VARIOUS PRESENTATION TYPES.
Presentations for your business
Although you present all sorts of things throughout the day, you'll actually be focusing most of your presentations on a business level. Perhaps you run a business, or you're in the process of starting one. In that case, you'll often have to present yourself and your (new) business, in various formats. Or perhaps your job requires you to give presentations regularly, whether you work for yourself or for an employer. Either way, it's good to understand what types of presentations exist and how you can use them. After all, the most important thing is to let your presence serve your purpose. Below, we'll discuss all the (business-related) presentations that can help you and your business move forward. Additionally, there are a few others that we won't explicitly highlight but are still important to mention. You'll find those at the bottom of this blog!
Type 1 presentation.
Elevator pitch
When you think of a presentation, you might think of a slideshow with an extensive story. But have you ever considered that the most engaging and exciting presentations (and also the most difficult ones) are precisely very short? In this case, you're talking about an elevator pitch.
An elevator pitch is a brief presentation of a concept or idea, intended to communicate this concept/idea to the target audience as clearly and concisely as possible. On average, an elevator pitch lasts only 40 seconds. Why is it called an elevator pitch? Because you should be able to present your concept/idea to someone in just the time of a lift ride. An elevator pitch is a very important presentation, as it can leave a first impression on someone that could bring about a great deal.
There are various types of pitches you can distinguish, such as an investor pitch (see the next point), a sales pitch (see further on), or a networking pitch. The type of pitch naturally determines the structure and style of your presentation. Nathalie Mangelaar from PitchAcademy states: “A pitch is not a monologue but the start of a dialogue.”
The structure
A typical elevator pitch consists of the following points:
- Who are you?
- What do you do and why do you do it? How do you solve the problem you want to solve?
- Wat is jouw unieke verkoopargument? Waarin onderscheid jij je van je concurrenten?
- What is the call-to-action? What do you want people to do with this information (e.g., visit your website or get in touch)?
Tips for creating an elevator pitch
Keep an eye on the time.
You already know that your elevator pitch shouldn't be too long. Therefore, make sure you prepare it well and always keep an eye on the time. Turn on the timer while practising and train yourself to finish in under a minute. This way, you can distinguish between the main points and the less important details in your pitch and make it as powerful as possible.
2. Make it personal
Naturally, you'll want to practise your pitch often, but you don't want your story to sound as if you've learned it by heart. Therefore, teach yourself to remember the most important points so you can at least convey what matters most. If someone is interested, they will ask for more information anyway. Working with keywords also gives you the space to tailor your elevator pitch to the person you're giving it to, which makes it much more personal.
3. Ensure connection with your audience
Speak clearly, connect with your audience, and be sure to cover the key points of your pitch concisely. This will help you feel less stressed and allow you to be your charming self as you present your concept or idea.
HANDY TOOLS FOR CREATING AN ELEVATOR PITCH
- Crafting an Elevator Pitch Mindtools
- 10 Elevator Pitch Examples – HubSpot
- 6-type-pitfalls-en Pitch Academy
A pitch presentation or Elevator pitch serves to inform (potential) customers or investors, but above all to persuade them. A Pitch presentation It needs to be brief and impactful. You want to tell and convince your audience a lot in a little time. You only have one chance, so it's very important to leave a memorable impression with your pitch presentation. We have helped organisations achieve successful outcomes on many occasions pitch decks de PowerPoint– of Prezi presentation) helped. Read here How we can help you.
Type 2 personality.
Investor pitch
Another very important presentation is the investor pitch. Giving a presentation can be nerve-wracking, but there is probably no single presentation that causes as much sweaty fear as the investor pitch. Even the most experienced presenters find this an exciting one to give, and that's not surprising.
An investor pitch is a short presentation you give to potential investors. The aim of this presentation is to secure investment for your (start-up) company so that you can bring your concept/idea to life. A lot therefore depends on this presentation. A good example of investor pitches are television programmes like Shark Tank or Dragons’ Den, in which participants pitch their ideas to multi-millionaire investors.
The structure
A typical investor pitch looks like this:
A brief introduction introducing yourself and outlining the problem your idea/concept aims to solve;
A description of the problem, the target audience, and the need for a solution to this problem;
The presentation of the solution; what will you offer the target audience to solve their problem
The benefits for investors; what's in it for them? What will investing in your business yield them? What are the expected revenues and what is your USP?
Tips for creating an investor pitch
Present based on data
3. Create urgency
Handy tools for creating an investor pitch
A pitch presentation or Investor pitch serves to inform (potential) customers or investors, but above all to persuade them. A Pitch presentation It needs to be brief and impactful. You want to tell and convince your audience a lot in a little time. You only have one chance, so it's very important to leave a memorable impression with your pitch presentation. We have helped organisations achieve successful outcomes on many occasions pitch decks de PowerPoint– of Prezi presentation) helped.
Presentation type 3.
Sales presentation
As you run your business, you will regularly need to sell your products/services to potential clients/customers. In other words, you need a sales presentation, in which you convince your potential client/customer of the value you can deliver.
A sales presentation is often a brief presentation that leads to a two-way conversation between you and your potential client/employer. The aim of the presentation is to demonstrate your added value and, based on that, to enter into a collaboration with the client. The presentation is often based on the strategy you employ. This is an important presentation, both for company sales representatives and for freelancers/entrepreneurs.
The structure
A typical sales presentation consists of the following parts:
- Research that you do beforehand to find out what your potential customer/client is looking for. You can use this information to personalise your presentation to your client's needs. What is their pain point and/or need? So, don't start with yourself as the starting point, but aim to connect.
- A pitch, in which you will present your product/service to the customer. You explain what you can offer and how you would be able to help your customer with it. You also explain why the customer should choose you instead of the competition.
- A concluding conversation, where you answer any questions the customer may have and thereby address any concerns. This will contribute to actually closing the sale.
Tips for creating a sales presentation
Create an experience
People don't just love telling stories, they also love listening to them. By linking a story to what you're trying to sell, you not only create an experience people can relate to, but you also ensure it stays with them longer. Therefore, use storytelling in your presentation.
2. Convince them of your value
The aim of the presentation is to increase the probability of a sale, not to mislead people. The most important thing is to convince them of your value (or the value of your product/service) and give them a realistic picture of what you can do for them. You can also persuade them by showing case studies, demonstrating how you have approached this in other projects.
3. Stand behind your product/service
If you fully stand behind your product/service and have confidence that it can truly help your customer, they will also be more likely to believe it. Therefore, ensure you have complete confidence in your own abilities and in what you are selling, because others will certainly sense that more quickly and there's a high chance they will do business with you sooner.
HANDY TOOLS FOR CREATING A SALES PITCH
- Pitch Deck Templates – Visme
- How to write a winning sales pitch – Super Office
- Portfolio items from us as an example
Type 4 presentation.
Internal presentation
This is probably the most common type of presentation overall. Everyone at some point has to present their plans, a new product, a new method, or regularly present figures to a colleague or department.
The aim of an internal presentation is often not just to share information, but also to ensure that everyone in the company is pulling in the same direction and to motivate/excite colleagues and/or your team. Nevertheless, people are often inclined to spend less time on internal presentations. Perhaps you open a PowerPoint and slowly build up your story using bullet points.
Because there are many differences in the content of an internal presentation, we will focus on a generic structure and tips.
The structure
A typical elevator pitch consists of the following points:
- A strong opening, such as a quote, anecdote or story
- An overview of everything you will discuss in the presentation
Tips for creating an internal presentation
1. Prepare well
Ensure you schedule ample time for thorough preparation. Your team/colleagues' time is valuable. Make sure you are worth listening to. This relates to respecting others' schedules/time. For every presentation, whether long or short, you should invest a minimum of 1 to 2 hours.
2. Take your audience along
A monologue without interaction is not advisable. Although it might be tempting to check in with the group periodically to see if they're still following, it's crucial for the success of your presentation. Think about moments of variation. Our brains love structure, but they also love surprises. This is because it helps us remember better. So, crack a joke, include a poll (this can be done with Metimeter, for example), and conclude with a core message and a call to action. What's in it for them?
3. Pay attention to the design
Internal presentations have a reputation for being boring and long-winded. But you want to get your people on board with your plans and motivate them. Therefore, choose to give your presentation design a surprising twist, for example by using a new tool or updating the presentation layout. This way, your employees will stay more engaged and will remember more of the message you convey.
HANDY TOOLS FOR CREATING AN INTERNAL PRESENTATION
- Portfolio itembol.com)
- Death by PowerPoint;
- When internal presentations go wrong
Presentation Type 5.
Online Presentation
Online presentations are – in this world and especially in this day and age – of enormous importance. From webinars and online courses to online education, a great many presentations are currently being given online. The goals of online presentations can therefore be very diverse, but the most important goal is to share information and maintain contact with the audience, even if you cannot always see each other.
The structure
A typical elevator pitch consists of the following points:
- Who are you?
- What do you do and why do you do it? How do you solve the problem you want to solve?
- Wat is jouw unieke verkoopargument? Waarin onderscheid jij je van je concurrenten?
- What is the call-to-action? What do you want people to do with this information (e.g., visit your website or get in touch)?
Tips for creating an online presentation
Ensure a solid foundation
You want to give a presentation of the highest possible quality. Therefore, invest in the basics: ensure sufficient lighting (try to use a ring light for this), arrange for a good microphone, and don't rely on your computer's sound, and invest in a camera that offers a sharper image than your laptop's built-in camera. It's also important to pay attention to your background. Are you sitting somewhere that isn't too distracting? You can also play with the backgrounds in the Zoom application, so you don't have to worry about your background.
2. discover new tools
Did you know that you no longer need to share your screen with your PowerPoint presentation to your audience? Nowadays, there are plenty of cool, innovative tools that are perfect for giving an online presentation. What about Prezi Video, mmhmm, or Canva Live? Explore these tools and what they have to offer, and discover which one best suits the format and purpose of your presentation.
3. Engage in dialogue with your audience
Surprise your audience by structuring your presentation in a different way. Ensure sufficient variation to continuously engage your audience. You can also ensure they remain involved by working with polls, quizzes, and by opening the chat and regularly asking them questions they can answer. This way, you give the audience the feeling that they are participating in a live experience and will keep them on the edge of their seats for longer.
Handy tools for creating an online presentation
- Mmhmm
- Prezi Video
- Canva Live
- Virtual brand
- Virtual communication part 2
- Intro to Virtual Communication | 3 sessions
Online presentations are, in this world and at this very moment, enormously important. From webinars and online training to online teaching. But how do you actually create a memorable online presentation? Are you still using PowerPoint? Or is Prezi Video, for example, a better tool for creating and delivering effective online presentations? We can help you online presentation make it just as memorable and effective as your live presentation.
Presentation type 6.
Webinar
As we spend more time online and work remotely, more and more presentations are taking place online. A prime example of this is the ever-increasing popularity of the webinar; an online seminar.
A webinar is an online presentation, seminar or lecture that is delivered via online video software. This means you don't need to be physically present, you can follow a webinar from the comfort of your own home. Webinars are now used for many different purposes, for example for launching a new product/service, generating leads and building brand awareness. In a webinar, participants' faces are often not visible to the host. Interaction takes place via chat, polls or occasionally at the invitation of the (co-)host.
The structure
A typical webinar is structured as follows:
An introduction in which the host introduces the theme of the webinar and provides an overview of the webinar's agenda.
The presentation of the webinar's content. This can be anything from educational content to information about a new product/service, depending on the webinar's objective.
A call to action, whereby the host invites participants to perform a specific action to conclude the content-based webinar. This could be, for example, to purchase a product/service or to subscribe to a newsletter.
A Q&A session where the host will answer questions from the attendees to provide further clarity on the webinar's content and establish a personal connection with the attendees (which will lead to more conversions).
Tips for creating a webinar
Create an attractive design
A webinar naturally takes place exclusively online. This makes it harder to connect with your target audience than when you can literally look them in the eye. Therefore, make sure you use an attractive design for your presentation, which encourages participants to keep watching and can ensure your message gets across better. It is also a good idea to maximise the number of slides so that you have many changes per minute. It is actually best to choose a tool where you remain visible as the host, such as Prezi Video or mmhmm.
2. Take different devices into account
You'll probably be giving your presentation from your desktop. But that doesn't mean everyone will be watching it on a desktop too. So make sure your presentation is also easy to follow for people watching it on a different device, such as a tablet or smartphone. Otherwise, they might disengage before they see the value of your webinar.
3. Don't forget to do a test run
As your webinar will be taking place entirely online, it's wise to do a test run. It would be a shame if your message doesn't come across well due to technical problems, especially if you could have prevented them. So, give it a try to check all the technology, you'll most likely prevent people from dropping off early.
4. Encourage interaction
A webinar is not a form of presentation where you are purely broadcasting. In fact, a webinar is precisely a form of presentation where it's important to engage in interaction with the audience. Often, the audience is not visible during a webinar, so interaction allows you to gauge how the audience is reacting. You can still engage with your audience through the chat function, with polls, or with a co-host.
5. Find out what the best software tool is for you
There are various software tools that enable you to host a webinar. However, each tool has its own pros and cons. Therefore, ensure you choose a tool that suits you, your webinar, and your needs. The tool must align with the purpose of your webinar, so do your research thoroughly and opt for the tool that matches it best.
HANDY TOOLS FOR CREATING A WEBINAR
- Donald Taylor is the master of webinars
- A webinar is essentially an online seminar. The name is a portmanteau of "web" and "seminar". Webinars are conducted over the internet, allowing participants to join from anywhere in the world using a computer or mobile device. Here's how they generally work: * **Platform:** Webinars are hosted on specialised webinar platforms (like Zoom, GoToWebinar, Demio, etc.). These platforms provide the tools needed to host and attend. * **Host/Presenter:** One or more individuals act as presenters. They share their screen, present slides, speak directly to the audience, and may use video. * **Audience/Attendees:** Participants join the webinar remotely. They can typically see the presenter's screen share and/or video, and hear their audio. * **Interaction:** Depending on the platform and the host's setup, attendees can interact in various ways: * **Chat:** A text-based chat window where attendees can type questions or comments, and the host can respond. * **Q&A Feature:** A dedicated section for attendees to ask questions, which the host can then answer live or in writing. * **Polls:** Presenters can launch polls to gather audience opinions or test understanding. * **Hand Raising:** An icon that attendees can click to signal they have a question or want to speak. * **Microphone Access:** In smaller webinars, attendees might be given the option to unmute their microphones and speak directly. * **Content Delivery:** The core of a webinar is the presentation of information. This can be done through: * **Slide Presentations:** Using software like PowerPoint or Keynote. * **Screen Sharing:** Demonstrating software, websites, or documents. * **Live Video:** The presenter appearing on camera. * **Pre-recorded Videos:** Embedded within the webinar. * **Registration:** Typically, attendees need to register in advance for a webinar, providing their name and email address. This allows the host to manage attendees and send out joining links. * **Recording:** Most webinars are recorded, allowing those who couldn't attend live to watch it later, or for attendees to review the content. In essence, webinars allow for efficient and interactive knowledge sharing, training, or marketing presentations to a geographically dispersed audience. – Visme
- How to Conduct an Engaging Webinar – Speaking About Presenting
- Various software tools: Zoom, WebinarGeek, Webinar Jam, BigMarker
Presentation type 7.
Lecture/seminar
A type of presentation designed to convey a lot of knowledge/information is the lecture or seminar.
A lecture or a seminar is a presentation that covers educational material, often with the support of visual aids. Lectures and seminars are usually given to large groups, for example within educational institutions or large (academic) organisations. During these types of presentations, a specific topic is usually thoroughly highlighted and may sometimes include discussions on the relevant subject. The presenter is in these cases responsible for providing substantive knowledge and also for structuring and guiding the discussions that take place.
The structure
A typical lecture/seminar looks like this:
- A brief introduction to the presenter and an overview of the topics on the agenda.
- A substantive presentation in which knowledge is shared on the topic of the lecture/seminar
- A discussion moment where participants can discuss the relevant topic with each other
Tips for creating a lecture/seminar
1. Prepare well
When presenting complex subject matter, it is important that you understand it well yourself. It is also good to consider when you will be giving your presentation, as this can impact how best to engage your audience. A lecture on a Monday morning will be more readily absorbed by the audience than a lecture on a Friday afternoon, when their minds are already full of the week's information.
2. Create slides for the audience
The slides you use should serve your audience; they shouldn't be a crib sheet for you. Your audience has a lot of information to process during a lecture, so don't put too much on your slides. After all, you want them to be able to stay engaged. Therefore, opt to use visualisations and, above all, avoid unnecessary or irrelevant images and/or illustrations. We are communicators, not decorators: the presentation shouldn't simply look ‘nice’, but primarily serve your purpose.
3. Play to the target audience
Regardless, it's always good for any presentation to tailor it to the group you have in front of you and the space you're in. One group might be very lively, while another is very shy, so you can adapt to that. It’s also a good idea to adjust your material to your target audience, especially if you also provide an opportunity for discussion among participants. In that case, you don’t want to be rigidly stuck in your own framework.
4. Keep the planning of the gaps
Lectures/seminars with room for discussion can often run over. It's then up to you, as the presenter, to stick to the schedule you've set up. This way, you not only prevent yourself from running massively over time but also ensure a structured, productive, and valuable group discussion. Here too: preparation is key!
USEFUL TOOLS FOR CREATING A LECTURE/SEMINAR
- Ways to give an effective seminar Nature
- 16 Tips for Planning a Successful Seminar – Eventbrite
- Forget old-school education – blog
- 8 types of learning styles to know as a presenter – Visme
- How to lecture effectively University of Waterloo
Type 8 presenter.
Keynote presentation
Last but not least, we want to talk to you about the keynote presentation, a presentation often given by (professional) speakers who are used to addressing large audiences. A keynote presentation is therefore a real performance.
A keynote presentation is a motivational, informative speech that sets the theme for an event (such as an inspirational talk at an awards ceremony, conference, or graduation ceremony). Keynotes are often delivered by famous/well-known speakers, such as business leaders and celebrities. A keynote usually involves a lot of storytelling and revolves around a theme. We once conducted research into “what is a keynote presentation, where does the word come from, and what are the expectations?"
The structure
A typical keynote presentation consists of:
An introduction that presents the theme of the keynote and the speaker introduces themselves.
Discussing various stories that relate to the main theme of the keynote presentation, providing context and substantiating the main theme.
The conclusion of the keynote, which often consists of a summary of the main theme. This is where the most important lessons the audience can take away from the keynote are often outlined.
Tips for creating a keynote presentation
Focus on storytelling
A keynote has the most impact on the audience when you convey your message through a story. This not only ensures recognition but can also inspire/motivate them more readily. It can be one story, or it can be multiple stories that lead to the same message. If you base your presentation on this, you can create a powerful presence and ensure your message sticks with your audience.
2. Don't learn your presentation by heart
Naturally, you want to deliver a structured keynote and not improvise. However, memorising your presentation word-for-word will not enable you to create a unique, authentic experience. Therefore, absolutely do not memorise your presentation, but leave room for flexibility within your narrative. This will allow you to adapt to the audience you have in front of you.
3. Dare to be vulnerable
A good keynote speech connects with the audience on a personal level, and to achieve that, you need to be able to engage with them. By showing vulnerability, your audience is more likely to relate to your story and connect with you. Greater engagement means your message will resonate more strongly, so dare to be vulnerable and make it truly personal.
HANDY TOOLS FOR CREATING A KEYNOTE
Naturally, there are presentation types that we haven't discussed yet, but which certainly have a different format, duration, and target audience. You can think of these as:
- Forwarding presentation; This is a common presentation
- Training presentations
- Educational Presentations
- Conversational Presentation
Getting started with your presentation
Would you like to get started with one of these Presentations And could you use some help with that? Or do you want to create a presentation but are not sure in what format? Then get in touch with us to discuss the possibilities!
