What do you do if your small business presentation fails to impress potential investors?

It might not be the perfect analogy but it resembles a failed audition or interview for employment. Hence as any person who is seeking to be hired but was unsuccessful during an interview or similar recruitment process will be advised to reflect why she/he was not able to impress her potential employer the same should be done for the small business owner looking for equity investors.

I would ask. "I'm curious, what in my presentation appealed to you, and what could I have shared that would have made my proposal even more inviting? I'm always open to hearing what my clients, followers, and potential investors are thinking, what their needs are so I can expedite addressing their needs". Language wise, what did I say that implies they are interested? What did I say that instills my value of those associated with my business, on all levels? If you are not already doing so, take an interest. The tone it sets for your business is not something you can buy, it's something you create and eminate.

Presentation vs. a bad business A great presentation can't sell a bad business. Or, a bad presentation can't sell a good business. That's it. Take time to figure out what you are selling.

Take some time to think about what happened and why. Ask youself questions like: Was the information clear? Did people seem interested? You can get feedback from people you trust, and pay attention to how the audience reacted. Try to figure out what parts of your presentation need work. Work on focusing on what makes your business special and unique to others. I personally treat failure as a chance to learn and get better for next time. Mistakes help us improve if we take the time to think about them.

If the investors are willing to take the time, ask them for feedback. What do they think needs to change in the business model? What do they recommend you change in your presentation of your business model? If you have not already done so, I highly recommend you read Running Lean: Iterate from Plan A to a Plan That Works. Pay attention to the Lean Canvas analytic framework. I teach Entrepreneurship for the University at Buffalo in Singapore and for Rochester Institute of Technology in China. I use Ash Maurya's Lean Canvas as the analytic model for my students as they develop their business ideas. By the way, you might need to pivot your business idea.

What feedback was given? Was it relevant to what your original plan was or could it be considered scope creep? Any feedback is a gift, however in some cases if they are talking outside of what your plan is - then generally what you want to do or what you are attempting to accomplish did not effectively communicate the proposition.

Not a good question. Just because they decided not to invest doesn’t mean you failed…. Could be you just weren’t what they were looking for. Certainly would trigger a close look at your presentation but not the end of the world. Believing in yourself is what matters

Take notes from the information you get from the investors and keep in mind that you are learning as your earn. Updating your presentation for the next meeting will be valuable to getting the funding you need to grow your business and having key ?? investors will help guide you to success.

Using the feedback from the audience allows you the opportunity to really understand what they were hoping to received from the presentation. Keeping an open mind about the audience desires gives you leverage for the next presentation. Use the feedback to create a template for future presentations and continuously add to it.

I will ask my audience questions about the presentation to learn at what point the connection was lost. Sometimes, it’s as simple as backtracking to the point of disconnect.

Was the feedback and the thoughts understated? How can revising or pulling back and turning your plan into something that is more accepted going to help you achieve your original goals? Will you need more resources or pinpoint on a single aspect?

The one thing that I keep in mind when coming up with a strategy for growth and generating revenue for my small business is understanding the market I am in and making sure that I have something unique and different from my competitors. Getting investors attention takes skill and presenting a product or service in the marketplace you have to have a strategy that will stand out from the crowd.

After a short reflection and analyzing the situation I have to Revise the Strategy and do a different and better presentation trying to obtain the interest and Engagement for my project and the presentation of my Project.

After feedback from audience, I would adjust the presentation based on the feedback. Then, before giving it again to investors or clients, I would "test run" it with peers or others and get their feedback. I have also recorded and filmed myself so that I can see how I present. You could also send these recordings to peers, friends, mentors and get their input.

Your presentation should not be a talked to powerpoint. I want to see someone speak from the heart and when I ask questions, they can answer, and change on a pivot. Can they talk to me about their product or service or do they have to rely on what is in the presentation? Relying on a presentation does not give me confidence.

Your presentation should show a reflection of your personality and passion for what you want to do in the marketplace. Public speaking is a learned skill if you don’t have clear sound in your approach you can learn this with much practice.

The A.B.N. Affect is done daily. Always Be Networking! Meeting new people in business growing your target market is key. Never stop reaching out to your audience and learn the 5 P’s of Marketing. People, Product, Price, Place, Promotion. Growth is your most important asset. Learn your industry and grow where you have been planted.

I love the word "pivot". It is the key to success in any venture or project. If your presentation is falling flat on may occasions, then it is a warning signal that you what you are presenting, no matter how skillfully, may not be attractive enough for investment. So, PIVOT. I have done this many times in my career and with many companies. Markets change, tastes change....you must change (pivot) or die.

Did you ask for the order/deal? It’s a simple mistake made frequently. Easy to get caught up in product details and answering follow up and forget why your there in first place. Always ask for the order.

Some businesses are good in their own right, meaning you may have a viable business that has no upside potential for investors and some level of risk.