An excellent business presentation starts with crafting well-designed slides with exciting content and ends with delivering a compelling message. If you’ve been tasked with being the presenter at the next business meeting or conference, there are some things that you’ll want to consider. To have command of the room, you’ll need to deliver company presentations that are both informative and appealing.

From the first slide of your presentation, future clients, accounts, and deals could be on the line. Given that the stakes are pretty high for some of these business presentations, you’ll want to make sure that every point hits the mark. Many businesses and organizations have taken note of the crucial role of their PowerPoint slides. As a result, many are employing professional firms to help design their company presentations. These professional design agencies can save time and money, create compelling visual stories, and move you closer to your goals. There are some basic strategies, however, that anyone designing and giving a presentation should consider. Let’s take a look at some tips for giving excellent company presentations.

1. Keep it simple.

The main rule is to keep it simple when it comes to what you are saying and how you present it. Many professional designers point out that PowerPoint presentations and other types of slide shows should have an easy-to-follow structure. You should start with a compelling introduction that sums up what you are going to talk about. Next, you will offer a body of evidence to present facts, quotes, and evidence to back up your main points. Finally, you should offer an excellent conclusion that sums up your key takeaways. Since nobody wants to sit through 30 slides, you should aim for no more than 10 slides for your presentation. This will ensure that you give your audience a digestible amount of information.

2. Consider what the audience knows.

Employing the principles for creating powerful slides includes creating interesting content. Each slide should speak to your audience and present compelling information. If your audience is presented with a lot of information that they already know, they are less likely to pay attention. If you refer back to the keep it simple rule, you only have about 10 slides. Keeping your slides fresh and new will help you eliminate extraneous information.

3. Create a visual story.

One of the essential aspects of an impactful Powerpoint or presentation slide is to create a compelling story. Slides that incorporate illustrations and infographics create lasting storytelling presentations. Studies show that many people learn through visuals such as graphs and charts. Visuals and infographics aid with understanding and comprehension and will help your audience see the data better. A compelling story has pictures to help move the plot along!

4. Question the audience.

Instead of just reciting your presentation, challenge the audience to be a part of it. Incorporate amusing stories, ask rhetorical questions and engage the audience with your slides and your narrative. When crafting your layouts and visuals, think of things that will speak to your audience and elicit a response. An audience that is actively listening is more likely to buy what you are selling.

5. Focus on the value of your content.

Most audiences at company presentations are interested in the bottom line. They want to know what the information on the current slide will offer them. When creating your Powerpoint presentation, think about how each of your points will add value to your pitch. Every element of your slides should offer the audience insight into how your plan will impact the bottom line. To make an impression with your audience, you must add value.

With some time and research, you can craft great company presentations that will speak to every single person in the room. The best way to give excellent presentations is to create simple slides using compelling visuals that inform your audience and keep them engaged.