Secrets of Successful Pitches: Bigger Isn’t Always Better

Let’s talk about big decks. As in presentation, pitch deck, powerpoint, slides (fair enough, one of the previous posts was about streakers…).

I’ve spent a lot of time throughout my career looking at decks, and bigger isn’t always better. When was the last time you got excited about going through a 100+ page deck? Yes, it’s important to make sure you have all your bases covered, but if you put your audience to sleep, the only thing that is going to be covered is your deck in drool.  

In addition to too many slides, the other issue I’ve typically seen with big decks is too much information crammed onto the slides. Too many slides with too much information: 

• Create a much higher likelihood that your key messages will get lost 

• Distract the audience - especially if you are presenting on stage!

  • No one can read slides with too much text or make sense of too many charts.

  • The audience will also miss your key points and not focus on what you are saying because they are busy trying to read the slides. (Yes, even if the conference provided an iPad to follow along. Trust me, I’ve sat in the back of 100+ presentations. No one is following your slides on their iPad. They are emailing or scrolling through @Realgrumpycat’s insta.) 

• End up in the recycle bin - especially after a conference or meeting that required travel. It’s not going to fit in the carry-on, so it’s going in the bin. 

You can include important information, data and statistics in a balanced way with a manageable number of slides. Here are some best practices: 

• Start with a clear outline. 

• Know your audience.

• Be sure to include the MOST important information for that audience. For example, investors want to know - who are you, why are you qualified to take my money, and what are you going to do with it? Your presentation should answer those questions. 

• The headline on each slide should convey the main point. 

• Incorporate the power of an image, especially when presenting on stage to a large audience.

• Include a carefully curated appendix.

• Set up a secure data room your target audience can access at their convenience. 

• Include a clear call to action and provide instructions on how to follow-up. 

Remember, bigger isn’t always better. Need a trim? We’re on deck to help. Contact us for more.