I'm not sorry to tell you because someone had to. Long form copy is for websites and blog posts, not your pitch deck. Think of it as your highlight reel. Flashy / sentimental pictures, key metrics and results. Whether you are asking for funding or trying to close the deal decision makers want high level information, the details get ironed out in SOWs and contracts.
Your pitch deck should pull on heart strings, tell the emotional story of why your organization is the right choice. You solve problems, you make the world sweeter. Have you seen UP? there isn't even dialogue in that heart wrenching opener.
Make Your Slides Work for You • Respect hierarchy & space of each slide. • Don't crowd the slide. • Lean into your headline. • Use strong visuals like percentage points and photos of smiling faces. • Even a short (very short) video clip can be optimally engaging.
As the wise Maya Angelou said, "people remember how you made them feel."
Quick takeaways:
Your deck should support your pitch, not deliver it for you.
One idea per slide is usually enough.
If people are reading paragraphs, they probably aren’t listening to you.
The good news:
Cutting words isn't cutting substance. Strong headlines, meaningful data points and intentional visuals can communicate more than a wall of copy ever will.
What to do If your pitch deck is too wordy:
Find the headline. What is the ONE thing someone needs to understand from each slide?
Cut the explanation. Say the details (record audio, if you're emailing it). Don't put every word on the screen.
Give your content room to breathe. White space, visuals and hierarchy help people know where to look.
A good gut check:
If you emailed the deck to someone and they can understand every detail without you presenting it, you may have written a document instead of a pitch deck.
Not sure if your pitch deck is helping or hurting your presentation? Send it our way. We can help you tighten the story, simplify the slides and make sure the deck supports the person in the room instead of competing with them.
