U. S.

Department
Tribal Economic Development Principles of the Interior
at a Glance Series:
D ĂŬŝŶŐĂŶī ĞĐƟǀ ĞƵƐŝŶĞƐƐWƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ
Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs
ˆϐ‹ ‡‘ˆ†‹ƒ‡”‰›ƒ† ‘‘ ‹ ‡˜‡Ž‘’ ‡–
Division of Economic Development

Tribal Economic Development Principles at a Glance Series

Making an Effective Business

Presentation

Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs

Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development 1 Division of Economic Development
 Tribal Economic Development Principles at a Glance Series:
D ĂŬŝŶŐĂŶī ĞĐƟǀ ĞƵƐŝŶĞƐƐWƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ

This is the fifth in a series of economic development primers produced by the Division of Economic
Development (DED), Indian Affairs Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED), to
offer answers to fundamental questions about creating jobs and expanding economies in tribal
communities.

If you would like to discuss business presentations in more detail, please contact the Division of
Economic Development at (202) 219-0740.

Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs

Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development 2 Division of Economic Development
 Tribal Economic Development Principles at a Glance Series:
D ĂŬŝŶŐĂŶī ĞĐƟǀ ĞƵƐŝŶĞƐƐWƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ
What is meant by a “business presentation”?
A business presentation is an oral presentation made by a company spokesperson, sales
person, or executive to a potential buyer of the company’s goods or services, or to potential
investors and partners. This kind of presentation can be formal, pre-arranged, and last for a
scheduled period of time. Or, it can occur at a moment’s notice when the person must present a
convincing case for the business idea or need in just a few minutes and without the benefit of
handouts or PowerPoint slides or other multi-media tools.
Why should representatives of tribal and American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned
businesses care about how to make an effective business presentation?
The merits of most commercial products and services or business opportunities are not
immediately obvious. They must be communicated in a compelling and interesting manner in
order to make a sale, convince investors to provide capital, and/or acquire partners.
Additionally, most products and services are not unique, and tribal and Native American-owned
businesses have plenty of competitors. Thus, a business presentation is one way to distinguish a
business or product from its rivals.
What first steps should I take to design an effective business presentation?
The first step in designing an effective business presentation is to analyze the market
audience you are trying to reach. Who is going to watch the presentation? What are their needs?
Why should they care about your product or service? Will audience members have reasons to be
skeptical about your product or service? What action do you want them to take?
What is the structure of an effective business presentation?
An effective business presentation speaks directly to the needs and aspirations of your audience. It
tells a persuasive story, establishes your business expertise and credentials and those of your
company, dispels any pre-existing doubts, sustains the listener’s interest, lasts just long enough to
make your case, and ends with a call for action. It focuses on a primary message supported with
details and real-life examples. As support, third-party testimonials tend to resonate best.

Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs

Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development 3 Division of Economic Development
 Tribal Economic Development Principles at a Glance Series:
D ĂŬŝŶŐĂŶī ĞĐƟǀ ĞƵƐŝŶĞƐƐWƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ

How should I prepare to give a business presentation?

You should first prepare an outline of what you wish to say, or “pitch.” You should practice
making your pitch in accordance with the outline until it is engrained in your memory and can be
delivered within the time you have been allotted. While you can use notes, you should never read
directly from a script as this can cause listeners to conclude that you lack confidence in yourself or
in your product or service. Since they are just as capable of reading the same script, they might
also wonder why you do not skip the oral presentation in favor of handouts.
Tailor your presentation to those you are addressing. Do not use the same presentation for
each audience.
How should I envision my role as speaker?
You should view yourself as a mentor who is there to help the listener’s company
overcome a commercial obstacle or enlarge its market share. You are not there to promote
yourself. Rather, you are there to inform the listeners how your product or service will solve their
problems or help them achieve their goals.
What are the most important parts of a business presentation?
The most important parts of a business presentation are the beginning and the end.
At the beginning, you must capture the audience’s attention. You can do this by asking an
intriguing question, polling the audience, or by making a bold or startling, declarative statement
followed by a pause (for example: “I have a product that could increase your sales by 100% or
more”).
You should quickly establish your credibility with respect to the subject of the presentation.
Avoid the temptation to spend too much time introducing your firm, how it came to be, and your
relationship to it.
At the end, you must make a call to action. You must tell the listeners how to take the next
step, whether that is ordering your company’s product or service, contacting a representative of
your company, beginning contract negotiations, or attending a meeting. Your call to action should
be clear and unequivocal.

Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs

Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development 4 Division of Economic Development
 Tribal Economic Development Principles at a Glance Series:
D ĂŬŝŶŐĂŶī ĞĐƟǀ ĞƵƐŝŶĞƐƐWƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ

What should I keep in mind throughout my presentation?

You should remember to involve the audience and make eye contact, smiling where
appropriate. Do not forget to thank the audience for their attendance and attention. Avoid use of
acronyms and technical jargon unfamiliar to your listeners. A common complaint from audiences
is that business presentations are too long. So keep your listeners’ attention by making your pitch
brief and to the point, and allow time for any questions.
How should I handle questions from the audience?
You should treat questions from the audience as an opportunity to understand and dispel
concerns or skepticism. You should invite questions during the presentation instead of waiting
until the end.
If your presentation is to a small audience, it is likely that you will be interrupted with
questions early and often. Expect this, and do not allow it to fluster you. Being asked questions by
your listeners means they are engaged and want more information about your product or service.
Whether your presentation is being made to a large audience or, informally, to a smaller one,
you should anticipate questions beforehand and have answers ready for them.
What if the audience has no questions?
Depending upon time constraints, you can verbalize your own questions, such as “Perhaps you are
asking yourself . . .” or “You might wonder why . . . ,“ and provide answers that may clear up
common, but unspoken, misperceptions.
Should I move around during my presentation?
Even when they are equipped with a lectern, some speakers prefer to walk around during
their presentations. This is appropriate if the audience will view it as natural or purposeful. For
example, you may want to move closer to the audience in order to appear less formal and more
personable. But, you should avoid doing this when it seems unnatural or is distracting.
A common failing among business presenters is the tendency to shift weight from one foot to
the other, shuffle papers, or move from side to side. This will often cause the audience to focus on
your nervousness rather than on your message. If it is better for you to stand in one position, then
use your hands to emphasize points in your presentation.

Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs

Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development 5 Division of Economic Development
 Tribal Economic Development Principles at a Glance Series:
D ĂŬŝŶŐĂŶī ĞĐƟǀ ĞƵƐŝŶĞƐƐWƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ

Should I use PowerPoint or other multimedia tools?

PowerPoint and other multimedia tools have become mainstays of most business
presentations. They can either add or detract from your message depending upon how they are
used. PowerPoint slides are now used for more than just oral presentations. Potential investors
often request beforehand an electronic version of your slides, sometimes referred to as a “deck.”
Used well, slides can sharpen your message, particularly when they contain graphics that
are dramatic or memorable to illustrate points in your pitch. They can reduce a complex concept
to a single, understandable image. But, they are meant to be visual tools, not the focus of a
presentation.
Misused, they can be boring. A common misuse of these tools is for the speaker to retreat to
the back of the room or among the audience and narrate what is already printed on the slides.
Another common misstep occurs when the speaker loads each slide with a large block of text, or
“wall of words.” Slide headers and comments should be in bullet form, complementing any
image that is displayed. They should act as your cues rather than as substitutes for
multi-paragraph handouts.
Tips for effective slides:
 Avoid information overload by weeding out from your presentation extraneous
words and images. Use slides only to emphasize key points and display only
information that is essential.
 Try not to use more than three bullets per slide. Place titles and the most
important information at the top of each slide.
 Recognize that persons sitting in the back of room may have trouble seeing words
on the bottom of slides.
 Use as little punctuation as possible and avoid inserting words with all letters
capitalized.
 Use readable fonts, avoid white backgrounds, and choose images, charts, and
graphs instead of text wherever possible.
 Never skip over slides. This tells listeners that you either miscalculated the time it
would require to deliver your message or that you organized the slides
haphazardly.
 Limit the number of slides you use. You should plan your presentation on paper
first, deleting those slides that are not entirely relevant or which do not add value.
A rule of thumb is to use no more than 20 slides.

Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs

Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development 6 Division of Economic Development
 Tribal Economic Development Principles at a Glance Series:
D ĂŬŝŶŐĂŶī ĞĐƟǀ ĞƵƐŝŶĞƐƐWƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ

Depending upon your audience and comfort with social media, you can even use other
multi-media tools to prompt audience participation and interaction. You can include a Twitter feed,
“tweetable” statements, and a #hashtag to encourage real-time discussions online.
With respect to technical issues, expect the worst and be prepared. Know in advance how to
operate with ease the computer, projector, microphone, and other technology you will use for your
presentation. You also should practice loading, setting up, and running these devices. And, always
bring a back-up thumb-drive or CD for your slides.
With respect to a formal presentation, should I check out the presentation venue beforehand?
If possible, you should visit the presentation site ahead of time to acquaint yourself with
your audio-visual equipment. Don’t forget to check the room temperature as you will want your
audience to be comfortable.
Should I show a company video?
Running a company video is discouraged because it can appear to be an infomercial or
clumsy substitute for a real conversation. You should have an informative website that people can
consult for further information about your company. Include the website address on your last slide.
Should I use humor in my presentation?
Because they involve contracts, jobs, and future commercial relationships, business
presentations are serious, and a serious subject demands a serious approach. While humor may be
appropriate and effective in other situations, using it in a pitch is risky. Too many attempts at
comedy can trivialize or distract from your presentation’s main focus, or leave your audience with
the wrong impression of you and your company.
Does the Division of Economic Development provide hands-on training in making an
effective business presentation?
Yes. The IEED Division of Economic Development organizes and co-sponsors conferences
throughout the year to link executives of tribal- and Native American-owned businesses with
potential federal, state, and private sector customers and partners. These events sometimes feature
business presentation training sessions followed by presentation competitions judged by business
graduate school professors, representatives of prime vendors, and others. These activities aim to
sharpen the ability of Native American business men and women to compete effectively in the
marketplace.

Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs

Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development 7 Division of Economic Development
 Tribal Economic Development Principles at a Glance Series:
D ĂŬŝŶŐĂŶī ĞĐƟǀ ĞƵƐŝŶĞƐƐWƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ

U. S. Department of Interior
Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs
ˆϐ‹ ‡‘ˆ†‹ƒ‡”‰›ƒ† ‘‘ ‹ ‡˜‡Ž‘’ ‡–
Division of Economic Development

1951 Constitution Ave, N.W. MS-20-SIB

Washington, D.C. 20245

Phone: (202) 208-0740

Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs
Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development 8 Division of Economic Development