From Data to Deal: How to Wield Wonder & Hit the Presentation Sweet Spot

One of the great gifts of the Great Pause is that things slowed down for a short time. The pitching machine that fuels entrepreneurial companies ground to a temporary halt (mine included).

As business ramps back up, I’ve been able to view presentations with clear eyes and a reignited sense of wonder. I’m more curious than ever about the potent intersection between art and science, which makes pitches powerful and persuasive.

The first two presentations I’d seen in a while took two distinct tracks:

One was well-researched and data-driven, with a load of graphs and charts. I could appreciate how much sweat equity went into constructing the pitch, but it truthfully left me cold.

The other was more of a narrative, with evocative and emotional imagery, but no data to back it up. I’m sure it would give stakeholders the warm-fuzzies, but afterward, it was like eating a Twinkie. Not enough there, there.

Bottom line: Neither presentation was a deal-closer.

Inbound marketing innovator Hubspot talks about how the best presentations are two-thirds stories. But how do you know if you’re telling the right stories in the right way to the right people? Consider another fun Hubspot fact: 90% of all…