the project?
• Are there any specific budgetary constraints to be aware of?
• How flexible is the client’s budget? Are they open to discussions about cost adjustments?
• What timeline do they have to get the project up and running?
• What will happen to the deadline and costs in case of a scope creep?

4 Common Mistakes to Avoid During a Client Presentation

Find the sweet spot with your presentation skills by avoiding these common mistakes:

Failing to establish the proper context at the beginning of your presentation leads to misunderstandings and a lack of engagement from your client. Manage client expectations and clarify what the audience should expect.

If your clients feel confused about the purpose of the presentation, they’ll never be able to grasp the value of your offerings fully.

To set the stage properly , follow these few tips:

• Understand your audience’s background and align your introduction to resonate with their needs
• Clearly state the objectives of your presentation and let your clients know what they stand to gain from your pitch
• Start with a compelling hook that captures their attention and sets the tone for the rest of the presentation

Displaying defensive body language, such as crossing arms, avoiding eye contact, or appearing tense, signals discomfort to your clients.

This can immediately undermine your credibility and rapport with them.

Plus, your defensiveness may seem more like a lack of confidence in your customer’s eyes, leading to a breakdown in communication and trust.

To sharpen your non-verbal communication skills , follow these tips:

• Pay attention to your body language during practice sessions. Also, practice maintaining an open posture and making eye contact to convey confidence and openness
• If a challenging question is asked, remain calm and open-minded
• Demonstrate active listening by nodding, smiling, and using affirming gestures. This shows your clients that you value their input and are engaged in the conversation
• If you’re unsure about something or need clarification, ask questions politely and respectfully. This demonstrates a willingness to understand and address your client’s concerns

Irrelevant details during a pitch are a waste of your client’s time. If there is no clear benefit of adding additional information about the company services, don’t.

For example, if your presentation is about account management, don’t talk about your company’s history unless it directly relates to the success of your account management strategies.

Instead, focus on showcasing account results as the main takeaway. This will keep your presentation focused and ensure you’re providing valuable information that directly addresses your client’s interests and needs.

Here are some strategies to effectively incorporate relevant data within your presentation:

• Add data that directly addresses your customer’s specific pain points and interests
• Identify the most important metrics that align with your audience’s goals and tie these metrics to the impact of your solutions
• Use charts, graphs, and visuals to present data in a clear and compelling manner
• Provide context of the data you’re presenting—help your audience understand why these numbers matter and how they relate to the overall story you’re telling
• Use real-life examples and case studies to illustrate how your solutions have delivered tangible results for similar clients

Finishing a solid presentation is not where your work should end. Keep tabs on your audience’s needs, starting with a follow-up call.

Use a free project management software like ClickUp and arm your company with real time client feedback into what’s working for them and what isn’t. A good client management platform can also automate many of these tasks.

With ClickUp Forms you can capture your client’s responses and route work to the right team at the right time. Additionally, you can convert Clickup Form responses into trackable tasks, which can be plugged directly into your workflows

Read More: Strategies for Client Project Management

When it comes to a presentation, sticking to the basics makes sense. However, deliver the Big Idea in a way that wows your clients and wins them firmly over.

So, incorporate research and storytelling and maintain a client-first approach to make your presentation stand out .

Use presentation software like ClickUp to deliver pitch-perfect pitches!

1. How can I improve an audience presentation?

Here are a few key takeaways on how to deliver a successful presentation:

• Spend time and effort researching and planning your pitch
• Convert your presentation into a well-defined marketing funnel
• Leverage visuals and images to highlight the USPs of your product or services
• Close the presentation with a two-way dialogue and clear next steps

2. What should I include in a client presentation?

You can include the following in a client presentation:

• Detailed client research
• The client’s pain points
• Strategic proof points for your presentation content
• A relevant call to action for your audience
• Essential details such as the expected investment and timelines

3. How can ClickUp help in optimizing a client presentation?

ClickUp saves you time and effort in creating effective presentations through its various tools as:

• ClickUp Presentation template, which helps you create effective and engaging presentations for your audience
• ClickUp AI, which allows you to generate a presentation outline within seconds; for example, creating a sales presentation for your sales process
• ClickUp’s Presentation Executive Summary Template, which helps you make a killer first impression with your presentation

Use these features and save the time that goes into creating presentations.

Questions? Comments? Visit our Help Center for support.

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Client Presentations 101: How to Give a Client Presentation

Client presentations are a crucial aspect of project management , as they provide an opportunity to showcase progress, gather feedback, and ensure client satisfaction. Mastering the art of client presentations is essential for project managers to effectively communicate their ideas and maintain strong client relationships. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the key elements of giving a successful client presentation, providing detailed examples and in-depth explanations at every step of the way.

Understanding Your Audience

Before diving into the preparation for a client presentation, it’s essential to understand your audience – the clients. Take the time to research their preferences, communication style, and specific needs related to the project. Tailoring your presentation to resonate with your audience will significantly increase the chances of a successful outcome.

Example: If your client prefers visual representations, consider incorporating infographics and charts into your presentation. On the other hand, if they appreciate detailed data analysis, ensure that your presentation includes in-depth reports and statistics.

Crafting a Compelling Introduction

The introduction sets the tone for the entire presentation and should grab the client’s attention from the start. Start with a brief agenda of what will be covered, highlighting the key points that are of particular importance to the client. Additionally, use this opportunity to establish a personal connection and build rapport with the audience.

Example: “Good morning, [Client Name]. Today, we are excited to share the latest developments on [Project Name] and gather your valuable insights to ensure that we are aligned with your vision for the project.”

Providing Clear Project Overview

In the initial phase of the presentation, provide a comprehensive overview of the project, including its background, objectives, and current status. This gives the clients a contextual understanding of the discussion that follows and ensures everyone is on the same page.

Example: “The inception of [Project Name] was aimed at addressing [specific client challenge]. We have successfully completed the initial phase and are now moving forward to discuss the milestones achieved and the upcoming roadmap.”

Highlighting Milestones and Achievements

Showcasing the milestones achieved since the last presentation demonstrates progress and instills confidence in the client. Use visual aids and success metrics to effectively highlight these key achievements, reinforcing the value of the project.

Example: “Since our last meeting, we have successfully implemented [specific feature], resulting in a [percentage increase in efficiency]. This achievement aligns with our collective goal of enhancing [specific aspect of the project].”

Addressing Challenges and Solutions

Transparency is key when addressing challenges faced during the project. Acknowledge any setbacks encountered and present proactive solutions that have been or will be implemented. This demonstrates resilience and problem-solving capacity to the clients, fostering trust and confidence in your management capabilities.

Example: “While implementing [specific aspect], we faced unforeseen technical limitations. However, our team swiftly devised a robust workaround, ensuring minimal impact on the overall project timeline.”

Soliciting Client Feedback and Input

After presenting the progress and challenges, invite the clients to provide their feedback and input. Actively listen to their suggestions and concerns, fostering a collaborative environment where their opinions are valued.

Example: “We are eager to hear your thoughts on the recent developments and any insights you may have regarding the upcoming phases. Your feedback is instrumental in shaping the direction of the project.”

Presenting the Roadmap and Future Plans

Conclude the presentation by outlining the future roadmap and plans for the project. Clearly articulate the upcoming milestones, timelines, and any potential enhancements or expansions, assuring the clients of a clear direction moving forward.

Example: “Moving ahead, our focus will be on [specific project aspect], with a projected timeline of [duration]. We are also exploring opportunities to integrate [new feature] based on the insights gathered from our collaboration.”

Building a Convincing Conclusion

End the presentation on a high note by summarizing the key takeaways, reiterating the shared goals, and expressing gratitude for the client’s continued partnership. Leave the clients with a sense of assurance and enthusiasm for the project’s future.

Example: “In closing, the achievements and insights shared today solidify our commitment to [Project Name] and our dedication to delivering exceptional results. We are truly grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with you and are looking forward to the exciting milestones ahead.”

Mastering the art of client presentations is an ongoing journey that requires a deep understanding of client expectations, effective communication skills, and a proactive approach to addressing challenges. By following the comprehensive insights and examples provided in this guide, project managers can elevate their client presentations to a new level, fostering stronger client relationships and ensuring the success of their projects.

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How to perfect your next client presentation

Designers at Niika share expert tips on delivering a client presentation, and a cloneable Webflow template to help you achieve that wow factor.

Creating brilliant designs is only half the battle when it comes to client approval. We’re sharing pro client presentation tips that help Niika deliver good presentations with confidence, creativity, and fewer revisions.

Most designers have learned (the hard way) that even with a contract , you may face a client who doesn’t approve of the final creative. To better understand how you can tailor the delivery of your client presentations to yield higher approval rates from your potential clients, we spoke with Niika ’s Managing Director, Mark Lipert .

Below, we share Mark’s insights on how you can use Webflow to deliver a client presentation with confidence. As a bonus, Niika created a free, cloneable Webflow template to help you build the wow factor into your next presentation.

Listen first — then design

A winning client presentation begins before you start designing. The first mistake many designers make is jumping into their vision for a project before they review the creative brief. It’s crucial to review the client’s brief before you start designing — even if it’s anything but brief.

Starting with the brief centers the client’s expectations — from start to final product. And when your design directly addresses those expectations, the client’s nephew, who read half a design book once, won’t rattle you. Every design decision will point back to specific elements of the brief.

So, before designers at Niika put pen to paper or pixel to screen, they start with a focus on identifying key points around what the client needs, asking questions like:

• What are the clients’ goals?
• What are their challenges?
• How will our solution help?

Good design starts with great communication, and it takes a strong listener to read between the lines and really understand what a client needs. Be. That. Listener.

Align on inspirations

The language of creativity can be highly subjective. When a new client articulates a vision for the project, such as wanting something to “pop,” it’s crucial to make sure you understand what they mean by “pop.” You may interpret this as a bright pop of color:

While your client may be expecting neon green — that moves:  

Where language fails to overcome the nuances of these creative expectations, images prevail .

During client meetings, ask your client to share designs that inspire them — or even designs that fail to inspire. The use of visuals will help you and your client align on the vision for a design that can’t be articulated in language alone. The result of this alignment? Fewer iterations, mutual understanding, and a collaborative effort to create the perfect design solution.

Talk clients through your design solution

While images prevail, Mark was sure to stress the importance of expressing ideas to clients verbally. Verbal communication allows you to thoroughly explain your design services, strategy, and process, thereby emphasizing your understanding of the client’s needs and preferences.

Niika provides an example of what this conversation may look like:

“We envision a font-based logo with pastel tones. Looking at the designs shared for inspiration, we can see that you like big, bold fonts. Based on your target market, however, we feel a softer approach would achieve more relevancy. What do you think?”

To make this conversation as productive as possible, you’ll always want to link your ideas back to the client’s original goals and business requirements. Relevancy is key, and if you can achieve client buy-in via discussion, you’ve already done half of the job!

Give clients choices — and lead them to the best one

Generally, when you’re presenting three concepts, you’ve already decided which one best suits your client and their needs. The other two options are often just there — let’s be honest — to give your client an illusion of control, and more importantly, buy-in.

It’s important to remember that your role as a designer includes presenting clients with choices and guiding them towards the best one. Unfortunately, pointing clients in the best direction isn’t as easy as … well … pointing :

Where subtle pointing, winking, and highlighting in neon pink fails, lead your client to the ideal solution by telling them which concept adds the most value to their business. Ground your explanation in the business goals from their creative brief — which you read, of course.

Introducing The Freelancer’s Journey: a free course that teaches you how to succeed as a freelance web designer — from getting clients to launching their websites.

Present with confidence

Your client’s confidence in any of the concepts you present is only as strong as your confidence. If you don’t believe in the quality of your work, no one will.

Luckily, you’ve spent the time understanding your client’s vision, goals, unique business challenges, and ultimately, you’ve listened a whole lot. As a result, you’re able to speak and present with confidence.

Show your client that you understand their vision and goals, and that your solution meets — or exceeds — expectations. Communicate your design solutions with confidence and cross the finish line of client approval. Failing to do so leaves room for clients to take over creative control … which will only mean more revisions . Womp womp.

Finally: use Webflow to present your solution

Since Niika started using Webflow to create brand presentations, they’ve been able to sell every single logo concept in one round. Instead of using powerpoint presentations with bullet points, their designers deliver brand concepts in the form of a microsite, built in Webflow, that includes a single page for each concept and explores very basic logo usage, colour variations, and anything else they feel is relevant.

These microsites have been so effective in brand presentations that Niika’s designers have created a branding concepts site that you can clone, personalize, and present to clients.

So … why is presenting in Webflow the real game-changer for Niika?  

• A microsite communicates care, attention to detail, effort, and most importantly: confidence. It demonstrates that you’re not only organized and professional, but that you’ve invested time in the design and the presentation.
• It presents logos in a way that allows clients to explore potential applications and expand their visions. The presentation of logos visually is crucial. Logos in isolation tend to be visually unremarkable. Imagine being a client, investing thousands of dollars on your brand and receiving something as simple as the Nike Swoosh on a plain background (especially given how much they paid for it ). If you don’t explore a logo’s potential uses visually and contextually, the client might not be able to imagine how it could be used.
• It explores the potential direction of the full style guide that usually comes next in a project lifecycle. This allows you to assess what resonates with and excites the client. When it’s time to work on the style guide (an enormous task), you’ll be on the right path from the get-go.

Mark Lipert stressed the importance of presenting in Webflow as more than just presenting the final creative in a memorable way. At Niika, it enables clients to visualize the application of solutions in the real world, and in the context of their brand, mission, and identity — all of which you read about in that first creative brief, of course.

So — what did we learn?

We hope that Niika’s insights will inspire you to listen to your clients, align your design decisions with their needs, and present your work in a strikingly visual way.

This will help you cut back on revisions and add enormous value to your clients’ lives — and they’ll love you for it.

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How to give great client presentations: Tips for consultants

• Written by: Joby Blume
• Categories: Presentation skills , Sales messaging , Visual communication
• Comments: 3

For consultants, the client presentation is part of the value delivered – and so it makes sense to get it right. It’s pretty silly to spend weeks researching, thinking, testing, and prototyping – only to make your work look bad with terrible slides and a confusing talk.

Yet consultants are more likely than others to create huge text-heavy slide decks that work OK as documents but that are absolutely awful when presented. And consultants are more likely than others to believe that they are doing things right, even when they leave a trail of bored clients in their wake.

So, how should you give a great client presentation? What should consultants do to deliver more value to their audiences?

Visuals support but don’t replace the speaker

It sounds obvious, but people forget that a presentation has two key parts – visuals (usually slides), and a speaker. If the slides are self-explanatory, then the speaker isn’t needed, and will get ignored. If the slides don’t contain much information, you’re pretty much giving a speech with a backdrop behind you, which can be difficult where you have complex or data-heavy material to convey. Slides need to support the speaker, without replacing the speaker.

Create separate slides and handouts

Don’t be tempted to the use the same slides to present and to leave with the client as an abridged report. If your slides work as a report (“Slideument”) created in presentation software that means they work without explanation from a presenter. If they work without explanation from a presenter then it’s hard to present them as your audience will just read, and ignore you as they do. The best approach is to create a version of your slides to present, then to add additional information to a separate version to use as a report. To find out how, make use of our presentation handout guide. 

Ignore the “rules”

A lot of consultants are exposed to a lot of “rules” about slide design, many of them rubbish. There isn’t a numbers of slides, or bullet points, or words per line that you should aim for – it depends what you need to communicate.  Your slide titles don’t need to be two lines long, and don’t need to tell the story of your presentation for those who want the 20-second skim-read version (at least not if you are trying to use the same slides to deliver your 20-minute presentation). Consultants are paid to analyse, measure, and think. Don’t ignore these skills and accept superstitions about consultant presentations blindly…

Start analogue then go digital

It’s tempting to start creating a client presentation by opening PowerPoint (or Keynote). It makes much more sense to separate out working out what you want to say from creating visuals that help you say it. Try using Post-Its with a key point on each, and arranging them to help plan your structure. Then paper and a pen (or a Surface Pro) to sketch out your visuals.

Set clear objectives

It’s not enough for a presentation’s purpose to be ‘to share progress information’ or ‘to report on what we’ve done’ or ‘to explain our thoughts’. What do you want your client to know, to believe, and to do as a result or your presentation?  You typically have things you want to achieve – to explain, to justify, or to promote. Making these explicit when you start to create your client presentation helps you know what you want to work towards.

Don’t always try to tell a story

It’s almost clichéd to suggest that good presentations should tell stories. Which is great, but the result seems to leave 1000s of consultants and managers trying to be all ‘Empire Strikes Back’ but managing to be more ‘Car Maintenance Manual’ instead. The things that make stories interesting – tension, suspense, intrigue, redemption don’t really work if your story is just “we did some research, this is what we found, isn’t it amazing?” If there’s nothing surprising, nothing unexpected, and nothing exciting, it might not make the best story. Other presentation structures are available.

Design gorgeous graphs

Consultants use a lot of graphs because they typically share a lot of data. But PowerPoint’s default settings don’t always help you to create attractive or meaningful graphs . Consider (a) using builds so that graphs help you to tell your story (b) using labels not legends when presenting for clearer communication (c) keeping text horizontal so it’s legible.

Use meaningful visuals

If sounds obvious, but presentation visuals should be meaningful. In a meeting room (as opposed to a ballroom), slides should help you explain your ideas, not serve as an interesting backdrop. So full-slide stock photos are less likely to be useful than diagrams you create, photos you take, and graphs you draw. Ask, is that graphic helping me explain things? It not, what’s it for?

Pay a designer to create a unified design

Nothings says ‘cobbled together’ like inconsistent presentation design. Not just the most obvious problem of different slide backgrounds, (which happens), but inconsistent colour palettes, fonts, and styles. At the very least, make sure everything looks consistent. Use fewer colours in your palette by sticking to a well-programmed template. Set a clear set of font styles. Stick to a few graph styles. If you are sensible, don’t spend your own time trying to become a PowerPoint “ninja” (groan).  Pay a presentation designer and use your own time for what you’re good at.

Related articles

How to make the ultimate sales presentation.

• Sales presentations / Sales messaging / Visual communication
• Comments: 8

Sales presentations are the cornerstone of many companies’ sales efforts, yet so often they aren’t given the time and attention they deserve. Thrown together at the last-minute, often your sales reps stand up in front of a sales presentation that's nothing more than a glorified page of notes. Read this article for everything you need to make the ultimate sales presentation.

14 sales presentation ideas

• Sales presentations / Sales messaging
• Comments: 4

Sales presentations are important, but 1000s of people each day ignore the principles of sales presentation design and sales messaging and deliver material that is tired, ugly, and ineffective. These sales presentation ideas will help you to easily improve your sales presentation; stand out, engage your audience, and sell more.

Choosing a presentation design agency

• PowerPoint design / Visual communication / Industry insights
• Comments: 2

Choosing a presentation design agency for your enterprise is a lot harder than buying a product. With presentation design services, you don’t know what you’re going to get until the project is nearly finished. What you get from the studio isn’t the exact same thing as what any other business ends up with. So how do you choose the right presentation design firm for your company?

I couldn’t agree more on point 1 Joby. Speaker comes first, slides second. A presentation could be the best on Earth… that it wouldn’t matter if presenter sucks rotten eggs (like Seth Godin likes to say :).

You might like this infographic – it breaks down the key steps on building effective presentations: http://www.pptpop.com/9-actionable-presentation-tips-thatll-make-you-stand-out/

Having a good presentation is really important because this will showcase how experienced you are and how well you know what your saying. Not just getting the approval of the clients but also gaining their respects. You can get referred to! Thank you Joby for the tips!

Great platform to use for effective use of powerpoint presentations.

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It is, quite simply, the best deck we have. I did a nice presentation with it yesterday and would like to do the same next week... I am sure it will get a lot of use. The visual impact and flow are compelling! Peter Francis Janssen

Client Presentations: 6 Tips for Better Results

The right presentation can help your company establish familiarity with potential clients and demonstrate authority in your area of business. As an entrepreneur and best-selling writer Seth Godin points out on his blog, “The topic of the talk isn’t you, the topic of the talk is the audience, and specifically, how they can use your experience and knowledge to achieve their objectives.”

Looking for a few actionable ways to boost your client presentations ? Take a look at these tips:

1. Start in the details

One of the easiest ways to better understand a potential client is to visit their company website. But you’re not just there to read the “About” page and see what services they offer. Studying a new client’s site design is a great strategy for understanding a company’s vibe.

For example, if your prospective client is active on Instagram and Pinterest, your presentation should include high-quality photos. If they have a YouTube channel, go ahead and use a video in your pitch. Knowing how the company presents itself to the world can keep you a step ahead of the competition.

2. Create a preference design

• Tailored to the prospective client

You’ll want your company’s voice to have a chance to shine through—after all, you’re trying to sell your services, too—but ultimately, the presentation should be tailored to the prospective client. This is a perfect opportunity to show how this partnership can be a success.

• Certain design choices

Although every company is different, there can be similarities in tone within specific industries. Lucy Alexander at HubSpot points out that the type of information you’re including in your presentation can help to determine your design. Knowing this, there are certain design choices you can make to help get you started.

• Create a sample workflow chart

With a data-driven client, recent studies and news items could be especially helpful in enhancing your presentation. Support your claims with evidence and list your resources. You could even create a sample workflow chart to demonstrate how you typically complete a project.

• Tools assistant presentation more interactive

To keep things interesting, consider ways to make the presentation more interactive. Go beyond a standard Q&A by integrating important websites, documents, and other components into your pitch. A digital whiteboard with app integration makes this easy to do. (Vibe even lets you make notes directly on the presentation with the easy-to-use stylus.) Microsoft Powerpoint, Google Drive, and Asana could add a lot of interest here.

3. Focus on what matters to the client

A great presentation can get bogged down when it fails to engage with the audience. You could focus on your company, with a background and other information. However, your client is there to find a solution to their problem (sales, product development, etc.). It is vital to turn that attention away from you, and put the spotlight on those important issues of the client .

Remember that you don’t want to lose them with useless filler. Take all of that out of your presentation and add some content with value. If they are having trouble selling a product, come up with a few ideas to increase those sales. When they don’t know how to market a specific service, offer a couple of ways to showcase their company. The possibilities are endless , but you must always keep that focus on your client during a presentation . 

4. Set a vision and help them see how to get there

Why is your client there? In most cases, they have a problem that needs a solution. Along with exciting your clients, you need to establish a clear vision for their company . While you can throw out all types of ideas, it is vital to help your clients see this vision. With a few visual aids or detailed language, boost their excitement for your help . 

Place yourself in the clients’ shoes. What would make them excited about your services? Once you have some sort of point in mind, create your presentation around that idea. With that, your vision will be clear for your client. Once they have established a clear vision, they will be more likely to hire you and follow your advice .

Related: How to Make PowerPoint Presentations That Impress

5. Explain the process and let them know where they are

Along with establishing a vision, you need to clearly and concisely explain the entire process for your clients . In some cases, it might be a long road to the final result. On the other hand, it may only take a few tweaks to get them on the right path. As the presenter, it is your responsibility to explain the process to your client. 

Once you have outlined it, you also want to let the client know where they are in the process. Are they close to the beginning or finish line? Clients don’t want to be left in the dark . When you explain it to them, it is another way that you can establish yourself as an authority figure that can offer solutions for their problems. 

6. Confirm they understand, and remember to ask questions

• Make your audience are on board with you

If you have finished a heavy presentation with plenty of facts and figures, you want to make sure that your audience is still on board with you . Before you end, ask if one section needs a little more explanation from you. It never hurts to reiterate those complicated points. If you’re using a digital whiteboard , you can revise and make notes at various points in the presentation. Go back through the slides and easily review any unclear points with the client, making notes for clarity.

• Ask audiences to submit questions

At this stage, you might want to ask the audience to submit additional questions about the presentation. While you may have thought you covered all the bases, there could be a few things that the audience has not grasped. Take this time to help them fully understand your concepts and other parts of the presentation . This could be your last chance to fully connect with the audience and make sure you are on the same page as them.

It can be frustrating to answer a question about a point that believe you have fully covered. However, t he presentation is not geared towards you . As Paul Viio states, you want to stay “customer-focused.” If your audience has questions, take the time to fully explain any of those points. You want them to feel fully educated about your service, product, or another part of your company. 

Presentation mistakes to avoid

Now that you know what to do, you also need to avoid some mistakes in your presentation.

For starters, you need a strong start to your presentation. With a poor beginning, your audience will tune out and figure out your message . Along with that, without addressing your clients’ concerns, your audience can struggle to figure out your message, and they are less likely to choose your solutions to their problems.

Finally, don’t rush through your ending . You want to follow through with a call to action. Without it, your audience might be wondering why they sat through your presentation.

It would be easy to throw a couple of slides together and give a standard sales pitch to every prospective client out there. But going a few extra steps to customize your pitch shows a willingness to take initiative and make things happen.

[ Editor’s note: this post was originally published March 16, 2020 and was updated September 9, 2021. ]

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How to Present a Project to a Client

April 21, 2022 - 10 min read

Knowing how to present a project plan to a client is an essential skill for project managers in any industry. When it’s done right, it can land your agency new long term clients. When done wrong it can pour cold water on your client retention or acquisition goals. 

Acquiring new clients is a massive headache for over half of all agencies , so it’s vital that your initial project presentations go off without a hitch. Presenting a project plan to a client is one of the first critical steps of any project or campaign, and poorly presented projects can cause a client to lose faith and walk away before you can prove your worth. 

Read on for our top tips on how to present a project proposal to your clients — plus advice on how to present a project without being nervous. 

How to present a project proposal to a prospective client

A project plan is a formal document with a consistent structure and flow . For the best results, your presentation should mimic this flow. 

Here are the seven steps you should cover when presenting a project plan :

• Provide an overview. Briefly describe the project, including the required outcomes and why the project is being undertaken. 
• Review the OKRs (objectives and key results). Discuss major deliverables and expected milestones. What essential information should you get from a client before you begin a project ? Consider this before you dive into discussions.
• Cover expectations and exclusions. Clarify assumptions and reiterate items that are out of scope for the project. You may wonder when do you show the client the price of a project — now is the time to make sure expectations are clear between you both.
• Present a high-level schedule. Use a Gantt chart to illustrate key steps and dependencies in the project schedule . 
• Introduce your team. Introduce the client to any teammates they will be directly interacting with, and anyone whose background can add weight to your credibility (such as an experienced subject matter expert.)
• Define communications. Ensure your client understands how you will collaborate. Include how they will receive updates and how to reach out with questions and concerns.
• Discuss the unexpected. Review the process of how you’ll handle change requests and issues when they arise.   
• Q&A. Wrap up with a question and answer session to ensure nothing was overlooked. (Read on for more info on questions to ask and expect.) 

Best practices and effective ways to present a project virtually

Due to the COVID pandemic, in-person meetings may be out of the question in the near future. Fortunately, virtual project plan presentations are an excellent alternative. 

Here are some tips on how to present a project proposal by video conference:

• Choose a well-lit, quiet area and place your camera at face level.
• Dress professionally and treat the meeting with the same formality as you would if it were in-person.
• Use a headset with a microphone for the best audio quality.
• Practice using the software in advance, so you’re comfortable with navigation and options, such as muting and unmuting participants.
• Send out a copy of your agenda and presentation beforehand in case you have issues sharing your screen.
• Outline any technical expectations at the beginning of the conference (i.e., don’t use chat, leave questions to the end, etc.)
• Ask for approval to record the meeting, so you can share it with participants who couldn’t attend or go back and review questions.

What essential information should you get from a client before you begin a project? Top questions to ask a client 

Generally, before you’ve created and presented your project plan, you will have already discussed key project expectations and requirements with your client. Objectives, milestones, acceptance criteria, etc., are all typically communicated in advance, which leads to what is client project focus — ensuring that your client’s business goals are adequately addressed and transparency is maintained throughout the project.

But, there are some questions you may still need to ask during the presentation; Here are the top five:

• Who in your organization are the project stakeholders ? Who plans to be involved with the project and what is their level of authority and interest? 
• Have you contracted similar projects in the past? If so, what hurdles did you face? 
• What are the most important features, deliverables, or requirements that we should always focus on?
• Is there anything about this project that keeps you up at night? If so, what?
• Are there any risks, obstacles, or other aspects of the project we haven’t discussed that you would like to review? 

Questions clients might ask during a project presentation (and how to answer them)

The Q&A is often a huge concern for inexperienced presenters. This is the hardest section to prepare for, as you never know what questions a client might ask. 

Client questions will often center on their concerns about what may go wrong. The more you understand their priorities, the better you can predict what they may ask. Let’s assume your client has a strict deadline for when the project must be completed. Some questions they may ask are:

• How will you ensure the project is finished on schedule?
• What steps will you take if deadlines start to slip?
• What risks do you see that could delay the project?

By considering their priorities and potential concerns in advance, you can prepare solid answers to their queries. But what about those questions from left-field that you can never predict? 

Here are three tips on how to answer unexpected client questions during a project presentation:

• First, thank them for raising the question. You want to encourage your client to communicate and voice concerns upfront. 
• Ask what’s driving the question. If a question seems trivial or bizarre, ask what the concern is behind it. Maybe the client has information you’re not aware of. This also gives you more time to think through your answer.
• Table it for later. If you’re not sure of an answer, tell the client you’ll look into it and get back to them. Make sure to give your client a timeline for when they can expect you to get back to them with an answer.  

How to present a project without being nervous: top tips!

Client presentations can be nerve-wracking, even for experienced project managers. Here are our top tips for eliminating nerves during your next project plan presentation:

• Be concise. Try to make your presentation as brief as possible while covering all the key topics. The less you talk, the less likely you are to ramble, get off-topic, or otherwise let your nerves get the best of you. 
• Pause when you need to. Don’t be afraid to pause, take a breath, and gather your thoughts. Consciously slowing your breathing can help calm your nerves.
• Have a clear agenda. Plan out what you will cover. Having a clear outline will make you feel and appear more confident.  
• Practice. The more you rehearse before the meeting, the less nervous you’ll feel. For best results, practice in front of an audience. Request that your volunteers ask questions you think the client may ask. 
• Attend other presentations. Watching other project presentations can help you feel more comfortable with the process, the flow, and the questions that may be asked. You can also pick up tips on what to do and not do. This experience will help combat nerves. 
• Get comfortable with the setup. Spend time in the meeting room and use the presentation tools before the meeting. The more you become used to the surroundings and tools, the more confident you’ll feel. 
• Take care of yourself. Exercise, a good night’s sleep, and drinking plenty of water can all help combat nerves. 

If you still feel nervous after incorporating these tips, consider joining a public speaking club such as Toastmasters . These clubs can help you practice speeches in front of an audience, improve your skills, and find even more ways to overcome nerves. 

What to do if your project presentation goes wrong

It's a possibility that we never want to think about when preparing to speak publicly, but there are lots of ways that your presentation may go wrong on the day. Technical difficulties, absent attendees, questions you weren't prepared for — these are scary prospects, but there is a formula for how to handle things if they go south.

• Stay calm: The worst thing you can do when faced with a hiccup in your presentation is panic. Remember that this is not the end of the world — your teammates will understand that some things are beyond your control and that you're doing your best. Take a deep breath, focus your mind on what you can control, and find a way to move on with your presentation. 
• Have a backup: It's always a good idea to have backups for when things go awry. Make sure your presentation is stored on the cloud as well as on your personal device, so you can access it if something goes wrong with your own. Invest in a power bank to avoid unfortunate outages, and consider printing some paper copies of your most important points, so attendees can still view your takeaways. 
• Crack a joke: It can be awkward when things aren't going the way you'd planned but try not to take yourself too seriously. A presentation, while important, is not the be-all and end-all of your career, and getting too wrapped up in things going perfectly will have your attendees tense up in no time. When things go wrong, smile and take the opportunity to laugh at yourself — it will endear you to your teammates and put everyone at ease. 
• Be honest: If you don't know the answer to a question, don't waste time scrambling. A good way to answer is: "I'm not sure of that right now, but I will absolutely find out and come back to you with more information". This shows that you're not someone who tries to spoof their way out of a sticky situation: you're mature and eager to learn. 

How to plan a project presentation with Wrike

Wrike can help you create and present your project plan in a way that exceeds your client’s expectations every time. Our templates will save you time and ensure each plan and presentation is always set up using the same framework. Wrike Gantt charts make sharing your project schedule a piece of cake. Plus, our collaboration software allows you to store and share agendas, slide decks, project documentation, previous communications, and more, so everything you need to wow your client is always at your fingertips. Sign up for a free trial today !

Jessica Everitt

Jessica is a former contributor of Wrike, specializing in project management topics.

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How to Deliver Effective Client Presentations with Mind Maps

If you’re looking to conduct more effective client presentations, it’s time to ditch those bland PowerPoint slides in favor of a more engaging presentation format: digital mind maps.

Mind maps help you present information in a format that’s both engaging and easy to understand. In all industries, consultants use mind maps to deliver effective presentations and provide their clients with an intuitive channel of communication that runs both ways.

The Benefits of Using Mind Maps for Client Presentations

Many of our customers here at MindMeister use our digital mind mapping tool to deliver effective client presentations. They cite a variety of benefits:

• According to transportation and technology consulting firm Milligan Partners, “We often work with executives and department heads—people who simply don’t have time for endless slideshows and 50-page documents.” Using mind map presentations, the company is able to deliver the strategies they’ve prepared for clients at a glance . ( Read the full case study .)
• According to financial planning firm IRONSHIELD, “In our business, we often deal with rather complex financial issues and strategies which can be difficult to communicate. Mind maps allow us to deliver this information in a way our clients can consume very easily. After a presentation with MindMeister, people often come up to me and tell me how engaging it was .” ( Read the full case study .)
• Financial consulting and investment advisory services company Coyle Asset Management uses mind maps to help their clients understand “their very complex financial lives. Our clients now have a one-page roadmap. Spreadsheets, reports, statements, tax returns, and legal documents, formerly a stupefying and overflowing old file drawer of documents, now organized and reduced to just one page !” ( Read the full case study .)

So as you can see, mind map client presentations are not only more effective and engaging, they’re also simpler. They make it easy for clients to understand large amounts of information by condensing that data into an accessible, visual, one-page resource.

Here’s a quick overview of what you can do with MindMeister:

• Visualize your whole presentation on one single page.
• Attach documents, graphics, links, and notes to individual topics.
• Invite clients via email or link to collaborate with you—it’s like Google Docs, only visual!
• Zoom and pan to relevant areas of your map during the presentation.
• Easily update the map during subsequent client meetings.

Build your first mind map presentation

Types of Mind Map Client Presentations

There are essentially three different types of client presentations, and each type requires a different kind of preparation and delivery:

• Prepare a complete map upfront and present it to your client.
• Bring a mind map template to the meeting and collaboratively fill it out with your client.
• Start with a blank canvas and create the entire mind map right in front of your client.

Let’s take a closer look at each of those use cases:

1. Presenting a ready-made mind map to clients

Preparing your entire mind map presentation in advance makes sense if you’re speaking in front of a bigger audience and don’t need or want anybody’s input while you deliver the presentation. It’s a great way to introduce yourself and your company, explain the consultancy services you offer, or present reports to your clients.

The benefit of this approach is that you can invest as much time as you need/want structuring it, filling it with information, adding attractive visuals and—if you want—using MindMeister’s presentation mode to zoom and pan to relevant areas of the map.

How to create a mind map presentation

Start with a new, blank mind map in MindMeister and write the subject of your presentation in the center of the map.

Create a new branch for each topic you will be covering in your presentation. Start at about one o’clock with the first topic, then keep going clockwise around the center. This is how mind maps are generally read.

Be sure to use keywords or short phrases for the topics in your map. You can store additional information in the notes section of each topic. This way you can add lots of details without cluttering up the map.

When the basic structure of your presentation is prepared, start adding subtopics to each of the branches you’ve created. Again, try to stick to keywords whenever possible to preserve the great overview the mind map provides. You can also use images to add extra information to a topic and to make it more memorable.

Now it’s time to improve the look of your mind map. You can:

• Change the theme of the map (e.g. to fit with your company’s branding).
• Emphasize and highlight topics using different font sizes and colors.
• Add images (upload from your computer, paste directly from the web, etc.).
• Add icons (MindMeister offers a huge icon library).
• Visualize connections between branches using arrows.

When your mind map is complete, you can present it right inside the mind map editor. If you don’t want to distract your audience with all the buttons and features, just press CMD+ALT+F to switch to full-screen mode.

You can also use the + and – keys to manually zoom in and out of the map—and move around by clicking onto the canvas and moving the cursor.

Using presentation mode

MindMeister’s presentation mode lets you turn your mind map into a dynamic slideshow that’s comparable to a PowerPoint presentation.

The big difference between a slideshow created in MindMeister and one created in PowerPoint is that you’re still able to show how individual topics are connected, as well as showing the entire mind map at key points during your presentation.

Seeing how everything is related to each other is essential in helping your audience understand and remember the information more easily.

To enter MindMeister’s presentation mode, just click on the presentation icon in the footer of the map editor. To create slides, click-drag your cursor over the different areas of your map while keeping the CMD key (or CTRL key) pressed.

Then, right-click on individual slides in the footer to select a different transition. You can choose between pan, slow zoom, fast zoom, and blur.

If you need help creating your slideshow, have a look at our tutorial video in the MindMeister training program.

2. Using a mind map template

Bringing a template or partly-finished mind map to a client meeting makes sense if you need to gather information from them in order to devise a concrete strategy.

A template or partly-finished mind map lets you involve the client actively in the information-gathering process while, at the same time, providing your meeting with structure and ensuring that each piece of information comes up at the right time.

How to use mind map templates for client presentations

When you’re dealing with rather complex issues and strategies (e.g. in the finance industry), mind maps allow you to deliver this information in a way your clients can consume very easily, especially when you create the map live in front of their eyes.

When you meet with a client to present your strategy, bring a map template or a mind map that is about 75% complete. Share the map with the client via email or link, and during the meeting, work together to fill in the details.

If you want clients to be able to access and view the map but not edit it, you can give them read-only access in the sharing settings.

Let the mind map guide you through your presentation. This automatically ensures that each piece of information comes up at the right time during the meeting.

If you’re going to use the same set of templates for each new client, be sure to save those templates in a designated folder—either directly in MindMeister or on Google Drive, for instance—where your whole team can easily access them.

3. Building a mind map from scratch in front of a live audience

Use this method if you need to walk your audience through a complex strategy, making it clear how exactly key points are related. Use this method only if you’re well-prepared and are sure that you can (re)create the whole mind map from memory.

This method is incredibly engaging and impressive. It helps your audience follow your train of thought like no other method of presentation does.

How to start client presentations with a blank canvas

If you’re going to create an entire mind map from scratch in front of a live audience, the most important thing is proper preparation. If you want to be convincing, you simply can’t stop in the middle of the map to try and remember what that next branch was you wanted to create.

To confidently recreate a mind map from memory, you should have created it multiple times before—both on your own and in front of a test audience.

The good news is that this isn’t as hard as memorizing a normal text or speech. In fact, mind maps were originally created to help people memorize information more easily .

Memorize MindMeister’s most important key shortcuts. This way, you can go into full-screen mode while creating the mind map and even format topics (e.g. making them bold) without distracting your audience with the software’s features and buttons.

Get Started on Your First Mind Map Client Presentation

Using mind maps to create your client presentations is a flexible approach that allows you to quickly create engaging presentations that are simple for your clients to understand. They’re also flexible, allowing you to use your presentation to present information and collect information as needed.

If you’ve used MindMeister with your clients, please share your experiences with us and let us know what your clients thought in the comments below!

Originally published in September 2016, this post has been updated with new case studies showing how MindMeister’s customers use mind maps to deliver effective client presentations.

7 Secrets of a Winning Capabilities Presentation

Published: October 12, 2020

As a B2B sales pro or account executive, you know how important it is to make a good first impression with a potential client. However, in today’s competitive business environment when buyers are experiencing Zoom fatigue and information overload, making a good first impression and standing out from the competition is no easy feat.

Endless pitch decks that focus more on the seller’s desire to land the deal than the needs of the customer are disengaging and tiresome for buyers who are overwhelmed with options. Set your company apart from the rest by keeping your prospect’s needs front-and-center in a well thought-out capabilities presentation that is more about the client than your desire to sell to them.

Capabilities Presentation

The purpose of a capabilities presentation is to demonstrate your organization’s ability to meet the customer’s needs, or to support the customer in solving a business-related problem.

Capabilities presentations usually aren’t necessary for low-value or direct-to-consumer deals. However, for those selling services within an agency model, or B2B, a thorough presentation on the specific ways your company can provide value for the potential customer can create a sense of demand, encouraging them to sign with you.

When delivered properly, a capabilities presentation can provide a valuable competitive advantage. When not done correctly, a capabilities presentation can feel like a long, drawn out sales pitch that is easy to ignore.

Here’s how to create a winning capabilities presentation to win over your ideal clients.

Capabilities Deck

Having a solid capabilities deck is a must. While you will be presenting the information, the quality of the visuals along with their ability to support the verbal statements you make during the presentation can make all the difference in winning over a new client or account.

Here are the elements you’ll want to include in your capabilities deck to make a stellar first impression.

1. A (very) brief agency or company overview.

The keyword here is brief. Many companies start their capabilities neck on an uninspiring note by making the presentation all about them. But the presentation should actually be all about the customer .

Provide a brief introduction of who you are, and what services your agency provides to begin building necessary rapport. Don’t make yourself or your agency the sole focus of the presentation. Give the potential client just enough information to understand who you are and what you are about.

2. A clear understanding of the client’s business and current challenge.

Once your potential client has a basic understanding of who you are and what your agency offers at a high level, begin shifting your focus to the needs of the client.

If you are already familiar with the client’s challenge, reiterate your understanding and engage in dialogue with them to ask follow-up questions about their current state and ideal future state. If you are not familiar with the client’s challenge, use this time for an open discussion. Ask the potential client what their pain points are, and what kind of support they are looking for.

Use active listening skills to demonstrate your interest in helping the client solve their problem, and to confirm your understanding of what they need help with.

3. Why your company can deliver the ideal solution to the client’s challenge.

Now that you have heard the client explain their challenge in their own words, convey why your agency is capable of helping them solve their problem.

Again, make sure you focus on why your agency is well-equipped to help your client solve the problem previously shared with you. Avoid making this part of the conversation all about your agency. Instead, make sure the potential client understands what your agency can do for them .

4. Case studies showing results for the bottom-line.

While you are sharing why your company is the best fit for meeting the client’s needs, provide testimonials and case studies from former clients who had similar needs. Share clear, easy-to-understand data that demonstrates your value to your former client’s bottom line.

The goal here is to communicate the results your company can provide, positioning your partnership as a worthwhile investment for the potential client. Providing data demonstrating the results you’ve accomplished also helps build trust with your new contact.

5. What support from your company entails.

If you haven’t already, outline what your agency’s support and service practices look like. Detail what the client can expect once they sign with you, and use this time to answer any additional questions they have regarding what level of support your agency is able to provide.

6. Time and space to engage.

The entire presentation should feel conversational, not like the potential client is receiving a never-ending pitch. Throughout the deck, make sure you leave ample time and space for the potential client to ask questions, give feedback, and share their experiences.

Doing so will keep them engaged, help them feel heard and understood, and will provide valuable insight into how you can better support them if they choose to work with you.

7. Next steps for working together.

Finally, share what the next steps are for working together. This can include providing necessary details of your onboarding process, or outlining what the decision-making process looks like on their end. Make sure everyone involved in the meeting is clear on what the next steps are to keep the deal moving, and create an actionable timeline for all stakeholders.

Capabilities Presentation Examples

Now that you know what your capabilities deck should entail, let’s review a few examples of strong capabilities presentations.

In this capabilities deck , Oktopost keeps their services and offerings that would likely excite potential clients front and center. While going through this presentation, the potential client can learn exactly why using this tool would make their life easier, which should be the goal of the presentation.

Malik Media Agency

Creative agency Malik Media shares valuable case studies and demonstrated results from past projects in this capabilities deck. Doing so can help build confidence in your business for the potential client.

Capabilities Presentation Templates

No need to recreate the wheel while creating your capabilities presentation. Use one of these templates to get you started.

1. Agency Deck Template

Image Source

This pitch deck template from Sprout Social is a solid option for agency partners who are pitching their services to new accounts. The template is fully customizable in Google Slides, and has over 80 slides that can be tailored to your needs.

2. Content-Focused Pitch Deck

If your agency focuses on content marketing or other strategic support, this client marketing pitch deck could be a good fit. It’s visual, easy to customize, and can help you speak to the needs of your potential client.

3. Classic Pitch Deck

This clean, well-designed presentation template from Creative Market has everything you need to craft a winning pitch. It features over 113 slides that you can suit to your unique talking points, and is compatible with both PowerPoint and Google Slides for easy access.

When you engage with your potential clients in a way that puts their needs at the forefront, they are more likely to trust and want to work with you. For more advice on creating a winning pitch for potential clients and customers, check out this post .

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Top 5 tips to give engaging client presentations

Presentation structure for engaging client presentations.

For consultants, giving engaging client presentations is part of the value delivered – and so it makes sense to get it right. A consultant spends weeks together researching, thinking, testing, and prototyping, and so on. It all goes vain if slides look bad and not able to deliver engaging client presentations during the client meetings. Most consultants create long slide decks that work well as documents but bore clients during presentations. Here are tips for giving engaging client presentations. How can consultants add value to their presentations? Here are suggestions to impress and engage your audience.

7 amazing tips to improve your presentation delivery

• Demonstrate genuine enthusiasm and foster audience engagement
• Prioritize audience relevance and tailor your content accordingly
• Streamline your message for maximum clarity and effectiveness
• Establish rapport through authentic eye contact and a confident demeanor
• Kick-Off your Presentation with a compelling starting message
• Adhere to the 10-20-30 design rule when crafting slides for a presentation
• Harness the power of narrative to captivate and inspire your audience

Client Presentation

A client presentation is a meeting where a company presents their products or ideas to a potential client to persuade them to choose their company. Visual aids like slides or videos may be used.

The Importance of delivering engaging client presentations

A client presentation is crucial for business deals. Showcase expertise, professionalism, and attention to detail. A well-prepared presentation builds trust and confidence, fostering relationships and business opportunities.

6 steps to build the ultimate client presentation

• Understand your client’s needs and objectives to tailor your presentation to meet their expectations.
• Organize your information and use visuals to create a visually appealing and easy-to-follow presentation.
• Create a narrative that connects with your client’s emotions and highlights the benefits they will receive from your service.
• Practice your delivery to ensure a confident and engaging presentation.
• Be prepared to answer questions and address concerns.
• Conclude your presentation deck with a call to action that prompts your client to take the next step.

By following these 6 steps, you can build the ultimate client presentation that can transform your business relationship.

5 tested methods to engage clients in a presentation meeting

Are you searching for ways to impress your audience? Try these simple tips for PowerPoint presentations that help improving presentation delivery.

• Starting with a hook
• Using visuals
• Telling stories
• Asking questions
• Keeping the presentation interactive

It’s also important to know your audience and tailor your presentation to their interests and needs.

How do you present a consulting presentation?

Some tips for delivering a successful consulting presentation include: knowing your audience, keeping your message clear and concise, using visuals to support your points, practicing your delivery, and being prepared to answer questions and address concerns. It’s also important to establish credibility and build rapport with your audience.

McKinsey, BCG and Bain consulting presentation

MBB is a shorthand way to refer to the “ Big 3 ” strategy consulting firms, McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, and Bain & Company. Formatting plays a key role in consulting presentation. Bringing in the consistency in terms of fonts, colors, logos, etc. are ensured to reflect the branding all across the slide deck, that resonates with the brand image.

Engaging Client Presentations – McKinsey BCG and Bain Consulting Presentation

7 different styles – Structuring your client presentation

1. Fact and Story

The presentation moves back and forth between facts and stories. Mixing storytelling with the relay of facts can help your audience stay interested until the end of your presentation.

2. The Explanation

The main purpose of the Explanation is to inform you about a process or plan to either fix a problem or learn something new. It shows the progression of the facts along with the flow of the story.

3. The Pitch

The Pitch presentation structure is like a climb uphill that takes you over a hurdle and on to a positive resolution. It is used to show how the presenter’s idea can really improve a situation.

Engaging Client Presentations – Investor Pitch Deck

A pitch deck is a brief and compelling slide deck for pitching a business idea to investors or clients. Presentation agencies offer PPT design services for Investor Pitch Decks. Templates offer consistency in content and structure. When designing PowerPoint slides for clients, adhere to their branding guidelines.

4. The Drama

The Drama is often used to tell the story of an influential company from founding days, through trials and tribulations, and then finishes with an inspiring show of success.

5. Situation – Complication – Resolution

B2B sales and business consultancy follow the Situation – Complication – Resolution structure.

• Situation – Current conditions are shown in an unbiased and transparent way.
• Complication – Present it as the challenge that needs to be overcome.
• The final destination is The Resolution, which is connected to The Complication.

6. Situation – Opportunity – Resolution

A similar structure to the one above, the Situation – Opportunity – Resolution replaces Complication with Opportunity. This structure is perfect when you need to show that something is not that hard to fix; that the problem might not be so big after all and that the solution is easy to grasp.

7. Hook, Meat, and Payoff

Hook, Meat, and Payoff are more like a spoken-word progression.

• Hook – The presenter gives the audience a sense of place and time, plus the situation.
• Meat – The story progresses, and all the information is relayed in an interesting way.
• Payoff – Inspiring conclusion that leaves the audience feeling inspired.

Understanding your Client needs – Designing your client presentation

Engaging Client Presentations – Creative Ideas

PowerPoint slides are common in business meetings. Consultants rely on them for client recommendations. Slide content must align with the topic. Give concise content that adds value. Use clean, professional backgrounds. Get inspiration from samples and develop a unique style that fits your branding.

After spending a significant amount of time and effort creating a business presentation , you want to impress the client with your findings and recommendations. Even though you are presenting, you want to encourage client feedback. It will allow the client to be more involved while also giving you further information that you may not have received otherwise.

9 expert tips to impress your client with presentation design

1. Ask the client for input before beginning

You will lose your audience if the material being presented does not speak to their concerns. Instead of a presentation that showcases many ideas but lacks focus, tell a story based on the client’s input. The presentation will be tailored to that client and address their specific needs.

2. List the key takeaways at the beginning

You should tell a story through your presentations, but you should also include a summary at the beginning. This summary can be bullet points that give an executive-level overview.

3. Have a clear agenda

Your presentation must have a clear and compelling agenda. Begin with compelling reasons to consider your proposal and culminate with a specific request for the business.

4. Challenge/Opportunity

Begin your presentation by illustrating the opportunity or challenge that your client is overlooking. Make sure it is compelling enough to motivate your client to listen to the end.

5. Benefits

Discuss the benefits that your client will achieve by adopting your solution. Use a customer case study or testimonial to support your point.

Present your plan or options to resolve the client’s challenge/opportunity.

Briefly share your company’s background, including who your company helps with these issues.

8. Recommend

Before closing your presentation, be sure to ask for the business. Being able to effectively present proposals is key to your success.

9. Call to Action

To be effective, get to the point and focus on vision and stories. Use PowerPoint or Keynote as supporting material and be sure to keep it short. The presentation should begin with compelling reasons to consider your proposal and culminate with a specific request for the business.

16 handy tips to structure and engage your audience in client presentations

• Choose the right foundation
• Set expectations ahead of time
• Survey your audience
• Gauge your client’s mood
• Set a client or prospect at ease
• Prepare for multiple scenarios
• Respect your company brand
• Pay attention
• Cross-check for the common unnoticed mistakes in designs
• Show and tell
• Show your proof points
• Keep core message crisp and clear
• Use High-impact visuals
• Include a summary
• Take time to practice well
• Encourage interaction

11 amazing tips to improve your presentation design

Engaging Client Presentations – Chart Visualization

We give PowerPoint ideas for shaping your design for client presentations. Follow the ideas to present content effectively in client meetings. Companies have branding guidelines, so align your slides accordingly. If you need help with layouts, collaborate with a design agency for a professional PowerPoint template.

11 awesome creative ideas to look for while designing a presentation 

1. Visuals support but do not replace the speaker

The presentation has two key parts – visuals (usually slides), and a speaker. If the slides are self-explanatory, then the audience will read through the slides, ignoring the speaker. If the slides have complex or data-heavy material, the speaker must explain them in detail.

2. Create separate slides and handouts

Do not be tempted to use the same slides to present and to leave with the client as an abridged report. The best approach is to create a version of your slides to present, then add additional information to a separate version to use as a report.

3. Do not follow the design rules blindly – tailor them

A lot of consultants are exposed to a lot of “rules” about PowerPoint slide design, many of them suggest a strict pattern to follow upon. Consultants are paid to analyze, measure, and think. Do not ignore these skills and accept only the strict patterns blindly to compromise quality content.

4. Thought to ideas – Creative Visuals

For organizing your work, consider using Post-It notes. Label the notes with key points related to your project and arrange them in a logical sequence. From thoughts to ideas and then structure them to create visuals. Use of creative visuals helps in creating engaging client presentations that is remembered for a long time.

Engaging Client Presentations – Creative Infographic

5. Set clear objectives

You typically have things you want to achieve – to explain, to justify, or to promote. Making these explicit when you start to create your presentation helps you know what you want to work towards achieving your plan.

6. Do not always try to tell a story

It is almost clichéd to suggest that good presentations should tell stories. But, if there is nothing surprising, nothing unexpected, and nothing exciting, it might not make the best story. Try the other presentation structures, that may appeal to the audience. Your content plays a key role in delivering engaging client presentations.

7. Design gorgeous graphs

Consultants use a lot of graphs because they typically share a lot of data. Design your graphs that look creative and professional to depict the data meaningfully. Do not clutter your graphs with a complex data structure that keeps the audience confused. Your data presented as suitable chart types add visual value in creating engaging client presentations.

Engaging Client Presentations – Charts Visualization

8. Ensure your slides are not too busy

Often, slides contain too many bullet points, an influx of images, or graphs/charts that are not clear. It is not that the information is not relevant, it is that it gets overlooked. Minimalism always works well in delivering engaging client presentations.

9. Include only key data – Other data be in Appendix

Keep an appendix at the end of the presentation and include all the data you want without having to tell the client to explicitly look at it. The client can review the appendix section, on the client’s time if they are so inclined.

10. Use meaningful visuals

It sounds obvious, but presentation visuals should be meaningful. Ask if that graphic/visual helps me explain things? If not, what is it for? Choose the visuals wisely that support you to explain. Your visual content strategy should strike a right balance of content vs visuals, delivering engaging client presentations.

Engaging Client Presentations – Meaningful Visuals

11. Pay a designer to create a unified design

Nothing says ‘cobbled together’ like inconsistent PPT slides design. If you are sensible, do not spend your own time trying to become a PowerPoint expert. Pay a presentation designer and use your precious time for your key business goals. Designers are expert in creating PPT presentation slide design catering to worldwide clients.

Final thoughts – Delivering engaging client presentations

Client presentations tend to be classified as time-consuming and somewhat tedious, but they should be looked at as an opportunity. You have the chance to showcase your work while engaging the client to see how both parties can improve. Focus more on your presentations, and your relationships will prosper.

The honing of one’s public speaking abilities is a pivotal component for those seeking to achieve professional excellence. The discerning and insightful minds among us leverage platforms such as Pecha Kucha , Big Think , and IdeaCity to deliver stirring speeches, leaving an indelible impact upon the masses, inspiring and motivating them towards progress.

If you are looking to use ready-made presentation designs to shorten the process, reach us and our team of designers take up your assignment to create customized layout designs for you.

• How do you engage clients in a presentation?

Some tips for engaging clients during a presentation include starting with a strong opening, using visuals and multimedia, asking questions and encouraging participation, telling stories, and keeping the presentation concise and focused. It’s also important to know your audience and tailor your presentation to their interests and needs.

2. What are the 3 S’s of an engaging presentation?

The 3 S’s of an engaging presentation are story, structure, and style. A good presentation should have a clear and compelling story that captures the audience’s attention, a well-organized structure that guides them through the content, and a style that is engaging and memorable. By focusing on these three elements, you can create a presentation that is both informative and entertaining.

3. What is the importance of engaging presentation?

Engaging presentations are important because they capture and hold the audience’s attention, making it easier for them to understand and retain the information being presented. They also help to build credibility and establish a connection between the presenter and the audience, leading to better communication and more successful outcomes.

4. What is most important during presentation?

The most important thing to remember during a presentation is to connect with your audience. This means engaging them with your content, speaking clearly and confidently, and making eye contact. It’s also important to be prepared and organized, and to have a clear message or goal for your presentation.

5. What is a successful presentation?

A successful presentation is one that effectively communicates your message to your audience and achieves your desired outcome. Key elements of a successful presentation include clear and concise messaging, engaging visuals, confident delivery, and audience interaction and participation.

Related posts

How to create Professional Business PowerPoint Presentations

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The Art of the Client Presentation

Be prepared. Be thoughtful. Be specific. And be careful to not get your ideas swiped! When approaching a client presentation, it’s essential to do your homework and present your ideas in a way that suits the job at hand and conveys your passion and expertise clearly and concisely—all without giving away too much. Though there’s no one-size-fits-all solution or general script to follow, using the simple strategies suggested by these three seasoned design professionals can help you deliver a winning presentation.

Know your stuff

It’s worth stressing the fact that preparation is key to any successful client presentation. All of the designers AD PRO consulted agree that there is no such thing as being too prepared. “If you are organized during your presentation, you are exhibiting the way their project will be managed,” says Victoria Sanchez, principal designer and owner of the Santa Fe and Washington, D.C.–based firm Victoria at Home. “A designer should be able to walk a client through their project,” she adds. “Starting with a floor plan, presentation board, or other presentation materials, a designer should know their design inside and out. Be ready to answer questions related to the product you are presenting, pricing, lead times. A potential client will want to know more than just the visual aspects.”

“Your presentation should be flawless, detail-oriented, and professional,” urges Richard Ouellette, president of Canadian design firm Les Ensembliers . “The packaging is as important as the product. It is your entry ticket to making [the client] feel important and at ease and that they have chosen the right person even before you have presented any ideas.”

Ouellette offers additional tips: “Understand and organize your presentation. You want to inspire them, so make sure you have a clear idea of what you are proposing. Present your portfolio or body of work first. If it’s a full design presentation, start with layouts, then inspiration. Explain what you feel works for their space with your images, move to hard surfaces, then soft, and lastly product.”

Curate the material

“The goal is to present a cohesive idea and give plenty of options without overwhelming the client,” says Mark Cunningham , founder of his 15-year-old namesake New York design firm. Outlining how to offer the information in a digestible format, he says:

“Everything you’re showing should be for something specific—shapes for the furniture in each room on your floor plan, fabrics for pillows or drapery, lighting fixtures for specific locations.”

“Show a range of options so your client can rule out what they don’t like. Negative comments are just as productive to you as positive ones.”

“Put care into how you present. It should be neatly organized. And fresh flowers and natural light never hurt.”

Show, don’t tell…

“The more a client can see and feel before buying, the more successful you will be in designing a space they love,” Cunningham explains. “I use mood boards to convey my concepts. I find they’re a great tool to begin the conversation about how the client envisions their home.” He also suggests getting samples of everything you’re proposing—from fabrics and finishes to hardware and plumbing. “Even get furniture prototypes if you can,” he adds.

Ouellette suggests that the components of a winning presentation include the following: the perfect layout, with options; inspiring reference images that can be translated to their home; detailed drawings and designs that function; and aspirational and accessible materials and finishes.

…But don’t reveal all your cards

How do you share your vision with potential clients without having it stolen? “Skill and practice,” advises Sanchez. “You don’t show all your cards when you are playing poker. So why would you share your shopping list without a contract and payment? Share enough to make sure they are asking for more.” She adds, “A presentation is meant to propose your vision, not your product numbers. I don’t share vendor information during initial presentations.”

Ouellette admits that he trusts in karma when it comes to stealing ideas. “I believe it starts with the screening process of the potential client: If you establish a good and trustworthy connection, you have a better chance to get to the end,” he says. “But believe me, the ones that take your idea and run are usually the ones that you are better off running from, and it’s much better to know at the beginning than at the end.”

Exude confidence—to a degree

But don’t be smug, urges Ouellette. “Feel great about what you’re presenting. Believe in the design concept and that the products you are sharing are the right ones for the job,” offers Sanchez. “If you don’t believe in yourself and your ability to execute the project you are proposing, your potential client will see right through you.”

Ouellette says, “Go in with passion and an open heart. Be real. You start from a stronger place. Be humbled. Remember it’s their home and money, not yours. No one wants to work with a diva.”

The Best Templates for Onboarding New Clients

You’ve closed the deal, now what? Onboarding new clients or external partners can look a lot like onboarding new employees. Setting expectations, and laying out a roadmap for what’s to come, is an important part of the initial process to get everyone up to speed and aligned. Onboarding is a chance for you to establish roles, scope of work, project goals, processes, and give or receive feedback. It helps you outline a communication plan and maintain relationships with each new client. 

Onboarding clients can be done more effectively and efficiently with presentations. By creating an onboarding presentation you can easily educate new clients, define and analyze customer or client habits, and provoke user engagement. It’s important to have a strong onboarding process to establish trust and confidence early on with your new clients. 

Whether you are training or onboarding internal partners or external clients we have the essential pre-built templates you need to jumpstart your program. We’ve rounded up a list of the top four best presentation templates that can be customized to communicate with and onboard your new clients more efficiently. 

Sales Proposal

Sale proposals are used to demonstrate how your business, brand, service or product will positively influence a buyer, partner company, new client, or investor. This template might be used to bring new business in, help close the deal, or define the relationship with a new client. For a sales proposal to be successful it must include a straightforward message, be visually impactful, and show specific stats or data that reference your company’s strengths. 

Operations Plan

Once you secure the deal with a new client, you need a plan to nurture that relationship. Use an operations plan to outline your business strategy, or align on responsibilities and goals. An operations plan presentation keeps all of your team members—internally or externally— on the same page, ensuring that they understand their roles, responsibilities, and how they fit into the overall project. An operations plan is an essential component to your project’s success, and can show new clients what to expect when they choose to adopt your product or service.

New Hire Onboarding

New employee or client onboarding is the process of integrating said newcomer with a company and its culture, as well as getting them the tools and information needed to become a productive member of the team. There’s a lot of information to share with new clients such as what the company is all about, how to use the product or service, case study examples, what they can expect from the team and who to work with, contact information, and so much more. With this template, you can create roadmaps for each new client one month to six months out to ensure they’re familiar with the business. A new hire template can be customized to fit your welcome packet and is a great resource for new clients to keep on hand and refer back to over time. 

A good training presentation can provide structure to your onboarding process. Our template is customizable, making it easier than ever to get new clients up to speed on the processes and functions of your product or service. You can use our training template to educate your new clients, provide how-to instructions, or re-engage with them when you release new features or offerings. A good onboarding will include training so that the client is getting the most out of the tools provided to them. 

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How to Present Your Project Plan to a Client

7 steps for giving a project presentation

When you’re working on a project with a client or even a product owner, it’s critical to be 100% sure they understand all the details your team has discussed. Remember, your clients may not be familiar with your process or deliverables so this is your chance to enlighten them.

Be sure to set up a call or in-person meeting to review the project plan in detail. Before diving into the nitty-gritty of your plan, share the project timeline with your client so they can see your team’s process at a high level. If you want to send the timeline to your client in advance, it’s easy to do in TeamGantt by sharing a view-only link of your gantt chart .

Chances are, they’ll be confused by what they’re looking at, so you’ll want to take the opportunity to review it line by-line. This may sound painful, but it’s an important step in ensuring you’re in agreement, not only on timing, but also on how you’ll deliver the final product. Use the initial review of your plan as your chance to educate your client and set clear expectations for the project.

We recommend following these simple steps when presenting your project plan to a client.

1. Explain your project management process

Explain your overall project management process and how you, as a team, arrived at the approach. Feel free to explain how it has worked on previous projects or why you’re trying something new. No matter what, stand behind the approach, and be confident about its potential for project success .

2. Review the project deliverables

Review the deliverables and all the details that will help you, as a team, produce your project on time. It’s important to explain what work must be done to complete a deliverable and why it will take the time you’ve allotted. If you explain these details now, your clients won’t push for unrealistic deadlines. And if your plan shows tasks, your client will understand just how much work is being done.

While reviewing your plan, your client may have questions about what a deliverable is and what it does. This is great because it means they’re engaged in the process and look forward to seeing what the team will deliver!

If you can, share some similar documents or deliverables from other projects and explain what they’re intended to do (and not do) and how they relate to other project deliverables and decisions.

The more you can educate your clients early on, the easier it will be to win them over when presenting your work. After all, a client who’s invested in and truly understands your work is not just a client—they’re a partner.

Lay a clear path to success with a visual plan that’s easy to understand, and keep everyone in sync with flexible workflows and team collaboration.

3. Set expectations for project feedback and approvals

In your plan, you’ve probably made some estimates based on the amount of time your clients will need to review your work as a team and provide feedback. If you had conversations with your clients early in the process, you know how much time they need. This is your chance to point back to that conversation so they know the timing for deliverable review processes is based on that discussion.

Of course, if that’s no longer the case, you’ll need to make adjustments. At this point, you want to be as realistic as possible about how the project will go. There’s nothing worse than changing the review process—or the people involved—midstream on a project. Explain this to your clients so they’ll think twice about timing and what’s realistic for them.

When clients see the time they need in relation to the time you’re taking, as well as the deadline, they’ll most likely be motivated to work hard to meet their dates and contribute to completing large project milestones on time.

4. Don’t forget to point out dependencies

If your client misses their deadline, what will that do to the project? Where can you be flexible, and what makes you nervous? Put it all on the table now, and document it in meeting notes so everyone is aware of the potential issues you’re spotting early on.

5. Discuss your team and other project work

It’s never just about the work—it’s about the people who are doing the work. Let your client know your team has reviewed the plan, and point out items you discussed as a team and how you arrived at some decisions.

There’s a lot of value in showing your clients the human side of your process and your team because it’s often easy for them to think of you as a “shop” who just gets the work done. They don’t know all the details—and maybe they don’t want to. But if you give them insight into who’s doing what and any other key things your team is working on, it’ll help your client relate to your team a bit more.

It can be tricky talking to clients about other work you’re doing, but it shouldn’t be. The fact is, you’re a business, and you have other clients and projects. Show your clients the fact that you take great care to schedule your time and projects in a way that works for you and for them.

If you’re really good at this, you’ll have scheduled your project around others, and there will be a little bit of a cushion in your timing to make future shifts. Even if that isn’t the case, it’s a good idea to set the expectation that a 1-day delay on your client’s side may not equate to a 1-day delay on your side.

Simply letting your client know that their project plan is crafted around other client projects—with careful attention to resource allocation —will help them understand the importance of sticking to the dates and process you’ve outlined.

6. Confirm everything with your team and client

You’ve put a heck of a lot of work into creating this plan, so talking through the details to make sure everyone is comfortable with it should be pretty important to you. If this means giving your client and team some extra time to think things through on their own, so be it.

Of course, you never want this process to take so much time that it delays any of the project work. You can create the plan while work is underway—but don’t let it go unconfirmed for too long. You want to be sure you have an agreement because the details in your plan will dictate so much—including your immediate next steps.

7. Manage and update your project plan

Just because you’ve confirmed your plan it doesn’t mean you’re done with it! In fact, you’ll find that your plan is a living and breathing document. At a minimum, you should update the Percent Complete column on your project on a daily or weekly basis. It’s gratifying to see that number go up!

Plus, the chances that you’ll have to make adjustments here or there is pretty significant. It’s not common for every project to stick to its plan 100%. Life happens, ideas impact process, deadlines are missed, and plans change. That may mean your deadline has to shift or maybe your process will no longer work for the project. As long as you’re flexible and can adapt to the revolving door of changes, so can your project plan.

It’s really easy to be frustrated by a change in plans, but don’t let it get to you. Remember, you’ve got a team who’s already committed to coming up with a plan that works and a client who’s educated on your process and deliverables. You’ve done a lot of work to get these people on board with the plan! They’re invested enough now in the plan and the project to be willing to help make adjustments or think through new ways of working if needed.

Finally, be sure to provide updates to your team and your clients as plans change—or even stay on track. Keep your plan in an accessible place, but use status reports to communicate how things are going in relation to the plan. You’ll always end up on top if you’ve communicated or resolved an issue early on—or even paid a compliment on a job well-done.

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Avoid These 3 Pitfalls When Giving a Sales Presentation

• Terri L. Sjodin

Lessons from a study of almost 5,000 sales professionals.

A study examined the habits of almost 5,000 sales professionals whose livelihoods depend on their ability to build and deliver persuasive presentations. The findings revealed 12 common mistakes that were consistently self-reported among respondents. Here are the top three to avoid when giving a sales presentation: being overly informative vs. persuasive, failing to close, and “winging it.”

When you work in sales, no business skill is more essential than effective communication. This is especially true when it comes to giving presentations, whether you are presenting in person, over the telephone, or via a videoconferencing platform. Getting to the point, connecting with others quickly, and making a strong pitch can be the difference between moving a transaction forward or losing an opportunity.

• TS Terri L. Sjodin is an award-winning speaker who has specialized in helping people build and deliver more polished, persuasive, and effective presentations for over 30 years. She is the principal and founder of Sjodin Communications , a public speaking, sales training, and consulting firm based in Newport Beach, CA. Her latest book, Presentation Read y , (McGraw-Hill, March 2024) expands on this material.

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How to Write a Client Brief (Example & Template Included)

Creative projects are like any project. They have a beginning and end with a deliverable. A lot of similar project documentation is also used, though some have different names. A case in point is a client brief. It functions like a statement of work (SOW), only for a creative team.

To better understand a client brief, first, let’s define the term and identify who is responsible for creating one. Then we’ll go into the steps necessary to write a client brief, outline an example of one and provide a free client brief template for Word to get started.

What Is a Client Brief?

A client brief is a project document that outlines the strategy and deliverables for a creative project such as a marketing or advertising campaign. It contains the client requirements for the project and guides the creative team in achieving the campaign’s goals. The goal of the client brief is to provide an action plan for the campaign and articulate its vision. It should justify the benefits of that vision and plan how it will target the audience. The client brief also manages expectations and establishes key messaging. In short, it contains all the information the agency executing the campaign needs to know about its customer’s needs.

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Client Brief Template

Use this free Client Brief Template for Word to manage your projects better.

An organization may use a client brief if they don’t have a marketing department and hires a marketing agency to launch its new product. The client will include all the information the agency needs to understand the client’s needs, including the available budget, estimated timeline and other details in the client brief. This allows both parties to be on the same page. Then, the agency can decide on the work.

If the agency decides to proceed with the client, the client brief must be turned into an actionable project plan. This is where project management software comes in. ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software with multiple project planning tools to better plan, manage and track work related to the client brief. Managers can plan on robust Gantt charts that link task dependencies, filter for the critical path and set a baseline to track planned effort against actual effort in real time. The plan is then shared across multiple project views. Teams can manage their work on kanban boards or task lists, while the client can get an overview on the calendar view. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

Who Is Responsible for Writing a Client Brief?

The client brief is a tool to communicate the client’s specific requirements for the service provider or agency so the client usually creates it. However, it’s not uncommon for a client to work with a potential agency to collaborate on writing the client brief.

If the client and agency work together to write the client brief, it will most likely fall on the project lead to collaborate with their possible client. But, as noted, this is a collaborative effort and often considers the entire project team rather than a solo endeavor. The team is more likely to be thorough in gathering pertinent information.

However, marketing teams will sometimes write the client brief. This is especially true when an agency is seeking work and wants to impress a client with their knowledge of the work to be done. They’ll still have to interview the client and get their input to fully understand their needs.

How to Write a Client Brief

Writing a client brief provides clarity and eliminates uncertainty in the working relationship between a client and the agency. It also saves time and resources by avoiding misunderstandings through creating clear guidelines. This goes a long way to improving client satisfaction. Let’s go through the steps to create a powerful client brief.

1. Describe the Overall Purpose of the Project

First, understand what the client wants by defining the project’s purpose. This project summary should include everything the client wants and how it will be accomplished. Identify potential challenges and how they’ll be resolved, including team members and their responsibilities. Also, include the following.

• Target Audience: Define the audience the client wants to reach, including demographics, income ranges, ages, education levels, cultural groups, genders, etc
• Brand Guidelines: Understand the rules and standards that help maintain brand consistency across channels
• Company Background: Add important information about the client, such as core values, mission and vision, brief history, what makes them unique, goals and objectives, etc.

2. Define Project Goals and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Before goals are achieved, they must be defined. Make sure these are SMART goals, which stand for specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound. To track those goals throughout the project and show the client that they’re getting what they paid for, make sure to monitor the key performance indicators (KPIs), which can be anything from return on investment (ROI), budget variance, cost performance index, resource capacity and more.

3. Outline the Project’s Scope of Work

At this point, the client brief will outline the project. This document is called a scope of work . It defines the relationship between the client and the agency and includes tasks, timelines and the following.

• Deliverables: List the major deliverables  created throughout the project and lead to the final deliverable, which is the client’s campaign.
• Milestones: Key points in the project, which can include the end of one phase and the beginning of another, project kickoff, meetings, handoffs and more.
• Exclusions: Items, tasks or work that are not included in the project scope to avoid misunderstanding between the parties.

4. Estimate Costs and Make a Project Budget

Use various techniques to estimate the costs of the projec t, such as resources, which will become the foundation of the project budget. This shows the client the money needed to complete their project.

5. Make an Estimated Project Timeline

There’s enough information now to create a detailed timeline of the project . It will show the schedule for the project from inception to completion. Milestones and tasks will be plotted on the timeline to show the project’s breakdown over time.

6. Establish a Communication Plan

Finally, define the information that will be communicated and who will receive what information. It’s also important to define the preferred communication channels  and the frequency of the communication.

Instead of making a client brief from scratch every time a client is looking for an agency to manage their campaign, download this free client brief template for Word. It outlines everything necessary to deliver a thorough understanding of a client’s needs to a potential agency.

The free client brief template is fully customizable allowing users to add or subtract what they like. Included is the information we’ve discussed above, from the target audience, brand guidelines and company background to goals and KPIs, budget and timeline.

Client Brief Example

To better understand how a client brief works, imagine a real-life scenario where Acme Manufacturing is launching a new product. They don’t have a marketing department and want help from a marketing agency, we’ll call XYZ. First, Acme will create a client brief to present to XYZ.

It opens with a statement of purpose to expand its market reach and successfully launch the new product. Milestones , deliverables and exclusions are all defined so the agency knows what’s expected. The target audience for the product is urban professionals, either male or female.

Acme wants the scope of work to develop and launch the advertising campaign over six months and across multiple platforms. KPIs include the first month of researching and planning, the second and third months of creating content for the ads and the fourth, fifth and sixth months of executing the campaign and getting back performance statistics.

A plan is developed, with tasks aligned to those KPIs, which follow the Acme brand guideline to ensure that advertising stays on message. The cost is budgeted at $500,000 and a communication plan outlines the various stakeholders and how they’ll be updated.

More Free Project Management Templates

There are more free templates that can help when launching a campaign. Our site has over 100 free project management templates for Excel and Word that cover many industries. Below are a few that can help when delivering a client brief to an agency.

Project Proposal Template

Before creating a client brief, the project might need approval from executives. This free project proposal template for Word helps explain the rationale behind the project. It includes everything from a cover letter to an acceptance letter with deliverables, cost and more.

Creative Brief Template

Similar to a client brief, this free creative brief template for Word outlines a project’s objectives to ensure that everyone understands the key aspects of the project. It does this by detailing the company background, target audience, key messages, customer benefits and more.

Project Estimate Template

To help with the budget part of a client brief, use this free project estimate template for Excel. It breaks the project into phases, tasks and costs, such as labor and materials. Once users fill out this free template, they’ll have an accurate idea of how much the project will cost.

ProjectManager Helps Track the Client Brief’s Execution

Templates are fine for things like a client brief or a project proposal as these project documents trigger a project. But from there, a template won’t cut it. They’re static documents that pull users away from the work to manually update templates. And forget about collaboration. Templates aren’t built for working together. When the project is approved, the professionals use project management software. ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software that has multiple project views for planning, executing and monitoring work. There are also features to track progress, time and costs to keep clients updated on progress.

Track Progress, Time and Costs With Real-Time Data

Planning is only the beginning. The client brief has a specific timeline and budget that the project must keep to be successful. To ensure that deadlines are met and there is no overspending, managers must monitor and control the project. Our software can do this in several ways. Progress can be monitored on Gantt charts where taskbars are shaded to represent the percentage done. Toggle over to the real-time dashboard to get an overview of KPIs displayed in easy-to-read graphs and charts that show metrics on time, cost, workload and more. Labor costs are visible with our secure timesheets that do more than streamline payroll, they show if team members’ work aligns with the schedule and budget.

Make Reports and Share Them With Stakeholders

Managers aren’t the only ones who have to stay updated with progress. Clients are stakeholders with a vested interest in the success of the project. Keeping them updated benefits both stakeholders and the project. Stakeholders can pull managers away from work if their expectations aren’t managed. This can be done through the communication plan. One way to keep stakeholders informed is with our customizable reports , which filter results for managers who want details, or stakeholders who want a more general overview. Create a status or portfolio report in a keystroke. Managers can also benefit from variance, workload and timesheet reports. All reports can then be shared in a variety of formats.

Another aspect of managing projects is keeping track of resources . The Gantt chart can plan for human and nonhuman resources. There’s also a team page and color-coded workload chart that shows an allocation breakdown for all team members. From there, managers can balance workloads to keep everyone working at capacity, which is good for morale and productivity.

ProjectManager is online project and portfolio management software that connects teams whether they’re in the office, out in the field or anywhere else. They can share files, comment at the task level and stay updated with email and in-app notifications. Join teams at Avis, Nestle and Siemens who use our software to deliver successful projects. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

Deliver your projects on time and on budget

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More From Forbes

6 steps financial advisors can take to build a new-client campaign.

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Trey Robinson, Founder of Story Amplify .

Finding new clients for your financial advisory firm can be a chore. Sourcing new clients through old-school methods like display advertising, mass mailings or networking events requires a lot of effort but often leads to little return.

Instead, my agency has found that the following six steps are more productive in building a new-client campaign and increasing business.

1. Know Your Target Audience

Before starting any marketing, understand your ideal prospect. Recognize their financial goals and challenges and how you can help.

Here’s an example: Maybe your prospects are retirees from a particular company or industry. See if you can uncover the strengths and weaknesses of their retirement packages. Your ideal prospect is a retiree from this company/industry who needs help with gaps in those packages.

Trump Vs. Harris 2024 Polls: Harris Leads Trump By 1 Point In Latest Survey

Kamala harris’ vp shortlist: cooper, whitmer out as announcement expected this week, ios 17.6—update now warning issued to all iphone users, 2. differentiate yourself.

There are many financial advisors out there. To stand out, you need to tell your prospects what you offer and why your offer is better than anyone else’s.

For an effective differentiation strategy, you should:

• Study the competition.

• Stress your expertise and background.

• Provide advice and products for a targeted audience.

For instance, if you served in the military, you understand medical and financial military benefits. You can help military families maximize those benefits.

Your differentiation efforts should also show you in action. Do this by scheduling no-obligation, face-to-face meetings or creating thought leadership pieces.

3. Select The Right Marketing Channels

Marketing channels include websites, social media, emails and digital advertising. You should know where your prospects get their information to determine the right marketing channels for your messages.

Instagram or TikTok could be great for younger prospects. Consider LinkedIn for professional clients. Another option is a bottom-of-the-funnel paid search strategy to inform your audience. If you want to reach prospects in a particular neighborhood or ZIP code, develop online ads targeting those specific geographies.

4. Use The Internet Wisely

Here’s how to use the internet as an effective campaign tool.

Build Compelling Landing Pages

Also known as a lead capture page, a website landing page is where users end up in response to an organic search, promotion, email or advertisement. Create different landing pages for each campaign. Each one should show prospects that you understand their challenges and know what they’re looking for.

Here’s how that might look:

• The landing page tells a prospect that you can fill gaps in their retirement plan.

• The prospect receives a free analysis of that current plan if they fill out a landing page form.

• Once that analysis is complete, the prospect books a no-obligation meeting to discuss the results.

Also, ensure consistent messaging. If you’re driving visitors to a landing page with a specific email or advertisement, use the same topics and graphics for everything. Consistency means memorability.

Create An Effective Email Campaign

Emails are important during the marketing process. When the above-mentioned prospect submits a form for the free analysis, they should immediately receive an email with instructions on how to upload their plan information and next steps.

But don’t stop with one email. Set up an automated drip campaign that sends emails on a schedule. These emails can include information downloads or comments on stock market movements. Make sure every email includes a call to action and explains why you’re qualified to help your prospect.

Set automatic emails to go out on the seventh, 10th, 14th, 21st and 28th days after the initial email. When the drip campaign finishes, add prospects to your monthly newsletter list to remain top of mind.

Build And Maintain Brand Support

Your brand tells prospects you’re honest and knowledgeable. One way to highlight this is by building and maintaining a trustworthy internet presence with tools like Google Business Profile or Yelp. That profile should include positive client reviews, ratings, comments and testimonials. Work with your compliance partner on ratings and reviews to follow Financial Industry Regulatory Authority regulations.

Also, keep your social feeds and emails active with ongoing posts, information and insights. Anything you can do to position yourself as an experienced, intelligent financial advisor ensures a polished and reliable brand.

Pro tip: Use video during this step to generate a higher emotional connection with prospects.

5. Form A Lead-Routing Plan

Your landing page, online ads and drip emails are a gateway. You also need a lead-routing plan to convert those prospects into clients.

That plan includes:

• A dedicated individual who calls internet-generated leads.

• A well-crafted script for that individual to deliver consistent messaging and offer value.

Also, be sure to move quickly. The faster you respond to an online lead, the higher your conversion rate will likely be.

Pro tip: Emails and phone calls generate powerful connections. So do live chats. Consider a webinar at this step of the prospect’s journey for a valuable brand interaction. That webinar can also be an effective one-to-many tactic for scale.

6. Build A Referral Plan

Don’t underestimate your current clients when obtaining new ones. Ask them whether they can provide testimonials for your website and your Google Business and Yelp profiles. If you're targeting younger audiences, consider expanding those testimonials to social media.

Also, ask clients whether they’d be willing to tell friends, family and colleagues how you can help them achieve their financial goals. Be sure to couch this request in terms of “assisting others” rather than “building your business.”

Building A Proactive Campaign

The steps outlined above are proven methods to generate a successful new-client campaign. Take time to target and understand your prospects. Then, use the available tools to demonstrate your expertise and knowledge. This results in a higher leads-to-conversion ratio and an increase in your client base.

Forbes Agency Council is an invitation-only community for executives in successful public relations, media strategy, creative and advertising agencies. Do I qualify?

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5 Do’s and Don’ts to Avoid a Preindictment Presentation Becoming a Trial Exhibit

How can defense counsel avoid having a preindictment presentation to the prosecutor appear on the government’s exhibit list at trial? Bonnie M. Baker of Friedman Kaplan Seiler Adelman & Robbins provides five recommendations to consider in strategizing how to most safely communicate a client’s story.

July 26, 2024 at 10:24 PM

8 minute read

Criminal Law

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Experienced white-collar defense counsel well know that persuading a prosecutor not to indict a client can be fraught with peril. They must strike a delicate balance between keeping their best cards close to their vest and providing the prosecutor with enough information to understand the context surrounding the client’s alleged misdeeds and intentions.

And if, in consultation with the client, defense counsel have determined to make such a presentation to a prosecutor as they explain their client’s version of the facts to the government, it is critical to take extreme care not to lock the client into an account that may continue to evolve as the investigation progresses. Defense counsel should be mindful that in making a presentation to a prosecutor, the attorney’s work product may one day be weaponized against the client.

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Disbarred Portsmouth lawyer charged with theft, forgery and exploitation of a former client

Disbarred lawyer Justin P. Nadeau has been arrested on multiple charges including theft, forgery and falsifying evidence.

The charges stem from Nadeau allegedly deceiving a former client with a traumatic brain injury into loaning him more than $280,000 in 2018, according to New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella.

In announcing the charges Wednesday, Formella said Nadeau is also charged with "financial exploitation of an elderly, disabled, or impaired adult."

Nadeau, who was the 2004 Democratic nominee for Congress in New Hampshire's 1st District, was disbarred in April by the New Hampshire Supreme Court's Professional Conduct Committee.

Formella said an arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 9 in circuit court in Portsmouth.

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51 Best Presentation Slides for Engaging Presentations (2024)

Written by: Chloe West

When you're creating a presentation for a live audience or embedding it on a webpage for visitors to access on their own time, you want it to be engaging. And unfortunately, too many presentation slides are boring and forgettable.

But with Visme, we've put together 51 of our top presentation slides to help you find the perfect template for your next presentation.

To make navigation easier, we've broken them down into six categories. Browse through each below to find your next presentation slides.

Here's a short selection of 8 easy-to-edit presentation templates you can edit, share and download with Visme. View more below:

51 Best Presentation Slides for Engaging Presentations

Business Presentation Slides

Finance presentation slides.

• Sales & Marketing Presentation Slides

Education Presentation Slides

Pitch deck presentation slides, nonprofit presentation slides, presentation slide faqs.

There are so many reasons you might need to give a presentation in your business or career. And we’ve got just the right templates to get you started.

After all, you’re probably spending enough time creating the content and rehearsing your presentation deck. You don’t need to worry about your presentation slide design at the same time.

Here are a few of the best presentation slide ideas based on topic material, like the ones you’re regularly using. And if you're racing against the clock, tap into Visme's AI presentation maker to create eye-catching presentations in seconds. Just input your prompt, provide more context, select your preferred style and watch the tool generate your slides. Customize every part of your presentation with our intuitive editor.

1. Meeting Agenda Template

Customize this presentation template to make it your own! Edit and Download

Sick of seeing team members nod off or lose focus during your team meetings?

Put together your meeting agenda ahead of time using these presentation slides to help keep your team engaged and informed throughout.

This template comes with 15 premade presentation slides that cover everything from project management to charts showing performance and overall meeting objectives. Whatever you need to share in your meeting, you can find in this theme.

Plus, you can completely customize these business slides to match your company colors directly in Visme!

2. Company Goals Template

It’s important to ensure everyone on your team knows and understands the company’s goals. After all, everyone’s work should be geared towards achieving those goals.

You can use these nice business slides to put together a background of your company and how far it’s come, as well as detail your upcoming goals, launches and more.

3. Company Overview Template

If you’re speaking to a networking group about your company or pitching to investors, you likely need to give an overview of your company, its leadership team and its offerings.

These are the perfect presentation slides to help you put together a minimalistic design that draws focus towards your company and its mission.

Plus, all of these good-looking slides are perfectly set up to highlight your company’s most important assets.

And best of all, they’re completely customizable. Add in your own brand fonts and colors to create the perfect presentation for your business.

Make the goal-setting or design process a collaborative activity with the help of Visme’s collaborative feature . Team members can edit your presentation, leave feedback and draw annotations in real-time or at their own pace.

4. Project Status Report Template

When it comes to project management, you could always just send over a boring email or report update, but a better way would be to put together a presentation updating your team and/or your supervisors on the status of the project and the remaining timeline.

This presentation theme comes with 14 different slides to help you put together a status report that covers all aspects of your project: the various phases and how far along each one is, the timeline for your project, a project health card and more.

You can also gain even more inspiration for your project timeline slides from these timeline infographic ideas .

5. Business Annual Report Template

Want to show your boss how the company is doing? Or share how your team’s efforts have affected the bottom line? Put together a presentation that shows your business’s results over the year.

While this presentation template comes with a fun geometric accent pattern, you’re able to swap out any of these shapes for ones that more accurately represent your business or your message right in Visme’s design dashboard.

Working on this design with your team? Effectively manage the process with Visme’s workflow management tool . You can assign different sections of the slide to your team members to work on set deadlines, manage progress, track corrections and more.

6. Business Plan Template

Are you starting a new business? You might be looking for investors, or perhaps you want to pitch the idea to a potential cofounder. You need to deploy the best presentation slides possible.

You can use this theme to put together a polished business plan presentation that showcases your business idea, the market summary, the industry opportunities and more.

You can also use Visme’s color themes to find the perfect color scheme for your presentation and your upcoming business. After all, your brand colors can say a lot about your business.

7. Product Introduction Template

Put together a presentation that introduces a new product idea to your boss, your board of directors or your investors. Take advantage of the charts and graphs in Visme’s design dashboard to showcase various studies and statistics that prove why your idea will be profitable.

Or you can utilize this presentation theme to introduce a product to the public. If your company is in the process of developing a new product to release, a presentation introduction can be a great and engaging way to share it with your audience.

8. Product Presentation Template

Whether you’re launching a new product or sharing the features of an already existing one, you can show off your product through a presentation with nice slides.

You can share your presentation on social media, on your website or at a large company event to announce it to your audience. Include bright, high-quality photos of your product and a list of its best features to really highlight your new release.

9. Visual Brand Identity Template

There are many different ways to create a brand style guide for your business. One great way is with a presentation.

These presentation example slides allow you to seamlessly input your fonts, colors and other visual guidelines into a single presentation so that you can easily share your brand with the designers, marketers and other members of your team.

10. Special Business Presentation Template

These presentation slides can help you easily put together a business introduction template for a conference or networking event.

Just click above to edit in Visme, switch out your background with one of the thousands of options in our photo library, add in your own key facts, vision and values and download!

If you’re running out of ideas for your presentation , you can use Visme’s Writer AI to produce high-quality drafts, proofread your content or adjust its tone.

11. Industry Trends Template

Put together a presentation to showcase upcoming trends in your industry. You can leave the patterns and colors the way they are in these existing presentation slides, or you can add in your own brand colors or product colors.

Understanding developing trends in your industry each year is important so that you know where your business should focus its efforts.

Sharing a presentation with your team is a great way to stay ahead of the curve.

12. Services Template

Use these slide presentation examples to showcase your services and what you can offer your clients/customers. If you have a visual business, a presentation is an excellent way to highlight your work and show it off to prospective leads.

Swap out each photo in the example slides with photos of your work, update the fonts to match your brand voice (or upload your brand fonts) and add in the services you offer.

13. Slideshow Template

A slideshow presentation is a great way for you to showcase photos of your work alongside your service offerings. This template even includes social media icons on the last page so that viewers know how to find the business online.

Again, you’ll want to swap out all of the photos with your own work, but this presentation theme is a great way to get started.

14. How To Presentation Template

Are you presenting a tutorial or step-by-step guide on how to do something? Using example slides to put together your content is a great idea.

It’s a disservice to your company and your customer to assume that everyone automatically knows how to use your product or service. Showing your audience exactly what to do is essential to your customer service strategy.

Spice up your presentation by adding stunning, high-resolution images and stock photos , videos , icons , widgets and other design elements.

Didn’t find any photos that caught your eye? We’ve got you. Use Visme’s AI image generator to whip up captivating images that match your presentation theme and design.

Even if you have photos that need editing, use Visme's AI Edit tools to touch up, unblur, upscale, erase and replace images with one click.

15. Survey Results Template

Putting together a customer survey is a great idea to understand how your audience feels about your industry or even your company. Grab those results and insert them into these presentation slides to share with your team.

You can also put together a blog post or webpage with survey results and embed this presentation directly into it so your audience can understand the state of the industry as well.

Visme’s design dashboard allows you to add in various charts and graphs that adjust automatically based on the numbers you input. After all, ain’t nobody got time for manually adjusting the sizes of bar graphs and pie charts.

16. Company Overview Presentation Template

Utilize these beautifully designed presentation slides to create a brief overview of your company and its offerings.

Having a readily available presentation overview of your company is a great idea for when you’re pitching investors, journalists for coverage and more. You don’t need to recreate a presentation each time. Instead, put together a visually appealing and informative one-size-fits-all overview.

You can add in your own photos or choose from Visme’s photo library to keep the same beautifully minimalistic appeal.

When sharing financial information, it’s always helpful to put together some kind of visual aid. This can be used to further emphasize your content, whether it’s about going over budget, showing off exciting revenue increases and more.

Check out these finance slide presentation examples to find the perfect template for your goals.

17. Financial Report Template

Use this template to put together a presentation that goes over your company’s expenses, sales, profits and more.

The built-in data visualization options allow you to showcase your point with more than just numbers. Add in a table of contents to keep your report organized and cohesive, letting your team know exactly what information they’ll find inside.

18. Statistical Presentation Template

Need to report some financial statistics and data? These presentation slides are perfect for helping you insert cold, hard facts into your presentation.

Each slide includes a different type of chart or graph for you to choose from to fully represent your data and statistics. You can easily switch your color scheme by inputting your own brand colors or by choosing a preset color theme from Visme’s dashboard.

19. Map Presentation Template

It’s important to know where it makes the most sense to market your product geographically. Showcase sales and overall company growth and profitability by location.

Knowing your revenue based on geographic location is essential for a global company, and this presentation template is perfect for the job.

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Sales and Marketing Presentation Slides

When it comes to sales and marketing for your company, there is a lot of data and information that can be represented visually. Creating sales and marketing presentations helps with keeping your team on the right track, but can also be a great way to make a pitch.

Learn more about creating essential sales and marketing presentations with these templates.

20. Visualization for Sales and Marketing Template

When you’re putting together a sales and marketing plan, you have to present it to your boss for approval, then to your team for implementation.

Use these presentation slides to help visualize your sales and marketing plan , including each of the upcoming tactics and strategies and the steps for putting them in place.

Having a presentation to refer back to allows your team to ensure they’re implementing the strategies properly.

21. Simple Marketing Presentation Template

Whether you’re introducing new marketing ideas to your team, pitching a new marketing strategy to your boss or to a new client, a presentation with nice slides is the perfect format.

Grab this presentation template that helps you to define your new ideas and share specific tactics for how they should be implemented for the business. Then get ready to rock your pitch and share your awesome new ideas.

22. Market Analysis Template

Review market trends with your team so you know where to take your company’s marketing messaging. You can send out a customer survey or take a look at a few studies that have been done surrounding your industry to put together your market analysis report.

Input all of your findings into this presentation template so you can easily present it to your team or grab the link and send it in an email. Even if you’re not standing up to give a presentation, these presentation slides are still an engaging way to share necessary information.

23. Marketing Plan Template

Building a new marketing plan for your business? Put together  great presentations for your marketing plan to share with your team.

Presenting your new marketing plan to the company is a great way to get everyone motivated and on board with new strategies and ideas.

You can add in your goals, objectives and even user personas with this ready-made marketing plan template.

24. Sales Report Template

Your sales team should be regularly providing insight on how much revenue the company is generating. And a great way to do that is through a sales report presentation or slideshow.

It’s important to stay informed of sales growth throughout the year. Share graphs of sales quarter-over-quarter or year-over-year to see where the company/sales team needs to improve.

25. Press Release Template

Don’t just write a boring old press release to send out to journalists and media publications. Instead, create an interactive press release showcasing your launch.

A presentation press release will help your business stand out from the dry press releases most publications receive, offering even more incentive for them to highlight your business and its products/services.

Edit this business slide to add in your own brand touches, voice and launch information before grabbing the link and sending it off.

26. Social Media Report Template

Sharing results of any marketing strategy is always essential. This is how you keep your team updated of any strategies that are working, and any strategies that need some adapting.

This presentation theme is a great way to share your current strategy and results. Input your platforms, your strategies and your metrics before presenting it to your team. Customize the presentation slides so that they cater perfectly to your company’s strategy.

27. Social Media Strategy Template

Pitching a social media strategy to your boss can also be done well with a presentation. Showcase why social media is important to invest in, what your plan is and how it will affect the bottom line.

This presentation template already gets you started in perfectly pitching your own strategy. Simply adjust it to your brand colors and fonts and update the information with your own.

Presentations are huge in educational settings.

Whether you’re a teacher looking for an interactive way to share your lesson plan or a student trying to finish up a school project, we’ve got the presentation templates for you.

Take a look at our education presentation slide options to find one that works for you.

28. Training Plan Template

When working one-on-one with a student or mentee, it can be a good idea to put a training or education plan into place. These presentation slides are the perfect start to your lesson and can help to visualize the content and learn in a different way.

Putting together educational content in a presentation helps offer different formats for learning. Students are often not provided with all of the tools they need to learn the material, and an interactive presentation is a great place to start.

29. Book Report Template

Putting together a book report to present for your class? Get started with a presentation theme that you can fully customize for your specific book.

These presentation slides allow you to seamlessly enter in the information about your main characters, the theme of the book, its timeline and any other pertinent information you need to share with the class.

Don’t worry about presentation design in your next project. We’ve already got it all put together for you! Simply click edit, insert your book content and download your presentation.

30. Trivia Template

Help your class remember fast facts before a text with this trivia template. It’s a great way to host a study session in your classroom, and the content is easily interchangeable.

Or if you’re a student, put together a presentation study guide to help you memorize the most important key facts and information from class. A trivia presentation format can make for a fun study sesh before the test.

31. Lesson Plan Template

Don’t waste time putting together a dry Microsoft Word or PowerPoint lesson plan. Instead, create an interactive lesson plan that helps you stay on message during your class, and helps your students to know exactly what’s going to come next.

32. Group Project Template

Group presentations just got a little more exciting. Blow the rest of your class’s projects away by using these presentation slides to compile your overall project objectives and results.

You can easily adjust colors and fonts, add in your team members and insert copy relevant to your class and your group project.

Don’t forget to thank your classmates and your teacher for listening in the end.

A pitch deck is an essential presentation for all businesses and entrepreneurs to have. There are many times you might need to pitch your business, whether it’s to investors for funding, journalists for media coverage and more.

Using a presentation template to put together your pitch deck is a great idea so that you can focus on pitching your business without having to worry about the design.

Browse through the pitch deck presentation slides below to find one that works for your business and its goals.

33. Airbnb Pitch Deck Presentation Template

Give this Airbnb-inspired pitch deck presentation theme a go when putting together a slideshow for your business. In your company slide, include the solution that your business provides its customers, product/service information, and excerpts from press acknowledgements.

34. Front Pitch Deck Presentation Template

Showcase your business with this geometric pitch deck template inspired by Front. Add in the planned acquisition channels for your business, your leadership team and more.

Your pitch deck is meant to showcase your business to people who may want to work with you, so it’s important to share the most imperative information.

35. Buffer Pitch Deck Presentation Template

Showcase the state of the industry and your business’s role in it with this pitch presentation slides idea inspired by Buffer. The information these presentation slides include helps you to share the impact your company has had on your industry.

Since industries are ever-changing, you can easily update the information within your pitch deck in Visme and it will automatically sync to the webpage where you embed this presentation.

36. Comms Pitch Deck Presentation Template

Use these presentation slides inspired by Intercom to give your audience an idea of what your product is going to look like and how it will work.

This is the perfect pitch deck template to take advantage of when launching a new SaaS product or app so that you can share what the technology will look like and how it will work.

Showcasing specific features and tutorials is a great way to get people talking about your product.

37. WeWork Pitch Deck Presentation Template

Is your company helping to fuel a movement? Share how your company is changing the industry with this pitch deck template inspired by WeWork.

It’s exciting when your business is doing more for your industry than simply adding another product or service. Focusing on a movement that really switches up the way your industry does things is an incredible feat.

Utilize a pitch deck template like the one above to showcase how your company is involved.

38. Buzzfeed Pitch Deck Presentation Template

Does your business focus on content? Or perhaps you’re creating a new kind of media outlet?

Show off your content and analytics with this Buzzfeed-inspired pitch deck presentation template. Getting advertisers on board and other media outlets to talk about you is important for success.

This is why you need to be putting together a pitch deck that shares that kind of information. No one will want to work with you if you keep your analytics in the dark.

Use dynamic fields to ensure your brand information and other key details stays consistent across slides and other projects. These fields are customizable and change automatically based on input or predefined conditions.

39. Investor Pitch Deck Template

Starting a new venture that you need funding for? Use these presentation slides to put together a pitch for investors in your business.

From showcasing the problem in the industry to your business’s solution, along with your business plan and pricing table is a great way to get potential investors interested in what you’re selling.

40. LinkedIn Pitch Deck Presentation Template

Compare and contrast what processes look like with and without your business with this pitch deck template inspired by LinkedIn.

It’s a great idea to take care of this in your pitch deck so that you make the job of any media outlet or writer covering your business even easier. After all, you’ve done the hard work for them.

They were going to share how your business helps. You’ve already visualized this in your pitch deck. This increases the chances that people will cover your business.

41. Mattermark Pitch Deck Presentation Template

Use this pitch deck presentation theme inspired by Mattermark to put together key questions about the industry that showcase why your business is so essential.

Launching a startup is hard work, and that’s why a pitch deck is an essential marketing tool to have. Creating a pitch deck that already answers the why and how questions of your business is a great way to introduce who you are and what you’re doing to investors and reporters.

42. Foursquare Pitch Deck Presentation Template

Put together an overview of how your product works with this pitch deck presentation template inspired by Foursquare.

With presentation slides already in place to showcase a step-by-step tutorial, all you have to do is input your content and publish your presentation.

43. Fyre Festival Pitch Deck Presentation Template

If your company has been doing some awesome stuff lately, you want your potential investors and those looking to work with your business to know about it.

Show off your company achievements with this pitch deck presentation template inspired by the famous Fyre Festival pitch deck.

44. Biogrify Pitch Deck Presentation Template

Use these presentation slides inspired by Biogrify to excite people about how they can use your product. If you have a unique product or service, you just need to drum up a little excitement and attention!

A pitch deck is the perfect way to do that. Add in your company’s logo, mission and unique selling proposition to get people looking forward to becoming customers/users.

45. Launchrock Pitch Deck Presentation Template

Influencer marketing is a huge marketing strategy that can generate some serious results. What better way to pitch influencers about your business than with this pitch deck inspired by Launchrock?

Don’t email off some boring PDF or Google Doc. Create enticing pitches to influencers with this pitch deck theme, and start watching the replies from influencers pour in.

Working with influencers to promote your product is a great way to increase your audience base and word of mouth about your company.

When you’re running a nonprofit, there is a lot of pitching your organization, talking to donors and working on events to increase donations. This is why you need great slide presentations.

Putting together a presentation for your nonprofit is a great way to showcase what your organization does and why people should donate to it.

Here are a few nonprofit presentation slides to choose from, where all you have to do is insert your information, change colors and fonts and present.

46. Nonprofit Report Template

Put together a report that covers what your nonprofit is working against as well as your nonprofit’s achievements each year.

47. Nonprofit Art Template

Use this presentation slides idea to provide an overview of your nonprofit and its main projects. To generate even more support and donations, it’s important to provide clear insight into your key products and objectives.

48. Nonprofit Environmental Template

This presentation theme is perfect for showcasing the key issues your nonprofit fights for and its process for doing so.

Being transparent about what your nonprofit works on is important so that your donors know exactly where their money is going. Being secretive can generate some bad press, so it’s better to be open with your supporters.

49. Nonprofit Animals Template

These presentation slides use earthy colors to convey their nonprofit’s connection to animal rights. Use this to showcase your nonprofit. You can use the current colors or update it to match your nonprofit’s brand/industry.

50. Wildlife Conservation Template

Use these presentation slide examples to cover why your nonprofit matters and why donors should consider contributing.

A nonprofit only exists when people donate, so putting together a compelling pitch deck showcasing why your nonprofit is so important to your main issue is important. These slides are perfect for sharing your goals and mission.

51. Pet Adoption Slideshow Template

If you're looking for stunning presentation slide ideas , we've got more than enough. This pitch deck presentation template is perfect for SPCAs and other animal societies working on finding forever homes for their animals.

However, it can also be adapted to any other nonprofit or business need. The great thing about these presentation slides is how versatile they are. Each one is completely customizable to fit your specific needs. For example, you can turn it into a video presentation .

Q. What is a PowerPoint Slide Deck?

A PowerPoint slide deck is a collection of slides that are created using an online presentation maker. These slides are used to create presentations for various purposes, like sales , marketing , research , case studies , webinars , onboarding and business in general.

PPT presentation slides typically consist of a series of slides that contain text, images, charts, graphs, and other multimedia elements that are used to communicate information to the audience in an engaging and visually appealing manner.

So why is it called a slide deck? In the early days, presenters would create slides by photographing images or text onto transparent film. These slides would then be loaded into a slide projector and displayed on a screen. The collection of slides was referred to as a "deck," and the presenter would advance through them one by one. Today, the term "slide deck" is still used to refer to a collection of slides or presentation materials, even though most presentations are now created and displayed digitally.

Q. What is a good presentation slide?

A good presentation slide is one that engages your audience and effectively communicates your message.

Here are some key characteristics of a good presentation slide:

1. Keep your slides simple and uncluttered: Avoid excessive text and use bullet points or concise phrases to convey your main points. Use clear and legible fonts, and maintain a consistent design throughout the presentation.

2. Visual appeal: Incorporate visually appealing elements such as relevant images, charts, graphs, or diagrams. Use high-quality visuals that enhance understanding and make the content more engaging

3. Make it readable: Use a readable font size. Stick to a maximum of two or three font styles and sizes. Blend bright and dark colors for the text and background to ensure visual contrast and good visibility.

4. Consistent structure: Use consistent formatting, such as font styles, colors, and alignment, throughout the presentation.

5. Make it interactive: Include animation and interactivity to add flair to your presentation. It can make your presentation powerful and memorable.

Q. How do you make a good presentation slide?

There are lots of presentation software available for creating presentations. But Visme offers users a wide range of features to create visually stunning and engaging presentations.

All you need to do is choose a template from our extensive library of over 500 presentation templates and customize it with your text. You can edit content, change image(s), apply custom colors, input your own fonts and logo, and more. You can visualize data using our wide range of customizable charts and widgets.

Spruce up your presentation by adding audio, video, animations and other interactive elements. Download it as a PDF, PPTX, MP4, and HTML5 to share with your recipient , or generate a shareable link for online sharing.

Q. How do you design a presentation?

Here's a step-by-step guide to help you design some of the best business presentations:

1. Define Your Objective: Determine the purpose of your presentation and identify the main message or key points you want to convey

2. Plan Your Content: Outline the structure and flow of your presentation. Divide it into sections or key topics to ensure a logical progression. Read this article to learn more about creating an effective presentation outline .

3. ​​Create a Storyline: Craft a compelling narrative that ties your key points together. Storytelling can help engage your audience and make your presentation more memorable.

4. Choose a Design Theme: Select a visually appealing design theme or template that aligns with your topic and audience. You can use the ones we've shared above as your presentation inspiration.

Visme’s branding kit streamlines on-brand content creation and ensures you stay consistent across all channels. With our AI-powered brand wizard , you can automatically generate branded templates fitted with your brand elements.

5. Use Visual Elements: Incorporate relevant visuals such as images, charts, graphs, icons, or diagrams to enhance understanding and engagement.

6. Maintain Visual Hierarchy: Organize your content with a clear visual hierarchy. Use headings, subheadings, and bullet points to guide the audience's attention and emphasize key points.

7. Use Transitions and Animations: Apply transitions and animations to enhance the flow and engagement of your presentation.

8. ​​Practice and Test: Review and rehearse your presentation to ensure a smooth delivery. Test your presentation on the actual equipment or platform you'll be using to ensure compatibility and optimal display.

9. Seek Feedback: Before delivering your presentation, consider sharing it with a trusted colleague or friend for feedback. Ask for their input on the content, design, and overall effectiveness. Incorporate their suggestions to improve your presentation.

Q. Which slide is best for presentation?

The best slide for a presentation highly depends on the topic and the target audience. For example, if it's a pitch deck presentation, the financial projections or business model slide would be the best.

However, here are some of the most common slides you should know about:

1. Title Slide: It announces the presentation's topic and introduces the speaker. It grabs the audience's initial attention.

2. Agenda Slide : This gives the audience an idea of what to expect throughout the presentation.

3. Content Slide : These are dense with information. They're best when broken down into bullet points for readability.

4. Visual Slide: Slides with infographics, charts, or other visuals can improve understanding and retention of complex data.

5. Interactive Slide: Encourages audience participation and engagement, especially in virtual presentations.

6. Conclusion/Summary Slide: Reinforces your presentation's key points or takeaways.

7. Question & Answer Slide: Allows interaction and clarification, ensuring the audience fully grasps the presented materials.

8. Contact Information Slide: Provides follow-up information for further questions or networking.

Q. What are the 3 main types of presentation slides?

While there's no one-size-fits-all rule for making presentation slides, you can group them into three main categories:

Introduction and Closing Slides

These slides bookend your presentation. The introduction slide typically includes the title of your presentation, your name and any relevant introductory information. The closing slide summarizes key points, provides a conclusion and often includes contact information or a call to action.

Content Slides

Content slides make up the core of your presentation and contain the primary information you want to convey to your audience. They can include text, images, charts, graphs and other visual or textual elements supporting your presentation's message.

Transition Slides

Transition slides signal a change in topic or create a smooth flow between different sections of your presentation. They often feature a brief title or heading that previews the upcoming content. Transition slides help guide your audience through the presentation and make it easy to follow.

Q. What are the 4 types of presentation?

The four types of presentations are informative, instructional, persuasive and arousing.

1. Informative Presentations: These are used to educate the audience on a particular topic. They present facts, data and information to increase the audience's knowledge and understanding.

2. Instructional Presentations: These presentations provide step-by-step guidance or training on a specific task, process or concept. You can use this type of presentation for teaching or coaching purposes, emphasizing learning and development.

3. Persuasive Presentations: The primary goal of these presentations is to influence the listeners' attitudes, beliefs or behaviors. Use this presentation type when you want your audience to accept certain arguments or propositions.

4. Arousing Presentations: These presentations aim to evoke interest and awaken curiosity about the topic among the audience. They often aim to inspire, motivate or raise awareness about an issue.

Q. How do you make a 5-minute presentation interesting?

Creating an intriguing 5-minute presentation may be challenging due to the time constraint. Yet, you can deliver an impactful and engaging presentation with a focused approach and attention to detail.

Here are some of the ways to do it:

1. Focus on a single core message : Since you have limited time, choose a specific topic and stick to it. Present only the crucial information that will help the audience understand your point.

2. Engage from the start: Start your presentation with a compelling story, anecdote or a surprising fact. This will grab the audience's attention and spark curiosity.

3. Keep slides simple and visual: Avoid cluttered slides with too much text. Use visuals such as images, graphs or infographics to illustrate your points clearly and concisely.

4. Tell a story: A narrative structure engages the audience and helps them follow your message. Consider using metaphors or anecdotes to explain complex ideas.

5. Encourage questions or interaction: Since time is limited, you might opt for a brief Q&A session, ask a rhetorical question or request audience feedback for further discussion later.

6. Finish strong: Conclude with a powerful statement, call-to-action or takeaway summarizing your main point. Leave your audience with a lasting impression of your message.

Q. How many slides should a 20 minute presentation be?

The number of slides you should have for a 20-minute presentation can vary depending on several factors, such as the complexity of the topic and the pace of your speech.

However, the general rule of thumb is to allocate at least 1-2 minutes per slide, which suggests 10-20 slides for a 20-minute presentation.

Q. What Is the 5 5 5 Rule for Presentation?

The 5 5 5 rule is a framework that ensures your presentation is clear and remains engaging. A presentation should have no more than five words per line of text, five lines of text per slide and five slides that apply the first two rules in a row.

Q. How Do You Make a Presentation Slide?

With Visme’s presentation software, creating a presentation slide is a breeze. Follow these steps to create a presentation slide with Visme.

Step 1: Log in to Visme and choose from hundreds of beautifully designed presentation templates . Each template is equipped with various intuitive layouts, typography, color themes, data widgets and graphics. Or Use Visme’s AI presentation maker to swiftly create a presentation based on your specific needs.

Step 2: Customize your presentation with your company’s logo, colors and other brand items. Upload your own creative collateral or use our assets library to add photos, images, graphics, icons and animations to your content.

Step 3: Once you have finished editing and are ready to share, download your presentation as a live webpage, video, PDF, or HTML file, a customizable PPTX, or embed it on your website.

Q. What Is the 10 Rule for Slides?

The 10 rule for slides is part of Guy Kawasaki’s 10/20/30 rule which emphasizes that no presentation should have more than 10 slides, last longer than 20 minutes, and contain fonts smaller than thirty points.

Q. Which is better Google Slides or PowerPoint?

When it comes to PowerPoint vs Google Slides , both have they're pro's and con's. You'll need to decide what's worth the trade if you should pick one over the other, or simply choose Visme.

Ready to Create Engaging Presentation Slides?

Ready to get started with creating your presentation? Choose from any of these 51 slides for presentation, or browse Visme’s complete template library to find the perfect match for creating your own presentation.

Each one of these presentation themes can be adapted to match your business, school, nonprofit and other needs so that you can create something perfect for your goals and objectives. Create your free account to start customizing with our drag-and-drop presentation maker.

And once you’ve finished creating your presentation, check out our video to help you present like a pro and wow your audience.

Create beautiful presentation slides with Visme

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About the Author

Chloe West is the content marketing manager at Visme. Her experience in digital marketing includes everything from social media, blogging, email marketing to graphic design, strategy creation and implementation, and more. During her spare time, she enjoys exploring her home city of Charleston with her son.

Helping our customers through the CrowdStrike outage

Jul 20, 2024 | David Weston - Vice President, Enterprise and OS Security

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On July 18, CrowdStrike, an independent cybersecurity company, released a software update that began impacting IT systems globally. Although this was not a Microsoft incident, given it impacts our ecosystem, we want to provide an update on the steps we’ve taken with CrowdStrike and others to remediate and support our customers.  

Since this event began, we’ve maintained ongoing communication with our customers, CrowdStrike and external developers to collect information and expedite solutions. We recognize the disruption this problem has caused for businesses and in the daily routines of many individuals. Our focus is providing customers with technical guidance and support to safely bring disrupted systems back online. Steps taken have included:  

• Engaging with CrowdStrike to automate their work on developing a solution.   CrowdStrike has recommended a workaround to address this issue and has also issued a public statement. Instructions to remedy the situation on Windows endpoints were posted on the Windows Message Center .   
• Deploying hundreds of Microsoft engineers and experts to work directly with customers to restore services.   
• Collaborating with other cloud providers and stakeholders, including Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and Amazon Web Services (AWS), to share awareness on the state of impact we are each seeing across the industry and inform ongoing conversations with CrowdStrike and customers.  
• Quickly posting manual remediation documentation and scripts found here .
• Keeping customers informed of the latest status on the incident through the Azure Status Dashboard here .  

We’re working around the clock and providing ongoing updates and support. Additionally, CrowdStrike has helped us develop a scalable solution that will help Microsoft’s Azure infrastructure accelerate a fix for CrowdStrike’s faulty update. We have also worked with both AWS and GCP to collaborate on the most effective approaches.    

While software updates may occasionally cause disturbances, significant incidents like the CrowdStrike event are infrequent. We currently estimate that CrowdStrike’s update affected 8.5 million Windows devices, or less than one percent of all Windows machines. While the percentage was small, the broad economic and societal impacts reflect the use of CrowdStrike by enterprises that run many critical services.  

This incident demonstrates the interconnected nature of our broad ecosystem — global cloud providers, software platforms, security vendors and other software vendors, and customers. It’s also a reminder of how important it is for all of us across the tech ecosystem to prioritize operating with safe deployment and disaster recovery using the mechanisms that exist. As we’ve seen over the last two days, we learn, recover and move forward most effectively when we collaborate and work together. We appreciate the cooperation and collaboration of our entire sector, and we will continue to update with learnings and next steps.  

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What We Know About the Global Microsoft Outage

Airlines to banks to retailers were affected in many countries. Businesses are struggling to recover.

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By Eshe Nelson and Danielle Kaye

Eshe Nelson reported from London and Danielle Kaye from New York.

Across the world, critical businesses and services including airlines, hospitals, train networks and TV stations, were disrupted on Friday by a global tech outage affecting Microsoft users.

In many countries, flights were grounded, workers could not get access to their systems and, in some cases, customers could not make card payments in stores. While some of the problems were resolved within hours, many businesses, websites and airlines continued to struggle to recover.

What happened?

A series of outages rippled across the globe as information displays, login systems and broadcasting networks went dark.

The problem affecting the majority of services was caused by a flawed update by CrowdStrike , an American cybersecurity firm, whose systems are intended to protect users from hackers. Microsoft said on Friday that it was aware of an issue affecting machines running “CrowdStrike Falcon.”

But Microsoft had also said there was an earlier outage affecting U.S. users of Azure, its cloud service system. Some users may have been affected by both. Even as CrowdStrike sent out a fix, some systems were still affected by midday in the United States as businesses needed to make manual updates to their systems to resolve the issue.

George Kurtz, the president and chief executive of CrowdStrike, said on Friday morning that it could take some time for some systems to recover.

How a Software Update Crashed Computers Around the World

Here’s a visual explanation for how a faulty software update crippled machines.

How the airline cancellations rippled around the world (and across time zones)

Share of canceled flights at 25 airports on Friday

50% of flights

Ai r po r t

Bengalu r u K empeg o wda

Dhaka Shahjalal

Minneapolis-Saint P aul

Stuttga r t

Melbou r ne

Be r lin B r anden b urg

London City

Amsterdam Schiphol

Chicago O'Hare

Raleigh−Durham

B r adl e y

Cha r lotte

Reagan National

Philadelphia

1:20 a.m. ET

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