Presentation skills: do your leads love you or hate you after you leave?

Have you ever witnessed a presentation so bad that you could hardly wait till it ends? We bet you have!

As salespeople, at some point in our careers, there’s a huge chance that we’ll need to make, or already made a presentation in front of a potential customer. And sometimes, even the best of us get nervous and confused, and rush through things too quickly.

Presentation skills are what we need to know and practice, in order to be able to give an engaging and effective presentation to close the deal with the potential customer. Let’s explore the key points of the subject.

• Audience research and analytical skills.?To create and deliver a clear and effective presentation, the first thing to do is to research your potential customer. Analyze what information do they already have on the presentation subject. How much do they care? Always assess what they know, as lecturing them won’t help you keep them attracted. What the potential customer needs and wants, this is what’s important!?
• ?Confidence.?For every salesman/saleswoman, confidence is the key to a successful presentation. If you are well educated on the subject matter, you are sure about the information you pass, and certain that no question can mess your thoughts up. Always prepare and rehearse your speech beforehand. Although you can practice in front of the mirror at all times, asking your friends to give you half an hour to make a presentation for them is a better idea!
• ?Body language.?Your position in front of the potential customer, your posture, gesture, expressions and the eye-contact may be crucial for your presentation. ?While you have control over your words, having control over your body language is more difficult.?Use your hands to?emphasize a point, express your emotions, and engage with the audience.?Eye-contact is the most important element of the facial expression. It directly connects you with your listener.
• Verbal communication.?The words you choose to deliver your message, and the way you do it,?play an essential role in how your potential customer will receive your presentation.?Speak calmly and clearly, keep your voice confident, pause when necessary, make sure your voice volume is loud enough for the lead to hear.
• Visuals: meeting package.?Keep in mind to prepare a full meeting package, check all informational flyers, brochures and booklets, look through the printed material to make sure you have all the necessary information. If you’re going to make a digital presentation, get skilled at making research, creating digital slides, preparing statistics and charts, and showing examples. Visuals are a great way to influence your lead, engage with him/her, and make an impact.

Remember, no one is perfect, and making a presentation for the first time can be challenging. Practice, practice, and once again, practice!