It’s important to remember that whatever you’re selling, your customers will buy it before they even think about what you’re selling, especially if you’re a sales consultant. The best way to get people to like you, the best way to get them to buy from you is, in most cases, not to use PowerPoint.

This is why…

When you’re selling face to face, you want to look the person in the eye, talk to them, get to know them, and show your value as a person.

Could you have PowerPoint with you? Sure. If they want to see something in PowerPoint, can you turn on the computer and show it to them?

your bet

But doing one presentation every time, I think it’s a big mistake because it takes away from your presentation. Getting to know you as a person is the connection that is going to be made for the long haul.

PowerPoint is not an easy thing to do well, and it takes it away from almost everyone who uses it.

It takes away the personality and presence that you have and makes you like everyone else; indistinguishable from all other people competing for similar business.

be you

Sit across from the person; have weaknesses; show your strengths; show your certainty; show your uncertainty; show who you are; show your character and let the person choose you and not your PowerPoint presentation. Always be prepared for other things, but stay away from them. There is rarely a reason why PowerPoint is necessary.

If you’re going to use PowerPoint, here are a few things to help you succeed.

If you use words with your slides, limit yourself to one or two. Use lots of photos of prominent people or people known for something. The people who were winners in what they did are people we all identify with; like Abraham Lincoln and Roosevelt.

Be sure to stay away from current political figures and the like. Use photos that have a purpose.

Never look at your PowerPoint while you are presenting. Engage with your audience, whether it’s one person or a packed room.

Get to know your PowerPoint so that when you press the next frame button you know which frame is in the PowerPoint, but continue to look at the audience.

The good thing about using PowerPoint is that you can’t go off on tangents.

If you have to look over your shoulder and look at the PowerPoint, it means that you are subservient to what is on the wall or on the screen. And that takes you away.

When you know exactly what’s coming next, you’re in control of your presentation.

If you want to do it right, if you want to take a chance with PowerPoint, then do it so you never have to look at it, but it gives you kind of the backup band.

You know, it’s the guitar and the drummer; he is there for backup. But Elvis is in front of the stage; Elton John is at the front of the stage; the orchestra is not seen or hardly seen. That’s what you want to do.

Let your character shine through during your presentation and a PowerPoint may rarely be necessary.