Essential Elements for Product Slides that Impress Investors - Steer Clear of These Unwanted Features
Taming the Beast: Crafting a Captivating Product Slide
The Cluttered Pitch Deck: A Common Pitfall
Founders, in their enthusiasm for their product, often unintentionally deluge their pitch decks with an excess of screenshots, tech jargon, and intricate application logic. The assumption is that 'more is better.'
Avoid the Mistake – Focus on Impact
The Product Slide should not intimidate or bore, but exemplify what the product offers and the problems it solves for the customer – in a compelling, concise manner. Overwhelming your audience with excessive details undermines the slide's purpose.
Product and Solution: One Unified Vision
The Art of Simplicity
To create an engaging and focused Product Slide, follow these best practices:
Connate Ideas - Single Slide, Single Core Message
Concentrate on a single, succinct message about your product to maintain clarity. Resist the urge to combine multiple ideas or features into one slide, as this can confuse and overpower your audience.
Essential Information - Brevity is Key
Opt for minimal, precise language. Include only what's crucial to convey your product's value and its ability to address challenges. Avoid lengthy paragraphs and dense text blocks; instead, utilize short phrases or bullet points.
Visuals Over Tangles - Clarify Without Complication
Swap heavy text and complex data with straightforward visuals such as icons, product images, or simple diagrams that display how your product operates or tackles the problem at hand. Graphics catch viewers' eyes and simplify comprehension.
Clean Layout - Minimize Clutter
Implement ample white space and an uncluttered layout to prevent chaos. This makes the slide easier to read and highlights the primary message without distraction.
Uniform Design - Cohesion and Elegance
Maintain consistency in fonts, colors, and styles throughout the deck. Avoid multiple fonts or colors on one slide; uniformity boosts professionalism and legibility.
Narrate, Don't Descript – The Power of Storytelling
Instead of focus solely on product specifications, illustrate how your product enhances customers' lives or resolves their troubles. Utilize storytelling and vivid imagery to develop a bond with your audience and leave a lasting impression.
"So What?" - Demonstrate Your Product's Impact
Always ask yourself "So What?" after each point. Each element on the slide should contribute to explaining why your product matters to the customer/investor.
Progressive Reveal - Disclose Information Thoughtfully
If you have multiple points to discuss, split them across several slides rather than loading one slide with them. Gradual disclosure sustains focus and cultivates viewer engagement.
Conquering Information Overload
- Avoid jamming your slides with numerous ideas or extensive blocks of text.
- Minimize clutter by restricting fonts, colors, and unnecessary graphics.
- Replace incomprehensible data with illustrative graphics or visuals that convey clear insights.
- White space and consistent styling contribute to an organized, easy-to-read layout.
- Narrate the story of your product and its transformative power instead of dwelling on technical specifications.
- Gradually expose information across the deck rather than burdening one slide.
By adhering to these tenets, your Product Slide will be concise, persuasive, and pertinent to investors or stakeholders, helping you avoid the usual pitfall of information overload.
What is the impact of the product on finance and investing, specifically in business?
How does the product's story demonstrate its ability to resolve business challenges in the areas of finance and investing?
