presentation to sell a product

7 Amazing Sales Presentation Examples (And How to Make Them Your Own)

7 Types of Slides to Include In Your Sales Presentation

Inside the mind of your prospect: change is hard, before-after-bridge: the only formula you need to create a persuasive sales presentation, facebook — how smiles and simplicity make you more memorable, contently — how to build a strong bridge, brick by brick, yesware — how to go above and beyond with your benefits, uber — how to cater your content for readers quick to scan, dealtap — how to use leading questions to your advantage, zuora — how to win over your prospects by feeding them dots, linkedin sales navigator — how to create excitement with color, how to make a sales pitch in 4 straightforward steps, 7 embarrassing pitfalls to avoid in your presentation, over to you.

A brilliant sales presentation has a number of things going for it.

Being product-centered isn’t one of them. Or simply focusing on your sales pitch won’t do the trick.

So what can you do to make your offer compelling?

From different types of slides to persuasive techniques and visuals, we’ve got you covered.

Below, we look at data-backed strategies, examples, and easy steps to build your own sales presentations in minutes.

• Title slide: Company name, topic, tagline
• The “Before” picture: No more than three slides with relevant statistics and graphics.
• The “After” picture: How life looks with your product. Use happy faces.
• Company introduction: Who you are and what you do (as it applies to them).
• The “Bridge” slide: Short outcome statements with icons in circles.
• Social proof slides: Customer logos with the mission statement on one slide. Pull quote on another.
• “We’re here for you” slide: Include a call-to-action and contact information.

Many sales presentations fall flat because they ignore this universal psychological bias: People overvalue the benefits of what they have over what they’re missing.

Harvard Business School professor John T. Gourville calls this the “ 9x Effect .” Left unchecked, it can be disastrous for your business.

According to Gourville, “It’s not enough for a new product simply to be better. Unless the gains far outweigh the losses, customers will not adopt it.”

The good news: You can influence how prospects perceive these gains and losses. One of the best ways to prove value is to contrast life before and after your product.

Luckily, there’s a three-step formula for that.

• Before → Here’s your world…
• After → Imagine what it would be like if…
• Bridge → Here’s how to get there.

Start with a vivid description of the pain, present an enviable world where that problem doesn’t exist, then explain how to get there using your tool.

It’s super simple, and it works for cold emails , drip campaigns , and sales discovery decks. Basically anywhere you need to get people excited about what you have to say.

In fact, a lot of companies are already using this formula to great success. The methods used in the sales presentation examples below will help you do the same.

We’re all drawn to happiness. A study at Harvard tells us that emotion is contagious .

You’ll notice that the “Before” (pre-Digital Age) pictures in Facebook’s slides all display neutral faces. But the cover slide that introduces Facebook and the “After” slides have smiling faces on them.

This is important. The placement of those graphics is an intentional persuasion technique.

Studies by psychologists show that we register smiles faster than any other expression. All it takes is 500 milliseconds (1/20th of a second). And when participants in a study were asked to recall expressions, they consistently remembered happy faces over neutral ones.

What to do about it : Add a happy stock photo to your intro and “After” slides, and keep people in “Before” slides to neutral expressions.

Here are some further techniques used during the sales presentation:

Tactic #1: Use Simple Graphics

Use simple graphics to convey meaning without text.

Example: Slide 2 is a picture of a consumer’s hand holding an iPhone — something we can all relate to.

Why It Works: Pictures are more effective than words — it’s called  Picture Superiority . In presentations, pictures help you create connections with your audience. Instead of spoon-feeding them everything word for word, you let them interpret. This builds trust.

Tactic #2: Use Icons

Use icons to show statistics you’re comparing instead of listing them out.

Example: Slide 18 uses people icons to emphasize how small 38 out of 100 people is compared to 89 out of 100.

Why It Works:  We process visuals 60,000 times faster than text.

Tactic #3: Include Statistics

Include statistics that tie real success to the benefits you mention.

Example: “71% lift driving visits to retailer title pages” (Slide 26).

Why It Works:  Precise details prove that you are telling the truth.

Just like how you can’t drive from Marin County to San Francisco without the Golden Gate, you can’t connect a “Before” to an “After” without a bridge.

Add the mission statement of your company — something Contently does from Slide 1 of their deck. Having a logo-filled Customers slide isn’t unusual for sales presentations, but Contently goes one step further by showing you exactly what they do for these companies.

They then drive home the Before-After-Bridge Formula further with case studies:

Before : Customer’s needs when they came on

After: What your company accomplished for them

Bridge : How they got there (specific actions and outcomes)

Here are some other tactics we pulled from the sales presentation:

Tactic #1: Use Graphics/Diagrams

Use graphics, Venn diagrams, and/or equations to drive home your “Before” picture.

Why It Works:  According to a Cornell study , graphs and equations have persuasive power. They “signal a scientific basis for claims, which grants them greater credibility.”

Tactic #2: Keep Slides That Have Bullets to a Minimum

Keep slides that have bullets to a minimum. No more than one in every five slides.

Why It Works:  According to an experiment by the International Journal of Business Communication , “Subjects exposed to a graphic representation paid significantly more attention to , agreed more with, and better recalled the strategy than did subjects who saw a (textually identical) bulleted list.”

Tactic #3: Use Visual Examples

Follow up your descriptions with visual examples.

Example: After stating “15000+ vetted, ready to work journalists searchable by location, topical experience, and social media influence” on Slide 8, Contently shows what this looks like firsthand on slides 9 and 10.

Why It Works:  The same reason why prospects clamor for demos and car buyers ask for test drives. You’re never truly convinced until you see something for yourself.

Which is more effective for you?

This statement — “On average, Yesware customers save ten hours per week” — or this image:

The graphic shows you what that 10 hours looks like for prospects vs. customers. It also calls out a pain that the product removes: data entry.

Visuals are more effective every time. They fuel retention of a presentation from 10% to 65% .

But it’s not as easy as just including a graphic. You need to keep the design clean.

Can you feel it?

Clutter provokes anxiety and stress because it bombards our minds with excessive visual stimuli, causing our senses to work overtime on stimuli that aren’t important.

Here’s a tip from Yesware’s Graphic Designer, Ginelle DeAntonis:

“Customer logos won’t all necessarily have the same dimensions, but keep them the same size visually so that they all have the same importance. You should also disperse colors throughout, so that you don’t for example end up with a bunch of blue logos next to each other. Organize them in a way that’s easy for the eye, because in the end it’s a lot of information at once.”

Here are more tactics to inspire sales presentation ideas:

Tactic #1: Personalize Your Final Slide

Personalize your final slide with your contact information and a headline that drives emotion.

Example: Our Mid-Market Team Lead Kyle includes his phone number and email address with “We’re Here For You”

Why It Works: These small details show your audience that:

• This is about giving them the end picture, not making a sale
• The end of the presentation doesn’t mean the end of the conversation
• Questions are welcomed

Tactic #2: Pair Outcome Statements With Icons in Circles

Example: Slide 4 does this with seven different “After” outcomes.

Why It Works:  We already know why pictures work, but circles have power , too. They imply completeness, infiniteness, and harmony.

Tactic #3: Include Specific Success Metrics

Don’t just list who you work with; include specific success metrics that hit home what you’ve done for them.

Example: 35% New Business Growth for Boomtrain; 30% Higher Reply Rates for Dyn.

Why It Works:  Social proof drives action. It’s why we wait in lines at restaurants and put ourselves on waitlists for sold-out items.

People can only focus for eight seconds at a time. (Sadly, goldfish have one second on us.)

This means you need to cut to the chase fast.

Uber’s headlines in Slides 2-9 tailor the “After” picture to specific pain points. As a result, there’s no need to explicitly state a “Before.”

Slides 11-13 then continue touching on “Before” problems tangentially with customer quotes:

So instead of self-touting benefits, the brand steps aside to let consumers hear from their peers — something that sways 92% of consumers .

Leading questions may be banned from the courtroom, but they aren’t in the boardroom.

DealTap’s slides ask viewers to choose between two scenarios over and over. Each has an obvious winner:

Ever heard of the Focusing Effect?

It’s part of what makes us tick as humans and what makes this design move effective. We focus on one thing and then ignore the rest. Here, DealTap puts the magnifying glass on paperwork vs. automated transactions.

Easy choice.

Sure, DealTap’s platform might have complexities that rival paperwork, but we don’t think about that. We’re looking at the pile of work one the left and the simpler, single interface on the right.

Here are some other tactics to use in your own sales presentation:

Tactic #1: Tell a Story

Tell a story that flows from one slide to the next.

Example: Here’s the story DealTap tells from slides 4 to 8: “Transactions are complicated” → “Expectations on all sides” → “Too many disconnected tools” → “Slow and error prone process” → “However, there’s an opportunity.

Why It Works:   Storytelling in sales with a clear beginning and end (or in this case, a “Before” and “After”) trigger a trust hormone called Oxytocin.

Tactic #2: This vs. That

If it’s hard to separate out one “Before” and “After” vision with your product or service because you offer many dissimilar benefits, consider a “This vs. That” theme for each.

Why It Works:  It breaks up your points into simple decisions and sets you up to win emotional reactions from your audience with stock photos.

Remember how satisfying it was to play connect the dots? Forming a bigger picture out of disconnected circles.

That’s what you need to make your audience do.

Zuora tells a story by:

• Laying out the reality (the “Before” part of the Before-After-Bridge formula).
• Asking you a question that you want to answer (the “After”)
• Giving you hints to help you connect the dots
• Showing you the common thread (the “Bridge”)

You can achieve this by founding your sales presentation on your audience’s intuitions. Set them up with the closely-set “dots,” then let them make the connection.

Here are more tactical sales presentation ideas to steal for your own use:

Tactic #1: Use Logos and Testimonials

Use logos and  testimonial pull-quotes for your highest-profile customers to strengthen your sales presentation.

Example: Slides 21 to 23 include customer quotes from Schneider Electric, Financial Times, and Box.

Why It Works: It’s called  social proof . Prospects value other people’s opinions and trust reputable sources more than you.

Tactic #2: Include White Space

Pad your images with white space.

Example: Slide 17 includes two simple graphics on a white background to drive home an important concept.

Why It Works:  White space creates separation, balance, and attracts the audience’s eyes to the main focus: your image.

Tactic #3: Incorporate Hard Data

Incorporate hard data with a memorable background to make your data stand out.

Example: Slide 5 includes statistics with a backdrop that stands out. The number and exciting title (‘A Global Phenomenon’) are the main focuses of the slide.

Why It Works:  Vivid backdrops are proven to be memorable and help your audience take away important numbers or data.

Psychology tells us that seeing colors can set our mood .

The color red is proven to increase the pulse and heart rate. Beyond that, it’s associated with being active, aggressive, and outspoken. LinkedIn Sales Navigator uses red on slides to draw attention to main points:

You can use hues in your own slides to guide your audience’s emotions. Green gives peace; grey adds a sense of calm; blue breeds trust. See more here .

Tip: You can grab free photos from Creative Commons and then set them to black & white and add a colored filter on top using a (also free) tool like Canva . Here’s the sizing for your image:

Caveat: Check with your marketing team first to see if you have a specific color palette or brand guidelines to follow.

Here are some other takeaways from LinkedIn’s sales presentation:

Tactic #1: Include a CTA on Final Slide

Include one clear call-to-action on your final slide.

Example: Slide 9 has a “Learn More” CTA button.

Why It Works:  According to the Paradox of Choice , the more options you give, the less likely they are to act.

Step One : Ask marketing for your company’s style guide (color, logo, and font style).

Step Two: Answer these questions to outline the “Before → After → Bridge” formula for your sales pitch :

• What are your ICP’s pain points?
• What end picture resonates with them?
• How does your company come into play?

Step Three: Ask account management/marketing which customers you can mention in your slides (plus where to access any case studies for pull quotes).

Step Four:  Download photos from Creative Commons . Remember: Graphics > Text. Use Canva to edit on your own — free and fast.

What are the sales presentation strategies that work best for your industry and customers? Tweet us:  @Yesware .

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Sales presentations: templates, examples and ideas on how to present like a pro

A good sales presentation is more than a simple pitch, a demo or a list of facts and figures. Done well, at the right time in your sales process , it’s a tool for getting your prospects’ attention, drumming up excitement and moving prospects toward a buying decision.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to use the power of storytelling to drive decision-making and close more deals. We’ll also cover the fundamental elements of an effective sales presentation strategy, what to include in your sales decks and practical ideas on how to deliver them.

What is a sales presentation?

A sales presentation is a live meeting where your team showcases your product or service and why it’s the best option for your prospect.

Although the terminology differs from company to company, a sales presentation is not always the same as a sales pitch.

A sales pitch is what your sales professionals do all day long, on the phone, over Zoom or in person with clients.

A sales presentation (although it’s still a sales pitch) is a point-in-time event that usually happens when your sales team is trying to close a more lucrative deal. It’s not a simple phone call, as it often involves a meeting and a demo.

Because you’re likely presenting to a group of senior decision-makers and executives, sales presentations require ample prep time and coordination across multiple team members.

Key takeaways from this sales presentations article

Deliver effective presentations: Make your sales presentations compelling with storytelling, effective slide decks, tailored content and strong delivery techniques. Benefits of great presentations: Sales presentations grab attention, excite prospects and drive decision-making, helping close more deals by showcasing your product’s value. Pipedrive’s tools, including customizable sales dashboards and Smart Docs , help you create professional, tailored presentations that enhance your sales strategy. Try Pipedrive free for 14 days .

How (and why) to use storytelling in your sales presentation

Use stories in your presentations to help people remember and relate to your brand.

Statistics, facts and figures can help when you’re trying to persuade a prospect to become a customer, but they’re more impactful if you can frame them with a memorable story.

For example, tell a story about a customer who faced the same challenges as your prospect and supplement it with powerful data, they are more likely to listen and want to know more.

Human beings have a deep relationship with storytelling. Stories move, teach and, in a sales context, persuade audiences.

Chip Heath, a Stanford professor and the co-author of Made to Stick , demonstrates the importance of storytelling by doing an exercise with his students. He divides them into groups and asks them to deliver a one-minute persuasive pitch based on data he’s just shown them.

After the pitches are delivered, he asks the class to jot down everything they remember about them. Although most students use stats rather than stories, 63% remember the stories, while only 5% remember an individual data point .

The stickiness of stories makes them a useful tool for developing a sales presentation outline. They help prospects understand and remember the key points of the presentation and your product.

Thomas Dredge Sales Manager, Particular Audience

Start with a problem (and a deadline)

Your presentation is about the solution you’re offering your prospects, but it shouldn’t start with that solution.

Instead, lead with the problem your solution was designed to solve.

“ Value selling is key,” says Bradley Davies, business development at Cognism . “It is important to understand your buyer and tailor their journey to what you can do for them.

“First, you need to understand what is motivating them to have a discussion, which allows you to identify their pains and present how your offering solves their pains. Everything presented to a prospect should be based on the value for them specifically.”

You might choose to tell a story that positions your product as the hero, helping the customer vanquish a villain: their pain point.

Your story should be tailored to the pain points of the prospects in the room. For example, a change to their business, industry or the technology they use.

“If an element of your offering is not relevant, then don't distract them from the important features. It will keep them engaged and help to build their user story,” adds Bradley.

Recommended reading

Digging deep to determine customer pain points and make the sale

Create a sense of urgency around your product: It’s a solution to their problem, but if they don’t act now, they could miss an opportunity. Tell a story about what might happen if your prospect doesn’t change, framing the consequences of inaction.

Focus on outcomes

You’ve outlined the problem and, if you’re doing your job, your audience is nodding along. Now it’s time to start talking about the solution.

However, that doesn’t mean you should launch into the features and benefits of your product just yet.

Rather than presenting your product, a good sales presentation draws a picture of what life could look like for a customer once they start doing things differently. How will their workload or productivity improve? What will they be able to do with additional time and resources? How will they reduce spending and increase revenue?

From there, introduce your solution and the features that can make this brave new world possible. Do this in a few ways:

Position your features against the old way of doing things

Present those features as “superpowers” that will solve your prospect’s problems

Compare those features to competitors’ features

Quantify the value your features bring vs. the cost of doing nothing

Use a combination of some or all of the above

Creating a winning sales presentation slide deck

Most sales presentations include a slide deck to deliver facts, case studies and statistics that convey the value of your solution.

Create your sales pitch deck in an application like PowerPoint or Google slides to ensure your presentation is visible to everyone in the room (or in a virtual setting).

The best sales decks have a few key elements:

A great cover image or opening slide. Like the story you open your presentation with, your cover slide should grab your audience’s attention.

Data and key points . Charts, graphs, infographics, quotes and other information back up your presentation. Your slides should support your presentation by visualizing data, not repeating what you’re saying. You can get metrics from third-party sources or (if appropriate) from your own sales dashboard .

Testimonials and case studies from other customers. Quotes and success stories from or information about other customers, preferably in the same industry as your prospects, will act as social proof and go a long way to backing up your claims.

Competitive context. In all likelihood, your product isn’t the only one a potential customer is evaluating. Savvy sales professionals take the opportunity to proactively communicate how their product stacks up to their competitors’ and anticipate objections.

Customized content. While it might seem tempting to use the same content for every presentation, you should personalize your presentation for each meeting. You might want to use your prospect’s brand colors, find data specific to their market or industry, or reference an earlier exchange. You can find ready-to-use customizable sales decks through a graphic design app, such as Canva.

A glimpse into next steps. Give your prospects an understanding of what new customer onboarding looks like with a slide that includes a direct call to action offering next steps. For some companies, the training and customer support experience can be a value proposition in and of itself.

A note about text in your sales deck : Keep the slides simple and light on text. Your prospects don’t want to look at a wall of words to read. According to data from Venngage , 84% of presenters use visual data in their presentations – and for good reason: You don’t want to overwhelm your audience with text as they listen to you, look at your sales deck and watch the demo.

When you do include text, ensure you use a font (and font size) that can be easily read by everyone sitting in on your presentation.

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What else to bring to your sales presentation

Now that we’ve discussed the story elements of a sales presentation and your slide deck, what else should you bring to the meeting?

Most sales presentations are in-person affairs and include visual elements like a sales deck, handouts or even an in-person demonstration of the physical product. Here are a few things to think about including in your pitch.

13 examples of sales collateral you need to drive revenue

The product.

Nothing sells a product like seeing it in action.

Take Scrub Daddy, a sponge that changes shape depending on the heat of the water. When Aaron Krause, Scrub Daddy’s founder and inventor, presented the product on Shark Tank in 2012 , he demonstrated the sponge cleaning dirty kitchenware and greasy countertops. He also used bowls of water and two 10-pound weights to show the sponge’s amazing morphic abilities.

The tactic paid off: Scrub Daddy partnered with Lori Greiner for $200,000, in return for 20% equity in the business and is now considered one of Shark Tank’s most successful products.

Not all products are easy to demo, so you may have to improvise.

With a physical product, think of the perfect environment for a demo. What would show the product at its best?

With a digital product, make sure you have the technology on hand to show what your product can do (and check beforehand that the tech works). If it’s a mobile app, have your prospects download it. If it’s a platform, consider producing recorded or interactive product demos that can be embedded in your sales presentation.

For items that are too big to be brought in or which are location-specific, you may have to rely on a video as part of the presentation.

7 steps to putting together a brilliant sales demo

Leave behinds.

Depending on the nature of your solution, you may want to have materials you can leave with the prospects in the room.

This can be as simple as contact information or sales literature you pass out at the end of the presentation. It can also be something that’s part of the presentation, like a QR code that allows them to download the demo on their phones. Whatever format you choose, make sure the material is concise and to the point.

Tailoring your sales presentation to speak to your audience

Once you develop a strong sales deck template, it’s tempting to use it over and over with your target audience. Remember, personalization is essential in sales.

During lead generation , prospecting and sales calls, you know that prospects are more interested in buying if your pitches are tailored to them. It’s the same with your sales presentations, especially if you have an unusual prospect.

Let’s say your product is a CRM that’s normally used by sales organizations, but a human resources department is interested in using it to create a recruiting pipeline.

You wouldn’t use a sales deck with sales-related examples to sell it during the presentation.

Instead, you’d research talent acquisition challenges, ask your product department to create a template or a demo aimed at recruiting and build your sales deck accordingly.

Different industries have unique challenges and opportunities. It’s your responsibility to tailor your value proposition and key bullet points accordingly.

“To craft the perfect sales presentation pitch,” advises Danny Hayward, Sales Manager at Unruly , “ensure you take care of these three things:

Ask the right questions beforehand to understand the needs of the client, especially their flaws

Learn your product inside and out

Rehearse, rehearse and rehearse again

Danny Hayward Sales Manager, Unruly

How to nail your sales presentation delivery

Here are a few tried and true sales presentation techniques to make sure you close the deal.

Whether you’re presenting solo or as part of a team, it’s important to plan in advance. Follow these sales presentation tips for preparation.

Practice, practice, practice . You’ll need to get the timing right, especially if your presentation has a lot of moving parts. Go through it to make sure your timing works, so that you can nail the meeting itself.

Make sure everything works . You don’t want to go into a meeting with a faulty PowerPoint presentation or a broken sample – or find out there is no whiteboard when one is integral to your demonstration. Do your best to make sure everything goes to plan.

Decide on everyone’s roles . This one is just for those presenting as a team. Will different sales reps speak through each section? Will one rep talk while the others handle the sales deck and demo? Decide who will do and say what ahead of time.

Know your attendees. Make sure you know who from the prospect company will be in the meeting, their titles and the roles they each play in the buying process. Conducting light social media research can also clue you into attendees’ past experiences or alma maters (information that can fuel pre-presentation small talk and forge closer connections with your audience).

Practice confident body language

Presentations usually happen in person, which is why you need to practice strong body language. You want to look relaxed and confident (even if you’re shaking in your shoes).

Here are some ways you can improve your body language:

Eye contact . Make and maintain eye contact, even in virtual meetings. This shows people you’re interested in them and invested in what they have to say.

Stand up straight . Pull your shoulders back and straighten your spine; fixing your posture is an easy way to convey confidence. You’ll also feel better if you’re not hunched over.

Chin up. It’s hard when you’re in front of people, but don’t look at the floor or your shoes. Face straight ahead and make eye contact (or look at the back wall rather than the floor.)

Have a firm handshake. Some people judge others by their handshakes. Offer a firm handshake to make a good first impression.

Engage your audience

Presentations can span 30 to 60 minutes or more, so you need to be able to hold your prospects’ attention. There are a number of ways to keep everyone interested:

1. Understand your audience’s attention span

The beginning and the end of your presentation are the most memorable, so that’s where you want to use your strongest material.

Rather than leading with your product’s features, use the first few minutes of a presentation to briefly introduce yourself, and share the compelling story we mentioned earlier. If your demo itself is compelling, lead with that.

Then talk about product features and pricing. Your prospects might have already researched it or can look it up afterward, so it’s fine that it’s occupying real estate in the middle of the presentation.

Lastly, finish strong. Return to your story, sharing how your product solved an important problem. Close with confidence, and open the floor for questions.

2. Be funny

Humor can be tricky, so if you’re not comfortable making jokes, don’t force it. If, however, humor is part of your brand voice and you think it will be well-received by your audience, go for it. Humor can be a good way to connect with prospects, make your presentation memorable and relax everyone in the room.

3. Use a little showmanship

The best thing about a sales presentation is that it lets you show off your product. Unlike a pitch, a presentation lets you pull out the stops, make a splash and showcase your solution.

Use this to your advantage and be as memorable as you possibly can.

Sophie Cameron Business Development Representative, CAKE

What to do after the sales presentation to close the deal

The sales cycle isn’t over when the sales presentation ends. Here are some tips on how to wrap up loose ends and close the deal.

Take questions

Encourage questions to show prospects you care about their experience.

Sometimes prospects may want a question answered right in the middle of a presentation. Interactivity is a great sign of engagement. If that happens, stop the presentation and take their questions head-on to show you’re listening and validate their thoughts.

Other times they may sit silently waiting for you to give them all the information they need.

In either case, proactively ask for questions once you’ve ended your presentation. Encourage them to share their concerns. This is a consultative selling approach that works to build a relationship with your prospects.

By the end of your sales pitch, your prospect should be ready to come along with you and start your business relationship.

Outline the next steps of the process. The first could be offering a trial of your product, scheduling a follow-up meeting or sending over a proposal.

Whatever the steps, make sure they’re clearly defined. If you don’t hear from the prospect soon after the proposal, check back in with a follow-up email or call.

How to write a response-worthy follow-up email (with 15 templates)

Great sales presentation examples (and why they worked)

Here are some sales pitch examples you can use to inform your next sales presentation; these examples range from great sales decks to presentations and we’ll explain why they worked so well.

The successful demo

Stephen Conway of vegan chocolate brand Pure Heavenly opened his elevator pitch on the UK’s Dragons’ Den in 2019 by handing out samples of his chocolate. The product, paired with Stephen’s story about wanting to create an allergen-free treat that his young daughters could enjoy, led to three offers.

Why it worked: Conway knew the strength of his product and packaged it in a personal story, betting (correctly) that it would sell itself.

The data-driven presentation

Lunchbox is a restaurant technology company that specializes in online ordering, customer loyalty and guest engagement software. The sales deck the company used to raise its $50 million Series B in 2022 relied on bold visuals and graphs to illustrate its market opportunity, ARR history and competitive differentiators.

Why it worked: The deck tells two stories, one about the company itself and another about the way consumer dining habits have changed in the wake of COVID-19. Lunchbox used data to show how it met the industry’s new pain points for both itself and other companies.

Sales data: How to analyze sales data and a sample Excel spreadsheet

The presenters with overwhelming confidence

When Brian and Michael Speciale went on Shark Tank in 2017 to pitch their product, The Original Comfy, they had very little – no numbers or inventory, just a prototype of a big fleece blanket/hoodie and video of that hoodie being worn everywhere from the couch to the beach. What they did have was a good product and confidence in that product. Their presentation earned them an offer of $50,000 for 30% from Barbara Corcoran.

Why it worked: Corcoran says she bought in because the Speciale brothers had a good idea, the guts to present it and knew they had to strike while the iron was hot. While you probably should be more prepared for your own sales presentation, the Original Comfy story shows just how important confidence is in a sales presentation.

Begin your sales presentation by capturing your audience’s attention and establishing a solid foundation for the rest of your presentation. Here are some steps to consider:

Greet and introduce yourself

Establish rapport

State the purpose and agenda

Address the pain points

Present a compelling hook

Outline the benefits

Establish credibility

Set expectations

Remember to maintain a confident and enthusiastic demeanor throughout your presentation.

The ideal length of a sales presentation can vary depending on factors such as the complexity of the product or service, the audience’s attention span and the context in which the presentation is being delivered. However, keeping a sales presentation concise, focused and within the timeframe is generally recommended.

The conclusion of a sales presentation is a significant opportunity to leave a lasting impression and inspire action from your audience. Here are a few steps you should take to end your presentation effectively.

Include a call to action

Summarize key points

Showcase success stories

Open the floor to questions

Offer additional resources

Here’s an example of how to end your presentation:

“To quickly recap, we’ve covered these key points today: [Summarize the main features and benefits briefly].

“Now, let’s revisit our success stories. Our clients, like [Client A] and [Client B], achieved [mention their specific results]. These successes demonstrate how our product/service can deliver tangible benefits for your business.

“I’d be happy to address any questions or concerns you may have. Please feel free to ask about anything related to our offering, implementation process or pricing.

“Before we finish, I’d like to encourage you to take the next step. Schedule a demo, request a trial or start a conversation with our team. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience the advantages firsthand.

“Lastly, we have additional resources available, such as case studies and whitepapers, to provide you with more insights. Feel free to reach out to our team for any further assistance.

“Thank you all for your time and consideration today.”

Final thoughts

It can be tempting to play it safe with a sales presentation by keeping it to a sales deck and a speech – but a sales presentation should be a show-stopper.

The best sales presentation tells your customer’s story, validates with data, offers a demo and more. It’s a major undertaking that shows the strength of your product. Done well, it keeps your prospects engaged and will make them want to do business with you.

Show customers how your product can push their business forward (or better yet, how your product can make them the superhero) and you’ll have a winning sales presentation that sparks your customer’s interest and drives revenue.

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Blog Marketing 15 Sales Presentation Examples to Drive Sales

15 Sales Presentation Examples to Drive Sales

Written by: Danesh Ramuthi Oct 31, 2023

A sales presentation is not merely a brief introduction to a product or service. It’s a meticulously constructed sales pitch tailored to showcase the unique features and key elements of what’s being offered and to resonate deeply with the prospective customers. 

But what stands out in the best sales presentation is their ability to weave an engaging story, integrating customer testimonials, success stories and sales performances to maintain the audience’s attention span and to persuade them to take action. 

The right tools, like those provided by Venngage presentation Maker and its sales presentation templates , can greatly aid in this endeavor. The aim is to have a presentation memorable enough that it lingers in the minds of potential clients long after the pitch. 

Its ultimate aim is not just to inform but to persuasively secure the audience’s commitment.

Click to jump ahead:

6 Sales presentation examples

What to include and how to create a sales presentation, sales presentation vs pitch deck.

• Final thoughts

A sales presentation can be the differentiating factor that turns a potential client into a loyal customer. The manner in which a brand or individual presents their value proposition, product, or service can significantly impact the buying decisions of their audience.

Hence, drawing inspiration from various sales presentation examples can be an instrumental step in crafting the perfect pitch.

Let’s explore a few examples of sales presentations that cater to different needs and can be highly effective when used in the right context.

Clean sales presentation examples

The concept of a “clean” sales presentation reflects more than just its visual aesthetic; it captures an ethos of straightforward, concise and effective communication. A clean presentation offers a professional and efficient way to present your sales pitch, making it especially favorable for brands or individuals looking to be perceived as trustworthy and reliable.

Every slide in such a presentation is meticulously designed to be aesthetically pleasing, balancing visuals and text in a manner that complements rather than competes.

Its visual appeal is undeniably a draw, but the real power of a clean sales presentation lies in its ability to be engaging enough to hold your audience’s attention. By minimizing distractions, the message you’re trying to convey becomes the focal point. This ensures that your audience remains engaged, absorbing the key points without being overwhelmed.

A clean design also lends itself well to integrating various elements such as graphs, charts and images, ensuring they’re presented in a clear and cohesive manner. In a business environment where attention spans are continually challenged, a clean presentation stands as an oasis of clarity, ensuring that your audience walks away with a clear understanding of what you offer and why it matters to them.

Minimalist sales presentation examples

Minimalism, as a design and communication philosophy, revolves around the principle of ‘less is more’. It’s a bold statement in restraint and purpose. In the context of sales presentations, a minimalist approach can be incredibly powerful.

It ensures that your content, stripped of any unnecessary embellishments, remains at the forefront. The primary objective is to let the core message shine, ensuring that every slide, every graphic and every word serves a precise purpose.

This design aesthetic brings with it a sense of sophistication and crispness that can be a potent tool in capturing your audience’s attention. There’s an inherent elegance in simplicity which can elevate your presentation, making it memorable.

But beyond just the visual appeal, the minimalist design is strategic. With fewer elements on a slide, the audience can focus more intently on the message, leading to better retention and engagement. It’s a brilliant way to ensure that your message doesn’t just reach your audience, but truly resonates with them.

Every slide is crafted to ensure that the audience’s focus never wavers from the central narrative, making it an excellent choice for brands or individuals seeking to create a profound impact with their pitches.

Simple sales presentation examples

A simple sales presentation provides a clear and unobstructed pathway to your main message, ensuring that the audience’s focus remains undivided. Perfect for highlighting key information, it ensures that your products or services are front and center, unobscured by excessive design elements or verbose content.

But the beauty of a simple design is in its flexibility. With platforms like Venngage , you have the freedom to customize it according to your brand voice and identity. Whether it’s adjusting text sizes, incorporating vibrant colors or selecting standout photos or icons from expansive free stock libraries, the power to enhance and personalize your presentation lies at your fingertips.

Creating your ideal design becomes a seamless process, ensuring that while the presentation remains simple, it is every bit as effective and captivating.

Professional sales presentation example

A professional sales presentation is meticulously crafted, reflecting the brand’s guidelines, voice and core values. It goes beyond just key features or product benefits; it encapsulates the brand’s ethos, presenting a cohesive narrative that resonates deeply with its target audience.

For sales professionals, it’s more than just a slide deck; it’s an embodiment of the brand’s identity, from the great cover image to the clear call to action at its conclusion.

These presentations are tailored to address potential pain points, include sales performances, and present solutions in a compelling and engaging story format. 

Integrating elements like customer success stories and key insights, ensuring that the presentation is not just good, but memorable.

Sales performance sales presentation example

A company’s sales performance presentation is vital to evaluate, refine and boost their sales process. It’s more than just numbers on a slide deck; it’s a comprehensive look into the effectiveness of sales campaigns, strategies and the sales team as a whole.

This type of sales presentation provides key insights into what’s working, what isn’t and where there’s potential for growth.

It’s an invaluable tool for sales professionals, often serving as a roadmap guiding future sales pitches and marketing campaigns.

An effective sales performance presentation might begin with a compelling cover slide, reflecting the brand’s identity, followed by a brief introduction to set the context. From there, it delves into specifics: from the sales metrics, customer feedback and more.

Ultimately, this presentation is a call to action for the sales team, ensuring they are equipped with the best tools, strategies and knowledge to convert prospective customers into paying ones, driving more deals and growing the business.

Testimonial-based sales presentation examples

Leveraging the voices of satisfied customers, a testimonial-based sales presentation seamlessly blends social proof with the brand’s value proposition. It’s a testament to the real-world impact of a product or service, often making it one of the most effective sales presentation examples. 

By centering on customer testimonials, it taps into the compelling stories of those who have experienced firsthand the benefits of what’s being offered.

As the presentation unfolds, the audience is introduced to various customer’s stories, each underscoring the product’s unique features or addressing potential pain points.

These success stories serve dual purposes: they not only captivate the audience’s attention but also preemptively handle sales objections by showcasing how other customers overcame similar challenges.

Sales professionals can further augment the presentation with key insights derived from these testimonials, tailoring their sales pitch to resonate deeply with their potential clients.

Creating a good sales presentation is like putting together a puzzle. Each piece needs to fit just right for the whole picture to make sense. 

So, what are these pieces and how do you put them together? 

Here, I’ll break down the must-have parts of a sales presentation and give you simple steps to build one. 

What to include in a sales presentation?

With so much information to convey and a limited time to engage your audience in your sales presentation, where do you start?

Here, we’re going to explore the essential components of a successful sales presentation, ensuring you craft a compelling narrative that resonates with your prospects.

• A captivating opening slide: First impressions matter. Start with a great cover image or slide that grabs your audience’s attention instantly. Your opening should set the tone, making prospects curious about what’s to come.
• Data-driven slides: Incorporate key points using charts, graphs, infographics and quotes. Instead of flooding your slides with redundant information, use them as a tool to visually represent data. Metrics from your sales dashboard or third-party sources can be particularly illuminating.
• Social proof through testimonials: Weave in testimonials and case studies from satisfied customers. These success stories, especially from those in the same industry as your prospects, act as powerful endorsements, bolstering the credibility of your claims.
• Competitive context: Being proactive is the hallmark of savvy sales professionals. Address how your product or service fares against competitors, presenting a comparative analysis. 
• Customized content: While using a foundational slide deck can be helpful, personalizing your presentation for each meeting can make all the difference. Whether it’s integrating the prospect’s brand colors, industry-specific data or referencing a past interaction, tailored content makes your audience feel acknowledged.
• Clear path to the future: End by offering a glimpse into the next steps. This can include a direct call to action or an overview of the onboarding process. Highlight the unique value your company brings post-sale, such as exceptional training or standout customer support.
• Keep it simple: Remember, simplicity is key. Avoid overcrowding your slides with excessive text. Visual data should take center stage, aiding in comprehension and retention. 

Related: 120+ Presentation Ideas, Topics & Example

How to create a sales presentation? 

Crafting a good sales presentation is an art that blends structure, content and design. 

A successful sales presentation not only tells but also sells, capturing the audience’s attention while conveying the main message effectively. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide to ensure that your sales deck becomes a winning sales presentation.

1. Find out your ideal audience

The first step to any effective sales pitch is understanding your audience. Are you presenting to prospective customers, potential clients or an internet marketing agency? Recognize their pain points, buying process and interests to craft a message that resonates. This understanding ensures that your presentation is memorable and speaks directly to their unique needs.

2. Pick a platform to Use

Depending on your target audience and the complexity of your sales literature, you might opt for Venngage presentation maker, PowerPoint templates, Google Slides or any tools that you are comfortable with. Choose a tool that complements your brand identity and aids in keeping your audience’s attention span engaged.

3. Write the ‘About Us’ section

Here’s where you build trust. Give a brief introduction about your organization, its values and achievements. Highlight key elements that set you apart, be it a compelling story of your brand’s inception, a lucrative deal you managed to seal, or an instance where an internet marketing agency hired you for their needs.

4. Present facts and data

Dive deep into sales performance metrics, client satisfaction scores and feedback. Use charts, graphs and infographics to visually represent these facts. Testimonials and customer success stories provide that added layer of social proof. By showcasing concrete examples, like a customer’s story or feedback, you give your audience solid reasons to trust your product or service.

5. Finish with a memorable conclusion & CTA

Now that you’ve laid out all the information, conclude with a bang. Reiterate the value proposition and key insights you want your audience to remember. Perhaps share a compelling marketing campaign or a unique feature of your offering.

End with a clear call to action, directing your prospects on what to do next, whether it’s downloading further assistance material, getting in touch for more deals or moving further down the sales funnel .

Related: 8 Types of Presentations You Should Know [+Examples & Tips]

Sales presentation and the pitch deck may seem similar at first glance but their goals, focuses, and best-use scenarios differ considerably. Here’s a succinct breakdown of the two:

Sales Presentation:

• What is it? An in-depth dialogue designed to persuade potential clients to make a purchase.
• Focuses on: Brand identity, social proof, detailed product features, addressing customer pain points, and guiding to the buying process.
• Best for: Detailed interactions, longer meetings and thorough discussions with potential customers.
• Example: A sales rep detailing a marketing campaign to a potential client.

Pitch Deck:

• What is it? Pitch deck is a presentation to help potential investors learn more about your business. The main goal isn’t to secure funding but to pique interest for a follow-up meeting.
• Focuses on: Brand voice, key features, growth potential and an intriguing idea that captures the investor’s interest.
• Best for: Initial investor meetings, quick pitches, showcasing company potential.
• Example: A startup introducing its unique value proposition and growth trajectory to prospective investors.

Shared traits: Both aim to create interest and engagement with the audience. The primary difference lies in the intent and the audience: one is for selling a product/service and the other is for igniting investor interest.

Related: How to Create an Effective Pitch Deck Design [+Examples]

Final thoughts 

Sales presentations are the heart and soul of many businesses. They are the bridge between a potential customer’s needs and the solution your product or service offers. The examples provided—from clean, minimalist to professional styles—offer a spectrum of how you can approach your next sales presentation.

Remember, it’s not just about the aesthetics or the data; it’s about the narrative, the story you tell, and the connection you establish. And while sales presentations and pitch decks have their distinct purposes, the objective remains consistent: to engage, persuade and drive action.

If you’re gearing up for your next sales presentation, don’t start from scratch. Utilize Venngage presentation Maker and explore our comprehensive collection of sales presentation templates .

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15 Sales Presentation Techniques That Will Help You Close More Deals Today

Updated: June 01, 2022

Published: May 31, 2022

Hate the thought of doing sales presentations ? You’re not alone. But the best reps have sales presentations down pat, even if it’s not their favorite activity.

The best sales reps know that, when done right , sales presentations are a high-earning skill.

So, let’s hone that skill with simple sales presentation techniques that communicate an irresistible narrative and get buyers to close.

Sales Presentation

An effective sales presentation tells a compelling story, highlights your value proposition, and aligns with your audience's needs and desires. It ends with a strong call-to-action and leads prospects to your differentiators instead of leading with them.

As it can sometimes mean the difference between closing a deal or losing a customer, you definitely want to get your sales presentation right. There are strategies and tips you can follow to ensure your sales presentations are effective, memorable, and engaging. Let’s go over them below.

Sales Presentation Methods

1. structure your presentation. .

Guiding your prospects down a clear path is key to a successful sales presentation. You’ll follow a logical structure, and listeners will understand how each element of your presentation relates to one another, rather than them having to piece together disjointed information on their own. 

There are times when flipping the structure can add unique elements to your presentation, though, and we’ll discuss this further below. 

2. Use data visualizations. 

Using visuals, like charts and graphics, to supplement your message is a valuable way to showcase your content in an easy-to-understand format as they make your words more impactful. 

For example, if you’re selling SaaS that helps users organize their sales process for a shorter cycle, you can create a visual that displays the average length of your clients’ sales cycle vs. those using other tools. 

By doing this, you’re adding extra emphasis to your words with a visual picture, and a bonus is that visuals are more likely to stick with your audience and get them thinking versus just hearing you talk. 

3. Rely on spoken words — not text.

If your presentation slides are text-heavy, prospects may get caught up reading the words you’ve written instead of listening, causing them to miss out on the value you’re sharing. Aim to include less text by calling attention to the most significant elements with short bursts of text that you supplement with your words. 

In addition, when you have less text on your slides, you may be less inclined to just read from them, which can be a bad part of presentations. You’ll have to speak instead of relying on written content. 

Let’s go over some sales presentation techniques that, when paired with the three methods above, will help you nail it every time.

Sales Presentation Techniques

1. send your buyer the presentation deck before your call..

You might assume that sending a buyer a deck before a call is like revealing whodunnit on the cover of a murder mystery. No one will pay attention to the rest of the book, right? 

When the Gong.io team started sharing our deck before opening sales calls, we learned it was a winning move. 

If your deck is compelling, prospects will want to get into it with you, even if they know the main point. Together, you can dive in, dissect the good bits, and talk through questions. It’s going to be a juicy conversation, and they know it.

Then, you can begin the conversation during your presentation with a statement like, “Based on the information in the deck I sent, where should we start?”

2. Invoke self-discovery.

It’s tempting to stick to a positive linear story during your sales presentation. That usually invokes talking about benefits, outcomes, and desired results. But, that approach isn’t always the best. 

Before discussing solutions and results, you must understand your prospect's problem. More importantly, you have to be sure your prospects understand the problem. 

Self-discovery is the ticket that gets you there. Instead of telling the buyer what the problem is and how you’ll address it, get your buyer to connect with the problem on their own. 

3. Talk about Point A. Don’t skip to point B.

This is 100% linked to the tip above. There’s a problem (point A) and desired outcome (point B). Point A is the status quo. It’s a problem your buyer will continue to face if they don’t make a change. 

You can stand out by focusing on point A, as talking about a pain point is shockingly more effective than talking about positive outcomes. 

Make your buyer feel the pain that results from the status quo. Convince them the pain will only worsen without your solution — because you know that to be true.

You should only talk about benefits once they’re on board with that line of thinking. Urgency is what allows benefits to land. Without urgency, benefits are just happy points that hold no real meaning.

4. Insight is your #1 lead story.

Buyers are experts on their circumstances, but they want insights into their situation from you. 

You’re most likely to impress a buyer by telling them something new about themselves, as your offering is a unique insight into their problems and opportunities.

Check out this TaylorMade video. It’s a bang-on example of how to lead a presentation with insight, and then move on to your product’s strengths:

You learned how to get more distance from your golf swing (an insight into what you’re doing). Then you learned how that’s supported by the product’s particular strength.

Insight comes first. It changes how your buyers think about the problem your product solves. Only then benefits can land effectively.

5. Don’t lead with differentiators, lead to them.

At Gong.io, we’ve taught our sales reps to speak with buyers about a critical problem only we can solve. It’s the delta between top producers and the rest of the team.

• "The numbers from your top reps are fantastic."
• "The downside is they’re annulled by everyone else who’s missing their quota."
• "Your team goes from outstanding numbers to breaking even or missing quota. Both of those options are unsustainable."

We only introduce our key differentiator once the backstory is clear and the buyer gets it. Then, our reps say something like this:

"Gong is the only platform that can tell you what your top reps do differently from the rest of your team. We can tell you which questions they ask, which topics they discuss, when they talk about each one, and more."

See why we lead to our differentiator, and not with it? It just wouldn’t land the same way if we started with the differentiator. In fact, it might not land at all.

6. Focus on value, not features.

Gong.io research found that focusing on features over value is not impactful. Prospects, especially decision-makers, want value propositions about how you’ll help them solve their problems rather than an overview of the features they’ll get. 

7. Flip your presentation.

he next, eventually achieving a shiny, final outcome. This isn’t always the best strategy. 

Instead of building up to the most significant and impactful part of your demo for your prospect, begin with the most valuable part, which is how you’ll help them, and let the conversation flow from there. 

There’s one other tactic underlying it all: The best product demos start with topics the buyers highlighted on the discovery call . For example, if the buyer spends 4 minutes talking about X and 10 minutes talking about Y, you want to begin with Y, as the buyer has demonstrated that they’re heavily interested in Y. In the opening section of your presentation, address the biggest issue from discovery. Address the second biggest issue second, etc.

It’s called solution mapping, and it’s going to change your sales presentation process forever. Stop saving the big reveal for last. Stop building anticipation. Start with the good stuff. Let it rip right out of the gate.

8. Turn your presentation into a conversation.

If you sensed we were looking for a two-way dialogue during your pitch, you’re right. That’s a relief to most salespeople, especially the ones who hate delivering traditional presentations.

A two-way dialogue is going to make your pitch feel more natural. To do this, Gong.io says to get buyers to ask questions by giving them just enough info to inspire them to ask more questions and keep the conversation going. In fact, top performers ask fewer questions because they don’t bombard prospects with too much information but instead give buyers just enough information to have them ask questions. 

Long monologues won’t help you have real conversations with your buyers. Instead, aim for a great two-way conversation. 

9. Mind the 9-minute period.

This tip is crisp and clear: Don’t present for more than nine minutes. Gong.io data supports this. 

Presentations for lost deals last an average of 11.4 minutes. Why do they go so poorly? Because it’s hard to retain attention. If you do go longer than nine minutes, switch it up. 

Vary something that re-captures attention and keeps people engaged. Change channels by doing something like switching up who’s speaking in real life or on video. This can rest your clock to zero, and you’ve got nine more minutes for the next portion of the show. 

10. Be strategic with social proof. 

Social proof. Best friend or worst nightmare? It can be either one, so use it carefully. For example, generic social proof (i.e., naming impressive clients for brand power alone) is a disaster. Buyers might not identify with them. Sure, they’re dazzled, but they may not see how they relate to your current client.

An effective strategy is to reference clients similar to your buyer, with the same pain points, challenges and needs that they can relate to. You can tell an accompanying story about the client and their pain points, helping the buyer see themselves in the story you’re telling.

11. Talk price after you establish value.

Would it surprise you to know it matters when you talk about certain topics? It can actually affect whether you win or lose a deal. Pricing is a great example of this principle.

The top salespeople wait to talk about pricing. They know it’s important to demonstrate their product’s value first.

Set an agenda at the start of your call so your buyer knows when to expect a pricing discussion. They’ll be less likely to raise it early, and if they do, you can refer back to the agenda.

Open with something like, " I’d like to talk about A, B, and C on our call today. Then we can go over pricing at the end and -- if it makes sense for you -- talk about next steps. Does that work for you?"

You’re all set.

12. Reference your competitors.

Our data shows that you’re more likely to win a deal if you talk about the competition early in the sales process instead of ignoring them completely.

For best results, practice this during your first sales presentation. Waiting until the end of your sales process puts you into a dangerous red zone. Your buyers will already have formed opinions, and they’ll be harder to change.

In other words, at the end of the day, buyers will justify a decision they made early in the process, which is why it’s critical to set yourself up as the winner early on. Talk about the competition in your presentation. Put the conversation out there. Get your buyer to see you through that lens, and you’re golden.

Over To You

You now have 15 new tips and techniques to throw down this quarter. Many of these data-backed moves come from Gong.io’s own findings and have proven to be effective for us. Implement them, and I know you’ll boost your numbers.

Don't forget to share this post!

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How to Create and Deliver a Killer Sales Presentation

Written by: Orana Velarde

A good sales presentation is the key to landing a new client or customer. Present your offers, products and services in a way that will inspire your audience to take action. 

With a killer sales presentation template and some tips on how to create one, you’re on your way to a successful sales meeting. Regardless if it’s virtual or in person.

Let’s dive in! 

Here’s a short selection of 8 easy-to-edit sales presentation templates you can edit, share and download with Visme. View more templates below:

What is a Sales Presentation?

In short, a sales presentation is a speech with or without a slide deck in which the speaker is trying to sell something to their audience. A sales presentation can be formulated in a number of different ways.

For example, a sales presentation can be a pitch deck . Startups use these to present their ideas to potential investors and get funding.

B2B companies use sales presentations to sell their products or services to other companies. In some cases, a webinar is a sales presentation with an added value proposition.

What a sales presentation isn’t, is a sales report where the presenter gives results on sales activity. Think of a sales presentation as before the sale takes place and a sales report as to what happens after.

Below is a pitch deck presentation template that can easily work as a sales presentation. Simply take out some of the slides and fill in your own company information for the particular offer.

Slides to Include in Your Sales Presentation

Sales presentations have existed for a long time. Millions of people have created, presented and closed deals with sales presentations . Thankfully, there are also people that look at the data. 

In this case, the data I’m referring to is the perfect number and type of slides to include in a sales presentation for a higher chance of success. The general consensus for a pitch deck outline , for example, is around 10 slides in this order:

• Introduction
• Market Size and Opportunity
• Competition
• Investment and Use of Funds

Let’s say your sales presentation isn’t a pitch deck to convince investors to fund your startup. If your sales presentation is geared towards selling a particular product or service from your company, it can look more like this:

• Emotion Factor

Do you feel like you might need some help to create a sales presentation? Don’t worry, we’ve got you. Check out the video below to learn how to create a presentation quickly and easily, right inside Visme! 

5 Killer Sales Presentation Tips

In order to create a sales presentation that will convert your audience into customers, it needs to be well designed and also well presented. Here are 5 top tips to take into account when creating your sales presentation.

1. Keep It Short

Keep your sales presentation short. You don’t need to write a dissertation about your product or service. In fact, you should create a little mystery and anticipation. Relay just enough information that will pique their curiosity to the point of wanting to know more. 

2. Tell a Story

Use storytelling techniques at the start to help your audience relate to your pitch. Try using a fictional character as a starting point to explain how your service or product changed or improved their life or work. Insert personable tidbits that your audience can relate to. 

3. Know Beforehand What Your Clients Want or Need

Don’t give a sales presentation to people who won’t be interested in it. Make sure you know what your ideal client and customer really need and want. What are their pain points? How does your offer help them overcome it? Your sales presentation needs to address those and explain in simple language how your product or service is their best choice.

4. Ask Questions and Create Conversation

During the presentation, ask questions to create a conversation with your audience. This will remind them that you are a real person and not a machine. Give them an opportunity to also ask you questions.

5. Don’t Drone a Memorized Speech

It’s definitely a good idea to practice what you’ll say during the sales presentation. But what isn’t so great is to memorize a speech that you’ll then drone out like a middle school play. 

When giving a good presentation , it’s important to be calm and prepared. Your body language says a lot about how you feel when relaying the information. Even if you’ve given the same presentation over 20 times to different audiences, make it new every time.

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5 Ready to Use Sales Presentation Templates

Using a template can help you get a good idea of how to set up the slides in your sales presentation. In the end, you might not use the template as is and you’ll change a lot of the elements. But the idea is that a template gets you started.

At Visme, we have a number of sales presentation templates. Here are a few of our favorites.

1. Creative Sales Presentation

This sales presentation template has 16 slides all in a similar style. Choose the slides that fit your vision best and duplicate your favorites. This is the perfect template for the sale of a digital product or service.

2. Event Sponsorship and Booking Sales Presentation

Use this template if you’re selling sponsorship and booking opportunities for an event. It doesn’t matter if the event is virtual or in person, you still need to get people to participate, buy tickets, buy advertising spots, etc. 

3. Product Sales Presentation

Showcase your products in the best light. Try out this template to create a sales presentation that sells a specific product. Each slide is designed to present an important aspect of your product, its value proposition and who it solves your customers’ pain points.

Change the colors to match your brand and personalize the messaging easily. Keep critical information accurate and consistent across your presentation using Dynamic Fields . All you need to do is create dynamic fields and input data once , which will appear throughout your slides.

4. Freestyle Modern Sales Presentation Theme

The Visme Modern presentation template isn’t just great for sales presentations. This set of slides can help you create any type of presentation. For a sales directed slide deck, use the slide library categories to find the slides you need. 

Not only does this slide library have all the slides you need, but there are also variations of each one. Select the one that fits your content best. 

5. Minimalistic Simple Sales Presentation Theme

Much like the modern presentation theme, the simple presentation theme has over 300 slides in over 20 categories. You simply have to select the sides you need, then choose the composition of the elements you like best. 

Finally, add your own information and data to finalize your sales presentation deck. Don’t forget your brand colors, a few storytelling tidbits and a clear value proposition.

Design Elements To Use In Your Sales Presentation

Sales presentations created with or without templates can benefit from a number of design elements. These are tools that will help you visualize the information for your pitch. From charts to infographic widgets, everything is at your disposal with Visme.

Let’s take a quick look at some of them.

1. Content Blocks

Creating visual content with content blocks is much easier than starting from scratch. We use the same principles as our presentation themes to create ready to use content blocks. 

There are a number of design options when it comes to content blocks. For example, header and text, stats and figures, graphics and text and diagrams. You also have to ability to save your favorite and most versatile blocks in a library to use for all your future presentations.

Visme content blocks are available on the left-hand toolbar of your editor. In the “Basics” button at the very top of the list.

Visme icons come in all shapes and sizes. From static line icons to animated full-color isometric illustrated icons. All are color customizable and easy to resize. Making them fit your brand is seamless and intuitive. 

Use icons instead of bullet points, as a replacement of unnecessary text, as a way to create a visual flow, or as a decorative element. Icons are your best friend when creating visual projects.

3. Characters

Include personable characters along with your content blocks and other design elements. These characters will help create a relatable environment for your audience, making it easier to sell your products or services.

The Visme characters can be static or animated. Customized in terms of color, pose and repetition of action. They work great to explain certain concepts and ideas that need a visual push to come across.

4. Infographic Widgets

Infographic widgets are great design tools for visualizing small data sets. Use groups of these to visualize individual statistics and information that will help sell your product or service.

Customize the color and dimensions easily to fit in with the rest of your project.

Visualize location information with customizable interactive maps. Choose between counties, states, entire countries or regions. Enter data for your map with a Google sheet or do it manually. 

Visme maps can be as simple as a color outline to a multicolored data map with a legend and interactive pop ups.

6. Charts and Graphs

Very few sales presentations can get away without a minimum of charts and graphs. The Visme graph engine has a wide variety of options to create line charts, bar graphics, scatter plots and more. 

You only need to input your data once and the graph engine shows you different options to choose from. Select the one that makes your data the easiest to read and doesn’t confuse the audience.

7. Special Effects

Adding special effects is a great way to add visual value to your slides. Motion graphics shapes and backgrounds will make your sales presentations more interesting to look at. These are great for sales presentations that don’t accompany a speech or elevator pitch.

How To Create a Sales Presentation in Visme in 9 Steps or Less

It’s easy to design a sales presentation with Visme. The design elements and information visualization tools will help you put together a memorable sales presentation that will seal the deal.

1. Create an Outline

Before you start designing any slides, you’ll need to have all your information in an easy to follow outline document. If possible, separate the sections into what will go on each slide. This will help save you time when you’re actually in the editor creating the presentations.

Remember to keep the information per slide as short and sweet as possible. You’re looking to convince and convert, not teach a masterclass. 

2. Choose a Template

Once you have all your information ready to go, it’s time to sign in to your Visme account and choose a template. Browse the ready-made templates or select one of the three themes which are more like builders.

When you pick a template and then you realize it’s not what you needed, changing for another one is easy from inside the editor. Set up as many slides as your outline calls for.

Presentation Templates

Ecommerce Webinar Presentation

Buyer Presentation

PixelGo Marketing Plan Presentation

Technology Presentation

Product Training Interactive Presentation

Work+Biz Pitch Deck - Presentation

Create your presentation View more templates

3. Select Images and Graphics

All the photos, icons and illustrations inside the templates are free to use. As are all the ones in the Visme graphics library. Simply use the search function to find what you need. All icons and illustrations are customizable to match your brand colors. 

If you have brand or company visual assets ready to use, upload them to your media library and add it to your canvas. 

4. Input Your Information

Add the content from your outline into the presentation. Go slide by slide so you don’t miss anything. If text boxes change sizes, use the sizing function to readjust how text fits on the slide. 

5. Customize Slides to Add Brand Assets

Change the color theme to match your brand. Prepare your Brand Kit first with a color palette and color theme with your brand colors. Then in the editor, change the template colors as you wish.

To change the fonts, select the text and add the new fonts in. You can upload your own brand fonts or use one from our long and varied collection.

6. Add Data With Data Visualizations

Use the Visme Graph Engine to create charts and graphs to add to your sales presentation. If the template you selected already had charts and graphs, simply customize to fit your data and story.

Add infographic widgets for small data sets or small tidbits of statistical information. For example, percentages and arrays. 

7. Add Interactivity, Animation and Narration

If you’ll be sending the sales presentation on its own without your speech accompanying in, consider adding interactivity, animation and narration for your audience to feel connected to the slides. 

Alternatively, you can have two versions. One without these elements to accompany your spoken speech and an interactive version to send to potential clients after you’ve talked to them.

Interactivity can be buttons that open popups, websites or navigate to other slides. Animation can be achieved with animation effects on any element or with animated icons and characters.  Add narration to your slides so your audience will have an easier time following along.

8. Use Presenter’s Notes

When presenting live to an audience, take advantage of the presenter's notes function. These are notes and reminders that only you can see on the slides as you go through the sales presentation.

They will help you stay on track with the story, will give you cues for when to ask questions or insert a humorous comment. Use these as support, not as reading points.

9. Share Your Sales Presentation With a Link or Download

Your sales presentations can be shared in a number of different ways. Share it as a live link, download as HTML5 to share offline with all the animation and interactivity you added. Download as a PDF to share as a static presentation or to print in a booklet. 

Share your sales presentation easily in a Zoom or Google Meet call by sharing your screen and sending a copy to your attendees.

Your Turn to Create a Killer Sales Presentation with Visme

Now it’s your turn to create a sales presentation. We hope you’ll try Visme to see just how much you can do with the tools at your disposal.

Check out all the sales presentation templates to get started. We think you’ll never want to create a presentation anywhere else. 

Create beautiful presentations faster with Visme.

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About the Author

Orana is a multi-faceted creative. She is a content writer, artist, and designer. She travels the world with her family and is currently in Istanbul. Find out more about her work at oranavelarde.com

10+ Sales PowerPoint Presentation Examples To Get Inspired!

One of the biggest challenges B2B sales and marketing teams face is creating sales presentations that impress potential customers and lead to conversions.

So, what does an excellent sales presentation look like? Today, we'll explore some of the best examples to help you craft your own outstanding presentation. And that’s not all, we’ve interviewed our head of sales, Robert Juul Glaesel , to provide you with the BEST insights to unlock success. So…let's dive in!

We’ll be covering the following topics

What is a sales presentation?

Sales presentation vs. sales deck vs. pitch deck.

• Sales Presentation PPT Examples - and why they were successful

Sales Powerpoint Presentation Templates

Sales presentation video examples, get ready to create the best sales presentation: tips from our sales expert, unlock success: expert support for your sales presentation design.

Let’s start from the top! - Or, as always, you can skip to your preferred section.

A sales presentation is a crucial part of the sales process. It refers to a meeting where a sales team showcases their product or service , persuading potential customers to purchase.

This meeting typically takes place after initial contact with the prospects , either through marketing efforts, cold calls, or expressions of interest from potential customers themselves.

In this meeting, the sales team usually provides a comprehensive overview of the product or service. They address key points such as:

• What is the product or service?
• How is it used?
• What distinctive features does it have?
• What problem does it solve?
• Why is this their best option?

→ Free Download: 10+ Sales PowerPoint presentation template [Access Now]

The sales presentation and sales deck are pretty similar. On one hand, a sales presentation is designed to persuade potential customers about the value of your product or service. It typically includes detailed information about your product, its features, benefits, pricing, case studies, testimonials, and more.

On the other hand, a sales deck is essentially a condensed version of a sales presentation . It is usually concise and only includes key highlights.

In contrast, a pitch deck is a presentation created for investors to secure funding. It generally contains information about the company's vision, the problem it aims to solve, market opportunities, business model, and financial projections.

Sales Presentation PPT Examples: and why they were successful

Below are several sales presentation examples you can use as inspiration to create your own. Let’s look at each of them and see exactly why they were successful.

Spendesk is a powerful spend management platform designed to help users save time and money by offering a clear view of their company expenses. Their sales presentation is the definition of a successful sales presentation: it is incredibly clear and straightforward . It clearly defines the problem it solves and introduces you to the solution, highlighting how it stands out from the competition.

As you’ll see, this presentation is not overloaded with text - it's simple and easily shows you how the product works. And most importantly, it’s branded! Which is key for brand positioning and visual consistency .

To check it out, click here .

Reddit Advertisement Sales Presentation

Reddit's sales presentation is definitely one of a kind. By incorporating memes and other pop-culture images throughout their deck, they engage the audience and stay true to their brand identity . This approach not only resonates with the Reddit community but also sets them apart from mundane sales pitches.

The presentation not only provides valuable data and showcases the effectiveness of its product but also does so effortlessly, proving that a presentation does not have to be overly serious to be effective.

Click here to explore Reddit's engaging sales presentation.

Zuora, a SaaS platform for subscription billing, takes a compelling approach in its sales presentation. It starts by highlighting the industry's changing landscape , effectively showing the importance of adapting to these changes.

But Zuora doesn't stop there. Throughout their presentation, they also showcase what their platform can do for the audience and provide social proof to back it up . This includes quotes from CEOs and other business executives who have successfully used their platform to improve their subscription billing process.

See for yourself and check out one of the best sales deck examples here .

Drift, a web-based live-chat tool for sales and marketing, takes a unique approach to its sales presentation. They begin by highlighting a common problem that many businesses face : how traditional communication methods, such as email, calls, and forms, are insufficient.

The presentation then goes on to showcase how Drift can provide a solution to this problem. They demonstrate how their live chat tool offers a more personalized approach to communication that can lead to impactful results.

Check out Drift's impressive sales presentation here .

Salesforce, an integrated Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform, provides a valuable lesson about creating sales presentations that convert . They start by explaining how the industry has undeniable changes and how we need to adapt to keep our businesses successful.

But they don't stop there. They continue showing us what things can look like, in other words, "the promised land," and how their product can change everything about how companies do things. And obviously, they finish with the greatest success stories from CEOs and clothes executives.

Click here to get inspired by the Salesforce presentation.

→ Free Download: 10+ Sales PowerPoint presentation PDF [FREE]

Snapchat Advertising

Snapchat Advertising's sales presentation stands out not only for its visually appealing design but also for its unique features. The presentation begins by emphasizing the vast reach of its platform and key age demographics, providing valuable insights for those looking to make the most of their marketing campaign .

In addition, Snapchat Advertising effectively compares itself to the competition, showcasing its unique features and advantages. And, of course, the presentation is visually branded with the company's iconic ghost character , making it instantly recognizable.

Check out their captivating sales presentation here .

Klima’s sales presentation is a special one. This climate change app’s presentation makes sure we know they are a company that focuses on “what truly matters.” It presents itself as a business with real, global impact.

And that’s not all. One standout feature of Klima's sales presentation is its visually appealing design. The slides effectively showcase the app's interface and demonstrate its key features. This visual representation really helps prospects consider getting an employee benefit with purpose .

Click here to get inspired by one of the greatest b2b sales deck examples.

Are you ready to create the best Sales PowerPoint presentation? We’ve got great news for you! Discover our sales presentation templates that you can download for exactly $0 .

Any of these templates could be a GREAT starting point for your next sales presentation . And what’s best…they are completely free for you to download at our Templates platform ! You’ll find not only these ones but also hundreds of other PowerPoint templates, for ANY industry, completely at your disposal.

Sales presentations can take various forms, including videos. Video presentations can effectively engage and captivate the audience by combining visual content, audio narration, and sometimes animations or graphics. Here are a few examples of sales presentations that are delivered in video format:

Medallia's video presentation showcases the effectiveness of using video to clearly represent their platform. The video highlights the platform's features, demonstrating how it can be a powerful tool for businesses.

By utilizing video, Medallia effectively shows viewers what the platform looks like and what they can expect to access and analyze in terms of data. The detailed exploration of each feature gives potential clients a comprehensive understanding of the platform's capabilities and how it can benefit their business.

Click here to check it out.

Moodcaster, a digital casting platform, starts with the main problem: how time-consuming castings can be and how tedious auditions are . It then shows you how they can be a great solution and how the platform works.

This video presentation truly shows what the client can expect when using the platform , by showing the process step-by-step. And if they are not convinced yet, it ends up listing all the fantastic features it has one by one, leaving the best impression.

Click here to view Moodcaster’s incredible video sales presentation.

Viable, the pioneering experience analysis platform, doesn't just identify the problem you're facing; it swiftly transitions to showcasing how they can provide the solution . They offer a real-time demonstration of how their platform works, providing concrete insights into how it can improve your business.

Finally, they conclude by highlighting all the advantages, features, and versatile applications that can benefit your specific needs.

Click here to take a look at Viable’s video sales presentation.

We know that creating the best sales presentation is key for your business. So, in order to provide valuable insights, we consulted Robert Juul Glaesel , head of sales at 24 Slides, who understands the importance of a good presentation for your business.

Let’s take a look at some insights from our head of sales:

Insight #1: Take elements out instead of adding elements in

Remember that quality is always more important than quantity . So, keep in mind not to overload your presentation with excessive text, because your audience’s attention will go directly there, instead of your speech. In Robert’s words:

“If you incorporate too many elements, it results in clutter, obscuring the main message and making it more challenging for the presenter to effectively convey their message.”

Insight #2: Don’t rely on your slides

We know this might sound counterintuitive, given that all this article is about creating your presentation, but remember that the presentation and the story are yours . As Robert says:

“Make sure that your presentation supports your story, it shouldn't tell your story. You, as the presenter, are the storyteller. Therefore, presentations should emphasize key points.”

Bonus insight #3: Brand your sales presentation !

This is one of your most crucial presentations; it should reflect who you are . There should be consistency between what they see on your website, social media, etc., and what they will see in this presentation. So, it is extremely important that you show that you care about your image and pay close attention to detail.

Creating a sales presentation is an incredibly important task, so it's best to leave it to the experts. Here at 24Slides , we can assist you in creating an amazing sales presentation that perfectly aligns with your brand. All you need to do is share the content you want to include and your brand guidelines. In less than 48 hours, you'll have your presentation ready for sales!

Want to learn more? Check out these articles!

• The Best Sales Presentation Services for Winning Sales Decks
• How to Create the Perfect B2B Sales Presentation
• Learn How to Start an Effective Sales Presentation
• Top 20 Free Templates for Corporate and Business Presentations
• +20 Self Introduction PowerPoint Templates: Download for free!

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12 Sales Presentation Examples That Work & Why

See uniquely effective sales pitch presentation examples and learn how to make a sales presentation that deeply engages buyers and helps you close the sale.

5 minute read

helped business professionals at:

Short answer

What to include in a sales presentation?

• Cover slide - a visual hook
• Who we are slide - provides context and demonstrates authority
• Problem slide - covers your prospect’s main pain points
• Solution slide - describes your unique solution to the prospect's problem
• How it works slide - gives basic details about the onboarding and rollout process
• Social proof slide - includes testimonials, case studies, awards, or big client logos
• Benefits slide - outlines the outcomes the prospect can expect
• Next steps - gives the prospect a simple next step to proceed

Why a sales presentation is more than presenting a PowerPoint?

You could say that a sales presentation is only as good as the sales rep presenting it, but that’s only partly true.

People forget about 90% of what you tell them within 2 days (it’s called the Forgetting curve , look it up). And I am guessing that your sales cycle is longer than 2 days…

Even if you’re a rock star, will your star power last long enough to influence the final buying decision? Likely not.

If you’re smart, you rely on your sales presentation content to work for you behind closed doors and serve as your voice when you can’t be there.

Sounds nice, doesn’t it? If only it were so simple.

But most sales presentations don’t work like that. Without you to present them they’re as inviting as drinking warm beer.

My goal for this post is to show you examples of how smart sales teams managed to make sales presentations that sell while they sleep.

Why don’t sales presentations work anymore?

They all look the same.

They’re not (really) personalized.

And they’re static and boring.

We all know sales presentations need to be pretty, but now we're all making pretty much the same presentations. Standing out from your competition is 90% of the battle, and you're losing it.

Worse yet, too many sales teams default to sending generic one-shoe-fits-all sales presentations to all their prospects. I get it, there’s not enough time to justify the high touch.

So what now?

I’m gonna show you sales presentation examples that use interactive multimedia content and personalization to stand out, engage, and win more deals.

NOTE: Based on our analysis of over 100,000 sales presentation sessions I can tell you that moving from static to interactive sales presentation could get you a 146% increase in average reading time and a 41% increase in prospects who read your presentation in full.

Sales presentation examples that close deals

Sales presentation examples are abundant, but GREAT examples are few and far between.

You’re not gonna eat anyone’s lunch if you show up to the competition with the same set of (pretty) tools as all the rest.

When preparing your sales presentation, your priority is to first stand out, second engage, and third drive action.

The examples on my list all do this superbly.

One of these sales presentations brought a 70% lift in SQLs , another drove 2X more demos when used in sales prospecting, and a third was shared with decision-makers within the prospect’s organization 50% of the time .

If you study these examples and apply what you’ve learned - you’re gonna need a bigger pipeline .

Gong sales one-page presentation

Gong can do no wrong. They are masters of sales collateral and sales messaging.

Their sales presentation follows the recomended structure I gave you at the start of this article starting with a UVP and then covering who they are, problem, solution, how it works, benefits, social proof, and next steps.

This presentation has it all. But Gong elegantly rolled up who they are with the problem and solution in a short and easy-to-follow video.

Why separate them when you can merge them into one coherent and persuasive narrative?

Zuora sales presentation

Zuora’s sales presentation is the archetype of a storytelling presentation.

Zuora was one of the first sales organizations to build their sales presentations around a grand narrative which earned this presentation renown as the best sales presentation ever .

It presents a sea change, where the market is transitioning from a product subscription economy.

The presentation outlines a “before-and-after” state of affairs with winners and losers.

Those who embrace the change with the help of Zuora’s solution inherit the earth and those who don’t lose everything and get left behind.

Udemy B2B sales presentation

One of Udemy’s major revenue channels is their B2B operation. It’s a tough market in which they compete with other training and development providers.

Their sales presentation uses dynamic variables to personalize their message to a specific prospect (it’s the content in squiggly brackets).

I specifically loved the personal note that the presentation opens with. It’s a great place to include some of the specific concerns and interests that came up during the discovery call, or based on prior engagement by the prospect.

Here's how you can personalize your sales presentations at scale:

Enterprise sales deck by cprime

cprime’s enterprise sales presentation leads by showcasing that they work with Fortune 500 companies. This form of "social proof" slash "proof of capabilities" is critical for enterprise selling.

Enterprise buyers like knowing that your services are tailored for enterprise and can keep up with BIG requirements. cprime work hard to show they belong in an enterprise’s solution stack.

Only after catering to this do they proceed to break down their solution.

I love how they break complex infographics into chunks that lead your attention with animation.

And I realy love the idea of providing samples of their offering to make it concrete and easy to understand .

Minimalistic sales presentation by ScaleHub

This sales presentation and other interactive sales collateral helped ScaleHub establish themselves in the US market and brought them a steady flow of leads for their pipeline.

Before this they were using the legacy PPTs and PDFs, but moving to this type of interactive content got more engagement, opened the door for relationships to form, and let them build a pipeline fast with relatively few resources.

The presentation is quite a simple one, it’s the text book problem-solution content structure, made leaner and easier to understand with interactive content and multimedia.

Interactive sales presentation by Deliveright

Deliverights sales presentation is an outstanding example of turning a boring topic into an exciting proposition . (we’re talking about a white glove delivery service mind you).

The presentation does a great job of showing how easy and straightforward their solution is through visual storytelling .

I specifically enjoyed their problem slide that effectively creates a persuasive contrast between the delivery process with and without Deliveright.

Personalized sales presentation by Wisestamp

This sales pitch presentation is beautifully personalized . There’s the basic personalization of the prospect’s name and company, but it goes much further…

Wisestamp give their prospect a personalized preview of their product . Yep.

Because the product is an email signature they can populate a signature with the prospect’s information, name, job title, email, headshot and all.

Another great thing this presentation does is segment the message to multiple decision-makers in their benefits section .

Using tabs they can talk to different influencers from one single slide instead of “dirtying” their presentation with multiple slides addressing different people.

Sales proposal presentation by Healthy.io

This sales presentation example, by a heath-tech company, is a peculiar one. It’s rare to encounter a long-form sales presentation, and even rarer to find one that works really well.

But this one works big time.

This presentation enables Healthy’s champion to promote the solution within their organization . This involves persuading multiple decision-makers and influencers which the sales team has no hope of meeting face-to-face.

The long form works well in this situation since it effectively communicates the value of Healthy’s solution to a specialist audience that requires the details to make a buying decision.

AI sales presentation by OctopAI

I love this sales presentation’s cover slide. The grumpy octopus animation just pulls in your attention and the snappy and catchy title complements it perfectly and gets you intrigued to read more.

I am also a fan of their direct approach - outlining the pain point first, hooking you with a sense of risk and urgency. And only after giving you the company and product intro as a segway into the solution.

It’s a great example of a lean and clean sales presentation with no useless noise and some smart use of visual cues that direct your attention and keep you reading through to the end.

Startup sales presentation by Orbiit

This example leads with hard numbers to make a case for their solution. If you have numbers this practice is a good idea since buyers love numbers.

I think this sales presentation does a solid job of painting a full picture of what Orbiit can deliver and how it works.

Specifically, I appreciate the way they demo their service so simply with visuals and explanation text. By the end, you have a clear idea of what they provide, how it works, and the value it brings.

Technical sales presentation by Spot (by NetApp)

This is a good example of a technical sales presentation that targets a DevOps audience.

It uses technical jargon which is usually recommended not to do, but in this case, positions them as peers who know what they are talking about.

This presentation goes after operation managers and C-level executives by pitching their solution as a way to cut costs and shorten delivery times.

They make a compelling case for a very savvy audience and hard-to-please executives.

Product sales presentation by Matics

This sales presentation shows how great design should not come at the expense of great storytelling.

I was impressed by their sharp messaging that goes back and forth between life with and without their product . They make the case for taking action now to reap the benefits tomorrow.

They make sure to counter prospect’s urge to stick with the status quo by reducing the their perceived risk and giving them insight into how their apps work and how rolling out the solution will look like.

It makes digitalization of manufacturing management seem like the easy way forward. They make it feel so simple. It’s inspiring.

Sales presentation templates that work

To make your content creation fast and easy I’ve brought you some of our best sales presentation templates . They'll help you set up a top-tier deck in less than an hour.

These templates apply the effective storytelling structure that worked for most of the examples on my list. They all use interactive design that makes you stand out, engage prospects, and help them take the next step.

Each of these templates was tried and tested for every device or screen size.

As the Head of Marketing, I lead Storydoc’s team of highly trained content-ops warriors fighting to eradicate Death-by-PowerPoint wherever it resides. My mission is to enable buyer decision-making by removing the affliction of bad content from the inboxes of businesses and individuals worldwide.

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9 Incredible Sales Presentation Examples That Succeed

In our analysis today, we’ll be reviewing the top sales presentation examples.

Why? Because customers want to understand how you’ll be able to add value to their businesses. As such, how you deliver your sales presentation in of the essence.

As tempting as it may be, you need to steer away from thinking of a sales presentation as a “pitch”. This is because, in baseball, the best of pitchers tend to strike batters out.

Since this is not something we want to do, we’ll look at creating convincing pitches that resonate and get hit right out of the park.

By the end of our review, you should have the tools you need to make that home run and meet all your goals.

What is a Sales Presentation?

Elements of a great sales presentation, 1. 21 questions, 2. clarify the priorities, 3. customer is always right, 4. moving pictures, why sales presentation is important for businesses/sales reps, 1. face-to-face, 2. engagement, 3. flexibility & versatility, 4. consistency, overview of the top sales presentation examples, 1. snapchat, 4. salesforce marketing cloud, 5. office 365, 7. immediately, 9. talent bin.

A sales presentation refers to a formal and pre-arranged meeting online or at a location where a salesperson gets to present detailed information about a product or product line.

A great sales presentation is one that endears a brand to prospects. For this to happen, you first need to ensure that it’s not purely focused on products. Rather, it should be tailored to connect with your audience.

The trick, therefore, lies in making your narrative compelling.

Living in the informational age has forced salespersons to change tack when handling customers. This is because more than ever, prospects have all the relevant data about what they want right at their fingertips.

As such, before you make your presentation, you need to first ensure that the information you have is relevant. You can then use that as a Launchpad to connect with prospects.

Importantly, you need to practice listening and avoid religiously sticking to a script before responding to objections.

Often times, salespeople tend to spend plenty of time preparing for what they want to say to customers. While this is perfectly okay, it’s also essential to dedicate enough time to draft the right questions to ask.

With an objective outline of questions, you may actually find yourself deeply engrossed in conversation with prospects.

If you find that prospects are not willing to fully confide in you, it’s good practice to tweak your setup with leading questions before tabling open-ended questions . The responses they share will be able to inform you on how to proceed with the interaction.

Before you begin your sales presentation, you need to first clarify what their priorities are. It’s also good practice to inform them that you’ll be making logical pauses during the presentation to query about what they think about certain points raised.

If you’re unsure about what kind of questions to ask, try to frame the questions from the prospect’s point of view.

Questions like, “How do you see that fitting into your existing process?” and “How does that compare to what you’re currently doing?” are great ways to frame your inquiries.

As always, the end-goal is to close sales. You can facilitate this happening by promoting engagement levels.

When handling prospects, it’s best to first talk more about them, and less about you. If you have prepared “about us” slides, then have them featured right at the very end of the presentation.

Ideally, you want to put more emphasis on your customers’ goals, expected outcomes, and then divulge how you’ll lead them towards success.

To further convince them to join your bandwagon, it’s important to showcase how others have benefitted from your initiative.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then video is the real deal.

By incorporating videos as part of your sales presentation, you’ll be able to break the monotony that usually exists in text-only slides. While making your presentation, try to also walk about the room and engage your audience.

If you follow through on these steps, you’ll realize you have plenty of talking points throughout.

As a suggestion, try to also make a video about how you can aid your prospect’s company. It also wouldn’t hurt if you interview a couple of team members and hear their take on a range of issues.

As a salesperson, you can use sales presentations to inform, educate, inspire and persuade prospects to buy your products.

A well-crafted and detailed presentation can actually help a business reinforce its reputation and act as a showcase of the level of professionalism.

Before we list out a host of sales presentation examples, it’s best to first note that they are a great way to meet up with customers and prospects in person.

Through face-to-face interactions, you can build trust and reinforce existing relationships . When done right, you may realize an influx in the number of purchases after such meet-ups.

Sales presentations are great when it comes to audience engagement. This is because images have the power of captivating audiences while bullet points can help them follow the logic of the entire presentation.

By injecting theatre during the presentation, you can leave a lasting impact on individuals. This is quite in contrast than if you decided to just talk to them. This heightened sense of engagement is great since your message is properly relayed to your audience.

Sales presentations are fantastic because you can swiftly change up the content and make modifications on the fly. They are vastly better than printed mediums like brochures where you have to stick to the agenda and making tweaks is usually an expensive undertaking.

Presentations are also a versatile communication tool. You can employ them in one-to-one meetings or in large meetings that require you to make use of a projector. Alternatively, you can choose to expand your reach by making them available for online viewing and downloading.

Sales presentations offer you a structured way to communicate about different products, services, and companies.

If you’re working in an organization, you’ll realize that people in various departments are capable of communicating information in a consistent fashion.

Having revealed this, it’s worth pointing out that you need to make good use of bullet points/prompts to ensure that you always remain objective and stress on the key points.

Snapchat , the impermanent photo messaging app, is a big hit among millennials.

Having been conceived as part of a Stanford class project in 2011 under the initial name of Picaboo, it’s has quickly risen through the ranks. Today, it’s one of the most dominant social media platforms out there because it encourages self-expression in the here and now.

• From this sales presentation example, you can clearly see what Snapchat was trying to do. While a large portion of it is filled with fine print and explanations, they’ve divided it into major talking points that readers simply can’t miss. This strategy is great since it ensures even readers who simply want to skim through the content are able to catch all the highlights.
• Impressively, they also created content that resonates with prospects of varying levels of knowledge. This is a fantastic strategy since it increases the probability of closing a deal.

The self-proclaimed “front page of the internet” has been shaping trends for a good minute now. Eager to impress, the sales honchos at Reddit decided to go the sales presentation route and won hearts while at it.

• Reddit’s opening image of a cat riding a unicorn has great visual appeal and helps leave a lasting impact with audiences
• This is one of the best sales presentation examples because Reddit strives to remain objective and stick to its brand identity
• Reddit also makes great use of memes and pop-culture images to get their message across. This is a great strategy since Redditors love this kind of content. In addition, it helps the brand stand out from the rest because of the “X” factor in their presentation.
• The round data figures shared by Reddit are also striking since they help their audience to digest the information and get to thinking how a product/service can help them grow

This social media management tool gives you the freedom to manage multiple social media profiles in a single dashboard.

• Their sales deck is fast-paced and begins with them sharing how they have left an impact on the social media scene. This is a brilliant strategy since it helps audiences get a breakdown of the services offered without much ado
• In other slides, Buffer goes at length to share their milestones and how they’re planning to grow their reach in the years to come. This is one of the finest sales presentation examples because it’s systematic and they manage to bring the message home with every slide

Salesforce is renowned as being the driving force behind one of the world’s top CRM solutions, Sales Cloud. Through their ventures, they’ve been able to transform how enterprises (including fortune 500 companies), connect with clients.

• Salesforce crafted one of the best sales presentation examples because they were able to simplify the sale and help prospects further down the sales journey
• They also broke down the complex processes involved in simpler formats using visual diagrams and flowcharts
• By incorporating images and text overlay slides, Salesforce made a point of ensuring that you have a better understanding of what their services were all about

Microsoft’s subscription-based productivity suite is great for collaboration in the workplace. We’ve listed them out as one of the best sales presentation examples because they came up with a comprehensive layout that really spoke to the masses.

• The color scheme employed was in line with their productivity apps. By doing so, the designers sought to maintain synergy with the move acting as a clear show of consistency all around.
• The images used on every screen is a pointer to the fact that they have a dedicated team that aims to foster collaboration at the workplace. Commendably, the text sections also have a bright, vivid block of color to ensure clarity. This is a fantastic strategy since colors allow audiences to dart their eyes across the screen and focus on what really important

This end-to-end product management software comes in handy in supporting the product journey. If you’re a product manager, you’re surely going to love having it as a go-to tool since you have the power to convert great ideas into great products.

• The minimalist concept behind this approach makes it one of the most exemplary sales presentation examples
• The content layout is also super-duper. As you read through the informal tone, you get an impression that you’re actually conversing with a friend over coffee than actually sitting through a meeting getting pitched on why you should adopt a product
• The short sentences are also super engaging and the text in parenthesis gives you the impression that you’re actually getting the scoop on a trade secret

This fantastic platform was built with the sole intent of making the workplace a happy place to operate in. With Immediately, you get the opportunity to focus on the tasks that really interest you.

• By making use of stock photos and callout bubbles, Immediately perfectly illustrates various audiences’ pain points and helps create a sense of relatability
• There’s great personalization involved throughout the slides which helps the brand connect with various audiences. As a salesperson, you can borrow a leaf from this approach and embrace it to drive home the essence of your product.

Zuora is an enterprise software company does a great job of providing bespoke subscription-based services.

Through its ventures, the company has been able to produce one of the standout sales presentation examples. Here’s why we think they are definitely winning:

• Their presentation largely constitutes images and minimal text with thought-provoking facts
• The backgrounds are laden with images. This is a masterstroke since it helps personalize and distinguish the brand from the competition.
• The wordplay is excellent and the imagery used gives you a contemporary feel about things. This is perfectly in line with their brand message of how important it is to adapt to the times. If you think that they can help you position yourself in the market, then, you need not look further!

This online applicant sourcing and tracking software enables organizations to discover top talent by gathering implicit data from a large pool.

• Great graphical layout and use of white space to represent numbers. The colors incorporated are quite brilliant and go a long way in telling the narrative.
• The bulleted points have greatly help compartmentalize detailed content. You can implement this same approach if you’re looking to ensure that your audience follows the message.
• Compelling imagery is used to convey their brand message and compel prospects to take up their services

So there you have it. We’ve highlighted nine of the top sales presentation examples to get your creative juices flowing.

Hopefully, you’ll be able to convert more prospects into paying customers !

Do you think there are some sales presentation examples we’ve missed?

Which ones do you fancy?

Let us know in the comments section below!

Jack is known for leading the charge in sales innovation. He has a proven track record of working with top organizations to help them integrate social into their traditional sales process.

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4 Powerful Sales Presentation Examples (With Tips & Templates)

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A good sales presentation is the key to transforming your next prospect into your next customer.

As a matter of fact, the best sales decks out there will not only convince people to try out your product—they’ll make your business come across as the de facto solution to their problems.

There is, however, one problem: you’re more of a product guy, and not exactly a top-tier sales person.

Or maybe you’re disappointed in your existing sales deck, and now looking for inspiration in hopes to improve it.

So what does a good sales presentation look like? How do you make your prospective customers think “this is the product I need”?

In this blog post, we will look at how top brands craft their sales decks, and explore some of the best presentation templates out there—to replicate them for your own business.

But let’s start with the basics: what is a sales presentation?

What is a sales presentation?

A sales presentation, sometimes called sales pitch or sales deck, is a  line of talk  that attempts to both introduce someone to your product as well as convince them to buy or try it out.

It is not enough for a product to be better than that of the competition if your prospective customer doesn’t perceive that it is.

A great marketer knows this and will not linger on features, but rather  focus on understanding the customer’s pain points  and what they want vs. don’t want.

Then, using that information, they will craft a presentation that directly speaks to the buyer—with a clear overview of the product or service, and a tailor-made solution,  emphasizing and leveraging the pain points  that were previously researched.

To put it more succinctly, a good presentation consists of three parts:

• Introductory statement with the “main” problem
• Value proposition, A.K.A. what your service or product does
• Client-specific solution

But enough about theory: let’s have a look at actual examples of businesses performing this simple, 3-step process to create their sales decks.

Sales presentation examples

We’ve analyzed a couple of PowerPoint presentations to try and understand what these companies are doing right.

1. LeadCrunch

LeadCrunch.ai Sales Deck   from  LeadCrunch

LeadCrunch is a B2B lead gen business. With a sales deck of 21 slides, they execute the following strategy in their presentation:

• The problem: "[to keep up with sales], your company resorts to more people, more data, and more filters, which yield diminishing returns…" (slide 4);
• Our value proposition: “we provide a deeply customized sales model for every customer” (slides 7 to 10);
• The solution: “we use AI to capture more good leads and fewer bad leads—here’s how it works” (slides 11 to 17);

There’s a couple more slides sprinkled in that are worth mentioning as well here:

• Slide 3: show that companies that understand and have dealt with the problem at stake are thriving;
• Slides 12 & 13: this is a slideshow, after all: don’t hesitate to go all-in on visual to help your customer understand what it is that your company does;
• Slides 18 to 20: social proof and reviews always go a long way for a first impression.

Relink - Transforming the way people are matched with jobs   from  Relink

Relink uses AI and data to connect applicants to jobs, and jobs to applicants.

Relink uses the same structure:  problem > value proposition > solution.  With this example, however, I’d like to emphasize how conversational a slideshow can be.

Rather than focusing on the actual content of the slides and letting the PowerPoint do the work for you—use your slides as a tool to connect with the audience.

For example: slides 7, 8, and 9 are difficult to understand by themselves, and if you leave your client alone to just read the presentation, they will most likely be a little lost there.

That’s because these slides are not meant to just be read, they are here to put the focus back on the presenter. At this stage, the slideshow becomes a background—and the salesperson is again at the center of attention.

3. AppsFlyer

AppsFlyer - Mobile Advertising Analytics   from  AppsFlyer

AppsFlyer is an analytics platform that helps app marketers measure different advertising-related signals such as in-app events, social ads, etc.

Software in general is one of the most difficult businesses to sell verbally. Just think of how you would explain Google Analytics to someone who has never heard of it, without being able to actually show them what the software looks like.

AppsFlyer is well aware of this, and instead relies on efficient imagery to create a slideshow that focuses on the  visual  to explain what their product is, and how it helps their clients.

Keptify Sales Deck   from  Roshan Bhattarai

Keptify is a shopping cart abandonment solution.

They start the presentation with a bold statement: “Online stores are losing 76% of their customers”.

Although this slideshow could be used for any prospect, a simple, one-line statistic like this can also be customized for a specific business—if you are aware of their numbers, or average statistics of the industry.

Custom messages, obviously, will resonate with the customer, increasing your chances to close the sale.

Besides this, Keptify also does a great job at keeping their presentation short and to the point.

Clutter and too much superficial information will incite stress and confusion rather than help your customer understand what your business is all about: sometimes, less is more.

Slides to include in a sales presentation

So what slides should you actually include in your sales deck?

Remember: the most important thing in a sales presentation is to  convince the prospect that you are the solution to their problem.  After all, the goal is to lead to a sale!

Depending on whether you need a short or a long presentation, your slideshow should contain between  5 and 15 slides, and run for between 15 to 45 minutes .

With that in mind, here’s what you should include:

• Introduction (as eye-catching as possible);
• Value proposition
• Competition
• Cost, financial details
• Reviews, social proof
• Closing statements

Wrapping up...

There you have it—a complete analysis of what makes a sales deck great, and how you can replicate the success of other companies for your own business.

Feel free to go ahead and adapt any of those presentations for your own sales pitch—and convert some more prospects into customers.

As always, let us know what you think in the comments below.

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8 Effective Sales Presentation Examples to Boost Your Close Rate

Winning sales presentations turn prospects into customers. But, constructing a winning presentation is often a source of dread for many sales folks. What is the perfect number of slides? Which is the best order? Should it be hyper-branded or simple?

Or, should we even be using slide decks at all in 2024?

Now, if you want to make the journey collaborative, or want to gain access to cool insights like whether they even looked at your presentation, the static deck just won't cut it.

Designing a beautiful and highly personalized sales presentation is great, but access to behavioral analytics through digital links is super powerful. Knowing whether the buyer clicked on that presentation, and then how long they viewed it, can help shape those next steps in your sales cycle.

In fact, by 2025, 80 percent of B2B sales interactions will happen in these digital channels, according to Gartner . This means that presenting your pitch digitally unlocks new opportunities to engage and collaborate with your buyer. Ultimately, this will help you close deals much faster.

Sales professionals of all types, from SDRs to Customer Success, make pitches at different points in the sales cycle. That's why it's super important to create presentations that are both enjoyable for buyers to watch and easy for sellers to navigate—especially if they’re pitching multiple times a day!

Sales Presentation Vs. Sales Pitch: Are They the Same?

Presentation? Pitch? What’s the difference? These two sales practices are often referred to interchangeably, but they’re not exactly the same.

Generally, a pitch is when you’re closing the deal. It’s short and effective—highlighting the benefits and value of the product and offering the sale. Now, it is also technically a sales presentation, but it’s not a “sales presentation.”

The sales presentation comes earlier in the process when you’re looking to get buyers interested in your product/service. Every good sales presentation gives prospects confidence in your brand and helps develop the customer relationship. It emphasizes the value your product delivers and provides clear direction for the next step in the sales process.

So really, the key differentiator between these two sales activities is the point in the sales process—the presentation introduces your product, and the pitch closes out the deal. This shifts your purpose and your approach when creating a presentation vs. pitch deck.

To create the best sales pitch ever, you can head over to our ultimate guide . But first things first. Let’s build a winning sales presentation that makes potential customers beg to buy.

6 Key Components of a Winning Sales Presentation

While there's no "one way" to make a pitch presentation, there are a few core ingredients that can transform a bland presentation into a show-stopping performance.

To keep your buyers engaged and prevent them from nodding off, make the presentation more interactive by fostering a conversation, using eye-catching visuals that leave an impression, and pacing your delivery to keep the energy level high.

1. Start Strong: Cover Slide + Confidence

First impressions matter. Your first slide and the first few moments of your delivery will shape perceptions and affect the ultimate success or failure of your sales presentation.

Your cover slide should instantly capture the audience's attention and convey your brand and industry. Later, we’ll explore some stellar examples. For now, just make sure your audience has a good idea of who you are and what you do from the very beginning—and make it interesting. Images are great at this.

Regarding your delivery, confidence is key — key— to both your sales career and presentation. The confidence you project about your solution will transfer to prospects, reducing their concerns and supporting an overall positive experience.

But you can’t get by on cover slides and confidence alone.

2. Sell Solutions (+ Value), Not Products

Gone are the days when you could simply shout that your product was the greatest thing since sliced bread—and expect customers to believe you.

Times have changed. Value-based selling is in . Today, the best approach is to inform your buyer with the right message through the right media, selling your solution and not your product.

In your sales presentation, make sure that each product feature that you include has a clear benefit for your prospective buyer. And don't just list the features. Explain why they make your product better, in the simplest way possible.

If your lead generation process produced high-quality leads, and your pre-presentation research uncovered pain points, you should have a pretty good idea what this prospective customer needs—and how your product can solve the issue.

At the end of the day, people want to know what's in it for them and how your product/service will make their lives better. Sell them the solution. The product is just a bonus.

3. Tell a Story

People remember stories. They’re more engaging than stats and figures—and humans connect with humans, not numbers. Research by cognitive psychologist Jerome Bruner suggests that facts are 22 times more likely to be remembered if they’re part of a story .

You want to harness that power for your sales presentation.

Consider your top-shelf customer success stories—or even the customer you just closed yesterday, who solved a major pain point with your solution. The key here is to find past customer situations that your current prospect can identify with. Maybe they serve a similar market niche, or are both struggling to keep their fully-remote team afloat.

Or, maybe, you want to tell your company’s story. Close itself started as a solution to our founders’ frustrations with existing sales CRMs.

Like any great story, you need an arc, characters, conflict—and a resolution. Include whatever graphs and metrics you think add value to the presentation. The numbers don’t speak for themselves, but they do play a supporting role to your storyline.

Turn your case study into a case story, illustrating how your product has helped someone else, and prepare to hook your target audience.

4. Keep It Simple

Be concise. Make your key points digestible. Prospects should be able to quickly scan your sales presentation—and then get back to the conversation.

However, many companies that offer complex products, such as software, tend to overcomplicate the delivery. Most buyers don’t have time to read white papers or long-winded info about your technical specs. Those details can come later.

There are ways to present content while neither boring nor overwhelming your audience:

• Video: Sixty-six percent of people will watch a company’s entire video if it’s less than 60 seconds. Give them something they can quickly digest, that effectively highlights your value prop and most important product features.
• Interactive demos: a great alternative to video calls, ideal with async presentations. You can use interactive demo software like Navattic or Walnut to let your buyer learn about your product on their terms, in their own time.

Whatever you do, get to the point. Time and attention spans are short. Be succinct.

Visually, don’t give your PowerPoint presentation the crafting kindergartner upgrade. Brand colors and fonts should be established early and kept consistent throughout.

In short—less is more. Don’t exhaust your audience visually or mentally.

5. Include the Proof

Your audience wants to know that your solution works. They also want to feel confident about their decision to pursue your product over the competition. How can you help ease these concerns? Include evidence in your sales presentation.

Social proof establishes your credibility and showcases how your solution has transformed the work lives of your customers. It’s an important element in building trust between you and your prospect . Social proof can include media mentions, G2 reviews, social media engagement, customer testimonials, and more.

Recent data from Statista, as of September 2023, indicates a shift in consumer behavior. Their survey, conducted among 10,021 consumers, revealed that 53 percent of U.S. respondents rely on search engines like Google for information about products. This highlights the evolving landscape of consumer trust and information sourcing.

Additionally, 34 percent of consumers used customer reviews as a source of information. This underscores the continued importance of positive reviews and testimonials in fostering trust in a business. The customer success story you've shared can be further enriched by integrating these insights, demonstrating not only the value of customer reviews but also the growing reliance on digital search engines for product information.

Including social proof in your presentation demonstrates how well your solution can meet customer needs —including theirs.

6. Call Them to Action

Nothing cleans out the sales pipeline like a well-timed, well-placed, and well-designed CTA . Success in sales relies on the success of your call to action. And that extends to your sales presentation.

Unlike the sales pitch, your sales presentation is probably not asking for the close. Instead, you are asking them to take the next step in the sales process—book a call, talk to their stakeholders, demo your product, or something else.

You want the CTA to be straightforward. Brief as possible. And effective. Make it easy for them to follow through. For example, if you want them to book a call, share a calendar link. Then follow up .

You have spent time and resources (yours and theirs) on this presentation, so don’t fumble the deal with a weak or confusing CTA. Your sales presentation should be the whole package. Literally.

But can we really tie all of this together into one mega-effective sales presentation? We’re about to find out.

8 Effective Sales Presentation Examples

Sales presentations come in all shapes and sizes. A great sales deck is one that is true to your brand, relevant to your target audience, and produces results.

Various factors can influence the structure, included elements, and delivery. For example, a self-directed presentation that prospects view online may require more text than one that’s delivered face-to-face (or via Zoom). A presentation given to industry experts will include different details (and language) than one delivered to your average, may-be-customer Joe.

As you build your next effective sales presentation, draw inspiration from these winning examples. We’ll share the presentation—and tell you why it works.

1. What + Why: Memento

Stating the problem, explaining the solution.

This sales presentation deck from Memento first describes the pain points of existing solutions—then showcases why Memento is different, emphasizing value and innovation.

This tried-and-true strategy keeps messaging simple and potent. The graphics and color-blocked backgrounds enhance that messaging, and the result? An eye-catching and powerful sales presentation.

2. Image-Rich Slides: Zuora

Is a picture worth a thousand words? Sometimes. It depends what that picture is, and what you’re trying to say.

Zuora uses an image-rich presentation to help differentiate themselves in the industry, and to support the storyline of their presentation. At the same time, text is kept to a minimum.

Visuals can create a supportive foundation upon which you can build your value proposition , company vision, and prospect-relevant story. You’ll probably include photos of your digital or physical product, but you can also add stock images or infographics.

Memorable presentations show , rather than just tell.

3. & 4. Personalize for Prospects: Trumpet

People aren’t numbers—and they don’t want to feel as such.

Personalize your sales presentation so that it speaks directly to your buyer. When possible, call them out by name and make sure that every aspect of the presentation is 100 percent relevant to their situation.

If you want to go the extra mile, incorporate their own brand identity. Make it about them, not about you. Our friends at Trumpet are on a mission to do just that with customizable presentation pods.

Check out this presentation pod example .

This prospect-specific presentation covers most of our key components for an effective sales presentation while taking personalization to the next level. Plus, it’s interactive—which adds value for both prospects and sales reps. Look for the comment section beside the presentation, where you can keep all communication and questions in one spot.

These customization options make your presentation stand out—and are bound to increase your CTA response rate. You can directly incorporate your online scheduling tool, such as Calendly, which also integrates with Close CRM to streamline prospect scheduling.

Here’s another winning example from Trumpet, featured as a use case for SDRs. Again, it’s got all the elements of an effective sales presentation (right down to customer testimonials), and even includes a short audio message specifically for the prospect, from the SDR.

So, ditch the generic sales script and personalize the presentation. Do your homework and make it relatable to each individual prospect, whenever possible.

Then, post-presentation, you can even follow up with a next-steps pod —again, created specifically for your prospect.

5. Be You(r Brand): Reddit

Remember earlier, when we said your sales presentation shouldn’t look like a kindergarten-age graphic designer let loose on Canva? There are always exceptions, right?

First and foremost, you must consider your audience and brand.

The best sales presentations are those that inform and persuade while being true to their brand identity. Sometimes that looks like minimalism: Short sentences, muted color palettes, and quiet power. Sometimes, that looks like pizazz.

Reddit has since updated its branding and slogan, but it once boasted to be “the front page of the internet.” At that time, this sales presentation got them a lot of love.

Talk about hooking an audience. But even the randomness isn’t random—it matches their brand, audience, and value proposition.

So consider your brand, audience, and value proposition, and build a sales presentation worthy of that. (But oh, to be on the sales team at Reddit.)

6. Adaptable Sales Story: Eigen Technologies

Eigen Technologies wanted a presentation to support a core sales story that could be tailored to different industry customers. An overview presentation like this one covers the bullet point features of the product while allowing the presenter to add any relevant prospect-specific slides.

Notice the decision to highlight how this solution stacks up against its industry competitors. This can add power to your own value proposition. Something else that adds power? The cohesive sales story that threads through the entire presentation, from stating the problem to showcasing the solution.

For some, this presentation might be a little text-heavy. When you’re presenting live, you want prospects to be listening to you, rather than simply reading all the information from your slides. For animated videos , take-home or self-guided presentations, however, use the amount of text necessary to support your message.

An animated sales presentation can also be a great addition to your sales and marketing materials. Save the static for your presentation, and get double-mileage with a video.

7. Out-of-the-Box: Apple

It’s hard to find live sales presentation examples because most are given privately in meetings, or directly between a salesperson and their prospect. However, explainer videos like this one can inspire your delivery—and your sales deck.

Steve Jobs, wearing his famous black turtleneck, was known for his potent yet simplistic Apple product presentations. Apple continues to lead with powerful sales messaging. Today, it has evolved to match its updated branding and sales style.

Watch how this presentation involves two different team members, both of whom add unique value to the messaging. Depending on the nature of your solution, the expertise level of your audience, and other factors, you might consider something similar—when it makes sense.

Note that every feature mention is immediately followed by its value. Your audience wants to hear about your product's benefit—don’t leave them with product details as bullet points.

8. Putting It Simply: Microsoft Office 365

This business presentation from Office 365 employs an attention-grabbing color scheme while spotlighting feature details via powerful, concise messaging.

With complex products especially, you need to filter out unnecessary information. Boil it down to your key points and features, then use simple graphics and copy to share your product. Let your value overwhelm prospects—not the presentation itself.

Are you ready to get started on your next super-effective sales presentation? Before you go, consider how it could impact your closing rate—and how you can optimize results.

Using Your Sales Presentation to Close More Deals

Every customer touchpoint should drive prospects toward your ultimate goal: closing more deals. An effective sales presentation is just one step in the customer journey, and tips and presentation templates will take you far.

Let’s look again quickly at the end of your presentation.

At the end of the presentation, you need a strong call to action—but you should also consider other ways to make your message stick. Based on the nature of your solution and how you’re delivering the presentation, you might need to leave behind handouts for your audience.

They should be focused and simple, supporting rather than detracting from your presentation. Maybe they even create a dynamic QR code for scanning to download your app or view contact information.

Then to fully optimize your sales presentation, you must follow up . Your sales presentation alone might not sell your solution—but your faithful follow-up game can push them to take the next step. Enter your CRM.

An agile CRM like Close can streamline this outreach and boost customer retention rates . Now you can optimize—and sustain—the success of your next sales presentation.

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Turn Sales Presentations Into Moneymakers: Examples and Tips

Senior Marketing Manager at Loom

In a perfect world, every sales presentation you give provides immediate value and closes deals fast. In reality, it’s not always that easy. 

Prospects are too busy to meet. They might not see the product value right away. Your presentation may not fully demonstrate how your product solves their precise pain point. Or, they simply fail to make a decision. 

Elevating your sales presentations above the rest can make a tremendous difference. 

Sometimes, something as simple as a distinct presentation tool like sales video software can streamline your process and help you reach new sales milestones. You can improve your sales funnel with the right solution as part of an effective sales presentation strategy that increases revenue. 

Learn how to implement the key components of a successful sales presentation strategy and how to optimize the process for better results.

What should a sales presentation include?

Sales presentations come in many different styles. You have ample flexibility in how you make your pitch based on your industry and target customers. But no matter who you’re presenting to or in what setting, you need three ingredients:

Authentic presenter: Sales presentations should feel human—not rehearsed, bland, or robotic. Your chances of driving more sales consistently will skyrocket if you connect with your prospects and leads personally and authentically. 

Visual assets: During the presentation, you can demonstrate your product’s value proposition through a slideshow, video, and visuals or graphs highlighting relevant data. You can also add social proof and other visual elements that boost credibility and immediately capture your audience’s attention.

Optimal presentation method: Different scenarios call for different presentation modes. For example, if you’re time zones apart from your prospects or in-person meetings just aren’t an option, live videos can work. Or if busy schedules are an issue, async video messaging may provide the flexibility your sales team needs.

Once your sales team fashions its sales strategy and presentation method, it's time to start building.

Making stand-out sales presentations in 2024 and beyond

When Steve Jobs first presented the iPod , he didn't say, “Get rid of your case of CDs and replace it with an iPod.” He thought bigger and said, “Your entire music library fits in your pocket.” Way more captivating than just the straightforward explanation, right? 

Jobs knew the three key components of stellar sales presentations. To wholly capture your prospects’ attention, you have to understand: 

Who your audience is

What they want or need

How to interject your solution into the buyer’s story

The customer-centric answers to these questions provide the substance you need to create head-turning presentations, and that’s important, especially in today’s economic climate, where consumers want more personalization .

There’s a lot of noise between notifications, commercials, and global competition targeting consumers. You can create memorable connections when you and your sales reps provide highly relevant presentations. It’s not enough to deliver an average, generalized sales pitch anymore.

Remember these tips when incorporating those key components into your sales presentation:

1. Know your audience

Start by studying your target audience and its segments. What are the different needs and pain points that drive your prospects to buy? 

Everyone is unique, and if you can pinpoint those motivations, you can provide value right where they need it most.

2. Make it interesting: Craft a compelling narrative

Companies often make the mistake of talking about themselves. They claim to be the best or recount how their business started. While there’s a place for those details, brands can chase leads away when they don’t prioritize their specific needs. 

Instead, you can tell a compelling story that focuses on the customer. 

A classic story that always captures attention looks like the hero’s journey:

• A hero: The customer

• Has a problem: The pain point

• But then meets a guide: The company

• That presents a roadmap: How to solve the problem

• And leads to a positive solution: The product or service

When your prospects hear this story and see themselves as the main character, they’ll get curious about what you’re selling.

3. Utilize persuasive visuals

Visually dynamic content not only draws your audience in, it also provides the personal element they crave. When your prospect sees a picture or personalized video depicting their use case or ideal solution, they can better imagine themselves using your product or service.

Your sales representatives can use charts, images, and graphics to make a point or demonstrate how a product works. Add crucial context with a video recording tool like Loom to walk through the product or share key features or highlights.

4. Incorporate testimonials and data

Sales presentations offer much more credibility when you include testimonials about successful experiences. Customer stories and data that back up your claims add third-party confirmation that your solution benefits your potential buyer.

Strengthen your case by adding a section highlighting endorsements like experiences, statistics, and stories to your sales deck.

5. Implement strong closing techniques

Believe it or not, companies sometimes forget to prompt an actual decision at the end of their presentations. Even if a prospect is interested in your solution, never assume they know the next step. Life and work are full of distractions, and you often need to nudge prospects to make the decision.

Next steps can range from making a purchase to scheduling a meeting or sharing more information. Whatever your call to action (CTA) is, make sure it’s crystal clear. If you can, it’s also helpful to get at least a soft commitment from the prospect right away to boost the chances that they’ll follow through.

Asynchronous videos offer an excellent solution for sales presentations by stating a clear CTA.

You can send a personalized sales video and include an automatic CTA at the end of the video. At that moment, the viewer can follow through on the ask and move closer to the sale.

Now that you’ve elevated your sales presentation with a comprehensive, dynamic pitch, it’s time to build your value proposition into an engaging sales experience.

Practical ways to structure sales presentations

The best sales presentations are the ones that feel like natural conversations or interactions. 

Your prospective customer has a problem or goal. If you’ve got a solution that meets their needs, your job is simple. Communicate the value of your solution clearly and your prospect will leave the meeting satisfied and one step closer to converting.

The key is to put their needs at the center of the presentation. The following sales presentation techniques can help your team create an effective sales experience:

Introduce who is presenting

First, your sales representatives should introduce themselves. It should feel like any conversation that puts the other person first:

“Hi, [prospect name], my name is [sales rep name], and I'm the [role] of [company]. Thanks for taking the time to chat with me about [pain point]. I’d love to hear more about [pain point].”

The open-ended statement at the end invites your prospect to articulate what they’re looking for in a product, or how they’re currently dissatisfied. It’s a treasure trove of relevant and personalized information.

Remember: You are the guide in this story. 

As you’re talking to a prospect, who is the hero, you guide them to the right decision. Actively listen, and ask questions based on what your prospect is saying. Your goal is to find out if your solution is the right fit and get closer to a commitment by the end of the meeting.

Tell the customer’s story

As mentioned before, the hero’s journey should depict the customer. Your team should use the narrative as the outline and backbone of the pitch.

For example, imagine a company that sells an accounting SaaS to family-run restaurants. A story might look like the following sales presentation template:

You (the hero) run a restaurant in your community because you’re passionate about food, relationships, and family.

But when the doors close at the end of the day, you sit down with a pile of bills, tax documents, and payroll tasks, and you forget why you love your business in the first place (the problem).

Don’t let finances turn your passion into a chore or make it difficult to keep the doors open. Instead, [accounting software] can automate your process (the roadmap), so you’re back in control. You can save hours away from the office and instead spend that time making customers happy.

[Company] (the guide) helps you streamline accounting with its cloud app (the solution). The software is made specifically for family businesses, so it’s built for you with the time-saving features and affordability you need in an accounting tool to focus on your restaurant.

Learn how [company] can [pain point’s solution] by [call to action].

You can use a narrative structure like the one above to illustrate a buyer journey that guides your customers to a clear next step, once they understand how your product or service fits into their own story.

Show the solution, share testimonials, and add credibility

There’s nothing like actually showing the value of your product. Your friend can say they have the best car, but you probably won’t believe it until they let you drive it. 

Your sales team can harness point-of-view experiences through video and visuals to demonstrate value, so audiences can experience the product themselves. 

If you are selling an app, you can do a walkthrough or feature a specific use case via video messaging. If you sell a service or physical product, your sales rep can provide a visually captivating presentation deck or record themselves using the product.

Another way to establish credibility is by including testimonials and reviews. 

A 2024 survey by BrightLocal found that 50% of consumers trust reviews as much as getting a recommendation from a personal friend or family member. That’s huge when you think of the power of word-of-mouth marketing. Use personal stories, quotes, and reviews in your sales presentation to increase trust and get you closer to a sale.

Use the ideal presentation tool

Today, sales teams maintain a tech stack that compliments their sales process. Such tools include slideshows or pitch decks, live video meeting apps, and asynchronous video tools. What you decide to use will influence your success throughout the sales pipeline .

Slide deck presentation tools like PowerPoint, Google Slides, Prezi, and Beautiful.ai offer fun, creative, and practical ways to communicate an offering visually. They are also effective aids and evergreen assets throughout the sales process.

When you need to capture product features live or distribute a sales pitch to prospects around the globe, video recording and editing tools are a game changer. 

For example, Loom streamlines point-of-view (POV) experiences when you record your screen and webcam simultaneously to showcase your product in minutes.

Live vs. async video for your sales presentation

When creating video messaging, your sales teams can choose between live and recorded formats. Both are essential in the sales process and have their own advantages.

Pros and cons of live videos

Live videos made with tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet help you meet with prospects and leads in real time. These apps have integrations to help record meetings, produce transcripts, and offer automatic scheduling. You can also use live video apps to reach large groups within a target audience for webinars and events to provide value and promote a product.

While live videos are an important element of the sales process, they also have limitations. 

Potential buyers may hesitate to meet with a rep or risk losing time on a solution that might not be a good fit. Plus, prospects may be in different time zones or have busy schedules and obstacles that make meetings difficult.

Pros and cons of async videos

Asynchronous videos help solve these live format challenges. For example, you can record a video with Loom in just a few minutes. You share your screen with a slideshow or product walkthrough and simultaneously record on your webcam.

When you share the video through a link, email, or embed on a targeted landing page, the viewer can see the presentation 24/7, no matter their time zone or busy schedule. The personal POV video experience provides a human connection and touch in your sales pitch.

Viewers also experience interactive elements when they engage with the video through comments, replies, and emojis. You can include a CTA that clearly outlines the viewer's next step. Your sales reps can also get analytics and metrics from dashboard functionality. 

For example, you can find out who has seen your video, so you can send a follow-up video to those viewers and consistently measure improvements or changes to your content.

Async video messaging provides a streamlined yet personalized approach to selling that your prospects can access 24/7.

Pro tip: Tools like Loom integrate with Salesforce. If a contact doesn’t exist in your CRM, Loom will create one and tag it so you can easily identify where the information came from in your pipeline. Salesforce users also get access to Loom’s powerful reports and dashboards.  

Sales presentation examples 

What do good sales presentations look like in action? You can learn by example through the following success stories:

Intercom adopts video messages for sales

Intercom, the customer service platform, needed a way to make sales prospecting   more unique and personal through an affordable strategy. The company wanted to harness these improvements to drive more conversions and revenue, specifically from cold email outreach.

“The trick was to find this balance without increasing costs and sacrificing team efficiency,” said Bucky Henry, Intercom’s Sales Manager.

If Intercom could drive more sales through email and eliminate most sales calls, its long-term sales growth would improve.

Intercom chose async videos with Loom. The team recorded and edited personal videos with graphics that motivated potential customers to take action. The sales team would then share those finished videos immediately with instant link creation. Along with reaching out to prospects, Intercom also used Loom to train sales reps and adopt new processes quickly.

After Intercom implemented Loom video messaging, it saw a 19% increase in reply rates for cold emails and earned $120K from the outreach.

Improving a slide deck gets this salesperson his biggest deal yet

When strategic adviser Andy Raskin stumbled upon Zuora’s sales presentation deck , he couldn’t believe it. It was “the greatest sales deck he had ever seen,” Raskin recounted about Zuora in his viral article. Eventually, a friend of his, Tim, approached him. Tim had a sales job at a new company, which had raised over $60 million. Tim won some small accounts, but his luck ran dry with enterprise prospects.

Raskin shared the presentation, and Tim gleaned key principles he could apply to his own sales presentation, including:

Naming a relevant shift or change in the industry

Emphasizing that some people will win or lose depending on their decision

Providing a picture of what winning could look like

Showing how remarkable features can make the solution possible

Proving that the company has a track record of making the solution happen

Tim applied these principles to his slide presentation and modeled them after Zuora’s examples. Several weeks later, he signed the largest deal in the company’s history.

Help Scout reinvents its sales presentation pitch

Unfortunately, some platforms present and walk through all their features before positioning their need and value. Prospects view each feature back-to-back while wondering whether they even need the solution.

April Dunford, author of Sales Pitch and Obviously Awesome , wasn’t going to let that happen when she stepped in to help build the sales pitch for Help Scout and make its presentations more effective.

The challenge: Help Scout needed a pitch to differentiate its solution from other platforms and drive action.

The solution: Dunford would write a script to change Help Scout’s narrative.

On Lenny’s Podcast, Dunford shapes the tone for the sales introduction by painting Help Scout as a growth driver rather than a customer support cost:

“Help Scout says, ‘Hey, digital business, we work with a lot of companies like you, and I’m going to show you the product. But before we get there, one of the things we think is interesting is that digital businesses look at customer service differently. They look at it as a growth driver rather than a cost center. And so most of the folks we work with see delivering a really amazing experience as a key part of customer service. Would you agree with that

“‘Yeah, we would.’ They have a little conversation and then they say, ‘Great… Most of the folks we work with start with a shared inbox, and that’s great… The problem is if you’re growing and you probably are, then you’re going to outgrow that because you’re going to need prioritizations, assignments, helpdesk stuff.

“‘And so then your option is to go to help desk software… The problem is…it was designed for businesses that want to take the cost out of customer service. So it’s going to do some things that are weird. It’s going assign your customers a ticket number, and it’s going to try to drive them to low-cost channels. 

“‘So can we agree that in a perfect world for digital business like yours, we’d want something as easy to use as a helpdesk but had all the bells and whistles so we wouldn’t have to migrate to something else. And on top of that, was built from the ground up to deliver amazing customer service. Do we agree we want that?’”

This pitch would then prepare the prospects to fully understand the unique proposition. Help Scout would provide the customer support features they need, like a helpdesk, but also become a growth driver for the company during customer interactions.

If the customer says yes, the representative could continue showing specific features.

The results: Dunford states, “As you might imagine, [this sales pitch is] a lot more effective at actually getting clients to get their head around, ‘What is this thing? Why is it different? Why should I pick you?’ And it just works way better in a sales situation.”

Dunford used three steps to shape the Help Scout pitch:

The pitch emphasized highly relevant insights into the market.

The presentation painted the pros and cons of alternative solutions.

The sales offer described a picture of a perfect world.

Through these simple steps, Help Scout successfully positioned its unique offering during sales presentations. 

Record sales presentations in minutes with Loom

With intentional thought and a bit of effort, you can elevate your sales presentations and stand out from the rest. Embracing screen capture and video recording tools like Loom can take your sales strategy to the next level. 

Loom equips sales teams to capture and distribute video messaging in minutes. No matter the time zone or schedule, you can present your product’s value and close deals. The Loom app makes recording easy with the click of a button on your Chrome screen recorder , desktop app, or phone. Thanks to Live Rewind, if one of your sales reps makes a mistake, they can easily rewind the video and re-record that section to save time and eliminate pressure.

Your sales team can share their screens and themselves simultaneously. Prospects get an authentic and personal experience while they take in slides, videos, demos, walkthroughs, and more. You can also identify specific prospects with the “request email to view feature” so you can nurture each relationship and analyze your sales effectiveness. 

Accelerate video creation with Loom’s AI add-on, which includes filler-word removal, auto titles and summaries, and AI message creation. You can easily record in the moment and automate editing and video sharing for an efficient sales process.

Teams can also harness personal video messaging to sell products directly to their target prospect—or an entire audience—by embedding videos on a landing page or social media. 

Record your first sales presentation with Loom today in under five minutes.

Jun 28, 2024

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Jeong Lee works in Marketing at Loom.

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Sales Presentations: Outline Templates and Tips to Sell Better

What is a sales presentation?

What is a sales presentation outline, how to create a sales presentation outline, how to use a sales presentation outline, track your sales presentations and optimize your sales.

We are all about coloring outside the lines. 

We truly believe that life is all about marching to the beat of your own drum, speaking your truth, and dancing like nobody is watching. (Did we say enough cliches yet?)

But here’s the caveat: In order to be able to color outside the lines, you need to have those lines there at the start. In order to break the rules, you need to know them well.

Otherwise, things will get very chaotic, very fast. 

The same is true when it comes to SaaS sales. While it’s important to bring your full self to the sales calls and sales demos and personalize your presentation for each prospect by responding to them and where they’re at, this has its limits.

To sell better, it’s crucial to have a guide to ensure that your sales presentation is focused and that’ll keep you tethered to your product and keep your head in the game.

A SaaS sales presentation is an unskippable step in your sales strategy. An effective sales presentation can help you connect with potential clients and differentiate your SaaS product from the competition. It sets the tone for every discussion that takes place as the sales process moves forward.

In addition to having the correct material, the sales presentation should be communicated in an engaging manner that’ll persuade your prospect. 

Instead of just listing features and the advantages of your SaaS product, storytelling is crucial and will help make your sales presentations more memorable.

A sales presentation outline is a structured document that outlines the key aspects of your sales presentation. It offers an outline that you can return to while presenting to make sure you are giving your audience all the information they require.

If you want to make sure you don’t leave the meeting feeling stupid that you forgot to mention a whole bunch of stuff, then it’s incumbent on you to utilize a sales presentation outline. It’ll help you decide what information to cover to make sure your prospects fully appreciate the value your product can bring them.

Why do you need a sales presentation outline?

The short answer? Because you’re human. 

We know you’re a genius at improv and you probably deserve a slot on SNL. But if you don’t keep track of what you intend to talk about during your presentation, there’s a good chance your message will get lost and things will be forgotten.

Likewise, you need to create a sales presentation outline to clarify your talking points, bring your ideas together, and find a way to logically deliver your content.

When creating your sales presentation outline, you may decide which themes are most crucial and gauge how much time you want to spend on each aspect of the presentation. This will help you create a sales presentation that is focused, interesting, and to the point.

A good way to think about creating your presentation outline is that it should summarize your main arguments and should follow the basic framework of your sales pitch or your product demo . 

Its goal is to assist you in structuring your thoughts to ensure that your information is presented rationally.

The outline is like having a table of contents that you can refer to and expound on while presenting. Here’s the general structure of a sales presentation:

• Introduction: Keep this around 5 minutes. You’ll want to get to the point quickly because that’s why you’re all there.
• The challenge: Don’t spend too much time getting into this or you won’t have enough time to answer questions about your solution.
• Your solution: This is the meat of the presentation and where you’ll spend the most time. You’ll likely want to break down this section of the outline further. 
• Call to action: Be clear and to the point. Wrap things up promptly so that your prospects know you value their time.

But to make the sales presentation outline really useful, we suggest that you add notes and comments for each step.

Remember that while you may want to present what you have and then answer questions at the end, Head of Multi-Cloud at VMware Marjorie AbdelKrime , suggests asking questions to your audience throughout the sales presentation.

“I think that it’s important that as we’re presenting we’re not just presenting at people, but we’re engaging them in the conversation,” she told us. “So every time you have a question, I’d say incorporate it into every single slide or every single component of your demo. And it also prevents people from looking at their phone because they know that they’re going to be asked something.” Head of Multi-Cloud at VMware, Marjorie AbdelKrime

Likewise, if your prospects ask questions while you’re in the middle of presenting, it would be in your best interests to answer them as you go, so that you do not lose anyone who may have missed a detail or need a reiteration of a point you have already made.

Introduction

Start with a solid, attention-grabbing intro. 

It is a great way to set the tone as you dive into what you intend to cover. It’s your chance to establish trust and credibility and get their attention.

We probably don’t have to tell you to start off the presentation with some small talk to make everyone feel comfortable and to come across as personable, likable, and trustworthy. Basically, you want to build a rapport first, which might take some practice (and healthy confidence) in order to perfect.

The next important thing to do is to make sure you understand the prospect’s business really well, know who from the company is attending, empathize with their problems, and deeply grasp how your product can help solve them. Once you understand these things, you’ll need to express them clearly so that your prospects understand what they stand to gain from this presentation.

The outline has to consider the audience, their challenges, and viewpoints. Knowing your audience not only allows you to answer their most pressing needs but also shows them you know what they need. That way, you connect with them on a personal level.

Lead Presales Engineer Rishi Kapoor suggested a good way to do that is by showing the outcome immediately at the beginning of your sales presentation.

“Show the output first,” he said. “The best time when the customer or the other person has their full attention is at the beginning. So I start off with the outcome and the output first and then I like to follow a great demo methodology where then I start asking some very key questions to the customer to unwrap the onion or remove the layers and get some more understanding in terms of what they want to see.” Lead Presales Engineer, Rishi Kapoor

By working backward, you can make sure that you draw your prospects in and keep them engaged.

Define the prospect’s pain

Now it’s time to get a bit more technical.

At this stage, as Rishi explained, you’ll need to peel back the onion layers and define the issues that this prospect is facing. This is your chance to ask what they are hoping to learn from this presentation and demonstrate how well you understand their needs. 

Dive into the pain that these issues are costing as well as the consequences. This means that instead of simply saying that they are wasting time with certain processes, you can get into how much this time is costing them and how it’s affecting other areas of the company’s growth.

Show how you solve the challenge

Now it’s time to get to the meat of your sales presentation, which will usually include a sales demo .

When you present your solution, make sure the experience is personalized and geared to the issues you just discussed. You’ll also want to choose a product demo environment that is safe from bugs, software updates, or data leaks because nothing can derail your sales presentation worse than a demo glitch.

Feel free to dive deeper into the details where appropriate and show any novel techniques, approaches, or innovations that you have come up with to solve those pain points. 

During this stage, an emphasis on your value, capabilities, and success in the real world will go a long way towards creating more interest in your SaaS product.

By showing an interactive product demo, your prospects can see for themselves how your product can solve their issues and you can even send them a link for them to click through on their own after the presentation.

Explain what happens next

At the conclusion of the outline, you’ll have to come up with an impactful call to action that lets your prospects know the next steps.

Most likely, people will need to discuss it a bit further and want to know more. To help this move along, if you’re using a product demo platform like Walnut, you can send them an interactive demo leave-behind that they can click through after the meeting and share with other decision-makers.

You can also offer frequently asked questions to ensure that when a prospect asks about something, you do not choke and undercut all the work you have done up to this point.

At this point, you may also need to start handling objections and negotiating the sale .

Do you have any active promotions, discounts, deals, or offers to make? The prospects, having heard what you have to offer, how well you know their challenges, and how you intend to solve them, would be thrilled to purchase your product or service, especially if they don’t have to pay full price. 

The sales presentation outline should be thought of as a map. The best way to use any map, especially if you created it, is to include all the information necessary to achieve your objectives. So, what’s the best way to leverage a sales presentation outline?

Focus on closing 

Adapting your sales closing strategy to your prospects is crucial. Examine the relationship you have with the prospect as well as what is practical when you personalize your CTA. 

As you consider the broader picture and the use of this presentation, ask yourself what it’ll take for this prospect to close the deal.

Rehearse your presentation

Before presenting, preparing the outline and filling it with all the information you need is a great way to refresh your knowledge about what you will present. This will help you come across as authoritative and knowledgeable.

Prepare the technology

Since the outline is an overview of what you will say, it will help you prepare any presentation aids you may need, including teleconferencing tech, slides, a projector, and so on.

Presentations are incredible when done well and can draw in the attention you need to capture your audience’s attention. 

So don’t miss out on this opportunity and make sure you’re offering the best presentation possible, based on what the audience needs. 

If you’re using a platform like Walnut, you can do this based on data. Using the demo analytics provided, you can track how prospects experience your product and tweak your sales demos and sales presentations based on your findings, to be even more efficient in the future. 

The platform also lets you personalize your demos at scale, which allows you to optimize your storytelling and create sales presentations that’ll close deals.

So what are you waiting for? Revolutionize your sales by clicking that big “Get Started” button on the top of the screen.

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10-Steps to Your Ultimate Sales Presentation (with Examples)

One of the first things every new salesperson needs to learn, if they are to succeed, is how to develop and deliver a sales presentation. A lot of factors go into developing a sales presentation for a specific situation. However, by following a logical series of steps, it will greatly enhance the chance of making a sale.

A sales presentation is defined as “a talk giving information about a product or service that you are trying to sell, intended to persuade people to buy it.” Historically, sales presentations were delivered one-on-one with the salesperson, presenting directly to a buyer.

However, technology has expanded the traditional in-person sales presentation to include the potential for video conference presentations, telephone presentations, presentations delivered via email, and even long-form presentations delivered via internet web sales pages.

Regardless of the delivery method, a salesperson who follows a logical series of steps will have the greatest chance of making a sale.

The graphic below depicts an outline of the Ultimate 10-Step Sales Presentation:

Each step of the Ultimate Sales Presentation is important and contributes to the likelihood of making a sale. That said, not every step is needed in every selling situation. Sometimes the buyer is ready to buy after Step 4: Presentation. Sometimes the buyer will inject objections immediately as the salesperson begins, Step 3: Approach.

As I said, every salesperson/buyer interaction is different. The relational salesperson is acutely aware of this difference and will flex their presentation to meet the needs of the buyer.

10-Step Ultimate Sales Presentation

So now, let’s take a quick look at each of the 10-Steps of the Ultimate Sales Presentation.

1. Prospecting

Prospecting is the first step in the selling process. A prospect is a buyer who has the potential to buy your product or service. A lead is not the same thing as a prospect! A lead is simply someone for whom the salesperson has contact information. Once the lead has been qualified, they then become a prospect.

A lead becomes a qualified prospect when they exhibit these three characteristics:

• They must have the money to buy.
• They must have the authority to buy.
• They must have a desire to buy.

Prospecting is the lifeblood of many sales roles. Keeping a pipeline full of potential prospects is critical in industries like real estate, insurance, and vehicle sales. Even many retail businesses (like department stores) rely on prospecting to develop new customers.

2. Pre-approach/Planning

Planning is the second step in the selling process. Planning is done after we have identified a qualified prospect, and before we approach the customer.

A plan is a sales presentation strategy designed to achieve a specific end goal. A plan describes what you want to achieve and how you will do it.

The desire of a relational salesperson is to help people. The purpose of meeting with a buyer is to help that person in some way. The purpose of the plan you create is to help the person by selling the right product or service to meet their needs.

Planning is critical to the sales process because it accomplishes four things:

• Planning builds the confidence of the salesperson.
• Planning demonstrates the salesperson’s professionalism.
• Planning often builds goodwill between the salesperson and the buyer because the buyer sees the effort taken by the salesperson to meet their needs.
• Planning increases the probability of making the sale because the salesperson better understands the buyer’s needs.

3. Approach

The approach is the third step in the selling process. It is the period of time between when the salesperson first sees the buyer up until they start to discuss the product. The approach is the first step of the actual sales presentation.

The approach step of the sale presentation process consists of two distinct, yet equally important, parts. First is the rapport building, “small talk.” This is usually the first minute or two of the sales meeting where the salesperson might talk about something you know the buyer is interested in (sports, weather, family, children, etc.).

The second part of the approach step is the planned, formal lead-in to the actual discussion of the product.

The main thing every buyer wants to know is whether the product you’re about to discuss will meet their needs. As a salesperson, your approach to lead-in to the presentation with the buyer must accomplish three things:

• You must capture the buyer’s attention .
• You must stimulate their interest in your product or solution.
• You must then transition smoothly into the presentation.

The approach lead-in might take the form of a statement, a question, or a demonstration. Whichever method you choose (statement, question, or demonstration), you must capture the buyer’s attention, stimulate their interest in the product, and transition into the main body of the presentation.

Approach Example

An example of the statement/question approach is, “What a wonderful picture of your two children! How old are they?… That’s a wonderful age. Mrs. Buyer, the reason I wanted to meet with you today is I have an idea that I think will increase your sales and profit. Is that something you are interested in?”

As soon as you have the buyer’s attention and gained their interest, it’s time to transition directly to the main body of your presentation.

4. Presentation

The presentation is the fourth step in the selling process. The presentation is your persuasive verbal and visual explanation of your selling proposition. The presentation follows the approach.

The presentation takes the buyer through five distinct stages in the buying cycle that build upon one another:

• To provide knowledge in the form of features, advantages, and benefits so that the buyer can make an informed decision.
• This knowledge translates into positive beliefs about you and your product/service.
• The positive beliefs result in the buyer having a desire for the product.
• The desire for the product becomes an attitude that your product is the best product to fulfill the buyer’s need.
• When the buyer realizes you have the best product to meet their needs, they move into the conviction stage. They are now convinced yours is the product they need to buy.

Once the buyer has reached the conviction stage, it is time for a trial close.

5. Trial Close

A trial close is the fifth step in the selling process. The trial close is not asking the buyer to decide to buy. Rather, the trial close asks for the buyer’s opinion regarding what they have heard so far.

The trial close allows the salesperson to determine:

• Whether the buyer likes your product or service.
• Whether you have successfully answered any questions from the buyer.
• Whether any additional questions remain unanswered.
• Whether the buyer is ready for you to close the sale.

The trial close is an important yet often underutilized tool. A trial close can be used:

• After making a significant point in the presentation.
• After answering any questions or objections from the buyer.
• After the close of the main body of the presentation, and before you move to close the sale.

Trial Close Examples

Examples of a simple trial close include,

• “Does that answer your question?”
• “How does that sound to you?”
• “What do you think about what we’ve discussed so far?”

If the trial close results in a positive response from the buyer, jump to Step 9: Close. However, most trial closes will result in some questions or objections from the buyer. It’s time to determine and handle objections.

6. Determine Objections

Determining objections is the sixth step in the selling process. Assuming the trial close has resulted in questions or objections from the buyer, we now must begin the process of discovering those questions and handling those objections.

Some salespeople bristle and get defensive when asked questions or confronted with objections from a buyer. But this is the wrong way to think about objections! Salespeople should be grateful for questions and objections because they indicate the buyer’s interest. They also help the salesperson determine which stage of the buying cycle the buyer is in—attention, interest, desire, or conviction.

If the buyer has raised an objection, the salesperson needs to ensure their understanding of the objection. One easy way to do that is to restate the objection and ask for confirmation.

Determine Objection Example

For example, if the buyer has raised an objection about the expected life of a machine, the salesperson might say, “If I understand you correctly, your main concern with this machine is that it will provide you with trouble-free service for several years. Is that right?”

When the buyer confirms your understanding of the objection its time to move to the next step in the selling process and handle the objection!

7. Handle Objections

Meeting or handling objections is the seventh step in the selling process. Once you have determined you understand the buyer’s objection, you need to handle the objection. Usually, objections should be handled as soon as they are brought up. However, you may want to delay handling the objection if you are just about to talk about the question in your presentation.

There are four important points to consider when handling objections:

• Handle objections when they arise.
• Be positive when responding to objections.
• Listen carefully to the buyer as they state their objection.
• Confirm your understanding of the objection.

Some objections are false, and these can usually be ignored. However, if a buyer brings up an objection a second time, it is most likely a real issue, which needs to be addressed.

Real objections are almost always a request for more information. So, the best way to handle them is to answer the question with the specific relevant information the buyer needs.

Handle Objection Example

Going back to our machine question in the Determine Objection section above, the salesperson might continue, saying, “I certainly understand your concern. Our company has placed over 300 of these machines in companies like yours over the past ten years, and I’m proud to say they have a 99% run rate with no failures!

8. Trial Close

A follow-up trial close is the eighth step in the selling process. Whenever a question or objection is raised and handled, it’s time to try a trial close. As before, the point of the trial close is to ensure you have answered the buyer’s question to their satisfaction. If there is any doubt that the buyer is satisfied with your answer, you need to dig in to discover what other issues the buyer might have.

Trial Close Example

In our machine example, the salesperson might simply say, “Does our machine’s long life and 99% run rate answer your concern for our product’s reliability?”

When the salesperson feels that all the questions and objections have been addressed satisfactorily, it’s time to move on to the Close!

The close is the ninth step in the selling process. Closing is simply the process of helping the buyer make a decision that benefits them. The salesperson should attempt to close the sale when they feel the buyer is in the Conviction stage of the buying process.

Unfortunately, research shows a whopping 64% of salespeople fail to close. They fail to ask for the order! There are several reasons why this is the case, but generally, most of them revert to fear. The salesperson is afraid of failure, of being told “no.” Whereas, relational salespeople who are selling to solve problems and help people should never be afraid to ask for the order!

Good closers plan the close of their sale as carefully as they plan all the rest of their presentation. The close is not something you tack on to the end of the presentation, hoping that the buyer will say “yes.”

Close Example

There are many ways to close, but the simplest way is just to ask for the order and stop talking.

A salesperson might say, “Mr. Buyer, we’ve covered a lot of ground today, and I think you agree this machine will increase your production and improve your sales and profit. I have the order contract ready for your signature.” Then stop talking!

Another form of the close that I personally like is the assumptive option close. The salesperson might say, “Mr. Buyer, we’ve covered a lot of ground today, and I think you agree this machine will increase your production and improve your sales and profit. Would you like to have it delivered and installed next week, or would the following week be better for you?”

10. Follow-Up and Service

Finally, follow-up and service after the sale is the tenth step in the selling process. Sales are not about you. It’s about you taking care of your customers, and that happens after the buyer says “yes.”

What you do after the sale to provide follow-up and service to the customer is critical. It makes the difference between making a sale to a customer one time and making a sale to the same loyal customer many times year after year!

A salesperson who is diligent about providing follow-up and service after the sale will outperform the salesperson who does not perform that service. This maxim holds true simply because it is always easier to sell more to a current happy customer than find new customers. Happy, satisfied customers tell others and provide a flow of new business leads to the salesperson.

There are six steps the salesperson should take after the sale:

• Focus on improving account penetration. Get to know as many people in the account as you can. Look for needs or problems that you might be able to solve.
• Continue regular contact with the customer. Make sure every promise made in the presentation is kept.
• Handle any issues or customer complaints immediately. Things will go wrong, and the speed at which you handle even a minor issue demonstrates your commitment to the customer.
• Always keep your promises. Nothing destroys a developing relationship, like not keeping your promises. Stay true to your word. The customer placed their faith in you when they bought your product. You need to respect that faith by keeping your word.
• Become the customer’s business advisor. Do what you can to shift from the role of the salesperson to that of the trusted advisor by providing helpful industry insights, new information, or problem-solving solutions. Become a valued partner in the business!
• Show your appreciation. Showing your appreciation is a simple way to demonstrate you are thinking about the customer. Never underestimate how much a handwritten thank-you note, a congratulatory phone call, or a birthday card will mean to a buyer!

There you have it, a quick overview of the Ultimate 10-Step Sales Presentation Model!

The Ultimate 10-Step Sales Presentation Series

I hope what I shared with you here has helped you understand and appreciate the power of the Ultimate 10-Step Sales Presentation model. But I’ve just scratched this surface here! Over the next few months, I’ll be sharing more detail about each step of the model with more examples.

If you want to learn more about the Ultimate 10-Step Sales Presentation model, you can subscribe to the series here. That way you won’t miss any of this valuable information!

Join the Conversation

As always, questions and comments are welcome. What questions do you have about the Ultimate 10-Step Sales Presentation model? Are there any steps you think are more or less important than others?

I’d love your help. This blog is read primarily because of people like you who share it with friends. Would you be kind enough to share it by pressing the share button?

Category: Salespeople

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How to Leverage the Trial Close in Your Ultimate Sales Presentation

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11 Essential Sales Presentation Tips To Close The Deal Faster

The truth is, to sell a large quantity of  any  product, there is a set of steps everyone needs to follow. This process is familiar to many, including street vendors who use it easily.

Yet, it often goes unnoticed by many of us sales professionals, despite its potential to significantly impact sales success! To secure bigger and better deals, learning effective sales presentation techniques is essential. These skills can help you close deals quickly and with more confidence. For guidance on enhancing your presentations, keep reading on for more valuable strategies.

What is a Sales Presentation?

Sales presentations vs sales pitches: what’s the difference, the importance of effective sales presentations, what makes a good sales presentation, 11 effective sales presentation tips, 7 effective sales presentation skills every sales rep must have.

Understanding what makes a good presentation begins with understanding the sales presentation definition ;

‘a talk giving information about a product or service that you are trying to sell, intended to persuade people to buy it:’. 

A sales presentation is a meeting between an individual salesperson or sales team and a company. They attempt to persuade key stakeholders to close the deal by displaying the offerings’ capabilities, benefits, and features . They must align with your prospective client’s needs to achieve the desired outcome, which usually requires extensive planning and preparation.

A sales presentation is kind of like a more complex version of a sales pitch. They are comprehensive and tailored for significant deals that require in-depth discussions among multiple decision-makers. They play a crucial role in scenarios where the stakes are high and collective decision-making is essential.

Sales presentations are more detailed than a quick sales pitch. They’re part of a longer sales cycle, usually for significant deals. These presentations often require demonstrating the product or reviewing the sales proposal in detail. They often demand a higher budget. This covers not only the presentation, which often lasts an hour, but also the necessary preparation, scheduling, and rehearsals. Moreover, sales presentations often involve a team, not just one person. Everyone needs to work together as a team to understand and execute the plan.

Navigating the landscape of sales pitches can be transformative for your sales strategy. Choosing the right pitch type can make all the difference, whether it’s a brief chat or a formal meeting.

Here’s a deeper dive into the nuances of each pitch type and discover examples and templates that bring them to life.

Read more here.

The elevator pitch is often mistaken for a regular sales pitch, but it’s actually different. A sales pitch is a formal type of sales presentation, usually used in long buying cycles. It can take multiple times until a deal has closed. Whereas an elevator sales pitch quickly introduces your work to potential clients in a casual setting. You position yourself as the go-to solution they need, aiming to pique their interest and pave the way for a sale.

Crafting an effective elevator sales pitch is an essential skill for any professional. The right pitch can open doors and create opportunities during a brief encounter. An elevator pitch stands out from a regular sales pitch because it’s brief and gets to the point immediately. You have a short moment to grab someone’s attention and convey your message.

If you want to improve your ability to deliver a sharp elevator pitch, our guide is just what you need. It lays out the steps clearly and provides examples to help you craft your effective pitch quickly.

Craft your effective pitch now.

• Using Stories to Demonstrate Value
• The Ultimate Guide To Selling To The C-Suite

A sales presentation helps salespeople build connections with prospective customers. It allows them to differentiate their offering from competitors – with the end goal of closing a deal. Sales presentations are crucial for shaping future interactions in the sales process. They serve as a vital tool to convince prospects that your offering meets their needs perfectly.

Also read: How to Run Effective Remote & Virtual Sales Presentations

An effective sales presentation speaks directly to your audience’s needs, challenges and desires. A sales presentation grabs attention with an engaging story and a clear value proposition. It includes a strong call to action that tells the prospect exactly why your solution is the right choice.

Let’s break down the five essentials of a good sales presentation and the common structure many companies use. This approach helps ensure your presentation is effective:

What are the 5 Core Elements of Every Sales Presentation?

1. research.

You’re giving a sales presentation because you can solve a prospect’s problem. However, you mustn’t start the sales presentation with the solution. Rather, start on the problem itself and the subsequent challenges and pain points your prospect experiences because of it.

Prospects don’t see solutions or features; they see the value that comes with a suitable solution. That’s why you need to research prospects to understand what motivates them thoroughly. Understanding your customers’ challenges is key. As you learn more about their operations, you can customize their experience to offer solutions that truly add value.

2. Storytelling

Stories help prospects visualize the value of your offering . That’s why choosing a few stories to use in your sales presentations can resonate with your prospects. This approach is effective when you’ve thoroughly researched and understood their unique requirements.

3. A Value-Proposition

“What’s really in it for me?” – that’s what every prospect wants to know. Every prospect is looking to understand the benefits they’ll gain. They want to know why your product or service is worth their investment.

Suppose you can’t convince someone else that your product or service offers better value than your competitors. In that case, there is no point in wasting any more time trying to sell your solution. You’ll only ever hear, “We’ll be in touch.”

Always ensure you arrive prepared with a value proposition . It should explicitly state how your company’s product or service benefits prospects. For example, you can always follow the “value proposition formula.” To get started: [Company name] helps [target audience] with [services] so you can [benefits].

Prospects are more likely to move on to the next step when they see proof that others have gained from your solution. To achieve this, ensure you have plenty of social proof available from the get-go when meeting with your prospect. Overall, any proof of your effective solution helps answer the “how can I believe you” question from prospects. To do so successfully, consider sharing evidence such as:

• Client testimonials:  Enhance your credibility impact with reasons other customers love doing business with you. 
• Research data:  Use industry expert quotes to create bridge statements from your features and benefits. 
• Product comparisons against key competitors:  Tell them why your solution is better. 

5. A Call to Action

Last but not least, an effective sales presentation requires a strong call to action at the end to compel prospects to take action. Tell prospects what their next step should be, whether buying, taking internal steps, or trying a free trial.

Crafting a sales slide deck that connects with your audience and clearly presents your value is crucial for a winning sales strategy. It should spotlight your product’s benefits and features while telling a story that matches your prospects’ needs and challenges.

Learn how to create a sales slide deck that supports your pitch effectively and helps you close more deals, leading to more satisfied customers. It has a presentation template outline you can easily follow for your next sales deck.

Create your winning slide deck now.

Mastering the right sales presentation techniques can guide you through meetings and help you close more sales. Check out these methods below to boost your success:

1. Use the “Five-Second Rule”

Prospects have less and less time in this competitive and busy digital world. Capturing a prospect’s attention is hard, but holding onto it is an even harder! Keep the 5-second rule in mind: you have just fifteen to twenty words to capture your prospect’s attention. Ensure your overall opening statement is strong and directly relates to your audience.

2. Talk like an executive

Ideally, prospects will understand your sales presentation after the first minute. That’s why you need to use the appropriate language to address your audience. Not only does it help decision-makers connect with your solution quicker, but it also shows you’re prepared to respect their time.

3. Involve key stakeholders

Use your showmanship abilities and have the prospective decision-makers interact with the product you are selling. Encourage prospects to experience the product firsthand to appreciate its ease of use, softness, or the enjoyment it brings. Focus on its standout feature or benefit. When the customer gets involved, they can imagine themselves using the product, making it easier for them to buy.

4. Present solutions to painful challenges

Begin your sales presentation by focusing on the main issue that your prospect is struggling with. Describe how your product or service solves this specific problem they’re dealing with. Doing so shows them a way out of their current situation and the opportunities they could gain from closing the deal.

5. Make it memorable

When you give a  presentation , people will not retain everything you say. Often, we leave it up to chance what our prospects remember from our presentations. By adding certain elements to your pitch, you can guide what sticks in their memory. Keep it simple and direct, ensuring the key points are memorable and impactful.

• Visuals : The first element is to help them visualize. Use a visual on the screen that emphasizes one of my key messages. Aim to have no more than three key messages that you want somebody to walk away with. But use visuals to emphasize key points.
• Text : Also, put text on the screen, almost like underlining essential words in documents. Use text to highlight important points you want them to remember.
• Story : To get your  prospect  to remember your presentation, include a  story  highlighting your 3 key points. Wrap them in a story that touches on their emotions and can help them visualize how your solution will help them.
• Repetition : By using stories, text, and visuals and repeating your key points, your presentation will stick with the audience. They’ll especially remember the three main messages you want to highlight. Steve Jobs captivated his audience with his effective presentation style. He often used rhetorical techniques and focused on three main points to clarify his message. His presentations always typically emphasized products being thinner, faster, and lighter.

So remember to influence what people remember from your presentation. Use visuals, text, story and repetition.

Engaging presentation principles apply universally, whether delivered live or virtually. Spencer Waldron from Prezi offers insights on keeping your audience engaged. His advice is practical across all types of presentations. His strategies work for any presentation scenario, making sure people hear your message and remember it.

Get the summary here.

6. Prepare valuable insights

Another effective sales presentation technique is to prepare insights ahead of time for your prospects. Insights are accurate understandings of your prospect, your prospect’s business or your industry. These insights come from research, experience, and analyzing data and metrics. They aim to strengthen the relationship with prospects by offering them new ways to enhance and grow their business.

7. Don’t lead with your differentiators. Lead to them!

Suppose you lead by explaining your solution’s differentiating factors. In that case, you risk not hitting the mark and resonating with prospects about why this is so important. That’s why you should introduce your key differentiators only after the prospect clearly understands your backstory. View your key differentiators as clues you leave for prospects, helping them piece together the overall benefits.

8. Master the art of trial closes

Instead of expecting commitment from a single sales pitch, guide your prospect through a series of smaller steps that lead to the final commitment. A commitment is an obligation or a promise; an incremental commitment would be small, bite-sized pieces or portions. For example, you could ask your prospects to commit to:

• Meeting with you again.
• Reviewing your proposal.
• Introducing you to another decision-maker.
• Scheduling a conference call with key stakeholders.
• Forwarding a survey to their staff to understand their needs before you propose something.

Overall, the key is to secure a small, easy commitment from your prospect. When followed by consistent small commitments, this initial step gradually leads you to finalize those extensive, intricate deals.

9. Ask for feedback

The easiest way to lose the engagement of any audience is to drone on for long periods. While your words might be compelling, how you deliver them is crucial. That’s why you should start your presentation by inviting decision-makers to ask questions at any point. This open dialogue lets your sales reps gauge if they’re on target or need to adjust their strategy.

10. Ask for the sale

After the prospect understands the product, how it can benefit them, and how easy it will be to implement , ask for the sale . Consider the approach of the sidewalk seller’s case, who asks, “We have it in red, blue, green and yellow. What color would you like?” Determine what closes work best for you.

Also read: 15 Top Sales Closing Techniques To Increase Close Rates

11. Ask Again

If the customer poses an objection, overcome their objection and ask again. Persist even after an initial rejection. Reflect on the sidewalk seller’s tactic when he asks, “What else can you get in Singapore for $10?”. Salespeople often close most sales on the second or third attempt.

You don’t have to sit on a sidewalk with a loudspeaker blasting your every word to employ these techniques. You just need to demonstrate how your product makes life better for your customers. So find a way to get in front of your prospects, and make sure to follow these steps to maximize results.

We’ve already explored effective sales presentation techniques. Let’s recap the sales presentation skills every sales rep needs to close more deals. Discover each skill in detail below:

Research & Solution-Based Questioning

The first stage of preparing for a sales presentation is thoroughly researching your prospect. Skipping this preparation will likely result in the rejection of your ideas. That’s why all salespeople must be keen researchers of their ideal customers. Gather answers and insights about your prospect’s challenges with  typical solution-selling questions  such as:

• What are their most pressing needs?
• Do they know their most significant challenges?
• What are their aspirations?
• What’s stopping them from currently reaching these goals?
• What do their customers and stakeholders need and want?
• How could your solution help to negate these issues they’re experiencing?
• In what way will your solution position your prospect with a market advantage?
• How can you accurately communicate the benefits without solely discussing the solution to influence prospects to take action? 

The importance of Solution Selling vs. product Selling for effective sales presentations

What does  solution selling vs product selling  have to do with sales presentations? In product selling, the goal is to convince customers that it outshines the competition. This is why salespeople often detail features and prices to uninterested prospects. This approach focuses heavily on the product’s attributes during sales presentations. 

On the other hand, solution selling requires an alternative way of making a sale. Pinpointing your customer’s real-world problem is key. You can then demonstrate how your product is the right solution to solve their problem.

A compelling sales demo goes beyond showcasing features. This is a pivotal moment when the prospect truly sees what the product can do for them. Delivering a sales demo that informs, persuades, and excites is a skill that significantly impacts the sale’s outcome. This skill is vital for turning prospects into customers.

Our guide provides detailed steps for planning and executing a sales demo that will captivate and sway your audience.

Get the full detailed steps here.

Active Listening

You must be willing to listen to your prospects first so that they will pay attention to what you say. This involves more than just allowing your prospects to speak; it’s about actively listening to their concerns and feedback.

Sales professionals should be  listening 80% of the time and only talking 20% of the time . Allocate half of that 20% to asking questions, leaving just 10% for presenting and explaining your product.

To craft an offering that resonates with your prospect, pay close attention to the details they share about their problem. This tailored approach increases the likelihood of a purchase. Rather than spending time preparing an unappealing one-size-fits-all type of deal. 

Overall, effective sales presentations hinge on your body language. Show your prospect that you’re actively listening—through subtle head nods and comments demonstrating understanding and agreement.

Also read: 6 Personality Traits of a Good Salesperson Vs. a Bad Salesperson

Storytelling

Case studies have shown that  people are more receptive to stories  than almost any other type of communication. Our brains not only naturally crave stories, but we remember them and pass on the meaningful ones to others. That’s why incorporating storytelling into asking for the sale is so effective.

Create a hero with a clear name and personality, facing a practical problem they must resolve. However, you must take great care when deciding how to reflect your intended message. When crafting stories for your customers, ensure your storytelling speaks directly to your customers. Include the same hopes, ambitions, fears, regrets, and disappointments they too possess so they see their own stories reflected in yours.

Ultimately, prospects need to perceive you as self-assured to want to work with you. That’s why all sales reps should be confident in themselves and the solution they are selling. To achieve this, all skilled salespeople must rehearse and fine-tune their sales presentations well before it’s time to present. They practice to ensure that the delivery is articulate and compelling. Alongside employing body language techniques such as:

• Eye contact:  Shows prospects you’re interested in what they have to say.
• Standing/sitting straight:  Opens your posture, making your body language warmer and authoritative. 
• A firm handshake:  Always offer a firm but friendly handshake to make a good first impression.
• Smile:  An effective sales presentation technique for keeping prospects at ease when used naturally as not forced. 

Objection Handling

All sales reps should be able to list common past objections and grasp the reasoning behind each one. By doing this, reps can positively frame each response to each objection and practice it for the sales presentation. Continue reading to  learn common sales objections  and how to overcome them. 

Interpersonal & Rapport Building

Interpersonal skills are subtle yet impactful behaviors that help build rapport with prospects. They’re the key to transforming successful sales presentations into lasting, trusted relationships. As the saying goes, ‘People do business with people they know, like and trust.’ So, of course, you need to build rapport – and quickly.

One of the most effective ways to do this is to use your customer’s name and know how to pronounce it correctly. It helps to foster a sense of connection with them because they feel heard. People also kind of love the sound of their names—it’s a simple yet effective way to engage with them.

However, make sure to use their name naturally in the conversation – otherwise, you’ll come off as indigenous. Other types of interpersonal skills include:

• Communication style flexing:  Different prospects have unique ways in which they prefer to communicate based on their communication style. They typically fall into  one of four communication styles  based on two factors. Understanding the different communication styles and how to handle each individually can drastically improve your relationship and ability to connect with other people.  Furthermore, after fully identifying your prospective executive’s communication style, focus on understanding their decision-making approach. How do you do this? Ask yourself and the prospective executive  these questions . 
• Courtesy:  If good manners cost nothing, courtesy is critical for making prospects feel welcome and comfortable. 
• Understanding the prospect’s viewpoint : This can significantly impact our understanding of their motivations for buying—or not buying.

Engaging with prospects effectively is key to sales success. Doing so will allow you to close more deals and forge stronger business relationships. Building rapport, understanding communication styles, and demonstrating courtesy are just a few interpersonal skills that can significantly impact your interactions with prospects. 

Learn the subtle yet powerful strategies that can transform your sales approach and help you connect with prospects on a deeper level.

Discover the strategies here.

Master the art of closing deals remotely

Selling virtually is not a matter of just doing the same old sales pitch but online. You have to be highly organized and have tightly planned out presentations so you don’t leave your prospect bored and disconnected.

Check out our brand new  Virtual Selling course  to take your remote selling skills to the next level. The course includes 5 checklists, cheat sheets, and guides, and 15+ on-demand virtual selling lessons.

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What is a Product Demonstration - Types, Benefits, Tips

Table of Contents

Product demonstrations are the heartbeat of SaaS sales. They bridge the gap between product features and customer needs, turning curiosity into conviction.

Whether you're a startup or an established player, mastering the art of product demos can significantly boost your conversion rates and accelerate growth.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about crafting compelling product demonstrations that resonate with your audience and drive results.

What is a Product Demonstration?

A product demonstration is a focused presentation that showcases a product's key features, benefits, and applications. It's a vital tool in sales and marketing, designed to:

• Highlight the product's value
• Illustrate its practical uses
• Address potential customer needs

Product demos can take various forms:

• Live presentations
• Interactive product demos
• Pre-recorded videos

The primary goal is to give potential customers a clear understanding of how the product works and why it's worth their investment. Whether it's software, hardware, or a service, a well-executed demo can significantly influence purchasing decisions.

Modern, effective product demonstrations go beyond mere descriptions. They provide hands-on experiences or visual representations that allow the audience to envision how the product could solve their specific problems or improve their processes.

Benefits of Conducting Product Demonstrations

Let's take a detailed look at the benefits of product demonstrations and why you should focus on creating the perfect product demos:

1. Accelerates sales processes

Product demonstrations serve as a powerful catalyst in the sales process, significantly accelerating the journey from initial interest to final purchase.  

By providing potential customers with a hands-on experience, demos offer a clear and concise understanding of the product's value proposition.

This direct interaction allows customers to quickly grasp how the product addresses their specific needs, leading to faster decision-making. As a result, the sales cycle is streamlined, potentially boosting overall sales figures and improving the efficiency of the entire sales funnel.

2. Proves product effectiveness

The importance of product demos for SaaS companies [lies in] building a strong market. SaaS companies create new markets, addressing a need no one had thought of before. But [first], they have to persuade people to solve an outdated issue with a new approach. With a product demo, you can clearly explain why your innovation boosts the status quo and encourage potential buyers to adopt new behaviors. - Stella Cooper, CEO at PaydayLoansUK.

One of the most compelling aspects of product demonstrations is their ability to prove a product's effectiveness in real time. Unlike marketing materials or sales pitches, demos provide tangible evidence of a product's capabilities and performance. This firsthand experience builds customer confidence in both the product and the brand behind it.

By showcasing how the product solves real-world problems or enhances existing processes, demonstrations move beyond mere claims, offering concrete proof of value. This visual and interactive validation can be particularly powerful in industries where reliability and performance are crucial factors in purchasing decisions.

3. Gathers direct feedback

A product demo also allows you to learn more about your target market. Requesting a product demonstration is a strong buying signal. Therefore, those who take the time to listen to a product demo reflect the characteristics of your ideal customers. Demos enable you to understand their needs and difficulties better. You can then use this learning to aid you in converting more sales in the future. - Sean O’Neal, President at Onclusive.

Product demonstrations also offer an invaluable opportunity for direct customer feedback. During a demo, potential buyers can ask questions, raise concerns, and provide immediate reactions to the product's features and functionality.

This real-time interaction creates a goldmine of insights for product development teams. By identifying common pain points, areas of interest, or potential improvements, companies can refine their offerings to better meet market demands. Moreover, this two-way communication fosters stronger relationships with customers, showing that the company values their input and is committed to meeting their needs.

4. Creates a sense of ownership

A well-executed product demonstration can create a powerful sense of ownership among potential customers. By allowing users to interact with the product in a meaningful way, demos serve as a risk-free trial experience. This hands-on approach helps customers envision how the product would fit into their own workflows or solve their specific challenges.

As customers engage with the product, they become more invested in its potential benefits, which can significantly reduce perceived risks associated with the purchase. This psychological ownership can be a key factor in overcoming objections and nudging customers toward a positive buying decision.

5. Reinforces brand identity

Beyond showcasing the product itself, product demonstrations provide an excellent platform for reinforcing brand identity. The style, language, and overall presentation of a demo can be tailored to reflect the company's unique personality and values. This cohesive brand experience helps create a lasting impression on potential customers, improving brand recall and differentiation in a crowded marketplace.

By aligning the demo with the company's broader mission and ethos, businesses can create a more emotional connection with their audience, moving beyond feature comparisons to establish a deeper brand relationship.

6. Addresses specific customer needs

During the product demo, you will have the opportunity to listen to the customer’s specific requirements and demonstrate how your product will meet these needs and make their jobs easier. Being able to show how your product can assist them can significantly impact their purchasing decision. - Sean O’Neal, President at Onclusive.

One of the key strengths of product demonstrations is their adaptability to specific customer needs. Unlike generic marketing materials, demos can be customized to address the unique requirements of different industries, company sizes, or use cases. This tailored approach ensures that the demonstration remains relevant and engaging for each audience.

In fact, 40% of buyers prefer personalized product demonstrations to make software purchase decisions.  

By highlighting features and benefits that directly align with a customer's pain points, demos can clearly illustrate how the product fits into existing workflows or integrates with current systems. This level of customization not only improves the effectiveness of the presentation but also shows potential customers that the company understands and values their specific needs.

The Impact of Product Demonstrations on Conversion Rates

Product demonstrations play a crucial role in the success of SaaS businesses. A well-crafted demo can significantly boost your sales team's performance and directly impact your bottom line.

Consider this scenario:

An average SaaS company might conduct 6-10 demos per week. Let's say their product has an annual contract value of $25,000. If their demo-to-sale conversion rate is on the lower end at 25%, they could be generating around $2 million in annual sales. However, if they improve their conversion rate to 40%, that same number of demos could result in $3.2 million in annual sales.

This example illustrates the potential impact of effective product demonstrations. By improving your demo strategy, you could potentially increase your revenue by over $1 million annually without increasing the number of demos conducted.

Factors that can influence demo effectiveness include:

• Tailoring the demo to the specific needs of each prospect
• Clearly highlighting the product's value proposition
• Addressing common pain points
• Providing an engaging and interactive experience

Remember, a great product demonstration isn't just about showcasing features. It's about demonstrating how your solution can solve real problems for your potential customers.

By focusing on creating impactful demos, you can significantly improve your conversion rates, boost your sales, and drive the growth of your SaaS business.

Types of Product Demonstrations in SaaS

Now, let's dive right into the different types of SaaS demos you can create to delight your prospects and convert them effortlessly.

1. Product Demo Videos

Product demo videos are visual tools that showcase a SaaS product's functionality and key features. These videos play a crucial role in customer acquisition by educating potential clients about the product's capabilities and benefits.

Effective product demo videos typically:

• Run 2-5 minutes long
• Focus on core functionalities
• Use high-quality visuals and clear narration
• Demonstrate problem-solving capabilities
• Can be customized for different audiences

Common uses include:

• Website and product pages
• Landing pages
• Social media and email marketing
• Paid advertising

The main goals are to:

• Capture viewer attention
• Highlight unique selling points
• Provide a clear call-to-action (e.g., sign up for a trial, schedule a demo)

By offering a visual explanation of the product, these videos can effectively communicate value, build trust, and move prospects through the sales funnel.

Here's an example of a great product demo video by Linear -

2. Live Product Demos from a Sales Team

Live product demonstrations offer a personalized approach to showcasing SaaS solutions. Conducted by sales representatives, these demos provide direct interaction with potential customers.

Key features:

• Real-time presentation of product functionality
• Tailored to specific customer needs and questions
• Can be delivered in-person or via video conferencing
• Suitable for both one-on-one sessions and group webinars
• Highly engaging and interactive
• Allows for immediate addressing of customer concerns
• Demonstrates how the product solves specific customer problems
• Provides opportunity for relationship-building

Live demos are particularly effective for:

• Complex products requiring detailed explanation
• High-value deals needing personalized attention
• Generating qualified leads
• Moving prospects closer to purchase decisions

By offering a personalized experience, live demos help sales teams showcase product value, build trust, and close deals more effectively. They allow for dynamic presentations that can adapt in real-time to customer interests and questions.

3. Interactive Demo

Interactive product demos offer potential customers an immersive, hands-on experience of the product during the entire buying and enablement journey — including discovery , purchase, and adoption.

Typically guided by pre-programmed steps, an interactive product demonstration guides users through key features or persona-based benefits for your product – helping visually guide viewers in a step-by-step, engaging way. Best of all, viewers don't need to download or have access to your tool (or be a customer) to learn about these features. No paywall, no subscription, no endless discovery calls before getting hands-on with the product.

• Pre-programmed, step-by-step guidance
• Highlight key features and persona-based benefits
• Accessible without product installation or user accounts
• Customizable for different user journeys
• Engages users actively in the discovery process
• Accelerates the buying decision
• Reduces friction in the sales process
• Allows prospects to experience the product firsthand

Applications:

• Pre-sales exploration
• Self-service product discovery
• Customer onboarding
• Feature adoption

Here’s an example of an interactive product demo which guides you through the features of Lemlist .

Interactive demos bridge the gap between marketing materials and the actual product experience. They empower potential customers to explore the product at their own pace, fostering a deeper understanding and connection with the solution.

Which Type of Product Demonstration Should You Use?

Choosing the right product demo depends on your SaaS business model and product characteristics. Several factors influence this decision, with your growth strategy being a key consideration.

Sales-led vs. Product-led Growth

For product-led growth companies, the product itself is the main marketing tool. These businesses often prefer interactive in-app demos. This approach allows potential customers to engage directly with the product, experiencing its value firsthand. Interactive demos can effectively showcase the product's features and benefits without requiring a full commitment from the user.

On the other hand, sales-led companies typically benefit more from sales demo videos. These videos are designed to optimize the sales process by presenting the product's key features and benefits in an engaging, visual format. They can be easily shared with potential customers and used to support sales conversations, making them an ideal tool for businesses that rely on a more traditional sales approach.

However, the choice isn't always black and white. Many successful SaaS companies use a mix of demo types to cater to different stages of the customer journey and various customer preferences. The key is to understand your target audience and choose the demo type that best addresses their needs and concerns.

Consider factors like your product's complexity, your target market's preferences, and your sales cycle length when deciding on the most effective demo type. Remember, the goal is to provide potential customers with the information they need in the most engaging and accessible way possible.

High-touch vs. Low-touch Onboarding

Your onboarding approach affects which type of product demo works best for your SaaS business.

Low-touch Onboarding

Low-touch onboarding is all about self-service. It's for customers who like to learn on their own. This approach uses:

• Automated video demos
• Interactive product tours
• Online help guides

These tools let users set up and use the product by themselves. Low-touch works well for simple products or tech-savvy users who don't need much help.

High-touch Onboarding

High-touch onboarding offers personal help. It's used for:

• Complex products
• Enterprise customers
• High-paying clients

This approach often includes:

• Live demos by sales reps
• One-on-one training
• Custom setup plans

High-touch makes sure important customers get all the help they need.

Your choice depends on what you're selling and who's buying. Some businesses use both approaches, offering different levels of help based on customer needs or what they're paying.

The main goal is to help customers start using your product successfully. Pick the approach that best fits your product and customers.

The Complexity of Your Product

B2B SaaS companies rely on their sales model to drive growth, with three main options: self-serve, enterprise, and transactional. The choice depends on Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) and Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC).

It's crucial for sales and marketing teams to align on this model to avoid wasted resources, inconsistent messaging, and missed opportunities. By ensuring everyone understands and operates within the right model for your product and market, you can create a focused and effective growth strategy.

And...how complex your product is plays a big role in choosing the right demo type.

Complex products take longer to learn and need more guidance. For these, live demos might seem good at first, as you can answer questions directly. But they can take too much time and be hard for clients to remember everything.

A better approach for complex products is:

• Creating multiple product demo videos.
• Adding these videos to an online resource center.

This way, users can:

• Find the exact help they need, when they need it.
• Watch videos as many times as they want.
• Learn at their own pace.

Simpler products might do well with:

• Interactive demos
• Short overview videos
• Quick-start guides

The goal is to match your demo style to how much help users need to understand your product.

Remember, the right product demonstration makes it easier for customers to learn and use your product successfully. Furthermore, according to Salesforce, 45% of end users prefer short and easy-to-understand demos.

How to Create an Effective Product Demo?

Crafting a successful product demo requires careful planning and execution. Here's how to approach it:

Match Demo Types to the Buyer's Journey

Different stages of the buyer's journey call for different types of demos. Here's a breakdown:

Remember, the goal is to guide potential customers through the sales funnel. Each demo should be designed to move them to the next stage of their decision-making process.

By aligning your demo type with the buyer's journey, you can:

• Address the right questions at the right time
• Provide relevant information as needed
• Increase engagement and interest
• Improve conversion rates at each stage

Using the Right Tools for Your Product Demo

Once you've decided on the type of demo, it's time to create it. Choosing the right tool is crucial for producing an effective demo. Here are some of our suggestions to help you get started.

For Pre-recorded Demos:

Consider tools like Loom or Screen Studio for simple screen recordings. For more advanced editing, look into software like Camtasia.

For Live Demos:

Popular options include Zoom, Google Meet, or Vimeo for live streaming. Choose based on your needs for interactivity and audience size.

For Interactive Demos:

Supademo is an excellent choice for creating engaging, interactive product tours. It allows you to create guided walkthroughs of your product without coding.

Interactive Demos are Redefining Product Demonstrations As We Know It Across Teams

B2B buying has changed. It's no longer a linear journey where you can get the buyer on a discovery call, book a demo walkthrough, and seal the deal.

Today's buyers demand more than that:

• They want to play around the product before they make a case to get buy-in;
• They want to realize the product's value before they pay for it;
• They want to be confident in their purchase;

To meet this demand for more information up-front, you can no longer depend solely on jargon or static images that lack fidelity or context for the user. While these landing pages yield some basic results, they fall short when it comes to visually demonstrating your product's features or benefits in a captivating way.

And that's where interactive demo software like Supademo can help.

Whether you work in marketing, sales, or customer success, interactive product demos have some amazing benefits to offer. Key highlights include shortening sales cycles, increasing prospect conversions, efficiency gains, and faster product adoption.

While there are hundreds of benefits depending on the use case, here’s a quick visual overview of some of the main benefits:

Get Started with Your First Interactive Product Demonstration

In conclusion, interactive demos help you break down barriers between your product and your buyers and users. By empowering them with the power to discover, adopt, and educate at their own pace, you can build trust, reduce skepticism, and boost engagement.

And, with Supademo, anyone can create beautifully interactive product demos in just a few minutes – for free with no technical expertise required.

Even better, you get more than just recording or creating a demo with Supademo. There are countless features to help trigger and accelerate the Aha! moment for your buyers. So, head over to Supademo to start creating an engaging, interactive demo – it's free!

Create beautifully interactive product demos in minutes.

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How to Start Selling Digital Products in 6 Steps

Learn how to create new income streams and succeed in the digital selling marketplace.

Piyusha Pilania

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What do webinars, e-books, and apps have in common?

They’re all digital products, and they’re taking a big share of consumer wallets. Whether you have a successful business and are looking to capitalize on lucrative new sales channels, or a side hustler hoping to trade their talent for recurring passive income, you can make digital products work for you.

What you’ll learn:

What are digital products, types of digital products, benefits of digital product sales, 6 steps to start selling digital products, common digital product sales roles, what to look for in digital selling tools, engage and close prospects from everywhere.

Pull up CRM data for prospects even when you’re engaging with them outside your CRM — whether on social or online. 

A digital product is an intangible thing that customers can use on their electronic devices. While you can’t hold or touch it, a digital product is still something you can see, purchase, and consume. Making more is as simple as copying and pasting. And they’re accessed by customers through downloads, streaming, or logging onto a website.

Digital products come in all shapes and file sizes. If you’re trying to make one, review the following types of products to help you understand and decide which makes the most sense for you, your abilities, and your audience.

Courses and online education

Building new skills is important for your career and passions. Online courses in everything from yoga to digital marketing can draw in big crowds. A common approach is to create a series of paid-subscription online videos hosted in a learning management system, which can include downloadable worksheets and notes. Some take the form of webinars, which are attended live and solicit donations from attendees.

Go the extra mile by offering premium office hours and live lessons to connect with students. It’s easiest to sell courses if you’re already a somewhat well-known figure in the industry, but you can always build up your reputation through a few free giveaways and trial classes.

Coaching and consulting

If you have expertise in anything, your time is valuable. Go one-on-one with paying customers to help them get off the ground in whatever their pursuit is, such as the fundamentals of business operations for a startup founder or digital transformation for a more established business.

Or go one-to-many with virtual group workshops. In this case, the digital products might be content that leads free users to this ultimately paid experience, with more paid content available to them after the fact. Show your knowledge on social media and industry forums, and lead fans back to a landing page to book coaching sessions.

( Back to top )

Digital templates and themes

Many entrepreneurs and businesses want to make things themselves that look good and function well, without having to build from scratch. If you have the graphic design, development, or organizational chops, products you might sell include:

• Themes for popular blogging content management systems (CMS) that make it easy to set up a brand-new, professional-looking website
• Templates for presentation decks, professional documents, and highly functional spreadsheets
• Templates for beautiful notebooks, day planners, or birthday cards
• Presets for the perfect lighting balance for photos or videos in major creative software
• UX, icon, and font kits that enable product and graphic designers to build something professional quickly

These can be sold on independent websites, through marketplace platforms, or directly through the apps they’re made for.

E-books are electronic books that can be read on a tablet, laptop, or phone. Make yours stand out through a combination of high quality, unique information, and good design. If you have a solid reputation in your field, the hook might be your perspective. The hook could also be the result of an actual study you conducted, which provides new data and statistics.

E-books can be sold through major book marketplaces and e-commerce platforms. E-books are often called “lead magnets,” a giveaway that potential customers get in exchange for filling in forms and agreeing to receive your marketing emails.

Video games and mobile games need no introduction. Between app stores on everyone’s smartphones, PC marketplaces, and stores built into modern consoles, they take many forms and are being played more frequently by more people than ever before. Some have an upfront cost to buyers, some are licensed to subscription platforms (and pay developers based on playtime or downloads), and some are freemium, with in-game purchases down the road.

Licensed digital content

Not everything is made to be enjoyed on its own. Sometimes, the smart move is to sell small pieces of much larger products. Stock photography, music, designs, and videos get used in everything from ads and websites to concept art and packaging.

Marketing and film professionals dig through online marketplaces trying to avoid corny corporate stock assets, so you can stand out by making something unique and beautiful. Simply create your library, license it to the stock websites, and let the sites sell it again and again.

Memberships and communities

Information and discourse are available on social media, forums, blog comments, and countless sites trying to share content, all for free. Some free sources are amazing, but there’s also a lot of junk to sift through. Niche communities might prefer something more curated and exclusive.

That’s where the membership site comes in. You have to pay to get in, but you get what you pay for. Free of ads, free of trolls, free of bots, with every member having a literal financial stake in the community staying high quality and civil. Examples include “masterminds,” where business owners share struggles and swap leads, or communities that are built around an expert in a topic.

Music and audio

Most musicians license music to streaming platforms. They are paid based on subscriber listens, or receive a portion of ad revenue from free users. Podcasts are another popular audio product. There are platforms for premium podcasts with dedicated fan bases that offer exclusive episodes to patrons who donate monthly. The vast majority are free to listeners and collect ad and sponsorship revenue.

Premium content libraries

If you’ve had success selling individual digital products, you can offer subscriptions to a big library of all your past and future products. For example, if your e-books always deliver, past buyers may see the value in simply subscribing to your library to get early and perpetual access to future ones. The same goes for the creator who always makes new UX kits that speed up app production. Prove value and then improve your offer.

Software and apps

Once created, software can provide you with reliable subscription revenue if it serves a real market need. Apps for consumers include everything from photo and video editing to family budgeting. Apps for businesses might include complex accounting, project management software, productivity suites, and shipping coordination. If you go this route, note that tech sales is a complex and nuanced discipline that requires experience to get right.

Whether it’s an ad-supported video on a popular video streaming website or a paid exclusive sold to a major publisher, video content is among the fastest-growing formats. Production quality is important for some formats, like narratives, and less stringent for quick social media skits.

Visual art and prints

Original visual artwork with an artist’s unique stamp and style can be valuable with the rise of generative AI. It’s all about how you package it. You could sell the original file through a marketplace. You could also create on-demand coffee table books and T-shirts, or sticker sheets and posters that customers print themselves. Build a following and community through social media, and then release exclusives for your fans.

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Many of us try our best to avoid paying for online information that feels like it should be free. However, creating and distributing digital products must bring in revenue to facilitate continued production. Here are some of the reasons why big companies and small players alike make the investment in digital products.

Lower upfront costs

There’s a large cost difference between a text document and a multi-platform fully featured app, but neither one needs a factory to make more of them. Once a digital product is created, it’s infinitely duplicable. Your cost of goods sold is close to zero.

Easy to distribute

You can sell digital assets directly through a website you own, or take advantage of one of hundreds of popular platforms. Many creators and businesses cross-distribute to competing channels to cover all their bases.

Flexible to challenges and opportunities

Digital products’ strengths always come back to their digital nature. They’re easy to update and adapt in response to feedback (and market changes).

Your e-book sold poorly last month? Tweak it and advertise the new change.

Have your fall stickers stopped getting preorders? Add red and green holiday themes and relaunch them.

Digital creators also benefit from being able to add more types of digital products to their offerings over time. For example, a popular graphic designer who makes ad-supported video tutorials might be able to start selling templates to their fans, selling deeper courses, and building a premium community that requires a monthly subscription.

New passive income streams

Passive income refers to revenue that doesn’t require new inputs such as labor or equipment after the initial investment. A simple example would be rent collected from a rental property.

Some digital products lend themselves to true passive income more than others. Consultations require your time, but more subscribers to a course you uploaded have very little time investment after creation. If you already sell physical products, digital ones can open up new markets while trading on the reputation you made with your traditional offerings.

It’s important to remember that every product still has costs. That same course might start running out of customers, which means you’d need to either update the product for repeat business or market it to get new business. If you can automate that marketing process, you can get closer to real passive income.

Maybe the last section got the ideas flowing and you’re excited to get started. Or maybe the idea of actually making a digital product feels intimidating and you’re not sure how to begin. Depending on your talents and whether this is a side hustle, it can be as easy as making a new version of something you always make, or as complex as learning a skill and how to build a business at the same time.

No matter how it strikes you, this process can help you organize your efforts.

1. Brainstorm, research, and choose your products

If you’re a creative or developer, it might be obvious what you’re going to make. A photographer will take photos, though they still need to find their niche. But if you have a less obvious talent, finding the right type of digital product can take more time.

What you make depends on your knowledge, skills, and interests. Do you have an eye for fashion or a knack for speed-running games? Are there accounting mistakes that always get on your nerves or design trends you think are overblown? Play to your passions if you can.

Market research

Let’s say you settled on fashion videos. What else is out there? Who are the top creators? What are they doing? More importantly, what are they not doing? Or let’s say you decided to make a DIY accounting e-book. Does anyone else give that same info away for free? What’s their angle?

Here’s how to approach market research:

• Use social listening tools to search for relevant conversations on social media platforms and see what the general attitudes and issues are in the market.
• Dig up published research from authoritative sources, industry news outlets, and others to understand trends and get some data to work with.
• Set up a CRM to gather information gained from actual customers and leads and keep your notes current.

Choose your product

Whatever you choose, land on your first product and commit to making that one as well as you can before expanding. Focus on your differentiation, such as the target market, the quality of the product, your design, your pricing, and your personal brand.

2. Define your target market with a persona

A buyer persona is a fictional customer who has traits that represent a unique segment of the population. For example, they might be divided out by age, hobbies, income, places they like to frequent, and, importantly, the things they really believe. Here’s how to create a persona for your product:

• Use data to find basic demographic traits: See how many undergraduate accountants in southern California younger than 40 there really are to sell to before you build that ebook on building your own practice.
• Use surveys and research to understand their work: Find people to survey yourself or look for old studies, and see how they relate to their work, what skills they need to succeed, and what they believe success means.
• Go deeper with interviews: Invite a few to speak with and learn about what they worry about, what they desire, and what motivates them to challenge assumptions and uncover secrets that will help you sell to them.
• Build a starter persona: Use what you learned to make a collection of these traits that’s easy to pull up and consider when creating digital products to serve them. It helps to frame it as a story (i.e., “Mark is trying to get promoted in his accounting firm and spends a lot of his free time figuring out ways to impress his bosses”).
• Refine as you learn: Personas are a representation, so they should be subject to change as you try, fail, and succeed in the marketplace.

3. Validate your idea

This is where “failing fast” comes into play. Having a digital product idea and the skills to back it up is one thing, but seeing whether the market will support it is another. An easy first step is to ask people in your life and your target market. Show them your idea and what you have so far, and see what they think is missing and what’s working.

You can also approach this in a more standardized manner, such as running digital surveys asking about the problem you’re trying to solve. The final way to validate would simply be to check relative interest in this topic or product over time. Look at online search trends to see what’s generating interest.

4. Make an online storefront

You need a place for your potential customers to find you online. There are several routes to take. Social media marketplaces are great for reach, but your visibility is subject to private algorithms. Another option is templated website builders that include storefront functionality. They’re convenient, but many competitors will also use them, so you may have a hard time standing out, and analytics and leads are often locked down. Your last choice is to build your own site and use a sales platform on top of it. It lends itself to automation, personalization, and a better customer experience, but of course it will require a bigger upfront investment.

Many digital product creators opt for a combo, luring in leads from social platforms and handling most of their selling on their privately operated websites to control customer information and reduce transaction fees.

5. Market to drive traffic

If you’re selling digital products, you’ll need to work to stand out. Use your website and social analytics to determine where interested traffic, if any, is coming from. Try to find patterns between where they come from, what they do on your site, and when they ultimately buy. You can also find places in your buying flow where they drop off before making a purchase.

Using this data , decide on channels to invest more in, like organic content you post to your social profiles, advertising placed on search engines, or referrals from partners and groups. Part of the investment will be running these different marketing campaigns, and part of it will be creating the content you’ll use in the marketing.

Connect your CRM and sales tools to your marketing efforts to help you make stronger connections between the types of marketing a lead was exposed to, and the likelihood of buying. Marketing is a game of continuous improvement, so study your results and try tweaks as you go.

6. Test and learn

Your product and marketing efforts both require you to look at the data and adjust as needed. Always gather and be open to feedback, and investigate problems.

You will likely have to adapt to increase revenue. Since digital products are relatively low-cost to make, you need to consider your breakeven point and your time to profitability.

How many units do you need to sell to earn back everything it costs to make it, including your own labor? Also, how long did it take for that to happen?

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To sell a digital product, many tasks have to get done. Big product development teams have staff for each job function, whereas side hustlers have to do it all themselves. A quick overview of each role can help you see what goes into selling digital products, and figure out if you have any gaps in your team or personal skill set. Study these to help you launch successful products.

Product manager

The PM is like the CEO of a product or product line. They take the vision and break it into achievable sprints and goals, take customer feedback into account, and promote the success of the product throughout the business.

Engineer/creator

A digital product has to be created. Photographers snap pics, software developers build apps, and influencers talk, present, and film (mostly themselves). This person or group is the most important, but their work can be outsourced, too.

Design and user research

Digital products are sold in a world that’s mainly visual. If the main product isn’t made by a designer, a designer still needs to package it into something slick, sellable, and branded. User researchers have to get involved to understand how people interact with your site and content (and to see if the design is working).

Customer support

You can’t leave your buyers in the cold. Once they’ve given you their money, you need to honor your promises, including helping them figure out when something isn’t right. This goes doubly for interactive digital products, such as courses, apps, and games.

Someone must schedule social media posts and decide what to say. They also need to film those videos, put together those early-access, buy-now timers, and set up that email sequence once someone signs up for the newsletter.

Sometimes, marketing and sales go hand in hand for digital products. But if you have higher-ticket items, you might have to do personal one-on-one selling to close the deal. Digital sales professionals also input information in customer relationship management (CRM) software.

The ‘Face’

Oftentimes, this is the creator or thought leader themselves. For independent digital products, someone has to put their creative or personal brand on things to help it stand out from similar competing products.

Just as the products are digital, so too are the tools needed to make them and move them. In fact, some of this infrastructure can be the largest expense in the process outside labor, so it’s important to determine what you need in your tech stack. All of the following can help with online selling:

• Market research: Whatever website and social platforms you use, make sure you get access to analytics to see what’s working. You also need tools to research your competitors and target markets, like surveys.
• Content creation: You need to be able to build your digital products, using things like creative suites for graphic designers, productivity suites for slides and documents, and generative AI platforms to help speed things up.
• Hosting and storefront: Host your digital content in a secure place with a shopping function to collect payments and gate access to the product.
• CRM: Keep track of past and potential customers with sales software that keeps a database and helps automate your outreach, too.
• Marketing automation platform: Collect lead information through forms on your site, build quick landing pages for your marketing campaigns, personalize web content based on each user’s interests, and send custom email and SMS campaigns.
• Sales forecasting: The best way to make future sales strategies is to understand what’s already happened. Measure digital sales through your storefront over time, so you can begin to predict your sales cycles .
• Customer service management: Save time reading through emails of customer complaints with a platform for tracking and resolving issue tickets. After all, happy customers spread better word of mouth.

Start selling digital products today

The market may seem stuffed with options, but new people start selling digital products daily, with breakaway successes cropping up constantly. You never know if you don’t try, and you’ve just taken a great first step by reading this guide.

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Piyusha Pilania is the Salesforce Consulting Manager at Horizontal Digital. With over a decade of experience in B2C and B2B sales, Piyusha transitioned from being a Salesblazer to a Salesforce Consultant. Her extensive sales background gives her a unique perspective in Salesforce consulting, ... Read More allowing her to bring valuable insights.

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