LIVE case study - How I drafted my sales pitch...

It took me approx. 3.0 hrs. to write one of the most important sales pitch of my life till date.

Aim - To showcase our elearning library (Excel, PowerPoint, Macros, Outlook, Word) to Corporate L&D and help them understand why our elearning product is the best for them and the convenience with which it can be implemented in the organisation. 

Context - It's a myth that implementing eLearning tools save time.  If you push boring script-read videos which have no local connect (accent, style, approach, country specific reporting issues) or practical flavour, people will be disengaged at the outset.

They will run the videos while they are watching TV just to increase the completion % as "logged" by the Learning Management System (LMS) - You can't micro manage that.

Additionally, NOBODY wants to watch the same video again, NOBODY wants to attend the same classroom training again given that first one was ineffective. As L&D leaders, we have JUST ONE CHANCE to get their attention span and make them self-motivated to improve upon their technical (office productivity) skills.

With these points in the landscape, I create 6 slides each being very specific and to-the-point to convey the message. I hate PowerPoint decks with endless number of slides and that's the reason it took me an extra hour to cut -down it to 6. Here is how the story unfolds. I am dissecting each of the six slides in terms of technique used and the rationale behind it.

Slide 1: AGENDA

Rationale - Agenda slide should be brutally honest and straight forward about the topics to be discussed - Lean & Sharp.

PPT tricks - 1) Agenda points arranged in aligned SmartArt with flat icons to support the essence, 2) Differential text used for slide heading - more focus on key message, 3) Slide master used to standardize templates with consistent footer picture and slide no.

Slide 2 -LIBRARY OF KEY TOPICS (MS OFFICE SUITE)

Rationale - A quick glimpse of the topics of learning we cover and the duration of the videos. Further details can be shared on email later.

PPT tricks - 1) Table with differential color for easy reading, 2) Consistent bullet points and text indentation. I used Ctrl Shift C and Ctrl Shift V. Format painter is obsolete.

Slide 3 - WHAT DIFFERENTIATES OUR PRODUCTS FROM THE REST

Rationale - This is THE MAIN slide. I have divided the headings in three sections. Most importantly, why our product USP will help our potential client.

PPT tricks - Highlighter for recent successful implentation (red dotted rectangle)

Slide 4 - Annexure 1 on our VIDEO'S FEATURES

Rationale - It's important to make the video as engaging as possible. We have added two features - subtitles & trainer's talking head - both are optional and can be removed if client asks us to.

PPT tricks - This is visually one of the most appealing slides. This slide uses tricks such as magnifier & dotted line connector. Click Here to watch one of our free videos on learning the trick.

Slide 5 - Annexure 2 on our PICTURE BASED eBOOK

Rationale - It's very important to revise what you have learnt. And it's more important that the revision tool should be engaging and illustrative. No more boring lines of text after text.

PPT tricks - 1) Magnifier to demonstrate that our eBook lecture numbers are cordinated with video lecture numbers 2) Callouts to provide a guidning message 3) Highlighters for explaining formulas 

Slide 6 - LEADERSHIP TEAM

Rationale - It's important that the leadership team who drives a learning product should have experienced the other side of the table i.e. learners' expectations, line of service, MIS reporting requirements & different industries' experience. Above all, grass root level experience of training professionals from diverse backgrounds. 

PPT tricks - I am VERY particular about alignment of pictures, text box, tables etc. The pictures have been cropped to perfection using simple PowerPoint tricks.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

We have recently launched a 7.2 hrs. video online learning program on POWERPOINT NINJA. This is the first time we have witnessed a very high completion % within 7 days of a person joining the program.

Either I am paying them money to watch the videos - unlikely :) OR they are loving what they ware learning. Glad to see that even professionals with 10-15 years of experience subscribing for the same. Click Here to know details

NB - Please feel free to add comments below on how your take on the said proposal. Hope the "Rationale" & "PPT Tricks" section of each slide allowed you to see my views. Thanks.