problem solution sales presentation

10 Best Sales Presentations To Inspire Your Sales Deck [+ 5 Tips]

Published: August 17, 2022

While many salespeople focus on making their sales decks flashy, fun, and exciting, they do little to ensure that their presentations address the prospect's top concerns and offer an irresistible solution.

As a result, many presentations are met with wishy-washy responses that drag along the sales process and waste valuable time.

What does a great sales deck look like? We'll take a look at some of the best, and provide tips for creating your own stellar sales deck and presentation.

What is a sales deck?

A sales deck is a slide presentation (e.g., PowerPoint, Keynote, etc.) used to supplement a sales pitch. The sales pitch, given by a salesperson to a prospect, often includes an overview of the product or service, offers a value proposition and solution for the prospect, and includes examples of success stories from other clients.

The primary purpose of a sales deck and presentation is to introduce a solution (ie, your pitch ) that ultimately leads the prospect to purchase from your company.

If you've done everything right during the discovery process — digging deep into your prospect's challenges and understanding exactly what they need — only to get a noncommittal response, then your presentation needs some major adjusting.

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Sales Deck vs Pitch Deck

A sales deck is a pitch meant to convince a prospect to make a purchase by showcasing your product features, benefits, and value proposition.

A pitch deck , on the other hand, is usually created for investors who want to learn more about your company, vision, products, financials, and target audience. Think of the pitch deck more like a synthesized version of your business plan.

Ready to see some sales deck examples? Here are a few of the best, in no particular order.

Sales Deck Examples

• UpstartWorks
• Attention Media
• Leadgeeks.io

1. Leadnomics Sales Deck by Katya Kovalenko

Leadnomics has done something few companies successfully do in presentations: Showcase their brand identity.

The internet marketing agency hired a designer to create a sales deck that reflected their sleek, techie brand.

So while prospects learn about Leadnomics and what it offers, they can also get a peek into what it represents as a brand.

2. UpstartWorks Sales Deck by BrightCarbon

This slide deck for UpstartWorks starts with an image of the road to success, followed by a value proposition and a list of benefits buyers can enjoy from working with the company. They provide an overview of what they deliver to customers, who their clients are, and the results their customer base has seen.

The sales deck touches on all the key points a sales presentation should cover. And when it includes graphics and logos, they are clearly organized and not cluttered.

3. QS Sales Deck by BrightCarbon

QS , a platform that ranks colleges and universities, effectively uses icons and visuals throughout its sales deck to communicate its messages. At just a few slides, this is one of the shortest sales decks featured on this list.

If you’re going to make your sales deck short, make sure the information you include gets straight to the point, and be sure to front-load the most important information.

In terms of content, QS showcases its features, value proposition, and client impact.

4. Attention Media Sales Deck by Slides

Attention Media , a B2B creative agency, hired a presentation design agency to create a sales deck that features statistics and reasons businesses should work with them.

Key figures and messages are either in a bold, large, or bright font to make them stand out from the rest of the text.

While their slide deck is on the shorter side (the typical presentation is around 10 to 15 slides ), they include intriguing visuals and statistics that grab attention and keep viewers interested.

5. Freshworks Sales Deck by BrightCarbon

Freshworks is a B2B software platform that promises an all-in-one package for businesses. Its sales deck emphasizes simple text and organization. The problem and solution are introduced using graphics, which makes the text easier for readers to prioritize.

They include a dedicated slide to their mobile app, one of the product’s key differentiators and most salient benefits. The following slides provide a step-by-step walkthrough of how customers are onboarded and what they can expect on a regular basis.

Since the slides aren’t text-heavy, the salesperson can easily elaborate and answer any questions the prospect might have.

6. Soraa Sales Deck by BrightCarbon

Soraa , a lighting company, starts its sales deck with a visually appealing table of contents that contains three items: “Quality of light,” “Simply perfect light,” and “Why Soraa?”

The brand then dives into what its prospects care about most: How the light will look in their spaces and how they can apply Soraa’s offerings to their specific use case. It sprinkles in the benefits of using Soraaa as a lighting supplier. And it does this all while maintaining its strong branding.

7. Planetly Sales Deck by OCHI Design

The first thing Planetly does in its sales presentation is present an eye-catching statistic about customers wanting more eco-friendly brands. Then, they present the reasons behind that data.

The deck doesn't overwhelm prospects with too much text, opting for more graphics and visuals instead. It introduces a hard-hitting stat about the problem their prospect is facing, engages them by asking a question, and provides a solution to the issue.

The slide deck continues to outline specific product details and what sets the solution apart from others, ultimately leading to a slide that represents the expected outcome for the prospect.

8. MEOM Sales Deck by Katya Kovalenko

What you’ll first notice when scrolling through MEOM's sales deck is that it’s straightforward and easy to scan.

The brand kept it simple with their deck, making it easier for consumers to take in the information. Too often, companies overload their decks with information, and by the end of the presentation, consumers can’t remember anything.

On every slide, MEOM has one main message with supporting information in smaller font. In addition, the brand incorporates a detailed look at one of its staff members — a powerful tool when trying to attract consumers.

9. Leadgeeks.io Sales Deck by Paweł Mikołajek

Sometimes, the best way to explain a concept is through a series of process maps and timelines. In this sales deck, Leadgeeks.io takes this approach to explain its product process and onboarding process.

This method helps consumers visualize how this software will help them reach their goals and how they can adopt it at their business.

10. Accern Sales Deck by Katya Kovalenko

Similar to Leadnomics, software company Accern puts its branding at the forefront of the sales deck.

In addition to the use of design to make the sales deck stand out, Accern also highlights customer case studies in its deck, another form of social proof that shows the success other customers have found with this tool.

Each of these presentations provides a general overview of the products, problems, and solutions, and they can easily be tailored and customized to each prospective company. A custom presentation not only piques the prospect's interest but also increases the likelihood that they'll buy from you.

Curious as to how you can word your presentation during your meeting with prospects? Below, we go over the best examples we’ve seen so far.

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Example Sales Presentation

While there are plenty of videos online on how to deliver a sales presentation, there aren’t quite as many live sales presentations to watch.

That’s because sales presentations are delivered in the privacy of a meeting between the sales rep and the prospect, and are often not recorded with the intention of sharing online.

As a sales rep, though, you have an excellent resource for inspiration: explainer videos. Companies publish explainer videos to pitch their products to qualified leads. (Sound familiar?) Use the below examples to hone your own pitch to buyers, and pay close attention to the structure of each video.

This explainer video for Leadjet starts with an urgent problem: Finding leads on LinkedIn and moving them to a CRM loses valuable time and minimizes lead opportunities. Leadjet then presents its product as the solution.

The video jumps into the benefits users can enjoy, such as synchronizing conversations over both your CRM and LinkedIn, keeping the lead status updated, and adding custom details. In this video, Leadjet follows the ideal sales presentation structure: problem, solution, and benefits.

2. Node Influencer App

The Node influencer app allows small business owners to connect with influencers on social media. It starts its video with a simple question: “Looking to promote your brand with social influencers?” The presentation effectively identifies and addresses the target market before pitching the product to viewers.

This presentation is more tutorial-based, making it ideal inspiration if you’re creating a sales deck for someone who’s closer to making a decision. People most often want to see actionable demos when they’re ready to choose a provider.

This explainer video from Upsend, a former customer service software, begins with a problem: Most customers want instant responses to their queries, but customer service systems can be expensive for new companies. Enter Upsend.

The presenter addresses the target market — startups and small businesses — while assuaging their concerns about budget. In addition, it covers the most important features of the platform and the end result for the user. If Upsend were still available, this would be a product a new business would immediately want to add to their tech stack.

4. Algoplanner

Within a few seconds of the start of this presentation, Algoplanner drives home the critical urgency of adopting a supply chain software. It uses a scary number to pull your attention, citing a possible “loss of millions of dollars” if you fail to adopt the right tool.

It then introduces its product with a breakdown of what the software can do for users. Plus, it provides powerful stats to back up its claims, including that users can reduce automation development costs by 80%. The call to action at the end is powerful and simple, telling viewers to schedule a demo.

Sales Deck Presentation Tips

Ready for your presentation? Sticking to these five simple sales presentation guidelines, recommended by Marc Wayshak , will help you blow your competition away while dramatically increasing your chances of closing the sale.

1. Lead with solutions.

Have you ever met with a prospect who was excited about your product or service – and used your presentation to keep on selling? This is called over-selling, and it's the leading cause of death for sales presentations.

When you start your presentation, first lead with solutions. Don't talk about the benefits of your product's features or tell the prospect how great your company is.

Simply dive into how you're going to solve the deepest frustration your prospect is facing right now.

2. Incorporate case studies.

Once you've addressed the specific solutions you can provide to the prospect, it's time to add some color to your presentation.

Turn your sales presentation into an engaging story by sharing case studies of similar prospects and the results they've achieved with your help.

This step is important for building trust and credibility with the prospect. At the same time, case studies bring your solutions to life in the real world, making your presentation more engaging.

3. Ask for feedback throughout.

Most presentations are a one-way monologue by the salesperson. This approach is boring – and it's certainly no way to connect with a prospect.

Instead, ask short questions throughout your presentation like "Does that make sense?" or "Can you see how this would work for you?" Asking for feedback periodically ensures your prospect stays on the same page.

4. Welcome interruptions.

If you want to close more sales, you have to care about what your prospect is thinking throughout your presentation.

Any interruption is the perfect opportunity to find out. Whenever a prospect interrupts you – either with a verbal remark or subtle shift in their facial expression or posture – stop immediately.

Acknowledge the interruption, and welcome the opportunity to explore it with the prospect. Never ignore signals just to stay on a roll and conclude your point. Invite prospects to ask their questions or share their concerns.

The opportunity to respond to those concerns is always more valuable than whatever you were about to say.

5. Wrap it up quickly.

Your presentation should be ASAP: as short as possible.

It's natural for salespeople to get excited about what they have to share, but this causes most of them to ramble on for far too long.

Prospects only care about themselves and their challenges. Present the information they'll be interested in and nothing more.

Practice your next sales presentation with a colleague or friend and ask for their honest feedback on its length.

Sales Deck Template

Ready to start creating your own sales deck? Get started with these free templates .

It includes ten Powerpoint templates, each with a different focus.

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How to find a sales deck template.

Haven’t found what you’re looking for? Here are additional resources to find a sales deck.

This presentation platform allows you to pick from hundreds of templates and fully customize the template you choose. The best part? It’s free and offers premium packages for teams who want analytics, multiple users, and live video collaboration.

On this graphic design platform, you can search through countless presentation templates and customize them. Canva also offers extensive collaboration features, such as file sharing and commenting.

Get Inspired With These Sales Presentations

When delivering a sales presentation to a prospect, you can do so with the knowledge that thousands and millions of others have been in the same position as you. Luckily, we can see their work online to guide our sales deck creation process. Use these decks to structure your own, and you’ll be well on the road to closing more deals and exceeding your quota.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in April 2019 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

Don't forget to share this post!

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How to Create Your Ultimate Sales Presentation (with examples)

The Presentation is Step 4 of your Ultimate 10-Step Sales Presentation.

So, you are a dedicated sales professional who has been following my Ultimate 10-Step Sales Presentation formula! Thus far, you have completed your sales prospecting, so you know the customer is a qualified prospect. You have also spent time developing a strategic presentation plan. Plus, you have even planned your all-important approach to begin your presentation.

Now. At last. It is time to plan a killer presentation; a presentation sure to bring success and well-deserved hearty congratulations from coworkers and bosses!

So, no more delays, let’s get started!

In this article on creating your ultimate sales presentation, we will cover:

• Types of Common Selling Situations

4 Sales Presentation Methods

Basics of a group presentation, win-win negotiating, which presentation method is best, types of selling situations.

When I first started as a sales representative, I only had to master one selling situation. It was me selling to a single buyer. However, as I gained sales experience, I found that I had to present in a variety of selling situations.

As a professional salesperson, you need to be aware of the types of selling situations that you might encounter over the course of your career. Here are five of the most common selling situations.

• Salesperson to the buyer. A single salesperson presenting to a single buyer. This is how most of us start in our selling careers.
• Salesperson to the buyer group. A single salesperson presenting to a buying group or committee. You may present to a buying group when the information is technically complex or when the dollar value of the product is above a single buyer’s authorized level.
• Sales team to the buyer group. A selling team presents to a buying group or committee. The selling team and buying committee is often made up of people from different departments with different skillsets. For example, I led selling teams comprising myself as a sales manager, along with people from sales, finance, product supply, operations, and logistics. We presented to customer buying teams comprising people with the same areas of expertise.
• Consultant selling. A lead salesperson assembles company personnel to deal with specific opportunities or solve specific problems for a customer. For example, when I was a sales manager for Procter& Gamble’s Foodservice division, I was frequently called on to work with customers as a consultant to solve a specific problem. “Why don’t our pie crusts bake evenly?” “Why are the scallops cooked at lunch lighter than the scallops cooked for dinner?” I brought in teams of experts to work specifically on these problems.
• Seminar selling. Seminar selling is often educational in nature. In the “old days,” seminar selling was often held in a hotel meeting room. For example, attorneys put on an educational seminar about wills and trusts. When they were done with the seminar, they sold their services. These days a lot of seminar selling is done via “webinars.” A salesperson presents educational material via a live stream over the internet, and when they are done, they sell their services.

Now that we have a handle on the most common selling situations, we must determine which sales presentation methods we will use for our presentation.

Your sales presentation is a combination of persuasive verbal and visual communications of your business proposition that will solve a customer’s problem. Although to deliver a compelling presentation, you also need to match the presentation method to the specific buying situation.

There are four basic presentation methods most salespeople need to master. They are the

• persuasive selling,
• needs-satisfaction, and
• problem-solution method.

The primary difference between the methods is the percentage of time the salesperson is speaking. In the memorized and persuasive selling methods, the salesperson dominates the conversation. In the needs-satisfaction and problem-solution methods, both the salesperson and buyer share in the conversation.

You can think of these methods as being on a continuum from highly structured to completely customized.

The memorized sales presentation method is the most highly structured method. The salesperson does 80-90% of the talking. The buyer’s participation is generally limited to responding to questions posed by the salesperson.

The memorized presentation is a “canned” presentation; delivering the same basic presentation to every prospective buyer. The salesperson discusses the same features and benefits hoping they will stimulate the buyer’s interest.

The most common use of memorized presentations today is door-to-door and telephone sales.

The memorized presentation method has several advantages.

• It increases the confidence of inexperienced salespeople.
• It ensures that a salesperson or entire salesforce delivers the same features and benefits to prospective buyers.
• It is most efficient when selling time is short.

Drawbacks of the memorized presentation include:

• It is impersonal.
• It may present features and benefits that mean nothing to the buyer.
• It has limited participation with the buyer and, therefore, may be perceived as a high-pressure sales presentation.
• It is not effective for complicated selling situations or technical products.

Persuasive Selling

The persuasive selling presentation method is a powerful tool for both new and experienced salespeople. It is less structured than the memorized presentation. The salesperson typically controls the approach and beginning of the presentation but then engages the buyer more and more as the presentation continues.

The persuasive selling method has several advantages.

• It provides an opportunity for more buyer/seller interaction.
• It provides a logical framework and flow of information.
• It allows the salesperson to handle anticipated questions and objections.

The primary drawback of the persuasive selling model is that the structure is less flexible than the need-satisfaction or problem solution methods. Its more formal structure makes it less suitable for complex selling situations.

With the persuasive selling method, the presentation follows a formula or outline. A typical outline for a persuasive selling presentation includes five steps.

Summarize the Situation

State your idea, explain how it works.

• Reinforce the Key Benefits

Suggest an Easy Next Step

Summarize the situation that leads to the purpose of your presentation.

For example , “Last time we met, you mentioned needing to increase sales by 5%. Is that still the case?”

State your idea regarding a solution in clear, simple terms.

For example , “My idea is for you to feature Product X in your advertising and support the feature with a display.”

Share the details of your proposal. Include information about the product, pricing, timing, and etc., so the buyer understands how your proposal will solve his/her problem.

For example , “We know features and displays on Product X increase sales volume by 5x. I suggest you feature Product Super Duper Extra Large Size in your feature on (date). I will come in the week before the ad and build a display for you.”

Reinforce Key Benefits

Reinforce the key benefits by restating why your proposal solves the buyer’s problem. Focus on the key benefit(s) that are most important to the buyer.

For example , “As I said, a feature and display of Product Super Duper usually has a significant impact on sales. I estimate your sales will increase to (estimate) during the week of the feature and display.

Close the sale by suggesting the next steps, which are needed so you can successfully follow through in your proposal.

For example , “If you submit Product Super Duper for a feature on (date), I will order X number of cases of Super Duper to arrive the week before the feature. Then, on the day before the ad breaks, I will come in and build a display for you.”

Need-Satisfaction

The need-satisfaction presentation method is the most difficult to master. The entire presentation is often a back and forth conversation between buyer and seller. For this reason, the salesperson needs to be able to adapt their style and the information they convey to the seller throughout the presentation.

The need-satisfaction method has several advantages.

• It is highly flexible and customizable.
• It is particularly well-suited for the sale of complex, highly technical products.
• It is most effective at uncovering and prioritizing buyer needs.

The primary drawback of the needs-satisfaction method is the open-ended conversational nature of the presentation process. This makes it a difficult method for less experienced salespeople to master.

As the name suggests, the salesperson begins by discussing the buyer’s needs, then clarifies and summarizes the buyer’s greatest need, and finally, demonstrates how their product will meet the buyer’s needs.

Need Development

The presentation begins with the salesperson, asking a probing question to begin the process of ascertaining buyer needs. The salesperson asks a series of these probing questions to understand as much as possible about all the buyer’s specific needs and problems.

It is not uncommon for half or even more of the presentation time to be spent in the need development phase.

For example , a probing question for a computer salesperson is, “What tasks do your employees use your computers for? Or, “What software do the people in your company use the most?”

Need Awareness

Once the salesperson understands the buyer’s needs and problems, it is time to narrow down the needs/problem to the most important one to solve. The salesperson should then restate the need/problem and confirm with the buyer.

For example , “From what you’ve told me, the biggest problem your accounting staff has is they need to be able to see what people in other departments are spending. They use the Super Deluxe Accounting software package, but they are not on the same network, so they cannot see what various departments are spending. Is that correct?”

Need Fulfillment

The need fulfillment stage is the final phase of the needs-satisfaction presentation method. In this stage, the salesperson demonstrates how their product will meet the buyer’s needs or solve their problem.

For example , “I can certainly understand the importance of having your accounting staff computers networked with common software so they can see what each department is spending. My company makes an internet hub specifically designed to link seamlessly all the computers in the accounting department. It is fast, reliable, and is expandable so it can grow as your company grows. I suggest our training team come in and train your accounting department the week before the technical crew installs the new system Is next week good for the training or would the following week be better?”

I’ve used the needs-satisfaction method numerous times throughout my career.

Often, with complicated situations, I’ve had to spend an entire appointment on just needs development and needs awareness phases. When this happens, I will take the time between appointments to think through all the buyer’s needs/problems and select the best features, advantages, and benefits. Then in my next meeting with the buyer, I will use the persuasive selling method to present my solution because I already know the problem I need to solve for the buyer!

Problem-Solution

The problem-solution presentation method is a completely flexible, customized presentation that requires full engagement between buyer and seller. It is like the need satisfaction method because it is designed to uncover specific buyer needs or problems and then provide the appropriate solution. The primary difference is the problem-solution method is designed to handle a situation where the buyer may not even understand the problem or know how to solve it.

The problem-solution presentation method has several advantages.

• It is highly flexible and completely customizable.
• It is best suited for highly complex technical situations.
• It provides an in-depth analysis of specific needs or problems.

The problem-solution presentation method also has several disadvantages.

• Its complexity makes it difficult for inexperienced salespeople to manage the entire process.
• It is time-intensive, often taking several appointments involving multiple disciplines, over a period of weeks or even months.

Multiple Steps are Needed

The problem-solution presentation method consists of multiple steps. Here are eight steps I follow using the problem-solution presentation method.

• Agreement between buyer and seller to complete the analysis.
• Assemble the seller team and identify the customer’s mirror team.
• Agree on a timeline and the scope of the analysis.
• Conduct the actual analysis.
• Form conclusions and recommended courses of action based on the analysis.
• Develop the sale presentation based on the analysis, conclusions, and recommended course of action.
• The sales team delivers the sales presentation to the customer mirror team.
• Implement the agreed-upon actions.

I can’t give you a verbatim example of a problem-solution presentation, or this article would likely run several hundred more pages than you would want to read! However, I can give you an example of a situation where I used the problem-solution method.

I was in a role where I led teams of salespeople, finance, and product supply experts to analyze entire departments of a grocery store. The goal was to maximize department profits by optimizing the product assortment and layout of the department.

The analysis required the retailer to provide months’ worth of detailed financial and volume information for every product carried in the department. We combined their information with complicated psychographic information to determine the mix of products that would maximize profits and customer satisfaction. Then, with the optimized assortment, we designed shelf layouts that incorporated each product in its most logical and efficient location.

Once the analysis, conclusions, and recommendations were developed, we assembled all the information in presentation notebooks. With all the data these presentations typically ran over 100-pages!

Finally, when everything was printed, our selling team comprising of salespeople, finance, and product supply folks, presented to the customer’s mirror team. Often these presentations ran over two hours.

Once all the agreements were made, we established implementation teams responsible for making the changes in every store.

All-in-all it was not uncommon for this process to take 2-3 months for every retailer we worked with. However, we only committed to this kind of work when there was a significant long-term upside for our company! Given all the time, energy, and expertise to do the analysis and make the presentation.

Both the need-satisfaction and problem-solution presentation methods may involve presenting to a group of people. So next, let’s look at some of the nuances of presenting to groups.

There are two types of group presentations I participated in or delivered over the years. One type is what I call the one-to-many, where I present to a customer’s group. The other type and the one I liked the most is the many-to-many, where a group from the seller company presents to a group from the buyer company.

Delivering successful group presentations is complicated because many people are involved, you cover a lot of material, and the material itself is usually complicated.

I can’t possibly cover everything about running a successful group meeting in this article. Nonetheless, there are a few basics you must understand to conduct successful group presentations.

Get plenty of space

These group presentations are often conducted in a large meeting or board room. There’s nothing worse than stuffing 15 people into a room that holds ten.

Arrange for more time than you think you’ll need

If you need 90 minutes, ask for two-hours. No executive will complain if you finish 30 minutes early, but you stand the risk of losing people if you go over your allotted time.

The more people, the more structured the presentation method. Controlling the attention of any large group requires a presentation that is highly structured and organized.

Start with introductions

Chances are individuals who know each other, but not everyone else in the room, so start with simple introductions of name and role.

Publish an agenda

Let the people know what will be covered and in what order. This is also a perfect time to let people know what to expect for the rest of the meeting.

Have a designated question and answer time

Open questions and answers throughout a presentation with large groups are too distracting. If there are major sections to your presentation you can have a question and answer session for each section. Otherwise, you may elect to have one question and answer section at the end of the presentation.

Assign a timekeeper

For very complicated, long presentations, have someone on your team serve as a timekeeper to help keep you on track and from going over your time limit.

Appoint a designated note-taker on your team

The note taker needs to capture key comments, questions, and agreements for reference later.

Get engagement and agreement as you go

I know I said not to have open questions and answers throughout the presentation, but that doesn’t mean you make the presentation like a robot from the front of the room. If you see head nods, ask if they agree. If you see someone with a concerned or quizzical look on their face, ask if they have a question. If the issue is simple, handle it. Otherwise, say you’ll answer their question in just a moment (or in the Q&A at the end).

Focus on benefits

Talk about and reinforce the key benefits of your solution throughout your presentation. If there is a product supply person in the room, mention the benefits that accrue to that department. If there is a finance person talk to them about financial benefits. And so on! Make sure every person in the room hears the benefit of the proposal as it pertains to them!

Summarize the benefits

Just as you’re getting ready to close, summarize, or restate the key benefits you mentioned throughout your presentation. Again, make sure everyone hears the benefit that your solution brings to them in their work!

These tips are just the basics of running a successful group presentation. I can’t guarantee your success by following them, but I can just about guarantee failure if you ignore any of them!

As you approach the close, you will almost certainly have points the buyer wants to question or negotiate. So next, let’s talk a little bit about how to set yourself and your team up for successful negotiations.

I knew a few salespeople over the years who had a “take it or leave” attitude. They had one proposal, and one way of doing business and they were prepared to walk away from business if the buyer didn’t meet all their demands.

On the other hand, I also ran across a few customers who had a “take it or leave it” attitude. They made whatever demands they felt they could get away with pressuring suppliers to meet their demands. They figured if one supplier didn’t meet their demands the next supplier probably would.

I didn’t like working with either sellers or buyers who took that hardline approach.

In my opinion, a relational salesperson should be prepared to negotiate whether you are talking to a single buyer or a buying group. Over the years, I found the trick is to plan your points of negotiation ahead of time. By planning ahead of time you’ll know where you can compromise and where you cannot.

For example , you should know:

• What extra services can you provide that competitors do not?
• Is your price firm, or is there some flexibility?
• Are there payment terms or a payment plan?
• Can you provide any free services (like training) or equipment upgrades?
• Can you offer flexible delivery dates?

At Procter & Gamble (and most other large companies), our prices and terms were fixed, so I had to create negotiating flexibility in other ways. I could easily offer different shipping dates, different quantities and product assortment, and in some cases, product training.

The point is that I was clear about the things I could not negotiate. Likewise, I clarified that I was happy to negotiate where I had flexibility.

So far, we have covered the five most common selling situations and the four presentation methods. Now, it is time to determine which presentation method is best for you and your situation.

Your selling objective is the starting point in deciding which presentation method to use. If you are making a sales presentation, you will take a different approach than if your objective is to gather the information you can use later to develop a sales presentation.

Generally speaking, if you are making a sales presentation, the memorized or persuasive selling method is best. However, if you need to understand buyer priorities or uncover buyer needs or problems then the needs-satisfaction or problem-solution methods are best.

Yet, there is no single best method. When selecting your presentation method you must consider

• the experience of the salesperson,
• your objective,
• the nature of the product,
• the information about the buyer’s need or problem,
• and a host of other variables.

We’re Not Done with our Sales Presentation!

Although we’ve made a lot of progress, we’re still not ready to see the buyer yet!

Sure, we’ve done our prospecting, some approach planning, and we’ve decided on a presentation method. However, we still need to create that all-important presentation! In the next article, we’ll take a hard look at the important elements we must include in our presentation.

The Ultimate 10-Step Sales Presentation Series

Step4: The Presentation is the fifth in a series of articles, which have been created to teach you how to craft and deliver the Ultimate Sales Presentation in 10-Steps.

If you missed a prior article in this series or you want to review one again, you’ll find them here:

Kick-Off: The Ultimate 10-Step Sales Presentation

Step 1: Customer Prospecting

Step 2: Pre-Approach Planning

Step 3: The Approach

Step 4: The Presentation – Part 1 (you’re here)

Steps 5-10: Coming soon. A new article releases every two weeks.

If you want to make sure you don’t miss one of these articles, you can sign up to receive the series here .

Join the Conversation

As always, questions and comments are welcome. What questions do you have about the Approach step of the Ultimate 10-Step Presentation model?

I’d love your help. This blog is read primarily because of people like you who share it with friends. Would you be kind enough to share it by pressing the share button?

Category: Salespeople

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Your Complete Guide to Flushing Out Buyer Objections

How to Leverage the Trial Close in Your Ultimate Sales Presentation

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Effective Sales Presentations: 11 Tips to Win Deals + Templates

What makes a sales presentation truly effective?

Is it that secret-sauce font, the comprehensive case studies, intricate graphs, or your shining personality? Or is it… something else?

It might seem like a simple question, but understanding the answer unlocks a world of opportunities for sales reps.

If your sales presentations are truly effective, they should accomplish these 4 things:

• Give prospects confidence in your brand
• Develop a deep relationship and mutual understanding of needs and priorities
• Convince potential customers of the value of your product
• Give clear direction for the next conversation

How many of your recent sales meetings have fallen short of these results?

A study by Forrester of more than 300 C-level buyers found that many reps are lacking key information for a successful sales meeting:

Put simply, most salespeople go into meetings:

• Unprepared for questions
• Without knowledge of the business or industry they’re selling to
• Without understanding the prospect’s situation and problems
• Without relevant social proof

Want to avoid falling into the trap of generic, ineffective sales presentations?

While preparing for and delivering a really good sales presentation isn’t an exact science, the following best practices will lead you to better results.

Let’s dive into the top methods sales professionals are using to nail their presentations and deliver killer sales pitches .

How to Prepare the Perfect Sales Pitch Presentation

Think you can get away with giving a great sales presentation on the fly? Think again. A PowerPoint presentation that was thrown together over lunch is not going to impress your decision-makers.

Preparation is a key aspect of every effective sales presentation.

Here are five ways you can prepare for success:

1. Set a Clear Agenda

Your sales presentation is built to guide the conversation and gives you a structure to work with throughout the meeting. But the prospect doesn’t know how your presentation is structured.

Does this situation sound familiar?

Prospect: “This is really interesting, but how does your product solve XYZ?”

You : “Actually, we’ll talk about that in a few slides. Anyway, as I was saying…”

These kinds of interruptions are common, and the popular response of “We’ll get to that” doesn’t normally go over very well with prospects.

Here’s how to avoid this: Set a clear agenda for the conversation, and share that with your prospects.

This could mean sharing an outline of the presentation topics you’ve prepared, or it can mean sharing the whole sales presentation with your prospect.

This way, your prospect can review the information before your meeting, see where you’ll cover certain topics, and save their questions for the right moment.

2. Adapt Your Script and Presentation

Above, we saw that 77% of reps enter meetings without a clear understanding of the issues that their prospect is facing, or areas where they can help.

There are two clear ways to fix this problem:

First, do your homework. The more you know about your potential client's business and current situation, the better. Also, try to understand their industry and target audience, read up on current news in the sector, and get a feel for the particular pain points this person is likely feeling the most.

Second, base your presentation and accompanying sales script on your ideal customer profile. If your sales team has multiple ideal customer profiles to sell to, discover which profile this prospect fits into and base your arguments, questions, and main points on the specific needs of this profile.

3. Pick Three Main Points for Each Prospect

No matter how many crazy statistics and fun features you throw at your prospect, they’re still only human. Shocking, we know.

In other words, they’ll probably forget at least half of what you say.

To create effective sales presentations that your prospects will remember, focus on three main bullet points that you want to highlight.

This isn’t a number we pulled from a hat. It’s based on an experiment performed by Kurt A. Carlson and Suzanne B. Shu. Their study found that, when your audience knows you’re trying to persuade them, the ideal number of positive claims to make is three. After four claims, your audience will start to become more and more skeptical of anything you say.

The title of their paper is a catchy phrase to help you remember this principle: Three Charms but Four Alarms .

So, go through your slides and pick three key points that you want your prospect to remember. Maybe these will be product features or maybe not, but once again, base these points on the real, felt needs of your prospect. You’ll see better results.

During the presentation, draw your audience's attention to these points as you introduce new ideas. Phrases like these draw attention at the right moments:

• Here’s the point…
• This is crucial…
• But this is what matters…
• But it gets even better...
• This next point is really important...
• This is what XYZ could mean for you, Jack…

And make sure these key points lead directly where you want them to—to your call to action. If they aren’t leading you to that, what’s the point?

For more, check out this video, where I talked in-depth about captivating and directing your prospect's attention during a sales conversation. Remember: whether you're delivering in-person or via video conferencing, maintaining eye contact and using body language to draw attention to main points works.

4. Use Visuals to Show, Not Tell

A sales deck can have several different functions. For example, if your sales deck is going to be read and discussed among stakeholders at your prospect’s company, it will need to include text that explains the visuals presented.

However, if you’re giving a sales presentation with that deck, it doesn’t need all that text.

To prepare a sales presentation for a product or service, make sure you include infographics and visuals that complement what you’re saying. You can use Canva or even a responsive whiteboard to do this.

Think of your slides as visual aids that give more meaning and context to your words.

These visuals can help to:

• Simplify complex processes
• Provide a clearer understanding of data/metrics
• Add credence to your words
• Keep your audience engaged
• Help your audience remember main points (this one is backed by science )

In short, for an effective sales presentation, keep your script and your slides separate. Use your words to add meaning to the visuals, and use your visuals to maximize the power of your words. With this approach, you will elevate your value proposition —and increase your close rate.

5. Show Them You Know Their Pain

Using a narrative in your presentation shows that you’re sympathetic to the problems your prospects are facing and that you know how to solve them.

So, what’s the narrative for your product?

Generally, the story you tell with your presentation will follow this pattern:

• There is a problem caused by a shift in the market, a change in the company’s circumstances, or the world situation
• That problem is solved, the business is saved, and your product is the hero

A compelling narrative that captures the feelings and frustrations of your prospect shows them that you understand them, you’re on the same page, and you’re here to help.

Maybe this is the story of how your product was born, to solve a problem internally at your own company. Maybe it’s the story of one of your successful customers. Or maybe it’s just a narrative that they can relate to and see themselves in.

In any case, using stories instead of just facts makes your presentation more memorable. According to one study, people only retain about 5-10 percent of the statistical information they hear. But they’ll remember 65-70 percent of the information they hear as stories.

Take advantage of this fact: Turn your data into a narrative.

Once you’ve prepared your sales deck and accompanying script, you’re ready to nail your next sales presentation.

Or are you?

Day-Of Sales Presentation Tips: Nail Your Next Sales Presentation

Ready for the big day? Here are six more tips you can use while actively presenting to your prospect, to give a truly effective sales presentation.

6. Open With Your Biggest Selling Point (Don’t Save it for the End)

Many sales reps like to save their product’s biggest selling point for the very end of their presentation as if they’re coming to some grand crescendo.

But your prospect didn’t come to this meeting hoping to hear the Philharmonic Orchestra play Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5. So, don’t play this pitch deck like another day at the theater.

Instead, open with your big selling points. Dazzle your prospects from the get-go, and you’ll have them hooked to the end.

To be counted among the Sales Success Stories and Stars of your organization… just go for it. Get the show on the road with a big opening. Leave them in (happy) tears.

7. Ask Open-Ended Questions

To understand your prospect and to keep them engaged with your presentation, questions are essential.

But wait, if you’re giving a sales presentation, aren’t you the one that’s supposed to be doing the talking? You answer the questions, right?

True. But, how do you know if your prospect is paying attention? How can you highlight the relevant points in your presentation if you don’t know what interests them?

To engage your prospect and draw them into your presentation, ask questions like:

• Can you walk me through how your team handles [problem]?
• Have you found any clever workarounds for when [issue] happens?
• What would your ideal solution to this problem look like?
• How would you expect a solution to this problem to affect your team?

It’s true, you’ve probably asked a lot of similar questions during the qualifying stage . But with these questions, you can lead the conversation and keep your prospect engaged with what you’re saying.

Open-ended questions will also help you with the next tip:

8. Build Context Around Your Biggest Value Points and Differentiators

The same questions we shared above can help add context to what you’re saying.

Don’t just tell the prospect: “ Our product helps you solve X problem. ”

Add meaning to that value point by asking questions:

• How often do you face X problem?
• How much time/money do you lose when this happens?
• How does X problem affect the morale/productivity of your team?

When you have the numbers clear, reiterate the problem: “ So, you lose $X every week because of this problem. That’s more than $Y per year that’s going down the drain until you solve this issue. ”

Then, bring in your value point: “With our product, you could save $Z every year by eliminating this problem for your team.”

The same method works for highlighting your key differentiators.

Instead of telling prospects that your product is the best because it’s the only one that does X, lead prospects to the features and benefits that set your product apart with open-ended questions.

This creates value and context around a problem that only your product can solve.

9. Make Social Proof Engaging: Mirror the Prospect’s Situation

This data blew our minds, and will probably blow yours, too: According to studies from our friends at Gong , sellers who use social proof in their sales calls have a 22% lower close rate .

Have you noticed a similar pattern with social proof in your sales presentations?

We all know that social proof is a powerful tool in the hands of sales reps and marketers. No need to throw out all your social media customer quotes, or company testimonials. But, it must be used correctly to work effectively.

Otherwise, you could actually hurt your chances of closing.

So, what’s the correct way to use social proof in your presentations?

Favor customers that are part of this prospect’s tribe .

For example, imagine you’re selling to an SMB, and you tell them that Facebook is your customer. They’ll be impressed, sure… but they’ll also start to wonder if your product is really a good fit for their small business.

Instead, when selling to SMBs, talk about your other SMB customers. Use examples of happy customers who are in the same field or industry. Or, find customer stories that mirror this prospect—with similar pain points.

With tribal social proof, you’ll gain the respect of prospects while demonstrating that you truly “get” them.

10. Never Talk Price Before Value

Chances are, you’re talking price somewhere in this sales presentation. At this stage in the sales pipeline , it’s normal that your prospect is ready to hear what your solution will cost.

But don’t open the conversation like this.

Sometimes you get into a room (whether in-person or virtual) with your main point of contact and important stakeholders, and the first thing they want to know is: “How much will this cost us?”

One of the golden rules of sales is this: Never talk price before value .

If you fold to the pressure and start off by talking about the price of your solution, your audience will view your product as a commodity, not as a valuable solution to their problem.

When stakeholders push you for a number, don’t be afraid to push back. If they’re insistent, turn the question back around on them:

“Before we talk about price, let me ask you this: How much will it cost your company if you don’t get these issues solved by next quarter?”

By focusing on the real monetary value that your product provides, you’ll help position your product as a premium solution, not a wholesale band-aid.

11. Keep It Less Than 10 Minutes

Did you know that every presenter at Apple’s product launches speaks for just 10 minutes or less?

This is because science tells us that the brain gets bored easily—our attention spans just can’t expand beyond a certain point. However, you can reengage your audience by introducing a change every 10 minutes.

Apply this principle to your keynote sales presentations: If you’re presenting longer than 10 minutes, the prospect’s interest will steadily decline. Wrap it up.

Our friends at Gong found that there’s a sweet spot for winning sales presentations: 9.1 minutes. It’s like the ideal elevator pitch for sales presentations.

So, stick to this rule of thumb: Keep your presentations under 10 minutes.

Sales Presentation Templates: Use These Sales Pitch Decks to Win More Deals

Want to build a stellar sales pitch presentation? Steal these presentation templates and customize them to your business—including stunning visuals, striking text, and a presentation process that wins deals.

Get the Powerpoint or Keynote version of these templates, and start creating your own effective sales presentations!

Ready to Give the Best Sales Presentation Ever?

You’ve got all the pro tips you need to nail your next presentation.

In the end, you want to demonstrate that you understand your prospect’s needs and concerns. Show you “get” them by adding a compelling narrative and including customer stories that mirror their own situation.

An effective presentation must also be engaging, which is why it’s essential to highlight three main points and add context with open-ended questions.

With this info, you’re ready to deliver a winning sales presentation. ( Psst... don't forget to use our sales presentation templates to get started!)

But what happens next? There are still some unaccounted-for areas of the sales process. If you want to really crush the follow-up and close more deals, you need a CRM to help you do it.

Close CRM does all this—and so much more. Watch our demo or try Close free for 14 days.

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Sales Presentation Templates, Types, and Tips

Your sales presentation represents the tipping point of your sale. It is when you actually show the prospect how you intend to solve their problem or provide for their need. 

So, everyone who wishes to be a great salesperson must master the art of presenting. 

What Is a Sales Presentation and Why It’s Important 

How to structure your sales presentation , what to bring to your sales presentation , how to deliver a great sales presentation , sales presentations by type , sales presentation templates by situation , how to follow up after a sales presentation , listen when they speak .

In this post, we will help you do that by providing you with sales presentation best practices, types, and templates to use going forward. 

Before a presentation, your client is wondering, “Is this product/service right for me?” After, they should be thinking, “Why, yes it is!” 

A sales presentation is your opportunity to present your products and services to potential buyers in a way that motivates them to purchase. 

It usually includes slides, videos, case studies, statistics, demos, and any other materials that will help your buyer see the value of your solution. 

A solid presentation will educate them on how the solution works, what benefits they will receive, and how it aligns with their specific needs, wants, and goals. The keyword here is their . 

A presentation should be personalized to the prospect. Only then will it pluck their heartstrings and make them excited to buy. 

Up until the presentation, sellers have probably already engaged in one or two discovery calls with the prospects. 

The prospects have divulged their pain points, goals, and the characteristics of their business and its processes. 

If your sales presentation structure takes these facets into account, your audience will remain engaged throughout, and in the end, view you as a professional who cares about helping them. 

No matter what you are selling, there are some structural rules you can follow to produce a compelling sales presentation. 

First, keep in mind that people digest, remember, and connect with information best when it is presented to them in a narrative structure . 

This is important because you want your prospects to leave with a firm grasp on how your product or service will help them. 

Therefore, most sales presentations should follow this narrative structure, preferably copying the great epic dramas and using three acts, where the prospect is the protagonist . 

We will call these three acts SCR:

• Situation: This is where you lay the foundation of the story. Show the prospect you understand their situation, business processes, goals, pain points, etc. End this by stating the gap between where the prospect is and where they want to be. 

Stories help us make sense of a senseless world. 

Structure your sales presentation like a good story , and you will have prospects who better understand how you are helping them travel from point A to B. 

Should a commercial pest control company bring a cage of mice and a couple of mousetraps to their presentation with a restaurant owner? Probably not. 

Nevertheless, there are certain professional props you will need when giving your presentation, whether it is at the prospect’s office or yours.

Here are some common materials and equipment to bring: 

• Handouts: Sometimes, you might want to print out your sales deck or case studies and hand them to each prospect. 
• Product Samples: If you sell a physical or SaaS product, bring it along physically or virtually. Demo it for them. Help them envision themselves owning and using it. 
• The Powerpoint Sales Deck: Have your PowerPoint sales deck ready. Make sure it’s packed with stats, testimonials, graphs, and visual elements. 
• A Projector: Some offices might not have the technical capability to hook a laptop up to a larger screen, so ask before. If they don’t, bring a projector . 

Being prepared is key to presenting yourself and your brand as a professional. This is a chance to make a good first impression of what it is like to work with your team. 

Before diving into how to deliver a great sales presentation, let’s list out some things you should avoid doing, like getting their name wrong or living out the nightmare of forgetting to wear clothes. 

Here are some things to keep in mind.

• Don’t just read the slides.
• Never overwhelm them with information.
• You can’t just wing it. 
• Avoid talking about yourself too much. 

Instead, to keep your audience engaged, leave a good impression, and win their confidence, follow these best practices when giving a sales presentation: 

Project Confidence: It’s okay to be nervous. However, there are some things you can do to come across as and feel confident. Dress well. Stand tall with your shoulders back. Make eye contact. And use your hands (e.g., extend one finger for point #1). 

Keep It Prospect-Focused: Rather than talking about how awesome your business is, keep it prospect-focused. Talk about their pain points and business traits and how your solution complements them.

Encourage Conversation: If they speak up and want to talk about a certain topic, oblige them and go off track. This will keep them engaged. 

Share Anecdotes: Share stories of how customers like them have achieved results with your solution. This builds credibility. 

Include Some Showmanship: Take notes from the great infomercials you have seen and include some product demonstrations. 

Provide Data/Statistics: Data and statistics that back up your claims will help you convince the audience that your solution is the real deal. 

End With Next Steps: Make sure you tell them what action you want them to take next. It could be scheduling a follow-up call or sending more material in an email. 

Follow these basic best practices, and you will get audience members who speak up, smile, and look pensive during your sales presentations. 

There are four types of sales presentations that you might encounter. 

Let’s go over them, list their pros and cons, and provide you with some example templates for each. 

1. Memorized 

The memorized sales presentation is the most highly structured type. Almost every word is planned and learned beforehand. 

During the presentation, the seller does 80-90% of the talking, while the prospect’s participation is limited. 

The reason why it is so highly structured is that it makes it easy to memorize and therefore deliver to hundreds of different prospects.

Because this type lacks personalization, it is best to save it for earlier interactions such as cold calls or trade shows , where you want to get the main benefits across quickly to spark interest in a lot of different buyers. 

It can also be helpful if you are meeting with a lot of low-ticket prospects .

Those are the prospects for whom you don’t want to spend lots of time creating new and personalized presentations. 

Here are some pros and cons of the memorized sales presentation: 

• Increases confidence of an inexperienced seller, since they have done it so many times. 
• It aligns salespeople throughout the department on messaging. 
• It can deliver the main value proposition in a few minutes. 
• It lacks personalization in accordance with the prospect’s needs, wishes, and business traits. 
• It might touch upon features that mean nothing to the prospect. 
• It discourages conversation between the buyer and seller, making it impersonal. 

A memorized sales presentation follows an outline. 

Usually, each slide will represent a phase of the outline, such as introduction, statistics, case study 1, etc.

The sales rep will memorize verbatim what to say during each slide. 

So, an example of this sales presentation might look like a 10 paragraph essay, each paragraph relating to a slide, which the rep has etched into their memory through repetition and practice, like a theatre performer. 

For instance, this sales deck for Snapchat ads might be presented to a lot of small business owners in the same exact way each time. 

2. Semi-Structured/Formula 

Both new and experienced salespeople can use the semi-structured persuasive sales presentation type. 

It is less structured than the memorized presentation, usually holding constant at the beginning of the presentation but engaging the buyer at an increasing rate as the presentation moves into its later stages . 

This creates replicability while preserving some room for improvisation and personalization. 

• It gives you more opportunities for seller/prospect conversation. 
• You can be sure you are sharing critical information. 
• It leaves space for the seller to answer questions and objections. 
• Less flexibility than the need-satisfaction or problem-solution frameworks below. 
• Not good for complex sales such as SaaS. 

This sales presentation type is best suited for those who have already built a relationship with the buyer, so very little back-and-forth conversation is necessary. 

The seller should already know the needs and wants of the buyer .

This often happens in the scenario where a past client is re-ordering a product or buying a new one from the same line. 

Large companies like W.B Mason, an office supplies company, might use this presentation method to quickly convince past customers to re-up on supplies they have purchased in the past (more pencils, paper, etc.). 

Example Template of a Semi-Structured/Formula Presentation 

The flow of this presentation type might look like this: 

Re-State Situation: “So, last time we met, you mentioned you were trying to grow your sales department?”

State Your Idea: “I had an idea about getting you some new office supplies for them at a lower price than usual.” 

Explain How it Works/Benefits: “We have a big savings deal currently, and if you were to purchase X number of desks and chairs, it would cost you less now than it will down the line.” 

Suggest Next Steps: “If you submit an order this week for X units, I can get you Y price, and they will arrive the following Friday.” 

The sales rep relies on their existing relationship with the client in order to offer an additional solution that would benefit them.

3. Need-Satisfaction 

The need-satisfaction sales presentation is often the most difficult to master, and its deployment should be reserved for more experienced sellers. 

It is essentially a back-and-forth conversation between the buyer and seller.

In it, it is the salesperson’s job to guide the buyer towards revealing a certain need to which the seller can provide a satisfactory solution. 

Sellers uncover this need or pain point by asking open-ended questions .

At the same time, they are adapting and changing their trajectory as they learn more about the buyer’s answers, questions, and objections. 

• Very good for relationship building. 
• Effective for complex or technical sales. 
• Can be useful in tandem with SPIN Selling . 
• Helps you learn about the customer’s specific needs and pain points. 
• Sometimes you dig for a problem but never find one. 
• Can forget to convey the most critical information. 

An example of how this might look is if a software seller had a meeting with a prospect whose reason for taking the meeting was to see some new technology. 

Before demoing the product, the seller would initiate discussion and try to tease out the buyer’s true needs and problems, so that they can customize the demo for the prospect. 

Example Template of a Need-Satisfaction Presentation

Here’s what a need-satisfaction presentation might look like in practice.

Identify the Need: First, ask questions to learn more about the customer’s business so that you can find a need to solve. 

Agitate the Need: Through conversation, help the customer see how problematic this pain point or need is, and how it’s holding them back. Make them dissatisfied with their current situation. 

Share Your Idea: Explain that you have a solution to that need. Tell them the benefits. Paint the image of the wonderful world they will enjoy after that need is met. 

Show Solution: In a slideshow or demo, show them how your product or service works to satisfy their need. 

As you can see, this type of presentation is very customer-centric and relies on the specific information that the customer provides during the preliminary conversation.

4. Problem-Solution 

The problem-solution presentation is just as flexible as the need-satisfaction type. 

It basically follows the same conversational framework, but the final presentation of the solution is even more personalized, including an analysis of the specific problem. 

The main difference between the two is that, in the problem-solution presentation, a seller is trying to help the buyer see a problem that they might not even know exists , nor understand, nor know how to solve. 

• Great for presenting yourself as an expert. 
• Well-suited for highly complex or technical sales. 
• You give an in-depth analysis of specific problems and solutions.
• It sometimes requires more than one person to handle the sales cycle (e.g., pre-sales/account executive). 
• It is time-intensive and could take several months packed with meetings with different members of the team. 

You might find this type of sales presentation in a marketing consulting sale. 

Perhaps the buyer is unaware that their lack of branding is killing their ability to grow. 

The seller has to first convince them with stats, data, and industry expertise that this is, in fact, a serious problem. 

They then have to think of a strategy designed specifically for them to overcome it. 

Finally, they have to present the analysis of the problem and the associated strategy. 

Example Template of Problem-Solution Presentation

Here’s the flow of a problem-solution presentation, which could last many months. 

Convince Buyer to Allow an Analysis of the Problem: First, you have to provide enough evidence to get them to let you try to research and solve the problem. 

Run the Analysis: A more technical member of the team might handle this. An example could be running a compliance report on a property owner’s buildings to find the cost of violations. 

Agree That it’s a Problem: Present your findings and get them to state their belief that this is a problem they think is worth solving. 

Prepare a Proposal: Think up your solution and share the idea with the buyer. 

Present it: Finally, show your solution in a slideshow or demo. Show them the value you bring to the table. 

This type of presentation requires a lot of effort on your part, but because it is so specific in providing value to the customer, it has the potential to result in a fruitful, long-lasting relationship.

As a sales rep, you encounter many situations where you have to reel off information about your product or service in a way that sparks interest in the buyer. 

So let’s go over some sales presentation templates by situation. 

1. Elevator Pitch 

An elevator pitch is a short 10-30 second pitch that encapsulates what your product or service is, the problem it solves, and the benefits it provides. 

It is useful to have one of these handy in your pocket whenever you might encounter a potential buyer, for instance, at a tradeshow or a networking event . 

A good elevator pitch should be: 

• Succinct: Keep it short and to the point, or else the listener’s attention might drift. 
• Customer-Focused: Make it about your customers, the problems they have, and the results they see. 
• Actionable: Include a call to action .

Here is an example of an easy template you can use to create a solid elevator pitch. 

State the Problem Your Customers Have: “A lot of property management companies struggle with enforcing their standard operating procedures across their building staff.”

Briefly Explain What Your Solution Is: “So they come to us for our {product or service}.”

Inject Some Credibility: Over 1000 companies currently work with us, including {well-known brands A and B}.

Describe Your Value Proposition: Our solution helps them easily implement and enforce SOPs across their team and see 2x the efficiency, and are therefore able to double the size of their building portfolios without hiring new staff.” 

Offer a CTA (Call to Action): “Would you be open to a meeting to discuss the solution more in-depth?” 

In an elevator pitch, you have to be persuasive in a short amount of time in order to get a potential customer to take action.

2. Cold Sales 

Cold calls need to convince a stranger that you are worth talking to. This can be tricky. 

A good cold call script quickly informs the buyer that you have done your research about their business and that you solve problems relevant to them. 

With a cold call, you should usually only script the first few sentences. The rest should be improvised according to what the prospect says. 

Script the first sentences of the pitch using this framework. 

Introduce Yourself and Company: “My name is {Name} and I head up new business for {Company Name}.” 

Open With Common Pain Points: “The reason for my call today {Their Name} is because a lot of {prospect’s position or type of business—e.g., VPs of Sales} are struggling with {Pain Points A and B}.”

Mention Any Research You Did on Their Business: From what I read about your {some research}, it seems like these might be on top of your mind. Is that the case?”

From there, try to connect with the buyer and learn more about their business. 

If they do have the problems you mentioned, quickly tell them how your company can solve them—using your elevator pitch. Then, ask for a meeting. 

For more about effective cold calling, check out our article on cold calling best practices . 

3. Written 

A written pitch has to be brief and compelling, since you are without the power of tone, facial expression, and human presence. 

You will often find a use for written pitches in your sales emails or proposals. 

Here are some steps for crafting a good one:

• Do Your Research: Before sitting down to write your pitch, learn a bit about the prospect and their company. 
• Mention Something About Them: To grab their attention, mention something about them like, “I noticed on your LinkedIn that you recently acquired a new software company.” 
• Lead Into Your Solution: “We work with a lot of companies to help them with mergers such as these.”
• Mention Benefits: “ Our clients see {list salient benefits}. 
• Ask For a Meeting: “Would you be open to a meeting with us to learn more about our service?” 

Essentially, you want your message to leave an impression on the customer so that they feel inclined to reach out to you.

Your presentation isn’t done when you click through the last slide. You still have to follow up to continue selling your idea to the prospect. 

Here are some tips for what to do after you have made your sales presentation. 

• Send The Sales Deck: Email the deck you used during the presentation. They can pass it around internally. 
• Send Testimonials: Share some case studies or testimonials that you think will shorten the distance their faith must leap. 
• Answer Any Questions They Had: Sometimes, there will be questions you can’t answer during the presentation. Answer those in email form after. 
• Ask For A Follow-Up Call: Ask them if they want to have a follow-up call where you will answer any questions or concerns they have had since the presentation meeting. 

Taking these actions will demonstrate your professionalism to your buyers. Plus, it will help them justify the purchase to themselves and the rest of their team. 

Contrary to what one might think, the most important skill required for giving a great sales presentation is the ability to listen, not talk. 

When your prospect speaks up, don’t railroad past their statement in order to continue with your presentation.

Instead, pause and really listen. What they are objecting to or asking about sheds light on what matters most to them. 

Once you know that information, you will be able to craft a much more personalized and effective presentation—while speeding up the process with these templates.

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Top 8 Sales Presentation Templates & How to Create Your Own

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Sales presentation templates are suggested general talking points and partially prewritten sales decks that can help you present your product or service to a prospect. While you can create your talking points and sales deck from scratch, using templates can save you time and result in a stronger presentation. All templates tend to follow a similar structure, but it can be helpful to seek out ones created for your unique situation such as your industry or relationship with the prospect.

Components of a Sales Presentation Template

There are two key components of a sales presentation template: the outline that guides the spoken portion of your presentation (i.e., the talking points you'll follow), and the sales deck template that guides the visual portion (i.e., the slideshow you'll create for your prospects).

More specifically, the components of a sales presentation template include:

• Sales Presentation Outline: A recommended structure of your spoken presentation, including your talking points and the order in which you'll say them, that helps you stay on track and touch on the essential details as you speak with your prospect.
• Sales Deck Template: A predesigned slideshow that includes prompts on each page so you know what to write and in which order, helping you to include the most impactful information for your prospect and inspire them to take action.

There are times when you'll present without slides or send a sales deck for the lead to read through on their own. Below, we've covered these two main components separately and explained how they can work together so you can learn about and grab templates for the outline, sales deck, or both.

If you're interested in learning how to create these components from scratch rather than starting with these templates, check out our articles on how to create and deliver a sales presentation and how to craft a sales deck . Otherwise, continue reading below.

Tailor a Sales Presentation Outline

The first step in creating a sales presentation is to draft an outline that will allow you to efficiently build rapport with your lead, discuss the problem and how your product or service can fix it, and get them to take next steps. Typically, that involves following an outline similar to the below:

• Small Talk and Intros: Briefly chat with your prospect and give your business's elevator pitch to introduce yourself and what you do.
• Agenda-Setting: Refresh the prospect on what you hope to accomplish with this meeting and what they'll get out of it whether or not they choose to move forward.
• Your Prospect’s Pain Point: Remind the prospect of the problem you discussed during discovery, and elaborate on why they can't afford not to resolve it.
• Solution and Benefits: Tease the better world and three benefits they'll experience when they do solve the problem, then introduce your product or service as the solution.
• Social Proof: Talk about a current client that's similar to the prospect and had a similar issue before working with you; share a testimonial if possible.
• Call-to-Action: Make a strong CTA that encourages them to take action with you, such as moving on to a business proposal or agreeing to another meeting.

While the outline above is a good starting point for any business, every presenter should modify their outline to fit their offering, industry, and audience. For instance, product sellers will often add a product demo after introducing their solution. Some salespeople will present to renew or upsell current clients rather than to sell to new ones, which will affect initial intros and small talk. To create the best flow for your situation, read Indeed's article on creating a sales presentation outline .

Customize a Sales Deck Template

Once your sales presentation outline is complete, it's time to translate that into a reusable sales deck. You can also simply start with the deck if you plan to forego a presentation and send it to prospects to read on their own time. It's possible to create a deck from scratch, but you could find an online template and modify it to fit your needs and, if applicable, your presentation structure. As you turn the template into your own deck, you can leave room to personalize it to each new lead.

A standard sales deck template includes the following elements:

• Cover Slide: Include your company logo and name, plus brief but impactful text such as your unique selling proposition (USP) or elevator pitch for your prospect to read right away.
• Problem Slides: Highlight the problem and its implications to inspire your prospect to want to solve their pain points as soon as possible.
• Solution Slides: Show the prospect how their life and business would improve if the problem no longer existed, then introduce your offering as the solution to get them there.
• Social Proof Slide: Include quotes, photos, or case study summaries from current clients that used to have a similar issue but have reached the better world with your help.
• CTA Slide: Write a direct ask so the prospect knows what the next steps are and how to take them with you.

We created a free sales deck template that follows the above elements in the listed order. Check it out below if you'd like a standard sales deck template to use as a starting point for your own:

Like a sales presentation outline, your deck may differ slightly depending on factors such as your product or service type, your industry, and your rapport with the lead. In this case, it can be especially helpful to start with a template designed for your unique situation, then tweak it as needed. Your deck can then serve as a template for you and your team to use moving forward.

Additional Reading:

To find a template that fits your unique business situation, check out our compilation of some of the best free sales deck templates on the internet. There, you'll find templates for different company types, offerings, audiences, and more so you can start with the one that will help you finalize your own deck.

Top 7 Presentation Templates for Various Situations

As a sales professional, you’ll often find yourself presenting your offer in various scenarios, from introducing your solution at a trade show to upselling a current client in your office. To help, we’ve compiled seven sales presentation templates to help you craft a verbal outline and/or a visual deck for any sales situation.

Here are the seven sales presentation templates you can access:

Generic Sales Presentation Template

Multifaceted presentation template that follows the general problem/solution format.

Product Sales Presentation Template

Best template for products that can accommodate a demo within the presentation.

Brief Sales Presentation Template

Effective in situations when you're short on time and an elevator pitch works best.

Current Client Sales Presentation Template

Great for presentations to customers you're already working with.

Large Audience Sales Presentation Template

Rely on this template when presenting to a large audience at an event.

Trade Show Booth Sales Presentation Template

Most effective while working a trade show at an industry conference.

Video Sales Presentation Template

Use this when recording a presentation video that can be viewed anytime.

All seven templates include the universal presentation components. No matter the situation, each sales presentation introduces a problem, names the solution, and ends with a call-to-action. Take a closer look below to see how they differ and why they work for each particular situation, plus best practices for each.

A generic sales presentation is one that’s given by a salesperson or a group of salespeople to a prospective buyer, usually in person or via a videoconference, and with the assistance of a sales deck. Regardless of your business type, your goal here is to educate the prospect on the value of your solution so that they move forward in your sales process.

Expand the below to access a generic presentation outline, deck template, and best practices:

Generic Presentation Outline

Here is the step-by-step generic presentation outline that you can use to create your talking points:

• Introduce Your Business:  Briefly explain what type of customers you generally serve. And deliver your elevator pitch so the prospect has context about what you do. This can be done in one or two slides.
• Build Credibility:  This can be done during the introduction of your business or right after. Mention how many customers like the prospect you’ve helped in the past. Or bring up past successes or experience that positions you as an expert.
• Introduce a Common Problem:  Discuss a common pain point relevant to your prospect, preferably one they mentioned to you during your previous conversations.
• Discuss the Problem’s Associated Costs:  Elaborate on the consequences of not solving the problem. Is it wasting their time? Is it preventing them from reaching certain goals? Agitate the pain so that they realize how important it is to remove it immediately.
• Highlight a Promised Land:  Tease the good life. Paint a picture of a beautiful world where the problem is gone. Highlight three key benefits the prospect will receive in this promised land. “Imagine if” is a powerful opening phrase here.
• Put the Competition’s Solutions on Trial:  Now that your prospect is wondering how to get to this promised land, go through the current options, your well-known competitors, and explain why they fail as bridges to the promised land. Respectfully discuss their shortcomings.
• Introduce Your Solution:  Finally, reveal your solution to the problem. Explain how it works in one to two sentences. Keep the language simple. State the value proposition.
• State Your USP: Explain the main factor that differentiates your product or service from the competition. Show why you’re the best pick.
• Give Proof Your Solution Works: Walk the prospect through a few specific customer success stories, mentioning customers similar to the prospect. Use quantitative success markers like “This company increased their revenue by 32%.”
• Give Your Call-to-Action:  Tell the prospect what you want them to do next and give them the means (contact information, address, etc.) to do it. The prospect will appreciate the direction.

Depending on your situation, there are other elements you could include in your presentation, such as pricing or a team introduction. We go over these presentation elements in our how to create and deliver a sales presentation article — give it a read to learn more.

Generic Presentation Deck Template

Slidebean created a great generic sales deck template that closely follows the outline above. The slides in the deck include about us, mission, before and after solving the problem and the bridge to do so, team, pricing, next steps, Q&A, and contact. Check it out to see if it would be a good starting point for you.

Generic sales pitch deck template

Generic Presentation Best Practices

Here are some best practices for giving a generic sales presentation:

• Follow the 10/20/30 Rule in Your Deck:  The  10/20/30 rule states that a presentation should have at most 10 slides, last no longer than 20 minutes, and use a 30-point font or larger. This ensures the audience doesn’t get bored by text or length.
• Use a Problem/Solution Narrative Structure:  Begin by defining a problem and explaining its costs. Then paint a picture of a better world where that problem is gone, and reveal how the prospect can get there with your product or service.
• Sprinkle Proof Throughout:  Use data points, stats, and graphs to back your bold claims. And include testimonials and case studies from customers similar to the prospect to prove that they can expect to see a similar level of success.

The most important thing to remember is to include the components that work well in every presentation — particularly the problem and how you'll fix it, plus what the prospect should do next.

When you’re presenting a product, showmanship is essential. Nothing sells better than demonstrations of the product. If it’s a potato peeler, peel some potatoes. If the product is something too large to demonstrate in person — like industrial equipment — show a video of it in action. This helps the customer visualize owning it and using it themselves, which assuages any uncertainty that it’ll work.

Click "Show More" if you sell a physical product and want to start with an outline and deck template:

Product Presentation Outline

Here is a sales presentation outline for presenting a product:

• Introduce Your Business:  Tell the prospect a little bit about yourself and your business.
• Open With a Story:  Tell a short relatable story that introduces the main problem you solve. A knife sharpener salesperson might tell a story about how their knife was dull so it slipped and cut their finger.
• List Current Undesirable Solutions:  Go through the current solutions (your competitors) and explain why they fail to solve the problem. This could be because of faulty technology or a missing feature that your product has.
• Introduce Your Solution (Your Product):  If possible, show the product to the prospect. Let them hold it or use it. Name how it’s different from and better than the competition.
• Show the Features and State the Benefits:  While showing them each feature, tell them how it will make their lives better.
• Give a Physical Demonstration:  If you were the knife sharpener salesperson, you’d show them how sharp you can get the blade.
• Show Proof:  Share some quotes from customers who have enjoyed your product or a video of some using it.
• Make a Call-to-Action:  Tell your prospect what you want them to do next, whether that’s to buy now or to schedule another meeting. Create urgency by adding a time bomb, like a discount that ends in the next hour.

This outline works well for physical products like the knife sharpener example, but it also can be effective for presenting SaaS products, especially when you incorporate a sales deck.

Product Presentation Deck Template

Visme's product sales deck template includes slides for the USP, problem, implications, solution and how it works, social proof, and a CTA. Take a look to decide whether it's a good jumping off point for your own product slide deck.

Product sales deck template

Product Presentation Best Practices

Here are some things to keep in mind when presenting a product:

• Let the Audience Take Your Product for a Spin: Hand it over to the prospect and let them try it for themselves. This makes them attached to the product and more eager to own it.
• Show How Other Solutions Are Ineffective:  Present the competitions’ products and how they're flawed. Show videos or in-person demos of the product causing costly problems.
• Be Expressive With Body Language:  Hold up the product, use hand gestures to emphasize points, and smile and nod when making jokes or stating benefits.

Try to incorporate these tips whether you're selling a physical product or a software tool.

Sometimes you’ll only have one or two minutes to present your product or service to a new lead. This could occur on a cold call, at a networking event, or during a quick on-stage presentation at a conference. Usually, your audience knows nothing about your offer. Sometimes, these short presentations are referred to as elevator pitches, although, in practice, elevator pitches should be only 30 seconds.

Check out our brief presentation outline, deck template, and tips below:

Brief Presentation Outline

Here is the sales presentation outline to use when you have only a few minutes to present:

• Open With a Shocking Statement : This could be a startling but true statistic connected to the problem you solve (e.g., Americans read for personal interest for 10 minutes or less per day). It could also be a bold claim (e.g., You’re showering all wrong).
• Tell a Story That Elucidates a Problem:  It has to be a very short story, and the protagonist should be your ideal customer.
• Introduce Your Product or Service:  Tell them the name of your product or service and its main value proposition — its most powerful benefit.
• Explain How It Works in One Sentence:  In a single sentence, clarify how it works and achieves this value proposition — “It does this by X.”
• State Your Call-to-Action:  Ask them for the meeting, the purchase, or whatever it is you want them to do. Try including the value proposition again in your CTA. “If you want to see a 33% increase in X, let’s schedule a meeting for next week to go over it more.”

Start with this outline, but add or cut whatever information you need so you end up with brief talking points that will be effective when used with your prospects.

Brief Presentation Deck Template

Slidebean's brief sales deck template tells the entire story in a few slides. It opens with the main idea and statistics, then moves on to a problem and the company's value proposition and overall story. The solution slide is next, with a Q&A and CTA at the end. It also includes slides for the competition and team, which you can keep or cut for time.

Brief sales deck template

Brief Presentation Best Practices

Here are some best practices for presenting when you’re short on time:

• Share the Most Crucial Information:  When you don't have time to give a full sales presentation, be economical with what you choose to share. Focus on getting across the problem you solve and your main value proposition.
• Speak With Pace:  Long dramatic pauses have no place here. Speak at a faster rate than normal. Get through your entire presentation before time’s up or you lose the lead’s attention.
• Forget the Sales Deck if Needed: You don’t necessarily need the slideshow. Focus on engaging the audience with eye contact, hand gestures, and passion.

To stick to the time you're allotted, follow these tips to end early enough that your prospect can ask a few questions.

This is relevant to anyone upselling or cross-selling a current client. When you’re doing this, you must personalize the presentation to their wants, needs, and goals that they have expressed to you during your partnership. Regardless of outcome, these presentations are great chances to grow your relationship, so start with a template and tailor it from there.

Below, you'll find an outline and deck template for presenting to your existing customers:

Current Client Presentation Outline

Here is an outline for delivering sales presentations to current clients:

• Talk About Past Successes:  Remind them of your value. Share any key performance indicators that you have directly contributed to improving.
• Summarize Your Last Discussion:  A discussion should’ve taken place before this meeting in which you asked the client about their current goals. Bring up these goals to give them context for why you’re presenting to them today.
• Discuss Why They Aren’t Hitting Their Goals: Talk about some reasons why they aren’t performing as well as they could be. For example, perhaps one of their processes is inefficient.
• Pitch the Idea:  Explain how your product or service can solve the problem for them and help them achieve their goals.
• Show Proof:  Show them how other clients like them have benefited by making this particular purchase. Use statistics and case studies here to prove your point.
• Give the Client Use Cases: Share some examples of exactly how the client can use this tool or service in their day-to-day life. Take into account their internal business processes or daily responsibilities while crafting these use cases.
• Make the Call-to-Action:  Ask them if they want a follow-up meeting to go over it more in depth, or if they’d like you to send over a business proposal .

As you run through these talking points, ensure that they know how appreciative you are of their business. This outline will help you get through the key details, but your relationship with the client plays a large role in moving the deal forward.

Current Client Presentation Deck Template

Gong's B2B sales deck template is a great one to use for your current customers. It's highly customizable, so you can easily tailor it to the customers you've had a chance to learn about by working with them for a certain period of time. After the cover slide, it has pages for the nexus, problem, story, value proposition, proof, and CTA.

B2B customer sales deck template

Current Client Presentation Best Practices

Here what to remember when renewing, upselling, or cross-selling a current client:

• Discuss Their Past Successes With You:  To remind them of how well you’ve helped them already, show them a snapshot of what their life was like before they signed up with you and how much better it’s become. Do this at the beginning.
• Personalize It: Bring up use cases — come up with ways your client can use the new or upgraded version of a product to reach their goals or solve their problems.
• Bring in Backup:  If there’s an account manager or someone else who manages the client’s account, bring them along to make the client feel comfortable. They don’t have to present, but they can help kick off the rapport-building small talk beforehand.

As we mentioned above, remember to lean on your relationship in presentations with current clients. It's more efficient to renew and upsell existing customers than acquire new ones, so make them feel special and show them the value you've brought to them so far.

This is effective for large audiences of over 100 people. This often occurs when you’re on a stage presenting your product or service at an industry event (conference, trade show, etc.) that you’re hosting or attending. The audience usually consists of industry peers eager to learn about new brands and solutions that’ll help them achieve their goals.

Here's the template for presenting to many people at a time, plus tips to do it well:

Large Audience Presentation Outline

Check out the sales presentation outline for presenting to large audiences:

• Build Curiosity:  Open with a statement that gets the audience excited for what you’re going to reveal. You could declare that what you’re about to show them will forever change the way they do or think about something.
• Build Credibility:  Quickly summarize your business’s origin story. Then, if possible, chronicle your company’s past successes or product releases and explain how they changed the industry.
• Highlight the Key Problem:  Now, name a new problem in the industry that you plan to tackle. Make it one that’s relatable and painful to your audience.
• Tackle the Competition:  Discuss today’s solutions and cast them aside with your arguments for why they don’t work. It’s helpful to find one feature or approach your main competitors all have or employ and then explain why that is their shortcoming.
• Introduce Your Product or Service:  Reveal your solution to the problem. Show pictures or videos of it on the big screen. Explain its key differentiator and value proposition.
• Go Through Features and Benefits:  If you're using a deck, flip through slides that name and show images of the relevant features while you talk about the benefits.
• Make Your Call-to-Action:  Tell them what to do next, whether that’s to go to your website and sign up or to dial a number on the handout they received before the show.

When you're presenting to a large audience, it can be especially helpful to take advantage of the projector in the room, showing image and/or text slides.

Large Audience Presentation Deck Template

Zuora's large audience sales deck template is a solid one to use for many people at a time. The template starts off with an industry change that will affect all audience members, then explains the implications of the change, especially for companies that don't keep up. It uses the remaining slides to set up Zuora as the hero that can help the audience thrive in this new environment.

Large audience sales deck template

Large Audience Presentation Best Practices

Here are some best practices for presenting to large audiences:

• Practice to Gain Confidence:  Because there are so many people in the room, it can be nerve-racking. You’re going to want to have practiced this presentation a lot so that you’re comfortable. If possible, rehearse on the stage.
• Use the Entire Stage: Usually, you’ll have a lot of space on the stage at these events. Use it. Changes in the audience’s visual field, including your walking, keeps them alert. Also, make sure you consistently switch which part of the audience you’re facing.
• Involve the Audience:  Ask audience members to raise their hands if they hold a certain opinion, have had a specific experience, or are in a particular position. You might say, “Raise your hand if you’ve ever had {insert struggle here}.” This makes them feel invested.

Consider also consulting your peers who have given talks to big audiences. Speaking to large groups is a unique experience in which presenters typically improve over time, so try to bypass some of the clunky talks by getting these tips beforehand.

Sometimes you’ll find yourself at a trade show or conference presenting to cold leads who have gathered around your booth for a quick presentation of your product or service. The goal of this presentation is to quickly turn these leads into prospects hungry to learn more.

Follow the template below when presenting at a trade show booth:

Trade Show Booth Presentation Outline

Here is the outline for a trade show booth sales presentation:

• Quickly Set the Agenda:  Summarize what you plan to cover in your presentation.
• Give a Reason to Stick Around: Include this in the last part of your agenda. This could be a chance to enter into a contest or win an item or a sneak peek at a new feature.
• Help People Self-Qualify:  Start talking about your ideal customer and their responsibilities. Involve the audience by asking them to raise their hands if they fall into one of the mentioned categories. This way, the ideal customers will know to stay.
• Name a Common Desire of Your Customers:  Bring up something that your ideal customer wants. This could be a goal they want to achieve or a problem they want gone.
• Explain How Your Product or Service Satisfies the Desire:  Introduce your solution and describe how it satisfies this need.
• State 3 Key Benefits:  Name three benefits that your buyers will receive with the product or service. It helps to tell anecdotes about specific clients enjoying each benefit you mention.
• Make a Call-to-Action:  Help them move through the sales pipeline by telling them what action to take. This could be to talk to someone at the booth or grab a brochure. Also, give them a reason to comply.

Because trade shows are competitive, consider using both a presentation outline and a sales deck template. This way, you'll have a higher chance of grabbing attendees' attention when they walk past your visual slides.

Trade Show Booth Presentation Deck Template

Venngage's creative sales deck is a good fit for presenters at a trade show booth. It's visually appealing and brief to rope in passers-by and allow them to see the full deck in a matter of minutes. It starts with a title slide, then explains what your company does and how to get in touch with you.

Creative trade show booth sales deck template

Trade Show Booth Presentation Best Practices

Here are some best practices for presenting at a trade show booth:

• Keep It Between 5-10 Minutes:  The trade show members have other exhibits to see. Respect their time and keep it succinct, fast-paced, and powerful.
• Build Brand Recognition:  At a trade show, you might be surrounded by booths filled with competitors. So it’s key to win a spot in your audience’s memory by highlighting your top differentiators that make your brand unique.
• Make Each Slide Stand on Its Own: People might show up at your booth during slide one or four. Therefore, make sure each slide has a straightforward concept in large font that audience members can grasp without having to see the previous slide.

Brevity and enthusiasm are key here. If you can quickly tell your potential clients why you believe in your product or service, you're more likely to stand out in a room of other booths.

Video sales presentations usually consist of a seller standing in front of a camera and/or recording their computer screen and briefly explaining their solution and its benefits. Once you’ve filmed the video successfully, you can use it again and again. Often, businesses film these video sales presentations to put on their landing page, sales page, or any other page on their website designed to convert visitors into leads or buyers. They also use it as a video advertisement.

Check out how to create a video presentation from an outline and deck template below:

Video Presentation Outline

Here is a sales presentation outline for creating your video presentation:

• Introduce Yourself:  State your name and your business. Then share any credentials or experiences that show you’re an expert in the field.
• Name 1–2 Pain Points: Come across as a problem solver by labeling one or two pain points that your target audience struggles with.
• Introduce Your Solution:  Name your product or service and give a high-level overview in one sentence.
• Describe the Promised Land:  Talk about how amazing the viewer’s life will be once they have this solution. Focus on evoking positive emotions from them.
• Walk the Viewer Through the Product or Service:  With the help of images and/or the video, walk the viewer through the basic features. Be sure to highlight the benefits of each.
• Make a Call-to-Action:  Tell them to fill out the form on the page that will collect their contact information. Tell them what will happen after they do this. Or, if they can purchase on the page, let them know where they can do so.

Some of the best video presentations switch between the presenter and their screen. The outline is helpful throughout, and a deck template can be great when you want to show your screen.

Video Presentation Deck Template

We created our own cold leads sales deck template that could easily be recorded into a video and hosted on your website or anywhere else where new leads can find it. The cover slide introduces the company, then it talks about the problem plus your product or service and its benefits. Finally, it ends with a CTA.

Video sales deck template

Video Presentation Best Practices

Here are the main details to keep in mind during a video sales presentation:

• Keep It Brief: Avoid droning on; you want to get to your call-to-action before the audience gets bored and moves on to another web page.
• Focus on Benefits Over Features:  Focus on how the product will improve the buyer’s life. iPod claimed “1,000 songs in your pocket,” but few buyers cared how that was possible.
• Let Your Personality Shine Through:  Share personal stories of your experiences in the industry helping people like them or stories of your own challenges.

These tips will help prevent your prospect from skipping ahead in the video or closing it altogether. Video presentations can make it tough to keep your audience's attention, so try all three of these tips plus any others you uncover as you go.

To learn more about creating your own outline, read our article on sales presentations , where you'll see how to create and deliver your presentation. For more slide deck templates for a variety of situations, check out our sales deck templates article; there, you'll find categories like the above, plus a template and examples for each one that show what a great sales deck looks like in action. Finally, read our sales presentation tips article for more best practices to keep in mind.

Bottom Line: Sales Presentation Templates

Sales presentations are your chance to convince your prospective buyer of the value of your product or service, to come across as an expert problem solver, and to further  nurture  the buyer/seller relationship. To do this, your sales presentation should be tailored to the unique situation in which you find yourself, as well as to the audience. Now, take what you’ve learned from these templates and examples and go build and deliver an amazing sales presentation.

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Top 10 Problem Solving Templates with Samples and Examples

In today's competitive business world, excelling at problem solving is crucial for achieving success. A recent study by McKinsey has shown that companies that are skilled at problem solving tend to outperform their peers in terms of revenue growth and shareholder returns. In fact, the top quartile of problem-solving organizations achieved 50% higher revenue growth and 33% higher total returns to shareholders compared to the bottom quartile. Therefore, it's clear that mastering problem solving is essential for any business to thrive.

Finding effective solutions to business challenges, however, can be daunting. That's where SlideTeam's Problem-solving Templates come in to provide a step-by-step approach enabling you to break down complex issues into manageable parts and develop effective solutions. We offer a range of templates, including SWOT analysis, Fishbone diagrams, and Root Cause Analysis, that will equip you with the tools you need to tackle any business problem.

Problem-Solving Templates

If you're tired of struggling to find solutions to the challenges your business faces, explore these Problem-Solving Templates. Don't let obstacles hold your business back – try our templates today and take your business to the next level.

Let’s begin.

Template 1: Organizational Problem-Solving Tool PowerPoint Presentation

For an organization, problem-solving is required in all its operational aspects-right, from planning, controlling, marketing, and manufacturing to managing financial aspects, products as well as customers. This PPT template presents slides that enable an organization to analyze information across all its operations and departments and identify problems and then solve these problems. This editable PPT Template enables an organization to plan its progress path by allocating the right people and resources to solve problems.

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Template 2: Problem Solving Approach Business Organizational Analysis Assessment Systems

This editable PPT Template with its attractive graphics and design, enables any business to adopt the right approach to problem-solving. The template enables any organization to analyze different approaches like three-phase approach, collaborative approach, strategy-based approach, etc.

Template 3: Sample A3 Problem Solving Report Collection of Quality Control Templates PPT Diagrams

This easy-to-use PPT template helps organizations solve problems related to quality control. Using this template, an organization can identify the root cause of the problem and the background of the problem and formulate a plan of action to solve the problem. It includes sections for the current situation, checking, acting, and rectifying the errors.

Template 4: Sample A3 Problem Solving Report

This customizable and readily downloadable PPT template enables an organization to solve problems that are reflected in quality assurance reports. Any business can identify a quality-related problem, its background, its cause, as well as other aspects of the problem and then find the best solution to the problem using this template.

Template 5: Optimizing Transformation Strawman Proposal

For any organization, it is important to achieve operational efficiency. However, several issues are often faced when it comes to the operational aspects of a business, and identifying these is mandatory for an organization. Using this PPT Template, an organization can analyze its operational problems and discuss in detail how technology can be used to solve the problem and bring about a transformation that can help to enhance operational efficiency.

Template 6: Collaborative Problem Solving and Assessment Approach

This PPT template, available for instant download, helps an organization to use a collaborative problem-solving and assessment approach to analyze problems related to new products, technologies, ideas, etc., and adopt the best practices to solve the problem.

Template 7: Situation Complication Resolution Framework for Problem Solving

This attractive PPT Template, with its colorful graphics, enables an organization to adopt the framework model to solve a problem. This model enables any business to analyze the current situation, identify the complications associated with the situation, and then find the solution or the best way to resolve the problem.

Template 8: Five-circle Arrow Process for Problem Solving

This adaptable PPT template, with its attractive design, provides a five-circle arrow process for solving problems related to any aspect of the organization. Using this PPT template, an organization can define a problem, generate new ideas to solve the problem, evaluate and select solutions and implement and evaluate the solutions to ensure that the problem gets solved in the most optimal manner.

Template 9: 3-Step Process of Problem-solving Analysis

The process of problem-solving is not always easy because, most of the time, a business fails to identify the problem. Using this customizable PPT Template, a business can adopt a 3-step approach to problem-solving. With the help of this template, an organization can implement the stages of problem identification, problem analysis, and solution development to solve the problem in the most effective manner.

Template 10: 6 segments of problem-solving model

This PPT template presents 6 steps to solve a problem that an organization may face in any of its operational aspects. This PPT template is easy to edit and enables any business to adopt the stages of defining a problem, determining the root cause of the problem, evaluating the outcome, selecting a solution, implementing the solution, and developing alternative solutions. This model, when adopted by an organization, enables it to find the most optimal solution to the problem.

The Final Word

Every problem is a gift - without problems, we would not grow." - Tony Robbins. This quote highlights the importance of embracing challenges as opportunities for growth and development. When businesses approach problem-solving with a positive mindset and a willingness to learn, they can turn even the most challenging situations into valuable learning experiences.

Now that you know how using problem-solving templates can assist you in streamlining the entire process, it’s time to download these templates and get started.

FAQs on Problem-Solving

What are the 7 steps to problem-solving.

A business, during its operations, may face several problems that need to be solved so that the problem does not impact the organization in an adverse manner. However, to solve a problem in the most efficient manner, a business must adopt a seven-step approach to problem-solving. These steps include:

• Identifying the problem.
• Analyzing the problem.
• Describing the problem and all its parameters.
• Identifying the root cause of the problem.
• Developing solutions to solve the problem.
• Implementing the solution that seems to be the most effective.
• Measuring the results.

Why is problem-solving important?

Problem-solving enables an organization to handle unexpected situations or face challenges that it may face during its operations. For every organization, problem-solving is important as it enables the organization to:

• Identify activities, processes, and people that are not working in an efficient manner.
• Identify risks and address these risks.
• Implement changes when required.
• Enhance performance and productivity.
• Innovate and execute new ideas.
• Make effective decisions.

What are the five problem-solving skills?

Problem-solving is not an easy task, and any consultant in the organization who works to solve problems needs to exhibit some specific skills. These skills include but are not limited to:

• Creativity that enables the consultant to assess and analyze the problem from various perspectives to come up with the best idea.
• Communication to ensure that the problem and its solutions are easily communicated with others in the organization.
• Teamwork so that everyone in the team can work to solve the problem.
• Critical analysis to think analytically about a problem and solve it in the best manner possible.
• Information processing to process and analyze all information that is associated with the problem.

What are the 4 steps of problem-solving?

Problem-solving needs to be carried out using a series of steps that include:

• Identifying and analyzing the problem so that its cause is known.
• Planning and determining how to solve the problem by finding various solutions.
• Implementing the chosen solution to solve the problem.
• Evaluating solutions to know whether the problem has been resolved or not. 

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Problem Solving Presentation Principals

In business we constantly look at ways to solve prospects, clients and customers problems. This ultimately leads to sales , commitment, and agreement.  After listening to thousands of presentations for the last decade, the one mistake majority of people make is that they try to solve the problem before clearly explaining the problem and cause to the client.  When you deliver your presentation, try using the following technique and see how more effective and persuasive you will be.

The problem

The first thing you need to do is to clearly describe the problem that the customer has. They may well already know this and you will have identified it from previous discussions.

Ensure that they agree that this is a problem and that it needs solving. I normally look at their body language and what you will see is that they will start to nod with their heads in agreement as you mention the problem/s. It is necessary to show or tell

them the implications of not solving the problem and highlight the pain caused.

Show them the main causes of the problem (making sure that these can be fixed using your solution). Use words like ‘because’ and ‘causing’ when you explain the causes. Make the links between causes and the problem very clear to them in your presentation . Illustrate, proof or explain to your listeners that addressing causes will resolve the problem.

If possible use one cause. If necessary use a maximum of three causes. Avoid using more than thee causes as this will shift the focus and attention from trying to solve the probelm to fault finding focus.

The solution

Accurately show how your product addresses the causes and hence fixes the problem that the customer has. Show independent reports that prove this. Demonstrate it to them if at all possible.

Here is an example

A car sales person asks why the customers are looking for a new car. The customer tells how the current car is expensive to run. The salesperson explains how some cars are not designed for easy service and others have inefficient engines. He then shows them a report that highlights running costs of different cars and then demonstrates models from the top two cars in the list.

Showing why something happens is a powerful act as it plays to the need to explain. Causes thus provide a bridge to a solution that otherwise might appear ‘magical’ and driven solely by the salesperson’s desire to sell.

If you use too many causes, this may confuse the customer and maybe make them think of more causes that your product does not resolve.

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