Death by Powerpoint — How to avoid the pitching toll — Sarah Kiefer // Pitch

Show Notes

• 01:06
  The Death by PowerPoint problem

  Traditional presentation tools are outdated, encouraging linear and uninspiring storytelling. People lack confidence in combining visual design and narrative effectively, and clear examples of what good presentations should look like, leading to unengaging and boring presentations.
• 03:42
  The vital role of templates in easing the toll of pitching on teams

  Templates are crucial for improving presentations during business or funding pitches, facilitating success and iterative enhancements. Research by Pitch found that pitching can burden teams, resulting in burnout, medical leave, and employee attrition due to presentation-related pressure.
• 06:22
  Using Pitchs platform for internal pitches

  Pitch's platform, while mainly used by go-to-market teams, benefits anyone within a company needing to convey ideas and influence outcomes through presentations. Even if they don't consider themselves salespeople, it aids in clarifying objectives and gaining internal support for projects or ideas.
• 07:42
  The broad applicability of Pitch

  In addition to presentations in the business context, Pitch also has users leveraging it for personal purposes. One individual used the platform to propose to his now-wife, using techniques from fundraising pitch decks to make a successful proposal.
• 09:29
  Tips for creating a great pitch deck

  First, define your objective and the desired audience response. Develop a clear storyline and adapt your content for the presentation environment, considering reusability and brand consistency with templates and media libraries.
• 14:16
  The rise of virtual or asynchronous pitches for funding

  Remote pitching allows founders to engage top VCs without the need for in-person meetings initially. In Pitchs survey, 70% of respondents felt that pitching remotely had opened up new opportunities for them, enabling VC interest, despite in-person meetings being preferred by some investors.
• 15:41
  Leveraging presentation analytics to tailor live presentations

  Live presentation slides should be tailored based on pre-read feedback. With Pitchs presentation analytics format, you can gain insights into which slides were accessed, how much time was spent on them, and adapt your live presentation accordingly for maximum impact.
• 17:08
  The benefits of slide by slide video recordings

  Slide-by-slide video offers flexibility for viewers to explore or skip sections. It allows multiple takes for practice and serves as a valuable training resource, especially for large sales teams using standardized materials.
• 19:32
  Tips for delivering effective presentations

  Think about how you can build pauses into your presentations and ask the audience specific questions to understand how you're resonating with them. It's essential to conclude with a clear statement of the desired next steps, ensuring alignment with your presentation's objectives.
• 21:51
  Navigating pitching challenges in an uncertain economic environment

  Many people are uncomfortable asking for the sale, especially in the current remote pitching and uncertain economic environment. It's essential to strategize, use data, and have the confidence to pursue opportunities selectively, to prevent team burnout.
• 23:24
  Additional resources offered by Pitch

  Pitch's blog is a valuable resource with articles on topics like how to structure your deck, tips and tricks for recordings, etc. Additionally, their upcoming "Pitch to Win" report covers pitching trends, challenges, and concrete recommendations for addressing them.