Have you ever watched a really good presentation? There is often a lot to learn and if you watch closely, you can learn a lot about marketing and the many techniques you can use to captivate your customers.
The other day I had an opportunity to watch a very talented group of artists share some of their work with our clients. I was in a unique position as I was there simply to observe and assess some our teams skills. Typically, our artists don’t get heavily involved in presenting and I learned a valuable lesson this day.
The two artists that presented stole the show. They came into the presentation and sold a concept that was not an easy one to grasp. More importantly, they captured the clients’ attention and empowered them. They also demonstrated five critical skills that can help you improve your own small business marketing:
They were prepared. I knew they would come in prepared to present, but they over prepared and it showed. Instead of just coming in with the logos they had been asked to share, they had done their homework and demonstrated how logos were being used throughout this particular industry. They had great suggestions for styles and color palettes that would allow their brand to differentiate while still remaining credible. We even threw a challenge at them right before we started – two additional audience members that they had not prepared for. This did not even phase them. They went on with their presentation as planned.
They were professional. Both of the artists came into the presentation dressed for the occasion and handled themselves well. This might seem like a small detail, but it was not. They showed that they cared and portrayed our department as it should be.
They were passionate. It is amazing what a little passion can do when mixed with a business presentation. Instead of delivering a bland, stereotypical speech, these talented artists came into the meeting knowing they had awesome ideas and the right solutions for our customers. They cared about delivering a great product for the clients and earnestly wanted to help them succeed.
They had fun. When someone cares about what they are doing it no longer feels like work. We put our teams through a lot. They face incredibly tough deadlines and often don’t feel appreciated for all they do. We are working hard to correct this, but some of it comes with the industry we work in. Despite all this, these two artists came into this presentation doing something they love – talking about their art. It was fun for them and despite our constant nagging and prodding, they had fun.
They involved the client. Here’s the fun part. Our clients were not supposed to be in the meeting. Instead, they were going to presenting to just the marketing team in preparation for a larger, more formal presentation. Because of some schedule changes, we ended up inviting the clients at the last minute. Our artists quickly shifted gears and talked directly with our clients. They engaged them and asked them questions. When it came time to reveal the logos they had created, they shared ideas and asked for the clients’ opinions.
What are you doing to wow your audiences during your presentations? Please leave your comments and ideas in the comments section below.
photo credit: getentrepreneurial.com
