Developing client presentation techniques

Conference room

When presenting to potential clients, you're more likely to get them over the line if you keep these client presentation techniques in mind.

Here are the key points to remember.

You are the presentation

A common problem with client presentations is that people think that the written proposal or PowerPoint is the presentation when in fact YOU are the presentation.

The proposal or PowerPoint is a visual aid to your presentation, helping to reinforce visually what you are communicating verbally.

Two people can deliver the same presentation (visual aid) and get completely different levels of buy-in based on their ability to communicate verbally and non-verbally.

So to ensure audience buy-in make sure you focus on your verbal and non-verbal communication as much as your presentation's visual aids.

Answer the three key questions

There are three key questions I pose to clients when working with them on their client presentation techniques:

Firstly, do we understand the prospect's objectives and have them clearly stated? If we don’t have these then we might as well pack up and go home now!
Secondly, do we have a logical argument of how we can help the prospect to achieve each of their objectives? And as part of our logical argument, have we turned our features into benefits to present a compelling proposition to our prospect's needs?
Thirdly, do we have a powerful delivery that engages the audience and brings the opportunity to life?

If your presentation and pitches are not getting the desired outcome, the reason may be that one or more of these areas is not being adequately addressed.

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Bring the opportunity to life for the audience

Give the prospect an indication of how your solution would look, sound and feel once implemented and gain agreement from them for the desirability of the picture you have painted.

Engage with them logically by providing all the facts and figures to support your argument and provide an emotional connection through mock ups and examples.

Demonstrate your credibility with case studies

Show your credibility to supply the proposed solution by demonstrating how you have helped other organisations who faced a similar situation to that of your prospect.

Pose the right question

Once the picture has been painted and the prospect has a sense of the opportunity, a useful technique is to ask the prospect how they think their audience will feel once they have experienced what you have proposed.

No need to sell it to them, they will sell it to themselves!

Richard Woodward works with individuals, teams and organisations helping them become effective at developing business. His key focus is working with organisations seeking sponsorship and funding and businesses looking to attract more clients.

2 comments | Add your own

A great article - it's all about empathy with the buyer, which is what successful selling comes down to ! Grant Hyman from Sydney | Read my articles
Hi Richard
Very helpful indeed. As a copywriter who has just started his own business, I can see the importance of your tips and techniques.
Sunil Gautam from Sydney

2 comments | Add your own

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