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? Safe. If they want to see something in PowerPoint, can you turn on the computer and show them?

your bet

But doing one presentation at a time, I think it’s a big mistake because it takes the power out of your presentation. Getting to know you as a person is the connection that will be established in the long term.

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 you have and makes you like everyone else; indistinguishable from all other people competing for similar businesses.

be you

Sit facing 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 ready for other things, but stay away from them. There is seldom a reason why PowerPoint is necessary.

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

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

Make sure you 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 full room.

Get to know your PowerPoint so that when you press the next box button you know which box is in the PowerPoint, but continue to face 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 like the backing band.

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

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