A pitch deck consists of a 10 to 20-slide presentation. Its main goal is to make investors excited about your business and convince them to invest. Thus, your primary goal should be to create winning presentations that leave a lasting impression.
Below, we’ll provide you with an overview of the do’s and don’ts of pitch deck design.
The Do’s of Designing Pitch Decks
When you design a pitch deck, you must do the following to ensure a positive outcome;
Do Understand Your Audience
Understanding your audience should be the first thing that you do. It will help you select the appropriate tone, level of formality, and the style of your presentation. Therefore, before the presentation begins, make sure that you know your audience’s:
- Age
- Occupation
- Gender
- Language
- Culture
- Size and composition
Do Tell a Story
A good pitch deck is one that lets you tell a story. Note that storytelling plays a crucial role in keeping your audience engaged and interested in your business. Thus, make sure that your pitch deck:
- Conveys emotion
- Engages the audience on a personal level
- Convey reasons why your service or product needs to exist
- Conveys how your services or products will be beneficial
- Ends with a call to action
Do Keep it Simple and Clean
Simplicity is incredibly vital when it comes to creating winning presentations. Note that most investors prefer pitch decks that provide a quick overview of the critical points. Also, they need presentations that are clear to read and easy to digest. Thus, make sure that your pitch deck is:
- Clear and concise
- Sticks to facts
- Easy to understand
- Short
Do Consistently Use Visual Hierarchy
Visual hierarchy is vital when designing pitch decks. It consists of a design principle where you need to arrange design elements according to repetition, alignment, contrast, color, and size.
A good visual hierarchy can direct your audience’s attention to where you want. Also, it highlights the most essential facts of your pitch deck. Note that a human’s eye can help individuals determine whether what they’re looking at is worth it or not. Thus, ensure you use a visual hierarchy consistently in your presentation.
Do Use High-Quality Images and Graphics
High-quality images and graphics play a crucial role in telling a compelling story. Thus, you can use the images and graphics to demonstrate the viability of your product. Also, you can use these images and graphics to break down complex information and make them easy to digest.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When designing your pitch deck, you should avoid the following common mistakes;
Overloading with information
It’s important to consider that your audience may be pressed for time or lack the patience to read a lengthy presentation. To ensure maximum impact, avoid overwhelming your pitch deck with excessive information. Instead, focus on incorporating high-quality visuals and providing clear explanations. Strike a balance between text and images, ensuring that concise but crucial information about your business is presented without going into exhaustive detail about your product, brand, or technology.
Inconsistent typography and visual elements
Inconsistent typography and visual elements can quickly draw your audience away from the presentation. Thus, make sure that you arrange text and visual elements in a manner that gives your presentation the impact it requires. Remember to ensure that the text is attractive, readable, and effective. You can use large text to draw attention and small text to provide supporting information. Also, make sure that your text and visual elements complement each other.
Complex or confusing visuals
Complex or confusing visuals are a big drawback in presentations. They can ensure that your pitch deck does not create the desired impact. Thus, your main goal should be to have visuals that are clear and easy to understand. Note that confusing or complex visuals can serve as a distraction and make a bad impression. Also, they can be hard to read and very confusing.
Neglecting the Call to Action
Neglecting the call to action reduces the chance of motivating your audience to take action. The main goal of a call to action in a pitch deck is to prompt investors to invest. Therefore, when you neglect it, you reduce your chances of receiving an investment.
Lack of Visual Appeal
A lack of visual appeal is another common mistake that you should avoid. Note that the visuals of your presentation are one of the first things that will keep your audience interested in your presentation. So, when you use a poor design and layout, you promote disinterest among the audience. A lack of visual appeal makes your pitch deck less engaging. Also, it ensures that your audience sees you as less professional.
In Conclusion
When designing pitch decks, it is incredibly vital that you know the do’s and don’ts. The knowledge of do’s and don’ts will help you create a pitch deck that captures the investors’ attention and engages them.
Have you ever designed a pitch deck? If yes, what was your experience during the entire pitch deck design process?
