Do's and Don'ts of delivering an effective presentation

One of the critical skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur is the ability to talk about the product in an effective and engaging manner. I have been there myself and learnt a lot through my mistakes. So, here are a few pointers to keep in mind for your next big presentation:

DO's

1. Start with the problem: Begin the presentation by explaining how your product or service addresses a real problem help garner their interest.
   
2. Relate to the audience: Use personal stories, examples and custom demos to help your audience relate to you and your product.
   
3. Close the sale: Lead the audience to arrive at a conclusion or clearly articulate the next steps, i.e. how do they invest, how they place an order, how to schedule a product demonstration, etc.
   
4. Follow up with the audience: Once the presentation has ended, follow up with any individuals you met before or after the presentation (send an email or call them back).
   

DON'Ts

1. Don't try to be funny if you are not. This makes people uncomfortable and they tend to loose interest in the pitch.
2. Don't waste your precious presentation minutes on big stunts/costumes/animations. Instead, use the time to articulate your Unique Value Proposition.
   
3. Don't read the slides of your presentation. Instead use the slide as a tool to reinforce your story (example: growth projections, cost saving charts, etc).
   
4. Don't forget to allocate time and be prepared for questions from the audience.

---

Was the above helpful?  Do you have additional tips?  If so, please feel free to share.

---