What is a Pitch Deck?

Pitch decks are like your business’s elevator pitch on steroids. They’re snappy presentations that give a punchy rundown of your grand plan, perfect for catching the eye of potential investors, partners, or clients.

Kevin Somerbang, the brain behind Kinetic Slides, believes in ditching those lengthy business plans from the past. Instead, he says pitch decks should be all about getting straight to the point, making your message crystal clear, and leaving your audience hungry for more. And hey, it’s not just startups getting in on the action; even the big dogs use them to show off their coolest stuff.

Traditionally, people have whipped up pitch decks using PowerPoint or similar software. You know the drill: slides full of bullet points, maybe a few flashy graphics. But hey, there are better ways to do it, and we’re about to spill the beans.

Here’s the scoop: your pitch deck should be a knockout. It’s got to look slick, go down easy, and above all, speak directly to whoever’s looking at it. Whether it’s a room full of suits or just one big cheese, your deck needs to hit the mark.

So, how do you make the perfect pitch deck? We’ve got the inside track. Stick around, and we’ll lay down some top-notch tips to help you craft a pitch deck that’ll have ’em eating out of the palm of your hand. Ready? Let’s dive in!

What Should Be In A Pitch Deck?

1. The Problem/Opportunity: Picture this—your customers have a problem that’s bugging them big time. Maybe it’s something like not being able to find a convenient way to order groceries online. Or maybe they’re missing out on an awesome opportunity, like accessing personalized fitness plans without breaking the bank. Whatever it is, it’s something loads of people are facing.
   
   Your job? Show how your business is the answer they’ve been waiting for.

2. The Product/Solution: Here’s where you dazzle ’em. You’ve cooked up something brilliant—a product or service that’s going to solve that pesky problem or seize that amazing opportunity. Maybe it’s a slick new app that lets people order groceries with a tap of their phone. Or perhaps it’s a subscription service that hooks users up with top-notch fitness plans tailored just for them. Whatever it is, it’s gotta be mind-blowing.
   
   Show ’em why your solution is the bomb.
   
3. Your Unfair Advantage: So, what makes you the hero of this story? Why should everyone bet on you to save the day? Maybe you’ve got some serious insider knowledge or a killer connection that gives you a leg up. Or perhaps your team is stacked with geniuses who eat challenges for breakfast.

Whatever it is, spill the beans and make ’em see why you’re the one to beat.

4. Your Business Model: Time to get down to brass tacks—how are you gonna turn all this awesomeness into cold, hard cash? Lay it out nice and clear. How much is it gonna cost to run this show? Where’s the money gonna come from? Break it down into easy-to-digest bits, like how you’ll make money, who you’ll partner with, and who your customers are.

And hey, depending on your biz and who you’re talking to, you might wanna toss in some extra stuff. Maybe talk about the other players in the game, how you’re planning to spread the word, or some nitty-gritty financial deets.

The key is to keep it sharp, keep it snappy, and keep ’em hooked from start to finish!

What Not To Do

1. Don’t Make It Too Long: Keep your pitch deck short and sweet. Today, people like quick bites of information.

Make sure your key points are easy to grasp.

2. Avoid Text Overload: Long paragraphs tire the eyes. Stick to short, punchy sentences. Remember, people are naturally lazy when it comes to reading. 

Use images to spice things up!

3. Say No to Small Fonts: Big, clear fonts are your friends. If folks strain to read your slides, they’ll remember the headache, not your message. 

Make sure your text is easy on the eyes.

4. Don’t Stick to PDFs: PDFs might be easy to create, but they’re a pain on mobile devices. In a world where everyone’s on the move, your pitch deck needs to be mobile-friendly.

What You Should Do

1. Tell a Compelling Story: Stories grab attention and stick in people’s minds. Use the flow of your pitch deck to weave a narrative that keeps your audience hooked from start to finish.

2. Make It Visually Stunning: A picture is worth a thousand words, right? Use captivating images, animations, and videos to leave a lasting impression. Emotions speak louder than text.

3. Measure Engagement: Use online tools like Foleon to track how people interact with your pitch deck. Knowing who reads it, what they click on, and how long they spend helps you tweak and improve.

4. Personalize Your Content: Tailor your pitch deck to each reader. Online decks make it easy to swap out names and logos, giving every viewer a personalized experience. 

Templates save time and keep things organized.

5. Get It Seen: Share your pitch deck far and wide. Online decks are a breeze to share and even show up in search engines. 

The more eyes on your presentation, the better!

Conclusion

Make your pitch deck pop by mixing helpful content with eye-catching visuals. No matter who you’re presenting to, this combo will make them take notice.

But don’t stop there. Break away from the usual PowerPoint routine. Craft a deck that’s not just visually appealing, but also easy to share, uniquely tailored, and responsive. Doing this will make you memorable and grab the attention you want.