Keys to a Successful Sales Presentation

Everyone has to make a sales presentation at one point in their life. Whether it’s for a class presentation, a job interview, or trying to sell a product or service almost everyone will have to present to a live audience. Obviously, it is very important to be a good public speaker. Whether you are trying to get a good grade in a class, get a new job, or make a sale; you only get one shot to impress your audience. In this article we are going to discuss some of the key characteristics of a successful sales presentation.

One of the first things we will discuss is to make sure you know your audience. It is very important to know who you are presenting in front of. You can tailor your message accordingly depending on your audience. Are you presenting in front of a class of students or a panel of directors to try and get a job? The content of your presentation should be altered accordingly.

Once you know who you are presenting in front of you should decide if you need to create a PowerPoint presentation to go along with your presentation. In most situations a PowerPoint can help you gain the attention of your audience and keep them focused on your slides. They are very professional tools and used in most sales presentations. Of course, you probably would not create a PowerPoint when applying for a new job.

Now, let’s talk about the actual presentation itself. First, make sure you are dressed professionally and come prepared. Make sure you have your index cards in hand and your PowerPoint presentation ready. You want to speak slowly and clearly so everyone can hear you. If you have anything to pass out to your audience do it at the end so they aren’t focused on it while you are presenting. Your content should be well structured including a beginning, middle, and end. If you are selling a product or service make sure to ask for the sale. Always allow time at the end of the presentation for the audience to ask questions.

As you can see there are many factors to consider when giving a sales presentation. Be professional, know your audience, and use a PowerPoint in most circumstances. Make sure your content is relevant to your topic and your audience. Keep in mind how long your presentation is and try to stay within a 15 minute timeframe. Most importantly, ask for the sale and make sure to leave enough time at the end for a question and answer session.