60+ Best Business & Corporate PowerPoint Templates 2024

Today we’re featuring a collection of elegant business and corporate PowerPoint templates you can use to create all kinds of professional presentations.

Having a creative and attractive slideshow is the key to delivering a more impactful presentation. You need to use the right template to achieve that goal.

Whether you’re making a slideshow for a startup, a corporate agency, or a multinational brand, this collection has both free and premium templates for all purposes.

How Does Unlimited PowerPoint Templates Sound?

Download thousands of PowerPoint templates, and many other design elements, with a monthly Envato Elements membership. It starts at $16 per month, and gives you unlimited access to a growing library of over 2,000,000 presentation templates, fonts, photos, graphics, and more.

Ciri Template

Ciri Template

Blendu

BeMind Minimal Template

Explore PowerPoint Templates

Aspect – Corporate & Business PowerPoint Template

Aspect - Corporate & Business PowerPoint Template

Aspect is a clean and minimal PowerPoint template designed specifically for making slideshows for corporate businesses and brands.

This PowerPoint template comes with 36 unique slide designs, all of which you can easily customize to change colors, fonts, and images. All of the graphics and shapes are also resizable as well.

Why This Is A Top Pick

Thanks to its drag and drop editing features and master slide layouts, you’ll be able to create many different kinds of business presentations using this PowerPoint template.

Company Profile PowerPoint Template

Company Profile PowerPoint Template

This is an easy-to-use PowerPoint template for creating professional business presentations. It comes with 25 unique slides in a widescreen format (16:9) geared towards showcasing your company profile. It features vibrant and colorful slides full of gradients. Of course, you can also edit and change the colors to your preference.

Brand Guideline PowerPoint Template

Brand Guideline PowerPoint Template

This is an excellent PowerPoint template designed for business and corporate presentations. With 25 unique slides in widescreen format, it’s user-friendly and adaptable for a variety of uses such as brand guidelines and pitch decks. It’s an innovative way to enhance the experience of your presentation.

Bizme – Business PowerPoint Template

Bizme - Business PowerPoint Template

Bizme is a versatile PowerPoint template ideal for various types of business presentations. From creative agencies to portfolios or start-ups, it can be easily edited to fit your requirements. It features 30 slides, resizable and editable images, free web fonts, and is based on Master Slides with a 16:9 widescreen ratio.

Creative Digital Agency Powerpoint Template

Creative Digital Agency Powerpoint Template

This creative PowerPoint template can revolutionize your business presentations. It’s specially designed for showcasing creative and effective branding strategies. With 20 professional slides, a vibrant color scheme, and an organized structure including master slides and image placeholders, it makes conveying your innovative marketing ideas a breeze.

Silvio – Brand Strategy Powerpoint Template

Silvio - Brand Strategy Powerpoint Template

Silvio is a minimalist PowerPoint template designed to help businesses establish their values, personality, and positioning. Ideal for online businesses such as designers, e-commerce, fashion, bloggers, and more. Features 20 unique, easily editable, multipurpose slides based on Master slides with a widescreen ratio.

Digital Marketing Business PowerPoint Template

Digital Marketing Business PowerPoint Template

This is a versatile PowerPoint template, perfect for diverse presentations ranging from business, creative agency profiles, and startup pitches to personal portfolios. This template, consisting of 30 slides in three color options, features resizable and editable graphics, 16:9 wide screen ratio, and user-friendly picture placeholders.

Desktop – Pitch Deck Business PowerPoint Template

Desktop - Pitch Deck Business PowerPoint Template

This PowerPoint template is ideal for corporate presentations. It boasts a modern, sleek design, perfect for agencies, freelancers, and professionals. It comes with 30+ unique slides, access to 4000+ icons, editable graphics, and much more.

Business Innovation PowerPoint Template

Business Innovation PowerPoint Template

This PowerPoint template offers a unique platform for enhancing your business presentations. With 25 distinct slides and easy-to-use functionality, you can formulate an immersive presentation experience, suitable for company profiles or various other uses.

Globalize – Business PowerPoint Template

Globalize - Business PowerPoint Template

Globalize is a PowerPoint template with a professional look. It’s ideal for diverse purposes such as various corporate and business presentations, digital marketing, tech startups, or personal portfolios. The package includes 24 original slides, over 500 icons, easily resizable and editable graphics all based on Master Slides.

Joint – Business Powerpoint Template

Joint - Business Powerpoint Template

Joint is a modern, creative PowerPoint template perfect for business-related slideshows. It’s versatile and fits startups, corporate presentations, or multipurpose business projects. Extremely user-friendly, you can effortlessly adjust slide layout, color scheme, and various elements.

Fifty-Two – Modern Business PowerPoint Template

Fifty-Two Modern Business PowerPoint Template

Fifty-Two is a modern PowerPoint template that comes with a set of multipurpose slide layouts. You can use it to make all kinds of presentations, including business and corporate slideshows. Each slide can be easily customized to your preference.

Mecta – Minimal Digital Marketing Business Presentation

Mecta - Minimal Digital Marketing Business Presentation

Mecta is a minimal PowerPoint template with a clean slide design. This template is ideal for digital marketing and creative agencies for designing presentations to showcase projects. The template includes 30 unique slides.

Corporate Business Plan PowerPoint Presentation

Corporate Business Plan PowerPoint Presentation

This is one of the best business PowerPoint templates you’ll find on our list. It not only comes with a beautiful design but also includes some of the most useful slide layouts. The template has everything you need to design corporate business plan presentations.

Idea Dashboards PowerPoint Presentation Template

Idea Dashboards PowerPoint Presentation Template

Every business marketing and sales meeting involves dashboards. They are essential for showcasing stats and data. With this PowerPoint template, you’ll have 31 different dashboard slides in 5 color schemes to choose from.

Monthly Sales Meeting Free Business PowerPoint Template

Monthly Sales Meeting Free PowerPoint Template

You can download this PowerPoint template for free to make slideshows for monthly sales meetings. The template includes 26 unique slides with beautiful gradient colors and shapes. It’s available in Google Slides format too.

Table Slide – Business Infographic PowerPoint Template

Table Slide - Business Infographic PowerPoint Template

With 25 unique table slide layouts to choose from, this PowerPoint template will allow you to design the perfect charts and tables to showcase data in your presentations. Each slide also comes in light and dark color themes.

Brianna – Creative Business PowerPoint Template

Brianna - Creative Business PowerPoint Template

This PowerPoint template is most suitable for making business presentations for fashion and lifestyle brands. It has slides featuring big image placeholders to add more visuals to your slideshow. There are 39 different slides in this template.

Clean Corporate Business Plan Presentation Template

Clean Corproate Business Plan Presentation Template

The clean and simple slide design of this template will help you make professional-looking corporate business presentations with ease. It comes with many different types of slide designs including ones for SWOT analysis, revenue model, AIDA model, and more.

Pitch Deck Business PowerPoint Template

Pitch Deck Business PowerPoint Template

Design the perfect pitch deck to win over your investors and employers with this pitch deck template. The template has a modern design across 24 stylish slide layouts. Each slide includes editable vector graphics, image placeholders, and master slides.

Travel & Tourism Agency Free PowerPoint Template

Travel & Tourism Agency Free PowerPoint Template

This free PowerPoint template will help you design more attractive presentations to promote your travel or tourism agency. There are 38 unique slides in this template that you can fully customize to change colors, fonts, and images.

Business Proposal PowerPoint Template

Business Proposal PowerPoint Template

A clean and professional design is the most important aspect of a winning business proposal presentation. And this template has both elements. It’s the perfect PPT for making project proposals for various types of projects. It includes 30 unique slide layouts with editable shapes, colors, fonts, and elements.

Raunds – Company Profile PowerPoint Presentation

Raunds - Company Profile PowerPoint Presentation

If you’re looking for a unique PowerPoint template to create a company profile that makes your business stand out, this template is made just for you. It comes with 30 fully customizable slide designs. Each slide has editable vector graphics, shapes, Google Fonts, and so much more.

PLUSS – Elevator Pitch PowerPoint Template

PLUSS - Elevator Pitch PowerPoint Template

This is the perfect PowerPoint template for making a pitch deck to introduce your startup or brand to investors. It’s also ideal for making presentations for events and conferences. The template includes 32 slide layouts with master slide designs.

Orange & Black Company Profile PowerPoint Template

Orange & Black Company Profile PowerPoint Template

Just as the name suggests, this PowerPoint template uses a mix of orange and black colors quite brilliantly to create a stylish slide theme that’s perfect for modern business presentations. It has 30 slides featuring 400 icons, editable vector graphics, charts, and infographics.

Free Elegant Lines Pitch Deck PPT Template

Free Elegant Lines Pitch Deck PPT

Grab this free PowerPoint business template to make simple and minimalist pitch decks to present your startup ideas. You can choose from 30 different slides to create a slide deck that effectively highlights content above all else.

Kita – Modern Business PowerPoint Template

Kita - Business PowerPoint Template

If you’re looking for a PowerPoint template with a modern design to create more relevant and attractive presentations for your business, this template is for you. It comes with 30 unique slides featuring master slide layouts, editable graphics, and image placeholders.

Dilling Business – Corporate PowerPoint Template

Dilling Business - Corporate PowerPoint Template

Dilling is a PowerPoint template made for modern businesses and corporate agencies. The template features a set of 30 unique slides with stylishly minimal layouts. Each slide contains easily editable designs with vector shapes, icons, and free fonts.

Bila Business – Creative PowerPoint Template

Bila Business - Creative Powerpoint Template

This creative PowerPoint template is perfect for creating presentations for startups and modern corporate businesses. The template comes with 30 slides featuring a very unique style of design. It will surely help your business and brand stand out from the crowd.

Forade – Tech Business PowerPoint Template

Forade - Tech Business Powerpoint Template

Working on a presentation for a tech startup or a business? Then use this PowerPoint template to create a professional presentation without an effort. The template includes a fully customizable design with image placeholders, transition effects, and more.

Modern Corporate PowerPoint Template

corporate powerpoint

Here we have a modern, professional PowerPoint template for corporate business needs. It features a massive collection of more than 150 slides, 5 pre-made color schemes, hand-crafted infographics, and pixel-perfect illustrations.

Causier – Business PowerPoint Template

corporate powerpoint

Bold and beautiful, Causier is a template that can be put to use for a wide range of professional business applications. It features 40 master slide layouts, resizable and editable graphics, a drag and drop image placeholder, and powerful use of typography that is sure to make an impression.

Free Pitch Deck PowerPoint Template

corporate powerpoint

Next up we have a pitch deck template for PowerPoint that will surely help you bring your A-game to the table and make the clients really happy. It consists of 100 minimal, yet elegant slides that can be fully customized to your heart’s content.

Rouge – Corporate PowerPoint Template

corporate powerpoint

Check out Rouge, a clean, modern PowerPoint format that will take your upcoming presentation to a whole new level, and leave the investors in awe of your professionalism. It comes with 50 custom slides, 3D vector infographics, and easy-to-change colors.

Pixxel – Business PowerPoint Template

corporate powerpoint

Pixxel is a multipurpose, uncluttered PowerPoint template purpose-built to cater to virtually any corporate or industry under the sun. The best part is that it’s available for free download. Get your hands on it now!

Free Business Proposal PowerPoint Template

Free Business Proposal PowerPoint Template

This is a free PowerPoint template you can use to design professional business proposal presentations. The template includes lots of vector elements, icons, and comes with 20 unique slide designs.

Flowing Co – Business PowerPoint Template

Flowing Co - Business Powerpoint Template

A PowerPoint template with a modern design. This template is perfect for designing presentations for agencies and lifestyle brands. It comes with 15 unique slide layouts featuring master slide layouts, editable graphics, and easily editable image placeholders.

Light Color – Creative PowerPoint Template

Light Color - Creative Powerpoint Template

This colorful PowerPoint template features 30 unique slide layouts and they are available in 5 different color schemes. You can use it to create presentations for creative agencies and design portfolios. Each slide in the template is fully customizable.

Pushing – Minimal Corporate PowerPoint Template

Pushing - Minimal Corporate Powerpoint Template

Use this minimal and clean PowerPoint template to design professional presentations for corporations and businesses. The clean layout of the slides will help get more attention to your content. The template features 20 unique and customizable slide layouts.

Flocue Business – SWOT PowerPoint Presentation

Flocue Business SWOT PowerPoint Presentation

This beautiful and modern PowerPoint template is designed just for corporate and small businesses, mainly for showcasing the company SWOT analysis. Template includes 120 unique slides in 4 different color schemes.

Buildstu – Business PowerPoint Template

Buildstu - Business Powerpoint Template

Buildstu is a creative and minimal PowerPoint template featuring more than 30 unique slides you can use to design professional and business presentations. The template also features master slides and vector icon pack.

Wynter – Modern Business PowerPoint Template

Wynter - Modern Business PowerPoint Template

Wynter is a modern PowerPoint template most suitable for making portfolio and business presentations for agencies and companies. The template includes 38 unique slides with master slide layouts and editable vector graphics.

Klai Business – Creative PowerPoint Template

Klai Business - Creative Powerpoint Template

This beautifully minimalist PowerPoint template features 30 unique slide layouts. You can use it to create presentations for modern businesses and brands. It also includes easily editable master slide layouts as well as an icon pack.

Business Overview – Corporate PowerPoint Template

Business Overview - Corporate Powerpoint Template

Another professional PowerPoint template designed for making presentations for showcasing businesses, projects, and proposals. This template includes 30 unique slides that are fully customizable and comes with image placeholders for drag and drop editing as well.

Free Business Plan PowerPoint Template

Free Business Plan PowerPoint Template

Craft a simple yet effective business plan presentations using this free PowerPoint template. It includes more than 300 slides filled with infographics, graphs, vector graphics, and more.

Conference – Free Pitch Deck PowerPoint Template

Conference - Free Pitch Deck PowerPoint Template

Conference is a free PowerPoint template that features a set of slides designed for crafting pitch decks for presenting ideas, startups, and businesses to audiences. The template includes many vector graphics and elements as well.

Emira – Creative Company PowerPoint Template

Emira - Creative Company PowerPoint Template

Emira is a modern business and corporate company PowerPoint template featuring 25 unique slide design. It also lets you choose from 5 different premade color schemes as well. You can also create your own slides using its master slide layouts as well.

Minola Business – Creative PowerPoint Template

Minola Business - Creative Powerpoint Template

Minola Business PowerPoint template features a highly professional design that allows you to create a presentation that stands out from the crowd. The template lets you choose from 30 unique slide layouts filled with vector shapes and graphics.

IDEA – Business Presentation PowerPoint Template

IDEA - Business Presentation Template

Featuring an elegant dark color theme, this creative PowerPoint template is ideal for making slideshows for creative agency, business, and brand presentations. The template comes with 45 unique slide layouts with editable vector icons and shapes.

Bring N Co – Corporate PowerPoint Template

Bring N Co - Corporate Powerpoint Template

This minimalist PowerPoint template is most suitable for crafting presentations for corporate brands and businesses. It includes a set of 70 professionally designed slides you can easily customize to your preference.

Altezza – Free Business PowerPoint Template

Altezza - Free Business PowerPoint Template

Altezza is a free PowerPoint template that includes 11 unique slide designs for crafting minimal and elegant business presentations. It also features master slide layouts and editable graphics.

Epsilon – Free Corporate PowerPoint Template

Epsilon - Free Corporate PowerPoint Template

Epsilon is a complete free PowerPoint template you can use to create both personal and commercial presentations. The template comes with dozens of slides that include infographics, charts, graphs, and much more.

Business Proposal – Creative PowerPoint Presentation

Business Proposal - Creative PowerPoint Presentation

Are you designing a slideshow to present a new business or a project proposal? Then this PowerPoint template will help you get the job done. This template features 20 unique slides designed for making effective business proposal presentations.

Business Illustration – Modern Colorful PowerPoint Template

Business Illustration - Modern Colorful PowerPoint Template

This colorful and creative PowerPoint template is the perfect choice for designing slideshows for modern business and creative agency presentations. The template comes with 15 unique slides featuring lots of attractive illustrations. You can easily edit the graphics to your preference as well.

Business Marketing – PowerPoint Presentation Template

Business Marketing - PowerPoint Presentation Template

You can create more attractive and impactful business presentations using this modern PowerPoint template which includes 30 unique slide designs. The template is easily customizable and includes slide designs for all kinds of presentations.

Business Plan – Corporate Agency Powerpoint Template

Business Plan - Corporate Agency Powerpoint Template

Creating the perfect slideshow to present a business plan takes a lot of work. This is a great PowerPoint template that will help you avoid all that work. It includes a set of creative slides filled with editable graphics, master slides, and image placeholders for easier editing.

Business – Powerpoint Presentation Template

Business - Powerpoint Presentation Template

This elegant PowerPoint template comes with 50 unique slide designs you can use to create all kinds of business presentations. The slides are also available in 10 different premade color schemes. It’s a must-have template for all designers and businesses.

Blue Business – Corporate PowerPoint Template

Blue Business - Corporate PowerPoint Template

Blue Business is a clean and simple PowerPoint template designed for making presentations for corporate businesses and agencies. The template lets you choose from 28 unique slide designs to craft highly professional presentations for various business purposes.

Business Plan – Free PowerPoint Template

Business Plan - Free PowerPoint Template

This minimalist and elegant PowerPoint template is perfect for crafting a slideshow to present your business plans and proposals. The template includes 20 unique slides with easily editable designs.

Project Proposal – Free PowerPoint Presentation Template

Project Proposal - Free PowerPoint Presentation Template

Another creative free PowerPoint template featuring professional slide designs. It comes with more than 20 unique slides with master slide layouts, animations, and image placeholders.

For more high-quality templates, check out our best animated PowerPoint templates collection.

Business presentation templates

Create engaging business presentations in minutes with these flexible templates — they are free to use and extremely easy to customize.

Template preview image

Back Home

  • Search Search Search …

Free Business Templates for PowerPoint and Google Slides

Make your business presentations stand out with these free templates. Perfect for your next pitch, data analysis and ideas.

Download them to use with PowerPoint or edit them in Google Slides and start creating!

business presentation illustration

Formal B&W free PowerPoint Template and Google Slides Theme Ever feel like you just need a clean slate to get your ideas down?  This simple black and white presentation template is perfect for those times.  With its classic look, it won’t distract from your content,  allowing you to focus on structuring your thoughts […]

Simple and Formal Black & White free presentation template.

business presentation illustration

Looking to create a modern and engaging marketing presentation? Check out this free flat design marketing template for PowerPoint and Google Slides! This template utilizes a flat and clean aesthetic with geometric shapes and an orange and purple color scheme. It’s perfect for grabbing your audience’s attention and presenting your […]

Flat design Marketing Analysis template, free for PPT and Google Slides.

business presentation illustration

Launching a new business is exciting! But crafting the perfect introduction to potential customers can take time. This pre-designed template can help you quickly showcase your new venture.  This template is easy to customize with your information, logos and images, allowing you to create a professional brochure in no time. […]

Business Brochure / School Newsletter free template for Google Slides and PPT.

business presentation illustration

Make a lasting impression on your audience with this free and professional PowerPoint template and Google Slides theme. This template has a clean and modern design and features a peach color accent that you can modify easily to match your brand colors or preferences. Whether you’re preparing for a captivating […]

Formal peach free ppt template and Google Slides theme.

business presentation illustration

Nail your next business pitch without the design fuss! Grab attention with this sleek, minimalist theme for PowerPoint and Google Slides. Let your content shine with clean layouts and minimal distractions. With this free template you can focus on the message: Highlight key points, data, and visuals without overwhelming your audience. A […]

Pitch with Confidence: Free minimalist theme for a powerful business presentation.

business presentation illustration

Elevate Your Presentations with Earthy Elegance and Sophistication with this free PowerPoint Template and Google Slides Theme. Beth is a stunning free template for Google Slides and PowerPoint, featuring a soothing palette of earthy tones, organic shapes, and leaves. The template is designed to exude a sense of natural elegance […]

Beth, elegant and versatile free template.

business presentation illustration

A free PowerPoint and Google Slides template with retro lines and a grunge background.  Rigel is a simple yet versatile PowerPoint and Google Slides template that is perfect for your next professional presentation. The template features a modern blue and green color scheme that can be easily customized to match […]

Rigel, retro lines free template.

business presentation illustration

Simple and Professional free PowerPoint Template and Google Slides Theme This simple and professional template is the definition of minimalism. If what you are looking for is simplicity and just a touch of color, this is the perfect presentation template whether if you are a PowerPoint user or a Google […]

Simple & Professional free powerpoint and google slides template.

business presentation illustration

My Portfolio free PowerPoint Template and Google Slides Theme A simple and elegant template to present your portfolio or business idea in a chic way. It has many placeholders for images to showcase your products and its design features simple lines and a few stars. Download it today and conquer […]

My Portfolio, free Google Slides and PowerPoint template.

business presentation illustration

Free PowerPoint template and Google Slides theme. Non linear interactive business presentation theme. This template can be used for a business presentation, to prepare a lesson with different chapters or even as a weekly planner renaming each section as days of the week. To use it for a business presentation, […]

Formal presentation template with interactive menu.

business presentation illustration

Free PowerPoint template and Google Slides theme. Free colorful presentation template. Bauhaus is perfect for introducing multiple presenters right from the start. Select the pictures on the first slide and replace them for yours and your colleagues. Use a tool such as remove. bg to remove their background and then […]

Bauhaus, multiple presenters template.

business presentation illustration

Free PowerPoint template and Google Slides theme. Free presentation theme for webinars or professional developments sessions. If you are preparing your next webinar or if you are planning an online PD session, Camille free template for Google Slides or PowerPoint is a fantastic option. Camille is simple, a bit formal, […]

Camille, PD presentation template.

Norris Free Template for Google Slides or PowerPoint Presentations

Free Template for PowerPoint and Google Slides Presentations Norris Well, this one is no Chuck, but I bet it can cause the same impact! Perfect for presentations about technology, cybersecurity, cloud computing, servers or communications. If you need the accent color to match your brand, or if you just want to […]

Norris Free Template for Google Slides or PowerPoint Presentations

Hobart Free Formal Template for Google Slides or PowerPoint Presentations

Free Template for PowerPoint or Google Slides Presentations Hobart Hobart free template for Google Slides or PowerPoint has a clean design, perfect for your next professional presentation. Get your slides ready in no time and successfully communicate your message in your next meeting. Colors can be modified to match your brand […]

Hobart Free Formal Template for Google Slides or PowerPoint Presentations

business presentation illustration

Free Template for PowerPoint and Google Slides Presentations Lloyd Lloyd is inspired by editorial design and it’s perfect for a business presentation or your next conference. We chose blue because it produces a calming effect and it’s often associated with depth and stability. It symbolizes trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence and […]

Lloyd Free Presentation template for Google Slides or PowerPoint

Home PowerPoint Templates Business PowerPoint Templates

Business PowerPoint Templates for Presentations

Download Business PowerPoint Templates , diagrams and slide designs for making business presentations related to Marketing, Finance, Strategy and more.

Our business themed templates cater for presenter leads like no one else. Whether you need to make a BCG Matrix. SWOT analysis, data analysis curve, a complex business diagram or just a nice presentation to impress your audience, we have a template for you.

Our Business PowerPoint Templates include slide designs that have been made for specific types of business presentation topics, as well as template designs that are simple enough to accommodate any type of business presentation topic.

Featured Templates

Editable Business Model Canvas PowerPoint Template

Editable Business Model Canvas PowerPoint Template

Business Plan PowerPoint Templates

Business Plan PowerPoint Templates

Business Case Study PowerPoint Template

Business Case Study PowerPoint Template

Business Review PowerPoint Template

Business Review PowerPoint Template

Investment Opportunity Template for Presentation

Investment Opportunity PowerPoint Template

Equity Investment Presentation Template Slide

Equity Investment PowerPoint Template

Investment Pitch Book Template for PowerPoint

Investment Pitch Book PowerPoint Template

Editable Growth Strategy Investment PPT Template

Growth Strategy Investment PowerPoint Template

Executive Project Overview Slide Deck

Executive Project Overview PowerPoint Template

Editable Strategic Tactical Pyramid PPT Template

Strategic Tactical Pyramid PowerPoint Template

Creative Omnichannel Strategy Presentation Template Title Slide

Omnichannel Strategy PowerPoint Template

Porter's Five Forces Model Template for Presentation

Porter’s Five Forces Model Template for PowerPoint

Year In Review PPT Slide

Year in Review PowerPoint Template

Kepner Tregoe Presentation Template

Kepner Tregoe PowerPoint Template

Editable Business Case Study PPT Template

Business Case Study Presentation Template

Strategy Icons Collection Slide for Presentations

Strategy Icons for PowerPoint Presentations

A business is an organization where people collaborate to consistently work on tasks that drive them to a set goal. Businesses are meant to solve consumers’ immediate needs by selling products or rendering services, and businesses profit from the products and services it provides. The Business Powerpoint Templates are ready-made designs created to depict Business, Finance, Strategy, Analysis, etc.

Each template is designed with different PowerPoint elements and serves a unique purpose. You can apply them to different situations in the business presentations, and alternatively, you can use the Company Presentation Template. Business Slides vary depending on the situation you are considering using them for, but we have templates suitable for all business tasks.

Choose from our creatively designed Business PPT Template to help you save time, energy, and resources in your next presentation. Using any of these templates makes your business presentation visually appealing and communicates efficiently to your audience without hassle. They are all downloadable and 100% editable. Browse through our collection of Business Presentation Templates to select the one suitable for your next presentation. You can try out the Go To Market Strategy Template for PowerPoint that demonstrates an extensive account of your company’s marketing strategy. Organizations use it to introduce an improved value proposition to the targeted market segment.

In addition, our Business Presentation PowerPoint Templates are compatible with both Mac and Windows. They are also compatible with Keynote, Office365, and Google Slides. These templates are also available in various colors, styles, fonts, and font sizes, making them one-of-a-kind. The colors, icons, shapes, vector images, and other elements used for these Slides have been carefully chosen. You can change the color and edit the placeholder texts to your preference. It personalizes the slides, and your audience gets more connected.

How to make a captivating Business Presentation Template?

  • Make a plan – create an outline that includes the main points and pieces of evidence you want to get across.
  • Choose a slide deck – Select a slide deck that matches the tone of your presentation: the formality of your workplace, the content you are presenting, and your brand.
  • Lead with a captivating and engaging story.
  • Add catchy verbal signposts; it can be a tagline, etc.
  • Rely on images and charts rather than text and tables.
  • Incorporate audience interaction.
  • Hold a few non-essential data points and end with a Question and Answer.

What are the advantages of using Company Presentation Templates?

PowerPoint backgrounds templates are extremely useful in business:

  • They help maintain the company’s image in the eyes of the general public and your client base.
  • It enables you to highlight the positive aspects of your company logically.
  • It also lends credibility to your presentation, especially if you use graphs and charts to demonstrate your company’s financial success. It aids in maintaining a distinct yet consistent presentation style.
  • It also keeps a company from becoming monotonous.

What should a business presentation include?

The following are the steps to creating a powerful company presentation:

  • Discuss the company.
  • Define the firm’s services.
  • Describe the management and employees.
  • Provide examples of previous projects.
  • Provide feedback and testimonials.
  • Keep it brief.
  • Make use of a professional design.
  • Be enthusiastic.

How do you make a good business presentation on PowerPoint?

Guidelines for creating powerful Business PowerPoint Presentations

  • Create a consistent and simple design template with the slide master feature.
  • Reduce the number of words on each screen and simplify it.
  • Avoid using all capital letters and limiting punctuation.
  • Text and background should be in contrasting colors.

Download Unlimited Content

Our annual unlimited plan let you download unlimited content from slidemodel. save hours of manual work and use awesome slide designs in your next presentation..

business presentation illustration

3D Illustrations

  • View all plugins

Smart Tools

Illustration Kit Editor

  • 3D Illustrations
  • Lottie Animations
  • Illustrations
  • Illustration Kits

192,794 Business Presentation Illustrations

Browse & download free and premium 192,794 business presentation illustrations for web or mobile (ios and android) design, marketing, or developer projects. these royalty-free high-quality business presentation vector illustrations are available in svg, png, eps, ai, or jpg and are available as individual or illustration packs. you can also customise them to match your brand and color palette don’t forget to check out our exclusive , popular , latest , and featured illustrations too don’t forget to check out our business presentation 3d illustrations,  business presentation animations,  business presentation icons too..

  • Illustration Kits NEW

Color Palette

  • Business Management
  • Infographics
  • Business Tour
  • Indian Businesses
  • Communication
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Design Shapes
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Entertainment
  • Augmented Reality (AR)
  • Data Security
  • Data Communication
  • Device Security
  • Floating Market
  • Industrial Building
  • Agriculture
  • Car Service

Business Illustrations

Finance illustrations, marketing illustrations, money illustrations, businessman illustrations, investment illustrations, business people illustrations, people illustrations, office illustrations, management illustrations, communication illustrations, business person illustrations, analytics illustrations, person illustrations, employee illustrations, analysis illustrations, graph illustrations, report illustrations, statistics illustrations, chart illustrations, character illustrations, growth illustrations, currency illustrations, technology illustrations, work illustrations, business team illustrations, male illustrations, team illustrations, infographic illustrations, financial illustrations, explore business presentation illustration packs.

Business presentation  Illustration

Browse by Categories

business presentation illustration

  • Browse More

Access the world's largest Design Ecosystem: Assets, Integrations, and Motion.

Sales banner

  • analysis illustration
  • wrinkle illustration svg
  • karaoke illustrations
  • illustration canteen
  • minecraft illustrations free
  • illustration knock
  • illustrations for backhoe
  • stress-relieving images
  • brotherhood illustration free download
  • business agreement images

Unsupported browser

This site was designed for modern browsers and tested with Internet Explorer version 10 and later.

It may not look or work correctly on your browser.

  • Presentations
  • Public Speaking

The Complete Guide to Making Great Business Presentations in 2024

Laura Spencer

Introduction

Are you ready to consume a comprehensive treasure trove of the best presentation ideas and techniques for 2024? 

This ultimate guide is over 16 thousand words with nine full chapters of helpful and up-to-date information. 

It takes you through the complete presentation process from start to end. It includes good PowerPoint presentation examples you can easily follow.

It's packed with comprehensive easy-to-implement steps on making powerful business presentations quickly. It includes expert tips, great presentation design examples, actionable takeaways, and more. 

Download a FREE PDF Copy of Our New eBook on Making Great Business Presentations in 2024

Making great business presentations free PDF ebook

Be sure to bookmark this page now, so you can quickly return to this epic business presentation guide.  Or   download this FREE guide  as a convenient 69 page eBook PDF with quick-action checklist (for easy offline use).

Table of Contents

Learn how to build a powerful business presentation

Jump ahead to any part of this tutorial guide from this Table of Contents. Start learning the specifics on how to make a great business presentation in 2024:

  • How to Make a Great (Highly Effective) Business Presentation  
  • How to Prevent 18 Common Business Presentation Mistakes (Fails)  
  • 25+ Best Business Presentation Tips From the Experts (For Great Results in 2024)
  • How to Plan (+Write) a Powerful Business Presentation Quickly
  • How to Choose the Best Business Presentation Software for 2024 (+Quick Start Tips)
  • How to Design a Killer Business Presentation Like a Creative Professional
  • Get Maximum Audience Impact: Give (Deliver) Great Business Presentations
  • 7 Creative Ideas That’ll Add Extra Oomph to Any Business Presentation
  • 2024 Business Presentation Checklist: To Prepare for Your Next Business Presentation (Step by Step)

Conclusion: Take Action & Make a Great Presentation (Start Now!)

Chapter 1. how to make a great (highly effective) business presentation.

How to Make an Effective Business Presentation

Your business presentation represents an investment. You've invested time in creating it, and you'll invest even more time in giving it. That's why you want to get it right.

In this guide, you'll learn tips and techniques that'll help you give a successful business presentation—a presentation that people remember and that changes minds.

We've gathered together a comprehensive set of business presentation tips and techniques you can really use. Learn from the experts how to make a great presentation. Study these good PowerPoint presentation examples. Follow the step-by-step instructions and you can put together an effective presentation fast. 

In this guide, you'll learn how to:

  • Prevent Common Presentation Mistakes.  Learn how to avoid common mistakes that could derail your presentation. If you're new to giving presentations, or if you haven't given a presentation in a while, you'll want to review this section carefully before you start working on your next presentation.
  • Plan and Write an Effective Presentation . If you're one of those people who struggle to write the content for your presentation, this is for you. We'll take you through the writing process from finding the right topic to creating a written presentation. All you need to do is follow these seven simple steps.
  • Design a Presentation With Impact. Discover the techniques that creative professionals use to build truly eye-catching slides that your audience will remember long after your presentation. Learn how layout, font choice, and color impact how your presentation is received. We'll also discuss how to properly use graphics, media, and other special effects in a business presentation.
  • Deliver Your Business Presentation Powerfully . If giving a business presentation is the part you dread the most, you're not alone. We've got you covered. The public speaking hacks you'll learn will help you give your next presentation ( and future business presentations too ) with confidence.
  • Add Those Creative Presentation Extras ( Oomph ) . Don't miss this special section that's chock full of interesting ways to help your presentation stand out. The information here is especially useful if your audience will be listening to more than one presentation, such as at a business conference.  

This guide is designed so that you can work throughout from Chapter 1 to Chapter 9 for complete business presentation training. Or, use the jump links in the Table of Contents to go directly to an area you're struggling with.

Download this FREE guide now  as a convenient  69 page eBook PDF with quick-action checklist. You can use this handy PDF set  even when you're not connected to the internet.

Making great business presentations ebook download free

Chapter 2. How to Prevent 18 Common Business Presentation Mistakes (Fails)

Prevent Common Business Presentation Mistakes

Nothing’s worse than a presentation that fails. It’s embarrassing and, even worse, it can undermine your message and damage your business brand.

The question is: How can you prevent your business presentation from failing?

We’ll show you exactly what to do to sidestep the most common presentation mistakes. Read this chapter to learn what to do ( and not do ) to avoid a hard fail:

1.  No Research

For a successful presentation, you’ve got to do your homework. Planning and research make the difference between a great business presentation and a bad one.

Your audience can tell if you’re not current on the relevant facts. Not being familiar with your topic undermines your credibility.

Try This: Before you start writing your business presentation, study for it as you would a test. Identify two to three key sources of information. Read each and take notes. Highlight key facts and points.

2.  Reading Your Speech

Too many speakers read their presentation directly from their speaker notes or, even worse, from index cards. Reading a presentation leads to an unnatural speaking style and interferes with your audience rapport.

Try This: Practice your speech so you can say it without looking at your speaker notes. That way you can recall it from memory and deliver naturally. ( It’s okay to have your speaker notes on hand in case you get stuck though .)

3.  Not Enough Practice     

Practice makes the difference between a so-so business presentation and a great business presentation. Too many business professionals are tempted to skip the practice because they're too busy. Don't make this mistake! 

Fortunately, there are ways to work practice into your busy schedule.

Try This : A week before your business presentation, start practicing your speech three times a day. Practice first thing in the morning, once at lunch, and again in the evening. Give at least one of those speeches in front of a friend or family member who can provide constructive criticism.

We'll share more techniques about how to do a good job presenting your presentation later. In the meantime, learn more about how to effectively practice your speech in this tutorial:

business presentation illustration

4.  Going Over Your Time

For most presentations, you’ve got a set amount of time to give your speech. Going over your assigned time is annoying for your audience. It’s also upsetting for the speaker who comes after you and doesn’t have enough time to finish.

One of the most common causes of going over your allotted time is trying to cover material that’s not really related to your core message.

Try This : Unleash your inner editor. Read through your presentation with a critical eye. Delete anything that’s not part of your core message.

5.  Bad Body Language

When you give your presentation, you’re speaking with your words. But there’s another way you’re communicating to your audience that you may not even be aware of.

A UCLA study  shows that what you say through your body language is as important as the actual words you say. Research shows that over half of your message is conveyed through non-verbal communication. 

A stiff, nervous posture or awkward, nervous gestures can signal that you’re not confident about what you’re saying.

good body language is important

Try This : Smile during your speech. Smiling does more than just make you look friendly. According to Psychology Today , smiling releases neurotransmitters that’ll help you relax. The more relaxed you are, the more natural your body language will be.

6.  Failure to Make Eye Contact

Speakers who make regular eye contact with audience members are perceived as being more trustworthy.

Unfortunately, many speakers are too nervous and forget to make eye contact . Or they’re too shy.

Try This : Does the idea of looking at someone in the audience make you nervous? No worries. This trick will get you through. Choose three points on the wall behind the audience. Take turns looking briefly at each point as you speak.

7.  Lack of Conviction

If you don’t believe or care about what you’re talking about, how do you expect to convince your audience that it’s important?

When it comes to credibility, sincerity and conviction are important.  Make sure that you're confident about the truth and importance of your information.

Try This: It’s time to get honest. Review your presentation carefully and ask yourself: " Do I really care about this?" If your answer is “ no ,” you’re presenting the wrong message.

8.  Bad Design  

A poor presentation design is just as distracting as poor delivery. You don't want your audience spending so much time focusing on how awful, cluttered, or sloppy your presentation looks that they don't hear what you’ve got to say.

How your presentation looks is important. It should appear polished and professional—a look you can’t easily get from free presentation templates.

Try This : Check out the great professional presentation templates available on Envato Elements and GraphicRiver . Each template is carefully created by a professional designer to take advantage of the latest presentation design tools and trends.

9.  Not Enough Visuals

According to BrainRules by John Medina, you’re far more likely to remember information presented with a graphic or photo.  After three days, most listeners only retain about 10% of what they’ve heard. But when a visual is added, the percentage of information retained increases dramatically—to 65%.

Visuals are important

Try This : When you can use an image (such as a graph, chart, or photo), do it. If you’re short on professional images, Envato Elements is a good source for professional photos  and other types of high-quality  graphics .

10. Too Much Text on a Slide

The fewer words you use, the better. Your audience isn’t going to read (or remember) long blocks of text. So, keep it brief.

What's even worse: presenters often make their text smaller to get more on a slide—making the slide even less readable. You want to avoid this in your presentation slides. 

For a problem example of what I mean, take a look at this slide below:

Slide Example With Too Much Text

Note: This presentation slide example uses  The X Note – PowerPoint Template  from Envato Elements. (You can readily cut the text down in this slide.)

Try This: Keep the total number of words per slide to under 25. If there are more than 25 words, edit the text until you get the number of words on the slide down below 25.

11. Slide Text Too Small to Read

How small is too small? Most experts agree that body text of less than a 24-point font for a business presentation is too small to read.

Look at the difference in readability in the two PowerPoint presentation examples below. Now imagine looking at those slides from across a crowded room.

presentation example - font size small

Take a look at the problem presentation slide above. The headings are done in a 24-point font, and the body text is in a 14-point font. That's hard to read.

In contrast, the headings below use a 48-point font, and the body text uses a 24-point font. It's quite a bit larger and easier to read.

presentation example - font size normal

Note: These presentation slide examples use  The X Note – PowerPoint Template from Envato Elements.

Try This : Choose a 28- to 32-point font for your body text, and 32 to 48 points for your headings and subheadings. That way, your audience can read your slides from across a large room.

12. Not Using a Legible Font

The most readable fonts for presentations are sans serif, such as these:

Avoid script and novelty fonts at all costs as they're extremely hard to read. Look at the PowerPoint presentation example below. Which example is easier to read?

Script Font Example

presentation example - script font type

Readable (Sans Serif) Font

presentation example - readable font

Note : These presentation slide examples use  The X Note – PowerPoint Template  from Envato Elements.

A sans serif font appears simpler and easier to read on projection screens. It lacks the extra serifs (small lines at the ends of characters) that are typically added to print font designs.

Try This : Replace novelty fonts in your business presentation with more readable sans serif font types. If you’re not sure whether the fonts on your slides are readable, ask a friend or colleague for their opinion.

13. Too Many Lists

Many presentations have too many lists: both bulleted and numbered. Yet  studies show that lists don’t work well.

In a 2014 study on visualization versus text from The International Journal of Business Communication ,  subjects who were shown a graphic recalled concepts more easily than those shown a bulleted list.

Try This : Use lists sparingly. Shorten lists or create a single slide for each list item. Better yet, use a graphic to explain a presentation idea instead of words.

14. Technical Problems

If your equipment fails, you'll have a tough time giving your presentation.

The best time to find out that your equipment isn’t working isn’t the day of the presentation. You won’t have adequate time to make alternate arrangements.

Technical Issues

Try This: Go to your speaking venue the day before your presentation. Hook up your laptop (or other device) to the presentation system. Notice anything that doesn’t work and arrange to get backup equipment. Also, test any equipment you’ll be using during your speech.

15. Not Relating to Your Audience

A huge presentation mistake many speakers make is addressing their business presentation to the wrong audience. The only way to really be sure that your presentation is geared to your audience is to find out as much as you can about them.

You can't engage your audience or hold their attention if you don't really know who you're going to be speaking to.

Try This : If the presentation is for an organization you don’t normally attend, arrange to attend a meeting before the one in which you’ll give your presentation. Get to know your audience as well as possible before presenting.

16. No Next Steps

You’ve finished your presentation, but your audience is left hanging. What should they do next?

The next step may seem obvious to you, but your audience hasn’t made the connection—so they do nothing.

business presentation illustration

Try This: Be blunt. Tell the audience exactly what action to do next and how to go about doing it. Provide any details they need to take the next step.

17. Poor Choice of Content

Another common presentation mistake is including content that isn’t right for a presentation. The topic may be too broad to cover in the time that’s allowed, or your audience may not have the background needed to understand the topic.

Or you may be using terms your audience doesn’t understand.

Try This : Review your business presentation text carefully. Explain abbreviations or technical terms you plan to use.

18. Unrealistic Expectations

Having the right expectations is important. To start, you should have a clear and attainable goal. What do you expect to achieve with your presentation?

If you don't know what to expect from your presentation, it's already in trouble. Another unrealistic expectation is thinking that your listeners will remember all, or nearly all, of the material you present.

Try This : Decide on the purpose of your speech. Is your purpose to convince investors to take a chance on your startup? Or is it to persuade customers to buy your product? Include what you need to achieve your goal and leave out the rest.

3 Newsworthy Public Business Presentation Mistakes (With Real Examples)

You’ve just learned how to avoid the most common presentation mistakes. And in case you’re thinking that these types of presentation mistakes don’t happen often—think again.

Business presentation failure is much more common than you might imagine. Here are three common (and even famous) business presentation mistakes:

1  Unexpected Equipment Failure

This famous presentation example just goes to show that equipment failure can happen to anyone.

Former Microsoft executive Steven Sinofsky was giving a speech to launch the new Surface tablet—when suddenly the equipment stopped working.

Sinofsky did try to get through the situation gracefully, quickly swapping the non-working device for another. You can see the presentation here:

business presentation illustration

2  Too Much, Too Small

It looks as if this presenter had a lot of great data to share. It’s too bad that they felt compelled to put 14 bullet points (in a small font) on a single page.

Hopefully, the audience was interested enough in the topic to stay engaged:

Slide with too much small text

3 Forgetting What to Say

You’ve seen this common presentation mistake on television a dozen times. A celebrity or public figure is giving a speech, and suddenly they stop.

What happens next makes all the difference in the world. A good tactic when you forget part of your speech is to simply admit it to the audience and take a minute or two to recover.

Even experienced speakers sometimes forget what to say. Watch the news clip below as a news reporter forgets their lines, and notice how they handle it:

business presentation illustration

Admitting you made a presentation mistake makes you seem relatable to the audience. So, what’s the worst thing you can do when you forget what to say next? According to most experts, your audience will see right through it if you try to pretend nothing is wrong.

What's Next?

You've just learned about 18 common business presentation mistakes and how to avoid them. Learn even more here:

business presentation illustration

You might be wondering: 

Are there other presentation tips I can use to make my business presentation more effective?

That’s what I’m going to cover next in this guide. You’ll learn more presentation tips and techniques to help you create a great business presentation. We’ll also explain how to avoid business presentation mistakes in more depth.

Chapter 3. 25+ Best Business Presentation Tips From the Experts (For Great Results in 2024)

Best Business Presentation Tips From the Experts

You want to learn how to give an effective presentation, and you want to learn fast!

The best way to learn something is from someone who’s already doing it successfully. That’s why we’ve gathered over 25 great presentation tips from public-speaking experts from around the world. Look no further for winning presentation ideas.

Get unique insights from the business presentation tips for public speaking that we’ve gathered here. Discover presentation tips on how to prepare yourself and presentation skills tips for what to do on the day of your presentation and beyond. 

I’ve divided these presentation tips into:

  • Tips for Before Your Presentation
  • Tips for During Your Presentation
  • Tips for After Your Presentation

Are you ready to start learning from these effective presentation (skills) tips?

Let’s get started…

Effective Business Presentation Tips for Before Your Speech

Get started quickly with these expert tips for a good presentation:

1. Pay Attention to Your Introduction & Closing

Pay extra attention to how you begin and end your business presentation. Your beginning and ending make the biggest impact on your audience.

Textbook author and speaking instructor Mark Powell points out the importance of the opening and close as follows:

“Research shows that audiences remember the first and last few minutes of a presentation long after they’ve forgotten most of what was said in the middle.”

For Powell’s whole lesson on how to effectively open and close a presentation, view the video (including business presentation examples):

business presentation illustration

Find even more effective presentation tips about starting and closing a presentation here:

business presentation illustration

2. Stand Up When You Practice

business presentation illustration

If you're practicing your presentation from the comfort of your armchair, you're doing it wrong.  Jennefer Witter , the CEO/Founder of the Boreland Group Inc., explains: 

"Most of us are seated when rehearsing. However, I strongly suggest you do at least one rehearsal standing up. Most speaking engagements require you to stand. Get comfortable talking on your feet."

Read the rest of Witter’s advice on how to prepare for a presentation in this article on the  Ellevate Network .

This Envato Tuts+ tutorial provides more excellent presentation skills tips for rehearsing your business presentation:

3. Don’t Underestimate the Importance of Public Speaking

To succeed in business,   communication skills—speaking and writing—are key.  Don’t make the mistake of overlooking these vital areas.

Indra Nooyi, board member at Amazon and former PepsiCo executive, said:

“You cannot over-invest in communication skills—written and oral communication skills...”

Read more about what Nooyi had to say about the importance of investing in communication skills in this  Forbes  article. 

4. Write a Presentation That Sounds Good

You may be used to writing business papers and reports that are meant to be read. But what works for a written report won’t work for a live audience .

Senior communications executive Karen Addis puts it like this: 

“Write for the ear, not for the eye. What reads fine on paper may be a mouthful when spoken.”

You’ll find more effective business presentation tips from Addis on the GuideStar blog . We'll also share  exactly how to write an effective presentation later in this guide.

5. Use an Outline

An outline is a key element to help you get started. A good outline helps you organize your speech. It also helps ensure that you don't leave any presentation ideas out.

2001 Toastmasters world champion speaker Darren LaCroix calls an outline: 

"The second most important step in the process of creating a great speech."

Today, LaCroix trains others on how to speak successfully through the Stage Time University training program . For more on what LaCroix has to say about outlines, watch the YouTube video here:

business presentation illustration

6. Your Presentation Is About Your Audience

Too many speakers focus their presentation on themselves. They make the speech about what they’re trying to say or how they feel.

Your presentation isn't about you. Author and blogger Seth Godin points this out: 

“The members of the audience are interested in themselves. The audience wants to know what they can use, what they can learn, or at the very least, how they can be entertained.”

Read Godin’s entire blog post to discover more  about speaking in public.

7. Know Your Message

Michelle Mazurs public speaking tips

Your audience won’t get your message unless you’ve focused in on it. Figure out what your message is before you give your presentation.

Speech and message coach Michelle Mazur explains:

"My one piece of advice is to get clear on the ONE and only one message that you want your audience to remember. Research shows that most audiences forget 80%-90% of what they hear a speaker say within 24-hours of hearing that speaker. If you want to be memorable, get clear on that one core message and drive that point home in your speech."

Mazur is the author of several books on speaking and thought leadership. Mazur also founded a company that helps speakers and businesspeople become thought leaders.

8. Don’t Underestimate the Power of a Story

Lisa Bloom

Storytelling is a powerful way to get your audience’s attention—and keep it. Learn how to tell a good story, and your presentation will be better for it.

Lisa Bloom is a  consultant, trainer , and author of  Cinderella and the Coach - the Power of Storytelling for Coaching Success! Bloom also has an extensive background in training and development in large, multinational organizations.

Here’s what Bloom’s got to say about the importance of storytelling: 

"Using story in your presentation awakens your creativity while providing a refreshing perspective to re-energize and engage your audience and move them to action. If you want your presentation to have impact, you need to tell powerful stories."
"Let’s say you have a high-stake opportunity; you need to make a very specific impression—to close a deal or secure funding. You may not get a second chance. By using the right story at the right time, you can access your authentic, inspired self while learning to creatively articulate your vision & ideas. This means you get to connect deeply, contribute widely and inspire the people that matter."

9. Know What You’re Selling

Presentation Skills Tips from Marissa Mayer

If you're giving a business presentation, you're likely selling something. Do you know what it is? If not, your presentation is already in trouble.

Marissa Mayer, CEO of Lumi Labs (formerly CEO of Yahoo) puts it this way:

“Our theory is, if you need the user to tell you what you're selling, then you don't know what you're selling, and it's probably not going to be a good experience."

Find more inspiring Marissa Mayer quotes at Inc.

10. Your Purpose as a Speaker

You may think you know the purpose of your business presentation. But there’s one purpose to your business presentation that’s the same no matter who's giving it.

Chris Anderson is the curator of  TED  (the organization that gives us TED Talks) and also a TED speaker. Here’s Anderson’s insight on what all great speeches have in common:

“Your number one task as a speaker is to transfer into your listeners’ minds an extraordinary gift, a strange and beautiful object that we call an idea.”

Watch Anderson explain the importance of sharing ideas and other TED Talk presentation tips below:

business presentation illustration

11. Tell Your Audience What to Do Next

You've almost finished your speech, but you're not done yet. Don’t assume your audience knows what to do after your presentation. You’ve got to tell them what to do next.

Donna Moritz

Digital Content Strategist and international speaker  Donna Moritz  helps businesses leverage the power of visual storytelling and content strategy. Moritz advises that speakers provide the audience with actionable takeaways:

"Ensure that you focus on key, actionable takeaways that your audience will remember and can easily implement. This means one key point per slide - even eliminate dot points altogether - and use stories to bring home those key points. We remember well-told stories way beyond any slide or speaker, so match the power of storytelling with powerful, visual slides. It will make you a more memorable speaker. And more importantly it will make your message so memorable that your audience will take action!"

Excellent Presentation Skills Tips to Use During Your Speech

When it’s time to make your presentation, turn to these excellent presentation skills tips for public speaking.

12. It's Okay to Be Silent

You don't have to talk all the time. Being quiet connects you with your audience.

Here's what veteran speaker Dan Pallotta has to say about the value of silence:

"Be silent and look at the audience. Five seconds. Seven seconds. Just taking them in. Connecting with them. But never do it for effect. Do it to get intimate with your audience."

You’ll find more of Pallotta's effective presentation tips in this  Harvard Business Review article .

13. Care About Your Topic

If you don’t care about your topic, your audience will pick up on that. And if you don’t care, they’re likely to wonder why they should care.

Author and motivational speaker Simon Sinek discusses the importance of caring about your topic:

"I’m often asked, “How did you become such a good presenter?” and I like to joke that I cheat. I only talk about things that I care about, and I only talk about things that I understand. You can’t manufacture passion. You can manufacture energy. You can bounce on the stage and scream and yell. That’s not passion; that’s too much caffeine."   (Source:  YouTube )

Sinek’s TED Talk , “How Great Leaders Inspire Action,” is one of the most popular talks of all time. 

14. Be Authentic

In a recent interview with the Rotarian , award-winning speaker Dananjaya Hettiarachchi addressed the need for speakers to be authentic during their presentations: 

“One of the most important elements is to be authentic. Your voice is as unique as your fingerprint. Your voice, tone, rate, pitch, and volume tell who you are. People need to buy in to you before they buy in to what you’re saying or selling.”

Most audiences can spot it if you’re being insincere. And you’ll lose their interest.

Hettiarachchi is the CEO and founder of an HR company. He’s also the 2014 Toastmasters World Speaking Champion. Read the complete interview transcript on Hettiarachchi’s blog, I See Something In You .

15. It’s Normal to be Nervous

If you’re nervous about giving your presentation, know that you’re not alone. Even the rich and successful get nervous about public speaking.

According to The Times , British Royal Prince Harry suffers from stage fright. Here’s what that feels like in the prince’s own words:

"My secret is -- believe it or not -- I get incredibly nervous before public speaking, no matter how big the crowd or the audience and, um, despite the fact that I laugh and joke all the time I get incredibly nervous, if not anxious, actually, before going into rooms full of people when I'm wearing a suit... And now that I've confessed that, I'll probably be even more worried that people are looking at me."

16. Let Your Nerves Empower You

business presentation illustration

Are you nervous about your business presentation? You’re in good company. Even celebrities and public figures get nervous in front of crowds.

A former NFL player for the Houston Oilers, Bo Eason today coaches people to become better presenters and storytellers. Eason describes how nerves can actually be helpful:

"Back when I was performing my play, “Runt of the Litter”, my hands would shake like crazy every time I stepped on stage. My coach at the time would say, “That’s not nerves, it’s love. You want to be good. You love and honor the audience. That’s called love, not nerves. It’s okay." "Eventually… my nerves became fuel and the shaking did stop. But sometimes, even now, they’ll still shake. It’s just how it is; I care. I like when people care. Nerves are your jet fuel. Don’t try to pretend you don’t have them." ( YouTube )

17. Avoid Dry Mouth

Avoid dry mouth

Here’s a very real challenge many speakers face, but seldom talk about. Dry mouth.

Dry mouth happens when your mouth doesn’t produce enough saliva. And it can be triggered by stress.

John Zimmer, attorney and accomplished public speaker, has ten effective presentation tips to help you avoid dry mouth. Here’s our favorite from the list:

“Chew citrus-flavoured gum or a lozenge before speaking, but don’t forget to spit it out before going on stage!”

I like this tip because of how practical it is. You might not always have access to water, but it's easy to slip a pack of gum into your pocket before giving a presentation. 

Explore the complete list of Zimmer’s great presentation tips for dealing with dry mouth on the blog, Manner of Speaking.

18. Lean on Your Slides

Every speaker dreads forgetting what they’re talking about. But Rand Fishkin offers an effective business presentation tip for just that situation:

“Lean on your slides. If you have trouble remembering a story perfectly and telling it well, lean on your slides to help guide you through with visuals to convey each part of the story. “

Fishkin is best known as the founder and former CEO of the popular Moz  site and more recently the host of Whiteboard Friday . Fishkin is also an accomplished public speaker.

Read the complete interview with Fishkin at the Wistia for Marketing blog . 

Later in the guide, you'll learn how to create eye-catching slides that'll capture your listener's attention.

19. Your Voice Is Important

Roger Love

You may not think about your voice, but your voice is an important tool for your presentation. Learning how to use it properly will make you a more effective speaker.

Vocal coach  to celebrities and one of the world’s leading authorities on voice, Roger Love talks about the importance of your voice:

"Start thinking about what you SOUND LIKE. Your voice is the most powerful communication tool you possess. A 2017 Yale study proved that we have learned to lie with our words and our body language, but the sounds of your voice reveal authenticity and truth.
Learn how to use melody, volume, pitch, and pace to create sounds that move people emotionally. When you find your voice, you find your self-confidence, your storytelling ability, your charisma, and your influence. Only then can you create effective and outstanding business presentations."

20. Move Wisely

When you give your presentation, make your movements count . If you look aimless or awkward, it’ll make your audience uncomfortable.

The 2018 winner of the Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking agrees. Ramona Smith explains how paying attention to movement helped:

"I used to pace for no reason," Smith told Business Insider. "My movements weren't on purpose. I didn't have intentional movement. But I learned that you need to move with each point. So plant your feet, say what you have to say, move on to your next point."

You can find more of Smith’s public speaking advice on Business Insider .

21. Relax and Be Natural

Effective Presentation Tip by Richard Branson

Too many business speakers stand stiffly, making unnatural gestures. Or they fill their speech with flowery words they’d never use in real life.

Famed entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson favors a different approach. Here’s the public speaking advice Branson gave (via Inc .).

"Picture yourself in a living room having a chat with your friends. You would be relaxed and comfortable talking to them, the same applies when public speaking."

Effective Presentation Tips for After Your Speech

The tips below help you make the most of something most business presenters forget to think about. What happens after a presentation?

Here are some business presentation tips for what you should do when you're done speaking.

22. Ask for Feedback

One of the biggest questions most speakers have after their business presentation is whether it went well. Author and speech coach Suzannah Baum shares one presentation idea to find that out:

“When my presentation was done, I sought out the event planner immediately to get her feedback, put in terms of 'Did the content meet your objectives?'"

You’ll find more of Baum’s insights on the blog, Bring Power to Your Words .

23. Don’t Skip the Q&A Session

Dont skip the QA Session

At the end of your presentation, give your listeners a chance to ask questions . A question and answer session lets you address any concerns members of your audience have. The right answers to an important question may even close the deal.

Professional communicator and author  Stacey Hanke  regularly gives keynote speeches and conducts workshops. Hanke highlights the importance of having a Q&A session as follows:

“Answering a question provides an opportunity for you to bond with those asking, even if the question is challenging. Questions allow you to clarify misunderstandings and set the record straight.”

Discover more of Stacey Hanke’s effective presentation tips in this article, The Best Way to Respond to Questions After a Presentation or Meeting .

24. Questions Are Good

If you think of questions after your presentations as a negative, think again. If the audience is asking questions, that's actually positive, according to former executive and presentation coach  Theodore May .

May puts it this way:

“But questions are not only good, they are essential. The successful presenter wants to be asked questions. …good and even difficult on-topic questions are what you want as a presenter.”

May offers even more tips for creating a great presentation in this article in the CIO digital magazine . 

25. Reconnect With Prospects

Reconnect With Your Prospects

You’re not done when your business presentation ends. This is especially true if you made a sales presentation.

Following up with key prospects after a presentation is the important step many business professionals skip.  Follow-up may feel awkward, but it doesn't have to be that way.

Author and sales coach Jill Konrath provides this presentation tip for connecting with prospects:

“Your prospects want to work with someone who's constantly thinking about how they can improve their business. Be that person.”

Read more of Konrath’s presentation follow-up advice in the article, 3 Sales Follow-Up Strategies to Replace “Touching Base” .

You’ll also find follow-up is easier if you’ve got something your prospect is interested in to talk about.

26. Get Feedback

To improve your presentation skills, ask for feedback. Then listen to it.

Feedback lets you know how you did with your presentation. It also tells you what you should do differently the next time.

Founder of Global Public Speaking and Harvard lecturer  Allison Shapira  provides some practical presentation skills tips on how to get feedback. Here’s one of the most useful tips:

“You’ll be tempted to respond with, “yes, but…” and be defensive when receiving the feedback. Simply listen and learn from someone else’s interpretation of your speech.”

If you’re open to it, feedback will help you improve your presentation skills. 

Get Started on Your Presentation

You've just gotten business tips for making effective presentations from over 25 experts. Now it's time to start creating your own great business presentation. 

For more business presentation tips that work and inspiring presentation quotes, study these Tuts+ tutorials:

business presentation illustration

Next, we’ll share what you need to know about planning and writing great presentations. 

Stay tuned to learn more about how to make (plan and write) a great presentation...

Chapter 4. How to Plan (+Write) a Powerful Presentation Quickly in 7 Simple Steps

Plan Presentation Quickly

Preparation equals success. Planning and writing are your secret weapons for giving a powerful presentation. 

Let’s dive into the presentation writing process.

7 Simple Steps to Plan & Write Your Presentation

The presentation planning/writing process isn’t hard. It can be summed up in seven easy-to-follow presentation writing steps.

Many presenters skip important steps and pay for it when they give a poor presentation. Don’t be one of those underprepared presenters.

Here are the seven steps to follow to plan and write a great presentation:

  • Discover Your Purpose
  • Study Your Business Presentation Topic
  • List Your Main Ideas
  • Create a Presentation Outline
  • Plan a Presentation Format
  • Focus on the Opening & Closing
  • Create the Written Presentation

These seven presentation writing steps will help you write a killer business presentation. Let’s look at each one:

Step 1. 5 Easy Questions to Discover Your Presentation’s Purpose

Your presentation’s purpose is what you want to get from your presentation when you’re done. Determining this is the first step in how to give a good presentation. Skip this and you might as well not give a presentation at all.

There are tools you can use to help you pinpoint your purpose. To start, ask yourself these questions:

  • Why am I giving this talk?
  • What does my business want from this presentation?
  • Is the presentation informative?
  • Is it a sales presentation?
  • Do I want to rally people to my cause?

Once you’ve answered these questions, set a goal. It needs to be specific, and it needs to be measurable. If you’re unsure how to set effective goals, review this Envato Tuts+ tutorial:

business presentation illustration

The presentation writing process for setting goals for your speech is similar.

Now that you’ve set your goal, focus on it. It’s the reason you’re giving this presentation, after all. Everything in your presentation should advance your goal—especially your business presentation topic.

So how do you choose a presentation topic?

Here’s a Common Scenario

You’re invited to give a presentation at a conference. Your company, a public relations agency, wants five new clients as a result of your presentation. You choose the business presentation topic: How PR Will Help You Find a Winning Brand Identity .

In the example above, you could have chosen to cover all the benefits your PR company offers. But having a topic that broad would mean:

  • You don’t cover any one point with enough detail.
  • Your presentation runs too long.
  • You lose your audience’s attention.

Try This: You should be able to cover your topic in 18 minutes or less. Why is this important? Attention span research from TED Talks shows that audiences can’t pay attention past 18 minutes. More on presentation length later.

Limit your presentation length to 18 minutes

Once you’ve discovered your presentation’s purpose, you’re ready to do your research.

Step 2. Be the Expert: Study Your Topic

Not understanding your topic or not getting to know your audience well is a recipe for presentation failure. Even worse—it’ll make you look foolish. Effective speakers study their topic and their audience.

Business Presentation Topic Research Questions

  • Is the content accurate?
  • Is the information current?
  • Are there other sources for the information?

Audience Research Questions:

  • What do they already know?
  • What will be new information for them?
  • What terms do they understand?

If you’ve been asked to speak for an external organization, ask that organization who your audience is and what they already know. Your company should also have some information on prospective customers.

Try This : Use demographic and psychographic studies to learn more about your audience. Facebook Audience Insights  and Google Trends can provide helpful information. Learn more about how to target an audience in these Envato Tuts+ tutorials:

business presentation illustration

Once you’ve finished your research, it’s time to choose your speaking points.

Step 3. Choose Your Main Points

During your research, you’ve gathered a lot of information. You’ve likely got more than you need.

Narrow it down to the main points that you want to present. Choose the information that’s most important to your audience and to meeting your goal.

List the information you've gathered. Now, review it. Cut anything:

  • your audience already knows
  • your audience doesn’t need to know
  • that doesn’t advance your goal

Think of this presentation writing process as a funnel. You pour information into one end. Only the information that advances your goal comes out the other end. This keeps you from bogging your audience down with too much information.

Think of the presentation writing process as a funnel

Now, divide all the information into similar categories. You should start to see a natural grouping.

In the PR agency example above, the speaker finds that statistics on the importance of brand identity are important. They also find a case study where a redesigned brand identity led to increased customer awareness.

How many points should your presentation have? Many speech experts recommend having three main points (the so-called Rule of Three). The Rule of Three isn't a hard and fast rule. It depends on how much you say about each point.

It’s better to have fewer points that are well supported than a lot of barely supported points that your audience won’t remember anyway.

Remember: The ideal presentation length for most listeners is 15 to 20 minutes.

Try This:  If you’re scheduled to speak for more than 18 minutes, break your presentation into sections. Each section should be 18 minutes long or less. Use extra time to answer questions.

Example : Break a 45-minute presentation into two 18-minute speeches. Put a four-minute break in the middle and a five-minute question and answer session at the end.

Pro Secret: Get around the 18-minute attention span limit by planning a series of shorter presentations. ( Just make sure they’re not scheduled back to back .) This strategy works best if you’ve got more than one goal.

Step 4. Get Organized: How to Write a Presentation Outline

Once you know what your main points are, create an outline. You may wonder: how do you write an outline for a presentation?

Here’s what to do:

A presentation outline is like the outline for any other document. It sets the order of the information you’ll present.

At its most basic, a short presentation outline includes:

  • introduction
  • first point
  • second point
  • third point

Fill out these general headings with titles specific to your own presentation.

That basic outline works for a short presentation. Your presentation outline will vary with your audience and subject matter. A longer presentation outline could look like this:

  • first main point
  • support for point
  • second main point
  • third main point
  • questions and answers

You've just created the outline for your presentation. Now you’re ready to plan a presentation format.

Its important to create an outline of your speech

Step 5. Looks Count—Plan Your Presentation Format

Once you’ve selected your topic and main points, it’s time to plan your presentation format. For most business situations, a slideshow is the most effective presentation format you can use.

There are some significant advantages to using a slideshow format:

  • It adds a visual component.
  • You can easily integrate other media, such as audio or video.
  • There are plenty of tools to help you create a slideshow.
  • There are thousands of professionally designed templates to make your slideshow look good. ( We’ll take a closer look at how to use a professional presentation template later. )
  • You control the pace of the presentation.
  • You can leave a copy of the presentation with your audience when it’s over.

While there’s plenty of negative chatter about slideshows in general, and PowerPoint specifically, the truth is that they’re wildly popular. According to the BBC , there are more than 500 million PowerPoint users worldwide, and over 30 million presentations are given each day.

There’s a reason slideshows are so popular. They’re effective.

If you look closely at the complaints people make about slideshows, they’re really about the way the presentation software is used. Common complaints include:

  • The presentation was poorly organized.
  • The slides were poorly designed.
  • The text was too small to read.
  • The presentation went too long.

But these aren’t problems with the slideshow presentation format or any specific slideshow tool. There are two words for these problems: USER ERROR . And user error is exactly what you’ll avoid by following the advice in this guide.

Step 6. Write the Start and Finish of Your Presentation

The opening and conclusion of your presentation are important. The opening is where your listeners get their first impression of you. The closing is your last chance to get your message across.

For an effective presentation, take the time to get your start and finish right.

9 Presentation Writing Tips for a Successful Opening

The opening sets the tone for your presentation. Use the presentation writing tips below to grab your listeners' attention right from the start:

  • Make a bold claim. This could be an astounding or even a shocking statement.
  • Contradict expectations. Say the opposite of what the listener expects here.
  • Stimulate curiosity. Start by presenting something curious or unusual that you’ll proceed to explain.
  • Ask questions. Involving the audience right from the beginning is an effective way to engage them.
  • Spin a surprising story. Storytelling is an effective presentation technique.
  • Quote a well-known personality or a famous proverb. Starting with a quote is overused, but if done right can pull your audience in.
  • Tell a joke. If you know your audience well enough to know what they’ll find funny, a joke can be a good opening.
  • Show a video. A short but powerful video can make a huge impact on your audience.
  • Reference a current event. If something momentous is happening, don’t try to compete. Instead, begin your presentation by briefly talking about what’s going on.

Towards the end of your intro, tell your audience what to expect from the presentation. Share your presentation structure. For example, if there’s a break in the middle of the presentation or if you'd like them to save all their questions until the end, tell them so in your opening.

Conclude Powerfully

Your presentation conclusion is your last chance to point out what you want your audience to take with them when they leave.

If you’re giving a sales presentation , appeal to your audience with a call to action . Many presentations omit this vital piece, yet it can mean the difference between success and failure. A call to action tells the audience what to do next.

Other options for closing your presentation include:

  • a vision of the future
  • a contrarian example
  • a question and answer segment

Learn more about how to start and close a presentation:

Step 7. How to Write a Great Presentation

You've completed a presentation outline. You’ve worked on your introduction and conclusion. You’re now ready to create your written presentation.

You don't need presentation software for this stage. We'll add that in the next step. For now, a good writing tool will do. Follow this presentation writing process :

  • Start with your presentation outline.
  • Create presentation slide text for the introduction, each main point, and the conclusion.
  • Write about your most compelling points in the first few slides.

To be effective, use short sentences and phrases to write your presentation. Review your content more than once to cut out wordiness and reduce unnecessary information.

Don’t put too much information on each individual slide. If a slide contains too much information, your audience won't grasp everything you’re sharing. Divide slides with too much material into several slides.

Learn more about writing a business presentation here:

business presentation illustration

Try This: Use planned pauses and transitions such as audience participation, videos, or other devices to divide a long presentation into smaller segments.

Caution : Humor can affect how your presentation is received. Humor lightens the mood and breaks up your material. But not everyone finds the same things funny. If you're not sure how a particular joke will be received, leave it out.

Making great business presentations free PDF ebook

Want to access to this comprehensive guide for offline use.  Download this guide now (for FREE)  as a convenient 69 page eBook PDF with quick-action checklist. 

Keep reading to learn how to choose your presentation software…

Chapter 5. How to Choose the Best Business Presentation Software for 2024 (+Quick Start Tips) 

Choose the Best Business Presentation Software

You’ve planned and written your presentation. Now, it's time to build it. Before you can do that, you've got to choose the best business presentation software for you to use.

We’ll help you make the right choice for your presentation. We’ll give you the information you need. Let’s take a close look at the best (and most popular) presentation software options:

Take the Quiz! What Business Presentation Software Is Right for You?

What business presentation software is right for you

It helps to know as much about your presentation needs as possible. That’s why we’re including this presentation software quiz:

  • What presentation software (if any) do you use now?
  • What software requirements (if any) does your business have?
  • What hardware and operating system do you use?
  • What presentation tools do you have experience with?
  • What's your budget for presentation software?
  • How often will you work on the presentation with a team?
  • Do you need to use special effects like animation?
  • Do you need to import audio or video files?
  • Will you be exporting your presentation to another file type?
  • Do you often forget to save your files?
  • Do you use a Mac or a PC?
  • Do you ever need to work offline?

Remember your answers to these questions. We’ll revisit this quiz at the end of the chapter to help you find the right software tool for you.

Now let’s compare three of the most popular business presentation software packages. Let’s examine PowerPoint vs. Google Slides vs. Keynote .

Take a look at this  Google Trends chart for a quick look at how these three tools compare. The chart measures how many searches there were for each of the three major tools worldwide:

PowerPoint vs Google vs Keynote

Let’s explore the differences between Keynote, PowerPoint, and Google Slides. Let’s look at each software tool independently.

1. Microsoft PowerPoint (Popular With Companies)

Microsoft PowerPoint

Estimates place the number of Microsoft PowerPoint users at over 500 million (via  BBC News ). PowerPoint is, without question, the most popular business presentation software.

If you work for a company, your business likely uses PowerPoint. If you’re required to use PowerPoint, your decision is already made.

You may already be somewhat familiar with PowerPoint. Maybe you’ve even already created a business PowerPoint presentation. That familiarity means you’ll be able to learn to use this powerful presentation tool fast.

Are you new to PowerPoint? Learn more about what PowerPoint is and how to get started quickly here:

business presentation illustration

Study the Envato PowerPoint Ultimate Tutorial Guide to learn even more about using PowerPoint.

Try This: If you created your outline in Microsoft Word and saved it on your PC, you can import it directly into PowerPoint. With PowerPoint open, click Open > Browse . Go to the file where your outline is stored. To the right of the File name field, switch from All PowerPoint Presentations to All Files . Click on your outline file and then click Open . PowerPoint creates a new presentation, with each paragraph of your outline in the title field of a new slide.

Advantages of Microsoft PowerPoint

Now, let’s look at the advantages of Microsoft PowerPoint and its disadvantages .

Even though it’s popular, its popularity isn't all there is to PowerPoint. Here are some of the many advantages of Microsoft PowerPoint: 

  • It's part of Microsoft Office 365 (works with Office productivity tools like Word, Excel, and more).
  • It can export PowerPoint files to over a dozen different file types, ranging from .pdf to .rtf.
  • It can import (embed) audio and video files .
  • It includes 50 animations and special effects.
  • Collaboration is possible through OneDrive.
  • Offline access is possible in PowerPoint.
  • It's got free iOS and Android mobile apps.

Disadvantages of Microsoft PowerPoint

Now that we’ve looked at the advantages of Microsoft PowerPoint, it’s time to look at the disadvantages. One disadvantage is that it can be difficult to collaborate with others.

Recently, PowerPoint has improved the ability to collaborate in real-time. But there are still more steps than with Google Slides. To work with another user, you must save the presentation to OneDrive and invite the people you want to collaborate with.

Professional Microsoft PowerPoint Templates

One final advantage of Microsoft PowerPoint is the number of professionally designed presentation templates available. Here are some great business PowerPoint templates to help you create great presentations, as well as info on how to customize them quickly:

business presentation illustration

2. Google Slides (Great Collaboration & Great Price)

Google Slides

Do you need professional productivity tools? Is real-time collaboration part of your job? Is your budget limited?

Consider using Google Slides. It’s a readily available presentation software tool that’s part of Google’s productivity suite, which includes Sheets and Google Docs. Best of all, it’s free when you create a Google account.

Are you new to Google Slides? Learn more about what Google Slides is and how to get started quickly here:

business presentation illustration

Study the Envato Google Slides Ultimate Tutorial Guide to learn even more about Google Slides.

Try This: Did you know that you could copy a Google Slides slide from one presentation to another? To do this, open the Google Slides business presentation with the slide design you want. Click the desired slide and click Control-C to copy the slide to your clipboard. Open a second business presentation that you want to copy the slide to. Click the slide before where you want to insert the copied slide. Click Control-V to paste the copied slide into the second presentation.

Now, let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of Google Slides .

Advantages of Google Slides

  • It's free with a Google account.
  • Share online for real-time editing and collaboration.
  • Your work is saved automatically in Google Slides.
  • It keeps a revision history, making it possible to go back to an earlier version.
  • It's part of Google Drive (works with Google Drive’s productivity tools like Google Docs, Sheets, and more).
  • Export Google Slides files to several different file types (although not as many as with PowerPoint).
  • You can insert audio or video  files.
  • Includes animation and special effects (although not as many as PowerPoint).
  • Free iOS mobile app.

Disadvantages of Google Slides

One of the disadvantages of Google Slides is that you must have a Google account to use it. And there are also fewer choices for effects and themes.

Professional Google Sides Templates

Discover professionally designed Google Slides templates and learn how to quickly create a great business presentation with them:

business presentation illustration

3. Apple Keynote (Great for Mac Users)

Apple Keynote

You may be wondering: what is Keynote? Keynote is Apple’s presentation software tool. It’s part of Apple’s iWork productivity suite that includes Pages and Numbers.

To choose between Keynote and PowerPoint, read on to learn the difference between them.

If you’ve got a Mac, remember that Keynote already comes with your computer. Learn what Keynote is and how to get started quickly here:

business presentation illustration

Study the Envato Apple Keynote Ultimate Tutorial Guide to learn how to use Keynote.

Try This: Did you know you can stream a Keynote presentation using Keynote Live? Click the Keynote Live button on the menu at the top of the screen. You’ll be prompted to save your presentation to your iCloud account. Then, click the Continue button. Send the URL to the viewers you want to share your presentation with. Press Play to start streaming your presentation.

Now, let’s look at  Apple Keynote advantages and disadvantages .

Keynote Advantages

  • It comes with your Mac computer.
  • Keynote is part of the iWork productivity suite (works with productivity tools like Pages, Numbers, and more).
  • Export Keynote files to several different file types (including Apple-specific file types like QuickTime).
  • Insert audio or video files.
  • Share and collaborate through your iCloud drive.
  • Includes about 30 animation and 40 special effects (although not as many as PowerPoint).
  • Work on the files offline.

Keynote Disadvantages

Keynote also has some disadvantages, the main one being that it’s for the Mac only. PC users can’t work on Keynote files.

Professional Keynote Templates

Create great presentations using Keynote with these great business Keynote templates and helpful tutorial:

business presentation illustration

Your Final Decision—Choose the Right Presentation Software for You

Let’s revisit the Business Presentations Software Quiz. Your answers to the questions on the quiz reveal which presentation software you’ll like.

PowerPoint May Be the Right Business Presentation Software for You If:

  • You answered “PowerPoint” to questions 1, 2, and 4.
  • You answered “PC” and “Windows” to question 3.
  • For question 5, you had over $150 in the budget for a single user.
  • For question 6, you answered “occasionally” or “rarely”.
  • For questions 7, 8, 9, or 12, you answered “yes”.

PowerPoint is ideal for businesses that use the Microsoft Office productivity suite. It's also great for companies whose workers create business presentations independently.

Google Slides May Be the Right Business Presentation Software for You If:

  • You answered “Google Slides” to questions 1, 2, and 4.
  • For question 5, you had little to nothing in the budget.
  • For question 6, you answered “often”.
  • For questions 7, 8, and 10, you answered “yes”.

Google Slides is ideal for businesses that use the Google Drive productivity suite. It's also great for companies whose workers rely on real-time collaboration.

Keynote May Be the Right Business Presentation Software for You If:

  • You answered “Keynote” to questions 1, 2, and 4.
  • You answered “Mac,” “Apple,” “macOS,” or “iOS” to question 3.
  • For question 11, you answered “Mac”.

Keynote is ideal for businesses that work on Macs and use the iWork productivity suite.

For a more in-depth comparison of these three software presentation tools, look at:

business presentation illustration

For even more software presentation tools, look here:

business presentation illustration

Now that you’ve selected a presentation software tool, read on to learn how to design your business presentation.

Chapter 6. How to Design a Killer Business Presentation Like a Creative Professional

Design a Killer Business Presentation

You know your message. You’ve researched your topic and your audience. You’ve created your outline. And you’ve chosen a presentation software tool.

But for an effective business slideshow that moves people to action, you need a visually appealing presentation. Want a presentation your audience will remember? A good presentation design makes the difference.

The presentation slide design tips here will show you what to do (complete with PowerPoint presentation examples).

Get the Right Kind of Attention With These 6 Presentation Design Basics

Pay attention to these six presentation design basics as you design your presentation:

  • Slide Layout
  • Font Choice
  • Special Effects

Let’s look at each element individually:

1. Slide Layout

Presentation thumbnails

A slide's layout is the organization of your content and the visual elements on each slide. Think about your presentation content as you design the layout of each slide of your presentation.

Look at what you've written. Imagine what type of slide design would be effective for each point. Some points may fit naturally on a slide with text alongside an image. Other points may be best shown through a slide with a chart or graph.

Keep each slide design as simple as possible. A cluttered design will draw attention away from your content. Also, for complicated points, you may need more than one slide. And that’s okay.

Try This: Draw thumbnails or create a storyboard to show a visual picture of the type of slide designs you need. ( Don't confuse these thumbnails with the Thumbnail view in many software presentation tools. ) These thumbnails are simply rough sketches of what various slides in your presentation will look like. You don't have to be an artist. A simple drawing will do. 

2. Font Choice

When choosing a font , think about both font type and font size .

Font type refers to the look of the font. Some fonts work for casual use, but not for a professional presentation. Choose a font that’s easy to read. San serif fonts like Tahoma or Gil Sans work well, especially for headings.

Font size is also important when creating a presentation. The font needs to be large enough for an audience to read from across the room. Use at least a 24-point font.

Don’t use too many different fonts in your presentation. Fonts should coordinate with each other and not be distracting.

Learn more about fonts here:

business presentation illustration

Try This : Pull out your branded business materials such as stationery, brochures, and business cards. List the fonts used. (If you’re not sure, ask your marketing department.) Replace the current fonts in your slide presentation with these fonts if they work well on screen.

Learn how to change your presentation fonts here:

business presentation illustration

3. Color Choice

Color choice is important

Color plays a big part in any presentation. Colors send powerful visual messages. Choose the colors for your slide background, fonts, and accent text carefully.

The wrong colors will give listeners the wrong idea about your brand or message. Too many colors or clashing colors make your presentation appear garish and amateurish.

Color also lets you brand your presentations. When designing your presentation, think about your business color and design scheme.

Re-examine your branded materials (your website, stationery, and business cards). Compare them with the colors you plan to use for your presentation. It should all work together.

Learn all about color in the Envato Tuts+ tutorial:

business presentation illustration

4. Graphics

To help your listeners remember your main points, make wise use of graphics. Remember that the right visuals can help your listeners retain up to 65% of what you say (according to  Brain Rules ).

Consider using these types of graphics to give your business presentation a visual edge:

  • illustrations
  • infographics

It's important to use graphics wisely, though. Putting too many images on a slide or using unprofessional graphics will actually leave listeners with a negative impression.

Try This: If you've got an Envato Elements  subscription, you've got unlimited access to various design resources. Browse through the  photos , illustrations , infographics , and icons to find professionally designed visuals that meet your needs.

5. Media Choice

Embed a short video or audio into your presentation to provide some variety for your audience.

But be careful. Too many videos or audio messages will overpower your presentation and distract your audience. Limit your use of embedded media.

The media you choose should be professionally produced. Don’t embed sloppy, amateurish video or audio into your presentation.

Also, keep the embedded video or audio short. Under a minute is best, but don’t let it go longer than two minutes.

Find the best media to enhance your business presentation by asking these questions:

  • Is this media related to my goal?
  • Is the media professional?
  • Does the media fit our company’s image?
  • How long is it?

Try This : Play a royalty-free soundtrack on a loop before your presentation starts. Download professionally produced royalty-free music files with your Envato Elements subscription or for a single low fee from  AudioJungle .

6. Special Effects

Use the special effects that come with most presentation software to add extra interest to your presentation design.

The two types of special effects are:

  • transitions

Animations are used to move the elements of your slide. Animations can move the slide body text, images, and other objects of your slide design. 

Transitions are a specialized type of animation that are used between slides.

Don't overuse special effects. Too many special effects distract from your main message. But sprinkling in a few special effects can add interest to your presentation.

Learn how to use animations in your presentation here:

business presentation illustration

How to Use a Presentation Template: 3 Easy Steps to Follow

A professionally designed business presentation template gives you a head start at making visually appealing presentations. Some of the other advantages of using a professional presentation template include:

  • makes the most of your presentation software
  • includes a ton of presentation design options
  • updated often to current standards and trends

Are you wondering how to use a template? Here are three easy steps to get you started:

1. Search for a Pro Presentation Template Design

Find a professionally designed template at Envato Elements, which has thousands of presentation templates available. Use the Search bar and filters to find the right template for you, whether that's for PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Keynote.

Find a presentation template

If you're having trouble finding the right presentation template, there are some great PowerPoint presentation template choices in these articles:

business presentation illustration

No matter what presentation software you're using, you'll find visually appealing presentation choices in these curated lists.

2. Download a Great Presentation Template Design

When you’ve found the right presentation design template for you, download it.

The X Note PowerPoint template

In this example, we’re using The X Note PowerPoint Template . This template has a dark and light version. It also has 43 unique presentation slide designs included.

3. Customize Your Template

You’ll receive a zip file containing a presentation folder. Extract the files. Use your presentation software to open the template.

You’re now ready to customize the presentation slide design template with your own details. You can quickly add your presentation content, photos, and graphics, change the colors, and fully customize it to your needs. 

Learn more about customizing a PowerPoint template:

business presentation illustration

5 Top Business Presentation Examples (With Powerful Visual Designs)

Let’s look at how using a professional template design can quickly transform your presentation material from dull to interesting. Here are five before and after business PowerPoint presentation examples:

1. The Our Story Slide

In most business presentations, there’s a slide that tells the audience what a company is about. Here’s a before example of this type of slide using one of the standard basic templates included in PowerPoint:

default slide template

As you can see, it’s very basic. It tells the story, but it’s not a visually appealing design.

Now let’s look at the same information, but this time we’ve used slide #4 from  The X Note PowerPoint Template  (dark version) . We’ve also added  an image from Envato Elements  to grab the viewer’s attention.

our story slide premium template

Try This : Make your company story come to life. Add a photo of your product or service in action to your slide design. 

2. The Our Services Slide 

Businesses use the Our Services Slide (or Our Products Slide) to explain what they've got to offer. Here’s a before example of this type of slide using the same standard template as before:

standard template for our service slide

This time, we’ve used the light version of The X Note PowerPoint Template , slide #16,  to redo the slide design. Look at what a difference the template makes in this after example:

Our services professional template

The icons we added here to the professionally designed slide came with the template. They dramatically transformed our presentation content!

3. The Timeline Slide 

Many default presentation slide templates lack a timeline graphic. Without a graphic, a bulleted list is often the best you can do.

Bulleted list slide

But premium templates give you the option to display your timeline data visually. Here’s a look at the same timeline using  slide #14 from the dark version of The X Note PowerPoint Template :

timeline slide

4. The Awards Slide 

If your business has received awards, you’ll want to show those off in your presentation. Without many graphic options for showing your data, you may be forced to resort to bullets again. Here’s a before example using a default PPT template:

Awards slide

Look at the difference that a creative slide design can make (based on slide #15 of the light version of The X Note PowerPoint Template ) :

Awards slide with premium template

5. The Pie Chart 

Reading a list of statistics is dull. But if your slideshow template design is limited, a list may be all you’ve got to show your listeners. Here’s a before example of some key data using a standard template design:

List of statistics

A chart, like a pie chart, brings boring data to life. (Based on slide template #25 from the dark version of  The X Note PowerPoint Template .) :

X Note PowerPoint Template pie chart

For more PowerPoint presentation design techniques, review:

business presentation illustration

Should You Hire a Designer? (Handy Checklist)

You've just learned the key design elements for creating an effective presentation.

Professional presentation templates make it easy for nearly anyone to create an attractive and impactful presentation. But there are times when hiring a designer to create your presentation might be best.

Should you hire a designer

Use the list below to decide whether you need to hire a professional designer to create your presentation:

  • You’re too busy to create a presentation.
  • You’re in the middle of branding. You want the designer to create a unique presentation look you’ll use again and again.
  • You’ve got a generous budget for presentations.
  • You don’t know how to use presentation software (and don’t have time to learn).
  • The stakes for this presentation are high.
  • You’re not confident in your ability to communicate your message to your audience.
  • You need someone to provide professional input on what you’ve done so far.

A professional designer can create a unique presentation theme that fits well with your branding. A presentation designer also has experience and graphic design training to draw upon. They can present you with great design options.

Chapter 7. Get Maximum Audience Impact: Give (Deliver) Great Business Presentations

Give Deliver Great Business Presentations

You want your business presentation to make a difference. You want your audience to remember it. You want them to act on what they hear.

You may think you can’t control this aspect of your speech. But you can. Stay tuned to learn how to give a great presentation with the most audience impact.

Let’s start with a look at the art of giving a good presentation.

6 Top Tips for Giving a Good Presentation

Use these powerful public speaking techniques to deliver a presentation that makes a difference . In this chapter’s tips for giving a presentation, you’ll learn how to:

  • Project confidence through body language.
  • Manage your speaking voice.
  • Captivate your audience by telling a story.
  • Have a good start (and killer close).
  • Use strategic pauses for effect.
  • Win your audience over with a smile.

Let’s examine each tip separately:

1. Project Confidence Through Body Language

Your body language (also known as non-verbal communication) tells your audience as much as your words. What your audience sees needs to match what you’re saying.

Most experts agree that non-verbal communication is as important as ( if not more important than ) the words you say (Source: The Nonverbal Group ).

The body language you use as you give your presentation includes your:

  • expressions
  • eye contact

Standing stiffly before your audience, reading from cards or a computer screen—as so many speakers do—doesn’t inspire confidence in your message.

Instead, stand naturally. Don’t be afraid to move. It’s okay to make hand gestures or move across the stage. Don’t overdo it, though. Keep your movements natural and relaxed.

Your expressions also play a big role in your non-verbal communication. If your expression makes you look uncomfortable, your audience will feel uncomfortable too. 

A quick fix for an uncomfortable expression is a smile. Try a friendly smile just before you start your speech and after you pause. We’ll talk more about the importance of a smile later.

For more detailed information on body language, study this Envato Tuts+ tutorial:

business presentation illustration

Try This : Once you’ve learned your speech, practice presenting a “dry run” in front of a friend or colleague. Ask them to notice the impression your body language leaves rather than the actual words you’re saying. Also, ask whether you’re slouching or standing stiffly. They can also tell you whether your movements are distracting or effective.

2. Manage Your Speaking Voice

How you sound also makes a huge impact on your audience. If you’re going to deliver a presentation that makes an impact, you need to pay attention to the way you speak.

Common speaking mistakes include:

  • speaking too quickly
  • speaking too softly
  • speaking in a monotone voice
  • mumbling or otherwise not speaking clearly
  • overusing unnecessary interjections like “um,” “like,” and “you know”

Your voice leaves a big impression on your listener. It also determines whether they can understand what you’re saying . If your listener must work too hard to understand you, they’ll give up. You’ve lost their attention.

Managing your voice improves with practice. But first you’ve got to know what to work on.

Try This : Use a webcam, smartphone, or other device to record you practicing your presentation. As you play it back, look for problem areas where you need to improve. Take notes on the tone of your voice, how fast you’re speaking, and the volume of your voice. Also, notice how often you use interjections. These are all details you can work on improving.

3. Captivate Your Audience: By Telling a Story

It’s a scientific fact that people love stories. Studies show that messages with a story are 35% more effective than messages without a story. (Source: Inc. ) The same source indicates that the most popular TED Talks are over half narrative.

Storytelling is effective

According to a study from neuroeconomist Paul Zak , we love stories because they cause our brains to produce:

  • oxytocin, a neurochemical associated with empathy
  • cortisol, a neurochemical that helps us focus

This is particularly true for stories with a dramatic arc. Learn more about Zak’s work and about how stories affect behavior in this YouTube video:

business presentation illustration

If your product or service has dramatically changed someone’s life, tell that story. Your presentation will be more effective because of it.

4. For a Presentation That Sticks: Have a Good Start (And Killer Close)

How you begin and how you end your presentation means the difference between a talk that sticks with your audience and one they forget.

The opening of your business presentation sets the tone for the rest of the presentation . Like it or not, the audience decides within seconds whether they want to pay attention or not. This Time magazine article puts the human attention span at less than ten seconds.

And once you’ve lost your audience’s interest, you’ll have to work twice as hard to capture it. In fact, you may never get their interest. Here are five effective ways to start a business presentation:

  • Be bold. A bold statement, spoken with confidence, will capture your listener’s attention.
  • Be contrary. Get people to pay attention by saying the opposite of what most people expect.
  • Make them wonder. Curiosity is a powerful way to get your audience to focus on what you say.
  • Ask questions. Questions are a great way to engage your listeners.
  • Use storytelling. You just learned about how effective stories are. A good story makes a good opening.

Just as the beginning of your presentation is important, so is the end. If your audience is still listening at the end of your speech, that means they’re interested. Don’t blow it with a weak ending!

Three great ways to end your business presentation powerfully include:

  • A call to action. Tell your audience what to do next.
  • A vision of the future . Leave them with a dream of what could be.
  • Close loops. While your presentation opens with a story or sparking imagination, your conclusion is where to pull all those open threads together into a killer ending.

For a detailed lesson on how to start and end a presentation powerfully, turn to this Envato tutorial:

5. How to Use Strategic Pauses for Effect

Using pauses to give a presentation may seem illogical. After all, you’ve got a limited amount of time to talk, and you want to say everything you need to say.

Yet, used correctly, pauses work. Some of the most effective bits of your speech are when you’re not talking. If you want to know how to give a killer presentation, learn when and how to pause.

Some of the advantages of strategically placed pauses:

  • Audience connection . Remember what Dan Pallotta said about the power of silence and audience intimacy in Chapter 3 .
  • Refocus listeners . Pauses give listeners a chance to gather their thoughts and refocus on your presentation.
  • Better pace . A pause helps you control the pace of your presentation.
  • Human needs . It’s good to give your audience a chance to stand up, stretch, and so on.

So, when should you pause? Here are some great times to pause:

  • You’ve just made a major point.
  • You’ve just asked a question.
  • Your audience is laughing or otherwise making noise.
  • For dramatic effect when telling a story.

Most pauses don’t need to be long. A few seconds to a minute is often all it takes to be effective.

A longer pause can serve as a transition to break a long speech into chunks your viewers can appreciate and are more likely to retain. 

6. Win Your Audience Over With a Smile

Facial expressions are a specific type of body language. And one facial expression is more important than the rest. Enter the smile.

Smiling during your presentation makes a difference for you and for your audience.

Smiling can help improve your mood and relieve stress (Source:  Psychology Today ). If you start your presentation with a smile, you’re less likely to be anxious.

A sincere smile is also catchy. If you smile, your audience is more likely to smile back. Also, a genuine smile is perceived as positive. People who smile are seen as friendly and more trustworthy.

Learn more about the power and benefits of smiling in this YouTube video from Ron Gutman.

business presentation illustration

Another secret to delivering an effective presentation is learning to deal with your nerves.

Get Comfortable: Deliver a Presentation With Confidence (And Without Anxiety)

It’s no secret that many people hate giving presentations. Even experienced speakers get presentation anxiety.

If you’re one of the many, many people who struggle with a fear of public speaking (also known as glossophobia), you’re not alone. You can still give an effective presentation.

Occasionally, your speaking anxiety will be so obvious that it distracts from your message. But most of the time your listeners will understand that you’re nervous. They’ve likely given speeches themselves, so they know what it feels like.

Your listeners will forgive you if you make a few mistakes.  They know that you’re only human and that humans make mistakes.

In fact, you’re probably more critical of your speaking ability than your audience is.

Speaker giving speech

Here’s your go-to list of tips for giving a presentation with confidence :

  • An hour or so before the presentation, imagine that your speech is already over, and you nailed it. Repeat the visualization of a successful outcome several times.
  • A half hour or so before, plan on doing some light exercise. A brisk walk fits the bill perfectly.
  • As you begin speaking, focus on various audience members. But don’t stare at any one person for too long. (If looking at people makes you uncomfortable, look at various spots on the wall directly behind your audience.)
  • If you do happen to make a mistake, pause. Take a deep breath and collect your thoughts. Sip some water if you’ve got some. Then, keep going. Don’t make a big deal about the mistake.
  • Some public speakers find that glancing at a friendly face in the audience helps. If this is you, make a mental note of where your friendly face is located before you begin speaking.

For more information on how to overcome the fear of public speaking and how to speak confidently, study these Envato tutorials:

business presentation illustration

One Final Tip : Practice works! The more you practice, the easier giving a presentation will be for you. Organizations like Toastmasters International and professional meetups can help you to practice and improve your speaking skills.

Not only is speaking confidently to your audience important, but so too is choosing the right venue to present in and getting familiar with it.

Use This Checklist to Find the Perfect Venue for Your Business Presentation Quickly

Finding a good speaking venue

Where you give your presentation does make a difference. Choosing the right speaking venue means a better experience for both you and your audience.

As soon as possible, learn everything you can about the facility where you’ll give your presentation. If you can, pay a pre-presentation visit. Find out what’s available at the speaking location and what you need to bring with you.

To choose a good speaking venue, use the following bullets as a checklist:

  • The facility is easy for audience members to find.
  • There are enough chairs for all the members of your expected audience.
  • Audience members can hear (and see) your presentation regardless of where they’re seated.
  • There are restrooms convenient to the main speaking area.
  • Get a specific list of provided equipment.*
  • Make sure there are enough electrical outlets.
  • The room has a place for you to project your slideshow (either a screen or a blank wall).
  • The room will be heated (or cooled) to a comfortable temperature.

* Provided equipment can include cables, computer with keyboard and mouse, microphone and other sound equipment, a remote, a video adapter, and a working projector.

If you’ve got any questions about the facility before the date of your presentation, ask. Most venues are happy to work with you.

On the day of your presentation, bring any equipment that won’t be provided by your venue. Also, bring a laptop or phone charger.

You’ve just learned the best way to deliver a presentation with the most impact. Next, we’ll discuss those extras that can add something special to your presentation.

Chapter 8. 7 Creative Ideas That’ll Add Extra Oomph to Any Business Presentation

Creative Ideas Thatll Add Extra Oomph to Any Business Presentation

For a truly impactful presentation, you need to go above and beyond the expectations of your audience. Here are seven creative presentation ideas you can put to good use right away to make your presentation more memorable.

1. Give Away Some Swag

SWAG presentation idea

People love getting free stuff. A swag bag full of branded items means they’ll remember your organization each time they pick up that branded pen or pencil, keychain, folder, or other branded item.

Here’s a list of easily branded items, perfect for a swag bag:

  • pens and pencils
  • coffee mugs

Make sure that each swag bag item displays your company name and phone number. If you’re wondering how your logo would look on a promotional item, you can create mockups using Placeit .

Try This : Put together a book or pamphlet of tips related to your product or service. Give it away to audience members as part of your swag bag, or by itself.

2. Use an Infographic in Your Slides

Infographics present facts, figures, and other concepts in an attractive, visual way. Keep your listeners interested while you present data that might otherwise seem boring.

Notice how the colorful infographic below catches your eye:

Infographic Presentation Idea

Learn more about infographics in these Envato Tuts+ articles:

business presentation illustration

3. Add a Human Element to Your Presentation

Adding a human element is another creative presentation idea for extra oomph. People love stories, and they’re especially drawn to stories about people.

We’ve already talked about how effective storytelling can be. Learn more about storytelling in these Envato Tuts+ articles:

business presentation illustration

Try This : Poll your top 20 customers. Ask each one whether your product or service has made a difference in their life. Also ask whether they’d be willing to share their story. Contact the customers who said “yes.” Use their responses to create a powerful human impact story for your presentation.

4. Involve the Audience: Try a Q&A

Many presentation software packages include a question and answer tool. For example, with Google Slides you can let audience members ask questions online. This can be helpful for large audiences or if some of your audience members are remote.

Here’s a peek at how the Google Slides Q&A tool works. First, the audience is provided with a URL where they can ask questions:

Google Slides URL for Q  A

If an audience member clicks on the link, they’re prompted to ask their question:

Google Slides QA Prompt

Learn more about the Google Slides Q&A feature in this article:

business presentation illustration

Here are more ways to involve your audience:

  • Ask for a show of hands if the audience agrees or can relate to your question.
  • Ask for an audience volunteer for a visual representation.

5. Show a Compelling Image

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. The right image can speak volumes.

Images are powerful when they:

  • Stir an emotion.
  • Stimulate the imagination.
  • Capture an important moment.

The most effective images are those that tell a story. Look at the image below:

Compelling Image Presentation Idea

When you see this image, you realize this person has run out of gas for their car. You may wonder:

  • How long have they been walking?
  • How far do they have to go?
  • Why are they alone?

The image can also be used symbolically to illustrate concepts like:

  • the need to be prepared
  • hitting a road bump in a journey
  • dealing with the unexpected

Try This : When you use a compelling image in your presentation, pause for a moment to let your audience absorb the image. Then, move on to your point.

6. Add a Video or Animation

An animation or video can add interest to a presentation. Be sure to add an animation or video that’s professionally done and relevant to your presentation.

Be careful about letting your video take over your presentation. The video you choose should enhance your message, but not overpower your presentation.

To learn more about using videos and animations, study these Envato Tuts+ articles:

business presentation illustration

7. Be Available

A valuable extra you can add to your business presentation is to be available after it’s over. 

If the speaking venue permits, stick around for at least 30 minutes. Use the time to network with audience members and answer questions that didn’t come up during the question and answer session.

Those who approach you after the presentation are more likely to be serious prospects for your product or service.

Remember This: Don’t Add Too Much Oomph!

Adding one or two of these creative elements to your presentation will help capture your listener’s attention. Yet using an 'oomph' element on every slide in your presentation will most likely just overwhelm your audience. Apply these enticing elements judiciously.

You’ll find even more creative presentation ideas in these Envato Tuts+ articles:

business presentation illustration

Remember, one of the best ways to add 'oomph' to your business presentation is to be prepared. And being better prepared is what this guide is all about.

Chapter 9. 2024 Business Presentation Checklist: To Prepare for Your Next Business Presentation (Step by Step)

Download Business Presentation Checklist

To help put all these presentation tips and techniques into practice, we've created a handy PDF checklist attachment that'll walk through everything you've learned. 

You can download this checklist as part of a FREE PDF set . This free download includes the 69 page Making Great Presentations eBook and quick-action Checklist. 

Making great business presentations eBook

Download it now, then simply use it to check off each item as you prepare your next presentation. 

Conclusion Make A Great Presentation

You've just learned about all about business presentations. You've discovered how to make great presentations and how to avoid common business presentation mistakes. It's time to act on what you've learned. The next step is up to you.

Do you want to learn more about presentations? You'll find many more helpful tutorials about making great presentations and using top presentation tools at Envato Tuts+ .

Also, be sure to grab a copy of The Complete Guide to Making Great Business Presentations in 2021. Download this FREE guide now  as a convenient 69 page eBook PDF with quick-action checklist.

For a truly effective presentation, you'll want to use a professionally designed business presentation template . Download the templates you need from Envato Elements or Envato Market .

Putting it all together to make a great presentation

business presentation illustration

Other Free Design Resources

80 free business illustrations for your next creative designs, by sandra boicheva.

3 years ago

You may also like Show related articles Hide

Really Good Character Design Examples

There is always room for beautiful illustrations even in the most professional corporate design. In fact, websites and presentations with well-crafted vector illustrations are always more memorable. This is why today I dug deep and hand-picked 80 free business illustrations for your personal library you can download now and use for your designs. Just make your picks from the beautiful work of creative designers and digital illustrators from all over the web.

1. Free Efficiency Cartoon Business Illustration

Efficiency Cartoon Illustrations: Free Business Illustration 01

  • Files : PNG, SVG
  • Tweaks : Change color and remove background before downloading
  • License : Free for Personal and Commercial Use with Attribution │ Do Not Sell or Redistribute

2. Free Shared Goals Business Illustration

Shared goals Cartoon Business Illustrations 02

3. Free Growth Curve Business Illustration

Free Growth curve Disproportionate Business Illustrations

4. Free Business Challenge Cartoon Illustration

Free Business challenge Cartoon Illustrations

5. Free Isometric Business Illustration

Free Efficiency Isometric Illustrations

6. Good Team Business Illustration

Free Good team Isometric Illustrations

7. Internship Free Illustration

Free Internship Flat Illustrations

8. Presentation Free Illustration

Free Projections Cartoon Illustrations

9. Decision Free Illustration

Free Business decisions Cartoon Illustrations

10. Mr. Geekson Free Set of Business Illustrations

Mr. Geekson Set Free Vector Cartoon Characters by GraphicMama

  • Files : PNG, PDF, EPS
  • License : Free for Personal and Commercial Use │ Do Not Sell or Redistribute

11. Free Vector Set of Business People

Free business vector set with 20 business related illustrations, including 4 business people characters illustrated in 5 styles each by GraphicMama

12. Business Illustrations Free Maker

Business Vector Cartoon Graphic Maker Free Design Bundles by GraphicMama

  • Files : PNG, PDF, EPS, Ai

13. Bear Cartoon Business Illustrations Set

Bear Cartoon Character Set Free Vector Cartoon Characters by GraphicMama

14. Executive Cartoon Business Illustrations Set

Teacher Cartoon Vector Character Free Vector Cartoon Characters

15. Manager Cartoon Business Illustrations Set

Business Woman Cartoon Vector Character Free Vector Cartoon Characters

16. Entrepreneur Cartoon Business Set

Office Man Cartoon Vector Character Free Vector Cartoon Characters

17. Presenter Cartoon Business Illustrations Set

Presentation Cartoon Vector Character Free Vector Cartoon Characters

18. Saleslady Cartoon Business Illustrations Set

Shopping Girl Cartoon Vector Character Free Vector Cartoon Characters

19. Business Partners Free Illustration

Business idea, partners, together, teamwork concept. business partners discussing project concept. Isolated vector illustration. Free Vector

  • Files : JPG, EPS

20. Startup Concept Free Business Illustration

Concept of startup. Cartoon happy business man with thumb up for rocket launch. Flat design, vector illustration Free Vector

21. Execute Business Plans Free Illustration

Business concept illustration of a businessman hand pushing start button, start up, war concept. Free Vector

22. Innovation Free Illustration

Startup business illustration. Businessmen makes an agreement on idea before launching rocket. Innovation technology start up. Free Vector

23. Target Idea Free Business Concept

Businessman flying forward with a rocket engine with target idea. Business vector concept illustration Free Vector

24. Internet Marketing Referral Program Business Free Illustration

people join hands and refer a friend to get money. internet marketing referral program business. vector illustration concept for, landing page, web, ui, banner, flyer, poster, template, background, UI Free Vector

25.  Businessman Running Free Illustration

Business man runs and jumps on the graph with city background. Vector illustration business Free Vector

26. Presentation Free Business Illustration

Business man showing presentation to audience with data and graph statistic. Flat Isometric Design illustration. Free Vector

27. Time Management at Work Free Vector

Time management at work, multitasking in managing time, security scheduling and business planning, stopwatch padlock lock, clock lock security. Vector illustration of website banner, software, poster Free Vector

28. Modern Online Learning Free Vector

Ideas and inspiration in learning and education. People sitting on books. Modern online learning. Lamp bulb and pencil. Education business. Illustration for business card, banner, brochure, flyer Free Vector

29. Business Analysts Free Vector Illustration

Couple of professionals analyzing graphs Free Vector

30. Office Free Business Vector

On the office concept illustration Free Vector

31. Startup Life Free Business Vector

Startup life concept illustration Free Vector

32. Corporate Meeting Free Vector

Corporate meeting. employees cartoon characters discussing business strategy and planning further actions. brainstorming, formal communication, seminar concept illustration Free Vector

33.  Business Leader Free Vector

Business leader standing on arrow and holding flag flat vector illustration. cartoon people training and doing business plan. leadership, victory and challenge concept Free Vector

34. Business Analysts Free Vector

People analyzing growth charts illustrated Free Vector

35.  Free Set of 6 Business Illustrations

Set of business and transactions with charts showing operating results on computer monitors and screens. business concept flat design illustration Free Vector

36. Business Team Brainstorming Free Vector

Business team brainstorm idea and lightbulb from jigsaw. working team collaboration, enterprise cooperation, colleagues mutual assistance concept. pinkish coral bluevector isolated illustration Free Vector

37. Business Team Planning Free Vector

Business team planning working process flat vector illustration. cartoon colleagues talking, sharing thoughts and smiling in company office. teamwork and workflow concept Free Vector

38. Office Workers Free Vector

Office workers organizing data storage and file archive on server or computer. cartoon illustration Free Vector

39. Business Team Free Vector

Business team discussing ideas for startup Free Vector

40. Business Meeting Free Vector

Contact us concept for landing page Free Vector

41. Finance Set of  10 Free Vector Business Illustrations 

Finance set of flat icons with internet banking Free Vector

42. Online Deal Free Business Illustration

Business people using computers for closing deal online. cartoon illustration Free Vector

43. Team Metaphor Free Business Illustration

People connecting puzzle elements. business concept. team metaphor. business teamwork with pieces Free Vector

44. Business Team Meeting Free Vector Illustration

People and online meeting icons set cartoon isolated vector illustration Free Vector

45. Cute Business Shiba Inu Free Vector

Cute shiba inu working with laptop on gold coin cartoon vector icon illustration. animal business icon concept isolated premium vector. flat cartoon style Free Vector

46. Shiba Inu Making Money Free Vector

Cute shiba inu dog watering money plant cartoon vector icon illustration. animal business icon concept isolated premium vector. flat cartoon style Free Vector

47. Work Discussion Free Illustration

Work discussion vector cartoon business icons set Free Vector

48. Creative Team Free Illustration

People holding their creativity vector cute doodle icons set Free Vector

49. Team Goals Free Vector

Team goals concept illustration Free Vector

50. Business Target Free Vector

Positive tiny people sitting and walking near huge target with arrow isolated flat vector illustration. cartoon business team achieving goal or aim. marketing strategy and achievement concept Free Vector

51. Isometric Free Business Vector

Site stats concept illustration Free Vector

52. International Crowdfunding Free Business Illustrations Vector Set

International crowdfunding money raising internet platforms for business startup nonprofit charity symbols flat icons collection illustration Free Vector

53. Business Stats Free Illustration

Site stats concept illustration Free Vector

54. Business Plan Free Illustration

Business plan concept illustration Free Vector

55. Multitasking Free Business Illustration

Multitasking concept Free Vector

56. Business Analysts 16 Free Illustrations

Business analytics flat icons Free Vector

57. Businessman Free Vector Set

Flat business people collection Free Vector

58. Consulting Services Free Vector

Consulting service, financial advisory, expert support. businesswoman and adviser cartoon characters. assistance service, business advice vector isolated concept metaphor illustration Free Vector

59. International Corp Free Illustration

International cooperation concept illustration Free Vector

60. Free Flat Style Vector Business Illustrations Set

Flat people on business training illustration Free Vector

61. Free Doodle Business People Illustrations

Cute black business cartoon icons set Free Vector

62. Doodle Style Free Business Illustrations

People holding their creativity vector cute doodle icons set Free Vector

63. Workplace Free Vector

Employee working in office interior workplace flat vector illustration Free Vector

64. Video Conference Free Vector

Group video concept illustration Free Vector

65. Business Training Free Vector

Organic flat people on business training illustration Free Vector

66. Businessman Meditating Free Illustration

Flat business man meditating illustration Free Vector

67. Team Work Process Free Business Vector

Business team and work process steps from idea to target. business workflow, business process efficiency, working activity pattern concept. pinkish coral bluevector isolated illustration Free Vector

68. Business Growth Free Vector Illustration

Business growth illustration concept vector Free Vector

69. Referral Business Illustration

Referral Business People Vector Flat Illustration Free Vector

70. Business Concept Free Illustration

Free Business Man Illustration Free Vector

71. Team Work Free Vector

Team Work In Business. People Cooperate Solve Puzzles to Find Ideas and Solutions in Building a Startup Business . Character Concept Vector Illustration For Web Landing Page, Banner, Mobile Apps Free Vector

72. Data Mining Free Vector

Data Mining Illustration Free Vector

73. Girl Developer Free Vector

Business Girl Developer Character Illustration Free Vector

74. Business Technology Free Illustration

Business and Technology Vector Illustration Free Vector

75. Business Travel Free Concept Illustration

Free Business Travel Background Vector Free Vector

76. Office Work Free Business Illustrations

Office work concept. problems and solutions. business illustration. Free Vector

77. Conceptual Free Business Vector

Flat Vector Business Illustrations Free Vector

78. Profit Increase Free Vector

Paint a Profit Increase With Teamwork in Business. People are Drawing Arrow Up for Return on Investment ROI. Character Concept Vector Illustration For Web Landing Page, Banner, Mobile Apps, Card, Book Free Vector

79. Collaboration Free Illustration

Collaboration to get return on profit and opportunities. Bar chart and diagram. Mobile financial chart. Business analysis. Flat vector human illustration for landing page, website, mobile, poster Free Vector

80. Optimization Free Illustration

Optimization and developing business growth with advertising and promotion. Internet marketing strategy, planning and analysis. Flat vector human illustration for landing page, website, mobile, poster Free Vector

81. Financing Free Illustration

Financial platform to help choose investment. Statistics data for accounting. Analysis of business data and company growth. Flat vector human illustration for landing page, website, mobile, poster Free Vector

That’s It!

You’ve reached the end of this huge collection of 80 free business illustrations in vector. They come in a modern graphic style suitable for modern corporate websites, presentations, and every design you can think of. Have fun!

In the meantime, why not take a look at the related articles to get some more inspiration or grab a couple of freebies:

Or you can jump straight into this mega inspiration article-collection of 100+ Really Good Character Design Examples Proving that Everything Can Become a Character

business presentation illustration

Share this article

You may also like ....

business presentation illustration

Design Tips

Where to find the best vector cartoon characters to download where to find the best vector cartoon characters to download.

By Iveta Pavlova

Ready to get started?

  • Inspiration

23 presentation examples that really work (plus templates!)

Three professionals engaged in a collaborative meeting with a Biteable video maker, a laptop, and documents on the table.

  • 30 Mar 2023

To help you in your quest for presentation greatness, we’ve gathered 23 of the best business presentation examples out there. These hand-picked ideas range from business PowerPoint presentations, to recruitment presentations, and everything in between.

As a bonus, several of our examples include editable video presentation templates from  Biteable .

Biteable allows anyone to create great video presentations — no previous video-making skills required. The easy-to-use platform has hundreds of brandable templates and video scenes designed with a business audience in mind. A video made with Biteable is just what you need to add that wow factor and make an impact on your audience.

Create videos that drive action

Activate your audience with impactful, on-brand videos. Create them simply and collaboratively with Biteable.

Video presentation examples

Video presentations are our specialty at Biteable. We love them because they’re the most visually appealing and memorable way to communicate.

1. Animated characters

Our first presentation example is a business explainer video from Biteable that uses animated characters. The friendly and modern style makes this the perfect presentation for engaging your audience.

Bonus template:  Need a business video presentation that reflects the beautiful diversity of your customers or team? Use  Biteable’s workplace scenes . You can change the skin tone and hair color for any of the animated characters.

2. Conference video

Videos are also ideal solutions for events (e.g. trade shows) where they can be looped to play constantly while you attend to more important things like talking to people and handing out free cheese samples.

For this event presentation sample below, we used bright colours, stock footage, and messaging that reflects the brand and values of the company. All these elements work together to draw the attention of passers-by.

For a huge selection of video presentation templates, take a look at our  template gallery .

Business PowerPoint presentation examples

Striking fear into the hearts of the workplace since 1987, PowerPoint is synonymous with bland, boring presentations that feel more like an endurance test than a learning opportunity. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Check out these anything-but-boring business PowerPoint presentation examples.

3. Design pointers

This PowerPoint presentation takes a tongue-in-cheek look at how the speakers and users of PowerPoint are the problem, not the software itself.

Even at a hefty 61 slides, the vintage theme, appealing colors, and engaging content keep the viewer interested. It delivers useful and actionable tips on creating a better experience for your audience.

Pixar, as you’d expect, redefines the meaning of PowerPoint in their “22 Rules for Phenomenal Storytelling”. The character silhouettes are instantly recognizable and tie firmly to the Pixar brand. The bright colour palettes are carefully chosen to highlight the content of each slide.

This presentation is a good length, delivering one message per slide, making it easy for an audience to take notes and retain the information.

Google slides examples

If you’re in business, chances are you’ll have come across  slide decks . Much like a deck of cards, each slide plays a key part in the overall ‘deck’, creating a well-rounded presentation.

If you need to inform your team, present findings, or outline a new strategy, slides are one of the most effective ways to do this.

Google Slides is one of the best ways to create a slide deck right now. It’s easy to use and has built-in design tools that integrate with Adobe, Lucidchart, and more. The best part — it’s free!

5. Teacher education

Here’s a slide deck that was created to educate teachers on how to use Google Slides effectively in a classroom. At first glance it seems stuffy and businessy, but if you look closer it’s apparent the creator knows his audience well, throwing in some teacher-friendly content that’s bound to get a smile.

The slides give walkthrough screenshots and practical advice on the different ways teachers can use the software to make their lives that little bit easier and educate their students at the same time.

6. Charity awareness raiser

This next Google slide deck is designed to raise awareness for an animal shelter. It has simple, clear messaging, and makes use of the furry friends it rescues to tug on heartstrings and encourage donations and adoptions from its audience.

Pro tip: Creating a presentation is exciting but also a little daunting. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed — especially if the success of your business or nonprofit depends on it.

Prezi presentation examples

If you haven’t come across  Prezi , it’s a great alternative to using static slides. Sitting somewhere between slides and a video presentation, it allows you to import other content and add motion to create a more engaging viewer experience.

7. Red Bull event recap

This Prezi was created to document the Red Bull stratosphere freefall stunt a few years ago. It neatly captures all the things that Prezi is capable of, including video inserts and the zoom effect, which gives an animated, almost 3D effect to what would otherwise be still images.  

Prezi has annual awards for the best examples of presentations over the year. This next example is one of the 2018 winners. It was made to highlight a new Logitech tool.

8. Logitech Spotlight launch

What stands out here are the juicy colors, bold imagery, and the way the designer has used Prezi to its full extent, including rotations, panning, fades, and a full zoom out to finish the presentation.

business presentation illustration

Sales presentation examples

If you’re stuck for ideas for your sales presentation, step right this way and check out this video template we made for you.

9. Sales enablement video presentation

In today’s fast-paced sales environment, you need a way to make your sales enablement presentations memorable and engaging for busy reps.  Sales enablement videos  are just the ticket. Use this video presentation template the next time you need to present on your metrics.

10. Zuroa sales deck

If you’re after a sales deck, you can’t go past this example from Zuora. What makes it great? It begins by introducing the worldwide shift in the way consumers are shopping. It’s a global phenomenon, and something we can all relate to.

It then weaves a compelling story about how the subscription model is changing the face of daily life for everyone. Metrics and testimonials from well-known CEOs and executives are included for some slamming social proof to boost the sales message.

Pitch presentation examples

Pitch decks are used to give an overview of business plans, and are usually presented during meetings with customers, investors, or potential partners.

11. Uber pitch deck

This is Uber’s original pitch deck, which (apart from looking a teensy bit dated) gives an excellent overview of their business model and clearly shows how they intended to disrupt a traditional industry and provide a better service to people. Right now, you’re probably very grateful that this pitch presentation was a winner.

You can make your own pitch deck with Biteable, or start with one of our  video templates  to make something a little more memorable.

12. Video pitch template

This video pitch presentation clearly speaks to the pains of everyone who needs to commute and find parking. It then provides the solution with its app that makes parking a breeze.

The video also introduces the key team members, their business strategy, and what they’re hoping to raise in funding. It’s a simple, clear pitch that positions the company as a key solution to a growing, worldwide problem. It’s compelling and convincing, as a good presentation should be.

13. Fyre Festival pitch deck

The most epic example of a recent pitch deck is this one for Fyre Festival – the greatest event that never happened. Marvel at its persuasion, gasp at the opportunity of being part of the cultural experience of the decade, cringe as everything goes from bad to worse.

Despite the very public outcome, this is a masterclass in how to create hype and get funding with your pitch deck using beautiful imagery, beautiful people, and beautiful promises of riches and fame.

Business presentation examples

Need to get the right message out to the right people? Business presentations can do a lot of the heavy lifting for you.

Simply press play and let your video do the talking. No fumbling your words and sweating buckets in front of those potential clients, just you being cool as a cucumber while your presentation does the talking.

Check out two of our popular templates that you can use as a starting point for your own presentations. While they’re business-minded, they’re definitely not boring.

14. Business intro template

Modern graphics, animations, and upbeat soundtracks keep your prospects engaged as they learn about your business, your team, your values, and how you can help them.

15. Business explainer template

Research presentation examples.

When you’re giving a more technical presentation such as research findings, you need to strike the perfect balance between informing your audience and making sure they stay awake.

As a rule, slides are more effective for research presentations, as they are used to support the speaker’s knowledge rather can capture every small detail on screen.

With often dry, complex, and technical subject matter, there can be a temptation for presentations to follow suit. Use images instead of walls of text, and keep things as easy to follow as possible.

16. TrackMaven research deck

TrackMaven uses their endearing mascot to lighten up this data-heavy slide deck. The graphs help to bring life to their findings, and they ensure to only have one bite-size takeaway per slide so that viewers can easily take notes.

17. Wearable tech research report

Obviously, research can get very researchy and there’s not a lot to be done about it. This slide deck below lays out a ton of in-depth information but breaks it up well with quotes, diagrams, and interesting facts to keep viewers engaged while it delivers its findings on wearable technology.

Team presentation examples

Motivating your team can be a challenge at the best of times, especially when you need to gather them together for….another presentation!

18. Team update template

We created this presentation template as an example of how to engage your team. In this case, it’s for an internal product launch. Using colorful animation and engaging pacing, this video presentation is much better than a static PowerPoint, right?

19. Officevibe collaboration explainer

This short slide deck is a presentation designed to increase awareness of the problems of a disengaged team. Bright colors and relevant images combine with facts and figures that compel viewers to click through to a download to learn more about helping their teams succeed.

Recruitment presentation examples

Recruiting the right people can be a challenge. Presentations can help display your team and your business by painting a dynamic picture of what it’s like to work with you.

Videos and animated slides let you capture the essence of your brand and workplace so the right employees can find you.

20. Company culture explainer

If you’re a recruitment agency, your challenge is to stand out from the hundreds of other agencies in the marketplace.

21. Kaizen culture

Showcasing your agency using a slide deck can give employers and employees a feel for doing business with you. Kaizen clearly displays its credentials and highlights its brand values and personality here (and also its appreciation of the coffee bean).

Explainer presentation examples

Got some explaining to do? Using an explainer video is the ideal way to showcase products that are technical, digital, or otherwise too difficult to explain with still images and text.

Explainer videos help you present the features and values of your product in an engaging way that speaks to your ideal audience and promotes your brand at the same time.

22. Product explainer template

23. lucidchart explainer.

Lucidchart does a stellar job of using explainer videos for their software. Their series of explainers-within-explainers entertains the viewer with cute imagery and an endearing brand voice. At the same time, the video is educating its audience on how to use the actual product. We (almost) guarantee you’ll have more love for spiders after watching this one.

Make a winning video presentation with Biteable

Creating a winning presentation doesn’t need to be difficult or expensive. Modern slide decks and video software make it easy for you to give compelling presentations that sell, explain, and educate without sending your audience to snooze town.

For the best online video presentation software around, check out Biteable. The intuitive platform does all the heavy lifting for you, so making a video presentation is as easy as making a PowerPoint.

Use Biteable’s brand builder to automatically fetch your company colors and logo from your website and apply them to your entire video with the click of a button. Even add a  clickable call-to-action  button to your video.

Share your business presentation anywhere with a single, trackable URL and watch your message turn into gold.

Make stunning videos with ease.

Take the struggle out of team communication.

Try Biteable now.

  • No credit card required
  • No complicated design decisions
  • No experience necessary
  • Presentations
  • Most Recent
  • Infographics
  • Data Visualizations
  • Forms and Surveys
  • Video & Animation
  • Case Studies
  • Design for Business
  • Digital Marketing
  • Design Inspiration
  • Visual Thinking
  • Product Updates
  • Visme Webinars
  • Artificial Intelligence

15 Expert Tips for Giving a Powerful Business Presentation

15 Expert Tips for Giving a Powerful Business Presentation

Written by: Mahnoor Sheikh

business presentation - header wide

A powerful business presentation is much more than just a bunch of nice-looking slides.

Whether you’re presenting to venture capitalists, senior management or potential customers, you need to make a great first impression and stand out from the dozens of other speakers they’ll encounter.

For some people, presenting in front of even a handful of listeners can be a nightmare. And when it's a room full of important business folks, like investors or your boss, things get even worse.

If that sounds like you, don't worry. We have a way to calm your nerves and bring back your confidence.

In this post, you'll find 15 expert tips to help you deliver an unforgettable business presentation.

Ready to create your business presentation? Our presentation maker can help you create a professional slide deck quickly and easily using ready-made templates.

1 Know your material.

Before you can convince anyone else, you need to be completely sold on your idea or product. It’s important that you know the points you are making, inside and out.

When you present before an audience, you’ll likely be using visual aids, notes and/or slides. While these tools can help, make sure they aren’t the sum of your expertise.

These are only tools to aid you in your ability to communicate.

Don't rely on them too much or you’ll come across as unsure and boring. Your knowledge of your subject should be beyond your cue-cards so that you can effectively answer any questions that crop up.

You need to inspire confidence. If you bring up a point that is on your slide, back it up with statistics that you’ve encountered or quotes that relate to your topic.

2 Be enthusiastic.

Believe me, vibes matter.

No one wants to hear you drone on about a subject you don’t care for. If you’re tired and bored of your own presentation, your audience is probably feeling the same way.

Anyone listening to you should know how passionate you are about the subject. This will be very apparent in your body language , like the way you speak, make eye contact and walk around on the stage.

Harvard professor Amy Cuddy studies how body postures can communicate power.

Before her highly successful TED talk, she spent time striding, standing tall and extending her body. These movements got her into the zone of feeling powerful and passionate.

It’s also important that you properly energize yourself before a business presentation.

Do some warm-up exercises, like stretching or vocal exercises.

Check out this video on vocal exercises to practice before an important speech or presentation:

You can also do other things that get you focused and energized. Go through inspirational quotes or listen to music. Make sure you’ve drunk enough water and keep a bottle with you during your presentation.

3 Arrive early to set up.

One of the things that can mess up your business presentation is not being familiar with the space you’ll be speaking in. Make sure you arrive at your venue at least an hour in advance.

Set up anything you’ll need , like a projector, laptop or speakers.

If the venue already has all the equipment set up, make sure everything is compatible and working fine. Transfer any files from your USB or download them off of your email or cloud.

Next, check if there are any impediments to your being heard or seen.

Sit at different locations in the audience area to make sure the stage is visible, and the speaker can be heard at the very back. This will help you assess how loud you should be.

Check to see if the projection is visible in the lighting you have, and adjust the lights accordingly.

Another big advantage of arriving early is that you get to meet and greet some of your audience members. This will help you feel more confident on stage as you’ve already broken some of the ice .

Hey executives! Looking to cut design costs?

  • Spend less time on presentations and more time strategizing
  • Ensure your brand looks and feels visually consistent across all your organization's documents
  • Impress clients and stakeholders with boardroom ready presentations

Sign up. It’s free.

Hey executives! Looking to cut design costs?

4 Be comfortable with your own self.

You’ve prepped well, you know your stuff inside-out and your visual aids are ready. The next big questions are: What should you wear? How should you act?

It can be tricky deciding what to wear to give a killer business presentation, but your look will likely depend upon your comfort and who your audience is.

Lauren McGoodwin, founder and CEO of Career Contessa, recommends :

“When dressing for a presentation, it’s important to wear something you’re comfortable in, and something that makes you feel confident.”

She also says that you should wear something that allows you to move and gesture freely.

But regardless of what you wear, it’s important to be your best self.

Many people are nervous speaking in front of an audience, so rehearse beforehand and have a friend, colleague or any objective observer monitor you.

If you come across as jittery—always shifting your weight from one leg to another, moving your hands too much, shaking, etc—it’s a good idea to take a note of all that and work at establishing a firm presence on stage before your big day.

How you act also depends upon your personality.

Adopt your natural position. If you’re comfortable standing in place, don’t force yourself to stride across the stage. If your voice is gentle, no need to yell, just get a microphone.

Keep your everyday demeanor and bring out the best you.

5 Open strong.

We live in an era where audiences have low attention spans and expect to be entertained. Start your business presentation with a bang so as to set the tone for the rest of your presentation.

You could start off with a statistic that shocks the audience into sitting up and taking note or with a quote that instantly makes them listen.

Don’t forget to put them at ease by reassuring them: “I know you may be wondering…”, “…that fact may seem shocking, but research backs it up because…” etc.

You could also start with an interesting image , an attention-grabbing video or a touching personal story.

Remember, first impressions are everything.

You need to convey to your audience that your business presentation will be worth their while and not just a run-of-the-mill lecture where you dispiritedly talk at them.

6 Set goals for your business presentation.

At the very beginning of your presentation, lay out the goals you hope to meet during your time on stage. This tells the audience why they should listen to you and what they have to gain from paying attention.

As these goals are met, both you and your audience will feel a sense of purpose and achievement at effective communication. Here's a customizable presentation slide template in Visme for goals.

business presentation - set goals slide visme template

Ready to create your own business presentation?

  • Add your own text, images, colors and more
  • Choose from hundreds of slide designs and templates
  • Add interactive buttons and animations

Your audience will be more likely to remain tuned in if they can see the objectives of the presentation being fulfilled and this in turn will make them more likely to deem your talk a ‘success’.

These goals will also help your audience remember crucial points of your business presentation, which will ensure that you have a productive Q&A session.

7 Tell a story.

Stories connect with people much more than statistics, academic points or even quotations do.

A story can be personal, of course, but it can also be the story of a brand or even a story about consumers.

Steve Jobs was a great corporate storyteller and he shone at every Apple product launch presentation. Check out this video of Jobs presenting at the launch of the iPhone in 2007.

Steve Jobs framed his company’s new innovations in terms of stories of revolution. Macintosh “changed the whole computer industry” and the iPod “changed the whole music industry”.

These were stories of change that brought the product, the consumer, and the exciting time they were living in all together—it made the audience go on a journey.

You can work in a similar way by highlighting the problems (the villain) and how your product, business or idea (the hero) will lead your audience closer to a solution. Telling stories can make your business seem like part of a grand narrative that your audience wants to become a part of.

Then, of course, there are personal stories. These usually appear at the beginning, but a good presentation makes effective use of them throughout.

Tell your audience how you got to where you are, and what makes you believe in your business.

Remember to keep it short, but interesting.

The goal is to establish an emotional connection with your audience so your message hits home. Don’t overdo it or deviate from your actual point.

If you’re looking for more storytelling techniques to incorporate into your presentation, check out this Visme video on presentation structures used by top TED speakers:

8 Interact with your audience.

A business presentation can get boring and sleep-inducing real fast if you just talk “at” your audience instead of talking to them.

Turn your presentation into a conversation by involving your audience in the discussion. Ask them questions, take their feedback and connect with them via anecdotes (“I know we’ve all felt this way”.)

You can also get them to sit up and work with you. For example, they could be asked to raise their hands if they agree during certain points of the presentation.

Interacting with your audience during your business presentation will help prevent the dreaded “ death by PowerPoint ” and keep them wide awake and attentive.

9 Use visual aids.

Visuals help people retain information for longer periods of time, so use them generously throughout your presentation to make sure your message hits home.

And no, visual aids don’t necessarily mean boring PowerPoint slides.

Pictures, videos and art are also great mediums to get your points across and intrigue the audience. Visual flowcharts can help summarize complex topics.

And if you really do want to use presentation slides, use a tool like Visme to create ones that look professional and stand out from the rest. Check out these editable business presentation templates .

Use data visualization, like bar graphs, pie charts and more to make numbers look interesting.

Visme lets you create over 15 different types of graphs and tons of data widgets, like progress bars and radials, for your business presentation. You can also tap into the flowchart maker, array maker, map engine and other tools to help you visualize information. Here's a sneak peek at how it works:

As for the slides, make sure you don’t stuff them with text.

If you put bullets up on the screen, make sure they are visible and condensed. No one wants to see entire paragraphs up there when you’re talking to them at the same time.

A quote or two is fine, but don’t overdo it.

10 Add some business-friendly humor.

During long presentations, there is nothing more relaxing than a speaker who can make you laugh.

If you just keep talking in a serious tone, it’ll seem like you’re droning on. A friendly, conversational style and light jokes can make sure that you retain your audience’s attention.

But remember, this is a business presentation. Don’t go overboard with comedy or your audience won’t take you or your presentation seriously.

We recommend using humor only if you’re naturally good at. If not, don’t force it.

11 Make startling statements.

Every once in a while, shock your audience into sitting up and focusing.

Challenge their existing beliefs with solid knowledge and statistics. While a startling fact or statistic can be a great way to begin a presentation, it is also important to use these statements throughout.

Don't overdo it so it loses its appeal, but around thrice during an hour-long presentation should be good.

12 Remember the 10-20-30 rule.

Venture capitalist Guy Kawasaki came up with this handy presentation rule in 2005 .

Here’s an infographic that sums it up:

business presentation - infographic 10 20 30 rule guy kawasaki

Want to create your own stunning infographic in minutes?

  • Choose from dozens of professionally designed templates
  • Add and alter icons, colors, fonts, images and more
  • Customize anything to fit your brand image and content needs

Kawasaki sat through many, many bad presentations and figured out this rule to make sure presentations stop being so repetitive and boring.

10 slides give presenters an ample amount of space to summarize their argument. Any more information and the audience is likely to lose focus and doze off.

20 minutes is how long the average person can pay attention without losing his mind wandering. Kawasaki says that, in an ideal world, the last 40 minutes of the presenter’s hour will be utilized in a Q&A session.

A font size of 30 points means that everyone can read a presentation, even from the back of the room, and the presenter is forced to put minimal text up on the screen.

Keep in mind that Kawasaki is talking about a specific situation, a pitch for a room full of venture capitalists.

While his points can be generalized, a business owner may also find themselves in a situation where they aren’t perfectly applicable. It would be good to revise them slightly in different situations.

13 Make eye contact and smile.

You don’t have to stand there and speak like a machine. Your audience will respond better to the presentation if you personalize your interactions with them.

Make sure you meet the eyes of multiple members of the audience so that they feel like you are paying attention to them individually.

Eye contact can reassure your audience that you value their time and are grateful for their presence and it can also drive home the message that you are confident in your pitch.

Smile at audience members when you meet their eyes! If you’re nervous, locate five or six friendly faces in the crowd and keep coming back to them for encouragement.

14 Be prepared for tough questions.

Don’t underestimate the power of the Q&A session!

Your answers can make or break your business presentation. A good presenter knows their material completely and is ready to face difficult questions.

Here's an editable presentation slide template in Visme for Q&A sessions:

business presentation - question answer qa session slide visme template

Remember, people will trust in you and your business venture if they are sure you know what you’re doing.

If you’ve ended your presentation on an awkward silence, ask some questions yourself and use language that makes it apparent that you know the concerns of your audience.

Start with phrases like “Now, you may be wondering if…”. This sets the crowd at ease and allows them to comfortably voice their concerns.

15 Close on a high.

It is very important to have a closing note after the Q&A session. You shouldn’t need a slide for this part, but you can use one if you want.

The way you conclude your presentation should be powerful and ensure that the audience remembers you. Like your opening, you can end with a personal story or quotation. Or remind them about the goals and summarize the main points quickly.

Make sure the end is euphoric and shows that your ideas can achieve success. This will ensure that your listeners place their confidence in you and leave feeling satisfied and uplifted.

Make Your Business Presentation a Success

The secret to giving a successful business presentation is putting your heart and soul into connecting with your audience and truly showing them the value in your ideas.

This list of professional tips can empower you in small ways, leading to big outcomes.

If you’re already feeling pumped about your next business presentation, create one that doubles your impact using Visme’s presentation maker .

Sign up for a free account today and take it for a test drive!

What do you struggle with the most when it comes to giving business presentations? Let us know your thoughts, questions and feedback in the comments below.

Create beautiful presentations faster with Visme.

business presentation illustration

Trusted by leading brands

Capterra

Recommended content for you:

15 Successful Startup Pitch Deck Examples, Tips & Templates

Create Stunning Content!

Design visual brand experiences for your business whether you are a seasoned designer or a total novice.

business presentation illustration

About the Author

Mahnoor Sheikh is the content marketing manager at Visme. She has years of experience in content strategy and execution, SEO copywriting and graphic design. She is also the founder of MASH Content and is passionate about tea, kittens and traveling with her husband. Get in touch with her on LinkedIn .

business presentation illustration

Video Editing

  • Animation Tips
  • Website Tips

10 Business Presentation Examples | Say Goodbye to PowerPoint!

User Avatar

Renderforest Staff

11 Apr 2023

13 min read  

10 Business Presentation Examples | Say Goodbye to PowerPoint!

Have you ever found yourself delivering a presentation to a disengaged audience, wondering where you went wrong? If the struggle to make your business presentation stand out and leave a lasting impression is real, don’t worry – there’s a way out!

In today’s fast-paced business world, traditional slideshows may no longer cut it. Audiences expect more creative and interactive presentations beyond bullet points and stock images. But here’s a dilemma. How do you adopt contemporary trends while staying authentic to your business? 

While skimming through dozens of business presentation examples , we found that adjusting one according to your communication goals requires a certain approach and a little technical support. To help you solve the riddle, we’ve compiled 10 outstanding presentations that will surely spark ideas for your business.

If you are ready to embrace a revolution, keep reading, as we’ll give you editable templates as a starting point for your next presentation!

Revamp Your Business Presentations With These 10 Engaging Examples

Informative, motivational, entertaining – presentations come in all shapes. The following business presentation examples can offer insightful solutions, whether you go for an entirely new approach or just tweak an existing template.

Without further ado, let’s dig deeper to see how famous companies meet today’s demand.

Adidas Annual Report 2021

Adidas annual report video presentation example

Image source: Adidas Annual Report 2021

The Adidas annual report for 2021 is a comprehensive and detailed report providing an overview of the company’s performance and financial results over the year. Presented as a combined publication for investors, stakeholders, and everyone interested in the company’s activity, it’s a business presentation example focusing on:

  • Professionalism
  • Clean manner

One of the key peculiarities of this report is its abstract style. The way it uses visuals and infographics to present complex financial information and data in an easy-to-understand format tells about its business-oriented approach.

Starting with a letter from the CEO, the presentation goes further with a strategic overview, financial highlights, yearly highlights, sales outlines, and more. 

Here is a sneak peek at its visuals!

A six-slide presentation has two times as many pages organically integrated as internal resources. For instance, by clicking on the green box entitled “Letter from the CEO,” you’ll be taken to the page where Kasper Rorsted expresses his gratitude toward each team member and business-related aspirations for the future.

Adidas annual report CEO page

A map depicting the company’s sales by segment has a neat yet bold aesthetic that adds to an overall business feel.

Adidas annual report map page

The company’s commitment to environmental sustainability and social responsibility is highlighted throughout the report, with sections dedicated to topics such as sustainable sourcing, supply chain transparency, and diversity and inclusion. This business presentation example showcases the power of design in business communication, proving that a combination of text and visuals is key to making an impact.

Create Yours With Renderforest

Embracing a minimalistic yet professional approach business presentation ideas is no longer a challenge for those using Renderforest for design-related tasks. The platform has hundreds, if not thousands, of editable slideshow templates for every business purpose.

Here’s your editable business presentation template to create your next annual report. Start by customizing business presentation examples according to your company’s style guide and feel the difference.

Renderforest review 2022 video presentation template

Porsche Company Presentation 2022

Porsche company presentation

Image source: Porsche Company Presentation 2022   The Porsche company presentation is a sleek and polished business presentation example  of the company’s current company heads, key statistics for the past year of 2021, brand philosophy, and more. The presentation is presented in a professional and sophisticated manner, with a focus on high-quality visuals and concise, impactful text. We see striking images and graphics as a business presentation example for a luxury brand. Intending to convey the Porsche brand’s essence and identity, presentation makers have included a range of visual elements, from illustrations to car photographs and graphs demonstrating the business growth.  

Porsche presentation key facts

The strategic focus on highlighting Porsche’s commitment to sustainability and social responsibility allows the business to stand out against its competitors and speak for itself. As a proof, the following slide depicts the company’s objectives for the future of environmental protection. 

Porsche sustainable development business presetation example

Image source: Porsche Company Presentation 2022

Overall, the presentation’s clean aesthetics, consistent color palette, and use of appropriate corporate visuals make it a great business presentation example for other businesses to follow.

Whether you are more into strict or creative presentations, we have yet other business presentation ideas for you. Staying true to your business values is essential, so take the time to personalize the following template and set yourself apart. And if you’re planning on rebranding, the AI business name generator can come in handy. 

Company profile overview presentation

Pixar’s 22 Rules to Phenomenal Storytelling

Pixar business presentation example

Image source: Pixar’s 22 Rules to Phenomenal Storytelling

This extra vivid yet minimalistic presentation provides guidelines for creating compelling and memorable stories. The presentation is demonstrated in a simple and clear manner, with a focus on concise text and playful, colorful visuals.

With its simple design, this guide provides clear and actionable steps for creating stories that engage, inspire, and resonate with audiences. The well-known character outlines evoke a solid connection to the visual content of Pixar’s films.

Pixar presentation page 2

Here we may also see the constant use of large fonts and bold colors that deliver a powerful and emotional impact on the viewers.

How Google Works by Eric Schmidt

How Google works

Image source: How Google Works by Eric Schmidt & Jonathan Rosenberg with Alan Eagle

The “How Google Works” presentation is highly informative and visually engaging. It’s a comprehensive overview of the company’s operations and the little secrets behind its success. Presented as illustrated storytelling, the presentation is an excellent example of incorporating relevant facts and figures without overwhelming the audience.

One of the key peculiarities of this business presentation example is the focus on Google’s unique corporate culture and management philosophy. The presentation highlights the corporate emphasis on innovation, collaboration, and open communication and how these values have contributed to the company’s success.

Google business presentation examples

Overall, its clear and appealing design doesn’t bore but works effectively, helping the audience quickly grasp the business model.

Whether for education, corporate identity outline, or simply presenting yourself in a fun and creative way, Renderforest’s business presentation templates stand out from the crowd. Hit the Edit button to customize the following template and fit your brand, style, and message accordingly.

Education class presentation template

Let’s make a lasting impression with your speech!

HupSpot’s Quarterly Investor Presentation Q4’22

HubSpot business presentation

Image source: HubSpot Quarterly Investor Presentation Q4’22

As a polished and professional document, The HubSpot Quarterly Investor Presentation provides an in-depth overview of the company’s financial performance and strategic priorities. The presentation features metrics demonstrating HubSpot’s business progress, including growth in revenue and customer retention. 

Through simple visualizations in corporate colors, the presentation has a clear and concise manner of presenting business performance. The key data points are easily identified through charts and graphs, appealing to the business-minded audience.

Infographics work best for such pitch decks as they help deliver relevant information visually attractively. Also, the use of icons makes the document more readable.

Indeed, this is a great example of creating a visually appealing slide deck that investors and executives can easily understand. 

Graphs, charts, tables, and infographics are some of the most effective ways to help you clearly communicate your business performance and strategies. For instance, you can incorporate the following slides into your next presentation and emphasize the company’s priorities in a captivating way.

Renderforest’s corporate presentation templates provide creative and eye-catching design elements that will surely leave an impression on the viewers.

Renderforest business presentation template

HupSpot’s 2022 Analyst Day

HubSpot Business Presentation Example

Image source: HubSpot’s 2022 Analyst Day Presentation

Consistency is the key, and HubSpot’s second presentation proves that. The presentation features the corporate style and has the same icons, clear visualizations, and simple yet informative text blocks that provide a comprehensive overview of business metrics.

It’s an extended 75-page presentation with two constituent presentations covering specific business topics, such as defining the company’s commerce vision, highlighting the best-working practices toward customer acquisition, predicting future performance, etc.

business presentation page

The way these presentations provide valuable insights into the company’s business strategy, corporate integrity, product offerings, and market positions speaks much about professionalism. That said, a well-designed and unified corporate presentation will become your ace in the hole for pitching business ideas and strategies and positioning yourself as a reliable niche representative.

Netflix Culture Deck

Netflix culture deck

Image source: Netflix Culture Deck

Concise and impactful corporate presentations help with new employee onboarding and business development, and Netflix’s Culture Deck is a good example. Through minimal use of visuals, it provides detailed information on how the company fosters a culture of innovation, encourages risk-taking, and empowers employees to make decisions and take ownership of their work. 

Although this presentation mainly features plain text blocks on a white background, it is a well-structured, logically organized, and easy-to-follow corporate manual. 

Sometimes less is more! That’s the core idea behind Netflix Culture Deck.

Renderforest’s business presentation templates allow you to craft a captivating employee handbook and leave a good first impression on new employees. Select the template that best fits your corporate mindset and message, spice it up with visuals, and you’ll be ready to present your company most effectively. 

employee handbook presentation

Coca-Cola | Investor Overview – Updated for Third Quarter 2022

coca cola business presentation

Image source: Coca-Cola | Investor Overview – Updated for Third Quarter 2022

Here’s another case where a company presents a detailed financial performance analysis, strategic initiatives, and market position through easy-to-digest infographics. The colorful and fresh design style leaves viewers with an informative and creative impression.

The presentation contains concise business updates and insights that help business partners comprehend the company’s state and further development opportunities.

Cola busness presentation

Coca-Cola’s Investor Overview is a good example of how a business presentation should look regarding design, usability, and niche-oriented content.

Disney’s Q1 FY23 Earnings

Disney business presentations

Image source: Disney’s Q1 FY23 Earnings

Disney’s presentation highlights business performance in the context of industry trends and features detailed graphs and diagrams that help business partners efficiently identify recent business updates. It’s a clearly designed overview of the company’s current and future development plans. 

Media and entertainment distribution results come in simple bar charts, as shown below.

Disney q1 presentations

Performance highlights include updates from parks, experiences, products, and more. Although there is statistics overload, infographics present it in a well-structured way.

Renderforest’s engaging templates can help you get that business presentation ready in no time. Whether you’re creating a business overview, getting ready for a new product launch, or need to send a financial report to your stakeholders, Renderforest provides you with sophisticated editing tools for business presentation ideas . 

You’ll get access to all content customization elements, from infographics to maps, charts, graphs, and beyond.

Get everything you need in one place!

pitch deck professional slides

Albrecht Solutions | Company Presentation

albrecht company presentation

Image source: Albrecht Solutions | Company Presentation

Last but not least is a company presentation from Albrecht Solutions. Focused on highlighting the company’s history, customer value, and corporate culture ideology, this example features formal visuals, discreet color pallets, and data charts.

It’s a valuable resource for future partners and potential customers interested in learning more about Albrecht Solutions. 

Business Presentation Hacks for a Captivating Pitch

Going through each example has advantages, as now you have a certain degree of knowledge regarding the best practices. However, aspects like the delivery manner, laconic speech, and visual storytelling play a crucial role in all business presentation examples discussed above.

Let’s quickly skim through several tips and tricks to help you polish your slides and boost your confidence:

Choose the Right Opening

Start by introducing the presentation topic and yourself. Explain your intent for giving this talk in a few words and get people hooked on your words.

Remain Laconic: Avoid Text Overload

The fewer words, the better! Your audience will thank you for clear, concise presentations that are easy to follow. You can always go into more detail and answer questions afterward.

Tell a Story with Visuals

People fall for stories, so why not use visuals to support your points and illustrate the message you want to convey? Use color schemes and graphics that complement your narrative, as well as charts and diagrams to present data.

Create Visual Consistency with Templates

While looking for consistency and clarity, templates can help. Templates keep the background uniform, give you a range of options to choose from, and create professional-grade presentations in no time. 

The best part about Renderforest’s business presentation templates is they are fully customizable, so you can make them your own by adding your text, images, and branding. With a ready-made business presentation kit , even non-designers can make stunning presentations for their audience.

Use Videos to Stand Out

Video content rules almost every industry, and business communication is no exception. Audiences today require visual aids for better engagement and understanding. Incorporating videos into your presentation can be a powerful tool to grab attention and keep your audience interested.

Renderforest’s presentation videos are a fantastic way to create engaging and professional-looking presentations that captivate your audience. Our video presentation templates are designed to be user-friendly and easy to customize, even if you have no prior video editing experience.

From 3D animations to corporate overviews, these business presentation examples with videos are sure to leave a lasting impression.

Incorporate Data Visualizations (Infographics)

The examples analyzed above clearly outline the importance of having visually appealing data. While numbers can be dry and dull, video infographics and animations can water down complex data and make it easier for your audience to digest. Renderforest offers a perfect solution to this.

The Bottom Lines

In conclusion, effective business presentations are essential for any organization to succeed in today’s competitive world. By reviewing 10 outstanding examples from world-known companies, we have seen that there are various ways to make your presentations stand out and leave a lasting impression. 

However, creating a professional presentation from scratch can be time-consuming and challenging, especially for those who are not design-savvy. 

That’s where Renderforest comes in, offering a wide range of editable presentation templates, infographics, and video presentations that are easy to customize and can elevate your business communication game to the next level. 

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to impress your audience and achieve your business goals with Renderforest’s user-friendly presentation and logo animation maker tools. 

Try them out today!

Recommended Reading

  • A Guide to Presentation Outline [Infographic]
  • How to Make a Pitch Deck for Your Business Idea
  • 10+ Corporate Presentation Designs

Dive into our Forestblog of exclusive interviews, handy tutorials and interesting articles published every week!

Create Professional

Websites, Social Media Graphics, Logos, Animated Videos, and more

with Renderforest All-In-One Branding Platform.

Websites, Social Media Graphics, Logos, Animated Videos, and more

The 13 best Placeit alternatives

12 min read

23 Aug 2024

The best video editing software for YouTube in 2024

The best video editing software for YouTube in 2024

The best video presentation software of 2024

The best video presentation software of 2024

14 min read

22 Aug 2024

business presentation illustration

How to Make a Business Presentation in 7 Easy Steps [Free Business Presentation Templates]

Lucy Alexander

Updated: May 02, 2022

Published: September 11, 2019

There’s a reason many people despise public speaking. Defining your presentation style , putting together engaging slides, getting your point across clearly, handling unexpected questions, and squeezing a laugh out of the audience is a lot to consider.

how-to-make-a-business-presentation

Still, nearly all of us have to give business presentations every so often — especially salespeople . And the most daunting part of preparing for any presentation is that there’s always room to improve. 

Even the most seasoned speakers headlining at conferences or reps who top the leaderboard every month can improve their storytelling, deliver their message more clearly, and perfect their physicality. And so can you.

There are an infinite number of presentation tips out there, so we’ve distilled the vast pool of tips down to what will make the biggest impact on your presentation — and we’ve left you with actionable takeaways you can apply to your presentations today.

→ Free Download: 10 PowerPoint Presentation Templates [Access Now]

How to Make a Business Presentation

1. make a plan.

Things won’t go according to plan if you don’t even have a plan in the first place. Before building your slide deck , create an outline that includes the main points and pieces of evidence you want to get across.

This outline will act as your anchor while you build a slide deck and give your presentation, pointing you toward the key arguments you know you need to touch on.

I like to start with the bare bones: introductory remarks , the three points I hope my audience remembers from my talk, and concluding remarks. Then, I add sub-points to each of those three points that comprise the meat of my presentation.

These bullet points become helpful later, too, when I’m putting together my slides. They show me how much material I have on each takeaway, which allows me to split my content into the appropriate number of slides.

A well-delivered, memorable introduction and conclusion are essential ingredients of a presentation. Don’t overlook them in your outline.

Even a couple of quick bullet points on exactly what you plan to cover in each will help you set an engaging, confident tone at the start and wrap up in a way that helps your material stick in your audience’s mind.

business presentation illustration

10 Free PowerPoint Templates

Download ten free PowerPoint templates for a better presentation.

  • Creative templates.
  • Data-driven templates.
  • Professional templates.

Download Free

All fields are required.

You're all set!

Click this link to access this resource at any time.

2. Choose a slide deck

Select a slide deck that matches the tone of your presentation. There are three primary factors that can influence your deck style:

  • The formality of your workplace . A good litmus test is your company’s dress code. For example, if you wear business formal attire to work, stick with a slide deck with neutral colors like navy, white, grey, and black, and keep your fonts sharp. If your workplace is more casual or prizes creativity over ceremony, consider a more colorful deck, but keep it to two to three complementary colors to avoid creating slides that are too busy.If you’re looking for a slide deck that’s creative but not overwhelming, consider something like this ( you can download this slide deck template for free here ):

presentation slide deck best practices

  • The content you’re presenting. Serious research and financial data, for example, are suited for more professional decks. Informal recaps, brainstorms, and planning sessions may give you more bandwidth to use brighter colors.Here’s an example of a slide that would be well-suited for data:

template for a business slide deck

Download the Slide Deck Template for Free

  • Your personal brand . If you’re known at work for your sense of humor or your GIF reaction time on Slack, you’ll be able to get away with a more friendly font and colorful template. If you lean into professionalism and want to express rigor in your analysis or ideas, select a deck with few distractions — keep the colors neutral.

We had our designers here put together a set of free business presentation templates that you can start using today. 

3. Lead with a story and a laugh

One of the reasons it’s so easy to get wrapped up in TED Talks for hours on end is that nearly every presenter begins with a compelling story.

Whether it’s the harrowing tale of a near-death experience or a heartwarming recap of the speaker’s daughter’s first day of preschool, a great story engages the audience’s attention. It should also allow the speaker to build a personal connection with listeners and serve as a memorable cornerstone of the presentation.

When possible, begin your presentations with a story. The key, once you’ve shared your story, is to succinctly tie its main point back to the focus of your presentation.  

Don’t feel you must tell a story that’s groundbreaking or unique — in fact, relatable stories will be most effective at breaking through to your audience.

For example, a marketing director at HubSpot recently began a presentation about her team’s redesign project by sharing a personal anecdote about her struggles clearing weeds in her garden.

Finally, add humor where it feels natural. Getting a laugh out of your audience within the first minute will put them at ease and set a positive tone for the information they’re about to take in. 

4. Add verbal signposts

One of the best pieces of presentation advice I’ve ever gotten came from a college professor who believed our brains needed what he called “signposts”: verbal cues that could stick in an audience’s mind even as the details slipped away. 

He challenged us to distill our presentations down to three key takeaways and come up with one-to-three-word phrases that represented each point. Then, we were to reference those three cues or signposts in our introduction — just before diving into their details — and once again at the end.

If there were slides involved, he also had us select a simple image for each signpost that would be repeated throughout the deck.

Here’s an example: if you were giving a presentation pitching a website redesign, you might talk about all of the benefits a redesign would bring. Your website would be more visually consistent with your brand, the user experience would vastly improve, and you’d improve loading time to boost your search rankings.   

The signposts for this presentation might be: 

  • Brand Consistency
  • Improved UX

Even if the audience forgot the mechanics of how each of these areas would improve with the redesign, they would walk away with three easy-to-remember phrases that summarized the value of your proposed project.

Since taking that professor’s class, I’ve watched and created presentations completely differently. I always look for a speaker’s signposts and incorporate my own into every presentation I build. Signposts help me retain more material and communicate my points more directly.

5. Rely on images and charts rather than text and tables

Humans process images faster than text. And, as a speaker, it’s a disconcerting experience to see your audience squinting their eyes as they try to make out a hundred tiny words or numbers on your slides, scribbling down as much information as they can before you skip to the next section.  

To avoid this issue, rely on images whenever possible. Keep the attention on you, the expert, by selecting an image or two to drive home your point. Don’t try to squeeze all of your information on a single slide.

6. Incorporate audience interaction

We all dread sitting through boring presentations. And no matter how experienced a speaker you are, there’s inevitably going to be a low-energy point of your talk during your first dry run.  

To keep the energy up, add in a quick moment of audience interaction. There are many different ways to re-engage listeners with participation:  

  • Quiz them and have them raise their hands to vote on options.
  • Ask a question.
  • Have them turn to a neighbor and share one reaction to what they just heard.
  • Have people stand up momentarily if they agree with a given statement.

Movement will engage attention in a new way and refresh the energy of the room, carrying you through to the end of the presentation.

7. Hold a couple of non-essential data points until the Q&A at the end

You will always want to use adequate data to make a business case and provide a meaningful, truthful presentation. However, it’s okay if you’re not able to fit every detail into your presentation. 

In fact, if you intend to hold a question and answer session at the end of the presentation , leaving a couple of interesting but non-essential data points out during the presentation can give you impressive material to work with during the Q&A.

Anticipate several questions you’re likely to get or have a colleague watch a practice run-through and come up with three questions for you. Then, choose a couple of pieces of evidence not included on the slides themselves and have them in your mental back pocket to support your answers. 

Data always speaks more loudly than statements that don’t have a specific piece of evidence behind them. Remember, you’re an expert on your presentation topic — and additional, specific points can only help you when it comes to demonstrating your expertise.

business presentation illustration

25 Voicemail Script Templates

25 voicemail script templates for any occasion.

  • Partner Acquisition
  • Cold Outreach
  • Voicemail Greeting Templates

Don't forget to share this post!

Related articles.

10 Best Sales Presentations To Inspire Your Sales Deck [+ 5 Tips]

10 Best Sales Presentations To Inspire Your Sales Deck [+ 5 Tips]

15 Sales Presentation Techniques That Will Help You Close More Deals Today

15 Sales Presentation Techniques That Will Help You Close More Deals Today

9 Ways to End Your Sales Presentation With a Bang

9 Ways to End Your Sales Presentation With a Bang

7 Apps That Help Salespeople Become Even Better Speakers

7 Apps That Help Salespeople Become Even Better Speakers

7 Secrets of a Winning Capabilities Presentation

7 Secrets of a Winning Capabilities Presentation

Insight Selling: The 8-Slide Framework for a Better Pitch

Insight Selling: The 8-Slide Framework for a Better Pitch

The Best Work-Appropriate GIFs to Use in Your Next Sales Slide Deck

The Best Work-Appropriate GIFs to Use in Your Next Sales Slide Deck

The 8 Types of Presentation Styles: Which Category Do You Fall Into?

The 8 Types of Presentation Styles: Which Category Do You Fall Into?

How to Handle Difficult Sales Calls Like a Pro

How to Handle Difficult Sales Calls Like a Pro

Technology Give You the Middle Finger in a Demo? 7 Reactions to Avoid

Technology Give You the Middle Finger in a Demo? 7 Reactions to Avoid

Powerful and easy-to-use sales software that drives productivity, enables customer connection, and supports growing sales orgs

Top searches

Trending searches

business presentation illustration

61 templates

business presentation illustration

el salvador

34 templates

business presentation illustration

17 templates

business presentation illustration

16 templates

business presentation illustration

49 templates

business presentation illustration

american history

85 templates

Create engaging presentations, faster

Free templates for google slides, powerpoint and canva, or kick off your next project with ai presentation maker.

SmartStart: Smart moves for smarter teaching

Inside Out Disney

Inside Out Disney

11 templates

Disney

256 templates

Slidesclass

Slidesclass

390 templates

Editor’s Choice

Editor’s Choice

3666 templates

Pride

84 templates

Summer

228 templates

Minimalist

4007 templates

Social Media

Social Media

700 templates

Mental Health

Mental Health

411 templates

Nature

1225 templates

Travel

434 templates

Presentation Maker

Presentation Maker

1602 templates

Technology

1071 templates

Event

3185 templates

Latest themes

Sunday Tasks Slides presentation template

It seems that you like this template!

Premium template.

Unlock this template and gain unlimited access

business presentation illustration

Register for free and start downloading now

Sunday tasks slides.

Download the Sunday Tasks Slides presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides and start impressing your audience with a creative and original design. Slidesgo templates like this one here offer the possibility to convey a concept, idea or topic in a clear, concise and visual way, by using different graphic resources....

Volleyball Sport Club presentation template

Volleyball Sport Club

Download the Volleyball Sport Club presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides. Are you looking for a way to make your school academy stand out among the competition? This template is designed to showcase all the fantastic aspects of your center. With perfect slides that allow you to easily add information...

Modern Doodle Minitheme presentation template

Modern Doodle Minitheme

Download the Modern Doodle Minitheme presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides and start impressing your audience with a creative and original design. Slidesgo templates like this one here offer the possibility to convey a concept, idea or topic in a clear, concise and visual way, by using different graphic resources....

Economics Thesis Defense: The role of business valuation in the global financial system presentation template

Economics Thesis Defense: The role of business valuation in the global financial system

Download the Economics Thesis Defense: The role of business valuation in the global financial system presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides. Your business demands smart solutions, and this consulting toolkit template is just that! This versatile and ingenious toolkit will provide you with the essential tools you need to shape...

Pastel 3D Pitch Deck presentation template

Pastel 3D Pitch Deck

Download the Pastel 3D Pitch Deck presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides. Whether you're an entrepreneur looking for funding or a sales professional trying to close a deal, a great pitch deck can be the difference-maker that sets you apart from the competition. Let your talent shine out thanks to...

Watercolor Summer Infographics presentation template

Watercolor Summer Infographics

Download the Watercolor Summer Infographics template for PowerPoint or Google Slides and discover the power of infographics. An infographic resource gives you the ability to showcase your content in a more visual way, which will make it easier for your audience to understand your topic. Slidesgo infographics like this set...

Popular themes

Minimalist Business Slides presentation template

Minimalist Business Slides

Minimalism is an art style that frees the canvas and that lets the content stand out for itself. It’s a way of conveying modernism, simplicity and elegance and can be your best ally in your next presentation. With this new design from Slidesgo, your business presentations will be as professional...

Chalkboard Background Theme for Elementary presentation template

Chalkboard Background Theme for Elementary

Download the Chalkboard Background Theme for Elementary presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides and easily edit it to fit your own lesson plan! Designed specifically for elementary school education, this eye-catching design features engaging graphics and age-appropriate fonts; elements that capture the students' attention and make the learning experience more...

Notebook Lesson presentation template

Notebook Lesson

These are the last days before the Summer break! We know that there are some pending lessons that you need to prepare for your students. As they may be thinking about their friends and their holidays, catch their attention with this cool template!

Steps for Studying a Text presentation template

Steps for Studying a Text

Reading a book is good practice. Books are a source of knowledge! However, the complexity of the text you're reading affects the time you'll spend understanding it and memorizing it. That can be a problem when studying, so here's a template with some tips on how to face difficult texts...

Welcome to Middle School Class presentation template

Welcome to Middle School Class

Welcome, everyone! This is our middle school class, take a look! Our students, our teachers, our subjects, our schedules… We have written everything about it in this presentation! The cool waves of color flow amazingly with this design. Everything is super creative and colorful! Prepare for the back to school...

Colorful Theme presentation template

Colorful Theme

Download the Colorful Theme presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides and start impressing your audience with a creative and original design. Slidesgo templates like this one here offer the possibility to convey a concept, idea or topic in a clear, concise and visual way, by using different graphic resources. You...

Infographics

Fresh Lemon Pattern Newsletter Infographics presentation template

Fresh Lemon Pattern Newsletter Infographics

Download the Fresh Lemon Pattern Newsletter Infographics template for PowerPoint or Google Slides and discover the power of infographics. An infographic resource gives you the ability to showcase your content in a more visual way, which will make it easier for your audience to understand your topic. Slidesgo infographics like...

College Lessons with Cycle Diagrams presentation template

College Lessons with Cycle Diagrams

Download the College Lessons with Cycle Diagrams presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides. As university curricula increasingly incorporate digital tools and platforms, this template has been designed to integrate with presentation software, online learning management systems, or referencing software, enhancing the overall efficiency and effectiveness of student work. Edit this...

Enjoying Spring Minitheme Infographics presentation template

Enjoying Spring Minitheme Infographics

Download the Enjoying Spring Minitheme Infographics template for PowerPoint or Google Slides and discover the power of infographics. An infographic resource gives you the ability to showcase your content in a more visual way, which will make it easier for your audience to understand your topic. Slidesgo infographics like this...

Education presentation templates

Workshop

922 templates

Math

588 templates

Literacy

122 templates

Lesson

812 templates

Science

1052 templates

School

3542 templates

Thesis Defense

Thesis Defense

1009 templates

Teacher Toolkit

Teacher Toolkit

121 templates

Music

426 templates

Art

845 templates

Smartick

59 templates

Editable in Canva

Judaism: Culture and Traditions Workshop presentation template

Judaism: Culture and Traditions Workshop

Download the Judaism: Culture and Traditions Workshop presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides. If you are planning your next workshop and looking for ways to make it memorable for your audience, don’t go anywhere. Because this creative template is just what you need! With its visually stunning design, you can...

Branded Content Minitheme presentation template

Branded Content Minitheme

Download the Branded Content Minitheme presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides and start impressing your audience with a creative and original design. Slidesgo templates like this one here offer the possibility to convey a concept, idea or topic in a clear, concise and visual way, by using different graphic resources....

Learning Situation:

Learning Situation: "Why Should we Conserve Water?"

Download the Learning Situation: "Why Should we Conserve Water?" presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides and prepare to receive useful information. Even though teachers are responsible for disseminating knowledge to their students, they also embarked on a learning journey since the day they decided to dedicate themselves to education. You...

What's new on Slidesgo

See the latest website updates, new features and tools and make the most of your Slidesgo experience.

Make presentations with AI

SmartStart educational webinar: Smart moves for smarter teaching | Quick Tips & Tutorial for your presentations

SmartStart educational webinar: Smart moves for smarter teaching

The best Slidesgo AI tools for students | Quick Tips & Tutorial for your presentations

The best Slidesgo AI tools for students

Browse by tags.

  • Kids 2076 templates
  • Food 955 templates
  • Technology 1071 templates
  • Travel 434 templates
  • Animal 1118 templates
  • Art 845 templates
  • Health 3806 templates
  • History 1440 templates
  • Environment 530 templates
  • Galaxy 193 templates
  • Fashion 245 templates
  • Biology 516 templates
  • Summer 228 templates
  • Architecture 155 templates
  • Music 426 templates
  • Research 1659 templates
  • Culture 2094 templates
  • Background 10051 templates
  • Back to School 200 templates
  • Coloring Page 352 templates

What do our users say about us?

user testimonial avatar

I just wanted to thank you! I learned more about slides in one day of quarantine than in my whole life

Gabriela Miranda

user testimonial avatar

Your slides are so unique and gorgeous! They really help me with PowerPoint presentations for school and now even my mom uses them for work

Marie Dupuis

user testimonial avatar

I would like to thank to you for these amazing templates. I have never seen such service, especially free! They are very useful for my presentation.

Ali Serdar Çelikezen

user testimonial avatar

Thank you Slidesgo for creating amazing templates for us. It's made my presentation become much better.

Thiên Trang Nguyễn

Create your presentation Create personalized presentation content

Writing tone, number of slides, register for free and start editing online.

business presentation illustration

IMAGES

  1. Business presentation illustration concept 2174773 Vector Art at Vecteezy

    business presentation illustration

  2. A Manager Businessman Leading the Presentation during the Meeting in

    business presentation illustration

  3. Premium Vector

    business presentation illustration

  4. Business Presentation

    business presentation illustration

  5. Business report presentation illustration

    business presentation illustration

  6. Business presentation vector people, business people presenting charts

    business presentation illustration

COMMENTS

  1. Guide to Making Great Business Presentations (with Examples)

    5. Salesforce Business Presentation Example . This is a great example of an informational presentation, made by the Salesforce team to share their research on customer experience (CX) with prospects and existing customers. Salesforce Business Presentation Example - Source: Salesforce. The slide deck errs on the lengthier side with 58 slides ...

  2. Business Powerpoint Templates and Google Slides Themes

    What is the 10/20/30 rule for business presentations? The 10/20/30 rule, coined by Silicon Valley entrepreneur Guy Kawasaki, states that presentations should have ten slides, last no longer than twenty minutes, and contain no smaller font than thirty points. The rule holds true for sales decks, proposals, and internal meetings.

  3. Free Business Google Slides themes and PowerPoint templates

    Download the Monochrome Design Business Plan presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides. Conveying your business plan accurately and effectively is the cornerstone of any successful venture. This template allows you to pinpoint essential elements of your operation while your audience will appreciate the clear and concise presentation ...

  4. 60+ Best Business & Corporate PowerPoint Templates 2024

    Bila Business - Creative PowerPoint Template. This creative PowerPoint template is perfect for creating presentations for startups and modern corporate businesses. The template comes with 30 slides featuring a very unique style of design. It will surely help your business and brand stand out from the crowd.

  5. 40+ free business presentation templates

    You can create slides in any slideshow tool or use one of Pitch's ready-made presentation templates. Hit Use this template and start customizing slide designs and adding your visuals, text, and ...

  6. Illustration Presentation templates

    Download the Rubber Hose Cartoon Style Minitheme presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides and start impressing your audience with a creative and original design. Slidesgo templates like this one here offer the possibility to convey a concept, idea or topic in a clear, concise and visual way, by using different... Multi-purpose.

  7. Free Corporate Google Slides themes and PowerPoint templates

    Download the "Product Showcase Theme for Business" presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides. The world of business encompasses a lot of things! From reports to customer profiles, from brainstorming sessions to sales—there's always something to do or something to analyze. This customizable design, available for Google Slides and PowerPoint ...

  8. Free Business Templates for PowerPoint and Google Slides

    Lloyd Free Presentation template for Google Slides or PowerPoint. 1. 2. Make your business presentations stand out with these free templates. Perfect for your next pitch, data analysis and ideas. Download them to use with PowerPoint or edit them in Google Slides and start creating!

  9. Business PowerPoint Templates for Presentations

    In addition, our Business Presentation PowerPoint Templates are compatible with both Mac and Windows. They are also compatible with Keynote, Office365, and Google Slides. These templates are also available in various colors, styles, fonts, and font sizes, making them one-of-a-kind. The colors, icons, shapes, vector images, and other elements ...

  10. 191,150 Business Presentation Illustrations

    Browse & download free and premium 191,150 Business Presentation Illustrations for web or mobile (iOS and Android) design, marketing, or developer projects. These royalty-free high-quality Business Presentation Vector Illustrations are available in SVG, PNG, EPS, AI, or JPG and are available as individual or illustration packs.

  11. The Complete Guide to Making Great Business Presentations in 2024

    It includes expert tips, great presentation design examples, actionable takeaways, and more. Download a FREE PDF Copy of Our New eBook on Making Great Business Presentations in 2024. Be sure to bookmark this page now, so you can quickly return to this epic business presentation guide.

  12. 20 Great Examples of PowerPoint Presentation Design [+ Templates]

    This makes great presentation design essential. Download These Templates for Free. The Modern PowerPoint Template featured here is sleek and modern. But it's also fun and appealing, with a streamlined design that leaves a lasting impression. Pro tip: I like to use headers to communicate top priorities in a business presentation. Then, you can ...

  13. 80 Free Business Illustrations For Your Next Creative Designs

    In fact, websites and presentations with well-crafted vector illustrations are always more memorable. This is why today I dug deep and hand-picked 80 free business illustrations for your personal library you can download now and use for your designs. Just make your picks from the beautiful work of creative designers and digital illustrators ...

  14. Free Business Presentation Templates to Customize

    Visme is an easy, drag-and-drop presentation tool that works right from your Web browser that comes pre-loaded with countless free business templates for you to choose from depending on your needs. All you need to do is choose the right slides for your purposes, pick from our thousands of free image assets and edit everything in exactly the way ...

  15. How to Give a Business Presentation (+ Free Templates)

    2. Create a plan. A well-structured plan not only aids in clear communication but also provides a sense of confidence and control over your material. Begin by listing the main ideas you want to discuss in your presentation. This should happen before you even design your presentation (sometimes called a "slide deck").

  16. 23 presentation examples that really work (plus templates!)

    We love them because they're the most visually appealing and memorable way to communicate. 1. Animated characters. Our first presentation example is a business explainer video from Biteable that uses animated characters. The friendly and modern style makes this the perfect presentation for engaging your audience.

  17. Minimalist Business Slides

    Available in five colors: cream, green, purple, blue, pink. Contains easy-to-edit graphics such as graphs, maps, tables, timelines and mockups. Includes 500+ icons and Flaticon's extension for customizing your slides. Designed to be used in Google Slides, Canva, and Microsoft PowerPoint. 16:9 widescreen format suitable for all types of screens.

  18. How to Create a Business Plan Presentation [Plus Templates]

    Slide 1: The Title Slide. This needs no explanation — it's your introductory page that should include your business's name, any slogan that you may have, and a logo as well (if it's ready). Don't forget to add your name to the slide. Since this is the first slide, it needs to be an impression maker.

  19. 15 Expert Tips for Giving a Powerful Business Presentation

    2 Be enthusiastic. Believe me, vibes matter. No one wants to hear you drone on about a subject you don't care for. If you're tired and bored of your own presentation, your audience is probably feeling the same way. Anyone listening to you should know how passionate you are about the subject.

  20. 10 Business Presentation Examples to Replace PowerPoint!

    Image source: Porsche Company Presentation 2022. The Porsche company presentation is a sleek and polished business presentation example of the company's current company heads, key statistics for the past year of 2021, brand philosophy, and more. The presentation is presented in a professional and sophisticated manner, with a focus on high ...

  21. How to Make a Business Presentation in 7 Easy Steps [Free Business

    Ask a question. Have them turn to a neighbor and share one reaction to what they just heard. Have people stand up momentarily if they agree with a given statement. Movement will engage attention in a new way and refresh the energy of the room, carrying you through to the end of the presentation. 7.

  22. Free Google Slides themes and Powerpoint templates

    Download the Writing presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides and start impressing your audience with a creative and original design. Slidesgo templates like this one here offer the possibility to convey a concept, idea or topic in a clear, concise and visual way, by using different graphic resources.

  23. Insider Spotlight: Sandra Johnson

    To PowerPoint responsibly means focusing on all of it together: the presentation content and story, the slide design, and the delivery of the presentation. Sandra Johnson (center) with Microsoft MVPs (from left) Echo Swinford, Julie Terberg, Glenna Shaw, and Nolan Haims at the 2014 Microsoft MVP Summit